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A 15-year-old boy is free after a harrowing ordeal that started when he got locked in a vault in an abandoned Brooklyn building late Thursday, authorities say.
It wasn't immediately clear how the boy got locked in the vault, which is inside a vacant building on Franklin Avenue and Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Cops say his friend called 911.
Firefighters responded and punched a hole through the brick wall on the side of the vault, allowing the frightened teenager enough space to squirm out. He was evaluated at the scene by emergency personnel and sent home.
The NYPD later secured the area to prevent future break-ins.
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It wasn't immediately clear how long the boy was trapped.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/boy-locked-in-abandoned-brooklyn-vault-freed-by-fdny/4368999/ | 2023-05-26T13:34:32 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/boy-locked-in-abandoned-brooklyn-vault-freed-by-fdny/4368999/ |
Belmont to gain 100 more townhomes
One-hundred large townhomes are to be built in Belmont, with construction expected to be complete in the summer of 2024.
The 100 townhomes will be built at the intersection of South New Hope Road and Armstrong Road and will have three to four bedrooms, said Margaret Puckett, the vice president of Land for Tri Pointe Homes Charlotte.
The luxury townhomes will be for sale starting in summer of 2024, and the cost of each townhome is expected to start at more than $300,000, Puckett said.
TriPointe has built other homes in the McLean development in Belmont, but Seven Oaks is the first townhome development the company has built in Gaston County, Puckett said.
TriPointe has built eight to 10 other communities in the greater Charlotte area, Puckett said.
The townhomes at Seven Oaks at McLean will have rear-facing, two-car garages.
"The front of the home will have a front porch and front door, and the actual back of the home will be a garage. So the streetscape will look very nice from the front," Puckett said.
They also will be close to a nearby trailhead. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/26/belmont-to-gain-100-more-townhomes/70252380007/ | 2023-05-26T13:35:08 | 0 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/26/belmont-to-gain-100-more-townhomes/70252380007/ |
News Tribune, May 26, 1983
- A group of Duluth residents called the Lakeshore Bypass Committee plans to sue to stop the extension of Interstate 35. Members believe the lawsuit could persuade city and state transportation officials to change their minds about extending the freeway beyond Mesaba Avenue.
- Duluth members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars have suggested an alternate name for the new bridge that will replace the Arrowhead Bridge. They suggest an appropriate name would be the Bong-Colalillo-Courtney Medal of Honor Bridge, or just the Medal of Honor Bridge.
News Tribune, May 26, 1923
- Veterans who have given their lives in service to the country will be honored at several ceremonies in Superior this week. There will be daily activities through Memorial Day, May 30, when a parade, cemetery services, and a dinner will be held.
- The Duluth Chamber of Commerce will establish an information bureau in the Spalding Hotel beginning June 15, it was announced yesterday. An attendant will be on duty to provide information to tourists about Duluth and the Iron Range. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-40-years-ago-lawsuit-threatened-over-i-35-extension | 2023-05-26T13:35:38 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-40-years-ago-lawsuit-threatened-over-i-35-extension |
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SUPERIOR — The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation announced Tuesday it is accepting applications for Unity Fund grants that aim to support projects that advance African heritage — the first grant program of its kind the Community Foundation administers. Funds will potentially be available June 1.
Funds ranging from $5,000-$10,000 are available to applicants, drawing from $200,000 the Community Foundation secured through donations and matching funds. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
High tide lifts all boats. This is not only going to be good for the Black community, this is going to be good for the community as a whole.
The Unity Fund began in April 2021 in the wake of the George Floyd protests, which Carl Crawford, Unity Fund Committee member and human rights officer for the city of Duluth, said created an opportunity.
“This conversation has been happening for a number of years, because we’ve all looked around and said, ‘Where are the people of color that are owning businesses and where are we bringing ideas and opportunities?’” Crawford said. “And for the Northland, it’s a really big deal to have young people see someone that reflects them owning a business, going to their restaurant, going to their shop.”
To benefit community members without experience with grants, the Unity Fund Committee sought to lower barriers and make the process accessible.
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“Grants can be daunting,” Janet Kennedy, Duluth City Council president and Unity Fund Committee member, said. “It’s really hard to apply for that and have to wait three months. And then once you get accepted or not accepted, right, you got sometimes 30 days to get all the paperwork done. The issue could have gotten worse by then so you actually need more money than what you applied for.”
According to Kennedy, the turnaround time for Unity Fund applications should be no more than 30 days, but she added that in emergencies, the committee could have conversations with the Community Foundation to get funds to people in need more quickly.
With inflation and the state of the economy, Crawford said, “The timing could not be more perfect.”
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Crawford said one of the challenges the committee identified was how hard it is for entrepreneurs to get funding.
Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) or 170(c)(1) organizations located in or serving Duluth, Superior, Hermantown, Proctor, Rice Lake or Iron Range communities. Individuals would not be able to apply for the grants unless sponsored by such organizations.
Karen Sunderman, the communications specialist for the Community Foundation, listed Health Equity Northland, Voices for Ethnic and Multicultural Awareness and, for businesses, the Entrepreneur Fund as a few of the organizations that could potentially sponsor individuals.
“If you are not a 501(c)(3), we can direct you to a nonprofit that can sponsor you,” Sunderman said.
“It’s groundbreaking to have a community grant for people of color that is primarily governed, if you would, by a board of people of color and supported by many communities,” Crawford said.
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“High tide lifts all boats. This is not only going to be good for the Black community — this is going to be good for the community as a whole.”
More information about the grant can be found on the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation at dsacommunityfoundation.org . | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/twin-ports-foundation-to-award-grants-for-projects-that-advance-african-heritage | 2023-05-26T13:35:58 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/twin-ports-foundation-to-award-grants-for-projects-that-advance-african-heritage |
CLIVE, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump is taking part in a Fox News town hall in Clive next week.
Fox News confirms to Local 5 Sean Hannity is hosting Trump.
The event will pre-tape early next Thursday, and then air later in the day.
Trump plans to take questions from the audience.
Last month, CNN hosted Trump in a town hall in another early-voting state, New Hampshire.
We have reached out to Trump's campaign for more information.
This announcement comes as former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, will take part in a CNN town hall at Grand View University in Des Moines June 4.
CNN will host a town hall at Grand View June 7 with Former Vice President Mike Pence. He has not yet officially announced a presidential run.
Stay with Local 5 on this developing story. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/local-politics/former-president-trump-to-take-part-in-fox-news-town-hall-in-clive/524-df346bc6-6c20-4b11-b144-35d8cd6dbebd | 2023-05-26T13:40:04 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/local-politics/former-president-trump-to-take-part-in-fox-news-town-hall-in-clive/524-df346bc6-6c20-4b11-b144-35d8cd6dbebd |
AMES, Iowa — The City of Ames' convention and visitors bureau, Discover Ames, is searching for host families before RAGBRAI sweeps through the area this summer.
The city has created a housing match website.
It allows riders and hosts to set up profiles and match with one another.
Riders can specify the number of people in their group, housing expectations and even add pictures!
More information about Iowa's 50th RAGBRAI is here. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/outreach/ragbrai/ames-leaders-share-new-housing-match-option-ahead-of-ragbrai/524-6a2acc99-a145-4f0b-b910-a40f35856ec7 | 2023-05-26T13:40:11 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/outreach/ragbrai/ames-leaders-share-new-housing-match-option-ahead-of-ragbrai/524-6a2acc99-a145-4f0b-b910-a40f35856ec7 |
ORLANDO, Fla. – A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection to a shooting outside Dezerland on International Drive that killed a 14-year-old and injured two others, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Jasper Rollins is accused of shooting at a group of teens on April 29 around 11:40 p.m.
According to police, Rollins shot at the crowd several times.
The Orlando Police Department has made an arrest in a shooting that killed a teenager and injured two others.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) May 26, 2023
The suspect has been identified as Jasper Rollins (16 yrs old). He has been charged with First Degree Murder with a Firearm. pic.twitter.com/Xp32DnmyKj
Three 14-year-old boys were shot and taken to the hospital. One of the teens, identified as Trevon Robinson, of Hillsborough County, died at the hospital.
Rollins faces a first-degree murder charge.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/26/16-year-old-arrested-in-shooting-outside-dezerland-that-killed-1-injured-2-others/ | 2023-05-26T13:52:52 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/26/16-year-old-arrested-in-shooting-outside-dezerland-that-killed-1-injured-2-others/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 19-year-old man accused of killing three people and injuring two others in a shooting spree in Pine Hills earlier this year is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a pre-trial hearing.
Keith Moses was arrested in February in the fatal shootings of Nathacha Augustin, 38; T’yonna Major, 9; and TV reporter Dylan Lyons, 24. He is also accused of shooting Brandi Major, the girl’s mother, and 29-year-old Jesse Walden, a Spectrum News 13 photographer.
A grand jury in March formally charged Moses on 16 charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and armed burglary. Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell announced earlier this month that her office would seek the death penalty against Moses.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Moses shot and killed Augustin along Hialeah Street on Feb. 22 and returned to the area several hours later, opening fire once again on four other people.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Moses went into a home near the area of the initial shooting and fatally shot T’yonna Major and injured her mother. He then shot and killed Lyons and wounded Walden, according to deputies.
A timeline in the affidavit shows Moses entered a home on Harrington Drive through an unlocked back door around 3:53 p.m. and shot T’yonna Major. The girl’s mother, Brandi Major, who was taking a nap, said she woke up to her daughter yelling, “He shot me,” as she ran into the bedroom, according to the affidavit.
Minutes later, the affidavit said he shot Lyons, who was in the passenger seat of a News 13 vehicle while Walden was getting camera equipment out of the trunk to set up for a live report. Walden told deputies he saw Moses approaching the back of the vehicle and opening fire, the affidavit said.
Walden fell to the ground and said Moses continued shooting at him before he started shooting at the vehicle, where Lyons was seated, according to the affidavit. Investigators said there were several bullet holes in the vehicle, including one through the driver’s window.
The court hearing is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/26/19-year-old-accused-of-killing-3-in-pine-hills-shooting-spree-to-appear-in-court/ | 2023-05-26T13:52:58 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/26/19-year-old-accused-of-killing-3-in-pine-hills-shooting-spree-to-appear-in-court/ |
MESA, Ariz. — Jeremiah Aviles had everything ready to celebrate his high school graduation on Thursday.
He had passed finals, the invitations had been sent, and his cap had been decorated.
But less than three weeks from starting the next chapter of his life, he was murdered.
“My best friend and brother should be here today,” Jamie Diaz said. “He was excited about it. He was ready for it, and he’d earned it.”
PREVIOUS REPORTING: Mesa high school student shot and killed, 18-year-old suspect arrested
The 18-year-old was a senior at Red Mountain High School in Mesa. On May 7, he was shot and killed at a teammate's home.
His family opted to be present during the commencement ceremony on Thursday to honor the hard work Jeremiah put to graduate and to show support for his Class of 2023.
“We’re here to celebrate my son, he did it, he graduated,” Olga Lopez said. “We’re also here to celebrate his classmates and teammates as they graduate into the next journey in life.”
Remembering ‘Jeremias’
Jeremiah, or Jeremias as his grandmother called him in Spanish, was a football player. A sport he began playing while in his hometown in California.
He was notorious for having amazing style, Lopez said. He always had to match his shoes and shirts.
His hair was another topic of conversation. He grew it out for years and at times it got too long, so he had to put it in a ponytail.
“He wanted to follow in his big brother’s footsteps and that’s what led them to Arizona,” Lopez said. “My older son played at ASU, and he came here to be with him and hopefully play there too.”
While the University of Southern California was his school of choice, Jeremiah had been accepted at Arizona State University in the fall. His mother said he was going to major in business administration and was looking to live on campus with friends.
“He wanted to go pro and eventually have his own business like his brother,” Lopez said. “Although they’re eight years apart, they’re each other’s shadow.”
The worst call
Jeremiah Aviles had gotten a job as a cashier at a local business, his mom said. May 5 was his second day.
Lopez remembers her son getting home from work that day, tired, but excited.
“He came into my room and was telling me about work,” Lopez said. “I noticed that he had been scratching his head, the dreads would sometimes do that, so I told him I would add anointing oil through every line.”
That was the last time Lopez got to do that for her son.
On May 7, as she left the church around 11 a.m., she got the fateful call.
“He told me that my baby wasn’t okay and that something had happened,” Lopez told 12News. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Jeremiah was at a friend’s house. He had asked his mom to go over Saturday. He’d usually be at home playing video games, his mom said. That’s why she let him go.
“No one should go to a sleepover and not return home,” Lopez said.
What police say happened
Mesa Police responded to reports of shots fired in a house on the 2300 block of East Camino Street just before 2 a.m. on Sunday.
When officers arrived, they found Jeremiah Aviles suffering from a gunshot wound in his teammate’s bedroom. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
Authorities believe 18-year-old Peter Clabron III killed Jeremiah. They allege video evidence found on his cellphone, shows him pointing a firearm several times at Jeremiah prior to the shooting.
Clabron and a witness reportedly lied to police when interviewed at the scene, claiming another teen who was not in the bedroom had pulled the trigger, officers said.
That witness ultimately came forward and told officers the truth, police said.
Clabron was arrested on May 11 and was booked into jail for manslaughter and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
Justice for Jeremiah
While an arrest was made, Jeremiah Aviles’ mom would like to see more done in his son’s case.
“Justice looks like everyone that was in that home, that impeded in the investigation since day one, are held accountable,” Olga Lopez said. “The burning question is who does that gun belong to too.”
Jeremiah’s sudden loss has been difficult for his mother to process.
“I’m not even there yet,” she said when 12News reporter Adriana Loya asked her how healing look for her.
“Our family is not there yet. This is why when we heard the statement reportedly by that family member that we forgive, we’re not even there here. We’re cheek to tile on the floor right now. I can’t even begin to tell you what healing looks like.”
Lopez said Jeremiah had not spoken to his extended siblings in over four years. She said they did not create any fundraisers, nor did any money fundraised go to Jeremiah’s funeral expenses.
“I raised him as a single parent,” Lopez said. “We’ve been in complete torment since this happened. We’ve been mourning in private and honoring our baby, not asking for donations as some family members did.”
“I got you”
Aside from his witty personality and jokester self, Jeremiah Aviles liked to help others, his brother Jamie Diaz said.
“No matter what anybody needed him for, nobody what it is, he’d say, ‘I got you’ and he would take care of it,” Diaz said. “That’s what defined him, literally.”
It was that three-letter sentence, “I got you,” that even one of his coaches brought up during a school benefit dinner in December.
“My favorite Jeremiah thing is, no matter what you tell him, ‘Hey we need a little more’… he always says ‘Coach, I got you,” said a man in a video the family shared with 12News.
It was that phrase, of helping others and having people’s back, that will keep his legacy alive, Diaz said.
“He’ll never be forgotten,” the brother said.
The family said Jeremiah’s Red Mountain teammates are working with his California teammates from St. Paul High School on a fundraiser “because they want to bless Jeremiah with a headstone that represents him well,” his mother said.
Jeremiah Aviles was laid to rest in California.
Latest Arizona news
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/jeremiah-aviles-graduation-family-remembers/75-66dd0746-0143-497d-9e38-5ca93931cb05 | 2023-05-26T13:53:02 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/jeremiah-aviles-graduation-family-remembers/75-66dd0746-0143-497d-9e38-5ca93931cb05 |
Memorial Day weekend to bring breezy temps to Flagstaff, hot ones for Phoenix, Tucson
Surprise. It's going to be hot — at least for Phoenix and Tucson residents.
Conditions across Arizona are expected to be clear and dry this Memorial Day weekend, with breezy temperatures landing in the high country and a scorcher down in Phoenix and Tucson.
Here's what to expect over the weekend:
Memorial Day weekend travel:Here's what to know in Arizona
A 'pretty nice weekend' expected in northern Arizona
Starting with the best news, those in northern Arizona are on their way to enjoying a beautiful and breezy holiday weekend, bringing conditions perfect for any occasion.
"We're not seeing any significant warmup. It's pretty much average for this time of year, which if you like that it'll be a pretty nice weekend in terms of temperatures," meteorologist Evan LaGuardia in the National Weather Service's Flagstaff office told The Arizona Republic.
Elevations above 5,000 feet will see temperatures hang around the mid-60s to low 70s through Memorial Day weekend, with elevations below 5,000 feet slated to be in the 80s and 90s.
Additionally, those looking to catch some waves will want to heed the weather service's warning about possible wind gusts over the weekend, which are forecast to be about 20 mph to 30 mph each afternoon, potentially producing some choppy waters.
"It could make some choppy conditions on area lakes, so if people are out recreating on those lakes, we want to make sure that they wear their life preservers," LaGuardia said.
How to be safe in the water:4 drowning deaths in Valley over weekend
Conditions will also be relatively dry, though, and even with "unsettled weather" that brought some precipitation to the high country, the prospect of a potential fire is very much alive.
"The only thing I have to say is it'll be pretty dry, so we want people to be fire aware. Things are pretty dry even after the rain we had, but anything is possible, we are in our dry season," LaGuardia said. "Other than that, it's typical spring weather across northern Arizona, so it'll set up a nice weekend."
Hot ones in Phoenix and Tucson
Temperatures in both regions this Memorial Day weekend are forecast to stay consistent, hovering in the mid to high 90s.
"Basically, it's going to be a lot of the same over the next several days. Of course, we've been in the upper 90s to low 100s over the past few days, that's gonna continue in and through the weekend — maybe a couple degrees cooler — but really not much change temperature-wise," meteorologist Alex Young in the weather service's Phoenix office told The Republic.
The prospect of breaking triple digits is relatively low, about 10% to 20%, over the holiday weekend, according to Young.
As it currently stands, the Phoenix office has put out a minor heat risk warning in relation to the high temperatures, advising those venturing outdoors to stay hydrated, reduce time spent outside and not to leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle.
In Tucson, dry and clear conditions with temperatures settling in the mid 90s are expected into Monday.
How to stay safe during hot weather
The Arizona Department of Health Services provided tips to prevent heat-related illness:
- Drink water: It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day if people are staying inside all day. Those who spend time outdoors should drink 1 to 2 liters per hour they are outside.
- Dress for the heat: Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing. Sunscreen should always be applied to exposed skin and it is recommended to wear a hat or use an umbrella when outdoors.
- Eat small meals and eat more often: Experts recommend avoiding foods high in protein that increase metabolic heat.
- Monitor those at risk: Check on friends, family or others for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Slow down and avoid strenuous activity: It is recommended to only do strenuous activity during the coolest hours of the day, between 4 and 7 a.m.
- Stay indoors.
- Take breaks when engaged in physical activity: Take a break in a cool place when doing an activity outside on a hot day. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-weather/2023/05/26/memorial-day-weekend-weather-arizona/70258372007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:18 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-weather/2023/05/26/memorial-day-weekend-weather-arizona/70258372007/ |
Ahead of Memorial Day, Arizona sees 6-cent drop in average gas price, US average climbs
With travel picking back up heading into Memorial Day weekend, gas prices have followed the trend nationwide, as the national average for a gallon of gas rose four cents since last week, according to AAA.
The national average, sitting at $3.57, is due to the rising demand for gasoline amid what AAA forecasted as a 6% increase in road trips compared to last year's holiday weekend.
“The rise in demand for gasoline is helping to push pump prices higher for now,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in the release. “But the increase is mitigated by the low cost of oil, which is wobbling around in the low $70s per barrel. Pump prices could stabilize or fall once this long weekend is in the rearview mirror.”
Wednesday's close to the formal trading session saw West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increase by $1.43, settling at $74.34.
"Oil prices rose yesterday amid growing market optimism that energy demand is rebounding. However, price increases were capped due to the market also expecting another interest rate increase from the U.S. Federal Reserve, which could result in the economy tipping into a recession. If the economy enters a recession, oil demand and prices would likely decline," AAA said.
New data from the Energy Information Administration, as cited by AAA, showed gas demand increased from 8.91 million barrels per day to 9.43 million last week. Total domestic gasoline stocks continued their decline, this time by 2 million barrels of crude oil, now resting at 216.3 million.
"If gas demand grows amid tighter supplies, drivers will likely see pump prices rise," AAA said.
Arizona continues to see relief little by little
Though Arizona remains firmly a $1 above the national average, the pendulum has been swinging in the opposite direction.
AAA data shows that Arizona had a six-cent drop in the state's average pump prices since last week, bringing the total to $4.58.
"The refinery in El Paso, Texas is back and that's really helping prices in Arizona, particularly in the southern areas. Pima County's average price has dropped 15 cents in the last week," AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Julian Paredes told The Republic.
A reprieve from the gridlock of refinery maintenance is surely a great sign, one that will likely see further improvement once the refinery in New Mexico comes back online as well.
"We're still not sure about the refinery in Artesia, New Mexico. It's possible it'll be back soon, or work may extend into June. Overall, this is good news for drivers," Paredes said.
Arizona remains among the 10 most expensive markets in the country, according to AAA, holding onto fourth place behind California ($4.81), Hawaii ($4.75) and Washington ($4.63). But as for that nasty price point, Paredes said the Grand Canyon state average and the national will likely meet somewhere in the middle in the coming weeks.
County-by-county gas prices in Arizona
When taking a look at the county averages in Arizona, the list remains fairly the same, aside from a few spot changes.
Maricopa County is still the state's top dog, or worst, depending on how you want to phrase it, in terms of average pump price at $4.93, a five-cent decline since last week. Unsurprisingly, Graham County is still living well in the Copper State, paying around $3.38 on average for a gallon of gas, a two-cent drop since last Thursday.
Here is how the rest of the state stacks up:
- Maricopa: $4.93 (-0.5)
- Pima: $4.51 (-0.15)
- Pinal: $4.43 (-0.9)
- Coconino: $4.30 (-0.5)
- Santa Cruz: $4.28 (-0.10)
- Yavapai: $4.23 (-0.2)
- La Paz: $4.14 (-0.1)
- Mohave: $4.05 (-0.3)
- Navajo: $4.03 (-0.3)
- Gila: $4.01 (-0.3)
- Yuma: $3.96 (-0.2)
- Apache: $3.96 (-0.1)
- Greenlee: $3.83 (-0.7)
- Cochise: $3.80 (-0.7)
- Graham: $3.38 (-0.2) | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/26/arizona-gas-prices-fall-memorial-day-weekend/70257583007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:24 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/26/arizona-gas-prices-fall-memorial-day-weekend/70257583007/ |
Memorial Day weekend in Arizona: Travelers can expect a busier than usual holiday
Arizonans are gearing up to hit the road this weekend in light of the three-day weekend for Memorial Day.
Expected to be the third-busiest holiday weekend since 2000 in terms of travel, remember to check road conditions and to plan ahead for major traffic and hiccups at the airport.
For those choosing to spend some time locally, expect high temperatures in the Valley, just under 100 degrees throughout the weekend. If you plan on being outdoors, local authorities are reminding residents to practice water safety and take precautions when exposed to extreme heat.
Follow us for updates throughout the holiday weekend.
This year's weekend expected to be busier than 2022
This year's Memorial Day weekend is expected to be busier than usual — the third-busiest since 2000 in terms of travel, according to AAA.
In order to help with traffic, the Arizona Department of Transportation said it wouldn't conduct any freeway road closures, like it typically does on weekends to work on roadway improvement projects.
To ensure the utmost safety while on the road, ADOT reminded drivers to heed these tips:
- Never drive while impaired. Buckle up and obey speed limits.
- Arrange for a designated driver or ride service if necessary.
- Check your vehicle, including tire pressure.
- Get some rest before traveling. Fatigue is a serious safety risk.
- Avoid distractions. Don’t text while driving.
- Don’t park in areas with grasses and brush. Hot vehicle components could start a fire.
Traffic conditions can always be checked at az511.gov to stay up to date.
— Kye Graves | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/26/memorial-day-weekend-in-arizona-news-events-travel-weather/70248517007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:30 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/26/memorial-day-weekend-in-arizona-news-events-travel-weather/70248517007/ |
As mobile home park closure looms, some residents still don't have a place to go
A mobile home park owned by Grand Canyon University is set to close in just two days, and some residents still do not know where they will go.
Moving residents out of the Periwinkle mobile home park at 27th Avenue and Colter Street has been fraught. GCU hired the housing services nonprofit Trellis to help families find a new place to live, but some families have refused to work with the organization. Progressive city council members fought for the city to keep the families in their homes and lost. Some residents, city staff and nonprofit leaders have described the relocation process as chaotic and frustrating, as multiple organizations, lawyers and city departments scramble to ensure families don’t become homeless.
While most residents own their mobile homes, they don’t own the land. GCU bought the park in 2016 and plans to build student housing there.
Periwinkle is one of three longstanding Phoenix mobile home parks set to close in the coming months, creating panic for residents and signaling wider endangerment of one of the last remaining types of affordable housing in the Valley.
Most Periwinkle residents have a plan for where they will go next, be it to another mobile home park, an apartment or to stay with family, and many have already left. But some — no one can say precisely how many — of the park’s 54 households are still trying to figure out where they will go.
Alondra Ruiz, who lives at Periwinkle and has been at the forefront of advocating for the park’s residents, said she spent the past week in tears, barely sleeping and unable to pack, grieving the loss of her community of nine years.
Ruiz said her family is among roughly 20 households, by her estimate, that are still figuring out what’s next. Their mobile home is too old to move.
“This is definitely a forced displacement, you know. We feel forced,” she said.
While the state has over $7.7 million available to assist Arizonans who must relocate or abandon their mobile homes, only a tiny fraction of that money has been claimed. Just six Periwinkle households have applied to receive the funding, which now provides up to $20,000 to relocate a mobile home and up to $8,000 for abandoned homes after lawmakers rushed to increase the assistance amounts in March.
Phoenix is also working to provide rental assistance payments and emergency housing vouchers to eligible families, said city spokesperson Kristin Couturier. So far, four Periwinkle households have received housing vouchers, and the city has provided applications to seven more.
If residents are still at the park on May 28 and are working toward a housing plan, GCU will allow them more time, said Trellis President and CEO Mike Trailor.
“There’s not going to be any sort of mass eviction on May 29,” Trailor said.
GCU spokesperson Bob Romantic reiterated that sentiment, stating that while Sunday's deadline has not been postponed, the university "has no intention of immediately proceeding with eviction notices" against tenants who have entered into agreements with GCU and are actively trying to relocate.
GCU initially set a deadline for residents to move out by October 2022, which it extended.
Some frustrated with GCU, Trellis
Attempts to relocate residents have not gone smoothly.
Trellis has successfully relocated many Periwinkle households, Trailor said, including two veterans and a single mother of two.
Ray Bernier, a 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran who lived in Periwinkle for 15 years, recently moved to another mobile home in a nearby park with his dog, Skittles. The move was facilitated by Trellis and made possible by donations from an anonymous donor, who largely funded the purchase of Bernier’s new home, and Habitat for Humanity, which helped with repairs and renovations.
While Bernier is still angry at GCU, he said he was excited about his new mobile home, a big upgrade from his old one.
“There are nice people out there, and they do care,” Bernier said.
But several other families still don’t know where they will go. Some mistrust Trellis and refuse to work with the organization because it was hired by GCU, which they feel is a conflict of interest.
“Trellis’ entire objective was to help GCU kick us out,” Ruiz said.
Trailor defended the Trellis team’s work and said his organization’s only goal from the beginning has been to help relocate families. He said the organization even raised $140,000 to do that, which is outside the scope of their usual work.
Phoenix and Helping Families in Need, another nonprofit that assists with housing navigation and is representing residents of two other mobile home parks, held a meeting on Tuesday, May 23, for families that still needed help connecting with resources. Fifteen households attended.
While Helping Families in Need was not initially charged with assisting Periwinkle residents, the organization has taken on five families referred to them, said Anna Maria Maldonado, a consultant for the organization.
The families each have their own complex legal, financial and familial situations. One family of five is undocumented and arrived in the U.S. two years ago.
Maldonado said she understands why residents would rather work with an entity like Helping Families in Need that GCU does not directly fund.
“The work of supporting traumatized communities requires mindful thought around hiring and sending in the right organizations ... that look and feel like the communities they serve, that pass the initial sniff test,” Maldonado said.
Trailor said he feels GCU and Trellis are being unfairly targeted by community organizers at city council meetings and in the media.
“We’re doing the same job as Helping Families in Need is doing, but because we work with GCU, we’re the bad guys,” Trailor said.
GCU is continuing to work with remaining families and the city to find solutions, Romantic said.
“Thus far, we have been able to help every family that has been willing to work with the nonprofit housing expert, Trellis, that we hired to provide them assistance. Some remaining families have still not engaged with Trellis in any meaningful way,” Romantic wrote in an email.
Esther and David Cook, both 81, are one of just two households that are able to relocate their mobile home. They’ll be moving to another park a mile and a half away. Trellis and the state's mobile home relocation fund will pay for the move, they said.
While the Cooks are grateful to have a place to go, they, too, are angry they have to leave Periwinkle.
“When I first got there in October ‘06, I made a promise to myself, 'I’m not moving again,'” David said.
“It’s heck to move when you get older, too,” Esther added.
Lawyers reaching settlements between residents, GCU
Periwinkle residents could still try to sue GCU, though the likelihood of a lawsuit is unclear.
Community Legal Services and Zazueta Law have been working with residents to reach individual settlements with the university, including financial compensation and negotiating more time before they have to leave, though lawyers would not divulge the details of those agreements.
Pamela Bridge, director of litigation and advocacy for Community Legal Services, said she feels “really optimistic” about how the negotiations with GCU are going. Of the 21 households the organization is representing, almost all of them have reached a settlement, she said.
It’s also not clear whether residents of Las Casitas and Weldon Court, the other two Phoenix mobile home parks facing displacement, will pursue lawsuits against the owners of those parks.
Bridge said each park’s situation is different and that things go more smoothly when landlords comply with the law and communicate with residents.
There are roughly 425 mobile home parks in Phoenix, and if the landowners want to sell or redevelop the land, residents of these remaining communities could also be pushed out at any time.
“This has been a horrible process for these families. My heart breaks for them,” Bridge said. “But legally, landlords can do this if they do it right.”
Juliette Rihl covers housing insecurity and homelessness for The Arizona Republic. She can be reached at jrihl@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @julietterihl.
Coverage of housing insecurity on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/05/26/periwinkle-mobile-home-residents-frustrated-as-gcu-closure-nears/70253659007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:36 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/05/26/periwinkle-mobile-home-residents-frustrated-as-gcu-closure-nears/70253659007/ |
Worried you may have long COVID? Here are the top 12 symptoms
A new study that includes research from the University of Arizona identifies 12 of the most common symptoms of long COVID, a health problem that has affected about one-third of U.S. adults who have had COVID-19.
The research, published Thursday in the prominent Journal of the American Medical Association, identifies 12 symptoms that most set apart those with long COVID from those without it. The study also establishes a scoring system based on the symptoms.
"It's the first step to define, to come up with a research definition of long COVID that you can actually operationalize," said Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy, a professor in the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson and a co-author of the study. "I can actually give people a survey, ask them to check off the boxes and then I can do a point system. We do that for a lot of medical conditions. ... We have a similar score for patients with pneumonia to decide whether they should be treated in the hospital or if we should send them home."
Long COVID refers to symptoms that are either new or got a lot worse at least four weeks after a COVID-19 infection. Long COVID is of high concern to the health system as it can affect multiple tissues and organs of the body and leave people unable to work or enjoy regular daily activities.
In addition to the University of Arizona, several health care organizations and schools were involved in the study, among them Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
'People are absolutely exhausted after doing minimal activity'
The researchers studied nearly 10,000 Americans, including about 750 Arizonans from across the state, and the people they studied included those both with and without long COVID, Parthasarathy said.
The 12 most common COVID-19 symptoms they identified are: post-exertional malaise; fatigue; brain fog; dizziness; gastrointestinal symptoms; heart palpitations; issues with sexual desire or capacity; loss of smell or taste; thirst; chronic cough; chest pain; and abnormal movements.
In patients with long COVID there appears to be something that happens to the nervous system that controls muscles, which explains how abnormal movements may happen. It's also why some long COVID patients have post-exertional malaise, Parthasarathy said.
"Post-exertional malaise is when people are absolutely exhausted after doing minimal activity. There's an aggravation of the fatigue by minimal activity. These are people who do a minimal amount of activity and then they have to take a one hour long nap to recover from it."
The scoring system may help with future diagnoses, said Parthasarathy, who is a co-principal investigator for the RECOVER study, which is a National Institutes of Health initiative aimed at learning about the long-term effects of COVID-19. For example, the loss of smell or taste is so strongly associated with long COVID that with just that symptom a patient would have the diagnosis under the model proposed in the study. Other symptoms like dizziness and abnormal movements have lower scores.
For subscribers:Is COVID event at Arizona Capitol a shoutout to QAnon? This acronym raises questions
"Then you add it all up and if they make it to eight or above you can say you definitely have long COVID," he said.
Patients and researchers have identified more than 200 symptoms associated with long COVID, and researchers in the JAMA study identified at least 30.
People who have long COVID may be suffering from symptoms that are not on the list of the 12 cited in the study, Parthasarathy emphasized. The top 12 the researchers found in a mathematical model stuck out "like sore thumbs" but people with long COVID may have corollary symptoms, such as dry mouth, weakness, headaches, tremor, muscle and abdominal pain, fever/sweats/chills, and sleep disturbance, the researchers found.
"This is a good start so that we can use this as the basis for future research to identify what are the things that cause long COVID, what are the things that can treat it," Parthasarathy said. "More research needs to be done to further refine and polish this definition using clinical diagnostic tests and research tools. Such additional work will help us better understand why an individual develops long COVID and how we can better treat them.”
Survey: Arizonans suffer from long COVID symptoms at a higher rate than the US average
Parthasarathy noted that Arizonans as of last summer were suffering long COVID symptoms at a rate that was about three percentage points higher than the national average, likely in part due to lower-than-average uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. People who are unvaccinated are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, and people with severe COVID-19 are more likely to get long COVID, he said.
"People who are not vaccinated are more likely to get long COVID as compared to a vaccinated individual who ends up having a breakthrough infection," Parthasarathy said. "That's exactly what the study shows. In the pre-omicron as well as the omicron era, we find that people who are vaccinated are less likely to get long COVID whereas people who are unvaccinated are more likely to get long COVID."
Some people who have had long COVID are no longer reporting symptoms, yet the prevalence of the condition in people who are currently experiencing symptoms indicates long COVID is nearly as common as diabetes or asthma. As of July 2022, long COVID symptoms were affecting about 6% to 7% of U.S. adults, and about 9.5% of Arizona adults, said Parthasarathy, citing data from a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last summer.
Policing ‘The Zone’:Phoenix paralyzed as COVID-19 spread, population rose and violence grew
The researchers would like to use their findings to look for biomarkers of long COVID. Researchers would like to develop blood tests and also find treatments that work for people with long COVID, and developing the diagnosis tool is the first step, Parthasarathy said.
"There are some people who got a score of 30. They had all of the symptoms," he said. "Not only does it help you see who has long COVID but it also tells you who is carrying the burden of long COVID."
Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieinnes. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2023/05/26/arizona-researchers-part-of-the-first-step-in-defining-long-covid/70220758007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:42 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2023/05/26/arizona-researchers-part-of-the-first-step-in-defining-long-covid/70220758007/ |
As the scope of rehab centers scam widens, Navajo officials hope to help affected people
Harland Cleveland, special operations coordinator for the Navajo Nation Police, along with officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department, arrived in Phoenix a week ago to help tribal members displaced by fraudulent rehab centers that have targeted the Native population.
Navajo Nation officials launched Operation Rainbow Bridge to help people who were caught up in the scams get home or find the services they need. Gov. Katie Hobbs announced last week that the state would take action against over 100 fraudulent rehab centers that allegedly defrauded the state’s Medicaid program of hundreds of millions of dollars by preying on and scamming Indigenous people using the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.
Navajo authorities, along with Harland, held a forum Wednesday evening to outline information about the operation and to update the public on what has been happening.
“We’ve made several contacts with people on the street,” Cleveland told the audience at the forum. ”We are working with our local law enforcement partners. We are making contact with people who have been displaced from these treatment centers.”
With the launch of Operation Rainbow Bridge, Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch said people who are in need of assistance can call 2-1-1 and partners will drive to meet the callers. Afterward, people will be taken to a safe place, such as a hotel or to the Rainbow Bridge command center if they choose. If they want to go home, that will be arranged for them.
The vastness of the scam became more apparent last week when Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said Goodyear alone is suspected to have at least 119 sober living homes in the city. She also said that the scam may have begun in Nevada and spread to Arizona.
The number of victims is not known, but the facilities with allegations against them have billed between 7,000 and 8,000 names, either names of real people or names from a list scammers bought, she said.
“It became like a franchise industry,” said Mayes. “Where people began to understand that it was like a pot of gold at AHCCCS that was not being supervised.”
Steven Duplissis, from Mayes’ office, said they have indicted 45 individuals and have seized over $70 million.
As Cleveland was out in the field this week looking for those who have found themselves displaced by the fraudulent centers, he said there were many who come from various tribal communities, such as Hopi, White Mountain Apache and the Gila River Indian Community. He said they had made contact with about 300 people.
“It’s one of those situations where you have to watch your surroundings,” said Cleveland. “You’ll come across people who are on some type of drug, intoxicated, the biggest concern is Fentanyl. It’s so high up here, so we make sure to carry Narcan in the vent when one of us gets exposed.”
Phony clinics:Missing relatives, mistreatment raise new concerns over centers that target Native people
Authorities warn, 'beware the white van'
State Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, D-Coal Mine Canyon, said she had always heard of the white vans or non-medical transport that would travel into communities on Navajo and talk with unsuspecting individuals, especially during the height of the COVID pandemic.
“These issues have been raised to our local leaders and it continues,” said Hatathlie. “I was appointed to my current position more than a year ago, and I started working with the previous administration. But many of those complaints fell on deaf ears in the name of capitalism. Going forward we are going to address it on a larger scale so something like this won't happen again.”
Local tribal officials had taken it upon themselves to warn their members to be wary of individuals who were trying to “recruit” them. The warning would usually go out through posts on social media. In December, the Pascua Yaqui Police Department posted a public awareness alert on the issue, stating they had become aware of the recruiters associated with off-reservation behavioral health treatment facilities in Phoenix and other metropolitan areas.
“The tribe has also received reports of the same or similar individuals offering tribal members gift cards, cell phones, cash payments or other incentives to refer family or friends to these same facilities,” the post said. “Tribal members who do accompany these recruiters to the Phoenix metropolitan area are often left stranded with no means of returning home and/or are unable to contact family members regarding their whereabouts.”
Gila River Health Care posted a scam warning in December to patients warning them to be vigilant for recruiters from possible fraudulent behavioral health services. The warning said the Gila River Indian Community and other tribes had become aware at that time of recruiters, associated with off-reservation behavioral health residential facilities, soliciting individuals.
These recruiters offered “a place to stay, regular meals, and other items” if they went with the individuals, the post said.
Salt River Police Department had also posted its own public awareness alert at the same time, warning people about recruiters and the incentives offered should a person leave with them.
“We know the actions taken today will continue to have an impact on our tribal members,” said Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Martin Harvier. “As tribal nations we know it's important to put in place our own plans on how to deal with members who are displaced. Many of these predatory behavioral health facilities have and continue to take advantage of populations most at risk only to enrich themselves.”
Harvier said the tribe's programs will provide assistance for those who have been displaced within their community. SRPMIC has a residential treatment center already established for those in need.
Lawmakers seek answers:Legislative proposal targets 'frightening' scam rehab centers that prey on Native people
Are missing persons cases tied to the centers?
Navajo Nation Police made a couple of posts and announcements on the dangers of leaving with these recruiters. It’s still unknown how many people have fallen victim to such fraudulent centers over the years.
In April, Mary Chee Archie, 93, was reported missing and was last seen hitchhiking with her daughter, Evelyn Yazzie, 55, in Jeddito on the Navajo Nation. A few days later, a rehabilitation facility in Phoenix notified the Navajo police reporting the elder was in its facility.
Navajo Nation Police did not respond to inquiries from The Republic about this missing person case.
But in an email to The Republic, Phoenix Police wrote that the department was contacted by the Navajo Police Department to perform a welfare check on Archie at a residence. When officers arrived, they located Archie, and contacted the family to arrange to have her picked up. This was the extent of the Phoenix Police Department’s role in the matter.
“Our people have been trafficked since contact,” said Branch, who believes this scam needs to be considered human trafficking. “I think enough is enough and we need to take a stand and ensure this country will respect our people as human beings. We need our federal and state partners to honor that. We need to address this together to rectify that history and ensure it never happens again.”
Cleveland said seeing individuals that he has come into contact with on the streets of Phoenix is disheartening, because after being on the streets for a while, they are in fight or flight mode.
“You can see the fear,” said Cleveland. “We made contact with one person, once he knew he was with us he knew he was safe. He said ‘I don't have to watch my back. I don’t have to be worried about getting chased, or robbed.’ He was sharing all these stories with us. He was thankful we brought him food. He was like “I want to go home.’”
Phony rehab centers:Unanswered questions, loose ends: What to know about Arizona's Medicaid fraud investigation
Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/26/navajo-officials-start-rainbow-bridge-to-offer-help-in-rehab-scam/70258632007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:48 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/26/navajo-officials-start-rainbow-bridge-to-offer-help-in-rehab-scam/70258632007/ |
Glendale PD looking to hire more dispatchers to help reach national call standards
The City of Glendale has 30 full-time dispatchers. But they are looking to hire more to meet national call standards.
The department is 10 dispatchers short of where it needs to be.
The Glendale Police Department wants to hire four more full-time dispatchers to help improve the city’s response times to both emergency and non-emergency calls, but also so their employees can have the chance to take a break and recharge if needed.
But finding people who want to be a dispatcher and who want to stay a dispatcher are two different things.
"I think for a lot of people, it sounds interesting to them," says Michaelanne Acree, Police Communications Manager for Glendale Police, "And when they get here, it's maybe not exactly what they expected."
The job comes with an intense technical and mental nine-month training process and can be very stressful, according to Acree. Glendale hired 13 trainees in 2022, but four were released, she said. Also that year, a state report found that Glendale is second in 911 calls per working dispatcher behind Phoenix Fire, Acree said.
This issue of not finding people who stay is being faced not only by Glendale, but it is also an issue throughout the state and nationwide, she said.
In Maricopa County, Glendale Police takes the fourth spot for the volume of 911 calls received, behind Phoenix Police, Mesa Police, and Phoenix Fire, according to Acree.
In addition to its 30 full-timers, the department has four part-time dispatchers and four supervisors. For Glendale’s department to function, the minimum number of full-time dispatchers needed is 30, Acree said. Even though that is the number Glendale currently has, Acree said the 30 to function would need to be fully trained dispatchers — some of the current full-timers are still in various stages of training.
To fill in those gaps, other dispatchers have been working overtime to make sure the department can be successful in assisting community members, Acree said.
But those working overtime need mental health and vacation days — and the department does not want to have to continue to pay overtime to make sure shifts are covered. Acree said the department ideally should have about 40 fully-trained, full-time dispatchers to meet the call standards set out by the National Emergency Number Association.
Right now, Glendale's goal of answering a 911 call is 10 seconds. However, dispatchers also handle the police department's non-emergency calls.
So, if there is ever a staff shortage during the busy hours of the day, that 10-second standard may not be met and people experiencing an emergency might be left waiting, in panic, and might hang up.
Then, dispatchers have to try and track them down, which could further delay the caller from receiving assistance.
Acree stressed that anyone who calls 911 should stay on the line, even if they have to wait. Calls are answered in the order they are received, so if a caller hangs up and calls again, they might not be helping themselves.
If Glendale had more dispatchers though, the department would be able to ensure that their staff can get to a call right away. More full-time dispatchers will improve response times for requests for service, Acree said.
Acree said she doesn't know the specific reason that hiring has lagged. She did say that the past couple years in a post-COVID-19 world may have led people to not be attracted to the profession because of what it demands. Other reasons might be that people with families might not want to be in the job because they work nights, weekends, and holidays, she said.
"It's shift work, and people have emergencies every day, 24 hours a day," Acree said.
Glendale starts with about three weeks of classroom training. Trainees learn the geography of the city, radio codes, policies and procedures, and get their initial certifications. But after that comes getting to know the job through 12-hour shifts with a trainer. And that's where things might get tricky for trainees, especially after emergency calls.
"Sometimes that ends up being stressful for people to handle and sometimes they're not the right fit for their skillset," Acree said. On top of dealing with what may have just happened on an emergency call, dispatchers have to work with at least six different screens and other technology while taking a call, she said.
Given that a lot of stress can be experienced, Glendale provides an employee wellness program with an assigned ambassador that reaches out to employees after critical incidents, a peer support team who look out for those who might be struggling all throughout the Glendale Police Department, and the city's own employee assistance program has resources.
And as of nearly six months ago, the department has another resource — Mika, the support dog.
"She really helps with people's stress, because, she's a dog. People like to pet dogs and she loves to be there and get treats. She provides a good outlet for us," Acree said.
Glendale is looking for dispatchers who want to help other people, Acree said. She goes on to say that dispatchers should be inquisitive, professional, communicative, and people who enjoy fast-paced environments.
For those wanting to become a dispatcher, Glendale's current pay range starts at $47,091.98 - $70,638.10 ($22.64 - $33.96 hourly), according to Acree. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2023/05/26/glendale-police-department-want-to-hire-more-dispatchers/70257051007/ | 2023-05-26T13:53:54 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2023/05/26/glendale-police-department-want-to-hire-more-dispatchers/70257051007/ |
It's free, it's drinkable. Why don't more Arizonans harvest rainwater during a drought?
About 90 percent of Thad Johnson’s neighbors in rural Coconino County haul drinking water, unable to pay the expense of reaching the water table a mile underground.
Johnson and his family live fully on rainwater, something that is still a rarity in Arizona.
“Which seems a little bit nuts to me because the rain is free and it's delicious,” said Johnson, who designs off-grid homes and lives in one. For eight years he has supplied all the house water demands with a 15,000-gallon cistern and a home filtration system for potable water. Only one other home in the area has converted to rainwater.
This winter many of his neighbors ran out of water when the dirt roads turned so muddy from the snow that the water trucks couldn’t come through. But it was a banner year for filling rainwater tanks.
Across Arizona, communities face water shortage threats due to drought, overpumping and lack of groundwater regulation. Looming water cuts in cities from Colorado River water have sent officials and managers scrambling for the next bucket.
The interest and drive to install rainwater harvesting systems comes from residents wanting to be water independent or to live sustainably, but some cities are also placing bets on rainfall. Because the upfront costs for residential systems are so high, they offer partial rebates to customers. Advocates hope this financial support and practice can spread across the state.
“Everyone should be doing this,” said Lisa Shipek, executive director for Water Management Group. The organization has been a cornerstone for expanding the practice in Tucson and in inspiring green infrastructure policy.
Shipek said looking realistically at the water resources on the ground, instead of relying on importing it from hundreds of miles away, would prepare Arizona cities for the future and make them more tolerant to drought.
Rebates offered in some cities, not others
It doesn’t rain a lot in Arizona but, in most counties, it rains enough.
For decades, Tucson has met its water demands with a mix of Colorado River water, groundwater and treated wastewater. The city now considers stormwater its fourth source. Tucson Water has provided rebates to customers to install rainwater harvesting systems for over a decade, and three years ago started charging customers a new fee to increase investments in green infrastructure projects throughout the city.
The vision is that rainwater will become a growing and legitimate source of the city’s water resource portfolio, said James MacAdam, administrator of the conservation and stormwater resources division.
“Every community can benefit by looking at rainwater as a resource and putting it to use,” MacAdam said.
But not every community is doing so. Flagstaff and Prescott offer modest rebates for rainwater barrels, Cochise County offers grants to businesses but not residential units, and in Maricopa County, where over 60% of the state’s population lives, there are no incentives at all.
Even in Tucson, where rebates can be generous, thousands of residents can’t benefit because they are not Tucson Water customers or they live in unincorporated areas.
Last year, legislators introduced an initiative to replicate Tucson’s rainwater harvesting rebate program statewide.
The bill was never heard but became a lead pitch on the negotiations for a water conservation fund overseen by the state Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, or WIFA, said primary sponsor former state Rep. Sarah Liguori, who served as a lawmaker in the Phoenix area.
Funding criteria for the WIFA grants are open to a wide range of conservation measures, and there is no guarantee that rainwater harvesting proposals will be in the mix, but Liguori is optimistic. She has continued conversations on rainwater harvesting incentives with cities in metro Phoenix. Some have expressed interest in starting a program.
Related:What to know about the Colorado River drought plan for Arizona, California and Nevada
A water conservation culture
A lack of government support for rainwater harvesting does not translate into a lack of action in communities.
In Tucson, citizen action was an undeniable precedent to the city’s enthusiasm to build rain gardens, cut street curbs and expand stormwater use. Nonprofits and residents, like nationally-renowned rainwater guru Brad Lancaster, have encouraged awareness and conservation for decades. Many take pride in having a desert-dweller philosophy.
“They understand they're in the Sonoran Desert, and understand that means living in a different way,” said Shipek. The growth of rainwater harvesting in Tucson has felt like a “natural progression."
“Water conservation," she said, "is a piece of our culture.”
MacAdam, of Tucson Water, said utility records show water harvesters become water savers. In 24 years, residential water use has dropped over 30%. Tucson residents have one of the lowest per capita water use rates in the state, even lower than the national average.
In 2007, the utility created a special fee, now about 80 cents on customers’ monthly bills, to grow conservation programs and provide rebates to customers when they retrofitted their homes with water-saving appliances like efficient toilets and washing machines. In 2012 they added the rainwater harvesting rebate. Overall, the conservation program translates into over 2.6 billion gallons saved.
Numerous cities throughout Arizona have established similar rebates for water-efficient appliances, but few have invested in rainwater harvesting.
At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a cost-effective solution. The investment in tanks and cisterns is expensive, over $1 per gallon, and doesn’t produce immediately measurable water savings. Instead, it is a new, reliable and free source of water that reduces city water demands.
Most residents use the rainwater they harvest outdoors, and outdoor water use can account for 40 to 70% of their total use. Not pulling that out of the aquifer or a nearby river is extra valuable.
“Once you put water outdoors in the landscape, it's lost to the system,” MacAdams said. “When you flush water down the toilet, we actually use that for reclaimed water or store it in the aquifer for later.”
The rebate program provides partial payments for both passive and active rainwater systems, with a maximum of $500 and $2,000 respectively. Passive harvesting guides the flow of runoff so water can better soak into the landscape. Street curb cuts, basins, trenches, and similar features can then increase moisture, shade and vegetation. Active harvesting works by installing roof gutters, filters and tanks to store and use rainwater in the future.
Since 2012, about 3,550 applicants have received money from the program. About 80% installed an active rainwater harvesting system and 20% created rain gardens. Of those who applied for harvesting systems, nearly 30% claimed the maximum rebate amount.
On average, people using the rebate system are saving 750 gallons a month, MacAdam said.
The $4.5 million investment has a return of nearly 15 million gallons saved, according to utility reports.
Limitations and opportunities
Susana Eden, former assistant director for the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center, believes the trend of rainwater harvesting in the state is rising but doubts it is likely to explode.
Its reach is limited because most houses use the harvested water only for landscaping, not for indoor use, and the investment to store enough water for a household’s annual use is too high for most Arizonans.
Precipitation is also highly variable in the state. Rainwater harvesting in the southwest corner, in Yuma and La Paz counties, is not recommended because rainfall there is barely 4 inches a year. An area with good rainfall potential could also be affected by drought.
Despite high prices and climate uncertainties, in rural communities that rely mostly on groundwater, rain can be a renewable and realistic source of water.
“As water gets scarcer, the cost-benefit gets better,” Eden said.
Eden and colleagues created two hypothetical scenarios and compared the costs of drilling a 350-foot well and installing a 28,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system in Cochise County. They were almost the same.
But while tanks can fill up during the monsoon seasons, wells can and have gone dry because of unregulated pumping by players with longer straws in the aquifer.
Read more:Arizona water providers agree to voluntary CAP water cuts to preserve levels at Lake Mead
Catchment basins are an easy way to start
For new homeowners, going fully independent with rainwater isn’t as complex. Johnson, designing energy-efficient and off-grid homes with Solar Terra Design LLC, said construction loans allow families to take on these ambitious projects. It’s something anyone would be able to do by adding $25 to their monthly mortgage payment.
Incentives are helpful for installing big tanks but they aren’t necessary to save water for outdoor uses.
In Tucson, Jana Segal’s front yard is verdant with huckleberry, wolfberries, moringa and native plants and trees.
She has nearly 1,700 gallons worth of rainwater storage spread in different tanks around the corners of the house, even capturing a neighbor’s roof runoff, to have a source of water for her landscape in the dry summer months.
But she barely waters most of her yard because the landscape is already retaining so much water, she said. For about five years she has worked to build small basins to catch the rain. She also directs the water from the roof with a downspout to her trees.
There’s not much needed other than to wait for the rains to come, see how water is flowing and start digging, Segal said.
Cisterns are fine, she said, but she prefers to talk people into catchment basins. There is no money involved in it, unless you cut your street curb, and water can keep sinking into the ground long after tanks have filled with rain. It also grows beautiful gardens and food for critters and people. Segal started a social media campaign asking Tucsonans to share photos of their own rainwater catchment basins, hoping it would encourage the practice. It is something anyone can do if they have a shovel, she said.
Cities have long used some of these principles to manage and avoid floods. Many consider green infrastructure, also known as low-impact design, in city plans.
The practices modify city infrastructure to mimic the natural flow of water, slowing it down and helping it percolate. Instead of going into sewers, stormwater becomes a resource. Many cities, like the greater Phoenix area and Tucson, are using green infrastructure to support and expand urban vegetation, which can also reduce the heat-island effect.
Tucson added a special fee to customers' water bills in 2020 to expand these projects that will grow and expand vegetation and shade across the city.
Tucson Water is also studying the development of large stormwater recharge projects, similar to those the Cochise Conservation and Recharge Network is piloting.
"We are actively working with other folks to understand how much rainwater and stormwater is actually sort of physically available to us," MacAdam said.
Going 'hydro-local'
Every year, the yard on Benjie Messer’s former Phoenix house would flood so badly that water would seep through the walls. “We would have to rip out the carpet and put down towels whenever it rained to sop up the pooling water,” he said. The drainage problem was bad, and he tried adding stucco, then put a 6-inch stem wall. It wasn’t doing much.
Someone in his congregation said he should try talking to the Watershed Management Group. They created basins, planted native vegetation and installed roof gutters and tanks. His home stopped flooding.
Messer, a music director and songwriter, went headfirst into rainwater harvesting. He started going to every single cooperative event organized by the nonprofit, volunteering to create a “backyard oasis” in a Phoenix school, a church, and other people’s homes. Messer didn’t think of it as a new profession but the work was so gratifying that he got certified in water harvesting design.
The writing of Brad Lancaster was a deep source of inspiration to him, he said. The idea that we can have “a nice life on earth” with the resources at hand was something that felt very real to him.
“There is some hopefulness on reclaiming the land in a way that is human-scaled,” he said.
Shipek believes local planning and action is what should be regarded as a solution.
In her view, water emergency plans should come from observing and responding to the reality on the ground. Local conditions should dictate action, she said, but current emergency plans rely solely on the levels at Lake Mead, the huge reservoir that stores water from the Colorado River.
“Back to 2020, we had one of the driest years on record here in Tucson. Four inches of rain. Not a single drought plan or response kicked in that year at the city or county level," Shipek said. "That to me is a little mind-blowing."
Drought emergency plans focusing on the Colorado River dams have to do with how reliant some Arizona cities have become on them. Shipek said it ties into the main obstacle to achieving a sustainable water future: the mentality that we can always get water from somewhere else.
Clara Migoya covers environment issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com.
Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can support environmental journalism in Arizona by subscribing to azcentral today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/26/how-rainwater-harvesting-could-help-solve-arizonas-water-woes/70205283007/ | 2023-05-26T13:54:00 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/26/how-rainwater-harvesting-could-help-solve-arizonas-water-woes/70205283007/ |
SAGINAW, Mich. (WJRT) - A 34-year-old woman died and two other people were injured after a car crashed into trees and a basketball hoop in a Saginaw neighborhood.
The crash was reported around 10 p.m. Thursday in the 2500 block of Mershon Street, which is about a block south of State Street on the city's west side.
The Saginaw Police Department says a 2008 Mercedes sedan left the roadway and slammed into several trees before hitting a basketball hoop. The car came to a stop in the front yard of a residence on Mershon Street.
Police say the driver, 34-year-old Ida Murchison of Saginaw, was pronounced dead of her injuries. Ambulances rushed a 38-year-old man and 33-year-old woman, who were riding as passengers in the car, to an area hospital.
The male was listed in critical condition Friday morning and the woman sustained minor injuries.
Investigators believe the driver was traveling at "extreme speed" and was intoxicated when she crashed. The Saginaw County Multijurisdictional Traffic Crash Team will continue investigating what caused the crash. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/34-year-old-woman-dead-two-others-injured-from-saginaw-crash/article_bd16f76c-fbb9-11ed-ac4d-334856d62e67.html | 2023-05-26T13:56:59 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/34-year-old-woman-dead-two-others-injured-from-saginaw-crash/article_bd16f76c-fbb9-11ed-ac4d-334856d62e67.html |
HURON COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - As the unofficial start of summer comes this weekend, Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson is asking the public to enjoy warm weather activities responsibly.
Hanson put out a plea ahead of Memorial Day weekend for safety while using fireworks and on the water along Huron County's 100 miles of shoreline this summer.
"We at the Huron County Sheriff’s Office want everyone to enjoy this important holiday weekend," Hanson said. "However, activities that usually accompany it have on occasion made for a bad holiday weekend experience."
The county has experienced neighborhood disruptions, property damage and serious injuries caused by fireworks over the past few years. He pleaded with residents and vacationers to exercise extreme caution with fireworks.
Hanson also asked boaters and kayakers to follow basic safety precautions on Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay this summer, especially making sure watercraft are properly stocked with safety equipment.
A marine radio or other means of communication back to shore and a life jacket are the most important.
"The most common causes of death in kayaking accidents are overturning or falling overboard. This has occurred too many times in our county, and a life jacket often becomes the difference between life or death," Hanson said.
Life jackets are available to the public at Bird Creek Beach in Port Austin for the fifth year. Swimmers and boaters can borrow life jackets from the municipal harbor in Caseville.
"These options further narrow the excuses of why someone left shore without a life jacket," Hanson said. "When done with a borrowed life jacket after a trip, you’re asked to return it."
The Huron County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol issues several tickets every year to boaters and kayakers who don't comply with Michigan's life jacket laws.
Huron County's north shore around Turnip Rock in Lake Huron is an increasingly popular kayaking destination. Hanson said emergency crews have responded to numerous pleas for help from exhausted or overwhelmed kayakers battling the elements.
"Several near death experiences have occurred, as well as even death," he said. "Kayakers are strongly encouraged to understand that, even though this time of year is considered to be the unofficial start of summer, water temperatures right now are only in the low to mid-50s and short term exposure in it can lead to hypothermia."
Hanson encouraged kayakers to recognize their physical limitations and what type of sea conditions they are able to endure. Sea breezes often kick up in the afternoon and evening hours, creating difficult paddling conditions.
"Near shore southerly breezes can also leave a false impression for favorable kayaking and the further you go offshore, the waves and currents will increase and it will be difficult to return," Hanson said.
He encouraged kayakers to communicate their planned departure and return times with someone who is staying on shore. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/huron-county-sheriff-pleads-for-safety-using-fireworks-on-the-water/article_09b11f64-fbc2-11ed-8b4a-8b6ce15e601c.html | 2023-05-26T13:57:05 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/huron-county-sheriff-pleads-for-safety-using-fireworks-on-the-water/article_09b11f64-fbc2-11ed-8b4a-8b6ce15e601c.html |
SAN ANTONIO — An AMBER Alert was issued for two young children out of San Antonio.
The children, identified as 2-year-old Zylah Faulks and 9-year-old Kamil Brown-Sykes, were last seen in the 3200 block of Bolmore Drive around 4:50 p.m. on Thursday, which is on the southeast side.
Faulks has brown eyes and black hair and weighs around 30 pounds. Brown-Sykes has brown eyes and black hair and is 3'9".
The suspect has been identified as Julio Najar-Trevino. He is 29-years-old with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is 6-feet tall and was last seen in a 2008 grey Saturn Aura. The license number is SWS6018.
Anyone with information is asked to call (210) 207-7660. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-issued-for-two-young-children-last-seen-in-san-antonio/273-ab162389-7e7e-4ca7-a8c1-ba75fe467277 | 2023-05-26T14:01:14 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-issued-for-two-young-children-last-seen-in-san-antonio/273-ab162389-7e7e-4ca7-a8c1-ba75fe467277 |
Good morning and thanks for tuning in for another episode of "Long Story Short," where we recap and discuss Central Illinois news.
This week Jack, Tim and Kelsey discuss:
- The Illinois Attorney General's report exposing Catholic clergy who abused children in Illinois;
- Legislation that could give Illinois a new state flag;
- Sen. Dick Durbin's plan to help rural health care;
- Seat belt safety.
- Central Illinois' parks.
To read more about any of the stories mentioned this week, find our full reporting at pantagraph.com, herald-review.com and jg-tc.com or download our apps, available for Apple and Google.
Subscribe to 'Long Story Short' for free at Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.
Music by Diamond Tunes. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/listen-the-challenges-of-rural-health-care-a-new-state-flag-and-more-on-long/article_4d2abcd8-fb49-11ed-a9f0-931146fe455e.html | 2023-05-26T14:03:26 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/listen-the-challenges-of-rural-health-care-a-new-state-flag-and-more-on-long/article_4d2abcd8-fb49-11ed-a9f0-931146fe455e.html |
BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Museum of History wants people to explore Bloomington-Normal's relationship with civil rights and social justice through a redesigned Social Justice Walking Tour.
The tour, which first began in the 1990s to "reflect how 19th and 20th century Bloomington dealt with issues in human rights," has a new website and a self-guided nature, thanks to a partnership with Business Builders Marketing of Bloomington. The project also was supported by grants from the Illinois Humanities Council and Healing Illinois.
Guided tours, when available, will be led by the museum's librarian, Bill Kemp, and Mike Matejka, co-chair of Not in Our Town Bloomington-Normal.
Guided tours visit 15 sites in downtown Bloomington, covering about two miles and lasting around two hours, said Micaela Harris, communications director for the museum.
The website, though, Harris said, allows users to walk the tour at their own pace or even tour from the comfort of their own home.
'Amazing historical significance'
Business Builders President Jennifer McCarron said the walking tour website was part of the company's annual pro bono work for nonprofits. It was originally going to be a print project, but once they saw the amount of information available, they decided that was not sufficient — so they decided to build a website.
"Everywhere that you go, and everything that you look at, something was here ... that has some kind of crazy, amazing, historical significance," McCarron said.
McCarron, a self-proclaimed Bloomington "townie," said the tour covers historical civil rights events and figures that people do not often associate with Bloomington-Normal.
"What this (website) does is really underlying all of that history, and will give you an address or a point or a building and say, 'Hey, right here, there was this amazing guy that came in and did this,'" she said.
Kemp said there is a diverse range of historical events and figures on the tour.
"Obviously, Mr. (Abraham) Lincoln does make an appearance," Kemp said. "Everyone tires of Lincoln, understandably."
Kemp said Lincoln's rise is "an incredible story. But, take Lincoln out of the picture, and there's a lot of other wonderful stories. You can tell labor history, the struggle for women's right to vote, suffrage. We tell that story (and) immigration, and the struggles of immigrants and the success of immigrants."
Kemp said the tour takes "a deep dive into Black history." He said the museum has a collection called the Bloomington-Normal Black History Project, which is "one of the finest collections telling the story of a Black community in a small city you're going to find in the Midwest."
Movers and shakers
Kemp said the tour tells significant stories from various marginalized groups.
"People are always surprised that Bloomington-Normal, since the Civil War period, has had a small but vibrant Jewish community, primarily, at least, in the 19th and 20th centuries ... A fine example of that would be Sigmund Livingston," Kemp said.
Kemp said Livingston was born in Germany, but his family moved to Bloomington. Livingston's father owned a department store in downtown Bloomington, and Livingston earned a law degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.
After practicing law in the Livingston building at 102 W. Washington St. in Bloomington, Livingston moved to Chicago and formed the Anti-Defamation League in 1913.
Matejka, who's also a museum board member and lifelong labor activist, said Bloomington-Normal's worker-organization efforts are still felt today.
"Beginning in 1867, a rail transit system developed in the community. By the 1890s, it was electrified ... and 26 miles of track throughout Bloomington and Normal, bringing the community together," Matejka said.
In 1917, trolley car workers decided to organize and negotiate better pay and hours, Matejka said. They met in secret on April 28 of that year to join "the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Men and Motorcoach Employees of the United States and Canada," he said.
"The next day, they're all fired," Matejka said.
He said the back-and-forth that happened next involved a workers' strike, strike breakers, injunctions against assembly, riots against street cars, storming the power company and, finally, the National Guard posting men and machine guns at the courthouse and power company.
The streetcars and the power company were owned by a U.S. Congressman at the time, William McKinley, "not the president," Matejka said.
Then, he said, "the railroad workers at the Chicago-Alton Railroad shops on the west side, which was the largest employer in town at the time — they laid down their tools at noon.
"And they marched downtown and said, 'This has got to be settled.'"
Speaking via telegram to McKinley in Washington D.C., a deal was finally reached.
"Congressman McKinley sends back, 'I recognize the right of men to organize.'"
The union later changed names, eventually landing on Amalgamated Transit Union, Matejka said.
"Our Connect Transit drivers are still members of (that union,) Amalgamated Transit Union Local 752," he said. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/mclean-county-museum-of-history-debuts-social-justice-walking-tour/article_0f7ab70c-fb22-11ed-b3b9-1f5d5236696a.html | 2023-05-26T14:03:31 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/mclean-county-museum-of-history-debuts-social-justice-walking-tour/article_0f7ab70c-fb22-11ed-b3b9-1f5d5236696a.html |
OC Air Show 2023: Thunderbirds, Warthog and more line up sky-high thrills
Like a United States Air Force Thunderbird, the annual Ocean City Air Show is fast approaching. Prepare to be dazzled during the weekend of June 10-11 as legions of high-speed military and aerobatic aircrafts zip around the popular resort town.
Take a look at this year's jaw-dropping lineup.
Who is performing?
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, a six-jet demonstration team that performs aerobatic maneuvers at more than 1,000 mph, will be headlining the event. Over the years, the Thunderbirds have become a fan favorite.
Also returning to the skies is the UH-72A Lakota, a light utility helicopter used for search and rescue operations, reconnaissance and surveillance, and medevac missions. It is only used in non-combat, non-hostile environments.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the "warthog," will also be making a reappearance. It is a single-pilot attack jet that's designed to operate anywhere in the world and provide close air support to troops on the ground.
FESTIVAL:Take to the skies with Ocean City's first ever hot air balloon festival in summer 2023
The 2023 lineup will also include the F-18 Rhino Demo Team, F-35 Lightning II Demo Team, L-39 Cold War Era Jet, Red Bull Air Force, Air Force Heritage Flight, and Navy Legacy Flight.
TOURISM:How Ocean City has transformed into year-round destination with tourism as beating heart
BIKEFEST:Rock, rally and roll: OC Bikefest announces full lineup with, yes, ZZ Top and more
If you go:
What: OC Air Show
When: June 10-11 from noon to 3:00 p.m.
Where: 13th to 17th Street, Ocean City
Cost: Free, but separate ticket packages for special experiences are available; prices range from $35-$299.
Info: https://ocairshow.com/
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/05/26/oc-air-show-2023-u-s-air-force-thunderbirds-to-return/70248969007/ | 2023-05-26T14:14:01 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/05/26/oc-air-show-2023-u-s-air-force-thunderbirds-to-return/70248969007/ |
Negro League baseball history to be honored by Worcester County NAACP, Delmarva Shorebirds
The Worcester County NAACP and the Delmarva Shorebirds have collaborated to celebrate the long history of Negro League baseball this coming Sunday.
On May 28, during the Shorebirds' home game against the Lynchburg Hillcats, Worcester County NAACP is set to honor Negro League baseball history, as well as players who came from the Eastern Shore, while also having former players in attendance.
Ivory Smith, the president of the Worcester County branch of the NAACP, hopes this opportunity will provide both an education on the history of Negro League baseball, especially for young people, as well as honor the trailblazers that paved the way for Black baseball players.
The Eastern Shore of Maryland has its own hand in the history of the Negro Leagues, as William "Judy" Johnson, widely considered one of the greatest third basemen in Negro League baseball history, was born in Snow Hill, Maryland, a fact that Smith hopes to highlight during Sunday's event.
"We just want to educate the kids, especially the young brothers and sisters, that this is a league too," Smith said in an interview with Delmarva Now. "Prior to Jackie Robinson, just imagine William 'Judy' Johnson making the major leagues as a third baseman... We know that Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt were probably the best third basemen, but there were other people that paved the way for them."
Former Negro League baseball players like Kansas City Monarch Sam Allen and Indiana Clowns pitcher Pedro Sierra are set to attend, as well as Negro Baseball Goodwill Ambassador Rayner Banks, who will bring his Negro League Baseball exhibit and George Eckles, whose Negro League merchandise is set to be on display for fans.
More:State semifinal roundup: Parkside baseball punches ticket to state championship game
More:Snow Hill alum picked as school's new head football coach
This collaboration was something that was in the works last year between the NAACP chapter and the Shorebirds, but did not take place due to weather. But when the opportunity arose for them try again, both organizations jumped at the chance.
"Last year I had reached out to the Shorebirds and they were for it," Smith said. "This year they reached out to me and said, 'Hey, let's do this again' because the rain had got us (last year). They've been so supportive for this event, and I'm just happy that they reached out to me to do this event again, along with the McDonald's Corporation."
In addition to the game on Sunday, there will be a softball game between the Hubert V Simmons Negro League Baseball Museum Senior Men's Team and the Worcester County NAACP the following Monday at Stephen Decatur High School, a community event where Banks' Negro League Baseball exhibit will also be on display. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/26/worcester-county-naacp-and-delmarva-shorebirds-to-honor-local-negro-league-baseball-legends/70252487007/ | 2023-05-26T14:14:12 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/26/worcester-county-naacp-and-delmarva-shorebirds-to-honor-local-negro-league-baseball-legends/70252487007/ |
CAPE MAY — Free shuttle service is returning to the city for summer beginning Memorial Day weekend, officials said on Friday.
Shuttles will run Friday through Sunday between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., through June 11.
The shuttles will then shift to a seven-day service from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. beginning June 16 until Labor Day.
Two Shuttles with identical routes will run in opposite directions for effective service, officials said. Shuttle stops will be marked with signs on city streets.
The route are available at capemaycity.com/CapeMayFreeShuttle, in a brochure available at Convention Hall, and at hotels and establishments throughout the resort. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/free-summer-shuttles-returning-to-cape-may/article_8ed3436e-fbc9-11ed-9381-9720843cbd98.html | 2023-05-26T14:14:48 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/free-summer-shuttles-returning-to-cape-may/article_8ed3436e-fbc9-11ed-9381-9720843cbd98.html |
More than 40 million people are expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend, and plenty of Nebraskans will be among them.
AAA has forecast that 42.3 million travelers will hit the roads and the skies this weekend, continuing the trend of resuming normal life post pandemic. That number is up 7% from last year, and it would be the third-highest total since the organization started tracking travel numbers in 2000.
Of that number, more than 3 million are expected to come from a region including Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Missouri, which is up from 2.8 million last year.
Most of travelers nationally — 37.1 million — will drive to their destination. That's an increase of 6% over last year, which could be due to the fact that gas prices are much lower.
AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said that driving demand has stayed relatively flat over the past few weeks, which means gasoline demand has remained below traditional seasonal levels and has kept prices from rising.
People are also reading…
Nationally, a gallon of gas costs about $1 less than it did at this time last year. Statewide and in Lincoln, gas is about 80 cents cheaper than it was a year ago.
“It’s possible this is merely the lull before Memorial Day, but it could be a trend that lingers into summer," Gross said. "Stay Tuned.”
The Nebraska State Patrol plans to have extra officers to patrol the state’s roads for the holiday weekend. A spokesman said anyone who needs assistance or would like to report a dangerous driver can call the State Patrol’s Highway Helpline at *55.
AAA will once again offer Tow to Go for impaired drivers. The confidential service is open to AAA members and non-members and offers free towing of a vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius.
Many fewer people will hop on a plane this weekend — 3.4 million — but that number is up 11% from last year and is up more than 5% from 2019, the last summer before the pandemic hit.
The Omaha Airport Authority said about 79,000 passengers will travel through Eppley Airfield this weekend, with the busiest day expected to occur Friday. That exceeds the 2019 figure of 77,000 passengers by about 2.5%.
A United Airlines official said its planes leaving Lincoln were 98% full on Thursday and it was expecting planes to be 94% full on average for the full weekend, which is higher than its usual average of about 86%.
AAA said the nation's airports could be the busiest they've been since 2005.
People are even expected to pile onto buses and trains to the tune of 1.85 million passengers, which would be a nearly 21% increase over last year.
AAA Nebraska research suggests many of the people traveling this weekend will be from the state.
According to a new AAA travel survey, 77% of Nebraskans said they will travel this year, including 57% who plan to take a summer vacation.
For those who choose to stay close to home, there will be plenty to do.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is gearing up for the Memorial Day weekend, its biggest of the year. It’s a good summer kickoff, said Bob Hanover, assistant division administrator of state parks.
“We’re making sure everything is polished up and ready to go,” he said. “We’re ready for the best possible weekend we can have.”
The weather should cooperate. Highs in the 80s are expected from Friday to Monday in the eastern third of the state, with a chance of a few popup showers, National Weather Service meteorologist Dirk Petersen said.
With school out and people starting to think about vacations, Hanover said the phones in the park division have been ringing off the hook. Everybody is making plans.
For last-minute organizers, Hanover said there’s still some camping spots open for this weekend in the Lincoln-Omaha area at Louisville State Recreation Area, Two Rivers State Recreation Area and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Visitors are encouraged to call individual parks to see what openings remain.
The commission also warned people that because of ongoing drought in the state, visitors to certain parks should be prepared for restrictions including a ban on campfires and closed boat ramps. Drought conditions are worst in east-central and northeast Nebraska.
Lincoln's public pools open on Memorial Day again this year, although there will again be delays, which has been a feature of the post-pandemic summer. Belmont Pool will open Thursday and Star City Shores will open June 5.
"The staggered openings will allow us to certify and train newly hired lifeguards and staff to ensure a successful pool season,” said Maggie Stuckey-Ross, Parks and Recreation director.
The department increased lifeguard pay this year to $15 an hour in an effort to attract more workers.
All pools will be open 1-6 p.m. and will close for the season on Aug. 13.
The free Trago Sprayground in Trago Park at 22nd and U streets opens Memorial Day and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day.
Also on Memorial Day, there are three ceremonies to honor veterans that are organized by the Lincoln Memorial Day Observance Association with assistance from the Veterans Memorial Garden Advisory Council:
* 8:30 a.m. at Wyuka Cemetery & Funeral Home, 3600 O St.
* 11:30 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 6800 S. 14th St.
* 8 p.m. at Veteran Memorial Garden in Antelope Park, 3200 Veterans Memorial Drive.
For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov/memorialday2023. Attendees are encouraged to bring seating to the events.
The Omaha World-Herald contributed to this story. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/nebraskans-expected-to-hit-the-road-for-memorial-day/article_87b3162a-fa40-11ed-9e50-031f66899583.html | 2023-05-26T14:35:27 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/nebraskans-expected-to-hit-the-road-for-memorial-day/article_87b3162a-fa40-11ed-9e50-031f66899583.html |
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned two men's murder convictions and life sentences for a 2018 home-invasion robbery that left a 36-year-old Lincoln woman dead.
The ruling had to do with how Tawhyne Patterson Sr. and Damon Williams Jr.' cases were charged for Jessica Brandon's killing, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that came down after their convictions in a similar case.
On July 31, 2018, Patterson Sr., Williams and his younger brother, Dante Williams, kicked in the front door of the home where Brandon and Michael Robertson lived, Patterson and Damon Williams with guns in tow.
The brothers went from room to room zip-tying Brandon's children, a friend and the girls' grandmother and taping their mouths shut as Patterson fired off 13 rounds into the stairwell, where Brandon, 36, suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
Prosecutors said the men were trying to steal marijuana and money from Robertson but left empty handed.
At trial in 2021, they alleged Patterson and Damon Williams had killed Brandon with a firearm during a crime of violence, specifically an attempted robbery under the Hobbs Act, which makes it a federal crime for anyone to impede or affect interstate commerce "in any way or degree" by committing robbery or extortion.
The jury found them guilty of murder, two counts of attempted robbery and a firearms conspiracy. (Dante Williams pleaded guilty on the eve of trial for his role in the crime and got 55 years in prison.)
But last year, the Supreme Court held in a similar case in federal court in Virginia, United States v. Taylor, that a Hobbs Act robbery or robbery attempt does not qualify as a “crime of violence” as defined by statute.
Following the ruling, both sides agreed Patterson's and Williams' convictions and sentences on the murder charge should be vacated in light of the Taylor decision.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods argued the firearms conspiracy should stand.
On the other side, defense attorneys Michael Tasset and Korey Reiman argued it should be vacated, too, because the government's case had focused on the attempted Hobbs Act robberies to prove it.
In a decision this week, an 8th Circuit panel (Judges Duane Benton, Jane Kelly and Ralph R. Erickson) ultimately sent the case back to district court and directed the judge to dismiss the murder counts and resentence the men on the remaining three counts: two counts of attempted interference with commerce by robbery based on attempted break-ins July 30, 2018, and July 31, 2018, and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime or crime of violence.
In a generally concurring opinion, Kelly said she would've vacated the firearms conviction, too.
It wasn't immediately clear if Patterson's and Williams' attorneys would ask for the full panel to review the decision, which is possible.
And the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nebraska didn't respond to a request for comment on the decision and what their next steps may be. Nor did Brandon's mother.
As things stand, Patterson, 30, and Damon Williams, 31, would face up to 20 years on each of the three remaining counts at their resentencing, which hasn't yet been set. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/court-overturns-murder-convictions-for-2018-killing-of-lincoln-woman-during-home-invasion/article_ad097582-fa62-11ed-9620-0fce10f5d9ea.html | 2023-05-26T14:35:33 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/court-overturns-murder-convictions-for-2018-killing-of-lincoln-woman-during-home-invasion/article_ad097582-fa62-11ed-9620-0fce10f5d9ea.html |
Name: Kianna Weis
School: Wilmot High School
Parents: Christopher and Holly Weis of Burlington
Most memorable high school moment: Being involved in the fall play at school my senior year. It was something new and I met a lot of amazing people and found I was at my happiest during that time frame.
Most influential teacher: Molly Robbins in AP Calculus; I've never dreaded going to a math class that she taught. Besides that, she is one of the main adults at Wilmot that I can go to and rely on for anything.
School activities/clubs: Key Club, Link Crew, National Honor Society, performing arts/theater, wind ensemble
School athletics: Softball, Manage Boys Varsity Basketball
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School offices held: Key Club Secretary; Key Club President
Honors, letters or awards: High Honors Roll, Record Keeping Award (DCON for Key Club)
Out-of-school activities/hobbies: Travel Softball
College choice: Marian University in Fond du Lac
Intended major/field of study: Forensic Science
Role model: My Aunt Amie
Three words that best describe my role model: Determined, outgoing, adventurous
What I hope to accomplish in my lifetime: I hope to find success in my field of work and still be able to make time for those who are important to me. I also want to have a positive effect on those around me so I can be remembered by that. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-teen-2023-kianna-weis-of-wilmot-high-school/article_26b46dba-f815-11ed-b101-77279ae6e1f8.html | 2023-05-26T14:37:53 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-teen-2023-kianna-weis-of-wilmot-high-school/article_26b46dba-f815-11ed-b101-77279ae6e1f8.html |
AUSTIN, Texas — Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching, and despite lake levels being much lower than normal, businesses along Lake Travis are ready to see plenty of customers.
Blake Dickinson with Centex Boat Rentals said his company will have several boats on the waterways, and he is getting ready for a busy weekend.
"We are pretty much booked up Saturday and Sunday. Monday, we have a few spots available," Dickinson said.
Dickenson said that Memorial Day weekend is one the most important weekends for business, right behind the Fourth of July holiday.
According to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the water levels in Lake Travis are about 14 feet lower than last year.
Despite this, Dickenson said there is still plenty of water for boating.
"This being a large lake and a big body of water, there is still plenty of areas to come out and have fun," Dickinson said.
He said many of their customers are coming from out of state, including groups of friends and families.
"Excited to get to see the scenery and surprised by the weather and water temperatures," Dickinson said.
Dickinson's business isn't the only one hoping to get an economic boost for Memorial Day. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures sits along Lake Travis, and it is expecting a good turnout, hoping to see about 300 people a day.
"Memorial Day is probably one of the bigger holidays we have because it's the first real big holiday during the summer, you know when kids are out of school and stuff like that," said Harrison Montoya with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures.
Jordan Waleri and James Clark are from Ohio. They did the ziplines Thursday and said they like to be around the water. They also did some kayaking on the lake and said despite being surprised by the lower water level, they still enjoyed themselves.
"It is still fun,” Clark said.
Dickinson said he is fully prepared for the busy weekend ahead.
"It is always fun bringing people out and hanging out with them," Dickinson said. "It is like hanging out with your friends most of the time." | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/lake-travis-businesses-ready-for-memorial-day-weekend/269-a6298f90-00fe-404f-b878-fb5db4c2efe2 | 2023-05-26T14:39:44 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/lake-travis-businesses-ready-for-memorial-day-weekend/269-a6298f90-00fe-404f-b878-fb5db4c2efe2 |
WATERLOO — My Waterloo Days, presented by Veridian Credit Union and powered by Experience Waterloo, announced its festival schedule.
The four-day event will take place in downtown Waterloo June 8-11. The event is free.
The event kicks off at 9 p.m. on June 8 with Movies on The Cedar at Riverloop Amphiteater where there will be a showing of ‘Wakanda Forever.’
Thursday, June 8
Movies on the Cedar – Riverloop Amphitheater 9 p.m.
Friday, June 9
- 6 p.m.: My Waterloo Days Parade – Fourth Street, downtown Waterloo from Washington Street to Mulberry Street.
- 6 p.m.: Food vendors and beer garden opens at Lincoln Park.
- 7 p.m.: Music begins at Lincoln Park and Anton’s Garden.
- 2 to 11 p.m.: Ferris wheel ($5 per cart). Free from 2 to 4 p.m.
- 4 to 9 p.m.: Carnival rides at Anton’s Garden (purchase required.)
- 7 to 10 p.m.: Teen stage and silent DJ – Corner of East Fourth and Mulberry Streets.
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Saturday, June 10
Youth activities at Anton’s Garden
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: McFun Zone – Free games, Blank Park Zoo to You stage show and kids only parade at noon. Decorate your bike or scooter or you.
- 10 a.m. to noon: Kids bike races.
- Noon to 5 p.m.: Pedal cars (purchase required.)
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Carnival rides (purchase required.)
Lincoln Park
- All day until 11:30 p.m.: Food vendors and beer garden.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Bill Riley Talent Youth Talent Search at Lincoln Park Stage
- Noon to 5 p.m.: Bags tournament
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Street vendors located on East Fourth Street between Mulberry and Lafayette Streets.
- 2 p.m.: Music begins at Lincoln Park and Anton’s Garden
- 7 to 10 p.m.: Teen stage and silent DJ on the corner of East Fourth and Mulberry Streets.
- 9 p.m.: Fireworks.
Sunday, June 11
Anton’s Garden
- Noon to 2 p.m.: Blues and Brunch with Kevin Burt.
- Noon to 4 p.m.: Car Show and Shine. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/my-waterloo-days-full-schedule-announced/article_1742efea-fb2c-11ed-adbf-b7e46c147c04.html | 2023-05-26T14:44:09 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/my-waterloo-days-full-schedule-announced/article_1742efea-fb2c-11ed-adbf-b7e46c147c04.html |
WATERLOO — A bridge lighting celebration of the Fourth Street Bridge in Waterloo will take place at 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
The celebration begins at 7 p.m. at Anton’s Garden, 518 Sycamore St., where the bar will be open with food and music. At 8:45 p.m., guests will walk to the Vietnam Memorial Monument at 100 E. Fourth St., where speakers will highlight details of the bridge that will honor veterans and entertain spectators through its evolving light display illuminating nightly.
A ribbon cutting will follow the light show starting around 9:15 p.m.
Speakers will include Mayor Quentin Hart; bridge light show designer Rob Shakespeare; bridge lighting community chair Mary Robinson; Black Hawk County Veterans Affair Director Yolando Loveless; and representatives from Black Hawk Gaming Association, Waterloo Development Corporation, Ritland+Kuiper Landscape Architects and Main Street Waterloo. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-to-hold-fourth-street-bridge-lighting-celebration/article_0b169ac4-fb2b-11ed-be50-6f43d05ded20.html | 2023-05-26T14:44:15 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-to-hold-fourth-street-bridge-lighting-celebration/article_0b169ac4-fb2b-11ed-be50-6f43d05ded20.html |
Along the wall at the biodiverse US-Mexico border, study saw decrease in some animal populations
In one of the most ecologically diverse corridors in North America, where both black bears and jaguars coexist, an environmental nonprofit is studying wildlife movement in southern Arizona’s borderlands and has found a decrease in certain mammal species, prompting questions about what is going on.
Driving through the grasslands just north of the border, a sea of gold and white-hued grasses spread out for miles one morning in late April. Eamon Harrity, the wildlife project manager at Sky Island Alliance traveling to the organization's motion-censored cameras, pointed out pronghorn antelope in the distance and a virtual Border Patrol surveillance tower amidst the natural landscape.
In southern Arizona's borderlands exists a biodiverse area where mountains rise up out of the desert and where the desert sits next to oak woodlands and grasslands, among other habitats. The area is home to more than 7,000 species of plants and animals, which includes half of the birds in North America, according to the Sky Island Alliance.
The environmental advocacy group began its Border Wildlife Study in 2020.
Three years later, the data from that study has revealed a slight decrease in medium to large mammals in the Patagonia and Huachuca mountains. In the San Rafael Valley, which sits in between the two mountain ranges, the cameras have documented a slight increase.
"The trend is not super steep, but it is indicative of a pattern. More needs to be explored about what is driving these patterns," Harrity said.
The Wall:Read The Republic's and USA Today Network's Pulitzer Prize-winning report
Data reveals coyote detection rates are declining in some areas
The study found a significant decline in the number of coyotes detected during May and June of 2020 compared with the same period in 2022.
Specifically, the cameras documented a 60% decline in the Patagonia Mountains, a 54% decline in the San Rafael Valley, and a 68% decline in the Huachuca Mountains. However, during the second half of 2022, the numbers of coyotes seemed to have started to rebound slightly in the San Rafael Valley.
Across all cameras this corresponded to 86 detections of coyotes in May and June 2020 and only 35 times across those same cameras in May and June 2022.
The study also documented a 41% decline in mule deer in the San Rafael Valley, with mule deer detected on the cameras 39 times in May and June 2020 and only 23 times during that same period in 2022.
These numbers are based on average detection rates for the species in each section of cameras and compared across years.
“We’ve been noticing these patterns and the next step is to dig into why,” Harrity said.
Harrity said potential causes could be environmental factors, including continuing effects from extreme drought that hit Arizona in 2020 which was heavily felt throughout 2021, as well as prey availability.
Coyotes are omnivores and eat plants like cactus fruit, mesquite beans, flowers and also insects, rodents, lizards, rabbits, birds, and snakes, among others.
Harrity said they are known for being an adaptable and resilient animal and have stable population numbers around the country.
Conversely, while the study found that lagomorphs, various species of jackrabbit and cottontail, were decreasing at the beginning of the study, they have been increasing more recently throughout the study area.
Restoration:Arizona nonprofit plans to plant 14K saguaros in wildfire-burned areas
Causes of the declines remain unknown
To study wildlife movement in the borderlands and the effects of the border infrastructure on wildlife, the Sky Island Alliance placed more than 100 cameras throughout the borderlands with 22 of them studying how animals interact and navigate through the different kinds of border infrastructure.
Infrastructure includes steel bollards and vehicle barriers often made of old railroad tracks, according to the Wildlands Network, and barbed wire fencing that has been in place in some areas for over 100 years, Harrity said.
While the causes of the decrease in coyotes are unknown, this data can be used as a reference point to find out how the permanent steel bollard border wall impacts wildlife.
When the wall was constructed between 2017 and 2020, all environmental review requirements were waived to streamline construction. These reviews are designed to look for environmental impacts of projects.
“Without such reviews, it is difficult to measure the true extent of what has been lost and damaged by the construction process and assess the long-term impacts of the barriers once they are constructed,” he said.
Harrity noted that while comparing the baseline data to data collected in areas with and without the steel bollard border wall is not as direct as a comparison of the “before and after” of the same areas, it is a helpful alternative.
“Our wildlife monitoring efforts ensure we can use data-driven evidence on the diversity of this region and the impacts of border infrastructure on wildlife to advocate for more sensible and wildlife-friendly border infrastructure,” he said.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, which manages wildlife within public land in the state, said rabbit populations throughout the state have been impacted by RHDV2 disease, which led them to recently lower their bag and possession limits.
"Coyotes and rabbits have a highly predictable oscillating population dependency. We do not monitor these populations at that level, but when rabbit populations decline predictively, we would expect coyote populations to follow," said Josh Avey, terrestrial wildlife program branch chief with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
He noted that any reductions of other species would likely be due to the drought conditions in previous years.
How wildlife is affected by the wall
Anecdotally, Sky Island Alliance has seen that animals cross frequently through areas with barbed wire and vehicle barriers, and much less in areas with the wall, which consists of 18-foot or 30-foot steel bollards.
Scientists have seen deer pacing back and forth along the wall, and carnivores trying and failing to get through.
In the short term, the inability for larger animals to pass through will be seen relatively quickly and could lead to individual animals failing to breed or unable to access food or water, Harrity said.
“The impacts to populations and entire species will play out across longer time periods and will be harder to address if border infrastructure continues to be so impermeable to wildlife,” he said.
Harrity said if a species cannot cross the wall, they are essentially split in half. This leads to a smaller gene pool, which is shown to have unintended consequences.
Data shows animal activity declined in areas that bordered the shipping container wall
In December, former Gov. Doug Ducey placed shipping containers along the U.S.-Mexico border, through Coronado National Forest land. Construction of the makeshift wall was stopped, eventually deemed illegal and dismantled soon after.
In such a short time, the Sky Island Alliance documented a 25% decrease in daily mammal detections when the containers were present compared with average rates before and after the containers.
The makeshift wall blocked seasonally flowing drainages and wildlife migration corridors.
"Our study spans across one of the last areas that doesn’t have the big steal bollards, we are hoping to keep it that way," Harrity said, in a presentation about the data. "So, our data are important for providing a context and argument against any construction of border wall." | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/26/wild-animal-populations-decreased-near-border-wall-says-sky-island-alliance-study/70254223007/ | 2023-05-26T14:46:01 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/26/wild-animal-populations-decreased-near-border-wall-says-sky-island-alliance-study/70254223007/ |
BRADENTON, Fla. — The body of missing 79-year-old Fredrick Bacon was found alongside a pond bank Friday morning, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
Bacon, who was reported missing Wednesday, May 17, after he disappeared the night before, was a veteran, family told 10 Tampa Bay in an earlier interview.
Authorities say Bacon was found not far from where he was last seen. It's believed his death is accidental while an investigation is ongoing.
Deshala Dixon Murray, his daughter, said Bacon did not drive a card and did not have any credit cards, which made it difficult to locate him. She said he, too, had dementia.
Bacon graduated from Morehouse College in 1966 and then became one of the first Black men to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Berkeley University, according to his family. He went on to work at 3M as one of the company's first Black engineers and wrapped up his career as a professor. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/fredrick-bacon-manatee-county-man-found-dead/67-4576eead-dd36-4783-81f8-037a65eca959 | 2023-05-26T14:54:21 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/fredrick-bacon-manatee-county-man-found-dead/67-4576eead-dd36-4783-81f8-037a65eca959 |
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A 31-year-old woman is dead after a hit-and-run crash early Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP says the driver of a white 2000 Dodge Dakota 4-door fatality struck the woman just after 1:30 a.m. while going east on Bolton Avenue, west of Bermondsey Street.
The woman was walking east on Bolton Avenue in the travel lane when the incident happened, authorities say.
The identity of the driver is currently unknown. FHP says troopers found the truck abandoned near the crash.
Anyone with information is asked to call *FHP or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/one-dead-after-hit-and-run-crash-in-pasco-county/67-250c706c-fa82-409f-ab8b-5f49b79be54b | 2023-05-26T14:54:22 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/one-dead-after-hit-and-run-crash-in-pasco-county/67-250c706c-fa82-409f-ab8b-5f49b79be54b |
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Contact Us | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/a-neighborhood-staple-closes-doors-after-50-years-in-south-philly/3574133/ | 2023-05-26T14:54:48 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/a-neighborhood-staple-closes-doors-after-50-years-in-south-philly/3574133/ |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from Feb. 20.
A Harrisburg nonprofit is facing a steep fine after investigators discovered it had not been honest in reporting its finances, months after former volunteers and employees spoke out against its toxic work environment and dubious practices.
Attorney General Michelle Henry today announced that the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (HSHA) must pay $45,055.25 to the office for failing to disclose the executive director's housing stipend and using business funds for nonlegitimate purchases.
“It is essential that Pennsylvania’s non-profit and charitable organizations keep accurate records so we can ensure every aspect of the Charities Act and Nonprofit Corporation Law is being followed,” said AG Henry, via a press release. “It is part of my constitutional mandate as Attorney General to verify that a level of public transparency is maintained by these organizations.”
The lawsuit alleges that the HSHA underreported its executive director's income from 2013 through 2019 by failing to disclose her $950 housing allowance. The organization is also accused of including personal employee purchases such as merchandise, entertainment, hospitality and housing in its program service expenses.
"I saw a lot of questionable expenses," former director of marketing Lori Zink said back in February. "And when I did go to a board member that I was semi-friendly with and told him about it, he didn’t seem concerned."
The money from the fine will be used to reimburse the AG's office for costs of investigation, settle civil penalties and pay the filing fee for the citation.
In addition to the fine, the HSHA is required to file amended IRS forms 990 for 2021, 2022 and going forward.
AG Henry claims the organization has already taken steps to improve financial control procedures and keep records up to standard, including contracting with an outside auditor and enforcement of credit card and check-writing policies.
The AG's office says the investigation focused solely on the HSHA’s record-keeping as required by the Charities Act and Nonprofit Corporation Law. The investigation produced no evidence of abuse or mistreatment of animals and no such allegations are contained within the settlement. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/humane-society-of-harrisburg-area-fined-for-failing-to-accurately-report-finances/521-e54fd473-7120-4973-9b49-3864043c74e9 | 2023-05-26T14:57:53 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/humane-society-of-harrisburg-area-fined-for-failing-to-accurately-report-finances/521-e54fd473-7120-4973-9b49-3864043c74e9 |
APPOMATTOX COUNTY, Va. – A woman who pleaded guilty to attempted murder in connection with a 2022 incident at Appomattox County High School has learned her fate.
Olivia Hurt, 19 at the time of the offense, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison with 21 years suspended, meaning she will serve six years.
As we previously reported, in March of 2022, Hurt and 20-year-old Mitariq Green reportedly brought a stolen gun onto Appomattox County High School property and were reported by a concerned student.
Deputies say Hurt and Green had been in a 2007 Hyundai, but the driver refused to communicate and immediately drove away from the scene, leading officers on a police chase for about 20 miles. The pursuit ended in Prince Edward County.
[RELATED: Pair faces felony charges for attempted murder, possession of stolen gun on school property in Appomattox County]
After retrieving a search warrant for the car, officers found a 9mm handgun that was reported stolen from Amelia County inside the vehicle.
Hurt was sentenced in the Appomattox Circuit Court on Thursday.
Here’s a breakdown of Hurt’s charges:
- Premeditated murder - 1st Degree
- Two counts of reckless driving
- Extortion - a written or electronic threat on school property to kill or harm
- Elude or disregard police
- Larceny - receiving a stolen firearm
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possessing a firearm on school property | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/26/woman-sentenced-for-attempted-murder-in-2022-appomattox-co-school-incident/ | 2023-05-26T15:02:59 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/26/woman-sentenced-for-attempted-murder-in-2022-appomattox-co-school-incident/ |
Officials have updated road work announcements for Bismarck and Burleigh County.
Road construction on Bismarck Expressway and Washington Street will be temporarily stopped over the weekend to improve traffic flow for the Memorial Day holiday.
The work will resume Tuesday, according to the city.
The Grant Marsh Bridge on Interstate 94 westbound is scheduled for maintenance -- the left lane on Tuesday and the right lane on Wednesday. The traffic speed will be reduced to 45 mph, with a width restriction of 14 feet.
Nighttime construction is scheduled to begin Tuesday on state Highway 1804 south of Bismarck. Work will consist of mill and overlay from Bismarck Expressway to Signal Street.
Temporary lane closures on Highway 1804 and side street closures with detours are expected. The speed limit will be reduced during construction.
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The city also has provided an update on the Ash Coulee Drive summerlong $18.9 million reconstruction project.
Starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Ash Coulee Drive between Tyler Parkway and Washington Street will be closed to through traffic. No pedestrian access or crossings will be maintained. Ash Coulee Drive between Valley Drive and Washington Street will be reopened to traffic prior to the start of school in the fall. Drivers are asked to modify their travel routes to avoid the area until the project is complete in the fall.
More information about the project is at bit.ly/3HoanJo. The city also is sharing additional information on its social media pages.
Burleigh County
Burleigh County road closures:
- 227th Avenue Northeast closed from U.S. Highway 83 east to 26th Street northeast (due to road issues).
- Apple Creek Road closed from the Burleigh/Morton County Detention Center (4000 Apple Creek Road) east to 66th Street Southeast. Road closed to "through traffic" sign placed at Yegen Road (road construction).
- 102nd Avenue Southeast closed from Highway 83 to 327th Street Southeast (unsafe bridge).
- 461st Avenue Northeast closed from 366th Street Northeast to 392nd Street Northeast (flooding).
- 188th Avenue Northeast closed from 379th Street Northeast to the east approximately half a mile. Road closed to "through traffic" sign placed at 392nd Street Northeast and 188th Avenue Northeast.
Meanwhile, 136th Avenue Northeast is reopened from 19450 136th Ave. NE east to 210th Street Northeast. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck-burleigh-county-make-road-work-announcements/article_477c5a98-fb40-11ed-b4e8-7711eed039c4.html | 2023-05-26T15:05:55 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck-burleigh-county-make-road-work-announcements/article_477c5a98-fb40-11ed-b4e8-7711eed039c4.html |
AVOCA, Pa. — This weekend, fighter jets will take off from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and head straight to Pocono Raceway, where thousands of people will be waiting in the stands.
"They are going to be blown away. I can tell you that for a fact," said Ricky Durst from Pocono Raceway. "At Pocono Raceway, we're used to high speeds; we're used to some elite drivers. But I can tell you what these guys are going to do in these F-18s and these F-22s are going to leave you speechless."
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team are headlining the Great Pocono Raceway Airshow this weekend.
The pilots have been practicing here at the airport in Avoca.
We saw them from our roof cam on Thursday in Moosic. The guys at Pocono Raceway were just as stunned as we were.
"We're sitting in the office, didn't know they were coming. It zooms over, and it's like, wow, this is the real deal. They all have their own scream, and it's awesome," said A.J. Stack from the raceway.
"They were up over the track yesterday, and I saw things I thought I would never see. I was spellbound. It's going to be unbelievable," Durst said.
The last time the air show came to Pocono Raceway, rain put a damper on things. That won't be the case this weekend.
"This weekend looks absolutely beautiful every day. It's going to be in the 70s, sunny. It's going to be absolutely perfect to see a show," Stack said.
The airshow also features vintage aircraft and aerobatic performers.
The show starts at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 11 a.m. so kids can enjoy the free carnival before the performance.
If you buy tickets online, you save $10: $25 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. If you buy them at the gate, it's $35 for adults and $20 for kids 12 and under.
All seating is general admission. Buy tickets here. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/great-pocono-raceway-airshow-returns-this-weekend-blue-angels-f-18-22-wilkes-barre-scranton-international-airport/523-8b9d5a34-e157-4851-a58f-56a56f8d73c3 | 2023-05-26T15:12:22 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/great-pocono-raceway-airshow-returns-this-weekend-blue-angels-f-18-22-wilkes-barre-scranton-international-airport/523-8b9d5a34-e157-4851-a58f-56a56f8d73c3 |
COAL VALLEY, Ill. — The Endangered Species Act turns 50 this year.
Signed into law on Dec. 28, 1973, the ESA protects fish, wildlife and flora on the endangered species or threatened species list.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "The law requires federal agencies, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the NOAA Fisheries Service, to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat of such species."
The ESA also allows people to petition to include or remove species on the list, which is only done after extensive research on the the specific species' population numbers, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Niabi Zoo Director Lee Jackson says the ESA is a big reason why the American Bald Eagle isn't extinct.
"[The U.S. Government] looked at some of the insecticides and pesticides that we were using at the time," Jackson said. "And we found that one particularly famous one dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane played a role in the decline of those animals. So when we started to control that, we controlled hunting and protected habitats. Those three things together, brought those animals back from the brink." | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/niabi-zoo-endangered-species-act-effects-50-year-anniversary/526-5982d220-1b6a-421a-a56f-a37ab1f173c9 | 2023-05-26T15:12:40 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/niabi-zoo-endangered-species-act-effects-50-year-anniversary/526-5982d220-1b6a-421a-a56f-a37ab1f173c9 |
PUERTO VALLARTA, Jalisco — A Seattle man is fighting for his life in a hospital in Mexico and it all started with a swim.
“It's hard. Seeing your brother in the ICU hooked up, telling him you love him just in case," said Adam Griffis. "I would not wish that on anyone."
Griffis’s brother Evan is fighting for his life in a Puerto Vallarta hospital. The 30-year-old was swimming in the ocean Sunday when he was hit by a wave and broke his neck.
“It must be a fluke accident. a wave struck him from behind, and immediately thrust him to the seafloor, where he hit his head, fractured two vertebrae,” Griffis said.
Adam said his brother did not suffer brain damage and is able to understand what’s going on and being said to him.
“Evan is so strong and he's such a good swimmer," Griffis said. "You just don't think of it, you don't expect it. And when it happens, your whole world turns upside down pretty quickly."
Evan was rushed to the hospital and underwent a successful 11-hour spinal surgery and his family rushed to his side from Seattle.
“He remains in the ICU with an incredible amount of swelling in and around his spinal cord that still threatens his life, to this moment,” Griffis said.
Doctors told his family Evan has a 70% chance of survival, but in the long term is not expected to ever walk again. With physical therapy, Evan will likely be able to use his arms.
Griffis said his brother is still in good spirits.
“Evan has been a champion through it all, and getting to say I love you to my brother meant the world to me this morning and have him look me in the eyes meant absolutely the world,” Griffis said.
Griffis said his brother Evan is an avid traveler and went to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate Pride.
The Griffis family has already received tens of thousands of dollars in donations to help cover medical costs.
“Honestly it's incredible to see just all the communities in Evan's life come together to help him and I think it's somewhat of a celebration of him, and we're just fighting with him,” Griffis said.
Evan is expected to be in the ICU for a week. The next step is for him to start breathing on his own. His family is confident he will recover and be home soon. Griffis is confident his brother will still be able to officiate his wedding in August.
“We got quite a long journey ahead. but as a family, we're gonna get through it for the years to come,” Griffis said.
The family set up a fundraiser to help cover medical expenses. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/seattle-man-fighting-for-his-life-after-breaking-neck-mexico/281-db76fce2-9ce1-4caa-949d-d0f3124b6b12 | 2023-05-26T15:12:46 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/seattle-man-fighting-for-his-life-after-breaking-neck-mexico/281-db76fce2-9ce1-4caa-949d-d0f3124b6b12 |
Check out these top stories and more in The Times and nwi.com.
Rise'n Roll Bakery named America's Greatest Donuts: https://bit.ly/3MXT3y1
More than 40 dogs rescued from suspected Crown Point puppy mill, sheriff says: https://bit.ly/3oxnl1s
Stay connected with all your Region News at www.nwi.com.
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til. Weekend weather sponsored by NIPSCO. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-check-out-the-weekend-forecast-with-matt-holiner-5-26-23/article_e70bdf6c-fbc6-11ed-b056-734a918507a4.html | 2023-05-26T15:16:24 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-check-out-the-weekend-forecast-with-matt-holiner-5-26-23/article_e70bdf6c-fbc6-11ed-b056-734a918507a4.html |
SCHERERVILLE — Walking trails, coffee shops, a sports complex, community gardens, even a go-kart track.
These are a few of the ideas residents pitched during a public hearing Wednesday on the future use of the Illiana Motor Speedway land. The former stock-car race track, which operated for seven decades, has sat empty since 2016. The town purchased the property just off U.S. 30, near Rohrman Park, in June 2016.
Town Council President Tom Schmitt, D-4, said the town owns just under 60 acres and has discussed buying some of the adjacent properties.
Schmitt said the COVID-19 pandemic "stalled" efforts to develop the land. Initial ideas involved developing a commercial business park, but after public backlash, plans changed.
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Now the town is "committed to bringing recreation to the property," he said.
About 60 residents attended the meeting, which was held as a joint study session between the Town Council and the Schererville Park Board. Participants were invited to fill out a survey, available on the computer and on paper, while residents spoke.
"We have this beautiful blank canvas that we can do whatever we want with, and that's one of the reasons why this has gone so slowly is, we want to do it right," Park Board member Brad Bassick said.
The survey featured a wide array of potential features: a bandshell, basketball courts, a golf course, baseball fields, softball fields, a pool, a BMX bike track, field hockey, an arboretum, a multipurpose stadium, a soccer field, an ice rink, public art, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a playground, a skate park, a water park, a dog park, multi-use trails, a sportsplex, pickleball courts and a botanical garden.
Residents were asked to select their top 10 amenities; they also could submit their own ideas using the "other" comment box.
Attendees made a number of suggestions, but most of the speakers seemed to agree: Schererville does not need any more strip malls.
Instead, residents suggested creating a pavilion for town events, similar to Bulldog Park in Crown Point, adding walking paths, creating an indoor recreation space where people can stay active during the winter, and maybe even adding some coffee shops or restaurants along U.S. 30.
Representatives from the Tri-Town Raiders Pop Warner Youth Football and Cheer program said they'd like to see the land used for youth sports. The Tri-Town Raiders football field, 1200 Kennedy Ave., is being displaced as part of the Kennedy Avenue expansion.
"The organization is over 30 years old and I'd hate to see it die because a road is going through it," Tri-Town Vice President Nick Vevers said.
Multiple speakers said they would like to see ample green space maintained at the property. Several said they would like to see the historic race track honored in some way.
The town will continue to collect public comment throughout June. Residents can submit suggestions at schererville.org/contact/. Schmitt said the town is also considering sending out a paper copy of the survey with the water bill.
"We're not just going to have a conversation and then forget what we talked about," Councilman Kevin Connelly, R-2, said. "We are going to consider the top three, top five, and then look at how we're going to finance the project."
In February, the Town Council heard development proposals from American Structurepoint Engineering and the Northern League.
The Northern League, an independent minor baseball league with such teams as the Lake County Corn Dogs and the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, pitched using the land for a multipurpose stadium that could be used for baseball, town events and concerts.
Representatives from American Structurepoint presented what they called the Schererville Sports Park. The engineering firm said the actual design of the park would be determined after a series of community-input sessions.
Whatever the Illiana is used for, ensuring that the town has the capacity and money to maintain it will be important. Superintendent of Parks John Novacich said the property is a "much bigger animal" than anything the town has. Councilman Rob Guetzloff, D-3, said the area will probably be the last large piece of land the town develops.
Schmitt said the Park Board and the Town Council will look through the survey results at the start of July, meet to craft a plan and then put out a Request for Qualifications later in the summer.
"This town is your town, it belongs to you and that's why we had this meeting so that we can listen to your opinions, gather information and make the right decisions," Guetzloff said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/schererville/we-want-to-do-it-right-schererville-hosts-public-hearing-on-future-use-of-illiana/article_ae709d8a-fb05-11ed-bcd9-cf5d52389471.html | 2023-05-26T15:16:25 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/schererville/we-want-to-do-it-right-schererville-hosts-public-hearing-on-future-use-of-illiana/article_ae709d8a-fb05-11ed-bcd9-cf5d52389471.html |
Even though Greystar, the largest multifamily real estate company in the United States – handling both rental management and development – came to the region less than five years ago, the firm now manages more than 20 communities in central Virginia, with additional projects in planning stages.
Greystar's success, said Drew Harbrecht, the company’s director of real estate, can be traced directly to its employees.
“Greystar takes pride in a culture of acceptance, authenticity and camaraderie,” Harbrecht said. “We work hard to ensure that every team member feels supported and is genuinely proud of the organization they’re a part of. We don’t shy away from seeking greatness, and actively promote an environment where everyone can thrive personally and professionally.”
Greystar relies on regular employee engagement surveys to help team members thrive. “Many companies do (these) surveys; we live and die by this feedback,” Harbrecht said, adding that the company has responded to calls for wellness support.
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“Our benefits package is now on par with the more progressive tech companies out West,” he said. “Every new hire gets three weeks of vacation, there are enhanced benefits for paternity leave and everyone has one personal day a quarter, in addition to PTO. We basically looked at the benchmarks across our industry and not only beat them, but doubled them. We want to hang on to our people and attract more people.”
An internal training division, with both instructor-led and on-demand online options, is key to how Greystar keeps consistency across its more than 20,000 employees. “We’re taking stock … on a regular basis, then we have a team of people to address what we’re doing well and what we need to work on,” he said.
Employees are also encouraged to participate in service opportunities, either with company-sponsored activities or on their own; team members are given three hours of paid company time for charitable endeavors every month.
“We believe that not only do we manage and build communities, we need to play an active role in what these communities represent,” Harbrecht said. “We are constantly looking for different organizations to partner with, not only to donate our time, but to rally support for those who live in our communities. That’s one of the most important things we do: having an influence on people’s lives and where they live.”
The bottom line, Harbrecht said, is that Greystar believes that good customer service starts with its employees.
“You can’t be great for your people and your customers if you’re not the best version of yourself,” he said. “As a company, we feel really strongly about providing resources and support so everybody can show up with 100% every day. Everybody has a voice and can contribute to the current and future success of the business.” | https://richmond.com/business/local/top-workplaces/greystar-real-estate-believes-good-customer-service-starts-with-its-employees/article_7d85d442-e926-11ed-8bfc-47fbbf6d04b0.html | 2023-05-26T15:17:47 | 0 | https://richmond.com/business/local/top-workplaces/greystar-real-estate-believes-good-customer-service-starts-with-its-employees/article_7d85d442-e926-11ed-8bfc-47fbbf6d04b0.html |
Since Brandito’s launch in 2010, founder and CEO Michael Lovern has sought to foster a culture of service, authenticity and giving – for employees as well as clients.
“Those values are nonnegotiables – what we hire to and manage to,” he said. “Our employees come from all walks of life, all types of backgrounds. We want our people to be themselves and share that.”
Brandito is now much more than corporate swag. In addition to providing “anything and everything that you would want to put your brand on,” as Lovern said, the company offers creative and fulfillment services.
While the divisions are clearly defined – “We call it ‘aces in their places,’” Lovern said – customer demand often leads to overlapping needs, so staff members from different teams find themselves collaborating. “We can take a customer from A to B, A to M, or A to Z,” he notes.
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The key to successful customer service, Lovern said, is to foster relationships among employees.
“There’s always something happening,” he said, pointing to employee trivia nights, excursions to golf ranges and food truck visits. “We try to do something on a quarterly basis to get people out of the office environment and to know one another on a personal level.”
That kind of commitment to its employees helped Brandito be awarded third place in the small companies category for Top Workplaces.
When it comes to community service, in 2021, Brandito pledged to donate $15 for every order it received to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Employees may volunteer at the hospital – which might include helping to throw a pizza party – or suggest other activities benefiting their favorite charities, such as assembling meals at Feed More, participating in a Big Brothers Big Sisters bowl-a-thon or forming a team for an American Cancer Society golf tournament.
“Giving isn’t just about money; it’s about time,” Lovern said. “I think it’s important for people to have passions outside of work. We like to facilitate that. Employees often bring opportunities to the leadership team, and then we present those to the organization. People love being part of these things.”
Lovern attributes Brandito’s consistent growth – an average of 46% a year – to his employees.
“We have a wonderful peer network; they genuinely care about one another,” he said. “I consider myself incredibly lucky to come to work and be a part of it. In the world of marketing, there’s nothing sexy about promotional products, but we try to keep it fun.” | https://richmond.com/business/local/top-workplaces/richmond-based-brandito-fosters-culture-of-service-authenticity-and-giving/article_07ee762c-e07e-11ed-b114-07312c214fd8.html | 2023-05-26T15:17:53 | 0 | https://richmond.com/business/local/top-workplaces/richmond-based-brandito-fosters-culture-of-service-authenticity-and-giving/article_07ee762c-e07e-11ed-b114-07312c214fd8.html |
Four Richmond-area company officials have been recognized for leadership on this year’s Top Workplaces list.
The recognition was based on scores provided on employee surveys.
In the Mega Companies category, the winner was Alison Corazzini, senior vice president at Capital One Financial Corporation. She was described as a “strategic and bold leader” by employees. Employees also said that Corazzini “delivers a clear message year over year of the company direction and shows true passion around the success for Capital One as a whole.”
Mark Crossley, CEO of pharmaceutical company Indivior, earned the title in the Large Companies category. Those in the survey credited him as being a great communicator, inclusive, authentic and well-experienced. “He is down to earth, honest, caring and wants to do the best for this company and its employees,” employees said.
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The winner in the Midsize Companies category is Ron Kody, president of Richmond Ford. “He is a great person that cares about his employees and customers,” an employee said.
Mark Workman, president of Glen Allen-based Independent Container Line Ltd., a container shipping line, took home the top leadership award for the Small Companies category. “I feel that Mark has a really good way of looking at the ‘bigger picture’ and can visualize how something will impact the company or departments,” an employee said.
Other special award winners are:
DIRECTION
CRITERIA: “I believe this company is going in the right direction.”
Estes Express Lines
MANAGERS
CRITERIA: “My manager helps me learn and grow. My manager cares about my concerns.”
Premium Distributors of Virginia – Richmond
NEW IDEAS
CRITERIA: “New ideas are encouraged at this company.”
Strategic Risk Associates DOERS
CRITERIA: “At this company, we do things efficiently and well.”
Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission
MEANINGFULNESS
CRITERIA: “My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.”
Elk Hill Farm, Inc.
VALUES
CRITERIA: “This company operates by strong values.”
Siewers Lumber & Millwork CLUED IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT
CRITERIA: “Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company.”
The Country Club of Virginia
COMMUNICATION
CRITERIA: “I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company.”
CarMax
APPRECIATION
CRITERIA: “I feel genuinely appreciated at this company.”
Mango Salon WORK/LIFE FLEXIBILITY
CRITERIA: “I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.”
EAB
TRAINING
CRITERIA: “I get the formal training I want for my career.”
Keiter
BENEFITS
CRITERIA: “My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry.”
The London Company of Virginia | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/employment/top-workplaces-special-awards-for-leadership-values-flexibility-and-more/article_c2d43c22-f8b8-11ed-bd7d-cffc83de21ee.html | 2023-05-26T15:17:59 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/employment/top-workplaces-special-awards-for-leadership-values-flexibility-and-more/article_c2d43c22-f8b8-11ed-bd7d-cffc83de21ee.html |
Chesterfield County police are investigating a homicide Friday morning after a woman involved in a possible domestic incident died in a Prince George County hospital.
Officers responded to a residence in the 19200 block of Brevard Drive in South Chesterfield shortly after 5:45 a.m. Friday, after reports that a female adult who lived at that residence had arrived at an emergency room in Prince George County with life-threatening injuries.
That woman, whose identity has not been released while police work to notify next of kin, died of her injuries later Friday morning.
Upon arrival at the Brevard Drive residence, officers found another adult woman with injuries that were not considered life-threatening; she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
A spokeswoman for the Chesterfield County Police Department confirmed that five children from ages 1 to 13, none of whom had been harmed, were also found at the residence.
Police are investigating this as a domestic incident and say there is no ongoing danger to the community.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Chesterfield County Police Department at (804) 748-1251 or contact Crime Solvers anonymously at (804) 748-0660.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/chesterfield-police-brevard-drive-homicide-investigation/article_aa00a05c-fbd1-11ed-80f4-f72bf021598e.html | 2023-05-26T15:18:05 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/chesterfield-police-brevard-drive-homicide-investigation/article_aa00a05c-fbd1-11ed-80f4-f72bf021598e.html |
Three juvenile males were injured Thursday night in a shooting near the White Oak Village shopping center, Henrico police say.
Officers responded to the 4900 block of Wood Thrush Circle just before 9 p.m. Thursday after reports of a firearm violation.
Upon arriving at the scene, police located three juvenile victims, who were subsequently taken to area hospitals for treatment. None of the victims' injuries are considered life-threatening.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Henrico Police at (804) 501-5000 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/henrico-police-wood-thrush-circle-juvenile-males-shot/article_573f2fcc-fbc8-11ed-9d63-6b8bb1acfdb3.html | 2023-05-26T15:18:11 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/henrico-police-wood-thrush-circle-juvenile-males-shot/article_573f2fcc-fbc8-11ed-9d63-6b8bb1acfdb3.html |
A man is dead after a single-vehicle crash along Forest Hill Avenue Thursday evening that Richmond police say appears to have been speed related.
Officers responded to the intersection of Forest Hill Avenue and Kenmore Road just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday after reports of a crash. When they arrived, they found a vehicle that had crashed at the intersection.
An adult male was found inside the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
RPD's crash team is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Ozolins at (804) 646-8671 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000.
This morning's top headlines: Friday, May 26
Speaker Kevin McCarthy says negotiators "made progress” on a deal with the White House to raise the debt limit and cut federal spending. McCarthy said Friday there is still more work to do. They're racing for agreement this weekend. As soon as June 1, Treasury says it could run short of funds to pay the nation's bills. A federal default on the national debt would send the economy into chaos. The budget flow isn’t the only hang-up. One thorny issue is a Republican demand opposed by Democrats for stiffer work requirements on people who receive government aid. Any compromise needs support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass in Congress.
Texas lawmakers have issued 20 articles of impeachment against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, ranging from bribery to abuse of public trust as state Republicans surged toward a swift and sudden vote that could remove him from office. The charges were released Thursday night, hours after a Republican-led House investigative committee recommended impeaching the state’s top lawyer. The House could vote on the recommendation as soon as Friday. If it impeaches Paxton, he would be forced to leave office immediately.
Authorities say Russia’s southern Belgorod region that borders Ukraine came under attack from Ukrainian artillery fire, hours after two drones struck a Russian city in a region next to the Crimea Peninsula. The Kremlin’s forces meanwhile struck a clinic in Dnipro on Friday, killing two and wounding another 23, including two children. Ukrainian officials also said a Russian missile hit a dam in the Karlivka district of Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine. That placed nearby settlements under threat of severe flooding. Russia's Belgorod region was earlier this week the target of one of the most serious cross-border attacks from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago.
A U.S. study suggests 1 in 10 people are getting long COVID after an omicron infection, a lower estimate than earlier in the pandemic. The National Institutes of Health is studying nearly 10,000 U.S. adults to help better understand why some people suffer debilitating health problems that can last for months or years after even mild COVID-19. In the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers identified a dozen key symptoms that help distinguish long COVID. They say doctors shouldn't use the list to diagnose patients — it's only a first step — but it might help future studies.
President Joe Biden has announced a new government strategy to fight hate, bias and violence directed at Jews. The document released Thursday outlines more than 100 steps the administration and its partners can take to combat an alarming rise in antisemitism. The strategy is centered around four goals: increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism, improving safety and security for Jewish communities, reversing the normalization of antisemitism and building solidarity across communities to help counter hate. Biden says the recommendations send the message that “evil will not win” and “hate will not prevail” in America.
An Indiana board has decided to reprimand an Indianapolis doctor after finding that she violated patient privacy laws by talking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from neighboring Ohio. The state Medical Licensing Board voted that Dr. Caitlin Bernard didn’t abide by privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the girl’s treatment in a case that became a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. Board members chose to fine Bernard $3,000 for the violations, turning down a request from the attorney general’s office to suspend Bernard’s license.
Body-camera footage shows former police officers who were indicted by a Mississippi grand jury laughing about a man who died in their custody. The footage also shows one of them questioning whether to immediately call an ambulance for the man. Officials in the state capital of Jackson announced Wednesday that a grand jury had indicted two former police officers on murder charges and another ex-officer on a manslaughter charge in the death of Keith Murriel. Murriel is Black and is seen on video being pinned down and repeatedly shocked with stun guns during a New Year’s Eve arrest. The city released hours of body-camera footage detailing the encounter.
Derrick White had 24 points, including six 3-pointers, helping lead the charge as the Boston Celtics dominated the Miami Heat 110-97 in Game 5 on to extend the Eastern Conference finals. Marcus Smart had 23 points and five steals. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finished with 21 points apiece as the Celtics claimed their second straight win and trimmed Miami’s series lead to 3-2. It keeps alive Boston’s hopes of becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Saturday in Miami. Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points.
Joe Pavelski scored on a power play at 3:18 of overtime and the Dallas Stars avoided a sweep in the Western Conference final with a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Jason Robertson scored twice for his first career multigoal playoff game for Dallas, which played without suspended captain Jamie Benn. Jake Oettinger had 37 saves, two nights after he was pulled 7:10 into Game 3 after allowing three goals on five shots. Benn was suspended two games by the NHL on Wednesday for his cross-check with his stick landing near the neck of Vegas captain Mark Stone in the first two minutes of Game 3 on Tuesday night. William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault scored for Vegas. | https://richmond.com/news/local/richmond-police-single-vehicle-crash-forest-hill-avenue-kenmore-road/article_42a330f8-fbc9-11ed-99d1-474b3a596414.html | 2023-05-26T15:18:17 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/richmond-police-single-vehicle-crash-forest-hill-avenue-kenmore-road/article_42a330f8-fbc9-11ed-99d1-474b3a596414.html |
Our cheeseburger, vegan, specialty picks to mark National Hamburger Day in Greenville
What could be more fitting than to kick off summer by ordering or striking up the grill to cook one of the most iconic foods – the hamburger?
National Hamburger Day will be celebrated on Sunday, May 28, right in the middle of Memorial Day weekend.
While National Hamburger Day is not an official holiday, its origins come from Hamburg, Germany. But the juicy and tender patties we all know and love started in Seymour, Wisconsin, according to the website National Today.com.
So as people get ready to sizzle their burgers, Greenville's dining scene has an overflow of options available to try.
In case you forgot, or need recommendations, here are a few burger options to try or share:
This Weekend in Greenville:Looking for Memorial Day weekend activities in Upstate SC? Check out this list of events.
Best Traditional Cheeseburger Options in Greenville
- Bistro Passerelle, 601 S. Main St. — Bistro Burger with bone marrow aioli and basil mayo
- Social Burger, 20 E. Broad St. — Perfect Burger with Halo sauce
- Northgate Soda Shop, 918 N. Main St. — Pimento Cheeseburger
- Mac's Speed Shop — Block n Bleu Burger with applewood smoked bacon
- Larkins, 32 E. Broad St. — Smash Burger with white American cheese
- Bohemian Bull, 1 E. Butler St., Mauldin — Truffle Burger with gouda cheese and grilled baby portabella mushrooms
- Arnold's, 11023 Anderson Road, Piedmont — Double cheeseburger with fries
- Hip Burger, 791 E. Butler. St., Mauldin — Double bacon cheeseburger
A Few Vegan/Vegetarian Burger Options in Greenville
- The Velo Fellow, 1 Augusta St. Suite. 126 — Falafel Burger with gouda
- Sun Belly Cafe, 1409 W. Blue Ridge Drive — Vegan Burger of the day with black beans and black eye peas
- The 05, 3016 Augusta St. — Keepin' It Fresh Veggie Burger with roasted fennel and a cashew spread.
- Naked Vegan, 311 A McAlister Road — Double explicit burger
- Grill Marks, 700 Haywood Road, Suite 2023B — The Herbivore Burger made with black beans and cowboy sauce
- Bar Margaret, 1269 Pendleton St. — Damn Good Hippie Burger with mushrooms/veggie/falafel patty on focaccia
Chef Honored:A James Beard semifinalist, Greenville Tex-Mex chef Dayna Lee-Márquez thanks community
Specialty Burger Options in Greenville
- Jones Oyster Company, 22 E. Court St. — Charleston Shrimp Burger
- Bourbon Street Burgers, 109 W. Trade St., Simpsonville — Bourbon Street Signature Burger
- Chef 21 Sushi Burger & Korean BBQ, 500 McBee Ave. Suite 109 — Sushi Burger with spicy crab meat
- Windy City Burger, 12 E. Coffee St. — The Marshfield Burger with goat cheese and pesto
- Adams Bistro, 221 Pelham Road, Suite 100 — The Heat burger made with a house made buffalo sauce and sautée
- Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, 1922 Augusta St. Suite 100 — Bad Daddy's Bacon Cheeseburger
- 4 Aces Kitchen & Cocktails, 115 Pelham Road, Suite 1 — Full House Burger with angus beef, bacon, American cheese
- Smiley's Acoustic Cafe, 111 Augusta St. — Wagyu Beef Sliders with truffle aioli Swiss and mixed greens
- Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint, 19 Augusta St. Suite H — Greg Brady Burger topped with house-made mac n' cheese, American cheese and BBQ chips
- Nose Dive, — Tzatziki Burger with turkey patty, Havarti and pickled red onions
- Trio – Brick Oven Cafe, 22 N. Main St., — Cheeseburger pizza with ground beef, Roma tomato sauce and mozzarella
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2023/05/26/greenville-national-hamburger-day-cheeseburgers-vegan-specialty-dining-food-sc/70249146007/ | 2023-05-26T15:19:23 | 1 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2023/05/26/greenville-national-hamburger-day-cheeseburgers-vegan-specialty-dining-food-sc/70249146007/ |
Hampton author DeWitt launches book tour, includes stops at Colleton County Courthouse
A Gannett editor and author is announcing a South Carolina book tour that will begin with stops at the now-famous, historic Colleton County Courthouse while supporting literacy and the local library systems along the way.
Michael M. DeWitt Jr., award-winning editor of the 144-year-old The Hampton County Guardian and a journalist for USA Today Network – South Carolina, has authored a history of his hometown, Wicked Hampton County, which releases Monday, May 29, and is now completing a second book, an epic combination of history and true crime, Fall of the House of Murdaugh, to be released later this summer.
DeWitt’s boots-on-the-ground coverage of the Murdaugh crime saga has been published in print and online around Gannett’s nationwide USA Today network, and he has appeared on ABC’s 20/20, CBS’s 48 Hours, Dateline NBC and Netflix documentaries to discuss the case, among others, and has talked about the cases to audiences as far away as New Zealand and Australia. His historical flashback stories for the USA Today Network have been referenced by other media around the world, from The Washington Post and People magazine to media in Great Britain and India.
In launching his first book tour, the author wants to highlight and support local libraries and literacy while showcasing the fascinating South Carolina Lowcountry history. While most of his early events will be held at public libraries, he will also be holding at least two events at the now-famous courthouse in Walterboro which hosted the internationally publicized, six-week murder trial of convicted murderer and accused fraudster Alex Murdaugh.
DeWitt hopes his "I Love My Local Library" Book Tour will highlight local libraries and the services they offer.
Alex Murdaugh trial:Tour of historic Colleton County Courthouse a true crime destination
Here are the first tour dates, with more to be announced later:
- June 2: Book signing and tour of the historic Colleton County Courthouse, 101 Hampton Street, Walterboro, S.C.; 9-noon and 2-4 p.m.
- June 16: Book signing and tour of the historic Colleton County Courthouse, June 16, 101 Hampton Street, Walterboro, S.C.; 9-noon and 2-4 p.m.
- June 23: Official Book Launch and Signing, Hampton County Library, 12 Locust Street East, Hampton, S.C., 4-6 p.m., during the H.C. Watermelon Festival, followed by a tour of the Hampton County Museum at the Old Jail.
- July 8: Book signing and readings, Pratt Memorial Library, 451A Wilson Street, Ridgeland, S.C., 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- July 22: Book signing and readings during Library Book Sale, Allendale County Library, 297 Main Street North, Allendale S.C., 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
About Michael Dewitt
All Michael M. DeWitt Jr. ever wanted to be was a small-town newspaper editor, an outdoor writer like Patrick F. McManus, and a Southern humorist like Lewis Grizzard, and he was well on his way when a tragic story broke.
DeWitt, the longtime editor of The Hampton County Guardian, was writing tales of the outdoors for South Carolina Wildlife magazine and the international Sporting Classics magazine. As a humorist, DeWitt’s award-winning Southern humor newspaper column, “Southern Voices, Southern Stories,” was published in newspapers from Cape Cod to northern California.
And then the Murdaugh crime saga broke into state and then international headlines, and DeWitt was challenged with the task of transforming from a community journalist to an investigative reporter and true crime writer followed by a national audience.
In doing so, DeWitt relied heavily on his background and love of history. For four years, DeWitt served as a volunteer historian, storyteller, and playwright for the five-county “Salkehatchie Stew” oral history and community theater project sponsored by the University of South Carolina. He is also the author of Images of America – Hampton County (Arcadia Publishing/The History Press, May 2015), a photo history of the place his family has called home for close to three hundred years.
More about Wicked Hampton County
Wicked Hampton County takes the reader back in time to paint the historical landscape in which the Murdaughs came to power ― and often allegedly misused that power. Here is what you’ll find inside:
- “Moonshine, Murder and Murdaugh Mayhem,” an overview of the Murdaugh legal and political dynasty dating back to the Civil War and Reconstruction, includes many of the fascinating criminal cases the Murdaughs prosecuted, as well as the many allegations against Randolph “Buster” Murdaugh Jr. and the Great Colleton County Whiskey Conspiracy that engulfed him.
- Hampton County's earliest roots are steeped in blood, as European settlers swindled local Native Americans, causing the Yamasee tribe to rise up and kill scores of colonists and torture one corrupt “Indian Agent” for three days.
- The controversial influence of General Wade Hampton, and the Bloody Election of 1880 riot where a man was stabbed to death on the ground floor of the Hampton County Courthouse, and another man and his mule were killed by shotgun fire on the way to the polls.
- In “Moonshine, Sue Cat and Other Demon Brews,” murder and “mean liquor” are social and political issues that cause local, state and federal agents to play cat-and-mouse games with clever bootleggers throughout the swamps of the Savannah and Salkehatchie Rivers for decades.
- In “Unholy Deeds,” a relative of a “famous desperado” is shot to death while praying inside an Estill church in a case that takes the reader to Death Row and the electric chair at the state pen.
- “Sticky Palms and The Five-Finger Discount:” From hog rustlers to white-collar criminals, from petty thieves and dumb crooks to ingenious con artists, thievery fills the pages of local history.
- In “Wild East Outlaws,” bankers and bank robbers rub elbows amid gunfights and bloody knuckle brawls in rough-and-tumble timber towns.
- In “Mysterious Diseases and Deaths,” a poor farmer, driven by hunger and malnutrition, succumbs to a mysterious disease that leads him to try and murder his family with an ax, while Hampton’s famous undertaker is burying people by the thousands during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.
- “Wickedness at the Old Jail reveals the shameful history of the former Hampton County Jail, now a local museum on the National Register of Historic Places, where men were hung, whipped, or allowed to freeze to death in filthy conditions.
- “Racism, Civil Rights and the Confederate Legacy” takes a deep dive into lynching and vigilante justice, the local Ku Klux Klan, and the Civil Rights struggles involving integration.
- “Grisly Murders Stain the Pages of History” takes the true crime history buff on a tour of several of the most shocking murders in Hampton County history.
- In “For Every Villian, A Hero,” Hampton County’s first lady jailer truly cares about the criminals in her care, and the daughter of a jailer picks up a pistol to stop a lynch mob from taking a Black prisoner.
You can follow DeWitt on Facebook, on Twitter @mmdewittjr, on his author page at Arcadia Publishing/The History Press and Amazon Author Central. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2023/05/26/hampton-author-to-launch-book-tour-that-includes-stops-at-historic-colleton-county-courthouse-dewitt/70251454007/ | 2023-05-26T15:19:29 | 0 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2023/05/26/hampton-author-to-launch-book-tour-that-includes-stops-at-historic-colleton-county-courthouse-dewitt/70251454007/ |
An Indiana doctor spoke up about a 10-year-old's abortion. Here's what happened since
After a historic U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade, an Indiana doctor's anecdote about a 10-year-old's abortion became central to discussions of abortion access.
Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis OB/GYN, shared that a young patient in her office was six weeks and three days pregnant. The girl was from Ohio, which had outlawed any abortion after six weeks, so she traveled to Indiana, where the procedure was still legal. After the story gained national attention, Attorney General Todd Rokita spoke out against Bernard on Fox News, saying his office was looking into her conduct.
Indiana abortion law:Child rape puts Indiana in national spotlight as lawmakers consider ban
Rokita's complaint, charging that the doctor violated privacy laws and failed to properly report the child's rape, was heard this week by the Indiana Medical Licensing Board. In a split decision, they found that she violated privacy law, but cleared her on the charge of failing to report abuse quickly enough. The board has 90 days to finalize its decision, and both sides have 30 days to appeal.
Here's a look at what happened since the original story was published.
June 24, 2022: U.S. Supreme Court eliminates constitutional right to abortion
July 1, 2022: IndyStar story cites Caitlin Bernard's anecdote about a 10-year-old
July 7, 2022: President Joe Biden uses case as example in announcement about safeguarding abortion access
Roe v. Wade overturned:Biden announces steps to protect abortion access, but advocates urge him to do more
July 12, 2022: Ohio man arrested in rape of 10-year-old
Crime:Ohio man charged in rape of 10-year-old that led to Indiana abortion
July 13, 2022: Indiana AG Todd Rokita appears on Fox News, says he's looking into Bernard
July 14, 2022: IndyStar obtains records showing Bernard disclosed the abortion to child services
Records:Caitlin Bernard reported 10-year-old Ohio girl's abortion
July 15, 2022: IU Health officials say Bernard did not violate privacy laws
Caitlin Bernard:IU Health says doctor did not violate HIPAA laws in 10-year-old's abortion
July 15, 2022: Bernard's attorney sends cease-and-desist to Rokita
Abortion case:Attorney for doctor who performed 10-year-old's abortion sends cease-and-desist
July 18, 2023: Former IU law school dean files complaint against Rokita with disciplinary commission
July 19, 2022: Bernard files claim for damages against Rokita
Tort claim:Doctor who provided abortion for Ohio girl files for damages against Todd Rokita
July 26, 2022: Attorney says Rokita's office is still investigating Bernard
Attorney:Indiana AG Todd Rokita still investigating Dr. Caitlin Bernard
July 28, 2022: Lawyer for Bernard says complaints are 'riddled with inaccuracies'
'Waste of time':Dr. Caitlin Bernard’s attorney responds to investigation notice
Sept. 14, 2022: AG's office declines to share info on complaints against Bernard
More:Indiana Attorney General Rokita's office declines to share info on Dr. Bernard complaints
Nov. 3, 2022: Bernard sues to freeze investigation of medical records
Bernard lawsuit:Indiana abortion doctor asks judge to freeze Todd Rokita's investigation of medical records
Nov. 18, 2022: Attorneys spar over patient privacy
Bernard lawsuit:AG's office, Dr. Bernard's attorneys spar over patient privacy in first hearing
Nov. 21, 2022: Bernard testifies she was harassed after Fox News interview
Bernard lawsuit:Indy doctor received 'threats'; attorneys spar in court
Nov. 30, 2022: AG asks licensing board to investigate
Abortion case:AG Rokita claims Bernard violated law, asks state Medical Licensing Board to investigate
Dec. 2, 2022: Judge says Rokita violated confidentiality, declines to block probe of Bernard
AG probe:Judge declines to block investigation
Dec. 8, 2022: Bernard drops lawsuit against Rokita
Dr. Caitlin Bernard:Indiana OB/GYN drops suit against AG Todd Rokita as abortion dispute heads to state board
Feb. 13, 2023: Rokita faces probe by state disciplinary commission
Politics:AG Todd Rokita is focus of disciplinary probe. Here's what comes next
April 12, 2023: Rokita argues case Bernard withdrew should move forward
Indiana AG:Dr. Bernard tries to dismiss lawsuit against Rokita. He wants his day in court.
April 21, 2023: Rokita drops attempt to revive 2022 lawsuit
Indiana AG:Todd Rokita drops attempt to continue Dr. Bernard's lawsuit against himself
May 25, 2023: Hearing takes place in Bernard's handling of patient information
Indiana Medical Licensing Board:AG Rokita's prosecution of abortion doctor Caitlin Bernard gets medical board hearing
May 25, 2023: Board rules Bernard violated privacy laws, clears her of charge that she failed to report abuse quickly enough
Indiana Medical Licensing Board:Indiana Dr. Caitlin Bernard violated girl's privacy in abortion case | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/05/26/indiana-doctor-abortion-10-year-old-ohio-caitlin-bernard-todd-rokita/70259789007/ | 2023-05-26T15:19:51 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/05/26/indiana-doctor-abortion-10-year-old-ohio-caitlin-bernard-todd-rokita/70259789007/ |
Are you one of the 37 million people planning to travel by car for Memorial Day weekend?
Well if that's you, it’s important to note: a new study from insurance saving app Jerry shows Texas is the deadliest state when it comes to traffic fatalities for the weekend. It averages of 462 deaths each year from 2012 to 2021.
It’s also home to three of the top ten deadliest cities to drive in over the holiday weekend:
# 1) Houston: 38 traffic fatalities per year
# 2) Dallas: 33 traffic fatalities per year
# 6) San Antonio: 25 traffic fatalities per year
AAA is encouraging drivers to stay off the roads overnight Friday and all day Saturday.
Data from the organization shows the deadliest day of memorial day weekend overall is Saturday, but Friday night sees the most fatalities per hour.
AAA Texas says the best time to leave town is Thursday before 1 p.m.
But if you haven’t left yet, try to leave before noon Friday.
The *worst* time to travel is between 3 and 6 p.m., on both days.
You may run into a little traffic on Saturday and Sunday, but it should be manageable.
Of course we want you to celebrate, but please be safe when you do!
The study by Jerry shows alcohol was involved in 61 percent of all fatal crashes when a blood alcohol content test was given.
And slow down – If you want to get somewhere on time, give yourself enough time to get there!
According to that study, speeding was involved in a third of fatal crashes.
And of course, try to keep a cool head behind the wheel as you make your way to and from your destination.
We see plenty of road rage here in North Texas, and it sometimes takes peoples lives.
Try to avoid conflict on the road by giving yourself enough time to make it there, and being courteous to others.
If you have to honk, use little taps instead of long blows.
Please enjoy the time you spend this weekend unofficially marking the beginning of summer, and stay safe!
As always, if you have a traffic concern in your area, you can email us here. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/navigating-the-memorial-day-traffic-rush-in-texas/287-5236e6c2-c0dd-49f2-abbc-747859ecf226 | 2023-05-26T15:20:24 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/navigating-the-memorial-day-traffic-rush-in-texas/287-5236e6c2-c0dd-49f2-abbc-747859ecf226 |
LEESBURG, Fla. – A 73-year-old Leesburg man was killed Wednesday morning in a crash when a pickup truck struck his vehicle, according to the police department.
The crash happened around 11:40 a.m. on U.S. Highway 441 near Perkins Street.
According to the Leesburg Police Department, the 73-year-old, David Reno, was traveling north on US 441 when he was making a left turn onto Perkins Street. A pickup driven by a 22-year-old Leesburg man was traveling south on U.S. 441 when it struck Reno’s car.
Reno was taken to a hospital, where he later died, officials said.
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The 22-year-old and his passenger, an 18-year-old Leesburg woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment, but the extent of their injuries was not released.
An investigation is ongoing.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/26/73-year-old-leesburg-man-killed-in-crash-with-pickup-truck/ | 2023-05-26T15:24:26 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/26/73-year-old-leesburg-man-killed-in-crash-with-pickup-truck/ |
After her graduation from Flagstaff High School (FHS) on Friday, Elizabeth Cervantes-Ramon will begin her study of political science with a full-ride scholarship to Dartmouth.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” she said of leaving high school. “I would say there’s the fear of the unknown, yet there’s also the excitement for new adventures. I know Flag High has supported me all these years and I’m really thankful for that.”
Cervantes-Ramon has made the most of her time at FHS, joining several school programs and helping to lead a handful clubs.
She helped found FHS’s Hispanic Club and served as president, citing the need for representation in the school.
She also serves as president of the Praise Bible Study club, has organized a yearly Battle of the Bands fundraiser as vice president of the Humanitarian Club, works with nonprofit Gravity Water as part of the National Honors Society and has represented Arizona in the National Student Leadership Congress.
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Though she doesn’t consider herself an artist, Cervantes-Ramon's Advanced Placement capstone project was to paint a mural in her school titled “Immigration is Beautiful.” It includes a map of the United States and the San Francisco Peaks alongside people and symbols from a variety of cultures represented by FHS students.
She said that by creating the mural, she wanted other students to be able to see themselves represented at the school.
A self-described “outgoing extrovert,” she said she’s “passionate about public speaking,” giving speeches at City Hall and Northern Arizona University. In addition to her studies at FHS, she’s taken college classes at Coconino Community College in criminal justice and early childhood in order to help get a head start on areas that could be helpful in her future career.
And in her free time, she enjoys running and reading romance novels to relax.
Cervantes-Ramon credited her family, friends and the school with her success in keeping up with so many different things, plus the bullet journal she keeps updated with all her daily tasks. Among that support system were her brothers Fernandez and Vicente, her parents Anna and Vicente, her friend Genisis and Native American academic advisor Darrell Marks, Principal Libby Miller and Assistant Principal Matthew Barquin at FHS.
“I have a lot of people in my life that I’m not alone, even when things get harsh, when I feel that I’m just done with everything, I know that I have people in my life that are going to support me,” she said. “ ... It’s all about your relationships.”
A first-generation student, Cervantes-Ramon remembered how lectures from her parents would always start with “si estudias” -- if you study. She had one of those lectures herself to share with other students.
“Si estudias you have the opportunity to go to college, si estudias you won't have to suffer,” she said. “Nothing in this life is easy, but receiving an education is the key to success. It is the key to opening doors to receive a better life. The beauty of an education would be that the knowledge that we gain, no one can ever take. It's ours to keep forever. As first-generation students, we get stressed out, we get tired and we feel like giving up, but we can't. This education is not only for us; it’s for our families, for our brothers and sisters, for our ancestors.”
She’s also a part of the school’s TRIO program, which is meant to help first-generation students find college resources throughout their time in high school. The group also participates in activities such as college tours and group rafting trips.
She said she's "loved" her time at FHS.
“I love FHS. I always represent the color green, and I’m excited that I’ll still continue to represent the color green at Dartmouth, because it’s ‘Go big green,’” she said.
Her scholarship is through the QuestBridge program, saying that she was one of 1,755 students that were matched with a scholarship out of 17,900 total applications (only 2.7% of QuestBridge applicants to Dartmouth received a full-ride scholarship, she added).
She plans to study political science, with the hope of one day becoming a lawyer to “help children of color have a better life.”
“I’ve seen our system and it's not the best when it comes to minorities; there are opportunities, yet we don’t really see the results,” she said. “When I look at people in law, most of them are white and I’m like, why not my people, why not my race, why can’t we be more represented? For me, it’s all about representation.”
Cervantes-Ramon said she’s excited for the classes in college as well as to try new experiences and meet new people.
She had several pieces of advice for other students, including to try new things, keep studying, prioritize mental health and “stay true to yourself.”
She also said it was important to “find your why.”
“For me, my why was breaking that cycle of going to college,” she said. “I wanted to go to college, I wanted to show my family that it could be done. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it for me. I never even thought that the idea of going to an Ivy League was possible, especially getting the full ride. I honestly burst into tears when I heard that, because the hard work does pay off. I would say stay true to yourself and ask for help, because there's always people out there in the world that want the best for you.”
She added: “Just get involved and have fun, because it honestly happens by so fast.” | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/flagstaff-high-school-graduate-spotlight-elizabeth-cervantes-ramon-sets-bar-high-as-1st-generation-college/article_219251a2-fb45-11ed-998c-6f04e027d338.html | 2023-05-26T15:25:41 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/flagstaff-high-school-graduate-spotlight-elizabeth-cervantes-ramon-sets-bar-high-as-1st-generation-college/article_219251a2-fb45-11ed-998c-6f04e027d338.html |
Sechrist Elementary School hosted a surprise celebration for retiring teacher Jackie Treadway last Friday, dedicating a courtyard in her honor.
Treadway had taught first grade for 37 years -- all of them at Sechrist. In addition to the courtyard’s wooden sign, she was presented with a scrapbook filled with pictures and notes from more than 50 former students, those she’d worked with at the school and parents.
“It has been an absolute privilege to be at this school,” Treadway said during the event. “I’ve worked with some of the best, and still they're all the best that are here. I’m going to miss all of you guys so very much, but you haven't gotten rid of me yet."
She added: "You guys are awesome; Trojans are the best.”
Among those who had come to surprise Treadway were several of her former students, ranging in age from current first-graders to college students. As she entered the room, they crowded around her to offer flowers and notes.
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Fourth-grader Lyla Sanchez said Treadway had been “really kind and nice,” when she’d had her as a teacher in first grade. Among the lessons Sanchez said she’d learned from her were “how to skip count and be a nice person.”
“She’s been a very good teacher at the school and she’ll always be in the Sechrist school family,” Sanchez said.
First-grader Owen Kayser was in Treadway’s class for the first half of this school year, saying that she had been a good teacher.
“We were her last class,” he said, adding that she’d taught the class “number bonds and all these ways to do math.”
Treadway has also been recognized by the district, winning a 2022 Legendary Teacher award in the fall. In the announcement for that award, Sechrist Principal John Albert said she’d been “a staple of the Sechrist community for decades.”
“She has been successful by building lasting positive relationships with students, staff and parents at an extremely high level,” he said. “ ... We are honored to have worked alongside her, and we have admired her glittering attributes that make learning fun and memorable.”
Last week’s event was organized by Taryn Wallace, who is both Jackie’s daughter and her co-teacher this year.
Treadway was the substitute teacher while Wallace was on maternity leave at the beginning of the school year, and the two have been working together in the classroom since Wallace returned to work after winter break.
“We’ve co-shared this classroom -- which has been super cool, because she’s always been my teacher mentor. It’s been really fun,” Wallace said.
This is Wallace's eighth year as a Flagstaff Unified School District teacher and her first at Sechrist after moving from DeMiguel Elementary School. She will fully take over her mother’s classroom next year.
Wallace attended Sechrist herself as a child, and said it feels “surreal” to be writing on the same blackboard she’d watch her mother use after school as she waited for her to get ready to return home.
“It’s quite amazing to take on her legacy, for both her and me to be in the same room,” she said. “It couldn’t have worked out better.”
Treadway both started and finished her teaching career at Sechrist -- which Wallace said is rare. The family sees her impact on Flagstaff all the time, she said, with former students approaching to talk when they go out to eat or visit a store. One of those former students is the uncle of Wallace’s husband.
As for Treadway's impact on her own teaching, Wallace said “she’s taught me everything I know.”
“She truly has this magic when it comes to kids,” she said. “ ... My childhood was an absolute fairy tale. She gets around children and she just completely forgets she’s an adult. It’s just magical -- she was meant to be a teacher. I don’t know how else to say it.” | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/sechrist-elementary-celebrates-retiring-teacher-with-courtyard-dedication/article_de9120c2-fa8b-11ed-bc1e-134733eed283.html | 2023-05-26T15:25:48 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/sechrist-elementary-celebrates-retiring-teacher-with-courtyard-dedication/article_de9120c2-fa8b-11ed-bc1e-134733eed283.html |
Why are flags at half-staff today in Wisconsin?
The U.S. and Wisconsin state flag will be flown at half-staff Friday, May 26 in honor Navy Seaman Second Class David Joseph Riley, who lost his life in the attack on Pearl Harbor and whose remains have been identified and returned to Wisconsin for burial, Gov. Tony Evers' office announced.
Assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, Riley of Juda, Wisconsin, was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The remains of the deceased crew from the USS Oklahoma were first interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu Cemeteries and, after attempts at identification in 1947, were reinterred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. In 2015, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began exhuming remains from the USS Oklahoma for analysis and identification, and in 2021, Riley’s remains were positively identified. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, according to a news release.
Riley will be buried with full military honors in Juda on Saturday, May 27.
When are flags at half-staff in Wisconsin?
Under the U.S. Flag Code, the U.S. and respective state flags fly at half-staff when the country or state is in mourning. The president may issue a national decree, or the state governor through an executive order, to have the flags lowered at half-staff.
The decree usually marks the death of a government official, military member or first responder; in honor of Memorial Day or other national days of remembrance; or following a national tragedy.
In Wisconsin, all state-owned and operated facilities must display their flags at half-staff. Municipal and county governments, public and private schools, private businesses, and individuals should also lower their flags to half-staff under the governor's executive order.
What time are flags displayed at half-staff?
Executive orders will call for the flags to be lowered immediately or at sunrise on the day of remembrance until sunset, or for the entire mourning period.
Holidays when the flag is at half-staff around the country
- May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff all day)
- Memorial Day, last Monday of May (half-staff from sunrise until noon only)
- Sept. 11, Patriot Day (half-staff all day)
- First Sunday in October, Fallen Firefighters (half-staff all day)
- Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff all day)
What is the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
Half-mast refers to flags lowered on a ship while half-staff refers to a pole in the ground, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s blog. Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/26/wisconsin-flags-flying-at-half-staff-for-sailor-killed-in-pearl-harbor/70260047007/ | 2023-05-26T15:28:28 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/26/wisconsin-flags-flying-at-half-staff-for-sailor-killed-in-pearl-harbor/70260047007/ |
NORMAL — Connect Transit will not operate on Monday in observation of Memorial Day.
Normal operating hours will resume Tuesday.
The Connect Transit Star Pass is available to all active military personnel and veterans, which allows them to ride for free and never expires.
For more information, visit connect-transit.com/fare/passes, call 309-828-9833 or email dbraun@connect-transit.com.
Connect Transit 50th Birthday Party
Friday, Jan 27
Heartland Community College, Normal
There was birthday cake (3 to be exact), plenty of great food and interesting historic memorabilia as friends and employees of Connect Transit gathered to commemorate the past 50 years of providing safe and reliable transportation and look forward to the future.
Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3352. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs
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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/no-connect-transit-service-on-memorial-day/article_a899ad12-fb13-11ed-9c95-171cf4addacb.html | 2023-05-26T15:34:48 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/no-connect-transit-service-on-memorial-day/article_a899ad12-fb13-11ed-9c95-171cf4addacb.html |
Heading into summer grilling season, the USDA is reminding North Texans to brush up on their food safety skills. The USDA points to data showing food poisoning causes around 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths yearly.
The agency said rates of food poisoning tend to go up in the summer when more of us are preparing food outside in the heat.
Until it’s time to grill, keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood in the fridge or an insulated cooler at a temperature below 40 degrees.
Food between the temperatures of 40° F and 140° F has a limited time before it hit the “danger zone” and becomes a food safety risk.
Package and refrigerate leftovers quickly. If cooked food has been sitting out for two hours or more, toss it. If it’s 90 degrees or hotter outside, make it a one-hour limit.
Additionally, ensure you’re using different utensils, cutting boards, and platters for raw and cooked foods.
“Take as many utensils as you think you’re going to need while always maintaining that separation between the raw products to those that are ready to eat. For example, never place your fruits where there were raw meats on a cutting board,” explained Beverly Cazares, USA spokesperson.
Wash your hands well before and after handling raw meat.
If soap and water are not available, the USDA says you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
If you have questions, there are online tools and food safety tips for parents and families at this link.
Or, for more information on food safety in English and Spanish, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854.
Consumers can also email MPHotline@usda.gov or chat live on https://ask.usda.gov/s/ from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
NBC 5 Responds is committed to researching your concerns and recovering your money. Our goal is to get you answers and, if possible, solutions and a resolution. Call us at 844-5RESPND (844-573-7763) or fill out our customer complaint form.
Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/how-to-avoid-the-danger-zone-when-grilling-this-summer/3265797/ | 2023-05-26T15:38:02 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/how-to-avoid-the-danger-zone-when-grilling-this-summer/3265797/ |
New federal guidelines rolling back the starting age for mammogram screening and requiring providers to notify patients with dense breast tissue could help more women detect breast cancer earlier, but local experts say there's still work to be done.
In 2023, more than 6,240 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Arizona and more than 920 will die of the disease, the Susan G. Komen Foundation estimates.
Breast was the most common cancer diagnosed in 2019 in the state and in 2020, it was the fourth highest cause of cancer deaths in Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The Federal Drug Administration issued new standards in March that require mammogram providers nationwide to notify women if they have dense breast tissue and to recommend they talk to a doctor about the need for additional screening.
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Thirty-eight states — including Arizona — already required that providers give women information about breast density following a mammogram.
Earlier this month, on the heels of the new FDA standards, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation that the starting age for women to receive mammograms every other year move up from 50 to 40 years old. The task force is an independent panel of experts that reviews evidence of effectiveness and develops guidance for clinical preventive services.
While the changes are significant, local providers say they're far from perfect, and that annual mammograms are preferable.
'They all say annual'
The FDA guideline for the age to start screenings has been very controversial for a long time, said Dr. Nova Foster, a breast surgical oncologist with Banner-University Medical Center Tucson.
"Mammograms are really our best tool for early detection of breast cancer and for a long time, breast surgery and imaging organizations have been recommending that women of average risk should start at 40 and do them annually," Foster said.
But recommendations have differed from other organizations, most notably the Preventive Services Task Force, which issued a 2016 recommendation that women of average risk should start mammogram screenings at 50 and have them done every other year. This is the guideline that most primary care providers have used for the past eight years, Foster said.
"It's a really big deal that they have changed that start age from 50 to 40. That's going to allow us to catch so many more early breast cancers," Foster said. "But every other year is not something that the American Society of Breast Surgeons or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agree with. They all say annual."
Up to 20% of breast cancers occur in women between the ages of 40 and 50, Foster said, adding that cases can be significantly more advanced if they aren't diagnosed until they can be felt during an exam.
Foster said that the new guideline for start date will save many lives, but she still hopes the recommendation will move to annual screenings.
She encouraged all women to talk to their providers about their risk factors, including family history, and determine if every two years is appropriate or if they should be screened annually.
"If you have a mammogram done every two years, your interval rate of getting a breast cancer is much increased, as you would imagine," said Dr. Christopher Dillon, medical director at Northwest Women's Imaging.
Interval cancer rate refers to tumors diagnosed between mammograms.
"With dense breast tissue your interval rate is much higher than it would be if you had just fatty breast density," Dillon said, adding that the biennial recommendation "kind of flies in the face of that known fact."
Breast cancer is the No. 1 cause of death for women between the ages of 35 and 54 and one-sixth of the lives lost this year will be women between the ages of 40 and 49, Dillon said.
"That alone should tell us that we need to take care of these people, specifically make sure we do annual screening mammograms, because that is the best way to save lives," Dillon said.
Northwest, 6060 N. Fountain Plaza Drive, No. 100, offers a comprehensive breast program, so if a patient goes into the women's imaging center for a mammogram, they won't have to go anywhere else if they need treatment, unlike if they have their screening done at a standalone radiology center.
"Sometimes it is convenient to get your screening mammogram wherever you are ... but if you do have a choice, going to a dedicated women's imaging facility makes a huge difference," Dillon said. "You're more likely to get that continuity of care. You're going to see me at your screening exam, you're going to see me at your diagnostic, your biopsy, and I'll be the one to call you with your diagnosis."
Banner, 4291 N. Campbell Avenue, and Tucson Medical Center, 5301 E. Grant Road, also have on-site imaging centers.
Dillon said that between the ages of 25 to 30, a woman should have a first conversation with their primary care provider or OB/GYN about risk factors and if early or additional screening is appropriate.
"There are a lot of things we can control in terms of breast cancer and there are things we can't," Dillon said. "We can't control our breast density, we can't control our family history or genetics. Those are the discussions to have with your physician."
Dense tissue increases risk
Breast density and early screening go hand in hand, Dillon said, adding that a recent Dutch study showed annual mammogram screenings starting at age 40 can reduce the likelihood of fatal breast cancer by 40%.
But for women with dense breast tissue, that number drops to 16%, said Dillon. The most recent literature suggests women with dense breast tissue have between a 1.5 and two times higher risk of developing breast cancer, he said.
Breast density impacts the ability for mammograms to pick up breast cancer, since dense breasts appear whiter and most abnormalities and cancers also appear white. This means many breast cancers won't be caught by mammogram if a patient has dense breasts, Foster said.
"Fifty percent of women have dense breasts, especially young women, and for some women, additional screening measures might be appropriate," Foster said. "But what's recommended is not necessarily going to be covered by insurance, so this creates a conundrum."
Unlike for mammogram screening, there is no federal mandate requiring insurance companies to pay for additional screening methods, including MRI and ultrasound.
The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99% if caught early, but that rate goes down to 30% if it's caught in a later stage, Dillon said.
Making breast dense tissue notifications uniform across states will reduce confusion for patients, ensuring that if they move to another state, they'll continue to get the same level of care, Dillon said.
But the lack of guaranteed payment still means many women won't get the screening they need, he said.
State Rep. Alma Hernandez, a Democrat from Tucson, is co-sponsoring a bill that would provide coverage for women who need additional screening.
The Susan G. Komen foundation estimated that 16% of people who receive annual screening mammograms get called back for diagnostic imaging.
"Over 60% percent (of those women) will be told that everything is normal and benign, but we do need those additional views to know that they're normal and benign," Dillon said. "Right now, that cost can be pretty significant for women. It's an out-of-pocket cost or it goes on their deductible."
House Bill 2684 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for supplemental imaging when medically necessary. A study commissioned by Komen found the costs to patients range from $234 for a mammogram to more than $1,021 for a breast MRI.
The legislation could have an immediate impact on thousands of people who need diagnostic or supplemental breast imaging, but aren't able to afford to move forward with testing, according to a Komen news release.
Local woman's experience
One Northwest patient was alerted to her early stage breast cancer when she noticed bloody discharge coming from her nipple last year. She asked to remain anonymous, due to privacy concerns.
After visiting her doctor, she underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with Stage 0 noninvasive estrogen-related breast cancer. She had an MRI that came back clean and the growth was so minimal that she didn't require a lumpectomy, just a surgical scraping of the cancerous cells.
"They had to go in there to see it. It was basically just malignant cells," she said.
She had previously received regular mammogram screening that always came back negative and included a notification she had dense breast tissue, but the letter included no further guidance.
"If my nipple hadn't bled, I probably wouldn't have detected it," she said.
She said she's pleased with the federal guidance universalizing notification to patients who have dense breast tissue, but said she hopes there's some "unpacking" of what that means and doesn't mean, and about what the person should do next.
Both Foster and Dillon said they'd like to see the two guidelines fused and the recommendation change to ensure that women get the lifesaving screening they need.
"Hopefully, the draft will be amended with the task force and they will come in line with what the experts have been saying for decades and they will recommend annual screening mammography at age 40 with the national standards that every women who has dense breast tissue be made aware of that fact that they may need additional imaging," Dillon said. | https://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-doctors-mammograms-starting-at-age-40-likely-to-save-lives/article_4083e32a-f4db-11ed-8236-5b0a96bd4e55.html | 2023-05-26T15:38:03 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-doctors-mammograms-starting-at-age-40-likely-to-save-lives/article_4083e32a-f4db-11ed-8236-5b0a96bd4e55.html |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Republican politicians who take absolute positions on three issues — abortion, gun control and election denial — are turning off voters. This is the third of three opinion pieces, each exploring one issue that has made Republicans vulnerable.
Republicans are using last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade to step up their push for states to ban abortion.
The result has been significant blowback, starting with elections in 2022 and continuing into this year’s political conversations. That makes Republican political candidates vulnerable in coming elections, a conclusion based on:
A Washington Post-ABC News poll showed 78% of U.S. residents want abortion decisions left up to a woman and her doctor, while 18% said abortion should be regulated by law. A February Ipsos poll showed that even Republicans were in favor of legal abortions, 49% to 35%. The numbers were similar supporting abortions by the prescription drug Mifepristone.
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The result of an April 4 election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in which voters elected a liberal whose campaign included a promise to undo the state’s abortion ban. Her victory margin was 11 points.
Voters in conservative Kansas decided last August not to amend the state constitution to ban abortion. The margin was a landslide 18 points, 59% against amending to 41% in favor.
A November vote in conservative Kentucky to amend the state constitution to ban abortion resulted in a decisive 5-point margin, 52.5% to 47.5%, to turn it away.
Has the pro-life movement lost its mojo after gaining its biggest victory in a half-century with the overturning of Roe?
Is it because it is not a pro-life movement at all? As others have said, it’s a pro-fetus movement, with no regard for the child after birth and none for the lives of the mothers and would-be mothers seeking to make heart-wrenching, sometimes life-or-death decisions. Let’s not even start on the hypocrisy of pro-lifers being pro-death penalty.
All politicians — mostly men who would be outraged at any effort to restrict their bodily freedoms — should heed the well-established momentum of an increasing majority favoring a woman’s right to choose and control her body and her life.
As an aside, why are those men and all men who value individual freedom not speaking up for women’s rights and men’s responsibilities?
The constitutional and moral ground on which anti-abortionists stand has become quicksand, and many Republican politicians are standing on that ground. Their argument comes from the Supreme Court majority’s interpretation of the Constitution and what one researcher called deductive moral reasoning from the Bible.
The Constitution does not mention abortion, as Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. Alito, with smugness that only a person of privilege in a lifetime appointment could conjure, used that in deductively reasoning that abortion is not a right.
Apply deductive reasoning to look at the moral ground of the Bible, which is the singular source of anti-abortionists’ stance. The King James Bible has 783,137 words; not one of them is the word abortion. Using Alito’s reasoning, there is no biblical ground to ban abortion.
In his constitutional argument, Alito ignored the 14th Amendment, which confers individual rights on all and the constitutional provision that anyone born in the United States becomes a citizen — a person — at birth. Not at conception, not at six weeks in the womb or when a heartbeat can be detected. A person at birth.
Alito and like-minded colleagues on the court will not change their thinking on abortion regardless of the outcomes of last year’s, this year’s or future elections or polling.
Elected politicians who nominated and appointed them, however, better take into account past outcomes and scrutinize future ones, lest they find themselves with no ground — moral or otherwise — on which to stand.
Michael A. Chihak is a retired newsman.
He lives in Tucson. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-abortion-issue-republicans-downfall/article_0c796790-f345-11ed-819e-9307e0043d47.html | 2023-05-26T15:38:21 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-abortion-issue-republicans-downfall/article_0c796790-f345-11ed-819e-9307e0043d47.html |
GREENSBORO — Among the 13 recent graduates of the Greensboro Police Academy, minorities were the majority for the first time.
The Greensboro Police Department is nearly 70% white in a community that census data says is 39.5% white.
Lt. Kory Flowers, who oversees recruiting for the Greensboro Police Department, said he is encouraged to see such diverse representation among those dedicated to becoming the city's next officers.
Flowers said his team has embraced an "old-fashioned approach" to recruiting future officers in person, in addition to social media and advertising through bilingual publications and radio stations. Because of the success of this personal approach, the department is hosting recruiting events for the community at its police academy.
"We value those conversations," Flowers said. "It's the job everybody wants to do."
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Working in law enforcement, officials acknowledge, can be tough on good days, and even tougher without the community's trust and support. Meeting recruiters and talking with them in person, Flowers said, has encouraged dozens of interested candidates from diverse backgrounds to pursue the career.
Recruiters also travel to colleges and job fairs, Flowers said, where candidates often ask about quality of life, starting salaries, cost of living and taxes in North Carolina, housing and patrol schedules.
"We have the best patrol schedule in the United States," Flowers said. "You have four days on, four days off. That's a big draw."
That schedule, he said, allows officers to use that time for family, hobbies or an opportunity to earn supplemental income.
As for starting salaries, Chief John Thompson has told city officials that Greensboro needs to be competitive with other agencies in and around the Triad to help attract and retain officers.
With a shortage of 120 officers — out of an allocated 691 — Thompson received a recent commitment from City Council to direct staff to seek funding in its next budget cycle to raise starting salaries from $46,000 to $57,000.
“Compensation is recognition” of what officers do for the city and the community, Thompson said. “The $57,000 is to bring people to the organization. It lets them know we value the work you do.”
Among its applicants, the police academy will usually accept 25% to 35%, Flowers said. About half are from the Triad region, and the department receives a lot of interest from people in New York and New Jersey.
"We're casting a very wide net," Flowers said.
In April, the department held an open house at the academy, which prompted 25 applications overnight. That's in comparison to the 30 applications a month the department normally receives without a big recruitment push.
Flowers said the 113th academy class that graduated March 7 completed more than 900 hours of training and instruction in more than 40 different areas of study including interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and using technology to make communities safer.
As part of the recruits' communications training, they learn the principals of procedural justice and implicit bias. Procedural justice is a collaborative method of listening and talking that increases mutual understanding and trust among members of the public and police. “Understanding Implicit Bias” training examines the inherent biases present in all people.
Stephanie Mardis, captain of the Greensboro Police Department’s Professional Standards Division, said that it's important for a police department to reflect its community because "it inherently gains trust with people from all walks of life.”
That's crucial, Flowers said, as the department seeks to continue to recruit new officers who will represent and serve a diverse city in good and challenging times.
"We share our stories," Flowers said. "It's not a sales job. It's not a hard pitch. We're humans." | https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-police-academy-diversity/article_cf60bba2-fb31-11ed-9911-5757e8557f0c.html | 2023-05-26T15:42:12 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-police-academy-diversity/article_cf60bba2-fb31-11ed-9911-5757e8557f0c.html |
GREENSBORO — Improving academic performance is one of the classic, and toughest, challenges in education.
In North Carolina, one way for schools to do that is by applying for something called “restart status.” Under the restart model, schools with low performance on state tests and a plan to improve can apply to receive flexibilities similar to ones received by charter schools — such as calendar, class size, staffing and how money is spent.
Out of the 126 schools in Guilford County, 24 are “restart” schools.
And Guilford County Schools is no longer going to be using a separate, longer calendar for most restart schools next year as it had before. Instead, all the restart and traditional schools will follow the same 180-day calendar.
The idea had been to give restart students just a bit of extra instruction time by starting earlier in August than what’s normally allowed for schools. But Superintendent Whitney Oakley said some restart schools had attendance problems and she thinks the district may do better with fewer calendars to complicate things for families with children at different schools.
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That distinct calendar was one of the most noticeable markers of the restart schools. But not having a separate calendar doesn’t mean that the restart concept is going away.
Instead, Oakley said she and her staff are continuing a watch-and-wait approach with the existing restart schools. Since the 2021-22 school year, they’ve put a halt on adding any new restart schools. That’s despite the learning losses of the pandemic making more schools eligible to apply. On the other hand, she said, they haven’t dropped the model at any schools either.
The biggest thing they are trying to evaluate is how well a strategy called “Opportunity Culture” is working in improving academic performance at the restart schools. By paying extra to recruit effective teachers to lead and coach their peers, or take on additional students, the schools think they can make progress on recruiting and retaining great educators in the face of what they say is a shortage of experienced instructors.
The charter-like flexibility for staffing offered by the restart school model can free up some money for the positions, and to target specific grades and subject areas.
The idea for Opportunity Culture came from Public Impact, a Chapel-Hill based company whose leaders designed and created the strategy in 2009. The cornerstone of that strategy, and the part that Oakley thinks is likely doing the most good, is the multi-classroom leader position.
Multi-classroom leaders coach and take accountability for the teachers under them. They also do some direct teaching, either with their own class or in other teachers’ classrooms.
Schools also have the option to add “expanded-impact” teachers — educators who agree to instruct a larger number of students than what’s typically expected.
In 2019, the district announced that the first nine schools to try out Opportunity Culture saw student performance on key subjects improve. The schools that implemented Opportunity Culture in that first year improved more than the district as a whole in both reading and math at the fourth-, sixth- and seventh-grade levels. For third, fifth and eighth grades, the schools improved more than the district in one but not both subjects.
Oakley said over the past two years, the average restart elementary school increased overall state test scores by about 7.6 percentage points. In comparison, among the other “Title I” schools (which serve a high proportion of low-income students) the increase was only 5.6 percentage points.
However, the situation was reversed for middle schools. The average restart middle school increased by 2.5 percentage points, which was less than the 3.9 percentage point increase at the other Title I middle schools in the district.
None of these are exactly direct comparisons, but differences between the middle school and elementary school performances are fodder for district leaders to keep watching and analyzing before deciding what direction to take next.
Kelsey Gomez is a multi-classroom leader serving at Fairview Elementary School, a restart school in High Point. Gomez works with kindergarten through second grades, directly coaching and working alongside eight of the eleven teachers. That can take a variety of forms, with one example being splitting the class up into groups, with herself and a teacher each working with different students.
Gomez said that the big improvement for students is not from what she teaches them, but how working together in the classroom increases their teachers’ trust in her and willingness to listen to suggestions.
“I wish I’d had this as a teacher — someone to come in and build me up and help me fix the things I was doing wrong before they became bad habits instead of having to unlearn them years later,” she said. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/restart-schools-guilford-county-schools/article_742be286-fb07-11ed-a670-e7d1b9ac6b63.html | 2023-05-26T15:42:18 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/restart-schools-guilford-county-schools/article_742be286-fb07-11ed-a670-e7d1b9ac6b63.html |
BANGOR, Maine — An investigation is underway regarding an alleged "inappropriate relationship" between a Bangor High School staff member and a student.
School officials received reports of the alleged relationship Wednesday, Bangor School Department Superintendent James Tager said in a release Friday issued to the high school community.
Tager said following the reports, an investigation into the allegation was launched immediately, and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, as well as law enforcement, was notified of the reports for further investigation.
"At this stage, we are unable to provide specific details about the ongoing investigation or the individuals involved due to the legal and investigatory process that must take place outside of the school," Tager said Friday. "We are committed to respecting the privacy and rights of all parties involved while ensuring that the appropriate authorities handle this matter appropriately."
Tager added that student safety and wellbeing are a top priority, and students are encouraged to utilize student counseling, teacher, and staff resources if they need to talk to someone or have questions.
"As we move forward, we want to emphasize our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students," the release said. "We will continue to work diligently to ensure the well-being of our students remains our top priority."
No additional information regarding the allegations has been released. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/bangor/dhhs-investigating-alleged-relationship-between-bangor-high-school-staff-member-student-maine/97-72d2dcce-80bc-4e59-9a34-2a59b7ca658c | 2023-05-26T15:42:42 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/bangor/dhhs-investigating-alleged-relationship-between-bangor-high-school-staff-member-student-maine/97-72d2dcce-80bc-4e59-9a34-2a59b7ca658c |
FREEPORT, Maine — An explosion that rattled the town of Freeport on Friday morning has sent one person to the hospital with critical injuries.
The explosion involving a gas cylinder took place at D.A.B. Used Auto Sales Inc., a Freeport Police Department spokesperson told NEWS CENTER Maine.
One person was brought to Maine Medical Center with critical injuries. No other injuries were reported at the time.
A fire marshal was reportedly on the way to the scene as of 10:20 a.m., the spokesperson also said.
Schools in Freeport were operating as normal, RSU 5 Superintendent told NEWS CENTER Maine.
This story is developing and will be updated as information becomes available.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/freeport-dab-used-auto-sales-explosion/97-c47b6940-256d-4396-ba91-d7a5a846521f | 2023-05-26T15:42:49 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/freeport-dab-used-auto-sales-explosion/97-c47b6940-256d-4396-ba91-d7a5a846521f |
HARMONY, Maine — A man from Harmony who was reported missing has been located.
Deputies were searching for a missing Harmony man who was last seen early Thursday afternoon.
Dwaine "DJ" Wilcox, 36, was last seen walking away from 131 Athens Road in Harmony around 12:30 p.m., a Facebook post by the Somerset County Sheriff's Office said.
Members of the Maine Association for Search and Rescue and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs assisted in the search for DJ, the Maine Warden Service said.
More NEWS CENTER Maine stories | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/search-underway-for-missing-harmony-maine-man/97-524fe014-2712-4e94-bcf0-83fa0e49e768 | 2023-05-26T15:42:50 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/search-underway-for-missing-harmony-maine-man/97-524fe014-2712-4e94-bcf0-83fa0e49e768 |
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Video footage released Friday by Montgomery County Police shows a man armed with a box cutter robbing a Dunkin Donuts.
The armed robbery occurred May 18 in the 4300 block of Aspen Hill Road in Gaithersburg.
Surveillance shows the suspect walking into the Dunkin' with a tee shirt wrapped around his face.
He goes to the counter, pulls out a box cutter and allegedly demands money from the Dunkin' worker.
When the employee backs away, video shows the suspect leaping over the counter.
Police say he then pulled a large knife from his waistband and threatened the worker, before heading to the registers and taking off with the cash boxes.
Anyone able to identify the suspect in the video is asked to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
You could be eligible for a $10,000 reward. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/man-armed-with-box-cutter-caught-on-video-robbing-gaithersburg-dunkin-donuts | 2023-05-26T15:43:26 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/man-armed-with-box-cutter-caught-on-video-robbing-gaithersburg-dunkin-donuts |
DALLAS(KDAF)—A new study shows that these cities are great places to buy a home for a reasonable price.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, listed the best cities in the world for homebuyers with affordable prices, and Texas was no exception.
The showed places like Austin, Houston, and Dallas were ranked pretty low on the list when it came to affordability.
The cities surrounding Dallas were also ranked poorly. There are only two Texas cities ranked 200 or less: Fort Worth at #169 and San Antonio at 171.
Wallet Hub said, “In order to determine the most affordable cities for home buyers, WalletHub compared 300 U.S. cities across ten key metrics. The data set ranges from the costs of homes and their maintenance to tax rates and vacancy rates”.
If you want to see where your city ranked, visit the Wallet Hub website. | https://cw33.com/news/local/these-texas-cities-among-the-most-affordable-for-home-buyers-do-you-agree/ | 2023-05-26T15:52:26 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/these-texas-cities-among-the-most-affordable-for-home-buyers-do-you-agree/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Two volunteers with the American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee are on their way to help those impacted by a typhoon in Guam.
According to Red Cross Executive Director Heather Carbajal, volunteers Rachelle Burkert and Ron Summerhill have been deployed following Typhoon Mawar.
Burkert was on her way to Guam on Thursday, and Summerhill is deploying Friday afternoon.
Carbajal said both volunteers will spend 3-4 weeks “supporting the disaster response operation in logistics and disaster mental health.”
As of Thursday, Guam’s governor had granted an all-clear and reported no fatalities but minor injuries and significant damage. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/2-tri-cities-red-cross-volunteers-deploy-to-guam-after-typhoon/ | 2023-05-26T16:04:35 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/2-tri-cities-red-cross-volunteers-deploy-to-guam-after-typhoon/ |
Macomb Twp. woman, 54, fatally shot during dispute with brother
A 54-year-old Macomb Township woman is dead after her brother allegedly shot her Friday over a business dispute, police said.
Officers were called at about 9 a .m. to a location in the 6050 block of 19 Mile near Mound Road for a report of a shooting, according to authorities.
They arrived and found a woman with gunshot wounds. Medics were called and took the woman to a hospital where she was pronounced deceased, police said.
Investigators said the suspected shooter remained at the scene and is being questioned.
According to a preliminary investigation, the woman and her brother were in a dispute over a business. During the fight, both of them produced handguns and began shooting at each other. Officials said the woman was the only person who was injured.
Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about the incident to call the Sterling Heights Police Department's Detective Bureau at (586) 446-2825.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/05/26/sterling-heights-shooting-involving-siblings-friday-leaves-woman-54-dead/70260888007/ | 2023-05-26T16:05:45 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/05/26/sterling-heights-shooting-involving-siblings-friday-leaves-woman-54-dead/70260888007/ |
Southfield man, 22, accused of attacking father with hatchet charged
A 22-year-old Southfield man accused of attacking his father with a hatchet has been charged, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office said.
John Cornelius Darby IV was arraigned Wednesday in Southfield's 46th District Court on a charge of assault with intent to murder, a life felony, it said.
A judge set Darby's bond at $1 million and scheduled his next court date, a probable cause conference, for June 7.
Southfield police said Darby is accused of attacking his 51-year-old father with a hatchet Monday at a home in the 25000 block of Orchard Grove near Franklin and Telegraph roads.
Officers arrived at the home and found the victim, who was bleeding profusely from severe lacerations on his face and upper body. His assailant fled before they got there. They requested nearby law enforcement agencies keep an eye out for the man's son, who they suspected was the attacker.
State police arrested the suspect Monday night in the area of Grand River Avenue and West Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
On Friday, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office said the victim remains in critical condition but is expected to recover.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2023/05/26/southfield-man-22-accused-of-attacking-father-with-hatchet-charged/70260541007/ | 2023-05-26T16:05:51 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2023/05/26/southfield-man-22-accused-of-attacking-father-with-hatchet-charged/70260541007/ |
Bond lowered for gas station clerk charged with involuntary manslaughter in shooting
Bond for the gas station clerk charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a deadly shooting earlier this month has been lowered.
Al-Hassan Aiyash, 22, originally was arraigned with $200,000 bond, and he would have had to pay all of it to be released. His bond was lowered by 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King Thursday to $100,000, of which he will only have to pay 10% of to be released.
If he can pay that bond, he will be on house arrest with a GPS tether, the prosecutor's office said.
Aiyash locked customers inside of a Detroit gas station May 6 after Samuel McCray became upset that his credit card was declined for an approximately $4 purchase, prosecutors said. Inside was McCray and three other customers.
McCray became irate and began yelling at Aiyash to let him out. He threatened to shoot everyone in the gas station if Aiyash didn't let him leave, but Aiyash refused to open the door, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Anna Posigian said during Aiyash's arraignment.
The three customers inside begged and pleaded to be let out, Posigian said. Aiyash then unlocked the doors but did not tell the customers he had done so, prosecutors said. About 15 seconds later, McCray shot the three customers, injuring a 37-year-old man and a 60-year-old man and killing Gregory Kelly, 37.
Aiyash "caused the death of Gregory Kelly by committing a grossly negligent act by intentionally locking the door to the only available exit and preventing Mr. Kelly from escaping a dangerous situation where a customer was threatening to commit an act of violence," the Prosecutor's Office said.
McCray is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of felony firearm.
Aiyash's attorney, Jamil Khuja, asked 36th District Court Magistrate Malaika Ramsey-Heath for a personal recognizance bond because he said his client was not a danger to the community or a flight risk. He said prosecutors are trying to hold Aiyash responsible for a crime committed by someone else.
"When this happened, he's at work, he's by no means involving himself in any criminal activity. He's at work performing his job," Khuja said. "It's really not fair, while presumed innocent, to hold him in custody while (prosecutors) test out a legal theory that's never been done before. ... He was doing his job. Did he panic and act inappropriately in a way? Maybe, but that's the best they can argue here."
kberg@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/05/26/bond-lowered-for-gas-station-clerk-charged-with-manslaughter-detroit/70260446007/ | 2023-05-26T16:05:57 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/05/26/bond-lowered-for-gas-station-clerk-charged-with-manslaughter-detroit/70260446007/ |
BRIDGETON — Police are investigating a string of car burglaries on North Laurel Street.
Officers were called to the 400 block of North Laurel Street about 4:40 a.m. Friday. Several cars there had broken windows and appeared to have been searched for valuables, police said Friday in a news release.
Anyone with information can call police at 856-451-0033 or share tips at bpdops.com/tip/new. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bridgeton-police-investigating-rash-of-car-burglaries/article_808ed738-fbcd-11ed-907d-2373de94997c.html | 2023-05-26T16:08:02 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bridgeton-police-investigating-rash-of-car-burglaries/article_808ed738-fbcd-11ed-907d-2373de94997c.html |
An Egg Harbor City man on Thursday admitted leading a drug trafficking network, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.
Robert Strong, 32, pleaded guilty in front of Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr. to a charge of leader of a narcotics trafficking network in exchange for 15 years in prison, the Prosecutor's Office said Friday in a news release. Strong must serve half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Strong was one of 30 defendants charged in the network in 2021 following a four-year investigation.
His plea is contingent on all codefendants pleading guilty as well, the Prosecutor's Office said.
Strong was released from jail after pleading guilty. He will be subject to level three monitoring with home confinement pending his sentencing, the Prosecutor's Office said.
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Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28 but may be postponed depending on his codefendants, the Prosecutor's Office said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/egg-harbor-city-man-pleads-guilty-to-drug-trafficking/article_cc03e880-fbcc-11ed-9a8b-abf043cce728.html | 2023-05-26T16:08:09 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/egg-harbor-city-man-pleads-guilty-to-drug-trafficking/article_cc03e880-fbcc-11ed-9a8b-abf043cce728.html |
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — A township woman has been charged with 110 counts of animal cruelty after more than 50 animals were found in inhumane and unsanitary conditions in her home, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
Diane Haytas, 56, was arrested after a search of her home on East Moss Mill Road, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.
The animals did not have access to clean water or food, the Prosecutor's Office said. Several other animals were kept in cages inside a detached garage, while a number of dead birds were found lying on the floor of Haytas' home.
Authorities seized a total of 15 dogs, 12 rabbits, 15 birds, five guinea pigs, two ferrets and five cats. All of the animals were taken to a veterinarian to be evaluated and will be held pending the outcome of the court case, the Prosecutor's Office said.
People are also reading…
Galloway police and animal control and the Atlantic County Division of Public Health assisted during the investigation and search. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/galloway-woman-arrested-after-more-than-50-animals-found-in-unsanitary-conditions/article_6fd5a094-fbd1-11ed-8e69-2b51f0d8a525.html | 2023-05-26T16:08:15 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/galloway-woman-arrested-after-more-than-50-animals-found-in-unsanitary-conditions/article_6fd5a094-fbd1-11ed-8e69-2b51f0d8a525.html |
After years of legal and ethical scandals swirling around Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, the state's GOP-controlled House of Representatives has moved toward an impeachment vote that could quickly throw him from office.
The extraordinary and rarely used maneuver comes in the final days of the state's legislative session and sets up a bruising political fight. It pits Paxton, who has aligned himself closely with former President Donald Trump and the state's hard-right conservatives, against House Republican leadership, who appear to have suddenly had enough of the allegations of wrongdoing that have long dogged Texas' top lawyer.
Paxton has said the charges are based on "hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims."
Here is how the impeachment process works in Texas, and how the 60-year-old Republican came to face the prospect of becoming just the third official to be impeached in the state's nearly 200-year history:
KEN PAXTON
THE PROCESS
Under the Texas Constitution and law, impeaching a state official is similar to the process on the federal level: the action starts in the state House.
In this case, the five-member House General Investigating Committee voted unanimously Thursday to send 20 articles of impeachment to the full chamber. The next step is a vote by the 149-member House, where a simple majority is needed to approve the articles. Republicans control the chamber 85-64.
The House can call witnesses to testify, but the investigating committee already did that prior to recommending impeachment. The panel met for several hours Wednesday, listening to investigators deliver an extraordinary public airing of Paxton's years of scandal and alleged lawbreaking.
If the full House impeaches Paxton, everything shifts to the state Senate for a "trial" to decide whether to permanently remove Paxton from office, or acquit him. Removal requires a two-thirds majority vote.
A SUDDEN THREAT
But there is a major difference between Texas and the federal system: If the House votes to impeach, Paxton is immediately suspended from office until the outcome of the Senate trial. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott would appoint an interim replacement.
The GOP in Texas controls every branch of state government. Republican lawmakers and leaders alike have until this week taken a muted posture toward the myriad examples of Paxton's misconduct and alleged lawbreaking that emerged in legal filings and news reports over the years.
It's unclear when and why exactly that changed.
In February, Paxton agreed to settle a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former aides who accused him of corruption. The $3.3 million payout must be approved by the House and Republican Speaker Dade Phelan has said he doesn't think taxpayers should foot the bill.
Shortly after the settlement was reached, the House investigation into Paxton began.
REPUBLICAN ON REPUBLICAN
The five-member committee that mounted the investigation of Paxton is led by his fellow Republicans, contrasting America's most prominent recent examples of impeachment.
Trump's federal impeachments in 2020 and 2021 were driven by Democrats who had majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives. In both cases, the impeachment charges approved by the House failed in the Senate, where Republicans had enough votes to block the conviction.
In Texas, Republicans control both chambers by large majorities and the state's GOP leaders hold all levers of influence. That hasn't stopped Paxton from seeking to rally a partisan defense.
When the House investigation emerged Tuesday, Paxton suggested it was a political attack by Phelan. He called for the "liberal" speaker's resignation and accused him of being drunk during a marathon session last Friday.
Phelan's office brushed off the accusation as Paxton attempting to "save face." None of the state's other top Republicans have voiced support for Paxton since.
Paxton issued a statement Thursday, portraying the impeachment proceedings as an effort to disenfranchise the voters who elected him to a third term in November. He said that by moving against him "the RINOs in the Texas Legislature are now on the same side as Joe Biden."
THE MARRIAGE WRINKLE
But Paxton, who served five terms in the House and one in the Senate before becoming attorney general, is sure to still have allies in Austin.
One is his wife, Angela, a two-term state senator who could be in the awkward position of voting on her husband's political future. It's unclear whether she would or should participate in the Senate trial, where the 31 members make margins tight.
In a twist, Paxton's impeachment deals with an extramarital affair he acknowledged to members of his staff years earlier. The impeachment charges include bribery for one of Paxton's donors, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, allegedly employing the woman with whom he had the affair in exchange for legal help.
YEARS IN THE MAKING
The impeachment reaches back to 2015, when Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges for which he still has not stood trial. The lawmakers charged Paxton with making false statements to state securities regulators.
But most of the articles stem from Paxton's connections to Paul and a remarkable revolt by the attorney general's top deputies in 2020.
That fall, eight senior Paxton aides reported their boss to the FBI, accusing him of bribery and abusing his office to help Paul. Four of them later brought the whistleblower lawsuit. The report prompted a federal criminal investigation that in February was taken over by the U.S. Justice Department's Washington-based Public Integrity Section.
The impeachment charges cover myriad accusations related to Paxton's dealings with Paul. The allegations include attempts to interfere in foreclosure lawsuits and improperly issuing legal opinions to benefit Paul, and firing, harassing and interfering with staff who reported what was going on. The bribery charges stem from the affair, as well as Paul allegedly paying for expensive renovations to Paxton's Austin home.
The fracas took a toll on the Texas attorney general's office, long one of the primary legal challengers to Democratic administrations in the White House.
In the years since Paxton's staff went to the FBI, his agency has become unmoored by disarray behind the scenes, with seasoned lawyers quitting over practices they say aim to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent.
TEXAS HISTORY
Paxton was already likely to be noted in history books for his unprecedented request that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Biden's defeat of Trump in the 2020 presidential election. He may now make history in another way.
Only twice has the Texas House impeached a sitting official.
Gov. James "Pa" Ferguson was removed from office in 1917 for misapplication of public funds, embezzlement and the diversion of a special fund. State Judge O.P. Carrillo was forced out of office in 1975 for using public money and equipment for his own use and filing false financial statements.
Sign up for our Breaking Newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/why-does-texas-gop-controlled-house-want-to-impeach-republican-ag-ken-paxton/3265893/ | 2023-05-26T16:12:04 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/why-does-texas-gop-controlled-house-want-to-impeach-republican-ag-ken-paxton/3265893/ |
BLOOMINGTON — With summer just around the corner, Bloomington-Normal municipal pools are preparing to open the flood gates to families and individuals looking to swim, slide and lounge.
Fairview Family Aquatic Center, 801 N. Main St. in Normal, opens Saturday with regulars hours from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sept. 4.
"We do allow early access for pass holders at 11 a.m.," said Hanna Razo, aquatics supervisor for the Normal Parks and Recreation Department. "We also have senior and active military discounts for pool passes."
Holiday Pool, 800 S. McGregor St. in Bloomington, also opens Saturday. It's taking a similar route for season passholders, admitting them at 11 a.m., with regulars hours from noon to 6:30 p.m. each day.
Once school starts Aug. 16, Holiday Pool will be closed Monday through Thursday and open 4-7 p.m. on weekends.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are swimming lesson days, closing Fairview at 5:30 p.m. and Holiday at 4:30 p.m.
Holiday Pool also offers early morning lap swimming from 6-7:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from June 5 to Aug. 2, and 7-8:30 a.m. on Saturdays from June 10 to Aug. 5.
"We are always excited to see our regulars; they're like family to us," said Nicole Culbertson, aquatics and sports program manager for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. "We're also excited to see new people coming out to celebrate the summer and relax and unwind at the pool."
Anderson Aquatic Center, 100 S. Maple St. in Normal, will open June 3 with regular hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
With a dedicated "kiddie pool," Anderson will also offer toddler hours, opening from 9 to 10:45 a.m. for young children and their parents.
Anderson closes the main pools at 4:55 p.m. on weekdays for swim team practice. Then, when school resumes in August, the center closes in part because the center shares a parking lot with Chiddix Junior High.
"If somebody's interested in becoming a swim instructors, our Learn to Swim program is a really good training tool that we can use to help them learn how to teach the lessons," Razo said. "We are always looking for swim instructors and lifeguards."
Razo and Culbertson said much of their staff are high school and college students, who are in some ways the best advertisers to hire new staff.
"A lot of our employees recruit each other, so we have a lot of help there," Culbertson said. "We could always use a couple more swim instructors, but everything has been set since the beginning of May."
Bloomington's O'Neil Pool and Park are still closed this season after the construction project was delayed in April.
The project began in October 2020 when the Bloomington City Council accepted a $775,000 contract with Williams Architects out of Itasca to design a new aquatic center and other park features.
In March 2022, the council approved a contract with P.J. Hoerr Inc. for about $13.9 million for the park and project. Previous estimates for the work had come in at $11.7 million, so a budget amendment had to be approved with the contract.
On Monday, the council amended its agreement with P.J. Hoerr and setting the substantial completion date of the project from May 27 to Aug. 31, according to council documents.
"We don't really have any big updates," Culbertson said. "We're just telling the public to stay tuned and that we may have something coming up soon."
Bloomington season passes are available throughout the season for $31 at Holiday Pool, at www.bloomingtonparks.org or the city's "Hub" at the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Suite 103. Bloomington's discount on season passes at $26 ends Saturday.
Normal season passes are available throughout the season for $55 at the aquatic centers, at www.normalil.gov/1123/Aquatic-Centers or at the Parks and Recreation Office, 100 E. Phoenix Ave. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/bloomington-normal-pools-diving-into-summer-this-weekend/article_572bd57a-f99e-11ed-8840-4f096665adea.html | 2023-05-26T16:13:38 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/bloomington-normal-pools-diving-into-summer-this-weekend/article_572bd57a-f99e-11ed-8840-4f096665adea.html |
NEWTON — UNI ADVANCE IOWA recently announced the launch of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership, a groundbreaking initiative aimed to support and promote employee ownership in the state of Iowa.
By fostering a collaboration with public and private sectors, IA-CEO serves as a hub for resources, education and guidance for businesses looking to explore employee ownership models. A news release from the University of Northern Iowa said it will build economic resiliency to keep communities thriving to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg was on hand to announce the launch during the Employee Ownership Conference hosted by ADVANCE IOWA at the Des Moines Area Community College campus in Newton on May 11. The event brought together business leaders, experts and professionals to explore the benefits and potential of employee ownership.
The conference marked a significant milestone in the advancement of employee ownership in Iowa.
“We are proud to support the Employee Ownership Conference and the establishment of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership,” Paul Kinghorn, director of ADVANCE IOWA, said in the release. “Employee ownership has a transformative effect on businesses, propelling innovation, fostering a sense of shared purpose and improving long-term sustainability. This conference exemplifies our commitment to assisting Iowa businesses to unlock their full potential to drive the Iowa economy forward.”
Principal was the title sponsor of the Employee Ownership Conference. IA-CEO will be located at UNI Business & Community Services, 8120 Jennings Drive, Suite 128 in Cedar Falls.
For more information on employee ownership and its benefits, contact ADVANCE IOWA online at advanceiowa.com.
Photos: University of Northern Iowa Friday Commencement | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/uni-launches-the-iowa-center-for-employee-ownership/article_43454300-fb53-11ed-8ed3-3b0756307cd4.html | 2023-05-26T16:15:36 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/uni-launches-the-iowa-center-for-employee-ownership/article_43454300-fb53-11ed-8ed3-3b0756307cd4.html |
McKinnie Avenue between Smith Street and Bowser Avenue will have lane restrictions Monday, according to the Fort Wayne Traffic Engineering Department.
A utility crew will be working in the area and should finish Wednesday.
For more information, call 260-427-6155 or visit www.trecthefort.org. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/mckinnie-avenue-lane-restrictions/article_10af1db0-fbcd-11ed-9b35-1b199b7ce487.html | 2023-05-26T16:22:14 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/mckinnie-avenue-lane-restrictions/article_10af1db0-fbcd-11ed-9b35-1b199b7ce487.html |
SAN ANTONIO — An AMBER Alert was issued for two young children out of San Antonio.
The children, identified as 2-year-old Zylah Faulks and 9-year-old Kamil Brown-Sykes, were last seen in the 3200 block of Bolmore Drive around 4:50 p.m. on Thursday, which is on the southeast side.
Faulks has brown eyes and black hair and weighs around 30 pounds. Brown-Sykes has brown eyes and black hair and is 3'9".
The suspect has been identified as Julio Najar-Trevino. He is 29-years-old with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is 6-feet tall and was last seen in a 2008 grey Saturn Aura. The license number is SWS6018.
Anyone with information is asked to call (210) 207-7660. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-issued-for-two-young-children-last-seen-in-san-antonio/273-ab162389-7e7e-4ca7-a8c1-ba75fe467277 | 2023-05-26T16:22:14 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-issued-for-two-young-children-last-seen-in-san-antonio/273-ab162389-7e7e-4ca7-a8c1-ba75fe467277 |
Notestine Road between Page and Graber roads will be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. June 7 during railroad-crossing repair, the Allen County Highway Department said today.
Notestine Road section closing during rail-crossing work
- The Journal Gazette | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/notestine-road-section-closing-during-rail-crossing-work/article_0ee4c6be-fbd3-11ed-9f1c-3f4e0883996c.html | 2023-05-26T16:22:20 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/notestine-road-section-closing-during-rail-crossing-work/article_0ee4c6be-fbd3-11ed-9f1c-3f4e0883996c.html |
NOLAN COUNTY, Texas — A 29-year-old Hereford man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning on US Hwy 84 in Nolan County.
A Texas Department of Public safety report says Jason Jesus Soto was traveling west at the 438 milepost of US-84. Soto was driving his pickup truck too fast and because of weather and road conditions, lost control of the truck.
The truck traveled off the roadway and into the center median into a side skid, then overturned, the report says.
Soto, who was the only occupant of the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/hereford-man-dies-in-single-vehicle-crash-in-nolan-county/504-9077752b-e565-4be3-a97e-5b2753eef926 | 2023-05-26T16:22:20 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/hereford-man-dies-in-single-vehicle-crash-in-nolan-county/504-9077752b-e565-4be3-a97e-5b2753eef926 |
Wayne Street between Calhoun and Clinton streets will be closed Saturday, according to the Fort Wayne Traffic Engineering Department.
A crane crew will be working in the area and should finish the same day.
For more information, call 260-427-6155 or visit www.trecthefort.org. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/wayne-street-closure/article_a2aab560-fbcf-11ed-96f3-bbfc9ffe835a.html | 2023-05-26T16:22:26 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/wayne-street-closure/article_a2aab560-fbcf-11ed-96f3-bbfc9ffe835a.html |
FISHER COUNTY, Texas — A 15-year-old died Thursday evening when his motorcycle crashed into a semi-truck in Fisher County.
According to a preliminary crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the teen was riding a motorcycle east on US 180 approaching the intersection of Ammons Street. He tried to make a right turn onto Ammons.
The semi-truck was traveling east on the highway in the area of Ammons, according to DPS. The teen was not able to control the motorcycle, crossed the center of the roadway and hit the towed trailer of the semi.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi was treated for non-incapacitating injuries at Fisher County Hospital and released. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/teen-motorcycle-rider-killed-in-collision-with-semi-truck/504-ba95bdaf-ee69-4aab-ba32-2206014ddf3b | 2023-05-26T16:22:26 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/teen-motorcycle-rider-killed-in-collision-with-semi-truck/504-ba95bdaf-ee69-4aab-ba32-2206014ddf3b |
Lakewood Ranch grad, LSU women's basketball star LaDazhia Williams to speak at Sarasota event
SARASOTA — Tuesday night, the Community Day School in Sarasota will have a championship look.
Former Lakewood Ranch girls basketball star LaDazhia Williams, who won a national title last season as a member of the LSU Tigers, will headline a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Day School, 4335 Wilkinson Road.
Williams, selected in 2017 by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune at the Class 7A Player of the Year, finished as the all-time Mustang leader in scoring and rebounding.
Women's basketball:Six things to know about Lakewood Ranch High grad, LSU forward LaDazhia Williams
National champions:VIN'S PEOPLE: Lakewood Ranch HS alum helps lead LSU to 2023 NCAA women’s basketball title
After spending her first season at South Carolina, the 6-foot-4 Williams transferred to the University of Missouri for three seasons, before moving on to LSU for her graduate transfer year. After averaging 10 points and six rebounds a game for the Tigers during the regular season, Williams netted 20, on 9-of-16 shooting, in LSU’s 102-85 title victory over Iowa, the first women’s basketball title in school history.
Tuesday night, Williams, who on Friday visited the White House with her LSU teammates, will speak before taking questions from those in attendance. The cost to attend is $10, all the proceeds going to Williams, who has signed to play for the Hapoel Petah Tikva women’s club in the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League. Those attending the meet and greet are encouraged to bring their cameras and items for Williams to sign.
Sponsoring the event is Gianna Vastola, creator of the G League youth basketball league in Sarasota. When given the opportunity to sponsor the event, the former Riverview Ram forward jumped.
“I’ve never met her,” Vastola said, “but I was really excited for the opportunity to get behind this and support a meet and greet with her.
“Our goals are to acknowledge her as a female athlete and to celebrate her success.” | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/26/lsu-womens-basketball-star-lakewood-ranch-graduate-ladazhia-williams-to-speak-in-sarasota-florida/70260512007/ | 2023-05-26T16:25:14 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/26/lsu-womens-basketball-star-lakewood-ranch-graduate-ladazhia-williams-to-speak-in-sarasota-florida/70260512007/ |
Smoke could be seen for miles and Philadelphia officials warned residents to keep windows closed after a junkyard fire broke out near 61st Street and West Passyunk Avenue in the Southwest section of the city.
SkyForce10 was over the scene of the fire, with a heavy response visible from the Philadelphia Fire Department.
The city sent the following text message to residents shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Friday: "Firefighters responding to junkyard fire at 61st & Passyunk. Smoke is visible. Close windows and avoid the area due to first responders."
The city's Department of Health added that no specific hazardous substances had been detected, but that out of an abundance of caution, they were sending investigators to take air samples.
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"Residents in the area should take precautions to avoid unnecessary exposure to smoke," officials said.
This is a breaking story. More updates will be provided as available. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/junkyard-fire-erupts-in-southwest-philadelphia-residents-warned-to-close-windows/3574215/ | 2023-05-26T16:26:51 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/junkyard-fire-erupts-in-southwest-philadelphia-residents-warned-to-close-windows/3574215/ |
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B&R Stores, the Lincoln-based supermarket chain, has announced another acquisition.
The company said Friday that it has agreed to buy Mason's Market in Minden. Terms of the deal, which is scheduled to be finalized on June 19, were not disclosed.
The store has been a fixture in Minden since the 1950s, when it was opened by Tom and Edda Mason. Craig Space assumed ownership of the store in 1984 and his son Riley has operated it since 2011.
"I would like to thank the community for shopping with my family for many years and thank the employees for their loyal service," Craig Space said in a news release. "The support we have received has been truly remarkable."
B&R Stores President Mark Griffin said the store will continue to operate as Mason's Market, and, "We look forward to working with the current employees of the store," he said.
"We are proud to have the opportunity to serve the customers of Minden and endeavor ourselves to uphold the same high standards established by Riley and his family," Griffin said.
The purchase is B&R Stores' second in as many months. Last month, the company agreed to buy Joe's Market in Loup City.
The acquisitions add to B&R Stores' growing portfolio of small-town grocery stores. The company that owns Russ's Market and Super Saver has bought more than a dozen locations in small towns in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri since 2017.
Juveniles pulled from detention center; Nebraskans expected to hit the road; questions remain for Hoiberg’s team.
12 Nebraska shops to check out
Suite Child
Suite Child at 2304 Central Ave. in downtown Kearney has the latest baby and toddler fashions as well as helpful products for families with new babies. There is also a store in Elkhorn.
Mike Konz, Kearney Hub
York Boot 'N Repair
Tammy and Randy Obermier own York Boot 'N Repair on the east side of the town square for 100 years. The business is a full-service leather repair store that also builds custom orthotics and sells boots and shoes.
Melanie Wilkinson, News-Times
Platte River Outdoors
Platte River Outdoors in Loup City sells a variety of hunting, fishing and archery gear and accessories. The store is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grace McDonald, Kearney Hub
Marah's Treasures
Marah's Treasures is at 304 Broadway St. in Taylor in Loup County. The shop carries gift items and fragrances, plus life-sized plywood figures made to order, and is open Thursday and Friday afternoons.
Marah's Treasures Facebook page
The Most Unlikely Place
The Most Unlikely Place, 205 Main St. in Lewellen, is just a short drive from Lake McConaughy and is open Wednesday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It closes for the season from mid-November to mid-March.
The combination bistro/gallery serves breakfast and lunch as well as offering a wide variety of fine art. Sculptures, jewelry, paintings and more are available.
VICTORIA AYOTTE BROWN, Journal Star
Fort Cody Trading Post
The Fort Cody Trading Post, 221 Halligan Drive in North Platte, has a variety of merchandise. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. "We have one of the best selection of western books anywhere, handmade Native American jewelry and arts, T-shirts, toys, Minnetonka Moccasins, retro soda pop, candy, hot sauces, cook books, Nebraska-made items and food, stuffed animals, souvenirs, cards and much, much more," the store's Facebook page boasts.
Nebraska Tourism
Hollywood Candy
Hollywood Candy is in Omaha's Old Market at 1209 Jackson St. The store specializes in "hard-to-find retro and nostalgic candies of the past" and has modern-era candy as well. It has a large collection of PEZ dispensers and retro toys and novelties.
Rick Neibel/Nebraska Tourism
Brown Sheep Co. Mill Store
The Brown Sheep Co. Mill Store, located at 100662 County Road 16 in Mitchell, is attached to the mill and sells the company's yarn "seconds" and other crocheting/knitting supplies. The company's yarn is known and sold worldwide. One benefit of the mill store is "seeing all the wonderful handpaints that our handpainter tries out when developing new color ways. Because these hanks are one of a kind and generally not reproduced, they are not offered to our retail customers for purchase," according to the company's website.
Nebraska Tourism
Master's Hand Candle Co.
Master's Hand Candle Co. in Tekamah, 3599 County Road F, has more than candles -- delectable chocolates, flowers, home decor, shopping, gifts, jewelry, purses and diva wear. The shop's website declares it "every woman's dream store." The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Nebraska Tourism
North Platte Art And Gift Gallery
The North Platte Art and Gift Gallery, 516 N. Dewey, is open Tuesday through Saturday and has local contemporary art in a variety of mediums. The enterprise began in 1987 when a group of local artists rented a vintage downtown storefront. One of the five galleries hosts monthly competitive art shows.
Rick Neibel/Nebraska Tourism
Park Avenue Antiques
Park Avenue Antiques, 515 N. Park Ave. in Fremont, has furniture, dishes, linens, home decor and books, as well as a multitude of signs. The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Emilie Bouvier/Nebraska Tourism
The Keeping Room
Its website describes The Keeping Room as "a fusion of stylish antiques, unique holiday and home decor, unique fashion, food and drink and a friendly atmosphere." The Nebraska City store is at 717 Central Ave. and is open Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 10-7 and Sunday 1-4 p.m.
Rick Neibel/Nebraska Tourism
Marshall Custom Hats
Marshall Custom Hats, 214 Staples St., in Arthur features handmade hats made by James Marshall. “It’s amazing that about 42 percent of my customers are repeat customers," Marshall told Tri-State Livestock News last year. "Once I get them in once, they’re usually back for another one."
Nebraska Tourism
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
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Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/lincolns-b-r-stores-acquiring-another-nebraska-grocery-store/article_037dfe6c-fbce-11ed-9c68-b7f178bcbc7b.html | 2023-05-26T16:33:07 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/lincolns-b-r-stores-acquiring-another-nebraska-grocery-store/article_037dfe6c-fbce-11ed-9c68-b7f178bcbc7b.html |
ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke Fire-EMS and the Roanoke City Police Department are searching for answers after two house fires early Friday morning.
We’re told one happened in the 800 block of Rorer Ave SW and the other in the 30th block of 14th St SW.
Crews were able to quickly bring the two fires under control and both incidents are currently being investigated by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call either the Fire Marshal’s Office Tip Line at 540-853-2406 or the Roanoke Police Department at 540-344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text RPD at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it is properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/26/roanoke-fire-ems-seeking-public-help-in-finding-more-info-on-two-house-fires/ | 2023-05-26T16:34:24 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/26/roanoke-fire-ems-seeking-public-help-in-finding-more-info-on-two-house-fires/ |
CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – An Evington woman was arrested after authorities seized narcotics and cash during a traffic stop in Campbell County Thursday, according to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said it happened in the 7300 Block of Wards Road near Goldy’s Truck Stop.
The sheriff’s office said 50 packets of Fentanyl and $1,653 in cash were seized after a search of the vehicle.
After a brief investigation, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators and a Campbell County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit arrested 30-year-old Tawny Desirae Larlee of Evington, authorities said.
Larlee was charged with Possession of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance with intent to distribute.
Authorities said she is currently being held without bond at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/26/woman-arrested-after-campbell-county-authorities-seize-fentanyl-more-than-1k-in-cash-during-traffic-stop/ | 2023-05-26T16:34:30 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/26/woman-arrested-after-campbell-county-authorities-seize-fentanyl-more-than-1k-in-cash-during-traffic-stop/ |
BAKER COUNTY, Ore. — A man who apparently walked away from his campsite the night of May 19 near Farewell Bend southeast of Huntington, Oregon, was found dead Thursday, the Baker County Sheriff's Office said Friday morning.
An Idaho Power employee called Baker County dispatch just before 3 p.m. Thursday to report seeing a body in the water near Steck Park, which is located along the Snake River in Weiser, just downstream from Farewell Bend. Deputies from Baker County and Malheur County who were patrolling the waterway went to the area and confirmed that the body was that of Lan Hung Nguyen, a 40-year-old man from Vancouver, Washington.
The deputies had been patrolling the river near Huntington as part of the search for Nguyen, who hadn't been seen since about 10 p.m. on May 19. After friends called the sheriff's office early the morning of May 20, Baker County Sheriff's Office personnel and Search and Rescue volunteers, along with the man's family and friends, began a thorough ground search on the hillside and shoreline around the campsite, and had boats on the Snake River looking for him, too. Someone found Nguyen's shoes just above the shoreline near the campsite, but searchers were not able to locate Nguyen.
In a news release Friday morning, the Baker County Sheriff's Office said Sheriff Travis Ash "offers his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Nguyen during this tragic time."
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/eastern-oregon/washington-man-body-found-snake-river-near-steck-park-weiser-idaho-baker-county-oregon/277-abec51d1-95e0-4e55-8fb4-c7ba8e2143b1 | 2023-05-26T16:42:55 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/eastern-oregon/washington-man-body-found-snake-river-near-steck-park-weiser-idaho-baker-county-oregon/277-abec51d1-95e0-4e55-8fb4-c7ba8e2143b1 |
VANCOUVER, Wash. — For athletes at the high school level, the ultimate goal is to make the state tournament their respective sport. If they're good enough, they'll be crowned state champion at the end.
That's what Columbia River High School seniors Alex Harris and Cole Benner, both 18, hope to do at the end of WIAA 2A state tournament on May 26 and 27. Columbia River High is in the Vancouver Public School District.
Harris and Benner are doubles partners in tennis and they're best friends, too. The pair picked up their rackets during their junior year. They said they had narrowed down their choice between tennis and golf, and chose a racquet over a club.
"That was just completely for fun. We didn't even expect anything. We didn't know what we would make varsity," Harris said.
Benner said he briefly took lessons as a small child, but hadn't played tennis in over a decade.
"I think it helped a little bit to have the fundamentals down beforehand, but I think a lot of it had to come with just being able to get to the balls and having the soccer speed that I had already had to be able to get to everything that landed on the court," he said.
Harris and Benner are headed to the state tournament as doubles partners, but their last match was in October at Districts. That's because at Columbia River High School (CRHS), tennis is listed as a fall sport. Both CRHS and the 2A Greater St. Helens League chose to have tennis as a fall sport, instead of a spring sport. The state's governing body at WIAA, however, lists tennis as a spring sport.
Columbia River said a lack of courts available would make it hard to share court space with the girl's team and not make cuts. The state's tennis tournament takes place in the spring for both girls and boys.
"That happened a long time ago, but I mean, it's always been on my mind since then," Benner said.
Harris and Benner are also on the Columbia River boy's soccer team, a sport unlike tennis that they've been playing most of their life.
"I've been playing soccer for a long time. I've been playing it every year since I was probably around 4," Benner said.
Harris added, "I've been playing soccer since I can remember."
Boy's soccer is a spring sport at both the high school and state.
The Columbia River boy's soccer team is ranked number 1 in the state at the 2A level and is in the final four at the state's tournament.
Now they find themselves in a bit of an unique situation: two different tournaments for two different sports, and in two different locations.
"We were both wondering how it was going to work with soccer and playing both," Harris said.
The tennis tournament starts Friday morning, May 26, at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the University of Washington Campus in Seattle. The soccer tournament starts at 7 p.m. at the Renton Memorial Stadium in Renton, about a 17-mile distance between the two.
"It's been something that we've been able to look forward to, but dreading this moment now where we're maybe going to have to make a choice between the two sports," Benner said.
If the pair win or lost their first double's match, the fear is that their second match could cut it close to when they need to leave to make their soccer game. According to the state's tournament schedule, the times for each match have not been listed yet, as of Friday morning.
If they lose both matches on Friday, they are out of the tournament and won't play Saturday. But if they win at least one of the games on Friday, they will play again in tennis on Saturday, creating a conflict with a second soccer game.
"The biggest fear is if we lose the soccer game, and then tennis would get in the way of that 1 o'clock game (on Saturday)," Benner said.
It's a situation that's pretty rare, although not unheard of. CRHS Athletic Director Jen Johnson said she ran into the same situation when she was a coach at Columbia River and had two of her soccer players make it to two different tournaments, too, in the same season.
In the fall, Harris plans to attend Cornell University and will continue to play soccer. Benner plans to attend the Colorado School of Mines and study Environmental Engineering. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/vancouver-high-school-athletes-compete-washington-state-tournament/283-22e7fb06-02ca-4e45-8606-702335789678 | 2023-05-26T16:43:01 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/vancouver-high-school-athletes-compete-washington-state-tournament/283-22e7fb06-02ca-4e45-8606-702335789678 |
Friends, detectives and a small-town journalist keep the 1996 case of Sheila Kearns' killing alive
Sheila Kearns loved her job at Mount Rainier National Park. In 1996, she went missing and seven months later, her scattered remains were found in the park.
In 1996, Sheila Kearns was reported missing and seven months later, her remains were found scattered in Mount Rainier National Park.
Kearns was 43 years old at the time of her disappearance and worked at the Paradise Inn located inside the park.
Her coworkers remembered her as beautiful, kind and "incredibly careful."
What happened to Sheila Kearns? Sheila Kearns' remains were found seven months after she went missing
According to her coworkers, Sheila Kearns arrived at the Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park in August of 1996.
Paradise Inn closed for the season on Oct. 1, 1996. All the employees, including Kearns, gathered for a farewell party a few days later.
Then, on Oct. 4, Sheila Kearns went missing. It wasn't until May of 1997, that her remains were located in an area near the housing that she was moving into.
Her remains were initially found at the community building on the old Longmire campground. They were found by a volunteer who was setting up a navigation course for park rangers early in the season.
Her remains were scattered around a 300-yard area.
Dixie Walter's reporting Dixie Walter was a reporter for a small newspaper in Eatonville whose reporting kept Sheila's story alive
When the Unsolved Northwest team started to research this story, we didn’t find very much information on the case. However, over the years, there was one person who kept digging for details. Dixie Walter was a reporter for a small newspaper in Eatonville. She recorded and kept every interview she did, including those with Sheila’s mother Olive and her former coworker Jules Hayden.
Here is a transcription of the phone call between Walter and Sheila Kearns' mother Olive:
Olive: I don’t really care now about them finding who did it. I know I shouldn’t feel like that. But, it’s just…
Dixie: You just want to put her to rest.
Olive: Yeah, I do. I do. I just don’t feel like…you know, I just can’t…maybe I’ll face up to it better if I just put her to rest, you know? Or, maybe I’m just not feeling good inside. Kind of down?
Dixie: Well, it must be…I mean, I can only imagine and I can’t really be in your shoes, but I can only imagine how awful this must be for you.
Walter also kept a recording of a conversation she had with Jules Hayden. A transcription of the recording can be read below:
Jules: It’s too many questions.
Dixie: Well, that’s it. There are too many questions and they all have to be answered at some point
Jules: If there is an answer.
Dixie: There’s got to be.
Jules: There has to be.
Dixie: There’s got to be. There’s an answer to every mystery.
Hayden told the Unsolved Northwest team that she and Walter often spent time just pondering the case and analyzing every possible suspect.
"We would sit there and ponder that back and forth back and forth. I'm going, no It couldn't be him," Hayden said. "No, but you never know. Never know."
While the Kearns case went cold, Walter’s reporting has revived her story. Kearns’ friends are now seeking answers and closure, while the FBI says, more than anything, they are seeking anyone who will speak up.
"The amount of research and the amount of hours that she spent making phone calls, interviewing people trying to connect loose ends together," Hill said.
"She was the one who was keeping the story alive," said Alexa Martin, Kearns' former coworker said.
Theories on what or who killed her Detectives have multiple theories surrounding Kearns' disappearance
The FBI has multiple working theories about how Sheila was killed.
"Two include that maybe she was attacked by a mountain lion or you know, some critter while she was out for a walk," said Terry Postma, FBI special agent. "There's also the theory that she was abducted and killed."
Detectives did not collect enough evidence to support either of those stories.
When Kearns went missing, the FBI looked at a number of people as possible suspects, including some of the people we spoke with for this story. Investigators cleared everyone they interviewed.
"Just because a person was cleared in an investigation a number of years ago, doesn't mean that new information might come to light, which makes them a subject or suspect again," Postma said.
Kearns' coworkers believe some important details could be found by looking at her past.
“I remember Sheila, as somebody who was incredibly spiritual, very soft-spoken, very introspective,” Hill said. “She also was incredibly careful. And always on edge that something or something from her past was coming to catch up with her.”
Martin echoed that statement saying she remembered feeling like Kearns was, "trying to start clean and fresh."
Hayden knew a bit about her old friend's past. She knew she was in the Peace Corps and was married at one point. After paying her husband's way through medical school, he left.
"That's to me is what she's just starting over lady a woman in her 40s," Hayden said. "Just starting over."
It's details like that, which some may think are too small, that detectives urge those who knew Kearns to report.
“I feel like just even one tip like, if the story reaches one person who calls the FBI, that could be the missing piece that would, you know, solve the case and bring Sheila and her family, you know, justice and closure,” Hill said.
Remembering Sheila Kearns People who knew Kearns are left with the memory of a kind, caring and enthusiastic person who is dearly missed.
Kearns worked the front desk at the inn and is remembered as always being kind to guests and her coworkers.
"She always would say hi to me, and we would talk and she just had this infectious smile about her," Hayden said. "She just glowed, really a nice person, really nice person."
"You definitely got the sense that she loved being up at the park and at Rainier," Martin said.
However, the park doesn't hold the same magic as it once did for her former coworkers.
"It's just a sinister type of aura around what had happened to her," Jules said. "And it made you wonder like, you know, is there somebody out there?"
Martin said what happened to her old friend changed the way she lives her life, even when she tried to prevent it. She returned to the campground for the first time this year, after over two decades.
"I didn't want that fear to limit how I lived my life," Alexa said. "And simultaneously it did limit how I lived my life. Even to this day, when I look at Mount Rainier, it's a haunted place for me because of that, because of what happened to her."
Do you want to hear more about Unsolved Northwest? Text the word UNSOLVED to (206) 448-4545 to get messages from the team about the latest cases and updates on past stories, or to send them your questions. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/1996-case-sheila-kearns-killing/281-429dd7d6-b8f0-40d0-85be-872538d7c02a | 2023-05-26T16:43:07 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/1996-case-sheila-kearns-killing/281-429dd7d6-b8f0-40d0-85be-872538d7c02a |
KING COUNTY, Wash. — The man convicted of killing a 16-year-old girl in 1991 was sentenced to 45 years and 8 months on Thursday morning.
Patrick Leon Nicholas was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the killing of Sarah Yarborough. He was also found guilty of committing the crimes with sexual motivation.
Nicholas is also not permitted to have any contact with members of the Yarborough family or friends.
Before the sentence was announced, members of Yarborough's family testified before the court about the impact of her murder.
"When we lost her, our family was irrevocably changed," said Yarborough's mother, Lori.
Sarah Yarborough was found dead at Federal Way High School school on Dec. 14, 1991, around 9:20 a.m.
Yarborough was last seen leaving her home to go to her high school, en route to a drill team competition. Her car was parked in the school parking lot.
Her body was discovered by two boys – a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old – who took a shortcut through bushes at the school. The boys and another jogger who was near the scene at the time of the murder were able to help investigators create a composite sketch of the suspect.
The sketch led to over 4,000 tips, but officers were unsuccessful in making an arrest.
Then there was a break in the case when a forensic genealogy company contracted by the King County Sheriff's Office called with a lead on a person of interest named Patrick Nicholas who lived in King County, court documents said.
Detectives started surveilling Nicholas outside a strip mall in Kent. Nicholas smoked a few cigarettes and tossed the butts on the ground along with a napkin. Detectives later collected those items, which became crucial pieces of evidence, according to court documents.
The King County Sheriff's Office sent the cigarette butts and napkin to the state crime lab, which confirmed the DNA matched samples collected from Yarborough's clothing at the crime scene in 1991.
In 2019, 28 years after Yarborough's murder, an arrest was made in the case. Nicholas, who was 55 at the time of his arrest and 27 when he killed Yarborough, was arrested at a bar in Kent. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/patrick-leon-nicholas-sarah-yarborough-murder-sentenced/281-4c4e68c0-5070-4db4-bed3-57a9b587890e | 2023-05-26T16:43:13 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/patrick-leon-nicholas-sarah-yarborough-murder-sentenced/281-4c4e68c0-5070-4db4-bed3-57a9b587890e |
SEATTLE — Prosecutors and judges across the state are preparing for the state’s new drug possession law to go into effect on July 1.
That includes Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison. She along with Councilmembers Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen are proposing legislation that would change the city’s code and bring Seattle in compliance with state law. The proposal will also give Davison the authority to prosecute drug possession and public drug use cases.
“I am the misdemeanor prosecutor for the City of Seattle. That's why the voters put me here,” Davison said.
“If it doesn’t happen, then it will essentially legalize drug use in the City of Seattle and that’s not what I think most people are wanting to see,” Davison said.
According to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, there were 589 overdose deaths in Seattle in 2022, up 72% from 2021.
“It also is really important to see that this is where we can meaningfully intervene with people and make sure that we are getting people into treatment and recovery. That is the goal of everything we're doing in this space,” Davison said.
That’s the goal of the state too. The new state drug possession law creates a system for pre-trial diversion programs meant to keep people out of jail and in treatment.
Davison said the city has programs already available and is looking into expanding.
Prosecutors have the final say on who goes into the diversion programs, but according to the law, prosecutors are strongly encouraged to.
“I think we’re pretty well equipped to handle an influx of cases,” said Judge Jeffrey Smith, president-elect for Washington District and Municipal Court Judges Association.
Smith said there are 60 therapeutic courts already in place and vary with some focusing on mental health or veterans.
“We already see a lot of folks who are dealing with drug issues in our therapeutic courts as it is today,” said Smith.
The court monitors a person’s treatment and compliance, Judge Smith who oversees mental health and DUI court in Spokane said.
“The basic philosophy of the therapeutic court is that it is a problem-solving court.
The whole purpose of a therapeutic court is to get to the root of the problem, and help them become the best version of themselves and be successful long term,” said Smith.
The state’s drug possession law goes into effect July 1. The Seattle City Council will vote on proposed legislation on June 6. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/washington-prosecutors-judges-preparing-state-drug-possession-law-into-effect/281-43991584-481a-440e-ba01-c696352462ed | 2023-05-26T16:43:19 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/washington-prosecutors-judges-preparing-state-drug-possession-law-into-effect/281-43991584-481a-440e-ba01-c696352462ed |
LAPORTE — County police are trying to figure out why a 20-year-old man drove off a county road and into a tree Thursday afternoon resulting in his death.
The deceased was identified by the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department as Braydon R. Flagg of Mill Creek.
Officers were called out around 2:21 p.m. Thursday to County Road 50 North in the area of County Road 1000 East in rural Wills Township in response to a crash, the department said.
"A black 2012 Toyota passenger vehicle was traveling westbound on CR 50 North," according to police. "For an unknown reason, the vehicle drove left of center and traveled across the eastbound lane. The vehicle left the south side of the roadway and continued traveling until colliding with a tree."
The vehicle re-entered County Road 50 North and came to a stop.
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/20-year-old-dead-after-driving-into-tree-county-police-investigating/article_b4a9dbda-fbcd-11ed-b56e-5739d53d20fd.html | 2023-05-26T16:43:57 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/20-year-old-dead-after-driving-into-tree-county-police-investigating/article_b4a9dbda-fbcd-11ed-b56e-5739d53d20fd.html |
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MUNSTER — A 28-year-old Chicago man who remains at large has been charged with two felony counts after allegedly beating unconscious a disabled man who had attempted to intervene in a disturbance between the accused and a woman, Munster police say.
Dominique W. Jones was charged Thursday with aggravated battery and battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman is trained in mental health intervention.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jones is asked to contact their local police or Munster Detective Sgt. Tim Nosich at 219-836-6658 or at tnosich@munster.org .
Police said they responded May 4 to the 7900 block of Calumet Avenue and discovered a 60-year-old disabled man, who was battered by an unknown person.
"A subsequent investigation revealed that the disabled man somehow attempted to intervene in a disturbance between a male and female, at the traffic light just west of Staples near the Taco Bell restaurant, located at 7949 Calumet Ave." police said.
"Toxicology test results are pending," according to police.
"The male offender was observed punching the man and then stomping him while he appeared to be knocked unconscious," according to police. "The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries."
Jones has been identified as the accused attacker and he was charged Thursday by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office, police said.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail
Domynic Yerger
Age : 37
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304493
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: FRAUD - DECEPTION - IDENTITY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Shanna Taylor
Age : 34
Residence: Calumet City, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304512
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Merrillville Police Department
Offense Description: FAMILY OFFENSE- NEGLECT OF DEPENDANT/CHILD VIOLATIONS
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Damon Wade
Age : 52
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304496
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: N/A
Offense Description: DEALING - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Nicholas Sanchez
Age : 43
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304503
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: FRAUD - FORGERY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
John Smith Jr.
Age : 43
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304495
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
George Stevens
Age : 32
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304519
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFENDANT USES A VEHICLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Aaron Rawls
Age : 39
Residence: Chicago, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304494
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: N/A
Offense Description: MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Ronald Robinson III
Age : 35
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304513
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: INTIMIDATION; OWI
Highest Offense Class: Felony; Misdemeanor
Dakota Ruel
Age : 29
Residence: Highland, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304510
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Highland Police Department
Offense Description: BURGLARY - PROPERTY - RESIDENTIAL ENTRY - BREAKING AND ENTERING
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Juan Salas
Age : 44
Residence: Chicago, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304522
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Dyer Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Michael Murray
Age : 35
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304499
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: DEALING - METHAMPHETAMINE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Alex Marion III
Age : 20
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304498
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: CRIMINAL RECKLESSNESS - AGGRAVATED - W/DEADLY WEAPON (SOCIETY IS VICTIM)
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Crystal McLain
Age : 48
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304507
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Gary Police Department
Offense Description: DEALING - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG; DEALING - COUNTERFEIT SUBSTANCE
Highest Offense Class: Felonies
Maria Hoyo
Age : 55
Residence: Lake Station, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304501
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Dyer Police Department
Offense Description: OPERATING A VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING PRIVILEGES ARE SUSPENDED
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Paris Hewlett
Age : 20
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304515
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - AGAINST A PREGNANT PERSON
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Joseph Coleman
Age : 36
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304502
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: LCCC
Offense Description: POSSESSION - FIREARM - BY A FELON; THEFT - PROPERTY - SHOPLIFTING - < $750; OPERATING A VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING PRIVILEGES ARE SUSPENDED
Highest Offense Class: Felonies
Brandon Dubose
Age : 24
Residence: Schererville, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304504
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: SEXUAL BATTERY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Diana Enriquez
Age : 21
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304492
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Munster Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Jessica Hermosillo
Age : 30
Residence: Cedar Lake, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304511
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Cedar Lake Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Erich Boone
Age : 46
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304509
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION VIOLATION
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Dwayne Smith
Age : 59
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304533
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Gary Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Javante Toran
Age : 30
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304551
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Michael Williams Jr.
Age : 49
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304543
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: East Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT - FORCIBLY RESISTING
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Vandana Pagany
Age : 49
Residence: Hinsdale, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304539
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - PERJURY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Matthew Parker
Age : 38
Residence: Lowell, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304554
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: St. John Police Department
Offense Description: POSSESSION - METHAMPHETAMINE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Daniel Rosario
Age : 49
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304537
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Schererville Police Department
Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - FROM BUILDING - $750 TO $50,000
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Obaid Shafiq
Age : 45
Residence: Hinsdale, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304540
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: FRAUD - FORGERY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Paul Newlin
Age : 54
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304528
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Pablito Madera II
Age : 37
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304546
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Crown Point Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - SERIOUS BODILY INJURY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Anthony Manson Jr.
Age : 32
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304541
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: RESISTING - INTERFERING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Willie McGee
Age : 36
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304564
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Donna Jackson
Age : 37
Residence: Aurora, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304538
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Highland Police Department
Offense Description: FAMILY OFFENSE- INVASION OF PRIVACY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Jocelyn James
Age : 25
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304548
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Gary Police Department
Offense Description: THEFT - VEHICLE - MOTOR VEHICLE - CONVERSION - UNAUTHORIZED CONTROL
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Kamika Harrell
Age : 29
Residence: Sauk Village, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304534
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: FRAUD - OBTAINING PROPERTY - BY CREDIT CARD
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Angel Bousono Jr.
Age : 52
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304563
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Kenyatta Branch
Age : 27
Residence: Chicago, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304535
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE - AGAINST ENDANGERED ADULT
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Derrick Daniel
Age : 54
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304545
Arrest Date: May 13, 2023
Arresting Agency: East Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: ORGANIZED THEFT
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Rodney Allen Jr.
Age : 42
Residence: Merrillville, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304558
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: New Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Cesar Torres
Age : 52
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304569
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: East Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - MODERATE BODILY INJURY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Michael Toy
Age : 65
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304572
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Roman Martinez
Age : 39
Residence: Dyer, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304581
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Dyer Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE - PRESENCE OF CHILD < 16 YEARS OLD
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Lori Minyard
Age : 60
Residence: Munster, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304576
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Schererville Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Jeremy Lewis
Age : 32
Residence: Chicago, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304579
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE - PRESENCE OF CHILD < 16 YEARS OLD
Highest Offense Class: Felony
David Keck
Age : 36
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304573
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lowell Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Samantha Hellems
Age : 30
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304571
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: POSSESSION - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Darius Herron
Age : 30
Residence: Markham, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304567
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: Highland Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Michael Flores
Age : 36
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304574
Arrest Date: May 14, 2023
Arresting Agency: New Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Nariana Williams
Age : 23
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304611
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: BATTERY - SIMPLE - TOUCH W/NO INJURY
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Chad Shaw
Age : 29
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304591
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: OPERATING A VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING PRIVILEGES ARE SUSPENDED
Highest Offense Class: Felony
John Vann
Age : 28
Residence: South Haven, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304589
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Ricardo Vela
Age : 22
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304583
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Whiting Police Department
Offense Description: BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - W/INJURY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Justin Neely
Age : 28
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304594
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: East Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - POCKET-PICKING - < $750
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Trendarious Peterson Mosley
Age : 22
Residence: East Chicago, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304595
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: East Chicago Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Keandrea Robinson
Age : 34
Residence: Calumet City, IL
Booking Number(s): 2304596
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - SHOPLIFTING - < $750
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Bailey Llamas
Age : 28
Residence: Griffith, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304609
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Gary Police Department
Offense Description: ROBBERY; POSSESS HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE
Highest Offense Class: Felonies
Anthony Hardesty-Berry
Age : 34
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304587
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Hope Horn
Age : 49
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304588
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Felony
James Lenoir-Williams
Age : 30
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304600
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: ROBBERY
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Cristina Galka
Age : 31
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304614
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: POSSESSION - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Armando Cartagena-Dhuperoyis
Age : 62
Residence: Silverdale, WA
Booking Number(s): 2304602
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake Station Police Department
Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Gregory Cormick Jr.
Age : 22
Residence: New Oreleans, LA
Booking Number(s): 2304584
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - W/PERMANENT INJURY OR DISFIGUREMENT
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Genito Balderas
Age : 26
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304619
Arrest Date: May 16, 2023
Arresting Agency: Munster Police Department
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
William Betts
Age : 27
Residence: Merrillville, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304612
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Offense Description: OWI
Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor
Benjamin Byers
Age : 21
Residence: St. John, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304599
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: CRIMINAL RECKLESSNESS - AGGRAVATED - W/DEADLY WEAPON (SOCIETY IS VICTIM)
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Michael Albanese
Age : 57
Residence: Griffith, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304605
Arrest Date: May 15, 2023
Arresting Agency: Schererville Police Department
Offense Description: RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT - VEHICLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Joshua Baker
Age : 41
Residence: Elkhart, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304514
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department
Offense Description: POSSESS HYPODERMIC SYRINGE OR NEEDLE
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Roderick Atkins
Age : 44
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304500
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department
Offense Description: POSSESSION - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG
Highest Offense Class: Felony
Mark Abel
Age : 36
Residence: Merrillville, IN
Booking Number(s): 2304516
Arrest Date: May 12, 2023
Arresting Agency: Hobart Police Department
Offense Description: Confinement
Highest Offense Class: Felony
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PORTAGE — A 44-year-old Illinois man was ordered by a Porter County judge Friday morning to have no contact with a 15-year-old Portage-area boy he is accused of meeting up and having sex with in a local hotel room.
Jason Hammer, of Darien, made an initial appearance before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer on two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor and felony possession of child pornography.
Hammer, who appeared with defense attorney Adam Tavitas, waived formal reading of the charges in the courtroom.
He was required to sign a no-contact order, prohibiting him from having contact with the alleged victim while his criminal case proceeds.
A Porter County police detective said he was called out March 31, when the father reported waking up around 3 a.m. and discovering his son sneaking back into his bedroom through an open window.
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The father reportedly found a Snapchat message on his son's phone describing sex between the boy and a man named Jason, and where they intended to meet, police said. They also spoke about having shared explicit photos.
The boy reportedly told police he met Hammer on a mobile dating application and switched to Snapchat in order to swap photos. He said he did not know Hammer's full name.
The boy said he snuck out of his bedroom window and met up with Hammer at a nearby park, according to a charging document. Hammer, who was driving a BMW, allegedly took the boy to a Valparaiso hotel where they spent a few hours having sex before the boy returned home around 3 a.m.
"Upon the collision, the vehicle maintained reverse gear for a period of time before moving forward," police said.
The boy said while he claimed on the dating app to be 16, he told Hammer he was 15, police said.
"Jason replied, 'I was expecting there to be a whole bunch of cops here,' " the boy told police.
The boy reportedly told police Hammer withdrew $40 from a bank machine and provided it to him to purchase marijuana and alcohol.
Police said they obtained Hammer's identity from hotel records and located sexually explicit messages on the boy's cell phone.
Police travelled to Hammer's office in Downers Grove, Illinois, but he was not on site, a court document says. Hammer called back later and reportedly admitted to communicating with the boy on the dating app.
Prosecutors and defense agreed to a bond for Hammer of $10,000 surety and $5,000 cash, records show. He has bonded out of the Porter County jail.
Clymer set a trial for Oct. 9 with preliminary hearings July 28 and Sept. 8.
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An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable." | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/illinois-man-ordered-to-have-no-contact-with-portage-area-boy-following-sex-allegations/article_d5835722-fbbf-11ed-a985-f72a1f277c19.html | 2023-05-26T16:44:00 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/illinois-man-ordered-to-have-no-contact-with-portage-area-boy-following-sex-allegations/article_d5835722-fbbf-11ed-a985-f72a1f277c19.html |
VALPARAISO — Porter County appears poised to sell the former state prison farm in Pine Township to raise money for a new park in Pleasant Township.
Park Superintendent Jake McEvoy and Park Board attorney Dave Hollenbeck pitched the idea Tuesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting.
The 65-acre Pine Township property on County Line Road was acquired in 2006 from the state, which used inmates from the nearby Indiana State Prison to raise vegetables for facilities throughout the Indiana Department of Correction system, Hollenbeck explained.
“This property has just not surfaced in the planning process as a viable property,” he said. Kemper Ditch runs through the property, making it suitable for farmland but not parkland.
If the property could be sold for $400,000 or more — twice what the county paid for the property — that money could be used to help develop the county’s remaining parks.
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Among the ideas are putting vault toilets at Brookdale Park, which doesn’t have any, as well as a pavilion and a playground. Developing Aukiki Park is also being considered.
The 63.5-acre Aukiki Park was purchased in 2014.
The only other county park south of U.S. 30 is Dunns Bridge, which offers little more than fishing, a canoe launch and a pedestrian bridge that leads to private property on the south side of the Kankakee River.
For nearly 10 years, the Park Board has wanted to develop the new park, but the board hasn’t had the money to do so. Porter County’s parks system, unlike those in Lake and LaPorte counties, has no dedicated funding stream.
The first phase is pegged at $3 million. Much of that money would be put into the ground, creating drainage ponds and wetlands, installing utilities and similar projects. It would include accessible paved trails of a half-mile to one mile in length as well as parking and a flat grassy area for “passive recreational opportunities” like soccer, McEvoy said.
McEvoy also asked the board's permission to grant naming rights as an incentive to generate donations for the new park.
“Commissioners know people, and we know how to twist arms,” Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, said.
The push to develop Aukiki Park, the No. 1 priority in the parks master plan, prompted the request to allow naming rights.
The first phase of development is going to be the most difficult for naming-rights opportunities because so much of the work will be underground, Hollenbeck said.
Any suggested names would have to be approved by the Park Board, and Aukiki would have to remain at least part of the new name, McEvoy said. A 2017 contest for grade school students resulted in the name Aukiki being chosen.
Aukiki is a native American name, and it’s important to acknowledge south county’s heritage, Hollenbeck said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/porter-county-might-sell-undeveloped-park/article_85df8e8c-fa8b-11ed-bb39-cbc08b47861d.html | 2023-05-26T16:44:01 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/porter-county-might-sell-undeveloped-park/article_85df8e8c-fa8b-11ed-bb39-cbc08b47861d.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Memorial Day is meant to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. Military and there are several events taking place in Vancouver, the Portland metro area and Willamette Valley to honor the fallen.
Here are some events the public is invited to attend.
Beaverton Memorial Day Event
The American Legion Band, Beaverton Police Honor Guard, Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty will all attend the Memorial Day Event at Beaverton Veterans Memorial Park Monday. The event will feature flyovers and Col. Todd Hofford, commander of the 142nd Wing of the Portland Air National Guard will address those in attendance.
Where: Beaverton Veterans Memorial Park – SW Watson Ave and SW 7th Street, Beaverton, OR
When: 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2023
Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Vancouver
The Community Military Appreciation Committee will host Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance on Monday. The annual ceremony at the bandstand on the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground honors those who lost their lives while serving the United States. There will be a raising of the flag, a cannon firing, and a wreath-laying ceremony. Speakers at the event include Fort Vancouver Superintendent Tracy Fortmann, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. The event is free.
Where: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site – 612 E Reserve St, Vancouver, WA 98661
When: 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2023
Oregon Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will host the state’s annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday at the Oregon World War II Memorial at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. The event will honor fallen U.S. service members. Speakers include ODVA Deputy Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels and other veteran leaders and state dignitaries. There will be a color guard ceremony, a performance of the national anthem, and the laying of a wreath.
Where: Oregon World War II Memorial – intersection of Cottage St. NE and Court St. NE in Salem
When: 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2023
Willamette National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony
The Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley will host a Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony Monday with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and the medical center director of the VA Portland Healthcare System, David Holt. The solemn ceremony will include a wreath-laying, speeches, and the playing of Taps. Wyden, Holt and others will speak at the event. All community members are invited.
Where: Willamette National Cemetery – 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Happy Valley, OR 97086
When: 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2023
Memorial Day Flyovers
The 142nd Wing of the Portland Air National Guard Base will conduct Memorial Day flyovers for ceremonies at locations throughout the state. All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and the jets will be flying at around 400 mph. Flights could be changed or canceled due to inclement weather.
The F-15 Eagle fighter jets are scheduled to conduct flyovers at the following community locations at the listed times on Monday, May 29, 2023:
- 10:00 a.m. Wasco, Ore.
- 10:10 a.m. Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Ore.
- 10:17 a.m. Salem, Ore.
- 10:30 a.m. Reedsport, Ore.
- 10:55 a.m. Astoria, Ore.
- 11:06 a.m. Beaverton, Ore. | https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-and-sw-washington-memorial-day-weekend-events-to-honor-fallen-heroes/ | 2023-05-26T16:44:43 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/oregon-and-sw-washington-memorial-day-weekend-events-to-honor-fallen-heroes/ |
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