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The Hanover County School board voted Tuesday to rewrite its policy governing what books are allowed in school libraries and then moved to ban its first round of 17 books.
The school board’s vote to approve the new policy passed 5-2, but the vote to remove 17 specific titles was unanimous.
Under the policy approved minutes before, school board members were given the authority to remove any books from its school library at its sole discretion with a majority vote from the school board members.
The agenda item to ban those books was added after the body’s closed session that took place immediately before Tuesday night’s public meeting.
“This is truly vulgar language, vulgar pictures, vulgar depictions. We did not and do not take this decision likely. It is very tough. Candidly I was shocked,” said School Board Chair John Axselle III when referring to some of the material in the 17 books.
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The list was previously introduced by Steve Ikenberry, Cold Harbor, at the previous work session in May, where he said the books were oversexualized and had “zero” educational value.
The list includes titles like “This Book is Gay,” Juno Dawson’s young adult nonfiction book about sexuality and gender, and George M. Johnson’s “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” a series of personal essays about growing up Black and queer.
Ola J. Hawkins, Ashland District, spoke in favor of removing those books though she has mostly opposed the schools’ rewrite of its library policies. She was one of two dissenting votes against the policy but part of the unanimous decision to ban the books.
“Yes, this list of books that was sent, yes I read a vast majority and I will say that at a certain point, I had to stop reading,” Hawkins said. “Those books that I read really should not be in our school library or in our elementary schools.”
The public comment period was fiery, with parents speaking on opposing sides of the library media center policy. The board heard comments for over two hours.
Of the parents who spoke in favor of amending the media center policy, they were adamant that the books in question were overly sexual with the power to cause harm to students in Hanover County. Many referred to the books in question as pornography.
“Really those are the areas that we want out of out schools. We already live in a highly sexualized society and I don’t feel that the schools are a place that that high sexualization should occur,” said Mike Messina, a Hanover parent. “There are plenty of opportunities if parents feel their children should be exposed to that, there are public libraries, there are many avenues.”
A smaller number called anyone disagreeing with them a “porn pusher,” and accused them of “grooming” children with adult content.
Many of the referenced texts include topics such as rape, incest and descriptive sexual acts. While many spoke in support of the new policy, a larger number of voices showed up to the board chambers to protest against approving the new policy.
Many parents and community members said that books with troubling topics have an important role in showing kids the reality of the world, but also help them realize what is and isn’t normal.
“The most important thing is not to hide reality from our children but rather to ensure the students of the school system understand the complexity of life experiences and provide support for the students that need it most,” said speaker Rebecca Hooper.
Officially, school board members said they are not “banning” books, reasoning that children are not prohibited from owning these books or talking about them with their classmates.
In addition to removing any book by a majority vote, the newly adopted policy – policy 6-5.2 – gives the school board more influence over routine book selection and deselection activities done by librarians. It also creates a school board appointed body that serves as the intermediate decision-maker between schools and the school board when parents challenge books in the schools.
Board members did soften on one provision of the book policy at its work session last week.
Parents on both sides of the argument were concerned that a rule allowing people to challenge a book in the schools under “pervasive vulgarity” would see the book immediately removed from the school system. They worried that challenges would be met with other challenges in retaliation, or that schools would be overwhelmed with prank challenges.
That portion was updated to give staff seven days to determine if a challenge was legitimate before removing the book from circulation. If a challenge is rejected, it is to be forwarded to the school board office for review by a school board appointed Library Materials Committee.
The concept of “pervasive vulgarity” however was not addressed in the final document. Parents worried said it was overly broad reason to challenge a book, putting far more books at risk of removal than intended.
That challenge mechanism was updated to add “sexually explicit content,” which is defined in the state code. The provision for “pervasive vulgarity” was not removed, and remains as a condition to challenge books under the current policy.
A separate challenge mechanism under “controversial” reasoning would not see books removed from the schools while the books future is considered.
The new policy has a three step challenge process that starts with a local review committee at each individual school. Those decisions can be appealed to the Library Materials Committee, a seven member body appointed by the school board with one member from each voting district. Decisions from that body are then appealed to the school board.
There are a number of other additions to the schools that add more oversight to the selection process.
The removal of outdated or damaged books and replacing them with new titles is something that happens consistently throughout a school year. That process is also under school board scrutiny.
Librarians use professionally recognized sources – like the New York Times Book Review or Publishers Weekly – to aid in the selection of new books. Under the new policy, school board members will now review and approve which sources librarians can use to choose new books.
Librarians are also now required to report all deselected books to their principles for approval.
No materials containing sexually explicit content are to be added, though teachers or librarians can argue that such books have an educational purpose. The book could be added by school board approval, pending a favorable recommendation by the school’s Library Materials Committee.
Teachers classroom libraries will also be more tightly regulated under the new policy. Teachers are now required to submit a cover sheet detailing all books and magazines in their classrooms.
Hanover is just one in a growing number of schools nationwide that are looking to ban books. A significant chunk of those books focus on themes and characters that are LGBTQ or minorities.
An April report from PEN America, a national organization dedicated to protecting freedom of expression, shows that 26% of unique titles banned during the first half of the 2022-23 school year nationwide have LGBTQ characters or themes. The organization reported in Sept. 2022 that bans occurred in 138 school districts in 32 states affecting 4 million students.
In addition to the 17 banned books Tuesday night, the Hanover School Board has also been working with an expanded list of more than 120 books that could also be on the chopping block.
Axselle told the Richmond Times-Dispatch after the May 30 work session that at least 50 books on that list have egregious amounts of sexual content and could be ripe for removal. That book also has at least 30 books with LGBTQ themes, though Axselle said the policy is not specifically targeting those themes.
“I’ll tell you I disagree with [LGBTQ ideology], but this policy doesn’t – just because I disagree with it, it doesn’t come off the shelf,” Axselle said. “It has to have sexually explicit content.” | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-books-ban-llibrary/article_35e54f04-0a65-11ee-92bc-bff2eab514de.html | 2023-06-14T10:05:52 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-books-ban-llibrary/article_35e54f04-0a65-11ee-92bc-bff2eab514de.html |
Richmond city officials are rethinking a proposed exotic animal ban after numerous people came forward to denounce the ordinance — primarily, falcon enthusiasts.
Presently, the planned ordinance, as written, would make it illegal to sell, possess, purchase and own specific wild species.
This includes any primates, possums, skunks, wolves, coyotes, squirrels, foxes, leopards, panthers, lynxes, caracals, bobcats, lions, tigers, bears venomous or poisonous reptiles or any member of the crocodilian family.
Chesterfield County’s bond referendum projects are receiving a boost in the form of $105 million in general obligation bonds.
Gene Stevens, president of the Virginia Falconer’s Association, who voiced his concerns during the public comment period of the Monday Richmond City Council meeting, said the confusing wording of the ordinance would result in a blanket ban on many of the city’s falconers and their hobby, which has deep historical and cultural ties to the region and across the globe.
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“We believe it is irresponsible to ask you to pass such an ordinance that would immediately impact at least two current federally-licensed falconers,” Stevens said. “And, puts at risk any future falconer who would need or want to move to the city.”
While the ordinance does offer some exceptions to the ban — including an exception for certain animals that are born and held in captivity “that have never known the wild,” such as chinchillas, hedgehogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, imported birds, non-venomous reptiles and amphibians as well as fish — it does not exclude animals that have been caught in the wild but ultimately are intended for release.
Young falconer Eden Elmore, who was one of over a dozen who spoke in opposition, said that she has undergone the difficult task of applying for state permitting, passed a test and is ready to move forward in the next step of her falconry apprenticeship: obtaining a bird.
If passed, this ordinance would prevent her from doing just that, effectively ending her apprenticeship and falconry career, as state regulations require falconers to own a bird for two years.
“I have checked all the boxes: secured a sponsor, constructed an enclosure, taken the test, gotten my permit, but if this ordinance passes as it is currently written, I will not be able to pursue my lifelong passion and maintain a bird,” Elmore said.
Others came forward to share their concerns. They included members from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, who are typically in charge of regulating falconry permitting.
Stevens said this is not the first time the association has had to get involved with local governments. When Loudon and Fairfax counties attempted to ban wild and exotic animals including falcons and other native birds, the association reached out and saw success.
In order to ensure falconry can continue, Stevens said, the city can include a sentence that ensures that falcons that are “properly licensed by the federal government or the Commonwealth of Virginia” or through a permitting agency are not impacted by the ban.
Stevens said the association reached out to Mayor Levar Stoney’s office a week prior to the meeting. The office did not respond.
Previously, the city council added an amendment to the ordinance that would allow venomous or poisonous reptiles or amphibian owners to keep their pets as long as they met certain requirements and applied for a permit.
After hearing from concerned residents, second district councilmember Katherine Jordan campaigned to continue the ordinance to the next meeting in order to add language that allows for the inclusion of falconers.
Steens said this is a good sign that their concerns will be addressed.
The effort to ban certain animals in the city comes following a plea from Richmond Animal Control and Care Director Christie Peters, who pushed for the adoption of the ordinance after reviewing the city’s current animal-related municipal code.
As a result, Peters said, the department needs a protocol in place in order to ensure the safety of both staff and community.
Zoos, animal exhibitions, circuses, wildlife rehabilitators and veterinary clinics will be excluded from the ban. State and federal wildlife management agencies will also be excluded.
If a resident is caught within city limits in possession of one of the listed animals, the resident will be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $500 in the event of conviction.
“I implore you to help preserve this fading art — a cultural heritage of America passed down from old war veterans to young queer individuals like me by taking the time to amend or reject this ordinance,” Eden said in a final plea for change.
Richmond City Council will hear the ordinance at its next regular meeting, at 6 p.m., Monday, June 26 as a part of its consent agenda. It will hold another public hearing prior to making a final vote. | https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/ban-falcons-richmond-exotic-animals/article_3a248cce-0957-11ee-8641-2b528ff3acd3.html | 2023-06-14T10:05:58 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/ban-falcons-richmond-exotic-animals/article_3a248cce-0957-11ee-8641-2b528ff3acd3.html |
A stretch of Interstate 64 near Short Pump has been approved for a makeover, which should have a significant impact on traffic patterns and safety once completed.
Evening traffic heads west on West Broad Street near Interstate 64 and Short Pump Town Center.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
Henrico County will be adding an interchange at North Gayton Road , which is intended to help alleviate traffic conditions along the rest of the corridor. The county is also going to remove a loop at the Broad Street intersection with the highway, which it said will improve safety by eliminating traffic weaving from merging cars.
Terrell Hughes, Henrico public works director, told county supervisors on May 23 that the improvements should cut 19 minutes out of people’s commutes once finished.
The work was heralded as the largest transportation and safety project in Henrico’s history.
Evening traffic heads west Wednesday on West Broad Street near Interstate 64 and Short Pump Town Center.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
The county’s Public Works department estimates it will cost between $200 million and $300 million in today’s dollars. Cost is subject to change as designs and schedules get more detailed.
“Our project will make a drive into Short Pump faster and more efficient,” said Three Chopt District Supervisor Tommy Brannin. “It will also reduce the risk of crashes, literally saving lives.”
Evening traffic heads west Wednesday on West Broad Street near Interstate 64 and Short Pump Town Center.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
That corridor of Interstate 64 has been a trouble spot for accidents over the last five years. It saw seven fatal crashes during that period, as well as 9,500 calls for service. There were also 492 crashes involving injuries and 1,800 reportable crashes.
“First and foremost for us, the most important part of this project is safety,” said Michael Palkovics, assistant chief of police. “It’s not only for the safety of the residents and citizens of Henrico County, but also the motoring public, the thousands of people that traverse through this area every day.”
The interchange project also is expected to have a net benefit on businesses and economic development efforts in the area.
This document shows a plan for the approved interchange at Interstate 64 and N. Gayton Road in Henrico County. The completion is anticipated to have a substantial impact on traffic conditions.
Henrico County
The project was officially approved by the Federal Highway Administration last week, after the Virginia Department of Transportation signed off on it in the spring.
Next steps are anticipated to take about two to three years. During this time, the county will finish design work, complete an environmental study and acquire land. The county has just under $5 million in Central Virginia Transportation Authority regional funding to help with the design and environmental work.
Hughes said the remaining portion of the project would include “many” opportunities for public engagement and involvement.
Many of the improvements in Henrico also will impact commuters and visitors from Goochland.
Hughes previously told supervisors that Henrico partnered with Goochland County, which has plans to improve an interchange between Interstate 64 and Route 288 on its side of the border.
The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day'
Jan. 1, 2023
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) carries the ball as Washington Commanders cornerback Danny Johnson (36) tries to stop him during the first half of a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders on Sunday, January 1, 2023 in Landover, MD.
Shaban Athuman/ RICHMOND TIMES-D
Jan. 2, 2023
Sharon MacKenzie of Mechanicsville walked with her friend Cindy Nunnally and her golden retriever, Sunny, during a GardenFest for Fidos at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on Jan. 2.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
Jan. 3, 2023
People remember 8-year-old P’Aris Moore during a vigil in Hopewell on Jan. 3. The girl was shot and killed while playing in her neighborhood.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 4, 2023
UR's Jason Nelson presses down court as George Washington's Brendan Adams, left, and Hunter Dean defend in the Robins Center Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 5, 2023
Manchester's Olivia Wright reaches in on James River's Alisha Whirley at James River Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 6, 2023
Daron Pearson plays basketball at Smith Peters Park in the Carver neighborhood on Friday, January 6, 2023 in Richmond, Va.
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Jan. 7, 2023
UR's Tyler Burton takes a shot as Duquesne's Joe Reece defends Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 8, 2023
Park ranger Bert Dunkerly leads a walking tour of Revolutionary Richmond on the grounds of the Chimborazo Medical Museum in Richmond on Jan. 8. The tour was part of a multiday annual event interpreting Richmond’s Revolutionary history, including the capture of the city by British General Benedict Arnold on Jan. 5, 1781.
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Jan. 10, 2023
Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital COO Joey Trapani and Richmond City Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille react after cutting the ribbon to commemorate the opening of the East End Medical Office Building on Tuesday. Bon Secours Richmond Market President Mike Lutes (left) and Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, were also part of the festivities.
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Jan. 11, 2023
Pages are introduced at the Senate chamber during the first day of Virginia General Assembly at Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 12, 2023
Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, worked at his desk at the Virginia State Capitol on Thursday. Above him is a portrait of former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, now a congressman representing the 8th District in Northern Virginia.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 13, 2023
Elizabeth Leggett is photographed with her pup Pallas, 10, in her neighborhood in Richmond's business district on January 13, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Jan. 14, 2023
Aubrey Nguyen, age 5, and Andrew Nguyen, age 8, eye the dragon as it comes by during the Tet celebration at Vien Giac Buddhist Temple Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. Jow Ga Kung Fu, of Virginia Beach, performed the Dragon Dance.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 15, 2023
The St. James's West Gallery Choir sings during "Evensong, A Celebration of the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." at St. James Episcopal Church Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 16, 2023
James "States" Manship of Thornburg came to the gun rights rally at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square on Lobby Day, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, dressed as President George Washington.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 17, 2023
Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, confers with Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, at the state Capitol on Jan. 17. Brewer sponsored the bill on state purchasing, House Bill 2385.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 18, 2023
Aaliyah Rouse, 9, and Jennifer Rouse stand by as Aaron Rouse is sworn in in the Senate by Clerk of the Senate Susan Clarke Schaar during a general assembly session at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Jan. 19, 2023
Gov. Glenn Youngkin talks to the media at George W. Carver Elementary School on Jan. 19.
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Jan. 20, 2023
VCU's fans cheer for the team against Richmond during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 21, 2023
Jacqueline Dziuba, bottom left, and Steven Godwin, who live in Greenville, N.C., and other visitors check out the exhibits at the Poe Museum in Richmond in January as the museum celebrates Edgar Allan Poe’s 214th birthday and its own 100-year anniversary.
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 22, 2023
Paul McLean (left), founder of the Virginia Minority Cannabis Coalition, listens alongside Mark Cannady during the “Is Social Equity in Off the Table in 2023?” portion of the program on Sunday on the second full day of the Virginia Cannabis Conference presented by Virginia NORML at Delta Hotels Richmond Downtown. Lobby Day takes place Monday.
SHABAN ATHUMAN photos, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 23, 2023
The flags at the Executive Mansion are at half-staff to honor those killed and injured in Monterey Park, California last weekend. Photo was taken on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.
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Jan. 24, 2023
Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, listens to debate during a Senate floor session in the state Capitol on a bill to make Daylight Savings Time year-round.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 25, 2023
Gov. Glenn Youngkin listens to George Daniel as he tries some Brunswick stew on Brunswick Stew Day at the Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Next to Daniel are (L-R) Dylan Pair, stewmaster Kevin Pair and Austin Pair. The yearly event returned to the Capitol for the first time since the pandemic.
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Jan. 26, 2023
Meghan Vandette is photographed with her dogs, Pepper, a deaf mini Australian shepherd, and Finn on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Ruff Canine Club in Richmond, Virginia.
SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 27, 2023
Three-year-old London Oshinkoya (from left) and 3-year-old twins Messiah and Malkia Finley go through the toys brought by Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 28, 2023
Dance instructor Paul Dandridge (foreground) works with youngsters as he teaches a theater dance during the “Genworth Lights Up! Youth Series: On the Road” at the Center for the Arts at Henrico High School on Saturday. The series offers free workshops and performances throughout the year for youth of all ages.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 29, 2023
Ronnie Jenkins II of Chesterfield County sits inside a Barefoot Spas hot tub with his 11-year-old son, Connor, and his wife, Amber, during the RVA Home Show at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.
Daniel Sangjib Min photos, TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 30, 2023
Frank Saucier listens as elected officials give remarks during a vigil for Tyre Nichols on Monday at Abner Clay Park in Richmond. Nichols died from the injuries he sustained after being beaten by police officers in Memphis.
SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Jan. 31, 2023
Mayor Levar Stoney gets ready to deliver his State of the City on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at the Richmond Main Street Station in Richmond, Virginia.
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Feb. 1, 2023
Gov. Glenn Youngkin attends the Virginia March for Life in Richmond, VA on February 1, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 2, 2023
Petersburg High School's basketball standout Chris Fields Jr. on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia.
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Feb. 3, 2023
Shawnrell Blackwell, left, a Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation homeowner and board member, watches as Dianna Bowser, president and CEO of SCDHC, shares a moment with Suzanne Youngkin during a ceremony at Virginia Housing in Richmond on Friday after Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the first lady presented the first Spirit of Virginia Award of 2023 to the affordable housing nonprofit.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
Feb. 4, 2023
Members of the Break it Down RVA Line Dancing group perform during a Black History Month Celebration at Virginia State University on Feb. 4.
SHABAN ATHUMAN, TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 5, 2023
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) of the Washington Commanders, right, look on before the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday in Las Vegas. With him are, from left, NFC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) of the Detroit Lions, NFC wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) of the Dallas Cowboys and NFC wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) of the Minnesota Vikings.
John Locher, Associated PRess
Feb. 6, 2023
(From left) U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, and Sethuraman Panchanathan, Ph.D., director of the National Science Foundation, arrive for a tour of VCU's Nanomaterials Core Characterization Facility with lab director and physics professor Massimo Bertino, Ph.D. (right) on Monday, Feb. 6. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 7, 2023
Sen. Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, is seen 4 1/2 hours into Tuesday's crossover session at the state Capitol.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
Feb. 8, 2023
Chef Patrick Phelan works with his staff on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at Lost Letter in Richmond, Virginia.
SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 9, 2023
Onlookers stand near a shattered window on East Broad Street following a shooting on Thursday. One person was killed and another wounded.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
Feb. 10, 2023
Colonial Williamsburg moves a 260-year-old building, originally called the Bray School, on a truck to a new location a mile away, where it will be put on public display, in Williamsburg, Va., on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. The Bray School is believed to be the oldest building in the US dedicated to the education of Black children.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb 11, 2023
Randolph-Macon celebrate after beating Roanoke College during a NCAA Division III Basketball game on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Randolph Macon Crenshaw Gym in Ashland, Virginia. With today's win, the Yellow Jackets hold the longest home winning steak in NCAA Division III history.
SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 12, 2023
The Science Museum of Virginia hosted a competition for student engineers during a commemoration of Celebrate Engineering Ingenuity Day. A packed crowd watches Sunday as a team of “Bridge Breakers” from the American Society of Civil Engineers puts students’ inventions to the test.
Lyndon German
Feb. 13, 2023
A crew from Walter D. Witt Roofing installs a new roof for Melvin Washington, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, as part of the Owens Corning National Roof Deployment Project in Richmond, VA on February 13, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 14, 2023
Richmond City Council member Cynthia Newbille pulls the winning raffle ticket as Marc Edwards, from InnovAge Virginia PACE, holds the basket during the 9th annual "For the Love of Our Seniors" event at Main Street Station in Richmond, VA on February 14, 2023. The event is a resource fair for senior residents and caregivers in Church Hill. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 15, 2023
A crew from the Richmond-based company Cut Cut installs the new art installation "McLean" by Navine G. Dossos on the façade of the Institute for Contemporary Art in Richmond, VA on February 15, 2023. The installation is part of the exhibit "So it appears" opening February 24th. The vinyl pieces being used are adapted from a series of paintings. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 16, 2023
Giov. Glenn Youngkin meets with the community at Westwood Fountain in Richmond, VA on Thursday, February 16, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 17, 2023
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Alison Linas, left, and Franklin greet Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jennifer Guiliano and attorney Alex Clarke at the Henrico County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court building on Friday.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
Feb. 18, 2023
Fans take pictures during the All-alumni Block Party before VCU’s game against Fordham on Saturday.
SHABAN ATHUMAN, TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 19, 2023
Virginia Tech's Georgia Amoore, left, waits for a pass from Elizabeth Kitley (33) during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in Blacksburg.
Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times
Feb. 20, 2023
Richmond resident David Scates filed an appeal with the VEC last summer four days after the state agency notified him that he had been overpaid unemployment benefits after catching COVID-19 and losing his job. Now, Scates is one of almost 17,000 Virginians at risk of having their appeals dismissed because the VEC contends they filed too late.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 21, 2023
State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, greets chief election officer and college friend Sheryl Johnson (right) at the Tabernacle Baptist Church polling station in Richmond, VA on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 as (from left) election workers Katie Johnson and Eric Johnson look on. McClellan is running to succeed Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th. McClellan would be the first African American woman to represent Virginia in Congress and would give Virginia a record four women in its congressional delegation. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 22, 2023
Members of the media tour Fox Elementary School in Richmond, VA after Richmond Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox provided an update on construction plans to rebuild the school on Wednesday, February 22. The building, which dates to 1911, was heavily damaged in a three-alarm fire on the night of Feb. 11, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 23, 2023
Marley Ferraro and her boyfriend, Zack Bannister, both VCU freshmen, spend time together between classes at Monroe Park as Thursday weather reaches around 80s in Richmond, Va., on Feb. 23, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 24, 2023
Sen. Aaron Rouse, left, D-Virginia Beach, talks with Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, before a general assembly session at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 25, 2023
Jenna Anderson of Cosby High shows her medal to her dad, Waylon Anderson, after winning the 112-pound weight class during the VHSL Girls State Open Championships at Unity Reed High in Manassas on Saturday.
SHABAN ATHUMAN, TIMES-DISPATCH
Feb. 26, 2023
Contestants in a duathlon race (run-bike-run competition) dash from the starting line in the first event of the West Creek Endurance Festival at the West Creek Business Park in Goochland County on Sunday.
Mark Bowes
Feb. 27, 2023
Eric and Linda Oakes speak to a small crowd before unveiling a plaque and bench dedicated to their son, Adam Oakes, in the VCU Student Commons building near the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life on February 27, 2023. The date marks the two-year anniversary of Oakes' death in a hazing incident, and VCU is calling this an annual hazing prevention day and day of remembrance for Oakes. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
Feb. 28, 2023
Jess Tanner (center) looks on as her daughters Aubrey (left), 10, and Charleigh, 8, deliver Girl Scout cookies to school counselor Michelle Nothnagel (right) and the other teachers and staff members at Manchester High School on February 28, 2023. With help from groups of retired teachers and others in the community, the girls, who are members of Girl Scout Troop 3654, raised over $1,000 to purchase the cookies for the staff. Jess Tanner, is an art teacher at Manchester and also a co-leader of their troop. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
March 1, 2023
Shirley Wiest, left, and Wilma Bowman, center, show a blanket for a veteran with the help of Julie Wiest, daughter of Shirley Wiest, at Sunrise of Richmond in Henrico, Va., on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Shirley Wiest and Wilma Bowman sewed over 3000 blankets for people at the VA Hospital, the Children’s Hospital and Moments of Hope Outreach among others.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 2, 2023
Carl Gupton, president of Greenswell Growers, is shown at the greenhouse of the company in Goochland, Va., on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Greenswell Growers, an automated indoor farming, can produce 28 times more greens per acre than traditional farming. They just sealed a deal with Ukrops and will start selling on Kroger shelves all across the mid-Atlantic.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 3, 2023
Highland Springs walks off the court after beating Stone Bridge during the Class 5 boys basketball quarterfinal on Friday, March 3, 2023 at J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico, Virginia.
SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 4, 2023
Nutzy plays with Shane Paris-Kennedy,9, during the Richmond Flying Squirrels Nutzy's Block Party on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia.
SHABAN ATHUMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 5, 2023
Patrons wait in line for Caribbean soul food from Mobile Yum Yum, one of the food trucks participating in Mobile Soul Sunday in Monroe Park. The event kicked off the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, a weeklong celebration of Richmond’s Black-owned restaurants.
Sean McGoey
March 6, 2023
Henrico County officials celebrate the start of renovations at Cheswick Park in Henrico's Three Chopt District on March 6, 2023. The 24.5-acre park, Henrico's oldest official park, will receive $2.1 million in improvements, including a new open fitness area and upgrades to its trails, playground, restroom facilities, pedestrian bridges, parking lot, main entrance, stormwater management infrastructure and signage. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
March 7, 2023
Congresswoman-elect Jennifer McClellan heads into the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC for orientation on March 7, 2023 in preparation for her swearing in as the first Black Congresswoman from Virginia. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
March 8, 2023
Kate Chenery Tweedy shows the exhibition of Secretariat at Ashland Museum in Ashland, Va., on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Kate Chenery Tweedy is spearheading an effort to bring a monument of Secretariat to Ashland.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 9, 2023
John Marano of Top Trumps USA speaks to the media next to Mr. Monopoly at Maggie Walker Plaza in Richmond, Va., on March 9, 2023. Top Trumps USA, under license from HASBRO, will design a Richmond-specific board that highlights the region’s favorite historic landmarks.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 10, 2023
The U.S. Postal Service commemorate the history and romance of train travel with the unveiling of its Railroad Stations Forever stamps during a ceremony at the Main Street Station in Richmond, Va.
Lyndon German
March 11, 2023
Susie Williams of Richmond gets a makeover at the Shamrock the Block Festival in Richmond on Saturday. The festival was relocated to Leigh Street this year.
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
March 12, 2023
A procession of Fifes and Drums moves down Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday. It traveled from old Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse to the Raleigh Tavern, where Thomas Jefferson and other leaders formed a Committee of Correspondence in 1773.
Sean Jones photos, Times-Dispatch
March 13, 2023
Cuong Luu, foreground, a volunteer of Feed More, prepares boxes of meals with other volunteers and staff at the food bank in Richmond, Va., on Monday, March 13, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 14, 2023
Bill Barksdale, technical director of Virginia Video Network, works with Kelli Lemon, director of digital programming, at the video studio of Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, Va., on March 14, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 15, 2023
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, looks on a portrait after unveiling it as former Speaker of the House at the house chamber of the State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Filler-Corn made history as the first woman and first Jewish Speaker in Virginia.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 16, 2023
MIKE KROPF, THE DAILY PROGRESS Virginia's Isaac McKneely (11) becomes emotional after an NCAA Tournament first round game against Furman in Orlando, Fl., Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Mike Kropf
March 17, 2023
Brian Erbe, center, a pipe manager, and other members of Greater Richmond Pipes and Drums perform to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Rosie Connolly's Pub Restaurant in Richmond, Va., on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 18, 2023
Virginia Tech's Mekhi Lewis takes down Oklahoma State's Dustin Plott during the consolation semifinals at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP)
Ian Maule
March 19, 2023
Virginia Tech's Kayana Traylor (23) is congratulated by teammates after scoring just before halftime of a second-round college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Matt Gentry)
Matt Gentry
March 20, 2023
Hannah and Ty Bilodeau of Lynchburg visit the recently completed Richmond Virginia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with their children, Blythe, 5, Goldie, 4, and Graham, 2, in Glen Allen in Henrico, Va., on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 21, 2023
Doug Ramseur, center left, and Emilee Hasbrouck, center right, defense lawyers for Wavie Jones, one of three Central State Hospital employees , who was charged in death of Irvo Otieno, speak to the media at Dinwiddie Courthouse in Dinwiddie, Va., on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 22, 2023
WRANGLD's, from left, senior customer success manager Trevor Lee, chief business officer Andy Sitison and CEO Jonathan "JD" Dyke work at their office of the 1717 Innovation Center in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 23, 2023
New Bon Secours Community Health Clinic is open in Manchester, Richmond, Va., on Thursday, March 23, 2023. The clinic will serve scheduled appointments and same day call-in appointments for the uninsured. The 8,000 square foot building is also home to the Bon Secours Care-A-Van, a mobile health clinic.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 24, 2023
Liz Kincaid, CEO of RVA Hospitality and owner of Max's On Broad, is photographed at the restaurant in Richmond, VA on March 24, 2023. Max's On Broad will be closing April 1 and will relaunch as a new concept in the summer. Kincaid also owns Tarrant's & Bar Solita. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
March 25, 2023
Henrico County families gather at Deep Run Park & Recreation Center on Saturday to celebrate all things agriculture during the county's second annual Farm Graze event. Children went booth to booth learning about the wonders of agriculture while participating in fun activities and scavenger hunts.
Lyndon German
March 26, 2023
Church Hill resident Alex Gerofsky finishes the Hill Topper 5K at the Church Hill Irish Festival with a time of 20 minutes, 26.8 seconds.
Thad Green
March 27, 2023
Wyatt Kingston, center, conducts a strength training session with Marshall Crenshaw, left, and Kevin Wright, right, at Hickory Hill Community Center in Richmond, Va., on Monday, March 27, 2023. Kingston, 71, has been working with the parks department for nearly 40 years on all kinds of initiatives, particularly those aimed at children in public housing communities.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
March 28, 2023
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, center, talks about the ongoing housing crisis in the city during a news conference on March 28.
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
March 29, 2023
From left, Caroline Ouko and Leon Ochieng, mother and older brother of Irvo Otieno, react near the casket during the celebration of life for Irvo Otieno at First Baptist Church of South Richmond in North Chesterfield on March 29.
Eva Russo
March 30, 2023
Senior students in Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center's culinary program presented Taj Mahsala: an Indian fusion menu.
SYDNEY SHULER, THE DAILY PROGRESS
March 31, 2023
Richmond Police address onlookers Friday, March 31, 2023 at the intersection of North Avenue and Moss Side Avenue, near Washington Park. Richmond police shot a man who was suspected of shooting a woman earlier in the day in the 1100 block of Evergreen Avenue on Richmond's Southside.
April 1, 2023
Sculptor Jocelyn Russell takes photos of the crowd after the unveiling of her statue of Secretariat at Ashland Town Hall Pavilion on Saturday.
Michael Martz photos, TImes-Dispatch
April 2, 2023
Drivers race in the Toyota Owners 400 at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, VA on April 2, 2023.. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
April 3, 2023
Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill plans to resign from her post to attend graduate school in Paris, where she will start a master’s program in international governance and diplomacy at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, colloquially known as SciencesPo.
EVA RUSSO, TIMES-DISPATCH
April 4, 2023
From left, Judy and Ron Singleton pose for a photo on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. MIKE KROPF/TIMES-DISPATCH
Mike Kropf
April 5, 2023
Beatrix Smith dips her matzah in salt water as she enjoys a Pasover Seder with her classmates (from left) Helen Corallo, Camp Maxwell, and Amara Ellen at the Weinstein JCC Preschool Program in Richmond, VA on April 5, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
April 6, 2023
Virginia Community College System Chancellor David Doré speaks with students at Piedmont Virginia Community College on Thursday.
SYDNEY SHULER, THE DAILY PROGRESS
April 7, 2023
A worker pushed water off a tarp on the field at The Diamond Friday, when the Flying Squirrels were scheduled to open their season against Reading.
MIKE KROPF/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 8, 2023
Ember O’Connell-Evans, 1, plays with hula hoops during the Dominion Energy Family Easter event at Maymont on Saturday.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
April 9, 2023
Mike Kearney plays an early form of badminton with grandkids Savannah and Ashton on the lawn of Montpelier during “We, the Kids” Day.
ANDRA LANDI, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REVIEW
April 10, 2023
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, center left, tours Richmond Marine Terminal with W. Sheppard Miller III , Virginia Secretary of Transportation , center right, as Stephen A. Edwards, left, Virginia Port Authority CEO, and Christina Saunders, manager of Richmond Marine Terminal, give them the tour on Monday, April 10, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 11, 2023
Inaara Woodards, 5, of Henrico, visits Italian Garden at Maymont with her mother, Victoria Crawley Woodards, and three brothers, Kai, 13, Zion, 12, and Avion Woodards, 11, during their home-school field trip to the park in Richmond, VA., on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. "It’s gorgeous!" Victoria Crawley Woodards said of Tuesday weather. She said it was the perfect weather for the field trip and other activities.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 13, 2023
Clarence Thweatt, right, a lead trainer for Chesterfield Public Schools, works on marking points during a transportation road-e-o event, which is friendly competition of school bus drivers demonstrating their driving skills and knowledge of laws, at Chesterfield County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 14, 2023
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at Liberty University.
PROVIDED BY LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
April 15, 2023
Tyson Foods workers attend a job fair at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Mechanicsville Turnpike. The Glen Allen plant is closing, displacing about 700 employees.
Em Holter
April 16, 2023
A display of 32 white balloons were raised and a 32-second moment of silence was observed in honor of the victims of the April 16, 2007, tragedy at the start of the 2023 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance on the Virginia Tech campus.
MATT GENTRY, The Roanoke Times
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April 17, 2023
Albert Hill Middle School sixth-grader Drew Sirpis looks for birds during the educational boat trip on the James River on Monday.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
April 18, 2023
Richmond Flying Squirrels Luis Matos steals the second base against Erie SeaWolves shortstop Gage Workman in the 3rd inning at The Diamond, Richmond, VA., on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 19, 2023
Children participate in Little Feet Meets at Matoaca High School in Chesterfield, VA on April 19, 2023. A total of 1,400 Special Olympic athletes from grades PK-5 throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools competed in Little Feet Meets between two dates, April 12 at James River High and April 19 at Matoaca High. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
April 20, 2023
Mike Blau, center, a line cook, and others work on preparing a soft opening of The Veil's new taproom, located in Scott’s Addition at 1509 Belleville St., on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 21, 2023
(From left) VCU sophomore Caroline May, of Pittsburgh, PA, and senior Lee Finch, of Norfolk, VA carry a coffin with a blow-up Earth ball during a VCU Student Climate Protest in Richmond, VA on April 21, 2023. The small crowd walked from the James Branch Cabell Library, though Monroe Park, to the office of VCU President Michael Rao in a mock funeral procession. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
April 22, 2023
Anthony Clary gestures as he runs through confetti during the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k on Saturday.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
April 23, 2023
A volunteer picks up an old wooden palate and brings it to a trash pile during Friends of Fonticello Park's community cleanup on Sunday.
Sean Jones, Times-Dispatch
April 24, 2023
Kay Ford spends time with her cat, Patches, at her home in Mechanicsville, VA., on Monday, April 24, 2023. Ford recently adopted Patches, a 40-pound cat, from Richmond Animal Care and Control. The story of Patches went viral after RACC publicized the cat.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 25, 2023
Emily Cover, a project manager with DPR Construction, is shown at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, left top, in Richmond, VA., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. DPR is the team that built the hospital.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 26, 2023
Guests tour the Anthropology Lab at the new College of Humanities and Sciences STEM building on West Franklin Street in Richmond, VA on April 26, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
April 27, 2023
Police tape marks the scene outside George Wythe High School.
ANNA BRYSON/TIMES-DISPATCH
April 28, 2023
Sculptor Kate Raudenbush takes in her finished piece "Breaking Point" in the Flagler Garden Near the Monet Bridge at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on April 28, 2023. The garden is set to debut "Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture" on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Incanto features five designed, allegorical sculptures, accompanied by poetry, throughout the garden. The exhibition is the work of Raudenbush and poet Sha Michele. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
April 29, 2023
Pharrell Williams performs during the Pharrell's Phriends set at Something in the Water in Virginia Beach on Saturday.
Kendall Warner
May 1, 2023
A man carries a piece of furniture through a neighborhood in Virginia Beach, Va. on Monday May 1, 2023. The City of Virginia Beach declared a state of emergency after a tornado moved through the area and damaged dozens of homes, downed trees and caused gas leaks. (AP Photo/Ben Finley)
Ben Finley
May 2, 2023
Sports Backers Stadium is shown next to The Diamond in this drone photo, in Richmond, VA., on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
May 3, 2023
CAL CARY, THE DAILY PROGRESS UVa cheerleader, Madison DeLoach, in front of other UVa cheerleaders tour the The Avelo Airlines Boeing 737 after landing at Charlottesville Albemarle Airport coming from Orlando on May 3, 2023. Avelo Airlines launched its first Charlottesville to Orlando flight line at the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport on May 3, 2023. The inaugural event consisted of a returning flight from Orlando to Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, a firetruck water salute upon arrival and a tour of the airplane.
Cal Cary
May 4, 2023
(From left) Maryann Macomber, of Mechanicsville, VA, leads a small group prayer with Gloria Randolph, of Richmond, VA, Randolph's great-grandson Xavier Jones, also of Richmond, and John Macomber, of Mechanicsville, during a National Day of Prayer event at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square in Richmond, VA on May 4, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 5, 2023
Steffiun Stanley preps dishes at Birdie's in Richmond, VA on May 5, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 6, 2023
People at the ¿Qué Pasa? Festival sit on the grass and enjoy the weather on Brown’s Island on Saturday.
Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH
May 7, 2023
Arts in the Park saw thousands pass through Byrd Park over the weekend. The festival is sponsored by the Carilion Civic Association.
Charlotte Rene Woods, Times-Dispatch
May 8, 2023
Gov. Glenn Youngkin shares a quiet moment with Holocaust survivor Halina Zimm on Monday afternoon before ceremonially signing a bill that adds a definition of antisemitism to Virginia law.
David Ress, Times-Dispatch
May 9, 2023
The Molcajete Sinaloa at Mariscos Mazatlan in Henrico, VA on May 9, 2023. Mariscos Mazatlan focuses on traditional Mexican cuisine from the city of Mazatlan and all along the Mexican coast. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 10, 2023
A goose, seen here on May 10, 2023, has built a nest in a median of the parking lot near Dilliards at Short Pump Town Center. The mall has put out orange cones to keep cars away and Jerome Golfman, assistant manager at Fink's Jewelers, said he regularly brings it water, cracked corn and other grains.
Eva Russo, TIMES-DISPATCH
May 11, 2023
Mary Finley-Brook, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Richmond and an expert on American gas infrastructure, says repairing the pipes no longer makes sense as gas prices continue to rise.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
May 12, 2023
(From left) Sam Amoaka, a freshman at Virginia State University, helps his girlfriend, Tamia Charles, a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University, move out of her dorm along with her dad, Thomas Charles, of Fredericksburg, VA, in downtown Richmond, VA on May 12, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 13, 2023
Virginia’s Thomas McConvey (left) defends the ball from Richmond’s Jake Kapp during an NCAA Tournament game at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville on Saturday.
Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH
May 14, 2023
University of Richmond outfielder Christian Beal made a catch on the run during the Friday game of Spiders-VCU series at The Diamond.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
May 15, 2023
The flags at Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission building are flown at half-staff on Monday. Governor Youngkin announced that flags would fly half-staff in honor of Peace Officers' Remembrance Day.
Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH
May 16, 2023
Ukrop's crumb cake has been picked up by Kroger and is being sold nationwide. Here, fresh cinnamon crumb cakes are packaged at the Ukrop's bakery in Richmond, VA on May 16, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 17, 2023
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney officially proclaims May as Jewish American Heritage Month during a celebration held in collaboration with the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond and the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) at Richmond City Hall in Richmond, VA on May 17, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 18, 2023
Acting Police Chief Richard Edwards stands by as Penn and Victoria Burke places a flower in honor of Sergeant J. Harvey Burke in the wreath at the memorial stone at the Richmond Police Training Academy in Richmond, VA during the Richmond Police Department Police Officers' Memorial Service on May 18, 2023. The ceremony, which took place during National Police Week, paid homage to Richmond's fallen officers. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 19, 2023
Doumit Bouhaidarat fries falafel balls to order during the St. Anthony Lebanese Food Festival on Friday.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
May 20, 2023
Dogs compete in the Subaru Ultimate Air Dogs — Splash Qualifier #4 event on the second day of Dominion Energy Riverrock on Saturday.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
May 21, 2023
The Virginia men’s tennis team celebrates after winning the national championship on Sunday in Orlando.
Courtesy UVa athletics photos
May 22, 2023
Vietnam War veteran Stuart Blankenship is photographed at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, VA on Monday, May 22, 2023. Blankenship is one of 50 Vietnam War Veterans from throughout the Commonwealth featured in the exhibit “50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience” which opened at the Virginia War Memorial on January 28, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
May 23, 2023
Wilbert Hobson poses for a portrait at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Va, on May 23, 2023. Hobson was part of the 101st Airborne unit of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. Hobson is very active in his chapter of the American Legion and helped found the Friends of Dupont, and organization. Graduating from an all-Black high school, Vietnam was Hobson’s first real experience with integration. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
May 24, 2023
Powhatan Owen, shown at the Virginia War Memorial, volunteered for a Burial Honor Guard company in Washington state to commemorate the service of fellow veterans and has further connected with veterans while attending powwows across the U.S.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
May 25, 2023
Madi Mabry laughs with other members of Mango Salon at the 2023 Top Workplaces awards in Richmond on Thursday.
Margo Wagner, Times-Dispatch
May 26, 2023
A solar cell receives light at the Agecroft Hall and Gardens on May 26, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
May 27, 2023
Julia Hunter, a shawl dancer, participates in the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe’s powwow on Saturday.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
May 28, 2023
Festival organizers Pete LeBlanc, left, and Zavi Harman enjoy the second installation of Daydream Fest in front of the Main Line Brewery stage on Sunday.
Gabriela De Camargo Goncalves
May 30, 2023
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks during the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial on Monday.
Margo Wagner, Times-Dispatch
May 31, 2023
Earl Gary, owner of YME Landscape, used a compact tractor to move topsoil for a temporary landscaping at the former site of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's statue on Monument Ave. in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATCH
June 1, 2023
Jorge Figueroa leads tenants and New Virginia Majority organizers in a rally at Southwood Apartments, in Richmond, VA on June 1, 2023 to protest rent increases. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eva Russo
June 2, 2023
This screenshot from the Virginia Department of Transportation's real-time traffic cameras shows multiple southbound lanes of Interstate 95 closed after a crash near the Belvidere Street exit the morning of Friday, June 2, 2023.
Virginia Department of Transportation
June 3, 2023
Richmond Kickers defender Simon Fitch shoots the ball defended by Chattanooga Red Wolves forward Walter Varela at City Stadium on Saturday, June 3.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
June 4, 2023
Mark Whitfield and Ciara Dickson watch Samaya Dickson throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Flying Squirrels game on Sunday.
Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves, Times-Dispatch
June 5, 2023
People bow their heads before eating as Dr. Stepfanie Ramsey gives the invocation at the 2023 Times-Dispatch/Sports Backer Scholar Athlete Awards Ceremony on June 5, 2023 at the Jefferson Hotel. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
June 6, 2023
A radar measure the speed of passing cars on Main Street on June 6, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
June 7, 2023
A piece from a mortar board lays on the ground at the site of a shooting at Huguenot High School's graduation ceremony.
Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH
June 8, 2023
A participant holds a candle during a vigil hosted by Grace & Holy Trinity Church on Thursday to remember Huguenot High School graduate Shawn Jackson and his stepfather, Renzo Smith.
Mike Kropf, TIMES-DISPATCH
June 9, 2023
Louisa softball players celebrate after beating Hanover 5-3 in the Class 4 state semifinals on Friday, June 9.
Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH
June 10, 2023
Riverside lacrosse players and coaches run on the field after defeating Freeman in the Class 5 championship game in Ashburn on Saturday, June 10.
Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH
June 11, 2023
The Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground featured drumming, dancing and music Sunday as visitors gathered for Elegba Folklore Society’s 27th annual Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration, on Sunday.
Katie Castellani, Times-Dispatch
June 12, 2023
Leigh Sewell plans to open Monkee's, a boutique clothing store in Carytown, after leaving her job as local hospital president. Sewell poses for a portrait in front of where the clothing store will be on June 12, 2023, in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
June 13, 2023
Horace Trower Jr walks down a ramp at the Richmond International Airport on June 13, 2023 in Henrico, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner | https://richmond.com/news/local/highway-interchange-i-64-short-pump-henrico/article_11c3551a-0a0d-11ee-9a32-eb5657021172.html | 2023-06-14T10:06:04 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/highway-interchange-i-64-short-pump-henrico/article_11c3551a-0a0d-11ee-9a32-eb5657021172.html |
WILDWOOD CREST — Members of the Wildwood Crest Planning Board want to see renovations completed at the former Ocean Holiday motel at 6501 Ocean Ave., but not as proposed.
The board unanimously rejected a variance and site plan for a proposal from Mahalo Wildwood Crest LLC to expand the building. Mayor Don Cabrera, who also serves on the Planning Board, said a major concern for board members was the impact of sight lines for other properties.
In an interview Monday after the meeting, Cabrera said the board did not want the proposal to hurt views of the beach, and added that the Crest zoning rules would have allowed the property to expand up by an additional story.
The decision at the June 7 meeting is the latest setback for Icona Resorts, which purchased the former Ocean Holiday for a reported $4.55 million with a plan to rebrand it as Mahalo. The chain of hotels already has a Mahalo Cape May and Mahalo Diamond Beach, a section of Lower Township adjacent to Wildwood Crest.
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That property, the former Regal Plaza, underwent a substantial renovation last year. The resorts take their name from a Hawaiian expression of gratitude.
There are also Icona locations in Cape May and Avalon.
The proposal for Wildwood Crest called for a renovation of the existing building and the construction of a five-story expansion with an additional 11 units. The application was heard over the course of two meetings.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Since being named director of the Cape May County Board of Commission…
There was intense interest in the proposal from residents, Cabrera said, with lengthy testimony presented on the proposal. Many opposed the site plan, he said, but some residents spoke in favor.
It would be up to the developer to present a new plan, Cabrera said. Now, at the start of the tourist season, the building is surrounded by a chain link construction fence, with much of the steel of the building exposed.
“We would like to see it renovated as a hotel,” Cabrera said. It will be up to the developer to decide the next step, he said, which could mean returning to the board with a new plan for the building.
Eustice Mita, the owner of Icona, could not be contacted Tuesday, and his voicemail did not accept messages.
Mita has recently pitched high-profile, multimillion-dollar projects in Cape May and Ocean City, but neither has moved forward.
In Ocean City, he proposed a 300-room, $150 million beachfront hotel on the Boardwalk on city-owned property between Fifth and Sixth streets. Mita brought plans to City Council at a public meeting but later said the proposal was unlikely to move forward after public opposition from Mayor Jay Gillian.
He has also lobbied for his plans for another landmark hotel in Cape May, at the site of the former Beach Theatre on Beach Avenue. Mita has described the potential impact of both projects in generational terms, saying the resorts have not seen the kind of grand hotel he has envisioned in decades. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/wildwood-crest-planners-say-no-to-motel-expansion/article_daf7df2e-0a34-11ee-9a9d-cbf6b30a4d39.html | 2023-06-14T10:08:15 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/wildwood-crest-planners-say-no-to-motel-expansion/article_daf7df2e-0a34-11ee-9a9d-cbf6b30a4d39.html |
GREENSBORO — While many Guilford County property owners were stunned by the increased taxes resulting from the 2022 property revaluation, the next scheduled revaluation will come a year sooner than usual.
Why? Essentially because real estate values continue to climb.
During a presentation to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, county Tax Director Ben Chavis said state law requires the N.C. Department of Revenue to conduct a “sales ratio study” every April for all 100 counties.
Using a random sample, the study compares the tax value of homes with the selling price of homes after the reappraisal.
Under state law, Chavis said, if the median sales ratio falls below 85% or above 115%, then that triggers a reappraisal.
“When they did ours, based on 473 sales … we came in at 84.95%. So it literally moved us from a five-year to a four-year reappraisal,” he explained.
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That means the next reappraisal will occur in 2026.
Because the number was so close to 85%, Chavis appealed the decision. However, when he compared all 10,480 sales from last year, the ratio was 80.14%.
Twenty-two other counties, including Forsyth and Rockingham, also fell under the threshold with 84.51% and 77.86% respectively.
Rockingham County Tax Director Todd Hurst said officials there decided in 2021 to conduct a full reappraisal in 2024 — even though the county is on an eight-year reappraisal cycle. Properties were last reappraised in 2019.
“We just saw (the sales ratio) declining steadily,” he said.
In Guilford, Chavis said his office needs at least four additional appraiser positions and one exempt property auditor position — none of which were included in the budget proposed by County Manager Michael Halford.
Halford said he needed additional information from Chavis to consider adding the positions; Chavis said he thought his office would have another meeting with Halford before the proposed budget was set.
The positions would cost the county about $429,000. Guilford’s municipalities would pay a portion of this cost since they pay the county to collect taxes, Chavis said.
“Our staff does a great job,” Chavis said. “Our appeal rate to the Board of ER (Equalization and Review) is just over 1%, but they’re just exhausted right now.”
Chavis noted that his appraiser staffing level is far below that recommended by the assessing industry and state Department of Revenue, which is between 7,000 and 10,000 parcels per appraiser.
“We currently have 11 appraisers averaging 19,773 parcels each, which is double the standard,” Chavis explained. “We need 21 appraisers just to meet recommended staffing levels. We’re requesting these four appraiser positions as a starting point to get us launched.”
He said the reappraisal process should begin by July. “In order to have a successful reappraisal, you’ve got to start at least two years out,” he said.
When commissioners asked how his staffing level got so low, Chavis said that he just never asked for more people.
“We’ve been utilizing technology to get by (and) over half of our staff has retired in the last several years, so we’re having to recruit and backfill those positions,” he said.
A department restructuring also was a factor, he added.
Unlike Rockingham County, which Hurst said is contracting out its next reappraisal at a cost of nearly $1.2 million, Chavis said he does not want to go to the private sector.
“There is no depth of knowledge of Guilford County and our appraisers are very knowledgeable of our local market,” Chavis said.
Real property accounts for 82% of Guilford County’s tax base. And, as a result of the 2022 reappraisal, that tax base rose by 31%.
Making sure the county conducts good appraisals not only ensures equity and fairness, Chavis said, it also means every property is counted.
“We’re at a place where we just got to have additional help.” | https://greensboro.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/guilford-county-property-reappraisal-ordered-north-carolina/article_626e46fe-05f4-11ee-bf48-eb6550ed8d36.html | 2023-06-14T10:14:23 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/guilford-county-property-reappraisal-ordered-north-carolina/article_626e46fe-05f4-11ee-bf48-eb6550ed8d36.html |
'We took a break': Popular downtown Indy bar reopens on Mass Ave after 20-month hiatus
A downtown mixology bar with a 1920s craft cocktail vibe has reopened after a 20-month hiatus.
Liberty Street, known for its large 12-foot by 24-foot mahogany bar, is back in business at 653 Massachusetts Ave. After closing in October 2021, owner Tammy Miller said the drinks were flowing again as of last weekend.
"We took a break, but we're happy to be back on the avenue," Miller said Tuesday. "We have our amazing cocktails and a great selection of beers."
Shawn and Tammy Miller opened Liberty Street in 2014. The bar became a popular nightspot for locals and tourists hopping around the downtown bar scene. Online, the bar boasted having more than 300 varieties of bourbon, whiskey and scotch in addition to local beer and cocktails.
Tammy Miller said drink specials and other events will be announced at a later date.
More:Playground, pool, waterslide, trails: Fishers plans $60M community and rec center
Why the bar is called 'Liberty Street'
The name 'Liberty Street' is a nod to the building's past.
According to Liberty Street's website, James H. Moore, secretary of the Licensed Saloon Keepers of Indiana, and partner James B. Wilson opened the Moore & Wilson Saloon Health Office Sample Room at 653 Massachusetts Avenue in 1892.
"The building continued to be used as a tavern for many years, at one point being leased to the Indianapolis Brewing Company," the bar's website explains, adding the Liberty Street name persisted until after World War II, at which point the name had taken on a different meaning.
In 2014, a sign in the window of the building read in part: "Park Ave. (which runs alongside the location) was named Liberty Street at this time. In homage to those bygone days of the gay '90s, Liberty Street will live again."
More:King Dough team readying Carmel pizzeria. Here's what to expect | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/downtown-indianapolis-bar-liberty-street-reopens-on-mass-ave/70318404007/ | 2023-06-14T10:16:20 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/downtown-indianapolis-bar-liberty-street-reopens-on-mass-ave/70318404007/ |
'We did not like Carmel.' Home Place, annexed 5 years ago, strives to maintain identify
Lilacs bloomed in May 1991 when Dianna Glass purchased her house in the Home Place neighborhood in what is now the city of Carmel. A symbol of spring.
Back then, Glass drove through Home Place prior to closing on the house. She saw people walking down the street, talking to one another and waving hello to neighbors. The friendly neighborhood and the fragrant purple flowers near her home were signs to Glass of where she was meant to live.
“It had a feeling of community, and I really appreciated that,” she said.
Five years ago, Carmel annexed Home Place after a lengthy and divisive court battle. Residents there are still adjusting with how to maintain the area's identity amid the affluent city's aggressive growth and redevelopment strategy.
More:12 years later, Home Place agrees to Carmel annexation
More:Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard has a $60M plan to kick-start economic growth in Home Place
Home Place, stretching from 111th Street to Interstate 465 and Pennsylvania Street to Westfield Boulevard, has historically been a quieter, rural area made up of working-class people and families, residents say. It's a contrast to wealthier and newer areas in Carmel, like City Center and Midtown.
Whereas in Midtown, people can drink and eat at bustling restaurants like the $5 million Sun King, Home Place residents head down the street to Jimmy B’s, where smoking is allowed inside and pork tenderloins and wings are served.
Many Home Place neighbors, like Glass, have lived in the community for decades, another contrast. Carmel has grown to roughly 100,000 people by attracting a large influx of residents due to its highly-rated schools and many amenities.
Prior to 2018, Home Place was unincorporated, the last bit of Clay Township the city hadn't annexed.
Over time, the city has brought more infrastructure work into the neighborhood and more transformative Carmel multistory redevelopment projects, like those in the city’s downtown, are inching closer to Home Place.
Home Place's character
White picket fence-style signs with black lettering at entrances to the Home Place neighborhood tell visitors the community was settled in 1832.
A man named Isaac Sharp at that time owned a log cabin, long since gone, at the corner of today’s intersection of 106th Street and College Avenue in the heart of the community. It became a school and a meeting location for residents of what was then called Pleasant Grove, according to the Carmel Clay Historical Society.
A small cemetery, founded in 1837, and historical plaques near it remind visitors today of Pleasant Grove. The cemetery is maintained by the Greater Home Place Neighborhood Association.
The area became known as Home Place after 1914 when the Orin Jessup Land Co. purchased land in the area, according to the Historical Society.
At Jimmy B's Eatery and Pub, it's dark and smoky inside. The neighborhood staple has been at its location at the southwest corner of College Avenue and 106th Street for just over 20 years. Before that? It was Home Place Tavern, across the street for decades earlier.
People either hate Jimmy B’s or love it, often because of the smoking inside, said owner Brenda Beauregard. She now lives in Florida and comes back to Home Place about four times a year.
The area has always been special to her because “you just knew everybody,” she said. Some Jimmy B's patrons have their names on chairs in the bar, she said. Customers have become family.
“We’re getting kids of the people that hung out across the street at Home Place Tavern,” she said. “Their parents came in there and now we’re getting their children.”
Just south of the bar on College Avenue is Rosie's Gardens where pottery, decorative water fountains and plants and trees of all colors and sizes cover close to 12 acres.
The garden center has been in the Home Place community for 40 years. Kevin Hughes and his wife bought an acre of the property and started selling Christmas trees, he said. It grew from there.
Decades later, Rosie's isn't leaving Home Place any time soon, Hughes said. In fact, they continue to see opportunity.
The business has future plans to expand with more parking, a new store and additional storage.
"It's going to be a couple years long project, but we had great backing from the neighborhood," Hughes said. "That part is great."
Home Place's annexation
Brainard took office in 1996 at a time when much of Clay Township was rural land outside city boundaries.
Home Place was the last of 56 successful annexations that Brainard initiated during his time in office. And it proved a challenge.
“Anybody who lived in Home Place, we did not like Carmel,” Beauregard, of Jimmy B's said. “Carmel didn’t do anything for us.”
The Carmel City Council in November 2004 voted to annex Home Place and southwest Clay Township, the two remaining properties before Clay Township and Carmel shared the same boundaries.
In 2005, the group Concerned Citizens for Home Place, remonstrators against Carmel’s annexation, filed petitions against the annexation in Hamilton County Superior Court. Some issues involved higher taxes, but a lot of concern centered around the neighborhood's identity.
“A lot of people thought that with Carmel coming in, they would lose a lot of control over the area,” said Mark Rutherford, an attorney who has lived in the area since the 1970s.
Rutherford said Home Place has always been "eclectic" compared to the rest of the city and neighbors worried that would go away.
“Does it become more like Carmel, which is not that eclectic?" Rutherford asked.
Even Brainard said he recognized that Home Place "had more of an identity" than other areas Carmel had annexed.
The legal fight dragged on for just over a decade. In 2017, Home Place residents and Carmel came to an agreement to allow the annexation to proceed. It became official in 2018.
Carmel's work in Home Place
Perhaps the most notable change in Home Place since it became part of Carmel is the roundabout at the main intersection of 106th Street and College Avenue.
Brainard said Home Place needed city services “more than anybody.” The existing and future improvements will help the private sector invest in the neighborhood in the future, Brainard said.
Between 2018 and 2021, Carmel invested about $8.7 million in projects directly benefitting Home Place, according to a summary of projects and funds from the mayor's office.
That work in the neighborhood has included street paving, drainage improvements and installing water infrastructure for 380 homes. Much of the neighborhood was previously on well water, Brainard said.
“We’ve done a lot of work in Home Place, but it’s a lot of work that is in the ground at this point,” Brainard said. “It sets the foundation for what is going to come next.”
After 2018, Home Place was also under Carmel's code enforcement laws, which cracked down on bad landlords and less-than-desirable yards, Brainard explained.
"Junk cars, without tires in the front lawn, it stopped all that," he said.
Whether you agree with Brainard that change has been positive largely seems to depend on your view of his vision for Carmel.
Greg Lentz grew up in the area and attended Carmel schools after moving to Home Place with his family in 1967. He lives just minutes from the original home is family moved into decades ago.
Lentz was appointed by Brainard to serve on the Home Place Advisory Board, a city committee created after the annexation to discuss issues in Home Place. Lentz said the improvements made by Carmel since 2018 have mostly brought positive change to the neighborhood.
"Home Place really tried to keep its identity of being its own little community and for the most part, prosper," Lentz said. "The reality is, you've got a whole new ballgame in terms of just infrastructure access."
Home Place residents that spoke with IndyStar largely said that the infrastructure improvements have been a benefit to the area.
But some are concerned about the potential amount of construction and redevelopment projects planned near the neighborhood.
For example, Carmel is planning to transform the Parkwood Crossing office park at U.S. 31 and Interstate 465 into a neighborhood in the style of Midtown or City Center. It's less than a mile south of Home Place on College Avenue.
More:Carmel to redevelop U.S. 31 office park into City Center-type area
The development project, called Carmel Gateway, will take years to complete. But the project will have 714,000 square feet of office buildings, 3,361 parking spaces mainly in several garages, nearly 90,000 square feet of retail, about 1,200 townhome and apartments and an 87,000 square-foot hotel, all near Home Place, according to initial plans.
Glass said she’s seen the positives of homes transitioning to city water and repaving of streets, but the most negative impact since Home Place has joined Carmel is “the overbuilding.”
“Turning open areas, which give peace and a bit of nature for the betterment of our hearts, minds and emotions, turning them into more concrete jungles with lights, noise and traffic,” Glass said.
And some feel like it's just a matter of time before those types of developments come to Home Place itself.
More:History lost? Mixed-use housing 'blandmarks' taking over downtown suburbia in Indiana
Maintaining Home Place’s identity
The Greater Home Place Neighborhood Association is fundraising for one way to keep the neighborhood's history alive.
Inside a warehouse near 65th Street and Binford Boulevard in Indianapolis, artist Ryan Feeney holds up a clay model of a red-tailed hawk's wing next to the body of the bird sculpture.
Feeney, of Indy Art Forge, is helping the neighborhood association create an art piece for the new roundabout at 106th Street and College Avenue to reflect the uniqueness of Home Place.
The sculpture for Home Place will feature a bronze red-tailed hawk with an eight-foot wingspan, Feeney said. It will sit on top of a railroad lantern with symbols representing the neighborhood’s past.
“It’s about preserving some of Home Place history,” said Sherry Heston, with the neighborhood association. She has lived in the area since 1993. “It’s a wonderful community that you know and love.”
The total cost of the sculpture will be about $266,000. The neighborhood association is currently fundraising after Clay Township and Carmel Clay Parks each gave $100,000 to the project.
It's unusual for a neighborhood to initiate an idea for roundabout art in Carmel. But the sculpture is also unusual for Home Place, as roundabout art is a quintessential part of the city the neighborhood fought joining for so long.
Still, as new developments go up and the neighborhood changes, Home Place residents can point to the sculpture as a symbol of its history. And, of course, of the past meeting the future. Because what is more Carmel than roundabout art?
“I think there will be a great deal of pride from it,” Glass said.
Contact the reporter at 317-779-4468. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/carmel/2023/06/14/home-place-annexation-carmel-community-identity-development-parkwood-crossing-106th-st-college-ave/70276976007/ | 2023-06-14T10:16:26 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/carmel/2023/06/14/home-place-annexation-carmel-community-identity-development-parkwood-crossing-106th-st-college-ave/70276976007/ |
On the first Monday of each month, Don and Judy Wrolson welcome musicians with a heart for Americana and a love of sharing music.
The Hampton Old Country Hoedown is a monthly jam session open to musicians of all skill levels, from those who have a bevy of albums behind them to those who have never set foot on a stage. The event celebrated 10 years of singing and dancing Monday at Hampton's historic Windsor Theatre.
Bluegrass is a uniquely American music that takes much of its influence from Scottish-American settlers in the southeast portion of the United States. African-Americans introduced the banjo, and in the 1940s Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys made the genre what it is today. It's characterized by its acoustic instruments taking turns leading melodies as well as the improvisational and often complex break.
Judy Wrolson sat at the hospitality table beaming as performers trickled in during the late afternoon. She knows everyone by name and hometown and greeted each arrival with joyous enthusiasm. She describes herself as "the hostess with the most-est," and when the weather is good she sees up to 30-plus musicians and on one occasion, 233 guests.
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Average attendance runs around 125 folks in the audience and 15 to 20 performers on stage. The bluegrass jam format is simple and allows for all musicians to take a shot at what's known as a break or breakdown when they're ready.
If you've ever seen a fast-picking mandolin or banjo player, you're probably familiar with the concept of a break. Musicians take turns playing a melody or riffing on its contents. Guitars play accompaniment and voices soar over the music with what Bill Monroe called "a high, lonesome sound."
It's a familiar way of celebrating just about anything, but a 10th anniversary is something special. Don Wrolson got quite a surprise when daughter Becky arrived toting his first granddaughter, Lucy Mae. Rather than play on stage and sing with the others, he spent most of his time showing off little Lucy by strutting around the theater with the child in his arms.
There were surprise visits from his sisters as well as travelers he's met at bluegrass festivals all over the Midwest and beyond.
"We just meet people at festivals and they become our friends. It don't take much," he said, smooching Lucy lightly on her head for punctuation.
Hampton is home to the eighth annual Bluegrass and Country Music Festival Thursday through Sunday at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. With performers for the four-day festival rolling into town, the Wrolsons will have plenty of new friends by week's end.
Folding chairs on stage filled up and musicians angled their instruments to allow others to join. Before long Don Wrolson introduced the format to the guests. Cheers and applause swelled as instruments and players were featured and toes tapped all through the theatre.
While the group is made up of humble, salt-of-the-earth types, everyone had one name on their lips: William Lawson.
"Phenom." "Gifted." "Brilliant picker." Compliments like these went on through the night, even before Lawson took the stage. He's been jamming at the Hampton Old Country Hoedown for about five years, and next month he's looking forward to turning 16 years of age.
He got his first mandolin when he was just 6 or 7. By 11 years old, he was up on stage, jamming with bluegrass performers five times his age.
"I've actually got a lot of shows booked for summer. I've got a Facebook page, and people can just ask me to play. It's pretty easy," he explained.
New faces are always welcome at the Windsor on Monday nights, whether you're a performer or just love to listen.
Judy Wrolson lays it out plainly, "Without our audience, who have become friends, and our fabulous musicians who donate their time, we would not have the event we do today. If the musicians are having fun, the audience is having fun!"
She has a little basket on her table to collect free-will donations. The money goes to the Windsor Theatre.
The theater was constructed in 1917 and remodeled in 1998. Jim Davies manages the venue and was on hand as the revelry kicked up.
"We love having everyone here on a Monday night. Ten years and lots of folks through the door," he says.
The Hampton Old Country Hoedown is 6-9 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the Windsor Theatre at 103 N. Federal St. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/hampton-old-country-hoedown-wrolson-bluegrass/article_7b22b0d0-0a0a-11ee-8f13-cb59f20e87aa.html | 2023-06-14T10:29:55 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/hampton-old-country-hoedown-wrolson-bluegrass/article_7b22b0d0-0a0a-11ee-8f13-cb59f20e87aa.html |
BALTIMORE — Over the past few weeks, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has witnessed a flurry of new life. The Zoo recently announced the birth of two trumpeter swans, a sitatunga calf, a blue duiker, and a litter of prairie dogs. All the newborns were born on Maryland Zoo property.
The two trumpeter swans, called cygnets, were born in the Zoo’s Farmyard. Their parents, Scuttle and Buttercup, incubated their eggs for 30 days before they hatched on May 24. Their parents “have played a very important role in the conservation of their species,” said Jen Kottyan, Curator of Birds at Maryland Zoo. As part of its conservation efforts, the Zoo plans to send the baby swans to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which will release them in Oregon. To give them the best odds at survival in the wild, the parents will raise the hatchlings until they are big enough to survive on their own.
The Zoo also welcomed the most recent addition to its sitatunga herd, which is a species of antelope native to Central Africa. On May 23, mother Ally and father Beau, became parents to Mae, the 12th member of their herd. The newest sitatunga is the adult male Beau’s third calf. The sitatunga species is not currently threatened or endangered, due in part to conservation efforts coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—such as the Sitatunga Species Survival Plan (SSP).
The Zoo also announced in a tweet the birth of blue duiker, Indigo. Blue duiker is a species of antelope, native to southern and eastern African forests. They said in the tweet that the blue duiker was born, but they have not released any information about Indigo.
Finally, on May 19, the Zoo began to see the heads of newborn prairie dogs popping out from their underground dens. Prairie dogs burrow a complex series of tunnels underground and give birth beneath the soil. While underground, the parents of the most recent litter took care of their blind and hairless prairie pups. Once the pups popped out of their tunnels, all the adult prairie dogs started to take care of the newborns together. Prairie dogs have not been endangered since the 1970s, due to conservation efforts.
Visitors at the Maryland Zoo can see all these newborns in their respective habitats, including the lake in the Zoo’s Farmyard, the Sitatunga habitat, the Blue Duiker habitat, and the Prairie Dog Town habitat.
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Sign up for the Capitol Breach email newsletter, delivering the latest breaking news and a roundup of the investigation into the Capitol Riots on January 6, 2021. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/baby-animals-at-maryland-zoo/65-b1681cb4-eb71-4f3a-90d5-dac34b181f5d | 2023-06-14T10:37:05 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/baby-animals-at-maryland-zoo/65-b1681cb4-eb71-4f3a-90d5-dac34b181f5d |
MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — It's not every day the Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife (formerly Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center) near Stroudsburg takes in a golden eagle, let alone one with a missing foot.
"When we first looked at the foot, I was almost in disbelief that something could have healed that well—no infection, no necrosis. It completely healed over," said Janine Tancredi, the center's executive director.
The bird is recovering at the center after being found on someone's property near Dushore in Sullivan County.
Tancredi says after taking the bird to the vet, it was determined the foot has been missing for eight months to a year. But despite that, the adult bird is doing well.
"The way the bone healed, it doesn't show any signs of him being in pain. They palpated it. We took x-rays here. They re-ran x-rays there, at Dublin Veterinary Hospital, with Dr. Adrienne Breaux, and no wing injuries whatsoever. No head trauma, so I think it was just a little bit of desperation as far as scavenging for food. I think that's also why his talons are worn down."
The goal for any animal that comes into the center is to rehabilitate them and eventually release them. But it's still unclear what will happen to the eagle.
"He's definitely thriving at this point. He's eating on his own. He hand-feeds and eats on his own. We have not live-prey tested him yet. He's only been here a couple of days. He still is a little bit weak. I think it's from being grounded, so we're hoping to build his strength back up and then move forward from there."
The center is taking the bird to a specialist at the University of Pennsylvania for further examination, but to do that, they need the community's help.
"Specialists cost, and they're not usually on board with discounts, let alone free. The University of Penn, it's going to end up costing, and it's worth it because this is a very rare case."
See more pets and animal stories on WNEP's YouTube playlist. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/one-footed-eagle-recovering-at-wildlife-center-in-the-poconos-golden-eagle-x-rays-rehab/523-d50bef9a-d1e0-4e4f-af97-988ed58741f3 | 2023-06-14T10:37:11 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/one-footed-eagle-recovering-at-wildlife-center-in-the-poconos-golden-eagle-x-rays-rehab/523-d50bef9a-d1e0-4e4f-af97-988ed58741f3 |
Former President Donald Trump is once again in a legal battle after being indicted for a second time in a matter of months. He traveled to Miami to face 37 new federal charges related to obstruction and unlawful retention of defense information.
Newswatch 16 spoke with Robert Speel, a political science professor at Penn State Erie, to gather his thoughts.
"My assumption is most people who don't like Trump are taking it very seriously and perhaps supporters are dismissing some of the charges," Speel said.
Trump is the only former American President to be indicted.
"It does happen in other countries. It has happened in Israel, France, and Italy with a Prime Minister who just died actually, Silvio Berlusconi, but it is new for the United States, it is different and we will see how it plays out," added Speel.
The charges accuse Trump of storing dozens of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and refusing to return them. Both President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence were also found in possession of classified documents. However, Speel says there is a reason that only Trump faces legal trouble for it.
"Trump is on tape; audio and video, knowing that he has documents that he wasn't supposed to have, particularly classified documents. He intentionally made efforts to cover up that he had those documents, which there is no evidence that we have with other Presidents or Vice Presidents that they did, so," Speel explained.
As for how the indictment may affect Trump's run for president in 2024 if he is found guilty:
"Conviction for possessing classified documents or financial fraud like he has been charged for in New York is not enough to prevent someone from becoming President in the American Constitution," Speel stated.
Once again, if Trump is found guilty of these alleged crimes, the former president could serve time in federal prison. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/political-science-professor-talks-trump-indictment/523-15ba383a-5ee2-49ce-9c9e-11d3a1bf57ce | 2023-06-14T10:37:17 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/political-science-professor-talks-trump-indictment/523-15ba383a-5ee2-49ce-9c9e-11d3a1bf57ce |
BRANDON, Fla. — On this Flag Day, a local young woman wants to teach others the importance of handling the U.S. flag properly. That project has earned her the Girl Scouts' highest honor, a Gold Award.
This is pretty significant, only 5 percent of Girl Scouts achieve this honor. It represents dozens of hours of work to create a significant and sustainable positive change in the community.
Ayla Yebba got her gold award this past weekend. Her project is called the "One Star Program."
It has two purposes: to teach other Girl Scouts how to properly fold, store and display the flag and how to properly dispose of old, worn-out flags. She found out that hundreds of old flags from the American Legion were waiting to be retired, so she was able to create a network between several local funeral homes to have the flags cremated with deceased veterans.
"Prior to the cremation, one star is cut from the flag and is then given back to the family as a keepsake," Yebba said. "It holds the one-star momentum and it basically represents the service the veteran has done for our country. It also recognizes the significance and honor the flag deserves after retirement."
Yebba added that she hopes this project will help young people gain a better understanding of patriotism and of respecting our flag.
"I hope that this project, 'One Star,' just revamps that patriotism, but also shows our community with myself and everyone involved in the project how much we appreciate the country that we live in," she said.
Jillian Painter is the High Awards Coordinator for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. She says 32 girl scouts were awarded the Gold Award at a ceremony last weekend.
"This is a minimum of an 80-hour project on top of their rigorous academic schedule, on top of their sports, on top of all the other clubs they're associated with," Painter said. "They are dedicating 80 hours to make this difference."
She says all of the projects were impressive and will help them in future endeavors. "Those life skills that they earn through the process. They learn budgeting and time management. All of these essential things that they develop so young just gives them a leg up in their careers." | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/tampa-girl-scout-ayla-yebba-gold-award-us-flag-project/67-46a7c845-b9cf-4327-8def-c10befb2903f | 2023-06-14T10:49:40 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/tampa-girl-scout-ayla-yebba-gold-award-us-flag-project/67-46a7c845-b9cf-4327-8def-c10befb2903f |
TOWSON, Md. — The Board of Education of Baltimore County officially appointed Dr. Myriam Yarbrough as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools.
Her 4-year, $310,000 contract was approved at the board meeting on Tuesday night.
She officially starts on July 1. She succeeds Dr. Darryl Williams, who has served as BCPS superintendent since July 2019.
Dr. Yarbrough, who has been serving as BCPS deputy superintendent since 2021.
“Dr. Myriam Yarbrough is a passionate and skilled leader who is prepared to respond to the urgent needs of Team BCPS and thoughtfully plan for the future,” said Jane Lichter, chair of the Board of Education.
In a statement, Dr. Yarbrough says, “I look forward to working closely with all members of Team BCPS to make certain that we provide a world-class education for our 111,000 students, improve climate and operational efficiency, and build upon the strengths of our school system."
“There are great things happening in our school system, and I am confident that as the Team BCPS community works together, united in our core purpose to increase achievement for all students, we will be among the highest performing school systems in the state and nation.”
Under the terms of the four-year contract, Dr. Yarbrough will earn a salary of $310,000 per year.
A copy of her contract will be posted on the BCPS website Wednesday, June 14, 2023. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/baltimore-county-school-board-approves-new-superintendent-contract-for-310-000 | 2023-06-14T10:54:37 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/baltimore-county-school-board-approves-new-superintendent-contract-for-310-000 |
CEDAR FALLS – Public safety officers rescued two kayakers from the Cedar River on Tuesday night.
They were out of the water by about 7:45 p.m. after their vessel tipped over near the First Street/Iowa Highway 57 Bridge and Gateway Park. Neither the man nor the woman were injured or ever in life-threatening danger, according to Capt. Derek Brown.
Cedar Falls public safety officers rescued two kayakers from the Cedar River on Tuesday night.
Provided photo
Brown said officers performed a “rare” high angle rope rescue from 40 to 50 feet off the bridge after cutting through the metal fencing that's meant to prevent pedestrians from falling off it. One rappelled off the span, and brought the two up one at a time using a victim safety harness.
Multiple calls came in at about 6 p.m. for the stranded but “calm” kayakers who lost their boat but had lifejackets and hung onto a logjam, Brown said.
Responders first tried to bring them to shore via their own boat and then by wading through the water. They were both deemed the quicker options at the time.
Cedar Falls public safety officers rescued two kayakers from the Cedar River on Tuesday night.
ANDY MILONE, COURIER STAFF WRITER
But the boat rescue was unsuccessful due to the water being too shallow and the propeller hitting the river bottom. Officers then used a chest weight and life safety ropes while trying to wade into the water, but had difficulties because of the water being too deep and the current being too strong as they got closer to the kayakers.
About 10 first responders, including retired chief and now consultant John Bostwick, who happened to be in the area, assisted as well as MercyOne paramedics.
Photos: Protesters, supporters gather in Miami ahead of Trump court appearance
Supporters of former President Donald Trump board buses Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Orlando, Fla., to attend a rally at the courthouse in Miami to show support for the former president. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux
Dominic Santana stands outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance today on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Journalists line up to be admitted inside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Supporters of former President Donald Trump line up to board buses to attend a rally at the courthouse in Miami to show support for Trump, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux
People cycle around the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky
People rally outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez greets police outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Armed federal agents patrol at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami, before former President Donald Trump is makes a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez greets police outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Supporters of former President Donald Trump, rally at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Trump is making a federal court appearance today on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Supporters of former President Donald Trump, drive near the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Trump is making a federal court appearance today on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Wilfredo Lee
Danette Chiialtas points and yells at supporters of former President Donald Trump as they board buses Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Orlando, Fla., to attend a rally at the courthouse in Miami to show support for the former president. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux
A supporters of former President Donald Trump boards a bus Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Orlando, Fla., to attend a rally at the courthouse in Miami to show support for the former president. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux
A supporter of former President Donald Trump walks over to board a bus to attend a rally at the courthouse in Miami to show support for the former president on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux
Police form a line outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
People rally outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Wilfredo Lee
Supporters of President Donald Trump rally outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Trump is making a federal court appearance today on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Wilfredo Lee
Miami Police Department officers prepare at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami, before former President Donald Trump makes a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Gerald Herbert
A poster of former President Donald Trump is held up by a supporter in front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami, before former President Donald Trump makes a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Marta Lavandier
Police control traffic around the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami, before former President Donald Trump makes a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky
People rally at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chris O'Meara
Police work outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Former President Donald Trump is making a federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chris O'Meara
Hats and other items supporting former President Donald Trump are for sale outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. Trump is making a federal court appearance today on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Rebecca Blackwell
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WATERLOO — The pistol used to snuff out the lives of Tamica Allison and her friend Andrea Anderson in February 2020 was found months after the slaying.
The silver-and-black 9 mm Jimenez Arms handgun was discovered by chance in a knitting bag tucked away in an unsecured garage.
Donald Black told jurors how he discovered the weapon while he was cleaning out the Newell Street garage when he and his wife were moving out of the house in August 2020.
Black said the weapon wasn’t his, and he didn’t know where it came from or how it found its way into his garage. His family didn’t have guns because they had children in the home, he said.
Anyone passing by could have hidden the gun, he said. The garage lacked an overhead door.
Black testified that he drove down to the police station and turned the pistol over to the department.
It wasn’t until later — after investigators routinely entered fired casings from the garage gun into the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network computer database — that authorities realized the significance of the pistol.
NIBIN alerted detectives to the fact that small markings on the test-fired casings matched two spent casings found next to Allison and Anderson’s bodies in Allison’s home at 1112 W. Second St.
And it wasn’t until the months later, during depositions to prepare for the homicide trial, that another piece of the puzzle fell into place, prosecutors said. Black is friend of Matthew Dee Buford III, 39, who was Allison’s boyfriend and is the person charged in the double slaying.
Ballistics expert Victor Murillo with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation testified that follow-up examinations of the fired casings confirmed the match. He noted that bullets recovered from the victim’s bodies weren’t able to be linked to the gun, in part because of damage to the projectiles, but he said they were of the same caliber and had similar rifling characteristics.
Another DCI expert testified that DNA samples from the gun and magazines were too weak to interpret.
Authorities allege Buford shot and killed the two women, drove to visit family around town and then found his way to Peoria, Illinois, where he turned himself in days later.
While the gun had remained missing in the hours and days following the slayings, investigators did find a spare magazine for a Jimenez Arms handgun. It was sitting in a nylon cooler in the backseat of a snow-covered 1979 Buick that was parked at the Second Street address. The magazine had 9 mm rounds that were the same brand as those found at the shooting scene. The car also had mail belonging to Buford, police said.
On Tuesday, the state rested its case, and the defense declined to present any of its own witnesses, instead relying on cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.
Closing arguments in the case are scheduled for Wednesday in Black Hawk County District Court.
DCI Criminalist Victor Murillo, ballistics expert, testified that examinations linked a handgun found in a garage in August 2020 to a double homicide months earlier.
Police found a magazine for a Jimenez Arms 9 mm pistol in a nylon cooler in a 1979 Buick parked at the West Second Street address hours after the double slaying. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gun-in-double-slaying-was-found-in-friends-garage/article_25541f24-096d-11ee-8d49-137a2fa52663.html | 2023-06-14T10:55:57 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gun-in-double-slaying-was-found-in-friends-garage/article_25541f24-096d-11ee-8d49-137a2fa52663.html |
WATERLOO – New mental health services specifically for children will soon be offered in Northeast Iowa.
Brownstone Youth Services, located at 1402 Logan Ave. in Waterloo, will provide a safe space for children going through mental health crises. The center will treat around a dozen children, ages 8 through 17, starting June 27.
Brittany Davie, program director, said a crisis can include behavioral issues at school like getting into fights, or skipping or being suspended; substance abuse issues; and mental health breakdowns in which a child becomes highly emotional.
Children must be referred to the service through a doctor, therapist, counselor, police department or juvenile court services. A child may stay for up to five days, longer with approval from County Social Services. Drop ins are not accepted.
“It’s not a detention center, and it’s not a shelter,” Clinical Director Trisha Duitsman said. “It’s not for ‘bad’ kids. It’s a safe place for kids in crisis.”
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After children arrive at the center, Duitsman has 24 hours to provide them with a mental health assessment and determine what resources the child may need.
“A lot of kids think when they’re going to get help that it’s just talking to a therapist or counselor,” Davie said. “We’re trying to provide resources so children can learn to self-regulate, to find their niche so they can use those resources or tactics before they get to a crisis.”
Brownstone hopes to provide a variety of therapies such as individual, group, art, body, music and play therapy.
“It’s therapy, but they don’t even realize it,” Duitsman said.
The center also has a four-month-old therapy dog in training named Yori.
Duitsman, who previously ran a program with the Waterloo Police Department for crisis calls, wants to build a bond between children and local police officers.
“(I want to) break that stigma with negative things they see in the media,” she said. “And when they do leave, that’s a face they may see and recognize when something happens, they’re safe.”
Working with WPD, Duitsman learned some children can’t go home and officers had nowhere to take them.
“We’re not just helping the Waterloo Police Department but alleviating people that take up space in hospitals,” she said. “When (hospitals) are bombarded with things, we won’t have people waiting at the ER for hours at a time.”
The main floor at Brownstone Youth Services has therapy offices, a library and bedrooms for the children, one side for boys and another for girls. There will also be a bedroom dedicated to LGBTQ+ children.
Downstairs, there is a recreation room where children can watch movies, play games, make arts and crafts, play with LEGOs and robots, journal and write — “really any and everything we can possibly think of to keep kids’ interest to keep them busy and on routine,” Duitsman said.
The children also will spend hours learning skills such as how to do laundry, cook meals, clean and do yard work.
County Social Services approached Sam Hudson, director of North Iowa Regional Services — which runs an adult crisis stabilization center, juvenile detention center and subacute mental health services — a few years ago to open a youth crisis center. The building was purchased in February 2022.
Brownstone is one of four youth crisis centers in the state. The other three are in Dubuque, Des Moines and Sioux City.
County Social Services funding paid for the building and remodeling. It also will fund the first five days children are in the center. If a child stays longer, income guidelines will determine the cost.
Seventeen youth advocates are already hired, paid through North Iowa Regional Services. Advocates either have a degree in the realm of mental health or receive 30 hours of mental health training. Training includes how to provide trauma-informed care and how to provide safe zone training for LGBTQ+ children.
The center is always open, with two to three staffers per shift. An advanced registered nurse practitioner can adjust medications.
Hudson said the center will open with a capacity of eight children, and depending on need could have a maximum of 16. The smaller capacity takes account of of the fact that Brownstone accepts children as young as age eight. Other centers accept only older children.
“If there’s a 6-year-old who needs it, we’ll accept them,” Davie said. “This is all new to the state. We’ll be adapting and learning through every situation.” | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/new-mental-health-crisis-center-for-children-opening-in-waterloo/article_b2e42712-0558-11ee-b1ea-df50fc312344.html | 2023-06-14T10:56:03 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/new-mental-health-crisis-center-for-children-opening-in-waterloo/article_b2e42712-0558-11ee-b1ea-df50fc312344.html |
WATERLOO — No one is alone in nursing, and for years Carol Ratchford has been inspiring young people new to the profession.
“I don’t know if I’d be a nurse today if it wasn’t for her,” said Jake Powers.
Ratchford hired Powers as a certified nurses aide in the MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center emergency room, his first step in what has become a rewarding career.
“She was always really good at sharing her knowledge and believing in her people. She was a good boss,” said Powers, who later went on to become a registered nurse and earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
“She is a great teacher and comes with a lot of knowledge,” said Heather Bartlett, the manager of inpatient physical rehab at MercyOne, who has known Ratchford for 30 years.
Ratchford was nominated as one of the Cedar Valley Top 10 Nurses because she handles critical situations with grace and because of her firm, yet compassionate, approach to the job.
Her demeanor sets the tone in environments that can be stressful and chaotic.
“She’s always calm and very confident, and makes everything more calm,” Bartlett said.
Ratchford is also known for being available to consult with the rest of her team, even when she’s away from the hospital after hours.
“I like to help mentor new people. I really think we need the new nurses. I really want to strongly encourage people to be in the community of nurses so we have a group we can rely on,” Ratchford said.
The profession is team driven, she noted, and receiving the award is reflective on her entire team.
“Nursing is not an individual sport,” she said.
She is currently semi-retired, working part time as an intensive care nurse.
“We have a lot of very sick patients and a lot of very worried family members. We try to return them to health as much as we can and then being a resource for the family, a shoulder for them to lean on in what they are going through,” Ratchford said.
Ratchford began her journey into nursing about 45 years ago. She said she became interested in the field because her sister was a nurse.
“She made it sound like so much fun. I decided I wanted in on some of that fun,” she said.
She received a diploma from Allen School of Nursing and started working in the intensive care unit at what was then Schoitz Hospital. After 10 years, she became a flight nurse, treating patients while being flown by helicopter.
She also began working in the emergency room during her off time and eventually worked her way up to managing the emergency department. After five years as manager, she decided to return to the intensive care unit.
Photos: 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients at award ceremony | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/nursing-is-team-effort-for-icu-veteran/article_122f0ad8-6b37-55ae-8e79-cfb378acff84.html | 2023-06-14T10:56:10 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/nursing-is-team-effort-for-icu-veteran/article_122f0ad8-6b37-55ae-8e79-cfb378acff84.html |
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.
100 years ago
June 14, 1923: Bishop William J. Anderson of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cincinnati delivered a masterful speech to the graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University: "Give! Give! In a world like this, that is the challenge tremendous," he said. "Give! Give! Give all that is in you. To meet the challenge, the student must give the best every day in the year, every hour in the day. Success or failure will be the reward depending on you. A man must be conqueror of his self before he tackles the world. Be unselfish and help your fellow men."
75 years ago
June 14, 1948: Between 4,000 and 5,000 Legionnaires and their wives thronged the grounds of Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children's school in Normal on Sunday. It was American Legion's 14th annual pilgrimage.
50 years ago
June 14, 1973: The Bloomington school board has become the second in the county to adopt a resolution supporting a new public junior college district for Central Illinois. The Chenoa school board long ago adopted such a resolution, but the District 87's move was the first action urged by McLean County Area Junior College Feasibility Study Committee.
25 years ago
June 14, 1998: Comlara-Fest Pioneer Days in rural Hudson brought pioneer demonstrations, live country music from the Modern Cowboyz, children's carnival games, a petting zoo and pony rides, as well as vinegar fries, hot dogs and pork tenderloin sandwiches. While the Pioneer Days offer a look at the past, for most participants it's about camaraderie and tradition.
101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922
Gerthart's
Union Gas and Electric Co.
Hoover
Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists
Moberly & Klenner
W.P. Garretson
W.H. Roland
Pease's Candy
Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine
The Kaiser's Story of the War
Ike Livingston & Sons
Gossard Corsets
Cat'n Fiddle
'Stolen Moments'
Case Model X
The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co.
The Pantagraph want ads
Franklin Motor Car Co.
'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'
Calumet Baking Powder
Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket
'The Emperor Jones'
'California Fig Syrup'
Compiled by Pantagraph staff | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/100-years-ago-illinois-wesleyan-commencement-held/article_facf8aac-0955-11ee-b1bd-a70d4bf0f58e.html | 2023-06-14T10:57:08 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/100-years-ago-illinois-wesleyan-commencement-held/article_facf8aac-0955-11ee-b1bd-a70d4bf0f58e.html |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a crime scene investigation in Pine Hills.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Deputies responded to the area of North Hastings Street and Balboa Drive late Tuesday night.
Channel 9 has been at the scene since around 3 a.m. Wednesday.
READ: Second suspect arrested in Orlando shooting that killed military veteran, police say
Deputies shut down a section of North Hastings Street.
While it was not clear what the case involved, crime scene tape was visible in the neighborhood and detectives appeared to be collecting evidence.
READ: 4 teens, ages 13-19, charged in crime spree targeting food delivery drivers
Channel 9′s Sam Martello is working to gather more details from sheriff’s officials.
Monitor WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates on this developing story.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/crime-scene-investigation-underway-pine-hills-neighborhood/KV45HUDXX5F5FIMZ7RMEEKHPJM/ | 2023-06-14T11:03:59 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/crime-scene-investigation-underway-pine-hills-neighborhood/KV45HUDXX5F5FIMZ7RMEEKHPJM/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — The blazing heat will continue to stick around Wednesday in Central Florida.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Our area will see high temperatures in the mid-90s in the afternoon.
The heat index, or feels-like temperature, could be as high as 107 degrees for some.
See: SEE: 9 ways to protect yourself from extreme heat
Our area will have a 30% chance of seeing a late-day storm Wednesday.
Our forecast will be nearly the same for Thursday.
Read: Disney announces Halloween, Christmas cruises for 2024
We’ll have a better chance of afternoon storms Friday into the weekend, but still in the mid-90s.
The tropics are thankfully quiet with no storm systems forecast to impact Florida.
Red tide guide: How to check Florida beach conditions
Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/hot-steamy-wednesday-central-florida/YDLYPQRKF5B4ZPLEBFGBPZQSNQ/ | 2023-06-14T11:04:00 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/hot-steamy-wednesday-central-florida/YDLYPQRKF5B4ZPLEBFGBPZQSNQ/ |
Antisemitic group demands apology, $100,000 in gold from Chitwood; he's sending pacifiers
Members of an antisemitic hate group are demanding that Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood pay them $100,000 in gold and apologize for calling them “scumbags” in notices that resemble a lawsuit but are not.
The members of the "Goyim Defense League," a group that has littered Volusia County neighborhoods with antisemitic flyers, also want the sheriff to remove tweets about his “Scumbag Eradication Team” T-shirts.
The shirts depict the sheriff flushing some people, including one person with a swastika tattoo on his leg, down a toilet.
Jon E. Minadeo II, identified by the Anti-Defamation League as the leader of the GDL, was one of four members who filed the "notices." He complained he was targeted because the T-shirts depict sunglasses similar to his own next to the toilet.
The T-shirts also show an appendage with the letters "GDL" on it.
Pieces of 'bleep'
Chitwood responded in a Facebook video post by tearing up the notices, tossing them in the trash, and calling group members "pieces of (expletive)."
But the sheriff did offer the group one thing: pacifiers.
“To acknowledge that we received this piece of crap on paper with misspelled words — you’re so intelligent — we will be mailing one of these to each one of you that filed a lawsuit,” Chitwood said. “And basically it says ‘Mike Chitwood hurt my feelings,’“ the sheriff said.
Chitwood then held a pacifier close to the camera.
“Here’s a shot for you to suck on the pacifier, because that’s about all you’re going to get from your lawsuit,” he said. (It's not a lawsuit.)
Chitwood has been battling the group since they began spreading hate messages via flyers thrown in neighborhoods, leaflets placed on car windshields and antisemitic banners hung on a pedestrian overpass near the Daytona International Speedway.
Target of threats
Chitwood and his family have been the target of threats, and three men from out of state have been charged with threatening to kill the sheriff.
As part of his response, Chitwood played a video of an angry homeowner confronting men in a pickup truck who threw a flyer in his driveway. A man in the bed of the truck can be heard yelling "(epithet) Jews" as well as homophobic and racial slurs.
There was more.
“Our punk thug cowardly, scumbags, a bunch of rogues gallery of criminals are at it again as you saw in this video,” Chitwood said.
Chitwood said the men filed a complaint against him with the Department of Justice which “went nowhere” and an ethics complaint which “was going nowhere.”
Four men sent notices
Two notices were sent by Minadeo II and Colby Frank, who both listed the same P.O. Box in Palm Bay. Another was sent by David Kim, who listed a box at what appears to be an office supply store in West Palm Beach, according to a Google search. And another was sent by Joseph Eugene Bounds, who listed an address in Denver.
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The notices also complain of what Minadeo II and the others called “extremely vulgar” tweets from the sheriff.
While the ADL and others consider Minadeo’s faction a hate group, Minadeo II and his group described themselves as “First Amendment Activists.”
“… First Amendment groups no longer feel safe to perform First Amendment activities in Volusia County,” the notices state.
Minadeo II also complained about a press conference Chitwood held on Feb. 27. Chitwood displayed pictures of the group and members' criminal records. He displayed names, faces and vehicle information on “13 Americans” who chose to “assemble peaceably,” the notice reads.
And it appears the "Scumbag Eradication Team" T-shirts really got under their swastikas.
“I don’t know what you were thinking of posting tweets of yourself on a shirt flushing living breathing human beings with unalienable rights down the toilet for using such rights, but when the subject is a political matter, it is clear that you should be classified as a domestic terrorist,” they wrote.
Demands must be met within 72 hours
The notices from Minadeo II, Frank, Kim, and Bounds, which were received a couple of weeks ago, warn they will take legal action against Chitwood unless he meets certain demands within 72 hours.
They include payment of $100,000 in gold; $100,0000 for administrative and legal fees; a public apology for calling them “cowards” and “scumbags”; the removal of tweets calling them scumbags, and a host of others.
The sheriff's office stated Monday that the pacifiers had yet to be mailed. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/14/volusia-sheriff-mike-chitwood-to-mail-pacifiers-to-hate-group/70312729007/ | 2023-06-14T11:18:06 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/14/volusia-sheriff-mike-chitwood-to-mail-pacifiers-to-hate-group/70312729007/ |
NSB: Old Fort Park wall repairs under way; What do we know about site's mysterious past?
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — So what's new about the Old Fort Park ruins in New Smyrna Beach?
Although much of this historic site has been preserved for centuries, part of the wall surrounding the ruins is currently undergoing some repair work.
The ruins, located at the corner of Julia Street and Riverside Drive, consist of several stone walls without a roof.
$900,000 preservation grant
The 1933 coquina wall protecting the ruins has shown some cracking due to water damage, planner Robert Mathen said during a Historic Preservation Commission meeting last year.
In 2021, the city received a $900,000 State Historic Preservation Grant, with an $80,000 contribution from the city.
The repairs were anticipated to be completed by mid-summer of 2023, but now the city said the estimated date of completion is "early next year."
"The project’s scope involves inserting a concrete retaining wall behind the historic stone wall for enhanced stabilization and support," the city said in an email.
"Skilled masons will repair cracks caused by settling soil using mortar that replicates the mixture of materials used in the wall’s original construction to help maintain its historic appearance and character," the email continues.
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Ruins shrouded in mystery
As the city continues to work to maintain one of its most iconic spots, the questions and mystery surrounding the Old Fort Park ruins remain.
Was it a Spanish or an English Fort? Was it the foundation of a house being built by Dr. Andrew Turnbull, New Smyrna's founder?
These questions are hundreds of years old and they remain unanswered.
“No one is really sure,” says the Florida Historical Society.
The structure was built around the 1770s and was part of the Smyrnea settlement established by Turnbull, a Scottish physician, in 1767.
One theory is that it was the foundation of a house that Turnbull wanted to give to a business partner, Sir William Duncan, but was never finished.
According to the New Smyrna Beach Museum of History, “a 1770 letter in the Farrar-Duncan papers in the Dundee City (Scotland) Archives from Turnbull to Sir William Duncan says that he planned to build him a house at a ‘venture.’”
Archaeological work at the site is “relatively recent,” according to the museum, since the foundation underwent restoration by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.
“More than 50 years passed before archaeologists paid serious attention to New Smyrna when John Griffin, in 1990, performed an archaeological survey on the foundation at Old Fort Park,” the museum says.
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Could the ruins have been a fort?
“Some believe it was an English fort, some believe it was a Spanish fort,” according to Dorothy Moore, a Florida Historical Society historian and archaeologist.
Landowners of the site, who came after Turnbull, “not knowing its history, fancied that it was a Spanish fort,” according to the museum.
After the 1930s restoration, the windows revealed in the structure walls have often been misinterpreted as cannon embrasures and may have led to the earlier notions that it was a fort.
There is also a theory that says that Turnbull had nothing to do with the site at all, but rather it was built by Ambrose Hull, who owned the land after Turnbull left in 1777. Hull came in 1801, “and does record building a large stone house on a mound,” according to Moore.
Another theory, proposed by Griffin, claims that the ruins were the foundation of the settlement’s church during the time.
“However, both maps in the Dundee City Archives show the location of the settlement church as being north of what is now Old Fort Park,” according to the museum. “This new data negates Griffin’s conclusion.”
The Old Fort Park ruins historical site is located at 115 Julia St. in New Smyrna Beach and is open all day. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/14/work-on-mysterious-old-fort-park-in-nsb-to-be-done-early-next-year/70313623007/ | 2023-06-14T11:18:12 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/14/work-on-mysterious-old-fort-park-in-nsb-to-be-done-early-next-year/70313623007/ |
PALM BAY, Fla. – A large fire damaged a Palm Bay home.
Video from the scene showed smoke billowing from the home’s garage along Harrington Street.
It is not known what caused the fire or if there were any injuries.
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This story will be updated with more information as we receive it.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/large-fire-damages-palm-bay-home/ | 2023-06-14T11:26:07 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/large-fire-damages-palm-bay-home/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A woman in her 20s was shot and killed in Orange County, according to sheriff’s officials.
Deputies responded on Tuesday to the 900 block of Hastings Street in Pine Hills around 11:40 p.m.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies initially responded to reports of a crash but found the woman in the street with a gunshot wound.
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She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Video from the scene showed part of the area roped off with crime scene tape and evidence markers on the ground.
The woman’s name has not been released and there is no information on the suspected shooter.
An investigation is ongoing.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/orange-county-deputies-investigate-reported-shooting/ | 2023-06-14T11:26:13 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/orange-county-deputies-investigate-reported-shooting/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Some students at Roanoke City Schools will be heading to the classroom at a different time next year.
On Tuesday, June 13, The Roanoke City School Board passed a staggered bell schedule in a unanimous vote.
The goal is to help children get to class on time after ongoing transportation issues last year.
In the previous year alone, there were about 1,000 kids in the district who were late each day, 50% of which were over 10 minutes late, according to Chief Operations Officer, Chris Perkins.
Seeing a need for change, parents, teachers, bus drivers, school board members and Perkins came together in a transportation workshop to consider bell changes as a possible solution.
“This will allow us to have more drivers than routes. It will allow us to have substitutes. Keep in mind the opening of school is always problematic,” Perkins said during Tuesday’s school board meeting. “So I don’t want anyone to think it is going to be perfect. It will not be because there are just things with the opening of school, but we will have more drivers than routes and that is what is positive.”
The school system says the changes will allow bus transportation to be more consistent and reliable, increasing the number of buses and drivers available and allowing extra drivers to be available for sports and other activities.
Here’s a look at the new school start and end times: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/14/roanoke-city-school-board-passes-staggered-bell-schedule-for-upcoming-school-year/ | 2023-06-14T11:26:55 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/14/roanoke-city-school-board-passes-staggered-bell-schedule-for-upcoming-school-year/ |
Firefighters battled a house fire in Baldwin Borough this morning.
The fire broke out along Travis Drive around 4:30 a.m.
A Channel 11 photographer on the scene captured video of smoke coming from the roof of the home, which appeared to have a gaping hole.
Firefighters sprayed water from a ladder above down onto the home.
Officials say there are no reported injuries.
There’s no word yet on what caused the fire.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/firefighters-battle-fire-baldwin-home/3ZGBNR7YTVBD5B3RMVEWDIG44I/ | 2023-06-14T11:29:07 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/firefighters-battle-fire-baldwin-home/3ZGBNR7YTVBD5B3RMVEWDIG44I/ |
PITTSBURGH — Police are looking for the teen they say shot a male last week in Pittsburgh’s Bedford Dwellings, critically injuring him.
Damon Peters, 19, of Pittsburgh, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault, criminal attempted aggravated assault, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and gun charges.
Officers responded to the area of Chancey Drive for a ShotSpotter alert for 16 rounds, then another five rounds on Webster Avenue around 1 a.m. June 9.
After arriving at the scene, officers were approached by an Uber driver, who said they were picking up a male who was shot inside their vehicle. Another witness then drove the victim to UPMC Mercy Hospital in the Uber driver’s vehicle.
According to the complaint, the male had just gotten into the back of the vehicle when the suspect, who had been hiding behind a concrete wall, came out and fired, shooting the victim in the neck multiple times.
He then fled, dropping a cane he had been holding. Peters was identified by fingerprints, according to court documents.
The current condition of the victim was not released.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/teen-wanted-shooting-critically-injuring-male-pittsburghs-bedford-dwelllings/FJXPKBKECNE57L4MWREVSTAYNQ/ | 2023-06-14T11:29:14 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/teen-wanted-shooting-critically-injuring-male-pittsburghs-bedford-dwelllings/FJXPKBKECNE57L4MWREVSTAYNQ/ |
Plan to build park on I-95 stalled due to lack of money for almost $400 million project
It's been almost 30 years since the first public proposal to build a park on top of a section of I-95 that runs through the city of Wilmington. Proponents of the idea cited lack of funding as the reason the project never took off. Despite excitement drummed up by elected officials, it appears that more recent efforts have achieved the same result.
Despite campaigning by state and congressional officials to draw federal investment, representatives from the Delaware Department of Transportation and Wilmington said there is still no funding for a much-touted plan to build a roof over the highway with a park on top to reconnect neighborhoods split apart in the 1960s.
The standstill follows a $347,000 feasibility study and more than a year of community stakeholder meetings.
In partnership with DelDOT, the Wilmington Area Planning Council, a regional transportation planning agency for New Castle County and Cecil County, Maryland, commissioned the study to estimate the construction project's costs and traffic impacts after community input was taken into account, according to the study's project manager, Dave Gula.
After 16 months of community stakeholder meetings, the final design concept was presented in November 2022. The cap would cover the stretch of I-95 in Wilmington between Sixth Street and Delaware Avenue bordered by North Jackson Street and North Adams Street. The Seventh Street and Ninth Street overpasses would be permanently shut down. Traffic lanes on North Jackson Street and North Adams Street would be reduced from two to one. Lanes on those streets used for parking would be converted to sidewalks and bike lanes.
Planned park amenities suggested by residents who participated in stakeholder meetings include:
- Public green overlooking an amphitheater
- Festival lawn
- Walking paths and biking areas
- Children's play areas
- Space for pop-up markets for local vendors
- Dog park
Gula suggested that the project would take about 10 years to complete and be less costly at $360 million if the cap was built in one installment, but if the project was broken up, each stage would take five to six years to complete at these estimates:
- Sixth Street to Eighth Street: $93 million-$105 million
- Eighth Street to 10th Street: $117 million-$132 million
- 10th Street to Delaware Avenue: $140 million-$158 million
Gula said the effort to build the rooftop park would be a feat of major engineering, involving long-term, coordinated planning from numerous authorities, including the city, state and federal governments. He emphasized that because of the variables, any projected costs in time and money are very preliminary.
Federal grant money sought to pay for cap project
State leaders hope to obtain federal money to fund the almost $400 million project.
In 2021, state legislators from Wilmington — Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, Rep. Gerald Brady, Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, Sen. Sarah McBride, Sen. Darius Brown and Sen. Tizzy Lockman — signed a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking for federal assistance to build a national park over that highway to reconnect those communities.
Last week, DelDOT spokesperson C.R. McLeod said they expect the state to apply for a grant from the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program. McLeod said the next opportunity to apply for the grant will be this summer, but they do not yet have dates of when the application window would be open.
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill allocated $1 billion to reconnect communities divided by highways and other roads. Proponents of the I-95 cap in Wilmington are confident this project meets the standards necessary to obtain grant money but acknowledged the federal grant process is extremely competitive. Even if the grant were awarded, it covers only 50% of costs, leaving the state to find a way to pay for the rest.
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When asked about the next steps, spokespeople from both DelDOT and the city of Wilmington emphasized that they are still very early in the process of planning this structure and could not offer further details. John Rago, the mayor's deputy chief of staff, said once plans have been more fully developed based on the availability of funding, they will be shared widely with the public.
McLeod said in the meantime, the agency is discussing with the city administration to implement the bike and pedestrian improvements along Adams and Jackson streets that were identified during the study.
A highway that divided a city
The enormous construction project is an ambitious attempt to reconnect city neighborhoods torn apart in the 1960s when homes and businesses were leveled for the new I-95.
At that time, planners had no obligation to consider public opinion, economic impact or environmental factors. Local government officials failed to study other routes or coordinate the highway plans with its urban renewal plans. The highway paved over a two-block-wide swath of 360 to 370 homes on the West Side between Adams and Jackson streets, in addition to two churches.
Wilmington soon saw rapid and significant erosion of its residential and commercial base, as businesses and homeowners fled to the suburbs. The area carved away from the old West Side by I-95 became known as West Center City, where the community of working-class white homeowners rapidly transitioned to one of poor, Black renters.
In the 55 years since the 1968 riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and the response from the National Guard that resulted in the longest occupation of an American city since the Civil War, the area has languished economically. The I-95 cap project is one of many ideas meant to rehabilitate and revitalize this once-vibrant neighborhood. City leaders have long held that funding problems were at the heart of just about every failed plan to invest in the West Center City community.
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/2023/06/14/i95-park-project-wilmington-interstate-lacks-money/70303819007/ | 2023-06-14T11:31:55 | 0 | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/i95-park-project-wilmington-interstate-lacks-money/70303819007/ |
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Images from Christiana High School's 2023 Commencement
65 PHOTOS | https://www.delawareonline.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2023/06/14/christiana-high-school-2023-commencement/12064512002/ | 2023-06-14T11:31:58 | 0 | https://www.delawareonline.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2023/06/14/christiana-high-school-2023-commencement/12064512002/ |
African-American service organizations to host Juneteenth cookout, food giveaway in Palmetto
PALMETTO — Local African-American service organizations are partnering with the Mayors' Feed The Hungry Program to host a Juneteenth Celebration and Food Giveaway on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mount Raymond Full Gospel Baptist Church, 2410 Fourth Ave. E.
The public is encouraged to come out on Saturday to enjoy a cookout and pick up food. A nonpartisan voter registration drive also will be held. Juneteenth is a federal holiday on June 19 that commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States and also celebrates African-American culture.
The event also will include local leaders who will deliver remarks at noon.
The Pi Beta Beta chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and The Links Incorporated will be working together with The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program to provide food donations at the Mount Raymond Church food pantry.
Omega Psi Phi was the first international fraternal organization chartered on the campus of a historically Black college, founded Nov. 17, 1911, at Howard University. The Pi Beta Beta chapter was chartered in Manatee-Sarasota in 1982.
The Links Incorporated, an international, not-for-profit corporation established in 1946, is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. Its membership consists of thousands of professional women of African descent.
The Mayors' Feed The Hungry Program has been serving families throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties since 1987. For more information, visit MayorsFeedTheHungry.org.
Submitted by N. Scott Biehler | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/local-groups-hosting-juneteenth-cookout-food-giveaway-in-palmetto/70301292007/ | 2023-06-14T11:34:55 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/local-groups-hosting-juneteenth-cookout-food-giveaway-in-palmetto/70301292007/ |
Q&A: Michael Saunders discusses downtown Sarasota consolidation, future of yellow offices
Through the years, Michael Saunders has built a Gulf Coast real estate sales empire stretching from Anna Maria Island in the north to Punta Gorda in the south.
It all started in a office on St. Armands in 1976, but today Michael Saunders & Co. has 17 offices, with 11 in Sarasota County, four in Manatee County and two in Charlotte, with more than 600 sales agents. The company is the region's largest independent real estate company.
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All the standalone offices owned by the company are painted a unique and now familiar yellow that's custom-blended for the Sarasota-headquartered firm.
Last month, the business consolidated its downtown Sarasota office space into 1605 Main St. and announced that two of the properties where the company had worked from for decades were being sold, with any buyer of the downtown core sites likely to explore redevelopment.
Since the company consolidated into an office building that is unlikely to paint itself the Michael Saunders & Co. yellow, it's a fair bet that Sarasota will soon be missing the distinctive Michael Saunders & Co. yellow for the first time in years.
Why yellow?
The fun flair of the yellow building was meant to stand out, the founder of the company told the Herald-Tribune.
Michael Saunders recently corresponded by email with the Herald-Tribune for a Q&A, explaining the company consolidation, plans for growth and of course, how the company's buildings came to be painted yellow.
Can you talk a bit about he company's branding and how the buildings ended up a shade of yellow?
Since our inception in 1976, our brand colors have always been yellow, blue and white. The yellow you see on the exterior of our offices is a custom blend. We felt a unique color would be great brand recognition across our market footprint.
In 2019, we decided we needed to further distinguish our brand from the competition in our marketplace and underwent a brand refresh. The goal of our refresh was to help us tell our story with more heart and flair and to show how different, unique and creative we are as an independent brand. We added a saturation of colors to our original palette, including textures and patterns that reflect our beaches, sunsets and lush landscape. You will see these colors and elements reflected in everything we do – from our business cards to our signs, social media, digital and print ads.
Why the move and why now?
This move has always been a long-term goal for us – we have just been waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. Logistically, it makes sense for our Agent Services teams to be under one roof providing greater efficiency and synergy. This is also true for our Developer Services team, Commercial Division and Title Division. We firmly believe that creativity is part of a collaborative work environment – one better achieved in a cohesive, well-planned, bright and appealing office setting.
Who moved and which properties?
Our Agent Services teams – marketing, technology, accounting, relocation and the appointment center – as well as our commercial division, developer services division, MSC Title and the executive team. These approximately 75 employees previously worked in three downtown locations: 1801 Main St., 40 N. Osprey St. and 100 S. Washington Blvd.
How did you decide to pick the Wells Fargo Advisors Building?
When the opportunity presented itself at 1605 Main Street – which was already home to our largest residential branch office – everything seemed to make sense to consolidate there. We have always been in the heart of downtown Sarasota, so the location was perfect – and now we have adequate space with additional room for growth on the two floors we occupy.
What will happen with the real estate Michael Saunders & Company owns downtown?
The land and buildings we own at 1801 Main Street and 40 N. Osprey will be sold. We did not own the 100 S. Washington Blvd. building; however, this building is listed for sale with our Commercial Division. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/14/sarasotas-michael-saunders-co-founder-talks-downtown-consolidation/70295011007/ | 2023-06-14T11:35:01 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/14/sarasotas-michael-saunders-co-founder-talks-downtown-consolidation/70295011007/ |
New this week: Click A Wine Spot is now open at Reveler in Carytown at 3108 W. Cary St.
When Josh Czarda and Christina Pearlman opened Reveler in Carytown in early 2022, the goal was to curate experiences to help people step outside their norm, and the concept has been evolving ever since. Most recently, the venue is hosting live music nights, a monthly cabaret, and now, Click A Wine Spot.
“You might watch bluegrass or instrumental jazz one night and then watch a ballet dancer walk on machetes another night,” Sarah-Pete Petersen, director of sales, events and marketing for Reveler said.
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As the evolution continued, Matty McGuigan, an account manager with Salveto Imports, helped the team expand the wine list for sipping during evening events, as he and the leadership team began discussing another opportunity to use the space.
Looking for a career change, McGuigan had already signed a lease at 409 N. Ridge Road to open Click A Wine Spot in the former home of Dickies Barbershop, but that renovation would take some time.
“We have this gorgeous space and it should be filled with people drinking cappuccinos,” McGuigan said. From there, the idea for Click A Wine Spot at Reveler was born.
The name Click comes from a Friulian Italian term, “Clic,” meaning a small glass of wine to be shared with friends. “It’s a quick drink before you move onto other things,” McGuigan said. He decided to add a “k” to make the term easier for American spelling and pronunciation.
McGuigan studied culinary arts, has been working in restaurants in Richmond and around the world, and is also a certified sommelier — he is drawing on all these experiences for the menu and wine selection at Click.
During the day, visitors to Click at Reveler will find espresso service, along with a “light, simple and fun menu.” About 20 years ago, McGuigan did a stint living and working as a hotel chef in Iceland and he fell in love with a few of the concepts there. Those concepts will not be exactly replicated at Click at Reveler, but he is using them as inspiration.
The first is Danish smørrebrød — “They are little, open-faced sandwiches that are pretty and random,” McGuigan said. “It’s not stuff piled like on American sandwiches. It’s like a landscape building exercise.”
Do not worry — you will not have to try to pronounce smørrebrød when ordering at Reveler, and McGuigan promises there will not be pickled herring, but he is planning a menu of eye-catching, open-faced sandwiches with lots of flavor, including pesto, bocconcini, tomato confit and micro greens.
McGuigan also fell in love with Icelandic cafes, where he would sit and sip coffee in the morning and then, at some point in the mid-afternoon, switch over to wine or beer. To help achieve that vibe, a big space behind the main bar at Reveler has been transformed into the owners’ take on a Budapest-style ruin bar — these bars were put into abandoned buildings and, rather than redeveloping, owners installed quirky decorations that added to the unpretentious, mix-and-match vibe. You will find tables, chairs and little nooks for sitting amid old pianos, lantern lights and eye-catching pieces of decor.
Going into the evening, the menu will include dips like a North African-style guacamole with cumin and ruffled potato chips for dipping and American-style tapas with caramelized roasted carrots and goat cheese. There will be cheese boards with onion-garlic jelly, nitrate-free charcuterie and coconut-chocolate chip cookies glazed with chili and lime that have already developed a following.
McGuigan will also continue to curate the wine list — the main menu will feature a simple but solid range of options for all palates, and he is planning to add special flights of more interesting and offbeat selections that will also be available for retail purchase.
Click at Reveler’s rollout will be an ongoing evolution with a blackboard daily menu. The daytime cafe will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there will be evening food and drink service anytime there is an event.
On Tuesdays, Click at Reveler will stay open until 9 p.m., when McGuigan will pair a wine with one side of a vinyl album and a small plate selection. Reveler is also in the process of securing a liquor license, but is planning to focus on simple mixed cocktails, leaving craft cocktails to other Carytown establishments.
On Saturday, Reveler is hosting A Very Wes Anderson Soiree in conjunction with The Byrd’s showing of “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and the food and drinks will be in full swing. Tickets cost $20 — more information on that and Reveler’s other events can be found at revelerexperiences.com.
Meanwhile, the standalone Click on North Ridge Road is under construction, with a target opening date in September. At that location, McGuigan is planning an unpretentious wine bar and bottle shop with light bites similar to the Reveler menu, funky decor and vinyl playing in the background: “No burgundy walls and no pictures of grapes,” he said. “It will be a place where people can sit and have a quick drink on their way home or on their way to dinner or the country club,” he said.
With about 20 seats and hopefully a small patio, he is planning to do the wine menu a little differently, offering no corkage fee on wines by the bottle and a by-the-glass list focused on higher end selections that are not normally offered as single glasses.
“If you want to try wine by the glass, you get a Barolo you normally wouldn’t get to try, and if not you can grab a bottle of Gruner veltliner off the shelf,” he said. | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/click-a-wine-spot-now-open-in-carytown-headed-to-henrico/article_ab104f8a-00a7-11ee-9d4f-bf466ac60bb3.html | 2023-06-14T11:35:06 | 1 | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/click-a-wine-spot-now-open-in-carytown-headed-to-henrico/article_ab104f8a-00a7-11ee-9d4f-bf466ac60bb3.html |
Environmentalists call for EPA to revoke permits for fish farm off Sarasota coast
Ocean Era wants to raise redfish in a net pen with a different anchor system than first proposed
VENICE – Opponents of Ocean Era’s a proposed fish farming demonstration project offshore of south Sarasota County rallied Tuesday at Maxine Barritt Park to urge federal regulators to revoke permits for the operation because of planned changes in both type fish to be raised and the way the containment pen would be anchored to the seafloor. They want the operation to seek a new application from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The media event, which drew a crowd of about three dozen participants and speakers, was designed to underscore points made by attorneys for seven groups or nonprofit organizations already challenging the existing permits in federal court in a June 7 letter to the EPA.
Fear of the environmental impact of concentrated fish waste, as well as health impacts that could transfer to wild fish and the logistics of recreational fishermen who may damage the pens, has united environmentalists, working fishermen and representatives of local governments who fear the economic impact of an unexpected problem.
In the letter to the EPA, attorney William S. Eubanks II, owner and managing attorney at Eubanks & Associates LLC, offered to hold litigation on that suit while the agency considers planned changes by Ocean Era, from raising Almaco jack in a net pen anchored by one line mounted to a swivel to raising redfish in a net pen anchored at four points.
“Our basic argument is that this permit that we could litigate about for years longer should be revoked by the EPA and based on this new information, this new proposal, they should come up with a new permit application,” said Justin Bloom, founder of Sarasota-based Suncoast Waterkeeper.
Dennis Peters, executive director of Gulfstream Aquaculture and a partner on Velella Epsilon fish farm with Neil Anthony Sims, CEO of Ocean Era Inc., previously said that a manufacturer to create the swivel-point mooring system for a single net pen couldn't be found, which prompted the switch to the four-point system. The switch to redfish was market driven.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is part of a coalition that also includes Food & Water Watch, Recirculating Farms Coalition, Center for Food Safety, Sierra Club, Healthy Gulf, and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, which are part of a suit in federal appeals court that challenges the EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, issued in September 2020 and reissued in revised form in June 2022.
Cris Costello, senior organizing manager for the Sierra Club in Florida, called the permit change a “new twist” to the fight to stop the proposed aquaculture project.
“This is the moment, the new moment to wield our collective opposition,” Costello said. “That’s what we’re doing here today.”
Ironically Maxine Barritt Park was once a beachfront wastewater treatment plant that discharged effluent into the gulf.
Costello – who noted that governments in Florida have worked to curb the discharge of land-based nutrients that can feed red tide into the Gulf – said the proposed fish farm is even worse.
“This project represents a direct import of nutrient pollution, nitrogen and phosphorus into the water,” Costello said.
Environmental fears drive fish farm opposition
The proposed site for Ocean Era’s Velella Epsilon net pen project is roughly 45 miles southwest of Sarasota. Its specific latitude and longitude, according to the permit, would be west of Venice and north of Englewood.
Casey Streeter, a Matlacha-based commercial fisherman, noted that his group, Florida Commercial Watermen’s Conservation has long opposed what he called “the industrialization of our oceans.”
“The negative consequences would really be irreversible,” he added, citing things like red tide, transmission of disease from the penned fish to those in the wild, and damage from hurricanes.
“If we have red tides, what is the responsibility of these companies to get the fish out of the water so they don’t further contribute to our red tides?" Streeter said. “We’re worried about genetically inferior fish getting into breeding populations."
Streeter contended that the water is too warm to farm redfish – which is farmed commercially on land-based operations in northern Gulf Coast states − and the weather too extreme.
Had net pens been offshore Fort Myers when Hurricane Ian hit, Streeter said, “I’d be cleaning these pens out of the mangroves.”
Siesta Key resident Dr. Neal Schleifer, seconded that concern.
“Imagine the potential problems if this facility was in place during Hurricane Ian and the subsequent massive red tide outbreak,” said Schleifer, who has also followed the project on a variety of webinars – including one that discussed concerns over a potential demonstration project off of Pensacola that would be operated by New York-based Manna Fish Farms – though Ocean Era is farther along in the process.
“This is a test case for opening federal waters to private, industrial fish farms, for giving away the public’s heritage with no benefit to the public,” Schleifer said.
‘Camel’s nose under the tent'
Bloom noted that while Ocean Era’s proposal is just one project, the bigger concern is a proliferation of fish farms up and down the Gulf Coast.
“It’s kind of like the camel’s nose under the tent,” Bloom said.
The United States Aquaculture Atlas, a document released in November 2021 by NOAA, identified potential fish farming opportunity areas, referenced the growing demand for seafood – which comprises roughly 20% of animal protein consumed – as the global population increases from an estimated 7.9 billion people to 8.5 billion people by 2030. It also documents overharvesting of a dwindling fish stock as a main reason to pursue offshore aquaculture.
The three most promising Gulf of Mexico areas are in federal waters off of Pinellas County, Sarasota County and Collier County.
Meanwhile the federal government continues to establish the framework to promote aquaculture in the Gulf and elsewhere.
On June 7, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, reintroduced the bipartisan Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act, which would establish national standards for sustainable offshore aquaculture.
It would also make the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the lead federal agency and have it oversee the federal permit system and develop grant programs to spur the industry.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re going to be the test site for this first one so any problems that are going to occur in this process are going to happen to us first,” Streeter said.. “And we will be stuck in the consequences.” | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2023/06/14/groups-want-epa-to-revoke-permits-for-aquaculture-project-near-venice/70301625007/ | 2023-06-14T11:35:07 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2023/06/14/groups-want-epa-to-revoke-permits-for-aquaculture-project-near-venice/70301625007/ |
Richmond police said Tuesday that a suspect in a Midlothian Turnpike apartment homicide this spring has been indicted.
Travaris Williams, 36, of Richmond, has been charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Police in a statement said officers were called to an apartment complex in the 4000 block of Midlothian Turnpike at 9:08 p.m. on April 27 for a report of a person shot.
Marcus Dobson was found "down and unresponsive in the grass area near a parking lot, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound," police said. He died at a hospital.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (804) 646-7570 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
Richmond restaurants that closed in 2023
Biscuits & Gravy
Biscuits & Gravy, located in the former Dairy Bar spot in Scott's Addition, closed in May. It was owned by Tang & Biscuit Co. and operated for roughly a year.
Lyndon German
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery located in Short Pump Town Center closed. Its last day of service was June 4. It was owned by a Denver-based chain which also closed locations in Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis this year.
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Citizen Burger Bar
Citizen Burger Bar in Carytown has closed. Carytown Indian Cuisine will take over the space.
Colleen Curran, Times-Dispatch
P.T. Hastings Seafood
P.T. Hastings Seafood, founded more than a century ago, closed in April following a severe brain injury suffered by its owner.
Kathlyn Hastings
Anthony’s on the Hill
Anthony’s on the Hill in Church Hill closed earlier this year. Originally it closed in November 2022 for renovations, but it never reopened. The owner was ready to retire.
JOE MAHONEY
Cafe Beignet
Cafe Beignet at 3 N. 17th St. in Shockoe Bottom closed in late May. The cafe did not garner as much support as the popular food truck, owner Brittany Williams said on social media. But she plans to bring back the food truck sometime next year and will be rebranding.
Canva
Max's on Broad
Max's on Broad closed earlier this year. The owner, Liz Kincaid, said that she hopes to relaunch sometime this summer with a new concept.
Eva Russo, Times-Dispatch
The Mill on MacArthur
The Mill on MacArthur closed earlier this year on the North Side. Neighbor, under new ownership, took its place.
Richmond.com
Shyndigz restaurant
The owners of Shyndigz closed the Shyndigz restaurant (1903 W. Cary St.), earlier this year. They said they were shifting focus to a building a new Shyndigz Market across the street at 1912 W. Cary St. In the meantime, the regular market at 1831 W. Cary St. remains open and The Fancy Biscuit restaurant brunch restaurant in the same space is now open on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BOB BROWN/RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime/new-details-released-about-arrest-in-midlothian-turnpike-apartment-killing/article_dc682638-0a62-11ee-8afb-0396fa23b504.html | 2023-06-14T11:35:12 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime/new-details-released-about-arrest-in-midlothian-turnpike-apartment-killing/article_dc682638-0a62-11ee-8afb-0396fa23b504.html |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/make-a-splash-philly-starts-opening-its-free-public-pools/3585350/ | 2023-06-14T11:40:20 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/make-a-splash-philly-starts-opening-its-free-public-pools/3585350/ |
NORTHWEST INDIANA — Like most other police departments across the Region, Valparaiso's force is fully equipped with body cameras, and Capt. Joe Hall said the move has been a positive one for officers.
An investigation by Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations looked at how agencies have responded to calls for more accountability — including the use of cameras — after George Floyd's murder.
"Officers have found they provide great assistance while responding to all calls for service, as they assist in documenting investigations and provide a resource for reporting of police activities," he said. "Officers have developed a confidence in the use of all video collection, as it allows for transparency of their actions, which often provides a full picture of the events that have transpired."
The department has about 50 body cameras in operation, as well as dashboard cameras in each of its 47 patrol vehicles, Hall said.
"They have proven to be a valuable tool in identifying training needs and in investigating any complaint that may be filed against an officer," he said.
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Hall said the cameras are part of the transition into modern policing.
Few agencies remain camera shy
Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.The entire patrol division at the Porter County Sheriff's Department is outfitted with body cameras, and cameras in vehicles face forward and to the rear where subjects sit, Sgt. Benjamin McFalls said.
"It's a great and invaluable tool," McFalls said. "Not only used in court, but also used for us if there's a citizen complaint on one of our officers."
"We will continue to be transparent and build trust in our community," McFalls said.
Gary, Portage begin implementing police cameras
One of Lake County's largest departments will implement body cameras within the next few months.
The Gary Police Department is in the process of outfitting all officers with body cameras, Maj. Chief Jerry Williams said. The department received the cameras in early March and is teaching officers how to use the technology.
The body cameras have been a long time coming for the department. Mayor Jerome Prince created a Police Reform Commission in the wake of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. One of the commission's recommendations was for all officers to receive body cameras and Tasers. Acquiring funds proved to be the biggest challenge.
The city applied for and was granted the money through Indiana's Local Body Camera Grant program in April 2022. A total of $88,000 was given to the city. Williams said they bought 110 cameras, which will outfit the entire patrol division.
In April, Gary police announced they received a $1 million federal grant to purchase dash cameras. Williams said they are aiming to purchase about 100 cameras.
After many years of debate, Portage police began using body cameras in November as part of an initiative by Chief Mike Candiano.
Financial difficulties were at the root of the challenge to obtain the cameras, he said.
"We believe these cameras will be beneficial to the public, to our officers and to the criminal justice system as they will provide an accurate record of what an officer is seeing and doing during the course of their duties," Candiano said.
The cameras are mounted inside the officer’s uniform shirt or outer ballistic vest carrier, Candiano said. The cameras can be manually activated by the officer, or automatically when an accelerometer picks up that an officer is running or draws their firearm from its holster.
A safety feature activates the camera and sounds an alarm to other on-duty officers if the device senses an officer is lying on the ground for a lengthy amount of time in case of an injury or medical emergency.
The city purchased the cameras from the $8.3 million it received through the American Rescue Plan Act, police reported. Each of the 45 officers within the department's patrol division have been outfitted.
The duration of time video footage is stored depends on the circumstances of the call, Lt. Rob Maynard said. If an officer is out on a call that is "inconsequential," the footage deletes after 30 days.
Video from misdemeanor arrests is saved for three years, and from felony arrests for seven years. Footage from arrests related to homicides, rapes and other high-class felonies is legally required to be saved for an indefinite period of time.
The department previously had dash cameras in officers' squad cars but stopped using them in 2008 because of poor quality, Maynard said.
'When the city feels like it's a priority, it's probably when it will happen'
Hobart is one of NWI's more sizable cities with a population of slightly under 30,000 as of the 2020 Census. However, it is one of NWI's cities that has yet to implement body cameras.
Hobart Police Chief Garrett Ciszewski said the city has yet to get body cameras because of the sizable cost.
"Bodycams are a great tool," Ciszewski said. "They're just cost-prohibitive."
Ciszewski said the first quote the Hobart Police Department received for 50 body cameras was close to $500,000. They've explored available grants for body cameras, which would cover about $2,000 for each camera.
"That only covers about $100,000 of the $500,000 needed to make this project happen," Ciszewski said.
He said the department has a few dash cameras, but if they were to go the "camera route" he'd prefer to purchase body cameras.
The cost of storing the camera footage is the highest, Ciszewski said, which is another financial barrier to getting body cameras.
Ciszewski said he thinks there is some apprehension among his officers related to implementation of body cameras, but some want them in case a false complaint gets filed against them.
"If they're in a situation that gets questioned by the public, they want to show they've done the right thing," Ciszewski said.
As previous law enforcement said, body cameras help increase transparency between law enforcement officers and their communities. According to data from Hobart police, they have received 11 complaints of excessive force use since 2017, all which were found not sustained. When Hobart police investigate complaints, Ciszewski said, they talk to everyone involved in the incident and evaluate an officer's history. Oftentimes, they are able to find footage from Ring cameras or security cameras outside businesses.
Ciszewski, who has been chief since January 2022, said getting body cameras is something he is trying to make a priority.
"When the city feels like it's a priority," Ciszewski said, "it's probably when it will happen."
WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops series
Catch up on all the action of the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" police ride-along series by The Times.
The video series, which aims to air one new episode per month, has our reporters and videographers "riding shotgun" in the passenger seat of a Region officer's squad car each month, introducing you to the men and women who patrol our streets while taking you inside the work of their police shifts.
This episode of the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" series takes viewers around Munster in the midst of the holiday season.
This episode of the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" series takes viewers into the midst of flames and smoke with Region firefighters.
This episode of the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" series takes viewers behind the armored vehicles and shields to see what it's like to be a …
Join Cpl. Jerry Patrick, as he patrols the hallways of Lake Central and Kahler Middle School.
Ride along with Officer Jimmy Weller as he patrols the region's border of Lake Michigan as part of the Lake County Sheriff's Marine Unit. Vide…
Join Sandy Curry, Willie Hall, and Michael Quiroz as they ride for Superior Ambulance in East Chicago
Join Tristan DeFord, Jami Rieck, and Nancy Zakutanksky on a shift working for Superior Ambulance in Merrillville.
Go on patrol with Aaron Crawford, a Cpl. with the Lowell Police Department, as he speaks about joining the force, DUI enforcement grants, and …
Ride along with LaPorte Police Specialist Justin Dyer as he patrols the streets of LaPorte.
See a day in the life of Michigan City Police Officer Brian Wright in the latest Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops installment.
See a day in the life of Valparaiso Police Lt. John Patston in the 14th installment of Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops.
See a day in the life of Portage Patrolman Brian Graves in the latest installment of Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops.
The twelfth installment of Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops features the Lake County Sheriff's Department's Aviation Unit, led by Lt. Randy Philli…
Ride Shotgun with Lake County sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Kersey as he checks to ensure convicted Northwest Indiana sex offenders are complying with …
See an evening through the eyes of Schererville Police Patrolman Adam Biella. Video shot by Kale Wilk and produced by Nat Cardona. Interview b…
See a day in the life of Schererville Police Cpl. Michael Bork. Video filmed by Kale Wilk and produced by Nat Cardona. Interview by Mary Freda.
See an afternoon and evening through the eyes of Crown Point Police Patrolman Daniel Lee. Interview by Mary Freda. Video by Kale Wilk. Produce…
Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops' seventh installment features Jason Corle, of Griffith Police. Video shot by Kale Wilk and produced by Nat Cardona.
See an evening on patrol with Lake County Sheriff's Officer Stevie Gill in the sixth installment for the Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops series. …
See a day in the life of Dyer Police Officer Matthew Voss as he patrols on a snowy February day. Video shot by Kale Wilk and produced by Nat C…
The fourth installment in the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" series features Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez. See as Martinez performs high…
The third installment of Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops features a day spent on patrol with Valparaiso Police Department's Keith Perez.
The Times of Northwest Indiana rides along with Lake County Sheriff Officer Trevor McKinney as he completes patrol work in Calumet Township an…
The introductory installment of 'Riding Shotgun with Region Cops' takes a look at a day in the life of Griffith Police Officer Robert Carney. … | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/body-cameras-region-police-northwest-indiana/article_f38ad056-f4f3-11ed-af9f-ab8eb4fc7099.html | 2023-06-14T11:46:21 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/body-cameras-region-police-northwest-indiana/article_f38ad056-f4f3-11ed-af9f-ab8eb4fc7099.html |
Chad Berger's bull riding events have always brought in many of the top stars in the sport to Bismarck.
Turns out, Berger's reach is even greater when it comes to who is in the seats watching.
At last year's annual Dakota Community Bank & Trust Bull Riding Challenge at the Bismarck Event Center, tickets were bought by fans in 36 of 50 states.
"It's a huge thing for the city of Bismarck," said Berger, the 12-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year based in his hometown of Mandan. "You had people there from Texas, Utah, California, Florida, New York, all over the place. We're bringing tourists to North Dakota."
PBR fans will flock to town this weekend for Berger's marquee two-day event, which starts Friday. Riding begins around 7:30 each night.
Forty of the top bull riders in the world will be in Bismarck competing for a cash prize of $15,000, plus valuable points in Berger's 12-event King of the North Tour, which pays $100,000 to win and $25,000 for second. The tour includes stops in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana.
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Among the stars expected to ride include 2022 World Champion Daylon Swearingen from Piffard, New York, 2023 fifth-place World finisher Dalton Kasel of Muleshoe, Texas, and Chase Outlaw, third in the World in 2019, out of Hamburg, Arkansas.
"It'll be a lot of the guys you see on TV every week," Berger said.
The bulls often times prove to be the true stars of the show and Berger's best will be on display.
Night Hawk finished sixth in the World Standings last season, although Berger sent just 10 bulls to the finals, which was down four from the previous year and well off his high of 38 in 2018.
"It wasn't our best, yeah, that's for sure," Berger said. "It wasn't bad, but all those other guys have been trying for a long time to knock us off. I guess they finally got us, this time."
That led to his streak of nine straight Contractor of the Year titles being snapped.
It was an odd World Finals in general with little known cowboy Rafael Jose de Brito from Brazil coming out of nowhere to capture the title in Fort Worth, Texas, and claim the nearly $1.4 million dollar prize.
"Usually there's a race where it's really tight and it comes right down to the end. It kind of lacked that this time," Berger said. "But, you know, that happens sometimes. It's not like every Super Bowl goes right down to the end of the game either."
Berger is smack dab in the middle of his summer schedule meat grinder.
After the home game in Bismarck, his bulls head to Clear Lake, South Dakota, Binford and Belcourt next week.
Also on the horizon is the Mandan Rodeo Days July 2-4, held for the first time at the new Dale Pahlke Arena.
"The cowboys and the fans are going to love it," Berger said of the new facility. "It's something what we've needed for a long time."
"It's not done either," he added. "There are other phases with stuff we want to do it." That will happen when, "the money starts coming in."
After Mandan, the show is right back on the road to Minnesota for stops in Isanti and Thief River Falls and it goes on from there.
"We're so busy," said Berger, who has a full-time staff of six people who are always on the go. "It's an operation, but we love it. That's why we do it."
Berger will use about 75 bulls this weekend, including many of the up-and-comers he hopes will lead to another championship chase.
"I enjoy seeing my young bulls and which ones are going to be good enough to step up and show what they've got on the big stage," he said. "It's exciting to see the young ones grow and flourish because those guys are the future." | https://bismarcktribune.com/sports/local/bergers-bulls-bring-in-fans-from-all-over-the-country/article_1b19176e-0a33-11ee-8966-875ee29dea8d.html | 2023-06-14T11:54:13 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/sports/local/bergers-bulls-bring-in-fans-from-all-over-the-country/article_1b19176e-0a33-11ee-8966-875ee29dea8d.html |
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Three cars caught fire outside a home in Fort Myers Wednesday morning.
The home on Maravilla Circle has some damage, as well.
At this time, there is no official word yet on what started the fire. Additionally, it is unknown if anyone has been injured.
The State Fire Marshall is currently on the way to investigate.
Count on NBC2 to provide updates as more information is released. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/14/three-cars-catch-fire-outside-fort-myers-home/ | 2023-06-14T11:56:45 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/14/three-cars-catch-fire-outside-fort-myers-home/ |
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash in Fort Myers that sent one woman to the hospital Wednesday morning.
The wreck happened on Summerlin Road a little after 1:20 a.m.
Troopers told our crew on scene that the woman hit a tree in the median and was brought to Gulf Coast Medical Center.
Summerlin Road southbound was shut down as troopers investigated but have since re-opened.
No other information has been released at this time.
Count on NBC2 to bring you the latest updates when they become available. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/14/woman-hospitalized-after-crash-in-fort-myers/ | 2023-06-14T11:56:51 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/14/woman-hospitalized-after-crash-in-fort-myers/ |
Weird West Texas: The Podcast talks recent cattle mutilations and UFO mysteries
In this month's episode, editor Adam D. Young joins our agriculture and environmental reporter Brandi D. Addison to discuss recent cow mutilations in Central-East Texas and the decades-long history of UFO mysteries in our region.
Coinciding with the print column series, Weird West Texas, each month, we explore some of the most odd, eccentric and sometimes just plain weird things from our region — from the northernmost town of Hitchland, down into the Big Country, eastward to the Rolling Plains and all the way to El Paso.
Here, we have more in-depth conversations over the favorite topics we covered in the previous month. We'll also share some readers' comments and emails, so we encourage you to reach out and share your opinions.
Find "Weird West Texas: The Podcast" on Apple Podcasts, Omny Studios and Spotify. Be sure to save the series on your preferred streaming service to receive a notification when new episodes go live the second Wednesday of each month.
Got an idea for a topic? Send an email to BAddison@gannett.com with "Weird West Texas" in the subject line
More:Weird West Texas: Revisiting Amarillo Zoo's mystery creature a year later
And even more:Weird West Texas: How these cities and towns got their unique names | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/06/14/weird-west-texas-the-podcast-talks-mutilated-cows-and-ufo-mysteries/70319733007/ | 2023-06-14T12:00:16 | 0 | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/06/14/weird-west-texas-the-podcast-talks-mutilated-cows-and-ufo-mysteries/70319733007/ |
Law enforcement leaders in Kenosha County indicate their personnel now utilize body cameras and, in most cases, also have dashboard cameras.
They also believe the ability to have a recording of incidents and interactions provides numerous benefits for both the department and the public.
An investigation by Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations looked at how agencies have responded to calls for more accountability — including the use of cameras — after George Floyd's murder.
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Colin Coultrip said cameras can capture people’s emotions and demeanor and are beneficial for report writing and court-related purposes.
“They are beneficial in proving or disproving complaints,” Coultrip said. “These body cameras have also been very beneficial in handling citizen complaints and proving false claims of Kenosha Sheriff's Department wrongdoing.”
Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton and Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana both pointed to the cameras’ benefits in court, providing evidence when prosecuting cases.
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With video evidence, it doesn’t have to be a “he said/she said” scenario, Patton noted.
“It gives a clearer picture,” Patton said. “They’ve been really beneficial in the prosecution of cases and in increasing our credibility.”
The cameras also add transparency and give the departments internal oversight on officers' behavior during incidents. That means training can be improved by looking over real-life public interactions.
Smetana and Patton said initial concerns about the cameras from officers have been dispelled over the years as they became more common.
“Part of the challenge was, in the past when body cameras were first coming out, they were looked at with a skeptical eye by officers and the public,” Smetana said. “It’s become such a normal piece of equipment here.”
But while they are “invaluable” as a tool, Smetana said, “they have limitations.”
“From the public perspective, the body camera footage is not like watching a movie,” Smetana said. “You’re getting a very narrow perspective of what’s going on. So you’re not catching everything.”
Technical issues can also become points of suspicion, Coultrip said.
“Battery life is a big issue,” Coultrip said. “Occasionally incidents are not recorded due to this, although this has been a rare occurrence. When this happens, the public may think we are trying to hide something and they don’t understand that the technology does have limitations.”
Few agencies remain camera shy
Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.Costs and upkeep are also concerns, both for the body cameras themselves and the large amounts of footage and data being collected and stored.
Public information requests now often call for body camera footage, which requires extensive work to find, clear of personal information and release.
“It’s created quite the workload,” Patton said.
Ultimately, the tool requires time and money to be properly useful. However, Patton said he expects cameras to continue to improve as technology gets better.
Smetana said officers both new and old understand and value the benefits they bring. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-courts/kenosha-police-weigh-camera-benefits-challenges/article_6cd89f56-06fb-11ee-b836-3b2f04184721.html | 2023-06-14T12:00:34 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-courts/kenosha-police-weigh-camera-benefits-challenges/article_6cd89f56-06fb-11ee-b836-3b2f04184721.html |
June 14 is Flag Day, celebrating the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Whether you have the Stars and Stripes waving in the wind on your porch or on a lapel pin, find a way to celebrate Old Glory today.
Twilight Jazz opens its 20th anniversary season tonight (after a rain delay) at the Anderson Arts Center grounds, 6603 Third Ave. This season opens with a Twilight Jazz favorite: The John Crawford Band, performing well-loved standards from the Great American Songbook. Admission is free. Grounds open at 6 p.m. for the concerts, which are 7 to 9 p.m. Note: Concert-goers should bring lawn chairs and/or blankets. No seating is provided. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages, but no carry-ins of alcohol are allowed.
The Kenosha Pops Concert Band opens its 101st season tonight with an outdoor performance on the Sesquicentennial Band Shell in Pennoyer Park. The opening week theme is “Pops in Technicolor,” featuring songs with various colors in the title. 7 p.m. Audience members should bring lawn chairs or blankets. Park benches are also provided at the band shell. Admission is free.
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Also starting tonight: Bristol Woodstock, a concert series that debuted in 2021. The free concerts are Wednesday nights in Bristol Woods County Park, 9800 160th Ave. This year’s concerts start with the group Burgundy Ties, playing “alternative rock.” The music goes from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
The Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave., hosts a “Museum Munchkins” program from 9:30 to 10 this morning. Today’s program focuses on saigas, a critically endangered antelope. This is a free program, open to preschoolers with an adult. For more information, call 262-653-4140. Note: This is the final Munchkins program until August.
Head to Rustic Road Brewing Company, 5706 Sixth Ave., for Music Bingo, starting at 7 p.m. It’s free to play, and there are PRIZES.
The 2023 season of Aquanuts Water Shows continues in Twin Lakes. The free water-ski shows are 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays (through Sept. 2) in Lance Park, 55 Lance Drive in Twin Lakes. aquanutwatershows.com. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-wednesday-june-14/article_c95c71aa-09f6-11ee-bda1-0f35148f1602.html | 2023-06-14T12:00:41 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-wednesday-june-14/article_c95c71aa-09f6-11ee-bda1-0f35148f1602.html |
David's Bridal is closing its only RI store. What it means for customers and employees
WARWICK — David's Bridal in Warwick is closing, after the company filed for bankruptcy in April and announced layoffs of 9,200 employees across the country.
The closure of the Warwick store, at 1276 Bald Hill Road, was announced on the company's website.
Other area closures include the stores in Natick and Dartmouth, Massachusetts, while no closure notice has appeared for the store in North Attleboro.
At the store in Warwick, a banner declares that the store is closing, with a caveat, "This store only."
Inside the store, employees said they are not allowed to talk to the media.
The announcement on the company's website for its Warwick store in the Summit Square Shopping Center is succinct.
"Store closing. Shop huge savings while they last! Call for special order status," according to the website.
The website gives no closure date and points to an April letter from CEO Jim Marcum.
"I want to emphasize again, our stores and online platforms are open. Our team members are here for you. Your orders are our first priority," Marcum wrote.
When the retailer declared bankruptcy in April, a company spokesperson wrote in a news release that stores would remain open and fulfill orders without delay as the company looks to sell all or some of its assets. Its online platforms will also remain available to help with customers' wedding planning needs.
April 2023:David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, but you'll still get your order
Saddled with debt, the Pennsylvania-based chain also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018, but emerged from bankruptcy the next year. Since then, the company has modernized its business, Marcum wrote in a statement.
"Over the last several years, we have taken meaningful strides in our transformation to fulfill the needs of the brides of today and tomorrow," Marcum said. "Nonetheless, our business continues to be challenged by the post-COVID environment and uncertain economic conditions, leading us to take this step to identify a buyer who can continue to operate our business going forward."
How long has David's Bridal been in business?
David's Bridal started as a small bridal salon in Florida in 1950. The chain now has about 300 locations across the country.
What will happen to David's Bridal orders?
David's Bridal said it plans to continue to deliver orders on time as it looks to sell the company. Its stores and alterations department are still open and customers can continue to shop online.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer.
Material from USA Today was used in this report. Reach Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/davids-bridal-in-warwick-is-closing-what-it-means-for-customers/70316865007/ | 2023-06-14T12:16:39 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/davids-bridal-in-warwick-is-closing-what-it-means-for-customers/70316865007/ |
State funding helped office building conversion in downtown Providence to tiny apartments
Rents go from $1,500 to $2,000
PROVIDENCE — A former office building from 1894 will soon open as tiny apartments in downtown Providence.
Gov. Dan McKee, Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor and Commerce Secretary Elizabeth Tanner all were on hand for a ribbon cutting and to offer praise for the 65-unit complex of very small and furnished apartments.
The project is receiving at least $2.5 million in state subsidies.
The building was last renovated in 1989 by Paolino Properties. The building has been owned by the Paolino family since the 1950s, when it was bought by former Supreme Court Justice Thomas Paolino.
J. Edward Studley constructed the office building in 1894.
Paolino Properties managing partner Joseph R. Paolino Jr. said this "workforce housing" property is unique because the units are all furnished. People only need bring their toothbrush and clothes.
How many apartments are there?
There are 65 units in The Studley building, a mix of five one-bedrooms, 20 studios and 40 "efficiency/micro-loft" units, according to RI Housing.
How many income restricted units are there in The Studley?
There are 14 income restricted units in the building. They will be restricted to people making between 80% to 100% of the area median income. In most of the state, including Providence, that ranges between $57,350 for a single person at 80% of the area median income to $74,200 for 100% of the area median income. The state subsidy for those units is $1.1 million.
The income-restricted units will be two one-bedrooms and 12 studio apartments.
According to documents from RI Housing, Paolino Properties could make 34 additional units income-restricted as part of the state's "Middle Income" program. Those units would be restricted to people making 100% or less of the area median income, $74,200, accompanied by $2 million in state funding. Although they were awarded the money, they have not decided to take the funding.
The Rhode Island Housing board of directors awarded the $2 million "Middle Income" funding for the Studley project in May.
How big are the apartments?
The apartments sizes range from:
- 242-343 square feet for the "Murphy bed"/"micro-loft" studios (40 units)
- 318-470 square feet for the normal studios (20 units)
- 367-425 square feet for the one-bedrooms (five units)
All of those are so small that, if they were single-family homes, they would be defined as "tiny homes" under the International Residential Code, which defines them as being 400 square feet or less.
They are around the same size as the "microlofts" in The Arcade, across the street, which range from 225 to 300-plus square feet depending on the number of bedrooms.
Prices range from $1,500 for the smallest apartments to $2,000, according to Apartments.com.
How much state subsidies went into the project?
The Studley project received, or will receive, a variety of state subsidies and financing, according to project documents.
The subsidies are:
- An estimated $2.1 million in historic preservation tax credits
- $1.1 million 30-year loan from the "Workforce Housing" program
- $400,000 estimated from the Rebuild RI sales tax credit program
- $2 million for the "Middle Income" program, which has been granted but not yet taken
The total cost of the project was $21.9 million, or $337,000 per unit, with $12.9 in construction costs, $7.5 million in acquisition and $1.5 million in "soft costs."
Joseph R. Paolino Jr. said the most important subsidy was the historic preservation tax credits. Without it, the project would not have been done.
"We've done four projects with historic tax credits and that program is probably the best, to restore mill and other historic buildings," he said.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer.
Reporter Paul Edward Parker contributed to this report. Reach Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/downtown-office-building-in-providence-converted-to-tiny-apartments/70312815007/ | 2023-06-14T12:16:45 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/downtown-office-building-in-providence-converted-to-tiny-apartments/70312815007/ |
LOCAL
National Weather Service: Severe thunderstorms could hit Wednesday afternoon
The day is starting with sunshine, but thunderstorms could move in Wednesday afternoon.
Jack Perry
The Providence Journal
Severe thunderstorms could hit Rhode Island this afternoon into tonight, the National Weather Service says.
"The biggest threat would be from damaging winds and hail," the weather service said in a tweet.
The storms are most likely to the north and west of Route 95 between 2 p.m. and about 9 p.m.
The day is starting with sunny skies, but clouds will build. Expect a high near 79, the weather service says.
On the water, storms could reduce visibility, produce stronger gusts and rough seas, the weather service says. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/thunderstorms-could-rumble-into-region-wednesday-afternoon/70320519007/ | 2023-06-14T12:16:57 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/thunderstorms-could-rumble-into-region-wednesday-afternoon/70320519007/ |
ODESSA, Texas — The cities of Odessa and Midland are uniting in their pursuit to hire a licensed veterinarian for animal services in both communities. On Tuesday, the city council in Odessa voted unanimously to join Midland in getting a recruiter to search for someone to fill the position.
The decision really comes down to combining resources and creating an attractive offer for the job. With both communities facing the same issues when it comes to money and competition, working together has clear benefits.
“So if we’re able to combine in that same person, still provide the service, and be able to provide a more lucrative financial package without breaking the bank, and still give us room to be able to add more incentives to be able to retain, it’s just common sense," said Odessa Mayor Javier Joven.
Odessa animal services opened up an amazing new facility just a few months ago, and Midland is home to an equally impressive animal shelter.
One other shared trait they have, though, is no veterinarian. However, the goal to change that took a step forward on Tuesday.
“So this is both communities working together and solving issues that both of us are facing similarly, and so this is why we’ve come together with this ‘thinking out of the box’ to be able to address these issues that face us," said Mayor Joven "Because, once again, we have just now come online with our animal shelter, and it’s really important for us to be able to provide that service of a veterinarian.”
Councilwoman Denise Swanner helped push this idea for Odessa. After months of conversations, this first step gives the area a chance.
“Right now, from what we’re looking at, at minimum we have set aside…$100,000," said Mayor Joven. "Now, if we were to go out and try to recruit someone for that price, no one would bite. And so, this is why combining with Midland is going to help us to compete for a competitive wage scale, and so this was a no-brainer that we needed to do.”
A no-brainer that looks to be part of a growing trend.
“This is just one aspect of how we are working together as a community – and will continue to do this – where it best fits both communities to be able to eliminate the duplication and come together and find solutions for both communities and go forward," said Mayor Joven.
The plan is for the veterinarian to split time during the week between the two city animal services, with details still needing to be finalized. Mayor Joven noted that a recruiter gives them a larger area to find someone, and the hope is to get this all done fairly quickly. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-and-midland-to-partner-in-search-for-one-veterinarian/513-a041e978-b701-4810-88e0-84c0ee640e97 | 2023-06-14T12:23:10 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-and-midland-to-partner-in-search-for-one-veterinarian/513-a041e978-b701-4810-88e0-84c0ee640e97 |
MIDLAND, Texas — On Sunday, the USSSA West Texas state championship was held in Midland and fans witnessed an incident that has now been posted on Facebook.
In the video, the Odessa Rogue batter was hit in the face with a ball thrown following the at bat.
The batter was left with an imprint of the baseball stitches on his face but is okay.
We're working on gathering more information. We'll keep you updated as we find out more on NewsWest 9. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-youth-baseball-player-hit-in-the-face/513-d3a77eaa-9970-466c-b141-9c1da114957a | 2023-06-14T12:23:16 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-youth-baseball-player-hit-in-the-face/513-d3a77eaa-9970-466c-b141-9c1da114957a |
While many will stay dry, some will catch a shower or storm Wednesday and Thursday. See when rain is most likely both days and how warm we'll get in our weather update video.
Historic U.S. flag photos
Historic U.S. flag photos
Flag Day is celebrated every year on June 14 thanks to a proclamation issued by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14 in 1777.
In celebration of Flag Day, take a look back at historic photos of the United States flag.
Historic US Flags
From the Old Time Shop in Lenox, Mass. comes this historic flag to be exhibited at the country antiques fair, 71st Regt. Armory, Park Ave. at 34th St. on April 9-14. Discovered in the attic of an old farmhouse in Lee, Mass., the flag once hung from the "Old Liberty Tree" in Boston as a signal to the Sons of Liberty to prepare for action against the English - until cut down by the irate British in 1775. Governor Francis Bernard of the Massachusetts colony writing to Lord Hillsborough on June 18, 1768 mentions that: ?Liberty Tree is a large elm upon which effigies were hung in the time of the Stamp Act, and from whence mobs made their parades. In August, last, they erected a flagstaff which went through the tree and a good deal above the top. Upon this they hoist a flag as a signal for the Sons of Liberty, as they are called. (AP Photo)
Benson Snyder
Giant American flag
A giant American flag is displayed by the Amoskeag River Mills in Manchester, N.H., on July 4, 1915. The flag measured about 95 feet long, 50 feet high and weighed some 200 lbs.
(AP Photo/Harlan A. Marshall)
Star Spangled Banner
An exact duplicate of the huge, original “Star Spangled Banner” made by Mary Pickersgill and flown over Ft. McHenry, September 13 and 14, 1814 was presented to the City of Baltimore by the Master Brewers Association of America. The flag was placed in the memorial. General view showing flag being carried across to the War Memorial Plaza its repository in Baltimore, Md., on Oct. 8, 1941. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
World War II
Torn and battle-stained, this American flag, the first ashore in Morocco at the start of the North African campaign on November 8 is put on display at Washington on March 4, 1943 at the War Department Building. Lt. Dallas Halverstadt points out hole torn by first fire of action at Fedala as the flag was carried ashore on initial landing boat.
(AP Photo)
Flag Day 1952
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower waves to confetti-tossing crowds lining the parade route to Detroit's City Hall, June 14, 1952, where he made a non-political Flag Day address. A mammoth flag, said to be the largest American flag in the world, covers the front of a large department store in the background. Man in the front of the car is unidentified.
(AP Photo)
Stars and Stripes
Unfurled against a picturesque English sky, the replica of an earlier ?Stars and Stripes? with its thirteen stars and thirteen bars makes a brave picture in London on March 21, 1943. It will later unfurl permanently in a place of honor at the U.S. Naval Academy.
(AP Photo)
Four early American flags
These are four of the early American flags shown June 20, 1948, made by Mrs. William H. Jenkins, retired history teacher in Chicago public schools. At top, left is the first flag to fly on New England soil. It is the Raven flag of Leif Ericson. The Raven symbolized the search for land. Top, right, is the cross of St. George, used by John Cabot on his voyages in the 15th century. It was also used by the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. At bottom, left, is the "Victory or Death" flag of the Minutemen at Concord on April 19, 1775. And at bottom, right, is the Bennington, Vt., flag flown by New England troops in 1777. The 13-seven-point stars over the ?76? represented the occasion of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
(AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Oldest U.S. flag in existence; Old Glory
The largest collection of historic and priceless American flags ever assembled at one time in one place will be displayed by the American Legion in the Chrysler Salon at New York City between June 8-17 as part of the Legion?s nation-wide ?New Glory for Old Glory? campaign. Shown here looking at what is thought to be the oldest U.S. flag in existence are on June 6, 1955: left to right: Tom F. Morrow, General Manager of Defense Operation Division, Chrysler Corp.; James F. O?Neill, Past National Commander of the American Legion and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. (AP Photo)
(AP Photo/Jack Harris)
First American flag sewing
As Flag Day, June 14, nears, Mrs. Robert Alexander reenacts the sewing of the first American flag in 1776, with an assist from her daughter Nancy, 5. They wear authentic costumes of the period, in the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 9, 1961. Here, according to tradition which may or may not be based on fact, the widowed Betsy Ross stitched together the first Stars and Stripes.
(AP Photo/WW)
Grand Union flag
The Grand Union flag, bottom, our first truly national flag, is an evolution from earlier Red Ensigns, top and center shown Dec. 13, 1975. The additions of the words "Liberty and Union" and of the 13 "rebellious stripes" were part of that evolution: the American flag was born as the nation was born, slowly and place by piece. The Grand Union, first run up by John Paul Jones in 1775, continued as the unofficial national flag until Independence.
(AP Photo)
Battle-torn American flag; Pearl Harbor
This oil-stained, battle-torn American flag was flying proudly from a captain?s gig in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese struck on December 7, 1941. Battle missiles tore it from its staff and tossed into the bay from where it was retrieved by Lieut. Commander Fred Welden, who sent it back to the United States. It is being held by L.E. White (left) and Clyde E. Wilson, Yeomen in the Naval recruiting office at Kansas City on April 23, 1942. (AP Photo)
AP
Home-made copies of early American flags
Mrs. William H. Jenkins, a retired history teacher in Chicago public schools, is teaching citizenship with home-made copies of early American flags. The daughter of a Civil War Veteran, Mrs. Jenkins studied every text available on flag history and began making her own reproductions of the most famous ones. Her creations are used to illustrate lectures given by her on flag history. Mrs. Jenkins works on her copy of the Betsy Ross flag on June 20, 1948, which has adopted by Congress in Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. It has 13 five-point stars arranged in a circle on a field on blue, with 13 alternate red and white stripes. The small flag in the sewing basket (right) is the flag of courthouse. It was on the courthouse of the town of Guilford, N.C., during an important battle of the revolution, in 1781. The stars in the canton were set in horizontal rows. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Edward Kitch
48 Stars flag
Historical U.S. Flag with only 48 stars on June 29, 1957. (AP Photo)
Anonymous
Lincoln flag
Barbara Buchanan, president of the Pike County Historial Society, points to a blood stain on a flag at the historical society's museum in Milford, Pa., Thursday, June, 20,1996. For decades, skeptics scoffed at claims that a U.S. flag in a rural Pennsylvania museum had served as a pillow for the bleeding head of Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated in 1865. A cynical Lincoln scholar investigated the claim and was stunned after finding that the flag, taken from Ford's Theatre by a stage manager, is legitimate. (AP Photo/Craig Houtz)
CRAIG HOUTZ
Lincoln flag
A flag that decorated the Presidential box at Ford's Theatre the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865 is displayed at the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford, Conn., Thursday, July 5, 2001. Period illustrations suggest that the president might have clutched the flag the moment he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. (AP Photo/Steve Miller)
STEVE MILLER
Field of stars
Sixth graders from the Halifax Elementary School help unfurl a field of stars which will become part of an American flag, at the Halifax Congregational Church in Halifax, Mass., Thursday, March 7, 2002. The flag will be part of the National Flag Exhibit, a collection of 45-foot by 90-foot U.S. and foreign flags based at the Boston National Historical Park. (AP Photo/Julia Malakie)
JULIA MALAKIE
Civil War flag
Marie Kirby, of Des Moines, left, and Dorothy Potthoff, of Jefferson, view an Iowa Civil War flag that is dispalyed following restoration, Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. The flag was carried by the 33rd Iowa Infantry, a group of farmers, businessmen and craftsmen who left their families in the fall of 1862. About a third of the unit survived battle and disease to return home in 1865, said Bill Johnson, curator for the State Historical Society of Iowa.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL
Oregon Flag
Gary Eichman takes a glimpse of first American Flag sewn in Oregon at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, June 29, 2011. The Oregon Historical Society is displaying an impressive piece of history from its vault, what is believed to be the very first American flag sewn in Oregon. One hundred and fifty years ago, Oregon pioneer Ann Elizabeth Bills was asked to sew an American flag to celebrate Independence Day. This flag, which is being displayed at the Oregon Historical Society for the first time, has been well preserved since its first flight on 4th street in Portland on July 4, 1861. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Rick Bowmer
Oregon Flag
The stars from the first American Flag sewn in Oregon is shown at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, June 29, 2011. The Oregon Historical Society is displaying an impressive piece of history from its vault, what is believed to be the very first American flag sewn in Oregon. One hundred and fifty years ago, Oregon pioneer Ann Elizabeth Bills was asked to sew an American flag to celebrate Independence Day. This flag, which is being displayed at the Oregon Historical Society for the first time, has been well preserved since its first flight on 4th street in Portland on July 4, 1861. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Rick Bowmer
Local Weather
Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox! | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/weather/weather-forecast-illinois-bloomington-decatur-mattoon/article_a6da5c30-0a1b-11ee-aaaa-2751b9cfd826.html | 2023-06-14T12:28:26 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/weather/weather-forecast-illinois-bloomington-decatur-mattoon/article_a6da5c30-0a1b-11ee-aaaa-2751b9cfd826.html |
A few showers leftover from overnight storms will continue drifting slowly east and we should be mostly dry by mid to late morning. Once the sun comes out, we will quickly warm up to the mid 80s, with lower 80s and upper 70s out west.
We will not have as much support for storm development today and as such only a few spotty storms will be in the picture.
The best chance of rain will be in south-central to southeastern Kansas, but chances of rain will be low at 20% or less and storms will fizzle out after sunset. Lows tonight will be nice and cool with 50s west and 60s east.
Tomorrow we crank the heat up a few degrees, rising to the upper 80s in Wichita and mid 80s out west.
An upper level disturbance will move into western Kansas tomorrow afternoon and provides support for more showers and storms to develop. A complex of storms is likely to form and march to the east. Ingredients look to be in place for these storms to maintain themselves well into the overnight as they march east.
A Slight Risk is in effect for much of Kansas tomorrow. The primary threat will be damaging wind gusts in central Kansas, with large hail and a tornado or two not out of the question especially in western Kansas before the storms merge together into a line.
Friday will be more on the dry side after the storms move through but a couple of pop up storms may still happen in the afternoon. Another round of thunderstorms will be possible on Saturday especially in central and eastern Kansas.
After the weekend’s storms move out, we will finally see a few days with little to no storm activity in our area. Temperatures soar into the 90s across the state by Sunday and we stay toasty into early next week. Showers and storms may try to come back into the picture by the middle of next week, which would help to bring temperatures down a bit.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Jack Maney:
Wichita:
Today: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 85 Wind: SW 5-15
Tonight: Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 62 Wind: S 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly to mostly cloudy. 40% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 89 Wind: SE 5-15
Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy. 50% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 64 Wind: SE 8-18
Wichita Weekly
Fri: Hi: 86 Lo: 65 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Sat: Hi: 87 Lo: 65 Partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 92 Lo: 69 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 94 Lo: 70 Partly cloudy.
Tue: Hi: 95 Lo: 69 Mostly sunny.
Wed: Hi: 93 Lo: 68 Partly cloudy. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/storm-track-3-forecast-warming-up-today-storms-likely-tomorrow/ | 2023-06-14T12:29:56 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/storm-track-3-forecast-warming-up-today-storms-likely-tomorrow/ |
Whether an officer is publicly identified after shooting a member of the public in Nebraska seems to depend on two key factors: what agency the officer works for and whether the gunshot victim dies.
Over the past decade, local police agencies have proved to be inconsistent on when — or if — they identify their officers involved in police shootings, sometimes releasing their identities within a few days of such a shooting and sometimes refusing to ever identify involved officers publicly, according to a Journal Star review of 10 years’ worth of media reports.
In Nebraska, grand juries are convened to review law enforcement actions in fatal shootings to investigate whether police committed criminal wrongdoing. Even if officers are cleared of such wrongdoing, a transcript of the grand jury proceeding — which includes the involved officer’s name — is made available for public review.
But grand juries aren’t convened to review nonfatal police shootings.
The Nebraska State Patrol has consistently declined to identify troopers who shoot members of the public — even when those gunshot wound victims die — largely because the agency’s contract with the state troopers union prevents the public identification of troopers under internal investigation, leaving grand juries as the only outlet for identification.
"We do not release the names of officers involved in officer-involved shootings," State Patrol Col. John Bolduc said at news conference in May. "We never have. And that policy is not likely to change anytime soon."
The U.S. Marshal’s Service — which has been involved in three police shootings in Lincoln since 2014, though only one of them was fatal — has taken a similar approach. Deputy U.S. marshals who have shot people in Lincoln over the past decade have only been identified through grand jury transcripts or criminal court proceedings, according to the review of media reports.
The Lincoln Police Department has grown increasingly hesitant to identify officers involved in shootings since the city hired Chief Teresa Ewins to lead the department in September 2021, according to the review.
In four Lincoln Police-involved shootings from 2015 to February 2021, the police department identified its involved officers at news conferences long before grand juries were convened to review the actions of law enforcement.
But in the two police shootings since, department officials have declined to publicly identify the investigators who witnessed or participated in the incidents, deferring instead to the grand jury process.
"It's gonna be up to — to really me looking at the assessment, looking at the threat against the officers that could be posed,” Ewins said in May, following the shooting of Chace Abney at the hands of LPD and State Patrol investigators who remain unidentified.
“It may go to a grand jury,” she said. “And so, we can't give you information until we understand where it's gonna be going."
Deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office have been involved in two shootings since 2013, including one fatal shooting.
In both instances, Sheriff Terry Wagner has publicly identified the deputies involved.
How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years
How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years
Spending on public safety in cities in the US has doubled since 1980
Police funding has remained about half of public safety budgets consistently for 40 years
Even with ballooning public safety budgets, many cities allocate more money to the police
Some cities have reigned in police spending, while others have tightened overall public safety budgets
A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Andrew Wegley joined the Journal Star as breaking news reporter after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in May 2021. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/identification-officers-lincoln-shootings-inconsistent/article_7390c29e-095b-11ee-9016-733c008d55f1.html | 2023-06-14T12:31:40 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/identification-officers-lincoln-shootings-inconsistent/article_7390c29e-095b-11ee-9016-733c008d55f1.html |
When plainclothes narcotics investigators shot a Nevada man amid a confrontation in a west Lincoln parking lot last month — wounding the 35-year-old who later died of his injuries — the instance marked the 11th police shooting in the city over the past decade.
An investigation by Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations looked at how agencies have responded to calls for more accountability — including the use of cameras — after George Floyd's murder.
Chace Abney, who is alleged to have fired one round from a handgun before Lincoln Police and Nebraska State Patrol investigators returned fire, is the 12th person to be shot by police across 11 separate police shootings in Lincoln since the beginning of 2014, according to a Journal Star review of a decade's worth of local media reports.
Police in Lincoln have killed nine of those shooting victims — all nine of whom were armed, believed to be armed or reportedly reaching for guns — and grand juries have cleared officers of criminal wrongdoing in eight of the nine fatal shootings, according to the media reports.
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A grand jury hasn't yet been convened to review Abney's death, but when one is, jurors won't review body-worn camera footage of the incident as part of their probe into investigators' actions in the lead-up to the May 1 shooting.
That's because the unidentified investigators who shot Abney — members of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, an interagency unit that also includes Lancaster County Sheriff's Office deputies and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police officers — weren't wearing body cameras.
Though UNLPD has been using body-worn cameras since 2007 and the State Patrol since 2014 — the same year that Lincoln Police officials began exploring an expansion of their use of such cameras after piloting the devices with four bicycle officers — possibly only one local police shooting in the past 10 years was actually captured in bodycam footage.
Over the past decade, local police agencies have proved to be inconsistent on when — or if — they identify their officers involved in police shootings.
There was definitively no body-worn camera footage in eight of the 11 police shootings in Lincoln over the past 10 years, despite the increasingly widespread use of bodycams, according to media reports.
In two of the three other police shootings — the nonfatal shooting of Christopher Brennauer at the hands of Lincoln Police officers in 2018 and the fatal LPD shooting of Zachary Grigsby in 2015 — it's unclear if body-worn cameras were in use.
Media reports from those shootings don't mention body-worn cameras. The Lincoln Police Department's public information office forwarded multiple inquires about bodycam use in those shootings to Police Chief Teresa Ewins, who did not respond and who declined an interview request for this story.
Few agencies remain camera shy
Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.Assistant City Attorney Tonya Peters, the department's legal adviser, said the city "does not possess a body-worn camera video for either incident," though it is unclear if such footage ever existed.
The double-fatal shooting of a Wyoming couple in February 2021 at the hands of two Nebraska State Patrol troopers and a Lincoln Police officer marks the only police shooting in Lincoln over the past 10 years in which bodycam footage definitively existed, according to media reports and the grand jury transcript.
And in that instance — in which police fired 37 times at Hailey Stainbrook and Christian Alexander following a pursuit through northwest Lincoln — the bodycam footage investigators reviewed did little to help police accurately describe the events that led up to the shooting.
Though authorities repeatedly described the incident as a shootout and said both Alexander and Stainbrook were armed, grand jury testimony later revealed there was no evidence they fired any shots in the chase, and one of the two supposed guns turned out to be a replica.
In Lincoln's two police shootings since then, the police involved haven't been wearing bodycams because of their positions on a specialized narcotics task force.
Abney's killing in May and the November 2021 fatal shooting of German Pedraza both involved Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force investigators, who wear plainclothes, drive unmarked cars and do not wear bodycams.
The Lincoln Police Department's body-worn camera policies don't mention which officers under what circumstances are required to wear bodycams. In fact, the set of policies governing LPD's use of bodycams and other recording systems does not explicitly require any officers to wear bodycams.
The Lincoln Police Department declined to answer questions about body-worn camera use among narcotics investigators, citing the looming grand jury probe of Abney's shooting death.
The department's public information office also forwarded questions about apparent loopholes in LPD's bodycam policy to Ewins, who did not respond.
Chief Sheriff's Deputy Ben Houchin, whose agency employs one investigator on the Narcotics Task Force, said it simply isn't feasible for the plainclothes group to wear bodycams because of the nature of their day-to-day surveillance of suspected drug dealers and users that requires them to blend in.
"I mean, you can't have a T-shirt on and try to do surveillance on foot and have a body camera," Houchin said. "It just isn't going to work on that portion of it."
However, members of the other local specialized police task force — the Area Metro Fugitive Task Force, which includes full-time officers from LPD, the sheriff's office and U.S. Marshals Service — often do wear body cameras when pursuing alleged fugitives, Houchin said, despite the fact that members generally wear plainclothes.
Houchin said the sheriff's office and local police investigators on the Metro Fugitive Task Force have cameras attached to the tactical vests they put on when apprehending fugitives.
Investigators on the task force have shot three people in Lincoln since 2014, including the nonfatal shootings of Thomas Sailors in January 2018 and Tareik Artis in 2015. Members of the task force also shot and killed Tyson Hubbard in 2015.
All three Metro Fugitive Task Force shootings over the past decade have been carried out at least in part by deputy U.S. marshals on the unit — though a deputy marshal and sheriff's deputy each fired shots at Artis.
None of the task force's shootings have been caught on bodycams, according to media reports, in part because deputy U.S. marshals in Nebraska still aren't equipped with body-worn cameras, according to Jaime Galindo Jr., the chief deputy U.S. marshal for the District of Nebraska.
Galindo said the Marshal's Service is in the middle of rolling out bodycams to deputy marshals in its 94 districts across the country, though he said he wasn't sure when exactly they would arrive in Nebraska, suggesting it could be as soon as next month or as late as 2024.
The longtime chief deputy who has served in the role since 2013 said the decision to outfit deputy marshals with bodycams came down to "the accountability, right, that the body-worn camera brings to the job that we do."
"It's something that our agency and our leadership has been at the forefront (on), making sure that, 'Hey, we need to be out there and making sure that we get these for our deputy U.S. marshals across the country,'" Galindo said.
When the cameras arrive, the deputy marshals will be among the last police in Lincoln outfitted with bodycams.
The Lincoln Police Department, which faced calls from advocates to implement bodycams as early as 2015, began outfitting all street-level officers with cameras in 2019. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office followed suit in 2020.
It's unclear if BNSF Railway Police — a somewhat obscure police force that nonetheless carried out a fatal shooting in Lincoln in 2019 that was not captured on bodycam video — are outfitted with body-worn cameras. A spokesperson did not respond to an inquiry about the force's use of the cameras.
Still, the increase in use of body-worn cameras in Lincoln over the past decade has not been accompanied by an increase in police transparency — in large part because of a vague exception in Nebraska's public records law that allows law enforcement agencies and municipalities to withhold records that "constitute a part of … (an) investigation," effectively prohibiting disclosure of all body-worn camera footage to the public.
The city has repeatedly relied upon the exemption to deny Journal Star requests for body-worn camera footage — a practice that state senators have aimed to curb through the introduction of multiple bills in recent years that would have required law enforcement agencies to release bodycam footage to the public and news media in a narrow set of circumstances.
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln became the latest lawmaker to make such a bid when she in January introduced LB366, which would have amended the state's public records law to make records requests more affordable for Nebraska residents while barring agencies from withholding bodycam footage linked to deaths in police custody.
Conrad's bill, like a similar effort brought by former Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen in 2021, faced opposition from law enforcement officials at a Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee hearing in March — including from Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon, who hinged much of his opposition to the bill on what such a change would mean for the potential prosecution of an officer.
"It all goes back to the right of an individual to have a fair and impartial trial," said Condon, who said he would not mind if law enforcement agencies released footage in cases that don't result in prosecution.
A grand jury has not called for a law enforcement officer to face criminal charges in any police shooting in Lincoln over the past decade, but for Condon, the potential for such an indictment is an obstacle in the timely release of bodycam footage in police custody deaths.
Grand juries typically aren't convened to review deaths until months after the fact in Lancaster County — and sometimes longer elsewhere in the state.
Conrad, the daughter of a longtime deputy sheriff, said Condon's opposition to her proposal ignores legal devices at his disposal, such as jury sequestration or out-of-jurisdiction jury selection, to combat any influence the release of bodycam footage might have on a criminal trial.
And, she said, the inconsistent and rare release of body-worn camera footage in the state calls into question the efficacy of bodycams as a means for police accountability — the impetus of their use.
"What you have is law enforcement deciding what we get to see and when we get to see it, and sometimes they pull stills off of the body cameras instead of providing the full footage," said Conrad, whose bill did not make it out of committee but will be automatically refiled when Nebraska's Legislature reconvenes in January.
"And I think that that really turns our strong public records laws on their head. Because the default position should be toward the public's right to know."
At times, law enforcement officials claim to agree. Houchin, the chief deputy sheriff, said the release of bodycam footage in critical incidents or when deputies are accused of wrongdoing would benefit the authorities "99.9% of the time."
But, he said, the county's prosecutors have objected.
"I understand their point, but it would be nice that — (when) I'm sitting here knowing everything is rock solid and there's questions out in the public, and then they're like, 'Well, they're hiding something,'" Houchin said, describing a hypothetical situation featuring public calls for the release of bodycam footage.
"Well, no, we're not hiding anything. And we at the Sheriff's Office want to be as transparent as we possibly can."
Houchin said he wouldn't characterize the differing views between the county offices on bodycam footage as a "disagreement," but the sentiment that legal advice is a roadblock on law enforcement's path to transparency is not unique to the sheriff's office.
Ewins, Lincoln's police chief, said in a March interview that she could imagine situations or circumstances that might call for the release of bodycam footage, particularly if its release could diffuse tensions or "stop violence or protest" in the aftermath of a police killing.
"And as long as it’s done responsibly, I don’t have an issue with it," said Ewins, whose agency has not released bodycam footage to the news media in her 21 months at the helm.
"But we need to be responsible about it. And we need to have policies, procedures, the city attorney involved," she said, before saying her and the city's legal counsel "have differing opinions" on the matter.
After indicating he would participate in an interview and then assuring he would answer an emailed list of questions, Yohance Christie, the city's attorney, ultimately did not respond to inquiries seeking comment in time for publication.
And Ewins, who acknowledged that the department's written bodycam policy does not mention the release of video captured, described the city's process for releasing footage in the kind of de facto terms that state statute, in its deference to each agency, allows for.
“It would be my discretion," she said, "and in consultation with the city attorney." | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/police-shootings-lincoln-rarely-filmed-despite-bodycams/article_91ee2ffa-062d-11ee-b8a0-770adbcf1c0f.html | 2023-06-14T12:31:46 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/police-shootings-lincoln-rarely-filmed-despite-bodycams/article_91ee2ffa-062d-11ee-b8a0-770adbcf1c0f.html |
SAN ANTONIO — An employee at a northwest-side laundromat was shot and killed overnight after a confrontation with two men in the parking lot.
SAPD was called to the 4100 block of Gardendale in the Medical Center area around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday for reports of a shooting in progress.
When officers arrived at the location, they found a man in his 40s who had been shot and killed in front of the laundromat.
According to police, witnesses said that two men had been in front of the laundromat causing a scene by dancing, eating and just making a mess.
A female employee walked out and confronted the two men, asking them to clean up their mess and leave the locartion. One of the man reportedly slapped her several times.
The woman went back inside the laundromat and told her boyfrined, who also worked there. The boyfriend then went outside and got into a confrontation with the two suspects.One of them pulled out a gun, and shot him several times. then ran off.
First responders attempted life-saving measures on the victim, buthe was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police searched the area for the two suspects, but did not find them
No other injuries were reported.
This is a developing story.
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Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/employee-shot-killed-during-confrontation-with-two-men-causing-disturbance-outside-laundromatsapd-san-antonio-texas/273-aef73049-af35-4e82-925e-898e99eee43d | 2023-06-14T12:39:42 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/employee-shot-killed-during-confrontation-with-two-men-causing-disturbance-outside-laundromatsapd-san-antonio-texas/273-aef73049-af35-4e82-925e-898e99eee43d |
SAN ANTONIO — Juneteenth is now celebrated on June 19 and is a federal holiday.
Accounts of Juneteenth start with the civil war ending in 1865. Nearly four million enslaved people were in the U.S., getting freed as the Union Army marched across the country, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation after the war.
But for the enslaved in Texas, down in Galveston, they got the news of freedom on June 19, 1985, two years after the president actually declared it.
Here in San Antonio, there are plenty of ways to celebrate:
May 30-July 10 Celebrating Freedom Exhibit
- Bexar County Archives Building
- Presidio Gallery
- 126 E. Nueva St.
- Mon-Fri 8 am- 5 pm
- Free
In celebration of Juneteenth, the Bexar County Archives will display slavery and emancipation records from Bexar County. The archives include maps, images, census, wills, and deeds. An archivist is available for tours and interviews.
June 10 Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast
- Bethel A.M.E Church
- 225 N. Swiss Street
- 9 am
- $20
The San Antonio Juneteenth Commission starts Juneteenth off with prayer, music, and a history of the backbone of Black culture: The church.
June 14 Great SA-Freedom: A Juneteenth Culinary Conversation
- Texas Public Radio
- 321 W. Commerce Street
- 6 pm – 9 pm
- Food available to purchase
A culinary conversation focusing on the freedom to celebrate Black heritage through food with chefs, a Soul Food scholar, and a chef turned agricultural crowdsource expert fundraising to guarantee land as farm-to-table resources for the food industry and Black foodways. Food is a universal love language, and in the Black community, this love runs deep. From Africa to America and beyond, the table continues to connect Black communities in tradition, recipes, and conversation.
June 15 Black History Film Series— ''I Am Not Your Negro’
- Magik Theater
- 420 S Alamo St
- 6 pm – 9 pm
- Free but registration is required
The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) presents ''I Am Not Your Negro,'' a 2016 documentary film and social critique film essay directed by Raoul Peck. It's based on James Baldwin'sBaldwin's unfinished manuscript ''Remember This House.'' Actor Samuel L. Jackson narrates the film as it explores the history of racism in the United States through Baldwin'sBaldwin's recollections of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. The film also gives Baldwin'sBaldwin's point of view. A discussion on the impact of civil rights in San Antonio will follow the showing.
June 16 Juneteenth Festival
- Comanche Park #2
- 2600 Rigsby Avenue
- 11 am- 11 pm
- Free Concert
The Juneteenth Commission kicks off its premiere party in the park with the official Juneteenth Festival. Come expecting mouthwatering food, especially the Flotilla'sFlotilla's Fish Fry, activities for children, and live music. Friday night's free concert features The Legends.
June 17 Juneteenth Parade
- Route Begins: Sam Houston High School
- 4635 E. Houston Street
- 10 am
- Route Ends: Comanche Park #2
- 2600 Rigsby Avenue
The annual Juneteenth Parade winds through San Antonio'sAntonio's East side. Queens, parade attractions, and people are hungry to celebrate and fill the street ready for a good time. The Juneteenth Freedom Coalition of San Antonio puts on the parade.
June 17 Juneteenth Festival
- Comanche Park #2
- 2600 Rigsby Avenue
- 11 am- 11 pm
- Free Concert
It's the official Juneteenth Festival's biggest night. Yummy food choices fill the grounds, especially the Flotilla's Fish Fry, activities for children, and live music. Saturday also features the yearly Health Fair from 11 am- 2 pm. The night's free concert showcases former Tower of Power lead singer Larry Braggs. His voice is widely known for the hit, ''Me & Mrs. Jones.''
June 17 SA Juneteenth Block Party & Fair
- Crockett Park
- 1300 N. Main Street
- 3 pm – 9 pm
- Free
The SA Juneteenth Block Party & Fair is back for its third year. The party started in 2020 with 500 attendees and now attracts thousands. The good times come with gap-closing resources for attendees with healthcare, wealth, and education vendors. Admission is free!
June 17 Patti LaBelle
- Majestic Theatre
- 224 E. Houston
- Check Ticket availability and prices
- 8 pm
The legendary Patti La Belle is scheduled to set the stage on fire with her soaring vocals at the Majestic Theatre.
June 19 The Official Juneteenth Golf Tournament
- The Club at Sonterra
- 901 East Sonterra Blvd
- 8 am
- $175 per player (Breakfast, lunch, cart, green fees, and driving range)
Play golf on two lush championship golf courses at The Club at Sonterra for the Juneteenth Annual Golf Tournament. Proceeds fund the official Juneteenth Festival and the Miller Child Development Center.
June 19 A Gospel Celebration of Juneteenth
- Tobin Center for Performing Arts
- 100 Auditorium Circle
- 4 pm- 7:30 pm
An evening of spirit-filled and soul-rousing music and storytelling becomes the soundtrack of Juneteenth 2023, with a gospel music spectacular. The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) collaborates with the Gospel Haus and Museum to present the stories steeped in freedom and joy from San Antonio and Houston gospel music legends. The evening concludes with Stellar award-winning Motown Gospel artist Brian Courtney Wilson. He is best known for his album and hit single ''A Great Work.''
June 20 Exploring Blacks in Media from the Revolution, Emancipation, and Beyond
- Barbara Jordan Center
- 2803 E Commerce St.
- 11 am-3 pm
- A historical and hands-on six-week course
- **Parental permission required**
East Point Promise Coalition (EPPC) and StreetLigion Production are hosting a six-week media training summer program for 8th-10th graders. The students will get an overview of the history of Black media in the United States. Topics covered during the program include newspapers, magazines, music, filming, podcasting, and radio personalities. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/juneteenth-celebrations-across-san-antonio-texas-june-19-black-emancipation/273-40626cb2-4798-4294-976d-16a5567e6a71 | 2023-06-14T12:39:48 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/juneteenth-celebrations-across-san-antonio-texas-june-19-black-emancipation/273-40626cb2-4798-4294-976d-16a5567e6a71 |
SAN ANTONIO — A man was shot and killed in what police are calling a 'lover's quarrel' on the southeast side of town just after midnight.
Police responded to the 100 block of E. Palfrey off Goliad Road early Wednesday morning for reports of a shooting in progress.
Police say a woman and her new boyfriend were at her house when her ex-boyfriend showed up and a fight ensued in the backyard.
The fight had moved to the middle of the street when the new boyfriend pulled out a weapon and shot the ex-boyfriend several times.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The new boyfriend is now in custody and police were able to recover the gun that was used.
Police say the suspect and other witnesses were all taken to the Central substation for questioning.
Everyone involved in this altercation are in their 30s, according to police.
This is a developing story.
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Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-shot-several-times-killed-during-what-police-say-was-lovers-quarrel-love-triangle-sapd-san-antonio-texas/273-6f615c8e-2581-4874-ac17-f68f84064998 | 2023-06-14T12:39:54 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-shot-several-times-killed-during-what-police-say-was-lovers-quarrel-love-triangle-sapd-san-antonio-texas/273-6f615c8e-2581-4874-ac17-f68f84064998 |
ACTion Programs for Animals partnering with Petco for Las Cruces adoption event
LAS CRUCES – Petco and ACTion Programs for Animals are partnering up this weekend for the pet supply chain’s annual Petco National Adoption Day.
APA, a nonprofit animal rescue organization in Las Cruces, will have adoptable kittens and adoptable trained dogs at the store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17. The nonprofit is offering half-off adoption fees during the month of June for kittens and cats during National Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.
Michel Meunier, executive director of APA, said in a news release that June is the start of “kitten season.” Large litters of kittens are historically born during this season, resulting in an increase in kitten numbers at shelters.
Adoptable dogs joining the event on Saturday are graduates of the Prisoners and Animals Working Toward Success Program (P.A.W.S.), which is a partnership APA has with the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Las Cruces.
According to a news release, P.A.W.S. has been in operation since 2016. Dogs that have resided in the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley, the area municipal shelter, are removed by APA and sent to the prison to be trained by inmates trained as handlers for about two months. The dogs then return to APA for adoption.
“The program has helped us rehabilitate and train hundreds of dogs, most of which we pull from the animal shelter,” said Michel Meunier, executive director of APA, in a news release. “Our in-house P.A.W.S. team keeps up the dogs’ training and showcases them at adoption events.”
Petco is located at 3050 E. Lohman Ave., Building D.
People can also learn more about APA and available adoptable animals online at apalascruces.org or they can visit in-person from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday at 537 N. Solano Dr. Appointments can be made by calling 575-571-4654.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
Others are reading: | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/action-programs-for-animals-partnering-with-petco-for-las-cruces-adoption-event-dogs-kittens-paws-nm/70306105007/ | 2023-06-14T12:44:13 | 0 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/action-programs-for-animals-partnering-with-petco-for-las-cruces-adoption-event-dogs-kittens-paws-nm/70306105007/ |
Staffing issues plague Las Cruces' City Attorney's Office after top lawyer let go
LAS CRUCES – The City of Las Cruces Council approved a $700,000 contract to a law firm Monday to supplement the services of the City Attorney's Office. The move increased the fee for general litigation services from $400,000 to $700,000 and extended a contract with Las Cruces firm Mynatt Springer P.C. into the next fiscal year.
There was no discussion on the matter. The 33 percent increase was placed on the consent agenda of the Monday meeting. While hiring outside firms to supplement the office's work is nothing new, the City Attorney's Office hinted in its request at staffing shortage causing issues for the city's lawyers.
The city told the Sun-News, "No services have been downscaled," but the staffing issue has affected the timeliness of some cases. The problem comes months after City Manager Ifo Pili fired the city attorney and has yet to fill the position.
The city did not grant the Sun-News an interview but did provide answers to a series of written questions.
What happened to the city attorney?
For the legal department, the staffing shortage starts at the top. Jennifer Vega-Brown, who led the office since April 2017, was terminated in November 2022, according to records obtained by the Sun-News. It's unclear why, however. The records only indicate that the city ended Vega-Brown's tenure with an "involuntary termination" on November 16, 2022.
None of the documents obtained hinted at the cause of the termination. There are no public lawsuits that shed light on the reason either. Vega-Brown also could not be reached for comment.
Jocelyn Garrison, the interim city attorney, said Las Cruces is actively searching for Vega-Brown's replacement.
"The hiring process for City Attorney is currently underway. It is being managed by City Manager's Office and Human Resources," Garrison said.
What's the staffing situation in the City Attorney's Office?
Specifically, Garrison said having a full staff means more specialization and efficiency for the department and the city government.
"Attorneys will be able to focus on assigned areas of concentration," Garrison said. "Increased training for all Departments can be conducted; more time dedicated to research; increased efficiency in IPRA and all other responses; and quicker review/advice given to legal inquiries."
But for now, those ideals are out of reach. To get there, Garrison said that the office is fully staffed when they have:
- 1 city attorney,
- 1 deputy city attorney,
- 4 assistant city attorneys,
- 1 inspector general,
- 5 staff members.
Currently, Garrison said the office has:
- No city attorney
- No deputy city attorney
- 2 assistant attorneys (both filling the roles of city attorney)
- 1 inspector general
- 4 staff members
- 1 temporary contractor
Garrison said the office has applications for the city attorney position, two more assistant city attorney positions, one deputy attorney position and an office manager.
"Interviews will be completed for the assistant city attorney positions by mid-June 2023. All other positions are in various stages of the hiring process," Garrison said.
Justin Garcia covers public safety and local government in Las Cruces. He can be reached via email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com, via phone or text at 575-541-5449, or on Twitter @Just516Garc. | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/staffing-issues-plague-las-cruces-city-attorneys-office-after-top-lawyer-let-go/70315564007/ | 2023-06-14T12:44:19 | 0 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/staffing-issues-plague-las-cruces-city-attorneys-office-after-top-lawyer-let-go/70315564007/ |
The Rottinghaus family of Charles City is taking matters into its own hands to help address the affordable housing crisis on a local level.
Carlinda Limited Partnership, a local partnership consisting of siblings Carolyn Debo, Lindsay Larson, David Rottinghaus and their father, Paul Rottinghaus. held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for a nine-unit townhouse development in northwestern Charles City dubbed "Sherman Creek."
"There's a national crisis for housing, and it's not just on the coasts...rural America has somewhat of an affordable housing crisis," said David Rottinghaus.
Nestled along the confluence of the Cedar River and its small tributary from which the project takes its name, the development is located along the scenic Charley Western Recreational Trail, Wildwood Public Golf Course and is a short walk to and from downtown Charles City.
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The units will feature three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, packaged into just under 1800 square feet of livable space with an additional full, unfinished basement with room to add a fourth bedroom and a third full bathroom. It also includes a two-stall garage.
“Our goal is to enhance the residential landscape of Charles City and contribute to its growth and prosperity. Our commitment to this project represents the dedication to creating a sustainable community and fostering long-term relationships with the residents, the professionals our local businesses employ and the surrounding community,” said Rottinghaus.
According to a press release, the townhouses will boast a range of amenities. From large, spacious interiors to premium finishes, residents can expect a high standard of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each unit will offer ample living space for growing families and provide an environment conducive to relaxation and entertainment. "[Our goal is to] offer comfortable and modern living options, catering to families and individuals seeking a high-quality lifestyle," Rottinghaus said.
Construction has begun, and all nine units are available for pre-sale or lease.
"We have businesses here who provide employment for professionals recruited from all around the world. They work here, but choose to live in other [adjacent] communities by choice and by necessity, because we don't have housing available for them," said Rottinghaus at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Utilizing local contractors is paramount to Carlinda's mission. Along with McDonald Construction out of Cedar Falls, TJ Service, Denny's Cabinet Shop, Otto's Oasis and Kamm Excavating are just some of the businesses partnering with Carlinda on Sherman Creek. “It’s always a great deal when we can help grow local businesses with investments like this,” Rottinghaus added.
Delaine Freeseman, who sits on the Charles City Council and serves as a Chamber ambassador, attended the groundbreaking and was excited to see the project kick off.
"I think its fantastic that the Rottinghaus family is willing to take this opportunity and initiative to do a project like this here in Charles City. We're no different than any place else, we need housing of this caliber and type," Freeseman said.
"It's one small piece of a large puzzle...if we find success with this project, we hope to inspire others and take on more projects like this." said Rottinghaus.
Alexander Schmidt is an Education/General Assignment Reporter for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at alexander.schmidt@globegazette.com or at 641-421-0527. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/charles-city-carlinda-limited-townhouses-housing-iowa/article_9de09a1a-0a19-11ee-be46-676c4e41b0c6.html | 2023-06-14T12:52:56 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/charles-city-carlinda-limited-townhouses-housing-iowa/article_9de09a1a-0a19-11ee-be46-676c4e41b0c6.html |
A recent survey of law enforcement in Cerro Gordo County has revealed that 100% of police officers and sheriff's deputies are required to wear body cameras whenever on duty.
According to the survey conducted recently by the Globe Gazette, the Mason City Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office and the Clear Lake Police Department have a total of 87 body cameras available for use.
Few agencies remain camera shy
Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.
Bodycams can help hold officers accountable, said Jeff Fick, a criminal justice instructor at North Iowa Area Community College.
"I think it has helped in a lot of ways. First and foremost, (bodycams) really help with the report writing process," Fick said. "It helps hold officers more accountable. It's pretty clear-cut when you have video evidence of exactly what happened."
Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said bodycam footage can be reviewed for a number of reasons, including being a new officer, an incident review, verbal or de-escalation skills, routine reviews, supervisor initiated complaints or a formal complaint. He said training is key for officers, and body cameras can help with that.
"We have completed a wide variety of training throughout the years to help our officers recognize how they can be more self-aware and intentional about high-stress encounters and situations," Brinkley said. "This training has included bias awareness, verbal de-escalation and influence, and recognition of autism-Asperger's, to name a few."
An investigation by Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations looked at how agencies have responded to calls for more accountability — including the use of cameras — after George Floyd's murder.
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals said any time there is a complaint an internal investigation is triggered. His office also conducts bodycam footage spot checks at least once a month.
"We're trying to check our people to make sure they're following our policies and procedures all the time," Pals said.
He added that the state of Iowa requires that officers be trained every year on implicit bias and de-escalation. Some of the training is done locally and other training is conducted at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston.
A body camera worn by Coralville police officer Patrick McCoy is shown in June 2015 in Coralville. At the beginning of 2015, all Coralville police officers began wearing body cameras while on patrol.
ADAM WESLEY, The Gazette
Clear Lake Police Chief Pete Roth said any use of force is reviewed by a supervisor to determine if that use of force was within the department's guidelines. He said his department operates similarly to other local departments when it comes to triggering an investigation.
"If you are referring to when a supervisor would review video footage, then generally: receipt of a personnel complaint, a review of a use of force or pursuit, or for routine/random performance checks and evaluations," Roth said.
According to the survey, the Clear Lake Police Department received zero complaints of excessive force between 2017 and 2022 and just one (2022) complaint of racial profiling that was determined to be unfounded.
Mason City Police had 11 reports of excessive force and two complaints of racial profiling in that timeframe, while the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office had no complaints of either type. No officers or deputies have been fired or placed on leave at any Cerro Gordo County department.
Fick said body cameras have benefited law enforcement officials in multiple ways. He said not everyone remembers things the same way in the heat of a charged moment. Bodycams can help strengthen public trust in law enforcement agencies as well.
Fick said making sure officers are self reporting if and when mistakes are made also is important in earning and keeping the public trust.
"That can help, and that can benefit public trust within the community," he said. "If you have trust within the community it might mean you have more cooperation."
North Iowa History: Police photos
Judge Boynton
Judge Boynton in judge's study. April 28, 1948
Check forger in court
Check forger in police court. November 5, 1946.
Kitts & Hardy
Kitts & Hardy, March 15, 1951.
Kitts trial
Kitts trial-posed Belcastro. March 16, 1951.
DeWayne Frampton
May 18, 1956. DeWayne Frampton, patrolman.
M.A. Pelham portrait IHP
Iowa Highway Patrolman M.A. Pelham.
Warren Tilton
October 29, 1956. Warren Tilton, new cop.
Fred Buchner, portrait IHP
New highway patrolman Fred Buchner.
Calvin Anderson portrait
New officer Calvin W. Anderson MCPD
Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP
Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP
H. Jack Lien MCPD portrait
H. Jack Lien, new MCPD patrolman
Ronald Thielen, MCPD
Ronald Thielen, MCPD new patrolman
Jim Fountas, MCPD
Jimmy Fountas, new MCPD patrolman
Sgt. Pete Hall, IHP
Sgt. Pete Hall, IHP
Sgt. Delmar Smith, MCPD
Sgt. Delmar Smith, MCPD
Kenneth Kruggel, MCPD
Kenneth Kruggel, MCPD patrolman
Harold Thomas, MCPD
Harold Thomas, MCPD new patrolman
Friederich Langen, IHP
Friederich Langen, IHP.
MCPD badge #45 for Carey
Police badge for Carey
Wendell Stream, IHP
Wendell W. Stream, IHP
Chief Stanley McClintock
Chief Stanley McClintock
Al Schloemer portrait
Al Schloemer Mason City Police
Dennis Wasicek portrait
Dennis Wasicek, MCPD new officer
Sgt. Wendell Stream
Sgt. Wendell Stream IHP
Denny Gerdom IHP
Denny Gerdom IHP
Carl Condon IHP
Carl Condon, IHP from Hampton
Sally Hamblin dispatcher
Sally Hamblin police dispatcher
Auto theft school
Auto theft school
Ron Carpenter, portrait
MCPD Patrolman Ron Carpenter
C.S. Tyler
IHP trooper C.S. Tyler
Roger Brown, IHP
IHP Trooper Roger Brown
Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border
Iowa-Minnesota Troopers meet at border
Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border
Iowa-Minnesota Troopers meet at border
Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office
Ed Christiensen at Sheriff's Office
Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office
Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Jerry Allen
Sheriff Jerry Allen
Police Station cornerstone
Police station cornerstone being laid
Captain Walt Reindl, MCPD
Mason City Police Captain Walt Reindl
Larry Davis, portrait MCPD
Larry Davis, new patrolman at MCPD
Michael Montgomery, portrait MCPD
Michael J. Montgomery new patrolman at MCPD
New police station
New police station-west side
New police station
New police station-east side
Sheriff Jerry Allen, portrait
Sheriff Jerry Allen portrait
Garvin Ward, portrait
Garvin Ward, Patrolman MCPD
Prince Philip, Wes Greenan
Prince Philip at air port with Lt. Wesley Greenan
Judge Butler portrait
Judge WP Butler
Auxiliary policemen WWII
April 8 1942. Auxiliary policemen sworn in for duration of war.
Chief Patton
From back of original: "Aug. 14 1936, #1731. Chief Erwin J. Patton, 1932-1934"
Chief Risacher
Leo F. Risacher. Patrolman 1923, Detective 1924-34, Captain 1934-55, Chief 1955-63.
Chief Wolf
May 13, 1936. Safety Patrol boys, Chief of Police [Wolf], Mr. Kargis.
Jewell, Duane 1971
May 5, 1971. Elwin Musser photograph. Duane Jewell.
John Wallace
John W. Wallace, 1937-43
Kleinow, Eugene
Elwin Musser photograph. Eugene Kleinow. March 6, 1978.
Leo Alstott
Joel Hanes collection. Mason City policeman Leo Alstott.
Patton, EJ 1934
Scanned from 1934 "Who's Who In Mason City."
Police and fire chief 1949
Challenge by Chief for polio ball game played between police and Highway Patrol vs firemen, August 1949.
Police and Fire depts.
September 29, 1919
Police dept PB 40
PB 40, no date. Old police dept.
police patrol car
Police patrol car; no additional info.
Policecars copy
no info on photograph
Policecars
No info on photograph
Roll call briefing at old station
Roll call briefing at old police station. L To R: Rudy Alman, RonEckhardt, Ron Carpenter(standing), Lt Myron (Lefty Lewis), and Ken Rodemeyer. Taken in Late 1971 or Early 1972.
Schiffman and squad car
Patrolman Ralph Schiffman next to squad car. Date unknown. Photo from Mason City Police Dept.
Scott, Greg and Dennis Rye
Steve Rye collection. 12/7/1991. Dennis and Greg Scott - father/son in uniforms. Dennis, Fire Dept. captain. Greg, Police Dept. #5911.
SL195 Remington shells.jpg
SL195, Remington shells 32s
2 boys at Sheriff's Office
Flash of two boys in jail at Sheriff's Office. Photo taken on September 17, 1934.
SL1017 Old police station when built.jpg
Old Police Station. Photo taken on May 29, 1935.
Dr. Houlahan fingerprinted
Dr. J. Houlahan getting fingerprinted at Police Station Photo taken on August 31, 1942.
Boy Scouts at station
Feb. 8, 1936. Police court ruse by Boy Scouts.
Blizzard and Highway Patrol
Feb. 9, 1936. Blizzard Scenes, Highway Patrol officers.
Police with new boats
Police Department with boats in case of floods. March 4, 1936.
Buchanan.jpg
James Buchanan portrait taken on March 19, 1936.
Sheriff's convention
July 7, 1936. Sheriff's convention.
Jack Burnette, Highway Patrolman
Jack Burnette, Highway Patrolman January 13, 1937
John Wallace
Johnnie Wallace, Deputy Sheriff. Photo taken on April 5th, 1937.
Ed Christianson portrait
Portrait of Ed Christianson, Deputy Sheriff. July 18, 1937.
Pierce with kids
Lollipops for good little girls and boys. Patrolman Dick Pierce. May 31, 1938.
John Wallace giving auto instructions
Johnny Wallace giving instructions on operation of auto on June 7, 1938.
Safety meeting
Dec. 12, 1938. Sergt. Reese at YM safety meeting. MC Cerro Gordo County safety council
G-Man BC Coulter
March 1, 1939. Mason Cityans question G-Man BC Coulter at work.
Jack Gordon murderer
Jack "Indian" Gordon with sheriff's deputies. Held on murder charges. May 13, 1939.
Abel's wrecked safe
July 11, 1939. Abel's wrecked safe after robbery.
Risacher and Wolfe in 1939
Captain Leo Risacher and Chief Harold Wolfe on July 28, 1939.
Sheriff Tim Phalen
Sheriff Tim Phalen, photo for cut. Taken on September 2, 1939.
Dreher murder suspect
Dreher Case. Ostenrieder one of killer in Mason City. Photo taken on September 29, 1939.
Colwell murder
Dec. 11, 1939. Blewitt-Carter murder pictures. Colwell, IA.
Rock Falls bank robbery
Bank Robbery at Rock Falls, Iowa. Photo taken on June 21, 1940.
Allie Allen Murder house
Murder house of Allie M. Allen at 1644 North Federal Avenue October 1, 1940.
Blanchards Jewelry robbery
Blanchards Jewelry Store window broken and robbed on March 11, 1941.
Highway patrolman checking brakes
Patrolman checking brakes on April 26, 1941.
Incendiary pencil demonstration
Incendiary pencil demonstration at peace officers meeting at YMCA. Photo taken on June 4, 1941.
Incendiary pencil
June 4, 1941. Incendiary pencil demonstration at peace officers' meeting at YMCA.
Policemen taking tests
Policeman and Fireman taking tests. Photo taken on June 13, 1941.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Soondergaard and Quintard arrested
July 22, 1941. Soondergaard and Quintard arrested after honeymoon. Pictures taken at police station.
Robbery at Newberry's
October 18, 1941. Robbery at Newberry's
Klipto safe cracked
Nov. 4, 1941. Klipto safe cracked
Ventura bank attempted robbery
Dec. 29, 1941. Ventura State Bank attempted robbery. Lawrence Bliss, cashier.
Robbery at First Methodist Church
Robbery at First Methodist Church. Photo taken on December 31, 1941.
Police map
Mar. 7, 1942. Photo of police chart - map
Glen Wilson
Mar. 10, 1942. Glen Wilson, 4 S Monroe
Stork at police station
Stork at police station on August 24, 1942.
Thornton robbery footprint
Nov. 24, 1942. Sheriff's office, footprints at Thornton, robbery at drug store.
Blackout control center at police station
Blackout control center at police station on December 10, 1942.
For he's a good fellow
For he's a good fellow. Photo taken July 19, 1943.
Sheriff with two boys
They had themselves a good time — Swain boys — Photo taken September 24, 1943.
Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office
Murderer Stanley Kaster in Sheriff's Office on October 4, 1943.
Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office
Murderer Stanley Kaster in Sheriff's office on October 4, 1943.
Man caught with furs out of season
Furs — $11,500 worth — caught out of season by William DeBruym on October 28, 1943.
Frank Brothers arraigned for manslaughter
Frank Brothers arraigned for manslaughter.
Man with a gun
Mar. 4, 1944. Man with gun.
Vandalized schoolhouse
4/24/44. Kids break into school room.
Capture of escaped convicts
Capture of escaped convicts on December 11, 1944.
Brake inspection in front of P.D.
They passed the brake check on May 26, 1945.
Highway Patrolmen with illegal ration books
Iowa Highway Patrol with illegal ration books on May 28, 1945.
Peace officer conference training
Frisking of criminals at peace officers conference May 29, 1945.
Patrol by Junior Chamber of Commerce
Street Patrol by junior of commerce on June 16, 1945.
Attempted jailbreak
Scene of attempted jailbreak. Photo taken on August 9, 1945.
Highway patrol and Breenan
Brennan and captor. Photo taken on August 29, 1945.
Wolfe and Phalen horse race
One for the books. Chief Harold Wolfe and Sheriff Tim Phalen in horse race.
Wolfe and Phalen horse race
One for the books. Chief Harold Wolfe and Sheriff Tim Phalen horse race. August 30, 1945.
Grand Jury
Sept. 4, 1945. First federal grand jury meets here.
Police training on arrest
They captured the "fugitive" October 5, 1945.
Officials check plans in front of P.D.
Officials check plans on October 29, 1945.
Officers find ammunition in car
Officers found this in car. November 15, 1945.
Sheriff make big haul of liquor
Sheriff makes a big haul of liquor. December 28, 1945.
Officer Bruns next to car
Injured in crash Mrs Maude Combs. On January 29, 1946. Officer William Burns.
Highway patrol with booze
"How dry I am" February 27, 1946.
Mrs. Bauer leaves inquest
Apr. 23, 1946. Mrs. Bauer leaves inquest
F.B.I. training session
What's wrong here! April 23, 1946
Richard Pierce Portrait
Portrait of Patrolman Richard R. Pierce Taken on April 29, 1946.
Highway patrolmen at accident scene
Traffic accident on May 18, 1946. Wreck near county farm.
Clear Lake bike accident
July 19, 1946. Sheriff's office, bicycle accident on Clear Lake road
Electrocution scene
Electrocution scene (Marvin Olson electrocuted by live wire on August 8th 1946).
Highway patrol with loot
Loot found in car. October 25, 1946
Policemen's wives club
Policemen's wives club November 20, 1946
Wrecked coupe
Mar. 26, 1947. Wrecked coupe for sheriff's office.
Mott murder scene
Arlene Mott murder scene. November 13, 1947.
Police chart
Feb. 6, 1948. Police chart.
Near drowning
May 12, 1948. Mrs. Kramer, 941 S Adams. Near drowning.
Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees
Eldora Boys escape found in Manly. Photo taken on August 26, 1948.
Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees
Highway Patrolman with escaped Eldora boys found in Manly. Photo taken on August 26, 1948.
Policemans wives club
Marge Wolskey residence police auxillary meeting.
Holmes accident
Dec. 1, 1949. Robert L Holmes, 5 miles south of Mason City. Taken at 11:00 a.m.
Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern
Murder at the Blue Ribbon Tavern on July 12, 1952.
Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern
Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern on July 12, 1952.
Reese IHP
July 26, 1952. Robert Reese, 647 S Carolina. Iowa Highway Patrol.
Police map
Feb. 2, 1953. Police Dept., of map by Mr. Reublitz.
Sidewalk
Feb. 19, 1953. Slippery sidewalk.
DeWilde auto robbery
Apr. 5, 1953. Window at DeWilde Auto Service showing where robbery was committed.
SL33730.jpg
Jan. 1, 1959. Police map of traffic spots.
Police with Easter Seal Society
May 1960. L to R: Leo Risacher, M.D. Kubicek, Wes Greenan, M.E. Corless.
Police convention
Oct. 12, 1965. Policeman's convention, Des Moines
Thomas Runyan
Mar. 4, 1937. Thomas Runyan, criminal, brought to Mason City.
Thompson, Gerald 1965
Elwin Musser photograph. Gerald Thompson. Jan. 11, 1965.
Verhelst murder case.jpg
November 14, 1947. Funeral for slain girl, Patterson. Verhelst charged with murder. Judge Dunn is in office.
Wallbaum
Dillinger film: Officer Conrad Wallbaum directing traffic after robbery.
Walskog1
Elwin Musser photo. Oct. 4, 1958. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/crime-courts/cerro-gordo-police-equipped-bodycams/article_4a98bd07-e39c-51c5-a9df-85c7ac847ef1.html | 2023-06-14T12:53:02 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/crime-courts/cerro-gordo-police-equipped-bodycams/article_4a98bd07-e39c-51c5-a9df-85c7ac847ef1.html |
JONESBORO, Ga. — A public hearing wrapped up Tuesday for Clayton County's projected $295 million operating budget, with taxpayers and leaders in the community speaking out.
With the budget's price tag comes the search to figure out how to pay for it, and Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley and her team want to help keep the community safe.
“Sometimes it just feels like a boxing match," Mosley said. “It’s a 10 rounder. The strongest will survive, and right now, we’re surviving but barely," Mosley said.
Mosley said fighting the bad guys feel never-ending, and she was one of the people who spoke at public comment. She asked Clayton County Commissioners for $1 million in the fiscal year 2024 budget to increase starting salaries and pay for current employees.
“I cannot attract anybody to my office because for them to take a job offer from me, they are losing anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000," Mosley said.
This is just one of the issues commissioners will have to look at as they consider priorities in the budget.
“We’ve got to begin to get our salaries up to a point where we can compete," Commissioner DeMont Davis said.
In May, commissioners voted 3-2 to give Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen $3.6 million to hire 33 new deputies. The board approved almost twice what Allen requested and said it was needed to keep the courts and jail functioning correctly.
“The priorities are for safety, for health, for roads and bridges in our community," Commission Vice Chair Felicia Franklin said; he motioned to give Allen the additional money.
“We have a new sheriff. We’ve got to give him every tool and every resource within reason to succeed," Davis said.
Commissioner Davis voted against the increase, along with Commission Chair Jeffrey Turner, who previously told 11Alive he's worried about what else may have to be cut.
“Are we going to have to come up with those funds? Yes. Might they have to come out of the general fund? Yes," Davis said.
Davis said the board will begin meeting to decide what to cut. They want to keep property taxes down. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/clayton-county-commissioners-2024-fiscal-year-budget-hire-sheriff/85-72b498ef-bb79-42f8-9c6b-76643f42c9e0 | 2023-06-14T12:56:40 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/clayton-county-commissioners-2024-fiscal-year-budget-hire-sheriff/85-72b498ef-bb79-42f8-9c6b-76643f42c9e0 |
ORLANDO, Fla. – A second arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a U.S. military veteran at a shopping plaza in February, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Keyonce Pitts, 19, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm in the death of Angela Sutton Washington, 60. Pitts’ arrest comes days after 15-year-old Samuel Stevens was also arrested on a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm.
According to police, Washington was shot and killed while shopping in a plaza on North Lane on Feb. 7. Police said she stopped at a convenience store on the way home and was shot while walking through a group of young men standing in front of the store.
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A man who lives near the shopping plaza told News 6 after the shooting that he knew Washington, whom he calls “auntie,” and believes she was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“She was just an innocent bystander coming to the store and that happened,” he said. “It could’ve been me, it could’ve been anybody. I’m just glad I followed my senses.”
In addition to being an Army veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, Washington was also a mother and grandmother.
Her son, Fernando Washington, told News 6 that he thinks about his mother more and more each day.
“I’m relieved that he’s been arrested and they found him, but it doesn’t bring me any closure,” he said, referring to Stevens. “At the end of the day, I lost my mom, I lost a parent, and no arrest, no future judgment is going to bring her back. I’m thankful for the work that the detectives put in, because they did put in a lot of work.”
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/2nd-arrest-made-in-fatal-shooting-of-army-veteran-at-orlando-shopping-plaza/ | 2023-06-14T12:57:54 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/2nd-arrest-made-in-fatal-shooting-of-army-veteran-at-orlando-shopping-plaza/ |
SOUTH PATRICK SHORES, Fla. – Brevard County has contracted an excavations company to collect storm debris in South Patrick Shores starting Wednesday, where an EF1 tornado touched down last week.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued a tornado warning for the South Patrick Shores area just after 5 p.m. on June 7. The tornado touched down around 5:20 p.m. near the intersection of Lighthouse Landing Street and South Patrick Drive, packing wind speeds between 90-100 mph, according to the NWS.
Damage was dealt to dozens of homes, with the majority reported in the South Patrick Park neighborhood.
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Melbourne-based Doug Connor Inc. will focus debris collection efforts on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th streets along with Albatross, Seagull, Egret, Herron and Flamingo drives, according to the county.
Vegetative debris will get picked up first — such as tree limbs and bushes — before crews can move on to construction and demolition debris.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/tornado-debris-collection-begins-in-south-patrick-shores/ | 2023-06-14T12:58:02 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/tornado-debris-collection-begins-in-south-patrick-shores/ |
OCALA, Fla. – Loved ones of Akije “AJ” Owens will gather Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil in Ocala’s Downtown Square to honor the 35-year-old mother’s life and call for justice in her death.
Also dubbed a night of community healing, the vigil is scheduled to last from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to organizers with War Cry for Peace, an advocacy and support group for victims of gun violence. Tarlisa Brown, Kimberly Robinson, and Velecia Woodyard — described in a news release as AJ’s cherished friends — will join War Cry for Peace in leading the vigil.
Owens’ funeral was held Monday at the Meadowbrook Church, drawing more than 1,000 people from across the nation including civil rights activist, the Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered a eulogy.
“Right is right and wrong is wrong and we got to stand together when there is wrong,” Sharpton said. “If a Black mom would have shot through the door at a white kid, you would have arrested her that night.”
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Owens was shot on June 2 after walking with her son to the front door of her neighbor, 58-year-old Susan Lorincz, to confront her after she allegedly took an iPad from one of Owens’ four children and threw roller skates at them. The shooting was the culmination of an alleged neighborhood feud, with Marion County deputies having been called to the area a dozen times before it happened.
[RELATED: Who is Ajike Owens? Mother of 4 fatally shot by neighbor in Florida had ‘heart of gold’]
Lorincz was arrested days later, on June 6, with Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods saying ahead of time that authorities had come under pressure to charge Lorincz and needed to confer with the State Attorney’s Office on her self-defense claims, as the 58-year-old told deputies Owens was trying to break her door down.
In Woods’ words at a later news conference held to announce charges against Lorincz, he described the case as “simply a killing,” with sheriff’s office statements citing eyewitness accounts and other investigative findings to establish Lorincz’s actions were not justifiable under Florida law.
[RELATED: What to know about Susan Lorincz, suspect in shooting of Ocala mother Ajike Owens]
Attendees to Wednesday’s vigil are encouraged to bring flowers, stuffed animals and other symbolic items, as well as to wear purple in honor of AJ’s favorite color.
Lorincz faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault.
She has not posted bond and was still in jail at last check.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/vigil-set-for-marion-county-mother-fatally-shot-through-neighbors-door/ | 2023-06-14T12:58:08 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/14/vigil-set-for-marion-county-mother-fatally-shot-through-neighbors-door/ |
WATERLOO — A man who was found with a gun following a report of gunfire has been sentenced to time behind bars on immigration and weapons charges.
Juan Gonzalez-Matias, 46, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to one year and nine months in jail on charges of possession of a firearm by an alien and two counts each of unlawful use of identification documents and misuse of a Social Security number.
He was sentenced Monday in US. District Court in Cedar Rapids.
Authorities allege Gonzalez, who had been removed from the county three times between 1998 and 2012, had used bogus documents, including a Social Security number issued to a Pakistani woman, to apply for jobs in Waterloo and Cedar Falls in 2021 and 2022.
He came to the attention of Waterloo police in September 2022 when he allegedly became involved in an argument with a woman at his Courtland Street home. He allegedly brandished a pistol and fired two rounds into the air.
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Officers seized a 9 mm Taurus PT709 handgun and meth, according to court records.
State charges in connection with the shooting remain pending. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gun-document-charges-lead-to-prison-term/article_9c533b3c-0a1c-11ee-8c8c-b7014f8e0150.html | 2023-06-14T13:02:01 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gun-document-charges-lead-to-prison-term/article_9c533b3c-0a1c-11ee-8c8c-b7014f8e0150.html |
An investigation by Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations looked at how agencies have responded to calls for more accountability — including the use of cameras — after George Floyd's murder.
The body-worn camera would give the public a replay of an incident and lead to greater police accountability, or so it was thought. The relatives of Michael Brown, shot by an officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 called for a federal law mandating their use.
About a decade later, almost all local officers have and use body cameras. But the footage is rarely made public. Instead, the videos are usually treated as evidence, held by the police department, awaiting a court date if any charges are filed.
“It’s evidence and stuff we can’t share with the public. … We don’t give out videos unless the case has already gone through the court system,” said Capt. Jason Feaker with the Waterloo Police Department.
Department policy allows the police chief to release body camera and dashcam video to the public in the “rare instances” of critical public interest where the release “far outweighs the need to preserve evidence until the conclusion of litigation.”
Waterloo police officers have been involved in three shootings in recent years. One man was paralyzed when he allegedly engaged law enforcement with what turned out to be a BB rifle. Another died after he led officers on a chase and rammed an occupied squad car. A third was killed when he pointed what turned out to be an air pistol at patrol officers.
Prosecutors declined to charge officers in two of the shootings, and the third case remains under consideration.
Two of the shootings have resulted in lawsuits that are pending in court.
When The Courier sought video footage from the BB rifle incident a week after the shooting, the Waterloo Police Department denied the request, citing state law that designates law enforcement investigative reports, including videos, as confidential.
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, which had deputies involved in the BB rifle call, referred requests for its footage to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation -- the agency that investigated the shooting -- which has yet to respond.
The Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office later released still images taken from the videos as part of its report on the incident.
Following the shooting involving the rammed squad car, KWWL-TV sought the police videos and was told the footage would cost the TV station more than $6,000 in preparation fees.
Feaker said the department charges $10 per minute of video to defray the costs of an officer reviewing the footage and redacting personal information like dates of birth or Social Security numbers or content that would violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
In the end, attorneys for the deceased’s estate released selected videos of the ramming incident to the media.
In addition to being used as evidence in criminal cases, the footage is used by police department internal affairs officers to investigate complaints about conduct. Feaker said the implementation of body-worn cameras has helped speed up the internal affairs review process.
“The complaints are still there, but they get worked through quicker and we can show that the officers aren’t doing what some people in the public think they are,” Feaker said.
In one case in Cedar Falls in 2016, a woman claimed an officer attempted to watch her put on a bra and made inappropriate comments when he was stationed at her home awaiting a search warrant in a drug investigation.
Investigators reviewed footage from the officer’s body camera and found nothing of the sort. The woman was then charged with making a false report to law enforcement.
The Waterloo Police Department also conducts monthly audits of randomly selected body camera footage, said Lt. Greg Fangman with the department’s internal affairs division. Some 20 videos are drawn each month and divided among supervisors for review to ensure compliance and professional behavior.
Cedar Falls police began using body cameras about 10 years ago, starting with three units whose officers had the option to wear them. Waterloo police followed soon after.
Both departments now have equipment and policies for regular body camera use.
Few agencies remain camera shy
Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.
All Waterloo sworn officers are issued a camera to use. The department retains routine footage for 180 days. If it’s considered evidence in a criminal case it is kept indefinitely.
Cedar Falls police require 38 of 74 officers to wear cameras while on duty.
In Cedar Falls, police retain routine video footage for 120 days. Sharing with the public is done on a case-by-case basis.
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office requires 35 of its 66 sworn deputies to wear body cameras. Deputies stationed at the jail, which is covered with stationary surveillance cameras, aren’t required to wear cameras. Footage is kept for two years, and the public can request access through the state’s open records laws.
Dashboard cameras have been a part of law enforcement for decades. All patrol vehicles for the Waterloo and Cedar Falls police departments and the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office are equipped with dash cameras.
Photos: 2022 officer-involved shooting in Waterloo
Waterloo Police Department Lt. Steve Bose holds a department issue Axon body camera used by all police officers. The camera can be activated manually, when an officer draws his pistol or Taser and several other ways. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-courts/cedar-valley-police-use-cameras-footage-rarely-released/article_403718e5-c5fe-5c80-a2c9-7d6c889eaace.html | 2023-06-14T13:02:07 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-courts/cedar-valley-police-use-cameras-footage-rarely-released/article_403718e5-c5fe-5c80-a2c9-7d6c889eaace.html |
WATERLOO – One more police officer will be roaming the halls of Waterloo Community Schools after approval of the addition by the school board.
The Waterloo School Board voted unanimously to amend its school resource officer agreement to add a dedicated sergeant, Sgt. Melissa Ludwig, to the current team of six SROs from the Waterloo Police Department who are assigned primarily at the high schools and middle schools. They also provide service to the elementary schools when needed.
The district funds the program through its general operating budget. The addition of Ludwig will add $65,402 to the cost with an overall contract cost of $373,455. The agreement is through the city of Waterloo and the district.
SROs assist schools in providing a safe environment through the introduction and presentation of the substance abuse and violence awareness programs.
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The new sergeant will be a liaison between the SROs and the director of at-risk and student services, Sheena Canady. Ludwig also will provide regular visibility at the elementary buildings and can fill in at other schools when needed.
Capt. Jason Feaker said the SROs at the high schools and middle schools cover specific elementary schools that are nearby. East High covers Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence; West High covers Kittrell Elementary; Expo Alternative Learning Center covers Highland Elementary; Hoover Middle School covers Lou Henry, Kingsley and Orange elementaries; George Washington Carver Middle School covers Lincoln and Lowell elementaries; and Central Middle School covers Irving and Fred Becker elementaries.
Bunger Middle School and Poyner Elementary are covered by an SRO from the Evansdale Police Department.
Canady said she believes coverage is lacking at the elementary levels.
“They’re stretched thin,” she said. “(The new position) would offer a consistent walk through, visibility, support to elementary, but also filling in where need be when secondary SROs are out.”
Waterloo Police Chief Joe Leibold said in the past year the department lost supervision of SROs because of staffing difficulties. He said the department realized there were gaps in communication and accountability with the officers.
When SROs were absent due to illness or leave, the department would backfill the positions using overtime hours from the city’s budget, he said.
Leibold noted the department doesn’t have a “great deal of issues” at elementary schools but is hoping the new sergeant can visit all the buildings and meet administrators and staff.
Many of the school board members brought up the lack of curriculum and current relationships between law enforcement and students. Canady said she didn’t know of any plans on specific curriculum to be taught to elementary students.
Board member Stacie Mills said currently it is a teacher’s decision whether to have an officer speak to their class. She said that practice needed to be flipped so it’s not up to the teacher’s request. She suggested something similar to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program.
Astor Williams said he hopes the presence of SROs and the potential relationships they develop can teach students “law enforcement is not bad in general.”
“My hope is that that happens and it’s not reactive, it’s proactive, and you get in buildings as much as you can and have conversations with young people and (they) have respect for law enforcement … just beyond the badge,” he said.
Jesse Knight applauded the addition of the new sergeant.
“If there’s one thing we want to spend tax money on, school safety is an excellent thing to spend it on,” he said.
This morning's top headlines: Tuesday, June 13
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging he hoarded classified documents detailing sensitive military secrets and schemed to thwart government efforts to get them back. Trump appeared before a judge in Miami’s federal courthouse on Tuesday. He is the first former president charged with federal crimes. Authorities say Trump schemed and lied to block the government from recovering the documents concerning nuclear programs and other sensitive military secrets stored at his Mar-a-Lago estate. It’s the second criminal case Trump faces as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024. He’s also accused in New York state court of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign.
Confetti flying in Denver. The Nuggets sharing hugs while passing around the NBA championship trophy. Scenes that for decades seemed impossible finally turned into reality for the Nuggets. Denver outlasted the Miami Heat 94-89 in an ugly, frantic Game 5 that did nothing to derail Nikola Jokic, who bailed out his teammates with 28 points and 16 rebounds on a night when nothing else seemed to work. The win gave the Nuggets their first title in 47 years in the league. Jokic was named MVP and is the first player to lead everyone in points, rebounds and assists in a single playoffs.
Authorities in Denver say a shooting amid fans celebrating the Nuggets’ first NBA championship win was likely sparked by a drug deal gone wrong. It left 10 people wounded, including one of two people arrested in connection with the shooting. Five people were still hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon, all in fair condition. Police Chief Ron Thomas said investigators believe five or six of the wounded were bystanders. The gunfire broke out early Tuesday, around 3 1/2 hours after Monday's game. Police say 20 rounds were fired at the scene, and investigators recovered five handguns and a “significant quantity” of suspected fentanyl pills.
Twenty-nine people were on the boat at the time it overturned, Lockport Mayor Michelle Roman said at a news conference Monday afternoon at City Hall, including 28 hospitality workers from across Erie County and one staffer.
Consumer prices in the United States cooled last month, rising just 0.1% from April to May and extending the past year’s steady easing of inflation. At the same time, some measures of underlying price pressures remained high. Measured year over year, inflation slowed to just 4% in May — the lowest 12-month figure in over two years and well below April’s 4.9% annual rise. The pullback was driven by tumbling gas prices, a much smaller rise in grocery prices and less expensive furniture, air fares and appliances. The inflation figures arrived one day before the Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates alone after imposing 10 straight rate hikes dating back to March 2022.
The United States military says a helicopter accidents in northeastern Syria over the weekend has left 22 U.S. service members injured to various degree. The military said in a statement on Tuesday that the cause of the “mishap” is under investigation. The military statement said the service members are receiving treatment and 10 have been moved to “higher care facilities” outside the region. It said the accident occurred on Sunday and that no enemy fire was reported. There are about 900 U.S. troops in Syria advising and assisting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against the militant Islamic State group.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy appears to have resolved, for now, an impasse with some of the more conservative members of his caucus who had brought the chamber to a standstill last week. McCarthy met Monday with nearly a dozen lawmakers in his office in an effort to quell a revolt and jumpstart various priorities that had stalled last week amid the GOP infighting. He called it a productive meeting where “everybody’s attitude was, ‘How do we find where we all work together?’” McCarthy promised more meetings with last week’s holdouts and a focus on reducing federal spending in the weeks ahead.
A custody battle has broken out among relatives of four Indigenous children who survived a plane crash and 40 harrowing days alone in the Amazon rainforest. Their maternal grandparents are vying with the father of the two youngest to take care of the children, whose mother died in the May 1 crash. They have accused him of domestic abuse. The siblings range in age from 1 to 13. They are still in a hospital and are expected to stay there for several more days. Social workers are using that time to interview relatives to determine who should have custody. The head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare says a caseworker has been assigned at the grandparents' request.
A jury in Oregon has found the electric utility PacifiCorp responsible for causing devastating fires during Labor Day weekend in 2020, ordering the company to pay tens of millions of dollars to 17 homeowners who sued and finding it liable for broader damages that could push the total award well into the billions. The jury applied its liability finding to a larger class including the owners of nearly 2,500 properties damaged in the fires. PacifiCorp said it will appeal. The Portland utility is one of several owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway.
30,000 Haitian kids live in private orphanages. Officials want to shutter them and reunite families.
Haiti’s government is stepping up efforts to remove hundreds of children from orphanages across the country and reunite them with their parents or relatives. It's part of a massive push to shutter the institutions. Most are privately owned, with U.S. faith-based donors as the largest funders. Social workers are leading Haiti's reunification efforts. They're sometimes armed with only a picture and vague description of the neighborhood where the child once lived. It’s an arduous task in a country of more than 11 million people. There are no residential phonebooks, and many families have no physical address or digital footprint. An estimated 30,000 Haitian children live in hundreds of orphanages where reports of forced labor, trafficking, and physical and sexual abuse are rampant. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/new-sergeant-will-oversee-assist-waterloo-schools-school-resource-officer-program/article_024ac0aa-09fe-11ee-9379-afbfdf3cdd54.html | 2023-06-14T13:02:14 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/new-sergeant-will-oversee-assist-waterloo-schools-school-resource-officer-program/article_024ac0aa-09fe-11ee-9379-afbfdf3cdd54.html |
Molly Dill of Bloomington, right, navigates over haystacks during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
Nick Moran of Normal, center, navigates through a haystack obstacle course during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
Brandon Bates of Clinton cools down in the rain following his first place finish in the competitive race during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
Eric Flowers, of Peoria, holds on tight to a rope while walking down towards a creek during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
Participants carry sandbags on their way uphill in a recreational race during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
Eve Whitlow, 10, of Normal, uses a sledgehammer to push a tire during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
More than 120 people took part in the inaugural Hill of a Race obstacle course Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park. The race was hosted by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Cultural Arts Department in partnership with Dust2Glory fitness group in Bloomington, featuring 23 different obstacles through all kinds of terrain.
100817-blm-loc-3hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Molly Dill of Bloomington, right, navigates over haystacks during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-2hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Nick Moran of Normal, center, navigates through a haystack obstacle course during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-7hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Brandon Bates of Clinton cools down in the rain following his first place finish in the competitive race during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-1hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Brooke Myszka of Downs participates in a competitive race during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-9hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Mitchell Myszka of Downs navigates through a set of tires during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-8hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Eric Flowers, of Peoria, holds on tight to a rope while walking down towards a creek during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-5hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Participants walk downhill in a recreational race during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-6hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Participants carry sandbags on their way uphill in a recreational race during the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
100817-blm-loc-4hill
LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH
Eve Whitlow, 10, of Normal, uses a sledgehammer to push a tire during a recreational race in the inaugural Hill of a Race on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at Ewing Park in Bloomington.
Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3352. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/hill-of-a-race-obstacle-run-returns-to-bloomington-on-aug-26/article_29e3b684-09ff-11ee-9abe-27fdcf3c5a26.html | 2023-06-14T13:03:13 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/hill-of-a-race-obstacle-run-returns-to-bloomington-on-aug-26/article_29e3b684-09ff-11ee-9abe-27fdcf3c5a26.html |
Two firefighters with the Hockessin Fire Company suffered non-life-threatening injuries while responding to a house fire on Tuesday that, officials believe, was started by a malfunctioning lawnmower.
According to the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office, the firefighters were hurt while responding to an accidental fire that occurred at a home along Renee Lane in the Chestnut Valley development off Paper Mill Road in Newark, Delaware.
The fire reportedly occurred at about noon on Tuesday.
Officials said that when firefighters arrived on the scene, they could see flames shooting from the garage.
In working two extinguish the fire, two firefighters were injured and were transported to a local hospital where, officials said, the firefighters were listed in good condition.
The fire marshal's office did not disclose the nature of their injuries.
According to the marshal's office, the fire "originated inside the garage after a malfunction occurred with a riding lawn mower that had just been used."
Officials believe the fire caused about $500,000 worth of damaged and three people were displaced by the incident.
No other injuries were reported, according to officials. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-firefighters-hurt-lawn-mower-to-blame-officials-say/3585375/ | 2023-06-14T13:12:15 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-firefighters-hurt-lawn-mower-to-blame-officials-say/3585375/ |
Eric Ruch, Jr., a former Philadelphia police officer who was convicted of killing an unarmed man in 2017, was released from prison on Tuesday after serving less than a year behind bars.
In November, Ruch Jr., 35, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half to 23 months in prison after he was found guilty in the shooting death of Dennis Plowden, an unarmed man, following a police chase.
Ruch Jr. who was on-duty at the time of the killing, was the first Philadelphia police officer to be convicted for a death of a civilian in the city’s history.
According to court documents, following a chase that ended in a vehicle crash in 2017, Ruch Jr. shot Plowden in the head, "within six to eight seconds of arriving at the scene" on the evening of the slaying.
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As revealed in court, Plowden was seated on the ground, with his left hand raised -- still dazed from a crash -- when Ruch Jr. shot him to death.
The former officer claimed he believed Plowden had a gun and would have shot him.
Following Ruch Jr.'s sentencing, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked the court to re-consider, calling the months-long penalty "far below state sentencing guidelines." | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/former-philly-cop-who-killed-unarmed-man-released-from-prison/3585406/ | 2023-06-14T13:12:21 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/former-philly-cop-who-killed-unarmed-man-released-from-prison/3585406/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/lawnmower-sparked-fire-that-hurts-two-firefighters-officials-say/3585394/ | 2023-06-14T13:12:33 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/lawnmower-sparked-fire-that-hurts-two-firefighters-officials-say/3585394/ |
What you need to know about 3 new initiatives funded in Cumberland County's budget
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2024 budget on Wednesday, keeping property tax rates the same for residents.
The budget, which totaled just under $576 million, also introduced some new initiatives aimed at improving retention for county employees, creating opportunities for community members and addressing public health and safety concerns.
Here’s everything you need to know about the county’s 2024 budget.
Retention and recruitment
One area of focus for the 2024 budget was county employee recruitment and retention.
According to a county news release, $200,000 of the new budget will go toward bonuses for Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office employees — $100,000 for $2,500 hiring bonuses for new deputies and Detention Center employees, and $100,000 for $2,500 recruitment bonuses for current deputies and Detention Center employees who successfully recommend someone to join their ranks.
County employees can also expect a 4% cost-of-living pay increase, according to the release. Results from a countywide study on how county employees are compensated are expected in August.
Education and expenses
Local schools can expect additional funding in the year to come, according to the release.
Fayetteville Technical Community College will see a $1.2 million increase in funding, with $15.47 million in total expenses, while Cumberland County Schools will receive $3.2 million in additional funding out of an $87.5 million budget, the release said.
Some of the county’s expenses will tackle logistical issues, such as $50,897 to hire a custodian crew leader for the Spring Lake Resource Center and $1.4 million for 21 county vehicles in need of replacement, according to the release.
The expansion of the Ann Street Landfill, which has operated since 1980 and will run out of space by 2030; and the cost of the Solid Waste Department’s daily operations are responsible for a $37 increase in annual solid waste fees, which will rise from $56 to $93, the release said. That fee is only charged to residential properties with seven units or less, according to the release.
New ventures
The budget also includes several new community initiatives, according to the release.
Just under $135,000 will fund a Healthy Conversations campaign that will train local barbers and hairstylists in health education and encourage “positive health behaviors” in residents, the release said. In a similar vein, $100,090 has been earmarked to address maternal mortality disparities in the county, according to the release.
Residents can also expect a coffee shop at the West Regional Library on Century Circle that will offer “hands-on job learning and experience” to disabled people, the release said.
Public safety reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com. | https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/cumberland-county-board-of-commissioners-approves-575-million-budget/70309248007/ | 2023-06-14T13:13:56 | 1 | https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/cumberland-county-board-of-commissioners-approves-575-million-budget/70309248007/ |
Data shows Roanoke has some of the highest non-fatal overdose rates in the country per capita. The White House launched an opioid overdose tracker late last year with the hope that it can help address the issue.
This dashboard focuses entirely on opioids — the leading cause of drug deaths — but excludes cocaine, meth and other substances.
We’re looking for your feedback.
Using the Hearken form below, let us know the concerns or questions you have about drug use in Virginia. Have you seen solutions that are working here or in other parts of the country that are helping? | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/14/weigh-in-what-questions-or-concerns-do-you-have-about-drug-use-in-virginia/ | 2023-06-14T13:15:50 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/14/weigh-in-what-questions-or-concerns-do-you-have-about-drug-use-in-virginia/ |
TWIN FALLS — The World War II bombers have landed and the stunt pilots are headed this way.
The airshow set for Saturday is all coming together, and organizer Jim O’Donnell is flying high.
“It’s good to see it,” said O’Donnell, co-chair of the group Joslin Field Celebration Inc. He hasn’t done it himself, having re-joined the group last year after recovering from some health problems.
But he has been busy, even on Tuesday, having a 6 a.m. meeting as various loose ends are tied up. He’s confident the Saturday show will be one to remember.
“I think it will be an exciting show for people to watch,” O’Donnell said. “And we have good support from our sponsorships.”
Those sponsorships have kept the cost low. There is no admission charge, and a parking pass can be purchased online for $10.
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Organizers have lined up act after high-flying act — and not just planes. Representatives from two skydiving teams will be there to show their skills.
The theme of the event is a salute to the airport itself. It’s a celebration of its 75 years of operation, and the official name of the airshow is Joslin Field Celebration.
The day of its dedication in 1948, there were bands, crowds, dignitaries and, of course, airplanes.
The same four elements will be there on Saturday.
Joslin Field, Magic Valley Regional Airport, is named after Sgt. Raymond Ralph Joslin, the first airman in Twin Falls County killed during World War II. He was part of a B-17 crew that was shot down in 1942 over the Solomon Islands.
Because of that tie-in, O’Donnell was grateful when the Commemorative Air Force, a nonprofit that has been a major force in keeping vintage warbirds flying, agreed to bring their B-17, named “Sentimental Journey.”
It’s special, being one of just four B-17s that are in flyable condition.
“That is pretty impressive when you think about it,” O’Donnell said.
In addition to the B-17, the CAF has also flown in its B-25. Named “Maid in the Shade,” it flew 13 combat missions over Italy and two over Yugoslavia. Local residents might recognize it as it has been here before, but the B-17 is in Twin Falls for the first time.
The two aircraft flew into Joslin Field on Monday and a welcoming ceremony was held afterward. People can book flights on the aircraft through Sunday.
Visitors to Joslin Field have passed by the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, displayed on a pedestal, as they enter the airport property. Appropriately, Greg Colyer, a pilot from San Francisco, will be in town to fly his T-33, O’Donnell said, and another T-33 will be on display.
Another key piece of Joslin Field is the Douglas DC-3. A pair of the aircraft were at the airport on May 1, 1948, when United and Empire airlines kicked off commercial air service to Joslin Field.
A Times-News article from that date details how 4,000 shivering people, cold because of a snow squall, gathered at the airfield that day to mark the date, reportedly the first time in aeronautic history when two major airlines opened commercial flight service from the same airport on the same day.
Both airlines flew in DC-3s to mark the occasion, and Joslin’s parents attended the event.
There was music as well during that cold day. To give tribute to that, the Twin Falls Municipal Band will perform for an hour before the airshow.
The airshow begins at noon and will end at 3 p.m. Here’s a rundown of some of the performers:
Nathan Hammond
- started flying the DeHaviland Chipmunk, known as GhostWriter, in 1998, quickly learning the techniques and nuances of skywriting and airshow flying. The skywriting of Hammond has received recognition on National TV, USA Today, and major news outlets for his aerial displays at airshows, festivals, and sporting events. Hammond flies the GhostWriter in an action-packed routine full of loops, rolls, and verticals, held tightly in front of the crowd.
Melissa Dawn Burns
- will perform powerful aerobatics in her Edge 540. She is a professional aerobatic pilot, world record holder skydiver and world champion BASE Jumper. A four-time member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team, Burns is the top-ranked female competition pilot in the United States and has ranked top 3 in the world.
Mark Peterson
- , who started flying at the age of 6 in a Piper Cherokee Arrow with his father, Ed, is expected to perform in his P-51 Mustang. He acquired the aircraft in 2005, and since then, Mark has accumulated more than 1,700 hours in warbirds and strengthened his love and admiration for the aircraft.
Danny Sorensen
- will perform with his one-of-a-kind biplane, the BF9-2, that he designed and built himself. It is the only plane of its kind on the airshow circuit. In addition to its unique design, the plane also has some autographs, including that of the Candy Bomber Col. Gail Seymour, who dropped candy from his plane to German children during the Berline airlift from 1948-49.
Brad Wursten
- is a breakout star in the airshow industry and has has logged nearly 4,000 hours in 50 different types of aircraft. His airshow performance is jam packed with one-of-a-kind stunts and maneuvers exclusive to his act.
In addition to performers, there will be lots of static displays and aircraft exhibits, many of them with tie-ins to Joslin Field, O’Donnell said.
A deafening roar replaced the sputtering as Brown revved the 1,700-horsepower engines and spun the old girl at the end of the runway. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/airshow-takes-to-twin-falls-skies-on-saturday/article_463d2f84-0a3d-11ee-a73d-1ba0150dd4b0.html | 2023-06-14T13:17:02 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/airshow-takes-to-twin-falls-skies-on-saturday/article_463d2f84-0a3d-11ee-a73d-1ba0150dd4b0.html |
Average daily flows
Snake River at Jackson 287 cfs
Snake River at Palisades 11,870 cfs
Snake River at Heise 14,242 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 8,044 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 8,696 cfs
Snake River at Milner 0 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 490 cfs
Jackson Lake is 75% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 95% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 94% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 90% of capacity.
As of June 13 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_807d3c8a-0a1e-11ee-b461-57c643a640e1.html | 2023-06-14T13:17:09 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_807d3c8a-0a1e-11ee-b461-57c643a640e1.html |
Mountain lions continue to be active in the Wood River Valley.
Idaho Departments of Fish and Game officers from the Magic Valley region were contacted on Monday after a domestic goat was found killed and cached by a mountain lion near a residence south of Bellevue. The owners of the residence raise livestock on their property, and the goat was found cached in one of their outbuildings.
Following the report, Fish and Game officials made the decision to deploy a trap for the lion because it had preyed on livestock in proximity to a residential area.
The area where the attack occurred has had several mountain lion sightings and at least one encounter with a resident over the last several months.
On Monday evening, a mountain lion trap was deployed at the location where the goat was found.
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Early on Tuesday morning, a juvenile male mountain lion, estimated to be 18 months old and independent of a female lion, was trapped and then euthanized by Fish and Game officers.
“We’ve been learning from other states and Canadian provinces that juvenile or sub-adult mountain lions are more commonly involved in human-wildlife conflicts,” according to Regional Wildlife Manager Mike McDonald. “Based on anecdotal information we’ve gained from the number of reports and sightings throughout the Wood River Valley we suspect we have a healthy population of juvenile lions throughout the area.”
Since Jan. 1, the Magic Valley Region has recorded nearly 60 reports of lions, primarily in Hailey and Bellevue.
While the majority of the mountain lion reports have been in the winter, there continues to be reports of lions in Hailey and Bellevue.
- If a person encounters a lion, they should remember these safety tips:
- Never run away from a mountain lion. The lion’s instinct is to chase and ultimately catch what they perceive as a potential prey.
- Never turn your back on a lion. Always face them while making yourself look as large as you can. Yell, but don’t scream. A high-pitched scream may mimic the sound of a wounded animal.
- Slowly back away while maintaining eye contact with the lion.
- Safety equipment you may choose to carry could include bear spray, a noise device, like an air horn, and if you walk in the dark, a very bright flashlight.
- If you are attacked, fight back!
When lions or any other wildlife becomes a public safety issue, the most humane and responsible option, particularly when dealing with predators, is often to euthanize it, but that isn’t a decision that Fish and Game staff takes lightly.
“Our Fish and Game staff, working with Wood River Valley partners has put a significant amount of energy into education and outreach about how residents and visitors can be responsible and safe when around wildlife” Magic Valley Regional Supervisor Craig White said. “As wildlife biologists, we dedicate our careers to managing healthy and robust wildlife populations, and the last thing we want to do is euthanize an animal.”
Residents are encouraged to notify Fish and Game if you see a mountain lion within your community or neighborhood.
If a person is attacked or a lion shows aggression towards a person that should be immediately reported by calling 911. If a person has any encounter with an aggressive lion or if a pet or livestock is attacked, that should be immediately reported to the Magic Valley Regional Office at 208-324-4359.
A woman captured a mountain lion on video Thursday morning in downtown Kimberly.
From Idaho Fish and Game: Our conservation officers received a call to assist a trapper who had incidentally caught two young mountain lions i… | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/juvenile-mountain-lion-euthanized-after-killing-domestic-goat-near-bellevue/article_b41f5878-0a3e-11ee-98ea-1fcc5d4c1f69.html | 2023-06-14T13:17:15 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/juvenile-mountain-lion-euthanized-after-killing-domestic-goat-near-bellevue/article_b41f5878-0a3e-11ee-98ea-1fcc5d4c1f69.html |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — With strong storms expected to roll in overnight and throughout the day Wednesday, some areas in central Alabama are prepping for flash flooding.
It’s been about a year since the flash flooding in downtown Birmingham, and the city said it’s doing its part to keep storm drains clear and crews on the ready to help in case a similar situation happens.
“I think we were all caught off guard by it,” Rick Journey, communications director for the city of Birmingham, said.
The city of Birmingham said it’s preparing all 99 neighborhoods for the possibility of flash flooding, having crews on call overnight for rapid response.
“When you have potential for severe weather, when you have a potential for flash flooding, our Storm Water Management Team gets in touch with DPW and says ‘These are the places we think you should check, these could be some of the challenging areas,'” Journey said.
For homeowners, flash flooding can be costly, especially without flooding insurance.
“One inch of flood water or rain can cause $25,000 of damage to a home,” said Dusty Smith, consumer services manager for the Alabama Department of Insurance. “It can be devastating, it’s a devastating loss and a lot of personal property and contents can be lost and the home certainly can be damaged.”
The Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency says when a lot of rain falls in a short amount of time, the drainage systems get backed up which goes into the creeks causing flash flooding.
“Don’t drive through flooded roadways, it does not take a lot of flowing water to sweep a car away because then you’re not only putting yourself in danger, you’re also putting the first responders who might have to rescue you in that flowing water,” says Melissa Sizemore with Jefferson County EMA. “If you have a flooded roadway while you’re traveling, turn around, don’t drown.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/central-alabama-prepares-for-possible-flash-flooding-ahead-of-summer-storms/ | 2023-06-14T13:23:38 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/central-alabama-prepares-for-possible-flash-flooding-ahead-of-summer-storms/ |
Gateway Technical College’s student chapter of dig.IT will hold another popular public computer repair clinic on June 23 and June 24.
Computer and device check-in will be held 1 to 9 p.m. on June 23 in Room 113 – the Michigan Room – of the Racine Building on the Racine Campus, 1001 S. Main St. Those interested should use the northeast entrance to the building, off of Pershing Boulevard located near the skate park.
Pickup will also be in the Michigan Room, 9 a.m. to noon June 24. Customers will receive a text or call when their device is ready. Drop-offs will also be accepted on this day, but they will be returned on a future date.
Computers will be accepted for repair on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Students can assist with the following:
Update PC operating systems;
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Check for viruses and malware;
Diagnose internet access issues;
Optimize computer function;
Perform Windows upgrades if computer hardware is compatible.
The clinic is a fundraiser for the student club. Participants are encouraged to contribute $20 for each computer or device worked on. Money raised helps pay for students to compete in state and national information technology events.
Many community members have benefited from participating in past clinics. The event also allows students to give back to the community while honing the skills they will use in their future careers. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/gateway-student-it-club-to-hold-june-computer-repair-clinic-june-23-24/article_efe50976-0709-11ee-8dc8-6f47ff6ea442.html | 2023-06-14T13:28:07 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/gateway-student-it-club-to-hold-june-computer-repair-clinic-june-23-24/article_efe50976-0709-11ee-8dc8-6f47ff6ea442.html |
The Kenosha Pops Concert Band — opening its 101st season tonight — is a staple of the summer season in our community.
The program features classic selections like John Philip Sousa’s “The U.S. Field Artillery March,” but there’s something new, too.
Gregory Schroeder’s “Procession for a New Season” makes its world debut tonight.
He couldn’t be more excited.
“It’s the first band piece I’ve written,” he said Monday night during the band’s rehearsal. “I’ve wanted to compose a piece for this group for a long time.”
Musical Director Craig Gall described “Procession” as “’Ben-Hur’ meets the Kenosha Pops” when the band played it Monday night during rehearsal, and Schroeder agrees.
“I was going for that epic, grand sound of old movie scores,” he said.
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While Schroeder heard his piece played by a computer program, Monday night was the first time it was performed by an actual band.
“The sound is bigger and so much richer,” he said. “Hearing a band play your music is just wild.”
Schroeder — a Bradford High School and Carthage College graduate who teaches music at a Waterford school — named his piece in honor of the band’s new season.
When asked if he’s starting a new tradition of composing a song each year for the Pops, Schroeder laughed but did add, “Craig (Gall) does love polkas. Maybe I’ll work on that.”
For now, Schroeder is “excited for our concert. My family and friends will be there to hear my piece.”
“Procession” starts out with trumpets, which is no surprise. Schroeder is starting his seventh season playing trumpet with the Pops — and his first season as an informal in-house composer.
‘Technicolor’ concert
The band’s performance promises to be a colorful affair — even if band members are wearing their white polo shirts and black pants.
The theme is “Pops in Technicolor,” and the tunes all have colors in their titles.
“We kick off our second century of concerts with all the colors of the rainbow brought to life through music,” Gall said.
He will lead the band on:
Sousa’s “The Black Horse Troop” march. “Sousa wrote this for the mounted troops of a Cleveland National Guard unit that only used black horses,” Gall said. “And when it was performed, the black horses came onto the stage. We’re several horses short, however, so don’t look for that on the band shell.”
Clare Grundman’s “The Blue-Tail Fly.” This Civil War-era tune features “Cara Russo in the percussion section,” Gall said. “She’s a virtuoso on the ‘fly swatter.’”
“Color Me Blue” by Kenosha native Will Schaefer. He enjoyed a long career composing music for movies and television and was the guest conductor with the Pops Band for its July 19, 2006, concert. Schaefer also had deep roots with the Pops Band. His father, Helmuth Schaefer, was the band’s first musical director. The younger Schaefer performed with the Pops Band while in high school, in 1945 and ’46, playing trumpet.
“The Golden Age of Broadway.” This medley of well-known tunes from popular Broadway shows includes “The Music Man,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Chip Millholland is featured on the clarinet on “If I were a Rich Man.”
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The 1970 musical features the music of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
“Blue Moon” by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The Rodgers and Hart tune is an audience favorite, Gall said, and will be sung by Master of Ceremonies Greg Berg.
“Deep Purple,” by Peter De Rose. “This is an old standard from the Great American Songbook and was recorded by several artists,” Gall said. Even Donny and Marie Osmond had a hit with this song, in 1975. Fun fact: The British rock band Deep Purple got its name from the song, a favorite of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore’s grandmother. However, the band itself never recorded or performed it.
The “Orange Bowl” march by Henry Fillmore. “This is a great tune, a brisk march,” Gall said. “We bought this tune for our ‘Sports Night’ theme some years back.” (That theme will be coming back in 2024, just in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.)
“Green is Green,” a polka that started life in a 1937 Czech operetta. “It was what they call ‘a spring flirtation piece’ in the operetta,” Gall said. The polka version was arranged specially for the Pops Band by Ernest Broeniman, who directed the popular Dorf Kapelle Band, featuring Gall.
“Ernie brought a lot of joy to a lot of people,” Gall said. “He died in August, so this performance is a tribute to him.”
Kathy Ripley — the band’s assistant conductor — will lead the band on “A Study in Lavender” by American band composer Eric Osterling; “The Golden Ear,” a paso doble by Spanish composer Mariano San Miguel; and a medley of tunes from “Finian’s Rainbow.”
She’s also conducting a piece that works with the concert’s “Technicolor” theme and also celebrates Flag Day on June 14: “Our Own Red, White and Blue,” also by Henry Fillmore. The 1917 song was written as a contribution to the war effort during World War I and was performed for fund-raising efforts for the Red Cross. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-pops-concert-band-opens-101st-season/article_84171faa-0a05-11ee-b35e-f3caf6e7bbf4.html | 2023-06-14T13:28:13 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-pops-concert-band-opens-101st-season/article_84171faa-0a05-11ee-b35e-f3caf6e7bbf4.html |
News Tribune, June 14, 1983
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons has chosen the Duluth Air Base as the site for a new minimum-security prison for men, pending approval of several federal offices and Congress. The prison would employ 125 to 150 people with an annual payroll of about $1.8 million.
- Duluth city councilors voted 5-2 yesterday to request another exit be added to the design for Interstate 35 between 10th and 26th avenues east. John Pawlak, MnDOT district engineer, told councilors the proposal could delay and possibly kill the extension of I-35.
News Tribune, June 14, 1923
- The passenger steamer Tionesta of the Great Lakes Transit Company arrived in Duluth yesterday morning, opening the season for the company's fleet of passenger boats. Captain Dougherty, who has commanded the Tionesta since 1903, said the weather was very pleasant on the trip from Buffalo.
- Officials of the Berst-Forster-Dixfield Company of Cloquet said yesterday the firm manufactures about 12 billion toothpicks a year, or 62.5 million for each working day. In addition, the company makes 250,000 tongue depressors, 500,000 throat swabs, and 300,000 clothespins every working day. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-cloquet-factory-made-12-billion-toothpicks-a-year | 2023-06-14T13:28:38 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-cloquet-factory-made-12-billion-toothpicks-a-year |
DULUTH — Smoke from Canadian wildfires is again rolling into the Northland, spurring an air quality alert for most of northern Minnesota through 6 a.m. Thursday.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an orange advisory, which means air pollution will be unhealthy for people with breathing issues, the elderly and young people.
Easterly winds are moving the smoke, much of it from fires in Quebec, west across the state, where it will linger into Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, heavy smoke was hanging over Lake Superior in the Duluth area, blocking sunshine and sending smoke odor into homes.
People with heart or breathing issues such as asthma are advised to limit their time outdoors and avoid strenuous activities outdoors.
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To check the air quality where you live, go to the MPCA's website airnow.gov and plug in your zip code, city or state. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/more-smoke-from-canada-fouling-minnesota-air | 2023-06-14T13:28:48 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/more-smoke-from-canada-fouling-minnesota-air |
GRAND MARAIS — Just hours after officials of the Superior National Forest announced a campfire ban in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a wildfire was reported burning about 10 miles west of the Gunflint Trail in Cook County.
Super National Forest officials said the fire was first spotted late Tuesday afternoon between Spice Lake and Ogishkemuncie Lake in the BWCAW. It was estimated to be about 30 acres in size.
Forest Service personnel made contact with several groups of campers in the area to warn them to avoid the fire. Fire officials were deciding early Wednesday how best to attack the blaze.
It's expected that some entry points to the BWCAW will be closed starting Wednesday to keep additional campers from entering the area. Pilots flying over the fire reported “active and moderate fire activity in a mixed boreal forest with aspen, pine and balsam fir tree species."
Bone-dry conditions since May 1 have left the BWCAW in a drought condition with fine fuels like grasses, leaves and sticks ready to burn and conifer trees dry enough to combust.
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A campfire and charcoal grill ban is in effect for the BWCAW and fires across Northeastern Minnesota are limited to developed areas with formal fire rings. There has been little measurable rain since April in the area with no significant rain in the near-term forecast.
The fire is not threatening any developed areas such as cabins or homes. It is about 50 miles northwest of Grand Marais. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/wildfire-burning-in-bwcaw | 2023-06-14T13:28:59 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/wildfire-burning-in-bwcaw |
Wisconsin is producing less trash. Here's what's both good and bad about that
MADISON - Wisconsinites are producing less trash than they have in the past, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
The decline started around the same time as the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009. The study showed that the reduction in trash has a number of reasons, stemming from everything from a drop in construction to consumers choosing more sustainable products.
Here's what you should know.
How much trash do Wisconsinites create?
In 2021, Wisconsinites sent about 1.39 tons of trash to the landfill per person, up slightly from 1.37 tons per person in 2020.
If you count all that trash together, that adds up to about 8.2 million tons of trash in Wisconsin landfills in 2021, a 2.1% increase over 2020, according to the report.
How does that compare to the past?
The amount of trash being landfilled in recent years has decreased, the report says, going from nearly 12 million tons in the mid-2000s, down to the current totals.
Why is the amount of trash decreasing?
The Policy Forum study noted a number of reasons the amount of trash may have decreased in recent years, but the biggest could be changes in state fees.
When trash is collected, it's taken to landfills, where state law imposes "tipping fees," which are paid through landfill operators, and in turn passed on to the waste haulers, who in turn pass a portion of the fees on to consumers who pay for solid waste collection.
In the 2007-2009 biennial budget, the state increased that tipping fee from $5.90 per ton to $13 per ton.
"This fee increase, which took effect in October 2009, was followed by a dramatic drop in landfill deposits, especially for out-of-state trash," the report says.
But increased fees weren't the only reason landfill amounts dropped. Shifts in industry also contributed, the Policy Forum study found.
Like all other parts of society, the trash business was impacted by the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009, because construction and demolition projects decreased.
Total industrial waste also decreased.
"Industries have also worked to reduce the amount of waste they generate, as consumers search for sustainable products," the report says. "The paper industry is a leader in this field, with efforts to reduce waste that include re-using papermaking products and materials and an increased focus on making products recyclable."
Did the widespread adoption of recycling decrease trash volume?
Nope.
Recycling amounts also decreased during the same period that the amount of trash decreased, the report says, so the drop in landfill amounts can't actually be attributed to recycling.
Where is the most trash being produced?
Unsurprisingly, areas with larger populations create more trash. Milwaukee has the most trash, with more than 22 million tons of trash between 2007 and 2021.
What's in our trash?
More than 30% of the state's trash is made up of food that was once edible or food scraps like peels, bones or coffee grounds. Paper accounted for more than 21% of the trash evaluated and plastic made up more than 17%, according to 2021 data from the Department of Natural Resources.
More:Wisconsin residents could conserve more food and recycle more paper, a state DNR study finds
Are there environmental concerns surrounding landfills?
Yes. Landfills can have impacts on local air and water quality, though recent efforts have been able to mitigate those somewhat, the report says.
What kind of impact does trash have on local and state finances?
Municipalities spend $450 million annually on trash and recycling services, the report says, accounting for 7% of their total spending.
What happens when a landfill is full?
When a landfill is full, it can be difficult on many municipalities, because landfills are often used by several cities, villages and towns.
"Finding space for new landfills can be controversial and there are substantial costs associated with their construction," the report says. "Landfill operators must also demonstrate the financial capacity to cover costs associated with landfill closure."
But the good news is that with the amount of trash being landfilled decreasing, landfills aren't filling up as fast. And while that can mean less revenue for landfill facilities, it also gives more time to find new locations if a new landfill is needed.
"State and local governments will have to be conscious of fiscal impacts related to declining waste streams, as these fees can fund priorities like contaminated land cleanup, groundwater protection, and recycling," the report says. "Yet this reduction may also allow for reduced costs and better planning for new landfill sites, especially in southeast Wisconsin, where landfill capacity is shrinking more rapidly than the rest of the state."
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/wisconsinites-are-creating-less-trash-wisconsin-policy-forum-reports/70318567007/ | 2023-06-14T13:31:51 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/14/wisconsinites-are-creating-less-trash-wisconsin-policy-forum-reports/70318567007/ |
When Jerry Sabo lived in a Chicago apartment in the ‘90s, he would look down at an empty patch of lawn from his second-floor window and contemplate what he could do to brighten up the space.
One day, he got to work, planting annuals including zinnias and sunflowers. His project not only beautified the small piece of land, but grew his love for gardening.
Now the clinical dietitian at Methodist Hospitals manages a nearly half-acre garden outside his St. John home, where he not only enjoys a bounty of fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, but also reaps the health benefits of gardening.
“I tell people my yoga is gardening because it’s relaxing, and you’re one with nature while you’re doing it,” Sabo says.
Studies have shown gardening can benefit human health in a number of ways: Physical activity while gaining exposure to nature and sunlight can increase vitamin D levels. Local health experts say gardening also can affect a person’s well-being, making it an activity that nurtures the mind and the body.
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A full-body workout
“There are so many benefits to gardening, which include growing your own nutritious food and increasing your physical activity,” said Marysol Mendez, health and wellness educator for NorthShore Health Centers. “Pulling up weeds, mowing the grass, raking and planting seeds are considered cardio workouts, which are great for our cardiovascular system and our lungs.”
The Center of Disease Control and Prevention defines physical activity as anything that gets the body moving and recommends adults work toward 150 minutes of physical activity each week to maintain a healthy lifestyle and help prevent chronic diseases, Mendez says.
Ashley Zaideman, a personal trainer at Franciscan Health Fitness Centers, says gardening can engage different muscle groups.
“You use your biceps, triceps and shoulders when digging and planting,” she said. “Your quads, glutes and hamstrings are working when kneeling, squatting and standing while weeding.”
A person’s core muscles work with nearly every movement, and engaging them properly will help prevent lower back pain whenever hinging forward in the garden, Zaideman says.
“You can amp your gardening workout up even more by incorporating a little more variety into your gardening activities, such as lunging when you pull weeds or squatting when you move your potted plants for your leg muscles or adding a rotation like a wood chopper exercise for the abdominal muscles.”
A workout for the brain?
While the physical benefits of gardening are bountiful, Zaideman says research has shown the activity can improve cognitive brain function as well.
“Studies have shown that the improved cognitive brain function from gardening can even help with memory recall, keeping your mind sharper,” she said.
Being outdoors in the sunshine also provides exposure to vitamin D and fresh air, which can boost a person’s mood, Zaideman says.
“You should aim to get a minimum of 15 minutes of sunlight per day while still applying sunscreen,” she said.
Reducing stress also can reduce cortisol levels, Sabo says. As the body perceives stress, the adrenal glands make and release the hormone cortisol into the bloodstream, which can affect the heart.
“When you’re removing stress, you’re reducing cortisol levels,” Sabo said. “That, in turn, will help with your blood pressure.”
Avoiding injuries
With any physical activity comes risk for injuries, and gardening is no exception, says Virginia Addison, a personal trainer at Franciscan Health Fitness Centers.
“One thing that can really help avoid injury while gardening is to bend from the knees when possible,” she said. “Try to avoid hinging from the hips when picking something up or tending to a plant.”
Bending at the knees to squat allows the back to stay in a more natural upright position, Addison says. This helps avoid undue stress on the lower back.
“Another common gardening position is when the gardener is on his or her hands and knees,” she said. “When in this position, make sure to keep the weight equally distributed among all four limbs.”
It’s not only important consider body position, but also how long a person is in that position.
“If you plan on being in a certain position for an extended period of time, it’s best to get up and move around a bit, then come back to that position later,” Addison said. “Even if you feel comfortable in a certain position after 20 minutes, consider getting up and moving around for a few minutes.”
These breaks for movement will help increase blood flow, she said.
“Adding some stretches after you move a bit might also help to keep the joints limber,” Addison said.
Good eating
The nutritional aspects of gardening can also benefit mental health, Mendez says.
“Healthy eating helps to increase serotonin, which is an important chemical and neurotransmitter in the human body that helps regulate your mood,” she said. “You produce most of your serotonin in the gastrointestinal tract where you digest your food. How those neurotransmitters interact with your digestive system and your brain depends on what you eat, which can shape how you feel mentally.” | https://www.nwitimes.com/life-entertainment/local/wellness/gardening-benefits-dont-stop-at-the-table/article_66efc2ea-f364-11ed-9ccd-23ce2713a640.html | 2023-06-14T13:35:19 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/life-entertainment/local/wellness/gardening-benefits-dont-stop-at-the-table/article_66efc2ea-f364-11ed-9ccd-23ce2713a640.html |
Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co. will conduct bridge work resulting in lane closures on Broadway between 66th Place and 59th Avenue in Merrillville on or after June 19, the state agency has announced.
Broadway, or Indiana 53, will be reduced to one lane in each direction with alternating lane closures through late September for a bridge deck overlay project over Turkey Creek.
Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns in the area, INDOT said, urging drivers to allow extra time when driving through the area. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/merrillville/broadway-to-have-lane-closures-for-bridge-work/article_26281134-09ff-11ee-bdfc-13e446c594b8.html | 2023-06-14T13:35:25 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/merrillville/broadway-to-have-lane-closures-for-bridge-work/article_26281134-09ff-11ee-bdfc-13e446c594b8.html |
DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines residents are a little less than six months away from electing their next mayor.
On Tuesday, voters had the chance to see a side-by-side comparison of the three declared candidates.
The Iowa Unity Coalition held a candidate forum, giving Josh Mandelbaum, Denver Foote and Connie Boesen the chance to answer voter's questions.
One question was on what these candidates would focus on to curb gun violence in the city. Mandelbaum, a current council member representing Ward 3, highlighted some of what he's pushed for while on the city council.
"I introduced a policy to ban trigger activators, bump stocks and high capacity magazines in [Des Moines]," Mandelbaum said. "Unfortunately, I couldn't get the council to act and then the state preempted us, but I didn't stop then. After I introduced that and reached that setback, I looked at a consensus of what we could do. Then we started talking about violence interruption."
Boesen, a current at-large member of the Des Moines City Council, stated her support for tightening restrictions around firearms.
"I think that we need to get rid of any of the assault rifles," she said. "We need to make sure that people who have had domestic abuse [charges] do not have rights for guns. We need a waiting period. We have a lot of things we need the state to implement. But then we need to get to the root cause of why we're having violence. We need to get with youth to understand their needs and show them a different ways and give them opportunities."
Foote, a local activist, said they believe in preventative measures like working closely with the school board to reach youth.
"I think we need to open our public buildings to hold 'Stop the Bleed' trainings, gun safety trainings," Foote said. "I also believe we do not need domestic abusers to have guns in their hands. We need to work with people in our city that represent districts, like our [representatives and senators] to have those conversations of what the state of Iowa should look like."
Another question asked the candidates about how they would protect natural resources and work to ensure Des Moines residents had clean drinking water.
Foote highlighted the issue as a "a huge struggle", calling Des Moines Water Works' effort to create wells for drinking water is "a band aid on a bigger issue."
"I believe in renaturing the land, putting carbon back in the soil," Foote said. "I believe in holding MidAmerican accountable to the 24/7 Carbon Free Resolution that was passed that I helped organize and lead with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. I also believe that we need to [make] partnerships with cities upstream to take on Big Ag, to take on corporations that are polluting our water ways."
Mandelbaum called on his experience as both an environmental lawyer and a council member to highlight what he thinks needs to change.
"We have 20,000 lead surface lines in the city of Des Moines. We need to work with partners to replace those 20,000 lines..." he said. "We need to address our storm water and work upstream on best management practices. We need to be smart when we develop... there is no reason that we shouldn't be a leader in standing up for water and best management practices."
Boesen echoed many of her opponent's calls for actions, while also acknowledging the power the mayor holds in appointing members of the Des Moines Water Works Board
"We need to make sure that we appoint people that align with our beliefs and our goals to make sure that we provide the best water service and the clean water that we all deserve," Boesen said.
Candidates also discussed how to provide equitable funding to address food insecurity in Des Moines. To watch the full forum, click here.
Local 5 has reached out to Mayor Frank Cownie multiple times to ask whether he's running for reelection. We have yet to hear back. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/local-politics/des-moines-mayoral-race-mayor-iowa-unity-coalition-candidate-forum-josh-mandelbaum-denver-foote-connie-boesen/524-d1cae4e0-c183-4fc2-92de-087a806f7e0e | 2023-06-14T13:35:51 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/local-politics/des-moines-mayoral-race-mayor-iowa-unity-coalition-candidate-forum-josh-mandelbaum-denver-foote-connie-boesen/524-d1cae4e0-c183-4fc2-92de-087a806f7e0e |
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Nearly 1 million people travel on the roads at Gettysburg National Military Park every year. So naturally, these roads receive major wear and tear.
On Tuesday, they started to get a massive facelift.
Gettysburg National Military Park is undergoing a four-month-long road paving project on roads that have reached the end of their life span. The project will focus on the southern part of the battlefield.
Employees at the park said the project will cause road closures that may temporarily prohibit guests from going into certain portions of the battlefield. However, some roads will have one lane open for traffic during construction.
This resurfacing project began back in 2015, after the park requested federal money from the National Park Service to repair the roads. It was finally approved in 2022.
Jason Martz, communications specialist at Gettysburg National Military Park, said the project could interrupt guests' visits at the battlefield. However, he said it shouldn't stop someone from coming to the park.
"We're always looking multiple years out, looking for the next project that needs to be addressed," said Martz. “Don't let this project stop you, because it's going to be, in some cases, a minor inconvenience. And in some cases, it's really not at all."
Crews said construction will be avoided during weekends and holidays. The project will also not interfere with the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg Commemoration from July 1 to 3.
For more information about the project, click here. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/roads-closed-gettysburg-national-military-park-construction-repaving-map/521-3b1087d4-67c0-4f80-bcaa-0c6e1039249b | 2023-06-14T13:39:43 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/roads-closed-gettysburg-national-military-park-construction-repaving-map/521-3b1087d4-67c0-4f80-bcaa-0c6e1039249b |
Driver of bus that killed woman in downtown Detroit crash charged
The driver of a bus that struck and killed a 67-year-old woman crossing a downtown Detroit street earlier this month has been charged, officials said Wednesday.
Geraldine Johnson, 59, of Detroit, a bus driver for the Detroit Department of Transportation, has been charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office with a moving violation causing death, it said. If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, she faces up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $2,000 or both.
Johnson is expected to be formally arraigned on the charge in court later Wednesday.
The charges stem from the fatal crash between the bus Johnson was operating and Janice Bauer, 67, of Grosse Pointe Park, a pedestrian in downtown Detroit earlier this month.
Police said Bauer was struck by the bus while crossing the street at Congress and Griswold at 7:39 a.m. on June 2, 2023.
According to investigators, Bauer was walking westbound on Congress and was hit while in the crosswalk at Griswold. The bus struck the woman while making a left turn to head south on Griswold.
Bauer was a longtime employee of the SMART regional bus system, where she served as the ADA Program Coordinator. Her job was to help people with disabilities secure rides on SMART's buses.
Last week, city officials said Johnson, who has worked for DDOT for 26 years, was taken off the road as they investigate the matter.
"This case is tragic on every level," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. "Janice Bauer lost her life. The alleged facts are that defendant, Geraldine Johnson, literally ran her over with the city bus she was driving and caused her death."
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/14/driver-of-bus-that-killed-woman-67-in-downtown-detroit-crash-charged/70320762007/ | 2023-06-14T13:42:53 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/14/driver-of-bus-that-killed-woman-67-in-downtown-detroit-crash-charged/70320762007/ |
Officials probe cause of house fire that killed woman in her 90s
Detroit ― Officials are investigating the cause of a house fire Wednesday morning that claimed the life of a woman in her mid-90s, according to the Detroit Fire Department.
Firefighters received reports of the blaze just before 3 a.m. in the 18000 block of Orleans Street on the city's east side, where they reported sights of smoke and flames upon arriving, according to Fire Chief James Harris.
Harris said upon entering the home, officials acquired the woman and administered CPR after removing her from the home. Firefighters were able to get in without delay, though Harris could not confirm whether there were bars on the windows or doors.
The woman died while being transported to the hospital.
The cause of the blaze is unknown, officials said. No further details were available.
jaimery@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @wordsbyjakkar | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/14/officials-probe-cause-of-house-fire-that-killed-woman-in-her-90s/70320653007/ | 2023-06-14T13:42:59 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/14/officials-probe-cause-of-house-fire-that-killed-woman-in-her-90s/70320653007/ |
Woman accused of killing man changing tire Tuesday on EB I-94 in Harper Woods
A Clinton Township woman was arrested Tuesday after fleeing on foot from a fatal car crash, hurting a police officer and biting a state police trooper, officials said.
Michigan State Police were called at about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday to an area on eastbound Interstate 94 near the Eight Mile/Vernier Road exit in Harper Woods for a report of a two-car crash, authorities said.
Troopers arrived at the crash site and found one person was dead and the driver of the second vehicle had fled on foot, they said.
According to a preliminary investigation, a 23-year-old Roseville man was trying to change a flat tire on his vehicle on the freeway's right shoulder when he and his car were struck by another vehicle. The man died at the scene.
The driver of the second vehicle ran from the crash, police said.
Officials said that Harper Woods Police reported a short time later that they had arrested a 25-year-old Clinton Township woman after a brief foot chase. State police troopers took custody of the woman, they said.
State police plan to seek a warrant to have the suspect's blood drawn and she could face charges in connection with the fatal crash as well as charges for injuring a Harper Woods police officer and biting a state police trooper while in custody.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/14/woman-accused-of-killing-man-changing-tire-tuesday-on-eb-i-94/70320628007/ | 2023-06-14T13:43:05 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/14/woman-accused-of-killing-man-changing-tire-tuesday-on-eb-i-94/70320628007/ |
OWYHEE COUNTY, Idaho — State Highway 78 remained closed early Wednesday morning, June 14, near the junction with Highway 45 in Owyhee County because of flooding on the road. The Idaho Transportation Department calls it a "major closure."
The highway was closed northwest of Murphy just after 6 p.m. Tuesday. An Owyhee County dispatcher said Wednesday morning that a thunderstorm brought heavy rain and flooding. County officials said in a Facebook post from Tuesday night that water and mud was over the road at milepost 28, that the road was impassible, and that no estimate for reopening was available.
As of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, there was no new word on the highway's condition, and it remained closed.
Video posted on Facebook by the Owyhee County Historical Museum shows the highway being completely washed out.
"A small, normally dry creek bed became a roaring current around 5:30 p.m. as a massive thunderstorm moved across the Snake River Plain just outside of Murphy. Highway 78 is currently closed until morning, when an evaluation can be made," the museum's post stated. It also said the museum would be closed Wednesday.
The Owyhee County Courthouse in Murphy also is closed Wednesday. County officials say anyone needing help with court business should call the Homedale court office at 208-337-4540. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Watch more weather:
See the latest weather forecasts and news in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/highway-78-closure-owyhee-county-thunderstorm-flooding/277-3cc7e9f8-4161-46ed-a32b-87a535bc6c3b | 2023-06-14T13:45:57 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/highway-78-closure-owyhee-county-thunderstorm-flooding/277-3cc7e9f8-4161-46ed-a32b-87a535bc6c3b |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando police said they have made another arrest in the murder of a local veteran and beloved mother.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Police said Keyonce Pitts was arrested Tuesday after Samuel Stevens was arrested Friday.
Both Pitts and Stevens are teenagers and are charged with killing a woman police believe was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Read: Florida woman shot 11 times runs to neighbor’s house for help, deputies say
Orlando police said Angela Washington was shot and killed on Feb. 7 outside of a shopping plaza.
Police said she was not the intended target of the shooting.
Watch: Orlando police officer accused of reckless driving, fleeing traffic stop in patrol cruiser
Family said Washington was a U.S. military veteran who served in the Air Force for 20 years. She was 61 years old.
Channel 9 is working to gather more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputies-arrest-second-suspect-after-veteran-shot-killed-pine-hills-shopping-center/6B4GBN46YBEPPAIRRPFPSVAICI/ | 2023-06-14T13:49:59 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputies-arrest-second-suspect-after-veteran-shot-killed-pine-hills-shopping-center/6B4GBN46YBEPPAIRRPFPSVAICI/ |
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Hundreds of families in need will have an opportunity to get some free food, in Winter Garden.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The Southeastern Food Bank is holding another “Feeding families, feeding friends,” food distribution event Wednesday.
See: 9 ways to protect yourself from extreme heat
It’s being held on the corner of 9th and East Plant Street in Winter Garden from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Channel 9 will have a crew at the event and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
Watch: Orlando police officer accused of reckless driving, fleeing traffic stop in patrol cruiser
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/group-host-food-giveaway-wednesday-winter-garden/FBKN4SJ7ZZD6LK2ULIAMTSDC7I/ | 2023-06-14T13:50:06 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/group-host-food-giveaway-wednesday-winter-garden/FBKN4SJ7ZZD6LK2ULIAMTSDC7I/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Marriott Vacations Worldwide is hosting a housekeeping job fair Wednesday at two of its Orange County resorts.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Most positions start at $17.10 an hour with a full benefits package, including medical and dental plans.
The job fair will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve just off of John Young Parkway.
Watch: 4 teens, ages 13-19, charged in crime spree targeting food delivery drivers
Applicants who are picked will be employed at Marriott’s Grande Vista and Sheraton Vistana Villages.
More information on how to apply for an open job position can be found here.
Read: Disney announces Halloween, Christmas cruises for 2024
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/marriott-vacations-worldwide-hosts-job-fair-wednesday-orlando/3PDBJRN5I5AHDG7755TWICZY44/ | 2023-06-14T13:50:07 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/marriott-vacations-worldwide-hosts-job-fair-wednesday-orlando/3PDBJRN5I5AHDG7755TWICZY44/ |
LONDON — The Beatles have been broken up for decades, but that not stopping them from producing new songs.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Paul McCartney told BBC Radio on Tuesday that producers used artificial intelligence to mix a new Beatles song using John Lennon’s voice.
See: 9 ways to protect yourself from extreme heat
It comes from a demo he and McCartney worked on decades ago.
A computer produces vocals on the new track performed by a computer version of Lennon.
Read: Disney announces Halloween, Christmas cruises for 2024
McCartney admitted the technology is “Kind of scary.”
See more in the video above.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/new-beatles-song-features-artificial-intelligence-track-using-john-lennons-voice/UZYR2TM3ONDSTGJG2DAUQAOR6A/ | 2023-06-14T13:50:14 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/new-beatles-song-features-artificial-intelligence-track-using-john-lennons-voice/UZYR2TM3ONDSTGJG2DAUQAOR6A/ |
Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones and Miami-Dade County Commission Chair Oliver Gilbert III joined Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other dignitaries June 7 in raising the rainbow flag over the Stephen P. Clark Center in recognition of Pride Month.
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Rainbow flag flies for Pride Month in Miami-Dade
- The Miami TImes
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THIS WEEK'S TOP 10
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Something don’t smell right in the city of North Miami Beach
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June 7-13, 2023
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Recent Headlines
- Supreme Court decision impact on Miami’s Black voters as redistricting debate heats up
- Judge reinstates Michael Joseph to North Miami Beach Commission
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- Rainbow flag flies for Pride Month in Miami-Dade
- Teachers union pushes back against anti-education legislation | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/rainbow-flag-flies-for-pride-month-in-miami-dade/article_e96f2fa2-093b-11ee-954d-930d762f2a86.html | 2023-06-14T13:50:57 | 0 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/rainbow-flag-flies-for-pride-month-in-miami-dade/article_e96f2fa2-093b-11ee-954d-930d762f2a86.html |
Racial gerrymandering is alive but not well, after the United States Supreme Court voted it down in an Alabama congressional redistricting case last week. How that decision will affect Miami’s ongoing battle with its own redistricting lawsuit is anybody’s guess.
In a 5-4 decision June 8, Alabama was found to have likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by drawing a congressional map with only one Black-majority district out of seven, despite the fact that Black people comprise more than 25% of the state. The state will now have to redraw its map ahead of next year’s federal elections, just as the city of Miami was ordered to redraw its local map ahead of this year’s municipal election.
The two individual cases aren’t entirely alike. Although both maps have just one Black-majority district, they represent two classic forms of racial gerrymandering: packing and cracking. In the city of Miami, Black voters have been consistently “packed” into one district known by commissioners as “the Black district,” limiting their power to just that one area. In the state of Alabama, on the other hand, Black voters were spread so thin, or “cracked,” across districts that their influence was diluted and overshadowed throughout the state.
“The outcome is essentially the same, which is less representation,” said Christopher Lomax, managing attorney with the Lomax Legal law firm and president of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association.
“It’s another example of the machinations that people in power utilize to dilute or to take away the power of Black people,” said attorney H.T. Smith, a local legend and Miami trailblazer who has long gained national distinction. “In Alabama, they robbed us with a knife, and in the city of Miami, they robbed us with a gun. It’s the same thing. It’s just a different instrument of discrimination.”
Both Lomax and Smith hope that the Supreme Court’s decision will discourage future maps like the one being contested in Miami. But it could just as well have the opposite effect.
Miami map scramble
City of Miami Commission Chair Christine King told The Miami Times that the Alabama case actually justifies what the city has been defending all along. The plaintiffs’ position has been that the use of racially designated districts has got to go, but, in King’s eyes, the Supreme Court decision says they’re actually needed.
“The Supreme Court ruling ordering Alabama officials to redraw the state’s congressional map to allow an additional Black-majority district proves that our original redistricting was constitutional and in the best interest of our community,” said King, Miami’s sole Black commissioner.
King and her peers have claimed that the city’s split into one Black district, one white non-Hispanic district and three Hispanic districts ensures diversity on the commission, especially when prior elections left the city without any Black representatives at all. The strategically divided map is meant to represent the city’s racial demographic, which is roughly 72% Hispanic, 14% Black and 11% white.
That tactic nevertheless raises the question: What of the Black residents who don’t make it into the Black district? Likewise, will just one Black commissioner be sufficient for a city originally built and incorporated by Black men and women?
“It always surprises me that the power structure … always knows what’s best for us,” said Smith. “They say, ‘We want to protect your rights.’ Well, why don’t you ask us? We don’t need you to do it for us. We want you to do it with us.”
The city will have to do just that after being ordered by U.S. District Judge Kevin Michael Moore to draw a new map by Aug. 1 that conforms to the lawsuit’s ideologies, just in time for the November election. A special commission meeting is scheduled for June 14 to begin those discussions.
Where to put Overtown
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs has submitted two maps to be considered in place of the one approved by the city in March 2022. One of those has already drawn criticism from King, however, due to the fact that it moves Overtown from her District 5 into Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla’s District 1.
“My top priority is keeping District 5 neighborhoods intact,” she told the Times. “The constitution allows for and case law encourages communities of interest to stay together. Overtown, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Wynwood and the Upper East Side share the same needs. It would be unconstitutional to redraw those lines.”
Lomax sympathizes with the notion that those who share similar interests should form a cohesive voting bloc. At the same time, he says, “the plaintiffs are considering what would be most effective in terms of being able to mobilize and have a voice in the city,” and not in just one district.
“Those are two separate things, and I think that the latter is probably more in the public’s interest than the former,” he said.
“Part of your power comes with the amount of influence you can have in deciding elections in as many districts as possible,” Smith concurred, “so they packed all of the Black people in one district – not all, but a significant number – and said, ‘Well, we don’t have to worry about them. They’ve got the one vote they have, and none of the rest of us have to worry about them.’”
Indeed, Overtown’s united presence in a district other than District 5 may one day result in the election of a second Black commissioner – and that could be a good thing. After all, Smith notes, having just one Black official on the dais didn’t prevent the commission from seriously considering a plan that would have dumped homeless people on Virginia Key Beach, a historic landmark for Miami’s Black community.
Smith and Lomax believe that the city’s so-called efforts to ensure diversity on the commission are simply disingenuous. The truth could well be that the map was crafted to ensure that Black representation remains the minority on the commission.
“I hope and pray that Commissioner King is more concerned about the people in her district than she is about holding onto political power,” Smith added. “Her area has voted solidly for Black commissioners since we came up with these five single-member districts.”
A trickle-down effect
Smith’s distrust in elected officials is cautious at best and justified at worst. While last week’s Supreme Court decision came as a win to Black voters in Alabama and across the country, it was actually a bare minimum achievement – one that came shockingly and a tad too late.
“They didn’t do anything to bolster [the Voting Rights Act], in my view, but they maintained it, as opposed to moving in the direction of eviscerating it, which has happened in the past more recently,” said Lomax.
Chief Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh joined liberals last week in ordering Alabama to redraw its map, but not until after it was used in the 2022 election. Both Alabama and Louisiana maps had been challenged and ruled against by lower courts, resulting in Republicans taking the House majority from Democrats by a margin of nine seats.
“It’s the best of times and it’s the worst of times,” said Smith. “It’s the worst of times because of the fact that the Supreme Court allowed what was obviously unfair, discriminatory voting districts to go forward so that people who should not have won, won. But then it’s the best of times because they left us with our neck bones, so that we can still go to court and in some cases we can still win every now and then.”
Multiple states are now gearing up to redraw their maps and Miami’s fate is up for grabs as the city awaits a response to its appeal with the Eleventh Circuit Court. In an opinion piece published in this edition of the Times, attorney Reginald J. Clyne cautions against the potentially harmful effects that the Republican-dominated court could have on the lawsuit.
But Lomax has hope.
“I think that these discussions that are going to be had in Miami are going to be much different now that the Supreme Court has spoken,” Lomax continued, “and the people who are in the position to articulate what they believe to be the law of the land can do so far more persuasively now that this opinion has been rendered.” | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/supreme-court-decision-impact-on-miami-s-black-voters-as-redistricting-debate-heats-up/article_9ca8357e-0a85-11ee-92da-271537e0c6f5.html | 2023-06-14T13:51:03 | 0 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/supreme-court-decision-impact-on-miami-s-black-voters-as-redistricting-debate-heats-up/article_9ca8357e-0a85-11ee-92da-271537e0c6f5.html |
United Teachers of Dade (UTD) and local activists gathered at the Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center in Doral last week to push back against Florida’s anti-education and anti-freedom legislation.
Recent education bills restricting books about Black and LGBTQ+ history in school libraries and blocking diversity, equity and inclusion spending in higher education are at the forefront of their fight to create greater accessibility to education and safeguard individual freedoms.
Counties across South Florida have removed books with topics touching on race and LGBTQ+ themes which some parents consider obscene materials. At last week’s rally, UTD Vice President Antonio White warned parents to be concerned and involved with the quality of education their children will receive in a state where censored lessons will turn public education into Christian education, which he called “indoctrination in its truest form.”
The small but powerful group of protestors informed passersby that they would fight for teachers and all straight and queer students. Although teachers and faculty weren’t present as this was the last day of the academic term, some teachers joined the event in solidarity.
The rally coincided with Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez’s visit to the school, but she did not come out to acknowledge the group. Protestors expressed their disapproval of Nunez and chanted, “Nunez has got to go.”
The most recent target of their fight is SB 256, a bill that limits union workers’ rights, which opponents believe is one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to weaken and silence teachers unions. The organization’s president, Karla Hernández-Mats, says DeSantis aims to push his fascist agenda and extricate unions to eliminate opposition. | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/teachers-union-pushes-back-against-anti-education-legislation/article_edd1da6e-0a25-11ee-abad-03b2e40c7971.html | 2023-06-14T13:51:09 | 1 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/teachers-union-pushes-back-against-anti-education-legislation/article_edd1da6e-0a25-11ee-abad-03b2e40c7971.html |
Donald Trump became the first former president to face a judge on federal charges as he pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom Tuesday to dozens of felony counts accusing him of hoarding classified documents and refusing government demands to give them back.
The history-making court date, centered on charges that Trump mishandled government secrets that as commander-in-chief he was entrusted to protect, kickstarts a legal process that could unfold at the height of the 2024 presidential campaign and carry profound consequences not only for his political future, but also for his own personal liberty.
Trump approached his arraignment with characteristic bravado, posting social media broadsides against the prosecution from inside his motorcade en route to the courthouse and insisting – as he has through years of legal woes – that he has done nothing wrong and was being persecuted for political purposes. But inside the courtroom, he sat silently, scowling and arms crossed as a lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf in a brief arraignment that ended without him having to surrender his passport or otherwise restrict his travel.
The arraignment, though largely procedural in nature, was the latest in an unprecedented public reckoning this year for Trump, who faces charges in New York arising from hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign as well as ongoing investigations in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta into efforts to undo the results of the 2020 race.
He’s sought to project confidence in the face of unmistakable legal peril, attacking the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case as “a Trump hater,” pledging to remain in the race, and scheduling a speech and fundraiser for Tuesday night at his Bedminster, N.J., golf club. He stopped on his way out of Miami at Versailles, an iconic Cuban restaurant in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood, where supporters serenaded Trump, who turns 77 years old on Wednesday, with “Happy Birthday.”
Even so, the gravity of the moment was clear.
Until last week, no former president had ever been charged by the Justice Department, let alone accused of mishandling top-secret information. The indictment unsealed last week charged Trump with 37 felony counts – many under the Espionage Act – that accuse him of illegally storing classified documents in his bedroom, bathroom, shower and other locations at Mar-a-Lago, and trying to hide them from the Justice Department as investigators demanded them back. The charges carry a yearslong prison sentence in the event of a conviction.
Trump has relied on a familiar playbook of painting himself as a victim of political persecution. But Attorney General Merrick Garland, an appointee of President Joe Biden, sought to insulate the department from political attacks by handing ownership of the case to a special counsel, Jack Smith, who on Friday declared, “We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone.”
Smith attended Tuesday’s arraignment, sitting in the front row behind his team of prosecutors.
The court appearance unfolded against the backdrop of potential protests, with some high-profile backers using barbed rhetoric to voice support. Trump himself encouraged supporters to join a planned protest Tuesday at the courthouse. Though city officials said they prepared for possible unrest, there were few signs of significant disruption.
Tuesday’s drama played out inside the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, named for the late judge who was the first Black person appointed to the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court and the Third District Court of Appeals.
While Trump was not required to surrender a passport – prosecutor David Harbach said he was not considered a flight risk, a likely recognition of his status as a presidential candidate – he was directed to not have any personal contact with any witnesses in the case. That includes Walt Nauta, his valet and close aide, who was indicted last week on charges that he moved boxes of documents at Trump’s direction and misled the FBI about it. He did not enter a plea Tuesday because he did not have a local lawyer with him.
The magistrate judge who presided over the arraignment directed Trump not to discuss the case with any witnesses, including Nauta, but said they can discuss work.
Even for a man whose post-presidential life has been defined by criminal investigations, the documents probe had long stood out both because of the volume of evidence that prosecutors had seemed to amass and the severity of the allegations.
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., had heard testimony for months, but the Justice Department filed it in Florida, where Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort is located and where many of the alleged acts of obstruction occurred. Though Trump appeared Tuesday before a federal magistrate, the case has been assigned to a district court judge he appointed, Aileen Cannon, who ruled in his favor last year in a dispute over whether an outside special master could be appointed to review the seized classified documents. A federal appeals panel ultimately overturned her ruling.
It’s unclear what defenses Trump is likely to invoke as the case moves forward. Two of his lead lawyers announced their resignation the morning after his indictment, and the notes and recollections of another attorney, M. Evan Corcoran, are cited repeatedly throughout the 49-page charging document, suggesting prosecutors envision him as a potential key witness.
The Justice Department unsealed Friday an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defense information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements.
The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office in January 2021. The material he stored – in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower – included material on nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign governments, and a Pentagon “attack plan,” prosecutors say.
Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing Nauta to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena. | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/trump-pleads-not-guilty-to-federal-charges-in-miami/article_e04c6e82-0a74-11ee-aa4b-5fe3e2c24f6f.html | 2023-06-14T13:51:16 | 0 | https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/trump-pleads-not-guilty-to-federal-charges-in-miami/article_e04c6e82-0a74-11ee-aa4b-5fe3e2c24f6f.html |
Name: Savannah Keaskowski
School: Tremper High School
Nickname: Annie
Parents: John and Alicia Keaskowski
Most memorable high school moment: My most memorable moment would have to be the powder puff game my junior year when we won against the senior team and I got three interceptions.
Most influential teacher: Julie Chase in Spanish; Mrs. Chase always knows how to make her classes engaging and fun. She cares so much about each and every one of her students inside and outside of school always making sure we are taken care of. I am a better student because of the time she has invested in me while being in her class.
School activities/clubs: Choir/madrigals, Link Crew, National Honor Society
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School athletics: Basketball, cheerleading, softball, tennis
School offices held: Link Crew Cabinet; Captain of the varsity cheer team
Honors, letters or awards: Mayor's Youth Commission Award
Out-of-school activities/hobbies: Outside of school I really enjoy playing my guitar; singing in the worship band at church; playing with my pet bunny Elvis; and working at Under Armour.
College choice: United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Intended major/field of study: Chemistry with a minor of Spanish
Role model: My mom
Three words that best describe my role model: Hard-working, Confident, Caring
What I hope to accomplish in my lifetime: I would like to become a high ranked officer in the US Navy, such as an Admiral, however, I would also like to have my own big family like the one I grew up in. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-teen-2023-savannah-keaskowski-of-tremper-high-school/article_52d9354e-097a-11ee-8ce3-f3b65eed238a.html | 2023-06-14T13:53:49 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-teen-2023-savannah-keaskowski-of-tremper-high-school/article_52d9354e-097a-11ee-8ce3-f3b65eed238a.html |
An Irwin man is facing a list of charges in connection to a 2022 wrong-way crash on Interstate 376 that resulted in the death of a Monroeville man.
State police charged Troy Modrak, 28, with homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and involuntary manslaughter, among other charges, for the July 2022 fatal crash.
According to the police report, Modrak was driving a Chevy Silverado pickup truck west in the eastbound lanes when he struck a Honda HRV in Churchill.
The driver was severely injured. The passenger, Thomas Linwood Ligon, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/irwin-man-facing-charges-including-homicide-by-vehicle-dui-fatal-wrong-way-crash-i-376/5RCEHN5HY5F37M4SZTAWW7OBMI/ | 2023-06-14T13:58:52 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/irwin-man-facing-charges-including-homicide-by-vehicle-dui-fatal-wrong-way-crash-i-376/5RCEHN5HY5F37M4SZTAWW7OBMI/ |
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