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Allen County residents affected by last month's storms will have a new resource this week, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security announced.
Together with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state opened a "disaster recovery center" Monday. According to a news release, recovery specialists from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the state of Indiana will be available to answer questions and provide referrals.
Located at Door 10 of the Saint Joseph Township Community Center, 6033 Maple Crest Road, the center will be available Monday until 6 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other recovery centers will be opening soon to help those affected by the storms and tornadoes that swept across Indiana on March 31 and April 1. According to the release, people and businesses in nearby counties can visit any open center, including Allen County's.
The deadline to apply for federal assistance for disaster recovery is June 14. Applications can be started through FEMA helpline by calling 800-621-3362 or going online to DisasterAssistance.gov or through FEMA's own app.
Two tornadoes, including one with peak winds as high as 120 mph, formed on Fort Wayne's northeast side during the storm, damaging homes and vehicles from there to Harlan. No injuries were reported in the area, officials said at the time. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/center-opened-to-help-recovery-from-last-months-tornadoes/article_d1a83182-edd1-11ed-b971-cfab25fdaded.html | 2023-05-08T21:39:00 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/center-opened-to-help-recovery-from-last-months-tornadoes/article_d1a83182-edd1-11ed-b971-cfab25fdaded.html |
A 50-year-old Butler woman has been identified as the victim in a Saturday morning crash on Interstate 69, Indiana State Police said today.
Michelle Dawn Peppler was identified through fingerprint analysis, state police at Fort Wayne said in a statement.
State police were called about 1:15 a.m. to a one-vehicle crash and fire near the 335-mile-marker, south of the Waterloo exit.
Their preliminary investigation revealed evidence of a tire failure on the car, which began nearly two miles south of the crash scene. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/butler-woman-identified-as-victim-of-saturday-i-69-crash/article_af4ae760-edcc-11ed-aa80-d313a4acd295.html | 2023-05-08T21:39:06 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/butler-woman-identified-as-victim-of-saturday-i-69-crash/article_af4ae760-edcc-11ed-aa80-d313a4acd295.html |
The Allen County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a worker at a local Amazon facility, the agency confirmed today.
Emergency medical service crews were called to the Amazon Fulfillment Center on Smith Road near the airport about noon, sheriff's department spokesman Cpl. Adam Griffith said in an email. The employee was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.
The death is being treated as "more of a workplace accident" than an incident involving foul play, Griffith said.
Additional details about the death have not been released by either the department or the corporation. Griffith said officers are working to interview potential witnesses and are reviewing surveillance footage.
Amazon spokesman Andre Woodson said in a statement that company is both working with law enforcement and conducting its own investigation.
“We’re saddened by today’s tragic incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with our employee’s loved ones and our team at the facility,” he said.
Woodson said Amazon will support their employees in the coming days and weeks, including with counseling services.
The Amazon facility was closed after the incident and employees were sent home for the day with pay, according to the company. The night shift was also canceled and those employees will get paid as well. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/investigation-underway-into-death-at-fort-wayne-amazon-facility/article_749d006e-edd4-11ed-9336-3b91c88c95fc.html | 2023-05-08T21:39:12 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/investigation-underway-into-death-at-fort-wayne-amazon-facility/article_749d006e-edd4-11ed-9336-3b91c88c95fc.html |
The University of Saint Francis announced Monday a 12-year faculty member will lead the Catholic institution as officials search for its next president.
Lance Richey's role as interim president is effective today following the Rev. Eric Zimmer's resignation as president, which was effective Monday. Richey has handled the day-to-day responsibilities of president since Zimmer announced his resignation in April, a news release said.
Richey said he is honored to lead.
"Our Catholic and Franciscan values have guided this university since its founding more than 130 years ago, and our emphasis on a holistic experience for students remains today," Richey said in a statement. "We expect a strong incoming class this fall, and I am excited about serving as interim president and working closely with students, faculty and staff to keep our momentum going."
Richey holds the rank of professor of theology. He has served the university in multiple capacities, including as vice president for academic affairs since April 2018, the release said. He previously served as dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and as director of the John Duns Scotus Honors Program.
Richey's credentials include doctorates in philosophy and religious studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, the release said. He previously taught at Cardinal Stritch University, Conception Seminary College and Assumption College.
The Board of Trustees is thankful for Richey's leadership, Chair Richard Poinsatte said. He added Richey understands the university's goals and mission.
"We know USF will continue to thrive under his guidance as we search for our next president," Poinsatte said in a statement.
The university's presidents are appointed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, its sponsoring congregation. The provincial leadership will work closely with the trustees to select the next leader, the release said.
The university announced Zimmer's appointment in September 2019 – nearly a year before he made university history by becoming its first male leader in July 2020. He succeeded President Sister M. Elise Kriss, who retired after leading Saint Francis for 27 years.
Zimmer resigned to pursue other opportunities within the Catholic church and academia, the university has said. Before joining Saint Francis, he taught at the University of Notre Dame and led St. Patrick Catholic Church in Walkerton. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/university-of-saint-francis-names-interim-president/article_e1abf452-edcb-11ed-b0db-275511388422.html | 2023-05-08T21:39:19 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/university-of-saint-francis-names-interim-president/article_e1abf452-edcb-11ed-b0db-275511388422.html |
ALLEN, Texas — Almost immediately after the deadly Allen outlets mall mass shooting happened on Saturday, May 6, videos and photos of the victims and deceased suspect began to circulate on social media.
Many of the posts on the matter showed graphic images of the shooting and its aftermath.
One of the widely circulated videos, which WFAA has not shown on air or online, apparently showed the shooter, deceased, after he had been shot and killed by police.
Those images of the suspect, later identified Mauricio Garcia, 33, sparked rumors on Twitter that he had gang affiliations.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a frequent conspiracy theorist on social media, tweeted that the suspect "appears Hispanic with what looks like a gang tattoo on his hand." (While her tweet remains posted, the images she initially shared with it have been removed, seemingly for violating Twitter guidelines.)
So: What do we know about Garcia and any alleged gang ties he may have had?
Let's Verify it.
THE QUESTION
Did the Allen mall suspected shooter have a gang tattoo on his hand?
THE TATTOO
While we're not showing the image here, the tattoo on Garcia's hand very clearly appeared to be the "Triple D" logo used by the City of Dallas. You can see the logo in the upper left-hand corner of the city's website in the below screenshot.
According to the Dallas Municipal Archives, the logo was first used as part of an annual budget presentation on August 10, 1972.
The logo consists of a a three-ringed "D" with a broken connection on its left-hand side, with a three-leafed "tree" placed inside of the empty space in the middle.
The "tree," per the municipal archives, "is meant to symbolize the quality of living in Dallas, and also to project a feeling of greenery, growth and concern for the environment."
WHAT OUR SOURCES ARE SAYING
Law enforcement sources told WFAA that their investigation has not yielded any information showing that Garcia had any gang ties at all.
Sources also confirmed to WFAA that the City of Dallas logo is not known to have any gang affiliations.
What do we know about Garcia?
According to a search warrant obtained exclusively by WFAA, investigators found several handguns, long guns and ammunition inside Garcia's gray 2014 Dodge Charger at the scene of the shooting.
The warrant did not list the weapon that was used.
Later Saturday night, there were multiple FBI agents inside a home in the northeast patrol division of Dallas, and there were Dallas police outside. Multiple sources said this is the home where the suspected shooter, Garcia, lived along with his parents.
The search warrant stated that Garcia's driver's license listed his current address as a Budget Suites of America in Dallas, which is an extended-stay hotel. Employees at the hotel confirmed Garcia had been renting a room there, according to the warrant.
The search warrant for Garcia's hotel room was obtained because police stated they believed his residence contained additional evidence.
Sources told WFAA that Garcia had been in the U.S. Army in 2008 but was removed due to mental health concerns.
"Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008," U.S. Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said in a press statement. "He was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards. We do not provide characterization of discharge for any soldier."
An Army official further tells WFAA that Garcia was "separated under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5–17, Other designated physical or mental conditions."
Law enforcement sources added that their investigation has found that Garcia espoused an extremist right-wing ideology and disliked people of color and Jews.
According to sources, the 33-year-old had also worked as a licensed security guard. He most recently worked at an aluminum supply company, sources confirm.
THE ANSWER
According to multiple law enforcement sources, there is no evidence to suggest Garcia had gang ties, and there is no evidence to suggest that the tattoo he had on his hand is an indication that he did.
More coverage of the Allen mall shooting coverage: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/did-the-allen-texas-outlet-mall-shooting-suspected-shooter-have-a-gang-tattoo-on-his-hand/287-ac67de7a-57a8-4b4a-a37e-b38a04566306 | 2023-05-08T21:43:46 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/did-the-allen-texas-outlet-mall-shooting-suspected-shooter-have-a-gang-tattoo-on-his-hand/287-ac67de7a-57a8-4b4a-a37e-b38a04566306 |
SAN ANTONIO — Romell Richardson turned two on March 23.
On April 28, the boy with a sweet smile was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.
Family members told police the boy reached for something on a shelf in his home on Kents Store Street and mistakenly pulled down a firearm.
They said when the gun hit the floor it went off, striking the child in the head.
Police said family members rushed the child to nearby Christus Santa Rosa Westover Hills for fast treatment and the boy was transferred to University Hospital for intensive trauma care, but none of it was enough.
The Medical Examiner has not made a ruling on whether his death will be carried as accidental or not, and San Antonio Police have not provided any updates about the status of their investigation.
Funeral arrangements are still pending for Richardson.
In another shooting incident on West Agarita Saturday evening, another two-year-old was shot with a handgun in his own home.
In that case, family members told police they heard a shot inside the home and found the wounded child on the kitchen floor.
An update on his condition has not been made available.
Ernest Shaun Hernandez, who owns 10 West Tactical Firearms on South Frio Street, said there are many ways parents can work to keep their children safe.
Hernandez said devices are important, but he said education is an even greater resource because children can carry knowledge with them whether they are at home or away.
"From a young age, exposing them to it, taking them out to a shooting range, showing them how it works, maybe letting them load it and letting them get a little bit of experience removes the curiosity," Hernandez said, adding that children who are better informed have a better understanding of safe behavior.
"Curiosity is a bad thing. You don't want them to be curious about the gun, whether the parent is home or not home or whether they get up in the night and walk around or whatever the situation may be. You don't want them doing that," Hernandez said, adding that he has many customers who bring children as young as three or four years of age into his business to start teaching them basic, life-saving skills.
"That's your first step for safety," Hernandez said.
Hernandez said any child physically capable of picking up a gun is old enough to receive instruction, "because they are old enough to hurt themselves or somebody else with it."
With regard to safety devices, Hernandez said federal law requires any handgun sold to leave the store with a locking device.
He says even people who buy guns from friends or family members can find and purchase simple, inexpensive cable locks.
There are also traveling safe boxes that can be anchored to vehicles for safety while traveling.
Hernandez said the price range for safety can range from about $20 to several hundred dollars for a more sophisticated in-home safe..
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said his office not only provides free gun locks, but they offer delivery service as well.
Salazar said anyone can request a lock by emailing bcsoscore@bexar.org.
Here are a few sites offering child gun safety information. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/gun-safety-top-of-mind-after-three-kids-shot-recent-days/273-a50a6c36-d7c3-40b4-b6ac-c7e0fdeaef57 | 2023-05-08T21:43:52 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/gun-safety-top-of-mind-after-three-kids-shot-recent-days/273-a50a6c36-d7c3-40b4-b6ac-c7e0fdeaef57 |
WATERLOO – MercyOne is awarding 15 Northeast Iowa students each with $1,000 scholarships to pursue health care careers. Friends of MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center, as well as the Friends of MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, recently honored the 2023 scholarship recipients.
Meet the 2023 honorees:
- Maclayne Frana will graduate from Cedar Falls High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and the University of Iowa to become a nurse practitioner.
- Sarah Hoehns graduated from Dike-New Hartford High School in 2018 and is attending St. Ambrose University and Luther College for a career as a physical therapist.
- Natalee Lyons graduated from Denver High School in 2019 and is attending University of Northern Iowa and Allen College to become a nurse practitioner and eventually a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
- Lejla Mehmedovic will graduate from Cedar Falls High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and then the University of Northern Iowa to focus on caring for marginalized community members.
- Allayna Schreiber will graduate from Cedar Falls High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and University of Iowa for physical therapy and gynecology.
- Sierra Weldon graduated from Waterloo West High School in 2018 and attends the University of Iowa to become an adult clinical registered dietitian.
- Aspen Ahrenholz will graduate from Vinton-Shellsburg High School in 2023 and attend Kirkwood Community College, Luther College and the University of Iowa to become a physician assistant in dermatology.
- Brylee Bellis will graduate from Wapsie Valley High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and the University of Iowa to become a medical doctor.
- Rebecca DuFour will graduate from Columbus Catholic High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and University of Wisconsin for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Megan Fangman will graduate from Columbus Falls High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and Creighton University to study pediatric nursing and labor and delivery.
- Johanna Fettkether will graduate from Dunkerton High School in 2023 and attend Hawkeye Community College and the University of Iowa to study therapeutic recreation with a focus on child life.
- Alanna Fishel graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 2021 and is attending Hawkeye Community College and later the University of Iowa for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Karlie Rickert graduated from Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School in 2022 and is attending Hawkeye Community College followed by St. Ambrose University for a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Ethan Schellhorn graduated from Tripoli High School in 2021 and is attending Wartburg College and then the University of Iowa to become a physical therapist.
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Gordon and Maria Wilson Education Scholarship
- Brooklyn Ames graduated from Waterloo East High School in 2017 and will be attending Hawkeye Community College and Allen College to become a radiology technician.
MercyOne will send scholarship funds to each recipient’s college or university for the next academic year’s tuition. The application period for next year’s scholarships begins in January 2024. Want to learn more? Call (319) 272-7676 or visit MercyOne’s website. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mercyone-awards-15-health-care-scholarships/article_cc7b11e3-a013-50b5-8888-3e65724ef34d.html | 2023-05-08T21:44:52 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mercyone-awards-15-health-care-scholarships/article_cc7b11e3-a013-50b5-8888-3e65724ef34d.html |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Kingsport City Schools has named a new principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School.
Brian Tate will serve as the school’s permanent principal effective immediately.
Tate had been serving as interim principal since November 2022 when he replaced Chris Hampton, who left the position to become superintendent.
According to the school system, Tate has served as a teacher, team leader, curriculum specialist, adjunct professor, and school administrator. He has been an assistant principal at Dobyns-Bennett for the past 11 years. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/brian-tate-named-principal-at-dobyns-bennett/ | 2023-05-08T21:51:02 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/brian-tate-named-principal-at-dobyns-bennett/ |
CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL) – Students at Church Hill Intermediate School took part in the “Amazing Shake,” a competition geared at developing professional skills in students.
During the program, students learn about qualities like discipline, respect and proper conduct to help them advance in careers later in life.
Community members got involved by acting as judges to how students interacted with them. Area businesses sent representatives to assist, and Pal’s Sudden Service also sent members of its Leadership Development Team to aid in the event.
The selection pool started with 400 fifth and sixth-grade students in February, and it was narrowed down to a top 100. Those 100 competed Monday by shaking hands and engaging in conversation with adults.
“We took the top 100 of those students, and today, they are going through what’s called the gauntlet,” said principal Sherry Price. “Each one of these scenarios gives them an opportunity to interact with adults that they don’t know. They are shaking hands, introducing themselves, holding conversation, just practical life skills that they will need.”
A top 30 students will be chosen from the 100 who competed Monday, and they will move on to the next round on Wednesday. From there, a final six will be chosen, followed by a final three.
The last three students competing will give speeches in front of the entire student body before a single winner is chosen.
Price said the students at Church Hill Intermediate have been enjoying the “Amazing Shake” program so far.
“We know that when they go out to get a job, they’re going to need those life skills,” Price said. “They’re going to need to learn to be polite, to dress correctly, and that’s something that’s kind of difficult to give them opportunities to do sometimes. So we want to try to do that through our school system.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/church-hill-students-practice-professional-skills-in-amazing-shake-competition/ | 2023-05-08T21:51:08 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/church-hill-students-practice-professional-skills-in-amazing-shake-competition/ |
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — A traumatic lawnmower accident prompted a helicopter response in Bristol on Monday afternoon, according to the city’s emergency management agency.
A release from Bristol Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Armstrong said crews responded to the 100 block of Booher Lane, where they discovered a woman had slipped while mowing a yard, causing her foot to go under the running mower.
The release said the accident resulted in the amputation of at least one of the woman’s toes. First responders decided to call a helicopter to transport the woman to Johnson City Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center due to the nature of the incident.
The helicopter was able to land at Highland View Elementary School’s ballfield a short distance away from the scene, Armstrong said.
The woman was taken to the Johnson City Medical Center’s Emergency Room. Her condition was not available as of Monday evening. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/fire-chief-bristol-va-woman-loses-toe-in-lawn-mower-injury/ | 2023-05-08T21:51:14 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/fire-chief-bristol-va-woman-loses-toe-in-lawn-mower-injury/ |
CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Three people have been charged in the death of a Carter County man, including the victim’s sons.
A release from the Carter County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) states that Jacob Hitchcock, 31, and Joshua Hitchcock, 25, have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of their father, 63-year-old William “Bill” Hitchcock Jr.
The CCSO states Britney Hitchcock, 35, was charged with filing a false report in relation to the investigation. Britney Hitchcock was identified by the CCSO as Jacob Hitchcock’s wife.
“During the course of the investigation, Bill Hitchcock’s sons, Jacob Hitchcock and Joshua Hitchcock, were developed as suspects,” Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley said in the release. “On Monday morning investigators presented their findings to the Carter County Grand Jury, which handed down the indictments charging the brothers with first-degree murder and an indictment charging Jacob’s wife Britney Hitchcock with filing a false report.”
Bill Hitchcock was found deceased on April 1 by a group of fishermen on the Watauga River, who reported seeing his body in a driveway on Old Stoney Creek Road. The fishermen got closer after reportedly not receiving a reply when calling to him, and they later called 911.
The CCSO reports the preliminary cause of death for Bill Hitchcock appears to be a gunshot wound.
As of Monday, the investigation remains ongoing. Fraley also thanked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for its assistance in the case.
Investigators had previously offered a $1,500 reward for information regarding the case. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/sheriff-sons-of-carter-county-victim-charged-with-first-degree-murder/ | 2023-05-08T21:51:20 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/sheriff-sons-of-carter-county-victim-charged-with-first-degree-murder/ |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A decision about whether to close the Sycamore Shoals Hospital (SSH) intensive care unit (ICU) will likely come within a few weeks, Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine said.
Levine told News Channel 11 clinical quality and finances both point toward a closure and that he supports one, but said the hospital system hasn’t made a final call on the unit, which Levine treats a very low volume of patients.
Levine was quick to praise the hospital and its staff, but said the volume of patients and ICU strategy in place at Johnson City Medical Center (JCMC), and its proximity to SSH, make it difficult to justify keeping the service line open in Elizabethton.
“The people at Sycamore Shoals do great work,” Levine said. “It is a fabulous hospital and the ICU staff there has been wonderful, so I can understand that people get upset if we say we’re looking at it.”
He said if the ICU closes, there will be no staff layoffs and affected employees could work at other roles at SSH or take positions in ICU or PCU (progressive care) at JCMC or Johnson City’s other hospital, Franklin Woods.
But Levine said multiple studies have shown that regionalizing critical care and using what’s called an “intensivist” model at ICUs improve outcomes for patients. JCMC is using intensivists, he said.
“We get accused of doing it to save money,” Levine said of previous consolidation moves within the system. “Improving quality saves money. That’s not a bad thing.”
Levine said SSH’s ICU isn’t even treating most patients from Elizabethton, and that it has an average census of five people.
“The evidence shows unequivocally that high volume ICUs that are regionalized where you have intensivist programs deliver better care, lower mortality,” he said. “That’s not me saying that, that’s years of science and peer-reviewed studies, which I rely on when I make those decisions.”
The lower volumes also create a higher cost per patient, Levine said.
“Then the question is ‘alright, now does it make sense to spend more money on something that the evidence shows is not the best approach?’ You don’t spend more money on something unless it’s a better model.”
He pointed to a decision a couple years ago to close the ICU at Indian Path Medical Center in Kingsport and shift that volume to Holston Valley Medical Center. He said Holston Valley was more appropriate for higher-acuity care and the same holds true with JCMC (and even Franklin Woods) and SSH.
Levine said Ballad informs the state about service line decisions and also puts proposals through a variety of “stress tests” to make sure leadership has thought through everything, “that we’ve got plans in place to more sure that we’re executing it properly.”
“I’m the last person to lay eyes on it and make the final decision. I believe it’s the right decision.”
He said he’s unsurprised that people are disappointed about the prospect.
“But I think over time, they’ll realize that … the evidence will support the decision.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/sycamore-shoals-icu-decision-likely-in-a-few-weeks-ceo-says-evidence-supports-closure/ | 2023-05-08T21:51:26 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/sycamore-shoals-icu-decision-likely-in-a-few-weeks-ceo-says-evidence-supports-closure/ |
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — South Fork Utility District announced on Monday a partnership with ServLine, a protection program that provides water leak insurance to customers.
According to a social media post by South Fork Utility, the insurance goes into effect on June 1 and all South Fork customers will be automatically enrolled. Residential customers will see a new line item totaling two dollars each month on their utility bills, according to the post.
Customers have the chance to opt out of this leak insurance program by calling South Fork Utilities at any time. The post states if customers opt out of this coverage, “there will be no more adjustments made to your utility bill for water loss/leaks through the utility. If you do not opt out of this coverage you will be allowed 1 [leak] occurrence per 12-month period up to $2500.”
The post said customers will qualify for a leak insurance claim and adjustment through this program if their bill is two times (double) their average bill.
Customers with a suspected leak must contact ServLine, where the customer will pay their average monthly bill, and ServLine will send a check to South Fork Utility for the outstanding remainder of the bill.
The post states, “Claims must be submitted for adjustment within 90 days from billing date. This coverage will also cover 2 billing cycles in case a leak rolls over into the next month.”
Those with questions or concerns are encouraged to call South Fork Utility at 423-217-4233. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/south-fork-utility-adopts-servline-water-leak-insurance-for-customers/ | 2023-05-08T21:51:56 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/south-fork-utility-adopts-servline-water-leak-insurance-for-customers/ |
GILES COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) – A motorcyclist from Carter County was killed in a crash in Giles County, Virginia, according to the Virginia State Police (VSP).
A release from the VSP states that the crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. Friday on Route 460. A 2022 Kawasaki Ninja 650 was heading west when it came upon a curve. The release states the operator lost control and was thrown from the motorcycle.
The motorcyclist was identified by the VSP as Michael S. Ruganis, 46, of Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Ruganis reportedly died at the scene.
State police report he had been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
As of Monday, the crash remains under investigation. The VSP stated that speed is being investigated as a factor. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/state-police-roan-mountain-motorcyclist-killed-in-virginia-crash/ | 2023-05-08T21:52:02 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/state-police-roan-mountain-motorcyclist-killed-in-virginia-crash/ |
The roar of hundreds of motorcycles filled the air on Sunday afternoon as riders from across the region gathered at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kenosha for the annual blessing of the bikes.
The event at the church, , 8760 37th Ave., started 33 years ago when a member of St. Paul's approached the late Pastor Marvin Oechler with the idea of doing a bike blessing for motorcyclists before the summer riding season begins.
"The blessing means something to people," said St. Paul's pastor Cindy Aasen. "(They) might not darken the door for church, but they want to make sure that God's with them, and that's all right."
The blessing
Motorists filled the St. Paul's Church parking lot for a ceremony which opened with the songn "God Bless the USA," followed by a large group blessing.
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"Receive the blessing. It's one of two today," said Aasen. "May the sun rise in front of you, may the rain fall behind you and may the wind follow you. May the angels of your brothers and sisters who have gone before guard travels, for they know the perils of the road ahead.
"May the Lord keep you safe through the rough city streets on your way to the land of swirling turns and rolling hills. Let the colors of fall keep you warm. Let the eagle guide you to the mountaintops. Let the moon's light guide you through the night.
"May your tires not fail, nor your engine grow old. May your (bike) draw life from the streams you pass. Keep your seat soft and your mind sharp. Let the air of spring breathe life into your soul to journey to another adventure beside your brothers and sisters. In the name of the father, and of the son and of the holy spirit."
Following the group blessing, Aasen - along with pastor Charles "Chip" Lutz of Lord of Life Lutheran Church and pastor Kevin Beebe, of Spirit Alive! Church -- blessed small groups of motorcycles.
The riders
The event attracted riders from southeast Wisconsin and Illinois. John Sweeney, a member of the Libertyville, Ill.-based Lakeshore Chapter of Harley Owners Group., said this was not his first "rodeo," rather it was his 20th.
"I joined the HOG chapter in 2002... and I went to the blessing and thought it was a great concept," Sweeney said. "We just keep doing it because ... what a way to start the summer with a little bit of good luck on your shoulders. I don't care what religion you are, I'll take all the luck I can get."
Sweeney, who has been riding motorcycles since he was 16 years old, said the church treats the riders wonderfully.
"I'll be coming here until I stop riding," Sweeney said.
Lakeshore HOG Chapter Director Heather Johnston, said seeing the tradition continue for so many years was a wonderful thing.
"We get people from all over the place that come every year for this to start the riding season off right with a blessing," Johnston said. "We can use as many blessings as we can get and so it's just a really awesome thing to have it, to be welcomed and get together."
Johnston, who has been riding for eight years and attending the blessing for almost that long, said the event is also a testament to the community.
"I feel so touched by it. I get such a joy out of being blessed and being around all these amazing people," Johnston said. "This is something that's really heartwarming and people really look forward to it every year, and the church in particular really welcomes us with open arms." | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/hundreds-of-cyclists-roar-to-kenosha-church-for-annual-blessing-of-the-bikes/article_292ba142-ecfa-11ed-8045-a3e59044a159.html | 2023-05-08T21:57:39 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/hundreds-of-cyclists-roar-to-kenosha-church-for-annual-blessing-of-the-bikes/article_292ba142-ecfa-11ed-8045-a3e59044a159.html |
A Mason City man accused of robbing Casey's General Store on North Federal Avenue and stealing guns in Manly in January has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
According to court records filed Monday, 18-year-old Jesup Allen Ward must serve at least 50% of his sentence. Ward filed a motion Monday claiming his publicly appointed attorney did not "thoroughly explain the significance of [his] sentence or potential sentence."
Ward argued that based on his age and lack of experience he would like to seek different legal council and asks for the prosecution to consider another plea bargain. The court apparently denied that request, although there was nothing filed on the court's behalf regarding the request as of Monday afternoon.
Ward pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery April 10 in Cerro Gordo County District Court. The prosecution is recommending a 25-year sentence with a minimum of 70% served due to the crime being a forcible felony.
The robbery charge stems from a Jan. 3 incident in which police were dispatched to Casey's General Store at 9:39 p.m. after a report of an armed robbery.
No one was hurt during the incident and an undisclosed amount of money was taken, according to police.
The gun theft charges stem from a Jan. 2 incident in which Manly police were dispatched to a residence on South Broadway Street after being alerted to a burglary taking place. According to the affidavit, the next-door neighbor called the resident and informed him she could see two men breaking into the residence via her Ring doorbell camera.
The woman then allegedly went next door and chased the men away. She could only identify Ward as one of the burglars. The men allegedly tried kicking in the door, but then resorted to breaking a window with a shovel.
The only property reported missing were two black handguns, a 9 mm Springfield and a .45 caliber Springfield. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/accused-mason-city-caseys-robber-sentenced-to-25-years/article_22259289-3484-5823-a181-6757666818c6.html | 2023-05-08T21:59:26 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/accused-mason-city-caseys-robber-sentenced-to-25-years/article_22259289-3484-5823-a181-6757666818c6.html |
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore City Health Department announced the launch of a public dashboard to track and report data on opioid overdoses in Baltimore.
The dashboard includes data from 1999 through 2020, the last year for which finalized data is available.
Information on the dashboard derives from several sources including Maryland Department of Health Vital, Open Data Maryland, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the CDC.
In addition to providing data trends, the dashboard also provides information regarding the science of addiction and access to resources, including naloxone training and treatment resources.
The dashboard can be accessed here. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/baltimore-city-health-department-announced-dashboard-to-track-opioid-overdoses | 2023-05-08T22:00:30 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/baltimore-city-health-department-announced-dashboard-to-track-opioid-overdoses |
TOWSON, Md. — Most new restaurants need all the profit they can get when first starting out, but one is donating an entire day's worth to a good cause.
On Tuesday, Chopt Creative Salad Company in Towson is giving a preview of their menu before they officially open in Dulaney Plaza.
100% of the proceeds go to 'Next One Up', a Baltimore based non-profit giving young men extra resources and leadership training outside of school.
"Not only are they getting academic support but we're taking them out to do community service, training them as athletes, just trying to get them to be better leaders in the Baltimore community," said Shel Simon, Deputy CEO of Next One Up.
Next One Up is expanding their mission with their first permanent space in Baltimore called Base Camp, coming soon.
Their fundraiser at Chopt runs on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and then from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Chopt is also offering 50% off online orders with promo code TOWSON50.
They officially open on Wednesday, May 10. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/chopt-towson-partners-with-next-one-up-to-help-benefit-young-men | 2023-05-08T22:00:36 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/chopt-towson-partners-with-next-one-up-to-help-benefit-young-men |
BALTIMORE — Survivors are still waiting to find out the names of seven abusers redacted from the Baltimore Archdiocese report released by the Attorney General.
The report detailed decades of sexual abuse by more than 150 clergy of an unknown number of victims within the Baltimore Archdiocese.
10 names of abusers and five church officials involved in the cover-up of the decade long child abuse ring were removed from the report.
“The diocese won’t name these people but we know from the attorney general that simply is not true," said David Lorenz, a survivor of abuse himself.
Attorney General Anthony Brown did send out a statement saying the archdiocese can release the names.
In addition to wanting the five church officials who aided in the cover up fired, the survivors network of those abused by priests is calling for Archbishop Lori to step down.
One of the officials, Richard Woy, has officially resigned from the St. Joseph Medical Center's board of directors.
“Giving the continued stonewalling and the continued misleading statements and the grotesque lies, we also call for the resignation of bishop Lori," said Lorenz.
The group says releasing the names allows people to protect their children from abusers and survivors a pathway to come forward. Especially since some of the church officials who participated in the cover-up are still involved in the church.
“Yet they’re serving in ministry, they’re down there in parishes and how can a parishioner put confidence or trust in someone who did that kind of thing. I don’t know how you can put trust in that person any longer," said Lorenz.
“We have to go after not only the perpetrators, but the people who were protecting the perpetrators," said Frank Schindler, a survivor.
Survivors are hoping if the Archdiocese doesn’t release the remaining names the court will, saying they’re not confident their demands will be met. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/redacted-names-to-be-released-as-some-abusers-are-identified-from-ag-report | 2023-05-08T22:00:42 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/redacted-names-to-be-released-as-some-abusers-are-identified-from-ag-report |
BALTIMORE — Detectives in Baltimore are investigating after a crash injured two siblings, sending them to the hospital with critical injuries.
It happened in northwest Baltimore near the corner of Liberty Heights and Oakfield Avenue.
RELATED:9-year-old girl hospitalized after school bus collides with another vehicle
Loved ones said a 9-year-old girl and her 22-year-old brother are in the hospital following that crash.
Some neighbors in the area like Evon Lindsay and Erica Morris witnessed the aftermath of the crash.
“We usually don’t come outside because it’s so all the time, but this time it was like the crash and the scream, I didn’t know what to do. I just watch these kids walk down to school. Every morning we see them,” Morris said.
Police said just after 9:00 a.m. on Monday a school bus and a Ford Focus crashed into each other, causing that Ford Focus to hop the curb and hit the young girl and her brother. Loved ones said the older brother was walking his younger sister to school when they were hit.
“I looked good, and I realized they were my neighbor's children. The bigger boy he was responding when they were talking to him but the little girl, they were bagging her and giving her resuscitation and she was in terrible shape,” Lindsay said.
Both neighbors said there’s always accidents at the intersection and it has been an issue for years.
“We need a traffic signal or lights it’s been quite some time we’ve been asking,” Lindsay said.
Right now everyone in the neighborhood is praying for those siblings. The family told WMAR-2 News both of them are at different hospitals with critical injuries. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/two-siblings-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-following-school-bus-crash | 2023-05-08T22:00:48 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/two-siblings-injured-after-being-hit-by-car-following-school-bus-crash |
ESSEX, Md. — A homicide investigation is underway in Essex.
On May 5, Baltimore County Police were called to the area of Route 702 and Marlyn Avenue for reports of a car crash.
They arrived to the scene and located a female, identified as 29-year-old Shalia Hendrix, suffering from a gunshot wound inside the vehicle.
She was later pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Homicide Detectives are asking anyone who may have information about this shooting to contact 410-307-2020. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/woman-shot-killed-while-driving-on-route-702-in-essex | 2023-05-08T22:00:54 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/woman-shot-killed-while-driving-on-route-702-in-essex |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was orignally published by CalMatters.
From the parking lot, there’s nothing to suggest that Quito Village is the California housing policy equivalent of a unicorn, or that the seemingly low-key project is sitting at the center of one of this year’s biggest political fights.
Peek through one of the gates of this dirt lot in the San Jose suburb of Saratoga. Trenches, a few foundations and an excavator pawing at a mountain of dirt are the only indication that, if all goes to plan, this will be the site of 90 new townhouses next year.
But though it may not be obvious — even to one of its developers, who was surprised to hear the news — this easy-to-ignore housing development appears to be one of a kind.
What makes Quito Village unique dates to early 2020 when Sand Hill Property Company agreed to follow a strict labor standard, promoted by some of the state’s most powerful organized labor groups, that favors the hiring of union workers. The Silicon Valley real estate developer did so to take advantage of a 2017 state law meant to speed the construction of dense housing.
Atlanta-based real estate giant PulteGroup took over the project in 2022 and began construction in September. That makes Quito Village the only known project in California that has broken ground under the law’s union-hiring rule.
Now lawmakers are debating making that 2017 law permanent, but with a bill that would strike out the union-backed labor standard that Sand Hill agreed to take on for the Saratoga project.
For many Democrats in the Legislature who want to see the state turbocharge its housing construction and who argue that the union-hire rule places too onerous a standard on developers amid a dire housing shortage, Quito Village is a case in point.
“So that’s one in five years,” Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, chair of the Assembly’s housing committee, said in an interview last month. “That to me kind of says it all.”
As lawmakers and competing unions debate the rule’s merits, much of the argument rides on the answer to a single question: Can California simultaneously encourage developers to build our way out of the state’s housing shortage while also requiring them to reserve jobs for the state’s unionized construction workforce?
If PulteGroup is in fact the only company actively building new housing under the terms of this controversial rule, as housing data assembled by the state suggests, how and why it has been able to go forward might shed light on that question and help settle a fiery and protracted debate.
But it’s not clear that the company is even following the rule.
Upon taking over the project last year, PulteGroup’s legal team made the case to the city of Saratoga that state law does not obligate the company to abide by the union-backed standard imposed on mixed-income projects, according to emails shared with CalMatters. The city disagreed.
A year later, prompted by a Public Records Act request filed by CalMatters, Saratoga city staff noted Pulte has not been submitting monthly reports to prove that it is complying with the rule.
“Significant monetary penalties may be imposed under State law for failure to comply,” Saratoga’s Community Development Director Debbie Pedro wrote to Brett Walsh, a Bay Area-based project manager with Pulte on May 1, in a letter the city shared with CalMatters.
Developers are subject to state fines of up to $10,000 per month for each missing monthly compliance report. If a company is found to be skirting the “skilled and trained” standard entirely, the penalties can rack up much higher and much quicker: $200 per day “for each worker employed in contravention” of the rule.
Walsh did not respond to an email from CalMatters. When asked about the project’s construction crew in April, Pulte vice president of communications Jim Zeumer said the company only shares “basic project scale, scope and pricing” information. Zeumer did not respond to additional requests for comment after the City of Saratoga sent its letter.
David Bini, a construction worker union labor leader in Santa Clara county, said that he, too, is curious whether the company is complying with the labor law.
He said he put in a call to the company last month with an offer to “help them in getting in compliance” if they need it, he said.
But as the letter from the city of Saratoga to Pulte suggests, the true number of projects that have moved forward under the controversial rule might not be one. It could be zero.
Skewed results in California housing law
Under the 2017 streamlining law authored by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, developers are offered a trade:
In cities and towns that haven’t kept up with state-set housing production goals, developers can skip some of the permitting hurdles that often delay or kill projects early on. In exchange, developers have to set aside a portion of the new units for low-income occupants, and abide by higher labor standards.
For projects in which every unit is designated “affordable,” developers simply have to pay their crews more. A “prevailing wage” is a state-determined minimum rate for each trade that roughly corresponds to what unionized construction workers make.
But for “mixed-income” projects, where developers meet the law’s minimum affordable housing rule but plan to charge as much as they can on the remaining units, an even higher standard applies: Construction crews must be “skilled and trained.” That means a little over half of most trade workers must be graduates of apprenticeship programs, the vast majority of which are sponsored by unions.
Presented with those two options, most developers who make use of the law have taken the first path.
Since the law went into effect, developers have invoked the streamlining bill to propose nearly 18,000 units, according to an analysis by UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation. Roughly two-thirds of the proposed projects are entirely affordable, meaning the projects only have to pay prevailing wages.
Though data collected by the state is self-reported by local governments and riddled with errors, of the remaining third that includes market-rate units, Quito Village appears to be the only one that has actually broken ground.
Wiener cited the law’s uneven performance as reason to take out the “skilled and trained workforce” standard entirely when he introduced his proposal to make the law permanent.
But there is at least one other possible reason to explain the disparity.
Under the law, the exact percentage of units that developers have to set aside for low-income residents depends on which kinds of homes the locality is falling behind on.
In cities and towns short on permitting new homes for lower-income households, streamlined projects have to be 50% affordable. In places that aren’t allowing enough building on the higher end, the requirement is only 10%.
Saratoga falls into the second bucket. As planned, 10% of the townhomes at Quito Village will be provided at below-market rates.
Many California cities have met their state production goals for market-rate housing, but not for lower-income units. In those municipalities — a little more than 200 in recent years — streamlining privileges are granted only if half of the units are set aside for lower-income occupants. That’s a high bar for profit-driven builders, leaving the field to nonprofit-subsidized affordable housing developers.
But interviewees for that report also pointed to the union-hire rules for mixed-income projects as a factor that might “reduce the financial feasibility” of projects.
Dan Dunmoyer, head of the California Building Industry Association, said projects that require “prevailing wages” and those that demand a “skilled and trained workforce” tend to have similar payroll costs. The big difference comes down to time, he said.
“When you have to use ‘skilled and trained,’ then you can’t move until you find that worker or that contractor,” he said. “That may delay me three or four months per trade.”
Even so, he added, the argument about which higher labor standard ought to apply is academic in most of California. Both are “cost prohibitive other than in the highest end communities,” he said. “It just doesn’t pencil in 85% of the state.”
An exception in Saratoga?
If ever there was a place where higher labor standards could pencil out, it’s Saratoga. That’s because the Santa Clara county ‘burb is, in a word, loaded.
The average household income here is nearly $225,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The average listing price of a new home exceeds $3.5 million. It’s the kind of place where developers can afford to take on higher costs because residents here are willing to pay for them.
“Once you add the economics of a high-market community, these extra premium dollars are okay. You’re selling townhomes for $1.3 million up, so there’s some meat on the bone,” said Steve Lynch, director of planning for Sand Hill Property Company, which got the site ready for development before selling the residential portion to PulteGroup.
Asked why Sand Hill was willing to do what other developers have thus far been unwilling to do and accept the “skilled and trained” standard, Lynch said that, in fact, it did not.
Though an initial project approval letter from the city specifies that the project is subject to that union-hire requirement, as does an FAQ listed on the project’s website and a letter that Lynch sent to Saratoga’s city manager James Lindsay in the company’s initial streamlining application obtained by CalMatters through a public records request, Lynch said Sand Hill later determined that the language of the 2017 law actually exempts small towns like Saratoga.
Pulte’s legal team seemed to have its own questions about the project’s labor requirement prior to taking over.
In an email exchange in the early summer of 2022, Winter King, an attorney representing the city of Saratoga, wrote to the developer’s lawyer, David Chidlaw, referencing Pulte’s questions about “whether your client would be required to use a ‘skilled and trained workforce’ if it acquires the Quito Village project.”
In a subsequent email King sent to Chidlaw, she made the city’s position clear. “We don’t see a way around this requirement,” she wrote, adding that compliance with the “skilled and trained” standard is a condition of the project’s approval and “required by law.”
It’s unclear whether the conversation continued. Winter referred questions to the city of Saratoga and Chidlaw did not respond to requests for comment.
The uncertainty over whether the law does or doesn’t apply, at least as described by Lynch at Sand Hill, seems to boil down to a question of syntax.
The text of the law carves out an exemption for projects “located within a jurisdiction located in a coastal or bay county with a population of 225,000 or more.” Santa Clara County, which is considered a bay county, has nearly 2 million residents. The city of Saratoga has a mere 30,000. The question: Does the 225,000 threshold figure apply to the county or the city? If the threshold applies to the jurisdiction of Saratoga, the project would be exempt from the “skilled and trained” requirement.
So, too, would projects in the vast majority of California’s cities and towns.
Under that more restrictive interpretation of the law, the “skilled and trained” standard — the subject of years of legislative debate and political gridlock — would only apply to 12 of California’s 482 cities. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/a-bay-area-homebuilder-planned-project-with-union-rules-can-it-work-anywhere-else/103-8a4d42f8-0467-4ca5-ac6b-c7d83788e67d | 2023-05-08T22:01:54 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/a-bay-area-homebuilder-planned-project-with-union-rules-can-it-work-anywhere-else/103-8a4d42f8-0467-4ca5-ac6b-c7d83788e67d |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was originally published by CalMatters
The California Reparations Task Force approved economic models for calculating reparations which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars owed to eligible Black residents to address past racial inequities.
The models tell the state what is owed. The Legislature would have to adopt the recommendations and decide how much to pay, task force members said.
The state-appointed task force also unanimously voted to recommend California formally apologize “for the perpetration of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity and African slaves and their descendants.”
After 15 public hearings, two years of deliberations and input from more than 100 expert witnesses and the public, the task force on Saturday voted to finalize its proposals in an Oakland meeting. The nine-member panel has a deadline to submit it all to the Legislature by July 1.
The historic effort could become a model for a national program of reparations, some observers have said. Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from Oakland, said at the beginning of the task force meeting that the United States must repair the damage done to Black Americans.
“Reparations are not a luxury, but a human right long overdue for millions of Americans,” she said. “We are demanding that the government pay their tax.”
A bill by former state assembly member Shirley Weber created the reparations task force in 2020, in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd. The panel has since examined the history of slavery and racism in the state and developed detailed plans for how the state can begin to undo certain types of racial harm, such as housing discrimination, mass incarceration, devaluation of Black-owned businesses, the unjust taking of property and unequal access to health care.
The recommendations include policy changes and financial payouts. The task force’s final report and documents, numbering thousands of pages, don’t contain an overall price tag for reparations. They do include ways the state could calculate how much money eligible African Americans in California have lost since the state’s founding in 1850. The loss calculations vary depending on type of racial harm and how long a person has lived in California.
For instance, the loss estimates are $2,300 per person per year of residence for the over-policing of Black communities, and they are $77,000 total per person, regardless of length of residence, for Black-owned business losses and devaluations over the years.
The task force voted in March 2022 that African American descendents from enslaved Americans were eligible, but other Black residents, such as more recent immigrants, are not. Nearly 80% of California’s 2.6 million Black residents would be eligible, said William Darity, an economist who consulted with the task force.
Task force members said elderly people should have priority for payment.
CalMatters created an interactive tool for calculating how much a person is owed, using formulas in the task force’s final reports and how long a person lived in California during the periods of racial harm.
For instance, a 19-year-old who moved to California in 2018 would be owed at least $149,799 based on the calculations, but a 71-year-old who has lived in California all their life could be owed about $1.2 million. On the other hand, an eligible 28-year-old Californian who moved out of state in 2012 and just moved back could be due around $348,507, according to the calculator.
Hundreds of millions of dollars
If all of the eligible African American residents lived in the state only two years, it could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in potential reparations.
Eligible Black residents should not expect cash payments anytime soon.
The state Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom will decide on reparations. It’s unclear what they will do with the task force recommendations. The task force was not told to identify funding sources.
Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a task force member and Democrat from Los Angeles, stressed that the process will take time.
“Giving the impression that funds will become readily available — or that cash payments are recommended by the task force to rectify marginalization caused by generations of reckless policies and laws — is not focusing on the real work of the task force or the report itself,” he said in an interview Sunday. “There is a process by which the legislature will look at and discuss all recommendations, and that will take some time.”
Task force members voted to recommend the Legislature consider “down payments” of varying amounts to eligible African American residents, saying direct cash payments are part of other reparations programs around the world.
“The initial down payment is the beginning of a process of addressing historical injustices; not the end of it,” the task force report states.
The task force also is recommending a variety of policy changes to counteract discrimination. For example, the task force has recommended the state end the practice of forced labor in prisons and adopt a K-12 Black studies curriculum.
Freedman’s bureau
The group finalized plans to establish a centralized state agency similar to the national Freedmen’s Bureau, a federal agency created in 1865 to assist previously enslaved Black people. The state agency would provide oversight and implement the task force’s proposals.
“The agency will be doing the work that we weren’t able to finish in two years,” said Kamilah Moore, chairperson of the task force.
Saturday’s meeting was one of the more rowdy hearings by the task force. It included a brief shouting match between a regular meeting attendee and Amos Brown, the task force’s vice chairperson. Also the California Highway Patrol escorted a disruptive group out of Lisser Hall at Mills College, where the meeting was held.
During this nearly final task force meeting, debate continued over who is eligible for reparations. Some task force members also voiced concerns that the Legislature might not honor the task force’s vote to consider lineage for eligibility.
By a 5-4 vote last year, the task force narrowly defined an eligible person as an “individual being an African American descendant of a chattel enslaved person or the descendant of a free Black person living in the US prior to the end of the 19th century.”
That vote was contentious and emotional.
Reparations vote
The task force voted 6-3 Saturday to approve the recommendations for financial compensation. The three members who voted against it did so after changes they wanted failed.
Moore on Saturday made several attempts to further codify the lineage-based definition in the task force’s final reports by adding a new chapter. That failed to garner majority support from the rest of the task force.
When Moore requested a section of the final report move from one part to another, members of the Department of Justice staff who put the report together balked, saying the panel would have to rescind its prior vote and convene an additional meeting to redo the report’s structure.
Monica Montgomery Steppe, a task force member and San Diego City councilmember, disagreed with them. But a majority of the task force went on to approve the final documents as presented with slight tweaks.
Speaking on Sunday in Twitter Spaces, Moore said that meeting “procedure can be weaponized.” She declined to say more publicly about issues from the meeting. “Stay tuned for the ‘tell-all’ book, though,” she joked.
The task force tentatively set its final meeting for June 29 in Sacramento. Members said they plan to hand the documents to members of Legislature. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/reparations-panel-recommends-possible-millions-eligible-black-californians/103-fbd274b3-3f12-4407-b09c-ea1d9074b819 | 2023-05-08T22:02:01 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/reparations-panel-recommends-possible-millions-eligible-black-californians/103-fbd274b3-3f12-4407-b09c-ea1d9074b819 |
LODI, Calif. — The Lodi Police Department is investigating after two people were found dead in a stolen car involved in a chase early Monday morning.
According to a news release, it started just before 1 a.m. when officers were sent to Palm Avenue and California Street for a report of two suspicious men carrying flashlights. Officers saw two white vehicles leave the area as they got to the scene.
An officer tried to stop the vehicles and both of them went in different directions, leading to a chase that was eventually terminated.
About a half-hour after the chase, Lodi police were sent to Peterson Street for reports of gunshots and broken glass. Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle – believed to be the one they were chasing earlier – crashed into a fence and tree.
Two people were inside the vehicle and were ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
The second vehicle involved hasn’t been found yet.
Anyone with information can call Lodi Area Crime Stoppers at 209-369-2746.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Drive-by shooting under investigation in Thornton | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/lodi/car-chase-2-people-dead/103-af992af0-dae4-460a-91a3-16d4ca286fe7 | 2023-05-08T22:02:07 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/lodi/car-chase-2-people-dead/103-af992af0-dae4-460a-91a3-16d4ca286fe7 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The sound of engines revving and tires skidding from nearby sideshows aren't out of the ordinary when you live along a dead end street in the Meadowview neighborhood of South Sacramento.
It's something Shirley Chand says she's used to, but they're getting worse and becoming more frequent since pandemic restrictions eased.
"I've lived here like 11 years now, but very recently it's become the top nuisance in the neighborhood," said Chand. "[Sideshow participants] are pretty young, too."
With Chand's house along a street frequented by sideshows, she says it wasn't long before police began asking her for porch camera footage to help identify vehicles and suspects.
She says some folks in the neighborhood may not think sharing footage with law enforcement will lead to major change, but they need to do all they can if they want sideshows gone.
"With the police's hands tied, I think we are the ones who need to step up and do something," she said.
Residents say sideshows are spiraling out of control
Just a few weeks ago, a sideshow involving more than 200 cars led to a person firing a gun into the crowd of people. Only four cars were impounded.
The Feb. 25 incident near Florin Road and Amherst Drive happened just blocks away from Claude Arretche.
"We have people doing donuts on a regular basis," he said.
Neighbors concerned over the frequency of sideshows were hoping to speak at a Traffic Safety Town Hall Thursday with city councilmembers... and then it was postponed a second time.
An email sent to residents by Councilmember Mai Vang's office says the town hall is postponed to ensure all speakers are able to attend and answer questions.
"We understand that this change may cause great inconvenience for you and we sincerely apologize for the short notice. We will update you with the new date and location as soon as they are confirmed," reads the email.
Land Park community advocate Kathi Windheim says she understands the difficulty in police responding to sideshows quickly as multiple sideshows can be happening around the city at the same time.
While catalytic converter thefts are also a growing issue in the neighborhood, Windheim says way more people are put in danger during sideshows as opposed to the thefts.
She referenced a Feb. 11 incident where sideshow participants surrounded a family van attempting to drive through the large crowd.
"You don't want to be driving on the street and all of the sudden you're surrounded. The best thing to do is get away, even if you have to leave your vehicle to get out of the area," said Windheim.
As a community leader, she receives many videos from neighbors of sideshows happening outside their homes.
She also suggests neighbors with porch cameras send their videos to police, as well as share the videos with other neighbors in case they can identify vehicles or suspects.
Living along a long dead-end street, Chand says she wouldn't mind seeing more speed bumps and other traffic obstacles requiring cars to slow down, and possibly even prevent sideshows.
"(Sideshow drivers) would come any time of the night and any time of the day," she said.
Councilmember Vang's office referred ABC10 to Sacramento police when asked for comment about the concerns of community members. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento-residents-brainstorm-ways-to-pump-breaks-on-sideshows/103-598c5af9-b0c8-4a37-9b90-a0ad67d43b44 | 2023-05-08T22:02:13 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento-residents-brainstorm-ways-to-pump-breaks-on-sideshows/103-598c5af9-b0c8-4a37-9b90-a0ad67d43b44 |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Five people were injured during a crash in Orange County on Monday afternoon, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
Firefighters said crews responded crash near North Hiawassee Road and Hennepin Boulevard in Pine Hills.
While four of those injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, one refused to be transported, according to fire officials.
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Sky 6 flew over the scene, which shows a car crashed through a fence behind a nearby home.
No additional information has been provided at this time.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/5-hurt-in-orange-county-crash-fire-officials-say/ | 2023-05-08T22:05:29 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/5-hurt-in-orange-county-crash-fire-officials-say/ |
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Monday kicks off National Nurse’s Week and not only does AdventHealth want to celebrate their nurses, but they also want to highlight how some are addressing nursing burnout.
While AdventHealth offers several programs to help nurses and doctors with burnout, dozens of health care providers have come together to create the AdventHealth orchestra.
“Everything just sort of relaxes and I just get into the moment and play music together,” said AdventHealth nurse, Ian Barnett.
Barnett is a nurse at AdventHealth New Symrna Beach, but he’s also principal bassoon in the health care system’s orchestra.
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“I didn’t apply at first because I thought, I’m here in New Smyrna, they’re based out of Orlando, they wouldn’t pick anybody,” Barnett said. “So my manager said, ‘Apply, do it. You’ll never know.’ So, I applied. And who knew? I’m principal bassoon.”
Barnett worked on the hospital’s COVID unit during the COVID-19 pandemic and said being a member of the orchestra helps him deal with stress and burnout.
“Nobody understands what we’re going through,” Barnett said. “I mean, you go home, and you can’t really vent to family. So, to have something like this where other people that have been through it can get together, it’s just important. It’s a good, good way to heal ourselves.”
In a 2022 study, the American Nurses Foundation found that 69% of nurses under the age of 25 experienced burnout. AdventHealth Chief Nursing Officer for the Central Florida South region, Cathy Stankiewicz said that number isn’t shocking.
“We did have a lot of burnout prior to COVID, and it doesn’t surprise me that it increased during COVID,” Stankiewicz said. “And even now, today, burnout continues to be, as you mentioned, a significant issue that we are committed at AdventHealth to address.”
AdventHealth offers several programs to help their nursing staff including the RISE program, which aims at helping providers improve their mental health through counseling or group activities.
“Just different interventions that are delivered by a licensed mental health counselor that allows for our nurses to recognize, accept the fact that there is burnout, that burnout is okay and have compassion for themselves as they continue to talk and work to improve their mental health,” Stankiewicz said.
The AdventHealth orchestra also performs publicly. Their most recent performances include Christmas concerts at Disney Springs and the Orlando Rescue Mission. The groups first performance was in 2021 at the Doctor Phillip’s Performing Arts Center. It was a requiem for all of the patients, providers and people around the world who died during the pandemic.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/adventhealth-orchestra-brings-healing-to-central-florida-healthcare-providers/ | 2023-05-08T22:05:35 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/adventhealth-orchestra-brings-healing-to-central-florida-healthcare-providers/ |
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Four gunshots — followed by two more and finally six rounds of rapid fire — were heard on a camera at a downtown Melbourne business on Saturday.
On East New Haven Avenue at 1:23 a.m. Saturday, people were seen running for their lives.
“Don’t know how we survived all the gunshots that happened that night, but we got lucky,” said Scott Aleks of Two Feathers Gallery.
Like other small businesses, Aleks said his store was hit in the gunfire.
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Monday, Melbourne police said Orlendo Green and Deonte Jones were identified as the two men who drove one of the three shooting victims to the hospital and then ran from police.
According to an arrest affidavit, witnesses told police there was another car that drove victims to the hospital.
Police said Green and Jones are the only arrests thus far, but they’re not shooting suspects. At this point in the investigation, Green and Jones are facing charges of resisting arrest.
Saturday, News 6 interviewed Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey, who said it’s time for another conversation about safety downtown.
The city council addressed safety a year ago after police said Alain Noel died in a shooting inside a bar.
If convicted, suspect Elvin Clark faces life in prison. Meanwhile, the bar Off The Traxx ultimately closed.
“There’s been people kind of concerned about this,” Alfrey said. “We will address this at our council meeting Tuesday night.”
Aleks offered his own suggestions.
“When the bars are starting to shut down, maybe have a few police just show their presence,” he said.
The city council meeting Tuesday starts at 6:30 p.m.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/camera-catches-gunfire-during-downtown-melbourne-shooting/ | 2023-05-08T22:05:42 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/camera-catches-gunfire-during-downtown-melbourne-shooting/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Law enforcement and public officials came together Monday for an all-day summit aimed at addressing gun violence across Central Florida.
Dozens of people were invited to attend the all-day gun violence prevention summit held by Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell. Area law enforcement leaders, elected officials and many others shared ideas about ways to reduce crime in our area.
The summit also consisted of panelists from across the country, from Chicago, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles, who shared what’s worked in their cities. They talked about former gang members helping teens turn their lives around, mentorship and community intervention programs.
Sandra Fatmi lives in Pine Hills and said the crime and violence in her community need to stop. She’s the president of the Pine Hills Community Council and was also invited to attend the summit.
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“Gun violence is real. We need to take back our streets,” Fatmi said. “We have too many guns on the streets, let’s be brutally honest, and they’re getting into the wrong hands.”
Miles Mulrain is a mentor who runs a nonprofit called Let Your Voice Be Heard and was also there.
“I love our elected officials, but it’s time to pull our sleeves up, roll them up and it’s time for us to get to work, the time is now,” Mulrain said.
This comes after deputies said 19-year-old Keith Moses shot and killed three people back in February, Nathacha Augustin, 38; T’yonna Major, 9; and Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons, 24, and injured two others, including Brandi Major, the girl’s mother, and 29-year-old Jesse Walden, a Spectrum News 13 photographer.
Moses is charged with first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.
Following the tragic string of Pine Hills shootings, state and local elected officials spoke out.
“We talked about community violence initiatives, some things that happened in Chicago, Los Angeles, and how we bring in different partners who are doing things with results here in Orlando,” said Orange County Commissioner Michael Scott, of the summit discussions.
Worrell said a community-based think tank was a good takeaway from Monday’s summit as leaders try to work closer together to address crime.
“We can look at what the organizations and what they’re doing and how they can best serve where we’re trying to go,” she said.
There were two morning sessions that the media was not allowed to attend. News 6 asked the state attorney why not.
“Because you guys make it messy, right? When the community, when the cameras are in the room, people have the need to posture and do whatever they need to do so they can impress their particular audience,” Worrell said.
We asked for clarification and she told News 6 she wasn’t calling the media messy, but she said sometimes having those candid conversations without cameras is more effective in tackling the root of the issue.
The summit came ahead of a community town hall at the Experience Christian Center in Pine Hills.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/take-back-our-streets-orange-osceola-state-attorneys-office-holds-gun-violence-prevention-summit/ | 2023-05-08T22:05:48 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/take-back-our-streets-orange-osceola-state-attorneys-office-holds-gun-violence-prevention-summit/ |
TUPELO — Patrons of the downtown Tupelo post office will no longer be able to retrieve their mail after business hours following what local law enforcement officials say are multiple complaints of loitering inside the lobby and stolen mail.
In a notice to the post office's P.O. box owners dated May 1, post office manager Scott Whitworth explained the lobby will be closed after the last employee leaves it and it will be open during operating hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Previously, post office customers were able to access the building's lobby, and the P.O. boxes inside, at any hour.
“We realize that lobby hours might result in some inconvenience for certain box holders. However, we must take adequate measures to safeguard customers’ mail against theft and postal property against vandalism,” Whitworth wrote.
Tupelo Police Department Major Charles McDougald said the department has received multiple reports from the owners of the post office building that there had been reports of homeless individuals loitering in the lobby after hours.
In January, the department reported an officer made an arrest outside of the building, citing public urination. Three homeless individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct after being asked to leave the lobby where they were sleeping.
TPD also reported stolen mail out of the outside mailbox, as well as stolen checks. While there were no reports linked to vandalism, the building owners reportedly asked for extra patrol around the property.
McDougald also noted there could be instances of vandalism that went unreported.
Whitworth did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him for further details. Bev Crossen is the manager of Asbury Enterprises, LLC, which is the registered agent of Crossen Main, LLC. Crossen Main, LLC, owns the post office building on Main Street. Crossen did not respond to attempts to reach her.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/downtown-tupelo-post-office-to-close-lobby-after-business-hours/article_56732cfc-5b88-5d9b-9682-746857f89272.html | 2023-05-08T22:06:40 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/downtown-tupelo-post-office-to-close-lobby-after-business-hours/article_56732cfc-5b88-5d9b-9682-746857f89272.html |
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Text-to-911 is a service that allows the public to send a text message to contact emergency service providers.
According to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), just as in a voice call, the 911 telecommunicator will continue to ask more questions about the emergency, confirming a victim's location, the people involved and any other important details.
Text-to-911 may be most helpful in these emergency situations:
By individuals who have speech or hearing impairments, or who are having a medical emergency that renders them incapable of speech;
Instances when making noise may endanger the caller, such as a home invasion/robbery, or instances of domestic violence or an abduction.
Typing questions and answers back and forth with a 911 telecommunicator takes a considerable amount of time, so please be patient and be as clear and concise as possible with your answers. For this reason, a voice call is still preferred.
To send a 911 text message, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Create a new text message or conversation
- Step 2: Type 911 in the "To" or "Recipient" field
- Step 3: Describe your location: Include the address and municipality (township or borough)
- Step 4: Describe the situation: Include what type of emergency help is needed
- Step 5: Send the text message
Text-to-911 is an important tool to enhance communications with the public in an emergency, but it has many limitations. It's important to keep these things in mind:
- A text or data plan is required to place a text to 911.
- Text-to-911 conversations cannot include more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 911.
- Do not use abbreviations or emojis.
- Voice calls are real-time communication and Text-to-911 is not. As with all text messages, text messages to 911 may take longer to receive, may get out of order, or may not be received at all.
- 911 call takers will not be able to hear any background noise that could help with assisting during the emergency.
- Location information will be limited to the cell tower that your cell phone is communicating through. A 911 telecommunicator won't automatically know where you are.
At this time, the majority of Pennsylvania counties have all four cellphone carriers deployed (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon). Tan counties, including Sullivan, Northumberland and Lebanon Counties have requests for deployment in progress.
At this time, Bradford, Wyoming and Schuylkill Counties do not have the service in place. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cant-call-pennsylvania-counties-text-911/521-d65b685e-d81c-44b4-83f0-5b688b657e69 | 2023-05-08T22:06:52 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cant-call-pennsylvania-counties-text-911/521-d65b685e-d81c-44b4-83f0-5b688b657e69 |
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash in Cumberland County on Monday.
According to troopers, at 12 p.m., a 1999 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by a 17-year-old from Newville struck a 2017 Kenworth truck tractor driven by a man from Hagerstown, Maryland that was pulling out from a driveway onto Route 11.
The motorcycle driver did not survive his injuries, despite wearing a helmet. Following the crash, Newville Area Ritner Highway (Route 11) was closed from Centerville Road (RT 233) to Log Cabin Road for roughly three hours.
There were no other reported injuries. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/fatal-motorcycle-crash-reported-cumberland-county/521-12095711-8e12-4673-bd4e-1f39edceea0b | 2023-05-08T22:06:59 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/fatal-motorcycle-crash-reported-cumberland-county/521-12095711-8e12-4673-bd4e-1f39edceea0b |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A rally against gun violence brought 150 Philadelphia students to Harrisburg, where they marched to the Capitol to call for more gun control laws.
Emotions ran high as the students called for measures like more extensive background checks to buy firearms, better control over ghost guns, and requirements to report lost or stolen guns.
“I’m tired of not knowing if my travels to school will be my last travel. I’m tired of wondering if my mother will be burying me one day. I’m tired,” said Elijah Owens, a student at Paul Robeson High School in West Philadelphia. “I’m tired.”
“Our generation is definitely one that has been through a lot. But we cannot expect change to come if we do not call for it. We have to start demanding for our voices to be heard. We cannot keep letting others speak for us,” said Keyanna Nurse, who also goes to Paul Robeson High School and was named Philadelphia School District’s January Senior of the Month.
Bringing down gun violence, the students said, will require more than just gun reform laws. They also called for overall reforms to the public school system and social support structures.
“We need to start with making our communities safer so that people don’t feel the need to have a gun everywhere they go,” said Nabria Jackson, another student at Paul Robeson High School.
The rally came one day after a gunman opened fire at a mall near Dallas, Texas—killing at least eight people—and just over a week after five family members were shot by a neighbor near Houston.
“All the young people came out here because they don’t think young people should be doing active shooter drills. They don’t think the young people should have to hide under desks,” said State Sen. Sharif Street (D-Phila.). “They think that we, as legislators, have a responsibility to do something about gun violence.”
The state House is expected to vote on four gun control measures as early as this week.
Even if the bills pass, however, they would face long odds in the state Senate, where GOP lawmakers have long been wary of additional gun control measures.
Senate GOP leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/students-rally-against-gun-violence-pa-capitol/521-0e505966-9faa-4568-943f-f524a132aca7 | 2023-05-08T22:07:05 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/students-rally-against-gun-violence-pa-capitol/521-0e505966-9faa-4568-943f-f524a132aca7 |
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The Four Chaplains Memorial of York County will host its 31st annual prayer breakfast on Wednesday, May 10.
As they've done for years, the non-profit will award scholarships to local high school students who attended Alexander D. Goode Elementary School in York.
Additionally, they will present two Legion of Honor Awards to York County natives who have served others. One of these recipients is Sandra Lee Kearse-Stockton.
The house and street where Kearse-Stockton grew up in York is long gone, replaced by a park along the Codorus Creek. However, the memories of her childhood remain.
"Back in the day, we didn't have playgrounds. Our street was our playground and everybody's mom was the watchdog. There was always someone's mom sitting on the front porch on Codorus Street, so you couldn't get away with too many things," Stockton remembered.
Her life went on to include a thirty-year career in the military, first as an airman in the U.S. Air Force, then as a U.S. Army officer overseeing men and women in nursing.
"I think I did well. I was a good leader [and] people respected me. My soldiers respected me. I never had a problem," she recalled.
When Stockton retired in 1994 as a lieutenant colonel, she and her husband then took on the role of foster parents.
Over the years they helped more than 100 children.
"We had a big house. All of our kids were gone, out of the house, married or living with significant others and not at home. So we have this big old five-bedroom house," she told FOX43. "I mean there is always room for one more. There just is."
Those experiences and expertise led her to write a book on the topic of foster parenting, along with three other books about her life's story.
"I couldn't tell my whole story in one book, it’s too much. So then I went on to book[s] two and three. I'm done now, there are no more books," she added.
Stockton's commitment to her community and country earned her this year's Legion of Honor award from the Four Chaplains Memorial of York County.
The organization recognizes the heroism of the four chaplains who gave up their life jackets to save others when the S.S. Dorchester was torpedoed during World War II.
One of the four chaplains was York Rabbi Alexander D. Goode.
For over thirty years the group has provided scholarship money to local students and the Legion of Honor award to those who serve others.
Stockton is thrilled at the award. "I'm fricking excited!" she told FOX43. "I couldn't believe it when they called me. I said, 'Oh my god.' I'm overjoyed. I'm just so happy!"
The Four Chaplains Memorial of York County prayer breakfast will be held on May 10 at the Wyndham Garden in York. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county-woman-receive-legion-of-honor-award/521-858e9f74-3a91-4ad8-95d0-a5ce8d298bfb | 2023-05-08T22:07:11 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county-woman-receive-legion-of-honor-award/521-858e9f74-3a91-4ad8-95d0-a5ce8d298bfb |
Sun has broken through our morning cloud cover for most of the area this afternoon, pumping up temperatures and helping to increase instability across the region.
With plenty of moisture in the air (dew points near and slightly below 60), our chance for storms has increased. The majority of our area now falls under a Level 1 of 5 risk for severe weather development this afternoon and early evening.
If severe storms develop during this time, they have the potential to bring with them gusty winds, large hail, and isolated brief tornadoes.
A 2% chance for tornado development can be found just east of the I-35 corridor and extends just west of the Mississippi River. Some cities inside the risk area include Rochester, Austin, Preston, Charles City and Decorah.
The threat for severity weakens coming into the late evening as fog develops overnight and into our Tuesday morning. | https://www.kimt.com/news/local/stormteam-3-severe-storms-possible-into-the-evening/article_acbc8f06-edd3-11ed-931a-a3f32b2aca50.html | 2023-05-08T22:13:12 | 0 | https://www.kimt.com/news/local/stormteam-3-severe-storms-possible-into-the-evening/article_acbc8f06-edd3-11ed-931a-a3f32b2aca50.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Wichita woman is coping with the loss of her dog after it was attacked by a coyote last week in southeast Wichita.
It was a normal Tuesday night for Alicia Leidholt. She was letting out her 13-and-a-half-year-old dog Juno before bed.
When Leidholt called for Juno, the dog didn’t come back to the door, so Leidholt went to look for her.
“I pet her stomach and she didn’t respond so I pet her again and called her name and she jumped up with a panic she has a white chest and she had blood on her, and she ran to the back door,” said Leidholt.
Leidholt saw Juno had puncture wounds and tried to take her to a 24-hour vet but was unable to get in.
“I just hate that she had to suffer for eight hours until they opened at 8 am the next morning, and it was a rough night for her,” said Leidholt.
She did what she could until they got to the vet the next morning.
“She would have had to been put down either way because her larynx was crushed, and the reason the vet said it was a coyote is cause she said I don’t know what else could have done this damage,” said Leidholt.
Kansas Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Biologist Charles Cope said there has been a slight increase of coyotes in and around Wichita over the years.
“We are certainly getting more calls where they have lost their fear of people,” said Cope.
Cope said the drought and breeding season can play a factor.
“Remove all food sources, remove all water sources, make sure that you reduce places where they can get under sheds. Things like that,” said Cope.
“I didn’t even know anything was out there, so I just want other people to know so that their babies are safe,” said Leidholt.
Kansas Wildlife and Parks recommend you do not leave pets unattended, even in a fenced yard.
KDWP said the risk for an attack is greatest at dawn, dusk, and nighttime.
If you are walking your pet, KDWP suggests you leave them on a leash and carry a walking stick or rocks to protect yourself if a coyote is around.
“Be proactive, be ready to defend yourself. You don’t want to run. You want to back up slowly,” said Cope.
Cope is working on the Wichita Urban Coyote and Fox Project to learn how foxes and coyotes coexist with humans. You can learn more here.
You can submit a coyote sighting through the KDWP.
Wichita Animal Control can help with animal bites, and the Wichita Police Department investigates bites to prevent rabies transmission.
All animal bites occurring in Wichita should be reported to Animal Control at (316) 350-3360.
As for the relocation of coyotes that are a nuisance, Cope recommends contacting a professional nuisance wildlife control operator. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wichita-womans-dog-put-down-after-coyote-attack/ | 2023-05-08T22:14:53 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wichita-womans-dog-put-down-after-coyote-attack/ |
TEMPLE, Texas — Corkys Wine and Beer Bar announced that the business will be shutting down for good on Saturday, May 13.
Located at 13 S 2nd St. in Temple, Corkys has been providing comedy, karaoke and additional weekly entertainment for the last couple of years. However, that is now coming to an end.
In a Facebook post from Corkys Wine and Beer Bar, it reads:
"Thank you. Everyone who made Corkys such a fun place to be. We are clsoing our doors on Saturday 5/13/23. We have enjoyed being a part of the downtown community. Cheers!"
An official cause for the closing was not mentioned in the post, but community members in Temple are reacting to the abrupt news.
To view the announcement, visit here.
Also on KCENTV.com: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/corkys-wine-and-beer-bar-temple-to-shut-down-following-the-weekend/500-6cf94dc5-9ee5-4dac-8196-b7c1ed9e0384 | 2023-05-08T22:17:27 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/corkys-wine-and-beer-bar-temple-to-shut-down-following-the-weekend/500-6cf94dc5-9ee5-4dac-8196-b7c1ed9e0384 |
PHOENIX — A Tucson Democratic lawmaker is asking for dismissal of an ethics complaint filed against her by three Republican lawmakers.
Attorneys for Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton said her actions last month to move and hide Bibles in the Arizona House of Representatives lounge was a "peaceful protest regarding the separation of church and state.'' In a formal response Monday, they also said she acted "in response to the weaponizing of religion in politics.''
Motives aside, her attorneys also pointed out that Stahl Hamilton made a public apology on the House floor.
But Stahl Hamilton is counting on more than that to end the matter.
The ethics complaint accuses her of theft, saying she was controlling the property of someone else — the Arizona House — by hiding it, even if only for a short period of time.
People are also reading…
Her lawyers say that complaint has no merit.
"Rep. Stahl Hamilton's actions do not constitute theft as defined by Arizona law, as she has the legal right to use items in the members' lounge,'' they said in their response.
Other arguments
They also brushed aside the argument that Stahl Hamilton violated state and federal laws prohibiting harassment in the workplace and that she created a "hostile work environment' by requiring her co-workers and staff to "unwittingly desecrate their sacred texts'' by sitting on the Bibles she hid in couch cushions.
What's wrong with that argument, her lawyers said, is that it is legally impossible for her to create that hostile work environment.
"She is neither an employer nor supervisor of legislators,'' they said. "Thus, only House leadership and committee chairpersons can create a hostile work environment.''
That leaves a third claim of "disorderly behavior.''
Yet in filing the complaint, the three GOP lawmakers conceded there is no Arizona court case defining what that means, and what it would take to be guilty of that.
Stahl Hamilton's lawyers said that claim allegation fails "to state a cognizable claim under House rules.''
They have one final argument for the House Ethics Committee.
The committee rules require the signatures on any complaint to be notarized, but that didn't occur here, they said. The three filing the complaint were Reps. Justin Heap of Mesa, David Marshall of Snowflake and Lupe Diaz of Benson.
In hands of Ethics Committee
Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, will now give a copy of the response to the other four members of the panel, two Democrats and two Republicans. They have the option of dismissing the case outright or having a hearing where they can question Stahl Hamilton.
The next step if they hold the hearing would be to decide if there was a violation of House rules and, if so, whether to recommend discipline to the full House. A simple majority of the House could censure Stahl Hamilton; expulsion would take a two-thirds vote.
The complaint resulted from lawmakers noticing Bibles placed in the House lounge repeatedly disappearing. Some were found under chair and couch cushions; at one point a Bible was found in the lounge refrigerator.
House leaders approved placing a hidden video camera in the lounge. It captured images of Stahl Hamilton taking the books off of tables and hiding them.
When the video became public she apologized, saying she was trying to make a "playful'' point about the separation of church and state.
That led to the formal complaint being filed. Heap, Marshall and Diaz said Stahl Hamilton's public statements "did not provide sufficient justification or excuse for her conduct.''
"These public comments came only after the representative was aware that her actions had been caught on camera and the incident became a matter of national concern,'' they wrote.
Stahl Hamilton filed own complaint
There may be some partisan payback in the complaint.
It was Stahl Hamilton who filed the recent complaint against then-Rep. Liz Harris, a Chandler Republican, over inviting testimony at a legislative hearing alleging that legislators, judges and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were involved in a criminal scheme to rig elections.
The House then found that Harris invited false and defamatory testimony and expelled her on April 13. | https://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tucson-lawmaker-who-hid-bibles-says-ethics-complaint-lacks-merit/article_a5bf5a6a-edda-11ed-a93d-2ffd300d0e7e.html | 2023-05-08T22:29:59 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tucson-lawmaker-who-hid-bibles-says-ethics-complaint-lacks-merit/article_a5bf5a6a-edda-11ed-a93d-2ffd300d0e7e.html |
PHOENIX — Four defendants have been collectively sentenced to 220 months in federal prison for their roles in operating two stash houses in Phoenix for undocumented migrants, officials said.
Angelico Roa-Joachin, 43, was recently sentenced in court to six and a half years in prison after the defendant was convicted of conspiracy to harbor undocumented migrants.
Roa-Joachin was the last of four defendants to be sentenced for their involvement in the smuggling crimes.
Rafael Hernandez-Garcia, 35, was sentenced to six and a half years. Luis Alberto Calixto-Pegueros, 25, was sentenced to three years and Alexis Mejia-Zamora, 26, was sentenced to two years.
In April 2021, agents of Homeland Security Investigations found over 30 migrants living at Phoenix stash houses coordinated by the defendants.
The investigators additionally found ledgers detailing smuggling activities.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Arizona, the stash houses processed hundreds of migrants and one of these female migrants was sexually abused by three of the defendants.
"The individuals were often held in overcrowded conditions and were not permitted to leave until their families or sponsors paid the smuggling organization for their release," prosecutors said.
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BANGOR -- Monday kicks off national teacher appreciation week.
Superintendent of Bangor School Department James Tager said teachers should always be celebrated and the school system is grateful to have so many caring and motivated educators.
Students put together a special video to share an important message.
"We have fantastic teachers here in Bangor. We have 35,000 students. A lot of students come to school for their teachers,” said Tager. ”Everybody here is an educator so if you work in the cafeteria or are a custodian, assistant principal, teacher, you're all a mentor for a student."
The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee recently backed a bill proposing to increase the annual teacher's salary from $40,000 to $50,000.
Tager said he supports the idea that teachers should be better compensated for the invaluable work that they do every day.
"We've had good salaries here in the Bangor School Department but holistically I couldn't agree more. I think that teachers are some of the most important people in the world. They shape the future. I believe they should probably be paid more money,” according to Tager. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/bangor-school-department-shares-heartfelt-message-to-teachers/article_6c8325ea-edeb-11ed-b35c-53b3412547fb.html | 2023-05-08T22:30:44 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/bangor-school-department-shares-heartfelt-message-to-teachers/article_6c8325ea-edeb-11ed-b35c-53b3412547fb.html |
BUCKSPORT -- Members of a family who lived at 350 Central Street in Bucksport described the moment their house went up in flames -- with them in it.
"I woke up to the fire and the smoke and hollered for the kids to get out of the fire and rounded everyone up and got out of the house," said Chris Dunbar, the homeowner.
"All of a sudden I heard dad screaming there's a fire so I got up and the only thing I grabbed was my phone," said Emma Frates-Dunbar, who lived inside the house.
According to Bucksport Public Safety Director Sean Geagan, the structure went up in flames around 1:40 a.m. Monday morning.
Geaghan says the family of five made it out safely, but the structure has been deemed a total loss.
"Upon our arrival for the Bucksport Fire Department, the dwelling was a fully involved fire," said Geaghan.
In response, Bucksport resident Crystal Davis posted to Facebook, asking the community to step up and help the family however possible.
Many residents did just that, by dropping off bags full of clothing for the displaced family.
"I wanted to make sure that was one thing they did not have to worry about. I wanted to make sure, as our community getting everyone together. One piece of clothing from everybody in this town would clothe their family for a year," said Davis.
A gofundme page for the family has already raised more than $2,000.
Chris Dunbar says he appreciates everyone whose taken the time to help his family out during this difficult time, and adds that he plans to pay it forward.
"Thank you very much and if you ever need anything, call me," said Dunbar.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/bucksport-community-helps-family-whose-house-burned-down/article_5e0cf8e4-ede9-11ed-af06-032928fcf768.html | 2023-05-08T22:30:50 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/bucksport-community-helps-family-whose-house-burned-down/article_5e0cf8e4-ede9-11ed-af06-032928fcf768.html |
MONROE -- The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry recently awarded grants to 12 farms through the Maine Farms of the Future program.
The program has supported farmers for over two decades.
The goal is to connect farmers with financial and planning resources to grow their business.
"A key area for us was infrastructure. That's a common problem for farmers across the state. We're really limited on where we can actually process our products,” according to Bo Dennis, owner and operator of Dandy Ram Farm.
Dennis says the $6,000 grant will go towards financial planning and design to build a two story barn.
Dennis explains that the barn would serve as a processing space, walk in cooler, shipping station and more.
The program is split into a two phase process.
"Phase one is really designed to help farmers connect with service providers who can help them explore whether or not an ideal is really going to make the difference,” said farm viability and farmland protection specialist, Alex Redfield, for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. Phase two is both a $25,000 implementation grant to help get started and access to a low interest loan"
Recipients of phase two of the loan are required to sign a Farm Land Agreement, which requires farmers to use their land for agricultural purposes for the next seven years.
Dennis has been a part of the farming industry for the past 15 years.
As a transgender farm owner, Dennis reflects on the lack of community among lgbtq farmers.
Dennis hopes to expand to help other non-traditional farmers feel welcomed.
"I'm an out trans queer farmer and when I was starting to farm in Maine there really wasn't a lot of community support,” said Dennis. “Our goals as a Dandy Ram Farm is to provide joy while [continuing] sustainable relationship with the land. Centered to our focus is actually supporting other queer, trans and LGBTQ beginning farmers." | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/farms-across-maine-awarded-grant-funding/article_e40e5cda-ede9-11ed-b81d-2bef40a51a37.html | 2023-05-08T22:30:56 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/farms-across-maine-awarded-grant-funding/article_e40e5cda-ede9-11ed-b81d-2bef40a51a37.html |
Galloway Township’s Tim Alexander has announced he will run again for the 2024 Democratic nomination to face U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, in the 2nd Congressional District.
Alexander won the Democratic nomination in 2022 but was soundly defeated by Van Drew in the general election.
“I have witnessed the challenges our communities face firsthand, and I am confident that my experience, passion, and dedication can bring about the change we so desperately need,” Alexander said in a news release dated May 4.
Alexander successfully ran against engineer Carolyn Rush, of Sea Isle City, for the Democratic nomination in 2022. Rush announced in February she will run again.
Both are getting an early start on the 2024 election.
House seats are up for election every two years.
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GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Atlantic County Democrats endorsed County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick…
Atlantic County Democrats, like those in the other counties in the district, supported Alexander. (Gloucester County Democrats supported both candidates.)
“My campaign is about amplifying the voices of this district’s residents and working collaboratively to create a brighter future for all,” said Alexander, a retired detective captain with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and a civil rights attorney.
Alexander’s campaign said he has spent the time since the 2022 election actively engaged with constituents, deepening his understanding of their needs and crafting a comprehensive plan to address the district’s most pressing issues.
“His platform prioritizes creating well-paying jobs, enhancing educational opportunities, improving services for veterans, expanding healthcare access, and investing in sustainable infrastructure to build a stronger, more resilient community,” the release states.
The Tim Alexander for Congress campaign will officially kick off with a rally, the date and location to be announced shortly, the release states.
Van Drew was first elected to Congress in 2018 as a Democrat, changed parties in 2019 after refusing to vote to impeach President Donald Trump and was reelected as a Republican in 2020 and 2022. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tim-alexander-to-run-again-for-democratic-nomination-in-2nd-congressional-district/article_41c282a0-eddd-11ed-99bb-274dff74755e.html | 2023-05-08T22:34:33 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tim-alexander-to-run-again-for-democratic-nomination-in-2nd-congressional-district/article_41c282a0-eddd-11ed-99bb-274dff74755e.html |
VINELAND — Police are looking for a woman they say escaped from Inspira Medical Center on Saturday while waiting to be transferred to Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, police said.
April Bradstreet, 25, was going to be transferred to the state hospital in Winslow Township, Camden County, before she fled with Marlo Coleman, police said.
Police said Bradstreet and Coleman left the hospital in a Mercedes-Benz C3600 with a temporary New Jersey license plate number Z1177399. The car was last seen westbound on West Landis Avenue going toward Bridgeton at 4:10 p.m. Saturday, police said.
Bradstreet is described as a Black woman with brown eyes, black hair and weighing about 220 pounds.
Anyone with information or who has seen the Mercedes-Benz can call Officer Jose Rodriguez at 856-696-1212. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/vineland-police-seek-woman-who-fled-from-hospital/article_488f6d28-ede2-11ed-bb45-c38d6fa67f18.html | 2023-05-08T22:34:39 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/vineland-police-seek-woman-who-fled-from-hospital/article_488f6d28-ede2-11ed-bb45-c38d6fa67f18.html |
VIRGINIA — A man allegedly started a grass fire near several businesses and homes, later telling police he was "curious" and "wanted to see it burn."
Earnest Grant Carlstrom, 56, told an officer that he used a Bic lighter to ignite a small pile of sticks near Super One Liquor, 1101 17th St. S., shortly before noon Friday, according to a criminal complaint.
However, a strong wind quickly caused the blaze to grow out of control and Carlstrom reportedly stated that his efforts to put it out were unsuccessful. A city work crew discovered the fire and put it out with a water truck before it spread further, the complaint notes.
Carlstrom was arraigned Monday in State District Court on a felony count of setting a wildfire and a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree arson. Court documents indicate he is homeless, and St. Louis County prosecutor Stacey Scholz requested that he receive a screening to determine if a mental health evaluation is warranted.
The fire "thankfully was contained very quickly under dangerous conditions," Scholz told the court.
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The complaint states that the fire was observed around 11:45 a.m., and a city employee who helped put it out reported that there was a man who appeared to be in his 60s standing in the "immediate area."
An officer spoke with the man, identified as Carlstrom, who allegedly confessed to starting the fire and handed over the lighter. The officer reported that he smelled of smoke, had burn marks on both of his shoes and ash on his hands and clothing.
The wind was blowing steadily at 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph at the time, the complaint notes. The fire danger was considered moderate and burning permits were required.
Carlstrom allegedly acknowledged that he unsuccessfully tried to stomp out the fire before he lost control. The complaint states it burned approximately 40 feet by 20 feet before the city crew arrived.
The defendant has a criminal history going back four decades, with numerous burglary convictions in the 1980s and '90s. He also had felony convictions for burglary in 2012 and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in 2014, but most of his recent history appears to be a series of misdemeanor and petty offenses associated with homelessness.
Carlstrom was released from custody Monday afternoon, as Judge Bhupesh Pattni granted him supervised release with a number of conditions in lieu of posting $10,000 bail. His next court appearance was set for May 22. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/man-charged-with-starting-wildfire-in-virginia | 2023-05-08T22:34:43 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/man-charged-with-starting-wildfire-in-virginia |
Summer flounder season had a super start.
Here’s a good example from Mike Tabasso of the High Roller pontoon party boat that rolls from Atlantic City.
Mike and his crew were filleting flounder when he was talking to the local scribe curious about his weekend and the first week of the season. He said the morning trips out of Gardner’s Basin have been great, with 25 keepers Saturday and 19 Sunday. And the afternoon runs were not too shabby, either, with 17 and 12.
He said there have been lots of limits of three fish caught by his flounder fishers. The High Roller leaves the dock at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily on four-hour back-bay jaunts.
That schedule is typical of the area’s several back-bay pontoon boats. He said the summer flounder are biting “like piranhas” on the outgoing tide and there have been a lot of boats on the water.
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Noel Feliciano at One-Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City backed up Tabasso about fishing in Absecon Inlet and the Atlantic City area. Feliciano said this is the best start to the summer flounder season in at least five years. The biggest summer flounder he weighed at One-Stop was a 6-pounder.
He said he has been so busy he has not been able to keep up his usual pace of posting photos of fishers flashing fish and big smiles. The trend has been numerous 3-pound fish but no doormat-size yet.
Ray Scott Bonar, known as Scott, from Ray Scott’s Dock in Margate had a similar report.
“Fantastic!” is how he described it. He said everybody is steadily picking summer flounder. He said his heaviest weigh-in went 4 pounds and was caught by Frank Boninu, a visitor to the area.
Anne Fox and Ginger Ricciotti, both of Margate, led the local effort with flounder measuring 21 and 19.5 inches.
Striped bass rules
Dick Herb was busy unloading fish in Avalon when called about what might happen at Thursday’s meeting of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. Dick is chairman of the state council.
The state reps will be wrapped up with a recent vote by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to require a change in striped bass regs that decreases the maximum size for a keeper to 31 inches. The subject likely will be raised at the 5 p.m. in-person (Stafford Township Municipal Building in Manahawkin) and online meeting.
Tourney time
A couple of early-season tournaments are Saturday.
The 41st Karl J. Boehret Surf Fishing classic organized by the Delaware Valley Surf Anglers will be held in Sea Isle City. It is the first stop on the Association of Surf Fishing Club tour of South Jersey beaches.
Register for the team and individual event starting 5:30 a.m. at the Sea Isle City Community Lodge, 300 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
The Fishermen Lost at Sea Memorial summer flounder contest has an entry of $20, and fishers can sign up at the Atlantic City Moose Lodge Chapter 340 at 3900 West End Ave. or at One-Stop Bait and Tackle.
Call 609-233-9774 for details.
Follow Shep at Facebook.com/ShepOnFishing
Michael Shepherd is the retired sports editor of The Press. His column appears Mondays online and Tuesdays in print.
Contact Michael Shepherd: 609-350-0388 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/fishing_boating/strong-first-week-of-summer-flounder-season-shep-on-fishing/article_dfbd85d4-edbc-11ed-82ee-bb3fae9ed8cc.html | 2023-05-08T22:34:51 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/fishing_boating/strong-first-week-of-summer-flounder-season-shep-on-fishing/article_dfbd85d4-edbc-11ed-82ee-bb3fae9ed8cc.html |
Awesome 3000: Top finishers in each age group
The 2023 Awesome 3000 took place April 29 at Bush's Park in Salem, with nearly 1,900 children from kindergarten through high school participating in the annual fun run.
About 400 volunteers, including many Salem-Keizer Public Schools employees, helped make the 38th annual event a success. It was organized for the first time by the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley and raised $45,000 for the Salem Keizer Schools Fund.
United Way officials report they have already begun planning for next year. Parents and runners, mark your calendars. The 2024 Awesome 3000 is scheduled for May 4.
Here are the top 50 results by age category, including name, school and time, as posted in the Awesome 3000 results section on RunSignup.com. The list of Unified participants, provided by United Way, are in alphabetical order because no times were kept.
For more results, visit the event results page online.
Middle & High School (3K)
D. Salvo, Cascade, 10:39.8
G. Lyatuu, Whiteaker, 10:40.2
J. Garcia, Leslie, 10:41.8
H. Mersch, Jefferson, 10:44.2
E. Martin, Judson, 10:49.1
A. Mendoza, McKay, 10:55.0
N. Born, Straub, 11:00.1
C. Allen, Crossler, 11:26.9
T. Monroe, Judson, 11:31.3
L. Sturges, Whiteaker, 11:31.3
J. Ochoa, Parrish, 11:31.9
A. Arreguin, Judson, 11:34.6
M. Hopkins, Howard Street, 11:48.5
A. Mercure, Leslie, 11:50.1
M. Kolb, Crossler, 11:58.3
E. Erickson, Homeschool, 12:11.4
A. Alburn, Sprague, 12:25.6
B. Terzenbach, Sprague, 12:27.4
A. Crazybull, Stephens, 13:03.1
B. Crazybull, Stephens, 13:08.1
I. Allen, Howard Street, 13:24.7
B. Bowen, West Salem, 13:25.5
S. Lindholm, Walker, 13:29.7
A. Tei, Leslie, 13:34.7
E. Lindquist, Straub, 13:34.8
O. McCoy, Howard Street, 13:36.6
M. Lindholm, Walker, 13:39.3
I. Roberts, Crossler, 13:51.3
D. Williams, Cascade, 13:52.9
H. Young, Crossler, 13:54.4
B. Martineau Miller, Howard Street, 14:02.5
K. Halstead, Walker, 14:10.7
B. Stauffer, Whiteaker, 14:16.1
D. Guevara, Judson, 14:19.9
S. Stangeland, McKay, 14:34.9
A. Rivera, McKay, 14:35.1
M. Archila Hernandez, Stephens, 14:35.2
J. Estabrook, Judson, 14:35.9
C. Cleave, Judson, 14:38.4
D. Bernal Lagos, Valley Inquiry, 14:39.5
M. Cuadros, Crossler, 14:42.8
M. Tanner, South Salem, 14:50.2
A. Herrera, Chavez, 15:16.9
M. Garcia, McKay, 15:18.4
I. Zamora, McKay, 15:18.4
J. Tapia, McKay, 15:18.7
L. Erickson, Homeschool, 15:26.6
O. Hollingsworth, Howard Street, 15:28.2
E. Tei, South Salem, 15:28.4
L. Contreras, Judson, 15:34.4
5th grade (2K)
E. Zorn, Crosshill Christian, 7:14.7
B. Soto, Hallman, 7:47.8
L. Brown, Wright, 7:52.2
J. deMeurers, Keizer, 7:53.3
R. Johnson, Schirle, 7:56.5
D. Born, Straub, 8:07.4
K. Pena, Lady of Lourdes, 8:12.3
B. Bliven, Kalapuya, 8:27.2
H. Hales, Homeschool, 8:30.7
S. Robles, Chapman Hill, 8:32.0
C. Budke, Sumpter, 8:32.2
A. Johnston, Salem Academy, 8:39.9
T. Sackett, Wright, 8:46.9
K. Primbs, McKinley, 8:50.5
J. Riffle, Battle Creek, 8:52.0
A. Garcia, Hallman, 9:04.0
C. Caton, Chapman Hill, 9:04.7
P. Williamson, Chavez, 9:10.0
S. Garcia, Valley Inquiry, 9:10.9
B. Bernard, Unknown, 9:16.0
J. Vance, Sumpter, 9:25.3
E. Castillon Philipek, McKinley, 9:26.8
A. Johnson, Morningside, 9:30.1
A. Lane, Schirle, 9:31.9
A. Medina, Kennedy, 9:33.2
G. Cox, Silvies, 9:35.7
I. Davila, Mary Eyre, 9:36.1
A. Tavares, Mary Eyre, 9:37.4
J. Weisner, Miller, 9:40.0
I. Cervantes, Hayesville, 9:46.4
H. Noud, Liberty, 9:51.1
K. Simpson, Chavez, 9:55.2
N. Read, Battle Creek, 9:59.8
J. Alburn, Liberty, 10:00.7
J. Paz Cortez, Auburn, 10:01.2
M. Sandoval, Willamette Valley, 10:02.1
C. Lomax, Clear Lake, 10:03.3
B. Kelly, Miller, 10:10.4
J. Lopez, Auburn, 10:18.7
A. Robertson, Faye Wright, 10:19.2
A. Sterling, Candalaria, 10:20.0
D. Lopez, Weddle, 10:21.5
L. Graham, Talmadge, 10:23.5
M. Blakely, Brush College, 10:28.2
A. Owen, Sumpter, 10:30.1
K. Cahill, Kalapuya, 10:31.7
P. Markle, Chapman Hill, 10:31.9
J. Martinez, Lee, 10:36.7
R. Losoya, Chapman Hill, 10:37.4
M. Soto, Auburn, 10:40.5
4th grade (2K)
C. Cottingham, McKinley, 7:38.0
K. Newman, Pringle, 7:48.4
J. McCarthy, Sumpter, 7:49.0
J. Dolan, Abiqua, 8:04.9
D. Reeves, Brush College, 8:13.8
R. Palmrose, Queen of Peace, 8:22.4
T. Maverick, Homeschool, 8:24.7
O. Evans, Kalapuya, 8:26.6
J. Thurston, Clear Lake, 8:33.6
H. Donnelly, Kalapuya, 8:36.4
L. Kerr, Sumpter, 8:51.1
M. Grice, Sumpter, 8:52.7
S. Allen, Howard Street, 9:01.1
N. Kubishta, Auburn, 9:01.5
N. Johnson, Hallman, 9:01.7
L. Olson, Battle Creek, 9:08.0
G. Knowles, Kalapuya, 9:08.5
C. Golden, Sumpter, 9:08.6
G. Musser, Washington, 9:09.5
C. Keller, Forest Ridge, 9:12.7
H. Barram, Sumpter, 9:15.2
L. McCarthy, Sumpter, 9:23.6
R. Harris, Chapman Hill, 9:27.1
A. Splonski, Englewood, 9:28.7
T. Berg, Our Saviors Christian, 9:30.9
X. Johnson, Hammond, 9:34.1
D. Rudolph, Our Saviors Christian, 9:35.0
M. Smith, Liberty, 9:41.8
B. Lewis, Morningside, 9:41.9
L. Weisner, Miller, 9:43.3
W. Johnson, Morningside, 9:45.8
C. Wick, Weddle, 9:57.1
N. Finegan, Liberty, 10:01.0
W. Ellison, Liberty, 10:05.6
T. Monroe, Battle Creek, 10:10.6
K. Wilson, Candalaria, 10:10.7
E. McLaughlin, Candalaria, 10:12.3
J. Ortiz, Forest Ridge, 10:15.2
B. Davis, Kennedy, 10:23.4
R. Figueroa, Grant, 10:30.3
G. Cardenas, St. Vincent De Paul, 10:31.3
A. Stockner, Lee, 10:34.6
O. Nelson, Pringle, 10:35.5
J. Lutz, Candalaria, 10:37.9
M. Ganchenko, Chapman Hill, 10:39.7
E. Cleave, Lee, 10:40.7
G. Sischo, Chapman Hill, 10:41.1
K. Williams, Brush College, 10:41.2
D. Sudakar, Chapman Hill, 10:45.1
V. Gonski, Valley Inquiry, 10:45.8
3rd grade (2K)
T. Johnson, Schirle, 8:14.3
A. Johnson, Battle Creek, 8:37.6
H. Wells, McKinley, 8:42.6
E. Heppner, Candalaria, 8:52.8
C. Weraky, Candalaria, 9:01.0
L. Leonard, Salem Academy, 9:09.8
C. Melsha, Candalaria, 9:11.4
Z. Foster, Miller, 9:15.8
E. Bernard, Unknown, 9:18.3
R. Jennings, Sumpter, 9:23.0
F. Kerner, Harritt, 9:24.4
I. Kerr, Sumpter, 9:26.5
J. Torres, Grant, 9:26.5
R. Soto, Hallman, 9:27.3
A. Robertson, Faye Wright, 9:37.1
B. Free, Faye Wright, 9:37.3
S. Wilson, Portland, 9:38.6
L. Hibbard-Swanson, Valley Inquiry, 9:40.4
R. Coleman, Aumsville, 9:55.0
A. Engelsman, Morningside, 9:56.0
E. Esterson, Chapman Hill, 9:58.0
B. Johnson, Cloverdale, 10:00.8
B. Cramer, Pringle, 10:02.2
C. Paige, Aumsville, 10:10.9
K. Breeze, Homeschool, 10:12.2
C. Gahlsdorf, Candalaria, 10:13.3
J. Lomax, Clear Lake, 10:15.2
L. Berghoffer, Teach-NW, 10:26.3
L. Rasmussen, Salem Academy, 10:27.6
A. Gutierrez, Kalapuya, 10:29.2
C. Stanek, Gubser, 10:39.3
N. Budke, Sumpter, 10:40.8
J. Lindsey, Clear Lake, 10:44.9
L. Fleming, Aumsville, 10:46.3
D. Marsland-Bates, Candalaria, 10:52.4
R. Hankins, Kalapuya, 10:54.7
C. Devine, Pringle, 10:54.7
C. East, Kalapuya, 10:57.2
J. Hollingsworth, Howard Street, 10:58.4
P. Etter, Hoover, 11:00.4
O. Remlinger, Morningside, 11:04.1
A. Carbajal, Hammond, 11:04.4
A. Lee, Schirle, 11:04.7
A. Ivie, Candalaria, 11:07.4
E. Young, Brush College, 11:13.5
B. Ortega Sandoval, Auburn, 11:13.8
G. Orta, Hallman, 11:15.2
A. Mazurier, Schirle, 11:18.1
E. Forrette, Homeschool, 11:19.1
M. Bennett, Morningside, 11:21.1
2nd grade (1.5K)
B. Cottingham, McKinley, 6:27.0
A. Guevara, Pringle, 6:40.4
L. Walker, Schirle, 6:57.1
A. Cunningham, Sumpter, 6:57.2
N. Moya Dammarell, Candalaria, 7:08.5
S. Slocum, Lamb, 7:20.2
K. Brock, Kalapuya, 7:21.9
C. Nowning, Candalaria, 7:29.0
O. Williams, Capital Christian, 7:29.0
P. Roy, Eagle, 7:30.6
T. Johnson, Schirle, 7:38.7
L. Dady, Eagle, 7:39.3
E. Gillespie, Brush College, 7:39.6
P. Wheeler, Immanuel Lutheran, 7:43.1
N. Hutchison, Riviera Christian, 7:44.5
N. Gilman, Our Saviors Christian, 7:46.5
A. Villegas, Mary Eyre, 7:46.9
M. Weisner, Miller, 7:48.3
K. Shaw, Morningside, 7:50.6
E. Mejia, Washington, 7:53.4
L. Medina, Kennedy, 8:00.0
H. Stockner, Lee, 8:03.9
K. Jolivette, Myers, 8:07.5
E. Coronel, Highland, 8:08.4
D. Michaelis, Harritt, 8:10.2
M. Chitwood, Pringle, 8:11.1
J. Alarcon Trapala, Mary Eyre, 8:11.2
J. Lorenzen, McKinley, 8:12.7
S. Slauson, Brush College, 8:15.4
A. Lewis, Morningside, 8:15.7
K. Pena, Lady of Lourdes, 8:16.1
N. Cahill, Kalapuya, 8:17.8
G. Delmore, Homeschool, 8:19.6
A. Miller, Englewood, 8:21.9
L. Geddes, Pringle, 8:23.2
J. Bowdoin, Crosshill Christian, 8:23.7
M. Dalgas, Grant, 8:27.2
L. Flores, Meyer, 8:30.3
V. Mercure, Leslie, 8:33.0
E. Bural, Sumpter, 8:34.2
K. Lewis, Battle Creek, 8:34.7
N. Davila, Mary Eyre, 8:35.4
S. Porterfield, Miller, 8:37.0
H. Heintz, Brush College, 8:37.2
G. Gonzalez, Hallman, 8:38.4
A. Esgerra, Unknown, 8:38.9
H. Tooley, Schirle, 8:38.9
K. Rosen, Candalaria/Queen of Peace, 8:40.0
L. Hollingsworth, Howard Street, 8:41.2
C. Nickerson, McKinley, 8:45.1
1st grade (1.5K)
J. Fiala, Morningside, 7:08.4
C. Kamaka, Morningside, 7:08.5
M. Wells, McKinley, 7:19.2
R. McMillan, Aumsville, 7:19.5
C. Dziedzic, Hallman, 7:19.9
G. Bennett, Morningside, 7:23.7
D. Cooper, Hayesville, 7:30.1
D. Martinez Valdez, Mary Eyre, 7:39.7
A. Williams, Brush College, 7:41.5
O. Mosqueda, Weddle, 7:45.2
D. Fernandez, Hoover, 7:45.9
C. Joslin, Sumpter, 7:48.5
E. Gossard, Highland, 7:51.2
J. Briggs, Schirle, 7:53.0
B. Batsell, Clear Lake, 7:57.5
M. Smith, Englewood, 8:00.2
X. Kowalczyk, Gubser, 8:01.4
E. Crazybull, Yoshikai, 8:01.6
N. Goff, Kalapuya, 8:05.7
S. Hodgson, Candalaria, 8:07.1
C. Fredrickson, Homeschool, 8:10.2
P. Donnelly, Kalapuya, 8:12.0
O. Staten, Valley Inquiry, 8:12.9
J. Pena Herrera, Harritt, 8:13.3
Y. Maldonado, Chavez, 8:13.3
E. Hakim, Abiqua, 8:16.6
M. Kilgore, Battle Creek, 8:17.0
A. Liudahl, Battle Creek, 8:22.9
A. Landman, Kalapuya, 8:24.3
M. Coulter, Bush, 8:24.8
J. Matthews, Liberty, 8:28.8
A. Reyes, Kalapuya, 8:29.9
A. Evans, Hammond, 8:32.2
K. Sekishiro, Battle Creek, 8:35.7
L. Tapia, McKinley, 8:36.4
T. Erich, Cummings, 8:39.9
D. Vazquez, Auburn, 8:40.7
M. Lalack, Schirle, 8:42.8
C. Kreitzberg, Battle Creek, 8:43.5
R. Adem, Brush College, 8:45.9
J. LaBuff, Mary Eyre, 8:48.0
E. Diaz, Battle Creek, 8:49.0
P. Thompson, Aumsville, 8:50.7
A. Espinoza, Yoshikai, 8:53.3
K. Chavez, Miller, 8:53.3
T. Fontleroy, Cummings, 8:53.4
L. Yeaney, Kalapuya, 8:54.1
A. Ohrn, Candalaria, 8:55.9
R. Maciel, Auburn, 8:56.7
T. Ellis, Sumpter, 8:57.2
Kindergarten (1.5K)
D. Fast, Myers, 7:12.6
R. Johnson, Schirle, 7:21.8
J. Aldosari, Harritt, 7:35.0
M. Hamilton, Harritt, 7:38.3
C. Johnson, Battle Creek, 7:38.7
B. Villa Troncoso, Auburn, 7:41.3
S. Brown, Wright, 7:46.0
P. Struve, Hayesville, 7:48.3
D. Torres, Grant, 8:02.2
M. Thierman, Gubser, 8:07.9
L. Pyle, Lamb, 8:13.5
A. Young, Brush College, 8:17.6
A. Sheffield, Grant, 8:32.6
B. Carlin, Grant, 8:32.9
B. Brown, Cascade View Christian, 8:32.9
C. Westover, Sumpter, 8:34.1
B. Gutierrez, Clear Lake, 8:35.6
C. Pike, Pringle, 8:37.1
A. Baker, Grant, 8:39.2
J. Bennett, Battle Creek, 8:39.6
M. Huazo Vazquez, Myers, 8:41.5
N. Macias, Kennedy, 8:42.9
J. Stemwedel, Cummings, 8:43.8
S. Vossen, Swegle, 8:44.7
F. Fili, Grant, 8:46.6
O. Zamora, Mary Eyre, 8:48.6
H. McLaughlin, Candalaria, 8:52.1
E. Sotelo, Grant, 8:53.6
A. Schultens, Kalapuya, 8:53.9
L. Levin, Candalaria, 8:54.2
D. Torres, Washington, 8:55.4
J. Elkanah, Unknown, 8:55.8
T. McDermeit, Morningside, 8:56.1
S. Leech, Candalaria, 9:01.0
S. Straight, Gubser, 9:01.1
M. Reece, Brush College, 9:02.2
N. Ojeda, Auburn, 9:03.3
M. Narvaez, Eagle, 9:05.5
E. Moser, Valley Inquiry, 9:06.8
K. Weber, Myers, 9:09.6
A. Ray, Faye Wright, 9:12.4
B. Peppler, Liberty, 9:13.3
A. Coelho, Mary Eyre, 9:14.1
C. De la Torre Plascencia, Auburn, 9:15.4
M. Rocha Jorge, Auburn, 9:16.8
A. Doneth, Capital Christian, 9:17.6
D. Butler Jr., Swegle, 9:17.8
B. Easton, Candalaria, 9:22.9
S. Garcia, Hallman, 9:23.9
T. Reed-Saunders, Cummings, 9:23.9
Unified
B. Ames
J. Ballek
C. Bowen
O. Campos
R. Carr
L. Carroll
J. Cervantes
A. Clark
C. Coleman Jr.
M. Coleman
A. Coria
R. Cornell
B. Fiscus
A. Garcia
P. Garnett
R. Hall
C. Johnson
K. Jundt
H. LaMantia
L. Linnell
A. Lopez
L. Lorz
E. Lynch
B. Marion
R. McDonough
Y. Melo
J. Paterson
D. Ries
C. Rogers
E. Rothenberger
D. Schmidt
B. Schreiner
L. Scruggs
P. Scruggs
D. Shead
J. Shewey
C. Sims
O. Slauson
A. Tippets
D. Villarreal
A. Wagner
H. Walsh
U. Woodward
I. Wyant | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/07/more-photos-and-results-from-2023-awesome-3000-in-salem/70170316007/ | 2023-05-08T22:40:13 | 0 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/07/more-photos-and-results-from-2023-awesome-3000-in-salem/70170316007/ |
On the agenda: Salem to consider moving $1.81 million to buy downtown property
City officials are set to consider reallocating $1.81 million to help buy a downtown property during the Salem City Council and Urban Renewal Agency meeting Monday.
The property at 295 Commercial St. SE was once slated to be a skilled nursing facility and mixed-used commercial building. But development of the former site of the Boise Cascade plant bordering Riverfront Park and Pringle Creek stalled for years before Marquis Company, the owner of several care facilities, determined the project was unfeasible and put the property back on the market.
During its April 10 meeting, Urban Renewal Agency members, which includes the City Council, voted to authorize the city manager to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Salem LTC Properties, LLC, for the vacant land at Commercial and Front Street SE for $3.5 million.
The agency will now vote on whether to reallocate $1.81 million from Future Projects, Pringle Creek Trail Improvements, and Project Coordination in the South Waterfront Urban Renewal Area to allow for the purchase of the property.
City officials said the action will transfer all project budget authority for other projects in South Waterfront URA to this opportunity purchase.
During the April 10 meeting, officials expressed excitement about transforming the long-empty swath of land at the southern edge of downtown.
"This purchase and sale agreement is really, really exciting," Mayor Chris Hoy said. "I'm so happy that that worked out and am looking forward to getting that property back on the market and making it a really productive part of downtown."
Sheri Wahrgren, the city's downtown revitalization manager, said any development opportunity at the site would include mixed-use, including affordable housing to address housing needs in the city.
Read more:Apartment construction in Salem is booming, but many more units are needed
Also on the agenda
Other agenda items include:
- Approving the transfer of funds from the city's 2023 budget to replace the Salem Public Library's main doors. Replaced by swing doors during the renovations in 2020, the doors are now facing multiple mechanical failures and need to be replaced.
- Authorizing the city manager to execute the intergovernmental agreement for right-of-way services with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the Pedestrian Safety Improved Crossings projects, which includes pedestrian crossings at State Street and 21st Street, Lancaster Drive and Weathers Drive, and River Road near River Road City Park. City officials said each of these intersections sees a high amount of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Due to the distance between crossings, many unsafely cross mid-block.
- Authorizing the city manager to execute the intergovernmental agreement for right-of-way services with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the Orchard Heights Road NW: Snowbird Drive NW to Westhaven Avenue NW Street Improvement project.
- The first reading of Ordinance Bill No. 9-23, which revises city regulations concerning camping on public property in compliance with House Bills 3115 and 3124.
How to participate
The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person at the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center at 555 Liberty St. SE and also can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.
Those wishing to comment in person can sign-up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting.
Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twit | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/07/salem-oregon-consider-moving-funds-buy-downtown-property/70184272007/ | 2023-05-08T22:40:19 | 0 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/07/salem-oregon-consider-moving-funds-buy-downtown-property/70184272007/ |
Portland woman, teenager die in crash on Interstate 5 in Albany
A 56-year-old Portland woman and a teenager were killed early Sunday in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 through Albay near the junction with U.S. Route 20, according to the Oregon State Police.
A preliminary investigation determined the northbound driver of an Infinity QX5 rear-ended a Nissan Rouge at about 3:17 a.m., causing the Infinity to leave the freeway and strike several trees, OSP said.
The driver of the Infinity was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two passengers in the Infinity, Kimberly Ritter of Portland and the teenager, were declared dead at the scene. A second teenager was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
The driver of the Nissan was not injured.
OSP was assisted by the Albany Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/portland-woman-teen-die-in-crash-on-i-5-in-albany-oregon/70196724007/ | 2023-05-08T22:40:25 | 1 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/portland-woman-teen-die-in-crash-on-i-5-in-albany-oregon/70196724007/ |
Ahchoo! How bad will Willamette Valley grass allergy season be this year?
Medical experts say the Willamette Valley’s notorious grass pollen allergy season is on track for a more “normal” season this year beginning around Memorial Day and lasting until around the Fourth of July.
In terms of severity, it’s expected to be a normal to high season, said Tracy Willemsen, a certified medical assistant at Eugene’s Oregon Allergy Associates.
“But it’s all relative, because we’re almost always high compared to the rest of the country,” she said. “We measure pollen counts and anything over 25 is considered high nationwide, but we’ll often see a few days above 1,000."
In recent years, the season has shifted around, starting early during recent hot and sunny springs while starting late during last year’s cold and rainy spring.
“This year everything looks on track to be very normal,” Willemsen said.
The tree pollen season is already in full swing and has seen some high days, but tree pollen tends not to impact the population the way that grass pollen does, she said.
As for grass pollen, once their sensors start picking it up, it’s expected to build to a peak around mid-June before tapering off, Willemsen said.
Willemsen said only about 20% of Oregon’s population has true grass pollen allergy. However, far more are impacted because the pollen counts are so high it becomes an irritant that brings a stuffy nose and watery eyes.
As for remedies, she said most medications are over the counter at this point. She suggested showering every night before bed so pollen doesn’t get on sheets and pillow cases. She said sunglasses can help, along with air conditioning and keeping windows closed.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/when-does-willamette-valley-grass-allergy-season-start-in-oregon/70179696007/ | 2023-05-08T22:40:31 | 1 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/when-does-willamette-valley-grass-allergy-season-start-in-oregon/70179696007/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — An East Austin high school teacher has been arrested after allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
According to an affidavit, Texans Can Academy teacher David Hoelewyn, 27, is charged with sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student, both second-degree felonies.
The 16-year-old female victim told the school’s principal Hoelewyn began messaging her in January 2023 through text message and Snapchat before the relationship became physical. She said she had provided Hoelewyn with her phone number to be added to the group chat for a school club and he began texting her directly shortly after. The texts became increasingly sexual, the affidavit said.
The victim said Hoelweyn sent her numerous images daily, including inappropriate photos of himself. On more than one occasion, Hoelewyn inappropriately touched the student, according to the affidavit.
In his statement to the school’s principal, Hoelewyn said, “My hope was that it would stay professional … before I could cut it off we had already shared pictures of each other.”
Law enforcement said they retrieved more than 300 Snapchat messages between Hoelewyn and the victim, which were “largely sexual in nature, some of which reference David giving Victim ‘extra credit’ towards her school work for sexual favors and others that allude to David and Victim coordinating a location and time for which they can have sex with one another.”
The affidavit said there were also messages that referenced the Victim’s age and not begin legal.
Texans Cans Academy provided the following statement following the arrest:
“Upon being made aware of the matter, Texans Can Academies immediately placed the teacher on administrative leave and notified law enforcement, Child Protective Services and the Texas Education Agency. The teacher’s employment was terminated following an internal investigation. Any further questions should be directed to the Austin Police Department.” | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/david-hoelewyn-texans-can-academy-teacher-arrested/269-0b1399ef-ff65-4dd6-a46c-350e4c1dd242 | 2023-05-08T22:49:26 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/david-hoelewyn-texans-can-academy-teacher-arrested/269-0b1399ef-ff65-4dd6-a46c-350e4c1dd242 |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Visitors to the Oregon coast in Lincoln City will have two weekends in May to hunt for dozens of glass floats placed on the beach.
Glass floats are placed on the beach daily, but there are certain days throughout the year when “float fairies,” or volunteers, place extras on the beach for people to find. These bonus float days usually occur on holiday weekends, when tourists tend to flock to Lincoln City.
In May, beachcombers might have better luck searching for the glass floats on Mother’s Day weekend, May 12-14, or Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29.
For these two weekends, volunteers from Lincoln City’s Finders Keepers program will place 50 floats on the beach.
People walking the beach should be on the lookout for colorful glass spheres. These hand-blown floats are made by glass artists from around the state. Many of them are based in Lincoln City or Newport, but others live in places like Medford, Grants Pass, Eugene and Astoria.
According to Finders Keepers, the “float fairies” hide the glass floats across 7 miles of public beach from Roads End on the north side of Lincoln City to Siletz Bay on the south side.
The floats can be found above the high tide line and below the beach embankment. They are placed on the beach during daylight hours only and are hidden throughout the day, not just at one time.
Finders Keepers asks that people hunting for the floats only keep one per household. Anyone who finds a glass float should register it by calling (541) 996-1274 or by texting FLOATS to 866-943-0443. The floats can also be registered online. Anyone who registers a glass float will receive a certificate of authenticity and information about the artist who created it.
In the past, glass floats were used to suspend fishing nets in the water and ranged in size from two inches to two feet. They were used in Japan and occasionally, beachcombers in Oregon would find them washed ashore.
Now, boats use plastic buoys on their nets, but Lincoln City continues the tradition of finding the glass floats on the beach through its Finders Keepers program.
The floats come in an array of colors. On Memorial Day Weekend, the 50 floats hidden on the beach will be red, white and blue. | https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-coast/more-than-100-glass-floats-will-be-hidden-on-lincoln-citys-beaches-in-may/ | 2023-05-08T22:57:06 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-coast/more-than-100-glass-floats-will-be-hidden-on-lincoln-citys-beaches-in-may/ |
Dallas Park to get new playground
The Gaston County Park in Dallas is going to get a new playground, with construction planned to begin in early August.
The playground, referred to as an "inclusive" playground, is for children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, said county Communications Director Adam Gaub.
It will be located beside the splash pad, on the eastern side of the park.
The playground is being partially funded by a Land Water Conservation Fund grant, which the county received in 2021. The grant was for $160,276, and the county matched that figure, giving them a total budget of $320,552.
The playground will include swings, play panels, climbers, a pod spinner, and a roundabout.
The playground is designed to serve children ages two to 12 years old.
The grant funds will also be used to construct a restroom on the eastern side of the park near a future trailhead. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/dallas-park-to-get-new-playground/70155688007/ | 2023-05-08T22:57:38 | 1 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/dallas-park-to-get-new-playground/70155688007/ |
ONTONAGON COUNTY, Mich — A search party organized by the Michigan State Police (MSP) has found an 8-year-old boy from Wisconsin after he went missing on Saturday while camping with his family in the Porcupine Mountains.
8-year-old Nante Niemi was found safe about two miles from the family's campsite, MSP said Monday in a tweet. Police say he appears to be in good health.
MSP says that a volunteer found Niemi under/near a log. They say that the boy had been there the entire time.
The boy went missing on Saturday around 1 p.m. while walking and gathering firewood.
Over 150 search and rescue personnel and nine K9 units helped in finding the boy.
The Hurley School District, where the boy attends school in Wisconsin, shared a post on Facebook of the volunteer that found him saying, "Words can not describe the emotions and joy the students and staff are experiencing at this moment!"
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/found-8-year-old-found-porcupine-mountains-missing-2-days/69-2043d17f-735f-4013-b9b2-dcefca508828 | 2023-05-08T22:57:44 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/found-8-year-old-found-porcupine-mountains-missing-2-days/69-2043d17f-735f-4013-b9b2-dcefca508828 |
Hungry Howie's pizza restaurant open in Dallas
A new restaurant that serves pizza and subs has opened in Dallas.
The restaurant, located at 701 W Trade Street, will be the third Hungry Howie's location in Gaston County, said franchise owner Eric Fairbanks.
Fairbanks said that after he graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2005 with a degree in education, and friend who worked for Hungry Howie's corporate told him that a franchise location in Charlotte had just closed down.
Fairbanks, who was 25 at the time, moved to Charlotte to take over the restaurant.
"I basically was able to, without really any money, take over a location for virtually free and turn it around, and that's kind of how I got started down here," he said. "It was crazy, but at the same time, at that age, it was pretty easy to do."
Fairbanks now operates 14 Hungry Howie's restaurants. He said he likes the fast pace of the pizza business.
"I like the high pace, the fast pace, the competitive nature of it. It's one of the most competitive industries out there in restaurants," he said. "I'm a very competitive person. I was an athlete in college as well. I love pizza, so that helps too."
Fairbanks said that he has had his eye on the Dallas location for a long time.
"I just love the smaller community, similar to where I grew up. People are just down to earth, nice. It's a very fast growing area as well," he said. "The building we're in, I've been looking at for years. Even after I actually acquired the building, it took probably a year and a half, two years to get it open."
Hungry Howie's offers pizza with flavored crusts, oven-baked subs, salads, wings, and more. The location also offers curbside pick-up, drive thru services, traditional in-store takeout services and delivery. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/hungry-howies-pizza-restaurant-open-in-dallas/70130228007/ | 2023-05-08T22:57:44 | 0 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/08/hungry-howies-pizza-restaurant-open-in-dallas/70130228007/ |
PORTLAND, Maine — In early January, Cam Held knew how he was going to spend the next two and a half months. He had set an exceedingly ambitious goal for himself: climb to the summits of Maine’s 14 4,000-foot-tall mountains and chronicle his adventures with video and photos. The plan was to complete the hikes by March 20, the last day of winter.
Held is editor-in-chief of Maine the Way, an online and print publication that is now releasing the Maine Winter Summit Series, the short films he made about his ascents. To watch the videos is to experience—vicariously, of course, from the comfort of your plush recliner—some measure of how exhausting it is to climb Maine’s most rugged mountains in the heart of winter.
“You can do these hikes in the summer. And of course an 8.5-mile hike regardless of the season is a tough day out there,” Held said. “But when you add a couple feet of snow and some really cold conditions or high winds, it quickly goes from difficult to truly daunting.”
Cold, wind, and snow were obviously all to be expected. But expecting something and actually experiencing it are two different things.
“We had a stay up on the Bigelow Range, and I believe it got down to negative 10, negative 15 degrees that night. And we were just in a lean-to,” Held said. “Even in a zero-degree [sleeping] bag and with an extra jacket and everything on, it's miserable. It's not even so bad sleeping, but it's when you have to get up in the morning and make coffee or get water boiling that you just don't want to move.”
In the summer some hikers like to pack light and move fast. In the winter that’s rarely an option. In addition to food and camping provisions, Held, who always hiked with a companion, had to bring snowshoes and video equipment, including batteries for several cameras.
“A battery that might last four hours of shooting in warmer conditions would sometimes last only 20 minutes in the cold,” Held says. “So that was a constant challenge, keeping batteries in pockets, sleeping with them in your sleeping bags.”
In the end, Held reached the summits of six of the 14 peaks. Safety was his top priority, and he’s philosophical about not having accomplished what he set out to do. His hope is that people who watch his Maine Winter Summit Series will perhaps be motivated to try their own cold-weather hiking even if it’s far less ambitious than what he did.
“It's worth throwing on some snowshoes, and doing a 2-mile hike right around here in Portland,” he said. “There's great ways to get outside [for] adventure, and I hope I inspire people to do that.” | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/maine-4000-footer-winter-hike-maine-the-way-editor-in-chief/97-a263d785-5925-4c92-9f4b-95f626470433 | 2023-05-08T22:58:30 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/maine-4000-footer-winter-hike-maine-the-way-editor-in-chief/97-a263d785-5925-4c92-9f4b-95f626470433 |
PORTLAND, Maine — Chef Peter Rudolph is the chef at Ocean Restaurant at Cape Arundel Inn and Resort in Kennebunkport. He joined us in the 207 kitchen to share his recipe for spring pea soup with lemon-scented whipped cream and mint.
Soup Base
- 2 quarts water
- 2 stalks of celery, cut into 2” segments
- 1 shallot, sliced
- 2-3 stalks and fronds of a fennel bulb, cut into 2” segments
- ¼ bunch of parsley
- ¼ bunch of tarragon
- 3-4 leaves of mint
- 2 strips of lemon peel
- 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
Directions:
- Bring all ingredients (excluding the cream) to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the heavy cream and return to a boil, then reserve the liquid and strain out all ingredients.
- Cool completely, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Pea Puree
- 2 lbs. frozen peas or 3-4 lbs. fresh English peas in the pods
- ¼ bunch tarragon, pick the leaves from the stalks
- ¼ bunch parsley, pick the leaves from the stalks
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
Directions:
- Bring four quarts of water and salt to a boil and blanch the peas and parsley in the water until tender (approximately one to two minutes), then shock them in cold water.
- Using a blender, puree the peas, parsley, and tarragon into a thick puree using enough of the soup base to make the blender work properly.
- Cool completely and store in the refrigerator.
Soup Final Preparation
- Bring the soup base to a boil
- Add ¼ cup of pea puree for each cup of base
- Blend together with an immersion hand blender or in a standing blender, and serve immediately to maintain color and flavor
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ lemon, zested
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
- Using a bowl and whisk, or a kitchen aid mixer, whip the heavy cream, salt, and lemon zest till medium peaks.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Julienne the mint and sprinkle it on the finished dish. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/recipe-a-bright-and-vibrant-spring-soup-food/97-577fc430-26bb-4012-9130-a6f7b80dda62 | 2023-05-08T22:58:37 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/recipe-a-bright-and-vibrant-spring-soup-food/97-577fc430-26bb-4012-9130-a6f7b80dda62 |
BUXTON, Maine — Improperly disposed cigarette butts are believed to have started a house fire in Buxton, leaving one man unable to stay in his home, according to Buxton's fire chief.
Chief Nathan Schools said the first started around 1:30 p.m. Monday on Parker Farm Road, near the Hollis town line. He said Hollis firefighters arrived on scene first and found a passerby who had stopped and used a garden hose to start spraying water on the flames.
Schools said firefighters from Buxton also responded and got the fire completely extinguished in just over one hour.
He said the homeowner, a man in his 30s, got out safe, but he did get treated for smoke inhalation.
During the investigation, Schools said they found a plastic can on the deck holding cigarette ashes, which they believe started the fire. He said the fire traveled into an exterior wall from the first floor up to the second floor. Crews had to remove the exterior wall to put out the flames, making the home unlivable. Schools estimated the damage was about $50,000.
Schools said this incident was the fifth all-hands fire or worse that the Buxton Fire Department has responded to in the last 33 days.
"We've been extremely busy with structure, wood, and brush fires," Schools said. "Our mutual aid has gotten a workout."
Schools said they rely on the mutual aid of other towns to help respond to scenes or to backfill fire departments when all trucks get dispatched.
"It's not just your town's fire department," he said. "This shows the strength of our mutual aid partners." | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/buxton-fire-parker-farm-road-hollis-maine/97-5b0a3df9-0cd3-44c4-9415-4127978e0db0 | 2023-05-08T22:58:43 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/buxton-fire-parker-farm-road-hollis-maine/97-5b0a3df9-0cd3-44c4-9415-4127978e0db0 |
At the start of Brian Adams Sr.'s murder trial Monday, the prosecutor told the Lancaster County jury he hoped they weren't hoping to solve a murder.
"This case is not a whodunnit," Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jim Rocke told them. "This case is a Brian Adams did it."
Adams doesn't dispute he did it. The now 52-year-old said as much in a Facebook Live video after it happened and to police before they arrested him.
Over the course of the trial, he said, the jury's job would be to figure out what the legal ramifications are for Adams' actions on the afternoon of Oct. 18, 2021, in a parking lot near North 27th and Vine streets.
Was Trevious "Trey" Clark's killing at his hands first-degree murder or something else?
Rocke described Clark's beating with a jack handle as first-degree murder, retribution for Clark suckerpunching him.
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On the other side, defense attorney Jon Braaten described it as self-defense.
"'It was either him or me,'" he told the jury of Adams' own words to Lincoln police within hours of Clark's death. "'It was either him or me.'"
It all started with a chance encounter between strangers in a lot used by some for cutting through to Vine Street.
Adams had been hanging out with friends by his van, when Clark came through in his.
Video taken from a house nearby isn't the greatest, both sides agree. It cuts in and out and doesn't show Clark hitting Adams and knocking him to the ground after Adams poked his head in Clark's van. Or Clark getting back in his van and driving 10 or 15 feet, only to stop and get out again. Or the moment Adams swung a jack handle at Clark, hitting him in the head.
Despite rescue workers' attempts to save Clark, he died at the hospital.
"This is not a case where you're going to have to figure out much. Mr. Adams swung a jack handle toward Trevious Clark around 3 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2021, striking him. That resulted in the death of Trevious Clark," Braaten said.
He said Adams and Clark didn't wake up that day expecting to have this happen.
"Within minutes an incident occurred. Within seconds Mr. Clark lost his life," Braaten said.
Rocke, the prosecutor, said deliberate and premeditated malice, which is needed to prove first-degree murder, doesn't mean that Adams woke up that day planning to kill Clark.
A fight that started over Adams poking his head into Clark's van ended with Clark landing a right hook and dropping him.
When Adams got a handle from a floor jack from his van, witnesses took it from him and tossed it and tried to get Clark to leave.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Clark decides to confront him," Rocke said.
Soon after, Adams struck him over the head, then stomped on his head, according to a witness.
"This isn't a self-defense case. This is a retribution case. Mr. Adams doesn't like to lose fights. He's not going to take getting sucker punched and knocked down lightly," he said.
Trial is expected to continue Tuesday.
Tom Casady's list of the 10 most infamous crimes in Lincoln history
Crimes of the times
This is simply one man’s perspective from the early 21st century (first written in 2010). I had to make a decision about crimes that occurred at locations that are inside the city today, but were outside our corporate limits at the time they occurred. I chose the latter.
Before beginning, though, I have to deal with three crimes that stand apart: the murders of three police officers in Lincoln. I’m not quite sure how to place them in a list. They all had huge impacts on the community, and on the police department in particular. Because these are my colleagues, I deal with them separately and in chronological order.
Patrolman Marion Francis Marshall
Shot in the shadow of the new Nebraska State Capital, Gov. Charles Bryan came to his aid and summoned additional help.
Lt. Frank Soukup
Marion Marshall was technically not a Lincoln police officer, so Lt. Soukup was actually the first Lincoln police officer killed on duty. One of his colleagues who was present at the motel and involved in the gunbattle, Paul Jacobsen, went on to enjoy a long career and command rank at LPD, influencing many young charges (like me) and leaving his mark on the culture of the agency.
Lt. Paul Whitehead
In the space of a few months, three LPD officers died in the line of duty. Frank Soukup had been murdered, and George Welter had died in a motorcycle crash. Paul Whitehead's partner, Paul Merritt, went on to command rank, and like Paul Jacobsen left an indelible mark at LPD and the community.
No. 1: Starkweather
The subject of several thinly disguised movie plots and a Springsteen album, the Starkweather murders are clearly the most infamous crime in Lincoln’s history — so far. One of the first mass murderers of the mass media age, six of Charles Starkweather’s 11 victims were killed inside the city of Lincoln, and the first was just on the outskirts of town. I didn’t live in Lincoln at the time, but my wife was a first-grader at Riley Elementary School and has vivid memories of the city gripped by fear in the days between the discovery of the Bartlett murders and Starkweather’s capture in Wyoming.
The case caused quite an uproar. There was intense criticism of the police department and sheriff’s office for not capturing Starkweather earlier in the week after the discovery of the Bartletts' bodies. Ultimately, Mayor Bennett Martin and the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners retained a retired FBI agent, Harold G. Robinson, to investigate the performance of local law enforcement. His report essentially exonerated the local law officers and made a few vanilla recommendations for improving inter-agency communication and training.
Now I know that many readers are mumbling to themselves “how obvious.” Hold your horses, though. It’s not quite as obvious as you might think. I had two experiences that drove this fact home to me. The first was a visit by a small group of journalism students. Only one member of the class had any idea, and her idea was pretty vague. You need to remember that the Starkweather murders were in 1957 and 1958 — before the parents of many college students were even born.
The second experience was a visit by a Cub Scout den. I was giving the kids a tour of the police station one evening. We were in the front lobby waiting for everyone to arrive. As I entertained the boys, I told the moms and dads that they might enjoy looking in the corner of the Sheriff’s Office display case to see the contents of Starkweather’s wallet — discovered a couple of years ago locked up in the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office safe. After a few minutes, one of the confused fathers asked me who Starkweather was, and why it was significant.
No. 2: Lincoln National Bank
On the morning of Sept. 17, 1930, a dark blue Buick carrying six men pulled up in front of the Lincoln National Bank at the northwest corner of 12th and O streets. Five of the men entered the bank, while a sixth stood outside by the Buick, cradling a machine gun. Observing the unusual events, a passerby called the police. The officer who responded, Forrest Shappaugh, was casually instructed by the machine-gun-toting lookout to just keep going, which he wisely did. Returning with reinforcements, he found that the robbers had already made good on their getaway, netting $2.7 million in cash and negotiable securities.
Ultimately, three of the six suspects were arrested. Tommy O’Connor and Howard Lee were convicted and sentenced. Jack Britt was tried twice but not convicted by a hung jury. Gus Winkeler, a member of Al Capone’s gang, winged a deal with County Attorney Max Towle to avoid prosecution in exchange for orchestrating the recovery of $600,000 in bearer bonds. The following year, Winkeler was murdered in Chicago, the victim of a gangland slaying. The final two robbers were never identified.
The Lincoln National Bank robbery stood as the largest cash bank robbery in the United States for many decades. It precipitated major changes at the Lincoln Police Department. Chief Peter Johnstone was rapidly “retired” after the robbery, the department’s fleet was upgraded to add the first official patrol cars, the full force was armed and a shotgun squad was organized. Forty-four years later when I was hired at LPD, the echo of the Lincoln National Bank robbery was still evident in daily bank opening details, and in the Thomspon submachine guns and Reising rifles that detectives grabbed whenever the robbery alarm sounded at headquarters.
No. 3: The Last Posse
My first inkling about this crime came when I was the chief deputy sheriff. One of my interns, a young man named Ron Boden (who became a veteran deputy sheriff), had been doing some research on Lancaster County’s only known lynching, in 1884. I came across a reference in the biography of the sheriff at the time, Sam Melick, to the murder of the Nebraska Penitentiary warden and subsequent prison break. Melick had been appointed interim warden after the murder and instituted several reforms.
Several years later, a colleague, Sgt. Geoff Marti, loaned me a great book, Gale Christianson’s "Last Posse," that told the story of the 1912 prison break in gory, haunting and glorious detail.
To make a long story short, convict Shorty Gray and his co-conspirators shot and killed Warden James Delahunty, a deputy warden and a guard on Wednesday, March 13, 1912. They then made their break — right into the teeth of a brutal Nebraska spring blizzard. Over the course to the next few days, a posse pursued. During the pursuit, the escapees carjacked a young farmer with his team and wagon. As the posse closed in, a gunfight broke out and the hostage was shot and killed in the exchange, along with two of the three escapees.
There was plenty of anger among the locals in the Gretna-Springfield vicinity about the death of their native son, and a controversy raged over the law enforcement tactics that brought about his demise. Lancaster County Sheriff Gus Hyers was not unsullied by the inquiry, although it appears from my prospect a century later that the fog of war led to the tragedy.
Christianson, a professor of history at Indiana State University who died earlier this year, notes the following on the flyleaf:
“For anyone living west of the Mississippi in 1912, the biggest news that fateful year was a violent escape from the Nebraska state penitentiary planned and carried out by a trio of notorious robbers and safe blowers.”
Bigger news on half the continent than the sinking of the Titanic during the same year would certainly qualify this murder-escape as one of the most infamous Lincoln crimes in history.
No. 4: Rock Island wreck
The Aug. 10, 1894, wreck of a Rock Island train on the southwest outskirts of Lincoln was almost lost in the mist of time until it was resurrected in the public consciousness by author Joel Williams, who came across the story while conducting research for his historical novel, "Barrelhouse Boys."
The wreck was determined to be the result of sabotage to the tracks, perhaps an attempt to derail the train as a prelude to robbery. Eleven people died in the crash and ensuing fire, making this a mass murder, to be sure. G.W. Davis was arrested and convicted of the crime but later received a full pardon. The story was told in greater detail earlier this year by the Lincoln Journal Star.
A historical marker is along the Rock Island Trail in Wilderness Park, accessible only by foot or bike from the nearest trail access points about a half-mile away at Old Cheney Road on the north, or 14th Street on the south.
Here’s the big question that remains unanswered: Was there really significant evidence to prove that George Washington Davis committed the crime, or was he just a convenient scapegoat? The fact that he received a gubernatorial pardon 10 years later leads me to believe that the evidence must have been unusually weak. If he was railroaded, then my second question is this: who really pried loose the tracks with the 40-pound crowbar found at the scene?
No. 5: Commonwealth
On Nov. 1, 1983, the doors to Nebraska’s largest industrial savings and loan company were closed and Commonwealth was declared insolvent. The 6,700 depositors with $65 million at stake would never be fully compensated for their loss, ultimately receiving about 59 cents on the dollar for their deposits, which they all mistakenly believed were insured up to $30,000 through the Nebraska Depository Insurance Guaranty Corporation, which was essentially an insurance pool with assets of only $3 million.
The case dominated Nebraska news for months. The investigation ultimately led to the conviction of three members of the prominent Lincoln family that owned the institution, the resignation of the director of the State Department of Banking and the impeachment of the Nebraska attorney general and the suspension of his license to practice law. State and federal litigation arising from the failure of Commonwealth drug on for years.
At the Lincoln Police Department, the Commonwealth failure led to the formation of a specialized white-collar crime detail, now known as the Technical Investigations Unit. At the time, municipal police departments in the United States had virtually no capacity for investigating financial crime and fraud of this magnitude, and we quickly became well known for our expertise in this area. The early experience served LPD very well in the ensuring years.
No. 6: Candice Harms
Candi Harms never came home from visiting her boyfriend on Sept. 22, 1992. Her parents reported her as a missing person the following morning, and her car was found abandoned in a cornfield north of Lincoln later in the day. Weeks went by before her remains were found southeast of Lincoln.
Scott Barney and Roger Bjorklund were convicted in her abduction and murder. Barney is in prison serving a life term. Bjorklund died in prison in 2001. Intense media attention surrounded the lengthy trial of Roger Bjorklund, for which a jury was brought in from Cheyenne County as an alternative to a change of venue. I have no doubt that the trial was a life-changing event for a group of good citizens from Sidney, who did their civic duty.
I was the Lancaster County sheriff at the time, involved both in the investigation and in the trial security. It was at about this time that the cellular telephone was becoming a consumer product, and I have often thought that this brutal crime probably spurred a lot of purchases. During my career, this is probably the second-most-prominent Lincoln crime in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage.
No. 7: Jon Simpson and Jacob Surber
A parent’s worst nightmare unfolded in September 1975 when these two boys, ages 12 and 13, failed to return from the Nebraska State Fair. The boys were the victims of abduction and murder. The case was similar to a string of other murders of young boys in the Midwest, and many thought that these cases were related -- the work of a serial killer. Although an arrest was made in the case here in Lincoln, the charges were eventually dismissed. William Guatney was released and has since died.
No. 8: John Sheedy
Saloon and gambling house owner John Sheedy was gunned down outside his home at 1211 P St. in January 1891. The case of Sheedy, prominent in Lincoln’s demiworld, became the talk of the town when his wife, Mary, and her alleged lover and accomplice, Monday McFarland, were arrested. Both were acquitted at trial. The Sheedy murder is chronicled in a great interactive multimedia website, Gilded Age Plains City, an online version that builds upon an article published in 2001 by Timothy Mahoney of the University of Nebraska.
No. 9: Patricia McGarry and Catherine Brooks
The bodies of these two friends were found in a Northeast Lincoln duplex in August 1977. Their murderer, Robert E. Williams, was the subject of a massive Midwest manhunt during the following week. Before his capture, he committed a third murder in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and raped, shot and left for dead a victim who survived in Minnesota. He is the last man to be executed in Nebraska, sent to the electric chair in 1997.
No. 10: Judge William M. Morning
District Court Judge William Morning was murdered in February 1924. He was shot on the bench by an unhappy litigant in a divorce case. His court reporter, Minor Bacon, was also shot, but a notebook in his breast pocket deflected the bullet and saved his life.
Many other crimes
Choosing Lincoln's 10 most infamous crimes was a challenge. Although the top two were easy, the picture quickly became clouded. We tend, of course, to forget our history rather quickly. Many of the crimes I felt were among the most significant are barely remembered today, if not completely forgotten.
Some readers will take issue with my list. In choosing 10, here are the others I considered, in no particular order. They are all murders:
-- Mary O'Shea
-- Nancy Parker
-- Charles Mulholland
-- Victoria Lamm and Janet Mesner
-- Martina McMenamin
-- Regina Bos (presumably murdered)
-- Patty Webb
-- Marianne Mitzner
I also thought about the five murder-suicides in which a mother or father killed multiple family members before taking their own life. Though tragic, these crimes did not command the same kind of attention as the others, perhaps because there was no lengthy investigation, no tantalizing whodunit, no stranger-killer, nor any of the details that come out in the coverage of a major trial. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-mans-murder-trial-starts-for-fatal-beating-near-27th-and-vine/article_cb14ee36-edb4-11ed-a1ac-c34b0e782180.html | 2023-05-08T23:00:28 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-mans-murder-trial-starts-for-fatal-beating-near-27th-and-vine/article_cb14ee36-edb4-11ed-a1ac-c34b0e782180.html |
Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln Children’s Zoo announced the birth of two cotton-top tamarin babies, born to mom Challa and dad Emison.
The twins were born on April 14.
Cotton-top tamarins live in groups of eight to 18 individuals with one dominant breeding pair. The rest of the troop is made up of offspring and a few subordinates, and the troop helps care for the infants.
Challa and Emison will both help care for the infants, taking turns carrying them for about six months. The pair is also parents to Doug, a 1-year-old female cotton-top tamarin.
It’s too early to determine the sex of the two babies, so names haven't been chosen.
Guests can visit the twins and the rest of the cotton-top tamarin troop in the Animal Kingdom Building.
Cotton-top tamarins are a critically endangered species, meaning they face an extremely high risk of extinction. There are only about 6,000 individuals left in the wild.
“The birth of these cotton-top tamarin twins is incredibly important for animal conservation efforts as we see the population of this critically endangered species continue to decrease,” said Evan Killeen, Lincoln Children’s Zoo CEO.
The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan Program.
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
A Matschies tree kangaroo joey munches on corn in 2015 at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
Journal Star file photo
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
A baby ring-tailed lemur sticks tight to it's mother at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Thursday, March 26, 2015.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
A snow leopard looks through the glass of it's enclosure at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Thursday, March 26, 2015.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
This Tomato Horn Worm is new to the Lincoln Children's Zoo this year.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
This African Serval Cat named Johnny is new to the Lincoln Children's Zoo this year.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Everest the Lincoln Children Zoo's male snow leopard (left) now has a female companion named Ranney.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Green Anole lizards are one of new attractions at the Lincoln Children's Zoo this year.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
This Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko is among the new attractions at the Lincoln Children's Zoo this year.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Gideon, the Lincoln Children's Zoo's Gibbon will be joined by a companion this year with the hope that baby Gibbons might result.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Ranney, a female Snow Leopard, has joined Everest in his enclosure this year at the Lincoln Children's Zoo this year in the hope that baby Snow Leopards might result.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
East African Crowned Cranes sun themselves Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as the Lincoln Children's Zoo staff prepared for Saturday's opening day.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
A ring-tailed lemur, a native of Madagascar, watches birds outside its gated enclosure as it sits on a branch at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Wednesday morning, April 6, 2011.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Pengee, one of the five male penguins at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, gobbles down a mackerel offered to him by staff member Elizabeth McClure on Wednesday morning, April 6, 2011.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Six-year-old Trenton Schmid of Waverly inspects the monarch butterfly that is perched on his finger during a visit to Laura's Butterfly Pavilion on Sunday afternoon, June 5, 2011.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Seven-year-old Ava Flood (right) and Brianna Hartman, 8, ponder the stare of Chavala, a 19-year-old Goffins Cockatoo held by zoo staff worker Anthony Anderson during a visit to the Oxbow Junior Veterinarian Club on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Axl the Sumatran tiger watches foot traffic pass the tiger enclosure on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, at Lincoln Children's Zoo.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
Charlotte Vander Zwaag (left), 12, and Shae Weinert, 11, friends from Omaha, interact with a giraffe at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in June 2020. The zoo is among nonprofits that would be helped by a bill moving through the Legislature that would set aside $25 million of state dollars to help complete capital construction projects that were interrupted by COVID-19.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
A female cheetah plays with an enrichment toy in the new cheetah run at Lincoln Children's Zoo on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Photos: Lincoln Children's Zoo
A pipevine swallowtail butterfly acclimates to its new environment as director of education Aimee Johns and education specialist Kayla Manley unpack their first shipment of butterflies and pupas on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in the butterfly pavilion at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/twin-cotton-top-tamarins-born-at-lincoln-children-s-zoo/article_294baaa0-eddb-11ed-9b34-a7c7a70dd4c4.html | 2023-05-08T23:00:34 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/twin-cotton-top-tamarins-born-at-lincoln-children-s-zoo/article_294baaa0-eddb-11ed-9b34-a7c7a70dd4c4.html |
ROANOKE, Va. – Organizers of the Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 have announced that after the upcoming 2023 race in June, the event will be paused.
Officials said the pause is due to road improvements that are set to be made to the Blue Ridge Parkway. According to a statement, the goal is to bring the race back to Roanoke.
This year’s race is June 4 and the biking portion will take place on the Blue Ridge Parkway before roadwork begins.
You can find the full statement below: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/carilion-clinic-ironman-703-to-pause-after-2023-due-to-blue-ridge-parkway-roadwork/ | 2023-05-08T23:00:52 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/carilion-clinic-ironman-703-to-pause-after-2023-due-to-blue-ridge-parkway-roadwork/ |
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Christiansburg Parks & Recreation Department has partnered with the Montgomery Museum of Art & History to offer Historic Downtown Walking Tours this spring and summer.
The Historic Downtown Walking Tours program kicked off on Monday, May 6, with a tour led by tour guide Sherry Wyatt, officials said.
The tours take you on a historic journey of architecture and business, visiting buildings, monuments, and sites dating back to 1853, according to the department.
We’re told the next tour will be held on June 12 at 11 a.m., and pre-registration for the tour must be done through Christiansburg Parks & Recreation.
Officials said the tours are free, but a $2 donation to the museum is appreciated. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/historic-downtown-walking-tours-to-be-offered-in-christiansburg-this-spring-summer/ | 2023-05-08T23:00:58 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/historic-downtown-walking-tours-to-be-offered-in-christiansburg-this-spring-summer/ |
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty University Office of Security & Public Safety has announced a new safety app for the campus community.
Leaders say “Champion Safe” features a Mobile Blue Light, Emergency Contacts, Friend Walk, and more.
We’re told the app also has a guest function for other people, like parents and members of the community.
To download the app, click here. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/liberty-university-launches-champion-safe-app-for-campus-safety/ | 2023-05-08T23:01:04 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/liberty-university-launches-champion-safe-app-for-campus-safety/ |
Just keep smiling — that’s the philosophy of Katy Llywellyn, a burn survivor who has endured some of life’s toughest battles.
Llywellyn was just 12 years old when her life changed forever. In February 2005, her grandparent’s home in Blacksburg burned down, tarnishing not only her belongings but the life she once knew.
“Twelve is kind of when everything is just starting. For me, it stopped for a little bit. I couldn’t, ya know, focus on anything else. I couldn’t do anything else except be there in the hospital, living day-to-day just getting through the pain of every day. When I was in the hospital, it was like being in a little bubble, and I didn’t have to worry too much about the outside world.”
She credits her grandpa with saving her life, stating that he didn’t waste time going back inside the home to rescue her when he realized she didn’t make it out. Shortly after, the two were taken to a burn center at the University of Virginia for treatment.
While at the hospital, her grandpa unfortunately passed away, breaking her heart into pieces.
Fighting for survival, Llywellyn was later flown to Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she would stay for another five months. To save her life, she had to have a myriad of surgeries done. Llywellyn, now 30 years old, says she’s had 110 surgeries since then.
“The most that I got when I was in school still was every six weeks, I was having surgeries. So, you know balancing burn survivor life with just normal 12-year-old school life, it was a challenge that’s for sure.”
Facing life’s biggest challenges with her head held high didn’t always come easy to Llywellyn, especially at such a young age. But being wrapped in the love and support of her friends and family was the light she needed to get through the dark days.
She explained that even though her story started with the tragedy of losing her grandpa, it was a sacrifice he made out of love.
“There was a span of time where I could say I felt like I missed out on being a kid, and I just had to go into survival mode, but as you age, things become clearer and your priorities kind of change,” she explained. “I wouldn’t change anything about the road I’ve taken. It’s been extremely difficult, challenging, and dark at times, but it’s gotten me to where I am today, and I have a positive outlook on life ... So even the bad parts of my life, they’ve been conquered with so much overwhelming love, and that’s what I focus on now.”
Focusing on the good has served her well in life, drawing nothing but positivity her way. Her story of triumph has pulled her into the national spotlight, with many inspired by her ability to overcome, all while wearing a smile.
More recently, she placed 7th out of 75,000 women in the Inked Cover Girl Contest, something that her 12-year-old self would’ve never dreamed of, she said.
She entered the contest on a whim and mostly wanted to represent the burn community while showing her support. She had no idea the outpouring of support she’d get in return.
“It’s a dream come true. It is amazing, and I just keep thinking about what 12-year-old me would think about someone like me in a magazine, and I just can’t imagine what difference that would’ve made for me. I think the world is all about diversity now and it’s beautiful. And I think we need to embrace that even more.”
She also works as a counselor at the Central Virginia Burn Camp in Charlottesville, the very same camp that helped her transition from a burn victim to a burn survivor.
“I don’t know where I would be without them. I’m scared to think about it. They taught me everything. I started camp as a burn victim and I think anybody going through a huge trauma like this starts out as a victim and then it comes with the mindset and the healing emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually--all of it-- before you can survive what you’ve been through and really thrive afterwards. I got that foundation at camp.”
All in all, she hopes that her story shows others that they have what it takes to overcome any and every obstacle thrown their way. After all, life is all about one’s perceptive.
“I get a lot that my confidence helps other people and my positivity really just helps them be more positive and I want my story to let people know that yes, it can start with tragedy and you can turn it around. For the longest time, doctors didn’t even know if I was going to make it, let alone the kind of quality of life I was gonna have. I want people to know that you can be at the very bottom and still blossom and have a wonderful, happy life.” | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/new-river-valley-burn-survivor-places-7th-out-of-75000-in-inked-cover-girl-contest/ | 2023-05-08T23:01:10 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/new-river-valley-burn-survivor-places-7th-out-of-75000-in-inked-cover-girl-contest/ |
Law enforcement continues to investigate whether the Texas gunman who killed eight people in Dallas over the weekend is tied to white supremacy. Experts said white supremacy groups are all over, including in the Commonwealth.
Rachel Carroll Rivas, deputy director of research reporting and analysis with the Southern Poverty Law Center, said that there are six formal hate groups in Virginia that the organization is tracking.
“Statistically we see that there is a direct correlation between involvement in these extreme far-right hate groups that are violent in nature and these mass shootings that are terrorizing our community in the last decade in the U.S.,” Rivas said.
While police continue to investigate whether the Dallas shooting that killed eight is among those hate groups, smaller-scale hate crimes happen yearly in Virginia.
Rivas said in the latest data collected in 2021, the Department of Justice reported 76 crimes based on race, 11 on religion, and 24 based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Commonwealth.
“It’s a real challenge to see that, 76 hate crimes based on race or ethnicity, many against black folks in Virginia,” Rivas said. “That’s a harm to the community directly.”
In 2017, Charlottesville made national headlines when a driver ran into a crowd of people counter-protesting the Unite the Right rally, killing one woman.
“There are some major moments in the history of hate in the U.S., “ Rivas said. “Charlottesville is absolutely one of those.”
Rivas said ultimately the Commonwealth has an average amount of hate crime, but any is too much.
“At the end of the day if there is one group that is organizing, recruiting people, engaging in violence, harming communities, that is a problem that must be addressed,” Rivas said.
Data for 2022 has not been released yet. Rivas said hate crime data is not required to be reported by state and local agencies to the federal government, so it takes a while to gather data. Ultimately, she said there’s no way to know for certain just how many hate crimes happen statewide. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/virginia-on-par-with-nationwide-average-of-hate-crimes-southern-poverty-law-center-expert-says/ | 2023-05-08T23:01:17 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/08/virginia-on-par-with-nationwide-average-of-hate-crimes-southern-poverty-law-center-expert-says/ |
ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta announced its intent to acquire the West End Performing Arts Center from Fulton County.
Last week, Atlanta City Council introduced legislation to start the process. The city would be able to get the facility at a "nominal fee," a release from city officials stated.
“The West End Performing Arts Center is a pillar of arts and culture in Atlanta and the West End community, and this acquisition will allow us to continue showcasing the best the city has to offer,” Mayor Andre Dickens said. “The Center will enhance the quality of life for residents through arts education and programming while lifting up our own local talent and creative endeavors.”
Once Atlanta receives its acquisition approval, the center will at first be operated by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. Fulton County will also partner to ensure a smooth transition, according to the release.
Additionally, the Mayor's Arts Advisory Committee will help with planning for the city's administration of the center. The committee will represent "a diverse collection of Atlanta’s artistic disciplines and backgrounds, including visual arts, fashion, film and television, photography, theatre, journalism and more," the release stated.
The West End Performing Arts Center will still work to support local artists, art organizations and help to develop the West End community as an art and cultural hub in Atlanta. The center will also have a classroom, workspace and auditorium to support programming and events, the release stated.
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- Watch live streams on YouTube | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-west-end-performing-arts-center/85-b3ff5838-76e9-43df-acfb-dd80e22cec6d | 2023-05-08T23:01:50 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-west-end-performing-arts-center/85-b3ff5838-76e9-43df-acfb-dd80e22cec6d |
BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) — Children of all abilities will soon have a new playground in Bruce.
The city's new 15,000-square-foot playground at Bruce City Park is being built with special-needs children in mind.
Large landings provide enough space for children and parents to enjoy it.
The new park will be finished by Monday, May 15 weather permitting. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/all-inclusive-playground-to-open-soon-in-bruce/article_b99e515c-ede0-11ed-8712-1f8e299e65a1.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:00 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/all-inclusive-playground-to-open-soon-in-bruce/article_b99e515c-ede0-11ed-8712-1f8e299e65a1.html |
BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) — The road to work will soon be better for workers traveling to the industrial park in Bruce.
State money is being used to improve Industrial Park Road.
Right now, part of the road is closed so workers can install better drainage.
Bruce Mayor Jimmy Hubbard said the road project is long overdue. He said 18-wheelers could not pass each other.
Paving is expected to begin next month. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/bruce-working-to-improve-industrial-park-road/article_e12361da-ede1-11ed-9725-f3f735142014.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:06 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/bruce-working-to-improve-industrial-park-road/article_e12361da-ede1-11ed-9725-f3f735142014.html |
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) — A car collided with a man in a wheelchair in Columbus.
The crash happened Friday on Alabama Street.
According to Columbus Police, the female driver left the scene of the crash.
Police have not announced an arrest and the victim is expected to be OK. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/columbus-police-car-collided-with-man-in-wheelchair/article_434d3e42-edcb-11ed-8ac2-b7391338dd7b.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:12 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/columbus-police-car-collided-with-man-in-wheelchair/article_434d3e42-edcb-11ed-8ac2-b7391338dd7b.html |
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) — Someone shot into multiple cars over the weekend in Columbus.
The shootings happened late Friday evening into Saturday morning.
According to Columbus Police, the first two vehicles were located at the Valencia apartments, which is at the intersection of 17th Street South and Fifth Avenue South.
A third vehicle was shot at Eighth Street North and Second Avenue. This happened at apartments near the Columbus Lowndes Public Library, according to the police.
Police have not announced any arrests.
Anyone with information can call the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/columbus-police-investigating-vehicle-shootings/article_d8c6c896-edc9-11ed-9872-cf0c97d3ba53.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:18 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/columbus-police-investigating-vehicle-shootings/article_d8c6c896-edc9-11ed-9872-cf0c97d3ba53.html |
FULTON, Miss. (WTVA) — Two students at Itawamba Community College (ICC) have been accepted into the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program (MRPSP).
ICC identified the students as Emma Grace Allen of Fulton and Payton Atkins of Hamilton.
Allen is a biology major and Atkins majors in biochemistry/pre-medicine. They will both transfer to Mississippi State University this fall.
The MRPSP offers scholarships to medical students. In return, students agree to practice in underserved rural areas of Mississippi.
They receive other benefits, like early assurance status into the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/icc-students-from-fulton-and-hamilton-accepted-into-rural-physicians-scholarship-program/article_0d20b238-edd8-11ed-8359-1362df736797.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:25 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/icc-students-from-fulton-and-hamilton-accepted-into-rural-physicians-scholarship-program/article_0d20b238-edd8-11ed-8359-1362df736797.html |
NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) — Jury selection began Monday morning in the attempted murder trial of Lane Mitchell.
The former Ole Miss student is accused of stabbing a man in the neck in 2019. The stabbing happened at a restaurant in New Albany.
Mitchell attended Ole Miss for one year before withdrawing following his arrest. He graduated from a college in Tennessee on Friday.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. The Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/jury-selection-began-in-lane-mitchell-attempted-murder-trial/article_be35c86c-edcc-11ed-97cb-9794a376d8be.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:31 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/jury-selection-began-in-lane-mitchell-attempted-murder-trial/article_be35c86c-edcc-11ed-97cb-9794a376d8be.html |
OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) — An Ole Miss student is accused of making threats against faculty and staff.
Campus Police arrested Kendrick Ford after he allegedly made the threat on April 27.
Police charged him with making a terrorist threat.
OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) — An Ole Miss student is accused of making threats against faculty and staff.
Campus Police arrested Kendrick Ford after he allegedly made the threat on April 27.
Police charged him with making a terrorist threat. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/man-charged-with-making-terrorist-threat-at-ole-miss/article_de3e8206-edcd-11ed-b791-9bf556a9948b.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:37 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/man-charged-with-making-terrorist-threat-at-ole-miss/article_de3e8206-edcd-11ed-b791-9bf556a9948b.html |
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) — The Golden Triangle Regional (GTR) Airport received new jets in April.
Executive Director Matt Dowell said Delta Airlines provided the jets.
The new jets can accommodate almost 80 passengers. Older jets could only carry 50 passengers.
The new jets also come with more flights per day. GTR now offers two flights a day to and from Atlanta, Georgia.
Dowell said the response has been great.
“Everybody really likes the product, more seating capacity, obviously a bigger plane, more room for luggage. There's in-flight entertainment and first-class service as well — so options we haven't had before. And we're really excited about having that service here and more comfortable airplanes for everyone to use.”
The airport is still looking to expand its routes to the west. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/response-has-been-great-for-new-jets-at-gtr/article_25266bac-ede7-11ed-a4e4-c3a546b51d07.html | 2023-05-08T23:02:43 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/response-has-been-great-for-new-jets-at-gtr/article_25266bac-ede7-11ed-a4e4-c3a546b51d07.html |
An environmental group is calling for tougher protections before the state renews Carmeuse Line's air quality permit in Gary.
Carmeuse, a multinational that's headquartered in Belgium and bases its North American operations in Pittsburgh, provides steel mills with limestone, one of the main ingredients burnt in blast furnaces to make iron. The company has local operations in Portage and at Buffington Harbor along the Lake Michigan lakefront in Gary.
The limestone manufacturing plant on Lake Michigan is now asking Indiana environmental regulators to renew its air quality permit, which was last renewed in 2014.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center raised concerns about past air quality violations at the plant. It said it is not opposing a renewal of the permit for the steel mill supplier, but is calling for more amendments to it. ELPC has been petitioning the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to require more emissions testing, more robust monitoring, a ban on burning trash for fuel and an environmental compliance audit.
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“IDEM’s failure to toughen the permit renewal is tantamount to giving Carmeuse a green light to continue violating its permit with impunity," said Mike Zoeller, senior attorney at ELPC.
Carmeuse did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center said more should be done to reign in air emissions like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals that could be harmful to the health of the people who live nearby, who are often minorities in low-income households.
Carmeuse was fined $11,250 for air quality violations in 2014, according to the Indiana Department of Environment Management. ELPC said it has had a long history of noncompliance with its past permit.
“Despite repeated violations of its air permit, IDEM proposes to renew Carmeuse Lime’s permit for another five years on largely the same terms,” said Mike Zoeller, senior attorney at ELPC. “IDEM should seize this opportunity to amend the permit to improve compliance and reduce harm to the surrounding overburdened communities."
The Environmental Law & Policy Center calls for more stack tests and continuous emissions monitoring of its five lime kilns that date back 50 years and account for much of the air pollution at Carmeuse Lime in Gary. It's part of its ongoing campaign to clean up the water, land and air in Northwest Indiana, a cradle of heavy industry the Environmental Protection Agency said has some of the worst air quality in the country.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Biggby Coffee, Flora Plants, Funk My Life and McDonald's open; Aster & Gray and Elements Wine Bar close
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Biggby Coffee, Flora Plants, Funk My Life and McDonald's open; Aster & Gray and Elements Wine Bar close
Open
A new coffee house is percolating in St. John.
Open
Flora Plants grew from a home-based business that sold houseplants at local markets to a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Valparaiso.
Open
The store has been meticulously curated, she said.
Open
Funk My Life Eclectic Gallery opened in a side room in the Rae Kicks Sass beauty salon in Valparaiso.
Open
The new McDonald's held a grand opening celebration a few weeks ago at 501 E.109th Place in Crown Point.
Closed
The Aster & Gray boutique recently closed, just a year after relocating to a more visible location in downtown Valparaiso.
Open
Elements Wine Bar has served its last glass of vino in downtown Valparaiso.
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Buona/Rainbow Cone, Fat Burrito, Pickles Kids and Dear Dani Boutique opening | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/environmental-group-calls-for-tougher-air-permit-for-carmeuse-lime-in-gary/article_d9354498-edb9-11ed-b5c8-d32b13aacb68.html | 2023-05-08T23:07:02 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/environmental-group-calls-for-tougher-air-permit-for-carmeuse-lime-in-gary/article_d9354498-edb9-11ed-b5c8-d32b13aacb68.html |
VALPARAISO — Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer has announced his intention to seek reelection next year.
Clymer, a Republican, is the only Porter County judge who regularly livestreams his courtroom proceedings on the internet so the public can watch without attending in person.
St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman is trained in mental health intervention.
"Cameras were prohibited in Indiana courts until 2020, when the Supreme Court allowed 'virtual' appearances, Zoom hearings and livestreaming of court proceedings because of travel restrictions," he said.
"I am proud to allow the public to see what happens in my court by simply watching online. Livestreaming should give the public confidence in what is happening in my court because anyone can watch as it happens."
Clymer was appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2017 to succeed then-retiring Judge Bill Alexa. He was elected by Porter County voters to a full term in 2018.
The accused reportedly admitted to Hobart police that he pointed the gun at the woman's head, "in an effort to let her know he wasn't playing around anymore."
Clymer presides over major felony cases and civil cases with unlimited jurisdiction.
"I look forward to the opportunity to serve six more years," he said.
His current term will end in December 2024.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Dawn Tucker
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 44
Residence: Westville, IN
Booking Number: 2301846
Charges: Sexual misconduct with a minor, felony
Karen Snyder
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 67
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301840
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Anthony Maxberry
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 40
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301837
Charges: Invasion of privacy, felony
Flavio Quintanilla
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 24
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number: 2301842
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Jeremy Riley
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 42
Residence: Hebron, IN
Booking Number: 2301852
Charges: Weapons/Pointing a firearm, felony
Brayden Joseph
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 18
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2301854
Charges: Battery, misdemeanor
Stephen Kearney
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 36
Residence: Wheatfield, IN
Booking Number: 2301839
Charges: Possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia, felony
Jason Hammer
Arrest date: May 4, 2023
Age: 44
Residence: Darien, IL
Booking Number: 2301848
Charges: Sexual misconduct with a minor, felony
Crystal Robinson
Arrest date: May 3, 2023
Age: 38
Residence: Hebron, IN
Booking Number: 2301821
Charges: Neglect of a dependant, felony
Rebecca Masse
Arrest date: May 3, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301834
Charges: OWI, felony
Nicholas Kleihege
Arrest date: May 3, 2023
Age: 30
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301820
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Marteus Holbrook
Arrest date: May 3, 2023
Age: 27
Residence: Merrillville, IN
Booking Number: 2301832
Charges: Possession hypodermic syringe or needle, felony
Brandon Welshan
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 35
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301812
Charges: Obstruction of justice, felony
Mitchell Rospierski
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301818
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Kevin Shufford II
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2301809
Charges: Possession of cocaine or narcotic drug, felony
Tumen Tysrendorzhiev
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Booking Number: 2301810
Charges: Battery, felony
Georgina Houston
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 46
Residence: Ogden Dunes, IN
Booking Number: 2301819
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Leona Riley
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2301815
Charges: Battery, felony
Sandra Dombrowski
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 49
Residence: Porter, IN
Booking Number: 2301817
Charges: OWI, felony
Wardell Brown
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 48
Residence: Chicago, IL
Booking Number: 2301811
Charges: Theft, felony
Timothy Burton
Arrest date: May 2, 2023
Age: 51
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301813
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Kaylee Schoenenberger
Arrest date: May 1, 2023
Age: 19
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301798
Charges: Drugs/d ealing schedule I, II , or III controlled substance, felony
Jennifer Bish
Arrest date: May 1, 2023
Age: 44
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2301791
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Tucker Morse
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 21
Residence: Three Oaks, MI
Booking Number: 2301784
Charges: Possession of marijuana, hash oil, hashish, or salvia, felony
Dustin Mathews
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2301790
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Aiden McAlvey
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number: 2301783
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
William Milan
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Jackson, MI
Booking Number: 2301787
Charges: Possession legend drug or precursor, felony
Joshua Heaviland
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301781
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Sierra Kindy
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Galesburg, MI
Booking Number: 2301786
Charges: Possession of legend drug or precursor, felony
Joseph Bauer
Arrest date: April 30, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301782
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Giovani Phan
Arrest date: April 29, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301773
Charges: OWI, felony
Karen Hanchar
Arrest date: April 29, 2023
Age: 63
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301780
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Jordan Lewis
Arrest date: April 29, 2023
Age: 33
Residence: Porter, IN
Booking Number: 2301779
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Andres Cadena
Arrest date: April 29, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301770
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Sean Webster
Arrest date: April 28, 2023
Age: 57
Residence: Valparaiso
Booking Number: 2301758
Charges: Possession legend drug or precursor, felony
Abigail Ziembicki
Arrest date: April 28, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2301757
Charges: Possession hypodermic syringe or needle, felony
Julia Shannon
Arrest date: April 28, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2301762
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Paul Hudak Jr.
Arrest date: April 28, 2023
Age: 35
Residence: DeMotte, IN
Booking Number: 2301760
Charges: Possession of cocaine or narcotic drug, felony
Zachary Davenport
Arrest date: April 28, 2023
Age: 20
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2301763
Charges: Drugs/dealing schedule I, II, or III controlled substance, felony
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/porter-judge-jeffrey-clymer-seeking-re-election/article_269dccac-edae-11ed-91c2-5f9221c53b77.html | 2023-05-08T23:07:08 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/porter-judge-jeffrey-clymer-seeking-re-election/article_269dccac-edae-11ed-91c2-5f9221c53b77.html |
ALLEN, Texas — Authorities who searched the suspected Allen shooter's motel room found three boxes of ammunition, a holstered knife, a tactical vest, handcuffs and various other items, according to a search warrant return obtained by WFAA on Monday.
Mauricio Garcia, 33, was staying at the Budget Suites of America, an extended-stay motel, on North Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, according to a search warrant.
The warrant said officers went to the motel after seeing that its address was listed as Garcia's home address on his driver's license.
Garcia was killed by police at the scene of the shooting on Saturday, May 6, when eight victims were killed at the Allen Premium Outlets.
According to a search warrant obtained exclusively by WFAA, investigators found several handguns, long guns and ammunition inside Garcia's gray 2014 Dodge Charger at the scene of the shooting.
The warrant did not list the weapon that was used in the shooting, although President Joe Biden called it an "AR-15 style" weapon in a statement issued by the White House the day after.
As part of the investigation, authorities searched Garcia's motel room on the suspicion there may have been "additional weapons, ammunition, holsters, gun cases" and more.
The return on the search warrant was filed Monday, with a handwritten list of inventory.
The items found in Garcia's hotel included:
- Three boxes of ammunition with miscellaneous loose rounds
- Silver-colored handcuffs
- Knife in holster
- Holster
- 2 black hats, one with "Killin It" on it, the other with "Security" on it
- A micro SD adapter taped to a handwritten note (the note was not disclosed in the warrant return)
- Three 256 GB micro SD cards
- Receipt from GT Distributors
- Six handwritten notes
- "Carolina Caliber" receipt
- Nine bullets in a "critical defense box"
- Rifle hand guard
- Various notebooks
- Soft holster
- Box of ammunition
- Cash receipt for GT Distributors
- Magazine extension receipt
- Tactical vest
- Handwritten note
- Pictures
Officials have not yet released any information about a possible motive in the shooting.
Sources told WFAA that Garcia had been in the U.S. Army in 2008 but was removed due to mental health concerns.
"Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008," U.S. Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said in a press statement. "He was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards. We do not provide characterization of discharge for any soldier."
An Army official further tells WFAA that Garcia was "separated under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5–17, Other designated physical or mental conditions."
"This is a common discharge for recruits who can't adapt to military life," said attorney Bradford J. Glendening, a former member U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. "Soldiers who are discharged without completing Initial Entry Training receive uncharacterized discharges. Uncharacterized discharges are just what they sound like -- they're neither favorable, nor unfavorable. No benefits are earned, nor any lost, with an uncharacterized discharge."
Law enforcement sources added that their investigation has found that Garcia espoused an extremist right-wing ideology and disliked people of color and Jews.
According to sources, the 33-year-old had also worked as a licensed security guard. He most recently worked at an aluminum supply company, sources confirm. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/allen-mall-shooting-texas-suspect-shooter-mauricio-garcia-motel-search-warrant/287-bb7544fc-f265-4937-b474-f648e142a58c | 2023-05-08T23:09:21 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/allen-mall-shooting-texas-suspect-shooter-mauricio-garcia-motel-search-warrant/287-bb7544fc-f265-4937-b474-f648e142a58c |
DALLAS — The city of Dallas website and the main page for the Dallas Police Department are officially back online as of Monday, May 8. But city of Dallas IT experts report they continue a slow and methodical recovery from a May 3 ransomware attack that has impacted multiple city networks.
Bill Zielinski, chief of information and technology services for the city of Dallas, told the Public Safety Committee Monday that police and fire response systems were first priority. Computer experts are going department by department, site by site, device by device to make sure they do not carry the ransomware.
Zielinski said that 9-1-1 operators continue to answer and dispatch calls utilizing back up procedures and the city's public safety radio system.
As city IT staff and hired contractors review individual devices and ensure that they are secure, those devices are also bring brought back online. Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) functionality will increase for DPD, DFR and 311, Zielinski said.
In its latest update, the city officials say it "has no indication that customer information such as billing data or personally identifiable information (PII) has been leaked from City systems or databases." But should that change "the City will notify potentially impacted individuals with information and instructions."
As for specifics of the investigation, Zielinski repeatedly said this is an ongoing criminal investigation that limits his ability to make much of the information public.
"The City cannot comment on specific details which risk impeding the investigation or exposing vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker," city officials said in a Monday afternoon news release.
As for how long the outages and other systems delays could last, Zielinski could only say that as software, servers, and devices are reviewed to ensure they are uninfected that service will return as quickly as possible.
Officials said that the city's social media accounts have not been compromised. Updates will continue to be shared via DallasCityNews.net. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-ransomware-progress-recovery/287-8fecc192-e4b2-40ce-8f6f-3078d1fac1b4 | 2023-05-08T23:09:27 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-ransomware-progress-recovery/287-8fecc192-e4b2-40ce-8f6f-3078d1fac1b4 |
TEXAS, USA — In his first public address since tragedies in Allen and Brownsville, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that he’s deploying 450 National Guard soldiers to the southern border ahead of the end of Title 42.
Speaking at a news conference on the tarmac at Austin Bergstrom International Airport on Monday morning, the Republican governor announced the deployment of a new unit called the Texas Tactical Border Force to El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley on Monday and Tuesday. That puts the troops in place before the federal government is expected to end Title 42 later this week.
“The cartels are working in collaboration with President [Joe] Biden and the federal government to facilitate that illegal crossborder,” Abbott said. “We are being overrun by our own federal government. Texas is being undermined by our own federal government in our efforts to secure our border.”
His comments came two days after a man with an AR-15 opened fire at an Allen shopping mall, killing eight people and wounding at least seven others. Less than 24 hours later, eight people were killed at a bus stop outside a migrant shelter when a man drove his car onto the sidewalk. Police investigating that incident have not said whether the crash was accidental or intentional.
Abbott visited Allen for a vigil Sunday but did not speak publicly. He gave an interview to Fox News early Sunday in which he downplayed the role of Texas’ loose gun laws in the shooting and called for mental health services.
On Monday, his main focus was the lifting of Title 42, a pandemic-era health policy that allows the federal government to expel migrants as soon as they cross the border. The measure has been in place since March 2020. Immigration officials have since invoked the policy 2.7 million times to quickly expel migrants from the U.S. without allowing them to request asylum. But Title 42 is expected to come to an end Thursday, when the Biden administration terminates the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security expects illegal crossings to top 10,000 per day when Title 42 ends. The Biden administration ordered an additional 1,500 military personnel to the border last week to brace for the surge.
Abbott blames the high number of migrant crossings on Biden for reversing Trump-era policies and releasing migrants into the community while they await immigration hearings.
The governor’s office says the Biden administration did not coordinate with it on the additional federal deployment. But Abbott says those forces are there just for “paperwork.”
If Texas were acting independently, the state would have secured the border, but Biden has put out “the welcome mat,” he added.
Abbott plans to use the new border force to close “hot spots” to stop illegal immigration into Texas, like one he said the National Guard closed near Brownsville just days ago. Previous deployments, which Abbott framed as a precursor to the new tactical unit, have erected border barriers to stop migrants from entering El Paso and closed the border-crossing hot spots.
The tactical force will be equipped with aircraft, boats, night vision and riot gear to help stem border crossings.
On Monday, the state is sending the first two segments of the unit to El Paso and another segment to the Rio Grande Valley. Two more segments, totaling upwards of 200 personnel, will travel to the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday.
As Abbott spoke during the news conference, National Guard soldiers carrying rifles loaded onto C-130 military transport planes, crossing behind him as they marched. When the news conference ended, Abbott stayed on the tarmac, watching the planes take off. He shook hands with some of the National Guard soldiers standing in formation when he arrived on the tarmac.
After the announcement, Abbott was asked about the shooting in Allen and the deaths of migrants in Brownsville.
Abbott was in Allen on Sunday to visit the families of those affected by the shooting, as well as law enforcement, investigators and the community at large. However, investigators couldn’t provide specifics at the time. The gunman, who died in the shooting, was a man in his early 30s and may have had white supremacist or neo-Nazi beliefs, according to reports.
“The first step to leading to some type of resolution here as well as providing information about the response needed from the state of Texas is to know exactly why and how this happened,” Abbott told reporters Monday, noting he believes the public will learn more in the coming days. “That will inform us as Texas leaders about next steps to take to try to prevent crimes like this from taking place in the future.”
He also said he spoke Sunday night with the Brownsville police chief and the Cameron County judge, who expect more information to come out Monday. Officials are investigating whether the crash was intentional.
Abbott also touted legislation working its way through the Legislature, which ends its legislative session this month. One priority bill he identified would make it illegal at the state level to enter Texas from Mexico.
That legislation, Senate Bill 2424, would allow the state to arrest perpetrators and return them to Mexico. Repeat violent offenders could face life in prison.
This story comes from The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/abbott-border-security-allen-shooting-brownsville-crash/285-2877fa36-dde7-49dc-862e-390d4492110f | 2023-05-08T23:09:33 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/abbott-border-security-allen-shooting-brownsville-crash/285-2877fa36-dde7-49dc-862e-390d4492110f |
GREENSBORO — Three people were hospitalized after a shooting this afternoon on Lees Chapel Road, Greensboro police said in a news release.
Officers responded at 4:23 p.m. to the 1300 block of Lees Chapel Road and found two gunshot victims, who were then taken by ambulance to a local hospital. A third victim arrived at the hospital by private vehicle, police said.
Police have not released any information on the victims, any possible suspects, or what may have led to the shooting. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/three-people-hospitalized-after-shooting-this-afternoon-in-greensboro-police-say/article_b56c50aa-edf1-11ed-8f36-17785f79a365.html | 2023-05-08T23:16:19 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/three-people-hospitalized-after-shooting-this-afternoon-in-greensboro-police-say/article_b56c50aa-edf1-11ed-8f36-17785f79a365.html |
TWIN FALLS — Janeale Dean is here to help.
Upon launching her marketing agency Desert Creative Group in 2017, she has that goal in mind, as one of the assisting business owners. And she has expanded her offerings beyond marketing and creative services.
“It’s become business development consulting, helping people scale their business, Dean said. "It’s sales training and marketing training."
It’s gotten to the point “where we’re just here to be helpful," she said, "and if we can either offer insight and experience, that is great, and if we can't, we are more than happy to find someone who can and bring them in and facilitate that."
Her entrepreneur spirit hasn’t gone unnoticed, as she was recently named by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2023 Boise District Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, and was honored Wednesday at her downtown Twin Falls location.
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Dean told the Times-News that she has a job that never gets old and never gets boring.
“If I look at my week, one day it could be helping a client meet with an attorney to explore expansion opportunities they have and the next day I could be helping someone figure out their email campaigns, and the next day it could be secret shopping at somebody’s location to grade their customer service," she said.
Susie Rios, statewide outreach director of the Idaho Women’s Business Center, nominated Dean for the award.
“I have to tell you that she is unstoppable,” Rios said at Wednesday’s award ceremony.
When you want to grow a business, you have to be responsible, and committed, Rios said, “and everything we asked her to do, she would follow through.”
The award, for which Dean gives much of the credit to her seven employees and the support of family and friends, came during National Small Business Week, which recognizes the contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. The week wrapped up Saturday.
Dean is involved in the community and has partnered with the South Central Small Business Development Center at the College of Southern Idaho to form the “Downtown Wheelhouse” down the hall from her office.
It will offer training workshops and be the home of a group of entrepreneurs incubating their startups to become launch-ready, receiving mentorship to fine-tune their strategy, product, business model, branding, and investor pitch, with the SBDC office providing support.
“It’s a great community partnership,” Dean said.
Since starting her job, she has assisted a wide variety of businesses and groups, from bicycle shops to economic development organizations.
“It’s been really rewarding,” Dean said, “because when we help build something very strong that performs really well, not only are they excited about it but we are equally excited.” | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/here-to-help-twin-falls-entrepreneur-honored/article_6cf87636-ec3a-11ed-b50b-d367067714f4.html | 2023-05-08T23:17:51 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/here-to-help-twin-falls-entrepreneur-honored/article_6cf87636-ec3a-11ed-b50b-d367067714f4.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. — A coordinated mission between Portland officers and Oregon State Police to enforce street racing regulations on Friday night led to several arrests and vehicles towed.
Officers responded to organized street racing and takeover events on Swan Island and North Marine Drive west of Interstate 5. Many participants left the area and attempted to flee from authorities, police said.
Preliminary numbers from Portland police show that 33 traffic citations were issued, six vehicles were towed and five people were arrested.
Those include two 18-year-olds and a 21-year-old from Vancouver along with a 22-year-old from Salem. They're facing charges including reckless driving, unlawful street takeover, and speed racing.
Police say one of the 18-year-olds was armed with a gun and is facing two weapons charges. The 22-year-old was also arrested for DUII after police obtained a warrant for a blood draw.
Five people are accused of eluding and one vehicle had its tires spiked.
"Future missions are being planned throughout the summer as resources allow," police said.
Officers from the Portland Police Bureau's North Precinct and Oregon State Police were assisted by the PPB Air Support Unit, K9, former Traffic Division officers and detectives and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office.
This appears to be the first mission involving Oregon State Police since Governor Tina Kotek directed them to assist Portland police with enforcement.
"The goal of these missions is to deter people from engaging in these illegal and dangerous activities that are often related to crashes, shootings, and other criminal activity," police added.
There has been at least one traffic fatality in the city this year related to street racing. Police said speed was a factor in a crash on February 18 on North Marine Drive near the Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area that took the life of one person and critically injured two others.
A woman was struck and killed last August when the driver of a vehicle involved in an illegal street race hit her while waiting for a bus near the corner of Southeast 133rd and Powell.
The city of Portland passed an ordinance in August of 2021 to deter street racing by stepping up fines to as much as $500, increasing jail time up to 30 days, impounding vehicles and seizing illegal items.
The Oregon Senate last month passed Senate Bill 615 that would crack down on illegal street racing. It would increase penalties for people convicted on illegal street racing charges and allow police to seize cars involved in street takeovers or racing. It was introduced this session by Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale) and recently had a public hearing in the Oregon House. The House Committee On Judiciary has scheduled a work session on the bill this Wednesday. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/street-racing-mission-north-portland/283-825aee47-87f3-4052-9ca3-f9b05a977537 | 2023-05-08T23:18:04 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/street-racing-mission-north-portland/283-825aee47-87f3-4052-9ca3-f9b05a977537 |
UPDATE: Police plan to reveal more information on the prisoners during a 7:30 p.m. press conference Monday night. Watch it LIVE in the video embedded above.
Two prisoners escaped a correctional center in Philadelphia, including a teen who was accused of killing another man outside the same facility more than two years ago, investigators said.
Nasir Grant, 24, and Ameen Hurst, 18, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on 8301 State Road on Sunday at 8:30 p.m., according to police. Investigators said both men were spotted cutting a hole in the fence and escaping through the hole.
Grant is described as a Black male standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 160 pounds. Hurst is described as a Black male standing 6-feet and weighing 140 pounds.
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Hurst had been charged in four murders, including the deadly shooting of Rodney Hargrove outside the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center back in March of 2021.
Hargrove, 20, was initially arrested for theft and weapons charges on March 11, 2021, and was being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, which is part of the Philadelphia Correctional Center.
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Hargrove was released after posting $200,000 bail on March 18, 2021. He was dropped off at a SEPTA bus stop across the street from the main gate of the jail complex and was waiting for his family to pick him up after giving them a call, investigators said.
Hargrove ran back across the street and onto the CFCF campus as a driver in a dark-colored vehicle pursued him after going under the raised arm of the gate, according to police.
A gunman then fired at least ten shots. Hargrove was shot and killed near the main gate and bus stop, only 45 minutes after he had been released.
Aside from Hargrove, Hurst was charged in three other Philadelphia murders.
On Dec. 24, 2020, police responded to the 1800 block of Wynnewood Road for a report of a person with a gun. When they arrived they found Dyewou Nyshawn Scruggs, 20, on the ground suffering from several gunshot wounds to the torso. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:46 a.m. that day.
Scruggs was an aspiring comedian who was filming a social media post.
On March 11, 2021, at 3:04 p.m., police responded to a shooting on the 1400 block of North 76th Street. Before police arrived, four shooting victims were taken by private vehicles to a local hospital.
Naquon Smith, 24, who was shot in the chest, arm and shoulder, was pronounced dead at 3:12 p.m. Tamir Brown, 16, who had been shot several times, was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m.
Two more shooting victims, both 19 years of age, were placed in critical condition.
On March 20, 2021, Hurst was arrested and charged as an adult with Scruggs’ murder. On April 21, 2021, Hurst was arrested again and charged as an adult in the murders of Smith and Brown.
Finally, on April 28, 2021, Hurst was charged in Hargrove’s death.
The Inquirer also reported Hargrove's family filed a lawsuit against the city and corrections facility, citing negligence, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer..
The Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, which opened in 1986, has 13 housing units dividing an incarcerated population of adult men.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-prisoners-escape-from-correctional-center-in-philadelphia-police-say/3562116/ | 2023-05-08T23:21:56 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-prisoners-escape-from-correctional-center-in-philadelphia-police-say/3562116/ |
An investigation is underway after a man who was handing out fliers for a political campaign was shot and killed during a possible argument with another man in Philadelphia, police said.
The incident occurred Monday at 4:11 p.m. along the 2000 block of Church Lane. A 46-year-old man was shot once in the left armpit. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:24 p.m.
Two weapons were recovered from the scene and a man was taken into custody in connection to the shooting.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told NBC10 the 46-year-old man was handing out fliers for a political campaign at the time of the shooting and may have gotten into an argument with the man who shot him. He also said the man who is in custody has a valid permit. The 46-year-old man who was killed was also armed, according to investigators.
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Police said the man in custody is cooperating with police. No charges have been filed at this time as police continue to investigate the incident.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-killed-after-handing-out-flyers-for-campaign-police-say/3562122/ | 2023-05-08T23:22:02 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-killed-after-handing-out-flyers-for-campaign-police-say/3562122/ |
An investigation is underway after a possible meteorite struck a house in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, according to police.
Hopewell Township Police said a metallic object, believed to be a meteorite, struck the roof of a home on Old Washington Crossing Pennington Road on Monday around 1:15 p.m.
The object went through the roof and the ceiling of the home before hitting the hardwood floor where it came to a rest. The home was occupied at the time but no one was injured.
Police said the object appeared to be metallic, was oblong in shape and was approximately 4" by 6" in size.
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Hopewell Township Police said they contacted other agencies for assistance in positively identifying the object. They also said the incident could be related to a recent Meteor shower called the Eta Aquariids. They continue to investigate. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/possible-meteorite-strikes-nj-home-police-say/3562088/ | 2023-05-08T23:22:08 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/possible-meteorite-strikes-nj-home-police-say/3562088/ |
A three-week strike against Liberty Coca-Cola's North Philadelphia facility has ended after the union and soft drink distributor agreed to a new five-year contract, both sides announced on Monday.
A representative from Teamsters Local 830 -- which represents more than 3,000 drivers, warehouse/production workers and sales/marketing personnel -- said the new contract includes significant wage increases along with an improved healthcare plan for the 414 union workers that went on strike in April.
“I am pleased to announce that Teamsters Local 830’s protracted fight for economic justice for our members employed at Liberty Coca-Cola is finally over,” Teamsters Local 830 Secretary-Treasurer Daniel H. Grace said in a released statement. “I am proud of our members for the resilience and solidarity they showed during the past three weeks. I also want to thank Liberty Coca-Cola for continuing to dialogue throughout a sometimes difficult process and for reaching a fair new five-year contract with us.”
A spokesperson for Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages -- which is said to be the Philadelphia area's largest soft drink bottler and distributor -- also confirmed an agreement was reached.
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“The new contract maintains our commitment to provide employees with the highest wage increases in Coca-Cola/Local 830’s history,” the spokesperson wrote. “Along with wage increases over the next five years, the agreement provides considerable benefits for health and welfare and retirement plans for employees and their families. We appreciate all that our employees do to make this a great company, and we look forward to getting everyone back to work tomorrow under the new agreement.”
Workers had picketed for three weeks outside Liberty Coca-Cola’s Philadelphia plant, located along East Erie Avenue in North Philadelphia, and at other Liberty Coca-Cola locations. The union had cited issues with Liberty Coca-Cola's previously proposed contract, calling it "insulting."
The union representative said final details of the new contract are still being worked on and will be released "in the coming days."
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Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/workers-reach-agreement-with-liberty-coca-cola-ending-strike/3562085/ | 2023-05-08T23:22:14 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/workers-reach-agreement-with-liberty-coca-cola-ending-strike/3562085/ |
Originally published May 8 on IdahoCapitalSun.com.
As expected, some prominent Idaho Republicans have started pushing back against a new ballot initiative that is designed to end Idaho’s closed primary system and fundamentally change elections in Idaho.
On May 2, organizers with a new coalition called Idahoans for Open Primaries filed a new ballot initiative with the state that is designed to replace Idaho’s closed primaries with an open primary election that all Idaho voters could participate in, regardless of party affiliation. Under the new primary format, the top four vote-getters from the primary would all advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
The initiative would also transform Idaho’s general elections to include an instant runoff, or ranked choice, voting system. Under that system, Idaho voters would vote for their first-choice candidate in the general election and have the ability to rank the three remaining candidates in order of preference. If one candidate did not receive more than 50% of the vote in the first-choice voting, the last-place finisher would be eliminated and their votes would instead be transferred to voters’ second-choice candidate on each of those ballots, with the process continuing until one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes and is the winner.
Organizers of the new open primary initiative oppose the Idaho Republican Party’s closed primary election and say the new open primaries would allow more voters to participate in primary elections and force candidates to appeal to a border base of voters in order to win election.
The Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature passed a law in 2011, House Bill 351, to close Idaho’s primary elections after the GOP sued the state. Closed primary elections are only open to registered voters who officially affiliate with the party. The law that closed primary elections also gave party leaders the choice to keep their primary elections open, and the Idaho Democratic Party opened its primary elections to all voters, regardless of party affiliation.
The Idaho Democratic Party was the only political party to hold open primaries in 2022, the most recent state elections. Both the Libertarian and Constitution parties held closed primary elections in 2022, said Chelsea Carattini, a spokesperson for the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.
IDAHO GOP LEADERS DENOUNCE NEW OPEN PRIMARY BALLOT INITIATIVE
After the new initiative surfaced, some Republican leaders began pushing back.
Last week, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, a former member of Congress and the former chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, responded to a tweet about the open primary initiative
“Let’s defeat these bad ideas coming from liberal outside groups,” Labrador tweeted, in part. (The first part of Labrador’s tweet includes a Star Wars reference, in response to a different tweet about the initiative.)
As part of the ballot initiative process, Idaho law calls on Idaho’s attorney general to review ballot initiatives “for matters of substantive import and shall recommend to the petitioner such revision or alteration of the measure as may be deemed necessary and appropriate.”
The Idaho Capital Sun requested an interview with Labrador to ask if he has already taken a position on the ballot initiative and if his tweet calling for his followers to “defeat these bad ideas” would affect his review of the ballot initiative.
Labrador did not respond to the questions prior to the Sun’s deadline.
Labrador wasn’t the only prominent Idaho Republican to criticize the open primary initiative.
“The people of Idaho’s elected representatives enacted a statutory defense of ‘one person, one vote,’” Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon wrote in a written statement released Thursday. “Now a leftist group is bringing this initiative to repeal ‘one person, one vote’ and replace it with a complicated scheme of ranked multi-voting, where voters choose multiple candidates and their votes are tabulated in a hidden process. This method favors Democrats where it has been used.”
“Idaho’s system works without importing leftist ideas from Oakland or Brooklyn,” Moon added.
Efforts to reach Moon were also unsuccessful.
Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, sent an email to his supporters Wednesday morning calling on them to fight the ballot initiative.
Lenney pointed out the Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature had recently passed a law, House Bill 179, that is designed to prohibit ranked choice voting.
If the new open primary initiative qualifies for the ballot and is approved by more than 50% of the voters, it would repeal the Idaho Legislature’s law prohibiting ranked choice voting.
In the email, Lenney told his supporters that “war is upon us.”
“They want Idaho to be the third state to use ‘Ranked Choice voting’ (which produces moderate/liberal candidates) and get rid of our closed primaries (which interferes with party dynamics),” Lenney wrote in the email.
“Next, we’ll see ballot initiatives to legalize weed, and then, abortion,” Lenney added. “I guarantee it… This is why you must be vigilant. This isn’t something I do for you (or, any elected official). This is something WE ALL DO together. So you have to get involved in any way you can. If not… Idaho *WILL* become the next Colorado (a leftist utopia). Do you want your family to live in a red state flipped blue? Can you imagine?” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/some-prominent-idaho-republicans-push-back-against-open-primary-ballot-initiative/article_82ce055c-edd9-11ed-9a12-fbabe4817ca2.html | 2023-05-08T23:23:14 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/some-prominent-idaho-republicans-push-back-against-open-primary-ballot-initiative/article_82ce055c-edd9-11ed-9a12-fbabe4817ca2.html |
DALLAS — The city of Dallas website and the main page for the Dallas Police Department are officially back online as of Monday, May 8. But city of Dallas IT experts report they continue a slow and methodical recovery from a May 3 ransomware attack that has impacted multiple city networks.
Bill Zielinski, chief of information and technology services for the city of Dallas, told the Public Safety Committee Monday that police and fire response systems were first priority. Computer experts are going department by department, site by site, device by device to make sure they do not carry the ransomware.
Zielinski said that 9-1-1 operators continue to answer and dispatch calls utilizing back up procedures and the city's public safety radio system.
As city IT staff and hired contractors review individual devices and ensure that they are secure, those devices are also bring brought back online. Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) functionality will increase for DPD, DFR and 311, Zielinski said.
In its latest update, the city officials say it "has no indication that customer information such as billing data or personally identifiable information (PII) has been leaked from City systems or databases." But should that change "the City will notify potentially impacted individuals with information and instructions."
As for specifics of the investigation, Zielinski repeatedly said this is an ongoing criminal investigation that limits his ability to make much of the information public.
"The City cannot comment on specific details which risk impeding the investigation or exposing vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker," city officials said in a Monday afternoon news release.
As for how long the outages and other systems delays could last, Zielinski could only say that as software, servers, and devices are reviewed to ensure they are uninfected that service will return as quickly as possible.
Officials said that the city's social media accounts have not been compromised. Updates will continue to be shared via DallasCityNews.net. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dallas-ransomware-progress-recovery/287-8fecc192-e4b2-40ce-8f6f-3078d1fac1b4 | 2023-05-08T23:27:25 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dallas-ransomware-progress-recovery/287-8fecc192-e4b2-40ce-8f6f-3078d1fac1b4 |
SAN ANTONIO — When San Antonio police responded to a north-side home Monday and found a 2-year-old dead after an alleged drive-by shooting, it marked the latest incident of babies being hurt or killed by gunfire in the Alamo City in a short amount of time.
Over the last two weeks, three babies between 8 months and 2 years old have been struck by gunfire in unrelated incidents investigated by the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD). Going back to the April 17, the number of such incidents goes up to five while the victims turn younger.
According to police, three of those five situations turned out to be deadly for the young victims. At least one of them is believed to be accidental in nature, according to police.
Ernest Hernandez, who owns a gun store just west of downtown, said while parents can use certain devices to keep guns out of their kids' hands, education is an even greater resource.
"From a young age, exposing them to it, taking them out to a shooting range, showing them how it works, maybe letting them load it and letting them get a little bit of experience removes the curiosity," Hernandez said. "Curiosity is a bad thing. You don't want them to be curious about the gun, whether the parent is home or not home."
Here's where the investigations on each recent incident involving children and guns stand:
April 17
Police say a 6-month-old baby sustained shrapnel injuries after the driver of a car it was in started shooting at another commuter in a road-rage attack.
Police said at some point the suspect, 22-year-old Efrain Murillo, stopped at a business to drop off the baby and a 22-year-old female occupant before giving chase again. Murillo was eventually taken into custody and remains jailed as of Monday on child endangerment and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges.
April 18
Police say Rosalinda Martinez was fatally shot as her parents fought over possession of a handgun.
According to arrest affidavits, Alejandro Dominic Martinez was sitting in a car with the gun in his waistband and Ruby Marie Mora was standing with the baby in her arms when they started wrestling over the firearm.
Both Mora and Rosalinda were hit, authorities said, and subsequently taken to a hospital where the baby tied that same night. Mora was arrested immediately upon being discharged from the hospital, but Alejandro Martinez wasn't arrested until Saturday—more than two weeks later.
Both Mora and Martinez have been charged with reckless injury to a child, with Martinez also being charged with violating bond and assaulting a pregnant person. They remain jailed as of Monday afternoon.
April 27
A 2-year-old boy died after he was shot in the head by a gun that fell off a shelf and went off, according to San Antonio police. It happened inside a home along the 9900 block of Kents Store, on the far west side.
According to police, the boy's father took him to a local hospital around 3:14 a.m. He told authorities his son had accidentally pulled down the gun when reaching for something else.
Police are holding off on further investigation until the Bexar County medical examiner determines an exact cause of death.
May 6
A 2-year-old may have been playing with a gun when it went off and he was shot in the face, according to SAPD officials.
It happened in the evening inside a northwest-side home. Authorities said the child was rushed to a hospital in critical but stable condition.
Police say they arrested the baby's father, 20-year-old Fabian Cardenas, on child endangerment charges Sunday. According to online court records, he was released on bond the same day.
May 8
On Monday afternoon, SAPD Chief William McManus said police arrived to a north-side neighborhood after reports of a shooting, where they found a 2-year-old girl dead after an apparent drive-by. Five other young kids inside the home weren't injured.
"This was a pathetic act by someone who really didn't care who was going to be hurt in that house," McManus said.
As of about 2:45 p.m., police were working a lead on a potential suspect, but have not identified them as of yet.
>TRENDING ON KENS 5 YOUTUBE: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/san-antonio-children-hurt-gunfire-shooting-police-texas/273-fc092d16-1f87-4ac9-9248-11ed9f2c07bc | 2023-05-08T23:27:31 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/san-antonio-children-hurt-gunfire-shooting-police-texas/273-fc092d16-1f87-4ac9-9248-11ed9f2c07bc |
TEXAS, USA — In his first public address since tragedies in Allen and Brownsville, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that he’s deploying 450 National Guard soldiers to the southern border ahead of the end of Title 42.
Speaking at a news conference on the tarmac at Austin Bergstrom International Airport on Monday morning, the Republican governor announced the deployment of a new unit called the Texas Tactical Border Force to El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley on Monday and Tuesday. That puts the troops in place before the federal government is expected to end Title 42 later this week.
“The cartels are working in collaboration with President [Joe] Biden and the federal government to facilitate that illegal crossborder,” Abbott said. “We are being overrun by our own federal government. Texas is being undermined by our own federal government in our efforts to secure our border.”
His comments came two days after a man with an AR-15 opened fire at an Allen shopping mall, killing eight people and wounding at least seven others. Less than 24 hours later, eight people were killed at a bus stop outside a migrant shelter when a man drove his car onto the sidewalk. Police investigating that incident have not said whether the crash was accidental or intentional.
Abbott visited Allen for a vigil Sunday but did not speak publicly. He gave an interview to Fox News early Sunday in which he downplayed the role of Texas’ loose gun laws in the shooting and called for mental health services.
On Monday, his main focus was the lifting of Title 42, a pandemic-era health policy that allows the federal government to expel migrants as soon as they cross the border. The measure has been in place since March 2020. Immigration officials have since invoked the policy 2.7 million times to quickly expel migrants from the U.S. without allowing them to request asylum. But Title 42 is expected to come to an end Thursday, when the Biden administration terminates the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security expects illegal crossings to top 10,000 per day when Title 42 ends. The Biden administration ordered an additional 1,500 military personnel to the border last week to brace for the surge.
Abbott blames the high number of migrant crossings on Biden for reversing Trump-era policies and releasing migrants into the community while they await immigration hearings.
The governor’s office says the Biden administration did not coordinate with it on the additional federal deployment. But Abbott says those forces are there just for “paperwork.”
If Texas were acting independently, the state would have secured the border, but Biden has put out “the welcome mat,” he added.
Abbott plans to use the new border force to close “hot spots” to stop illegal immigration into Texas, like one he said the National Guard closed near Brownsville just days ago. Previous deployments, which Abbott framed as a precursor to the new tactical unit, have erected border barriers to stop migrants from entering El Paso and closed the border-crossing hot spots.
The tactical force will be equipped with aircraft, boats, night vision and riot gear to help stem border crossings.
On Monday, the state is sending the first two segments of the unit to El Paso and another segment to the Rio Grande Valley. Two more segments, totaling upwards of 200 personnel, will travel to the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday.
As Abbott spoke during the news conference, National Guard soldiers carrying rifles loaded onto C-130 military transport planes, crossing behind him as they marched. When the news conference ended, Abbott stayed on the tarmac, watching the planes take off. He shook hands with some of the National Guard soldiers standing in formation when he arrived on the tarmac.
After the announcement, Abbott was asked about the shooting in Allen and the deaths of migrants in Brownsville.
Abbott was in Allen on Sunday to visit the families of those affected by the shooting, as well as law enforcement, investigators and the community at large. However, investigators couldn’t provide specifics at the time. The gunman, who died in the shooting, was a man in his early 30s and may have had white supremacist or neo-Nazi beliefs, according to reports.
“The first step to leading to some type of resolution here as well as providing information about the response needed from the state of Texas is to know exactly why and how this happened,” Abbott told reporters Monday, noting he believes the public will learn more in the coming days. “That will inform us as Texas leaders about next steps to take to try to prevent crimes like this from taking place in the future.”
He also said he spoke Sunday night with the Brownsville police chief and the Cameron County judge, who expect more information to come out Monday. Officials are investigating whether the crash was intentional.
Abbott also touted legislation working its way through the Legislature, which ends its legislative session this month. One priority bill he identified would make it illegal at the state level to enter Texas from Mexico.
That legislation, Senate Bill 2424, would allow the state to arrest perpetrators and return them to Mexico. Repeat violent offenders could face life in prison.
This story comes from The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/abbott-border-security-allen-shooting-brownsville-crash/285-2877fa36-dde7-49dc-862e-390d4492110f | 2023-05-08T23:27:37 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/abbott-border-security-allen-shooting-brownsville-crash/285-2877fa36-dde7-49dc-862e-390d4492110f |
AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott spoke at the Austin airport Monday morning to provide an update regarding security at the Southern border.
At 7 a.m. on Monday, May 8, Abbott spoke at a press conference held at the airport. Before the conference, it was alluded to that Abbott would discuss the current status of security at the United States-Mexico border. Abbott was joined by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw, the Texas Military Department Adjunct Gen. Seltzer and the Texas Border Czar Mike Banks.
The first topic of discussion was Title 42, which is a policy that is enacted by the federal government when there is a contagious disease present. Former President Donald Trump enacted it at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and it is currently set to expire on Thursday, May 11.
Abbott stated that Biden is "laying down a welcome mat to people across the entire world" due to the expiring of Title 42. Once Title 42 is lifted, Abbott explained that it will be a "catastrophic" event at the Texas border.
According to Abbott, the country saw the "lowest number of border crossings in decades" three years ago - when the pandemic first began and the border had been closed for nonessential travel.
"America is not open to people trying to come here illegally," Abbott said.
To help mitigate illegal immigration at the border, Abbott stated that the State of Texas has deployed up to 10,000 National Guard members and 1,200 DPS troopers that have turned away upwards of 37,000 people attempting to cross the border.
The members have also apprehended more than 37,000 people that did cross the border illegally, arrested 27,000 "dangerous criminals" and seized enough fentanyl to "kill every man, woman and child in the United States of America."
Additionally, migrants have been bused across the country out of Texas through the state's Operation Lone Star, and Texas is the only state to have built its own border wall, according to Abbott.
As part of a new effort to curb further illegal immigration, the Texas Tactical Border Force was formed. The National Guard provided the new force with C-130s and Blackhawks to deploy to "hotspots along the border to stop migrants attempting to enter Texas," Abbott explained. The force will also be supplied with materials that will assist members including aircraft, boats, night vision and riot gear for "anything they may encounter."
Abbott stated that he wants to enact laws to give Texas the "tools" to manage the border, including:
- Make it a felony to cross the border from Mexico illegally
- Allows Texas to place people in jail or be returned to their original country
- Make it a felony for anyone to operate or be involved with a "stash house"
- Provide a minimum 10-year sentence to anyone smuggling drugs or people into the country
Following the information regarding the border, Abbott stated that more information will be provided later on Monday after eight migrants were hit and killed by a truck in Brownsville on Sunday. Abbott also stated that Texas officials are still waiting to figure out what occurred and why for the Allen shooting that occurred at an outlet mall, killing eight people. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/abbott-update-title-42-border/269-8b55a444-1deb-4d54-8350-0a13e7edf2ba | 2023-05-08T23:27:43 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/abbott-update-title-42-border/269-8b55a444-1deb-4d54-8350-0a13e7edf2ba |
Area childcare program leaders warn of a looming childcare crisis as COVID-era funding runs dry, predicating staffing shortages and closing facilities.
Monday was A Day Without Childcare Day, meant to raise awareness of the importance of childcare in communities and advocate for more funding.
Although some childcare programs across Wisconsin closed for the day to honor the demonstration, area programs remained open, with representatives instead gathering at Cornerstone Academy, 1230 22nd Ave.
The issue at hand was the cutting of over $300 million from an upcoming state budget meant to go to childcare. Without it, many childcare leaders fear they will have to start closing facilities, cutting staff or increasing tuition.
Problems could start as soon as next month according to Alisha Bouchard, director of Cornerstone Academy. In June, Child Care Counts, the Wisconsin COVID-era program created to allocate childcare funds, will be reducing aid as funds run low.
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“This came as a one-day shock to us,” Bouchard said. “It was like, ‘Guess what, next month it’s cut in half.’”
The seven area childcare programs that were represented at the event, including Racine and Kenosha facilities, care for about 1,600 infants and children between them.
According to state Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, an upcoming state budget included $342 million for Child Care Counts. That funding was cut by state Republicans, McGuire said. Without the funding, he said the state’s workforce and economy will be negatively impacted.
“A lot of families in our communities are able to go to work each day because of facilities like these,” McGuire said.
Sherri May, of Kids Castle, said the additional funding had helped childcare facilities keep up staffing despite the growing list of bigger employers moving into the area offering higher pay and benefits. With funding potentially ending, May warned of the consequences for both the childcare field and local communities.
“More of us will begin to close,” May said. “It will be an extreme hardship on the labor market. You can’t find childcare alternatives, it’s hard. Most of us are at full capacity.”
Bouchard said the additional money also helped childcare programs get “quality” candidates and keep them.
“They’re here because the want to be here, this is not a glamorous profession,” Bouchard said. “It’s a calling. It’s something that they love to do, and they deserve to get paid a decent wage to be able to do it.”
Tanya Wooden, of Heavens Touch Christian Learning Center in Racine, said she was especially worried about lower income families if childcare becomes too expensive.
“It’s going to affect older siblings. It’s going to affect the whole entire family when mom still has to go to work because that’s their only income,” Wooden said. “It’s really valuable; I wish people would look at that value. It builds community and equity and justice within our communities.”
Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Greata Neubauer, D-Racine, told the group to encourage their families and their families’ employers to reach out to their local representatives about the importance of childcare.
McGuire said the main goal for addressing the issue Monday was to get the $340 million back into the budget.
“We just want to bring light to the issue and make sure people understand that, if we don’t put this money in, providers will have to close down,” McGuire said. “It will fundamentally alter our economy.” | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/area-childcare-program-leaders-warn-of-looming-crisis-as-funding-runs-low/article_38d7124e-edd5-11ed-a142-cb0d4d744a74.html | 2023-05-08T23:33:22 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/area-childcare-program-leaders-warn-of-looming-crisis-as-funding-runs-low/article_38d7124e-edd5-11ed-a142-cb0d4d744a74.html |
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — In 2021, 353 Idahoans died from a drug overdose; and 152 of those overdose deaths were 'fentanyl specifically reported.'
According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), the number of drug overdose deaths (which includes all drugs, both opioids and non-opioids) in 2021 increased by 23% from just one year prior.
DHW warns that the uptick in overdose deaths is in part due to the rapid rise in popularity of the pain medication, fentanyl.
Data collected by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Drug Overdose Prevention Program found that from 2021 to 2022, fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Idaho nearly doubled.
The DHW report concluded that fentanyl was involved in 21% of overdose deaths in Idaho 2020. In 2021, fentanyl-related overdose deaths jumped to 43%.
Fentanyl Panel & Information Session:
In an effort to address the growing problem, Idaho's South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) office announced Monday that it will be hosting a community panel and information session in Twin Falls on Tuesday to raise fentanyl awareness.
May 9 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, an annual national day of observance to raise awareness about the abuse and misuse of fentanyl.
"One of the best ways to prevent drug-related deaths and addiction is education," said Taylor Bybee, SCPHD health education specialist.
The public is invited to join local experts in a community forum to inform and discuss the basics of fentanyl.
"Empowering ourselves with the information we need to avoid substance use, or treat it in a healthy and sustainable way, gives our entire community more time to fight back and prevent drug-related deaths," said Bybee.
In the session, attendees will learn of fentanyl basics, the use of naloxone to reverse overdoses, addiction treatments and preventing the use of illegal substances. Questions from community members for the expert panel are encouraged.
The panel will include officials from health district office, Twin Falls County Sheriff's office, the Walker Center, the Twin Falls County Coroner's office and the Twin Falls County Prosecuting office.
Event Details:
- When: Tuesday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m.
- Where: College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls campus
315 Falls Ave, Twin Falls, ID 83301
CSI Taylor Building, room 277 - Who: Open to the public, community members. The session is appropriate for teenagers and adults.
- What: Information session and discussion forum to educate the community about the basics of fentanyl.
About Fentanyl:
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, that can be prescribed by a physician to serve as a pain medication. It is significantly stronger (est. 100 times stronger) than morphine and an estimated 50 times stronger than heroin.
"Fentanyl is growing in popularity because it's relatively cheap and very strong. It's also deadly in extremely small doses so mixed drugs become much more dangerous," said Eli Thompson, a health education specialist with SCPHD.
Fentanyl is legal through a prescription from a physician. However, illegal use and distribution of the drug has grown exponentially in recent years.
"Illicit drugs don't come with an ingredient list, so Fentanyl can be snuck into virtually anything without the buyer knowing," said Thompson.
The drug is commonly laced (mixed) into other substances, such as illegally produced counterfeit prescription pills, oxycodone, heroin, and increasingly, in non-opioids like cocaine and various illicit drugs.
According to Idaho State Police (ISP), meth continues to be the most commonly seized controlled substance. ISP data found that out of 10,333 controlled substances tested in an ISP forensics lab in 2021, 41% tested positive for meth and 6.24% tested positive for fentanyl.
Over a 3-year period, illegal possession of fentanyl in Idaho has rapidly trended upward. Percentage of controlled substance cases with at least one item to test positive for fentanyl:
- 2019: 0.41%
- 2020: 1.42%
- 2021: 6.24%
In addition to educating the public about fentanyl to combat fentanyl use, DHW offers free naloxone, otherwise referred to by the brand name, Narcan. The medication, naloxone, is used as an emergency treatment of a suspected opioid overdose.
Learn more about opioid overdoses and fentanyl use on Idaho's Public Health District website.
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See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/experts-public-panel-fentanyl-deaths-double-idaho/277-5254d93d-9b56-4a15-be25-288f8abcbeb8 | 2023-05-08T23:34:55 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/experts-public-panel-fentanyl-deaths-double-idaho/277-5254d93d-9b56-4a15-be25-288f8abcbeb8 |
IDAHO, USA — Idaho Fish & Game (IDFG) recently sent out a press release reminding people to leave baby animals alone during the spring season.
"Every spring, Fish and Game receives calls from well intentioned humans who have "rescued" baby animals that they assume have been lost, abandoned or orphaned. While these people typically mean well, they are often doing more damage than good when they intervene, and typically, mom was not far away to begin with," the release stated. "Animal parents will periodically leave their young for an extended period of time for a myriad of reasons, whether it's to search for food, to rest, or to divert attention from their vulnerable offspring, especially if they sense danger. When it comes to wildlife babies, wildlife mothers know best."
According to IDFG, during spring, many of the young animals are left by their parents for extended periods of time, and this is totally natural. People may want to cuddle or rescue some of them, but IDFG said to just leave them be.
Additionally, baby birds are just beginning to spread their wings and may fall. IDFG said, that is also fine, and they can survive even if they have fallen from the nest.
If you find a baby bird, duckling, deer fawn or other critter, the best approach is to leave it undisturbed. Then if you wish, contact your nearest Fish and Game office. Fish and Game employees are happy to take calls about apparently orphaned or injured animals, answer questions, and when necessary, retrieve animals.
"In addition, do not plan to raise wild animals on your own. Young wild animals require special care and feeding that is beyond what the average household is prepared to manage. Additionally, possession of most species of wildlife taken from the wild is illegal in Idaho," the release stated.
So, get out there, enjoy the sights, croon over the babies and leave them alone.
Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.
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See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-baby-love-baby-animals-may-be-cute-but-idfg-said-please-leave-them-alone/277-8c0d0d7e-ff5e-4ab9-85d2-62f698f8a615 | 2023-05-08T23:35:02 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-baby-love-baby-animals-may-be-cute-but-idfg-said-please-leave-them-alone/277-8c0d0d7e-ff5e-4ab9-85d2-62f698f8a615 |
IDAHO, USA — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wants public input on a proposed change to land management plans in southwest Idaho. It would separate oil and gas leasing from geothermal resources. The plan was released on Feb. 14, 2020.
"The plan proposed in 2020 identifies large areas of BLM-managed public lands as open for oil and gas leasing, despite having low or no potential for oil and gas resources. Under the current proposed changes, these low and no potential areas would be closed for oil and gas leasing to reduce speculative nominations and protect sensitive resources in low potential areas. High and moderate oil and gas potential areas would remain open to leasing. The current proposed changes will not impact opportunities for geothermal leasing. To make this change to the 2020 proposed plan, the BLM will publish a Notice of Significant Change in the Federal Register and open a 30-day public comment period," a press release stated.
People can give written comments on the proposal until June 7, 2023. For more information and to comment, people can go to the BLM re-planning website.
"The BLM is committed to transparency and public participation. This public comment period will allow our stakeholders, partners, and the public an opportunity to review and provide feedback on these proposed changes," BLM Boise District Manager Tanya Thrift said.
Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.
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See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-blm-wants-public-input-on-proposed-changes-involving-geothermal-oil-and-gas-leasing/277-d3af21b8-e92c-4ea5-a08e-142782eaeaab | 2023-05-08T23:35:08 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-blm-wants-public-input-on-proposed-changes-involving-geothermal-oil-and-gas-leasing/277-d3af21b8-e92c-4ea5-a08e-142782eaeaab |
The accidental drowning of a Kenosha man Sunday occurred during a rescue in the Pike River.
The department released details Monday morning of the Sunday afternoon emergency call to the river west of Carthage College.
Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies and Somers Fire & Rescue personnel responded to the 2000 block of Sheridan Road for a report of a possible possible drowning at approximately 1:31 p.m.
Initial reports from deputies on the scene were that an adult male was swimming in the Pike River and began to struggle. At that time, a child who was with the man left to get help. The struggling swimmer’s brother and another adult male came down and jumped into the water to save him.
As the initial struggling swimmer was pulled to shore, the brother, who had jumped into the river to aid in the rescue, went under and did not resurface.
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Sheriff’s deputies and Somers Fire & Rescue personnel arrived on the scene and immediately entered the water to attempt to locate the man who went under. The Kenosha Sheriff’s Department Drone Unit also responded to the scene and searched the river using a remotely operated underwater vehicle.
At about 2:49 p.m. the man was located under the water by Somers Rescue personnel unconscious and not breathing.
The man, later identified as Adrian Sanchez-Trujillo, 39, from Kenosha, was transported to Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by the Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Emergency units seen responding to the scene, in addition to Somers Fire & Rescue and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, included Racine County Sheriff’s Department, Caledonia Fire and Rescue, Paris Fire, the Racine Fire Bells, Racine Special Team 1, and units from Salem Lakes and Scout Leaders Rescue Squad, among others.
The sheriff’s department extended its condolences to Sanchez-Trujillo’s family.
“Families that may need assistance in dealing with this tragedy are encouraged to contact the Kenosha County Mental Health Resource Center (available Monday-Friday) at (262)-764-8555 or the 24/7 Crisis Line at (262) 657-7188,” the department said.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to contact the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department at 262-605-5100. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/accidental-drowning-of-a-kenosha-man-sunday-occurred-during-a-rescue-effprt-in-pike-river/article_c34c1260-edb4-11ed-8e98-9fe4fa3228c2.html | 2023-05-08T23:37:43 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/accidental-drowning-of-a-kenosha-man-sunday-occurred-during-a-rescue-effprt-in-pike-river/article_c34c1260-edb4-11ed-8e98-9fe4fa3228c2.html |
TUPELO — Patrons of the downtown Tupelo post office will no longer be able to retrieve their mail after business hours following what local law enforcement officials say are multiple complaints of loitering inside the lobby and stolen mail.
In a notice to the post office's P.O. box owners dated May 1, post office manager Scott Whitworth explained the lobby will be closed after the last employee leaves it and it will be open during operating hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Previously, post office customers were able to access the building's lobby, and the P.O. boxes inside, at any hour.
“We realize that lobby hours might result in some inconvenience for certain box holders. However, we must take adequate measures to safeguard customers’ mail against theft and postal property against vandalism,” Whitworth wrote.
Tupelo Police Department Major Charles McDougald said the department has received multiple reports from the owners of the post office building that there had been reports of homeless individuals loitering in the lobby after hours.
In January, the department reported an officer made an arrest outside of the building, citing public urination. Three homeless individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct after being asked to leave the lobby where they were sleeping.
TPD also reported stolen mail out of the outside mailbox, as well as stolen checks. While there were no reports linked to vandalism, the building owners reportedly asked for extra patrol around the property.
McDougald also noted there could be instances of vandalism that went unreported.
Whitworth did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him for further details. Bev Crossen is the manager of Asbury Enterprises, LLC, which is the registered agent of Crossen Main, LLC. Crossen Main, LLC, owns the post office building on Main Street. Crossen did not respond to attempts to reach her.
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FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - Work to replace the bricks continues along Saginaw Street in downtown Flint.
It's the first time the historic street bricks have been overhauled in decades. But some businesses that call Saginaw Street their home are already being affected.
"It's hard for them to kind of get to us right now because they work across the street and it's all torn up," MI Coffee manager Lance McLean said of the lawyers at the 67th District Court across the street.
He said the loss of their biggest customers translates to $150 in lost sales a day. But McLean believes they'll make it through.
"Once we knew this was coming, we just tried to keep promoting. We've gotten some new products to entice people down here," he said.
Down the block, Dan Spaniola of Paul's Pipe Shop is contemplating a loan. He's making half as much as the same time in 2022.
Spaniola feels inconvenient parking has turned many customers away. It's hurting his bottom line: there are days when he's made less than $100.
"A normal day would be in the 400-500 dollar range, but 89 dollars just don't pay the bills," said Spaniola.
Past the construction zone, businesses like Flint Optical are watching their neighbors and planning ahead.
"We'll be able to bring patients in from the alley. We have a back door set up for that," said optician Will Pierce.
He feels even with the business disruptions, the work on Saginaw has to be done for the safety of shoppers and visitors. While it may be a tough few months, people like McLean remain optimistic.
"I think we'll be fine. We just have to come up with some creative ways to do some marketing," he said.
Construction will pause in late July or early August for summer traditions like the Crim Festival of Races and Back to the Bricks, then resume in September.
When the project wraps up, the bricks will be rebuilt from Court Street all the way to the Flint River bridge. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/businesses-trying-to-work-around-saginaw-street-construction/article_8b9a5268-ede7-11ed-ba21-ef6591bc269a.html | 2023-05-08T23:40:43 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/businesses-trying-to-work-around-saginaw-street-construction/article_8b9a5268-ede7-11ed-ba21-ef6591bc269a.html |
OWOSSO, Mich. (WJRT) - Monday was one of many days for Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity to fulfill their mission as they kicked off a new build in the city of Owosso.
Employees and volunteers labored in the sun to kick off the build of a nearly 1,250 square foot house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
Brian and Tina Wilhelm, homeowners of the build, were grateful to see a village come out.
"Neighbors, people we don't know, friends and family. But that's what habitat for humanity is about, a community. Building a community," said Brian Wilhelm.
Carmen Mora, executive director of Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity, said this build is a longtime coming.
"Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity has been in existence since 1989, but we haven't been able to build new houses in a while," said Mora.
The most unique part of this house is it's being built energy efficient with above code insulation in the walls and attic. That cuts down costs for homeowners.
"So we're building one house right now, two more will get started in the fall, three more the following spring," Mora said. "It's just the beginning. We intend to be building year-around."
Tina Wilhelm, a pre-school teacher, already has plans to bring her little friends along to make her house feel like no other place than home.
"They're going to come have lunch with me one of these days and help paint one of my rooms in there. They're learning how a house is built in class, as well as, watching it here," she said.
Mora insists the fruits of labor will be well worth it with a community who intends to serve.
"These homes do not build themselves. We need you to come out and do that," said Mora.
The house is scheduled to be complete by the end of July. Click here to find volunteer information. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/shiawassee-habitat-for-humanity-raises-walls-on-new-build-in-owosso/article_1ad56bec-ede9-11ed-a5c8-eb9a1ca7386d.html | 2023-05-08T23:40:49 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/shiawassee-habitat-for-humanity-raises-walls-on-new-build-in-owosso/article_1ad56bec-ede9-11ed-a5c8-eb9a1ca7386d.html |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — First Tee, an organization that teaches life skills to youth through golf, announced a relaunch of its Birmingham Chapter Monday in partnership with Regions Bank and the Regions Tradition.
According to the organization, First Tee has impacted more than 15 million young people through its character-building programs on golf courses, in schools and at youth-serving locations since its inception in 1997.
“We are so excited to be relaunching the Birmingham chapter of First Tee,” said Carlos Carter, president of the First Tee of Birmingham, via a press release. “We are confident this program will make a significant impact in the city of Birmingham.”
This announcement kicks off a week of events leading into the Regions Tradition, a PGA TOUR Champions Major held at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Hoover from May 10 through 14.
As the title sponsor of the tournament, Regions Bank is also supporting this re-introduction of First Tee to the Birmingham community.
“Regions is committed to helping make life better in this community and all the communities we serve,” said Leroy Abrahams, Head of Community Affairs for Regions, via a press release. “We are proud to support First Tee as it relaunches in our headquarters city and look forward to seeing a continuation of their positive impact on young people in Birmingham.”
For more information and to get involved, visit First Tee’s website. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/first-tee-youth-golf-program-relaunched-in-birmingham/ | 2023-05-08T23:41:30 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/first-tee-youth-golf-program-relaunched-in-birmingham/ |
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