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A state district judge on Wednesday sentenced a Cibolo woman to 15 years in prison for her role in the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day slaying of a San Antonio man.
Hayley Ann Gibbens, of Cibolo, was 22 when she and two men were arrested in the March 14, 2021, shooting death of 40-year-old Tito Roman. Roman was shot seven times, once in the face, in a room at San Antonio extended stay hotel.
Prosecutors alleged that Gibbens’ then-boyfriend, Douglas Skaggs, shot Roman to death in a dispute over stolen property.
Bexar County jurors last week convicted Skaggs, 58, of murder, and on Monday recommended a 60-year prison term for him.
Evidence presented to the jury indicated that Skaggs used Gibbens to lure Roman to his room at the extended stay hotel.
Gibbens agreed to testify against Skaggs in exchange for a plea agreement that limited her potential time in prison to between five and 15 years. She had previously faced the possibility of life in prison.
At Wednesday’s court hearing, attorney John Ritenour asked Judge Frank J. Castro in the 399th District Court to sentence Gibbens, who is now 25, on the lower range of punishment.
But Castro told Gibbens that although she cooperated with the state, Roman's "life didn't need to be taken, and he died not knowing you set him up."
Castro sentenced her to the maximum allowed -- 15 years -- under the plea agreement. He told her he knows she is young, and "still has a chance at life."
Gibbens received two years credit for time served in the Bexar County jail, and could become eligible for parole in about five and a half years.
Skaggs called called Roman "a friend" and said he shot him in self-defense.
Although Skaggs said Roman attacked him and held a gun to his neck after he walked into the room, no evidence was presented that indicated Roman was carrying a weapon.
Video captured by surveillance cameras at the Home Suites hotel at Loop 410 and Summit Parkway captured Skaggs entering and leaving the hotel room where Roman was shot.
Skaggs, Gibbens and a third defendant, Nicholas Darimont also were seen together on the video moving around the hotel, and leaving together.
Darimont, 37, testified that they went to the hotel to find Roman. Darimont said he saw Skaggs walk upstairs to a room, then heard gunshots.
He fled and was arrested weeks later in Arizona, and was extradited to Bexar County and charged with murder. Darimont is expected to appear before Castro next week for his sentencing, court records indicate.
ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/co-defendant-gets-15-year-sentence-in-2021-slaying-18091221.php | 2023-05-10T23:17:36 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/co-defendant-gets-15-year-sentence-in-2021-slaying-18091221.php |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham Public Library is hosting several events to help patrons celebrate Mother’s Day all week long.
Activities include a Mother’s Day brunch, arts and crafts to make cards and a special display featuring books “that make moms feel special.”
Here are the times and dates for the events taking place across multiple branches:
Titusville Branch Library
- Titusville Branch Mother’s Day Brunch — May 11, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Registration is required. Call (205) 322-1140 for details.
Five Points West Regional Library
- Create Mother’s Day Cards — May 5 to May 11, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Make a card for your mother for Mother’s Day! For more information, call (205) 226-4017 or email lynn.carpenter@cobpl.org.
North Avondale Branch Library
- Mother’s Day Storytime and Crafts — May 11 and 12, 3:00 p.m.
- Participants will get to listen to a story celebrating mothers and then create Mother’s Day cards using sponge paint. For more information, contact Olivia Evans at (205) 592-2082 or email olivia.evans@cobpl.org
Pratt City Branch Library
- Mother’s Day Special Delivery, Monday through Friday, May 8 – 12, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Kids are invited to our craft table all week long to spend time making a gift to express love and honor the special women in their lives. Supplies will be provided.
- Mother’s Day Bingo, May 12, 10:00 a.m.
For more information, visit the Birmingham Public Library’s official website. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-public-library-branches-hosting-mothers-day-events-throughout-the-week/ | 2023-05-10T23:18:31 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-public-library-branches-hosting-mothers-day-events-throughout-the-week/ |
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — What do you do if a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood?
That was a question posed to CBS42 by neighbors in Shelby County after they received a flyer in the mail from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, alerting them that a sex offender had recently moved into the Brook Highland area.
“We’re gonna make sure the community knows who you are, we’re gonna make sure the community knows where you live, “Chief Clay Hammac with the Shelby County Sheriff’s office said. “If this is an uncomfortable situation for a convicted sex offender, that’s okay with us.”
Hammac said the alert is a proactive approach to protect the community. Under Alabama law, once a registered sex offender is released from prison and moves into their community, the SCSO sends out a flyer to everyone living within 2,000 feet of their address. Alabama law also mandates that registered sex offenders can’t live within 2,000 feet of school zones or any type of daycare.
However, this tactic is not used for every registered sex offender in the area — generally for those with more serious offenses.
Hammac offered some guidance for parents and families who may be concerned.
“Have an age-appropriate conversation with your student, with your child. Make sure that they are aware of what this means. Now, we also want to make sure that we’re being good neighbors and good stewards of building relationships. We’re not asking our community to target anyone,” Hammac said.
At the end of the day, the chief emphasized trusting your instincts and your gut.
“Just be aware of your surroundings, make sure that you’re keyed into things that may look out of place, things that may not feel right, and please what we encourage is never ever hesitate to dial 911,” Hammac said.
If you live in Shelby County and want to know if registered sex offenders are living near you, head to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/what-to-do-if-a-registered-sex-offender-moves-into-your-neighborhood/ | 2023-05-10T23:18:37 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/what-to-do-if-a-registered-sex-offender-moves-into-your-neighborhood/ |
A Fairborn man won a $1 million prize last week playing the Ohio Lottery’s Billion scratch-off game.
Johnny Salyers bought his winning $50 ticket at the Speedway store at 1171 N. Broad St. in Fairborn, the Ohio Lottery announced.
He beat odds of 1 in 235,636 to win the second-tier prize, which is an annuity paid as $50,000 a year for 20 years.
The top prize in the game is $1 million every year for life. As of Tuesday, there are four top prizes remaining in the game that debuted Jan. 3.
Salyers chose the $500,000 cash payout option and will receive about $360,000 after federal and state taxes, the lottery said.
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About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/1m-scratch-off-prize-sold-at-fairborn-speedway/WM6O6GT4QBCUJJ3MPKPP6TXVUI/ | 2023-05-10T23:19:28 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/1m-scratch-off-prize-sold-at-fairborn-speedway/WM6O6GT4QBCUJJ3MPKPP6TXVUI/ |
The City of Midland is 23.97% ahead of last year when it comes to sales tax collected and on pace to set a new revenue record by nearly $7 million.
The Texas Comptroller showed that the City of Midland collected $6,391,671 of sales in May – one of the largest months on record. That amount brought the total this fiscal year to $45.51 million, which is not only $8.8 million more than last year (through eight months) but puts the city in comfortable position of breaking the previous record for sales tax collected (with room to spare).
The all-time high mark for an annual sales tax collection was $60.3 million in fiscal year 2019. There are fourth months left in the fiscal year, which ends in September. Last year, the City of Midland collected $21.72 million from May through September. Should the city finish this fiscal year with that same total, it would collect $67.239 million – nearly $7 million more than fiscal year 2019 and more than $10 million over what the city budgeted.
Sales tax collections are important as the City of Midland expected sales tax to make up a larger portion of the 2022-23 budget than property taxes.
Sales tax revenue is generated by sales tax income from two months prior to collection; May collection is based on March sales. The City’s fiscal year runs from October through the following September.
City sales tax report
May 2023: $6,391,671
May 2022: $5,949,869
Percentage difference: 7.43
Fiscal year-to-date 2021: $45,518,812
Fiscal year-to-date 2022: $36,718,583
Percentage difference: 23.97 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/city-midland-pace-shatter-annual-sales-tax-18092061.php | 2023-05-10T23:20:56 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/city-midland-pace-shatter-annual-sales-tax-18092061.php |
Midland County Judge Terry Johnson released a statement regarding the status of events scheduled at the Horseshoe following the termination of the contract between the county and Horseshoe Hospitality Services.
“I have received several calls of concern from Midland County residents worried about events that they have planned or have tickets to at the Horseshoe (complex); including a graduation ceremony this weekend."
"I want to assure the public that we’re aware of how important the (complex) is to the community and the events that are currently planned will continue to happen. We are working to make this transition that the termination of contract is causing as seamless as possible."
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is scheduled to have graduation ceremonies at the Horseshoe Pavilion this weekend. | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/midland-county-judge-releases-statement-horseshoe-18091976.php | 2023-05-10T23:21:02 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/midland-county-judge-releases-statement-horseshoe-18091976.php |
Warning: This story may contain images that may be disturbing.
A photo of a dog found Wednesday morning with its mouth taped shut in south Midland County is drawing anger from area residents.
Permian Basin Animal Advocates shared a photo of "Gunther," who was found 3 miles south of Interstate 20 with his mouth taped shut and his legs taped together. "As if dumping a dog in the middle of nowhere isn't bad enough, this is a new low," the Facebook post stated.
The organization does not know how long Gunther was out in the "middle of nowhere." The post did not share details on his initial health but stated that an appointment was made with Town & Country Vet to be checked out.
"We are so thankful that the gentleman that spotted him was able to immediately free him and put him in his truck with water until Leigh Ann could figure out transportation to the vet," the organization shared on the Facebook post. "As soon as he untaped his mouth, Gunther was jumping up licking his face and wagging his tail as if to say thank you."
The organization stated it has lined up a foster to take in Gunther.
Facebook users shared their well wishes for Gunther's speedy recovery and appreciation for the man who found him. Ashley Baker wrote "What is wrong with people!!! This is so sad yet I’m glad he was found alive!!"
"I just don’t understand how someone can be okay with themselves doing this to an innocent animal. Sweet Gunther," Alysha Jayne Knerr
wrote.
Katrina Garcia shared "OMG how can ppl be so cruel. Thank you for helping this baby. God bless you."
If you are interested in donating to help with Gunther's vet bill or interested in fostering or donating to the organization visit the Permian Basin Animal Advocates Facebook page.
Anyone who recognizes Gunther is encouraged to reach out to Permian Basin Animal Advocates. | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/photo-dog-found-mouth-taped-shut-midland-county-18091508.php | 2023-05-10T23:21:08 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/photo-dog-found-mouth-taped-shut-midland-county-18091508.php |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Mass timber manufactured in Oregon was put to the test of 6.7-magnitude and 7.7-magnitude earthquakes on a shake pad in San Diego Tuesday as researchers work to learn if tall buildings constructed using the material will be resilient to earthquakes.
A 10-story structure built from mass timber produced by the Lyons-based company Freres Engineered Wood was constructed on the shake pad in San Diego as part of the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) TallWood project.
The project is headed by Dr. Shiling Pei from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He and a host of other collaborators and researchers from around the country wanted to know how mass timber would fare when jostled by large tremors.
Mass timber is becoming a popular building material and is considered to be a greener and faster alternative to building structures using steel and concrete. It’s made from layers of wood bonded together.
New building codes have been recently updated to allow more mass-timber high-rise buildings to be constructed in the United States. Because of this, many have wondered how the material would withstand an earthquake.
“Mass timber is part of a massive trend in architecture and construction, but the seismic performance of tall buildings made with these new systems is not as well understood as other existing building systems,” Pei said.
The structure Pei and his team tested was a rocking wall lateral system that would be suitable for regions where the risk of an earthquake is high.
The building was designed so that the damage caused by an earthquake would be minimal and could be repaired quickly.
The rocking wall system was made of a solid wood wall panel anchored to the ground using steel cables or rods with large tension forces in them.
“When exposed to lateral forces, the wood wall panels will rock back and forth – which reduces earthquake impacts – and then the steel rods will pull the building back to plumb once the earthquake passes,” Pei explained.
Shake testing on the platform began in late April. On Tuesday, May 9, the building went through two tests: one replicated the 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake that occurred in 1994 near Los Angeles and the second replicated the 7.7-magnitude Chi Chi earthquake that occurred in Japan in 1999.
The TallWood project withstood both quakes.
According to a press release from NEHRI TallWood, the structure will undergo tests for a range of earthquake magnitudes on the Richter scale, from magnitude 4 to magnitude 8.
After learning the building made of his company’s wood had withstood the two strong tests Tuesday, Tyler Freres, vice president of sales for Freres Engineer Wood, said, “Seismic resiliency is of utmost importance, not only from a health and safety perspective but also from a societal cost standpoint. If we can design new buildings that are habitable after a significant seismic event we will reduce human casualties from natural disasters and reduce cost for reconstruction. As we have seen from our own local natural disasters, the wildfires, people are displaced for years, not days. This would help minimize suffering significantly for people involved in an earthquake.”
The project is being funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and researchers from Oregon State University and a consortium of other universities have been collaborating on the construction and research. | https://www.koin.com/local/building-made-of-oregon-produced-mass-timber-withstands-major-earthquake-tests/ | 2023-05-10T23:21:10 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/building-made-of-oregon-produced-mass-timber-withstands-major-earthquake-tests/ |
XTO Energy holds 'Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day' program
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1of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
2of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 3of 29
4of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
5of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 6of 29
7of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
8of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 9of 29
10of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
11of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 12of 29
13of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
14of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 15of 29
16of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
17of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 18of 29
19of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
20of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 21of 29
22of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
23of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 24of 29
25of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less
26of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 27of 29
28of 29 Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
Brittany Mann, Current Media Show More Show Less 29of 29
Approximately 100 Midland ISD junior high girls participated in the "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" program hosted by XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, this week at the Petroleum Museum’s new STEAM Education Center.
XTO Energy employee volunteers led the program designed to inspire female students to consider careers in engineering, according to a new release. Students engaged in a series of problem-solving activities through hands-on, interactive experiments including a waterflood field experiment. They learned how creativity and ingenuity can be used in the classroom and how knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math subjects can lead to rewarding engineering careers.
More than 16,000 students across the U.S. have participated in ExxonMobil’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day events since the program’s inception in 2003.
According to the Society of Women Engineers, women account for only 13% of the engineering practice, which are typically high-paying and high-demand jobs. ExxonMobil employs almost 24,000 scientists and engineers around the world, working collaboratively with other companies and academic institutions to bring energy to market, develop new energy technologies, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: XTO Energy
Staff reporter for the Midland Reporter-Telegram | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/xto-energy-midland-holds-introduce-girl-18091582.php | 2023-05-10T23:21:14 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/xto-energy-midland-holds-introduce-girl-18091582.php |
Automobile seat and electronic systems maker Lear nearly tripled its profit year-over-year in the first quarter.
The Southfield, Michigan-based company, which employs more than 1,000 workers at its Hammond factory, reported a profit of $144 million in the first quarter, up from $49 million in the first quarter of 2022. It made $2.41 per share in the first quarter, up from $0.82 per share at the same time last year.
The auto supplier, which supplies seats for the Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle to the Chicago Assembly Plant just across the state line, brought in $166 million in adjusted net income in the first quarter, up from $108 million in the first quarter of 2022.
“Lear started the year strong, delivering significant increases in revenue and earnings in the first quarter compared to last year and strong growth over market in both businesses,” said Ray Scott, Lear’s president and CEO. “We expect our positive momentum to continue as recent business awards and strong backlog in both business segments will continue to drive above market growth."
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The company increased sales by 12% to $5.8 billion in the first quarter, up from $5.2 billion in the first quarter of 2022. Its sales growth exceeded the market average by 6 percentage points.
Lear's core operating earnings grew 43% to $263 million in the first quarter, up from $184 million in the first quarter of 2022.
The company also received a number of awards. It was named a GM Supplier of the Year for the sixth straight year and for the 22nd time overall.
"In E-Systems, new electrification awards included a BDU award for a new Stellantis electric vehicle as well as additional volume on our intercell connect board to support General Motors’ Ultium battery platform," Scott said.
The company spent a total of $72 million in the first quarter via share buybacks and dividends.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Biggby Coffee, Flora Plants, Funk My Life and McDonald's open; Aster & Gray and Elements Wine Bar close
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219 News Now: Check out the weekend forecast with Matt Holiner 5/5/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Buona/Rainbow Cone, Fat Burrito, Pickles Kids and Dear Dani Boutique opening | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/lear-nearly-triples-profit-year-over-year-to-144-million/article_d72ca6ec-eec1-11ed-b4df-e7a081a62da2.html | 2023-05-10T23:22:12 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/lear-nearly-triples-profit-year-over-year-to-144-million/article_d72ca6ec-eec1-11ed-b4df-e7a081a62da2.html |
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – Students at Fairmount Elementary in Bristol put their Humpty Dumpty armor to the test Wednesday as they dropped eggs in containers they built from varying heights.
About 60 fourth-grade students dropped eggs from a bucket truck provided by Bristol Tennessee Essential Services. The eggs were each placed in containers created by the students to keep the eggs intact.
Teachers at Fairmount told News Channel 11 that the experience promotes critical thinking and helps students develop skills as they saw which egg survived the highest fall. Students must use math and science to attempt and hypothesize if their eggs will be intact after falling from different heights.
“I really want them to understand that science can be brought out into the real world and take what they’ve learned all year and bring fun to them at the end of the year,” said fourth-grade teacher Amy Marion.
2023 marks the tenth year the school has conducted the experiment. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-students-drop-eggs-from-bucket-truck-in-project/ | 2023-05-10T23:23:47 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-students-drop-eggs-from-bucket-truck-in-project/ |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – More than 200 local athletes competed Wednesday in the Area 3 Special Olympics, but first, an annual ceremony had to be observed.
The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) kicked off the event by participating in the Torch Run.
“Officers are known as the guardian of the flame, which is why we carry in the torch, that’s the symbolism behind the whole thing,” said Brittney Eberhart of the JCPD.
The games began inside Kermit Tipton Stadium at Science Hill High School. The athletes from Johnson, Carter, Unicoi and Washington counties numbered 220.
“We have our Special Olympics track events so they are going to be running, walking, assisted walking, we have some wheelchair races and then long jump, softball throws today,” said Special Olympics Tennessee manager Brenna Soriano.
The games are only made possible with the help of hundreds of volunteers.
“I did compete for several years, but now I’m going to be volunteering as a former athlete,” said Jeremy Marlor.
To learn more about getting involved in Tennessee’s Special Olympics, click here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-police-kick-off-area-special-olympics-with-annual-torch-run/ | 2023-05-10T23:23:53 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-police-kick-off-area-special-olympics-with-annual-torch-run/ |
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — One person is being treated for serious injuries following a crash involving a Virginia State Police (VSP) officer near an exit ramp of Interstate 81.
According to a statement from the VSP, the crash happened Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Old Airport Road and the I-81 Exit 7 off-ramp.
A VSP trooper was reportedly driving down Old Airport Rd. responding to an emergency call at a Walmart nearby, when his patrol vehicle struck a sedan coming off of the I-81 exit ramp.
The VSP trooper was driven by state police to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries and the driver of the sedan was transported for serious injuries.
VSP’s crash reconstruction team is assisting with the crash investigation, which is ongoing, according to the statement. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/one-treated-for-serious-injuries-following-crash-with-vsp-trooper/ | 2023-05-10T23:23:59 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/one-treated-for-serious-injuries-following-crash-with-vsp-trooper/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The 15th annual Racks by the Tracks festival kicks off in Kingsport on Saturday. The process of setting up for the event has started and involves lots of help.
Live music from tribute bands such as The Crue and Blank 281 will perform live music along with Donny and the Dry Heavers.
Bradley Hoover, director of sports for Visit Kingsport, says there will be a lot of different barbeque options for guests to try and choose from.
Get a beverage to go with your barbeque as guests over 21 can purchase a tasting ticket.
“While we’re having the music going, we’ll be having some tastings as well,” said Hoover. “We’re going to have a hundred different types of beers, wine, seltzers and sangrias that are being served.”
The Racks by the Tracks festival will also be hosting a 5k and 10k on Saturday at 9 a.m.
“If you want to combine the two, we have what’s called the Boss Hog Challenge,” said Hoover.
By participating in the Boss Hog Challenge, runners will receive a free t-shirt.
Hoover said it takes days to get ready for the event by setting up chairs, tables, and stage equipment.
Organizers like Joe Doran, delivery manager for Action Rentals, said they started on Wednesday to get a head start.
“There is a lot involved,” said Doran. “We do our tents and stuff today but, it takes most of the day to get it done.”
Hoover said depending on the weather, they could be setting up Friday until midnight.
“It’s one of those things that we couldn’t do it with our staff only,” said Hoover.
The Racks by the Tracks Festival will be held at the Kingsport Farmers Market Saturday, May 13. Races start at 9 a.m. and other festivities begin at 11 a.m. You can purchase tickets at any area Food City store or online at the Racks by the Tracks website. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/preps-underway-for-racks-by-the-tracks/ | 2023-05-10T23:24:05 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/preps-underway-for-racks-by-the-tracks/ |
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — A second medical marijuana dispensary is coming soon to the Tri-Cities.
Rise Dispensary in Bristol, Virginia held a ribbon cutting Wednesday.
The dispensary is parent company Dharma Pharmaceutical’s second in the Tri-Cities region. A Rise Dispensary opened in Abingdon in 2020.
The rollout of medical marijuana sales in Virginia started when the state issued pharmaceutical processing permits to five companies, one for each health service area in Virginia.
Each company receiving that permit was allowed to open five dispensaries in their health service area.
Dharma received the processing permit and has since opened the Abingdon location as well as Christiansburg, Lynchburg and Salem.
The dispensary held an open house following the ribbon cutting. Rise Dispensary Strategic Leader Shanna Berry said the company is receiving a warm welcome in Bristol.
“We have already had patients stopping by, people stopping by trying to inquire on how to become a patient,” Berry said. “We received an unbelievable amount of support from the community.”
Although the sale of legal medical marijuana is completely new to the city, Bristol Chamber of Commerce President Beth Rhinehart said the business fits in well.
“The Commonwealth has taken a very conservative look at how these are operating, how they’re opened, how they’re regulated,” Rhinehart said. “Knowing that’s really the umbrella to this really gives people a lot of comfort.”
The dispensary is not yet selling medical marijuana products.
Anyone purchasing medical marijuana must be a Virginia medical patient and receive a written certification for the use of medical marijuana from a physician registered with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to issue medical marijuana certifications.
“They will need to bring their recommendation, a photo government ID with them,” Berry said. “Then can come and meet with our pharmacist and determine what type of medications they would like to purchase at our facilities.”
Under state law, Rise’s products are tested for safety by a third party.
“We are governed by the Board of Pharmacy currently,” Berry said. “Our products are third-party analytically tested to make sure they’re free of pesticides, molds, mycotoxins, heavy metals and residual solvents. You will know the potency and purity of the products you are receiving.”
Berry said the growth of medical marijuana in Virginia also gives rise to an alternative way of combatting the opioid crisis.
She said Rise Dispensary is involved in efforts to help people struggling with addiction.
“We are working with patients to help them get off of opioids, get off of benzos and other controlled substances,” Berry said. “We work with a lot of pain management clinics in the region and suboxone clinics and with their patients to help them taper off of those medications.”
There’s also hope among city officials that introducing medical marijuana can bring an economic boost as well.
“It’s going to be a game-changer for the area,” said City of Bristol, Virginia Economic Development Specialist Mack Chapman. “I do believe it’s going to be a big asset for the city.”
Berry said the Bristol dispensary has passed its state inspection, but they still need final state approval before opening.
Rise Dispensary is located on Gate City Highway next to the Bristol Casino. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/ribbon-cut-on-medical-marijuana-dispensary-in-bristol-va/ | 2023-05-10T23:24:12 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/ribbon-cut-on-medical-marijuana-dispensary-in-bristol-va/ |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJHL) – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) spoke on Wednesday about a potential federal funding stream for aging schools in the form of historic rehabilitation tax credits (HTC).
In a call with the press, Kaine discussed he and his colleague Mark Warner’s (D-VA) reintroduced bill to open historic tax credits for public school renovations. As it stands, those who renovate buildings on the National Register of Historic Places can apply for tax relief of varying degrees. When those structures are renovated, however, their new purpose cannot be the same as their purpose beforehand.
Kaine’s legislation, which he hopes will be rolled into a larger tax reform bill, would allow public schools to remain as educational institutions after the renovation.
“I’m hoping that this can be a strategy that would be a valuable strategy for communities all over the country in renovating schools,” Kaine said.
The program has been used to provide significant facelifts to buildings throughout the country, Kaine said, but is limited in its ability to improve historic schools without stripping them of their purpose.
“Why should you have to change the use of a school building?” Kaine asked. “Why shouldn’t you be able to get the tax credit and update it so that it can be fit for 21st-century education for the same school kids that were going there five years ago, for those that follow them?”
Kaine added that the process of renovation is often much cheaper for struggling local governments than the design and construction of completely new buildings. In addition to amenities, Kaine said renovated schools send a better message to students.
“Old, dilapidated structures, kids absorb a message when they walk into it,” Kaine said. “Like ‘Wow, this must not be that important, or the community would care to make sure that the facility was in OK shape.'”
According to a 2021 report from the Virginia Department of Education, the median age of school buildings in Southwest Virginia was 58 years. The state average at the time was 52 years.
“It’s a little bit of a recycle and reuse mentality,” Kaine said. “It doesn’t always have to be new. If there’s still serviceable life, why not outfit it for 21st-century education?” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/senators-kaine-warner-reintroduce-bill-to-open-up-federal-school-renovation-funding/ | 2023-05-10T23:24:18 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/senators-kaine-warner-reintroduce-bill-to-open-up-federal-school-renovation-funding/ |
NAPLES, Fla. — The Naples Players have begun a $20 million renovation project at their main playhouse on 5th Avenue South.
“The Naples Players have been blessed that we are sold out all the time. When we look at the future of Downtown Naples and the future of the organization, we knew we needed a way to make downtown vibrant. We began to work on plans for a renovation,” said Bryce Alexander, the CEO & Executive Artistic Director of the Naples Players.
The plans include building:
- A 450-seat “Broadway-style” theater
- Two “Black Box” theaters stacked atop one another
- Balconies
- Classrooms for local educational programming
- A cafe
- Costume and theme shops
- A “sensory box” geared towards giving children and adults with disabilities the option to visit
“The facility is right now about 39,000 square feet. There’s no a single square foot that’s not being renovated,” added Alexander.
The Naples Players will continue to offer their full season of productions regardless, hosted at local schools, community parks and churches.
You can check out the full lineup and locations here.
“We have a full nine-show season right now operating offsite. A lot of people know during COVID-19 The Naples Players didn’t shut down, we didn’t lay off our staff. That was because we were able to partner with many different places around the community,” said Alexander.
Construction is expected to go on until approximately the Spring of 2024.
A small portion of 4th Avenue South directly behind the playhouse will be closed for work until July 4, and will then infrequently shut down until the end of 2023.
“We are really excited to re-open the theater in March of 2024, downtown right here,” said Alexander.
This is an ongoing story. Count on NBC2 to keep you updated as renovations continue. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/collier-county/2023/05/10/the-naples-players-announce-multi-million-dollar-theater-renovation-project/ | 2023-05-10T23:26:30 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/collier-county/2023/05/10/the-naples-players-announce-multi-million-dollar-theater-renovation-project/ |
A Kenosha foundation honored a pair of local leaders as “living legends” in their fields and awarded 11 college scholarships to area high school students during the Reaching for Rainbows “Pursuit of Excellence” Gala at Carthage College on Tuesday night.
Byron Wright, retired executive director of Kenosha Human Development Services who served the agency for 35 years, and Ald. Anthony Kennedy, who is in his eighth term representing the city’s 10th District, became the first recipients honored with the Mahone Fund’s Bryan Albrecht Living Legend Award.
The recognition is given to an individual or organization whose lifetime accomplishments represent Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone’s multicultural, humanitarian and educational philosophy.
Formerly called the Living Legend Award, Albrecht was its last recipient before it was renamed in his honor in 2022.
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Albrecht retired as Gateway Technical College’s long-time president last year and also was president of the Mahone Fund.
This year’s president Deborah Ford, the out-going University of Wisconsin-Parkside chancellor, also was recognized for her 14 years of service during the gala.
Ford is stepping down in June to take a similar role at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany.
“Let’s raise a toast to Debbie Ford for a phenomenal woman, who is passionate, kind-hearted, loving, giving … a mother, a friend, a wife and a grandmother,” said Katherine Marks, Mahone Fund secretary. “Debbie has been an advocate for student success for many, many years and many more years to come. I wish her much success in Indiana … and, don’t forget about us. We want you to come back and look at the legacy you left here in Kenosha.”
Created in 1999, the Mahone Fund continues the legacy of Kenosha’s most influential couple in the areas of civil rights and social justice advocacy.
The fund’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for economically and academically deserving youth, while supporting healthy lifestyle initiatives in communities of color, and is a component of the Kenosha Community Foundation.
Among the Mahone Fund scholarship winners were: Peyton McRoy, a senior at LakeView Technology Academy, who received the Access Award; Lindsie Vasquez, a Tremper High School senior, recipient of Carthage College full-tuition award; and nine Mahone CEO scholarship recipients, including seniors Ariana Ervin, Marciara Fuller and Ja’Nya Parks, all of Bradford High School; Keyon Hill-McAbee, Vivian Jones and Joshua Robinson, all of Indian Trail High School and Academy; Destiny Washington, Reuther High School; and Kezia Preko and Benjamin Wajerski, both of Tremper High School.
During his presentation, Wright said that after college he worked 19 jobs in seven years before landing at Kenosha Human Development Services, where he served as its executive director for the last half of his career.
“So, KHDS has always been a place that tried to help everybody who needed help and set up programs that met them where they were,” he said. “It was just a wonderful place to work. And, I feel like I don’t deserve this award as much as all the people who supported the agency, because it was an effort that all of us took part in.”
To the scholarship winners, he said that, like them, he was the first in his family to attend college and understood “how intimidating that can be.”
Wright also admitted that he didn’t know what he wanted to do and thought he would be a sports writer, a history teacher and a lawyer at various points in his life.
“Thankfully, none of that worked out,” he said. “So take advantage of the people you’re going to meet. You’re going to meet a lot of interesting people in college, a lot of people with a lot of different ideas and you’ll have a lot of time to kind of think things through … and read a lot of books.”
Kennedy, who is known for his prolific, if not lengthy deliberations, joked that Mahone Fund Chair Tim Mahone did not inform him of a time limit for speaking and noted that he had presentation material in 10-, 18- and 30-minute increments, drawing both giggles and groans from the hundreds of guests in attendance.
On a more serious note, Kennedy said that being where he is at “is a testament to God’s grace and mercy in my life.”
“My son told me yesterday that he has made the right decisions for the wrong reasons. Well, I can tell you, I’m here today in spite of me making the wrong decisions for what I thought was the right reasons,” he said. “Where my hubris and arrogance was working overtime, God put key people in my life at key times to ensure that these decisions were not detrimental.”
Kennedy, a U.S. Army veteran, said he also is grateful to have served his country and believes “it’s OK for me to be America’s harshest critic, while still being its fiercest fan.”
“While it might be hard to love this country … I still and always will believe in the aspirational concept of America,” he said.
Kennedy said he believes his job as an elected official is to “maintain or improve the quality of life for my constituents.”
“I strive to do the most amount of good for the greatest number of individuals,” he said. “I believe good government should, at the very least, be functional, but great government can be aspirational.”
Among the several challenges he issued the Class of 2023 Mahone Fund scholarship recipients were to find “those things in our lives where we have commonality.”
“There is more that binds us than separates us,” he said. “And those who would use those differences to drive wedges between us, please ignore those people. We have more in common together than we have apart.”
Kennedy also reminded the students that they are “hope realized.”
“Know you are faith fulfilled, know you are dreams imagined and know that you’re love triumphant,” he said. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/mahone-fund-reaching-for-rainbows-celebrates-living-legend-duo-awards-college-scholarships-to-11-local/article_575a8fc8-eeef-11ed-a109-47a95aef2cb4.html | 2023-05-10T23:30:05 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/mahone-fund-reaching-for-rainbows-celebrates-living-legend-duo-awards-college-scholarships-to-11-local/article_575a8fc8-eeef-11ed-a109-47a95aef2cb4.html |
Hertz Rental Cars is gradually changing over its fleet of rentals to electric vehicles. Triple A is working with Hertz, to showcase the latest EV’s, get people familiar with the technology, and even offer a 10% discount on rentals for AAA members. AAA Northeast Regional Director Patti Artessa talked about why now is a good time to learn.
"Well you know how the economy is right now, and you know how everything is changing, and we want to be ECO friendly, and that is one of Triple A’s missions."
There were several different types of EV’s to check out, and plenty of questions from curious consumers. "Would you get more miles if you drove it more conservatively?" Hertz District Manager Luke Doroski says it’s what the Expo is all about.
"People getting educated. People kind of becoming comfortable with them, and obviously the infrastructure in the area too."
Laurens Resident Neal Toombs is skeptical about being able to get to where he needs to go given the number of charging stations available.
"I want to make sure that when I drive someplace I can get…you know fill it, you know get the power for them. You know you need stations, if they have enough of them. That’s what concerns me a little bit."
You can drive right past a gas station, but electric vehicles do have drawbacks. One of them is finding a charging station that will fit your car, and there are additional costs. It does take time to charge up an EV, and during that time many EV users I spoke to go shopping, get a bite to eat, and almost everyone said they go for a cup of coffee. Is that time and money being spent worth the savings? West Oneonta Resident Thomas Francisco believes it is.
"I know for a fact to charge up if you use a credit card to pay for getting filled up with electricity so to speak, it uses around $13. With gas it would be probably about $40-$45. (So you’re saving a third, and then you’re spending it on coffee.) Could be, but I drink coffee anyway. I like coffee." (laughs)
Triple A has a host of information about EV’s on their website www.aaa.com/EV | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/getting-people-acquainted-with-electric-vehicles/article_3350c864-ef7a-11ed-981e-fb75f4bb8415.html | 2023-05-10T23:30:13 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/getting-people-acquainted-with-electric-vehicles/article_3350c864-ef7a-11ed-981e-fb75f4bb8415.html |
PHOENIX — A Tucson political activist has launched a drive to recall Republican state Sen. Justine Wadsack.
Rolande Baker said Wednesday that Wadsack, a first-time lawmaker who took office in January, "has since sponsored bills that have attacked marginalized communities within Legislative District 17."
For example, Baker cited Senate Bill 1413, which would have required a city, town or county to immediately remove any homeless encampment after receiving a report and, if applicable, charging those there with trespassing or drug offenses.
Wadsack also sought to amend the Arizona Constitution to repeal the power of cities to establish their own charters, part of a move to strip Tucson of its ability to keep its system of nominating city council members by ward but electing them at large.
She also backed legislation seeking to make it a felony to expose a child to a "drag show.''
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"She is amplifying hysteria about drag performances,'' Baker said.
About 31,000 signatures needed
Taking out the recall petitions is just the first, and easiest, part of the effort.
Baker needs at least 30,981 valid signatures of registered voters within the Tucson district by Sept. 5. That's equivalent to 25% of voters who turned out in the last election.
She acknowledged the effort is being run by volunteers with some small donations.
LD 17, which runs from southern Pinal County through the northern and eastern edges of Tucson, is strongly Republican. Still, Wadsack defeated Democrat Mike Nickerson by only about 3,000 votes out of nearly 124,000 ballots cast in November.
Wadsack 'not concerned'
Wadsack said she is not worried about the effort, saying she is "busy at the Legislature'' working on issues including inflation relief, dealing with a border crisis including fentanyl smuggling, alleviating a water supply crisis and "ensuring our students are receiving the best education possible.''
"Frankly, this recall effort, and the people behind it, don't have any credibility,'' Wadsack said. "I'm not concerned to the slightest.''
Baker protested at high court
Baker, a retired public school teacher, said she is a member of the Arizona and Sunnyside education associations. She said her political involvements range from the Red for Ed Movement to raise teacher pay, to efforts to protect reproductive rights of women, to a move to defeat U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona Democrat-turned independent, in the 2024 election.
She also made national news last year when she was one of three women arrested for disrupting a session of the U.S. Supreme Court with a protest over the justices' reversal of the court's historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that women had a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. The 2022 ruling allows each state to set its own abortion restrictions or ban the procedure.
Baker pleaded guilty to a single count of violating a law that bans "speeches and objectionable language'' in the Supreme Court building and was placed on probation for one year with an order to stay away from the court.
Election potential
Even if a recall election is called, the earliest it could be held is March 2024, or possibly as late as May.
A successful recall also requires finding someone who can get more votes in a special election than Wadsack. Otherwise, she keeps her job.
Baker said, though, it's not her job to round up contenders and that she's convinced others will come forward.
The last legislator successfully removed from office was Senate President Russell Pearce, a Mesa Republican, in 2011. That followed his sponsorship of SB 1070, far-reaching legislation to have the state get involved with finding and deporting people not in the country legally.
Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com. | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/activist-launches-recall-drive-vs-tucson-gop-sen-justine-wadsack/article_410ba4c6-ef5a-11ed-9341-23abb28c74a4.html | 2023-05-10T23:30:57 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/activist-launches-recall-drive-vs-tucson-gop-sen-justine-wadsack/article_410ba4c6-ef5a-11ed-9341-23abb28c74a4.html |
'White Boy Rick' arrested in Miami after fight with girlfriend during sex, police say
Richard Wershe, Jr., a former drug dealer known as "White Boy Rick," was arrested in Miami Tuesday and charged with battery and robbery following a fight with a woman that allegedly started when the Detroit native called out someone else's name during sex, according to a Miami Police report.
Wershe's attorney insists the woman concocted the charges against Wershe, 53, who has been the subject of multiple documentaries and a Hollywood film after he became an FBI informant in Detroit at age 14 and was sentenced to life in prison in 1988 at the age of 17.
Wershe, who has an ongoing $100 million federal lawsuit against Detroit claiming child abuse for the way he was handled by police during the 1980s, was released from a Michigan prison in 2017 but sent to Florida to serve a sentence in connection with a car theft ring until 2020. In March, Wershe hosted a party at the Warren Andiamo restaurant.
According to a Miami Police report provided by the department, a woman came to the station claiming that Wershe had assaulted her in his condo on Bayshore Drive in Miami. The woman told police she'd been in a relationship with Wershe for four months, the report said.
The woman told officers "that she had an altercation on May 6, 2023 with her boyfriend because while they were having sexual intercourse the defendant mentioned another female's name," the report said. "The victim got up from the bed and the defendant grabbed her by the arms causing a bruise on her left bicep.
"The defendant then proceeded to snatch her diamond bracelet and her necklace that the defendant had purchase(d)," the report said. "The victim then threw a shoe at the defendant but missed, but subsequently the defendant walked toward the victim and punched her on the side of her left breast area."
According to the report, the alleged victim didn't immediately tell police "because she did not want problems with immigration."
Officers spoke on the telephone with a witness who said she hadn't seen Wershe snatch the jewelry, "but she did witness when the defendant punched the victim in the breast area," the report said.
While the alleged victim was filling out the police report Monday, Wershe arrived at the station "looking for his car keys," the report said.
Wershe was taken into custody, handing over his property that included a gold Rolex watch, two gold chains, a set of Lamborghini keys and $10,940 in cash — 87 $100 bills, 42 $50 bills, six $20 bills and two $10 bills.
Wershe's lawyer, Detroit attorney Nabih Ayad, said the charges were "made up."
"It's absolutely false," Ayad said. "She stole his watch, and when he threatened to call the police, he went and made a fake police report saying that he hit her."
Ayad said his client is out of jail, and that he was unaware if any hearings had been scheduled in the case.
ghunter@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2134
Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/05/10/white-boy-rick-arrested-in-miami-after-fight-with-girlfriend-during-sex-police-say/70205001007/ | 2023-05-10T23:34:06 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/05/10/white-boy-rick-arrested-in-miami-after-fight-with-girlfriend-during-sex-police-say/70205001007/ |
Grand Rapids district bans backpacks after 3rd grader brings loaded gun to school
Grand Rapids Public Schools officials announced Wednesday they have banned backpacks after the fourth confiscation of a handgun from a student during the academic year.
A loaded gun was found in a third grader's backpack at Stocking Elementary School after a classmate alerted staff, the district said in a statement.
"It saddens me that such an incident occurred within our school community today," said Michael Thomasma, the school's principal, in a letter to parents. "Furthermore, it is frustrating to witness the increasing frequency of similar incidents not just in Grand Rapids, but across the nation."
Staff and the district public safety team took immediate action, the district said. Grand Rapids police responded and seized the weapon.
"The student involved is no longer at the school and this matter is being addressed according to district policy and the law," the district said in a statement.
In his letter Wednesday, Thomasma urged parents who own firearms to securely lock the weapons and keep them away from children.
"As responsible adults, we must be the first line of defense in protecting our young people," the principal said. "I implore you to pay close attention to what your scholars bring with them when they leave your homes."
In three of the four incidents during the 2022-23 academic year in which officials found guns at schools, the weapons were in backpacks, according to the district.
Larry Johnson, the district's chief of staff and public safety executive director, said in a statement it was the most real guns confiscated in a single school year.
“We are doing everything in our power to ensure our scholars are safe, and these incidents are forcing us to do more. For our scholars to learn, they must feel safe and it is our job to protect them to the best of our abilities,” he said. “We need the issue of guns in the hands of children to garner the support of every person who cares about children in this community.”
"This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly and we know this poses a significant inconvenience for our families. I am more than frustrated that a decision like this is necessary, but we must put safety first and that’s what this decision is about,” Superintendent Leadriane Roby said. “This is just one step in an ongoing conversation about how we can best protect our children in our rapidly changing world.”
District leaders also are exploring changes in school safety, representatives said Wednesday.
The district announced last week a community safety forum was scheduled for May 20 at GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/10/grand-rapids-district-bans-backpacks-after-3rd-grader-brings-loaded-gun-to-school/70205785007/ | 2023-05-10T23:34:12 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/10/grand-rapids-district-bans-backpacks-after-3rd-grader-brings-loaded-gun-to-school/70205785007/ |
ATLANTA — Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport put travelers' skills to the test Wednesday as they tried to determine whether seized counterfeit items were, well, fake.
Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized nearly 25 million counterfeit goods with over 80% of them coming from China or Hong Kong.
Airport officials are making sure international travelers are aware of the dangers and negative impact of purchasing these items.
From designer bags and belts to Braves jerseys and even health and beauty products, U.S. Customs and Border Protection used items that they had seized right here in Atlanta to evaluate travelers abilities on spotting a fake.
Carlo Cortina, Assistant Port Director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, explained today's event was apart of a larger multi-layered approach.
“This is a part of CBP’s strategic and multi-layered approach to combat the amount of counterfeit goods coming into the U.S. to protect our consumers and our industry partners," Cortina said.
Officials said the outreach is a way to get traveler's attention, and then share with them the dangers behind counterfeits. In some cases, travelers who purchase these goods can also face consequences.
“If somebody is traveling aboard and arriving in the U.S. and they declare that they purchased things abroad and if they determine it to be counterfeit or infringing on intellectual property rights – it will be seized," Cortina added.
Experts said the counterfeit industry poses a threat to consumer's health and the economic growth for our country.
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- Watch live streams on YouTube | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/airport-officials-test-travelers-skills-spotting-counterfeit-items/85-7dfb6058-5019-421b-85b0-b619641e9109 | 2023-05-10T23:42:48 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/airport-officials-test-travelers-skills-spotting-counterfeit-items/85-7dfb6058-5019-421b-85b0-b619641e9109 |
ATLANTA — Editor's note: The video in this story is from a previous report.
A celebration of life will be held for Amy Wald St. Pierre on Friday. She was 38 years old when she was killed and four other women were hurt in the Midtown Atlanta shooting at Northside Medical Midtown last week.
St. Pierre's celebration of life will be held on May 12 at 4 p.m. in the Cherry Logan Emerson Concert Hall of Emory University, according to St. Pierre's online memorial. It will also be live-streamed online here.
"Amy dedicated her life to making the world a better place. She was an optimist who believed that everyone deserved the opportunities she was afforded in life, most importantly a safe living environment and access to a good education," the online memorial stated.
St. Pierre grew up in Connecticut before moving to Atlanta, where she attended high school and graduated from Emory University with honors, her online memorial read.
She was also a wife, a mother of two and a middle sister to two brothers. The online memorial said St. Pierre is survived by her beloved Julian, Lydia and Louis, her parents, Danny and Susie Wald, her two brothers, Michael (Tory) and Alex (Caitlin), and many cousins, nieces and nephews who loved her.
11Alive's Paola Suro spoke with Dr. Michael Kramer, of Emory, who knew St. Pierre for a decade. He said St. Pierre played a significant role in establishing the CDC’s Maternal Mortality Team. Dr. Kramer also said St. Pierre would bike with her kids to school every day.
“She was passionate about her kids,” he said. “She would talk about them and share pictures. I bike commute to work and she would bike her kids to school. There was a route in Virginia Highlands that we would occasionally cross paths and so I always liked seeing her on one of those big utility bikes that you can put your kids on. She’d be trucking along in the rain or the cold.”
RELATED: 'The best of the best' | Family and colleagues remember Midtown shooting victim Amy St. Pierre
St. Pierre was also passionate about her work with a variety of social justice organizations and nonprofits.
"She felt an obligation to society to do her part and was an incredibly generous giver. Amy had many causes and organizations she donated her time and money to, all rooted in her commitment to be of service in this world," the online memorial read.
In lieu of flowers, the online memorial said donations can be made to the following organizations, which meant a lot to St. Pierre:
- Tides Advocacy Fund (Solidaire Action)
- Highlander Research and Education Center (Southern Power Fund)
- Cypress Fund (Neo Philanthropy, Inc.) | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/celebration-of-life-amy-st-pierre-atlanta-midtown-shooting/85-28ad352c-a429-4b24-8e41-d98303251e0b | 2023-05-10T23:42:49 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/celebration-of-life-amy-st-pierre-atlanta-midtown-shooting/85-28ad352c-a429-4b24-8e41-d98303251e0b |
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Georgia lawmakers are going to look at safety issues in Georgia’s tree industry. This follows the death of a tree worker in Cobb County a few days ago.
One proposal is to require the state to license tree workers. Some Georgia lawmakers say the danger of tree work makes it worth considering.
Art Alcantar lost his uncle in April, 57-year-old David Hernandez, who was a tree worker. He died after an accident while cutting down a tree in Cobb County. He "had a lot of people that loved him," Alcanter said.
Christie Bryant, a past president of the Georgia Arborists Association, said it’s past time for the state to require training and licenses for tree workers.
"Do you know when you go to get your nails done, they have to have a license?" Bryant asked, noting that barbers and electricians are also required to have state licenses. "Guess who doesn’t have to have a license? The person doing the most dangerous thing in your yard is not required by the state of Georgia to have a license."
State Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) is behind the legislative effort to at least examine whether to require licenses for tree workers.
"It’s one of the most dangerous industries in Georgia," Anderson said Wednesday. "The traditional model for a startup business in this industry is that if you have a pickup and a chain saw, you can be a tree trimmer."
But new regulations may be a tough sell in a General Assembly controlled by Republicans. When he first ran for governor in 2018, Brian Kemp told voters he was no fan of government regulations. Wielding a chainsaw in a TV ad, Kemp said "I’m so conservative, my chainsaw’s ready to rip up some regulations.”
But two years ago, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration wrote “the number of fatalities, injuries and uncontrolled hazards in the tree and landscaping industries … is alarming and unacceptable.”
"I’m seeing tree companies work in almost every neighborhood. And it is embarrassing how constant it is that I roll up on a tree crew that doesn’t even have the basics of a hard hat," Bryant said.
A subcommittee of the House Regulated Industries committee is expected to take testimony on it later this year, said state Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell), the committee chairman. Legislation would come afterward. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-lawmakers-consider-licensing-tree-workers/85-817fc0be-6abb-409d-b017-190eba2d6fb5 | 2023-05-10T23:42:59 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-lawmakers-consider-licensing-tree-workers/85-817fc0be-6abb-409d-b017-190eba2d6fb5 |
ATLANTA — Vice President Kamala Harris will be back in Atlanta Friday, according to White House officials.
She will be headlining the Democratic Party of Georgia's Spring Soiree fundraiser. VP Harris will also be in the Peach State for the Democratic National Convention finance event, White House officials said.
This will be the vice president's third visit to Atlanta this year. Her last two visits were in an effort to better the environment, as part of the Biden administration's push for climate change.
Harris was in Dalton last month, where she promoted the Qcells solar deal. The South Korean company’s corporate parent, Hanwha Solutions Corp., said in January it will invest $2.5 billion to expand its Dalton, Georgia plant and build another plant in nearby Cartersville.
The vice president was also in town in February, where she spoke with Georgia Tech scholars about addressing climate change in our communities.
Harris touched on topics including droughts, alternative forms of energy, clean water and how environmental concerns can impact a person’s health.
Her February visit was a part of the Biden Administration’s effort to amplify the president’s State of the Union address.
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at WhereAtlantaSpeaks@11Alive.com. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/kamala-harris-atlanta-visit/85-5982c261-7713-4262-96a1-522be21622e5 | 2023-05-10T23:43:05 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/kamala-harris-atlanta-visit/85-5982c261-7713-4262-96a1-522be21622e5 |
JONESBORO, Ga. — It's been three weeks since the family of a 38-year-old Clayton County man last saw him before he was reported missing.
Clayton County Police officers received a report that Corey Woods disappeared on April 18.
Police said that Woods was last seen leaving his family member's house on Burberry Court in Jonesboro.
Woods is described as 5 feet and 11 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. Authorities said he has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about Woods' disappearance is encouraged to contact the police at 770-477-4026 or call 911.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
Also download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/clayton-county-missing-man-corey-woods/85-463fdc5b-76f6-426b-b115-233091d6de60 | 2023-05-10T23:43:11 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/clayton-county-missing-man-corey-woods/85-463fdc5b-76f6-426b-b115-233091d6de60 |
ROSWELL, Ga. — Streets in Downtown Roswell are shut down as crews wrap up work on a sinkhole.
Crews shut down southbound Canton Street by Highway 9 and Norcross Street Wednesday afternoon, as they worked on a deep sinkhole that had emerged along Webb Street.
Canton Street has since reopened to traffic but Webb Street will remain closed between Canton Street and Mimosa Street, according to the Roswell Police Department.
The sinkhole is an added issue as Roswell city leaders consider shutting down Canton Street, worrying businesses who occupy the stretch of road. The city said it is considering the shutdown due to traffic issues in the area.
If the proposed change passes, the city would shut down at least 200 feet of the street from East Valley to Elizabeth Way.
Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson hosted a meeting Tuesday at City Hall to discuss the issue. Officials said they will reach their final decision on the project in the coming weeks at a City Council meeting, it is unclear if the sinkhole and other infrastructure issues may play a role. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/roswell/downtown-roswell-sinkhole/85-84d9371e-0ca0-4b80-8afa-4cdfb8baebf9 | 2023-05-10T23:43:17 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/roswell/downtown-roswell-sinkhole/85-84d9371e-0ca0-4b80-8afa-4cdfb8baebf9 |
ATLANTA — After contention about whether the new "home of the Braves" was costing Cobb County more than it's worth, officials said it's finally becoming a moneymaker.
Cobb County Chief Financial Officer Bill Volckmann presented the annual report on the finances of Truist Park and The Battery revealing the complex made more than $38 million in combined tax revenue -- the most it has since it was constructed, according to the county.
“This is a milestone moment for us in Cobb County,” Volckmann told the board Tuesday. “We netted 400 thousand dollars above and beyond the requirements for the debt service for the first time since this investment began.”
According to a Cobb County news release, Volckmann’s figures showed the initial estimate of $6.4 million per year in debt service from the general fund was reduced to $2.1 million last year because other funding sources increased. At the same time, The Battery paid the county $2.5 million in property taxes.
Last year's report shows revenue surpassing just over $34 million, showing the complex making more money than originally anticipated. The 2022 fiscal year solidified the trend, even though the Atlanta Braves were not World Series Champions -- a factor that likely contributed to the complex's revenue in the past.
"Truist Park is now net positive for Cobb County taxpayers," a news release from the Atlanta Braves reads.
Around 10 million visitors stopped by The Battery and Truist Park last year, spending an average of three-and-a-half hours at the complex. Venues in the area hosted nearly 500 events, including 84 concerts at the Coca-Cola Roxy and 83 Braves games.
During the presentation, Volckmann also said the complex is also attracting new business which could contribute to revenue and foot traffic. This year, The Battery is expected to welcome Cultivate Food & Coffee, Polestar and a new virtual reality concept. A new public pedestrian bridge may also be in the works, according to the annual report.
“This is proof that the risk and the faith and the confidence you had in us nine years ago is providing a lot of impact in the county and community in a variety of ways,” said Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.
To view the full presentation, click here. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/truist-park-battery-property-tax-increase/85-8d667def-ee58-4f42-83b3-d7377a1c55c7 | 2023-05-10T23:43:23 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/truist-park-battery-property-tax-increase/85-8d667def-ee58-4f42-83b3-d7377a1c55c7 |
BOONEVILLE, Ark. — In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began warning people to watch out for unsolicited packages of seeds shipped from China.
Experts were concerned the seeds could be an invasive species and could hurt the surrounding environment if planted.
Before word got out, a man in Booneville planted the seeds and they had been growing in his garden.
"We brought them down here and planted the seeds just to see what would happen, every two weeks I'd come by and put miracle grow on it and they just started growing like crazy," said Doyle Crenshaw.
Experts are unsure what this plant really is, but the concern is it turning out to be an invasive species, which could hurt local agriculture.
Watch our report from 2020:
"Our concern is from an invasive pest aspect, these seeds could introduce an invasive weed, or an invasive insect pest or a plant disease," Scott Bray with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture told 5NEWS when this story originally ran in August 2020.
The plant has a large white fruit and orange flowers, much resembling a squash plant.
"The package said it was from China and said "studded earrings" on the outside, and we thought that was a little odd," Crenshaw said.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is removing the plant from Crenshaw's property for further study.
If you receive these seeds, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture says to place them in a sealed package and give them a call to pick them up. More information can be found on their website.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-man-plants-mysterious-seeds-from-china/527-f53c60ef-6675-412a-8ae4-4f36c4e4a0e4 | 2023-05-10T23:45:42 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-man-plants-mysterious-seeds-from-china/527-f53c60ef-6675-412a-8ae4-4f36c4e4a0e4 |
FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Friends of Recreational Trails (FORT) proposed the purchase and repurposing of the historic Acme Brick Quarry and the placement of a park in its honor.
According to the Fort Smith Museum, Acme Brick merged with the Fort Smith Brick Company in 1923, and 100 years later the group represented by Michael Mings is proposing the city purchase and repurpose their former quarry. It would be known as Brick Yard Park, paying homage to ACME Brick.
Acme Brick closed their plant in 2018 and left only their showroom and sales office in operation. It left nearly 100 acres of land of what used to be the quarry and plant.
"I've had so many people come up to me and say we should do something with the Acme brick property, or turn it into a mountain biking Park," Mings said.
FORT had been discussing the use of the land for the past year. Ming said, "We have been talking about this park at every single meeting."
“We're referring to the concept as the Brickyard Park to pay homage to the quarry that was there and to the people who worked so hard doing the labor to build this community. They literally dug out the clay from the ground to create Fort Smith," Mings said.
The land is located at the intersection of South S Street and Old Greenwood Road. It surrounds the still-operating Acme Brick showroom and sales office. The property is 99 acres and is being sold in three parcels.
"Every time I pass there, it's such an eyesore. and turning it into something that this community would use would be fantastic," Fort Smith resident Jo Elsken said.
A conveyor belt ran across Old Greenwood Road for the plant's operations but was taken down when the plant closed. One of the many ways the proposal plans to honor Acme Brick is by adding a walkway to the area, named "The Conveyor." It would provide a safe passage for pedestrians across Old Greenwood.
"We definitely want to see bricks used on the trails and entryways. They would certainly be a main theme and the aesthetic of the park," Mings said.
Not only had Acme served the area through the quarry for 100 years, but South S Street has historically separated Northside and Southside both geographically and socially.
"All of these dividing lines that have existed in Fort Smith in the past, we hope to create a park where everybody ... can come to this space and be welcomed and gathered together," Mings said.
In the proposal, the portion east of Old Greenwood would be used for mixed development and a large 8.8-acre pond.
"We can really [impact the] flooding in Fort Smith. Water features like that also add themselves as amenities in the community," Mings said.
The west side would be home to a mountain biking park, a 4-acre pond, an amphitheater, parking, pavilions, a trail, and a play area.
"Building trails and parks is not cheap, but we believe that these are worthy investments to be made for the people in Fort Smith," Mings stated. "We think that offering things like this right in the middle of Fort Smith is going to be a way to build that biking community that gets people outside and gets people active."
The Parks Commission supported the proposal which then headed to the board of directors. Ming explained that the group hopes to work with the city on a creative funding strategy.
To see the full proposal, view the Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Commission May 10, 2023 Regular Meeting Agenda.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/group-proposes-park-honoring-historic-acme-brick-fort-smith/527-9bb1677b-00fd-47ae-9294-d4b8a5e85ba4 | 2023-05-10T23:45:43 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/group-proposes-park-honoring-historic-acme-brick-fort-smith/527-9bb1677b-00fd-47ae-9294-d4b8a5e85ba4 |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Deb Pyland at SEARK Heating and Air said at least 70 people had called their office over the last week.
While some Arkansans are calling to schedule springtime maintenance, others notice their air conditioning isn't working after a long winter.
"When you get a quick little break in the weather, and it gets hot, things start happening," Pyland said. "Freon can get a little low... capacitors can pop."
Pyland said spring is usually an excellent time to get a unit serviced.
"The weather does have to be a little bit warmer for us to get a good freon rating," Pyland said. "It needs to be about 70 degrees."
However, because the weather is warmer than usual this year in Arkansas, many people are skipping the maintenance step and calling for repairs.
Dee Coleman with Coleman and Son Automotive said he's busy and is encouraging people to get their A/C serviced on their cars.
"We do see an influx of AC jobs coming in during these hot summer months," Coleman said.
Coleman has serviced at least seven vehicles with A/C problems in the last two weeks.
"You definitely want to get that air conditioning service," Coleman said. "Things like cabin air filters, AC, just a pressure check on them and keeping that conditioner clean, just like your home unit."
Experts recommend changing the air filter in your home every three months, and it should be swapped in a vehicle after every 15,000 to 30,000 miles.
Coleman said vehicles started using a different type of freon beginning in 2017.
"There's a possibility that you might have this new freon called 1234yf," Coleman said.
He added it's meant to be more environmentally friendly but is a bit more costly. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/warm-weather-more-work-for-hvac-techs-mechanics/91-7c75292f-16f5-45f2-a647-dd1054461dd7 | 2023-05-10T23:45:44 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/warm-weather-more-work-for-hvac-techs-mechanics/91-7c75292f-16f5-45f2-a647-dd1054461dd7 |
ANTELOPE, Calif. — Antonio Carlos Chacon was identified by officials as the victim of a deadly shooting in Antelope Monday night.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the shooting was reported in the area of Fawn Hollow Way and Firestone Way around 9 p.m. Monday. The call involved a car crash and a driver, Chacon, being shot.
Chacon was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sgt. Amar Gandhi said the 20-year-old victim and his girlfriend were in the area and encountered the three suspects in the shooting.
Gandhi said the victim and his girlfriend may have been meeting with the suspects to buy narcotics, but the suspects tried to rob him before the shooting occurred
The victim's car hit a parked Toyota which hit a wall next a home's garden after the shooting. The parked car was empty when it was hit.
Randall Watanabe, 19, Leah Perez, 23, and Oscar Silvertre, 18, were arrested in connection to the deadly shooting.
The sheriff's office said Watanabe was the shooter, Perez was the driver and Silvestre arranged the meeting. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/antelope-shooting-victim-identified/103-b5c3895a-932c-49e9-957a-f368739cf895 | 2023-05-10T23:48:00 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/antelope-shooting-victim-identified/103-b5c3895a-932c-49e9-957a-f368739cf895 |
BALTIMORE — Wednesday, Baltimore City Council held their annual meeting to talk about crime reduction strategies especially as it relates to youth.
Shantay Jackson, who’s the director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, said leaders are one step closer to finding out what the youth curfew plan is going to look like.
Wednesday morning, a 15-year-old girl walked into a hospital after she was shot at an unknown location in Baltimore. City leaders said this type of incident is why they’re working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our youth safe, and prevent this from happening again.
“I believe that Baltimore’s children are all of our children, and that we share a responsibility for their safety,” Jackson said.
In a city council meeting, leaders talked about the growing statistics of youth violence throughout our city and how they’re working to combat it. One of the methods includes developing a curfew management plan for summer.
“We’ve got city and state partners at the table, we’ve got community based partners and business partners at the table to make sure we are developing something that’s new, innovative and something that Baltimore has never seen before,” Jackson said.
Jackson said although it’s an all hands on deck approach with drafting this plan, they didn’t forget to include the people its impacting the most.
“The Mayor’s Office of Children and Families successfully engaged over 300 of our children to ask them what engagement and connection really mean to them, so that we are not over programming in a way that continues to feel like school when it’s out of school time. In addition, simultaneously making sure that we’re being responsive to what they consider engaging and fun," Jackson said.
Statistics show since 2018 the number of young people arrested and facing adult charges between ages 14 to 17 averages around 200 people per year. So far, three arrests have been made to youth found with ghost guns as young as 13-years-old.
Jackson said addressing these issues in its entirety it’s what’s going to take to start bringing about change.
“We hear Mayor Scott say all the time we’re investing in the promise that is your future. You are our children, we want to see you grow up, want to see you engaged, we want to see you happy, and just really excited about the fact that, the plan we will be releasing in the coming weeks youth voice played an active part in that plan,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the draft for the youth curfew plan will be presented to the mayor this Friday, and the official plan is prepared to be presented before kids end this school semester. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/city-leaders-developing-youth-curfew-plan-to-help-combat-youth-violence | 2023-05-10T23:56:56 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/city-leaders-developing-youth-curfew-plan-to-help-combat-youth-violence |
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Four portable restrooms at Percival’s Island were destroyed after a suspicious fire over the weekend, according to the Lynchburg Fire Department.
Crews responded around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday after a passerby spotted smoke and flames coming from the area of the footbridge to the island, crews said.
When they arrived, they found the portable restrooms next to the bridge had been set on fire and were quickly destroyed, according to the department.
We’re told the Lynchburg Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire and asks that you call (434) 455-6375 if you have any information about the incident. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/lynchburg-crews-investigate-fire-that-destroyed-four-portable-restrooms-at-percivals-island/ | 2023-05-10T23:57:14 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/lynchburg-crews-investigate-fire-that-destroyed-four-portable-restrooms-at-percivals-island/ |
BLACKSBURG, Va. – One Virginia Tech employee was able to receive the gift of a lifetime from a fellow colleague, who up until recently, was a complete stranger.
Yang Zhang went into kidney failure in July 2021. After months of dialysis and waiting on the transplant list, his odds were becoming more grim.
Zhang took to social media in hopes of finding a live donor.
“In January 2022, I did a post on Facebook and asked my friends and family to share it,” said Zhang.
That’s where fellow Hokie, Annie Chalmers-Williams enters the story.
“I had a little voice that said this is the person, this is my person. So, I emailed,” said Chalmers-Williams.
After months of tests, it was determined Chalmers-Williams was a perfect match.
In January 2023, she gave her left kidney to Zhang.
“It was just a whole experience of feeling very connected to someone even though we were just getting to know each other. So I just felt really really lucky to be able to do that,” said Chalmers-Williams.
Three months into recovery, both of them are healthy and recovering well.
“She gave me a new life. She gave me a new lease on life. And I will forever be grateful for her sacrifice and generosity.”
And they’re grateful to have become what they call “kidney buddies for life.”
“I mean it’s your kidney now, it’s not my kidney anymore. It has a good home,” said Chalmers-Williams. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/she-gave-me-a-new-life-virginia-tech-employee-donates-kidney-to-fellow-hokie-in-need-of-transplant/ | 2023-05-10T23:57:21 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/she-gave-me-a-new-life-virginia-tech-employee-donates-kidney-to-fellow-hokie-in-need-of-transplant/ |
LYNCHBURG, VA – This article is part of “Solutionaries,” our continuing commitment to solutions journalism, highlighting the creative people in communities working to make the world a better place, one solution at a time. Find out what you can do to help and subscribe to our Solutionaries channel on youtube.
Vaping, using a weed pen or being disruptive in class: all reasons kids get suspended.
But in Lynchburg, you don’t serve your time at home. There’s a center dedicated to teaching students coping skills during their suspension.
“Some students see an out-of-school suspension as a treat because it’s like staying at home without having to get up early,” said Amy Poindexter, an assistant principal at Heritage High School who deals with discipline every day.
“It might be classroom disruption. Another common one is sometimes cellphone offenses or it could be like a verbal altercation something like that, where, you know, students just kind of lost their temper,” said Poindexter. “With a lot of discipline, we don’t always have time as assistant principals and administrators to talk with kids and then follow up with them about, you know, their behavior and reflect on it and to help them build the skills.”
But the new Restorative Suspension Center does have the time and resources to make a difference.
“Everybody is focused on changing behavior instead of punishing students,” said Dr. Derek Brown, the Director of Student Services for Lynchburg City Schools, who says the day is very structured.
They start with work to change a student’s behavior so it doesn’t happen again.
“We dive straight into the restorative work. We’ll begin to share and talk about why we’re here and what we need to do differently and start to do, that really intentional work to change a student’s behavior,” said Brown.
This also prevents absences. They do school work teachers send over so students don’t get behind in classes, and there are mentoring and group sessions to talk about their behavior.
“They genuinely feel lighter, because a lot of times they’ve talked about stuff that they’ve been holding in for so long. If it took them getting suspended and coming over here to the suspension center so that they can get the help and the counseling that they need, that makes all the difference in the world to me,” said Brown.
Students are learning coping skills too.
“Being able to remove yourself from the situation, meaning, just communicate to the teacher ‘Hey, you know, I’m having a rough day. This test is stressing me out. Can I take a five-minute break?’” explains Darrius Bethel, the Chief Operating Officer for LifePush, an outside agency that comes in to work with students in the group setting. “Communicating to your teachers. They’re not an enemy. They’re partners in this as well and they genuinely want to support you, but if they don’t know about what’s going on at home and they don’t know that you might be triggered by something that’s already present. They don’t they don’t know what they don’t know.”
Bethel said this model is not only working in Lynchburg, it’s working in schools around our region.
“We actually use this exact same engagement approach in Danville City Schools, Pittsylvania County Schools, Amherst County Schools, and we implemented it here as well. We’ve even played a major part in reducing the suspension rate in Amherst county now like 70%,” said Bethel.
The results show this is working in Lynchburg, according to statistics they’ve been keeping. During the first two months of the program, they served 88 students.
- Before coming to the center, those students combined accounted for 637 discipline referrals, which means they were sent to the principal for them to decide how to handle the behavior issue.
- After attending the Restorative Suspension Center program, those students only had 89 referrals, an 86% decrease.
- Ninety percent of students have not had to return to the suspension center and more than half have not had any more discipline referrals.
We talked to students attending the center and aren’t naming them. 10 News asked ‘What would it be like without a place like this?’
One girl said, “I’d probably be fighting or fighting. Probably be in trouble.”
A boy said he would be in trouble continously, “I’d probably be doing the same stuff and not knowing what’s wrong and how I can fix it, knowing what the next step is, instead of going in the same pattern.”
The girl said the center is teaching valuable skills.
“They taught me to sit back and think about it before actually reacting and lashing out. Because at the time, I lash out,” she said.
High school administrators notice the difference.
“It gives them a tool to come back later into school and maybe make a different decision. A lot of times kids will come to me and say, ‘You’ll be so proud of me Miss Poindexter. You know I could have done this, but I use the skills and the strategies that I’ve been taught and I didn’t get angry, you know, I took a break. I talked it out first, I came straight to you instead of handling it myself,’” said Poindexter.
Right now, the limitation is space and staff. They want to open up a program for middle and elementary school students but need to hire people first.
They also say time is a limitation. A ten-day suspension sometimes isn’t enough time to help students make the changes needed. Lynchburg is also exploring the possibility of opening a new Restorative Academy, a longer program that would be six to nine weeks.
This summer, they’ll be holding trainings for staff at the center.
This is part of our Solutionaries series and this month we’re talking about schools. Head over to youtube.com/solutionaries to find the longer version of this story and other solutions surrounding issues with schools.
This article is part of “Solutionaries,” our continuing commitment to solutions journalism, highlighting the creative people in communities working to make the world a better place, one solution at a time. Find out what you can do to help and subscribe to our Solutionaries channel on youtube. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/virginia-students-learning-strategies-to-avoid-bad-behavior-more-suspensions/ | 2023-05-10T23:57:27 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/virginia-students-learning-strategies-to-avoid-bad-behavior-more-suspensions/ |
BLACKSBURG, Va. – If you ever feel like mosquitos are more attracted to you than your friends or family, you may be right.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are looking into how different scents on humans attract mosquitos.
The scent of soap or perfume a person uses can impact how many mosquitos are drawn to them, researchers say.
They also found that mosquitos are more attracted to fruity and flowery scents and less attracted to the smell of coconut. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/what-scents-can-keep-mosquitos-away-virginia-tech-researchers-share-their-findings/ | 2023-05-10T23:57:33 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/10/what-scents-can-keep-mosquitos-away-virginia-tech-researchers-share-their-findings/ |
Family, friends of Greg Rowley, Utah man who died on a Sedona bike trail, honor his life
Greg Rowley, a Utah man who died while biking on a trail near Devil's Bridge in Sedona with his two teenage sons in early April, was honored at a funeral service in his home city of Nephi, Utah at the Nephi Stake Center on April 20.
Rowley was pronounced dead on the Sedona trail on April 7 shortly after emergency medical services arrived in response to calls of the 53-year-old not breathing after complaining of chest pains and falling off his bike, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
Thirteen days later, Rowley’s loved ones gathered at Nephi Stake Center in Nephi, Utah to mourn his unexpected passing.
The 53-year-old, described by those who knew him as a pillar for everything that is good in the world, was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout his life, having held the title of bishop of the Nephi 8th Ward at the time of his passing, according to a public obituary by Goff Mortuary.
Rowley’s faith was shared by his wife, Jennifer Anderson-Rowley, and his six children, who reported taking comfort in their father’s faith and the hope that they will be together again, according to the obituary.
“I rejoice because when he fell off that bike, he met his Savior who was the one to pick him up, because he lived in a way that I will forever be proud to be called his son, and because I know that Christ rose again the third day,” wrote Jeff Rowley, one of Greg Rowley’s sons, in an Aug. 9 Facebook post.
In the same heart-felt Facebook post, Jeff said his father was his hero and the person he aspires to one day become, calling him the most constant and steadfast person he knew.
Rowley’s son wrote that his father’s unexpected passing after suffering what was most likely a heart attack was quick to make the world seem like a darker place, describing the sorrow he and his siblings felt over the loss of their father.
That sorrow was echoed by the Nephi community Rowley touched through his twelve-year-long service on the Nephi City Council and his involvement in local high school mentorship programs.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of Greg Rowley’s passing,” wrote Nephi City Mayor Justin Seely in a tweet following Rowley’s death. “One of my greatest privileges was serving with him on the Nephi City Council."
Seely said Rowley was constantly searching for ways to improve the Nephi community, recounting the countless hours Rowley spent educating and preparing himself for the topics of city council discussion.
“We were impressed by him and voted for him because he took the time to go door to door and see the community and listen to us,” wrote Morris and Judy Wright in a public tribute.
In addition to his years spent serving on the Nephi City Council and volunteering as a mentor for the work experience program offered at Juab High School, Rowley coached youth sports and frequently supported high school sports teams, according to the obituary.
'A beautiful boy who died':How Swifties will honor Ronan's birthday during Taylor's show
Rowley held a degree from Utah State University and Wichita State University in physical therapy and held a 27-year-long career as a board-certified physical therapy and sports medicine doctor at Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi.
According to the obituary, he was the sole physical therapist in Nephi in the late 1990s and played a significant role in growing the town’s physical therapy presence.
“There are countless stories of Greg showing up to diagnose and help those who were hurt. He wouldn’t go anywhere without his blue bag,” read the obituary.
The Arizona Republic reached out to Rowley’s family for comment, who consented to a story based on public information but preferred not to speak on the matter.
Rowley is survived by his six children, Jeff (Kelly), Jared (Breanna), Jackson, Ellie, Jay, and Jacob, his wife, Jennifer Rowley, his granddaughter Belle, his parents, Steven Dee and Colleen Rowley, his siblings, Brian (Emily), Kevin (Jeanette), Trent (Megan), Daniel (Jenny), Sheri, Janell (Darrell) and multiple nieces and nephews, according to the obituary. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/10/greg-rowley-family-friends-of-honor-utah-man-who-died-on-sedona-bike-trail/70193601007/ | 2023-05-11T00:00:06 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/10/greg-rowley-family-friends-of-honor-utah-man-who-died-on-sedona-bike-trail/70193601007/ |
Former Peoria teacher accused of child molestation on trial. What to know
The trial of a former Peoria elementary school teacher facing over two dozen child molestation and sexual abuse charges ended Wednesday.
Here's what we know so far.
Who is Ricky Ordway?
Ricky Ordway, 47, was arrested in May 2019 on suspicion of inappropriately touching fifth-grade girls at Sun Valley Elementary School in Peoria, where he taught computer science.
Ordway was tried for 16 counts of aggravated assault on a minor, 9 counts of child molestation, three counts of sexual abuse, three counts of attempt to commit child molestation, and one count for sexual conduct with a minor.
What is Ricky Ordway accused of?
According to court records, Ordway was initially accused of repeatedly molesting at least two 11-year-old girls in his fifth-grade class from September 2018 through May 2019, and of sexually abusing another one of his students.
However, more names of potential victims came out during forensic interviews. Prosecutors have identified 12 victims dating to 2010, according to court records.
It's unclear how many of the alleged incidents occurred during the school day or on school property.
According to a $25 million claim filed by an attorney representing an alleged 11-year-old victim against Peoria Unified School District in November 2019, there were about 15 to 20 young girls who were also "molested and sexually assaulted" during the 2018-2019 school year, the claim says.
More on the story:Peoria teacher accused of molesting up to 20 students in $25 million claim
When authorities interviewed Ordway he denied all of the accusations, according to court records.
The Peoria school district initially placed him on paid administrative leave right after his arrest but he was later fired after the district governing board voted to do so in January 2020.
In 2019, attorneys representing alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit against Ordway, the city of Peoria and the Peoria Unified School District. That lawsuit moved to federal court in May of 2020.
Ordway would "flirt with students between the ages of 9 and 10, buy them expensive gifts, have them sit on his lap and exhibit other behavior that no rational educator could deem as anything other than highly, grossly, inappropriate behavior," the lawsuit claims.
What's the status of Ricky Ordway's case?
Ordway is being tried at the Maricopa County Superior Court, which started on March 6 and ended on Wednesday.
It was initially scheduled to start in April 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The verdict of the trial was pending jury deliberation as of Wednesday afternoon. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/peoria/2023/05/10/former-peoria-teacher-accused-of-child-molestation-on-trial-what-to-know/70205542007/ | 2023-05-11T00:00:12 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/peoria/2023/05/10/former-peoria-teacher-accused-of-child-molestation-on-trial-what-to-know/70205542007/ |
WATERLOO – As part of National Public Works Week an open house and heavy equipment demonstration at Waterloo Public Works will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24.
The open house will be located at 625 Glenwood St. The free event is open to the public and gives visitors an opportunity to look at heavy equipment like graders, sweepers, lift and garbage trucks, as well as a chance to ride them.
Children must be accompanied by an adult and will be given safety equipment during their visit. Special arrangements can be made for groups to tour earlier that day.
If there is rain or severe weather, the event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 25.
PHOTOS: Top-Ten opponents Hudson and Denver squared off Monday in Denver
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Hudson's Ella Hiatt and Denver's Kenzie Snyder battle for a airborne ball during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Miranda Thurm and Hudson's Ella Hiatt challenge for a loose ball during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Myla Rosencrans (16) is surrounded by her Denver teammates after scoring a first-half goal Monday in a match against Hudson in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Myla Rosencrans watches her shot fly toward the net for a first-half goal Monday against Hudson in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Hudson's Greta Regenwether and Denver's Alyssa Harberts each challenge for a ball during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Hudson's Savannah Schneider looks to move the ball past Denver's Klaire Heim Monday during a match in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Hudson's Ansley Trunck races ahead of Denver's Ava Dunkin during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Alayna Akers leaps into the air to try to corral a ball Monday during a match with Hudson in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Ava Dunkin moves past Hudson's Madison Willand during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Hudson's Avery Ubben fires a past down field during first half action Monday against Denver in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Lexi Gehrke dribbles in the midfield while Hudson's Jasmine Olsen marks her during the first half Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Hudson's Ella Hiatt attempts to control a ball in front of Denver's Kenzie Snyder during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Kenzie Snyder clears a ball away from Hudson's Annabelle Lange during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Lexi Gehrke (13) and Hudson's Callie Stickfort (16) chase after the ball during first half action Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Hudson's Claire Stickfort corrals a ball in the midfield during the Pirates match with Denver Monday in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Denver's Keira Gehrke drives a shot toward the net Monday during first half action against Hudson in Denver.
JIM NELSON, Courier Sports Editor
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-public-works-to-hold-open-house/article_81c38f1f-1430-5c7a-92ff-b4a5f9c71212.html | 2023-05-11T00:01:11 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-public-works-to-hold-open-house/article_81c38f1f-1430-5c7a-92ff-b4a5f9c71212.html |
AUSTIN, Texas — A Navy veteran walked 1,384 miles to raise awareness for mental health.
Jason Rhodes, a veteran from North Carolina, started the walk in February and arrived in Austin this week.
"Something was placed in my heart to take a walk. I decided if I was going to take a walk, I was going to plan a good one," said Rhodes.
Rhodes walked through five states. He runs a renovation business called RenoVet. He said many of his profits go towards helping veterans.
But the veteran said he wanted to do even more with this walk, as he's trying to create awareness for mental health and the need for more resources for veterans.
"Guys will be in war for 20 years. Like I said, you are going 10,12,15 deployments, you know. They are coming back and we need some proper transitioning," said Rhodes.
The walk is also for active military, law enforcement and first responders.
Throughout his three-month journey, Rhodes slept at fire stations, churches and even in the woods, dealing with all types of weather and terrain.
He said he met some incredible people along the way.
"[People] offering places to stay, showers, washed my clothes, gave me water and food," he said.
He also is hoping to raise funds through this walk to try to build resources for veterans in each of the states he walked through. Rhodes said the facilities will help their mental health.
"We can teach trades to veterans and active-duty status across them, and that kind of brings people together to have that common thing to get away," said Rhodes. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/navy-vet-walks-1384-miles-to-create-awareness-for-mental-health/269-88038f3d-ea8d-491d-8e52-41e77f42bd4f | 2023-05-11T00:01:37 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/navy-vet-walks-1384-miles-to-create-awareness-for-mental-health/269-88038f3d-ea8d-491d-8e52-41e77f42bd4f |
TEXAS, USA — The suspect in the mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets did not hide his hate.
According to an FBI bulletin written after the shooting, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia had posted violent, white supremacist rhetoric and images hundreds of times on his social media accounts.
He had neo-Nazi ideation, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and showed it through tattoos on his body and patches on his clothes.
Yet, he was not known to law enforcement.
At least not until he shot and killed eight people and injured seven more on a busy Saturday afternoon at the Allen mall State Rep. Mihaela Plesa frequents.
Some of her friends were there when the shooting happened.
“It’s not just that my thoughts and prayers are with [the victims], I wake up and I want to fight for them,” said Plesa, a Democrat whose district includes part of Allen.
Part of the fight is for accountability for her three constituents who died.
“We could have prevented this,” she said.
Plesa and other Texas Democrats have been pushing to strengthen Texas gun laws since the session began in January.
And after the shooting in Allen, there was slight momentum for a day or two with a handful of Republicans beginning to voice their support for change.
But measures now appear stalled, and it seems unlikely that any talk of gun reform will see further action or debate.
Democrats are disappointed, but say there’s other work to do.
“I think there’s been a growing wave of white supremacy in this country - from a grocery store shooting to a church to El Paso to now Allen. We’ve watched this happen not even in slow motion. This is happening rapidly. And our leaders refuse to do anything about it,” said State. Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston.
In August 2019, a man from Allen drove to El Paso to specifically target people of Mexican descent.
Moments before he shot and killed 23 people at a Walmart, he posted a racist manifesto online.
Days after the mass murder, Texas Governor Greg Abbott formed a Domestic Terrorism Task Force. Part of the group’s goal was to strategize ways to better track threats of extremism.
Through an open records request, WFAA asked the governor’s office for minutes from all task force meetings.
Documents returned show the group met twice – August 30, 2019 and January 7, 2020.
Then COVID hit and the task force did not reconvene, the governor’s office confirmed.
“I want to know what DPS has been doing, what threads they’ve been following on Twitter or Facebook or any kind of social media from people like this man in Allen,” said State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat from San Antonio.
Wednesday, May 10, Gov. Abbott’s press office sent WFAA a statement saying since the mass shooting in El Paso and the one that followed in Midland Odessa weeks later, the governor has issued eight executive orders and five directives to DPS.
The statement went on to say since the directives were put in place, more than 110 special agents have been assigned to Texas Anti-Gang Centers investigating criminal gangs affiliated with neo Nazi and white nationalist groups.
“DPS has 200 Special Agents and 14 Intelligence Analysts to monitor and investigate all threats to life, including domestic terrorism threats, domestic terrorism subjects, and domestic terrorism organizations. But there is more work to be done,” said Andrew Mahaleris, spokesperson for Gov. Abbott.
The concerns are bipartisan.
State Rep. Frederick Frazier, a Republican from Collin County, is a career police officer.
“Why are we not looking? Why are we not watching? Why are we not looking at social media. What is going on with this particular person? Why is there so much hate?” he asked.
He praised work done by fusion centers, which are places where state, local and federal law enforcement agencies work together and share intelligence.
But Frazier said lawmakers need to look to increase funding for the kind of difficult investigative work it takes to track online extremism.
“Some of these guys are just so quiet, so under the radar, it’s a suicide mission,” he said.
Plesa represents a diverse district and she said too many of her constituents are living in fear of being targets of hate.
“If we don’t deal with extremism, we’re going to keep seeing these things happen,” said Plesa. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/lawmakers-question-why-allen-texas-shooters-online-extremism-was-missed/287-86b43c3a-6c8c-4135-968c-1500586903b6 | 2023-05-11T00:01:43 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/lawmakers-question-why-allen-texas-shooters-online-extremism-was-missed/287-86b43c3a-6c8c-4135-968c-1500586903b6 |
BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) announced a new construction project in an attempt to improve motorist safety on State Highway 21.
On Wednesday, ITD said the goal is to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions while maintaining habitat connectivity for big game. In addition to the already existing wildlife underpass, big game fencing will be installed on both sides of the overpass to funnel wildlife toward to the crossing.
ITD said the construction will begin this month on the Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass, between Lucky Peak and Idaho City, at milepost 19.3 - with completion expected to be in October of 2023.
To facilitate motorists, drivers will be detoured to a two-lane bypass road. Motorists can expect reduced speeds and periods of lane closures with flagger control.
The department said that the placement of the wildlife pass considers the terrain, constructability, future maintenance, recreational needs and minimal impairment of views from the road.
Underpass Project:
In 2010, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) constructed a wildlife underpass on SH-21 at milepost 18.2. ITD said that since the installation, cameras monitoring that underpass showed extensive use by mule deer, elk and other wildlife – all of which pose serious safety and mobility hazards to drivers if they were on the road.
ITD said that the pass also improved habitat linkage and landscape connectivity to the Boise River Wildlife Management Area and adjacent public lands of the Boise National Forest, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of Lands, City of Boise, and Bureau of Land Management.
According to ITD, the Cervidae Peak project is supported by Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Boise, Ada and Boise Counties, numerous Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highways Division.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/overpass-project-reduce-wildlife-vehicle-collisions-highway/277-3924146b-3528-4208-b974-20d5a9d5171e | 2023-05-11T00:03:09 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/overpass-project-reduce-wildlife-vehicle-collisions-highway/277-3924146b-3528-4208-b974-20d5a9d5171e |
HELLERTOWN, Pa. — In the Lehigh Valley, the "After School Satan Club" held its first meeting following a court battle between the Satanic Temple and the Saucon Valley School District.
The Satanic Temple was given the green light by a federal court earlier this month that it is the club's constitutional right to use Saucon Valley School District's middle school as its meeting place to gather.
The district is to abide by the agreement first approved before the superintendent rescinded it.
The ACLU says several students turned out for the first meeting and that it went well.
People practicing their First Amendment right to protest gathered ahead of the meeting of those practicing their own first amendment rights.
Want to see what Newswatch 16's newscast was like in 1976? Head on over to WNEP's YouTube. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lehigh-county/after-school-satan-club-holds-first-meeting-saucon-valley-school-district-wnep/523-b1f8e3c0-5d7b-4ebe-badb-e701b9ff806e | 2023-05-11T00:04:31 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lehigh-county/after-school-satan-club-holds-first-meeting-saucon-valley-school-district-wnep/523-b1f8e3c0-5d7b-4ebe-badb-e701b9ff806e |
ARIZONA, USA — A $17 billion budget package that Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs negotiated with leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature and won approval on Wednesday is drawing criticism from Democrats for failing to put limits on an expansion of a school voucher program that they say is a drain on the state’s coffers.
The Democratic governor came into office in January with plans to undo the massive explosion in the voucher program, championed by her GOP predecessor Gov. Doug Ducey, that lets students apply to use public money for private-school tuition and other education costs.
Hobbs’ office had said the expansion siphons money from underfunded public schools and would cost $1.5 billion over the next decade.
The governor didn’t propose doing away with all vouchers, but she wanted to return to the voucher program to what it was before Ducey expanded it to include every child in the state -- when disabled children, students living on American Indian reservations, students attending low-performing public schools and others were eligible for voucher funds.
Despite her criticism of the expanded vouchers, the budget proposals negotiated by Hobbs didn’t include any caps on the expansion.
Even as they heaped on criticism of the budget, some Democratic lawmakers still voted for elements of the package and lauded its $300 million increase in K-12 education funding and another $150 million for a fund that helps people with low-income housing, an eviction-prevention program and transitional housing.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate approved the budget package, with support from some Democratic legislators. The package will be sent to Hobbs for her consideration.
In a statement, Hobbs said she looked forward to signing the package into law and was “thankful legislative leaders were able to set aside their differences, compromise, and support a bipartisan deal.”
Democratic Rep. Cesar Aguilar of Phoenix said the Legislature was passing a budget crafted by Republicans, not by Democrats.
“I have seen budgets in the past when we’ve had Republican governors,” Aguilar said. “It has always been given to Democrats in the last minute. Today, many of us Democrats helped Gov. Hobbs get elected, and I personally thought maybe this year wouldn’t be a lot different. But that is not the case. Democrats seem to be in the same boat as if we would have had a Republican governor.”
During the debate on the House floor, most Democratic lawmakers shied away from directly criticizing Hobbs but expressed dissatisfaction with the budget’s lack of action on the voucher expansion. They tried unsuccessfully to bar applications for new enrollments until late May 2024.
Nearly 12,000 students participated in the program before it was expanded. More than 55,000 students are currently in the program. The average scholarship amount now stands around $10,000 per student.
At a news conference on Monday, Hobbs was asked about the budget’s lack of action in limiting the program.
“I think we can agree that the voucher program is a drain on resources that should be directed at public education,” Hobbs said. “But I didn’t say I was going to end it. It is a goal, certainly.”
Backers of the voucher expansion say it allows parents to choose the best schools for their children.
Like other Republicans, Rep. Justin Heap of Mesa disputed that public education was being undercut by the voucher expansion and would bankrupt the state.
Heap said criticizing the voucher program is actually an attack on students and their families who rely on the vouchers. “They have the audacity to to take their children out of a government school and put them into a better program,” Heap said.
Arizona now has the nation’s most expansive private school voucher law. It allows parents of the more than 1.2 million school-age children to get 90% of the state money that would normally go to their local public school and use it for private or other school costs.
The voucher system started in 2011 with a small program that only applied to disabled children, who can receive up to $40,000 a year for specialized therapy. The Republican-controlled Legislature expanded it repeatedly over the past decade.
Before the universal expansion took effect, it also covered students living on American Indian reservations, attending low-performing public schools and several other groups.
In a statement, Marisol Garcia, president of the Arizona Education Association, a union that represents teachers, said she was glad the budget included the one-time infusion of $300 million into K-12 public schools and other funding for schools.
But Garcia expressed frustration over the lack of limits on the voucher program.
“The extremist majority in our state Legislature has ignored the will of Arizona voters and pushed through policies that bankroll private schools for the wealthy at the cost of the public schools attended by 90% of Arizona kids,” Garcia said.
On Wednesday, leaders in the Arizona House announced the creation of a special committee to examine vouchers. The panel’s members will include Democratic and Republican lawmakers, Hobbs and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/democrats-upset-arizona-budget-doesnt-limit-school-voucher-expansion/75-ad516ac7-262c-4382-b401-783e8cd5216e | 2023-05-11T00:08:43 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/democrats-upset-arizona-budget-doesnt-limit-school-voucher-expansion/75-ad516ac7-262c-4382-b401-783e8cd5216e |
More than two weeks after he was shot eight times in an attempted robbery, Sallieu Sessay is counting his blessings as he continues his road to recovery.
"It was a miracle for me to be alive right now," Sessay told NBC10 on Wednesday.
Sessay, 40, bought a tow truck earlier this year to start his own business. After finishing work on April 24, Sessay parked the truck along South 72nd Street near Greenway Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia shortly before 11 p.m. That's when four young men -- believed to be in their teens or early 20s -- approached him and tried to rob him. Police said at least one of the men pulled out a gun and opened fire, shooting Sessay once in the arm, once in the ankle, and multiple times in the stomach.
"The moments, when I got shot, because the gun was on my chest. Right? So when I turned, the fourth shot went through on my arm right here and came out," Sessay said.
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After the shooting, the suspects -- who police said were all wearing dark clothing -- fled the scene on foot.
Despite being shot eight times and bleeding profusely, Sessay still mustered the strength to walk to his cousin's home nearby.
"It was a shock to me, you know? Because I wasn't expecting it," Sessay said. "But God just gave me the strength for me to be able to fight. Able to run away so I can get help."
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“I got shot! I got shot," he says in the clip.
With no time to wait for an ambulance, responding police officers rushed Sessay to the hospital. Doctors told Sessay he may not have survived if he had gotten there any later.
"It was a blessing for me to be able to fight for my life and able to get the strength to knock on my cousin's house for help," Sessay said.
It will be at least another month until Sessay fully recovers. In the meantime however, the father of five continues to work despite his injuries.
"Because I'm by myself employed, there's no way I'm able to stay home and just lay down," he said. "Right now I'm in pain still but I have to fight it."
Police continue to investigate the shooting. No arrests have been made.
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/father-of-5-returns-to-work-after-being-shot-8-times-last-month/3563970/ | 2023-05-11T00:13:14 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/father-of-5-returns-to-work-after-being-shot-8-times-last-month/3563970/ |
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Contact Us | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/hedgerow-theatre-company-celebrates-100th-anniversary-with-new-show-the-puzzle/3563900/ | 2023-05-11T00:13:14 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/hedgerow-theatre-company-celebrates-100th-anniversary-with-new-show-the-puzzle/3563900/ |
JOHNSTON, Iowa — One person is dead and another is hurt after a Tuesday night shooting in Johnston, according to police.
The shooting happened near Northwest 62nd Avenue and Northwest Beaver Drive around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Officers on the scene found two injured men, one with multiple gunshot wounds and another with one wound. First responders transported both men to local trauma centers, where the one who'd been shot multiple times later died from his injuries.
Police later identified the deceased man as 62-year-old Steven Miller.
Police claim they have the suspect in custody and there is no threat to public safety. They also believe the shooter and those who were shot knew each other prior to the incident.
Witnesses who anonymously spoke to Local 5 claim that Miller was refusing to leave their apartment and threatening them with a knife. They believe the shooter acted in self-defense.
"He's not an aggressor. He is a hero. He protected us. He went out of his way to make sure he stayed in the line of danger. Only true heroes do that," one witness said.
Names of those involved have not yet been released, and the second injured man's status is currently unknown.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest.
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► Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/suspect-detained-in-double-shooting-in-johnston-iowa/524-6e0f523c-87ec-45c4-b1f2-3eeabdb1ddad | 2023-05-11T00:13:18 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/suspect-detained-in-double-shooting-in-johnston-iowa/524-6e0f523c-87ec-45c4-b1f2-3eeabdb1ddad |
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Philadelphia Police arrested a man who they say sexually assaulted a victim while armed with a knife outside an apartment complex near the University of Pennsylvania in University City earlier this month.
Ticquarn Thomas, 21, of Philadelphia, was arrested Wednesday and charged with rape, unlawful restraint, sexual assault, terroristic threats, indecent exposure and other related offenses.
The incident occurred outside Hamilton Court along the 3800 block of Chestnut Street around 1:50 a.m. on May 2, police said. The victim was taking out the trash when Thomas, who was armed with a knife approached her and sexually assaulted her, according to investigators.
Penn students received an alert about what was initially called an attempted sex assault. After Thomas' arrest, Philadelphia Police said the incident was a sexual assault.
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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/police-arrest-man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-victim-at-off-campus-apartment-near-penn/3563972/ | 2023-05-11T00:13:35 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/police-arrest-man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-victim-at-off-campus-apartment-near-penn/3563972/ |
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DALLAS — Medics have analyzed their response in prior mass shootings to develop strategies for saving victims of subsequent mass shootings, hospital administrators say.
The work is tragically important, as Americans cope with a gun violence problem the country has yet to solve.
In some places, doctors have now treated victims of multiple mass shootings.
University Hospital in San Antonio admitted patients shot in the 2017 attack on First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. There, a gunman killed 26 people and injured 22 more.
In the months that followed, San Antonio hospital leaders, first responders, and other regional officials met to develop a comprehensive trauma response plan.
"We hoped there wasn't going to be another mass shooting, but then there was," said Dr. Lillian Liao, a trauma surgeon at University Hospital in San Antonio.
Liao coordinated the emergency response at the public hospital after the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary. There, a gunman killed 21 people and injured 17 more.
“We were able to save lives in the Uvalde shooting because of our ability to recognize the needs - evolving needs - of this country," said Liao.
Officials made three recommendations after the tragedy in Sutherland Springs: bolster firearms injury prevention and education, improve bleeding control training, and utilize whole blood for transfusions in transit to the hospital.
Eventually, lawmakers crafted a bill that mandates yearly bleeding control training for some school staff. First responders handle course instruction.
Liao said each Robb Elementary patient arrived at University Hospital wearing a properly-applied bandage or tourniquet.
Perhaps most crucial, San Antonio is now one of a few cities in the world using whole blood for mass transfusions in transit. Area emergency helicopters are equipped with cold storage, which allows medics to transport the blood to rural communities.
“We saw that if we could get blood to the pre-hospital providers, then we could potentially buy the patients who were injured more time to get to the hospital alive," Liao said.
First responders did not have access to whole blood during their response to Sutherland Springs.
Liao said the American College of Surgeons is working to place well-developed trauma systems in every state. The strategy requires logistical collaboration at every level of service.
Still, some doctors feel helpless, Liao said. They know they'll likely continue treating mass shooting victims for years to come.
“I think it’s devastating, not just to us in the medical profession, but to us as humans," she said.
"There has to be a multi-prong approach, she continued. "There has to be a focus on firearm availability, and there have to be others focused on trauma-informed care: this mental health crisis that’s causing the violence.” | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mass-shootings-recur-hospitals-adjust-trauma-care-strategies/287-976ebfb9-9122-4163-80bd-d0849b22727c | 2023-05-11T00:13:56 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mass-shootings-recur-hospitals-adjust-trauma-care-strategies/287-976ebfb9-9122-4163-80bd-d0849b22727c |
TEXAS, USA — The suspect in the mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets did not hide his hate.
According to an FBI bulletin written after the shooting, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia had posted violent, white supremacist rhetoric and images hundreds of times on his social media accounts.
He had neo-Nazi ideation, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and showed it through tattoos on his body and patches on his clothes.
Yet, he was not known to law enforcement.
At least not until he shot and killed eight people and injured seven more on a busy Saturday afternoon at the Allen mall State Rep. Mihaela Plesa frequents.
Some of her friends were there when the shooting happened.
“It’s not just that my thoughts and prayers are with [the victims], I wake up and I want to fight for them,” said Plesa, a Democrat whose district includes part of Allen.
Part of the fight is for accountability for her three constituents who died.
“We could have prevented this,” she said.
Plesa and other Texas Democrats have been pushing to strengthen Texas gun laws since the session began in January.
And after the shooting in Allen, there was slight momentum for a day or two with a handful of Republicans beginning to voice their support for change.
But measures now appear stalled, and it seems unlikely that any talk of gun reform will see further action or debate.
Democrats are disappointed, but say there’s other work to do.
“I think there’s been a growing wave of white supremacy in this country - from a grocery store shooting to a church to El Paso to now Allen. We’ve watched this happen not even in slow motion. This is happening rapidly. And our leaders refuse to do anything about it,” said State. Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston.
In August 2019, a man from Allen drove to El Paso to specifically target people of Mexican descent.
Moments before he shot and killed 23 people at a Walmart, he posted a racist manifesto online.
Days after the mass murder, Texas Governor Greg Abbott formed a Domestic Terrorism Task Force. Part of the group’s goal was to strategize ways to better track threats of extremism.
Through an open records request, WFAA asked the governor’s office for minutes from all task force meetings.
Documents returned show the group met twice – August 30, 2019 and January 7, 2020.
Then COVID hit and the task force did not reconvene, the governor’s office confirmed.
“I want to know what DPS has been doing, what threads they’ve been following on Twitter or Facebook or any kind of social media from people like this man in Allen,” said State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat from San Antonio.
Wednesday, May 10, Gov. Abbott’s press office sent WFAA a statement saying since the mass shooting in El Paso and the one that followed in Midland Odessa weeks later, the governor has issued eight executive orders and five directives to DPS.
The statement went on to say since the directives were put in place, more than 110 special agents have been assigned to Texas Anti-Gang Centers investigating criminal gangs affiliated with neo Nazi and white nationalist groups.
“DPS has 200 Special Agents and 14 Intelligence Analysts to monitor and investigate all threats to life, including domestic terrorism threats, domestic terrorism subjects, and domestic terrorism organizations. But there is more work to be done,” said Andrew Mahaleris, spokesperson for Gov. Abbott.
The concerns are bipartisan.
State Rep. Frederick Frazier, a Republican from Collin County, is a career police officer.
“Why are we not looking? Why are we not watching? Why are we not looking at social media. What is going on with this particular person? Why is there so much hate?” he asked.
He praised work done by fusion centers, which are places where state, local and federal law enforcement agencies work together and share intelligence.
But Frazier said lawmakers need to look to increase funding for the kind of difficult investigative work it takes to track online extremism.
“Some of these guys are just so quiet, so under the radar, it’s a suicide mission,” he said.
Plesa represents a diverse district and she said too many of her constituents are living in fear of being targets of hate.
“If we don’t deal with extremism, we’re going to keep seeing these things happen,” said Plesa. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/lawmakers-question-why-allen-texas-shooters-online-extremism-was-missed/287-86b43c3a-6c8c-4135-968c-1500586903b6 | 2023-05-11T00:14:02 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/lawmakers-question-why-allen-texas-shooters-online-extremism-was-missed/287-86b43c3a-6c8c-4135-968c-1500586903b6 |
DeSantis reinstates Kris Fitzgerald to Lake Wales City Commission 2 years after suspension
Nearly two years after her suspension from the Lake Wales City Commission, Kris Fitzgerald has been returned to office.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an order Wednesday reinstating Fitzgerald, whom he had suspended in July 2021, a month after she was arrested and charged with a felony.
She was later removed from the City Commission, and Daniel Krueger gained election last year to replace her on Seat 4.
A jury last October acquitted Fitzgerald on two charges, interference with custody and aggravated assault, ending a two-day trial overseen by Circuit Court Judge Lori Winstead in Bartow.
Fitzgerald, 43, is immediately reinstated, and Krueger is off the commission, Lake Wales spokesman Eric Marshall said.
PreviouslyFormer Lake Wales commissioner Kris Fitzgerald acquitted of threatening 11-year-old with gun
Pride proclamationLake Wales meeting erupts after city removes LGBTQ Pride Month proclamation from agenda
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In Wednesday's executive order, DeSantis wrote that Krueger remained in a temporary appointment to fill Fitzgerald's seat even after his election last year and that Fitzgerald's position had never been vacant in a legal or permanent sense. He revoked the order he had issued in 2021.
“Commissioner Fitzgerald will receive full back pay and other allowances to which she would have been entitled during the suspension,” City Manager James Slaton said in a news release.
City officials have tried to contact Fitzgerald but had not heard back from her as of Wednesday afternoon, Marshall said. The Ledger was unable to reach Fitzgerald on Wednesday.
After her acquittal last fall, Fitzgerald told The Ledger she was “still pondering” whether to seek reinstatement to the City Commission.
Fitzgerald had won election just three months before her arrest, defeating incumbent Al Goldstein by just 32 votes. When DeSantis issued his executive order in 2021, he wrote that any elected official indicted in a crime may be suspended from office until acquitted.
As Fitzgerald awaited trial, the Lake Wales City Commission appointed Jack Hilligoss to fill her seat. Hilligoss then successfully ran for mayor last year, and Krueger won election to Seat 4 for a term that would have run through May 2024.
A Florida statute says that if a municipal official is acquitted or otherwise cleared of charges that were the reason for a suspension, “then the Governor shall forthwith revoke the suspension and restore such municipal official to office.” The statute adds that the official is entitled to full back pay and other allowances lost during the period of the suspension.
DeSantis’ office did not reply to an email sent Wednesday afternoon seeking comment. The office had not responded to previous questions from The Ledger asking whether Fitzgerald might be reinstated.
The City Commission held a regularly scheduled workshop Wednesday afternoon, and the chair usually occupied by Krueger was empty.
Lake Wales city commissioners are paid $8,724 annually and may participate in an employee health insurance plan.
Supporters created a petition on change.org asking for Fitzgerald to be returned to the City Commission. It had gained 104 signatures as of Wednesday.
Fitzgerald’s mother, Brenda Kennedy of Lake Wales, spoke at a City Commission meeting in December, asking that her daughter be returned to office. Fitzgerald herself has spoken during public comments at least once during a meeting, urging commissioners not to adopt rules reducing the time allotted for public comments. She did not mention a wish to be reinstated.
Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/05/10/desantis-reinstates-fitzgerald-to-lake-wales-city-commission-following-aqutwo-years-after-suspension/70204580007/ | 2023-05-11T00:14:27 | 0 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/05/10/desantis-reinstates-fitzgerald-to-lake-wales-city-commission-following-aqutwo-years-after-suspension/70204580007/ |
The Youth Crisis Center will be getting another roughly $170,000 in grant money following minor tweaks to city of Casper's upcoming community project grant budget, bringing the organization's total award to around $270,000.
The grant is funded through Natrona County's 1-cent tax, and operates on a four-year funding cycle.
This time around, the city is expected to award a total of $2.25 million to over 30 Casper organizations. The Casper City Council put together a tentative plan for how to award the money during a work session in late April.
That included giving $100,000 to the Youth Crisis Center, a group home and crisis shelter for kids up to age 18.
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At the time, councilors thought that was all the center had asked for. But it had really requested $100,000 per year of the grant — $400,000, in other words.
There wasn't any money left on the table after April's meeting. But because the center is Casper's main resource for supporting at-risk, homeless and troubled youth, the council during Tuesday's work session decided to scrounge together some additional funding for the organization.
During the meeting, Casper Mayor Bruce Knell said Youth Crisis Center Executive Director David Hulshizer had told him the center could work with $270,000 as a middle-ground between $100,000 and $400,000.
To get there, the council voted to reroute $87,514 originally set aside to help the Natrona County Library bolster its building security, and to shave off another 4% from every other grant recipient's allocation. (The library is still getting $240,000 from the grant for books and other circulation items.)
In its original application, the Youth Crisis Center indicated the money could go toward needs as wide-ranging as utilities costs and building maintenance, to programming for kids, to salaries for staff.
The center's group home wing provides longer-term care for up to five children at a time, and its crisis shelter wing can typically support up to 10 kids, Hulshizer previously told the Star-Tribune. As of February, a lot of those crisis shelter beds were going to children ordered to stay at the center by the courts.
On Tuesday, councilors also considered, though ultimately decided against, giving 1-cent funding to the Casper Salvation Army. (The organization was accidentally left out of initial discussion about the grant in April because its application was mistakenly filtered out of the city clerk's inbox.)
The 1-cent tax effectively adds another penny to Wyoming’s 4% state sales tax.
In other words, you’re taxed an additional 5 cents on the dollar for most things you buy in Natrona County. One penny goes directly to Natrona County municipalities, and the other four pennies go to the state (which keeps about two-thirds, and gives the other third back to local governments.) The 1-cent tax doesn’t apply to groceries and other tax-exempt goods.
In recent years, the 1-cent tax has pulled in about $15 million annually, or about $60 million per funding cycle.
The bulk of the revenue is used for things like maintaining aging infrastructure, subsidizing utilities and paying for police and fire-EMS department equipment.
The tax costs the average family in Natrona County about $170 a year, according to a recent analysis by the city of Casper. It’s been around since 1974, and goes on the ballot for renewal every four years.
It was last put to a vote during the November election, when it passed with about two-thirds approval from Natrona County voters. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/youth-crisis-center-to-get-roughly-270-000-from-1-cent-grant/article_f901936a-ef78-11ed-9e72-034bada904b0.html | 2023-05-11T00:21:16 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/youth-crisis-center-to-get-roughly-270-000-from-1-cent-grant/article_f901936a-ef78-11ed-9e72-034bada904b0.html |
The College of Eastern Idaho convened the first-ever commencement ceremonies held in the Mountain America Center on Tuesday evening.
Graduates in blue robes were individually recognized and received their graduation certificates from the college's administration and faculty. The vast majority of the graduatesalready have secured jobs or will continue their studies as juniors at four-year universities. More than 400 awards — 296 associate degrees and 119 certificates — were presented at the ceremony, a CEI news release said.
“Congratulations on this momentous day as you graduate from the College of Eastern Idaho,” CEI President Rick Aman said. “Today marks a culmination of your hard work and your commitment to your education.”
Tuesday's graduates received associate degrees or technical certificates in areas of study ranging fromautomotive technology to cybersecurity.
“Tonight I have made it one step closer to my career goals coming a reality,” said Annalee Larson, Student Senate president, who graduated as a registered nurse.
In his remarks, Aman advised graduates to prepare for their future, community, and opportunities.
“The future is yours to shape, and you are capable of achieving greatness,” he said. “Embrace the unknown with confidence, and remember that you have the power to create a future that you can be proud of.”
He told them to be involved as active citizens where they live.
“Community is not just a place, it’s a mindset,” Aman said.
He challenged them to embrace the opportunities they receive.
“Opportunity knocks on your door every day,” Aman said. “It’s up to you to open the door, to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the possibilities that come your way. … I would encourage you to be proactive, seeking out opportunities and being willing to take calculated risks. Remember that the road to success may not always be easy, but it’s the opportunities that you embrace that will shape your journey.”
Idaho Supreme Court Associate Justice Gregory Moeller delivered the commencement address, where he encouraged the graduates to become “responsible, taxpaying citizens.”
Moeller advised the graduates to “subscribe to a local paper and watch the news; be involved in their neighborhoods, schools and community; make learning a lifelong pursuit; avoid unnecessary debt by learning now to distinguish wants from needs; accept greater responsibilities at work; always respect other people’s rights and views and love their country.”
As a native of St. Anthony, Moeller was impressed by the diversity and skills of the Class of 2023.
“I have no doubt as I look over this audience and these graduates, that you will make a big difference in the community and in the world,” Moeller said. “You have completed your studies in areas vital to our economy, and prepared for jobs in fields where there is great need.”
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Proposed plans for the Westside Sports Complex were presented Monday to the Idaho Falls City Council by Parks and Recreation Department Director PJ Holm.
The Idaho Falls City Council considered plans to build a Westside Sports Complex on 63.36 acres located on Ernest Drive during its Monday work session. The city already owns the land, but it doesn't have the money to build the complex out.
The land for the complex is adjacent to West Broadway, next to the Old Butte Soccer Complex. In addition to 20.41 acres the city already owned, it purchased 42.94 acres of farmland in 2013 for a price of $600,000, aiming to build a sports complex at some point in the future.
In June, the city held a meeting with local residents to inform them that the current soccer complex would need to relocate because the Federal Aviation Administration was requiring the city to use the land for airport development. The ground where the current soccer complex sits was purchased by the Idaho Falls Airport using a Federal Aviation Administration grant in the 1980s and 1990s, the Post Register reported.
The Old Butte Soccer Complex has nine adult fields, three U12 fields and two U10 fields.
The proposed Westside Sports Complex would have eight adult fields, six U12 and four U10 fields. Some of the smaller fields could be combined to provide a total of 12 adult fields for soccer play. Two existing adult fields would remain in use as part of the plan.
“It’s pretty comparable,” said PJ Holm, Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation director in his presentation to the Idaho Falls City Council. “The order and size of the fields has been a culmination of working with multiple user groups, and different groups that will have a say, a use and a need in the future.”
Four parking lots would provide parking, with 100 additional on-street parking spots available during tournaments or other special events. Each parking lot would have bathrooms and playground equipment installed adjacent to it, Holm said.
“We want to make this not only a soccer complex, but also a community park,” he said. “In addition, we also have a multiuse pathway that goes around this facility — something that has been requested at the Old Butte complex for a long, long time.”
At the new complex, each field would be 100% ADA accessible as well. The plan includes asphalt paths connecting the fields.
Water for the project will be diverted from the Swanson lateral canal into a deep well to irrigate 23 acres, Holm said.
The civil work for the project — including light posts, curbing, gutters, asphalt and roads — is estimated tocost $4.2 million. Adding irrigation, hydroseed and mobilization costs would bring the estimated cost to open the facility to $5,748,492. Toys, pathways and bathrooms are not included in that estimate.
“This would get us open to the public with no frills,” Holm said.
Total cost for the completed park is estimated at $9 to $9.5 million.
Currently, the city has $800,000 set aside for the project. When the city first purchased the land, possible uses included a skate park as well as four softball fields. Monday's presentation no longer includes the softball fields.
Grants may be available for constructing the pathways and restrooms.
If funding for the park is available, the department proposed installing a canal diversion this winter, putting in irrigation and hydroseeding the 23 acres in early 2024. The city would bid the project in 2024, construct utilities, roads and parking in 2025-2026 and open the fields in 2027.
From 2028 to 2030, additional playgrounds, walking paths and landscaping would be installed.
The Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Department plans to withdraw from the current soccer complex in October 2026.
“That’s the date that (the airport is) proposing at this point, which will give us three years from this October, which is when we think that we’ll be signing that contract to make sure and saying that we’ll be out of there in time for the airport to build out,” Holm said.
However with rising insurance rates and other costs, council members voiced concerns that the funding for the project is not available.
“I love this, but we can’t afford this,” said Councilwoman Lisa Burtenshaw.
“We don’t have a million dollars a year to put towards soccer fields,” said Councilman John Radford. “… Unless we ask the vote for some of these funds, I don’t know how it’s going to happen.”
One option the council considered was asking citizens to vote if they would support a recreation levy.
“The city could ask for a short-term recreation levy that could raise $5 to $6 million at a time,” Radford said. “But if we’re in a tough recession, it’s going to be a hard ask. … Beyond that, there’s not a lot of options. It’s phasing it and trying to get $500,000 a year. That’s just something to be discussed.”
Burtenshaw also suggested paring back the plans and designing a facility similar to the current soccer complex with no curb and gutter, no landscaping in the parking lots and shed drainage.
However, that would require a change in city code, Mayor Rebecca Casper said.
“The council is trying to get as much accomplished for the public to meet the soccer community’s needs and then secondarily the needs of the environment — I’m talking about water flow and creating those permeable surfaces — for as little cost as possible,” Casper said. “… We certainly want to be well-educated before we make any of these decisions.”
The council will wait to hear back from city staff at a future city council meeting about potential modifications to the plans and/or the possibility of a supplemental levy before decisions are made.
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Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles. | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/idaho-falls-city-council-discusses-options-for-westside-sports-complex/article_7aa24c04-ef54-11ed-918e-2f02887bc483.html | 2023-05-11T00:23:11 | 0 | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/idaho-falls-city-council-discusses-options-for-westside-sports-complex/article_7aa24c04-ef54-11ed-918e-2f02887bc483.html |
SAN ANGELO, Texas — For approximately five months of the year, farmers spend time testing soil, fertilizing the ground and determining the best weather conditions to plant their crops.
Starting 7 a.m. May 13, the Concho Valley Farmer's Market is opening up for the 2023 season, giving West Texas crop growers a chance to showcase their hard work.
"It's just all exciting to start it back up 'cuz we haven't been there since the beginning of last year," President Market Manager Margie Jackson said.
Jackson has been the head of the market for approximately 25 years and in that time, she has watched farmers from Wall, Christoval, Miles and other neighboring areas share their produce with the community.
The market will be held between 7 a.m.- 1 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from now until the first freeze of the season.
"What we first start out with are the underground winter vegetables which are beets and onions, and I don't know if anybody has carrots yet but radish and all the greens," Jackson said.
Kale, collards, plants and fresh herbs like cilantro are typically fresh at the start of the season.
In June, sweet corn will be popular and in July, August and September, melons like cucumber and watermelon are typically the most fresh.
In order to be a vendor, those interested must pay a fee of $15 or $20 depending on acre size followed by an additional $5 per set-up.
Farmers also need to raise their own vegetables and be able to provide 75% home-grown produce whilst living within 75 miles of San Angelo city limits.
Even with her vast experience, Jackson understands the challenges of farming.
"It's real hard to be a gardener," she said. "You gotta fight the bugs, you gotta fight the heat, the hail...,"
Jackson typically sells beets, onions and carrots. One of her favorite parts of the job is working alongside her relatives whilst also inspiring a new generation of farmers.
Many children will sell their produce early on Saturday mornings once school is out, which gives Jackson hope for the future.
In the early summer mornings, Jackson will be standing at the farmer's market selling her fresh produce, sharing her crops and her passion.
The farmer's market is located at 609 S. Oakes St. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/concho-valley-farmers-market-opens-for-the-season-may-13/504-de3d6a8e-6143-4ba5-aa9d-de1e7e66ddca | 2023-05-11T00:24:11 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/concho-valley-farmers-market-opens-for-the-season-may-13/504-de3d6a8e-6143-4ba5-aa9d-de1e7e66ddca |
ABILENE, Texas — Texas small business owners and entrepreneurs will have the chance to create new connections and develop new strategies May 18 in Abilene.
Gov. Greg Abbott is organizing the second Small Business Summit of 2023, which will focus on topics like finance and funding, recruiting and retention and marketing and e-commerce.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our Texas economy and we are proud of the hardworking business owners who contribute so much to our communities and economic success as a state," Abbott said.
The event will take place from 8 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St.
It was organized in coalition with Abbott's Economic Development and Tourism Office, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance and the Texas Workforce Commission. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/small-business-summit-set-for-may-18-in-abilene/504-cb73c85b-6dc2-4712-80f4-a197e30d017a | 2023-05-11T00:24:17 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/small-business-summit-set-for-may-18-in-abilene/504-cb73c85b-6dc2-4712-80f4-a197e30d017a |
SAN ANTONIO — The city’s finances appear to be in good shape as the City Council heard recommendations for its future from city staff on Wednesday.
Some of the most visible changes could come in the form of adjustments to residents' property tax bills, a possible increase in trash fees and additional San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers.
Public safety takes up the largest portion of the city’s general fund. As part of SAPD’s goal of adding 360 officers in the next three to five years, the city is recommending 100 new positions for the 2024 fiscal year.
One ladder company and one EMS unit could also be added to the San Antonio Fire Department.
“The addition of having one EMS unit… it’s going to reduce the amount of people we transport,” Fire Chief Charles Hood told city leaders, adding that, right now, SAFD transports about 30% of the people that call 911.
Another public safety investment will include two additional SA CORE Teams, which deploys clinicians to handle mental-health-related calls. $750,000 will be spent to add those two teams, including six clinicians, six paramedics, and six police officers.
Trash fee change
The Solid Waste fund is not structurally balanced, which is why city staff are recommending an increase in both the solid waste fee and environmental fee.
The solid waste fee increase could range between $3.50 and $5.00, and the environmental fee could increase between $0.75 and $1.25.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s preference on the trash fees appear to be dis-incentivizing larger 96-gallon trash cans. Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran did not want to “punish” people using smaller trash cans with a fee increase.
“How do we incentivize and not just [raise] across the board?" asked City Manager Erik Walsh. "The range, if we target it to the large carts, we may have to have a larger increase than if we make an increase to all three levels."
Walsh added the city has to make up a $20 million deficit with certain assumptions.
The proposed fee increase will be ironed out over the summer during budget discussions.
Property tax relief coming
Last year, the city expanded homestead exemptions to residents over 65 years old as well as disabled persons, saving homeowners $94.9 million.
Based on preliminary data from the Bexar Appraisal District, the city could decrease its tax rate. However, final tax rates will be calculated in July once the rolls are certified and appraisal protests are completed.
In the middle of its 2023 fiscal year, the city is in a positive financial position in most revenues. Sales tax is 5.8% ahead of last year while hotel occupancy tax is below-budget, but it's projected to go above-budget during the summer.
The city still has four months to iron out its budget priorities, which will include adopting the Animal Care Services strategic plan, strategic housing plan and homeless outreach, employee compensation, infrastructure, and additional community safety measures such as the Good Neighbor Program and DART team. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-city-officials-outline-financial-forecast-priorities-2024-fiscal-year/273-33f57291-5205-4d1e-b85b-0e634e43bdf4 | 2023-05-11T00:24:17 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-city-officials-outline-financial-forecast-priorities-2024-fiscal-year/273-33f57291-5205-4d1e-b85b-0e634e43bdf4 |
TEXAS, USA — The suspect in the mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets did not hide his hate.
According to an FBI bulletin written after the shooting, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia had posted violent, white supremacist rhetoric and images hundreds of times on his social media accounts.
He had neo-Nazi ideation, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and showed it through tattoos on his body and patches on his clothes.
Yet, he was not known to law enforcement.
At least not until he shot and killed eight people and injured seven more on a busy Saturday afternoon at the Allen mall State Rep. Mihaela Plesa frequents.
Some of her friends were there when the shooting happened.
“It’s not just that my thoughts and prayers are with [the victims], I wake up and I want to fight for them,” said Plesa, a Democrat whose district includes part of Allen.
Part of the fight is for accountability for her three constituents who died.
“We could have prevented this,” she said.
Plesa and other Texas Democrats have been pushing to strengthen Texas gun laws since the session began in January.
And after the shooting in Allen, there was slight momentum for a day or two with a handful of Republicans beginning to voice their support for change.
But measures now appear stalled, and it seems unlikely that any talk of gun reform will see further action or debate.
Democrats are disappointed, but say there’s other work to do.
“I think there’s been a growing wave of white supremacy in this country - from a grocery store shooting to a church to El Paso to now Allen. We’ve watched this happen not even in slow motion. This is happening rapidly. And our leaders refuse to do anything about it,” said State. Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston.
In August 2019, a man from Allen drove to El Paso to specifically target people of Mexican descent.
Moments before he shot and killed 23 people at a Walmart, he posted a racist manifesto online.
Days after the mass murder, Texas Governor Greg Abbott formed a Domestic Terrorism Task Force. Part of the group’s goal was to strategize ways to better track threats of extremism.
Through an open records request, WFAA asked the governor’s office for minutes from all task force meetings.
Documents returned show the group met twice – August 30, 2019 and January 7, 2020.
Then COVID hit and the task force did not reconvene, the governor’s office confirmed.
“I want to know what DPS has been doing, what threads they’ve been following on Twitter or Facebook or any kind of social media from people like this man in Allen,” said State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat from San Antonio.
Wednesday, May 10, Gov. Abbott’s press office sent WFAA a statement saying since the mass shooting in El Paso and the one that followed in Midland Odessa weeks later, the governor has issued eight executive orders and five directives to DPS.
The statement went on to say since the directives were put in place, more than 110 special agents have been assigned to Texas Anti-Gang Centers investigating criminal gangs affiliated with neo Nazi and white nationalist groups.
“DPS has 200 Special Agents and 14 Intelligence Analysts to monitor and investigate all threats to life, including domestic terrorism threats, domestic terrorism subjects, and domestic terrorism organizations. But there is more work to be done,” said Andrew Mahaleris, spokesperson for Gov. Abbott.
The concerns are bipartisan.
State Rep. Frederick Frazier, a Republican from Collin County, is a career police officer.
“Why are we not looking? Why are we not watching? Why are we not looking at social media. What is going on with this particular person? Why is there so much hate?” he asked.
He praised work done by fusion centers, which are places where state, local and federal law enforcement agencies work together and share intelligence.
But Frazier said lawmakers need to look to increase funding for the kind of difficult investigative work it takes to track online extremism.
“Some of these guys are just so quiet, so under the radar, it’s a suicide mission,” he said.
Plesa represents a diverse district and she said too many of her constituents are living in fear of being targets of hate.
“If we don’t deal with extremism, we’re going to keep seeing these things happen,” said Plesa. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/lawmakers-question-why-allen-texas-shooters-online-extremism-was-missed/287-86b43c3a-6c8c-4135-968c-1500586903b6 | 2023-05-11T00:24:23 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/lawmakers-question-why-allen-texas-shooters-online-extremism-was-missed/287-86b43c3a-6c8c-4135-968c-1500586903b6 |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The City of Johnson City plans to give a plot of land to Holston Habitat for Humanity to develop affordable housing, but some neighbors say the land is reserved as a park.
The land is around three acres and sits at the corner of John Exum Highway and Moorland Drive. Neighbors know the land as Greenway Park.
The land has been owned by the city since 1962.
Green Space 1 by Clarice on Scribd
One neighbor, Jim Blevins, has lived in his home that adjourns the piece of land for many years. He says back in 2007, the city tried to sell the land to a church to develop but was told it couldn’t because the deed reserved the land as a park.
“The city’s own attorney, Mr. James Epps, advised the commissioners that they could not sell the property,” said Blevins. “They could not dispose of it, that it had been obtained as a green space park to be forever held as such.”
Blevins understands that the community needs affordable housing, but that the community also needs parks.
“We shouldn’t have to go through this every few years with the city trying to dispose of a beautiful open field back there that’s being utilized,” said Blevins.
Assistant City Manager Randy Trivette says he had the city attorneys check the deed to see if they can build affordable housing on the land.
“[City attorneys] sent me a statement back where they had researched the deeds and found that it is acceptable and meets the restrictions of the deed to build affordable housing or a park,” said Trivette.
Green Space 2 by Clarice on Scribd
Trivette says the deed has two covenants restricting the land to residential housing or for commercial use. Covenants that wouldn’t have allowed a church to be developed.
He says the deed’s covenants include specifications for the lot sizes as well.
Holston Habitat for Humanity says they have been working with the city since March 2022 on this project. They plan to develop single-family and multi-family homes that will house around 13 to 15 families. They know park space is a concern and have planned for it.
“To have some green space for some park space as well,” said Outreach and Homeowner Services Manager Alanna Leonberg. “So details of how this will all work out in final design are still being, that’s still in the works, but we have those things planned.”
Trivette predicts that they will be able to provide at least a half-acre park on the property.
“Once we get this concept plan approved and the city decides to move forward with this, then we’ll work with [Holston Habitat for Humanity] to allocate space for a neighborhood park,” said Trivette.
City commissioners will review a proposal for this land during their work session and commission meeting on May 18. The work session is from 3-5 p.m. where Holston Habitat for Humanity will present their proposal. The commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-aims-to-develop-affordable-housing-on-land-neighbors-fight-back/ | 2023-05-11T00:24:41 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-aims-to-develop-affordable-housing-on-land-neighbors-fight-back/ |
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition (SCADC) is aiming to raise awareness about fentanyl.
The group hosted a presentation for Tennessee High School parents and students to teach them the dangers of the deadly drug.
SCADC Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist Brooke Burleson said that the concern regarding fentanyl continues to grow locally and globally.
She said that it’s a worldwide problem that hits right here at home.
“I see substance abuse as a problem worldwide at this point,” Burleson said. “Opioid overdoses are a pandemic really.”
According to the CDC, over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
SCADC Director Alice McCaffrey said Illegal drug use among youth has changed over the years and has become far more deadly.
“The drugs that are out there today are more addictive than they’ve ever been,” McCaffrey said. “Addiction is a terrible thing to go through.”
Burleson is a peer coach who has lived through addiction. She said that it’s important to give young people a true idea of the struggles of living with addiction.
“There’s is no substitute for it,” Burleson said. “Being able to be real and raw and emotional and connect with kids.”
The forum was available for students and parents. McCaffrey said that it’s particularly important for parents because there’s no worse news than to learn that your child has died due to an overdose.
“There is nothing that doesn’t come from a pharmacy with their name on the prescription bottle that is safe for them to take,” McCaffrey said. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/local-group-raises-awareness-about-fentanyl/ | 2023-05-11T00:24:47 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/local-group-raises-awareness-about-fentanyl/ |
A Mason City woman convicted of selling methamphetamine was sentenced to 64 months in prison in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 42-year-old Tara Rae Graham pleaded guilty on three counts of distribution of a controlled substance on Jan. 12.
Graham admitted to selling methamphetamine in Mason City to a confidential source in quantities up to an ounce in November of 2022. She will also be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the Cerro Gordo Sheriff's Office, Clear Lake Police Department, Mason City Police Department, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement and the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force.
Robert De Niro Welcomes 7th Child , at Age 79. A representative for the actor confirmed the birth of his seventh child on May 9, AP reports. No other details have been provided at this time. De Niro's other six children range vastly in age. They are as follows:. Drena, 51, Raphael, 46, Julian and Aaron, 27, Elliot, 24, and Helen Grace, 11. Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith and Grace Hightower are the mothers of those children. Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith and Grace Hightower are the mothers of those children. Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith and Grace Hightower are the mothers of those children. De Niro, who is also a grandfather, previously told 'People' that the best thing he can do is push the kids in his life to reach for their dreams. For my kids, I tell them, 'If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that's fine as long as you're happy. Just don't sell yourself short.', Robert De Niro, via 2020 interview with 'People'. That's the most I would say — push yourself a little more and reach for what you really think it is you want to do. Don't be afraid, Robert De Niro, via 2020 interview with 'People'. It's important for them to find their own lane, Robert De Niro, via 2020 interview with 'People'. De Niro is currently promoting his new movie, 'About My Father,' which debuts May 26
North Iowa History: Police photos
Judge Boynton
Judge Boynton in judge's study. April 28, 1948
Check forger in court
Check forger in police court. November 5, 1946.
Kitts & Hardy
Kitts & Hardy, March 15, 1951.
Kitts trial
Kitts trial-posed Belcastro. March 16, 1951.
DeWayne Frampton
May 18, 1956. DeWayne Frampton, patrolman.
M.A. Pelham portrait IHP
Iowa Highway Patrolman M.A. Pelham.
Warren Tilton
October 29, 1956. Warren Tilton, new cop.
Fred Buchner, portrait IHP
New highway patrolman Fred Buchner.
Calvin Anderson portrait
New officer Calvin W. Anderson MCPD
Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP
Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP
H. Jack Lien MCPD portrait
H. Jack Lien, new MCPD patrolman
Ronald Thielen, MCPD
Ronald Thielen, MCPD new patrolman
Jim Fountas, MCPD
Jimmy Fountas, new MCPD patrolman
Sgt. Pete Hall, IHP
Sgt. Pete Hall, IHP
Sgt. Delmar Smith, MCPD
Sgt. Delmar Smith, MCPD
Kenneth Kruggel, MCPD
Kenneth Kruggel, MCPD patrolman
Harold Thomas, MCPD
Harold Thomas, MCPD new patrolman
Friederich Langen, IHP
Friederich Langen, IHP.
MCPD badge #45 for Carey
Police badge for Carey
Wendell Stream, IHP
Wendell W. Stream, IHP
Chief Stanley McClintock
Chief Stanley McClintock
Al Schloemer portrait
Al Schloemer Mason City Police
Dennis Wasicek portrait
Dennis Wasicek, MCPD new officer
Sgt. Wendell Stream
Sgt. Wendell Stream IHP
Denny Gerdom IHP
Denny Gerdom IHP
Carl Condon IHP
Carl Condon, IHP from Hampton
Sally Hamblin dispatcher
Sally Hamblin police dispatcher
Auto theft school
Auto theft school
Ron Carpenter, portrait
MCPD Patrolman Ron Carpenter
C.S. Tyler
IHP trooper C.S. Tyler
Roger Brown, IHP
IHP Trooper Roger Brown
Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border
Iowa-Minnesota Troopers meet at border
Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border
Iowa-Minnesota Troopers meet at border
Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office
Ed Christiensen at Sheriff's Office
Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office
Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Jerry Allen
Sheriff Jerry Allen
Police Station cornerstone
Police station cornerstone being laid
Captain Walt Reindl, MCPD
Mason City Police Captain Walt Reindl
Larry Davis, portrait MCPD
Larry Davis, new patrolman at MCPD
Michael Montgomery, portrait MCPD
Michael J. Montgomery new patrolman at MCPD
New police station
New police station-west side
New police station
New police station-east side
Sheriff Jerry Allen, portrait
Sheriff Jerry Allen portrait
Garvin Ward, portrait
Garvin Ward, Patrolman MCPD
Prince Philip, Wes Greenan
Prince Philip at air port with Lt. Wesley Greenan
Judge Butler portrait
Judge WP Butler
Auxiliary policemen WWII
April 8 1942. Auxiliary policemen sworn in for duration of war.
Chief Patton
From back of original: "Aug. 14 1936, #1731. Chief Erwin J. Patton, 1932-1934"
Chief Risacher
Leo F. Risacher. Patrolman 1923, Detective 1924-34, Captain 1934-55, Chief 1955-63.
Chief Wolf
May 13, 1936. Safety Patrol boys, Chief of Police [Wolf], Mr. Kargis.
Jewell, Duane 1971
May 5, 1971. Elwin Musser photograph. Duane Jewell.
John Wallace
John W. Wallace, 1937-43
Kleinow, Eugene
Elwin Musser photograph. Eugene Kleinow. March 6, 1978.
Leo Alstott
Joel Hanes collection. Mason City policeman Leo Alstott.
Patton, EJ 1934
Scanned from 1934 "Who's Who In Mason City."
Police and fire chief 1949
Challenge by Chief for polio ball game played between police and Highway Patrol vs firemen, August 1949.
Police and Fire depts.
September 29, 1919
Police dept PB 40
PB 40, no date. Old police dept.
police patrol car
Police patrol car; no additional info.
Policecars copy
no info on photograph
Policecars
No info on photograph
Roll call briefing at old station
Roll call briefing at old police station. L To R: Rudy Alman, RonEckhardt, Ron Carpenter(standing), Lt Myron (Lefty Lewis), and Ken Rodemeyer. Taken in Late 1971 or Early 1972.
Schiffman and squad car
Patrolman Ralph Schiffman next to squad car. Date unknown. Photo from Mason City Police Dept.
Scott, Greg and Dennis Rye
Steve Rye collection. 12/7/1991. Dennis and Greg Scott - father/son in uniforms. Dennis, Fire Dept. captain. Greg, Police Dept. #5911.
SL195 Remington shells.jpg
SL195, Remington shells 32s
2 boys at Sheriff's Office
Flash of two boys in jail at Sheriff's Office. Photo taken on September 17, 1934.
SL1017 Old police station when built.jpg
Old Police Station. Photo taken on May 29, 1935.
Dr. Houlahan fingerprinted
Dr. J. Houlahan getting fingerprinted at Police Station Photo taken on August 31, 1942.
Boy Scouts at station
Feb. 8, 1936. Police court ruse by Boy Scouts.
Blizzard and Highway Patrol
Feb. 9, 1936. Blizzard Scenes, Highway Patrol officers.
Police with new boats
Police Department with boats in case of floods. March 4, 1936.
Buchanan.jpg
James Buchanan portrait taken on March 19, 1936.
Sheriff's convention
July 7, 1936. Sheriff's convention.
Jack Burnette, Highway Patrolman
Jack Burnette, Highway Patrolman January 13, 1937
John Wallace
Johnnie Wallace, Deputy Sheriff. Photo taken on April 5th, 1937.
Ed Christianson portrait
Portrait of Ed Christianson, Deputy Sheriff. July 18, 1937.
Pierce with kids
Lollipops for good little girls and boys. Patrolman Dick Pierce. May 31, 1938.
John Wallace giving auto instructions
Johnny Wallace giving instructions on operation of auto on June 7, 1938.
Safety meeting
Dec. 12, 1938. Sergt. Reese at YM safety meeting. MC Cerro Gordo County safety council
G-Man BC Coulter
March 1, 1939. Mason Cityans question G-Man BC Coulter at work.
Jack Gordon murderer
Jack "Indian" Gordon with sheriff's deputies. Held on murder charges. May 13, 1939.
Abel's wrecked safe
July 11, 1939. Abel's wrecked safe after robbery.
Risacher and Wolfe in 1939
Captain Leo Risacher and Chief Harold Wolfe on July 28, 1939.
Sheriff Tim Phalen
Sheriff Tim Phalen, photo for cut. Taken on September 2, 1939.
Dreher murder suspect
Dreher Case. Ostenrieder one of killer in Mason City. Photo taken on September 29, 1939.
Colwell murder
Dec. 11, 1939. Blewitt-Carter murder pictures. Colwell, IA.
Rock Falls bank robbery
Bank Robbery at Rock Falls, Iowa. Photo taken on June 21, 1940.
Allie Allen Murder house
Murder house of Allie M. Allen at 1644 North Federal Avenue October 1, 1940.
Blanchards Jewelry robbery
Blanchards Jewelry Store window broken and robbed on March 11, 1941.
Highway patrolman checking brakes
Patrolman checking brakes on April 26, 1941.
Incendiary pencil demonstration
Incendiary pencil demonstration at peace officers meeting at YMCA. Photo taken on June 4, 1941.
Incendiary pencil
June 4, 1941. Incendiary pencil demonstration at peace officers' meeting at YMCA.
Policemen taking tests
Policeman and Fireman taking tests. Photo taken on June 13, 1941.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Robbery at Newberry's
October 18, 1941. Robbery at Newberry's
Klipto safe cracked
Nov. 4, 1941. Klipto safe cracked
Ventura bank attempted robbery
Dec. 29, 1941. Ventura State Bank attempted robbery. Lawrence Bliss, cashier.
Robbery at First Methodist Church
Robbery at First Methodist Church. Photo taken on December 31, 1941.
Police map
Mar. 7, 1942. Photo of police chart - map
Glen Wilson
Mar. 10, 1942. Glen Wilson, 4 S Monroe
Stork at police station
Stork at police station on August 24, 1942.
Thornton robbery footprint
Nov. 24, 1942. Sheriff's office, footprints at Thornton, robbery at drug store.
Blackout control center at police station
Blackout control center at police station on December 10, 1942.
For he's a good fellow
For he's a good fellow. Photo taken July 19, 1943.
Sheriff with two boys
They had themselves a good time — Swain boys — Photo taken September 24, 1943.
Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office
Murderer Stanley Kaster in Sheriff's Office on October 4, 1943.
Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office
Murderer Stanley Kaster in Sheriff's office on October 4, 1943.
Man caught with furs out of season
Furs — $11,500 worth — caught out of season by William DeBruym on October 28, 1943.
Frank Brothers arraigned for manslaughter
Frank Brothers arraigned for manslaughter.
Man with a gun
Mar. 4, 1944. Man with gun.
Vandalized schoolhouse
4/24/44. Kids break into school room.
Capture of escaped convicts
Capture of escaped convicts on December 11, 1944.
Brake inspection in front of P.D.
They passed the brake check on May 26, 1945.
Highway Patrolmen with illegal ration books
Iowa Highway Patrol with illegal ration books on May 28, 1945.
Peace officer conference training
Frisking of criminals at peace officers conference May 29, 1945.
Patrol by Junior Chamber of Commerce
Street Patrol by junior of commerce on June 16, 1945.
Attempted jailbreak
Scene of attempted jailbreak. Photo taken on August 9, 1945.
Highway patrol and Breenan
Brennan and captor. Photo taken on August 29, 1945.
Wolfe and Phalen horse race
One for the books. Chief Harold Wolfe and Sheriff Tim Phalen in horse race.
Wolfe and Phalen horse race
One for the books. Chief Harold Wolfe and Sheriff Tim Phalen horse race. August 30, 1945.
Grand Jury
Sept. 4, 1945. First federal grand jury meets here.
Police training on arrest
They captured the "fugitive" October 5, 1945.
Officials check plans in front of P.D.
Officials check plans on October 29, 1945.
Officers find ammunition in car
Officers found this in car. November 15, 1945.
Sheriff make big haul of liquor
Sheriff makes a big haul of liquor. December 28, 1945.
Officer Bruns next to car
Injured in crash Mrs Maude Combs. On January 29, 1946. Officer William Burns.
Highway patrol with booze
"How dry I am" February 27, 1946.
Mrs. Bauer leaves inquest
Apr. 23, 1946. Mrs. Bauer leaves inquest
F.B.I. training session
What's wrong here! April 23, 1946
Richard Pierce Portrait
Portrait of Patrolman Richard R. Pierce Taken on April 29, 1946.
Highway patrolmen at accident scene
Traffic accident on May 18, 1946. Wreck near county farm.
Clear Lake bike accident
July 19, 1946. Sheriff's office, bicycle accident on Clear Lake road
Electrocution scene
Electrocution scene (Marvin Olson electrocuted by live wire on August 8th 1946).
Highway patrol with loot
Loot found in car. October 25, 1946
Policemen's wives club
Policemen's wives club November 20, 1946
Wrecked coupe
Mar. 26, 1947. Wrecked coupe for sheriff's office.
Mott murder scene
Arlene Mott murder scene. November 13, 1947.
Police chart
Feb. 6, 1948. Police chart.
Near drowning
May 12, 1948. Mrs. Kramer, 941 S Adams. Near drowning.
Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees
Eldora Boys escape found in Manly. Photo taken on August 26, 1948.
Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees
Highway Patrolman with escaped Eldora boys found in Manly. Photo taken on August 26, 1948.
Policemans wives club
Marge Wolskey residence police auxillary meeting.
Holmes accident
Dec. 1, 1949. Robert L Holmes, 5 miles south of Mason City. Taken at 11:00 a.m.
Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern
Murder at the Blue Ribbon Tavern on July 12, 1952.
Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern
Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern on July 12, 1952.
Reese IHP
July 26, 1952. Robert Reese, 647 S Carolina. Iowa Highway Patrol.
Police map
Feb. 2, 1953. Police Dept., of map by Mr. Reublitz.
Sidewalk
Feb. 19, 1953. Slippery sidewalk.
DeWilde auto robbery
Apr. 5, 1953. Window at DeWilde Auto Service showing where robbery was committed.
SL33730.jpg
Jan. 1, 1959. Police map of traffic spots.
Police with Easter Seal Society
May 1960. L to R: Leo Risacher, M.D. Kubicek, Wes Greenan, M.E. Corless.
Police convention
Oct. 12, 1965. Policeman's convention, Des Moines
Thomas Runyan
Mar. 4, 1937. Thomas Runyan, criminal, brought to Mason City.
Thompson, Gerald 1965
Elwin Musser photograph. Gerald Thompson. Jan. 11, 1965.
Verhelst murder case.jpg
November 14, 1947. Funeral for slain girl, Patterson. Verhelst charged with murder. Judge Dunn is in office.
Wallbaum
Dillinger film: Officer Conrad Wallbaum directing traffic after robbery.
Walskog1
Elwin Musser photo. Oct. 4, 1958.
Walskog2.jpg
Elwin Musser photo, Oct. 4, 1958.
Zenor police cars
June 27, 1964. Zenor's. Police cars.
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OKOLONA, Miss. (WTVA) — The Okolona School District held its health and industry fair on Wednesday inside the Okolona Career and Technical Complex.
More than 200 students and teachers showed up during the two-hour outreach event to obtain information and resources from various health agencies.
More than 50 agencies provided health-related information for the students and free health screenings. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/health-fair-offered-valuable-resources-for-students-in-okolona/article_654f73ba-ef7a-11ed-894f-737a80ba5f9b.html | 2023-05-11T00:27:40 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/health-fair-offered-valuable-resources-for-students-in-okolona/article_654f73ba-ef7a-11ed-894f-737a80ba5f9b.html |
BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) — Authorities have recovered a human fetus from the Booneville sewer system.
Booneville Police Chief Michael Ramey said the city pumped dry its sewer system on Wednesday to remove the fetus.
He would not give the location where the fetus was found. However, a source told WTVA the fetus was found in a small lake off Veterans Drive where sewage is drained.
He said the fetus has been turned over to the Prentiss County Coroner’s Office.
The police chief and Coroner Greg Sparks were unable to provide more details Wednesday afternoon.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/human-fetus-found-in-booneville-sewer-system/article_0c87d27a-ef81-11ed-aae3-937ef9270f21.html | 2023-05-11T00:27:46 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/human-fetus-found-in-booneville-sewer-system/article_0c87d27a-ef81-11ed-aae3-937ef9270f21.html |
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — The post office in downtown Tupelo will soon no longer be open 24/7.
The post office will instead be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It won’t be open during weekends and holidays.
This goes into effect on June 1.
According to the United States Postal Service, “Recent incidents have necessitated the modification in the hours of operation.”
USPS did not share more details about the “recent incidents.” | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/postal-service-changes-lobby-hours-in-downtown-tupelo/article_13ca1260-ef76-11ed-83a1-7f08d5c8aed1.html | 2023-05-11T00:27:52 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/postal-service-changes-lobby-hours-in-downtown-tupelo/article_13ca1260-ef76-11ed-83a1-7f08d5c8aed1.html |
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — Vanessa Diggs believes in the mantra “if you look good, you feel good.”
That’s why she’s working to help women in the Tupelo area get back on their feet one accessory at a time.
Diggs collected more than 100 new and gently-used purses to give to women in shelters.
She donated the purses to SAFE, Inc. on Wednesday.
She got the idea from Jamal Bryant, a minister.
"Several years ago I went to visit him when he was pastoring in Baltimore, Maryland, and he did a purse drive for the homeless women there,” Diggs said. “And I was able to participate in that and it was something I wanted to do this year for the local women here in Tupelo, Mississippi.”
She hopes to make the giveaway an annual event. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/purse-drive-used-to-help-women-in-shelters-take-next-step-forward/article_2f8c0dee-ef78-11ed-a175-ef946fba9521.html | 2023-05-11T00:27:58 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/purse-drive-used-to-help-women-in-shelters-take-next-step-forward/article_2f8c0dee-ef78-11ed-a175-ef946fba9521.html |
The Boise City Council will hold a series of hearings on the Zoning Code Rewrite the week of June 12.
Boiseans are encouraged to provide testimony, either in-person or virtually, and written comments will be accepted at zoningrewrite@cityofboise.org until June 8 at 5 p.m.
The rewrite aims to, in part, mix uses more often, instead of segregating where things like commercial and residential can be — for example, allowing neighborhood cafes in some residential areas. Part of the plan is to implement a mixed-use district along transit corridors like Vista Avenue, Fairview Avenue and State Street.
Boise’s Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the rewrite to the city council in April. It would be the city's first major zoning code rewrite since 1966.
“Those (old) ordinances allowed one thing, which was low density, spreading of development across the landscape, and the construction of highways to support that. We've learned that that doesn't work,” Planning and Development Services Director Tim Keane previously said. “We've learned that we've got to do it differently.”
Many young people attended the Planning & Zoning commission hearings to testify about their struggles in finding housing and their support for the rewrite. And many older Boiseans came to talk about the potential adverse impact of changes to their privacy, the tree canopy and parking. Others also didn’t think the affordability goals outlined in the rewrite would work.
On June 12, staff and neighborhood associations will make presentations. There will be public testimony on June 13 and June 14, and then on June 15, there will be a Q&A session, rebuttal, deliberations and a decision. The hearings will be live streamed on the City of Boise Public Meetings YouTube channel. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-announces-dates-of-zoning-code-rewrite-hearings/article_56cfd004-ef6c-11ed-a309-a7f8433bf3de.html | 2023-05-11T00:30:46 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-announces-dates-of-zoning-code-rewrite-hearings/article_56cfd004-ef6c-11ed-a309-a7f8433bf3de.html |
Originally published May 9 on BoiseStatePublicRadio.org.
Toward the end of this past legislative session, Rep. Julie Yamamoto (R-Caldwell) got a text from a friend asking if she had heard the news.
The Canyon County Republican Central Committee voted to censure her over recent votes against a handful of bills – including one that would’ve allowed parents to sue libraries for lending “obscene” materials to kids.
“If anybody had told me before that I was not conservative enough in the Republican Party…I would’ve laughed, I think,” said Yamamoto. “Obviously, we’re at a different place now.”
She’s one of at least five sitting Republicans who have been censured by their local county officials in recent weeks.
Yamamoto has been involved in GOP politics for years and unseated current Caldwell Mayor Jarom Wagoner in 2020 by running to his right.
She said her censure is the result of a purity test where there can be no exceptions.
“To me, that’s such a lazy and disingenuous way of looking at any issue … but it’s far more nuanced than that,” she said.
The party platform passed last summer, Yamamoto said, can be interpreted in a number of ways.
For example, it says the most effective government is the one closest to the people. That’s partially why she voted against the library bill – it’s something she thinks should be handled by local library boards.
“If you allowed people to talk about why they did what they did, I think most reasonable people would say, ‘OK, well, I can see that.’”
"WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE ENEMY"
These censures shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Dorothy Moon, the state GOP chairwoman and ally to the far-right wing, held a press conference in the Idaho Capitol’s largest hearing room – mostly to supporters and sitting lawmakers.
“We will be here for the entire session offering a helping hand, but also to have a watchful eye on every Republican member,” Moon said.
Lawmakers who toed the party line would get whatever help they needed.
“For those who don’t, well, hell hath no fury like the chairwoman scorned,” she said.
It’s a similar message that’s been pushed by members of the far-right for years but has failed to be officially adopted: vote the platform, or the party can rescind endorsements and campaign money.
“We have identified the enemy,” said freshman Rep. Joe Alfieri (R-Coeur d’Alene) at a town hall event in April. “We know who the enemy is in the House.”
" ...IT'S LIKE A CANCER THAT'S SLOWLY GROWING..."
That message didn’t sit well with Rep. Lori McCann (R-Lewiston), who’s twice been censured this year by two different county parties in her district.
“I am trying very hard to not take that personally, but I certainly don’t feel like as a state legislature that we should be calling each other out and saying they are the enemy,” McCann said.
Like Yamamoto, McCann said she wasn’t able to explain her votes to officials in Nez Perce County.
Nick Woods, chairman of the Nez Perce County GOP, declined to talk about McCann’s censure, saying it was internal party business.
Boise State Public Radio repeatedly reached out to party officials in Canyon and Lewis counties but never heard back.
McCann said the far-right wing of the GOP has successfully taken over these less-than-glamorous positions at the local level, which can wield significant power.
“I hate to even call it this, but it’s like a cancer that slowly is growing that maybe you don’t even know it’s happening until it’s there.”
It’s something, she said, she saw in Nez Perce County where she herself is a precinct committeewoman.
“… people just decided that they were going to quit because they were like, ‘I’m not going to put up with this,’” McCann said.
Precinct, county and district positions are the backbones of any political party that does a little of everything, giving up nights, weekends and a lot of free time to volunteer for something they believe in.
Their duties include “potentially registering new voters, door-to-door campaigning. Along with that, helping campaign for candidates who are running, helping recruit volunteers or fundraise to support candidates,” according to Jaclyn Kettler, a political science professor at Boise State.
Censures like this have traditionally been rare, Kettler said, but they’ve seemingly been increasing, especially among Republicans.
A national analysis by a political science professor for the website Five Thirty Eight found in 2016, just one county party censured a Republican.
“By 2021, they found 23 instances of Republican county committees censuring officials,” she said.
The first instance the analysis found of local Democrats censuring their own was in 2021 with five reprimands.
Back in Caldwell, Yamamoto said county officials rescinded her censure until they adopt a formal reprimand process.
She’s also had to deal with a billboard accusing her of “failing to support our children,” urging someone to run against her next year. It’s paid for by Citizens Alliance of Idaho, a PAC funded almost exclusively by out-of-state donors that’s focused heavily on legislative races.
“[The criticism] has improved my prayer life, let’s put it that way,” Yamamoto said.
Still, it hasn’t all been bad, she said.
“I have never received so many cards as I did this session from people just saying, ‘Thank you for being a voice of reason.’”
The blowback won’t change how she votes, she said, even with the threat of a primary challenger.
Similar billboards across the state have cropped up to recruit candidates, though it won’t be until next May’s election that we find out just how effective these censures will be. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-republicans-censure-their-own-over-votes-against-far-right-bills/article_00ce1d5a-eeb3-11ed-b0de-2b30aa4e2bd1.html | 2023-05-11T00:30:48 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-republicans-censure-their-own-over-votes-against-far-right-bills/article_00ce1d5a-eeb3-11ed-b0de-2b30aa4e2bd1.html |
Idaho notified federal officials Wednesday the state intends to sue over a decision not to remove grizzly bears from the endangered species list.
The letter, signed by Gov. Brad Little and Attorney General Raúl Labrador, provides 60-day notice of the state’s intention to sue U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams.
“Idaho’s entire congressional delegation and the State of Idaho are lockstep in efforts to delist grizzly bears. Idaho has continually demonstrated leadership in species management, and we have never hesitated to push back on the federal government’s overreaching actions that greatly impact a variety of activities on the ground in our state,” Little said in a statement.
In March 2022, Idaho petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove grizzlies in the lower 48 states from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, arguing that they don’t qualify as a “species” under the Endangered Species Act.
The agency denied the petition in February. In its findings on the petition, the agency wrote, “We also found that a petition to delist the grizzly bear in the lower-48 states on the basis of it not being a valid listable entity did not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted; therefore, we will take no further action on that petition,” the Lewiston Tribune reported.
In the notice of intent to sue, the state argued the lower-48 grizzly bear is not a biological species or biological subspecies and calls Fish and Wildlife’s findings “dismissive” and that they “exemplify arbitrary and capricious agency action.”
“Politicians in Washington continue to use outdated endangered species protections to encroach on state sovereignty. In their desire to stop Idahoans from hunting or managing our own destiny, they pretend Idaho cannot handle the management of species. Our state intends to conserve our grizzly populations while balancing the need for limiting dangerous human-bear interactions. This issue, like most, belongs in the hands of the state, not the federal government,” Labrador said in the statement.
Idaho Conservation League North Idaho Director Brad Smith said he believes the federal agency made the right call in rejecting the petition.
There are four populations that are partially located in Idaho — in the Selkirk, Cabinet-Yaak, Bitterroot and Yellowstone areas — and of those, only one has achieved recovery criteria in its population gains, Smith said.
If the grizzly bear was to be delisted all across the lower 48 states, Smith said, there would need to be a much more robust conservation commitment from the state.
“Here in Idaho, I still believe that the state does not have adequate state protections in place at this time, even if the Yellowstone populations were to be removed from the endangered species list,” Smith said.
The federal agency signaled in February that it will look further into separate petitions filed by Wyoming and Montana to delist some local populations of grizzly bears.
Smith pointed to how Idaho has managed wolf populations since the Rocky Mountain gray wolf was delisted in 2009. Wolf management plans have since sought to decrease the wolf populations. In January, the state Fish and Game agency provided an overview of a new wolf management plan that aimed to reduce the wolf population in the state by 60%, Boise State Public Radio reported.
“We are really concerned that if grizzly bears were to come off the endangered species list, that the state would manage grizzly bears the way they have managed wolves,” Smith said. “... We would need to see a commitment from the state of Idaho and also the surrounding states to maintain recovered populations and not just drive down populations after delisting occurs.”
He said part of this commitment would need to involve more staff and resources allocated to grizzly bear management, and working with people who live in bear country to limit human-bear conflicts.
In the statement, Idaho Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks said, ”The State of Idaho has been and continues to be 100-percent committed to the conservation of grizzly bears, as the actions of local communities, landowners, recreationists and state government have demonstrated. This action is in response to a flawed ESA listing almost 50 years ago that has now become a barrier to the delisting of recovered population.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-says-it-will-sue-feds-to-remove-grizzly-bears-from-endangered-species-list/article_45f4709a-ef77-11ed-b00e-fb558b002003.html | 2023-05-11T00:30:54 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-says-it-will-sue-feds-to-remove-grizzly-bears-from-endangered-species-list/article_45f4709a-ef77-11ed-b00e-fb558b002003.html |
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/meridian-city-councilmember-announces-re-election-campaign/article_7a115568-ef69-11ed-95e0-9728eef9ce7e.html | 2023-05-11T00:30:56 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/meridian-city-councilmember-announces-re-election-campaign/article_7a115568-ef69-11ed-95e0-9728eef9ce7e.html |
An Idaho man who traveled to Washington in a car loaded with weapons and was photographed dangling from the Senate balcony during the Capitol riot was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in prison.
Josiah Colt, of Meridian, one of the first rioters to reach the Senate floor on Jan. 6, 2021, later pleaded guilty that year to obstructing Congress' certification of Joe Biden's White House victory.
Also Wednesday, a man who accompanied Colt to the District of Columbia in a rental car with two pistols, knives, a stun gun, body armor and other gear was sentenced to about three years in prison, according to court records. Las Vegas resident Nathaniel DeGrave, who also entered the Senate gallery, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and assault charges last year.
Both men had agreed to cooperate with investigators as part of their plea deals.
Prosecutors say Colt, DeGrave and a third man, Ronald Sandlin, came to Washington prepared for violence and were intent on stopping lawmakers from certifying the results of the 2020 election as they joined the angry mob of then-President Donald Trump supporters in storming the Capitol.
On Dec. 31, 2020, the men had discussed in a Facebook chat a plan for “shipping guns” to Sandlin’s home in Tennessee. Days later, Sandlin posted on social media a photo of Colt, who was lying in bed with his eyes closed and holding a handgun, with the caption: “My fellow patriot Josiah Colt sleeping ready for the boogaloo Jan 6th.” Boogaloo is a term some extremists use to refer to a second civil war. Colt replied to the post, “Ready for any battle,” followed by a laughing emoji.
Colt brought his pistol to a rally the day before the riot, but decided to leave it at a hotel on the morning of Jan. 6, authorities said. The three men watched on TV as Trump told his supporters in a speech before the riot to “fight like hell” or they were “not going to have a country anymore.”
After the riot erupted, the men entered the Capitol through the Upper West Terrace doors. They went to a hallway outside the Senate gallery, where Sandlin led a charge against police officers as Colt entered, according to prosecutors.
Colt shouted, “This is our House! This is our country! This is for the people!” before he jumped to the Senate floor. Sitting in a chair reserved for then-Vice President Mike Pence, as president of the Senate, Colt raised his fist as rioters cheered him on, prosecutors said. Colt opened a door and allowed dozens of other rioters to join him.
DeGrave, who carried a can of bear spray in his pocket, called on others on the Senate floor to “take laptops, paperwork, take everything," according to court papers.
Sandlin, of Millington, Tennessee, was sentenced in December to five years and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and assault charges.
Colt's lawyers said in a court filing that Colt “is a good person who made a series of very bad choices based on misinformation and the emotional oratory of a demagogue.”
Prosecutors accused DeGrave of trying to capitalize on his participation in the attack by selling video footage of the riot to media outlets.
“He has even profited off of his unlawful conduct on January 6 since being incarcerated — to the tune of over $120,000 — by seeking donations on crowd-funding websites claiming that he is a ‘political prisoner’ of a ‘corrupt Biden regime,’” prosecutors wrote.
DeGrave's lawyer said in court papers that DeGrave regrets “allowing himself to be drawn into the world of those claiming ‘political persecution’ as a result of their actions on January 6."
"Nathaniel recognizes the intellectual dishonesty of admitting the criminality of his own conduct on January 6 on the one hand, and complaining about unfair treatment by the criminal justice system on the other," defense lawyer William Shipley added.
More than 1,000 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Nearly 500 of them have been sentenced, with more than half receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 14 years and two months. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/meridian-man-who-dangled-from-senate-balcony-during-capitol-riot-receives-prison-sentence/article_6ec4b758-ef79-11ed-a488-a7fb28e0249b.html | 2023-05-11T00:31:16 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/meridian-man-who-dangled-from-senate-balcony-during-capitol-riot-receives-prison-sentence/article_6ec4b758-ef79-11ed-a488-a7fb28e0249b.html |
NALC Branch 522 will lead the drive in Bloomington-Normal and pick up food along city routes.
Post office customers are encouraged to leave nonperishable food or sanitary items in a bag by the mailbox. The items will go to Midwest Food Bank for distribution to area food pantries.
The drive has collected over 1.82 billion pounds of food over the past 31 years.
Watch the fun from MIRA's 2nd Annual Derby
Karen Stailey-Lander, Michelle Gudgel, Jana Mortimer
A volunteer loads food donated during the 27th annual National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at the postal distribution center in Bloomington. Postal workers collected about 42,000 pounds of food donated from postal customers in Bloomington-Normal and another 13,000 pounds from customers in surrounding rural areas. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/stamp-out-hunger-food-drive-is-saturday-in-bloomington-normal/article_98906a24-ef6e-11ed-9a44-0309f3df2e03.html | 2023-05-11T00:33:23 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/stamp-out-hunger-food-drive-is-saturday-in-bloomington-normal/article_98906a24-ef6e-11ed-9a44-0309f3df2e03.html |
TUPELO — Nearly half the candidates running for elected office in Lee County failed to meet their first mandatory financial campaign reporting deadline.
Of the 46 candidates running for office in Lee County, only 25 filed the required report on campaign contributions and expenditures. The deadline was end of business Wednesday. The reports cover financial activity from Jan. 1 to April 30.
Lee County Circuit Clerk Camille Roberts Dulaney said the lack of filing was highly unusual for the county’s elections. She theorized a lack of experience on multiple candidates' parts led to overlooking the legally required financial disclosure.
“A lot of newer people are running,” she said. “They just don’t know these things exist.”
Among those who did not file either a report or termination of reports filing were four incumbents, multiple individuals who have run for office previously and one former elected official running for office again.
Candidates who fail to complete the mandatory report may be fined $50 for each day past the deadline for up to 10 days. Intentional violations of campaign finance disclosure law are misdemeanors that carry a maximum fine of $3,000 and up to six months of jail time.
Rutledge, Johnson each report more than $20,000 raised
George C. Rutledge, a Republican candidate for District 1 supervisor raised more money than other candidate running for a county office. Rutledge reported $24,300 in contributions with $16,973 in expenditures.
However, nearly all of the contributions came from Rutledge himself. The candidate donated $20,000 to his campaign between January and March.
His opponents reported significantly less. Republican Dan Gale reported $6,500 in contributions and $6,521 in spending, while Republican William Richey reported $540 raised and $810 spent.
Republican incumbent Sheriff Jim Johnson, who is seeking his sixth term, reported more than $21,550 in contributions with $1,837 in spending.
Johnson's lone opponent, independent candidate and former District 4 Justice Court Judge Antony Rogers, reported raising $4,369, a little under half of which came from himself. Rogers spent a little more than $3,600.
Little to report for unopposed candidates
Meanwhile, many of the candidates running unopposed — Dulaney, Chancery Court Clerk Bill Benson, Tax Assessor Mark “Winky” Weathers, District 2 Justice Court Judge Marilyn Reed and District 1 Justice Court Judge Charles Hopkins — submitted termination reports, signaling they had no activity to report for their election campaigns.
District 4 Supervisor Tommie Lee Ivy, District 1 Justice Court Judge Charles Hopkins and District 4 Constable Tom Henry “Punnie” Lyles, who are all running unopposed, reported no contributions and $100 apiece in spending.
District 2 Justice Court Judge Marilyn Reed, who is running unopposed, raised and spent $650. District 3 Justice Court Judge Phyllis Maharrey Dye, also unopposed, raised and spent $750. Meanwhile, County Coroner Carolyn Gillentine-Green raised no contributions and spent $664.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/nearly-half-of-lee-county-candidates-fail-to-meet-required-finance-deadline/article_5c8e2b1b-3d22-5d85-bc20-fea68fdb37a4.html | 2023-05-11T00:34:11 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/nearly-half-of-lee-county-candidates-fail-to-meet-required-finance-deadline/article_5c8e2b1b-3d22-5d85-bc20-fea68fdb37a4.html |
WASHINGTON (WJRT) - Longtime Flint congressman Dan Kildee said he is cancer free and easing back into his work schedule.
The Democratic lawmaker had a successful surgery on April 17 to remove a cancerous tumor from one of his tonsils. He said doctors declared him cancer-free.
Kildee is grateful that the cancer was caught early and he won't require any further treatment other than continued monitoring for a couple years.
"Thank you to everyone who has sent messages. Your kindness has been very helpful and supportive of me as I've gone through this," Kildee said in a video released Wednesday. "It's been quite an ordeal, and I'm glad to put it behind me."
Kildee said he's now back in office, working to get back to feeling 100%.
"It's going to take a little bit longer for me to get back to 100%. But here I am, back in the office and going to work. Not a full schedule yet, but I’ll get there pretty soon," he said. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/kildee-says-cancer-surgery-was-successful-and-hes-back-to-work/article_a12c0392-ef8b-11ed-a35a-0b90261a0aed.html | 2023-05-11T00:43:51 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/kildee-says-cancer-surgery-was-successful-and-hes-back-to-work/article_a12c0392-ef8b-11ed-a35a-0b90261a0aed.html |
Tulare Union High School drama department presents 'Mean Girls'
Tulare Union High School’s drama department is welcoming community members to its final play of the school year.
Students will perform Mean Girls, based on the screenplay written by Tina Fey. The musical, which officially made its debut in 2017 at Washington’s National, follows the story of Cady Heron as she moves from Africa to Illinois and quickly finds herself trying to find her spot within the high school crowd.
“Get ready... it’s coming and it’s going to be a fetch,” the Tulare Union Advanced Drama Facebook page reads — a direct reference to the film and musical.
The play has multiple musical numbers, music written by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, as well as choreography to match, with a few mature jokes and one-liners scattered throughout (hence the PG-13 rating). Overall, the show is broken into two sets with an intermission in between.
Those interested in seeing the play can do so this week at 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Tulare Community Auditorium at 755 E. Tulare Avenue. The box office opens one hour before each show, and tickets to the presentation are $5. | https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/tulare/2023/05/10/tulare-union-high-school-presents-mean-girls/70201205007/ | 2023-05-11T00:44:46 | 0 | https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/tulare/2023/05/10/tulare-union-high-school-presents-mean-girls/70201205007/ |
LAKELAND, Fla. — A police officer and young person are hurt after a shooting Wednesday afternoon in Lakeland, authorities say.
The officer-involved shooting occurred in the area of Lincoln Avenue, spokesperson Robin Tillett with the City of Lakeland said. The officer and young person were shot and appear to have non-life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement has not yet said what led up to the shooting or the identity of the young person shot.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/2-hurt-lakeland-officer-involved-shooting/67-fed10875-839c-41f4-bdc1-066c995613b5 | 2023-05-11T00:49:18 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/2-hurt-lakeland-officer-involved-shooting/67-fed10875-839c-41f4-bdc1-066c995613b5 |
SEATTLE — Goodies Mediterranean Market has been operating on Lake City Way for 15 years. But owner Jay Hosn said he is concerned with two fires in vacant buildings nearby.
The latest fire occurred Wednesday morning in the 13500 block of Lake City Way NE. When Seattle Fire crews arrived just before 4:50 a.m., they found heavy smoke and flames coming out of a vacant two-story apartment building.
Firefighters attempted to gain access but determined it was not safe to enter the building due to high heat, smoke and unkept conditions of the building.
Seattle police and the Seattle Department of Transportation shut down Lake City Way NE as crews worked to extinguish the fire.
Just after 5 a.m., it was upgraded to a two-alarm fire and additional resources were sent in to protect adjacent buildings.
The fire was under control around 6 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
It’s unclear how long the building was vacant, but Seattle Fire officials said it was vacant for “a number of years.”
It was the second fire in a vacant building in the past few months. In early March, another vacant building in the 14000 block of Lake City Way NE was destroyed. That building was slated for demolition.
Seattle Fire is telling businesses to secure their property. That includes windows, doors and garbage bins – as a safety precaution.
It’s a concern for business owners like Hosn, who says the issue of homelessness needs to be addressed to both help people in need and protect businesses.
“I hope the city and the mayor and Governor Inslee, you know, see this from a bigger angle and do something about it,” Hosn said. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/lake-city-way-business-owner-concerned-vacant-building-fire/281-ea60574a-6f58-4c8b-9324-f91d9702fd64 | 2023-05-11T00:53:27 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/lake-city-way-business-owner-concerned-vacant-building-fire/281-ea60574a-6f58-4c8b-9324-f91d9702fd64 |
A month after placing former Police Chief Dean Rondeau on paid administrative leave for an unspecified reason, the Wolfeboro Police Commission named his successor Wednesday.
Former Chief Stu Chase, who had what the commission described as a “stellar” 35-year career, will assume the role on Monday, May 22.
Chase began his career with the Danvers (Mass.) Police Department, where he rose to and retired as chief in 2004. He joined Wolfeboro Police Department full time in early 2005 as a lieutenant. He served in that position for a year and was then appointed chief, serving 11 years before retiring from full-time duty.
Chase, who is currently a part-time deputy sheriff for Carroll County, will work a 32-hour part-time week and will remain with the department for one year.
During that time, a press release said, Chase “will work with the commission and executive staff as the department transitions for the future, which may include reorganization, but will ultimately lead to Wolfeboro’s next full-time chief of police being appointed from with the Police Department.”
In addition to the press release, Stephen Wood, the chairman of the Wolfeboro Police Commission, responded Tuesday to a recent Right-To-Know inquiry about Rondeau’s departure, including Rondeau’s resignation letter and the letter from the Commission placing him on paid leave.
Wood wrote that Rondeau had an annual salary of $122,985 and that the “earned time personal time buyout” upon his retirement was $64,195.
He said the commission submitted an electronic form notifying the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council about Rondeau’s retirement but said that information could not be provided by the department, but had to come from the council.
As to whether there was “any communication between the commission and Chief Rondeau regarding the complaint that is being investigated or him being placed on leave once we received the complaint,” Wood said that he “personally hand delivered the letter placing him (Rondeau) on leave, followed protocol and took possession of his firearm and badge, and drove him home. There was no discussion about the matter during the drive nor could there be.”
The inquiry, Wood continued, “is ongoing and the results will not be known until sometime in June. We cannot release the details of the complaint while it is being investigated.”
The April 10 commission letter placing Rondeau on leave says the commission was “in receipt of a complaint against you as Chief of Police. The basis of this complaint requires the Wolfeboro Police Commission to conduct an internal inquiry as to its merits. Effective immediately, you are being placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal inquiry. The investigator will be in contact (with) you regarding this matter.”
On April 13, Rondeau submitted to the commission what he titled a “Letter of Resignation,” not retirement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I submit my letter of resignation effective 28 April 2023 from the Town of Wolfeboro Police Department employ, subject to all compensatory and earned time/buy out option(s) that the Police Commission may recommend in accordance with the provision of my contract….,” wrote Rondeau.
On May 2, the Commission said it had accepted Rondeau’s “retirement” and lauded him for a career with Wolfeboro Police that lasted more than 27 years and for serving 34 years with the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank colonel. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/local/wolfeboro-names-temporary-police-chief/article_e9635ca0-9b5c-5ed4-935c-aa5b46f28d14.html | 2023-05-11T00:53:34 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/local/wolfeboro-names-temporary-police-chief/article_e9635ca0-9b5c-5ed4-935c-aa5b46f28d14.html |
WHITELAND, Ind. — FEMA is encouraging residents impacted by the March 31 tornadoes across Indiana to register for federal assistance.
The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is June 14, five weeks away.
Twelve counties were declared federal disaster areas after some 20 tornadoes touched down across the state on the last night of March. Whiteland was one of the hardest hit towns. FEMA opened six Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities, including one at the Johnson County Transportation Building in Whiteland.
More than 230 people in Johnson County have registered for FEMA assistance so far, with $41,000 awarded in FEMA grants.
"Everyone is encouraged to apply if you live in a declared county,” said FEMA external affairs officer Roberto Baltodano. “Whether if you believe that you may have not had disaster-related damages, you are in a declared county, so come see us. We encourage you to come visit and sit down with us. We want to know your story. We want to know what happened and then help us determine your eligibility."
People can also apply by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, or use the FEMA App.
"It’s very important to understand that there are stages in the process,” said Baltodano. “The first stage, obviously, is the application when you bring that insurance information and your personal information. Next there's going to be an inspector that's going to call you. Make sure you answer that call. It may come from an unknown number. That inspector is going to set up an appointment. Do not miss that appointment."
Applicants should receive a letter of determination within 10 days of their inspection. Denied applications can be appealed. Low-interest loans may also be available to homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits through the Small Business Administration.
"I have a passion to help those who have been affected in any form of disaster,” said Delvonnie Burgess, SBA public affairs specialist. “And so it gives me great pleasure to know that we are helping and aiding those that have been affected. It can happen to any one of us."
Statewide since April 15, more than $4.5 million in federal grants and loans have been awarded.
Anyone living in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan and White counties at the time of the tornadoes can apply for assistance. FEMA can award grants up to $36,000.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Indiana in Whiteland, Martinsville, Stinesville, Sullivan, Fort Wayne, and Merrillville. They will remain open through the June 14 registration deadline.
You can find the Disaster Recovery Center nearest you using this tool. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fema-march-31-tornadoes-disaster-recovery-residents-assistance/531-7af2bb75-f544-496d-a5d1-3b3ad389367a | 2023-05-11T00:58:15 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fema-march-31-tornadoes-disaster-recovery-residents-assistance/531-7af2bb75-f544-496d-a5d1-3b3ad389367a |
VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. — An Indiana State Police trooper came to the rescue of a feathered friend Tuesday in western Indiana.
Master Trooper Mike Laney was on patrol on SR 63 in Vermillion County when he found an injured bald eagle, ISP Sgt. Matt Ames said in a Facebook post.
Laney wrapped the eagle up, placed it in his patrol car and took it to a local veterinarian for treatment.
"Hopefully, the eagle will be soaring again soon!" Ames said.
There is no further update about the eagle's condition or treatment. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana/indiana-state-police-trooper-rescues-injured-bald-eagle-in-vermillion-county/531-5e2317a9-e334-4267-83a4-41e79771fb5f | 2023-05-11T00:58:21 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana/indiana-state-police-trooper-rescues-injured-bald-eagle-in-vermillion-county/531-5e2317a9-e334-4267-83a4-41e79771fb5f |
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — First responders and dispatchers say a new app is becoming a game-changer in Hendricks County.
The free app What3Words pinpoints a precise and accurate location, especially in parks and rural areas. The map is divided into 10-by-10-foot squares that each have three unique words.
It’s something the Hendricks County Communications Center recently started testing.
“We need to know just two things, where you are at and what type of response you need. So the quicker we get that information, the quicker we can get help to them,” said Greg O’Brien, operations manager at Hendricks County Communications Center.
When dispatchers get a call, it will usually show an address, coordinates and three words based on where the phone pinged from.
The new technology came in handy Tuesday afternoon when a woman called saying her sister fell and hurt her ankle in Brownsburg’s Williams Park.
Since it was a wooded area, there wasn’t an exact location to send first responders. O’Brien first used the closest street address and then communicated the “three words” to direct them to the victim.
“I was hoping they could use it to find a good route to the patient,” he said.
One of the first responders on the scene had the app and knew what to do.
“The officer on the ladder that day actually had the app on his phone and was able to type in the three words which gave him a location of where the victim was at,” said Brownsburg Fire Department Capt. Justin Butts.
Butts said when he arrived on the scene, he first started doing the search the old way. In this case, there were dogs that he was listening for.
“By the time I checked one area and backtracked to the next, they showed up and were able to go in a straight line to locate the person,” he said.
He said the crew was able to rescue her within minutes and get her to the hospital.
“To actually search by foot can be a fairly extensive operation even in a small park,” Butts said. “Out of sight and out of voice range is a very long distance if you need help.”
Anyone can download the app and communicate the three words to dispatchers. It can also be used to find friends and family at large events. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/what3words-app-brownsburg-hendricks-county-first-responders-dispatch-precise-location-for-emergencies/531-40d704b5-88cc-4ee7-a7b4-025ce3035366 | 2023-05-11T00:58:27 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/what3words-app-brownsburg-hendricks-county-first-responders-dispatch-precise-location-for-emergencies/531-40d704b5-88cc-4ee7-a7b4-025ce3035366 |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon City officials are investigating a vandalism case after a tree was cut down outside of the building without authorization, the city announced Wednesday.
Security footage appears to show two kids, with one using a chainsaw to cut down the tree in the City Hall parking lot shortly before 4 a.m. Monday, officials said.
“Cameras captured the individuals approaching City Hall from the south side of the building. They stopped at two trees before making their way to a third one, which they cut down. The tree was located between the parking lot and the sidewalk on Center Street,” said Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff.
The tree was left where it fell on the landscaping and parking lot.
Officials said they have not determined a motive for the vandalism but said they are taking the incident seriously.
“This community is passionate about our trees and natural resources. Cutting down a perfectly healthy tree on public property is concerning behavior that will not be tolerated,” Mayor McGriff said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Oregon City Police Department non-emergency line at 503-655-8211. | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/oregon-city-officials-footage-appears-to-show-kids-cutting-down-tree-in-front-of-city-hall/ | 2023-05-11T01:01:11 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/oregon-city-officials-footage-appears-to-show-kids-cutting-down-tree-in-front-of-city-hall/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The FBI and local law enforcement are investigating phony threats made at several Oregon schools in the past 24 hours.
The most recent threat happened Wednesday morning at Jefferson High School in Marion County. Officials say a caller reported someone armed with a gun went into the school and started shooting, but it was later determined false.
But investigating false threats is a fairly intensive process, according to authorities, especially when dealing with technology that conceals identity.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says they received a report that someone with a gun was opening fire inside Jefferson High around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies responded and entered the building, evacuated it and determined there wasn’t a shooter inside.
However, the identity of who called in the phony report remains unknown while the FBI continues to help investigate.
Kieran Ramsey, the FBI Special Agent in charge, asks that parents talk to their kids about the serious impact of making a false threat.
I’m a parent of school-aged kids myself,” Ramsey said. “I know the stress that this talk causes kids in the school system. I hear about the stress that it causes teachers and staff, and I know that it diverts very valuable, limited resources of law enforcement when we have to go run and make sure that there isn’t a legitimate threat.”
On Tuesday, Oak Creek Elementary was evacuated after someone reported a bomb threat, which was later determined “no legitimate threat.” The Lake Oswego Police Department is still investigating.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone with information about who was involved in Wednesday’s hoax to contact Detective Schwab at jschwab@co.marion.or.us and or 503-932-6294.
FBI Portland tweeted: “A hoax threat is not a joke. The #FBI and our partners follow up on every tip we receive from the public and analyze and investigate all threats. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI to report this crime.” | https://www.koin.com/local/fbi-law-enforcement-investigate-false-gun-threat-at-jefferson-high-school/ | 2023-05-11T01:01:20 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/fbi-law-enforcement-investigate-false-gun-threat-at-jefferson-high-school/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon Worker Relief has introduced the Home Fund, a short-term rental assistance program targeted to immigrants who are facing eviction.
The support organization announced the Home Fund on Tuesday morning, but this isn’t the first time Oregon Worker Relief has offered financial help to communities in need.
The organization has previously accepted applications for its climate change fund made for people who have lost work due to extreme heat, and its relief fund for workers who earned less money or lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oregon Worker Relief’s newly-announced fund pays for up to two months of rent for eligible immigrants in the state. The program will also connect recipients with further support services including food assistance, job training and financial counseling — all of which intend to aid applicants in their pursuit of stable housing.
“Preventing evictions allows our neighbors to stay in their homes, keeps families safe and intact, and maintains healthy communities,” Oregon Worker Relief Board President Martha Sonato said. “Creating shared prosperity in our state starts with ensuring every member of our communities has a safe and decent place to call home — and can stay there.”
Oregon Worker Relief says the entire state is enduring a housing crisis, but immigrant communities are among the groups most at risk of eviction or homelessness. The organization cited data from the Oregon Center for Public Policy, which reports that one in 10 Oregon children live with an undocumented relative.
Despite this, executive community member Isa Pena says immigrant Oregonians are generally left out of assistance programs.
“Migrant Oregonians are essential to Oregon’s economy and we need to work together to make our community strong, healthy and whole,” Program Manager Andrea Gonzalez added.
Go to the Oregon Worker Relief website for more information on the home fund, or call 1-888-274-7292 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday to apply. | https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-worker-relief-introduces-home-fund-for-immigrants-facing-eviction/ | 2023-05-11T01:01:23 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-worker-relief-introduces-home-fund-for-immigrants-facing-eviction/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — During a bust in March, Washington County officials reported that they seized about $400,000 worth of fentanyl.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Westside Interagency Narcotics team and Portland Homeland Security teamed up for a fentanyl pill trafficking investigation where they discovered that a trafficker was going to be delivering fentanyl to Washington County.
The trafficker was located and stopped by Oregon State Police and upon searching the vehicle, officials said they discovered 130,000 fentanyl pills, weighing 15.2kg.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Washington County officials shared that this is the second large fentanyl bust of 2023 done by the Westside Interagency Narcotics team. | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/washington-county-seized-400000-worth-of-fentanyl-in-march-bust/ | 2023-05-11T01:01:23 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/washington-county-seized-400000-worth-of-fentanyl-in-march-bust/ |
The Big Sky Conference honored four Northern Arizona men's tennis players players in singles and all three doubles teams, placing them on the all-conference lists.
In a unanimous selection, Piotr Galus was named to the first team for singles in his first season with the Lumberjacks. Galus, playing at the No. 2 and 3 slots, led Northern Arizona in singles wins this season with an overall record of 20-4.
Facundo Tumosa, Dominik Buzonics and Alex Groves were named to the second team. Tumosa owned a singles record of 17-6 this season, primarily playing at the top flight. Buzonics and Groves both went 18-2 in their respective singles matches.
The Lumberjacks were the only team in the conference to have all three of their primary doubles pairings named to the all-conference teams, with Maikel De Boes and Tumosa earning first-team honors alongside Groves and Galus. Buzonics and Daniel Dillon received an honorable mention nod.
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De Boes and Tumosa were 10-3 at mainly the No. 1 position. Groves and Galus led the team in doubles wins with a 17-5 record as a pairing at the second spot. Buzonics and Dillon led the team and the conference in win percentage as the two held a 12-1 overall doubles record.
Northern Arizona went 22-3 overall and had a 7-1 Big Sky mark, and reached the conference championship match, falling 4-3 to Idaho. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-roundup-mens-tennis-players-land-on-all-conference-lists/article_7788bd72-ef55-11ed-ab3e-8b6bb85827ca.html | 2023-05-11T01:05:26 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-roundup-mens-tennis-players-land-on-all-conference-lists/article_7788bd72-ef55-11ed-ab3e-8b6bb85827ca.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is responding to a shooting on the south side of town that left one person not breathing.
The shooting happened just after 7 p.m. near the intersection of South Rutan Street and East Sunnybrook Lane.
Sedgwick County Dispatch confirmed that one person was found not breathing.
KSN has a crew on the scene. We will provide more information as it becomes available. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/police-responding-to-south-wichita-shooting-that-left-one-not-breathing/ | 2023-05-11T01:06:43 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/police-responding-to-south-wichita-shooting-that-left-one-not-breathing/ |
The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce will hear about progress on rail projects and transit-oriented development at a meeting later this month.
The chamber of commerce serving Hammond and East Chicago will host the Regional Development Authority and Northern Indiana Transportation Commuter Transportation District at its general membership meeting at noon May 31. The meeting will take place at Dynasty Banquets at 4125 Calumet Ave. in Hammond.
Registration starts at 11 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. The presentation will begin at noon.
RDA President and CEO Sherri Ziller and NICTD President Michael Noland will discuss the South Shore Line extension south to Dyer and the double track east to Michigan City.
"Already we are seeing hundreds of millions of dollars invested in projects underway, in Hammond and Michigan City, that are directly related to the West Lake Corridor and Double Track Projects," the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce said in a press release. "Additionally, we will hear about seven Transit Development Districts or TDDs established last year in Northwest Indiana and their future impact on the entire Region. These districts will enable the RDA to accelerate development and support public infrastructure investment around the commuter rail stations in Northwest Indiana."
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The chamber luncheon is open to the general public.
Tickets are $35 and must be reserved in advance. For more information or tickets, call 219-931-1000 or email paula@lakeshorechamber.org.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Biggby Coffee, Flora Plants, Funk My Life and McDonald's open; Aster & Gray and Elements Wine Bar close
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NWI Business Ins and Outs: Buona/Rainbow Cone, Fat Burrito, Pickles Kids and Dear Dani Boutique opening | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/lakeshore-chamber-of-commerce-to-hear-about-train-projects-transit-oriented-development/article_5a63c7fe-ef6f-11ed-9445-f7329a7e23ff.html | 2023-05-11T01:06:43 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/lakeshore-chamber-of-commerce-to-hear-about-train-projects-transit-oriented-development/article_5a63c7fe-ef6f-11ed-9445-f7329a7e23ff.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Yes or no? A question determining the future of several Kansas school districts as districts ask voters to pass multi-million dollar bond projects. On Tuesday, four districts, including Pratt, McPherson, Marion-Florence, and Caldwell, had a vote.
According to the Kansas State Department of Education, there are 20 happening this school year. Aside from the pandemic year, it isn’t far off from a typical year. So far, nine of 15 bond votes have passed this 22-23 year.
“We’re just happy that they voted for this, and we can start moving forward,” said Alan Jamison, Caldwell USD 360 Superintendent.
Caldwell held their first school bond vote since 2001 on Tuesday.
The rise in construction costs is a big reason why.
“If we waited even longer, we probably wouldn’t have been able to even do what we’re doing now for the same amount of money. So, I think schools are being forced to decide, you know, what to do and when to do it, maybe a little bit sooner than they really want to,” Jamison said.
Many districts holding a vote trying to take advantage of pandemic relief funding.
“We have a use it or lose a chance to use some money there, and we had approval on that process. So we wanted to take advantage of that funding to help lessen the cost for our community,” said Tony Helfrich, Pratt USD 382 Superintendent.
This year’s school bonds show a new trend in what funding will go toward – child care.
“Schools are trying to address that, and that takes that requires space, and it’s a different type of space than what you have for a second-grade classroom, for example,” said Craig Neuenswander, KSDE Deputy Commissioner for fiscal and administrative services.
“It’s a pressing issue for us for recruitment and retention. and that was a big piece because we were going to renovate a building that we have and make it usable for the next 50 years and beyond,” Helfrich said.
Superintendents say it’s an investment for the community. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/why-are-several-school-districts-holding-special-bond-elections/ | 2023-05-11T01:06:49 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/why-are-several-school-districts-holding-special-bond-elections/ |
Pedal boat rentals are coming to Miller.
J&M Excursions started as an ecotourism company in Gary's lakefront Miller neighborhood during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The married couple Jeffrey G. Smith and McKenya Dilworth Smith launched it to get people out to enjoy the great outdoors.
"We were getting cabin fever, " Jeffrey Smith said.
They started out renting kayaks and canoes to be taken out on the Miller Lagoon just south of Lake Michigan. J&M Excursions, which bears both their first initials in its name, offers self-guided and guided tours of the body of water near the Marquette Park Pavilion and the Miller Woods in the Indiana Dunes National Park. The lagoons in Marquette Park are the headwaters of the East Branch of the Grand Calumet River, which flows from Lake Michigan to the Indiana Harbor Canal in East Chicago.
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The business has grown to rent out more than a dozen kayaks and more canoes every summer. Now it's expanding its inventory to include pedal boats for leisurely trips on the lagoon.
"Being on the water is so therapeutic for me. Nature is healing and relaxing," McKenya Dilworth Smith said.
The business will rent out boats from Memorial Day weekend through the first week of September. All are equipped with a life vest, radio and first aid kit.
It also will host youth workers from the MBTP Youth Employment Initiative this summer.
"If you have school groups, family gatherings or just want to relax alone on the water, we are here to service you," Jeffrey Smith said.
For more information, call 219-516-3928, email jandmexcursions@gmail.com or find the business on Facebook. | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/pedal-boat-rentals-coming-to-miller/article_d795eaf8-eec1-11ed-b950-931b40bb97c9.html | 2023-05-11T01:06:50 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/pedal-boat-rentals-coming-to-miller/article_d795eaf8-eec1-11ed-b950-931b40bb97c9.html |
MICHIGAN CITY — Residents of the city’s East Side, West Side and Midtown neighborhoods offered ideas on ways to improve the quality of life in their own areas as the city drafts a three-year improvement plan.
The plan is being developed by the Brookings Institution and Local Initiatives Support Corp. Michigan City, Seymour and Warsaw, all in Indiana, are the first small cities nationwide for this effort, said Josh Anderson, of Anderson and Bohlander, who facilitated Thursday night’s session.
“We’re the guinea pigs,” he said.
“You’ll be receiving national attention through this process,” Anderson added.
The station block building coming to Michigan City with the Double Track NWI project incorporates a new train station and parking garage but also residential and commercial uses. That project is lighting an economic development fuse that promises to bring hundreds of millions of dollars of private investment downtown. That includes the $240 million SoLa – for South of the Lake – mixed-use development adjacent to City Hall.
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“We’re really looking at the more disinvested communities around there,” Anderson said, to make sure they aren’t left out, he said.
Indiana is preparing for a second round of READI — Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative — grants. “They want you to be competitive in that,” Anderson said.
The team looking at Michigan City has already dived into demographic data. The East Side, West Side and Midtown neighborhoods have 26% of the city’s jobs, but unemployment is higher.
Anderson encouraged attendees to list strengths, weaknesses and ideas. They eagerly responded.
Nila Williams grew up in the West Side neighborhood. Attending the meeting at the H.O.P.E. Center brought back memories for her. The building was the former Park Elementary School, which she attended. Park is one of several schools closed after enrollment declined.
“I would love to see something else going on in this building,” Williams said, adding youth-oriented programs, the arts and black history lessons to what already goes on there.
“I don’t like the prison, obviously, but we grew up with that,” Williams said. She would like to see the prison removed and affordable housing put up in its place.
“There’s a food desert over here,” Williams added. She wants residents to have easy access to healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables without having to drive to the city’s south side, where the large supermarkets are.
Realtor Erica Miller, an East Side resident, agreed about the need for fresh produce on her side of the city. “There’s so much that we lack on the East Side,” she said. “We lack vibrant businesses” and walkability, she said. Crossing Franklin Street downtown is easy, but Michigan Boulevard is harder to cross.
Miller hopes the new Dunkin Donuts will attract other businesses to her neighborhood.
Tommy Kulavik’s ideas included adding an I-94 interchange at County Line Road.
Another resident suggested an independent study program in conjunction with the AK Smith Career Center and Ivy Tech Community College for students to learn shoe repair and other trades that seem to be in decline.
“I think one of the barriers is transportation,” a resident said, with bus service ending too early for a lot of people to ride to and from work.
Mayor Duane Parry was pleased with the event. “It’s overdue,” he said. “It’s needed if we’re going to go forward.”
Events like this help him keep in touch with people in the community, he added.
Michigan City Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Clarence Hulse is excited about the program. “You don’t know how fortunate I feel to have two major nonprofits in our backyard,” he said.
“We’ve got some of the highest poverty around downtown,” he said, and he doesn’t want people pushed out of their homes. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/michigan-city-drafts-improvement-plan/article_508da3de-e386-11ed-9e12-dfa75d774e7a.html | 2023-05-11T01:07:14 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/michigan-city-drafts-improvement-plan/article_508da3de-e386-11ed-9e12-dfa75d774e7a.html |
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Pine Bluff voters decided against two sales tax initiatives on Tuesday. One focused on improving public safety, while the other spotlighted education and economic development.
In 2017, voters passed the five-eighth cent sales tax for the incentive focusing on education and economic development. Go Forward Pine Bluff, a group that aims to increase the revenues of the city government, said the tax allowed them to complete big projects over the past six years.
“We raised significant funding over $13 million that has been invested into the community,” Go Forward Pine Bluff CEO Ryan Watley said. “Our partnership with the city has been very beneficial to the citizens of Pine Bluff."
Watley said the sales tax had played a massive role in helping the city grow. However, Tuesday's vote against the tax puts things into perspective.
“It's not the results that we wanted,” Watley said. “The jury's still out on what that really means. We're having some preliminary conversations today.”
Although the sales tax didn't pass, Watley said the current projects in development will continue.
“In terms of our go-kart track, amusement family foreign park, the six main retail and restaurant district, and all the administrative work on the hotel," Watley said. "That will also come to fruition."
While Watley is optimistic that current projects can be completed, he's unsure how many more projects they can achieve without additional help.
“Our citizens are clamoring for a movie theater in Pine Bluff... new houses... for cleanup of the neighborhoods,” Watley said. “That has to be figured out some kind of way. That impact is significant without those funds.”
After the vote, Watley said Go Forward Pine Bluff won't alter its mission.
“We feel good about the work that we've done, and the work that is currently in place," Watley said. "A little disappointed that we can't plan for the future today."
Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington shared a statement with us.
"Yesterday, voters decided not to renew Go Forward Pine Bluff or the public safety initiative. These were not the results that many had hoped to see. Nevertheless, the decision of the voters must be respected. We are grateful for all the residents who participated in this process by exercising their right to vote. Even though these ballot items were not approved, we are not giving up on our city. There are first responders, educators, entrepreneurs, community organizations, civic leaders, and residents who remain passionate about revitalizing Pine Bluff. Their commitment to positive change will not waiver.
Looking ahead, Pine Bluff is positioned for a better future. More than ever before, we must believe in ourselves. We must continue the hard work of cleaning up our neighborhoods, transforming our schools, shoring up our infrastructure, strengthening our public safety agencies, and making this a place where businesses can flourish.
This will take time and it will not be easy, but based on the great things we have seen over the past few years, we know it can be done. We must all stay engaged in this process as we enter this new chapter together." | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/pine-bluff-voters-say-no-to-tax-initiatives/91-62f268b5-97df-4ab3-afc1-453a13194adb | 2023-05-11T01:09:52 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/pine-bluff-voters-say-no-to-tax-initiatives/91-62f268b5-97df-4ab3-afc1-453a13194adb |
Brian Adams Sr. took the stand at his murder trial Wednesday and told the jury he didn't intend to kill Trevious "Trey" Clark, a stranger he'd come across by chance in a heavily traveled parking lot near North 27th and Vine streets on Oct. 18, 2021.
"I didn't beat him to death. I hit him," the 52-year-old said. "I never intended to hurt no one."
But the jury disagreed, voting after two hours of deliberations to convict Adams of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony.
During his testimony, Adams said that afternoon he was in the market for a van, saw Clark's and walked up to ask him about it.
Adams said there was no problem until Clark dropped marijuana in his lap while rolling a blunt, got irate and started acting like he wanted to fight. Adams said he tried to calm him. He was on parole and could go back to prison over a fight.
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But as soon as Clark got out of the van, Clark swung and hit him, Adams said.
They fell to the ground, and Adams got him in a bear hug. Witnesses broke it up, but Clark sucker-punched Adams when they got up, leaving Adams with a head fracture and blood dripping into one eye.
Adams got up and said he was going to get a pole, referring to the handle of a floor jack he had in his van.
Clark got into his van and started inching away but stopped and said he was going to finish it. Adams took it as a threat.
"I was walking toward him, trying to get him to move, to leave. To no avail," Adams said.
He said he just wanted to shoo Clark away.
But as soon as Adams walked out from around the back of Clark's van, Clark swung, Adams said.
"I swung, too, and I hit him," he said. "I didn't intend to kill him. I intended to hit him so I could get away."
He said he thought Clark had something in his hand. A gun or box cutter maybe. He said he couldn't lie and say what it was for sure.
Clark dropped, struck over the head by the jack handle.
Then, Adams admits, he "stomped him" to make sure he let go of whatever he had.
"To me, I thought I stomped him on his back. But, like I said, I really couldn't see," Adams said.
Clark's cousin, Malaki Williams, who had been with him, said it was a "full force" stomp on Clark's head. Then, Clark started bleeding out of his ears.
Williams said Adams' friend told him he just killed someone.
"I just knew from all the blood that he wasn't there," Williams said of his cousin.
Adams alleges Williams went over to Clark and grabbed whatever he'd had and took off.
Williams denies it.
Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jim Rocke asked Adams why, in the Facebook Live video he posted soon after it happened, Adams hadn't said anything about Clark having a weapon. In it, Adams had said: "He hit me in the eye, and I beat his a**."
Or why he didn't tell police about it when they interviewed him later that night. Or about seeing Williams take whatever it was.
Adams said it was true.
"Well, it's what you told us today," Rocke said.
"That's what the truth is," Adams said.
"That's for the jury to decide," the prosecutor said.
The jury did decide, agreeing on second-degree murder rather than the first-degree charge Rocke had argued for.
He said Adams struck Clark with a jack handle as retribution for Clark sucker-punching him.
Adams' attorney, Jon Braaten, had hoped to argue self-defense, but District Judge Ryan Post denied his request to instruct the jury on it.
Instead, in closing arguments, he focused on intent. He said Adams was the "old guy" in the crowd. And while he had the pole in his hands, there was no evidence he ever swung it more than once.
"He didn't intend to hit him. He just swung," Braaten said. "It wasn't his goal that day to end the life of Mr. Clark. The jack handle connected and, unfortunately, Mr. Clark is dead."
Adams is set for sentencing in June, where he will face 20 years to life in prison, plus up to 50 more on the weapon charge.
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-man-on-trial-says-i-never-intended-to-hurt-no-one/article_7eb4494c-ef71-11ed-8ebf-b78ba335520f.html | 2023-05-11T01:10:45 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-on-trial-says-i-never-intended-to-hurt-no-one/article_7eb4494c-ef71-11ed-8ebf-b78ba335520f.html |
January 5, 1951 – May 4, 2023
Jennie Doyle, 72, of Lebanon, passed away May 4, 2023 with her husband by her side.
She was born to the late John and Ann Marie McCool, on January 5, 1951 in Lebanon, Oregon. Jennie graduated from Reedsport High School in 1969, and shortly thereafter married Bill, the literal boy-next-door.
She and Bill lived in Lebanon for 54 years, where they raised their three children: Heike Scott of Saint Helens, OR; Shannon Lacey of Nashville, TN; and Cassie Blanchard of Byron Center, MI
Jennie is survived by her three daughters; sons, Tom Lacey and Jeremy Blanchard; her eight beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, Amber and Curtis Steubs and their children, Jaedyn and Lauren; Baeley and Lydia Scott; and Hannah and Linnea Blanchard. She is also survived by siblings, Jerry Olson, John “Skip” Olson, Juanita Presley, Billy Olson and Connie Ward. Jennie had many nieces and nephews whom she treasured.
Jennie was preceded in death by her grandmother, Myrtle Parsons Love; and step-mother, Marie Olson, who helped to raise her and provided her with so much love and support after she lost her mother as an infant.
Jennie was a Lebanon School bus driver for 20 years, and often shared stories of her work day and the antics “her kids” got up to. Jennie loved volunteering in her community. She was an active room mother and PTA President at Cascades Elementary School. Jennie loved sharing her talents in sewing and crochet and spent 20 years as a Linn County 4-H Leader and Fair Superintendent.
Bill and Jennie met and married on the Oregon Coast, which was a favorite and frequent destination throughout their life. They loved to camp and travel, and spent countless thousands of miles crisscrossing the US, including two cross country road trips, one spent traveling for 30 days in a pickup and camper with their 3 girls, visiting friends and relatives from Oregon to Ohio and dragging their daughters to every National Park and boring pioneer museum in between.
Jennie’s service will be held in Lebanon at Crowfoot Baptist Church at 1 pm on Friday, May 19, 2023. There will be a light lunch reception after, at the church, and internment at Odd Fellows Cemetery, in Lebanon at 3 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jennie’s name to the Oregon 4-H Foundation. Arrangements are under the care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/jennie-doyle/article_4154a7ba-ef6f-11ed-89c7-ff1ff7fb792e.html | 2023-05-11T01:14:18 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/jennie-doyle/article_4154a7ba-ef6f-11ed-89c7-ff1ff7fb792e.html |
June 5, 1947 – October 18, 2022
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Judy Reichert, 75, of North Bend, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Faith Lutheran Church, 2741 Sherman Avenue in North Bend with Pastor Katherine Brick presiding.
Judy was born June 5, 1947, in Berwyn, Illinois to Dr. John and Selma (Thompson) Reichert. She passed away peacefully on October 18, 2022 at her home in North Bend.
Judy grew up in La Grange, Illinois, and graduated from Lyons Township High School, class of 1965. She furthered her education graduating from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education; then a Master’s Degree in English from Indiana University. Judy began her teaching career in Lansing, Illinois, before moving to North Bend to be near family. She taught English at Coquille Valley Middle School before moving to North Bend Junior High where she taught English and Honors English. She finished her 38-year career at North Bend High School.
Judy was active in her church, the Humane Society, and book club, and she was a fervent lover of her pet Shelties. She loved flowers, gardening, reading, lunch with her girlfriends, her birthday, and playing with her beloved Missy. She was a beloved daughter, sister, and aunt with strong loyalty to her family and friends. Known for her keen sense of humor and quick wit, she loved nothing more than to have a good, loud laugh. She was a generous, thoughtful, compassionate, and loving spirit.
Judy is survived by her sister, Ruth Thoren and her husband, Dr. Ted Thoren of Saddlebrooke, AZ; nephew, Tim Thoren and his husband, Jason Rice of Springfield; nephew, Ted Thoren, his wife, Kim, and their children, Alex and Alyssa Thoren of Tigard; and numerous cousins.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, John and Selma Reichert.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Judy’s name to Animal Shelter Partners, 93608 Sunnyvale Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420.
Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/judith-carol-reichert/article_5c3bcb54-ef82-11ed-bd01-bf977cc14766.html | 2023-05-11T01:14:24 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/judith-carol-reichert/article_5c3bcb54-ef82-11ed-bd01-bf977cc14766.html |
In late April, the South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team (S.C.I.N.T), Josephine County Narcotics Team (R.A.D.E), Douglas County Narcotics Team (D.I.N.T), Coos County Parole and Probation, and local law enforcement agencies conducted multiple narcotic operations in the Coos County area.
Investigators worked for several days to identify multiple drug suppliers in our area and surrounding areas. However, due to the sensitive nature, most of the information will not be released as there are ongoing investigations into these dealers.
This operation, spearheaded by (S.C.I.N.T), removed over 1000 Fentanyl pills and over ½ ounce of methamphetamine from the streets of Coos County.
It is challenging to remove these substances from our streets within the confines of the current laws in Oregon. However, we are incredibly thankful for these professionals who care as much for their communities as you and work tirelessly to find ways to remove these illicit narcotics legally.
S.C.I.N.T is actively fighting the illegal drug trade within the law and asks the public to continue providing any information about suspected dealers within or outside Coos County. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/s-c-i-n-t-conducts-narcotics-operations-in-coos-county-resulting-in-drug-seizures/article_865667ba-ef81-11ed-828f-9337ff830161.html | 2023-05-11T01:14:26 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/s-c-i-n-t-conducts-narcotics-operations-in-coos-county-resulting-in-drug-seizures/article_865667ba-ef81-11ed-828f-9337ff830161.html |
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