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DALLAS — When the clock struck 10 p.m. in El Paso Thursday, Title 42 ended.
At one of the checkpoints, no one came out -- only two national guardsmen went in.
But throughout the night and day, buses began picking up migrants and taking them to processing facilities. Some migrants didn’t make it across and waited on the other side.
But others, like Frances Nazareth and her daughter, made it.
”I spent many days at the gate trying to pass,” Nazareth said.
She said she prayed around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, and Friday morning, immigration officials called their names.
”It’s hard to explain what I’m feeling, because everything we went through and lived through to get here, now we have hope,” Nazareth said.
Nazareth left her home in Venezuela a few years ago. She shared pictures of herself in happier times but she says things turned violent, so she fled. She wiped away tears while talking about the difficult journey she embarked on with her daughter.
”And it’s really hard because they’re asking you, 'mom, when we are going to get there? Why are we here?' We have to sacrifice so much. You have to get rid of your belongings because they weigh too much, and we went days without eating,” said Nazareth.
And now, they are on the other side, joined by friends they met along the way.
The U.S. Border Patrol and Customs hasn’t said how many people have been apprehended since Title 42 ended, but yesterday, 10 thousand migrants were in custody -- a record number.
Once they left the border, some were taken to processing centers.
One of the larger ones is North of El Paso. They can house up to a thousand migrants for up to 72 hours. In June, the facility will expand to hold two thousand.
The migrants like Frances that are allowed to stay eventually have to go to an immigration court hearing, and that could take months or years. For now, she is just grateful to be in the U.S.
”We came for a real dream, a goal and to succeed,” said Nazareth. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/woman-child-make-it-us-after-dangerous-journey-border/287-e722d175-3292-4f32-9bda-84164f3fbef5 | 2023-05-13T03:03:53 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/woman-child-make-it-us-after-dangerous-journey-border/287-e722d175-3292-4f32-9bda-84164f3fbef5 |
Mike Trout, 31, a 2009 Millville High School graduate, is a center fielder with the Los Angeles Angels and was the 2014, 2016 and 2019 American League MVP.
Thursday: The Angels were off.
Friday: Led off the top of the ninth inning with a double to start a two-run rally that led the Angels to a 5-4 win at Cleveland. One out later, Trout came around to score the tying run on Hunter Renfroe's fielder's choice. Batting second and playing center field, Trout finished 1 for 4 with a walk. The two-bagger was his 10th of the season.
Saturday: Cal Quantrill (2-2, 3.89) is scheduled to start the 6:10 p.m. against the Guardians. Trout is hitting .400 (2 for 5) with an RBI against him.
Stats: Trout is hitting .287 (41 for 143) with eight home runs, 20 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 36 games. He had walked 17 times and struck out 45 times. His on-base percentage was .372, his OPS .896. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/daily-mike-trout-report-leadoff-double-in-9th-starts-angels-winning-rally-in-cleveland/article_c85047b2-f0f3-11ed-b5a9-c7219bd5fcef.html | 2023-05-13T03:09:58 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/daily-mike-trout-report-leadoff-double-in-9th-starts-angels-winning-rally-in-cleveland/article_c85047b2-f0f3-11ed-b5a9-c7219bd5fcef.html |
Egg Harbor Township High School’s Braeden Thies hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Eagles a 5-4 win over St. Augustine Prep in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division baseball game Friday.
St. Augustine scored a run in the top of the ninth to lead 4-3, but EHT’s Jake Cagna doubled in Jason Salsbery to tie it.
Zach McLaughlin pitched 2 2/3 of relief to get the win. Robert Brown went 2 for 4 for the host Eagles (11-8), who are ranked ninth in The Press Elite 11. Cameron Flukey was 1 for 2, scored one run and drove in two. Michael Piskun went 1 for 3 and scored.
EHT improved to 7-5 in the American Division.
The score was 2-2 after seven innings, and both teams scored a run in the eighth.
On Thursday, St. Augustine, ranked sixth in the Elite 11, beat visiting EHT 12-2 in five innings on the 10-run rule.
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David Cappuccio went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI for the Prep in Friday’s game, and Manny Aponte was 2 for 4 with a run. Ryan Williams had a double, a run and an RBI.
St. Augustine fell to 15-6 overall and 9-3 American.
Ocean County Tournament semifinal
(4) Southern Regional 6, (1) Jackson Memorial 3: The score was tied at 3-3, but visiting Southern won with three runs in the top of the eighth inning.
Niko Diamantopoulos hit a two-run single, and winning pitcher Roger Dreher had an RBI single.
Southern (13-4), the fourth seed, will meet second-seeded Donovan Catholic on Tuesday for the Ocean County title. Donovan Catholic beat third-seeded Brick Memorial 14-4 in five innings in the other semifinal.
Dreher worked three innings of relief and gave up three hits and one run, with four strikeouts and two walks. Dom Miranda went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs.
For top-seeded Jackson Memorial (15-5), Charlie Meglio was 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs.
Oakcrest 4, Pleasantville 3: The Falcons (5-13) scored three in the top of the fourth.
Zachary Cogswell-D'Augustine struck out eight and allowed three hits in five innings to earn the win. Mason Kurtz struck out two in two innings.
Christofer Maldonado went 2 for 2 with a run for Pleasantville (5-13). Edriarlyn Caraballo singled and scored. Daniel Link struck out seven and allowed three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Luis Parra-Bautista walked and scored.
Both teams had four hits.
Mainland Reg. 10, Millville 7: The Mustangs (8-11) scored three in the third to take am 8-4 lead and went on to win.
Nick Wagner went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Joe Sheeran went 2 for 3 with three runs and a run. Brady Blum singled, scored one run and knocked in another. Tanner Levin and Christian Elliott each scored once. Cohen Cook doubled.
For Millville, Sergio Droz went 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI. Trevor Yeager singled and had an RBI and a run. Henry Colon doubled and scored. David Rodriguez singled and scored. Connor Lacy had an RBI, and Wayne Hill scored once.
Lower Cape May Reg. 16, Bridgeton 5: Aydan Heacock struck out five and allowed two hits in two innings to earn the win.
Lower (13-4) used five pitchers in the game. The Caper Tigers scored eight in the first inning, six in the second and two in the third.
Kyle Satt went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs for the winners. Hunter Ray went 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs. Joseph McCorriston doubled, scored three and had two RBIs. Drew Kroneneyer added three RBIs and two runs. Amari West scored twice.
Marshon Green went 2 for 3 with two runs for Bridgeton (2-19). Dominic Ketterer went 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run. Mariano Pantaleon, Tyler Suppa and Leroy Ortiz Rodriguez each drove in one run. Tyaun Wilmore walked and scored.
Absegami 12, ACIT 3: Michael Harless struck out six in five innings to earn the win.
John Leonetti went 3 for 4 with two homers, six RBIs and three runs. Matthew Johansen went 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs. Adrian Wiggins went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Samuel Austin and Michael DeBlasio each scored twice. Vraj Sheth added two RBIs.
Absegami scored five in both the third and sixth innings.
Kostya Yakita went 3 for 3 with a run for the Red Hawks (6-12). Wilfredo Lugo went 2 for 4 with a run. Angelo Gonzalez singled and scored.
No. 7 Bishop Eustace 9, Vineland 4: Christian Mascuilli went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs for Bishop Eustace (16-6).
Anthony Mascuilli went 3 for 4 with two runs. For Vineland (13-8), Donny Gomez went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Yoan Feliz doubled and scored twice. Anthony Rakotz doubled and had a run. Justin Morris singled and had an RBI. Xavier Cortez struck out four in five innings. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/ehts-thies-hits-solo-hr-in-ninth-to-beat-prep-fridays-roundup/article_929faa7e-f11e-11ed-bc00-732d91bdfcd2.html | 2023-05-13T03:10:04 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/ehts-thies-hits-solo-hr-in-ninth-to-beat-prep-fridays-roundup/article_929faa7e-f11e-11ed-bc00-732d91bdfcd2.html |
Holy Spirit High School's Hanna Watson scored four goals to lead the Spartans girls lacrosse team to a 12-11 win over host Mainland Regional on Friday in a Cape-Atlantic League American Conference game.
Holy Spirit led 9-6 at halftime.
Brielle Soltis and Kira Murray scored three apiece for the Spartans (10-2), who improved to 7-2 American. Laura Livingston and Lauren Cella each added one goal.
Jane Meade and Ava Sheeran each scored four for the Mustangs (8-7), and Meade led with five ground balls. Eva Blanco contributed a goal and two assists, and Lani Ford and Sofia Day both scored once. Kylie Kurtz made 10 saves.
Absegami 12, Oakcrest 2: Sarah Glass scored six for the Braves (5-7). Julia Hartman and Analise Myles each scored twice. Leah Richardson and Grace Reitzel each scored once. For Oakcrest (0-13), Rachel Carson and Addison Maulone scored. Fatima Sougoufara made seven saves.
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Shore Conference Tournament play-in
(17) Lacey Twp. 14, (16) Toms River South 9: Zoey Smith scored eight goals and had an assist for the Lions (8-7).
Kathleen Lopez scored three and had an assist. Delaney Dittenhofer and Gianna Camporeale each scored once and added an assist. Lindsay D'Adamo scored once. Maeve Meehan made 14 saves.
Brooke Picca scored four for Toms River South (7-7). Jenna Innarella made three saves, including the 200th of her career.
Lacey will play top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven in the first round Monday.
Boys lacrosse
No. 11 Clearview Reg. 16, Egg Harbor Twp. 1: Landon Scully scored five and added three assists for Clearview (9-3), which is No. 11 in The Press Elite 11.
Andrew Buck scored four goals, and Danny Robert had two. Sean Ralph added three assists and one goal.
The Eagles fell to 1-10. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/no-9-holy-spirit-defeats-mainland-fridays-girls-boys-lacrosse-roundup/article_9858ef02-f114-11ed-8a7e-9b82215cc535.html | 2023-05-13T03:10:10 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/no-9-holy-spirit-defeats-mainland-fridays-girls-boys-lacrosse-roundup/article_9858ef02-f114-11ed-8a7e-9b82215cc535.html |
Rebecca Cessna struck out 15, allowed two hits and pitched a complete game to lead the Wildwood Catholic Academy softball team to a 4-2 victory over Atlantic City in a Cape-Atlantic League National Division game Friday.
Cessna also singled and scored a run. Julia Wallace went 2 for 4 with a run for the Crusaders (3-10). Emily Evans singled and had an RBI and a run. Sienna Sawyer and Grace Deegler each singled and had an RBI. Wildwood Catholic scored three in the top of the sixth inning.
Yeannelly Sosa struck out seven in a complete game for Atlantic City (5-11). Sosa also had an RBI. Mia Marota doubled. Maria Conroy singled and scored.
Ocean City 2, Middle Twp. 0: Brooke Douglas struck out seven and allowed three hits in a complete game to earn the win. Carlee Hiddeman doubled and had an RBI for the Red Raiders (16-7). Gabrielle Bowen singled and had an RBI. MacKenzee Segich and Anna McCabe each scored.
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The Panthers fell to 9-10.
Wildwood 14, Penns Grove 1: Charlotte Kilian went 3 for 3 with four RBIs and two runs for the Warriors (4-6).
She was also the winning pitcher. She struck out five and allowed dust three hits in five innings. Sophia Wilber doubled twice to go with two RBIs and two runs. Sinaia Hills went 2 for 2 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs. Kaydence Oakley had three runs, and Ashley Nagle added two. Abbey Pruszinski went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a run.
Madison VanNamee scored for Penns Grove (0-10).
Our Lady of Mercy 4, ACIT 1: Emma Douglas struck out 12 and allowed just two hits in a complete game for the Villagers (8-7).
Destiny Ragsdale went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run. Douglas and Grace Walls each singled and scored. Natalie Bachman scored once.
Emma Feehan singled and scored for the Red Hawks (7-11). Carolina Bernard had their lone RBI. Sarah LoVullo struck out six and allowed five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Barnegat 7, Brick Twp. 1: Riley Schmidt went 4 for 4 with two doubles and three runs for the Bengals (6-12), who scored two in the first inning and four in the second. Danielle Huetteman struck out seven in a complete game. Brianna Dato went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run. Gabriella Giaconia singled and had an RBI.
Sicilia Booker pitched a complete game and struck out three for Brick (1-16). Adriana Buonacore went 2 for 4 with a double and a run.
Cape May Tech 16, Pleasantville 0: Rebecca Baldwin struck out nine and allowed just one hit in four innings for the win.
Mariah Klinger went 2 for 2 with four RBIs and two runs. Isabella Arbelo Miranda and Amanda Moran each went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a run. Renata Riesenberg went 2 for 2 with a double, three runs and an RBI. Hailey Elwell went 2 for 3, drove in three runs and scored one. Kyra Ridgway went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Nivida Juarez-Hernandez singled for Pleasantville (2-13). | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/rebecca-cessnas-complete-game-leads-wildwood-catholic-past-atlantic-city-fridays-roundup/article_2214f00c-f10a-11ed-bb22-c393268e8abd.html | 2023-05-13T03:10:16 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/rebecca-cessnas-complete-game-leads-wildwood-catholic-past-atlantic-city-fridays-roundup/article_2214f00c-f10a-11ed-bb22-c393268e8abd.html |
The St. Augustine Prep boys tennis team defeated Millville 4-1 in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division match Friday.
The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Hermits (6-4).
In second singles, the Hermits' Cole Polistina defeated Russell Corson 2-6, 6-4, 10-7. In first singles, St. Augustine's Vincent Polistina SA beat Matthew Sooy 6-1, 6-1.
In first doubles, Millville's Parker Swift and Shaun McCarthy beat Josh Gatesman and Jacob Holzer 6-2, 6-2. The Thunderbolts fell to 8-8.
Singles: Vincent Polistina SA d. Matthew Sooy 6-1, 6-1; Cole Polistina SA d. Russell Corson 2-6, 6-4, 10-7; Santino Casale SA d. Paul Azari 6-4, 6-0
Doubles: Parker Swift and Shaun McCarthy M d. Josh Gatesman and Jacob Holzer 6-2, 6-2; John Terista and Ian P. SA d. John Abdill and Ethan Dalgleish 6-0 7-7 (7-3).
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Ocean City 5, Kingsway Reg. 0
Singles: Charles DiCicco d. Andrew Altmann 6-2, 6-2; Chris Ganter d. Filip Mirkovic 6-1, 6-2; Tracy Steingard d. Jack Arena 6-0, 6-0
Doubles: Pat Lonergan and Jackson Barnes d. Harpreet Singh and Justin Sample 6-1, 7-5; Luke Wagner and Ethan Meron d. Jackson Huhn and Dominic Palladino 6-1, 6-2
Records: Ocean City 13-2; Kingsway 13-3
Absegami 5, Oakcrest 0
Singles: Colin Morrissey d. Thomas Pham 6-1, 6-2; Khush Brahmbhatt d Alonso Neri-Canegalli 6-0, 6-0; Arib Osmany d. Parth Brahmbhatt 6-1, 6-2
Doubles: Kaden Boyle and Derek Tran A d. Marcial Orellana-Rodriguez and Raynardo Tabana 6-2, 6-4; Benjamin Fitzgerald and Railey Cabrera, d. James Edwards and Messiah Jackson-Alberich 6-0, 6-0
Records: Absegami 2-8; Oakcrest 1-10.
Bridgeton 3, Lower Cape May Reg. 2
Singles: Matt Eck, L d. Rene Barragan 6-1, 6-3; Angel Hernandez B by forfeit. Uriel Perez, d. Dustin Nguyen 6-2, 6-4
Doubles: Alex Sinex and Tobias Worster d. Elmer Santiago and Roberto Hernandez 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3; Luis Aguilar and Kelvin Santiago d. Miles Chadwick and Liam Mallon 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
Records: Bridgeton 5-6; Lower 4-5
Boys volleyball
Pleasantville 2, Hammonton 0: The Greyhounds (13-5) won by set scores of 25-16, 25-14.
For the Blue Devils (6-13), Joe Tierno had five assists and four digs. Isaac Fishman had five digs, four assists, two kills and two aces.
Brandon Chainey added four kills, four digs, three service points and two blocks.
No further information was available.
Egg Harbor Twp. 2, Absegami 0: The host Eagles (14-4) put together scores of 25-21 and 27-25 to win it.
For Absegami (8-5), Nasir Hernandez-Haines had five kills, four digs, five service points and four aces, and Chikaodi Wokocha added five kills, three digs and seven service points. Xavier Vazquez added 15 assists, Kody Colon contributed five service points and two aces, and Daymeon Hallock had two kills and two blocks.
No further information was available. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/st-agustine-snaps-2-match-losing-skid-fridays-tennis-volleyball-roundup/article_91e30bc2-f113-11ed-8597-3b930a891f1b.html | 2023-05-13T03:10:22 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/st-agustine-snaps-2-match-losing-skid-fridays-tennis-volleyball-roundup/article_91e30bc2-f113-11ed-8597-3b930a891f1b.html |
CLARKSVILLE, Ind. — Police have issued a Silver Alert in the search for a man missing from Clarksville, Indiana.
Clarksville police are investigating the disappearance of Nathan Pelkey, 35.
Pelkey is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.
He was last seen wearing a burgundy YMCA T-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.
Pelkey is missing from Clarksville and was last seen on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 10 a.m. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.
If you have information contact the Clarksville Police Department at 812-246-6996 or 911.
Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert: What's the difference?
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/silver-alert-issued-for-missing-clarksville-man/531-2f55e34a-8e07-4383-b2bf-0cbf60c56407 | 2023-05-13T03:15:19 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/silver-alert-issued-for-missing-clarksville-man/531-2f55e34a-8e07-4383-b2bf-0cbf60c56407 |
Five California men have been charged in Nebraska for their alleged roles in a drug and money laundering conspiracy involving the transportation of thousands of pounds of marijuana and millions of dollars in drug proceeds across the country.
U.S. Attorney Steven Russell said the investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations dates back to September 2019.
On Thursday, two of the five made their first court appearances in federal court in Omaha on the charges: conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
If convicted, Eric Thibodo, 54, of Malibu, and Evan Bowen, 45, of Garberville, would face at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Both were released on conditions and will be monitored by the U.S. Probation and Pre-Trial Services agency.
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Russell said David Leidermann, David Bose, and James Reja also were charged in the same indictment but have yet to make court appearances.
Leidermann, the suspected leader of the organization, and Bose were arrested in the Los Angeles area. Reja has not yet been arrested.
In the affidavit for their arrests, Craig Allrich, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said it started Sept. 12, 2019, when the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office Interdiction Unit arrested Tyler Gooch with 90 pounds of marijuana, 3,000 vape pens, 30 pounds of THC shatter concentrate, and a pound of psilocybin mushrooms in his pickup.
Through the investigation, he said, they learned the drugs were bound for eastern Nebraska.
A related traffic stop Jan. 19, 2020, turned up more than $200,000 in cash that smelled of drugs in a trash bag. Thibodo was the passenger.
Allrich said investigators searched his phone and found discussions of the delivery of narcotics from Chicago to Omaha.
They also searched a home in Papillion, where Thibodo had been, and found 111 pounds of marijuana, 32 pounds of THC shatter and 5 pounds of THC oil. Allrich alleges Thibodo delivered the drugs.
He said phone records led to other alleged co-conspirators and to a FastBox warehouse in New York, which led to a traffic stop in the Oklahoma City area that turned up roughly $3.9 million of suspected narcotics proceeds.
Allrich said that on May 7, 2020, HSI executed multiple search warrants on FastBox locations, containers and an employee’s residence, as well as storage units in California, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City and New York. It turned up 55,000 THC vape pens and over $1.6 million in suspected drug proceeds.
Allrich said texts and audio messages discovered as part of that investigation indicated Leidermann had been directing the FastBox shipments. Bank records showed employees had deposited $1.4 million in cash between 2017 and 2020, he said.
He said FastBox created the appearance that it was a legitimate moving company when it really was being used to transport drugs and drug proceeds. Allrich said Leidermann and Reja started the company in 2014 as a marijuana and marijuana byproduct delivery company.
They are suspected of using the FastBox service to move marijuana and marijuana proceeds between California and the other FastBox locations, according to Allrich's affidavit.
What you missed this week in notable Southeast Nebraska crimes and court cases
This week's local crime and court updates from The Lincoln Journal Star.
Two Lincoln men have been sentenced to federal prison time for their part in a gang conspiracy involving guns and the recorded sexual assault of two teenagers.
A Lancaster County Judge sent a Texas man to prison Thursday after prosecutors described manipulation that amounted to "brainwashing" before and after the man filmed sex with a Lincoln teen.
Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret sentenced Timothy McPeak to eight to 10 years in prison for what she called a serious matter where someone lost their life.
A train collided with the metal pieces Tuesday night and rocked back and forth, nearly derailing, according to the sheriff's office.
A 63-year-old man told police he didn't see the teen in time to brake, police said a crash report detailing the incident.
Firefighters pronounced Shirley Alber dead at the scene after they found her in her smoke-engulfed home in rural Cairo on Tuesday, the State Fire Marshal Agency said.
Tyler Foster received a 12-month sentence and with credit for good time will have to serve roughly six months.
The Omaha City Council finalized a $275,000 settlement Tuesday with a former Omaha firefighter who alleged discrimination and harassment based on her race and gender.
The jury Wednesday found Brian Adams Sr., 52, guilty of second-degree murder, rather than first-degree murder, as the state had alleged. He now is set for sentencing in June.
Pilots with the State Patrol took flight in the agency's helicopter to help police track the stolen car, and a trooper later deployed stop sticks on the Chevy, police said.
An Omaha woman accused of killing a security guard during a weekend altercation was denied bail Tuesday.
Police believe the elder Kruger picked a fight with his son after Joseph Kruger "scolded a child" at the family gathering Sunday evening, police said in court filings.
Jason Jones on Monday waived his right to appear in person for a May 22 arraignment and instead asked the court to enter written pleas of not guilty.
The 57-year-old man crashed into a westbound Ford Focus, forcing the sedan to flip and roll into a ditch, according to the sheriff's office.
A 25-year-old man from Fresno, California, has been arrested following a fatal crash in Sidney on Friday.
Three teenage boys from Blair have been charged as adults in connection with an alleged sexual assault that was later distributed on video.
The bill, which has Republican and Democrat co-sponsors, aims to help the program help more people.
The program is meant to help survivors of violent crimes pay for things like hospital bills and funerals. But Nebraska’s program helps a fraction of victims compared to its neighbors.
The 25-year-old headbutted the girl and started lunging toward additional students as a teacher intervened, police said in court filings.
The employee followed the robbery suspect out of the store and reached into his vehicle when the suspect shot him with a pellet gun, police said.
"'It was either him or me,'" defense attorney Jon Braaten told the jury of Brian Adams' own words to Lincoln police within hours of Trevious Clark's death.
Omaha police arrested a woman on suspicion of second-degree murder Sunday in connection with a fatal shooting in the Capitol District.
Police say injuries to the child were consistent with severe child abuse.
A 2016 Kia Rio and a 2017 Hyundai Sonata were both found on fire on opposite ends of the city this weekend. Police suspect arson in both cases.
No one was injured in the fire, which started at around 2:30 a.m. Monday and engulfed the house at 2910 N.W. Eighth St., according to fire officials.
"I can't imagine what they're feeling right now," the police chief said. "The loss of a husband and the arrest of a stepson. Our hearts go out to them."
An 18-year-old Omaha man was sentenced on Wednesday to 45 to 65 years in prison for his role in the 2021 double homicide of Jia'Quan Williams and Ja'Vondre' McIntosh.
George Medina's conviction on one count of domestic violence was not the only reason he resigned in lieu of termination from the Schuyler Police Department, Chief Robert Farber said.
After being shot by police in Lincoln on Monday, Chace Abney, 35, died of his injuries on Saturday.
This year, the board’s five members have appeared together at hearings twice as often as they did in 2021, according to a Flatwater Free Press analysis.
Days before the case was set to go to trial, Sarpy County prosecutors dismissed all charges, including first-degree murder, against a man accused of a 2019 Bellevue homicide.
A Lincoln man accused of taking contracts to build fences in the Beatrice area but failing to do the work entered pleas Thursday to 10 criminal charges.
A former Fremont police officer who resigned while under investigation in 2019 has resigned from the Ashland police department because of another investigation.
The 49-year-old Lincoln man who died Thursday morning of a self-inflicted gunshot wound amid an hourslong standoff with police was supposed to be barred from possessing the gun he used to shoot himself.
Police believe that many of the 72 rounds recovered in April's shootout were fired by gang members with ties to Omaha and Clarksdale, Mississippi, according to court filings.
"He knew what he did was awful. ... He tried to cover up his heinous crime," Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Julie Mruz said of Joshua Larsen.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin told police he looked down for a "split second" to change his radio station when he crashed into the girl, according to the crash report.
Police are searching for a 22-year-old Council Bluffs man in connection with the shooting. Police say he was seen leaving in a 1988 green Jeep Cherokee with Iowa plate NAM032. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/feds-outline-drug-money-laundering-conspiracy-discovered-after-2019-stop-in-lancaster-county/article_63394fec-f0f6-11ed-8a8e-a7a05806366d.html | 2023-05-13T03:21:00 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/feds-outline-drug-money-laundering-conspiracy-discovered-after-2019-stop-in-lancaster-county/article_63394fec-f0f6-11ed-8a8e-a7a05806366d.html |
The Dekko Foundation, a private family foundation in Kendallville, awarded more than $339,000 in grants and pledges to seven youth-serving organizations during its most recent grant-making.
The recipients:
Central Noble Community School Corp. – $137,360
Clarke County Conservation Board – $100,000
Baker Youth Club – $90,000
City of Kendallville – $75,000
Leon Chamber of Commerce – $75,000
Kosciusko Community YMCA, Inc. – $50,000
St. Mary of the Assumption School – $50,000
Prairie Heights Community School Corp. – $30,000
The Village Early Childhood Center – $25,000
Athens-Limestone Public Library Foundation – $15,500
Stone’s Trace Historical Society – $12,000
Limestone County Schools – $10,000
Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church – $7,500
Foundation for Art and Music in Education – $5,000
Indiana Troopers Youth Services – $3,000 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/dekko-foundation-awards-grants/article_09d11434-f0fc-11ed-b78f-9bb8610bc79d.html | 2023-05-13T03:22:40 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/dekko-foundation-awards-grants/article_09d11434-f0fc-11ed-b78f-9bb8610bc79d.html |
State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box took a retirement lap Friday, announcing her departure and saying she has no regrets about the state’s response to COVID-19 or its vaccine rollout.
Box guided Hoosiers through the pandemic, participating in near-daily press conferences for months. She will retire at the end of the month after almost six years.
“Time will show that the state of Indiana really did our response in a very moderate way and that we balanced very well protecting lives and livelihoods and the economy of the state of Indiana,” she said.
Ultimately, Box decided to retire because the demands of the job – working 12 hours a day and seven days a week at times – made her have to say no to her family a lot, she said.
“I really want to not have to ever put them second again,” she said.
Gov. Eric Holcomb thanked Box for her tenure, saying her retirement discussions started nearly a year ago but she agreed to stay in order to push several health care measures through the General Assembly, specifically securing the state’s $225 million, two-year investment into public health.
“I respect no one more and am so pleased she’ll get to enjoy her next chapter, which is focusing on her family. I could not have had a better partner in this role, especially in this time. She genuinely cares about the health and well-being of every single Hoosier, and because of her dedication to the betterment of our overall public health system, the state is at the forefront of transformational change that will result in a healthier Indiana,” Holcomb said. “Her competitive refusal to lose is a key reason why our state will win for years to come.”
More than COVID-19
Besides spearheading the state’s pandemic response, Box oversaw implementation of the My Healthy Baby plan and worked to prevent lead poisoning in children by increasing access to screenings.
With decades of experience as an OB-GYN, Box said she entered the state health commissioner role with a focus on disparities in maternal and child health, but quickly saw how gaps existed for nearly every health metric. She said these disparities exist not just when it comes to race and ethnicity, but also affect rural, urban and suburban divides; socioeconomic status; and people with disabilities.
In a press conference Friday, Box said she and her team have built a foundation to solve health disparities and allow Hoosiers to receive the same core health services regardless of where they are in the state.
“I think that your world really expands to understand that public health is about making sure not just that there is someone to give you a prescription for your disease, but a way to make sure you can fill that prescription,” she said.
Box said Indiana, like other states across the country, is losing doctors, particularly obstetrical providers. Indiana will need a plan to meet that challenge, she said, as well as learning how to be proactive with future needs.
Box said the transition between her administration and the next would be seamless, saying her team had been “forged” by the pandemic.
As Box navigated the pandemic, she ended up testing positive for the virus in October 2020, and again in January 2022. Box wasn’t afraid, she said, and expected it would eventually happen as she continued to come into work while others got the opportunity to stay home.
“The important thing for me was to not expose other individuals,” she said.
As for what she plans to do after retirement, Box said she would do more gardening, traveling and hiking. She plans to stay in touch with her team, saying they are not just colleagues, but also friends.
And one more thing: “I’d love to read something besides a report or the next public health thing that’s coming out,” she said.
Weaver takes over
The new state health commissioner will be Dr. Lindsay Weaver, current chief medical officer of the Indiana Department of Health. She will officially assume the role June 1.
Weaver was instrumental in developing a statewide lab testing network and distributing COVID-19 vaccines while she was chief medical officer, according to a news release. She is also an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and practices medicine at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
She chairs the Indiana Commission for Women, which is a government organization that works to recognize the contributions of women across the state and advocates for the removal of legal and social barriers to women.
Weaver said at the press conference she will continue the legacy of Box’s administration and that there will be no big changes at the state’s health department.
Still, Weaver emphasized the importance of focusing on prevention when it comes to public health.
“Really (I) just want to expand upon the partnerships that we’ve already grown over the last several years. And now we have the funding and the means and the momentum to do so much more,” she said.
Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/box-reflects-on-pandemic-health-disparities-as-she-departs-state-health-commissioner-role/article_2d817f0c-f117-11ed-a2df-0b6204d7b1b1.html | 2023-05-13T03:22:46 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/box-reflects-on-pandemic-health-disparities-as-she-departs-state-health-commissioner-role/article_2d817f0c-f117-11ed-a2df-0b6204d7b1b1.html |
A local developer who wanted to build townhouses on the southwest side will have to wait after the Fort Wayne City Council denied a necessary zoning request.
Fort Wayne City Council members voted Tuesday against the request to rezone 1.56 acres from single family to multi-family at 5500 block of South Bend Drive, which is near Canterbury School in the Country Club Hills neighborhood. The move followed a do-not-pass recommendation the Fort Wayne Plan Commission on April 24.
A developer or property owner must wait at least a year before submitting the same rezoning request, according to planning department staff.
Along with the rezoning, Hummingbird Canterbury LLC submitted plans for a building of 10 market-rate townhomes and a second building with 10 garage units. It was the second set of plans the development company had presented for review.
At the March 13 Fort Wayne Plan Commission meeting, the plans called for 20 townhomes in two buildings with attached garages.
Neighbors raised concerns about density, whether it fit in with the existing neighborhood and how much it would add to Canterbury School’s regular traffic.
The plan commission sent that proposal back for revision at the March 20 business meeting, and Hummingbird LLC returned April 17 with the 10-unit plan.
The Plan Commission’s vote was 6-3 against the project then. The three votes in favor were because those members felt the developer made enough changes, said Michelle Wood, senior planner. She said some commission members were also concerned about a planned dry detention pond, which would require extensive work to level the ground from a steep drop.
Councilman Tom Freistroffer, R-at large, is a member of the plan commission and was one of the three voting for the plan. However, he voted against it at the council meeting.
“I did vote for it because I’m a businessman myself,” Freistroffer said.
However, he didn’t expect the neighbors’ negative response to remain strong, he said.
Most of the City Council members agreed with residents’ concerns.
Michelle Chambers, D-at large, said the area is too dense. “This is not a good fit for the neighborhood,” she said.
Freistroffer said the city needs more housing options, but future developments need to remain within the rules designed for them. He added that the city needs to look more closely at how to develop and place townhome additions.
“Townhouses are the future of Fort Wayne,” he said.
Councilman Russ Jehl, R-2nd, was the sole City Council vote of support for the rezoning request. He said the plan showed less density than many multi-family developments and the comprehensive plan calls for more multi-family developments.
Jehl said the community needs to be careful about saying it wants more multi-family developments if it’s going to say no to them.
Councilmen Jason Arp, R-4th, and Tom Didier, R-3rd were absent from the meeting. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/local-politics/fort-wayne-city-council-denies-rezoning-for-southwest-townhomes/article_2c42d728-f02a-11ed-bca2-9f7987004cab.html | 2023-05-13T03:22:52 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/local-politics/fort-wayne-city-council-denies-rezoning-for-southwest-townhomes/article_2c42d728-f02a-11ed-bca2-9f7987004cab.html |
Allen County/ Fort Wayne
Philharmonic shows moving to PFW
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic will move to Auer Performance Hall in the Rhinehart Music Building at Purdue University Fort Wayne for main stage performances for the 2023-24 concert season, the nonprofit posted to Facebook this week.
“This expanded partnership with Purdue University Fort Wayne allows the Philharmonic to avoid price increases while maintaining high-quality performances,” the post says. “This move also offers the opportunity to enjoy a contemporary space that was built to produce acoustic balance and maintain the best sound quality possible.
“Access to these improved technologies will bring outstanding musical experiences to the stage. New and returning amenities like valet parking, comfortable seating, and our Musically Speaking pre-concert talks will enhance your concert-going experience as well.”
The local orchestra previously performed at the Embassy Theatre downtown.
Deadline for SBA storm help: June 14
The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds businesses of all sizes and residents in Indiana with damage from severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred March 31 through April 1 to apply for the federal disaster loan program by the June 14 deadline.
Businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in the declared counties are eligible to apply. Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for their settlement before applying to the SBA. The SBA can make a loan for the total loss and use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
The disaster declaration covers Allen and 11 additional Indiana counties, which are eligible for both physical and economic injury disaster loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA economic injury disaster loans: Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wabash, Wells and Whitley in Indiana. In Ohio, the counties are Defiance, Paulding and Van Wert.
Applicants may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration No. 17881.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 14. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Jan. 15, 2024.
Salvation Army to celebrate week
Communities across the United States will be celebrating the 69th Annual National Salvation Army Week next week. In Indiana, these festivities include official declarations, open houses, storytelling, fundraisers and food drives.
The Salvation Army Fort Wayne is hosting a seven-day food drive beginning Monday. Non-perishables and hygiene items can be dropped off at 2901 N. Clinton St. on Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to support year-round pantry assistance to the community.
In 2022, The Salvation Army Indiana Division provided more than 2.2 million meals to hungry Hoosiers, almost 120,000 safe nights of shelter, and basic social services to over 178,000 individuals across Indiana. With a presence in every county in Indiana, there is much to celebrate during National Salvation Army Week.
Find your local Salvation Army learn more about their plans for National Salvation Army Week by visiting SalvationArmyIndiana.org.
Born Learning Trail up in Hamilton Park
Women United, an affinity group of United Way of Allen County, announced Friday that the Born Learning Trail installation in Hamilton Park will wrap up on Thursday.
The Born Learning Trail is an innovative public engagement campaign that helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children. A Born Learning Trail contains interactive signs with activities for adults to engage in with young children to turn an outdoor trip into a fun learning experience. The interactive signs throughout the trail offer instructions in both English and Spanish.
The affinity group is a collaboration of local women who are committed to significantly improving the quality of life for the children in Allen County by ensuring their readiness for kindergarten.
This is the second local installation of a Born Learning Trail. The first was completed at McMillen Park in November 2020.
Nominations open for Golden Hoosier
Nominations are being accepted for the 2023 Golden Hoosier Award, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announced Friday.
This is the 16th year for the program, which is offered in collaboration with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Aging.
“Our state is filled with generous Hoosiers who are constantly giving back to their neighborhoods and communities,” Crouch said in a statement. “The Golden Hoosier Award is an amazing opportunity to honor those who have dedicated their lives to serving Indiana communities.”
The annual award honors senior Hoosiers for their lifetime of service and commitment to their communities. To be eligible, the nominee must currently be an Indiana resident, age 65 or older and have been a volunteer in the community for the past three years.
The deadline for submitting applications is July 9.
Nomination forms can be accessed foud at in.gov/lg/lt-governor-initiatives/golden-hoosier-award.
– Journal Gazette | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/philharmonic-concerts-move-to-purdue-fort-wayne-from-embassy-theatre/article_3f5622e4-f100-11ed-a506-07bebb51bc04.html | 2023-05-13T03:22:58 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/philharmonic-concerts-move-to-purdue-fort-wayne-from-embassy-theatre/article_3f5622e4-f100-11ed-a506-07bebb51bc04.html |
YORK, Pa. — On spring and summer nights along North George Street, there’s no need to watch for traffic.
“I look left, I look right, and everything is perfect," said customer RJ Waller.
The only parking being done here is in a seat and taking in the best cuisine of downtown York.
“For me to be able to end my day sitting out here in the shade, having great company, and wonderful food and music," said Liz Wynders. "It’s just wonderful.”
The outdoor dining on North George Street allows local restaurants a chance to spread out and offer patrons a unique dining experience out in the street.
“You don’t see this everywhere, but with the nice weather on a day like today, you got to love it," said Johnny Kennevan.
The street closures began back in 2020 as a way for local restaurants to stay open during the pandemic. The outdoor dining events continued to come back, as the popularity of the street closures grew.
“When I showed up to work yesterday morning, [our reservations] have about tripled in numbers, mostly for outdoor dining for tonight," said Robert Faucette, the general manager of Rockfish Public House.
Restaurant managers along North George Street said the outdoor dining boosts revenue during the summer months.
“So, when we have the slower months like September, when school starts back up, or January after the holidays, this really makes up for that gap that we have for those few months when we’re really slow," said Dave Gannett, the general manager of The Handsome Cab.
Officials say closing the street encourages people to enjoy downtown York and its flavorful fare.
“The vibes are good, people are enjoying delicious food in the street and enjoying a unique experience," said Jon Desmarais, director of Downtown Inc. "And with the Yorktowne Hotel opening, we’re seeing increased foot traffic with folks coming in and out and taking in all we have to offer in downtown York.”
North George Street will be closed every Friday from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. until October. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/outdoor-dining-returns-to-downtown-york-community-restaurants-road-closure-york-county/521-f949772b-c262-4963-96d2-285f93941c72 | 2023-05-13T03:29:51 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/outdoor-dining-returns-to-downtown-york-community-restaurants-road-closure-york-county/521-f949772b-c262-4963-96d2-285f93941c72 |
ATLANTA — Three Georgians died after a plane crashed off of the coast of California Wednesday, officials said.
According to the Phoenix Air Group of Cartersville, its flight crew aboard a Learjet 36 aircraft went down in the water about a mile from San Clemente Island. It happened Wednesday morning around 7:40 when the aircraft didn't make it back to the runway.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it conducted a search with the help of the Navy, Air Force, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They combed 334 square miles. However, the results came up empty.
Phoenix Air identified the three employees as the following:
- Captain Eric Tatman of Marietta, Georgia
- 1st Officer Spencer Geerlings of Newnan, Georgia
- Systems Specialist Shane Garner of Taylorsville, Georgia
They said search crews located a debris field in the water. After about a 24-hour search, they said the Coast Guard declared there were no survivors Friday.
The plane went down while two Phoenix Air-owned aircraft were participating in a U.S. Navy training exercise; the other aircraft landed safely.
"Both aircraft were flying in a military restricted area as part of a carefully planned series of flight profiles supporting U.S. Navy fleet preparedness," the company said in its news release.
The Coast Guard said the plane took off from Point Mugu Naval Air Station.
An investigation is still underway into the crash. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/3-georgians-killed-jet-crashes-california-coast/85-fb36f62b-a02f-4183-993d-f6302ca61365 | 2023-05-13T03:31:30 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/3-georgians-killed-jet-crashes-california-coast/85-fb36f62b-a02f-4183-993d-f6302ca61365 |
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Cherokee County man is showing love for his hometown through music.
Kurt Wheeler and his mom wrote a song entitled "Cherokee County," which has now been adopted as the county song.
According to the county's website, the original tune talks about the county's history, features, and what it means to grow up in the community.
The county said he was approached by the Cherokee County Historical Society after having a discussion about a performance at the organization’s capital campaign kickoff to write a song about the County. It was written in 2020.
His mother, Barbara, was able to help and provide historical context to the tune.
Wheeler said he was honored with the idea that his song was being adopted by the county. He performed at an April board meeting.
11Alive photojournalist Tyson Paul talked to Wheeler and his mom about the honor.
"It was a powerful moment for us to be there standing together representing the generations that had come before us -- not just for our family -- but for other families in this county," he said.
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at WhereAtlantaSpeaks@11Alive.com.
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- Watch live streams on YouTube | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/cherokee-county-offcials-song/85-4b60dcbf-98ae-4db3-a7fc-768c8da865e3 | 2023-05-13T03:31:36 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/cherokee-county-offcials-song/85-4b60dcbf-98ae-4db3-a7fc-768c8da865e3 |
NAZ Elite has surpassed the 100-win milestone.
In late April at the Big Sure 12K, veteran Stephanie Bruce provided the professional running team -- which started racing in 2014 -- its 100th win.
Then the young core of the team provided some more victories last weekend. Wesley Kiptoo, now early into his sophomore season, defended his title at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon on Sunday, a day after Adrian Wildschutt and Krissy Gear won races at the ON Track Fest in California.
“Then we got 101, 102 and 103 this weekend with Krissy and Adrian and Wesley," NAZ Elite Executive Director Ben Rosario said Wednesday.
Getting to and besting the 100-win mark early in 2023 was a pleasant surprise.
“When we started the year, we were pretty sure we would get there, but the fact that it happened so quickly was really cool,” Rosario said.
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NAZ Elite has collected 12 total victories so far this year alone, and rookie Gear accounts for five of them.
Last weekend, she shined in the steeplechase event, clocking a 9:23.55 that's good for an USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships automatic qualifier. Moreover, her time was less than a second off the world championships qualifier.
“It was even above and beyond what we thought," Rosario said of Gear's steeplechase performance, "and we’re pretty optimistic folks."
Gear was in fourth place for much of the race last week before she started counting heads at around the 600-meter mark. After gaining position to make a surge for the gold, she passed eventual runner-up Courtney Wayment down the stretch to break the finish-line tape.
Now NAZ Elite has a good problem when it comes to Gear, who is also looking to qualify for the outdoor championship meet in the 1500m.
“But it was promising to see her win that race because Courtney Wayment, who she was able to beat, is a fantastic athlete and made the world championship team last year, so that bodes pretty well,” Rosario said.
While Gear has been a consistent threat to win races, Kiptoo has been consistent at producing standout half-marathons. Of the three total he's run so far in his young career, he has two first-place finishes and one second-place result. All three of his times at the distance have been the best half-marathons from males on the team ever so far.
At Pittsburgh, he ran a 1:01:21, which was four seconds faster than his 2022 time at the event.
Rosario said Kiptoo is just built for the distance.
“He can live in that half-marathon-pace-type zone for a really long time," Rosario said. "It’s just a zone that feels really comfortable to him, and I think he really enjoys it. So it’s a combination of being physically and also mentally suited for that distance.”
Rosario believes Kiptoo can eventually make a big jump in time at the distance and run it under an hour.
“I can say that with confidence, because he ran an hour and 35 seconds at Houston, and that race wasn’t necessarily blazing from the gun, and a lot of that was because he himself pushed late in the race," Rosario said.
While Kiptoo and Gear provided wins on their surfaces, Wildschutt won on the track last weekend, setting a PR at 27:23.10 in the process. Not far behind him in the 10,000m was teammate Alex Masai, who helped provide the 1-2 punch with his runner-up time of 27:51.68.
NAZ Elite also received a promising performance from Matt Baxter last weekend as he builds toward his summer marathon. On Sunday, he finished seventh at the Bloomsday 12K with a time of 34:55.
"We had a heck of a weekend," Rosario said.
Mike Hartman can be reached at 556-2255 or at mhartman@azdailysun.com. Follow him on Twitter @AZDS_Hartman. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/naz-elite-this-week-team-surpasses-100-win-mark-after-strong-weekend-performances/article_ce500264-f11c-11ed-af91-2b53a83d2afc.html | 2023-05-13T03:35:51 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/naz-elite-this-week-team-surpasses-100-win-mark-after-strong-weekend-performances/article_ce500264-f11c-11ed-af91-2b53a83d2afc.html |
A Dallas-based chorus group will hold a benefit concert this weekend to help raise funds for those impacted by the Allen mall shooting.
The benefit, hosted by The Vocal Majority, will be held on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at McKinney High School’s Sperry Performance Hall. Greg Clancy, musical director of The Vocal Majority, said the event will be ticketless. Guests will be encouraged to make donations, Clancy said.
“It’s a season right now. People should be celebrating graduations and weddings and Mother’s Day, but you feel this sense of heaviness in the community,” he told NBC 5 Friday.
The benefit Saturday night will be exactly one week after a gunman shot and killed eight people at the Allen Premium Outlets, injuring at least seven others.
The Vocal Majority is a Dallas-based chorus group of about 150 men. They primarily sing acapella. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the victims, Clancy said.
“Our mantra is '“'harmony in a world that needs more harmony.' That’s really what we’re all about. So when something like this happens, especially something so close to home and the community, we want to do something to help. Anything that we can,” he said.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
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With the outpouring of support for the victims of the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets, GoFundMe has launched a centralized hub for all verified fundraisers related to the shooting. The online fundraising platform said it was working around the clock to make sure that all funds donated go directly to survivors or the families of victims. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/benefit-concert-saturday-planned-for-allen-shooting-victims/3257290/ | 2023-05-13T03:37:42 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/benefit-concert-saturday-planned-for-allen-shooting-victims/3257290/ |
Dallas Police are investigating the murder of a woman, which her family believes was out of revenge for getting an abortion.
Harold Thompson, 22, was arrested on a murder charge in the killing of 26-year-old Gabriella Gonzalez.
The shooting happened on Wednesday, May 10, just after 7:30 a.m. near a gas station on the 800 block of south Walton Walker Boulevard.
Police said the two were seen arguing and surveillance footage shows Thompson putting Gonzalez in a choke hold in the moments before shooting her in the head. Gonzalez died at the scene.
Tragically, her sister, Mileny Rubio, witnessed the murder while she was driving nearby to bring her boyfriend to work.
“I heard gunshots and immediately knew it was her and when I looked back, it was her. She was on the floor,” she said. “I was in shock. I couldn’t touch her. I couldn’t move. My body froze. I just called my mom and I couldn’t even explain to her.”
Gonzalez’s family told NBC 5 that the two had recently ended a tumultuous 4-month relationship.
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“I knew she wasn’t OK but we couldn’t help, we didn’t know how,” Rubio said.
A search of Thompson’s criminal history shows prior charges of domestic assault, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest prior to the shooting. Gonzalez' mother said that report was officially filed in March by her family but they never heard back from Dallas Police after multiple attempts.
“I looked at her beaten, he no longer let her talk to anyone, he took everything from her,” Gonzalez’ mother told NBC 5 in Spanish. “He took his phone, he managed everything for her. She was scared."
Court records report Thompson had also abused Gonzalez while she was pregnant.
According to the arrest report, Gonzalez had just returned this week from a trip to Colorado to get an abortion. Police say Thompson was believed to be the father of the child.
“He was so angry that she wanted to get away from him,” Rubio said. “She would always tell me that she wanted to leave, but that she couldn’t.“
A bond has not yet been set for Thompson. It's unknown if he has an attorney.
Gonzalez leaves three young children behind.
“My sister was very beautiful. She was so sweet,” Rubio said. “It’s so heartbreaking because everybody loved her.”
Gonzalez's family is hosting a viewing and memorial this Sunday. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday. They are currently raising money to help cover funeral costs. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-womans-family-says-revenge-was-motive-for-her-murder/3257256/ | 2023-05-13T03:37:48 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-womans-family-says-revenge-was-motive-for-her-murder/3257256/ |
There are plans to name a new inclusive playground after a boy whose disappearance remains under investigation, according to the Everman mayor.
For the past two months, authorities have been looking for clues into what happened to Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez. The 6-year-old has been missing since October 2022, which is the last time authorities could confirm anyone had seen him alive. In April, investigators said they believed he was deceased after finding no evidence to support claims or rumors that the boy is either living with family members abroad or had been sold to a woman outside of a local grocery store.
“I just wanted to keep his memory alive and put his story out there,” Everman Mayor Ray Richardson said. “When kids get hurt and stuff, it rubs me the wrong way. I don’t understand it.”
According to Richardson, the Everman City Council has already given their support behind naming an inclusive playground by Clyde Pittman Park after Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez. A vote on Tuesday night is for formality purposes, Richardson said.
“When you watch the videos, I think it’s a sad state of affairs when you see the pictures of him when he was at his house over here [Everman]. He was not a happy child,” he said. “But then you see the video of him with the foster mom. He’s calling her mom. He’s laughing and he’s smiling. He’s two different kids. It gets to you. It makes you wonder what he went through.”
On Friday, Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer announced a new team of investigators will be brought in to review the case. Dozens of investigators from multiple agencies have assisted so far, Spencer said.
“We’ve had task force agencies from the secret service and other federal organizations, homeland security. We’ve had officers that have been a part, have an expertise in human trafficking be a part of this investigation,” Spencer told NBC 5 Friday.
By having more investigators take a look, Spencer said he hopes it will add a level of meticulous review.
“When you’re looking at a case, sometimes we get honed in a theory or maybe we get honed in a piece of evidence. So, we want fresh eyes to come in occasionally and just take a look at the whole case and that we’re not missing anything,” he said.
Officials have previously announced the boy’s mother and stepfather are believed to have traveled to India with their six other children after police started looking into the boy's disappearance in March. The FBI is working with international partners to locate and extradite Cindy and Arshdeep Singh who are currently charged with felony child abandonment and endangerment in the missing boy's case.
While federal authorities are working on locating the boy’s mother and stepfather, Everman officials say they will not stop looking for him.
“If he’s dead, then he needs to be located so we can give him a proper burial,” Mayor Richardson said. “Whatever happens, happens. I just want to find him. I know Craig [Spencer] and them are not going to give up until they do.”
The inclusive park is expected to be open sometime later this summer, according to Richardson. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/inclusive-playground-to-be-named-after-missing-everman-boy-noel-rodriguez-alvarez/3257299/ | 2023-05-13T03:37:54 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/inclusive-playground-to-be-named-after-missing-everman-boy-noel-rodriguez-alvarez/3257299/ |
Friday was the final day for seniors at International Leadership of Texas Keller-Saginaw High School.
"Well, the general sentiment has been pretty sad because obviously, we won't be coming back here," ILTexas Keller-Saginaw High School senior Erik Bermudez said.
Bermudez though is filled with excitement for his future.
"I did not anticipate getting into all the schools that I did."
So far, Bermudez has been accepted into about 20 colleges. He explained why he applied to so many.
"Honestly, fear,” Bermudez said. “Because the competitive admissions process for colleges has gotten really competitive in recent years with more and more applicants each ongoing year."
All of that applying wasn't easy. But Bermudez says he doesn't take the easy road. That's why he chose Cornell University.
"Their courses are usually significantly more difficult and they grade at a higher standard," Bermudez said.
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He's also well on his way to paying for his higher education. His scholarships and grants total more than $2 million.
"I'm still very grateful for even some of the random chance that has gone into the application process for scholarships,” Bermudez said. “That's really turned out into a miracle for me and my family."
His family is amazed by what their son has achieved.
"For me, to see my son on a path to higher education, the one that my dad didn't achieve, the one I couldn't achieve, it really is a dream," his father Emilio Bermudez said.
A dream his son says other students can achieve if they put in the work.
"The college admission process is brutal,” Erik Bermudez said. “Take it as it is. My final words would be never let up."
The senior class of all 21 ILTexas campuses across the state totaled about $90 million in Merit Scholarships. The four DFW campuses made up $58 million of that total. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-senior-accepted-to-more-than-15-colleges-more-than-2-million-in-scholarships/3257260/ | 2023-05-13T03:38:00 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-senior-accepted-to-more-than-15-colleges-more-than-2-million-in-scholarships/3257260/ |
First responders always rush to answer the call for help. But they're often the last to find help for themselves.
The Garland Police Department’s wellness officer Todd Gyure said supporting the mental health of police and paramedics is crucial, especially after the recent mass shooting in Allen that has shaken communities across North Texas.
"Some first responders have a really spartan warrior mentality,” he said. “They think about taking care of the community all the time but they don't think about taking care of themselves."
Throughout the week, Gyure has been working one on one with first responders from Allen to process the trauma of the mass shooting.
He's one of several trained peer support officers from across North Texas who are part of a group called Overwatch Peer Support, a program within the North Texas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The officers deliver specialized training to help first responders recognize when they are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, depression or other problems that can arise in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
They also connect first responders with therapy, breathing exercises, and other mental health resources so they don't feel alone in processing their feelings.
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"It's been a big honor and really humbling to share some space with first responders that were out there on the scene,” he said.
NAMI’s website has a peer support application on its website for any first responder who needs help. Click here to send a request.
Gyure is also a producer on a new documentary called PTSD911, which highlights the mental health struggles first responders face in their line of work.
Tickets are on sale now for a screening at the Historic Plaza Theater in Garland on June 24. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/peer-support-program-helping-allen-first-responders-with-mental-health-and-wellness/3257259/ | 2023-05-13T03:38:12 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/peer-support-program-helping-allen-first-responders-with-mental-health-and-wellness/3257259/ |
Along Dallas’s southern edge, a heavily wooded area holds the mystery. Who killed Alan White, and how did the KPMG executive’s remains wind up there, waiting to be discovered months after he disappeared?
“I sit back now and think about it. It's been over two years, and how much has changed and how much has happened, and where we're at today. And it just makes you just kind of, you know, it doesn't seem real,” said Tim White.
White said he’ll never forget Oct. 20, 2020, when he got the call that nobody could find his brother Alan.
“My sister Tina called me. She was crying, and she said, ‘Timmy, Alan’s gone missing.’ I said, ‘What?’ It was something you didn't expect to hear,” he said.
There was nothing unusual that morning when Alan left home for the L.A. Fitness on Haskell Avenue around 4:40 a.m.
An hour after arriving, surveillance video shows him get in his black Porsche SUV and leave. Shortly after, more video places Alan about a mile from home, at a RaceTrac gas station at the corner of Inwood Road and Maple Avenue. Around 6 a.m., he’s seen filling up before heading inside.
“He lingered at the store there and then went out and got in the car, and we don't know what actually happened after that,” said Tim White.
Five days after his disappearance, Dallas Police found Alan’s car 15 miles down Interstate 45.
White said it was seemingly unscathed, hidden just out of sight not far from the intersection of Bonnie View Road and Simpson Stuart Road.
“We went with the Dallas Police Department. The South-Central Unit location took us there. The missing persons detective was with us,” said White. “Now that I look back on that, we were less than a quarter mile away from his body.”
Originally from West Virginia, Alan White made Dallas home with his husband Rusty Jenkins, and a close network of friends.
Tim White said his older brother was equally dedicated to family. The day of his disappearance, Alan was hosting his niece and had plans to attend a tasting for her upcoming wedding later that day.
Seven months after he was last seen, a surveyor stumbled upon skeletal remains while working in a wooded area near Paul Quinn College. It didn’t take police long to confirm the remains belonged to Alan.
Months into their search, loved ones had a new question to grapple with, not only what happened to Alan, but who wanted him dead?
Though video doesn’t show it, Tim believes the person responsible for his brother’s death got into Alan’s car while at that gas station just a mile from his home.
Tim said his car is seen circling the lot a few times before pulling away.
And deep down, he believes someone filling up during rush hour that morning had to have seen something that can help.
“There’s somebody that saw who got in that car, and I wish they would come forward,” he said.
As for motive, the family doesn’t believe the crime was random.
Nothing was stolen from Alan, and his car was left clean but otherwise untouched not far from his remains.
“Was he involved in something? I don't care what he's involved in. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. It doesn't matter at this point. I just want to know why,” said White.
White also wants justice to bring closure for Jenkins and Alan’s siblings, along with their mother.
“I look forward to that day, and I hope it happens, when I come down here and sit in a courtroom and that person who’s responsible will have to face what they did,” said White.
Two and a half years since he was last seen alive, Alan’s back in West Virginia, laid to rest near his father and older brother who died in 2018.
Still, White advocates for answers.
“It's a daily occurrence in your mind. Why did someone do this? Why was it? Why did they put it upon themselves to determine that it was time for his life on earth over?” he said.
Dallas Police continue to investigate Alan White’s disappearance.
“We encourage anyone with info to call. Even the smallest bit of information could be what is needed to solve a case or generate a lead,” said a department spokesperson.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Eric Barnes at 214-671-3480.
There’s a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/two-years-later-family-continues-to-push-for-answers-in-kpmg-execs-murder/3257249/ | 2023-05-13T03:38:19 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/two-years-later-family-continues-to-push-for-answers-in-kpmg-execs-murder/3257249/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Friday night a familiar face was among the community leaders recognized during the Roanoke Branch NAACP’s 23rd Annual Citizen of the Year Awards.
WSLS 10 News anchor Brittny McGraw received the Citizen of the Year Award for Media.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized and know my work is having an impact in the community,” McGraw said.
The annual event celebrates excellence in a variety of categories, including the arts, education, corporate work, and humanitarian work.
The awards dinner took place at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke County.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney served as the guest speaker. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/13/10-news-anchor-brittny-mcgraw-recognized-during-roanoke-branch-naacps-23rd-annual-citizen-of-the-year-awards/ | 2023-05-13T03:52:13 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/13/10-news-anchor-brittny-mcgraw-recognized-during-roanoke-branch-naacps-23rd-annual-citizen-of-the-year-awards/ |
LYNCHBURG, Va. – There are a lot of questions when it comes to any officer-involved shooting.
Tod Burke is a former police officer who taught criminal justice at Radford University. Burke said officers are told to use their firearms if there is an active safety threat to themselves or the public.
“Officers make these decisions in a split second,” Burke said.
A Lynchburg police officer was involved in a shooting on Friday morning that sent one woman to the hospital. The call came in for officers to respond to a woman assaulting a Child Protective Service worker at a home.
Lynchburg Police later released information regarding the case. The release stated, “When she opened the door, she attacked the officers with knives. In response, an LPD officer discharged a department-issued handgun striking the woman.”
“If all the sudden the person is coming and attacking them and closing the gap … sometimes the officer doesn’t have a choice,” Burke said.
Caseworkers have difficult jobs dealing with some of these cases and take trainings to learn how to react. A manual explains some of the things caseworkers need to keep in mind in terms of safety.
“Often you are going to someone else’s home. You’re going to their territory. They are familiar with their home,” Burke said.
Officer-involved shootings are typically handed over to Virginia State Police to investigate. Burke said at the end of the day, it’s still heartbreaking even if it is justified.
“Anytime you have an officer-involved shooting, it’s not good … whether it’s considered justified by law or not,” Burke said. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/13/former-police-officer-criminal-justice-professor-weighs-in-on-lynchburg-officer-involved-shooting/ | 2023-05-13T03:52:19 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/13/former-police-officer-criminal-justice-professor-weighs-in-on-lynchburg-officer-involved-shooting/ |
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Friday afternoon, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office honored 13 fallen officers from the department’s history ranging from 1907 to the present.
Whether they’d lost family members in recent years, or they were remembering a relative who died decades ago, family members said mourning a loved one never becomes easy.
Tammy Fillers and Kathi Boyd’s brother Sgt. Steve Hinkle was considering retirement when a regular day on the job in 2019 went wrong.
“He went there to try to help somebody that was a call for a welfare check,” said Boyd. “If the guy had just talked to him, instead of shooting, I mean, he, he would have helped him.”
Boyd and Fillers said the memorial is always special, if difficult.
“You think it’ll get easier, and you’re not going to cry, but you always do,” said Boyd.
For families whose loved one’s death is now decades in the past, the grief and loss are still fresh.
“He was my twin brother. He’s been gone 22 years and I still miss him. We were real close,” former sheriff’s office employee Brett Shelton told News Channel 11.
He was on duty, driving behind his brother Deputy Barry Shelton, in 2001 when Barry lost control of his vehicle and died in a crash.
For some, the memorial itself has become a tradition. Phyllis Jackson is a relative of the first officer to die in the line of fire for Sullivan County. Her great-grandfather, Special Deputy Lee Eldridge Eldreth, died in 1907.
“I think we’ve come ever since the first one was done,” Jackson told News Channel 11. “It’s always a wonderful thing when we get the call to say they’re gonna do it again, because it’s kind of important I think, to remember those folks.”
National Police Week begins Sunday, May 13.
Law enforcement officers and families from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C. for a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Memorial. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/fallen-sullivan-county-law-enforcement-honored/ | 2023-05-13T04:03:03 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/fallen-sullivan-county-law-enforcement-honored/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Gov. Bill Lee has called a special session of the General Assembly to address gun reform following the deadly shooting at a Nashville Christian school, but some lawmakers want the shooter’s so-called “manifesto” to be released beforehand.
Kingsport Rep. Bud Hulsey is one of them.
Six people, including three children, were killed when 28-year-old Audrey Hale opened fire at The Covenant School on March 27.
In the weeks that have followed, many have called for the release of written material belonging to Hale. While police initially referred to the writings as a manifesto, they have since called them writings or journals.
Hulsey wants to see them before lawmakers return to Nashville for the special session in August.
“We need to know all we can know about that, and it would have to be the planks that guide whatever bill gets written to deal with, for example, those folks not being able to purchase (guns),” he said.
Hulsey said that based on comments from his constituents, he doesn’t think most are in favor of a red flag law.
“This district historically, and even now, based on the amount of information in emails I get and phone calls I get, people don’t want gun control,” said Hulsey. “We’ve got to weave a thread here, if we’re going to deal with mental illness and what you do about it, particularly keeping people who are high risk from being able to purchase weapons.”
The special session will begin Aug. 21. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/hulsey-wants-shooters-manifesto-released-before-special-session/ | 2023-05-13T04:03:09 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/hulsey-wants-shooters-manifesto-released-before-special-session/ |
About 50 years ago, a 17-year-old girl was raped and left alongside the road, later learning she was pregnant. After giving birth, that teen abandoned her baby.
That child was Monica Kelsey, the CEO and Founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
Kelsey’s passion to help moms in crisis today is fueled by her past.
“I stand on the front lines of this movement as one of these kids that wasn’t lovingly and safely and anonymously placed in a Safe Haven baby box,” Kelsey said.
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A baby box is a safety device that legally permits a mom to surrender their newborn anonymously.
It’s installed in the exterior of a wall at a designated fire station or hospital.
The door automatically locks when a baby is placed inside and allows a staff member on the other side to grab the child.
Kelsey is working with Florida leaders to bring more boxes here, especially since the six-week abortion ban passed.
“If you’re going to pass a six-week abortion ban, you better give more options for parents when the child arrives,” Kelsey said.
Florida currently has a safe haven law. It allows parents to hand over their newborn to a staff member at a hospital or fire station lawfully.
Democratic State Sen. Lauren Book is one of the legislators that voted against Senate Bill 870.
It would authorize the placement of infants in baby boxes, set parameters for safety and increase the age in which a newborn can be given up from seven to 30 days.
“I believe if it’s not (broken) don’t fix it,” Book said. “I think this is a dangerous place to go when we have a system in place that works.”
One of her concerns is that the father of a surrendered child would be left in the dark.
“If a biological father wants to be in the life of their child this baby is now in the custody of the state and has no rights and no knowledge that that baby has been surrendered or if they were even born,” Book said.
Other legislators worry the box will malfunction.
Republican State Sen. Colleen Burton said this legislation wasn’t meant to replace current law.
“All this legislation does is set the parameters to say it can be done. It doesn’t say it’s the only way to do it,” Burton said.
Although the bill died in committee, there is no law stating the device can’t be used in Florida.
Kelsey said her organization runs on donations and fundraising.
“Us coming into the state of Florida and putting boxes in fire stations and hospitals costs the taxpayers nothing,” Kelsey said.
The only baby box in the entire state of Florida lives at an Ocala Fire Department.
It has been there for about two years, but it was used for the first time this year.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/13/ceo-of-safe-haven-baby-boxes-pushes-for-more-safety-devices-in-florida/ | 2023-05-13T04:11:54 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/13/ceo-of-safe-haven-baby-boxes-pushes-for-more-safety-devices-in-florida/ |
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — One of the people in charge at the Elizabethton Golf Course has resigned.
According to the City Council, Stephen Wilson, who serves as the golf pro at the course, submitted his resignation during Thursday night’s council meeting.
Wilson resigned over “attacking comments” regarding the course, according to the council.
Some spoke during the public comment part of the meeting about the condition of the golf course, citing issues with weeds, dead spots in the grass, and downed trees. Those who spoke asked the city to take back management of the course, which is currently managed by a contracted company.
Council Member Wes Frazier suggested they discuss the issue further during a council retreat next week. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/elizabethton-golf-course-official-resigns/ | 2023-05-13T04:16:26 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/elizabethton-golf-course-official-resigns/ |
When the time came to name the consolidated Henry Clay and John M. Gandy elementary schools, the fix was in.
There’s no way a majority of the Hanover County School Board would allow the new building to retain the name of Gandy, a former all-Black segregation-era school named for a longtime president of Virginia State University. The clock began ticking on the Gandy school brand the moment the district removed the names of Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee from its schools.
The School Board majority maintained that it was strictly adhering to a district policy against naming new schools for persons living or dead. But a committee selected by the board had proposed a reasonable compromise: name the school after Berkleytown, an early- to mid-20th century African American hamlet developed just outside the town limits to accommodate racist zoning laws designed to keep Ashland white.
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Berkleytown — anchored by the original Gandy school, which now houses the Hanover School Board offices — became part of Ashland in 1977. It recently was placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. But the board thumbed its nose at these historical considerations and the recommendation of its committee in voting 6-1 Tuesday night to name the school Ashland Elementary.
Ola Hawkins of the Ashland District was the dissenting vote.
Karen Lynne, the Ashland representative on the committee, expressed shock and disgust with the decision in a letter to the board, noting that she’d put in hundreds of hours of work on the matter and poured through hundreds of emails and phone messages from the community.
“Of the more than 700 opinions given, more than 600 wanted the name to be Berkleytown or Gandy. How can you sit in your seats and claim to represent the community when the committee counted the votes and told you what the community wanted — only for you to ignore it?
“It’s preposterous,” she wrote. “The committee went on facts. And you have ignored them.”
In the process, the board sent a clear message to county constituents: Think twice before agreeing to serve on an advisory committee. The School Board will take your recommendation under advisement — wink-wink — and then do what it intended all along.
In this case, the board majority didn’t desire a research-based recommendation; they wanted political cover. When the committee failed to provide it, the board responded with pettiness and arrogance.
“I really didn’t think that they would just so overtly ignore the work of their own committee,” Lynne said Thursday. “The committee was handpicked by the School Board. And I know they got people that they believed would see things from their perspective. And it didn’t turn out that way at all.”
It’s reassuring to know that the majority of the committee acted in a spirit of community engagement, open-mindedness and compromise.
Can we get those folks on this School Board?
Several years earlier, there had been a tacit, if unofficial, agreement among Superintendent Michael Gill, the board and the Ashland community to retain the Gandy name on a consolidated school to be built on the Gandy site. But that was before the names of Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School fell, the arrival of Redd on the board and the purging of members who’d supported the name changes.
“Ashland Elementary” was among the suggestions Redd floated to Gill in a June 29, 2022, email objecting to school district references to the planned rebuild as “the new Gandy school.”
"Hanover has become the place where consensus goes to die," writes The Times-Dispatch columnist Michael Paul Williams.
“Being a graduate of LDHS, I had ‘hard feelings’ about the Board’s decision to remove the Lee-Davis name but I have accepted it and am moving on; so, let’s not show some type of bias in naming the new school,” Redd wrote. “If we stick to the policy, no one has a valid claim of some sort of bias in the naming of schools. We need to be consistent in the application of the policy and the treatment of citizens in all parts of the county; otherwise, we will rightfully face claims of bias.”
If avoiding the appearance of bias was the goal, Tuesday’s action represents an epic fail. The Berkleytown name was not at loggerheads with district policy; there was no sound reason to reject it.
On one hand, it might seem perfectly logical to name the consolidated school Ashland Elementary. After all, the school is in Ashland. But viewed through a historical lens, this naming shows the same sort of callous disregard that led the Hanover school district to lionize Confederate leaders who took up arms against the U.S. government for the right to keep Black people in chains.
A majority of the committee understood this. It took into account how Berkleytown residents felt about having Gandy Elementary renamed for the town that had excluded them residentially and educationally. It also considered that the town of Ashland is named after the Kentucky plantation of Hanover native Henry Clay, an enslaver and U.S. senator known as “The Great Compromiser.”
The School Board, in ignoring the will of a historically oppressed community, tossed compromise out the window.
“It was very clear that to name it Ashland Elementary was going to be a slap in the face to the Black community,” said Ashland District Supervisor Faye Prichard.
When a score-settling school board hides behind policy, and ignores historical considerations and community consensus, indifference and insult are the point. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/williams-in-snubbing-berkleytown-elementary-the-hanover-school-board-chose-revenge-over-compromise/article_09e07234-f0da-11ed-9cf7-a767b10d7661.html | 2023-05-13T04:22:02 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/williams-in-snubbing-berkleytown-elementary-the-hanover-school-board-chose-revenge-over-compromise/article_09e07234-f0da-11ed-9cf7-a767b10d7661.html |
VALPARAISO — A Portage contractor faces fraud and theft charges after customers allege he pocketed their money without completing the work he promised to do.
A customer alleges Jose Gonzales, 52, of Portage, who owns American Fence Company, agreed to put up a fence in her backyard in September 16 and charged a $900 deposit for the work. Three days later, she went to obtain a permit from the city to build the fence and learned the company's license was no longer valid, according to a police report.
The customer contacted her bank and asked if she could procure a stop payment on the check she wrote. She learned the check had already been cashed.
The customer asked Gonzales if she could receive her deposit back by a certain date if he did not renew his license. He told her she could, but failed to follow through. He then stopped answering her calls, according to an arrest report.
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Gonzales was arrested Thursday and booked into the Porter County Jail. He faces multiple felony counts for multiple incidents in July, September and October.
Numerous customers have reported their frustration with Gonzales' business, one as recently as last week. A Portage man said he gave Gonzales a $9,000 deposit to fence a large property he had recently purchased off of Airport Road. He was referred to Gonzales by a Menards worker.
The customer said he looked up Gonzales after putting down the deposit, and saw posts on social media "blasting" his work. The customer said he likes to support local businesses, but feels defeated after this experience with Gonzales. He said he plans to file a police report.
“Makes it hard for me to trust people,” the customer said. “I was always taught you want to leave your dollar in your community as long as you can.”
Visit the Indiana Attorney General's website for information on how to prevent home improvement scams. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/portage-contractor-arrested-and-charged-with-fraud/article_34351cda-f10a-11ed-b4eb-d70d07113fcd.html | 2023-05-13T04:22:19 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/portage-contractor-arrested-and-charged-with-fraud/article_34351cda-f10a-11ed-b4eb-d70d07113fcd.html |
BALTIMORE — Paintings, sculptures, and avant garde fashion pieces: One of the biggest art shows in the area is finally back after three years off. The ArtWalk is back at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
Friday, a gala was held to kick off the weekend exhibit. Starting May 12, MICA’s campus will be lined with more than 2,000 one-of-a-kind art pieces made by the undergraduate class of 2023.
‘We’re thrilled to invite the public back to our campus for ArtWalk, Baltimore’s premier showcase for next gen artists and designers. You can wind through galleries and teaching studios transformed into gallery spaces and delight in our graduates, on the cusp of their careers, as they launch new thought, beauty, and ideas into the world beyond," Zvezdana Stojmirovic, associate dean of Undergraduate Studies, said.
The event is free for all who want to visit. You can meet the artist and grab some grub. The public can also visit the ArtWalk Commencement Exhibition from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 to Monday, May 15.
To view all art locations you can see, click here. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/mica-artwalk-returns-to-baltimore-after-a-three-year-hiatus | 2023-05-13T04:24:41 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/mica-artwalk-returns-to-baltimore-after-a-three-year-hiatus |
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Contact Us | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/11-year-old-girl-hospitalized-after-triple-shooting-in-point-breeze/3565801/ | 2023-05-13T04:28:23 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/11-year-old-girl-hospitalized-after-triple-shooting-in-point-breeze/3565801/ |
Mayor Jim Kenney and stakeholders held a celebration for the city's Indego bike share program's eighth anniversary and announced new expansions to the program.
“Creating a transportation system that benefits everyone in our city has always been a priority of my administration and a high-quality bike network is key to achieving that goal,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “The City’s bike share system, Indego, continues to provide Philadelphians with new, safe, and sustainable options to get wherever they need to go.”
This year, Indego expects to add 600 new docking stations and 600 new electric bikes to its service. This is a part of the programs 5-year expansion plan which focuses on social and economic equity internally and externally.
“Equity is one of the things that sets Indego apart from other bike share systems. As we celebrate Indego’s 8th anniversary I’m extremely proud of our continued commitment to providing a healthy, affordable, and fun mode of transportation for all Philadelphians," Indego’s General Manager Nate Bowman-Johnston said.
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In 2015, when the program launched, Indego started with just 60 stations and 600 bikes. Today the system has grown to a network of over 200 stations and over 2,000 classic and pedal-assisted electric bikes, with over 6 million trips taken.
"With this, we’re excited to bring dozens of new stations and hundreds of new bikes this year into communities that we haven’t previously served. As we expand, our vision is for Indego to be an integral part of how people get around Philadelphia,” Bowman-Johnston continued.
Indego plans to focus on expansion in North Broad, Manayunk and West Philly. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/indego-electric-bike-share-celebrates-8th-anniversary-plans-to-expand/3565468/ | 2023-05-13T04:28:29 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/indego-electric-bike-share-celebrates-8th-anniversary-plans-to-expand/3565468/ |
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Contact Us | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/inmate-charged-for-allegedly-helping-prisoners-escape/3565805/ | 2023-05-13T04:28:35 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/inmate-charged-for-allegedly-helping-prisoners-escape/3565805/ |
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Contact Us | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/the-taylor-swift-takeover-begins-in-south-philly/3565802/ | 2023-05-13T04:28:41 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/the-taylor-swift-takeover-begins-in-south-philly/3565802/ |
Detroit to replace 15,000 lead service lines in next two years
Detroit ― City water leaders plan to replace 15,000 lead water pipes in the next two years under a new effort they announced Friday that will start in a neighborhood on Detroit's southwest side.
Last fall, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department allocated $100 million in funding to speed up the replacement of the city's estimated 80,000 lead service lines in the city at no additional cost to its customers. The department plans to replace 5,000 lines this year and 10,000 annually beginning in 2024.
DWSD Director Gary Brown said Detroit's water quality continues to be safe and there are no children with elevated levels of lead in their blood where the source was drinking water.
“While there is no evidence to suggest lead service lines are a contributor to elevated blood lead levels in Detroit, they do pose a risk," Brown said. "Thanks to federal funding, we can accelerate the pace of lead service line replacements and have no impact on the water rates."
Lead service lines are what carry treated water from the public water main to the house. When lead leaches from water pipes, the toxic metal can get into the drinking water supply.
Michigan's lead pipe law, the most stringent in America and implemented in the wake of the Flint water crisis, requires all lead service lines to be replaced over two decades, city officials said. Detroit houses built before 1945 likely have a lead service line unless the pipe was replaced in recent years.
DWSD is prioritizing replacing lines in areas that have the most density of homes built prior to 1945, with a significant amount of children and seniors in the area or are in low-income households. Brown said it could be years before crews get to Detroit's northwest neighborhoods that were built after the end of World War II in 1945.
Once replaced, the copper pipes last 50 years. In the last three years, the city has replaced 3,000 lead pipelines but hopes to accelerate the program using a variety of small, medium and large contractors working cohesively.
In Claytown, a neighborhood in southwest Detroit along the Dearborn border, 5,000 pipes will be replaced this year. Previously, DWSD would replace lead service lines while on the same street they were replacing a water main pipe.
Of the $100 million allocation, $75 million is coming from American Rescue Plan Act pandemic funding through the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy, $10 million from Michigan Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, $5 million from Environmental Protection Agency, and $10 million from DWSD's capital improvement funds.
“When people think 'How could this happen?' Here's the reality, the lead lines in this country are in the older cities and tend to be in the lower income cities," Mayor Mike Duggan said. "So, when it comes time to replace them, the people who need the most help have the least ability to bare the cost. Too many cities have deferred this until it's too late."
The cost of residential lead service line replacement, which requires excavation at the curbstop valve and uses a boring method to install the new line to the home, is about $8,000-$10,000 per house, Brown said.
Brown said more state and federal funding will be needed to replace all of Detroit's estimated 80,000 lead service lines.
"Outside funding is essential to have no impact on water rates," Brown said.
By end of May, DWSD will post a request for contract bids seeking small contractors to bid on replacing as few as 250 water service lines, and for larger contractors to bid on replacing up to 2,500 lead service lines.
Contractors will be required to adhere to a city policy that Detroiters get 51% of the manhours.
Tiffany Jones, director of opportunity and inclusion at DWSD, looked at contractors that have already completed work on similar lead service line replacement projects, including Benton Harbor, Flint and Eastpointe, and contractors for the City of Detroit Basement Backup Protection Program. So far, she organized 15 meetings, representing more than 50 organizations. The meetings provide an overview, including the procurement process, and allow the opportunity for contractors to ask questions.
Through this effort, DWSD has secured the services of Milwaukee-based Five Star Energy Services for the first $25 million contract. It has committed to hiring and training Detroiters and is leasing property on the west side of the city for equipment and office staging purposes. Five Star has done lead service line replacements in Flint, Benton Harbor and Denver.
DWSD will begin hiring 17 field service technicians to create three in-house crews to replace lead service lines. The field services technician position is already posted at https://detroitmi.gov/jobs and DWSD is accepting applications.
When a lead service line is verified, DWSD gets owner or adult occupant permission (including tenant) to replace the full lead service line, including the private portion and get access to connect it to the home plumbing through the water meter. DWSD warranties the work for one year before the property owner resumes ownership of their portion. Under this program, there is no cost to the property owner to have the pipe replaced.
The DWSD lead service line replacement program is featured in this video.
Residents are encouraged to watch this video to determine if they have a lead service line and join a wait list for replacement at https://detroitmi.gov/lslr.
A pitcher filter and cartridge are also delivered to all houses on the street of the water main replacement as a precautionary measure, and for individual lead service line replacement. This action was initiated in 2017 after the Flint water crisis. Lead-reducing pitcher filters were chosen since homes have different faucet fixtures.
srahal@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @SarahRahal_ | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/05/12/detroit-to-replace-15000-lead-service-lines-in-next-two-years/70211358007/ | 2023-05-13T04:33:02 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/05/12/detroit-to-replace-15000-lead-service-lines-in-next-two-years/70211358007/ |
$1M bond for alleged Center Line drug dealer charged with possessing kilo of fentanyl
Warren — An alleged drug dealer was charged with several felonies after police officials said Friday they caught him with a kilogram of fentanyl, 200 grams of cocaine, a sawed-off shotgun and a stolen rifle.
Dionte Carson, 40, of Center Line faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges levied Friday in Warren's 37th District Court. The charges include delivery and manufacturing of fentanyl and cocaine and maintaining a drug house.
Bond was set at $1 million.
"Throughout the course of the investigation, undercover officers made arrangements to purchase fentanyl from Carson at various locations in the City of Warren," Warren police said in a statement.
After a Wednesday drug purchase, Carson was arrested, according to the release.
"During a search of Carson, officers located a Glock firearm and crack cocaine. Investigators then obtained and executed search warrants at residences affiliated to Carson in the City of Detroit and the City of Center Line," the release said. "Inside the Detroit residence, officers located approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, 200 grams of cocaine, two narcotic presses, a sawed-off shotgun, a stolen assault rifle, and 3 other firearms. Investigators also seized equipment used to manufacture false identification cards."
Authorities also found banking paperwork and a "sizeable amount" of money at Carson’s Center Line residence, according to the release.
“There is no telling how many lives were saved thanks to the seizure of such a large quantity of fentanyl and other drugs," Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said Friday. "The DEA has confirmed that this one kilogram of fentanyl could have potentially caused the death of 500,000 people. I commend the Prosecutor’s Office and Judge for issuing the appropriate charges and bond. The arrest and charges should send a message that drug trafficking in the City of Warren will not be tolerated."
A not guilty plea was entered at Carson's arraignment.
His next court date is scheduled for June 1. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/05/12/alleged-macomb-county-drug-dealer-charged-with-possessing-kilo-of-fentanyl-1m-bond-set/70214421007/ | 2023-05-13T04:33:08 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/05/12/alleged-macomb-county-drug-dealer-charged-with-possessing-kilo-of-fentanyl-1m-bond-set/70214421007/ |
ALLEN, Texas — Mental health is often a frequent topic of conversation following a tragedy, such as the one that happened at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday. Business owners in a nearby shopping told WFAA that some employees decided not to return to work.
Stacy Holwerda is the general manager of Liberty Burger, located on the 800 block of West Stacy Road. She says things have been slow at the eatery since last weekend.
“We don’t know how long it’s going to be different…do we shut down for a day? Do we shut down for a week for a month? Who knows? You don’t know how long this is going to affect everybody,” said Holwerda.
The restaurant remains open, but Holwerda says one employee has already quit.
“He messaged us and was talking to his family, and they thought it was best for him to not stay employed and not come back effective immediately. That’s the last I’ve heard from him unfortunately," Holwerda says.
Holwerda understands that some of her employees are struggling and checks in with them to make sure they are okay. Meanwhile, those who worked at the outlet mall still don’t know when they will return to work.
Esmeralda Duffus-Zeegers has worked at one of the mall stores for the last seven years and was at work last Saturday; the day a single gunman decided to open fire outside her place of employment.
“It’s surreal I know I went through it at the same time. When I see things on TV I can kind of not associate it, but still associate it," said Duffus-Zeegers.
While most watched the events in Allen unfold Saturday from afar, the experience for those who were inside was very different and they are left trying to fill in the gaps.
“The news can show it. The cameras that were up in the air can show it, but I can’t talk about it because I was in a little room in the back of my store with no real windows or anything to see what was going on.”
Duffus-Zeegers goes on to say the traumatic experience has brought up feelings about the loss of her mother last year. It’s a kind of grief that licensed clinical social workers, like Christine Sunny John, describe as having ‘multiple layers’.
“It may even trigger sadness and other previous memories of losses and feelings of sadness, anxiety and anger and once again going back making sure that you feel your feelings and talking about it rather than hiding and isolating it,” said John.
With the obvious looming question of what comes next, Duffus-Zeegers says self-care is important, but so is caring for others, including the other people who she was working with on Saturday.
“We’re keeping touch and we’re making sure that if anybody needs to talk or something like that, that we have each other, we have each other’s backs, we’re family, and that’s what I like about where I work."
Property owners say the Allen Premium Outlets will remain closed until all the funerals of those who lost their lives have taken place. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/allen-outlet-mall-shooting-employees-businesses-impact/287-f76ba4b9-eeff-48b6-ae55-4f9aeec7b5ea | 2023-05-13T04:39:26 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/allen-outlet-mall-shooting-employees-businesses-impact/287-f76ba4b9-eeff-48b6-ae55-4f9aeec7b5ea |
SAN ANTONIO — A large pile of personal paperwork was found dumped near a busy interstate.
On Friday, a concerned KENS 5 viewer alerted us to the situation on the southeast side of Loop 410.
“I was going home (on Thursday) and, by chance, I happened to look over the railing,” said the driver, who didn’t want to be publicly identified.
The woman says she noticed several boxes, so she returned the next day.
“And discovered that it’s peoples' documents,” she said.
The documents included names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and medical records. The heap also contained employee payment stubs, COVID-19 screenings, paperwork connected to Child Protective Services (CPS) and a police investigation into the reported sexual abuse of a nursing home resident.
“Nobody’s documents should be out like this,” said the woman. “Especially in today’s age with all the identity theft.”
The documents are seemingly linked to a San Antonio nursing and rehabilitation center.
“First of all, I was shocked,” said Callie Jones.
Jones’ contact information was listed in one of the files, so KENS 5 called her.
She said her late mother spent a week at the nursing facility seven years ago.
“When you fill out papers at a nursing home or any medical place, they ask for your date of birth and your social security number,” said Jones. “So, that’s enough for anybody to go create another life using my mom’s information.”
Jones is frustrated with the nursing and rehab center.
“Whether they were doing the right thing and it fell off a truck, it was still careless on their part," said Jones. "There has to be a better way.”
KENS 5 contacted the San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department, and crews were quick to remove the mess.
We also reached out to the nursing facility. Over the phone, a manager repeatedly said she had “no comment.” When asked to direct us to someone who can answer our questions, she said to call back on Monday.
KENS 5 has also reached out to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Stay with us for updates. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/medical-documents-found-san-antonio-bridge/273-ae708725-4dfe-4810-b19d-86402941cb00 | 2023-05-13T04:39:33 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/medical-documents-found-san-antonio-bridge/273-ae708725-4dfe-4810-b19d-86402941cb00 |
DALLAS — When the clock struck 10 p.m. in El Paso Thursday, Title 42 ended.
At one of the checkpoints, no one came out -- only two national guardsmen went in.
But throughout the night and day, buses began picking up migrants and taking them to processing facilities. Some migrants didn’t make it across and waited on the other side.
But others, like Frances Nazareth and her daughter, made it.
”I spent many days at the gate trying to pass,” Nazareth said.
She said she prayed around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, and Friday morning, immigration officials called their names.
”It’s hard to explain what I’m feeling, because everything we went through and lived through to get here, now we have hope,” Nazareth said.
Nazareth left her home in Venezuela a few years ago. She shared pictures of herself in happier times but she says things turned violent, so she fled. She wiped away tears while talking about the difficult journey she embarked on with her daughter.
”And it’s really hard because they’re asking you, 'mom, when we are going to get there? Why are we here?' We have to sacrifice so much. You have to get rid of your belongings because they weigh too much, and we went days without eating,” said Nazareth.
And now, they are on the other side, joined by friends they met along the way.
The U.S. Border Patrol and Customs hasn’t said how many people have been apprehended since Title 42 ended, but yesterday, 10 thousand migrants were in custody -- a record number.
Once they left the border, some were taken to processing centers.
One of the larger ones is North of El Paso. They can house up to a thousand migrants for up to 72 hours. In June, the facility will expand to hold two thousand.
The migrants like Frances that are allowed to stay eventually have to go to an immigration court hearing, and that could take months or years. For now, she is just grateful to be in the U.S.
”We came for a real dream, a goal and to succeed,” said Nazareth. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/woman-child-make-it-us-after-dangerous-journey-border/287-e722d175-3292-4f32-9bda-84164f3fbef5 | 2023-05-13T04:39:39 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/woman-child-make-it-us-after-dangerous-journey-border/287-e722d175-3292-4f32-9bda-84164f3fbef5 |
SEATTLE — It all started one week ago on a flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Francisco De Jesus was traveling with his 13-year-old daughter at the time.
"We were going to go celebrate my oldest daughter's graduation. You know, I mean, it was a happy time,” said De Jesus.
But he said it took a horrible turn after they boarded the plane.
"I got up to go to the bathroom. When I came back, my daughter had some wings. I was like, ‘oh, where did you get those from,'” he recalled.
De Jesus said she told him that a flight attendant came over and asked her if she was OK, where she was going, and who she was going to meet? He said he didn't think much of it until the plane touched down.
"As we're deplaning, we're greeted by several individuals. One of them who introduced himself as the head of security for the Charlotte International Airport,” said De Jesus.
Francisco and his daughter were led through the terminal before they were finally told why. Law enforcement explained to him that flight attendants are trained to look for the signs of human trafficking.
"At that point, my heart just sank,” De Jesus said.
With a scared daughter by his side, De Jesus said he answered questions and quickly cleared up any confusion.
"They were very professional. They saw the situation for what it was immediately,” said De Jesus. "My question that I would like to have answered is how did they get to label me as a human trafficker? I had my iPad; we were watching a movie. She had her phone. I mean, these are things that I thought a dad and a daughter traveling do."
"I tried to reach American Airlines to find out and I'm getting absolutely nothing from them,” he said on Friday morning, adding that he first reached out three days ago.
When KING 5 reached out on Friday, American Airlines responded with a statement saying: "Our frontline team members are trained to navigate a variety of safety issues, including recognizing the potential signs of human trafficking. We strive to create a positive, welcoming environment for everyone who travels with us and apologize for any misunderstanding that may have occurred."
In an email, a spokesperson for American Airlines said a member of their team has reached out to the customer to learn more about their experience and address their concerns. By Friday afternoon, De Jesus confirmed that he received a call from the airline.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, “human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that occurs in every state, including Washington.” Airports and airlines are working to raise awareness. The Port of Seattle’s website states, in King County, an estimated 500 to 700 children are forced into prostitution every year.
"Human trafficking is a very serious thing. But what we went through and the fear of that wasn't nice. I just wish that they would have maybe talked to me more. Maybe whoever, the person that made the judgment, should have come over and had a conversation with me,” said De Jesus. "I just want to know what kind of training they do. And is it enough?" | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/dad-mistaken-human-trafficker-american-airlines-flight/281-216dc4c2-19ed-4e8f-9677-4ea5e8dff8f0 | 2023-05-13T04:41:57 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/dad-mistaken-human-trafficker-american-airlines-flight/281-216dc4c2-19ed-4e8f-9677-4ea5e8dff8f0 |
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.kgw.com/article/news/local/king-county-airport-court-order-ice-deportation-flights/281-7f9d4a9e-80ba-4c19-9663-62ef5ecb44f6 | 2023-05-13T04:42:04 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/king-county-airport-court-order-ice-deportation-flights/281-7f9d4a9e-80ba-4c19-9663-62ef5ecb44f6 |
FORT WORTH, Texas — Police in Fort Worth, Texas, are hoping a recent DNA test will provide closure to a family who had been missing their daughter for more than 51 years.
Melissa Highsmith's disappearance had been one of the country's oldest missing persons case after she was handed to a babysitter at just 21 months old and was never seen again.
The lives of Highsmith and her biological parents changed forever in November 2022 when a 23andMe DNA test linked them together.
At the time, the Fort Worth Police Department said it would conduct its own official DNA testing.
And now, several months later, police said the test confirmed Highsmith's identity.
Highsmith told WFAA she was overjoyed to learn of the police department's official DNA confirmation.
"It’s like God has given me a new beginning," Highsmith said. "I can start over. It’s like a fairy tale, you know, I still wake up every day. Wow."
While the statute of limitations expired 20 years after Highsmith's 18th birthday, police said they still are seeking any information on her abduction from over 51 years ago.
This month, Highsmith, her father, and other family members traveled to Universal Orlando. It was one of the items on Highsmith's bucket list.
She also plans to renew her vows with her husband soon, so that her father will have the chance to walk her down the aisle. Another item on her bucket list includes a visit to Spain, where one of her siblings lives.
"All my life I never really felt like I belonged anywhere. I finally belong somewhere, and everybody loves me," Highsmith said. "I just love my family, I just love them so much."
Highsmith told WFAA she looks forward to making memories with her loved ones after decades of missing out on being together.
This month, she plans to formally change her name back to her birth-given name: Melissa Highsmith.
Back in November 2022, Highsmith and her parents spoke with WFAA about the reunion.
"I feel like I am dreaming, and I keep having to pinch myself to make sure I'm awake," Highsmith said.
"I’m just elated, I can't describe my feelings. I'm so happy to see my daughter that I didn't think I would ever see her again," said Alta Apantenco, Melissa’s mother.
"She's alive... I cried like a baby," said Jeffrie Highsmith, Melissa's father.
The case
Melissa Highsmith's disappearance dates back to Aug. 23, 1971 at an apartment building on East Seminary in Fort Worth.
Apantenco had advertised for a babysitter and ended up speaking with a person by the name of Ruth Johnson, who agreed to pick up 21-month-old Melissa from the apartment.
On that day, Apantenco had to be at work, so her roommate at the time handed the child to Johnson, who was described as being well-dressed and wearing white gloves.
Johnson never returned with Highsmith and could not be reached.
The missing persons case involved Fort Worth police and the FBI but searches came up empty-handed. At the time, police said they did not have any evidence that Highsmith was harmed.
When Highsmith spoke to WFAA in November 2022, she said she thought the woman who raised her was her mother but that she ended up running away from home in her teens due an abusive stepfather.
She also added that she had been living under the name Melanie.
"I didn't feel loved as a child. It was abusive, and I ran away at 15 years old. I went to the streets. I did what I had to do to get by... I worked the streets," Highsmith said.
Highsmith had also contacted a woman believed to be the one who raised her.
"The mother confessed, I bought you for $500 on the street, she said in 1972. Melissa thinks she's the one that kidnapped her from the Spanish Gate apartment in Fort Worth, Texas," Jeffrie Highsmith told WFAA.
It turns out Melissa Highsmith had been living just 20 minutes away from her biological mother, Alta Apantenco, in Fort Worth.
While the family was reunited, her parents said they're still trying to seek some sort of justice for the abduction.
"She stole 51 years of my joy with my family. Justice needs to be served," Jeffrie Highsmith said.
Melissa Highsmith told WFAA she wanted to speak face-to-face with the woman who raised her. "I don't want charges pressed. I would like answers," she said. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-texas-police-confirm-identity-woman-reunited-with-family-missing-51-years-ago/287-ee2eea31-0e6c-4f41-af8a-3da2bdd244fc | 2023-05-13T04:43:58 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-texas-police-confirm-identity-woman-reunited-with-family-missing-51-years-ago/287-ee2eea31-0e6c-4f41-af8a-3da2bdd244fc |
MAYS LANDING — Communication students at Atlantic Cape Community College were recognized during the college’s 16th annual Communication Awards ceremony, held April 28 in the Walter E. Edge Hall Theatre at the Mays Landing campus.
The evening included more than 100 awards bestowed in more than 40 categories. The event didn’t just recognize current communications students — alumni, faculty and media professionals were also honored.
Communication Major of the Year was awarded to Katherine “Kat” Jaques, of Buena. She was recognized for her leadership within the Communication Club.
Some of the additional individuals recognized were Atlantic Cape alumnus Nate Evans Jr., class of 2015, of Mays Landing, who was recognized as the Communication Alumni of the Year; and Christian Monroe of Cedar Creek High School and Kyle Warren of CharterTech High School for the Performing Arts, both recognized as Faculty Pioneers for contributions to communication students in their districts.
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“Atlantic Cape’s Communication program is a family,” Communication Awards Club Co-Advisor and Communication Professor Keith Forrest said. “When I think of this generation, I know that our world is in very capable hands. I am very proud of the work our students do here.”
A full list of award recipients can be found at atlantic.edu/news. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-cape-recognizes-students-during-communication-awards-ceremony/article_c1f0ca04-f012-11ed-a68b-93ad341ba977.html | 2023-05-13T04:46:18 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-cape-recognizes-students-during-communication-awards-ceremony/article_c1f0ca04-f012-11ed-a68b-93ad341ba977.html |
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — High school student Matthew DiTizio, of Egg Harbor Township, recently won third place in a statewide music competition created to raise awareness of substance use prevention efforts.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s “Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs” music competition was held virtually April 26. The contest was hosted on the website ShoutDownDrugs.com. Winners were announced live at the end of the event.
In its 19th year, the competition challenges New Jersey high school students with musical abilities to be leaders among their peers and take a stand against substance abuse. Winners are chosen by a panel of independent judges, in addition to online voting by the public.
DiTizio received third place with his original song “Revealed,” which touches on the pain of addiction with lines such as, “They fuelin’ their addiction and addin’ to the bills. It’s just another pill before the truth gets revealed.”
People are also reading…
DiTizio received a $2,000 music contract and will be performing his song at statewide events for the next year. To watch a recording of the contest, visit ShoutDownDrugs.com. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/egg-harbor-township-student-places-third-in-anti-drug-music-competition/article_442fec1c-ef59-11ed-96c5-7bf7698d6a9c.html | 2023-05-13T04:46:25 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/egg-harbor-township-student-places-third-in-anti-drug-music-competition/article_442fec1c-ef59-11ed-96c5-7bf7698d6a9c.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — Families and friends came together to grieve the loss of Tameika White.
White, a Marion County sheriff's deputy, was killed Tuesday in violent dog attack.
She's being remembered as a dedicated public servant, devoted mother and avid pool player.
On Friday, people gathered at John Wayne's Pub and Eatery on Indy's south side for a vigil and fundraiser.
The spot holds a lot of meaning for those who knew Tameika because she competed in pool tournaments here.
A fundraiser Friday ahead of a balloon release and vigil collected money for White's son who was injured in the dog attack. Family and friends tell us they plan to be there to support him as he grows up. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/woman-killed-in-indianapolis-dog-attack-remembered-as-dedicated-public-servant-devoted-mother-tameika-white-deputy/531-5867e268-02d9-4f7b-add8-33373d094df1 | 2023-05-13T04:46:44 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/woman-killed-in-indianapolis-dog-attack-remembered-as-dedicated-public-servant-devoted-mother-tameika-white-deputy/531-5867e268-02d9-4f7b-add8-33373d094df1 |
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — One person was taken to the hospital after a car accident in Grass Valley Friday evening.
The accident happened on Bitney Springs Road where two cars crashed and one rolled over, according to the Grass Valley Fire Department.
All occupants of the cars managed to get out of them after the crash, but one person was taken to the hospital.
It is not clear what condition that person is in, nor what car they were driving.
Officials have not reported any other injuries, the cause of the accident or if drugs or alcohol were involved. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/grass-valley-nevada-city/bitney-springs-road-crash/103-090f3cd7-95b2-4001-bf36-67f2a5cff1fe | 2023-05-13T04:47:03 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/grass-valley-nevada-city/bitney-springs-road-crash/103-090f3cd7-95b2-4001-bf36-67f2a5cff1fe |
STOCKTON, Calif. —
Walking the halls of Patterson High School, 18-year old Shaan Chowdaury has not missed a single day of school since kindergarten.
"I had no clue that I would go thirteen years without missing one day. I could have never imagined it," said Chowdaury.
Having a great attendance record actually runs in in the family.
His 23-year-old brother Shahil never missed a day when he was in school and their 20-year-old sister Shaila only missed one day.
How did they do it?
"My children have great immune systems. They don't get sick very often. They're not ones to complain," said Shaan's mother, Vikashni Prasad.
During the pandemic, she got COVID. The family says the kids were able to avoid getting it by strategically placing food and anything she needed outside her bedroom door.
"I think with Shaan, he was like 'stay away from me. You're not getting me sick. I'm going to school everyday to get my award,'" said Prasad.
And get his award he did.
He was recognized with a certificate at a school district board meeting.
"So, for us we're honored to have him in our district and to be an example of what we would like all of our students to be," said Reyes Gauna, Patterson Joint Unified School District Superintendent.
Shaawn is sometimes found outside demonstrating how to use a forklift to younger students during his logistics class.
His teacher Larry Garcia says he's a can't miss student.
"He's been there for me anytime I've needed him. He's very trainable. He's become very knowledgeable of the equipment," Garcia.
Shaan still has just shy of two weeks left of the school year to keep his prefect attendance intact.
He says these last few weeks are not a time to be absentminded.
"Take all the knowledge you can. Be successful in life, come to school. You can start by coming to school," said Shaan.
He plans on going to Modesto Junior College and then transfer to California State University East Bay.
He also plans to take an internship learning about logistics with the U.S. Department of Defense.
His major is Business Administration with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/patterson-student-attendance/103-042932e3-4ef1-4208-96d3-c6ccb0ac7b6f | 2023-05-13T04:47:09 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/patterson-student-attendance/103-042932e3-4ef1-4208-96d3-c6ccb0ac7b6f |
The chart lists crimes through May 8 investigated by the Fort Wayne Police Department including burglary, robbery and thefts from vehicles. An attempted robbery or burglary is classified as an actual robbery or burglary, respectively. The listed addresses are those where crimes were reported and are not necessarily where the crimes occurred.
Sector 1B
5/6/23 5 p.m. Burglary 400 High St.
Sector 4B
5/5/23 10 a.m. Theft from vehicle 1200 S. Harrison St.
Sector 11
5/2/23 8:30 p.m. Theft from vehicle 700 Goshen Ave.
5/3/23 11:30 p.m. Theft from vehicle 600 Archer Ave.
5/4/23 12:30 p.m. Theft from vehicle 4100 Parnell Ave.
5/7/23 4:28 p.m. Theft from vehicle 4200 N. Clinton St.
Sector 12
5/2/23 Midnight Theft from vehicle 1000 Third St.
Sector 13
5/7/23 9 p.m. Theft from vehicle 2900 Goshen Road
Sector 26
5/4/23 11:30 a.m. Theft from vehicle 6500 Evard Village Parkway
5/5/23 11:50 p.m. Robbery 6200 St. Joe Road
Sector 32
5/3/23 3:35 p.m. Theft from vehicle 900 Lincoln Ave.
Sector 37
5/4/23 1:25 p.m. Burglary 2900 Lower Huntington Road
Sector 43
5/8/23 5 p.m. Robbery 3300 Chestnut St.
Sector 44
5/2/23 10 p.m. Theft from vehicle 3400 Oliver St.
Sector 45
5/6/23 9:22 p.m. Burglary 5400 Southern Court
Sector 46
5/6/23 12:10 p.m. Theft from vehicle 5100 Christopher Lane
5/6/23 10 p.m. Theft from vehicle 4100 S. Anthony Blvd. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/crime-reports/crime-reports/article_5ed1e98e-eed3-11ed-81ff-6389e16ebae8.html | 2023-05-13T05:08:00 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/crime-reports/crime-reports/article_5ed1e98e-eed3-11ed-81ff-6389e16ebae8.html |
A new education model at Fort Wayne Community Schools has the potential to do more than equip students with skills employers want.
Possible long-term benefits of 3DE include keeping talented individuals in the region, said Pat Morello of Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana.
“The big problem facing everyone in business today is making sure that we have enough people to meet the growth plans of our businesses,” he told attendees during a 3DE conference this week. “This is tricky because everyone is trying to hire the same talented individuals, and we are seeing a major brain drain in our regional economy.”
Jody Fosnough of Fort Financial Credit Union said becoming a 3DE partner made sense.
“To me, it was just – a light bulb went on,” Fosnough said during the Wednesday event. “Our organization is all about the community. We hire in the community, our customer base is in the community, and this is all about building our talent in the community.”
Students learn about the careers available in Allen County as they tackle case challenges. Multiple workplaces, including Fort Wayne Metals, welcomed the teens to their facilities.
Snider freshman Brooklynn Green said she learned a lot about Franklin Electric, which provided her school’s first case challenge.
“When we went there and we had our case study, that just opened my eyes to so much more about these individual businesses,” Green said.
Fort Wayne Metals attracted two job applicants – a married couple – after their daughter toured its facilities for 3DE, said Evan Wood, vice president of people and strategy. He noted the wife applied after her husband got hired.
Students in 3DE might also generate ideas businesses want to implement, Wood said, adding that happened at Fort Wayne Metals.
“The winning presentation was better than we expect from our employees,” he said.
Ed DeWitt, a Franklin Electric employee, said students offer another perspective.
“There is a clear benefit to the participating companies as well, since we get unfiltered ideas that may cause us to look at a problem differently than we have ever done before,” he said.
Parkview Health has made a long-term commitment to support Fort Wayne Community Schools and Junior Achievement 3DE at all five high schools, said Heather Schoegler, Parkview’s director of strategic educational partnerships.
“This model is developing the very skills we’re looking for from our future co-workers,” she said by email. “In just the first year, these freshmen have demonstrated their remarkable abilities, and we look forward to seeing what they will accomplish as students and in their careers.” | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/3de-programs-designed-to-benefit-students-businesses/article_dc0e401e-f022-11ed-ac91-d7a1e954a32e.html | 2023-05-13T05:08:06 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/3de-programs-designed-to-benefit-students-businesses/article_dc0e401e-f022-11ed-ac91-d7a1e954a32e.html |
Fort Wayne Community Schools student Joanna Payton started high school following years as a middle schooler marked by isolation and virtual learning brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
She initially felt left out at North Side High School, but that changed once a new educational model got underway – 3DE.
“It taught me how to talk to people again and how to get out of that little shell that most of us were in for so long,” Payton said.
Payton shared that story this week with more than 150 people – including local business leaders and FWCS officials – who gathered for a conference about 3DE at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation.
The education model has students tackle problems for local and national employers.
FWCS launched 3DE at Snider and North Side high schools this academic year in partnership with Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana.
They are the first schools in Indiana to offer the concept, which launched about eight years ago in Atlanta. About 600 students participated in this initial year – all 400 freshmen at North Side and about 160 freshmen at Snider.
The collaborative structure is modernizing education, said Steve Helser, chief operating officer of the local Junior Achievement. He said students are thriving.
“Students have become inspired to learn and participate, reaching beyond and not worrying so much about failing,” Helser said by email.
The school board approved a nearly $3.9 million, five-year contract to bring 3DE to Fort Wayne in September 2021. At that time, FWCS Superintendent Mark Daniel cited the model’s success elsewhere, including better graduation and college persistence rates along with decreases in chronic absenteeism.
When a Snider team reached the finals of the Arby’s nationwide case challenge in March, Daniel said the concept was exceeding the district’s expectations. Students were asked how the restaurant chain could upgrade the customer experience to appeal to a new target market of 13- to 17-year-olds. The Snider team pitched an app.
Seeing the initiative come to fruition and spark engagement among students as officials had hoped is exciting, school board President Maria Norman said.
“I’m really proud of Fort Wayne as a whole,” she said, acknowledging partners make adopting the 3DE model possible.
‘Immeasurable’
When 3DE launched, staff cautioned people from describing it as a program. It restructures the way curriculum is taught, with an emphasis on real-world scenarios involving local businesses.
Katie Jenner, the Indiana secretary of education, praised the district’s partnership with the business community in a video message played during Wednesday’s conference.
“We know just how important it is for students to have early access to project-based, service-based and work-based learning,” Jenner said. “3DE is working to give students the skills, experiences and connections they need to succeed in life and in their future careers.”
Businesses – including Fort Wayne Metals, Parkview Health and Steel Dynamics – presented students with open-ended challenges. Each case was anchored in a core competency, which are skills employers desire. The six that 3DE focuses on are creativity and innovation; cultural agility; engaging communication; effective collaboration; self-direction; and critical and analytical thinking.
Staci Beiswanger of Steel Dynamics coached students as they tackled how the business could collaborate with organizations to improve its talent pipeline. This role involved making suggestions and asking questions, such as whether the teens had considered certain aspects.
Beiswanger also judged the teams’ presentations, so she saw their evolution throughout the process. Their confidence stood out, she said.
“I completely forgot they were high school freshmen,” Beiswanger said.
Pitching ideas to professionals can be daunting, she added, even for people in the workforce.
“This is scary for folks who have been out in business a long time,” Beiswanger said.
Ed DeWitt, a staff engineer at Franklin Electric, observed similar qualities in the Snider students he coached. He said they understand how to talk with professionals, know how meetings are conducted and can sell their ideas in a business setting.
“Probably the longest-lasting benefit for most of them, though, is the confidence that was built when they were challenged to step out of their comfort zone to complete the project,” DeWitt said in a statement. “This is something that is immeasurable but is part of the foundation that they will build upon for the rest of their lives.”
Snider student Brenna Spuller shared master of ceremonies duties with a JA representative at Wednesday’s conference. She noted the public speaking didn’t faze her, crediting the practice she got through 3DE.
“I’ve given over five presentations,” Spuller said, “and even one in this very room to over 500 people.”
Expansion
The 3DE model will expand next academic year to include sophomores at the founding FWCS schools, said Daniel, FWCS superintendent. He added officials are working to expand 3DE to the district’s other high schools.
“If you watch the faces of the kids, the teachers, the administrators, you can see that something (transformative) is happening in those buildings,” Daniel said.
The model launched with six business partners, but more are needed as 3DE expands to additional grade levels and schools, said Pat Morello of Junior Achievement.
“To ensure that we keep 3DE growing, we need to continue to recruit business partners who love to help,” he said.
Wednesday’s 3DE event partly served as a recruiting opportunity. Morello encouraged attendees to complete a commitment card after an hourlong program touted the first year’s outcomes.
Evan Wood of Fort Wayne Metals said prospective business partners shouldn’t worry about 3DE becoming a burden.
“The 3DE team makes it as easy as possible for us as a company to engage,” Wood said. “We did not have to be education experts – they were.” | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/new-educational-model-inspires-confidence-in-fort-wayne-community-schools-freshmen/article_750795f4-ef51-11ed-8a59-ef16bde726ce.html | 2023-05-13T05:08:12 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/new-educational-model-inspires-confidence-in-fort-wayne-community-schools-freshmen/article_750795f4-ef51-11ed-8a59-ef16bde726ce.html |
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After being found in a field south of Interstate 20 on Wednesday with his mouth taped shut and his legs taped together, "Gunther" has found foster parents that will oversee his recovery.
Desirae Ryon and her wife welcomed "Gunther," a 9-10-month-old dog, to join their pack. Ryon, a foster parent for about two years, first saw "Gunther," on a foster group chat.
"At the time I actually wasn't planning on fostering, but I'm like, 'I gotta meet this dog' after seeing that picture. So I went to Town & Country vet where he was and just took him home from there," Ryon said. "Whenever I first saw him, his eyes, you can just tell by his eyes that he was just the sweetest dog and he was in pain, physically and emotionally... That drew me to him."
"Gunther," was found Wednesday morning by a good samaritan who spotted him in the brush about 3 miles south of I-20. Permian Basin Animal Advocates shared a photo of how "Gunther" was found on its Facebook to fundraise for his vet bills. The Facebook post, which was met with anger from community members, garnered over 160 comments and 700 shares. As of Friday afternoon, $3,825 have been raised that will go toward "Gunther's" vet bills.
"Gunther," was taken to Town & Country Veterinary Hospital where he was treated. After the tape was removed, his face was swollen and he "looked like he had gotten stung by hundreds of bees," Ryon said. He was given antibiotics and anti-inflammatories but is in good health considering the conditions he was found in.
The Ryons, who have three other dogs, are surprised by how comfortable "Gunther" has gotten with their pack. "Typically fosters take at least a couple of weeks, sometimes a few months to get completely comfortable.," Ryon said.
"(Gunther) is going to be hard to give up, honestly, after fostering him because he is a very sweet, chill do," Ryon said.
When asked why they think "Gunther" was left in the field, Ryon said, "I honestly don't know why anybody would have felt the need to do what they did to him. At first, I'm like, 'Well, I don't know maybe was he barking too much or biting on things and that's why they taped his mouth together. But that is not the case," Ryion said. " He hasn't bitten anything, I haven't even heard him bark since he's been here, he's just a couch potato."
As of Friday, the Ryons are not aware of any criminal investigation into "Gunther's" case.
As a foster parent seeing neglect cases like "Gunther's," Ryan said, "It feels like what we do is not enough, because you are helping one but there are so many others out there that continue to pop up and the worse is when there is no fosters available and that dog has not where to go."
"Gunther's" story is one of many PBAA spotlight on their Facebook page. On March 29 the nonprofit shared the story of "Sadie" a 10-week-old who was found with its mouth tied shut with a rope. On Thursday PBAA introduced "Maribel" who was found with severe chemical burns to her legs.
If you are interested in donating or fostering, visit the Permian Basin Animal Advocates Facebook page.
PBAA will be having a yard sale benefitting where all proceeds will go back into helping the rescues. The yard sale will be on May 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4203 Crestgate Ave. | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/midland-dog-found-mouth-taped-shut-new-home-18096957.php | 2023-05-13T05:13:53 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/midland-dog-found-mouth-taped-shut-new-home-18096957.php |
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — More complaints are coming against Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson and his staff.
We've been following this for months, and now there is a new allegation.
This time it has to do with denied credit card claims, preventing people from getting paid.
Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods said this was not the first time.
"The general public understands that when they don't receive those notifications, it's not because the sheriff's office is not doing their due diligence or don't want to send them out," Woods said. "Our ability to do that has been impacted and impeded by the county judge's office, specifically his chief of staff."
The sheriff recently discovered his department's credit card invoices weren't being paid for months.
One of those companies on the credit card is a third-party stamp supplier.
They provide postage for inmates who need to write letters to their attorneys. The sheriff's office also uses these stamps to send letters to county residents about sex offender changes.
"We can't provide notification because we can't purchase stamps," Woods said. "That impacts our ability to continue and fulfill our statutory duty."
The sheriff said this claim was granted and has been paid. However, there are several dating back to December that have been unaddressed.
We went to the Jefferson County Courthouse to talk with Robinson and his chief of staff, Rosetta Giffens, to find out what was happening.
Giddens would not comment on the matter, but the judge said the invoices were not paid because the paperwork was incorrectly filled out.
"We have to make sure they come from the proper budget and the proper log item, and the sheriff has three separate budgets," Robinson said. "We just have to make sure they are paid from the appropriate budget."
The judge would not go into more detail because the sheriff is currently suing him for these issues.
The lawsuit will have its first hearing next month.
"Often, there's a note on there attesting to why the claim was denied," Woods said. "More times than not, it's some mundane reason that is invalid." | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/credit-card-confusion-in-jefferson-county/91-b3ef8aca-8590-489e-8f5a-05aa8450d983 | 2023-05-13T05:18:24 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/credit-card-confusion-in-jefferson-county/91-b3ef8aca-8590-489e-8f5a-05aa8450d983 |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the past two school years, Fayetteville High School's (FHS) "Black Girls Excellence Club", has been providing students learning opportunities, preparing them for post-graduation life, and lending an empathetic ear to listen.
"The mission for our club is to have our African American students be able to connect with one another in a safe space," said Breanna Taylor, FHS teacher and club sponsor.
Taylor has sponsored the organization for two school years now. It all started when Taylor saw an opportunity to address unmet needs of Black girls on campus. After seeing that FHS already had a club on campus for Black male students, she decided that there needed to be one for girls too.
"We also had the Breonna Taylor and George Floyd era and as an adult, I knew I was suffering so I knew our students were struggling and I wanted them to be able to express their struggles and feel comfortable expressing them," Taylor recalled.
The organization hosts career fairs, therapeutic art events, cookouts, conversations on mental health and educational panels.
"We have African American women from the Northwest Arkansas community at Fayetteville High School here to empower the students because representation matters and I want my students to see that they can be like these women when they get out of school," explained Taylor.
One panelist, Monique Jones, says at this stage in the students' lives it's imperative to host inspirational and educational events that connect them with the community.
"Seeing somebody that looks like you, that's doing something that you'd dream of, is giving them that ability to say 'I can reach for it and it can happen for me too'," Jones said.
FHS senior Madison Henry has been in the club since the start and she says as a minority, it has shaped her high school experience.
"At Fayetteville high school, there are actually 240 black students out of like 2,000 students so it really has a tremendous impact on me because I'm able to have a safe space and have my Blackness be seen more than entertainment but more about what I bring academically to the table and how I impact my community - I just feel seen and heard," Henry said.
That lasting impact has prepared her for the next chapter in her life and on top of that, the panel gave her and other students insight on navigating adulthood as a Black woman.
"Well one thing that stuck out to me from today's panel is that you have to know who you are, you have to know your morals and your foundation because that will set you up for what you'll want to do with your life and who you need to allow in your life," explained Henry.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/black-girls-excellence-club-inspire-uplift-local-students/527-7657c104-b050-4f37-8d8b-30241e49d173 | 2023-05-13T05:31:38 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/black-girls-excellence-club-inspire-uplift-local-students/527-7657c104-b050-4f37-8d8b-30241e49d173 |
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Chad Berger's record-shattering streak could soon come to an end. If that happens, the Mandan bull man has a simple plan.
"We'll reload," Berger said before heading to Fort Worth, Texas, for the PBR World Finals. "We've had to step back and reload before. It ain't nothing new."
Berger's place in producing the world's premier bulls is long since secure. He's won 12 PBR Stock Contractor of the Year awards, the first in 2007, and he's won nine in a row, a streak that started in 2014. Nobody else is close in either category.
The award for the top stock contractor is voted on by those who know best — the bull riders.
This year has still been solid for Berger and his team. He has 10 bulls competing in the World Finals, but that's down from 14 last year. His peak number was 38 in 2018.
People are also reading…
"It's been a pretty good year. We have 10 going to the finals. It's a little less than normal," Berger said.
When you've been atop the mountain as long as Berger has, nobody is in a better position to appreciate the competition's rank roughstock.
"We still have an outside chance to win, but I really have to say, I don't think I deserve it this year," Berger said. "I think a couple of guys outshowed me this year, and you know, that happens.
"It's really competitive. There are a lot of great teams and a lot of great bulls out there. Everyone has the same goal and that's to be the best."
Regardless of the sport, everyone wants to dethrone the king and Berger has indisputably been that for nearly two decades.
"When you're at the top of the hill, it gets pretty lonely up there," Berger said. "We've been there a long time."
Berger's top-ranked bull this year is Night Hawk, sitting sixth in the world, with an average ride-score of 45.25. He's not too far off the pace of current No. 1 Coop Whip, who leads the standings at 45.97. Top dollar is at stake in Fort Worth. The bull of the year nets an additional $100,000 bonus.
Other Berger pulls competing from May 12-21 in Texas are Pookie Hollar, The Right Stuff, Sky Harbor, Drago, Mr. Dennis, Blood Moon, Bubba G, Sneaky Situation and Pearl's Ghost. Pookie Hollar is ranked 17th at 44.59.
After spending the winter at Berger's Oklahoma ranch, the bovine athletes began arriving back in Mandan on Thursday, with dozens more in the days and weeks to follow.
Approximately 150 bulls will be used during a jam-packed summer schedule, which really heats up after the World Finals. Each show typically requires between 70 and 90 bulls.
"Oh my gosh, we're so busy. So much going on, but that's the way we like it," Berger said.
After sending bulls to Montana the first weekend in June and Deadwood, S.D., the following week, his herd will get a home game June 16-17 at the Dakota Community Bank & Trust PBR Bull Riding Challenge at the Bismarck Event Center.
Berger's bulls always bring out the sport's top stars and he expects the same this time around.
Currently, Kaique Pacheco (980 points) sits atop the world rankings. Fellow Brazilian Jose Vitor Leme (906) would need a huge weekend in Fort Worth to knock him off. Nobody else is close.
"With the King of the North Tour, which we put together ourselves, there's a 100 thousand (dollars) at the end of the rainbow," Berger said. "You can count on the top guys coming to Bismarck."
The reason for that is simple. Berger's bulls continue to be the best, even if for a year, he gets knocked off the perch.
"Nobody's ever come close to doing what we've done and I think we'll win some more," Berger said. "We're still plenty motivated. We're going to keep at it. We're not going anywhere." | https://bismarcktribune.com/sports/local/berger-unsure-of-13th-stock-contractor-title-but-says-well-reload-if-streak-ends/article_315ae3d0-f053-11ed-85a0-931cb38f45e4.html | 2023-05-13T06:09:27 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/sports/local/berger-unsure-of-13th-stock-contractor-title-but-says-well-reload-if-streak-ends/article_315ae3d0-f053-11ed-85a0-931cb38f45e4.html |
TURLOCK, Calif. — Turlock Fire Department officials say multiple residents near the 1500 block of N Denair Ave. were displaced early Friday morning after a garage fire extended into the living area of an apartment.
Fire fighters were sent to the area after reports came in around 2:09 a.m. Officials say they got the fire under control within 30 minutes.
Red Cross staff are working with the displaced residents for assistance.
Stanislaus Regional Fire Investigation Unit are investigating the cause of the garage fire. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/turlock/turlock-garage-fire-displaces-multiple-residents/103-c4b71b91-fb0b-4c03-8af1-6df08fc4793f | 2023-05-13T06:22:36 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/turlock/turlock-garage-fire-displaces-multiple-residents/103-c4b71b91-fb0b-4c03-8af1-6df08fc4793f |
KIMBERLY — Barbara Claire Brockman, 84, of Kimberly, passed away Friday, April 28, 2023. Services will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 161 6th Ave. E., Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. There will be a rosary held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at White- Reynolds Funeral Chapel, starting at 6:00 pm.
Barbara Claire Brockman
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/funeral-notices/barbara-claire-brockman/article_d0e173c1-347f-5283-a597-c65d9a9c3e47.html | 2023-05-13T06:27:46 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/funeral-notices/barbara-claire-brockman/article_d0e173c1-347f-5283-a597-c65d9a9c3e47.html |
A recent burglary investigation resulted in three arrests and the recovery of stolen property at a home in Coos Bay.
On April 28, 2023, Coos Bay Police Department (CBPD) officers began an investigation into the burglary of a storage unit at Circle H Mini Storage, 1190 Newmark Ave in Coos Bay. The next day, a CBPD patrol officer contacted a suspicious man in a vehicle in the Empire area of Coos Bay.
The man, Phillip Brazille, age 30, had an unusual amount of property in his vehicle which the officer suspected to be stolen. Surveillance video later confirmed Mr. Brazille, along with the same vehicle, to be the suspect in the burglary at the Circle H Mini Storage.
The patrol officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for Mr. Brazille’s home and vehicle. On May 7, 2023, CBPD and Bandon Police Department officers conducted a search warrant in the 300 block of S Wall St in Coos Bay. At the home, officers arrested 3 residents and seized over 150 pieces of evidence. Evidence included stolen property, 10 guns, passports and drugs, suspected to be fentanyl. Stolen property was recovered from the original investigation, along with items from many other thefts and burglaries throughout Coos County. Officers continue to release the stolen property back to owners.
The Coos Bay Police Department would like to thank the Bandon Police Department for their help during this case.
1. Phillip Brazille, age 30: Burglary 2, Theft 1, Felon in possession of a firearm and Felon in possession of a restricted weapon
2. Whitney Bell, age 30: Felon in possession of a firearm
3. Nicholas Braafladt, age 30: Felon in possession of a firearm, Violation of a restraining order | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/burglary-investigation-leads-to-multiple-arrests/article_c487fd4e-f14f-11ed-9d1d-03029d843905.html | 2023-05-13T06:47:53 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/burglary-investigation-leads-to-multiple-arrests/article_c487fd4e-f14f-11ed-9d1d-03029d843905.html |
TEMPE -- Northland Prep Academy was just a couple plays away from bringing home Flagstaff’s first high school softball championship Friday.
The No. 3 Spartans ended their season with a 4-3 loss to No. 8 Horizon Honors in the 2A Conference state title game at Alberta J. Farrington Softball Stadium on the Arizona State University Campus. It was Northland Prep’s first time reaching a state championship contest.
Tied 3-3 in the seventh inning, the Eagles scored a run on an error to score the run that would ultimately decide the championship contest. The Spartans could not answer back, despite seniors Bella Giurlanda and Reannan Butler reaching second and first base, respectively, in the bottom of the frame.
The game was a pitcher’s duel between Spartans sophomore Kianna Butler and Horizon Honors senior Lucy Holweger. Kianna Butler struck out 13 batters, and gave up just six hits, while Holweger struck out seven and allowed seven hits, but the Eagles did just enough to scrape by with the title.
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“We knew it was going to be a great game. They’ve got a great pitcher, and we’ve got a great pitcher. We knew it would be toe-to-toe, but it just didn’t go our way,” Spartans manager Betty Dean said.
While the Spartans’ historic run fell just short, Horizon Honors celebrated its own miracle journey. In four rounds, the Eagles pulled off three upsets en route to the title.
“We were the eighth seed in this tournament, so to come out and beat the top seed, the 4-seed, and then the 3, I’m so impressed with this team. I can’t even express what this means in words,” Holweger said.
Despite both pitchers finishing with solid performances, the Eagles and Spartans both scored in the first inning. Horizon Honors struck in the top of the frame.
Holweger hit a fly ball that, on a normal day, might have been a routine catch for an out. However, the ball was lost in the stadium lights, and fell safely to the ground. All the while Holweger sprinted around the bases, finishing with an inside-the-park home run.
The play was the first of a few times the Spartans struggled to field balls with the light shining on the field.
“It was tough the first couple innings, even though we practiced under the lights, it’s still different in a game situation with all the hype of this game and the crowd cheering and everything,” Dean said, “and there were a few that were a little confusing.”
Northland Prep sophomore Audre Wilson responded with a run in the bottom of the first inning. When Kianna Butler drew a walk, Wilson sprinted from second base to third for a steal. Then, on an errant throw, she tried to make it home. She was tagged at the plate, though, and Horizon Honors celebrated what was initially called an out that ended the inning. However, after a brief talk, the umpire crew determined that Wilson was obstructed at third base, and awarded her a run to tie the game at 1-1.
Horizon scored two more runs in the top of the third inning, while the Spartans put up one run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from senior Christianna Janisse to cut the deficit to 3-2.
From that point, Kianna Butler started a streak of dominance in the circle. Between the fourth and sixth inning, she allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters.
“I changed my mindset. It was just me and the catcher Bella (Giurlanda), focused on each other. I wasn’t thinking about the batter anymore,” Kianna Butler said.
“It’s amazing how tough she is. She always fought back,” Dean added.
Northland Prep tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Giurlanda hit a double, and Reannan Butler slapped a hit to bring her home.
The Eagles scored their final run in the top of the seventh and Holweger ended the game with a strikeout as Horizon Honors stormed the pitcher’s circle in jubilation.
The loss was a tough one for the Spartans, as many were emotional after getting so close to glory. Northland Prep may have more shots at a championship in the future, though. The Spartans will graduate just three seniors from the starting lineup, and four total.
With a young roster, Dean believes being on this stage but losing will be a motivator moving forward.
“I hope they can see that they can do anything. It’s nice for them to get this opportunity, to get this experience, and we’ll see what we can do in the coming years,” she said.
The Spartans ended the season with a record of 18-2 (10-0 Central). They also were given the AIA Sportsmanship Award between the first and second inning, as voted on by the 2A Conference referees. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/historic-run-falls-just-short-for-northland-prep-softball/article_63c5227a-f159-11ed-93e8-073a1aba7c79.html | 2023-05-13T07:09:57 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/historic-run-falls-just-short-for-northland-prep-softball/article_63c5227a-f159-11ed-93e8-073a1aba7c79.html |
PHOENIX — When saving lives, every second counts. Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper Estevan Dibene knows that firsthand.
“This is why so many of us suit up every day. It’s to protect complete strangers,” he said.
On Thursday, Dibene and another trooper were wrapping up a crash scene on State Route 51 and Shea Boulevard when they went into action to stop another one.
“Coincidentally, we saw a wrong-way driver pass by our scene."
According to DPS, the driver was headed south in the north lanes of State Route 51.
Dibene and a second trooper didn’t waste a second. They quickly hopped into their cars.
They drove north to Cactus Road and then headed south on State Route 51 to Glendale Avenue.
The pair then headed north to stop the car in the wrong direction.
Dibene said initially he tried to slow the car down by pinning it.
It didn’t work. He said the car hit him and kept going. Dibene suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Finally, a second trooper hit the car head-on, forcing it to stop.
The driver had traveled some five miles in the opposite direction.
“Had she gone another five, ten seconds, there was another wave of cars headed that way,” he said. If it wasn’t for the both of us, she could have possibly kept on continuing," he added.
Inside the car was an 82-year-old woman. Dibene said she was confused but not impaired.
“She simply had no idea where she was,” he said.
But he said impairment is a factor in many wrong-way crashes. Many happen around 2 a.m. - when many bars and establishments that sell alcohol and liquor start to close.
“For the price of a drink or two, you can call an Uber, taxi or Lyft to take you home. You can save your life and the lives of others,” he said.
Because of the danger of wrong-way drivers at night, he urges drivers to avoid riding in HOV lanes after dark.
"The impaired drivers will think that they're driving on the correct side of the highway, and to them, they think they're driving on the slow lane," Dibene said.
Dibene and the other trooper both suffered minor injuries in the ordeal.
He returned to work Friday, less than 48 hours after the crash. He knows the dangers associated with the job, but it’s about saving lives for him.
“Knowing that something catastrophic, something dangerous might happen.. and yet we go out there every single day... hoping we're in the right place at the right time," he said.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/dps-troopers-stop-82-year-old-wrong-way-driver-on-state-route-51-phoenix/75-07a10971-f9ac-4708-9315-9112cea01bef | 2023-05-13T07:13:14 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/dps-troopers-stop-82-year-old-wrong-way-driver-on-state-route-51-phoenix/75-07a10971-f9ac-4708-9315-9112cea01bef |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A lot of people may take to the waters to cool off this weekend, which means the coast guard will patrol the waters and make sure boaters are equipped with the legally required safety equipment.
No matter the vessel – be it a kayak, paddle board, jet ski or boat – Oregon and Washington laws state life jackets must be available for each person on board.
“It’s your responsibility to be master of your vessel, essentially, of yourselves and your safety,” said Officer Asher Ray Palomares.
If the person behind the wheel of the boat is caught drinking, it is a fine and arrestable offense. The law also says children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket on board. Palomares said that If the Coast Guard catches someone breaking these laws, their fun day on the river is over.
“We escort them back to the pier,” he said. “Happens quite often.”
For friends and family just along for the ride – it might be fun to booze and cruise – but said it’s not wise to get in the water if you’ve had one too many.
“People get overconfident… liquid courage is what they call it… it’s the same thing,” Palomares said. “People are like, ‘Oh I can swim through that, I can swim across the river and back,’ and no: There’s at least a two-knot current of undertow, and the water’s cold so it weighs heavier on you.”
Palomares said the river is no match for even sober and strong swimmers.
“If you fall in you can’t tread water for more than 10 minutes even if you’re a good swimmer,” he said. “Mother Nature will win in that battle” | https://www.koin.com/local/coast-guard-patrols-urge-boaters-to-wear-life-jackets-be-master-of-your-vessel/ | 2023-05-13T07:17:50 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/coast-guard-patrols-urge-boaters-to-wear-life-jackets-be-master-of-your-vessel/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Title 42 has officially expired and Sacramento based immigrant advocacy groups and attorneys are preparing for an influx of immigrants coming to Northern California.
Title 42 is a pandemic-era immigration policy ordered under the Trump administration authorizing U.S. customs and border protection to remove migrants trying to enter the U.S. at land borders.
"People who have been rejected over the last two years are now going to want to enter the US, finally, and exert their rights for protection under US asylum law,” said Otis Landerholm, Attorney with Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C.
Now, one day after the policy has expired, Sacramento organizations and immigration attorneys are working to prepare resources and services as people may head north.
Moona Siddiqui, with the Sacramento Valley/Central California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, says the end of Title 42 is a step in the right direction.
The nonprofit civil rights and advocacy group she works with provides immigration legal services, something the organization has assisted with before during the Afghan crisis that began a couple years ago.
"We were informed that Sacramento County in particular was the largest hub for Afghan recent arrivals and parolees and refugees and I think we had to put a pause on acceptance of these refugees because we had so many coming into our area in particular. Ours was the largest in all of California,” said Siddiqui. “We're expecting a big influx of immigrants crossing the border.”
With this expected influx, she says there may be some challenges.
"I think that just means that we're facing a large population of people coming into the country and so our resources are going to be put to the brink a little bit, in terms of how we manage these folks, in terms of housing them, providing resources for them, especially providing legal resources for them,” said Siddiqui.
The Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services says they plan to offer food and free legal assistance to migrants seeking a path to citizenship.
What is Title 42?
The order authorized the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to immediately remove migrants, including people seeking asylum, seeking entry into the U.S. at the land borders.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the order under the Trump administration in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. officials turned away migrants more than 2.8 million times under Title 42 since the policy began.
The order is ending because the Biden administration announced an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The lifting of the Title 42 order does not mean the border is open. According to the U.S. Homeland Security, the U.S. will return to using Title 8 immigration authorities "to expeditiously process and remove individuals who arrive at the U.S. border unlawfully." The law outlines processes for deportation and carries strict penalties, including five and 10-year bans on reentry for people deported. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-may-feel-impacts-title-42/103-0254b73f-1fd8-45d9-b450-64f134300876 | 2023-05-13T07:58:17 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-may-feel-impacts-title-42/103-0254b73f-1fd8-45d9-b450-64f134300876 |
FORT WORTH, Texas — Police in Fort Worth, Texas, are hoping a recent DNA test will provide closure to a family who had been missing their daughter for more than 51 years.
Melissa Highsmith's disappearance had been one of the country's oldest missing persons case after she was handed to a babysitter at just 21 months old and was never seen again.
The lives of Highsmith and her biological parents changed forever in November 2022 when a 23andMe DNA test linked them together.
At the time, the Fort Worth Police Department said it would conduct its own official DNA testing.
And now, several months later, police said the test confirmed Highsmith's identity.
Highsmith told WFAA she was overjoyed to learn of the police department's official DNA confirmation.
"It’s like God has given me a new beginning," Highsmith said. "I can start over. It’s like a fairy tale, you know, I still wake up every day. Wow."
While the statute of limitations expired 20 years after Highsmith's 18th birthday, police said they still are seeking any information on her abduction from over 51 years ago.
This month, Highsmith, her father, and other family members traveled to Universal Orlando. It was one of the items on Highsmith's bucket list.
She also plans to renew her vows with her husband soon, so that her father will have the chance to walk her down the aisle. Another item on her bucket list includes a visit to Spain, where one of her siblings lives.
"All my life I never really felt like I belonged anywhere. I finally belong somewhere, and everybody loves me," Highsmith said. "I just love my family, I just love them so much."
Highsmith told WFAA she looks forward to making memories with her loved ones after decades of missing out on being together.
This month, she plans to formally change her name back to her birth-given name: Melissa Highsmith.
Back in November 2022, Highsmith and her parents spoke with WFAA about the reunion.
"I feel like I am dreaming, and I keep having to pinch myself to make sure I'm awake," Highsmith said.
"I’m just elated, I can't describe my feelings. I'm so happy to see my daughter that I didn't think I would ever see her again," said Alta Apantenco, Melissa’s mother.
"She's alive... I cried like a baby," said Jeffrie Highsmith, Melissa's father.
The case
Melissa Highsmith's disappearance dates back to Aug. 23, 1971 at an apartment building on East Seminary in Fort Worth.
Apantenco had advertised for a babysitter and ended up speaking with a person by the name of Ruth Johnson, who agreed to pick up 21-month-old Melissa from the apartment.
On that day, Apantenco had to be at work, so her roommate at the time handed the child to Johnson, who was described as being well-dressed and wearing white gloves.
Johnson never returned with Highsmith and could not be reached.
The missing persons case involved Fort Worth police and the FBI but searches came up empty-handed. At the time, police said they did not have any evidence that Highsmith was harmed.
When Highsmith spoke to WFAA in November 2022, she said she thought the woman who raised her was her mother but that she ended up running away from home in her teens due an abusive stepfather.
She also added that she had been living under the name Melanie.
"I didn't feel loved as a child. It was abusive, and I ran away at 15 years old. I went to the streets. I did what I had to do to get by... I worked the streets," Highsmith said.
Highsmith had also contacted a woman believed to be the one who raised her.
"The mother confessed, I bought you for $500 on the street, she said in 1972. Melissa thinks she's the one that kidnapped her from the Spanish Gate apartment in Fort Worth, Texas," Jeffrie Highsmith told WFAA.
It turns out Melissa Highsmith had been living just 20 minutes away from her biological mother, Alta Apantenco, in Fort Worth.
While the family was reunited, her parents said they're still trying to seek some sort of justice for the abduction.
"She stole 51 years of my joy with my family. Justice needs to be served," Jeffrie Highsmith said.
Melissa Highsmith told WFAA she wanted to speak face-to-face with the woman who raised her. "I don't want charges pressed. I would like answers," she said. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-texas-police-confirm-identity-woman-reunited-with-family-missing-51-years-ago/287-ee2eea31-0e6c-4f41-af8a-3da2bdd244fc | 2023-05-13T08:04:13 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-texas-police-confirm-identity-woman-reunited-with-family-missing-51-years-ago/287-ee2eea31-0e6c-4f41-af8a-3da2bdd244fc |
FREESTONE COUNTY, Texas — The Freestone County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) is thankful for the good Samaritans that stopped and helped extract a driver from a burning car on Thursday, May 11.
According to FCSO, Deputy Scott Leatherman, Fairfield Fire and EMS all responded to a report of a single-car accident with entrapment on South Highway 75, just south of Fairfield at about 4:56 p.m.
FCSO says Leatherman was the first on the scene and discovered a burning car with the driver pinned on the floorboard between the driver seat and the dashboard.
According to FCSO, the engine was burning and filling the car with heavy smoke, so Leatherman used a fire extinguisher to hold off the flames while he and a couple of good Samaritans tried to remove the driver.
Once Fairfield EMS arrived, Paramedics Jaggar Kennedy and Brandon Glass joined the effort to remove the driver and were eventually able to get them out to safety, FCSO says.
In a Facebook post, FCSO stated, "These men went above and beyond as they risked their own health and wellbeing to save the life of another and deserve to be recognized for their heroic efforts."
The sheriff's office was able to identify one of the good Samaritans as Jacob Caroll, thanking him for his initial assistance.
"How comforting it is to know how blessed we are to have the Law Enforcement and First Responders we have dedicated to Freestone County serving our citizens. Fantastic work gentlemen. We are Freestone County proud," Sheriff J. Shipley added.
There is currently no information on the drivers condition or identity.
To view the full Facebook post, visit here.
Also on KCENTV.com: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/good-samaritans-help-first-responders-remove-trapped-driver-from-burning-car-freestone-county/500-6ce12697-f94d-4307-849a-8ee13deabc22 | 2023-05-13T08:04:19 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/good-samaritans-help-first-responders-remove-trapped-driver-from-burning-car-freestone-county/500-6ce12697-f94d-4307-849a-8ee13deabc22 |
HOUSTON — A fifth-grader from Houston's 5th Ward is going viral for his musical talent.
Traevon Narcisse's video, which shows him playing the piano with incredible skill and passion, has already garnered millions of views across social media platforms.
"I'm surprised because I never knew this day would come, I knew it would come but not as early," said Traevon.
He prefers to freestyle or play gospel music, which is part of his musical roots.
"It all started in the church because I grew up in the same church that I learned how to play music in," he said.
Traevon's musical journey began when he was just two years old when he started playing the drums.
Six months ago, a family member gave him his first piano. He's self-taught, although credits people at his church for helping him.
Traevon says he wants to be a musician, own a studio, tour the world and meet Chris Brown.
"Music helps your mind and it soothes you," he said.
Now, Traevon is getting noticed by celebrities like producer Tay Keith, who is sending him a new computer, piano and speakers, so he can continue to make music.
Laura Coleman, the creative director at the American Music Academy in Houston, says Traevon's future is bright.
"The way that he moves with the music, you can tell that it really is ingrained in him, which is something that's really exciting to see in someone that young," she said. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/houston-5th-ward-piano-player/285-49e4be67-0ff5-4351-9df5-76934583ca06 | 2023-05-13T08:04:25 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/houston-5th-ward-piano-player/285-49e4be67-0ff5-4351-9df5-76934583ca06 |
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.kcentv.com/article/news/local/six-new-state-parks-coming-to-the-state-of-texas/513-6993fb78-7c87-45eb-95d8-1a54a7d64573 | 2023-05-13T08:04:31 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/six-new-state-parks-coming-to-the-state-of-texas/513-6993fb78-7c87-45eb-95d8-1a54a7d64573 |
TEMPLE, Texas — The City of Temple announced that it is monitoring a sanitary sewer overflow on Williamson Creek on Thursday, May 11.
According to the city, the consistent rainfall and a power outage has led to more than 100,000 gallons of overflown discharge from the sanitary sewer near Adams Avenue and North 50th Street.
The city says that Williamson Creek is being affected by this overflow, but they have and will continue to contain, disinfect and remove any chlorine leaked in from the discharge.
Crews are currently working to stop the flow of discharge as it slowly decreases.
The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality has been notified of the situation
6 News will update with latest
Also on KCENTV.com: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/temple-monitoring-sanitary-sewer-overflow-affecting-williamson-creek/500-cb200196-caf5-4001-b9b3-3eb61ed2ce33 | 2023-05-13T08:04:37 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/temple-monitoring-sanitary-sewer-overflow-affecting-williamson-creek/500-cb200196-caf5-4001-b9b3-3eb61ed2ce33 |
MCCAMEY, Texas — Over the weekend, Facebook user Dustin Ferguson posted a video clip from a playoff softball game between McCamey and Cisco that has gone viral, sparking debate about player conduct and safety.
The clip shows the Lady Badger catcher throwing the ball at the batter, hitting her in the helmet, after the pitch was thrown.
Our sports team reached out to athletic director and head softball coach Michael Woodard and superintendent Michael Valencia for comment and haven't heard back.
A University Interscholastic League (UIL) spokesperson has provided us with an official statement regarding the incident.
"The UIL is aware of an incident that occurred during the McCamey vs. Cisco Softball Playoff Series and is in contact with the school administrations to gather additional information," the spokesperson said.
We'll be sure to provide more updates as they become available. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/texas-uil-looks-into-viral-mccamey-softball-incident/513-a27173f2-5173-418d-8283-aeaca3b8a457 | 2023-05-13T08:04:43 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/texas-uil-looks-into-viral-mccamey-softball-incident/513-a27173f2-5173-418d-8283-aeaca3b8a457 |
SAN ANTONIO — For the second straight year, the Randolph sophomore proved the best 3A Track & Field athlete in Texas as she swept every event she participated in.
Nunez earned gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 relay, and long jump on Thursday. She did the same last year at the 3A State Meet.
“I thought that was last year, this is this year,” said Nunez about wiping her slate clean at this year’s meet. “Everybody gets better, I get better. You never know who comes out here.”
“I’m not sneaking up on anyone anymore.”
She certainly isn’t. Nunez set a state meet record in her 200m race Thursday, finishing with a time of 23.42.
In the 100m, Nunez broke the meet record she set last year with a time of 11.44.
Both of those records were set after she broke the long jump record (20’ 2.5”) in the morning session.
“I woke up really early to do the long jump, I was really tired in the morning,” said Nunez. “But I got up and just prayed about it, and I’ve been praying throughout this whole meet.”
If she stays on her current pace, Nunez is on track to become one of the most accomplished athletes in Texas Track & Field history.
Nunez’s teammate Sophia Bendet, also a sophomore, took home gold in both the mile and 800.
Unsurprisingly, Randolph won the 3A State Meet as a team. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/track-star-taylor-nunez-four-randolph-gold/273-3fbe1bff-96d7-4abc-a8dc-a551e67b6856 | 2023-05-13T08:04:49 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/track-star-taylor-nunez-four-randolph-gold/273-3fbe1bff-96d7-4abc-a8dc-a551e67b6856 |
MDU Resources names president of subsidiary
Rob L. Johnson has been named president of WBI Energy Inc. by MDU Resources Group Inc. effective upon completion of separating of MDU Resources’ Knife River Corporation. Current WBI Energy President and CEO Trevor J. Hastings will become chief operating officer of Knife River.
Johnson currently serves as executive vice president-commercial for WBI Energy. He joined WBI Energy in 1983 as a communication specialist, moving into management in 1994, becoming vice president-commercial in 2013 and executive vice president-commercial in 2020.
He has an associate degree in electronics from North Dakota State College of Science and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in finance, from the University of Mary in Bismarck.
BPS hires assistant principals
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Bismarck Public Schools has promoted four internal candidates to fill assistant principal positions in the 2023-24 school year.
John Heinrich has been hired as an assistant principal of Legacy High School. Heinrich began teaching music in 2010 at Kidder County High School before joining Bismarck Public Schools in 2016 as a Spanish teacher. He became dean of students at Legacy High School in 2019. Heinrich completed his graduate studies through North Dakota State University and the BPS Teacher Leader Academy.
Emily Jacobsen has been hired as an assistant principal of Legacy High School. Originally from Williston, Jacobsen graduated with a Spanish education degree from Dickinson State University, and earned her master’s in educational leadership through the first Teacher Leader Academy offered in Bismarck Public Schools by North Dakota State University. She has taught throughout the Midwest, but has spent the last eight years at Legacy High School teaching English and AP psychology. She has most recently served as a dean of students at Legacy the past three years.
Codi Feland has been named an assistant principal of Century High School. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a degree in social studies education. She holds a master’s degree from St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota, in curriculum and instruction and is currently earning an administrative credential from the University of Mary. Feland began her career teaching at Century High School in 2009. In 2016, she became the AVID Coordinator and elective teacher for grades 9-12. Her most recent position was as dean of students at Century.
Tim Jacobsen has been named an assistant principal of Century High School. He currently teaches physical education at Century, a subject he has taught for 26 years. Jacobsen began his education career in Seattle before moving to BPS where he has worked for 23 years. He has coached track and field, football, swimming, and cross country for BPS. He earned a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University and a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming.
Capital Credit Union names CEO
Jon Griffin, chief lending officer, has been selected to serve as Capital Credit Union’s chief executive officer, effective May 17.
Griffin joined Capital Credit Union in 2011 as director of risk management and was promoted to vice president of risk management in 2014. In 2019, Griffin was promoted to chief operations and risk officer and in 2021, he was named the credit union’s chief lending officer.
Griffin graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2005 with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mary in 2015.
Interstate Engineering hire
Ethan Tschosik has joined Interstate Engineering in Mandan as an engineering technician. He is currently completing an associate of applied science degree in engineering technology from Bismarck State College.
Engineering firm adds archaeologist
Esther Yang has been hired as an archaeologist by KLJ Engineering LLC.
Yang has more than three years of experience working with historical collections, inventory reconciliation, database management, and archival research. She earned a master’s degree in historic preservation and conservation from Boston University in Massachusetts and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Baylor University in Texas.
Alliance names executive director
The Badlands Conservation Alliance has named Shannon Straight as executive director.
Straight previously served two terms on Minot’s City Council, was a member of #MakeMinot, a citizen led initiative to reduce the size of Minot’s City Council and is a founding member of Friends of the Souris River. He is owner/operator of Straight’s Concessions LLC, a seasonal, mobile food business in Minot.
North Dakota Highway Patrol promotion
Trooper Erin Quinn has been promoted to sergeant serving as a training officer at the Law Enforcement Training Academy in Bismarck..
Quinn graduated from the Highway Patrol Academy in May 2013 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design from North Dakota State University.
She was stationed as a traffic enforcement trooper in Elgin from May 2013 until May 2021 and previously served as a cultural liaison officer, a Use of Force instructor, instructed Cultural Awareness and LGBTQ Community Considerations for Law Enforcement and North Dakota Safety Council safety courses.
Marshall elected to board
Matt Marshall has joined Dakota Business Lending's Board of Directors.
Marshall has worked in the economic and community development industry for over ten years and currently serves as the economic development administrator for Minnkota Power.
Technician earns certification
Mandan Aero Center’s Lead Technician Zachery Metland has passed the FAA’s certification exam to receive his Inspection Authorization license.
Bianco Realty recognizes
Shirley Thomas, Amber Sandness, Amy Asche, Brenda Foster, Judy Maslowski, Greg Gerhart, Duane Bentz, Candi Steidler, Heidi Stein and Cindy Cooper have been named Bianco Realty's Realtors of the month based on their closed sales for April.
Monthly awards
North Dakota Farmers Union Insurance, based in Jamestown, announced professionals who exceeded in their positions for the month of March.
David Beck, Bismarck, was a top producer of health insurance sales.
Dave Berger, Mandan, was a top producer of auto insurance sales.
Philip Halvorson, Mandan, was a top producer of health insurance sales.
Beck Hruby, Bismarck, was a top producer of life insurance sales.
Robert Johnson, Mandan, was a top producer of life insurance and health sales.
Courtney Schauer, Mandan, was a top producer of annuity sales.
Lewis Schock, Mandan, was a top producer of health insurance sales.
Dylan Schmit, Mandan, was a top producer of supplemental insurance sales.
Ryan Schnell, Bismarck, was a top producer of FUIC personal line and commercial line sales.
Jason Smith, Mandan, was a top producer of life insurance and annuity sales. | https://bismarcktribune.com/business/local/businesspeople---may-13-2023/article_db0b5484-eb83-11ed-9cd4-4f7bb639dec1.html | 2023-05-13T08:23:56 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/business/local/businesspeople---may-13-2023/article_db0b5484-eb83-11ed-9cd4-4f7bb639dec1.html |
Flagstaff residents are invited to participate in volunteer days this spring and summer to help prepare neighborhoods for the upcoming monsoon season. Volunteers can assist with activities including filling sandbags, placing or removing sandbags or removing debris from channels and drainages.
Each event will be from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. although volunteers are asked to arrive at about 8:45 a.m.
Two volunteer events will focus on filling and placing sand bags, the first on May 19 and the second on June 7. Both will be in front of Coconino County Health and Human Services, 2625 N King St.
A sign up for those events can be found at bit.ly/Floodvolunteer.
Additionally, on the first Saturdays of June, July and August volunteers are invited to help clean up sections of the Rio de Flag by removing trash, debris, invasive species, and trimming channel-blocking vegetation.
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A sign up for those events can be found at bit.ly/WatershedVolunteer.
For questions on any of these events, please contact Steven Thompson, City of Flagstaff Volunteer and Event Coordinator, at steven.thompson@flagstaffaz.gov | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flood-preparation-volunteer-events-planned-throughout-summer/article_1d2a491a-f0fc-11ed-a637-17cabc6cd0bc.html | 2023-05-13T08:49:14 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flood-preparation-volunteer-events-planned-throughout-summer/article_1d2a491a-f0fc-11ed-a637-17cabc6cd0bc.html |
Richmond is spending $300,000 in ARPA money on 120 ballistic shields for the police department, a move that drew derision from activists at Monday night’s City Council meeting.
The ballistic shield proposal was introduced on March 7 by Mayor Levar Stoney, who requested that the council accept $300,000 in grant funds from the office of Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act were earmarked to act as stimulus for state and local governments to deal with the financial burdens brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some municipalities used the aid to stabilize their local economies and pay essential workers, while others put the money toward housing or investments in infrastructure.
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During Monday’s meeting, critics said the money should have gone directly toward community programs.
Miyares was given the money in 2021 by the General Assembly, with the stipulation that it be earmarked for “community-based gun violence prevention programming.”
Miyares’ office then designated the money to be used for “equipment, new program implementation, training, or existing program enhancement.”
RPD specifically requested the shields, each of which costs $2,300, stating that the gear would help make up for a department with “fewer human resources,” and that there were 150 vacancies on the force.
The shields can be attached to police cruisers and are intended protect officers from gunshots. The grant will also go to purchase $24,000 worth of window tinting.
"Cameras are all over the city. Some are owned by the police department and some are owned by other city agencies," said interim police Chief Rick Edwards.
The grant said RPD has been “experiencing an uptick in physical assaults,” but did not provide data in their grant to support the statement. RPD’s request for the shields also referenced national FBI numbers about rising police fatalities in 2021.
Tracy Walker, a spokesperson for the department, said RPD vehicles were struck by gunfire in two separate incidents, “highlighting the need to retrofit our patrol vehicles with internal ballistic door panels.”
“We believe utilizing grant funding from the Virginia Office of the Attorney General will help mitigate some of the risks our officers face and support RPD’s core value of improving employee health and wellness,” said Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards.
The item was approved by Stoney and Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief administrative officer. Stoney’s spokesperson, Gianni Snidle, did not respond to a request for comment.
On Monday night, the line item was approved as part of a unanimous vote on the council’s “consent agenda” – which is when council members vote on a number of expenditures and motions in one overall package after a public comment period.
The ballistic shields drew criticism from four Richmond residents. One was Omari Al-Qaddafi, a community organizer who questioned why the council had not attached a memorandum of understanding regarding the shield purchase.
“Who from the administration is going to sit here and tell us how this is preventing gun violence in our community?” Al-Qaddafi asked.
Community organizer Art Burton told the council he was furious that the violence reduction grant was not coming to directly to the community.
“We wrote that grant; we helped get that grant funded,” Burton said. “And to this day, we haven’t seen one dollar that was promised to the community.”
“We are dying. We are suffering, and we can get nothing,” he said. “This is the worst government in the history of this city.”
Allan Chipman, a former candidate for the City Council in Richmond’s 3rd District, spoke at the meeting to connect the investment with the recent killing of Irvo Otieno. Seven sheriff’s deputies and three hospital workers are charged with murder after Otieno was pinned to the ground while shackled and handcuffed.
"Today, Richmond is free of Confederate monuments and our past is no longer leading our present," the mayor said.
“If police can’t feel safe when people are shackled, then I don’t think there’s any amount of shielding that can change their concept of protection if our existence continues to be a threat to him,” said Chipman, who was a friend of Otieno’s and spoke at his funeral.
Chipman suggested that the council should reassess its priorities and invest the money in housing or homelessness reduction rather than in the expensive police gear.
Later, council member Reva Trammell said she stood by the shields. She said Edwards defended their purchase at an 8th District meeting on Thursday night.
“When are we gonna get real? When are we going to start realizing that if we don’t have enough officers, who is going to protect us?” Trammell asked. “My people wanted it. I was for it.”
No council members responded to residents’ comments at the time of the meeting. | https://richmond.com/news/local/stoney-rpd-ballistic-shields-arpa/article_1628e4a4-f0ee-11ed-add4-0f6e899b477b.html | 2023-05-13T09:07:48 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/stoney-rpd-ballistic-shields-arpa/article_1628e4a4-f0ee-11ed-add4-0f6e899b477b.html |
During the last ice age, massive icebergs periodically broke off from an ice sheet covering a large swath of North America and discharged rapidly melting ice into the North Atlantic Ocean around Greenland, triggering abrupt climate change impacts across the globe.
These sudden episodes, called Heinrich Events, occurred between 16,000 and 60,000 years ago. They altered the circulation of the world’s oceans, spurring cooling in the North Atlantic and impacting monsoon rainfall around the world.
But little was known about the events’ effect on nearby Greenland, which is thought to be very sensitive to events in the North Atlantic. A new study from Oregon State University researchers, just published in the journal Nature, provides a definitive answer.
“It turns out, nothing happened in Greenland. The temperature just stayed the same,” said the study’s lead author, Kaden Martin, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. “They had front-row seats to this action but didn’t see the show.”
Instead, the researchers found that these Heinrich events caused rapid warming in Antarctica, at the other end of the globe.
The researchers anticipated Greenland, in close proximity to the ice sheet, would have experienced some kind of cooling. To find that these Heinrich Events had no discernible impact on temperatures in Greenland is surprising and could have repercussions for scientists’ understanding of past climate dynamics, said study co-author Christo Buizert, an assistant professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.
“If anything, our findings raise more questions than answers,” said Buizert, a climate change specialist who uses ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica to reconstruct and understand the Earth’s climate history. “This really changes how we look at these massive events in the North Atlantic. It’s puzzling that far-flung Antarctica responds more strongly than nearby Greenland.”
Scientists drill and preserve ice cores to study past climate history through analysis of the dust and tiny air bubbles that have been trapped in the ice over time. Ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica provide important records of Earth’s atmospheric changes over hundreds of thousands of years.
Records from ice cores from those regions have served as pillars for scientists’ understanding of past climate events, with ice collected from both locations often telling similar stories, Martin said.
The impact of Heinrich Events on Greenland and Antarctica was not well understood, spurring Martin and Buizert to try to find out more about what was happening in those parts of the world.
The core used for the latest study was collected in 1992 from the highest point of Greenland, where the ice sheet is around 2 miles thick. Since then, the core has been in storage in the National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility in Denver.
Advancement in scientific tools and measurements over the last few decades gave Martin, Buizert and their colleagues the opportunity to re-examine the core using new methods.
The analysis shows that no changes in temperatures occurred in Greenland during Heinrich Events. But it also provides a very clear connection between Heinrich Events and the Antarctic response.
“When these big iceberg discharges happen in the Arctic, we now know that Antarctica responds right away,” Buizert said. “What happens in one part of the world has an effect on the rest of the world. This inter-hemispheric connection is likely caused by change in global wind patterns.”
The finding challenges the current understanding of global climate dynamics during these massive events and raises new questions for researchers, Buizert said. The researchers’ next step is to take the new information and run it through climate models to see if the models can replicate what occurred.
“There has to be a story that fits all of the evidence, something that connects all the dots,” he said. “Our discovery adds two new dots; it’s not the full story, and it may not be the main story. It is possible that the Pacific Ocean plays an important role that we haven’t figured out yet.”
The ultimate goal is to better understand how the climate system is connected and how the components all interact, the researchers said.
“While Heinrich Events are not going to happen in the future, abrupt changes in the globally interconnected climate system will happen again,” Martin said. “Understanding the global dynamics of the climate system can help us better project future impacts and inform how we respond and adapt.”
Additional co-authors are Ed Brook, Jon Edwards, Michael Kalk and Ben Riddell-Young of OSU; Ross Beaudette and Jeffrey Severinghaus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography; and Todd Sowers of Pennsylvania State University.
The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Global Climate Change Foundation and the Gary Comer Science and Education Foundation. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/iceberg-discharges-during-the-last-ice-age-had-no-nearby-impact-raising-new-climate-questions/article_d0ddab28-ef85-11ed-afcd-17651f81fc54.html | 2023-05-13T09:20:42 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/iceberg-discharges-during-the-last-ice-age-had-no-nearby-impact-raising-new-climate-questions/article_d0ddab28-ef85-11ed-afcd-17651f81fc54.html |
As much as there is to praise about the quality of modern construction and the craftsmen who pay close attention to assuring that new homes blend in well with the aesthetics of the neighborhood, purists tend to prefer restoring the quaint and cozy seashore homes reminiscent of their youth and the family fun they had.
The latter approach also ensures that a buildable lot is not maxed out to the specs allowable by local zoning laws, and thereby tending to leave a property more affordable for younger families seeking to make fond memories of their own.
The home for sale at 202 N. Huntington Ave. in Margate manifests the latter trend, as the current owners prudently restored the three-bedroom, 1½ -bathroom property not only to its original luster, but in a way that maximized its existing space and minimized the upkeep involved in maintaining it.
“We opened it up on the inside,” says the current owner. “We immediately replaced the air conditioning and heating systems, installed low-maintenance siding on the exterior and an outdoor shower out back. We wanted a place that would be super-low maintenance and comfortable, and that’s exactly what we made it into.
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“It’s kind of the place where you can come down and immediately be at ease. There’s no work to do.”
The open-floor plan is a concept that has gained widespread popularity among both new and restored properties, and with good reason. It allows for more personable interaction among guests no matter where they are, and eliminates the boxiness that seashore homes from bygone eras tended to have.
ABSECON — A year after being closed following its liquor license being suspended by the stat…
The home at 202 N. Huntington — a street with a particularly high level of elevation and less likelihood of flooding — features a modern kitchen with double islands, a large living room with separate dining area, and a room currently used as a den but with boundless potential. The kitchen is equipped with stainless-steel appliances, quartz countertops and tiled linen backsplashes. Both bathrooms, including the first-floor powder room, have been revamped, and all three bedrooms and the main living area are adorned with engineered hardwood flooring.
Outside offers a spacious front patio, a fenced-in rear yard with shaded porch and plenty of room for entertaining, and off-street parking for two cars in the driveway.
“We enjoy sitting out front on the patio and talking with people as they walk by,” says the owner. “And we walk or bike to almost everything. I almost never start my car once I’m there because I rarely need to. We can put two cars in our driveway, but most of the time we park on the street, as parking is never an issue.”
The start of the Boardwalk connecting to everything Atlantic City has to offer is just a few blocks east at the Ventnor border. Less than two blocks west of the home is Jerome Avenue Park, which offers lots of open space, outdoor recreation such as public playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and nature preservation under the maintenance of the Margate Parks Department. The home is also in very close proximity to the Milton & Betty Katz Jewish Community Center (see JCCAtlantic.org), which provides lots of social, recreational and fitness opportunities.
A plethora of dining and shopping options are also within easy walking or biking distance, and the Downbeach Express bridge, which connects Absecon Island to Northfield, is also very close by, opening up a myriad of dining and shopping opportunities on the mainland. Huntington Avenue connects with the local public library and Margate’s Bloom Pavilion on its beach side, which provides beach-accessible restrooms during the summer and is the site of many popular summertime events, such as Beachstock and July 4 fireworks.
For more information on this adorable Margate home, qualified buyers can call the direct line of listing agent Paula Hartman at 609-271-7337 or Todd Gordon at 609-553-5098, or the office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach at 609-487-7234. Prospective buyers can also email Paula at redheadedrealtor@aol.com or Todd at todd.acrealtor@gmail.com.
South Jersey home listings for people who need a lot of living space
5 Bedroom Home in Brigantine - $2,500,000
Classic New Construction to be built. Yes, you can have a beautiful custom home built by renowned Brigantine builder, Gary Woerner with purchase of this lot. Located on the bay with breathtaking views of the Bay, Wildlife and those famous Brigantine sunsets. Deep Water, Quick access by boat to the Absecon Inlet and Ocean. Short walk to Beach. This location can not be beat! Build your dream home here! You will be glad you did! Price I based o a 3400 square foot three story home featuring 5 BR/4BA with the option to work with the builder and make all of your own decorative selections.
5 Bedroom Home in Brigantine - $3,500,000
Indulge in the beauty of Brigantine's Bayfront and discover a one-of-a-kind Mediterranean-style home. As you enter through the grand foyer, you'll be captivated by the stunning open bay views, sunsets, and Atlantic City skyline. Enjoy the perfect blend of form and function with a custom kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and ample counter space. Savor your meals with endless bay views from the comfort of your own dining room. This luxurious 5-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom manse boasts hardwood floors, fireplaces, coffered ceilings, an elevator, designer baths, and custom features throughout, demonstrating a perfect balance of elegance and comfort. Every detail of this home exudes quality craftsmanship and meticulous attention, making it truly exceptional.
3 Bedroom Home in Mays Landing - $420,000
Welcome HOME! Looking for a quiet, serene, private property nestled on a cozy 9.35+/- acres? Look no further!! Beautiful well maintained 3 bedroom/2.5 bath bi-level home, with laminated flooring throughout open concept dining and living area, spacious kitchen and three large bedrooms with two full bathrooms. The lower level can be used as another living room, den or play room. The extra-large deck is a great feature for outdoor entertaining and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Conveniently, located near the AC expressway, local resturants, shopping and less than a 30-minute drive from local beaches.
4 Bedroom Home in Brigantine - $879,900
JUST REDUCED, Looking for your dream home near the beach? Look no further than this stunning, large 4 bed/2.5 bath home boasting 2900 sq ft of living space and situated on an expansive 17000 sq ft golf course lot. (Possibilty of 3 lots) With its pristine built-in pool complete with a new liner and pump, you'll enjoy countless hours of refreshing dips and ultimate relaxation. The home also features a convenient 2 car garage, perfect for storing all your beach gear or your vehicles. Inside, you'll find ample living space with plenty of options for customizing to your specific taste. Whether you're looking to create your own dream home or capitalize on the thriving short-term rental market, this double lot property offers endless options! Enjoy the benefits of living close to the beach, with plenty of shopping and dining options nearby. Don't miss this opportunity to own the largest lot available on the island, a rare gem in an ideal location with loads of potential. The house is being emptied of all furniture and personal belongings. Book your showing today!
7 Bedroom Home in Linwood - $1,690,000
Among most exquisitely refined homes to ever hit market. This custom Gold coast solid brick palatial property will surpass all expectations including elegant floorplan, room count/size, quality finishes and its exceeding all requirements for space and function. First and second floors over 5,500 sq.ft; complimented by full finished basement (theater, gym, kitchen/bar, craft room, full bath and ping-pong/billiards area). Additionally, 3rd floor suite w/ living room, balcony w/ skyline/bay views, on-suite bed/bath room...all serviced by 4 floor elevator! Total 7 bedrooms/6.5 baths and over 8,000 total sq. ft. 2 offices, sweeping staircase greets you in the 2-story entrance foyer, 3-car garage, MBR suite w/2-way fireplace/sitting room and balcony w/breathtaking views, 4 additional extremely large bdrms (each connected by Jack/Jill full baths). Sparkling new kitchen, possible first floor suite; (however elevator accesses each floor and bdrm suites). 4 updated air conditioners and radiant floor heat on first floor & MBR. This is a MUST-SEE property that CANNOT BE DUPLICATED at TWICE THE PRICE! Additional 360 x 100 meadow front lot also may be purchased next door at $899,000.
4 Bedroom Home in Galloway Township - $975,000
One-of-a-kind, spectacular home located in one of Galloway's most exclusive neighborhoods, Polo Club Estates. Live like you are on vacation every day in this stunning home. The home is located at the end of this deed-restricted cul-de-sac with an amazing backyard. Your family will never want to leave once they see the private oasis that this home offers including the in-ground pool, hot tub, outdoor pool house with pizza oven, custom-built bridge over the multiple ponds that leads to the screened-in gazebo, waterfall, you've got to see it all to take it in! Then there's the house itself. Get ready to be Wowed! From the moment you walk through the double door front entry, it's clear that this home has been custom designed and built. The magnificent two-story entry foyer is filled with natural light, features a stone wall and gleaming hardwood floors and is flanked by the formal living room and formal dining room both with crown molding, beautiful bay windows, and coffered ceilings in the DR. Then as you enter the back of the home you first see the amazing family room with soaring vaulted ceilings and gorgeous brick wall with palladium windows flanking the fireplace. To the right of this room is the office/library with french doors and to the left is an indescribably beautiful custom chef's kitchen with a huge center island, quartz counters, farmhouse sink, stainless appliances, 2 dishwashers, 6 burner gas range and unique, beamed ceiling. This amazing kitchen also offers a large breakfast area and opens into an equally amazing sunroom with corner fireplace and overlooks the parklike setting which is the back yard. Two way stairs take you to the second level which looks down into the family room. Double doors take you into the enormous master suite with tray ceilings, private sitting area, another fireplace, his and her walk in closets and a totally updated luxurious master bath. There are also 3 other bedrooms upstairs, two that share a jack and jill bath and the other that has it's own private bathroom. Then there's the basement level with has been partially finished that would make a perfect man cave, teenage hangout or guest quarters. There's also a 3 car garage and walk-up attic for additional storage. Roof is less than 2 years old and there is also a solar lease which is only $185 per month. Don't wait to make your appointment to see this home!
5 Bedroom Home in Linwood - $1,170,000
Nearly 300 feet of lake frontage in Linwood, which is a lovely community well known for some of the best schools in the area. This home is located with direct access to the bike path - in which residents can walk or ride bikes to all three schools…preschool through 12th grade, the fields/playground, ice cream at Jessie's, central square for shopping and ride to neighboring towns. It's also situated on a cul-de-sac in a desirable & not cookie cutter neighborhood. The fortunate buyer would get to experience from their backyard: year-round fishing, kayaking,boating, paddle boarding, winter ice fishing, ice hockey & skating from their brand new dock with deep seating for Adirondack chairs. Plus 2 firepit areas & two hammock areas. An entertainer's dream indoors and outdoors - comfortably accommodate your guests for events, reunions,and celebrations. Enjoy the lovely lakefront sunrises to the east with a cup of coffee and the stunning sunsets to the west with a cocktail or aglass of wine. A garden-lover’s paradise…marvel at the pristine landscape and finely manicured grounds with over 50 established plant, tree,and shrub varieties/species. A birder’s delight…look for cormorants, snowy egrets, great blue herons, hooded mergansers, mallards, belted kingfishers, black-crowned night herons, glossy ibis, terns, northern pintails, and osprey… view all from your family room or master suite, or sit on the deck or dock as the birds fly by. Hit golf balls from your own tee box before your tee time at one of the 20 golf courses that are all within20 minutes from home. Take in the incredible fall foliage as it reflects across the lake. Read a book lakeside under the weeping willow orblack gum trees. See your property come to life in the evening with tons of outdoor lighting. Just 15 minutes door to door to the Atlantic City casinos, the beautiful beaches of Margate and Longport, and the Ocean City Boardwalk. This home has been renovated 15 years ago byLinwood Custom Builders to top of the line specifications Currently the 1st floor has an impressive renovated entryway, eat in kitchen,Renovated living room & open dining room, a lovely renovated powder room, a beautifully remodeled family room with crown moulding and the most incredible views from every window and the new stairs to the enormous unfinished addition. (keep reading, more details to follow) TheBasement is 2 levels and on the 1st level is a family room area, an enclosed porch with access to the gardens, a full bath room, access to the 2car garage and access to the lower level finished basement which is enormous and also has access to the outdoor oasis. The original 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The 2nd floor addition is framed & roofed for your finishing. There is designed & framed space for an enormous Master ensuite, 2 giant full sized walk in closets, an open ceiling area for architectural interest, huge full bathroom plumbed for 2 sinks, large shower & tub area. Across the hall is an additional bonus room that could easily be a gym, office, nursery, craft room, 5th bedroom or use as desired. Finish this massive suite to your ideal specifications, with an existing balcony and views of the lake from every window…roughed-in plumbing, electric and gas. Master bedroom floor joists of this 5200 square foot home are set to accommodate the 9-foot ceilings of your dream kitchen below. This property is being offered with a Bond Membership to the Mainland Recreation Association (MRA)... after a day at the beach, hit the MRA for a dip in the pool, a BBQ and some pickleball/tennis/basketball! Come experience 9 Dartmouth Lane - nothing else like this spectacular home - Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall - This location offers something amazing for ALL!! See Pictures
5 Bedroom Home in Galloway Township - $799,900
***NEW LISTING!!!*** "SIMPLY SPECTACULAR PALATIAL MANSION on EXCLUSIVE & EXECUTIVE UP-SCALE CUL DE SAC!!" YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS this Magnificently Appointed NEARLY 5200 Sq Ft BRICK FRONT 2 Story nestled in one of Galloway's Townships MOST PRESTIGEOUS Location's. The Many CUSTOM FEATURES include 5 Bedrooms with 4 1/2 Bathrooms! "A GRAND ENTRANCE with CURVED STAIRCASE and HUGE OPEN FOYER", Formal Living Room, Formal Dining Room with TRAY ceiling, WONDERFUL EYE CATCHING 2 STORY SUNK-IN GREAT ROOM bathed in NATURAL LIGHT with Floor to Ceiling WALL OF WINDOWS surrounding your BUILT-IN GAS FIREPLACE, CHEF'S GOURMET Eat in Kitchen complete with STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, center island, GRANITE COUNTER TOPPS & slider to the rear 6ft high fenced in yard, 1ST FLOOR OFFICE, 1ST FLOOR BEDROOM with FULL BATH (perfect for in-law suite or AUPAIR!!) AND IT DOESN'T STOP THERE!!! HUGE SUN ROOM/CONSERVATORY (27'11X13.11) Completely surrounded with Windows and vaulted ceilings!! Second Floor Offers OVER-SIZED PRIMARY/MASTER SUITE with Sitting Area, CORNER JACUZZI TUB and Walk in Closet, PLUS 3 additional bedrooms and 2 baths. Other CUSTOM Amenities Include a roughly 2500 SQ FT FULL BASEMENT that you can RIDE BIKES IN!!, 3 CAR SIDE ENTRANCE GARAGE (with second set of steps to the Basement), Recessed Lighting Throughout, VALUTED CEILINGS, GLEAMING HARDWOOD Floors, 3 ZONE HEATING and AC SYSTEMS, all on over 1 ACRE. "COULD NOT POSSIBLBY BE REPRODUCED AT THIS PRICE!!"
7 Bedroom Home in Linwood - $1,795,000
**********WELCOME HOME TO LINWOOD'S GOLD COAST ONE OF THE PREMIER LOCATIONS IN SOUTH JERSEY*****DARE TO COMPARE-NOTHING COMES CLOSE! YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO TOUR THIS BREATHTAKING HOME BUILT FOR A KING AND QUEEN! CONSTRUCTED BY WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED CUSTOM HOME BUILDER PAUL HIGBEE. HOME FEATURES 7 BEDROOMS INCLUDING 7.5 BATH ESTATE MAGNIFICIENT MASTER PIECE TOTALING APPROX 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF EVERY LUXURY AND AMENITY IMAGINABLE! NO EXPENSES SPARED W/ QUALITY AMENITIES INCLUDING MARBLE, STONE, MAHOGANY HARDWOOD FLOORS AND CUSTOM IMPORTED TILE. SPACIOUS CHEF KITCHEN W/ COMMERCIAL GRADE APPLIANCES IDEAL FOR ENTERTAINING AND LIVING A LUXURIOUS CAREFREE LIFESTYLE.SPECTACULAR HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER 1ST FLOOR MASSIVE MASTER SUITE AND LUXURIOUS ENSUITE/SITTING ROOM. INCREDIBLE FULL FINISHED BASEMENT W/ KITCHEN, BEDROOMS, LAUNDRY ROOM WITH WASHER AND DRYER,MEDIA ROOM, GAME ROOM, WINE CELLAR AND GATHERING ROOMS. LARGE CEDAR CLOSET THE GOOD LIFE EXCELS OUTSIDE W/ A CUSTOM HEATED INGROUND POOL, POOL BAR, CABANA W/ CHANGING ROOM AND BATHROOM WITH SHOWER FACILITIES.CABANA INCLUDES A WASHER AND DRYER. MULTIPLE SLATE PORCHES AND CUSTOM WALKING PATHS, JUST UNDER 1/2 AN ACRE OF MANICURED LANDSCAPING COMPLETE W/ A FENCED IN BACKYARD AND 3 CAR SIDE LOADED GARAGE. PLENTY OF STORAGE ROOMS AND FACILITIES.PLUS AN AWARD WINNING SCHOOL SYSTEM! AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE! FURNITURE IS NEGOTIABLE AND ALL TVS WALL MOUNTED INCLUDED.
5 Bedroom Home in Brigantine - $1,550,000
8 HOUSES TO THE BEACH!! PERFECT Vacation Home or CASH COW INVESTMENT! Current Owner Airbnb's, Amazing Income Opportunity!! 4000 Square Foot Estate Tucked Away in the Quiet North End, Only A Skip To The Beach With Water Views From Multiple Decks! What More Can You Ask For? The Open Floor Plan Features a Gourmet Kitchen, State-Of-The Art Appliances Including Wine Cooler, Granite Counter Tops and Center Island Flowing to the Dining Area Suited for 20+ Guests. The Spacious Main Floor With Fireplace Makes for Great Entertaining Space. The 3 Stories of Living Are All Serviced By The 3 Stop Elevator. The Generously Sized Master Suite With Sitting Room Features an Opulent Marble Bathroom, Walk In Closet, Fireplace, Wet Bar, and Large Private Deck. Master Junior Suite is Spacious adding Private Additional Quarters For The Growing Family. All Guest Bedrooms and Very Spacious With Great Closets As Well. The Exterior Features Multiple Decks With Water Views, Lush Landscaping, Two Car Garage, and an In-Ground Pool with Patio Surround. 3 Zone Gas Heat & Central Air and Very Well Maintained. Ask the Listing Agent for Weekly Rental Financials.
7 Bedroom Home in Margate - $200,000
If you thought this summer has been fantastic here in Margate, a PHENOMENAL private and "Estate" like opportunity for Summer of 2023 is being offered in this custom 7-BR, 5.5-BA home that is unique and unlike any property in Margate for rent. The home opens to a 2-Story grand foyer, limestone floors, 10' ceilings, living room w/stone fireplace, custom kitchen w/Lg island and dining room. All opens to the amazing private, 15+ft. tree lined and sound wall oasis with a 4000sf (50' x 80') paved patio with a gunite heated salt water pool and an elevated outdoor patio w/fireplace. The 2nd Fl has 4 BR's incl. a massive Master Suite w/ cathedral ceiling, onyx bathroom w/separate vanities and 2 level closet. 3rd Fl features a work out room, den and full bath. The 1st Fl has a sizable den/bedroom with full bath just outside the room. 3 car garage including a car lift with large driveway to accommodate 3 or more add'l cars. **Owner will entertain a longer term lease from Nov. 2022 thru Labor Day 2023** Have to see it to believe it!!!
3 Bedroom Home in Longport - $125,000
For rent JULY 2023 ONLY. Owner is listing agent. Three story contemporary waterfront property on one of the best blocks in Longport. Bayfront, beach block, gym, sauna, elevator, second floor kitchen, two decks, water views from every room.
6 Bedroom Home in Long Beach Twp - $3,775,000
5 Bedroom Home in Ocean View - $1,200,000
Out door... New pool equipment, New landscaping, New sprinklers, outdoor lighting, gutter covers, New concrete around pool, New patio lighting, New skylights, re paint exterior house. Concrete Monuments for property line identification (Survey). Interior... New gas furnaces (2), New carpeting, New bathrooms, New kitchen floors, Stair lift, New wanes coating, New laundry tile floors.
5 Bedroom Home in Seaville - $1,200,000
Out door... New pool equipment, New landscaping, New sprinklers, outdoor lighting, gutter covers, New concrete around pool, New patio lighting, New skylights, re paint exterior house. Concrete Monuments for property line identification (Survey). Interior... New gas furnaces (2), New carpeting, New bathrooms, New kitchen floors, Stair lift, New wanes coating, New laundry tile floors.
5 Bedroom Home in Beach Haven - $6,499,000
Welcome home to 100 Essex Ave. located in the prestigious LEHYC area of Beach Haven. This rare 100 by 100 oceanfront lot is spacious with 5,148 square feet of interior living. This multi-level house is perfect for family and entertaining as it provides the utmost in privacy inside and out.The gourmet kitchen is equipped with top-of-the-line appliances, center island and plenty of storage. The dining area is adjacent to the kitchen offering ocean views. The beautifully appointed living room has a fireplace and surrounded by accessible decks.Enjoy peaceful nights in a luxurious master suite complete with office area overlooking the ocean, ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi and walk-in closet. Four additional bedrooms offer plenty of room for family and guests or a dedicated Home Office.
9 Bedroom Home in Abescon - $710,000
*Mother/Daughter Set Up* * Multi-Generational Accommodation* *Fully Permitted Second Kitchen* Welcome home to this custom estate, newly remodeled and rebuilt in 2016. This single family home offers 2 custom kitchens, 9 bedrooms, 8 full bathrooms with 1 half bathroom, 5 zone heating and cooling, a backyard oasis and pool cabana w/wet bar, an outside gazebo with built in kitchen area, and much, much more! Almost every bedroom comes complete with its own full bathroom and private balcony. New garage is currently under construction and two separate driveways offer parking for up to 11 vehicles. Centrally located only a few minutes from Historic Smithville, Atlantic City, Seaview Golf Resort and famous NJ beaches. Nothing to do but unpack!!
5 Bedroom Home in Galloway - $1,199,000
Welcome to 504 Pelham Dr, a stunning custom-built 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom brick home located in the desirable Polo Club Community in the Village of Smithville. Built above and beyond the standard, this home is constructed with 2 x 6 beams and a newer roof featuring 2,500 hurricane clips! Offering over 7,000 interior square feet and 1.7 acres of manicured lawn-this home will not disappoint! This home is a true masterpiece, boasting luxurious features and a spacious layout that is perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing with family. Upon entering, you'll immediately be impressed by the gleaming Carrera marble flooring throughout the grand foyer. The beautiful custom built curved staircase is an exquisite feature that will be sure to catch your eye!
6 Bedroom Home in Linwood - $1,200,000
SPECTACULAR lake front custom luxury home on a cul de sac. Linwood Gold! Every luxury and amenity imaginable! You owe it to yourself to tour this magnificent home. This Impressive Estate features 6 Bedrooms and 5 Full Baths plus 3 Gas Fire Places Gorgeous Custom Cherry Wood Cabinets Granite Tops Hardwood Floors, travertine marble tile floors, stainless steel appliances, Custom home theatre, fitness room and Incredible Custom Bar overlooking the LAke! Tremendous property for entertaining inc sprawling staircase with marble foyer and balcony. Covered porch over looking lake w/ large patio on ground floor all fenced in with security system throughout the home.Incredible Lake Front Luxury Property Located on a Quiet Cul De Sac. This Property has 6 bedrooms, 5 full baths, and is approximately 7800 SQFT +-. It features a Large Upgraded Chef Kitchen, Cherry Wood Cabinets, Multi-Level Granite Counter Top, Massive Center Island with sink, Stainless Steel Appliances, Extended Counter tops with Bar Counter. 3 Gas Fireplaces, Large Travertine Tiles, Hardwood, Carpet, Large Windows Throughout, Home Theater, 2 Car Garage, Balcony Overlooking the Lake. Agent Remarks for more.
7 Bedroom Home in Egg Harbor Township - $1,099,000
INDOOR IN GROUND POOL, BASKETBALL COURT AND PRIVATE GYM WHILE BEING ON A LAKE! Completely renovated LAKE FRONT custom home offers a contemporary design that hones in on every detail including the exterior brick and board and batten siding. The stacked window design provides plenty of sunlight filling the foyer and entertainment room. Looking up you will see tastefully sought out light fixtures and shiplap on the ceilings. Engineered hardwood runs throughout the home and is easy to maintain. Each dedicated room downstairs provides plenty of space to entertain including custom wall moldings with chair rail. Not to mention,Sonos speakers in the ceiling. The living area offers coffered ceilings and opens up to a custom bar area that features stacked stone, cabinetry for storage, beverage cooler and quartz countertops. The kitchen has exactly what you need when you're the chef of the house including quartz countertops, top of the line stainless steel GE Cafe appliances and plenty of room for seating. To the rear of the kitchen is dining area that overlooks the lake. A full bathroom and bedroom downstairs finish the main level perfectly. Ready for a late night swim? Enjoy your own private interior heated in-ground pool, including an attached hot tub and dedicated bar area. The fun doesn’t stop there! Connected to the pool area is your own 600 sq ft basketball court and a 400 sq ft exercise room/gym. There is a spiral stairwell that will take you to the second floor catwalk which provides access to the second level of the main house and overlooks the pool area. Back inside the main house custom cable railing leads you to a relaxing sun filled loft area. The second floor master suite has a walk-in closet and overlooks the lake with your own private balcony. The ensuite has custom tile throughout, his and hers sinks and a walk-in shower that features body spray jets and a seating area. The interior 2nd floor catwalk overlooks the main level and leads you to your conveniently placed laundry room, 3 bathrooms and 5 large bedrooms with plenty of closet space. Porcelain pavers, a massive entertaining area completed with a gas grilling station. The lake is yours to use! Go swimming, take the kayak out or let your dogs take a swim. Additional features include 4 zone heating/ac, tankless hot water heater, 4 month old roof, Ipe decking on your front porch, irrigated landscaping, 300-gallon fish tank and 2 car garage with an attached mudroom. You may have the ability to subdivide the lot but it would require a variance from the city because of the frontage of the lot. This home has everything you could want and more, be the first to explore this one-of-a-kind home and opportunity!
5 Bedroom Home in Galloway Township - $799,900
***NEW LISTING!!!*** "SIMPLY SPECTACULAR PALATIAL MANSION on EXCLUSIVE & EXECUTIVE UP-SCALE CUL DE SAC!!" YOU WILLNOT WANT TO MISS this Magnificently Appointed NEARLY 5200 Sq Ft BRICK FRONT 2 Story nestled in one of Galloway's Townships MOSTPRESTIGEOUS Location's. The Many CUSTOM FEATURES include 5 Bedrooms with 4 1/2 Bathrooms! "A GRAND ENTRANCE with CURVEDSTAIRCASE and HUGE OPEN FOYER", Formal Living Room, Formal Dining Room with TRAY ceiling, WONDERFUL EYE CATCHING 2STORY SUNK-IN GREAT ROOM bathed in NATURAL LIGHT with Floor to Ceiling WALL OF WINDOWS surrounding your BUILT-IN GASFIREPLACE, CHEF'S GOURMET Eat in Kitchen complete with STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, center island, GRANITE COUNTERTOPPS & slider to the rear 6ft high fenced in yard, 1ST FLOOR OFFICE, 1ST FLOOR BEDROOM with FULL BATH (perfect for in-law suite or AUPAIR!!) AND IT DOESN'T STOP THERE!!! HUGE SUNROOM/CONSERVATORY (27'11X13.11) Completely surrounded with Windows and vaulted ceilings!! Second Floor Offers OVER-SIZED PRIMARY SUITE with Sitting Area, CORNER JACUZZI TUB and Walk in Closet, PLUS 3 additional bedrooms and 2 baths. Other CUSTOM Amenities Include a roughly 2500 SQ FT FULL BASEMENT that you can RIDEBIKES IN!!, 3 CAR SIDE ENTRANCE GARAGE (with second set of steps to the Basement), Recessed Lighting Throughout, VALUTED CEILINGS, GLEAMING HARDWOOD Floors, 3 ZONE HEATING and AC SYSTEMS, all on over 1 ACRE. "COULD NOT POSSIBLBY BE REPRODUCED AT THIS PRICE!!"
6 Bedroom Home in Linwood - $1,450,000
If you are looking for the house where you can build unforgettable memories with you family and to call it HOME, your search has come to an end. This house offers everything and more, located in the heart of luxury Fischer Woods development. A unique gorgeous property which has so much to offer; cathedral ceiling, grand staircase, stunning Marble & granite flooring, 6 bedrooms including a huge Master and an In Law suite,6 full baths and 2 half baths, full finished Basement, 2 cedar closets, amazing land escaped front yard & back yard, 16x32 indoor all season heated pool, Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, double oven and Subzero fridge and freezer. Also has a wet bar, green house, 3 car garage, central vacuum, GEO Thermal. The awesome open floor plan makes this house perfect for entertainment and allows plenty of natural light. This is a MUST-SEE house. Words can't give enough justice!!!
5 Bedroom Home in Galloway Township - $1,199,000
Welcome to 504 Pelham Dr, a stunning custom-built 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom brick home located in the desirable Polo Club Community in the Village of Smithville. Built above and beyond the standard, this home is constructed with 2 x 6 beams and a newer roof featuring 2,500 hurricane clips! Offering over 7,000 interior square feet and 1.7 acres of manicured lawn-this home will not disappoint! This home is a true masterpiece, boasting luxurious features and a spacious layout that is perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing with family. Upon entering, you'll immediately be impressed by the gleaming Carrera marble flooring throughout the grand foyer. The beautiful custom built curved staircase is an exquisite feature that will be sure to catch your eye! Move into the formal dining room is perfect for hosting dinner parties. The beautiful 2-story ceiling with curved accents offers an open, elegant space. The gourmet, eat- in kitchen is a chef's dream come true, featuring custom 42” cabinetry, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. A Subzero standing refrigerator and a Subzero standing freezer with custom wood paneling blends into the space perfectly. Top notch brand new wall ovens, brand NEW dishwasher and two NEW sinks finish off this space. The gold and matte black pendant lights tie into the gold accents through the kitchen. The sliding door is set in the perfect location leading out to your BACKYARD OASIS! The convenient location of your Butlers Pantry is perfect for stocking up for your next party-including a built in wine refrigerator and sink. There is a main floor in-law suite/nanny quarters with its own private entrance and full bathroom. There is also plenty of room to add an elevator for easy access to the second floor. Finishing off the main level, you will find an oversized formal living room with a double-faced gas fireplace and tons of natural light as well as a sunroom with a fireplace and views of your backyard. The luxurious master suite features a spacious bedroom with hardwood flooring, a sun-filled sitting room with an electric fireplace, a magnificent full bathroom with Italian imported Marble from floor to ceiling, a double vanity, Jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower with steamer-a true spa experience. Two separate walk-in closets with pocket doors and custom built ins as well as a sun filled sitting room with a fireplace. Upstairs on the second floor, you will find four additional bedroom en-suites, each offering plenty of space and natural light. The spacious en-suites offer private bathrooms and plenty of closet space. An added bonus space-use your imagination in your private media room with an electric fireplace-Add a pool table, make it a movie room-the potential is endless! A full, finished, walk up third floor is the perfect space for a playroom, bonus room or office. There is plumbing already roughed in for an additional bathroom on the third floor! Spend your days in your private outdoor oasis! The Inground, HEATED, fiberglass POOL is a summer hit! Surrounded by intentionally crafted foliage, extensive hardscaping and estate fencing! Keep the grounds looking perfect with your 13-zone sprinkler system. The home also features a security system for added peace of mind and is located in an HOA community that offers access to tennis courts, a clubhouse, two pools, bike paths, two gyms and the common areas. Don't miss your opportunity to own this stunning home! NEWER roof, NEWER furnace and AC. Over $250k in improvements over the last few years! The whole home is wired with speakers and hard-wired security features-Ready to go! Located within 25 minutes to Atlantic City International Airport, upscale dining and shore points within a 25 minute drive! 5 minute walk to the Historical Smithville Village! Schedule your showing today. ** Please do not show up to the home without a confirmed appointment. Listing agent must be present for all showings. **
7 Bedroom Home in Linwood - $1,750,000
Magnificent home with panoramic views of the Linwood Country Club, bay, and beautiful skylines. This home boasts 7 bedrooms, 8 & 1/2 baths (w/ a possible 9th). The first floor has a large living room w/ fireplace, in-law suite, office w/ built-in bookshelves, 2 & 1/2 baths and formal dining area. The 2nd floor has a large owner’s suite w fireplace and 2 walk in closets luxurious bath w/ sauna system connected to the shower and 4 additional bedroom/bth suites. The 3rd floor has a large bedroom that runs across the whole house, and a room w/ plumbing for the 9th bth. The surround sound system runs through the house and is controlled through 5 screens in different places to play music recorded or directly from the internet inside the house and outside in the pool. House has 5 a/c, heat & A/C zones and 2 extra hot water heaters for guests. Outside, the property backs right up to the Golf course on a very quiet cul-de sac. Large lot 150x125 irr. Additionally, the house has a pool (currently covered with decking that can be removed) jacuzzi, pool house w kitchen and bathroom. 2 car garage and oversized driveway for extra parking. Another bonus is the sprinkler system is fed by water from a well. Beautiful large deck overlooking the golf course and large fenced backyard makes this the perfect place to enjoy outside entertaining. Great location! 10 minutes to the Beach, or you can hit the links for a quick round of golf. Short driving distance to Margate, Ventnor, Longport, AC, OC, bars, restaurants, shopping & grocery stores. And of course, the Linwood school system is one of the best in NJ!
8 Bedroom Home in Ventnor - $3,999,000
Experience luxury oceanfront living like never before in this newly built custom residence located in the prestigious St. Leonard's Tract. This magnificent home boasts an unprecedented 8 bedrooms and 4.5 baths, making it perfect for a large family or those who enjoy entertaining guests. Wake up every morning to the soothing sounds of the waves and enjoy your coffee while watching the sunrise from your private house or take a stroll down to the iconic Ventnor Pier, the longest state ocean pier, just a few steps away. Built with the finest materials and craftsmanship, this home features a durable and long-lasting white Hardi Plank siding, custom Anderson black windows, gorgeous mahogany soffits, and a stunning swimming pool with an oasis outdoor entertainment area. Inside, you'll find luxurious amenities too numerous to list. Highlights include two grand master suites with spectacular views, a gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances such as Sub Zero and Wolf, high-end quartz countertops, a custom 4-stop elevator, spacious open floor plan, custom carpentry, 3 separate HVAC and AC systems, and plenty of decks and off-street parking. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a unique oceanfront property that your family can enjoy for generations to come. As the saying goes, they aren't making any more oceanfront properties, so act now and make this masterpiece your own. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/magnificently-renovated-margate-home-is-cozy-contemporary-and-ready-for-summer-fun/article_89f754fa-ef7d-11ed-b7c7-ff2c3e548710.html | 2023-05-13T09:22:43 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/magnificently-renovated-margate-home-is-cozy-contemporary-and-ready-for-summer-fun/article_89f754fa-ef7d-11ed-b7c7-ff2c3e548710.html |
What began as a gift of a mushroom growing kit eventually turned into a business for Marcy and Albert Harris.
Marcy and Albert are the owners of Al’s Mushroom World. They sell their products every Saturday at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market.
What began as a gift of a mushroom growing kit eventually turned into a business for Marcy and Albert Harris.
Marcy and Albert are the owners of Al’s Mushroom World. They sell their products every Saturday at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market.
Their interest in mushrooms began when Albert’s sister sent him a mushroom grow kit for his birthday, he said.
“I thought it was really fun. So, then I started researching how to do it myself and just kind of started going from there,” Albert said.
The business began in January 2021.
When looking at varieties of mushrooms to grow, they started out with some of the easiest types, which are oyster mushrooms, Marcy said.
“And … once we knew how to do that, then we just kept wanting to grow more,” Marcy said.
The pair have been surprised by the amount of interest they’ve received at the farmers market for their mushrooms, according to Albert.
“It seems like it’s growing from the first year that we sold. It seems like there’s just more knowledge about mushrooms and more interest,” Marcy said.
The process Marcy and Albert use to grow their mushrooms starts with buying mushroom cultures from a supplier.
“Then we’ll add the culture to sterilized grain,” Albert said.
Once the grain has been colonized by the culture, they add the culture to a substrate “that the mushroom eats,” Albert said.
Some of the substrates that Albert and Marcy uses are straw, wood chips and logs. After that, the mushrooms colonize the substrate and are put into the right growing conditions. They grow until they are large enough to be harvested, according to Albert.
What types of mushrooms are available at the market depends on the week, “but mostly we’ll have a pink, yellow and blue oysters (mushrooms),” Albert said. “We also have king oysters, black pearl king oysters, lion’s mane, shiitake (and) chesnut mushrooms.”
They also forage for edible mushrooms and sell them at the market. Some of the species of foraged mushrooms they sell are morels and chanterelles.
Lion’s mane seems to be the most popular product among the customers of Al’s Mushroom World.
“Everyone wants lion’s mane, and we can’t grow enough to satisfy people, so we’re always we’re always running out of that,” Marcy said.
Many people haven’t cooked with the varieties of mushrooms that Marcy and Albert sell, so they have recipes on hand when they sell their mushrooms.
“We recommend just … a general sauteed mushroom for the first time you try it because you can really taste the mushroom,” Marcy said.
This year, Al’s Mushroom World has a few new products for sale. They are now offering mushroom tea, as well as lion’s mane vegan cookies. Their son has also created his own mushroom tea that they are selling, the couple said.
Al’s Mushroom World is at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market every Saturday. The farmers market will run from May 6 to Oct. 28 this year, and it is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farmers market runs along Memorial Drive.
For a map of vendor locations at the market, go to idahofallsfarmersmarket.org.
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A receipt was sent to your email. | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/couple-sells-mushrooms-at-idaho-falls-farmers-market/article_1588539c-f105-11ed-8ca3-5b0b40aadd9d.html | 2023-05-13T09:29:47 | 0 | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/couple-sells-mushrooms-at-idaho-falls-farmers-market/article_1588539c-f105-11ed-8ca3-5b0b40aadd9d.html |
Emmett Michael Clark and Katarina Betty Florrie Clark
Audrey Naifeh and Justin Andrew Naifeh
Jessica A. Diaz and Julio C. Diaz
Penny Shaye Blue Follett and Sage Hyrum Follett
Jenifer Gae Law and Nathan Mark Law
Chad Coy and Stephanie Greene
Angela Lynn Baxter and John C. Baxter
Jackie M. Hensley and James Wyatt Hensley
Brandon Lee Mecham and Tatiesha A. Mecham
Dalton Brian Holverson and Patricia Holverson
Breanne M. Sandoval and Noel Sandoval
Tiffany Marie Eison and Shaun Kae Gardner
Brian Allen Toop and Jamie Ann Toop
Lisa Caroline Clements and Timothy Levi Clements
Erik K. Shumway and Kelcie Shumway
Aaron A. Ruhter and Jennifer L. Ruhter
Megan Elkington and Travis Blair Elkington
Katie Parks and Richard Parks
Anna Elizabeth Attebury and Matthew James Attebury
Jason Lou Gneiting and Jayna Claire Higginson
Brandon Spence Rich and Jami Lyn Sutch
Ciera Lynn Clayton and Tylan Kevin Clayton
Matthew James Gowans and Melissa Novak
Jeffrey Thomas McGuire and Wendy Marie McGuire
Charles Reed II and Sarah Reed
Nicholas Jay Winterfeld and Rachael Winterfeld
Rebecca Ann Kraemer and Travis Kraemer
Dian Walker and Mark E. Walker
Julie Marie Fraser and Ryan Scott Stoddard
Karla Diane Frey and Nicholas Floyd Frey
Erin Leigh Kennedy and Nathan M. Kennedy
Derrick James Staples and Pamela Mereille Staples
Douglas Benson and Natalie Benson
Christina Accinelli and David Moises Accinelli
Jonah Keith Sawyer and Miranda Michelle Sawyer
Anthony Andrew Guerrero and Marie Lynne Guerrero
Brandon J. Bates and Sarah Wilding
Javier Hernandez and Nichole M. Hernandez
Robin David Abbott and Kisandra Mary Taylor
Arlan K. Kawamura and Michele Rae Kawamura
Bryant Nielson and Charla Nielson
Marisela Magallon and Ramon Estes Magallon
Keith Bryan McClure and Nichole Nielson
Jesus David Vera Malagon and Diana Salazal Vera
Seth Jewel Hollist and Mindy Marie Moss-Hollist
Kelzey Cherie Glazner and Jonah Wylie Phillips
Marc Louis Thiel and Shelly Lynn Thiel
Justin D. Murdock and Leatha Y. Murdock
Kevin Dale Swanson and Yati Zainudin Swanson
Stephen Finley-Zabriskie and Carmen Irene Zabriskie
Geoffrey D. Bayless and Krystal Lynn Bayless
Jody Brian Adams and Sheila Diane Adams
Natalie Nicole Kelly and Sheamus N. Kelly
Britne Lee Shinderling and Ray Shinderling
Chandra Claver and Travis W. Storer
Caddie Alice Boline and Sam White
Jose Vasquez Bastardo and Angelita Teresa Vasquez
Samuel Arthur French and Jordyn Malania Straw
Kevin Bryce Orner and Noami Varela Orner
Jeffrey Louis Drawdy and Lisa Marie Drawdy
Jamie Jonas and Luzimila S. Jonas
David Nathaniel Cammack and Mckenzie Jill Cammack
Lauren Elizabeth Stavros and Nicholas William Stavros
Stephanie Bingham and Kevin Shawn Stohl
Noah Daniel Tomchak and Tracey Tomchak
Garet Wayne Smith and and Mackenzie Hosteen Smith | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/divorces/article_6ba62552-e867-11ed-93ed-630c642de2d0.html | 2023-05-13T09:29:53 | 1 | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/divorces/article_6ba62552-e867-11ed-93ed-630c642de2d0.html |
You can smell rotten eggs on Carlisle Ave.
For weeks, a natural gas line has been leaking from a yellow gas cap by the side of the road. Kevin Cianfarini, a volunteer with the local environmental advocacy group Beyond Methane, checks the air with a high-end gas detector.
The detector beeps and spits out a number: "100%". Cianfarini looks worried, but not surprised. According to Cianfarini, there was enough gas in the air that a stray match or a spark could ignite the gas.
The leak on Carlisle Ave. is one of over 870 known leaky pipes, according to records shared by the city department of utilities.
Those pipes are releasing natural gas into the city’s air, costing consumers money, contributing to global warming, and creating health hazards that repeatedly require city and state agencies to intervene. The city has primarily laid fault with its old gas lines – created in 1851 – made of materials more prone to leakage as it ages.
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A gas leak outside 3600 West Broad Street Wednesday morning forced temporary evacuations from the building and shut down both West Broad and Interstate 195 while crews investigated the source of the leak.
A case-in-point occurred this week, when two gas leaks were reported within the city limits in less than 24 hours, prompting crews to evacuate buildings and shutdown I-95. By law, the city is compelled to respond immediately to leaks inside houses. Outdoor leaks aren’t required to be fixed immediately.
But the longer term disruption is affecting Richmonders' checkbooks. When the city’s pipes leak, residents foot the bill. Last year, the city lost nearly $4 million dollars worth of gas, according to purchasing receipts reviewed by the Times-Dispatch. The year before, more than $5 million.
City data shows that the leaks are everywhere – in Short Pump, Glen Allen, Highland Springs, Bon Air. The Fan and the Museum District are pockmarked with leaks, the data show, and at least 10 leaks are active now in Church Hill and Montrose Heights, where Cianfarini and volunteer Erik Shilts often walk to test gas caps.
The leaks pop up as 170-year-old cast iron pipes corrode, or when accidentally nicked by construction crews. In 2019, a leak sprang from a gas line in Bon Air because of a nearby lightning strike. The pipe released more than $50,000 worth of gas, according to PHMSA, the federal agency that monitors pipelines.
In Richmond, the leaks are also worsening. In January 2022, the system leaked 14% of all its gas into the atmosphere – the highest leak rate ever recorded by the utility in a month. In the past four years, the system leaked between 4 and 6% of its total supply each year, according to city data.
Mayor Stoney has promised to repair many of the lines using $10 million in federal grant money that the city celebrated receiving in April.
“These $10 million will go a long way obviously because it will cut costs for our consumers, but it will be environmentally friendly as well so we can reduce the amount of emissions that go into our atmosphere that unfortunately lead to dangerous effects on our climate,” Stoney said last month.
In a statement, city spokesperson Petula Burks defended the utility, saying that it remains in compliance with strict regulations that ensure public safety.
“All leaks are taken seriously, evaluated immediately, and assigned a grade to indicate the potential hazard,” said Burks. “Any gas leak that represents an existing or probable hazard to persons or property is immediately repaired until the conditions are no longer hazardous.”
Burks also defended the agency’s current strategy of continually repairing the system – a task that costs the city $20.5 million annually: Twice what the city celebrated receiving in grant funds in April.
Gas hookups in Richmond, Henrico, and northern Chesterfield primarily run through Richmond Gas Works (RGW). RGW is a private company run by the city. It is headed by April Bingham, who was appointed by Mayor Stoney in December 2021 and who now earns more than $200,000 a year.
The utility buys gas from wholesalers and makes up the loss by selling gas to Richmond residents. The city has previously said it does so without producing a profit, according to the Richmond Free Press. It also incurs costs when it has to repair gas lines or connect their gas lines to new homes.
The numbers have not made sense for the company for years. In 2022, it had more than $250 million of unpaid debt, a reflection of inability to keep customers and the cost of repairing its legacy pipelines.
Bingham’s early strategy has been to raise prices. Last summer, a year into her term, the gas utility hiked the price of gas by 40%. At the time, the city said they were passing on price hikes that were being seen nationwide.
Stoney pushed another increase across all utilities in this year's budget, approved last week. Those increases will show up on Richmonders bills in July.
Richmonders will see a 9% increase to their utility rates starting July 2 following City Council’s unanimous vote Monday to approve Mayor Levar Stoney’s proposed $3 billion 2023-24 fiscal year budget.
Cianfarini said he doesn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. He believes he current strategy will lead to “higher bills for everyone connected to the system,” particularly as the city plans to invest more than $100 million repairing its current lines – a debt that it will have to recoup well into the future.
The leaks exacerbate the issue and put a point on perceived mismanagement of RGW, where debt continues to climb.
Each year, several millions of dollars in natural gas escape the city’s pipes. “Fugitive gas”, as it's called, forces the city utility to tread water financially: For every $10 million grant that comes in, as much as a third is being wasted on gas that seeps out into the city air.
“It’s money going up into the atmosphere,” said Glen Besa, former director of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Natural gas pumped through Richmond’s gas lines is 95% methane, a greenhouse gas that shouldn’t be inhaled by humans and that contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions.
While carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere longer, methane is thicker. The EPA believes its impact on global warming is 28 times that of CO2.
Despite that, Richmond Gas Works’ public facing website advertises gas as environmentally friendly, a position at odds with Stoney, who last month said that fixing the leaks would be environmentally friendly. It's a refrain that echoes public statements made by national gas companies, who regularly lobby Virginia politicians to defend the state’s natural gas infrastructure.
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It’s also not clear what the city plans for RGW if it plans to meet its own goals of net zero carbon emissions.
In February, the City Council approved an aggressive plan known as RVAgreen 2050. It tasks the city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by the year 2030 and then become net neutral by 2050. While one city agency works to curb natural gas usage, another needs to sell more in order to pay off its debt.
Burks said the agency acknowledges those goals “in the long-term,” but that “absent current solutions, DPU continues to provide natural gas services.”
In 2018, the city assessed that 18% of Richmond’s greenhouse gas emissions come from natural gas – meaning Richmond Gas Works.
Mary Finley-Brook, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Richmond and an expert on American gas infrastructure, says repairing the pipes no longer makes sense as gas prices continue to rise.
She thinks the lack of a new strategy for the utility reflects its rudderless leadership as it heads straight into economic insolvency, dragging Richmonders along with it as it routinely raises their utility prices.
“It's mismanagement that [prices] are as high as they are,“ Mary Finley-Brook, professor of environmental studies at the University of Richmond. “The only thing I can call it is a slow disaster. Nobody is driving this ship.”
All gas leaks are taken seriously, evaluated immediately, and assigned a grade to indicate the potential hazard. Any gas leak that represents an existing or probable hazard to persons or property is immediately repaired until the conditions are no longer hazardous. Other leaks that are non-hazardous are scheduled for repair and continuously monitored and re-evaluated.
- Petula Burks, Director of Richmond's Office of Strategic Communications and Civic Engagement
“It's mismanagement that [prices] are as high as they are. The only thing I can call it is a slow disaster. Nobody is driving this ship.”
- Mary Finley-Brook, professor of environmental studies at the University of Richmond | https://richmond.com/news/local/climate-richmond-gas-methane-leaks/article_3e47a766-f0c8-11ed-8262-236e52f13eac.html | 2023-05-13T10:18:30 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/climate-richmond-gas-methane-leaks/article_3e47a766-f0c8-11ed-8262-236e52f13eac.html |
Virginia Commonwealth University’s board of visitors has given the green light for the university to begin building its sprawling athletics village.
On Friday, the board approved Phase 1, in which VCU will build a new outdoor track and field facility at a cost of $38 million. VCU plans to break ground this fall.
The facility will include a 400-meter outdoor track, a natural turf infield that can accommodate a soccer field, seating for 2,000 spectators, locker rooms, concessions and storage. There will also be two practice fields, one artificial turf and one natural grass.
“It’s going to be absolutely beautiful,” said Meredith Weiss, vice president for administration.
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The university expects to pay for the athletics village by selling Sports Backers Stadium, fundraising and student fees. The 40-acre campus will be built on the east side of Hermitage Road across from The Diamond.
Phase 2 will include indoor and outdoor tennis courts at a cost of $45 million. Work is expected to begin between 2024 and 2026.
Phase 3 is a soccer stadium. Its cost has not been determined, and work is expected to begin between 2026 and 2028.
Phase 4 is an indoor track and field facility to be built sometime after 2028. Its cost has not been determined.
VCU owns Sports Backers Stadium, but it has agreed to sell it to the city to make way for the $2.4 billion Diamond District redevelopment. The city will pay VCU $25 million for the stadium.
The university has not determined an entire cost for the athletics village, said Athletics Director Ed McLaughlin. VCU says new facilities are necessary because its current ones are substandard. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-to-start-construction-on-athletics-village-this-fall/article_3adfa51e-f0d3-11ed-ab13-0bf666465df9.html | 2023-05-13T10:18:36 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-to-start-construction-on-athletics-village-this-fall/article_3adfa51e-f0d3-11ed-ab13-0bf666465df9.html |
TUPELO — John Adam Greenlee, a 38-year-old Corinth resident, is wrapping up his first year as a student in ICC's Associate Degree Nursing program. It’s not quite the culmination of a childhood dream, but almost.
"It took me a little while to figure out what I want to do when I grow up," Greenlee said. "But basically, I've always been a people person, a helper. I've always wanted to be able to help other people. That's what led me towards this path and trying to get into nursing because I knew I'd be able to help my community."
Greenlee is one of thousands of nursing students currently being trained by educators at the high school, community college and university levels to be the next generation of workers to operate in the post-pandemic health care industry.
As Mississippi continues to face a perilous nursing shortage, there’s no doubt Greenlee — and other Northeast Mississippi nursing students like him — will be able to find a job upon graduation.
"They need nurses every day,” he said. “Everywhere, every hospital, every clinic.”
Blue Mountain's new nursing program wraps up first semester
With its newly established nursing program, Blue Mountain Christian University (BMCU) is the latest local school to add a pathway into the health care profession.
The nursing program enrolled 10 traditional students and five RN to BSN students when it launched in January 2023. Traditional students enroll in the nursing program as juniors after completing 60 hours of basic prerequisite classes. Once in the program, students must complete another 60 hours of nursing classes.
The online RN to BSN track is designed for associate degree nurses looking to earn a bachelor's degree. The program launched in the spring semester to speed up the accreditation process.
In Mississippi, the Institutions of Higher Learning board approves new nursing programs rather than the state's Board of Nursing. The IHL visited campus in July and officially approved the program in August 2022.
"We think that was greatly to our advantage because we have an awesome group of students," Dr. Tammie McCoy, dean of the BMCU School of Nursing, said. "They are all caring. They really wanted to do this. They have been kind and considerate and have embraced going to clinical and the basic tenets of nursing."
As the first semester comes to a close, students have learned the foundational skills required of nurses and began putting them to use in simulated patient scenarios.
New Albany native Mikayla Rakestraw is a first-year nursing student. She started at BMCU intending to transfer to another school to pursue a degree in nursing, but something told her to stay and finish her bachelor's degree first.
With just a semester’s worth of classes remaining before finishing her Biology degree, Rakestraw couldn’t pass up the opportunity to enroll in the school’s new nursing program.
"I've wanted to go into nursing for a long, long time," Rakestraw said. "When I was young, a close family member of mine had a really serious emergency accident happen, and I was the only care provider in the home that could carry out home care. So that inspired me, and it was more of a ministry I think, as long as I can remember, just being called into that part of ministry."
For the Christian school, the addition of a nursing program has helped it to fully carry out Christ’s threefold ministry: preaching, teaching and healing.
"Our philosophy is to maintain a Christian worldview, to help the students learn to be the hands and feet of Christ and to help them work through the different challenges in health care from that perspective," McCoy said.
BMCU can enroll 30 students annually in the traditional pre-licensure track, and they've seen lots of interest from freshmen who want to join the program, McCoy said.
"Our hope and prayer is that Blue Mountain will make a difference for our students and then for the citizens, especially of Mississippi, because we know there's a critical need," McCoy said. “We want to be able to provide (our students with) a quality education that they can use to hit the ground running when they're employed, ready to work, ready to take care of the patients and ready to help meet the health care need."
The first class of BMCU’s nursing students will graduate and then enter the workforce in summer 2024. And being located in a rural area, McCoy said most of her students want to stay near their hometown and make a difference.
"They know the people and they want to help protect and take care of people they've grown up with and known all their lives," McCoy said.
ICC nursing program bounces back from pandemic lows
Itawamba Community College's associate degree nursing program was established in 1974 as a direct result of an identified need for certified nurses in the area.
In the last three years, that need has been greater than ever, according to Dr. Dana Walker, director of ICC's Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program.
In 2013, the ICC School of Health Science moved to the college's Tupelo campus, where 10 other pathways are offered alongside the ADN program. The School of Nursing typically admits 120 to 140 students per year, but the ADN program has seen a decline in applicants since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
That slip can be partially attributed to fear of the virus and a hesitancy to take the COVID-19 vaccine among some prospective students. Although ICC does not require the COVID vaccine, clinical agencies do. In recent months, students have been able to request an exemption as allowed by the clinical agency.
But those aren't the only factors.
When jobs are widely available, college enrollment tends to go down because potential students can go out and get jobs that pay well without a degree. Likewise, Walker said, when the job market is down, there's an increase in college enrollment.
While the applicant pool for nursing varies from year to year, ICC saw an increased number of students drop out during the pandemic because they had to financially support immediate or extended family members. Most students who drop out of the program do so because of financial reasons, Walker said. Since 2020, 55-60% of students who enrolled have completed their ADN. In prior years, the completion rate was closer to 65%.
The Women's Foundation of Mississippi provides grant money for the nursing program, and ICC's Foundation also offers scholarships to support students who need it.
If nurses can just get through school, more than 75% typically stay in the Northeast Mississippi area to work, Walker said. Having working nurses in the area improves more than just access to health care; it increases the vibrance of the community.
Greenlee, the first-year ICC nursing student from Corinth, hopes to be one of those nurses.
He said he responds well to pressure, so his learning experience at ICC has been a fun one. He has an interest in pediatrics and hopes to work in the ER or ICU after completing the program.
"You learn a ton of information very fast but you have to," Greenlee said. "To be able to come out with the skills that you need to possess going into the field, you've got a lot of information that you've got to cover really quick to try to get that all into the two years."
NEMCC on track to have largest sophomore nursing class in years
Housed in Childers Hall on Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Booneville campus, the health sciences department employs some 40 people across a number of different heath care programs.
Associate Degree Nursing is by far the largest of these offerings. Last fall, the school admitted 112 freshmen into the program, which already had 77 sophomores. And in the practical nursing program, 36 are admitted each fall and 24 in spring for a total of 60 per year.
After a decrease in enrollment last year, interest has bounced back with the college recruiting at high schools, career technology centers and its own campus. And the program is poised to have one of its largest sophomore classes in years with up to 92 students. Over the last three years, that number has hovered between 50 to 70.
Students face various obstacles to enrolling or completing a degree in the health sciences. Some were deterred by general stress the pandemic put on health care workers, but the largest issue is financial.
A grant through the Women's Foundation of Mississippi provides $20,000 each semester to help NEMCC students, male or female, who are struggling. The college is tentatively set to receive the grant for three more years. It can and has been used to pay for tuition, child care fees, rent, power bills, gas cards, new shoes for clinical, scrubs for clinical.
"We've seen a lot of students who have a lot of financial barriers," said Jennifer Davis, NEMCC Associate Vice President of Health Services. "And those seem to be popping up more and more. We have a large population of students who are having to support their families, and that doesn't mean their children. That means they're supporting their parents."
The Tiger DEN food pantry also helps those experiencing food insecurity. And mental health resources, including mental health counselors, are available on campus.
In the middle of the pandemic, some students were deterred by COVID vaccine requirements. The program partners with hospitals across its five-county area, including the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Baptist Memorial Hospital in Booneville and Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth, along with others as far away as Jackson, Tennessee, and Florence, Alabama.
So while NEMCC didn't require the vaccine for students, the nursing program adopted the policy of hospitals it contracts with for clinical experiences, following the most stringent policy for health records required by a partner hospital.
"We are guests at their hospitals, so we have to play by their rules," Davis said.
It wasn't clear at the time how vaccination exemptions would work, and some students pulled their names from consideration for admission, Davis said.
Students are now able to file for religious or medical exemptions, which has alleviated that problem. That, coupled with the relaxation of some COVID policies by hospitals, has removed the barrier for students.
Once a student enters a health sciences program, advisors help them set achievable career goals.
"We want these students to be successful," Davis said. "We realize, I think more than ever in the past couple of years, that these degrees are life-changing. For a large majority of our students, these degrees bring them out of poverty. It completely changes their lifestyle."
Melissa Morgan, NEMCC director of associate degree nursing, said that since the pandemic began, many nursing graduates have opted to pursue the higher pay that comes with working as travel nurses. But those contracts have started expiring, and many nurses are returning home to work.
That bodes well for health care access in Northeast Mississippi. Morgan estimates roughly 85-90% of graduates stay in the area, working in Northeast Mississippi, southwest Tennessee and northwest Alabama.
The important thing, Morgan said, is that every student secures a job before graduation.
"We have recruiters here all the time," Morgan said. "They're hired before they're out the door."
Innovations happening in high school-level health care education
The Lee County School District (LCSD) and Tupelo Public School District (TPSD) seek to train students for further education in health care, which will eventually lead to careers in the field.
The Lee Count CTE center opened in November 2021 for students at Saltillo, Mooreville and Shannon high schools and includes among its career pathways a two-year health sciences class taught by health science instructor Charla Creel.
In Year One, students learn about things like safety, infection control, legal and ethical aspects of the field, career paths, along with anatomy and physiology and how they relate to different careers discussed in the curriculum.
Students who apply and are accepted to Year Two of the class go out for job shadowing and mentorship opportunities at clinics and hospitals in the area.
Both years give students invaluable firsthand experience that can be utilized in further health care education at the college and university levels.
"We are extremely blessed to be here," Creel said. "This is a wonderful program for students if they're trying to explore whether they want to be in the medical field.”
Most, she said, leave the school wanting to join the medical field.
Kirsten Willis, a sophomore in the first-year health science class, plans to work in the dentistry field as an endodontist.
"In this class, we've done a unit where we talked about all the different careers," Willis said. "That gave me an insight of education, salary, what they do, how they operate in the medical setting, and that helped me decide what career I wanted."
TPSD has offered a two-year health science class at the Tupelo Career-Technical Center (CTC) for years but is currently developing an innovative new program that will provide a much more immersive experience for students.
Tupelo High School and the CTC are partnering to create career academies. The initiative is led by THS principal Dr. Melissa Thomas and CTC director Evet Topp.
The initiative will tentatively include five academies, the first of which will be a freshman academy launching in the 2023-24 school year. Ninth grade students will be enrolled in a career explorations course which will include exposure to a range of different career pathways and a college tour.
From there, sophomores will have the option to select one of four academies. The first of those to be introduced will be the Health Sciences & Human Services academy in the 2024-25 school year.
With health care being one of the fields most in need of employees, Topp expects it to be a very popular student choice among the career academies.
"Career academies will help students that are interested in health care foster a better understanding of their potential in the health care community," Topp said. "What I've learned from students is when they come into my health science classes, they're automatically thinking nursing or doctor. And when they enter into the program, they learn so much more."
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VINELAND — Work is underway at the site of Trout National, the planned golf course being brought to the city by Mike Trout and Tiger Woods.
With the new development comes excitement over its economic potential as it makes its way through the regulatory process.
Jerry Velazquez, president and CEO of the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, said he was eager to see the project come to fruition. He said the choice of developers to build in the city has drawn new attention to the region from the world of golf and beyond.
“Certainly, there’s people looking (at Cumberland County) who weren’t looking previously,” Velazquez said.
Trout — center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels, perennial All-Star, three-time American League MVP and a Millville native — announced plans for his eponymous course, titled Trout National — The Reserve, on March 27.
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Woods, the golfing great and winner of 15 majors, is bringing his company TGR Design to help plan out the course. They are partnering with local developer John Ruga, the owner of Northeast Precast, for the project.
“Since announcing our plans for Trout National — The Reserve in March, the response and support from the local community and government officials has been incredible. We are excited to bring Trout National to fruition,” said a spokesperson for Trout National. “Our site plan is still under development by Tiger and our team as we work with local, county and state organizations to make the vision a reality.”
Signs of the new golf course have emerged. Greens, dunes and rough are seemingly expanding into the sands of the former silica mine, as a group of carts and trucks appears to lay the groundwork for the course tucked away behind forest and farmland. In addition to an 18-hole championship course, Trout National is set to include a practice range, short-game area, clubhouse, restaurant, lodging and a wedding chapel.
“At this point, an initial exploration of the proposed routing and previously permitted maintenance facility, which will be incorporated into the golf course design, is under construction,” a spokesperson for the project said.
The design of the course layout has not been finalized, the spokesperson said.
While work on the course is being done, there are still a series of regulatory obstacles the course must clear for each step of the development process.
Ruga must obtain construction permits and site-plan approval from the city Planning Board before he can fully develop the course — although city Solicitor Rick Tonetta said there is work on the greens short of constructing new buildings he can do already. An official at the city Planning Board said Wednesday there was nothing on file for the project at the city, although Tonetta said Thursday an attorney for Ruga had told him the company had obtained construction permits to build certain properties at the site. There was a wall at the site that had been constructed under the authority of an earlier version of the redevelopment plan that had not been approved and would require the developer to seek retroactive permitting approval.
Cumberland County Planning Director Matthew Pisarski said Wednesday the developer also had to comply with a site-plan review at the county level. He said the county site plan process largely involved evaluating the project to see how it will impact traffic on neighboring county roads and its potential impact on county easements and drainage systems. While acknowledging there was some work that could be done on the site, he said there were several necessary required reviews from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Cumberland Salem Soil Conservation District, the state agency overseeing Cumberland and Salem counties that is responsible for managing soil and water resources while limiting erosion that could result from new development.
Soil Conservation District Manager Michael Bonham said he had issued a grading approval for Trout National on April 28. The new approval, he said, allowed for the developer to do limited work clearing trees on the site. Before any new clubhouses, paths, parking, course features and other major pieces could be built, Bonham said the developer would need to obtain additional district approval.
This is not the first time Ruga and Northeast Precast have navigated the regulatory process for development at the site. Ruga obtained city Planning Board site-plan approval in March 2019 for a Northeast Precast industrial and business development at a 151-acre site adjacent to the new Trout National site on South Lincoln Avenue, according to city records.
The plan brought an industrial fabrication facility to the site as well as a separate steel manufacturing site and office space.
The Vineland Daily Journal described the project as a planned industrial park, reporting there was widespread support for the project in the city and among Cumberland County Improvement Authority officials. It was an idea that replaced an earlier plan to build a youth-sports complex in the area. Ruga did have to pay a small fine for doing some work at the location before having obtained site-plan approval.
City records indicate the idea for a golf course near the site came as early as August 2020, when Ruga applied to the city Planning Board for an amendment to a redevelopment plan for the Energy & Minerals program in the area. Looking to purchase and develop land owned by the city and the Improvement Authority, Ruga asked that the plan permit a nine-hole golf course, replete with a clubhouse, driving range, soccer field and shooting range. The clubhouse would have included a restaurant, cigar lounge, pro shop and a gunsmith, along with a multipurpose room and eight second-floor suites. Tonetta said work on a preliminary golf course began sometime after this site-plan approval. There was also a request that the Planning Board allow him to bring a soccer field to the area for use by Northeast Precast employees, as well as a yard with railroad access for incoming raw materials from the neighboring Northeast Precast facilities.
Ruga has long been involved in major developments in Cumberland County. He and partner Robert Shanaman opened Northeast Precast in 2003 with a specialty in fashioning new walls for residential homes. The company endured a blow to the residential-development industry during the subprime-mortgage collapse and global financial crisis of 2008, leading the company to diversify. It pivoted to doing work with commercial and public entities, such as building traffic barriers for the state Department of Transportation and building a factory for Bimbo Bakeries in Allentown, Pennsylvania. After Superstorm Sandy in 2012, Northeast Precast discussed contributing to recovery efforts with the Christie administration.
Velazquez said the golf course would have an immediate impact on business in the city, generating more traffic for stores and restaurants near the course.
It also complemented other developments in the area, including the Northeast Precast site and the Millville Executive Airport, which he said is just about a 10-minute drive from Trout National.
“This is part of a much larger project,” Velazquez said. “It’s not just the golf course.”
He added that company professionals who visit the championship course for a tournament would be introduced to the area, something that could attract further investment in the city. He said he appreciated Trout, a favorite son of Cumberland County, for investing at home. That the golf course could get off the ground, Velazquez said, was an auspicious sign for future growth in Cumberland County.
“Any time you have investments coming from Mike Trout, Tiger Woods, it definitely means people are paying attention,” Velazquez said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/mike-trout-tiger-woods-golf-course-vineland/article_d73de360-eb17-11ed-8390-2b96509c4c3b.html | 2023-05-13T10:54:42 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/mike-trout-tiger-woods-golf-course-vineland/article_d73de360-eb17-11ed-8390-2b96509c4c3b.html |
BASEBALL
Shore Conference Tournament
10 a.m.
Southern at Jackson Memorial
Other games
10 a.m.
Middle Twp. at Mainland
Hammonton at Williamstown
Cumberland at Collingswood
11 a.m.
Millville at Holy Spirit
Timber Creek at Lower Cape May
7 p.m.
Schalick at Vineland
SOFTBALL
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Shore Conference Tournament second round
11 a.m.
Pinelands at Jackson Memorial
10 a.m.
Fred Powell Tournament at Williamstown
11 a.m.
Veritas Christian Academy at Lower Cape May
BOYS LACROSSE
Shore Conference Tournament first round
10 a.m.
Red Bank Catholic at Southern
Other games
10 a.m.
Middle Twp. at Mainland
11 a.m.
Haddonfield at Ocean City
2 p.m.
Bergen Catholic at St. Augustine
GIRLS LACROSSE
10 a.m.
Southern at Shawnee
10:30 a.m.
Lenape vs. Ocean City at Tennessee Avenue Field
Williamstown at Our Lady of Mercy
11 a.m.
Absegami at Lower Cape May
BOYS TENNIS
10 a.m.
Cumberland County Championships at Vineland H.S.
FLAG FOOTBALL
10 a.m.
Absegami at Oakcrest
Noon
Hammonton at Oakcrest | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/high-school-schedule-for-saturday-may-13-2023/article_4c370efe-f012-11ed-996c-6b99dbfec151.html | 2023-05-13T10:54:55 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/high-school-schedule-for-saturday-may-13-2023/article_4c370efe-f012-11ed-996c-6b99dbfec151.html |
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago
May 13, 1923: The new park board consisting of Reid S. Davidson, Mrs. E.R. Morgan and J.H. Hudson made an inspection of Miller Park and decided on a number of improvements. It will be recommended that the tourists’ camping ground be moved to a site in Stein’s Grove. There is adequate water supply at the new site.
75 years ago
May 13, 1948: The Ralston-Purina company of St. Louis, Mo., revealed it had an opportunity for nine acres here as a site for a soybean solvent, oil and meal plant. The site, west of Euclid Avenue and north of Olive Street, has won out over those in Mattoon, Tuscola, Champaign, Sterling and Clinton.
50 years agoMay 13, 1973: One hundred thousand down, the second hundred thousand to go. This month the McLean County Health Department “shot” its 100,000th immunization. The first immunization clinic, held 25 years ago, gave smallpox vaccinations and DPT (diptheria, pertussis, tetanus) inoculations.
25 years ago
May 13, 1998: Authorities removed a World War II-era hand grenade from the home of an elderly Normal woman, averting a potentially explosive situation. The woman, who asked not to be identified, found the grenade in her veteran husband’s belongings after he died, but did not realize what it was until she read a story in The Pantagraph about a Massachusetts widow who found a similar apparent keepsake.
101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922
Gerthart's
Union Gas and Electric Co.
Hoover
Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists
Moberly & Klenner
W.P. Garretson
W.H. Roland
Pease's Candy
Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine
The Kaiser's Story of the War
Ike Livingston & Sons
Gossard Corsets
Cat'n Fiddle
'Stolen Moments'
Case Model X
The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co.
The Pantagraph want ads
Franklin Motor Car Co.
'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'
Calumet Baking Powder
Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket
'The Emperor Jones'
'California Fig Syrup'
Compiled by Pantagraph staff | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/25-years-ago-normal-woman-finds-wwii-era-grenade-in-her-basement/article_85a006e0-e497-11ed-9087-7742eb0fdeb9.html | 2023-05-13T11:05:47 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/25-years-ago-normal-woman-finds-wwii-era-grenade-in-her-basement/article_85a006e0-e497-11ed-9087-7742eb0fdeb9.html |
GOP caucus picks James Mochal to fill vacant seat on county council
MUNCIE, Ind. − Muncie businessman James Mochal was chosen to take control of the District 4 seat on the Delaware County Council after four ballots in a Republican caucus Thursday night.
Delaware County Clerk Rick Spangler attended the caucus and said the voting started with six candidates, with the candidate with the fewest votes dropping out of contention after every ballot. The winner must receive more than 50% of the vote, he said.
Sqangler said the contests were close. The sixth ballot came down to Mochal and Jacob Case, a former school board member at Delaware Community Schools. Mochal won the majority of the voting precinct officials within the Fourth District, located in northern Delaware County.
The 72-year-old Mochal has been involved in local government, serving for more than 20 years on the Delaware County Convention and Tourism Commission, including heading up the commissions budget and strategic planning committee. He has also served as president of the Sports and Hobby Development Group of Muncie, the Delaware County Fair Board and was a member of the organization that developed the once annual Summer Heat hot air balloon event in Muncie.
More:Lasater was beloved public servant after 40-plus years in government
Mochal ran unsuccessfully for Delaware County Commissioner, District 2, in the 2016 Republican primary.
He said the first thing we wants to do is learn about the issues involved in County Council, which oversees finances, before declaring any particular thing we would want to accomplish in the office. However he would be interested in building the rainy day fund for the county now, while the finances are relatively strong.
"I think things are going to be getting better," Mochal said about the local economy. And the county should take advantage and plan ahead, should the business climate "hit the skids" years down the road.
Mochal is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and grew up on a farm. He arrived in Muncie in 1972 as the manager of Mr. Steak steakhouse, which was part of a national chain. He bought the restaurant at 1101 W. McGalliard Road and started J.R. Brook's at the location and continued it until he sold the location to Johnny Corino's Italian eatery in 2003.
Since that time, Mochal has worked as a real estate broker in Muncie with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group.
He and his wife, Connie, raised two children, Ryan Mochal, who now works in IT in North Carolina, and Brooke Mochal, who is an educator with Alexandria Community School Corp. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/05/13/gop-caucus-picks-james-mochal-to-fill-vacant-seat-on-county-council/70212754007/ | 2023-05-13T11:56:23 | 1 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/05/13/gop-caucus-picks-james-mochal-to-fill-vacant-seat-on-county-council/70212754007/ |
The Long Island man accused of striking and killing a 12-year-old Boy Scout while driving drunk is asking for a new trial, claiming there was misconduct and bias in his first trial.
"It’s like it all came rushing back," said Alisa McMorris, as she and her husband John said it was like reopening old wounds.
The parents of 12-year-old Andrew McMorris sat Thursday in an appellate court in Brooklyn as lawyers for Thomas Murphy asked for a new trial for the man convicted of killing their in a drunk driving crash almost five years ago.
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"All we are trying to do is heal and do good things in Andrew’s honor. For them to constantly come back and reopen those wounds is cruel," said John McMorris.
A jury found Murphy guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide in the 2018 crash. According to the McMorris family, lawyers for Murphy requested a new trial based on allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and judicial bias during Murphy’s 2019 trial.
The McMorris’ believe the verdict was just
"The jury was given the facts, the evidence, the testimonies. Everything was there," the father said.
The New York appellate court will now decide if Murphy’s conviction will stand. He’s currently behind bars, serving a prison term that could keep him locked away for up to 25 years.
"Everybody deserves their day in court. Our appellate process is part of our judicial process. But it feels cruel," said Alisa McMorris.
A new trial, the parents say, would force them to relive the horrors of that fateful day, when an SUV plowed into a group of Boy Scouts in Manorville. Andrew was killed and several others were injured — and revisiting the painful memories is something the McMorris family hopes to avoid.
"We’re staying positive that justice will be prevail and that his sentence and conviction will be upheld," John McMorris said.
The Suffolk County District Attorney declined to comment on Murphy’s appeal. Murphy’s lawyer didn’t respond to requests for comment.
A decision could come as early as next week. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-who-killed-long-island-boy-scout-while-driving-drunk-wants-a-new-trial/4330745/ | 2023-05-13T12:01:51 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-who-killed-long-island-boy-scout-while-driving-drunk-wants-a-new-trial/4330745/ |
A celebration turned to tragedy in New Jersey, as a teen girl was killed in a car crash just weeks before she was set to graduate from high school.
Lauren Hewski was supposed to be at her senior prom Friday night, along with her classmates at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel. But she never made it. The 18-year old was killed in a car crash Thursday afternoon on her way to meet her parents for a graduation celebration.
"She had such a bright future ahead of her, to see this light just taken away from all of us all at once," said family friend Chris Locicero.
Hewski was getting ready to start her new chapter in life, getting ready to go to Syracuse University in the fall. That all that ended on Laird Road in Colts Neck.
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The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said a Jeep Cherokee driven by a 17-year-old — identified as Lauren's boyfriend — crashed into a utility pole and flipped over just after 12 p.m. Hewski, in the passenger seat, was killed and her boyfriend was left injured.
It should have been a celebratory day for Hewski and her family. She had earned an associate's degree from Brookdale Community College while still in high school and had attended a morning commencement ceremony with her parents cheering her on.
Friends said Hewski went in her boyfriend's car to a graduation lunch with her parents. When the teens never arrived at the restaurant, her parents checked their daughter's location and drove to the spot on Laird Road that the police had already closed off with caution tape.
News
"A beautiful person, very caring young lady, intelligent. If you knew Lauren, you knew what type of person she was," Locicero said. "Her parents — unbelievable people, they didn't deserve this. No parent deserves this. As you can imagine we are all heartbroken."
The president of Brookdale Community College sent out a statement that read, "Lauren was an incredibly intelligent and talented young woman who left an indelibly positive impression on all of her faculty and classmates. Our hearts are broken at the loss of this precious young life-- a life filled with promised and possibilities."
The county prosecutor's office said the cause of the crash is still under investigation. St. John Vianney High School elected to postpone their prom, but held a mass for students Friday morning along with a moment of silence. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-teen-killed-in-car-crash-just-weeks-before-she-was-set-to-graduate-from-high-school/4330715/ | 2023-05-13T12:02:05 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-teen-killed-in-car-crash-just-weeks-before-she-was-set-to-graduate-from-high-school/4330715/ |
This escapee is one baaaaad boy.
Police in a New Jersey town are telling residents to give them a call if they spot a certain peeper looking into their homes.
No, it's not a person. It's a goat.
In Chatham Township, police said that a goat got loose and has been peeking into homes throughout the area, as the curious creature roams around.
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The goat escaped a nearby farm, but so far police and authorities haven't been able to catch it. They know where the ungulate originated, but are asking for help in catching up with it and corralling it. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-town-searching-for-runaway-goat-thats-been-caught-peeping-into-houses/4330692/ | 2023-05-13T12:02:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-town-searching-for-runaway-goat-thats-been-caught-peeping-into-houses/4330692/ |
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH May 14 — 3430 N. Fourth St., 3430 N. Fourth St., Flagstaff. 928-526-9578. 10-11 a.m., We invite you to join the family of Peace Lutheran Church (LCMS) on Sunday at 10:00am for in person blended service (Combined Liturgical, hymnal based and Praise Worship) with Holy Communion. Pastor William Weiss Jr. (Pastor Bill) will be presiding. The service will be live streamed on our website (peacelutheranflagstaff.org) and on YouTube. Fellowship and refreshments are available before the worship service beginning 9:15am. https://go.evvnt.com/1723678-0.
LIVING CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH May 14 — 500 W. Riordan Road, 500 W. Riordan Road, Flagstaff. 928-526-8595. 10-11 a.m., We invite all to celebrate with us God's love and presence in our lives and be God's hands in the world. We are intentionally inclusive. We worship through music, teaching, prayer, and the sacraments each Sunday at 10 a.m., at the Campus Ministry Center located on the NAU campus or join us online. Join Rev. Kurt Fangmeier for the Sixth Sunday of Easter! Jesus does not abandon his followers. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes to abide with his disciples of every generation. As Pentecost draws near, we are reminded that the risen Christ dwells in us as the Spirit of truth. We receive this Spirit in baptism and pray that in our gathering around the Lord’s table the Spirit will transform us to be the body of the risen Christ in the world. We will learn more with our Reading of Acts 17:22-31 (Paul’s message to the Athenians) Psalm 66:8-20 (Bless our God, you peoples; let the sound of praise be heard) and Reading 1 Peter 3:13-22(The days of Noah, a sign of baptism), together with the Gospel John 14:15-21 (Christ our advocate). https://go.evvnt.com/1722867-0.
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BEACON UU SUNDAY SERVICE: “Pushing Pandora Back in Her Box and the Loss of Rights for Girls” May 14 — Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 510 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. (928) 779-4492. 10-11 a.m., ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon. Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958. Every day we see news articles restricting choices for young women and especially young women who are part of the transgendered community. We will talk about the forces behind these restrictions and where we can take action and find hope. Rev. Linda Ochi, preaching, with Worship Associate Kim Angelo. Music from Andrez Alcazar and Austin Shaw. Looking ahead: May 21, 2023: Our annual flower ceremony, this year marking the 100th anniversary of the first one enacted by Norbert Capek in Prague. Bring a flower and plan to take a flower during the ceremony. Rev. Robin will preach - “Watch me flower, Carry Me” and the Beacon choir will sing. Budget town hall after the service. May 28, 2023: Memorial weekend service. Rev. Robin will preach - “Chasing Immortality: Would You Want to live forever?” This is Andrez’s last service with us so please come and wish him well on his journey. We will also build a memorial altar during the service, so please bring a photo or memento that represents a loved one who has passed. https://go.evvnt.com/1722662-0.
Flagstaff Federated Community Church Please join us for in person services Sundays at 10 a.m. We are located at 400 W Aspen Ave. on the corner of Aspen and Sitgreaves in Downtown Flagstaff. All are welcome to our services. For more information about Flagstaff Federated Community Church please call our office at 928-774-7383, Mon – Thurs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Church of the Resurrection Sunday Church Services 740 W. University Heights Drive S., 740 W. University Heights Drive S., Flagstaff. 928-853-8522. 10-11:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): We invite you to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays at 740 W. University Heights Drive South. Please feel free to contact us for information on our mid-week gatherings and for more information on our church. You can find us at www.cor-pca.org and www.facebook.com/CORFlagstaff or we can be reached at corflagstaff@gmail.com and (928) 699-2715.
Leupp Nazarene Church The church, near mile post 13 or Navajo Route 15, has been holding services by teleconferences and doing drive-up meetings. For information, call pastor Farrell Begay at 928-853-5321. Teleconference number: 1-7170275-8940 with access code 3204224#. Services are 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Christian Science Society of Flagstaff 619 W. Birch Ave. Bible Lesson services every Sunday 10-11am (Zoom option: https://zoom.us/j/369812794). Testimony Meetings every Wednesday: 5:30-6:30pm (Zoom option: https://zoom.us/j/971672834). Zoom password: CSS. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flagstaff-religion-news-for-may-13-2023/article_f75d3e7a-f0e4-11ed-aacf-435d3c12b994.html | 2023-05-13T12:09:27 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flagstaff-religion-news-for-may-13-2023/article_f75d3e7a-f0e4-11ed-aacf-435d3c12b994.html |
Racial slurs and other racially offensive conduct, coupled with alleged retaliation, resulted in a $1.2 million settlement of a lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The EEOC announced earlier this month that “the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, a construction management and general contracting company headquartered in Baltimore, will pay $1.2 million to a class of Black former workers and furnish other relief to settle a race harassment and retaliation lawsuit.”
Whiting-Turner was the prime contractor for the construction of a Google data center in Tennessee. In 2018 and 2019, Black employees were allegedly subjected to a racially hostile work environment in which employees referred to Black workers as “boy,” “m——f——-” and “you.” Many port-a-potties and buildings on the jobsite were defaced with racially offensive graffiti, and a noose was displayed in the workplace on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday,” according to the announcement.
The EEOC also alleged that Whiting-Turner engaged in retaliation. Specifically, the EEOC alleged that Black employees reported these issues to Whiting-Turner several times. Whiting-Turner allegedly failed to investigate the complaints and instead terminated two employees who complained of discrimination.
As a result of the settlement, the company will incorporate a “strict prohibition against racial graffiti, racial jokes, racial slurs, racial epithets and hate symbols into its anti-harassment policy,” among other relief.
In announcing the settlement, the EEOC focused on the need to eliminate racism in the construction industry, citing the shocking findings in this case and the concerns that they were “not an isolated occurrence in the industry.”
The EEOC also suggested that managers and supervisors should be trained on Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, and companies should take prompt action “at the first sign of trouble.”
Unfortunately, I hear all the time, “You don’t understand our culture” or “That’s just the industry.” Even though all industries have the potential to engage in atrocious discriminatory conduct, whether due to age, race, national origin, color, sex, etc., they all think they are exempt from the rules because that’s just how it has always been.
Every employee deserves a civil, safe and respectful workplace. It is unimaginable that any person should have to experience these aggressions, and even worse that the company needs a strict policy to prohibit the very things that no company should ever have tolerated in the first place.
Whiting-Turner professes on its website a “demonstrated commitment” to diversity. The site says, “We recognize the value of diversity and foster an inclusive environment built on collaboration, community and respect. People are our most valuable assets, and we are committed to providing equal opportunity and advancement for all of our employees and trade partners. Cultivating a diverse community and embracing a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives is crucial to our success.”
Too many organizations flaunt commitments to respectful workplaces, diversity and inclusion, and then tolerate and fail to immediately address completely unacceptable conduct like that which allegedly occurred on this worksite.
Employers should train managers, supervisors and employees on your company’s expectations and investigate any allegation that those same expectations have been violated. Immediately take action to address them if they are found to have occurred. If they recur, then you aren’t doing enough. Never excuse this type of behavior (or sexual harassment, or harassment based on disability or any protected characteristic) – even if it’s been like this for years – or you assume no one is offended.
Employers can avoid the abuse and harm that come from the misconduct and the liability by making a real commitment, not just one on the website for show. Set expectations. Share expectations. Hold people accountable.
PHOTOS: Recognize these Richmond-area places?
Karen Michael is an attorney and the president of Richmond-based Karen Michael PLC and author of “Stay Hired.” She can be reached at stayhired@stayhired.net. | https://richmond.com/business/local/labor-law-racially-offensive-slurs-and-behaviors-have-no-place-in-our-workplace/article_584e23ce-f014-11ed-8354-23b9b78b6f5c.html | 2023-05-13T12:13:50 | 1 | https://richmond.com/business/local/labor-law-racially-offensive-slurs-and-behaviors-have-no-place-in-our-workplace/article_584e23ce-f014-11ed-8354-23b9b78b6f5c.html |
GREENSBORO — Several organizations are participating in a protest Saturday against the opening of a facility to receive immigrant children at the former American Hebrew Academy campus.
Organizers say the concept is flawed and that the companies hired by the federal government are not trained in the care of children.
“There is a narrative that this is a safe haven, said Mike Ishii of Tsuru for Solidarity. “But actually what this is, is an influx site. And the history of children in these sites is that these are warehouses — these are congregate prisons for children.”
No opening date has been announced for the facility on the 100-acre campus of a former boarding school. It could house up to 800 children, primarily boys and girls ages 13 to 17, and would be staffed by at least 1,500 people.
Children would stay there while the Office of Refugee Resettlement works to place them with a “vetted sponsor,” often a family member, while their immigration status is adjudicated. The agency, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, operates 220 care facilities nationwide.
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The federal government is legally required to provide care for unaccompanied children referred by the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies.
“While in ORR care, children have access to medical treatment, legal services, translation services, education, and mental and behavioral health counselors and are able to connect with family at least twice a week,” DHHS said last year.
Cecile Crawford, state director of the American Friends Service Committee, said the beauty of the campus on Hobbs Road and the plan put forth by the Office of Refugee Settlement sound beneficial to the children.
“It sounds great and I applaud them for trying to take this humane approach,” she said. “But we have not seen one instance of this being done right.
“We want to make sure that people understand that imprisoning children and separating families goes against American values,” Crawford said. “Detention is a failed time-proven policy — it doesn’t deter migration, because it just causes tremendous irreparable harm to humans, especially children.
“The Office of Refugee Resettlement has contracted Deployed Resources LLC and Deployed Services LLC … they’re not contractors of child care, these are military contractors,” Crawford said.
More than $268 million has been obligated by the federal government for the facility, with the potential for millions more. Deployed Resources and its sister company Deployed Services have been awarded to provide services at the Greensboro facility, called the Greensboro Piedmont Academy Influx Care Facility for UC (unaccompanied minors).
The News & Record reached out to both companies, but they did not respond with a comment for this article.
The Office of Refugee Settlement also did not respond to requests for comment about the groups’ concerns.
Crawford said plans for the Greensboro site sounds similar to those put in place at Starr Commonwealth. That emergency intake site in Albion, Michigan, housed migrant children from Afghanistan and was staffed mostly by another federal contractor, PAE Applied Technologies, according to a Pro Publica report.
The March 25 article says that before Starr Commonwealth site shut down in January, there were reports of physical and sexual abuse at the facility. Employees were overwhelmed and one shelter volunteer called the situation inside a “pressure cooker,” the article says.
“They had all the promises of treating these kids really well and it just went wrong,” Crawford said. “It went sideways really fast.”
Ishii said the federal government should be funding much smaller facilities for immigrant children.
“And there’s money to do that, but there’s not a will on the part of the government to actually shift and do what they should do, which is small home-like care facilities with licensed wraparound support,” Ishii said.
The advocates also criticized what they say is a lack of oversight for these facilities.
“The narrative is … ‘we’re going to be watchdogs over this site,’” Ishii said. “Who’s going to let you in to see that? They’ve never done that before. They don’t let the community in to oversee it.”
Other groups participating in the protest include Guilford for All, Jalloh’s Upright Services, Sudan House, Greensboro African Public Action Committee and North Carolina Asian Americans Together. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/greensboro-facility-immigrant-children/article_653caee0-f0fd-11ed-840f-b3d8a19dbafc.html | 2023-05-13T12:14:59 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/greensboro-facility-immigrant-children/article_653caee0-f0fd-11ed-840f-b3d8a19dbafc.html |
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 123-year-old schooner that was once declared the "Official Windjammer of Maine" by state lawmakers has new owners, and will be leaving Maine.
Two brothers who are lifelong sailors had the winning bid this week for the Victory Chimes, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Miles and Alex Pincus, who transformed two historic sailing vessels into floating restaurants and bars in New York, haven’t yet decided what they will do with the Victory Chimes. It will eventually be leaving Maine, but the final location has not been decided, a spokesperson said.
"We’ve admired Victory Chimes for quite some time. When she went up for auction, we felt a responsibility to step in and ensure her preservation. We don’t have a plan yet other than to get her into safe harbor," they said in a statement.
Victory Chimes, which has been taking guests on pleasures cruises on the Maine coast since the 1950s, became so synonymous with Maine that the 2003 state quarter featured a sailing vessel modeled after the schooner.
Built in 1900, it’s the last surviving Chesapeake ram schooner. The three-mast, 128-foot vessel was built in Delaware as the cargo carrier Edwin and Maude before being refitted and renamed.
The previous owner, Captain Sam Sikkema, said losses from the 2020 season, maintenance costs, and upcoming Coast Guard compliance were among the factors that created "a hill too big to climb."
The Victory Chimes sold at an online auction by Keenan Auction Co. of Portland for $75,900, officials said. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/123-year-old-schooner-will-be-leaving-maine-after-auction-sale-victory-chimes-history-community-official-windjammer-historic-places/97-5ed2cf72-cc56-4b75-a0e4-b1017f9a7091 | 2023-05-13T12:23:13 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/123-year-old-schooner-will-be-leaving-maine-after-auction-sale-victory-chimes-history-community-official-windjammer-historic-places/97-5ed2cf72-cc56-4b75-a0e4-b1017f9a7091 |
PORTLAND, Maine — On Maine’s wild blueberry farms, tradition runs deep.
Take the Brodis farm in Hope. Ron Howard manages the operation, and his mother-in-law owns it.
According to Howard, the farm goes back to 1799, when a family ancestor was given a land grant. Blueberry farms that have been in the same family for three or four generations aren’t uncommon in Maine, but a history that dates back to the presidency of George Washington is impressive.
The Brodis farm is one of several featured in a short documentary, “Growing Wild,” about Maine’s wild blueberry industry.
Nearly all of the wild blueberries in the U.S. come from Maine, where they have grown for thousands of years. The berries, harvested from low bushes that are especially prevalent in Hancock and Washington Counties, are small, sweet, and loaded with nutrients.
In directing “Growing Wild,” which the industry supported but did not have editorial involvement in, Jameson Smith had a simple plan: To tell the story of the Maine wild blueberry.
“I thought of no better way into that story than people who bring that crop to life for us and bring it around the world for people to enjoy,” Smith says. “So we really wanted to focus on character stories.”
Among those characters is Ashley Field, who with her husband owns and runs Fields Fields, an organic blueberry farm on a hilltop in Dresden. After growing up on a dairy farm in western Maine, she was drawn to the history and distinctive qualities of the wild blueberry.
“Just in one small blueberry field — say, one acre — there can be up to a thousand varieties, and that’s what makes wild blueberries so unique,” Field says. “It’s not just one variety, one taste, one color. It’s all mixed together.”
Smith and his team are now submitting “Growing Wild” to film festivals in the U.S. and beyond. They’ll update the film’s website once they know when and where it’ll be screened.
“After the festival run, we will release the film publicly for people to enjoy,” he said. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/new-documentary-shines-a-light-on-a-small-but-iconic-maine-product-agriculture/97-f1347dbf-0a5c-484c-845f-bd7b51b112bc | 2023-05-13T12:23:19 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/new-documentary-shines-a-light-on-a-small-but-iconic-maine-product-agriculture/97-f1347dbf-0a5c-484c-845f-bd7b51b112bc |
TOPSHAM, Maine — Crews from multiple towns responded to a fire in Topsham Thursday night.
According to Topsham Fire Chief Christopher McLaughlin, crews were called to a large fire at Grimmel Industries, a scrap metal company, at approximately 8:18 p.m.
The company is located on Recycle Drive between Route 196 and the Androscoggin River.
"As crews arrived on the scene they found a pile that was approximately 100’x50’ and 30 feet high actively on fire," Topsham Fire & Rescue said on Facebook Friday.
McLaughlin told NEWS CENTER Maine a spark among a pile of scrap most likely set the fire off.
He added that crews were pulling water from the Androscoggin River while trucks rotate from a hydrant a ways away as a result of no hydrants being in the immediate area.
Crews had to dig through a pile of scrap to make sure the fire was out and not smoldering, which was expected to take hours, McLaughlin said.
There were about 30 to 40 firefighters at the scene at various times to help put out the fire, and the fire was contained to the original pile of debris, the fire department said on Facebook.
No injuries were reported, and all fire units cleared the scene shortly after 4:30 a.m. Friday, Topsham Fire & Rescue said.
"Topsham received mutual aid from Brunswick Fire, Lisbon Fire, Durham Fire, West Bath Fire, Bowdoin Fire, Bowdoinham Fire, and Freeport provided an ambulance at Topsham Fire station," the Facebook post said. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/crews-from-multiple-towns-respond-to-fire-in-topsham-maine-fire-alert/97-014d5a57-b133-4ab2-96eb-fdf8c7dbc039 | 2023-05-13T12:23:26 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/crews-from-multiple-towns-respond-to-fire-in-topsham-maine-fire-alert/97-014d5a57-b133-4ab2-96eb-fdf8c7dbc039 |
PORTLAND, Maine — The pandemic-era immigration restriction known as Title 42 expired at midnight Friday as thousands of immigrants stood ready to cross the border.
The Biden Administration said it is hiring more Border Patrol agents, increasing the number of people processing immigration paperwork, and enforcing tougher consequences for unlawful entry.
Migrants will now need to apply for asylum first in the countries they pass through.
The administration also instituted a policy to speed up processing by allowing asylum seekers to enter the U.S. without a set future court date, but a federal judge in Florida has temporarily blocked it.
These changes come to Maine, and the City of Portland is facing a surge of more than 1,000 asylum seekers to the city alone since January 2023.
Gov. Janet Mills called on the federal government to fix the immigration system, which currently faces massive delays in processing asylum paperwork, as well as the applications that allow these immigrants to work. Those delays are forcing asylum seekers to take shelter in city facilities, which are currently at capacity.
"The Administration is closely monitoring the pending expiration of Title 42, including its potential impacts on the State of Maine, and we will continue to work closely with municipalities to mitigate – to the extent possible – any potential local issues associated with its expiration," a spokesperson for Gov. Mills wrote in an e-mail to NEWS CENTER Maine. "Fundamentally, this is a national problem, and, as the Governor has long called for, Congress must overhaul the country’s broken immigration system, which is unfairly placing a tremendous burden on states and their communities, and provide greater Federal resources to states that are grappling with the effects of its failure."
The majority of asylum seekers arrive in the city of Portland.
The city opened the Portland Expo as an emergency shelter on April 10. Seven days later, it was at capacity with 301 people staying there. In addition, the city opened its new Homeless Services Center on March 22. City staff said roughly 70 percent of the census there are asylum seekers. City staff are pointing any newly arriving asylum seekers to a self-directed housing search.
"We have been very clear with people who work at the border of our current situation, and we believe they have been sharing this with new arrivals," Jessica Grondin, a spokesperson for the city, wrote in an e-mail.
Those lack of resources are interwoven with the city's chronically homeless population.
"I do fear that we will see growing unsheltered homelessness in our city and state if there is an increase in the number of people arriving," the city's health and human services director, Kristen Dow, said in an e-mail response.
"We remain in contact with CBP and partners at the Southern Border and across the country. We have also been attending Department of Homeland Security briefings for municipalities on the lifting of Title 42 and will continue to do so," Dow wrote.
The state and the city have relied on the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project to help asylum seekers achieve a more permanent status.
"Resource challenges that we are facing in Maine and beyond should be met with resource solutions, not denying access to life-saving humanitarian protection. We can and must welcome people with dignity. When we do so, we strengthen our communities for everyone," ILAP leaders wrote in a statement.
In the months leading up to Title 42's expiration, Maine government agencies funded one of the nonprofits helping immigrants accurately and expeditiously fill out their paperwork.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, each re-introduced versions of their bills that would allow asylum seekers to start working 30 days after filing their asylum application—a drop from the current federal government waiting period of 180 days.
"It certainly makes no sense that they are in a situation of dependency which puts a great strain on municipal budgets to support them,” Collins said. “The asylum seekers want to work. They don't want to be dependent. They want to provide for their families and employers are desperate for more employees."
Sen. Collins also sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in March to request the agency not send more asylum seekers to Portland without a verified destination address. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-immigration/city-of-portland-maine-staff-concerned-about-unsheltered-homeless-population-growing-as-title-42-ends/97-2acac2d7-54d2-4873-b74b-482fb2b66b03 | 2023-05-13T12:23:32 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-immigration/city-of-portland-maine-staff-concerned-about-unsheltered-homeless-population-growing-as-title-42-ends/97-2acac2d7-54d2-4873-b74b-482fb2b66b03 |
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland resident Caitlin Sellhorn said she was horrified the moment she discovered someone had put a racist sticker on her car.
"It said 'It's Great to White,'" Shellhorn told NEWS CENTER Maine.
Below the statement on the sticker was the name of the white supremacist political organization National Alliance, which calls for the creation of an all-white homeland, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Sellhorn said her car was parked on Pine Street Wednesday night in front of the Spanish and French restaurant Chaval while she was staying at her girlfriend's apartment.
"I left in the morning and [drove] home to get ready for work," explained Sellhorn. "Then when I came out to go to work, I realized I had this sticker on my car. I'm pretty sure it was put on my car overnight."
Sellhorn said she doesn't know anyone who would do this.
"They may have done it because I do have a lot of bumper stickers on my car that probably shows I’m a leftist," she said. "I guess they probably thought it was funny."
But it wasn’t funny to Sellhorn or Chaval’s co-owner Ilma Lopez.
"We do not stand for that by any means," Lopez said. "It dosen’t matter your background, it dosen’t matter the color of your skin, it dosen’t matter your religion, all of us are the same."
Sellhorn said she reported the incident, and that Portland police didn’t seem concerned.
NEWS CENTER Maine requested a comment from the department, but a spokesperson said they had no one available.
The sticker can still be seen on Sellhorn's car, but she's made a change to it.
"I covered it up so instead of 'It’s Great to be White,' it says 'It’s Great to be Gay' now," she explained. "It makes me happy to look at it." | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/portland/portland-woman-finds-racist-sticker-on-her-car-maine-community-pine-street-chaval-restaurant/97-5ea80108-133b-4fba-82ba-985c16299184 | 2023-05-13T12:23:38 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/portland/portland-woman-finds-racist-sticker-on-her-car-maine-community-pine-street-chaval-restaurant/97-5ea80108-133b-4fba-82ba-985c16299184 |
Bismarck and Mandan are holding their annual spring cleanups next week, after the annual pickups in April were delayed by heavy snow for a second straight year.
The cleanup week is when residents of both cities can place bulky items on the boulevard for special pickup during their regular garbage collection days. Statistics from last year provided by Mandan show the popularity of the weeks -- 166 tons of waste was taken to the Mandan landfill, 32 tons of metal was recycled and 7 tons of electronics was collected.
Rules differ in the two cities. Spring cleanup crews in both cities will pick up furniture and appliances in residential collection areas. Bismarck crews will pick up tires (car and pickup) and carpet from homes; Mandan crews will not. Tires in Mandan can be disposed of at the city landfill -- $4 per auto tire, $9 per truck tire and $15 per tractor tire.
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Hazardous waste and liquids will not be picked up in either city. Bismarck residents can dispose of those items for free at the Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Recycling Center, 2111 N. 52nd St. Mandan residents will be charged a fee. A fee schedule is at bit.ly/3I2xzNO.
Rules for apartment complexes and mobile home parks differ in some instances.
Bismarck residents who display their recent city utility bill or driver's license with a Bismarck address will have free disposal at the city landfill throughout the week. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Mandan's landfill will be open this Saturday and then Monday through Saturday of next week from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Residents can dispose of items such as furniture and appliances free of charge. Mandan residents last year took 728 loads to the landfill during the special week.
For complete details, Mandan residents can go to https://www.cityofmandan.com/cleanup; Bismarck residents can go to https://www.bismarcknd.gov/1574/Clean-Up-Week. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck-mandan-holding-rescheduled-spring-cleanups-storms-delayed-pickups-for-2nd-straight-year/article_253f5e82-f01c-11ed-9d55-df509d479eb0.html | 2023-05-13T12:27:25 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck-mandan-holding-rescheduled-spring-cleanups-storms-delayed-pickups-for-2nd-straight-year/article_253f5e82-f01c-11ed-9d55-df509d479eb0.html |
North Dakota's capital is becoming a city not just of state government but also of state champion trees.
Nine new entries were made this year to the North Dakota Register of Champion Trees, including four in Bismarck -- a river birch, littleleaf linden, common honeylocust and apricot. That brings the city's total to nine.
The register is a list of the largest of various types of native and non-native trees in the state. It’s patterned after the National Big Tree Program sponsored by the American Forests conservation nonprofit. The NDSU-North Dakota Forest Service updates the state list yearly, and a champion tree stays on the list until it’s dethroned.
The four Bismarck trees that were crowned this year were thanks to the efforts of Duane Elness. He's been staying with a family member in the city, though he hails from Cavalier -- a northeastern North Dakota community where he has a plot with two other state champs.
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"I like trees," Elness said of his retirement hobby. "I spent a lot of my life in the woods, and you just gradually get to know trees."
Elness grew up on a farm near Sterling. He worked most of his life as a lawyer, but his last job was as a soil conservation technician, which took him to rural areas with lots of trees.
He's been searching for champion trees the past five years, and said it's kind of addicting.
"You get one (listed), and you think it would be nice to have two," he said, adding that there are a number of other trees he'd like to measure if he can get to them.
Elness has found and nominated 13 of the 86 trees on the state champion list. State Forest Service Outreach and Education Manager Beth Hill calls Elness "a rockstar, and the main reason why we see so many champions this year."
"Some of the species we had this year are not commonly grown in North Dakota, so the fact that one was nominated and there was no existing competition in our register meant that it had a good chance of getting on the register," Hill said. "But that just is a great way to show the diversity of trees that can be grown in North Dakota, and they can do well."
Temple trees
One example is the champion apricot tree and the second-place apricot tree that Elness measured outside the Simchat Torah Beit Midrash synagogue in Bismarck.
The temple at 703 N. Fifth St. was built in 1930 by the Jewish congregation in Bismarck. Noted horticulturalist Oscar H. Will -- who started the first nursery in North Dakota -- planted the apricot trees that same year to see if they would grow in the state's climate, according to organization officials. Fruit trees also are important in the Jewish faith.
Regional Director Vicky Bemman said Israelites planted fruit trees "for the fruit for them to eat, so they would always have food. It's also symbolic -- we are to produce fruit in our lives."
The state champion apricot tree is about 33 ½ feet tall, with a circumference of 8 feet and an average crown spread of just over 29 feet.
Capital champs
The other champion trees crowned in Bismarck this year are:
A river birch owned by Michele Stockert at 101 N. First St. It's 50 feet tall, with a circumference of 4 feet 8 inches and and average crown spread of about 54 ½ feet.
A littleleaf linden owned by Arlan Scholl of the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge, 900 S. Washington St. It's 47 feet tall, with a circumference of 8 feet 3.25 inches and an average crown spread of 45 feet.
A common honeylocust owned by Sharon Fischer at 108 W. Reno Ave. It's 64 feet tall, with a circumference of 7 feet 9 inches and an average crown spread of about 50 ½ feet.
Other Bismarck champions crowned in previous years:
- Green ash, 1910 Laforest Ave., owned by Alecia Fedorenko.
- Horse chestnut, 1418 Porter Ave., owned by Peter Feist.
- Amur maple, 530 E. Capital Ave., owned by Glaser Properties.
- Sycamore, 905 N. 12th St., owned by the city.
- Red oak, 920 Arthur Drive, owned by Jim Fuglie and Lillian Crook.
Other new champs
Other new champion trees crowned around the state this year included a northern pin oak and a bitternut hickory on the Cavalier plot owned by Elness, a slippery elm south of Valley City, a yellow birch north of Cavalier, and a cottonwood owned by Paul Dede on a farmstead in Cass County.
The cottonwood also is considered the largest tree in North Dakota, according to the Forest Service. It's 123 feet tall, with a circumference of 29 feet 3 inches and an average crown spread of 77 feet 2 inches.
Elness said the two champions that he owns "are not big trees yet."
"But I want them to be on the list because those species weren't on the list," he said. "It's important for people to know that those species do grow in North Dakota. We need more diversity in planting trees."
The North Dakota Register of Champion Trees, with photos, is at bit.ly/3nLvY8l. The Forest Service asks that people who wish to visit a champion tree on private property first obtain permission from the landowner.
For information on how to nominate a champion tree, contact Hill at beth.hill@ndsu.edu. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarcks-list-of-state-champion-trees-grows-thanks-to-efforts-of-cavalier-man/article_bf7e7b9a-ede2-11ed-9549-530e322b650c.html | 2023-05-13T12:27:32 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarcks-list-of-state-champion-trees-grows-thanks-to-efforts-of-cavalier-man/article_bf7e7b9a-ede2-11ed-9549-530e322b650c.html |
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