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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland has a competitive ice cream scene with companies like Salt & Straw and Fifty Licks. But on a day when it’s hot and you’re looking for a cold treat, don’t sleep on Portland’s shave ice.
Shave ice businesses are scattered around the city, from downtown to North and outer Northeast.
Here are five places to try the next time the temperature heats up on Portland.
Wailua Shave Ice
You don’t have to travel to the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai to get a taste of it. Wailua Shave Ice, which is based in Kapa’a, has a second location in downtown Portland. Customers can choose fresh guava, pineapple or mango juice for their shave ice or get the classic rainbow cup. Options include things like shave ice with fresh fruit, coconut foam or Nutella on top. For people who want something besides shave ice, Wailua Shave Ice also serves butter mochi, lemon peel gummies and Li Hing lemon peel red vines.
1022 W Burnside St. Portland, OR 97209
Hana’s Authentic New Orleans Snowballs and More
It’s not just Hawaii that claims to have shave ice fame. New Orleans is also known for its snowballs, a mound of fluffy shaved ice that can be customized with flavors and syrups. Hana’s Authentic New Orleans Snowballs and More is a food cart on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard that’s serving up the special cold treats. The family-run business says people can visit the cart or book it for private summer events.
Located at NE Jessup St. and NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Portland
Ohana Dessert & Shave Ice
Ohana means family in Hawaiian and Ohana Dessert & Shave Ice wants you to be a part of their family by visiting their restaurant. The Hawaiian Café has two locations, one on Northeast Sandy Boulevard in Portland and the other on Southeast Main Street in Milwaukie. The café offers a variety of shave ice flavors and customers can have it served on either vanilla ice cream or housemade haupia (coconut) ice cream.
6320 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97213
10608 SE Main St. Milwaukie, OR 97222
Island Daydream Shave Ice
A trip to Oaks Amusement Park on a hot day isn’t complete without a cold shave ice from Island Daydream. The snow-like ice is shaved from a solid block. This food cart will make amusement park guests feel like they’re at a fair or a carnival. Some flavors include cherry, lemon-lime, tiger’s blood, piña colada, and more. There are also all-natural flavors and sugar-free flavors. Island Daydream adds a scoop of ice cream to the bottom of the cup. They call this the “buried treasure.”
7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202
Snowy Village
After opening in March, Snowy Village has endured a cold spring anticipating warmer days. Now that they’re here, the business is ready to serve cool treats. The Korean dessert café has locations in Seattle and Bellevue and the Portland shop is its newest. The café serves fruity bingsoo, which is a milk-based Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. On its Instagram page, Snowy Village shared photos of bingsoo topped with fruit, cream and chocolate.
3912 N Vancouver Ave #105, Portland, OR 97227 | https://www.koin.com/local/dont-sleep-on-portlands-shave-ice-5-places-to-cool-down/ | 2023-05-12T18:14:47 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/dont-sleep-on-portlands-shave-ice-5-places-to-cool-down/ |
An underground electrical fire sparked a large police and fire presence outside of Casper City Hall on Friday morning.
The fire may have been sparked by the rain, but the cause has not been officially determined, said Battalion Chief Todd Mason. There is no risk to the public, and the building is not impacted.
There was some sort of issue with the electrical wires under the sidewalk that connect to the streetlight, he said.
Firefighters secured the scene, and Rocky Mountain Power arrived by 10:30 a.m. Officials were working to fix the issue.
Traffic can pass through the intersection of North David and West A streets again, but one of the lanes may be closed as officials work in the area; the streets were briefly closed to foot traffic and cars on Friday morning.
"I don't know how much digging or underground work they are going to have to do to fix it," said Mason.
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It is not expected to impact power in the surrounding areas.
Rocky Mountain Power did not immediately return a request for comment Friday morning. | https://trib.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/crews-respond-to-underground-electrical-fire-near-casper-city-hall/article_90436408-f0df-11ed-8dfe-e71e176742ce.html | 2023-05-12T18:20:17 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/crews-respond-to-underground-electrical-fire-near-casper-city-hall/article_90436408-f0df-11ed-8dfe-e71e176742ce.html |
A shooting injured one person on Tuesday in Evansville, town Police Chief Mike Thompson confirmed Friday.
That person was sent to the hospital and ultimately life flighted to a facility in Utah, said Thompson.
The Evansville Police Department is expected to release additional information on Friday afternoon.
It is an active investigation, said Thompson. There was no information immediately available on possible suspects or arrests.
Deputies from the Natrona County Sheriff's Office assisted on scene, spokesperson Kiera Grogan said.
On Tuesday, there was a report of "shots fired" at 236 Holmes St. at 7:24 p.m., according to the Natrona County Sheriff's Office incident log.
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A Star-Tribune reporter went to the area on Wednesday morning and saw no signs of police presence. It was an apartment complex less than 500 feet from the Evansville Police Department. | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/one-person-flown-to-utah-hospital-after-shooting-in-evansville/article_8c6977cc-f0e5-11ed-ac02-a79eb1eda4ee.html | 2023-05-12T18:20:24 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/one-person-flown-to-utah-hospital-after-shooting-in-evansville/article_8c6977cc-f0e5-11ed-ac02-a79eb1eda4ee.html |
Why are we seeing so many bears in populated areas? Here's what to know
It's a scene Wisconsinites hear about nearly every spring. A black bear lumbers through a neighborhood slowly, maybe stopping to sniff at a garbage can or two, then returns mysteriously back to the woods again, most likely not to be seen again.
It's not an uncommon happening, but should you be concerned if a bear wanders through your neighborhood? And what can you do to make sure you're not encouraging the fuzzy visitor to come back again?
Here's what you should know.
Why are bears seen so often around this time?
It's a pattern that occurs in the spring and early summer, said Randy Johnson, a large carnivore specialist with the Department of Natural Resources.
"Bears are typically coming out of their den in late March, early April, and when they come out they're hungry," he said. "And so they're wandering far and wide to try to find some food. And especially younger, single bears can follow their nose right to town."
Bears in the late spring and early summer may wander too in search of a mate, especially male bears, Johnson said.
Where have bears been spotted this year?
Bears have been active already this year.
Recently, one was spotted in the front yard of a Mukwonago area home around 4 a.m., according to WISN.
In Madison, a black bear was spotted wandering through several neighborhoods at the start of the month. During its adventure, the bear climbed a tree and even crossed the Beltline Highway before leaving town, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
Why are we seeing so many bears recently?
While there have always been bear sightings in residential areas, the rise of doorbell cameras and home security systems have better enabled us to see when the animals wander through the neighborhood, especially at night.
"When a bear came to town 10 years ago, most people probably wouldn't have even known, but now we have security cameras and all of these things," Johnson said. "So even with this latest string of sightings, some of these are security cameras in the middle of the night."
Should we be concerned?
In short, no. A bear wandering through the neighborhood shouldn't be cause for concern.
Don't follow the bear or try to get too close, and don't let your pets out to chase it, either.
"Generally speaking, bears are shy. They want to stay away from people," Johnson said. "They're wild animals, and they deserve respect."
More:Researchers sample bears, deer for COVID to see how the virus spreads
What can I do to ensure I'm not encouraging bears to hang out in my neighborhood?
Don't ever feed bears, whether intentionally or unintentionally. If a bear is seen in your area, make sure that trash cans and dumpsters are secured and can't be used as a source of food.
Bird feeders can also be seen as a snack, so take them down during times that bears are known to be out and about. And if you grill, ensure to clean grills after each time you cook so there aren't drippings left behind.
"A lot of those things are actually good practices for other urban wildlife like coyotes and raccoons and skunks, other things you probably don't want hanging around the house anyway," Johnson said.
More:Smith: For 45 years, a UW-Stevens Point project has shed valuable light on Wisconsin's black bears
Why are bears sometimes removed from populated areas?
For the most part, Johnson said, the policy is to leave bears alone and let them meander out of town.
But sometimes, if a bear starts acting aggressive or if people aren't leaving it alone, the DNR may make the call to remove it.
"It's a case by case basis," he said. "Sometimes other circumstances."
If a bear does need to be removed from a community, it is typically trapped or sedated and then removed from one area and taken to another.
"It's not an easy thing to capture a live bear and move it out of town. There's a risk to the bear, there's a risk to people," he said. "So the best course is to leave it alone."
What should I do if I spot a bear?
If you see a bear near your home or cabin, there are a number of things you should, according to the DNR:
- From a safe location, wave your arms and make noise to scare it away.
- Back away slowly and seek a safe location where you can wait for the bear to leave.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route; never corner a bear.
- Don't run.
- Don't approach the bear.
If you're unable to resolve conflict with a bear, contact the United States Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services hotline at 800-433-0663 in southern Wisconsin and 800-228-1368 for northern Wisconsin.
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/05/12/why-are-there-so-many-bears-in-populated-areas-heres-what-to-know/70196419007/ | 2023-05-12T18:20:45 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/05/12/why-are-there-so-many-bears-in-populated-areas-heres-what-to-know/70196419007/ |
WATERLOO – Because of scheduling conflicts, there will be a different presentation at the May 23 Cedar Valley Historical Society meeting than previously announced.
The talk will now be on the 19th century Waterloo mayors by Tim Kuhlmann. After Waterloo was incorporated in 1868, Romaine Whitaker was elected as the first mayor. Most of the mayors elected were prominent businessmen -- but not all. One election result was such a surprise that the Associated Press picked up the story and was reported throughout the country.
Now retired, Kuhlmann was an assistant librarian for the Waterloo Public Library for many years. He is the vice president of the Cedar Valley Historical Society.
The meeting will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23 in the lower level meeting room at the Grout Museum of History and Science.
All programs are open to the public. Fee for non-members is $3 and $2 for children.
Individual memberships are $7 and family memberships are $12. Anyone interested in becoming a member or learning more can contact Craig Bravender at (319) 296-3019.
Photos: 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients at award ceremony
COURIER CELEBRATES CEDAR VALLEY'S TOP NURSES
The 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients, front row from left, Carol Ratchford, Jake Powers, Allie Boyle, Christiara Deese, Amanda Vervaecke; back row, Tina Styron, Salem Fauser, Sarah Kutz, Danette Christensen and Andrea Burgart at the awards banquet ednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls. The Courier celebrated the Cedar Valley’s Top Nurses for the fifth consecutive year. Sponsors for the event included NewAldaya Lifescapes, Western Home Communities, MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, Cedar Valley Hospice and the Courier Media Group. See more photos at wcfcourier.com .
CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 2
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Allie Boyle of MercyOne-Waterloo Medical Center, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 3
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Andrea Burgart of Cedar Valley Hospice and Reader’s Choice winner, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, left, and Sheila Kerns, right, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 4
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Danette Christensen of Harmony Waterloo, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 5
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Christiara Deese of Care Initiatives Inc., center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 6
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Salem Fauser of Black Hawk County Health Department, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 7
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Sarah Kutz of UnityPoint-Allen Hospital, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 8
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Jake Powers of MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 9
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Carol Ratchford of MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 10
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Tina Styron of UnityPoint-Allen Hospital, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 11
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Amanda Vervaecke of UnityPoint Wound Clinic, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-valley-historical-society-to-meet/article_65daa411-4b02-54a7-a069-94442c975e37.html | 2023-05-12T18:21:41 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-valley-historical-society-to-meet/article_65daa411-4b02-54a7-a069-94442c975e37.html |
WATERLOO — The 24th annual Mayors’ Top Teen Awards and Mother Moon Service Scholarships were presented by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley on Tuesday at the Diamond Event Center at Jorgensen Plaza.
The awards program, which recognizes outstanding youth volunteers in the Cedar Valley, included an evening reception for teens, their parents, and friends. Award criteria included demonstrating excellence in volunteerism in the Cedar Valley and setting a good example as a role model for others. Teens ages 13-18 are eligible for the award.
Forty-nine nominees received certificates from Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green, Evansdale Mayor DeAnne Kobliska and Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart.
Sponsors of the event included the cities of Cedar Falls, Evansdale, and Waterloo; the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa; the R.J. McElroy Trust; and the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.
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This year’s honorees are as follows: Carter Balvanz, Cedar Falls High School; Madeline Bickley, West High School; Sofia Brown, Hudson High School; Emina Cehic, West High School; Reagan Cole, East High School; Colby Cryer, Cedar Falls High School; Elaina Danforth, Waterloo Christian High School; Avery Engel, East High School; Mary Flikkema, Cedar Falls High School; Fletcher Gerrans, West High School; Kylie Giesler, Cedar Falls High School; Alex Goetsch, Cedar Falls High School; Elizabeth Gorby, East High School; Sydney Grant, Cedar Falls High School; Olivia Hanson, Union High School; Dylan Herink, West High School; Bailey Hollaway, East High School; Sasha Hyacinth, West High School; Keiana James, Cedar Falls High School; Sriya Kalala, Cedar Falls High School; Joseph Kangas, Cedar Falls High School; Kaylee Kerr, Don Bosco High School; Harrison Kirschenmann, Cedar Falls High School; Trevor Koelling, Hudson High School; Abby Koppmann, Don Bosco High School; Sierra Meeks, West High School; Lejla Mehmedovic, Cedar Falls High School; Nora Mitchell, Hudson High School; Emily Naughton, Don Bosco High School; Jasmine Oleson, Hudson High School; Sutton Paulsen, Cedar Falls High School; James Peng, Holmes Junior High School; John Pezley, Cedar Falls High School; Sai Pranav Kota, Cedar Falls High School; Ty Purdy, Don Bosco High School; Param Sampat, Cedar Falls High School; Katey Schmit, Don Bosco High School; Sophia Showalter, Cedar Falls High School; Isabel Stafsholt, West High School; Molly Susong, Cedar Falls High School; Miya Uchiyama-Hansen, Union High School; Aaliyah Weekley, East High School; Addison Wells, West High School; Anna Wetlaufer, Cedar Falls High School; Emmanual Williams, East High School; Brianna Williams, West High School; Sophia Woods, Cedar Falls High School; Eric Jacob Yu, East High School; and Ethan Yu, East High School.
For more information about how to get involved in volunteering, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 883-3015 or go online to www.vccv.org. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mayors-top-teen-awards-mother-moon-scholarships-presented/article_6a29e8da-d753-5034-9f6d-fe4d93811228.html | 2023-05-12T18:21:47 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mayors-top-teen-awards-mother-moon-scholarships-presented/article_6a29e8da-d753-5034-9f6d-fe4d93811228.html |
WATERLOO — The 44th annual Mayors’ Volunteer Awards were presented by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley on Tuesday at the Diamond Event Center at Jorgensen Plaza.
The awards program, which recognizes outstanding volunteers in the Cedar Valley, included a luncheon with 125 attendees. Award categories this year included the Volunteer Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding volunteers regardless of age or years of service; the Outstanding Emerging Volunteer Award, which was open to those ages 19-35; and the Lifetime Achievement Award that was open to any nominee with 20 years or more of volunteerism in the Cedar Valley. Award criteria included demonstrating excellence in volunteerism in the Cedar Valley and a commitment to serving the community.
Thirty nominees received certificates from Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green, Evansdale Mayor DeAnne Kobliska, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart and the Grow Cedar Valley Ambassadors.
The 2023 Volunteer Award nominees were: Ashley Ferrel nominated by Care Initiatives Hospice; Beth Cole, nominated by Cedar Valley Hospice; Brad Mattocks, nominated by the Hearst Center for the Arts; Carol Bartels, nominated by MercyOne; Debbi Allender, nominated by Love In The Name of Christ; Janice Hansen, nominated by Cedar Valley Hospice; Jeanne Mullen, nominated by House of Hope; Jenna Becker, nominated by Elise Parker; Joanne Hawkins, nominated by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank; Joyce Bruce, nominated by MercyOne; Kathy Green, nominated by Friends of Hartman Reserve; Katie Walberg, nominated by the Hearst Center for the Arts; Mary Seekins, nominated by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County; Nancy Penca, nominated by Allen Hospital; Norma Wightman, nominated by RSVP of Black Hawk County; Pat Igou, nominated by The Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls; Shelley Schlatter, nominated by Love In The Name of Christ; Tom Lang, nominated by Catholic Charities; Tracy Grandy, nominated by Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens; and Anne Horton, nominated by Love In The Name of Christ.
The 2022 Outstanding Emerging Volunteer Award nominees were: Caden Washburn, nominated by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank; Lexi Funk, nominated by MercyOne; Olivia Eagan, nominated by Allen Hospital; and Patrick Brehm, nominated by MercyOne.
The 2022 Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award nominees were: Mary Mumm, nominated by Jean Seeland; Delores Jacoby, nominated by MercyOne; Helen Mellichar, nominated by Allen Hospital; Kathy Dunning, nominated by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank; Mary Jo Juel, nominated by the Beyond Pink TEAM; and Shari McIntee, nominated by MercyOne.
For more information about how to get involved in volunteering, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 883-3015 or go online to www.vccv.org.
Photos: 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients at award ceremony | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mayors-volunteer-awards-presented-to-nominees/article_ba8d43e5-848b-5ed6-873d-c291e4044667.html | 2023-05-12T18:21:54 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/mayors-volunteer-awards-presented-to-nominees/article_ba8d43e5-848b-5ed6-873d-c291e4044667.html |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from May 9.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today announced the names of 12 educators nominated to be the 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
Three of those instructors are from south central Pennsylvania:
- Anthony Angelini, Conewago Valley School District
- Jonathan Bickel, Eastern Lebanon School District
- Ashlie Crosson, Mifflin County School District
“The Shapiro Administration commends these excellent educators for their commitment to their schools, students, and communities—and there is no better time to celebrate them than during Teacher Appreciation Week,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Engaged and enthusiastic teachers inspire their students to reach infinite possibilities of success, and can quite literally impact learners for life.”
The finalists from elsewhere in the commonwealth are:
- Brittney Bell, Carmichaels Area School District
- Benjamin Hoffman, Kutztown Area School District
- Rachel Kalberer, Norwin School District
- Heather Kilgore, Chester County Intermediate Unit
- Stephanie Machmer, Jersey Shore Area School District
- Aspen Mock, Forest Hills School District
- Justin Ward, Laurel Highlands School District
- Sharon Williams, Rose Tree Media School District
- Sally Ann Wojcik, School District of Philadelphia
Each year, the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring K-12 teachers in public education who have made outstanding academic contributions to Pennsylvania’s school-aged children.
The 12 finalists are selected from applicants and recognized in Harrisburg each fall. Pennsylvania’s Teacher of the Year will be announced at a state awards ceremony in December and represents the commonwealth at various national, regional and local functions culminating in the National Teacher of the Year ceremony at the White House. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/central-pa-state-teacher-of-the-year-award/521-d4f2068f-51b4-4cab-90db-2230701d9d80 | 2023-05-12T18:22:26 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/central-pa-state-teacher-of-the-year-award/521-d4f2068f-51b4-4cab-90db-2230701d9d80 |
DALLAS (KDAF) — It seems like cauliflower is the new chicken at the popular fast food joint Chick-fil-A.
The restaurant announced earlier in the year that they would be testing a Chick-fil-A sandwich made entirely from the vegetable cauliflower. The rollout was made at select stores in Colorado, South carolina, and North Carolina.
“Cauliflower is the hero of our new sandwich, and it was inspired by our original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich,” said Leslie Neslage, director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A. “Guests told us they wanted to add more vegetables into their diets, and they wanted a plant-forward entrée that tasted uniquely Chick-fil-A.”
Since its release, it has gotten a lot of praise. Fresh data shared by data company, Numerator via foodservice industry resource, Restaurant Business proves just that.
Sixty-eight percent said the sandwich exceeded their expectations and that they would purchase it again. Now, not everyone shared the same sentiments with 16 percent saying the sandwiches’ texture were “somewhat or much worse than expected,” Restaurant Business said.
Will you be looking out for this sandwich when it hits your neck of the woods? | https://cw33.com/news/local/with-the-introduction-of-its-new-green-menu-item-chick-fil-a-changes-the-game/ | 2023-05-12T18:26:31 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/with-the-introduction-of-its-new-green-menu-item-chick-fil-a-changes-the-game/ |
Mystery barrels leaking in a New Jersey community could take months to contain and remove as environmental crews continue sorting through the hundreds of drums at an abandoned site.
A team from the Environmental Protection Agency has been on hand since last month, making their way through more than 400 rusting drums that have, for decades, contained chemicals used to make adhesives and asphalt.
In recent years, the hundreds of drums and more than 1,000 smaller containers containing potentially hazardous materials have deteriorated, leading to a potentially dangerous outcome for neighbors. Last month, schools and homeowners in Monmouth County were told to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.
Many of the drums at the former Farmingdale industrial plant, which borders Howell, were found to be leaking, rusting and bulging. The plant has long been shut down, but the barrels stuck around.
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A spokesperson for the EPA said "significant progress" has been made in securing the drums, but none of the chemicals have been removed from the site. The disposal process will take some time as teams continue identifying what is inside the barrels and determine the best course of removal.
One nearby resident told NBC New York that she remembers decades ago when her children were coming home from school around lunchtime, and they saw the lids exploding, up in the air.
That kind of thing is still entirely possible at the site, because no one knows for sure what chemicals are still present.
Earlier in 2023, the new owner was burning some barrels in an old incinerator on the property, when the fumes and particulate pollution drifted into nearby neighborhoods, alarming first responders who rushed to put the fire out.
When Eric Daly, the on-scene coordinator for the EPA, was asked about those exploding lids 40 years ago, he said "You’re basically proving the reason we’re taking our time with this."
With some 4,000 students going to school within the one-mile hot zone that reaches into Howell, residents are urged to have a go-pack for an evacuation that could be called at any time if the chemicals catch on fire.
"Everybody should have an evacuation plan or get-out-of-here plan just in case," said Howell-Farmingdale OEM Director Victor Cook.
That being said, the EPA does feel it has the situation under as much control as it can without knowing what’s on the site. The agency hopes everything can be hauled away by the end of summer or shortly thereafter. Then it will have to deal with whatever pollution it finds in the soil and possibly in the groundwater. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/epa-making-progress-on-nj-mystery-chemical-barrels-that-sparked-potential-evac-warning/4328967/ | 2023-05-12T18:29:22 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/epa-making-progress-on-nj-mystery-chemical-barrels-that-sparked-potential-evac-warning/4328967/ |
UTICA, N.Y. – Utica police say a man is in critical condition after he was hit by a vehicle outside a gas station on Oriskany Street Thursday night.
Police say the pedestrian was hit just before 10 p.m. when the vehicle was turning out of the Fastrac onto Oriskany Street heading east.
The man who was hit rolled onto the roof of the vehicle while holding an open container. He was rushed to St. Elizabeth Medical Center for treatment.
Police have not yet announced any arrests in this case, however, the investigation is ongoing. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/pedestrian-hit-by-vehicle-outside-utica-fastrac/article_689b5f10-f0e8-11ed-8523-b7159d91b54a.html | 2023-05-12T18:31:32 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/pedestrian-hit-by-vehicle-outside-utica-fastrac/article_689b5f10-f0e8-11ed-8523-b7159d91b54a.html |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was originally published by CalMatters.
When Isabella Warren, a student at California State University Northridge, was placed on academic probation in 2020, she felt isolated. She had fallen behind during the transition to online classes at the start of the pandemic, dealing with the strain of lockdown as well as the death of a family member.
She said she received little support from her campus to help her get off academic probation, the notice given to students when their semester or cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. “I feel like there should have been a bit more counseling and I shouldn’t have had to reach out myself for it,” she said. “I feel like I should have been checked on.”
Warren wanted to know how universities are supporting students on academic probation, she wrote in response to a call from the CalMatters College Journalism Network for questions about college in California. Were other students getting the help she didn’t?
Students on academic probation at California’s public colleges and universities are typically allowed to stay there for two semesters, then get academically disqualified, meaning they need to reapply if they want to return after raising their grades elsewhere.
The idea is that academic probation is a wake-up call for students.
But if campuses fail to get those students back on track, the ripple effect on the state includes “having a less-educated workforce, revenue loss to the institution, and a fruitless investment to the taxpayer for not seeing the payoff of a college graduate,” Horacio Corona Lira, the director of Hispanic Serving Institution Grants at Alameda College, wrote in a master’s thesis on academic probation.
Corona Lira studied 1,500 students attending Sacramento State from 2014-2018 whose academic records placed them either just below or just above the threshold for academic probation. He found that the students on academic probation were twice as likely to leave the university the following semester compared to their peers who were not on probation, despite having similar academic records.
Many of those on academic probation might already be doubting their decision to go to college, said Corona Lira, whose current work focuses on enrollment and retention of Latino students. “If instead of getting affirmation through this academic probation process, it actually reaffirms their doubts and tells them, ‘I really don’t belong here, right? This is what this letter is telling me,’ that might push some students to leave that campus,” he said.
That was the case for Loren Collins, interim director of academic and career advising at Cal Poly Humboldt.
He attended 20 years ago, back when it was Humboldt State, and ended up on academic probation. He didn’t have to meet with anyone but was just given a notice. This brought him to a low point, he said. “I did not feel like I belonged on campus,” he said. “I was waiting for everyone to find me out.”
Collins left for College of the Redwoods and later came back to Humboldt to finish his degree. He now hopes to make sure every Cal Poly Humboldt student on academic probation feels cared for on the journey back to good academic standing.
Part of that support comes with changing the title to Academic Notice. “We are trying to break away from that more punitive sound, and definitely the connotations that come with the word ‘probation,’” Collins said.
As of next school year, any Cal Poly Humboldt student placed on academic notice will be required to meet with either their existing faculty advisor or a counselor from the university’s Academic and Career Advising Center to come up with a plan to improve their grades. (Previously the requirement only applied to certain students, including underclassmen, recent transfer students and athletes.)
A university committee is considering other ways to provide support, such as setting up peer groups or classes led by advisors that address the problems causing students to fall behind, from busy work schedules to mental stress.
Cal State Fullerton already has such a course, called RESET. Students work at their own pace through the five-week online course, which includes tips for how to improve academic standing, online mental health chats with the instructor and inspiring testimonials from previous students who have been through the program.
“I wanted to try to inspire students and try to convert some of those initial feelings of disappointment and being scared and nervous, and I wanted it to be more positive of an experience for them,” said Cathy Rivas, the university’s assistant director of College Readiness Programs, who developed the course in fall 2022 and updates it based on student feedback.
About 2,000 Cal State Fullerton students are placed on academic notice at the end of each term, Rivas said, and 92% of those who participated in RESET said in surveys that the course addressed both their personal and academic needs. The retention rates for students on academic notice increased by 4% in the program’s first year.
San Jose State University is also revamping its “Bounce Back” program for students on academic notice under a newly formed unit, Undergraduate Advising & Success. Previously, colleges in the university took varied approaches, from an online course only to weekly advisement meetings or peer mentors. The university now aims to take the best parts of these programs and implement them systemwide.
“My hope is that we will have supervised grad students who are in social work and psychology to help students unpack whatever may be going on that’s impeding them being their highest selves,” said Shonda Goward, the associate vice provost in charge of the new program.
These changes in schools’ academic probation approach comes after years of many universities giving inconsistent support to those who need it most.
Many schools in the Cal State system recommend, but don’t require, advisement or other support for students on academic probation. The university system respects “autonomy at the campus level to implement strategies” regarding academic notice, said Cal State spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith.
At the same time, Cal State is pushing to increase its graduation rates, with Black students in particular often falling through the cracks.
The University of California also leaves standards for academic probation up to the individual campuses. Some take away the declared majors of students who consistently underperform, forcing them to choose new ones. Others, like UC Davis, place holds on registration until students meet with their advisors to come up with a plan to get back into good academic standing.
Community colleges in California, on the other hand, are all required by state law to “make a reasonable effort to provide counseling and other support services to those on academic probation.”
The level and type of support vary by campus, but they are not allowed to simply notice students on academic probation without giving support, said Melissa Villarin, a spokesperson for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
More colleges and universities need to be proactive and mindful about their strategies to support students on academic probation, Corona Lira said. The rate of those going from probation to disqualification “is way too high for what the whole purpose of academic probation is supposed to be.”
Walker is a fellow with the CalMatters College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. This story and other higher education coverage are supported by the College Futures Foundation. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/is-academic-probation-working-californias-colleges/103-d1be51c0-53dc-416a-baff-07a7e00d0fea | 2023-05-12T18:32:30 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/is-academic-probation-working-californias-colleges/103-d1be51c0-53dc-416a-baff-07a7e00d0fea |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This story was originally published by CalMatters.
Four months ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom yanked $40 million in funding to restore San Joaquin Valley floodplains from his proposed budget, angering legislators from both parties and conservationists. Today, he gave all of the money back as part of a $290-million package to increase flood protection funding statewide.
The funding comes in addition to $202 million already included in Newsom’s 2023-24 budget proposal in January. That makes a total of $452 million in investments that Newsom is proposing to protect Californians from flooding in the wake of winter storms that inundated towns in the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast.
“California is facing unprecedented weather whiplash — we just experienced the driest three years on record, and now we’re dealing with historic flooding,” Newsom said in a written statement today. “Our investments must match this reality of climate-driven extremes. We’re committing even more resources to support communities up and down the state as they continue responding to the impacts of this year’s storms.”
The governor’s revisions included changing $125 million in drought contingency funds into flood contingency funds, a response to the rapid turn from drought to deluge.
The revisions also include $75 million for local flood control projects, $25 million in grants to small agricultural businesses affected by the recent storms and $25 million for “potential additional disaster relief and response costs.”
The restored floodplains funding comes after CalMatters revealed widespread criticism from an unlikely alliance of bipartisan legislators, local leaders and conservationists in the San Joaquin Valley. They all said the cuts jeopardized the region’s low-income, disadvantaged farm towns and the city of Stockton.
Restoring floodplains — which usually involves removing or notching levees so that swollen rivers can spread across uninhabited land, as rivers naturally do — is considered one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing flood impacts on communities. Inundated floodplains also provide habitat for fish and other wildlife and help recharge groundwater basins for farms and communities.
Both Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature — often at odds when it comes to water and ecosystem management — expressed dismay when Newsom clawed back the $40 million for floodplains. At the time, Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said the budget cut was the result of the state’s $22.5 billion deficit, adding that it was “not easy because we’re cutting priorities.”
Republican Assemblymember Heath Flora, whose district includes the northern San Joaquin Valley, was among those frustrated by Newsom’s January budget cut. He said parts of the Central Valley “are traditionally the last ones at the table when it comes to funding.”
Today Flora said the governor’s action restores “faith in a lot of us that the governor cares…The governor should be complimented on doing the right thing and hearing our concerns.”
In March, Assemblymember Adam Gray, a Democrat from Merced who rallied for floodplain restoration work in the valley, said the governor’s proposed $40 million cut demonstrated inequality in how the state distributes assistance.
The floodplain money will probably be allocated to the nonprofit River Partners, which was named in last summer’s budget as the recipient of the $40 million. The group’s projects were considered “shovel-ready” when Newsom cut the funding.
As much as 600 acres of land could be reconnected to adjacent waterways in the next six months, according to Julie Rentner, River Partners’ president. “It will go fast, and the impacts will be measurable and tangible,” Rentner said.
With an El Niño predicted later this year bringing the possibility of another wet winter, time is of the essence to complete these restoration projects. Rentner said she and collaborating groups are seeking matching funding from federal agencies.
“There’s tremendous opportunity right now to see how an investment of this magnitude could be amplified with federal investment,” she said.
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, an environmental justice group in Stockton, also applauded the governor’s action. Scientists say the San Joaquin Valley could experience cataclysmic flooding in the near future.
“The governor listened to the multitude of voices that have called for the restoration and expansion of flood protection funding,” she said. “He did the right thing for Californians.”
She said much more money for flood protection work is needed, citing a report from state flood officials who estimated that $3.2 billion in state-federal funding over the next five years is needed to protect against catastrophic flooding in the Central Valley. According to that report, the state has spent just $250 million a year on flood protection.
“We’re still not where we need to be,” she said. “That may take work through several state budgets to get fully adjusted, but more will have to be done to prepare for climate change,” Barrigan-Parrilla said.
Rentner also said “the $40 million is a downpayment on what we need to get going.”
The revised budget must still be approved by the Legislature.
But Flora said he doubts at this point the floodplain restoration money would fail to reach the final budget, which comes later this summer. “It seems by now that this is a priority,” he said.
Sen. Melissa Hurtado, a Democrat from Bakersfield, said she is “committed to advocating for this funding’s inclusion in the final draft of the state budget” to help ensure that “communities of the Central Valley are safe from future flooding.”
Hurtado said the new funding will make “an important difference as continued snowmelt causes waterways throughout the Central Valley to continue rising and endangering our economic recovery efforts.” | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/newsom-restores-floodplain-funds/103-509b6531-4c0c-49ad-9fc8-306d11b783d2 | 2023-05-12T18:32:37 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/newsom-restores-floodplain-funds/103-509b6531-4c0c-49ad-9fc8-306d11b783d2 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California's budget deficit has grown to nearly $32 billion, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday, saying the state's challenges are partly due to high federal inflation rates and the state's decision to let some people delay filing their taxes after winter storms.
That's about $10 billion more than Newsom predicted in January, when he offered his first budget proposal. The deficit is part of Newsom's overall proposal for a $306 billion budget, by far the largest state budget in the nation.
California is one of the only states to have a shortfall this year. That's mostly because its progressive tax code relies on wealthy taxpayers whose income is closely tied to the performance of the stock market.
In January, Newsom proposed a number of ideas to cover the deficit, including about $9.6 billion in spending cuts that hit some of the state's ambitious climate programs and other policy areas. His latest proposal includes roughly another $1 billion in spending reductions. Some of that comes from clawing back unspent money in various programs, including those designed to provide tax refunds and help people with their utility bills.
He’s making up the rest of the deficit by shifting expenses, taking some money from the state’s safety next reserve and borrowing.
“This was not an easy budget, but I hope you see we will try to do our best to hold the line and take care of the most vulnerable and most needy, but still maintain prudence," Newsom said.
The deficit is small compared to the cash crunch that the state faced during the last recession. But the challenge for Newsom will be persuading lawmakers to spending cuts who are not accustomed to enacting them. Ultimately, lawmakers and Newsom will have to reach agreement on a spending plan to take effect July 1.
Since taking office in 2019, Newsom's biggest budget fights with the Democratic-controlled state Legislature is how to spend California's record-breaking surpluses. Agreeing on what to cut could be much more difficult.
Newsom's plan in January was to cut money for flood protection projects, delaying an expansion of a subsidized child care program and canceling a $500 million plan to help small businesses pay higher tax rates associated with some state debt.
On Thursday, Newsom announced that he was restoring money previously cut from flood protection projects, plus introducing another $250 million in new spending, which includes raising a levee to protect the Central Valley community of Corcoran.
It's not yet clear if he can or will relent on his other proposed cuts. Newsom signed off on an expansion of a subsidized child care program last year that would pay to help an extra 20,000 families. But because of the deficit, Newsom proposed delaying that funding for one year. He argued that the state was having trouble filling the child care slots it already had.
That angered some Democratic lawmakers, who said the reason the state was having trouble filling its child care slots is because there aren’t enough child care workers. On Monday, Democrats in the Assembly proposed $1 billion in new spending to increase the pay of child care workers.
“Now, we just need to put a little pressure on the governor to make sure he’s on board,” Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez-Reyes said on Wednesday while speaking to a rally of parents and child care workers at the state Capitol.
It's not just child care though. Democrats in the state Senate want to raise taxes on 2,500 of the largest companies so they can cut taxes by about 25% for most other businesses — a plan that Newsom has already said he opposes. And environmental groups want Newsom to reverse his planned $6 billion cut to some of his climate proposals.
Newsom has maintained most of those cuts in his revised proposal.
But he's also protected spending in other key priority areas, such as expanding Medicaid to everyone who is eligible regardless of their immigration status. Likewise Newsom said he planned to maintain spending to address the state's housing and homelessness crisis and K-12 education spending.
There's also some new spending. Newsom proposed spending $5.9 million to add 14 positions at the California Energy Commission to track and oversee oil prices as part of an effort to crack down on high gas prices. He also wants to redirect 10 existing positions to that project, creating the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight.
California's budget challenges are due in large part to lower tax collections due to a sagging stock market and other challenges.
A series of intense winter storms that brought widespread damage also prompted state officials to give people until October, not April, to file their taxes.
Delayed tax collection mean Newsom and lawmakers will have to make a plan without knowing how much money they have to spend.
The last time this happened was at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when taxpayers had extra time to file their taxes. Newsom and state lawmakers assumed the worst, approving a budget that slashed spending in order to cover what they thought would be a $54 billion deficit. But that deficit never happened because the pandemic’s impact on state revenues turned out to be less damaging than anticipated.
This time, California’s deficit looks to be for real. California's Legislature taxes the wealthy more than other states. About half of the state's money comes from just 1% of earners. That means that the state is vulnerable to big swings in the stock market, which is the source of wealth for most rich people.
The stock market has been down as the federal government has raised interest rates to combat inflation.
The downward turn has had the biggest impact on California's massive technology industry as companies like Google, Facebook and PayPal have laid off thousands of workers. Earlier this year, Silicon Valley Bank — one of the nation's largest financial institutions, whose clients were mostly in the tech industry — failed and was bought by North Carolina-based First Citizens Bank.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Governor Newsom presents California state budget proposal | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/newsom-says-states-budget-deficit-has-grown/103-a04ad349-3c92-4caf-92ac-29a6ac0c5648 | 2023-05-12T18:32:38 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/newsom-says-states-budget-deficit-has-grown/103-a04ad349-3c92-4caf-92ac-29a6ac0c5648 |
Manatee Democratic leaders, local activists gather to denounce immigration law
BRADENTON — Manatee County organizers and activists gathered at the historic courthouse in downtown Bradenton Friday morning to denounce the recent approval and signing of a new Florida law that targets the state's large undocumented population beginning in July.
A handful of local Hispanic leaders, activists and clergy as well as the Manatee County Democratic Party, Manatee County NAACP, and the League of Women Voters addressed the bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, all in solidarity against what they believe will affect much more than just the undocumented community.
Manatee County Black Caucus president Glenn Pearson said the community should consider the population of immigrants SB 1718 will harm.
More:DeSantis gets conservative wish list to campaign for president. Will it matter?
"Most people don't care unless it affects them. Well, this will affect us all," Pearson said. "Everyone that is here is actually concerned about our undocumented and migrants... they're people. A lot of them are escaping war-torn countries, they want better for their children, and the way they are being dehumanized and profiled it's just a shame."
SB 1718, signed by DeSantis on May 10, will strengthen employment requirements and now allows state law enforcement officials to randomly audit businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers. The bill has been denounced by critics this week who say the law will lead to racial profiling on job sites, medical facilities and other places.
DeSantis railed against President Joe Biden over the influx of migrants across the nation’s southern border before signing the new state law imposing tough penalties and new restrictions on undocumented immigrants. It’s considered among the toughest steps taken by any state to deter illegal aliens from arriving.
The federal Department of Homeland Security has unveiled plans aimed at dealing with the border, post-Title 42, a COVID pandemic policy that enabled authorities to quickly oust many migrants who entered the country without permission, rather than letting them stay while courts considered their cases. The plans include setting up additional facilities along the border to process migrants, bolstering transportation and leaning on a fast-track deportation process.
Under the new law, which takes effect July 1, criminal penalties are increased for human smuggling, with third-degree felony charges imposed on anyone caught “knowingly” and “willingly” transporting anyone illegally in the country across state lines into Florida.
Transporting a minor or more than five undocumented people into the state carries a second-degree felony penalty. Illegal migrants also could face felony charges by displaying a false ID to obtain employment.
In addition, all businesses with 25 or more employees would be required to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of new workers.
Under the legislation, local governments also would be banned from contributing money to organizations that create identification cards for undocumented immigrants and driver’s licenses issued to non-citizens in other states would be barred from use in Florida, a provision critics say may cause confusion and law enforcement profiling, especially in a diverse, visitor-filled state.
Hospitals receiving state and federal Medicaid reimbursements would be required to track how much money is spent on undocumented immigrants in emergency rooms.
Hospitals also would be required to ask patients about whether they are in the country legally, a standard opponents say will discourage many people from seeking health care – even those who have been living for years in Florida cities.
A 2014 law allowing undocumented immigrants to be admitted to practice law in Florida also would be repealed.
League of Women Voters president Alice Newlon called the law "inhumane and unfair" and said that the organization supported immigrants and the immigration-to-citizen process.
"These immigrants strengthen our state, nation, and society...the League of Women Voters stands in solidarity with immigrants and our partners in the immigrant's rights community," she said.
Luther Wilkins, president of the Manatee County NAACP, echoed others saying the immigration bill is more than just an undocumented issue.
“This is not just Florida, this is happening everywhere," Wilkins said. "We’re all immigrants. Those that aren’t are descendants of enslaved. We come together to get rid of the hate. Tallahassee, we have to do better… we stand against the discrimination of all people. We’ve been shaking our heads and saying it’s wrong for a long time. We know it’s wrong. It’s not right and we are going to fight. “ | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/05/12/manatee-activists-community-leaders-rally-for-undocumented-community/70208773007/ | 2023-05-12T18:37:10 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/05/12/manatee-activists-community-leaders-rally-for-undocumented-community/70208773007/ |
Sarasota official says commissioners need to avoid appearance of conflicts of interest
Reaction from Sarasota city officials was muted this week following news that state investigators have been reviewing a proposed downtown development and a donation to a nonprofit called the Sarasota City Foundation, established by a city commissioner.
Only one shared her thoughts on the foundation and on the city’s ethics policies, while another declined to comment on most questions and two others didn't respond in time for publication.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday that it had reopened an inquiry into contacts between the developers of a downtown Sarasota high-rise condo and public officials who would vote on the controversial project. The department has not clarified the scope of its investigation.
The prior day, FDLE officials wrote a letter to the city's police chief saying its investigators had not found evidence of a crime after looking into contact between the development group and a Sarasota city planning board member and a donation from a partner in the development group to the private foundation created by City Commissioner Erik Arroyo.
Previous coverage:FDLE still reviewing alleged attempts to influence Sarasota officials on development
More:One Park investor denies job offer to Sarasota Planning Board member now under scrutiny
The Herald-Tribune found through its reporting that the foundation, named the Sarasota City Foundation, received a $10,000 donation from MoneyShow, a company whose founder is a partner in the controversial One Park Sarasota project. The project, which will need to gain approval by the City Commission, involves building an 18-story, luxury condo building on the Sarasota bayfront.
The Sarasota City Foundation was created by Arroyo and a few other local residents to provide money for infrastructure and community projects that the city of Sarasota can’t pay for, Arroyo said. The nonprofit held a fundraiser in October called the Mayor’s Ball.
City commissioner Debbie Trice said in an interview that she believes private entities shouldn’t use the phrase “Sarasota city” in their name and suggested that guardrails could be put around foundations run by commissioners.
Commissioner Liz Alpert declined to comment on most of the Herald-Tribune’s questions because the FDLE inquiry is ongoing. Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch was in a Sarasota Bay Estuary Program meeting Friday morning and unavailable to talk in time for publication.
As of midday Friday, Mayor Kyle Battie hadn’t responded to attempts to contact him.
The donation from MoneyShow
Last Oct. 13, the president of MoneyShow, a Sarasota-based financial education company, said in an email to one of the organizers of the Mayor’s Ball that some of MoneyShow’s partners wanted to donate to the ball. The company’s chair and CEO, Kim Githler, is a One Park Sarasota minority partner.
The email came three days after the city of Sarasota’s development services general manager sent a letter to one of One Park’s attorneys saying that the developer's proposal would need to come before the City Commission for approval, rather than be reviewed and approved by administrative staff.
Githler said she did not know of this decision at the time because the majority partner — Property Markets Group — is taking the lead on One Park’s development application.
MoneyShow donated $10,000 to Sarasota City Foundation in November, Arroyo said. He said he doesn’t see the donation as a conflict of interest and noted the foundation isn’t his own. He said he represents a group of people who wanted to start a foundation, and he added that he doesn’t benefit from the nonprofit or get paid by it.
Arroyo also said the donation isn’t going to affect the decision he makes on One Park as a commissioner.
Commissioner Debbie Trice
Trice said all commissioners complete an annual ethics course. The course she attended emphasized that when commissioners avoid the appearance of being influenced, they build trust with the public.
She said that she occasionally receives emails accusing her and the other commissioners of cronyism.
“And even if we haven’t done anything unethical, apparently we appear to have, by these people who are accusing us of cronyism,” she said. “So that’s even a stronger reason not to give the appearance of accepting favors or whatever from organizations with business coming before the board or the commission.”
Trice said that sometimes when people create a charitable fund, they have a larger foundation – like the Community Foundation of Sarasota County – administer that fund. Trice suggested that when commissioners have such a fund, the larger foundation could wait to inform the commissioner of new donations. Instead of letting the commissioner immediately know about the donation, the foundation could send out quarterly or monthly reports about the gifts the fund has received.
This is a separate situation from that of the Sarasota City Foundation, though, since it's a foundation and not a donor-advised fund.
“We don’t want money flowing to our philanthropic organizations to stop flowing,” Trice said. “We don’t want the appearance of anybody influencing or trying to influence a city commissioner on business coming before the commission, but there are ways that you could put up fencing, or whatever, to prevent problems.”
Trice said she thinks the city should have a policy against the use of “Sarasota city” by a private entity. She said that the name “Sarasota City Foundation” gives the appearance that the foundation was formed by or for the city of Sarasota.
In an interview with the Herald-Tribune, Arroyo said the city of Sarasota doesn’t have exclusive right to use the words “city” and “Sarasota.” He pointed to other entities that use the word "Sarasota," including Sarasota Memorial. He also noted that the Sarasota Police Foundation is a private entity that's separate from the Sarasota Police Department.
Commissioner Liz Alpert
Asked if she thinks if the city should have any guidelines for foundations created by city commissioners, she said she preferred to not comment until the FDLE’s inquiry is over. She also declined to comment when asked about the city foundation’s name and if there should be a prohibition against entities that have pending applications to the city donating to foundations run by a city commissioner.
The FDLE has also been looking into a meeting between Jim Bridges, another minority partner in the One Park project, and Sarasota architect Michael Halflants, a member of the Sarasota Planning Board, which advises the City Commission on development decisions. Their meeting included discussion of the possibility that Bridges could hire Halflants for an unrelated project.
Asked if there should be a city policy about advisory board members being offered a job or gift, Alpert said the city already has policies that apply to those board members. She noted that architects on advisory boards sometimes have conflicts of interest, and may have to recuse themselves from some decisions.
Jan Thornburg, a city of Sarasota spokeswoman, said the city clerk provides every elected and appointed public official a 37-page guide from the Florida Commission on Ethics that lays out the state's transparency and ethical requirements. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/05/12/one-sarasota-commissioner-trice-says-commissioners-need-to-avoid-appearance-of-conflicts-of-interest/70207653007/ | 2023-05-12T18:37:16 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/05/12/one-sarasota-commissioner-trice-says-commissioners-need-to-avoid-appearance-of-conflicts-of-interest/70207653007/ |
The U.S. Postal Service is replacing tens of thousands of antiquated keys used by postal carriers and installing thousands of high-security collection boxes, seeking to stop a surge of robberies and mail thefts, dozens of which have occurred in the Dayton region.
The Associated Press is reporting the USPS is replacing 49,000 so-called arrow locks with electronic versions.
Arrow keys have been the focus of robberies of mail carriers reported in Dayton, Huber Heights and Trotwood while one was discovered by Oakwood police in recent weeks during a traffic stop.
Police have said the theft of arrow keys have led to repeated thefts of USPS collection boxes in Beavercreek, Centerville, Dayton, Kettering and other areas in recent years.
Centerville Police Department Spokesman and Officer John Davis said he was not aware of the change, but was encouraged by the move.
“I’m not aware of any information related to that,” he said. “It certainly sounds like a good idea.”
Local authorities said those keys are being used to steal and alter checks dropped in collection boxes, many of them outside U.S. Post Offices.
The aim of the change by the USPS is to make the boxes less attractive to criminals who have been targeting them to steal mail, according to the AP.
The news service said federal officials are placing 12,000 hardened blue collection boxes in high-risk areas.
The Dayton Daily News has reached out to the USPS to see how this change will impact area mail security.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has not been notified of any changes, according to Spokeswoman Christin Blevins. | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/new-details-usps-changing-mailboxes-after-widespread-thefts/TY2FF6554NH6XBENWMVWVBHDLE/ | 2023-05-12T18:39:22 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/new-details-usps-changing-mailboxes-after-widespread-thefts/TY2FF6554NH6XBENWMVWVBHDLE/ |
NSB residents push back against proposed height and lot combination restrictions
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — If city officials had any doubt regarding how residents feel about the proposed height and parcel aggregation restrictions in the city’s historic districts, they don't anymore.
Almost 100 residents and city officials gathered at the Brannon Center Wednesday night to discuss the measure, where the vast majority of attendees made clear they did not support what many called “overreach” from the local government.
The meeting began with a presentation from Assistant City Manager Ron Neibert, in which he explained the proposal.
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The land development regulation amendment (ZT-8-22), he said, would:
- Restrict building height to three stories for single-family and duplexes.
- Limit multifamily buildings and commercial buildings to three stories with exceptions for an additional story if the first story is for parking.
- Restrict the aggregation of parcels for the availability of creating larger buildings.
- Establish a waiver process for either of the new proposed development regulations.
The idea, according to City Manager Khalid Resheidat, came from a group of residents who expressed concerns about current land development regulations allowing for new developments (especially large-scale projects) that would not fit into the historic aesthetic of said districts.
“In theory, somebody could come in, buy half a block on Canal Street, tear down the structures, and build a large-scale structure on that property. That is what these proposed regulations are targeted to stop,” Neibert explained.
In a document distributed at the meeting, city staff stated that they would not recommend the proposed amendment for approval by the City Commission later in the month, “due to concerns with the adoption process and legal exposure to future taking claims.”
The meeting’s purpose, in addition to informing the public about the proposed amendments, was to gauge citizens’ responses and listen to their input.
The majority of those in attendance also reside in the historic districts.
One of these residents and a local realtor, Melissa Latty, asked whether the current regulations and enforcement by the Planning and Zoning Board would not already be sufficient.
“You’re just putting one more group, one more limitation on top of what is already limited,” Latty said, adding she owns two contiguous properties. “There’s a lot of historic properties – beachside and Canal (Street) – that really are limited on their size anyway.”
Other residents expressed concerns about added bureaucracy the measure would create and the effect it would have on home insurance policies in the area.
Failed attempt to designate local historic districts in NSB
Two areas of New Smyrna Beach have been recognized since the 1990s as historical districts and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places with the U.S. Department of the Interior.
One area is the New Smyrna Beach Historic District, covering part of the mainland just west of the Indian River. The other, the Coronado Historic District, includes a smaller area covering the west end of Flagler Avenue and part of Peninsula Avenue and neighboring streets on the beachside.
For the past two years, a proposed idea to designate the two existing national historic districts as local historic districts has not been met with enthusiasm from the community, both from the mainland and beachside.
The proposed designation has failed in part because the majority of residents remain reluctant to the idea of new restrictions: the possibility of being prohibited from making certain changes to their properties and adding another layer of bureaucracy to the process.
The recently proposed measure would allow for a possible waiver from the regulations, which would need to be reviewed by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and later approved by the City Commission.
Previously, the city has argued that designating these areas as local historic districts could mean that residents may qualify for local grant programs to assist in home renovations (especially for those properties in more precarious conditions), as well as tax exemptions and other benefits.
Angeline Barretta-Herman, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission and a historic district resident, said at the meeting that if residents could see the maps showing the boundaries of the historic districts, much of the confusion could be clarified.
“There’s lots of different ways that can be accomplished,” Barretta-Herman said of residents’ willingness to preserve the city’s historic charm. “This particular amendment may not be the best one. There are other options that could in fact meet the needs of retaining the charm.”
The next step lies with the City Commission, which will discuss and consider whether to move forward with the proposed measure during its May 23 meeting at 6:30 p.m. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/05/12/nsb-forum-discusses-proposed-historic-districts-development-restrictions/70207975007/ | 2023-05-12T18:41:03 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/05/12/nsb-forum-discusses-proposed-historic-districts-development-restrictions/70207975007/ |
Amid some acrimony, sheriff's office begins patrols of Volusia's beaches
Union spokesman for Beach Safety says staffing at a 'historic low' and Sheriff Mike Chitwood's comments have hurt recruitment efforts.
While a change in the law has yet to be approved, the Volusia Sheriff's Office is already patrolling county beaches in preparation for Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign House Bill 1595.
The bill says a county government may not maintain a police department to provide service in unincorporated areas (like the beaches). That authority rests with the sheriff.
House Bill 1595:Bill that would put sheriff in charge of beach law enforcement passes legislature
Not about 'control':Volusia Sheriff talks to County Council about beach law enforcement
More:Volusia sheriff says beach patrol might not have legal authority to operate
The county's beaches are currently managed by Beach Safety. Its beach patrol officers are triple certified as law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, and lifeguards. The proposed law puts the law enforcement side of beach management in the hands of the sheriff's office.
"We have been preparing and patrolling for some time now," according to sheriff's office spokesman Andrew Gant. "The sheriff’s office already has countywide jurisdiction; the law simply requires us to take over primary jurisdiction on the beach."
But the forced transition sparked a nasty feud between Beach Safety and Sheriff Mike Chitwood. While county leaders and the sheriff's office say they are working together, a union representative has raised some concerns.
Bryon White, spokesman for the union that represents Beach Safety workers, says the sheriff has pushed for the bills and that this is really just a "power grab." Chitwood says turning over law enforcement to the sheriff's office is a "common sense change" and even challenged the legal authority of Beach Safety to make arrests.
More lifeguards needed
White said Beach Safety is already at a "historic low" for staffing and the county needs to hire more lifeguards right away ― which he said will probably mean paying them more and making other changes.
Beach Safety officers rescue people, too, but now some of them are leaving ― some to the sheriff's office, some to other agencies, White said.
He said the transition and how it's being handled is hurting morale among the Beach Safety ranks.
"I think people are feeling like there's not enough people to keep the public safe, and there's nothing being done about that," White said.
The sheriff's office plans to have an increased number of deputies on the beach for Mother's Day, because the office anticipates there will be a bigger crowd.
"In fact, with Volusia sheriff’s deputies now providing law enforcement service on the beach, there will be more life-saving Beach Safety personnel on duty, with their eyes on the water," according to a sheriff's office Facebook post.
Adding deputies as needed
The sheriff's office has 12 deputies on the day shift patrolling the beaches. The night-shift staffing is the same as it has been according to Gant, with two deputies assigned to the beach and two sergeants in the area.
On both shifts the sheriff's office will add more deputies if the need arises, such as for special events. The sheriff's office expects to have the same staffing plan after the law changes and the transition is complete.
But that's still fewer boots on the sand.
Beach Safety Director Andy Ethridge told the County Council in April that during the summer season, there are typically 20-24 Beach Patrol officers on a shift during the day, and three at night.
Will they stay or go?
Chitwood said he'll offer Beach Safety officers jobs with the sheriff's office. They might be assigned as a deputy elsewhere in the county.
So far, the sheriff's office expects to have up to 20 Beach Safety officers make the transition to deputies, according to Gant.
Beach Safety now has 53 officers and hasn't received any formal resignations from them, county spokesman Clayton Jackson said. Beach Safety had 58 officers in April.
White said 12 officers are going to the sheriff's office, four have gone to other agencies and more officers are considering leaving. There's also the issue of training.
White said from what he and union officials understand, officers transitioning to the sheriff's office will take seven weeks of training. If done immediately that would keep them off the beach during some of the busiest times.
But Chitwood said in April that officers who are new to the agency go through 10 weeks of training, and he said that can be postponed until after the summer.
'Risk to public safety'
White said that the sheriff's "rhetoric and statements" and "the lack of planning" is hindering his recruitment efforts. "I think he would have gotten more people but for the comments that he made and toxicity."
Ethridge said in April the transition would be a risk to public safety and be more costly.
He said Volusia has the busiest beach in Florida and for most of the East Coast of the U.S. He also said that Beach Safety officers are specially trained and train other agencies for water rescues and other aspects of their job.
With each loss of a Beach Safety officer, there is a loss of a person also trained as a lifeguard and emergency medical technician, he said.
"Currently the only thing harder to find right now than a police officer is a lifeguard," he told the county council.
Ethridge wasn't available for comment Friday.
The county has a mix of full-time professional lifeguards and part-time lifeguards. The county has 200 of 300 positions filled for part-time lifeguards, and the county is actively recruiting to try and decrease the vacancies.
The county has 64 of 69 full-time professional lifeguard positions filled. Of those, 53 are the remaining Beach Safety patrol officers who are triple certified. Eleven of them are employees who are dually certified as lifeguards and EMTs, according to Jackson.
The Beach Safety officers who stay with the county will remain as lifeguard-EMTs but won't have law enforcement authority. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/05/12/volusia-county-deputies-start-patrolling-county-beaches/70199037007/ | 2023-05-12T18:41:09 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/05/12/volusia-county-deputies-start-patrolling-county-beaches/70199037007/ |
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash that left one dead Wednesday in Franklin County.
Police said it happened at 4:35 p.m. on Route 220, just north of Taylor Road.
According to authorities, a 2015 Toyota RAV4 pulled out of Carilion Clinic, crossing the northbound lanes of Route 220, when the vehicle was hit by a 2014 Honda Civic, which was heading north on Route 220.
VSP said the driver of the Toyota, identified as Robert J. Montgomery, 87, of Wirtz, died at the scene and the passenger, Carol Montgomery, was injured and transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the Honda, Jeremy Quarles, 25 of Roanoke, was also transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for injuries received in the crash, police said.
According to police, speed may have been a factor in the crash and charges are pending.
VSP said the Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team assisted with the crash, and the crash remains under investigation. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/12/state-police-investigating-fatal-crash-in-franklin-county/ | 2023-05-12T18:46:35 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/12/state-police-investigating-fatal-crash-in-franklin-county/ |
ATLANTIC CITY — The city has been awarded two Food Security Planning Grants by the state Economic Development Authority to help address food insecurity.
According to a news release, a $125,000 grant defer costs associated with planning and developing the Midtown Co-op Market, to be located at 7 South Carolina Ave. Leading the effort of that market will be the Mays Landing-based Ideal Institute of Technology.
An $89,000 grant will help plan the development of a food pantry at the Ginsberg Bakery site at 300 N. Tennessee Ave. Mighty Writers, a nonprofit active in the Westside neighborhood, will lead that effort.
“Atlantic City is taking full advantage of the state’s support to improve food access for our residents,” Mayor Marty Small Sr. said in a news release. “Grants like this will help us in our quest to ensure the people of the great City of Atlantic City have the access to the quality and nutritious food they deserve.”
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Atlantic City's grants are part of nine awarded throughout the state, totaling over $1 million. The Food Security Planning Grant Program provides grants to municipal governments, county governments and redevelopment agencies to fund development of plans to decrease food insecurity in designated Food Desert Communities, according to the Economic Development Authority.
Atlantic City is considered a food desert due to a lack of easy access to nutritious food. Though there are many neighborhood shops throughout the city, as well as the discount grocer Save-A-Lot, it lacks a big-name supermarket. A deal to build a ShopRite in the city fell through last year. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-awarded-2-food-security-grants-from-state/article_d8df3100-f0ea-11ed-bcff-b37618bdf9ee.html | 2023-05-12T18:54:46 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-awarded-2-food-security-grants-from-state/article_d8df3100-f0ea-11ed-bcff-b37618bdf9ee.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — The city's Police Department and one of its sergeants are recipients of a 2023 Excellence in Policing Award for outreach in helping the resort's at-risk population, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said Friday.
Sgt. Brian Shapiro and city police were awarded the Outstanding Community Partnership Award for coordinating weekly meetings with casino, business and law enforcement officials to better address outreach toward people in need, the Attorney General's Office said in a news release.
Shapiro and the force's award was one of eight bestowed to select New Jersey law enforcement personnel and agencies.
“Today, I am honored to present awards for Excellence in Policing to the dedicated public servants and agencies who work tirelessly to strengthen our communities by implementing innovative, creative and unique programs or by demonstrating particularly heroic actions,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. “These recipients represent the very, very best of New Jersey law enforcement. Thanks to their efforts, we can better serve our fellow residents and, in turn, not only make New Jersey safer, but truly stronger.”
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ATLANTIC CITY — A city man was arrested Friday for allegedly pointing a gun at another man d…
Shapiro saw a need to strengthen communication between local officials and the Police Department to help share information about resources available to at-risk people living in the resort and surrounding communities.
"Thanks to Sergeant Shapiro's initiative, at-risk individuals in Atlantic City were able to receive the care and support they needed to improve their health and well-being," the Attorney General's Office said. "Additionally, businesses and other organizations in the area were able to see the benefits of this coordinated approach, as it helped to resolve issues more quickly and effectively."
The Excellence in Policing Awards were founded in 2019 to encourage and reinforce the state's commitment to strengthening bonds between law enforcement and their communities.
For the first time, the awards ceremony was held during National Police Week, designated by U.S. President John F. Kennedy to honor police work and officers' sacrifices. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-police-sergeant-receive-state-award-for-outreach-efforts/article_d78e891c-f0e1-11ed-b401-7b116be9a9c8.html | 2023-05-12T18:54:50 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-police-sergeant-receive-state-award-for-outreach-efforts/article_d78e891c-f0e1-11ed-b401-7b116be9a9c8.html |
Three Egg Harbor Township residents were charged in the death of one dog and acts of cruelty to another, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
Derek Hardy, 58, Lassale Hardy, 56, and Shak Balayet, 51, were each charged with two counts of third-degree animal cruelty and multiple counts of disorderly persons animal cruelty.
On Wednesday, EHT police responded to Wilburforce Avenue for a report of two abandoned dogs. Both dogs were discovered tied to a tree in a wooded area. One of the dogs was already dead, and the other was found to be emaciated and in need of immediate medical attention, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.
An investigation determined the dogs had been abandoned there for at least a week prior to their discovery, the Prosecutor's Office said. The office did not say what led to the three charged being tied to the dogs' abandonment.
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Police and the Prosecutor's Office are still investigating.
Authorities reminded the public that any pets that can no longer be properly cared for or are no longer wanted can be surrendered to the Atlantic County Animal Shelter in Pleasantville or the Humane Society in Atlantic City. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/3-egg-harbor-township-residents-arrested-on-animal-cruelty-charges/article_1b6b645c-f0ec-11ed-a1ac-878351884414.html | 2023-05-12T18:54:51 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/3-egg-harbor-township-residents-arrested-on-animal-cruelty-charges/article_1b6b645c-f0ec-11ed-a1ac-878351884414.html |
MAYS LANDING — A Hamilton Township man was sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting a man and having a sawed-off shotgun, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
Joseph Ferante, 36, pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He was arrested after a domestic dispute Sept. 9, 2021.
Officers visited a Hamilton home, learning Ferante had assaulted an unidentified man at the residence before leaving. Police searching the house found Ferante's weapon.
Ferante has been at the Atlantic County jail since his arrest. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/hamilton-township-man-sentenced-for-assault-having-a-sawed-off-shotgun/article_a7a53522-f0ee-11ed-852d-b7d2ce2e09b9.html | 2023-05-12T18:54:52 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/hamilton-township-man-sentenced-for-assault-having-a-sawed-off-shotgun/article_a7a53522-f0ee-11ed-852d-b7d2ce2e09b9.html |
Brooke Powers scored four goals and added an assist to lead the Millville High School girls lacrosse team to a 13-7 victory over Atlantic City in a cape-Atlantic League National Division game Thursday.
It was the Thunderbolts' third straight victory.
Melania Tomlin scored three and had an assist for the Thunderbolts (6-8). Ayla Gomez added three assists and two goals. Julia Thompson scored twice and had an assist. Emma Megines had two assists and scored once. Gianna Weldon scored once, and Alyssia Gomez had an assist. Maren Woodman had 15 draw controls, and Thompson added 11 ground balls. Jadalyn Moret made six saves, and Macey Williams made four.
Atlantic City fell to 5-7.
Baseball
Cape May Tech 6, Middle Twp. 5: The Red Hawks (7-7) scored two in the top of the seventh inning overtake the Panthers.
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Shelton Marsden went 2 for 3 with two RBIs for the winners. Ronald Neenhold doubled and had two RBIs and a run. Connor Mulligan singled and scored two. Adam Dille and James Murray each scored once. Tanner Oliva struck out six in six innings to earn the win.
Adam Radzieta singled and had two RBIs for the Panthers (7-13). Mason Blizzard went 2 for 3 with two runs. Tyler McDevitt went 2 for 4 with a doubled, a run and an RBI. He also struck out three in 62/3 innings. Max Adelizzi singled and scored.
Oakcrest 13, Pleasntville 2: The Falcons (4-13) scored seven in the second inning.
Will Grayson struck out 11 in five, hitless innings to earn the win. He also went 2 for 2 with three RBIs. Mason Kurtz went 2 for 2 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs. Gunnar Smith tripled, scored three and had an RBI. Zachary Cogswell-D'Augustine went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Giovanni Rosado struck out three in three innings for Pleasantville (5-12). Edriarlyn Caraballo and Christofer Maldonado each scored.
Boys volleyball
West Essex 2, Pinelands Reg. 1: West Essex (8-11) won by set scores of 25-22, 18-25, 25-23.
Leonard Tenorio had 13 assists for the winners.
For the Wildcats (16-5), Dan Brunke led with 32 assists, seven service points and six digs. Brogan Duelly added 12 kills, and Andrew Albright had nine digs. Ethan Woods had eight kills, six service points and five digs. Zack Kay added nine service points and four kills.
St. Joseph (Metuchen) 2, Pinelands Reg. 1: St. Joseph (11-7) won by set scores of 25-18, 14-25, 25-20.
Nicholas Drake led his team with 30 assists for the winners. For Pinelands (16-5), Brunke had a match-high 34 assists to go with eight digs. Ryan McCorry added 18 digs. Matt Davis added 15 kills, and Duelly had nine. Ian Leeds had seven service points and four kills.
Boys golf
Gateway Reg. 154, Cumberland Reg. 195
G: Jake Costello 37. Alex Seber 38, Rich Burt 38, Jack Colella 41
C: Sam Thompson 42, Stephen Wilchensky 43, William Cleaver 52, Braden Staffieri 58
Records: Gateway 11-5; Cumberland 0-18 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/millville-girls-lacrosse-wins-3rd-straight-game-late-thursday-roundup/article_456e479a-f0da-11ed-93b1-8ba7fecb7bf6.html | 2023-05-12T18:54:53 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/millville-girls-lacrosse-wins-3rd-straight-game-late-thursday-roundup/article_456e479a-f0da-11ed-93b1-8ba7fecb7bf6.html |
Either Buena Regional or St. Augustine Prep high school baseball team will be the top seed in the six-team Cape-Atlantic League Tournament that starts Monday.
If St. Augustine beats Egg Harbor Township on Friday, the Hermits will be the top seed. If St. Augustine loses, Buena Regional will be the top seed.
Friday’s games will also determine the No. 6 seed. If Absegami beats ACIT on Friday, the Braves will be the No. 6 seed. If Absegami loses, Cedar Creek will be the No. 6 seed.
The league's three division winners — St. Augustine, Buena Regional and Lower Cape May — received automatic tournament bids. A committee of CAL athletic directors picked the three at-large teams and seeded the tournament.
The top two seeds get byes in Monday's first round. The semifinals are Wednesday, the final May 19 at the home of the higher seed.
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St. Augustine is the defending champion.
The seeds are:
(1) St. Augustine/Buena
(2) St. Augustine/Buena
(3) Vineland
(4) Lower Cape May
(5) Egg Harbor Township
(6) Absegami/Cedar Creek | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/who-made-the-cape-atlantic-league-baseball-tournament/article_78596f34-f0eb-11ed-90f4-27e17b33f892.html | 2023-05-12T18:55:06 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/who-made-the-cape-atlantic-league-baseball-tournament/article_78596f34-f0eb-11ed-90f4-27e17b33f892.html |
A Lincoln man offered a brief apology to his boyfriend's family at his sentencing Friday for unintentionally killing him during a fight last September and leaving him in the bathtub at his house for three days.
"I'm really sorry this happened," Joshua A. Larsen, 35, said. "I never meant for it to happen."
In a letter to the judge, Larsen had asked for five to 10 years for the manslaughter of Robert Aguirre, a request that Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Julie Mruz said Friday depreciated the seriousness of what he'd done.
On Sept. 29, Lincoln police went to check on Aguirre at his home near North 65th and Adams streets after Larsen told his mother and another witness that he "had a dead body in the bathtub down the street and he was threatening to kill both of (them)," according to police.
They arrested Larsen on an unrelated warrant, then went to Aguirre's home and found him dead in the bathtub with wet blankets and a carpet covering his body and blood smeared on the living room floor.
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Larsen told investigators he'd gone to Aguirre's to buy drugs early Sept. 26 but Aguirre refused to sell him any. He left, but came back and an argument turned into a fight.
He told police Aguirre started hitting him, so he put Aguirre in a headlock then a leg choke around his neck. After Aguirre was unconscious for about a minute, he tried CPR but couldn't revive him.
Defense attorney DeAnn Stover said they discussed arguing at trial it was a mutual fight but ultimately agreed to the plea offer.
Larsen pleaded no contest to manslaughter (the unintentional killing without malice upon a sudden quarrel), first-degree domestic assault and terroristic threats, and for assaulting an officer in a separate incident earlier the same month.
Mruz said: "What happened to Mr. Aguirre is something feared by every prosecutor, law enforcement officer and family member when an abuser continues to escalate the violence in an already abusive relationship."
Aguirre may not have been perfect, she said. But he deserved to be treated better by his partner.
"He deserved to be respected, and he deserved to live," Mruz said, going through Larsen's history of assaultive behavior that included assaulting a man with a hammer for trying to stop him from assaulting a previous significant other.
She said Larsen was out on bond with an open domestic assault case when he killed Aguirre. And he had two prior convictions for domestic assaults where Aguirre was the victim.
Despite all of this history, the abuse didn't stop, Mruz said.
"He knew what he did was awful. And then he failed to call 911 for any chance at medical intervention. Instead, he tried to cover up his heinous crime," she said.
In the end, retired Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn sentenced Larsen to 23 to 26 years in prison, saying he couldn't ignore the serious nature of his crimes and that imprisonment was necessary for the protection of the public. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-goes-to-prison-for-killing-his-partner-leaving-his-body-in-tub-for/article_1b9dd362-f0db-11ed-a289-1b30f1252b80.html | 2023-05-12T18:56:35 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-goes-to-prison-for-killing-his-partner-leaving-his-body-in-tub-for/article_1b9dd362-f0db-11ed-a289-1b30f1252b80.html |
PEORIA, Ariz. — A man is dead after an early morning car crash on Friday outside of Peoria, the city's police department said.
The man, identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Musser of Phoenix, was driving on Castle Hot Springs Road outside Lake Pleasant around 1:15 a.m. when he veered off the side of the road into the desert, investigators said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene when first responders arrived. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
Officers expect speed played a factor in the crash and can't determine whether impairment was involved.
Latest Arizona news
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.
Deaths on Arizona roads
Data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that roadway fatalities have been gradually rising in Arizona over the last decade:
- 2011: 825 deaths
- 2012: 821 deaths
- 2013: 844 deaths
- 2014: 774 deaths
- 2015: 895 deaths
- 2016: 952 deaths
- 2017: 1,000 deaths
- 2018: 1,010 deaths
- 2019: 982 deaths
- 2020: 1,057 deaths
ADOT offers driving tips on its website to help keep people safe on the road.
"There’s always room for improvement when it comes to road safety," the department said on its website.
ADOT's suggestions include:
- Don’t speed or drive aggressively
- Never drive while under the influence of substances
- Avoid distractions while driving
- Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers are doing the same
- When an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, move over
- Stay extra aware in work zones
- Be prepared for weather conditions that make driving dangerous
"Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511, downloading the AZ 511 app and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT," the department said. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/man-dies-car-crash-near-peoria-arizona/75-c097a1ae-7905-49c3-b046-d9d3b2165f24 | 2023-05-12T18:59:13 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/man-dies-car-crash-near-peoria-arizona/75-c097a1ae-7905-49c3-b046-d9d3b2165f24 |
With UNT and TWU graduation coming up this weekend, and local high schools later this month, many families will be coming from all over the country to take their students out to celebrate a big achievement.
There are great options if you want something local; many restaurants you can only get here in Denton. Although some of them may be more suited for small or medium-sized groups, they are absolute must-haves while visiting Denton.
While our casual, trendy spots, as well as chain restaurants, lend themselves just fine to walk-ins, it is recommended that you make a reservation or call ahead if you plan to eat at a Denton restaurant on graduation weekend.
Considering so many ceremonies are taking place and many people will be looking to go out to celebrate, it is smart to contact your desired restaurant ahead of time to beat the crowds and ensure you have a spot for you and your party.
Casual
5812 N. I 35
Horny Toad Cafe & Bar is a great spot for graduates wanting to celebrate with big groups. Horny Toad is known for its southern comfort food and barbecue, as well as their patio and bar areas. A little on the outskirts of Denton along I-35, it’s also the perfect location for people wanting to avoid the crowds that busy places like the Square attract.
113 Industrial St.
Rooster’s Roadhouse is perfect for those looking to have some classic Texas barbecue and an experience on the Denton Square. A classic Denton experience, Rooster’s is well known for their barbecue plates, sandwiches and burgers, as well as inexpensive drinks from the bar to choose from.
820 S. Interstate 35 E #101
If you're in the mood for Mexican, Milpa is an excellent local choice. A relatively large place, Milpa can accommodate a larger-sized party (with a heads up or a reservation). Milpa offers a menu of classic Mexican dishes, a large margarita menu, and special lunch and weekend brunch menus.
10001 US-380, Cross Roads
Prairie House is another option for classic southern food and a little ways east of Denton along Highway 380, but definitely worth the drive. It is well-suited for large parties as well as anyone just wanting a big Texas barbecue experience. The menu consists of steaks, classic barbecue dishes, barbecue sandwiches and desserts, all at a mid-range price.
On the nicer side
100 W. Oak St.
Barley and Board is trendy and slightly more expensive dining option on the Square. While you can still order regular plates of new American style, B&B is known for its charcuterie boards and a variety of different craft cocktails, beer and wine. Happy hour and brunch at B&B are great, as well.
115 E. Hickory St.
Queenie’s is the place to go if you’re looking for a fine dining experience to celebrate. A mid-sized steakhouse off of the Square, Queenie’s boasts a menu of high-quality dishes for multi-course meals. If you’re in the mood for something sweet after a steak dinner, Back Dough is located just behind Queenie’s and sells donuts starting at 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
111 W. Mulberry St.
Hannah’s offers many upscale dishes such as duck, wagyu beef, rabbit, and lamb. As the name suggests, Hannah’s is indeed off the square and is an excellent choice for those looking to have a fancy celebration but also experience Denton’s beloved Square.
Trendy
2900 Wind River Ln., Suite 142
Blue Ginger is best known in Denton for its incredible sushi. The menu is extensive, with a wide variety of rolls to choose from, as well as various hibachi dishes and a drink menu, including sake. Suitable for medium-sized parties. If you’re thinking about dessert after your meal at Blue Ginger, there’s also a Beth Marie’s Ice Cream shop next door, another Denton favorite.
608 E. Hickory St.
Spiral Diner is an excellent option for vegan Denton residents and locals and their visitors! Spiral has a huge menu full of diverse and award-winning vegan options. Spiral serves an all vegan menu of salads, Mexican dishes, sandwiches, burgers, hot plates, all-day breakfast, as well as a variety of beers, wines and cocktails. Desserts are made by their in-house bakery and there is a fresh bakery case customers can purchase other items from to go.
110 W. Mulberry St.
Wild Cactus Cantina is another option for Mexican food and excellent cocktails. A sister location to Milpa, Wild Cactus is known for its cantina style presentation and focus on upscale cocktails. Recently reopened this month, now is the perfect time to visit!
Take Out
508 S. Elm St., Suite 105
Di Abruzzo is an authentic Italian market that sells both groceries and delicious Italian dishes. Stop by and pick up homemade ingredients such as sauces, meats and pastas to prepare dishes at home, or choose from some of the best house-made Italian meals around.
708 N. Locust St.
Juicy Pig is a local taste of barbecue excellent for either takeout or to dine on their outdoor patio The menu is made up of large combos and meat sold by the pound; perfect for large groups looking to feed everyone and then some.
515 S. Locust St.
Ten:One is a unique cheese and wine tasting shop and cafe. In addition to reserving a table in-house for a tasting, customers can stop by and select cheeses and custom-made cheese boards to take home to serve a party or a close group of friends.
Chains
Denton is also home to a few large chain restaurants that can accompany larger parties that are common for a graduation celebration.
3300 Wind River Lane
520 S. I-35 E
2809 I-35E South
2406 S. Interstate 35E
2825 W. University Dr.
2420 S Interstate 35E
3240 N Interstate 35
2817 S. Interstate 35E
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MESA, Ariz. — The City of Mesa believes it's found one solution to a housing crisis that's become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
Arizona's third-largest city has proposed spending $7.4 million on buying a hotel near Main Street and Power Road that would be converted into a transitional shelter for unsheltered individuals looking to find permanent housing.
The 70-room property would be used for the city's Off the Streets program, which aims to help vulnerable populations find stable housing. Participants can get up to 90 days of temporary housing as they make a plan to move into a permanent residence.
Mesa said at least 1,500 people have already participated in the program and about 75% have had positive outcomes.
During the early days of the pandemic, Mesa began paying for hotel rooms to help keep unsheltered individuals isolated and safe. Now the city wants to own an entire hotel that could serve as a stepping stone for individuals trying to obtain a long-term residence.
If purchased by the city, the converted hotel would be run by Community Bridges, Inc. as a closed-campus facility that services individuals who have been referred to the Off the Streets program.
Mesa is one of several Valley cities that experienced a major rise in homelessness during the first couple of years of the pandemic. It's reached the point where housing has become the most urgent problem for some city officials.
"It's not 'an' issue, it's 'the' issue," Mayor John Giles said Thursday during a council meeting.
The mayor said he thinks spending money on buying a hotel would be a smart investment with significant pay-offs for the city.
City records show Mesa intends to partner with Maricopa County to split the cost of buying the hotel. Both the city and county intend to utilize federal funds for the purchase.
Officials said demand for housing assistance is not projected to lessen anytime soon since living costs remain high for many Arizonans.
"We need to do something and we need to find something to invest our federal dollars," said Deputy City Manager Natalie Lewis.
The Mesa City Council will vote Monday night on whether to proceed with buying the hotel. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/mesa-wants-buy-hotel-address-housing-crisis-evicted/75-08bb5050-08eb-4e37-8fb8-484d7567a165 | 2023-05-12T18:59:19 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/mesa-wants-buy-hotel-address-housing-crisis-evicted/75-08bb5050-08eb-4e37-8fb8-484d7567a165 |
Tucson will have a new air connection with Southern California in December, when Alaska Airlines plans to launch new seasonal daily nonstop flights from Tucson International Airport to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport.
The seasonal service is scheduled to begin on Dec. 14, with introductory fares as low as $99 one way available at alaskaair.com .
The flight will operate daily through April 17 with travelers from Tucson departing at 2:20 p.m. and the flight from John Wayne departing at 11:40 a.m., local times.
The daily nonstops will be operated on 76-seat Embraer 175 aircraft, featuring two-by-two seating.
Orange County is the fourth destination flown by Alaska Airlines from TIA, along with Everett, Washington; Seattle; and Portland.
Tucson is Alaska Airlines' sixth nonstop destination from the Orange County airport.
Tucson Airport Authority President and CEO Danette Bewley said the new route is the result of airport officials demonstrating demand for the high-priority destination.
“Southern Arizonans now have a more convenient way to reach the top attractions around Los Angeles, and Southern Californians, who are our top source of visitors to Tucson, have a convenient way to skip the seven-hour drive,” Bewley said.
Check out some of the seasonal nonstop flights returning to Tucson International Airport this winter.
Photos: Tucson International Airport history in photos
Curtiss biplanes from the U.S. Army Air Corps at Tucson Municipal Airport (now Davis-Monthan AFB) in 1933.
A.J. Rose
Tucson Municipal Airport (now Davis-Monthan AFB) in Feb. 1933.
A.J. Rose
Tucson Municipal Airport (now Davis-Monthan AFB) in Feb. 1933.
A.J. Rose
Runway lights at Tucson Municipal Airport, likely ca 1940s.
Buehman, Tucson
An old control tower at the Tucson Municipal Airport, now known as the Tucson International Airport. In the background are three hangars, one of which served as the old terminal building. Passengers waited in the shade of a long porch that extended from the terminal before walking to the airplane and climbing portable stairs to board the plane. The three hangars were the first buildings erected at the airport when it opened at its present location in the 1940s. They are still standing, and are located on the airport's west ramp.
Tucson Airport Authority
Tucson Airport Authority "Rainbow" tower. Each layer painted a different color. Circa 1950.
Arizona Daily Star file
Artist's rendering of what the control tower and operations building at Tucson International Airport will look like, January 14, 1957.
Place & Place Architects, Tucson
The new Tucson Municipal Airport control tower shortly after completion in 1958
Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport iconic control tower in September, 1968.
Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport tower in 1985.
Tucson Citizen
A time exposure at Tucson International Airport in December, 1978. The lines are navigation lights from jets taking off.
Art Grasberger / Arizona Daily Star
The terminal building at the Tucson Municipal Airport, now known as the Tucson International Airport. Passengers waited in the shade of a long porch that extended from the terminal before walking to an airplane and climbing portable stairs to board the plane.
Tucson Airport Authority
Passenger ramp under construction at Tucson Municipal Airport in 1948. Looking southeast from the original terminal building on the west side of the airport.
Reginald Russell / Tucson Citizen
A pilot exits an F-84F Thunderstreak of the Arizona Air National Guard during the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Bernie Sedley / Tucson Citizen
Spectators watch Arizona Air National Guard fighter jets compete in the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Bernie Sedley / Tucson Citizen
Maj. Philip Colman streaks along the runway at 700 mph in an F-84F Thunderstreak as Arizona Air National Guard fighter jets compete in the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Bernie Sedley / Tucson Citizen
Arizona Air National Guard fighter jets compete in the Ricks Memorial Trophy contest at Tucson International Airport on July 29, 1957. In the 1950s and 1960s the Air National Guard conducted the annual contest, a cross country timed air race designed to showcase the newly formed Air National Guard.
Bernie Sedley / Tucson Citizen
Tucson Municipal Airport air traffic controllers "scramble" Air National Guard fighter interceptor jets in March, 1959.
Bernie Sedley / Tucson Citizen
An Arizona Air National Guard F-100 fighter takes off from Tucson International Airport in June, 1965.
Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
A new restaurant, left, opened with the RONtel Motel for "transient aviation" at the base of the tower at Tucson International Airport in 1960. Both buildings were designed by Tucson architect Arthur Brown.
Lew Raizk / Tucson Citizen
The U.S. Weather Bureau office in 1959, near the flight line at Tucson Municipal Airport provided weather information for pilots and weather reports for Tucson residents.
Tucson Citizen
Hangers on the west side of Tucson International Airport in 1970. The hangers were built in 1940s by Consolidated Vultee for modifications to B-24 bombers.
Bruce Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
Vehicles pour out of the Grand Central Aircraft Company and other businesses at Tucson International Airport onto Nogales Highway in February, 1952. The Hughes Aircraft Co. building is under construction in the upper left corner. Note the Southern Pacific steam locomotive puffing down the tracks and what look to be Boeing B-29 bombers from WWII on the tarmac at Grand Central.
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson Municipal Airport in 1955 before the iconic Tower was constructed. Photo taken looking southeast. Hangers on the west side of Tucson International Airport in 1970. The hangers were built in 1940s by Consolidated Vultee for modifications to B-24 bombers.
Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport manager Charles Broman interrupts welder Paul Allison while admiring his work on a new Tucson airport sign on Valencia Road in 1964.
Tucson Citizen
High altitude aerial photo of Tucson International Airport in 1970.
National Ocean Survey
The new terminal at Tucson International Airport in 1963: The car ramp at right leads from the passenger unloading area.
Don Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
The Tucson International Airport passenger terminals under construction in March, 1963.
Ray Manley
A 1963 photograph of the Tucson International Airport looking towards the southwest.
Ray Manley
A 1963 photo of the construction of the terminal at Tucson International Airport.
Ray Manley
Construction of Tucson International Airport, May 11, 1963.
Jack W. Sheaffer / Arizona Daily
Thomas G. Hickey (left), Sky Chef manager in Tucson, and Charles Broman, TAA general manager, examine the lobby in the new airline terminal at Tucson International Airport on Nov. 15, 1963.
Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport in September, 1968.
Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport passenger concourse in September, 1968.
Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport passenger gates in September, 1968.
Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Tucson International Airport control tower in September, 1971.
Art Grasberger / Tucson Citizen
Aerial view of the Tucson International Airport terminal and the approach road on March 28, 1966.
Tucson Citizen
Undated aerial of the Tucson area with Tucson International Airport on the bottom along with Hughes Aircraft, later Raytheon. Photo is looking north toward the Santa Catalina Mountains on the right.
Tucson Citizen file
In this July 13, 1984 photo, Joseph Bonanno, a reputed mafia figure, walks through Tucson International Airport with his family after his parole from a federal prison in Lexington, Ky. Bonanno served nearly eight months of a 366 day sentence for obstructing justice.
Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star
Cactus Little League Team arrives at Tucson International Airport on August 28, 1973 after winner the championships.
Jack W. Sheaffer / Arizona Daily Star
On September 18, 1974, convicted California mass slayers Douglas E. Gretzer (with sack in front of face) and Willie L. Steelman were returned to Tucson from Vacaville Prision to face murder charges. The two men were hustled to the jail from Tucson International Airport under heavy police guard.
Lew Elliott / Tucson Citizen
Travelers arriving at Tucson International Airport look for their luggage on Dec. 22, 1977.
Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, left, and actress Ann-Margaret arrived at Tucson International Airport on April, 10, 1970, and were greeted by a "posse" who branded them as horse thieves. The two were in Tucson for filming of the movie, "C.C. Ryder and Company," written by Ann-Margaret's husband, Roger Smith (a University of Arizona graduate).
Manuel Miera / Tucson Citizen
Linda Ronstadt arrives at Tucson International Airport on Sept. 16, 1976 for a benefit concert for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen
Sen. Lyndon Johnson's campaign plane at Tucson International Airport on Sept. 15, 1960, during a Kennedy-Johnson presidential campaign event. His motorcade is assembled in foreground. Johnson flew first to Phoenix. He "hand-shook and child-hugged his way through a small crowd," according to the Tucson Citizen.
Tucson Citizen
Actress Jayne Mansfield with boyfriend (later husband) MIckey Hargitay, left, and notable actor Broderick Crawford at Tucson International Airport in March, 1957. The trio was in town for a party at a local dude ranch. Actress Mariska Hargitay is their daughter.
Tucson Citizen
Riding with from airport with John F. Kennedy during the Democratic Presidential candidate's 1960 visit to Tucson were City Democratic Chairman David Ginsburg, County Vice Chairman Joe Huerta, Mayor Don Hummel and County Democratic Chairman Frank Minarik. From "Jack Sheaffer's Tucson 1945-1965."
Jack Sheaffer
Robert F. Kennedy is greeted by many admirers at the Tucson International Airport during his campaign. He is to speak at the University of Arizona. March 29, 1968.
Tucson Citizen
Texas Governor/Republican Presidential candidate George W. Bush Jr., greeted by Ray Castillo, Repub. Ward 1 candidate, Bob Walkup, Repub. mayoral candidate, Rick Grinnell, Repub. ward 2 candidate and Jim Click at the Executive terminal of Tucson Int. Airport in 1999.
Chris Richards / Arizona Daily Star
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star 2015
Bernie Martin, an air traffic controller at Tucson International Airport, watches from his perch 10-stories above the tarmac as he keeps an eye on air traffic in 2005. Martin has been working as a controller with the FAA since 1981.
Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star
An Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 tanker makes a low pass over the iconic control tower at Tucson International Airport, Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
It is one of the Busiest days of the year at Tucson International Airport. Here Passengers pick up there luggage from a flight on Dec. 23, 1997.
James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star
The Tucson International Airport tower in 2000.
DAVID SANDERS
Air traffic controller Ryan Holaway watches the airspace over Tucson International Airport from the control tower, Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Monique Medina waits for her mother to pick her up from the Tucson International Airport on Nov. 20, 2007, after spending 24 hours trying to get home from New York City were she attends School.
Lindsay A. Miller / Arizona Daily Star
Ceiling tiles are down as renovations taking place at Tucson International Airport in May, 2007, in what will be formerly known as the A concourse.
Jeffry Scott / Airzona Daily Star
On patrol: Arizona National Guard has been called on to provide a new element of security at Tucson International Airport on Oct. 9, 2001.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
U.S. Air Force staff sergeant Garrett Wilkes gets to hold his one-month old son Colton for the first time after returning from duty at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to Tucson International Airport on June 20, 2013.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
An Arizona Air National Guard F16 takes off as it passes the $42 million control tower which is under construction during regular daily activities at Tucson International Airport in April, 2015.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star 2015
The new air traffic control tower, right, is juxtaposed with the older, more familiar tower at the Tucson International Airport in Nov. 2015.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Air traffic controllers watch for traffic from the new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower on September 23, 2016.
Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Contact senior reporter David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com or 520-573-4181. On Twitter: @dwichner. On Facebook: Facebook.com/DailyStarBiz
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. | https://tucson.com/news/local/business/tucson-airport-getting-new-daily-nonstop-orange-county-flight/article_b7938b16-f060-11ed-a51c-8f393adac4f5.html | 2023-05-12T18:59:32 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/business/tucson-airport-getting-new-daily-nonstop-orange-county-flight/article_b7938b16-f060-11ed-a51c-8f393adac4f5.html |
WINTER PARK, Fla. – AdventHealth Winter Park and Seminole State College are getting results when it comes to preparing nursing students for a career in health care.
In the last year, AdventHealth Winter Park and Seminole State College partnered up to form a Dedicated Education Unit.
Chief Nursing Officer for AdventHealth Winter Park Nicole Ayoub said the hospital’s DEU helps build a solid foundation for nursing students as they enter the workforce.
Initially, nursing students are paired with an experienced nurse and work together one-on-one. Eventually, the experienced nurse will assess the student’s skills and give them more independence on the unit.
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“It allows for our experienced nurses to know the new nurses, be able to share their knowledge with them so that as they become part of our workforce. That (way) there is less (of a) learning curve and everyone’s more comfortable with each other,” Ayoub said.
In March 2022, the American Nurses’ Foundation and American Nurses’ Association released the results of its “Impacts of COVID-19″ survey. It found that 52% of nurses said they were considering leaving their positions and that 60% of acute care nurses reported feeling burnt out.
Seminole State College’s Dean of Nursing Nancy Gasper said she hopes the program will reduce attrition.
“So, in the past, students would come into the workforce and their eyes were open,” Gasper said. “They were shocked, especially with our complex system of health care right now. So, students who go through the DEU, you tend to be more competent and confident. They also know their team members. They’re better able to transition into their new roles. We find patients are safer and our new graduates, our new nurses, are happier, more satisfied.”
Recent Seminole State College Nursing graduate and new AdventHealth Winter Park nurse Kelly Andrews said the program has helped her find ways to prevent burnout.
“So, I know there’s more opportunities out there if I were to feel that way,” Andrews said. “And I feel with this program, it definitely gave me a lot of skills and opportunities that I wouldn’t have elsewhere to kind of prevent me from burnout. And like I said before, just being comfortable with the floor I’m on and already kind of knowing people has really helped prevent that.”
Andrews was offered a job at AdventHealth Winter Park on the same unit she trained on as a student. She said the program helped her gain confidence.
“I think I would have been a lot less confident without the program, and I think I would have been very nervous, you know, on every shift,” Andrews said. “But I feel like I’m already just two weeks out of training and I already feel very confident in what I’m doing.”
Andrews said she remembers the day she received her offer letter from AdventHealth, and it was exactly what she wanted.
“It made me feel very excited,” Andrews said. “And to know that I didn’t have to go and interview elsewhere, that I could just stay where I was comfortable, was very nice.”
AdventHealth has several DEUs across Central Florida. Here’s the full list:
- AdventHealth Waterman with Lake-Sumter State College
- AdventHealth Orlando with AdventHealth University
- AdventHealth Winter Park with Seminole State College
- AdventHealth Palm Coast with Jacksonville University
AdventHealth said the hospital will be adding more dedicated education units this fall.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/adventhealth-winter-park-partners-with-college-to-prepare-nursing-students/ | 2023-05-12T19:03:37 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/adventhealth-winter-park-partners-with-college-to-prepare-nursing-students/ |
Florida’s Fourth Estate podcast with hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden covers a variety of hot topics across Florida — including everything from nude recreation, to how the University of Central Florida is responding to the nursing shortage — and how individuals are impacting our community for the better.
Some of those “change makers” have said it’s their mom who helped them to get to where they are today.
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That includes the longest-running Genie on Broadway who hails from Dr. Phillips. You can catch Michael James Scott performing in New York City on the big stage. But before he landed this role, he said it was his mom and dad who sacrificed and helped him to get to where he is today. It was also his mom who insisted he be on Florida’s Fourth Estate. She reached out to News 6 after the podcast released an episode highlighting the Top 5 Most Famous Floridians.
She thought he should be highlighted as one of the most famous too and when he came on the podcast, she sent him a sweet message.
“Hi Michael James Scott, it’s your mom,” she said. “I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you I am so proud of you, we are so proud of you, your father, your family, we are all so proud of you and we want to share your story, we just wanted to take this opportunity to share your fierceness, your talent with everyone, we love you. Continue to make us proud.”
Scott didn’t know the message was coming and was absolutely shocked.
“That means so much,” he said.
Scott’s mom isn’t the only one being talked about on Florida’s Fourth Estate.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below:
An Orlando teen who helped invent a device with the potential to help 2.2 billion people struggling with vision issues also said her mom has guided her success.
Tiffani Gay said she gives credit to her mom for her charisma.
“She’s always pushed me into public speaking, and I’ve grown a lot of confidence from her as well. So, I have to give credit to my parents, both of them for always pushing me to try my best in every single thing I do, to put my best foot forward in every single thing I do,” Gay said.
“Your mom is actually in this room right now, she’s watching our every move and she is the most proud parent I think I have ever seen,” Austin said during the interview.
Lake Nona High School Student Shannon Hayes also credits her mom for making sure, despite her health conditions, she gets to stay active in the classroom thanks to a unique robot.
“My mom was actually the one who kind of brought about the idea of me owning that robot,” Hayes said. “She was trying to figure out a way for me to have a school experience. So she was the one who actually came up with that idea. I love my mom. She’s so persistent. She knows what she wants and if it benefits me she will fight everyone to get me that and I love that so much.”
To watch these episodes in full download News 6+ on your smart TV.
You can also download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts.
Florida’s Fourth Estate also airs every Monday and Friday on News 6 at 5:30 p.m. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/happy-mothers-day-from-floridas-fourth-estate/ | 2023-05-12T19:03:43 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/happy-mothers-day-from-floridas-fourth-estate/ |
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Amazing. Surreal.
Those were just a couple of the superlatives swirling in the air — along with mortarboards — as Eastern Florida State College graduates celebrated the school’s spring commencement ceremonies Thursday, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.
Ceremonies were conducted at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with 350 graduates in each session and a packed house, as each graduate received four guest tickets. While 700 graduates walked, nearly 1,700 students are eligible to receive their diplomas this spring, EFSC officials said. To date, more than 106,000 individuals have earned a degree or workforce certificate from EFSC.
In a true moment of family unity and pride, graduates included four mothers who earned their degrees at the same time as their children. Traci McGough and her son, Elijah McGough; Dorothy Bowman and her son Dawson; and Niccole Patellis, her son, Christopher Patellis, and her daughter, Emma Dion; and Stephanie Rodriguez and her daughter, Mia Ferrell-Rodriguez.
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Amidst a sea of blue, the smiles didn’t stop for Titans of all ages at the 2 p.m. ceremony.
Niccole Patellis pronounced it “amazing” to graduate at the same time as did her children.
“It’s an awesome feeling to get my AA, and them get theirs as well,” she said, adding that she hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. “And then we’ll all move on to continue our education after this.”
Christopher Patellis plans to head to University of Central Florida, where he’ll major in pre-med.
“It’s a surreal feeling, I guess that’s what to say ... it’s a lot of anxiety and excitement at the same time,” he said. “I’m kind of looking forward to what to do next.”
And Emma Dion, who like her brother is dual-enrolled at Merritt Island High School and Eastern Florida, will be going into the U.S. Army in August as an animal care specialist.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “It’s like it’s not real, that I would graduate with my mother and my brother; that we’d all get our degrees at the same time.”
In a special message to graduates, President Dr. Jim Richey commended graduates for their perseverance.
“Today is a special day in your lives because it marks an impressive accomplishment. It also marks the start of an exciting journey as you begin using what you have learned to advance your careers and live a richer, fuller life,” said Richey.
“Getting here has not been easy with many of you juggling jobs, families and other responsibilities. But you stayed the course despite the challenges you faced. That fortitude is not something that can be taught in the classroom. Rather, it speaks to your strength of character in a way that you can draw on in the years ahead. My admiration for you is immense and so is the pride that all of us at EFSC have for you.”
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/walk-this-way-newest-eastern-florida-grads-include-4-moms-whose-kids-earned-degrees-too/ | 2023-05-12T19:03:49 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/walk-this-way-newest-eastern-florida-grads-include-4-moms-whose-kids-earned-degrees-too/ |
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A neighborhood splash pad was among her favorite places to play with her three kids, but Bethany Mefford’s boys, all under the age of 7, will now have only memories.
"Bethany lived for her kids," her sister, Dani Gray, said. "Everything that she did was for them."
Members of Mefford’s grief-stricken family agreed to speak a day after her shooting death mainly to humanize the woman who meant so much to so many.
"The world lost an angel yesterday," her father, Doug Gray, said. "I can’t express that enough."
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Mefford was sleeping when a stray bullet went through her bedroom wall around 2:30 Wednesday morning.
A neighbor allegedly fired up to 15 times at suspected car burglars in the parking lot of their apartment complex but ended up killing the beloved mother and partner.
"I personally looked through the bullet hole and saw the outside light," longtime boyfriend Ricardo Lung said.
Lung was also the father of two of Mefford’s sons. He and the youngest were actually in bed with her but only realized what happened when the alarm went off.
"She went out peacefully," Lung said. "She had her eyes closed and was sleeping normal."
Not normally is how the family will move on, at least initially.
"And I don’t know how, how we’re going to go on without her," Dani said. "I’ve never experienced life without her and don’t know how I’m going to."
"But we will,” Doug said.
Especially, they told us, for the three boys who lost their mother just days before Mother's Day.
Darius Lewis, 28, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with Mefford’s death. His bond was set at $75,000. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/bethany-mefford-killed-stray-bullet/285-7007e7bb-a760-4acb-8b71-89569399c640 | 2023-05-12T19:09:06 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/bethany-mefford-killed-stray-bullet/285-7007e7bb-a760-4acb-8b71-89569399c640 |
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Two were hurt after a crash involving a Greyhound bus early Friday morning on Interstate 75 in Pasco County, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP says around 12:10 a.m. a 21-year-old man lost control of his Pontiac for unknown reasons while driving south on I-75, south of SR-56.
The Pontiac hit a guardrail and then was redirected back into traffic where it hit the Greyhound bus also going southbound on I-75, authorities say.
The bus, driven by a 45-year-old man, was not carrying any passengers at the time, FHP noted. The impact of the crash caused the bus to go over the median, overturn and continue across into the I-75's northbound lanes.
FHP says the bus hit the outside concrete barrier wall causing debris to be ejected onto the exit ramp leading from I-75 to SR-56.
The driver of the bus received minor injuries and the driver of the Pontiac had serious injuries. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pascocounty/greyhound-bus-crash-pasco/67-c966e5e3-9db1-4731-94d8-f1d5cd1eaf10 | 2023-05-12T19:09:12 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pascocounty/greyhound-bus-crash-pasco/67-c966e5e3-9db1-4731-94d8-f1d5cd1eaf10 |
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation on Friday to help veterans, including tax relief on retirement income.
“We need to make sure that ‘thank you for your service’ is more than just a quote, or something that we always put at the end of a sentence. We need to support our military community,” Moore said, adding that veterans will have second and third careers. “These are people who will start businesses. These are people who will buy homes.”
Moore, a Democrat, prioritized the tax relief measure for military retirees called the Keep Our Heroes Home Act, because it’s designed as an incentive for veterans to stay in Maryland, instead of moving to another state with more favorable tax conditions.
The law will exempt up to $20,000 of military retirement income for Maryland residents who are 55 and older. It will exempt up to $12,500 for retirees who are younger than 55. That’s an increase in exempted income the state currently allows: $15,000 for 55 and over and $5,000 for those under 55.
The state estimates that about 33,000 military retirees will be eligible to subtract additional retirement income as a result of the new law. It takes effect July 1 and applies to tax year 2023 and beyond.
The governor initially proposed higher exemptions, but the measure was scaled back by the General Assembly. Moore proposed exempting up to $40,000 for all veterans.
Moore also signed into law a program that will reimburse the state’s National Guard members up to $60 a month for health care and dental plans. The Health Care for Heroes Act takes effect July 1.
Another bill signed by the governor will require the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs to bury an eligible spouse or dependent, including a child or parent, of a veteran in a state veterans cemetery without charge.
The governor also signed into law a bill that creates a checkoff on income tax returns for the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, which provides grants or loans to veterans and their families.
The state also will study on expediting the state licensing process for service members, veterans and military spouses, under a bill signed into law by Moore.
Moore also signed a bill that will require a child on the registry for the Waiver for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to remain on the registry, if the child’s family moves out of the state for military service. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2023/05/12/maryland-governor-veterans/bac83484-f0f2-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html | 2023-05-12T19:10:39 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2023/05/12/maryland-governor-veterans/bac83484-f0f2-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html |
Renowned Associated Press photojournalist Elise Amendola — a determined, joyous and patient journalist who masterfully photographed pivotal global news and sporting events spanning decades — has died. She was 70.
Amendola documented many important moments in history, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Boston Marathon bombing, the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, U.S. presidential campaigns, and many Super Bowls, Olympics, World Series and other major sporting events.
“I owe the AP for our beautiful life,” Schwalm told the AP Friday. “I first met Elise when I was a photo runner at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. By Athens in 2004, I was a staff photo editor on the sports desk and we’d become friends. I had the pleasure to edit her photos ... It was so easy, she never missed.”
The two worked together for years — Schwalm in New York and Amendola in Boston, often collaborating on assignments.
In the fall of 2006, Schwalm said she left her photo editing position in New York to live with Amendola in North Andover. “Seventeen years of pure joy, 11 of them as her wife,” she said. “I am heart broken.”
Her longtime friend and teammate, fellow Boston photographer Charles Krupa, described one of his favorite photographs that Amendola made when the two were on assignment together covering golf.
Davis Love had just won the PGA championship in 1997.
“After a hard week of work in the rain,” Krupa remembered, “Love tipping his cap to the crowd with a panoramic rainbow tying the moment together as one.”
“I knew she had the angle on it, and when we were done with the day she absolutely nailed that picture. She nailed pictures like that throughout her career,” Krupa said. “(Love) found his pot of gold that day, and Elise did too.”
Amendola started her career with the AP wire service as a freelancer in the early 1980s before being hired onto staff in 1983. She retired in 2021. She was born in New York and was a graduate of Tufts University.
“The word legend is often overused, but in this case, it’s not big enough,” said Associated Press Director of Photography David Ake in a note to staff. “She was a superior photographer but, more importantly, a fabulous person.”
Ake remembered his days “chasing candidates” around New Hampshire with Amendola.
“Her coverage of the first Clinton presidential campaign should be a textbook,” Ake said. “It didn’t matter how cold, hot, wet, or miserable an assignment was; Elise never caved and stuck with it until a picture was made. If I had to describe what drove that determination, I would say ‘joy.’”
AP business photo editor Peter Morgan first met Amendola at the Boston bureau around 1980, when she brought in tennis photos for consideration. Morgan was trying to get started as a stringer at the time, and worked with her on dozens of assignments over the following decades.
“Elise was one of the greats — not just as a photographer, but as a person,” Morgan said. “It was a joy to know you would be working on the same assignment – her presence guaranteed good photos and good company.”
AP photographer Julie Jacobson said she admired Amendola and her work before the two ever met, when she was still working for a newspaper in the 1990s.
“There weren’t a lot of women photographers who shot sports back then,” Jacobson said. “But she did, was good at it and she was one of a few whose bar I looked to when setting my own goals.”
Then Jacobson was hired as a staff photographer at the AP, and said she was “star struck” when she met Amendola.
“Meeting Elise for the first time at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002 was really exciting for me,” she said. “We would end up working together multiple times at various events through the next 19 years or so, mostly sporting events. And I was always star struck.”
Jacobson said Amendola was the “the epitome of team player, happy to shoot anywhere and share knowledge with the rest of the crew.”
More importantly, she said, Amendola treated everyone with respect. “As good as she was, no one was beneath her,” Jacobson said.
Bill Sikes, a retired Boston AP photo editor, recalled a moment after the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
“Elise and her longtime teammate Charlie Krupa slept in the lobby of the Westin Hotel overnight so not to be forced outside the police perimeter that had been set up around the site,” Sikes said. “The next morning, Elise went to the upper floors of the hotel and knocked on doors till she found a room that provided a view of both bombing sites. She rented that room so all AP platforms had that vantage point for the remainder of the week.”
Remembering her dedication to the craft, Sikes said, “There was never a doubt she would deliver compelling photos from every type of assignment, no matter the challenges.”
Amy Sancetta, a fellow retired AP photographer, remembered her friend on Friday.
“She fought her illness with the same tenacity, courage and good nature that she carried in all aspects of her life,” Sancetta said. “Elise never, ever gave up: not climbing the hill on 18 at Augusta, not freezing all day at the base of an Olympic ski mountain, and not with cancer. Working, playing hoops, enjoying her life and her friends and her beloved wife Mary Schwalm, Elise showed her joyous spirit and firm determination.”
Schwalm said Elise, who loved basketball, preferred to not have a service or flowers.
“She’d love for you to go to the courts, and shoot a basketball from the baseline, her best midrange jump shot,” Shwalm said in an email to the AP. “Or make an assist in some way, Elise loved to make a good pass.” | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2023/05/12/associated-press-photojournalist-elise-amendola-dies/e1680a66-f0f1-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html | 2023-05-12T19:10:46 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2023/05/12/associated-press-photojournalist-elise-amendola-dies/e1680a66-f0f1-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html |
ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, Md. — Police are in search of a man who allegedly robbed a hotel at gunpoint in Annapolis Junction.
It happened around 10:30pm Thursday at the Towneplace Suites by Marriott on National Business Parkway.
A man reportedly entered the lobby, pulled a gun, and demanded money from the front desk receptionist .
The suspect allegedly then struck the employee in the head with the gun, before snatching up the cash register and fleeing the scene.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-222-4720 or the tip line at 410-222-4700. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/robber-on-the-run-after-allegedly-stealing-hotel-cash-register-pistol-whipping-receptionist | 2023-05-12T19:10:49 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/robber-on-the-run-after-allegedly-stealing-hotel-cash-register-pistol-whipping-receptionist |
Hey now, you're an all star, get your game on and go play at Pierogi Fest's free Smash Mouth show this summer.
The annual festival celebrating pierogi and the Region's Polish heritage will feature a live show from the rock band Smash Mouth on Saturday night this year. It's the first major commercial musical act to take the stage at the summer food festival that parades all things Eastern Europe through 119th Street in downtown Whiting.
Hard Rock Casino Northwest Indiana in Gary is sponsoring the free show from the San Jose-based alternative rock band, which enjoyed immense commercial popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it was often featured on movie soundtracks like "Shrek" and "Mystery Men."
Smash Mouth has had many hits like "All Star," "Walkin’ on the Sun," "I’m a Believer," "Why Can’t We Be Friends?," "Can’t Get Enough of You Baby," "Then the Morning Comes" and "Pacific Coast Party"
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"All Star" in particular has had enduring popularity, enjoying a second act as an internet meme.
Smash Mouth will perform on the main stage at 8:30 p.m. July 29.
"This should be a great evening," Chairman Tom Dabertin said. "The main stage is just one of seven performance stages at Pierogi Fest."
Pierogi Fest has always featured music, including many polka acts, local bands and tribute bands. An estimated 50 performers will play this year.
The festival also will have two beer gardens, 55 arts and crafts and tchotchkes vendors and 75 food booths serving pierogi, halupki, golabki and every kind of Polish food you can imagine.
The quirky, off-beat festival features appearances by the anthropomorphic Mr. Pierogi, Ms. Packzki and the Precision Lawnmower Drill Team. The light-hearted weekend-long festival will run July 28-30 in the heart of Whiting this year.
Expect joke T-shirts like "Polish Drinking Team" and "I'm into fitness — fitnessing these pierogi into my mouth."
The annual celebrate of the starchy dumpling has earned a significant amount of media coverage, including from Wild Chicago, the Wall Street Journal, TripAdvisor, Yahoo, MSN, The Food Channel, Travel Channel, CNN and Saveur magazine. Readers Digest named it one of America's 50 best festivals. | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/smash-mouth-to-headline-pierogi-fest-in-whiting/article_a8b58086-f0e2-11ed-b976-dffc9f3ecd5f.html | 2023-05-12T19:13:22 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/smash-mouth-to-headline-pierogi-fest-in-whiting/article_a8b58086-f0e2-11ed-b976-dffc9f3ecd5f.html |
VALPARAISO — Charles Trumble broke down in tears late Friday morning shortly before being handed what amounts to a life sentence for brutally beating his 91-year-old mother to death on Feb. 23, 2020.
"I just want to say I'm deeply, deeply sorry," he said through sobs.
"I hope you can forgive me and don't hate me forever," Trumble said to family members. "I can't say anymore, there's just not enough words."
Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepted 63-year-old Trumble's guilty plea to a charge of murder but mentally ill and the agreed-to sentence of 45 years behind bars.
Clymer first required defense attorney Mark Chargualaf to establish the facts necessary for the charge, voicing concern about Trumble's claim last month to having transfered the soul or consciousness of Dixie Trumble to the afterlife.
When questioned by Chargualaf, Trumble admitted to taking action that ended his mother's life and said it was not an accident.
Trumble has said he beat his mother to death with a sledgehammer at the Portage home they shared because "he is about to be exposed for committing awful crimes" and wanted to shield her from the information, according to court documents.
He reported the killing and officers arrived to find Dixie lying on her back in the living room with Charles lying on his back next to her with a cell phone in his hand, an investigator said.
While a police officer performed CPR on Dixie, he said he heard Charles say, "My mom was a distinguished woman. I am about to be in trouble for some really bad stuff, and I killed her so she wouldn't be exposed to it."
When asked if he thought the girl was making up the allegations, Kevin Herbert responded, "It certainly as hell does not sound like she is making things up," police said.
Medics arrived on scene and continued giving care to Dixie until a physician was contacted and instructed them to cease their resuscitation efforts, documents state.
A short-handled sledgehammer was found on the floor near Dixie's body, police said.
Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Hammer said his office has been in contact with Dixie's family members and argued the plea and sentence were "most appropriate" considering the facts in the case.
Clymer said he was convinced Trumble carried out the offense.
"In reality what you did was brutally murder your mother with a sledgehammer," he said.
Mental health evaluations were done on Trumble and he claimed to have been suffering psychological effects from Lyme Disease, Clymer said.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/portage-man-breaks-down-as-hes-sentenced-for-beating-his-91-year-old-mom-to/article_7fbb6d30-f0c9-11ed-a904-73a116c035a0.html | 2023-05-12T19:13:28 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/portage-man-breaks-down-as-hes-sentenced-for-beating-his-91-year-old-mom-to/article_7fbb6d30-f0c9-11ed-a904-73a116c035a0.html |
Workers for the city of Richmond have begun installing elongated speed bumps around the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, a week after a second student was killed on West Main Street in a traffic crash.
The city is adding so-called speed tables, which are flattened speed bumps. The speed limit around the speed tables is 15 mph, which is 10 mph slower than the limit on the surrounding streets.
VCU President Michael Rao spent a few moments at Friday's board of visitors meeting honoring one of the students who was killed.
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Graduate student Shawn Soares, 26, died last week in the 300 block of West Main, near the VCU engineering building. VCU police have identified the block as a problem spot, because cars speed down the hill as they approach South Belvidere Street.
"We are now a pedestrian city, and we have to get used to that and accommodate that," Rao said.
In January, VCU senior Marokh Khan, 22, died when she was struck and killed by a car at West Main and Laurel streets, near the Altria Theater.
The city planned to install 10 speed tables on West Main, West Cary, West Franklin and West Grace streets.
Then, VCU asked the city for three more on those streets, and the city plans to add those, too, said Meredith Weiss, vice president for administration at VCU.
On Main and Cary, the city will also add radars displaying the driver's speed. Offenders will not automatically receive tickets. The state allows automated ticketing only in school and construction zones. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/speed-bumps-installed-around-vcu-campus-after-student-deaths/article_7f46ea20-f0cc-11ed-aede-63fe663a1dde.html | 2023-05-12T19:14:12 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/speed-bumps-installed-around-vcu-campus-after-student-deaths/article_7f46ea20-f0cc-11ed-aede-63fe663a1dde.html |
The board of Virginia Commonwealth University approved a 3% increase to the price of tuition Friday in hopes of avoiding a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.
The cost of education for an in-state student will rise $591 to roughly $16,000. Room and board will increase 9%, or $1,093, to about $14,000 annually. That means an in-state student will pay about $30,000 for education, room and board next year.
An out-of-state student would pay about $1,300 more in tuition and fees for a total annual cost of roughly $53,000.
Three members of the board voted no – Anthony Bedell, Dr. Clifton Peay and Peter Farrell, all of whom were appointed or reappointed last year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Hundreds of students submitted written comments against the hike, and a handful came to Friday's board of visitors meeting to oppose it.
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Despite the increase, VCU could still face a budget gap of $25 million caused by inflation, state-mandated raises for employees and other costs. The university's annual budget is roughly $1.5 billion.
The cost to attend college in Virginia has ballooned in the past two decades. Since 2006, the in-state cost of tuition, fees and room and board at VCU has risen an inflation-adjusted 43%. In each of the past four years, enrollment at VCU has declined.
VCU has not raised tuition since 2019, though it has increased the cost of fees, room and board since then. Going a fifth year was impossible, said Ben Dendy, head of the school's board.
Every public college in the state that has made a decision about tuition has approved a hike of at least 3%, said Karol Kain Gray, the school's chief financial officer.
The university is still waiting to find out how much funding it will receive from the state. The General Assembly has not agreed to a budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
Roughly 600 people submitted written comments, mostly against the increase. A dozen students and faculty came to Friday's board meeting to speak against it.
Many students who submitted written comments complained about the salary of VCU President Michael Rao, who received an 8% raise last year and makes about $700,000 annually. More than $500,000 of his salary is funded by the university's charitable foundations, not its operating budget.
Kristin Reed, a faculty member in the Department of Focused Inquiry, criticized the board for paying for large metal VCU signs around campus while cutting faculty. The university expects to not renew the contracts of 10 to 15 employees in Focused Inquiry, provost Fotis Sotiropoulos said Thursday. In that department, first- and second-year students take small seminars and learn such skills as communication and problem-solving. The average employee in the department makes about $50,000, said Everett Carpenter, a VCU professor.
"Our jobs mean less to you than those letters," Reed said. "It's wild to watch this happen."
Students are being asked to take one for the team, said Vali Jamal, a VCU junior. Still, the university is expanding campus and erecting new buildings.
"Why doesn't the administration take a pay cut and take one for the team?" Jamal asked.
Generally, VCU's academic buildings are paid for by the state, and the university covers the cost for athletic facilities and student commons buildings. The state separates its funding allocations for capital projects versus education. VCU cannot use health system funds to pay for education, either.
When donors make contributions to the university, they often direct the money toward a particular scholarship, professorship, project or clinic, said Jay Davenport, the school's head of fundraising. The school is contractually obligated to use that investment income toward the donor's request. The university does not have significant unrestricted funds.
Those distinctions could be made clearer to the public, Rao said.
"We have to clarify what can and can't be used," he added.
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Eric Kolenich writes about higher education, health systems and more for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He joined the newspaper in 2009 and spent 11 years in the Sports section. (804) 649-6109
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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-will-raise-tuition-by-3-next-year/article_517686a2-f0de-11ed-b3bf-f74e483d60c9.html | 2023-05-12T19:14:18 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-will-raise-tuition-by-3-next-year/article_517686a2-f0de-11ed-b3bf-f74e483d60c9.html |
An Amtrak train was disabled by damage when it was struck by a pickup truck at a crossing about a mile southwest of Grand Forks.
The pickup driven by David Contreras, 60, of Grand Forks, struck the front side of the passenger train's lead engine shortly before 7:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Contreras suffered what the Patrol said were minor injuries. A passenger in the truck was not hurt.
No one onboard the train was injured, but "the extent of damage was disabling" to the train, the Patrol said. The agency had no further details. Amtrak did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Contreras was cited for failing to stop at a railroad crossing. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/amtrak-train-struck-by-pickup-near-grand-forks/article_e1a724e2-f0e9-11ed-bb26-cf66ba168a9b.html | 2023-05-12T19:16:55 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/amtrak-train-struck-by-pickup-near-grand-forks/article_e1a724e2-f0e9-11ed-bb26-cf66ba168a9b.html |
A Minnesota doctor who helps procure mail-order medication abortions for South Dakota women said she plans to continue that practice even if the U.S. Supreme Court outlaws or limits the use of mifepristone, one of the pills used in the process.
“It’s business as usual,” said Dr. Julie Amaon, medical director of Just the Pill.
The Twin Cities telemedicine provider assisted more than 150 South Dakota residents in 2022 and 2023 with online consultations and prescriptions to terminate pregnancies. The organization has provided service to more than 5,000 patients overall since starting as a nonprofit in 2020.
Amaon told News Watch that her “neck is sore from the whiplash” of legal wranglings that have intensified the abortion debate since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June 2022 to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, allowing states to determine legality and access of reproductive services.
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The new battleground focuses on medication abortion, which currently accounts for 54% of abortions in the United States, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health organization.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Texas-based Trump appointee, issued a ruling April 7 that threatened to halt the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of abortion pill mifepristone, first approved in 2000.
Less than a week later, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals paused the mifepristone suspension but upheld Kacsmaryk’s rollback of more recent FDA policies that made abortion pills easier to obtain by removing the requirement of in-person provider visits.
On April 21, the Supreme Court issued a stay on that 5th Circuit ruling, reverting abortion access to post-Dobbs status while the appeals process continues, with a decision expected sometime in 2024 on the status of mifepristone and how medication abortion is administered.
Amaon, whose group aims to provide abortion access to women who reside in states with strict prohibitions, said Just the Pill will forge ahead no matter what the Supreme Court decides.
That could mean employing a one-pill regimen to terminate pregnancies if mifepristone is outlawed or using a mobile clinic to dispense pills in person to women who cross the border from South Dakota if FDA regulations change.
“What bothers me most is that the courts and lawyers are deciding matters of general health care instead of physicians and their patients,” she said.
A July 2022 News Watch survey of registered South Dakota voters showed that a majority (57%) of respondents support allowing legal access to abortion medications in the state, including 42% who “strongly support” such access. Nearly two-thirds (65%) said they support having a statewide referendum to determine South Dakota’s laws regarding reproductive rights.
The poll also showed that nearly 8 in 10 respondents (79%) oppose criminal penalties for anyone who helps a South Dakota resident obtain an abortion where it is legal, such as in a neighboring state. An overwhelming majority (71%) also support permitting South Dakota residents to leave the state to obtain abortions.
Medication abortion typically involves two pills. The first drug, mifepristone, works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which the body needs to continue a pregnancy. That process causes the uterine lining to stop thickening and break down, detaching the embryo. The second drug, misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and dilates the cervix, which expels the embryo.
A misoprostol-only regimen involves taking the drug with the same dosage as typically used, then taking it again three hours later, causing the uterus to contract. This process is repeated for three separate doses, three hours apart, until the pregnancy is terminated, Amaon said.
“Because you have to take it more times, the side effects are not fun,” she added. “You might feel like you have the flu, there are some fever and chills, sometimes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Other than that, it’s very safe and effective. There are no greater risk factors or complications because you’re only taking misoprostol.”
There is a slight difference in effectiveness, with 95%-98% of abortions successful with the two-drug regimen compared with 85% with misoprostol only, according to the organization’s website. The two-pill regimen is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Besides Minnesota, Just the Pill offers services in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado, which positions them to provide access to residents from eastern and western South Dakota and North Dakota.
Charging $350 per patient, the nonprofit saw about 1,300 patients overall in 2021. It increased to more than 3,000 in 2022, utilizing online pharmacies such as American Mail Order out of Michigan and Honeybee Health in California.
In the first four months of 2023, the organization served 1,135 patients, including 43 from South Dakota, 31 in Minnesota and 12 in Wyoming.
The dichotomy of Republican-dominated South Dakota and Democratic-controlled Minnesota as neighboring states during a time of increasing friction over abortion rights is a challenging one for law enforcement.
South Dakota had a “trigger law” from 2005 that took effect when Roe was overturned, making it a Class 6 felony for anyone “who administers to any pregnant female or prescribes or procures for any pregnant female” a means for an abortion, except to save the life of the mother. The crime is punishable by two years in prison, a $4,000 fine or both.
Minnesota, meanwhile, passed a law in January to strengthen abortion rights, establishing that “every individual has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about the individual’s own reproductive health.”
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley told News Watch in early February that his office is monitoring the situation of women crossing the border to obtain abortion pills and that he expects state laws to be followed. Those laws focus on the person providing abortion services, not the woman terminating her pregnancy.
Asked if someone providing telemedicine abortion services to South Dakota residents in a different state could be prosecuted, Jackley said that “if you aid and abet or you conspire or you actively participate in a criminal act, our reach can go beyond the state’s borders.”
On May 2, Jackley clarified to News Watch that his office considers it a violation of South Dakota law if abortion medications are mailed to a South Dakota address. That means Just the Pill’s practice of dispensing pills in the state where they were prescribed would not be deemed illegal under current state law.
This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a nonprofit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/health/minnesota-doctor-vows-to-keep-providing-abortion-meds-to-sd-women/article_2e511f62-edf9-11ed-8eeb-1b6f95295c30.html | 2023-05-12T19:17:02 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/health/minnesota-doctor-vows-to-keep-providing-abortion-meds-to-sd-women/article_2e511f62-edf9-11ed-8eeb-1b6f95295c30.html |
What are Saline County's top priorities for the future? What to know
- The County recognizes May as Mental Health Month in hopes of spreading awareness of available local services.
- Earlier this year, county commissioners created a vision with five key focus areas on local issues. Ongoing efforts in those areas were shared Tuesday.
- Several local entities approached the commission for budget allocation requests, which the commission will consider during the budgeting process.
Saline County is making progress on workforce initiatives and community outreach efforts as part of an overarching campaign to see a culture shift in local government.
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes provided a brief overview Tuesday of some ongoing efforts in areas the commission has identified as top priorities going forward. Those mentioned were part of a broader vision the County Commission created earlier this year.
At a study session style meeting at the end of January, the commission spelled out what it would like to work on and provide to the community during their tenure. They honed in on key focus areas that encompass more specific goals.
Earlier this year, the county commission's chair Bob Vidricksen said he noticed a shift in the culture of Saline County government and wanted to align the board's vision with the right mindset.
More:Saline County sets sights on future, eyes culture shift in local government
“I dare say that none of you probably would have been willing to step up and say something against what one of the commissioners thought, six or seven years ago,” Vidricksen said to county department heads in January. “And I feel like you all, now, feel like you can do that… that you can give us some expectations… I hope that continues.”
County continues work on Commission vision plan
Five main focus areas were developed by the county earlier this year as part of its vision for the future. These include: county workforce, communication and outreach, working relationships, physical and economic community health and service and infrastructure.
So where is the county at regarding these goals as of early May? Smith-Hanes says it is on track, but some goals could take more time than initially anticipated.
"I believe that success is what we want and if the best chance for success is extending the work time, I think I would embrace that," said Commissioner James Weese.
Here is a brief breakdown of how the county has began approaching the five focus areas it identified:
County workforce
- Evaluating incentives to attract new employees and implementing incentives. Continue to use all possible outreach efforts to communicate vacancies and keeping competitive salaries and benefits to attract the best candidates.
- Continuously re-evaluate department staffing needs, examine job requirements, and make the department and workflows more efficient.
- Consider employee safety in building and policy design.
Communication and outreach
- Enhance relationships and build trust with media partners, and develop internal processes to build confidence in County staff to engage with the media.
- Identify a tools or methods that can be used to measure the community’s perception of work completed by the Commissioners.
Working relationships
The county plans to build coalitions to address housing needs in the community by creating an inventory of existing efforts no later than July 1. The coalitions would identify gaps in those efforts and seek potential partners to address those gaps no later than Aug. 31, then convene with a group of partners by Nov. 30.
As part of the working relationship goal, the commission also said it would like to "define the commission culture" by surveying the commission.
Physical and economic community health
- Coordinating a response to the opioid crisis to gather ongoing data and a stronger understanding of the crisis in Saline County to make data-informed decisions.
- Conduct research with community stakeholders to identify potential partnerships to expand childcare options in Salina.
Service and infrastructure
- Rehabilitation of county buildings and roads
- Looking at alternate funding sources for projects
- Plan for and implement litter cleanup on county roads
Note: the items mentioned above are part of generalized goals as part of the county's vision going forward. The Salina Journal will provide updates on specific projects as they come about and progress.
Other commission notes
- Saline County proclaimed May as Mental Health Month and heard from Central Kansas Mental Health about available services.
- Four local entities came before the commission for budget allocation requests May 9. The requests were from Kansas Horse Council (requested $5,000); Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and Military Affairs Council (requested $35,000, $30,000 for workforce development, $5,000 for Military Affairs); Salina Community Economic Development Organization (requested $35,000); North Central Flint Hills Area on Aging (requested $40,837). These budget allocations will be considered by the commission during the budgeting process at future meetings.
Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc. | https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2023/05/10/saline-county-continues-work-on-vision-outlined-by-commissioners/70199547007/ | 2023-05-12T19:18:41 | 1 | https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2023/05/10/saline-county-continues-work-on-vision-outlined-by-commissioners/70199547007/ |
SEATTLE — Boeing Field, officially known as King County International Airport (KCIA), has been court-ordered to allow the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to resume deportation flights following a years-long court battle over an executive order issued in 2019.
In April 2019, King County Executive Dow Constantine issued an executive order that placed a ban on all deportation flights of immigration detainees out of KCIA, a publicly owned airport, to combat “troubling immigration practices” that “could lead to human rights abuses and violations”
ICE said in a statement that its air operations transport detained noncitizens to various ICE-managed facilities across the country or to the detainees’ country of origin in a “safe and humane” way.
In court documents, the county said it believed it needed to take action to put a stop to the deportation flights after it learned of ICE’s usage of the airport and a report from the University of Washington Center for Human Rights.
The county also stated that it felt that “if ICE flights continued and the advocacy groups changed from being advocates to being activists that [they] were very likely to see protests” and that businesses that operated out of the airport “could very well decide that this was not the airport they wanted to operate at and take their business elsewhere.”
The documents stated ICE explored using other airports in the region including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Portland International Airport, the airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and an airport in Bellingham, but that none of the airports would take ICE charter flights. Eventually, the flights resumed from a Yakima airport.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit in February 2020 to overturn King County’s executive order.
United States District Judge Robert J. Bryan ruled in March that the entire executive order should be declared invalid. He ruled the county’s executive order “discriminates against the federal government because other users of the airport are not subject to the limitations found” in the order.
ICE confirmed at least one deportation flight took place at KCIA last week. The flight last week ultimately landed in Guatemala after making stops in Arizona, Texas and Louisiana.
ICE said does not confirm or discuss future and pending flights due to security reasons.
King County said starting May 15 and the 15th of each month KCIA will release information on ICE flights from the previous month on the county’s website.
“King County remains dedicated to safeguarding the public’s right to total transparency regarding any federal actions at our airport that violate our values. We will continue our longstanding commitment to creating a welcoming community that respects the rights of all people,” Constantine said in a statement Friday. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/king-county-airport-court-order-ice-deportation-flights/281-7f9d4a9e-80ba-4c19-9663-62ef5ecb44f6 | 2023-05-12T19:22:55 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/king-county-airport-court-order-ice-deportation-flights/281-7f9d4a9e-80ba-4c19-9663-62ef5ecb44f6 |
SEATTLE — Although an Excessive Heat Advisory is looming for parts of western Washington this weekend, spray parks in Seattle will not be open to the public just yet.
Spray parks will not be opening until May 27 due to the need for filter and tank cleaning and maintenance, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) said in a Facebook post Thursday.
Once they open on May 27, spray parks will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day until Labor Day (Sep. 4). Below are all of the city's spray parks.
- Ballard Commons
- Beacon Mountain in Jefferson Park
- Georgetown Playfield
- Highland Park
- Judkins Park
- Miller Community Center/Playfield
- Northacres Park
- South Lake Union Park
- Yesler Terrace Park
- John C. Little Park
- Pratt Playground Spraypark
High temperatures for Seattle over the next five days are all above 80 degrees, with Sunday and Monday having the potential to top 90 degrees.
Spray parks aren't the only outdoor water feature that won't be open this weekend in Seattle. Pre-season beaches won't open until Memorial Day, and the city's full complement of beaches will not open until June 24.
Outdoor and wading pools also will not be open until June 24.
SPR said it is currently among the many locales dealing with a national shortage of lifeguards and is encouraging anyone interested to apply as it seeks to hire for a number of positions.
Indoor pools and boat ramps are currently open, however, so there are some ways to get in the water this weekend in Seattle.
In the south Sound, Tacoma plans to open its 10 spray grounds this weekend from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and May 15 and 16 from 1-8 p.m. The spray grounds begin daily operations on Memorial Day.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-spray-parks-not-open-this-weekend/281-b1967cb5-1095-4ba0-8091-90c04688d12b | 2023-05-12T19:22:57 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-spray-parks-not-open-this-weekend/281-b1967cb5-1095-4ba0-8091-90c04688d12b |
A South Florida jury found McDonald’s and a franchise holder at fault after a hot Chicken McNugget from a Happy Meal fell on a little girl’s leg and caused second-degree burns.
“Our sympathies go out to this family for what occurred in this unfortunate incident, as we hold customer safety as one of our highest priorities,” McDonald’s owner-operator Brent Upchurch said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed with today’s verdict because the facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal.”
Jurors heard two days of testimony and arguments about the 2019 episode that left the 4-year-old girl with a burned upper thigh.
According to the South Florida SunSentinel, Philana Holmes testified that she bought Happy Meals for her son and then-4-year-old daughter at a drive-thru window at a McDonald’s in Tamarac, near Fort Lauderdale. She handed the food to her children, who were in the back seat.
After she drove away, her daughter started screaming. The mother testified she didn’t know what was wrong until she pulled over to help the girl, Olivia Caraballo, who is now 7, the newspaper reported. She saw the burn on the girl’s leg and took photos on her iPhone, which included audio clips of the child’s screams.
A second jury will determine how much McDonald’s and Upchurch Foods, the franchise owner, will pay the child and her mother, the SunSentinel reported.
Jurors found the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food. They also found McDonald’s liable for failing to provide instructions for safe handling of the food.
While both sides agreed the nugget caused the burns, the family’s lawyers argued the temperature was above 200 degrees, while the defense said it was no more than 160 degrees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.al.com/local/2023/05/mcdonalds-liable-for-hot-chicken-mcnugget-that-fell-from-happy-meal-burned-girl.html | 2023-05-12T19:23:13 | 0 | https://www.al.com/local/2023/05/mcdonalds-liable-for-hot-chicken-mcnugget-that-fell-from-happy-meal-burned-girl.html |
TEXAS, USA — Six new state parks will be added to the State of Texas.
It is part of a plan for the next 10 to 15 years. Texas Parks and Wildlife says there is a need for more recreational opportunities to accommodate the state's growing population.
The new parks are in Houston, Fort Worth, Del Rio, Presidio and Boerne. The one in West Texas will be in the Chihuahuan Desert, specifically in the Chinati Mountains. It will be 39,000 acres and will be big enough for people to explore.
The largest volcanic eruption in the Trans-Pecos region happened here over 35 million years ago. Funding will have to happen before the contracting and construction process begins.
There is no expected opening date at this time. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/six-new-state-parks-coming-to-the-state-of-texas/513-6993fb78-7c87-45eb-95d8-1a54a7d64573 | 2023-05-12T19:27:35 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/six-new-state-parks-coming-to-the-state-of-texas/513-6993fb78-7c87-45eb-95d8-1a54a7d64573 |
BOISE — The prosecution said she was a woman searching for money, power and sex. Her attorneys said she was a mother caught in the clutches of a cult-like leader. On Friday afternoon, the jury decided who it believed when a verdict was reached after nearly seven hours of deliberation.
The jury found Lori Vallow guilty on all six charges she faced, including the murder of her two children and the conspiracy to murder her husband's ex-wife.
Vallow remained deadfaced, with no noticeable reaction as the verdict was read at the Ada County Courthouse. Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of Vallow's late son, J.J., broke down in tears as the guilty verdicts were read for the charges concerning the death of the boy.
Vallow was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of her children Tylee Ryan, 16, and J.J. Vallow, 7, and of Tammy Daybell, the late wife of her husband, Chad Daybell.
The jury found Lori Vallow guilty on six counts:
GUILTY: Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception (Tylee Ryan)
GUILTY: First-degree murder (Tylee Ryan)
GUILTY: Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception (J.J. Vallow)
GUILTY: First-degree murder (J.J. Vallow)
GUILTY: Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder (Tammy Daybell)
GUILTY: Grand theft
The trial lasted six weeks. Jurors and courthouse attendees heard from dozens of witnesses prior to the defense and prosecution resting on Tuesday. Law enforcement officers, FBI agents, forensics experts, family, friends and neighbors all took the stand in the case, as previously reported.
This story will be updated.
Sydney Kidd covers Kuna, Melba and Meridian for the Idaho Press. She is the supervising editor of the Kuna Melba News and Meridian Press. Send her an email at skidd@idahopress.com and follow her on Twitter @Syd__Kidd.
Sydney Kidd oversees and reports for the Kuna Melba News and Meridian Press weeklies, in addition to her reporting and editing duties for the Idaho Press. She is a graduate of Utah State University and holds a degree in journalism. Previously, Kidd completed internships with Boise Weekly and Deseret News. A true Boise girl, she is happy to be working for a newspaper that serves the area she grew up in. In her free time, Kidd enjoys water and snow sports, discovering new food joints with her husband and occasionally running away to the ocean. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/breaking-lori-vallow-found-guilty-on-all-charges/article_68b4a10e-f0ee-11ed-b3c7-c3eb42d87383.html | 2023-05-12T19:32:57 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/breaking-lori-vallow-found-guilty-on-all-charges/article_68b4a10e-f0ee-11ed-b3c7-c3eb42d87383.html |
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HOUSTON — A man's body was recovered Friday morning from Brays Bayou according to the Houston Police Department.
Police have not said if this is the same man who went missing after jumping into the bayou to save two kids. However, the body does match the description of the good Samaritan.
Police said a male's body was found in the bayou at about 9:15 a.m. near Texas Spur 5 near Wheeler Road. It was then recovered at 10:15 a.m. by HPD's dive team.
Miguel Calzava has been missing since Wednesday when he and another man jumped into Brays Bayou to rescue two 12-year-olds from being swept away.
Watch the full update from HOD below:
The search for Miguel Calzava
On Thursday, family, friends and church members joined in the search efforts in an area near the Texas Medical Center.
Claudia Moreno, Calzava's sister, said her brother would give anything he had to help someone in need.
"I have faith and I have hope that they find him. I feel like the chances are low that he's alive but if he isn't he died being a hero," she said.
Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, many are coming together to support the family and search for the hero who risked his life to save others.
"He could have $20 but you don’t have nothing ... he’ll give it to you. He’s the best uncle for my daughter. He’s so sweet and caring," Mareno said.
She said her family is waiting for closure.
She also said the incident serves as an important reminder to parents and children to stay away from the bayou's edge to prevent something like this from happening again. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/body-brays-bayou/285-811b87db-51fb-4156-9fb9-78c316862c91 | 2023-05-12T19:39:12 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/body-brays-bayou/285-811b87db-51fb-4156-9fb9-78c316862c91 |
Prison and deportation are the fate of confessed sex offender
An immigrant from El Salvador on Friday pleaded guilty to multiple sex charges involving children.
Seventy-eighth District Court Judge Meredith Kennedy sentenced Juan Jose Medrano to 20 years in prison on each of six criminal convictions to run concurrently.
Medrano was a permanent resident working in the U.S. when he was indicted in April 2020 on allegations of indecency with a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child in incidents that occurred between 2010 and 2018. Four underaged girls were the victims and the incidents began when some of them were as young as four and five years old.
At the sentencing, the mother of some of the girls read a victim impact statement.
"It makes me sick to my stomach," the mother said. "What you did to the girls is unforgiveable. You will finally be gone from our lives. You will be forgotten."
Medrano must serve at least 10 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Upon release he will be turned over to ICE agents for deportation. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/05/12/prison-and-deportation-are-the-fate-of-confessed-sex-offender/70212416007/ | 2023-05-12T19:39:13 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/05/12/prison-and-deportation-are-the-fate-of-confessed-sex-offender/70212416007/ |
ALLEN, Texas — Solomon Thomas arrived in Texas on Thursday, and his heart was much heavier than his last visit.
The Coppell graduate is a football star -- going from the gridiron in North Texas to Stanford University and then to being picked third overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The 27-year-old now calls New York home, playing on the defensive line for the Jets.
It's where he was when he heard about the shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets that claimed eight lives.
Thomas told WFAA on Thursday that he used to go to the outlet mall growing up. He also understands the palpable agony of suddenly losing a loved one.
In 2018, Thomas' sister Ella took her own life at the young age of 23.
"This was scary," Thomas said. "This is 20 minutes from the community where we grew up. I mean, the whole community is affected. You're disgusted, and you're scared. It's just a traumatic event, and you hate that it's happening so frequently in our country."
Shortly after GoFundMe accounts were created for the Cho and Mendoza families (combined, both lost five to the shooting), Thomas was listed as a top donor.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback and Allen graduate Kyler Murray has also donated to the Cho family.
William Cho, 6, lost his mother, father and brother and has since been released from the hospital.
Sisters Daniela and Sofia Mendoza were killed, while their mother was critically wounded and is still hospitalized.
Thomas told WFAA he doesn't want publicity for the donations. He only wants to champion mental health following the tragedy.
After his sister's suicide, Thomas and his family created the Texas foundation, The Defensive Line, to help address mental health and prevent young people of color from taking their own lives.
Thomas had to deal with the blow of losing his sister while starting in the NFL.
He said that talking things out shouldn't be suppressed at a time like this.
Whether with a loved one, friend or even a hotline.
"I think it's just so important to know the basics," Thomas said. "Understanding the numbers to call and the numbers to text is so huge. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Listening to and being there for someone is also important right now."
"It's okay not to be okay. You don't have to go from enduring a tragedy like this to being okay. It's not normal to be okay after something like this, and it's normal to feel sad, helpless, or depressed," he said.
Right now, many of us are struggling to process what happened, and it hasn't even been a week.
A mass shooting brings its hurt wherever it happens. Thomas only wonders when that hurt will stop spreading.
"We need to put an end to things like this. As a nation, we have a choice to stop this. We do. Whether we want to believe it or not. We have to put political battles aside. We have to put human lives first," Thomas said.
"We are one of the most developed and powerful countries in the world, and we have to understand that we as a people can stop this, but we have to make that choice. It's too sad, it's too tragic, and it's happening way too often," he added.
LifePath Systems shared on social media that it is offering the Collin County community free counseling after the shooting. Anyone wanting to speak to a counselor can call 972-422-5939 or go to the LifePath Systems website.
Text HOME to 741741 to reach someone at the Crisis Text Line.
“988” is the three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/solomon-thomas-nfl-defensive-lineman-coppell-grad-top-donor-allen-victims-talks-mental-health/287-7115cbf9-5841-4b3c-9f62-461183186118 | 2023-05-12T19:39:19 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/solomon-thomas-nfl-defensive-lineman-coppell-grad-top-donor-allen-victims-talks-mental-health/287-7115cbf9-5841-4b3c-9f62-461183186118 |
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police in Johns Creek are looking for a possibly armed man in the area Friday afternoon. Officers are urging the public to call emergency services if they see him.
Authorities said they are looking for Javonte Jarrett, who is pictured below, in the Rotherick Drive area.
They describe him as 6 feet tall. They also said he weighs 215 pounds.
Jarrett is wearing a purple shirt, according to the Facebook post from police.
Police have not said why they are looking for the man, but they are urging the public to call 911 if they spot him.
Lt. Deb Coble with the department posted about an hour after the initial post that more information would be made available as it comes in.
Students at Tayor Road Middle School and Chattahoochee High School are on a soft lockdown due to the search. There is no immediate danger, the schools said.
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/johns-creek-police-possibly-armed-man/85-8e1f84ae-db46-4c10-9ff4-12e429858e00 | 2023-05-12T19:40:09 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/johns-creek-police-possibly-armed-man/85-8e1f84ae-db46-4c10-9ff4-12e429858e00 |
BLOOMINGTON — Michael Bakana was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the January 2021 shooting death of a Bloomington woman.
A McLean County jury returned the verdict after about two hours of deliberation that began late Friday morning.
Bakana, 44, of Normal was accused of killing 22-year-old Mariah Petracca after an argument outside Daddios Bar in downtown Bloomington on Jan. 30, 2021.
The jury convicted him of first-degree murder in her fatal shooting; attempted murder in the shooting of Petracca's friend, Bibianna Cornejo, who survived with permanent nerve damage and multiple bullet wounds; as well as aggravated battery with a firearm.
Bakana remains missing after authorities said he cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet Monday just as he was due in court. He has not appeared in court since his final pretrial hearing on May 4. A no-bond warrant for his arrest was issued Monday.
Despite his absence, Bakana’s trial proceeded with testimony and evidence presented in less than two days.
A video recording was played several times during the trial, as the entire incident was captured by a Bloomington Police Department public safety camera.
The video shows Bakana and the two women arguing. Attorneys on both sides said the disagreement began after one of the women cut in line to get into Daddios Bar, 527 N. Main St. in Bloomington, after she realized she had left her phone and wallet inside when she was kicked out for dancing on a stage.
In the video, Bakana is seen walking across the street and away from the bar during the argument. He leaves the view of the camera and within one minute, he is seen walking back to the women and continuing to argue down the street as they walk away.
Petracca is seen shoving Bakana into the wall outside the bar. Both women turn and walk away. It then appears that the defendant reacts by pulling a gun from his back waistband and firing multiple shots at the women.
Ten shots were fired. One shot missed; four struck Petracca — three of those in her back. The other shots hit Cornejo, including two after she was already on the ground.
Bakana’s attorney Clyde Guilamo argued Bakana acted in self-defense, noting a bruise that formed on Bakana’s face after he hit the wall. Calling attention to the insults thrown at Bakana during the argument, Guilamo said the women initiated the violence, saying that Cornejo spit on him and smacked Bakana’s phone out of his hand.
In a rebuttal to closing arguments, Assistant State’s Attorney David Fitt said the self-defense claim “breaks down when he chose to act, when he follows them.”
“Never once was he even close to being threatened with imminent danger of death or great bodily harm,” Fitt said. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mclean-county-jury-convicts-absent-defendant-michael-bakana-in-murder-trial/article_5578c5b8-f0f6-11ed-b89e-df58851c80ef.html | 2023-05-12T19:48:55 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mclean-county-jury-convicts-absent-defendant-michael-bakana-in-murder-trial/article_5578c5b8-f0f6-11ed-b89e-df58851c80ef.html |
PLEASANT PRAIRIE – A 43-year-old Illinois man was charged Wednesday with numerous criminal offenses after he allegedly led police on a high-speed pursuit that ended in a single-vehicle crash over a median in the 10800 block of Green Bay Road.
Steven A. Jewell of Round Lake Heights was arrested at 3:48 p.m. Tuesday by Pleasant Prairie police for the incident that started at Green Bay Road and Highway 50.
Dutter
Jewell was charged with felonies of operating a vehicle to flee or elude an officer, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, false imprisonment, possession with intent to deliver 15 to 40 grams of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine in Kenosha County Circuit Court.
He faces decades in prison if convicted.
Criminal complaint
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Around 3:43 p.m. a Pleasant Prairie officer was notified that the Lake County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois was pursuing a vehicle headed north into Wisconsin with a wanted individual inside.
The vehicle was identified as a red Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Pleasant Prairie officer saw it traveling east on Highway 50 past 88th Ave.
The driver of the vehicle fled, according to the criminal complaint, and reached speeds over 100 mph before crashing into over a median.
No major injuries resulted from the crash. The operator was identified as Jewell.
Both Jewell and a female passenger were taken to a local hospital where they were evaluated before being taken to the Kenosha County Jail, according to Sgt. Zachary Dutter.
During the incident, police officers deployed “stop sticks” in an attempt to slow the vehicle, but were unsuccessful.
“In the process of them trying to miss the stop sticks, which they did miss them … they went over the median and popped their own tires,” Dutter said. “So, it worked out the same.”
Dutter said the vehicle nearly struck a police squad car at the start of the incident.
Toward the end of the pursuit, the suspect vehicle traveled into oncoming traffic nearly striking several cars while “going the wrong way,” Dutter said. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/illinois-man-charged-after-crashing-over-median-on-green-bay-road/article_5f16ef54-eeef-11ed-a9bc-17fb0aa52d88.html | 2023-05-12T19:49:18 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/illinois-man-charged-after-crashing-over-median-on-green-bay-road/article_5f16ef54-eeef-11ed-a9bc-17fb0aa52d88.html |
WATERLOO — The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley has announced the following needs of local organizations:
The Walnut Neighborhood Association is hosting a Neighborhood Night Out and need people to help serve guests food. My Waterloo Days needs multiple volunteers to help with many events. The Furry 5K put on by the Cedar Bend Humane Society needs volunteers at the watering stations and giveaway booth. The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help with their music education program through their youth center. Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 883-3015 or information@vccv.org or go online to vccv.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley.
Photos: 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients at award ceremony
COURIER CELEBRATES CEDAR VALLEY'S TOP NURSES
The 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients, front row from left, Carol Ratchford, Jake Powers, Allie Boyle, Christiara Deese, Amanda Vervaecke; back row, Tina Styron, Salem Fauser, Sarah Kutz, Danette Christensen and Andrea Burgart at the awards banquet ednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls. The Courier celebrated the Cedar Valley’s Top Nurses for the fifth consecutive year. Sponsors for the event included NewAldaya Lifescapes, Western Home Communities, MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, Cedar Valley Hospice and the Courier Media Group. See more photos at wcfcourier.com .
CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 2
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Allie Boyle of MercyOne-Waterloo Medical Center, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 3
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Andrea Burgart of Cedar Valley Hospice and Reader’s Choice winner, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, left, and Sheila Kerns, right, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 4
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Danette Christensen of Harmony Waterloo, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 5
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Christiara Deese of Care Initiatives Inc., center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 6
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Salem Fauser of Black Hawk County Health Department, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 7
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Sarah Kutz of UnityPoint-Allen Hospital, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 8
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Jake Powers of MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 9
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Carol Ratchford of MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 10
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Tina Styron of UnityPoint-Allen Hospital, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Nurses 11
Cedar Valley top nurse recipient Amanda Vervaecke of UnityPoint Wound Clinic, center, with Courier Media's Doug Hines, right, and Sheila Kerns, left, at the awards banquet on Wednesday at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-valley-organizations-seek-volunteers/article_493dea26-dabc-54d0-bfa3-ae29a4127bcc.html | 2023-05-12T19:53:02 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-valley-organizations-seek-volunteers/article_493dea26-dabc-54d0-bfa3-ae29a4127bcc.html |
Enemy aliens on Delmarva: How World War II stoked FBI raids and fears
The weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that vaulted the United States into World War II were dark days on the Delaware coast.
On Feb. 2, 1942, the American tanker W. L. Steed was torpedoed about 100 miles off the coast. Two days later, the freighter San Gil and the tanker Indian Arrow met similar fates. On Feb. 28, the destroyer Jacob Jones carried over 100 American sailors to their death when the navy warship was hit by two German torpedoes, and it sank in less than an hour.
Over two decades earlier, during World War I, the fact that the United States had a large population of newly arrived immigrants from opposite sides of the warring powers was one reason President Woodrow Wilson attempted to keep the United States neutral. Eventually, however, German unrestricted submarine attacks convinced America to enter the conflict.
After Germany attacked Poland in 1939 and initiated World War II, the United States again attempted to remain neutral. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, that all changed. President Franklin Roosevelt and the vast majority of the American people felt that they had no choice but to enter the war.
As military and civilian authorities scrambled to tighten coastal defenses against a covert enemy attack, a new threat emerged. Although immigration into the United States was curtailed after World War I, there were still a number of German and Italian citizens living in the United States. These “enemy aliens” were required to register with the government and obtain a certificate of identification.
Most of these enemy aliens had done nothing wrong, but some government officials questioned their loyalty to the United States.
During the third week of March 1942, the FBI, assisted by state and local police, made a series of nationwide raids on aliens living in the United States who were suspected of being enemy agents.
During a two-day sweep, homes in nearly two dozen towns on Delmarva Peninsula were searched, and E. A. Soucy, special agent of the Baltimore FBI office, announced the arrest of two enemy aliens. In addition, the FBI confiscated a number of firearms and Nazi materials.
Soucy declined to name the towns, but the newspaper reported that, “some [towns] apparently were close to Delaware and Chesapeake bays and the Atlantic Ocean, near the area where submarines have sunk Allied ships." Soucy said one man was arrested on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and the other in Delaware.
It was further reported that the FBI seized “over 400 rounds of ammunition, numerous rifles and shot guns, short-wave radios, cameras and miscellaneous items such as photographic developing equipment, an ammunition belt, a blackjack, swastika flags and pennants, and a swastika armband.”
Other FBI raids were conducted in and round Dover, Milford and Smyrna and in several towns in Sussex County.
On March 20, 1942, the Milford Chronicle reported, “FBI agents intimated records of all enemy aliens are being closely examined to see if they have complied with the regulations, particularly securing their certificate of identification as required under the wartime regulations.”
Six months after the war began, the convoy system, aerial surveillance of the Atlantic shipping lanes and other measures helped abate the submarine attacks along the Delaware coast. With the immediate threat of an attack on Delaware communities gone, the fear that enemy aliens living on the Delmarva Peninsula were a threat to the security of the United States subsided.
Principal sources
Homer H. Hickan Jr., Torpedo Junction, New York, Dell Publishing, 1989, pp. 34-39.
Smyrna Times, Dec. 18, 1941; March 19, 1942
Milford Chronicle, March 20, 1942 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2023/05/12/enemy-aliens-on-delmarva-how-world-war-ii-stoked-fbi-raids-and-fears/70199392007/ | 2023-05-12T20:03:50 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2023/05/12/enemy-aliens-on-delmarva-how-world-war-ii-stoked-fbi-raids-and-fears/70199392007/ |
Want a cameo in music video at Seacrets? Jimmy Charles wants you to be a part of it
Rising country-rock recording artist Jimmy Charles is headed home to Ocean City, Maryland, to film a music video for his newest hit song, "To Beach Their Own," and he wants you to be a part of it.
Here's everything you need to know about joining in on the fun.
Where, when and what to wear
Residents and tourists alike are welcome to join Charles at Seacrets, located at 117 49th St., on May 18 from 5-8 p.m. to make a special cameo in the singer's music video for his new song. Please keep in mind, all participants must be 21 years or older. By entering Seacrets, each individual is agreeing to be shown in the video.
Charles is asking participants to wear bright colors, and bathing suits and fun costumes are encouraged. The video shoot will take place at Seacret's newly renovated beach stage area, which will be celebrating an official opening on May 19.
"Most of the music video was filmed in the Virgin Islands, but I wanted it to have some hometown flavor and Seacrets was the perfect spot," Charles said.
The message behind the song
“To Beach Their Own,” written by Charles along with Bill DiLuigi and Pete Sallis, is now streaming on all music platforms. The release date of the music video will be announced soon, and Charles is hopeful for yet another CMT.com debut when it does.
“I’m so tired of hearing everyone argue over senseless stuff. Social media is a petri dish, feeding ground for anger, hate and stupidity," Charles said. "I’m hoping this song can battle some of that with a message of, “Whatever Flips your Flip Flop" and “You do you buddy I’ll do me, it’s a salt & lime philosophy."
COUNTRY MUSIC:'Dock Jam' to bring big country music stars to Pocomoke's Dockside. Find out all about it.
"The song just puts a smile on my face every time I hear it and instantly gets me in a great mood and ready to hit the beach. I’m hoping it does that for everyone who listens," Charles added. "Crank it up!"
"To Beach Their Own" can be streamed here now.
Who is Jimmy Charles?
Jimmy Charles released his hit single It’s A Maryland Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand, which highlights all the great things about our state, last summer as a tribute to the Free State.
After that release, Charles performed the song at a Baltimore Orioles game, Baltimore Ravens preseason game and a University of Maryland women’s basketball game, among other events and venues. He released another hit single, "Fish On," that he wrote as the official song for Ocean City's White Marlin Open last August.
While the Ocean City native found early success in 2014 with his first single, "Whatever It Takes," which was picked up nationally by iHeart radio, it was the power of "Superman," released in 2015, that solidified his place in the industry spotlight.
Written for the nonprofit ZERO Prostate Cancer to promote awareness with bandmate Goose Gossett and cancer survivor/mentor Phil Shulka, the song’s companion video premiered on CMT, trending in the No. 1 spot for more than a week.
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Charles’ music video release for "Hard Way To Go" premiered with CMT and climbed to No. 1 on The Country Network. The video was paired with an outreach program with National partners American Addiction Centers, Vertava Health and other addiction awareness nonprofits to help reach those battling addiction.
In addition to the ISSA Male Entertainer of the Year award he received in Atlanta last August, Charles had previously earned the Nashville Industry Music Awards' “Male Country Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” for "Never Had a Bad Day."
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/05/12/country-singer-jimmy-charles-wants-you-in-his-music-video-at-seacrets/70200952007/ | 2023-05-12T20:03:56 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/05/12/country-singer-jimmy-charles-wants-you-in-his-music-video-at-seacrets/70200952007/ |
White Marlin Open to mark 50th anniversary with huge purse, new category: What we know
The White Marlin Open is an annual staple of the fishing community, and this year's iteration marks a milestone moment for the Ocean City competition that has become the World's Largest Billfish Tournament.
The 2023 White Marlin Open will celebrate the tournament's 50th anniversary. And in a news release, White Marlin Open announced that they expect the purse for this year's tournament to surpass $10 million.
“It’s remarkable to reflect on 50 years of tournaments, especially back to our first event held in 1974. We drew 57 boats, and 150 anglers, and paid $20,000 in prize money,” White Marlin Open founder Jim Motsko said in the release. “Fast-forward to today and we continue to stay true to our mission of world-class fishing, with our added entry categories more than doubling that initial payout in 1974. Last year, we drew 408 boats, over 3,500 contestants, and awarded over $8.6 million in prize money, including the top individual prize of $4.53 million – a new world record award for the catch of a fish!”
The tournament also announced that there would be a new "Anniversary Level" category added to the competition to honor the special year. The category will be a $50,000, winner take all entry category added to the millions of dollars that are at stake for the heaviest white marlin.
The 2023 White Marlin Open is set to take place from August 7-11.
More:Spring playoff brackets: Bayside South softball, baseball and lacrosse begin title runs
More:Parkside baseball brings home Bayside title with thrilling win: PHOTOS | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/12/ocean-citys-white-marlin-open-readying-for-big-50th-anniversary-event/70207829007/ | 2023-05-12T20:04:02 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/12/ocean-citys-white-marlin-open-readying-for-big-50th-anniversary-event/70207829007/ |
ROUND ROCK, Texas — The Greenwood High School BBQ team came in third place overall at the Texas HS BBQ State Championship in Round Rock.
The team known as the Smokin' Rangers was the highest placed team out of West Texas. Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy and Ben Barber Innovation Academy were the only two schools to finish ahead of Greenwood in first and second place, respectively.
In terms of the individual dishes served during the competition, the team had two top five finishes. The Rangers came in third place for their ribs and fifth place for chicken.
For more information about the results and competition, people can visit the Texas HS BBQ website. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/greenwood-hs-bbq-team-places-third-overall-at-texas-hs-bbq-state-championship/513-095a31c0-29de-4449-b4ad-2002eb24dfa1 | 2023-05-12T20:08:28 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/greenwood-hs-bbq-team-places-third-overall-at-texas-hs-bbq-state-championship/513-095a31c0-29de-4449-b4ad-2002eb24dfa1 |
GARDENDALE, Texas — A high speed chase in Gardendale resulted in the death of a suspect wanted for Sexual Assault with a Child.
According to the Ector County Sheriff's Office, the chase occurred a little after Midnight on May 12. The chase ended around Marigold Street in Gardendale.
The suspect ran out of his car and fled on foot before committing suicide with a handgun. No other injuries were reported during the incident.
Texas DPS assisted with the pursuit, and the name of the deceased suspect will not be released at this time. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/high-speed-chase-ends-in-gardendale/513-00d0ab4f-dbe7-41e8-819e-ef6349001e0e | 2023-05-12T20:08:35 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/high-speed-chase-ends-in-gardendale/513-00d0ab4f-dbe7-41e8-819e-ef6349001e0e |
MIDLAND, Texas — Midland Health held their Professional Excellence Awards on May 11.
These awards honored those for their hard work and going above and beyond in their jobs.
"It's a great honor," said Nurse Navigator Jennifer Dumire. "I just do what I do. It's a calling. To be honored for it is really incredible. I have a strong faith as it was said in the nomination. So, I have always looked for my purpose, my calling, and I feel like this is it."
Dumire told NewsWest 9 that her experience of having a 34-year-old disabled child prepped her for the position she is currently in. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/midland-health-holds-professional-excellence-awards-ceremony/513-24c0b1ff-8eab-459e-993c-4dedd619b11a | 2023-05-12T20:08:41 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/midland-health-holds-professional-excellence-awards-ceremony/513-24c0b1ff-8eab-459e-993c-4dedd619b11a |
BREWSTER COUNTY, Texas — One person has been killed in a fatal crash in Brewster County on May 10.
75-year-old John Bainbridge Ryan of Terlingua was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger in Ryan's vehicle is currently at Medical Center Hospital in serious condition, while the driver in the other vehicle involved is also at MCH in stable condition.
The initial investigation revealed that Ryan was traveling southbound on SH 118 in a curve when it entered the northbound lane for an unknown reason and hit the second vehicle that was traveling northbound.
The circumstances of this crash are still under investigation at this time. We will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-in-fatal-crash-in-brewster-county/513-fd8bb2ca-26fa-4bf3-8441-08149bed5d94 | 2023-05-12T20:08:47 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-in-fatal-crash-in-brewster-county/513-fd8bb2ca-26fa-4bf3-8441-08149bed5d94 |
DAWSON COUNTY, Texas — One person has been killed in a fatal crash in Dawson County on May 11.
34-year-old Nicholas Gilchrest of Lamesa was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation revealed that Gilchrest was traveling southbound on US Highway 87 in the left lane. Gilchrest went through standing water on the roadway, which started a side skid before rolling over into the median.
Gilchrest was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. We will continue to update this story as we receive more information. The investigation is still ongoing. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-in-fatal-crash-in-dawson-county/513-9969be75-1d64-477c-9147-95e0b5c1ed5d | 2023-05-12T20:08:54 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-in-fatal-crash-in-dawson-county/513-9969be75-1d64-477c-9147-95e0b5c1ed5d |
ODESSA, Texas — If anyone recognizes the male subject shown in the surveillance photos, they’re asked to contact Detective H. Hughes at 432-335-3345 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS and reference Case #23-9000342.
OPD asks for the public's help in finding subject
If you recognize this man, contact Detective H. Hughes at 432-335-3345 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/opd-asks-for-the-publics-help-in-finding-subject/513-ca3c5f9f-dc02-4249-9da6-1d1919864645 | 2023-05-12T20:09:00 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/opd-asks-for-the-publics-help-in-finding-subject/513-ca3c5f9f-dc02-4249-9da6-1d1919864645 |
ODESSA, Texas — The Odessa Police Department has made an arrest in connection to a shooting that occurred at 222 North Dixie.
24-year-old Salatiel Valenzuela of Odessa has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
On May 11, 2023, OPD responded to a call about shots fired around 6:58 p.m. Officers were notified that a gunshot victim was still on the scene. Upon arrival, they found 22-year-old Adrian Aragon on the ground of his apartment. He was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Aragon was immediately transported to MCH. He is currently being treated with life threatening injuries. Based on facts found out during the investigation, OPD was able to take Valenzuela into custody.
Valenzuela was transported to the Ector County Law Enforcement Center without incident. The investigation is still ongoing.
We will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/opd-makes-arrest-in-connection-to-shooting-at-north-dixie/513-8449928f-865d-4642-9e9b-cffe29362d29 | 2023-05-12T20:09:06 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/opd-makes-arrest-in-connection-to-shooting-at-north-dixie/513-8449928f-865d-4642-9e9b-cffe29362d29 |
TEXAS, USA — Six new state parks will be added to the State of Texas.
It is part of a plan for the next 10 to 15 years. Texas Parks and Wildlife says there is a need for more recreational opportunities to accommodate the state's growing population.
The new parks are in Houston, Fort Worth, Del Rio, Presidio and Boerne. The one in West Texas will be in the Chihuahuan Desert, specifically in the Chinati Mountains. It will be 39,000 acres and will be big enough for people to explore.
The largest volcanic eruption in the Trans-Pecos region happened here over 35 million years ago. Funding will have to happen before the contracting and construction process begins.
There is no expected opening date at this time. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/six-new-state-parks-coming-to-the-state-of-texas/513-6993fb78-7c87-45eb-95d8-1a54a7d64573 | 2023-05-12T20:09:12 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/six-new-state-parks-coming-to-the-state-of-texas/513-6993fb78-7c87-45eb-95d8-1a54a7d64573 |
TEXAS, USA — West Texas F.C. went out to Market Street's in Midland and Odessa for meet and greet events with some fans.
This allowed fans a chance to meet the players before the upcoming season.
"I think one of the great things about the team, the community is we're all from different places and we all kind of merge together, we live together and immerse ourselves in the culture especially here in West Texas," said the Goalie for WTX FC Freddie Lapworth. "I think we're all excited to experience everything in West Texas...the food, the weather, the atmosphere, and the community that's here."
The team will be dropping by Tall City Brewing Company on May 12 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. before they kick off the season on May 13. The first home game is slated for next Thursday, May 18, at Astound Broadband Stadium. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/west-texas-fc-soccer-holds-meet-and-greet-event/513-9185c98a-524f-4392-a1de-b9522d2044a8 | 2023-05-12T20:09:18 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/west-texas-fc-soccer-holds-meet-and-greet-event/513-9185c98a-524f-4392-a1de-b9522d2044a8 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Hot weather in the forecast this weekend has prompted Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue to issue a temporary outdoor burn ban for parts of multiple counties around the Portland metro area.
The burn ban started at noon on Friday, May 12 and impacts some areas in the following counties: Washington County, Clackamas County, Yamhill County and Multnomah County.
TVF&R anticipates the burn ban to be short-term, but didn't specify when it would be lifted. The agency said the burn ban will remain in place until weather patterns chance and there's no longer a high fire risk.
The burn ban prohibits people from backyard or open burning including burning branches and other yard debris. It also means people are barred from agricultural burning, such as crops and field burning, and debris or controlled burning.
People can still use barbeque grills, smokers and other cooking appliances. The burn ban also doesn't prohibit small recreational fires including portable or permanent fire pits and camp fires.
Weekend heat advisory
The Willamette Valley and Southwest Washington will be under a heat advisory from Saturday afternoon through Sunday. The highest temperatures in the valley are forecasted to be in the low to mid 90s.
The heat advisory also includes the Oregon coast, where highs are expected to be in the 70s and 80s. As of Friday morning, the Columbia River Gorge is not under an advisory.
Staying cool
Many people will be looking for ways to keep cool in the heat. Splash pads in parks are not currently open, but Portland Parks and Recreation has turned on some interactive fountains throughout the city.
In Washington, the city of Vancouver has turned on water features in Esther Short Park and Vancouver Waterfront Park.
City libraries, community centers, malls and other public spaces with air conditioning are popular places for people to go to escape the heat. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/hot-weather-temporary-burn-ban-oregon-counties/283-42f879eb-3e57-4935-8ab8-6707605fb15d | 2023-05-12T20:11:43 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/hot-weather-temporary-burn-ban-oregon-counties/283-42f879eb-3e57-4935-8ab8-6707605fb15d |
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Spanish version: Para español haga click aqui.
The Chaffee Crossing Farmers and Artisan's Market (CCFAM) is kicking off its 2023 season with a Hispanic Fiesta on May 13.
The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chaffee Crossing Historic District located at 7300 Ellis Street.
CCFAM says this is its first-ever Hispanic Fiesta and there will be farm and artisan vendors, food trucks, live music, activities and more.
"Our first-ever Hispanic Fiesta will celebrate the heritage of all Spanish-speaking people with native Hispanic foods, drinks, and treats, along with an assortment of games and live Spanish music performed by local artists in addition to our wide variety of farmers and artisans," said CCFAM.
There will also be animals available for adoption from Animal Haven.
CCFAM is still looking for volunteers to help set up and take down for the day of the event. If you are interested in helping out, you can register by clicking here.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/chaffee-crossing-hosts-hispanic-fiesta-fort-smith-farmers-market/527-79e64a40-0fc1-4877-8fc5-86658cc2ddb8 | 2023-05-12T20:13:11 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/chaffee-crossing-hosts-hispanic-fiesta-fort-smith-farmers-market/527-79e64a40-0fc1-4877-8fc5-86658cc2ddb8 |
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — The City of Clarksville is planning on having a hydrogen power plant facility built with goals to start production in 2025.
On May 12, Clarksville released the city's agreement with Syntex Industries, the company in charge of designing and constructing the plant, calling it the state's first "hydrogen hub."
The facility is expected to generate "over 500 megawatts of emission-free electricity" along with over 100 full-time positions by the time it's projected completion in 2026.
Clarksville says limited power production will begin in 2025.
"Syntex has been working with Clarksville to develop methods to store excess renewable energy and regenerate it on demand. Recent technical developments and federal tax incentives have opened the door at last," said Clarksville Mayor David Rieder.
“This project offers the infrastructure to support our growing economy and bring new high-paying ‘ecodustrial’ jobs to the area," Rieder said.
The mayor went on to say that the new facility will be developed as a "hydrogen power grid" as a solution for clean energy fuel for transportation within the city.
"It will be the catalyst for a major energy transition and economic transformation in this part of the state as well as the overall economy. We're honored and delighted to be working in and with the City of Clarksville!" the Managing Director and CEO of Syntex Industries Tom Waggoner said.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/clarksville-syntex-build-hydrogen-power-plant/527-67aae833-017a-4fa3-a17e-84a3df7047b3 | 2023-05-12T20:13:18 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/clarksville-syntex-build-hydrogen-power-plant/527-67aae833-017a-4fa3-a17e-84a3df7047b3 |
VAN BUREN, Ark. — Spanish version: Para español haga click aqui.
Tyson Foods Van Buren plant announced the plant closure in March and on May 11, it shut down production a day early.
The plant closure left nearly a thousand people without jobs. The situation led to several protests over the past couple of months at the Van Buren plant and company headquarters in Springdale. We spoke with plant employee Juan Barron who said he worked there for more than 20 years and says it was a melancholic day.
"You feel sad because this was like home, like your second home and this is where at least I thought I was going to retire and not work anymore but unfortunately this happened and that's just life," said Barron.
Tyson employees say they worked on the leftover inventory and had a potluck dinner on the final day.
"We had some food for everyone and took pictures, and said goodbye to all the workers. The co-workers got organized so that each one brought a plate of food and after that, they visited the supervisors and took pictures with them," Barron said.
Another employee Maria Ruvalcaba said, "Today was my last day of work, well it was very nice... Food was brought, everyone pitched in something to share... but at the same time, bittersweet because it was our last day. We were supposed to work tomorrow but they told us it was until today. But we were very happy, all together, some of us crying."
In light of the Van Buren plant closing, companies in the area have hosted job fairs to help those losing their job, but many say it hasn't been beneficial for all employees.
Ruvalcaba explained, "When they said they were closing the first day it was announced, we all thought, 'What's going on?' That day we were just told Tyson decided to close."
Ruvalcaba went on to say that although other companies were offering opportunities for jobs an hour and a half away, some employees didn't want to uproot their lives after making a home in Van Buren.
"There were some people who... moved immediately to a different place because they told us, 'You can look, we'll bring some other companies to accommodate you,' they did do that, but it was difficult because they were too far away."
Since May 11 was the final day, many employees have plans to take time off, file for unemployment, and rest for a few weeks and then they plan to look for jobs in the area.
5NEWS did reach out to Tyson’s corporate office in Springdale to ask about Thursday's apparent closure.
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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/tyson-foods-plant-shuts-down-day-early/527-bbaed60d-44f3-4546-be46-af8e3be15041 | 2023-05-12T20:13:31 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/tyson-foods-plant-shuts-down-day-early/527-bbaed60d-44f3-4546-be46-af8e3be15041 |
How do I know which evacuation shelter I can go to during Arizona wildfires?
In a wildfire, emergency shelters are often set up as areas are evacuated.
Here's how to find the shelter for your situation:
Sign up for county emergency alert systems
County emergency management systems also offer electronic alerts after residents register their information.
- Coconino County's system welcomes residents to sign up their cell phone, email or home phone for alerts.
- Residents of Maricopa County can opt to receive voicemail and text alerts via Community Emergency Notification System by enrolling their cell phone or Voice over Internet Protocol phone. Landline phones are automatically registered and receive recorded messages.
- Pima County has a mass notification system that pushes emergency messages to electronic devices upon users registering their information.
Some other Arizona counties have emergency notification systems where residents can register their contact information to receive alerts:
Resources for Arizonans
The Arizona Department of Homeland Security's website urges residents to immediately evacuate if so instructed by government officials as these orders mean public safety is seriously threatened.
There is a statewide resource for all other counties: The Arizona Emergency Information Network publishes alerts on their website and Twitter feed.
National resources to find an emergency shelter
These are some reliable resources to find a shelter near you:
- Downloadable through Google Play and the App Store, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has an app that helps users locate a nearby shelter.
- Residents can also search for open shelters by texting “SHELTER” and their zip code to 43362, according to the ready.gov website.
- Call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).
- Download the American Red Cross app on the App Store or on Google Play.
Additionally, on disasterassistance.gov, visitors will be automatically prompted to a search engine asking the user to enter either city, state or zip code to see if there is a disaster in the area to receive assistance. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/arizona-wildfires-evacuation-shelters/70132640007/ | 2023-05-12T20:14:58 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/arizona-wildfires-evacuation-shelters/70132640007/ |
Here's how to help people affected by Arizona wildfires
There are multiple opportunities to volunteer at a disaster shelter, including during a wildfire.
In many instances, county emergency and federal agencies will let people know where to volunteer or donate, but here are some others places you can check, too.
How to donate goods to those affected by wildfires
Those interested in volunteering time or goods may email FEMA's donations unit.
Don't just show up at disaster areas, work with a nonprofit
FEMA discourages individuals from self-deploying to disaster areas.
“Depending on the disaster and the current phase it is in, volunteers can be extremely helpful to ensure survivors can return to their new normal. By working with an established nonprofit organization, the appropriate safety, training and skills can be considered,” FEMA states on its website.
How to volunteer your time after disasters
The Arizona Department of Homeland Security website lists a few opportunities for volunteering after a disaster.
The American Red Cross has different disaster volunteer positions available to browse on their site along with an application portal. Once a prospective volunteer applies, a Red Cross team member will reach out to determine what role is the best match for each person.
"After your initial training, your shifts will include responding to emergencies within 2 hours, night or day, rain or shine, either on the scene or coordinating remotely to provide immediate compassion and care," the Red Cross website said of expectations for disaster volunteers.
Where can I volunteer as a medical professional?
Health care workers and professional may register online to volunteer through the Arizona Department of Health Services. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/arizona-wildfires-how-to-donate-help/70132566007/ | 2023-05-12T20:15:04 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/arizona-wildfires-how-to-donate-help/70132566007/ |
Take these steps to prepare your home and property for Arizona wildfire season
With wildfire season on Arizona's doorstep, it is a good time for Arizona residents to begin preparing their homes and properties to reduce wildfire risk.
Generally, remember to remove potential fuel sources, reduce the ability for your landscaping to contribute to fire, replace anything that is not fire season appropriate and relocate any items that are combustible.
Here's a checklist of items to complete before wildfire season.
Prepare your home's outdoor areas
Clean out dead vegetation from your property. The U.S. Forest Service Coronado Forest recommends cleaning pine needles, dead leaves and anything else flammable from roofs, gutters, decks, porches, patios and fence lines.
Make sure your plants don't become wildfire fuel. Trim back shrubs and any plants that are within five feet of the house. Flowerbeds should be at least five feet from the house, according to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Don't forget about flower boxes. Remove flower boxes from beneath windows.
Trim your trees. The National Fire Protection Association recommends pruning branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet, depending on the height of the tree, as well as removing plants that contain resins, oils and waxes.
Water your plants before evacuating. Rake out landscaping mulch to at least five feet from the house, and water lawns and plants before evacuating.
Seal any vents or little openings
Seal your vents. If a wildfire is nearby, seal or screen any openings such as vents, as embers spread by the wind can be enter the home through little openings.
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension recommends covering all exterior vents with 1/8-inch corrosion-resistant wire mesh.
Check your roof. The National Fire Protection Association also recommends replacing or repairing loose or missing roof tiles to prevent wind-born embers from entering the home.
Also, fill gaps in siding with caulk, making sure to include a six-inch separation between the ground and the start of the siding.
Wildfires are a part of life in Arizona:Here's how towns are preparing
Be careful what materials are stored near the home
Keep fuel sources away from your home. Remove anything flammable and store it more than 30 feet from the home. This includes propane tanks, BBQ grills and patio furniture.
Don't forget your outdoor living areas. Avoid storing flammable materials on or under decks or porches. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/arizona-wildfires-your-guide-to-preparing-home-property/70140358007/ | 2023-05-12T20:15:10 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/arizona-wildfires-your-guide-to-preparing-home-property/70140358007/ |
How do wildfires affect Arizona air quality? What to know to stay safe
Wildfire smoke contains a lot of toxic pollutants that can cause many issues for those close to the areas affected.
How does wildfire smoke contribute to bad air quality?
JoAnna Strother, Phoenix-based regional senior director of advocacy at the American Lung Association, said smoke can travel in the air hundreds of thousands of miles. The way smoke travels depends on wind pattern and whether there's rain or cloud cover, Strother said.
"Even if the wildfire might be in Nevada, California, it can still impact us here in Arizona," Strother said.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) meteorologist Matthew Pace said smoke in the day and smoke at night move differently, as well. In the Arizona daytime, Pace explained, light-to-moderate smoke moves towards the northeast. The biggest concern looms at night, as fire smoke drops to the ground due to cooler temperatures, Pace noted.
Wild fire "smoke is particulate matter that's 2.5 microns and smaller, so essentially 20 times smaller than the human hair," Pace said. "Those, obviously, when you're breathing them, they can go further down into your lungs."
Is wildfire smoke bad to breathe?
The Arizona Department of Health Services states small particles in the wildfire smoke cause:
- Burning eyes.
- Runny nose.
- Scratchy throat.
- Headaches.
- Illness such as bronchitis.
The state’s Health Services Department also warns wildfire smoke worsens these preexisting conditions:
- Heart disease.
- Lung disease.
- Asthma.
- Emphysema.
- COPD.
Children and the elderly are also at risk.
How can I check air quality?
The Arizona Department of Enviornmental Quality lists three levels of precaution to follow:
- Level one: Stay smoke aware (no smoke to haze to light smoke to smoke in the vicinity).
- Level two: Minimize outdoor activities (smoke in the vicinity to patchy smoke to widespread moderate smoke).
- Level three: Stay inside (heavy to dense smoke).
The environment quality department also has hourly updated air quality reports for different Arizona cities:
The department’s website features forecasts on wildfire smoke when air quality could be impacted. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/how-wildfires-affect-arizona-air-quality/70110033007/ | 2023-05-12T20:15:16 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/how-wildfires-affect-arizona-air-quality/70110033007/ |
Do wildfire seasons still exist? What we know about Arizona's new year-round fire season
Across the West, fires are burning for 100 more days than they used to five decades ago. Conditions that would seldom allow a fire to spread now do, and most fire managers and researchers resist saying there is a wildfire season in Arizona.
“There used to be one,” said Donald Falk, a researcher at the University of Arizona who specializes in fire history and ecology, ecosystem resilience and restoration.
“Now it's approaching a 12-month fire season.”
Wildfires in Arizona were once expected from late April into the monsoon season. Now fires can start from late February or early March into September, Falk said.
The U.S. Forest Service and many other agencies are shifting to the concept of “fire years.”
“We really don't say we have a ‘fire season’ because we can have activity throughout the state year-round,” said Tiffany Davila, spokesperson for Arizona’s Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
“We can see fire activity increase during the end of April, beginning of May.”
Larger incidents, more erratic and aggressive fires, tend to peak when there’s a combination of hot air and windy conditions, and ease when Arizona is well into the monsoon.
Fires start earlier in southern Arizona and later in the north; each ecosystem has its own, unique relation to fires.
In ponderosa pine ecosystems, low-intensity fires historically moved across the landscape through large portions of the year, said Rogers Trueheart Brown, deputy fire staff for the Coconino National Forest. That ecosystem “evolved with fire” because of frequent lightning events.
Three main factors affect fire seasonality:
- Decades of fire suppression — not letting forests burn naturally — cause timber, grass and brush to accumulate and cause more intense fires.
- Where most fires were once started by lightning, they are now largely started by people. More humans in wild places mean both more chances of fire and higher stakes while fighting them.
- Multiyear droughts and more extreme weather events due to climate change are driving longer, more damaging fires.
“We talk fire all year round,” Brown said. “Up in Flagstaff, we've had a banner snow year, but we're still talking fire come the beginning of January, just before Christmas.”
It wasn’t always this way, but, Brown said, “we’re learning to live with that.”
The four experts interviewed by The Arizona Republic said the biggest challenge of a fire year instead of a fire season is helping the public understand and act accordingly.
Rodeo-Chediski Fire scarred forests:How have they changed in the past 20 years?
How are fire years forecast?
Monitoring is a collective effort, as almost everything is when it comes to wildland fires.
The National Interagency Coordination Center, a national support center for prevention and response, publishes seasonal and monthly outlooks for fires across the U.S.
These predictions provide a good starting point for managers on the ground, who then refine the outlook from a regional to a state perspective to a forest perspective to a district perspective.
“Everybody does it a little bit differently based on what historically they've seen on current conditions and outlooks,” Brown said.
Discussions on preparedness and fire danger occur weekly. These conversations, among national forests in Arizona and New Mexico, are constant throughout the year, Brown said. It helps them “calibrate what’s going on” and move staff and resources around to respond to fires.
How do Arizona fire managers forecast fire danger?
Most agencies also have their own fire behavior analysts on staff. Arizona’s Department of Forestry and Fire Management works with both the National Interagency Coordination Center and the Southwest Coordination Center to predict “wildfire potential.”
The model used for these outlooks is the ERC, short for Energy Release Component, is an index calculated using multiple variables to predict the potential for a spreading fire. The index is low in winter and increases as fire builds up, as weather changes over the seasons. In the Southwest, it generally reaches its yearly peak in May and June, Falk said.
The vapor pressure deficit, a measure of how much water plants evaporate versus how much they can take up, has also become useful in predicting and monitoring wildfires. Although it’s well researched, its application in Arizona is still incipient, said Andrea Thode, professor of fire ecology and fire science at Northern Arizona University.
Thode and other researchers used that data and wind data to create charts for Grand Canyon National Park that allow managers to understand how the weather in the upcoming days relates to burn severity and large-fire progression. The tool uses data from past fire incidents and weather to help managers think about what might happen with a current fire and when there might be results they don’t want.
The hope is that these emerging tools used by fire scientists can give land managers and crews better information to deal with the changing fire landscape. That cannot happen if both parties are not at the same table. The pressing questions need to come from folks on the ground.
There has not always been close collaboration on research, but there's a lot of work to change that in Arizona, said Thode, who used to work for the Forest Service and is now the principal investigator of the Southwest Fire Science Consortium.
"The ultimate goal is working hand in hand from the start to the finish of our research to be able to make sure that what we're creating is applicable and digestible," she said.
What is the fire behavior triangle?
A fire needs two things: an ignition process and the conditions for it to spread. The conditions, Falk said, can be further boiled down to three things: weather, fuels and topography.
Weather includes a lengthy list of variables, such as air temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed and wind direction.
Fuels, in fire lingo, refer to the grasses and brush in desert lands and the timber and bushes of higher elevations. What kind and how much of it there is in a region, and where it exactly is — next to a town, inside a canyon, within a large forest patch — changes the fire outlook.
Each type of vegetation holds different amounts of moisture and can be more or less fire-prone.
"The fuel type in southern Arizona is mostly grass and brush, which is also called a fine fuel. So they don't hold a lot of moisture to begin with," Davila said. "Once we heat up, that fuel type dries out and now we have basically kindling across southern Arizona."
Some fuels, like grasses, change a lot throughout the year. Very wet winters can lead to very big fires.
Invasive vegetation like buffel grass, which thrives under frequent fires, has also increased the spread and frequency of fires in many regions.
“It's a simple equation. More fuels equal greater, bigger fires,” Brown, deputy fire staff at Coconino National Forest said. Fire crews in the district keep up with vegetation growth by thinning forest patches, creating clear-outs and doing pile burns.
Topography is the only factor that does not change. However, it does influence how fast fires spread, and thus their severity. Vegetation changes with elevation, and the orientation of a slope can mean that some areas receive more or less moisture, or more direct sun, for example.
Changes in these conditions have made wildfires much more variable. Erratic, dramatic weather events linked to climate change create conditions that increase the vulnerability of many ecosystems. Higher winds, higher temperatures and less moisture make the same fuels burn easier.
When wet winters, which increase vegetation growth, are followed by extended droughts, intense fires are more likely.
There is a fourth important factor: humans increasingly moving into areas that didn’t have humans before. This change, on what's called the wildland-urban interface, is one of the big drivers of out-of-season fires and complicates preparedness and firefighting.
Thode said this challenge is particularly big in Arizona, where the wildland-urban interface makes up "quite a big percentage of the state."
This close proximity also means even small fires can carry large consequences.
"An incident could be a five-acre fire, but that means that five-acre fire is threatening structures, it's calling for evacuations, it's shutting down major highways," Davila said.
How can Arizonans live with fire?
Arizona and many regions throughout the country have historically relied on a large seasonal workforce to fight wildfires. With fires becoming a year-round threat, more districts are increasing permanent staff positions.
Brown says northern Arizona has gone from 15% to about 33% permanent workforce in the time he's worked there. The crews are also working a significant amount of overtime.
“There have been incremental changes over about 20 years or so. But I would say the majority of the changes have come in the last four years,” he said.
"We are learning to live with fire."
Residents need to be aware that, even under unsuspected conditions, fires are more likely to happen. And humans are now the leading cause.
Brown is worried that the historically wet winter will make people dismiss this.
"In 2010 with a very similar snowpack, we had the Shultz Fire up here in northern Arizona. Once those winds kicked in, which we typically get here this time of year, it dried out the fuels very quickly and we still had a pretty devastating fire," Brown said.
Thode said one of the research frontiers for scientists working closely with land managers has been the public perception of wildfires and finding more effective ways to foster fire preparedness and awareness.
Her forecast for the aftermath of the snowy winter is similar: People might not realize they're in fire season, but it's started.
"This is the time to be thinking about what work you can do around your house," Thode said. "Do they have a plan for if they do have to get evacuated? All of those things. This is the time to think about that."
Clara Migoya covers environment issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com.
Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Support environmental journalism in Arizona. Subscribe to azcentral today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/when-is-arizona-wildfire-season/70132683007/ | 2023-05-12T20:15:22 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/12/when-is-arizona-wildfire-season/70132683007/ |
Reid Park Zoo in Tucson expecting new baby elephant in spring 2024
Reid Park Zoo in Tucson is expecting a new member of the herd in Spring 2024. Semba, the park's African elephant matriarch, is pregnant with her fifth calf.
After coming over from the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park in 2012 for the then-newly minted Expedition Tanzania at Reid Park, 32-year-old Semba began making the seven-acre habitat her own, giving birth to Nandi, the first elephant born at the Zoo, in 2014.
In 2020, Semba welcomed Penzi, her youngest calf, who just turned three on April 6.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how Penzi responds to her new role as a big sister,” said Cassie Dodds, elephant care supervisor, in a release Thursday. “Nandi immediately took on a nurturing role when Penzi was born and this new arrival will give Penzi an opportunity to grow her skills caring for a younger calf.”
When will the new baby elephant be born?
Reid Park said Semba is about a little over halfway through her pregnancy, a gestational period that usually takes around 22 to 24 months. The naming conversation for Semba's new baby boy or girl will begin when they are born next year.
Mabu, father to Semba's calves, was moved from the park in 2022 to mimic the natural flow of male elephants moving between herds for social and breeding purposes in nature. He currently lives at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in California.
As for Mama Semba, she is receiving top-notch care through her journey, getting regular weight checks, vitamin and mineral intakes as well as blood work, as is the rest of the herd, the zoo said.
“Semba is a great mother, and it has been incredible to watch the bond between sisters Nandi and Penzi,” said Reid Park Zoo president and CEO Nancy Kluge in the release. “We’re excited for the herd to gain a member and for Semba’s daughters to take on new roles as they play and grow with this new addition to the family.” | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/12/tucsons-reid-park-zoo-expecting-a-new-baby-elephant/70211670007/ | 2023-05-12T20:15:28 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/12/tucsons-reid-park-zoo-expecting-a-new-baby-elephant/70211670007/ |
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A woman was shot by a Lynchburg officer after authorities say she attacked them and a Child Protective Services staff member on Friday morning.
Officers responded to the 1500 block of Longview Road around 9:37 a.m. on Friday morning for the report of a Child Protective Services personnel being attacked by a woman, LPD said.
When officers got to the woman’s apartment, they said they identified themselves and asked her to come to the door. She opened the door, and attacked the responding officers with knives, according to LPD.
[Woman hospitalized after officer-involved shooting at Lynchburg’s James Crossing Apartments]
Police said an officer then discharged their department-issued handgun, shooting the woman.
Immediately after that, authorities said they requested Lynchburg Fire & EMS come out and assist. Crews then took the woman to the Lynchburg General Hospital, and as of 2:18 p.m., the woman was listed in serious condition.
Chief Ryan Zuidema contacted the Virginia State Police to investigate the incident, and the officer involved has been placed in a non-enforcement, limited-duty status until the investigation wraps up, according to the Lynchburg Police Department. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/12/woman-shot-by-lynchburg-officer-after-attacking-them-with-knives-police-say/ | 2023-05-12T20:16:50 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/12/woman-shot-by-lynchburg-officer-after-attacking-them-with-knives-police-say/ |
VAN BUREN, Ark. — Spanish version: Para español haga click aqui.
Tyson Foods Van Buren plant announced the plant closure in March and on May 11, it shut down production a day early.
The plant closure left nearly a thousand people without jobs. The situation led to several protests over the past couple of months at the Van Buren plant and company headquarters in Springdale. We spoke with plant employee Juan Barron who said he worked there for more than 20 years and says it was a melancholic day.
"You feel sad because this was like home, like your second home and this is where at least I thought I was going to retire and not work anymore but unfortunately this happened and that's just life," said Barron.
Tyson employees say they worked on the leftover inventory and had a potluck dinner on the final day.
"We had some food for everyone and took pictures, and said goodbye to all the workers. The co-workers got organized so that each one brought a plate of food and after that, they visited the supervisors and took pictures with them," Barron said.
Another employee Maria Ruvalcaba said, "Today was my last day of work, well it was very nice... Food was brought, everyone pitched in something to share... but at the same time, bittersweet because it was our last day. We were supposed to work tomorrow but they told us it was until today. But we were very happy, all together, some of us crying."
In light of the Van Buren plant closing, companies in the area have hosted job fairs to help those losing their job, but many say it hasn't been beneficial for all employees.
Ruvalcaba explained, "When they said they were closing the first day it was announced, we all thought, 'What's going on?' That day we were just told Tyson decided to close."
Ruvalcaba went on to say that although other companies were offering opportunities for jobs an hour and a half away, some employees didn't want to uproot their lives after making a home in Van Buren.
"There were some people who... moved immediately to a different place because they told us, 'You can look, we'll bring some other companies to accommodate you,' they did do that, but it was difficult because they were too far away."
Since May 11 was the final day, many employees have plans to take time off, file for unemployment, and rest for a few weeks and then they plan to look for jobs in the area.
5NEWS did reach out to Tyson’s corporate office in Springdale to ask about Thursday's apparent closure.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
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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.thv11.com/article/news/local/tyson-foods-plant-shuts-down-day-early/527-bbaed60d-44f3-4546-be46-af8e3be15041 | 2023-05-12T20:17:33 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/tyson-foods-plant-shuts-down-day-early/527-bbaed60d-44f3-4546-be46-af8e3be15041 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Happy Mother’s Day weekend! If brunch in the park, a film festival or even a night market filled with food sounds fun to you, it shows there's something for everyone this weekend in Northern California!
This weekend's weather will be heating up with temperatures in the low-90s with a southwestern breeze.
Gather some friends, maybe family members or even go solo, but head outside, maybe grab a jacket and celebrate Mother’s Day with some of these weekend events!
A foodie-inspired multi-cultural food and entertainment event with over 170 vendors bringing you a variety of amazing foods, arts, crafts, games, and entertainment for the whole family!
- 1 – 10 p.m. May 12 – 14
- Located at Cal Expo (1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento)
- Organized by FoodieLand Night Market
- More information about this event HERE.
Elk Grove's award-winning bookstore, café, and community hub will be hosting local vendors, artists and makers for a Mother's Day Makers Market! Shop locally-made gifts and pick up a book or coffee along the way.
- 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. May 13
- Located at A Seat at the Table Books (9257 Laguna Springs Dr., Elk Grove)
- Organized by A Seat at the Table Books
- More information about this event HERE.
Get dressed up and bring your mother to this special Mother's Day brunch featuring performances by platinum recording sensation Keith Washington and many other bands at the beautiful River Walk Park.
- 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 13 – May 14
- Located at River Walk Park (651 2nd St., West Sacramento)
- Organized by The Black Expo Sacramento
- More information about this event HERE.
Bring your mom or the entire family to experience this brunch featuring music from DJ MadSticks, enjoy a full buffet provided by Fixins Soul Kitchen, and specialty cocktails including mimosas!
Spend part of Mother's Day weekend in Old Sacramento! Get ready for a fun-filled day featuring interactive story-telling and displays, living history demonstrations, hand-made women's crafts and boutiques, photo booths, informational booths and more!
- 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. May 13
- Located at Sacramento History Museum (101 I St., Sacramento)
- Organized by Sacramento County Commission on the Status of Women & Girls
- More information about this event HERE.
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Time to dance at this family-friendly and free festival featuring live music, ballet folklórico, salsa and Colombian dancing, bilingual book readings, free carnival games, free arts and crafts, hayrides, and more!
- 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. May 13
- Located at Casa de Español - Center for Language and Culture (1101 R St., Sacramento)
- Organized by Casa de Español
- More information about this event HERE.
Honor and celebrate the indigenous peoples at this free family-friendly event featuring art, music, food, culture, resources, live performances and more!
- 1 – 6 p.m. May 13
- Located at River City Farm (485 Regatta Ln., West Sacramento)
- Organized by Three Sisters Gardens of Broderick
- More information about this event HERE.
Grab some popcorn and enjoy this film festival with the theme of "resonance" which features music on film, cultural preservation, justice, and solidarity. There will be films and live music performances that celebrate and explore the experiences of Asian, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders through film and new media!
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. May 13 and May 14
- Located at The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre (2700 Capital Ave., Sacramento)
- Organized by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival
- More information about this event HERE.
An all-day celebration of local artists, live music, family-friendly activities, nightlife, and more! Enjoy galleries and theaters, a mural walk, a farmers market, family-friendly activities, outdoor movies and more.
- 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. May 13
- Located all over Midtown Sacramento
- Organized by the Midtown Association
- More information about this event HERE.
A family-friendly zero-waste three-day event featuring music, dance, arts, crafts and education on sustainable living and environmental harmony. Check out the various UC Davis Quad area tents lined with art & crafts, musical acts, massage tables, food and drinks, educational booths, a child's exploration area, and various workshops!
- 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. May 12 – 14
- Located at UC Davis Quad (1 Shields Ave., Davis)
- Organized by the Whole Earth Festival
- More information about this event HERE.
Do you want to see your event on here? Send your suggestions to ssoublet@abc10.com! | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/10-weekend-events-northern-california/103-2739c550-8ea6-464a-81f6-e4f2ca01f0f9 | 2023-05-12T20:21:19 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/10-weekend-events-northern-california/103-2739c550-8ea6-464a-81f6-e4f2ca01f0f9 |
VACAVILLE, Calif. — A 16-year-old was shot and killed Thursday evening in Vacaville.
According to a news release from the Vacaville Police Department, it happened around 6:30 p.m. on the 100 block of Meadows Drive.
Upon arrival officers found a 16-year-old boy with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
As police were investigating, a 17-year-old also showed up at a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and detectives are looking into if the two shootings are connected.
Police say the deadly shooting does not appear to be a random act of violence.
Anyone with information can call Det. Meek at 707-469-4810. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/teen-killed-in-vacaville-shooting/103-c89be014-aace-4f6a-945b-b3011b972b7b | 2023-05-12T20:21:26 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/teen-killed-in-vacaville-shooting/103-c89be014-aace-4f6a-945b-b3011b972b7b |
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Semba, the African elephant at Reid Park Zoo, is expecting!
6 PHOTOS | https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona/2023/05/12/semba-african-elephant-reid-park-zoo-expecting/11857071002/ | 2023-05-12T20:23:36 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona/2023/05/12/semba-african-elephant-reid-park-zoo-expecting/11857071002/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Community members will have their first chance since January 2020 to comment in person about the state regulations governing Ballad Health at a public hearing June 12 at Northeast State Community College.
Representatives from the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and the state attorney general’s office will be on hand, and a court reporter will record the hearing, which is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m. at the college’s performing arts center, 2425 Highway 75 in Blountville.
TDH and the AG’s office worked together to craft a “Certificate of Public Advantage” (COPA) and terms of certification (TOC) governing the COPA when Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance first sought permission to merge in 2015. Ballad Health was formed in January 2018 after final approval.
The COPA is designed to mitigate anticompetitive effects from the merger, which essentially created an inpatient monopoly in the region and would have been challenged by the Federal Trade Commission if not for the COPA.
The hearing “will include a formal process for the public to comment on Ballad Health’s compliance with the Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) and to discuss revisions to the Terms of Certification under the COPA,” a TDH news release states.
Those documents, and the state’s active supervision of the COPA, are designed to ensure the benefits created by the merger outweigh its anticompetitive effects. From spending commitments and pricing limits to wages, they center around access to care, affordability of care, quality of care and improved health of the overall population.
Members of the public can speak for up to three minutes each if they sign in when they enter the auditorium. The timeline could allow for close to 30 speakers.
The COPA and TOC are very complex and specific documents, and some comments delivered at previous public hearings didn’t address specific elements of Ballad’s commitments and requirements. While such comments will be recorded in the minutes, they are unlikely to have any impact on the state’s oversight, which must be limited to items in the TOC and COPA.
The release does mention revisions to the TOC. The second set of revisions to the TOC became official July 1, 2022. A summary of the changes is here and the overall TOC is here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/1st-in-person-ballad-copa-public-hearing-since-2020-is-june-12-at-northeast-state/ | 2023-05-12T20:26:30 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/1st-in-person-ballad-copa-public-hearing-since-2020-is-june-12-at-northeast-state/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Kingsport Aquatic Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a day of games and more.
The celebration will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25.
The facility will be open to members only from 1–4 p.m. It will then be open to the public from 4–7 p.m.
The celebration will include lawn games, like giant Jenga, Connect Four, and corn hole, plus trivia questions. A live DJ will be there from 2–6 p.m.
All outdoor and indoor pools will be open.
“We hope everyone is eager to get back to swimming, sunbathing and having fun this summer,” Jessie Charlton, interim assistant aquatic manager, said in a release. “It has been great to see our facility grow over the past 10 years to meet the needs of our community and our visitors.”
In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will take place on Friday, May 26 instead.
Admission will be $6 for seniors and people under 48 inches tall. For folks taller than 48 inches, admission will be $8.
The Aquatic Center’s outdoor water park will open for the season on May 20. It will be open daily from May 27 through July 30 and on weekends only in August and September.
Season passes and memberships are available for purchase at swimkingsport.com or the Aquatic Center front desk. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-aquatic-center-to-hold-10th-anniversary-celebration/ | 2023-05-12T20:26:36 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-aquatic-center-to-hold-10th-anniversary-celebration/ |
PHOENIX — Phoenix police are looking for the suspect who recently murdered a 36-year-old man.
Luis Rafael Montoya was found dead Thursday morning with obvious signs of trauma near 35th and Glendale avenues.
Police did not specify how the victim died.
Detectives have not yet arrested a suspect and encourage anyone with information to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
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Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/36-year-old-man-found-dead-west-phoenix/75-0d9f98c7-b623-418c-ad56-961f8d2f68d2 | 2023-05-12T20:29:07 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/36-year-old-man-found-dead-west-phoenix/75-0d9f98c7-b623-418c-ad56-961f8d2f68d2 |
Louisiana surgeon operates on chimpanzee at local rescue
A 34-year-old chimpanzee received a house call from a Willis-Knighton surgeon recently after sustaining a jaw injury.
Dr. Ghali E. Ghali stabilized Sparky a male chimpanzee at Keithville's Chimp Haven when he required surgery to stabilize and repair a mandibular fracture. Veterinarians who specialize in this type of procedure were not accessible in Shreveport when this incident occurred.
Ghali, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with WK Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Institute, was able to use his expertise and experience to perform the surgery on Sparky.
Louisiana sanctuary to welcome 8 new chimps after increased donations
Chimp Haven staff reported that the injury most likely occurred after an altercation with other chimps.
The surgery took about 30 minutes and resulted in Sparky losing two of his permanent teeth. This was Ghali's third surgery performed at Chimp Haven.“I continue to be impressed by the facility and the dedication of the Chimp Haven staff and personnel in taking care of these primates," he said.
Dr. DaShaunte Coleman, Chimp Haven's clinical veterinarian said, “We are both fortunate and thankful that when the necessity for veterinary care and human medicine reaches a crossing point, we have access to renowned surgeons such as Dr. Ghali."
Coleman applauded Ghali's willingness to step outside the usual boundaries of his practice to provide services to the chimpanzees who have contributed to medicine as a whole.
$2M donation helps expand Chimp Haven
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2023/05/12/louisiana-surgeon-operates-on-chimpanzee-at-local-rescue/70208891007/ | 2023-05-12T20:34:22 | 0 | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2023/05/12/louisiana-surgeon-operates-on-chimpanzee-at-local-rescue/70208891007/ |
ATLANTIC CITY — The Casino Association of New Jersey and the Greater Atlantic City Chamber are commissioning an independent traffic study to try to determine the effects of the planned Atlantic Avenue "road diet" on drivers.
"As you all know, the casino industry has been opposed to the road diet in its current form," Casino Association President and Resorts Casino Hotel President and CEO Mark Giannantonio said during Friday's Clean and Safe meeting at City Hall.
Current plans call for reducing the number of vehicle lanes to two from four, eliminating many left turns and adding a bike lane on each side, along with parking and expanded sidewalks.
The idea is to increase safety, officials have said, by making it easier for pedestrians to safely cross Atlantic Avenue. But many residents, city leaders and business owners worry it will result in gridlock and frustration for visitors.
"We are working with the chamber commissioning a bona fide traffic study to look at this in a bigger picture format," Giannantonio said. "By no way, shape or form are we opposed to improving roads, but it comes down to two lanes (of vehicle travel in each direction) vs. one and a bike path. That’s been our opposition."
At the same meeting, a representative of the project's engineering firm said no paving or striping will be done on Atlantic Avenue until after Labor Day, so drivers should not be inconvenienced this summer by work on Phase 1 of the project.
Work on the road diet's first phase from Maine Avenue to Tennessee Avenue in midtown will instead be focused on the sidewalk area, where workers will be installing underground fiber optic cable and doing other jobs.
ATLANTIC CITY — Eric Alvarez, the owner of Popa Pizza, said he is in favor of any projects t…
The city has done traffic counts at Atlantic Avenue intersections, but Giannantonio and chamber President Michael Chait say a more in-depth study is needed.
"The schedule looks like we are doing conduit and sidewalk (work) this summer, and paving later," said Drew Pavlich of CME, the project engineer firm. "We are doing everything we can to minimize impacts to access."
Pavlich said the firm is discussing with general contractor Charles Marandino LLC the possibility of paving at night.
Some sidewalks will be affected for a time, but the project will keep access to businesses and a safe route for pedestrians, he said.
Giannantonio also said he and other casino executives have noticed more police presence on the Boardwalk and around their properties.
"There has been an incredible effort by the (Atlantic County) sheriff, (Atlantic City) police chief and (Atlantic County) prosecutor to deal with homelessness in the city. We have seen firsthand a much more effective direction in how we are dealing with this," he said.
Resorts is celebrating its 45th anniversary Memorial Day and has a lot of events and activities planned, he said.
GALLERY: Atlantic Avenue scheduled to undergo 'road diet'
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A scene from Atlantic Ave in Atlantic City from Tuesday, April 11, 2023, where development of the approved "road diet" is set to begin construction in the near future. Locals and business owners dispute the effectiveness of the ensuing road changes, with many against the project entirely. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-casinos-chamber-team-up-to-do-traffic-study-on-atlantic-avenue-road-diet/article_b59d88bc-f0dc-11ed-be11-4bda62de8946.html | 2023-05-12T20:34:48 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-casinos-chamber-team-up-to-do-traffic-study-on-atlantic-avenue-road-diet/article_b59d88bc-f0dc-11ed-be11-4bda62de8946.html |
State residents narrowly oppose continuing offshore wind development amid concerns over marine mammal deaths, a new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University found.
According to the poll, 39% of New Jerseyans believe developing clean-energy infrastructure off the coast should stop, compared with 35% who support its continuation.
Animal advocates and Republican lawmakers have, for the past roughly five months, implored the state government to cease development operations, calling for a moratorium on work to develop multiple wind farms off the coast.
Ocean Wind 1, Ocean Wind 2 and Atlantic Shores are all in the permitting process.
As work in the ocean continues prior to the windmills being installed, fears of negative environmental impact have been stoked by dozens of dead whales and dolphins appearing on Jersey Shore beaches. State and federal officials have said there is no evidence linking the marine mammal deaths to the wind work.
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“If we’re going to meet the (Gov. Phil) Murphy administration’s green energy goals, New Jersey needs to build a lot of wind farms, and fast,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at FDU and the director of the poll. “But, the administration just hasn’t convinced the public that it’s a good idea.”
TRENTON — State lawmakers are planning to hold what they're calling a "science-based" hearin…
The poll was released one week before state lawmakers on the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hold a "scientific-based" hearing on marine mammal deaths, a trend on the East Coast that has been studied by the federal government since 2016, before work to develop wind farms off New Jersey began.
When asked about wind farm development without including public concerns over the mammal deaths, 42% of respondents said the project should continue, compared with 33% saying that it should be stopped, according to the Fairleigh Dickinson poll.
However, when the question alluded to the deaths, 28% said development should continue, while 46% said it should be discontinued.
“The argument that the wind farms are hurting cute, smart animals just craters support,” said Cassino. “People concerned about the environment want to have green energy, but put that up against dolphins, and the dolphins are going to win every time.”
The poll found the difference is mostly driven by Democrats. Among Democrats, who mostly favor expanding green-energy initiatives, citing the whale and dolphin deaths drops support for continued development of offshore wind by 24 points (from 65% to 41%). For Republicans, it reduces support by 12 points (from 27% to 15%).
Democrats are particularly likely to support offshore wind over Republicans and independents, the poll found.
OCEAN CITY — The front line of the battle over offshore wind power in New Jersey now appears…
A majority (53%) of Democrats said development should be continued, with just 21% saying it should be stopped. Feelings are reversed for Republicans, with 21% supporting the projects and 62 %saying they should be stopped.
Independents neared a split, with 47% saying development should be suspended.
Opinions also vary between shoreline and inland counties.
Only 33% of people surveyed in Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth counties favor offshore wind coming to the Jersey Shore, compared to higher support from people in Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex and Union counties, the poll found.
“This isn’t a regional issue in New Jersey,” said Cassino. “Whether you’re actually going to see the offshore wind farms doesn’t matter nearly as much as whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat.” | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-slightly-favors-ditching-offshore-wind-work-poll-finds/article_ed730658-f0e7-11ed-9fa2-1f43d4ffaa44.html | 2023-05-12T20:34:54 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-slightly-favors-ditching-offshore-wind-work-poll-finds/article_ed730658-f0e7-11ed-9fa2-1f43d4ffaa44.html |
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Two mail carriers were robbed at gunpoint Friday in Central Florida, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
USPIS said the robberies, which took place hours apart in Melbourne and Orange County, are believed to be connected.
The first robbery happened around 12:30 p.m. at 6015 Farcenda Place in Melbourne while the second happened just before 2 p.m. at 2118 Allegheny Court in Orange County.
Deputies said the Orange County postal worker’s arrow key, which is used to open other mailboxes, was stolen after a gun was displayed.
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According to postal inspectors, the suspected thief’s vehicle in both cases is a gray Nissan Altima.
HAPPENING NOW: Deputies in Orange County investigating after a mail carrier was robbed this afternoon. @USPIS_Orlando says a worker was also robbed in Melbourne earlier today.
— Catherine Silver (@CatSilverTV) May 12, 2023
Watch @news6wkmg live at 4 for the latest pic.twitter.com/VZmw8P1KV4
No other information on the robberies is available at this time.
This comes after the U.S. Postal Service announced Friday it would replace tens of thousands of old keys used by postal carriers and install thousands of high-security collection boxes to stop a surge in robberies and mail thefts.
Postal officials said they are replacing 49,000 so-called arrow locks with electronic versions to make them less appealing to potential thieves.
The announcement came days after the National Association of Letter Carriers expressed outrage when The Associated Press reported nearly 500 postal carriers were robbed last year, the outlet said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/2-central-florida-mail-carriers-robbed-at-gunpoint-uspis-says/ | 2023-05-12T20:34:56 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/2-central-florida-mail-carriers-robbed-at-gunpoint-uspis-says/ |
KEY LARGO, Fla. – An underwater researcher is on track to break a world record for the longest time spent living in an underwater habitat.
Retired U.S. Navy commander Joseph Dituri, who holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering and teaches hyperbaric medicine, has been living underwater at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in a Key Largo lagoon.
The facility is 30 feet beneath the lagoon’s surface and was originally fabricated as a marine research laboratory before converting into an underwater hotel in 1986.
Dituri’s 100-day mission began on May 1 and will end on June 9. On Saturday, the 73rd day of his mission, he will officially break the world record, according to a release.
“I’m humbled that my curiosity for discovery has led me here,” Dituri said in a statement. “My goal is to inspire — not only for generations to come — but for scientists around the globe who study life undersea and how the human body functions when in extreme environments.”
The previous record for human subsea habitation at ambient pressure is 73 days, set in 2014 at Jules’ by two Tennessee university educators.
During Project Neptune 100, Dituri will be tested and analyzed to evaluate the effects of living in a confined, extreme environment.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/florida-researcher-to-break-world-record-for-living-underwater/ | 2023-05-12T20:35:02 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/12/florida-researcher-to-break-world-record-for-living-underwater/ |
The Millville High School softball team's season is on hold.
The Courier-Post reported Friday that the Thunderbolts canceled practice Wednesday and Thursday and forfeited its game Friday against Egg Harbor Township.
The Press called the Millville Public Schools district office and was told Superintendent Tony Trongone was out of the office. The Courier-Post reported he was out due to a death in his family.
Millville athletic director Dave LaGamba was not immediately available to comment by phone or text.
Longtime Thunderbolts coach Brooke Ewan-Dixon hung up when The Press contacted her.
According to the published report, the school is conducting an investigation into harassment, bullying and intimidation involving an adult with the program and one or more players. Several players were interviewed this month as part of that investigation, the Courier-Post reported.
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For now, Millville (8-9) is scheduled to play at St. Joseph Academy at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Thunderbolts are set to host Cedar Creek on Wednesday and close out the regular season on the road against Mainland Regional on May 23.
Last season, Ewan-Dixon was away from the team from March 31 to April 7, according to the Courier-Post. The district investigated an incident between the coach and several players during last spring's preseason, the Courier-Post reported.
Ewan-Dixon is in her 20th season as head coach at Millville and has 283 career wins. She was a standout player for the Thunderbolts. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/millville-softball-season-reportedly-halted-pending-harassment-bullying-investigation/article_151f8c04-f0ec-11ed-8483-bb13fa979baa.html | 2023-05-12T20:35:19 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/millville-softball-season-reportedly-halted-pending-harassment-bullying-investigation/article_151f8c04-f0ec-11ed-8483-bb13fa979baa.html |
Nine Stockton University men's track and field athletes earned New Jersey Athletic Conference postseason honors Friday.
Winners in each event at the NJAC Championships last weekend earned first-team honors, and those who finished second made the second team. Third-place finishers earned honorable mentions.
Erik Ackerman was named to the first team after winning the 5,000-meter run in 15 minutes, 13.18 seconds. It was the sophomore's fourth career all-NJAC honor in track an field.
Ryan Fisher (Barnegat), Anthony Gentile (Lower Cape May Regional), Carson Latham and Dontay Turner (Oakcrest), who finished second in the 4x100 relay in 42.23 seconds, were named to the second team. Latham was the NJAC Rookie of the Year in 2022. It was his fifth all-conference honor, while Fisher earned his fourth.
Trevone Green made the second team for his runner-up finish in the triple jump (14.01 meters).
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Gavin Lum (Southern Regional) earned an honorable mention in the pole vault, having tied for third (4.1m). Max Klenk (decathlon) and Joseph Morales (long jump) also got honorable mentions. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/nine-stockton-mens-track-and-field-athletes-earn-njac-honors/article_936f4904-f0e3-11ed-999c-e3eaa267f898.html | 2023-05-12T20:35:25 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/nine-stockton-mens-track-and-field-athletes-earn-njac-honors/article_936f4904-f0e3-11ed-999c-e3eaa267f898.html |
Popular trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be closed - but not for everyone
One of the most popular trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be closed starting May 15 - but not for everyone.
A stretch of Alum Cave Trail will be closed to hikers on weekdays May 15-25 while crews repair a section of trail that was damaged by a fallen tree last year, according to a release from the national park.
Even during the closure, hikers still will be able to access the trail as far as the popular Alum Cave Bluffs.
LeConte Lodge employees and hikers with reservations at the lodge - which is only accessible by hiking - or the backcountry shelter will be exempt from the closure, according to the release. All hikers are advised to pay attention to trail signs and follow the instructions of trail crew members, the release said.
The popular Alum Cave Trail leads to such iconic areas as Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, Alum Cave Bluffs and Mount LeConte. Hikers who do not have reservations at the lodge or shelter and who wish to hike to Mount LeConte can use one of the other trails to the summit.
Here's an alternative:Cades Cove, a top destination in the Great Smoky Mountains, is worth visiting
Updates on the status of trail and road closures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are available online on the parks Current Road, Facility, Trail and Backcountry Updates webpage. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/05/12/popular-smokies-trail-to-close-for-repairs-but-not-for-all-hikers/70213420007/ | 2023-05-12T20:36:07 | 1 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/05/12/popular-smokies-trail-to-close-for-repairs-but-not-for-all-hikers/70213420007/ |
SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — A 17-year-old boy from Honduras died this week in U.S. immigration custody, American and Honduran officials said Friday, underscoring concerns about a strained immigration system as the Biden administration manages the end of asylum restrictions known as Title 42.
The teenager was identified as Ángel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza, according to a tweet from Honduran foreign relations minister Enrique Reina. Maradiaga was detained at a facility in Safety Harbor, Reina said.
He entered the U.S. several weeks ago and died Wednesday, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
No cause of death was immediately available nor were circumstances of any illness or medical treatment.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for the facility where Maradiaga was held, said in a statement that a review of healthcare records was underway as was an investigation by a medical examiner.
HHS “is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our heart goes out to the family, with whom we are in touch,” the department's statement said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the news “devastating” and referred questions about the investigation to HHS.
The asylum restrictions under Title 42 expired Thursday with President Joe Biden's administration announcing new curbs on border crossers that went into effect Friday. Tens of thousands of people tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in the weeks before the expiration of Title 42, under which U.S. officials expelled many people but allowed exemptions for others, including minors crossing the border unaccompanied by a parent.
This was the first known death of an immigrant child in custody during the Biden administration. At least six immigrant children died in U.S. custody during the administration of former President Donald Trump.
HHS operates long-term facilities to hold children who cross the border without a parent until they can be placed with a sponsor. HHS facilities generally have beds and facilities as well as schooling and other activities for minors, unlike Border Patrol stations and detention sites in which detainees sometimes sleep on the floor in cells.
Advocates who oppose the detention of immigrant children say HHS facilities are not suited to hold minors for weeks or months as sometimes happens.
More than 8,600 children are currently in HHS custody. That number may rise sharply in the coming weeks amid the shift in border policies as well as sharply rising trends of migration across the Western Hemisphere and the traditional spike in crossings during spring and summer. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/honduran-teen-dies-immigration-custody-safety-harbor/67-795cd615-df2d-46f2-ba1d-7aadda63b8fb | 2023-05-12T20:40:29 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/honduran-teen-dies-immigration-custody-safety-harbor/67-795cd615-df2d-46f2-ba1d-7aadda63b8fb |
LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland police are searching for individuals who could have information related to a baby found dead inside a dumpster outside a fitness center Thursday morning.
Detectives released photos of four people, three women and one man. It's believed they could have been driving a red sedan or SUV, the police department said.
Anyone with information to help identify the people in the photo is asked to contact Detective Neal Robertson at 863-834-6971 or neal.robertson@lakelandgov.net. Anonymous tips can be sent to Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida at 1-800-226-8477.
Shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, Lakeland officers responded to a report of a newborn baby found dead inside a bag in a dumpster on Florida Avenue South. The baby was said to still have their umbilical cord attached.
At the time of discovery, police said it was believed the baby had been there for about 10 hours. Investigators are attempting to figure out if the baby was killed or stillborn and what charges are possible, said Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor Jr., adding that they are waiting for the results of an autopsy.
The police chief said the person who left the baby could have decided to go to an emergency room or ambulance station in the nearby area. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/lakeland-police-searching-people-information-baby-found-dumpster/67-4b9b0d9a-279d-464a-984e-4799e040cdcf | 2023-05-12T20:40:35 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/lakeland-police-searching-people-information-baby-found-dumpster/67-4b9b0d9a-279d-464a-984e-4799e040cdcf |
As soon as a month from now, people could be going to WarHorse Lincoln to place a bet on a baseball game, a golf tournament or dozens of other sporting events.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission on Friday approved a sports wagering catalog that lays out what sports bettors will be able to wager on.
It includes most of the major team sports — MLB, the NBA, the NFL — as well as a number of other pro and college sports.
Included are professional golf and tennis, professional bull riding and rodeo, and motorsports.
The list also includes a number of college sports, including football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball, but also lacrosse, water polo, swimming and field hockey.
Tom Sage, executive director of the Racing and Gaming Commission, said the goal is to start with a reasonable amount of sports, make sure the operators and commission can handle the level of betting activity, and then consider expansions later.
"We felt it was better to start out slower, with less wagering types (and) less product to bet on," Sage said.
For example, the list contains no international sports, meaning no bets on this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup or any European soccer games.
"This catalog more than likely will grow," he said. "I was not comfortable to put in some of the sports I did not understand."
Sage said the main requirement is that any sport proposed to be added to the catalog has to be a sport and/or league that has a regulatory body.
WarHorse Lincoln will likely be the first location to offer sports betting, but a start date is still up in the air.
Lynne McNally, CEO of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, which is a partner in the Lincoln casino with Ho-Chunk Inc., said the casino had hoped to start offering sports betting this month, but some of its vendors have not completed all of their necessary application materials.
McNally said WarHorse is now shooting for a mid-June start for betting.
"We would love to be able to accept bets on the College World Series," she said, which begins June 15.
The road to sports betting has been a long and winding one. It was approved by voters along with casino gambling in the November 2020 election, but the commission focused on getting casinos up and running first.
Sports betting rules finally went into effect at the beginning of February after Gov. Jim Pillen signed off on them.
The rules as approved by the Legislature require bets to be made in person at a casino and also do not allow people to bet on Nebraska college teams when they are playing in games in the state.
That prohibition will apply not only to the state's three Division 1 universities — Nebraska, Creighton and Omaha — but also to smaller colleges as well. Betting will be allowed on college basketball down to the Division 3 level and on college football down to the Division 2 level.
Sage said that as difficult as it was to get casinos started, it's been harder, at least from a regulatory standpoint, to get sports betting up and running.
"We all thought slot machines, table games and such was difficult to get going ... Sports wagering is double difficult to get going," he said. | https://journalstar.com/business/local/nebraskans-will-soon-be-betting-on-pro-college-sports/article_2f241288-f0f0-11ed-9e52-f7de98b709cd.html | 2023-05-12T20:40:52 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/business/local/nebraskans-will-soon-be-betting-on-pro-college-sports/article_2f241288-f0f0-11ed-9e52-f7de98b709cd.html |
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