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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A child who went missing and was rushed to a hospital after being found in a swimming pool has died, authorities told ABC11 on Thursday.
Raleigh Police said Wednesday night that a mother reported her 2-year-old son as missing in the 3500 block of Pritchard Court. A search was set up and the child was found in the community pool several minutes later.
Police said the child was taken to the hospital in very serious condition.
No charges have been filed.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
See breaking news? Tell us about it here.
Raleigh 2-year-old rushed to hospital after being found in swimming pool has died
By Akilah Davis
Copyright © 2022 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved. | https://abc11.com/child-in-swimming-pool-dies-raleigh-boy-drowns-missing/11746134/ | 2022-04-14T20:26:59 | 1 | https://abc11.com/child-in-swimming-pool-dies-raleigh-boy-drowns-missing/11746134/ |
TALLAHASSEE — The latest congressional redistricting plan submitted by Gov. Ron DeSantis is a blatant attempt to give Republicans a political edge while diminishing Black and minority representation in Florida, Black lawmakers said.
“This is the most overtly racist action that you can do,” Democratic state Sen. Randolph Bracy said Thursday. He represents Orlando and is running for one of the congressional districts that would lose Black Democrat voters under the governor’s proposal.
“The fact he has the gall to do something like this clearly shows what he thinks of minorities and black voters,” Bracy said. “It’s stunning in this day and age he would try to wipe out black representation.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, whose sprawling North Florida District 5 would be transformed into a more Republican-friendly Duval County only district, said in a statement Wednesday the new redistricting plan “is a continued scheme by DeSantis to erase minority access districts in Congress in order to create more seats for the Republican Party.”
The Governor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment, but in a previous memo said the goal of the maps was to create “racially neutral” districts.
DeSantis has submitted a plan for the Legislature to consider in a special session starting Tuesday that radically alters the state’s congressional boundaries to create a 20-8 Republican advantage.
It does so by diluting Black voting power in North Florida, Orlando and St. Petersburg, “in ways that previous courts have struck down,” Dave Wasserman, U.S. House editor of the nonpartisan @CookPolitical Report, said in a tweet.
“If this map is enacted, Florida will be sued,” tweeted Marc E. Elias, a Washington, D.C., Democratic lawyer who’s litigated many election and voting rights cases.
Most recently, he represented the League of Women Voters of Florida in a successful challenge of SB 90, the state’s restrictive election law passed in 2021. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker struck down central provisions of the law, noting a decades-long pattern of attempting to create roadblocks for minority voters.
DeSantis vetoed a bill (SB102) containing two bipartisan congressional maps approved by the Senate and House the day it was sent over to him on March 29 on the grounds it violated the 14th Amendment equal protection clause because it was not “racially neutral.” Voting rights advocates said his legal arguments were inconsistent with the Voting Rights Act and ran afoul of the Florida Fair Districts amendments.
Fair Districts are a pair of amendments to the Florida Constitution overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2010 to stop lawmakers from drawing election districts favoring incumbents and the ruling party.
DeSantis immediately called for a special session directing the Legislature to come up with a plan that would achieve his goals to eliminate North Florida District 5 and still survive a potential court challenge.
On Monday, Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, told their members that their staff wouldn’t be drawing a map and DeSantis should send them a map he could support.
DeSantis delivered his plan on Wednesday that eliminates District 5 as a Black majority district as promised. It also dilutes black Democratic voters in Orlando’s District 10 by moving a large portion of them into Republican-leaning District 11, said Matt Isbell, an election data analyst who frequently works with Democrats.
When it was created in 2015 to settle years of court fights over the 2012 congressional maps, District 10 had a 50% majority of Black Democratic voters, Isbell said. The change proposed by DeSantis would give it a 40% white Democratic majority, with 35% Black Democrats, based on voting records, he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic-friendly District 7 held by Democrat Stephanie Murphy, who decided not to seek another term, will turn into a solidly Republican seat by picking up Volusia County Republicans, he said.
The governor’s map also makes the District 13 St. Petersburg seat held by Rep. Charlie Crist more Republican, he said.
It’s no coincidence that District 7, 10 and 13 are all open seats because the incumbents decided to step down or run for another office, Isbell said. Demings is running for U.S. Senate against Marco Rubio, and Crist is a Democratic candidate for governor.
The map also preserves two minority seats in South Florida, a change from the previous map DeSantis submitted.
Ryan Newman, the governor’s general counsel, said the plan was the result of collaboration with House and Senate leadership and draws from the map DeSantis vetoed as well as previous maps submitted by the governor.
Political Pulse
After discussing the map with the governor’s office and reviewing it with Senate legal counsel, Senate Reapportionment Chairman Ray Rodrigues declared the map “reflects standards the Senate can support” and “incorporates many of the features of the map that previously passed the Senate with bipartisan support.”
The governor’s staff will present the redistricting plan to Senate and House redistricting committees on Tuesday.
“What Rodrigues said is a complete reversal of what he’s been saying,” Bracy said. “The map we passed complies with the Florida Constitution and civil rights laws.”
At the time, Rodrigues said diluting the Black vote would be a violation of the Voting Rights Act and Fair Districting. “Now he’s agreeing with DeSantis,” Bracy said.
He said that’s because DeSantis has not signed the budget yet and has threatened to veto lawmakers’ projects and primary them if they don’t toe the line. “He’s bullying them to pass a map they know is unconstitutional.”
In practical terms, it’s been confusing to try to run a campaign when your district keeps changing, Bracy said. “You campaign in one district based on the map that passes, and it changes. Then we’re looking to compete in this new district and you know lawsuits will be filed and it will change again.”
Election experts said it was unlikely that the matter will be resolved before the 2022 elections, which means the map approved next week will be the one in place this year. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-desantis-redistricting-black-reaction-20220414-2bzeb7gbyrccxhkhqsqpf3pzzu-story.html | 2022-04-14T20:30:31 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-desantis-redistricting-black-reaction-20220414-2bzeb7gbyrccxhkhqsqpf3pzzu-story.html |
Police say the incident took place just before 3 p.m. at 100 Delancey Street on the Lower East Side.
They say one man was stabbed at the Duane Reade, but it's unclear if the incident took place in or outside the store.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he is in critical condition.
It's unclear if the victim was the intended target.
Police are searching for a suspect. So far there have been no arrests.
This is breaking news. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Submit a News Tip | https://abc7ny.com/duane-reade-stabbing-manhattan-man-stabbed/11748353/ | 2022-04-14T20:32:27 | 1 | https://abc7ny.com/duane-reade-stabbing-manhattan-man-stabbed/11748353/ |
TRENTON, New Jersey -- Recreational marijuana sales in New Jersey for those 21 and older will begin April 21, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday.
Murphy's announcement on Twitter comes just three days after state regulators green lighted permits for seven facilities that already sell medical cannabis to begin retailing recreational marijuana.
"This is a historic step in our work to create a new cannabis industry," Murphy said.
The news comes about a year after the state's regulatory commission started operating, and a year and a half after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to permit recreational marijuana for people 21 and older.
New Jersey is one of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, that have legalized recreational marijuana. There also are 37 states, including New Jersey, that have legalized medical marijuana.
Three of the seven facilities, known as alternative treatment centers, are in the northern part of the state. Three are in the south, and one is in central New Jersey.
To get approval, the centers agreed that the coming influx of recreational buyers won't interrupt access for patients. The facilities said they would reserve parking spaces for patients as well as keep hours specifically for patients only.
There are about 130,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, with an estimated roughly 800,000 potential recreational consumers, and fewer than 800,000 estimated "tourism" consumers, according to the commission.
How much money the state will get in tax revenues from recreational marijuana isn't clear. Murphy's fiscal year 2023 budget, which is pending before the Democrat-led Legislature, estimates revenues of just $19 million in a nearly $49 billion budget. In 2019, as legalization of recreational marijuana was still just pending before voters, he had estimated about $60 million in revenue.
Legislation governing the recreational market calls for the 6.625% sales tax to apply, with 70% of the proceeds going to areas disproportionately affected by marijuana-related arrests. Black residents were likelier - up to three times as much - to face marijuana charges than white residents. Towns can also levy a tax of up to 2%.
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New Jersey to start recreational marijuana sales April 21
By MIKE CATALINI
Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | https://abc7ny.com/adult-use-cannabis-sales-new-jersey/11748386/ | 2022-04-14T20:34:47 | 1 | https://abc7ny.com/adult-use-cannabis-sales-new-jersey/11748386/ |
As Tom Brady prepares for a return to the gridiron, the legendary NFL quarterback is breaking into the golf apparel space.
And in doing so, he’s enlisted the help of two of college golf’s best players.
Texas senior Cole Hammer and Wake Forest sophomore Michael Brennan are featured in a new campaign unveiling Brady’s upcoming golf collection, the first sport-specific category for the brand, which becomes available April 19. Hammer and Brennan recently took part in a shoot in Los Angeles, which included a promotional video that was provided early to GolfChannel.com and will be released soon.
“Everyone knows when I’m not playing football, you’ll probably find me on the links, so developing this golf collection was something very near and dear to me,” Brady, co-founder of his namesake brand, said via email. “We’ve created the golf collection I’ve always wanted, and all in one place. From high performance polos to the perfect golf pant and shorts, and Zero Weight layers, these golf essentials perform above par and are primed for the green.
“…Partnering with young NIL athletes like Cole and Michael has been one of the most rewarding parts of the entire process, too. They’re exceptional athletes and embody the ethos on which our brand was founded.”
Per Brady, Hammer and Brennan, who are just the latest college golfers to get in on the name, image and likeness party, embody the brand’s founding principles by exceeding expectations, inspiring fearlessness, instilling resilience and promoting confidence in the pursuit of peak performance.
The pair have combined for 12 top-15 finishes, including two wins, this season, and both are ranked No. 22 or better in Golfstat. Hammer is planning on turning pro this summer while Brennan is arguably one of the top prospects in his class.
The debut collection was also designed for the next generation of player. Fourteen pieces are part of the inaugural golf line, ranging from performance polos engineered with zero hydro yarn to lightweight pants to zero weight layer pieces. All are constructed with UPF40 protection, wind and water resistance, targeted ventilation, quick dry technology and four-way stretch.
Prices range from $75 for the Structured Stretch Brady Short to $195 for the Golf Jacket in Engineered Hybrid Knit.
More information, including waitlist info, can be found at www.bradybrand.com/collections/golf. | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/college-stars-cole-hammer-michael-brennan-part-brady-brand-golf-collection-unveiling | 2022-04-14T20:34:47 | 0 | https://www.golfchannel.com/news/college-stars-cole-hammer-michael-brennan-part-brady-brand-golf-collection-unveiling |
2 bird flu cases confirmed in US zoos as virus spreads
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in U.S. zoos, but officials said they won’t order widespread euthanasia of zoo birds the way they have on farms.
U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Mike Stepien declined to release any details about the zoo cases Thursday, including which two zoos were involved.
Many zoos across the country have closed down their aviaries and moved birds inside whenever possible to help protect them from avian influenza that officials believe is primarily being spread by the droppings of wild birds.
At many zoos, penguins might be the only birds visitors can see because they are generally kept inside behind glass where they are shielded from the virus.
Nearly 27 million chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered in 26 states to limit the spread of bird flu during this year’s outbreak. Officials order entire flocks to be killed when the virus is found on farms.
Stepien said zoos work with state veterinary officials when the virus is found, but unlike farms, zoos are generally allowed to isolate and treat an infected bird as long as they take precautions to protect the other birds in their collections.
Health officials emphasize that bird flu doesn’t jeopardize food safety because infected birds aren’t allowed into the food supply and properly cooking meat and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses. The disease also doesn’t represent any immediate public health threat, and no human cases have been found in America.
This year’s outbreak is the worst one since 2015 when roughly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered because of the virus. Stepien said that there were very few bird flu cases in captive wild birds in 2015 and none in large zoos, and no wild birds at zoos were euthanized that year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ | 2022-04-14T20:35:42 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ |
(The Hill) – The interest rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a ten-year high of 5 percent Thursday, continuing steep inclines that started last December in a U.S. housing market where values are surging.
The rate on the most popular U.S. mortgage has climbed nearly 2 points from 3 percent a year ago, according to the latest numbers from government-mortgage administrator Freddie Mac. The last time the 30-year fixed rate mortgage hit 5 percent was February 2011.
Fifteen-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.17 percent this week, up from 3.91 percent last week and 2.35 percent a year ago.
“This week, mortgage rates averaged five percent for the first time in over a decade,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “As Americans contend with historically high inflation, the combination of rising mortgage rates, elevated home prices and tight inventory are making the pursuit of homeownership the most expensive in a generation.”
Adjustable rate mortgages have also spiked, with the 5-year standard Treasury-indexed mortgage averaging 3.69 percent, up from 2.8 percent last year.
As a result of the spiking rates, the mortgage market is experiencing a dip of activity, according to information from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) trade group, as potential homeowners reconsider buying houses and investing in real estate.
A mortgage market index from the MBA shows loan application volumes decreased 1.3 percent compared to a week earlier. Home refinancing application volumes dipped 5 percent on the week and were down 62 percent compared to the previous year.
“The rapid increase in rates, caused by a much more rapid pace of rate hikes and balance sheet reduction from the Federal Reserve, is in response to the booming job market and inflation being at a 40-year high,” Mike Fratantoni, an economist with the MBA, said in a statement. “The jump in mortgage rates will slow the housing market and further reduce refinance demand the rest of this year. Higher home prices and rates as well as ongoing supply constraints are now expected to lead to an annual decline in existing home sales.”
In addition to high interest rates, home sales are also facing elevated prices in the real estate market due to the pandemic, as well as supply shortages for building materials as part of larger supply chain disruptions that are contributing to inflation.
“Elevated inflation continues to push up mortgage rates,” Nadia Evangelou, an economist with the National Association of Realtors (NAR), said in a statement. The higher rates “added about $400 to the monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home. This means that potential buyers need to spend more of their budget on housing to buy the typical home.”
Wage data released this week by the Department of Labor saw real earnings decrease by 2.7 percent from March of last year. The change in earnings combined with a dip of 0.9 percent in the length of the average workweek resulted in a 3.6-percent decrease in real average weekly earnings over the last year.
“Comparing inflation with real wage growth since 2008, this is the first time that inflation has risen so much faster than wages,” Evangelou said. “With rising borrowing costs, expect about 16 million households to be priced out of the market this year. As a result, NAR forecasts home sales activity to drop about 10 percent in 2022.”
Housing affordability declined in February, according to an index compiled by NAR. Compared to a year ago, the group found the average mortgage payment increased by more than 30 percent, while median family income rose by only 3.6 percent.
- Ukraine: Deported children facing threat of ‘illegal adoption’ in Russia
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To combat inflation, some analysts have suggested the Federal Reserve could increase interest rates by as many as six times this year, bringing the Federal Funds rate as high as 1.9 percent by the end of the year. The risk of such a hike is a contraction in the economy, but with inflation as a driver of recession itself, most analysts see the Fed as not having much of a choice.
“The twin shocks of the war in Ukraine and the build-up of momentum in elevated U.S. and Europe inflation will lead to a recession in the U.S. and a growth recession in the euro area within the next two years,” researchers at Deutsche Bank forecasted earlier this month.
“More troubling, especially in the U.S., are signs that the underlying drivers of inflation have broadened, emanating from very tight labor market conditions and spreading from goods to services,” the company said. “The forecast is for inflation to recede to more desired levels over the next several years assuming there are no other geopolitical or other supply shocks and that central banks take action, just in time, to keep inflation expectations anchored. Should these assumptions prove incorrect, inflation pressure, central bank tightening, and economic downturns could all be more intense than baseline projections.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/mortgage-rates-top-5-percent-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade/ | 2022-04-14T20:36:03 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/mortgage-rates-top-5-percent-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade/ |
2 bird flu cases confirmed in US zoos as virus spreads
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in U.S. zoos, but officials said they won’t order widespread euthanasia of zoo birds the way they have on farms.
U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Mike Stepien declined to release any details about the zoo cases Thursday, including which two zoos were involved.
Many zoos across the country have closed down their aviaries and moved birds inside whenever possible to help protect them from avian influenza that officials believe is primarily being spread by the droppings of wild birds.
At many zoos, penguins might be the only birds visitors can see because they are generally kept inside behind glass where they are shielded from the virus.
Nearly 27 million chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered in 26 states to limit the spread of bird flu during this year’s outbreak. Officials order entire flocks to be killed when the virus is found on farms.
Stepien said zoos work with state veterinary officials when the virus is found, but unlike farms, zoos are generally allowed to isolate and treat an infected bird as long as they take precautions to protect the other birds in their collections.
Health officials emphasize that bird flu doesn’t jeopardize food safety because infected birds aren’t allowed into the food supply and properly cooking meat and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses. The disease also doesn’t represent any immediate public health threat, and no human cases have been found in America.
This year’s outbreak is the worst one since 2015 when roughly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered because of the virus. Stepien said that there were very few bird flu cases in captive wild birds in 2015 and none in large zoos, and no wild birds at zoos were euthanized that year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ | 2022-04-14T20:36:04 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ |
Alabama administrators suspend students following swap of high schools for senior prank
CHILTON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Some high school seniors in Alabama are saying the punishments they’ve received from school administrators for a senior prank are too harsh.
The students planned the prank through a Snapchat group message, according to WBRC. The idea was that students from two different high schools would attend the other school for the day. Close to two dozen students from Chilton County High School and Jemison High School participated. Now, several feel the consequences for the prank are over the top.
“My scholarships are in jeopardy because of this,” Haileigh Greer, a senior at Jemison High School, said.
Greer was not the only Jemison senior who participated in the senior prank. Kathryn Blow did as well, and believes the district’s punishment is far too harsh for what they call a harmless prank.
“I just don’t think that’s very fair. I think it’s really blown out of proportion,” Blow said.
Some Chilton County High School students agree. That includes Colby Hughes, who says past pranks were way worse.
“Past classes have peed on the gym floor, put desks on the ceiling, and pigs in the school, and all we did was swap schools and we got suspended for three days -- goes on our transcripts, all of that,” Hughes said.
Several students fear this will hurt their grades and chances to pick up scholarships. While Greer knows the students must face punishment, she never suspected she would be stripped of her passion -- softball.
“I don’t mind the three day suspension. I understand,” she said. “But we shouldn’t have gotten kicked off the teams. I mean, I have played softball since I was 8 and I got kicked off my senior year.”
Some people argued online that this is about student safety, and that’s why the district must be so strict.
Students like Chilton County Senior Austin Knight believe that isn’t the responsibility of the senior class.
“I think that’s the main thing they are upset about. It’s not our fault that your security is not as good,” Knight said.
WBRC reached out to the district for a comment.
Superintendent Jason Griffin stated, “Due to safety protocols, employee and student privacy rights, I will be unable to provide a statement or response.”
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ | 2022-04-14T20:36:11 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ |
CUTE: Firefighters save baby owl that fell from nest
Published: Apr. 14, 2022 at 2:06 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (CNN) - The Los Angeles Fire Department saved a baby owl that fell from its nest.
The baby got separated from its mom after taking a tumble from high atop a house in Woodland Hills.
The people who live there found the little bird, and firefighters showed up to make sure the baby got back home safe and sound.
With a gentle touch – and a ladder – the feathered family was finally reunited.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/cute-firefighters-save-baby-owl-that-fell-nest/ | 2022-04-14T20:36:20 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/cute-firefighters-save-baby-owl-that-fell-nest/ |
Man blaming Trump’s ‘orders’ for riot actions found guilty
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Ohio man who testified that he was “following presidential orders” from Donald Trump when he stormed the U.S. Capitol was convicted Thursday of obstructing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
A federal jury also found Dustin Byron Thompson, 38, guilty of stealing a coat rack from an office inside the Capitol during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Thompson’s jury trial was the third among hundreds of Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department. In the first two cases, jurors convicted both defendants of all charges.
Thompson, an exterminator who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the first Capitol riot defendant to mount a trial defense blaming Trump and members of his inner circle for the insurrection.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal jury began deliberating Thursday in the trial of an Ohio man who testified he was “following presidential orders” from Donald Trump when he stormed the U.S. Capitol last year.
Jurors heard attorneys’ closing arguments in the trial of Dustin Byron Thompson, who is charged with obstructing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory and stealing a coat rack from a Capitol office during the riot on Jan. 6 of last year.
Thompson, 38, of Columbus, Ohio, is the fifth defendant to be tried among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. He is the first to mount a defense blaming Trump and members of the president’s inner circle for the insurrection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dreher said that Thompson, a college-educated exterminator who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, knew he was breaking the law when he joined the mob that attacked the Capitol and, in his case, looted the Senate parliamentarian’s office. The prosecutor told jurors that Thompson’s lawyer “wants you to think you have to choose between President Trump and his client.”
“You don’t have to choose because this is not President Trump’s trial. This is the trial for Dustin Thompson because of what he did at the Capitol on the afternoon on Jan. 6,” Dreher said.
Defense attorney Samuel Shamansky said Thompson hasn’t avoided taking responsibility for his conduct that day.
“This shameful chapter in our history is all on TV,” Shamansky told jurors.
But he said Thompson, unemployed and consumed by a steady diet of conspiracy theories, was vulnerable to Trump’s lies about a stolen election. He described Thompson as a “pawn” and Trump as a “gangster” who abused his power to manipulate supporters.
“The vulnerable are seduced by the strong, and that’s what happened here,” Shamansky said.
Thompson’s jury trial is the third among hundreds of Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department. In the first two cases, jurors convicted the defendants of all charges.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton barred Thompson’s lawyer from calling Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as trial witnesses. But the judge ruled that jurors could hear recordings of speeches that Trump and Giuliani delivered on Jan. 6, before the riot erupted. A recording of Trump’s remarks was played.
Shamansky claimed that Giuliani incited rioters by encouraging them to engage in “trial by combat” and that Trump provoked the mob by saying that “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Dreher told jurors that neither Trump nor Giuliani had the authority to “make legal” what Thompson did at the Capitol.
Thompson, who testified on Wednesday, admitted that he joined the mob’s attack and stole the coat rack and a bottle of bourbon from the Senate parliamentarian’s office. He said he regretted his “disgraceful” behavior.
“I can’t believe the things that I did,” he said. “Mob mentality and group think is very real and very dangerous.”
Thompson said he believed Trump’s false claim that the election was stolen and was trying to stand up for the lame duck president.
“If the president is giving you almost an order to do something, I felt obligated to do that,” he testified.
Thompson is charged with six counts: obstructing Congress’ joint session to certify the Electoral College vote, theft of government property, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
The obstruction count is the only felony charge. The rest are misdemeanors.
Thompson drove from Ohio to Washington with a friend, Robert Lyon, who also was arrested less than a month after the riot. Lyon pleaded guilty in March to two misdemeanors — theft of government property and disorderly conduct — and is to be sentenced June 3.
Thompson and Lyon took an Uber ride into Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. After Trump’s speech, they headed to the Capitol.
Thompson was wearing a bulletproof vest when he entered the building and went to the parliamentarian’s office, The FBI said agents later searched Lyon’s cellphone and found a video that showed a ransacked office and Thompson yelling: “Wooooo! ‘Merica Hey! This is our house!”
“(Trump) didn’t force you to go. He didn’t force you to walk every step of the way to the Capitol building, did he?” Dreher asked Thompson on Wednesday.
“No,” Thompson said.
“You chose to do that?” Dreher asked.
“I was following presidential orders, but yes,” Thompson said.
More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes arising from the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. Thompson is the fifth person to be tried on riot-related charges.
On Monday, a jury convicted a former Virginia police officer, Thomas Robertson, of storming the Capitol with another off-duty officer. Last month, a jury convicted a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the building with a holstered handgun.
A judge hearing testimony without a jury decided cases against two other Capitol riot defendants at separate bench trials. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted one of them of all charges and partially acquitted the other.
___
Associated Press reporter Jacques Billeaud contributed from Phoenix.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/man-blaming-trumps-orders-riot-actions-awaits-verdict/ | 2022-04-14T20:36:28 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/14/man-blaming-trumps-orders-riot-actions-awaits-verdict/ |
Sponsored - The following content is created on behalf of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach and does not reflect the opinions of Gray Media or its editorial staff. To learn more about Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, visit www.mtko.org.
This September, Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is celebrating 30 years in the Lincoln community.
Matt Talbot started in 1992, when Mary Costello saw an unmet need in Lincoln and reached out to people experiencing homelessness by serving a meal on Saturday nights.
The need was great so Mary, Ruth McKinstry and a few others reached out to their churches and found that more people wanted to help. Soon meals were served every day through faith-based, inclusive and completely volunteer efforts.
Since that first meal in 1992, more than 2.4 million meals have been served to those who hunger for food and a better life.
But, Matt Talbot offers more than than just meal services. The mission of the organization is to serve the needs of Lincoln’s working poor and homeless by relieving hunger, overcoming homelessness, addressing addiction, and providing outreach and advocacy.
Executive Director Suzanne Blue says Matt Talbot is also working towards offering mental health services, as she says they see a great need for it in the Lincoln community.
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is named after an Irish Catholic man born in 1856. Talbot starting working as a messenger for a wine merchant at age 12, began drinking heavily and was a confirmed alcoholic by the age of 13. He continued his alcoholic ways until, at 28, he vowed to quit drinking and devote his life to working and doing penance. He remained sober until he died in 1925.
Talbot supported his sobriety with prayer, spiritual reading, worship, and community support. In 1975, Pope Paul VI declared him to be Venerable Matt Talbot which is a step toward sainthood. For alcoholics of all faiths, his life provides a powerful example of conversion, recovery, and hope.
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach in Lincoln is just one of many agencies throughout the country and world that bear his name.
Learn more about the organization in the video above. To donate to Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, scan the QR code in this story or visit www.mtko.org/donate.
Items can also be donated. Priority items include bikes/bike locks and microwaves, but the organization is also accepting gift cards, non-perishable foods, soaps and other hygiene products, and bottled water. The complete donation wish list can be found here.
Also, volunteers are always needed to keep meal and other service programs going. Click here if you are interested in volunteering with Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach. Each year, volunteers are recognized during the Feeding the Soul of the City fundraising event, which will be held on June 9, 2022, at the Country Club of Lincoln. | https://www.1011now.com/sponsored/matt-talbot-kitchen-outreach/celebrating-years-matt-talbot/ | 2022-04-14T20:36:36 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/sponsored/matt-talbot-kitchen-outreach/celebrating-years-matt-talbot/ |
A week ago, Caleb Martin was making Trae Young earn everything as the Miami Heat pushed past the Atlanta Hawks during the Heat’s regular-season home finale at FTX Arena, holding Young to 3 of 12 shooting from the field in the second half.
Starting Sunday, that again could be Martin’s challenge, with perhaps even a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
While the Heat won’t know their opening-round NBA playoff opponent until Friday night’s winner-take-all play-in game between the visiting Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, it was Young and the Hawks who knocked Martin’s twin brother, Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin, out of the playoffs Wednesday in a play-in first-round game.
“I talked to him [Wednesday],” Caleb said of Cody. “Everybody worked so hard to get to that point, and obviously it didn’t go well enough to advance. So it’s always a bad feeling when the season ends early.”
At some point, Caleb said after Thursday’s practice, he expects his brother to be offering support from the stands during the postseason.
“I mean, he’ll probably take a little bit of time,” Caleb said, “But I know he wants to come here and watch me play, too. So I’m sure he’ll come here as soon as he feels ready to watch basketball again. When the season ends early like that, you don’t feel like watching nothing.”
And if it’s not Caleb Martin being unleashed on Young after a Hawks win Friday, then he’ll likely be set loose on emerging Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, should Cleveland win against Atlanta.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said the Heat hardly could have forecasted they were getting a potential playoff lockdown defender when they added Martin in the offseason, after the Hornets released Caleb earlier in the summer.
“For any of us to say, ‘Hey, we predicted any of this,’ that’s not authentic,” Spoelstra said. “But we also didn’t want to put a ceiling on anybody. You wanted to just be open-minded. We were just getting to know in September, in training camp.
“We really liked his competitiveness and he’s a gamer. He’s proven that over the course of his college career and early on in Charlotte. He has a wide range of skills on both sides of the floor. He’s got exceptional quickness. He’s coachable. He’s competitive. That’s the most important thing. You can mold guys when they have that kind of makeup.”
Waiting game
Spoelstra said the Heat remain limited in playoff preparation, although he did acknowledge similarities between the Hawks and Cavs.
“You want me to go through the whole scouting report?” said Spoelstra, who didn’t. “Yeah, there’s some basic things that no matter who your playoff opponent would be that you have to tighten up defensively. And then we’re just continuing to work on our conditioning and rhythm and our flow offensively. You can never work on that stuff enough.
“And it’s been really beneficial to have this practice time, to get a little bit more detailed. And then we’ll find out who we will play all at the same time.”
The waiting has been the hardest part.
“Whoever our opponent is, we’ll be ready for ‘em,” guard Tyler Herro. “And we’ll be watching on Friday and we’ll see what happens and we’ll go from there.”
Tucker works
Power forward P.J. Tucker, who missed Sunday’s season-ending road loss to the Orlando Magic with a calf strain sustained last Friday against the Hawks, again went through vigorous drills after practice.
“He had a lather,” was a far as Spoelstra was willing to go about Tucker’s status.
Center Bam Adebayo remained away from the team, after being placed in NBA health-and-safety protocols Sunday.
“I’ve been in constant communication with him,” Spoelstra said.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/heat-playoff-matchup-could-be-about-settling-a-score-for-caleb-martin/ | 2022-04-14T20:37:18 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/heat-playoff-matchup-could-be-about-settling-a-score-for-caleb-martin/ |
With the 2021 NFL Draft fast approaching, here’s where Gang Green stands with its interior defensive line.
The Jets feel they have enough with their core group going into the 2022 campaign. Team brass doesn’t blame their inability to stop the run last season — the Jets allowed 2,343 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground (fourth and first most in the NFL, respectively) — solely on this unit.
The interior defensive line has talent, anchored by former third-overall pick Quinnen Williams, along with Sheldon Rankins, free-agent pickup Solomon Thomas and Jonathan Marshall. But the Jets did lose run-stuffing Folorunso Fatukasi to a free-agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. John Franklin-Myers is a defensive end, but will rush the passer from the inside on third downs while being lined up at DE on first and second downs.
The Jets are hoping to see Marshall — a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas — become a legitimate contributor in his second year. Even though Thomas hasn’t lived up to his No. 3 overall draft status, he’s more than capable of being a solid depth piece. And he knows Robert Saleh’s system having played under Saleh from 2017-2020 in San Francisco.
The belief in the building is both Williams and Rankins will significantly improve in their second year in Saleh’s system.
But in 2021, this unit’s inconsistency was extremely frustrating. The talent was there, but the results were not.
Williams, the baby-faced former Alabama star, produced a solid season with six sacks, seven tackles for loss and 10 QB hits. He was 27th in total pressures (34) among interior defensive linemen.
Against the Titans in a Week 4 win, he flashed the ability that tantalizes Jets fans by being disruptive in the pass and run game with two sacks, two QB hits and a tackle for loss. The previous week against the Broncos, he finished with 1.5 sacks, two QB hits and one tackle for loss.
That was a positive two-game stretch, but there were moments when he disappeared like the last four games of the season when he didn’t finish with even a QB hit.
Williams doesn’t always play up to his potential, something he and members of the Jets coaching staff have acknowledged.
Rankins played well below expectation in his first season with the team after signing a two-year, $15 million free agent contract. He only finished with three sacks.
Coming into 2021, he was an offseason addition that excited folks because when healthy he could put QBs under duress like in 2018 when he finished with eight sacks for the New Orleans Saints.
Rankins didn’t rush the passer well last season as he only pressured QBs on 6.1% of his 358 pass rushes, third fewest among defensive lineman with over 150 snaps on the Jets, according to Next Gen Stats. And there were times when he struggled against the run when teams ran double teams at him.
Throughout the year, there were moments when this unit helped shut down the run and pressured QBs like games against the Patriots, Bengals and Texans when the Jets held those teams to under 110 yards rushing, while Williams and Rankins sacked the opposing QBs.
But those performances were a rarity.
There were other afternoons when the interior defensive line struggled with double teams on inside zone, traps runs and power runs.
The Thursday Night Football loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9 shined a national spotlight on those issues as the Jets allowed 260 yards rushing. The Colts averaged seven yards per rush before contact, the most since the stat was tracked in 2009.
Overall, the Jets allowed 1,008 yards on inside runs, second most in the NFL. To be fair, those problems don’t all rest on the shoulders of the interior defensive line as each group contributed heavily to the Jets’ porous run defense.
The linebacking and safety units deserve blame, too. But at least they had credible excuses as both units were ravaged by injuries compared to the interior defensive line being relatively healthy.
Going into the draft, the Jets have five picks in the first three rounds of the draft with two in the top 10.
They won’t draft a defensive tackle in the first round, but there’s a chance they could select a three-down lineman in the second, even though there are more pressing needs.
Options like Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt, UConn’s Travis Jones and Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey could be interesting for the Jets in the top three rounds. The Jets coached Winfrey and Jones up close at the Senior Bowl in February.
And they’ve shown interest in Winfrey and Wyatt by bringing them in for official pre-draft visits.
Going into the draft on April 28 there are more pressing defensive needs like cornerback, safety and edge, but the interior defensive line could use additional talent.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/jets-draft-preview-what-gang-green-has-and-still-needs-on-the-interior-defensive-line/ | 2022-04-14T20:37:24 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/jets-draft-preview-what-gang-green-has-and-still-needs-on-the-interior-defensive-line/ |
So, it’s early and the Twins aren’t exactly mathematically eliminated from postseason play. Nevertheless, Wednesday was a bad day for the local 9. It wasn’t a great day for Baseball with a capital “B,” either.
For that, the Twins can be grateful.
Had Dodgers manager Dave Roberts not pulled Clayton Kershaw within six outs of Major League Baseball’s 24th perfect game on Wednesday, well, it certainly appeared the Twins were willing to play the role of the historically vanquished. They had struck out 13 times in seven innings and had generously come close to a hit twice.
Roberts’ decision, one can argue, made some sense because Kershaw, a veteran pitcher with an injury history, had only one spring simulated game under his belt and already had thrown 102 pitches in seven … . Wait, I’m getting new information. Sorry, he had already thrown 90 pitches in sev– … Wait, sorry. What? OK, Kershaw had thrown 80 pitches.
Ouch.
The Twins managed only four three-ball counts – two by Byron Buxton, one by Jorge Polanco and one by Miguel Sano – and turned three of them into strikeouts. They didn’t see a single pitch that wasn’t a strike in the third inning, and saw just one in the fifth. It was cold, 38 degrees at first pitch.
Alex Vesia started the eighth and promptly gave up a single to Gary Sanchez and walked Max Kepler. The end result for the Twins was one hit, one walk and a 7-0 loss. For just about anyone watching, it was a major disappointment. If any time called for a hotline straight from the dugout to the commissioner, this was it.
“Yes, Mr. Commissioner. I’m here.”
“He stays.”
Click. Bzzzzzzz.
After a lockout that seriously threatened to cancel the season, and in the end postponed it, baseball needs all the goodwill — and excitement — it can muster. There is only one way that letting Kershaw pitch would have backfired, and that is the off-chance that the left-hander had been seriously injured. Not sure what the actuarial tables have to say on that, but it seems like a longshot. So what if he gets tired and misses a start?
For one thing, this was no run-of-the-mill, six-walk no-hitter. There have been only 23 perfect games thrown since 1880. And, again, Kershaw wasn’t hanging on by way of a few great defensive plays; he was in complete control. He threw six pitches in the third, eight in the fifth. Maybe he does that in the eighth and ninth. It wasn’t out of the question.
A perfect game would have been baseball’s first in nearly 10 full years, since Felix Hernandez blanked Tampa Bay on Aug. 15, 2012. Had Kershaw come out for the eighth, broadcasts of Wednesday’s four other day games would have at least debated cutting into the Twins-Dodgers game, and certainly would have done so if Kershaw had made it to the ninth without a scratch.
Had Kershaw gotten six more consecutive outs, he would have joined baseball’s most exclusive club. Fans would have come home from work and turned on MLB TV to see the highlights, or perhaps even watch a replay of the game. It would have been good for a sport that spent most of the previous six months alienating its fans.
Still, the Twins can be grateful. Later on Wednesday, the Saints were no-hit by Indianapolis in a 5-0 loss at CHS Field. One hit between the organization’s top two stops isn’t anyone’s idea of a great day, but it’s better than no combined hits. So, now the Twins begin a series at Boston on Friday in a hitting slump — .181 team batting average, 29th in baseball — as opposed to hot off a historic failure.
They can thank Roberts.
“It’s a hard thing to have to come out of the game when you’re doing that, but … we’re here to win,” Kershaw told reporters, perhaps implying that there was a danger of the Twins rallying for eight unanswered runs. “This was the right choice.”
Said Roberts, “I think there’s a point where I’ve got to decide, ‘To what end?’ ”
To what end? History, Mr. Roberts. History. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/pulling-kershaw-was-good-for-twins-bad-for-baseball/ | 2022-04-14T20:37:30 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/pulling-kershaw-was-good-for-twins-bad-for-baseball/ |
The Greater Twin Cities United Way is awarding $12.1 million to 90 nonprofits in the metro area, with a special focus on housing, poverty reduction in communities of color and trauma-informed childcare.
The funding includes multi-year grants for nonprofits working in the area of housing, food, education and workforce, as well as grants for at least eight partnerships between schools and businesses that provide work experiences for youth through the United Way’s Career Academies initiative.
Race and ethnicity “sit at the intersection of disparities in income, housing, education and overall wellbeing,” said Acooa Ellis, the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Senior Vice President of Community Impact, in a written statement. The funding grants starts July 1.
In May, United Way’s “Resilient from the Start” initiative will also back a series of grants for early childhood education providers, with the expectation they’ll expand trauma-sensitive care for children up to three years old, as well as their families. The inaugural cohort will support a year of training, coaching, peer learning and organizational changes.
More information is online at gtcuw.org. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/united-way-targets-housing-racial-inequity-trauma-sensitive-childcare-with-12-1-million-grants-to-90-nonprofits/ | 2022-04-14T20:37:37 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/united-way-targets-housing-racial-inequity-trauma-sensitive-childcare-with-12-1-million-grants-to-90-nonprofits/ |
For the first time in Adam Thielen’s career, this offseason brought up some question marks about his future with the Vikings.
With a massive cap hit to his name, and the Vikings trying to execute what general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah dubbed a competitive rebuild, there was speculation that Thielen could be on the move.
Those rumors were put to bed last month when Thielen agreed to restructure his contract. The agreement saved the Vikings more than $5 million against the cap this season and provided Thielen with some additional guaranteed money.
How worried was Thielen that he might be on the move? Not very.
“I’m a believer of just letting things play out,” he said this week. “There was no stress on my part; maybe more on my agent. That’s why he’s my agent.”
Asked why he agreed to restructure his contract in the first place, Thielen noted how a lot of it came down to job security. He wanted to know he was going to be a part of the organization’s future with Adofo-Mensah and new head coach Kevin O’Connell leading the charge.
“I would hate to leave at this point in my career,” Thielen said. “I’m excited to be here. Hopefully I can retire a Viking.”
In that same breath, Thielen mentioned his excitement for what O’Connell brings to the table.
“It’s always exciting to have that change and new leadership,” he said. “Now we’ve got to go and put the work in. We’ve still got to do our job. Just because we have change doesn’t mean we’re going to have success. We’ve got to put the work in. We have to understand that. There’s still a long ways to go.”
In a perfect world for Thielen, with O’Connell in charge, the Vikings will re-establish themselves among the best offenses in the league. Looking at some of the weapons on the roster, there’s reason to believe the Vikings might not be far off from that.
As far as first impressions go, Thielen is excited about the new offense that O’Connell has started to install. It’s not hard to imagine Thielen and Justin Jefferson wreaking havoc on opposing secondaries on a weekly basis.
“I think some of the route stuff is more player-friendly,” Thielen said. “There’s a lot more feel to it, rather than, ‘You’ve got to do this at this point at this time.’ ”
The installation process will span the next few weeks.
“We haven’t really talked about plays much,” Thielen said. “Just kind of starting the basics right now with formations and of some terminology stuff. From what I’ve seen from afar, though, it’s definitely an offense that kind of just lets players do what they do well.” | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/vikings-star-adam-thielen-excited-for-new-offense-under-kevin-oconnell/ | 2022-04-14T20:37:43 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/vikings-star-adam-thielen-excited-for-new-offense-under-kevin-oconnell/ |
The game had been over for about 15 minutes on Tuesday night at the Xcel Energy Center and Ryan Hartman was still hot.
With the Wild in complete control against the Edmonton Oilers, winger Evander Kane showed his frustrations by crushing Kirill Kaprizov with a dirty crosscheck after the whistle. Not surprisingly, Kaprizov’s teammates came rushing to his defense, with Hartman flying in to drop the gloves with Kane.
As the officials separated both players on the ice, Hartman gave Kane the middle finger, a gesture that’s usually followed by a fine of some sort. Asked postgame about potentially getting fined, Hartman replied, “Well worth it.”
On Wednesday morning, the NHL fined Hartman the maximum allotment of $4,250 for unsportsmanlike conduct. That would’ve been the end of the story had it not been for Wild fans rushing to Hartman’s defense, much like he rushed to Kaprizov’s defense 24 hours earlier.
In a viral movement on Venmo, hundreds of Wild fans sent money to help Hartman pay off his fine. The transactions were still rolling in ahead of the Wild’s game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night at the American Airlines Center.
“As a team, we’ve stuck together all season and defended each other, and now the fans are part of that,” Hartman told reporters in Dallas. “It was pretty cool to see them get behind us like that.”
It was a complete shock to Hartman in real time. He’s been in the league for nearly a decade and can’t recall a time something like this has happened.
“It’s something I wasn’t really expecting,” he said. “I’ve been fined a few times in my career and it’s the first time I’ve had a fan base try to help pay it off for me.”
As for the fine, Hartman made it clear that he will be paying it himself. He took to Twitter and alerted Wild fans that he plans to donate all the money in his Venmo account to Children’s Hospital Minnesota. He added that he would be accepting donations until 7 p.m. on Friday.
That’s the gesture Hartman wants to be remembered for moving forward, not flipping off Kane the other night.
“Obviously. I don’t want to be a bad role model to young hockey players,” Hartman told reporters. “Just something that kind of happened in the spur of the moment.” | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/wild-fans-use-venmo-to-help-ryan-hartman-pay-off-league-fine/ | 2022-04-14T20:37:49 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/14/wild-fans-use-venmo-to-help-ryan-hartman-pay-off-league-fine/ |
2 bird flu cases confirmed in US zoos as virus spreads
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in U.S. zoos, but officials said they won’t order widespread euthanasia of zoo birds the way they have on farms.
U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Mike Stepien declined to release any details about the zoo cases Thursday, including which two zoos were involved.
Many zoos across the country have closed down their aviaries and moved birds inside whenever possible to help protect them from avian influenza that officials believe is primarily being spread by the droppings of wild birds.
At many zoos, penguins might be the only birds visitors can see because they are generally kept inside behind glass where they are shielded from the virus.
Nearly 27 million chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered in 26 states to limit the spread of bird flu during this year’s outbreak. Officials order entire flocks to be killed when the virus is found on farms.
Stepien said zoos work with state veterinary officials when the virus is found, but unlike farms, zoos are generally allowed to isolate and treat an infected bird as long as they take precautions to protect the other birds in their collections.
Health officials emphasize that bird flu doesn’t jeopardize food safety because infected birds aren’t allowed into the food supply and properly cooking meat and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses. The disease also doesn’t represent any immediate public health threat, and no human cases have been found in America.
This year’s outbreak is the worst one since 2015 when roughly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered because of the virus. Stepien said that there were very few bird flu cases in captive wild birds in 2015 and none in large zoos, and no wild birds at zoos were euthanized that year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ | 2022-04-14T20:40:55 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ |
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Alabama administrators suspend students following swap of high schools for senior prank
CHILTON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Some high school seniors in Alabama are saying the punishments they’ve received from school administrators for a senior prank are too harsh.
The students planned the prank through a Snapchat group message, according to WBRC. The idea was that students from two different high schools would attend the other school for the day. Close to two dozen students from Chilton County High School and Jemison High School participated. Now, several feel the consequences for the prank are over the top.
“My scholarships are in jeopardy because of this,” Haileigh Greer, a senior at Jemison High School, said.
Greer was not the only Jemison senior who participated in the senior prank. Kathryn Blow did as well, and believes the district’s punishment is far too harsh for what they call a harmless prank.
“I just don’t think that’s very fair. I think it’s really blown out of proportion,” Blow said.
Some Chilton County High School students agree. That includes Colby Hughes, who says past pranks were way worse.
“Past classes have peed on the gym floor, put desks on the ceiling, and pigs in the school, and all we did was swap schools and we got suspended for three days -- goes on our transcripts, all of that,” Hughes said.
Several students fear this will hurt their grades and chances to pick up scholarships. While Greer knows the students must face punishment, she never suspected she would be stripped of her passion -- softball.
“I don’t mind the three day suspension. I understand,” she said. “But we shouldn’t have gotten kicked off the teams. I mean, I have played softball since I was 8 and I got kicked off my senior year.”
Some people argued online that this is about student safety, and that’s why the district must be so strict.
Students like Chilton County Senior Austin Knight believe that isn’t the responsibility of the senior class.
“I think that’s the main thing they are upset about. It’s not our fault that your security is not as good,” Knight said.
WBRC reached out to the district for a comment.
Superintendent Jason Griffin stated, “Due to safety protocols, employee and student privacy rights, I will be unable to provide a statement or response.”
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:02 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ |
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CUTE: Firefighters save baby owl that fell from nest
Published: Apr. 14, 2022 at 3:06 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (CNN) - The Los Angeles Fire Department saved a baby owl that fell from its nest.
The baby got separated from its mom after taking a tumble from high atop a house in Woodland Hills.
The people who live there found the little bird, and firefighters showed up to make sure the baby got back home safe and sound.
With a gentle touch – and a ladder – the feathered family was finally reunited.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/cute-firefighters-save-baby-owl-that-fell-nest/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:09 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/cute-firefighters-save-baby-owl-that-fell-nest/ |
A public library in Ridgeland, Miss., is on track to receive full funding as of April 2022 after the city and the Madison County Library System resolved a dispute. In January 2022, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee said he planned to withhold $110,000 of public money from the library after he received complaints about the library displaying books “inappropriate for children,” including some LGBTQ-themed books similar to these that were photographed Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.
RIDGELAND • A Mississippi library is on track to receive the full amount of money it was budgeted, months after a mayor threatened to withhold funding because the library displayed LGBTQ books for young readers.
The city of Ridgeland and the Madison County Library System reached an agreement this week to end the dispute, news outlets reported. In a joint statement, the two sides said they support a diverse library collection "consistent with the American Library Association's Bill of Rights."
"Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Our libraries are a repository of knowledge and culture, providing far more than access to books," the statement said.
John Scanlon, an attorney representing Ridgeland, told WLBT-TV that the city does not determine what material the library puts on its shelves.
"The new contract says nothing about the city controlling the contents of the library," Scanlon said.
Tonja Johnson, executive director of the Madison County Library System, said in January that Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee said he would withhold $110,000 from the Ridgeland Library because he received citizen complaints about books that depicted members of the LGBTQ community.
"Funding for this year was being withheld until we removed what he called 'homosexual material' from the library," Johnson told WAPT-TV. "His reasoning that he gave was that, as a Christian, he could not support that, and that he would not release funding until we remove the material."
The move is part of a larger trend of conservatives trying to limit the type of books available to children. A Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Holocaust was banned by a Tennessee school district, while the Republican governors in South Carolina and Texas have called on superintendents to perform a systematic review of "inappropriate" materials in their states' schools.
In a statement to news outlets in January, McGee didn't expressly confirm that he was withholding public money over LGBTQ literature but said he believes some of the books are "inappropriate for children."
"Sexual connotations are not appropriate for children when they enter the library," said McGee, a Republican who has been mayor of the Jackson suburb since 1989.
The Ridgeland Board of Aldermen approved the city budget in the fall. Alderman Ken Heard said early this year that the mayor lacked the authority to unilaterally deny funds to the library. | https://www.djournal.com/print-features/money-spat-resolved-over-lgbtq-books-at-mississippi-library/article_cd2327fb-b683-5bfd-bee7-6e585d4e8022.html | 2022-04-14T20:41:13 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/print-features/money-spat-resolved-over-lgbtq-books-at-mississippi-library/article_cd2327fb-b683-5bfd-bee7-6e585d4e8022.html |
Firebird’s goalie breaks record for most wins in a season
FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - The franchise record book continues to be re-written this season by the Flint Firebirds.
As a team, they have got the most wins, their captain has the most points and goals, and the starter between the pipes has the most post game celebrations.
In a season full of record-breaking performances, Firebird’s goaltender Luke Cavallin is re-writing franchise history, breaking the team record for most wins in a season by a goalie.
“Honestly, I think that’s a great achievement, but I think it just goes to show how good of a team we have this year. I think that’s a team effort and to do that is really special,” Cavallin said.
This is Cavallin’s fifth year with the Firebirds, but first as the number one goalie. He has a record of 35-13-4, with a .911 save percentage.
Head coach Ted Dent said Cavallin’s success is not by accident. He puts in the work it takes to excel.
“He prepares. He takes care of his body. He eats right. He’s the first one here every day getting ready for practice getting ready for games and he has some professional habits for sure and I think that’s a big part of it,” Dent said.
“I feel like I’ve been ready for a while, and I’ve been preparing for this from day one. I think the mentality is a little bit different this year and uh just trying to it’s an adjustment to play back-to-back and even three games in a row, but I think the team’s been awesome in front of me makes the job a lot easier and yeah, it’s been a lot of fun,” Cavallin said.
Cavallin and the Firebirds play the final two games of the regular season at home against the Soo Greyhounds on Friday and Saturday. They will have home ice advantage against either Guelph or Owen Sound in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/firebirds-goalie-breaks-record-most-wins-season/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:16 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/firebirds-goalie-breaks-record-most-wins-season/ |
OXFORD – For the next step in his football career, Ole Miss made a lot of sense for Mason Brooks.
The former Western Kentucky offensive tackle played in one of the most pass-heavy offenses in college football last season. The Hilltoppers averaged nearly 50 pass attempts per game, and quarterback Bailey Zappe set the single-season record with 62 touchdown passes.
Brooks was first-team All-Conference USA last season and had a choice to make — enter the NFL draft or play another season of college football.
If the latter was the choice, which it ultimately was, he also had to decide where he would play. Brooks said he had a great relationship with the coaches at Western Kentucky, but at the end of the day had to make the best decision for his football career, no matter where it ended up taking him.
“As an older guy, you’re not really looking for the pizzazz or the photoshoots or whatnot. You’re really looking for some place that can increase your stock,” Brooks said.
Brooks said he started receiving inquiries from coaches “the second” he was officially in the transfer portal. He also opted to play in the Hilltoppers’ bowl game despite his choice to leave. That timeframe itself was a lot to handle — around the same time his football life was at a crossroads, massive tornadoes killed at least 77 people in Kentucky, including at least 12 in Bowling Green where Western Kentucky is located.
“You’ve got portal, you’ve got a tornado and you have a bowl game. (There was) a lot going on,” Brooks said.
The type of offense Ole Miss runs was a match made in heaven for what Brooks sought in his next program. It’s an ideal combination of pass blocking and run blocking, the latter of which is something he wanted more of on film. Ole Miss was 12th nationally in rushing yards per game and 22nd in passing. The Rebels’ offense also had a fun factor, much like the Hilltoppers’ air raid did.
“When I got my draft grade back, and I was kind of looking for what I wanted next, I wanted someone that was going to pass still, but had the ability to put that run blocking on tape,” Brooks said.
Brooks is slated to be the Rebels’ starting right tackle come fall and will be flanked by a veteran at every position, though some of those players are in different spots than they were a year ago.
There are some key differences between programs the size of Western Kentucky and Ole Miss. For starters, the day-in, day-out competition is better. But that’s one of the reasons Brooks opted for an SEC program — it was the closest thing to NFL competition without being the NFL. Brooks also admits the tempo Ole Miss uses is even faster than Western Kentucky’s was.
“If I’m not going to declare for the draft, when you go play against the best, what’s the closest I can get?” Brooks said. “The SEC West, bottom line, is the best of the best.”
Brooks also made sure to note that the food situation at Ole Miss was an offensive lineman’s dream come true. There is no shortage of refueling options at an SEC program.
“I was a skinny guy coming out of high school, I was only about 250. So, I used to just muscle PB&Js down. And now, you know, here, I can get PB&J, I can get a turkey sandwich, I can get some salmon. They do a really good job,” Brooks said with a smile. “When I first got here on my visit, they had a fridge stocked full of fresh fruit and gummies and all kinds of crackers, and they make their own trail mix. And I was like a kid in a candy shop. A fat kid in a candy shop. So, really exciting for me, foodwise.” | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/ole-miss/new-ole-miss-tackle-mason-brooks-wanted-to-face-the-best-of-the-best/article_588bace3-1dfd-5268-b935-e25dcae8e8cc.html | 2022-04-14T20:41:19 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/ole-miss/new-ole-miss-tackle-mason-brooks-wanted-to-face-the-best-of-the-best/article_588bace3-1dfd-5268-b935-e25dcae8e8cc.html |
Flint reaches contract agreement with AFSCME union
FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - Flint reached an agreement with its largest union that provides essential services to the city.
The city reached a new contract with local 1600 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
Mayor Sheldon Neeley made the official announcement during a virtual press conference Thursday.
“This is the first agreement since our community was deconstructed by Emergency Management Forcing Labor Agreements that were non-negotiable for the working men and women,” Neeley said.
“This is actually the first time in a decade we were able to negotiate a contract,” said union president Sam Muma.
The union advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services, and prosperity and opportunity for all working families and they’re set to improve three key concerns in the city.
“Blight, waste, and public safety are the top three things that need to be done in the community, so I thank the administration,” Muma said.
The new contract still needs to be approved by the Flint City Council.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/flint-reaches-contract-agreement-with-afscme-union/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:23 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/flint-reaches-contract-agreement-with-afscme-union/ |
Former UM professor sentenced on charges of exploiting of a minor
DETROIT (WNEM) - A former University of Michigan professor was sentenced to five years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to taking a minor girl across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct.
According to court documents, 69-year-old Stephen Shipps of Ann Arbor, worked at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance as a violin professor from 1989 to 2019.
Read: Owosso man found guilty of disturbing schools
Court records say Shipps knowingly took an under-age girl across state lines and intended to engage in sexual activity with in from February and March of 2002, and again in June and July of 2002.
“I want to commend the brave young women who, after many years, found the courage to come forward and expose the abuse they suffered at the hands of Shipps,” stated U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “I also want to thank the prosecutors and law enforcement officials who worked tirelessly to bring justice in this case.”
More: Grand Rapids police release footage of Patrick Lyoya shooting
In addition to his five years in prison, Shipps will also have to pay his victim $120,000 in restitution.
Sipps was also the director of the Strings Preparatory Program, which offered lessons to young musicians ranging from elementary school through high school. Shipps also taught at several other universities and schools.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/former-um-professor-sentenced-charges-child-exploitation-minor/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:29 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/former-um-professor-sentenced-charges-child-exploitation-minor/ |
Isabella Co. woman sentenced over 20 years for murder on Isabella Indian Reservation
BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) - A 22-year-old Isabella County woman was sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder committed on the Isabella Indian Reservation.
Kaden Elizabeth Gilbert, from Blanchard, was sentenced in Bay City in front of Judge Thomas Ludington.
In November 2020, Gilbert went to the victim’s home and stabbed with a knife cutting her femoral artery. The victim lost a lot of blood and died because of her injuries, according to court documents.
Gilbert, a non-Indian, committed the crime on the Isabella Reservation in Mt. Pleasant. The victim was Indian, according to the United States Department of Justice.
“My office extends its deepest condolences to the family of the victim in this case,” said U.S.
Attorney Dawn Ison. “It is our sincerest hope that this sentence brings a measure of justice to the
victim’s family and friends.”
“The FBI is committed to serving and protecting members of the Native American community –
especially when they are victimized on Tribal land,” said Special Agent in Charge James A.
Tarasca of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “I would like to thank the Mount Pleasant Police
Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for their partnership during this investigation.”
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/isabella-co-woman-sentenced-over-20-years-murder-isabella-indian-reservation/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:35 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/isabella-co-woman-sentenced-over-20-years-murder-isabella-indian-reservation/ |
Man blaming Trump’s ‘orders’ for riot actions found guilty
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Ohio man who claimed he was only “following presidential orders” from Donald Trump when he stormed the U.S. Capitol was quickly convicted Thursday of obstructing Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
Taking less then three hours, a federal jury also found Dustin Byron Thompson, 38, guilty of other offenses including stealing a coat rack from an office inside the Capitol during the riot on Jan. 6 of last year.
Jurors rejected Thompson’s novel defense, in which he blamed Trump and members of the president’s inner circle for the insurrection and for his own actions.
The judge didn’t buy that defense either, though he cast his own blame in Trump’s direction after the verdict was announced.
“I think our democracy is in trouble,” said District Judge Reggie Walton, adding that “charlatans” like Trump don’t care about democracy, only about power.
“And as a result of that, it’s tearing our country apart,” the judge said.
Prosecutors did not ask for Thompson to be detained immediately, but Walton ordered him held and he was led away handcuffed. The judge said he didn’t believe Thompson’s story, felt he was a flight risk and was a danger to the public. Sentencing was set for July 20.
Thompson’s jury trial was the third among hundreds of Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department. In the first two cases, jurors convicted both defendants of all charges.
Thompson, an exterminator who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the first Capitol riot defendant to mount a trial defense blaming Trump and members of his inner circle for the insurrection.
Jurors heard attorneys’ closing arguments earlier in the day.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dreher said that Thompson, a college-educated exterminator who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, knew he was breaking the law when he joined the mob that attacked the Capitol and, in his case, looted the Senate parliamentarian’s office. The prosecutor told jurors that Thompson’s lawyer “wants you to think you have to choose between President Trump and his client.”
“You don’t have to choose because this is not President Trump’s trial. This is the trial for Dustin Thompson because of what he did at the Capitol on the afternoon on Jan. 6,” Dreher said.
Defense attorney Samuel Shamansky said Thompson hasn’t avoided taking responsibility for his conduct that day.
“This shameful chapter in our history is all on TV,” Shamansky told jurors.
But he said Thompson, unemployed and consumed by a steady diet of conspiracy theories, was vulnerable to Trump’s lies about a stolen election. He described Thompson as a “pawn” and Trump as a “gangster” who abused his power to manipulate supporters.
“The vulnerable are seduced by the strong, and that’s what happened here,” Shamansky said.
Thompson’s jury trial is the third among hundreds of Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department. In the first two cases, jurors convicted the defendants of all charges.
Judge Walton barred Thompson’s lawyer from calling Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as trial witnesses. But the judge ruled that jurors could hear recordings of speeches that Trump and Giuliani delivered on Jan. 6, before the riot erupted. A recording of Trump’s remarks was played.
Shamansky claimed that Giuliani incited rioters by encouraging them to engage in “trial by combat” and that Trump provoked the mob by saying that “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Dreher told jurors that neither Trump nor Giuliani had the authority to “make legal” what Thompson did at the Capitol.
Thompson, who testified on Wednesday, admitted that he joined the mob’s attack and stole the coat rack and a bottle of bourbon from the Senate parliamentarian’s office. He said he regretted his “disgraceful” behavior.
“I can’t believe the things that I did,” he said. “Mob mentality and group think is very real and very dangerous.”
Thompson said he believed Trump’s false claim that the election was stolen and was trying to stand up for the lame duck president.
“If the president is giving you almost an order to do something, I felt obligated to do that,” he testified.
Thompson is charged with six counts: obstructing Congress’ joint session to certify the Electoral College vote, theft of government property, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
The obstruction count is the only felony charge. The rest are misdemeanors.
Thompson drove from Ohio to Washington with a friend, Robert Lyon, who also was arrested less than a month after the riot. Lyon pleaded guilty in March to two misdemeanors — theft of government property and disorderly conduct — and is to be sentenced June 3.
Thompson and Lyon took an Uber ride into Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. After Trump’s speech, they headed to the Capitol.
Thompson was wearing a bulletproof vest when he entered the building and went to the parliamentarian’s office, The FBI said agents later searched Lyon’s cellphone and found a video that showed a ransacked office and Thompson yelling: “Wooooo! ‘Merica Hey! This is our house!”
“(Trump) didn’t force you to go. He didn’t force you to walk every step of the way to the Capitol building, did he?” Dreher asked Thompson on Wednesday.
“No,” Thompson said.
“You chose to do that?” Dreher asked.
“I was following presidential orders, but yes,” Thompson said.
More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes arising from the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. Thompson is the fifth person to be tried on riot-related charges.
On Monday, a jury convicted a former Virginia police officer, Thomas Robertson, of storming the Capitol with another off-duty officer. Last month, a jury convicted a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the building with a holstered handgun.
A judge hearing testimony without a jury decided cases against two other Capitol riot defendants at separate bench trials. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted one of them of all charges and partially acquitted the other.
___
Associated Press reporter Jacques Billeaud contributed from Phoenix.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/man-blaming-trumps-orders-riot-actions-awaits-verdict/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:42 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/man-blaming-trumps-orders-riot-actions-awaits-verdict/ |
Owosso man found guilty of disturbing schools
CLARKSON, Mich. (WNEM) - A man from Owosso was found guilty after police say he was seen filming classrooms and interior areas of a school in Holly last year.
On March 10, 2021, a man entered the property of the Holly Area Schools Administration and Special Education Curriculum building, located at 920 Baird St. in Holly.
School staff saw the man walking outside the building with a video camera, filming classrooms and other areas inside the building, according to the Holly Police Department.
A school administrator asked the man what his intentions were. The man did not respond and he became argumentative, police said. The administrator placed the building in secure lockdown and called 911 out of caution.
An officer found the man and advised him he must leave the area. Police said the man refused and became argumentative with the officer.
Matthew Todd Wrosch, from Owosso, was arrested and charged with one count each of disturbing schools, persons creating disturbances to leave premises upon request and disorderly conduct.
During a jury trial at the 52nd District Court in Clarkson, Wrosch was found guilty of disturbing schools. His sentencing is scheduled for June 29 at 10:30 a.m.
The Holly Police Department said Wrosch is an active member of a group called the Michigan Constitutional Crusaders who seek out encounters with public officials and post videos to their website.
Wrosch has a criminal history with convictions that date back to 1993, including arson, possessing a weapon in a school zone, retail fraud, drunk driving, driving while suspended, larceny and check fraud, police said.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/owosso-man-found-guilty-disturbing-schools/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:48 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/owosso-man-found-guilty-disturbing-schools/ |
Oxford students, parents saying school board not doing enough to prevent tragedies like Nov. 2021 shooting
OXFORD, Mich. (WNEM) - Oxford residents gathered Thursday to discuss the current school safety plan following the deadly November shooting inside the high school where four students lost their lives and several other were injured.
Mike Aldred is one of many parents who said Oxford Community Schools is not doing enough to prevent the tragedy that took place on Nov. 30 from happening again.
“We’re here today to ask the Oxford School Board to finally start listening to the most important member of the community, the students,” Aldred said.
Aldred read an email from a student to school administrators asking them for help. The student was concerned after he arrived late to school one day earlier this year.
“Walked up to the door, pressed the button to be let in, I wasn’t asked a simple question on who I was, or what I was doing. They buzzed me in, I signed in, walked right into the school, and went to class. Along with that, the clear backpack that I was provided was not even searched,” Aldred said.
The group of parents and students, many wearing “Change 4 Oxford Shirts,” believe the school district is more concerned about protecting themselves from civil liability than getting to the bottom of what really happened that November day. They believe school administrators need to do three things right now.
“Hire a new independent school safety expert. Start a public and transparent update of Oxford’s school safety plans in which parents, but most importantly students, can offer input. Implement an updated school safety plan prior to the 2022-2023 school year, which can bring real change for Oxford while serving as a guide to all the other schools,” Aldred said.
The group said numerous attempts to convey their concerns and demands with school administrators have been met with little to no answer. They say Oxford Community Schools needs to do more to show they’ve learned their lesson.
“We’ve lost four amazing souls, our children have been affected, the community has been affected, no one should go through this,” Aldred said.
Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/oxford-students-parents-saying-school-board-not-doing-enough-prevent-tragedies-like-nov-2021-shooting/ | 2022-04-14T20:41:55 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/14/oxford-students-parents-saying-school-board-not-doing-enough-prevent-tragedies-like-nov-2021-shooting/ |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Richmond International Film and Music Festival is back!
The Richmond International Film Festival is one of the largest international competitive film festivals in the Mid-Atlantic, and brings more than 150 film premieres to Richmond. This year’s festival will feature 171 films from over 20 countries.
2022 marks the 11th annual festival, and will run for 6 days from June 7-12. The events will take place at several spots around the City, including The Byrd Theatre, Bowie Movieland Theater, In Your Ear Studio, Vagabond, and The Quirk Hotel.
The festival will feature nightly local, national and international music performances, as well as film panels, Q&As, mixers and more.
Festival passes are now on sale and start at $45 for a bundle of five film passes. Seats for the films can also be reserved individually on the film’s listed page.
Find a complete list of all films shown here. | https://www.wric.com/entertainment-news/11th-annual-richmond-international-film-festival-tickets-now-on-sale/ | 2022-04-14T20:48:38 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/entertainment-news/11th-annual-richmond-international-film-festival-tickets-now-on-sale/ |
A lot of college students have thought about launching a start-up, but many get stuck on the best way to do it — or what risks they'll encounter.
Starting your own business is always going to be a gamble. But if you can identify a need for a product or service, know your customer, have a sense of the demand and your competition, you will be off to a solid start. The great thing about launching a business while you're in college is that you have a built-in focus group with your peers, a ready-made market — and professors and others who can help guide you along the way. The key is to look at starting a business as a new assignment; you just need to do your research and break it down step by step.
Here are a few tips to help get you started:
1. Find a problem that you can solve
The first step: Define the business. But how do you do that? Be observant in finding a problem, a want or a need and then figure out what product or service you can create to solve that problem or meet demand for that want or need.
Manaav Mehta, an entrepreneur at UCLA, launched an app called Bolo, which is aimed at creating a space for college students in the same classes to communicate with each other. While taking online classes in 2020, many UCLA students were downloading GroupMe, a messaging app, and using it to facilitate conversations during the Covid-19 pandemic between clubs, teams, and students in the same classes
Money Report
However, after returning back to in-person classes it was difficult to create these group chats so he looked for a way to more easily facilitate these conversations. That's when he created Bolo to address that need.
"You create an account with your school email, so you get thrown into your school's platform database, and from there all you have to do is look up your class and press join," Mehta explained. "That saves the headache of you having to ask to be added, so everybody will be together in one class and it's safe because it's your school."
More from College Voices on being an entrepreneur:
What does it take to be a student entrepreneur?
College students used Instagram to sell face masks and other products during the pandemic
Generation Hustle: Young entrepreneurs got creative during the pandemic
How I started my own successful YouTube channel reviewing tech products
Christopher Cherian, CEO and co-founder of Gatherly, also developed his idea during the pandemic. He had arranged a Zoom birthday party as a student at University of Pennsylvania, with about 50 other people, and found the interactions to be awkward in the virtual setting. He realized that "Zoom is great for conference calls, [but] there is a fundamental difference between conference calls and conferences and that's what we need to build a virtual solution for."
Faced with this problem, Cherian and his three co-founders came up with the idea for Gatherly, a platform that makes socializing virtually a much more engaging experience. The idea was "less about coming up with an idea and more about finding a problem worth solving," Cherian said.
Christian Jackson, a student at Loyola Marymount University, is currently studying entrepreneurship and working on his own start-up, Mula. His enterprise aims to help production agencies build out their business infrastructure by assisting with back-end operations, such as managing finances.
He was able to find a more specific problem within a large industry and advise other young entrepreneurs that when looking for potential opportunities, "You can look at a bigger issue and then realize that there are a ton of aspects within that issue that need to be solved." Maybe that's where you fit in — you can be the one to solve that problem or make that component more efficient.
2. Figure out who your customers are and what the demand is
After coming up with an initial idea, it is important to understand what demographic you will be targeting and what these customers would be willing to pay for your product or service.
In fact, one of the top reasons businesses fail is the lack of a market need, according to research from CBInsights.
So, it's especially important to be thorough in researching the market for your product or service in order to determine if there is enough demand — and the presence of competitors.
Kurt Beyer, a professor of entrepreneurship at the University of California, focuses on teaching his students how to best frame opportunities and stresses the importance of developing ideas that are useful to consumers in the real world.
"People make the mistake of coming up with opportunities, not ideas. If these ideas have no viability they are useless because products and services have to be used in the real world."
3. Do your competitive analysis
Next, it's extremely important to research the competition.
Here are the questions you need to ask: What other companies are selling similar products and services to yours? Would your product or service be able to succeed in this market? How would yours stand out in the crowd?
"You have to look at the feasibility of getting into a certain market. I like to tell students that you always should keep in mind the concepts of desirability, feasibility and viability," said Domenick Celentano, a professor of entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Celentano says its key to have a strong understanding of the market before moving forward with an idea.
"Students ideate and then come up with some market research data," Celentano explained. "I will double-check that and find that with a simple search you will see that there are half a dozen other products or services in the same area."
4. Look for help from professors and experts
Be sure to take advantage of all the resources your university has to offer. Tap professors, people who run incubators or other experts for input: Is your product a good idea? Are there tweaks that could make it better? What do you need to include in a business plan?
"Your school will have some entrepreneurial center and they will also be very happy to connect you with the right resources or train you until you're ready," Gatherly's Cherian said.
Jasmine Mathai, one of Celentano's students at Fairleigh Dickinson University, is one of the founding members of the student-run snack bar Mansion Munchies, formerly Snax. Celentano helped do the marketing and design for the rebrand under its new name.
Now, Mathai is hoping to eventually open her own marketing firm and found that having access to faculty and peers to look to for advice and support has been an essential part of working toward her goals.
"I'm so grateful that I go to a school where we do have that community and we have those resources available to us whether they be through staff members or my friends here at school that are willing to offer their time and their knowledge to us as students and support us along the way," Mathai said.
"Without an idea of what's expected of you when you decide to take an idea and create it into a business, you're going to face some challenges that sometimes just require a person who will stand there and listen," Mathai said. "[T]here are failures and there are missteps, but that's all part of the learning process."
Celentano helps to facilitate the development of new, innovative ideas in his courses, but also suggests that students should take initiative to find resources outside the classroom. He suggested that students reach out to small business development centers, where counselors advise a whole range of people on how to grow their businesses.
"Those are good resources for students to go into because they counsel a wide range of businesses and they have a whole range of people who are counselors and you can be well served there," Celentano said.
Also, experts say you should be sure to check in with the Small Business Administration, an agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. There are many resources available to help you develop your business plan and expand that idea into a going concern.
But it's important to remember that even though this sprung from you — it's your idea — your business will be operating in a larger community, Beyer, the University of California professor, explained. So, it's important to connect with that community and really understand the whole ecosystem you will be operating in and serving.
5. Make a business plan
Now that you have finalized your idea, it is important to determine how much money you will need, how much time it will take to launch, where you will run this business from, etc. For example, if you're selling products, you need a place to store them. How are you getting them to customers? Delivery? Shipping? What will be your main advertising strategies?
Beyer says the pattern of building a company can be learned — and there are best practices to executing those steps.
He stresses the importance of learning from past strategies and understanding the common steps taken. "Just as it is difficult to become a doctor or lawyer because you have to learn so much that came before you and practice it, entrepreneurship is the same way. You have to have the discipline to learn those things as well."
One of the biggest mistakes people make, according to experts, is that they do not fully understand how difficult the process is and fail to take into account the amount of sacrifice that they will have to make and the opportunity cost of building a company.
6. Develop Your MVP (minimal viable product)
When it comes to developing a product, it is important to move fast and put your minimal viable product (MVP) out for feedback as soon as possible. This can be a much more basic version of the product than what most students expect.
Cherian advises young entrepreneurs to tackle this step much differently than they would most projects that they have worked on for classes, because "schools do a really good job of incentivizing you to put together this very beautiful, over-the-top final project, but that's not what entrepreneurship is. You need to put together a very common minimal viable product and put that out there to get feedback on it. So, you need to turn the education model on its head and say I would rather have a workable first version that I can show the community, get feedback on and then iterate on quickly."
7. Do a legal check-in
Before you get too far in the process, you need to address a few key legal questions: Do you need to register your business? Do you need any licenses or permits to do it? Are there regulations on this type of business, product or service?
It's important to speak to a lawyer to make sure you are compliant with all laws and regulations.
Cherian and his co-founders made the mistake of trying to take on the initial legal work on their own, without consulting the necessary experts. Looking back, he said that that was one of his main regrets with Gatherly.
"I wish we got an attorney to help us start our company," Cherian said. "We just did a little on our own — we played Google attorney, and we tried figuring out how to do it ourselves and that ended up biting us in the butt. We ended up having to go back and fix a lot of things that we had filed improperly and that cost us way more than if we hired a lawyer initially."
He acknowledges that many college students do not have access to an attorney so he suggests that they go to their college's law school where they will be able to consult clinics or volunteer programs where law students and professors can help them fill out the necessary paperwork.
8. Know the financial risks
Entrepreneurship is a fascinating concept to many college students, but it's important to know that there are many financial risks associated with starting your own business.
Entrepreneurship requires large investments of time and money and the process of getting started is often more grueling than most students expect.
Nearly half of entrepreneurs say their biggest motivation for starting their own business was the idea of being their own boss, according to a 2022 Guidant Financial survey. However, while they may have more freedom being their own boss, they have a lot more to lose if they are not successful. When it comes to investing your money, it is important to understand what risks you will be taking and what steps you can take to minimize these risks.
Mehta invested $8,000-$10,000 of his and his parents' money during the beginning stages of developing Bolo and most of that went to hiring freelance workers to do the coding. He is now working to make a profit off of this investment as he launches his app and brings in new customers.
Cherian also chose to raise his pre-seed round of funding from his family and friends. However, he outlined the many other ways that students could go about looking for investors at this stage. College is a great time to raise funds and/or look for angel investors, Cherian said.
It may seem amazing that someone would give you money for your vision, but you have to be realistic and make sure you see how the business cash flow would work. Don't hire too many people before you see how much you really have coming in. And don't give yourself or anyone an inflated salary just because there is money flowing.
When Cherian first started Gatherly, he was only making minimum wage. He now earns about $50,000 to $75,000 per year and hopes to pay himself a six-figure salary when Gatherly makes over $1 million in sales.
Both entrepreneurs also advise not to go into this profession for the money but rather for the passion of building new products.
Although some entrepreneurs look to their friends and family for initial investments, or turn to angel investors, there is also the option of looking for venture capital funding. Not every business needs to pursue this route, but some may be looking for larger amounts of capital in exchange for equity in the company. That could be the best option for taking on investors.
Jackson provided insight into this process, asserting that one of the pros of pursuing venture capital funding is that "if you're an early stage company they care a lot about your team. If you're the first founder right now be really privy to the fact that you should probably bring somebody on that is an expert in that area that you're in. Founder-industry fit is a big thing and not a lot of companies have that."
However, he warned that sometimes giving up equity in your business at an early stage can hurt you in the long run. He advised that "if you do raise funding in an early stage be aware of how much you are giving up because sometimes you will get ripped off in terms of how much money you're getting for the percentage of your company that you are giving away." It is important to take these risks into account when looking for early investments and figuring out which strategy is the best for your company.
9. Build your team
Once your business has been established, it is important to build a team of passionate and driven people that will help your business grow.
Beyer recommends working with a team to get started. Many college students have no experience with management and struggle to actually build out their organization unless they're backed by a strong team.
Mehta also echoed these same ideas. He explained that he wishes he had a team to help with the various aspects of his product so that it did not all fall to him.
"Have a team — I'm going at this all alone and I need some more people to help me whether that be sending emails to professors or running social media campaigns," Mehta said. While he knew that it was important to get his app Bolo out quickly, he thinks it is important not to rush into anything.
Cherian started Gatherly with three partners who were all college students at the time and felt that working together helped them succeed and figure out many aspects of their business from recruitment to sales pitches that may have been difficult for him to do all on his own.
While he says there are multiple ways to put together a successful team, he chose to found Gatherly with friends because "there are high levels of trust, and we all know strengths and weaknesses and we can play well around each other — think of it like a sports team."
Jackson had a different approach to building his team and suggests taking your time to find team members that are truly the best fit for your business. "You want to make sure you have a team that compliments one another and you also want a team that loves what you're doing," he said. "Otherwise, you're kind of wasting your time." He is currently happy with keeping his team small at Mula and is waiting to bring on more members until he feels it is the right team and right time.
Whether you start with a team or look to expand later down the line, it is important to keep in mind what you are looking for in your team members and who will best help you address the needs of your business. At the end of the day, only you really know that.
10. Market your product
Now it is time to test how your audience will react to your product by testing out preliminary marketing strategies such as turning to social media. Some businesses may find that social media does not build the amount of traction they were expecting. Mehta utilized Instagram and Facebook for Bolo but discovered that "there were a lot of views on them but not a lot of conversions."
However, according to Jackson, the trick is to choose a social media platform that best aligns with the goals of your business so that you can target certain demographics of consumers that will resonate with your product or service.
Jackson worked at a digital marketing agency during his time at LMU, so he was able to provide insight into this process. "There are different ways to go about it and an interesting thing to think about is the different platforms to go about it. If you know how to use those to your advantage it really doesn't matter whether you are a B2B company or B2C company — social media can be your friend," Jackson said. "It can be pretty expensive but if you do it in a bootstrapped way and you try to find ways to find people who have platforms already you can find ways to keep your costs down."
Celentano echoed the importance of social media: "Influencers and, in particular, micro influencers have become the go-to for not only major brands but for products you have never heard of. I use Instagram because there are always unique products and services that are coming out that are introduced in terms of awareness through Instagram, so social media is probably one of the better ways for startups to create awareness."
How to think like an entrepreneur
Celentano's advice for anyone looking to start their own business is to "put yourself in a situation where you're uncomfortable because you don't know enough about the area that you're in. You need to have enough confidence to know that you can learn more about this. You need to get used to feeling a sense of risk and having the self-confidence to go into something that's very new. If you're too comfortable, you'll never go into that direction." While confidence is an important component of being an entrepreneur it is also important to understand the difficulties that you might face throughout the process.
Beyer tries to help his students understand the risks that they will face and tells potential entrepreneurs: "I don't think that all people realize how difficult entrepreneurship is. The message I hear time and again is the amount of sacrifice that needs to be made and how much opportunity costs there is. It's just a reminder that you need to be an entrepreneur for internal reasons, not external reasons. You need to do it because you care and are passionate and you want to solve a problem in the world."
″College Money 101″ is a guide written by college students to help the class of 2022 learn about big money issues they will face in life — from student loans to budgeting and getting their first apartment — and make smart money decisions. And, even if you're still in school, you can start using this guide right now so you are financially savvy when you graduate and start your adult life on a great financial track. Ananya Mehrotra is a three-term intern, who has been working with MSNBC's program research team since summer 2021, and will be continuing her internship with NBCUniversal into summer 2022. She is currently a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a double major in political economy and media studies. The guide is edited by Cindy Perman.
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Disclosure: NBCUniversal and Comcast Ventures are investors in Acorns. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/how-to-launch-a-start-up-while-youre-still-in-college-2/3646935/ | 2022-04-14T20:48:42 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/how-to-launch-a-start-up-while-youre-still-in-college-2/3646935/ |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The City of Richmond is nearly a week into its major Broad Street Repaving Project, and Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Bobby Vincent said the work is running ahead of schedule.
Construction officially began on Monday, and is slated to continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until Tuesday, June 21, only stopping for rain or mechanical issues. Vincent also noted Thursday work has been stopping from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for morning commuters.
“Broad Street didn’t get in the condition that it’s in overnight, and with any construction project that you do, it’s going to be a little bit of a deconstruction phase that people have to go through,” he said. “We’re trying to do our best to put our best foot forward to lighten that burden on our businesses and our homeowners along that stretch of road.”
Road work is happening in five phases, beginning with the section between 3rd Street and Belvidere Street, and ending with the section between Hamilton Street and Staples Mill Road. However, Vincent told 8News that the repaving isn’t the only construction happening along Broad this summer.
“The streetscape project is going to begin at the end of this month and run from, basically, this summer through the Fall of 2023, where we will be concentrating on the replacement of sidewalks throughout the corridor, the installation of tree wells, as well as putting in new signalization at certain intersections, and providing crosswalks,” he said.
Funding from the Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation totaling $750,000 will go toward work on the new traffic-signal system spanning from Thompson Street to Staples Mill Road.
Government data shows that in 2019, there were 13 pedestrian-involved crashes on the stretch of Broad Street being tackled in this repaving project; five in 2020; and eight in 2021.
“It’s more about the safe passageways for our pedestrians, as well as the control of our vehicular traffic to make sure that things are as safe and aesthetically pleasing for our jewel — being Broad Street — as possible,” Vincent said.
In addition to streetscaping and repaving, 30 days after each phase of road construction is complete, the City of Richmond will paint the median Pulse Bus Only lanes red, between Thompson and Foushee Streets. According to the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC), this color is the international standard for transit-only traffic, and will alert other drivers to vacate the dedicated lane to help improve efficiency and pedestrian safety.
“The red bus lanes themselves are coming from a grant, where we’ve been working with the federal government, the state government, in order to get as much additional funding as possible, and that is approximately $3 million,” Vincent said.
He also noted that the cost to pave Broad Street is about $3.5 million, while the streetscaping project will cost approximately $6 million.
“We’re trying to pave our streets, such as Broad Street, our major arterials, every 10 years, and so Broad Street, over the years, the last time that Broad Street was paved in certain areas was back in 2009,” Vincent said. “Traditionally, we have not had the funding to be able to pave all of Broad at one time. We’ve had to do it over a three-year stretch.”
Vincent told 8News that costs for these projects are also being covered by an increase in the city’s Capital Improvements Program budget and Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) dollars from the state.
“We don’t want to wait for a major thoroughfare like Broad to get to the points of being riddled with potholes and/or cracks because,” he said. “Then, the paving project becomes much more extensive than what it’s going to be for us on this particular go-around.” | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmonds-12-8-million-broad-street-project-includes-repaving-pedestrian-friendly-upgrades/ | 2022-04-14T20:48:44 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmonds-12-8-million-broad-street-project-includes-repaving-pedestrian-friendly-upgrades/ |
A second straight NCAA gymnastics semifinal ended Alabama’s season. After a heartbreaking third-place finish by the tightest of margins in 2021, the Crimson Tide’s final performance of the season wasn’t quite as dramatic.
After cutting the deficit after three rotations Thursday in Fort Worth, three missed landings on the vault assured Alabama it wouldn’t be competing for a seventh national title. Needing a top-two finish in the four-team session, No. 5 Alabama was fourth -- 0.750 behind second-place Utah and 0.013 behind No. 8 Minnesota.
Alabama was within 0.1375 of second place after a strong floor rotation but the vault doomed the Crimson Tide. The 197.1000 score Thursday was more than a full point below its NCAA regional score of 198.175 recorded April 2 in Seattle.
Top-ranked Oklahoma was first in the semifinal with 198.1125 followed by Utah’s 197.7125.
No. 7 Auburn will take part in the evening semifinal along with Florida, Michigan and Missouri.
Alabama can still claim an individual crown as senior Luisa Blanco is one of five tied for first on the balance beam after the first session. Her 9.9375 is tied with Lexy Ramler of Minnesota and three athletes from Utah -- Abby Paulson, Kara Eaker and Maile O’Keefe. Those scores will have to survive four rotations in the evening semifinal to share the national title.
It was the Utah beam rotation that secured that second spot after the Utes opened the door with a shaky bars performance. It had to count a 9.750 on the third rotation to allow Alabama’s solid floor routine to climb within 0.1375 entering the final apparatus.
But the Utes, No. 1 nationally on the beam, delivered while Alabama struggled on vault where it was No. 6 nationally. A 9.9125 from Blanco was the best of the six Tide scores there with three in the 9.7-range sinking the total. Alabama had a 49.1250 on vault -- far below its 49.400 NQS and 49.280 season average.
Utah’s 49.6000 on the beam secured the second spot while Minnesota grabbed third with a 49.3875 on bars.
Alabama opened on the bars with a 49.200, leaving it third after the first rotation after missing the season average score of 49.436.
The deficit between second and third was .375 after two rotations when Alabama had to count a 9.7250 after a missed landing. Blanco’s 9.9375 helped salvage a 49.3250 as Shaina Adams added a 9.9000.
While Blanco can still repeat as beam champion, teammate Lexi Graber’s bid for a second straight floor title fell short. She was eighth after the first session with a 9.9250 while Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers led with a 9.9625.
Alabama last won a national title in 2012 and hasn’t been in a final since the format changed in 2019. It missed the championship round last year by just 0.025 points to Utah in the semifinal. The Tide missed the semifinals entirely in 2019 with its last championship near-miss coming with a third-place finish in 2016.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook. | https://www.al.com/alabama/2022/04/alabama-gymnastics-season-ends-in-ncaa-semifinal-beam-title-still-possible.html | 2022-04-14T20:49:19 | 1 | https://www.al.com/alabama/2022/04/alabama-gymnastics-season-ends-in-ncaa-semifinal-beam-title-still-possible.html |
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Alabama families with trans children have begun GoFundMe pages to crowdsource donations to leave the state following the passage of legislation that bans gender-affirming care for minors.
Two fundraising pages, created by moms with children who are currently on hormone therapy or puberty blockers, were set up in the 48 hours after a new law was signed Friday. Both moms say the treatments their kids receive are crucial for their well-being.
Heather’s son Rob began puberty blockers seven years ago and eventually moved to testosterone injections. She said that when they moved to Alabama nine months ago to be closer to family, the delay in getting her son’s prescription transferred to the state was life-threatening.
“I was concerned he was gonna die. He was so lethargic and so depressed. I could see his health deteriorating,” she said.
Read more: Alabama teens worry about future as anti-trans bathroom, medical bills pass.
Read more: What do Alabama’s new laws mean for transgender children, doctors?
For Rob, going off testosterone left him “dizzy all the time and depressed.” He fears that without treatment, his dysphoria, which to him is like “the feeling you get when you go up a rollercoaster,” will return.
Last names have been withheld due to safety concerns.
The Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act (SB184), which was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey last week, bans puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for minors. The law punishes not only doctors, but also any other individual who “prescribes or administers” the treatments with a felony conviction and up to 10 years in jail. Parents expressed fears that they could be prosecuted under the law for helping their children find medical care.
Puberty blockers and hormone therapy are considered safe and effective “evidence-based care” for children and adults, in appropriate situations, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and doctors. Gender-affirming surgeries for minors are not performed in Alabama.
The law is being challenged by families of transgender children, doctors and civil rights advocates. If their request for a temporary restraining order is not granted, the state may begin enforcing treatment bans on May 8.
Upon signing the law, Ivey stated: “There are very real challenges facing our young people, especially with today’s societal pressures and modern culture. I believe very strongly that if the Good Lord made you a boy, you are a boy, and if he made you a girl, you are a girl.”
Heather posted a GoFundMe page requesting $30,000 to “help with funds to pack up and move our family’s house.”
Another mother, Kim, who lives in Mobile, said this law has caused her family to “go into flight mode.” Her 12-year-old daughter, who came out at six, has been on puberty blockers since January.
“I could see the difference in her between waiting to get her approval for the puberty blockers and right after the first shot. It was like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders and the stress was gone. She was just exceptionally happier,” she said.
But with the passage of the law, Kim and her family “feel very unsafe and very threatened.”
They now hope to move to Massachusetts - “a very LGBTQ friendly state,” she explained- by the end of May, just in time to get set up in a new home and establish care before her daughter is due for her next puberty blocker injection in July.
Kim’s family met their fundraising goal which will “alleviate some of the financial burden of having to move so quickly.”
“I feel really awkward asking strangers for help,” said Kim, who had never set up a donation page before. “But it’s atrocious to me that we are even at that point. Nobody in any state should have to be making a GoFundMe to ask for help to essentially flee their home and go to a safer state. That seems very un-American.”
Kim is now in the process of getting her car repaired so they can drive to Massachusetts; she is registering for health care in the state while her husband, who is a disabled veteran, looks for housing loans.
Heather, who is still far off from reaching her goal of $30,000, is torn about leaving Alabama.
Since moving back home in July, she’s helped care for her grandmother in hospice and doesn’t want to be far from her.
Her son was also recently accepted to the Magic City Acceptance Academy, which Heather hoped would allow him to be on a campus and meet new people after years of homeschooling due to fears of bullying and having to hide his identity.
“I can’t say on my Facebook, hey, I’m looking for trans kids to be friends with my kids,” said Heather. “So they deserve to be in a school where everyone accepts them for who they are and it’s heartbreaking that the lawmakers are trying to prevent that.”
If the law is successfully enjoined by the recent lawsuits filed by civil rights groups, including the ACLU, Human Rights Campaign and Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of families and doctors, Heather said her family might try to move closer to Birmingham and attend the charter school
But if the law stands, she said the risk to her family is too high.
“I can be charged with a felony if I stay here and my kids need to be with me, they need to be with their family.” | https://www.al.com/educationlab/2022/04/alabama-families-with-transgender-children-start-gofundmes-to-flee-to-safer-state-for-medical-care.html | 2022-04-14T20:49:26 | 0 | https://www.al.com/educationlab/2022/04/alabama-families-with-transgender-children-start-gofundmes-to-flee-to-safer-state-for-medical-care.html |
Former “Saturday Night Live” comic Molly Shannon recalls meeting child actor Gary Coleman early in her career — and having to “fling” him off of her.
According to Shannon, she was introduced to the late “Diff’rent Strokes” star by their mutual agent and was excited to be introduced to the pint-sized celebrity.
“He held my hand and I, as like, he’s so cute and he had a suit on — he told me I reminded him of Kimberly from ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’” she said on Tuesday’s “The Howard Stern Show.”
Coleman starred in that NBC sitcom from 1978, when he was 10 years old, until 1986. Rated first on a list of VH1′s “100 Greatest Kid Stars,” he suffered a condition known as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an autoimmune disease. As a result, Coleman stopped growing at a height of 4-foot-8. He died in 2010.
Shannon, 57, didn’t say when she met him. According to the Shaker, Ohio, native, she was introduced to Coleman in a hotel, where Coleman had a luxury suite.
Shannon said she was a virgin at the time and hadn’t crossed her mind that Coleman might be interested in her sexually.
She, Coleman and their agent all retreated to that room, Shannon said — then their agent disappeared.
That’s when, according to Shannon, Coleman sat next to her on a bed and started tickling, then groping her.
“He was relentless,” she said. “Then he was trying to kiss me and get on top of me and I was like, ‘You know Gary, stop,’ and I was pushing him off.”
She recalls a surreal situation that included seeing Coleman’s dialysis machine in the room. What Coleman lacked in height, he made up for in perseverance, according to Shannon.
“I was like, ‘No, Gary, stop,” she said. “So, I push him off. Then, I would get off the bed. Then, he would bounce on the bed.”
According to Shannon, Coleman was jumping on the mattress and trying to wrap himself around her.
“I would fling him off and then he got on top of me,” she recalled. “I guess because of his size I didn’t feel physically threatened. But... it was going on and on.”
Shannon said that continued for a while with their agent nowhere to be found.
“I was really getting out of breath because it was athletic and aerobic,” she told Stern.
Shannon said she tried escaping into the hotel room’s bathroom with Coleman clinging onto her ankles. Once she broke free, he allegedly stuck his hands under the door and said, “I can see you, silly Billy.”
Shannon wrote about the incident in her new memoir, “Hello, Molly.” She tells Stern she eventually made it out of the hotel unharmed, but told her agent to keep an eye on Coleman.
The star took an ugly turn after his star faded. In need of cash, Coleman went to work as a security guard. In 1998, he was charged with assaulting a female fan with whom he was involved in an altercation while working that job. A year later, he filed for bankruptcy.
Coleman had future run-ins with the law before dying from a head injury in 2010. He was 42.
©2022 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | https://www.al.com/life/2022/04/molly-shannon-says-she-had-to-fling-a-relentless-gary-coleman-off-her.html | 2022-04-14T20:49:32 | 0 | https://www.al.com/life/2022/04/molly-shannon-says-she-had-to-fling-a-relentless-gary-coleman-off-her.html |
The mother of an infant boy who was the subject of an Amber Alert has been charged in connection with the baby’s abduction.
Alexis Richards, 22, is charged with interference with custody in the disappearance of 6-week-old Messiah Richards. The charge is a felony crime.
According to Dothan police, Richards and a male companion, Mauquez Banks, took Messiah just before noon Wednesday. The child had been placed at a location in the 400 block of South Appletree Street as part of a safety plan put into place several days earlier by the Department of Human Resources.
Richards was only allowed supervised visitation.
On Wednesday, police said, Richards and Banks went to the residence where the child had been placed unannounced, and unplanned, and took the child without the knowledge of the child’s current custodian.
Police were notified and quickly gathered what they needed to get an Amber Alert issued. Messiah was located later in the day in Midland City with Richards and another family member.
The baby had not been harmed in any way.
Multiple law enforcement agencies worked with Dothan police on the case including the FBI, the Dale County Sheriff’s Department, the Ozark Police Department, the Troy Police Department, the Midland City Police Department, ALEA, and the Alabama Fusion Center.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities said Banks could also face charges.
Richards remains held in the Houston County Jail. | https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/mom-charged-in-abduction-of-infant-son-that-prompted-alabama-amber-alert.html | 2022-04-14T20:49:38 | 0 | https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/mom-charged-in-abduction-of-infant-son-that-prompted-alabama-amber-alert.html |
Letters to the editor: Eugene Emeralds should take a hike; stop fourplex overkill
Against massive overkill, not the duplex
While there are plenty of points to critique of Andrew Blumm’s opinion (Guest View, April 3), ranging from reducing a complex issue into a simplistic, false dichotomy, claiming non-existent broad public support, to the use of decontextualized statistics to make a claim the source never makes, Blumm's major crime against reason is his straw person argument against density “opponents” that don’t exist.
This sad tactic is the go-to argument for proponents of extreme density when they fail on the facts. To be clear, no one is arguing “against” HB 2001 (it's a state law), more density, duplex, triplex and fourplexes in residential neighborhoods, or market-rate rentals. What a significant number oppose are three-story fourplexes that cover 75% of a lot five feet from the property line. There’s nothing to stop affordable rentals and starter homes from being bought by developers, torn down and turned into market-rate rentals or Airbnbs and the massive increase in house prices as they become attractive for redevelopment.
Bring on the duplex, but the current proposal is massive overkill we do not need to address the problem, unless the problem is developers not making enough money. Ted M. Coopman, Eugene
Ems, take a hike
According to a recent Register-Guard article, the (north of Salem) "Volcanoes Stadium was built in 1997 on land owned by the city of Keizer. Keizer Volcanos owner Jerry Walker paid for the stadium construction and entered into a contract with the city to lease the site. The city has no role in deciding what events are held at the stadium."
More:A new home for the Eugene Emeralds?
The stadium has attracted many businesses and considerable growth along that part of I-5. If the Eugene Emeralds want a new stadium, then their owners should pay for construction on land leased from some public entity, preferably not the Lane County Fairgrounds, especially because the kind of growth of small businesses around such a venue is not possible at the fairgrounds.
How about north or south of Eugene along I-5?
Alice Kaseberg, Eugene
Is this the best we can do?
Once again, Joe Biden wants to release oil from our strategic reserve. Possibly, Biden doesn't realize that the reserves are for an emergency, and are not to be used for political purposes. There are many reasons why gas is so expensive. Stopping work on the Keystone pipeline, the ban on drilling in ANWAR, banning of new permits to drill on federal land, and the list goes on.
This all happened on Biden's watch before Putin invaded Ukraine, and the feeble attempt to blame the war on rising gas prices is ridiculous. Remember, oil was approximately $40 a barrel when the dreaded orange man was in office. Now we have runaway inflation, supply chain backups, the disaster withdrawing from Afghanistan and the loss of our standing as the leaders of the free world.
With a president and vice president who are nothing more than a modern-day version of Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy, I guess this is the best we can do.
Raymond Moreno, Eugene
Plague of public works
Perhaps in the same week I learned that Boston's recent Green Line subway extension cost $1.7 billion per kilometer, I shouldn't have been surprised by Monday's fascinating article on the staggering costs of Eugene's Safe Sleep sites for the homeless. Doing the math, the 410 Garfield St. site costs $4,000 to setup and $20,000/year to run per tent! Why does hosting a tent cost $20,000 per year?
Apparently the operational cost includes $90,000 for "around 21 full-time employees." That's 21 employees for 86 tent spots! Last I checked, most people manage to exist without a quarter of a dedicated city employee at their location. One has to conclude either that maximizing the ratio of homeless served to dollar spent wasn't an important metric, these personnel are necessary, implying that the mental and physical state of the homeless is such that far more is needed to help them than a bunch of tents or the project has fallen into the miasma that seems to plague so many public works these days.
Raghuveer Parthasarathy, Eugene
Leave the hazards of coal, oil and gas behind
Economies of our modern world are dependent on the energy from fossil fuels. Most of us have become familiar with the many dangers that burning fossil fuels present for our health, safety, environment and climate. Meanwhile, the wind blows for free, the sun shines for free and the tides flow for free. The geothermal energy beneath our feet is also free and constant. Temperatures a few miles below earth’s surface can easily reach 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Harnessing these types of energy sources to generate clean, affordable electricity is the best way to invest our time and money going forward. Let’s leave all the hazards from coal, oil and gas behind us and begin to adapt for the future by using new technologies.
It’s always hard to change the status quo because there are so many entrenched interests depending on business as usual. That’s why it is significant that the Eugene City Council is presently considering two measures that will put us on the path toward a managed transition from fossil fuels to renewable electricity sources.
Political will is created by public opinion. If enough of us speak up for electrification, Eugene can do its part for a safer, cleaner world.
Carolyn Partridge, Eugene
Tents, tarps and trash
Union Pacific Railroad and others have intentionally forgotten about the sacred Willamette River. The Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System and the associated parks along the Willamette River are one of the most valuable outdoor community assets. The benign neglect of this system by the railroad, our current mayor and others is unacceptable. At the same time, our City Parks and Recreation crew have been doing a great job keeping our parks clean for the public to use, thank you.
Between the Knickerbocker Footbridge and the Autzen Footbridge, tents, tarps, trash and campfires are everywhere. Most of the riverfront property is owned by Union Pacific, yet it is an absentee owner knowingly breaking the law by allowing illegal camping in the riparian area of the Willamette.
While politicians and the railroad joust over responsibility for law enforcement, who is to protect the health and well-being of the river? Don’t we have Mayor Vinis and other elected officials to protect the things most valuable to the city?
The railroad should post more signage, and either sell the city the property, allow the city to manage the property or properly manage their property itself.
W. G. Greives, Eugene
Letters should be 200 words or fewer and sent with the writer’s name, address, and daytime phone number via e-mail to rgletters@registerguard.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and maybe published in any medium. We regret that owing to the volume of correspondence we cannot reply to every letter. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/letters/2022/04/14/letters-eugene-emeralds-hb-2001-duplexes-homelessness/65349510007/ | 2022-04-14T20:50:18 | 0 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/letters/2022/04/14/letters-eugene-emeralds-hb-2001-duplexes-homelessness/65349510007/ |
Shreveport committee, police looking at ways to curb violence around city's nightclubs
The Shreveport Public Safety Committee met Tuesday to discuss to publicly discuss with the police department solutions that could end a spate of recent nightlife shootings.
Councilman Grayson Boucher - chairman of the PSC - said he and SPD chief Wayne Smith have been discussing nightclub violence for months.
Smith said shootings have recently occurred on Marshall and Wall streets, where there is a high concentration of entertainment venues.
An SPD officer told the Committee 69 police calls in 2022 have stemmed from two of the area’s venues - the Strange Brew Bar and Ernie’s Bar.
Eight of those calls were for shootings. 50 of the 69 calls were made between 1 am and 6 am. One of those calls was a homicide.
“This specific area is disproportionately calling the police,” Smith said.
Smith said one shooting happened at 4:30 a.m. while at least one bar was still packed with partiers, although bars are supposed to close at 4 a.m.
More: Shreveport Police investigating death of inmate following head injury at city jail
Smith said the city needs to clarify whether bars are supposed to close at 4 a.m. or just stop allowing patrons in at that time.
He said the city could make it harder to congregate in that area by prohibiting street parking, which would stop crowds from forming and giving shooters easy targets.
Kendrick Dante writes for the USA Today Network and is a government watchdog reporter in Shreveport, Louisiana. He enjoys cooking, concerts, and content. Email him at kdbrown1@gannett.com or connect on Twitter @kendrickdante. | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2022/04/14/shreveport-police-provide-update-following-night-life-shootings/7311173001/ | 2022-04-14T20:53:03 | 0 | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2022/04/14/shreveport-police-provide-update-following-night-life-shootings/7311173001/ |
378-guest ship set to kick off cruise season in Milwaukee
Comes after cruises on Great Lakes halted for the last 2 years
Comes after cruises on Great Lakes halted for the last 2 years
Comes after cruises on Great Lakes halted for the last 2 years
The Viking Octantis is kicking off the 2022 cruise season when it docks at Port Milwaukee on May 6.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson said this will be the first of 33 port calls bringing more than 10,000 passengers to the city this year.
It's a big jump from the 10 stops made back in 2019, the last year cruises were running before being halted for the pandemic.
"Milwaukee is a great destination. It's a city filled with attractions and hospitality. That's what cruise passengers will find here," Johnson said. "As word spreads, I anticipate even more travelers will cruise to Milwaukee."
The 8-day long trips will run from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay, Ontario, at least once a month from May through September.
The trip includes a library, World Cafè, pools, and several suite and room options.
The pricing for a ticket runs from $6,695.
The Viking Octanis' arrival marks a season full of firsts for Port Milwaukee.
This is the first time the ship will stop here.
The South Shore Cruise Dock is now able to serve as the port-of-call for vessels that size thanks to the Capital Tourism grant Port Milwaukee got from the state.
The Octantis is 665 feet long with room for 378 guests and 250 crew members.
Passengers will have a range of opportunities to learn about the city's history, culture, economy and environment. | https://www.wisn.com/article/cruise-ships-set-to-make-return-to-port-milwaukee/39728060 | 2022-04-14T20:53:40 | 1 | https://www.wisn.com/article/cruise-ships-set-to-make-return-to-port-milwaukee/39728060 |
Florida becomes latest state to sign abortion ban legislation into law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday that prevents a physician from performing an abortion if the fetus is more than 15 weeks old.
The exception for the law is if "the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition," according to the bill.
"These are babies that have heartbeats, that can move and feel pain," DeSantis said of the 15-week gestational period in the law. He continued later in the news conference, "It's a statement of our values that every life is important."
Florida currently allows abortions until the 24-week mark.
The bill comes amid a growing conservative push to restrict abortion at the state level before the summer, when the U.S. Supreme Court may weaken or eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion first established in Roe v. Wade.
If Roe is overturned, 26 states are certain or likely to quickly ban or severely restrict abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank that supports abortion rights. During the debate over the Florida legislation, as well as at the bill’s signing ceremony, Republicans said they want the state to be well placed to limit access to abortions if the Supreme Court upholds Mississippi’s law.
"The reality of the Roe decision is that men on the Supreme Court proclaimed that women, in order to achieve equality with men, must be able to kill their own children," said Republican Rep. Erin Grall, the bill's sponsor. "As a woman, I refuse to accept such a perverse version of equality."
Directors of any medical facility that performs abortions in Florida will have to write a report each month that includes surgical procedures and medical abortions to the agency. It will have to include the number of abortions performed, the reason behind them, the period of gestation at the time the abortions were performed, and if the infants were born alive at the time of the abortion or attempted abortion.
The Florida Department of Health will work with local and county health departments to create committees that will review fetal and infant mortality to find out how rates can be improved across the state.
For the full text of the new law, which includes definitions of terminology related to abortions and medical procedures, click here. The beginning of the bill also includes a tobacco education program.
This new law goes into effect on July 1.
Elsewhere in the U.S., Republican lawmakers have introduced new abortion restrictions, some similar to a Texas law that bans abortion after roughly six weeks and leaves enforcement up to private citizens.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed a bill to make it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to a decade in prison. Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in March signed legislation to outlaw abortion after 15 weeks if the U.S. Supreme Court leaves Mississippi’s law in place.
The Associated Press and sister station WESH contributed to this report. | https://www.wisn.com/article/florida-desantis-signs-abortion-ban-bill-law/39727945 | 2022-04-14T20:53:50 | 0 | https://www.wisn.com/article/florida-desantis-signs-abortion-ban-bill-law/39727945 |
'It's just a whole new world': Homeschooling surge continues despite schools reopening
The coronavirus pandemic ushered in what may be the most rapid rise in homeschooling the U.S. has ever seen. Two years later, even after schools reopened and vaccines became widely available, many parents have chosen to continue directing their children’s educations themselves.
Homeschooling numbers this year dipped from last year's all-time high, but are still significantly above pre-pandemic levels, according to data obtained and analyzed by The Associated Press.
Families that may have turned to homeschooling as an alternative to hastily assembled remote learning plans have stuck with it — reasons include health concerns, disagreement with school policies and a desire to keep what has worked for their children.
In 18 states that shared data through the current school year, the number of homeschooling students increased by 63% in the 2020-2021 school year, then fell by only 17% in the 2021-2022 school year.
Around 3% of U.S. students were homeschooled before the pandemic-induced surge, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The rising numbers have cut into public school enrollment in ways that affect future funding and renewed debates over how closely homeschooling should be regulated. What remains unknown is whether this year’s small decrease signals a step toward pre-pandemic levels — or a sign that homeschooling is becoming more mainstream.
Linda McCarthy, a suburban Buffalo mother of two, says her children are never going back to traditional school.
Unimpressed with the lessons offered remotely when schools abruptly closed their doors in spring 2020, she began homeschooling her then fifth- and seventh-grade children that fall. McCarthy, who had been working as a teacher's aide, said she knew she could do better herself. She said her children have thrived with lessons tailored to their interests, learning styles and schedules.
“There’s no more homework 'til the wee hours of the morning, no more tears because we couldn’t get things done,” McCarthy said.
Once a relatively rare practice chosen most often for reasons related to instruction on religion, homeschooling grew rapidly in popularity following the turn of the century before leveled off at around 3.3%, or about 2 million students, in the years before the pandemic, according to the Census. Surveys have indicated factors including dissatisfaction with neighborhood schools, concerns about school environment and the appeal of customizing an education.
In the absence of federal guidelines, there is little uniformity in reporting requirements. Some states, including Connecticut and Nevada, require little or no information from parents, while New York, Massachusetts and some others require parents to submit instruction plans and comply with assessment rules.
The new surge in homeschooling numbers has led state legislatures around the country to consider measures either to ease regulations on homeschool families or impose new ones — debates have gone on for years. Proponents of more oversight point to the potential for undetected cases of child abuse and neglect while others argue for less in the name of parental rights.
All of the 28 state education departments that provided homeschooling data to the AP reported that homeschooling spiked in 2020-21, when fears of infection kept many school buildings closed. Of the 18 states whose enrollment data included the current school year, all but one state said homeschooling declined from the previous year but remained well above pre-pandemic levels. (The exception, South Dakota, recently changed the way it collects data).
Minnesota, for example, reported that 27,801 students are being homeschooled now, compared to 30,955 during the last school year. Before the pandemic, homeschool figures were around 20,000 or less.
Black families make up many of the homeschool converts. The proportion of Black families homeschooling their children increased by five times, from 3.3% to 16.1%, from spring 2020 to the fall, while the proportion about doubled across other groups, according to U.S. Census surveys.
Raleigh, North Carolina, mother Laine Bradley said the school system's shortcomings became more evident to families like hers when remote learning began.
“I think a lot of Black families realized that when we had to go to remote learning, they realized exactly what was being taught. And a lot of that doesn’t involve us,” said Bradley, who decided to homeschool her 7-, 10- and 11-year-old children. “My kids have a lot of questions about different things. I’m like, 'Didn't you learn that in school?' They're like, ‘No.’”
Bradley, who works in financial services, converted her dining room into a classroom and rearranged her work schedule to take over her children's education, adding lessons on financial literacy, Black history and Caribbean history important to her heritage.
“I can incorporate things that I feel like they should know,” she said. Her husband, Vince, who retired from the Air Force last year, steps in at times. The couple also have a 14-month-old. They plan to continue homeschooling for as long as their children want it. Her social media posts about her experience have drawn so much interest that Bradley recently created an online community called Black Moms Do Homeschool to share resources and experiences.
Boston University researcher Andrew Bacher-Hicks said data showed that while homeschool rates rose across the board during the last school year, the increase was greater in school districts that reverted to in-person learning, perhaps before some parents were ready to send their children back.
He said the same health concerns that drove those increases are likely behind the continued elevated rates, despite additional upheaval in schools as parents and policy-makers debate issues surrounding race and gender and which books should be in libraries.
“It’s really hard to disentangle those two things because all of this is kind of happening at the same time,” he said. “But my my guess would be that a large part of the decisions to exit from the system do have to do with COVID-related issues as opposed to political issues, because those things come up frequently and we’ve never seen an increase in homeschooling rates like this before.”
He said parents also may be concerned about the quality of education delivered by schools that have had to rely heavily on substitute teachers amid pandemic-caused staffing shortages.
McCarthy, the mom from suburban Buffalo, said it was a combination of everything, with the pandemic compounding the misgivings she had already held about the public school system, including her philosophical differences over the need for vaccine and mask mandates and academic priorities.
The pandemic, she said, “was kind of — they say the straw that broke the camel’s back — but the camel’s back was probably already broken.”
“There are kids that don’t know basic English structure but they want to push other things on children, and it can be blatant but it can be, and mostly is, very subtle, very, very subtle,” McCarthy said. “So we were ready to pull them and will never send them back to traditional school. It’s just not a fit for us.”
“It's just a whole new world that is a much better world for us,” she said. | https://www.wisn.com/article/homeschooling-surge-continues/39728094 | 2022-04-14T20:54:00 | 0 | https://www.wisn.com/article/homeschooling-surge-continues/39728094 |
New menu unveiled ahead of Bucks playoff games
Fiserv Forum and the Deer District held a tasting ahead of Sunday's matchup with Chicago
Fiserv Forum and the Deer District held a tasting ahead of Sunday's matchup with Chicago
Fiserv Forum and the Deer District held a tasting ahead of Sunday's matchup with Chicago
It's almost playoff time at Fiserv Forum! This year that means a new menu at the forum and the MECCA.
On Thursday, a pre-playoff tasting we held ahead of the launch of these new menus.
At Fiserv that new menu includes Klement's Greek and chili dogs, beef tacos from Laughing Taco and Italian beef from Canal Street Pizza.
The MECCA is adding:
- Giant pretzels
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Hot honey garlic and Nashville hot wings
- Soy chorizos
- Chinese pork
- Adobo chicken tacos
- Gooey Grilled Cheese
- Asian ribs
- A cereal bar.
Those menu items will debut on April 17 for the Bucks' first game against the Chicago Bulls.
Here's a look at the rest of the first-round schedule:
- Game 2: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wednesday, April 20 | 9:30 ET
- Game 3: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Friday, April 22 | 8:30 ET | ABC
- Game 4: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Sunday, April 24 | 1 ET | ABC
- Game 5*: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Wednesday, April 27
- Game 6*: Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Friday, April 29
- Game 7*: Chicago vs. Milwaukee | Sunday, May 1
- *Games 5-7 only played if necessary | https://www.wisn.com/article/new-menu-unveiled-ahead-of-bucks-playoff-games/39727630 | 2022-04-14T20:54:10 | 0 | https://www.wisn.com/article/new-menu-unveiled-ahead-of-bucks-playoff-games/39727630 |
Florida has come under intense scrutiny nationwide over legislation that critics have called the “Don't Say Gay" law. The legislation, which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on March 28, bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through the third grade in Florida.
Meanwhile, in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order in February directing the state’s child welfare agency to investigate reports of gender-confirming care for transgender youth as abuse. On March 11, a Texas state district judge temporarily blocked the directive.
Legislation directed at the LGBTQ community sometimes draws criticism from state or local government officials in other states and communities in the United States. VERIFY viewer Verushka sent us a text asking if a social media post claiming Los Angeles County banned official travel to Texas is true. Other posts online also claim the county has also imposed a travel ban for the state of Florida.
THE QUESTION
Did Los Angeles County ban travel to Texas and Florida over LGBTQ laws?
THE SOURCES
- California Assembly Bill 1887
- Supreme Court briefs filed by Texas and California
- Rob Bonta, attorney general of California
- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
- Motion filed by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis
THE ANSWER
Yes, Los Angeles County did ban government-funded travel to Texas and Florida over LGBTQ laws.
WHAT WE FOUND
In 2016, the state of California passed Assembly Bill 1887 (AB 1887). The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, banned state-funded or state-sponsored travel to other states that were deemed to have anti-LGBTQ laws. As of April 14, 2022, 18 states are on the ban list, including Texas and Florida.
According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, AB 1887 serves two purposes – as an employer, the state wants to protect its employees from hostilities, and it doesn’t want to spend money in states that don’t share its values towards the LGBTQ community.
In February 2020, Texas sued California over AB 1887, arguing that the law is unconstitutional, but in April 2021 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case and the law still stands today.
Los Angeles County’s travel ban is a local-level policy that mirrors AB 1887.
A motion filed by Los Angeles County supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis on April 5 directed Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer Fesia Davenport to suspend all travel to the states of Texas and Florida in response to the states’ recent anti-LGBTQ policies. The motion was passed unanimously during a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting held on the same day.
Other states and communities in the U.S. have imposed similar government-related travel restrictions in the past over other states’ anti-LGBTQ laws.
In 2016, Washington, Minnesota, and four other states, along with dozens of cities, including Washington, D.C., banned travel to North Carolina over the state’s controversial “bathroom law,” known as House Bill 2 (HB 2), according to news reports. HB 2 required people to use the bathroom of the gender that was assigned to them at birth. The law was mostly repealed in 2017 following the backlash.
State travel bans, including AB 1887, typically have several exceptions. For instance, AB 1887 does not apply to state travel that is required for enforcement of California law, litigation, or for the protection of public health, welfare, or safety, such as when firefighters travel to other states to assist during disasters. The travel bans also only apply to publicly funded trips, meaning there are no restrictions on residents traveling on their own to the banned states.
The Associated Press contributed to this report | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/verify/government-verify/los-angeles-county-california-government-travel-ban-over-lgbtq-laws-texas-florida-fact-check/536-f994e517-00ba-4bdd-b9da-e4db755e2190 | 2022-04-14T20:54:18 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/verify/government-verify/los-angeles-county-california-government-travel-ban-over-lgbtq-laws-texas-florida-fact-check/536-f994e517-00ba-4bdd-b9da-e4db755e2190 |
Sikhs are suing the US Marine Corps for the right to wear their turbans and beards
Four Sikhs are suing the U.S. Marine Corps over restrictions that effectively force them to choose between their career and their faith.
In a lawsuit filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, attorneys for Capt. Sukhbir Singh Toor and three prospective recruits allege that the Marine Corps refuses to allow the men to keep their beards during most deployments abroad and requires them to remove their turbans and beards during recruit training. Many Sikhs wear a turban and do not cut their hair or shave their beards as an outward commitment to their faith.
The Marine Corps has said its strict grooming standards are in place to ensure uniformity and safety. But lawyers for Toor, Milaap Singh Chahal, Aekash Singh and Jaskirat Singh argue that the standards are unevenly applied and violate the men's religious rights, saying that accommodations granted by other branches of the U.S. military have shown that Sikhs can serve and maintain their articles of faith without issue.
"Assertions that recruits can prove their fidelity to country and comrades only by betraying sacred promises they have made to God are precisely what the First Amendment's Religion Clauses were designed to avert," the attorneys state in the lawsuit.
The Marine Corps directed questions about the lawsuit to the Department of Justice, which declined to comment for this story.
'He basically can't deploy'
Toor, who is currently serving as a field artillery officer in Twentynine Palms, California, made the decision to cut his hair and shave his beard when he joined the Marine Corps in 2017 in order to comply with the force's policies, according to the lawsuit. Once he was selected for a promotion in 2021, he requested a religious accommodation that would allow him to keep his turban and beard.
The Marine Corps responded to Toor's request "'sometimes,' but with exceptions and caveats that render the accommodations meaningless," the lawsuit said. Initially, he was allowed to keep his hair, but prohibited from wearing a turban while serving in ceremonial duties or combat zones. He was allowed to keep a beard only when he wasn't deployed or "subject to deployment on short notice."
Toor appealed that decision, and the Marine Corps ultimately allowed him to wear his articles of faith during ceremonial duties. Still, as it stands, he cannot wear a turban and beard while deployed in areas where he could face hostile fire or imminent danger pay, according to the lawsuit — a list of 39 countries that includes Israel, Uganda and Turkey.
"When you think about the restrictions that are still placed on his accommodation right now, he basically can't deploy," Giselle Klapper, senior staff attorney for The Sikh Coalition, told CNN. "He's a field artillery officer — the nature of what he was trained to do is to deploy, so that's extremely career limiting. He's left on the bench right now."
Milaap Singh Chahal, Aekash Singh and Jaskirat Singh, the three prospective recruits, all requested religious accommodations last year, according to the lawsuit. They were granted a partial accommodation similar to Toor, and were also told that they would have to shave their beards and remove their turbans during boot camp.
"There's this perception that you can pack up your Sikh faith in a suitcase and then pull it out after basic training and quite frankly, that's just not the way it works," Amandeep Sidhu, a partner at the law firm of Winston & Strawn also representing the four men, told CNN. "That's not the way the Sikh faith works. It's not the way that the laws that apply to the Marine Corps work."
The four men declined to be interviewed for the story, but Milaap Singh Chahal, Aekash Singh and Jaskirat Singh said in a joint statement that they "remain ready to meet the high mental and physical standards of the Marine Corps because we want to serve our country alongside the best."
They continued, "We cannot, however, give up our right to our religious faith while doing so — not least of all because that is one of the core American values that we will fight to protect at all costs as proud U.S. Marines."
Advocates dispute the Marine Corps' concerns
The Marine Corps has previously justified its grooming and dress standards by citing an interest in maintaining uniformity in its ranks.
In explaining why it denied Jaskirat Singh's request for accommodation during boot camp, the Marine Corps said "breaking down individuality and training recruits to think of their team first" was a key part of recruit training, according to the lawsuit.
But in recent years, the Sikh Coalition and its legal partners argue, the Marine Corps has relaxed some standards and embraced diversity in ways that contradict that reasoning. The force currently allows some natural hairstyles for women, and in a memo last year, the Marine Corps updated a policy to allow tattoos on any area of the body besides the head, neck and hands.
"The tattoo policy over the years has attempted to balance the individual desires of Marines with the need to maintain the disciplined appearance expected of our profession," U.S. Marine Corps Commandant David H. Berger wrote in the October 2021 bulletin. "This Bulletin ensures that the Marine Corps maintains its ties to the society it represents and removes all barriers to entry for those members of society wishing to join its ranks."
Another concern that the Marine Corps has raised is the question of whether gas masks would fit properly with a beard. But earlier this year, the attorneys argued, the Marine Corps eased restrictions on Marines who aren't able to shave because of certain medical conditions, raising questions about why Sikhs weren't granted full accommodations.
Attorneys for Toor and the three recruits also pointed to how the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force have recently streamlined their processes for religious accommodations and allowed Sikhs serve while maintaining their articles of faith, provided that they conform to certain grooming standards.
"These are guys who just graduated from high school a few years ago, who very specifically want to join the Marines," Sidhu said, referring to the three recruits. "They could have taken the comparatively easy route and decided to join the Army where dozens and dozens of Sikhs are serving and there's a track record, but they wanted to be Marines."
After a similar lawsuit alleging a violation of religious rights was filed against the Navy, the Navy secretary directed the Navy and the Marine Corps last November to study how facial hair affects the function of gas masks, the military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported. That review is ongoing. | https://www.wisn.com/article/sikhs-suing-marine-corps-for-right-to-wear-turbans-beards/39725313 | 2022-04-14T20:54:20 | 1 | https://www.wisn.com/article/sikhs-suing-marine-corps-for-right-to-wear-turbans-beards/39725313 |
Jonah Laulu’s recruitment to Oklahoma began with a Twitter message.
The former Hawaii defensive lineman announced he was entering the NCAA Transfer Portal last December, ending his four-year career with the Rainbow Warriors. Soon after, he got his first message from the Sooners’ new head coach, Brent Venables, via social media.
Venables was at the Alamo Bowl watching his team play against Oregon, so the two exchanged phone numbers and Venables said he was going to watch Laulu’s film before calling him later.
That call came just a few hours later. But there was somebody else on the line, too.
“A couple hours later, I got a group FaceTime from Coach Venables, because I had his number, and then another random number that I had no idea,” Laulu recalled. “I was like, ‘Who is this? A group FaceTime?’ So I answered the phone, I had the phone up (near my face) and I was like, ’Hello?’ Coach Venables was literally in the hotel lifting in the camera, looking at the camera doing curls."
The person on the other line was Miguel Chavis, the Sooners’ new defensive ends coach, though Laulu didn’t know that at first.
“And then Coach Chavis, the first thing he said was, ‘What do you know about the cross chop?’” Laulu said. “It’s a D-line move. And he was like, ‘What do you know about the cross chop?’ And I was like, ‘What? Who are you?’ And then he flipped the camera around, he showed he was watching my film and I was like, ‘Whoa.’
A few days later, Laulu announced he was transferring to the Sooners. He credits Venables and Chavis for helping him make his decision.
“They just had a good synergy in just how they were talking to me,” Laulu said. “It was like they were freaking playing basketball, alley-ooping each other talking to me, passing dimes. I was like, ‘Dang, you guys are dropping facts and dimes.’
It took Laulu some time to get used to the weather in Norman — he experienced his first snowstorm shortly after arriving on campus — but it didn’t take long for him to make an impact on the Sooners’ defense.
The redshirt senior was a standout player on Hawaii’s defensive line, starting in 18 games the past two seasons and playing in 40 during his four-year tenure. Last season was his best one yet, recording 34 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery.
Chavis has been impressed with Laulu’s speed and quickness during spring practices.
“He’s been a blessing,” Chavis said. “He’s a big guy who can really, really move. I think some people were surprised that he’s a [defensive] end. He’s 270 (pounds) but watch him run, watch him move. He’s a big dancing bear out there. He’s smooth. When I watched the tape and recruited him from Hawaii… this guy is unbelievable. I knew that he could move, but I didn’t know how big he was because of how fluid his hips are. The plays he’s made.
“He’s played four years of college football and still has two left. There’s a silver lining to everything. He has fit in perfectly. He fits in with who we are and we fit him. He's doing well. Throwing him right in there… I have been very proud of the d-ends who have been here and welcoming Jonah in. He’s doing great.
The thing that’s stood out to Laulu is Chavis’ consistency, and his initial impressions of his new position coach hasn’t changed since that first recruiting call.
“His energy, that’s definitely something I wanted,” Laulu said, “a coach with high energy who’s coming into work every day excited, happy, getting me pumped up because I’m going to feed off them every day. He keeps it the same every day. It’s never a bad day with him. He’s always happy, always excited to be here.”
He’s made a quick impression on his teammates too, including Marcus Stripling.
“He’s been amazing,” Stripling said of Laulu. “Jonah’s a big guy coming from Hawaii, so just seeing his skill level coming to OU has just been amazing. He’s really been physical. His pass rush has been amazing. He’s surprised me every day… Immediately we’ve seen his physicality in the run game and we’ve seen he can play the pass and he can play-action plays too. So he’s very versatile and a great player. He seems like he’s going to find a great home here. “
The Hawaii connection isn’t just limited to Laulu. OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel also grew up there, and it was that shared connection that helped the two bond when Laulu arrived.
“Shoutout [to] Dillon Gabriel, that’s my guy,” Laulu said. “Immediately when I came, we hit each other up because of the Hawaii connection. I’ve been to his house a couple of times, we’ve hung out a couple times. He’s a good dude, a good genuine dude. I can definitely see when I first came because I didn’t really know anybody, I could see how he is, how he relates to all the guys… I’m glad to have him as our quarterback.”
Laulu is still adjusting to his new home — he mentioned the Sooners’ defense has more plays than any unit he’s ever played for — but he’s excited for the season to start.
I”’m really glad to be a part of this defense because we’re going to do some really great things.” | https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/ou-football-laulu-details-conversation-with-venables-chavis-that-sealed-his-commitment-to-sooners/article_b4383e48-bc2d-11ec-99db-176606ba1547.html | 2022-04-14T20:54:21 | 0 | https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/ou-football-laulu-details-conversation-with-venables-chavis-that-sealed-his-commitment-to-sooners/article_b4383e48-bc2d-11ec-99db-176606ba1547.html |
Illness spreading after prom at Waukesha North High School
More than a dozen students feeling sick after prom
More than a dozen students feeling sick after prom
The Waukesha County Health Department is tracking an illness spreading after prom at Waukesha North High School.
The school said more than a dozen students reported vomiting and diarrhea, including some who were not at prom.
Prom was held last Saturday but many of the reports came in on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It's not clear where the illness originated or how many students may have been sickened.
No other details were released.
The health department said it has opened an investigation into the illnesses.
Other agencies were also assisting.
If you believe your child was sick as a result of the dinner served at the prom, you're encouraged to call the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services at 262-896-8430. | https://www.wisn.com/article/waukesha-north-high-school-illness-spreading-after-prom/39727414 | 2022-04-14T20:54:30 | 1 | https://www.wisn.com/article/waukesha-north-high-school-illness-spreading-after-prom/39727414 |
2 bird flu cases confirmed in US zoos as virus spreads
(AP) — Two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in U.S. zoos, but officials said they won’t order widespread euthanasia of zoo birds the way they have on farms.
U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Mike Stepien declined to release any details about the zoo cases Thursday, including which two zoos were involved.
Many zoos across the country have closed down their aviaries and moved birds inside whenever possible to help protect them from avian influenza that officials believe is primarily being spread by the droppings of wild birds.
At many zoos, penguins might be the only birds visitors can see because they are generally kept inside behind glass where they are shielded from the virus.
Nearly 27 million chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered in 26 states to limit the spread of bird flu during this year’s outbreak. Officials order entire flocks to be killed when the virus is found on farms.
Stepien said zoos work with state veterinary officials when the virus is found, but unlike farms, zoos are generally allowed to isolate and treat an infected bird as long as they take precautions to protect the other birds in their collections.
Health officials emphasize that bird flu doesn’t jeopardize food safety because infected birds aren’t allowed into the food supply and properly cooking meat and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill any viruses. The disease also doesn’t represent any immediate public health threat, and no human cases have been found in America.
This year’s outbreak is the worst one since 2015 when roughly 50 million chickens and turkeys were slaughtered because of the virus. Stepien said that there were very few bird flu cases in captive wild birds in 2015 and none in large zoos, and no wild birds at zoos were euthanized that year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ | 2022-04-14T20:58:02 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/04/14/2-bird-flu-cases-confirmed-us-zoos-virus-spreads/ |
Alabama administrators suspend students following swap of high schools for senior prank
CHILTON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Some high school seniors in Alabama are saying the punishments they’ve received from school administrators for a senior prank are too harsh.
The students planned the prank through a Snapchat group message, according to WBRC. The idea was that students from two different high schools would attend the other school for the day. Close to two dozen students from Chilton County High School and Jemison High School participated. Now, several feel the consequences for the prank are over the top.
“My scholarships are in jeopardy because of this,” Haileigh Greer, a senior at Jemison High School, said.
Greer was not the only Jemison senior who participated in the senior prank. Kathryn Blow did as well, and believes the district’s punishment is far too harsh for what they call a harmless prank.
“I just don’t think that’s very fair. I think it’s really blown out of proportion,” Blow said.
Some Chilton County High School students agree. That includes Colby Hughes, who says past pranks were way worse.
“Past classes have peed on the gym floor, put desks on the ceiling, and pigs in the school, and all we did was swap schools and we got suspended for three days -- goes on our transcripts, all of that,” Hughes said.
Several students fear this will hurt their grades and chances to pick up scholarships. While Greer knows the students must face punishment, she never suspected she would be stripped of her passion -- softball.
“I don’t mind the three day suspension. I understand,” she said. “But we shouldn’t have gotten kicked off the teams. I mean, I have played softball since I was 8 and I got kicked off my senior year.”
Some people argued online that this is about student safety, and that’s why the district must be so strict.
Students like Chilton County Senior Austin Knight believe that isn’t the responsibility of the senior class.
“I think that’s the main thing they are upset about. It’s not our fault that your security is not as good,” Knight said.
WBRC reached out to the district for a comment.
Superintendent Jason Griffin stated, “Due to safety protocols, employee and student privacy rights, I will be unable to provide a statement or response.”
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ | 2022-04-14T20:58:08 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ |
Softball umpire speaks out after parent attack leaves her with severe nerve damage
LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM/Gray News) - An umpire in Mississippi is speaking out while she recovers from being punched in the face after a softball game for 12-year-old children.
Kristie Moore was filling in for an umpire who got sick, something she said she has been doing for several years with 10 years of experience calling games.
However, during this game, the coach asked one of the athlete’s mothers to leave the game for excessive cursing. Instead of going home, the woman is accused of waiting to confront Moore after the game, punching her and then running away.
Moore told WDAM that the parent became irate after a call she made at second base, but the coaches and other officials had no opposition to the call.
The 10-year umpire said abuse to referees, whether physical or verbal, is becoming too familiar and leading to an umpire shortage.
“This is not a Laurel thing or a Mississippi thing,” Moore said. “This is a nationwide thing for officials across the board. It’s harder and harder, every weekend because of the abuse that umpires and officials across the board are experiencing.”
According to police, the parent in question, Kiara Thomas, was arrested after the incident and charged with simple assault.
Moore said she wants people to understand that umpires are just human.
“Officials in any sport are expected to be perfect and we’re not,” Moore said. “We never will be.”
Moore experienced a severe contusion and nerve damage in her left eye, but it won’t stop her from umpiring.
She hopes that her story will bring awareness to the umpire shortage and brings consequences for similar actions.
“There definitely needs to be stricter consequences and laws to stop and to deter this from happening to anyone else,” Moore said.
Earlier this year, a bill was introduced in the legislature that would make assaulting a referee or umpire a felony as aggravated assault. That bill, however, did not make the calendar.
Moore said she hopes after this incident lawmakers will take a second look at the bill.
Copyright 2022 WDAM via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/04/14/softball-umpire-speaks-out-after-parent-attack-leaves-her-with-severe-nerve-damage/ | 2022-04-14T20:58:14 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/2022/04/14/softball-umpire-speaks-out-after-parent-attack-leaves-her-with-severe-nerve-damage/ |
Caltrans: Snowy Highway 299 reopens at Hatchet Mountain in eastern Shasta County
We've made this story free as an important public service to our North State communities. If you are able, help power local journalism by subscribing today to your local newspaper.
11:45 a.m. UPDATE
Caltrans says Highway 299 at Hatchet Mountain has reopened.
ORIGINAL STORY
Big rigs spinning out in the snow caused the closure of Highway 299 at Hatchet Mountain Summit, about 8 miles east of Burney in eastern Shasta County, on Thursday morning.
The California Department of Transportation announced the closure just after 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
A Hatchet Mountain traffic cam shows the highway covered in snow with snowflakes coming down.
Meanwhile, Caltrans said chains or snow tires were required on vehicles from 3 miles east of Montgomery Creek to 6 miles west of Burney at Hatchet Mountain.
For Highway 44, chains are required on single axle drive vehicles towing trailers from Viola to 8 miles west of Old Station at Eskimo Hill.
For Interstate 5 in Siskiyou County, Caltrans isn't recommending campers, trailers or permit loads on the freeway from Weed to Yreka due to high winds.
Check road conditions here: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/
Mike Chapman is an award-winning reporter and photographer for the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif. His newspaper career spans Yreka and Eureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Wash. Support local journalism by subscribing today. | https://www.redding.com/story/news/2022/04/14/big-rigs-spun-out-snow-blocks-highway-299-eastern-shasta-county/7317734001/ | 2022-04-14T21:03:20 | 0 | https://www.redding.com/story/news/2022/04/14/big-rigs-spun-out-snow-blocks-highway-299-eastern-shasta-county/7317734001/ |
What's happening to the VFW Hall in Redding? Luxury living in downtown Redding? Ask the R-S
It's a wrap for Thursday's session of Ask the Record Searchlight, a newsroom-wide initiative to connect with you, our readers. If you wondered about something happening in town or had questions on a North State issue, please continue to send us your questions. We’ll do our best to answer.
Our live chats happen every other week and cover a wide range of topics. If you didn't see your question answered in the chat, we haven't forgotten about you. Look for the answer in the Ask the R-S mailbag that publishes every other Tuesday. Or the question you asked might become the topic of a freestanding article.
We are also working on future chats on consumer-related issues. Share with us questions you have about health care, retail, restaurants, housing or anything else that's affecting your checkbook.
Today's answers were a production by senior reporters Michele Chandler and Jessica Skropanic.
Find out how to Ask the Record Searchlight at the bottom of this chat. Questions are edited for length, clarity and accuracy.
Read more:Redding church's plan for mini-units for homeless people draws concern from neighbors
Is the VFW Hall on Oregon Street in Redding moving?
Q. I have heard a rumor that the Veterans Hall on Oregon Street is having to move after many years in that location because the building's owner is doubling the rent. Is this rumor true?
Hi, it's Michele Chandler.
A. For the answer, we went to Wes Tucker, commander of VFW Post 1934, which operates the gathering place and bar at 1251 Oregon St.
“We’re not going to be homeless,” Tucker said. While they are looking for a new location, he said, the building's owners "are going to make sure we have a place to land."
While Tucker wasn’t sure who owns the building, he said the VFW's monthly rent checks have been made out to Redding Development for several years.
Two emails sent this week seeking comment from one of the building's owners, Joel Taylor, went unanswered.
Taylor and his business partners bought the building, which includes Woody's Brewing Co., in July 2019.
Their idea at that time was to convert the building into an outdoor marketplace, according to Record Searchlight archives.
Taylor is Bethel Music CEO and co-founder and belongs to the senior leadership team of Bethel Church.
Redding Development does want to increase the rent for the space, said Tucker, "but they don’t want to do it to us. They want to renovate … and make it a more usable space for a business or something like that. I’ve not heard about apartments or anything like that.”
Tucker said he can understand the public's concern about the VFW's fate.
“People get fired up because it’s vets … and this has been their watering hole for a long time," he said. "But, at the end of the day," he said of the building's owners, "they don’t get into the business for charity. They do it to make money.”
According to Tucker, Redding Development has offered to help the group find a realtor that can assist them in locating a new space.
“They’ve wanted us to move out, but they want to make sure we have a place to go first,” he said.
Redding Development has cut the VFW some major breaks over the years, according to Tucker. The veterans' organization has paid $1,500 for the 5,000 square-foot space since 1994, he said.
Ask the Record Searchlight:What the drought means for Lema Ranch in Redding. How much is the rent at Market Center?
“We want to be good tenants. They’ve been very good to us, they’ve bent over backwards to help us out," he said.
For example, he said, Redding Development has received a permit to renovate the front of its building. But, rather than evict the VFW, Tucker said they've offered to build a safety wall so customers can still come and go even while renovations are underway.
Luxury living for downtown Redding?
Q. We read a lot about affordable housing in downtown Redding. Are there any plans for middle income and/or luxury housing downtown, such as apartments, condos or townhouses?
Hi, it's Michele Chandler again.
A. Downtown Redding already has some market-rate housing in place, with more on the way, said Daniel Knott, executive officer of K2 Development Companies.
Building Three of K2's Block 7 affordable housing project, on the south side of the downtown parking structure, will consist of 16 market-rate units, said Knott. A decision has not been made on whether they'd be for rent or for sale. The units will have either one bedroom and one bath or two bedrooms and two baths, he said.
The nonprofit McConnell Foundation has partnered with K2 Development Development and the city of Redding on Block 7.
Another K2 housing project for Redding's downtown corridor that's in a preliminary stage would include 12 market rate units. The one-bedroom units will be aimed at the middle-income tier, Knott said.
Further down the line, he said, K2 is planning to offer duplexes for sale to satisfy those in the starter home market, including first-time buyers.
In Redding, he said, builders are "doing our best" to offer homes for people earning too much to qualify for subsidies but not earning enough to buy a something that's luxury priced.
Ask the R-S/Redding.com:Can you win a court case against someone who gives you COVID-19? We asked a Redding attorney
"We're paying attention to it. It's definitely a tough market segment to build units in and have them be feasible," he said. He said with the cost of land, permits, construction and other economic realities mean "it's tough to make the numbers work."
Another builder, Don Ajamian, said he wasn't seeing demand for more upscale housing downtown. And he's got the kind of clients who likely could afford to build there.
"I've got folks who've lost their home to fire and they have insurance money," he said. But with construction costs so high, even some of them are not building.
"Demand drives everything," said Ajamian. "There's no way right now I would do something in a speculative way because the cost to build right now is so darn high."
About PG&E's customer service center
Q. When will Pacific Gas & Electric reopen their customer service center in Redding?
Hello. This is Jessica Skropanic.
A. For now, PG&E's customer service center in Redding remains closed to the public.
The utility company closed all of its customer service centers on March 17, 2020 — the beginning of the economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said. For now, it's keeping the centers shut to reduce the risk of outbreak among employees and customers. As of Tuesday, PG&E hadn't set a date to reopen any of the centers, including Redding's.
People can still pay their bills or ask questions. Here's how:
- Online at https://www.pge.com/
- In person at a Neighborhood Payment Center. Go to https://bit.ly/3E8lljF and type in your address to find the closest location.
- By mail at PG&E, P.O. Box 997300, Sacramento, California 95899-7300
- By calling 877-704-8470
Closures won't affect gas or electric service, Moreno said.
Ask the R-S/Redding.com mailbag:What became of those rose bushes along Highway 44 in Redding?
How Ask the Record Searchlight works
The live chat is brought to you as part of our newsroom-wide Ask the Record Searchlight initiative. Participate by posting your question in the comments section of this story or by sending your questions:
- Email RRSEdit@redding.com using Ask the Record Searchlight in the subject line.
- On Twitter, use the hashtag #AsktheRecordSearchlight or tag the newspaper at @BreakingNews_RS.
- Post a message on the Record Searchlight Facebook page.
- Contact one of the journalists directly by visiting the staff directory.
Jessica Skropanic and Michele Chandler are reporters for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network.To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. | https://www.redding.com/story/news/2022/04/14/luxury-living-downtown-redding-whats-up-vfw-hall-ask-r-s/7315322001/ | 2022-04-14T21:03:26 | 1 | https://www.redding.com/story/news/2022/04/14/luxury-living-downtown-redding-whats-up-vfw-hall-ask-r-s/7315322001/ |
Why California is doing bobcat study. How colors hide trout from predators
Q: Why is the California Department of Fish and Wildlife studying bobcats?
A: The California Fish and Game Code tasks the CDFW with developing a bobcat management plan to help the state make decisions regarding
bobcat populations.
Due in 2025 to the State Legislature and California Fish and Game Commission, the plan will include:
- A statewide bobcat population estimate
- An assessment of the overall health of bobcats
- A comprehensive strategy to manage bobcat populations and their habitat
- An investigation of nonlethal solutions to prevent bobcat predation on livestock
- Recommendations for regulatory or statutory changes
For more information about bobcat management go to the CDFW’s Science Spotlight at bit.ly/38CJGlU.
Q: How do trout camouflage themselves from predators?
A: When trout hatch, they have a transparent appearance that reduces their visibility to predators.
As trout continue to grow, pigmented cells in their skin called chromatophores create spotted patterns and marks. These allow the fish to camouflage themselves in their natural habitat. Some of these cells have reflective qualities that also lighten or darken to help the fish blend in with their surroundings.
Countershading is another camouflage adaptation that helps reduce predation. Trout have darker, spotted backs to blend in with the substrate and avoid predators from above. Their lighter undersides help them avoid predators from beneath by allowing the fish to blending in with the light from above.
Q: A friend showed me a copy of a magazine put out by CDFW. It included some amazing wildlife photography, which I think was part of a contest. What is this magazine?
A: Outdoor California has been published by CDFW since 1945. It comes out six times per year. An annual subscription is $15. For subscription information go to www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales.
More:Can restaurants cook wild duck? Can fish of different species mate successfully?
Entries for the Wildlife Photograph of the Year contest is presented in conjunction with California Watchable Wildlife are accepted year-round. Winners are announced in each magazine beginning in the March/April issue. For more information go to www.cawatchablewildlife.org.
Email CalOutdoors@wildlife.ca.gov with questions for the CDFW. | https://www.redding.com/story/sports/2022/04/14/california-bobcat-study-underway-how-colors-hide-trout-predators/9508183002/ | 2022-04-14T21:03:32 | 1 | https://www.redding.com/story/sports/2022/04/14/california-bobcat-study-underway-how-colors-hide-trout-predators/9508183002/ |
LINDEN — A Shih Tzu has been euthanized following a nighttime attack by two pit bulls that had gotten loose from their home.
According to police, the dogs responsible for the attack are on a "10-day hold" so they can be observed. The owner of the dogs came forward and is cooperating with the investigation.
"There have been no previous incidents reported involving them," Capt. Christopher Guenther said of the pit bulls.
At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were on patrol in the area of Roselle Street and Cleveland Avenue when they observed a resident walking a small Shih Tzu, Guenther said. Officers witnessed two loose dogs attack the Shih Tzu, and they quickly intervened.
At the time, the owner of the pit bulls could not be located. Officers were able to rein in the dogs, who had run off when officers interrupted the attack.
"The dogs weren't aggressive towards the officers at all," Guenther said. "The officers had no trouble getting a hold of them."
The Shih Tzu sustained significant injuries to its leg, Guenther said. It was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital but did not survive.
Guenther said the owner of the pit bulls lives in a multifamily home and a resident likely left a door open.
Dino Flammia is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022
UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.
(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)
These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey
A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.
From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.
Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the
American Hiking Society.
If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.
Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.
You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.
Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.
If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.
Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.
I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions: | https://nj1015.com/2-dogs-get-loose-and-fatally-attack-a-shih-tzu-in-linden-nj/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:11 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/2-dogs-get-loose-and-fatally-attack-a-shih-tzu-in-linden-nj/ |
NORTHFIELD — For the second time in three weeks, a raccoon has been confirmed for rabies in the city.
The positive reading was recorded on April 13, representing Atlantic County's sixth case of rabies this year.
According to the county, a raccoon was found staggering and panting on the bike path at Wabash Avenue and Tilton Road on April 7. The raccoon was collected and sent to the state lab for testing.
The county's other rabies cases involve three skunks found in Egg Harbor Township and a fox collected from Hamilton Township.
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, this year through March there have been 36 confirmed cases of rabies — 26 involved raccoons. The total for all of 2021 was 152.
Public health officials advise against approaching animals that appear to be behaving strangely. If you're bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately and seek medical attention.
Dino Flammia is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022
UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.
(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)
These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey
A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.
From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.
Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the
American Hiking Society.
If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.
Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.
You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.
Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.
If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.
Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.
I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions: | https://nj1015.com/dozens-of-rabies-cases-confirmed-throughout-new-jersey-in-2022/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:17 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/dozens-of-rabies-cases-confirmed-throughout-new-jersey-in-2022/ |
FBI investigates government in Ocean County, NJ
The FBI is seeking employment applications from Ocean County government for the past five years, according to two subpoenas from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
The subpoenas served to both Robert Greitz, director of Ocean County Department of Employee Relations, and Board of Commissioners Clerk Michelle Gunther seeks employment applications for employees hired by the county between 2017 and 2021 and “any referrals or other hiring correspondence from Ocean County Commissioners contained in what are commonly known as 'THE BLUE BOOKS(s)' for the same time period."
A blue book is so called because it is a binder of that color used to record contact information of people who make inquiries about a job.
Why were the subpoenas issued?
The subpoenas do not disclose a reason for the request. The FBI's Newark office would not comment on the subpoenas.
County officials told the Asbury Park Press that the investigation is looking into allegations that public employment was offered in exchange for a kickback or other favors. The Press, who did not identify their sources, was first to report on the subpoenas.
"The Ocean County Board of Commissioners is fully cooperating with the FBI investigation into the county’s hiring practices," county spokesman Rich Peterson told New Jersey 101.5. " federal subpoena was received in county offices on March 23. All documentation requested by federal investigators was hand-delivered to the FBI’s Red Bank office on Tuesday April 12."
Peterson said the county had no additional comment.
SEE ALSO: Ocean County GOP boss gets year in prison for tax crimes — claims he's a rich 'hoarder'
Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/fbi-investigates-government-in-ocean-county-nj/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:23 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/fbi-investigates-government-in-ocean-county-nj/ |
(The Hill) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued a statement on Wednesday telling migrants who were put on a bus in Texas and sent to Washington, D.C., that they should not try to travel to Florida, after some of the migrants reportedly said they hoped to make their way to Miami.
“To those who have entered the country illegally, fair warning: do not come to Florida. Life will not be easy for you, because we are obligated to uphold the immigration laws of this country, even if our federal government and other states won’t,” DeSantis’s office told Fox News.
The warning comes the same day Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) followed through on a threat to bus migrants to D.C. in protest of the Biden administration halting Title 42, a Trump-era policy that allowed for the expulsion of migrants at the border for health-related reasons.
Some migrants told news outlets they would not be staying in the D.C., with one person telling Newsmax their final destination is Miami. The Daily Beast spoke to 11 migrants, who said they hoped to end up in Miami and New York City.
“Florida is not a sanctuary state, and our social programs are designed to serve the citizens of our state,” DeSantis’s statement said, according to Fox News.
“If you have come here illegally, you have been done a great disservice by the Biden Administration. They have encouraged you to make dangerous treks, oftentimes at great physical distress to you and your family. Sometimes, this has even meant putting your fate into the hands of dangerous coyotes and human traffickers,” it added.
The Hill has reached out to DeSantis’s office for comment.
Abbott has said more buses with migrants will be sent to D.C., while the Biden administration has called his actions a “publicity stunt.” | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/desantis-tells-migrants-on-bus-from-texas-to-dc-do-not-come-to-florida/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:23 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/desantis-tells-migrants-on-bus-from-texas-to-dc-do-not-come-to-florida/ |
NJ businesses worried about workers showing up high on marijuana
With the sale of recreational marijuana about to begin in New Jersey, many employers are expressing concern about what they will and will not be able to do if they suspect a worker shows up at the job high on pot.
After adult-use recreational marijuana was approved by lawmakers, it was decided employers would be required to use Workplace Impairment Recognition Experts, WIREs, as part of their normal drug-testing procedures to determine if an employee was impaired on the job.
This is because a regular drug test can detect a false positive. In other words, the presence of marijuana that could have been smoked or consumed several days earlier.
Ray Cantor, the vice president of government affairs for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, said the problem is the Cannabis Regulatory Commission has not adopted regulations yet to certify WIREs.
It's a catch-22
“While the employers are limited on testing, and are required to do physical exams by WIREs, there are no WIREs because there are no regulations to certify them,” he said.
He said the current situation puts business owners in a very tough situation.
“The law requires that they do a certain thing, do a physical exam with WIREs, but there are no WIREs, so employers are very uncertain right now as to what their rights are.”
He said hopefully this will not become an issue with people smoking pot and then heading off to work but “the employment community is very uncertain right now as to what employers can and cannot do in making impairment determinations, so there’s a legal limbo.”
Protecting workplace safety
He said if there are no WIREs when pot sales actually begin and employers are concerned about workplace safety, they should still pull employees suspected of being high off the job.
“But what they could do afterward as far as taking action against that employee for showing up impaired is limited.”
Cantor noted NJBIA has been asking the Commission continually about this since the law was passed.
“The overall concern is to ensure the workplace is safe and that the employees are protected and the workplace and the community is protected,” he said.
Some of the recommendations NJBIA as made to the CRC include:
— To allow for a wide variety of entities to provide training for WIREs, including businesses and private business associations, to ensure more are trained and deployed to address the needs of workplace safety;
— To allow for the use of national certification boards or other professional accreditations (e.g. medical review officers) to certify WIREs, rather than relying on a narrow set of criteria specified by State Police;
— To allow physical examinations by WIREs to be done virtually, which is consistent with growing trends in the medical field and, combined with impairment detection technologies, can significantly reduce the cost to employers, speed detection of impairment, and ensure the protection of the workplace;
— To provide that an “adverse employment action” does not preclude employers from removal of certain employees who are prohibited from doing their assigned jobs because of their inability to pass a drug test for cannabis, as required by various federal laws.
David Matthau is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at david.matthau@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/nj-businesses-worried-about-workers-showing-up-high-on-marijuana/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:29 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/nj-businesses-worried-about-workers-showing-up-high-on-marijuana/ |
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida man is now behind bars after police say he shot a dog in the face and fled the scene.
Benjamine Brown, 19, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly shooting a mixed chocolate lab named Boots in the snout.
According to a news release obtained by WTVJ, “Boots suffered a fractured lower right jawbone causing several of his teeth to be knocked out”
Boots is doing well and is currently recovering, the sheriff’s office said Boots will be available for adoption once he is fully healed.
Brown faces several charges including intentionally causing cruel and excessive unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, carrying a concealed firearm, and discharging a firearm in public.
No motivation was given for the shooting. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-man-arrested-after-shooting-dog-in-the-face/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:29 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-man-arrested-after-shooting-dog-in-the-face/ |
NEW BRUNSWICK — Intended to keep rail cars and locomotives sheltered from flood-prone areas during severe weather, NJ Transit's Delco Lead Storage and Inspection Facility is now gaining steam, with the awarding of the first construction contract, to Union Paving for more than $6 million.
In a release Wednesday, NJ Transit said the early action phase covered by the contract is anticipated to be completed by the end of the summer of 2023.
NJT President and CEO Kevin Corbett said climate change has "increased the frequency and intensity of weather events in our region," and will allow trains to quickly return to service on the Northeast Corridor, Raritan Valley, and North Jersey Coast lines.
Nearly a decade ago, following the damage incurred by NJ Transit equipment in Superstorm Sandy, the agency said that the County Yard in New Brunswick and the adjacent, four-mile-long Delco Lead were identified as potential "safe havens" for cars and locomotives.
Because the area is above a flood plain with few trees, NJT said, it will be a safe alternative if sister facilities in Kearny and in Morrisville, Pa. are evacuated.
The exact value of the Union Paving contract is $6,080,015, for construction that will prepare the site for future building.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022
UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.
(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)
These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey
A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.
From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.
Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the
American Hiking Society.
If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.
Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.
You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.
Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.
If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.
Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.
I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:
Every NJ city and town's municipal tax bill, ranked
A little less than 30 cents of every $1 in property taxes charged in New Jersey support municipal services provided by cities, towns, townships, boroughs and villages. Statewide, the average municipal-only tax bill in 2021 was $2,725, but that varied widely from more than $13,000 in Tavistock to nothing in three townships. In addition to $9.22 billion in municipal purpose taxes, special taxing districts that in some places provide municipal services such as fire protection, garbage collection or economic development levied $323.8 million in 2021. | https://nj1015.com/nj-transit-oks-first-contract-in-safe-haven-project-for-trains/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:35 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/nj-transit-oks-first-contract-in-safe-haven-project-for-trains/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Tampa man was arrested Thursday for his alleged connection with multiple bank robberies.
Tampa Police said they were called to the Region Bank branch on West Swann Ave at around 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to police, James Williams, 43, went into the bank and demanded money from the teller, but ran before the teller could fill the bag.
Police said he robbed the Fifth Third Bank on West Swann Ave an hour later. Police charged him in two robberies at the same Fifth Third Bank on Feb. 18 and March 8 as well.
Williams was arrested Thursday on four felony robbery charges. Three of those are robbery while wearing a mask ($300 or more but less than $20,000) and the other is robbery less than $750. | https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/tampa-man-accused-of-robbing-multiple-banks/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:35 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/tampa-man-accused-of-robbing-multiple-banks/ |
(The Hill) – Russia is warning of new nuclear deployments in the Baltics if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as the two countries inch closer to becoming part of the military alliance.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president of Russia, wrote in a Telegram post on Thursday that “there can be no talk of non-nuclear status for the Baltic” if Finland and Sweden join NATO.
He said that should Finland and Sweden join NATO, Moscow would need to “seriously strengthen the grouping of land forces and air defense, deploy significant naval forces in the waters of the Gulf of Finland.”
“In this case, it will no longer be possible to talk about any nuclear-free status of the Baltic — the balance must be restored,” he added, according to CNBC.
Medvedev said that previously “Russia has not taken such measures and was not going to,” according to Reuters.
“If our hand is forced well … take note it wasn’t us who proposed this,” he added.
The cautionary statement from one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies comes after Finland and Sweden made progress in their paths to joining NATO. Lawmakers in Finland were issued a security report by the country’s government, and the ruling party in Sweden started a review of options for security policy, according to The Associated Press.
Finland borders Russia. Sweden, however, does not share a border with Russia. Norway, which borders Sweden and shares a small border with Russia in its far northeast, joined the military alliance in 1949.
Lithuania said that the warning from Russia is not new, stating that Moscow has positioned nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, the Russian province between Poland and Lithuania, since before the conflict with Ukraine began, according to Reuters.
Medvedev on Thursday said that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, Russia’s borders with alliance members will have to be bolstered.
“If Sweden and Finland join NATO, the length of the alliance’s land borders with the Russian Federation will more than double. Naturally, these borders will have to be strengthened,” he said, according to CNBC.
He noted that the addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO would give Russia “more officially registered opponents,” according to CNBC.
Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, when Putin ordered a “special military operation” in the country. The conflict entered its seventh week on Thursday. | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/russia-warns-of-new-nuclear-deployments-in-baltics-if-finland-sweden-join-nato/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:41 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/international/russia-warns-of-new-nuclear-deployments-in-baltics-if-finland-sweden-join-nato/ |
Penn Jillette makes surprise call to NJ 101.5: Today’s magic is blowing wide open with diversity
You gotta be careful who you talk about on the radio because you never know when they might be listening or just decide to call in.
Last night, after talking with Michael Carbonaro about doing radio with Penn Jillette in Philadelphia when he filled in for Howard Stern, our phone rang, and there was the other half of Penn and Teller, calling from his theatre in Las Vegas.
Penn had gotten a call from fellow magician Doc Swan who was listening and called in singing both the praises Swan and Carbonaro, whose "Lies on Stage" tour will be coming this Saturday night April 16 to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Get tickets here.
I asked Penn who just came off being revealed with Teller as The Masked Singer about today's magic, you can listen to our conversation On-Demand at 1:23:35:
"The big difference, and it's a wonderful difference, is that 20 years ago everyone in magic looked like me. They were all old white guys. And now we do our show 'Fool Us' and there are people that are not gender-specific, there are people that don't identify as white, there are people that don't identify as heterosexual, it's fabulous and that whole new blood has made it so on our show we see all sorts of people with new ideas."
"The internet opened things wide open. As you know, magic 25 years ago was the international brotherhood of magicians. The Magic Circle in London wouldn't even let women in until the 90s, and now it's blowing wide open and it's really great. There are so many wonderful magicians doing such crazy stuff and they're doing stuff that fools the hell out of me and I love it."
In the studio with me was comic magician Johnny "Gemini" Lombardi who's a huge fan of Penn and asked him: "When you're doing the magic and you get a new trick that's just awesome, are you doing it for you or are you doing it to see the look on those people's faces that you just played God for a minute man?"
"I don't know if I ever hit that," says Penn. "But there was one night, we were playing the Hammersmith Apollo in London and we have a trick that I think is one of our best and I'm really proud of it. Some nights things just go a little bit better and there was one night it was in the summer and it was in London and it was sold out over 3,000 people, and there was one moment that there was a reveal in the show and it was when an audience member turns into Teller. You know you always function at about 60-70 percent but that night we got lucky and everything just hit and I heard the entire audience gasp all at once and I gotta tell you it's one of the great feelings of my life. You don't get it often but once in a while you get it right."
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev.
You can now listen to Steve Trevelise — On Demand! Discover more about New Jersey’s personalities and what makes the Garden State interesting . Download the Steve Trevelise show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/penn-jillette-makes-surprise-call-to-nj-101-5-todays-magic-is-blowing-wide-open-with-diversity/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:42 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/penn-jillette-makes-surprise-call-to-nj-101-5-todays-magic-is-blowing-wide-open-with-diversity/ |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – More parents and caregivers are learning about the benefits of early intervention after a child has received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates one in 44 8-year-old children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Dr. Lauren Gardner, director of the autism program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, said there is a demand for evaluation of kids here in the Tampa Bay area, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
“We have a really high demand for young kiddos who are needing diagnostic evaluations and so, I think that we are falling along those lines of seeing that there is an increased rate of individuals who are seeking diagnosis earlier, and I think that hopefully speaks to the fact we’re doing a better job recognizing the signs earlier,” Dr. Gardner said.
She said some of those signs include delays in language and speech, restricted, repetitive behaviors like hand flapping and rocking, low body tone, limited eye contact and more.
Dr. Gardner said early intervention is key for young children.
“Especially in the early developmental period, we have neuroplasticity. So the brain is developing so quickly. So this is the time where by providing these interventions, we can actually change the course of development over time,” she said. “That’s not to say that if you don’t start intervention until later that there aren’t still benefits. There most definitely are.”
Both parents and therapy providers are oftentimes involved in these various forms of intervention.
Dr. Gardner explained teaching involves repetition and positive reinforcement and joining a child in their own play so they remain engaged.
“It’s not that we want to sit them down and make them do what we want to do, but that we’re integrated these programs, these behavioral programs, that they’re already engaged in, so that it’s more reinforcing for them,” she said.
Parental and caretaker involvement is important so families can collaborate with therapists and educators in schools so gains are made quickly in a child.
“They can really appreciate the gains that their kid is making because they’re helping contribute to it and they’re seeing those gains across different settings,” Dr. Gardner said of parents.
Early intervention focuses on working on child’s socialization, communication and preacademic skills, so they are ready for kindergarten.
“[They will] have skills that they’re able to socialize with their peers. They’re able to express themselves using words. They’re able to sit at the table and they know their letters, numbers, colors, shapes, the things that we expect kiddos to have in place for kindergarten, these programs will help assure that these kids are ready,” Dr. Gardner said.
Parents who suspect their child may have autism should seek diagnostic evaluation with their pediatrician to begin referral processes, or by contacting the Johns Hopkins Autism Program.
Though early intervention is important, Dr. Gardner said kids of any age are going to benefit from any kind of intervention.
“For families who can get access to an early diagnosis, an early intervention, it is key. But all intervention is going to show gains for these kiddos and so I don’t want to downplay that even if your child is 5, 6 years old and you feel like you’ve missed that early intervention window, all intervention is going to have positive outcomes for these kiddos,” she said. | https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/early-intervention-important-in-children-with-autism-tampa-bay-doctor-says/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:48 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/early-intervention-important-in-children-with-autism-tampa-bay-doctor-says/ |
Uncle Floyd diagnosed with COVID by police and it reveals 2 types of cancer
A not-so-funny thing happened to Uncle Floyd at a traffic stop.
"I was dead set against talking about this," says legendary comic Floyd Vivino. "It was wrong of me to talk about this subject because of all the people that suffered its consequences. I feel very lucky, but Steve, you have been asking me for months to do this and you said to me, 'Floyd, if you help one person with this story we have done a good service.' You're the only one I would talk to about this."
I have been asking him to tell it so here's Uncle Floyd Vivino on my NJ 101.5 show, you can listen On-Demand starting at 1:30:30
"I left Bound Brook, I made a wrong turn, cops are following me. They pulled me over three times. The first two times I pass all the physical tests they said he's not drunk but there's something definitely wrong with this guy and they followed me. They brought ambulances to these three stops."
Floyd continues: "The third cop says to me "You have COVID" and I said "No I don't," he says "Yes you do."
"Now how he'd known, I could not get out of my car," says Floyd. "COVID, if anybody's had it, and I was in the hospital for two weeks with it, either goes to your lungs, your kidneys, your heart, or your brain. With me, it was going to the brain, which shuts down the muscles in your body, so I couldn't get out of the car."
"I had to lift up one leg with both hands and put it out the door, then I had to lift up laboriously this other leg and put it down on the floor," Floyd said.
"To get out of the car, I had to do like a pullup. I had to put my two hands outside the car and the window and pull myself up."
"The cop knew," says Floyd. "He says, 'Listen, my job is to protect you, but my job is also to protect all the other motorists I'm not going to let you go any further. There's something wrong.'"
"To make a long story short, he (the cop) was right. I was about 8 miles from the Pennsylvania border. He said, 'Where are you going?' I said Totowa, New Jersey. He said you're going the wrong way."
They wanted to bring Floyd to a hospital but he said, "If I'm going to die tonight, it's going to be in Totowa, New Jersey with my people, not in Pennsylvania in a hospital"
"They wouldn't let me drive any further. They made me call AAA to drive me home, some guy with a truck showed up, but before he got there I'm walking away and the cops asked, 'Where are you going?' I said c'mon, I'll buy you guys coffee and doughnuts at the rest stop coffee shop. The cop said no you're not and those cops stayed with me until the AAA guy showed up."
"Those cops," says Floyd, "I wish I could hug them, I'd hug them with all my heart. I tried to find out who they were but when you have COVID going to the brain you have a memory loss for a period of time. I was warned about this and for two months I couldn't remember anything."
Those cops saved Uncle Floyd's life.
"I would have been dead in another 8-10 hours. When the brain stops it's over." But instead, it was just the beginning of another finding.
"When I was in the hospital, I never took medicine in my life, I never took even an aspirin," says Floyd. "At age 70 I took my first pill and I asked the doctor, 'Why am I taking this medicine?' He says, 'You have two cancers in you."
"I got it in the bladder and in the prostate," says Floyd. "The two most common places for men"
The doctor says the cancers are at very low levels and if Floyd chose to do nothing he might have three good years but then cancer maybe at 75 or 76 would take over. The doctor gave Floyd the choice of fighting it now or waiting to ask him how long he wants to live. Floyd's response: "I want to work until I'm 86."
Thankfully Floyd found out early enough to take action. When I asked him if he is going to fight it, his response: "I'm going to knock the hell out of them."
See Uncle Floyd with Julia Scotti and me Saturday, April 16 at the Brook Art Theatre. For tickets click here.
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev.
You can now listen to Steve Trevelise — On Demand! Discover more about New Jersey’s personalities and what makes the Garden State interesting . Download the Steve Trevelise show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now: | https://nj1015.com/uncle-floyd-diagnosed-with-covid-by-police-and-it-reveals-2-types-of-cancer/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:48 | 0 | https://nj1015.com/uncle-floyd-diagnosed-with-covid-by-police-and-it-reveals-2-types-of-cancer/ |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Marina Bates didn’t know who else to call, so she reached out to 8 On Your Side.
Bates lives in the Alta Mar at Broadwater apartment complex on 38th Avenue South in St. Petersburg. She says her back patio door has been boarded up for months and claims there is a serious black mold problem in her bathroom that the complex refuses to address.
“It’s just gross, I feel like I live on a horror movie set and I hate that,” Bates said. “Like, I told them about it and I sent in work orders and emails and every time I saw them on property I was like, ‘hey can you guys come and check out the mold in here?'”
Shevon Plummer says he can’t even use the downstairs of his unit because it is overrun with critters.
“And they got roaches, they got rats, they got all type of stuff,” Plummer said. “I can’t live downstairs, I can’t cook. My wife, she gotta work upstairs, we got a lot of problems here.”
No one at the apartment complex office was available to discuss the issues residents are complaining about. According to property records, the complex is owned by Pacifica Emerald Bay LLC, a company based out of San Diego, California. 8 On Your Side left a message, but our phone call has not been returned.
The City of St. Petersburg is well aware of the issues at the complex. In fact, while our crew was on location, a city sanitation department employee came to document the trash piling up besides the dumpsters at the complex.
“It’s very serious,” James Corbett, the city’s neighborhood affairs administrator said.
He says the complex is getting fined daily.
“Right now they’re facing, cumulatively, $850 per day in fines through the code enforcement board process,” Corbett said. “And we’ve already certified over $4,000 in liens against this complex.”
Julius Brown says he is moving out.
“This is not the best place to be as far as apartments,” said Brown. “We are constantly being lied to about – ‘it’s going to be done.’ From the front office, to even the custodians who ride around. A lot of those guys are no longer here.”
According to a city representative, residents who have concerns at the property or within their rental units can call the Codes Compliance Assistant Department at 1-727-893-7373 to file a complaint. | https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/st-pete-apartment-complex-faces-daily-fines-as-residents-deal-with-poor-living-conditions/ | 2022-04-14T21:05:54 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/st-pete-apartment-complex-faces-daily-fines-as-residents-deal-with-poor-living-conditions/ |
Pair arrested in Virginia are returned to Brockton, held in fatal shooting
BROCKTON — Following the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old Boston resident in Brockton last month, two people — Brendan Fernandes of Brockton and Destiny A. Fontes Silie of Warwick, Rhode Island — were arraigned Wednesday in Brockton District Court.
Fernandes, 33, and Silie, 25, pleaded not guilty to charges in connection to the shooting and were held.
On March 15 at approximately 4:44 p.m. in the vicinity of 401 East St., first responders found a male victim later identified as Brima Koroma, “suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest,” a statement from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office said.
Koroma was transported to Brockton Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following the fatal shooting, the pair were seen driving away from the scene in separate cars, the DA said.
A day later, “Virginia State Police stopped Silie’s blue sedan in Chesterfield, Virginia,” where Fernandes and Silie were found together and arrested.
Is crime down in Brockton?:District attorney shares stats for city, Plymouth County
“The pair waived rendition and were returned to Brockton [Tuesday],” the DA's office said.
Arraignment and onwards
Fernandes pleaded not guilty to the three charges against him at Wednesday’s arraignment: murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was held without bail, according to the DA’s office.
'We don't know what's in that dirt':Brockton sues over 'illegal transfer station'
Silie also pleaded not guilty to her one charge of accessory after the fact of murder. She was held and her bail was revoked, as she has two other open cases out of Brockton.
The two will be back in court on June 16.
Both the Brockton Police and the Massachusetts State Police Unit assigned to the Plymouth County DA’s office investigated this case, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jeremy Beth Kusmin and Samantha Mullin. | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/14/brockton-brima-koroma-murder-brendan-fernandes-destiny-silie-bail-arraignment-shooting-east-street/7313065001/ | 2022-04-14T21:06:45 | 1 | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/14/brockton-brima-koroma-murder-brendan-fernandes-destiny-silie-bail-arraignment-shooting-east-street/7313065001/ |
Brockton firefighter Matt Flaherty remembered as 'incredible person and genuinely loved'
BROCKTON — Brockton firefighter Matthew Flaherty is being remembered as "an incredible person and genuinely loved," the kind of person who made everyone "around him smile and laugh."
“Matt was a 10-year veteran of the Brockton Fire Department, who was loved and respected by all and will be greatly missed by all members of the Brockton Fire Department,” Brockton Fire Chief Brian Nardelli said Tuesday.
Flaherty, a Marine veteran, was killed in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash late Monday night, April 11, 2022 on South Main Street in West Bridgewater.
The West Bridgewater Police Department posted a moving tribute to Flaherty on Tuesday night.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Brockton Firefighter Matt Flaherty. Matt served his community and this nation selflessly and with the utmost honor. He was an incredible person and genuinely loved by everyone lucky enough to have spent time with him," the post said.
West Bridgewater Police Lt. Tim Nixon said Wednesday Flaherty was "well-known in the department, respected and a great guy. A lot of our guys knew him well. He was good friends with quite a few guys in the department.”
According to a post on the 1st Battalion 25th Marines Association Facebook page, Flaherty was a U.S. Marine corporal who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.
"Following his enlistment, Matt continued to serve his community as a Firefighter/EMT with Brockton Fire Department. Well-known and liked, Matty was quick to make all those around him smile and laugh, especially with his famous facial hair. He was a loving son, brother, and uncle. Our condolences go out to his family and friends," the Facebook post said.
Nixon said the call about the motorcycle crash came in around 11 p.m. Monday. West Bridgewater police and fire responded to the scene.
"It was apparent the victim had succumbed to his injuries," Nixon said.
Father on a mission:Here's why Brockton father is on a mission to clean up dirty needles
According to an Enterprise article in 2014, while Flaherty was serving in Afghanistan, he and his dog Chica were inseparable.
Every day, the two would comb through the desert engaged in a harrowing job.
"Matt and Chica walked in front of the Humvees searching for bombs," a family friend, the late Jackie Snow of Brockton, said at the time.
'We don't know what's in that dirt':Brockton sues over 'illegal transfer station'
Flaherty and Chica developed a bond of love and trust. But when Flaherty, 27 at the time, finished his tour and returned home to Brockton, he wasn't able to bring the yellow Labrador retriever with him. Chica spent a year in a military kennel in North Carolina. At just 6-years-old, Chica was being looked at for more service by a multitude of agencies, Snow said.
For a year, Flaherty, who had by then become a Brockton firefighter, tried to adopt Chica. His work and dedication paid off. Flaherty was able to adopt Chica.
"He's such a great guy and it's such a good thing that happened, they are both home safe and together now," she said at the time.
Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/fire/2022/04/13/brockton-matthew-flaherty-firefighter-killed-west-bridgewater-crash/7296472001/ | 2022-04-14T21:06:51 | 1 | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/fire/2022/04/13/brockton-matthew-flaherty-firefighter-killed-west-bridgewater-crash/7296472001/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Thursday is the new Friday at 38 companies in the U.S. and Canada that are testing out a shorter workweek in hopes of boosting productivity while keeping employees happy.
The companies are participating in a six-month trial working with the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global and researchers at Boston College.
“We establish their baseline before the trial,” explained Joe O’Connor, 4 Day Week Global’s CEO. “So we figure out what their company performance looks like under a range of different metrics like revenue, productivity, energy use, staff turnover, levels of absenteeism and sick leave, and then also their employees’ wellbeing.”
Those baseline levels under the five-day workweek will be compared with levels after testing out the reduced workweek.
Exactly what the schedule looks like at each company may vary a bit, O’Connor said. “Our prerequisite is that it must be genuine work time reduction. So it cannot be four 10-hour days. It can’t be the same hours compressed into four days,” he said.
Most employees will opt for a four-day workweek – and therefore a three-day weekend – when given the chance, O’Connor said. But he noted a minority of employees like to spread out their 32 hours of work across five days, giving them a chance to spend more time with their kids in the morning and after school.
No matter how they cut down their workweek, employers are not cutting back on pay; everyone gets the same salary and same benefits they had before.
The 38 participating organizations employ about 2,200 to 2,300 people, O’Connor said.
Not all 38 companies have decided to go public just yet, explained O’Connor. There are 20 companies and nonprofit organizations who have decided to disclose their participation in the pilot program. They are:
- Advanced RV
- Blue Sky Philanthropies
- CULTIQUE
- Floodlight Invest
- Fresh Squeezed Ideas
- GillespieHall Strategic Communications and PR
- GLIDE Design
- Healthwise
- IPR Denver
- Kickstarter
- Mental Health Advocacy Services
- Montana Nonprofit Association
- M’tucci’s Restaurants
- Own Trail
- Public Policy Lab
- Run for Something
- Seed&Spark
- simPRO
- USENIX Association
- WYNDR
While a four-day week is still rare in the United States, it’s gained popularity in other parts of the world. A study in Iceland involved moving about 1% of the country’s workforce to a 35- or 36-hour week, reports the Washington Post. They found employees loved the shorter week, and productivity either remained the same or improved.
“There is actually a fairly large amount – and growing – of current literature on the four-day workweek,” Timothy P. Munyon, associate professor of management at the University of Tennessee, told Nexstar’s WATE. “The general consensus is that it improves productivity, reduces burnout, and increases respite.”
O’Connor – who works a four-day week, by the way – is confident the participants will see similarly positive results from their trials. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/looking-for-a-new-job-these-companies-are-piloting-a-4-day-workweek/ | 2022-04-14T21:14:46 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/looking-for-a-new-job-these-companies-are-piloting-a-4-day-workweek/ |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – A new, immersive display of multi-sensory experiences celebrating the works of Salvador Dalí was announced by The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg this week.
The museum has collaborated with Grande Experience, a world leader in the creation and display of these experiences, to develop “Dalí Alive.”
Grande Experience previously created “Van Gough Alive,” which has become the most visited multi-sensory experience in the world.
“Dalí Alive will further redefine the way U.S. audiences connect with art and culture, engaging and inspiring guests to explore the life, art and triumphant accomplishments of Salvador Dalí,” a press release about the collaboration says. “A powerful symphony of light and sound will transport visitors directly inside the surreal visions and landscapes synonymous with the artist. “
The experience will showcase both Dalí’s triumphs and challenges, animating his works, designed to make the visitor feel as though they are stepping in the life of the artist himself.
The world premiere of Dalí Alive has not yet been announced, but the experience’s website says “coming fall 2022.” | https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/dali-alive-immersive-traveling-experience-announced-by-dali-museum/ | 2022-04-14T21:14:52 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/dali-alive-immersive-traveling-experience-announced-by-dali-museum/ |
VENICE, Fla. (NBC News Channel) – Card collectors throughout the country dug deep in their own collections so that 11-year-old Elyjah Blankenberg didn’t lose his love for the hobby.
Blankenberg lost a binder full of cards at Ed Smith Stadium when his favorite team, the New York Yankees, played the Baltimore Orioles last month.
The shy 11-year-old asked his all-time favorite athlete DJ LeMahieu, for an autograph, but then lost the binder in his excitement.
Dozens of packages, each with its own story started coming in. One letter read, “I know how bad I would have felt if I lost my own baseball cards at your age.”
Elyjah’s story about losing his binder of baseball cards resonated with collectors across the country.
“The stories are so personal just as his story was very personal. It meant a lot. DJ is Elyjah’s nickname on his little league team. So getting the courage up to get DJ’s autograph, that’s something else,” said Elyjah’s dad, John Blankenberg.
His mom put out a call on social media asking for it to be returned. The binder never turned out, but more than a hundred packages started trickling in.
“A Greg Maddux and a Tom Glavine card is crazy, I mean they’re hall of famers and some of the best pitchers in history. That’s just a piece of history he gets to cherish,” Blankenberg said.
“A lot of numbered cards through here so extremely valuable stuff. Really priceless because you know another collector sent it to a young collector so that’s something he’s always going to cherish and take with him,” said Josh Kerker, the owner of Venice Sports Cards & Collectibles.
Some cards came from the Midwest and the Northeast, but one of the most astounding deliveries came from the west coast of Florida.
Steve ‘Shark bait’ Samples wrote that he was bitten by a bull shark when he was 11 years old. While he was recovering in the hospital, someone sent him a baseball signed by star Yankees players from 1968. Samples sent the ball to Elyjah after seeing his story.
Samples even included the letter from when he got the autographed ball and the New York Yankees yearbook from the year 1968.
“The Mickey Mantle ball with the ’68 Yankees sign and the story that goes with it. I mean that probably meant more to him for the past however many years than anything he’s ever owned and to pass that onto my son is special,” John Blankenberg said.
A sad day at the ballpark turned into an experience Elyjah will never forget.
“Baseball is a magical sport,” said John Blankenberg.
The generosity from total strangers is already helping him come out of his shell.
“His baseball game has grown also since this happened. You can tell there’s something more,” said John Blankenberg.
The Orioles and Yankees also helped out with the Orioles giving Elyjah a base from the field, signed by the entire team while DJ LeMahieu is sending Elyjah an autographed baseball. | https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/good-samaritans-help-venice-boy-rebuild-baseball-card-collection/ | 2022-04-14T21:14:58 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/good-samaritans-help-venice-boy-rebuild-baseball-card-collection/ |
Mackey & Judd By skornorth | April 14, 2022 Minnesota Timberwolves scoops: Bring on the Memphis Grizzlies! Share: Minnesota Timberwolves fan deserves to celebrate this win!; What to expect from Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns in … | https://www.skornorth.com/minnesota-timberwolves-scoops-bring-on-the-memphis-grizzlies/ | 2022-04-14T21:15:29 | 0 | https://www.skornorth.com/minnesota-timberwolves-scoops-bring-on-the-memphis-grizzlies/ |
Minnesota Vikings remaining free agent targets in JC Tretter and Aikeem Hicks; Live two-round mock draft from the Draft Network!; …
Minnesota Vikings remaining free agent targets in JC Tretter and Aikeem Hicks; Live two-round mock draft from the Draft Network!; … | https://www.skornorth.com/minnesota-vikings-free-agent-targets-jc-tretter-and-aikeem-hicks/ | 2022-04-14T21:15:30 | 0 | https://www.skornorth.com/minnesota-vikings-free-agent-targets-jc-tretter-and-aikeem-hicks/ |
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Couldn’t we all use a little more smoothness during our workdays?
While glass chair mats might not be the first thing that come to mind when getting your home office situated, protecting your flooring shouldn’t be overlooked. Not only will a glass chair mat save your carpet from uneven wear or your hardwood floor from scratches, but using a chair mat might actually make you more comfortable. When you’re using one, your chair glides around easier — especially opposed to trying to roll on the carpet — making your chair jerk around less.
We know what you’re thinking: Glass? Under the chair? With me sitting in it? Is it going to break?
Nope. Tempered glass is incredibly strong can hold over 1,000 pounds of weight! If you’d like to try one for yourself, here are a few great options for tempered glass chair mats available on Amazon.
Premium Heavy Duty 1/4-Inch Thick Tempered Glass Chair Mat
This glass chair mat from 975 Supply measures 36 by 46 inches, has rounded corners and four fixed (but detachable) anti-skid pads. A chair won’t scratch the glass and the glass won’t scratch the floor underneath it. Use it to protect tile, hardwood, carpet and rugs. You’ll hardly notice this mat is even there when you walk into the room because it’s crystal clear.
We like that it comes with an unlimited lifetime guarantee covering transit damage or flaws. It’s highly rated on Amazon with an overall score of 4.9 out of 5 stars, scoring especially well for use on hardwood floors, its sheerness and durability. One reviewer said after trying this glass chair mat that she sent her plastic one back.
Clean it like you would a mirror: just wipe it down with glass spray and you’re good to go. You can purchase it on Amazon for $149.99.
Glaciermat Reinforced Glass Executive Chair Mat
The Glaciermat Reinforced Glass Executive Chair Mat from Floortex lays flat, fostering easy gliding mobility. It protects hard floors and all styles of carpets (high or low pile) and won’t ever curl as a plastic mat would. Amazon users have rated this mat 4.6 stars, while one customer mentioned it didn’t even scratch despite having dropped multiple household objects on it, like a phone, bike lights, chargers and more.
This one measures 36 by 48 inches and lists for $163.59 on Amazon.
Glass Chair Mat with Exclusive Beveled Edge
If you’re looking for a glass chair mat that’s a little bigger, this one spans 44 by 50 inches. This mat from Clearly Innovative has beveled edges that help your chair easily roll onto and off of it. The edges also prevent it from cracking. One reviewer noted this feature was nice when working with bare feet, stating that they don’t even feel the edge of the mat because it sinks into the carpet.
You can purchase this one for $298 on Amazon.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.wmar2news.com/glass-chair-mat-protect-home-office-floor | 2022-04-14T21:20:04 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/glass-chair-mat-protect-home-office-floor |
Purdue's recruits are making a clean sweep of this year's Indiana high school basketball awards.
Just two weeks after Westfield guard Braden Smith and Homestead guard Fletcher Loyer finished first and second in the 2022 IndyStar Mr. Basketball Award voting, they've done it again. And for the second-consecutive time, Smith edged out Loyer — this time as the top vote-getter on The Associated Press all-state team announced Thursday.
It's not just Smith and Loyer, either.
In last year's balloting by a panel of sports writers, broadcasters and coaches, Caleb Furst, the Mr. Basketball winner, and Trey Kaufman-Renn, the Mr. Basketball runner-up, shared the honor of earning the most votes. Both also wound up at Purdue.
Players are selected regardless of grade level or which classifications their schools compete. The first, second and third teams are comprised of the top 15 vote-getters.
Smith, a 6-foot point guard, averaged 18.3 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 1.9 steals despite missing eight games because of a foot injury and postponing surgery so he could compete in the state tournament. He posted three-game averages of 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5.3 rebounds in wins over No. 2 Fishers, Noblesville and No. 3 Carmel, the defending state champs, as the Shamrocks captured their first sectional title.
Smith also got the upper-hand on Loyer when they meet in the regional semifinals. But Smith's career ended with a loss to Kokomo. Smith finished as Westfield's career leader in points (1,629) and assists (453).
Loyer, this year's Indiana Gatorade player of the year, averaged 26.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He made 73 3-pointers and scored 1,360 points in two seasons with Homestead after playing previously in Michigan.
He's the only player to earn all-state honors in 2021 and 2022. Loyer was a third-team selection last year.
This year's team is flush with talent — again.
Lawrence North guard C.J. Gunn, who is headed to Indiana; Central Noble guard Conner Essegian, a Wisconsin recruit; and guard Tayshawn Comer of Class 4A state champion Indianapolis Cathedral round out the first team. Comer will play at Eastern Kentucky.
Essegian helped Central Noble finish as the Class 2A runner-up.
Four seniors lead the second team.
Chesterton guard Travis Grayson, who led his Class 4A squad to a state runner-up finish; Carmel guard Peter Suder, who played on Class 4A title teams in 2019 and 2021; Fort Wayne Northrop guard Jalen Jackson; and Warren Central forward Tae Davis were joined by rapidly emerging sophomore Flory Bidunga of Kokomo.
Suder intends to play at Bellarmine, Jackson is heading to Illinois-Chicago and Davis is reconsidering his commitment to Louisville following a coaching change. Grayson remains undecided on a college choice.
The 6-foot-10 Bidunga averaged 17.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks while shooting 78.7% from the field after arriving from Congo.
The third team is comprised of Indianapolis Pike guard Ryan Conwell, Penn guard Markus Burton, Indianapolis Cathedral center Xavier Booker, Mt. Vernon (Fortville) guard Armon Jarrad and Bloomington North forward JaQualon Roberts.
Conwell will play next season at South Florida while Jarrard heads to IUPUI. Burton, Booker and Roberts are juniors. Jarrard’s twin brother, Amhad, also will play at IUPUI after earning high honorable mention honors.
• From the KT area, Tri-Central's Jake Chapman, Carroll's Owen Duff, Maconaquah's Hayden Maiben, Tipton's Nate Powell, Peru's Matt Ross and Taylor's Bobby Wonnell received honorable mention. | https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/boys-bb-purdue-recruits-again-earn-most-ap-indiana-all-state-votes/article_d1f58f98-bc29-11ec-b40e-5f895cfb3b20.html | 2022-04-14T21:20:04 | 0 | https://www.kokomotribune.com/sports/boys-bb-purdue-recruits-again-earn-most-ap-indiana-all-state-votes/article_d1f58f98-bc29-11ec-b40e-5f895cfb3b20.html |
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Have you ever wondered how to clean your makeup brushes? Don’t panic: If you’re not cleaning them regularly, you’re not alone. One survey reported that almost 39% of women cleaned their brushes less than once a month, with 22% admitting to never cleaning them at all. Their most commonly reported reasons seem to be lack of time and lack of know-how.
Yet the fact is that makeup brushes need to be cleaned. This is because over time, brushes accumulate dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells and oil. And this gunk can lead to breakouts. Ugh. The good news is that the more you clean them, the less acne-inducing bacteria you’re wiping across your skin. Ick, but true. Clean brushes also help you apply your makeup better, because if you’re using a brush to apply a dark eye shadow color and switch to another lighter shade, having a dirty brush will just muddy the color.
Many beauty pros recommended washing our makeup brushes at least once a week. Some makeup artists suggest after each use — especially if it’s a beauty blender — which really makes the most sense when you think about it. Beauty pros say that while you can use something you might already have on hand, such as Dawn dish soap, using a product specifically designed for cleaning makeup brushes is actually much faster and easier.
Since I’ve often neglected my makeup brushes, I jumped at the opportunity to test out the makeup industry cult-favorite Cinema Secrets, a professional-grade liquid makeup brush cleaner that claims to kill 99.99% of bacteria.
An 8-ounce bottle of Cinema Secrets professional makeup brush cleaner is $24 on Amazon, and this cleaner promises a quick and easy way to do this job so many of us have been putting off forever.
Here’s how to clean your makeup brushes with Cinema Secrets: You just pour a little of the liquid into a small bowl, dip the tip of your brushes in it, swirl and wipe them clean. Its fast-drying formula doesn’t need to be rinsed off. Really! My smaller brushes were ready to use again immediately, while my larger ones needed a few more minutes to dry — but only 10 minutes maximum.
Could skipping the rinse and shortening the dry time really make me clean my makeup brushes more often? The answer is YES. This blue cleaner can be used on both natural and synthetic fiber brushes and somehow, magically, it doesn’t leave any residue. You really have to see it to believe it. It washes and deodorizes at once and rendered my makeup brushes clean as a whistle.
I couldn’t help but notice how beloved this makeup cleaner is on Amazon! With 1,969 reviews and counting, it ranks highly with 4.7 out of 5 stars. Customers also note that “a little goes a long way,” which makes the $24.00 cost well worth it in my book, and several mentioned how it “dries almost instantly.”
What do you think? Now that you know how to clean your makeup brushes will you do it more regularly? Your skin might thank you!
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.wmar2news.com/how-to-clean-your-makeup-brushes | 2022-04-14T21:20:10 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/how-to-clean-your-makeup-brushes |
We’ve all heard stories from fishermen about “the one that got away.” In those tales, the biggest fish ever got hooked on the end of the line and gave such a fight that it escaped its fate.
Sometimes, though, the angler wins the battle, and now Eugene Cronley of Mississippi has a fish story that needs no exaggeration. In fact, the catfish Cronley caught is so big, that it’s been certified as a state record-breaker and could be considered for a world record, as well.
During his April 7 fishing excursion on the Mississippi River near Natchez, Mississippi, Cronley reeled in a 131-pound blue catfish that looked like something from prehistoric times. Needless to say, that big-‘ol blue wasn’t coming out of the river willingly.
“He hit the rod and started pulling drag,” Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. “I couldn’t move him. I’d pull on him and he’d pull and take 10 feet.”
The determined angler spent 45 minutes fighting to reel in the fish and finally, Cronley and the others on the boat got a glimpse of his river opponent.
“We catch a lot of 50-pounders down there and I knew he was bigger than that,” Cronley told the Ledger. “We didn’t know until we pulled him up. We knew then we had a monster.”
“We could hardly get him in the boat,” he added. “I was wore out.”
In addition to its whopping body weight, the blue catfish measured 4.7-feet long and had a girth of 41 inches around.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took a few days to certify the measurements, but once it did, the news of the broken record spread on social media.
Prior to Cronley’s catch, the state record was 95 pounds.
After already breaking one record, Cronley could also be a line class world record holder based on the size of the fish and the equipment he used.
According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Cronley used a rod and reel with skipjack herring as bait. The line on the reel was a 30-pound test monofilament variety, which the International Game Fish Association needs to confirm. If the organization confirms the equipment, Cronley’s fish will be the biggest fish caught on that strength of the fishing line.
Either way, Cronley said his catch “is truly the fish of a lifetime.”
“I’ve been catfishing all my life and I never dreamed of something like this,” he said.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.wmar2news.com/mississippi-man-catches-record-breaking-catfish | 2022-04-14T21:20:17 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/mississippi-man-catches-record-breaking-catfish |
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials found and seized potentially harmful bat meat from a Maryland traveler at Washington Dulles International Airport.
On April 5, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists found three pounds, eight ounces of charred bat meat in the baggage of a Germantown, Md., man who arrived from Ghana.
According to the CBP, bat is considered bushmeat and is a routine protein staple in Africa. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bushmeat is illegal to import [cdc.gov] to the United States and bats are known vector species for zoonotic diseases [cdc.gov], such as Ebola.
CBP seized the bat meat and turned it over to CDC for further examination.
Additionally, CBP agriculture specialists discovered a combined 12 pounds of tetraplura, eggplants, and turkey berries in the man’s baggage. CBP seized and destroyed the prohibited fruit.
CBP seized and destroyed the fruit products and released the traveler.
“Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists play a very challenging frontline role in protecting the public, our nation’s agricultural industries, and our economic vitality every day against the deliberate or accidental introduction of potentially crippling animal diseases that may be carried in passenger baggage,” said Daniel Escobedo, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “CBP strongly encourages all international travelers to know what they can and cannot pack in their baggage before visiting the United States.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/cbp-potentially-harmful-bat-meat-seized-from-maryland-travel-at-dulles-international-airport | 2022-04-14T21:20:23 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/cbp-potentially-harmful-bat-meat-seized-from-maryland-travel-at-dulles-international-airport |
MARYLAND — Giant announced its pharmacies are administering a second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to people 50 years of age and older at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines.
Customers are encouraged to schedule an appointment or walk-in to their local Giant Pharmacy to receive their vaccinations.
People are are asked to bring their health insurance card and driver’s license to their appointment and will also be required to show their vaccination card at the time of their visit. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/giant-pharmacy-now-administering-second-covid-19-booster-vaccinations | 2022-04-14T21:20:29 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/giant-pharmacy-now-administering-second-covid-19-booster-vaccinations |
BALTIMORE — Baltimore City crews will spend Saturday removing graffiti from a part of Howard Street.
The city's transportation department warned of temporary lane closures from about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16 for the project.
The graffiti removal focuses on the area of the Howard Street bridge over I-83 and the railroad tracks. Lane closures will take place on Howard between Preston Street and North Avenue, the city said.
Transportation department spokesperson Marly Cardona-Moz said graffiti removal is handled by several different agencies and often depends on service requests. She said her department has Signs and Markings and Bridge Maintenance who respond to service requests related to graffiti, and the public works department also responds.
Ironically (perhaps), Howard Street at North Avenue is known for "Graffiti Alley" and the Graffiti Warehouse, which seek to give graffiti artists a designated place for artistic expression. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/graffiti-removal-scheduled-for-baltimores-howard-street-on-saturday | 2022-04-14T21:20:35 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/graffiti-removal-scheduled-for-baltimores-howard-street-on-saturday |
BALTIMORE — The fruits of their labor could one day become food for their community.
That's the hope behind the project created by these STEM students at Green Street Academy.
"I think the mobile food pantry is a really good concept when you think about it," said India Acree.
Acree was on board right away, but it took some time for others to get on board.
"I was a little skeptical of the idea at first because I always thought like a food pantry shouldn't be mobile should be like in a building with one person," said student Josiah Bryant. "But as we're going on with the project and seeing there was also the COVID-19 pandemic and how we have mostly food deserts around nowadays, everyone was like mobile is probably the right way to go."
Once they agreed, they were off creating for Samsung's 'Solve for Tomorrow' competition.
Each year the electronics company calls on public school students to dream, develop and build solutions to problems facing their communities.
Their STEM teacher Harry Preston says it was their passion for the project that pivoted them to the finals.
Their mobile food pantry beat out thousands of other projects from across the county.
They're in the top ten and have already won $50,000.
"We again focused on the service who we were able to provide to not so much the competition," said Preston. "So for us it was more about being able to provide a service for the community, being able to address an issue that was vitally important."
Khalel Frazier helped with construction of the pantry. It's an automated mobile emergency food pantry with solar panels, built using stem technology like coding.
"When I heard about the food pantry, it brought joy to me because it's like, oh I'm actually helping out people who are just doing something that's not just for myself. I'm actually helping people in the community," said Frazier.
Preston says their goal is to not only create the pantry, but come up with a global solution to get food to people who need it most and for students like Jaylin Liggins, it's personal.
"I know that for me and my family this food pantry would be a big change because we have to walk to get groceries and usually a long walk," Liggins said. "So I think that with this food desert it might actually help."
They've already won $50,000 for their school, but you can help local students from Green Street Academy win the grand prize of $100,000.
Voting ends April 23rd. The national winners will be named on Tuesday, April 26th. Click here to vote! | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/green-street-academy-hoping-to-improve-community-through-samsungs-solve-for-tomorrow-competition | 2022-04-14T21:20:41 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/green-street-academy-hoping-to-improve-community-through-samsungs-solve-for-tomorrow-competition |
HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — A minor was injured in a fire Wednesday afternoon in Abingdon.
Officials say the fire happened around 2:30 p.m. on Wolf Trail Drive.
The minor was taken to the hospital.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the estimated damage of the home is around $300,000.
It took 35 officers to control the fire in 25 minutes. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/minor-injured-in-house-fire-in-harford-county | 2022-04-14T21:20:47 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/minor-injured-in-house-fire-in-harford-county |
FERNDALE, Md. — The lights and sirens of a fire engine prompted both drivers to move over at the intersection of Dorsey Road and Aviation Boulevard on Tuesday, but the two exchanged words when one pulled in front of the other.
It only got worse when the driver of a black truck felt threatened and tried to drive away from the heated motorist behind the wheel of a white Honda.
“The driver of the second vehicle was so agitated that he began to ram the rear end of the first vehicle,” said Marc Limansky of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
"The rage continued after the victim pulled into the Anne Arundel County Northern District Police Station when the victim told investigators his pursuer stepped out of his car, pointed what appeared to be a gun at him and said he was going to kill him.”
Police spotted the white Honda a short time later on Ritchie Highway and arrested 20-year-old Jamal Rodgers Junior on assault and reckless endangerment charges.
Court records suggest Rodgers faced another assault charge less than a year ago after allegedly striking his pregnant girlfriend and using a Taser on her, but police say if there is anything to be taken from this case, it’s that motorists should do everything possible to avoid conflict on the road.
“Things are going to happen that are outside your control. You’re just going to have to learn to let it go, just be calm and give yourself extra time,” Limansky said. “In this case, this individual was doing the right thing by yielding to the fire apparatus, whether he pulled behind you or in front of you, it’s no reason to get upset.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/motorist-strikes-truck-in-apparent-road-rage-in-ferndale-after-moving-over-for-emergency-responders | 2022-04-14T21:20:53 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/motorist-strikes-truck-in-apparent-road-rage-in-ferndale-after-moving-over-for-emergency-responders |
BALTIMORE — With the news of wide receiver Sammy Watkins signing a one-year deal with the Packers, the Ravens have eight remaining unrestricted free agents.
In Watkins case, he wasn't expected to resign as he fell down the depth chart with the emergence of Rashod Bateman.
With the draft only two weeks away, the Ravens have some questions about these free agents:
- ILB L.J. Fort
- RB Devonta Freeman
- OLB Justin Houston
- OLB Pernell McPhee
- RB Latavius Murray
- OT David Sharpe
- CB Jimmy Smith
- NT Brandon Williams
Watkins now becomes the 10th Ravens free agent to sign a deal elsewhere. All of the former Ravens signed one-year deals.
Here are the 10 Ravens free agents who have signed elsewhere:
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) April 14, 2022
Anthony Averett (LV)
Chris Board (DET)
Bradley Bozeman (CAR)
DeShon Elliott (DET)
Justin Ellis (NYG)
Josh Johnson (DEN)
Eric Tomlinson (DEN)
Sammy Watkins (GB)
Chris Westry (CAR)
Tavon Young (CHI) | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/ravens-still-have-decisions-to-make-about-remaining-free-agents | 2022-04-14T21:20:59 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/ravens-still-have-decisions-to-make-about-remaining-free-agents |
BALTIMORE — A 52-year-old man is dead after being shot in the head during a potential road rage incident in Baltimore Thursday.
The victim was discovered just after 12:45pm inside a vehicle, in the 6200 block of Pennington Avenue.
Police say a witness reported possible road rage leading up to the incident, although no official motive was revealed.
The deadly shooting is the third over the last 24 hours.
In all three, the victim was found dead inside a vehicle.
Overnight around 1:30am — a 47-year-old man was found shot to death in the 1800 block of Wilkens Avenue.
MORE: 21-year-old found shot to death in overturned car in Northwest Baltimore
About five-hours earlier on Wednesday night, a 21-year-old man was discovered inside an overturned vehicle in the 4200 block of Nadine Avenue.
No arrests have been made thus far.
Police have not released the names of the victims. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/road-rage-leads-to-deadly-shooting-thursday-afternoon-in-south-baltimore | 2022-04-14T21:21:05 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/road-rage-leads-to-deadly-shooting-thursday-afternoon-in-south-baltimore |
An elections board in a North Carolina county has removed Mark Meadows, a former chief of staff to President Donald Trump, from its list of registered voters after documents showed he lived in Virginia and voted in the 2021 election there.
He was removed Monday by Macon County's Board of Elections.
Public records show he cast an absentee vote in Macon County during the 2020 general election.
Questions had already arisen last month about Meadows when North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein's office asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into his voter registration, which listed a home he never owned as his legal residence.
A representative for Meadows did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meadows frequently raised the prospect of voter fraud before the 2020 presidential election and in the months after Trump's loss.
Meadows represented the state in Congress until he stepped down in 2020 to become Trump's chief of staff. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national-politics/mark-meadows-removed-as-north-carolina-registered-voter | 2022-04-14T21:21:11 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national-politics/mark-meadows-removed-as-north-carolina-registered-voter |
Officials in a Georgia county say they're moving ahead with plans to build a launchpad for commercial rockets barely a month after residents voted to halt the project by a margin of nearly 3-to-1.
Commissioners in coastal Camden County said in a statement Thursday that they have approved purchasing 4,000 acres for the proposed Spaceport Camden. Camden County has spent a decade and more than $10 million pursuing the spaceport, promising economic growth by blasting satellites into orbit.
Critics argue the project has serious safety and environmental risks. Commissioners are asking the Georgia Supreme Court to declare the referendum invalid.
James Goodman, a spaceport critic and a city councilman in the Camden County community of St. Marys said in early March, “Right now they are guilty of ignoring the will of the voters.” Goodman said, “What they will do if they persist is to demonstrate utter contempt for the voters.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/coastal-county-in-georgia-still-moving-ahead-with-a-spaceport-that-voters-rejected | 2022-04-14T21:21:17 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/coastal-county-in-georgia-still-moving-ahead-with-a-spaceport-that-voters-rejected |
SOUTHFIELD, Mich (WXYZ) — A nationwide infant formula shortage has families struggling to feed their babies.
Empty shelves and signs rationing out supplies is a sight many have not seen since the early days of the pandemic. But moms say it’s a constant crisis.
“What happens if she drinks her last bottle?” Ashley Rippey asked.
Rippey said she spends hours online searching for a store that has her daughter's sensitive stomach formula stocked and if she is lucky, one out of seven stores will have one can.
“It’s ridiculous. I don’t mean to cry, I don’t mean to start getting emotional but when there is no other option to feeding your kid, what’s my option,” Rippey said.
“It’s a bit frustrating and it’s sad,” said Dymon Williams, whose newborn Mason has a milk allergy.
Williams after many failed formula attempts finally found one that settled his stomach, but after the doctor's samples ran out, she quickly realized it was close to impossible to find the brand in stores.
"We had to get a family member from Chicago to find it for us and bring it down here, which it just got here this week,” Williams, a resident of the Detroit area, said.
Prior to her cousin saving the day, Williams says they were forced to give her 6-week-old son food they knew he was allergic to, causing him to break out, cry and become constipated. And she fears in a few days, they could have to do the same thing.
“We only got to get four cans from down there, and the milk doesn’t last that long. One can only lasts two-and-a-half days,” Williams said.
“We had a bad situation with access to baby formula before, and the recall by Abbott only made in worse,” said Kevin Ketels, an associate professor at The Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University.
Ketels says a massive formula recall earlier in the year is one of the causes for the empty shelves, with 31% of formula products being out of stock across the country.
According to Ketels, Abbott has begun airlifting formula products to the states to fill the gap, and other companies are looking at ways to stretch the supply. But he says the solution could take weeks if not months.
“Hopefully, the company can ramp up production quickly and we can avoid the severe shortages that we have right now, but we will not be able to escape the general shortages just because of the pandemic," Ketels said.
In the meantime, families have had to become resourceful. Posting on social media to see if anyone has extra samples or reaching out to families members in other states to be on the search.
This article was written by Kiara Hay for WXYZ. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/family-travels-from-detroit-to-chicago-to-find-infant-formula-amid-nationwide-shortages | 2022-04-14T21:21:23 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/family-travels-from-detroit-to-chicago-to-find-infant-formula-amid-nationwide-shortages |
The federal government is considering everything in its power to fight the U.S. obesity epidemic.
One option involves a new label, "FDA Healthy," which would be placed on any qualifying food or beverage.
The FDA said in March it is studying label designs "while at the same time developing a proposed rule that would update when manufacturers may use the 'healthy' nutrient content claim on food packages."
The goal is to help people make healthier decisions.
Right now, that's not easy.
Companies often use buzz words like "naturally flavored" or "100 calories" to cover up the high sugar content of their products.
"It's the specific keywords that lead consumers to believe things are healthy," said Jeremy King, CEO of the British consumer research firm Attest. "It leads consumers to fail to believe things are healthy when they really are."
Some consumers seem to have catch on.
Forty-six percent of shoppers worry that products marketed as "healthy" actually contain high levels of sugar, salt or fat, according to Attest's research.
"In many cases, the perception of healthiness is created by the packaging, and that link is inaccurate," King said. "It's perhaps, in some cases, even actively misleading. And clearly, some brands are being really successful because of this."
Attest's research highlights a major issue: Americans aren't always sure what they are buying.
In one experiment, people were given six breakfast bars and asked to pick the healthiest one.
Only 9% of people picked the healthiest breakfast bar. Thirteen percent said the least healthy option was the healthiest.
People said they were swayed by marketing terms like "whole grains."
"It looks like a delicious iced muffin and it's purporting itself to be a healthy breakfast bar, and the word 'whole grains' is there," King said. "That makes you feel good about the choice."
The FDA Healthy label is intended to address this kind of confusing marketing, but the proposal's future remains uncertain.
The label, and the definition of 'healthy,' are both subject to a lengthy federal vetting process.
It could be years before either is used regularly.
In the meantime, King said it's important for consumers to utilize the nutrition facts available to them.
"Just think to yourself: 'Is this really as healthy as meets the eye, flip the package over and have a look at the back. That will bring the health message and data to light," King said. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/fda-considers-solutions-to-confusing-food-labels | 2022-04-14T21:21:30 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/fda-considers-solutions-to-confusing-food-labels |
An investigation in Nebraska has concluded that a Nebraska state lawmaker who resigned after admitting that he took photos of a female subordinate without her permission acted in a "boorish, brainless and bizarre" manner but did not commit illegal sexual discrimination or harassment.
Lincoln attorney Tara Paulson wrote in her report that was released Wednesday that former state Sen. Mike Groene's behavior was "wholly unprofessional and inappropriate" and that he would have faced disciplinary action in a private-sector job.
Groene resigned in February after admitting that he took the photos of a female staffer. Groene, a blunt-spoken, often abrasive Republican who clashed with Democratic colleagues, also ended his candidacy to become a University of Nebraska Regent.
Paulson wrote that Groene emailed photos to himself with subject lines like, “Inmd pic,” “Inmdsm,” “PAGEBOY,” “BLONDE” and “LEGS.”
Kristina Konecko, the staffer who was photographed without permission wrote in a statement, “I appreciate and am grateful to Mr. Groene hiring me all those years ago. Earning his trust was like a badge of honor for me. Filing the complaint was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. It was like betraying a friend.”
Groene would not participate in the probe and said he regretted resigning and said in a statement that his reputation was "drug through the mud in a political witch hunt.”
“The legislative report confirmed what I said from the beginning,” Groene said. “I did nothing unlawful. In no manner did I harass an employee. All photos on my computer were never shared and all were taken in a public setting.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/investigation-finds-nebraska-lawmakers-behavior-wasnt-sexual-harassment | 2022-04-14T21:21:36 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/investigation-finds-nebraska-lawmakers-behavior-wasnt-sexual-harassment |
An elections board in a North Carolina county has removed Mark Meadows, a former chief of staff to President Donald Trump, from its list of registered voters after documents showed he lived in Virginia and voted in the 2021 election there.
He was removed Monday by Macon County's Board of Elections.
Public records show he cast an absentee vote in Macon County during the 2020 general election.
Questions had already arisen last month about Meadows when North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein's office asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into his voter registration, which listed a home he never owned as his legal residence.
A representative for Meadows did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meadows frequently raised the prospect of voter fraud before the 2020 presidential election and in the months after Trump's loss.
Meadows represented the state in Congress until he stepped down in 2020 to become Trump's chief of staff. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/mark-meadows-removed-as-north-carolina-registered-voter | 2022-04-14T21:21:42 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/mark-meadows-removed-as-north-carolina-registered-voter |
A federal jury convicted an Ohio man who testified that he was following orders from then-President Donald Trump when he stormed the U.S. Capitol last year.
Jurors heard attorneys' closing arguments Thursday in the case against Dustin Byron Thompson. The 38-year-old man was convicted of obstructing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory and stealing a coat rack from a Capitol office during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Thompson was the fifth defendant to be tried among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. He is the first to mount a defense blaming Trump and members of his inner circle for the insurrection. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/ohio-man-who-said-he-followed-trumps-orders-on-jan-6-convicted | 2022-04-14T21:21:48 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/ohio-man-who-said-he-followed-trumps-orders-on-jan-6-convicted |
A possible missile attack on the Moskva, a Russian ship that is stationed in the Black Sea, caused “significant damage" to the cruiser, the U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday.
Following the Pentagon’s announcement, Russian state media said the ship sank as a result of the attack.
A Department of Defense official said Thursday afternoon that explosions from the missiles caused fire damage to the ship.
"We do believe that [the cruiser] has experienced significant damage. Our assessment is that [the crew] still appears to be battling a fire onboard,” a Pentagon official said. “But we do not know the extent of the damage. We don't know anything about casualties to [the] crew. And we cannot definitively say at this point what caused that damage.”
The Pentagon said it observed a handful of ships operating in the northern Black Sea have moved south in the wake of the damage to the Moskva.
The Department of Defense says the ship contains munitions, artillery rounds, missiles, a propulsion plant and plenty of fuel onboard. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/russian-flagship-ship-blasted-by-ukranian-missiles-dod-says | 2022-04-14T21:21:54 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/russian-flagship-ship-blasted-by-ukranian-missiles-dod-says |
Music made by Queen, Journey, and Alicia Keys is heading to the Library of Congress.
Their works are part of the 25 recordings the Library of Congress will be added to the national recording registry this year, the library announced in a press release.
"The National Recording Registry reflects the diverse music and voices that have shaped our nation’s history and culture through recorded sound,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said. “The national library is proud to help preserve these recordings, and we welcome the public’s input. We received about 1,000 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry.”
Other artists that are joining the collection include Linda Ronstadt, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and Buena Vista Social Club.
The registry, which was established in 2000, has 25 new titles added to its archive every year.
Historical recordings are also included in the collection including public speeches and radio shows.
This year, the collection added Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential speeches and a broadcast of baseball player Hank Aaron's 715th career home run. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/songs-by-queen-a-tribe-called-quest-added-to-recording-registry | 2022-04-14T21:22:00 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/songs-by-queen-a-tribe-called-quest-added-to-recording-registry |
A new study released Thursday that shows those diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder are 3.7% more likely to get a breakthrough COVID-19 infection than those without psychiatric disorders.
The study was published Thursday by the JAMA Network Open.
It shows people with substance use disorder had an up to 16% greater risk of getting a breakthrough infection.
Those with adjustment disorder were linked to a roughly 13% higher chance of breakthrough infection.
The study also found that those with anxiety disorders had a roughly 8% higher risk of breakthrough infection.
Researchers say their findings might warrant focusing more prevention efforts on this group, like prioritizing testing and boosters. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/study-finds-people-with-psychiatric-diagnoses-more-at-risk-of-covid | 2022-04-14T21:22:06 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/study-finds-people-with-psychiatric-diagnoses-more-at-risk-of-covid |
The wife of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins made her first public comment since her husband died last weekend after he was hit by a dump truck on a South Florida highway.
"I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to every loving soul who has supported our family during this arduous time of loss," Kalabrya Haskins said in a statement released through the Steelers on Wednesday. "The overwhelming thoughts and prayers have been fuel for our emotional depletion. All of your blessings have been greatly valued and appreciated."
The Florida Highway Patrol said Haskins died April 9 while attempting to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities are still investigating the incident.
ESPN reported that Haskins was in Florida training with several teammates, including fellow quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
The Associated Press reported that two funerals will be held to honor Haskins.
The first one will be held on April 23 at noon at Christ Church in Rockaway Township and the second one will be held on April 24 at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/wife-of-steelers-qb-dwayne-haskins-releases-statement-following-his-passing | 2022-04-14T21:22:12 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/wife-of-steelers-qb-dwayne-haskins-releases-statement-following-his-passing |
DENVER, Colo. (KMGH) — A lot of brainpower is needed to excel at Chess.
Griffin McConnell, 17, has undergone four different brain surgeries to treat severe seizures and still managed to become a national chess master.
While recovering from the surgeries, Griffin had to relearn how to walk and speak.
His biggest passion, chess, came back the easiest.
"It's kind of interesting because I feel like chess is one part of me, and that's why I did so well," Griffin said. "And with the hemispherectomy, when that happened, I don't know. It's interesting because I (wanted to relearn) chess more than I wanted to walk or talk."
After the latest surgery, Griffin said his game improved.
“I knew right away that my thinking was better.” Griffin McConnell, chess master
Griffin recently won the Colorado Scholastic Championship.
He and his family have also started a nonprofit organization, ChessAbilities Inc. They will host a tournament for children with disabilities later this year.
For more information, click here.
This story was originally reported by Danny New on thedenverchannel.com. | https://www.wmar2news.com/teen-becomes-national-chess-master-following-4th-brain-surgery | 2022-04-14T21:22:18 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/teen-becomes-national-chess-master-following-4th-brain-surgery |
Florida becomes latest state to sign abortion ban legislation into law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday that prevents a physician from performing an abortion if the fetus is more than 15 weeks old.
The exception for the law is if "the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition," according to the bill.
"These are babies that have heartbeats, that can move and feel pain," DeSantis said of the 15-week gestational period in the law. He continued later in the news conference, "It's a statement of our values that every life is important."
Florida currently allows abortions until the 24-week mark.
The bill comes amid a growing conservative push to restrict abortion at the state level before the summer, when the U.S. Supreme Court may weaken or eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion first established in Roe v. Wade.
If Roe is overturned, 26 states are certain or likely to quickly ban or severely restrict abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank that supports abortion rights. During the debate over the Florida legislation, as well as at the bill’s signing ceremony, Republicans said they want the state to be well placed to limit access to abortions if the Supreme Court upholds Mississippi’s law.
"The reality of the Roe decision is that men on the Supreme Court proclaimed that women, in order to achieve equality with men, must be able to kill their own children," said Republican Rep. Erin Grall, the bill's sponsor. "As a woman, I refuse to accept such a perverse version of equality."
Directors of any medical facility that performs abortions in Florida will have to write a report each month that includes surgical procedures and medical abortions to the agency. It will have to include the number of abortions performed, the reason behind them, the period of gestation at the time the abortions were performed, and if the infants were born alive at the time of the abortion or attempted abortion.
The Florida Department of Health will work with local and county health departments to create committees that will review fetal and infant mortality to find out how rates can be improved across the state.
For the full text of the new law, which includes definitions of terminology related to abortions and medical procedures, click here. The beginning of the bill also includes a tobacco education program.
This new law goes into effect on July 1.
Elsewhere in the U.S., Republican lawmakers have introduced new abortion restrictions, some similar to a Texas law that bans abortion after roughly six weeks and leaves enforcement up to private citizens.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed a bill to make it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to a decade in prison. Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in March signed legislation to outlaw abortion after 15 weeks if the U.S. Supreme Court leaves Mississippi’s law in place.
The Associated Press and sister station WESH contributed to this report. | https://www.koat.com/article/florida-desantis-signs-abortion-ban-bill-law/39727945 | 2022-04-14T21:23:29 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/florida-desantis-signs-abortion-ban-bill-law/39727945 |