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https://www.wesh.com/article/boy-with-heart-condition-batman/39602720
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6-year-old boy with heart condition helps Batman fight crime in Orlando
A 6-year-old boy was on a mission to fight crime in Orlando on Thursday and he had some help from his favorite superhero Batman.
Masai turned into "Batkid" just one day after his sixth birthday. Some organizations wanted to do something special for him as he continues to fight against a serious heart condition.
"I really, really want to defeat the joker," Masai said. "Because he has evil plans."
The Axel Foundation partnered with the Camaraderie Foundation and Give Kids The World to make Masai's Batman dreams come true.
The 6-year-old, who was with his family visiting Orlando from Philadelphia, was joined by Batman at the Amway Arena.
They searched for the Joker throughout the venue who "kidnapped" Orlando Magic's mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon. The duo worked with the Orlando Police Department, Orlando Fire Department, Seminole County Sheriff's Office and the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
"That's all he kept saying at 6:30 this morning he woke up, 'I want get the joker I'm going to get the joker,'" Masai's father Lance Wheeler said. "I'm just in awe. I don't know how to say, but wow."
Wheeler was just as excited as Masai, but also emotional because of all the ups and downs he had witnessed his son go through.
"At the children's hospital in Philadelphia, he had three surgeries in a matter of eight days. That was when he was little and he got through it all," Wheeler said. "Today's his day, like I still can't believe this is happening – all these people."
When Masai captured the villain, he was named the hero and was presented a badge of honor by the law enforcement officials in attendance.
"[I'm] really, really, really happy," Masai said. "I'm a big kid!"
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https://www.wesh.com/article/deadly-school-shooting-south-carolina/39603272
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12-year-old dies after being shot at South Carolina middle school, suspect in custody
A 12-year-old has died after being shot at a middle school in Greenville, South Carolina, on Thursday.
Community activist Bruce Wilson said Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson, 12, died at the hospital.
Wilson released the following statement on behalf of the family:
"We are all devastated by today’s tragedy. We love Jamari dearly and we would ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time."
Greenville County deputies said a school resource officer at Tanglewood Middle School requested backup just before 12:30 p.m.
More than 200 law enforcement officers arrived at the school.
A suspect, who is also 12 years old, was taken into custody near the school, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said.
He is is being charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm on school property and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under the age of 18, Lewis said.
Because of his age, the suspect's name was not released.
"Unfortunately, these are two young men who attended school here," Lewis said. "We don't really know the specifics of why it occurred and why so many people resort to violence, especially with firearms."
Greenville County School Superintendent Burke Royster also spoke outside the school after the shooting.
"I’m not sure after a full and thorough law enforcement investigation anyone will really know what was going through the mind of that young person who took this rash act," Royster said.
Students from the school were taken to Brookwood Church by bus to be reunited with their families.
One mother told sister station WYFF that she was in the school parking lot when she saw police begin arriving.
"I was getting out and the police told me, ‘Get back, get back. You can’t come in,’ and I was like, ‘What’s wrong? What’s wrong?’" Angela said. "They wouldn’t tell me, he said, 'Get back in your car.’ When I was getting in my car, all the police came. Every police in Greenville County was there and ambulance. They were running in with guns, not handguns, rifles."
Angela’s daughter, Prentasia, said they were changing classes when the shooting happened.
"We heard a gunshot, and this boy had a gun and he shot at one boy in his side," Prentasia said. "We all pretty much went into a classroom and some people went outside. We were just in the classroom ‘til it was over."
Another mother spoke to WYFF shortly after she arrived at the school to pick up her son.
"But I was speechless," she said. "My stomach is still upset. I just want to see my son and hug him and just make sure he's fine."
That mother said she wishes there were metal detectors in school.
"So, I would love for Greenville County to do something and put metal detectors. They all come through the same door. They go to the cafeteria they do that. Why don't they put a metal detector and then at least detect there's something there," the mother said.
Greenville County School District spokesman Tim Waller said Tanglewood Middle will have an optional day on Friday. Teachers, students and staff can come and talk to each other and counselors but are not required to attend school on Friday.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/manatees-culling/39602718
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Brevard commissioner proposes culling manatees to curb starvation
Hundreds of manatees died in Brevard County over the last few months alone.
The main food source for the threatened marine mammals, sea grass, is becoming more scarce thanks to pollution and algae overgrowth.
County Commissioner Curt Smith floated an unconventional solution during last week’s commission meeting, thinning the herd through a cull, like an overpopulation of deer.
“You know and I know that would be very difficult with manatees. Because everybody loves manatees. If you killed a manatee, my God, the world would come to an end,” Smith said.
Thursday, the commissioner was asked if he thinks this is really an option to the problem.
“Everybody loves manatees. I love manatees. I love seeing them. It’s part of the scenery," Smith said. "But we have to get real and the reality is that there has never been a calculation of what the carrying capacity should be for this habitat.”
But those who study manatees say that killing some of them off won’t help the situation, since that’s already happening through starvation. Researchers say a cull would also impact other species.
“To have one of those commissioners to be so uninformed so ignorant of what the real problem is disconcerting. Certainly, the solution is not to have more manatees killed," Patrick Rose, with the Save The Manatee Club, said.
Smith agreed that the root problem is water pollution. But that’s an issue that will take a long time to correct.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/rent-relief-prevent-million-evictions/39602016
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Rent relief helped prevent more than 1 million evictions in 2021
The federal government's emergency rental assistance program helped prevent more than one million evictions last year.
An estimated 1.36 million renters avoided an eviction filing in 2021 as a result of the government's unprecedented $46.5 billion rent relief program and other protections, according to a recent analysis by Princeton University's Eviction Lab published earlier this month.
Treasury officials reported Wednesday that $30 billion in emergency rent relief was spent or obligated by the end of February. Despite a slow and confusing initial roll out of the program last spring, more than 4.7 million payments were made to households since January 2021.
Treasury expects the remainder of the funds to be exhausted by the middle of this year.
Impact of the assistance
A national eviction ban was put in place in September 2020. While it did not stop all evictions, it significantly slowed the tide of eviction filings until the emergency aid could reach struggling renters and their landlords, White House and Department of Treasury officials said.
"We knew from the start that we faced a race with time to get the emergency rental assistance flowing to a significant degree by the time the national eviction moratorium was lifted," said Gene Sperling, the White House American Rescue Plan coordinator. "We largely won that race."
In the six states and 31 cities tracked by the Eviction Lab researchers, eviction filings fell sharply at the onset of the pandemic, but then increased in the later months of 2020 even with the ban in place. Given the increased number of renters experiencing economic hardship as the pandemic continued into 2021, experts worried about a "tsunami" of evictions and anticipated the number of filings to skyrocket above levels seen in 2019.
But the opposite happened. In a typical year, roughly 865,000 eviction cases were filed in the areas the Eviction Lab tracks. In 2021, roughly half as many evictions were filed, with 434,304 cases.
Evictions fell in all but one of the 31 cities tracked in 2021. The outlier was Las Vegas, where jobs in tourism evaporated, adversely impacting the large number of renters in the city's service sector, according to the report. New York City had the biggest reduction in eviction filings from typical levels, with the report estimating nearly 184,000 eviction cases were avoided in New York City.
Video below: NY struggles to get rent relief to hurting tenants
The emergency rental assistance was found to have a strong impact on the low-income and majority-Black neighborhoods that see a disproportionate share of eviction cases. Those areas experienced the largest absolute reduction in eviction filings last year, the Eviction Lab report found.
The report found that in 2021 the most disadvantaged neighborhoods experienced the biggest gains in terms of rental housing stability. But it also found that, among the eviction cases filed, women of color were disproportionately affected.
More than 80% of emergency rental assistance reached the lowest income households, according to the Treasury, with about 40% of all applicants who received assistance self-identifying as Black, and about 20% self-identifying as Latino.
Moving remaining money
The federal emergency rent relief was approved in two rounds of funding. The first, which included $25 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act at the end of 2020, and $21.55 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021.
Some state and local governments have exhausted allotted funds while others have not distributed everything they have received. As a result, Treasury has been reallocating money to ensure it gets to renters most in need.
Of the $25 billion in the first batch of money, Treasury has already moved $2 billion in underused funds. Beginning in April, funds from the second batch will be reallocated.
This process has "allowed dollars to flow to places with high need," said Noel Poyo, Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Economic Development. "Generally reallocated funds went to higher need areas with more diverse communities."
He said he expects that trend to continue with the available funds from the second batch of money.
But it is a challenging balance to strike, Poyo said, between getting dollars to places where they are running out of funds and making sure that money is still available in places where assistance may have gotten started more slowly and people remain in need.
Treasury is encouraging state and local governments to use the additional funding to assist more renters and make continued investments in housing stability.
"In just one year, the Emergency Rental Assistance program built a national infrastructure for eviction prevention that never existed before and has helped keep eviction rates well below historic averages throughout the pandemic," said Poyo.
He also suggested state and local governments build on the network for support they have established and provide services like housing counselors, "that will help families avoid economic scarring long after COVID-19 is in the rearview mirror," he said.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/stetson-ukraine-sponsor/39602941
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Stetson University to sponsor displaced Ukrainian students and faculty
Stetson University announced a new effort to help sponsor displaced faculty and students in Ukraine as the war in Russia continues to tear families apart.
Experts say there are currently four million Ukrainian refugees.
"Amongst those women and children there are a lot of college professors and a lot of college students," visiting professor of history at Stetson University Martin Blackwell said. "All of this is occurring really, really quickly. We know that students will want to come here."
The students from overseas will live in dorms and take classes through an all-expenses-paid opportunity so they can continue their studies in the U.S.
A university faculty member from Ukraine will get a yearlong visiting scholar position.
"We're going to give them an opportunity to share their knowledge and share their lives with our community of almost 3,000 undergraduates," Blackwell said.
Stetson University will make the sponsorships possible through its Russia, East European and Eurasian Studies program known as SPREES. The program started in 1958 after Sputnik's orbit and as the Cold War entered a new era.
"Stetson has always been a welcoming place," Blackwell said. "We've really tried to invite people here to tell their stories and usually they are Americans who live nearby, so it's not like they were refugees – they had a place to go back home to, a roof over their heads, so this is unusual."
Stetson University hopes the connection will give its current students a better understanding of what's going on in Ukraine.
"What we hope to get out of it is to learn from people, how they are surviving and adapting to these historic events, [and] what we can do to help them in the future," Blackwell said.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/americans-health-care-concerns/39593902
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Costs top Americans' health care concerns, new poll finds
Americans' biggest health care priorities revolve largely around affordability, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll, with most wanting to see Congress tackle drug prices. More broadly, inflation and rising costs dominate the public's concerns.
The findings, released Thursday, show that 55% of Americans call inflation and rising prices the biggest problem facing the U.S., far ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (18%), climate change (6%), the COVID-19 pandemic (6%) or crime (6%).
That's true across party lines, although the sentiment is most pronounced within the GOP: About 70% of Republicans call inflation the country's biggest issue, compared with 53% of independents and 46% of Democrats.
Similarly, other recent polls have found the rising cost of living dominating Americans' minds. In a new Quinnipiac poll, 30% of Americans picked inflation as the most urgent issue facing the U.S., with the Russia/Ukraine crisis following at just 14%. NBC polling also found Americans more focused on economic concerns than foreign policy or other issues. And a new Gallup survey said 17% of Americans cited inflation as the nation's top problem, the highest level in its polling since 1985.
The focus on costs remains even when Americans are asked specifically about their priorities for possible health care legislation, the KFF poll finds. Most U.S. adults (61%) say it should be a priority for Congress to limit how much drug companies can raise prescription drug prices each year to no more than the rate of inflation. About half (53%) say Congress should make it a priority to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 monthly and to place a limit on out-of-pocket health care costs for seniors (52%).
Fewer, 42%, call it a priority to expand government-provided health insurance in states that have not expanded Medicaid access or to increase funding for access to mental health services and training for mental health providers. Only 25% say that providing more COVID-19 pandemic response funding should be a priority.
"The public's priorities in health reflect deep concern about prices of everything right now, including drug prices," KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a news release. "That doesn't mean other things that have long been popular do not have public support too; they do. It just means prices are the preeminent concern."
In their personal finances, most Americans express at least some worry about being able to afford gasoline or other transportation costs (71%) and unexpected medical bills (58%), with many concerned about paying for monthly utility bills (50%) and food (47%). In February 2020, just 40% worried about paying for gas, 38% about monthly utilities and 34% about food, KFF found.
Concerns are magnified for lower-income Americans. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans in households making less than $40,000 a year say they worry about affording as or transportation costs, with more than 6 in 10 also concerned about affording unexpected medical bills (66%), monthly utilities (65%), rent or mortgage payments (63%) and food (62%).
About half of Americans, 51%, say they've put off or gone without some form of medical service in the past year because of its costs.
Twelve years after its passage, the Affordable Care Act remains popular, the KFF poll finds, with 55% of the public viewing it favorably. About one-quarter, 24%, say the law has directly helped them and their family, with 20% saying it hurt them and the rest that it's had no direct effect.
Of those who say they've seen a positive personal impact, about half say the ACA mainly helped by letting someone in their family get or keep health coverage, with 30% saying the ACA mainly made it easier to get needed health care and 20% that it mainly lowered health care or health insurance costs.
Views of both the ACA and its effects are also sharply divided along partisan lines, with 43% of Democrats and just 7% of Republicans saying the ACA has helped them.
Among Americans under 65 who have private health insurance, 56% say they know nothing about the No Surprises Act, a law taking effect this year that protects people with private health insurance from getting large medical bills when they accidentally receive out-of-network health care. Only about 21% say they know even something about the legislation.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/oscars-producer-police-offered-arrest-will-smith/39603725
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Oscars producer says police offered to arrest Will Smith
Oscars producer Will Packer said Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage.
Related video above: Chris Rock gets warm welcome from Boston crowd during first show post-Oscars slap
"They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in a clip released by ABC News Thursday night of an interview he gave to "Good Morning America." "They said 'we will go get him. We are prepared. We're prepared to get him right now. You can press charges, we can arrest him.' They were laying out the options."
But Packer said Rock was "very dismissive" of the idea.
"He was like, 'No, no, no, I'm fine,'" Packer said. "And even to the point where I said, 'Rock, let them finish.' The LAPD officers finished laying out what his options were and they said, 'Would you like us to take any action?' And he said no."
The LAPD said in a statement after Sunday night's ceremony that they were aware of the incident, and that Rock had declined to file a police report. The department declined to comment Thursday on Packer's interview, a longer version of which will air on Friday morning.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group's standards of conduct. Smith could be suspended, expelled or otherwise sanctioned.
The academy said in a statement that "Mr. Smith's actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television."
Without giving specifics, the academy said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, but refused to do so.
Smith strode from his front row seat on to the stage and slapped Rock after a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when he was on stage to present the Oscar for best documentary.
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying "I was out of line and I was wrong."
The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18.
Rock publicly addressed the incident for the first time, but only briefly, at the beginning of a standup show Wednesday night in Boston, where he was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. He said "I'm still kind of processing what happened."
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https://www.wesh.com/article/250-000-settlement-texas-son-3-dies-after-brain-eating-amoeba/39603663
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Texas parents reach $250,000 settlement after 3-year-old son dies from brain-eating amoeba
The parents of a 3-year-old boy who died last year after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba at a splash pad in Arlington, Texas, have reached a $250,000 settlement with the city.
Related video above: Doctors Say Tap Water in Neti Pot Caused Fatal Brain-Eating Amoeba
Bakari Williams died last September after spending five days in the hospital with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal infection caused by an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, according to previous reporting from CNN and affiliate KTVT.
Williams contracted the infection from a splash pad that officials later determined was improperly tested and maintained.
At a news conference, attorneys for Williams' parents said the child's death was preventable.
Family attorney Brian Hargrove said the $250,000 is the maximum economic recovery allowed against a city under the Texas Tort Claims Act, according to KTVT.
Arlington, in a statement, said the settlement will include a "significant investment in the installation of health and safety equipment and other improvements for our public pools and splash pads."
The city will distribute a new policy manual, the Bakari Williams Protocol, that will guide staff on water treatment, according to Hargrove and the city. "We plan to share this information with other agencies in the aquatics industry so they can learn from our hard lessons," the city said.
New technology will automatically shut off any splash pads where water readings are not in the acceptable ranges and the addition of QR codes will allow visitors to see real-time information about water quality, the statement, obtained by KTVT, said.
"We want you to know that Bakari was a sweet, beautiful and innocent child who did not deserve to die in the manner that he did. For us, this case has been about public awareness," Williams' mother, Kayla Mitchell, said at the news conference, according to the affiliate.
"We want to make certain that nothing like this ever happens again. We want to make certain that what happened to our son, what happened to our family, does not happen to anybody else," said Mitchell.
Naegleria fowleri is commonly found in soil and in fresh warm water such as lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can also be found in poorly maintained or unchlorinated pools.
The organism infects people when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose, according to the CDC. The Naegleria fowleri amoeba then travels up the nose to the brain, where it destroys the brain tissue, the CDC says.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/flood-insurance-increase-florida/39601092
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Experts say 80% of Florida flood insurance policyholders will see an increase next month
All Floridians know hurricanes and heavy storms, combined with low-lying terrain, can flood properties and homes.
Sometimes it happens when storm drains are choked and overflow when sea levels rise, and it can happen when rapid development creates retention ponds and alters nearby lake levels. In many cases, the damage won't be covered under typical homeowners insurance.
Most insurance agents will tell you if you live on or near water, lakes, rivers, the ocean and inland waterways, you need flood insurance.
In March, the average insurance premium for flood insurance in Florida was $597 per year. Starting in April, existing policyholders could pay an average of $704 per year, assuming their rates go up to the maximum allowed by the government, 18%.
The reason? The federal government did away with flood zone maps last October and is now basing rates on factors like elevation, rainfall, proximity to water and property value.
Insurance agent Tom Cotton says the change was needed so that those who are more likely to file flood damage claims aren't being subsidized by others.
"The whole point of these rate increases and the map changes is to modernize the system to make the rates more equitable, make people who are more subject to flood pay more than the people who have less probability of flood," Cotton said.
One home on Orlando's Lake Weldona will see a rate hike of more than $116 this year, and likely, annual increases for the next decade, but owner Neal Pitts calls that a bargain, given the potential for expensive flood damage.
" [Keep it] because the one time that you need it, you'll be thankful you have it," he said.
"It sets the stage for the idea, that the riskiest places are going to be paying the most," Nick VinZant with QuoteWizard said.
The online insurance marketplace, QuoteWizard, projects that 80% of Sunshine State policyholders will see an increase, while 20% will see a decrease. More than 1.7 million policyholders will be affected.
In our nine-county region, more than 147,000 policyholders will be affected, with about 102,000 seeing increases, and roughly 45,000 seeing decreases.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/kyiv-ukraine-yevhenia-khomenko/39604301
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it's emotional for me. I have to my brothers but their families and I helped my mom. She was born in 1943 and they're staying there through every morning and every night I have to start, I'm starting my day by calling them checking you there live my brothers and their families. They yes, they will come. Yeah. Yeah. They in their age they can actually be benefited with society here too. After the fall of the soviet union, a lot of Ukrainians and individuals from former soviet union countries came to sacramento. So there's an incredibly strong community based here. You know, something like 20,000 Ukrainians in the Greater Sacramento area and a really strong network of churches and businesses and connections. So when people come, they feel Part of the community. The reason people come to places like Sacramento is because there's a high population of people that know them and and because it's relational, there's this feeling of, Hey, we gotta help. We've got to do something. So we're talking about launching 15 more vehicles that over the next probably couple of weeks that will be rescuing more women and Children. We set up a system of host families who can take in refugees that are coming here. Most of them are coming illegally crossing the border into California and then just spreading out. My brother still lives in Ukraine and he lives almost on a shelter bomb shelter. You wanna cry and you don't understand how it's happened on the 21st century. It's so scared and you're here and you you can do nothing for this only you can do it. Just work and help like some money for food, do everything what you can do.
She helped rebuild Kyiv after World War II. Now, the 94-year-old had to flee it
Updated: 11:06 PM EDT Mar 31, 2022
Even as the bombs began to fall, Yevhenia Khomenko didn't want to leave her home in Kyiv, Ukraine."I would rather die there," the 94-year-old said. But eventually, it became too much, and her daughter convinced her to leave the home she had known her entire life.Related video above: Ukrainian Americans prepare for 100,000 refugeesWhen Khomenko was a child, she lived through the Great Famine of Ukraine — one that killed millions, driven by Josef Stalin. Years later, she fled her home during World War II as her country was targeted by Adolf Hitler. She's now had to flee once more over an invasion prompted by Vladimir Putin.The Russian attacks have reminded Khomenko of the bombing, shooting and violence during World War II, she told CNN. The bombs then, as they are now, were unpredictable, and she recalled running anywhere to escape them. Khomenko returned to Kyiv after World War II to help rebuild the city's main square, she said. Now, she's worried the city may never be the same — and that, given her age, she may never return.Her 73-year-old daughter, Raisa Makhnovets, is also worried about that fate. Through tears, she told CNN how difficult it was to persuade her mother to leave Kyiv, and how their attempts to do so quickly became a "horror movie."They had no other family in the city, and first spent two days in a bomb shelter before trying to flee the country by train. The station was overrun with others trying to do the same."I just couldn't believe it was actually happening. The train station was scary," Makhnovets said, speaking in Russian, as many Ukrainians do, and translated by CNN. "So many people with their kids and things, just really terrifying. The first train left without us, then the second. It was so cold waiting there overnight. There were even newborn babies."Makhnovets said it took roughly 20 hours to get from Kyiv to Lviv, in the western part of Ukraine, and then out of the country altogether. She and her mother were then able to fly to the United States on a visa they had obtained years ago. They reunited in Sacramento with five generations of their family, as a great great grandmother and a great grandmother.In Sacramento, Khomenko noted the peace in the California air."It hurts in my soul, for my home, where I lived. But here it's quiet, I don't hear anything. I have a home, and I want to go home. I want to be in my own home. But the circumstances forced us to come here. Just go wherever necessary not to have to see the war," she said, in Russian.Her feelings now are familiar to those from a lifetime ago, Khomenko said, but in her youth, she didn't really understand war in the way she does now.She then told CNN, "I wish you a good life and to not have to endure what we've had to. I hope for friendship between us and all peoples."Seeking refuge in the United StatesAs of late March, there are more than 3.5 million Ukrainians who have been forced to abandon the lives they once knew in search of new ones, but only a fraction of them have ended up in the United States.The Biden administration recently committed to welcoming up to 100,000 Ukrainians, but so far, it has been difficult for them to get into the U.S. The few who have, have had success through the Mexican border — in some cases being granted entry through what's known as humanitarian parole, which allows temporary admission for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.It is "far more complicated and different than you ever imagined," said Julia Bikbova, an immigration and litigation attorney who was born and raised in Ukraine and recently visited the Mexican border. She told CNN nearly every Ukrainian she spoke to told her, "Your President announced you're accepting refugees, this is where we are."From October 2021 through February, there were just over 1,300 Ukrainians along the southern U.S. border, according to border patrol data. Data on Ukrainians entering the U.S. in the last month will be released in April, the Department of Homeland Security earlier told CNN.While a timeline on Biden's commitment is still unclear, the current framework for attaining refugee status can take years. So, many have opted to go through Mexico, where a visa is not required for Ukrainians, though they may have to "convince officials in Cancun they're there for vacation," said Bikbova. "No one is flying from Frankfurt or Warsaw to Tijuana," she added.Those that make it into the United States, through humanitarian parole or otherwise, either find family members or people like Vadym Dashkevych: a Ukrainian-born senior pastor at the Spring of Life Ukrainian Church in Sacramento.Dashkevych, and other volunteers around the U.S. like him, pick up Ukrainian families once they're through immigration and help them settle into various cities. For Dashkevych, it's Sacramento.In one week this month, Dashkevych told CNN, he helped seven families find at least a temporary home in the area. But, he emphasized, "family" can include multiple kids, which can add to upwards of 30 people a week."The best way to treat them it's to take them inside our families and inside to American families," Dashkevych said."They need help not only to be on their own, but to help, like, take a cup of tea in the evening, talk, asking questions," he said, adding they've put a call out through their church for people to become host families.He also works with lawyers and other support services to help these families with their long-term future: starting new lives under quiet skies, far away from the war that has uprooted them so suddenly."As of today, that's not only war, there's more. They're just killing people. Regular people. The schools, the kindergarten, the hospitals, and everything," Dashkevych told CNN. "It's gonna be painful. It's gonna take years and years to go through."
Even as the bombs began to fall, Yevhenia Khomenko didn't want to leave her home in Kyiv, Ukraine.
"I would rather die there," the 94-year-old said. But eventually, it became too much, and her daughter convinced her to leave the home she had known her entire life.
Related video above: Ukrainian Americans prepare for 100,000 refugees
When Khomenko was a child, she lived through the Great Famine of Ukraine — one that killed millions, driven by Josef Stalin. Years later, she fled her home during World War II as her country was targeted by Adolf Hitler. She's now had to flee once more over an invasion prompted by Vladimir Putin.
The Russian attacks have reminded Khomenko of the bombing, shooting and violence during World War II, she told CNN. The bombs then, as they are now, were unpredictable, and she recalled running anywhere to escape them. Khomenko returned to Kyiv after World War II to help rebuild the city's main square, she said. Now, she's worried the city may never be the same — and that, given her age, she may never return.
Courtesy Yuliya Kyrylyuk
Yevhenia Khomenko (right) in Kyiv in 1959.
Her 73-year-old daughter, Raisa Makhnovets, is also worried about that fate. Through tears, she told CNN how difficult it was to persuade her mother to leave Kyiv, and how their attempts to do so quickly became a "horror movie."
They had no other family in the city, and first spent two days in a bomb shelter before trying to flee the country by train. The station was overrun with others trying to do the same.
"I just couldn't believe it was actually happening. The train station was scary," Makhnovets said, speaking in Russian, as many Ukrainians do, and translated by CNN. "So many people with their kids and things, just really terrifying. The first train left without us, then the second. It was so cold waiting there overnight. There were even newborn babies."
Makhnovets said it took roughly 20 hours to get from Kyiv to Lviv, in the western part of Ukraine, and then out of the country altogether. She and her mother were then able to fly to the United States on a visa they had obtained years ago. They reunited in Sacramento with five generations of their family, as a great great grandmother and a great grandmother.
Omar Jimenez / CNN
Raisa Makhnovets (L), and her mother Yevhenia Khomenko are seen here in their Sacramento family’s home. Khomenko returned to Kyiv after World War II to help rebuild the city’s main square, now, she’s worried the city may never be the same.
In Sacramento, Khomenko noted the peace in the California air.
"It hurts in my soul, for my home, where I lived. But here it's quiet, I don't hear anything. I have a home, and I want to go home. I want to be in my own home. But the circumstances forced us to come here. Just go wherever necessary not to have to see the war," she said, in Russian.
Her feelings now are familiar to those from a lifetime ago, Khomenko said, but in her youth, she didn't really understand war in the way she does now.
She then told CNN, "I wish you a good life and to not have to endure what we've had to. I hope for friendship between us and all peoples."
Courtesy Yuliya Kyrylyuk
Yevhenia Khomenko in Kyiv in 1959.
Seeking refuge in the United States
As of late March, there are more than 3.5 million Ukrainians who have been forced to abandon the lives they once knew in search of new ones, but only a fraction of them have ended up in the United States.
The Biden administration recently committed to welcoming up to 100,000 Ukrainians, but so far, it has been difficult for them to get into the U.S. The few who have, have had success through the Mexican border — in some cases being granted entry through what's known as humanitarian parole, which allows temporary admission for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
It is "far more complicated and different than you ever imagined," said Julia Bikbova, an immigration and litigation attorney who was born and raised in Ukraine and recently visited the Mexican border. She told CNN nearly every Ukrainian she spoke to told her, "Your President announced you're accepting refugees, this is where we are."
From October 2021 through February, there were just over 1,300 Ukrainians along the southern U.S. border, according to border patrol data. Data on Ukrainians entering the U.S. in the last month will be released in April, the Department of Homeland Security earlier told CNN.
While a timeline on Biden's commitment is still unclear, the current framework for attaining refugee status can take years. So, many have opted to go through Mexico, where a visa is not required for Ukrainians, though they may have to "convince officials in Cancun they're there for vacation," said Bikbova. "No one is flying from Frankfurt or Warsaw to Tijuana," she added.
Those that make it into the United States, through humanitarian parole or otherwise, either find family members or people like Vadym Dashkevych: a Ukrainian-born senior pastor at the Spring of Life Ukrainian Church in Sacramento.
Dashkevych, and other volunteers around the U.S. like him, pick up Ukrainian families once they're through immigration and help them settle into various cities. For Dashkevych, it's Sacramento.
Omar Jimenez / CNN
Senior Pastor Vadym Dashkevych taking a call in Sacramento on his watch from a contact at the Mexican border.
In one week this month, Dashkevych told CNN, he helped seven families find at least a temporary home in the area. But, he emphasized, "family" can include multiple kids, which can add to upwards of 30 people a week.
"The best way to treat them it's to take them inside our families and inside to American families," Dashkevych said.
"They need help not only to be on their own, but to help, like, take a cup of tea in the evening, talk, asking questions," he said, adding they've put a call out through their church for people to become host families.
He also works with lawyers and other support services to help these families with their long-term future: starting new lives under quiet skies, far away from the war that has uprooted them so suddenly.
"As of today, that's not only war, there's more. They're just killing people. Regular people. The schools, the kindergarten, the hospitals, and everything," Dashkevych told CNN. "It's gonna be painful. It's gonna take years and years to go through."
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The nation's oldest active park ranger is hanging up her Smokey hat at the age of 100.Betty Reid Soskin retired Thursday after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, the National Park Service announced.Soskin "spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers," a Park Service statement said.She led tours at the park and museum honoring the women who worked in factories during wartime and shared her own experience as a Black woman during the conflict. She worked for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 but quit after learning that "she was employed only because her superiors believed she was white," according to a Park Service biography."Being a primary source in the sharing of that history – my history – and giving shape to a new national park has been exciting and fulfilling," Soskin said in the Park Service statement. "It has proven to bring meaning to my final years."Soskin won a temporary Park Service position at the age of 84 and became a permanent Park Service employee in 2011. She celebrated her 100th birthday last September."Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission," Director Chuck Sams said. "Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation."Soskin was born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921 but recalled surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans, according to the Park Service biography. Her family then moved to Oakland, California, and Soskin remained in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in 1945 she and her first husband founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area, the biography said.She also was a civil rights activist and took part in meetings to develop a general management plan for the Home Front park. She has received several honors.She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995.In 2015, Soskin received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House. In June 2016, she was awakened in her home by a robber who punched her repeatedly in the face, dragged her out of her bedroom and beat her before making off with the coin and other items. Soskin, then 94, recovered and returned to work just weeks after the attack. The coin was replaced.Soskin also was honored with entry into the Congressional Record. Glamour Magazine named her woman of the year in 2018.
RICHMOND, Calif. — The nation's oldest active park ranger is hanging up her Smokey hat at the age of 100.
Betty Reid Soskin retired Thursday after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, the National Park Service announced.
Soskin "spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers," a Park Service statement said.
She led tours at the park and museum honoring the women who worked in factories during wartime and shared her own experience as a Black woman during the conflict. She worked for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 but quit after learning that "she was employed only because her superiors believed she was white," according to a Park Service biography.
"Being a primary source in the sharing of that history – my history – and giving shape to a new national park has been exciting and fulfilling," Soskin said in the Park Service statement. "It has proven to bring meaning to my final years."
Ben Margot
National Park Service Ranger Betty Reid Soskin smiles during an interview at Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, Calif., July 12, 2016.
Soskin won a temporary Park Service position at the age of 84 and became a permanent Park Service employee in 2011. She celebrated her 100th birthday last September.
"Betty has made a profound impact on the National Park Service and the way we carry out our mission," Director Chuck Sams said. "Her efforts remind us that we must seek out and give space for all perspectives so that we can tell a more full and inclusive history of our nation."
Soskin was born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921 but recalled surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans, according to the Park Service biography.
Ben Margot
Betty Reid Soskin, a 94-year-old National Park Service Ranger, is pictured at the visitors center of Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park where she works in Richmond, Calif., July 26, 2016.
Her family then moved to Oakland, California, and Soskin remained in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in 1945 she and her first husband founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area, the biography said.
She also was a civil rights activist and took part in meetings to develop a general management plan for the Home Front park. She has received several honors.
She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995.
In 2015, Soskin received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House.
In June 2016, she was awakened in her home by a robber who punched her repeatedly in the face, dragged her out of her bedroom and beat her before making off with the coin and other items. Soskin, then 94, recovered and returned to work just weeks after the attack. The coin was replaced.
Soskin also was honored with entry into the Congressional Record. Glamour Magazine named her woman of the year in 2018.
Ben Margot
Betty Reid Soskin, a 94-year-old National Park Service Ranger, is pictured at the visitors center of Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park where she works in Richmond, Calif., July 26, 2016.
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Police search underway for suspect who allegedly shot at Daytona Beach officers
Daytona Beach police are looking for the person who they say fired shots at officers Thursday afternoon.
The shooting happened along the 900 block of Essex Road while they were responding to a well-being check.
The responding officers say they tried to find the subject mentioned on the call but could not find that individual.
Two officers were heading back to their cars when they heard three to four gunshots, according to police.
The shots missed them, and fortunately, they were not hurt.
Authorities say they searched the neighborhood door-to-door to ensure everyone's safety and have assured the public there's no threat to the community.
In the meantime, the agency will increase its presence until the shooter is found.
If you have any information that could lead to an arrest in this case, you are asked to contact the Daytona Beach Police Department at 386-671-5200.
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NASA, SpaceX delay Crew-4 launch due to busy space schedule
The countdown for the next crew to head up to the International Space Station is on.
But it's been delayed a day thanks to busy times on the Cape.
SpaceX Crew-4 launch is now set for April 20 due to another crewed launch next week, a private mission called Ax-1.
“That really is just to give us a little more space between the two flights, to make sure we have everything ready to go for the Crew-4 mission,” Steve Stich of NASA said.
The crew of four will be flying in a brand new SpaceX Dragon capsule.
One of the NASA astronauts will be making history. Jessica Watkins is the first Black woman to embark on an extended mission in space. Like her three crewmates, Watkins will spend about six months on the space station.
“This is certainly an important milestone. Both for our agency and the country. And I think it’s a tribute to the legacy of the Black women astronauts that have come before me,” Watkins said.
The crew says they are looking forward to the experiments and research during their time on the ISS. Focusing on data that will assist in the preparation and training for moon missions and later to Mars.
And when asked about more earthly issues, the war in Ukraine, the Crew-4 Commander Kjell Lindgren is confident in the working relationship with the Russian cosmonauts on the station.
“These are very challenging times, but this is our job. We have been given the privilege of this mission," Lindgren said.
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Residents weigh in on proposed expressway extension to SR 414
Residents got a chance to sound off on an expressway extension of SR 414, also known as Maitland Boulevard.
Central Florida Expressway officials say it will be a game-changer for motorists because of the traffic congestion in the area.
How often have you driven on the 414/Maitland Boulevard and ran into constant traffic?
The Central Florida Expressway Authority has identified what it calls a "preferred alternative" to reduce congestion and meet future traffic demands.
Residents learned about the project at a public hearing at Wekiva High School Thursday night.
It's an elevated four-lane toll road extension, two lanes per direction, from Maitland Boulevard to 441/Orange Blossom Trail to SR 434/Forest City Road.
"When it's built, you'll have nonstop fast rate travel between 429 all the way through 414 into I-4. So it's going to be a game-changer for a lot of people," Brian Hutchings, communications manager for the Central Florida Expressway, said.
But not every resident is sold on the idea.
Carol Leftcov lives in Country Creek in Altamonte Springs, one of 837 homes in the subdivision.
We asked her what her concerns were about this project.
“The noise, the vibration when they pound into the road," Leftcov said.
Other residents don't like it either.
“Oh, a lot of things concern me about this project. One is that I'll have a 35-foot elevated highway right over my backyard," Lake Hills Wood resident Harry Skidmore said.
"Which is going to decrease everybody's property values. It's going to be horrible. The bridge, would you want to live next to that bridge? Nobody would," Robert Hutz, who lives off Lake Lotus said.
"My house is basically going to be worthless if they do this," Skidmore said.
Even after the public hearing, there will still be a chance for the public comments to the Expressway Authority's website.
If all goes well, there will be final presentation before the Board by late summer, and if all is favorable, the design process will begin.
The $365 million project covering about three miles aims to separate through traffic from local traffic.
The proposed project also provides seven-foot buffered bike lanes and five-foot sidewalks.
"If everything goes perfectly, we'll have cars on the road in this new section of 414 in five years," Hutchings said.
Officials say there will be no relocation of families or businesses as a result of the project.
You can learn more about State Road 414 Expressway Extension Project here.
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Zac Stacy's ex-girlfriend turns personal domestic violence experience into art for new exhibit
In November 2021, former NFL player Zac Stacy was arrested for assaulting Kristin Evans, the mother of his then 4-month-old son in her Central Florida home.
It was all caught on surveillance cameras. The video went viral.
"He has bullied me for so long that at one point, I believed it was my fault," Evans said after the video was released.
Months later Evans said she's starting to feel like herself again.
"This is the person I was before. You know, I was very bubbly and happy," Evans said. "It was such a vulnerable time for me. I look back and I'm kind of like, wow, that doesn't even look like the same person that I am."
Evans said art has helped her bring her bright, happy spirit back.
On Thursday, Evans' exhibit called 'Say It Out Loud,' opened at the Henao Contemporary Center, dedicated to raising awareness of domestic violence.
Many of the pieces of art are made from actual pieces of her life when she says domestic violence shattered it.
The television and the baby seat she said she was thrown into are used in an interactive exhibit.
"The actual television is the television that I was thrown into. So I mean, just having to keep that around in my house, knowing I'm going to use that, and I'm going to use it for something good, but staring at it every day was really tough," Evans said.
One part of the art exhibit was dedicated to her daughter, representing the depression Evans said her daughter later faced.
"This is the actual bouncy seat that I was thrown into," Evans said.
Evans said she never thought she would be physically hurt by someone she loved.
But, she said she never thought she would someday be an artist either.
"It kind of released something in me that made me feel a bit better," Evans said.
Since we last spoke to Evans, she started a nonprofit for domestic violence survivors.
Evans included other survivors' work in the exhibit.
"To be able to give somebody else an opportunity to really just dive into something deep that affected them at one time, or still affects them to this day and give them an outlet. It was, it was awesome," Evans said.
Thursday, guests were able to donate to the nonprofit's cause.
HOTLINE: If you need help or find yourself in a domestic violence situation, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
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The future of Kohl's is about to be decided
Kohl's is pushing back against intense pressure from Wall Street to make changes or sell the company.
The retailer sent a sharply worded letter to shareholders Thursday ahead of its annual meeting in May, urging them to reject an activist investor's efforts to gain control of the company and install its own board of directors.
Hedge fund Macellum has criticized Kohl's in recent months, arguing the chain has underperformed competitors and lacks a compelling strategy. It wants Kohl's to consider selling its real estate assets, spin off its e-commerce business or find a buyer for the whole company.
Macellum last month nominated 10 new directors to Kohl's 13-member board, which would give it more than enough votes to approve a takeover.
In its letter Thursday, Kohl's called on shareholders to "reject Macellum's empty agenda" and vote against its "inexperienced, unqualified" board nominees.
Macellum is pushing for "a hasty sale at any price" and its nominees are "not truly independent," Kohl's said, because of their ties to the fund's founder, Jonathan Duskin. Duskin is also one of the board nominees.
"The choice is clear: Re-elect the Kohl's Board ... or elect Jonathan Duskin and his associates to destroy value," Kohl's said in the letter.
Macellum did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kohl's is also considering a sale of the company.
The retailer said earlier this month that it has engaged with more than 20 potential buyers, a sign of wide interest. Hudson's Bay Co., the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue, is also reportedly considering a bid.
There are also some broader concerns about the pressure from Wall Street and any potential sale of the company.
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me. So there anything on the it is and I can't remember Simpson, she's caring, we choose people who have made an exemplary difference in their careers in their fields and in particular those who have given back when the idea of Justice Ginsburg becoming a great american medal winner came to us all. It seemed so obvious she had made way for conversations and case precedent around gender equity around what we as women and men could do and to live equal lives. She had become a course of pop sensation and even made her way into the world of hip hop with her notorious RBG mimicking the notorious B. I. G. And she was also such a dedicated, incredible, passionate advocate for the constitution and for the rights of all. one of the reasons a side of the sure. So because there were so few women jurists and of course there were none on this High Court of the United States until Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, what women would wear was somewhat in question. Many of them I think issued neckties, let's just say that for starters. And so they looked to historic precedents, the beautiful lace collars of the barristers of old and then increasingly as a sign of self expression. The only thing you really could modify in your official judicial. Where was the caller? As Justice Ginsburg time on the high court progress. People sent her callers. She was known like Queen Elizabeth for picking the color to express another layer of communication about a case. One of the more special objects to me that dr jane Ginsburg and mr James Ginsburg gave us was their mothers briefcase, but soft leather, soft sided with her very simple, elegant black with RBG emblazoned in gold. And I think that her hand carried that bag into the court out of the court. And it resonated with me that my professional career, it was made possible by women like her right who braved those paths, who were told that they didn't belong. And yet she carried that in her hand. Every day she walked into court.
US Navy will name a ship after Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Updated: 11:38 PM EDT Mar 31, 2022
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg served more than two decades on the U.S. Supreme Court, developed a rock star status and drew standing ovations when she spoke in public. Now the late "Notorious R.B.G." will add another entry to her long list of accomplishments.The Navy will name a ship after her.Related video above: Smithsonian's National Museum of American History honors the late Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgOn the final day of women's history month, the Navy announced that the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ship, designated T-AO 212."It is my absolute honor to name the next after the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg," said Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in a statement. "She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women's rights and gender equality."Ginsburg, who died in September 2020 at the age of 87 due to complications from metastatic pancreas cancer, had served as the senior member of the Supreme Court's liberal wing, delivering progressive votes on some of the most polarizing social issues of the day, including abortion rights, same-sex marriage, voting rights, immigration, health care and affirmative action.She was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court behind Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ships, used to refuel carrier strike groups at sea, are traditionally named after those who fought for civil and human rights. Rep. John Lewis, who died in July 2020 at the age of 80, was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, challenging segregation and leading the march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. The second ship in the class is named for Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, became a leader in the fight against anti-gay initiatives.Other ships in the class are named for Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth and Thurgood Marshall."She is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts," said Del Toro.Del Toro also named Ginsburg's daughter, Jane Ginsburg, as the ship's sponsor. The daughter of the famous jurist will participate in the milestones for the ship, such as its keel laying ceremony, christening and commissioning.
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg served more than two decades on the U.S. Supreme Court, developed a rock star status and drew standing ovations when she spoke in public. Now the late "Notorious R.B.G." will add another entry to her long list of accomplishments.
The Navy will name a ship after her.
Related video above: Smithsonian's National Museum of American History honors the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
On the final day of women's history month, the Navy announced that the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ship, designated T-AO 212.
"It is my absolute honor to name the next [replenishment oiler] after the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg," said Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in a statement. "She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women's rights and gender equality."
Ginsburg, who died in September 2020 at the age of 87 due to complications from metastatic pancreas cancer, had served as the senior member of the Supreme Court's liberal wing, delivering progressive votes on some of the most polarizing social issues of the day, including abortion rights, same-sex marriage, voting rights, immigration, health care and affirmative action.
She was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court behind Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, celebrating her 20th anniversary on the bench, is photographed in the West conference room at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013.
The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ships, used to refuel carrier strike groups at sea, are traditionally named after those who fought for civil and human rights. Rep. John Lewis, who died in July 2020 at the age of 80, was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, challenging segregation and leading the march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. The second ship in the class is named for Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, became a leader in the fight against anti-gay initiatives.
Other ships in the class are named for Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth and Thurgood Marshall.
"She is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts," said Del Toro.
Del Toro also named Ginsburg's daughter, Jane Ginsburg, as the ship's sponsor. The daughter of the famous jurist will participate in the milestones for the ship, such as its keel laying ceremony, christening and commissioning.
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Driver killed after crashing into fire trucks on SR-408
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Driver killed after crashing into fire trucks on SR-408
A driver was killed following a crash on the SR-408 early Friday morning, according to Orlando Police.It happened just after 2 a.m.Orlando police say firefighters were on the scene of a crash in the eastbound lanes at Andes Avenue when another vehicle struck two fire trucks that had responded.The driver of that vehicle died on scene.No firefighters were hurt.
A driver was killed following a crash on the SR-408 early Friday morning, according to Orlando Police.
It happened just after 2 a.m.
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Orlando police say firefighters were on the scene of a crash in the eastbound lanes at Andes Avenue when another vehicle struck two fire trucks that had responded.
The driver of that vehicle died on scene.
No firefighters were hurt.
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The Latest: Ukraine braces for renewed attacks as Russian troops leave Chernobyl
Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chernobyl nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians, authorities said, as residents in parts of eastern Ukraine braced for renewed attacks and awaited blocked supplies of food and other humanitarian relief.
Ukraine’s state power company, Energoatom, said the pullout at Chernobyl came after soldiers received “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches in the forest in the exclusion zone around the closed plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it could not independently confirm the exposure claim.
Here's the latest on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as of 5:30 a.m. (Eastern):
- The European Union will seek China’s assurances that it won’t assist Russia in circumventing economic sanctions leveled over the invasion of Ukraine at an annual summit Friday.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in Ukraine.
- Russian forces which were in control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant began leaving and have transferred control of the facility to Ukrainian personnel.
- The Ukrainian emergency services say the death toll after a Russian missile strike Tuesday on the regional government headquarters in the southern city of Mykolaiv has risen to 20.
- The U.N. refugee agency says more than 4 million people have now fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, a new milestone in the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
In what would be the first attack of its kind, if confirmed, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region accused Ukraine of flying helicopter gunships across the border on Friday morning and striking an oil depot.
The depot run by Russian energy giant Rosneft is located about 21 miles north of the Ukraine-Russia border. The helicopter attack set the facility ablaze, and two people were injured, according to a Telegram post by Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
“The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike from two helicopters of the armed forces of Ukraine, which entered the territory of Russia at a low altitude,” the governor wrote on the messaging app.
It was not immediately possible to verify the claim or images that were circulating on social media of the alleged attack. Russia has reported shelling from Ukraine before, including an incident last week that killed a military chaplain, but not an incursion of its airspace.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces have retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka, which are south of the besieged northern city of Chernihiv and located along one of the main supply routes between the city and Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, according to Britain's Defense Ministry.
Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counterattacks to the east and northeast of Kyiv, the ministry said.
Russian forces have subjected both Chernihiv and Kyiv to continued air and ground-launched missile strikes despite Moscow officials saying Tuesday they planned to reduce military activity in those areas.
Western officials said there were growing indications Russia was using its talk of de-escalation in Ukraine as cover to regroup, resupply its forces and redeploy them for a stepped-up offensive in the eastern part of the country.
Video: Russian tanks destroyed outside Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian withdrawals from the north and center of the country were just a military tactic to build up strength for new attacks in the southeast.
“We know their intentions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “We know that they are moving away from those areas where we hit them in order to focus on other, very important ones where it may be difficult for us.”
“There will be battles ahead,” he added.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators planned to resume talks via video on Friday, five weeks into a conflict that has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine. There seemed little faith that the two sides would find agreement on their respective demands any time soon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said conditions weren’t yet “ripe” for a cease-fire and he wasn’t ready for a meeting with Zelenskyy until the negotiators do more work, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said after a Thursday telephone conversation with the Russian leader.
Following a plea from Zelenskyy when he addressed Australian Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that his country would send mine-resistant armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
He said Friday the four-wheel-drive Bushmaster vehicles, specifically requested by Zelenskyy, would be flown to Europe but did not say how many would be delivered or when.
“We’re not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, we’re sending our munitions, we’re sending our humanitarian aid, we’re sending all of this, our body armor, all of these things, and we’re going to be sending our armored vehicles, our Bushmasters, as well,” Morrison said.
Video: Kirby: Russian troops regrouping for redeployment
In the encircled strategic port city of Mariupol, Russian forces on Thursday blocked a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people after the Russian military agreed to a limited cease-fire in the area. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to the Ukrainian government.
Russian forces also seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses that were trying to make it to Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
The city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war. Tens of thousands of residents managed to get out in the past few weeks by way of humanitarian corridors, reducing the population from a prewar 430,000 to an estimated 100,000 by last week. But continued Russian attacks have repeatedly thwarted aid and evacuation convoys.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Ukraine that the Russians forces at Chernobyl had transferred control of the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster to the Ukrainians in writing. The last Russian troops left Chernobyl early Friday, the Ukrainian government agency responsible for the exclusion zone said.
Energoatom gave no details on the condition of the soldiers it said were exposed to radiation and did not say how many were affected. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin, and the IAEA said it was seeking more information.
Russian forces seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. The workforce at the site oversees the safe storage of spent fuel rods and the concrete-entombed ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986.
Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert with the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said it “seems unlikely” a large number of troops would develop severe radiation illness, but it was impossible to know for sure without more details.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi was in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on Friday for talks with senior officials there about nuclear issues in Ukraine.
In addition to concerns about Chernobyl, nine of Ukraine's 15 operational reactors are currently in use, including two at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhya facility, the IAEA said.
Video: Kharkiv residents clean up debris from air strike
Early this week, the Russians said they would significantly scale back military operations in areas around Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to increase trust between the two sides and help negotiations along.
But in the Kyiv suburbs, regional governor Oleksandr Palviuk said on social media Thursday that Russian forces shelled Irpin and Makariv and that there were battles around Hostomel. Pavliuk said there were Ukrainian counterattacks and some Russian withdrawals around the suburb of Brovary to the east.
At a Ukrainian military checkpoint outside Kyiv, soldiers and officers said they don’t believe Russian forces have given up on the capital.
“What does it mean, significantly scaling down combat actions in the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas?” asked Brig. Gen. Valeriy Embakov. “Does it mean there will be 100 missiles instead of 200 missiles launched on Kyiv or something else?”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said intelligence indicates Russia is not scaling back its military operations in Ukraine but is instead trying to regroup, resupply its forces and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas.
“Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions,” Stoltenberg said. At the same time, he said, pressure is being kept up on Kyiv and other cities, and “we can expect additional offensive actions bringing even more suffering.”
The Donbas is the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial region where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014. In the past few days, the Kremlin, in a seeming shift in its war aims, said that its “main goal” now is gaining control of the Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Mariupol.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/walmart-flash-picks-backyard-outdoor-furniture/39600636
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Walmart is one of the most popular retail chains in the country and has been for quite some time. If you didn’t know, Walmart has daily deals on favorite items that are called “flash picks.”Walmart says on its website that flash picks offer up to 50% off limited-stock items that are top-rated and popular.For April 1, we thought we’d share with you some of the deals we found for you to take advantage of, perfect for your backyard and warmer weather.And if you’re not interested in those products, there are many offerings to choose from on Walmart’s Flash Picks page.SAVE HUNDREDS ON OUTDOOR SECTIONAL The Sophia & William 7 Pieces Outdoor Patio Rattan Sectional Sofa Set is marked down more than 50%, according to Walmart, with savings of more than $700.The wicker rattan patio furniture sofa chair set comes with a tea table and washable navy blue couch Cushions.Can't see the products below? Click here to view the deal.SAVE 50% ON HAMMOCKSRelax in your backyard on a new hand-braided hammock, priced down more than 50% of its initial retail price. ELEVATE YOUR GARDENSave on this elevated cedar garden bed, perfect for your green thumb. PLANNING AN EVENT?Grab a heavy-duty canopy tent for your next big event, priced down at $98.97 from its initial price of $279.99!STAY SHADEDQuictentis one of the top brands that sell high-quality patio umbrellas. Save more than $10 for this 7.5-foot design.LOVESEAT FURNITURE SETSpice up your yard with this four-piece loveseat set, and savings of more than $200.This 4-piece patio rattan wicker furniture set includes 2 single sofas, 1 loveseat, and 1 coffee table, which is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.KEEP 'EM COOLKeep your drinks cool in this Lifetime high-performance cooler, with savings of more than $40.This one comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
Walmart is one of the most popular retail chains in the country and has been for quite some time. If you didn’t know, Walmart has daily deals on favorite items that are called “flash picks.”
Walmart says on its website that flash picks offer up to 50% off limited-stock items that are top-rated and popular.
For April 1, we thought we’d share with you some of the deals we found for you to take advantage of, perfect for your backyard and warmer weather.
And if you’re not interested in those products, there are many offerings to choose from on Walmart’s Flash Picks page.
SAVE HUNDREDS ON OUTDOOR SECTIONAL
The Sophia & William 7 Pieces Outdoor Patio Rattan Sectional Sofa Set is marked down more than 50%, according to Walmart, with savings of more than $700.
The wicker rattan patio furniture sofa chair set comes with a tea table and washable navy blue couch Cushions.
Can't see the products below? Click here to view the deal.
7 Pieces Outdoor Sectional Sofa Set
Sophia & William
walmart.com
SAVE 50% ON HAMMOCKS
Relax in your backyard on a new hand-braided hammock, priced down more than 50% of its initial retail price.
Hand-Braided Hammock
Bliss Hammocks
walmart.com
$26.54
ELEVATE YOUR GARDEN
Save on this elevated cedar garden bed, perfect for your green thumb.
Cedar Elevated Garden Bed
Expert Gardener
walmart.com
PLANNING AN EVENT?
Grab a heavy-duty canopy tent for your next big event, priced down at $98.97 from its initial price of $279.99!
Party Wedding Tent Canopy
Costway
walmart.com
$139.99
STAY SHADED
Quictentis one of the top brands that sell high-quality patio umbrellas. Save more than $10 for this 7.5-foot design.
Patio Umbrella
Quictent
walmart.com
$54.99
LOVESEAT FURNITURE SET
Spice up your yard with this four-piece loveseat set, and savings of more than $200.
This 4-piece patio rattan wicker furniture set includes 2 single sofas, 1 loveseat, and 1 coffee table, which is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
Loveseat furniture set
Costway
walmart.com
$159.99
KEEP 'EM COOL
Keep your drinks cool in this Lifetime high-performance cooler, with savings of more than $40.
This one comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
High Performance Hard Sided Cooler
Lifetime
walmart.com
$107.00
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https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-hugs/39608601
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Disney says character hugs will return soon at US sites
Of the many safety measures that Disney Parks had to set up to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring guests to keep a six-foot distance from the costumed characters must have been one of the hardest. At least emotionally.
For kids (or kids at heart), running into the waiting arms of Mickey Mouse and other beloved characters had been such an impulsive and quintessential part of the experience. Hanging back can be tough.
But finally, hugs are back on the horizon at US Disney properties.
As early as April 18, Disney "will start reintroducing traditional character greetings at Disneyland (in California) and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as aboard Disney Cruise Line and at Aulani Resort in Hawaii," according to a new post on Thursday on the official Disney Parks blog.
Up close and personal
Getting autographs, snapping photos close up and just sharing a laugh face-to-face with characters such as Mulan and Goofy will all be back on the table.
Disney has a new YouTube video celebrating the upcoming change, with plenty of embraces and high-fives being distributed.
It's all part of the unwinding of coronavirus restrictions -- both at the Disney parks and in the United States at large.
"During the past two years, we've taken a very gradual, intentional approach to health and safety protocols," wrote Shawn Slater, senior communications manager for Disney Live Entertainment, in the blog.
"Recent trends and guidance have provided opportunities for us to bring back some of our most beloved magic, like character greetings and dining experiences. While not all locations will be available immediately, we anticipate reopening in phases throughout the spring and early summer."
What else is coming back
It's not just character interactions that will be returning later this spring.
At Disneyland in California, guests can look forward to the return of several nighttime spectaculars, including:
• "Disneyland Forever"
• "Fantasmic!"
• "Main Street Electrical Parade," celebrating its 50th anniversary
• "World of Color"
On Disney Cruise Line ships, fireworks at sea and Broadway-style shows will be coming back.
At Walt Disney World in Florida, shows such as "Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire" have already returned.
On-site hotels
On-site lodging is also bouncing back.
For the first time since March 2020, "all Disney Resort hotels that are part of the Disney Resorts Collection at Walt Disney World" in Florida are now open, according to another Disney Parks blog post on Thursday.
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort reopened on Thursday, the final resort there to do so.
Remaining safety measures
Disney still isn't 100% back to pre-pandemic operations. Take face masks, for instance.
They are optional for fully vaccinated guests in outdoor and indoor locations. Disney asks that visitors who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face masks in all indoor locations.
And face coverings are still required by all visitors 2 years old and older on Disney buses and monorails. You can click here for their latest safety updates.
Shanghai Disneyland closed
While things are opening up more and more in the United States, Disney has theme parks around the world. And each one must respond to local conditions.
China, an area of the world that has had few spikes during the pandemic, has seen a big increase in cases as the BA.2 variant sweeps through the country.
As a result, Shanghai Disneyland has been closed since March 21.
It's a reminder that park patrons must be ready to adjust to changing conditions, even two years into the pandemic.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/heavy-rainfall-friday-thunderstorms-central-florida/39608137
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UPDATE: NWS issued a Tornado Warning for Brevard County, and it expired at 8:45 AM. Previous story belowHeavy rainfall fell Friday morning and storms in the afternoon and evening are expected to be strong with some possibly becoming severe.WESH 2 meteorologists have designated Friday a First Warning Impact Day and Saturday a First Warning Weather Day. As of 7 a.m. Friday, Orlando had received 4.8 inches of rain, Casselberry had received 3.7 inches of rain and Maitland had received 5.1 inches of rain. A Flood Advisory was issued for parts of Lake County through Seminole and southern Volusia County and was set to expire at 7:15 a.m. The rain will be widespread in the morning, turning scattered with pockets of sunshine in the early afternoon, and some more thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening.The stronger storms will be in the southern parts of Central Florida. Saturday is expected to bring another round of strong to severe storms. Outdoor and evening plans will likely need to be moved indoors. Residents should prepare for impacts to their commute if driving in these storms. Those on the coast should use caution while outside because strong winds are possible.Average high temperatures will prove to be really warm this weekend, starting with a high of 84 degrees on Friday and finally 83 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday. Lows will come down to the upper 60s.Stay with WESH 2 for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarHurricanesSevere Weather AlertsMap Room
ORLANDO, Fla. — UPDATE: NWS issued a Tornado Warning for Brevard County, and it expired at 8:45 AM.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Previous story below
Heavy rainfall fell Friday morning and storms in the afternoon and evening are expected to be strong with some possibly becoming severe.
WESH 2 meteorologists have designated Friday a First Warning Impact Day and Saturday a First Warning Weather Day.
As of 7 a.m. Friday, Orlando had received 4.8 inches of rain, Casselberry had received 3.7 inches of rain and Maitland had received 5.1 inches of rain.
A Flood Advisory was issued for parts of Lake County through Seminole and southern Volusia County and was set to expire at 7:15 a.m.
The rain will be widespread in the morning, turning scattered with pockets of sunshine in the early afternoon, and some more thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening.
The stronger storms will be in the southern parts of Central Florida.
Saturday is expected to bring another round of strong to severe storms.
Outdoor and evening plans will likely need to be moved indoors. Residents should prepare for impacts to their commute if driving in these storms. Those on the coast should use caution while outside because strong winds are possible.
Average high temperatures will prove to be really warm this weekend, starting with a high of 84 degrees on Friday and finally 83 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday. Lows will come down to the upper 60s.
Stay with WESH 2 for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/jacksonville-kidnapping-child-dies/39608360
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Florida 5-year-old dies after alleged kidnapper leads cops on chase, crashes into pond
A 5-year-old died Thursday night as authorities pursued a kidnapping suspect in Jacksonville.
First Coast News reports a woman armed with a knife abducted the girl near Biscayne Boulevard and Dunn Avenue around 8 a.m. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said the woman and the child knew each other, but their exact relationship is unclear.
An officer responding to the scene spotted a vehicle driven by a woman that matched the description of the suspect and a high-speed chase ensued, spanning 30 miles. According to News4Jax, speeds reached 90 mph.
Authorities say the woman tried to exit at I-95 South and 9B but crashed into a retention pond.
Officers jumped into the water, pulling the woman from the water and taking her to the hospital.
Crews could not locate the child. A dive team came out to help.
“The child was, unfortunately, located at the bottom of the pond, deceased,” Officer Christian Hancock said.
Hancock said the driver will be arrested and charged with traffic homicide.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/man-struck-and-killed-by-suv-on-i-95/39608247
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Man struck and killed by SUV on I-95
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Man struck and killed by SUV on I-95
A man died after he was struck by an SUV on I-95 in Flagler County.This happened around 9 p.m. Thursday in the southbound lanes at Mile Marker 287.Troopers say the 64-year-old man was walking in the travel lanes when he was hit.The driver who hit him stayed at the scene.The accident remains under investigation.
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. —
A man died after he was struck by an SUV on I-95 in Flagler County.
This happened around 9 p.m. Thursday in the southbound lanes at Mile Marker 287.
Advertisement
Troopers say the 64-year-old man was walking in the travel lanes when he was hit.
The driver who hit him stayed at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/news-briefing-deadly-free-fall-accident/39608798
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Florida Agriculture Commissioner to hold news briefing on deadly Free Fall accident
It has been a week since 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death from the Orlando Free Fall ride.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried will be in Orlando Friday to address the tragedy.
WESH 2 will stream the event at 11 a.m.
Fried's office is the one that investigates these accidents and can penalize the owners. So we should get more insight Friday into what investigators have found so far.
Different inspectors have appeared at the accident site since it happened, trying to figure out how Sampson slipped out of the harness, as the ride came down at 75 miles per hour.
We know the Free Fall uses a locking shoulder harness to keep riders in place but also, that Sampson was well over the weight limit, listed in the ride's operating manual.
The seats do not have a safety belt and the company that built it claimed in a letter to the owner, that it doesn't need one. But a local ride designer we talked to, says it's a simple way, to make the ride much safer.
Bill Kitchen, the president of U.S. Thrill Rides, says a belt costs about $20 and can hold 6,000 pounds.
Fried's department may decide to issue penalties, against the ride owners, and can even shut down rides and impound them if they are deemed to be too dangerous.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/bicyclist-dies-orange-blossom-trail/39608899
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Bicyclist dies after being hit by car on Orange Blossom Trail
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Bicyclist dies after being hit by car on Orange Blossom Trail
A bicyclist was pronounced dead after a crash Thursday night on Orange Blossom Trail.According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a sedan was traveling south on Orange Blossom Trail near Mary Louis Lane around 11:30 p.m.Officials say the bicyclist was traveling east across the southbound lanes.One vehicle swerved to avoid hitting the bicyclist but a 17-year-old driving the sedan struck the bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 47-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.The crash is under investigation.
A bicyclist was pronounced dead after a crash Thursday night on Orange Blossom Trail.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a sedan was traveling south on Orange Blossom Trail near Mary Louis Lane around 11:30 p.m.
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Officials say the bicyclist was traveling east across the southbound lanes.
One vehicle swerved to avoid hitting the bicyclist but a 17-year-old driving the sedan struck the bicyclist.
The bicyclist, a 47-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash is under investigation.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/house-passes-dollar35-a-month-insulin-cap-as-uphill-senate-battle-looms/39609695
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House passes $35-a-month insulin cap as uphill Senate battle looms
The House has passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.
Video above: President Biden decries high prescription costs: 'shame on us'
Experts say the legislation, which passed 232-193 Thursday, would provide significant relief for privately insured patients with skimpier plans and for Medicare enrollees facing rising out-of-pocket costs for their insulin. Some could save hundreds of dollars annually, and all insured patients would get the benefit of predictable monthly costs for insulin. The bill would not help the uninsured.
But the Affordable Insulin Now Act will serve as a political vehicle to rally Democrats and force Republicans who oppose it into uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterms. For the legislation to pass Congress, 10 Republican senators would have to vote in favor. Democrats acknowledge they don't have an answer for how that's going to happen.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that's a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., a cosponsor of the House bill. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Public opinion polls have consistently shown support across party lines for congressional action to limit drug costs.
But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., complained the legislation is only “a small piece of a larger package around government price controls for prescription drugs." Critics say the bill would raise premiums and fails to target pharmaceutical middlemen seen as contributing to high list prices for insulin.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats could have a deal on prescription drugs if they drop their bid to authorize Medicare to negotiate prices. “Do Democrats really want to help seniors, or would they rather have the campaign issue?" Grassley said.
The insulin bill, which would take effect in 2023, represents just one provision of a much broader prescription drug package in President Joe Biden's social and climate legislation.
In addition to a similar $35 cap on insulin, the Biden bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for a range of drugs, including insulin. It would penalize drugmakers who raise prices faster than inflation and overhaul the Medicare prescription drug benefit to limit out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.
Biden's agenda passed the House only to stall in the Senate because Democrats could not reach consensus. Party leaders haven't abandoned hope of getting the legislation moving again, and preserving its drug pricing curbs largely intact.
The idea of a $35 monthly cost cap for insulin actually has a bipartisan pedigree. The Trump administration had created a voluntary option for Medicare enrollees to get insulin for $35, and the Biden administration continued it.
In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are working on a bipartisan insulin bill. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock has introduced legislation similar to the House bill, with the support of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stung by criticism that Biden's economic policies spur inflation, Democrats are redoubling efforts to show how they'd help people cope with costs. On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported a key inflation gauge jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
But experts say the House bill would not help uninsured people, who face the highest out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Also, people with diabetes often take other medications as well as insulin. That's done to treat the diabetes itself, along with other serious health conditions often associated with the disease. The House legislation would not help with those costs, either. Collins says she's looking for a way to help uninsured people through her bill.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6 million to 7 million use insulin to keep their blood sugars under control. It’s an old drug, refined and improved over the years, that has seen relentless price increases.
Steep list prices don't reflect the rates insurance plans negotiate with manufacturers. But those list prices are used to calculate cost-sharing amounts that patients owe. Patients who can’t afford their insulin reduce or skip doses, a strategy born of desperation, which can lead to serious complications and even death.
Economist Sherry Glied of New York University said the market for insulin is a “total disaster” for many patients, particularly those with skimpy insurance plans or no insurance.
“This will make private insurance for people with diabetes a much more attractive proposition,” said Glied.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/spacex-launch-set-for-friday-afternoon/39609751
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SpaceX launch set for Friday afternoon
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SpaceX launch set for Friday afternoon
SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Friday.Liftoff for the Transporter-4 mission is set for 12:24 p.m, but the weather may not cooperate.This is the company's fourth dedicated small-sat ride-share mission.Because the rocket will fly on a southern trajectory, the entire launch may be visible from the ground.The first-stage booster previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2 and four other missions.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. —
SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Friday.
Liftoff for the Transporter-4 mission is set for 12:24 p.m, but the weather may not cooperate.
Advertisement
This is the company's fourth dedicated small-sat ride-share mission.
Because the rocket will fly on a southern trajectory, the entire launch may be visible from the ground.
The first-stage booster previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2 and four other missions.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/unidentified-man-found-dead-appalachian-trail/39609882
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Authorities ask for help identifying man found dead on Appalachian Trail
The body was found Jan. 21
The body was found Jan. 21
Authorities are asking for help identifying a man found dead along the Appalachian Trail.
Officials say the man's body was found Jan. 21.
The man was wearing a small gray T-shirt, a gray fleece long sleeve shirt, tan Wrangler brand cargo pants size 30x32, gray wool boot socks, and Keen brand hiking boots size 10.5.
The man had a black Thermal-FR brand fleece quarter-zip pullover, a dark gray Champion brand quarter-zip fleece, a black Uline skull cap with rechargeable light attachment and a small black folding shovel.
They are asking anyone with information to contact The Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/covid-19-hospitalizations-have-hit-a-pandemic-low-in-the-us-data-shows/39609685
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COVID-19 hospitalizations have hit a pandemic low in the US, data shows
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Updated: 12:21 PM EDT Apr 1, 2022
JESSICA: THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS HOSPITALEDIZ IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR COVID DOWN TO 210, MORE THAN HALF FULLY VACCINATED. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS DR. TODD ELLERIN, CHIEF OF IN FECTIOUS DISEASES AT SOUTH SHORE HEALTH. N:BE LET’S BREAK THAT DOWN. THIS IS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE NUMBER IS TWO HUNDRED 10, DOWN FROM 0033 PATIENTS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE OMICRON SURGEON JANUARY, BUT LOOKING AT THIS WEEK’S DATA, 120 FOUR WERE FULLY CCVAINATED WHEN INFECTED, SO ALMOST 60%. ARYOUE SURPRISED THAT HIGH OF A PERCENTAGE IS IN THE HOSPITAL? >> NOT AT ALL AND LET ME EXPLAIN. IMAGINE 100 PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS WERE VACCINATED. ANY HOSPITALIZED PATIENT WITH COVID WOULD BE VACCINAD BUT MASSACHUSETTS HAS OVER 80% OF US FULLY VACCINATED, THOSE ELIGIBLE NOW. SO YOU EXPECT TO E SEVACCINATED PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED. HERE IS THE RUB, THOUGH. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO IS VACCINATED AND HOSPITALIZED, IT TENDS TO BE THE EXTREMES OF AGE, ELDERLY, LSOT OF CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED ARE OFTEN 15, 20 YES YOUNGER, SO YOUNGER UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE BEING VACCINATED. AND TO BRING HOME THE POINT, ONLY 18% OF PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS ARE VACCINATED, YET IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR NUMBERS, 41% OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED NOW ARE UNVACCINATED, SO THE VACCINES ARE DOING WHAT WE EXPECT. JESSICA: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WANTINPRG OTECTION FROM VACCINES AND PRIOR INFECTIONS. DO WE KNOW HOW LONG EACH ONE WILL LAST? DR. ELLERIN: TREHE WAS A RECENT STUDY IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL PUBLISHED TODAY, AND WTHA IT SHOWS,ND A WE KNOW THIS, IS THAT VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS DOES WANE OVER TIME, AND THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONWHY WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE OUR SHIFT A LITTLE WITH GOALS. ATHE T VERY BEGINNING, WHEN VACCINES FIRST CAME OUT, WE WERE HEARING 95% EFFECTIVE AGAINST INFECTION. THOSE NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED .IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL, THE VARIANT OUT OF THE U.K., EFFECTIVENESS DROPPED TO SIX MONTHS, BUT I THINK THE KEY IS THE VACCINES ARE STILL WORKING SO WELL AT PREVENTING SEVERE INFECTION. I THINK THAT WILL HAVE TO BE WHERE WE ARE LOOKING IN THE FUTURE. BEN: A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE INFECTED WITH COVID DURING THE OMICRON SURGEON AND MANY PEOPLE HAD MILD SYMPTOMS -- OMICRON SURGE AND MANY PEOPLE HAD MILD SYMPTOMS. IS IT SAFE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO SKIP THE BOOSTER SHOTS OR NOT? DRELLERI. ABSOLUTELY NOT. EVEN THOUGH WE LEARNED INFECTION DOES PROVIDE IMMUNITY, A STUDY THIS TIME FROM ISRAEL PUBLISHED INHE JOURNAL, 139,000 PEOPLE OMFR ISRLAE, AND ESSENTIALLY, MOST WERE COMPLETELY VACCINATED, HAD TWO DOSES OF VACCINE, AND WHAT TYHE SHOWED IS THAT THOSE WHO WERE VACCINATED ALONE, THERE WERE ABOUT54 WE 3 INFECTIONS, BUT THOSE WHO WERE VACCINATED AND VACCINATED AND ALSO INFECTED, THEY WERE LESS LIKELY TO GET INFECTED, SO WHAT DOES THAT SAY? INFECTION PLUS VACCINE PROTECTS GREATER THAN JUST VACCINE ALONE. AND AGAIN, ONE THING TO REMEMBER , WHAT YOU DO NOT WANTOT O IS GO AND GET INFECTED BECAUSE THESE STUDIES DON’T TELL ABOUT ETH MORBIDITY, COVID LONG-TERM, PROBLEMS, SEPARATION, ISOLATION, THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THAT, SO THE VACCINE IS STILL THE BEST WAY. JESSICA: ONE LAST QUESTION. I ALSO WANT TO ASK ABOUT SEASONAL ALLERGIES. TREE POLLEN IS A BIG PROBLEM NOW. THE FACE MASKS OFFER ANY SORT OF PROTECTION? DR. ELRILE THEY ACTUALLY DO BUT IT IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD -- THE MASKS PROTECT YOUR FACE FROM POLLEN BUT THE EYES ARE EXPOSED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS WHEN YOU BRING THE MASK BACK TOIN ITSELF, YOU CAN CAUSE MORE POLLEN RELEASE IN THE HOME, SO YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL OF THAT. JUST LIKE COVID, THESE RESPIRATORS ACTUALLY PROTECT BETTER THAN ETH REGULAR SURGICAL MASKS, SO MASKS DO PROTT AGAINST POLLEN, BUT BE CAREFUL DAN REALIZE IT WILL NOT
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COVID-19 hospitalizations have hit a pandemic low in the US, data shows
Fewer people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States now than at any other point in the pandemic, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.As of Friday, there are 16,138 people in the hospital with COVID-19 — fewer than there have ever been since the HHS first started tracking in July 2020. Just 2% of hospital beds are currently in use for COVID-19 patients.The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU is also at a low point, with less than 2,000 ICU beds in use for COVID-19 patients in the United States overall, HHS data shows.Previously, the lowest point was in late June 2021, just before delta became the dominant variant in the country. COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a peak in January 2022 amid the omicron surge, when more than 160,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 at one time.While the strain on the U.S. hospital system directly related to treating COVID-19 patients has been significantly reduced, experts say that many hospitals are still burdened by staffing shortages and other patients who are coming in sicker after postponing care during the height of the pandemic.Overall, since August 2020, there have been about 4.6 million total hospital admissions for COVID-19 in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a third of hospital admissions have been among seniors age 70 and older.Black and Hispanic people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 at more than twice the rate of white people, and American Indians have been more than three times as likely to be hospitalized.
Fewer people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States now than at any other point in the pandemic, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
As of Friday, there are 16,138 people in the hospital with COVID-19 — fewer than there have ever been since the HHS first started tracking in July 2020. Just 2% of hospital beds are currently in use for COVID-19 patients.
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The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU is also at a low point, with less than 2,000 ICU beds in use for COVID-19 patients in the United States overall, HHS data shows.
Previously, the lowest point was in late June 2021, just before delta became the dominant variant in the country. COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a peak in January 2022 amid the omicron surge, when more than 160,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 at one time.
While the strain on the U.S. hospital system directly related to treating COVID-19 patients has been significantly reduced, experts say that many hospitals are still burdened by staffing shortages and other patients who are coming in sicker after postponing care during the height of the pandemic.
Overall, since August 2020, there have been about 4.6 million total hospital admissions for COVID-19 in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a third of hospital admissions have been among seniors age 70 and older.
Black and Hispanic people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 at more than twice the rate of white people, and American Indians have been more than three times as likely to be hospitalized.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/michigan-gov-whitmer-kidnapping-trial-closing/39609761
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Closing arguments begin in trial over Michigan Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot
A prosecutor urged jurors Friday to convict four men in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, saying they were antigovernment extremists “filled with rage” and intent on igniting a civil war.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler summed up the evidence on the 15th day of trial in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The case was built with informants, undercover agents, secret recordings and two star witnesses who pleaded guilty and cooperated.
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with conspiracy. Three of the men also face additional charges involving weapons.
“They were filled with rage,” Kessler told jurors. “They were paranoid because they knew what they were doing was wrong and they feared they could be caught.”
The four men deny any scheme to get Whitmer at her vacation home, though they were livid with the government as well as restrictions the governor imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kessler highlighted the testimony of Ty Garbin, who was arrested with the group but quickly agreed to cooperate and pleaded guilty.
“The boogaloo is this whole idea of kicking off a second civil war in the United States. That's what bound these defendants together,” the prosecutor said.
The men were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive that could blow up a bridge and stymie police after a kidnapping, according to trial evidence. Fox twice traveled to northern Michigan to scout the area.
Only one defendant, Harris, chose to testify in his own defense. But his denial of any crime Thursday was met by an aggressive cross-examination in which prosecutors used his own words to show his contempt for Whitmer and even suggestions about how to kill her.
Defense attorneys insist they were under the spell of informants and agents who got them to say and do violent, provocative things.
Harris repeatedly answered “absolutely not” when asked by his lawyer if he was part of a plot. His testimony was perilous because he exposed himself to numerous challenges by prosecutors who had been offering evidence against the group for days.
Harris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Roth sometimes talked over each other. At one point, Harris snapped, “Next question.”
“Everyone can take it down a notch,” U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker said later.
Roth confronted Harris with his own chat messages about posing as a pizza deliveryman and killing Whitmer at her door. He reminded Harris, a former Marine, that he worked with explosives while training with the group, especially in Luther, Michigan, in September 2020, about a month before their arrest.
Roth played a conversation of Croft talking about militias overthrowing governments in various states and “breaking a few eggs” if necessary.
“When this man talks to you at a diner about killing people, you don’t stand up and walk out, do you sir?” Roth asked. “You don’t say, ‘This group is not for me,’ do you sir?”
“No,” Harris answered.
A “shoot house” that was intended to resemble Whitmer's second home was a key part of the Luther training weekend, according to the government. Harris admitted that he brought materials but said he didn’t build it with her house in mind.
He didn't participate in an evening ride to Elk Rapids, Michigan, to scout Whitmer’s home and a bridge during that same weekend. Harris said he had purchased $200 of cheap beer and cigarettes so he could return to the camp and “get wasted” with others.
Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. Garbin last week said the group acted willingly and hoped to strike before the election, cause national chaos and prevent Joe Biden from winning the presidency.
Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the kidnapping plot, though she referred to “surprises” during her term that seemed like “something out of fiction” when she filed for reelection on March 17.
She has blamed former President Donald Trump for fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists like those charged in the case.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/orange-county-deputy-indicted-in-2020-shooting/39611351
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Orange County deputy indicted in 2020 shooting
On Friday, it was announced that a grand jury had returned an indictment against an Orange County Sheriff's deputy in a shooting from two years ago.
Deputy Bruce Stolk has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm in the non-fatal shooting that occurred on Dec. 20, 2020.
Stolk was placed on administrative leave. He has been with the Orange County Sheriff's Office since September 2017.
"I believe in our justice system and it's important we let this case run its course," said Sheriff John Mina. "Our deputies have one of the most difficult and complex jobs in the world. They must make split-second decisions and act in the moment to protect themselves and others."
The 2020 incident began when 18-year-old Edenilson Urbina was riding a motorcycle that appeared to have an illegal tag, Mina said.
Mina said it appeared Urbina had reached for a weapon so Stolk fired at Urbina once, striking him in the leg.
"We still don't know all the facts, like we said It's extremely dark out there, some of the body camera video that's already been reviewed is extremely dark as well," Mina said at the time.
Urbina was released from the hospital and taken to the jail where he was booked on a charge of resisting an officer without violence.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/pope-makes-historic-apology-to-indigenous-people-of-canada/39610201
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Pope makes historic apology to indigenous people of Canada
Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous Peoples for the “deplorable” abuses they suffered in Canada’s Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the church's misguided missionary zeal.
Francis begged forgiveness during an audience with dozens of members of the Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities who came to Rome seeking a papal apology and a commitment from the Catholic Church to repair the damage. The first pope from the Americas said he hoped to visit Canada around the Feast of St. Anna, which falls on July 26.
Video above: More than 600 bodies found at Indigenous school in Canada
More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture. The aim was to Christianize and assimilate them into mainstream society, which previous Canadian governments considered superior.
The Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse was rampant at the schools, with students beaten for speaking their native languages. That legacy of that abuse and isolation from family has been cited by Indigenous leaders as a root cause of the epidemic rates of alcohol and drug addiction now on Canadian reservations.
After hearing their stories all week, Francis told the Indigenous that the colonial project ripped children from their families, cutting off roots, traditions and culture and provoking inter-generational trauma that is still being felt today. He said it was a “counter-witness” to the same Gospel that the residential school system purported to uphold.
“For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness of the Lord,” Francis said. “And I want to tell you from my heart, that I am greatly pained. And I unite myself with the Canadian bishops in apologizing.”
The trip to Rome by the Indigenous was years in the making but gained momentum last year after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves outside some of the residential schools in Canada. The three groups of Indigenous met separately with Francis over several hours this week, telling him their stories, culminating with Friday's audience.
Francis spoke in Italian and the Indigenous read his remarks in English translations. The president of the Metis National Council, Cassidy Caron, said the Metis elder sitting next her burst into tears upon hearing what she said was a long-overdue apology.
“The pope's words today were historic, to be sure. They were necessary, and I appreciate them deeply,” Caron told reporters in St. Peter's Square. “And I now look forward to the pope's visit to Canada, where he can offer those sincere words of apology directly to our survivors and their families, whose acceptance and healing ultimately matters most.”
The spiritual adviser of the Assembly of First Nations' delegation, Elder Fred Kelley, echoed the sentiment.
“Today is a day that we’ve been waiting for. And certainly one that will be uplifted in our history," he said. “It’s a historical first step, however, only a first step.”
Video above: Tributes to kids buried at indigenous school site
He and other Indigenous leaders said there was far more for the church to do on the path of reconciliation, but that for now Indigenous leaders insisted on being involved in organizing the papal visit to make sure Francis stops in places that hold spiritual importance to their people.
Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, thanked Francis for addressing all the issues the Indigenous had brought to him. “And he did so in a way that really showed his empathy towards the indigenous people of Canada,” he said.
Nearly three-quarters of Canada’s 130 residential schools were run by Catholic missionary congregations.
Last May, the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation announced the discovery of 215 gravesites near Kamloops, British Columbia, that were found using ground-penetrating radar. It was Canada’s largest Indigenous residential school and the discovery of the graves was the first of numerous, similar grim sites across the country.
Even before the grave sites were discovered, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission specifically called for a papal apology to be delivered on Canadian soil for the church’s role in the abuses.
In addition, as part of a settlement of a lawsuit involving the Canadian government, churches and the approximately 90,000 surviving students, Canada paid reparations that amounted to billions of dollars being transferred to Indigenous communities. The Catholic Church, for its part, has paid over $50 million and now intends to add $30 million more over the next five years.
Francis said he felt shame for the role that Catholic educators had played in the harm, “in the abuse and disrespect for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values,” he said. “It is evident that the contents of the faith cannot be transmitted in a way that is extraneous to the faith itself.”
“It is chilling to think of determined efforts to instill a sense of inferiority, to rob people of their cultural identity, to sever their roots, and to consider all the personal and social effects that this continues to entail: unresolved traumas that have become inter-generational traumas,” he said.
After the papal apology, the audience continued with joyous performances of Indigenous prayers by drummers, dancers and fiddlers that Francis watched, applauded and gave a thumbs up to. The Indigenous then presented him with gifts, including snowshoes.
Francis' apology went far beyond what Pope Benedict XVI had offered in 2009 when an Assembly of First Nations delegation visited. At the time, Benedict only expressed his “sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church.” But he did not apologize.
The Argentine pope is no stranger to offering apologies for his own errors and for what he himself has termed the “crimes” of the institutional church. Most significantly, during a 2015 visit to Bolivia, he apologized for the sins, crimes and offenses committed by the church against Indigenous Peoples during the colonial-era conquest of the Americas.
He made clear those same colonial crimes occurred far more recently in Canada at the Catholic-run residential schools.
“Your identity and culture has been wounded, many families separated, many children have become victims of this homogenization action, supported by the idea that progress occurs through ideological colonization, according to programs studied at the table rather than respecting the lives of peoples," he said.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/cassie-carli-missing/39612537
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Missing Florida mom vanished on way to pick up her daughter, family says
The family of a Florida mother who has been missing since Sunday is urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.
Cassie Carli, 37, was headed to Navarre Beach in the Florida panhandle to pick up her daughter when she vanished on Sunday night, according to her family
Carli was last seen on Sunday when she left to meet with Marcus Spanevelo, the father of her daughter, in the parking lot of Juana’s Pagodas restaurant.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson called the disappearance of Carli “very concerning” as he revealed that investigators found her purse inside her car.
“There were things in the purse … we don’t think she would just up and leave,” Johnson said during a press conference. “Usually you don’t go four days without hearing from them, or them using a credit card, cell phone…so yeah, we’re concerned.”
Police later tracked Spanevolo to Alabama, where they questioned him and located the couple’s daughter, 4-year-old Saylor, safe.
When asked why Spanevelo would be there, Johnson said he worked in the area. Spanevelo has not been arrested or charged with any crime.
The Santa Rosa County sheriff said Thursday the Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined in the search, according to WKRG.
Investigators believe Spanevelo was the last person to see Carli.
“He was the last one to see her that we’re aware of it so obviously we are intent on speaking with him again,” said Johnson.
Cassie’s sister told NBC the 37-year-old was between jobs and living with their father in Navarre. She worked at a paddleboard shop and just started a job as a server at the Eglin Air Force Base on March 26, the day before she disappeared, her sister said.
“She was in the middle of starting a new job on base being a lead server,” Raeann Carli told Dateline. “Saturday evening was the last time she texted me, but she said it just went well.”
Raeann said her sister had also been sorting out custody issues with Saylor’s father. The two had joint custody over their daughter.
“She went to go pick up Saylor because it was his weekend. This is a normal – every other weekend drop-off exchange thing. And they were just meeting right down the road this time,” her sister recalled.
“Juana’s – it is a local bar that she – it’s always been there. So a big parking lot and people using the boat ramp, usually a nice public place,” Raeann said. “My dad said it was just a very brief, you know, ‘Be right back, Dad. I’m just – just going right to Juana’s.’”
“When he [Cassie’s dad] woke up at 10:45 p.m., he immediately started calling my sister and no one would answer,” she added. “He called me at 4 p.m. on Monday because he said, you know, ‘She’s not back home.’”
Raeann said her father reported her sister missing on Sunday, about 24 hours after she disappeared.
Aloy said her car was found near Juana’s and is currently in an impound yard.
He added that the area where she vanished “was very dark.”
“It was a parking lot,” Aloy said.
Johnson did not divulge into specific areas being searched by deputies but did say investigators have extended their search is beyond Santa Rosa county.
“We consider her missing and danger, we don’t know what happened to her,” Sheriff Johnson said.
Cassie is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 150 pounds with shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. She has pierced ears, and a tattoo of a tribal mark on her lower back.
Anyone with information on Cassie’s whereabouts is asked to call the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at 850-983-1190.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/covid-19-aid-10-billion-dollar-package/39601210
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Bipartisan deal struck 'in principle' on $10 billion COVID-19 aid package, Romney says
Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney said Thursday that Republicans have struck an "agreement in principle" with Democrats on a $10 billion package to help U.S. efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, a breakthrough that could pave the way for new funds to help the United States' response efforts amid growing fears that critical resources are being depleted.
Video above: Biden pushes Congress to pass urgent COVID-19 funding
Romney, the lead GOP negotiator, told reporters the plan is "entirely balanced by offsets." He said the bill text still needs to be drafted and there needs to be a cost estimate from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office before the Senate can vote on the matter.
The Senate, as a result, scrapped Thursday afternoon's procedural vote on the issue — in order to give time for the bill's text to be drafted and for an official CBO score.
In remarks from the Senate floor, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said negotiators are "close to a final agreement that would garner bipartisan" support.
"We are working diligently to finalize language of scoring and the final agreement on what should be funded in the final COVID package both domestic and international," Schumer said. "As a sign of good faith, and to encourage us to come to a final agreement, I will reschedule today's procedural vote to a later time."
The goal is to pass the bill next week, Romney said.
The $10 billion price tag overall is less than half of what the White House was seeking. It's also less than the $15.6 billion that had been included in the government funding bill earlier this month, but had to be scrapped after a number of House Democrats opposed the way the money had been offset.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, a member of GOP leadership, expressed skepticism that the package could be finished by next week.
"If there was a deal we would be voting on it ... People want to see scores and top lines and what's in it," Thune said.
Democrats also urged caution regarding progress of the talks. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin pushed back on Senate Republicans saying that there is a "deal in principle."
"I can't go that far," he told reporters. "Schumer's just said he's still working on it."
Romney said the bill would be paid for "almost exclusively" by redirecting money from the American Rescue Plan — the law that Democrats pushed through last year. As part of the offsets, he said that they are pulling money that would have gone to states to provide grants for local businesses.
Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, told reporters additional offsets would include taking money from a fund that had been intended to go to shuttered concert venues and theaters during the pandemic. He estimated there was still about $2.2 billion from that account Democrats and Republicans could re-purpose. He also said there was aviation manufacturing money from past legislation that totaled around $2 billion that could also be used.
The money is expected to go half toward therapeutics, Blunt said. He added the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services would then have "a lot of discretion" on how to best use the other half of the funding.
Romney said there "may be $1 billion" of money to deal with global COVID-19 response efforts, even as Democrats were pushing for $5 billion in global aid.
Romney and Blunt predicted there would be "a lot more than 10" Republicans who would back it.
"I believe we get more than 10 Republicans, maybe even significantly more," Blunt said.
The announcement comes after President Joe Biden made a desperate appeal Wednesday for Congress to pass additional funding and fast.
"Congress has to provide the funding America needs to continue to fight COVID-19. We're already seeing the consequences of congressional inaction," Biden said Wednesday, adding that the administration already did not have money to purchase monoclonal antibody therapies, vaccines, and more tests.
The White House has spent weeks warning lawmakers that if Congress didn't act soon they would expire money for vaccinations, to reimburse providers and insurers for out-of-network treatment, underwrite COVID-19 testing and supply personal protective equipment.
"Congress, we need to secure additional supply now, now. We can't wait until we find ourselves in the midst of another surge to act. It will be too late. And we also need this funding to continue our efforts to vaccinate the world," Biden said.
Asked about the tentative deal Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would only say: "We're working on it, we will get there."
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https://www.wesh.com/article/covid-19-asylum-limits-us-mexico-border-to-end/39611918
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COVID-19 asylum limits at US-Mexico border to end next month, CDC says
The Centers for Disease Control announced Friday that it is ending a policy that limited asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The use of public health powers had been widely criticized by Democrats and immigration advocates as an excuse for the United States to shirk its obligations to provide haven to people fleeing persecution. The policy went into effect under President Donald Trump in March 2020. Since then, migrants trying to enter the U.S. have been turned away more than 1.7 million times.
The policy, known as the Title 42 authority, named for a 1944 public health law to prevent communicable disease, will end on paper April 1, but it will not take effect until May 23, to allow border officials time to prepare.
"After considering current public health conditions and an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19 (such as highly effective vaccines and therapeutics), the CDC director has determined that an order suspending the right to introduce migrants into the United States is no longer necessary," the CDC said in a statement.
The decision is expected to draw more migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Department of Homeland Security said this week that about 7,100 migrants were coming daily, compared with an average of about 5,900 a day in February — on pace to match or exceed highs from last year, 2019 and other peak periods. But border officials said they are planning for as many as 18,000 arrivals daily.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/deputies-concerned-missing-marion-county-woman/39612327
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Deputies concerned about missing Marion County woman in possession of gun
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Deputies concerned about missing Marion County woman in possession of gun
Marion County deputies are asking for help locating a missing woman who is believed to be armed.Officials say Sandra Rivers was last seen at around 6:30 a.m. Friday, leaving 1705 SW 123rd Terrace, in Ocala. She is believed to be driving a gray 2017 Kia Sorento bearing Florida license plate QHKA87."Sandra made statements that have caused law enforcement and her family to be concerned for her safety. She is also believed to be in possession of a firearm," the report states. Anyone who knows where Rivers is is asked to call 911 immediately.
OCALA, Fla. —
Marion County deputies are asking for help locating a missing woman who is believed to be armed.
Officials say Sandra Rivers was last seen at around 6:30 a.m. Friday, leaving 1705 SW 123rd Terrace, in Ocala.
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She is believed to be driving a gray 2017 Kia Sorento bearing Florida license plate QHKA87.
"Sandra made statements that have caused law enforcement and her family to be concerned for her safety. She is also believed to be in possession of a firearm," the report states.
Anyone who knows where Rivers is is asked to call 911 immediately.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/house-passes-bill-federally-decriminalize-marijuana/39612341
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House passes bill to federally decriminalize marijuana
The House has voted with a slim bipartisan majority to federally decriminalize marijuana.
The vote was 220 to 204. Republicans Tom McClintock of California, Brian Mast and Matt Gaetz, both of Florida, joined the majority of Democrats in supporting the bill, while Democrats Henry Cuellar of Texas and Chris Pappas of New Hampshire voted against.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, will prevent federal agencies from denying federal workers security clearances for cannabis use, and will allow the Veterans' Administration to recommend medical marijuana to veterans living with posttraumatic stress disorder, plus gains revenue by authorizing a sales tax on marijuana sales.
The bill also expunges the record of people convicted of non-violent cannabis offenses, which House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said, "can haunt people of color and impact the trajectory of their lives and career indefinitely."
"It can result in difficulty finding employment, difficulty finding housing, denial of access of federal benefits, denial of financial aid at colleges and universities, and denial of the right to vote," Hoyer said. "That's why we're dealing with this."
Senate Democrats have a similar legalization bill in the upper chamber, but neither that bill nor the House-passed MORE Act is expected to clear the 60-vote threshold for passage in the Senate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the legislation during her weekly news conference Thursday, telling reporters the legislation is "consistent with what is happening in many states across the country."
"It also addresses the injustices of it because of what penalties had been before some of these, this decriminalization took place," she added. "So I'm all for it."
A similar bill was passed in December 2020, and was championed in the House by the late Rep. Don Young of Alaska, who was a co-founder of the House Cannabis Caucus, but died last month before the bill made it to the floor for another vote.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/marion-county-crash-cement-truck/39612898
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17-year-old dies in Marion County crash involving cement truck
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17-year-old dies in Marion County crash involving cement truck
A teenager died Friday in a Marion County crash.It happened around 11:30 a.m. in Ocala, near the intersection of CR-484 and Southwest 27th Circle.According to Florida Highway Patrol, a cement truck was headed westbound on CR-484 and a sedan was headed eastbound on CR-484.Officials said the cement truck driver attempted to make a left turn and collided with the sedan. The 17-year-old driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene. No further information was released.
OCALA, Fla. —
A teenager died Friday in a Marion County crash.
It happened around 11:30 a.m. in Ocala, near the intersection of CR-484 and Southwest 27th Circle.
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According to Florida Highway Patrol, a cement truck was headed westbound on CR-484 and a sedan was headed eastbound on CR-484.
Officials said the cement truck driver attempted to make a left turn and collided with the sedan.
The 17-year-old driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene.
No further information was released.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/mobster-escapes-florida/39613047
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Mobster who killed 3 escapes federal custody in Florida
A New York mobster who killed three people and attempted to kill two others has escaped from federal custody.
The Bureau of Prisons website says Dominic Taddeo escaped on March 28. The 64-year-old had been imprisoned at a medium-security lockup in Florida before being transferred to a residential halfway house in February in Wildwood, Florida.
A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson says Taddeo failed to return from an authorized medical appointment and “was placed on escape status.”
The Sumter County Sheriff's Department was not notified of the escape, an agency spokeswoman said.
Taddeo pleaded guilty in 1992 to racketeering charges that included the killings of three men in the 1980s.
A federal judge denied Taddeo’s request for compassionate release last year.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/nyc-amazon-workers-vote-to-unionize-in-historic-labor-win/39612863
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Amazon workers in NYC vote to unionize in historic labor win
Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize on Friday, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giant’s history and handing an unexpected win to a nascent group that fueled the union drive.
Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes — or about 55% — in favor of a union, giving the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process, 2,131 workers — or 45% — rejected the union bid.
The 67 ballots that were challenged by either Amazon or the ALU were not enough to sway the outcome. Federal labor officials said the results of the count won’t be verified until they process any objections — due by April 8 — that both parties may file.
The victory was an uphill battle for the independent group, made up of former and current workers who lacked official backing from an established union and were out-gunned by the deep-pocketed retail giant. Despite obstacles, organizers believed their grassroots approach was more relatable to workers and could help them overcome where established unions have failed in the past. They were right.
Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon employee who has been leading the ALU in its fight on Staten Island, bounded out the NLRB building in Brooklyn on Friday with other union organizers, pumping their fists and jumping, chanting "ALU." They uncorked a bottle of Champagne, and Smalls hailed the victory as a call to arms for other Amazon workers across the sprawling company.
"I hope that everybody’s paying attention now because a lot of people doubted us," he said.
Smalls hopes the success in New York will embolden workers at other facilities to launch their own organizing campaigns. Even his group will soon shift their attention to a neighboring Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, where a separate union election is scheduled to be held in late April. Organizers believe Friday’s win is going to make it easier for them to win there, too.
Amazon posted a statement on its company website Friday saying that it was evaluating its options following the election and signaled it might not accept the results.
"We’re disappointed with the outcome of the election in Staten Island because we believe having a direct relationship with the company is best for our employees," the post said. "We're evaluating our options, including filing objections based on the inappropriate and undue influence by the NLRB that we and others (including the National Retail Federation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce) witnessed in this election."
Amazon has long argued that workers don't need a union because the company already provides good wages as well as benefits such as health care, 401(k) plans and a prepaid college tuition program to help grow workers' careers.
The successful union effort on Staten Island stood in contrast to the one launched in Bessemer, Alabama by the more established Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Workers at the warehouse there appear to have rejected a union bid but outstanding challenged ballots could change the outcome. The votes were 993-to-875 against the union. A hearing to review 416 challenged ballots is expected to begin in the next few days.
The union campaigns come at a time of widespread labor unrest at many corporations. Workers at more than 140 Starbucks locations around the country, for instance, have requested union elections and several of them have already been successful.
But Amazon has long been considered a top prize for the labor movement given the company's massive size and impact.
"We are clearly in different moment after two years of the pandemic. Something has changed in the labor landscape," said John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University. "It is a potential tipping point. We knew that unions were having a moment, but this is much bigger. There is no bigger prize than organizing Amazon."
Logan said he didn’t believe either union — the national or the independent labor group — would stand a chance with Amazon but he's even more shocked that a small union would be victorious given its limited resources. The group had also filed for a union election after getting support from about 30% of the facility’s workforce, a much lower percentage than what unions usually seek.
Logan believes they won in part because Amazon workers saw the organizers as authentic. And it helped that they were in labor-friendly state, he said, adding the grassroots union's win defies traditional thinking that only national unions can take on big companies.
But the ALU might still have a fight ahead of it, according to Erin Hatton, a sociology professor at the University of Buffalo in New York.
"Getting Amazon to the bargaining table will be another feat altogether," Hatton said. "Oftentimes the union will fizzle out because the company doesn't come to the bargaining table in good faith as they're obliged to do."
Amazon has pushed back hard in the lead-up to both elections in Staten Island and Bessemer. The retail giant held mandatory meetings, where workers were told unions are a bad idea. The company also launched an anti-union website targeting workers and placed English and Spanish posters across the Staten Island facility urging them to reject the union. In Bessemer, Amazon has made some changes to but still kept a controversial U.S. Postal Service mailbox that was key in the NLRB's decision to invalidate last year's vote.
Both labor fights faced unique challenges. Alabama, for instance, is a right-to-work state that prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that requires workers to pay dues to the union that represents them.
The union landscape in Alabama is also starkly different from New York. Last year, union members accounted for 22.2% of wage and salary workers in New York, ranked only behind Hawaii, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's more than double the national average of 10.3%. In Alabama, it's 5.9%.
The mostly Black workforce at the Amazon facility, which opened in 2020, mirrors the Bessemer population of more than 70% Black residents, according to the latest U.S. Census data.
Pro-union workers say they want better working conditions, longer breaks and higher wages. Regular full-time employees at the Bessemer facility earn at least $15.80 an hour, higher than the estimated $14.55 per hour on average in the city. That figure is based on an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual median household income for Bessemer of $30,284, which could include more than one worker.
The ALU said they don’t have a demographic breakdown of the warehouse workers on Staten Island and Amazon declined to provide the information to The Associated Press, citing the union vote. Internal records leaked to The New York Times from 2019 showed more than 60% of the hourly associates at the facility were Black or Latino, while most of the managers were white or Asian.
Amazon workers there are seeking longer breaks, paid time off for injured employees and an hourly wage of $30, up from a minimum of just over $18 per hour offered by the company. The estimated average wage for the borough is $41 per hour, according to a similar U.S. Census Bureau analysis of Staten Island’s $85,381 median household income.
—
Associated Press staff writers Mae Anderson and Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this report.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/arabi-louisiana-tornado-maria-burke-death/39614352
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22-year-old with muscular dystrophy dies a week after being injured in Louisiana tornado
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Updated: 6:33 PM EDT Apr 1, 2022
THIS IS WDSU NEWS AT 10. IT ISAY D THREE OF RECOVERY EFFORTS IN SAINT BERNARD OF FOLLOWING THE TORNADO THAT HIT TUESDAY NIGHT TONIGHT THE STORY OF A GIRL WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO IS INJURED WHEN THE TWISTER. RIPPED THROUGH THEIR HEOM WDSU NEWS REPORTER SHAY O’CONNOR JOINS US LIVE FROM A DONATION DRIVE TTHA WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW FOR RESIDENTS LIKE THE GIRLS’ FAMILYND A OTHER FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED SHAY. THAT’S WHY I SELL ENGINEER THAT STUFF THE TRUCK EVENT THAT YOU WERE WE WERE TELNGLI YOU ABOUT EARLIER ACTUAYLL MADE ITS WAY HERE TO CAMP. HOPE I’M TOLD STARTING ON TOMORROW CLOTHES FOOD SUPPLIES AND OTHER ITEMS WILL BE GIVEN OUT TO PEOPLE IN NEED INCLUDING THE FAMILY. I INTERVIEWED EARLIER THE SURVIVORS WHO TELL ME THAT THEY’LL BE HERE, TOO. THE HOUSE IS FLY. YOU KNOW THAT’S COMING FOR TTHA WAY AND I MAK ITE TURN IT TOO TIGHT IN AIR A FEW THE HOUSES HERE IN THE GROUND RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW BY THE TIME BECAUSE ME AND MY WIFE FLYLL A OVER AND THEY GO RUN IT IN A ROOM MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE I KNOW MY DAUGHTER’S TROUBLEUE TSDAY NIGHT JAMES BURKE AND HIS WIFE DAYA WERE IN THE LIVING ROOM OF THEIR HOME WATCHING TV WHENHE T EF3 TORNADO HIT LITERALLY LIFNGTI THE HOME UP FROM ITS FOUNDATION LEAVING IT ON THE THREE BURKE YSSA ONCE HE SAW HIS WIFE WAS OKAY. HIS ONLY THOUGHT WASO T CHECK ON HIS SPECIAL NEEDS DAUGHTER TOLD A LOT OF THISNG IN AROUND HER AND IT OVER HER AND THAT’S WHY I STARTED PICK HIM UP AND PULL IT UP, YOU KNOW THEIR DAUGHTER MARIA 22 YEARS OLD WASEV SERELY INJURED FROM THE TORNADO RIGHT NOW. SHE’S IN ICUT A A NEARBY HOSPITAL. MARIA HAS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY. SHE’S BEEN IN A WHEELCHRAI SINCE VEFI YEARS OLD AND USES A VENTILATOR AND TRACHAC MHINE 24/7 JUST EAT NOW IS A RESULT OF THE TORNADO. ETH FAMILY SSAY SHE NOW ALSO HAS INTERNAL BLEEDING AND THEY THINK IT’S FROM THINGS EITHER FALLING ON HER OR THE FALL THAT SHE TOOK WITHIN YOU KNOW, THE THE BEDROOM. THEY HAVEN’T YET FIGURED OUT WHY HER LEG IS HURTING HER FAMILY SAYS SHE’S ALREADY HAD TO HAVE SURGERY SINCE TUESDAY NIGHT SEVERE WEATHER AND HER LEFT LUNG WAS INJURED. THANKFULLY SHE’S ALERT ANDIT WH YOU KNOW HER CONDITION THAT SHE HAS IT’S VERY VERY DANROGEUS, IT’SOU Y KNOW, LIFE-THREATENING FRIDAY HER MOM AND DAD WERE OUT AT WHAT USEDO TE B THEIR HOME ALONG PROSPERITY ASSESSING THE DAMAGE AND SALVAGING THEIR CLOTHES. DESPITE IT. ALL JAMES SS,AY HE’S COUNTING HIS BLESSINGS. I BELIEVE THAT GOSH THEY WOULD ALWAYS YOU KNOW, IT JUST NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. I’M TOLD THAT MIAAR IS ON THE TRACK TO HEALING BUT EVEN BEFORE SHE CAN COME BACK HOME. SHE’LL NEED SOME MACHINES MACHINES THAT WERE ACTUALLY LOST DURING THE TORNADO LIKE A VENTILATOR SO TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP MARIA AND HER FAMILY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WDSU.COM REPORNGTI L
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22-year-old with muscular dystrophy dies a week after being injured in Louisiana tornado
A woman with muscular dystrophy who was injured during a tornado in New Orleans last week has died, according to her family. Maria Burke and her parents were inside their home when it was lifted from its foundation and carried into the street. According to Maria's family, she was supposed to be discharged from the hospital Thursday, but her condition worsened on Wednesday. Maria died on Wednesday after dealing with issues with her lungs and internal bleeding since the tornado, according to the family. Maria had used a wheelchair since she was 5 years old and used a ventilator and trach machine to breathe.Maria's family spoke with New Orleans sister station WDSU about the night that she was hurt during the tornado. Maria's family said that due to her muscular dystrophy, the injuries she sustained during the storm were very dangerous.
NEW ORLEANS —
A woman with muscular dystrophy who was injured during a tornado in New Orleans last week has died, according to her family.
Maria Burke and her parents were inside their home when it was lifted from its foundation and carried into the street.
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According to Maria's family, she was supposed to be discharged from the hospital Thursday, but her condition worsened on Wednesday.
Maria died on Wednesday after dealing with issues with her lungs and internal bleeding since the tornado, according to the family.
Maria had used a wheelchair since she was 5 years old and used a ventilator and trach machine to breathe.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/desantis-disney/39614027
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DeSantis wants to revoke Disney of 'special privileges' to self govern
Two Florida powerhouses are going head to head once again.
On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke out about Disney in what has become the latest development in an ongoing battle. This back-and-forth comes after the corporation denounced the state’s new ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, as critics call it.
This week, lawmakers said they are considering stripping Disney of some of its power in the state.
Years before the Cinderella Castle opened, Walt Disney himself guaranteed that Disney World would have authority over the land. Back in 1967, the theme park’s founder convinced Florida’s governor and state legislature to establish an independent government on the property that would eventually become Disney World. That area is called the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
But now, Disney’s independence is under the microscope in the wake of the company denouncing Florida’s new ‘Parental Rights in Education’ law, or the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.
In a tweet, state Rep. Spencer Roach, who represents the North Fort Myers area, wrote that lawmakers have already met twice to talk about repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement Act.
He said, "If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County.”
On Friday, DeSantis said he supports lawmakers’ review of Disney’s power.
“They have gotten essentially this one corporation put on a pedestal and treated differently, not only than other businesses, but even than other theme parks,” DeSantis said.
Under Florida law, landowners of Reedy Creek, like Disney, can regulate their own water, power and emergency services. DeSantis said their power doesn’t end there.
“I was shocked to see some of the stuff that’s in there. They can do their own nuclear power plant. Is there any other private company in the state that can just build a nuclear power plant on their own?” he said. “They’re able to do certain things that nobody else is able to do. So I think they’re right to be looking at this and reevaluating and having an even playing field for everybody, I think is much better than basically to allow one company to be a law onto itself.”
So what are the chances that Florida will dethrone Disney?
“Right now, I would say it’s more about talking than actually doing. But having said that, this governor and this legislature nothing would surprise me,” said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at UCF. “If I was Disney, I would certainly take this threat seriously.”
He said this battle between DeSantis and Disney could get a lot uglier before it gets better.
“It’s just, to me, shocking and usual to see the head of Disney and the governor of Florida basically taking shots at each other. And I haven’t seen anything like it in Florida politics in the 30 years that I’ve been studying it,” Jewett said.
As far as what happens next with the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the governor said that is up to the Florida legislature to decide.
“Me as the governor, I could be presented with changes to that, and I think I’ve said I’d be receptive to that, but ultimately the legislature would have to move forward,” DeSantis said.
WESH 2 News reached out to Disney. The company has not responded, but in a previous statement said it vows to get the Parental Rights in Education law repealed or overturned in the courts.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/migrants-march-from-mexico-as-us-lifts-covid-ban/39612202
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Migrants march from south Mexico during annual protest as US lifts COVID-19 restrictions
Some 500 migrants from Central America, Venezuela and elsewhere fought with Mexican police, National Guard and immigration officers in southern Mexico Friday in one of the first such marches this year.
The migrants described the march as a traditional annual protest related to Holy Week, and those at the front carried a white cross, as others have done in previous years.
However, this year the protest came two weeks early and some participants said they would go far beyond the usual short march and try to reach the U.S. border.
In a clash with National Guard officers and immigration agents, the migrants used the cross they were carrying as a battering ram to break through the Guard lines, shattering the wooden cross.
The officers, who had riot shields, batons and what appeared to be an irritant spray, detained some marchers. The two sides exchanged blows and many migrants left behind knapsacks in the melee.
Some managed to break through and disappear down dirt roads and paths, but many of the rest of the marchers took refuge in a church just a few miles outside of Tapachula.
The migrants set out from the southern Mexico city of Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, early Friday. Migrants have complained they have been essentially confined to Tapachula by the slow processing of their asylum cases and that they are unable to find work in the border state of Chiapas that would allow them to support their families.
“They are practically holding us prisoners; they do not allow us to leave this state because we are not regularized here," said Venezuelan migrant Noreydi Chávez. "They require us to get a visa, but we never get any answers. We fill out paperwork, but they never process it."
Reynaldo Bello, a migrant from Peru, joined the march with his wife and baby because the family had been living in a park and going hungry while waiting for their immigration paperwork to be processed.
The march came as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden announced it would end a policy that allows turning back asylum seekers on grounds of protecting the country against the coronavirus pandemic.
Migrants have been expelled more than 1.7 million times from the U.S. under the policy, known as Title 42 for a public health law, which was invoked in March 2020.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Friday it would end the authority effective May 23.
Near the height of the omicron variant in late January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had extended the order to this week.
Luis García Villagrán, an immigration activist with the Center for Human Dignification, said Mexican immigration authorities had largely shut off most visa processes in Tapachula and told migrants the only path to regularize their stay in Mexico was through the much lengthier procedure of applying for asylum or refugee status.
A migrant march in the same area was broken up in January, and similar efforts were dissolved by police and immigration agents in 2021 and 2020. The marches are significantly smaller than caravans in 2018 and 2019 that brought thousands of migrants to the U.S. border.
The caravans began several years ago as a way for migrants who did not have the money to pay smugglers to take advantage of safety in numbers as they moved toward the U.S. border. However, Guatemala and Mexico became more aggressive in breaking up the caravans.
The Mexican government has tried to appease the United States by stopping caravans of walking migrants and allowing reinstatement of the so-called “Remain in Mexico” policy.
But Mexico has been unable to stanch the flood of migrants stuffed by the hundreds into trucks operated by smugglers who charge thousands of dollars to take them to the U.S. border, trips that all too often turn deadly.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/orange-county-rent-control/39614308
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Orange County commissioner to propose rent control measure
An Orange County commissioner is looking to stop soaring rents by putting a referendum to cap rent increases on November's ballot.
Commissioner Emily Bonilla explained the proposal during a news conference Friday afternoon.
Madeline Clark says when she recently went to renew her lease with her apartment complex, she got some shocking news.
"Was told my rent would increase $430 or 24 percent," Clark said.
That's an increase Clark says she can't afford and is now forcing her to move out of the area she loves.
"Right now, I'm looking anywhere and everywhere outside of the Orange County area. I'm looking in Seminole. I'm looking in Osceola," Clark said.
Bonilla says Clark isn't alone.
"The average is 30 percent. We were at half that two years ago when I first brought this up and I was saying we were at a housing emergency," Bonilla said.
To try help people like Clark stay here in Orange County, commissioner Bonilla is proposing a ballot referendum that would cap rental increases to five percent or less.
"I'm asking the board of Orange County Commissioners to take a stand to provide financial relief to our residents who have been begging for it," Bonilla said.
Several local state lawmakers have her back.
"These problems are complicated but they're driven by factors that no one is taking responsibility for," Rep. Anna Eskamani said.
Bonilla says she plans to propose the referendum at next week's commission meeting.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings preempted that by sending out a memo cautioning the county needs more time to do research on her proposal.
But Bonilla says her proposal isn't new and the board has had ample time to look it over.
"They had two years to study this, so that cannot be the excuse this time," Bonilla said.
The Orange County Commission meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday and is open to the public.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/vehicle-mpg-requirement-by-2026/39614086
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New vehicles must average 40 mpg by 2026, up from 28 mpg
New vehicles sold in the U.S. will have to average at least 40 miles per gallon of gasoline in 2026, up from about 28 mpg, under new federal rules unveiled Friday that undo a rollback of standards enacted under President Donald Trump.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its new fuel economy requirements are the strongest to date and the maximum the industry can achieve over the time period. They will reduce gasoline consumption by more than 220 billion gallons over the life of vehicles, compared with the Trump standards.
They're expected to decrease carbon dioxide emissions — but not as much as some environmentalists want — and raise new vehicle prices in an industry already pressed by inflation and supply chain issues.
For the current model year, standards enacted under Trump require the fleet of new vehicles to get just under 28 miles per gallon in real-world driving. The new requirements increase gas mileage by 8% per year for model years 2024 and 2025 and 10% in the 2026 model year.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said the rules also will help strengthen national security by making the country less dependent on foreign oil and less vulnerable to volatile gasoline prices. Gasoline nationwide has spiked to an average of more than $4.22 per gallon, with much of the increase coming since Russia, a major oil producer, invaded Ukraine in late February. It cost $2.88 per gallon just a year ago, according to AAA.
Gas prices also have helped to fuel inflation to a 40-year high, eating up household budgets and hitting President Joe Biden's approval ratings.
"Transportation is the second-largest cost for American families, only behind housing," Buttigieg said. The new standards, he said, will help keep the U.S. more secure and preserve "the freedom of our country to chart its future without being subject to other countries and to the decisions that are being made in the boardrooms of energy companies."
But auto dealers say more stringent requirements drive up prices and push people out of an already expensive new-car market. NHTSA projects that the new rules will raise the price of a new vehicle in the 2029 model year by $1,087.
Trump's administration rolled back fuel economy standards, allowing them to rise 1.5% per year, which environmental groups said was inadequate to limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change. The standards had been rising about 5% per year previously.
But the new standards won't immediately match those adopted through 2025 under President Barack Obama. NHTSA officials said they will equal the Obama standards by 2025 and slightly exceed them for the 2026 model year.
The Obama-era standards automatically adjusted for changes in the type of vehicles people are buying. When they were enacted in 2012, 51% of new vehicle sales were cars and 49% SUVs and trucks. Last year, 77% of new vehicle sales were SUVs and trucks, which generally are less efficient than cars.
Some environmental groups said the new requirements from NHTSA under Biden don't go far enough to fight global warming. Others supported the new standards as a big step toward reducing emissions, with the American Lung Association calling for even stronger standards to drive a transition to all new vehicles having zero emissions by 2035.
"Climate change has gotten much worse, but these rules only require automakers to reduce gas-guzzling slightly more than they agreed to cut nine years ago," said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Center at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Officials said that under the new standards, owners would save about $1,400 in gasoline costs during the lifetime of a 2029 model year vehicle. Carbon dioxide emissions would drop by 2.5 billion metric tons by 2050 under the standards, the NHTSA said.
Automakers are investing billions of dollars to develop and build electric vehicles but say government support is needed to get people to buy them. The companies want government tax credits to reduce prices as well as more money for EV charging stations to ease anxiety over running out of juice.
John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a large industry trade group, said increased regulations will require supportive government policies. Regulators should consider safety, consumer buying preferences, improved fuel economy and the transition to electric vehicles, he said in a statement.
NHTSA sets fuel economy requirements, while the Environmental Protection Agency develops limits on greenhouse gas emissions. NHTSA officials said their requirements nearly match rules adopted in December by the EPA, so automakers don't have to comply with two rules.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/will-smith-resigns-from-academy-membership/39614596
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Will Smith resigns from film academy over Chris Rock slap
Will Smith resigned Friday from the motion picture academy following his Oscars night slap of Chris Rock and said he would accept any further punishment the organization imposed.
A spokesperson for Smith issued a statement from the actor Friday afternoon.
"I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," Smith said in the statement.
"I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work," Smith's statement said. "I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. "
Smith's resignation came two days after the academy met to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group's standards of conduct.
On Sunday, Smith strode from his front-row Dolby Theatre seat on to the stage and smacked Rock, who had made a joke at the expense of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Moments later, he went on to win the best actor award for his role in "King Richard."
Rock, who was about to present Oscar for best documentary, declined to file charges when asked by police.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/artemis-1/39614754
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Artemis I moon rocket heads into final test ahead of launch
Artemis I moon rocket heads into final test ahead of launch
STEWART: NASA’S ARTEMIS SLS ROCKET ROLLED OUT FRONT AND CENTER AT ETH KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TWO WEEKS AGO. AND NOW, AFTER A GREAT DEAL PREP WORK, IT’S ABOUT TO UNDERGO A SERIES OF TESTS. OUR SCOTT HEIDLER IS THERE ON THE CAPE WITH SLS IN THE BACKGROUND, SO WHAT’S GOING TO BE HAPPENING OVER THE WEEKEND? REPORTER: THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED A WET DRESS REHEARSAL. THAT OFFICIALLY KICKED UP AT 5:00. THINGS ARE GOING AS PLANNED. THERE ARE LUNCH TMSEA WORKING ON POWERING UP THE ROCKET. ON SATURDAY, TMSEA WILL WALK THROUGH A LAUNCH DATE RTIOUNE. NONE OF THE FOUR CORE ENGINES WILL FIRE DURING THE TESTS. THEY ARE THE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE USED IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGM.RA THERE WILL BE BUILT IN PAUSES OR HOLDS ESONGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS CAREN VIEW DATA TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOING AS PLANNED. AND THEN ON THE COUNTDOWN WILL NDSUAY, RESTART, CLICKING TOWARD A 2:40PM LAUNCH WIND.OW EVERYTHING WILL BE AS A REAL LAUNCH UNTIL ABOUT T -33 SECOS.ND BEFORE IGNITN.IO EVERYTHING WILL STOP. ALL THE TESTING SHOULD WRAP UP AT 5PM SUNDAY, EXACTLY TWO DAYS AFTER IT STARTED. BUT THIS IS AN INTENSELY COMPLICATED MACHINE, WITH SYSTEMS GOING THROUGH A LOOFT THESE PROCEDURES FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. ON MDAY ONNASA WILL UPDATE ON HOW THE WEEKEND OF TESTING WT.EN AND THEN IN ABOUT A WEEK AERFT THE TESTS ARE DONE, WE SHOULD BE HEARING A LAUNCH DATE ANNOUNCEMENT. FOR NOW, THE EARLIEST POSSIBILITY IS J
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Artemis I moon rocket heads into final test ahead of launch
NASA’s Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) rocket rolled out front and center at the Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago. Friday night, NASA officials kicked off two days of testing.The SLS is being taken through what’s called a wet dress rehearsal. On Saturday, teams will march through a launch day routine, including fueling the massive tanks.There will be built-in pauses or holds so engineers can review data along the way.And then on Sunday, the countdown will restart, clicking toward a 2:40 p.m. launch window. Everything will be as a real launch until just before ignition.And then in about a week after the tests are done, we should be hearing about a launch date. For now, the earliest possibility is June.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
NASA’s Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) rocket rolled out front and center at the Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago.
Friday night, NASA officials kicked off two days of testing.
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The SLS is being taken through what’s called a wet dress rehearsal.
On Saturday, teams will march through a launch day routine, including fueling the massive tanks.
There will be built-in pauses or holds so engineers can review data along the way.
And then on Sunday, the countdown will restart, clicking toward a 2:40 p.m. launch window.
Everything will be as a real launch until just before ignition.
And then in about a week after the tests are done, we should be hearing about a launch date. For now, the earliest possibility is June.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/ax-1/39614702
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Axiom Space readies first private astronaut mission from Kennedy Space Center to the ISS
Just after noon on April 6, an Axiom Space mission called Ax-1 will bring four private crew members to the International Space Station.
It’s the first all-private mission to the International Space Station.
Representing the U.S., Canada and Israel, the astronauts will conduct 25 different experiments.
Ax-1 mission pilot Larry Connor draws the distinction between their private astronaut mission and space tourism.
“Space tourists will spend 10 or 15 hours training, five to ten minutes in space. By the way, that’s fine. In our case, depending on our role, we have spent anywhere between 750 to over 1,000 hours training,” Connor said.
The commander is a retired NASA astronaut. The space company has tapped SpaceX to get them there using a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule to get the job done.
Axiom is also using this mission to lay the groundwork for its private space station.
“This is the first in a series of precursor missions before our space station is launched and assembled in orbit, ultimately replacing the International Space Station when it is retired,” Axiom Space’s president and CEO Michael Suffredini said.
While Ax-1 will be making history, it’s keeping good company at the Kennedy Space Center near NASA’s SLS Artemis lunar rocket.
As Axiom and SpaceX ready launch pad 39A for their mission Ax-1 on Wednesday, just next door on launchpad 39B, Artemis I stands ready for a weekend of testing that begins on Friday night.
In fact, the testing schedule pushed Ax-1 launch back a few days.
Personnel for both missions are keeping a close eye on the wet dress rehearsal, hoping it all goes smoothly, so there are no more launch delays.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/some-401-k-s-will-soon-let-you-invest-in-crypto/39609687
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Some 401(k)s will soon let you invest in crypto
Curious about cryptocurrencies? Some employers may soon offer you the option to invest in bitcoin and other digital currencies through your 401(k).
There is increasing discussion at financial service firms about how they could best provide a relatively safe crypto option in 401(k)s and other employer-sponsored retirement plans.
For instance, Fidelity Investments, one of the largest plan providers, is seeing growing interest in the idea from plan sponsors. "We believe retirement investors increasingly view digital assets, and bitcoin in particular, as an investment worthy of consideration for long-term investing," said Dave Gray, Fidelity's head of workplace products and platforms.
But many plans are not there yet. The Plan Sponsor Council of America recently asked its members — employers that sponsor a qualified savings plan — if they were or are considering adding crypto to their menu of investment choices. Only about 2% said yes. "Plan sponsors are overwhelmingly not considering, and will not consider, cryptocurrency a prudent investment option in a retirement plan," the organization said.
That question was asked soon after a March 10 blog post from an official at the U.S. Department of Labor was published, warning fiduciaries "to exercise extreme caution" before adding a cryptocurrency option to their plans. The Labor Department oversees employer retirement plans to ensure they meet minimum standards of protection for plan participants set by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA.
"At this early stage in the history of cryptocurrencies ... [the DOL] has serious concerns about plans' decisions to expose participants to direct investments in cryptocurrencies or related products, such as NFTs, coins, and crypto assets," wrote Ali Khawar, acting head of the DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration.
While the DOL did not explicitly ban plans from doing so, it said it will investigate any plans offering crypto or related products. "The plan fiduciaries ... should expect to be questioned about how they can square their actions with their duties of prudence and loyalty in light of the risks described above."
If your plan ever does offer crypto, which is an extremely volatile asset class, you might want to proceed with caution. Taking risk, of course, is necessary to generate growth in your retirement savings over time. But you also need to make sure your nest egg is not so exposed to a high-risk asset that your hard-earned savings are at risk of getting wiped out. The risk you take has to be balanced with your time horizon, your risk tolerance and a risk-return analysis of the assets you choose.
One option will soon come to market
A small player in the 401(k) provider universe — ForUsAll — said it will be launching a cryptocurrency investment option for clients in the second quarter of this year.
ForUsAll, which primarily services small- to mid-size employers, said over 120 of its 400 clients to date have signed up for the new option, which will be available to participants through a self-directed account on Coinbase.
While there is extreme volatility in cryptocurrencies and a risk of theft and loss in that space, ForUsAll believes the guardrails it is placing around its crypto option will comply with ERISA standards and allay the Labor Department's concerns.
For instance, participants may only invest 5% of their current 401(k) balance and 5% of their contributions going forward (as well as 5% of their employer matches) to their crypto account. Participants will get automatic notices whenever the value of their crypto investments exceed 5% of their total 401(k) portfolio. But it will be up to them to decide whether to reallocate.
However, before opening an account, participants must go through ForUsAll's educational materials about crypto investing and take an interactive quiz to demonstrate that they understand its risks and the importance of not taking excessive bets on crypto with their retirement savings, ForUsAll Chief Investment Officer David Ramirez said.
What's more, they will only be able to select from a curated list of cryptocurrencies vetted by ForUsAll to ensure they are of institutional investing quality. "There will be nothing overly speculative, such as meme coins like Doge or Shiba Inu," said Ramirez.
He admits a crypto option may not be right for every employer plan.
"For employers that don't have employees who are sufficiently sophisticated investors, this may not be appropriate," he said.
But for those that do, ForUsAll believes its crypto option will provide individuals a safer way to invest in a space where institutions and finance professionals are already investing for both diversification and growth potential.
"It's designed to be a lot easier to invest in crypto currencies prudently," Ramirez said.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/former-us-womens-national-team-goalkeeper-arrested-on-dwi-child-abuse-charges/39613862
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Former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper arrested on DWI, child abuse charges
Former U.S. women’s national team star goalkeeper Hope Solo was arrested after she was found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in North Carolina with her 2-year-old twins inside, police said.
A police report said Solo was arrested on Thursday in a shopping center parking lot in Winston-Salem and charged with driving while impaired, resisting a public officer and misdemeanor child abuse. She has been released from jail and has a court date of June 28, the report indicated.
According to an arrest warrant, a passerby noticed Solo passed out behind the steering wheel for more than an hour with the vehicle's engine running and the two children in the backseat. A responding officer could smell alcohol, and the warrant said that Solo refused a field sobriety test and her blood was drawn instead.
Rich Nichols, a Texas-based attorney who represents Solo, released a statement Friday but didn't respond to specific questions on the charges and said his client wouldn't respond, either.
“On the advice of counsel, Hope can’t speak about this situation, but she wants everyone to know that her kids are her life, that she was released immediately and is now at home with her family, that the story is more sympathetic than the initial charges suggest, and that she looks forward to her opportunity to defend these charges,” Nichols said.
Solo was dismissed from the national team following the 2016 Olympics in Brazil after calling the Swedish team “cowards” for taking a defensive stance against the defending gold medalists, ending a laudable playing career that was also marred by controversy.
She was suspended for 30 days in early 2015 after she and husband Jerramy Stevens were pulled over in a U.S. Soccer-owned van and Stevens was charged with DUI. She was also benched after publicly questioning coach Greg Ryan’s decision to start Briana Scurry against Brazil during the 2007 World Cup, comments many saw as a slight against Scurry.
Solo was also involved in an altercation with family members in 2014 that resulted in Solo’s arrest, although charges in that case were eventually dropped.
Solo made 202 appearances with the national team, with 153 wins and an international-record 102 shutouts. She won a World Cup title and two Olympic gold medals with the team.
During the 2015 World Cup championship run, she allowed just three goals in seven games with five shutouts.
She was elected to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in January. The induction ceremony is set for May 21.
Solo married Stevens, a former tight end for the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in 2012. The couple have twins, Vittorio Genghis and Lozen Orianna Judith Stevens, born on March 4, 2020.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/sarah-palin-announces-run-in-alaska-us-house-race/39614832
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Sarah Palin announces run in Alaska US House race
Sarah Palin on Friday shook up an already unpredictable race for Alaska's lone U.S. House seat, filing paperwork to join a field of at least 40 candidates seeking to fill the seat that had been held for 49 years by the late-U.S. Rep. Don Young, who died last month.
Related video above: Sarah Palin resumes court battle with Times after COVID-19
Palin filed paperwork Friday with a Division of Elections office in Wasilla, said Tiffany Montemayor, a division spokesperson. The paperwork was being processed by the division, she said.
The field includes current and former state legislators and a North Pole city council member named Santa Claus. The deadline to file was 5 p.m. Friday. A final list of official candidates was not yet available.
“Public service is a calling, and I would be honored to represent the men and women of Alaska in Congress, just as Rep. Young did for 49 years,” Palin said in a statement on social media. “I realize that I have very big shoes to fill, and I plan to honor Rep. Young’s legacy by offering myself up in the name of service to the state he loved and fought for, because I share that passion for Alaska and the United States of America.”
Palin is a former Alaska governor and was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. She has kept a low profile in Alaska politics since leaving office in 2009, before her term as governor ended.
Young, a Republican, had held Alaska's House seat since 1973 and was seeking reelection at the time of his death last month at age 88.
A special primary is set for June 11. The top four vote-getters will advance to an Aug. 16 special election in which ranked choice voting will be used, a process in line with a new elections system approved by voters in 2020.
The winner will serve the remainder of Young's term, which expires in January. The division is targeting Sept. 2 to certify the special election.
Others who filed Friday include Republican state Sen. Josh Revak; Democratic state Rep. Adam Wool; independent Al Gross, an orthopedic surgeon who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2020; and Andrew Halcro, a former Republican state lawmaker who is running as an independent. They join a field that includes Republican Nick Begich, who had positioned himself as a challenger to Young; Democrat Christopher Constant, an Anchorage Assembly member; and John Coghill, a Republican former state lawmaker.
Revak, who previously worked for Young's office and was a statewide co-chair for Young's reelection bid, said he felt a “strong calling and a duty" to step forward.
He said he was “heartbroken” by the filing timeline, coinciding with a period he said should be focused on remembering Young.
Young lied in state at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. A public memorial was held in the Washington, D.C.-area on Wednesday and a public memorial is planned in Anchorage on Saturday.
Revak said he also plans to run in the regular primary for U.S. House. Palin filed paperwork to run in the special and regular primaries as well, Montemayor said.
The August special election will coincide with the regular primary. The regular primary and November general election will determine who represents Alaska in the House for a two-year term starting in January.
Gross also plans to run in both the special and regular elections. His campaign announced a leadership team that includes several Republicans and independents, as well as Democrats, including former Gov. Tony Knowles.
“We are building a campaign that embodies all of Alaska,” Gross said in a statement.
Wool said he has privately discussed a run for years. He said he looked at the candidates running in the special primary and “wasn't that impressed. Many of them have never won an election, don't have any statewide recognition and politically aren't aligned certainly not with me or what I would think the majority of Alaskans are looking for.”
Wool, from Fairbanks, said he considers himself moderate. He said he has yet to decide whether to run in the regular primary.
Halcro, who has a podcast on which he talks politics, said during the campaign he plans to play up his intent to only run to fill the remainder of the term. He said if the person who wins the special election also is in the November general election, he expects they would spend a fair amount of time campaigning. He said if elected, he would be focused on congressional work.
Meanwhile, a man who years ago legally changed his name to Santa Claus and serves on the North Pole city council also filed with the state Division of Elections for the special primary. Claus, who said he has a “strong affinity” for Bernie Sanders, is running as an independent.
He said he is not soliciting or raising money. He said the new elections process “gives people like me an opportunity, without having to deal with parties, to throw our hat in the ring.”
“I do have name recognition,” he said with a laugh.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/south-carolina-women-advance-to-title-game/39614918
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South Carolina women top Louisville, advance to title game
Aliyah Boston had 23 points and 18 rebounds to back up her AP National Player of the Year award and carry South Carolina to the NCAA championship game with a 72-59 victory over Louisville in the semifinals on Friday night.
Brea Beal matched her season high with 12 points and helped hold Cardinals star Hailey Van Lith to nine points on 4-for-11 shooting as the Gamecocks (34-2) delivered another stifling defensive performance.
The Dawn Staley-led Gamecocks will face the Connecticut-Stanford winner on Sunday night at Target Center. Staley will try to win her second national championship, eight months after the Hall of Famer led the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in the Tokyo Games.
“You see happy tears, happy tears, right now,” Boston said in her postgame TV interview. “I’m just thanking God we have one more game.”
Destanni Henderson scored 11 points with 3-for-6 shooting from 3-point range and had four assists for South Carolina, which improved to 13-0 this season against AP-ranked opponents.
“Just going to live in the moment for right now,” Henderson said.
Emily Engstler led Louisville with 18 points and nine rebounds as the Cardinals went 1 for 8 from 3-point range and were never able to find a rhythm in the half court against the No. 1 overall seed in this tournament.
Kianna Smith and Olivia Cochran each scored 14 points for the Cardinals (29-5), who were the only team in this Final Four without a title. This was their fourth trip to the national semifinals in coach Jeff Walz's 15 seasons.
“I've never been prouder of a group,” Walz said. “They've absolutely been a joy to coach.”
The Cardinals, one of the three No. 1 seeds in this Final Four, made it out of the Wichita Region without any trouble. Van Lith, the relentless sophomore guard with the perpetually flopping blond pigtails, hit the 20-point mark in each of their first four tournament games.
Van Lith met her match with Beal, who had a four-inch height advantage and shadowed her all over the court as she often does to the opponent’s most dangerous player. Van Lith, whose first basket came on a knifing drive for a layup with 1:43 left in the second quarter, had two jumpers blocked by Beal and three turnovers in the first half.
The Gamecocks, who were the wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the AP poll this season, squeezed their first four tournament opponents in the Greensboro Region to a bleak average of 41.2 points on their way to a fourth Final Four in the last seven years.
Engstler, the tough-as-nails transfer from Syracuse, helped Louisville keep Boston from getting too comfortable in the paint while Olivia Cochran helped with the muscle. Physical play can come with a price, though, and with 4.2 seconds left in the third quarter Boston drew Engstler’s fourth foul on a putback layup and stretched the lead to 57-48 with the and-one free throw.
Engstler fouled out with 4:56 to go and had her head buried in her clenched hands on the bench as her teammates tried to console her.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/beacon-college-president-rescues-ukrainian-family/39614960
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Central Florida couple with Beacon College rescues Ukrainian refugee family
Beacon College psychologist and Ukrainian native Dr. Oksana Hagerty said she couldn't sit back and do nothing knowing that her nephew's and two nieces' lives were at risk.
Her husband, Dr. George Hagerty, president of Beacon College, joined her in March as the two of them traveled to Romania to rescue their loved ones.
"You can hear the bombing sounds and you don't know maybe if it'll be you next," Hagerty's 15-year-old niece Uliana Kucherova said about escaping the war.
Along with Uliana, 13-year-old Ivan Kucherov and 20-year-old Sofiia Kucherova are thankful they are safe even if it means being thousands of miles away from home.
"Fortunately, we have our aunt and uncle who can take care of us but there are so many people who don't have such family," Sofiia Kucherova said. "We're continuing our education and we hope that everything will be fine."
The Hagertys landed in Orlando on Thursday night with their nieces and nephew to save the three of them who were Ukrainian refugees.
"We felt blessed to have our three and then we know that there were probably 300 more there that day, many of whom did not have the opportunity to get a visa," Dr. George Hagerty said.
The invasion of Ukraine in 2014 makes the events of 2022 the second time the family has had to run for safety.
"It's very upsetting to know that your 18-year-old friends, boys, go and pick up the guns to protect," Uliana Kucherova said while fighting back tears.
The family says giving up is not an option for the people of Ukraine.
"Ukrainians are fighting to survive and this is not the first time," Dr. Oksana Hagerty said. "We also have grandparents back in Ukraine and these are my parents...and those are the people who are saying 'we are not moving out. This is our country. We have run away once, we're not doing it again.'"
The Hagertys said their nieces and nephew not only left behind friends, their father is in Ukraine and has joined the military to serve and fight for his country.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/free-fall-protest/39615199
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Central Florida group protests Free Fall ride, demands it be replaced with memorial
The message from the Juneteenth Project Coalition is very clear along International Drive in Orlando.
"Take this down,” they cried.
The charitable organization held a peaceful protest Friday in honor of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who was killed in a fall last week on the Orlando FreeFall ride at ICON Park.
Tina Wilson is the Juneteenth Coalition Project Founder.
“Right now, pointing fingers may not be very productive but what is productive is taking this death trap down,” Wilson said.
Wilson called on the CEO of The Slingshot Group, Ritchie Armstrong, to make the change.
"We're asking that he remove this structure and replace it with something more kid-friendly in honor of the young boy that lost his life,” Wilson said.
Tourists WESH spoke with agreed.
"That's awesome and it should be taken down. It's not safe,” said Starr King, from Michigan.
"I feel it should be taken down. It was very negligent on the staff and you can tell he couldn't ride that ride,” said Rachel Rucker, from Orlando.
Right now, the Juneteenth Project Coalition has a petition circulating on Change.org for this particular ride to come down.
Once they reach 10,000 signatures, the petition will be sent to local leaders as well as representatives of this region.
State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was in Orlando speaking at the Wells Built Museum of African American History and Culture about the investigation.
The state has hired a forensic engineer.
"We are not taking this lightly. We are going to everything in our power and including potentially increasing our power to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” Fried said.
State Rep. Geraldine Thompson will file a bill called the Tyre Sampson Bill to address deficiencies in areas of safety standards, state oversight or training protocols for rides after a cause is determined.
She says the state may look at seat belts too.
"It may be that the investigation may point out that not only the harness but an additional safeguard which would have been a seat belt could have saved Tyre's life,” Thompson said.
“How can you ride knowing that child lost his life?" Wilson said at the protest.
ICON Park released this statement today which says: "We commend the diligence and thoroughness that Commissioner Fried and the team at the Florida Department of Agriculture have shown as they investigate the operation of the Slingshot Group's Orlando FreeFall ride.
"ICON Park looks forward to working with elected officials, regulators, and the amusement industry to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again. As the landlord at ICON Park, our mission is to provide safe family entertainment.
We rely on our tenants to be experts at what they do. In the interests of public safety, ICON Park has demanded that the SlingShot Group suspend not only the operation of Orlando FreeFall, but also the operation of Orlando SlingShot."
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https://www.wesh.com/article/gamestop-wants-to-make-shares-more-affordable-for-meme-stock-lovers/39609906
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GameStop wants to make shares more affordable for meme stock lovers
The "apes" bullish on GameStop may soon be able to buy their favorite stock at a much lower price.
The meme darling of the Reddit crowd wants to initiate a stock split, a move that will drastically reduce the cost of one share, the company said late Thursday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
To do so, GameStop will have to ask shareholders at its upcoming annual meeting for approval to increase the number of its class A shares from 300 million to 1 billion.
If investors say yes, a single share will become much cheaper — because the total value of the company stays the same. It's just divided across more shares. Shares of GameStop initially rallied on the news but they finished Friday down 1%, lowering their year-to-date gain to 11%.
Stock splits are a popular move for some companies whose shares rise to high prices, and they make it easier for smaller investors to buy in. Amazon and Google owner Alphabet, whose shares are trading in the quadruple digits, both recently announced stock split plans. And Tesla, which split its stock in August 2020, is considering another split now that its stock is back above $1,000 a share.
GameStop is trading at about $164 a share. Based on that current price, an individual share should cost about one-third less — or around $50 — after a split because GameStop is looking to multiply the number of its shares by 3.33.
The company has been busy making moves that investors are closely watching. GameStop chairman Ryan Cohen, a co-founder of online pets supplies retailer Chewy, recently bought more shares. Gamestop has also been making investments in NFTs and other cryptocurrency and blockchain initiatives, and it recently hired two former Amazon executives to serve as its CEO and chief financial officer.
Several other meme stocks dipped Friday despite the GameStop split news. Shares of movie theater chain AMC were down about 5% in late morning trading. So was the stock of Hycroft Mining, a small gold and silver miner that has surged after AMC bought a stake in it.
Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond, another retailer that Cohen has recently invested in, fell slightly too.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/severe-weather-central-fl/39615043
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Strong storms will make their way through Central Florida Saturday as much of the state becomes at risk of severe weather, including flooding, once again.WESH 2 meteorologists have designated Saturday a First Warning Weather Day because these widespread storms are likely to impact you and your family. Take a look at your radar here. The day will start off with mostly cloudy skies and a few showers, but by the afternoon, heavy rain, hail and intense winds with lots of lightning are expected to pound the region into early evening. The risk for severe weather will be present from 2 to 7 p.m. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.TIMELINE:These storms carry a Level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather, which means out of all the scattered storms to hit, one or two could become severe.The biggest threats with today’s severe thunderstorms will be damaging winds, heavy rain and hail. Storms will slowly weaken Saturday late evening when the flood threat eventually ends. Sunday, clouds will clear and bring drier weather.Florida Panhandle tornadoIsolated tornadoes and high winds raced across the South and killed two in the Florida Panhandle early Thursday.The number of tornadoes recorded across the country in March was nearly double what it usually is during this time of year, according to CBS News. The storm front spanned several states and was blamed for spinning off at least two confirmed tornadoes.High winds overturned semi-trailers in Louisiana, toppled large trees in Mississippi and damaged a hotel in downtown Nashville.Senate lawmakers in Mississippi briefly suspended work when weather sirens blared during a tornado warning Wednesday.Stay with WESH 2 for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarHurricanesSevere Weather AlertsMap RoomTornado safety tipsThere are about 1,000 tornadoes a year in the U.S. that kill an average of 80 people and injure 1,500. Being informed and prepared before a tornado hits can make the difference between life and death.1. Stay informed; understand the terminologyDownload the WESH 2 News app to be aware of alerts, listen to NOAA Weather radio, or watch WESH 2 when there is impending severe weather.A tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned into weather coverage.A tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.2. Prepare your family in advance of severe weather.Put together a disaster supplies kit made up of basic items that your household may need in the event of an emergency.You may need to survive on your own after a storm strikes. This means having your own water, food, and other essentials in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours.Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.FEMA supply checklistBasic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supply kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.3. Have an emergency communication plan in placeHave an emergency communication plan in place that all members of your family understand. Many families experience unneeded stress when tornadoes strike because they do not have a plan in place to be warned, stay safe and find one another after the storm has passed.4. Know about tornadoes, and what to watch forOccasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little if any advance warning is possible. Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.Look for the following danger signs:Dark, often greenish skyLarge hailA large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if it appears to rotate)A loud roar, similar to the sound of a freight trainA tornado may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May.Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.5. Know where to go to stay safeIf you are in a residence, small building, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center or high-rise building:Go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of a small interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.If you are in a pickup line at your child’s school, get inside the building as quickly as possible.In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible.Make sure you are wearing sturdy shoes.Do not open windows.If you are in a mobile home, manufactured office building or camper:Get out immediately and go to a pre-identified location such as the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.If you are not in a sturdy building, there is no single research-based recommendation for what last-resort action to take because many factors can affect your decision.Possible actions (that do not guarantee safety) include:Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park.Take cover in a stationary vehicle. Put the seat belt on and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or cushion if possible.Lie in an area noticeably lower than the level of the road and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or cushion if possible.In all situations:Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.
Central Florida — Strong storms will make their way through Central Florida Saturday as much of the state becomes at risk of severe weather, including flooding, once again.
WESH 2 meteorologists have designated Saturday a First Warning Weather Day because these widespread storms are likely to impact you and your family.
Take a look at your radar here.
The day will start off with mostly cloudy skies and a few showers, but by the afternoon, heavy rain, hail and intense winds with lots of lightning are expected to pound the region into early evening.
The risk for severe weather will be present from 2 to 7 p.m. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
TIMELINE:
Hearst Owned
Stormy weather timeline
These storms carry a Level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather, which means out of all the scattered storms to hit, one or two could become severe.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The biggest threats with today’s severe thunderstorms will be damaging winds, heavy rain and hail.
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Storms will slowly weaken Saturday late evening when the flood threat eventually ends.
Sunday, clouds will clear and bring drier weather.
Florida Panhandle tornado
Isolated tornadoes and high winds raced across the South and killed two in the Florida Panhandle early Thursday.
The number of tornadoes recorded across the country in March was nearly double what it usually is during this time of year, according to CBS News.
The storm front spanned several states and was blamed for spinning off at least two confirmed tornadoes.
High winds overturned semi-trailers in Louisiana, toppled large trees in Mississippi and damaged a hotel in downtown Nashville.
Senate lawmakers in Mississippi briefly suspended work when weather sirens blared during a tornado warning Wednesday.
Stay with WESH 2 for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
Tornado safety tips
There are about 1,000 tornadoes a year in the U.S. that kill an average of 80 people and injure 1,500. Being informed and prepared before a tornado hits can make the difference between life and death.
1. Stay informed; understand the terminology
Download the WESH 2 News app to be aware of alerts, listen to NOAA Weather radio, or watch WESH 2 when there is impending severe weather.
A tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned into weather coverage.
A tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.
2. Prepare your family in advance of severe weather.
Put together a disaster supplies kit made up of basic items that your household may need in the event of an emergency.
You may need to survive on your own after a storm strikes. This means having your own water, food, and other essentials in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours.
Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.
FEMA supply checklist
Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supply kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.
3. Have an emergency communication plan in place
Have an emergency communication plan in place that all members of your family understand. Many families experience unneeded stress when tornadoes strike because they do not have a plan in place to be warned, stay safe and find one another after the storm has passed.
4. Know about tornadoes, and what to watch for
Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little if any advance warning is possible. Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.
Look for the following danger signs:
- Dark, often greenish sky
- Large hail
- A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if it appears to rotate)
- A loud roar, similar to the sound of a freight train
- A tornado may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.
5. Know where to go to stay safe
If you are in a residence, small building, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center or high-rise building:
- Go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of a small interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
- If you are in a pickup line at your child’s school, get inside the building as quickly as possible.
- In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible.
- Make sure you are wearing sturdy shoes.
- Do not open windows.
If you are in a mobile home, manufactured office building or camper:
- Get out immediately and go to a pre-identified location such as the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.
If you are not in a sturdy building, there is no single research-based recommendation for what last-resort action to take because many factors can affect your decision.
Possible actions (that do not guarantee safety) include:
- Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park.
- Take cover in a stationary vehicle. Put the seat belt on and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or cushion if possible.
- Lie in an area noticeably lower than the level of the road and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or cushion if possible.
In all situations:
- Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
- Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.
- Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/uconn-advances-to-ncaa-title-game/39615254
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UConn tops Stanford 63-58, advances to NCAA title game
Paige Bueckers scored 14 points and UConn advanced to the national championship game with a 63-58 win over defending champion Stanford on Friday night.
The Huskies will face South Carolina for the national championship on Sunday night. The Gamecocks beat the Cardinals 72-59 in the first game of the Final Four.
It's UConn's first trip to the championship game since 2016, when the Huskies won the last of four straight championships. Since then, the team has suffered heartbreaking defeats in the national semifinals, losing twice in overtime.
UConn (30-5) will be seeking its 12th national championship, and the Huskies have never lost in an NCAA title game.
They had to work to get to the finals. Leading by 52-44 with 1:26 left, Stanford made a furious rally thanks to a few costly UConn turnovers.
Cameron Brink's layup with 18.4 seconds left got the Cardinal within 60-58. UConn was able to work seven seconds off the clock before Christyn Williams was fouled with 11 seconds left. The senior guard calmly swished both free throws to restore a two-possession lead.
Ashten Prechtel completely missed a tough contested 3-pointer from the wing with 5.4 seconds left and the Huskies held on for the win.
Haley Jones led the Cardinal with 20 points.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/us-man-abducted-in-afghanistan-appears-in-newly-posted-video/39611572
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US man abducted in Afghanistan appears in newly posted video
An American man kidnapped in Afghanistan two years ago is seen in a video pleading for his release so that he can be reunited with his family, according to a recording posted Friday by The New Yorker magazine.
The video of Mark Frerichs marks the first time that the Navy veteran and civilian contractor has been seen by the public since his abduction in Kabul on Jan. 31, 2020. Frerichs, of Lombard, Illinois, is believed to be held by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network, and U.S. officials across two presidential administrations have tried unsuccessfully to get him home.
Frerichs appears by himself in the video, sitting upright before a dark curtain and wearing what appears to be traditional Afghan clothing. In the video, which he says was recorded last Nov. 28, he says he has patiently awaited his release and adds: “I'd like to ask the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: please release me. Release me so that I may be re-united with my family. Thank you."
Videos of hostages are sometimes released to show proof that they are alive and to facilitate negotiations for a release, though it was not immediately clear if that was the case here.
The video was posted Friday by The New Yorker, which says it obtained it from an unidentified individual in Afghanistan.
An FBI spokeswoman in Washington declined to comment on the video's authenticity, but a sister of Frerichs, Charlene Cakora, said in a statement Friday that she was grateful to the Taliban for releasing the video and described it as "public confirmation of our family’s long-held belief that he is alive after more than two years in captivity.”
She appealed to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to step up efforts to get Frerichs released.
“We consider this to be an important indicator of the Taliban’s interest in seeking to arrange for Mark’s immediate release. President Biden and Secretary Blinken, we urge you to take bold and decisive action to bring Mark home," she added.
The Taliban has made clear to U.S. officials that it seeks the release of a convicted drug lord named Bashir Noorzai, but the U.S. government has not moved forward on any sort of prisoner trade or exchange that could get Frerichs home.
The video of Frerichs surfaced on the same day that the State Department announced the release from Afghanistan of U.S. citizen Safiullah Rauf and Anees Khalil, a lawful permanent resident. The State Department said that they were now in Qatar before traveling home but offered no additional details about their activities in Afghanistan.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/crisis-in-ukraine-april-2-2022/39615603
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The Latest: Retreating Russian forces creating 'complete disaster' with mines, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his people early Saturday that retreating Russian forces were creating “a complete disaster” outside the capital as they leave mines across “the whole territory,” including around homes and corpses.
He issued the warning as the humanitarian crisis in the encircled city of Mariupol deepened, with Russian forces blocking evacuation operations for the second day in a row. Meanwhile, the Kremlin accused the Ukrainians of launching a helicopter attack on a fuel depot on Russian soil.
Here's the latest on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as of 6 a.m. (Eastern):
- A Ukrainian official said there were casualties after at least three Russian ballistic missiles were fired late Friday at the Odesa region on the Black Sea, but he did not give specifics.
- The secretary of Ukraine's national security council has denied that the country was responsible for a reported attack on a Russian fuel depot.
- The mayor of Kyiv said the bombardment of satellite towns near the Ukrainian capital was ongoing despite Russian promises of scaling back troops from the region.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in Ukraine.
- The U.N. refugee agency says more than 4 million people have now fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, a new milestone in the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
Ukraine denied responsibility for the fiery blast, but if Moscow’s claim is confirmed, it would be the war’s first known attack in which Ukrainian aircraft penetrated Russian airspace.
“Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, five weeks after Moscow began sending upwards of 150,000 of its own troops across Ukraine’s border.
Russia continued withdrawing some of its ground forces from areas around Kyiv after saying earlier this week it would reduce military activity near the Ukrainian capital and the northern city of Chernihiv.
“They are mining the whole territory. They are mining homes, mining equipment, even the bodies of people who were killed,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “There are a lot of trip wires, a lot of other dangers.”
Ukraine’s military said it had retaken 29 settlements in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.
Still, Ukraine and its allies warned that the Kremlin is not de-escalating to promote trust at the bargaining table, as it claimed, but instead resupplying and shifting its troops to the country’s east. Those movements appear to be preparation for an intensified assault on the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas region in the country's east, which includes Mariupol.
Zelenskyy warned of difficult battles ahead as Russia redeploys troops. “We are preparing for an even more active defense,” he said.
He did not say anything about the latest round of talks, which took place Friday by video. At a round of talks earlier in the week, Ukraine said it would be willing to abandon a bid to join NATO and declare itself neutral — Moscow’s chief demand — in return for security guarantees from several other countries.
The invasion has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine.
Video: Ukraine war destruction takes its toll
Mariupol, the shattered and besieged southern port city, has seen some of the worst suffering of the war. Its capture would be a major prize for Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving his country an unbroken land bridge to Crimea, seized from Ukraine in 2014.
On Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said it was unable to carry out an operation to bring civilians out of Mariupol by bus. City authorities said the Russians were blocking access to the city.
“We do not see a real desire on the part of the Russians and their satellites to provide an opportunity for Mariupol residents to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine,” Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol's mayor, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
He said Russian forces “are categorically not allowing any humanitarian cargo, even in small amounts, into the city.”
Around 100,000 people are believed to remain in the city, down from a prewar 430,000. Weeks of Russian bombardment and street fighting have caused severe shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine.
“We are running out of adjectives to describe the horrors that residents in Mariupol have suffered,” Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said.
On Thursday, Russian forces blocked a 45-bus convoy attempting to evacuate people from Mariupol and seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies bound for the city, Ukrainian authorities said.
Zelenskyy said more than 3,000 people were able to leave Mariupol on Friday.
He said he discussed the humanitarian disaster with French President Emmanuel Macron by telephone and with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during her visit to Kyiv.
“Europe doesn’t have the right to be silent about what is happening in our Mariupol,” Zelenskyy said. “The whole world should respond to this humanitarian catastrophe.”
Video: Kyiv keeps guard up as displaced find shelter
Elsewhere, at least three Russian ballistic missiles were fired late Friday at the Odesa region on the Black Sea, regional leader Maksim Marchenko said. The Ukrainian military said the Iskander missiles did not hit the critical infrastructure they targeted.
Odesa is Ukraine’s largest port and the headquarters of its navy.
As for the fuel depot explosion, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said two Ukrainian helicopter gunships flew in extremely low and attacked the civilian oil storage facility on the outskirts of the city of Belgorod, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Ukraine border.
The regional governor said two workers at the depot were wounded, but the Rosneft state oil company denied anyone was hurt.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s national security council, said on Ukrainian television: “For some reason they say that we did it, but in fact this does not correspond with reality."
Later, in an interview with Fox, Zelenskyy refused to say whether Ukraine was behind the attack.
On the outskirts of Kyiv, where Russian troops have withdrawn, damaged cars lined the streets of Irpin, a suburban area popular with young families, now in ruins. Emergency workers carried elderly people on stretchers over a wrecked bridge to safety.
Three wooden crosses next to a residential building that was damaged in a shelling marked the graves of a mother and son and an unknown man. A resident who gave her name only as Lila said she helped hurriedly bury them on March 5, just before Russian troops moved in.
“They were hit with artillery and they were burned alive,” she said.
An Irpin resident who gave his name only as Andriy said the Russians packed up their equipment and left on Tuesday. The next day, they shelled the town for close to an hour before Ukrainian soldiers retook it.
“I don’t think this is over,” Andriy said. “They will be back.”
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https://www.wesh.com/article/belle-of-the-ball-free-prom-dresses-2022/39616001
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Heartwarming: Hundreds of girls receive free prom dresses at 'Belle of the Ball' event
About 650 high school students received a gifted prom dress Saturday at the "Belle of the Ball" event at Boston's Hynes Convention Center.
The prom dresses, many of them brand new, are donated to junior and senior students in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island who likely would not have been able to afford them.
"I actually was really grateful to take it because I was worried about how I was going to get a prom dress," said Darlene Rosario, a senior at Lawrence High School. "I was glad that I was able to find the dress that I wanted in my size."
"Prom is in a month, time is coming up and we're just trying to find a dress," said Katy Ucles, a fellow Lawrence High senior. "I saw another girl wearing the same dress I liked, so I was like: 'Nooo!' But then I found the dress, so I'm happy."
Saturday marked the 18th year of the Belle of the Ball Boutique Day, which was sponsored by Jordan's Furniture, Anton's Cleaners and Enterprise Bank.
"They're learning a lesson, as well. It's not just handed to them," said Eliot Tatelman, president of Jordan's Furniture. "We're asking them to bring it back because, next year, somebody else could wear it, which is so cool."
"You just realize that this is an important part of their lives. I mean, I never knew that until my daughter went through that years ago," said Arthur Anton, chief operating officer of Anton's Cleaners.
All of the girls who attended Saturday's event got to accessorize their dresses with free shoes, and personal stylists were among the 400 volunteers available to help them. The girls then got the chance to walk the runway while wearing their newfound prom dresses.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/marion-county-missing-children/39615244
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Marion County sheriff: Parents of 3 missing, endangered kids are avoiding DCF
Marion County sheriff: Parents of 3 missing, endangered kids are avoiding DCF
EXPECTED TO REENOP DEPUTIES IN MARION COUNTY THIS MORNING ARE SEARCHING THESE THREE LITTLE BOYS WHO THEY SAY MAY BE IN DANGER. TAKE A LOOK. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WENT TO SERVE COURT ORDER IN CITRA, TO TAKE CUSTODY OF THESE CHILDREN, ETH YOUNGEST AS YOUNG AS ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS. DEPUTIES CLAIM THE PARENTS, JAROD LADUKE AND ASHLEY WINNINGHAM,
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Marion County sheriff: Parents of 3 missing, endangered kids are avoiding DCF
Deputies in Marion County are searching for three children they believe may be in danger.The sheriff's office went to serve a court order in Citra to take custody of the children, who are all under the age of 3.Deputies claim the parents, Jarod LaDuke and Ashley Winningham, refused to let DCF check on the boys' wellbeing.If you see them, call 911.
CITRA, Fla. —
Deputies in Marion County are searching for three children they believe may be in danger.
The sheriff's office went to serve a court order in Citra to take custody of the children, who are all under the age of 3.
Advertisement
Deputies claim the parents, Jarod LaDuke and Ashley Winningham, refused to let DCF check on the boys' wellbeing.
If you see them, call 911.
This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/new-hampshire-farmers-fertilizer-costs/39616033
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'We're just trying to cover our costs': Farmers struggle with rising price of fertilizer
Russia's invasion of Ukraine helps drive fertilizer costs higher
Russia's invasion of Ukraine helps drive fertilizer costs higher
Russia's invasion of Ukraine helps drive fertilizer costs higher
Sanctions against Russia are affecting many of the country's top exports, including fertilizer, creating a worldwide shortage and driving up prices for farmers.
Farmers said the cost of commercial fertilizer has increased while supplies have decreased.
Phil Ferdinando, of J&F Farms in Derry, New Hampshire, said he's paying more than $1,000 per ton for commercial fertilizer, double the price he paid last year.
"Last year cost us $30,000," he said. "It's going to cost us probably over $60,000 this year."
Ferdinando plants a variety of vegetables on his 300 acres. While many farmers are using less fertilizer use this year, he said that's a risky move.
"You don't want to cut back much on fertilizer, because you won't get as good a crop," he said.
Agricultural suppliers said Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to the problem.
"One of the issues is a lot of the ingredients — pot ash, which is one of the ingredients in fertilizer — is sourced from Russia," said Tom Osborne, of Osborne's Agway in New Hampshire. "So that certainly is causing a lot of the spikes in cost."
Osborne said the rising costs of fertilizer and fuel are forcing many of his customers to switch to manure and compost. But for larger farms, that's not an option.
"We plant about 300 acres of land, and I have enough manure for about 25," Ferdinando said.
Ferdinando said he'll bite the bullet and pay the premium price for fertilizer this spring, but he hopes his customers will be understanding come harvest time.
"Things are going to be more expensive this summer, and I hope they support us, because it's not our doing," he said. "We're just trying to cover our costs."
The USDA expects that the price of fertilizers will continue to increase for the rest of the year.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/dangers-of-sleeping-pills-and-how-to-avoid-them/39616253
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The dangers of sleeping pills and how to avoid them
The stories of sleeping pills gone wrong are legendary.
But aside from tales of sleepwalking, the use of sleeping pills can also be deadly. Up to half a million "excess deaths" in the United States were due to use of sleep medications called sedative-hypnotics, a 2010 study found.
People with prescriptions for those sleep aids, which include zolpidem and temazepam, were over four times as likely to die from accidents and health conditions stemming from use compared with those who did not use such drugs, the study said. Even people who took fewer than two sleeping pills a month were three times more likely to die than those who didn't.
If you are using or thinking of using a prescription or over-the-counter sleep aid, what do you need to know to do so safely? Dr. Jing Wang, an assistant professor of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, is answering your questions.
This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
Q: When someone comes to you with insomnia or another sleep disorder, begging for help to go to sleep, do you give them a sleeping pill first thing for immediate relief?
Dr. Jing Wang: No, definitely not. We really try very, very hard not to do that. When someone comes in with insomnia, we take a really thorough medical and sleep history. It's very important that the person shares personal details so we can identify what the source of the insomnia could be. Is it behavioral, or is it medication or medical illness-related?
I will ask them, "What's your daytime schedule? What do you do in the evenings?" to try and find their physical and emotional stressors. Is this person on a screen all the time at work and home?
Then we home in on how that person gets ready for bed: "Do you have routines? Do you have a regular bedtime?" Frequently, insomnia is perpetuated by what we do in response to not being able to sleep. People get very creative in ways that may not be helpful: They get on the phone scrolling, checking emails or answering work messages, or sleep with the TV on. Both of these expose you to blue light, which sends a signal to the brain to wake up. Occasionally, you'll get people saying I get up and work out, which is definitely not what you want to do!
Q: When might a sleep aid be advised?
Wang: Our first-line approach is to introduce patients to a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called CBTI, which is specifically for insomnia. It educates patients about healthy sleep behavior, such as regular bedtime and wake schedules, keeping screens and blue lights out of the bedroom, doing relaxing things before bed, and so on. It's all about the associations that our brain makes with our sleep environment and how our behaviors or activities affect that.
If we have someone who is clearly struggling from a very acute onset of insomnia, and there is an identifiable factor or change in their life, then we might have a discussion about a short-term trial of a sleep aid for a few weeks or a month or so, and only with regular checkups.
And we set clear expectations about short-term use, because we don't want to just prescribe a sleep aid and have the person on it for the next 30 years. We want to get to the root of the problem in a healthier way by fixing what's triggering the insomnia.
Q: Why is the long-term use of a sleep medication not healthy?
Wang: It depends, as people have different responses and may be susceptible in different ways. Some of these sleep aids can become addictive, so the person feels they cannot sleep without it. They can be dangerous if mixed with alcohol or certain pain medications. Some cause daytime sleepiness and can interfere with driving and other motor activities.
Sedative sleep aids have been associated with hallucinations and dissociative behaviors. People have driven cars, cooked food, sleepwalked and made phone calls, all without any recollection when they woke. After waking, people can be susceptible to drowsiness and confusion, like a hangover effect.
Q: Let's talk about over-the-counter medications. Is that a problem?
Wang: Any medication is a double-edged sword: It has its uses but always has side effects.
One of the strongest pieces of counseling I always do with patients is to tell them to really try to avoid over-the-counter sleep aids. They can have unpredicted side effects, such as making you hyper instead of drowsy. There's potential for interaction with prescription sedatives, which patients may also be on. And there's always a potential of misuse or overuse because they think, "Oh, it's over-the-counter so it's safe."
Take melatonin. Some people have reported taking 30 or even 60 milligrams of melatonin and that could be dangerous; we just don't know yet. It's not really regulated, so non-melatonin substances can be mixed in the pill or tablet. You could get headaches, one of the known sort of side effects from melatonin. Or you could take it at the wrong time and interfere with your circadian rhythm.
Antihistamines, for example, create dry mouth, dizziness and a kind of hungover feeling the next day. They may also have anticholinergic effects, like urinary retention, blurred vision, constipation and nausea. Chronic, regular use of these agents have in some studies been linked to increased risk of dementia.
Finally, using over-the-counter sleep aids can potentially delay seeing their sleep problems as a concern and seeking care: "There's no reason for me to see the sleep doctor or talk to my physician about my sleep problems. I can just keep using an over-the-counter agent."
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https://www.wesh.com/article/biden-says-sub-will-enhance-us-security/39616684
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Biden says submarine he commissioned will enhance US security
In a public ceremony delayed two years by the pandemic, President Joe Biden on Saturday commissioned the USS Delaware, a nuclear attack submarine, saying it would enhance national security, though he made no reference to the global turmoil from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"As the commander in chief, I believe it is our sacred obligation as a nation to prepare and equip those troops that we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return home,’’ he told a crowd of invited guests and dignitaries assembled on a sunny but chilly spring day on a restricted part of the dock in Wilmington.
This latest Navy ship to carry the Delaware name, the president said in brief remarks, “is part of a long tradition of serving our nation proudly and strengthening our nation’s security ... not just us, but our allies and partners around the world as well. In fact it’s already been doing that for some time.’’
In April 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the United States, the Delaware was commissioned while underwater, a first for a Navy vessel. Since then it has been in training.
After the ceremony, the president took a private tour of the Delaware. He did not respond to questions from reporters about Ukraine.
First lady Jill Biden is the submarine's sponsor, a role meant to bring a vessel luck. During her remarks, she exclaimed: “Officers and crew of the USS Delaware, man our ship and bring her to life.” The crew responded, “Aye aye, ma’am” and, as she applauded, sailors in dress uniforms ran behind the crowd, then down onto the submarine and lined up on the deck.
Saturday's commissioning comes amid the war in Ukraine and after Biden announced a budget blueprint that proposes spending $795 billion on defense, which would mean an increase for the Pentagon.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the proposal would at best “leave our armed forces simply treading water” because of inflation. But some progressive Democrats complained that was too much funding after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan last summer.
With a crew of 136 sailors, the Delaware is the 18th Virginia-class fast attack submarine, which is designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships, and can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Navy says.
The ship is 377 feet long, can dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged. The submarine is also designed to operate for more than three decades without needing to refuel, according to a Defense Department news release.
This is the first time in a century the name “Delaware” has been used for a Navy vessel, according to a Defense Department statement, and marks the seventh naval ship named after the state which Biden represented in the Senate for 36 years before his tenures as vice president and president.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/one-arrested-daytona-beach-shooting-injured-two-teens/39616700
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One arrested in Daytona Beach shooting that injured two teens
The teenagers were shot after confronting a younger boy, who called to his older brother for help, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. That older brother is now in custody after firing at the teens.
VCSO deputies responded to reports of a shooting on the 1300 block of Westwood Drive in the Daytona Beach area around 8:30 Friday night. The shooter, 19-year-old Trequan Braswell, fled the scene before stopping, reporting the incident and waiting for law enforcement near the corner of Westwood Drive and Derbyshire Road.
Braswell's 13-year-old brother called him for help when the 15- and 16-year-old victims were confronting the younger boy verbally. Braswell's arrival led to an altercation, with one of the boys throwing a punch at Braswell. Braswell then ran and retrieved a gun from his girlfriend and began shooting.
The 15-year-old was shot multiple times but was listed in stable condition at the hospital, while the 16-year-old was shot in the back and is in stable but critical condition. The 16-year-old may have severe long-term disability from his injury.
Braswell also shot the victims' parents' vehicle upon their arrival to the scene, after they tried to de-escalate the confrontation.
Braswell of Daytona Beach has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. He is being held without bond.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/how-they-became-cultural-icons/39617017
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Wander around a supermarket and you'll bump into all sorts of characters: Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Cap'n Crunch and Buzz Bee in the cereal section. Mr. Clean, Brawny Man and the Charmin Bear among the household items.A few aisles later, chances are you'll spot Betty Crocker, Kool-Aid Man, Elmer the Bull, Pillsbury Doughboy, Energizer Bunny and more.And, of course, the characters aren't just in stores. Colonel Sanders, Ronald McDonald and the Burger King are synonymous with fast-food chains. The Michelin Man sells tires. Geico Gecko, Aflac Duck and Flo from Progressive offer insurance.Why have brands flooded us with cheesy, or sometimes racially-stereotyped, spokespeople and mascots for so long? What's their purpose?Distinctive characters are tools brands use to create emotional connections with consumers and signal their personalities and key attributes — reliability, purity or humor, for example.A recognizable character at the store can also be a visual shortcut for consumers who have endless choices, marketing experts say. In the complex insurance industry, for example, likeable and familiar characters can be used to convey information in a simple way.Characters and mascots "are valuable as a memory prompt. They're easy to process. You don't have to commit any cognitive resources to reading product information, brand names or prices," said Akshay Rao, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota. "You don't have to give it a first thought, let alone a second thought."Plus, polling shows that consumers like advertising mascots. In a joint Harris Poll- Ad Age online survey of 1,000 U.S. adults last year, 79% said they enjoy seeing mascots, such as Tony the Tiger, Ronald McDonald or Mr. Clean."When you have a character that's well established and a mental shortcut, you'd be hard pressed to walk away," said Britt Nolan, the president and chief creative officer at Leo Burnett, the agency that developed Tony the Tiger, Pillsbury Doughboy and other iconic characters.Human charactersThe rise of brand characters can be traced to the Second Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century, when food and consumer goods became mass-produced.Prior to the 1870s, food and other household products were grown on family farms or available from a local grocer. There were no big national brands like we know today or national distribution networks.Factory production — and railroads to transport goods — opened up the possibility for consumers to get packaged foods and products from distant factories.But manufacturers needed ways to convince shoppers that these new factory-made products were safe.Human characters served as a substitute for the personal connections consumers were used to having with their foods, said historian Susan Strasser, author of "Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Making of the American Mass Market."Early brand characters were often grandmothers, cooks in white caps and aprons or young girls. This imagery was meant to be "connected with tradition, so that it wasn't so jarring to be getting these factory-made products," she said, as well as "cleanliness, so you wouldn't worry if something was going to kill you."For example, although the Quaker Oats founders were not Quakers, in 1877 they chose a Quaker character to represent the brand and project values of honesty and purity. (He's known among company insiders as "Larry.")Other early brand characters were sometimes based on racist stereotypes of Black people and Native Americans, such as Aunt Jemima pancake mix, Uncle Ben's rice, Rastus for Cream of Wheat and Land O'Lakes' Native American maiden.Many of these characters have been discontinued in recent years. There have also been calls to retire Miss Chiquita of Chiquita Brands' bananas and other outdated mascots.The influence of televisionBrands soon turned to so-called "spokescharacters" and animals to distinguish their products.Bibendum, created in 1898 and known today as the Michelin Man, was one of the earliest examples. The character was inspired by a stack of tires that resembled a human torso.Dogs, cows, bears, bulls and other animals also started to appear as mascots for brands, especially for snacks and foods that were aiming to appeal to kids.The rise of television in the 1950s and early 1960s propelled these kinds of characters into the cultural mainstream. Advertisers had a captive audience watching these personalities develop during commercial breaks on popular series."You see a lot of characters appear when television advertising was new," Nolan said. "TV advertising was trying to figure out how to be both informational and entertaining at the same time."Cigarettes and cereal boxesBut it takes time and investment to build a brand character. That's harder today than it was when everyone was sitting at home watching TV commercials."Character development tends to be video-based and rely on a certain level of saturation," Nolan said. "That doesn't make sense for as many advertisers as it used to. You no longer own the consumer's attention."Instead, many brands have turned to celebrity spokespeople, partnerships and social media influencers instead of launching new mascots.There are also pitfalls involved with using characters, and they have been deployed for harmful purposes in the past. Cigarette makers used characters such as Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man before reaching a sweeping settlement with states in 1998 that banned characters in tobacco advertising.Public health experts have called for food and drink makers to end the use of mascots and brand characters to market candy, cereals and sugary drinks.In Chile, the government went as far as banning mascots such as Tony the Tiger and the Trix Rabbit from appearing on cereal boxes.One popular European grocery chain, Lidl, in 2020 removed characters from its cereal brands in the UK to limit "pester power" — children nagging their parents to buy sugary cereals emblazoned with their favorite characters.
Wander around a supermarket and you'll bump into all sorts of characters: Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Cap'n Crunch and Buzz Bee in the cereal section. Mr. Clean, Brawny Man and the Charmin Bear among the household items.
A few aisles later, chances are you'll spot Betty Crocker, Kool-Aid Man, Elmer the Bull, Pillsbury Doughboy, Energizer Bunny and more.
And, of course, the characters aren't just in stores. Colonel Sanders, Ronald McDonald and the Burger King are synonymous with fast-food chains. The Michelin Man sells tires. Geico Gecko, Aflac Duck and Flo from Progressive offer insurance.
Why have brands flooded us with cheesy, or sometimes racially-stereotyped, spokespeople and mascots for so long? What's their purpose?
Distinctive characters are tools brands use to create emotional connections with consumers and signal their personalities and key attributes — reliability, purity or humor, for example.
A recognizable character at the store can also be a visual shortcut for consumers who have endless choices, marketing experts say. In the complex insurance industry, for example, likeable and familiar characters can be used to convey information in a simple way.
Characters and mascots "are valuable as a memory prompt. They're easy to process. You don't have to commit any cognitive resources to reading product information, brand names or prices," said Akshay Rao, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota. "You don't have to give it a first thought, let alone a second thought."
Plus, polling shows that consumers like advertising mascots. In a joint Harris Poll- Ad Age online survey of 1,000 U.S. adults last year, 79% said they enjoy seeing mascots, such as Tony the Tiger, Ronald McDonald or Mr. Clean.
"When you have a character that's well established and a mental shortcut, you'd be hard pressed to walk away," said Britt Nolan, the president and chief creative officer at Leo Burnett, the agency that developed Tony the Tiger, Pillsbury Doughboy and other iconic characters.
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images
It’s harder to create an iconic character like the Pillsbury Doughboy today.
Human characters
The rise of brand characters can be traced to the Second Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century, when food and consumer goods became mass-produced.
Prior to the 1870s, food and other household products were grown on family farms or available from a local grocer. There were no big national brands like we know today or national distribution networks.
Factory production — and railroads to transport goods — opened up the possibility for consumers to get packaged foods and products from distant factories.
But manufacturers needed ways to convince shoppers that these new factory-made products were safe.
Human characters served as a substitute for the personal connections consumers were used to having with their foods, said historian Susan Strasser, author of "Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Making of the American Mass Market."
Early brand characters were often grandmothers, cooks in white caps and aprons or young girls. This imagery was meant to be "connected with tradition, so that it wasn't so jarring to be getting these factory-made products," she said, as well as "cleanliness, so you wouldn't worry if something was going to kill you."
For example, although the Quaker Oats founders were not Quakers, in 1877 they chose a Quaker character to represent the brand and project values of honesty and purity. (He's known among company insiders as "Larry.")
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Early brand characters like "Larry," the made-up guy on Quaker Oats packages, were humans.
Other early brand characters were sometimes based on racist stereotypes of Black people and Native Americans, such as Aunt Jemima pancake mix, Uncle Ben's rice, Rastus for Cream of Wheat and Land O'Lakes' Native American maiden.
Many of these characters have been discontinued in recent years. There have also been calls to retire Miss Chiquita of Chiquita Brands' bananas and other outdated mascots.
The influence of television
Brands soon turned to so-called "spokescharacters" and animals to distinguish their products.
Bibendum, created in 1898 and known today as the Michelin Man, was one of the earliest examples. The character was inspired by a stack of tires that resembled a human torso.
Dogs, cows, bears, bulls and other animals also started to appear as mascots for brands, especially for snacks and foods that were aiming to appeal to kids.
The rise of television in the 1950s and early 1960s propelled these kinds of characters into the cultural mainstream. Advertisers had a captive audience watching these personalities develop during commercial breaks on popular series.
"You see a lot of characters appear when television advertising was new," Nolan said. "TV advertising was trying to figure out how to be both informational and entertaining at the same time."
Cigarettes and cereal boxes
But it takes time and investment to build a brand character. That's harder today than it was when everyone was sitting at home watching TV commercials.
"Character development tends to be video-based and rely on a certain level of saturation," Nolan said. "That doesn't make sense for as many advertisers as it used to. You no longer own the consumer's attention."
Lane Turner/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Characters have lined the cereal section of supermarkets for decades.
Instead, many brands have turned to celebrity spokespeople, partnerships and social media influencers instead of launching new mascots.
There are also pitfalls involved with using characters, and they have been deployed for harmful purposes in the past. Cigarette makers used characters such as Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man before reaching a sweeping settlement with states in 1998 that banned characters in tobacco advertising.
Public health experts have called for food and drink makers to end the use of mascots and brand characters to market candy, cereals and sugary drinks.
In Chile, the government went as far as banning mascots such as Tony the Tiger and the Trix Rabbit from appearing on cereal boxes.
One popular European grocery chain, Lidl, in 2020 removed characters from its cereal brands in the UK to limit "pester power" — children nagging their parents to buy sugary cereals emblazoned with their favorite characters.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/us-sends-home-algerian-man-held-nearly-20-years-at-guantanamo-bay/39616965
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US sends home Algerian man held nearly 20 years at Guantanamo Bay
An Algerian man imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay detention center for nearly 20 years has been released and sent back to his homeland.
The Department of Defense announced Saturday that Sufyian Barhoumi was repatriated with assurances from the Algerian government that he would be treated humanely there and that security measures would be imposed to reduce the risk that he could pose a threat in the future.
The Pentagon did not provide details about those security measures, which could include restrictions on travel.
Barhoumi was captured in Pakistan and taken to the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2002. The United States eventually determined he was involved with various extremist groups but was not a member of al-Qaida or the Taliban, according to a report by a review board at the prison that approved him for release in 2016.
U.S. authorities attempted to prosecute Barhoumi in 2008 but the effort was dropped amid legal challenges to the initial version of the military commission system set up under President George W. Bush.
In the final days of Barack Obama's presidency in January 2017, a federal judge in Washington declined to intervene in the Pentagon's decision not to repatriate Barhoumi, whose lawyer said he had expected his client to be released and that the prisoner’s family had begun making preparations for his return, including by buying him a car and a small restaurant for him to run.
The Justice Department said then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter rejected the release of Barhoumi on Jan. 12, 2017, “based on a variety of substantive concerns, shared by multiple agencies,” without going into detail.
Barhoumi, who lost four fingers in a land mine explosion in Afghanistan, offered to plead guilty to any charges in 2012 in hopes he could receive a fixed sentence and return to his elderly mother, according to his attorney, Shayana Kadidal of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
“Our government owes Sufyian and his mother years of their lives back,” Kadidal said. “I’m overjoyed that he will be home with his family, but I will dearly miss his constant good humor and empathy for the suffering of others in the utterly depressing environment of Guantánamo.”
The effort to resettle prisoners languished under President Donald Trump. The Biden administration is attempting again to reduce the number of men held at Guantanamo as part of a broader effort to close the facility.
Barhoumi's release brings the total held at the U.S. base in Cuba to 37 men, including 18 who have been deemed eligible for repatriation or resettlement in a third country.
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Ex-boyfriend of missing Florida mom arrested for tampering with evidence: deputies
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Updated: 6:34 PM EDT Apr 2, 2022
ANNOUNCER: LOCAL, LIVE, LATEBREAKING. WESH 2 NEWS STARTS NOW. ANCHOR: NOW AT 6:00, A VERY STORMY SATURDAY. CENTRAL FLORIDA SEEING STRONG AND EVEN SEVERE STORMS TODAY. THE WORST OF IT CONTINUES TO MOVE OUT. AND WE WANT TO GET YOU RIGHT OVER TO FIRST WARNING METEOROLOGIST ALEX ALECCI, WHO HAS BEEN BUSY ALL AFTERNN.OO ALEX, HOW’S THE REST OF THE EVENING LOOKING? ALEX: THE SEVERE RISK HAS MOVED OUT. THAT RAIN WAS REALLY POURING DOWN. DID NOT CAPTURE ALL THE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH. YOU SEE THAT LINE OF SEVERE STORM MOVING OUT OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. BEHIND IT, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS NUISANCE RAIN WITH THE LIGHTNING PUSHING OFF THE COAST OF BREVARD COUNTY. HEADING OVER TOWARDS BITHLO, YOU CAN SEE DARKER REDS AND PURPLES NOT SHOWING UP ON RADAR. NOT DEALING WITH TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. LIGHTNING IS LIMITED AS WELL. NOT SEEING STRONG SHOWERS AND STORMS. NUISANCE RAIN ACROSS NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY INTO VOLUSIA COUNTY. FURTHER NORTH, WIDESPREAD LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINS IN MARION COUNTY. YOU CAN SEE STRONG SHOWERS AND STORMS OUT TOWARDS THE EAST. MORE OF THIS WIDESPREAD LIGHTO T MODERATE SHOWER ACTIVITY. TEMPERATURES TOOK A DIVE AS THAT RAIN MOVES THROUGH. TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW IN THE LOW TO MID 60’S. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO SETTLE THROUGHOUT THE EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT. WATCHING FOR THOSE RAIN SHOWERS THROUGH 9:00. DEALING WITH CLOUD COVER AND A BIT OF PATCHY FOG TOMORROW MORNING. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEAK WIND GUSTS AND HAIL. MICHELLE: THANK Y.OU MOST OF OUR CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADWAYS ARE PRETTY SLICK RIGHT NOW, AND THAT MAY CAUSE DRIVERS TO GO A LITTLE SLOWER. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT TO EXPECT BEFORE YOU GO. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE WESH 2’S KELSI THORUD IN OUR RSFIT WARNING WEATHER LAB TONIGHT. KELSI, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING SO FAR? KELSI: IT ACTUALLY HAS NOT BEEN THAT BAD. THE RNAI WAS COMING DOWN ABOUT AN HOUR AGO PRETTY HARD. WERE A GOING WESTBOUND ON I-4 IN VOLUSIA COUNTY TOWARDS SEMINOLE COUNTY. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING, NOT A TON OF RAIN. IT IS STILL COMING DOWN. NOT A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD. THE VISIBILITY IS GETTING BETTER. EARLIER IT WAS RAINING HARDER, EVEN JUST ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO. WE WENT UP -- WE WERE GOING EASTBOUND ON I-4 UP TOIN THE DELAND AREA EARLIER. WE WERE SEEING REGNIER WHETHER THERE. THINGS HAVE LIGHTENED UP WITHIN THE PAST 20 MINUTES OR SO. THE SKIES LOOKING BRIGHTER. IT IS STILL CLOUDY. IT IS GOING TO BE THAT WAY FOR A WHILE. THE RAIN IS LOOKING BETTER. WE DID SEE SOME CARS PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE ON I-4. NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC. THE RAIN IS GOING TOON CTINUE. THAT MEANS DRIVERS SHOULD STILL DRIVE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE ANY TIME THERE IS WATER AND RAIN ON THE ROADS. THAT CAN CAUSE ISSUES. NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THE ROADS ALL NIGHT. MICHELLE: THANK YOU. GOOD ADVICE. AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOOFU SOME EMERGENCY ROAD WORK HAPPENING ON U.S. 1 IN MELBOURNE. THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY IN DIFFERENT AREAS FOR THE PAST 24 HOURS. RIGHT NOW CREWS ARE WORKINONG THE AREA JUST NORTH OF CHERRY STREET, NEAR THE NISSAN MELBOURNE DEALERSHIP. CREWS SAY, AFTER THE HEAVY RAIN YESTERDAY, THEY NEED TO REPAIR A DAMAGED DRAINAGE PIPE AND ROAD EROSION. CREWS ARE ALLOWING ONE NORTHBOUNDAN LE TO STAY OPEN, BUT IT’S EXPECTED TO BE CONGESTED IN THE AREA, SO YOU’RE ENCOURAGED TO FIND ANOTHER ROE.UT THE WEATHER ALSO IMPACTING FLIERS. ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS BOMBARDED WITH FLIGHT DELAYS AND CANCELATIONS ALL DAY. THIS IS THE LATEST FROM OUR BIG BOARD. WE HAVE 43 ON TIME. LOOK AT THE DELAYED AND CANCELED , 206 FLIGHTS CANCELED. WESH 2’S SENAIT GREBREGIORGIS IS LIVE AT ORLANDO INTERNATIOLNA AIRPORT. SENAIT, THE AIRPORT HAS BEEN PRETTY PACKED ALREADY WITH SPRING BREAKERS, AND THIS IS ONLY ADDING TO THE BUSESINS. REPORTER: IT IS ADDING TO THE WAIT TIME AND LONG LINES. THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAINHE T TRAFFIC AND THE WEATHER’S IMPACT IS BY SHOWING YOU WHAT THINGS ARE LOOKING LIKE AT THE AIRPORT. THIS IS ONE OF THE AIRLINES’ CHECK-IN LINE. THE MAIN COUNTER IS BEHIND AND PASSED THE CHECK INDOORS. YOU’LL SEE HOW FAR THE LEIN STRETCHES. YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE STANDING PAST THE FOOD COURT. ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT POSTED ON ITS TWITTER PAGE WARNING PASSENGERS THAT TODAY’S WEAT HER MAY CAUSE FLIGHT AND BAGGAGE DELIVERY DELAYS. PEOPLE ININE L TOLD US THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT IS NOT UNTIL MONDAY, TUESD,AY OR WEDNESDAY. THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIALLY MISSING WORK AND SCHOOL. >> WE WANTED TO GO TO DISNEY WORLD. AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WE FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO COME. NOW WE ARE STUCK. UNTIL TUESDAY AT LEAST. WE WILL SEE IF THAT IS EVEN AVAILABLE. >> MY KIDS ARE GOING TO MISS SCHOOL MONDAY. MY SON IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY. HE IS GOING TO MS THISAT ON MONDAY. REPOERRT: THE PANDEMIC HAS ALSO CAUSED STAFFGIN SHORTAGES AND CHALLENGES. THE AIRPORT IS ADVISING EVERYONE TO CHECKIT WH THEIR AIRLINE FOR UPDATES. LIVE IN ORLANDO, SENAIT GEBREGIORGIS, WESH 2 NEWS. MICHEL:LE THANK YOU. BREAKING IN TAMPA, TWO PEOPLE WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE LEAVING SATURDAY AFTERNOON’S YANKEE GAME AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM. TAMPA POLICE SAY A MAN IN HIS 60’S AND A WOMAN IN HER 20’S WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN THE PARKING T.LO BOTH WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE OK. REMEMBER, OUR WESH 2 WEATHER TEAM IS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON CHANGES TO OUR FORECAST. WHEN WE ARE NOT ON AIR, YOU CAN ALWAYS STAY IN THE KNOW ON OUR WESH 2 MOBILE P.AP DON’T FORGET TO TURN ON THE ALERTS FOR ANY BREAKING UPDATES. RIGHT NOW IN MARION COUNTY, DEPUTIES NEED YOUR HELP FINDING THREE MISSING KIDS INCLUDING A BABY JUST BORN IN FEBRUARY. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR SCRN.EE KELTON IS THE NEWBORN, CONNOR IS 1, AND TITUS I2.S ALL 3 ARE CONSIDERED TO BE AT RISK. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THEY WERE HELPING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH A COURT ORDER YESTERDAY TO TAKE CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN ON NORTH EAST 182ND PLACE IN CIA.TR DEPUTIES CLAIM THE PARENTS JAROD LADUKE AND ASHLEY WINNINGHAM REFUSED TO LET DCF CHECK ON ETH KIDS TO SEE HOW THEY’RE DOING. IF YOU SEE THEM CALL 9.11 TWO TEENAGERS ARE RECOVERING TONIGHT AFTER A SHOOTING IN DAYTONA BEACH. 19-YEAR-OLD TREQUABRN ASWELL IS NOW IN CUSTODY FOR THAT SHOOTING AND FACES AGGRAVATED BATTERY CHARS.GE POLICE SAY IT HAPPENED WHEN BRASWELL CONFRONTED THE TWO TEENS LAST NIGHT AT HOME ON WESTWOOD DRIVE FOR TRYING TO START A FIGHT WITH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. BOTH TEENS DID SURVIVE, AND BOTH REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL. BRASWELL REMAINS IN JAIL ON NO BO.ND TWO YEARS AFTER THE PANDICEM TOOK HOLD LEADING TO A LOSS OF 22 MILLION JOBS, THE LATEST FEDERAL LABOR STATISTICS SHOW THE COUNTRY IS RECOVERING. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS WERE ADDED IN MAH,RC WAGES INCREASED, AND MORE AMERICANS ARE RETURNING TO THE OFFICE. GLORIA PAZMINO BREAKS DOWN THE NUMBERS. GLORIA: 431,000 JOBS ADDEDN I MARCH AND UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO A PANDEMIC-ERA LOW OF 3.6%, TWO OF THE STRONGEST SIGNS ATTH AMERICA’S LABOR MARKET IS ROARING BACK. PRESIDENT BIDEN: IT MEANS THAT OUR ECONOMY IS GONE FROM BEING ON THE MEND TO BEING ON THE MO.VE GLORIA: THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS RELEASED ITS REPORT FRIDAY SHOWING A STRONG FIRST QUARTER FOR THE LABOR MARKET. THERE WAS AN AVERAGE MONTHLY GAIN OF MORE THAN HALF A MILLION JOBS, MAKING MARCH THE 15TH STRAIGHT MONTH OF STRONG JOB GAINS. A STEADY INCREASE IN CONSUMER DEMAND COMBINED WITH A RETURN TO NORMALCY AS CORONAVIRUS CASES DECLINE AND RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED HELPED FUEL JOB GROWTH. LEISURE AND HOSPITALYIT INDUSTRIES, AS WELL AS RETAIL AND MANUFACTURING, ALL SAW SOME OF THE BIGGEST GAINS. PRESIDTEN BIDEN: THAT’S GOOD NEWS FOR MILLIONS OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE A LITTLE MORE BREATHING ROOM AND THE DIGTYNI THAT COMES FROM EARNING A PAYCHECK. GLORIA: THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING REMOTELY ALSO DECLINED. AND IN GOOD NEWS FOR WORKERS, WAGES INCREASED BY 5.6% OVER THE PAST YR.EA BUT DESPITE THE SUNNY OUTLOOK, THERE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. >> THE CONCERN IS THE INVASION WITH UKRAINE, HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN. GLORIA: REVECORY NUMBERS ARE ALSO A SIGN OF POST-PANDEMIC ERA INFLATION TRIGGERED IN PART BY INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. WHILE YOUR PAYCHECK MAY BE INCREASING, EVERYTHING ELSE IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. I’M GLORIA PAZMINO REPORNG.TI MICHELLE: NEW AT 6:00, THE SIKH RIDERS OF AMERICA ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. TODAY, THEY BEAT THE RAIEYTHN HOSTED A SOLIDARITY MOTORCYCLE RUN. THE EVENT FEATURED NOT ONLY THE SIKH RIDERS, BUT OTHER CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES, ALL WITH ONE PURPOSE, TO SPORTUP UKRAINE. THE RIDE KICKED OFF AT SANFORD HARLEY DAVIDSON AND ENDED WITH A LUNCH AT CURRY MANTRINA DIAN CUISINE IN ORLANDO. TODAY IS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS Y.DA IT’S A DAY TO HELP ELIMINATE THE STIGMA BEHIND IT. ACCORDING TO THE CDC AUTISM NOW AFFECTS ABOUT ONE IN4 5 CHILDREN. THE DISORDER IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT IN BOYS THAN GIRLS. PEOPLE WITH AUTISM FACE MANY OBSTACLES, INCLUDING TROUBLE COMMUNICATING AND SENSORY OVERLOAD. THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT’S AUTISM INITIATIVE HELPS EMERGENCY RESPONDERS KNOW WHEN THERE IS A PERSON WITH AUTISM IN A HOME OR VEHICLE. YOU CAN REGISTER FOR A FREE DECAL ON THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S WEBSIT STILL AHEAD, A HUGE NORTH CAROLINA RIVALRY
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Ex-boyfriend of missing Florida mom arrested for tampering with evidence: deputies
VIDEO ABOVE: Today's top headlines, forecast Missing Florida mother Cassie Carli’s ex-boyfriend has been arrested in Tennessee on charges of tampering with evidence according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.Marcus Spanevelo was arrested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Lebanon Tennessee where he is being held on the following charges: Tampering with Evidence, Giving False Information Concerning a Missing Persons Investigation and Destruction of Evidence.Spanevelo had not been named a suspect or charged with any crime prior to the arrest, but Carli’s family told WESH sister station WFLA on Friday that Cassie was worried about him and that the two were working through custody issues concerning their daughter.“Cassie’s been telling me for the last two years that has been threatening her,” said Cassie’s brother Anthony Carli. “She’s always said, if anything happens to me, it’s him.”Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson called the disappearance of Carli “very concerning” as he revealed that investigators found her purse inside her car. “There were things in the purse … we don’t think she would just up and leave,” Johnson said during a press conference. “Usually you don’t go four days without hearing from them, or them using a credit card, cell phone…so yeah, we’re concerned.”Carli’s 4-year-old daughter is “safe,” according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, who says Alabama Child Services have recently gotten involved in the case. Carli’s family says they want Cassie’s young daughter at home with them.
TAMPA, Fla. —
VIDEO ABOVE: Today's top headlines, forecast
Missing Florida mother Cassie Carli’s ex-boyfriend has been arrested in Tennessee on charges of tampering with evidence according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Marcus Spanevelo was arrested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Lebanon Tennessee where he is being held on the following charges: Tampering with Evidence, Giving False Information Concerning a Missing Persons Investigation and Destruction of Evidence.
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Spanevelo had not been named a suspect or charged with any crime prior to the arrest, but Carli’s family told WESH sister station WFLA on Friday that Cassie was worried about him and that the two were working through custody issues concerning their daughter.
“Cassie’s been telling me for the last two years that [Marcus] has been threatening her,” said Cassie’s brother Anthony Carli. “She’s always said, if anything happens to me, it’s him.”
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson called the disappearance of Carli “very concerning” as he revealed that investigators found her purse inside her car.
“There were things in the purse … we don’t think she would just up and leave,” Johnson said during a press conference. “Usually you don’t go four days without hearing from them, or them using a credit card, cell phone…so yeah, we’re concerned.”
Carli’s 4-year-old daughter is “safe,” according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, who says Alabama Child Services have recently gotten involved in the case. Carli’s family says they want Cassie’s young daughter at home with them.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/general-motors-recalls-more-than-680-000-vehicles-due-to-windshield-wipers-defect/39617028
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General Motors recalls more than 680,000 vehicles due to windshield wipers defect
General Motors is recalling more than 680,000 SUVs due to a defect in their windshield wipers.
The 2014 to 2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles are being recalled because the the windshield wipers could fall, due to the chance of its ball joints corroding or wearing away.
The action covers 681,509 units, according to a release by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which added that an estimated 1% of cars have the defect.
"General Motors is voluntarily recalling certain 2014-2015 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to replace the front windshield wiper-modules in these vehicles," said Daniel Flores, a GM communications manager.
The NHTSA said owners will receive notification letters on May 2. Dealers will repair or replace the windshield wipers at no cost to the SUVs' owners.
GM issued the same recall in 2017 for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, saying at the time that ball joints in the compact SUVs' windshield wipers "may experience high corrosion."
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It's official! The winner of the Florida Sheriff's Association first-ever March Madness contest is K9 Junny with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.More than 179,000 people voted in the FSA's March Madness competition which involved dozens of deputy K9s, five rounds over two weeks.Junny, Brevard's comfort dog and ambassador, has been with the department for eight years serving at schools and special events as Sheriff Wayne Ivey's shadow dog.The sheriff's office attributed Junny's victory to the community's support. It was an all-Bloodhound final round as Junny faced K-9 Waylon from Highlands County. But K9 Junny came out on top, leading by more than 1,200 votes."Regardless if they were German Shepherds, Bloodhounds, Golden Retrievers, Malinois or others, they are heroes who impact and save lives every day. Thank you again for everyone that voted and participated in the tournament and congratulations Junny, you have made us proud," Sheriff Ivey wrote on Facebook. Junny has been a fierce advocate for animal rights. He played a pivotal role in the county's Report Animal Abuse Awareness campaign which reminded residents that not everyone can call 911. "It takes a community to protect his community of furry friends," Junny said via the sheriff's office.An awards ceremony is in the works for the winners.
It's official! The winner of the Florida Sheriff's Association first-ever March Madness contest is K9 Junny with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.
More than 179,000 people voted in the FSA's March Madness competition which involved dozens of deputy K9s, five rounds over two weeks.
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Junny, Brevard's comfort dog and ambassador, has been with the department for eight years serving at schools and special events as Sheriff Wayne Ivey's shadow dog.
The sheriff's office attributed Junny's victory to the community's support.
It was an all-Bloodhound final round as Junny faced K-9 Waylon from Highlands County. But K9 Junny came out on top, leading by more than 1,200 votes.
"Regardless if they were German Shepherds, Bloodhounds, Golden Retrievers, Malinois or others, they are heroes who impact and save lives every day. Thank you again for everyone that voted and participated in the tournament and congratulations Junny, you have made us proud," Sheriff Ivey wrote on Facebook.
Junny has been a fierce advocate for animal rights. He played a pivotal role in the county's Report Animal Abuse Awareness campaign which reminded residents that not everyone can call 911.
Hearst OwnedBrevard County Sheriff's Office
Major Junny unloading signs
"It takes a community to protect his community of furry friends," Junny said via the sheriff's office.
An awards ceremony is in the works for the winners.
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20220402
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https://www.wesh.com/article/rare-nasa-lunar-dust-collected-by-neil-armstrong-on-the-apollo-11-mission-up-for-auction/39617191
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Rare NASA lunar dust collected by Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 mission is up for auction
Most people want to get rid of dirt, but this special sample of lunar dust is out of this world.
Particles of lunar dust collected by Neil Armstrong in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission are up for auction this month.
Bonhams, the auction company in charge of the sale, estimated the sample to be worth between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
It's the only known lunar dust sample from Apollo 11 that can legally be sold, making it difficult for the auction house to estimate its value, according to Bonhams specialist Adam Stackhouse.
To determine the price range, Stackhouse looked at the other few lunar dust samples that have been sold as well as the significance of the historic event from which it originated.
"I think this estimate gives it a sense of importance," he said, "but it's really difficult to say where it will sell."
The auction is not until mid-April, but people are already expressing interest, according to Stackhouse.
A controversial past
This particular Apollo 11 relic created some bad blood between its owner and NASA.
Armstrong brought the bag of lunar dust back to Earth, but NASA lost the bag after a loan-out to a museum. It became part of seized property when a space museum director was convicted of fraud and theft.
It ended up being auctioned off by the U.S. Marshalls Service to Illinois resident Nancy Lee Carlson in 2015 for $995.
She sent the bag to NASA for help identifying where it came from, Stackhouse said. Once NASA realized the significance of the bag, the space agency refused to return it to Carlson, he said.
Carlson sued NASA and won, forcing agency officials to return the bag.
Auctioneer Sotheby's sold the bag separately for $1.8 million in 2017.
Carlson is now looking to sell five metal pieces with lunar dust on top that are still in a container from NASA, Stackhouse said.
The auction company independently tested the material to confirm it indeed came from the moon, Stackhouse said.
Bonhams is selling the piece of space history on Carlson's behalf, but she didn't share with Stackhouse why she was interested in offering it for auction.
Officials at NASA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Other items up for sale
If you don't have $1 million lying around, the auction house will be selling other space memorabilia — albeit still expensive.
One item is a fragment of Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite the Soviet Union launched into the Earth's orbit in 1957. It's valued at $80,000 to $120,000.
Bonhams will also be selling a map of the moon signed by 15 Apollo astronauts, including Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. It's valued at $20,000 to $30,000.
If you're interested in attending the auction, it will be held April 13 at Bonhams New York gallery.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/why-this-recent-change-just-made-it-harder-to-buy-or-sell-an-apartment/39616310
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Why this recent change just made it harder to buy or sell an apartment
New rules rolled out earlier this year by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are creating a bottleneck in the real estate market for those seeking to buy or sell condo or co-op apartments, according to agents and condo associations.
The new rules are intended to address concerns about aging building infrastructure in the wake of the collapse of Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida, last year. In order to protect buyers and lenders, the rules ask condo and co-op boards to disclose any known significant deferred maintenance issues that may impact the safety and structural integrity of the building and the financial plans for addressing them, according to Fannie Mae.
"Freddie Mac's requirements are designed to help ensure residential buildings with aging infrastructure are safe for its residents and that condos and co-ops needing critical repairs have a plan to do so," a Freddie Mac spokesperson said.
But many condo and co-op associations are refusing to fill out the form. That's preventing buyers and sellers from closing deals.
Condo associations say they find the required documentation burdensome and are worried the discussion of reserve funds and building integrity puts them at risk of liability, said Nancy T. Polomis, a Minnesota attorney who represents condo boards. Critics also object to the one-size-fits-all form that applies to all buildings with five or more attached units without distinctions for the type, location, or age of a building, she said.
"It seems like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac took a big chunk to deal with a small bite problem," Polomis said.
While lenders and condo boards are in a standoff, it is sellers and buyers who are suffering, as their deals fall apart because their lenders won't close the loans without the completed forms.
Freddie and Fannie guarantee or buy mortgages from lenders, making the loan less of a risk to issue. If the loan doesn't meet the new requirements and the mortgage giants won't back it, the lender often won't issue the loan.
"If I were a homeowner trying to sell my condo and this was preventing me from doing so, I would be furious," said Polomis. "I'd be upset with my association, but the association board has a fiduciary duty to do what is best for the entire association. Everyone is doing a dance of balancing the risk and liabilities."
Buyers and sellers in a bind
The temporary rules, which went into effect at the beginning of January for Fannie Mae and at the end of February for Freddie Mac, are expected to become permanent. And they are already having an impact on the market, said Chris Muellenbach, a broker with Compass.
"The condo associations are outright refusing to fill out the addendum," said Muellenbach. "It is happening regularly and it will continue to happen."
An $850,000 condo in Milwaukee was perfect for a couple Muellenbach was working with. But the building's board would not complete the additional form, preventing the buyers' loan from closing and threatening to derail the sale.
That left the buyers with two options: pay cash for the property or find a lender that is going to hold the loan. Banks, credit unions, and private lenders may offer loans that aren't guaranteed by the mortgage giants, but they often carry a higher interest rate.
Muellenbach's buyers opted to purchase with cash and complete the transaction. But most buyers can't afford to do that.
"If you are struggling to buy a $140,000 condo, you don't have the resources for that," he said.
Muellenbach said he is reaching out to smaller local lenders who have better firsthand knowledge of area buildings than large national mortgage companies located in other parts of the country.
"There is a small handful of local banks here that will close the loan for people buying condos," he said.
But ultimately it is the sellers who will feel it most, he said, because the new rule cuts deeply into the pool of potential buyers for their apartments.
"I feel for the sellers because of the money they have to leave on the table," said Muellenbach. "The number of potential buyers has decreased significantly. If they can't get a conventional loan on the place, you're losing out on a lot of buyers."
Condo associations request delay
The rules are causing such confusion that a national organization representing condo associations has requested the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the government regulator that oversees Fannie and Freddie, pause the rules for a year.
"Creditworthy borrowers have been denied credit to purchase homes and refinance mortgages in condominium and cooperative projects with no safety, soundness, structural integrity, or habitability concerns because of the temporary guidelines," wrote the Community Associations Institute in a letter to FHFA.
Dawn M. Bauman, CAI's senior vice president of government and public affairs, said the rules may have the unintended effect of pushing more cash buyers, including investors, into the condo market at a time when inventory is very low.
"Condos are an affordable housing option in many markets, especially for first-time homebuyers, people with moderate income levels and seniors," said Bauman. "People coming in with all-cash offers are not the people who need affordable options."
An FHFA spokesperson said the agency is committed to ensuring and prioritizing the financial and physical safety of borrowers and occupants of condominiums and cooperatives.
"The tragic June 2021 collapse of the Surfside condominium project demonstrated the need to strengthen measures to protect borrowers and occupants of condominiums and cooperatives and reduce the risks to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," the spokesperson said.
The policy changes that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac implemented earlier this year increase standards for condos and the amount of relevant information needed from building managers in an effort to reduce the negative financial impacts to borrowers when a building's reserves are not adequately funded, also to minimize the potential loss of life due to major deferred maintenance, the spokesperson said.
FHFA said it is working with the mortgage giants to minimize industry disruptions related to the questionnaires so that condominium associations, lenders, and others more clearly understand the policy changes as it considers appropriate permanent policies.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/kansas-returns-to-ncaa-championship-game-for-first-time-since-2012-after-beating-villanova-in-final-four/39617529
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NEWS. NOW AHEAD OF THE BIG GAME TOMORROW AND HOPEFULLY MONDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP. THE CITY OF LAWRENCE IS BLOCKING OFF PART OF MASS STREET. THAT’S RIGHT AHEAD OF ANY POTENTIAL CELEBRATIONS, RIGHT? CAMBONYS OSBORNE AUGUSTINE LIVE IN LAWRENCE TO TELL US WHAT DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW GOING INTO THIS WEEKEND. HEY MARTIN, YEAH, GOOD MORNING CODY WITH THE CONSISTENT SUCCESS OF KU’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM THE CITY OF LAWRENCE. HAS HAD PLENTY OF PRACTICE ABRBSOING ALL THE PEOPLE ATTH WERE THAT WILL POUR INTO MASTERY SHOULD KU WIN THAT GAME ON SATURDAY. SO WITH THAT IN MIND. INKTH TOMORROW MORNING AT 6:00 DAN UNTIL TWO HOURS BEFORE TIP OFF. THAT’LL BE AUTBO THREE O’CLOCK TOMORROW AFTERNOON THE CITY WILL CLOSE MASS STREET FROM H6T STREET TO 11TH STREET THEN AT THAT TIME AGAIN AROUND THREE IN ETH AFTERNOON. THE MASTERYLO CSURE WILL EXTEND SOUTH TO SOUTH PARK STREET 6TH STREET WILL REMAIN OPEN ALL DAY FOR THREE TRAFFIC NINTH AND 11TH STREETS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR THREE TRAFFIC UNTIL TWO HOURS PRIOR TO TIP UP AGAIN ABOUT THREE IN THE AFTERNOON. SO IKUF THIS GAME ON SATURDAY THE CITY WILL HEAV PEOPLE POURING INTO MASTERY. THEY’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO BACK IN 2008 THE VIDEO YOU'R’ SEEING HERE BY SOME ESTIMATE SOME 80,000 PEOPLE POURED INTO MASS STREET AFTER THE JAYHAWKS WON THE NATNALIO CHAMPIONSHIP THAT YEAR IF YOU’RE PARKED UNMASTERY TOMORROW MORNING AFTER 6:00 AM YOUR CAR’S GONNA BE TOWED. IT’LL BE TAKEN TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT AT 11TH AND VERMONT. THIS IS A COURTESY TOE. YOU’LL JUST BE ABLE TO PICK UP YOUR CAR THERE. HES I ASKING THAT THERE BE NO ROOFTOP ACTIVITIES NO ROOFTOP PARTIES HERE ALONG MTEASRY. WE SEE THAT ALL THE TIME THOUGH. THEYSK A THAT NOT HAPPEN HOUR FOR SAFETY REASONS AND THE CITY DOES WARTHN AT ALL PARKING LAWS WILL BE ENFORCED. REPORTING LIVE IN LAENWRCE MARTIN AUGUSTINE CAMEOS NIGHT NEWS. ALL RIGHT, I LIKE MARTIN W
Kansas returns to NCAA championship game for first time since 2012 after beating Villanova in Final Four
Updated: 8:26 PM EDT Apr 2, 2022
David McCormack muscled his way to 25 points, Ochai Agbaji was nearly perfect from the field and added 21 points, and hot-shooting Kansas raced to a big early lead before withstanding every Villanova run for a 81-65 victory Saturday night that sent the Jayhawks back to the national title game.Christian Braun also had 10 points, including a key 3-pointer to ward off a comeback late in the game, as the Jayhawks (33-6) exacted a measure of revenge for a Final Four beatdown by the Wildcats four years ago in San Antonio.Now, they hope to follow a familiar pattern against Duke or North Carolina on Monday night. The last three times that the Jayhawks and Wildcats have met in the tournament, the winner has gone on to cut down the nets.Playing without injured guard Justin Moore, Villanova (31-7) watched the lone No. 1 seed to reach the semifinals score the game's first 10 points and eventually build a 19-point cushion. And despite big nights from Collin Gillespie, Brandon Slater and Jermaine Samuels, the short-handed and undersized Wildcats never made it all the way back.Gillespie, playing in his 156th game for the Wildcats, hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, while Slater hit four 3s and had 16 points. Samuels finished with 13 points in the final game of his college career.
NEW ORLEANS — David McCormack muscled his way to 25 points, Ochai Agbaji was nearly perfect from the field and added 21 points, and hot-shooting Kansas raced to a big early lead before withstanding every Villanova run for a 81-65 victory Saturday night that sent the Jayhawks back to the national title game.
Christian Braun also had 10 points, including a key 3-pointer to ward off a comeback late in the game, as the Jayhawks (33-6) exacted a measure of revenge for a Final Four beatdown by the Wildcats four years ago in San Antonio.
Now, they hope to follow a familiar pattern against Duke or North Carolina on Monday night. The last three times that the Jayhawks and Wildcats have met in the tournament, the winner has gone on to cut down the nets.
Playing without injured guard Justin Moore, Villanova (31-7) watched the lone No. 1 seed to reach the semifinals score the game's first 10 points and eventually build a 19-point cushion. And despite big nights from Collin Gillespie, Brandon Slater and Jermaine Samuels, the short-handed and undersized Wildcats never made it all the way back.
Gillespie, playing in his 156th game for the Wildcats, hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, while Slater hit four 3s and had 16 points. Samuels finished with 13 points in the final game of his college career.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/north-carolina-takes-down-duke-81-77-advances-to-ncaa-championship-game/39617763
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North Carolina takes down Duke 81-77, advances to NCAA championship game
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s remarkable career came to thrilling and sudden close Saturday night after Caleb Love made a key 3-pointer and three late free throws to lift archrival North Carolina to a thrill-a-minute 81-77 victory over the Blue Devils.
This was the 258th, most consequential and maybe, just maybe, the very best meeting between these teams, whose arenas are separated by a scant 11 miles down in Tobacco Road.
The Tar Heels (29-9), of all teams, pinned the 368th and final loss on the 75-year-old Coach K, exactly four weeks after they ruined the going-away party in his final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
That loss hurt. This one stopped the coach’s last-gasp, storybook run one win away from a title game and a chance at his sixth championship. When it was over, after playing through the nip-and-tuck stretch run without a timeout, Krzyzewski walked calmly to halfcourt and shook the hand of Carolina's rookie coach, Hubert Davis.
On Monday, Carolina will play Kansas for the title. The Jayhawks beat Villanova 81-65 earlier in the undercard.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/thousands-stranded-at-oia-after-multiple-cancellations-delays/39617733
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Thousands stranded at OIA after multiple cancellations, delays
Thousands of passengers were stranded at Orlando International Airport on Saturday after a bevy of flight cancellations and delays, mostly due to weather.
Thousands of passengers were stranded at Orlando International Airport on Saturday after a bevy of flight cancellations and delays, mostly due to weather.
Thousands of passengers were stranded at Orlando International Airport on Saturday after a bevy of flight cancellations and delays, mostly due to weather.
Thousands of passengers were stranded at Orlando International Airport on Saturday after a bevy of flight cancellations and delays, mostly due to weather.
People waited in long lines for hours to book the next available flight. 140 flights were canceled and 71 were delayed at 10 p.m. on Saturday
"We were scheduled to leave out of here today at 2 O'clock and they pushed our flight back until Monday now so we have to pay for our own hotel," passenger Brian Williams said.
The line to check-in at Southwest Airlines stretched past the food court at one point.
Some of the passengers were told the next available plane wouldn't leave as far as two to five days later.
"We went to Disney World we haven't been here for many years and after the pandemic we finally got a chance to come down and now we're stuck," passenger Joseph Russell said. "Stuck here until Tuesday – at least at least and we'll see if that's even available after this line."
In a statement sent to WESH 2, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said in part: "Looks like the terrible weather across your part of the state is very much a factor in what you’re seeing at OIA. Prior to the storms all around you this evening (and the lightning-triggered ramp closures, and thunderstorms bringing airspace congestion and aircraft routing delays affecting all airlines), some of our earliest departing flights this morning were delayed, and a handful of them canceled, after routine overnight maintenance on our technology systems. Some aircraft continue to be operating behind schedule.
In addition to additional flexibility for travel this weekend, coast to coast to coast, we’re offering heartfelt apologies to every Customer inconvenienced by these delays, and gratitude to our Employees in Orlando and elsewhere who are working diligently to take care of them. We’ll continue to update Customers whose journey with us today might be delayed, and work with them through their individual situations."
Spring breakers were not only concerned about how they were going to get back home, but when.
"You're going to give me a $200 love voucher it's not going to cut it. Especially when I have to pay $500 a night for a room," Southwest Airlines passenger Andrea Williams said. "My kids are going to miss school Monday, my son he just had final surgery, he's supposed to go to physical therapy he's going to miss that on Monday…so how are they accommodate me with that?"
Some of the passengers expressed concern over missing school and work.
"I've got classes I've got to get to and so does [my sister] so right now the best option we got is probably rent a car and make the 16-hour drive back to Missouri," Russell said.
Along with weather, the pandemic has increased staffing challenges. OIA warned passengers about flight and baggage delivery delays due to weather on its Twitter page and advised people to check with their airline for updates.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/2-people-struck-by-lightning-outside-a-spring-training-game-florida/39618083
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2 people were struck by lightning outside a spring training game in Florida
Two people were rushed to the hospital after being struck by lightning Saturday while leaving a New York Yankees spring training game in Florida, police said.
A man in his 60s and a woman in her 20s were struck in the parking lot of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. They were taken to a hospital and were stable, Tampa Police spokesperson Jamel Lanee' said in a statement.
No other details were released.
The Tampa Bay area was under a slight risk of severe weather Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Possible tornadoes, strong winds and hail were forecast, the NWS said.
The odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are about 1 in 500,000, according to2013 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Florida is considered the nation's "lightning capital," with more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years, the CDC explained.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/crisis-in-ukraine-april-3-2022/39618189
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Residents of Ukraine’s besieged southeastern coast awaited possible evacuation Sunday as the country’s president said Russia’s obsession with capturing a key port city had left it weakened and created opportunities for his military.Two loud explosions were heard in Odesa on the Black Sea early Sunday and black smoke was seen rising above the city, Ukraine’s largest port where its navy is headquartered.“Odesa was attacked from the air. Some missiles were shot down by air defense,” the city council said in a brief statement on the Telegram messaging app. It said fires were reported in some areas but gave no indication what was hit in the attack.Here's the latest on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as of 5:20 a.m. (Eastern):The Russian military says it has struck an oil processing plant and fuel depots around the strategic Black Sea port of Odesa. The regional governor in Kharkiv said Russian troops have continued shelling the city in northeast Ukraine.Carla Del Ponte, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has called for an international arrest warrant to be issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a war criminal in an interview published Saturday in Swiss newspaper Le Temps.The secretary of Ukraine's national security council has denied that the country was responsible for a reported attack on a Russian fuel depot. The U.N. refugee agency says more than 4 million people have now fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, a new milestone in the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.With Mariupol to the east of Odesa squarely in Russia’s crosshairs, Ukraine insists it has gained a leg up elsewhere in the country, leading to troops retaking territory north of the capital of Kyiv as Russian forces departed.“Ukraine has gained invaluable time, time that is allowing us to foil the enemy’s tactics and weaken its capabilities,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday.Inside Mariupol, though, surrounded by Russian forces for more than a month and brutalized by some of the war’s worst attacks, conditions remain dire and prospects for escape uncertain.About 100,000 people are believed to remain in the Sea of Azov city, less than a quarter its prewar population of 430,000, and dire shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine persist.Many still in Mariupol await fulfillment of promises to help them reach safety. Among those trying to get residents out was the International Committee of the Red Cross, which still hadn’t reached the city on Saturday, a day after local authorities said it had been blocked by Russian forces.Some residents escaped on their own, including Tamila Mazurenko, who reached Zaporizhzhia, a city still under Ukrainian control that has served as a hub for other evacuations.“I have only one question: Why?” she said of her city’s ordeal. “Our normal life was destroyed. And we lost everything. I don’t have any job, I can’t find my son.”Mariupol is in the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian troops for eight years. Its capture would create an unbroken land corridor from Russia to Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.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As Ukrainian troops moved cautiously to retake territory north of Kyiv, the country and its Western allies said Russia is building strength in eastern Ukraine. Where Russian troops recede, Ukraine said it would continue its attacks, shelling and targeting them as they pull out.“Peace will not be the result of any decisions the enemy makes somewhere in Moscow. There is no need to entertain empty hopes that they will simply leave our land. We can only have peace by fighting,” Zelenskyy said.Though the geography of the battlefield morphed, little changed for many Ukrainians more than five weeks into a war that has sent more than 4 million people fleeing the country as refugees.Zelenskyy alleged that as Russian troops have shifted, they’ve left mines around homes, abandoned equipment and even the bodies of the dead. Those claims could not be independently verified, but Ukrainian troops were seen heeding the warning.In Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Associated Press journalists watched as Ukrainian soldiers, backed by a column of tanks and other armored vehicles, used cables to drag bodies off of a street from a distance for fear they may have been booby-trapped. Locals said the dead — AP counted at least six — were civilians killed without provocation by departing Russian soldiers.Video: Refugees fleeing Ukraine arrive in PolandIn towns and cities surrounding Kyiv, signs of fierce fighting were everywhere in the wake of the Russian redeployment. Destroyed armored vehicles from both armies lay in streets and fields along with scattered military gear.Ukrainian troops were stationed at the entrance to Antonov Airport in the suburb of Hostomel, demonstrating control of the runway that Russia tried to storm in the first days of the war.Inside the compound, the Mriya, one of the biggest planes ever built, lay wrecked underneath a hangar pockmarked with holes from the February attack.“The Russians couldn’t make one like it so they destroyed it,“ said Oleksandr Merkushev, mayor of nearby Irpin.The head of Ukraine’s delegation in talks with Russia said Moscow’s negotiators informally agreed to most of a draft proposal discussed during face-to-face talks in Istanbul this week, but no written confirmation has been provided. However, Davyd Arakhamia said on Ukrainian TV that he hopes that draft is developed enough so that the two countries’ presidents can meet to discuss it.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Even as flickers of hope emerged for Ukraine in some places, Zelenskyy said he expects towns where Russian forces depart to endure missile and rocket strikes from afar and for the battle in the east to be intense. In his evening address Saturday, he called for his people to do whatever they can to ensure the country’s survival, even acts as simple as showing each other kindness.“When a nation is defending itself in a war of annihilation, when it is a question of life or death of millions, there are no unimportant things. ... And everyone can contribute to a victory for all,” the president said. “Some with weapons in their hands. Some by working. And some with a warm word and help at the right moment. Do everything you can so we stand together in this war for our freedom, for our independence.”
Residents of Ukraine’s besieged southeastern coast awaited possible evacuation Sunday as the country’s president said Russia’s obsession with capturing a key port city had left it weakened and created opportunities for his military.
Two loud explosions were heard in Odesa on the Black Sea early Sunday and black smoke was seen rising above the city, Ukraine’s largest port where its navy is headquartered.
“Odesa was attacked from the air. Some missiles were shot down by air defense,” the city council said in a brief statement on the Telegram messaging app. It said fires were reported in some areas but gave no indication what was hit in the attack.
Here's the latest on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as of 5:20 a.m. (Eastern):
- The Russian military says it has struck an oil processing plant and fuel depots around the strategic Black Sea port of Odesa.
- The regional governor in Kharkiv said Russian troops have continued shelling the city in northeast Ukraine.
- Carla Del Ponte, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has called for an international arrest warrant to be issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a war criminal in an interview published Saturday in Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
- The secretary of Ukraine's national security council has denied that the country was responsible for a reported attack on a Russian fuel depot.
- The U.N. refugee agency says more than 4 million people have now fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, a new milestone in the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
With Mariupol to the east of Odesa squarely in Russia’s crosshairs, Ukraine insists it has gained a leg up elsewhere in the country, leading to troops retaking territory north of the capital of Kyiv as Russian forces departed.
“Ukraine has gained invaluable time, time that is allowing us to foil the enemy’s tactics and weaken its capabilities,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday.
Inside Mariupol, though, surrounded by Russian forces for more than a month and brutalized by some of the war’s worst attacks, conditions remain dire and prospects for escape uncertain.
About 100,000 people are believed to remain in the Sea of Azov city, less than a quarter its prewar population of 430,000, and dire shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine persist.
Many still in Mariupol await fulfillment of promises to help them reach safety. Among those trying to get residents out was the International Committee of the Red Cross, which still hadn’t reached the city on Saturday, a day after local authorities said it had been blocked by Russian forces.
Some residents escaped on their own, including Tamila Mazurenko, who reached Zaporizhzhia, a city still under Ukrainian control that has served as a hub for other evacuations.
“I have only one question: Why?” she said of her city’s ordeal. “Our normal life was destroyed. And we lost everything. I don’t have any job, I can’t find my son.”
Mariupol is in the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian troops for eight years. Its capture would create an unbroken land corridor from Russia to Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.
As Ukrainian troops moved cautiously to retake territory north of Kyiv, the country and its Western allies said Russia is building strength in eastern Ukraine. Where Russian troops recede, Ukraine said it would continue its attacks, shelling and targeting them as they pull out.
“Peace will not be the result of any decisions the enemy makes somewhere in Moscow. There is no need to entertain empty hopes that they will simply leave our land. We can only have peace by fighting,” Zelenskyy said.
Though the geography of the battlefield morphed, little changed for many Ukrainians more than five weeks into a war that has sent more than 4 million people fleeing the country as refugees.
Zelenskyy alleged that as Russian troops have shifted, they’ve left mines around homes, abandoned equipment and even the bodies of the dead. Those claims could not be independently verified, but Ukrainian troops were seen heeding the warning.
In Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Associated Press journalists watched as Ukrainian soldiers, backed by a column of tanks and other armored vehicles, used cables to drag bodies off of a street from a distance for fear they may have been booby-trapped. Locals said the dead — AP counted at least six — were civilians killed without provocation by departing Russian soldiers.
Video: Refugees fleeing Ukraine arrive in Poland
In towns and cities surrounding Kyiv, signs of fierce fighting were everywhere in the wake of the Russian redeployment. Destroyed armored vehicles from both armies lay in streets and fields along with scattered military gear.
Ukrainian troops were stationed at the entrance to Antonov Airport in the suburb of Hostomel, demonstrating control of the runway that Russia tried to storm in the first days of the war.
Inside the compound, the Mriya, one of the biggest planes ever built, lay wrecked underneath a hangar pockmarked with holes from the February attack.
“The Russians couldn’t make one like it so they destroyed it,“ said Oleksandr Merkushev, mayor of nearby Irpin.
The head of Ukraine’s delegation in talks with Russia said Moscow’s negotiators informally agreed to most of a draft proposal discussed during face-to-face talks in Istanbul this week, but no written confirmation has been provided. However, Davyd Arakhamia said on Ukrainian TV that he hopes that draft is developed enough so that the two countries’ presidents can meet to discuss it.
Even as flickers of hope emerged for Ukraine in some places, Zelenskyy said he expects towns where Russian forces depart to endure missile and rocket strikes from afar and for the battle in the east to be intense. In his evening address Saturday, he called for his people to do whatever they can to ensure the country’s survival, even acts as simple as showing each other kindness.
“When a nation is defending itself in a war of annihilation, when it is a question of life or death of millions, there are no unimportant things. ... And everyone can contribute to a victory for all,” the president said. “Some with weapons in their hands. Some by working. And some with a warm word and help at the right moment. Do everything you can so we stand together in this war for our freedom, for our independence.”
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Man and child injured during drive-by shooting in Orlando
A man and a child were hurt during a drive-by shooting in Orlando
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Man and child injured during drive-by shooting in Orlando
A man and a child were hurt during a drive-by shooting in Orlando
A man and child were injured in a drive-by shooting in Orlando, according to Orlando Police.Witnesses say the suspect shot at three people as they were walking into a restaurant on South Kirkman Road just before midnight Saturday.Both victims were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.This is an active investigation. No suspect information has been released.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A man and child were injured in a drive-by shooting in Orlando, according to Orlando Police.
Witnesses say the suspect shot at three people as they were walking into a restaurant on South Kirkman Road just before midnight Saturday.
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Both victims were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
This is an active investigation. No suspect information has been released.
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These are the stars who could score big at the Grammys
Several Grammy Awards performers such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Jon Batiste have a chance to carve their names in the show's history books Sunday.
Through her song “Happier Than Ever,” Eilish could become the first artist ever to win record of the year three times in a row, and the only artist along with Paul Simon to take home the award three times. She’s in position to join Adele as the only artists to ever win three major categories — record, song and album of the year — twice. She previously won for “Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted.”
Trevor Noah returns for a second time as Grammys host. The ceremony shifted from Los Angeles to Las Vegas because of rising COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant in January, with organizers citing “too many risks” to hosting the performance-filled show at the time.
If Eilish wins in all her seven nominated categories, she’ll be the woman with the most Grammys won in a single year (H.E.R., Doja Cat and Rodrigo could do the same). But that might be a tough feat with Eilish facing some stiff competition for the show’s top prize — album of the year — which was expanded to 10 nominees.
Eilish is up for best music film with her concert documentary “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles.” But in that same category includes Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s “Summer of Soul,” which recently won an Oscar for best documentary.
Even if Eilish comes away with six wins, she’ll be tied with Beyoncé and Adele — which is not bad company to be in.
Rodrigo has an opportunity to join Eilish and Christopher Cross as the only artists to win all four major categories (best new artist, album, record and song of the year). The 19-year-old “drivers license” singer could be following Eilish’s remarkable record by becoming the second-youngest album of the year winner with “Sour.”
The only person who could win the most Grammys in one night is Jon Batiste, who enters the awards with a leading 11 nominations. If Batiste wins in eight categories, he will tie Michael Jackson and rock band Santana for the record.
Batiste, a multi-genre performer and Oscar winner, might have a hard time pulling that off with the competition in record and album of the year categories. He could pull away in the jazz, American roots music and classical fields.
H.E.R., who won song of the year last year for “I Can’t Breathe,” could go back-to-back. She’s nominated this year for the soulful “Fight for You,” whose poignant lyrics from the “Judas and the Black Messiah” soundtrack were written by H.E.R., producer D’Mile and singer Tiara Thomas. It won an Academy Award for best original song last year.
The awards will be without several big names: Drake and The Weeknd both decided to not take part in the Grammys, at all. Ye, who changed his name from Kanye West, said he was told that his act was pulled from the show.
It might be a bittersweet moment for the Foo Fighters following the recent death of its drummer Taylor Hawkins. The rock band could extend their record for most best rock album wins with five for “Medicine at Midnight.”
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion will battle to see who becomes the first woman to win best rap performance as a solo artist. Stallion, who won the award with Beyoncé last year, is nominated for her song “Thot S(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk),” while Cardi B is up for her crossover hit “Up.”
Mickey Guyton was the first Black woman to be nominated in best country solo performance last year, and now she’s back in the category again. If she wins, she would be the first Black woman to get that award.
In rap, Jay-Z could extend his record as the most awarded rapper of all time with 23 wins. He’s up for three nomination — two in the best rap song category for his songwriting on DMX’S “Bath Salts” and Kanye West’s “Jail.” He’s also up for album of the year for his guest appearance on West’s “Donda.”
A healthy dose of performers will hit the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, including Silk Sonic, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, Cynthia Erivo, Jack Harlow, Nas, Leslie Odom Jr. and Brothers Osborne.
Artists competing with Eilish for album of the year include Rodrigo, Jon Batiste, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, H.E.R., Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X and Kanye West.
On the production side, Serban Ghenea could tie Al Schmitt as the engineer-mixer with the most Grammys won with 20. He’s won a total 18 trophies in his career and enters the awards with five nominations for his work on Doja Cat’s “Planet Her” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero.” Ghenea also could extend his record as the engineer-mixer with the most album of the year wins at five.
Although 80-plus awards will be handed out — roughly 10 during the live telecast and the rest during the pre-ceremony — viewers are most likely watching for the performances.
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PLACE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THESE DAYS, MOST OF US HAVE HAND SANITIZER IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SPOT FROM OUR NEWSROOM, CARS, KITCHENS, BACKPACKS AND SPORT BAGS. CAN THERE BE SUCH A THING AS USING TOO MUCH OF THE STUFF? DONNA PITMAN LOOKS FOR ANSWERS. DONNA: BY NOW, WE ALL KNOW SOAP, WATER, AND TWENTY SECONDS IS BEST WHEN WE CAN GET TO A SINK, WE TURN TO THIS. HAND SANITIZER. WITH MORE KIDS IN SPRING ACTIVITIES AND HEADING INT SUMMER COULD THEY USE TOO MUCH? ,> THESE ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZERS CONTA EITHER ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, RUBBING ALCOHOL OR ETHYL ALCOHOL. THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES GOING BACK AT LEAST 15 YEARS THAT WHEN YOU USE IT APPROPRIATELY ON YOUR HANDS ONLY THE ALCOH DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL. DONNA: DOCTOR ROBYN LIVINGSTON IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN AT CHILDREN’S MERCY. SHE SAYS HAND SANITIZER, THE ALCOHOL IN IT DOES NOT GET INTO , A PERSON’S BLOOD STREAM. THOUGH THERE CAN BE SKIN IRRITATON. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU USE ONE WITH A FRAGRANCE ADDED, IT COU CAUSE THAT. STAY AWAY FROM ANY WITH A FRAGMENT -- FRAGRANCE. YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY ALCOHOL-BASED HA RUB, THAT WILL FORM -- FUNCTION AS A MOISTURIZER. DONNA: GOOD TO KNOW FOR THOSE MOMENTS OPEN WATER AREN’T AT THE READY. DONNA PITMAN KMBC 9 NEWS. CODY: DR. LIVINGSTON REMINDS US HAND SANITIZER DOES EXPIRE.
Disney-branded hand sanitizers are being recalled. Here's what to know
Updated: 9:21 AM EDT Apr 3, 2022
Two lots of Disney-branded hand sanitizer featuring Mickey Mouse and baby Yoda from The Mandalorian have been voluntarily recalled by Best Brands Consumer Products, according to a company statement shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).FDA testing detected the presence of benzene in The Mandalorian branded product and methanol in the Mickey Mouse version. The company was notified of the results in late February.Benzene is a carcinogen, and substantial exposure can cause leukemia, blood cancer of the bone marrow, and life-threatening blood disorders, the FDA said.Substantial exposure to methanol can cause serious health problems, including nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, or death. The FDA noted "young children who accidentally ingest these products, and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning."The affected lots of hand sanitizer had already been taken off the market for "unrelated commercial reasons" and the company has received no complaints from customers about the Disney-themed products, according to Best Brands. Both lots were produced by a third-party manufacturer, according to the company statement.The company warned customers to stop using and discard any items they have from lot 20E21, with an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2022, of The Mandalorian hand sanitizer, that contains 68% ethyl alcohol and is available in green and blue 2.11 fl oz bottles.The Mickey Mouse hand sanitizer from lot 20D21, with a June, 30, 2022, expiry, in blue, 2.11 fl oz bottles should also be discarded.Customers who experience problems with the product can also report their experiences to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
Two lots of Disney-branded hand sanitizer featuring Mickey Mouse and baby Yoda from The Mandalorian have been voluntarily recalled by Best Brands Consumer Products, according to a company statement shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA testing detected the presence of benzene in The Mandalorian branded product and methanol in the Mickey Mouse version. The company was notified of the results in late February.
Benzene is a carcinogen, and substantial exposure can cause leukemia, blood cancer of the bone marrow, and life-threatening blood disorders, the FDA said.
Substantial exposure to methanol can cause serious health problems, including nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, coma, seizures, permanent blindness, permanent damage to the central nervous system, or death. The FDA noted "young children who accidentally ingest these products, and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning."
The affected lots of hand sanitizer had already been taken off the market for "unrelated commercial reasons" and the company has received no complaints from customers about the Disney-themed products, according to Best Brands. Both lots were produced by a third-party manufacturer, according to the company statement.
The company warned customers to stop using and discard any items they have from lot 20E21, with an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2022, of The Mandalorian hand sanitizer, that contains 68% ethyl alcohol and is available in green and blue 2.11 fl oz bottles.
The Mickey Mouse hand sanitizer from lot 20D21, with a June, 30, 2022, expiry, in blue, 2.11 fl oz bottles should also be discarded.
Customers who experience problems with the product can also report their experiences to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
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Estelle Harris, ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Toy Story’ actor, dies at 93
Estelle Harris, who hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused mother on "Seinfeld" and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise, has died. She was 93.
As middle-class matron Estelle Costanza, Harris put a memorable stamp on her recurring role in the smash 1990s sitcom. With her high-pitched voice and humorously overbearing attitude, she was an archetype of maternal indignation.
Trading insults and absurdities with her on-screen husband, played by Jerry Stiller, Harris helped create a parental pair that would leave even a psychiatrist helpless to do anything but hope they'd move to Florida — as their son, played by Jason Alexander, fruitlessly encouraged them to do.
Harris' agent Michael Eisenstadt confirmed the actor's death in Palm Desert, California, on Saturday evening.
Viewers of all backgrounds would tell her she was just like their own mothers, Harris often said.
The career-defining role came after decades on stage and screen. Born April 22, 1928, in New York City, Harris grew up in the city and later in the Pittsburgh suburb of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, where her father owned a candy store. She started tapping her comedic talents in high school productions where she realized she "could make the audience get hysterical," as she told People magazine in 1995.
After the nine-season run of "Seinfeld" ended in 1998, Harris continued to appear on stage and screen. She voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the 1999 animated blockbuster "Toy Story 2" and played the recurring character Muriel in the popular Disney Channel sitcom "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," among other roles.
She had stopped pursuing show business when she married in the early 1950s but resumed acting in amateur groups, dinner theater and commercials as her three children grew ("I had to get out of diapers and bottles and blah-blah baby talk," she told People). Eventually, she began appearing in guest roles on TV shows including the legal comedy "Night Court," and in films including director Sergio Leone's 1984 gangland epic "Once Upon a Time in America."
Her "Seinfeld" debut came in one of the show's most celebrated episodes: the Emmy Award-winning 1992 "The Contest," in which the four central characters challenge each other to refrain from doing what is artfully described only as "that."
Harris would go on to appear in dozens more episodes of the "show about nothing." She seethed over snubbed paella, screeched about George's hanky-panky in the parental bed and laid out the spread for screen husband Frank's idiosyncratic holiday, Festivus.
"Estelle is a born performer," Stiller told The Record of Bergen County, N.J., in 1998. "I just go with what I got, and she goes back at me the same way."
Still, Harris saw a sympathetic undertone to her character, often saying Estelle fumed out frustration at her bumbling mate and scheming slacker of a son.
Viewers, she told an interviewer in 1998, "just look at her as being funny, cute and a loudmouth. But it's not how I play her. I play her with misery underneath."
She is survived by her three children, three grandsons, and a great grandson.
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'A senseless violent act': Police say 6 dead, at least 9 injured in Sacramento shooting
Warning: Some of the details below are graphic.
Police in California say six people are dead and at least nine others have been injured after a shooting in downtown Sacramento.
The Sacramento Police Department says the shooting happened early Sunday morning.
Video posted on Twitter showed people running through the street as the sound of rapid gunfire could be heard in the background. Video showed multiple ambulances had been sent to the scene.
Police provided few details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting but said in a tweet that a “large police presence will remain and the scene remains active.” Phone messages seeking comment were left with the Sacramento police.
Residents were asked to avoid the area, which is packed with restaurants and bars that leads to the Golden One Center, where the Sacramento Kings play basketball.
Phone messages seeking comment were left with the Sacramento police.
Berry Accius, a community activist, said he came to the scene shortly after the shooting happened.
“The first thing I saw was like victims. I saw a young girl with a whole bunch of blood in her body, a girl taking off glass from her, a young girl screaming saying, ‘They killed my sister.’ A mother running up, ‘Where’s my son, has my son been shot?’“ he said.
Kay Harris, 32, said she was asleep when one of her family members called to say they thought her brother had been killed. She said she thought he was at London, a nightclub at 1009 10th Street.
Harris said she has been to the club a few times and described it as a place for “the younger crowd.”
Police have the streets around the club closed, with yellow police tape fluttering in the early morning breeze. She has spent the morning circling the block waiting for news.
“Very much so a senseless violent act,” she said.
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Biden cites economic gains, but voters see much more to do
Seven months before he faces a critical test from voters in the midterm elections, President Joe Biden is turning his focus to kitchen-table issues as he struggles to get credit for a recovering economy.
Since Biden took office last year, job growth has been vigorous and steady — as he told the country Friday after the March jobs report showed the addition of 431,000 jobs and the unemployment rate falling to a low 3.6%. But those same remarks were also tempered by his recognition that food and gas prices are too high and inflation is at its worst level in a generation.
For Biden, convincing Americans of the progress made in the economic recovery only serves as a salient reminder of how much further the country has to go.
“Our economy has gone from being on the mend, to being on the move,” Biden said, even as he acknowledged Americans are not ready for a victory lap. “I know that this job is not finished: We need to do more to get prices under control.”
At times, Biden’s bifurcated messaging — like the state of the economy itself — can seem like a jumble of contradictions. It leaves voters to piece together their own opinions — potentially to the president's political peril.
Record wage gains of 5.6% over the past year, for example, run up against consumer prices that have risen at 7.9% annually. Biden's announcement this past week of plans to release a million barrels of oil daily from the U.S. strategic reserve over the next six months was a recognition of the harm that inflation can have not just on the economy but his own policy ambitions.
The economic discontent is reflected in Biden's standing in public opinion polls.
Roughly 7 in 10 people in the United States describe the economy as being in poor shape, while nearly two-thirds disapprove of Biden’s economic leadership, according to a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Administration officials and Biden allies happily point to the job creation data as a sign of accomplishment but they are also perturbed by the lingering economic malaise that threatens him with a historically inhospitable environment for a president’s party in a midterm year.
They have advised Biden to spotlight his work to bring down gas prices and forthcoming efforts to try to curtail an increase in food prices from the war raging in the world’s breadbasket of Ukraine.
It is not just the family budget he is targeting. Biden’s latest message to voters is that he can bring the nation’s finances under control too.
His annual budget request highlighted a $1 trillion decrease in the deficit over 10 years, an effort to claim the mantle of fiscal steward even as the reduction was driven by the expiration of COVID-19 relief programs that are no longer necessary and a new plan for a minimum tax on the nation’s billionaires.
“Responsible fiscal accountability is always a priority with voters," said Democratic pollster John Anzalone, who advised Biden's 2020 campaign. “I think people want fiscal accountability. And I don’t think that’s changed over the years.”
Biden aides also hope he can spend more time focusing on other ways that government is working to make concrete changes in peoples’ lives, with infrastructure investments and the improving economy.
Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., said Wednesday after meeting with Biden that his messaging over the past month has clearly targeted moderate voters.
“The State of the Union was spot on in terms of what constituents in our districts, purple districts, are talking about right now,” she said outside the White House. She noted Biden's pivot to addressing mental health issues after the pandemic, while also emphasizing that the president plans to run on infrastructure and job creation.
Voters have interpreted the pandemic, the recession, the burst of government spending, the swift recovery and the inflation that followed with a sense of pessimism.
The University of Michigan’s survey of consumer sentiment included a partisan breakdown of numbers that shows growing anxiety among the Democrats whom Biden needs to turn out in 2022. Democrats’ expectations for the economy have been dropping since July, while independents' expectations for the economy are at the lowest level since 2008 when the country was mired in the Great Recession.
Oil and gasoline prices have been a driver of this skepticism. Crude oil prices started the year at roughly $76 a barrel, spiked to about $124 on March 8 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and appeared to settle just below $100 on Friday after Biden had announced the release from the reserves.
Desmond Lachman, a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, called the market reaction to Biden’s release of petroleum “muted” and noted that “in the short term we are subject to the whims of outside developments like the Russian invasion.”
University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers, whose work is separate from the sentiment survey, noted there is evidence that the public’s perception of inflation may be worse than actual inflation. That’s because gasoline, food and other items where prices are openly displayed are key drivers of higher prices, possibly giving inflation an outsize psychological impact.
Wolfers has done academic work on the impact oil prices have on gubernatorial elections, but he noted that historical comparisons might not work after the financial and cultural impact of a pandemic that has scrambled expectations.
“Were I Biden, I’d be using some version of a ‘better off than you were four years ago,’” Wolfers said. He said voters need to remember June 2020, when the world was gripped by the pandemic, the government was providing misleading information about the pandemic, the economy was terrible and “you also didn’t know whether you were going to die.”
“How do you feel now? That would be the argument,” he said.
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One man dead in Saturday shooting at Pointe Vista Apartments
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One man dead in Saturday shooting at Pointe Vista Apartments
A fight led to shots being fired and one man dead Saturday afternoon, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.Deputies with OCSO responded to a shooting call shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday at Pointe Vista Apartments at 5429 Pointe Vista Circle in Orlando. Witnesses at the scene told authorities that a physical fight between two men led up to the shooting.A man in his 40s was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The investigation is ongoing and OCSO has not released any information regarding a suspect.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A fight led to shots being fired and one man dead Saturday afternoon, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies with OCSO responded to a shooting call shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday at Pointe Vista Apartments at 5429 Pointe Vista Circle in Orlando. Witnesses at the scene told authorities that a physical fight between two men led up to the shooting.
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A man in his 40s was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and OCSO has not released any information regarding a suspect.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/over-capacity-halifax-humane-society-discounts-adoption-fees/39618865
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Over capacity Halifax Humane Society discounts adoption fees
Over capacity Halifax Humane Society discounts adoption fees
SHERIFF’S WEBSITE. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A NEW ADDITION TO YOUR HOUSELDHO YOU CAN HEAD TO HALIFAX HUMANE SOCIETY. THE SHELTER IS OVER CAPACYIT AND OFFERING 50% OFF ADOPTION FEES RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE 17. DOGS 91 CATS ALONG WITH GUINEA PIGS AND RABBITS FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT AND FIND THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOUR FAMILY. QUITE A FEW MIXES. WE HAVE A YOUNG BOXER. WE HEAV A COUPLE OF SHEPHERD MIXES. WE ALSO HAVE SOME HOUND MIXES. WE’VE GOT A LITTLE BITF O EVERYTHING NOT SO MANY LITTLE SMALL DOGS. THEY WANT PRETTY QUICK. BUT OF COURSE THE BIG DSOG TAKE UPHE T MOST SPACE. AND AGAIN, ALL OF OUR KENNELS ARE FULL
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Over capacity Halifax Humane Society discounts adoption fees
The Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach is over capacity, so they've cut 50% off adoption fees for the weekend. With the shelter over capacity, and at the beginning of kitten season, they needed to make extra room for any new arrivals. So they've discounted their adoption fees for the weekend. Scott Lope with Halifax Humane Society said, "we have quite a few mixes, we have a young boxer, we got a couple shepherd mixes, we also have some hound mixes. We've got a little bit of everything."There are 170 dogs, 91 cats, along with guinea pigs and rabbits - all looking for a new home.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —
The Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach is over capacity, so they've cut 50% off adoption fees for the weekend.
With the shelter over capacity, and at the beginning of kitten season, they needed to make extra room for any new arrivals. So they've discounted their adoption fees for the weekend.
Scott Lope with Halifax Humane Society said, "we have quite a few mixes, we have a young boxer, we got a couple shepherd mixes, we also have some hound mixes. We've got a little bit of everything."
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There are 170 dogs, 91 cats, along with guinea pigs and rabbits - all looking for a new home.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/sikh-riders-america-host-charity-ride-support-ukraine/39618804
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CASE FAIRLY. CENTRAL FLORIDIANS CONTINUE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE SEVERAL GROUPS GATHEREDOD TAY FOR A CHARITY RIDE TO SPRDEA THEIR MESSAGE OF SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGENTME QUESTIONS. KELSEY FORD HAS MORE FROM TODAY’S EVENT. A GROUP OF SIKH BIKERS CAME TOGETHER IN SEMINEOL COUNTY SATURDAY FOR A CHARITY RIDE TO SHOW SUPPORT AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE OR JUST ON A SHOW OUR SPORT FOR THEM THAT WE FEEL THEM THE SEEK RIDSER OF AMERICA WAS CREATED YEARS AGO AS A WAY TO EDUCATE. FOR AUTBO SIX AND THEIR RELIGION AT A TIME WHEN MANY WERE THE TARGETS OF HATE CRIMES NOW THE SIKH RIDERS ARESI UNG THEIR PLATRMFO TO HELP ANOTHER PEOPLE UKRAINIANS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK SIKHISM IT TEACHES US, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER NEED A SPORT WE ALWAYS GONNA BE THERE FOR THEM. THAT’S ONE OF OUR PILLAR. THE GROUP ROAD FROM SFOANRD TO ORLANDO ALL TO SHOW THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE. CRANE ORGANIZERS SAY ALL THE MONEY RAISED FROM THE RIDE WILL GO TO THE UNITED. SEEKS A HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY ON THE GRNDOU HELPING THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE DONATIONS ARE POURING FROM EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE WORLD JUST TO YOU KNOW, HELP THEM OUT. AGAIN. THIS ISUS JT TO SHOW A JOURNEY FOR PEOPLE OF A UKRAINEO T SHOW THEM OUR S
Sikh Riders of America host charity ride to support Ukraine
Updated: 10:50 AM EDT Apr 3, 2022
A group of Sikh bikers came together in Seminole County Saturday for a charity ride to show support and raise money for the people of Ukraine.Sikh Riders of America director Gurjit Sidhu said, "We just want to show our support for them. That we feel them." The Sikh Riders of America was created years ago as a way to educate people about Sikhs and their religion at a time when many were the targets of hate crimes. Now the Sikh riders are using their platform to help Ukrainians who are currently under attack.Sidhu, "With Sikhism it teaches us whoever needs support we're always going to be there for them. That's one of our pillars." The group rode from the Harley Davidson dealership in Sanford to Orlando—to show their solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Organizers say all the money raised from the ride will go to the United Sikhs, a humanitarian organization currently on the ground helping the people of Ukraine.Channi Sodhi with United Sikhs said, "Donations are pouring from everywhere, all over the world just to help them out."Sidhu said, "Again, this is just to show our unity for the people of Ukraine, to show them our support."
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A group of Sikh bikers came together in Seminole County Saturday for a charity ride to show support and raise money for the people of Ukraine.
Sikh Riders of America director Gurjit Sidhu said, "We just want to show our support for them. That we feel them."
The Sikh Riders of America was created years ago as a way to educate people about Sikhs and their religion at a time when many were the targets of hate crimes. Now the Sikh riders are using their platform to help Ukrainians who are currently under attack.
Sidhu, "With Sikhism it teaches us whoever needs support we're always going to be there for them. That's one of our pillars."
The group rode from the Harley Davidson dealership in Sanford to Orlando—to show their solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Organizers say all the money raised from the ride will go to the United Sikhs, a humanitarian organization currently on the ground helping the people of Ukraine.
Channi Sodhi with United Sikhs said, "Donations are pouring from everywhere, all over the world just to help them out."
Sidhu said, "Again, this is just to show our unity for the people of Ukraine, to show them our support."
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Tiger Woods says "it will be a game-time decision" on whether he plays at next week's Masters
Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods said "it will be a game-time decision" on whether he will compete at the 2022 Masters, which begins Thursday at Augusta National in Georgia.
"I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice," Woods wrote on Twitter Sunday. "It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete."
The 15-time major winner, who suffered serious leg injuries in a single-vehicle crash in February 2021, has not played an official tournament since the 2020 Masters in November of that year.
Woods' only appearance in competitive golf since the crash was in December 2021 alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes in Florida, where Woods and his son finished second.
The 46-year-old told Golf Digest in November last year he would "never" again compete on the PGA Tour full time, but would instead "pick and choose" events.
"You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that," he said. "And you play. I think that's how I'm going to have to play it from now on.
"It's an unfortunate reality, but it's my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it."
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https://www.wesh.com/article/man-dies-lake-jesup-hit-and-run-crash-ejects-suv/39619377
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Man dies in Lake Jesup after hit-and-run crash ejects him from SUV
One man is dead after a hit-and-run crash with a semi-truck early Sunday morning on the Lake Jesup Bridge, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred on the southbound side of the Lake Jesup Bridge, Florida State Road 417, at about 1:18 a.m. According to investigators, an unknown semi-truck struck the rear of a 2010 Scion SUV in the outside lane. The Scion then hit the concrete wall, rotated, and struck the wall a second time. That collision caused the left rear passenger to be ejected from the vehicle through the rear window, and into the lake.
That passenger, a 60-year-old man from Orlando, was not wearing a seatbelt according to FHP. His body was recovered from the lake by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
A third vehicle, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz, struck the Scion after it hit the wall the second time. The Scion's driver suffered serious injuries, while a second passenger has minor injuries. The driver of the Mercedes sustained minor injuries.
The semi-truck fled the scene and FHP is looking for information about the crash and the truck. Anyone with information about the crash can contact FHP at 407-737-2213 or crimeline.
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A woman in Buckingham county Virginia mistakenly threw out a winning lottery ticket worth $110,000 Mary Elliott picked number is important to her family, but says the ticket was already in the trash when she noticed her numbers matched the winnings one. So she went dumpster diving, she fished it out of the trash and found the bar code no longer works because of a coffee stain. Luckily though officials were able to authenticate it. So she actually had to go in person like to the lottery officials and say, look, here's my ticket and they were able to, can you imagine? Yeah, that's a reason not to drink coffee. I'm just saying, I don't know if I know that's big enough for me. That's crazy talk. But no. Yeah, I would have gotten into the trash to Absolutely if I knew it was a winner to how she, it's interesting to me how she remembered like the numbers were the winning. Like how did she all of a sudden understand that her winning ticket was the winning ticket to because those numbers were important to her. So she probably recognized them all. You're right. Exactly. Well, I'm glad she got it. Okay. What mary Elliott you go girl
Virginia woman realizes she won the lottery after already trashing her ticket
Updated: 3:15 PM EDT Apr 3, 2022
Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone -- or, in this case, thrown away.Mary Elliot of Buckingham County, Virginia, panicked after realizing she had won a state lottery game on February 24 but had already tossed the ticket in the trash."When I saw I'd won, I couldn't stop shaking to save my life!" she said in a Virginia Lottery statement on Tuesday.She immediately began fishing through her garbage in search of the Cash 5 EZ Match game, which she found riddled with coffee stains. In fact, the ticket was in such bad condition, the barcode wouldn't scan to confirm her win.Luckily, officials at Virginia Lottery's Prize Zone West in Henrico were able to verify that Elliot had matched all five winning numbers in the lottery drawing, and awarded her the $110,000 top prize.Cash 5 EZ Match is a rolling jackpot lottery game. The odds of matching all five numbers to win are 1 in 749,398, Virginia Lottery said.
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. — Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone -- or, in this case, thrown away.
Mary Elliot of Buckingham County, Virginia, panicked after realizing she had won a state lottery game on February 24 but had already tossed the ticket in the trash.
"When I saw I'd won, I couldn't stop shaking to save my life!" she said in a Virginia Lottery statement on Tuesday.
She immediately began fishing through her garbage in search of the Cash 5 EZ Match game, which she found riddled with coffee stains. In fact, the ticket was in such bad condition, the barcode wouldn't scan to confirm her win.
Virginia Lottery
Mary Elliot’s ticket was covered in coffee stains and wouldn’t scan.
Luckily, officials at Virginia Lottery's Prize Zone West in Henrico were able to verify that Elliot had matched all five winning numbers in the lottery drawing, and awarded her the $110,000 top prize.
Cash 5 EZ Match is a rolling jackpot lottery game. The odds of matching all five numbers to win are 1 in 749,398, Virginia Lottery said.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/former-us-women-s-soccer-goalkeeper-hope-solo-arrested-on-dwi-misdemeanor-child-abuse-charges/39615268
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Former US women's soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo arrested on DWI, misdemeanor child abuse charges
Former U.S. women's soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo has been arrested in North Carolina on charges of misdemeanor child abuse, resisting arrest and impaired driving, police said.
The Winston-Salem Police Department said in a statement that officers arrested Hope Amelia Stevens, or Hope Solo, on Thursday in the parking lot of a business in the city while she was inside the vehicle with her two children.
Following her arrest, Solo was processed and subsequently released from the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center, according to police.
Due to the impending prosecution, no other information regarding the arrest will be released at this time, police said in a statement.
Rich Nichols, an attorney for Solo, said in a statement emailed to CNN: "On the advice of counsel, Hope can't speak about this situation, but she wants everyone to know that her kids are her life, that she was released immediately and is now at home with her family, that the story is more sympathetic than the initial charges suggest, and that she looks forward to her opportunity to defend these charges."
This is not the first time Solo has been in trouble with the law.
Solo, 40, was arrested in 2014 on domestic assault charges after police said she assaulted two relatives at a home near Seattle. The charges against Solo, who entered a not-guilty plea, were officially dropped in 2018.
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Orlando shooting leads to pursuit Sunday afternoon
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Orlando shooting leads to pursuit Sunday afternoon
Orlando police are investigating what led up to a shooting that ended in a vehicle pursuit Sunday afternoon.According to police, patrol officers responded to a shooting at the 6900 block of Kingspointe Parkway around 2:30 p.m. One vehicle involved in the shooting was seen fleeing the area, and officers began pursuit.That pursuit drove through a portion of International Drive and I-4 before ending at Dr. Phillips Hospital. One person inside the car was taken into the hospital with a gunshot wound, before being airlifted to ORMC in critical condition.Multiple suspects were detained by officers.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Orlando police are investigating what led up to a shooting that ended in a vehicle pursuit Sunday afternoon.
According to police, patrol officers responded to a shooting at the 6900 block of Kingspointe Parkway around 2:30 p.m. One vehicle involved in the shooting was seen fleeing the area, and officers began pursuit.
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That pursuit drove through a portion of International Drive and I-4 before ending at Dr. Phillips Hospital.
One person inside the car was taken into the hospital with a gunshot wound, before being airlifted to ORMC in critical condition.
Multiple suspects were detained by officers.
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Olivia Rodrigo wins best new artist Grammy, her 2nd award
Olivia Rodrigo has won the best new artist crown at the Grammy Awards, joining esteemed previous company including Carly Simon, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tom Jones, the Beatles and Billie Eilish.
A veteran of the “High School Musical” series, Rodrigo became the breakout music star of 2021, leading with her massive viral hit “Drivers License” and following with the aching album “Sour” and the single “Good 4 U.”
So far Sunday, “Drivers License” has earned her the trophy for best pop solo performance, and it is up for record of the year, while “Sour” is up for album of the year. Rodrigo came into the night nominated for the night’s top four awards — best new artist, album, record and song of the year — but lost the best song trophy to Silk Sonic.
“This is my biggest dream come true,” she said.
Silk Sonic — the all-star union of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak — opened the Grammys in Las Vegas with their high-energy, infectious fix of retro soul and funk by performing their “777.” They returned to the stage a short time later to collect the song of the year trophy for “Leave the Door Open.”
The win helps Mars tie the record for most song of the year wins. He had previously won for “24K Magic.”
Both Mars and .Paak jumped out their seat, threw up their hands and dance to their song.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be doing this with than anyone other than you,” Mars said to .Paak. “We’ll be singing this song together for the rest of our lives.”
Host Trevor Noah introduced the duo’s opening performance by saying they were singlehandedly bringing back the 1970s, “which might explain the inflation.”
By the time the show started on CBS, Jon Batiste has already taken home four Grammy Awards, including his first ever, in what could be a big night for this year’s leading nominee.
During the show’s pre-telecast ceremony, Batiste won for best American roots performance, best American roots song, best music video and tied with Carlos Rafael Rivera for best score soundtrack for visual media. His song “Freedom” in the music video category beat out several other tough competitors, including Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish.
“I am so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and the ability to share that for the love of humankind,” Batiste said. “We just wanted everyone to see it. Any depression, any bondage or any darkness that was over your life is completely removed by just the love and the joy of the video."
Batiste — not present for his first three awards — also won for “Soul” alongside Rivera for his composing efforts on “The Queen’s Gambit.”
It's the first tie since 2019 when Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake tied with Anderson .Paak to win best rap performance.
Batiste — who lost in four other categories — entered the Grammys as the leading nominee with 11 nominations. The losses halted the multi-talented performer from making history for most wins in one night.
After Noah announced all the stars due to present and perform — he called them a “musical Madame Tussauds” — Olivia Rodrigo performed her aching hit song “Drivers License” in a white ruffled dress and black boots.
Foo Fighters won three awards, but were not in attendance to pick up their trophies following the recent death of its drummer Taylor Hawkins. The rock band did extend their record for most best rock album wins with five for “Medicine at Midnight." The group's song “Making a Fire” won best rock performance and “Waiting on a War" bested other nominees for best rock song.
Billie Eilish paid tribute to Hawkins during her performance, wearing a T-shirt with his photo and name on it.
TJ Osborne, who came out as gay last year, fought back tears as he and his brother accepted a Grammy for their song “Younger Me.” He noted the song was inspired by his coming out.
“I never thought that I would be able to do music professionally because of my sexuality. And I certainly never thought I would be here on the stage accepting a Grammy after having done something I felt like was going to be life changing and potentially in a very negative way,” Osborne said.
“And here I am tonight, not only accepting this Grammy Award with my brother, which I love so much, but I’m here with a man that I love and he loves me back. ... “I don’t know what I did be so lucky.”
Osborne performs with his brother John as the Brothers Osborne.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson won his sixth Grammy for best music film through “Summer of Soul (... Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised.”) His documentary also won an Oscar for best documentary feature last weekend.
Chick Corea and Vicente Fernandez each won posthumous Grammys. Joni Mitchell won best historical album for “Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967).”
“Thanks to the academy for this nomination and this win, I didn’t expect this,” she said.
Eilish could become the first artist ever to win record of the year three times in a row, and the only artist along with Paul Simon to take home the award three times. She’s in position to join Adele as the only artists to ever win three major categories — record, song and album of the year — twice. She previously won for “Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted.”
The ceremony shifted from Los Angeles to Las Vegas because of rising COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant in January, with organizers citing “too many risks” to hosting the performance-filled show at the time. It airs live beginning at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS and Paramount+.
Artists competing with Eilish for album of the year include Rodrigo, Batiste, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, H.E.R., Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X and Kanye West.
Bennett extended his record as the artist with the most traditional pop vocal album with 14 wins with “Love for Sale,” a duet album with Lady Gaga.
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Hey, welcome to Rawson in 60. You can see I'm working from home today. My daughter tested positive for Covid so I'm here nursing her back to health. But we wanted to get on with this as we see thousands of flights delayed and canceled. We have a few tips to make your life easier. If it happens to you. Let's go tip number one. Sign up for the airlines. Free text alerts. Its free. Okay. But here's the deal. You're gonna find out about a delay or a cancelation the second it happens this so you don't have to like happen to be in your app to see it. Get the text alerts. You can hop right on with booking and try to rebook your flight. The second tip is to position yourself if you're already at the airport near one of the gate agents because there's gonna be a huge crush when they cancel or delay a flight to read books. Stay close 3rd. This one's really cool. I've never heard of it. If your flight is delayed or canceled and you want to rebook don't necessarily call the airlines US command center number or the reservations line. Try something international. Try their number in Canada, try their number in London some other country because chances are it won't be as jammed up and you can get it done before everyone else here in the US. They're all using the same system. It's all the same airline. Really cool tips. Good luck. Hope it doesn't happen to you and you don't need it. But now you have it back to you
Airlines cancel more than 3,500 US flights over weekend
Updated: 11:11 PM EDT Apr 3, 2022
Airlines have canceled more than 3,500 U.S. flights this weekend and delayed thousands more, citing weather in Florida and other issues.FlightAware, a website that tracks flights, noted major disruptions at several Florida airports, including in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando, as well as Baltimore, New York and other airports around the country. JetBlue, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Spirit and American Airlines were most affected, according to FlightAware, with JetBlue and Spirit canceling one-third of Sunday's scheduled flights. Local news reported storms in Florida on Saturday. Several airlines said Sunday that operations are returning to normal.The spate of cancellations arrived as air travel is rebounding from the pandemic, with strong demand for spring-break flights. People on social media complained about waiting on hold or in lines for hours to get their canceled flights rescheduled and being stranded for days."Severe weather in the Southeast and multiple air traffic control delay programs have created significant impacts on the industry," a JetBlue spokesperson said in an email. "Today's cancellations will help us reset our operation and safely move our crews and aircraft back in to position."Southwest Airlines also cited "weather and airspace congestion" Saturday in Florida, as well as a "technology issue." It canceled about 1,000 flights over the weekend but said that as of 1 p.m. Eastern, it had no more cancellations on Sunday.American said Florida weather Saturday affected its operations, and it was recovering today.Alaska Airlines seemed to be dealing with a separate issue. The airline said Sunday that weekend flight cancellations that began Friday have affected more than 37,000 customers and, further cancellations were possible. The airline declined to say why it canceled flights, but referred in its statement to contract negotiations with its pilots. Off-duty pilots picketed in several U.S. cities Friday over stalled negotiations. They have been without a new contract for three years."Alaska Airlines failed to properly plan for increased travel demand and take the steps necessary to ensure it attracted and retained pilots," the pilots union said in a Friday press release
Airlines have canceled more than 3,500 U.S. flights this weekend and delayed thousands more, citing weather in Florida and other issues.
FlightAware, a website that tracks flights, noted major disruptions at several Florida airports, including in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando, as well as Baltimore, New York and other airports around the country. JetBlue, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Spirit and American Airlines were most affected, according to FlightAware, with JetBlue and Spirit canceling one-third of Sunday's scheduled flights. Local news reported storms in Florida on Saturday. Several airlines said Sunday that operations are returning to normal.
The spate of cancellations arrived as air travel is rebounding from the pandemic, with strong demand for spring-break flights. People on social media complained about waiting on hold or in lines for hours to get their canceled flights rescheduled and being stranded for days.
"Severe weather in the Southeast and multiple air traffic control delay programs have created significant impacts on the industry," a JetBlue spokesperson said in an email. "Today's cancellations will help us reset our operation and safely move our crews and aircraft back in to position."
Southwest Airlines also cited "weather and airspace congestion" Saturday in Florida, as well as a "technology issue." It canceled about 1,000 flights over the weekend but said that as of 1 p.m. Eastern, it had no more cancellations on Sunday.
American said Florida weather Saturday affected its operations, and it was recovering today.
Alaska Airlines seemed to be dealing with a separate issue. The airline said Sunday that weekend flight cancellations that began Friday have affected more than 37,000 customers and, further cancellations were possible. The airline declined to say why it canceled flights, but referred in its statement to contract negotiations with its pilots. Off-duty pilots picketed in several U.S. cities Friday over stalled negotiations. They have been without a new contract for three years.
"Alaska Airlines failed to properly plan for increased travel demand and take the steps necessary to ensure it attracted and retained pilots," the pilots union said in a Friday press release
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'Fill the silence with your music,' Zelenskyy tells Grammys
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a video message at the Grammy Awards to ask for support in telling the story of Ukraine's invasion by Russia.
Related video above: Ukrainian refugee families protest against war
During the message that aired on the show Sunday, he likened the invasion to a deadly silence threatening to extinguish the dreams and lives of the Ukrainian people, including children.
"Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those who can't hear them," he said. "But the music will break through anyway."
The Recording Academy, with its partner Global Citizen, prior to the ceremony highlighted a social media campaign called "Stand Up For Ukraine" to raise money and support during the humanitarian crisis.
"Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV, support us in any way you can any, but not silence. And then peace will come to all our cities," Zelenskyy said.
Following Zelenskyy's message, John Legend performed his song "Free" with Ukrainian musicians Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton, and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, as images from the war were shown on screens behind them.
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South Carolina defeats UConn in national championship game
Dawn Staley and South Carolina buttoned up on defense and won their second national championship, stifling UConn for a 64-49 victory Sunday night that ended the Huskies’ undefeated streak in title games.
Destanni Henderson scored a career-high 26 points, Aliyah Boston added 11 points and 16 rebounds, and the Gamecocks handed Geno Auriemma’s Huskies their first loss in 12 NCAA title games.
With Staley calling the shots in a $5,000 letterman jacket, South Carolina took UConn to school on the boards and capped a wire-to-wire run as the No. 1 team in the country in The Associated Press poll. The Gamecocks also won the championship in 2017 with A’ja Wilson leading the way.
This time it was Boston — the AP Player of the Year — and her fellow South Carolina post players who dominated on the game's biggest stage. The Gamecocks outrebounded UConn by 49-24, including a 21-6 advantage on offensive boards. They also clamped down on star Paige Bueckers and the Huskies on defense, just like they did all season long.
It was South Carolina's night from the start. The Gamecocks (35-2) jumped out to an 11-2 lead, grabbing nearly every rebound on both ends of the court. They led to 22-8 after one quarter much to the delight of their faithful fans, who made the trip to Minneapolis to be part of the sellout crowd.
UConn (30-6) trailed by 16 in the second quarter before Bueckers, a Minnesota native, got going. After having just one shot in the first quarter, she scored nine points in the second to get the Huskies within 35-27 at the half. She finished with 14.
An 8-2 run to start the third quarter put South Carolina up 43-29 before the Huskies finally started connecting from behind the arc. UConn missed its first eight 3-point attempts until Caroline Ducharme made one from the wing and Evina Westbrook followed with another to get the Huskies within 43-37.
That's as close as they could get because of Henderson.
The senior guard had a three-point play to close the third quarter and then had the team's first four points in the fourth to restore the double-digit lead, and the Huskies couldn't recover.
This was UConn’s first trip to the championship game since 2016, when the Huskies won the last of four straight titles. Since then, the team has suffered heartbreaking defeats in the national semifinals, losing twice in overtime, before holding off Stanford on Friday night. The Huskies were trying to win their 12th title in the same city they won their first one in 1995.
Auriemma said Saturday that when his team had won each of its 11 titles, the Huskies entered the game as the better team. They certainly weren’t on Sunday.
It had been one of the most challenging seasons of Auriemma’s Hall of Fame career. UConn overcame losing eight players for at least two games with injury or illness, including Bueckers, who missed nearly three months with a left knee injury suffered in early December. She came back in late February but wasn’t at the same level that earned her AP Player of the Year as a freshman last season.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Gamecocks have been stalwarts on defense all season long, ranking third nationally with 50.5 points allowed per game. They were even sharper in the NCAA Tournament, holding opponents to 44.8 points entering Sunday’s finale.
Henderson had three steals, Boston blocked two shots and South Carolina forced 15 turnovers. The Gamecocks' plus-25 rebounding margin was the second biggest ever in a title game.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/cassie-carli-found-dead/39625675
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Deputies: Missing Florida mom found dead in shallow grave, ex-boyfriend arrested
The body of missing Florida mother Cassie Carli was found in a shallow grave Saturday evening at an Alabama barn, according to deputies.
Carli’s body was found during a search warrant nearly one week after she went missing, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said during a Sunday press conference. When authorities searched the barn, they found signs of a body under a patch of dirt that was disrupted.
Investigators were called in to uncover Carli’s body where they initially identified her via a tattoo on her right foot, the St. Clair County coroner told 8 On Your Side.
Carli was last seen on March 27 in the parking lot of Juana’s Pagodas in Navarre, Florida, when she was supposed to pick up her daughter Saylor from her ex-boyfriend, Marcus Spanevelo, during a custody exchange.
Authorities found Carli’s car in that same parking lot, but she was still missing. Her purse was left behind in the car.
“There were things in the purse … we don’t think she would just up and leave,” Sheriff Bob Johnson said during a press conference earlier in the week. “Usually you don’t go four days without hearing from them, or them using a credit card, cellphone … so yeah, we’re concerned.”
Both Spanevelo and Saylor were found the following day in Birmingham, Alabama, with Saylor being returned to her mother’s family.
Several days later, Spanevelo was arrested in Tennessee on charges of tampering with evidence, giving false information concerning a missing persons investigation, and destruction of evidence.
Carli’s family told WFLA Now’s JB Biunno Friday that the missing mother was concerned about Spanevelo as they worked through custody problems.
“Cassie’s been telling me for the last two years that [Marcus] has been threatening her,” said her brother, Anthony Carli. “She’s always said, 'if anything happens to me, it’s him.'”
Deputies said an autopsy is scheduled to take place Monday in Huntsville, Alabama, where Carli’s cause of death is expected to be determined. Spanevelo could receive additional charges depending on the finding of the autopsy.
“Once the autopsy is done and you see the charges filed you’ll understand,” Sheriff Robert Johnson said. “I think [Spanevelo] is going to spend the rest of his life in prison or he’s going to get the needle. Hopefully the needle.”
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https://www.wesh.com/article/crisis-in-ukraine-april-4-2022/39624004
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Russia faced a fresh wave of condemnation on Monday after evidence emerged of what appeared to be deliberate killings of civilians in Ukraine. Some Western leaders called for further sanctions in response to the alleged atrocities, even as Moscow continued to press its offensive in the country's east.Germany's defense minister suggested the European Union discuss a ban on Russian gas imports, but more senior officials indicated an immediate boycott was not possible — a sign that leaders could struggle in the short-term to ramp up already severe sanctions on Russia.Here's the latest on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as of 6:45 a.m. (Eastern):Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will conduct a probe into alleged atrocities against civilians by Russian troops involving international investigators. Zelenskyy appeared in a video at the Grammy Awards asking for support.The bodies of 410 civilians have been removed from Kyiv-area towns retaken from Russians, according to Ukraine's prosecutor-general.The Ukrainian military says that its forces have retaken some towns in the Chernihiv region and that humanitarian aid is being delivered.The Russian military says it has struck an oil processing plant and fuel depots around the strategic Black Sea port of Odesa. Carla Del Ponte, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has called for an international arrest warrant to be issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a war criminal in an interview published Saturday in Swiss newspaper Le Temps.Ukrainian officials said bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital, Kyiv, that were recaptured from Russian forces in recent days. In Bucha, northwest of the capital, Associated Press journalists saw 21 bodies. One group of nine, all in civilian clothes, were scattered around a site that residents said Russian troops used as a base. They appeared to have been shot at close range. At least two had their hands tied behind their backs.The images of battered bodies lying in the streets or hastily dug graves unleashed a wave of outrage that could signal a turning point in the nearly 6-week-old war. But sanctions have thus far failed to halt the offensive, and rising energy prices along with the tight controls on Russian currency market have blunted their impact, with the ruble rebounding strongly after initially crashing.Western and Ukrainian leaders have accused Russia of war crimes before, and the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor has opened a probe to investigate the conflict. But the latest reports ratcheted up the condemnation even further, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some Western leaders going so far as to accuse Russia of genocide.Russia’s Defense Ministry rejected the accusations. It said photos and videos of dead bodies “have been stage managed by the Kyiv regime for the Western media.” The ministry said “not a single civilian” in Bucha faced any violent military action.In a video shown during the Grammy Awards in Las Vegas for musicians and other artists, Zelenskyy implored them to support his nation and “fill the silence with your music.”French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that there is “clear evidence of war crimes” in Bucha.“What just happened in Bucha calls for a new round of sanctions and very clear measures," he said on France-Inter radio. "I’m in favor of a new round of sanctions and in particular on coal and petrol. We need to act.”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European Council President Charles Michel earlier tweeted that the EU is assisting Ukrainians and rights groups in gathering evidence to be used in international courts, adding that “further EU sanctions & support are on their way.”Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also called for those responsible for the slayings in Bucha to be punished, saying they should "answer these alleged cases of crimes against humanity, war crimes and, why not say it, of genocide, too.”Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described Russia as a “totalitarian-fascist state," saying “the bloody massacres perpetrated by Russian soldiers deserve to be called by name: This is genocide."The crime of genocide is difficult to prove, as prosecutors would have to show that the killers or their commanders had a “specific intent” to partially or wholly destroy a group of people.Video: Destruction, burnt out Russian tanks in BuchaIn the meantime, the U.S. and its allies have sought to punish Russia for the war by imposing sweeping sanctions on Russia. But they may be reluctant to impose measures that cause further harm to a global economy still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. As a major oil and gas exporter, Russia stands to benefit from any rise in already high global energy prices.Europe is in a particular bind, since it gets 40% of its gas and 25% of its oil from Russia. Governments have been scrambling to find ways to reduce that reliance. Estimates of the impact of a gas boycott on European countries vary but most involve a substantial loss of economic output.German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is also the economy minister and responsible for energy, said Europe can go “significantly further” in imposing sanctions against Russia. But he said Germany is right to take a longer-term approach to abandoning Russian energy imports.Germany has faced criticism for opposing an immediate halt to Russian energy deliveries. The country says it hopes to end Russian coal imports this summer and oil imports by the end of the year, but halting gas will take longer.“We are working every day on creating the conditions for and steps toward an embargo,” Habeck said. "We are on the right track.”Video: Ukrainian refugee families protest against warGerman Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had earlier said on public broadcaster ARD that the reports of atrocities were severe enough that European officials “would have to talk about halting gas supplies from Russia.”Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion has killed thousands of people and forced more than 4 million Ukrainians to flee their country. Putin has said the attack is aimed at eliminating a security threat and demanded that Ukraine drop its bid to join the NATO military alliance of Western countries. Ukraine insists it never posed any threat but has offered to officially declare itself neutral.The head of Ukraine’s delegation in talks with Russia has said Moscow’s negotiators informally agreed to most of a draft proposal discussed during talks in Istanbul, but no written confirmation has been provided.While Western officials initially said they believed Putin's goal was to take Kyiv and potentially install a Kremlin-friendly government, Russian forces faced stiff resistance on their road to the capital and have now retreated from some areas around it. Now, Moscow says it is focusing its offensive on the Donbas in the country’s east, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for years.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’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Russia is continuing to flood soldiers and mercenaries from the Wagner private military group into the Donbas. It said Russian troops are also still trying to take strategic port city of Mariupol, which lies in the region and has seen weeks of heavy fighting and some of the worst suffering of the war.“The city continues to be subject to intense, indiscriminate strikes, but Ukrainian Forces maintain a staunch resistance, retaining control in central areas,” the ministry said. “Mariupol is almost certainly a key objective of the Russian invasion as it will secure a land corridor from Russia to the occupied territory of Crimea,” in the south, which Moscow annexed in 2014.On Monday, the Ukrainian military said its forces had retaken some towns in the northern Chernihiv region and humanitarian aid was being delivered. The road between Chernihiv and Kyiv was to reopen to some traffic, according to the news agency RBK Ukraina.The mayor of Chernihiv, which has been cut off from food and other supplies for weeks, said Russian shelling has destroyed 70% of the northern city.
Russia faced a fresh wave of condemnation on Monday after evidence emerged of what appeared to be deliberate killings of civilians in Ukraine. Some Western leaders called for further sanctions in response to the alleged atrocities, even as Moscow continued to press its offensive in the country's east.
Germany's defense minister suggested the European Union discuss a ban on Russian gas imports, but more senior officials indicated an immediate boycott was not possible — a sign that leaders could struggle in the short-term to ramp up already severe sanctions on Russia.
Here's the latest on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as of 6:45 a.m. (Eastern):
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will conduct a probe into alleged atrocities against civilians by Russian troops involving international investigators.
- Zelenskyy appeared in a video at the Grammy Awards asking for support.
- The bodies of 410 civilians have been removed from Kyiv-area towns retaken from Russians, according to Ukraine's prosecutor-general.
- The Ukrainian military says that its forces have retaken some towns in the Chernihiv region and that humanitarian aid is being delivered.
- The Russian military says it has struck an oil processing plant and fuel depots around the strategic Black Sea port of Odesa.
- Carla Del Ponte, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has called for an international arrest warrant to be issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a war criminal in an interview published Saturday in Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Ukrainian officials said bodies of 410 civilians were found in towns around the capital, Kyiv, that were recaptured from Russian forces in recent days. In Bucha, northwest of the capital, Associated Press journalists saw 21 bodies. One group of nine, all in civilian clothes, were scattered around a site that residents said Russian troops used as a base. They appeared to have been shot at close range. At least two had their hands tied behind their backs.
The images of battered bodies lying in the streets or hastily dug graves unleashed a wave of outrage that could signal a turning point in the nearly 6-week-old war. But sanctions have thus far failed to halt the offensive, and rising energy prices along with the tight controls on Russian currency market have blunted their impact, with the ruble rebounding strongly after initially crashing.
Western and Ukrainian leaders have accused Russia of war crimes before, and the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor has opened a probe to investigate the conflict. But the latest reports ratcheted up the condemnation even further, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some Western leaders going so far as to accuse Russia of genocide.
Russia’s Defense Ministry rejected the accusations. It said photos and videos of dead bodies “have been stage managed by the Kyiv regime for the Western media.” The ministry said “not a single civilian” in Bucha faced any violent military action.
In a video shown during the Grammy Awards in Las Vegas for musicians and other artists, Zelenskyy implored them to support his nation and “fill the silence with your music.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that there is “clear evidence of war crimes” in Bucha.
“What just happened in Bucha calls for a new round of sanctions and very clear measures," he said on France-Inter radio. "I’m in favor of a new round of sanctions and in particular on coal and petrol. We need to act.”
European Council President Charles Michel earlier tweeted that the EU is assisting Ukrainians and rights groups in gathering evidence to be used in international courts, adding that “further EU sanctions & support are on their way.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also called for those responsible for the slayings in Bucha to be punished, saying they should "answer these alleged cases of crimes against humanity, war crimes and, why not say it, of genocide, too.”
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described Russia as a “totalitarian-fascist state," saying “the bloody massacres perpetrated by Russian soldiers deserve to be called by name: This is genocide."
The crime of genocide is difficult to prove, as prosecutors would have to show that the killers or their commanders had a “specific intent” to partially or wholly destroy a group of people.
Video: Destruction, burnt out Russian tanks in Bucha
In the meantime, the U.S. and its allies have sought to punish Russia for the war by imposing sweeping sanctions on Russia. But they may be reluctant to impose measures that cause further harm to a global economy still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. As a major oil and gas exporter, Russia stands to benefit from any rise in already high global energy prices.
Europe is in a particular bind, since it gets 40% of its gas and 25% of its oil from Russia. Governments have been scrambling to find ways to reduce that reliance. Estimates of the impact of a gas boycott on European countries vary but most involve a substantial loss of economic output.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is also the economy minister and responsible for energy, said Europe can go “significantly further” in imposing sanctions against Russia. But he said Germany is right to take a longer-term approach to abandoning Russian energy imports.
Germany has faced criticism for opposing an immediate halt to Russian energy deliveries. The country says it hopes to end Russian coal imports this summer and oil imports by the end of the year, but halting gas will take longer.
“We are working every day on creating the conditions for and steps toward an embargo,” Habeck said. "We are on the right track.”
Video: Ukrainian refugee families protest against war
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had earlier said on public broadcaster ARD that the reports of atrocities were severe enough that European officials “would have to talk about halting gas supplies from Russia.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion has killed thousands of people and forced more than 4 million Ukrainians to flee their country. Putin has said the attack is aimed at eliminating a security threat and demanded that Ukraine drop its bid to join the NATO military alliance of Western countries. Ukraine insists it never posed any threat but has offered to officially declare itself neutral.
The head of Ukraine’s delegation in talks with Russia has said Moscow’s negotiators informally agreed to most of a draft proposal discussed during talks in Istanbul, but no written confirmation has been provided.
While Western officials initially said they believed Putin's goal was to take Kyiv and potentially install a Kremlin-friendly government, Russian forces faced stiff resistance on their road to the capital and have now retreated from some areas around it. Now, Moscow says it is focusing its offensive on the Donbas in the country’s east, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for years.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Russia is continuing to flood soldiers and mercenaries from the Wagner private military group into the Donbas. It said Russian troops are also still trying to take strategic port city of Mariupol, which lies in the region and has seen weeks of heavy fighting and some of the worst suffering of the war.
“The city continues to be subject to intense, indiscriminate strikes, but Ukrainian Forces maintain a staunch resistance, retaining control in central areas,” the ministry said. “Mariupol is almost certainly a key objective of the Russian invasion as it will secure a land corridor from Russia to the occupied territory of Crimea,” in the south, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
On Monday, the Ukrainian military said its forces had retaken some towns in the northern Chernihiv region and humanitarian aid was being delivered. The road between Chernihiv and Kyiv was to reopen to some traffic, according to the news agency RBK Ukraina.
The mayor of Chernihiv, which has been cut off from food and other supplies for weeks, said Russian shelling has destroyed 70% of the northern city.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/ultramarathoner-with-autism-inspires-others-after-crushing-100-mile-goal/39617073
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Ultramarathoner with autism inspiring others after crushing 100 mile goal
Video above: How to pack for an ultramarathon
With an injured hip, blisters on his feet and experiencing the sort of exhaustion few would be familiar with, Zach Bates retained a steely focus and determination.
Fighting through pain after running for 28 hours, and amid the sound of tired feet struggling through the Arizona dirt -- finally soft, soothing music grew over the horizon.
The sights and sounds of cheering family, coaches, and supporters grew closer and louder with every step. The finish line, which was once 100 miles away, was right in front of him.
A small, roaring human victory tunnel welcomed Bates as he ran across the finish line and cemented himself as an ultramarathon runner.
"I saw the finish line and people made a tunnel with their arms for me to run through. I also saw my cousins with their signs. Just really exciting," Bates tells CNN, reflecting on his accomplishment.
Diagnosed with autism at the age of four, the 20-year-old American completed the Coldwater Rumble 100 mile Ultramarathon earlier this year, becoming the youngest finisher in the race's history, aged 19.
Completing the 20-mile loop five times across a rugged terrain is an accomplishment itself but Bates finished 38th overall out of the 99 starters in just over 28 hours - and it is worth noting that 33 runners didn't finish.
The achievement makes Bates seem like a seasoned ultra-runner but he and his family are just beginning their journey into the ultramarathon world.
'It seemed different'
Bates was a member of the cross-country team in high school but, after graduating in May 2021 he surprised his family with a new goal.
"Graduation night, he comes to us and says, 'hey, I want to run a 100-mile race before my 20th birthday' which was about eight months from that date. And I was like, oh, that's a lot," his mother, Rana, tells CNN World Sport's Patrick Snell.
Of his decision to run 100 miles, Bates says: "I've seen people's journeys and then I thought they were really cool and interesting, and it seemed different than other races. I wanted to try to do that."
Neither he nor his parents had any prior experience of preparing for the task at hand, but father, Brian, found ways to help, truly making it a family affair.
"We search out trails for him to do. We'll go ahead of time as a family and hike a trail to make sure it's safe," says Rana.
In addition to finding trails, they read books together, organize all his nutrition, and make sure their son has the right equipment - like the watch he wears on long runs so they can track him and make sure he's safe and on course.
Rana and Brian even helped with training schedules before finding more experienced ultramarathon runners -- such as mentor John Hendrix and coach Nickademus de la Rosa.
With Hendrix and De la Rosa's expertise, the young American prepared by competing in shorter distances and successfully worked his way up to the 100-miler in short time.
Staying focused
Rather than having his autism be a reason to make the goal unreachable, his mom explained how it might have helped him stay focused.
"With autism, there is this hyper focus and when they have this focus on something that they love and they desire to do, it takes them so much further than maybe what I can accomplish," she explains.
"It's really important that they are treated as an individual. That we can look at them and hear what their dreams are, what their hopes are for their life.
"If we listen to our children and allow them to do what they want to do and be a support to them, you'll be so surprised at where they'll end up."
For Bates, he's achieved goals and distances that were once just dreams. As he continues to train for more challenges, he's turned to social media to help capture his journey along the way. In doing so, he has been embraced by runners from all over, but Rana says that's not the only way social media has helped.
"It has helped Zach realize that what he's doing is special and that what he's doing is inspiring people and that's what helps Zack want to continue to participate in the social media because he feels like it's worth it to go out of his way to do something uncomfortable for himself, which the social media is a little bit uncomfortable for him, if it's going to help somebody else do something hard and reach their dreams."
"I've had dreams my entire life, things that I've wanted to do. This journey has kind of given me the courage to go forward and do some of the things that I've been really excited about and given me the courage to take some initial steps," adds Rana.
"Having him in our family is just a light and I'm just inspired by the light that he is to everybody that he's around."
He's already scheduled multiple races of various distances this year, but when asked about his next big ambition, Bates has his sights set on loftier goals.
"I have seen the Cocodona 250. It's like a 250 mile race I've thought about before. It might be a little while before I try doing that race. It's not just 250 miles, but also has [close to] 50,000 feet of elevation!"
With the support of Rana, Brian and the rest of the family, it feels as though nothing is impossible when it comes to Zach Bates. No matter where the next trail in life takes him.
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https://www.wesh.com/article/anthony-todt-trial/39626025
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Jury selection starts for trial of man accused of killing wife, 3 children in Celebration
The state is not going for the death penalty against Anthony Todt, so the requirements for picking a jury are less than they would be otherwise.
Those who do get picked will have to hear and see some very disturbing evidence in this case.
Todt is facing four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his wife, Megan, and three young kids: Alek, Tyler, and Zoe.
Investigators say they were either stabbed to death or given lethal doses of Benadryl.
Todt confessed to the murders the day their bodies were found, but last month the judge ruled that confession cannot be used during the trial because he said detectives did not fully advise him of his Miranda rights.
The same judge also ruled his defense won’t be able to bring issues related to his mental health unless the court decides at trial that they’re relevant.
Todt originally confessed, but in the months afterward suggested his wife was actually to blame.
The murders got a lot of attention when they were first discovered, but it has been two years now. We’ll see today, how many people called for jury duty remember the case and have already formed opinions about it.
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