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Editor’s note: Ruben Williams is the Kenosha-born author of “Northern Lights”, his inaugural, self-published novel and the focus of a “meet and greet” event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Blue House Books, 5915 Sixth Ave., Suite A in Kenosha.
The 31-year-old writer and current long-term substitute teacher, is a 2010 Tremper High School graduate where he also was an outstanding basketball player. He lives in Dallas with his wife and three children. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in English for secondary education and expects to graduate with a certified teaching license this spring. He plans to teach full-time in Dallas.
After high school, Williams attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and then the University of Wisconsin – Parkside for a semester before resuming basketball play in 2012 at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn. A torn Achilles’ heel, however, abruptly ended his career.
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Following his injury, Williams worked everywhere from a car dealership to real estate and banking while he figured out what he wanted to do. He re-enrolled in college, this time online with Grand Canyon University in 2019 after returning to Kenosha a year earlier. It was during that time, Williams began writing his book, which is available for pre-order at Blue House, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, among others. Its official release is June 13.
Earlier this spring, following a presentation to middle school students at 21st Century Preparatory School in Racine, Kenosha News reporter Terry Flores caught up with the author for an interview.
Q: What is Northern Lights about?
A: Northern Lights is about a journey for the main character, James, going from really being unsure about himself to having a more positive outlook about life because he's somebody who doesn't really know who he is in the beginning. And he goes to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. He’s a sophomore at a private school. He’s also in a foster home and so he’s struggling trying to figure out why he's being abused at his foster home. He's growing up in a bad neighborhood, but he's going to a beautiful (private) school. And he's conflicted.
Q: What inspired you to write this?
A: It really started as almost like an autobiography. I was gonna start writing about my life and I'm like, `No, this could be more creative.’ And so I decided to put in some pieces of my life, a few people that I know and immerse him in the characters. He doesn’t really know how to express (himself) – (except) through his writing, his poetry. So, his writing is really his outlet and he writes very mature for his age. He writes from his life experience.
Q: You address themes that are heavy hitting – sexuality, suicide, racism, abuse, friendship and spirituality. Who is the audience you’re trying to connect with and how did you get through these themes?
A: I believe being a teacher really helped me finish the book. And it helped me change a lot of things that I had written originally because now I see 13-,14-,15-year-olds – they, don't know how to express these adult-like themes. So, I wanted to kind of give them an outlet to say, “Hey, I feel that.” Now, they have the language to read. For me, it was emotional because there were a few scenes that really hit me. The first one was the beginning where there's a lot of talk from the foster parent to him, and he just blows up. The other one is where he's dealing with suicide because I've dealt with that where I was on the edge.
Q: When did you start writing Northern Lights?
A: In 2018 and I didn’t finish until 2022.
Q: Talk about the process and what helped you to finish this?
A: No. 1, it was therapy for me. No. 2, I know there are kids, and even adults, who will connect with this story. And I feel like they need this.
Q: How will your audience, who are youth, particularly youth of color, connect with Northern Lights?
A: I walk through his thoughts, the daily thoughts that he's thinking. Situations come up. He talks about it. He writes about it, but he doesn't say anything to anybody about the realness. It's raw. It's, it's out there. It has real language in their language that they use. Emotions that they feel, and they don't have to feel like they're alone because I was there at one point and I wanted to put what I felt on paper because I know you feel this way. Read about it. Now you can change something about it because he did it, because I did. There’s hope.
Q: Why did you leave Kenosha for Texas?
A: I felt like my time was almost up here in Kenosha. It was like, OK, I've done a lot of things here. I want to experience something different. And so moving down there actually really helped me grow because I found my mentor down there, which is my pastor now. I was able to really open up and really express my true emotions and like stuff that I'm dealing with openly and I've never been able to experience that. So, I felt like it was my destiny to go someplace else to basically, in lack of a better word, get free, which is the reason why I wrote the book too, because a lot of the book is about just experiencing different emotions.
Q: When you were away from Kenosha and writing Northern Lights, the protests and rioting over the police shooting of Jacob Blake was taking place, amplifying what Black men, Black people, face every day in America. How is that addressed in your book?
A: There’s an instance in there (where the main character and his friend encounter a police officer who is responding to a report of a theft at store they’re at). And, I don’t tell it just from the Black person’s perspective. The Black dad who is a higher ranking officer knows the officer has a job to do. So, it’s lets figure this out and look at both sides of the story to figure out what is going on. Yes, wrong is wrong. The officer, in this scene, is wrong, but there’s still another side to it.
Q: Do you think that society has been able to get past its implicit biases about people who are different?
A: We still don't feel seen, even though, is there progress? Sure. But it still feels as if the mindsets of people who are not within the communities of color aren't understanding the plight of just us being. One of the first paragraphs (in the book) is a poem where James is writing about his hair. Just simply his hair. And he says, “I don't know why my hair is so dangerous.” When they see Black people with locks, they automatically think they think gang banger. They think this, they think that, they don't see I’m a teacher. For me, I’m a teacher. I teach middle school kids.
Q: Why did you want to be a writer? And are there any parallels with you and James, your character?
A: Experience. Living experience to where it was really like another outlet outside of basketball that I really hid. Kinda like the main character. I didn’t want anybody to know because … the people that I was around, you know, they were athletes, popular people. It’s almost like an unwritten rule amongst the Black community. You can be smart, but if you’re too smart and you’re hanging around a certain group of people, you’re looked at as less than.
Q: Previously, you were in an industry, banking, where you could've made a lot of money. Why did you leave it to become a teacher?
A: I did it because, first of all, I felt as if I had a mission and a goal from God to help kids. And, here's the thing, teaching isn't my end goal. I think my target audience, at heart, is kids. Doing what I did today (at 21st Century Prep), telling them my story and that there is hope. That's what I'm meant to do. Because, they’re forgotten.
For more on the author, visit https://www.rubeniwilliams.com/about | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/now-living-in-texas-kenosha-african-american-writer-self-publishes-inaugural-book-for-forgotten-teens/article_0526c9e8-c2e8-11ed-88b1-1b5417636a87.html | 2023-05-31T17:23:00 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/now-living-in-texas-kenosha-african-american-writer-self-publishes-inaugural-book-for-forgotten-teens/article_0526c9e8-c2e8-11ed-88b1-1b5417636a87.html |
GREENSBORO — Police have announced a second arrest in connection with the deaths of two young boys pulled from a house fire in March.
Michael Christopher Dennis, 36, was charged today with two counts of felony child abuse after an investigation into the deaths of his 2-year-old son and his son's 3-year-old friend, Cash Whitaker, police said today.
During an investigation, police said they determined that Dennis was "neglectful and abusive." Dennis is being held on a $1 million bond, according to online jail records.
Noelle Cervantes, 33, was jailed Tuesday on a $1 million bond after her arrest on two counts each of second-degree murder and felony child abuse, Greensboro police announced in a news release. She is now scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.
According to police, Cervantes was “neglectful” in her care of the boys and possibly could’ve prevented their deaths. There is no evidence that the boys were hurt by Cervantes prior to the blaze or that she was responsible for causing the fire, police department spokeswoman Josie Cambareri said Tuesday.
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On March 16 at 11:30 a.m., police and firefighters responded to the fire at 1823 Glenside Drive.
Upon arrival, they encountered heavy smoke and flames inside. A woman outside — now identified as Cervantes — was able to direct firefighters to where the two children should be in the home. The two young boys were removed and declared dead by EMS personnel.
— This is a developing story. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/greensboro-police-announce-second-arrest-after-2-young-boys-died-in-march-house-fire/article_e343a934-ffca-11ed-88a9-eff3053a29d9.html | 2023-05-31T17:24:15 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/greensboro-police-announce-second-arrest-after-2-young-boys-died-in-march-house-fire/article_e343a934-ffca-11ed-88a9-eff3053a29d9.html |
FRISCO, Texas — A Frisco golf club has dealt with two incidents of racism in the last few days.
This past weekend, Frisco Lakes Golf Club general manager Linroy “LC” Costly got a photo text message of a racial slur written in one of the course’s sand bunkers.
“I was shocked,” he said. “I was in disbelief to be quite honest.”
A Black golfer playing the par 4, 13th hole saw two people running away from the bunker and then discovered the writing.
“It hit home needless to say,” Costly, who’s also Black, said. “It made me feel extremely sad.”
The golfer’s daughter posted about the incident on Instagram saying, "This has happened too many times in this city."
The family told WFAA they agreed to let Costly speak on their behalf.
“No one needs to go through that whether you’re Black, white, green, it doesn’t matter,” he said.
Costly said that on Monday they got a call for a tee time, and, when asked for a name, the caller said the same racial slur four times. They’re currently working on pulling their phone records to share with Frisco police.
Two years ago, an identical sand bunker incident happened just five miles away at Trails of Frisco Golf Club.
“That’s the sad part that as a Black man at 53 years old, as a general manager of a golf club, we’re still dealing with this in 2023,” Costly said.
All of it is happening in the same city the PGA of America is headquartered in.
"The PGA of America condemns all acts of racism and has reached out to the club to see if we can assist them as they investigate,” the company said in a statement.
"I think Frisco is a pretty nice community,” Costly said. “It’s a diverse community. It’s getting better and better.”
Costly and a new ownership group took over the course last March. He said in 20 years he's never personally dealt with an incident of racism in the sport but said it's been an issue for decades.
“The gap is narrowing. I truly believe that," he said. "There’s more African Americans, there’s more Mexican Americans, there’s more Indian Americans.”
Police are now investigating. Costly doesn’t believe the act of hate was committed by a golfer playing that day.
He said the man who discovered it decided to persevere and finish his round.
“Hopefully someone will come forward. The biggest goal for me is to catch the perpetrators,” he said. “I didn’t think that would ever happen, but it did.” | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/frisco-golf-course-racial-slur-bunker-racist-phone-call-days-later/287-38171be2-06bc-4d0b-b4e6-6e11e6777259 | 2023-05-31T17:24:32 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/frisco-golf-course-racial-slur-bunker-racist-phone-call-days-later/287-38171be2-06bc-4d0b-b4e6-6e11e6777259 |
TEMPLE, Texas — The City of Temple announced the beginning of the 2023 Family Summer Passport Program on Wednesday, May 31.
According to the city, these passports can be downloaded online and taken to each of the five participating libraries and museums for stamps.
The participating locations include the following:
- Lena Armstong Public Library
- Temple Public Library
- Railroad & Heritage Museum
- Temple Children's Museum
- Bell County Museum
Once all five have been stamped, kids aged 3 through 12 can redeem a special treat from Bird Creek Burgers, Treno's Pizza, Jeremiah's Italian Ice, Wings, Pizza and Things, Firestreet Pizza or Wheels Family Ice Skating.
This is a program geared towards family fun, although it is designed to enrich and educate the youth, everyone can enjoy.
To view more information on the program and to download a passport, visit here
Also on KCENTV.com: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/temple-announces-the-2023-family-summer-passport-program/500-029c168c-884c-4bef-9001-178fa67f0706 | 2023-05-31T17:24:42 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/temple-announces-the-2023-family-summer-passport-program/500-029c168c-884c-4bef-9001-178fa67f0706 |
Stark Royal Knights basketball places third at Special Olympic state tournament
The Stark Royal Knights basketball team placed third this season at the Ohio Special Olympics state tournament in Division III. The tournament was held at the Stroh Center on the campus of Bowling Green in March.
The Royal Knights fell in the semifinals to the West Licking Warriors 64-54. The Warriors outscored the Royal Knights 25-11 in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Max Broom led the Royal Knights with seven 3-pointers and 25 points, while Cory Amatangelo scored 14 points.
The Royal Knights then defeated Butler County 65-31 in the third-place game. Tristan Broom and Amatangelo each scored 10 points to lead the way. Robby Nudo and Max Broom contributed eight points apiece for the Royal Knights, who wrapped up the season with an 11-4 record.
Licking County Warriors 64, Stark Royal Knights 54
Ohio Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, Division III semifinal
- Royal Knights: C.Amatangelo 7 0-0 14, M.Broom 9 0-0 25, J. Mohler 3 0-0 6, Marecek 3 0-0 7, Soehnlen 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 0-0 54.
- Warriors: Hartley 13 2-2 37, Armstrong 5 1-2 12, Lemmhart 5 1-1 11, Atwood 1 0-0 2, Smith 1 0-0 2, Stumbo 0 2-4 2. Totals 25 6-9 64.
- 3-pointers: M.Broom 7, Hartley 7, Marecek, Armstrong
Stark Royal Knights 65, Butler County Bulldogs 31
Ohio Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, Division III third-place game
- Royal Knights (11-4): T. Broom 4 2-2 10, Soehnlen 3 0-6 6, Amatangelo 4 1-2 10, Nudo 3 0-0 8, J.Mohler 1 1-2 3, B.Mohler 2 0-0 4, M.Broom 2 2-2 8, C.Broom 3 0-0 6, Marecek 1 0-0 2, Manko 2 0-0 6, Degenhard 1 0-0 2, Ludwig 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26 6-14 65.
- Bulldogs: Prater 2 2-4 6, Pohlman 2 0-0 5, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Messer 7 0-0 14, Loving 2 0-0 4. Totals: 14 2-4 31.
- 3-pointers: Nudo 2, Manko 2, M.Broom 2, Amatangelo, Pohlman. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/31/stark-royal-knights-basketball-ohio-special-olympics-state-tournament-tristan-broom-cory-amatangelo/70271315007/ | 2023-05-31T17:25:08 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/31/stark-royal-knights-basketball-ohio-special-olympics-state-tournament-tristan-broom-cory-amatangelo/70271315007/ |
MESA, Ariz. — A large mulch fire burning near Loop 202 and Hawes Road in Mesa is sending up clouds of smoke over the East Valley Wednesday morning.
As of 9:45 a.m., it is unknown how close the fire is to being put out. The cause of the fire is also unknown.
12News has reached out to fire officials in the area, and we're waiting to learn more.
This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for more updates.
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Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/east-valley-fire-near-mesa-wednesday-morning/75-92194c6d-590e-4924-a994-384b79e3c10c | 2023-05-31T17:25:46 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/east-valley-fire-near-mesa-wednesday-morning/75-92194c6d-590e-4924-a994-384b79e3c10c |
LONGPORT — Police are looking for a car that was stolen Tuesday.
The vehicle, a blue 2021 BMW 750, was taken from the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue about 3 a.m., police said Wednesday in a news release.
Police said they were not divulging more details because the case was under investigation.
Police urged drivers to ensure their keys are not left in their vehicles and to make sure their vehicles are locked.
Anyone with additional information can email Sgt. Quinton Wright at wright_quinton@longportpd.org. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/longport-police-searching-for-stolen-bmw/article_b4e4a826-ffd0-11ed-b7e0-7b26d3c04213.html | 2023-05-31T17:30:02 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/longport-police-searching-for-stolen-bmw/article_b4e4a826-ffd0-11ed-b7e0-7b26d3c04213.html |
BRIDGETON — A man robbed a drugstore of about $5,100 in cash Monday night, police said.
Officers were called to the Walgreens at 25 E. Broad St. at 10:14 p.m. after the man left the store with the money, police said Wednesday in a news release.
Employees said the man entered the store as it was preparing to close, asking to use its restroom. Shortly after, he approached a cashier with a gun, demanding money from the register, police said.
Part of the man's interaction appeared to have been recorded by security footage.
Police described the suspect as an approximately 6-foot-tall Black man with a stocky build. He was wearing a tan Nike hoodie with black lining and zippers, gray sweatpants and white sneakers.
No one was injured during the incident, police said.
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Anyone with additional information can call police at 856-451-0033. Anonymous tips also can be shared at bpdops.com/tip/new. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tips-sought-in-bridgeton-drugstore-robbery/article_5d0b043e-ffcf-11ed-bc9c-474805cbd1d9.html | 2023-05-31T17:30:04 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tips-sought-in-bridgeton-drugstore-robbery/article_5d0b043e-ffcf-11ed-bc9c-474805cbd1d9.html |
OCEAN CITY — As the Board of Education again searches for a new superintendent, one thing is clear about who will next lead the district: It will either be someone who currently works in the district or someone who does not.
The question of which it should be took up a significant portion of a recent community forum presented in the Ocean City High School library, with some members supporting hiring from within and others stating just as emphatically that the new super should come from outside the district.
“The thought seems to be that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know,” said resident David Hayes at the meeting. “In this case, the devil you know may be part of the current problem with academics in Ocean City.”
Ocean City had completed an extensive superintendent search last year, landing on Matthew Friedman, who started the job in July. But in March, Friedman accepted a new job as the superintendent of the Quakertown Community School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His last day with Ocean City will be June 30.
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Several speakers at the Thursday forum, held as a meeting of the Board of Education, supported Lauren Gunther, the district’s director of student services, as the best choice for the job.
Hayes was not one of them. At several board meetings, he raised concerns about academics in the district.
Hayes challenged Gunther by name, leading to a rebuke from one of the board members. Other residents supported Gunther, although not always by name.
Resident Dave Breeden said the district just completed an extensive search for a new superintendent, and finds itself in the same position less than a year later.
OCEAN CITY — However quickly the city’s school district hires a new superintendent, there wi…
“Now it’s time to look inward,” Breeden said. “You have a talented, gifted administrator in this building that is more than capable of leading this district from day one. She doesn’t have to learn about Ocean City, she doesn’t have to Google directions to the intermediate school.”
He said she knows the district’s strengths and weaknesses. He did not say Gunther’s name, but mentioned her title.
“She’s a talent, she’s a blessing and we need to recognize that,” Breeden said.
Several other speakers backed Gunther for superintendent.
Gunther has worked for the district for eight years. Contacted on Tuesday for comment, she said she has applied for the job.
“I have the support of the teachers, the support staff, the parents and the community. I would be an easy transition,” Gunther said. “Having said that, I also trust that the board will make the best decision as a collective body for the good of the community.”
Board President Chris Halliday said at the start of the meeting that selecting a superintendent is one of the most important tasks for a school board. He added Ocean City is a unique community, changing dramatically from a small town in the offseason to a packed beach resort in the summer.
“In the winter, we know everybody in the grocery store. In the summer, we don’t,” he said.
OCEAN CITY — The Board of Education this week launched its search for a new superintendent t…
The superintendent needs to be engaged with the community, he said, attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, meeting with the mayor and participating in community organizations. The board wants to find a leader and educator “who can take Ocean City to where it needs to go and be, as well as who can fit in and be a part or our community.”
The district is losing students as it gets more expensive for young families to live in the community or in Upper Township, which sends its students to Ocean City High School. So the board will also look for a superintendent who can attract families to the district.
There have been 45 applicants for the job. The next step will be to winnow that down in the coming weeks and come up with some names of candidates who may be interviewed in June.
Over the past year, the district has been at the center of a rift in the community as districts enacted new state standards on health and physical education. Some saw the standards as going too far in matters of gender and sex education, leading to public protests and the election of three new board members who campaigned on challenging the standards.
Others held rallies of their own and attended school board meetings, calling for acceptance and protection for LGBTQ students and raising concerns about bullying of students based on their sexuality or gender identity.
The fight roiled the district for months, and echoes were heard at the recent meeting, with some speakers raising concerns about bullying and belonging for students.
One parent, Dawn Dolinsky, said there has been a lot of discussion about finding a superintendent who understands what parents want. But she said parents do not all want the same thing, and said her daughter has been bullied in the school for being different, including by star athletes and academic leaders.
“The way that reads, is if you are not bright, Christian, and an athlete and white in Ocean City, you aren’t on an equal playing field. And that message is one that has been whispered for years. And that has to end,” Dolinsky said. “It’s a message that trickles down. And if the person who is hired at the top does not change that message and the culture, we’ve lost an opportunity, because that’s been the message for a very long time.”
OCEAN CITY — About a dozen students at Ocean City High School walked out of classes Wednesda…
Another speaker, Marie Hayes, said the school administration and teachers are generously compensated, and also raised concerns about student performance. She described Friedman as “asleep at the wheel” and said he ignored issues she and her husband, David Hayes, have raised.
“All the time and effort spent on endless discussions on a woke agenda should have been used to help our students with learning gaps,” she said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/education/should-ocean-city-s-next-school-superintendent-be-promoted-from-within/article_1555e0ce-ff1f-11ed-935c-275df6a6fdce.html | 2023-05-31T17:30:06 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/education/should-ocean-city-s-next-school-superintendent-be-promoted-from-within/article_1555e0ce-ff1f-11ed-935c-275df6a6fdce.html |
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — A man accused of plowing his car through a crowd of people at a fundraiser in Columbia County has pleaded guilty to homicide charges.
Adrian Sura Reyes pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of criminal homicide and 19 counts of criminal attempted homicide.
The man from Nescopeck was accused of driving his car into a crowd of people in Berwick on August 13, 2022, and then killing his mother with a hammer.
State police say Sura Reyes drove his vehicle into a crowd at the Intoxicology Department bar in Berwick during a fundraiser for fire victims.
One person died, and 17 people were hurt.
After that, investigators say Sura Reyes drove about two miles to his home in Nescopeck, Luzerne County. Troopers believe he hit his mother with the car and beat her to death with a hammer.
Sura Reyes faces mandatory life in prison. No sentencing date has been set. He remains locked up.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/columbia-county/driver-who-drove-through-crowd-at-fundraiser-admits-to-crimes-adrian-sura-reyes-berwick-nescopeck/523-86f891d4-becf-4617-8a40-accc4d727c6d | 2023-05-31T17:31:26 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/columbia-county/driver-who-drove-through-crowd-at-fundraiser-admits-to-crimes-adrian-sura-reyes-berwick-nescopeck/523-86f891d4-becf-4617-8a40-accc4d727c6d |
SCRANTON, Pa. — PennDOT crews are working on a bridge at the bottom of Moosic Street that feeds into downtown Scranton.
Because of that work, drivers cannot use the road from Moosic Street or Pittston Avenue.
Drivers are forced to take either Cedar Avenue or the Harrison Avenue bridge to get downtown.
There is no word from PennDOT on how long this construction work will last.
Check real-time conditions with the WNEP Traffic Tracker.
PennDOT updates are available HERE.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/bridge-work-in-scranton-forces-detour-moosic-street-penndot/523-53c08fd7-21d2-49fc-80b6-9a6438b41415 | 2023-05-31T17:31:27 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/bridge-work-in-scranton-forces-detour-moosic-street-penndot/523-53c08fd7-21d2-49fc-80b6-9a6438b41415 |
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Anthony Markle sat in the stands as a fan throughout his entire childhood.
Now, he's seeing Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport from new perspectives—the dugout and the field.
He landed a new job as the pitching coach for the Williamsport Crosscutters.
"This ballpark, this city raised me to who I am, to love the game of baseball. And to come back here a long time later and celebrate 25 years with the Crosscutters, you know, I couldn't write it any better," Markle said.
Markle just moved back from Florida for the summer and started practicing with the players.
"They're ready to go. They're loose. They're getting healthy, and they're ready to get in front of fans. They like putting on a show."
The gates at Historic Bowman Field will be open to fans for the first time in months Thursday night.
"It's the night that we wait for all year," said Gabe Sinicropi, vice president of marketing. "No matter where you are, no matter what level of play, opening night is always exciting."
If you want to enjoy this beautiful summer weather two nights in a row, there's also a Meet The Cutters event on Wednesday night.
"It's totally free of charge. So come on out between 5 and 7, meet the full team, our coaches, our mascot Boomer, free hot dogs, free soft drinks, free prize giveaways," Sinicropi said.
First pitch Thursday is at 6:35 p.m. The Crosscutters play the State College Spikes.
For tickets, click here.
For the full schedule, click here.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lycoming-county/getting-ready-for-crosscutters-opening-night-historic-bowman-field-williamsport-minor-league-baseball/523-e1e8dd62-1ca4-4179-b688-3bacc53bbe8e | 2023-05-31T17:31:28 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lycoming-county/getting-ready-for-crosscutters-opening-night-historic-bowman-field-williamsport-minor-league-baseball/523-e1e8dd62-1ca4-4179-b688-3bacc53bbe8e |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/allen-premium-outlets-reopens-on-wednesday-after-recent-mass-shooting/3268275/ | 2023-05-31T17:40:30 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/allen-premium-outlets-reopens-on-wednesday-after-recent-mass-shooting/3268275/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/high-school-softball-player-takes-legal-action-against-prosper-isd-alleges-discrimination/3268284/ | 2023-05-31T17:40:36 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/high-school-softball-player-takes-legal-action-against-prosper-isd-alleges-discrimination/3268284/ |
A middle school student to be a famous author did something good to get on that path. She published her first book!
Sage Garrett is a 6th-grade student at International Leadership of Texas Keller K8. She started writing her novel, a realm between realms. Last year as a fifth grader.
Sage says she's loved reading since she was a child, and those books inspired her and helped her write on her own.
That foundation plus she says, "very philosophical shower thoughts" led to the idea to write about the realms.
Her book is about a place hidden from humans and the universe and the friends called on to preserve it.
A Realm Between Realms: Nila's Song, Part 1 - Legends is now sold on Amazon.
The 284-page book is the first in a 12-book series. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/north-texas-sixth-grader-publishes-debut-novel/3268175/ | 2023-05-31T17:40:42 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/north-texas-sixth-grader-publishes-debut-novel/3268175/ |
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) unveiled Wednesday morning a new communications tool to deliver clear and reliable information about grid conditions to the public -- the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS).
TXANS updates will be delivered through email, Facebook and Twitter, and through the TXANS website.
TXANS notifications do not replace Energy Emergency Alerts, which will continue to be sent to the EEA email distribution list, and do not indicate emergency grid conditions are expected, but rather give people a heads up that there may be periods of higher demand and that they should stay abreast of changing conditions or that conservation may be necessary to prevent an energy emergency.
The TXANS alerts include two new key notifications -- the ERCOT Weather Watch and the Voluntary Conservation Notice.
The ERCOT Weather Watch is an advanced notification that'll be sent out under normal grid conditions about 3-5 days before a weather event to tell the public there may be a higher demand for electricity due to a forecasted event and that they should pay attention to changing conditions. The second notice, a Voluntary Conservation Notice, is a call to Texans to voluntarily reduce usage during peak times if it is safe to do so.
"It is important to note that just because ERCOT issues a Weather Watch or a Voluntary Conservation Notice it does not mean that we are in or expect to be in emergency conditions," said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas. “TXANS will deliver clear and reliable notifications ahead of significant weather conditions where high demand on the grid is possible. Keeping Texans informed earlier adds a new level of awareness on grid conditions and any public action that may be needed.”
ERCOT said TXANS is in addition to the previously announced 6-Day Supply and Demand Forecast and Fuel Mix dashboards available on the ERCOT webpage.
For more information, visit Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS).
ERCOT Warns of Brownouts This Summer in Forecast of Power Grid Demand
Earlier this month, ERCOT shared their seasonal assessment for this summer and warned that in extreme conditions the demand for power could outpace the available supply.
“On the hottest days of summer there is no longer enough on-demand, dispatchable power generation to meet demand in our system,” said Peter Lake, chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, in early May.
Dispatchable power is electricity that can be created on demand, from non-renewable coal, nuclear, or natural gas generation facilities and does not include renewable energy sources like solar or wind.
"We are having to rely more on renewables during can peak conditions than we ever have before," said ERCOT's CEO, Pablo Vegas. "And as a result of this dynamic, this summer could have tighter hours than last summer, with a higher risk of emergency operations.”
But the state's ongoing population boom is faster than the state's grid can keep up with.
"We have the equivalent of the entire city of Oakland, California moving to Texas every year. More devices, more demand for electricity. So it’s that increase in demand without the market incentives to increase the supply of the dispatchable power that is now the resource adequacy problem," Lake said.
He said from 2008 to 2022, Texas' on-demand dispatchable power supply grew only 1.5%. However, in that same timeframe, our population has grown by 24%.
"The Texas grid faces a new reality,” said Lake. “Data shows for the first time that the peak demand for electricity this summer will exceed the amount we can generate from on-demand dispatchable power, so we will be relying on renewables to keep the lights on."
"The challenges that we’ve been describing today have been on the horizon for several years," Lake said. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/ercots-txans-messages-simplify-grid-operations-conditions-for-the-public/3268209/ | 2023-05-31T17:40:48 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/ercots-txans-messages-simplify-grid-operations-conditions-for-the-public/3268209/ |
NORMAL — The Bloomington Gold Corvettes show will be held from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday at Illinois State University's CEFCU Arena.
This will be the event's 50th year. It began in 1973 as a gathering of Corvette owners in Bloomington and was known as the Bloomington Corvette Corral.
The event has been held in various locations over the years, including Springfield, St. Charles, Champaign and Indianapolis.
Activities this year include cars on display, vendor booths, live music, seminars, awards and more.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are $25 per person for one day or $45 per person for both days. At the gate, tickets will be $30 for one day or $50 for both.
A Gold Gala Salute to the Gold Collection will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday in the Bone Student Center. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/bloomington-gold-corvettes-returns-this-weekend/article_a308cb00-ffcb-11ed-a104-3399f9f62cde.html | 2023-05-31T17:47:25 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/bloomington-gold-corvettes-returns-this-weekend/article_a308cb00-ffcb-11ed-a104-3399f9f62cde.html |
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — An armed man shot and killed by a Pinellas Park police officer sent threatening texts to his ex-girlfriend before showing up at her house, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a news conference on Wednesday to release more details into what led to yesterday's deadly shooting.
Investigators learned that 36-year-old Jared Rudderham had been texting back and forth with his ex-girlfriend all day Monday expressing his jealousy surrounding her relationships with other men.
In one text message, Rudderham wrote, "I'm going to kill everyone," according to the sheriff.
Gualtieri said the woman had stopped communicating with Rudderham until about 1 a.m., when he showed up at her grandmother's Pinellas Park home, where she was living, and began tapping on her window.
She reportedly described Rudderham as "scary calm" and she communicated with him by cellphone, but refused to go outside. The woman called her mother, who decided to call Pinellas Park police.
According to Gualtieri, Rudderham was making suicidal threats on the phone as he was pacing back and forth in the backyard.
The sheriff explained that the woman told Rudderham police were on the way, to which he responded, "I guess it's popping," — slang for "things are about to get really bad."
Just one minute later, at 1:03 a.m., Officer Cameron Williams began approaching Rudderham in the backyard when Rudderham pulled a semi-automatic Glock 19 pistol from his waistband and began racking it, according to the sheriff's office.
Williams' body camera footage shows the officer saying "Jared" twice before Rudderham pulls out the gun.
In response, Officer Williams fired five rounds, shooting Rudderham four times. Gualtieri said Rudderham was killed by a gunshot to the head.
Further investigation revealed that Rudderham had 28 rounds of ammo on him, though he was not known to regularly carry around his firearm. He also had a lengthy criminal history, including charges for burglary, aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment.
Officer Williams has been placed on leave, as is protocol with officer-involved shootings.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is urged to reach out for help. You can contact the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay at 211 or call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 800-799-7233. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/armed-man-shot-killed-pinellas-park-police-officer-involved-threatening-texts/67-55201fc4-e2a7-4173-9467-72e91034770d | 2023-05-31T17:51:43 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/armed-man-shot-killed-pinellas-park-police-officer-involved-threatening-texts/67-55201fc4-e2a7-4173-9467-72e91034770d |
A contractor who was previously sentenced to community control after he reportedly failed to complete repair work on properties damaged in the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes will go to prison after his probation was revoked.
Robert Tracy Greene, 56, of St. Paris will spend five years in prison, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
Greene sought work in tornado-damaged areas under the name TK Home Improvement. At least 10 victims had contracts with either down payments or full payments made. Greene reportedly only partially finished work or failed to complete any of the repairs.
Greene was indicted in 2019 and 2020 on multiple counts of theft, and he was convicted on more than a dozen counts last year. He was at-large for more than two years before he was arrested in Huber Heights last June.
In November, he was sentenced to up to five years of community control sanctions and ordered to pay $300 a month toward restitution for the victims, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Greene made a payment in November but reportedly didn’t make a payment in December. In January, the prosecutor’s office filed a motion to revoke his probation and send him to prison.
Greene’s attorney, David R. Morse, said he thought the decision to impose prison time was harsh.
Morse said he thought Greene could have continued on probation so the victims could have been paid back sooner.
Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said Greene deserved the five-year sentence.
“This defendant swindled tornado‐ravaged elderly and disabled victims by taking their money and then failed to do the work,” he said. “Now he has failed to even make the $300 monthly restitution payments he agreed to as part of the court’s original sentence.”
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/man-accused-of-scamming-memorial-day-tornado-victims-to-go-to-prison-after-probation-revoked/TCEIOK35IZCXPNQCZCCH3O7BJY/ | 2023-05-31T17:56:20 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/man-accused-of-scamming-memorial-day-tornado-victims-to-go-to-prison-after-probation-revoked/TCEIOK35IZCXPNQCZCCH3O7BJY/ |
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas — Big Bend National Park will be temporarily closing down specific areas for herbicide application.
The project will start on June 3 and end on June 7. A team of biologists and staff members will be applying the herbicide along the river in the Rio Grande Village area. There will be sections along the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail that will be closed as well.
Signage will be in place while the herbicide is currently applied to the specific plants. Once these signs are removed, the closures will no longer apply.
For more information about the closures and the process of the herbicide application, people can click here. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/areas-in-big-bend-national-park-to-be-closed-for-herbicide-application/513-713e539d-df8b-4e0a-a06f-be2f56f9be7b | 2023-05-31T17:56:22 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/areas-in-big-bend-national-park-to-be-closed-for-herbicide-application/513-713e539d-df8b-4e0a-a06f-be2f56f9be7b |
MIDLAND, Texas — The Midland Fire Department will be hosting its annual Wet N' Wild event on June 5.
It will all take place at CJ Kelly Park from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be water slides, water polo games and an obstacle course.
This event is a part of the 2023 Midland Wellness Tour, which will begin on June 1. People can find out more information about the event by clicking here. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/midland-fire-department-to-host-annual-wet-n-wild-event-on-june-5/513-758b0f7e-ba8f-4d15-bf17-24d9641d15f6 | 2023-05-31T17:56:23 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/midland-fire-department-to-host-annual-wet-n-wild-event-on-june-5/513-758b0f7e-ba8f-4d15-bf17-24d9641d15f6 |
WARD COUNTY, Texas — One person has been killed in a fatal crash on May 30 in Ward County.
46-year-old Jesus Alva-Fuentes of Odessa was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation revealed that Alva-Fuentes was traveling eastbound on IH-20 when he veered into the south barrow ditch. This led to Alva-Fuentes hitting into a concrete overpass pillar. It is unknown at this time whether Alva-Fuentes was wearing a seatbelt or not.
The investigation is still ongoing and we will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-after-a-fatal-crash-in-ward-county/513-5173a62b-c371-4662-9d01-ced285c1ed20 | 2023-05-31T17:56:24 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-after-a-fatal-crash-in-ward-county/513-5173a62b-c371-4662-9d01-ced285c1ed20 |
HOWARD COUNTY, Texas — Two people have been killed in a fatal crash in Howard County on May 29.
Both 56-year-old Antonio Garcia of Midland and 63-year-old John Lyndon Brightman of Odessa were transported to Scenic Mountain Medical Center and Midland Memorial Hospital, respectively, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
The initial investigation revealed that Garcia and Brightman, who were both in a 2002 Kenworth Truck, were traveling southbound on US 87 when they suffered a tire blowout, which caused it to veer off the road onto the entrance ramp. Both men were then ejected from the vehicle after it rolled over. They were not wearing seatbelts during the time of the crash.
The investigation is still ongoing and we will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/two-dead-after-fatal-crash-in-howard-county/513-e74d65bf-8a2a-463d-be2f-7ca8699f5991 | 2023-05-31T17:56:27 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/two-dead-after-fatal-crash-in-howard-county/513-e74d65bf-8a2a-463d-be2f-7ca8699f5991 |
ODESSA, Texas — Two Odessa teenagers have been arrested after attacking an adult woman at the Vera Apartments.
19-year-old Alexis Isidia Garcia and a 16-year-old juvenile have both been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapons. The 16-year-old received four counts. OPD responded to a disturbance on May 30 at the Vera Apartments at 8:00 p.m.
Officers received complaints about the 16-year-old was causing issues with residents and pointing a gun at four people. Eventually, the juvenile struck an adult woman in the head with a gun. The 19-year-old, Alexis Isidia Garcia, then also began to strike the victim and pull her hair.
The investigation is still ongoing and we will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/two-odessa-teenagers-arrested-on-aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon-charges/513-1777c4e9-d823-4629-840f-f24caf3e60e1 | 2023-05-31T17:56:29 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/two-odessa-teenagers-arrested-on-aggravated-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon-charges/513-1777c4e9-d823-4629-840f-f24caf3e60e1 |
ATLANTA — Three people connected to the protest opposition against the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center were arrested Tuesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said, and charged with money laundering and charity fraud.
Activists said the three people were organizers with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has done legal advocacy and fundraising going back to the 2020 racial justice protest movements.
According to the GBI, a 30-year-old Savannah woman, 39-year old Atlanta man and 42-year-old Atlanta man were found with "evidence linking the three suspects to financial crimes."
The Atlanta Community Press Collective reported the Atlanta Solidarity Fund raises money for "legal defense and bail support for first amendment protected activities" and shared a statement from the collective: "ASF understands that with social resistance comes government repression. We remain committed to supporting anyone who is targeted, and challenging the violence and overreach tactics from the Atlanta PD and DeKalb and Fulton County legal system."
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said the arrests were "about violence that occurred at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center and elsewhere" and Gov. Brian Kemp said "those who backed their (the protest groups') illegal actions are also under arrest and will face justice."
RELATED: What is 'Cop City'? Explaining the controversy around a future police training center in Atlanta
The Defend the Forest protest collective called the arrests an "attack" that "should concern all bail funds, all abortion funds, all travel funds for migrants, watchdog groups, all organized material support for people criminalized by the government."
The arrests came ahead of a much-anticipated meeting of the Atlanta City Council on Monday that could see the final approval for the city's portion of the funding of the training center, which opponents call "Cop City."
The meeting will represent one of the last official hurdles for the project, which has cleared regulatory steps and legal challenges in DeKalb County.
While the Atlanta Police Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the Atlanta Police Department, is majority-funding the project through private donations, 11Alive reported in April that by the end of June the city has to write the police foundation a check for about half of an initial $33.5 million the city has agreed to provide -- that is, once the City Council approves the payment. According to reporting last week by the Atlanta Community Press Collective, another, previously unreported provision of the funding agreement could mean the city is on the hook for another roughly $20 million.
It remains unclear if, at Monday's meeting, that other provision will be addressed by the council.
The construction of the facility is tentatively set to start in August on a portion of land in the South River Forest.
More about the training center and its opposition
The protest movement began with semi-permanent treehouse encampments in the forest in December 2021, and mushroomed after the law enforcement shooting death of a protester, Manuel Paez Teran, in January.
Officials have said Teran first shot at a Georgia State Patrol trooper as a clearing operation of the encampments was ongoing, then was killed in return fire. Teran's family and activists have strongly contested the official narrative. The lack of bodycam videos - which are not worn by state law enforcement officers such as GSP troopers or GBI agents - has left unresolved what exactly happened.
Several activists in the last few months have been arrested and charged with domestic terrorism after property was damaged at the development site.
The plan is to build the facility on land - the old Atlanta Prison Farm complex - owned by the City of Atlanta and being leased to the Atlanta Police Foundation.
The protesters have opposed the facility on environmental and historical grounds, saying it would decimate one of the largest preserved forest areas in the city and desecrate historically Native American land of the Muscogee Creek people, who once lived in the woods and called it the Weelaunee Forest before being displaced by white settlers in the early 19th Century.
The project's backers - including the law enforcement community, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond - have argued it would improve training and community ties, framing it as an answer to police reform demands to eliminate contentious policing practices and reduce tensions between the police department and the public. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-public-safety-training-center-cop-city-protests-new-arrests/85-8e5c694c-997f-48ba-8e35-4bf152ea1659 | 2023-05-31T18:04:13 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-public-safety-training-center-cop-city-protests-new-arrests/85-8e5c694c-997f-48ba-8e35-4bf152ea1659 |
ATLANTA — The Supreme Court of Georgia has decided to do away with a state law requiring lactation consultants to be licensed.
The Court decided that the Georgia Lactation Consultant Practice Act is unconstitutional. Under the act, lactation consultants could only be paid for their services if they received a state license, according to a document from the Supreme Court of Georgia.
In order to do so, consultants had to get a certification from the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), the document said.
Although the act was designed to “regulate and require licensing” for lactation consultants, many consultants opposed the act, including those with Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, one of the plaintiffs in the case.
ROSE, a nonprofit dedicated to providing breastfeeding resources among Black mothers, claimed that the required licenses were costly and unnecessary in one online post. The post went on to say that the act prevented practitioners in minority and rural communities from helping their clients.
The group, along with certified lactation consultant Mary Jackson, filed the lawsuit against Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
The plaintiffs claimed that the act violated worker's rights to due process and equal protection under the Georgia constitution, since the act would force consultants stop working in “their chosen profession,” the document said.
In addition to claiming that their rights were violated, the two plaintiffs argued that the act was unconstitutional on the grounds that there’s “no evidence that non-IBCLC providers and services have ever harmed the public,” the document added.
After hearing both sides, the court sided with Jackson and ROSE, deeming the act unconstitutional because it violates the right for providers to “pursue a lawful occupation free from unreasonable government interference,” according to the document.
Following the decision, non-licensed lactation consultants are now allowed to provide services without an IBCLC, which was the case prior to the passing of the act in 2016.
ROSE took to Facebook to celebrate the court's decision, calling it a "victory for families." | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-supreme-court-throws-out-law-requires-lactation-consultants-licensed/85-26b7688a-6605-4ab3-abc4-78cb7c687182 | 2023-05-31T18:04:19 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-supreme-court-throws-out-law-requires-lactation-consultants-licensed/85-26b7688a-6605-4ab3-abc4-78cb7c687182 |
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Swifties from across the Region are being treated to nearly door-to-door train service for the upcoming string of Taylor Swift concerts at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The operators of the South Shore passenger train service announced Wednesday that a limited number of trains will be stopping at Metra's 18th Street Station, which connects directly to a pedestrian walkway to the stadium.
Taylor Swift costumes on display in new exhibit.
The special stops will be taking place to serve the 6:30 p.m. concerts planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"As 18th St. Station is not a regularly scheduled stop, SSL passengers utilizing 18th St. for this event should purchase tickets for Museum Campus/11th Street," according to the South Shore Line.
Taylor Swift has been breaking records and delighting fans on the U.S. leg of her Eras Tour, a splashy celebration of her career and new relea…
Busing continues between the Gary Metro Center and Carroll Avenue stations, the services provider said.
"Due to limited bus capacity, passengers are strongly advised to board at Gary Metro Center, East Chicago, Hammond or Hegewisch stations."
The South Shore Line released a chart listing the trains making the concert stops.
Photos: 'Taylor Swift: Storyteller' exhibit in NYC
Costumes worn by singer Taylor Swift, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," are displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
A costume worn by singer Taylor Swift, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
A costume worn by singer Taylor Swift in her 2022 "Bejeweled" music video, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
A dress worn by singer Taylor Swift from her 2010 "Speak Now" world tour, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
Boots worn by singer Taylor Swift from her 2019 performance at MTV Awards, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
Tim Rodgers, general director for the Museum of Arts and Design, center, appears during an interview about the exhibition "Taylor Swift: Storyteller," on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in New York. The exhibition, a collection of costumes worn by Taylor Swift, runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
Costumes worn by singer Taylor Swift, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," are displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
A costume worn by singer Taylor Swift, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
A body suit costume worn by singer Taylor Swift during her 2018 "Reputation" tour, part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
Tim Rodgers, general director for the Museum of Arts and Design, center, speaks during an interview about the exhibition "Taylor Swift: Storyteller," on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in New York. The exhibition, a collection of costumes worn by Taylor Swift, runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
A costume outfit worn by singer Taylor Swift in her 2013 music video "22," part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," is displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
Costumes worn by singer Taylor Swift from her 2021 music video "I Bet You Think About Me," part of the exhibition,"Taylor Swift: Storyteller," are displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bebeto Matthews
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DALLAS (KDAF) — May 27th marked the last weekend of AAPI Month. Facebook group Asian Grub in DFDUB partnered up with Dallas’ Asian-inspired Cajun restaurant KRIO to benefit Make-A-Wish North Texas. Thus ending a month-long celebration of cultures by creating a platform for local Asian entrepreneurs for a good cause.
The Night Market stood as an example of support and opportunity for those who attended and participated. With over 20 plus vendors in the area, each person had their own individual story that inspired them to start their business. Including, those who helped put the event together.
“The Facebook group started with myself, Kimberly, Nancy, Elaine and Tran. We’re all college friends. So when the pandemic started, we were like, we need to figure out a way to like help these local Asian restaurants stay alive somehow. So we decided to start a group and then just add our friends and whatnot. So, and then we just kept adding friends and three years later, we got 50 plus to now over 50,000 people,” said Asian Grub in DFDUB Admin Vu Ly.
The group has since become a mecca for supporting Asian-owned businesses in the DFW community. Many of those featured in the group, say they owe the group support for the success seen at their business.
Owner of Coconut Paradise, a coconut jelly and dessert shop, Henry Jiang says that after a friend suggested for him to join the group, it brought more business.
“I had a Taiwanese friend who told me I should join the group after opening my store. And once I joined; it was amazing. It opened a new door for me. More people know me. So my business went to the next level,” he said.
Jiang believes events like the Night Market are important as they bring people out to experience new cultures and support new businesses.
“People are looking for fun and looking for some cultural influence. By having events like these, a lot of people get, you know, the opportunity to see different cultures and taste different foods. They are able to become involved in the community,” he said.
Many took the opportunity to promote not only food but also other brands like clothing and art. Including Linh Judin, who owns an online toys store, Itsy Bitty.
A “minority mama-owned business” that specializes in Montessorian-inspired gifts for babies. Judin drove four hours from Austin to Dallas after getting a call from a family member, who happens to be one of the owners of Krio. “I was like, super excited because I wanted to be able to showcase and be part of this event. It’s so amazing, right? I love that they’re showcasing and also showing the diversity between like, what we are capable of doing and what we have,” she continued.
Ches Rivera, owner of clothing brand, Kanto, shared the same sentiments. “It’s kind of nice to see other people come and mingle and try different types of foods that they normally wouldn’t. So it’s all about education,” he said.
The event included a live DJ, Lion dancers, a K-pop dance group called Fusion, and an opportunity for people to gather and discover new foods. As mentioned before, the event was also benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Guest Speaker Michelle Choi spoke about her experience with the foundation and how it helped changed her life for the better.
Krio Partner Connie Cheng was able to get in contact with Make-A-Wish North Texas for the event and says the proceeds made from the fast passes included in the event will go towards helping another Asian family in need.
AAPI Month proves once again that no matter your race or background, representation is important. As well as supporting your locally-owned minority businesses and communities.
Toan Luong, who works with Ampersand, a local small coffee company, put it perfectly by saying it sets the tone for the next generation. Ampersand knows what it means to represent, as they are the youngest in DFW airport history to open a location in the DFW Airport in the last 50 years.
“I think it’s really important; at least for us to participate because it sets the tone for the next generation, especially being of Asian heritage. Entrepreneurship isn’t really talked a lot. So this gives an opportunity for us not only to represent ourselves but to show like, you know, the next generation that it’s possible to start your own business,” Luong said.
Owner of Lean Hydration, an electrolyte drink company; Tang Wynn, said it’s never a better time to start than now.
“Support small local businesses! Everyone here on a food truck running … they’re all small businesses. It’s a good time to support them and see what they’re all about. See all the flavors that we pack in our dishes and our drinks,’ said Lean Hydration owner Tang Wynn.
If you missed the event and still want to donate to Make-A-Wish Foundation, you can do so here. | https://cw33.com/news/local/aapi-night-market-gives-platform-for-dfw-entrepreneurs/ | 2023-05-31T18:17:54 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/aapi-night-market-gives-platform-for-dfw-entrepreneurs/ |
DALLAS — The City of Dallas and its partners will host official Pride flag raising ceremonies at Dallas Love Field and Dallas City Hall to kick off Pride month.
Dallas Love Field's flag raising will take place at 9 a.m. on June 1. Dallas City Hall's flag raising will happen at noon.
The City of Dallas rainbow Pride flag will fly above city buildings throughout the month of June.
Among the partners attending the event are:
- Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Omar Narvaez, District 6
- Council Member Chad West, District 1
- Council Member Paul Ridley, District 14
- Dallas Mavericks
- Dallas Wings
- City of Dallas LGBT Employee Association of Dallas
- Dallas Police Department
- Dallas Fire & Rescue
- Dallas Love Field Airport
- Dallas City Hall on the Go
The Dallas Pride Parade is on Sunday, June 4. The Alan Ross Texas Free Parade will start at 2 p.m., circling the Cotton Bowl through Fair Park. There were more than 150 entries for this year's parade. Be ready for floats, bands, costumes and more.
PS: Be on the lookout for WFAA! We'll be riding along the parade route with Black Tie Dinner.
For more DFW pride events, click here.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-buildings-pride-flags/287-b9787042-da8d-44f6-9f16-e909b6c92881 | 2023-05-31T18:18:27 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-buildings-pride-flags/287-b9787042-da8d-44f6-9f16-e909b6c92881 |
DALLAS — Officers have arrested a suspect in the killing of a security guard who died following a shooting in a parking garage, according to the Dallas Police Department.
On May 19, officers responded to a shooting call at a garage in the 8200 block of Westchester Drive. The area is known to many as Preston Center West.
Officers found a man with a gunshot wound, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he later died, police said.
The victim was later identified by police as 34-year-old Adalberto Santiago. On Wednesday, Dallas police announced that on May 23, officers had arrested Antwon Osborne, 17, for the homicide.
Police said a man allegedly broke into multiple vehicles in the parking garage when a security guard confronted him. Police said a fight broke out, and the suspect shot the security guard before fleeing the scene.
Security footage of the struggle was obtained by WFAA. In it, you see the gold sedan pull out of a parking space on top of the parking garage with the security guard hanging out of the driver's door.
The sedan crashes, and then a few moments pass by before you see who is believed to be the security guard running behind the car and collapsing.
The car then speeds away.
Police said the suspect's vehicle was found at about 5 p.m. Friday in a closed business parking lot in the 2200 block of North Cockrell Hill Road.
Anyone with any information on this crime is asked to contact Detective Jonequia Acrond at 214-605-4691 or email jonequia.acrond@dallaspolice.gov. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/police-arrest-17-year-old-for-killing-of-dallas-security-guard/287-b45052ec-7839-480e-88fa-f01856d4729d | 2023-05-31T18:18:33 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/police-arrest-17-year-old-for-killing-of-dallas-security-guard/287-b45052ec-7839-480e-88fa-f01856d4729d |
Everything to know about the June 10 runoff election in North Texas
While there is much less on the ballot this election, there are still a few city council seats up for grabs in Dallas, Fort Worth and neighboring cities.
While we just had an election at the start of May, not every election finished with a clear winner. Thus, the need for a runoff election for several races around the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex on June 10.
Early voting already started Tuesday, May 30, and will continue through June 6.
These runoff elections aren't nearly as high-profile as last year's, which featured several state-level positions on the ballot. Instead, this year will feature a number of city council and school board positions up for a vote, including in Dallas and Fort Worth.
Dallas County Full Election List
Dallas City Council, Place 3
Zarin Gracey
Joe Tave
Cedar Hill City Council, Place 6
Bertha Middlebrooks
Maranda Auzenne
DeSoto City Council, Place 2
Gilbert Graim
Pierette Parker
Grand Prairie City Council, Place 7 At Large
Jeff Copeland
Bessye Adams
Irving City Council, District 3
Mark Zeske
Abdul Khabeer
Irving City Council, District 5
Heather A. Stroup
Mark Cronenwett
Seagoville City Council, Place 4
Mike Fruin
Allen Grimes
Dallas ISD Board of Trustees, District 2
Sarah Weinberg
Jimmy Tran
To look up your sample ballot or see if you're eligible to vote in Dallas County, click here.
Tarrant County Full Election List
Fort Worth City Council, District 11
Rick Herring
Jeanette Martinez
Forest Hill City Council, Place 1
Carlie Jones
Lyndia Thomas
Forest Hill City Council, Place 3
Timey Boardingham
Sonja Coleman
Grand Prairie City Council, Place 7 At Large
Jeff Copeland
Bessye Adams
White Settlement Mayor
Faron Young
Aaron James
Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees, District 5
Carin 'CJ' Evans
Kevin Lynch
Tarrant County College Board of Trustees, District 4
Bill Greenhill
Laura Forkner Pritchett
To find your sample ballot in Tarrant County, click here.
Collin County Full Election List
Anna City Council, Place 3
Stan Carver II
Kelly Herndon
Collin County Community College District Board of Trustees, Place 2
Jay Saad
Scott Coleman
Collin County Community College District Board of Trustees, Place 3
Stacey Donald
Cathie Alexander
To find your sample ballot in Collin County, click here.
How to vote What you need to bring
Are you registered to vote? You can visit this page to see if you are registered or not. If not, you can go here to register to vote online through the state. But know that the deadline to register to vote for this runoff election was May 11.
You'll need to bring a valid photo ID when you head to the polling sites to vote, this can be a number of things:
- Texas drivers licenses issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
- Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- U.S. Military Identification Card that contains the person's photograph
- U.S. Citizenship Certificate that contains the person’s photograph
- U.S. passport
Here’s what to bring if you don't have one of the accepted forms of photo ID and “cannot reasonably obtain one”:
- Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name, address, including voter’s voter registrations certificate
- Copy of or original current utility bill
- Copy of or original bank statement
- Copy of or original government check
- Copy of or original paycheck; or
- Copy of or original of (a) a certified birth certificate from a U.S. state or territory or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity
If you're unable to show a valid photo ID, but can present one of the above forms of supporting ID, you will need to fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/vote/everything-know-about-june-10-runoff-election-north-texas/287-5c8dd2ae-4ed0-4486-a976-9dd93dc8b007 | 2023-05-31T18:18:39 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/vote/everything-know-about-june-10-runoff-election-north-texas/287-5c8dd2ae-4ed0-4486-a976-9dd93dc8b007 |
MANTACHIE, Miss. (WTVA) — A fatal heart attack is believed to have caused a man to crash his vehicle into a house Tuesday morning in Mantachie.
The Mantachie Police Department identified the victim as Rodney Bishop, 45. A heart attack is the preliminary cause of death.
The crash happened at approximately 10:00 near the intersection of Highways 371 and 363.
No one inside the house was injured.
Previous Article - Driver dead after medical emergency caused car to crash into home in Mantachie | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/fatal-heart-attack-blamed-for-mantachie-crash/article_97c20bb2-ffd0-11ed-9b77-7bb211a13925.html | 2023-05-31T18:19:14 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/fatal-heart-attack-blamed-for-mantachie-crash/article_97c20bb2-ffd0-11ed-9b77-7bb211a13925.html |
BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) — Sandra Lofton Pope won Tuesday’s Ward 3 alderman runoff election.
Pope received 41 votes and Chad King received 32 votes.
Bruce City Clerk Rita Talford said there are 217 registered voters in Ward 3. Seventy-three voters participated in Tuesday’s election. Two people cast absentee ballots.
Pope is the widow of the late mayor Rudy Pope who died in January. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/pope-wins-bruce-ward-3-runoff-election/article_db96bf7c-ffcb-11ed-b6bd-4f28bdd6afa8.html | 2023-05-31T18:19:20 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/pope-wins-bruce-ward-3-runoff-election/article_db96bf7c-ffcb-11ed-b6bd-4f28bdd6afa8.html |
Michael Joseph, recently ousted from the North Miami Beach commission by his peers for repeated absences, is now looking to the court for help.
Just two days after the 3-1 commission decision to remove him from office on May 16 for missing three consecutive meetings, Joseph’s attorneys filed a motion for injunctive relief that would have him reinstated and prohibit a special election to fill his seat.
A hearing for that motion took place last Friday, where Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Peter Lopez heard testimony from either side representing Joseph and the encompassing lawsuit’s plaintiff, Vice Mayor Jay Chernoff.
Dominating the May 26 hearing was again the section of the city charter which states that the seat of any commissioner who has failed to attend a meeting for 120 days will automatically be deemed vacant. Arguments showed differing interpretations of when the charter intends for that 120-day clock to begin. Joseph’s attorneys also raised concern about whether the commission failed to fulfill quorum requirements by voting to remove Joseph with just four members present.
The North Miami Beach city charter states that a quorum shall consist of five members. City attorney John Herin, however, said that the city did not break quorum requirements because Chernoff and Commissioner McKenzie Fleurimond were present at the May 16 meeting, although they had to recuse themselves from the hearing and the vote due to their involvement in the lawsuit.
Fleurimond, who was absent for the January and February commission meetings, has since been dropped as a defendant from that lawsuit.
Joseph and Fleurimond, as well as Hans Ottinot, former city attorney for North Miami Beach, testified on the matter last week for the first time since Chernoff initially sought litigation against the two commissioners in February. Joseph had not shown up at this month’s commission hearing due to a reported heart attack but was present for Friday’s hearing.
Both commissioners have stated that they did not attend commission meetings due to legal concerns that Mayor Anthony DeFillipo’s seat was illegitimate amid a questionable residency status. Just as the charter states that commissioners in violation of the 120-day rule will automatically vacate their seat, so it states that any mayor found to live outside the city shall automatically vacate their seat.
“[My absences weren’t] for whatever reason, no. It was because of the advice of counsel. No,” said Joseph to Chernoff’s attorney, Michael Pizzi, who asked Joseph to confirm his absences regardless of the reasoning behind them. “When you say that, you’re making it seem like it was an arbitrary thing, like I just decided not to go.”
Ottinot, who had advised commissioners of DeFillipo’s potential malfeasance, denied any accusations that he had ulterior motives.
“You told commissioners or suggested that they not go to meetings in order to continue getting paid as city attorney, right?” Pizzi asked Ottinot, who was at risk of being fired by the commission before he ultimately resigned in March.
“That’s absolutely false,” Ottinot replied.
Motives aside, Lopez also has another North Miami Beach precedent to consider – that of former Commissioner Frantz Pierre, whose seat was deemed vacant in 2018 after he failed to attend meetings for several months. In that case, Jean Olin, a board-certified attorney in government law who helped write the existing charter, and Jose Smith, the city attorney at the time, both concurred on the legal opinion that began counting Pierre’s absences after his first missed meeting.
The judge has yet to make a ruling on Joseph’s request for injunction but is expected to issue a written order in coming days. If he denies the injunctive relief, the city charter states that there must be a special election held within 35-90 days after Joseph’s seat became vacated. Herin, however, revealed last week that the Miami-Dade County Elections Department is unable to accommodate that election with such short notice. | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/ousted-north-miami-beach-commissioner-in-limbo/article_e21dfa2e-ff88-11ed-bda6-0b39662bef8a.html | 2023-05-31T18:20:45 | 1 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/ousted-north-miami-beach-commissioner-in-limbo/article_e21dfa2e-ff88-11ed-bda6-0b39662bef8a.html |
Though Miami’s large bodies of water – especially its beaches – are one of many reasons tourists flock to the Magic City, they’re also likely why Miami-Dade County leads the state in drowning fatalities.
With summer fast approaching and following the recent drowning deaths of 13-year-old twin brothers Andrew and Alex Paul in a Miami-Dade lake, drowning prevention advocates and county officials say they will stop at nothing to increase water safety this summer, including respectively launching the national #WaterSafetyChampion campaign and a countywide SPLASH initiative.
The campaign, created by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), will educate parents and caregivers on multiple evidence-based drowning prevention strategies. It also includes a partnership with an unnamed children’s swimwear designer to create hang-tags with water safety information.
SPLASH – which stands for Safety, Prevention, Learn2Swim, Awareness, Saving Lives and H2O – is a comprehensive effort between the county’s Drowning Prevention Coalition; Fire Rescue; Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces department; and the mayor’s office. The initiative includes an awareness and educational component and also provides training opportunities and increased access to swim classes.
Approximately 3,572 people drown in the U.S. each year, nearly 900 of whom are children aged 0 to 19 years old, according to the Children’s Safety Network. Given the history of racial segregation at public pools and beaches and an inherited fear of water, the fatality rate is no better for Black children, who are three times more likely to die by drowning than white children, a YMCA 2021 report revealed.
“This is really a call to action,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava at a North Miami Beach press conference to announce SPLASH. “During the summer months, sadly, we know the rate of these terrible tragedies only increases, but the good news is that these deaths and near drownings are preventable. The key is water safety and education and making swimming lessons a priority for all of our young ones.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children 1-4 years of age and the second-leading cause of accidental death among those 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As was the case in the high-profile drowning death of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett’s 2-year-old daughter in a family pool earlier this month. Afrobeat star Davido – known for hit singles “Drogba (Joanna),” “If” and “No Competition” – also lost a child in a drowning incident last November. His son was 3 years old.
“Drowning risks go back up when children hit their late teenage years,” said Adam Katchmarchi, executive director of NDPA. “We usually see a spike around the age of 15, like what happened with the twin brothers, and about 80% of victims are male.
“Our campaign is really based around what we hear often from parents who have lost children to drowning, which are the words ‘I didn't know.’ There are a number of recommendations to help reduce the risk around water but one thing we’ve come to realize is that the general awareness of the risks and proper safety steps are lacking in the general population.”
Risk factors
The alarming rate at which drownings occur across the nation boils down to the following risk factors: lack of swimming ability, proximity to bodies of water, lack of supervision and lack of barriers limiting access to water.
“There is no one single solution that is going to prevent drowning,” said Katchmarchi. “It really is a multitude of prevention strategies we refer to as the Five Layers of Protection. And you integrate all those five layers together, you can really reduce the risk of drowning substantially.”
The Five Layers of Protection, the backbone of NDPA’s summer campaign, are barriers and alarms, supervision, water competency, life jackets and emergency response preparedness. Implementing the first layer would look like installing a 4-foot fence around the perimeter of a home pool, as recommended in Miami-Dade County, using self-latching gates, installing a pool alarm, having floats and life rings nearby, and using compliant drain covers.
Additional safety measures outlined in the remaining layers include having children within arm’s reach in a pool, bathtub or other body of water, and achieving water competency skills like staying afloat, knowing how to enter or safely exit the water, and understanding how to safely assist a drowning person.
“That people who have lost a child to drowning were simply bad parents couldn’t be further from the truth,” added Katchmarchi, emphasizing how 70% of drownings occur during non-swim times. “Drownings can happen in as little as 30 seconds and can be relatively silent. We want to make sure everyone has basic abilities in the water, which is different than learning to swim. Do they have the basic capabilities to either tread water, stay afloat or get to a safe area of rescue?”
Acquiring those water competency skills can be as simple as parents seeking out a nearby swim lesson provider or program. But that option may not be as readily accessible for low-income families who can’t bear the cost of lessons.
Swim safety obstacles
While NDPA’s awareness campaign focuses on educating parents and caregivers on a national scale, Miami-Dade County’s SPLASH tackles obstacles on a local level that may prevent parents from implementing the five layers of protection or similar water safety practices.
“Seventy percent of African American children, 60% of Hispanic and 40% of Caucasians children have little to no swimming ability,” said Jim O'Connor, Miami-Dade Parks’ aquatic region manager and the Drowning Prevention Coalition co-chair.
O’Connor says the county has in previous years tried to address swimming disparities by increasing the number of locations where Learn2Swim program courses are offered. At least 11 Miami-Dade County sites with pools offer swimming classes, including a senior center in Arcola Lakes for adults 55 and older who want to learn.
“Here in Miami-Dade, we have a large number of pools in the African American community,” he explained, urging parents to take classes as well. “We do realize that if the area is economically challenged, that may be something else to overcome. And how do we do that? Our lessons cost, in some areas, $1 a lesson, and we also have a limited amount of scholarships for people that can’t afford that.”
The county-offered lessons, taught by American Red Cross-certified water safety instructors, typically cost between $10 to $60 for 30-to-45-minute sessions.
At private swim schools in Miami, such as Ocaquatics Swim School, classes can cost as much as $112 per month for four lessons.
“We teach water safety tips like ‘Reach or throw, don’t go,’ so if a child’s friend were to fall in a backyard swimming pool, they would reach out a pool noodle or something for the person to grab (but) never jump in,” said Miren Oca, founder of Ocaquatics. “Sometimes it’s not just falling into a pool … but knowing your environment and reducing the risks, like if you were swimming at a beach and there are riptides.”
Oca, who teaches courses for 6-month-olds up to adulthood, encourages parents to apply for scholarships provided either through her school, the county or organizations like the Hope Floats Foundation, to ensure their children’s survival in the water.
“Don’t let the financial realities of swim lessons be a barrier to getting your child in swim classes as early as possible,” said Katchmarchi. “We have a swim lesson checklist that we’ve developed that arms parents with questions to ask when choosing a learn-to-swim provider. One of the most critical questions is ‘What is my child learning in these lessons?’”
“One of the major challenges we’re having, not only in Miami-Dade County but in Florida and nationally, is there are not enough lifeguards and there’s not enough swim instructors out there. We’re roughly 100 lifeguards short of what we were at pre-COVID,” noted O’Connor.
In order to meet the swimming instruction needs of the county, O’Connor told The Miami Times his department will increase the pay for lifeguards and has agreed to cover the certification costs for instructors willing to teach in their Learn2Swim program.
“Too many children in our community don’t know how to swim and that has to change,” said Levine Cava. “With so much water surrounding us here in Miami-Dade County, swimming is a critical life skill for everyone – our children [and] our adults – one drowning is too many.” | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/preventing-summer-fun-from-turning-into-drowning-deaths/article_c7110b6a-ffbd-11ed-bba4-8fbbcc15b035.html | 2023-05-31T18:20:51 | 0 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/preventing-summer-fun-from-turning-into-drowning-deaths/article_c7110b6a-ffbd-11ed-bba4-8fbbcc15b035.html |
The Miami Heat has their superstar in Jimmy Butler. But it has been the collective performance of its unsung players that has helped the team reach the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets in what could be a historic showdown.
The Heat can become the first play-in team and the first eighth-seed ever to win an NBA championship, but they’ll need the continuing efforts of players like Bam Adebayo, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry to beat the Western Conference champion Nuggets in the best-of-seven series that begins with Game 1 Thursday night in Denver.
“Everybody’s confidence is so high,” Butler said after the Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 103-84 Monday night to win Game 7 of a series Miami led 3-0. “We believe we can do something incredibly special. We're going to hit the ground running when we get to Denver. I like our chances.”
Butler, who was named the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals, has been magical during the postseason, averaging 28.5 points per game. But it has been his supporting cast that has made the Heat just the second eighth-seed in NBA history to reach the finals, matching the 1999 New York Knicks who lost the title to San Antonio.
Martin, an undrafted player, averaged 11.4 points per game during the regular season. But with Tyler Herro out with a hand injury, Martin averaged 19.3 points per game in the series against the Celtics, including 26 points in the Game 7 win.
“Caleb is a competitor,” Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said. “When you get to the higher stakes, the more competitors are going to reveal themselves. You have to be wired a little different and Caleb is. He lays it all out there for everybody to see.”
Same for Vincent, who averaged 13.1 points per game in the playoffs, and Lowry, the proven veteran. Together they have operated the Heat’s offense to precession. Adebayo (16.8 points and 9.2 rebounds) has been an active presence near the basketball at both ends of the floor.
“We’ve got some hoopers,” Butler said, “some real deal basketball players.
Miami will continue to need multiple contributions against the Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games and should be well rested. Denver center Nikola “The Joker” Jokic might be the best player in the league, and guard Jamal Murray is every bit as dynamic as Butler. Jokic, the Western Conference finals MPV, is averaging 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists during a playoff run.
“We have to make him take tough shots and try to limit his assists,” Adebayo said of Jokic. “It sounds easier said than done.”
Look for Miami to use multiple defense schemes, especially its zone to contain Denver's high-octane offense.
“This is super high-level competition,” Martin said. “You can’t hide.”
While the supporting cast will be vital to the Heat’s success, Butler must be the engine if Miami can claim its fourth NBA title in franchise history.
“You have to have a guy you can hold on to in those moments of truth,” Spoelstra said of Butler. “There’s no way to quantify the confidence he can instill in everybody.”
The Nuggets beat the Heat in their two meetings this year, with Denver winning 124-119 at home in December and 112-108 in Miami in February. The Nuggets, who are seeking their first NBA title, have won nine of their last 10 meetings against Miami.
But history doesn't matter in this series. Most of the Heat feels like Martin.
“The job is not done yet,” he said. “We didn’t go through all we had to go through and my personal journey to stop here. We’ve got four more to go.” | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/the-miami-heat-prepare-to-take-on-the-denver-nuggets-in-the-nba-finals/article_1e0dddb4-ffbc-11ed-bdd9-536bb799522e.html | 2023-05-31T18:20:58 | 0 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/the-miami-heat-prepare-to-take-on-the-denver-nuggets-in-the-nba-finals/article_1e0dddb4-ffbc-11ed-bdd9-536bb799522e.html |
In a prosecution believed to be a national first, a former Florida sheriff’s deputy is about to be tried on charges he failed to confront the gunman who murdered 14 students and three staff members at a Parkland high school five years ago.
Jury selection begins today in the trial of former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson, who remained outside a three-story classroom building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during Nikolas Cruz’s six-minute attack Feb. 14, 2018. Opening statements are scheduled for early June; the trial could last two months.
Peterson, 60, is charged with seven counts of felony child neglect for four students killed and three wounded on the 1200 building’s third floor. Peterson arrived at the building with his gun drawn 73 seconds before Cruz reached that floor, but instead of entering, he backed away as gunfire sounded. He has said he didn’t know where the shots were coming from.
Peterson is also charged with three counts of misdemeanor culpable negligence for the adults shot on the third floor, including a teacher and an adult student who died. He also faces a perjury charge for allegedly lying to investigators. He could get nearly a century in prison if convicted on the child neglect counts and lose his $104,000 annual pension.
Prosecutors did not charge Peterson in connection with the 11 killed and 13 wounded on the first floor before he arrived at the building. No one was shot on the second floor.
According to the National Association of School Resource Officers, which represents campus police, Peterson is the first U.S. law enforcement officer tried for allegedly failing to act during a school shooting. Texas authorities are investigating the officers who didn’t confront the Uvalde gunman who killed 19 elementary students and two teachers last year, but none have been charged.
Peterson “is just a coward,” Andrew Pollack said, calling him an obscenity. His 18-year-old daughter, Meadow, was the adult student murdered on the third floor. “He wouldn’t have gone in with full body armor and a bazooka.”
Other victims’ relatives have made similar statements.
Peterson has insisted he would have confronted Cruz but thought the shots came from a sniper, perhaps firing from nearby trees. A deputy for 32 years, he had been at Stoneman Douglas for nine years after 19 years at other schools. He said after a hearing last week that he is “eager” for the trial to start.
“I want the truth to come out, and if it is going to be through a trial, so be it,” Peterson said. “Not only the people in Florida, the country, most importantly the families, they need to know the truth about what happened, because unfortunately it has never been told.”
Peterson retired shortly after the shooting and then was fired retroactively.
Robert Jarvis, a Nova Southeastern University law professor, said there is no question Peterson deserved firing but prosecuting him “seems like such an overreach.”
“Peterson is an easy punching bag, but many, many people failed on Feb. 14,” he said. “Peterson ... is being made into a scapegoat.”
To gain a conviction, prosecutors must convince jurors that Peterson knew Cruz was firing inside the building and that his actions and inaction exposed the victims to harm. | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/trial-to-start-for-broward-deputy-over-parkland-tragedy/article_a79405be-ff7f-11ed-a106-4f1db51cd109.html | 2023-05-31T18:21:04 | 0 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/trial-to-start-for-broward-deputy-over-parkland-tragedy/article_a79405be-ff7f-11ed-a106-4f1db51cd109.html |
DALLAS — The City of Dallas and its partners will host official Pride flag raising ceremonies at Dallas Love Field and Dallas City Hall to kick off Pride month.
Dallas Love Field's flag raising will take place at 9 a.m. on June 1. Dallas City Hall's flag raising will happen at noon.
The City of Dallas rainbow Pride flag will fly above city buildings throughout the month of June.
Among the partners attending the event are:
- Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Omar Narvaez, District 6
- Council Member Chad West, District 1
- Council Member Paul Ridley, District 14
- Dallas Mavericks
- Dallas Wings
- City of Dallas LGBT Employee Association of Dallas
- Dallas Police Department
- Dallas Fire & Rescue
- Dallas Love Field Airport
- Dallas City Hall on the Go
The Dallas Pride Parade is on Sunday, June 4. The Alan Ross Texas Free Parade will start at 2 p.m., circling the Cotton Bowl through Fair Park. There were more than 150 entries for this year's parade. Be ready for floats, bands, costumes and more.
PS: Be on the lookout for WFAA! We'll be riding along the parade route with Black Tie Dinner.
For more DFW pride events, click here.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-buildings-pride-flags/287-b9787042-da8d-44f6-9f16-e909b6c92881 | 2023-05-31T18:25:13 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-buildings-pride-flags/287-b9787042-da8d-44f6-9f16-e909b6c92881 |
MEMPHIS, Tennessee — The street watermelon vendor identified as 76-year-old John Materna, who was shot at the corner of Homer and Wayne Ave. during a robbery on May 15, died Monday morning at Regional One Hospital, Memphis Police Department (MPD) said.
According to MPD, a 15-year-old was arrested as a suspect in the shooting on Monday, May 29.
The teen faces several charges, including first degree murder, first degree murder in perpetration of a felony to wit: robbery, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
We reached out to Juvenile Court, which said it is unable to release records for any history the 15-year-old has in the juvenile system.
MPD originally said two suspects were involved in the robbery. MPD has not confirmed whether they are still searching for a second suspect.
Statement from the Materna family
The Materna family released the following statement to ABC24 about the death of their loved one:
"The tragic loss if this incredible husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend is massive. He is loved by so many people, so much that I don't think he himself knew the amount of love and admiration that was felt for him. We love you, we miss you and will always miss you. We will cherish every memory we have of you. We want to thank the community for the love and support they have shown. Here's a big wave from the Watermelon Man. Love, The Materna's."
Background
MPD officers responded to a shooting call around 9:45 a.m. Monday, May 15, 2023, in the area of Homer St. and Wayne Ave. near Macon.
According to court documents, officers found John Materna lying on the ground at the corner of Homer and Wayne suffering from a gunshot wound on his left side. A black revolver was also lying next to him, the affidavit said. He was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.
A man told police that Materna regularly sold watermelons out of the back of his truck in the area where he was shot, according to MPD.
A witness and friend of Materna told investigators that he and Materna were leaning up against the passenger side of Materna's truck when a silver four-door sedan pulled up to the four-way stop facing northbound on Homer, the affidavit said.
The witness told police the driver and another man got out of the car, approached them, and patted them down, tapping their front pant pockets with one of them, saying "up it," the affidavit said.
Materna pulled out his black Smith and Wesson .38 special revolver, and that's when one of the suspects fired a shot, the affidavit said.
Police said Materna was struck on his left side, and he fired one shot toward the suspects before falling to the ground.
The two suspects fled heading northbound on Homer. Police said a witness took a picture of the Infiniti. The Infiniti had a paper tag with the word 'RETIRED' on it.
Another witness told investigators she was in her home and saw the shooting from her window before getting her first-aid kit to help Materna, the affidavit said.
One other witness said he saw it all happen while sitting in his car, according to MPD.
A couple days after the shooting, Memphis Police released surveillance pictures from a separate robbery, showing a suspect vehicle that matched the description of the Infiniti that fled from Homer and Wayne after Materna was shot.
MPD said about 10 minutes before Materna was robbed and shot near Homer and Wayne, officers responded to a robbery in the 800 block of Berclair Rd.
Investigators said the victim was doing yard work when two suspects driving the same silver Infiniti with the word 'RETIRED' on a paper tag got out of the car and pointed a gun at the victim. They said one suspect patted the victim down and took his keys while the other held him at gunpoint.
Investigators said both suspects were about 18-years-old, one wearing all black clothing, and the other in a green shirt. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/watermelon-vendor-dies-2-weeks-after-being-shot-in-attempted-robbery-police-say/522-118cbdea-89ea-4e5c-9cde-a7760c33b38f | 2023-05-31T18:25:19 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/watermelon-vendor-dies-2-weeks-after-being-shot-in-attempted-robbery-police-say/522-118cbdea-89ea-4e5c-9cde-a7760c33b38f |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland's Department of Transportation is experiencing issues with their network.
Currently its having an impact on real-time MTA bus and mobility services.
The MVA also appears to be having some system issues.
WMAR-2 News is working to confirm more information.
If you missed your Mobility trip or have a trip scheduled, please call 410-591-5611 and leave a voicemail. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/network-issues-causing-disruptions-at-maryland-department-of-transportation | 2023-05-31T18:25:31 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/network-issues-causing-disruptions-at-maryland-department-of-transportation |
Stanton started as a Part-Time Deputy in May 2006 and worked until November 2006. She left for a Security Job at Bay Area Hospital but couldn’t stay away long; she knew she could make a lasting impact with the Sheriff’s Office, so she applied for a full-time position.
Stanton returned as a sworn Corrections Deputy in May 2008, and due to how the training program was at the time, she learned on the fly. Her 20-year military background was evident as she showed no quit and stuck with it despite the many trials one is expected to face in this line of work.
She showed exceptional job knowledge by becoming a Field Training Officer (FTO) in April 2011. She has trained many outstanding deputies by leading with an iron fist while using her sense of humor to keep everyone around her on their toes and enjoying each day.
In 2015 we cut back to 49 beds due to a significant staffing shortfall, and Stanton stayed through the hard times and further staff shortages to become a Watch Commander in June of 2018.
In August of 2018, we went back to 100 beds, and her experience eased the transition for the jail staff. She made herself available to help any member who struggled with the increased supervision workload.
When the Corrections Division moved to 12-hour shifts in April 2019, Stanton was one of the first new Court Crew Deputies and has held that position since. Court staff routinely remark on her outstanding job and how she handles the public.
Adults in Custody (AIC) and Deputies share the respect given to Stanton. She has helped young and old deputies by sharing their passion for the work, and she always has an unmatched wicked sense of humor. To this day AICs remark, “Don’t let her size fool you; she’s not to be messed with.”
Fifteen years of continuous service to the county cannot be wrapped up in a few words when you add her sense of humor and Southern Charm. Stories galore will be shared during this exciting yet sad day for the Sheriff’s Office. We are indeed losing a good one. Thank you, Deputy Stanton. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coos-county-deputy-c-stanton-retires-after-15-years-of-service/article_10ae9af4-ffcc-11ed-98a0-3b83ecbd03fb.html | 2023-05-31T18:25:58 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coos-county-deputy-c-stanton-retires-after-15-years-of-service/article_10ae9af4-ffcc-11ed-98a0-3b83ecbd03fb.html |
Balloons adorned the outside of Ira’s Asian Market in North Bend while sweet and savory scents wafted from the building. Inside, Amy Olegario was busy helping customers. Her daughter and friends were also on-hand for the special occasion.
Ira’s Asian Market celebrated their five-year anniversary earlier this month.
The market specializes in Filipino food-items, both packaged and freshly made. They also accept catering orders for parties and special occasions, and have gift certificates available.
Amy owns the business with her husband Ramil Olegario. She said she was attracted to start the business because she loves to share her food with the community.
She also wanted to do it for her daughter Ira, who has a developmental disability. It’s something they can do together, she said.
“Having this, my daughter learns a lot, and she has made a lot of friends,” Olegario said.
“Plus I also love cooking so I love to share it with everyone,” she said.
Being a business owner also gives the family some flexibility to also be able to do things together outside, she added.
Over the past five years, Ira’s Market has opened many community members’ eyes (and mouths) to dishes they had never tried before.
Olegario cooks up food items like chicken adobo, shrimp and noodles, Lumpia spring rolls, and Kare Kare, a traditional Filipino stew.
A lot of people aren’t familiar with the food, so she says; “Just give it a taste.”
“If you don’t like it – that is fine. But I’ve least I’ve shared with you what Filipino food is,” Olegario said. “Fortunately, people are liking it. Nobody has ever complained.”
Ira’s Asian Market is located at 1058 Virginia Ave. in North Bend. They can be reached at (541) 603-1018. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/ira-s-asian-market-celebrates-five-years-in-business/article_45523c66-fbee-11ed-a0b3-d796db4926a5.html | 2023-05-31T18:26:00 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/ira-s-asian-market-celebrates-five-years-in-business/article_45523c66-fbee-11ed-a0b3-d796db4926a5.html |
Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 27 matching grants worth $5,000,000 to Oregon Main Street Network organizations across the state for building projects that encourage economic revitalization.
The department funded applications that best conveyed the ability to stimulate private investment and local economic development, best fit within the community’s long-range plan for downtown vitality, and community need.
The Reedsport Main Street Program will receive $200,000 in matching funds for roofs, awnings, electrical and plumbing improvements to seven commercial buildings in downtown Reedsport.
HEATING SYSTEM – Post Office 301 Fir Avenue
Currently leased by the U.S. Post Office, the property has had exterior repair through a previous Revitalization Grant. The property is owned by Dr. Robert Mans who plans to replace the heating system with this current grant cycle.
ROOF– 302 Rainbow Plaza formerly the Ice House
This property is rumored to have occupied the first Icehouse in Reedsport. The 2023 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant will assist with a roof replacement. Owners Jill Nelson and Robb Crocker, with Opportas LLC, plan to restore the apartments upstairs, which will have breathtaking views, and reopen the main floor to a commercial retail space.
AWNING– Welcome Hotel 339 Fir Avenue
The historic Welcome Hotel was purchased in 2019 by Robb Crocker, who grew up in Reedsport and returned to reinvest in his hometown. He restored the entire exterior of the building and renovated 10 upstairs apartments and two street level commercial spaces. With this grant cycle, he plans to replace the metal awning to restore the look of the Welcome Hotel of when it was originally constructed in 1925.
AWNING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING – 417 Fir Avenue & 242 4th Street
Mindpower Gallery will be expanding its retail space and adding new services with the renovation within these two adjoining properties. With the grant assistance, owners Tara Szalewski and Tamara Szalewski plan to add a new awning to the 4thStreet property, as well as updating electrical and plumbing in the interior renovation of the two properties. Mindpower Gallery has operated out of 417 Fir Avenue for over 30 years. With the addition of the 4th Street property, it will allow them to expand their service offerings.
ROOF– 485 Greenwood Avenue
Formerly the Three Rivers Rebekah Lodge #240, this property was constructed in 1942. Owner Kirk Collier plans to utilize the grant for roof repair.
ROOF- 489 – 495 Fir Avenue
This property has been known as the Old Bank Building for many, many years. It has housed a variety of businesses including a local newspaper. Owner Marilyn Reece-Sullivan plans replace the roof during this grant cycle.
ROOF- 776 E Railroad Avenue
The former Umpqua Industrial Supply Co. sits on the far west side of Reedsport’s Historic District. In 2021, young entrepreneur and local contractor, Bruce Girard, purchased the property which had sat vacant for seven years. Bruce grew up in Reedsport and wants to give back to his hometown by improving his community and offering retail space to others. With the 2023 Oregon Revitalization Grant, he plans to replace the roof. Additional restorations will follow later.
The grant program was created during the 2015 legislative session and placed with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The legislation established a permanent fund for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant and provided an initial infusion of funds from the sale of lottery bonds. The legislature included the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant in the lottery bond package approved in 2021. If funded by the 2023 state legislature, there will be future grant rounds in the 24 -25 biennium. The funds must be used to award grants to participating Oregon Main Street Network organizations to acquire, rehabilitate or construct buildings to facilitate community revitalization. The program also requires that at least 50 percent of the funds go to rural communities as defined in the bill. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/photos-reedsport-main-street-program-receives-200-000-grant/article_2714b7fe-ffc9-11ed-a8b6-d342d47d3d70.html | 2023-05-31T18:26:01 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/photos-reedsport-main-street-program-receives-200-000-grant/article_2714b7fe-ffc9-11ed-a8b6-d342d47d3d70.html |
What are abortion laws in Wisconsin nearly a year after Roe v. Wade was overturned? 5 things to know.
It's been nearly a year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the case that made it a constitutional right to an abortion.
With no federal standards in place since June 2022, it's been up to states to enact their own laws and in many cases revert to what was in place before Roe v. Wade went into effect.
Abortion, as a result, has been one of the top issues in Wisconsin for the last 12 months and at the forefront of elections over the last year. So, where do we stand in Wisconsin and what's ahead for abortion laws in the state? Here are five things to know and the impact it has on women.
Wisconsin reverted back to an 1849 abortion law
The state quickly shifted to a law that was previously in place from the 1800s after Roe v. Wade was overturned, sparking uproar from pro-choice advocates and praise in the pro-life circles. The law bans doctors from performing abortions except when the mother would die without having the procedure. Doctors could face a felony crime of up to six years in prison if they give a woman an abortion.
The current ruling has forced medical professionals to delay decisions about health care in high-risk pregnancies because of the uncertainty and fear over legal consequences, the Journal Sentinel has learned.
A lawsuit filed by Attorney General Josh Kaul could set stage for reversal
Attorney General Josh Kaul issued a lawsuit with the state court after Wisconsin's 19th century law went into effect. In short, it sought to clarify the ruling on whether the ban is still in effect and contests that laws passed since Roe v. Wade should override the 1849 ruling. If a judge rules in their favor, abortions would be allowed in order to preserve the health of the mother, based on a law enacted in 1985.
Also, abortion would be legal up until 20 weeks of pregnancy. That rule was passed under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. For 26 years up until 2022, women seeking abortions also had to participate in counseling and wait 24 hours before their procedure.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Diane Schlipper heard arguments earlier this month, but has yet to make a ruling.
Abortion law will likely go to Wisconsin's Supreme Court
After Schlipper makes a ruling, it's almost a guarantee that it will be challenged one way or another before the seven-member Wisconsin Supreme Court. That's important because the Supreme Court has now shifted to a liberal majority after Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Justice Daniel Kelly in the spring election.
It's the first time in 15 years that the state's highest court has liberal control. And it's likely Protasiewicz would side with Kaul since she often spoke about fighting for a women's right to choose during her campaign. She told the Journal Sentinel before her general election win that while she had personal views regarding the abortion issue, she pointed out it's important to "see what the arguments are that come before the court."
Wisconsin's lawmakers are talking about abortion a lot but nothing is being passed
Several proposed laws have come before the Republican-controlled Legislature this year. None have passed and even if they would they likely won't go into effect since Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has said he'd veto them.
Here are a few abortion-related items from lawmakers.
- Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said last year in order for women and girls to get an abortion he would require them to get a police report to show they are a victim of sexual assault or incest.
- A Republican-authored bill, backed by Vos, would allow for abortions under certain exceptions like sexual assault, incest and when the mother is experiencing serious complications. However, Wisconsin's Republican Senate leaders aren't in favor of it and won't even discuss it.
- GOP Sen. Andre Jacque has authored a bill that would ban public officials from promoting the idea of abortion.
- A Republican-led package in the Assembly would change the definition of abortion as a way to ensure pregnancy complications are not affected by the abortion ban.
- Democratic lawmakers want to require insurance providers to cover maternity and newborn care as an essential health benefit.
Wisconsin's neighboring states like Illinois and Minnesota have passed laws making it easier to get an abortion
Wisconsin's surrounding states do not have as restrictive abortion bans like Wisconsin does.
Illinois: Abortions are allowed until a fetus is viable, or after if the life and health of the pregnant person is at risk. Illinois has over 10,000 patients a year from other states for abortion care, and that number increased dramatically since June 2022, the governor's office says. Earlier this year, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signed a major reproductive rights protections bill.
Michigan: After Roe v. Wade was overturned, a Michigan court blocked the state's previous abortion ban to continue access for the state. Voters then approved of abortion rights during the fall 2022 election.
Minnesota: Abortions in Minnesota are legal up until fetal viability, or after if the pregnant person's life and health is at risk. Minnesota’s Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that women have a right to an abortion.
Iowa: Abortion is legal until 20 weeks of pregnancy, unless life and physical health are at risk. But, according to the Des Moines Register, the Iowa Supreme Court is set to reconsider a 2018 law that would ban most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/05/31/wisconsin-abortion-laws-year-after-roe-v-wade-overturned/70273037007/ | 2023-05-31T18:29:32 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/05/31/wisconsin-abortion-laws-year-after-roe-v-wade-overturned/70273037007/ |
A 12-year-old Wisconsin boy has made the semifinals of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee
A 12-year-old Wisconsin boy has advanced to Wednesday's semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya was one of 231 spellers this year to advance through regional spelling bees to become a national competitor. There are four segments to the competition: the preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. The semifinals start at 1:30 p.m. Central and are being livestreamed on the bee's website. The finals are Thursday night.
Wijeyakulasuriya, Speller No. 230, is a seventh-grader at Blessed Sacrament School in Madison, according to his bio on the bee's website. He's being sponsored in the competition by the Wisconsin State Journal.
On Tuesday, during the event's first round, Wijeyakulasuriya spelled the word "bahuvrihi" correctly. In that round, 172 spellers advanced and 59 were eliminated.
During Round 2 Tuesday, he correctly answered what the word "meridian" means to become one of the 139 spellers to advance, with 32 eliminated.
In the third round Tuesday, Wijeyakulasuriya spelled "burpee" correctly, advancing to the quarterfinals — 121 spellers moved forward that round and 19 were eliminated.
"Aiden's spelling skills have almost inspired us to do some burpees....almost," the Scripps National Spelling Bee tweeted Tuesday night.
During Round 4 Wednesday morning, Wijeyakulasuriya spelled "glomerulonephritis" correctly, as 73 spellers advanced and 48 were eliminated.
Later Wednesday morning, in Round 5, he correctly answered what to "forswear" something means. He was one of 56 spellers to advance to the semifinals, as 17 were eliminated.
This isn't Wijeyakulasuriya's first time competing in the National Spelling Bee. In 2019, he tied for 51st place.
When Aiden isn't spelling, he enjoys tennis, Taekwondo, piano, oboe, Boy Scouts, traveling, playing games with family and writing, per his bio on the bee's website. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/05/31/wisconsin-boy-12-competing-in-scripps-national-spelling-bee/70272924007/ | 2023-05-31T18:29:33 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/05/31/wisconsin-boy-12-competing-in-scripps-national-spelling-bee/70272924007/ |
Mandan School Board member Heidi Schuchard is resigning, and the board is seeking letters from people interested in filling her seat.
Schuchard is moving out of the Mandan School District, making her ineligible to continue serving on the board. She will step down effective Thursday. Schuchard, a youth worker with the Mandan Police Department, was elected to the board last June.
The board can either call a special election or appoint someone to fill the seat until the next regular election, on June 11, 2024. The board decided on the latter option.
Any resident of the school district who is at least 18 years old is eligible to serve on the board. Interested people should submit a letter by 4 p.m. on June 16 to: Ryan.Lagasse@msd1.org, or Ryan Lagasse, Business Manager, Mandan Public Schools, 901 Division St. NW, Mandan, ND 58554.
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More information on the nine-member School Board is at bit.ly/3ML5SKQ. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/education/mandan-school-board-member-resigns-applicants-sought/article_d958d1e8-ffd3-11ed-9831-0f8ea1919146.html | 2023-05-31T18:29:52 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/education/mandan-school-board-member-resigns-applicants-sought/article_d958d1e8-ffd3-11ed-9831-0f8ea1919146.html |
A small airplane contracted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture crashed in Morton County on Tuesday, injuring the pilot and passenger.
The single-engine Piper Super Cub crashed in a field west of St. Anthony shortly before 8 a.m., according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office. USDA had contracted the private plane to dispatch coyotes at a landowner’s request. A preliminary investigation suggested the plane stalled as the pilot attempted to turn at low altitude in the area of County Roads 136 and 82.
The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries, authorities said. Their names were not immediately released.
The airplane was heavily damaged, according to the sheriff's office.
The Federal Aviation Administration and sheriff’s office are investigating the crash. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/mandan/small-plane-crashes-in-morton-county-pilot-passenger-suffer-minor-injuries/article_ad40afda-ffd4-11ed-b2e7-53e4843f3b83.html | 2023-05-31T18:29:59 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/mandan/small-plane-crashes-in-morton-county-pilot-passenger-suffer-minor-injuries/article_ad40afda-ffd4-11ed-b2e7-53e4843f3b83.html |
June can be miserable in Tucson — the heat ramps up and there’s typically little rain. But for Carolyn Blair, June is a month to celebrate.
It was 2018 when she purchased nearly 3,000 lavender plants after previously using lavender for medicinal reasons and feeling in awe of the lavender fields she visited in Washington State.
At the time, she was told it would take about three years to see her first big lavender harvest — but the bloom happened in one.
Lavender begins to bloom around Memorial Day and hits its peak in mid-June. This year marks Blair’s fifth bloom season in Oracle, the tiny town about an hour north of downtown Tucson.
She’s the owner of Life Under the Oaks Farm, 1221 N. Rancho Robles Road, which is home to not only a lavender field but an on-site boutique, events and lavender picking.
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“I never get tired of it, every year. It’s exciting when it starts blooming, just seeing it change. You can go out daily and just see that the plants have grown,” Blair says. “What I like is being out there when the public is there. I’m just walking around or sitting and making lavender wands. People don’t know who I am but hearing all the comments and seeing how happy people are — that’s the reason we do it.
“Sometimes we talk to people and they say it’s so amazing — and it just makes you feel good,” she says. “It’s nice to offer a place for people to get away and get a little break from the real world.”
During this year’s bloom season, the farm is hosting a number of events — yoga in the lavender field, charcuterie dates, workshops to build your own lavender wreaths and lavender wands. You can also enjoy a lavender dinner at the farm, complete with lavender-inspired food prepared by Oracle Patio Cafe. The dinner is usually hosted twice during bloom season, but it’ll be held only once this year.
“People don’t know lavender can be used in so many things, but it’s like the cousin of rosemary,” Blair says.
One of Blair’s favorite events, though, is the fairy festival. It’s a day for adults and kids to put on their fairy wings as they roam through the lavender fields on a treasure hunt, create their own flower crown and enjoy scoops of lavender ice cream.
“It’s just so beautiful to see all the little kids out there with the little wings on,” Blair says.
If you’re not at the farm for an event, you can pay $5 to visit the field (and add on a lavender-infused lunch while you’re at it). On certain days, you can even pick your own lavender for $10 a bundle. Blair recommends registering online so they know how many people to expect throughout the day.
When July rolls around — ideally before monsoon hits — folks from the farm begin to harvest the lavender to eventually infuse into items like lotion and lip balm, which are made in collaboration with a lavender farm in northern Arizona. Items are sold in the farm’s boutique and in Tucson at Blair’s shop The Lavender Manor, 347 E. Fourth St.
And then the bloom is over — until next year.
“It’s kinda like the holidays. If we had them all the time, we wouldn’t appreciate them as much,” Blair says.
Events during bloom season
- Lavender Wreath Workshop — Several dates in June and July. $45.
- Yoga in the Lavender Field — 8 a.m. Sundays, June 4 and June 11. $25.
- Charcuterie Dinner Date — 6 p.m. Saturday, June 10. $50-$75 per couple.
- Lavender Wand Workshop — 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Wednesdays, June 7-21 and Sunday, June 25. $45.
- Lavender Dinner — 6 p.m. Saturday, June 17. $65.
- Fairy Festival — 5 p.m. Saturday, June 24. $17 for adults, free for kids ages 12 and under.
To visit the farm but not attend an event, entry is $5 per adult or free for kids ages 12 and under. U-Pick lavender is $10 per bundle, offered from 8-10 a.m. closer to mid-June for the bloom peak. It's recommended to reserve a space online so the team knows how many people to expect throughout the day.
Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, with the last entry at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit the farm's website. | https://tucson.com/news/local/lavender-is-blooming-at-this-whimsical-farm-north-of-tucson/article_5ed63726-ff10-11ed-ad13-bbc104282f74.html | 2023-05-31T18:31:39 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/lavender-is-blooming-at-this-whimsical-farm-north-of-tucson/article_5ed63726-ff10-11ed-ad13-bbc104282f74.html |
CARROLLTON, Ala. (WIAT) — Many in Pickens County are disappointed that lawmakers decided not to approve millions of dollars in funding that was reportedly allocated to be used to possibly reopen the Pickens County Medical Center.
Aliceville Mayor Terrence Windham said he is frustrated and upset because anyone needing urgent emergency medical care will have to travel 40 miles away to Tuscaloosa or Mississippi. Pickens County Medical Center, which was the only hospital in the area, was closed in 2020 due to financial hardships.
“As a Mayor and as a citizen of Aliceville I am furious with not our House of Representatives but specifically Senator Gerald Allen for voting this down because he has given us so many promises but failed to come through,” Windham said.
Last Friday, lawmakers decided not to provide $8 million to try and reopen the hospital, but even though things didn’t go the way many had hoped for, State Senator Gerald Allen said he still supports the effort to reopen the hospital and hopes to get funding down the road.
“Certainly, we are not going to through the towel in and we’ve just begun to fight to get the funding that Pickens county medical center needs and we had a good program set up to help that hospital, but we are not going to give up on the issue,” Allen said.
Pickens County Ambulance said five patients died last year while traveling to out-of-town hospitals.
“It is a huge disappointment and sadly, probably more lives will be lost because of that decision, but all we can do is what we can do,” ambulance service manager Vicky McCrory said.
McCrory said that despite not getting what they wanted from lawmakers, they will still be fighting to get the Medical center reopened sometime in the future. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-lawmakers-decide-not-to-provide-funds-to-reopen-defunct-pickens-county-medical-center/ | 2023-05-31T18:33:11 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-lawmakers-decide-not-to-provide-funds-to-reopen-defunct-pickens-county-medical-center/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A new bill in the Alabama Legislature would make it possible for “baby boxes” to be placed across the state to allow a newborn baby that is abandoned to be safely and quickly cared for.
Monica Kelsey, better known “The Baby Box Lady,” started the nonprofit “Safe Haven Baby Boxes” in 2016 out of Woodburn, Indiana in an effort to make a safe and anonymous environment for a newborn baby that is surrendered.
Safe Haven’s mission statement is to “prevent illegal abandonment of newborns by raising awareness, offering a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis and offering the Safe Haven Baby Boxes as a last resort option for women who want to maintain complete anonymity.”
Kelsey’s goal is to have baby boxes in in various locations such as fire stations and hospitals across the country by 2025.
“We cut a hole out of the side of the firehouse, and we slide the box in. And then when a parent walks up to one of these boxes, all she has to do is open the door, place an unharmed newborn inside, shut the door, and walk away,” Kelsey said.
Once the parent puts the infant in the box, a 911 call is made and have the ability to heat or cool depending on the weather. The babies are picked up by emergency service around “two minutes after the parent places them inside.”
Kelsey founded Safe Haven Baby Boxes due to her own story.
“A 17-year-old girl was brutally attacked and raped and left along the side of the road. She gave birth in April of 1973 and abandoned her child two hours after that child was born,” she said. “And that child was me.”
Kelsey wants to stand on the front lines to protect and help kids not be abandoned and given up in woods or streets.
Kelsey and Safe Haven Baby Boxes were brought into the spotlight in 2021 due to a series of TikTok videos that quickly went viral.
Kelsey is very hopeful that baby boxes come to Alabama. Recently, Mississippi passed legislation to receive baby boxes and Tennessee has had them since this past February.
“In Indiana, before baby boxes, we found two dead infants in our state every year. And we launched in April of 2016 at my firehouse in Woodburn, Indiana. And we haven’t had a dead infant in our state since, and we’ve had 25 infants in our boxes. And so, when you look at those stats, and you look at what we’ve done just in one state, think of what we can do across the country.”
The “Safe Haven Expansion Bill” would make it legal for the Baby boxes to be set up in Alabama and allow a parent up to 45 days old to surrender their infant to emergency services. Under current law, a parent may surrender infant up to 72 hours old to an emergency medical services provider.
The Alabama legislature is set to end Thursday. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-legislature-looking-to-bring-baby-boxes-to-state/ | 2023-05-31T18:33:17 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-legislature-looking-to-bring-baby-boxes-to-state/ |
WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — A settlement has been reached in the case of a woman who died in the custody of Walker County Jail in 2018.
The settlement was reached on Thursday between plaintiff Michael W. Harris, father of Autumn Harris, and defendant Preemptive Forensic Health Solutions, the medical care department at the jail in 2018. The contents of the settlement were not specified in court records.
Autumn Harris, 34, died in 2018 after spending just three weeks at the Walker County Jail on a theft of property charge. On June 9, 2020, her family filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against PFHS on the basis that their daughter was denied proper medical treatment while incarcerated.
“Her and a friend of hers sort of got into an altercation,” Michael Harris said. “But that’s what it was over, 40 bucks.”
Autumn Harris was then released on bond and set to appear in court again in August 2018. She failed to appear for the hearing and the court issued a warrant for her arrest. On November 13, 2018, Harris was arrested, her bond was revoked and her new hearing was set for Dec. 6, 2018.
Harris never made it to that hearing. On December 5, 2018, she died. An autopsy report revealed she died as a result of pneumonia, where her lungs were full of infection and fluid.
“I don’t think they did anything for her,” Michael Harris said. “I think if anything had been done for her, she’d still be here today.”
Mike Harris, a manager at Collins Burke Funeral Home in Jasper, said the jail never contacted him regarding his daughter’s death. Instead, he found out through the coroner when he arrived at work that morning.
The family’s lawyer maintained that Autumn Harris’ medical condition was overlooked by medical staff.
“During the day on Dec. 1 she’s asking, ‘I can’t breathe, I need an inhaler’,” Jones said. “She has a history of asthma. They tell her, ‘You don’t have an inhaler on file. There’s nothing we can do for you.’ This happens again on Dec. 2.”
According to court records, officials at the Walker County Jail were aware that Harris had pneumonia when she was booked. Those same records additionally noted that she had proper medication for her sickness when she arrived. Jones said that as far as they can tell, Harris did not receive any of her medication.
“Something’s got to be done because folks are being neglected at this county jail,” Michael Harris said.
In addition to Harris, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office is currently facing a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of Anthony “Tony” Mitchell on Jan. 26, who allegedly froze to death while in custody. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/settlement-reached-in-death-of-female-inmate-at-walker-county-jail/ | 2023-05-31T18:33:19 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/settlement-reached-in-death-of-female-inmate-at-walker-county-jail/ |
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BLOOMINGTON — A 33-year-old man Maywood man was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to a firearm charge and delivering cocaine.
Trevon J. Triplett received his sentence before Judge William Yoder, who accepted his guilty plea on unlawful delivery of a controlled substance containing cocaine (Class 1 felony) and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felony).
Trevon J. Triplett, 33, received his sentence before Judge William Yoder, who accepted his guilty plea on unlawful delivery of a controlled substance containing cocaine (Class 1 felony) and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
According to charging documents, the Bloomington Police Department's Vice Unit arranged two purchases from Triplett on June 22, 2022, and July 11, 2022. In the latter, Triplett was arrested and officers located a firearm in his vehicle after a search was conducted.
As part of the plea agreement, Triplett's other charges were dismissed. They included three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Class 1 felony), one count of unlawful possession of a firearm while on mandatory supervised release (Class 2 felony), and one count of violation of the Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Act (Class 3 felony).
He was sentenced to 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with credit for 323 days already served in the McLean County jail, and 39 days for volunteer work or other jail assignments.
Following the prison sentence, he will be required to serve one year of mandatory supervised release and pay all necessary fines and fees.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorney Spencer Chikahisa. Public defender Matthew Koetters represented Triplett.
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Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph
Bryant Lewis
Bryant Lewis, 28, of Bloomington, is charged with home invasion causing injury, a Class X felony. His next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
Derek Roesch
Derek Roesch of Saybrook was charged Thursday, Nov. 10 in McLean County Law and Justice Center with several counts, including:
-Two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, Class 2 felonies
-One count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon while on parole, Class 2 felony
-Two counts of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon, class 2 felonies
-One count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon while on parole, class 2 felony
-Unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (greater than 2000 grams but less than 5000 grams), a class 1 felony
-Unlawful possession of cannabis (greater than 2000 grams but less than 5000 grams), a class 2 felony
-Unlawful possession of a controlled substance, psylocibin less than 15 grams, a class 4 felony
-Unlawful possession of methamphetamine, less than five grams, a class 3 felony.
-Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor
Justin M. Mata
Justin M. Mata, 28, no address given, is charged with possession of less than five grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony, and possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony. He was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and his next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
Marcus D. Wesley
Marcus D. Wesley, 36, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle (Class 4 felony), unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 3 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Phillip Tinch
Phillip Tinch of Normal was charged Thursday, Nov. 10 at the McLean County Law and Justice Center with several felonies including:
- Five counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, more than one but less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 1 felony.
-One count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, less than one gram of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 2 felony.
Trisha L. Hanke
Trisha L. Hanke, 36, is charged with theft of over $10,000 (Class 2 felony). Court documents indicate she knowingly took $14,000 belonging to a Love's Travel Stop, in LeRoy, where she was employed.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
William B. Givens
William B. Givens, 49, no address given, is charged with unlawful possession of five to 15 grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony, possession of less than five grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony, possession of five to 15 grams of meth, a Class 2 felony, and possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony. His next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
David L. Oliver
David L. Oliver, 51, of Bloomington, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault.
Kenneth E. Funk
Kenneth E. Funk, 27, is charged with residential burglary (Class 1 felony) involving an apartment in Lexington on Dec. 31, 2022.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jordan R. King
Charges have been filed against Jordan R. King, 34, for violation of the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Holly M. Isaacson
Isaacson
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Kenneth L. Minton
Kenneth L. Minton, 51, is charged with aggravated home repair fraud (Class 2 felony) and theft (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tony L. Jackson
Tony L. Jackson, 50, is charged for violation of the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Britley L. Hilger
Britley L. Hilger, 32, is charged with aggravated battery (Class 2 felony) after she supposedly punched a McLean County Detention Facility officer in the chest.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jasmine L. Smith
Jasmine L. Smith, 31, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (Class 2 felony) and five counts of endangering the life or health of a child (Class A misdemeanors).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jackie S. Claypool
Jackie S. Claypool, 46, appeared for a Friday bond court hearing for two new cases which charged her for one count of burglary (Class 2 felony), four counts of forgery (Class 3) and one count of deceptive practices (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Noah R. Demuth
Noah R. Demuth, 22, of Evanston, is charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, aggravated battery in a public way, a Class 3 felony, mob action, a Class 4 felony, and obstructing a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. His next court date is Feb. 17.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Brandon L. Parsano
Brandon L. Parsano, 39, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony. His next appearance is Feb. 17 for an arraignment.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Alexander N. Williams
Alexander N. Williams, 24, was charged Feb. 2 with the following:
3 counts of unlawful delivery of cannabis between 30 and 500 grams - Class 3 felonies. 2 counts of armed violence - Class X felonies. 1 count of unlawful possession of cannabis between 2,000 and 5,000 grams with the intent to sell - a Class 1 felony. 1 count of unlawful possession of cannabis between 500 and 2,000 grams with the intent to sell - a Class 2 felony. 3 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon - Class 3 felonies. 1 count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon - a Class 3 felony 3 counts of violating the Illinois FOID act - Class 3 felonies.
PROVIDED BY MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano
Carlos H. Sanchez-Solozarzano, 22, was charged with 1 count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony.
PROVIDED BY MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jaylin S. Bones
Jaylin S. Bones was charged with four counts of first-degree murder stemming from a homicide in Bloomington last year. A McLean County grand jury also returned a bill of indictment charging him with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm (Class X felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jordan R. King
Jordan R. King, 34, was charged with violating the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act (Class 2 felony) a second time in under a month.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Dominique M. Banks
Dominique M. Banks, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery involving strangulation (Class 2 felony). The incident happened in October 2022 and involved one victim.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Austin T. Daugherty
Austin T. Daugherty, 29, was charged with burglary (Class 2 felony) after he entered an Avis Car Rental, 3201 Cira Drive, in Bloomington, without permission and with the intent to commit theft.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Sandra M. Lewis
Sandra M. Lewis, 77, is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance containing MDMB-4E-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid, with the intent to deliver (Class X felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Samantha E. Morris
Samantha E. Morris, 40, is charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer (Class 2 felony) after supposedly spitting on a Colfax police officer.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Nolan C. Love
Nolan C. Love, 46, appeared in court Friday for a bond review hearing after being charged with aggravated domestic battery involving strangulation (Class 2 felony) on Feb. 26.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Nikkita L. Sandefur
Nikkita L. Sandefur, 36, is charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Class 2 felony) containing cocaine.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Katlin M.B. Wilson
Katlin M.B. Wilson, 32, is charged with aggravated identity theft (Class 2 felony) after being accused of fraudulently obtaining money exceeding $300 but not exceeding $10,000 from a 60 year old man.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Eli C. Garozzo
Eli C. Garozzo, 20, is charged with two counts of home invasion, a Class X felony, two counts of attempted armed robbery, a Class 1 felony, and two counts of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. His bond was set at $200,000 as a 10% bond, meaning he must pay $20,000 plus fees to be released. His next appearance is an arraignment on April 13.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tysean T. Townsend
Tysean T. Townsend, 35, is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), three counts of child abduction, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and obstructing justice (Class 4 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Curtis J. Byrd
Curtis J. Byrd, 31, is charged with two counts of burglary (Class 2 felony), two counts of fraud and two counts of financial institution fraud (Class 3 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Noral K. Nelson
Noral K. Nelson, 31, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm (Class 4 felony) after he was arrested in connection to a shooting along the 1500 block of S. Main Street.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Charles J. Tankson
Charles J. Tankson, 23, was charged with burglary (Class 2 felony), theft and two counts of unlawful use of a debit card (Class 3 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Davis, Micah S
Davis was charged with 3 counts of arson, Class 2 felonies, and 3 counts of criminal damage to property, Class 4 felonies.
His next court date is May 5 at 9 a.m.
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Livingston, Joshua D.
Livingston was charged with 2 counts of possessing stolen vehicles, Class 2 felonies, possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and criminal damage to government property, a Class 4 felony.
His next court date is May 5 at 9 a.m.
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Kevin L. Ewen
Kevin L. Ewen, 42, appeared in a Thursday bond court hearing and was charged with aggravated battery (Class 2 felony), obstructing a peace officer (Class 4 felony) and two counts of resisting a peace officer (Class A misdemeanor).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Emmanuel K. Mpay
Emmanuel K. Mpay, 23, appeared in a Thursday bond court hearing following a grand jury indictment for two counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Ahmad S. Manns
Ahmad S. Manns, 19, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing and was charged with cannabis trafficking (Class X felony), unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver (Class 1 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Dylan R Mann
Dylan R Mann, 31, appeared Friday in bond court following four grand jury indictments for two separate cases relating to aggravated assault and battery.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tony L. Jackson
Tony L. Jackson, 50, was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), domestic battery, violation of an order of protection and driving while license revoked or suspended (Class 4 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
William R. Linden
William R. Linden, 79, was released Tuesday on felony burglary charges for trying to pass a forged check at Busey Bank.
Zadek U. Moen
Zadek U. Moen, 20, is facing six felony drug charges after being arrested by the Illinois State Police on Thursday.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Zachary T. Willis
Zachary T. Willis, 27, is charged with aggravated domestic battery by strangulation (Class 2 felony) and domestic battery subsequent offense (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Cecily M. Sexton
Cecily M. Sexton, 39, was charged with two counts of burglary, a Class 2 felony; one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony; financial institution fraud, a Class 3 felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tonisha A. Jackson
Tonisha A. Jackson, 27, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
James A. McConnaughay
James A. McConnaughay, 53, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland. McConnaughay is charged with unlawful possession of 5-15 grams of methamphetamine (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jessica M. Longberry
Jessica M. Longberry, 38, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland. Longberry is charged with burglary (Class 2 felony) and forgery (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Barry D. Guyton
Barry D. Guyton, 26, was charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felonies) two counts of unlawful possession of 15-100 of cocaine with the intent to deliver with one being a Class X felony and the other being a Class 1 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Keon E. Spiller
Keon E. Spiller, 22, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland and was charged with attempted escape after his jury trial reached a verdict.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Contact Mateusz Janik at (309) 820-3234. Follow Mateusz on Twitter:@mjanik99
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-gets-11-years-for-drug-weapon-charges-in-mclean-county/article_e7b090e0-ffd4-11ed-9547-5fdcbca5c817.html | 2023-05-31T18:35:15 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-gets-11-years-for-drug-weapon-charges-in-mclean-county/article_e7b090e0-ffd4-11ed-9547-5fdcbca5c817.html |
Mark your calendars: Pride events around Indiana happening in Summer 2023
Summer is almost here, which means it's nearly time for Pride, and cities around Indiana are getting ready for their annual LGBTQ+ community celebrations.
Here are the details on some of the events people can look forward to this summer to celebrate Pride.
Indianapolis Pride Festival, parade and other events
- Indy Pride Festival: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 10
The event will occur in Military Park (West New York St. Indianapolis, IN 46202). All bags brought into the event must be clear and cannot be bigger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, according to a new policy on their website. All bags will be inspected. There will be multiple entertainers at the event. General admission tickets are $10 plus a service fee, while children 5 and younger are free with an adult. Coolers and outside food or beverages are prohibited.
- Indy Pride Parade: 10 a.m. to noon June 10
The event features floats, vehicles and walking groups. It will occur at Mass Avenue (748 Massachusetts Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204) and is free to attend, although attendees do reserve a ticket to get calendar details and notifications about the parade. Attendees can also make a donation to Indy Pride.
- Indy Pride Pet Pride: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. June 3
Get ready to take your pet to a pride celebration at Riverside Park (2420 E Riverside Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208). There will be vendors, music, and local animal shelters, "pet-centric business owners" and nonprofit organizations will also make an appearance, according to Indy Pride's website. The event is free to attend.
- Indy Pride Deaf Pride: 6-10 p.m. June 5
The event is at Hi-Fi (1043 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203) and is open to all community members. Hearing individuals are also welcome to attend, according to Indy Pride's website. LUNA Language Services will be providing American Sign Language interpreters, and the event is free to attend and open to all ages.
- Youth Pride Carnival: 1-6 p.m. June 7
Indiana Youth Group is partnering with Indy Pride for this event designed for youth ages 12-20 years old at 3373 N. Meridian St. Attendees get to enjoy food, face painting, an obstacle course, dunk tanks, a DJ and more, according to Indy Pride's website. A valid ID is required, and programming for parents and guardians will be provided at Trinity Episcopal Church. The event is free but attendees must register in advance and walk-ins are not permitted.
For more information on other pride events in Indianapolis, visit Indy Pride's website.
Fort Wayne Pride 2023
- Pride 2023: 7 p.m. to midnight July 21 and noon to midnight July 22
The event is located at Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne. The first night, there will be music and a dance party, including a beer tent and food, according to Fort Wayne Pride's website. The second day, there will be a vendor market, two entertainment stages, a cornhole tournament and a KidSpace. All ages are welcome until after 8 p.m. when children ages 5 and under are required to leave and when the event is not guaranteed to be "family-friendly," the website said. There will also be a Pride march at 2 p.m. July 22 north near the Headwaters fountain.
For more information, go to the Fort Wayne Pride website.
Bloomington Pridefest
- Pridefest: Aug. 26
The event is at Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington. It features live performances, music, food, workshops and other activities, according to Bloomington's website.
To stay tuned on updates, visit Bloomington PRIDE's website or follow them on Instagram at btown_pride.
Lafayette OUTFest
- OUTFest: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. August 19
The event is hosted by Pride Lafayette and is located at 5th and Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901. There will be live entertainment, beer gardens, drag shows, etc, according to Lafayette's website.
Visit Pride Lafayette's website to stay tuned on updates.
Evansville River City Pride Festival and Parade
- River City Pride Festival and Parade: June 3
The event will be at downtown Evansville on Main Street. There will be vendors, entertainers and food trucks, according to River City Pride's website.
For more information, stay tuned on River City Pride's website.
South Bend Pride Festival
- South Bend Pride Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 17
There will be a vendor fair, live entertainment and food at Potawatomi Park (2105 East Mishawaka Avenue South Bend, IN, 46615).
For more information, check out South Bend Pride's website.
Contact Pulliam Fellow Elissa Maudlin at EMaudlin@gannett.com or on Twitter @ejmaudlin. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/pride-month-festival-parade-around-indiana-indy-pride-fort-wayne-bloomington-evansville-lafayette/70272664007/ | 2023-05-31T18:41:08 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/pride-month-festival-parade-around-indiana-indy-pride-fort-wayne-bloomington-evansville-lafayette/70272664007/ |
CASSVILLE, Missouri — The body of a Missouri emergency room doctor who has been missing for more than a week has been found in northwest Arkansas, his brother told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Dr. John Forsyth, 49 was last heard from in text messages around 7 a.m. on May 21. His brother, Richard Forsyth, said authorities called the family Tuesday night to say his brother was found deceased. He said he and other family members were waiting for more details from detectives.
Messages left with the Missouri State Highway Patrol were not immediately returned.
Police said the doctor was reported missing when he failed to show up for work later that day at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, a town of 3,100 residents deep in the Missouri Ozarks.
His black Infiniti was found parked in a remote area near an aquatic park in Cassville. The car was unlocked with his wallet, two phones and a laptop inside.
“It doesn’t seem like a person who left with a plan,” Richard Forsyth told the AP earlier Tuesday. “Right now, we really don’t have any breaks in the case. I’m confused, and I’m worried. And I don’t like this one bit.”
Several law enforcement agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, searched about a 9-mile radius around the park using people, dogs and drones. Forsyth’s family set up a Facebook page seeking information.
“My brother has now been missing for week. I’m grieving, I’m afraid, and it feels like the world has tipped into sheer chaos,” his sister, Tiffany Andelin, wrote Monday.
Richard Forsyth said the last person his brother texted with was a woman to whom his brother had recently gotten engaged. The last time Richard saw him was a few days before he went missing.
“We had dinner Wednesday before he disappeared, and we sat and talked for three hours,” Richard Forsyth said. “I told him this is the happiest I’d seen him in a long time. His divorce was final May 11, and I think that gave him energy for future.”
Phone and email messages left Tuesday with Cassville police were not immediately returned. Police have said there were no signs of foul play.
Richard Forsyth said his brother had been at the Cassville hospital for about 15 years. He described John Forsyth as a doting father, family physician and part-time math nerd.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/brother-family-body-missing-missouri-er-doctor-arkansas/527-894ee145-d3ae-4940-a630-73859a3c3c1b | 2023-05-31T18:43:23 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/brother-family-body-missing-missouri-er-doctor-arkansas/527-894ee145-d3ae-4940-a630-73859a3c3c1b |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock Police Department has asked for the public's help in locating a runaway child.
12-year-old Arianna Anderson is described as being 4'11" in height and weighing about 110 pounds.
She was last seen in the 2300 block of S. Pine Street on May 30 wearing a black jacket, camo shorts, and pink shoes.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact Detective Dearing at (501) 404-3014, Detective Boyd at (501) 404-3016, or the Little Rock Communications Center at (501) 371- 4829. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/missing-persons-reports/little-rock-runaway-12-year-old-girl/91-1677becc-e673-4846-b869-c9d4fd0783bd | 2023-05-31T18:43:27 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/missing-persons-reports/little-rock-runaway-12-year-old-girl/91-1677becc-e673-4846-b869-c9d4fd0783bd |
PORTLAND, Maine — Shane Miclon and Steve Corning have been performing together for more than a decade, but their new show "Enter the Fish Tank" is unlike anything they've done before.
The show breathes new creative expression into a skill performers have been sharing for centuries: juggling.
Miclon, who is a second-generation performer, juggles roughly 52 different objects throughout the hourlong performance, and Corning mixes music that matches the energy of the act.
"I think it's really fun, especially for this show," Miclon said. "The freedom to do whatever we want to do in a performance sense, and the creativity is what drives it."
The dynamic duo have been juggling together for about 12 years, but Corning has been writing music on the side as a hobby.
"I decided I kind of wanted to showcase that," Corning said. "Shane loves juggling, I love performing the music, and we thought writing a whole show around that music would be really awesome."
You can catch a performance of Enter the Fish Tank at the St. Lawrence Performing Arts Center in Portland on Friday, June 2. The pair will also be performing at the Celebration Barn Theater and The Stonington Opera House over the summer. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/enter-the-fish-tank-new-spin-old-school-act-juggling/97-a61fafe6-4939-4ae7-ac3f-c03da4d8f994 | 2023-05-31T18:52:44 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/enter-the-fish-tank-new-spin-old-school-act-juggling/97-a61fafe6-4939-4ae7-ac3f-c03da4d8f994 |
FALMOUTH, Maine — Two people who died in a head-on crash on Interstate 295 in Falmouth on Monday are being remembered as passionate, decades-long educators.
Investigators determined a Toyota SUV driven by Nancy Ezhaya, 72, of Yarmouth, entered the I-295 Exit 10 northbound off-ramp traveling southbound and crashed head-on into a Honda SUV headed northbound.
The Honda SUV was reportedly operated by Allen Apblett, 61, and his wife, both of Oklahoma.
Ezhaya and Apblett were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Apblett's wife, Natalie Menzies, 60, was brought to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she was in "stable but critical condition," police said.
Ezhaya was an English Teacher at Bonny Eagle High School from 1973 until her retirement in 2011, MSAD 6 Superintendent Clay Gleason said in a statement. Gleason said Ezhaya was a "preeminent storyteller and had a great sense of humor."
Apblett served Oklahoma State University's chemistry department for more than 25 years, "cementing a legacy of scholarship and inspiring countless students," according to a statement from the university.
A Maine State Police spokesperson said an autopsy would be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to "better [understand] what happened leading up to the crash and whether Ezhaya may or may not have experienced a medical issue."
Full statement from MSAD 6 Superintendent Clay Gleason:
"Nancy Ezhaya was an English Teacher at Bonny Eagle High School from 1973 until her retirement in 2011. She was highly regarded by colleagues and was very passionate about her job. Nancy cared deeply for her students and colleagues and was a true friend.
Nancy was committed to the success of all of her students. She was integral to bringing the concept of teaming to Bonny Eagle High School, a scheduling process by which groups of teacher teams work together with groups of students to build connections and foster student success. Though she taught many levels over the years, she loved working with freshman students, easing their transition into high school.
Nancy was also a generous colleague, willing to share her time and expertise. As a veteran teacher, she helped many teachers new to the profession successfully navigate their first years of teaching.
She never lost a pencil because she had her name written on all of them. Nancy was a preeminent story teller and had a great sense of humor. So much so that you could hear the same story many times yet it always made you laugh as though it was the first time you had heard it.
Nancy Ezhaya was a true teacher. She devoted her life to her vocation of being an educator. She was a champion of students as well as a leader of teachers. Her infectious laugh and quick wit were her hallmarks, in and out of the classroom.
On behalf of the Bonny Eagle Community I want to express condolences to the Ezhaya family, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of all those involved in the tragic accident that took place on Monday, May 29th."
Full statement from Oklahoma State University
"The Cowboy family mourns the loss of Dr. Allen Apblett. He served the university’s chemistry department for over 25 years, cementing a legacy of scholarship and inspiring countless students. A distinguished fellow of the American Chemical Society, the National Academy of Inventors and the American Ceramic Society, Dr. Apblett was published over 100 times, holds multiple patents and awards and made lasting contributions to his field. The thoughts of the entire Cowboy family are with Dr. Apblett’s family at this time." | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/falmouth-maine-crash-memorial-day-nancy-ezhaya-bonny-eagle-allen-apblett-oklahoma-state/97-17571bcb-858f-4a7e-a063-a5e8dbe6f801 | 2023-05-31T18:52:50 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/falmouth-maine-crash-memorial-day-nancy-ezhaya-bonny-eagle-allen-apblett-oklahoma-state/97-17571bcb-858f-4a7e-a063-a5e8dbe6f801 |
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WISCASSET, Maine — One man was injured in a crash in Wiscasset Wednesday morning that involved a commercial vehicle transporting a mobile home.
Shortly before 5:30 a.m., Wiscasset police and emergency personnel responded to a report of a crash involving injuries on Bath Road in the area of Grover's Auto, a news release from the Wiscasset Police Department said.
An initial investigation into the crash revealed 25-year-old Ryan Graffam, of Friendship, was driving a 2011 Ford Mustang south on Bath Road, according to the release.
At the same time, Ronald Cunliffe, 33, of Marble, Pennsylvania, was driving north on Bath Road in a 1992 Peterbilt truck hauling a mobile home. Police said Cunliffe was on his way to Boggs Mobile Homes in Warren.
"Cunliffe was advised by his flagging vehicle which was traveling ahead of him to watch out for a Ford hugging the centerline," the release stated.
Cunliffe then saw Graffam's Ford Mustang cross the centerline into his lane, police said.
"Cunliffe pulled his truck as far right as possible to avoid a head-on collision with Graffam," the release said. "Graffam missed the truck but struck the left front corner of the mobile home."
The impact with the mobile home caused Graffam's vehicle to continue down the side of the mobile home and partially underneath it until hitting the rear axles and deflecting away, according to the release. Graffam's vehicle then came to rest up against a set of guardrails, police said.
The Wiscasset Fire Department had to remove Graffam from the vehicle, and he was taken by Wiscasset EMS to Midcoast Hospital with injuries considered life-threatening. Once at Midcoast Hospital, Graffam was flown to Maine Medical Center, police said.
No information was immediately available about whether or not Cunliffe sustained any injuries in the crash.
Following the crash, Bath Road was closed to traffic for around six hours. The mobile home had to be demolished at the scene and put into dumpsters in order to clear the roadway, according to the release.
A Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office reconstruction team responded to reconstruct the crash, and a Maine State Police commercial vehicle unit and an assistant district attorney were also called to the scene.
Wiscasset Fire/EMS, Wiscasset Public Works, Lincoln County District Attorney's Office, Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office, Maine State Police, and MaineDOT all assisted Wiscasset police on scene.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
More NEWS CENTER Maine stories | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/one-injured-in-wiscasset-crash-involving-transportation-of-mobile-home-maine/97-81076383-b6da-42b8-a447-d77362fffab4 | 2023-05-31T18:52:56 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/one-injured-in-wiscasset-crash-involving-transportation-of-mobile-home-maine/97-81076383-b6da-42b8-a447-d77362fffab4 |
SEATTLE — A group of Amazon workers upset about recent layoffs, a return-to-office mandate and the company’s environmental impact is planning a walkout at the company's Seattle headquarters Wednesday.
The lunchtime protest comes a week after Amazon's annual shareholder meeting and a month after a policy took effect requiring workers to return to the office three days per week.
“We respect our employees’ rights to express their opinions,” the company said in a statement.
As of Tuesday night, more than 1,800 employees had pledged to walk out around the world, with about 870 in Seattle, according to Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a climate change advocacy group founded by Amazon workers.
While some plan to gather at the Amazon Spheres — a four-story structure in downtown Seattle that from the outside looks like three connected glass orbs — others will participate remotely.
Brad Glasser, an Amazon spokesperson, said there has been a good energy on the company’s South Lake Union campus and at its other urban centers since more employees returned to the office. More than 20,000 workers, however, signed a petition urging Amazon to reconsider the return-to-office mandate.
“As it pertains to the specific topics this group of employees is raising,” Glasser said in a statement, "we’ve explained our thinking in different forums over the past few months and will continue to do so.”
In a February memo, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company made its decision to return corporate employees to the office at least three days a week after observing what worked during the pandemic. Among other things, he said senior leadership watched how staff performed and talked to leaders at other companies. He said they concluded employees tended to be more engaged in person and collaborate more easily.
In a note asking Amazon employees to pledge their participation in the walkout, organizers said Amazon “must return autonomy to its teams, who know their employees and customers best, to make the best decision on remote, in-person, or hybrid work, and to its employees to choose a team which enables them to work the way they work best.”
Some employees have also complained that Amazon has been slow to address its impact on climate change. Amazon, which relies on fossil fuels to power the planes, trucks and vans that ship packages all over the world, has an enormous carbon footprint. Amazon workers have been vocal in criticizing some of the company’s practices.
In an annual statement to investors, Amazon said it aims to deploy 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon by 2040. But walkout organizers contend the company must do more and commit to zero emissions by 2030.
The walkout follows widespread cost-cutting at Amazon, where layoffs have affected workers in advertising, human resources, gaming, stores, devices and Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud computing division. The company has cut 27,000 jobs since November.
Like other tech companies, including Facebook parent Meta and Google parent Alphabet, Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic to meet the demand from homebound Americans who were increasingly shopping online to keep themselves safe from the virus.
Amazon’s workforce, in warehouses and offices, doubled to more than 1.6 million people in about two years. But demand slowed as the worst of the pandemic eased. The company began pausing or canceling its warehouse expansion plans last year.
Amid growing anxiety over the potential for a recession, Amazon in the past few months shut down a subsidiary that’s been selling fabrics for nearly 30 years, shuttered Amazon Care, its hybrid virtual, in-home care service, and closed Amazon Smile, a philanthropic program. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/amazon-workers-stage-walkout/281-6ca10fce-a64a-4914-9fc0-f7fbb5206a55 | 2023-05-31T18:53:09 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington/amazon-workers-stage-walkout/281-6ca10fce-a64a-4914-9fc0-f7fbb5206a55 |
Do fire-proof safes work for wildfires? Your guide to picking the best safe
While fire safes are known to work, bring your most important documents with you in case you need them if you've been evacuated due to a wildfire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends keeping copies of your important documents in a flood-proof and fireproof safe.
Prepare a grab-and-go bag with your passport and important documents for easy access if evacuating.
What to look for in a fire-proof safe
Before buying a fire safe, check the safe’s rating. Different ratings cover different temperature ranges and time the safe can withstand a fire. Safes rated Class A can stand 4 hours in a furnace and up to 2,000 degrees; Class B safes can stand 2 hours and 1,850 degrees; Class C safes and Class D safes can stand up to 1 hour at 1,700 degrees; and Class E can stand up to 30 minutes in 1,550 degrees.
How are fire-proof safes tested?
According to DeanSafe, a national safe manufacturer, some manufacturers test and certify their safes through independent testing labs. Safes go through an endurance test, an explosion hazard test and a fire impact test to test the quality of the safes.
Is there a seal of approval or way to know a fire-proof safe is good?
Fire-resistant safe experts recommend looking for the UL logo on a safe for Underwriters Laboratories, which run independent tests on consumer products, according to an NBC article.
Also look for the letters KSG next to a number, issued by K.I.S, or Korean Industrial Standard Fire Test for reputable testing standards. The number next to KSG tells consumers at which temperatures and for how long the safe can withstand a fire. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/do-fire-proof-safe-work-arizona-wildfires/70258298007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:07 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/do-fire-proof-safe-work-arizona-wildfires/70258298007/ |
WILDFIRES
What supplies should I have ready if I need to evacuate my home due to a wildfire?
Perry Vandell
Arizona Republic
Should you be evacuated from your home due to a wildfire or other natural disaster, the American Red Cross recommends you have a go bag packed.
Make sure to check your go bag every season, as some items deteriorate over time and need to be replaced.
What to put in an evacuation go bag?
Your go bag should be easily accessible, and the items should be in a durable duffel or backpack.
You should have the following items in your bag, which you can grab at a moment's notice:
- Water: one gallon per person, per day (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home).
- Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home).
- Flashlight.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio, if possible).
- Extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Medications (seven-day supply) and medical items.
- Multipurpose tool.
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies).
- Cell phone with chargers.
- Family and emergency contact information.
- Extra cash.
- Emergency blanket.
- Maps of the area.
Some optional recommended items to put in your wildfire evacuation bag
The organization also recommends people consider the following items if applicable:
- Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc).
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers).
- Games and activities for children.
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl).
- Two-way radios.
- Extra set of car keys and house keys.
- Manual can opener. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/go-bag-supplies-have-ready-evacuate-my-home/70132276007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:13 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/go-bag-supplies-have-ready-evacuate-my-home/70132276007/ |
How has COVID-19 changed procedures at emergency shelters?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Sept. 22, 2022, updated its guidelines for disaster shelters’ efforts in mitigating COVID-19.
Acknowledging damage and limited resource access complicates the following guidelines, here are some of the CDC’s tips:
- Shelters should accept everyone regardless of vaccination status or COVID-19 status and should separate those who may be sick from everyone else.
- Due to potentially crowded conditions contributing to COVID-19 spread and the presence of higher-risk populations, shelters should consider implementing additional mitigation measures.
- The intake area should include handwashing stations or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, along with tissues and wastebaskets.
- Medical or health care staff should conduct screenings for COVID-19 on everyone entering the shelter. If disaster conditions allow, sick nonresidents should be sent home to recover; sick shelter residents should be placed in an isolated area and provided with face masks so long as they are not children under 2, do not have breathing problems, are not incapacitated and can remove the mask without help.
- General sleeping areas should place residents on mats or beds set up head-to-toe and spread as far apart as space allows.
Spokeswoman Melody Birkett said the American Red Cross follows guidelines set by the CDC.
How can I protect my family from COVID-19 at a shelter?
Dr. Stephanie Christenson, an assistant professor of medicine at UCSF Medical Center, told USA TODAY in 2020 that wildfire smoke, heat and COVID can create a "perfect storm" of risk for certain groups of people with underlying health problems.
Christenson said that microscopic particles in wildfire smoke can irritate the tissue deep in the lungs and cause inflammation and infections.
"Now we've just given them another insult that can make matters worse," Christenson said.
The effects of wildfire smoke may make people more susceptible to COVID-19 and worsen their symptoms, she said People with underlying health problems such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure are especially at risk for symptoms being further exacerbated by smoke and COVID, she said.
The CDC released tips on how to protect yourself while at a shelter:
- Follow CDC COVID-19 preventive actions including washing your hands often and covering coughs and sneezes. Avoid sharing food and drink with anyone if possible.
- Follow disaster shelter policies for wearing masks and giving people space. Many shelters have policies in place to keep people from getting sick.
- Tell shelter staff immediately if you feel sick when you arrive at the shelter or start to feel sick while sheltering. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/how-has-covid-changed-shelter-procedure/70132761007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:19 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/how-has-covid-changed-shelter-procedure/70132761007/ |
Your guide to preparing your Arizona home for wildfire season
As wildfire season arrives, homeowners can decrease the risk of their home catching fire by making sure their houses are built with fire-proof materials.
As wildfire season arrives, homeowners can decrease the risk of their homes catching fire by making sure they are built with fire-proof materials.
Embers can collect in the small nooks and crannies on the outside of homes, and flames can crack windows. This makes the materials used to build homes in wildfire-prone areas even more important.
Here are some areas to check on your home and recommendations from experts.
To check how hardy your home currently is against wildfire, use this tool from the National Fire Protection Association.
Build a fire-resistant defensible space around your home
When building a fire-resistant property, homeowners must also keep in mind where flammable vegetation is planted to best reduce the chances of the property catching on fire.
Defensible space is the area between the house and flammable vegetation outside. It is broken up into three areas, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Up to five feet from the building is the non-combustible area. In this zone, homeowners should move flammables like mulch, flammable plants, leaves, wood and anything stored under porches.
In the next zone, from five to 30 feet from the home, create fuel breaks by inserting driveways, paths, patios and decks. Grass should be mowed to a height of four inches. Ladder fuels, like vegetation under trees, should also be removed. Prune trees up to six to ten feet from the ground and have a space of 18 feet between trees. Additionally, be sure to clear vegetation from under stationary propane tanks.
In the last zone, from 30 to 100 feet from the home, dispose of any debris and remove dead plants and trees, including the vegetation next to storage sheds or other buildings. In this zone, trees should have at least 12 feet of space between canopy tops. Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.
Experts recommend installing patios, pavers, stone paths and gravel near the home. Small shrubs, vegetable gardens and smaller trees should be about 100 feet from the house.
Protecting your roof during fire season
Some materials are more fireproof than others. The National Fire Protection Association recommends avoiding wood and using composite shingles, metal, concrete and clay tiles for your roof.
Also, make sure to keep your roof clear of potential fire fuels, like leaves and other vegetation. This includes clearing gutters and trimming branches that are close to your home.
According to CalFire, eaves, which hang over the side of the house, should be boxed in and protected with ignition-resistant or noncombustible materials.
What materials should I use for windows and siding?
For siding, experts recommend brick, fiber cement, plaster, three-coat stucco or metal.
Windows can and will break from the heat of a wildfire. For windows, tempered glass will help prevent breakage in the case of a wildfire. Dual-pane tempered glass is also helpful to prevent embers from collecting in the nooks and crannies of siding and windows.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also suggests installing non-combustible awnings to shieldwindows.
Protecting decks and porches from flames
Conventional wooden decks are combustible and will often ignite before the fire reaches them, according to the Colorado Forest Service.
For this reason, homeowners should build decks and porches with heavy timber or noncombustible materials like metal or concrete. The federal Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy suggests using exterior-rated, fire-retardant-treated wood or ignition-resistant materials. These include PVC decking, pressure-treated wood, aerated concrete and fire-retardant-treated wood to name a few.
When building a deck location is important. Avoid building on or near vegetation that cannot be cleared away, and avoid building decks that extend over slopes with vegetation, as they are likely to ignite.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy also suggests creating defensible space around a deck, by putting down a noncombustible ground cover like rock, gravel, pavers or composted or heavy bark mulch.
Chimneys and other openings
According to CalFire, it is important to cover chimney embers from escaping and igniting a fire.
Cover chimneys and stovepipe outlets with a material that has openings no smaller than 3/8-inch and no larger than 1/2-inch. Be sure to close the fireplace flue during fire season when the chimney is not being used.
CalFire also recommends covering vent openings to prevent flying embers from entering. Vent openings should be covered with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh. Avoid using fiberglass or plastic mesh because they can melt and burn.
Replace your organic mulch and be mindful of what you plant
In plant beds close to the house, within 30 feet, avoid using organic mulch. Use a non-organic mulch like pea gravel or stone.
Experts also recommend keep plants 3 to 5 feet of the walls to a minimum, especially if the walls are flammable.
While experts say to avoid having grass near flammable structures, having succulents and other low-growing, fire-resistant plants and groundcover is acceptable. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/how-to-make-your-house-more-wildfire-proof/70140356007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:26 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/how-to-make-your-house-more-wildfire-proof/70140356007/ |
Take these items if you are evacuating due to an Arizona wildfire
Both federal and local emergency officials advise having multiple emergency supply kits packed and set aside well before the start of a wildfire, just in case of a rapid evacuation. The kits should include all necessary items, such as battery-powered radios, spare batteries, emergency contact numbers, clothing, food and plenty of water.
Additionally, Arizona’s Emergency Information Network has outlined the “5 P’s of Evacuation” to help guide people in preparing for potential evacuations.
People and pets
Gather all people and animals in the household, including any livestock on the property. If you cannot take them with you, find a shelter accepting animals. When bringing pets, make sure to pack food, medication and anything else the animal may need.
Prescriptions
Grab all prescriptions for every member of the household including dosages; medical equipment; vision and hearing aids; batteries and power cords; face coverings; hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
Ideally, you'd have a 7-10 day supply of medication.
Papers
Compile all of the important documents like insurance information and a list of important contacts for the household and its members, whether they be hard copies or electronic copies on external drives. Also pack documents like marriage and birth certificates, bank records and other hard-to-replace records.
Personal items
Pack clothing, water, food, first aid kits, cash, credit cards, phones and chargers for all household members. Consider packing items for people with access or functional needs like young children or the elderly.
Priceless items
Lastly, take time to grab irreplaceable valuables like photos and family heirlooms. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/what-do-i-take-wildfire-evacuation/70257343007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:32 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/05/31/what-do-i-take-wildfire-evacuation/70257343007/ |
Former Cochise County elections director gets $130K settlement after toxic work environment claims
BISBEE — A former Cochise County elections director has received a $130,000 settlement following claims of a toxic work environment.
Lisa Marra got the payout through the county’s risk management insurer, the Sierra Vista Herald/Review reported Wednesday.
She filed a notice of constructive discharge against the rural Arizona county in January, saying two members of the Board of Supervisors pressured her to participate in a hand count of the 2022 midterm election to assuage some constituents who believed the election was stolen.
Marra, a 10-year county employee, refused to help with the proposed hand count of ballots as she believed it was an illegal act.
She entered into negotiations with the Arizona County Insurance Pool through her attorney and resigned under duress.
Marra now is the Deputy Director of Elections with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/31/cochise-county-elections-director-lisa-marra-130k-settlement/70274092007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:38 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/31/cochise-county-elections-director-lisa-marra-130k-settlement/70274092007/ |
BREAKING NEWS
Large East Valley mulch fire burning near Loop 202
Kye Graves
Arizona Republic
Crews were battling a large mulch fire in Mesa Wednesday morning near Loop 202 and Hawes Road.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told the Arizona Republic that the fire's origin is currently unknown, but no structures are in danger and no injuries have been reported.
The Republic reached out to both Rural Metro Fire and Mesa Fire for more information, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
No other information had been released.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa-breaking/2023/05/31/large-mulch-fire-mesa-near-loop-202/70274128007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:44 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa-breaking/2023/05/31/large-mulch-fire-mesa-near-loop-202/70274128007/ |
Man arrested on suspicion of killing adopted dad in Litchfield Park
A Maricopa County man was in custody, accused by police of killing his adopted father during a residential break-in over the weekend in Litchfield Park.
Xavier Salazar, 26, was charged with first-degree murder of 58-year-old Joseph Salazar, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The victim was the suspect's adopted father, according to Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez and court documents. The incident unfolded at the home of the Xavier Salazar's mother, charging documents show."While being removed from the house Xavier spontaneously stated that he felt good about what he had done," charging documents state.
Just after midnight on Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded to a burglary-in-progress call in the area of West Orange Drive and North 125th Avenue near West Camelback Road in Litchfield Park, according to the agency.
A woman later identified as the suspect's mother called 911 and said Xavier Salazar was breaking into her home, according to the Sheriff's Office. The woman said Xavier Salazar had attacked her, but she was not sure what weapon was used, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The woman also said her 21-month-old grandson and his mother were residing at the home, according to the agency and court documents. The toddler is Xavier Salazar's son, according to charging documents.
Arrest made following forceful entry
Deputies, the Sheriff's Office said, arrived and found a broken window where they could see Xavier Salazar inside the home with a woman pinned to the floor who was holding his arms away from her. The toddler could be seen running about, the Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies forced themselves in through the front door and removed Salazar from the woman and took Xavier Salazar into custody, the sheriff's office detailed.
Deputies searched the home and spoke with Salazar's mother who told them her husband, Joseph Salazar, was injured and in need of medical assistance upstairs, the Sheriff's Office said. Joseph Salazar was located and deputies began to give him medical aid, including CPR, but he was declared dead on the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The agency said Xavier Salazar's mother was taken to a hospital with multiple lacerations to her face and neck. The child had no apparent injuries, and his mother sustained a head contusion and strangulation injuries.
Court documents indicate that Xavier Salazar had previously made threats to kill.
Multiple weapons, including a knife and a hammer, were recovered from the scene, the Sheriff's Office said. Court documents show Xavier Salazar was armed with the knife and hammer when he was taken into custody.
Charging documents state Salazar had blood on him, which was evidence in the case. Xavier Salazar's face was bloodied in a jail booking photo.
Suspect faces additional charges
Xavier Salazar, according to charging documents, had violated court orders. His mother, however, said there was no protective order against him, according to court documents.
Xavier Salazar was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault and serious physical injury; one count of assault; one count of first-degree burglary; and three counts of failure to comply with a court order, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Court and jail records show Xavier Salazar was being held on a $1 million bond. A preliminary court hearing was set for June 6.
Xavier Salazar was experiencing homelessness at the time of arrest, court documents state. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-breaking/2023/05/31/man-jailed-in-suspicion-of-adopted-dads-murder-at-litchfield-park-home/70271539007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:50 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-breaking/2023/05/31/man-jailed-in-suspicion-of-adopted-dads-murder-at-litchfield-park-home/70271539007/ |
18-year-old arrested on suspicion of shooting, killing 15-year-old in Tolleson
An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing a 15-year-old boy in Tolleson on Sunday morning.
According to a court document, a mother was driving westbound on Lower Buckeye Road near 99th Avenue with her 15-year-old son in the front passenger seat, and her two sons and a family friend, identified as Gabriel Hernandez, 18, in the back seat.
During the drive, Hernandez, who was sitting behind the 15-year-old, pulled out a handgun from his waistband and fired, striking the teen in the back, court documents state. After the shooting, the boy who sat behind his mother witnessed Hernandez with the handgun. Hernandez stated to everyone in the car that "he was sorry and didn't know there was one in the head," police said in court documents.
While the mother drove them to a hospital along 10th Avenue, Hernandez rolled out of the moving vehicle, fleeing to an unknown location, court documents state.
The 15-year-old died from his wounds at a nearby hospital, courts records say.
Later that morning at around 10:48 a.m., Hernandez's father contacted police investigators and told them that he was in contact with his son and that he was going to pick him up. Hernandez self-surrendered at the Estrella Mountain Precinct soon after, court records show.
He admitted to placing the firearm on the floorboard behind the passenger seat and told police he pulled the trigger on the handgun, shooting the victim in the back. He also told police that when he was running south on 107th Street, his handgun fell out of his waistband and down his left pant leg. His handgun was not recovered, court documents say.
Hernandez was arrested and booked into Maricopa County Jail for second-degree murder, which is a class one felony. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-breaking/2023/05/31/tolleson-man-arrested-for-shooting-and-killing-15-year-old-boy/70271550007/ | 2023-05-31T19:01:56 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-breaking/2023/05/31/tolleson-man-arrested-for-shooting-and-killing-15-year-old-boy/70271550007/ |
A 56-year-old Midland man died Monday following a one-vehicle rollover south of Big Spring on US Highway 87, according to the Department of Public Safety.
DPS officials reported that Antonio Garcia of Midland and John Lyndon Brightman, 63, of Odessa were traveling south on US 87 when the 2002 Kenworth Truck they were traveling in “suffered a tire blowout causing it to veer off the road onto the US 87 south entrance ramp.”
“(The Kenworth Truck” then rolled over, causing both the driver and passenger to be ejected from the vehicle,” DPS reported. “Neither the driver or passenger were secured by a seatbelt, and both succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.”
The rollover happened 5 miles south of Big Spring at 12:47 p.m., according to DPS. | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/dps-midlander-odessan-die-rollover-south-big-18127823.php | 2023-05-31T19:02:29 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/dps-midlander-odessan-die-rollover-south-big-18127823.php |
Reserve a spot now for Spring Mill's second whiskey tasting event June 10
Whiskey was an important part of the Spring Mill Pioneer Village economy. On June 10, the park is hosting its second annual Village Tasting Experience to raise funds to improve displays and restore the distillery, according to a press release.
Participating Indiana distilleries are: Spirits of French Lick, from French Lick; Luxco/Ross and Squibb Distillery, Lawrenceburg; Distillery 64, New Albany; Old 55 Distillery, Newtown; Hard Truth Distilling Co., Nashville; Donum Dei Distillery, New Albany; Dusty Barn Distillery, Mt Vernon; and West Fork Whiskey Company, Westfield.
What did they find?Hundreds of artifacts unearthed in Spring Mill State Park
The craft distilleries will offer tastes of their product(s) and there will be appetizer pairings for the participants and their designated driver, music, interpretive programs, photo opportunities and more. Products from the distilleries will be available for purchase and, with the Village belonging to the 1800s, cash will be necessary to make a purchase. The event will run 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is limited to 400 people, first come first served.
Participants must be 21, pre-register and present ID upon arrival.
What's going on:IU Jacobs School cuts half of opera performances for the 2023-24 season. Here's why.
A shuttle to and from the village will be provided for those staying in the campground for $35 per person. For those coming from outside the park, entrance to the event is $45 and a designated driver over 21 is also required. DDs get in for free. Appetizers and bottled water will be available for designated drivers. Upon arrival, participants must show ID to obtain a wristband to wear and present to each distillery location.
Payment is required at the time of registration. Credit cards are accepted for registration. This event sells out quickly so be sure to reserve a spot soon.
Because this event is a fundraiser there are no refunds.
Call 812-849-3534 between 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily to register. The office staff taking registrations do not answer event questions.
If you have questions about the event, contact Coletta Prewitt at 812-849-3534 or email her at cprewitt@dnr.in.gov
The event will take place rain or shine. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/05/31/spring-mill-state-park-raising-funds-with-whiskey-tasting-event/70269981007/ | 2023-05-31T19:04:55 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/05/31/spring-mill-state-park-raising-funds-with-whiskey-tasting-event/70269981007/ |
Investigation continues into three deaths in northeast Muncie home
MUNCIE, Ind. — Anyone with information on the events leading to three deaths in a home in northeast Muncie on Sunday is asked to contact the Muncie Police Department's detective division.
Deputy Police Chief Melissa Criswell said detectives can be reached at 765-747-4867.
Emergency responders on Sunday afternoon were called to a home in the 1700 block of East Yale Avenue where they found three deceased persons — a 24-year-old man, a 3-year-old boy and a 21-month-old girl.
Muncie firefighters determined there were "high carbon monoxide readings" in the house.
Criswell said a fourth person, a 23-year-old female, was found alive in the house and was transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition on Tuesday.
More:Investigation underway of three deaths in Muncie home, possibly linked to carbon monoxide
Autopsies on the victims were conducted Monday at the hospital. Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene said he was awaiting the results of toxicology tests and a pathologist's report.
A member of the victims' family on Tuesday told The Star Press that family members were requesting "some time to grieve in private," but also urged local residents to make certain their homes' carbon monoxide detectors were operating properly.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/investigation-continues-into-three-deaths-in-northeast-muncie-home/70272671007/ | 2023-05-31T19:04:55 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/investigation-continues-into-three-deaths-in-northeast-muncie-home/70272671007/ |
State board permanently revokes MFD captain's firefighting certifications
MUNCIE, Ind. — A state board on Tuesday revoked all of Muncie Fire Department Captain Troy Dulaney's Indiana firefighting certifications — permanently.
The action taken by the Indiana Board of Firefighting Standards and Education — reported by WTHR-TV in Indianapolis — is the most recent response to allegations Dulaney helped MFD recruits cheat on exams to become emergency medical technicians.
Dulaney — who had already been placed on administrative leave, with pay, by the fire department — has 15 days to appeal Tuesday's action.
Kraig Kenney, Indiana's state emergency medical services director, recently also rescinded Dulaney's EMS certifications for the next seven years.
A investigation recently conducted by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security concluded that Dulaney — a city firefighter since 2004 — distributed questions and answers from an exam to candidates hoping to become EMTs.
More:Cheating scandal puts Muncie Fire Department captain's career in jeopardy
He is also a target of a federal lawsuit, filed May 15 by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, that alleges a "years-long scheme... of cheating on NREMT's examinations that was facilitated by defendant Dulaney."
In a statement released last week, Mayor Dan Ridenour said a city firefighter "has clearly been implicated in offering to facilitate EMT trainees in violating ethical test-taking standards."
"We are pursuing disciplinary action up to and including termination," the mayor added.
The Department of Homeland Security probe concluded the cheating "was initiated by Dulaney, and the students did not ask to be involved in it."
However, eight recruits received a censure from the department, were placed on probation for two years and will be required to take the national EMS test again.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/muncie-fire-department-captains-firefighting-certifications-revoked/70273768007/ | 2023-05-31T19:05:01 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/muncie-fire-department-captains-firefighting-certifications-revoked/70273768007/ |
Ellettsville council approves water rate hike and pause in new businesses
ELLETTSVILLE — If your water bill comes from the town of Ellettsville, the amount due is going to be about a third more starting next month.
And if you want to build a gas station, a vape shop or storage units in Ellettsville, you'll have to wait a year or so to seek a permit because of a new-construction moratorium for certain kinds of businesses.
That's because the Ellettsville Town Council wants to pause some new construction until the town's new unified development ordinance (UDO) is finished early next year.
During their May 22 meeting, all five town council members voted in favor of the 33% water rate increase. A customer using 4,000 gallons a month currently pays $24.44. The increase brings it to $32.62.
Town manager Mike Farmer said "there are many reasons" the utility department needs more funds.
More:Ellettsville's small-town vision: Vibrant downtown, affordable houses, parks and trails
He explained the rate increase will help pay for a 10-year plan for infrastructure improvements, including replacing old water pipes. "Some are 50, even 70 years old, and a lot of those need to be replaced and upsized to meet current standards, and for better firefighting capabilities," Farmer said, during the council meeting.
He described a $380,000 project the town will pursue: replacing water lines that lead into Ellettsville from Starnes Road that used to deliver water from deep wells that supplied the area.
He also said the town needs to build a new facility for water department workers and equipment housed in an aged and dilapidated building.
No citizens attend the meeting to complain or question the increase in the cost of water.
Information from town council president William Ellis said it's been six years since the town raised the cost of water beyond annual adjustments when the City of Bloomington, the town water source, adjusted its rates.
"It breaks down to about 4.7% a year from the last increase," Ellis said in a town Facebook post to residents, "a reasonable amount, compared to the rising costs."
More:A local builder wanted to construct 68 homes. Now he's building storage units. Here's why.
The moratorium on new construction, recommended by plan commission members, also passed unanimously. It affects convenience stores, gas station, storage units, vape shops, paraphernalia stores and adult bookstores.
There was no public comment on the proposal.
The town hired a company to develop a comprehensive plan to direct future development and growth. Plan commission and town council members agree that pausing new construction of some businesses makes sense.
"The town has some businesses and features defined in the current code and also some for which the town had no definition," council attorney Darla Brown said. "So the plan commission thought it might be helpful to have the council issue a moratorium on the building of certain kinds of businesses until the UDO is completed."
Farmer said he supports the move. "I'm not usually in favor of the town telling people what to do, but we need to take time and decide how we want to grow."
Contact Herald-Times reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/ellettsville-council-approves-water-rate-hike-and-business-pause/70262233007/ | 2023-05-31T19:05:13 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/ellettsville-council-approves-water-rate-hike-and-business-pause/70262233007/ |
A woman is dead and two others are in critical condition after hitting a tree in a car crash along northbound Interstate 69 early today.
Allen County Sheriff’s Department officers said they responded to the collision about 3:30 a.m. and found the victims near the 317 mile marker.
The woman was the driver in the crash and hospital medical staff pronounced her dead while two passengers – a man and woman – are in critical condition, police said.
No further information was provided. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/1-dead-2-critical-in-i-69-crash/article_6c779550-ffbf-11ed-82cb-634bf917da46.html | 2023-05-31T19:05:18 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/1-dead-2-critical-in-i-69-crash/article_6c779550-ffbf-11ed-82cb-634bf917da46.html |
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., today recognized Hoosier students who participated in the spring session of his internship program in Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis.
The students assisted with daily activities and special projects related to legislation, communications, and constituent services, a news release said.
Young’s office offers internship opportunities year-round in both his Washington and Indianapolis offices. The internship program offers students the opportunity to experience the legislative branch of government and serve Hoosiers.
Students interested in applying can visit Young’s internship webpage or call 202-224-5623 to learn more. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/congressional-internship-group-from-indiana-completes-spring-session/article_552b6b56-ffc4-11ed-be1c-e7b11d0293c8.html | 2023-05-31T19:05:24 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/congressional-internship-group-from-indiana-completes-spring-session/article_552b6b56-ffc4-11ed-be1c-e7b11d0293c8.html |
A 20-year-old man received a 55-year sentence this morning for fatally shooting a man in 2020.
Ten years of Javon Thomas' sentence are suspended, meaning the man who was 17 when he pulled the trigger is expected to serve 45 years behind bars. His other charges of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and a sentencing enhancement for using a firearm in the murder have been dismissed per a plea agreement.
Allen Superior Court Judge David Zent accepted the agreement and handed down the sentence during today's hearing.
Thomas shot and killed 23-year-old Hakeem Cage Dec. 2, 2020 outside the Summit at Ridgewood apartments in Fort Wayne.
Cage's girlfriend was present during the shooting and witnessed the series of events leading to her boyfriend's death. The girlfriend told police she and Cage were returning to her apartment after a party when she heard someone running toward them, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Fort Wayne Police Detective Liza Anglin.
After she heard about five gunshots, the woman said Cage collapsed, according to court documents. She then watched as the shooter rifled through Cage's pockets and took a large sum of money.
Javon Thomas was arrested alongside his cousin, 24-year-old Korta Thomas, who took a plea agreement in June. That agreement would have required the elder Thomas to testify against his younger cousin at trial.
In exchange for pleading guilty to robbery, Korta Thomas had his felony murder charge dismissed. Because Javon Thomas also took a plea agreement, Korta Thomas will no longer be required to testify but will still receive his set 16-year year sentence.
Korta Thomas is expected in court for a sentencing hearing Friday. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/man-gets-45-years-in-fort-wayne-fatal-shooting/article_fc81fc2a-ffc5-11ed-931b-578296113829.html | 2023-05-31T19:05:30 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/man-gets-45-years-in-fort-wayne-fatal-shooting/article_fc81fc2a-ffc5-11ed-931b-578296113829.html |
A new traffic signal is being activated Thursday at the intersection of Indiana 14 and South Noyer Road/Rock Dove Road, the Indiana Department of Transportation said today.
Crews also installed "signal ahead" warning signs to help alert drivers about the signal, INDOT said in a statement.
It said a 2021 study resulted in the recommendation for a traffic signal at the intersection. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/new-traffic-signal-to-be-activated-on-indiana-14/article_2e5469e8-ffcd-11ed-85fb-67facbc2ea5f.html | 2023-05-31T19:05:36 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/new-traffic-signal-to-be-activated-on-indiana-14/article_2e5469e8-ffcd-11ed-85fb-67facbc2ea5f.html |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fans of Hello Kitty will be happy to know they can get exclusive merch this month when the Hello Kitty Café Truck rolls into Sacramento and Stockton.
According to a news release, the truck celebrating all things Hello Kitty will make a stop at Arden Fair on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’ll be near Sears and Forever 21.
Then, the truck will be at Stockton’s Weberstown Mall on June 10 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. near Blaze Pizza.
In addition to Hello Kitty themed food items, fans will also be able to purchase exclusive items like a café t-shirt, mug, lunchbox, tote, plush and hoodie.
After Stockton, the truck will continue its trek around Northern California with stops in the Bay Area starting on June 17 in Walnut Creek.
Please note the truck only takes cards and not cash payments. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/hello-kitty-caf-truck-plans-stops-in-northern-california/103-3442893d-8456-4718-9e10-13895c380176 | 2023-05-31T19:06:00 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/hello-kitty-caf-truck-plans-stops-in-northern-california/103-3442893d-8456-4718-9e10-13895c380176 |
Idaho’s state parks system will be celebrating Eagle Island State Park’s 40th anniversary as well as outdoor recreation in the state this Saturday.
Idaho State Parks and Recreation will host a RecFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at Eagle Island State Park on Saturday; it will include food trucks, fishing, recreation lessons, demonstrations, activities, giveaways and more, according to a press release from the parks department.
Entrance to the park and fishing will be free on Saturday. Idaho Fish and Game will provide fishing equipment, instruction and bait from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The Idaho Outdoor Recreation Festival is a perfect opportunity to learn about and experience Idaho recreation firsthand,” the press release said. “Whether you’re an avid adventure seeker, or new to recreation, you will find great recommendations and instruction on taking advantage of Idaho’s outdoors.”
The exhibits will highlight some of the recreational opportunities Idaho has to offer. Visitors may peruse booths from organizations including the Idaho Trails Association, the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Falconers, Idaho Boating, REI, Idaho Fish and Game and others.
Eagle Island State Park is a 545-acre park west of Boise, bordered to the north and south by the Boise River, according to the Parks and Recreation website. It features a swimming beach, grassy picnic area and more than five miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking or walking. There is also a waterslide and 19-hole disc golf course. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/recfest-to-offer-fishing-food-trucks-and-more-at-eagle-island-state-park/article_e2e90880-ff43-11ed-919c-3718c88f8c78.html | 2023-05-31T19:08:58 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/recfest-to-offer-fishing-food-trucks-and-more-at-eagle-island-state-park/article_e2e90880-ff43-11ed-919c-3718c88f8c78.html |
West Ada School District Superintendent Derek Bub talked about redrawing elementary school boundaries and rolling in modular classrooms during last Monday’s board meeting as ways to manage overcrowding.
Major plans for construction, renovation and improvements to all 58 West Ada schools were scrapped for the near future after voters rejected a $500 million plant facilities levy proposal last month.
Bub told trustees that they will need to find alternative solutions to managing growth in their 40,000-plus student population.
“While we are disappointed with the outcome of the election, we are certainly not defeated. A lot of planning went into the levy and we will pour our energy into finding alternate solutions for our facilities needs because our students deserve it,” West Ada asserted in a letter to parents.
The district will prioritize projects that “have a direct impact on students’ educational experience.” This means focusing on instructional space improvements, such as replacing accordion walls in classrooms and upgrading HVAC, lighting, technology and furniture.
Updates to outdoor athletics and activities areas will be minimized and maintenance updates like new carpeting, refinished tennis courts and repaved parking lots will be delayed.
Now that plans for building two new elementary schools in the north and south ends of the state’s largest district have been rejected, the district plans to add portable classrooms to address congestion at Star, Hillsdale and Mary McPherson elementary schools.
West Ada officials also plan to continue bussing students to outside schools to relieve overpopulated hallways. In a parent letter, Bub said that, going forward, “extended bussing will be addressed and implemented where necessary” and that “attendance areas will be addressed and adjusted as needed.”
What this means in practical terms is yet to be solved. West Ada will examine final enrollment numbers to determine facility needs. If officials decide to redraw boundaries to ease capacity issues, West Ada’s operations team would oversee the process, present the proposed solution to Bub and then go to the school board for final approval.
Tight finances also require a “soft hiring freeze” as West Ada analyzes its hiring process and ensures that requested certified positions are necessary for student learning.
While the growing district faces significant challenges sans the funds that it deemed necessary for growth, Bub remains positive about how West Ada’s employees and staff will respond.
“We have a tremendous staff,” he said at Monday’s board meeting. “I want to thank our building staff who maintain unbelievable educational opportunities for all of our kids. And I want to shout out our maintenance workers who continue to uphold and make sure our buildings are in working order so we can offer education in those facilities every day.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/west-ada-considers-alternative-solutions-to-manage-overcrowding/article_b011a9b2-ffd4-11ed-86ec-43cae9581051.html | 2023-05-31T19:08:59 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/west-ada-considers-alternative-solutions-to-manage-overcrowding/article_b011a9b2-ffd4-11ed-86ec-43cae9581051.html |
1,400-pound great white shark Breton pings off the coast of Florida
A 1,400-pound great white shark named Breton pinged off the coast of St. Augustine on May 30.
According to Ocearch, Breton's first ping was at 8 p.m. Sept. 11, 2020. The latest ping shows 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, May 30. The following are some details about Ocearch and the white shark Breton.
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What is Ocearch?
Founded by Chris Fischer, Ocearch is a shark advocacy group that collects data on great white sharks, one of the ocean's apex predators, along with other marine animals like tiger sharks, sea turtles and pilot whales. The group was founded in 2007.
What do we know about Breton, an Ocearch shark?
This is not Breton's first visit to the Sunshine State. The great white's tracking history shows several pings over two years up and down the East Coast.
The 13-foot, 3-inch long white shark weighs a whopping 1,437 pounds and was an adult when it was tagged. Its bio states Ocearch fitted Breton with its tracker on Scatarie Island, Nova Scotia. The shark was the fifth shark Ocearch tagged there.
Breton is the first shark tagged during Ocearch's Nova Scotia expedition in 2020. The nonprofit named the shark to honor the people of Cape Breton, where he was tagged.
Elusive 12-foot, 4-inchgreat white shark Ironbound found swimming off South Carolina shore
Where has Breton the white shark been?
As of May 31, 2023, of the 595 days Breton has been tracked by Ocearch, the white shark has traveled 25,131 miles.
This month, the shark pinged at 11:36 a.m. May 8 off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina. The shark traveled North to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on May 12 before heading back south. Ten days later, the shark pinged off the coast of Myrtle Beach twice in one minute (about 7:28 p.m.) on May 22.
Breton then pinged off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, on May 25, before its latest ping in Florida on May 30.
According to its Ocearch tracking history, the farthest south Breton pinged was near Turks and Caicos in Dec. 20, 2022.
Hello, Penny!Ocearch-tagged great white shark reaches New Jersey after traveling past Delaware
Is Breton the shark on Twitter?
Plenty of people have tweeted about the white shark Breton and others like Ironbound, but the shark does not have a Twitter account. Fellow Ocearch sharks like Brunswick and Hilton, however, do.
What is a shark ping?
According to Ocearch, a "ping" happens when an animal's tag breaks the surface of the water, sending data.
What is a Z-ping?
Ocearch states a "Z-ping" is a ping with no location data.
Can't see the "what is a shark ping" video above? Click here for the link.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/environment/2023/05/31/great-white-shark-breton-pings-florida-ocearch-augustine/70273343007/ | 2023-05-31T19:09:09 | 1 | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/environment/2023/05/31/great-white-shark-breton-pings-florida-ocearch-augustine/70273343007/ |
Physical altercation leads to charges against a brother in Lightsey cattle operation
A lawsuit that threatens to tear apart the Lightsey Cattle Co. has turned from a paper battle in court to a physical altercation involving the Lightsey brothers and resulted in one of them facing a felony domestic battery charge.
Layne Lightsey, 73, of Lake Wales waived his right to appear in court Tuesday on a charge of domestic violence battery on a person older than 65 before 10th Circuit Court Judge Catherine L. Combee in Bartow.
Layne Lightsey is accused of grabbing his brother’s cell phone from his hand and pushing him on the shoulder following a verbal confrontation in which he called Cary Lightsey a “Snake in the grass,” among other things, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office charging affidavit said.
A sheriff’s deputy was called to the family ranch along Sam Keen Road on Nov. 17 for a report of a disturbance between the co-owners of Lightsey Cattle Co. He took a sworn recorded statement from Cary Lightsey about the incident sometime after their 6:30 a.m. workday had already started, the affidavit said.
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“For the past two years there has been animosity between them over a civil case concerning their family business,” the affidavit said. “This morning (11/17/2022) Layne began arguing with him and calling him names like ‘Scumball’ and ‘Snake in the grass’ and was video recording him with his cell phone.”
Cary Lightsey, 70, of Lake Wales had backed away and got in his truck as his brother followed him, so he got out of the truck and walked away, according to the affidavit. Layne Lightsey continued to follow him closely and continued the name calling, including saying he was a “low life,” it said.
As Cary Lightsey tried to use his cell phone to begin his own recording of the incident, Layne Lightsey grabbed his brother’s phone from his hand, the affidavit said. As Cary Lightsey tried to retrieve his phone, he alleged that his brother pushed him on his left shoulder and tried to punch him.
The deputy also took a sworn statement from a witness who corroborated the events “except he stated no violence occurred.” The witness also stated that it was possible it occurred, but he did not see it.
Layne Lightsey was later called by the deputy and met for an interview. He told the deputy that he confronted Cary Lightsey over an incident involving his son but said he did not push his brother.
Neither of the Lightseys’ phones had any video of the incident, the affidavit said. Layne Lightsey was arrested about 11 a.m. that day and charged with the third-degree felony.
Layne Lightsey was released without bond the same day of his arrest and later the State Attorney’s Office filed a “no bill” with the court, effectively dropping the charge, court records show. But later the State Attorney refiled the charge.
The State Attorney's Office did not respond to a question as to why the charge was refiled.
Initially, Layne Lightsey’s pretrial release had conditions of no contact with his brother, but his lawyer, Lee Adam Cohen, asked Combee to allow him access to his home at 2230 Sam Keen Road and his commercial shop from noon to 8 p.m. daily but was not to enter the adjacent commercial office, only 500 feet away.
Combee ordered the change to the pretrial release conditions on March 10, court records show.
In the most recent court filings on May 24, depositions are pending for July 24 for Cary Lightsey, the witness and the deputies involved in the investigation.
Cary Lightsey sat in the viewing area of the court on Tuesday with his lawyer, Victor Smith. Smith did not answer a reporter’s questions as to why they were in courtroom.
In the only mention of the Lightsey case in court Tuesday, Cohen explained to Combee that depositions were set for July. She then set a pretrial hearing for July 25, the day after the depositions. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/domestic-violence-charge-pending-against-lightsey-brother/70258680007/ | 2023-05-31T19:11:30 | 1 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/domestic-violence-charge-pending-against-lightsey-brother/70258680007/ |
State awards two grants totaling $4.1 million to expand broadband access in Polk County
Florida has awarded two grants for projects to expand broadband access in Polk County.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office announced the awarding of $60 million for 22 projects statewide through the Broadband Opportunity Program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The Broadband Opportunity Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, DeSantis’ office said in a news release.
Expanding broadbandDrawing upon Florida Poly study, Polk County seeks grants
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A grant of $1.8 million will go to the cities of Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Polk City, along with the unincorporated community of Indian Lakes Estates and areas of unincorporated Polk County. The project is intended to add 204 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 2,440 unserved locations with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 GB, the release said.
A grant of more than $2.3 million goes to Bartow, Fort Meade, Frostproof and Mulberry; the towns of Bradley and Brewster; the unincorporated community of Homeland and unincorporated areas of Polk County. The project aims to add 103 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 853 unserved locations within Polk County, the release said.
The Florida Legislature appropriated $400 million in federally funded State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for the Broadband Opportunity Program. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/state-awards-4-1-million-to-expand-broadband-access-in-polk-county/70268162007/ | 2023-05-31T19:11:36 | 0 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/state-awards-4-1-million-to-expand-broadband-access-in-polk-county/70268162007/ |
Law enforcement officials are investigating after a fire in Laurel Springs, New Jersey, left one person, reportedly, dead.
According to officials, first responders worked to extinguish a fire along the 100 block of Washington Avenue, at lunchtime.
As fire crews worked to extinguish the fire, SkyForce10 could see holes ripped through the building.
Officials said that, once the fire was put out, a body was discovered in the kitchen of the home.
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Law enforcement officials are still working to determine what caused the fire.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/one-dead-in-laurel-springs-house-fire/3576471/ | 2023-05-31T19:12:25 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/one-dead-in-laurel-springs-house-fire/3576471/ |
A shooting outside an eastern Pennsylvania home killed three people, two of them children, and wounded another person, authorities said.
Chief Bret Fisher of the Lebanon police department said officers dispatched to a city residence shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday after a report of shots fired. Two victims were taken to medical facilities by ambulance and another in a private vehicle and then transferred to another facility.
Mayor Sherry Capello and Fisher said Wednesday that a 19-year-old man was killed along with two boys, aged 8 and 9. A 33-year-old man was said to be recovering after surgery. The children are students in the Lebanon School District, Capello said. Not all of the victims are related, officials said.
“It appears, at the early stages of this investigation, that one of the victims was targeted; the other three victims were uninvolved,” Fisher said. Other people besides the victims were also present in the home, he said.
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SWAT team members executed a search at a home and took someone into custody who is of interest in the case but was arrested on an unrelated matter, Fisher said. Authorities are working with the county district attorney’s office, which declined immediate comment, and state police.
Fisher declined to say how many people were being sought in the case. He declined comment on what may have led up to the shooting and said he couldn’t say how many shots were fired.
“First let me start with the obvious: These shootings are unacceptable,” Capello said. “As a mom, I cannot overstate how heartbroken I am for these families. ... As the mayor, I am heartbroken for our community.” | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/shooting-in-lebanon-pa-kills-3-including-2-children-wounds-4th-person/3576487/ | 2023-05-31T19:12:31 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/shooting-in-lebanon-pa-kills-3-including-2-children-wounds-4th-person/3576487/ |
Teachers are leaving their jobs at an accelerating rate in Pennsylvania, amid fears of a nationwide exodus of burned-out teachers and a collapse in enrollment in recruitment programs that is making teachers increasingly difficult to replace.
A new analysis by Penn State's Center for Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis shows that the rate of teacher attrition in Pennsylvania grew faster in the 2022-23 school year and hit its highest point in a decade of tracking.
That reflects a pattern that is starting to emerge in other states and as schools across the country struggle to find teachers.
Ed Fuller, the Penn State education professor who conducted the analysis, said he has seen data from 12 states with similar increases in this school year.
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The past two years, schools saw relatively modest changes in attrition even as teachers reported more dissatisfaction with the job amid the travails of the COVID-19 pandemic, growing workloads, shrinking autonomy and increasingly hostile school environments.
But now, labor markets are tight and it's much easier for teachers to find a job near where they live, Fuller said.
Fuller's analysis shows that Pennsylvania saw a 1.5 percentage point increase in teacher attrition this year, the largest increase in the past decade.
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All told, the attrition rate was 7.7% in 2022-23, up from 6.2% in 2021-22 and 5.4% in 2020-21. That comes out to nearly 9,600 leaving their jobs in 2022-23, nearly doubling the number of newly certified teachers in Pennsylvania in 2022.
The previous high was 7.5% in 2014.
The figures include terminations, resignations and retirements. It does not track whether a teacher left for a teaching job in another state or took a non-teaching job in the education profession, for instance as an administrator.
Amid lackluster enrollments in colleges and programs that train teachers, the drop-off in teacher certifications is particularly steep in Pennsylvania, tumbling from 15,000 in 2011 to under 6,000 in 2021.
Fuller’s analysis found a number of long-term trends that he said are similar across states: teachers showing the highest rate of leaving the profession are Black and Hispanic.
In those cases, male teachers left at a higher rate than their female counterparts.
Attrition rates were also higher at charter and cyber-charter schools and poorer public schools. Those schools tend to suffer higher turnover, pay less and hire newer teachers, including many teachers of color.
In addition, middle school teachers left at a higher rate than teachers at other levels, Fuller found.
By county, Philadelphia had, by far, the highest attrition rate, at 16.4%. That is due primarily to high attrition rates of charter schools in the city, Fuller said.
In addition to the time and effort required to find a replacement, research has shown that teacher turnover has a negative effect on student outcomes, school climate and teacher quality, Fuller said.
Usually a less experienced teacher is hired as a replacement, Fuller said.
At the moment, state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro are looking at ways to address the teacher shortage, including stipends for student teachers and tax credits for newly certified teachers.
In the Upper Darby School District, Superintendent Daniel McGarry wants to start a “grow your own” program to start paying 24 high school graduates or community members to work as apprentices in the schools while the district pays for their education to get certified.
Sherri Smith, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, said attrition comes up in every conversation as she travels the state to talk with school officials.
“I don’t go into a meeting where we don’t talk about educator workforce and what we’re facing," she said.
Tomas Hanna, an associate superintendent for the Philadelphia School District, told a news conference this month that the district that once had 1,200 student teachers now is down to 362.
Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said teachers are leaving because they feel overwhelmed and not supported.
Paying teachers more and boosting school funding is vital, he said.
When schools can't find fully certified teachers, they hire teachers who aren't fully credentialed. Those teachers have limited skills, and it's tougher for them, resulting in constant turnover, Jordan said.
“It becomes a real cycle of putting in teacher after teacher with an emergency certification," Jordan said. "The teachers become frustrated and they leave because they’re not getting support they need and they’re not making a lot of money, so they move on. You have a revolving door.”
___
Follow Marc Levy on Twitter: @timelywriter | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/teachers-leaving-their-jobs-at-an-accelerating-rate-in-pennsylvania-new-study-finds/3576520/ | 2023-05-31T19:12:37 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/teachers-leaving-their-jobs-at-an-accelerating-rate-in-pennsylvania-new-study-finds/3576520/ |
PHOENIX — 97-year-old Oskar Knoblauch has a remarkable story of survival. He was a young boy, living in Poland, when the Nazis invaded the country.
He has since told his family's story of bravery to people all across the world to help remind people to spread love and kindness. It's the same mission those with the Arizona Jewish Historical Society have with a new project in the works.
"Because the minute you start to forget these events in the past, is when these events happen again," said Dr. Lawrence Bell. "And the number one goal is to make sure nothing like the Holocaust will happen again."
Bell, the Executive Director at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, said he's been heavily involved in the creation of a new Holocaust Museum at the center. It's expected to break ground in 2025.
The $18 million, 17,000 square-foot addition will house exhibits and educational content about the Holocaust and other acts of oppression and persecution that've happened.
"We want to make sure people remember the Holocaust, for people to remember the people who perished, but also for today's world that we become a more peaceful society," said Bell.
In 2021, there were 16 Holocaust museums in the United States. Now, as Bell prepares for Phoenix to get one, he said the Society is doing what they can to help make sure the one in the Valley will be memorable,
"We want to build an educational center for the future," he said. "We don't want to build it for the past. So we're really trying to be heavy on incorporating new technologies as they come out to try and reach people. Especially younger people in the formats that they learn now and so it'll be a combination of things. We'll have the older panels on the walls, but it's also going to have a lot of technology on it."
That includes a virtual reality feature that'll take visitors on a tour of a concentration camp. You can also experience what it was like in the secret annex Anne Frank and her family hid in.
But even more special is a 5-foot display that allows visitors to interact one-on-one with an actual Holocaust survivor. In this case, it's Knoblauch.
"The idea is to tell the Holocaust through those who've experienced it and to focus on their personal stories," Bell said. "They'll get to meet them, hear from them. We have an interactive hologram. It's 1 of 13 sites in the entire world that has this technological capability. Knoblauch was interviewed back in 2020 for hours so people now can have a conversation with him and he'll be available to answer questions."
Hundreds if not thousands of survivors lived or live in Arizona. Today, there are about 60 left. For Bell, it's important the museum focus on their stories and everything they went through.
"People are going to meet the survivors when they come here," he said. "They'll get to know them. They had an important impact on our Jewish community here. Every year, more and more are passing on and unfortunately the whole WWII generation is going to pass. The memory of WWII is fading and I think it's important to keep it alive."
The Arizona Jewish Historical Society said they've raised about $10.5 million so far on the center. They are continuing to take donations. If you'd also like more information, you can go to azjhs.org.
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ATLANTIC CITY — With the past several years bringing health inequities to the forefront, there is a push among local health care companies to connect marginalized communities with more employment opportunities and resources.
To that end, AtlantiCare hosted a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion summit last week at its Medical Arts Pavilion.
The summit reviewed AtlantiCare’s DEI initiatives and its partnerships with local and state entities while discussing what officials described as a pressing need to make health care more equitable in South Jersey.
Christian Ragland, AtlantiCare's assistant vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, said DEI efforts have long been a priority for AtlantiCare and that making a comfortable atmosphere for health care providers and patients from different communities is critical to patient health.
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“We know that there is, I would say, an exponential impact of when our staff, our providers, everyone who works within AtlantiCare knows that they are in an inclusive environment,” Ragland said. “We know that directly impacts patient care.”
State Chief Diversity Officer Candice Alfonso said AtlantiCare’s DEI initiatives complemented efforts under the Murphy administration to redress health inequity, such as the Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities, which was convened to investigate the disparate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and recent workforce-diversity efforts.
“It’s data and really understanding what we need to know in terms of really addressing the root causes of health disparities and really trying to make inroads in the community,” Alfonso said. “I just applaud what AtlantiCare is doing and really taking the lead and really trying to make a change.”
Ragland highlighted recent efforts to address health issues that pertain to certain communities. He said AtlantiCare has also worked with officials in Atlantic City and Pleasantville to address two major health care issues in their communities, diabetes and hypertension. These partnerships, Ragland said, help find new ways to connect with people who have previously been underserved by the health care industry.
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
That the summit was held at the Medical Arts Pavilion served to underscore new DEI initiatives. Ragland said the pavilion houses an AtlantiCare Safe Beginnings program that seeks to improve prenatal and postnatal, as well as prepartum and postpartum, care.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. celebrated the pavilion and thanked the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for supporting efforts to help fund care for pregnant women and mothers.
“AtlantiCare stepped up and made this facility an essential part of decreasing the infant-mortality rate with the great programs and services that we have out of this building for women,” Small said.
The AtlantiCare Legacy employee resource group, a team whose mission is to “empower our workplace and community to embrace diversity and promote healthy living,” helped organized the event Thursday. Robin DeShields, co-chair of the Legacy group, said the purpose of the event was to address disparities in health care outcomes between different communities.
“Our goal is just to get out there and bridge that health-equity gap and provide as much service as we can to this community,” DeShields said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to serve the community, it really is, and we absolutely enjoy it.”
“Being able to come back in my own community and being able to help the patients and people of the community is very rewarding,” added AtlantiCare pharmacist and city resident Marie DeBerry-Butler, who was speaking with a patient in Spanish before her interview. “Having that connection with someone that speaks the same language, it’s very helpful because you can break down and understand what they’re going through a little bit better and you can assist them a little bit more directly."
The summit also focused on AtlantiCare’s efforts to promote care for the LGBTQ community. Kirby Delgado, AtlantiCare's LGBTQ+ support services navigator, spoke about the new AtlantiCare LGBTQ+ Health Center, which opened in the city about six months ago. Delgado said such a clinic, where LGBTQ patients could feel understood, had long been a need in the community.
“The truth of the matter is we’ve always had LGBTQ patients here, especially in South Jersey,” Delgado said. “There’s a lot of discrimination that comes with being trans, with being LGBTQ.”
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — A dirt bike rider suffered a leg injury when he collided with a car Su…
There was a particular need, Delgado said, among transgender patients who comprise about two-fifths of all AtlantiCare LGBTQ clinic patients and whose needs have too often been neglected by medical professionals. He said many clinics were too narrowly focused on care for HIV/AIDS and did not tend to issues such as treatment for patients who had recently undergone gender affirmation surgery.
“At the end of the day, everybody deserves good health quality, everybody deserves good health care,” Delgado said. “As I’ve gotten to know these patients, a lot of the … trials and tribulations that they face is that a lot of these providers that they’ve been with in the past don’t know too much about trans health. … They don’t know too much about just LGBTQ health in general.”
Ragland said a key aspect of DEI efforts at AtlantiCare is workforce development, which involves recruiting new hires from underserved communities. He said AtlantiCare works with local governments, school districts and civic groups to recruit potential employees who can diversify its workforce. He said creating a diverse workforce helped ensure that health care providers and other staff better understand the needs facing different communities.
“We didn’t wait for candidates to come for us, we went to the candidates in their environment in their community,” Ragland said. “And that’s how we can work with dismantling disparities that are even just geared towards workforce.”
Maseeha Khan, an Atlantic City High School senior, said at the summit that she had taken a job as a patient access associate at AtlantiCare. She said she had ambitions of becoming a psychologist.
“It’s a very amazing opportunity,” Khan said. AtlantiCare also has a partnership with the Ideal Institute of Technology. Ragland said AtlantiCare connected 20 Pleasantville residents to certify them in home health aid work.
Ideal founder Ren Parikh said the AtlantiCare partnership was particularly beneficial to young people who were not in school or were otherwise at risk. He said the jobs at AtlantiCare paid $16 to $18 per hour.
“It’s not just providing health care but providing a work opportunity and a career pathway into health care to diverse communities or at-risk community,” Parikh said. “That’s amazing work.”
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — An Upper Township man last week admitted causing a hit-and-run crash …
Pleasantville Mayor Judy Ward praised AtlantiCare for its workforce development efforts and community health initiatives. She highlighted AtlantiCare’s recent acquisition of the John Brooks Recovery Center, which she said will help the city ameliorate issues surrounding addiction and homelessness.
“AtlantiCare has always been such a big part of our community,” Ward said. “And we want to support them as they support us.” | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlanticare-highlights-health-equity-efforts-at-dei-summit/article_e8e34f5e-ffa0-11ed-bac0-dbd844032bff.html | 2023-05-31T19:14:30 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlanticare-highlights-health-equity-efforts-at-dei-summit/article_e8e34f5e-ffa0-11ed-bac0-dbd844032bff.html |
FRANKLIN, Texas — One person was killed when a boiler exploded at a southeastern Texas power plant Wednesday morning, according to a spokesperson for Dallas-based Luminant.
“A contractor was fatally injured” in the blast about 8 a.m. at the Oak Grove Power Plant, according to a statement from spokesperson Meranda Cohn for Luminant, which owns the plant.
“All other employees and contractors have been accounted for and there are no other known injuries at this time,” Cohn said.
Robertson County Emergency Management Director Bill Huggins says there was no fire and no danger to the public in the nearby town of Franklin, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northwest of Houston.
The cause of the explosion remained under investigation, according to Cohn's statement, and the plant remained in operation and generating electricity.
Luminant will continue to work closely with the contractor’s employer and state and federal regulators to investigate the cause of this event. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/texas/1-person-killed-boiler-explosion-texas-power-plant/287-5e28dcae-5b9e-4cb1-9cad-8726deefbf1c | 2023-05-31T19:18:09 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/texas/1-person-killed-boiler-explosion-texas-power-plant/287-5e28dcae-5b9e-4cb1-9cad-8726deefbf1c |
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WATERLOO — Cedar Valley Faces of Excellence will honor African-American graduates of the Cedar Valley at its annual Baccalaureate Ceremony at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The ceremony will take place at Antioch Baptist Church at 426 Sumner St.
Tori Austin will moderate the program and focus on faith and excellence. CVFE will present students with certificates of achievement. The organization will also pay tribute to Gloria Kirkland Holmes, a retired professor from the University of Northern Iowa and former CVFE advisor.
Andrea Alert and the Rebel City Dance organization will perform.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Kristina Cook, a Waterloo native, who is in the final year of her pediatric residency at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. She will be returning to the Cedar Valley as a pediatrician for UnityPoint Health.
The college speaker will be NeiAira Burt who received her master of arts degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Northen Iowa. She accepted a therapist position at Lifeworks in Ankeny.
The high school speaker will be Dejuan Rambus, a graduate of East High School, who is known for his athletic and academic excellence. He recently completed an internship at John Deere and plans to attend Iowa State University for a degree in engineering.
Protestors in Davenport on Tuesday chanted "search and rescue" during a protest of the planned demolition of the partially collapsed apartment building.
Photos: Memorial Day commemorations across the US
Krista Meinert touches the headstone of her son U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jacob Alexander Meinert as she visits his grave in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
President Joe Biden speaks at the Memorial Amphitheater of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Susan Walsh
President Joe Biden stands with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as the national anthem is played at the Memorial Amphitheater of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Susan Walsh
President Joe Biden lays a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Susan Walsh
Members of the Hinsdale, N.H. Firefighters salute during a small memorial service as part of the annual Hinsdale Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Kristopher Radder /The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Jason Bowers, of Fairfax, Va., talks with his daughter Georgia, 7, as they visit Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
U.S. flags stand at grave sites during a Memorial Day service held at the Veterans' Memorial Cross at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Mich., on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)
Don Campbell
Kathy Jillson, of Berrien Springs, Mich., walks among graves following a Memorial Day service held at the Veterans' Memorial Cross at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Mich., on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)
Don Campbell
Vadim Gunyan, of Washington, visits the grave of U.S. Army Sgt. John D. Linde, who he served with, in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
A large American flag is displayed during the Star-Spangled Banner before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Erin Hooley
Members of a Conneaut Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 150 provide a salute during a Conneaut Memorial Day ceremony at City Cemetery in Conneaut, Ohio, on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Warren Dillaway/The Star-Beacon via AP)
Warren Dillaway
Members of the Geneva High School band march in the Geneva Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29, 2023, in Geneva, Ohio. (Warren Dillaway/The Star-Beacon via AP)
Warren Dillaway
American Legion Color Guard prepare to raise the U.S. flag to half-staff in tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. armed forces in Brownsville, Texas, during the 24th Annual Memorial Day Silent March on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP)
Miguel Roberts
People pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. armed forces in Brownsville, Texas during the 24th Annual Memorial Day Silent March on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP)
Miguel Roberts
People pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. armed forces in Brownsville, Texas during the 24th Annual Memorial Day Silent March on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP)
Miguel Roberts
People pay tribute at Veterans Park to the fallen men and women of the U.S. armed forces in Brownsville, Texas during the 24th Annual Memorial Day Silent March on Monday, May 29, 2023. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP)
Miguel Roberts
Melody Turiello lays her head against the headstone of her mother, Army veteran Debra Turner during a Memorial Day visit at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
Carmen Williams visits the grave of her father, Air Force veteran Oscar Williams, on Memorial Day at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
Gary Black visits the grave of his brother, Air Force veteran Owen Black who passed away on May 29, 2017, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
The colors are raised and then lowered to half-staff by members of Vietnam Veterans Inc. at the start of La Porte's Memorial Day service in Fox Park on Monday, May 29, 2023, in La Porte, Ind. Flags were directed to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon. (Amanda Haverstick/La Porte County Herald-Dispatch via AP)
Amanda Haverstick
Miniature flags are seen placed by graves at the San Francisco National Cemetery during a Memorial Day ceremony, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Santiago Mejia
The 63D Readiness Division in a rifle salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at the San Francisco National Cemetery, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Santiago Mejia
The 63D Readiness Division rehearse their rifle salute at the San Francisco National Cemetery ahead of a Memorial Day ceremony, Monday, May 29, 2023. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Santiago Mejia
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CEDAR FALLS — Experiment 529 has been awarded the Veridian Community Engagement Grant for the third year in a row.
Experiment 529 provides paid micro-internships to college-bound high school and University of Northern Iowa students working with some of the fastest-growing Black businesses in the area. The initiative is a collaboration between the Iowa Center for Opportunity Resources & Equity Inc. and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at UNI.
During the internships, students will apply their classroom knowledge to solve real-world business challenges alongside entrepreneurs. This hands-on experience enables students to learn about the complexities of entrepreneurship and business.
This year, the Veridian Community Engagement grant will be combined with grants from the Erwin Marion Kauffman Foundation and donated funding sources to provide resources for 20 entrepreneurs. Each entrepreneur will work on up to five projects for a total of 100 projects, according to a news release. The interns use all their skills in accounting, finance, operations, human resources, law, and marketing to help solve problems alongside entrepreneurs.
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In 2021, Experiment 529 launched to support 24/7 BLAC’s Black Business Entrepreneurial Accelerator participants. The focus of the first initiative was to help entrepreneurs transition to QuickBooks accounting software once they outgrew Excel spreadsheets to manage bookkeeping.
In 2022, Experiment 529 added 10 new workshops to help entrepreneurs learn how to use technology, templates and automation to be more productive. This year the program aims to create a more personalized approach while maintaining a diverse set of topics.
For more information on Experiment 529, call (319) 273-5732 or email lindi.roelofse@uni.edu. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/experiment-529-receives-veridian-community-engagement-grant-for-third-consecutive-year/article_c428d020-0bb6-5627-8eb4-87ff7fa133c2.html | 2023-05-31T19:20:41 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/experiment-529-receives-veridian-community-engagement-grant-for-third-consecutive-year/article_c428d020-0bb6-5627-8eb4-87ff7fa133c2.html |
Former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft will join former state legislator and longtime Columbus Dispatch Editor Michael Curtin in Dayton on June 27 for a bipartisan discussion hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Dayton Area, centered on the potential impacts of August’s historic Issue 1 vote.
Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to make it harder to amend the state constitution by requiring approval from 60% of voters in order to grant passage, up from the simple majority threshold that has been in place for over 100 years. Issue 1 would also make it harder to get an initiated amendment on the ballot by significantly raising the amount of signatures that need to be collected.
If passed this August, Issue 1 would move the goalposts and potentially preempt a forthcoming abortion-rights initiative expected this November.
Taft, a Republican, vocally opposed raising the threshold earlier this year. He called it “especially bad public policy,” to use an August election — which Republicans had limited due to cost and low voter engagement just months prior — to decide “such a consequential constitutional amendment” that would “fundamentally change Ohioans’ voting and constitutional rights.”
Taft warned state legislators that a 60% requirement to pass amendments would stymie important policy, like his environmental Clean Ohio Fund and the economic Third Frontier Project — two policies still used today that were borne from amendments that passed with less than 60% of the vote. Taft noted that the change would make it harder for the state to incur debt and procure funding for specific projects.
Curtin, a Democrat, will add his perspective as a politics reporter and former Democratic legislator who sat on the state’s Constitutional Modernization Commission from 2013 to 2016. He testified against the 60% threshold as the resolution made its way through the Ohio General Assembly earlier this year, characterizing Issue 1 as a “proposed solution to a nonexistent problem,” and argued against using an August election to put it on the ballot.
The event will be moderated by Dayton Daily News’ Community Impact Editor Nick Hrkman.
Chris Corba, executive director for the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area, said her nonpartisan organization doesn’t endorse candidates but will take positions on certain issues; in this case, they oppose Issue 1.
Corba said her organization and the larger Ohio League of Women Voters is worried about issues that span past abortion. “The biggest issue that we’re concerned about is redistricting and ending gerrymandering,” she said. “It’s going to be virtually impossible with this 60% threshold.”
Corba said, while using an August election to put the question before voters is concerning to her, Dayton’s league of women voters would take the same stance on it even if it was on the November ballot.
“Overall, it takes away our ability to effect change. It’s going to make it virtually impossible for citizen-led initiatives to be put on the ballot,” Corba said. “The lift that’s going to be required of citizens to be able to effect change in the state is going to be incredible.”
The free program will be held on June 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the University of Dayton’s Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. Reservations can be made by contacting the League at league@lwvdayton.org or 937-228-4041. A recording of the program will be available via the League’s website.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-league-of-women-voters-hosting-forum-on-state-issue-1/L7YFLGHJURB3TLZTNUG63NT5TE/ | 2023-05-31T19:27:26 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-league-of-women-voters-hosting-forum-on-state-issue-1/L7YFLGHJURB3TLZTNUG63NT5TE/ |
After being the runner-up for two consecutive years, Charlotte is now the most popular female baby name in the state of Ohio, dethroning Olivia, according to new data from the Social Security Administration.
Meanwhile, Oliver, the defending champ, was once again the most popular baby name for boys born last year in the state.
Before Oliver was king, Liam was the most popular baby name for boys born between 2013 and 2020. Olivia was the top baby name for girls born in the Buckeye State between 2019 and 2021.
Credit: Greg Lynch
Credit: Greg Lynch
Liam was the second most popular name for boys last year, followed by Noah (#3), Henry (#4) and Theodore (#5).
Olivia held the second spot, followed by Amelia (#3), Sophia (#4) and Ava (#5).
Rewind to 2007, and Charlotte did not rank in the top 100 girl baby names in the state. Oliver did not break into Ohio’s top 100 boy names until 2009.
But from there, both names became increasingly popular, and both cracked into the top 10 by 2017.
Oliver was the second most popular boy name in 2020 and 2019. Charlotte was the second most popular girl name in 2021 and 2022.
Since 1960, just six boy names have held the top spot in Ohio, and only a dozen girl names have won the popularity contest.
The most popular boy names were Oliver (2021 to 2022), Liam (2013 to 2020), Mason (2011 to 2012), Jacob (1995 to 2010), Michael (1964 to 1994) and David (1960 to 1963).
The top girl names were Charlotte (2022), Olivia (2019-2021), Ava (2007, 2008, 2018), Emma (2003 to 2006, 2011 and 2013 to 2017), Sophia (2012), Isabella (2009 to 2010), Madison (2001 to 2002), Hannah (1999 to 2000), Emily (1995 to 1998), Ashley (1984 to 1994), Jennifer (1970 to 1983), Lisa (1962 to 1969) and Mary (1960 to 1961).
The Social Security Administration records only go back to 1960.
Here’s the full list of the top 100 boy and girl names in Ohio for 2022:
1. Oliver, Charlotte
2. Liam, Olivia
3. Noah, Amelia
4. Henry, Sophia
5. Theodore, Ava
6. Elijah, Evelyn
7. Owen, Emma
8. James, Harper
9. William, Eleanor
10. Lincoln, Isabella
11. Lucas, Nora
12. Hudson, Scarlett
13. Jack, Violet
14 . Jackson, Avery
15. Levi, Nova
16. Benjamin, Elizabeth
17. Grayson, Mia
18. Wyatt, Willow
19. Michael, Ella
20. Asher, Hazel
21. Leo, Aurora
22. Maverick, Isla
23. Samuel, Layla
24. Joseph, Penelope
25. Carter, Aria
26. Luke, Ellie
27. Cooper, Lillian
28. Waylon, Riley
29. Mason, Chloe
30. Daniel, Gianna
31. John, Lucy
32. Luca, Abigail
33. Logan, Stella
34. Alexander, Quinn
35. Myles, Luna
36. Cameron, Paisley
37. Charles, Grace
38, Ezra, Mila
39. Jaxon, Ivy
40. Miles, Lydia
41. Thomas, Addison
42 . Aiden, Lily
43. Nolan, Naomi
44. Wesley, Zoey
45. Jacob, Kinsley
46. Gabriel, Josephine
47. Colton, Everleigh
48. David, Claire
49. Walker, Madison
50. Anthony, Delilah
51. Silas, Everly
52. Andrew, Cora
53. Isaac, Raelynn
54. Ethan, Hannah
55. Jameson, Vivian
56. Bennett, Iris
57. Weston, Madelyn
58. Everett, Ruby
59. Landon, Sadie
60. Beau, Emily
61. Carson, Emilia
62. Easton, Oaklynn
63. Roman, Savannah
64. Elias, Maeve
65. Kai, Natalie
66. Rowan, Sofia
67. Brooks, Anna
68. Matthew, Audrey
69. Braxton, Josie
70. Eli, Brooklyn
71. Sebastian, Peyton
72. Josiah, Caroline
73. Parker, Kennedy
74. Caleb, Eloise
75. Jaxson, Leah
76. Greyson, Lyla
77. Christopher, Rylee
78. Jayden, Eliana
79. Micah, Emery
80. Declan, Clara
81. Ezekiel, Elliana
82. Graham, Zoe
83. Isaiah, Elena
84. August, Hadley
85. Joshua, Piper
86. Emmett, Aubrey
87. Hunter, Maya
88. Dylan, Parker
89. Julian, Skylar
90. Robert, Eliza
91. Chase, Emersyn
92. Connor, Wren
93. Jace, Alice
94. Dominic, Autumn
95. Atlas, Juniper
96. River, Oakley
97. Nathan, Sloane
98. Ryder, Lainey
99. Theo, Margaret
100. Jordan, Remi
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohios-100-most-popular-baby-names-a-repeat-champ-and-a-new-winner/JHLL477JJNAHFK3IAVA2OTBKVY/ | 2023-05-31T19:27:28 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohios-100-most-popular-baby-names-a-repeat-champ-and-a-new-winner/JHLL477JJNAHFK3IAVA2OTBKVY/ |
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BLOOMINGTON — A Mississippi man appeared in McLean County court Wednesday for his first status hearing since being charged in the death of a pedestrian in September .
Quinton T. Turner, 27, of Starkville, Mississippi, is charged with one count of aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and one count of cannabis DUI. According to charging documents, within two hours of driving, Turner had a blood THC concentration higher than 5 nanograms per millimeter, and the THC concentration “was the approximate cause of the death.”
The charges stem from a fatal crash on Sept. 24 in which a pedestrian, 29-year-old Yesenia Navarrete of Bloomington , was struck by a vehicle in the area of Center and Mulberry streets.
Turner is accused of being the driver in the crash.
Navarrete suffered serious injuries in the collision. She was pronounced dead after being transported to Carle BroMenn Medical Center.
Turner was initially charged with the offense in February. His bond was set at $100,000, with 10% to apply for release. He has since bonded out, which means he paid $10,035 to be released from the McLean County jail.
Turner’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3. His attorney, Stephanie Wong, asked that he be excused from attending the August hearing as he lives out of state, and Judge Amy McFarland approved the request.
Close to 43,000 people died in a traffic crash in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That's up from about 39,000 deaths in 2020.
Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph
Bryant Lewis
Bryant Lewis, 28, of Bloomington, is charged with home invasion causing injury, a Class X felony. His next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
Derek Roesch
Derek Roesch of Saybrook was charged Thursday, Nov. 10 in McLean County Law and Justice Center with several counts, including:
-Two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, Class 2 felonies
-One count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon while on parole, Class 2 felony
-Two counts of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon, class 2 felonies
-One count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon while on parole, class 2 felony
-Unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (greater than 2000 grams but less than 5000 grams), a class 1 felony
-Unlawful possession of cannabis (greater than 2000 grams but less than 5000 grams), a class 2 felony
-Unlawful possession of a controlled substance, psylocibin less than 15 grams, a class 4 felony
-Unlawful possession of methamphetamine, less than five grams, a class 3 felony.
-Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor
Justin M. Mata
Justin M. Mata, 28, no address given, is charged with possession of less than five grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony, and possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony. He was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and his next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
Marcus D. Wesley
Marcus D. Wesley, 36, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle (Class 4 felony), unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 3 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Phillip Tinch
Phillip Tinch of Normal was charged Thursday, Nov. 10 at the McLean County Law and Justice Center with several felonies including:
- Five counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, more than one but less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 1 felony.
-One count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, less than one gram of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 2 felony.
Trisha L. Hanke
Trisha L. Hanke, 36, is charged with theft of over $10,000 (Class 2 felony). Court documents indicate she knowingly took $14,000 belonging to a Love's Travel Stop, in LeRoy, where she was employed.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
William B. Givens
William B. Givens, 49, no address given, is charged with unlawful possession of five to 15 grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony, possession of less than five grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony, possession of five to 15 grams of meth, a Class 2 felony, and possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony. His next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
David L. Oliver
David L. Oliver, 51, of Bloomington, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault.
Kenneth E. Funk
Kenneth E. Funk, 27, is charged with residential burglary (Class 1 felony) involving an apartment in Lexington on Dec. 31, 2022.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jordan R. King
Charges have been filed against Jordan R. King, 34, for violation of the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Holly M. Isaacson
Isaacson
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Kenneth L. Minton
Kenneth L. Minton, 51, is charged with aggravated home repair fraud (Class 2 felony) and theft (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tony L. Jackson
Tony L. Jackson, 50, is charged for violation of the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Britley L. Hilger
Britley L. Hilger, 32, is charged with aggravated battery (Class 2 felony) after she supposedly punched a McLean County Detention Facility officer in the chest.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jasmine L. Smith
Jasmine L. Smith, 31, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (Class 2 felony) and five counts of endangering the life or health of a child (Class A misdemeanors).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jackie S. Claypool
Jackie S. Claypool, 46, appeared for a Friday bond court hearing for two new cases which charged her for one count of burglary (Class 2 felony), four counts of forgery (Class 3) and one count of deceptive practices (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Noah R. Demuth
Noah R. Demuth, 22, of Evanston, is charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, aggravated battery in a public way, a Class 3 felony, mob action, a Class 4 felony, and obstructing a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. His next court date is Feb. 17.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Brandon L. Parsano
Brandon L. Parsano, 39, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony. His next appearance is Feb. 17 for an arraignment.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Alexander N. Williams
Alexander N. Williams, 24, was charged Feb. 2 with the following:
3 counts of unlawful delivery of cannabis between 30 and 500 grams - Class 3 felonies. 2 counts of armed violence - Class X felonies. 1 count of unlawful possession of cannabis between 2,000 and 5,000 grams with the intent to sell - a Class 1 felony. 1 count of unlawful possession of cannabis between 500 and 2,000 grams with the intent to sell - a Class 2 felony. 3 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon - Class 3 felonies. 1 count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon - a Class 3 felony 3 counts of violating the Illinois FOID act - Class 3 felonies.
PROVIDED BY MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano
Carlos H. Sanchez-Solozarzano, 22, was charged with 1 count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony.
PROVIDED BY MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jaylin S. Bones
Jaylin S. Bones was charged with four counts of first-degree murder stemming from a homicide in Bloomington last year. A McLean County grand jury also returned a bill of indictment charging him with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm (Class X felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jordan R. King
Jordan R. King, 34, was charged with violating the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act (Class 2 felony) a second time in under a month.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Dominique M. Banks
Dominique M. Banks, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery involving strangulation (Class 2 felony). The incident happened in October 2022 and involved one victim.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Austin T. Daugherty
Austin T. Daugherty, 29, was charged with burglary (Class 2 felony) after he entered an Avis Car Rental, 3201 Cira Drive, in Bloomington, without permission and with the intent to commit theft.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Sandra M. Lewis
Sandra M. Lewis, 77, is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance containing MDMB-4E-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid, with the intent to deliver (Class X felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Samantha E. Morris
Samantha E. Morris, 40, is charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer (Class 2 felony) after supposedly spitting on a Colfax police officer.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Nolan C. Love
Nolan C. Love, 46, appeared in court Friday for a bond review hearing after being charged with aggravated domestic battery involving strangulation (Class 2 felony) on Feb. 26.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Nikkita L. Sandefur
Nikkita L. Sandefur, 36, is charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Class 2 felony) containing cocaine.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Katlin M.B. Wilson
Katlin M.B. Wilson, 32, is charged with aggravated identity theft (Class 2 felony) after being accused of fraudulently obtaining money exceeding $300 but not exceeding $10,000 from a 60 year old man.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Eli C. Garozzo
Eli C. Garozzo, 20, is charged with two counts of home invasion, a Class X felony, two counts of attempted armed robbery, a Class 1 felony, and two counts of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. His bond was set at $200,000 as a 10% bond, meaning he must pay $20,000 plus fees to be released. His next appearance is an arraignment on April 13.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tysean T. Townsend
Tysean T. Townsend, 35, is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), three counts of child abduction, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and obstructing justice (Class 4 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Curtis J. Byrd
Curtis J. Byrd, 31, is charged with two counts of burglary (Class 2 felony), two counts of fraud and two counts of financial institution fraud (Class 3 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Noral K. Nelson
Noral K. Nelson, 31, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm (Class 4 felony) after he was arrested in connection to a shooting along the 1500 block of S. Main Street.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Charles J. Tankson
Charles J. Tankson, 23, was charged with burglary (Class 2 felony), theft and two counts of unlawful use of a debit card (Class 3 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Davis, Micah S
Davis was charged with 3 counts of arson, Class 2 felonies, and 3 counts of criminal damage to property, Class 4 felonies.
His next court date is May 5 at 9 a.m.
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Livingston, Joshua D.
Livingston was charged with 2 counts of possessing stolen vehicles, Class 2 felonies, possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and criminal damage to government property, a Class 4 felony.
His next court date is May 5 at 9 a.m.
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Kevin L. Ewen
Kevin L. Ewen, 42, appeared in a Thursday bond court hearing and was charged with aggravated battery (Class 2 felony), obstructing a peace officer (Class 4 felony) and two counts of resisting a peace officer (Class A misdemeanor).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Emmanuel K. Mpay
Emmanuel K. Mpay, 23, appeared in a Thursday bond court hearing following a grand jury indictment for two counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Ahmad S. Manns
Ahmad S. Manns, 19, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing and was charged with cannabis trafficking (Class X felony), unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver (Class 1 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Dylan R Mann
Dylan R Mann, 31, appeared Friday in bond court following four grand jury indictments for two separate cases relating to aggravated assault and battery.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tony L. Jackson
Tony L. Jackson, 50, was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), domestic battery, violation of an order of protection and driving while license revoked or suspended (Class 4 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
William R. Linden
William R. Linden, 79, was released Tuesday on felony burglary charges for trying to pass a forged check at Busey Bank.
Zadek U. Moen
Zadek U. Moen, 20, is facing six felony drug charges after being arrested by the Illinois State Police on Thursday.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Zachary T. Willis
Zachary T. Willis, 27, is charged with aggravated domestic battery by strangulation (Class 2 felony) and domestic battery subsequent offense (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Cecily M. Sexton
Cecily M. Sexton, 39, was charged with two counts of burglary, a Class 2 felony; one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony; financial institution fraud, a Class 3 felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tonisha A. Jackson
Tonisha A. Jackson, 27, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
James A. McConnaughay
James A. McConnaughay, 53, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland. McConnaughay is charged with unlawful possession of 5-15 grams of methamphetamine (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jessica M. Longberry
Jessica M. Longberry, 38, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland. Longberry is charged with burglary (Class 2 felony) and forgery (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Barry D. Guyton
Barry D. Guyton, 26, was charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felonies) two counts of unlawful possession of 15-100 of cocaine with the intent to deliver with one being a Class X felony and the other being a Class 1 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Keon E. Spiller
Keon E. Spiller, 22, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland and was charged with attempted escape after his jury trial reached a verdict.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/accused-driver-appears-in-mclean-county-court-charged-in-fatal-pedestrian-crash/article_1f206cda-ffdf-11ed-8a71-63559ba567d9.html | 2023-05-31T19:36:08 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/accused-driver-appears-in-mclean-county-court-charged-in-fatal-pedestrian-crash/article_1f206cda-ffdf-11ed-8a71-63559ba567d9.html |
More than 50% of fatal and serious-injury crashes involve males 22 to 27 years old
SANFORD - Leading officials who oversee traffic safety in Central Florida are sending a message in June. But first, if you are driving, set this aside and read it when you have arrived at your destination.
Chances are, their message cautioning against distracted driving, will be one you hear over and over. The Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol will be placing TV spots, targeted ads, and social media posts.
They will also have a presence at multiple special events across Central Florida during the month, including the Downtown DeLand Cruise on June 17.
The goal is going beyond raising awareness of distracted driving by influencing behavioral changes, particularly among a specific group.
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"We're reaching out to everybody, but we really want to influence those young male drivers between the ages of 22 and 27 and their families," said Loreen Bobo, traffic safety administrator for the Florida Department of Transportation's District 5 office.
Why young males? Because more than 50% of fatal and serious-injury crashes involve a young male driver "who may also be a distracted driver," she said.
Dangers include death
They are presenting facts that often elude drivers, including the fact that crashes kill 8 people each day on Florida's roads.
Another is that more than 53,000 crashes that occurred in Florida in 2022 involved a distracted driver, according to Lt. Tara Crescenzi, public affairs officer for the Florida Highway Patrol's Troop D, covering the Central Florida region.
She said 268 of those crashes resulted in a fatality and 2,574 caused a serious bodily injury.
Transportation officials are specifically targeting young male drivers because they are involved in more than half of the fatal and serious-injury crashes, Bobo added.
Young males need to be connected constantly to their mobile phones and are very confident in their driving skills, she said.
"They want to be in control and admired. They do not want to be told what to do," Bobo said.
However, there is a way to reach many young males.
"They still listen to their family members, their parents and grandparents," Bobo said.
What exactly is 'distracted driving'?
A 2019 law prohibits using a cellphone to text, email or message while driving.
But there are many ways in which a driver can become distracted that remain legal, such as reaching across the dashboard to turn up the volume, eating, putting on makeup or even reaching into the backseat to comfort a child.
"It's anything that’s taking your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road and your mind off of driving," Bobo said.
Crescenzi said adults with children in the car should understand the modeling they exhibit while driving.
"Please make sure when you do have young, impressionable kids in your vehicle, that you are doing the right thing," she said. "You're buckling up, you're not driving distracted and your eyes and your mind are on the road at all times." | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/fdot-targets-distracted-driving/70271500007/ | 2023-05-31T19:36:30 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/31/fdot-targets-distracted-driving/70271500007/ |
MORRILTON, Ark. — On Saturday, a 17-year-old boy died after falling from a large rock off the Bear Cave Trail in Petit Jean State Park.
Park rangers were alerted around 4:02 p.m. that a child had fallen and was struggling to breathe. Upon arrival, they found the boy in a tight crevice between two cliffs as they worked to stabilize him.
Petit State Park authorities extracted the victim to an ambulance, where he was then taken from the Petit Jean Airport to Children's Hospital in Little Rock via Med-Flight.
According to authorities, the boy died at the hospital due to injuries from the fall.
Officials said park rangers were able to safely rescue two additional minors who were stranded on the rock with no injuries.
The minors were reunited with their families at Petit Jean Airport. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/boy-succumbs-to-injuries-after-fall/91-68ade03a-107f-4245-8b95-b8c719f3b761 | 2023-05-31T19:36:53 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/boy-succumbs-to-injuries-after-fall/91-68ade03a-107f-4245-8b95-b8c719f3b761 |
SEBASTIAN COUNTY, Ark. — According to the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office, a 17-year-old girl has been reported missing after she left home and didn't return on May 29, 2023.
Her mother told deputies that her daughter left earlier in the day and said she'd be back at 7 p.m. When her daughter didn't come home, her mother reported her missing.
Deputies describe the girl, identified as Selena Holmes, as being 5 foot 3 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black crop top and black shorts. Authorities say she could also be carrying a small black satchel and may not have the medication with her that she needs.
"She is under a doctor's care," SCSO said in the release.
Deputies say she could be in the Fort Smith area with her last known area as north Fort Smith. Her phone isn't currently on and hasn't tried to communicate with friends or family, according to SCSO.
"SCSO has entered Holmes as run away. So far investigators have not turned up any leads on her whereabouts," SCSO said.
If have any information on where Holmes' may be, you're asked to contact Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office at 479-783-1051.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/sebastian-county-sheriffs-office-searching-missing-girl/527-511d48da-7f9b-4b9b-bb6d-4d1ef6472726 | 2023-05-31T19:36:59 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/sebastian-county-sheriffs-office-searching-missing-girl/527-511d48da-7f9b-4b9b-bb6d-4d1ef6472726 |
FRISCO, Texas — A Frisco golf club has dealt with two incidents of racism in the last few days.
This past weekend, Frisco Lakes Golf Club general manager Linroy “LC” Costly got a photo text message of a racial slur written in one of the course’s sand bunkers.
“I was shocked,” he said. “I was in disbelief to be quite honest.”
A Black golfer playing the par 4, 13th hole saw two people running away from the bunker and then discovered the writing.
“It hit home needless to say,” Costly, who’s also Black, said. “It made me feel extremely sad.”
The golfer’s daughter posted about the incident on Instagram saying, "This has happened too many times in this city."
The family told WFAA they agreed to let Costly speak on their behalf.
“No one needs to go through that whether you’re Black, white, green, it doesn’t matter,” he said.
Costly said that on Monday they got a call for a tee time, and, when asked for a name, the caller said the same racial slur four times. They’re currently working on pulling their phone records to share with Frisco police.
Two years ago, an identical sand bunker incident happened just five miles away at Trails of Frisco Golf Club.
“That’s the sad part that as a Black man at 53 years old, as a general manager of a golf club, we’re still dealing with this in 2023,” Costly said.
All of it is happening in the same city the PGA of America is headquartered in.
"The PGA of America condemns all acts of racism and has reached out to the club to see if we can assist them as they investigate,” the company said in a statement.
"I think Frisco is a pretty nice community,” Costly said. “It’s a diverse community. It’s getting better and better.”
Costly and a new ownership group took over the course last March. He said in 20 years he's never personally dealt with an incident of racism in the sport but said it's been an issue for decades.
“The gap is narrowing. I truly believe that," he said. "There’s more African Americans, there’s more Mexican Americans, there’s more Indian Americans.”
Police are now investigating. Costly doesn’t believe the act of hate was committed by a golfer playing that day.
He said the man who discovered it decided to persevere and finish his round.
“Hopefully someone will come forward. The biggest goal for me is to catch the perpetrators,” he said. “I didn’t think that would ever happen, but it did.” | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/frisco-golf-course-racial-slur-bunker-racist-phone-call-days-later/287-38171be2-06bc-4d0b-b4e6-6e11e6777259 | 2023-05-31T19:37:32 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/frisco-golf-course-racial-slur-bunker-racist-phone-call-days-later/287-38171be2-06bc-4d0b-b4e6-6e11e6777259 |
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