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The Wyoming Office of Tourism, in partnership with the Ford Bronco Wild Fund and Outside Television, has announced a new “competition-style docu-series” called “Wildly Wyoming.”
“Wildly Wyoming,” as the alliterated title suggests, will over five episodes “showcase three groups of Team Bronco Ambassadors setting out on adventure-packed paths across Wyoming. On each route, teams will meet up with locals, guides and organizations that focus on access, preservation, and stewardship. The Team Bronco Ambassadors will learn what is needed to care for the untamed, wild spirit of Wyoming’s land and its people while competing in physical and Ford Bronco-based challenges,” according to a press release announcing the show.
The Bronco Wild Fund, which is Ford’s initiative to protect and preserve access to public lands, will eventually award a total of $70,000 to charitable organizations. The press release promised that said organizations would be announced at “a later date.”
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The series will begin streaming in July on Outside Television and other streaming services.
“Wyoming is where bold, independent and curious spirits are encouraged to forge their own way to adventures both big and small,” said Diane Shober, executive director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “Bronco Wild Fund shares our commitment for protecting this last bastion of the West. We can’t wait to showcase the distinctive stories of those who live here, work here, or are simply drawn here to explore. It’s not for the faint of heart, but for the full of heart.”
The Bronco Wild Fund focuses on access, preservation and stewardship of public lands, said Dave Rivers, enthusiast brand manager and Bronco Wild Fund advisory council member.
“The inclusion of our Team Bronco Ambassadors, who represent a collection of outdoor doers, seekers and athletes, ties the story together and further proves how Bronco is part of the adventures,” he said. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/wyoming-tourism-office-announces-new-outdoor-web-series/article_043e29d6-0177-11ee-a398-eb143933ac8a.html | 2023-06-05T15:43:38 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/wyoming-tourism-office-announces-new-outdoor-web-series/article_043e29d6-0177-11ee-a398-eb143933ac8a.html |
LANDOVER, Md. — The decomposing body of a 71-year-old grandmother was discovered inside a home in Landover Friday.
Now her daughter and granddaughter face charges.
Prince George's County Police were first alerted by a concerned 911 caller, who said they hadn't heard from Margaret Craig in several days.
Officers then visited Margaret's home in the 200 block of Hill Road.
Her daughter, Candace Craig , 44, answered and allowed police to search the home.
Inside officers could smell an odor coming from the basement. That's where they located Margaret's body.
Police say there is evidence suggesting Candace killed her mother on May 23.
The next day it's believed Candace and her daughter, 19-year-old Salia Hardy, tried disposing of Margaret's remains. Detectives are still searching for a motive.
Candace faces first and second degree murder charges, while Salia is charged with accessory after the fact. Both are currently in the custody.
Anyone with information should call detectives at 301-516-2512. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/discovery-of-grandmothers-body-leads-police-to-daughter-granddaughter-as-suspects | 2023-06-05T15:47:43 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/discovery-of-grandmothers-body-leads-police-to-daughter-granddaughter-as-suspects |
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — For the first time since 2019, a measles case has been detected in Maryland.
A Montgomery County resident was confirmed to have the viral infection on Friday.
Health officials are alerting of possible exposure to anyone who visited Cabin John Ice Rink in Bethesda on May 24 between 6 and 9pm.
Also on May 30 between 11am and 2pm, anyone at an office building at 16220 Frederick Road in Gaithersburg.
Anyone at either location should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles, especially fever. Those developing a fever or other symptoms should contact their health care provider and avoid attending childcare, school, work or public outings.
Although contagious, measles is preventable with a vaccine but can easily be spread to those not vaccinated. The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing and can remain airborne for up to two hours.
Symptoms typically develop 10 to 14 days after exposure, but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after.
Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and red watery eyes. Usually one to four days after, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person with measles becomes contagious four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins.
People who previously had measles, have been vaccinated or were born in the United States before 1957 are considered immune.
Those who may have potentially been exposed may also call Montgomery County Health and Human Services’ Disease Control Office at 240-777-1755 to determine their risk of contracting measles. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/first-measles-case-confirmed-in-maryland-since-2019 | 2023-06-05T15:47:49 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/first-measles-case-confirmed-in-maryland-since-2019 |
EDGEWOOD, Md. — Squatters are believed to have caused a townhouse fire in Edgewood.
Firefighters from around Harford County were called Monday morning to the 1900 block of Brookside Drive.
According to Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, the squatters were using a grill indoors.
The fire was said to be small which allowed crews to quickly extinguish the flames.
There's no word if anyone was injured. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/squatters-cause-edgewood-house-fire-by-using-grill-indoors | 2023-06-05T15:47:55 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/squatters-cause-edgewood-house-fire-by-using-grill-indoors |
Who hasn’t done more research on something being called a “miracle drug for weight loss” or looked at our desert surroundings and wondered if global warming is affecting the saguaros?
Or wondered if chili peppers have always been this spicy, or how family history is affecting our health.
As access to information grows, we all have science at our fingertips.
Our growing understanding of science can lead us down new pathways, many of them life-changing.
It is this quest for more information that has led to the second season of our podcast, The Lab at azcentral.
Our reporting will take you across Arizona to answer bioscience questions big and small. In each episode, you’ll find out how the answers affect real people, scientist or nom-scientist.
You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to listen.
Wondering how to subscribe? Search for "The Lab at azcentral" on your podcast app, and click on our show. On Apple Podcasts, click the "plus" in the upper-right-hand corner. On Spotify, click the "Follow" button. On Stitcher, hit the "plus" or the "Follow" button. If your notifications are turned on, you'll get a push alert whenever we release a new episode.
Season 2, Episode 1: Genetic testing helps project the future
Solio Felix went to the emergency room with what he thought was heatstroke or a heart attack. That's when a nurse told him that he'd be a perfect candidate for a genetic testing study.
This episode, the first in the new season, explores how genetic testing is increasingly used to help predict — and shape — our health future. | https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-science/2023/06/05/the-lab-at-azcentral-podcast-season-2-features-episodes-on-citizen-scientists/70278240007/ | 2023-06-05T15:52:03 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-science/2023/06/05/the-lab-at-azcentral-podcast-season-2-features-episodes-on-citizen-scientists/70278240007/ |
For more than two centuries, it was legal to excavate Native graves in the United States.
Indigenous burial sites were fair game for museums, institutions and collectors. Hundreds of thousands of human remains, funerary objects lovingly interred with ancestors and culturally important pieces flowed into museum archives, universities and private collections.
Anthropology and archaeology professors claimed skeletons for scientific study and as teaching tools, often trading skulls or other human bones with colleges. Antiquities dealers vied for these and other objects of cultural patrimony to offer for sale in galleries and auctions. Private collectors joined in the frenzy to excavate as many graves as possible for their own collections and to sell or trade to others.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, a free for all existed in the fields of anthropology, archaeology and Native art. It was all legal. Native cultures and Native peoples suffered greatly as a result.
"There were all kinds of desecrations going on," said Angela Garcia, cultural preservation compliance supervisor with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community east of Phoenix.
In 1990, Congress passed the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, also known as NAGPRA, in an attempt to address the issue of raiding Indigenous graves for science and profit.
Yet in the 33 years since the enactment of the federal law meant to reunite Indigenous communities with their ancestral remains and funerary and sacred objects, many institutions across the nation have yet to fulfill their legal obligation. An investigation by independent newsroom ProPublica found that at least half of the 210,000 human remains of Indigenous people have yet to be repatriated to their home communities.
In Arizona, 67% of the remains found and taken from burial places within state lines — about 17,400 in all — have been made available for return to tribes. That means that about one-third of those ancestral remains have yet to return to their homelands.
Some institutions have still made only a small portion of their ancestral remains available for repatriation. (The term “made available for return or repatriation” means that a museum, university or other such institution has determined the tribal culture of the remains or associated material and has placed it on a registry.)
ProPublica’s database indicated that the Arizona State Museum has only listed about 50% of the nearly 4,000 remains in its system for return.
Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change has listed only 2% of the remains brought from around the state for repatriation.
Some out-of-state institutions also hold significant numbers of Indigenous burial remains found in Arizona, but only a few have made equally significant numbers available to return them to their homelands. Harvard University has, to date, only listed 1% of the nearly 900 Arizona tribal remains as ready to return home, and the University of California, Berkeley, reported 2% of the 122 ancestral remains ready for repatriation to Arizona.
How law affects museums and universities
The people who wielded shovels, pickaxes or even backhoes to break into Native graves believed that the practice was legal partly because they did not perceive contemporary Indigenous peoples as the heirs to those graves, and thus taking remains and funerary items was, at best, a victimless crime.
For example, "If this was a piece of land," Garcia said, "people would definitely go back and try to find the next of kin."
But tribes have even deeper ancestral ties to the lands they inhabit and to the ancestors interred in those lands stretching back more than 10,000, 15,000 or even 20,000 years.
"We still maintain a cultural tie to those (ancestors) because we've never been apart from them," Garcia said. "We all feel that loss." Non-Native people whose tenure in the Americas is a mere 500 years only think of their immediate families when considering the crime of grave robbing, he said.
After decades of calls to stop stealing from Native burials, Congress finally passed legislation. NAGPRA requires that any institution that has human remains, funerary items or items of cultural patrimony in their possession — and which has accepted federal funding — must identify such items in their collections and work with tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to return them to their rightful owners.
Even with NAGPRA in place, tribes continue to face barriers to reclaiming their ancestors. One problem tribes continue to encounter is that universities with anthropology or archaeology departments that made their reputations studying Native cultures are reluctant to part with the material culture or human remains they possess for fear of losing enrollments, Garcia said.
Another flaw is that only institutions that accept federal dollars are subject to the law. That means private collections are largely exempt.
Education and training opportunities for tribal members who seek a career in tribal historic preservation and repatriation are in short supply. Salt River's NAGPRA coordinator Martha Martinez said there is no direct path to becoming a tribal cultural preservation officer.
One of the biggest shortcomings in NAGPRA is that the institutions make the final decisions, not the tribes, which is a frequent complaint from not only Salt River but other tribes.
"These decisions need to be out of the hands of the institutions," Garcia said. She suggested the determinations need to move to a different group but didn't specify a specific decision body.
NAGPRA also says that only federally recognized tribes have the right to reclaim their ancestors and cultural items. If a non-recognized tribe learns that human remains or culturally vital items are available for return, they must ask a recognized tribe to reclaim those items on their behalf.
That puts the only non-federally recognized tribe in Arizona, the Hia-Ced O'odham Hemajkam, in the position of asking its sister tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation, to intervene when human remains or funerary items taken from their ancestral lands are made available for repatriation.
Out of state institutions continue to hold onto Arizona burials and sacred items
Garcia and Shane Anton, Salt River's tribal historic preservation officer, both said that institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University pose greater issues than ones in Arizona. Because they're in other states, they said, it's more difficult to work the process.
Dan Mogulof, a spokesman with UC Berkeley said via email, "The university has abandoned past practices and comprehensively reformed and revised its policies, processes and perspectives in so far as repatriation is concerned."
Berkeley staff have consulted with Arizona tribes this year, and he said the university would welcome more such meetings to ensure that the remainder of the more than 120 human remains taken within the state are returned home to their communities. To date, Mogulof said, the University has repatriated four ancestors and four funerary items to tribes in Arizona.
Mogulof also told The Arizona Republic that the University has allocated funding for consultation, cultural care needs and return transport costs. And, he said, tribal knowledge will be prioritized in identifying the thousands of remains and culturally important objects held by Berkeley within a self-imposed 10-year deadline.
The Peabody Museum at Harvard University doesn't discuss its consultation process. Museum spokesperson Rachael Dane said via email they felt the policy respects tribal confidentiality. She also said the museum recently hired a regional coordinator for the Southwest and California, and it plans to complete the requirements to publish notices in the Federal Register per NAGPRA regulations to start the repatriation process for the 6,100 people and about 16,500 funerary items in their possession, including nearly 900 ancestral remains from Arizona tribes.
Arizona museums and institutions: 'We have a plan'
Arizona institutions say they have heard tribes' calls to send remains and funerary objects home. And at least some of them have a plan to accomplish that.
James T. Watson, curator of bioarcheology at the Arizona State Museum, said museum staff have developed a 10-year plan they believe is realistic to achieve. The museum maintains collections of burials and funerary items from state entities and some federal agencies. Watson said the state museum is always trying to strike a balance between the state and federal inventories it cares for, particularly because the state has not provided additional funding to facilitate compliance with NAGPRA.
"We're working across the state from south to north (to process and return collections) partially because the largest amount of the collection is from southern Arizona," he said.
Watson also verified that the NAGPRA database ProPublica used to publish its report included a discrepancy. It reported that Arizona State Parks possessed 191 ancestral remains. The University of Arizona, where the Arizona State Museum is housed, had conducted an excavation at a park and brought remains and several items to the museum for safekeeping.
State Parks staff were alarmed when they learned about the report, and met with the state museum to resolve the issue. "It just fell through the cracks," Watson said. The state museum said it would contact the National Park Service, which administers NAGPRA, to correct the database.
The state museum, Arizona's largest repository of archaeological materials and Indigenous items taken from excavations or other means, has a much better record when it comes to items found in those graves: The database indicates the museum has made 97% of those 24,100 items available for repatriation.
Arizona State University, which to date has only posted 12 of the 786 human remains it holds for return, sent an emailed statement: "Our school is working, closely and directly, with tribal communities to respectfully and efficiently repatriate in a timely manner that is consistent with tribal concerns, current practices, and federal laws."
Like Harvard, ASU cited tribal confidentiality as an issue of "high concern." The university said it was engaging in active consultation with tribes on NAGPRA issues.
Some museums in the state are also doing a good job of repatriation.
The Heard Museum in Phoenix was the site of the original meetings leading up to the enactment of NAGPRA. The ProPublica database noted that the Heard has made 73% of the burials in its collection available for return.
The museum has continued to work with Indigenous communities on repatriation, said museum spokesperson Sean Ornelas. The Heard is currently working with tribes to "determine proper homes for the few ancestors that came without documentation to the Heard in the early 20th century and is grateful to our Indigenous partners as we work together to find appropriate solutions that represent our shared ethical and moral concerns."
The Museum of Northern Arizona said on its website that it works with the tribes in its area and provides a meeting place for federal agencies and tribes as well as facilitate consultations and repatriations. The ProPublica database noted that the museum has made a little more than half the remains in its possession available for return and has listed 98% of the funerary items it holds available for repatriation.
One institution told The Republic that it is caring for ancestors or culturally important items while the tribe is making preparations to bring them home.
"Sometimes the Museum of Northern Arizona is asked to be a temporary resting place for ancestors on their way home, while the tribes prepare for their return and reburial," spokesperson Kristan Hutchison said. "We understand that preparing for the return of one's ancestors requires time and care on the part of the tribes."
The museum said that in one case, an excavation conducted by Prescott College in the 1970s at Black Mesa resulted in Navajo and Hopi ancestral remains being removed. In 2018, the two tribes asked the museum, based in Flagstaff, to care for the ancestors and facilitate the repatriation. The Museum of Northern Arizona was collaborating with the two tribes to prepare for a reburial.
Successful partnership shows how process can work
A partnership involving Phoenix and tribes in the region is proving successful in returning ancestral burials and cultural items and as an example of dealing with recent archaeological discoveries.
Lindsey Vogel-Teeter, curator of collections at Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix, said the Salt River Cultural Department asked for regular meetings with the city around 2011. Five years later, when an issue arose, Salt River and the Gila River Indian Community asked for monthly meetings. Vogel-Teeter said moving to a regular monthly schedule proved to be beneficial.
"We got to know each other and formed relationships," she said. When questions arise, officials can work them out before they become issues. Pueblo Grande has made 99% of the remains in its possession available for repatriation.
The Akimel O'odham of the Gila River Indian Community and the Onk Akimel O'odham of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, along with their kin from the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Tohono O'odham Nation and Hia-Ced O'odham Hemajkam, are descendants of the Huhugam, who built the first major civilization in the region. Gila River and Salt River, the two Phoenix-area tribes, are the main players when ancestral sites, including burial sites, are discovered or rediscovered in the Phoenix area, so forming working relationships with local governments makes evaluating those sites run much more smoothly than in the past.
Anton said it took some time to establish that relationship, but it's paid off.
Garcia said Phoenix does a good job communicating with them and the Gila River Indian Community. She also noted that younger professionals are better versed in repatriation law.
Salt River is called in when excavations are necessary or if artifacts or burials are found north of Baseline Road and Gila River takes charge of sites or discoveries south of Baseline. NAGPRA provides for what the law calls "new" discoveries, or burial sites or artifacts of cultural patrimony found after November 1990.
Other area museums such as the Arizona Museum of Natural History, work with local tribes on both repatriation of remains and ceremonial objects and on creating more culturally appropriate exhibits and education.
Vogel-Teeter said Arizona's Historic Preservation Office has compiled a consultation "toolkit" that reflects how tribes want to be consulted on issues early in the process, preferably during the planning stage of a project that could affect tribal sites like village or burial sites.
The state also has its own version of NAGPRA governing what happens when human remains believed to be more than 50 years old are discovered on state lands. The state law requires discoveries of any materials that may be human remains found on private land to be reported to the Arizona State Museum for evaluation.
Watson of the Arizona State Museum said using the state's NAGPRA law works to return these items more smoothly than the national NAGPRA process.
"They get home sooner," he said.
Law mandates items' return but provides little money
The National Park Service administers NAGPRA. The agency monitors the program and provides grants for consultation, documentation and repatriation. Congress appropriates funding for the NAGPRA grants that is much less than what is appropriated to states and tribes from the Historic Preservation Fund, said Park Service spokesperson Ellie Stuckrath via email.
The agency was given $2,157,000 with a maximum grant request of $15,000 for NAGPRA research.
The National Park Service awarded $23 million to tribes for historic preservation in February. Those grants ranged from $90,000 to nearly $200,000.
Anton, of Salt River, said the tribe relies on the park service, which he said he was told was "just the funnel" for funding.
"It's not a like a government-to-government consultation," he said.
Watson said the funding issue is about voices and values. "It's one reason it's taken so long to get repatriations done," he said.
The state museum also contends with space and staff limitations. There is only one space large enough for examinations, Watson said, with a limit of 500 individual people and objects. The museum also has a staff of just one full-time and one part-time professional to do the painstaking work of ensuring human remains and funerary objects are sent to their appropriate homes.
Another issue is how the law is enforced. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee, a group composed of tribes, museum professionals and scientists, has continued to advocate for increased funding and enforcement of the law, which contains both criminal and civil penalties. They also called for an interagency effort to combat illegal trafficking of Native cultural items.
Senators call for expedited repatriations
Some U.S. senators called upon institutions that have returned the fewest numbers of human remains and funerary objects to expedite their efforts to return ancestors and the items buried with them to their home communities.
But while some institutions attempt to keep the doors shut to Native peoples struggling to bring their ancestors home or are just beginning to realize that they're on the wrong side of the law, others are not only opening the doors wide but listening to their Indigenous neighbors.
In March, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously to change the name of Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park to S'edav Va'aki Museum. The O'odham name, which means "Central platform mound," refers to the large mound at the park as well as the central location of the community that the O'odham's ancestors, the Huhugam, once called home.
And, even though tribal cultural departments are chronically understaffed and underfunded, they will continue to seek out and bring their ancestors from cold storage shelves to the warm earthly embrace of their homelands.
"Those are our ancestors," Anton said. "We can't just let them go."
Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on Twitter at @debkrol.
Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation.
My articles are free to read, but your subscriptions support more local reporting that holds governments and other entities to account. Please consider a subscription to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2023/06/05/arizona-tribes-rely-on-nagpra-to-reclaim-remains-other-items/70057357007/ | 2023-06-05T15:52:09 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2023/06/05/arizona-tribes-rely-on-nagpra-to-reclaim-remains-other-items/70057357007/ |
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Read the full series online.
As the United States pushed Native Americans from their lands to make way for westward expansion throughout the 1800s, museums and the federal government encouraged the looting of Indigenous remains, funerary objects and cultural items. Many of the institutions continue to hold these today — and in some cases resist their return despite the 1990 passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
“We never ceded or relinquished our dead. They were stolen,” James Riding In, then an Arizona State University professor who is Pawnee, said of the unreturned remains.
ProPublica this year is investigating the failure of NAGPRA to bring about the expeditious return of human remains by federally funded universities and museums. Our reporting, in partnership with NBC News, found that a small group of institutions and government bodies has played an outsized role in the law’s failure.
Ten institutions hold about half of the Native American remains that have not been returned to tribes. These include old and prestigious museums with collections taken from ancestral lands not long after the U.S. government forcibly removed Native Americans from them, as well as state-run institutions that amassed their collections from earthen burial mounds that had protected the dead for hundreds of years. Two are arms of the U.S. government: the Interior Department, which administers the law, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest federally owned utility.
An Interior Department spokesperson said it complies with its legal obligations and that its bureaus (such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Land Management) are not required to begin the repatriation of “culturally unidentifiable human remains” unless a tribe or Native Hawaiian organization makes a formal request.
Tennessee Valley Authority Archaeologist and Tribal Liaison Marianne Shuler said the agency is committed to “partnering with federally recognized tribes as we work through the NAGPRA process.”
The law required institutions to publicly report their holdings and to consult with federally recognized tribes to determine which tribes human remains and objects should be repatriated to. Institutions were meant to consider cultural connections, including oral traditions as well as geographical, biological and archaeological links.
Yet many institutions have interpreted the definition of “cultural affiliation” so narrowly that they’ve been able to dismiss tribes’ connections to ancestors and keep remains and funerary objects. Throughout the 1990s, institutions including the Ohio History Connection and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville thwarted the repatriation process by categorizing everything in their collections that might be subject to the law as “culturally unidentifiable.”
Ohio History Connection’s director of American Indian relations, Alex Wesaw, who is also a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, said that the institution’s original designation of so many collections as culturally unidentifiable may have “been used as a means to keep people on shelves for research and for other things that our institution just doesn’t allow anymore.”
In a statement provided to ProPublica, a University of Tennessee, Knoxville spokesperson said that the university is “actively building relationships with and consulting with Tribal communities.”
ProPublica found that the American Museum of Natural History has not returned some human remains taken from the Southwest, arguing that they are too old to determine which tribes — among dozens in the region — would be the correct ones to repatriate to. In the Midwest, the Illinois State Museum for decades refused to establish a cultural affiliation for Native American human remains that predated the arrival of Europeans in the region in 1673, citing no reliable written records during what archaeologists called the “pre-contact” or “prehistoric” period.
The American Museum of Natural History declined to comment for this story.
In a statement, Illinois State Museum Curator of Anthropology Brooke Morgan said that “archaeological and historical lines of evidence were privileged in determining cultural affiliation” in the mid-1990s, and that “a theoretical line was drawn in 1673.” Morgan attributed the museum’s past approach to a weakness of the law that she said did not encourage multiple tribes to collectively claim cultural affiliation, a practice she said is common today.
As of last month, about 200 institutions — including the University of Kentucky’s William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology and the nonprofit Center for American Archeology in Kampsville, Illinois — had repatriated none of the remains of more than 14,000 Native Americans in their collections. Some institutions with no recorded repatriations possess the remains of a single individual; others have as many as a couple thousand.
A University of Kentucky spokesperson told ProPublica the William S. Webb Museum “is committed to repatriating all Native American ancestral remains and funerary belongings, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to Native nations” and that the institution has recently committed $800,000 toward future efforts.
Jason L. King, the executive director of the Center for American Archeology, said that the institution has complied with the law: “To date, no tribes have requested repatriation of remains or objects from the CAA.”
When the federal repatriation law passed in 1990, the Congressional Budget Office estimated it would take 10 years to repatriate all covered objects and remains to Native American tribes. Today, many tribal historic preservation officers and NAGPRA professionals characterize that estimate as laughable, given that Congress has never fully funded the federal office tasked with overseeing the law and administering consultation and repatriation grants. Author Chip Colwell, a former curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, estimates repatriation will take at least another 70 years to complete. But the Interior Department, now led by the first Native American to serve in a cabinet position, is seeking changes to regulations that would push institutions to complete repatriation within three years. Some who work on repatriation for institutions and tribes have raised concerns about the feasibility of this timeline.
Our investigation included an analysis of records from more than 600 institutions; interviews with more than 100 tribal leaders, museum professionals and others; and the review of nearly 30 years of transcripts from the federal committee that hears disputes related to the law.
D. Rae Gould, executive director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Brown University and a member of the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmucs of Massachusetts, said institutions that don’t want to repatriate often claim there’s inadequate evidence to link ancestral human remains to any living people.
Gould said “one of the faults with the law” is that institutions, and not tribes, have the final say on whether their collections are considered culturally related to the tribes seeking repatriation. “Institutions take advantage of it,” she said.
Amassing remains
Some of the nation’s most prestigious museums continue to hold vast collections of remains and funerary objects that could be returned under NAGPRA.
Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, University of California, Berkeley and the Field Museum in Chicago each hold the remains of more than 1,000 Native Americans. Their earliest collections date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, when their curators sought to amass encyclopedic collections of human remains.
Many anthropologists from that time justified large-scale collecting as a way to preserve evidence of what they wrongly believed was an extinct race of “Moundbuilders” — one that predated and was unrelated to Native Americans. Later, after that theory proved to be false, archaeologists still excavated gravesites under a different racist justification: Many scientists who embraced the U.S. eugenics movement used plundered craniums for studies that argued Native Americans were inferior to white people based on their skull sizes.
These colonialist myths were also used to justify the U.S. government’s brutality toward Native Americans and fuel much of the racism that they continue to face today.
“Native Americans have always been the object of study instead of real people,” said Shannon O’Loughlin, chief executive of the Association on American Indian Affairs and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
As the new field of archaeology gained momentum in the 1870s, the Smithsonian Institution struck a deal with U.S. Army Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman to pay each of his soldiers up to $500 — or roughly $14,000 in 2022 dollars — for items such as clothing, weapons and everyday tools sent back to Washington.
“We are desirous of procuring large numbers of complete equipments in the way of dress, ornament, weapons of war” and “in fact everything bearing upon the life and character of the Indians,” Joseph Henry, the first secretary of the Smithsonian, wrote to Sherman on May 22, 1873.
The Smithsonian Institution today holds in storage the remains of roughly 10,000 people, more than any other U.S. museum. However, it reports its repatriation progress under a different law, the National Museum of the American Indian Act. And it does not publicly share information about what it has yet to repatriate with the same detail that NAGPRA requires of institutions it covers. Instead, the Smithsonian shares its inventory lists with tribes, two spokespeople told ProPublica.
Frederic Ward Putnam, who was appointed curator of Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology in 1875, commissioned and funded excavations that would become some of the earliest collections at Harvard, the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum. He also helped establish the anthropology department and museum at UC Berkeley — which holds more human remains taken from Native American gravesites than any other U.S. institution that must comply with NAGPRA.
For the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Putnam commissioned the self-taught archaeologist Warren K. Moorehead to lead excavations in southern Ohio to take human remains and “relics” for display. Much of what Moorehead unearthed from Ohio’s Ross and Warren counties became founding collections of the Field Museum.
A few years after Moorehead’s excavations, the American Museum of Natural History co-sponsored rival expeditions to the Southwest; items were looted from New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon and shipped by train to New York. They remain premiere collections of the institution.
As of last month the Field Museum has returned to tribes legal control of 28% of the remains of 1,830 Native Americans it has reported to the National Park Service, which administers the law and keeps inventory data. It still holds at least 1,300 Native American remains.
In a statement, the Field Museum said that data from the park service is out of date. (The museum publishes separate data on its repatriation website that it says is frequently updated and more accurate.) A spokesperson told ProPublica that “all Native American human remains under NAGPRA are available for return.”
The museum has acknowledged that Moorehead’s excavations would not meet today’s standards. But the museum continues to benefit from those collections. Between 2003 and 2005, it accepted $400,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to preserve its North American Ethnographic and Archaeological collection — including the material excavated by Moorehead — for future use by anthropologists and other researchers. That’s nearly four times more than it received in grants from the National Park Service during the same period to support its repatriation efforts under NAGPRA.
In a statement, the museum said it has the responsibility to care for its collections and that the $400,000 grant was “used for improved stewardship of objects in our care as well as organizing information to better understand provenance and to make records more publicly accessible.”
Records show the Field Museum has categorized all of its collections excavated by Moorehead as culturally unidentifiable. The museum said that in 1995, it notified tribes with historical ties to southern Ohio about those collections but did not receive any requests for repatriation or disposition. Helen Robbins, the museum’s director of repatriation, said that formally linking specific tribes with those sites is challenging, but that it may be possible after consultations with tribes.
The museum’s president and CEO, Julian Siggers, has criticized proposals intended to speed up repatriation. In March 2022, Siggers wrote to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that if new regulations empowered tribes to request repatriations on the basis of geographical ties to collections rather than cultural ties, museums such as the Field would need more time and money to comply. ProPublica found that the Field Museum has received more federal money to comply with NAGPRA than any other institution in the country.
Robbins said that among the institution’s challenges to repatriation is a lack of funding and staff. “That being said,” added Robbins, “we recognize that much of this work has taken too long.”
Excavating burial mounds
From the 1890s through the 1930s, archaeologists carried out large-scale excavations of burial mounds throughout the Midwest and Southeast, regions where federal policy had forcibly pushed tribes from their land. Of the 10 institutions that hold the most human remains in the country, seven are in regions that were inhabited by Indigenous people with mound building cultures, ProPublica found.
Among them are the Ohio History Connection, the University of Kentucky’s William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the Illinois State Museum.
Archaeological research suggests that the oldest burial mounds were built roughly 11,000 years ago and that the practice lasted through the 1400s. The oral histories of many present-day tribes link their ancestors to earthen mounds. Their structures and purposes vary, but many include spaces for communal gatherings and platforms for homes and for burying the dead. But some institutions have argued these histories aren’t adequate proof that today’s tribes are the rightful stewards of the human remains and funerary objects removed from the mounds, which therefore should stay in museums.
Like national institutions, local museums likewise make liberal use of the “culturally unidentifiable” designation to resist returning remains. For example, in 1998 the Ohio Historical Society (now Ohio History Connection) categorized its entire collection, which today includes more than 7,100 human remains, as “culturally unidentifiable.” It has made available for return the remains of 17 Native Americans, representing 0.2% of the human remains in its collections.
“It’s tough for folks who worked in the field their entire career and who are coming at it more from a colonial perspective — that what you would find in the ground is yours,” said Wesaw of previous generations’ practices. “That’s not the case anymore. That’s not how we operate.”
For decades, Indigenous people in Ohio have protested the museum’s decisions, claiming in public meetings of the federal committee that oversees how the law is implemented that their oral histories trace back to mound-building cultures. As one commenter, Jean McCoard of the Native American Alliance of Ohio, pointed out in 1997, there are no federally recognized tribes in Ohio because they were forcibly removed. As a result, McCoard argued, archaeologists in the state have been allowed to disassociate ancestral human remains from living people without much opposition. Since the early 1990s, the Native American Alliance of Ohio has advocated for the reburial of all human remains held by Ohio History Connection. It has yet to happen.
Wesaw said that the museum is starting to engage more with tribes to return their ancestors and belongings. Every other month, the museum’s NAGPRA specialist— a newly created position that is fully dedicated to its repatriation work — convenes virtual meetings with leaders from many of the roughly 45 tribes with ancestral ties to Ohio.
But, Wesaw said, the challenges run deep.
“It’s an old museum,” said Wesaw. “Since 1885, there have been a number of archaeologists that have made their careers on the backs of our ancestors pulled out of the ground or mounds. It’s really, truly heartbreaking when you think about that.”
Moreover, ProPublica’s investigation found that some collections were amassed with the help of federal funding. The vast majority of NAGPRA collections held by the University of Kentucky’s William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology are from excavations funded by the federal government under the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration from the late 1930s into the 1940s. Kentucky’s rural and impoverished counties held burial mounds, and Washington funded excavations of 48 sites in at least 12 counties to create jobs for the unemployed.
More than 80% of the Webb Museum’s holdings that are subject to return under federal law originated from WPA excavations. The museum, which in 1996 designated every one of its collections as “culturally unidentifiable,” has yet to repatriate any of the roughly 4,500 human remains it has reported to the federal government. However, the museum has recently hired its first NAGPRA coordinator and renewed consultations with tribal nations after decades of avoiding repatriation. A spokesperson told ProPublica that one ongoing repatriation project at the museum will lead to the return of about 15% of the human remains in its collections.
In a statement, a museum spokesperson said that “we recognize the pain caused by past practices” and that the institution plans to commit more resources toward repatriation.
The University of Kentucky recently told ProPublica that it plans to spend more than $800,000 between 2023 and 2025 on repatriation, including the hiring of three more museum staff positions.
Establishing connections to tribes
In 2010, the Interior Department implemented a new rule that provided a way for institutions to return remains and items without establishing a cultural affiliation between present-day tribes and their ancestors. But, ProPublica found, some institutions have resisted doing so.
Experts say a lack of funding from Congress to the National NAGPRA Program has hampered enforcement of the law. The National Park Service was only recently able to fund one full-time staff position dedicated to investigating claims that institutions are not complying with the law; allegations can range from withholding information from tribes about collections, to not responding to consultation requests, to refusing to repatriate. Previously, the program relied on a part-time investigator.
Moreover, institutions that have violated the law have faced only minuscule fines, and some are not fined at all even after the Interior Department has found wrongdoing. Since 1990, the Interior Department has collected only $59,111.34 from 20 institutions for which it had substantiated allegations. That leaves tribal nations to shoulder the financial and emotional burden of the repatriation work.
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, a tribe in California, pressured UC Berkeley for years to repatriate more than a thousand ancestral remains, according to the tribe’s attorney. It finally happened in 2018 following a decade-long campaign that involved costly legal wrangling and travel back and forth to Berkeley by the tribes’ leaders.
“To me, there’s no money, there’s no dollar amount, on the work to be done. But the fact is, not every tribe has the same infrastructure and funding that others have,” said Nakia Zavalla, the cultural director for the tribe. “I really feel for those tribes that don’t have the funding, and they’re relying just on federal funds.”
A UC Berkeley spokesperson declined to comment on its interactions with the Santa Ynez Chumash, saying the school wants to prioritize communication with the tribe.
The University of Alabama Museums is among the institutions that have forced tribes into lengthy disputes over repatriation.
In June 2021, seven tribal nations indigenous to what is now the southeastern United States collectively asked the university to return the remains of nearly 6,000 of their ancestors. Their ancestors had been among more than 10,000 whose remains were unearthed by anthropologists and archaeologists between the 1930s and the 1980s from the second-largest mound site in the country. The site, colonially known as Moundville, was an important cultural and trade hub for Muskogean-speaking people between about 1050 and 1650.
Tribes had tried for more than a decade to repatriate Moundville ancestors, but the university had claimed they were all “culturally unidentifiable.” Emails between university and tribal leaders in 2018 show that when the university finally agreed to begin repatriation, it insisted that before it could return the human remains it needed to re-inventory its entire Moundville collection — a process it said would take five years. The “re-inventory” would entail photographing and CT scanning human remains to collect data for future studies, which the tribes opposed.
In October 2021, leaders from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Chickasaw Nation, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of Florida brought the issue to the federal NAGPRA Review Committee, which can recommend a finding of cultural affiliation that is not legally binding. (Disputes over these findings are relatively rare.) The tribal leaders submitted a 117-page document detailing how Muskogean-speaking tribes are related and how their shared history can be traced back to the Moundville area long before the arrival of Europeans.
“Our elders tell us that the Muskogean-speaking tribes are related to each other. We have a shared history of colonization and a shared history of rebuilding from it,” Ian Thompson, a tribal historic preservation officer with the Choctaw Nation, told the NAGPRA review committee in 2021.
The tribes eventually forced the largest repatriation in NAGPRA’s history. Last year, the university agreed to return the remains of 10,245 ancestors.
In a statement, a University of Alabama Museums spokesperson said, “To honor and preserve historical and cultural heritage, the proper care of artifacts and ancestral remains of Muskogean-speaking peoples has been and will continue to be imperative to UA.” The university declined to comment further “out of respect for the tribes,” but added that “we look forward to continuing our productive work” with them.
The University of Alabama Museums still holds the remains of more than 2,900 Native Americans.
Changing institutional will
Many tribal and museum leaders say they are optimistic that a new generation of archaeologists, as well as museum and institutional leaders, want to better comply with the law.
At the University of Oklahoma, for instance, new archaeology department hires were shocked to learn about their predecessors’ failures. Marc Levine, associate curator of archaeology at the university’s Sam Noble Museum, said that when he arrived in 2013, there was more than enough evidence to begin repatriation, but his predecessors hadn’t prioritized the work. Through collaboration with tribal nations, Levine has compiled evidence that would allow thousands of human remains to be repatriated — and NAGPRA work isn’t technically part of his job description. The university has no full-time NAGPRA coordinator. Still, Levine estimates that at the current pace, repatriating the university’s holdings could take another decade.
Prominent institutions such as Harvard have issued public apologies in recent years for past collection practices, even as criticism continues over their failure to complete the work of repatriation. (Harvard did not respond to multiple requests for comment).
Other institutions under fire, such as UC Berkeley, have publicly pledged to prioritize repatriation. And the Society for American Archaeology, a professional organization that argued in a 1986 policy statement that “all human remains should receive appropriate scientific study,” now recommends archaeologists obtain consent from descendant communities before conducting studies.
In October, the Biden administration proposed regulations that would eliminate “culturally unidentifiable” as a designation for human remains, among other changes. Perhaps most significantly, the regulations would direct institutions to defer to tribal nations’ knowledge of their customs, traditions and histories when making repatriation decisions.
But for people who have been doing the work since its passage, NAGPRA was never complicated.
“You either want to do the right thing or you don’t,” said Brown University’s Gould.
She added: “It’s an issue of dignity at this point.” | https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2023/06/05/biggest-u-s-museums-fail-to-return-native-american-remains/69806610007/ | 2023-06-05T15:52:15 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2023/06/05/biggest-u-s-museums-fail-to-return-native-american-remains/69806610007/ |
Trip to ER offered this family a chance to know more about its health future
Our DNA can help tell a story about our past, present, and future through genetic testing, and that testing is becoming much more common.
Solio Felix came into the emergency room last June with what he thought was heat stroke or a heart attack. This is when a nurse told him that he'd be a perfect candidate for a genetic testing study.
He and his wife have no family history of cardiovascular disease, but this doesn't mean that they aren't at risk or that they didn't pass something along to their teenage daughter.
Through genetic testing done in Arizona, they were able to find out their risk level and prepare for the future.
But what is genetic testing, and how is it improving doctors' advice and treatment plans?
This episode marks the start of the second season of our podcast The Lab at azcentral, where we dive into science stories that affect everyday life.
The four-part season also will be hosted on our weekly Valley 101 podcast.
Listen to the episode
Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below.
Click here to submit questions you have about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast.
Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
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Explore:Listen to Season 1 of The Lab at azcentral, a podcast exploring the stories behind bioscience
Reach the reporter Amanda Luberto at aluberto@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandaluberto. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-science/2023/06/05/genetic-testing-is-used-to-predict-health-risks-and-answer-questions/70283684007/ | 2023-06-05T15:53:09 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-science/2023/06/05/genetic-testing-is-used-to-predict-health-risks-and-answer-questions/70283684007/ |
Transportation, highway upgrades in limbo as Arizona lawmakers debate Proposition 400
It all could be in jeopardy, everything from roadway improvements to highway construction and public transit service in Maricopa County, if the Legislature and governor can't reach a deal in the next few weeks on Proposition 400, the region's half-cent transportation sales tax.
And with it, civic leaders, transportation experts and economists say, the fate of the region's economic vibrancy could be at stake.
The 25-year spending plan that Proposition 400 triggers calls for billions of dollars of investments in key highway and transit projects, which are vital to the region's mobility, development and to its competitiveness.
Not everyone is on board with the plan. Conservative lawmakers who may decide its fate have criticized it, suggesting the blueprint is bloated with expensive public transit projects that don't serve large parts of the population and it commits to maintaining that service for years.
If the half-cent sales tax is extended, the spending plan would generate nearly $113 billion in economic benefits for Maricopa County, according to an analysis by the regional government agency, Maricopa Association of Governments, and the pro-business Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
Voters first approved the tax for 20 years in 1985, and then again in 2004. It funds a significant portion of Maricopa County's roadways, highways and public transit — if not alone, then by leveraging federal and other matching funds or grants.
Proposition 400 has transformed the Valley, building out Loops 101, 202 and 303 that circle metro Phoenix. It helped construct State Route 51 in Phoenix and State Route 24 in the East Valley. It helped build and expand Valley Metro's light rail system, currently in Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix. It funds critical portions of the region's public bus system too, such as the buses themselves and Dial-a-Ride service for people with disabilities and seniors. And it helps cities pay for local street projects.
It also made metro Phoenix an easier place to get around.
In 2004, metro Phoenix ranked the 10th most congested city in America, according to widely respected research by the Texas Transportation Institute. By 2011, it had fallen to 20th, and among similar-sized cities, metro Phoenix fell from 7th to 10th most congested.
According to the most recent Federal Highway Administration data from 2019, Phoenix was ranked 24th most congested among the 52 largest cities by one widely used measure. By another measure, hours of congestion, Phoenix ranked 44th.
The proposed new regional sales tax, if approved, would represent a nearly $37 billion investment in the state's economic center over the next 25 years, with the sales tax accounting for $19.5 billion of that revenue. The sales tax revenue would be divided:
- 40.4% for public transit.
- 37.4% for freeways.
- 22.2% for arterials and programs.
When state and federal funds are added, freeways account for nearly half of the region's spending plan enabled by Proposition 400 money.
Revenue from the half-cent sales tax also opens Arizona's door to billions of dollars in federal grant funds that are doled out on a matching basis — money that is provided so long as the region chips in, too.
Proposition 400 effect by city:Phoenix | Glendale | Peoria | Buckeye | Surprise | Avondale | Goodyear | Litchfield Park | Tolleson
It was regional Proposition 400 funding that allowed the Arizona Department of Transportation the chance to apply for and receive $90 million in federal grants to expand Interstate 17 between Anthem and Sunset Way, said John Bullen, the Maricopa Association of Governments transportation and finance manager.
The association brings mayors together to plan transportation funding and projects.
If the next iteration of Proposition 400 passes, federal matching grants could provide about $2 billion to the Valley's light rail projects and hundreds of millions of dollars for roadway projects, Bullen said.
Much of the federal matching funds no longer will be available, however, if the local contribution vanishes, Bullen said.
Two new highways — one in Goodyear and Avondale and one in Queen Creek — plus a highway interchange in north Phoenix comprise three other critical pieces of infrastructure Maricopa County mayors and local officials want to see built over the next 25 years.
The highways are meant to reduce traffic and accommodate growth, but the transportation tax that laid the foundation for the region's roadways, highways and public transit is set to expire in 2026 unless voters pass it again. And there's another caveat — a huge one.
Lawmakers must approve transportation tax vote
The Legislature has to allow Maricopa County residents to vote on their own transportation tax, and it's unclear if or how lawmakers will let them.
Last year, former Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed the measure from appearing on Maricopa County residents' ballots, citing concerns over inflation and transparency in how the measure would be worded. The unexpected move stunned mayors across the Valley, who condemned the veto and have since intensified efforts to get the Legislature and Gov. Katie Hobbs to pass the sales tax extension this session.
More:Why the Arizona Legislature will shape the future of transportation in Maricopa County
Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise said at the time of Ducey's veto, "I'm a Republican. Small-government type. In Arizona, we rail against federal mandates. ... We rail against them, and then when the governor does what he does, we're supposed to suck it up and take it, and I'm not going to do that. I think that's unfair."
Discussions this year at the Capitol have been turbulent. Hobbs and the Legislature will reconvene later this month, when they are expected to negotiate transportation and housing issues.
Sen. David Farnsworth, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, rejected arguments that a plan that would curtail transit would cut off federal transit dollars.
“Our goal is not to push away federal dollars," Farnsworth, R-Mesa, said at a February hearing. "We want to make sure we’re not throwing away our liberties just to get a nickel from the federal government.”
Light rail is the major roadblock in Proposition 400 talks, with Republicans arguing it’s not cost effective and is inappropriate for the Valley’s far-flung communities.
Sen Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, is critical of what he calls an “absolutely failed light rail system." Early this year, he argued it would be more cost-effective to pay ride-share fares out of tax dollars than put that money into transit.
There is general agreement that any successful plan will not include the Maricopa Association of Governments' original proposal to provide funding to expand light rail. However, the plan could include funding for maintaining existing light rail tracks and equipment.
Freeway and other road funding have widespread support at the Legislature, but GOP lawmakers will need to land on an agreement that will win the approval of one key Democrat — Gov. Katie Hobbs. Hobbs has said she would veto a plan that reduces transit funding.
On June 1, when asked about rail expansion, Hobbs said, "I am not pushing for that, no, and I don't think any other stakeholders are."
She reiterated her support for the overall MAG plan.
"I continue to say this is a really important piece of legislation for the region, for the whole state as well,” Hobbs said at a news conference. “And we're going to do what we can to get it across the finish line."
End of Proposition 400 would hurt economy, quality of life, officials say
Maricopa Association of Governments officials say delaying or failing to fund the projects would cost Arizona billions of dollars and worsen residents' quality of life.
An analysis from the association and GPEC says freeways built with 1985 and 2004 transportation taxes have reduced travel times by an average of 25%, saving the typical driver 105 hours a year they otherwise would have spent in traffic.
Properties within a quarter-mile of the highways went up in value 212%, while properties within a quarter-mile of the light rail went up 316%, the analysis says.
The GPEC study also found that local business sales will grow on average $4.5 billion a year, $40 billion in new, net local income will be generated through 2050 and 12% more amenities will be available within a 30-minute drive, the analysis says.
There's a more personal impact on residents' daily lives, too, officials say. Proposition 400 funds paratransit service for people with disabilities in Maricopa County.
"The sales tax is the only dedicated funding source to provide that. Our most vulnerable users — our seniors, those who are disabled — this is truly a lifeline for them," said Audra Koester Thomas, Maricopa Association of Governments planning manager.
Proposition 400 also provides funding for a significant number of bus routes across the county that could see service cease Jan. 1, 2026, if the sales tax fails or doesn't make it to the ballot.
Two-thirds of public transit users in the Valley have no other option to get around, Koester Thomas said. So, if the Proposition 400 extension fails, they'll be without service.
Local leaders, meanwhile, are waiting anxiously — particularly those in the southwest and far East Valley who've long waited their turn for the sales tax to deliver significant projects in their cities.
Southwest Valley cities have long waited for State Route 30
For more than two decades, Buckeye, Goodyear, Avondale and Tolleson have been promised a new highway, State Route 30, to relieve traffic on Interstate 10.
SR 30 would run parallel to I-10 a few miles south and, at full buildout, connect SR 85 in Buckeye in the west to I-17's Durango Curve in Phoenix. Along the way, SR 30 would cross the perpendicular Loops 303 and 202 near Goodyear and Tolleson, respectively.
Since I-10 is the only east-west highway connecting the southwest Valley to downtown Phoenix and the East Valley, State Route 30 is expected to reduce travel times for commuters in the West Valley by adding another path. The added path would help not just city residents but also trucks delivering freight from the Southern California ports.
Local leaders in the southwest Valley who wanted SR 30 back when the 2004 transportation tax was negotiated agreed to defer it so long as it was prioritized the next round, this round.
The extension of Proposition 400, if passed as the Maricopa Association of Governments planned, would fully fund the buildout of SR 30 between Loop 303 and I-17, starting with the center portion between Loop 303 and Loop 202, then the eastern segment between Loop 202 and I-17.
The western segment of SR 30, connecting SR 85 to Loop 303, would come last because traffic patterns show higher demand for the other segments, Koester Thomas said.
The center segment was estimated to cost $2 billion in 2020 but has increased by about $700 million since then because of inflation, according to Maricopa Association of Governments. If inflation increases 6% per year, the project will increase $168 million every year it's delayed, according to the report.
I-17/Loop 303 interchange in Phoenix called vital for semiconductor plant
An interchange between I-17 and Loop 303 in north Phoenix is critical to ease traffic expected from the new Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company factory, said Bullen, MAG's transportation and finance manager.
New interchanges on Loop 303 at 43rd and 51st avenues will be enough to abate that traffic until about 2025, Bullen said.
"There's going to be a lot of people going in and out, a lot of suppliers going in and out, a lot of employees," Bullen said. "It's going to start to break down."
Local leaders are concerned TSMC could delay hiring and capital investment until the interchange is sorted out. The economic analysis from the Maricopa Association of Governments and GPEC said delays could cost the state $100 million in economic output and $30 million in income loss per year.
The new portion of Loop 303 under the Proposition 400 extension plan would extend from I-17 on the east to Lake Pleasant Parkway on the west.
Queen Creek could face congestion without completed State Route 24
In the southeast Valley, Proposition 400 built the first phase of State Route 24, a six-lane freeway from Loop 202 to Ironwood Drive. Extending the half-cent sales tax will finish it.
Bridges over Ellsworth and Mountain roads with two lanes going each direction and stoplights were constructed in Queen Creek as a stopgap measure to "get us a couple of years into the future," Bullen said, but the new LG facility and population growth will put pressure on those roads.
"It will buy us a few years, but just a few years, given the growth out there," he said.
More funding will expand the stopgap roadways into a full-fledged highway.
The full State Route 24 was identified in the 2004 half-cent sales tax plan, but the Great Recession drastically reduced sales tax revenue, which resulted in the delay of multiple transportation projects, Bullen said.
The extension of Proposition 400, now in limbo at the Legislature, is largely about finishing previously committed-to highway projects that were hampered by the recession, Bullen said.
More:Korean battery giant LG announces huge expansion of plans for battery factory in Queen Creek
Light rail extensions proposed for west side
Myriad improvements to the Valley light rail system, totaling $2.4 billion, are included in Proposition 400. That figure is about 30% of the total cost of the projects, Bullen said. Cities will pick up roughly another 20%, and federal matching grants are expected to cover the remaining 50%.
Maintenance and improvements to the entirety of the rail system are planned and account for $1.4 billion of the Proposition 400 costs, but the most notable light rail projects include two westward extensions.
One proposed extension could take the light rail 9.4 miles west along I-10, from the state Capitol on the east to 79th Avenue on the west. It would be constructed in the freeway median before crossing over to the north side of I-10 and stopping at the Desert Sky Transit Center between 75th and 79th avenues north of McDowell Road, according to the Valley Metro website. Proposition 400's contribution would be about $810 million.
Another west Phoenix extension could be constructed between 19th and 43rd avenues and between Bethany Home and Indian School roads. The exact alignment has not been determined. Proposition 400's contribution would be about $270 million.
Plan would improve existing highways and streets
Proposition 400 has been foundational to the Valley's highways. After voters passed it in 2004, it helped build out Loop 202 south of Phoenix, Loop 303 in the West Valley and the start of State Route 24 in Queen Creek. Commuters likely have noticed the massive widening project underway on the I-10 Broadway Curve.
If the extension is passed, Loop 101 in the West Valley could see major improvements. The highway would be widened from the 75th Avenue interchange in the northwest Valley to the I-10 interchange in the southwest Valley.
Much of I-17 in the Valley would be reconstructed, from Loop 101 in the north to Dunlap Road in the south. Where the highway curves east, south of downtown, a new carpool lane would be added, too. Farther north, the I-17 would get a new carpool lane between State Route 74 and Anthem Way.
The I-10 would see myriad interchange improvements between Jackrabbit Trail in Buckeye to stack improvements where it intersects with I-17 near downtown.
Loop 202 from Gilbert Road to the U.S. 60 in the East Valley would be widened. Much of the U.S. 60 in the East Valley would be improved, too, including a new HOV lane from Ellsworth to Meridian roads.
The Grand Avenue corridor of U.S. 60 would be upgraded from Sun City West at the northwest end to downtown Phoenix.
Major streets, safety programs, bus transit
The spending plan made possible by Proposition 400 would pay for major street improvements in each city. Upgrades to arterial streets that connect cities, such as Bell, Camelback and Scottsdale roads, would be paid 70% by Proposition 400 and 30% by the corresponding cities.
Proposition 400 also would set aside $200 million for air quality programs and $250 million for safety programs.
It would provide significant support for the Valley's bus transit program, chipping in to assist with operational costs, bus purchases, funding park-and-ride facilities and ADA services.
Reporter Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com, by phone at 480-476-6116, or on Twitter @taylorseely95. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-traffic/2023/06/05/maricopa-county-highway-public-transit-prop-400/70219820007/ | 2023-06-05T15:53:23 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-traffic/2023/06/05/maricopa-county-highway-public-transit-prop-400/70219820007/ |
An investigation is underway into the death of two juveniles, whose bodies were recovered over the weekend in the White River in southern Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Riding Shotgun with Merrillville Police Officer Amanda Earley
"Witnesses said the two had been swimming in the river and were last seen being carried downstream by the current and then going under the surface of the water," the DNR said.
Officials said they responded around 6:30 p.m. Saturday to a section of the river in Martin County, just west of the Lawrence County line.
Police have released photos of both in hopes the public can help locate the child, identified as Jazziah Clayton.
"Search efforts commenced that included surface searches by airboat, underwater sonar, and dragging equipment, along with public safety divers," the DNR said.
GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
Bishop Robert J. McClory places his hands on Robert Ross during the rite of ordination Saturday at Holy Angels Cathedral in Gary. Ross was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Gary.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Newly ordained Deacons Zachary Glick (left) and Steven Caraher assist Catholic Bishop Robert J. McClory at the altar Saturday during the ordination Mass at Holy Angels Cathedral in Gary.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Lake Central’s Griffin Tobias (1) pitches against Valparaiso in the fourth inning during the 4A Regional Championship at LaPorte High School on Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Lake Central players including Matt Santana and Griffin Tobias (1) celebrates their 3-0 win over Valparaiso for the 4A Regional Championship at LaPorte High School on Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Lake Central’s Drew Kosteba (11) gets back to first base with Valparaiso’s Trevor Fenters (5) covering in the sixth inning during the 4A Regional Championship at LaPorte High School Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Lake Central players celebrate their 3-0 4A Regional Championship win over Valparaiso during at LaPorte High School on Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Lake Central’s Hunter Snyder (4) fields a ground ball to short for the second out of the seventh inning against Valparaiso during the 4A Regional Championship at LaPorte High School Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Ayanna Wash is the first black valedictorian at commencement exercises at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond. The Whiting resident will study biology at Marian University in Indianapolis.
Hanna Abuzead (left) assists classmate Adriana Puente before commencement exercises Thursday at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond. They were among 104 graduates at Noll’s 100th graduation ceremony.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Graduating senior Maria Emilia Quiroga embraces her mother, Maria, after presenting a rose to her at commencement exercises Thursday at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Henry Bailey (left), 4, watches as his brother Finn, 2, selects a duck Friday from the Crown Point Community Library booth at the Crossroads corn roast at Bulldog Park in Crown Point.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Airren Nylin (left) and John Fitzgerald prepare dragobabs, or spiced pork on a stick, at the Crossroads Reg corn roast Friday at Bulldog Park in Crown Point
Steve Euvino, The Times
New Crown Point High School graduates leave the stage after receiving their diploma holders.
Deborah Laverty, The Times
Crown Point's graduation ceremony, held on the high school football field, was delayed a day because of the threat of bad weather.
Deborah Laverty, The Times
Valparaiso High School graduate Briana Mitchell greets her boyfriend, Antonio Hisick, before commencement Wednesday. The ceremony was moved to the main gymnasium from the football field because of inclement weather.
Doug Ross, The Times
Valparaiso High School graduate Alel Orozco joins his mother, Kathia Munoz, and brother Abraham Orozco for a selfie Wednesday after commencement. Orozco participated in track and field at VHS.
Doug Ross, The Times
Valparaiso High School graduates wait for their names to be announced during the 150th VHS commencement ceremony.
Doug Ross, The Times
Michelle Kozaitis of Crown Point wipes the rain off the 1970 Chevelle SS that she and her husband, Sam, own.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Ron Schwartz of Crown Point parks his 1950 Buick under the pavilion.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Rain falls as Scott Wieglos performs under the pavilion.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Seniors Mitch Milausnic (left) and Conor McAllister look over cellphone messages before the Lake Central High School commencement Wednesday in the school gym.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Psychology teacher Ralph Holden congratulates seniors at the Lake Central High School graduation ceremony Wednesday in the school gym.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Students watch their class video at the Lake Central High School commencement Wednesday in the school gym.
Steve Euvino, The Times
Cedar Lake residents and elected officials toured the dredge barge during a Tuesday evening open house. The long-awaited dredging of Cedar Lake will begin within the next week.
Molly DeVore, The Times
Lake Central players celebrate their 4A Regional championship win over Crown Point 6-1 at Lake Central High School Tuesday afternoon.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls
Crown Point’s Lexi Howard (11) makes the throw to first to get Lake Central’s Jessenia Del Toro (27) out in the 5th inning during the 4A Regional championship at Lake Central High School Tuesday afternoon.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls
Lake Central’s Sofia Calderaro (25) pitches in the first inning against Crown Point during the 4A Regional championship at Lake Central High School Tuesday afternoon.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls
U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee members Mark Takano, D-Calif., and Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, speak with Portage Mayor Sue Lynch after the city's Memorial Day service at Founders Square.
Doug Ross, The Times
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan addresses the crowd at the Memorial Day ceremony in Portage. “How can we honor young and old who have made these sacrifices?” he asked. “One is to make sure veterans received the benefits they were promised.”
Doug Ross, The Times
Veterans are honored in the Memorial Day parade as Crown Point residents lined up to applaud them.
Deborah Laverty,The Times
Boy and Girl Scouts take part in the Memorial Day parade in Crown Point.
Deborah Laverty,The Times
American Legion Post 20 Commander Kevin Dvorak gives opening remarks at the Memorial Day service in Crown Point. At left is U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Hammond.
Deborah Laverty, The Times
Portage Mayor Sue Lynch speaks at the city's Memorial Day ceremony. “We are blessed to be at peace here in the United States of America today. Sometimes we take that for granted,” she said, citing Ukraine and other countries that are at war.
Doug Ross, The Times
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WHITING — A caucus will soon be held to choose a new member of the City Council because Councilman Nick Suarez is moving out of the city.
The last day for the 1st District councilman was May 22.
Suarez was chosen via caucus in September 2021 to succeed Councilman Ken Zubeck, who resigned because he moved to another district in the city.
"I never intended in going into this to have such a short term, but things change," Suarez said.
He has lived in Whiting since childhood and served on the Redevelopment Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
He and his wife will be moving to Michigan, where Suarez has no plans to run for elected office: "My involvement in politics in Whiting is because I truly love this town, this community."
Suarez spoke of the camaraderie among the council, mayor, city clerk and city attorney, and said that while he cannot point to one major accomplishment during his time on the council, he is excited about upcoming renovations at the Whiting Public Library, which he thinks is a huge asset to the community.
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The term that Suarez took over from Zubeck expires at the end of the year.
It was no surprise that Suarez would not seek election in November because his name did not appear as a candidate for the May primary. However, Whiting didn't have a primary because no races were contested.
But Mark Harbin, a longtime city employee who recently announced his retirement, had been chosen via caucus as the candidate for the 1st District seat and will appear on the November ballot.
Unless a Republican candidate emerges, it is almost a formality that Harbin will be elected.
Spebar expects a caucus by mid-June so someone is chosen to fill Suarez's seat until a new member is elected.
Spebar said Harbin will register as a candidate for the caucus.
In other news, Spebar announced that a formerly empty lot at 1313 119th St. is now open as an outdoor plaza.
Five tables and a platform have been added there, along with awnings to protect from the elements.
Local artist Felix Maldonado painted a mural to brighten up the plaza.
Spebar said the mural would be paid for partially by the city and by Studio 659, an art gallery and studio on 119th Street. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/caucus-will-choose-new-whiting-council-member/article_7b186996-f8bb-11ed-94ad-4709922024af.html | 2023-06-05T15:55:20 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/caucus-will-choose-new-whiting-council-member/article_7b186996-f8bb-11ed-94ad-4709922024af.html |
DYER — Bob Starkey says this year's Dyer Summer Fest could be the best yet, with more than three times as many bands, double the number of vendors, an expanded beer garden, and a new and improved location.
Starkey, a town councilman who represents the 1st Ward, said "some iteration" of the festival has been staged for at least 30 years.
"It has been a staple my entire life," he said. "It’s just always been the kickoff to summer.”
The festival, scheduled for June 8 through 11, has been held for the past few years at Pheasant Hills Park. However, Dyer's 2023 summer kickoff will be celebrated at the newly renovated Central Park, 900 Central Park Blvd., just east of Calumet Avenue.
Central Park is 77 acres, making it Dyer's largest. Up until a few years ago, the park consisted of three overgrown ball fields on the north end and a 3-acre dog park and shelter on the south end. Last fall the town completed a redevelopment project at the park, adding a ball field and batting cages, refinishing the fields with crushed limestone, building a playground and a two-story concession stand, and expanding the parking.
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“Dyer isn’t like a Crown Point or Griffith, where there is a town center, a town square. So one of the reasons we purchased Central Park 15 to 20 years ago was to have a central hub," Starkey explained. “We’ve been wanting (Summer Fest) here for a while, and this is the first year that enough of the park has been complete."
When the fest was at Pheasant Hills, attendees often ended up parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Dyer's director of parks, Justin Gerbick, said the festival will also be more visible at Central Park.
“Pheasant Hills is a great park, but it’s kind of blocked from the line of sight unless you are driving down Hart Street," Gerbick said. With the new location, "you go on Calumet and go over that bridge, now you’re going to see the park with lights everywhere."
Though the festival usually was organized by a committee, Starkey said it was more of a "loosely knit volunteer committee." This year, a four-person committee overseen by the Dyer Park Board planned the festival. Michelle Velez-Henderson of Michelle Velez Events was hired as a contractor to help with organizing.
Summer Fest will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. About 40 vendors will sell food and artisanal goods alongside a carnival; a Kidz Zone complete with a climbing wall, foam party and bounce house; an expanded beer garden; and fireworks Sunday night. Gerbick explained that the beer garden will be "family-friendly," meaning the area is much bigger, so families can walk around the grounds with their drinks.
Admission to the festival is free, but carnival wristbands are $30 and entry into the Kidz Zone is $25.
"It’s just always been really good small-town festival," Starkey said.
Schererville will be hosting its annual Celebrate Schererville Festival the same weekend.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Redar Park. The festival also goes until Sunday and will include a carnival, bingo, games, food vendors and a parade on Saturday. This year's parade theme is "We the People"; the route will begin at 5 p.m. at Roman Road and Joliet Sreet and culminate at Redar Park.
Recreation Director Josh Barnes said the beer garden will be larger than in years past. Admission to the festival is free, but carnival wristbands are $30. Attendees can go online to buy a $60 megapass, which gets them into the carnival all five days. Megapasses are $70 at the gate.
More information about the Celebrate Schererville Festival is available at schererville.org/2023-celebrate-schererville-festival-details. More information about the Dyer Summer Fest is available at townofdyer.com/Home/News/summer-fest-2023. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/dyer/dyer-summer-fest-expands-to-new-location/article_03c153a6-0141-11ee-8e4c-3fc988a3452e.html | 2023-06-05T15:55:24 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/dyer/dyer-summer-fest-expands-to-new-location/article_03c153a6-0141-11ee-8e4c-3fc988a3452e.html |
SEATTLE, Wash — In three weeks, it will be one year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, abortion is no longer an option, or under threat, in about half of the country.
While Washington is going in the opposite direction in keeping abortion legal and protected, the reported demand for birth control locally may surprise you.
"We actually saw a 60% increase in birth control appointments between June 2021 compared to June 2022," said Dr. Erin Berry, gynecologist and Washington state medical director of Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho.
While some of that uptick can be attributed to pandemic disruptions, according to Berry, the timing cannot be denied.
"There was a lot going on in the sexual reproductive health world in June 2022," Berry said.
Even in Washington, in a post-Roe world, providers said women are taking steps they might otherwise not have to avoid unintended pregnancies.
"Even patients in Washington state are nervous," Berry said.
In the 1960s, a sexual healthcare revolution occurred in the U.S. after the FDA approved the birth control pill and a historic Supreme Court case meant married women could legally access it: Griswold v. Connecticut. But even the Griswold decision came into question last summer. After Roe was overturned, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the nation’s highest court “should reconsider” the Griswold ruling, among others.
Abortion is still legal in Washington, however, Berry said a renewed focus has arisen on reproductive healthcare.
"I feel like that's almost when I heard more-- more conversations around this uncertainty for patients in Washington state, like, 'What does this really mean?' What's really going to happen?'" Berry said.
Berry said Washington has seen a recent uptick in women seeking intrauterine devices, or IUDs, which can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years.
"We are seeing a trend in increasing use of more long-acting birth control methods," Berry said.
Aside from Planned Parenthood clinics, Washington state also helps fund 350 clinic sites called Community Health Centers.
They are located in medically underserved areas and provide free or low-cost healthcare to more than 1.1 million Washingtonians per year, according to their website.
Unfortunately, IUDs have been historically hard to access at these clinics, said Liz Elwart, Upstream USA's director of Washington state policy.
"On average, only 52% of Community Health Centers are able to dispense IUDs and implants," Elwart said. "They can't afford to stock them."
But new funding in Governor Jay Inslee’s recently-approved state budget should change that, she said.
"This will increase the options available to them, and will improve the quickness with which they're able to access it," Elwart said. “They want to get it as soon as they can, while they still can.”
Last month, FDA advisors voted in support of making a birth control pill available over the counter.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists told NBC News they believe this could be helpful for the most marginalized Americans. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/birth-control-demand-washington-state-roe-v-wade/281-e959d4a5-4f06-4477-b9ec-b52d2b3cc587 | 2023-06-05T15:56:21 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/birth-control-demand-washington-state-roe-v-wade/281-e959d4a5-4f06-4477-b9ec-b52d2b3cc587 |
GRAND RONDE, Ore. — Kathryn Harrison of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde was one of Oregon's most influential tribal leaders. She died on May 21 at the age of 99, and she was remembered at a service on Sunday.
She didn't live an easy childhood. Harrison was orphaned at the age of 10 after her parents passed away from the flu. She was sent to a foster home where she was abuse.
As an adult, she raised 10 children of her own with little to no help from her husband, who dealt with alcoholism.
At the age of 47, she enrolled in classes at Lane Community College and became a nurse.
"She would always say, 'If you don't have health, you don't have anything.' Money doesn't mean a lot, how much you own, what you know, your degrees. None of that. If you don't have health, you don't have anything," Cheryle Ann Kennedy, tribal chair for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, said at the service.
The sounds of drums and songs filled the room at the Spirit Mountain Casino. Voices carried the tune of Harrison's life.
Her niece, Kat Brigham, spoke about how caring she was.
"That's the way she always was, she cared more about people than herself. She outreached people to say how are you doing and she loved to hug people, and she was supportive in many, many ways," Bringham said.
Kennedy spoke of her legacy.
"When we look at where the tribe was and where we are today, we owe a debt of gratitude," Kennedy said.
Politicians from Congressman Earl Blumenauer, to former Oregon governors Barbara Roberts and Kate Brown also spoke of their relationship with Harrison.
"Kathryn Harrison was a woman that was known and respected statewide," Roberts said. "She was wise. She served others. She respected history and the past, yet she saw the future and planned for it."
Almost everyone at the service was in some way touched by her life.
Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, said Harrison was a friend of his for more than two decades. He said Harrison was someone that didn't let her short height ever get in the way of what she wanted.
"Persistence, she just didn't give up. There were many times, many opportunities where she could've given up where there were too many hurdles in the road," Tymchuk told KGW before the service.
She was known for her efforts to restore Native American Tribal status, working for years to overturn the Termination Act of 1954, which took federal recognition from 61 tribes in Oregon.
"If it weren't for her, we Siletz had a difficult time being restored," said Delores Pigsley, tribal chair for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. "We owe her family for lending us Kathryn for all these years."
Harrison testified in front of Congress and helped to restore not only the Siletz Tribe's status, but also get federal recognition back for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
"Restoration was really a vision of the heart," Kennedy said, "I believe sent by our creator, help our people come into what he planned for us. She was one of those leaders."
Her years of determination paid off in the fall of 1983, when Harrison got a call from Oregon Representative Les AuCoin saying the bill she was championing had passed.
Harrison didn't stop there. She worked with AuCoin and Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield on the Reservation Restoration Act of 1988. She also helped establish the Spirit Mountain Casino in the late 1990s and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, which has donated millions of dollars to nonprofits across the region.
"I think her most accomplishment as chief we're standing in, Spirit Mountain. What this has done for the economy, for the future of tribal members is life changing," Tymchuk said. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/grand-ronde-tribal-leader-kathryn-harrison-memorial/283-97eb3e53-f5b0-415f-8b85-512364be9d56 | 2023-06-05T15:56:22 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/grand-ronde-tribal-leader-kathryn-harrison-memorial/283-97eb3e53-f5b0-415f-8b85-512364be9d56 |
PORTLAND, Oregon — A federal trial begins Monday to determine the constitutionality of Oregon Measure 114. Voters approved Measure 114 in November to restrict firearm access. But the measure has been held up by a temporary restraining order from a Harney County judge.
If Measure 114 is found to be constitutional, it would require photo identification, fingerprints, firearms training, a background check and a permit issued by police to buy a gun. There would also be a fee to buy firearms. It would also ban magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.
Attorneys arguing for Measure 114 believe the measure is constitutional.
“The crux of our defense for large capacity magazines are that they’re not arms at all protected by the Second Amendment because they’re accessories,” said Zach Pekelis, an attorney at Pacifica Law Group said.
Pekelis said the United States has a long tradition of restricting dangerous weapons and accessories.
Proponents of Measure 114 said the Second Amendment gives law-abiding citizens the right to use commonly used firearms for self-defense. But they claim 99% of lawful self-defense cases involve three gunshots or less. That’s much fewer than the ban on magazines holding ten rounds of ammunition or more.
“We’re extremely confident that after a five-day trial, we’re going to prevail and Measure 114 will be able to move forward and be implemented,” Pekelis said.
Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman is also in favor of Measure 114. He said Bend is still grieving from an August shooting at a Safeway where two people were killed by a 20-year-old gunman.
Broadman said the shooter used an AR-style gun and a high capacity magazine. Broadman believes the policy could lead to less shootings.
“It is a set of common sense gun safety policies that will reduce violence, will save lives by keeping guns out of hands that shouldn’t have them,” Broadman said.
In the federal lawsuit against Measure 114, those in opposition have said the policy violates Second Amendment rights.
Lawyers representing the Oregon Firearms Federation said millions of law-abiding Americans own firearms with more than ten rounds. Lawyers said there is nothing novel or unusual about the technology.
The Oregon Association of Sheriff’s also opposes Measure 114.
“We recognize that we must address firearm violence, but measure 114 is just not the answer," said Shane Nelson, the president of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association.
Pekelis expects the trial to last until Friday, but believes it will be weeks to months before a ruling is issued.
There is also a temporary restraining order issued against Measure 114 by a Harney County Circuit Judge. The preliminary injunction is expected to stay in place until a September trial. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/measure-114-trial-constitutionality/283-bb921b20-1a95-40f7-be60-770fb4ce3923 | 2023-06-05T15:56:23 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/measure-114-trial-constitutionality/283-bb921b20-1a95-40f7-be60-770fb4ce3923 |
SAN MARCOS, Texas — The San Marcos Police Department is asking for the public's help finding a missing 55-year-old man.
Police said Thomas "Tommy" Yada was last seen at a rehabilitation facility around 7 p.m. on West Hutchison Street. According to police, he has "several health conditions that could pose a threat to his wellbeing."
Police said Yada was last seen wearing a blue shirt and jeans. He also has wallet with a chain.
Police also noted that when Yada walks, he sways side to side. He also slurs his speech, is hard of hearing and has hearing aids. Police also described him as "skittish."
If you have any information about where Yada might be, you are asked to call San Marcos police at 512-753-2108. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/hays-county/san-marcos-police-missing-man/269-ffe50662-891b-4a67-8ddd-5fc23b1403f3 | 2023-06-05T16:04:25 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/hays-county/san-marcos-police-missing-man/269-ffe50662-891b-4a67-8ddd-5fc23b1403f3 |
A number of Kenosha County area students received degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencement exercises Sunday, May 21, in Milwaukee. They included (listed by hometown, with degree):
BRISTOL
Conner Booth, Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Michael Calzaretta, Bachelor of Business Administration
Anthony Savaglio, Bachelor of Business Administration
Emily Thomas, Bachelor of Arts
Grant Thomas, Bachelor of Arts
KENOSHA
Arica Bauer, Bachelor of Arts
Alyssa Carlino, Bachelor of Science
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Juan Castro Luna, Bachelor of Business Administration
Bobby Davis, Bachelor of Business Administration
Faith DeVilbiss, Bachelor of Science
Isabel Dizon, Bachelor of Science
Amanda Doherty, Master of Science
Angela Dorsey, Master of Business Administration
Destiny Duhs, College of Nursing, Bachelor of Science
Zayne Fani, Bachelor of Business Administration
Eliana Firmani Alcocer, Master of Music
Katie Giebel, Bachelor of Science
Marilyn Grant, Bachelor of Arts
Rachel Johnson, Bachelor of Science
Ethan Krueger, Bachelor of Business Administration
Reid LaBell, Bachelor of Arts
Emily Linn, Bachelor of Science
Kahlen Mudge, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Kendall Needham, Master of Public Health
Sabrina Nikula, School of Education, Master of Science
Bradley Persson, Bachelor of Business Administration
Salman Raheem, Bachelor of Business Administration
Alexa Ramos, Bachelor of Science
James Rettig, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Madison Rios, Bachelor of Arts
Jose Rivera, Master of Science
Anastacia Ryan, Bachelor of Science
Nathan Salvati, Bachelor of Business Administration
Alec Sampson, Bachelor of Science
Megan Setter, Bachelor of Business Administration
Jaskirat Sidhu, Bachelor of Science
Kaylie Siegner, Master of Business Administration
Abigail Stanislawski, Master of Science
Michael Vasarella, Master of Science
Kristy Vigon, Bachelor of Science
Daniella Viirre, Bachelor of Science
Kelly Welz, Bachelor of Science
Luke Westhoff, Bachelor of Science in Engineering
PLEASANT PRAIRIE
Nemanja Asanin, Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Andrea Bennage, Bachelor of Arts
Lexie Bennett, Bachelor of Science
Matteo Cotto, Bachelor of Science
Margaret Del Fava, Bachelor of Arts
Elizabeth Emanuelson, Bachelor of Arts
Kelli Galusha, Bachelor of Business Administration
Ryan Hoerter, Master of Business Administration
Haley Johnson, Master of Science
Keith Leable, Master of Business Administration
Emma Lewis, Master of Social Work
Joanna Mamalakis, Bachelor of Science
Bryan Miletta, Master of Science
Lilyanne Routh, Bachelor of Science
Grace Taber, Bachelor of Science
Erin Vandenbosch, Master of Social Work
Aryanah Visintainer, Bachelor of Science
Faith Wrycha, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Robert Yenerall, Master of Science
SALEM
Brooke Nelson, Master of Science
Charlotte Shanaver, Doctor of Philosophy
TREVOR Kayla Kruczek, Bachelor of Science
Caylee Pearson, Associate of Arts and Sciences | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-county-area-students-receive-degrees-at-uw-milwaukee-graduation/article_de3ca796-0241-11ee-b162-5f9d1c295bfb.html | 2023-06-05T16:04:36 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-county-area-students-receive-degrees-at-uw-milwaukee-graduation/article_de3ca796-0241-11ee-b162-5f9d1c295bfb.html |
Isaac Keen, second from left, puts his cap on as he gets ready for commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Graduate William Stypla, right, performs "The Great American Frontier" by Eric Morales with the school's band during commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Graduate Jacob Diemer, right, shakes hands with Rob Kreil, principal, while crossing the stage at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Graduate Jade Gonzalez walks off the stage at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Principal Rob Kreil, right, talks to the graduating class before commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Emilee Olenick, valedictorian, left, and Alec Brey, salutatorian, make their way to the stage for commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Salutatorian Alec Brey addresses his class during commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Graduates clap during student addresses at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Emilee Olenick, valedictorian, addresses her fellow graduates at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC Kenosha News
Graduate Jacob Camacho Running, right, shakes hands with Principal Rob Kreil as he walks across the stage at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
WILMOT – The crowd buzzed in the gymnasium as seniors of Wilmot High School’s Class of 2023 marched to “Pomp and Circumstance”, eagerly taking their seats Sunday morning.
The commencement exercises brought together hundreds of friends and family to see them as the school celebrated the more than 200 students who would graduate at the campus’ Veteran’s Memorial Field House.
During the more than hourlong ceremony, students, teachers and administrators remembered their class for their accomplishments and resilience, looking their futures with hopeful expectations.
Graduation speaker and teacher Jacob Mudge admitted he was nervous, because it was the very first time he had ever had to deliver “any sort of speech.”
Mudge, who has worked for Wilmot for two years, said, however, he couldn’t “be more proud to stand up here and look at you all today”, wishing them bright futures.
“Whatever it is that you choose – if it is excelling in college and going straight into a job, traveling the world or anything in between --I hope you succeed and live out whatever your great life is.”
“Watching you navigate in the last week of high school, saying good-bye to some friends and `see you later’ to others, I’m reminded of all the fun I had with you in the last few years at this school," he said. “We have shared many laughs together, made memories and hopefully learned some U.S. history and sociology along the way.”
Mudge said he would miss “saluting and interacting” with them because it is what has truly made “his day.”
“I hope that you continue that legacy and positively impact people in the future, just by being nice human beings,” he said. “I hope that you will not only accomplish all that you set out to do after high school, but also exceed those expectations.”
Before the graduating seniors crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, Rob Kreil, Wilmot Principal told them the school has prepared students whether they were attending two or four year college programs or entering military service. He said they have gained knowledge and experiences for their success.
“You have excelled academically, participated in extracurricular activities and made significant to our community,” he said. “You have shown dedication, discipline and commitment to excellence.
“Your achievement extends far beyond the classroom and your impact will be felt for years to come.
Kreil called the class’ collective spirit one that has enabled a “vibrant and inclusive community” to thrive at Wilmot.
“You have uplifted one another during challenging times, created a culture of compassion and understanding,” he said.
He reminded them as they moved forward that “strength com comes from unity and continuous, positive change.
“We wish to see more. Graduates, remember to take risks. Dare to dream… remember, true success is not attained in isolation, but in the bonds we forge and the lives we touch.”
Alec Brey, the class salutatorian, told his fellow classmates to not wait until the last minute to write their futures, and to be decisive in their delivery offering a metaphor to them of how he procrastinated in writing his address to fellow classmates.
“Let your pages be guided by rational, thoughtful decisions and refrain from wild and careless writing – what you’re thinking. Let it represent you and what you want to accomplish,” he said.
Then, injecting a bit of humor, he added “Be confident in your decision, as confident as Mr. (Daniel) Burch is walking the halls with his bald head,” he said playfully chiding the Wilmot High School instructor, before telling his peers to make “the most out of their pages” and wishing them good luck.
Emilee Olenick, senior class valedictorian, also left her classmates with positive parting words from the popular building video game Minecraft.
“And the universe said that you are stronger than you know. And the universe said everything you need is within you,” she said. “I extend my congratulations, once again, to the Class of 2023. Remember, every day is a great day to be a Panther and it’s time.”
UPDATED: IN PHOTOS: Images from the 2022 Kenosha County Fair
Graduate William Stypla, right, performs "The Great American Frontier" by Eric Morales with the school's band during commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Emilee Olenick, valedictorian, left, and Alec Brey, salutatorian, make their way to the stage for commencement ceremonies at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Graduate Jacob Camacho Running, right, shakes hands with Principal Rob Kreil as he walks across the stage at Wilmot Union High School on Sunday, June 4, 2023. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/wilmot-high-school-celebrates-hopes-and-dreams-for-class-of-2023-at-sunday-graduation-ceremony/article_2684b0fe-0326-11ee-afd1-7b5705cb5fce.html | 2023-06-05T16:04:42 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/wilmot-high-school-celebrates-hopes-and-dreams-for-class-of-2023-at-sunday-graduation-ceremony/article_2684b0fe-0326-11ee-afd1-7b5705cb5fce.html |
Surveillance video released Monday by Philadelphia police shows four men jump out of a muscle car and begin firing dozens of shots at a group standing outside the emergency room entrance of a hospital last week.
The shooting along Germantown Avenue outside Temple University Hospital on in the early hours of Wednesday, June 1, 2023, appears to last for just seconds.
"It's very unusual for someone to fire 40 shots right outside of Temple Hospital, specifically Temple Hospital's emergency room," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said in the hours after the shooting.
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On Monday, police said they eventually found evidence that more than 50 shots were actually fired.
The shooting along the 3400 block of Germantown Avenue around 12:30 a.m. left a bullet holes in the doors and glass at the back ER entrance of the hospital.
Philadelphia and Temple police officers responded to find three men -- ages 18, 22 and 25 -- suffering from gunshot wounds. Each had "walked just a few feet into Temple's emergency room" and were being treated in stable condition, Small said.
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Police initially said that the shooting appeared to be a drive-by, but, on Monday they clarified that four people actually got out of a Dodge Charger -- believed to be a model from 2008 to 2014 with chrome trim and polished aluminum wheels -- and began firing semi-automatic handguns. The driver's door never opens during the brief shooting.
After the shooting, the Charger was seen going right onto Rising Run Avenue, from Germantown Avenue, toward North Broad Street, Philadelphia police said.
Police only gave vague descriptions of the gunmen seen on video -- two wore dark-colored hoodies, a third wore a dark-colored hoodie with gray sweatpants with a white stripe on the thighs and the fourth had a dark long jacket over a dark-colored hoodie while wearing black pants and white sneakers.
Police said anyone who spots the shooters should call 911 immediately.
Police didn't give a motive for the triple shooting. People initially said it didn't appear any of the gunshot victims were armed or returned fire.
On Monday, police urged anyone with information on the shooting to contact them via text or call at 215-686-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/temple-hospital-er-shooting-video/3579110/ | 2023-06-05T16:05:37 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/temple-hospital-er-shooting-video/3579110/ |
Activists rally for police accountability, political action 3 years after George Floyd, Breonna Taylor killings
Three years ago, the outrage over the extrajudicial killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor drove more than 1,000 people to march from the Riverfront to the steps of the courthouse in Wilmington for the We Still Can't Breathe protest.
While tensions were still marked, Gov. John Carney and Sen. Darius Brown marched among the crowd. Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Attorney General Kathy Jennings also attended. Carney and Brown said they would be discussing police reforms "in the coming days."
Days turned to months and months turned to years.
On Sunday a group only a fraction of the original protest crowd rallied in Wilmington once again for the We Still Can't Breathe… 3 Years Later protest. Leaders proclaimed they were no longer interested in entertaining rhetoric from government officials about policy changes. They said they were ready to take action against those who stood in the way of actual reform.
This year about 40 people convened at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park. Although participation was significantly smaller, organizers said the event was to draw attention to the lack of action in a range of areas including:
- Police reform and probation reform
- Inequities in education funding
- Improving educational facilities, including providing lead-free drinking water
- Lack of funding for community-based programs and environmental reforms
- Black maternal healthcare
Leading the group was Keandra McDole. McDole is the sister of Jeremy McDole. Jeremy McDole, who was 28, paralyzed and used a wheelchair, was shot multiple times and killed by four Wilmington police officers in 2015. A key matter the group raised was their frustration with the lack of reform of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights better known as LEOBOR.
Under LEOBOR, internal investigations into complaints against police are not public in Delaware. The law also allows police to decide whether an officer accused of wrongdoing will be prosecuted.
The grieving sister-turned-activist said explained why she wants LEOBOR reforms to include transparency of the process that allows police to investigate themselves when complaints regarding officer conduct are made. "After they murder your loved one, you don't know what's going on. It's like you have a blackout. And when they decide to give you information is when they give you the information."
POLICING THE POLICE:Delaware tries again to make substantive police reform. Is this time different?
On Friday, state lawmakers introduced House Bill 205 that if passed would substantially change LEOBOR laws and give the activists many of the reforms they call for. However, organizers of Sunday's protest remained doubtful.
McDole said she plans to be very busy this election season campaigning against any elected official who refuses to act on their rhetoric. "We will be there the whole their whole campaign next year. They will get tired of seeing us," she said.
Contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. Join her on the Facebook group Delaware Voices Uplifted. Support her work and become a subscriber. | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/05/activist-say-police-accountability-and-probation-reform-still-needed/70286650007/ | 2023-06-05T16:09:37 | 0 | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/05/activist-say-police-accountability-and-probation-reform-still-needed/70286650007/ |
Belle Isle's beach remains closed due to high E. coli levels
Belle Isle's beach will remain closed Monday to swimmers due to a high E. coli levels.
Beachgoers were warned Thursday on Facebook to avoid swimming, but told that they could use the sand. Park officials on Saturday evening administration posted that test results from the water were not yet available and "the beach will be closed to swimming until at least Monday."
"Please heed the 'no swimming' advisory," said the park in a post on Facebook.
E. coli, formally known as Escherichia coli, is a type of bacteria or single cell organism that is used by the state of Michigan as a water quality indicator. When E. coli is found in surface water, it means that there has been fecal contamination, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
High E. coli levels, which can especially be a problem after rain, have been an issue at the 982-acre park in the past. It was closed in 2021 because of high E. coli levels.
Thousands flock every summer to the Belle Isle beach to swim in the water and enjoy the Detroit skyline. Last week's closure came as temperatures soared into the high 80s and low 90s late last week, more than 10 degrees above average for early June, according to the National Weather Service.
This week's temperatures will remain warm and sunny, fluctuating between low 70s and warming up to low 80s through Saturday.
Belle Isle administration said on Facebook that they would create another post with updates soon on the beach's reopening.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/05/belle-isle-park-closes-waters-due-to-high-ecoli/70288307007/ | 2023-06-05T16:10:23 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/05/belle-isle-park-closes-waters-due-to-high-ecoli/70288307007/ |
3 killed in 2 separate weekend shootings in Detroit
Myesha Johnson
The Detroit News
Police are investigating two separate shootings Sunday evening in Detroit that left three men dead.
According to police, the first shooting was around 6:45 p.m. in the 12900 block of Chapel Street where two men were found fatally shot inside a home.
Less than 10 minutes later, police got a call about another shooting in the 15400 block of Fairmount Drive, where male victims were found in an alley, with one victim succumbing to his injuries.
Police did not release the identity of the victims and said they had no further information on the cause of the shootings or potential suspects.
The investigation is ongoing. Police do not believe the shootings are connected.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/05/three-men-fatally-shot-in-detroit-sunday-evening/70288389007/ | 2023-06-05T16:10:29 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/05/three-men-fatally-shot-in-detroit-sunday-evening/70288389007/ |
Suspect arrested in fatal shooting of man, 24, in Ann Arbor
A 24-year-old man's body was found Sunday in an Ann Arbor apartment along with his 3-year-old son after a shooting, police said.
Officers were called at about 10:20 p.m. to an area in the 2500 block of Sandalwood Circle near Nixon Road and Huron Parkway for a report of shots fired.
According to a preliminary investigation, the victim was walking up to his home when another man confronted him and opened fire, officials said. The victim was struck by gunfire and then entered his apartment. At the time, the man's girlfriend, 23, and their son, 3, were in the home. Police said the suspect followed the victim into the apartment and continued firing his weapon.
Officers arrived and spoke to the victim's girlfriend outside of the home, they said. She told them she escaped the apartment but her boyfriend and their child were still inside, possibly along with the suspect.
Police entered the home and found the victim deceased with multiple gunshot wounds. They also found the boy unharmed in an upstairs bedroom. The suspect fled the scene, investigators said.
Detectives a short time later identified the suspect as a 22-year-old man who lives in the area. They arrested the suspect in a parking lot near the scene of the shooting without incident.
Officials said they are investigating why the suspect shot and killed the victim. They said they do not believe the shooting was random.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/06/05/suspect-arrested-in-fatal-ann-arbor-shooting-sunday-police-say/70288811007/ | 2023-06-05T16:10:35 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/06/05/suspect-arrested-in-fatal-ann-arbor-shooting-sunday-police-say/70288811007/ |
Medical crews took a 22-year-old Lincoln man to a local hospital early Sunday morning after a group of six or seven men assaulted him amid an apparent attempt to rob his car, according to police.
The man's 20-year-old girlfriend called police to a house near 33rd and Holdrege streets shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday and reported that she had been robbed of her purse and her boyfriend was robbed of his car keys, Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian said.
The woman said a group of men assaulted her boyfriend and took his key fob from his pants pocket, Kocian said.
The 20-year-old stood between the men and her boyfriend's car in an attempt to stop them from stealing it, she reported. The men took her purse and fled on foot.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews took her boyfriend to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Kocian said.
An investigation into the robbery is ongoing.
Photos and videos of protests in Lincoln over George Floyd's death
Tami Damian holds up a sign at the state Capitol on Friday protesting the death of George Floyd.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester holds a sign protesting the death of George Floyd on Friday at the state Capitol. The protest was organized by Stand In for Lincoln. "We've been angry since George Floyd's death, and we have wanted to speak out, this was our first chance to do so," Tami Damian (not pictured) said.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester holds up a sign protesting the death of George Floyd on Friday in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Sen. Ernie Chambers joins Stand In for Lincoln protesters outside the state Capitol on May 29, 2020.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Sen. Ernie Chambers (right) and Harper Anderson (left) joined about a dozen Stand In for Lincoln protesters outside of the state Capitol on Friday. "It's our job to speak out against white supremacy in this extremely broken system," Anderson said.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Meghan Muehling (left) and Harper Anderson hold up signs to passing drivers near the state Capitol on Friday, May 29. They were protesting deaths that were the result of police brutality. "Cops need to protect and serve and not murder people," Muehling said.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
People gather near a police car near 26th and O streets to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A Lincoln police officer asks people to move away from a police car near 26th and O streets early May 30 during a protest of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
A Lincoln police officer tries to ask people to move away from a police car near 26th and O streets early May 30 as they protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A woman tries to stop the crowd outside an EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets early Saturday morning after windows were broken in a protest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A woman walks out of the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets that was looted early Saturday morning after a protest following of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning, protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People gather near 26th and O Streets early Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People gather near 26th and O streets early Saturday morning to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln police officers stand guard outside the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets, which was looted after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A woman was being helped after tear gas was used to disperse crowds after looting at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Protesters knee in front of the police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Advancing police officers in riot gear push forward as two protesters confront them near 25th and O Streets early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters raise their hands as they confront police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after it has been looted early Saturday morning, following a protest of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Police disperse crowds at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Police deploy tear gas to push back the remaining crowd near 26th and O streets after a nearby gas station was looted after a protest early May 30 following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Police officers stand guard outside the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after it has been looted following a protest early Saturday morning in response of the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
A protester throws a window cleaner at police standing guard at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early May 30 following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A small team of police retreat after initially trying to disperse the gathering crowd outside a gas station that was looted on May 30 in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A man extinguishes a fire after vandals looted the EZ GO at 25th and O streets in late May. One of the business' owners said the act gave him "a little bit of hope for our fellow citizens."
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A policeman uses pepper spray to disperse the crowd at an EZ GO gas station that was looted after a protest early May 30 following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters raise their hands in front of police near 25th and O streets as they protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A man breaks the windows of a MetroPCS store near 26th and O Streets after a protest about the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis turned to looting.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters and onlookers gather as police station at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets early Saturday morning for a protest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Police deploy tear gas to push back the remaining crowd near 26th and O streets on May 30.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A breaks the windows of a MetroPCS store near 26th and O Streets early Saturday after protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis turned into looting.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters raise their hands in front of Lincoln police early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters stand in front of police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets in late May 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A protester confronts the police at the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Police secure the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets after it was looted after a protest in late May.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A firework explodes between protesters and police outside the EZ GO at 25th and O streets in late May 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
People enter and exit the EZ GO gas station at 25th and O streets during a protest that turned into looting early Saturday morning following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters raise their fists as they face police who responded to vandalism at the EZ Go near 25th and O streets Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Windows at the Ez Go gas station are seen broken after it was looted Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People walk in and out of the Ez Go convenience store as it was being looted on Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
People kneel down and raise their hands at the Ez Go gas station near 26th and O Streets on Saturday morning.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Items litter the ground around the EZ GO gas station on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Onlookers stop to take in the scene of the Metro PCS on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A man clears shattered glass from the ground of the Metro PCS store after protesters broke the windows on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A police vehicle sits outside of the EZ GO gas station on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A worker uses a broom to push out a broken glass frame at the EZ GO gas station on Saturday morning, following overnight protests that turned violent.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A man walks his bike past a door spray-painted with "George Floyd Murderers" after a night of protests in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
George Floyd is spray-painted on a wall near the intersection of 27th and O streets on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Property manager Roger Stolley shovels broken glass from the floor of the Metro PCS on Saturday morning.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Sheriff's deputies watch protesters as they converge on the County-City Building on May 30 after they marched from the Nebraska State Capitol.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Then Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister addresses protesters at the state Capitol in the days following George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis.
JOURNAL STAR file photo
Protesters head north down Centennial Mall on Saturday after leaving the State Capitol.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - After leaving the capitol, protesters coverged on the County-City Building on Saturday, May 30, 2020. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters march down to the County-City Building on S. 10th St. on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after beginning at the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
On days and nights this spring when protesters critical of police brutality gathered at the County-City Building, Lancaster County Sheriff's deputies and Lincoln Police Department officers often organized on the steps.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protesters gathered at the Nebraska State Capitol on Saturday, May 30, 2020.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters march down O Street before turning left on 9th Street en route to the County-City Building on Saturday, May 30, 2020. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/30/2020 - Protesters gathered on both sides of K St. on Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the Nebraska State Capitol. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Protesters at 48th and O on Saturday, May 30.
CASEY VENEMA, courtesy photo
Hundreds of protesters near 48th and O on Saturday, May 30.
CASEY VENEMA, courtesy photo
Protesters walk down O Street from 48th on Saturday, May 30.
CASEY VENEMA, courtesy photo
Protesters at 48th and O on Saturday, May 30.
CASEY VENEMA, courtesy photo
A protester lobs a mortar firework at police late Saturday night at the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A person bikes past a shattered entrance to a building on the Lincoln Mall late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester uses water to help a man who was hit with tear gas in an attempt to wash it off late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A vandal throws a brick at a bus stop window late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
A vandal breaks windows of a building on the Lincoln Mall late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
A protester calls for help after a woman is hit with a rubber bullet in the Lincoln Mall area when a peaceful protest turned violent late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester launches a bottle rocket as Saturday's peaceful protest suddenly turned violent near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Water from an opened fire hydrant fills the street as protesters clash with law enforcement late Saturday near the County-City Building.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protesters raise their hands in front of the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters gather in front of County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A couple embrace on Lincoln Mall as protesters clash with law enforcement at the County-City Building on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Leo Celis raises his hands in front of the County-City Building on May 30. He was hit several times by rubber bullets, including one that struck him near his right eye.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Law enforcement officers stand at the entrance to the County-City Building on May 31 during a night of clashes between police and protesters.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Tear gas shrouds law enforcement positioned at the entrance to the County-City Building during police protests in 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters tossed fireworks at law enforcement officers guarding the entrance to the County-City Building late on May 30.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Law enforcement in riot gear deployed tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters on May 30.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters tossed fireworks in the direction of law enforcement guarding the entrance to the County-City Building on May 30.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A man wipes his eyes after law enforcement deployed tear gas on protesters late Saturday night near the County-City Building.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters gather near the County-City Building on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Fireworks tossed in the direction of law enforcement explodes outside the County-City Building on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters offer aid to someone injured during a a Black Lives Matter rally which turned violent on May 30. Law enforcement fired non-lethal projectiles and tear gas at protesters to control the crowd.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters vandalize an office building on Lincoln Mall on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters vandalize an office building on Lincoln Mall on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
A person uses a phone to capture the scene as protests turned violent in downtown Lincoln on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Law enforcement in riot gear advance from the County-City Building and down Lincoln Mall on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Law enforcement officers in riot gear advance from County-City Building toward protesters along Lincoln Mall on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters sparked a fire in an office building along Lincoln Mall on May 31.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Law enforcement briefly detained Xavier Packett and Dillon Siebe, who entered buildings with fire extinguishers to douse blazes set by vandals in office buildings along Lincoln Mall, early Sunday. They were later released.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A woman raises her fist against advancing law enforcement during Saturday night's protest on Lincoln Mall.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A fellow protester offers spray to a man hit by tear gas on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Law enforcement clashed with protesters on Lincoln Mall on May 31. In response to reform calls, the city accelerated its plan to equip Lincoln police with body cameras, and the Lancaster County Board approved funding for the County Sheriff’s Office to implement its own body camera program.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Protesters raise their hands against law enforcement advancing along Lincoln Mall on Saturday night.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters gather in front of County-City Building as tear gas is seen in the air, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A woman looks on from a car in front of County-City Building as protesters clash with police, Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Onlookers gather at the gas station opposite of County-City Building as protesters clash with police, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters gather at Lincoln Mall during a clash with police near County-City Building, Saturday, May 30, 2020.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Protesters gather in front of County-City Building as tear gas is seen in the air on May 30.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews continued work May 31 at Universal-Inland Insurance, a multi-story building on Lincoln Mall where vandals sparked a fire in overnight riots.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Broken windows on the southwest corner of 3 Landmark Centre on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Crews, including volunteers, showed up to help to clean up vandalism along Lincoln Mall.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
The Lincoln Fire Department returned to the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
The Lincoln Fire Department returned to the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
The Lincoln Fire Department firefighters remove files from an office at the scene of an overnight fire at the Universal-Inland Insurance building on Sunday, May 31, 2020, following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
The Abraham Lincoln statue on the west side of the Nebraska Capitol was spray-painted with an anarchist symbol during protests Sunday morning.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
The Abraham Lincoln statue on the west-side of the Nebraska State Capitol was spray-painted with an anarchist symbol during an overnight protest on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Jaida Graves, who was hit by Trever Kurtz's Chevy Avalanche pickup, raises her fist as she was loaded onto an ambulance during a protest in response of the death of George Floyd near 25th and O Streets on May 30.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Broken glass from a bus stop at 11th and Lincoln Mall fills the trash on May 31, following overnight protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Buildings along Lincoln Mall had broken windows on May 31 following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
The cost of replacing the fire-damaged Universal-Inland Insurance building could reach $20 million, according to a preliminary city damage report.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Lincoln Police detain three occupants of a car near 12th Street and Lincoln Mall during overnight protests in late May.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Lincoln police advance into the intersection of 12th and Lincoln Mall on May 31 following protests down the street at the County-City building.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
A pair of individuals leap from the broken window of the 3 Landmark Centre building after retrieving fire extinguishers early Sunday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Law enforcement in riot gear stand guard on the steps of the state Capitol building during a peaceful protest on Sunday While the protest was peaceful, events that had unfolded the night before was enough to warrant police to take precaution.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Thousands of protesters gathered peacefully in front of the state Capitol on Sunday afternoon.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester waves an American flag with an "X" painted on it during a peaceful protest Sunday near the state Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
An activist who climbed a statue in front of the County-City Building shouts "Black Lives Matter" during a rally calling for police reform on May 31.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
A man who climbed a crosswalk pole holds up a sign in protest to passing cars during a peaceful protest near the Capitol on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A sign advocating for the recognition of those who lost their lives is seen along with flowers during a peaceful protest Sunday at the state Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protesters march together in solidarity toward the County-City Building during a peaceful march on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protesters wear face masks with the message "I can't breathe" written on tape during a peaceful protest Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester holds flowers in peaceful protest Sunday near the Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protesters march peacefully down O Street during a Black Lives Matter rally Sunday that started at the state Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A man at Sunday's protest in Lincoln wears tape across his mouth stating "I can't breathe."
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester chants "No justice, no peace" during a peaceful protest on Sunday near the state Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Protesters gather on the steps of the state Capitol during a peaceful protest on May 31 at the state Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Protesters bolt from police after tear gas was released in the Lincoln Mall area on May 31.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Police in riot gear move forward in an effort to clear protesters in Lincoln Mall during a protest that went past a mandated curfew on May 31.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Police in riot gear line up to block protesters on Sunday in the Lincoln Mall.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Police in riot gear move forward in the area of Lincoln Mall in an effort to clear protesters after a mandated curfew on May 31.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Protesters who defied an 8 p.m. curfew raise their fists on the steps of the state Capitol on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A protester shows what he says is wound from a bean bag round during a night of protest on Sunday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Police in riot gear line up to block protesters who defied curfew on May 31 in the Lincoln Mall area.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Police in riot gear move forward in an effort to clear protesters who defied curfew on June 1 in the Lincoln Mall area.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Protesters gather on the steps of the state Capitol during a protest on June 1.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Law enforcement in riot gear stand guard on the steps of the state Capitol building during a peaceful protest May 31. While the protest was peaceful, events that had unfolded the night before was enough to warrant police to take precaution. The words "the salvation of the state is watchfulness in the citizen" can be seen etched into the wall behind them.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
The Target at 333 N. 48th St. temporarily boarded up its front doors Monday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protesters sit in the intersection of South 10th St. and Lincoln Mall in front of the County-City Building on June 1.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (right) addresses protesters who sat in the intersection of South 10th Street and Lincoln Mall in front of the County-City Building on June 1.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Protesters take a knee in front of the County-City Building on June 1. Black Leaders Movement activists say some still refer to local efforts as "violent" despite dozens of peaceful protests and civic action.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Hands are raised Tuesday at the County-City Building when protesters are asked who is eligible to vote in the election this fall.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Hundreds of protesters gathered for speeches at the County-City Building on June 2.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
With temps in the high 80s at the start of the gathering, Lincoln Police Capt. Don Scheinost hands off water to protesters at the County-City Building on June 2.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
Hundreds of protesters gathered for speeches at the County-City Building on Tuesday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (center) sits with the protesters at the County-City Building on Tuesday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
The scene outside the County-City Building on June 1.
ROBERT HOTZ, courtesy photo
Overhead photo of the protesters outside the County-City Building on June 1.
ROBERT HOTZ, courtesy photo
Protesters are escorted by Lincoln police after leaving the state Capitol and marching down K Street on Wednesday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the state Capitol for speeches before marching down K Street on Wednesday.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Protesters are escorted by Lincoln police after leaving the state Capitol and marching down K Street on June 3.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR file photo
A memorial erected to James Scurlock near 11th Street during a candlelight vigil remembering those lost on Friday June 5 in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Members of Black Lives Matter light candles during a candlelight vigil Friday, June 5, at the state Capitol.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Black Lives Matter leaders sing "Amazing Grace" with the crowd during a candlelight vigil remembering those lost on Friday June 5, 2020, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Demonstrators march silently during a candlelight vigil remembering those lost on Friday June 5 in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Demetrius Alexander throws up his fist as Taylor Morris leans on him as the crowd sings "Amazing Grace" during a candlelight vigil remembering those lost on June 5 in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-hospitalized-after-group-of-men-robbed-him-of-car-keys-police-say/article_1a8075b0-03b0-11ee-ba0e-23949ae17280.html | 2023-06-05T16:12:50 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-hospitalized-after-group-of-men-robbed-him-of-car-keys-police-say/article_1a8075b0-03b0-11ee-ba0e-23949ae17280.html |
MIDLAND, Texas — Gifts of Hope held their annual national cancer survivor day event today at hope house.
This event aims to bring together cancer survivors and their families together for not just a good time but to also help let survivors and those still going through treatment know that they're here for them.
“It’s really just a bright spot in our year," said Clint Dickson, executive director at Gifts of Hope. "I mean so much of dealing in the cancer world can be very sad and kind of depressing, but a lot of what we do in our programming is trying to infuse hope and joy and this is one of those opportunities.
Those still going through treatment were also invited so that Gifts of Hope can let them know that they’re not alone and that there are resources in the community available to them.
Ana Pacheco, a self-proclaimed cancer thriver, spoke today at the event to share her story with both survivors and those still going through treatment like her.
“I’m hoping to give someone hope, let them know that they’re not alone… And knowing that there’s resources out there and people that have walked a similar story, maybe not the same, but that gives people hope,” Pacheco said.
If you would like to know more about the work Gifts of Hope does you can always visit their website for more info. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/national-cancer-survivor-day/513-0662a10f-bd3a-4168-9bb5-c4ac5fc76da8 | 2023-06-05T16:13:44 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/national-cancer-survivor-day/513-0662a10f-bd3a-4168-9bb5-c4ac5fc76da8 |
PHOENIX — According to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, there are roughly 20,000 farms and ranches across Arizona.
Some can be found in the Phoenix Metro. One of those is the Knight Ranch in Laveen. It’s a Black-owned ranch that is passing on the country living to the next generation.
Life on the ranch can start very early. There’s always something to do and that’s what cowgirl in training Nevaeh, 9, loves.
"I like to take care of them. I like to clean their stalls and feed them," she told 12News about her love of horses.
She recently attended the "As the Crows Fly" horse riding group's youth academy and she still remembers her favorite part.
"The riding because I mostly rode with one hand," she beamed.
Shaheed Muhammad is Nevaeh’s instructor. He also helped put on the riding academy. It came about, "cause every time we'd go out for a ride, the kids see us. They want to pet the horse," he said.
He, alongside fellow cowboy Jarvis Thues or "JT," decided to find a way to introduce more children to the life they love after it was introduced to him by his father.
"Why hold on to something so great, if you can't share it with someone to help them share it with the next generation carrying it on," he commented.
So, with their Flying Crows riding group, they helped dozens of kids learn what it takes to live on the ranch.
"Getting up there and brushing the horse, and for some who didn't' want to do it at all, to where they were like 'I don't want to go," JT said.
Riding can be the ultimate reward for the work, but everything they learn here can help them outside of the ranch too.
"We teach work ethic, responsibility," Muhammad said. "Compassion and the building that bond and the relationship between themselves and the horse."
That's what he said he hopes to continue teaching Nevaeh who is determined to become a cowgirl just like she was born to do. Her mother showed 12News several pictures of Nevaeh as a small toddler sitting atop horses.
That lifelong love can be out of reach for some. Owning and caring for a horse can be an expensive passion but no one gets left behind at the Knight Ranch.
"Clean a stall, you get to ride. That's the rule. So that's your payment," JT said. "So, a little hard work, it'll pay off."
But if you love it, like Nevaeh does, it won't ever feel like work.
“As the Crows Fly” riding group will be holding another youth clinic in the fall. But they still ride year-round and give lessons. Those interested can contact them at theflightofthecrows@gmail.com.
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Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/laveen-youth-horse-riding-camp-teaches-the-cowboy-way-to-new-generation/75-3a56761c-49a9-4741-b9bb-a16431983831 | 2023-06-05T16:18:18 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/laveen-youth-horse-riding-camp-teaches-the-cowboy-way-to-new-generation/75-3a56761c-49a9-4741-b9bb-a16431983831 |
Taking the helm of the organization that helps shape the Air Force’s future combat capabilities, Brig. Gen. Scott Cain assumed command of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Monday.
“We’re at the hinge of history,” Cain told assembled Airmen, Space Force Guardians and guests in the museum’s building two. “Our role at AFRL is to define what’s on the other side of that door.
“Let’s drive the fight,” he added.
Cain won’t have a far move, geographically speaking. AFRL is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and his most recent role was director for air, space and cyberspace operations at the headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command, also based at Wright-Patterson.
Essentially, Cain is moving from Wright-Patt’s Area A to its Area B, taking the helm of a laboratory with more than 11,000 military and civilian employees found in 10 states and six countries, leading a science and technology enterprise valued at $3 billion, exploring and refining everything from lasers to autonomous combat aircraft to artificial intelligence and much more.
“We’re already in the community, but we’re very much looking forward to working with the community and taking care of the great AFRL workforce,” Cain said. “First thing on the list is to engage with that workforce. That’s my No. 1 priority.”
The outgoing commander, Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, thanked family, colleagues and friends in an at times emotional farewell. Her official retirement after a 32-year Air Force career was part of Monday’s ceremony. She has accepted a job as chief executive of the Colorado-based Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering information, education and collaboration for what it calls the “global space ecosystem.”
Calling AFRL “America’s science and technology powerhouse,” Pringle told Cain she was “more than confident this team will make you proud every single day.”
Pringle took command of AFRL in June 2020 in a time of rapid change, barely three months after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States and about six months after a former commander, then-Maj. Gen. William Cooley, was removed from his post for allegations of misconduct. (Cooley recently retired after the Air Force reduced his rank by two levels, a year after his conviction at Wright-Patterson of abusive sexual contact.)
Gen. Duke Richardson, AFMC commander, praised Pringle for navigating the pandemic and putting AFRL to work for a new military branch, Space Force, while keeping the laboratory on task. She mastered “a lot of change, a lot of things outside her control that she had to figure out,” Richardson said.
“I don’t know that I’ve every seen you not in a upbeat mood,” Richardson told Pringle. “It’s very, very infectious. So somebody had the great idea to make her the lab commander.”
Cain received his commission from the Air Force Academy in 1995. He will lead AFRL’s technology and functional directorates, AFWERX and the 711th Human Performance Wing, among other AFRL teams.
He agreed that the future of the Air Force is being shaped at Wright-Patterson, home to Air Force research and logistics efforts.
“That is what we do,” Cain said. “Our mission is to discover, it’s to develop and it’s to transition technology at an incredibly important time for that mission, particularly with our strategic competition and our pacing challenge, China.”
President Biden nominated Cain for appointment to the grade of major general, the Department of Defense said in March.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/afrl-welcomes-new-commander-at-air-force-museum-ceremony/UQIPYHUKWBA4PPK7CAM7NY4YXY/ | 2023-06-05T16:18:19 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/afrl-welcomes-new-commander-at-air-force-museum-ceremony/UQIPYHUKWBA4PPK7CAM7NY4YXY/ |
BRUCEVILLE-EDDY, Texas — All southbound lanes of I-35 in Bruceville-Eddy are shutdown following a major crash. Traffic is being diverted to the southbound access road.
A semi-truck is flipped on its side, and it's leaking diesel fuel on the highway. Hazmat crews are on the scene. There is no estimate on when the lanes will reopen. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/i-35s-in-bruceville-eddy-shutdown-semi-flips/500-f9f3c263-b56a-448d-92df-38552e061119 | 2023-06-05T16:28:12 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/i-35s-in-bruceville-eddy-shutdown-semi-flips/500-f9f3c263-b56a-448d-92df-38552e061119 |
ITASCA, Texas — Itasca ISD has suspended superintendent Michael Stevens with pay.
Members of the school board met in an executive session Monday morning to discuss Stevens' employment. Their decision was announced around 8:30 a.m.
Stevens was arrested in a Harris County undercover sex sting last week. He's accused of allegedly messaging a person he thought was a 15-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover investigator.
Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen said Stevens sent inappropriate photos and asked for images and videos in return.
As of Monday morning, he remains behind bars in the Harris County Jail on a $100,000 dollar bond. Stevens has also been ordered to stay away from anyone under the age of 17.
The district did release a statement shortly after Stevens' arrest:
"On June 1, 2023, the District was contacted by a detective with the Harris County Sherriff’s Department. According to the detective, Superintendent Michael Stevens was taken into custody. Until more facts are confirmed, no further information can be shared. The Board of Trustees will be convening a meeting to review this matter and take appropriate action." | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/itasca-isd-suspends-superintendent-with-pay/500-c416a295-2a23-455d-aa24-16619814b426 | 2023-06-05T16:28:18 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/itasca-isd-suspends-superintendent-with-pay/500-c416a295-2a23-455d-aa24-16619814b426 |
The Kappa Alpha Psi Gary alumni chapter unveiled a street sign Saturday dedicated to the organization at McKinley Street and West Fourth Avenue.
Grace Opinker, The Times
Mayor Jerome Prince and Deputy Mayor Trent A. McCain proclaimed June 3, 2023, as Kappa Alpha Psi Day for the city of Gary in honor of the Grand Polemarch's official visit.
GARY — For 77 years, members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Gary alumni chapter have devoted their time to community service.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Deputy Mayor Trent A. McCain said. “This bond is the most lustrous bond you can have with men of like minds.”
The chapter was chartered July 30, 1945, and has more than 100 members who work in law, medicine, business and education. McCain describes his membership within the chapter as one of the best decisions he's ever made.
To celebrate its service, the chapter partnered with the city and the Indiana Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program to ensure that Fourth Avenue is well-kept.
"We want to keep it clean and pristine so it reflects our values as a fraternity," said McCain, a member since 2020. "It's a prominent part of Gary."
Members unveiled a street sign Saturday at McKinley Street and West Fourth Avenue to honor the chapter. In its agreement with INDOT, the organization will participate in annual street cleanups from the SouthShore RailCats stadium to Taft Street and West Fourth Avenue.
The chapter has participated in two cleanups on the 1.7-mile stretch since August. The next cleanup will be in the fall.
"This is what we do," said Percy Jones, the chapter's historian. "It's part of our 'Kommunity' service outreach program."
A representative for the 34th Grand Polemarch, Reuben A. Shelton III, helped alumni unveil the new sign. Shelton is the international president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
"I'm honored to be here," chief of staff Joe W. Lewis Jr. said. "It may seem like a small sign, but its a large statement on behalf of the Gary alumni chapter and the city of Gary."
Mayor Jerome Prince and McCain proclaimed June 3, 2023, as Kappa Alpha Psi Day in honor of the Grand Polemarch's official visit to Gary. Lewis spoke on behalf of Shelton, who was unable to attend.
"He wanted to say for Gary to continue to thrive, continue to lead and continue to grow," Lewis said.
Kappa Alpha Psi is a Black Greek fraternity that was founded on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington on Jan. 5, 1911, according to the fraternity's website. The fraternity has more than 125,000 members worldwide. The Gary chapter is the only Kappa Alpha Psi alumni chapter in Northwest Indiana.
"Gary alumni chapter has been here a long time and is doing a lot of great things in the community," said Darren Adams, senior province vice polemarch. "Despite some of the economic challenges Gary has, we are still trying to do our best to be beacons of light in our community."
The Kappa Alpha Psi Gary alumni chapter unveiled a street sign dedicated to the organization after forming an agreement with the city of Gary and INDOT to keep Fourth Avenue in Gary clean through "kommunity" service.
Mayor Jerome Prince and Deputy Mayor Trent A. McCain proclaimed June 3, 2023, as Kappa Alpha Psi Day for the city of Gary in honor of the Grand Polemarch's official visit. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-alumni-chapter-of-kappa-alpha-psi-unveils-street-sign/article_60b1d78a-0302-11ee-bb54-1f857645d717.html | 2023-06-05T16:34:32 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-alumni-chapter-of-kappa-alpha-psi-unveils-street-sign/article_60b1d78a-0302-11ee-bb54-1f857645d717.html |
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – One person was wounded Sunday in a shooting at a downtown Kissimmee bar, police said.
The shooting happened at Breeze Kissimmee on Dakin Avenue.
Kissimmee police said the victim was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The shooting was an “isolated incident,” according to police, but no other details have been released.
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Check back for updates.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/1-hurt-in-shooting-at-downtown-kissimmee-bar/ | 2023-06-05T16:36:47 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/1-hurt-in-shooting-at-downtown-kissimmee-bar/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando woman won $1 million from a scratch-off lottery game — twice!
Altovise Morris, 41, claimed two $1 million prizes from the 500X THE CASH scratch-off game she played a couple months apart, Florida Lottery officials said on Monday.
Morris claimed the first prize in November 2022 and promised Florida Lottery officials she would “be back.”
She returned in January to claim another $1 million prize after she closed on her dream home.
“After closing on my house, I stopped at a Sunoco Foodmart in Clermont, and it happened again. I still can’t believe this is happening,” she said, according to the Florida Lottery.
She chose to receive her winnings in one-time, lump-sum payments of $820,000.
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The first winning ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven at 13698 West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden and the second ticket was purchased at Sunoco Foodmart at 940 South U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont. Both locations will be receiving a $2,000 bonus commission for selling a winning scratch-off ticket.
500X THE CASH is a $50 game that includes a top prize of $25 million, one of the highest in a Florida Lottery scratch-off game. According to the Florida Lottery, the game’s overall odds of winning are 1 in 4.50.
According to the Florida Lottery website, there are 14 $1 million prizes and one $25 million prize left for this particular game.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/double-the-luck-orlando-woman-wins-1m-prizes-twice-in-scratch-off-lottery-games/ | 2023-06-05T16:36:48 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/double-the-luck-orlando-woman-wins-1m-prizes-twice-in-scratch-off-lottery-games/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – Gas prices have trickled down over the past few weeks, but AAA said they may climb again soon, depending on how the markets react to news from OPEC.
The oil consortium agreed to cut oil production this weekend by a million barrels a day, with the hope that it will send oil prices higher.
It’s the latest round of cuts from OPEC in the last few months. Last year OPEC cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day, then in April it cut production by an additional 1.16 million barrels a day.
”It’s unclear how much of an effect this will have on fuel prices, but if oil prices rise significantly, drivers would likely see higher prices at the pump,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said.
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In Orlando, average gas prices for a gallon of regular unleaded gas fell 8 cents from a week ago, to $3.30 a gallon.
In Florida, average prices for the same gallon of gas fell from $3.41 a gallon to $3.36 over the past week. Gas prices in Florida were $3.59 a month ago and $4.76 a year ago.
Here are the average gas prices for regular unleaded in Central Florida’s metro areas:
- Daytona Beach: $3.34 a gallon, down from $3.40 a week ago
- Lakeland-Winter Haven: $3.31 a gallon, down from $3.40 a week ago
- Melbourne-Titusville: $3.30 a gallon, down from $3.37 a week ago
- Ocala: $3.30 a gallon, down from $3.37 a week ago
- The Villages: $3.33 a gallon, down from $3.37 a week ago
Full gas price information for locations across Florida and the country is available on the AAA website.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/gas-prices-fell-6-cents-in-florida-last-week-why-they-may-rise-again/ | 2023-06-05T16:36:55 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/gas-prices-fell-6-cents-in-florida-last-week-why-they-may-rise-again/ |
A University of Idaho-led research team will investigate how wildfire smoke affects the physiology of dairy cows and identify strategies to mitigate any ailments the animals suffer due to smoke exposure.
The research, which will be funded by a four-year, $771,596 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant, builds upon a prior project involving members of the team, which found milk production dropped significantly following an especially smoky period of the summer of 2020.
In addition to analyzing physiological changes among groups of cows exposed to natural smoke, the forthcoming study will compare measures of health between a control group of cows breathing clean air and a group of cows kept in smoke chambers, where they’ll be exposed to particulates. The aim of the smoke chamber research is to confirm whether smoke exposure is truly a cause of lost productivity and deteriorating health.
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“Our previous studies have been preliminary. We were just trying to see if there were associations between health effects on particulate matter and production,” said Amy Skibiel, an assistant professor of lactation physiology with U of I’s Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences and the grant’s principal investigator. “Now we want to see what’s happening physiologically in these animals that’s contributing to these health effects and production deficit.”
Pedram Rezamand and Denise Konetchy, also with U of I’s Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences; Jeffrey Abbott, with Washington State University’s (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine; and Oregon State University dairy management researcher Jenifer Cruickshank are co-principal investigators on the project. Other team members include Alistair Smith, with U of I’s Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences; WSU veterinarian Craig McConnel; and J.R. Kok, an HVAC instructor with Lewis-Clark State College.
The team will seek to identify genetic markers associated with inflammation, and they’ll look for changes in tissue morphology and structure of smoke-exposed cows. They plan to build eight smoke chambers at the dairy on the Moscow campus. Kok will lead development of the system of ducts and dampers to pipe in the smoke. Smith, who is a fire combustion expert, will oversee smoke generation. McConnel, an expert in bovine ultrasonography, will aid in using ultrasounds to evaluate the lungs of experimental cows for lesion development, changes in fluid levels and pneumonia.
“Producers are becoming more aware that wildfires are a problem. They’ve been observing wildfire smoke seems to have an affect on respiratory health of their animals, on reproduction and on milk production, but there just wasn’t any data until we started these projects to substantiate it,” Skibiel said. “I think they’re really interested in ways they can mitigate the problem on the farm.”
In their prior research project, they found every increase of 100 micrograms per meter of particulates due to smoke correlated with a 2.5-pound decrease in daily milk production per animal. The researchers will be simulating particulate levels of 150 micrograms per meter, with eight hours of daily exposure, in the smoke chambers. The smoke chamber research will be conducted during the spring, when wildfires don’t usually occur, to avoid any natural smoke skewing the results.
A second tier of research will evaluate physiological changes affecting the immune system of lactating cows exposed to natural smoke, while a third research tier will assess the effectiveness of air filters designed to filter traffic-related air pollution at protecting the health of cows.
They’ll assess heifer calves exposed to natural wildfire smoke, studying the calves after a couple of weeks and after one year to understand long-term effects. They’ll also study bull calves exposed to smoke in a smoke chamber. Based on their prior research, they concluded smoke affects eye discharge, coughing, respiration rates and immune cell populations in calves.
Based on the cumulative results, the team hopes to make recommendations regarding the use of air filters, the best housing configurations to protect cows, air ventilation, nutritional intervention, boosting immunity and anti-inflammatory medications.
“There is not a whole lot going on elsewhere in this line of research. We are leading this effort at a national level,” Rezamand said. “Funding agencies are realizing the importance of the topic we are presenting and its importance to the dairy industry out West.”
The project, “Wildfire Smoke and the Dairy Industry; Impacts on Animal Performance and Health and Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Involved,” was funded with a four-year, $771,596 grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, of which 100% was the federal share, under award No. 2023-67016-39658. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/u-of-i-led-team-dives-deeper-into-understanding-wildfire-smoke-s-effects-on-dairy/article_f4566de8-0091-11ee-853b-e7a5db03f67f.html | 2023-06-05T16:43:22 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/u-of-i-led-team-dives-deeper-into-understanding-wildfire-smoke-s-effects-on-dairy/article_f4566de8-0091-11ee-853b-e7a5db03f67f.html |
BLOOMINGTON — A woman was injured and shots were fired at three minors during two apparently unrelated shooting incidents over the weekend, Bloomington police said Monday.
In a press release, the Bloomington Police Department said officers heard a gun being fired twice near Mulberry and Oak Streets at 2:11 a.m. Saturday. Police said they found evidence indicating shots were fired, and witnesses told them they saw several people running from the scene.
BPD said officers were then called at 2:58 a.m. Saturday to a local hospital, where a 38-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her right thigh had been dropped off by an unknown person. Investigators said she was treated for the injury, which was not considered life-threatening.
The second investigation began after officers were dispatched at 8:42 p.m. Sunday to Rainbow and Ridgeport avenues for another gunfire report, police said.
BPD said initial investigative work found one or more suspects in an unknown vehicle shot at a 14-year-old boy and two 13-year-old girls. No description of possible suspects or the vehicle involved was available Monday, and no injuries were reported Sunday evening.
Police said they're continuing to investigate both gunfire incidents, which they believe to not be related. Anyone with additional information on the early Saturday morning shooting at Mulberry and Oak streets is asked to call BPD detectives J. Downing at 309-434-2587 or T. Klein at 309-434-2366. Emails can be sent to Downing at jdowning@cityblm.org , or Klein at tklein@cityblm.org .
Anyone with more information on the Sunday evening shots fired incident is asked to call Detective J. Law at 309-434-2527 or email jlaw@cityblm.org .
Anonymous tips can also be left with the Crime and Intelligence Analysis Unit at 309-434-2963 and CIAU@cityblm.org or by texting "Tip" to 847411.
The US surpasses 160 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped
The US surpasses 100 mass shootings in 2023—here's every event mapped
Since the start of 2023, the United States has averaged more than one mass shooting per day. The Gun Violence Archive , a nonprofit group that tracks gun violence using police reports, government sources, news coverage, and other public data, counted 106 mass shootings in 2023 as of March 9—a period of 68 days.
No official, universal definition of what constitutes a mass shooting currently exists. Groups define it differently based on the number of victims, whether they are killed or injured, whether the shooting occurs in a public or private space, and whether the shooter targets victims. The Gun Violence Archive defines it as an event in which at least four people were killed or injured.
The lack of a consistent definition creates opportunities for people to interpret the data differently, making it difficult for lawmakers to establish a set of agreed-upon facts upon which to address the issue of gun control.
For example, using a much narrower definition of a mass shooting, security specialists who drafted a 2013 congressional report identified just 78 mass shooting events between 1983 and 2012. This figure starkly contrasts the GVA's findings for 2014, which determined 273 mass shootings had occurred that year alone.
As to more recent figures, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 647 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2022. Compared to this time last year, mass shootings in 2023 are outpacing last year's rate. Stacker cited data from the Gun Violence Archive to visualize the scope of mass shootings thus far in 2023. Data is as of March 7, 2023.
You may also like: From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history
Ron Adar // Shutterstock
Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly states—and some stricter ones
Several of the states where mass shootings have occurred this year are those that don't require gun owners to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. However, some of the most high-profile mass shootings of this year, like those in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park , California, and Washington D.C. , happened in states with stricter gun laws.
Gun violence in the U.S. is a complex problem with many contributing factors beyond state laws. A 2022 study from Everytown for Gun Safety comparing state laws to rates of gun violence , however, shows a correlation between the two. States with the most restrictions on gun users also have the lowest rates of gun-related deaths, while states with fewer regulations have a higher death rate from guns.
At 120 firearms per 100 residents, the U.S. is the only country in the world with more civilian-owned guns than people, according to the 2018 Small Arms Survey .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space
This year, shooters have attacked people at college campuses, cultural celebrations, gas stations, private residences, downtowns, and even on highways.
The deadliest single event to date remains the Jan 21. shooting in Monterey Park, California, where a gunman killed 11 people and wounded nine others at a dance hall in an Asian American community during a Lunar New Year celebration.
Nine mass shooting incidents occurred between Feb. 17 and Feb. 19—the most of any weekend in 2023. That weekend, nine children were shot at a gas station in Georgia, six people were shot on I-57 in Chicago , leaving one toddler dead, and five people, including one 4-year-old, were shot at a parade in New Orleans .
Firearms are the leading cause of death in people under the age of 24 years in the U.S., according to a study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics in December 2022.
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly states—and some stricter ones
Several of the states where mass shootings have occurred this year are those that don't require gun owners to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. However, some of this year's most high-profile mass shootings, like those in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park, California, and Washington D.C., happened in states with stricter gun laws.
Gun violence in the U.S. is a complex problem with many contributing factors beyond state laws. A 2022 study from Everytown for Gun Safety comparing state laws to rates of gun violence, however, shows a correlation between the two. States with the most restrictions on gun users also have the lowest rates of gun-related deaths, while states with fewer regulations have a higher death rate from guns.
At 120 firearms per 100 residents, the U.S. is the only country in the world with more civilian-owned guns than people, according to the 2018 Small Arms Survey .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space
This year, shooters have attacked people at college campuses, cultural celebrations, gas stations, private residences, downtowns, highways, and most recently, elementary schools.
The deadliest single event to date remains the Jan 21. shooting in Monterey Park, California, where a gunman killed 11 people and wounded nine others at a dance hall in an Asian American community during a Lunar New Year celebration.
Nine mass shooting incidents occurred between Feb. 17 and Feb. 19—the most of any weekend in 2023. That weekend, nine children were shot at a gas station in Georgia, six people were shot on I-57 in Chicago leaving one toddler dead, and five people, including a 4-year-old, were shot at a parade in New Orleans .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly states—and some stricter ones
Several of the states where mass shootings have occurred this year are those that don't require gun owners to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons. However, some of the most high-profile mass shootings of this year, like those in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park, California, and Washington D.C., happened in states with stricter gun laws.
Gun violence in the U.S. is a complex problem with many contributing factors beyond state laws; however, a 2022 study from Everytown for Gun Safety comparing state laws to rates of gun violence shows a correlation between the two. States with the most restrictions on gun users also have the lowest rates of gun-related deaths, while states with fewer regulations have a higher death rate from guns.
At 120 firearms per 100 residents, the U.S. is the only country in the world with more civilian-owned guns than people, according to the 2018 Small Arms Survey .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space
This year, shooters have attacked people at schools, cultural celebrations, gas stations, private residences, downtowns, highways, and most recently, workplaces.
The deadliest single event to date remains the Jan 21. shooting in Monterey Park, California, where a gunman killed 11 people and wounded nine others at a dance hall in an Asian American community during a Lunar New Year celebration.
Nine mass shooting incidents occurred between Feb. 17 and Feb. 19—the most of any weekend in 2023. That weekend, nine children were shot at a gas station in Georgia, six people were shot on I-57 in Chicago leaving one toddler dead, and five people, including a 4-year-old, were shot at a parade in New Orleans .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly states—and some stricter ones
Several of the states where mass shootings have occurred this year are those that don't require gun owners to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons. In Alabama—where the April 15 Dadeville incident became the largest mass shooting of 2023—any person 19 or older may carry a handgun in the state without a permit, background check, or safety training unless prohibited by state or federal law.
However, some of the most high-profile mass shootings of this year, like those in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park, California, and Washington D.C., happened in states with stricter gun laws.
Gun violence in the U.S. is a complex problem with many contributing factors beyond state laws; however, a 2022 study from Everytown for Gun Safety comparing state laws to rates of gun violence shows a correlation between the two. States with the most restrictions on gun users also have the lowest rates of gun-related deaths, while states with fewer regulations have a higher death rate from guns.
At 120 firearms per 100 residents, the U.S. is the only country in the world with more civilian-owned guns than people, according to the 2018 Small Arms Survey .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space
This year, shooters have attacked people at schools, cultural celebrations, gas stations, private residences, downtowns, highways, workplaces, and most recently, birthday parties.
The deadliest single event to date remains the Jan 21. shooting in Monterey Park, California, where a gunman killed 12 people and wounded nine others at a dance hall in an Asian American community during a Lunar New Year celebration.
Ten mass shooting incidents occurred between April 14 and April 16—the most of any weekend in 2023. On April 15, a gunman killed four people and injured dozens attending a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama. The majority of those killed or injured were teens .
Emma Rubin // Stacker
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bloomington-police-woman-injured-shots-fired-at-teens-in-weekend-incidents/article_db7069aa-03b6-11ee-a763-77e9387b5788.html | 2023-06-05T16:44:43 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bloomington-police-woman-injured-shots-fired-at-teens-in-weekend-incidents/article_db7069aa-03b6-11ee-a763-77e9387b5788.html |
Elizabethton, Tenn. (WJHL) – The next big business leader or entrepreneur could be found at Covered Bridge Days in September. Elizabethton Parks and Rec, in conjunction with Carter County Bank, is hosting the Youth Business Fair.
Nominations for children ages 7-18 are underway until Aug. 25.
Covered Bridge Days is set for Sept. 23-24. The children and teens who are chosen will have a booth at the event where they can see their creations.
You can apply by emailing Kelly Kitchens at kkitchens@cityofelizabethton.org. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/youth-business-fair-returns-to-covered-bridge-days-in-elizabethton/ | 2023-06-05T16:46:17 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/youth-business-fair-returns-to-covered-bridge-days-in-elizabethton/ |
Mayor Andy Cook directs Westfield to remove Pride Month social media posts
The city of Westfield deleted social media posts last week recognizing Pride Month on its Twitter account and Facebook page under the direction of Mayor Andy Cook.
Cook said the city "should not engage in supporting a social agenda."
On Thursday, the start of Pride Month, Westfield posted a graphic on city social media accounts that stated “We talk about the Westfield Way and how it sets us apart. We are committed to being a welcoming and safe community for ALL. Happy Pride Month, Westfield.”
By Friday, the post was removed from Twitter and Facebook. Deleting the posts received swift backlash on social media platforms from users.
Brian Ayers, a Westfield resident and co-founder of Central Indiana's Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), said the post was "a good surprise," but to see it deleted was a disappointment.
"It made me sad," Ayers said. "To see an inclusive message and to see it almost immediately taken down was disheartening."
More:Mark your calendars: Pride events around Indiana happening in Summer 2023
In a statement to IndyStar, Cook said Westfield “will always recognize our diverse population” but that he felt “strongly that government should remain neutral on these social issues.”
“The City of Westfield’s Communications Department created a social media post on Thursday recognizing Pride Month,” Cook stated. “Upon further review, I feel the city should not engage in supporting a social agenda, and as such, I directed the post to be removed.”
In 2022, Westfield did not post on city social media accounts about Pride Month, which celebrates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.
However, according to a review of Westfield’s Facebook page, the city has posted about Black History Month held in the month of February and Juneteenth, the Federal holiday honoring the emancipation of Black slaves in the United States on June 19,1865.
Both the city of Fishers and the city of Carmel posted on Facebook recognizing Pride Month. As of Monday, the city of Noblesville had not posted about Pride on its Facebook account.
Contact the reporter at 317-779-4468. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/05/westfield-mayor-andy-cook-delete-pride-month-lgbtq-social-media-posts-twitter-facebook/70282610007/ | 2023-06-05T16:49:45 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/05/westfield-mayor-andy-cook-delete-pride-month-lgbtq-social-media-posts-twitter-facebook/70282610007/ |
GREENSBORO — All lanes of northbound and southbound Battleground Avenue are closed after a traffic crash with minor injuries.
The closure is between Mill and West Northwood streets, according to a news release from Greensboro police.
The crash involves a utility pole.
It is unclear when the road will reopen.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://greensboro.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/battleground-closed-crash-utility-pole/article_e7c1b3aa-03b9-11ee-bebe-e3b4d8702045.html | 2023-06-05T16:55:01 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/battleground-closed-crash-utility-pole/article_e7c1b3aa-03b9-11ee-bebe-e3b4d8702045.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — A treatment room in the Burn ICU at Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital was the site of celebration Friday.
Chris Doyen, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a fire, proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Erika Tollett, at the hospital shortly before getting the all-clear to go home.
According to a hospital spokesperson, Doyen barely started asking the question before Tollett hugged him and said, "Yes, of course."
The hospital spokesperson said Tollett has been at Doyen's bedside all 47 days he's been there as he recovers from a life-threatening burn from a campfire.
Doyen and Tollett were standing near a campfire in New Castle in April when a gas can nearby exploded. Doyen had second- and third-degree burns to 66% of his body, including his arms, torso and legs.
Doctors expected Doyen's recovery to take four months, but Doyen credits the burn unit and his own motivation for the quick recovery.
"For him to go from his injury to leaving the hospital in under 50 days is quite remarkable," said Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, director of the Ascension St. Vincent Burn Unit. "He's done a great job of following the program and getting healed up, and our team has done a remarkable job getting him back and healthy and actually discharging him from the hospital today."
As for the proposal, Doyen said it made sense to pop the question there because it helped prepare them to always be together "in sickness and in health."
"Shocked, very shocked," Tollett said when asked about the proposal. "Excited he's coming home but shocked, so I think it's all going to hit later."
Since Doyen is still recovering, the Burn ICU staff created and decorated a special padded stool for him to kneel on in order to propose. Staff also swapped out medical equipment in the hydrotherapy room for balloons, streams, photos of the couple, paper lanterns, confetti, and gold letters spelling "I Love You."
Ascension St. Vincent's food service team also sent up cake pops, drinks and other treats to help the family celebrate. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/burn-survivor-proposes-girlfriend-ascension-st-vincent-indianapolis/531-83ae8a5a-d54f-47db-b230-aba020e4b18b | 2023-06-05T17:06:58 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/burn-survivor-proposes-girlfriend-ascension-st-vincent-indianapolis/531-83ae8a5a-d54f-47db-b230-aba020e4b18b |
INDIANAPOLIS — Ivy Tech Community College announced the death of a former president Monday morning.
President Emeritus Gerald I. Lamkin died at 86, the college confirmed. Lamkin served as the president of both Ivy Tech Community College and the Ivy Tech Foundation from 1983 to 2007.
In his 40 years with Ivy Tech, Lamkin served in a variety of roles, starting as a part-time instructor in 1967. He then served as a full-time accounting and management instructor before moving into administrative roles, including business manager and director of education for the then-Indianapolis Region, dean for the then-Muncie and Richmond regions, and statewide vice president of operations.
During Lamkin's tenure, Ivy Tech went from an enrollment of approximately 45,000 to more than 120,000 students in 13 individual regions.
"Our dad lived his life to help others and always wanted to see others improve their lives. A problem solver by nature, he did not believe in the word 'can't,'" said Jeri Criddle, his daughter and family spokesperson.
Lamkin was born in Rising Sun, Indiana, in 1936 and graduated from Rising Sun High School, where he played baseball, basketball and ran track.
After graduating high school, Lamkin joined the United States Air Force and later attended Indiana State University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Business Education.
"No single leader has had more impact on Ivy Tech than Gerald Lamkin; he was the father of Indiana's community college system," Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann said. "His visionary leadership transitioned the College from a vocational school and positioned it to become what it is today: Indiana’s workforce development engine."
Funeral and visitation arrangements have not been announced, but the Lamkin family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Gerald and Louise Lamkin Scholarship with the Ivy Tech Foundation. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/ivy-tech-community-college-president-gerald-lamkin-dies-86/531-67eacdf3-9b18-4ffb-92d2-34d6e908f50b | 2023-06-05T17:07:04 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/ivy-tech-community-college-president-gerald-lamkin-dies-86/531-67eacdf3-9b18-4ffb-92d2-34d6e908f50b |
ATLANTIC CITY — A 30-year-old city man wanted in a July 2022 shooting was arrested Saturday after he was found by an off-duty detective, police said.
Detective Eric Evans provided Officer Jesse Oliver-Logan with a location and description of Yahsin Cheeks, saying he was near Virginia and Magellan avenues, police said Sunday in a news release.
Oliver-Logan located Cheeks, who immediately ran, police said. Oliver-Logan gave chase, and with assistance from Officers William Luengas-Gonzalez and Michael Kragh, Cheeks was apprehended after a brief struggle.
During the pursuit, Cheeks discarded a satchel that contained a loaded handgun, police said.
Cheeks was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain persons not to possess weapons, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and possession of hollow-point ammunition, and was sent to the Atlantic County jail.
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The FBI's Atlantic City office aided police in their investigation. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/atlantic-city-man-wanted-in-2022-shooting-caught-with-loaded-gun-police-say/article_89b8e364-03a0-11ee-8c0f-e3efae37b017.html | 2023-06-05T17:14:40 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/atlantic-city-man-wanted-in-2022-shooting-caught-with-loaded-gun-police-say/article_89b8e364-03a0-11ee-8c0f-e3efae37b017.html |
A Lower Township man was arrested Friday after authorities searched his property and found more than 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said.
Jason Brown, 42, was charged with possession and distribution of child pornography, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sent to the Cape May County jail.
Authorities raided Brown's home in the township's Villas section after receiving tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about alleged explicit content affiliated with him.
While searching his home in the 100 block of Cloverdale Avenue, detectives confiscated two computers, a camera, a cellphone and various prescription pills, the Prosecutor's Office said.
The Cape May County Regional SWAT Team, Prosecutor's Office, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and township police participated in the investigation. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lower-township-man-caught-with-child-porn-drugs/article_3411cfe6-03b6-11ee-a016-3bd75e755758.html | 2023-06-05T17:14:46 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lower-township-man-caught-with-child-porn-drugs/article_3411cfe6-03b6-11ee-a016-3bd75e755758.html |
Want to adopt? There are plenty of dogs looking for their furever home.
Every week, volunteer photographer, Tasha Sport, photographs some of the animals available for adoption. June's adoption special is $20 and includes a microchip, rabies and booster vaccinations (parvo/distemper for dogs & FVRCP for cats) and a $70 voucher towards the spay or neuter of the adopted animal.
Every week, volunteer photographer, Tasha Sport, photographs some of the animals available for adoption.
On a monthly basis, the shelter takes care of approximately 350-400 pets.
Here's more information on how you can adopt:
To adopt one of these pets, please call the shelter to set an appointment at 432-685-7420.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.\
The shelter is located at 1200 N. Fairgrounds Road | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/Want-to-adopt-Check-out-these-adoptable-animals-18135563.php | 2023-06-05T17:21:57 | 0 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/Want-to-adopt-Check-out-these-adoptable-animals-18135563.php |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Multnomah County woman was found dead Saturday afternoon in what authorities believe was a domestic violence-related homicide.
Just before 5:00 p.m., the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said they responded near 37000 East Historic Columbia River Highway after they had received several 911 calls about a domestic disturbance.
According to authorities, witnesses had reported hearing gunshots, and responding officers located a man walking away from the scene and arrested him.
Upon investigating the residence, deputies said they discovered a woman dead from gunshot wounds.
No names have been released yet and the investigation is still ongoing. | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/man-arrested-after-suspected-domestic-violence-homicide-in-multnomah-county/ | 2023-06-05T17:33:00 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/man-arrested-after-suspected-domestic-violence-homicide-in-multnomah-county/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Emergency personnel in Kingsport are hosting a Public Safety Day Monday to show some of the technology and equipment used by police, firefighters and others.
The event is being held at the Kingsport Farmers Market at 308 Clinchfield Street from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Kingsport residents of all ages are welcome to attend.
The Kingsport Police Department is showcasing an armored rescue vehicle, its mobile command post, its bomb squad and robot and its drone team. A K-9 unit will also conduct demonstrations.
The Kingsport Fire Department is bringing a ladder truck and will showcase its various teams and have interactive activities for visitors. Sparky the Fire Dog will also be in attendance. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-first-responders-host-public-safety-day/ | 2023-06-05T17:40:55 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-first-responders-host-public-safety-day/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — A new area code number is coming to the 423 counties in East Tennessee.
The new area code, 729, was approved on May 30 by the Tennessee Public Utilities Commission.
According to the Public Utility Commission, counties with a 423-area code are expected to run out of new numbers in the third quarter of 2025. The new code will reportedly ensure residents and businesses have access to a ‘sufficient supply’ of telephone numbers to serve the area.
“Existing customers will keep their current telephone numbers, but new customers, or requests for additional lines, may be assigned the new 729 area code once it is activated,” said the commission.
The commission stated customers will continue to use ’10-digit dialing, the area code plus the seven-digit phone number,’ to make calls. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/new-area-code-number-729-assigned-to-east-tennessee/ | 2023-06-05T17:41:01 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/new-area-code-number-729-assigned-to-east-tennessee/ |
NORTH CANTON
Goodwill opening bookstore, donation center in North Canton this week
The Repository
NORTH CANTON – Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio will open a new retail bookstore and donation center on Thursday.
The new store is at 2207 E. Maple St., in the Washington Square Plaza next to Antonio’s Pizza and the North Canton Post Office. This is the second bookstore for Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio. Community members can also donate clothing and housewares at the drive-up donation center.
The bookstore and donation center will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. This donation center will replace the attended donation center on Easton Street across from Oakwood Square Plaza in Plain Township. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/north-canton/2023/06/05/goodwill-opening-new-bookstore-and-donation-center-this-week/70288320007/ | 2023-06-05T17:41:30 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/north-canton/2023/06/05/goodwill-opening-new-bookstore-and-donation-center-this-week/70288320007/ |
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. — Officers in Hanover responded to a report of an erratic driver striking several pedestrians early Sunday morning.
The incident happened around 1:50 a.m., at the 7-Eleven located at 1075 Dorsey Road in Hanover.
During their investigation, officers learned that a man was assaulted by the suspect, Adam Rey Wolford, 33, in the parking lot of the Cancun Cantina located at 7501 Old Telegraph Road.
Police say the victim was able to get away from Wolford and the group moved to the front of the 7-Eleven.
According to witnesses and victims, Wolford got into a red Jeep Cherokee and began driving erratically and shouting at the group.
The suspect then allegedly struck an occupied parked vehicle on Old Telegraph Road and then accelerated into into the 7-Eleven parking lot, striking three pedestrians.
Police say Wolford circled around the parking lot and back onto Old Telegraph Road, where he again struck the same parked vehicle he struck before fleeing.
A short time later police were able to track down Wolford to Queenstown Road, where he was arrested and charged accordingly.
The occupants of the parked vehicle did not report any injuries.
The pedestrians that were struck were taken to hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/man-arrested-after-driving-into-several-pedestrians-and-parked-car-in-hanover | 2023-06-05T17:43:02 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/man-arrested-after-driving-into-several-pedestrians-and-parked-car-in-hanover |
COLUMBIA, Md. — A motorcycle rider is dead following an overnight head-on collision in Howard County.
It happened around 1:45am Sunday on Route 97 near Roxbury Mill Road.
Police say Charles Franklin Bailey Jr., 63 of Silver Spring, rode his Harley Davidson into oncoming traffic causing a collision with a Chevy Silverado.
Bailey later died at Shock Trauma.
Investigators believe he was trying to pass the vehicle in front of him. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/motorcycle-rider-dies-following-head-on-collision-in-howard-county | 2023-06-05T17:43:10 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/motorcycle-rider-dies-following-head-on-collision-in-howard-county |
ESSEX, Md. — Baltimore County Police are currently on scene barricade situation in Essex.
The barricade is in the area of Thompson Boulevard.
#ALERT Residents in the area of Thompson Boulevard in Essex can expect a police presence due to a barricade situation. At this time, Deep Creek MS and Sandalwood ES are on a lockout status strictly as a precaution. pic.twitter.com/gKgC2M9Lxj
— Baltimore County Police Department (@BaltCoPolice) June 5, 2023
Deep Creek Middle School and Sandalwood Elementary School are on lockout status at this time as a precaution.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/police-on-scene-of-a-barricade-situation-in-essex | 2023-06-05T17:43:16 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/police-on-scene-of-a-barricade-situation-in-essex |
MILLERSVILLE — Police are looking to file charges against a woman who allegedly stole a donation box belonging to the Anne Arundel County Animal Control shelter.
On June 1 the woman reportedly went to the shelter in Millersville to surrender an animal.
Once she completed the paperwork, police say she took the donation box and walked out.
Approximately $150 was inside the box at the time.
The money inside goes towards animals who are being cared for at the facility.
Police have not revealed her name. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/police-woman-surrendering-pet-stole-donation-box-belonging-to-anne-arundel-animal-shelter | 2023-06-05T17:43:22 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/police-woman-surrendering-pet-stole-donation-box-belonging-to-anne-arundel-animal-shelter |
SILVER SPRING, Md. — A teen is recovering after multiple shots were fired in Silver Spring on Friday.
Montgomery County Police were called to the 11400 block of Stewart Lane for reports of gunfire at a block party.
Officers arrived on scene and located a 16-year-old girl suffering from a gunshot wound.
She was taken to a local hospital to be treated for a non-life threatening injury.
According to investigators, a group of people were at the party when a dark colored sedan with potentially three to four occupants drove up and began to open fire into the crowd.
Other than the teen, no one else was injured in the shooting,
Detectives are asking for anyone who was at the party and might have cellphone video to contact them at 240-773-5530.
Anyone with information regarding this shooting or the suspects involved is asked to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/teen-injured-following-drive-by-shooting-at-block-party-in-montgomery-county | 2023-06-05T17:43:28 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/teen-injured-following-drive-by-shooting-at-block-party-in-montgomery-county |
A 33-year-old Lincoln man is in jail after he allegedly threatened passersby with a knife downtown Sunday afternoon before trying to flee police on a stolen electric bike, according to authorities.
Police tried to contact Joseth Botts near Eighth and P streets at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when he started to cycle away, Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian said, but fell from his bike near Canopy and O streets.
As he fled, the 33-year-old threw an item — later determined to be a glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue inside — into a nearby trash can, Kocian said.
Police arrested Botts on suspicion of terroristic threats, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and resisting arrest.
He was taken to the Lancaster County jail.
Investigators did not find the knife Botts allegedly used to threaten people.
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Tom Casady's list of the 10 most infamous crimes in Lincoln history
Crimes of the times
This is simply one man’s perspective from the early 21st century (first written in 2010). I had to make a decision about crimes that occurred at locations that are inside the city today, but were outside our corporate limits at the time they occurred. I chose the latter.
Before beginning, though, I have to deal with three crimes that stand apart: the murders of three police officers in Lincoln. I’m not quite sure how to place them in a list. They all had huge impacts on the community, and on the police department in particular. Because these are my colleagues, I deal with them separately and in chronological order.
Patrolman Marion Francis Marshall
Shot in the shadow of the new Nebraska State Capital, Gov. Charles Bryan came to his aid and summoned additional help.
Lt. Frank Soukup
Marion Marshall was technically not a Lincoln police officer, so Lt. Soukup was actually the first Lincoln police officer killed on duty. One of his colleagues who was present at the motel and involved in the gunbattle, Paul Jacobsen, went on to enjoy a long career and command rank at LPD, influencing many young charges (like me) and leaving his mark on the culture of the agency.
Lt. Paul Whitehead
In the space of a few months, three LPD officers died in the line of duty. Frank Soukup had been murdered, and George Welter had died in a motorcycle crash. Paul Whitehead's partner, Paul Merritt, went on to command rank, and like Paul Jacobsen left an indelible mark at LPD and the community.
No. 1: Starkweather
The subject of several thinly disguised movie plots and a Springsteen album, the Starkweather murders are clearly the most infamous crime in Lincoln’s history — so far. One of the first mass murderers of the mass media age, six of Charles Starkweather’s 11 victims were killed inside the city of Lincoln, and the first was just on the outskirts of town. I didn’t live in Lincoln at the time, but my wife was a first-grader at Riley Elementary School and has vivid memories of the city gripped by fear in the days between the discovery of the Bartlett murders and Starkweather’s capture in Wyoming.
The case caused quite an uproar. There was intense criticism of the police department and sheriff’s office for not capturing Starkweather earlier in the week after the discovery of the Bartletts' bodies. Ultimately, Mayor Bennett Martin and the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners retained a retired FBI agent, Harold G. Robinson, to investigate the performance of local law enforcement. His report essentially exonerated the local law officers and made a few vanilla recommendations for improving inter-agency communication and training.
Now I know that many readers are mumbling to themselves “how obvious.” Hold your horses, though. It’s not quite as obvious as you might think. I had two experiences that drove this fact home to me. The first was a visit by a small group of journalism students. Only one member of the class had any idea, and her idea was pretty vague. You need to remember that the Starkweather murders were in 1957 and 1958 — before the parents of many college students were even born.
The second experience was a visit by a Cub Scout den. I was giving the kids a tour of the police station one evening. We were in the front lobby waiting for everyone to arrive. As I entertained the boys, I told the moms and dads that they might enjoy looking in the corner of the Sheriff’s Office display case to see the contents of Starkweather’s wallet — discovered a couple of years ago locked up in the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office safe. After a few minutes, one of the confused fathers asked me who Starkweather was, and why it was significant.
No. 2: Lincoln National Bank
On the morning of Sept. 17, 1930, a dark blue Buick carrying six men pulled up in front of the Lincoln National Bank at the northwest corner of 12th and O streets. Five of the men entered the bank, while a sixth stood outside by the Buick, cradling a machine gun. Observing the unusual events, a passerby called the police. The officer who responded, Forrest Shappaugh, was casually instructed by the machine-gun-toting lookout to just keep going, which he wisely did. Returning with reinforcements, he found that the robbers had already made good on their getaway, netting $2.7 million in cash and negotiable securities.
Ultimately, three of the six suspects were arrested. Tommy O’Connor and Howard Lee were convicted and sentenced. Jack Britt was tried twice but not convicted by a hung jury. Gus Winkeler, a member of Al Capone’s gang, winged a deal with County Attorney Max Towle to avoid prosecution in exchange for orchestrating the recovery of $600,000 in bearer bonds. The following year, Winkeler was murdered in Chicago, the victim of a gangland slaying. The final two robbers were never identified.
The Lincoln National Bank robbery stood as the largest cash bank robbery in the United States for many decades. It precipitated major changes at the Lincoln Police Department. Chief Peter Johnstone was rapidly “retired” after the robbery, the department’s fleet was upgraded to add the first official patrol cars, the full force was armed and a shotgun squad was organized. Forty-four years later when I was hired at LPD, the echo of the Lincoln National Bank robbery was still evident in daily bank opening details, and in the Thomspon submachine guns and Reising rifles that detectives grabbed whenever the robbery alarm sounded at headquarters.
No. 3: The Last Posse
My first inkling about this crime came when I was the chief deputy sheriff. One of my interns, a young man named Ron Boden (who became a veteran deputy sheriff), had been doing some research on Lancaster County’s only known lynching, in 1884. I came across a reference in the biography of the sheriff at the time, Sam Melick, to the murder of the Nebraska Penitentiary warden and subsequent prison break. Melick had been appointed interim warden after the murder and instituted several reforms.
Several years later, a colleague, Sgt. Geoff Marti, loaned me a great book, Gale Christianson’s "Last Posse," that told the story of the 1912 prison break in gory, haunting and glorious detail.
To make a long story short, convict Shorty Gray and his co-conspirators shot and killed Warden James Delahunty, a deputy warden and a guard on Wednesday, March 13, 1912. They then made their break — right into the teeth of a brutal Nebraska spring blizzard. Over the course to the next few days, a posse pursued. During the pursuit, the escapees carjacked a young farmer with his team and wagon. As the posse closed in, a gunfight broke out and the hostage was shot and killed in the exchange, along with two of the three escapees.
There was plenty of anger among the locals in the Gretna-Springfield vicinity about the death of their native son, and a controversy raged over the law enforcement tactics that brought about his demise. Lancaster County Sheriff Gus Hyers was not unsullied by the inquiry, although it appears from my prospect a century later that the fog of war led to the tragedy.
Christianson, a professor of history at Indiana State University who died earlier this year, notes the following on the flyleaf:
“For anyone living west of the Mississippi in 1912, the biggest news that fateful year was a violent escape from the Nebraska state penitentiary planned and carried out by a trio of notorious robbers and safe blowers.”
Bigger news on half the continent than the sinking of the Titanic during the same year would certainly qualify this murder-escape as one of the most infamous Lincoln crimes in history.
No. 4: Rock Island wreck
The Aug. 10, 1894, wreck of a Rock Island train on the southwest outskirts of Lincoln was almost lost in the mist of time until it was resurrected in the public consciousness by author Joel Williams, who came across the story while conducting research for his historical novel, "Barrelhouse Boys."
The wreck was determined to be the result of sabotage to the tracks, perhaps an attempt to derail the train as a prelude to robbery. Eleven people died in the crash and ensuing fire, making this a mass murder, to be sure. G.W. Davis was arrested and convicted of the crime but later received a full pardon. The story was told in greater detail earlier this year by the Lincoln Journal Star.
A historical marker is along the Rock Island Trail in Wilderness Park, accessible only by foot or bike from the nearest trail access points about a half-mile away at Old Cheney Road on the north, or 14th Street on the south.
Here’s the big question that remains unanswered: Was there really significant evidence to prove that George Washington Davis committed the crime, or was he just a convenient scapegoat? The fact that he received a gubernatorial pardon 10 years later leads me to believe that the evidence must have been unusually weak. If he was railroaded, then my second question is this: who really pried loose the tracks with the 40-pound crowbar found at the scene?
No. 5: Commonwealth
On Nov. 1, 1983, the doors to Nebraska’s largest industrial savings and loan company were closed and Commonwealth was declared insolvent. The 6,700 depositors with $65 million at stake would never be fully compensated for their loss, ultimately receiving about 59 cents on the dollar for their deposits, which they all mistakenly believed were insured up to $30,000 through the Nebraska Depository Insurance Guaranty Corporation, which was essentially an insurance pool with assets of only $3 million.
The case dominated Nebraska news for months. The investigation ultimately led to the conviction of three members of the prominent Lincoln family that owned the institution, the resignation of the director of the State Department of Banking and the impeachment of the Nebraska attorney general and the suspension of his license to practice law. State and federal litigation arising from the failure of Commonwealth drug on for years.
At the Lincoln Police Department, the Commonwealth failure led to the formation of a specialized white-collar crime detail, now known as the Technical Investigations Unit. At the time, municipal police departments in the United States had virtually no capacity for investigating financial crime and fraud of this magnitude, and we quickly became well known for our expertise in this area. The early experience served LPD very well in the ensuring years.
No. 6: Candice Harms
Candi Harms never came home from visiting her boyfriend on Sept. 22, 1992. Her parents reported her as a missing person the following morning, and her car was found abandoned in a cornfield north of Lincoln later in the day. Weeks went by before her remains were found southeast of Lincoln.
Scott Barney and Roger Bjorklund were convicted in her abduction and murder. Barney is in prison serving a life term. Bjorklund died in prison in 2001. Intense media attention surrounded the lengthy trial of Roger Bjorklund, for which a jury was brought in from Cheyenne County as an alternative to a change of venue. I have no doubt that the trial was a life-changing event for a group of good citizens from Sidney, who did their civic duty.
I was the Lancaster County sheriff at the time, involved both in the investigation and in the trial security. It was at about this time that the cellular telephone was becoming a consumer product, and I have often thought that this brutal crime probably spurred a lot of purchases. During my career, this is probably the second-most-prominent Lincoln crime in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage.
No. 7: Jon Simpson and Jacob Surber
A parent’s worst nightmare unfolded in September 1975 when these two boys, ages 12 and 13, failed to return from the Nebraska State Fair. The boys were the victims of abduction and murder. The case was similar to a string of other murders of young boys in the Midwest, and many thought that these cases were related -- the work of a serial killer. Although an arrest was made in the case here in Lincoln, the charges were eventually dismissed. William Guatney was released and has since died.
No. 8: John Sheedy
Saloon and gambling house owner John Sheedy was gunned down outside his home at 1211 P St. in January 1891. The case of Sheedy, prominent in Lincoln’s demiworld, became the talk of the town when his wife, Mary, and her alleged lover and accomplice, Monday McFarland, were arrested. Both were acquitted at trial. The Sheedy murder is chronicled in a great interactive multimedia website, Gilded Age Plains City, an online version that builds upon an article published in 2001 by Timothy Mahoney of the University of Nebraska.
No. 9: Patricia McGarry and Catherine Brooks
The bodies of these two friends were found in a Northeast Lincoln duplex in August 1977. Their murderer, Robert E. Williams, was the subject of a massive Midwest manhunt during the following week. Before his capture, he committed a third murder in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and raped, shot and left for dead a victim who survived in Minnesota. He is the last man to be executed in Nebraska, sent to the electric chair in 1997.
No. 10: Judge William M. Morning
District Court Judge William Morning was murdered in February 1924. He was shot on the bench by an unhappy litigant in a divorce case. His court reporter, Minor Bacon, was also shot, but a notebook in his breast pocket deflected the bullet and saved his life.
Many other crimes
Choosing Lincoln's 10 most infamous crimes was a challenge. Although the top two were easy, the picture quickly became clouded. We tend, of course, to forget our history rather quickly. Many of the crimes I felt were among the most significant are barely remembered today, if not completely forgotten.
Some readers will take issue with my list. In choosing 10, here are the others I considered, in no particular order. They are all murders:
-- Mary O'Shea
-- Nancy Parker
-- Charles Mulholland
-- Victoria Lamm and Janet Mesner
-- Martina McMenamin
-- Regina Bos (presumably murdered)
-- Patty Webb
-- Marianne Mitzner
I also thought about the five murder-suicides in which a mother or father killed multiple family members before taking their own life. Though tragic, these crimes did not command the same kind of attention as the others, perhaps because there was no lengthy investigation, no tantalizing whodunit, no stranger-killer, nor any of the details that come out in the coverage of a major trial. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-threatened-others-with-knife-downtown-tried-to-flee-on-e-bike-police-allege/article_ccdc6b3c-03b1-11ee-ba1a-b70109ce8c18.html | 2023-06-05T17:44:12 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-threatened-others-with-knife-downtown-tried-to-flee-on-e-bike-police-allege/article_ccdc6b3c-03b1-11ee-ba1a-b70109ce8c18.html |
Two Lincoln homes were damaged, a dog was rescued and a firefighter was injured in a pair of house fires over the weekend, according to authorities.
The first fire broke out at around 3:30 p.m. Friday in the basement of 5916 Bartholomew Circle, where a dehumidifier caught fire, filling the single-family house with smoke, Lincoln Fire and Rescue spokeswoman MJ Lierman said.
That blaze caused $80,000 in damage to the property and caused one firefighter to suffer a "small injury," Lierman said.
The home's residents, who had evacuated before fire crews arrived, were evaluated by medical personnel but refused treatment, Lierman said.
Fire crews battled another house fire Sunday at 531 A St., where a fire broke out shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Firefighters contained that fire to the home's kitchen, where a burner that had been left on was identified as the fire's point of origin, Lierman said.
Crews rescue a dog from the basement.
No one was injured in the blaze, which caused $75,000 in damage and forced the relocation of three residents and two dogs.
Photos: Firefighters in action
Photos: Firefighters in Action
A firefighter backs off from the heat of the flames Sunday coming from the roof of Romantix, 921 O St. Fire crews responded to the adult novelty store blaze at about 9 a.m. and needed most of the afternoon to extinguish the flames. The building is described as a total loss, but no one was injured.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
A massive plume of fire erupts in front of Lincoln firefighters Nick Thill (left) and Mark Sullivan moments after Sullivan ventilated the roof with the blade of his chainsaw at a working fire at 1717 A Street in Lincoln on Wednesday evening, April 6, 2011.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
With a fire hose at the ready, Lincoln firefighters look over the underside of a pickup truck which rolled over at the intersection of 16th and L Streets Monday afternoon, April 11, 2011. The scanner call mentioned there was leaking gasoline. One person was taken away on a stretcher to an ambulance.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Marie Yost (left) and Nancy Harter (right) watch from the median on O Street as Lincoln firefighters pour water on the smouldering remains of the Lincoln Public Schools adminstration building on Tuesday morning, May 31, 2011. Harter, who worked in the building for 11 years, said a supervisor contacted staff at 6 a.m. to let them know of the fire.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Heavy smoke envelopes the house fire at 236 S. 27th Street as Lincoln firefighters apply water to the attic fire on Tuesday afternoon, August 16, 2011.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Lincoln Firefighter Nancy Engelbrecht (right) attempts to comfort Shari Elder as Elder watches smoke pour from the apartment building where she lives on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at 27th and Randolph streets.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Protected against the 1600 degree temperatures emanating from the fire pit, Dorchester Vol. Fire Dept. firefighter Brant Pracheil tosses the Stars and Stripes into the flames on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, during a flag retirement ceremony at the Dorchester American Legion Post 264. A total of 1957 unserviceable flags from the communities of Dorchester, York, Fairmont, Lincoln, Wilber, Fairbury and Crete were retired from life during the ceremony.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
The Stars and Strips opens to the swirling wind from the ladder of Lincoln Fire & Rescue Truck 1 on Friday, March 31, 2017, during the bridge dedication ceremony for Staff Sgt. Patrick Hamburger at the Spirit of '76 Armory.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Surrounded by black smoke, a Lincoln Fire Department firefighter uses a pike pole to open the porch ceiling at the scene of a house fire on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, at 1800 Euclid Avenue.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Matt Barnard, with Beatrice Rural Fire District, uses a torch to spread flames during a prescribed burn of 45 acres of the prairie at Homestead National Monument of America on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Lincoln Fire and Rescue teams help Alex Lekai and his mother, not pictured, evacuate from her south bottoms home on Thursday, May 7, 2015.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
Cuddling her grandson's dog Milo, homeowner Deborah Ganz is consoled by a neighbor as she watches her garage burn on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in west Lincoln.
KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
Photos: Firefighters in Action
A Lincoln firefighter directs his hose on the roof of La Mexicana Market & Restaurant, 17th and P Streets, on Monday, April 13, 2015.
TED KIRK, Journal Star
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/two-lincoln-homes-damaged-one-firefighter-injured-in-pair-of-weekend-fires/article_0310a300-03b5-11ee-b33c-4799236e5c7b.html | 2023-06-05T17:44:18 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/two-lincoln-homes-damaged-one-firefighter-injured-in-pair-of-weekend-fires/article_0310a300-03b5-11ee-b33c-4799236e5c7b.html |
BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa. — One person is dead after a crash in Bradford County.
It happened after 5 p.m. Friday on Liberty Corners Road in Asylum Township, near Towanda.
State police say Aaron Herlt, 21, of New Albany, was driving in the wrong lane when he hit a car head-on.
Herlt was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other driver was injured but is expected to be OK.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/bradford-county/deadly-crash-in-bradford-county-liberty-corners-road-asylum-township/523-45af4b34-79c5-476c-9a9c-2ab7f07f9a88 | 2023-06-05T17:45:57 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/bradford-county/deadly-crash-in-bradford-county-liberty-corners-road-asylum-township/523-45af4b34-79c5-476c-9a9c-2ab7f07f9a88 |
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Newswatch 16 told the artificial intelligence system, called ChatGPT, to write a 200-word news article about the open letter recently signed by top tech CEOs, including ChatGPT's inventors, warning us of the dangers of AI.
The system responded in about six seconds with an article summarizing the topic.
Anthony Kapolka, a computer scientist at Wilkes University, offered some reassurance.
"There isn't any creativity there," Kapolka said. "Emily Bender is a scientist, and she coined the phrase, 'stochastic parrot' to describe a large language model, in the sense that it's saying things that sound good, but it doesn't really have any understanding of what it's saying. That's why I say it's really passed the 'imitation test.' It looks like a person, but it's not intelligent like a person."
Replacing jobs is just one of the concerns people have. The most recent one raised in that open letter - replacing humans completely. You can read that single-statement letter here, and the previous open letter released in March here.
"Some people think man was created in God's image. Some people think God is created in man's image, but I think we should all agree that these computers are being created in our image, right? And so, if we're creating things in our image, what you think about the danger of these technologies has a lot to do with what you think about people. And I think that's what we're seeing coming out. So, if you are concerned that people are not inherently good, then you might think that technology is going to cause trouble," Prof. Kapolka said.
His biggest concern is people using AI tools as a reliable source of information, which he says, in their current form, they're not.
The information ChatGPT churns out might not always be accurate, but it sounds convincing, and that's where the danger lies.
Check out WNEP's YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/considering-the-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-wilkes-university-professor-technology-computer-science/523-8dac18fb-d322-4e4a-8cbd-c1f6b9a7ff42 | 2023-06-05T17:45:58 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/considering-the-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-wilkes-university-professor-technology-computer-science/523-8dac18fb-d322-4e4a-8cbd-c1f6b9a7ff42 |
LECANTO, Fla. — A Citrus County deputy hit by a driver over a week ago near Lecanto High remains in critical condition but is said to be OK, an update from the sheriff's office explains Monday.
Deputy Andy Lahera had a good Sunday with the external ventricular device, which is a drain, removed in the morning, according to the agency. His vitals also continue to look good.
"Andy had a good day yesterday. More importantly, he no longer has a high fever," Sheriff Mike Prendergast said in a statement. "The team of medical care professionals remains attentive to Andy's every need.
"The family greatly appreciates our community's steady outpouring of love for Andy."
The Florida Deputy Sheriff's Association launched a GoFundMe page for the Lahera family and kicked it off with a $1,000 donation. More than $14,000 has already been raised with a total goal of $20,000.
Anyone interested in donating to the Lahera family can click here.
"Thank you to our community for your unwavering support," the agency wrote in the update.
The accident happened just after 9 p.m. on May 23 at the intersection of South Lecanto Highway and Saunders Way in Lecanto near the high school. Lahera was directing traffic at the time when a driver hit him.
He immediately received life-saving measures before being rushed to the hospital via a helicopter. The sheriff's office said he suffered multiple broken bones, fractures, abrasions and internal injuries as a result of the crash.
Lahera has been working with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office for 14 years and has been a school resource deputy since 2018 with his current assignment at Lecanto Middle School.
10 Tampa Bay's Claire Farrow contributed to this report. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/citruscounty/citrus-county-deputy-hit-by-driver-condition/67-014b1ef2-cc40-44bb-8d40-dbf9093b5b27 | 2023-06-05T17:48:46 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/citruscounty/citrus-county-deputy-hit-by-driver-condition/67-014b1ef2-cc40-44bb-8d40-dbf9093b5b27 |
LARGO, Fla. — Four men are behind bars after a 20-year-old was shot and killed during a drug deal-turned-robbery back in April, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri gave the details of the complex, multi-state homicide investigation on Monday.
He explained that it happened on April 29, when 20-year-old Brent Alley and 22-year-old Kyle Foster rented a Porsche to drive from Jacksonville to Largo to buy $40,000 worth of high-grade marijuana from 26-year-old Joshua Ashley.
But rather than preparing the marijuana for the deal, Ashley reportedly met with three other men several days prior to make a plan to rob Alley instead: 32-year-old Terrell Jackson, 32-year-old Scott Laracuente and 43-year-old Tyaire Turner.
According to the sheriff, the plan involved Turner hiding in the stairwell with a gun Glock 9mm handgun to scare Alley into handing over the money.
Around 5:45 p.m., Alley and Foster arrived at the American Business Center on Ulmerton Road, a commercial space where Laracuente was living.
Early on in the meeting, Alley grew concerned with the circumstances, prompting him to bring the $40,000 back to his car and return with a gun, Gualtieri said. A short time later, two of the men left to get food for everyone and returned around 7:10 p.m.
Just as Ashley was handing the food to Alley, Turner ran out of hiding from the stairwell and shot Alley, according to the sheriff.
Gualtieri said Alley then stumbled in pain out to the parking lot where he eventually bled to death. The incident was caught on a security camera.
“It’s really sad to watch a 20-year-old kid lay down and die over greed, but when you play with fire, you're gonna get burned and sometimes you get killed," the sheriff said.
All four men fled from the apartment over the course of the next several days, according to the sheriff's office. Detectives were eventually able to track them down in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Washington, D.C. area.
Ashley, Jackson, Laracuente and Turner were indicted by a grand jury on first-degree murder charges. All four men remain in the Pinellas County Jail. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/largo-murder-drug-deal-robbery-arrests-pinellas-county-marijuana/67-b21524bb-80c3-47fb-a702-f487dbbb5635 | 2023-06-05T17:48:52 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/largo-murder-drug-deal-robbery-arrests-pinellas-county-marijuana/67-b21524bb-80c3-47fb-a702-f487dbbb5635 |
A former chief attorney for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is suing the director of the commission alleging she and the agency violated her civil rights.
The plaintiff, Stephanie Demers, briefly served as interim director of the agency until the current director was hired in March 2020. Before and after that, she was the agency’s chief legal counsel.
The current director, Angela Phelps-White, then fired Demers in March 2021 “with no notice or explanation and replaced Ms. Demers, a highly regarded attorney with decades of legal experience, with a younger, less qualified male employee,” according to her lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.
The suit alleges Phelps-White told Demers in their first face-to-face meeting: “I have a difficult time working with women.”
Before firing her, Phelps-White reduced Demers’ responsibilities at the organization, the lawsuit alleges.
In addition to Phelps-White, the suit filed in March names members of the commission as defendants. The suit alleges sex and age discrimination.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission responded to the suit on May 31 with a filing in federal court asking for most of the claims to be dismissed by the judge.
“Plaintiff Stephanie Demers’ Complaint can be distilled down to a single fact: she disagreed with the decisions Director Phelps-White made as the OCRC’s new executive director,” the filing says.
“Director Phelps-White adapted the OCRC’s procedures and operations to better support and improve the agency’s functions in accordance with her job as director. These decisions included adjustments to Plaintiff’s role as Chief Legal Counsel.”
An official with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment. This story will be updated if additional comment is received.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission investigates and addresses allegations of unlawful discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and education. It’s commissioners are appointed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/civil-rights-commission-accused-of-civil-rights-violations-by-former-interim-director/YU5OESNSIVH4FMVDC7ZE64S7XI/ | 2023-06-05T17:49:38 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/civil-rights-commission-accused-of-civil-rights-violations-by-former-interim-director/YU5OESNSIVH4FMVDC7ZE64S7XI/ |
FLOWER MOUND, Texas — A North Texas man died of an accidental drowning over the weekend, according to the Flower Mound Police Department.
On Saturday around noon, the Flower Mound Fire Department and Police Department were dispatched to the east side of Grapevine Lake near Village Oaks Mobile Home Community and Shady Point Acres.
Officials tell WFAA that they found a 27-year-old man that went underwater and did not resurface. Grapevine's dive team, game wardens and army corps of engineer park rangers were also requested.
Bystanders located the victim, who was brought to shore before firefighters started giving life-support measures, according to the Flower Mound Fire Department.
The fire department transported the man to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased shortly before 1 p.m.
No other information is available at this time. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/grapevine-lake-drowning-flower-mound-texas-saturday/287-b8c239b1-60e1-482a-82e1-388e20993b34 | 2023-06-05T17:54:15 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/grapevine-lake-drowning-flower-mound-texas-saturday/287-b8c239b1-60e1-482a-82e1-388e20993b34 |
CROWN POINT — The Lake County recorder is urging property owners to enroll in a free program that provides an alert any time their name is included in homeownership or mortgage documents filed at the recorder's office.
Recorder Gina Pimentel said the Property Fraud Alert service enables Lake County residents or businesses to track possible fraudulent recordings that affect their properties.
Property owners can sign up by selecting Lake County, Indiana, from the drop-down menu at propertyfraudalert.com .
Individuals can choose to receive alerts by email or telephone call.
According to the recorder's office, there is an increasing number of mortgage fraud and identity-theft cases in Lake County and across the country, and victims are often unaware that their homes or identities have been stolen.
While Property Fraud Alert cannot prevent all fraud from happening, it does provide a warning for property owners to take appropriate action if they determine that possible fraudulent activity has taken place, Pimentel said.
For example, a person may file a bogus property deed making it appear that the actual owner transferred ownership of a parcel to someone else.
The person then takes the deed to a bank, fraudulently obtains a mortgage and disappears with a large amount of money.
St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman is trained in mental health intervention.
Individuals participating in Property Fraud Alert would be notified when the deed transfer was filed with the recorder and could take action to stop the unlawful property transfer and mortgage fraud.
The recorder's office especially recommends that the elderly, people living in long-term care facilities, absentee property owners, and owners who spent much of the year out of town to consider signing up for the free alerts.
Property owners in Porter, LaPorte and Jasper counties, as well as Will County, Illinois, also can sign up for alerts by selecting their county on the propertyfraudalert.com drop-down menu.
Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks
Brown County State Park
Location: Nashville
Size: 15,776 acres (largest state park)
Opened: 1929
Activities: 12 hiking trails spanning 18 miles; 25 mi. of mountain biking trails; 20 horseback riding trails; hiking; birdwatching; fishing; leafing; cross-county skiing; sledding; ice fishing
Amenities: Abe Martin Lodge and annex, 84 rooms with water park; 86 cabins; modern and primitive campgrounds
DNR description: Nicknamed the "Little Smokies" because of the area's resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County encompasses nearly 16,000 acres of rugged hills, ridges and fog-shrouded ravines. Glaciers from the most recent ice ages stopped short of the "hills o' Brown," but their meltwaters helped create the narrow ridges, steep slopes and deep gullies of Brown County State Park. Indiana's largest park is a traditional fall color hot spot, with nearly 20 miles of tree-lined roads and many scenic vistas overlooking miles of uninterrupted forestland.
Dan Carden
Chain O' Lakes State Park
Location: Albion
Size: 2,718 acres
Opened: 1960
Activities: 13 lakes for boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming; hiking
Amenities: Stanley Schoolhouse Nature Center; boat rental; furnished cabins; primitive campsites
DNR description: This is lake country and a small boater's paradise. Nine connecting lakes will be the center of your adventures at Chain O'Lakes. Paddle through the chain of serene kettle lakes, hike the 10 miles of forested trails, fish the electric-motors-only lakes, stay overnight in a forested hillside family cabin, or visit the park's old one-room schoolhouse nature center. Other facilities available for visitors to enjoy include a campground, beach and picnic shelters.
Dan Carden
Charlestown State Park
Location: Charlestown
Size: 5,100 acres
Opened: 1996
Activities: Hiking; Fishing; Picnicking; Camping; Birdwatching
Amenities: 182 modern and primitive campsites
DNR description: Once a largely undeveloped portion of the Indiana Army Ammunition plant, Charlestown State Park is located in southern Indiana. With scenic vistas of the Fourteenmile Creek valley and the Ohio River and elevation changes of over 200 feet, Charlestown has much to offer the visitor with its rugged hills and deep ravines. While hiking the rugged terrain you will see Devonian fossil outcrops and areas of karst sinkhole topography. Bird watchers will enjoy the 72 species of birds, including bluebirds, black vultures and an occasional bald eagle.
Dan Carden
Clifty Falls State Park
Location: Madison
Size: 1,416 acres
Opened: 1920
Activities: Four waterfalls; hiking; swimming; picnicking; tennis
Amenities: Clifty Inn and Restaurant; nature center
DNR description: The park's waterfalls change moods with the weather and the seasons and can range from roaring plunges to delicate bridal-veil mists to gleaming frozen titans. Winter and spring visits reveal them at their best. The rugged splendor of Clifty Canyon offers exciting year-round hiking and scenery.
Dan Carden
Falls of the Ohio State Park
Location: Clarksville
Size: 165 acres
Opened: 1990
Activities: Hiking; fishing; picnicking; boat launch
Amenities: Interpretative Center
DNR description: Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met at the Falls prior to launching the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The park's 386-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world. The park features a spectacular interpretive center overlooking the fossil beds that reopened in 2016 with completely new exhibits.
Dan Carden
Fort Harrison State Park
Location: Indianapolis
Size: 1,700 acres
Opened: 1996
Activities: Hiking; bicycle trails; golf; fishing; canoeing; dog park; sledding; ice fishing; cross country skiing; recreation buildings; horseback riding
Amenities: 18-hole golf course; inn; restaurant; saddle barn; nature shop; Museum of 20th Century Warfare
DNR description: Landscape and history blend together at this unique setting on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The 1,700-acre park — comprising a portion of the former Fort Benjamin Harrison military base — features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek and two national historic districts. An oasis of green in an urban landscape, Fort Harrison is one of the hidden gems to be found in the state, just minutes from home for many visitors needing contact with nature.
Dan Carden
Harmonie State Park
Location: New Harmony
Size: 3,465 acres
Opened: 1996
Activities: Hiking; bicycle trails; horseback riding; boat launch; fishing; picnicking; swimming
Amenities: 200 modern campsites; youth tent campsites
DNR description: Harmonie State Park is located "on the banks of the Wabash" and a beautiful swimming pool, shady picnic areas, ravines and pristine landscape await you here. Trails for walking, biking and nature hikes will lure you for a visit. Nearby Historic New Harmony honors two unique communities from the early 1800s. The Rappites located here in 1814. They were fleeing from religious persecution and awaiting the impending millennium. In 1824, the Owenites brought many great scientists and philosophers into the area when they purchased the Rappites' holdings.
Dan Carden
Lincoln State Park
Location: Lincoln City
Size: 1,747 acres
Opened: 1932
Activities: Historic sites; hiking; boat launch; picnicking; swimming; fishing
Amenities: Nature center; general store; boat rental; cabins; campsites
DNR description: Discover the boyhood home of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Among the rolling hills and thick forest, young Lincoln learned many life lessons. Lincoln State Park offers 10 miles of hiking trails, two scenic lakes, and an interpretive center to help you experience early life of settlers in southern Indiana. Tour the Colonel Jones Home, the historic home of the merchant and Civil War officer who employed young Lincoln. The Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery, located on the property, is where Lincoln’s sister Sarah is buried. Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve is located in the southernmost portion of the park. A visit to Lincoln State Park is like taking a step back in time to when the land was wild and Lincoln was a boy.
Dan Carden
McCormick's Creek State Park
Location: Spencer
Size: 1,924 acres
Opened: 1916 (oldest state park)
Activities: Hiking; horseback riding; swimming; recreation center; tennis; picnicking; caving
Amenities: Canyon Inn; nature center; saddle barn; cabins; 221 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Explore the spectacular limestone canyon, flowing creek, and scenic waterfalls that highlight Indiana’s first state park. Hike trails featuring diverse forest trees, spicebush, and native wildflowers, including a trail through Wolf Cave Nature Preserve and an accessible trail at the recently renovated nature center. Experience history as you climb the fire tower, use shelter houses or cross the stone arch bridge created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or examine the historic Statehouse Quarry near White River, which furnished limestone used for the Indianapolis Statehouse. Relax in the lobby of Canyon Inn, open to all park visitors, or watch birds from the dining room porch. Catch cultural events such as concerts in the park amphitheater or attend the several special events hosted annually at the park. McCormick’s Creek State Park offers active enjoyment through all seasons of the year.
Dan Carden
Mounds State Park
Location: Anderson
Size: 252 acres
Opened: 1930
Activities: Historic sites; hiking; fishing; swimming; picnicking
Amenities: Nature center; gift shop; 75 modern campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Mounds State Park features 10 unique earthworks built by prehistoric Indians known as the Adena-Hopewell people. The largest earthwork, the Great Mound, is believed to have been constructed around 160 B.C. Archaeological surveys indicate the mounds were used as gathering places for religious ceremonies, from where astronomical alignments could be viewed. Naturalist-led hikes and interpretive programs are offered every weekend throughout the year.
Dan Carden
O'Bannon Woods State Park
Location: Corydon
Size: 2,000 acres
Opened: 2004
Activities: Swimming; water slides; hiking; horseback riding; picnicking; fishing; boating;
Amenities: Aquatic center; nature center; cabins; 353 modern and primitive campsites
DNR description: O'Bannon Woods State Park (formerly Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area) lies in the central and extreme southern part of the state, bordering the Ohio River. It was the location of one of the few African-American Civilian Conservation Corps units. The property also has a uniquely restored, working haypress barn, complete with oxen for power and a pioneer farmstead. Indiana’s first natural and scenic river, Blue River, flows through the state park and forest. The Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is located near the park. Visitors can learn about early Indiana history as they tour the beautiful first state capitol building, built entirely of limestone, and old town square.
Dan Carden
Ouabache State Park
Location: Bluffton
Size: 1,104 acres
Opened: 1962
Activities: Hiking; swimming; fishing; boating; volleyball; paved bicycle trail; tennis; basketball courts; picnicking
Amenities: Nature center; recreation center; campsites
DNR description: Ouabache is difficult to spell, but easy to pronounce. Simply say "Wabash"...just like the river that forms the southwest boundary for the park. This is the French spelling of an Indian word, so don't be surprised to hear some folks call it o-ba-chee. Kunkel Lake offers excellent fishing. During the summer months, a naturalist provides information about the natural wonders of the park. A lodge recreation building is available all year.
Dan Carden
Pokagon State Park
Location: Angola
Size: 1,260 acres
Opened: 1925
Activities: Hiking; swimming; cross country skiing; tobogganing; horseback riding; picnicking; playground; sand volleyball
Amenities: Potawatomi Inn; nature center; toboggan run; boat rental; saddle barn; 273 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Being one of the state’s original parks, Pokagon features the unique work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose members lived and worked at Pokagon from 1934 to 1942. The “boys of the CCC” built the beautiful stone and log structures that dot the park landscape and provide accent to the rolling wooded hills, wetlands and open meadows. Natural lakes created by glaciers that melted 10,000 to 15,000 years ago, highlight Steuben County, which has more lakes than any other Indiana county. The park is framed by Lake James and Snow Lake, which offer abundant opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing and scenic sunsets. Pokagon is also Indiana State Parks’ winter wonderland, with cross-country ski rental, sledding, ice fishing and a twin-track toboggan run.
Dan Carden
Potato Creek State Park
Location: North Liberty
Size: 3,840 acres
Opened: 1977
Activities: Biking; hiking; swimming; boating; fishing; ice fishing; cross-country skiing; wildlife observation; horseback riding; snow tubing
Amenities: Nature center; 3.2 mile paved bike trail; 6.6 mi. mountain bike trail; recreation building; boat/bike rental; 17 cabins; 347 campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Potato Creek is in north-central Indiana about 12 miles southwest of South Bend. The park features a wide array of activities and facilities for year-round enjoyment. A variety of natural habitats await, including the 327-acre Worster Lake, old fields, mature woodlands, restored prairies and diverse wetlands. Each offers unique opportunities for plant and wildlife observation. Native peoples used the area for hunting and fishing. The area’s first people of European descent settled here in the 1830s.
Dan Carden
Prophetstown State Park
Location: Battle Ground
Size: 2,000 acres
Opened: 2004 (newest state park)
Activities: Hiking; bicycling; camping; swimming
Amenities: 2.75 mile hiking trail; 2.4 mile bike trail; aquatic center; 110 campsites
DNR description : Indiana’s newest state park, Prophetstown is located where the Tippecanoe River meets the Wabash near the town of Battle Ground northeast of Lafayette. The park's landscape has been shaped by ice from glaciers, moving water, fire and human hands that helped maintain the vast tall prairie grass. Native American people hunted and lived along the two rivers for thousands of years. The Aquatic Center features a 30-foot tube slide, body flume, lazy river float area, adventure channel, zero-entry pool with play features, and an aquatic activity area with basketball.
Dan Carden
Shades State Park
Location: Waveland
Size: 3,082 acres
Opened: 1947
Activities: Hiking; fishing; picnicking; canoeing
Amenities: Nature preserve; 123 campsites (Apr.-Oct.); youth tent camping
DNR description: Shades State Park is that peaceful place you've sought; a favorite for hikers and canoeists. The beautiful sandstone cliffs overlooking Sugar Creek and numerous shady ravines provide the backdrop for your journey through this nature lover's paradise. Also on the property is Pine Hills Nature Preserve, which affords spectacular topography for those willing to take a fairly long hike.
Dan Carden
Shakamak State Park
Location: Jasonville
Size: 1,766 acres
Opened: 1929
Activities: Swimming; water sliding; boating; fishing; ice fishing; hiking; picnicking; basketball; tennis
Amenities: Nature center; aquatic center; boat launch; cabins; recreation building; boat rental; 174 campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Ready to relax? Head for Shakamak. Three man-made lakes offer 400 acres of water for fishing and boating while a family aquatic center provides swimming fun. About two-thirds of the campsites are in a wooded area, offering cool shade in the summer and beautiful fall colors in autumn. Nearby is a play field area for family fun. A popular feature of the park is the group camp.
Dan Carden
Spring Mill State Park
Location: Mitchell
Size: 1,358 acres
Opened: 1927
Activities: Historic sites; cave tours; hiking; biking; picnicking; swimming; hayrides
Amenities: Spring Mill Inn; pioneer village; Gus Grissom memorial; boat tour; bike rental; 221 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Spring Mill State Park offers a powerful illustration of the link between the natural and cultural worlds. The water flowing from several cave springs led to the founding of an industrial village in the early 1800s. Pioneer entrepreneurs took advantage of a constant water source that never froze, using it to power several gristmills, a wool mill, a saw mill and a distillery. In turn, pioneer settlers shaped the landscape around the village, clearing land for agriculture and timber.
The park today continues to illustrate how nature shapes us and how we shape our environment. A parcel of virgin timber sits in contrast to regenerated forest, a man-made lake struggles to survive against the in-flow of silt from cave-fed systems and the native flora and fauna face challenges from man’s introduction of new species.
Visitors can explore this story in the park’s four interpretive facilities—the Pioneer Village, Nature Center, Grissom Memorial and Twin Caves Boat Tour—and see it reflected on the landscape as they hike the trails.
Dan Carden
Summit Lake State Park
Location: New Castle
Size: 2,680 acres
Opened: 1988
Activities: Fishing; birdwatching; swimming; ice fishing; boating; hiking; cross-country skiing; picnicking
Amenities: Boat launch; picnic shelters; boat rental; 73 campsites; youth tent camping
DNR description: An expansive view and good fishing beckon you to Summit Lake State Park, near New Castle. Summit Lake has an excellent bird watching and wildlife observation area. The property has always been an important area for waterfowl because of the many low-lying wet meadows and prairies. Migratory species have included rare species like the black tern, bald eagle, sandhill crane, American bittern, least bittern, king rail and osprey. Zeigler Woods, in the southwest corner of the park, is Henry County’s first nature preserve. Zeigler Woods has rich flora and fauna with little evidence of human disturbance.
Dan Carden
Tippecanoe River State Park
Location: Winamac
Size: 2,761 acres
Opened: 1943
Activities: Canoeing; horseback riding; hiking; boating; fishing; picnicking; cross-country skiing
Amenities: Recreation building; cabins; 178 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping
DNR description: Attention canoers! Get ready for a relaxing journey as you float down the beautiful Tippecanoe River. You must bring your own canoe or make arrangements with the local canoe livery. When you return, you can enjoy the beautiful campground facilities with your group, family or friends.
Dan Carden
Turkey Run State Park
Location:
Marshall
Size:
2,382 acres
Opened:
1916
Activities:
Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, playgrounds, cultural programs
Amenities:
Turkey Run Inn, nature center, planetarium, saddle barn, cabins, 213 campsites, youth tent camping, camp store
DNR description:
You’ll marvel at the natural geologic wonders of this beautiful park as you hike along its famous trails. Nestled along State Road 47 southwest of Crawfordsville, the park offers the chance to explore deep, sandstone ravines, walk along stands of aged forests and enjoy the scenic views along Sugar Creek. Make sure to visit the Colonel Richard Lieber Cabin, which commemorates the contributions of the father of Indiana’s state park system.
Dan Carden
Versailles State Park
Location: Versailles
Size: 5,988 acres
Opened: 1943
Activities: Hiking; fishing; horseback riding; mountain biking; boating; swimming; picnicking; kayaking
Amenities: Covered bridge; boat launch; boat rental; 226 modern campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Take a drive through the beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Indiana with Versailles State Park, Indiana’s second-largest state park, as your destination. Numerous fossils tell the story of an ancient sea that covered the region. During the Civil War, Morgan’s Raiders made their way through the area that is now the park. The town of Versailles was briefly under Confederate control. Relax while fishing on the 230-acre lake where you can rent a rowboat, kayak or canoe. Get a workout and see the beauty of the park by taking a walk on the hiking trails or a ride on the mountain bike trails. Bring your horses for the day to enjoy the more than 20 miles of horse trails. Steps to a scenic overlook at the dam are a prime spot to see herons and other aquatic wildlife.
Dan Carden
White River State Park
Location: Indianapolis
Size: 250 acres
Opened: 1979
Activities: Museums; sports; concerts; theaters; zoo; hiking; Segway rides; historic canal; gardening; maze; picnicking; art
Amenities: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art; IMAX Theater; Indiana State Museum; Indianapolis Indians baseball at Victory Field; Indianapolis Zoo; White River Gardens; NCAA Hall of Champions; Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial; Indiana History Center; Central Canal; Military Park
Description: White River State Park boasts world-class attractions and destinations that offer distinctive experiences for every interest and visitor! Yes, you will find green spaces, trails, trees and waterways that you expect at any state park. In addition to nature’s wonderland, you will find cultural, educational, and recreational attractions and events in our urban getaway’s 250-acres. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, White River State Park is the place you can enjoy the outdoors without ever leaving the city.
Dan Carden
Whitewater Memorial State Park
Location: Liberty
Size: 1,710 acres
Opened: 1949
Activities: Hiking; fishing; horseback riding; boating; swimming; canoeing; picnicking; ice fishing; archery; hayrides; birdwatching
Amenities: Marina; saddle barn; boat launches; boat rental; cabins; 318 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Whitewater Memorial State Park is a great family getaway because of its 200-acre Whitewater Lake, access to Brookville Reservoir and other recreational facilities. Shoreline hiking, flat-water boating, swimming, fishing and camping opportunities are abundant around the man-made lake. The access to Brookville Reservoir provides many opportunities for seeing migrating flocks of birds. Whitewater Memorial State Park boasts 9 miles of horseback riding trails with access both for day users and from the horsemen’s campground. The land for the park was originally purchased by the surrounding counties of Union, Fayette, Franklin and Wayne as a memorial to the men and women who served in World War II.
Dan Carden
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VALPARAISO — The brother of a 12-year-old Portage girl told police he could remember at least one the incidents when 43-year-old John Garner III alleged molested his sister.
"He stated the weekend of November 12-13, 2022 that (the alleged victim) was in the bedroom with (Garner) for at least an hour for a 'talk' and when the door to the bedroom was opened by (Garner) he saw (the alleged victim) on the floor in the bedroom sitting ... with her head down, hair was all over her face and it looked like she was crying," according to a newly-filed charging document.
The boy remembered four or five times his sister and Garner went behind a closed door for "talks," which "he found odd because the 'talks' would last for hours."
Garner, of Portage, is charged with five felony counts of child molesting, including three that carry a potential penalty of 20 to 40 years behind bars.
Portage police say they were notified Nov. 21 by a resource officer at a local school that a female student claimed to have been repeatedly molested by Garner, whom she knew, during 2022, a charging document says. The girl had told a friend, who encouraged her to speak to a school counselor.
She said the molestation began shortly after Garner's son died.
"He told her that he was stressed, that he needed it," police said.
"Witnesses said the two had been swimming in the river and were last seen being carried downstream by the current and then going under the surface of the water," the DNR said.
The girl said Garner also said he molested her because "he was scared I wouldn't get to experience that part of life" after she suffered an illness, the charges say. The girl said she found the experiences "kind of gross."
What began as touching progressed to intercourse, police said.
The girl's mother reportedly told police she noticed a change in her daughter's behavior.
"She described it as (the girl) being cautious or avoiding physical contact with Garner, which was not how (the girl) had behaved before," according to police.
The case is pending before Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/portage-boy-tells-cops-he-saw-sister-crying-after-being-molested-man-charged/article_3fea0806-03b1-11ee-a72c-d798032f5780.html | 2023-06-05T17:57:37 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/portage-boy-tells-cops-he-saw-sister-crying-after-being-molested-man-charged/article_3fea0806-03b1-11ee-a72c-d798032f5780.html |
Toilet paper was seen on a street in Revere, Massachusetts, on Monday morning after a crash that involved a porta-potty truck.
The crash happened on Furlong Drive at Revere Beach Parkway, where police and fire crews were seen responding and cleaning up the debris left behind.
It's unclear exactly how the crash unfolded, but it appeared to have involved two trucks.
One person appeared to be hurt during the incident.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
Additional details have not yet been made available. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/toilet-paper-litters-revere-road-after-crash-involving-porta-potty-truck/3579216/ | 2023-06-05T17:59:27 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/toilet-paper-litters-revere-road-after-crash-involving-porta-potty-truck/3579216/ |
NORMAL — Books to Benefit will host its summer sale from June 15-17 at 360 Wylie Drive, Normal.
The sale will be open 4-8 p.m. Thursday, with a $10 admission charge; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday; Friday and Saturday admission is free.
Over 20,000 titles ranging from fiction, mysteries, cookbooks, biographies, history, gardening, poetry, movies and more will be available for sale.
There will also be several sci-fi books, including a Star Trek collection; a collection about Bloomington-Normal, McLean County and Central Illinois; large-print books; audio books and children's books.
The proceeds from the sale benefit the STAR Adult Literacy program, two scholarships at Heartland Community College, and YouthBuild Mclean County's reading and literacy program. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/books-to-benefit-to-host-summer-sale-june-15-17-in-normal/article_7cf7d788-03b5-11ee-96ce-23574b5a31f7.html | 2023-06-05T18:07:01 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/books-to-benefit-to-host-summer-sale-june-15-17-in-normal/article_7cf7d788-03b5-11ee-96ce-23574b5a31f7.html |
Detroit teen arrested for having gun at Harper Woods High School
Harper Woods ― A 16-year-old Harper Woods High School student faces weapons charges after he allegedly brought a gun to school last week, police said Monday.
According to a preliminary investigation, a member of the Harper Woods High School staff came across a student who had a handgun in a backpack on Wednesday. Once the adult found the gun, the student ran away from the school with the weapon, detectives said.
Hours later, police located the teen at his Detroit home and arrested him. Investigators also recovered evidence related to the incident, they said.
Police took the teen to the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility to await charges.
Officials said the teen, who is not being named because he is a minor, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon in a school/weapon-free zone.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/05/detroit-teen-arrested-for-having-gun-at-harper-woods-high-school/70289366007/ | 2023-06-05T18:08:04 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/05/detroit-teen-arrested-for-having-gun-at-harper-woods-high-school/70289366007/ |
Wayne County ends public health emergency at juvenile jail after cutting crowding
Wayne County officials on Monday ended a public health emergency at the Juvenile Detention Facility that began in March after months of overcrowding, understaffing and an alleged sexual assault of a child.
The county dedicated $10 million toward addressing the facility's needs and has worked with the Wayne County Circuit Court and the state to reduce the population, increase staffing, expand placements, spread the kids out and start offering mental health treatment, among other improvements, according to a press release from Wayne County Executive Warren Evans' office. The number of detainees has been cut 16%, according to county numbers.
The alleged sexual assault of a child in March prompted the state Department of Health and Human Services to intervene in the operations of the JDF following months of pleas for help from county officials.
Wages at the JDF were increased 35% across the board, which allowed the county to hire an additional 54 people since March, according to Evans' office. Another 60 positions are open. The county also hired two new deputy directors and is in the process of hiring a third.
Abdul El-Sayed, the director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services, told The Detroit News on Monday the county has "fundamentally changed the experience of a young person in the facility." Juveniles now have access to showers, hygiene products and clean underwear daily and are not spending most of their days locked in their rooms, he said. They have more recreation and in-person learning time as well, El-Sayed said.
The assault remains under investigation, the county health director said.
"We've used this emergency to answer two key questions: How do we best protect and provide for the youths under our care, and how do we make sure their time at JDF helps them in their long-term rehabilitation?" El-Sayed said in a statement. "While there's a lot more to improve and build upon, we feel that the work we've done during the emergency has provided a solid foundation for that work."
In March, when the public health emergency was declared, there were 134 juveniles in the facility, which is only designed to hold about 80 ideally, according to the county. On Monday, 113 juveniles were being held at the JDF, a 16% reduction, and the number has gone as low as 105.
The kids have also been spread out across the facility to reduce crowding, according to the Evans administration. The county more than doubled the space where the juveniles were residing, allowing there to be no more than 20 juveniles per pod, where there used to be upwards of 50. The kids are now also separated by age and criminal charge, which is a best practice in juvenile detention, according to the county's press release.
Mental health services
The county also created a new space for juveniles to receive mental health treatment. The treatment program will begin in 10 days on June 15, according to the press release. The space is operated in partnership with Team Wellness, a Detroit-based behavioral health center.
The JDF has ordered computer tablets that have been tailored specifically for use in a detention facility that would allow teens to use them for educational purposes and entertainment, said El-Sayed, who added that he knows from his own time as a teenage boy, "boredom for me was the enemy of good behavior."
Team Wellness also created a day treatment program for juveniles to expand possible placements for the teens, according to the press release. This could reduce long-term stays for kids whose cases have already been settled and are only in the JDF awaiting a treatment bed.
Right now, there are 40 youths who have had their cases adjudicated and are awaiting placement in a treatment facility, El-Sayed said. This is far lower than the 75 or 80 kids in limbo the facility had at one point before the public health emergency declaration in March.
Once the Team Wellness program is implemented, more children will be able to go home on a GPS tether and spend their days at the Team Wellness day treatment facility, El-Sayed said.
"This has been an entire County effort. Ensuring the safety of both staff and youth at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility has always been the goal. But that also means thinking broadly about their well-being — about making sure the youth get the help they desperately need," County Executive Evans said in a statement. "We're now working collaboratively with partners on the local and state levels so that we can move toward reform and transformation."
Wayne Co., state at odds over blame for deteriorating juvenile jail
Wayne County officials said in March they had been pleading with state officials for nearly 16 months for help managing the overcrowded detention center. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel said discussions began in earnest in September, when county officials determined the detention facility was not meeting their needs.
Hertel told The Detroit News in March that staffers had reported that some kids hadn't had access to showers in months and did not have hygiene products or clean underwear.
Wayne County Circuit Court Chief Judge Patricia Fresard said then that the facility was in a "crisis." She blamed the MDHHS for this, because she said the state has continued to close residential placement centers without opening alternatives, which led to a shortage of treatment beds in the state, forcing kids to stay in overcrowded detention centers until a spot opens up.
County reaches 'inflection point'
Deputy County Executive Assad Turfe said the lifting of the public health emergency is an "inflection point" for the JDF. While there is much more to be done, he said, they are working on a solid foundation now. There's not a quick fix for the issues at the JDF, but "the work to create change and transformation is underway."
State Health and Human Services Director Hertel said she is pleased with the strides the county has made in the past two and a half months to address the state's concerns with the JDF.
"MDHHS has worked diligently to expand bed capacity, connect the county with partners like Team Wellness, provide guidance and overcome hurdles to support the safety of youth in detention," Hertel said in a statement. "We are thankful to our partners across child welfare who have worked together with us to address the systemic and persistent issues within the juvenile justice system statewide."
Wayne County juvenile jail woes like 'deja vu' since issues date back to 1990s
The county's new juvenile detention facility, which is expected to open this year, gives the county motivation to continue moving forward, said Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell, D-Detroit.
"The emergency at the Juvenile Detention Facility not only required the county to take quick, decisive action but also to take a good, hard look how young people were being treated there and address the shortcomings," Bell said. "By placing greater emphasis on mental health issues and creating space this month to provide treatment, we are moving in the right direction."
kberg@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/05/wayne-county-ends-public-health-emergency-at-juvenile-jail/70288454007/ | 2023-06-05T18:08:10 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/05/wayne-county-ends-public-health-emergency-at-juvenile-jail/70288454007/ |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was the climb of a lifetime for Knoxville native Bryan Hill and blind veteran Lonnie Bedwell.
There were moments the men were clinging to life on their journey to the peak of Mount Everest. It was hard, it was emotional, but they did it and it's something they will never forget—and never do again.
A trip to the world's highest peak is filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows.
This year has been the deadliest on record for Everest climbers.
"In a few cases, we literally were walking passed these people and knowing that there's nothing that you can do to help them, absolutely nothing that you can do," Bryan said.
The conditions were rough. Extreme cold, gusting winds, falling ice, low oxygen levels due to elevation—all of this while Bryan is leading Lonnie up to the highest peak in the world.
"You'd want to bump it [oxygen] up to three liters per minute or four liters per minute, but if you do that, you're not going to have enough oxygen to make it to the summit," Bryan said.
But through it all, Bryan and Lonnie had to keep going. It takes most people 25 hours of climbing from base camp to the peak. It took them 45 hours due to Lonnie's disability.
"The patience these guys have to have as I trudged up the mountain because they're in so much better shape than I am physically," Lonnie said.
"Every step you can just see him. He's grimacing, he's in pain, it's hard. But he's going to continue moving up and I had no doubt that this guy was going to push all the way there," Bryan said.
There were so many challenges along the way. Lonnie struggled with his oxygen mask. Bryan lost 24 pounds and suffered frostbite on his toe.
"I took off my sock and the doctor immediately said, 'Yeah, that's probably going to have to go,' and I was like, 'No, no, what?'" Bryan said.
But nothing could stop them.
"I got a guy sitting here that might lose a toe just so I could carry out this," Lonnie said.
And when they finally reached the very top, the moment they worked so hard for—no one could see.
"It was snowing. It was windy and cold. We couldn't see anything," Bryan said.
But they didn't have to see. It was about so much more.
"We physically will lead him along but just seeing how much he cares about what he's doing and seeing how much he cares about the people and just in this mountain to seeing how every step was so hard, it's so painful but he just kept pushing," Bryan said.
"When I think of it in terms of my life, a blind man alone cannot do what we just did. But together, we did it. And that's powerful," Lonnie said.
Lonnie's goal is to show people they can do anything no matter their abilities. He is now the fourth blind man to make it to the top of Mount Everest. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/blind-lonnie-bedwell-knoxville-bryan-hill-sightless-summits/51-a6422454-cfdb-4d01-89c7-7a7e9c4e5239 | 2023-06-05T18:12:44 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/blind-lonnie-bedwell-knoxville-bryan-hill-sightless-summits/51-a6422454-cfdb-4d01-89c7-7a7e9c4e5239 |
DULUTH — A bone-dry May at the head of the lakes helped slow what had been a rapid rise of Lake Superior’s water level.
The big lake rose 3.1 inches in May, less than the usual nearly 4-inch increase for the month, according to the International Lake Superior Board of Control.
Lake Superior now sits 10.2 inches above the average level for June 1 and is 5.5 inches above the June 1 level of 2022.
After dropping back to normal water levels during the historic drought of 2021, Lake Superior rose for much of 2022 and appeared to be going even higher after record snowfall across the western portions of the lake over the winter.
But May was both warm (2.0 degrees above normal) and dry in Duluth, seeing only 0.8 inches of rain, less than one-fourth the usual amount of 3.34 inches, according to National Weather Service data. It was the third-driest May since records have been kept starting in 1872. Much of the Northland is listed as "abnormally dry,'' but with June also shaping up as drier than usual so far, could be headed into an official drought.
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Lake Superior generally rises from April to August each year and then slowly drops over the fall and winter. Unusually high water levels tend to increase shoreline erosion around the big lake while lower-than-normal levels can hamper boat and ship access to landings and harbors. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bone-dry-may-leads-to-slower-rise-for-lake-superior | 2023-06-05T18:15:36 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bone-dry-may-leads-to-slower-rise-for-lake-superior |
ORLANDO, Fla. – Lincoln has recalled 142,734 of its 2015-2019 MKC vehicle models due to a fire risk, urging owners to park outside and away from structures.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the battery monitor sensor in the SUVs could short-circuit and overheat, sparking a fire in the engine compartment while parked or driving.
As of May 15, the car company said there have been 19 potential reports of under-hood fires, including 11 in the U.S., seven in China and one in Canada.
Lincoln said the risk of fire exists even when the car is turned off.
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The company is notifying affected owners, who are instructed to take their vehicle to a Lincoln dealer to have an in-line fuse added to the battery monitor sensor power circuit.
Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls or call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and enter their 17-digit identification number to see if their vehicle has been recalled.
NHTSA also encourages everyone to download its SaferCar app to stay informed on all the current recalls.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/park-outside-lincoln-mkc-vehicles-recalled-due-to-fire-risk/ | 2023-06-05T18:17:25 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/park-outside-lincoln-mkc-vehicles-recalled-due-to-fire-risk/ |
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Days after the start of hurricane season, leaders in Flagler County received an update on efforts to protect State Road A1A from the effects of future storms.
During a meeting on Monday, commissioners heard a presentation about several projects from the Florida Department of Transportation.
“The spotlight is A1A, and that’s the one everyone’s most concerned about,” Director of Transportation Development Jack Adkins said.
According to FDOT, plans are still in motion for a federal beach renourishment project, although a timetable hasn’t been set.
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“The current limits are still being worked out with the county and the Army Corp (of Engineers), but that project is moving forward.” Project Manager Catalina Chacon said.
Another focus from FDOT is on two buried secant walls. One is to be built in Volusia County and the other would stretch into south Flagler County.
“We do have a contractor and a designer on board and right now their focus is securing a permit,” Chacon said. “We anticipate we’ll be able to start mobilizing as early as fall of this year to begin the construction of the walls.”
In November, sections of A1A were badly damaged by Hurricane Nicole.
State workers used 600 truckloads of sand to reopen the road in three days.
The goal of the new projects is to provide permanent protection to vulnerable sections of A1A, but with construction still months away, uncertainty remains for the current hurricane season.
On Monday, transportation leaders said they were able to secure flexibility from the Federal Highway Administration.
A new contract procurement method will allow FDOT to expedite construction quicker and work on multiple parts of a project at the same time.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/the-spotlight-is-a1a-flagler-county-officials-discuss-protecting-vulnerable-beachside-road/ | 2023-06-05T18:17:31 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/05/the-spotlight-is-a1a-flagler-county-officials-discuss-protecting-vulnerable-beachside-road/ |
Knoxville man killed in boat crash on Norris Lake
A 59-year-old Knoxville man died in boating crash on Norris Lake this weekend, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said in a news release.
John Michael Curley Jr. died June 4 when the jet ski he was operating collided with a 25-foot cuddy cabin style boat, a spokesperson from the agency said in a press release.
The incident occurred near Black Fox Access Area in Grainger County at about 5:20 p.m. Curley's death is the 12th fatal Tennessee boating crash of 2023, the release said.
Wildlife officers are investigating and will present their findings to the district attorney's office to determine if charges are warranted, the release said.
Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/05/knoxville-man-killed-boat-crash-norris-lake/70289519007/ | 2023-06-05T18:19:29 | 0 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/05/knoxville-man-killed-boat-crash-norris-lake/70289519007/ |
ROCKLAND, Maine — In June 2022, Kerry Altiero made the most difficult decision of his professional life. The time had come to shut down his funky, freewheeling, unconventional Café Miranda, a fixture in downtown Rockland for 29 years.
Sitting at a table in the restaurant with Evelyn, his co-founder and former wife, Altiero broke the news. “I said, ‘I’ve got to take you outside and talk to you,’” he recalls. “I said, ‘Evelyn, we’ve got to close it. We’re losing money hand over fist.’”
The problem was staffing. The restaurant needed to be open five or six or seven days a week to turn a profit, and yet, it couldn’t find and hire the three additional cooks it needed to operate on that schedule.
“I’ve had many dope slaps from the gods,” Altiero says. “This is yet another one.”
Over the last year, Altiero has spent a lot of time thinking about the challenges independent restaurants face. It’s a discouraging list, but one issue stands out: the difficulty of finding — and retaining — first-rate employees. I put the question directly to Altiero. Is the traditional business model for restaurants broken?
“Let’s use a culinary term,” he says. “Toast! It’s toast. Burnt!”
What changes would he like to see? For starters, better pay for restaurant workers — $30 an hour would be reasonable, he says — along with training, health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid vacation.
“We’re expecting the level of craftsmanship equal to an electrician or a plumber or a carpenter or an automotive technician, and we’re not paying that kind of [compensation] or giving people the same career opportunities,” he said.
Now, after a year away, Altiero is coming back. His plan is to rent out Café Miranda for private events and community meals. On the side patio, he’s outfitting a three-wheeled Vespa to serve beer, wine, and cappuccino, and setting up a cart to be called The Excellent Dog. It will sell “punk hot dogs of character” topped with everything from kimchee to lobster salad.
The ambitions for next winter are even bigger.
“I want to prove you can run a restaurant at a profitable margin and pay people well,” he says.
The prices on the menu will, inevitably, be higher than what people are used to paying.
He added, “If it doesn’t work, then we have proved something — that the public won’t do it.”
Standing outside near the front steps of Café Miranda, Altiero exudes enthusiasm and determination. He’s a realist, though, and knows he’s taking a gamble.
“I thought this would live past my lifetime,” he says, pointing to the restaurant. “And it should.” | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/can-a-maine-chef-reinvent-himself-with-punk-hot-dogs-of-character-food/97-f6248322-e380-4949-b43d-9e57583cc59a | 2023-06-05T18:19:50 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/can-a-maine-chef-reinvent-himself-with-punk-hot-dogs-of-character-food/97-f6248322-e380-4949-b43d-9e57583cc59a |
PORTLAND, Maine — These days, almost every single one of has been impacted by cancer in some way. Whether it be through personal experience, a loved one, friend, the list goes on.
The American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life event is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year giving people in Maine a chance to join the fight against cancer.
The relay is a 12-hour event. Teams raise money, and members take turns walking laps. The idea is that cancer never sleeps, so they don't either. Someone from each team must be walking during the entire event.
Relay for Life is broken into three phases throughout the day. One of the more intimate and emotional phases is the Luminary portion. This is where candles are lit and placed in paper bags designed to honor of someone who lost their fight to cancer.
This year, the event is being held at the Costello Sports Complex on the University of Southern Maine's Gorham campus. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
"We're involved all year," volunteer George Magales said. "We start our teams in September, and we look for every opportunity to fundraise all year. And then the event itself is a celebration that brings us together."
To learn more about Relay for Life, watch the full segment.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/relay-for-life-2023/97-33c832c9-3edc-4693-b19c-516fc5b7c62a | 2023-06-05T18:19:56 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/relay-for-life-2023/97-33c832c9-3edc-4693-b19c-516fc5b7c62a |
MAINE, USA — Norman Fisher’s enemy lived within him.
If he didn’t properly mix two medications each day, his diabetes would attack his body and mind. Once, his out-of-control blood sugar left him so delirious that he drove his car into a ditch.
For two decades, support staffers defended Fisher against the disease by helping him organize his medications and buying his groceries. But in late 2014, the people assisting the Biddeford man, who was mentally disabled, said he needed more help than they could provide.
With none of Fisher’s family able to step in as his caretaker, the York County Probate Court turned to the program of “last resort,” a public guardianship administered by the state. The state assigned him two public guardians at different times during the next four years, and they were responsible for making all medical and housing decisions for him.
Those guardians submitted one-page reports once a year to the probate judge overseeing Fisher’s case, but the reports offer little detail of his care: How often the guardians went to see him. If they talked to Fisher about his medications. Whether they knew his needs and wants.
There’s also no evidence in the court records that the probate judge raised questions, even after each guardian submitted virtually identical reports two years in a row.
Then, in August 2019, Fisher was taken to a hospital and released to a home for adults with disabilities, one run by Residential and Community Support Services (RCSS), where the workers didn’t properly administer his medications, according to court records.
Within 72 hours, Fisher was dead.
“Norman’s death was the type of death that you really hope won’t ever happen,” said Rory Robb, a now-retired director of Community Partners, which ran an independent living program that supported Fisher.
Two RCSS workers were charged in Fisher’s death and their cases are pending, but little attention has been paid to the probate court system that oversaw his guardianship.
The tragedy was yet another blemish in a decades-long history of Maine’s probate courts — a collection of 16 part-time county judges whose independent operations are unique in Maine’s judiciary.
For nearly 56 years, state lawmakers, county officials and probate judges have rejected plans to overhaul the structure of and increase funding for Maine’s county probate courts. Legal experts say the probate courts need to become part of the state’s judicial branch to protect Maine’s most vulnerable residents — people like Fisher.
State law gives county probate judges the authority to approve adult guardianships, handing them the responsibility to select the people who will decide about the care of seniors deemed incapacitated, adults with disabilities and people with debilitating mental illness.
Yet probate courts don’t have sufficient budgets or employees to consistently screen, train or monitor the guardians they appoint, the Monitor found.
There is such a lack of oversight that multiple probate courts don’t know how many guardianships they have approved, or even whether the people they are responsible for are still alive, an ongoing investigation by The Maine Monitor found.
Nor do the courts employ full-time investigators whose sole job would be to follow up on guardianships to make sure the individuals are being treated well.
Lawmakers tried to improve oversight by revising the state’s probate laws in 2019. The new law reflects the conclusion of experts nationally who said probate courts need to pay closer attention to guardianships, said Deirdre Smith, a professor at the University of Maine School of Law and former director of the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic, which helps people navigate the probate courts.
“There needs to be very robust oversight by the judge to make sure people aren’t exploited,” Smith said. “We certainly heard plenty of instances of that kind of exploitation with guardianship appointments.”
Robb, whose career for decades centered on working with vulnerable people and their guardians, added: “There’s no real oversight of guardians.”
A unique system
Maine’s probate courts stand alone. They are not a part of the state judicial branch. Their judges are part-time and elected, which bypasses the state’s review and appointment process for all other judges. They operate largely autonomously from each other and the state supreme court. County-funded and county-run, probate courts operate on shoestring budgets, with judges paid as little as $25,000 a year and few court administrators.
Every state has a probate system, and in Maine it has growing importance: The state of nearly 1.4 million people has the oldest population in the country and the highest percentage of people over age 65. Beyond guardianships, Maine’s probate courts also oversee estates, wills and name changes.
Guardianship is the most intrusive arrangement the probate court can order. It restricts an adult’s right to make choices about where to live, medications to take, friends to visit or how money is spent, and instead delegates those decisions to another person. Guardians are an unpaid position but they can get reimbursed for fees.
Approximately 1,200 adults are currently subject to a public guardianship through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Like Fisher, they have no family willing or able to manage their medical, financial or social needs as they age or because of disability.
In addition, hundreds if not thousands more adults are under the guardianship of family members or friends appointed by probate courts. The exact number of adults in guardianships in Maine is unknown because several probate courts said they don’t track it.
A top court administrator in Androscoggin County said there were simply “thousands” of guardianships in the county. An administrator in Piscataquis County said she had “no idea.”
The Cumberland County Probate Court acknowledged it has lost track of an unknown number — potentially thousands — of incapacitated adults and doesn’t know whether some are still alive.
The change to state law in 2019 required new guardians to file a report each year with the probate court to update the judge on the well-being of the adult in their care. Guardians appointed before the law change also are encouraged to check in periodically but are not required to update the court.
“Unfortunately, without them staying in contact with the court, there’s no way of knowing where they’re living or if they’re alive or dead,” said Erica Rickards, deputy register at the Cumberland County Probate Court.
Kennebec, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Waldo counties are exceptions and were able to provide a count of active guardianships when asked by the Monitor. On Friday, workers at the York County Probate Court said they had learned how to close guardianship cases. It would take a manual review of files, however, to determine what cases were still active.
Smith pointed to the new requirement for guardians to file an annual report as as step forward, but that doesn’t mean the standards are being implemented consistently across the state.
“We need to make sure that we have someone who’s available to actually read (guardian reports) and to take steps if something concerning is raised. I don’t see how our probate judges possibly have time to do that,” Smith said.
The Maine Monitor sent a survey to the 16 county probate courts and received responses from 10 that revealed some probate judges and registers do little to assess the fitness of a guardian before or after they are appointed.
Only three probate courts that responded run background checks on prospective guardians to see whether they have been convicted of a crime. None of the responding probate courts run credit checks to see if the guardian filed for bankruptcy, which must be disclosed by the applicant. State law says guardians must have “regular” visits, although none of the probate courts that responded have policies about how frequent those visits should be.
The state doesn’t cap the number of adults a public guardian is responsible for at once. But generally public guardians employed by the Department of Health and Human Services are responsible for approximately 25 “clients,” adults subject to a guardianship order from a probate court, wrote Jackie Farwell, spokeswoman for the department in response to questions from the Monitor.
They must meet with their clients in-person at least once every 60 days, although the goal is to not go longer than a month, she said. Unlike family members who agree to be guardians and undergo no mandatory training, public guardians receive some training and have ongoing supervision from the state.
Although the department coordinates Maine’s public guardianship program, the regular oversight of guardianships is the court’s job, she said.
“The probate courts are responsible for oversight of all adult guardianships,” Farwell wrote.
Fewer than a dozen workers run each county probate court. Several counties reported having just three court employees, some part-time.
Each probate court is supported by a handful of volunteers — typically retired social workers or lawyers — that the probate judges can assign for a small fee as “visitors” to evaluate whether a guardianship is appropriate. Each county also budgets money each year to appoint lawyers to represent adults at risk of losing their rights.
The Monitor spoke with eight county probate judges, who all said they believe they are doing a good job. They lauded their efficiency compared to the state courts, and while acknowledging they lacked money, many said being a judge was a public service they took seriously.
“At least in this county, we give people very good and quick service. I think if they got people in the state system, they wouldn’t be as quick and efficient,” said Judge Paul Aranson of Cumberland County.
Probate courts are supposed to monitor reports by family and public guardians to ensure they are caring for the adult for whom they are responsible, according to state law.
Yet Robb, who retired in 2018 before yearly guardian reports were required by the state, said oversight of guardianships was basically “non-existent.” As for the Fisher case, she said there were failures in several aspects of his care, even though the law enforcement investigation zeroed in on two care workers.
Asked if probate courts have a responsibility to keep a closer watch on guardianship cases, she said:
“There is no follow-through. That’s why I can’t point the finger at the judge and say, ‘You are responsible,’ because it’s not built into the current system,” Robb said. “The system needs to be revamped to see what kind of oversight the court should be providing once they’ve awarded guardianship.”
A state review concluded that serious medical neglect by workers at RCSS led to Fisher’s death in August 2019. The state moved quickly to terminate its contract with the company.
A few weeks before his death, Fisher was already in a dire situation. His Biddeford apartment was infested with bed bugs, according to court records. The people who were supposed to help him refused to go inside, and the independent living program discharged him from its care before Fisher was moved to RCSS. For three weeks, Fisher’s blood sugar was erratic and his public guardian didn’t report the conditions to the probate court. Instead, on July 26, 2019, he filed the same report as the year before, which did not mention those issues.
The probate judge had the power to demand the guardian come into court and provide more detail about Fisher’s well being, but there is no evidence in the court file that he did so. And soon after, it was too late.
Carol Lovejoy has worked in the York County Probate Court for 43 years, including 19 as the elected register. After a Monitor reporter reviewed the details of Fisher’s case with her, Lovejoy said no one is assigned to check whether guardians are duplicating past reports. She added that the probate court plans to hire a paralegal whose duties may include checking for duplicate reports.
“We don’t necessarily read every report that comes in — the staff doesn’t,” Lovejoy said. “We give it to the judge, so I would hope that the judge would catch that.”
The York County probate judge in Fisher’s guardianship, Bryan Chabot, declined to answer questions about the specifics of Fisher’s case, but said that he and the court staff had protocols in place if a guardian’s reporting seemed lacking. Chabot has not been accused of wrongdoing. The state investigation of Fisher’s death does not appear to have included a review of the judge’s role, and the state declined to comment further.
Low pay, big responsibility
In Sagadahoc County, David Paris runs the probate court without a permanent courtroom. His office is on the third floor of the county building in Bath. The state courts lease a courtroom in the same building, but Paris isn’t allowed to use it, he said.
Sometimes, Paris presides over adoptions in the county commissioners’ meeting room downstairs. He holds hearings in the grand jury room when it’s available. If a virtual meeting needs to happen, he holds court from the lunchroom.
Paris didn’t even receive robes when he was elected in November 2020. His wife ordered him a set online for less than $100.
“I run it like any other judge would run their court. I run it as professionally as I can,” Paris said.
Probate judge candidates must be licensed to practice law and reside in the state. They are elected by county residents to serve four-year terms.
After 30 years of private practice doing criminal and civil litigation in the state’s district, superior and supreme courts, becoming a judge was on Paris’ bucket list. He said he didn’t believe he had the political connections to be appointed to the state courts, so he chose to campaign for probate judge.
“I’ve got to go out and beat the street and earn it from the people. I’ve got to tell the people, ‘This is why I can do the job.’ The other ones, a lot of times, people will be tapped on the shoulders,” Paris said. “You’ll see where judges go from never being in the courtroom to the law court.”
Paris is being paid approximately $37,500 this year. The median probate judge salary in Maine was approximately $36,200 in 2021, according to a state study commission that looked at moving probate courts into the state judicial branch.
Piscataquis County pays its probate judge the least, just $25,000 a year. Most counties also provide health insurance and retirement benefits to the elected, part-time officials, although Sagadahoc County doesn’t.
Members of the 2021 study commission proposed that probate judges be made full-time and paid the same as a district court judge — currently $145,642 a year — if the probate courts were moved into the judicial branch.
Their pay would be below the national median judge salary of $168,761, according to the National Center for State Courts. Maine consistently ranks among the lowest in the nation for judicial compensation, even without factoring in probate judges.
“The salary of the probate (judge) can’t sustain a lawyer,” said Paris, who continues to work in private practice.
“They should stay on the bench”
No Maine law or rule of professional conduct requires elected judges to close their law offices or stop private practice. In fact, there is a special carveout in Maine’s judicial rules for probate judges to practice law. Critics say it creates, at a minimum, the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Most probate judges in Maine have an active practice in criminal, civil, real estate or probate law, according to a review by the Monitor. Some probate judges have agreed not to appear in each other’s courtrooms to represent clients in contested probate cases, but the agreements are nonbinding and unenforceable.
Practicing in the state court system also has never been off-limits to probate judges, creating situations that are, at the least, awkward for the attorneys involved, some lawyers said.
As a lawyer, Elizabeth Stout represented clients in state court and probate court in southern Maine for 30 years. During one case in the Biddeford District Court, her opposing counsel was Robert Nadeau, who was the York County probate judge. Nadeau and Stout heatedly argued in district court, and the case became more contentious than it needed to be, she said. Later, Stout found herself arguing on behalf of another client to the same man, but this time he was the judge.
“It’s just really uncomfortable,” Stout said.
Nadeau held a position of power as a judge, and Stout said she didn’t want to anger him in a way that could affect a future client. She said Nadeau appeared fair during her future cases, but his dual roles were a concern.
“Why are they appearing as litigants? They should stay on the bench if they’re on the bench,” Stout said.
Nadeau was suspended from practicing law by the state supreme court in 2017 for multiple violations of Maine’s judicial ethics rules while he was the county probate judge. He did not return a voicemail request for comment.
It doesn’t look good to lawyers or their clients when an elected probate judge appears as a lawyer in another county probate court, said retired state supreme court Associate Justice Ellen Gorman.
When serving on the state supreme court from 2007 to 2022, Gorman saw instances in which a probate judge could have benefited from training. In some cases, probate judges failed or refused to create a complete record of what had happened in a case, or appeared unfamiliar with the probate code, she said. But because probate judges work as lawyers, the state courts did not think it was appropriate to train them alongside the other judges, she said.
“When you are not devoting all of your time to being a judge, it is hard to maintain the level of professionalism and education of law that is necessary for the position. I have the utmost respect for the probate judges. It’s not that they are incapable of the work; it is that the time is not provided to them. The amount of time they have available to them to be judges is simply not sufficient,” Gorman said.
State considers consolidating probate courts
Maine voters passed a constitutional amendment in November 1967 to get rid of part-time probate judges and replace them with full-time judges, but the amendment never went into effect.
State lawmakers have disagreed about what to do for nearly 56 years.
The studies they commissioned, including the most recent one in 2021, reach the same broad conclusion: Probate judges should be full-time to eliminate the appearance of a conflict that occurs because they are practicing lawyers. The recommendations also urge the probate courts to become part of the judicial branch.
A bill in 2022 to reduce the 16 part-time judges to nine full-time judges was passed by the House and Senate, but wasn’t funded and Gov. Janet Mills never signed it into law.
“Personally, I continue to feel that implementing the 2021 plan is a goal. I think the new system would both fulfill the constitutional amendment and benefit the people of Maine,” said Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cape Elizabeth), a chair of the legislative Judiciary Committee.
Consolidation of the probate courts under the most recent proposal would mean that several counties would no longer have a local probate court. Some say that would be a good thing, because it would even out the workload across counties with smaller populations.
“The volume of probate court work varies, and some counties do not have enough probate work to keep a full-time judge busy,” Carney said.
The price tag for the state to run the probate courts was estimated by legislative analysts to be $7.4 million annually, compared to the $5.1 million counties collectively spent to operate them in 2022.
Counties have resisted moving the probate courts under the control of the state because of the increased cost and a fear of losing local control, said Michael Carpenter, a former state lawmaker and lawyer in Aroostook County who is a critic of the current set-up.
“Courts should be above local control. Local control is about electing your school board, electing your town council and that sort of thing. It’s not about, it shouldn’t be about, interpreting the law, in my opinion,” Carpenter said.
The debate over state control of probate courts re-emerges every few years, and the effort to move forward always has stalled because of money, said Peter Baldacci, who is in his 35th year as a Penobscot County commissioner. County leaders are skeptical of the strings that will come attached to any deal for the state to take over paying for probate judges, lawyers and visitors, he said.
“The more that the state pays, the more they have an ability to say how to operate,” Baldacci said.
The probate courts’ independence from state courts and each other has been criticized for creating a lack of uniformity among the probate courts. Processes vary county to county. There is no chief probate judge to set standards. There is no central administrative office and no collective money for the probate courts to use to implement systemic reforms.
An “assembly” of the state’s 16 probate judges does, however, meet twice a year to discuss policy and legal matters.
The state government’s “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t address the counties’ differences, Baldacci said. There’s mistrust among county leaders that the state also will eventually seek control of the probate court’s top elected administrators, called registers. Or that the probate courts won’t be a permanent part of the judicial branch budget, and funding will become an annual fight between state leaders and county commissioners, he said.
The state court system has its own problems. Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill said earlier this year that Maine’s judicial branch was “frail” amid a record backlog of unresolved criminal and civil cases, and high turnover of judges.
“They need to take care of their house before they expand into probate,” Baldacci said.
Counties go without resources
On a recent Wednesday morning, neat stacks of files sat on Judge Paul Aranson’s desk as he readied for a day of cases at the Cumberland County Probate Court.
Inside the files were doctor’s notes and guardianship plans submitted by family members seeking to take responsibility for a loved one’s care. Other files contained letters from parents seeking to regain guardianship of minor children, or adults asking to end the state’s control of their medical, financial and social decisions.
Aranson’s mornings are scheduled in 20-minute increments. He checks the status of cases remotely on Google Meets or in person in his courtroom, a place with decorative ceilings, thick red curtains and a large wooden dais where he sits behind a wall of Plexiglass installed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many of the cases are confidential, there are rows of benches for observers.
During one of the morning’s cases, Aranson struck up a conversation with a man in his mid-20s about the man’s part-time job at Home Depot and why the Boston Celtics are doing so poorly. The man’s parents were petitioning to be appointed as his legal guardians. After a few minutes, Aranson decided to appoint a lawyer to represent the man before deciding the guardianship question.
At 72, Aranson is mostly retired from private practice and is several decades removed from being the county’s district attorney. He is at the courthouse three days a week, which is more often than most judges.
Cumberland County’s probate court in downtown Portland has as many, if not more, resources than any other county in the state. And still, it’s not enough to ensure the court maintains contact with each incapacitated adult in its jurisdiction.
Since September 2019, Aranson has authorized approximately 712 guardianships or conservatorships that provide financial oversight to individuals. But there are thousands more from before his time on the bench that court administrators said they do not track or have regular — or sometimes any — contact with the guardian or adult.
The court workers often don’t even know whether those people are still alive.
One Cumberland County worker keeps a spreadsheet of recent guardianships to track reports that guardians are supposed to submit, the deputy register said. If a guardian fails to file the annual report, they are scheduled for court to explain the deficiency and could be stripped of their guardianship.
Other courts also are dealing with a shortage of workers and money to handle the guardianships.
The York County Probate Court, for example, is not able to schedule all hearings within the 14 days required by law when an adult objects to an emergency guardianship, said Lovejoy, the county register. A shortage of court-appointed lawyers and visitors, and the time it takes to send everyone proper notice of a guardianship petition, are among the reasons the hearings do not happen in time, she said.
Penobscot County also frequently can’t find enough local lawyers willing to accept court appointments to probate cases, said Register Renée Stupak.
Payment is a major reason.
The county pays court-appointed lawyers $80 an hour, which used to match the wage paid by the state system to defense lawyers. But state lawmakers bumped those attorneys’ pay to $150 an hour in February, which not all of the probate courts have been able to match. Stupak said she plans to ask county commissioners to pay $100 an hour.
“If we can’t get attorneys, what are we going to do?” Stupak asked. “We can’t leave these people hanging.”
Another gap in the probate court system is people whose job is to check that a court order is being followed.
The county probate courts that responded to the Maine Monitor survey do not employ full-time investigators to check on cases. The only people who investigate guardianships are court-hired “visitors,” but they do only initial interviews with guardians and those needing guardians. They often don’t remain engaged.
“I think a visitor is adequate. Some are better than others but they’re all pretty decent,” Aranson said. “It might be certainly worthwhile to have money for a visitor to go out on a spot-check investigation, but the reality is that most people under guardianship are in a state-licensed institution.”
That’s not how other states do it. In Ohio, for example, probate courts must employ or contract with investigators with a degree in social work, special education or psychology to do the initial review and also to read annual reports submitted by guardians and receive complaints.
“We do not have good oversight,” said Lyman Holmes, the Washington County probate judge for more than 30 years. “Certainly, in some states, the probate courts have investigators, and they can go around and investigate. They have full-time investigators on their staff but we certainly don’t.”
Norman Fisher’s final days
Even though he was supported by direct support professionals for much of his life, Fisher guarded his independence.
His apartment was filled with treasures he found throughout his day — newspapers and items that most people would consider junk, said Rory Robb, the retired director at the independent living program that worked with Fisher for two decades.
“He struggled with having to have any staff in his home and anybody that was going to touch his things,” Robb said. “He, unfortunately, was institutionalized earlier on in life, and that really sets people on a different path. You really care about your possessions because you didn’t have many things, or things were taken away from you. So we understood why he had this need to try to keep everything. We just tried to keep his apartment somewhat safe.”
Even so, food rotted in his fridge. He neglected his hygiene. And he stacked boxes against the door after a break-in, creating a personal safety hazard.
These parts of Fisher’s life were manageable. It was his worsening diabetes that concerned those who supported his independent life, Robb said. Fisher needed up to four insulin shots a day and had to determine the dosage based on a sliding scale to manage his blood sugar, court records show. His support team told the Monitor that Fisher couldn’t comprehend the severity of his diabetes or accurately describe doctor’s orders to his caregivers.
In late 2014, the team decided that Fisher needed a guardian, Robb said.
For 4 1/2 more years, with a guardian occasionally checking on his case, Fisher lived independently until his apartment in Biddeford became infested with bed bugs and caregivers would no longer enter. Instead they checked on him from his front porch.
Fisher’s public guardian and case manager worried that for his health and safety, he couldn’t live alone, and they persuaded him to go to the emergency room for an evaluation in 2019, court records show. One of the last items his public guardian grabbed as they left Fisher’s apartment was a bag of medications near the door, but it was missing his insulin and glucometer, the machine used to measure his blood sugar, according to court records.
At the hospital, they broke the news to Fisher: He couldn’t return to his home.
Fisher was discharged from the hospital directly to RCSS on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. For three days no one checked his blood or gave him insulin, according to court records. When a nurse finally went to the house and tested him the following Tuesday, the meter read “high,” which meant Fisher’s blood sugar was too high for the glucometer to measure, according to court records. The nurse called 911, but Fisher stopped breathing before the ambulance arrived.
Fisher died on the floor at age 62 of hyperglycemia with ketoacidosis, according to court records.
Two RCSS workers were criminally charged with endangering the welfare of a dependent person. Their cases are pending in Cumberland County Superior Court. One ex-worker declined an interview request through her lawyer. The other worker, through her own lawyer, said she is pleading not guilty to the charge.
Following a broader investigation, the state ordered RCSS to repay $30.2 million of MaineCare funds because it hadn’t performed required background checks on every employee or ensured they were properly trained in CPR and first aid, in violation of state rules. The company is appealing the state’s decision.
Fisher’s death was investigated by law enforcement and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. His public guardian, case manager and a member of the state’s crisis team were found not responsible for the death. The guardian has since died. The judge’s role is not mentioned. The department’s policies were not found to be a contributing factor to Fisher’s death, wrote the department spokeswoman Farwell in response to questions from the Monitor.
Judge Bryan Chabot was in charge of the York County Probate Court in August 2019.
There’s no indication in the court file that Chabot noticed that the report Fisher’s guardian filed was the same as the one submitted the year before. And Chabot didn’t flag the duplicated report for further review, probate court records show.
While he declined to comment on the specifics of Fisher’s case, he said that in general, the probate court’s role in monitoring guardianships is to see whether guardians have done their duties, if the guardianships should continue and if fees should be approved, Chabot wrote in an email.
Chabot resigned as probate judge in 2019 to accept a job in Portland as an administrative law judge with the state Workers’ Compensation Board.
The Monitor interviewed two dozen people for this article and they were unwilling to comment on the judge’s role in Fisher’s case. Instead they criticized broad issues with how probate courts are structured.
“Having a centralized system with centralized oversight, with clear expectations, with sufficient resources — all of those things are essential to ensure that the legislative intent behind regular reporting requirements are actually being fulfilled,” said Smith, the law professor.
Adult Protective Services would not release meeting notes or dates that Fisher’s guardians met with him between 2015 and 2019. The agency said in response to a public records request by the Monitor that all records created while an adult is under the jurisdiction of the department are confidential.
Erin Salvo, associate director of Adult Protective Services, said in a written response denying access to the records that the guardians’ reports were in compliance with rules in place at the time.
A single page
The plain manila file for Norman Fisher, case number 2014-1050 in York County Probate Court, includes no mention of the investigations that followed his death. There’s nothing about the criminal charges against the two workers, or the termination of the home’s license, or the plans by York County to hire a paralegal who would keep a closer eye on the annual reports by guardians.
The last record filed by the Department of Health and Human Services is a notice dated Aug. 29, 2019, informing the court of Fisher’s death.
Typed onto it a few days later and signed by the judge is a brief message, “The incapacitated person’s death is noted. No further guardianship-related action is necessary.”
This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/calls-to-overhaul-maine-probate-courts-have-stalled-for-half-a-century-the-most-vulnerable-people-may-be-at-risk-maine-lawmakers/97-4fce8d89-c58a-4388-b8cb-44113e3fdfa5 | 2023-06-05T18:20:02 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/calls-to-overhaul-maine-probate-courts-have-stalled-for-half-a-century-the-most-vulnerable-people-may-be-at-risk-maine-lawmakers/97-4fce8d89-c58a-4388-b8cb-44113e3fdfa5 |
FRANKLIN, N.H. — A man fatally shot a woman, their 18-month-old daughter, and wounded another child before he was found dead hours later of an apparent suicide on the bank of the Merrimack River, the New Hampshire attorney general's office said.
The man, Jamie Bell, 42, was seen fleeing a home in Franklin on Saturday afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Adam Woods said during an evening news conference. Neighbors said they had heard gunshots.
Police arrived at the home to find Nicole Hughes, 35, and Ariella Bell, her daughter with Jamie Bell, shot to death, Woods said.
Woods said Hughes and Jamie Bell were “intimate partners." He provided no further details on their relationship.
Hughes' 5-year-old daughter from another relationship had a gunshot wound to her arm and a cut on her back, Woods said. She was taken to a hospital in Massachusetts. Her injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.
Police spent several hours searching for Bell, first identified as a person of interest, on foot and by helicopter. The attorney general's office had said he was armed and dangerous.
Autopsies on Bell, Hughes and their daughter were scheduled Sunday.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/franklin-new-hampshire-merrimack-river-jamie-bell-nicole-hughes-death/97-bd7e6068-d6f6-49ab-ad6b-628633e16ad5 | 2023-06-05T18:20:08 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/franklin-new-hampshire-merrimack-river-jamie-bell-nicole-hughes-death/97-bd7e6068-d6f6-49ab-ad6b-628633e16ad5 |
MAINE, USA — A man was brought to a hospital in Lewiston on Sunday with a gunshot wound, police say.
The Lewiston Police Department told NEWS CENTER Maine the victim's injuries were serious but not life-threatening. The man was shot in the leg, through the scrotum, and into the other leg, authorities said.
The gunshot victim's girlfriend called 911 while driving him to the hospital. She ended up meeting first responders at the Red Roof Grocery in Leeds around 4 p.m., and the victim was taken to the hospital from there.
Police said they don't know where the shooting occurred, and the victim isn't cooperating with the investigation. Investigators think the shooting might have taken place in the Litchfield area, and the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office was notified. According to authorities, the sheriff's office hasn't received any related complaints.
As of Monday, the victim remained in the hospital. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/lewiston-auburn/man-brought-to-lewiston-hospital-after-shooting-police-say-injury/97-c7068f27-82fe-4c7e-9d75-b758c2af48f0 | 2023-06-05T18:20:14 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/lewiston-auburn/man-brought-to-lewiston-hospital-after-shooting-police-say-injury/97-c7068f27-82fe-4c7e-9d75-b758c2af48f0 |
PORTLAND, Maine — "Despensa Solidaria" is an effort that started when COVID-19 hit as a way for people in need to access the healthy and nutritious food they needed.
"I had contacted several hundred people in the community, asking them to stay home, and they said, 'If I don't go to work I'll die anyway, because I won't be able to feed my family.' And so it started as a door-to-door delivery," Crystal Cron, president of Presente Maine, said.
The focus was to serve community members from Latin and Hispanic countries, like Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico. The resource has expanded to any immigrant who needs healthy food and anyone who stops by.
On the second and fourth Fridays of the month, a big U-Haul parks right in front of the Portland Expo on Park Avenue, opens its hood, and volunteers assemble a line where people check in, grab a cart if they need one, and fill it in for free with the food they need.
Food items like rice, fruits, veggies, a protein option, toiletries, pampers for babies, COVID tests, and other resources are available.
"We usually have over 350 people that come weekly," Cron said.
Ana Maribel Diaz is from Honduras but said she has called Maine home for a year and a half. Diaz said she left her country looking for a safer place to live for her and her daughters, as Honduras is known for having one of the highest crime and murder rates in the world.
"Es muy beneficioso, nos ayuda bastante en lo economico porque las cosas que nos dan aqui, pues nos ayuda bastante, nosotros ya no las compramos," dijo Diaz. "We benefit a lot from this pantry. It helps us a lot financially because this means we don't have to buy the things they give us here, and that helps us a lot," Diaz explained.
Cron said something new they are giving families is a grocery-style cart for them to be able to easily push their groceries to where they live, as most people don't have transportation and walk to and from their houses.
"People are getting driven out of their apartments, and their expendable income is less and less and less, and with the cost of food going up, and everything else. People rely on these biweekly food pantries, and we see more people coming every time," Cron said.
For Diaz and her two daughters, this resource is one less thing she has to worry about.
"Muy feliz!" "Por que esta contenta?" "Pues tengo una vida estable," dijo Diaz. "I'm very happy!" "Why?" "Well, because I have a stable life."
Cron said most of the food comes from the Good Shepherd Food Bank, and a lot is freshly grown at their own garden in Greene. Cron added, for her, this work is personal.
"I grew up poor," she said. "I moved to Maine when I was 5 and struggled. Me and my family struggled to meet our own basic needs, and I really feel that the only ones that are going to save us are ourselves. I am privileged to have command of the English language and citizenship here, and the system is still hard to navigate that way, so I feel like it's my duty to leverage those skills to help others, because I can't stand by and witness all of the struggles and barriers that people in my community face and do nothing."
Click here if you would like to support Presente Maine in their efforts, or if you'd like to learn more about some of their other services. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/outreach/despensa-solidaria-aims-to-help-immigrants-get-healthy-food/97-d1f33ea6-b31b-4278-a411-d38d7ef23a7d | 2023-06-05T18:20:20 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/outreach/despensa-solidaria-aims-to-help-immigrants-get-healthy-food/97-d1f33ea6-b31b-4278-a411-d38d7ef23a7d |
A Chicago woman who fatally shot her ex-girlfriend in Hammond after learning that she had started dating a man received a fair trial, according to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Lydia Conley, 40, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison for the Oct. 27, 2019, slaying of Delilah Martinez, 40, in front of Martinez's home in the 1100 block of 115th Street.
Conley argued in her appeal that the trial court erred by excluding evidence of the murder convictions of an alternative suspect.
When child welfare workers and police knocked on Sarah Perkins’s and Joshua Sabey’s front door well past midnight one weekend last summer, the parents were shocked to learn the state of Massachusetts had come to take their two young sons. It’s the kind of harrowing scene that plays out daily across the country as social workers motivated by a desire to protect children run up against confused and concerned parents. What followed was emotional anguish, a bureaucratic battle, vindication for the parents, and a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a legal advocacy group. The couple hopes for a favorable ruling that will increase oversight of child removals nationwide.
The appeals court determined, however, that Conley's 6th Amendment right to assert a defense was not impaired by that decision because Conley had the opportunity to directly question the alternative suspect during the trial.
It noted that Conley presented significant evidence of tension between the alternative suspect, Conley and Martinez, including a possible motive for murder, and the jury had the opportunity to weigh that evidence against the "substantial evidence" of Conley's guilt.
"In brief, the fact that a defendant is not permitted to submit every piece of evidence she believes supports her defense does not mean that her right to present a meaningful defense has been abridged," the court said.
St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman is trained in mental health intervention.
"We are unpersuaded that the evidence of the decades-old convictions — entirely unrelated to the murder of Martinez — in the context of (the alternative suspect’s) credibility at trial would have tipped the scales enough to impact the outcome of the trial."
Conley still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reviewing her conviction.
Otherwise, her earliest possible release date from prison, assuming good behavior, is Dec. 14, 2072, according to the Department of Correction.
Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks
Brown County State Park
Location: Nashville
Size: 15,776 acres (largest state park)
Opened: 1929
Activities: 12 hiking trails spanning 18 miles; 25 mi. of mountain biking trails; 20 horseback riding trails; hiking; birdwatching; fishing; leafing; cross-county skiing; sledding; ice fishing
Amenities: Abe Martin Lodge and annex, 84 rooms with water park; 86 cabins; modern and primitive campgrounds
DNR description: Nicknamed the "Little Smokies" because of the area's resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County encompasses nearly 16,000 acres of rugged hills, ridges and fog-shrouded ravines. Glaciers from the most recent ice ages stopped short of the "hills o' Brown," but their meltwaters helped create the narrow ridges, steep slopes and deep gullies of Brown County State Park. Indiana's largest park is a traditional fall color hot spot, with nearly 20 miles of tree-lined roads and many scenic vistas overlooking miles of uninterrupted forestland.
Dan Carden
Chain O' Lakes State Park
Location: Albion
Size: 2,718 acres
Opened: 1960
Activities: 13 lakes for boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming; hiking
Amenities: Stanley Schoolhouse Nature Center; boat rental; furnished cabins; primitive campsites
DNR description: This is lake country and a small boater's paradise. Nine connecting lakes will be the center of your adventures at Chain O'Lakes. Paddle through the chain of serene kettle lakes, hike the 10 miles of forested trails, fish the electric-motors-only lakes, stay overnight in a forested hillside family cabin, or visit the park's old one-room schoolhouse nature center. Other facilities available for visitors to enjoy include a campground, beach and picnic shelters.
Dan Carden
Charlestown State Park
Location: Charlestown
Size: 5,100 acres
Opened: 1996
Activities: Hiking; Fishing; Picnicking; Camping; Birdwatching
Amenities: 182 modern and primitive campsites
DNR description: Once a largely undeveloped portion of the Indiana Army Ammunition plant, Charlestown State Park is located in southern Indiana. With scenic vistas of the Fourteenmile Creek valley and the Ohio River and elevation changes of over 200 feet, Charlestown has much to offer the visitor with its rugged hills and deep ravines. While hiking the rugged terrain you will see Devonian fossil outcrops and areas of karst sinkhole topography. Bird watchers will enjoy the 72 species of birds, including bluebirds, black vultures and an occasional bald eagle.
Dan Carden
Clifty Falls State Park
Location: Madison
Size: 1,416 acres
Opened: 1920
Activities: Four waterfalls; hiking; swimming; picnicking; tennis
Amenities: Clifty Inn and Restaurant; nature center
DNR description: The park's waterfalls change moods with the weather and the seasons and can range from roaring plunges to delicate bridal-veil mists to gleaming frozen titans. Winter and spring visits reveal them at their best. The rugged splendor of Clifty Canyon offers exciting year-round hiking and scenery.
Dan Carden
Falls of the Ohio State Park
Location: Clarksville
Size: 165 acres
Opened: 1990
Activities: Hiking; fishing; picnicking; boat launch
Amenities: Interpretative Center
DNR description: Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met at the Falls prior to launching the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The park's 386-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world. The park features a spectacular interpretive center overlooking the fossil beds that reopened in 2016 with completely new exhibits.
Dan Carden
Fort Harrison State Park
Location: Indianapolis
Size: 1,700 acres
Opened: 1996
Activities: Hiking; bicycle trails; golf; fishing; canoeing; dog park; sledding; ice fishing; cross country skiing; recreation buildings; horseback riding
Amenities: 18-hole golf course; inn; restaurant; saddle barn; nature shop; Museum of 20th Century Warfare
DNR description: Landscape and history blend together at this unique setting on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The 1,700-acre park — comprising a portion of the former Fort Benjamin Harrison military base — features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek and two national historic districts. An oasis of green in an urban landscape, Fort Harrison is one of the hidden gems to be found in the state, just minutes from home for many visitors needing contact with nature.
Dan Carden
Harmonie State Park
Location: New Harmony
Size: 3,465 acres
Opened: 1996
Activities: Hiking; bicycle trails; horseback riding; boat launch; fishing; picnicking; swimming
Amenities: 200 modern campsites; youth tent campsites
DNR description: Harmonie State Park is located "on the banks of the Wabash" and a beautiful swimming pool, shady picnic areas, ravines and pristine landscape await you here. Trails for walking, biking and nature hikes will lure you for a visit. Nearby Historic New Harmony honors two unique communities from the early 1800s. The Rappites located here in 1814. They were fleeing from religious persecution and awaiting the impending millennium. In 1824, the Owenites brought many great scientists and philosophers into the area when they purchased the Rappites' holdings.
Dan Carden
Lincoln State Park
Location: Lincoln City
Size: 1,747 acres
Opened: 1932
Activities: Historic sites; hiking; boat launch; picnicking; swimming; fishing
Amenities: Nature center; general store; boat rental; cabins; campsites
DNR description: Discover the boyhood home of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Among the rolling hills and thick forest, young Lincoln learned many life lessons. Lincoln State Park offers 10 miles of hiking trails, two scenic lakes, and an interpretive center to help you experience early life of settlers in southern Indiana. Tour the Colonel Jones Home, the historic home of the merchant and Civil War officer who employed young Lincoln. The Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery, located on the property, is where Lincoln’s sister Sarah is buried. Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve is located in the southernmost portion of the park. A visit to Lincoln State Park is like taking a step back in time to when the land was wild and Lincoln was a boy.
Dan Carden
McCormick's Creek State Park
Location: Spencer
Size: 1,924 acres
Opened: 1916 (oldest state park)
Activities: Hiking; horseback riding; swimming; recreation center; tennis; picnicking; caving
Amenities: Canyon Inn; nature center; saddle barn; cabins; 221 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Explore the spectacular limestone canyon, flowing creek, and scenic waterfalls that highlight Indiana’s first state park. Hike trails featuring diverse forest trees, spicebush, and native wildflowers, including a trail through Wolf Cave Nature Preserve and an accessible trail at the recently renovated nature center. Experience history as you climb the fire tower, use shelter houses or cross the stone arch bridge created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or examine the historic Statehouse Quarry near White River, which furnished limestone used for the Indianapolis Statehouse. Relax in the lobby of Canyon Inn, open to all park visitors, or watch birds from the dining room porch. Catch cultural events such as concerts in the park amphitheater or attend the several special events hosted annually at the park. McCormick’s Creek State Park offers active enjoyment through all seasons of the year.
Dan Carden
Mounds State Park
Location: Anderson
Size: 252 acres
Opened: 1930
Activities: Historic sites; hiking; fishing; swimming; picnicking
Amenities: Nature center; gift shop; 75 modern campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Mounds State Park features 10 unique earthworks built by prehistoric Indians known as the Adena-Hopewell people. The largest earthwork, the Great Mound, is believed to have been constructed around 160 B.C. Archaeological surveys indicate the mounds were used as gathering places for religious ceremonies, from where astronomical alignments could be viewed. Naturalist-led hikes and interpretive programs are offered every weekend throughout the year.
Dan Carden
O'Bannon Woods State Park
Location: Corydon
Size: 2,000 acres
Opened: 2004
Activities: Swimming; water slides; hiking; horseback riding; picnicking; fishing; boating;
Amenities: Aquatic center; nature center; cabins; 353 modern and primitive campsites
DNR description: O'Bannon Woods State Park (formerly Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area) lies in the central and extreme southern part of the state, bordering the Ohio River. It was the location of one of the few African-American Civilian Conservation Corps units. The property also has a uniquely restored, working haypress barn, complete with oxen for power and a pioneer farmstead. Indiana’s first natural and scenic river, Blue River, flows through the state park and forest. The Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is located near the park. Visitors can learn about early Indiana history as they tour the beautiful first state capitol building, built entirely of limestone, and old town square.
Dan Carden
Ouabache State Park
Location: Bluffton
Size: 1,104 acres
Opened: 1962
Activities: Hiking; swimming; fishing; boating; volleyball; paved bicycle trail; tennis; basketball courts; picnicking
Amenities: Nature center; recreation center; campsites
DNR description: Ouabache is difficult to spell, but easy to pronounce. Simply say "Wabash"...just like the river that forms the southwest boundary for the park. This is the French spelling of an Indian word, so don't be surprised to hear some folks call it o-ba-chee. Kunkel Lake offers excellent fishing. During the summer months, a naturalist provides information about the natural wonders of the park. A lodge recreation building is available all year.
Dan Carden
Pokagon State Park
Location: Angola
Size: 1,260 acres
Opened: 1925
Activities: Hiking; swimming; cross country skiing; tobogganing; horseback riding; picnicking; playground; sand volleyball
Amenities: Potawatomi Inn; nature center; toboggan run; boat rental; saddle barn; 273 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Being one of the state’s original parks, Pokagon features the unique work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose members lived and worked at Pokagon from 1934 to 1942. The “boys of the CCC” built the beautiful stone and log structures that dot the park landscape and provide accent to the rolling wooded hills, wetlands and open meadows. Natural lakes created by glaciers that melted 10,000 to 15,000 years ago, highlight Steuben County, which has more lakes than any other Indiana county. The park is framed by Lake James and Snow Lake, which offer abundant opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing and scenic sunsets. Pokagon is also Indiana State Parks’ winter wonderland, with cross-country ski rental, sledding, ice fishing and a twin-track toboggan run.
Dan Carden
Potato Creek State Park
Location: North Liberty
Size: 3,840 acres
Opened: 1977
Activities: Biking; hiking; swimming; boating; fishing; ice fishing; cross-country skiing; wildlife observation; horseback riding; snow tubing
Amenities: Nature center; 3.2 mile paved bike trail; 6.6 mi. mountain bike trail; recreation building; boat/bike rental; 17 cabins; 347 campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Potato Creek is in north-central Indiana about 12 miles southwest of South Bend. The park features a wide array of activities and facilities for year-round enjoyment. A variety of natural habitats await, including the 327-acre Worster Lake, old fields, mature woodlands, restored prairies and diverse wetlands. Each offers unique opportunities for plant and wildlife observation. Native peoples used the area for hunting and fishing. The area’s first people of European descent settled here in the 1830s.
Dan Carden
Prophetstown State Park
Location: Battle Ground
Size: 2,000 acres
Opened: 2004 (newest state park)
Activities: Hiking; bicycling; camping; swimming
Amenities: 2.75 mile hiking trail; 2.4 mile bike trail; aquatic center; 110 campsites
DNR description : Indiana’s newest state park, Prophetstown is located where the Tippecanoe River meets the Wabash near the town of Battle Ground northeast of Lafayette. The park's landscape has been shaped by ice from glaciers, moving water, fire and human hands that helped maintain the vast tall prairie grass. Native American people hunted and lived along the two rivers for thousands of years. The Aquatic Center features a 30-foot tube slide, body flume, lazy river float area, adventure channel, zero-entry pool with play features, and an aquatic activity area with basketball.
Dan Carden
Shades State Park
Location: Waveland
Size: 3,082 acres
Opened: 1947
Activities: Hiking; fishing; picnicking; canoeing
Amenities: Nature preserve; 123 campsites (Apr.-Oct.); youth tent camping
DNR description: Shades State Park is that peaceful place you've sought; a favorite for hikers and canoeists. The beautiful sandstone cliffs overlooking Sugar Creek and numerous shady ravines provide the backdrop for your journey through this nature lover's paradise. Also on the property is Pine Hills Nature Preserve, which affords spectacular topography for those willing to take a fairly long hike.
Dan Carden
Shakamak State Park
Location: Jasonville
Size: 1,766 acres
Opened: 1929
Activities: Swimming; water sliding; boating; fishing; ice fishing; hiking; picnicking; basketball; tennis
Amenities: Nature center; aquatic center; boat launch; cabins; recreation building; boat rental; 174 campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Ready to relax? Head for Shakamak. Three man-made lakes offer 400 acres of water for fishing and boating while a family aquatic center provides swimming fun. About two-thirds of the campsites are in a wooded area, offering cool shade in the summer and beautiful fall colors in autumn. Nearby is a play field area for family fun. A popular feature of the park is the group camp.
Dan Carden
Spring Mill State Park
Location: Mitchell
Size: 1,358 acres
Opened: 1927
Activities: Historic sites; cave tours; hiking; biking; picnicking; swimming; hayrides
Amenities: Spring Mill Inn; pioneer village; Gus Grissom memorial; boat tour; bike rental; 221 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Spring Mill State Park offers a powerful illustration of the link between the natural and cultural worlds. The water flowing from several cave springs led to the founding of an industrial village in the early 1800s. Pioneer entrepreneurs took advantage of a constant water source that never froze, using it to power several gristmills, a wool mill, a saw mill and a distillery. In turn, pioneer settlers shaped the landscape around the village, clearing land for agriculture and timber.
The park today continues to illustrate how nature shapes us and how we shape our environment. A parcel of virgin timber sits in contrast to regenerated forest, a man-made lake struggles to survive against the in-flow of silt from cave-fed systems and the native flora and fauna face challenges from man’s introduction of new species.
Visitors can explore this story in the park’s four interpretive facilities—the Pioneer Village, Nature Center, Grissom Memorial and Twin Caves Boat Tour—and see it reflected on the landscape as they hike the trails.
Dan Carden
Summit Lake State Park
Location: New Castle
Size: 2,680 acres
Opened: 1988
Activities: Fishing; birdwatching; swimming; ice fishing; boating; hiking; cross-country skiing; picnicking
Amenities: Boat launch; picnic shelters; boat rental; 73 campsites; youth tent camping
DNR description: An expansive view and good fishing beckon you to Summit Lake State Park, near New Castle. Summit Lake has an excellent bird watching and wildlife observation area. The property has always been an important area for waterfowl because of the many low-lying wet meadows and prairies. Migratory species have included rare species like the black tern, bald eagle, sandhill crane, American bittern, least bittern, king rail and osprey. Zeigler Woods, in the southwest corner of the park, is Henry County’s first nature preserve. Zeigler Woods has rich flora and fauna with little evidence of human disturbance.
Dan Carden
Tippecanoe River State Park
Location: Winamac
Size: 2,761 acres
Opened: 1943
Activities: Canoeing; horseback riding; hiking; boating; fishing; picnicking; cross-country skiing
Amenities: Recreation building; cabins; 178 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping
DNR description: Attention canoers! Get ready for a relaxing journey as you float down the beautiful Tippecanoe River. You must bring your own canoe or make arrangements with the local canoe livery. When you return, you can enjoy the beautiful campground facilities with your group, family or friends.
Dan Carden
Turkey Run State Park
Location:
Marshall
Size:
2,382 acres
Opened:
1916
Activities:
Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, playgrounds, cultural programs
Amenities:
Turkey Run Inn, nature center, planetarium, saddle barn, cabins, 213 campsites, youth tent camping, camp store
DNR description:
You’ll marvel at the natural geologic wonders of this beautiful park as you hike along its famous trails. Nestled along State Road 47 southwest of Crawfordsville, the park offers the chance to explore deep, sandstone ravines, walk along stands of aged forests and enjoy the scenic views along Sugar Creek. Make sure to visit the Colonel Richard Lieber Cabin, which commemorates the contributions of the father of Indiana’s state park system.
Dan Carden
Versailles State Park
Location: Versailles
Size: 5,988 acres
Opened: 1943
Activities: Hiking; fishing; horseback riding; mountain biking; boating; swimming; picnicking; kayaking
Amenities: Covered bridge; boat launch; boat rental; 226 modern campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Take a drive through the beautiful rolling hills of southeastern Indiana with Versailles State Park, Indiana’s second-largest state park, as your destination. Numerous fossils tell the story of an ancient sea that covered the region. During the Civil War, Morgan’s Raiders made their way through the area that is now the park. The town of Versailles was briefly under Confederate control. Relax while fishing on the 230-acre lake where you can rent a rowboat, kayak or canoe. Get a workout and see the beauty of the park by taking a walk on the hiking trails or a ride on the mountain bike trails. Bring your horses for the day to enjoy the more than 20 miles of horse trails. Steps to a scenic overlook at the dam are a prime spot to see herons and other aquatic wildlife.
Dan Carden
White River State Park
Location: Indianapolis
Size: 250 acres
Opened: 1979
Activities: Museums; sports; concerts; theaters; zoo; hiking; Segway rides; historic canal; gardening; maze; picnicking; art
Amenities: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art; IMAX Theater; Indiana State Museum; Indianapolis Indians baseball at Victory Field; Indianapolis Zoo; White River Gardens; NCAA Hall of Champions; Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial; Indiana History Center; Central Canal; Military Park
Description: White River State Park boasts world-class attractions and destinations that offer distinctive experiences for every interest and visitor! Yes, you will find green spaces, trails, trees and waterways that you expect at any state park. In addition to nature’s wonderland, you will find cultural, educational, and recreational attractions and events in our urban getaway’s 250-acres. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, White River State Park is the place you can enjoy the outdoors without ever leaving the city.
Dan Carden
Whitewater Memorial State Park
Location: Liberty
Size: 1,710 acres
Opened: 1949
Activities: Hiking; fishing; horseback riding; boating; swimming; canoeing; picnicking; ice fishing; archery; hayrides; birdwatching
Amenities: Marina; saddle barn; boat launches; boat rental; cabins; 318 modern and primitive campsites; youth tent camping; camp store
DNR description: Whitewater Memorial State Park is a great family getaway because of its 200-acre Whitewater Lake, access to Brookville Reservoir and other recreational facilities. Shoreline hiking, flat-water boating, swimming, fishing and camping opportunities are abundant around the man-made lake. The access to Brookville Reservoir provides many opportunities for seeing migrating flocks of birds. Whitewater Memorial State Park boasts 9 miles of horseback riding trails with access both for day users and from the horsemen’s campground. The land for the park was originally purchased by the surrounding counties of Union, Fayette, Franklin and Wayne as a memorial to the men and women who served in World War II.
Dan Carden
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-convicted-of-murdering-ex-girlfriend-received-fair-trial-appeals-court-rules/article_5691b8d4-00b8-11ee-966d-ff15aecb58df.html | 2023-06-05T18:23:39 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-convicted-of-murdering-ex-girlfriend-received-fair-trial-appeals-court-rules/article_5691b8d4-00b8-11ee-966d-ff15aecb58df.html |
GREENSBORO — Three teenagers face charges after two shootings and a carjacking Sunday, including allegations of firing into two separate homes with children inside, Greensboro police said Monday.
Children ages 2, 4 and 8 years old were with an adult inside a home on Huntley Court that was fired upon two different times Sunday, according to police department spokeswoman Josie Cambareri. No one was injured.
An adult and a child also escaped injury Sunday when shots were fired at their home on nearby Flag Street.
Fontay Latiyf Shaw, 18, and Amari Lashawn Wilson, 18, are each charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, discharging within city limits, carrying a concealed weapon, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and resist, delay or obstruct a law enforcement officer. Both are jailed on $100,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, according to online jail records.
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Police say they have also delivered a juvenile petition for a 15-year-old charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, discharging within city limits, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a minor, and resist, delay or obstruct a law enforcement officer.
At approximately 12:45 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a shooting on Huntley Court and found several bullet holes had entered the front of a residence with an adult and three children inside.
At 5:45 p.m. that day, police responded to the same home after gunfire struck it again. Officers were then dispatched a nearby shooting in the 1300 block of Flag Street, where they found bullet holes in the residence and vehicle. One adult and one child were in the home and were not injured, police said.
Investigators determined that a carjacking at 3:55 a.m. Sunday on South Raleigh Street was related and began searching for the stolen vehicle, which police believed to be the one seen at the second Huntley Court and Flag Street shootings.
A few hours later, police located the vehicle in Ray Warren Homes and approached the vehicle. Five individuals ran off. Police recovered two firearms and detained Shaw, Wilson, the 15-year-old and two other juveniles.
The two other juveniles have not been charged, Cambareri said.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-charge-teens-after-several-shootings-carjacking-sunday-in-greensboro/article_b1f17500-03b7-11ee-be4a-e7194c392b0b.html | 2023-06-05T18:25:32 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-charge-teens-after-several-shootings-carjacking-sunday-in-greensboro/article_b1f17500-03b7-11ee-be4a-e7194c392b0b.html |
Auburn Road between Cedar Canyons and Griffin roads will be closed from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 5 p.m. June 13 during bridge repair, the Allen County Highway Department said today.
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Boudreau holds no ill will toward Komets – 'It's not a messy breakup' – and is already chasing his next coaching job | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/auburn-road-portion-closed-for-week/article_df3dc5d8-03c4-11ee-9276-d3a7ce2cdf49.html | 2023-06-05T18:29:25 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/auburn-road-portion-closed-for-week/article_df3dc5d8-03c4-11ee-9276-d3a7ce2cdf49.html |
A Fort Wayne man was sentenced to 100 years today for shooting two people in 2021.
Fatir Muhammad, 55, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and a sentencing enhancement for using a gun in the April offense. The jury did not find him guilty of burglary.
Allen Superior Judge David Zent called Muhammad the "worst of the worst" and sentenced him to the maximum sentence – 40 years each for two attempted murders and 20 years for the sentencing enhancement. Zent ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.
Muhammad was arrested less than a week after the Dec. 14, 202,1 shooting on West Washington Center Road. A woman and man were taken to a local hospital, and the woman's injuries were life-threatening.
Muhammad told Zent he plans to appeal the sentencing and requested a public defender. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/man-sentenced-to-100-years-for-attempted-murder-of-two-in-2021/article_1ac1a9a2-03b2-11ee-8cb2-1b64fae76e8e.html | 2023-06-05T18:29:32 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/man-sentenced-to-100-years-for-attempted-murder-of-two-in-2021/article_1ac1a9a2-03b2-11ee-8cb2-1b64fae76e8e.html |
A man will appear in court today to face preliminary charges including murder stemming from the 2016 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old.
Michael Harding II, 24, faces preliminary charges of murder, robbery, aggravated battery and intimidation, according to the Allen County Jail. Harding was arrested about 6:20 p.m. Sunday during a traffic stop near the intersection of Coliseum Boulevard and Lima Road, the Fort Wayne Police Department said in a news release.
Harding is suspected of having a role in the 2016 shooting of Dontay White. He will appear in court at 1:30 p.m. today to see if those charges will move to the Allen Superior Court.
White, 17, and another man were found with gunshot wounds in a car in the 9100 block of Brickshire Parkway after a suspected attempted robbery on May 18, 2016, Fort Wayne police said. The two were taken with critical injuries to a local hospital, where White was pronounced dead.
The preliminary investigation found the two victims were in the car with a suspect and a witness, neither of whom were injured, police said.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office ruled White’s death a homicide and said it was caused by gunshot wounds. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/police-arrest-made-in-2016-fatal-shooting/article_4c4f042c-03b9-11ee-81c4-0bf57e1af30d.html | 2023-06-05T18:29:38 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/police-arrest-made-in-2016-fatal-shooting/article_4c4f042c-03b9-11ee-81c4-0bf57e1af30d.html |
WASHOUGAL, Wash. — A $40 million rail bridge proposal in Washougal is among a number of projects receiving federal funding from a grant program designed to eliminate points where tracks intersect with roads.
The 32nd Street Underpass Project will "reconnect the Addy Street neighborhood with the downtown and port areas" through a new rail bridge and underpass. Five key intersections along 32nd Street will be reconstructed to reduce the risk of vehicle/train collisions.
Infrastructure improvements are also included in the project to limit freight rail bottlenecks, and the ultimate objective of the proposal is to have "safer streets and increase the functionality, efficiency, and accessibility of the 32nd Street Corridor."
More than $570 million has been distributed to projects in 32 states by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration.
According to the USDOT's release, there were more than 2,000 highway-rail crossing collisions in the U.S. last year, as well as more than 30,000 reports of blocked crossings submitted to FRA’s public complaint portal.
“Every year, commuters, residents, and first responders lose valuable time waiting at blocked railroad crossings – and worse, those crossings are too often the site of collisions that could be prevented,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re improving rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time, and resources for American families.”
The total funding listed for the project was $40,480,000.
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/infrastructure/washougal-underpass-project-biden-administration-funding/281-ab18aa5b-2743-4af4-a46d-bb309b9447e2 | 2023-06-05T18:32:10 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/infrastructure/washougal-underpass-project-biden-administration-funding/281-ab18aa5b-2743-4af4-a46d-bb309b9447e2 |
LONGVIEW, Wash. — Update: The Cowlitz County man who was rescued from his truck at the bottom of a ravine on May 21 has died, PeaceHealth Southwest confirmed Monday. Dan Stansbery had been missing for five days and was still alive when first responders found him, but he died on May 30, according to the hospital.
Original story:
A Cowlitz County man was found alive in his truck at the bottom of a ravine near Longview and rescued by firefighters on May 21, more than five days after he was reported missing.
Residents near the intersection of Sunset Way and Lone Oak Road called 911 Sunday morning and reported seeing tire tracks leaving the road and a small green truck at the bottom of a nearby ravine, according to a news release from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue.
Dispatchers realized that the residents' description of the truck seemed to match the vehicle of a 56-year-old man who had been reported missing more than five days earlier, according to C2FR Battalion Chief Joe Tone.
Cowlitz County Sheriff's deputies at the site confirmed that they'd been looking for the man for nearly a week. The man was not named in the news release.
The ravine was described as steep and heavily wooded, and the truck had gone down to about 150 feet from the road and landed wheels-down at the bottom.
Firefighters could make out what appeared to be a person in the truck, Tone said, but they weren't moving. Firefighters were "expecting the worst" as they hiked down to the truck, according to the news release.
"When they got down there, we figured out that the male inside the car was indeed alive," Tone said. "Severely injured and ill from being in the car five days. Malnourished, temperature extremes from day to night."
The man was barely conscious and wasn't able to tell the firefighters about his injuries, Tone said, so they had to rely on their paramedic training to evaluate him.
The crash site was fairly well-shaded, Tone said, which likely kept the car temperature cool during the day and decreased the progression of dehydration, but it's still unclear how the man managed to survive for five days.
"No idea," Tone said. "We weren't able to locate a cell phone or any food or anything like that."
The rescue required getting more firefighters down to the site, Tone said, plus equipment to haul the man back up and tools to clear a path through the brush. The Longview Fire Department was called in to assist with setting up a rope rescue system.
"They sent everybody they had on duty to help us out," Tone said, "with their rope rescue technicians and equipment necessary to get people out of extreme terrain."
The fire crews ordered a Life Flight helicopter while they were setting up the rope system, Tone said, but there was no good place to land due to the heavily wooded and hilly terrain, so the crew flew to a nearby school to wait.
Once lifted up the hill, the man was taken by ambulance to the helicopter and then flown to PeaceHealth Southwest for treatment. Rescuing him and getting him onto the helicopter took about one hour, according to the news release, and Tone said the effort involved about 19 first responders. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/man-found-alive-vehicle-bottom-ravine-missing-five-days/283-353e508c-93e0-4bc7-a854-8ad0b7ac516c | 2023-06-05T18:32:16 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/man-found-alive-vehicle-bottom-ravine-missing-five-days/283-353e508c-93e0-4bc7-a854-8ad0b7ac516c |
MARICOPA, Ariz. — A 25-year-old man died Sunday night after he was ejected from a vehicle in Maricopa, police said.
The deceased man was involved in a three-vehicle crash reported at about 8:30 p.m. near Honeycutt and Gunsmoke roads.
Maricopa police said the 25-year-old and another driver were allegedly speeding when one of them lost control and struck the other car. This caused a secondary collision with another vehicle.
The other two drivers managed to exit their vehicles. One of them sustained minor injuries, police said.
Authorities have detained one of the surviving drivers and taken him into custody for possible criminal charges.
The identity of the deceased 25-year-old has not been disclosed.
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12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/25-year-old-dead-three-vehicle-crash-maricopa/75-c154755e-5b6b-4677-941b-58958e7409f8 | 2023-06-05T18:33:06 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/25-year-old-dead-three-vehicle-crash-maricopa/75-c154755e-5b6b-4677-941b-58958e7409f8 |
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (WJRT) - A pulmonary and sleep doctor from Grand Blanc died two days after a vehicle hit him in the Kings Pointe subdivision, police say.
The Grand Blanc City Police Department says Dr. Venkat Rao died on Saturday from injuries he sustained in the hit-and-run crash on Thursday.
Rao treated patients at Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Flint Hospital through the Chest & Sleep Medicine Consultants practice where he worked.
Police found Rao lying unconscious along a street in the Kings Pointe neighborhood off Genesee Road on Thursday. Investigators determined he was hit by a vehicle, but none were around when authorities arrived.
An ambulance rushed Rao to Ascension Genesys Hospital. He was listed in critical condition until he death on Saturday.
The Grand Blanc City Police Department says a motorist showed up at the scene Thursday while officers were still conducting their investigation. The motorist claimed they may have hit Rao.
Police detained the motorist for questioning, but they don't believe the motorist was intoxicated when the crash happened.
Investigators were working on reports about the crash on Monday. They will be turned over to the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office when they are complete for a review of possible criminal charges.
Anyone with information about the deadly crash should call Grand Blanc City police at 810-694-1111.
Rao's obituary says he moved to Mid-Michigan in 1992 to practice medicine with specialties in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.
He was chairman of the Board of Medicine for the state of Michigan, the chairman of internal medicine at McLaren Flint Hospital, a board member for the Genesee County Medical Society, and a board member for the Mott Community College Foundation.
McLaren Flint President and CEO Chris Candela offered the following statement about Rao:
"We were all terribly saddened to learn of the untimely and tragic passing of Dr. Venkat Rao. A kind and dedicated physician, he was devoted to his patients and valued by his colleagues. His absence will be noticed, and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his family, colleagues, and those who love him."
Rao is survived by his wife of 45 years, two children, two grandchildren, his mother and many other relatives. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/grand-blanc-doctor-dies-after-hit-and-run-crash-in-kings-pointe/article_2aba4476-03ae-11ee-a9d2-ffc5d8ae0904.html | 2023-06-05T18:33:54 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/grand-blanc-doctor-dies-after-hit-and-run-crash-in-kings-pointe/article_2aba4476-03ae-11ee-a9d2-ffc5d8ae0904.html |
The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department arrested a person wanted in connection with a Milwaukee homicide following a traffic stop near I-94/41 at County Highway E before 3 p.m. Sunday.
The department indicated to WISN that a deputy saw the vehicle headed north, and northbound traffic was shut down for about 20 minutes to conduct a high-risk traffic stop.
According to the report, the department said everyone in the vehicle was arrested without incident including the wanted individual, but did not confirm how many individuals were arrested.
No additional details were available by press time Monday. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-sheriffs-department-arrest-suspect-for-milwaukee-homicide-connection/article_93e7a190-03b9-11ee-bc34-df11dd27d17e.html | 2023-06-05T18:46:12 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-sheriffs-department-arrest-suspect-for-milwaukee-homicide-connection/article_93e7a190-03b9-11ee-bc34-df11dd27d17e.html |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — On Monday, four years after he was shot in the line of duty, Ofc. Cullen Stafford of the Birmingham Police Department retired.
Stafford’s retirement comes after 12 years with the Birmingham Police Department. On Monday morning, the police department wished Stafford a “Happy Retirement” on their Twitter, alongside the hashtags “commitment,” “excellence” and “integrity.”
On July 17, 2019, Stafford was shot seven times by a robbery suspect, Roderick Wilson, in downtown Birmingham. The shoot-out left Stafford with injuries in his mouth, shoulder, knee, hip and feet.
He was then hospitalized at UAB hospital where surgeons removed a bullet from his mouth. A rod was also placed in Stafford’s leg due to his injuries.
According to Stafford’s cousin, Cullen was also one of two officers admitted to the ICU in July 2017 after being t-boned by a suspect. Later in 2017, he was named Officer of the Year. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-police-officer-shot-in-2019-retires/ | 2023-06-05T18:48:04 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-police-officer-shot-in-2019-retires/ |
A 25-year-old Kenosha man died after jumping into a water channel in the Chain O’ Lakes in Illinois early Sunday according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 1:05 a.m. Sunday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Unit deputies responded to the “Long Channel,” located between Petite Lake and Spring Lake, to a report of a man who went underwater, the department stated.
After several of hours of searching by marine unit members and the Lake Villa Protection District, including the utilization of a drone, at about 6:30 a.m. the deceased man’s body was recovered from the water.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was “likely heavily intoxicated” according to a preliminary investigation. Witnesses reportedly observed him drinking at a birthday party.
Following the party, the man returned to a residence in the 25100 block of West Forest Drive and jumped from a pier into the water with his clothes on. The man was able to swim to shore and a relative helped him remove his wet clothing and took him to bed.
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According to the deaprtment, a short time later the man left bed, jumped into the water again, this time without clothing, and attempted to swim across the channel. The man went underwater as he swam across the channel.
The incident remains under investigation by the marine unit. The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and an autopsy is being scheduled. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-man-drowns-in-chain-o-lakes-early-sunday/article_3793d09a-03c2-11ee-b3ed-3bce7f2f30c9.html | 2023-06-05T18:50:08 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-man-drowns-in-chain-o-lakes-early-sunday/article_3793d09a-03c2-11ee-b3ed-3bce7f2f30c9.html |
Arizona wildfire updates: Bullet Fire surpasses 4,100 acres
After receiving an exceptional amount of snow and rain last winter, Arizona's wildfire season appears to have finally gotten underway in June as multiple wildfires burn across the state.
Here is a roundup of Arizona widlfires:
Bullet Fire
(Last updated June 5)
Location: The Lower Sycamore area in Tonto National Forest
What we know: The Bullet Fire, burning in Tonto National Forest, caused evacuations in Sugar Loaf and initially closed State Route 87, also known as the Beeline Highway, in both directions on the afternoon of June 4, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The highway was reopened early on June 5, officials said.
On Monday, forest officials said fire crews will be on scene all day to clean-up and to keep the fire within its footprint. The public was asked to stay away from Forest Roads 402 and 1852. No structures are threatened.
Evacuations and closures: The Sugar Loaf area was evacuated.
Acreage: 4,178 acres
Containment: 50%
Fire start date: June 4 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/06/05/arizona-wildfire-updates-2023/70289872007/ | 2023-06-05T18:51:29 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/06/05/arizona-wildfire-updates-2023/70289872007/ |
Longboat Key congressman Vern Buchanan choses Tara Poulton as his next district director
U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan announced Monday that he has hired a new district director – Tara Poulton. She will replace long-time director Sally Shely, who is retiring.
Poulton is currently the vice president of public policy and workforce partnerships at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. In her new role as district director, Poulton will run Buchanan’s offices in Hillsborough and Manatee counties.
“I am very pleased to welcome Tara to my office," Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, said in a news release. "Her communications skills, combined with her passion for public policy and heart for constituent services make her the ideal person for this position.”
Before working at the Manatee chamber, she served as division director and county spokesperson for DeSoto County government and as the senior government affairs regional manager for the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Poulton holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of South Florida, and will graduate from Florida State University’s Master of Public Administration program this summer. She and her family reside in Lakewood Ranch, and she’s a board member of the Manatee Tiger Bay Club, Manatee Education TV and Manatee Technical College.
Previous coverage:Florida GOP congressional delegation rushing to back Trump over DeSantis
Other news:How much did property values increase across Sarasota-Manatee? Billions added to tax rolls
“I am beyond excited to be joining the office of Congressman Buchanan,” Poulton said in the press release. “It will be a true honor to follow in Sally Shely's footsteps and all she has accomplished in her 25-plus-year congressional career. I am thrilled to be returning to the public sector and eager to serve the constituents in the greater Manatee area and southern Hillsborough County.”
Shely, who was a familiar face in the community, officially retires from the district director role at the end of July. She started working with Buchanan in 2006, serving as the communications director for his first campaign. She then joined his congressional staff, first serving as communications director and then as district director.
Shely led the congressman’s efforts to assist constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic and his hurricane relief and recovery efforts, according to the news release. During her tenure in the office, she coordinated over 70 town halls and established awards programs that honor law enforcement officers, firefighters, teachers and veterans.
“From day one, Sally has demonstrated the leadership, work-ethic and professionalism that has made her one of the most respected district directors in Congress,” Buchanan said. “Her dedication to our community along with the relationships she has cultivated in Southwest Florida have unquestionably helped make me a better representative.”
Shely will retire with more than 27 years of experience as a congressional staffer, as she also worked for former U.S. Senator Mel Martinez and former U.S. Reps. Katherine Harris, Charles Bass and Bill Zeliff.
"It has been a great honor and a privilege to work with Vern on behalf of the people of Florida's 16th District," Shely stated. "I am truly thankful for every opportunity he has given me to advocate for his constituents and help advance his agenda to reduce spending, grow the economy and protect our freedom." | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/06/05/vern-buchanan-hires-tara-poulton-as-his-next-district-director/70288683007/ | 2023-06-05T19:00:21 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/06/05/vern-buchanan-hires-tara-poulton-as-his-next-district-director/70288683007/ |
Three people injured on I-75 in Manatee County in collision caused by a wrong-way driver
Three people were injured in an accident caused by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 75 early Monday morning in Manatee County.
Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a 23-year-old man from Palm Harbor who was driving the BMW sedan that caused the accident for a potential driving under the influence charge.
Accidents:Motorcyclist killed in a fatal accident in Sarasota
More:Bradenton woman killed on I-75 after exiting her car during a mechanical breakdown
The man was traveling north on the southbound travel lane on I-75 in Manatee County near mile marker 227 at about 1:18 a.m. when his vehicle collided with a Chevrolet SUV driven by a 70-year-old man from Port Charlotte, according to FHP.
Both men sustained serious injuries. A 69-year-old female passenger in the SUV also sustained minor injuries. All parties were transported to a local hospital for treatment. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/06/05/wrong-way-driver-faces-dui-charges-after-accident-injures-3-in-manatee/70288472007/ | 2023-06-05T19:00:27 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/06/05/wrong-way-driver-faces-dui-charges-after-accident-injures-3-in-manatee/70288472007/ |
Why is a Sarasota Starbucks unionizing? Here's what to know
Eight workers at a Sarasota Starbucks wrote a letter to company CEO Laxman Narasimhan on Wednesday indicating they would be filing for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.
The store at 5329 Fruitville Road will be the 20th Starbucks to file for a union election since last month.
“The mission of Starbucks is to ‘inspire and nurture the human spirit- one person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time,’” the press release said. “Recent antagonizing decisions made by corporate management have made living up to this mission impossible in service toward our beloved patrons and in cooperation with other partners.”
Why are they unionizing?
The Starbucks Workers United at Honore said that their grievances were mainly due to internal policies from corporate management:
- Working conditions at the store have been aggravated by slashed hours, overworked staff and vacant positions with no increase in pay.
- Qualifying for healthcare benefits has become more difficult with an increased minimum time-worked threshold.
- Pay has not been able to stand up to the rising cost of living in the area.
- They cited sustainability issues as well with hundreds of pounds of recyclable material being disposed in a landfill every week.
More:Longboat Key congressman Vern Buchanan choses Tara Poulton as his next district director
In case you missed it:Three people injured on I-75 in Manatee County in collision caused by a wrong-way driver
Workers reported that on May 15 their store manager of eight years was “abruptly” terminated without any explanation or record of corrective action.
“We are led to believe, as partners still reeling under interim management, that our store manager was wrongfully dismissed for having a sympathetic ear to our justifiable workplace grievances and our growing inclination to achieve unionization,” a press release from the workers said.
What’s a union?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, unions promote transparency and help resolve workplace issues. Union formation leads to collective bargaining agreement with the employer with agreements on pay, benefits and other employment terms and conditions.
How many Florida Starbucks stores are unionized?
Since May 2022, six stores have unionized in Florida. Here’s a breakdown of each one:
- Tallahassee: On May 3, 2022 the store at 2264-1 N. Monroe St. voted to unionize, making it the first Florida Starbucks to do so.
- Tallahassee: On May 25, 2022 the store on 1703 W. Tennessee St. voted to unionize.
- Jacksonville: On May 11, 2022, two stores vote to unionize.
- Miami Springs: On May 11, 2022, the store voted to unionize, according to the Miami Herald.
- Oviedo: On June 9, 2022, the store became the first Central Florida store to unionize, according to News 6.
How many stores have unionized across the country?
More than 317 stores have unionized across the country as of June 5, according to the Starbucks Workers United website.
Has Starbucks violated labor laws?
A National Labor Relations judge ruled in March that Starbucks had committed “hundreds of unfair labor practices” during unionization efforts at stores in Buffalo, New York and Rochester, New York. Judge Michael Rosas determined that Starbucks illegally disciplined and fired employees “in response to union activity” and ordered the company to reinstate seven fired workers.
He also found that the company threatened workers, spied on them and enforced dress codes and other policies “more stringently against union supporters.”
Contributing: Wyatte Grantham-Phillips, USA Today | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/05/starbucks-sarasota-florida-labor-union/70287940007/ | 2023-06-05T19:00:33 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/05/starbucks-sarasota-florida-labor-union/70287940007/ |
A 20-year-old Tucson has been jailed after a fatal crash this weekend on Tucson's south side, Tucson police say.
Caleb Aaron Goodwin, 19, was riding a black 2022 Honda CMX500 motorcycle south on South Nogales Highway about 8 p.m. Saturday when he collided with a northbound 2008 Ford Focus making a left turn onto East Delta Road, just south of East Drexel Road, Tucson police said in a news release.
Goodwin died at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle was taken to the hospital. She had life-threatening injuries, the release said.
The driver of the the Ford, Jassiel Jimenez Juvera, 20, had no diver's license and was determined to be impaired, the release said.
Juvera was booked into Pima County jail on suspicion of felony manslaughter and aggravated assault, the news release said.
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The investigation continues. | https://tucson.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/tucson-police-20-year-old-man-arrested-after-fatal-crash/article_80475d3e-03c2-11ee-87a3-7b2638571a49.html | 2023-06-05T19:02:51 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/tucson-police-20-year-old-man-arrested-after-fatal-crash/article_80475d3e-03c2-11ee-87a3-7b2638571a49.html |
A wildfire that started Sunday about a half-mile from the Biosphere 2 science facility near Oracle Junction was fully contained by Monday morning, officials said.
The wildfire broke out Sunday morning, Arizona State Forestry officials said.
The fire’s cause wasn’t immediately known. It grew to about 13 acres by Sunday afternoon and remained that size when it was put out.
Crews from the State Forestry, Golder Ranch Fire District and Northwest Fire District worked Sunday to keep the wildfire from reaching the Biosphere facility. State Forestry launched single-engine air tankers to assist with suppression.
No evacuations were ordered, and authorities said crews remained on the scene Monday, conducting fire suppression activities and looking for any leftover hot spots.
Biosphere 2 was built between 1987 and 1991 as a way to test the viability of closed ecological systems and human life in outer space. The tests were held twice in the early 1990s.
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The facility is owned and operated by the University of Arizona. | https://tucson.com/news/local/wildfire-near-biosphere-2-fully-contained/article_09db9054-032f-11ee-b443-8b68618ff389.html | 2023-06-05T19:02:58 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/wildfire-near-biosphere-2-fully-contained/article_09db9054-032f-11ee-b443-8b68618ff389.html |
New details were revealed in court about a string of sexual assaults against women in Boston about 15 years ago that are now being blamed on a man who is now an attorney in the New York City area.
Matthew Nilo, 35, faced charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault with attempt to rape and indecent assault and battery in Suffolk Superior Court Monday morning after being extradited from New Jersey following his arrest at his home on the Hudson River last week.
Prosecutors alleged that Nilo drove three women under false pretenses to a remote, industrial part of Boston in 2007 and 2008 and raped them, saying that he had a weapon — in one case he had a gun, in another he flashed a knife. Those women willingly took a ride from Nilo, prosecutors said, but at least one thought he was a taxi or rideshare driver.
In a fourth case, Nilo allegedly tackled a woman who was jogging in the area, Terminal Street in Charlestown, and sexually assaulted her with his hand, but was fought off by the woman despite him repeatedly screaming, "I have a gun."
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Nilo was living in the North End and a student in the area at the time. The alleged victims ranged in age from 23 to 44.
He was arrested at his home in Weehawken, New Jersey, last week after after a yearlong investigation in which Boston police checked DNA evidence gathered from the four yearsold attacks against public DNA databases, a process called forensic investigative genetic genealogy, prosecutors said Monday.
Nilo was identified as a person of interest, which led FBI agents to collect his DNA from a glass he drank from at a corporate event in, officials said. The DNA from the glass was a match for the three rapes he's been charged with, prosecutors said, and was found to be likely the same as DNA pulled from gloves the woman used to fight off her attacker in the other incident.
Local
Nilo pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was held on $500,000 bail and ordered to wear a GPS tracker, turn in his passport and stay away from the victims and Charlestown's Terminal Street on his release.
In court, his attorney argued for lower bail by noting Nilo is engaged to be married and is a practicing lawyer. After the hearing, the attorney said he was catching up on the case but suggested that the DNA evidence used to connect Nilo to the attacks could be suspect.
Nilo has lived in Wisconsin, California and New York — he's been suspended from his job in New York City — officials have said, and investigators have urged anyone who thinks they could have been a victim or who has information on any case involving Nilo, to contact Boston Police or the FBI.
Nilo was taken into custody by FBI agents and police who had the front desk of his building call Nilo and say he had a package delivered that was too large to hold in the lobby, according to a warrant filed in court. He was "suspended pending further investigation" by his employer, the cyber-insurance company Cowbell, it said in a statement, | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/matthew-nilo-in-court-arraignment/4395464/ | 2023-06-05T19:03:40 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/matthew-nilo-in-court-arraignment/4395464/ |
After years of pressure and sometimes-heavy resistance, the MTA says a trial program involving platform doors at three subway stations to keep people off the tracks is underway.
The idea is hardly new; such doors are commonplace in cities like London, and they came up for consideration in New York in 2012 and again in 2016, both times amid a surge in deaths on the tracks. The doors are aimed at keeping people from falling or being pushed onto the subway tracks.
But it took on renewed urgency in Jan. 2022 after Michelle Go was pushed in front of a train at the Times Square station and killed, a case that provoked national outrage about violence against the Asian community, safety in the transit system and the handling of the mentally ill.
There will be three stations that will get the barrier doors in a trial program confirmed by the MTA: Times Square (7 line), 14th Street and Third Avenue (L line) in Manhattan, and the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue station (E line) in Queens.
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MTA Chair Janno Lieber previously told News 4 that the platform doors project will cost more than $100 million and will likely be years to develop and deploy. The pilot project is moving through the procurement process, the transit agency said.
The MTA already installed a pilot barrier design at 57-7th Avenue station in the center of the platform to provide protection against a rider being pushed from behind. But the new subway doors will span the length of the platform.
No timeline has been provided for when the new safety measures could be in place at the three stations. Officials said they have to look into who will construct the doors. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/subway-safety-doors-coming-to-platforms-at-some-nyc-stations-what-to-know/4395237/ | 2023-06-05T19:03:46 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/subway-safety-doors-coming-to-platforms-at-some-nyc-stations-what-to-know/4395237/ |
Toilet paper was seen on a street in Revere, Massachusetts, on Monday morning after a crash that involved a porta-potty truck.
The crash happened on Furlong Drive at Revere Beach Parkway, where police and fire crews were seen responding and cleaning up the debris left behind.
It's unclear exactly how the crash unfolded, but it appeared to have involved two trucks.
One person appeared to be hurt during the incident.
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Additional details have not yet been made available. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/toilet-paper-litters-revere-road-after-crash-involving-porta-potty-truck/4395313/ | 2023-06-05T19:03:52 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/toilet-paper-litters-revere-road-after-crash-involving-porta-potty-truck/4395313/ |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Presales have begun for Uforia Latino Mix Live!
The concert will take place at the Dos Equis Pavilion and will feature Latin acts, J Balvin, Wisin, Cornetto, and more.
The show will be a mix of modern Latin music, sure to be a night to remember. Don’t miss out on this incredible event on Aug. 26!
Tickets can be purchased at uforiamusic.com. | https://cw33.com/news/local/latin-rhythms-take-over-dallas-uforia-latino-mix-live/ | 2023-06-05T19:03:56 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/latin-rhythms-take-over-dallas-uforia-latino-mix-live/ |
DALLAS(KDAF)—Make sure to bring your umbrella, there is a strong chance for rain today and tonight in North Texas. There is a chance for heavy rain but no severe weather. Temperatures will be in the 80s.
NWS Fort Worth said, “Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today and tonight. Severe weather is not expected but gusty winds, lightning, and locally heavy rainfall will be possible. Highs today will be in the 80s with lows tonight in the 60s”.
NWS Fort Worth said, “Rain chances will diminish through the week with a gradual warming trend into the upcoming weekend. | https://cw33.com/news/local/north-texas-to-see-thunderstorms-and-flooding-this-week-scorching-hot-temperatures/ | 2023-06-05T19:04:03 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/north-texas-to-see-thunderstorms-and-flooding-this-week-scorching-hot-temperatures/ |
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