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COLORADO, USA — A star of a Netflix TV show is officially on the Colorado ballot.
Joseph Maldonado, aka Joe Exotic, one of the faces in the Netflix true crime documentary series "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness", announced on Monday that he is officially on the Colorado ballot for president.
According to Maldonado's 2024 campaign website, he said he would decriminalize marijuana nationally.
"He vows to fight, first, to decriminalize marijuana nationally so that people like the ones he has met in federal prison no longer serve federal time for coming to Colorado and purchasing legal marijuana from a dispensary, then taking it home to Wyoming, Kansas, or anywhere else, which currently would land you in federal prison for interstate commerce of trafficking marijuana, no matter the amount."
He also said he would allow special interest groups to lease Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.
Maldonado is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence after he was convicted of trying to hire two men to kill animal welfare activist Carole Baskin.
He said he would be the third person to run for president from federal prison.
At the end of his campaign announcement, it says, "PS Next up on the list to get on the ballot is New Hampshire."
On the website, he also posted a screenshot on of his declaration of intent to be a candidate for president in Colorado. 9NEWS reached out to the Colorado Secretary of State for confirmation.
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To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/joe-exotic-2024-president-ballot-colorado/73-3be6f6b0-d18e-4297-8231-05aaa1b1e0a5 | 2023-06-20T00:08:05 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/joe-exotic-2024-president-ballot-colorado/73-3be6f6b0-d18e-4297-8231-05aaa1b1e0a5 |
PITTSBURGH — Hundreds gathered in Point State Park to celebrate Juneteenth and local advocacy groups wanted to use the holiday to send a loud message to everyone there.
RELATED COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh Juneteenth celebration continues to rise in popularity
Local activists say the holiday can be used to celebrate unity which will be necessary to get people to commit to anti-violence actions throughout the city.
“We need to be free of violence, we need to be free of a kid being able to pick up a gun and go and shoot somebody,” said Tim Stevens, president of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP).
Stevens and B-PEP teamed with The Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence (CAV) to try to find that unity.
The organizations were allowed to host a special “anti-violence hour” during the Juneteenth celebration.
Pastors, ministers and anti-violence advocates all spoke during the alluded time.
“We are saying Juneteenth is a great day to have that commitment live in our souls and our minds and memories,” said Stevens.
Click here to learn more about B-PEP.
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PITTSBURGH — 11 Investigates is digging deeper after a former candidate for Allegheny County Executive was arrested.
Will Parker is charged with assaulting a Pittsburgh Police officer while trying to confront Mayor Gainey during the Juneteenth parade on Saturday.
Chief investigator Rick Earle spoke with Parker after he was released from jail.
Parker denied any wrongdoing and said he has been an active protestor for years and says he knows the limits. Contrary to what police say, he contends he did not cross that line.
Juneteenth organizer B. Marshall said he was there when the confrontation happened and said he saw it all happen.
“I was part of it because I tried to stop it and the mayor said, ‘Just let him go, we’re going to proceed with the event,’” said Marshall.
Parker was handcuffed, arrested and hauled away by police just minutes later.
The CEO of the Black Political Empowerment project had some choice words for Parker.
“It was stupid. It should have never happened. It put a little blemish on something that’s never had a blemish,” said Tim Stevens.
Parker, who’s run for various political offices, including county executive, and is known for showing up at events with a bullhorn said that County Council member Bethany Hallam bumped into him several times and he told her to stop.
Parker says the mayor’s bodyguard then told him “I’m bumping you now. What are you going to do about it?” Parker said he replied, “Nothing.”
Court documents filed by police say, Parker, who had been verbally harassing the mayor, was repeatedly warned to back off. They say Parker told the bodyguard, “I will elbow you too,” and then shoved into him. The mayor’s other bodyguard then stepped in and took Parker to the ground.
“Will is a vibrant serious person, but this was not the opportunity to do that, at this event here,” said Marshall.
When Channel 11′s Chief Investigator, Rick Earle, asked Marshall if Parker deserved to be taken to the ground.
“If you are persistent and you won’t stop, they really don’t have a choice,” said Marshall.
Parker is charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.
In a tweet, he said he plans to file a lawsuit against the city.
Channel 11 reached out to Bethany Hallam multiple times but has not heard back.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/local-activist-arrested-parade-shares-his-side-story-witness-recalls-details-arrest/SAKUYCTQUVHV5BTFGFDFH74WOU/ | 2023-06-20T00:09:46 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/local-activist-arrested-parade-shares-his-side-story-witness-recalls-details-arrest/SAKUYCTQUVHV5BTFGFDFH74WOU/ |
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh’s annual Juneteenth celebration has been happening since 2013. In those 10 years, attendance has jumped from 50 people to 40,000.
“This is America’s second independence. This is not a Black holiday. This is an American holiday and that’s why everyone needs to celebrate it,” said Juneteenth Organizer B. Marshall.
This year’s festivities included food, art, activities and live music. Tonight will mark the city’s first-ever Juneteenth fireworks show. The fireworks show will be held at Point State Park and begin around 9:30 p.m.
“We believe it is significant. We know we have fireworks for the Fourth of July, so in turn we believe that fireworks need to be held for the Juneteenth celebration,” said Tim Stevens with the Black Political Empowerment Project.
The impact of the holiday has also had a positive effect on Pittsburgh’s economy. Local Black-owned vendors say the festival has a huge economic impact on the Black community.
“This is the best way to make money because storefronts are more expensive,” said Leah Thomas from A Woman’s Touch Fashion.
Local organizations are also coming forward to spread messages against violence happening in the city.
Juneteenth officially became a holiday in Pittsburgh in 2020.
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WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — Four men are facing charges after they allegedly trespassed inside the Century III Mall.
West Mifflin Police say Christopher Cross, 27, Brody Lones, 23, Drake Pierce, 22, and Kenlein Ogletree, 21, went through the abandoned mall and filmed video. The video was shared online and police used it to identify them.
Cross, Lones and Pierce are from New Lexington, Ohio and Ogletree is from Clairton.
Police say Century III Mall property is private property. They also said the area is extremely dangerous and that the men could have been injured.
Private property signs are posted in the area.
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HAMMOND — For a diverse community, Juneteenth was an opportunity to celebrate its rich heritage. For a basketball team, Monday’s celebration provided a stage for receiving community recognition.
Hammond’s third annual Juneteenth program at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park included honors for the Hammond Central High School boys basketball team, which won the most games in city history and captured Hammond’s first regional hoops title since 1954.
“This is very special,” said head coach Larry Moore Jr. “The kids are all friends. They’ve played together. They wanted to win for each other.”
After going 16-4 their junior season, the Hammond Central Wolves went 26-2. After winning the 4A regional, the team lost in the semistate game to Penn for its first loss of the season to an Indiana squad.
A combining of June and 19th, Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
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The date refers to June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom for slaves in Texas. Although it sided with the Confederacy, Texas was not a battleground state. The announcement resulted in the emancipation of 250,000 slaves in Texas.
Sometimes called “Black Independence Day,” Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth Independence Day Act into law.
The Hammond Juneteenth observance predates the federal holiday.
The earliest celebrations date to 1866, with church-centered gatherings in Texas. The observance then spread throughout the South.
“We pay homage for all the sacrifices African Americans have made over the years and continue to make,” Councilwoman Katrina Alexander said.
While changes need to be made, “today is another day for us to reflect on and cherish the memories of those who came before us and who go on after us.”
In the invocation, she said: “We honor their spirit, toil, sacrifice. We hope for generations to come as a reminder of who we are as a people. As a family of God, we suffer as one. God, you let us celebrate as one.”
Moore, his staff and players, and their school received trophies from Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. and the city’s Juneteenth committee.
Kenneth Grant, who will play basketball at the College of DuPage, thanked God, his mother and the people of Hammond.
“You were cheering and being happy for us,” he said. “You gave us the support. I couldn’t have done it without you all.”
Teammate Jordan Woods, a standout in basketball and football, is headed for Eastern Illinois University. “This means a lot when your community cares a lot,” he said.
McDermott reported Hammond’s population diversity at more than 30% African American, more than 30% Hispanic and 35% Caucasian.
Whether the occasion is Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day, the mayor said, “we all celebrate.”
Speaking from the park’s Freedom Plaza, McDermott said he never learned about Juneteenth until a few years ago.
“We gotta have these facts about our country so we don’t repeat them,” he said, including the “ugly stuff” in U.S. history “so we never do it again.”
Councilman Barry Tyler, citing Hammond’s rich diversity, warned of government leaders who want a “disengaged citizenry … so we don’t see all the progress we deserve.”
Tyler encouraged people to get involved in spreading the truth.
After the program, the daylong celebration featured vendors from businesses, nonprofits, schools and restaurants.
The Rev. Clay Cobb, president of the NAACP Hammond Unit 3052, called Juneteenth a first step “toward recognizing that we as a people have a right to the already written Constitution. We weren’t recognized until the 13th Amendment," which abolished slavery.
“The last of us were held in slavery and were working unpaid, and this a giant step in the right direction.” | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/hammond-black-independence-day-juneteenth/article_9327a5fa-0ece-11ee-acf1-0bf4cb52b150.html | 2023-06-20T00:10:41 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/hammond-black-independence-day-juneteenth/article_9327a5fa-0ece-11ee-acf1-0bf4cb52b150.html |
CEDAR LAKE — A Robinson R22 helicopter crashed into the south end of Cedar Lake around 2 p.m. Monday, WLS-TV reported.
The crash occurred between 140th and 145th avenues. The two people onboard were not injured, according to WLS-TV.
Crews are working on removing the helicopter, which has submerged. The cause of the crash is unclear.
Cedar Lake Police and Fire Department haven't responded to request for comment.
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(NEXSTAR) — If you’re looking to move to a suburban home, you may be weighing a number of aspects — school quality, walkability and proximity to one’s job are all common concerns.
You’re also likely wondering how safe the area is. As you may expect, there are a number of things that can impact the perceived safety of the suburb.
SmartAsset, a personal finance website, reviewed 370 suburbs across the 100 largest cities in the U.S. and analyzed them based on multiple safety-related metrics: violent crime rates and property crime rates based on FBI data, as well as rates of adults engaging in excessive drinking, deaths related to traffic accidents and drug poisonings from County Health Rankings.
These are the 10 safest states in the US, data shows
Overall, SmartAsset found suburbs on the East Coast and in the Midwest were among the safest. Suburbs in the West and South ranked further down on the list.
Great Falls, Virginia, a Washington D.C. suburb located along the Potomac River ranked highest on SmartAsset’s list. The census-designated location — where Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin once lived — had the second-lowest violent crime rate at 6.81 per 100,000 residents (coming in behind Edgerton, Wisconsin, with a crime rate of 0) and one of the lowest vehicle mortality rates. Additionally, SmartAsset found that, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, Great Falls had the highest median household income of any of the suburbs analyzed at just over $250,000.
Nearby Bethesda, Maryland ranked third on the list, boasting some of the lowest vehicle mortality and excessive drinking rates in the study. Indiana suburbs comprised the rest of the top five safest, with Carmel ranking second overall. Fishers and Noblesville rounded out the list.
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The 10 safest suburbs, according to SmartAsset’s analysis, are:
- Great Falls, Virginia
- Carmel, Indiana
- Bethesda, Maryland
- Fishers, Indiana
- Noblesville, Indiana
- Lehi, Utah
- Fort Bliss, Texas
- Frisco, Texas
- Dacula, Georgia
- Castle Rock, Colorado
In Texas, two cities made the list of the top 10 safest suburbs in the US. According to the analysis, Fort Bliss ranked seventh overall and had nearly 70 violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents. Additionally, Fort Bliss scored high due to its low vehicular mortality rate of 11.3 per 100,000 and its low property crime rate of 218 per 100,000.
The city of Frisco ranked eighth on the list and had a vehicular mortality rate of 6.4 per 100,000 residents. McKinney, another Texas city, ranked 13th overall and shared the same vehicular mortality rate as Frisco, but had a higher rate of violent incidents.
Other Texas suburbs in the top 50 include Georgetown at rank 26, Schertz and Anthony tied for 31, Cedar Park at 34 and West University Place at 47.
Not every Texas suburb ranked high in the analysis. For example, Aransas Pass ranked as the 24th least-safest suburb in the nation and the least-safest suburb in the state overall. The city had a violent crime rate of 645 incidents per 100,000 residents and a vehicular mortality rate of 13 per 100,000.
The best and the worst
Edgerton, Wisconsin had the lowest violent crime rate per 100,000 residents at 0. Fort Bliss, Texas had the lowest overall property crime rate (218 per 100,000 residents). Lexington and Somerville in Massachusetts tied for the fewest vehicular deaths at 3.6 per 100,000 while Waukee, Iowa had the lowest rate of deaths due to drug poisonings at 6.1 per 100,000.
Gonzales, Louisiana had the worst overall safety rating. Located outside Baton Rouge, the suburb had the second-worst property crime rates at 7,466 per 100,000 residents, coming in behind Pineville, North Carolina’s 11,600.
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Florida had the most suburbs at the bottom of SmartAsset’s list, including DeLand, which ranked as the second-worst overall behind Gonzales.
The 10 lowest-ranking suburbs in SmartAsset’s analysis were:
- Gonzales, Louisiana
- DeLand, Florida
- Treasure Island, Florida
- Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Washington, Pennsylvania
- Granite City, Illinois
- Wilmington, Delaware
- Largo, Florida
- Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- Lumberton, North Carolina
Lumberton had the highest violent crime rate on the list at 2,263 per 100,000 residents, as well as the highest rate of vehicular deaths at 36.2. Petersburg, Virginia recorded the highest drug poisoning mortality rate at 68.6 per 100,000.
SmartAsset’s full list and methodology can be found here.
Another recent analysis of FBI data, conducted by U.S. News and World Report, found states in the Northeast — Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut — were largely the safest, reporting lower rates of violent crime and property crime than others. | https://cw33.com/news/local/2-texas-suburbs-make-the-top-safest-suburb-list-for-2023/ | 2023-06-20T00:11:32 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/2-texas-suburbs-make-the-top-safest-suburb-list-for-2023/ |
DALLAS — Texas voters will decide in November whether to loan money to some electricity generators for construction projects meant to boost the power grid's capacity.
Lawmakers in May approved a measure placing the proposed constitutional amendment on Nov. 7 ballots. It aims to lure energy companies to build or expand electricity generators that run on natural gas, coal or nuclear fission.
Some legislators argue the state currently relies too heavily on renewable energy sources, which work best under favorable weather conditions.
"We have invested heavily in renewables," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in March. "Now, it's time to invest in dispatchable."
Initially, state lawmakers would commit $5 billion to the idea. A committee would use that money to offer low-interest loans to power companies who agree to build or expand thermal energy plants.
The state would offer bonuses for projects completed before 2029.
Renewable energy projects will not be eligible for the loan program.
Critics question whether power producers want to build more fossil-fueled plants, which aren't as profitable as they used to be.
"I don't think anyone is going to take them up on it, frankly," University of Houston energy fellow Ed Hirs said.
Renewable energy is cheaper to generate, so it typically sells for a cheaper price. When possible, Texas utility companies prefer to buy electricity from solar and wind farms.
Fossil-fueled plants are often left out of the lucrative energy market during times of lower electricity demand.
"There's no real rate of return available for building a new natural gas-fired plant," Hirs said. "We know that it would be used less and less frequently because of the burgeoning growth in wind and solar."
"The ERCOT market is very similar to a baseball team where the players are only paid if they're taking the field tonight," Hirs continued. "Those guys who are on the bench don't get paid and, over the course of a season, some will go hungry."
By itself, the loan program would not likely help those companies bring in more money. Lawmakers approved a separate, somewhat experimental idea which aims to boost fossil-fueled plants' revenues.
"It doesn't matter if I get partial funding at a low interest rate," Hirs said. "It doesn't help me. If I don't have revenues in excess of my costs, I'm not going to make a return for my shareholders."
The measure would, however, make loans available for some projects which were already planned.
"There's this question of whether they're giving incentives for projects that would've already been done," Stoic Energy consultant Doug Lewin said.
But Lewin highlighted one aspect of the proposal which may draw skeptics' support. The constitutional amendment would allow Texas to grant or loan money to public health and safety facilities, like hospitals, for backup power systems.
These "microgrids" could allow such facilities to effectively separate from Texas's power grid during an emergency for up to two days. If Texas needed to institute rolling blackouts under such a scenario, it could shut power off in neighborhoods around hospitals without impacting the hospitals' operations. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-voters-will-decide-loan-power-generators-tax-dollars-new-construction/287-17a1c9ec-6493-4888-9a6b-7609e088e5ca | 2023-06-20T00:11:47 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-voters-will-decide-loan-power-generators-tax-dollars-new-construction/287-17a1c9ec-6493-4888-9a6b-7609e088e5ca |
GRAPEVINE, Texas — The children who made 911 calls from inside Robb Elementary in Uvalde were honored in Grapevine on Monday.
During the 77 minutes of terror inside the school, several children called for help.
Dispatcher: "Uvalde 911."
Child: "There’s a school shooting at Robb Elementary. Please hurry there’s a lot of dead bodies."
Khloie Torres made that call. She is the little fourth grader who called multiple times begging for help.
"Please hurry. I can’t wait. I just want to see my dad," said Torres in her call.
Miah Cerillo was also inside Robb Elementary and called 911.
She’s the little girl who smeared her classmates’ blood on her and pretended to be dead in order to survive.
She described what happened to the Texas Legislature this year.
"I thought he was going to come back, so I grabbed the blood and put it all over me," said Torres.
The brave students received the National 911 Heroes medal of honor awarded by 911 For Kids.
It’s an organization that focuses on when not to call 911, when to call during an emergency and what to tell the 911 operator during the call.
NFL hall of famer Tim Brown is the international chairman for 911 For Kids. He and his wife, Sherice, awarded the children their medals.
"During the horrific event in Uvalde, three children exhibited bravery under the worst of circumstances," said Brown.
Also receiving the award was 14-year-old Makayla Hertz of Johnson County for calling 911 when her mother stopped breathing. She performed CPR to save her mother’s life.
"Makayla calmly followed the information provided and did CPR and by the end, her mother was breathing again. Because of her bravery and quick thinking her mom made a full recovery," presenter Joe Scaffidi said.
And for the first time in their history, the organization awarded the medal of honor posthumously to Amerie Jo Garza, who was also inside Robb Elementary but passed away. Her mother accepted her award.
"I want everyone to promise we will never use the word hero again without thinking of these young ladies. This is what being a true hero is all about," said Brown. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/uvalde-texas-students-911-calls-from-inside-robb-elementary-honored-bravery/287-1d22a126-1e8e-4eeb-8391-6966b388fac7 | 2023-06-20T00:11:53 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/uvalde-texas-students-911-calls-from-inside-robb-elementary-honored-bravery/287-1d22a126-1e8e-4eeb-8391-6966b388fac7 |
BREWER -- The town's seventeenth annual Junteenth celebration was held at Joshua Chamberlain Freedom Park to honor the freeing of African slaves on June 19th, 1865.
The celebration of Juneteenth took place in Brewer and was lead by the President and CEO of the Maine Human Rights Coalition James Varner.
"You need to treat everyone you meet the same way you want to be treated because this thing called birth, we have no choice," said Varner. "You're born to be who you are by chance."
The ceremony also recognized those who have contributed to the Maine Human Rights Coalition.
Guest speakers, including Reverend Daniel Russell and Mayor of Brewer Soubanh Phanthay spoke about the importance of recognizing the day.
According to Mayor Phanthay, "I would encourage the citizens of Brewer and Bangor, or greater Maine, to speak to their neighbors and not take all their information from what you see online or in media. Because your neighbors here in the state of Maine, it's a different place then sometimes what is shown on television or the internet."
A piece of advice Mr. Varner shared, was to treat everyone you meet with love and respect.
"It begins with you treating people that you meet, seeing that your children treat other people the same way that they want to be treated," said Varner.
The ceremony closed with the placing of a wreath on the statue of Harriet Tubman, and a reminder from Mr. Varner, to never stop believing that a world with love and understanding among all people will not always be, just a dream.
"Until I breathe my last breath," said Varner. "Until I close these brown eyes forever, I'm gonna use every ounce of my energy, my friends, to spread love. I want you to do the same. It makes you feel so good and it's so needed." | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/brewer-hosts-their-annual-juneteenth-celebration/article_2c105cee-0eed-11ee-8a29-0fecd28b2b5f.html | 2023-06-20T00:13:15 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/brewer-hosts-their-annual-juneteenth-celebration/article_2c105cee-0eed-11ee-8a29-0fecd28b2b5f.html |
Body of US Air Force airman who died during training exercise found at Roosevelt Lake
A U.S. Air Force sergeant was found dead at Roosevelt Lake on Friday, according to the Gila County Sheriff's Office.
The airman was identified as Sgt. Kory Wade. Authorities believe Wade died during a training exercise at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the sheriff's office said.
Wade was a medical logistics airman with the 48th Rescue Squadron, based at Davis-Monthan. The Sheriff's Office led a days-long search and rescue operation after Wade went missing at the lake on Wednesday at about 2 p.m. while he was training for supporting jump operations.
His body was found Friday.
“Sergeant Wade was a model Airman and consummate professional while assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with Sergeant Wade’s family, friends and teammates during this difficult time," said Col. Scott Mills, 355th Wing commander. "Davis-Monthan Air Force Base leaders are postured to provide comfort and assistance to our community as we navigate this tragedy together.”
The details of Wade's death were still under investigation, the Sheriff's Office said.
The operation to find Wade was also assisted by Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, United States Navy, Border Patrol and Forest Service. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2023/06/19/body-of-us-air-force-airman-found-at-roosevelt-lake/70335774007/ | 2023-06-20T00:22:06 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2023/06/19/body-of-us-air-force-airman-found-at-roosevelt-lake/70335774007/ |
An investigation is underway after a man was found dead in the Delaware River in Philadelphia early Monday evening, police said.
Police received a 911 call at 6:02 p.m. reporting a body floating in the river off 5501 Tacony Street. When officials arrived they recovered the body of an unidentified 38-year-old man. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:24 p.m.
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Police have not released a cause of death and said there were no signs of visible trauma. They continue to investigate.
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This story is developing. Check back for updates. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-found-dead-in-delaware-river-in-philadelphia-police-say/3588569/ | 2023-06-20T00:23:58 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-found-dead-in-delaware-river-in-philadelphia-police-say/3588569/ |
LOWER TOWNSHIP — Police are searching for a township teen last seen Monday afternoon.
Joshua Cornwell was spotted around noon wearing a red T-shirt and shorts while riding a teal beach bike on May Avenue in the township's Erma section, police said in a news release.
The teenager is described as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 180 pounds. He has brown eyes and hair.
Anyone with information can call police at 609-886-2711. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/lower-township-missing-teen/article_9c06b87e-0ed2-11ee-8cf5-6fc04ea9c02d.html | 2023-06-20T00:29:23 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/lower-township-missing-teen/article_9c06b87e-0ed2-11ee-8cf5-6fc04ea9c02d.html |
DES MOINES, Iowa — With Des Moines’ annual 80/35 Music Festival just a few weeks away, event organizers have been preparing for the thousands of music lovers expected to attend.
It’s a yearly celebration of music and culture with a diverse lineup of musicians and bands.
This year, the festival’s planning committee wanted to do something special for one group of attendees: cannabis consumers.
For the first time ever, festival attendees who hold medical marijuana cards will have a space to consume locally-purchased cannabis safely and comfortably.
"We really think of ourselves as a celebration of music and culture, and to be that, we believe that everyone should be invited to come, and feel comfortable to be there," said festival director Mickey Davis.
That added sense of comfort is important for those who may typically feel overwhelmed or anxious at a large music festival. Iowa follows rigorous legal marijuana guidelines, so even for those authorized to use THC, doing so in public can be worrisome.
But local cannabis supplier Bud and Mary’s, in partnership with 80/35, are trying to work around that by creating a medical cannabis lounge.
"Having them have a presence at the festival and partnering with them made a lot of sense for us," Davis said.
Despite the excitement, there has been some pushback from local agencies.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services contacted Davis, letting him know that there is a chance the cannabis lounge may not be possible after all.
Local 5 received a statement from IDHHS Public Information Officer Alex Carfrae, which states that Bud and Mary's "did not request and did not receive approval to host a medical marijuana consumption area during the music festival."
Medical Cannabidiol marketing activities in Iowa require pre-approval by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, according to Carfrae.
There has yet to be a final decision made as to whether or not the festival will be allowed to include the cannabis lounge. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/8035-music-festival-medical-cannabis-lounge-bud-and-marys-iowa-department-of-health-and-human-services-marijuana-thc/524-7933dc05-0043-4e8e-a426-2bd72c874d5c | 2023-06-20T00:43:56 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/8035-music-festival-medical-cannabis-lounge-bud-and-marys-iowa-department-of-health-and-human-services-marijuana-thc/524-7933dc05-0043-4e8e-a426-2bd72c874d5c |
DES MOINES, Iowa — A conservative activist is calling for the removal of three Iowa Supreme Court justices following a controversial abortion ruling.
Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, took to Twitter to criticize Justices Edward Mansfield and Thomas Waterman, as well as Chief Justice Susan Christensen.
All three of those justices, as part of a 3-3 split decision, took part in an opinion to affirm a lower court's 2019 ruling that maintains access to abortion up to 20 weeks in pregnancy.
Three others on the bench — Christopher McDonald, Matthew McDermott and David May — were in favor of overturning the district's ruling in favor of Gov. Kim Reynolds' six-week ban.
Due to Justice Dana Oxley's recusal, the 3-3 ruling effectively upheld the 20-week abortion ban.
In response to the ruling, Vander Plaats wrote on Twitter Saturday, "These three dissenters have shown blatant disrespect for the constitution, the people’s representatives and we the people. They should resign, be impeached or be ousted."
His call to action echoes one made more than 10 years ago in 2010, when voters ousted three Iowa Supreme Court justices via a judicial retention election after they overturned a state ban on same-sex marriage in 2009.
Back then, Vander Plaats was one of the key leaders of the campaign to remove the justices.
However, if Vander Plaats or other conservative activists want to see a similar outcome with the current judges, they would have to wait a while: Mansfield, Waterman and Christensen are not up for a public retention vote until 2028. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/local-politics/iowa-abortion-ruling-20-weeks-bob-vander-plaats-the-family-leader-remove-justices-iowa-supreme-court/524-993a282d-84dc-4e8d-8a88-5af99766435d | 2023-06-20T00:44:03 | 1 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/local-politics/iowa-abortion-ruling-20-weeks-bob-vander-plaats-the-family-leader-remove-justices-iowa-supreme-court/524-993a282d-84dc-4e8d-8a88-5af99766435d |
PLEASANT HILL, Iowa — Willow Kam and Kyla Riley were scouting a sandbar at Yellow Banks Park on Friday, looking for a place to set up a tent for the night.
"We were walking up and down to find the best sand. On our way back to go grab our stuff because we found where we wanted. Willow was like 'Is that a can?'" Riley said.
"I thought it was some sort of milk jug with some dents in it maybe," Kam added.
But their find wasn't little; it appeared to be a human skull.
"We were videotaping and taking pictures the whole time. When we took it out, we took a stick and put that up on the ground and circled the area, and we rinsed it off. And we're like, 'Oh, there's more details. This might not be a fake,'" Riley said.
The skull was later turned over to law enforcement, and the medical examiner's office is now working to learn more information about it, such as whether it's real and who it might've belonged to if it is. But that search for answers isn't an easy one.
"It has to go through a battery of tests to make sure it's legit, make sure they you know, get as much information from that evidence as they can," Capt. Ryan Evans with the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Sunday.
Dr. Heather Garvin, a professor of anatomy at Des Moines University, is a forensic anthropologist. She says that when examiners don't have a potential ID for remains, the investigation can become much more difficult.
"If all you have is skeletal remains, you can't do a visual ID, you can't do fingerprints. You can do DNA analyses from bone or from teeth, but that can take a while and you still have to have a match to compare that to," Garvin said.
While the hunt for answers continues, Kam & Riley said that they aren't too shaken up from the experience. But they hope the unexpected find will eventually provide answers for someone out there.
"I'm just glad we didn't come across a still-decaying corps, so I'm happy for that, and I'm happy that it got handed over. And I hope we find out what happened and put some family to closure," Riley said. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/yellow-banks-park-possible-human-remains-found-skull-sand-anthropologist-dna/524-d58687a0-4238-4040-83a9-e819686f5a77 | 2023-06-20T00:44:09 | 1 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/yellow-banks-park-possible-human-remains-found-skull-sand-anthropologist-dna/524-d58687a0-4238-4040-83a9-e819686f5a77 |
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — What better way to spend West Virginia’s birthday than going ATV riding for free on some of the world’s best off-roading trail systems?
Hatfield-McCoy Trails is letting residents of the state ride for free on West Virginia Day, which is Tuesday, June 20.
“This is our way of saying ‘Thank You’ for the support to the residents of WV,” Marketing Consultant, Chris Zeto said in a press release. “We want you to venture outside, explore the mountains, visit an ATV-friendly town and have some fun!”
According to the Hatfield-McCoy Trails website, the passes are valid on the following trailheads and facilities:
- Bearwallow Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Buffalo Mountain Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Cabwaylingo Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Country Roads Visitors Center – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Devil Anse Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Hatfield McCoy Welcome Center – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Ivy Branch Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Pinnacle Creek Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Pocahontas Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Rockhouse Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Warrior Trailhead – Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The free passes will only be available at Hatfield McCoy trailhead locations, the Welcome Center and Country Roads Visitor Center, the release said. To get the pass, West Virginians must have a state-issued driver’s license or ID. All riders must have a permit and follow all trail regulations.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trails have offered free trail passes for residents on West Virginia Day for several years. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/state-residents-can-ride-hatfield-mccoy-trails-for-free-on-west-virginia-day/ | 2023-06-20T00:50:20 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/state-residents-can-ride-hatfield-mccoy-trails-for-free-on-west-virginia-day/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Beyond the tents and boarded windows that shape much of downtown Portland are many homeless people using hard drugs as a cry for help.
On Monday morning near the corner of Southwest 4th Avenue and Washington Street, people huddled under large blankets and passed around scraps of tin foil and plastic straws, each taking turns smoking fentanyl, the highly addictive narcotic that’s ravaged the city and killed dozens.
“It’s a necessity to help them with their pain. It’s emotional pain,” said William, who’s homeless and 61 years old. He smokes fentanyl ten times a day to numb a physical pain after he was hit by a car and hurt his leg.
“Doctors won’t give me anything. They’ll give me Tylenol. That doesn’t do much,” he said.
Under Measure 110, which Oregon voters passed in 2020, using a certain amounts of hard drugs like fentanyl is not a criminal offense. Instead, people like William are given $100 citations and a number to call for treatment.
William recently received one of these tickets, and has since taped it to the inside of his tent — though police say that kind of response is rare.
“Generally, people are like 'thanks but no thanks,' quite a few times people will just throw the citation away right in front of us,” said Portland bike squad officer Whitney Anderson.
“A lot of people are trying to be more cautious about it because they’re getting confused whether it’s legal or not to smoke out here,” added another homeless man using drugs downtown.
Portland police are also responding to an increase in deadly fentanyl overdoses. Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office confirmed with KGW that he is now considering outlawing hard drug use in public and introducing criminal penalties — something many Portlanders have been asking for.
“Yeah, they need to go to jail or rehab, either way they have to, 'cause they’re going to die,” said one man who works downtown and sees the crisis every day.
Wheeler’s office is expected to release more information later this week. KGW has reached out to the judicial system and local law enforcement to ask how such an ordinance would work alongside Measure 110. This story will be updated once we hear back.
In Old Town, outreach workers from Defense Fund PDX, a non-profit advocating for people in jail and experiencing homelessness, believe criminalizing drug use could save lives.
“They should have never taken that away when you gave the people the right to do whatever they want to…I think that was hideous to me,” said Clarence, who works with the group.
But for those deep in their addiction, they see it differently.
“It shouldn’t be a crime. We’re not hurting anybody,” said William.
Wheeler isn’t alone in pushing back on Measure 110. Clackamas County commissioners recently decided to hold an advisory vote in November asking their voters if they would like to see Measure 110 modified or overturned. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/portland-mayor-considers-outlawing-hard-drug-use-in-public/283-ce28181c-7f00-4c86-9617-268a95bcfa90 | 2023-06-20T00:50:44 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/portland-mayor-considers-outlawing-hard-drug-use-in-public/283-ce28181c-7f00-4c86-9617-268a95bcfa90 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — About a half dozen U.S. Army medics and nurses are embedded at Oregon Health and Science University this month for a unique training program.
The combat medics and nurses are visiting OHSU in Portland through the Army's SMART program, which stands for Strategic Medical Asset readiness Training. From wound care and sterile prepping, to learning intubation techniques, the Army combat medics and nurses are getting specialized, hands-on experience that is critical for times of combat.
"We are in an inter-war period right now, and a lot of the lessons that were learned in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being lost," said Dr. Martin Schreiber, a surgeon at OHSU and a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He has served in the Army since 1984.
The goal of the Army medics and nurses who participate in the course is to sharpen their emergency medical skills.
"You kind of lost some of those skills and that knowledge atrophies, but right now, after this, I feel a lot more sharp," said Sgt. Colten Fowler, an Army combat medic taking part in the program.
"It was nice to get hands on with some real patients and see people who are really sick and actually injured people, able to put hands on them and help them," Fowler said.
OHSU is one of only four U.S. civilian trauma centers participating in the program, and it's the only hospital in Oregon to offer the two-week course.
There are two level one trauma centers in Portland. They have the capability of providing highly specialized, total patient care for every aspect of an injury. According to Schreiber, those facilities see over 4,400 trauma patients a year, and many of them have injuries similar to what soldiers face in combat.
"They are gunshot wounds or stab wounds. They are very similar to the types of wounds they are seeing down range in wartime," Schreiber said. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ohsu-program-army-medics-nurses-trauma-training/283-c088ed26-873b-4895-bf29-df56f118b89f | 2023-06-20T00:50:50 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ohsu-program-army-medics-nurses-trauma-training/283-c088ed26-873b-4895-bf29-df56f118b89f |
PORTLAND, Ore. — About two dozen nurses stood outside the Providence Home Services building on Northeast Halsey late Monday morning, lined up to voice their displeasure with Providence.
"It's pretty discouraging to have to stand outside and hold a sign in order for the employer to do what's right," Pax Schneider said. "It shouldn't come to that."
Schneider is an occupational therapist for Providence and one of the approximately 1,800 nurses from Providence Portland, Providence Seaside, and Providence Home Health and Hospice who walked off the job Monday and began a five-day strike.
"I certainly hope this makes a difference," Schneider said. "It seems like we're kind of head-on being challenged now, like kind of go ahead and do your thing and see you on the other side."
Schneider and his cohorts want higher wages and better health care, including mental health care and more paid time off and sick leave.
Providence officials said their latest offer to nurses included 30 additional hours of PTO over three years, as well as a 12% raise in the first year of the contract and additional 3% raises in the following two years. Providence also said the average nurse already makes $128,000 per year.
The union pushed back in a news release last week, arguing that the dispute is about paid time off in addition to salaries, and that $128,000 per year is the top of end of the current pay scale, not the average.
"This is a challenging time for them, for our nurses, for our community," Jennifer Gentry of Providence said. "For all of us, so it'll be important as this strike concludes (that) we come back to the table, are able to negotiate a fair contract and move into healing and reconciliation."
Gentry said that while Providence did hire replacement nurses to cover for the hundreds of nurses who are striking, there is still a noticeable impact to Providence Seaside Hospital and Providence Portland Medical Center.
"PPMC has reduced capacity by about 25% from normal operations, while Seaside has reduced capacity by 50%," Gentry said.
As for Providence Home Health and Hospice, Gentry said there will be no interruption in care. She said replacement nurses will work in that space, too. Pax Schneider said he wonders how successful that will be.
"We have a lot of skilled clinicians and nurses, right, so what I do with patients, another person can't show up and do," Schneider said. "It doesn't work like that, and I don't think our leadership understands that piece."
The strike is slated to end late Friday. Providence has previously stated that it will not resume bargaining with the union until the strike concludes.
In a news release late Monday afternoon, Providence said its operations during the first day of the strike had gone "very smoothly — as expected." The news release also addressed an email that had been sent to unionized staff, warning them that Providence would return to the table with a less lucrative offer.
Providence said its most recent contract offer included three provisions — retroactive pay, a ratification bonus and the 30 additional hours of PTO — that it had warned the union up front were contingent on a strike not taking place. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/providence-nurses-begin-strike/283-cc0d5009-5998-49f6-a665-31c04c848ff2 | 2023-06-20T00:50:56 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/providence-nurses-begin-strike/283-cc0d5009-5998-49f6-a665-31c04c848ff2 |
EVERETT, Wash. — A search is underway for a missing submersible that carries people to view the wreckage of the Titanic. The submersible had five people on board when it was reported missing on Sunday.
The U.S. Coast Guard said that a search was underway Monday about 900 miles off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
Everett-based OceanGate Expeditions confirmed it owns the missing vessel. A submersible is different than a submarine. A submersible is ferried out to the location where it will go underwater, and it's able to resurface on its own, whereas a submarine is able to travel on its own power.
“We are exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely,” the company said in a statement to KING 5. “Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families.”
The family of British billionaire Hamish Harding said he was on board the vessel. Last year Harding rode a Blue Origin rocket to space.
Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said during a press conference that the submersible was reported missing Sunday afternoon after the surface team lost contact with it about an hour and 45 minutes into the mission.
The vessel is equipped to survive for 96 hours underwater.
One pilot and four mission specialists were on board the submersible. The mission specialists are civilians who go through training prior to the mission. Mauger could not confirm the identity of any of the people on board.
The Coast Guard launched an aerial search and coordinated with Canadian forces for additional assets. The Coast Guard deployed two C-130 aircraft to look for surface evidence of the submersible and are using sonic buoys and other technology to search below the surface. The search area is about 13,000 feet below the water's surface, Mauger said.
“It’s a remote area and it’s a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area,” Mauger said.
The Coast Guard is working on getting the capabilities for an underwater rescue out to the area.
Mauger said the Coast Guard has also been in touch with commercial fishing vessels in the area to look for the submersible.
In 2021, OceanGate Expeditions began what it expected to become an annual voyage to chronicle the deterioration of the iconic ocean liner that struck an iceberg and sank in 1912.
The company said at the time that in addition to archaeologists and marine biologists, the expeditions also would include roughly 40 paid tourists who would take turns operating sonar equipment and performing other tasks in the five-person submersible.
The initial group of tourists was funding the expedition by spending anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 apiece. The voyages are eight days long based out of Newfoundland. The company goes out on a support ship and the submersible goes on several missions down to the Titanic over the course of the expedition. Each one of the trips is between eight to ten hours.
The Associated Press contributed. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/search-underway-missing-submersible-titanic/281-ff3b67b3-1523-4ffc-a50d-75c349ef440e | 2023-06-20T00:51:02 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/search-underway-missing-submersible-titanic/281-ff3b67b3-1523-4ffc-a50d-75c349ef440e |
PORTLAND, Ore. — For the Portland metro area, Multnomah County and its board chair have an outsized influence. The county's population of 803,000 and its economic centrality make it a regional powerhouse — and the county chair is a powerful position for influencing policy, setting agendas and deciding budgets.
Last week, Multnomah County passed its first budget under the new county chair, Jessica Vega Pederson. It sounds huge: $3.5 billion. Regardless, it came with some disappointing outcomes for various stakeholders as local governments attempt to tighten their belts over the next year.
The Story's Pat Dooris had a chance to sit down and talk with Chair Vega Pederson on Tuesday to discuss the new budget and how she's attempting to address the county's homelessness problem.
In talking with Vega Pederson, Dooris learned something new almost immediately about how Multnomah County and the city of Portland interact. She explained that, for a long time, the county has been the de facto provider of the local community's social safety net. Meanwhile, Portland handles things like economic development, water, sewer and other utility services.
That's a big part of why the county is immersed, more so than the city, in social services — everything from the health department to the Joint Office of Homeless Services and more. And though Portland elected leaders have complained about the county's outsized influence on the local response to homelessness of late, that control also stems from this longstanding division of labor.
Over the coming year, JOHS will have a budget of $280 million. Within the last seven years, taxpayers will have spent more than $1 billion toward the joint office and the services it facilitates. But homelessness is as big an issue in Multnomah County as ever before.
The first part of Dooris' interview with Vega Pederson airs Monday on The Story. A transcript is available below, lightly edited for clarity.
Funding homeless services
Pat Dooris: What are you gonna do to solve our homeless issue?
Jessica Vega Pederson: I think the most important thing with the homeless crisis that we have right now is to make sure that we are all working together and we are working with all cylinders firing in order to address this issue ... and I will say that I don't believe that is something that's been happening before. And so when I came in here as the new chair, it was important to me that we do have that partnership, we do have the collaboration, you know, within the county — as we're functioning as one county — as we're talking to the city and really engaging with them in terms of how we need to be working together to solve this problem. And that goes similarly with our other Multnomah County cities, with Metro and with the state as well. So I think that is the priority that I had coming in. And that's what you see reflected in the budget and the decisions that we made there.
PD: And $265 million, I think, going to the (Joint Office of Homeless Services) ...
JVP: Yeah, there's about $280 million that goes to the homeless, to the Joint Office of Homeless Services. And that is made up of dollars from county general funds, city general funds, the Supportive Housing Services measure ... we have some state funds that are in there. So it's a real combination of all of those things. So I think our task in front of us this year is to make sure that we are investing in the right programs, the right infrastructure, the right investments in our providers to get those dollars out into the community, helping the people who need it the most.
PD: And is there anything that will be different this year that will be more effective? Because we're spending all this money and we still see the problem grow.
JVP: We have all this money, I think we need to do a better job of actually spending it. And I think we need to be investing it wisely in the places where we know it can make the biggest difference. So I think, in talking with providers, they've really highlighted strongly that we need to have more investment in wages for the people who are doing this frontline work. And that's absolutely true. And so we've made that commitment in my budget. We're also looking at some of the underspent supportive housing service measure dollars and how we can adjust that and work with some of our philanthropic partners to get that, you know, set of money out the door to help providers. And they could use it for wages, they could use it for technical assistance, they could use it for benefits, but really to make sure that we are, we are looking at that obstacle.
PD: Okay. But I can just hear some viewers screaming at their TV right now, saying the money is for the people who are on the streets to get them off the streets, that it's not for the homeless industrial complex.
JVP: Oh, well, you know, people who are living unsheltered outside, who are experiencing incredibly tough conditions ... oftentimes have substance use disorder or mental health issues, right? They need that help getting connected to services, they need that help getting connected to housing, and that's exactly what our providers are out there doing. But it's hard, it's been really hard to staff up — just like we talked about, you know, challenges in our health field. It's the same thing when somebody can get a warehouse job at Amazon and make more money than they can doing outreach to people who are living outside. That's a problem. So we wanna make sure that we're valuing the work that's happening.
Worker wages
About $1.5 million in the new budget is earmarked for nonprofits so that they can pay their outreach workers better wages. Dooris asked what the average pay is now for those workers, but was told that the county does not have that information handy.
So how does the county know that outreach workers need to be paid more if they don't know about their current wages?
A county spokesperson did say that a 3% cost of living increase was applied to each contract in order to cover better wages and the increased cost of doing business under relatively high levels of inflation.
In taking a closer look at Vega Pederson's claim regarding Amazon workers versus homeless outreach, the job site ZipRecruiter provided some data. As of June 12, the average pay in Portland for an Amazon warehouse job ranged from $18 to $21 an hour.
A posting on ZipRecruiter from the Salvation Army showed them offering a job in homeless outreach for $25 an hour. Catholic Charities offered $19 an hour. The Portland Rescue Mission advertised a range from $20 to $50.
The Portland Business Alliance — which recently announced a rebrand to the "Portland Metro Chamber," albeit still under the PBA umbrella — sent a letter signed by 64 organizations at the end of May to the chairs of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, declaring that low wages for nonprofit workers in the homeless services were a problem to be "urgently diagnosed and addressed," saying that it was slowing the work of addressing homelessness.
"If we do not ensure that they are able to pay living wages, and the employers do not receive prompt reimbursement to cover their costs, we will never offer the breadth and quality of services we must have to truly reduce homelessness in our community," the PBA said.
Where the buck stops
Dooris also asked about recent criticism from Commissioner Sharon Meieran, who ran against Vega Pederson for board chair and lost. Meieran told The Story that there is no overall plan for addressing homelessness in Multnomah County, little accountability and little coordination.
But Vega Pederson said that there is indeed a plan, and she's working to make it better.
Jessica Vega Pederson: This was a huge priority for me. So one of the things that I did in coming in, and this was also in response to just recognizing that there was serious underspending that was happening in terms of getting these dollars out the door (of the joint office) was to engage with some national leaders ... to come in and look at how are things set up internally at the joint office, how are things set up with our relationship with the partners and the work that's happening outside, and come up within 90 days with a plan of action that really provides all those details. So we have engaged with James Schroeder and Healthcare Management Associates to do this work. They've already started on the first phase where they're talking to folks in the joint office and in our provider community to really get that feedback. And then, like I said, in 90 days they're gonna come up with that plan of action to really (see) what we need to be doing to reduce these obstacles to set up the system that we need, so that we can go forward and meet those goals that everybody wants us to and get the impacts that everybody wants to see.
Pat Dooris: Yeah. Do you think there needs to be like a homeless czar, some person in charge of everything that can hold people accountable?
JVP: Well, that's Dan Field, right? Dan Field is now the new director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services. And really the joint office ... was set up to be that place, so that it wasn't just things that are happening in a silo, but that it could be done in cooperation and coordination with the city, the city of Portland, and their needs as well as Multnomah County. And because now we have the dollars from the SHS measure, it's also gonna be done in conjunction with Metro, right? So this is really the nexus, and his position is really the nexus, of making sure that all of these investments that are taking place are being done smartly, that are being done efficiently and that they're being done with accountability and transparency.
PD: Okay. And I just have a simple mind, so maybe this won't even be possible, but I'm thinking — and I've heard wonderful things about him, but it's not like he can go fire somebody in the city who's not carrying out their duties, right? Or even somebody in the county or somebody in the nonprofit world. And if there was a homeless czar, as I'm imagining it in my brain, that would be somebody who could be accountable and, you know, really enforce the accountability.
JVP: I don't know if people would say, "No person over here has the right to come into my organization and fire somebody." ... But that's why it's important to have that collaboration with our partners, right? So, and I will say that that Dan Field reports to me, but his hiring was done in partnership with Mayor Wheeler. We just had a meeting this Monday with me and the mayor, you know, and talking to Dan. So we're doing a lot of things in partnership around that because we know people need to be accountable. We know we need to have the city performing in, you know, developing the housing that we need and building the housing so that we can use the long-term rental assistance to get people stabilized into housing. We need to be working together on all of these things. So that partnership and that kind of work is happening. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/multnomah-county-chair-jessica-vega-pederson-homeless-interview/283-5337b21c-e9f9-46ee-9f64-86aacbe0e95f | 2023-06-20T00:51:09 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/multnomah-county-chair-jessica-vega-pederson-homeless-interview/283-5337b21c-e9f9-46ee-9f64-86aacbe0e95f |
PORTLAND, Ore. — In a Multnomah County court last week, jurors delivered a major verdict against northwest utility company Pacific Power for its role in starting massive wildfires over the 2020 Labor Day weekend.
The jury awarded $73 million in damages to the 17 named plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, covering both the value of property lost and the plaintiffs' pain and suffering.
On top of that, the jury awarded another $18 million in punitive damages to the named plaintiffs — likely just the beginning of those punitive awards. The jury determined that punitive damages should also be awarded to the wider class, meaning other people affected by the fires who are not named in the lawsuit. That could include thousands of other wildfire survivors, potentially pushing total damages into the billions of dollars.
But those wildfire survivors will likely be able to keep very little, if any, of the punitive damages awarded. Instead, most will go to the state of Oregon, the federal government and the plaintiffs' attorneys.
Punitive damages fall under Oregon state law ORS 31.735, "Distribution of punitive damages." Under that law, 30% is payable to the person who wins the case, and they pay attorneys out of that share. The lion's share, 60%, is payable to the Oregon Attorney General's office for the "Criminal Injuries Compensation Account." The final 10% goes to help fund the state court system.
After that, the federal Internal Revenue Service gets involved. If, hypothetically speaking, a wildfire survivor gets to keep 30% of their share and needed to pay half of that to their attorneys, they end up with just 15% of "their" punitive damages. Under federal tax code, those funds then become part of the survivor's gross income for the year, becoming taxable by the IRS. After taxes, the survivor may not be keeping a dime.
One veteran lawyer in Portland told The Story that they often don't mention punitive damages during smaller civil lawsuits. They don't want to give the jury the impression that they will be doling out money to the plaintiffs via punitive damages, when most of those funds up going to the government.
Meanwhile, there's the potential that Pacific Power's considerable liability will end up getting pushed upon customers.
PacifiCorp, the utility's parent company, submitted a filing last week asking regulators to defer the costs associated with the lawsuit until a later date. They claim it's a preventative measure for "financial stability." But if approved, the request would potentially give the company the option to pass off the cost of those damages to ratepayers.
The company said that the initial $90 million it owes after the verdict is the result of "unique and unforeseen circumstances outside of the Company's reasonable control."
The Oregon Public Utility Commission will have to decide if PacifiCorp's request is appropriate — and if so, how much money could conceivably be passed on to customers.
A spokesperson for the commission said next steps for the filing have not been determined, and it could be months or years to make a decision. The full scope of Pacific Power's financial liability in the case is still unknown while the jury determines how much the company owes in damages for the entire class.
After the initial verdict came down, Pacific Power released a statement vowing to file an appeal — a prospect that could likewise extend the timeline.
"We are proud to have told the story of our incredible employees, who meet the call to service every day in support of our communities and customers and did so in the face of the preexisting, lightning caused Beachie Creek fire that roared into the Santiam Canyon causing widespread damage that weekend," Pacific Power said in part. "The company plans to pursue appeals, and we are confident we will prevail." | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/pacific-power-wildfire-lawsuit-punitive-damages/283-9a04ab7c-20f2-4b8e-941a-eba36635337a | 2023-06-20T00:51:15 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/pacific-power-wildfire-lawsuit-punitive-damages/283-9a04ab7c-20f2-4b8e-941a-eba36635337a |
LGBTQ Alliance of Petoskey celebrates Pride month
PETOSKEY — Members of the LGBTQ Alliance of Petoskey, allies and community members from across Northern Michigan came together in downtown Petoskey on Sunday to celebrate Pride month.
The evening began with the alliance’s fifth annual Flag Party in Pennsylvania Park. People gathered with their own rainbow and various LGBTQ+ flags or picked some up from the alliance. Many people wore costumes and carried signs to take part in the event.
More:PHOTOS: Petoskey Pride March 2023
Following the Flag Party, the group marched from Pennsylvania Park through downtown Petoskey to the People’s Corner at the corner of U.S. 31 and Mitchell Street. The spot is a popular demonstration spot in the community.
The group stopped at the People's Corner to dance, wave at passing traffic and celebrate Pride month together.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/lgbtq-alliance-of-petoskey-celebrates-pride-month/70327143007/ | 2023-06-20T00:58:39 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/lgbtq-alliance-of-petoskey-celebrates-pride-month/70327143007/ |
The search for a missing boy ended in tragedy when the child was found dead in a pond in Bucks County Monday night.
Police responded to a pond at Vaux and Hickory roads in New Britain Borough, Pennsylvania, at 5:52 p.m. for a report of a missing 9-year-old boy. When police arrived they spotted the boy’s bicycle with a fishing pole next to it but couldn’t find the child.
A dive team from the Point Pleasant Fire Department then arrived at the pond and found the boy within a few minutes. The child was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m.
Police have not yet released the boy’s identity.
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“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this traumatic time. We extend our thanks to the Doylestown Fire Department, Central Bucks Ambulance, the Bucks County Special Operations Drone Team and the Point Pleasant Fire Department Dive Team,” a spokesperson with the Central Bucks Regional Police Department wrote.
Anyone who may have seen the boy at the pond or has more information on the incident should call Captain Robert Milligan at 215-345-4143 or submit an anonymous tip to the Bucks County Crime Watch. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/boy-found-dead-in-pond-on-bucks-county/3588598/ | 2023-06-20T01:07:22 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/boy-found-dead-in-pond-on-bucks-county/3588598/ |
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EAST CHICAGO — The leader of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus marked the federal Juneteenth holiday Monday by reminding Hoosiers that the day notice of emancipation made it to Texas not only was a pivotal moment in Black history, but American history.
Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said Juneteenth is a solemn reminder that the long-told story that all slaves were freed when the Emancipation Proclamation took effect Jan. 1, 1863, was not a universal experience across the country — especially in those states engaged in rebellion against the Union.
"We cannot tell the full story of the United States without discussing the sin of slavery and the institution's long-lasting impacts on African Americans," he said.
"Juneteenth is important, because it reminds us of what we came through, what we have achieved and the progress that still needs to be made."
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Juneteenth takes place every year on June 19 so here is what you need to know.
Harris, a four-term state lawmaker who identifies as Black and Latino, was elected last year as chairman of the Statehouse organization comprised of 15 minority lawmakers serving in the Indiana House and Senate.
He said the recent legislative output of the General Assembly, including attempts to limit the scope of American history courses and encouraging restrictions on school library materials, are prime examples of the need for Juneteenth, which is not designated as a state holiday.
"From innovations in health and medicine to outstanding contributions to arts and culture, African Americans have helped shape this country from its founding," Harris said. "It's critically important that we remember this, just as it's important that we remember the long road to freedom African Americans have trod to get where we are today."
Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation
State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond
State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond
1st House District
Represents: Hammond, Whiting
Experience: State representative since 2018; retired Cook County, Ill., probation officer
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Family, Children and Human Affairs; Natural Resources
Provided
State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago
State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago
2nd House District
Represents: East Chicago, Gary (west side), Hammond (east side)
Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Government and Regulatory Reform; Roads and Transportation (ranking member); Ways and Means
Provided
State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary
State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary
3rd House District
Represents: Gary (downtown and east side), Hobart, Lake Station, New Chicago
Experience: State representative since 2018; attorney
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development (ranking member); Courts and Criminal Code; Government and Regulatory Reform
Provided
State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso
State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso
4th House District
Represents: Valparaiso, Kouts
Experience: State representative since 2006; aviation safety consultant
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Roads and Transportation; Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications (chairman)
Provided
State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City
State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City
9th House District
Represents: Michigan City, Beverly Shores, Chesterton, Long Beach
Experience: State representative since 2018; retired small business owner
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Environmental Affairs; Natural Resources (ranking member)
Provided
State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage
State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage
10th House District
Represents: Portage, Burns Harbor, Dune Acres, Ogden Dunes, Porter, South Haven
Experience: State representative since 2008; financial solutions associate
Committees: Employment, Labor and Pensions; Financial Institutions; Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
Provided
State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
11th House District
Represents: Hebron, Cedar Lake, DeMotte, Lowell, Morocco, Roselawn, Schneider
Experience: State representative since 2014; farmer, former state environmental regulator
Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development (chairman); Courts and Criminal Code; Environmental Affairs
Provided
State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster
State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster
12th House District
Represents: Munster, Griffith, Highland
Experience: State representative since 2020; small businessman
Committees: Financial Institutions (ranking member); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety; Ways and Means
Provided
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary
14th House District
Represents: Gary (south side), Merrillville, unincorporated Calumet Township
Experience: State representative since 1990; education professor at Indiana University Northwest
Committees: Education (ranking member); Financial Institutions; Local Government
Provided
State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville
State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville
15th House District
Represents: Dyer, Schererville, St. John
Experience: State representative 2012-18, reelected 2020; small business owner
Committees: Financial Institutions; Rules and Legislative Procedures; Ways and Means
Provided
State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer
State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer
16th House District
Represents: Rensselaer, Knox
Experience: State representative since 2022; farmer
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Environmental Affairs (vice chairman); Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications
Provided
State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point
State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point
19th House District
Represents: Crown Point, Hobart, Lakes of the Four Seasons, Wheeler, Winfield
Experience: State representative 2014-2018, reelected 2020; small business owner
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development (vice chairwoman); Family, Children and Human Affairs; Rules and Legislative Procedures
Provided
State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
20th House District
Represents: LaPorte
Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Government and Regulatory Reform; Roads and Transportation (chairman)
Provided
State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland
State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland
1st Senate District
Represents: Highland, Dyer, Griffith, Merrillville, St. John, Schererville
Experience: State senator since 2022; project manager
Committees: Education and Career Development; Environmental Affairs; Local Government; Pensions and Labor
Provided
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago
2nd Senate District
Represents: East Chicago, Hammond, Munster, Whiting
Experience: State senator since 2008, previously served 1994-98; attorney
Committees: Appropriations; Ethics (vice chairman); Insurance and Financial Institutions (ranking member); Judiciary (ranking member); Tax and Fiscal Policy
Provided
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary
3rd Senate District
Represents: Gary, Hobart, Lake Station, Merrillville, New Chicago
Experience: State senator since 2016; community relations manager
Committees: Appropriations (ranking member); Health and Provider Services; Public Policy; Tax and Fiscal Policy
Provided
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton
4th Senate District
Represents: Chesterton, Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Michigan City, Portage
Experience: State senator since 2021; attorney
Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law (ranking member); Ethics; Judiciary; Local Government (ranking member); Pensions and Labor; Rules and Legislative Procedure
Provided
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
5th Senate District
Represents: Valparaiso, Hebron, Jasper County, Wheeler
Experience: State senator since 2007; attorney
Committees: Appropriations; Health and Provider Services (chairman); Rules and Legislative Procedure; Tax and Fiscal Policy
Provided
State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell
State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell
6th Senate District
Represents: Lowell, Cedar Lake, Crown Point, DeMotte, Winfield
Experience: State senator since 2014, state representative 2012-14; small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs (chairman); Judiciary; Local Government; Tax and Fiscal Policy
Provided
State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
8th Senate District
Represents: LaPorte County
Experience: State senator since 2016; consultant
Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law; Health and Provider Services; Local Government
Provided
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/government-politics/region-lawmaker-identifies-juneteenth-as-pivotal-moment-in-us-history/article_8b98c610-0eb1-11ee-b908-1731ee8ba49e.html | 2023-06-20T01:07:29 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/government-politics/region-lawmaker-identifies-juneteenth-as-pivotal-moment-in-us-history/article_8b98c610-0eb1-11ee-b908-1731ee8ba49e.html |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/real-estate-experts-share-recent-trends-at-the-jersey-shore/3588532/ | 2023-06-20T01:07:34 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/real-estate-experts-share-recent-trends-at-the-jersey-shore/3588532/ |
LAPORTE — Glycerin Traders caught fire around 5 p.m. Monday, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff's office.
The facility, 3522 State Rd. 104, has some interior damage, but the structure is standing, Capt. Derek Allen said. No employees were injured.
Glycerin Traders specializes in trading various grades of glycerin, vegetable and animal fat, according to its website.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail
Eric Williams
Joseph Hyduk
Keith Thatcher
Brandon Summerlin
John Heath Jr.
Nicholas Lee
Roman Ruiz
Antonio Gray
John Isbell
Rickey Gurley Sr.
Jeremy O'Neal
Keith Davis
James Saunders II
Daniel Young
Travis Kelly
Garrett Butts
Jason O'Neil
Eric Hacker
Daniel Keeling
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte/glycerin-traders-catches-fire-in-laporte/article_949c6768-0ef1-11ee-971d-0fc5dcf4a08d.html | 2023-06-20T01:07:35 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte/glycerin-traders-catches-fire-in-laporte/article_949c6768-0ef1-11ee-971d-0fc5dcf4a08d.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Loony Bin Comedy Club announced on Facebook Monday that it is closing after 23 years.
Farewell, Wichita! The Loony Bin Comedy Club bids adieu after 23 unforgettable years. We’ve shared laughter, tears, and countless memories with this incredible city.
Our last shows will be on July 15, 2023, with Steven Rogers. We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our journey. From our talented comedians to our dedicated staff, and most importantly, to our beloved customers, you have made this place truly special.
Throughout the years, you’ve walked through our doors, ready to embrace laughter and escape the mundane. We’ve shared innumerable moments of pure joy, where laughter filled the air, and worries were left at the entrance.
We’ve cherished every smile, every applause, and every belly laugh that echoed through these walls. Our mission has always been to bring joy, to uplift spirits, and to create a space where people can feel safe and connect through laughter.
Wichita, you’ve embraced us with open arms, and we’ve been honored to call this city our home. Your unwavering support and enthusiasm have fueled our passion for comedy, and we will forever be grateful for that.
Though this chapter is coming to an end, the memories we’ve created together will last a lifetime. The Loony Bin Comedy Club may be closing its doors, but the laughter will always live on in our hearts.
Thank you, Wichita, for letting us be a part of your story. We cherish the laughter-filled moments we’ve shared with each, and every one of you. As we bid farewell, we encourage you to continue seeking laughter wherever you go.
Remember, laughter is a universal language that connects us all, and it has the power to brighten even the darkest of days. So, keep smiling, keep laughing, and keep spreading joy to the world!
With love and gratitude, The Loony Bin Comedy Club, Wichita “
The Loony Bin Comedy Club, Wichita
To view The Loony Bin’s remaining schedule, click here. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/the-loony-bin-comedy-club-closing-after-23-years/ | 2023-06-20T01:11:56 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/the-loony-bin-comedy-club-closing-after-23-years/ |
GODDARD, Kan. (KSNW) — Three people have been injured in a crash north of Goddard Monday evening.
According to Sedgwick County dispatch, they received a call around 7 p.m. for the report of a crash involving two vehicles near the intersection of S 199th St W and W 6th St S.
Dispatch confirms that one person has critical injuries, another has serious injuries and a third received minor injuries.
KSN has a crew headed to the scene. We will provide more information as it becomes available. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/three-injured-in-crash-north-of-goddard/ | 2023-06-20T01:12:02 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/three-injured-in-crash-north-of-goddard/ |
WELLINGTON, Kan. (KSNW) — Until further notice, the City of Wellington is continuing to prohibit water activities at Wellington Lake due to an algae bloom.
“KDHE has advised that the test results for a hazardous algae bloom at Wellington Lake show high cell counts, but the toxin levels fall below the detectable level,” the City says. “Due to the high cell count, they have placed Wellington Lake under a warning status.”
The City of Wellington has placed several signs around the lake advising the public of the presence of the algae.
Wellington says the City Water Production Department continues to monitor the situation and work with the State in case there is a need to adjust the treatment process to ensure safe drinking water.
At this point, the City says there have been no recommended changes needed to the treatment process. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wellington-lake-continues-to-prohibit-water-activities-due-to-algae-bloom/ | 2023-06-20T01:12:08 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wellington-lake-continues-to-prohibit-water-activities-due-to-algae-bloom/ |
MOSCOW, Idaho — The target is on the table for the University of Idaho, as they hope to make a deal to affiliate with the University of Phoenix to improve access to education around Idaho.
The University of Idaho said the purchase would be financed through non-taxable and taxable bonds through a new non-profit organization setup to manage assets of the University of Phoenix.
Idaho lawmakers have major questions about the deal.
“We see that this transaction has potential, but we also see that it has risk. And as elected representatives, we on this committee specifically have the duty of fiscal oversight of the taxpayer's money,” said lawmaker, Rep. Wendy Horman.
Rep. Wendy Horman is one of the leaders on Idaho’s budgeting committee, JFAC. The committee met Friday to ask questions to U of I and State Board leaders.
“We want to trust, but we must verify. And if we can't verify, we can't trust," Horman said. "So, we want to ensure that this deal is constitutional, legal, financially sound and that Idaho taxpayers will not pay the price if the deal does go awry.”
If the deal does go awry, University of Idaho President Scott Green said U of I is agreeing to guarantee up to $10 million annually to cover payments if the non-profit they setup to manage the project cannot cover funds. However, advocates for the U of I deal said they aren’t concerned, due to the University of Phoenix’s documented ability to generate substantial cash flow.
A hang up for lawmakers centers around the non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, that U of I and State Board leaders signed preventing them from sharing details of the deal and projections of the operations.
“I fully recognize that the way this transaction was conducted was not ideal and probably was not my preference. But as those of you who work in business know, sometimes we have to play the cards that were dealt and make compromises to reach agreements to get done," Green said. "This transaction came to us very recently. We quickly identified the transaction and we put together a team of the best and brightest experts out there.”
Lawmakers expressed that they understood the principal of the NDAs; however, they still questioned how they and the public are supposed to understand the deal and the risks associated with it without access to more information. President Green explained that the NDA benefits University of Idaho as the buyer as well.
“On the buyer's side. What it enables us to do is go in and take a look at the books and records at a detailed level as detailed questions assess for ourselves the risk involved, and get our experts, which we have world class experts here, the best in the business to take a look at that and determine, okay, what are the risks,” Green said.
Lawmakers asked questions about the deal and the risks surrounding it for roughly two hours. U of I and State Board leaders essentially explained that public money was only at risk in a worst-case scenario - something leaders concede is highly unlikely but still a risk. Some lawmakers are hoping and asking if the NDA can be dropped ahead of the deal closure.
“This transaction is not done until it's closed. And in the meantime, that competitive information could get out into the marketplace and to their competitors," Green said. "So, I'm just saying, I just don't see them doing that. You know, it's unfortunate, but it's kind of, where it is. And that's kind of the way business is done.”
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- Still reading this list? We're on YouTube, too | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/208/idaho-lawmakers-university-idaho-affiliate-university-of-phoenix/277-0c443532-4f1a-44d5-aae7-70857a3cf8f2 | 2023-06-20T01:12:19 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/208/idaho-lawmakers-university-idaho-affiliate-university-of-phoenix/277-0c443532-4f1a-44d5-aae7-70857a3cf8f2 |
CALDWELL, Idaho — The Caldwell Police Department (CPD) is hosting its 15th annual Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training at the Gem State Adventist Academy and CPD Range throughout the week.
This training is the only Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certified SWAT school in the state; it draws officers from all around the Gem State as result.
KTVB saw squad cars representing the Pocatello Police Department, Rupert Police Department, McCall Police Department, Payette Police Department, Payette County Sheriff, and the Cassia County Sheriff. An officer from the Boise Police Department and Veteran Affairs is also at the training, according to CPD.
The training focuses on repetition and muscle memory - repeating tasks including clearing hallways and doors - to allow officers to focus on their surroundings and the situation at hand.
"So, we go through safety priorities," CPD Cpl. Jesse Cooper said. "Safety priorities are hostages, innocence, police, and suspects. And when you have hostages, we don't have time to react. You have to start making decisions in order to save someone's life because someone's life is in jeopardy."
Idaho does not have full-time SWAT teams, according to CPD Training Officer Robert Heaton. As result, patrol officers are likely to be one of the first people on scene in a potential standoff or hostage situation.
Equipping these officers with the skills to contain these situations is necessary.
"It's come in handy for some very, very bad situations we've had here in Caldwell. They basically don't make the news because we handle it so fast," Heaton said. "I'm proud of it."
Officers are required to take a legal class through this training, Cooper said. The three-hour session instructs officers when SWAT can be activated, what tactics they use, and different public perceptions of the unit.
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See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-caldwell-police-host-only-post-certified-swat-school-in-the-state/277-4f9f5c4c-e11f-4552-9ce2-903118ffe990 | 2023-06-20T01:12:25 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-caldwell-police-host-only-post-certified-swat-school-in-the-state/277-4f9f5c4c-e11f-4552-9ce2-903118ffe990 |
The deaths of a man and a woman who were found in a Huntertown home remained under investigation Monday.
Police responded Sunday to the home in the 12000 block of Shearwater Run after someone reported people in need of medical assistance.
The pair had apparent injuries. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Sgt. Adam Griffith with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that investigators don’t believe a threat continues to exist in the Huntertown community.
The county coroner’s office typically conducts autopsies and releases the identities of the deceased along with the cause and manner of death. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/2-huntertown-deaths-remain-under-investigation/article_69831ab2-0ed4-11ee-a303-d3d1de97d481.html | 2023-06-20T01:14:37 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/2-huntertown-deaths-remain-under-investigation/article_69831ab2-0ed4-11ee-a303-d3d1de97d481.html |
Indiana Medicaid Director Allison Taylor will resign later this summer after eight years with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
Cora Steinmetz will be the next director of Indiana Medicaid, said Dr. Dan Rusyniak, secretary for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
Taylor’s tenure with the state includes six years leading the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning through historic changes and events.
“Allison has led Medicaid through its most transformative time,” Rusyniak said in a statemtn. “The positive impact she has made will benefit Hoosiers for decades to come. We will miss her.”
Taylor first served as general counsel of FSSA and then became Indiana Medicaid director in 2017. She was also selected among her peers nationwide to serve as president of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
“Allison served with great distinction as president of the NAMD Board of Directors, elevating states’ best practices and liaising with federal partners,” said Kate McEvoy NAMD executive director.
“The Indiana Medicaid team is unlike any in this nation, moving mountains to serve Hoosiers, and I will enthusiastically work to ensure a smooth and successful transition,” Taylor said. “This work has been the honor of a lifetime.”
The Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning’s achievements under Taylor’s leadership include Indiana receiving a first-of-its-kind, 10-year renewal for the Healthy Indiana Plan and expansion of multiple services.
Other accomplishments include:
A multi-pronged effort was launched to reform long-term services and supports founded on industry-leading Medicare integration
• Telehealth services were expanded for Hoosiers
A Medicaid provider reimbursement rate matrix was established to ensure a sustainable, predictable reimbursement structure going forward
Substance use disorder and serious mental illness treatments were expanded and a continuum built for better behavioral care delivery
Indiana became a national leader in managed care alignment, compliance and oversight
“We focus every day on serving Hoosiers and helping them live their best lives, in fully integrated communities,” Taylor said. “During the pandemic, Medicaid flexed and did what it does best – served individuals and communities in need.”
The executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors commended Taylor’s service.
“Allison served with great distinction as president of the NAMD Board of Directors, elevating states’ best practices and liaising with federal partners,” Kate McEvoy said.
Steinmetz and Taylor will work during the weeks ahead for a smooth transition, the news release said. It did not provide a specific date for the leadership change, but Rusyniak is optimistic.
“No leader is better positioned to continue this important work than Cora Steinmetz,” Rusyniak said. “Her knowledge of Medicaid finance, policy and regulation combined with her communication and team management skills will assure that the critical work we are doing seamlessly continues.”
Steinmetz has been Gov. Holcomb’s senior operations director for health-related state agencies, including FSSA, Department of Child Services and Indiana Department of Health, since 2021. She has been deeply involved in developing policy and strategy and guiding the state’s work related to the Governor’s Public Health Commission, the long-term services and supports reform, the delivery of mental health services and the evolution of early childhood learning services.
“I am deeply grateful for my time in Governor Holcomb’s office and the faith he and Dr. Rusyniak are placing in me as I move into the Medicaid director role,” Steinmetz said. “Over the last two years, I have been fortunate to work side-by-side with the Medicaid team and other agency leaders on a number of key health strategies and initiatives. This has given me a firsthand view of the incredible impact this team has on our state and I look forward to continuing the important work underway.”
Steinmetz, a licensed attorney, previously worked as a program director for government programs and revenue cycle compliance for Indiana University Health and was an attorney for the Indiana Department of Revenue and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. She is also a board member for Music for All, a national organization focused on music education. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/state-announces-leadership-change-for-medicaid-office/article_71fc46aa-0eed-11ee-9349-63d96ac57712.html | 2023-06-20T01:14:43 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/state-announces-leadership-change-for-medicaid-office/article_71fc46aa-0eed-11ee-9349-63d96ac57712.html |
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — To say Rani Slater is a San Francisco 49ers fan is an understatement. The walls of her room are plastered in scarlet and gold, her closet stuffed to the brim with customized 49ers gear and her prized possessions include a number of autographed footballs and jerseys.
She hands cards out to everyone she meets. Her title on them? "San Francisco 49ers Biggest Fan."
Ask her about any player, past or present, she'll likely give you his stats and tell you in detail about the best play he ever made.
"Why do you like them?" asked ABC10 Investigative Reporter Andie Judson.
"Because they like winning games!" said Slater.
But those in charge of her life have no idea about her biggest passion. She's conserved by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
DDS doesn't know a lot of things about Slater, like the fact her teeth are literally rotting.
"I just want to get this taken care of. I want it taken care of," she said. "I don't want to get another one pulled."
Her teeth have decayed so badly it's difficult to eat.
Since she's conserved, every aspect of her life, from what she eats, where she lives and all decisions about her health, including dental, are in the hands of someone else: The Department of Developmental Services.
DDS is a huge state agency with a $14 billion budget, funded by taxpayers. The agency was formed after the Lanterman Act was passed in 1969 and is required, by law, to make sure Californians with developmental disabilities have equal rights and opportunities.
"My daughters were on a defective baby formula when they were born," said Robin Gage, Rani's mother.
Rani and her twin sister, Danielle, were two of thousands of children with developmental disabilities due to the formula, Neo-Mull-Soy, they drank as infants.
"We started having issues with them... they're not holding their heads up, they're not crawling," Robin recalled. "I told my mom, 'Something is wrong.' They didn't walk until they were two years and two months old. So I immediately thought, 'What agency can I go to?' I didn't know what Alta Regional was."
She learned DDS funds and oversees 21 regional centers across California.
These centers fulfill DDS' responsibilities by providing services and supports to those with disabilities as well as their families. These services vary greatly depending on the client's needs, but can range from in-home caregiving to speech therapy and even transportation.
The center in Sacramento is called Alta Regional Center.
"That's how we got started with Alta Regional," Robin recalled.
Alta provided Robin with services to support her in raising her daughters.
"(Rani is over 40) but she's still got the mind of a 15-year-old," said Robin.
As they grew, Robin fought to get her twins justice from the baby formula company, Syntex Corporation.
"Well it took, oh my God, 12 years to get a settlement. They had until their 19th birthday to settle. It wasn't a lot either," said Robin.
By the time they settled, Rani and her sister were 25. The net settlement amount was $34,997.28. Each twin received $17,498.64, court documents show.
But Robin still cared for them, including financially.
"Their lawyer said, 'We can't give you the money. It's going to be put in the bank for them. You're going to need to get conservatorship in order to get access to this money for them,'" said Robin.
Parents are often told to get conservatorship as their child approaches age 18 because many with developmental disabilities are not able to handle aspects of adult life, like medical or financial decisions.
But as Robin took the steps to get conservatorship, she was shocked to find she was not the only one trying to conserve her own daughters.
"All of the sudden, I'm hearing from DDS - the Department of Developmental Services. They start getting conservatorship — once I filed my conservatorship (petition), all the sudden they're on board," said Robin. "I'm like, 'You weren't interested in getting conservatorship when they were 18.'"
ABC10 has investigated conservatorships and the Department of Developmental Services for over three years now as part of our ongoing investigation, The Price of Care. Our investigation is credited for getting first-of-its-kind legislation passed and forcing reform within DDS' conservatorship process.
DDS swooping in to compete against parents for conservatorship is a pattern our reporting has found over and over again.
As of May 2023, DDS conserves 395 individuals, according to data provided from public records requests.
The agency often seeks conservatorship when there's allegations of abuse. For Robin, court documents show DDS claimed she was using her daughter's funds inappropriately. Robin says this is false.
"I had a lawyer. (We) went in and they started bringing up a lot of things that were not true, no evidence," said Robin.
Robin isn't the only one to feel like she was deemed guilty before being proven otherwise. Other parents featured in our ongoing investigation had the same experience.
"Court appointed investigator never interviewed us. Still hasn't in three years," said Deborah Findley, whose son Andrew is conserved by DDS. "We never got due process."
"There is no evidence," said Jill Schutte, whose son Garth is conserved by DDS. "They will not find evidence of abuse of Garth."
DDS pursued and was granted conservatorship for both Findley and Schutte's case, like Robin's, after they sought conservatorship themselves.
In cases our investigation looked at, DDS was not able to prove allegations of abuse they brought up when seeking conservatorship.
"They accused me of spending their SSI money on vacations," said Robin. "I was working. I had money to pay for everything I wanted. What proof do you have?"
Robin asks if she was truly financially abusive, wouldn't DDS have tried to conserve her kids when they turned 18 and not seven years later?
"All of the sudden they have a settlement and you want to jump on this?" asked Robin.
As for how the settlement money was spent, court documents show it was not on Rani or Danielle.
"The probate lawyers kept nickel and diming the account until it was gone," said Robin.
DDS got conservatorship even after Rani and her sister said they wanted their mother to be their conservators, court documents show.
"The judge just said, 'Give it to DDS,'" Robin said. "I was upset. I'm like, 'I don't want them making health care decisions, where they live, all that stuff.' They're capable of telling me what they want."
Today, Rani and her sister have been conserved by DDS for 20 years.
"DDS... I've never heard from them at all since she got conserved," said Robin. "They've never been over here, ever."
"I don't know anybody at DDS," said Rani.
Unlike other cases we've investigated, where DDS moves the person once they obtain conservatorship and often cuts off contact from family members, Rani still lives at home with her mom who handles her day-to-day care.
However, her sister has been moved to a supported living home. Rani and her still have visits, albeit DDS stopped them for over two years during COVID.
Even though DDS is legally their conservator, the agency hands the responsibilities of conservatorship down to their regional centers.
Which means Alta Regional Center is in charge of Rani and her sister's care, including medical needs. Their mom says Alta has not been there or taken care of them in any way.
"They just want ultimate control and ultimate power when they don't live here for the everyday stuff," said Robin. "You're not here in this house. You don't know what's going on."
When Rani has medical needs, like an eye surgery in 2017, Alta had an astounding delay in getting her care.
"It took three years to get them to approve the surgery," said Robin.
In 2022, her bottom teeth began having issues. When Robin contacted Alta Regional Center for help...
"Nothing. Nothing. I have to keep writing them about every other week, 'What's going on with the dental?'" said Robin.
Emails between Robin and Alta Regional Center staff obtained by ABC10 show Robin asking repeatedly about Rani's teeth for over a year. Emails date back to Feb. 2022.
The following are excerpts from emails she sent to Alta:
- Feb. 21, 2022: "Rani needs two root canals."
- April 8, 2022: "Can I get an update on Rani's dental work?"
- May 24, 2022: "She has already lost one tooth in the front. If she loses these other teeth in the front, she won't be able to bite anything."
- July 14, 2022: "Rani's teeth are hurting her. When can she get into see the dentist?"
Despite not being her conservator, Robin takes Rani to dentist appointments. Because Alta needs approval from Medi-Cal, they had to go to multiple appointments to get several estimates.
As of the start of May 2023, over a year later, Rani's teeth have not been fixed. Robin's emails and requests for help have been met with red tape and excuses.
In emails obtained by ABC10, Alta said multiple times they're waiting on a response from Medi-Cal, that they "haven't been able to obtain approval," and even admitted they're "not making much headway" in getting funds for the treatment.
"(It's been going on for) 19 months," Robin said during her interview with ABC10 in March.
Because Alta has done nothing, Rani's teeth have gotten much worse.
"They had to pull three teeth on the bottom and she's getting ready to probably lose another one if I don't get her in and get that one fixed," said Robin. "If that tooth gets pulled, it'll be four on the bottom she won't have. How is she going to eat?"
DDS conserved Rani saying it was in her "best interest" and under their mother's care her and her sister were "not reaching" their potential, court documents show. If you ask Rani, she says otherwise.
"Alta Regional is not doing their job," said Rani. "DDS is not doing their job."
Unfortunately, Rani isn't alone.
Our investigation found a number of cases where DDS has failed conservatees and their health has suffered under their care. Yet, year after year, DDS' budget - funded by taxpayer dollars grows.
"It's neglect," said Robin. "I know [DDS] has funds for this."
DDS' 2022-2023 budget is over $12 billion. Their 2023-2024 budget is projected to increase to over $14 billion. A large portion of that money goes to each regional center.
For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, Alta has a budget of $805,256,565, according to public record requests ABC10 filed.
ABC10 requested an on-camera interview with Alta Regional Center as well as DDS multiple times. When they declined, ABC10 sent them a detailed letter of our findings and what we would be reporting, as well as re-requesting an interview.
Alta declined saying "information relating to our client's regional center intake, assessment and services is confidential and protected from disclosure pursuant to the Lanterman Act (and HIPPA)."
They also said as Rani's conservator, Alta "does not believe it would be in the client's best interests to have their private information released to the public."
DDS also responded, declining our interview request, but saying they are "deeply concerned by this situation" and the "described delays in receiving dental care are not acceptable and we are working with our partners to resolve any issues related to accessing care."
Both Alta and DDS' full statements are available at the bottom of this article.
After ABC10 began investigating in mid-May, well over a year after concerns were first expressed about her teeth, Rani finally got root canals. But Robin says because so much time passed before the dental care she needed was given, Rani now needs more work, like a bridge between her teeth that have been pulled.
It's especially frustrating for Rani given when we asked what her favorite part of watching sports is...
"The food!" Rani said, smiling.
It's why her and Robin's message to Rani's conservator is simple: "Do your job."
WATCH MORE:
Full statements:
The Department of Developmental Services:
We are deeply concerned by this situation involving an individual under a DDS limited conservatorship with Alta California Regional Center (Alta). The described delays in receiving dental care are not acceptable and we are working with our partners to resolve any issues related to accessing care.
While we cannot comment on the specifics of a person’s medical or dental treatment due to privacy laws, we have followed up with the regional center to confirm the individual named is getting the care needed.
We are actively looking for opportunities to improve coordination and remove barriers for the individuals we serve. Recognizing the challenges in navigating dental services and coordination with primary medical care, California has invested resources to support a dental coordinator at each regional center. Alta’s current dental coordinator started in March 2023 which was instrumental in navigating access to dental services and coordinated the needed services between both health and dental providers.
During the past year, DDS examined all aspects of its limited conservatorship program. This included convening a panel of national experts to provide recommendations for improved oversight. These recommendations remain a priority and are actively being implemented.
We remain committed to continually examining and improving how services and supports are provided that are person-centered to Californians who have intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Alta Regional Center:
We have received your request for an on-camera interview with Alta California Regional Center (ACRC) regarding allegations concerning an ACRC client who is conserved by the Director of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
ACRC is declining your interview request because information relating to our client's regional center intake, assessment and services is confidential and protected from disclosure pursuant to the Lanterman Act (at Welfare and Institutions Code section 4514), as well as under HIPAA as Protected Health Infonnation. As such, we cannot share information about our client with third pa1iies such as the press or members of the general public without the client's w1itten consent or that of their conservator. And ACRC, acting as the client's conservator, does not believe it would be in the client's best interests to have their p1ivate infonnation released to the public.
We do want to note that all California conservatorships are overseen by the county superior court in which the conservatorship petition was filed, which is required to periodically investigate and review the conservatorship for the protection of the conservatee. (Prob. Code§§ 1850-1853.) Any individual who believes that a conservator is not acting in the best interests of the conservatee may report their concerns to the probate court for potential investigation and review by the comi. (Prob. Code§ 1850(b).) | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/conservator-neglect-state-agency-delayed-health-care-woman-developmental-disability/103-5f3e3927-4aed-4b60-8818-ee4333afb4e1 | 2023-06-20T01:21:47 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/conservator-neglect-state-agency-delayed-health-care-woman-developmental-disability/103-5f3e3927-4aed-4b60-8818-ee4333afb4e1 |
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Sacramento County Planning and Environmental Review staff are discussing a potential zoning code amendment that could increase the amount of places for farmworker housing.
Among the goals of the amendment is adding a new zoning district to the list of places allowing farmworker housing, and allowing for larger housing to be built to accommodate larger families.
Areas within the zoning district — known as AR 10 — are clustered mostly near Florin in South Sacramento.
Planning and Environmental Review staff say the California Department of Housing and Community Development encouraged county officials to allow farmworker housing in more areas.
Staff plan to bring the housing amendment proposal to the County Board of Supervisors for a vote by September.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Blue patches represent the new areas farmworker housing would be allowed if Planning and Environmental Review amendments are passed by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
Farmworker housing concerns 'nothing new'
Farmworkers are not the type of employees to raise concerns, according to advocate Marco Cesar Lizarraga. He says many are undocumented and fear deportation, while others fear losing their jobs in retaliation.
Lizarraga is the executive director of La Cooperative Campesina de California, a nonprofit aimed at improving the quality of life for the state's migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
"(Housing) has always been a problem, it's nothing new," he said. "When we first came to this country, we worked the fields. I remember us sleeping in a garage that was almost falling like the Tower of Pisa, but a lady who felt sorry for us used to rent it to our family."
As more and more farmworkers permanently settle in one area, the need for nearby housing becomes more necessary.
According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, less than 59% of farm workers lived or worked with family in 1990. In 2012, the number jumped to 75%.
With the current cost and demand of housing across California, low-income farmworkers struggle to find accommodations.
"Because of NIMBYism and because of practicality, you have to seek more outside urban areas for farmworker housing," said Lizarraga. "On average, most farmworkers at one point during the year are going to be commuting 50 miles to work."
Farmworkers' plight
Veteran San Joaquin Valley farmworker turned advocate Luis Magaña says people come from cities like Napa and Fresno to work in the nearby fields.
He says renting hotel rooms with entire families was not unusual, especially in the aftermath of the World War II-era Bracero program that saw tens of thousands of Mexican migrants come to California.
"Many workers had to endure overcrowded housing, multiple families in a single home, if they wanted work," said Magaña.
He says the plight of the farmworker deserves more attention, but the attention mostly comes during times of tragedy.
After a January mass shooting left seven people dead across two farms in Half Moon Bay, the city's Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez said farm workers were paraded as heroes during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but aren't often treated as such.
"Now what we have is being exposed, our farmworking community's living conditions," he said in January. "Many of you come to our community for the pumpkins and ignore the farm workers — not today. We're not ignoring anybody."
Dozens of people and their families working on a mushroom farm were involved in the Half Moon Bay shooting and some said living conditions were bad. Even a shipping container was used as a home.
San Mateo County officials announced June 1 they received a $5 million state grant to prioritize expanding housing for farmworkers displaced by the mass shooting.
"It's a shame it took something like a tragic shooting for people to pay attention to the living conditions," said Magaña.
Sacramento County Planning staff will wrap up their public outreach process on the housing amendment after a Wednesday meeting with the Agricultural Advisory Commission.
According to a county planning spokesperson, the housing amendment passage would be the minimum changes necessary to bring Sacramento County's zoning code to California's standards. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/farm-worker-housing-zone-expansion-discussed-by-sacramento-county/103-da0b6a37-2143-421b-a9ce-0dfe7c1e9f48 | 2023-06-20T01:21:53 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/farm-worker-housing-zone-expansion-discussed-by-sacramento-county/103-da0b6a37-2143-421b-a9ce-0dfe7c1e9f48 |
SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man who they say was last seen on Sunday night in northeast Bexar County.
44-year-old Lamar Raul Coleman was last seen on June 18 at 11:00 p.m. in the 7000 block of Beech Trail, according to BCSO.
"Lamar has a medical condition that requires medication, and investigators are in need of assistance locating him," authorities said. "Anyone with information on Lamar's whereabouts is urged to contact the Bexar County Sheriff's Office at 210-335-6000 or email missingpersons@bexar.org."
BCSO said Coleman is about 5'7", 140 pounds, and has black hair with a shaved head. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, green Air Max sneakers, and a shirt that was either blue or red.
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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/bcso-looking-missing-man/273-88f3061a-08f2-4b8c-b657-625b75644210 | 2023-06-20T01:22:32 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/bcso-looking-missing-man/273-88f3061a-08f2-4b8c-b657-625b75644210 |
PROSPER, Texas — As the summer heat wave arrives in Texas, first responders in Prosper ran through a demonstration on Monday to prepare for the possibility of hot car calls.
“It is a repeat every single year,” said Prosper Fire Chief Stuart Blasingame. “We are going to hear about it and read about it and it is unnecessary.”
Cook Children’s Medical Center planned the demonstration as a reminder to parents that even in 70-degree weather, it just takes a matter of minutes for a car to reach temperatures that could prove deadly to children.
During the demonstration, an acting passerby noticed a baby, portrayed by a doll, in a backseat and called 911 providing as much information as she could about her location and what she is seeing inside the car. Fire and EMS then arrived and quickly accessed the car before loading the baby into the ambulance.
“(Babies) are producing heat at a higher rate than we are as adults,” said Dr. Meena Guirguis with Cook Children’s. “They also do not sweat like we do at the same temperatures.”
Monday’s demonstration included new technology inside car seats and the cars themselves which help sound alarms or reminders if a child is left behind in a hot car.
Although first responders are given discretion to break into a vehicle to save a distressed child in hot car, Blasingame cautioned against bystanders trying to do the same.
“There are several things when you break a window you have to think about,” he said. “Glass will go everywhere because it will shatter. We know how to do it without injuring the baby so we would say leave that to us.”
According to NoHeatStroke.org, eight children including a 4-year-old in Houston have died this year in the United States after suffering heat stroke inside a hot car. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/north-texas-first-responders-demonstrate-hot-car-dangers/287-e51f7153-e888-4ad7-8604-e729b72c22d8 | 2023-06-20T01:22:38 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/north-texas-first-responders-demonstrate-hot-car-dangers/287-e51f7153-e888-4ad7-8604-e729b72c22d8 |
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police are looking for a 7-year-old girl who disappeared on the northwest side early Monday afternoon.
Amarianna Marie Benavidez was last seen along the 5800 block of Northwest Loop 410, near Ingram Park Mall. She stands about 4 foot 3, weighs 70 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown hair. Police say she was wearing a pink shirt, purple shorts and no shoes when she disappeared.
Police also said Amarianna is missing a tooth, and has a scar on her upper lip.
If you have any information as to her whereabouts, you're urged to contact SAPD at (210) 207-7660.
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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.
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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/public-safety/san-antonio-girl-missing-police-sapd-amarianna-texas/273-c446aa1c-bff6-45ad-accb-c10bf3e02908 | 2023-06-20T01:22:44 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/san-antonio-girl-missing-police-sapd-amarianna-texas/273-c446aa1c-bff6-45ad-accb-c10bf3e02908 |
SAN ANTONIO — Governor Greg Abbott kept his promise of a veto spree if legislators didn't strike a deal on property tax relief, having rejected 76 bills passed by the Texas Legislature in its recently wrapped 88th regular session.
Sunday night was the deadline for Abbott to veto legislation sent to his desk. The extent to which he did so was historic: Only Rick Perry vetoed more bills after an individual regular session, blocking 83 from becoming law in 2001.
The 76 vetoed pieces of legislation may be a fairly small number, but some of those bills are consequential:
- HB 279 would have expanded the scope of human trafficking laws to include protections for disabled individuals.
- HB 4759 would have created harsher penalties for owners in dog attacks.
- SB 467 would have strengthened criminal penalties for tampering with gas pumps.
- SB 335 would have required the Family and Protective Services Council to broadcast open meetings online.
Most of the bills in question were vetoed since Thursday, well after the 2023 session's adjournment. (A line-item in this year's approved budget was also vetoed by Abbott.)
Why did he veto so many bills?
In a move indicative of how big a priority he views property tax cuts -- an issue over which legislators remain gridlocked -- Abbott on June 14 suggested that bills yet to be signed "face the possibility, if not the probability" of being tossed from his desk without a signature until a tax reform deal was struck.
Lawmakers have been in a stalemate for much of June, with state representatives passing their own proposal on tax cuts then quickly adjourning—essentially leaving the Senate with the option of either accepting the House version or leaving the special session having accomplished nothing.
What happens now?
The bills were on the path of becoming law before Abbott vetoed them. Now that end result is in doubt; because the regular session is over, there is no place for the bills to be returned for additional discussion and potential override.
Per the Texas Constitution, because the session had adjourned, Abbott had 20 days to either sign or veto bills that advanced to his pen. But because the session is over, there is no place for bills to return to for additional discussion and potential override (which would require a two-thirds vote in both the Texas House and Senate).
That means those 76 bills are effectively dead.
Can legislators override the vetoes during this special session?
No. Per the Texas Constitution, any 30-day special sessions called by the governor can only cover topics specified by the governor in question.
The ongoing special session is limited to discussion and legislation surrounding property tax cuts and border security, with Abbott essentially telling legislators to come up with a plan for how best to use a $17.6 billion line item specified for tax cuts.
In several veto proclamations, however, Abbott suggested blocked legislation could be reconsidered "at a future special session" after school vouchers or property tax relief is passed, referring to his major legislative priorities.
What do other Texas leaders think of the tactic?
The man who holds the state's second-highest office, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has publicly criticized Abbott for his strategy of leveraging legislation against his priority of property tax cuts.
".@GovAbbott can't have it both ways," Patrick tweeted on June 15. "He is telling the House and Senate to work together on property taxes while vetoing legislation that the House and Senate worked on together."
In prior tweets Patrick called Abbott's threat "an affront to the legislative process and the people of Texas." Patrick is also in favor of property tax cuts, but he and Abbott are at odds over which proposed plan is best.
>MORE TEXAS POLITICS NEWS: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-bills-vetos-abbott-patrick-property-tax-cuts-reform-politics/273-c7e02ff5-153b-4cfd-ae38-c4aae5f04d62 | 2023-06-20T01:22:50 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-bills-vetos-abbott-patrick-property-tax-cuts-reform-politics/273-c7e02ff5-153b-4cfd-ae38-c4aae5f04d62 |
LANGLEY, Wash. — Western Washington's housing crisis continues to creep through communities across the region.
Even the small seaside city of Langley is struggling with rising rents and falling vacancies.
The city of just 1,100 people is now home to Island County's first-ever tiny home village, and it's already changing lives.
A home was very elusive for the Spencer family.
Nataly Spencer and her two kids, 11 and 6, have been in their new tiny home barely a week after staying in a homeless shelter because she couldn't afford a place to live.
"It was very scary in the beginning, for sure," said Spencer, a Peruvian immigrant. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen in the future and the coming events."
Spencer works two jobs and still struggles to make ends meet.
Until now, the single mom constantly worried about the future for her children.
Finally, she has a place they can all call home.
"I was able to have stability, safety, privacy. It's something I was looking for and my kids love it," Spencer said.
Spencer now pays 30% of her income for the 264-square-foot cottage.
It's one of nine that just opened in Langley, comprising the first tiny home community ever in Island County.
The homes were built over the course of five years with donations and volunteer labor by the organization THiNC -- Tiny Homes in The Name of Christ.
"We're all seeing this as a dream come true," said founder Coyla Shepard.
According to the University of Washington's Center for Real Estate Research, an average one-bedroom apartment in Island County rents for $1,243 per month. That's up 5.7% over last year.
The county's vacancy rate is just 1.3%.
Shepard believes young families are getting priced out in favor of out-of-towners.
"They can't afford housing so they have to cut back on food and everything else just to have a place to live," said Shepard. "There's so little housing here because most of it went for vacation rentals over the last few years."
THiNC organizers are eager to share their tiny home expertise with anyone interested in building their own community.
"We want this to spread everywhere," said Shepard.
For Spencer and her kids, her tiny home is having a huge impact.
"I love it," she said. "I'm so thankful for this place." | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/homeless/tiny-home-village-langley-island-county/281-f4ff47f8-5750-4a2d-b97e-0a32446ba508 | 2023-06-20T01:23:26 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/homeless/tiny-home-village-langley-island-county/281-f4ff47f8-5750-4a2d-b97e-0a32446ba508 |
Juneteenth is the national holiday, but Tennessee also celebrates on its Emancipation Day
Juneteenth is the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. But in Tennessee, many celebrate with cookouts, parades and festivals on a second day.
Enslaved people in Tennessee were freed prior to June 19, 1865, the first Juneteenth.
"Historically we always celebrated the Eighth of August," said William Isom, founder of Black in Appalachia. "Andrew Johnson manumitted his own enslaved people (in 1863), prior to what we observe as Juneteenth."
Isom said it's important to celebrate and hold onto the traditions of Juneteenth and Eighth of August.
"Juneteenth is the great unifying day we all celebrate the hope for freedom," he said. "We needed a unifying day. It's also nice to have our local day, too, but I think what is important is that both of these days are ours and we get to determine how we observe them. That's the special part about it."
Juneteenth 2023 events:Celebrate in Knoxville with parade, exhibits, stories of emancipation
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued the order that freed more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas.
Also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, it commemorates when all Black people in the South became free.
President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery on Jan. 1, 1863. But the news - that slavery would no longer be tolerated and all enslaved people would be free and hired as laborers if they chose to stay on their plantations - didn't spread immediately.
President Joe Biden signed legislation recognizing June 19 as the date marking the end of slavery in the United States, and it became a federal holiday in 2021.
What's different about emancipation in Tennessee?
As Union soldiers took control of areas, they would share the Emancipation Proclamation, so many states celebrate emancipation on different days.
Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee and the 17th U.S. president, freed his enslaved people, including his illegitimate children, on Aug. 8, 1863.
The date became known as Emancipation Day in Tennessee. At least seven states and 55 communities celebrate the Eighth of August, including Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri.
"The Eighth of August is our own homegrown celebration with roots right here on this soil," Isom said.
Isom dedicates his efforts through Black in Appalachia to preserving the region's Black history, including producing documentaries on emancipation in East Tennessee.
This reporter is co-host of the Black in Appalachia podcast, an initiative by nonprofits Black in Appalachia and East Tennessee PBS.
In 2007, Gov. Phil Bredesen signed a bill acknowledging Aug. 8 as Emancipation Day in Tennessee.
Why the Eighth of August?
There is no signed document of emancipation on Aug. 8, but newspaper clippings and Isom credit Andrew Johnson's former slave Sam Johnson for cementing the importance of the day across the region.
An 1871 article in the Knoxville Chronicle, provided by the National Park Service, documented Sam Johnson as the "officer of the day" at an Aug. 8 event in Greeneville, Tennessee. The emancipation celebration included a parade, brass band and a march. Andrew Johnson attended and spoke at the event.
Sam Johnson's efforts to designate the Eighth of August also were credited in a Knoxville Journal and Tribune article from Aug. 8, 1921: "In most states January 1 is observed as Emancipation Day, but in Tennessee and a few other states, August 8 has been designated as the date for emancipation day exercises. This custom originated because negroes owned by Andrew Johnson, at Greeneville, were set free on August 8, and Sam Johnson, one of the former slaves of Andrew Johnson, worked for a long time and was successful in having August 8 set aside for Emancipation Day observed in this section."
Thanks to Sam Johnson's efforts, the celebrations spread to other states like Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi. The tradition also spread to Knoxville along with Sam Johnson's descendants.
Juneteenth and Eighth of August hold similar value, tradition
Renee Kesler, president of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville, told Knox News that communities from all over recognize Eighth of August because freed Black people migrated after learning of their newfound freedom.
"When you hear you have been freed, you go free," she said. "You spread out and go different places, and when you end up in these bordering states as a free person you take the culture and traditions with you."
Acclaimed artists like Louis Armstrong and Tiny Bradshaw's band played at Knoxville Eighth of August celebrations in the late 1930s.
Traditions and celebrations for Juneteenth and Eighth of August have included picnics, parades, dances and even pageants.
"There have been some changes throughout history that we don't see as much anymore like political stumping, where politicians of the day would give political speeches," Isom said. "Black folks used to really play baseball during these celebrations as well; from my research, that was a huge thing in this region."
Kesler said the national celebration of Juneteenth forces America to face the history of slavery while giving opportunity for education around the significance of emancipation history across the country.
"No matter what date you recognize, the news of freedom was important to everyone in this country whenever it came," she said. "When we learn about Juneteenth history we begin to look at all of the areas and places where injustice took place and we begin to talk about emancipation and what it looked like for enslaved Black people everywhere.
"The biggest thing we can do is remember the total history of emancipation where people were waiting for freedom to come."
This article was originally published in June 2022.
Angela Dennis is the Knox News race, justice and equity reporter. Email angela.dennis@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AngeladWrites. Instagram @angeladenniswrites. Facebook at Angela Dennis Journalist.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/juneteenth-is-the-national-holiday-but-tennessee-also-celebrates-on-its-emancipation-day/70314170007/ | 2023-06-20T01:24:49 | 1 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/juneteenth-is-the-national-holiday-but-tennessee-also-celebrates-on-its-emancipation-day/70314170007/ |
Knoxville's MLK Memorial parade and Juneteenth celebration joyful amid soggy weather
Spirits were high at the annual MLK Memorial parade and Juneteenth celebration as community members gathered amid scattered showers.
"Our people and our ancestors that made it possible for us to be here faced a whole lot worse than some bad weather," said Sherry Fishback, a Knoxville resident who showed up to cheer as parade passed by.
Raising awareness about what Juneteenth means is especially important, Fishback said. "It's American history. ... There is no Black history or white history, it's American history."
Juneteenth, celebrated June 19 every year, is a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery.
More:Earliest Juneteenth celebration photographs from 19th-century
Knoxville's parade was organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission. Participants marched from Chilhowee Park down MLK Jr. Boulevard to Dr. Walter Hardy Park.
What is Juneteenth?
Also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, Juneteenth commemorates the day when all Black people in the South became free.
Juneteenth marks the moment Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued an order that freed more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery on Jan. 1, 1863, but the news took years to reach Galveston.
It became a federal holiday in 2021.
Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at areena.arora@knoxnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AreenaArora.
Support our newsroom's exclusive, in-depth local coverage by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/knoxville-braves-rain-celebrate-juneteenth-mlk-parade/70330822007/ | 2023-06-20T01:24:55 | 0 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/knoxville-braves-rain-celebrate-juneteenth-mlk-parade/70330822007/ |
WYOMING COUNTY, Pa. — Ahead of RiverFest 2023 this weekend in Wilkes-Barre's Nesbitt Park, Newswatch 16's Chelsea Strub checks out what kayaking on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River is like. Spoiler alert, it's award-winning.
Watch the video above to check it out!
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/wyoming-county/kayaking-on-the-susquehanna-river-check-it-out-with-chelsea-riverfest-wilkesbarres-nesbitt-park-strub/523-6a4e3204-2a19-4b03-8c98-66f2e51b5578 | 2023-06-20T01:29:16 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/wyoming-county/kayaking-on-the-susquehanna-river-check-it-out-with-chelsea-riverfest-wilkesbarres-nesbitt-park-strub/523-6a4e3204-2a19-4b03-8c98-66f2e51b5578 |
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – An Oak Hill man was arrested on Friday after deputies said he stole a trailer with a motorcycle inside from an RV park in Daytona Beach, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said that on June 3, they responded to an RV park in Daytona Beach after receiving reports about the stolen vehicles.
In an affidavit, deputies said they learned from employees that someone had cut the lock on the park’s front gate and snuck onto the property before staff arrived that morning. Upon review of the trailers stored there, employees found that one was missing, investigators added.
The affidavit shows that the value of the travel trailer was estimated at $21,000, and a black Victory motorcycle had been stored inside of it — along with several other items like a custom-built computer, tools, utensils and clothes.
According to investigators, the owner of the trailer told them that the travel trailer “was basically his home.”
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A few days later, detectives learned about a stolen tow truck that may have been used in the trailer theft, court records reveal.
Upon speaking with witnesses, detectives found out that a man — later identified as 37-year-old Joshua Malphurs — had been seen with the stolen truck and motorcycle, deputies said.
Detectives said they then went to Malphurs’ home in Oak Hill to investigate, though they were able to see the stolen trailer before ever even speaking to him.
The detectives then spoke with Malphurs’ parents — both of whom lived at the home — and they explained to deputies that they thought Malphurs had received the vehicles from his boss at work, according to the affidavit.
In addition to the tow truck, motorcycle and trailer, a stolen CAT skid steer was found on the property, deputies said.
The trailer and motorcycle were ultimately returned to their owner, and Malphurs was later taken into custody, the affidavit states.
Malphurs faces three counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, and he is held on a bond of $60,000.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/20/basically-his-home-man-accused-of-stealing-trailer-from-daytona-beach-rv-park/ | 2023-06-20T01:33:53 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/20/basically-his-home-man-accused-of-stealing-trailer-from-daytona-beach-rv-park/ |
Dallas Police are searching for the gunman who fatally shot a 54-year-old convenience store employee early Monday morning in Oak Cliff.
In a statement, Dallas Police said officers were called at about 6:08 a.m. to a report of a shooting at a 7-Eleven located in the 400 block of North Hampton Road.
Nathaniel Ogbolu, 54, was found shot inside the store. He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
The early investigation indicated a man entered the store and pointed a gun at the employee while demanding money from the cash register. Before Ogbolu was able to open the register, the gunman shot him multiple times.
The gunman opened fire at a witness, but missed, before he ran away from the store. The gunman remains at-large as of Monday evening.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Dallas Police Det. David Grubbs at 214-671-3675 or by email at david.grubbsjr@dallaspolice.gov.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. No further details were immediately available. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-police-searching-for-gunman-who-fatally-shot-oak-cliff-convenience-store-worker/3280575/ | 2023-06-20T01:34:09 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-police-searching-for-gunman-who-fatally-shot-oak-cliff-convenience-store-worker/3280575/ |
A question that Texans have been wondering when thinking about the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is, will his wife, Senator Angela Paxton, participate in the proceedings?
In a statement released Monday, June 19, Sen. Paxton said she will not be recusing herself from impeachment proceedings against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
In the statement, Sen. Paxton added that she holds her Senate obligations "sacred" and will carry out her duties:
"I have twice been elected to represent the nearly one million Texans who reside in Senate District 8, and it is a tremendous honor and privilege to be their voice in the Texas Legislature. Each time I was elected, I took an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of this great state, and Texas law compels each member of the Senate to attend when the Senate meets as a court of impeachment. As a member of the Senate, I hold these obligations sacred and I will carry out my duties, not because it is easy, but because the Constitution demands it and because my constituents deserve it.”
Ken Paxton is facing an impeachment trial in August. The Texas House overwhelmingly voted to impeach the attorney general in late May, at which point Paxton was immediately suspended from office.
The trial will take place sometime in August on the 20 impeachment charges which include bribery, abuse of official capacity, conspiracy, retaliation against former employees, and misuse of information.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) will serve as the judge in this trial and he also gets to set the rules.
Patrick named a seven-member committee to decide on rules and procedures for the trial. The group consists of five Republicans and two Democrats, including Sen. Royce West (D) of Dallas.
The special committee is expected to announce the rules of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial on Tuesday. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/will-texas-state-sen-angela-paxton-vote-on-husbands-impeachment/3280577/ | 2023-06-20T01:34:15 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/will-texas-state-sen-angela-paxton-vote-on-husbands-impeachment/3280577/ |
TEXAS, USA — It's been one of the biggest questions on most Texans' minds when thinking about the Ken Paxton impeachment trial -- will Senator Angela Paxton, his wife, participate?
We now know that answer, and the answer is yes.
Angela released the following statement Monday in regard to the impeachment proceedings:
"I have twice been elected to represent the nearly one million Texans who reside in Senate District 8, and it is a tremendous honor and privilege to be their voice in the Texas Legislature. Each time I was elected, I took an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of this great state, and Texas law compels each member of the Senate to attend when the Senate meets as a court of impeachment. As a member of the Senate, I hold these obligations sacred and I will carry out my duties, not because it is easy, but because the Constitution demands it and because my constituents deserve it.”
A special committee is expected to announce the rules of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial on Tuesday.
That can include details on what kind of evidence can be presented, how witnesses can be called and when the trial will actually start.
Back in May, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleging a pattern of misconduct and abuse of power. The vote immediately led to Paxton's temporary suspension from office, pending the outcome of the impeachment trial.
A committee of five Republicans and two Democrats has been drafting the rules for the impeachment trial.
Senators will act as the jury while 12 state representatives will act as prosecutors.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will serve as the judge in this trial, but he also gets to set the rules. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial/285-e88ccbba-a513-47df-8734-2d5a97ac02e2 | 2023-06-20T01:36:16 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial/285-e88ccbba-a513-47df-8734-2d5a97ac02e2 |
PITTSBURGH — When Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Allen Robinson II signed with the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent in 2022, it was a huge deal — both literally and figuratively. Robinson signed a three-year, $46.5 million deal in L.A. and became the latest haul for a team that never wanted to wait for its own draft picks.
After drafting all-world defensive tackle Aaron Donald, these Rams rose to prominence with a bunch of high-profile trades and free agent signings, and Robinson was supposed to help keep the franchise on top after its 2021 Super Bowl win.
But 2022 was a year to forget for both Robinson and the Rams. Robinson dealt with an injury that cut short his season, and even when he was on the field, he struggled to fit into the offense the way it was envisioned.
Click here to read more from SteelersNOW.com.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/allen-robinson-ii-looking-rebound-pittsburgh/GZPQ6IWYE5H7JAN4OO2HGMIDJ4/ | 2023-06-20T01:41:28 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/allen-robinson-ii-looking-rebound-pittsburgh/GZPQ6IWYE5H7JAN4OO2HGMIDJ4/ |
IRWIN, Pa. — The Irwin Police Department will be installing seven new surveillance cameras in the borough to beef up security on and around Main Street.
Tracy Alaia has been running Feathers Artist Market on Fourth Street in Irwin for six years.
Throughout those years, she’s seen Irwin grow. As a business owner, it’s exciting.
“It’s a wonderful town, there are so many businesses, restaurants, boutiques, you name it, we have it,” Alaia said.
With the increase in people shopping, eating, and walking the streets -- and more events along Main Street -- police will be adding four-way security cameras to seven intersections.
Those are the intersections of Main Street and Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, as well as Pennsylvania Avenue and Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue and Oak Street.
Police Chief Dan Wensel told Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek the borough wanted to make sure everyone is as safe as possible.
“We don’t have a lot of crime down here, which is great, but this is just another tool if something would happen,” Wensel said. “If you come to Irwin Borough, and you do something, you’re going to get caught and prosecuted.”
The seven cameras will cost a little more than $32,000 dollars. Wensel said the borough is paying for those with a state grant.
“I think it’s always better to be safe than sorry,” Alaia said. “It’s so normal now. People have the ring doorbells, and I have security cameras in here, so it’s always better to be safe, I think.”
Many business owners agreed, as did the Norwin Chamber of Commerce. They said with what they say is at least one big event in Irwin every month, the security cameras add a bit of peace of mind.
“We want everyone to just feel safe or comfortable, and whether they’re with just teenagers or children, it’s a family-friendly environment, and we want everyone to always feel safe here,” said Norwin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rosanne Barry Novotnak.
Chief Wensel said he expects this project to be finished sometime within the next month or so.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/irwin-police-department-adding-new-surveillance-cameras-community-continues-grow/3A4YGSQFIFEDFNO2UXBZLV3MZ4/ | 2023-06-20T01:41:34 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/irwin-police-department-adding-new-surveillance-cameras-community-continues-grow/3A4YGSQFIFEDFNO2UXBZLV3MZ4/ |
KOPPEL BOROUGH, Pa. — The Koppel Borough police department is in dire need of another police cruiser. They have only one left to respond to emergencies in the community and many people are concerned.
“It’s a big public safety risk,” said Chief Devon Price, Koppel Borough fire department.
The Koppel Borough police department is down to just one police cruiser. If at any point the cruiser is down for service or maintenance, police said they will have to respond to calls on foot. The fire chief said this is a big deal. “We definitely have to be able to respond quickly at a drop of a dime,” said Chief Price. “Emergencies don’t wait.”
The department has one cruiser because their other one was wrecked in a high speed chase. Channel 11 told you last month about a police pursuit that went through several counties and across state lines into Ohio. Police said the chase started when a man tried to get away from a DUI checkpoint in Beaver County. The driver was taken into custody but during the pursuit, a Koppel police cruiser hit a pole and caught fire in a farm field. So police posted on Facebook asking folks to attend Tuesday’s council meeting because they need community support to buy a back-up cruiser. Channel 11 spoke with a woman who plans to attend that meeting. “We need another cruiser definitely if that one would break down or something what would they do run to the crime,” said Christine Vankirk.
The fire chief said some firefighters plan to be there too. “We are going to have a few members at the council meeting tomorrow and show our support for them,” said Chief Price. “We have their backs, they have our backs. We’re all one family here.” The council meeting is at 6pm on Tuesday at the Koppel Fire department
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/koppel-borough-police-down-just-1-cruiser-after-another-was-destoryed-chase/JDXFOU4FTBHP3JIC7XRSN3WUGY/ | 2023-06-20T01:41:40 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/koppel-borough-police-down-just-1-cruiser-after-another-was-destoryed-chase/JDXFOU4FTBHP3JIC7XRSN3WUGY/ |
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to sign inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski after hosting him on a tryout during the club’s mandatory minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex last week, according to a report by Colin Dunlap of 93.7 The Fan.
Kwiatkoski was one of two players invited to the camp on a tryout, along with former Carolina Panthers linebacker Jermaine Carter. The team cleared a spot on the 90-man roster on Friday by releasing safety Scott Nelson.
Before his pro career, Kwiatkoski played 48 games and made 37 starts over five seasons for West Virginia from 2011-15. He is the second WVU and WPIAL alum at Steelers minicamp, joining safety Kenny Robinson (Imani).
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/steelers-sign-local-linebacker-after-tryout/LPPSVJCBQZH6DELXV5MOSLKYGI/ | 2023-06-20T01:41:47 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/steelers-sign-local-linebacker-after-tryout/LPPSVJCBQZH6DELXV5MOSLKYGI/ |
A Natrona County School District panel voted last month to keep another contested book in area high schools. However, NCSD’s Reconsideration Committee agreed for the first time to restrict access to a high school library book after concluding that the book had extensive explicit content and lacked a positive storyline, according to a new district memo released last week.
The Reconsideration Committee assessed “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins in mid-May in a public meeting and second closed session, according to the panel’s June 15 memo. “Tricks” was the last of five books by Hopkins challenged earlier this year by Natrona County parents. The novel, the first book in a two-part series on sex trafficking, follows five teenagers as they fall into prostitution amid struggles with abuse, addiction, sexuality and self-worth.
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The majority of the committee voted to keep “Tricks” in the Kelly Walsh and Natrona County High School libraries, where it had collectively been checked out a total of 48 times since 2009. The group concluded that the book didn’t contain any sexually explicit images and was recommended for a high school audience after reading the book and weighing its product details, reviews, awards and district policies for library books. The committee followed district policies scrutinizing “Tricks” under the different standard for library books rather than the criteria required for the “primary” learning materials used in classrooms every day.
But unlike the other four books the committee has reviewed by Hopkins so far this year, the panel voted to make “Tricks” opt-in only, requiring parents or guardians to give “explicit written permission” for their high schoolers to read the book.
“The majority of the reconsideration committee found this specific book, as a whole, to be very different than the previous books formally reconsidered by this author,” the panel wrote. “The lack of an overall positive storyline and extensive use of written explicit, sexual content throughout seemed to be significant factors for the majority of the reconsideration committee in recommending to further limit the book.”
While NCSD administrative regulations specifically reference the use of opt-ins for learning materials with sexually explicit images, the Reconsideration Committee has the discretion to determine if and under what conditions a book remains in district libraries, NCSD Superintendent Mike Jennings said.
“They can select everything from having the book remain fully within the libraries of the school district all the way over to removing it from all libraries completely,” he said.
The restrictions mark a pivot for NCSD’s Reconsideration Committee, which for the first time ruled that a library book should be opt-in only. “Gender Queer” and “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves,” the first two books the school district reviewed last year amid a push to ban books by some parents, are also opt-in, but the designation came after Natrona County school board trustees voted to limit access, overriding the reconsideration committee’s decision to keep the books without any requirements.
Until now, the panel had declined to remove or impose any restrictions on four other books by Hopkins in NCSD high school libraries. Trustees backed the committee’s ruling on “Crank” and “Fallout” at a board meeting in May after an appeal brought the dispute before the school board for a final decision.
During that meeting, board members expressed dismay that school library books continue to be a source of controversy.
“If you think you’re gonna save the world by banning a few books, you’re just deluding yourself,” Trustee Kevin Christopherson said, referencing the time and money that it takes for the district to review books, both of which he said could be better put toward teaching students.
Last week’s memo marks the end of the two Jan. 6 requests the district received that sought to ban a range of books by Hopkins from district libraries, though the panel’s decision can still be appealed to the school board.
Attempts to ban library books continue to embroil school districts throughout Wyoming as politics seeps further into education in the state and across the country. Angry Cheyenne parents and community members led a raucous Laramie County School District No.1 school board meeting earlier this month during which they chastised school leaders and called for new rules that would give parents more oversight over what their kids read.
Wyoming Schools Superintendent Megan Degenfelder has leaned more heavily into the debate recently, too. At the Western Conservative Summit in Denver this month, she warned of library books with “graphic sexual depictions” while criticizing school curricula and the “education establishment.” | https://trib.com/news/local/education/ncsd-committee-votes-to-keep-high-school-library-book-but-restrict-access/article_c836ef36-0ec8-11ee-902f-13cf1d209b0c.html | 2023-06-20T01:43:12 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/education/ncsd-committee-votes-to-keep-high-school-library-book-but-restrict-access/article_c836ef36-0ec8-11ee-902f-13cf1d209b0c.html |
On Tuesday night, the Albany County Commission is expected to vote on retitling the controversially named Swastika Lake -- despite being most synonymous with Nazi atrocities, Albany County Commissioner Terri Jones argues Wyoming needs to keep “the good, the bad and the ugly of history” alive.
The vote “to approve the recommendation to rename Swastika Lake” is scheduled to take place during the regular meeting at 6 p.m., Albany County Commissioner Sue Ibarra said in an e-mail.
Swastika Lake is located in Medicine Bow National Forest near Green Rock Picnic Site just off Highway 130. There's an easy loop trail, which passes right by the lake.
Since it sits in a national forest, federal officials must approve any changes.
"The proposed name changes will be considered by the Board on Geographic Names, who has the final decision on the name selected," Ibarra told the Star-Tribune on Monday.
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Many demographic studies list Wyoming as having the smallest Jewish population of any state in America with estimates ranging from about 400 to 2,000 people.
Debate over proposed name change
During an Albany County Commissioner meeting earlier this month, several parties voiced support for renaming the lake, but the board’s only Republican-member Jones described the move as a “calling card of communism.”
Jones' reaction garnered some national attention, leading Robert K. Kraft, well-known owner of the New England Patriots and founder of the Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism, to submit an official statement in favor of the name-change on Friday.
Although the swastika emerged as an ancient symbol for good-fortune and well-being, it became the most “significant symbols of hate, antisemitism and infamy” in much of the world outside of Asia, Lindsy Sanders said during the meeting; she was presenting her petition for the name change at the time.
Sanders broke down in tears, and stopped to say “sorry,” while making her case. She found nothing in the local archives or online about the name's origin.
“Although Swastika Ranch, Swastika Store and the lady’s swastika club existed in Albany County, those names were all changed during or after World War II,” she said. “...[H]alf a million brave Americans sacrificed their lives in defeat of the Nazis. Keeping the name Swastika Lake in the United States denigrates their sacrifice.”
On the other hand, Jones argued the good predated the bad “by eons” and people must “keep history and teaching opportunities alive to learn about the good, the bad and the ugly of history,” she said during the meeting.
Society should not change names, that many might find offensive, “to soothe sensitive people,” Jones said. An “educated person” must know that there are two sides of the coin to address.
“What better place to ask questions and learn than the beautiful Swastika Lake ...,” Jones said.
Kraft said Friday the word swastika doesn't promote education on its own.
“Today, many Western countries, including Germany, have criminalized public displays of the swastika and any language that distorts the Holocaust or glorifies the Nazi party,” Kraft wrote. “[W]e believe there are many more efficient ways to educate the public around the history and origin of the word…”
History behind the symbol
A swastika symbol was discovered carved on a 15,000-year-old ivory figure of a bird made from mammoth tusk in its earliest known use, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The ancient engraving is believed to have been used for health and fertility purposes.
From its earliest conception, the symbol was meant to be encouraging of life, an Encyclopedia Britannica entry states. It has been used by cultures throughout history -- in Greek currency, on Iron Age artifacts, as a symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and so on.
“While the symbol has a long history of having a positive connotation, it was forever corrupted by its use in one cultural context: Nazi Germany,” the entry states.
Adolf Hitler adopted the swastika as the German national symbol in 1920, making it a central element in the Nazi Party flag while attempting a totalitarian conquest of Europe and decimating its Jewish population.
By 1945, the symbol was totally associated with World War II and the largest recorded genocide in the world.
National push for name-changes
In recent years, there's been a country-wide push to rid of names, statues and symbolism, which have racist or culturally insensitive origins.
For example, changing the name of Swastika Lake would not be the first time such a decision was made in Wyoming, Kraft wrote in the letter.
At least 43 geographical features were renamed all across the state just last year to remove a slur aimed at Indigenous women.
And other states have had similar debates regarding the use of the word swastika.
Two months ago, Mount Halo in Oregon was renamed from Swastika Mountain. In 2020, a small town in upstate New York voted to keep their town's name as Swastika, referencing a similar argument to the one Jones' raised earlier this month, National Public Radio reported. | https://trib.com/news/local/history/debate-over-wyomings-swastika-lake-continues-ahead-of-name-change-vote/article_ae03ad96-0ed4-11ee-a4aa-dfed5e692a96.html | 2023-06-20T01:43:18 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/history/debate-over-wyomings-swastika-lake-continues-ahead-of-name-change-vote/article_ae03ad96-0ed4-11ee-a4aa-dfed5e692a96.html |
ATLANTA — Atlanta City Council is expected to meet on Tuesday to vote on a new citywide curfew for people 16 and under.
Some city council members believe the curfew could curb youth gun violence.
This was first introduced last year after a 12-year-old and 16-year-old were shot and killed near Atlantic Station over Thanksgiving weekend.
The current curfew in Atlanta is set for midnight on Friday and Saturday and 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.
The ordinance on Tuesday's city council agenda could move that curfew three hours earlier.
It would change curfew hours for children 16 and under from midnight to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 p.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the week.
11Alive spoke to Atlanta Council member Keisha Waites introduced the curfew after last year's shooting.
"It's intent is for these large, gathering places where young people get together, unsupervised. If you recall at Atlantic Station we had 3 to 400 young people, unsupervised, and it resulted in the loss of life of two people," Councilwoman Waites said.
Last month, 16-year-old Bre'asia Powell was gunned down outside of Benjamin E. Mays High School sparking the debate on the new curfew.
These are just some faces motivating Waites to push for curfews
"Zyion and Cameron, they're depending on us to make sure we do something different. Drastic times, call for drastic measures, we cannot continue to allow our young people to be in an environment that's unsafe," Waites added.
While the ordinance would make it illegal for unaccompanied minors to be in public places after those hours – it does not list out the penalties minors, or their parents could face.
It does, however, list several exceptions – including for unsupervised minors going to and from work or school, and if that minor is emancipated, homeless, or married.
Community activist Duwon Robinson believes a curfew like this one will be beneficial.
"There's a lot of residents that are not pleased with the curfew because they feel like their teens are not out here, breaking in cars, shooting and causing violence. I understand that but we can't have it without the other so I'm all for it because too many youths have guns and by 8 p.m. its pitch black dark," Robinson said.
If the proposal passes with Tuesday's vote, the ordinance still needs Mayor Dickens' signature.
It would take effect immediately upon becoming law.
We reached out to Councilmember Waites to ask what penalties people could face, but we're waiting to hear back. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-city-council-vote-on-earlier-citywide-curfew/85-eb910576-f92b-402a-8577-c86662b23548 | 2023-06-20T01:45:23 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-city-council-vote-on-earlier-citywide-curfew/85-eb910576-f92b-402a-8577-c86662b23548 |
AUSTELL, Ga. — An Austell renter is trying to get her belongings back after she said her apartment complex mistakenly thought her unit was abandoned.
Te'ona Bol said the company went in and removed several items from her unit including furniture, a TV and jewelry.
She said she can't get answers from them about where her belongings are now.
"As soon as I came in, I noticed immediately. I'm missing an end table right there and table right there and my couches were messed up," Bol said in her nearly empty apartment.
Bol said when she returned to her apartment after being out of town for the weekend she immediately saw it was in shambles.
Someone had even removed her son's bed.
"All of my jewelry, sound system -- you can kind of see where they went through it, took whatever they wanted," Bol said, adding that clothes were left behind.
She shared emails with 11Alive that showed the apartment management team had contacted her while she was gone about entering her unit. Bol added that she replied within minutes, asking them not to go in until she got back.
Before she could return, she got another email stating they had drilled her locks.
The management company wouldn't answer questions on camera about what happened but sent a statement saying in part, it had determined the tenant had abandoned the property and all efforts to provide proper notice and allow the tenant time to reclaim were documented. The company adds that it acted within contractual and legal requirements.
Bol said that she was up to date on her rent and doesn't understand how the company concluded the unit was abandoned.
"I understand they said the apartment was abandoned," Darryl Cohen, an attorney said. "Hardly if she was up to date with her rent could they conceive that it could be abandoned -- it was not abandoned."
He added that removing items from Bol's apartment would be against the law.
"It's called burglary -- that's a crime," he said. "They cannot come in there and if they took your items that's also theft in addition to the burglary. That takes it from a civil case to a criminal case, and what they did is abysmally wrong."
Bol said the apartment complex hasn't said where her missing items are – nor when they'll be returned.
"Between then stealing from me and what the rats have done, I'm literally left with nothing," she said. "I cried, I was completely distraught."
She filed a police report, but she said police told her this is a civil matter, not a criminal one. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/austell-renter-returns-home-to-ransacked-apartment/85-70299cc8-5094-4f35-acc4-92958be81094 | 2023-06-20T01:45:29 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/austell-renter-returns-home-to-ransacked-apartment/85-70299cc8-5094-4f35-acc4-92958be81094 |
ORLANDO, FL (Ivanhoe Newswire) — About 48 million Americans get sick from E. coli, salmonella, and listeria in foods each year.Nearly three thousand die from foodborne illnesses annually, and almost 130 thousand are hospitalized.
You need it to survive, but food can sometimes make you sick. Researchers at Consumer Reports recently ranked foods based on how many outbreaks, deaths, and illnesses they caused. They found some foods were riskier to eat than others. The worst offender was leafy greens. Foods like lettuces, kale, and arugula were responsible for 50 outbreaks and 11 deaths between 2017 and 2022. These veggies tend to get contaminated by dirty irrigation water.
“It’s best if you are able to wash your fruits and vegetables,” says Shante Jeune, PhD, MS, RDN
a Registered Dietician at the University of Central Florida.
Contaminated deli meats and cheeses were also found to cause outbreaks of listeria. Ninety percent of people infected with listeria end up in the hospital. Other meats like ground beef, chicken, and turkey can also make you sick.
“Meats, especially chicken, is important to fully cook through. In beef, they have specific requirements, 150 degrees or higher to maintain healthy uncontaminated foods,” spoke Jeune, PhD, MS, RDN.
Some other foods that made the list were fruits like papaya, peaches, and cantaloups. Surprisingly, onions were the fourth most likely food to make someone ill. Experts say avoid purchasing bruised onions, as they allow bacteria to enter more easily.
Flour used in cookie and brownie mixes and premade cake batter also made the list. Experts say while wheat is growing in the field, bacteria can get onto the grain surface through contaminated water or wild animal droppings. When flour is cooked before consumption, the bacteria are killed. Avoid eating raw dough or batter to limit your risk. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/10-foods-most-likely-to-make-you-sick | 2023-06-20T01:49:10 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/10-foods-most-likely-to-make-you-sick |
BALTIMORE — A 9-year-old girl was hit by a car in East Baltimore Monday evening.
It happened just before 9 p.m. in the 1200 block of North Spring Street.
According to police, the driver of the vehicle stayed on the scene.
The girl's injuries are unknown at this time. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/9-year-old-girl-struck-by-vehicle-in-east-baltimore | 2023-06-20T01:50:59 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/9-year-old-girl-struck-by-vehicle-in-east-baltimore |
General Motors donates $300K to Michigan nonprofit for design workforce program
A youth talent development program launched three years ago is expanding with a $300,000 grant from General Motors that will give Metro Detroit kids hands-on experience in design.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan will launch the new Design Industry Club in July.
"BGCSM's goal when we launched the Industry Club in 2020 was to create a pipeline of talent to increase the workforce in metro Detroit, and we're grateful for General Motors' generous contribution to help us make this vision a reality," said Shawn H. Wilson, president and CEO of BGCSM.
The grant was announced at BGCSM's 2023 Automotive Golf Classic last week.
The new Design Industry Club will introduce youth to different ways design can be used in the workforce. The program will focus on elements of graphic design, illustration, animation, automotive design, interior design, and shoe and apparel design.
The club will also host field trips and masterclasses for more than 250 Detroit youth in the first year. Sixty students will be chosen to receive paid workforce opportunities in shoe and apparel design, automotive design and interior design.
"Inspiring creative minds at a young age fuels every industry," said Michael Simcoe, senior vice president of Global Design at GM, in a statement. "On behalf of everyone at GM, we're thrilled to grow our support to BGCSM through this new Design Industry Club. Our goal is to encourage Detroit youth to see themselves in a creative career, while providing them with real-world insight and experience."
Design careers at GM include automotive designers, transportation designers, clay and digital sculptors who bring sketches to life via virtual technology tools, and industrial designers who create innovative solutions for EV charging systems big and small, said Renee Ketels, senior manager for GM Design Communications.
"We even have in-house talent that went to school to make video games using their visualization skills to introduce new technologies into GM," Ketels told The Detroit News.
"In order to continue to be an industry leader, it is essential for GM to invest in the future pipeline of creative talent, and the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Michigan helps us to reach an important, local student base here in Detroit," said Ketels.
Leaders at Design Core Detroit, which champions design-driven businesses from within College for Creative Studies, say design education is an important economic development tool.
"Research supports our belief that the strength of our economy is dependent on the ingenuity and innovation of design driven businesses across all major industries and sectors, like automotive, software development, tech, fashion, micro businesses, and more," said Bonnie Fahoome, co-executive director of Design Core Detroit.
"In turn, those businesses are dependent on a diverse pool of talent, partners and vendors with creative problem-solving skills, in particular the practice of inclusive design. Design education in all forms and at all levels prepares a wide range of talent for these fulfilling careers," she said.
BGCSM launched its industry club program in 2020 with a Fashion Industry Club. The nonprofit has expanded its list of clubs each year since then and now offers a total of six Industry Clubs: the Risk Management Industry Club, the Sports and Esports Industry Club, the Entertainment Industry Club, the Urban Planning Industry Club, the Fashion Industry Club, and the Technology Industry Club. GM previously provided funding for the Fashion Industry Club and the Urban Planning Industry Club.
The clubs provide paid workforce experience for young people and gives them the tools they need to become college, career and startup ready, BGCSM officials said.
The Design Industry Club is set to launch in July. Its first cohort of 18 students is already full.
Youth who are interested in future Design Industry Club opportunities can sign up for the waitlist to be notified of the next application period here. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/19/general-motors-boys-girls-clubs-southeastern-michigan-design-industry-club-grant/70319454007/ | 2023-06-20T01:55:19 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/19/general-motors-boys-girls-clubs-southeastern-michigan-design-industry-club-grant/70319454007/ |
TAMPA, Fla. — Many events were held across the Tampa Bay area to honor the Juneteenth holiday, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
One of those events included the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, which was hosted by the Hillsborough County Commission at the West Tampa Community Resource Center.
Those in attendance received a first look at plans unveiling for a new African American Arts and Cultural Center in West Tampa.
Florida State Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, spoke at the event reflecting on the history of Juneteenth and the investment that will be made by the state to honor Hillsborough County's African American history.
"I'm pleased to announce that the governor did not veto the $5 million request that I had in for the cultural and arts center," Rouson said. "The state will play its part in recognizing the Black history of this community and of Tampa Bay."
County officials also said the future African American cultural center will transform West Tampa.
The new learning center will feature exhibits and performances that share the story of African American and events that shaped Hillsborough County.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was also in attendance for the holiday celebrations and said the new center will embrace the past to share the county's African American History with future generations.
Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada and Straz Center President and CEO Greg Holland were at the event to see the unveiling of the community learning center, alongside other Tampa and county officials.
Guests at the events were able to enter a draw to win a pair of domestic flight tickets donated by Delta Air Lines, the county said in a news release. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/african-american-arts-culture-center-tampa/67-5828d9a2-9bdd-4d51-8160-14370d1ef03a | 2023-06-20T01:55:20 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/african-american-arts-culture-center-tampa/67-5828d9a2-9bdd-4d51-8160-14370d1ef03a |
TAMPA, Fla. — A 20-year-old man was taken to a hospital after authorities say he was shot in the arm Monday afternoon in Tampa.
The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospital on Busch at Twin Lakes Boulevards, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told 10 Tampa Bay.
Deputies say the 20-year-old was shot after some sort of fight happened.
The man is recovering at St. Joseph's Hospital and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He is expected to be OK, law enforcement says.
The sheriff's office says they are still looking for the shooter. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/man-hurt-tampa-shooting/67-76e5882d-9128-411b-aecb-4848abae4162 | 2023-06-20T01:55:26 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/man-hurt-tampa-shooting/67-76e5882d-9128-411b-aecb-4848abae4162 |
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — The revitalization of Depot Street in downtown Greeneville has been underway for over a year now. Businesses in the heart of the construction project said they have felt the impact it has had on their establishments.
Rebecca Wolfe, owner of the Greeneville Antique Market on West Depot Street, said that the construction has kept some of the local shoppers away.
“The construction has been going on for quite a while, so it obviously has taken to our business somewhat,” Wolfe said. “But we do have so many tourists that come to visit us here.”
Wolfe said that although the construction has been a bit of a pain she knows that the revitalization is needed.
“We are very happy knowing this is going on and that it’s going to be beautiful,” Wolfe said.
Another business located on West Depot Street, Brolin & Bailey, has had to make changes. Katie Presley, the shop’s owner, said they are fortunate to have a back door entrance on the side where construction is not happening.
“We’ve had to kind of adjust our way of selling our product,” said Presley. “More online sales versus, people coming in and shopping.”
Presley said they haven’t had a lot of challenges navigating the construction.
Both Wolfe and Presley said they are excited to see the end project as it will be worth the wait.
“First of all, I’m hoping to see Depot Street like it was when I was a child with people everywhere,” Wolfe said. “That’s what I’m hoping for but I also think it will be tremendous for our business and I think when all of these other buildings are renovated and businesses are in, it will be phenomenal.”
The construction for West Depot Street between Main and Irish streets is expected to be finished by this fall. You can follow construction updates for the Depot Street construction project on the downtown Greeneville website. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/businesses-weigh-in-on-how-west-depot-street-construction-has-affected-them/ | 2023-06-20T01:57:33 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/businesses-weigh-in-on-how-west-depot-street-construction-has-affected-them/ |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Community members came together to celebrate Juneteenth on Monday.
In north Johnson City, the sound of a soulful saxophone ushered in members of the community to a panel discussion on Juneteenth.
The panel discussion was composed of community leaders with a focus on celebrating differences and communicating ways to improve.
Johnson City Vice Mayor Aaron T. Murphy was one of the panellists and spoke about the importance of finding common goals.
“What do we agree on? We want to have a safe community, right? We don’t want lawlessness running rampant,” said Murphy. “We find more common goals and interest that we can all invest in and rally around and get it done.”
At the Langston Centre in downtown Johnson City, community members submitted their answers to questions about Black History during a trivia night put on by Community History 365.
Visitors tested their knowledge and learned new facts about Black history.
Supervisor of the Langston Centre, Adam Dickson, said that because of the holiday, conversations can start moving towards the political and economic dimensions of slavery.
“Certainly, we can talk about millions of individuals that were considered chattel, but we can also glean from that the contribution that American slaves bring to this burgeoning republic,” Dickson said.
As people celebrated the holiday, they also celebrated the announcement of new Black history classes being offered at the Langston Centre beginning July 11.
“Black history is American history,” said Dickson. “It’s very important that we as a society know the fullness of our history and that we celebrate the strength and the character of the American narrative.”
The classes will run from 2 to 4 p.m. and will be on a 6-week schedule. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-celebrates-juneteenth-through-education-and-conversation/ | 2023-06-20T01:57:36 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-celebrates-juneteenth-through-education-and-conversation/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — An online survey to get citizens’ feedback regarding a draft plan on the future of the Lynn Garden community is now live.
The survey comes after an open house meeting last week that offered community members a chance to look at a draft study of the Lynn Garden corridor by a Nashville-based consulting firm. The firm has been working on the study for the past eight months.
The firm is expected to present its recommendations to city leaders later this summer.
The survey has 15 questions about the Lynn Garden corridor. The consulting firm will review the responses and take them into consideration for the draft plan.
The survey can be accessed by clicking here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/survey-on-lynn-garden-corridor-study-now-active/ | 2023-06-20T01:57:40 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/survey-on-lynn-garden-corridor-study-now-active/ |
RALPH, Ala. (WIAT) — Storm cleanup continues in the community of Ralph, Alabama in Tuscaloosa County. The area was hit hard Friday night by storms knocking down trees and causing power outages.
Glanda Jacobs left her house Friday and spent the night at her neighbor’s basement to seek shelter. Saturday, she returned home to find a large tree fell just inches from her house.
“I feel thankful and better now and the Lord saved my house and that was really the most important thing because the material things can be replaced,” Jacobs said.
The Tuscaloosa County EMA set up a command post Monday so they can help storm victims get assistance. County Road 75 in Ralph was the hardest hit area, the EMA took 35 reports of damage including seven homes that sustained damaged from fallen trees.
Donna Hoggle is the owner of Triple J Tree Service; her crews were busy Monday using chain saws to cut fallen limbs and heavy machinery to clear large tree debris.
“We are here in Ralph tying to help with the storm cleanup and we are at a location that has a minimum of 20 trees down and its pretty devastating and we have trees on houses and its lots of damage to take care of,” said Hoggle.
County Commissioner Reginald Murray says he blessed that there was no loss of life or injuries.
“It reminds us all that we need to heed all the weather warnings and we have enough devices like cell phones where you can keep track of weather. I’d say we are blessed we didn’t have any loss of life or serious injury,” said Murray.
American Red Cross is on the ground in Ralph helping storm victims, anyone who needs a place to stay can contact them. The National Weather Service surveyed the area Monday. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/cleanup-effort-underway-in-tuscaloosa-county-after-friday-storms/ | 2023-06-20T02:04:33 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/cleanup-effort-underway-in-tuscaloosa-county-after-friday-storms/ |
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Truck driver Tyrone Williams found a dead Burmese python on the side of State Road 82 near Corkscrew Road. Williams wasn’t sure if the snake was dumped there or made its way up from the Everglades.
Dr. Billy Gunnels, a professor of biological sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University, said we should expect to see more of the pythons heading our way.
“These snakes are moving north,” said Gunnel. “Their strongest presence is in the Everglades, but they are going further and further north.”
Dr. Gunnel said climate change is to blame.
“As our climate gets warmer, they’re able to continue to go further and further,” he said.
Scientists first found Burmese pythons in the Everglades in the 1990s, most likely caused by irresponsible releases of pythons held as pets. Since then, they have spread throughout the Everglades. They stayed within the South Florida area until recently when more have been spotted further north.
“There’s a number of scientific studies that show that they are particularly successful close to where we live,” said Gunnel. “They really like that edge environment in a natural and human environment.”
Dr. Gunnel said they will become more prevalent as the building continues.
“So, like State Road 82, for example, what a great environment from the perspective of a Burmese python. You have the Corkscrew ecosystem watershed, you have Lehigh Acres, you have all the developments going up and down Corkscrew Road. I mean, that would appear to be a very good environment for them,” he said.
Dr. Gunnel said if you encounter a python, call FWC immediately. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/collier-county/2023/06/19/experts-warn-of-increased-burmese-python-presence-in-collier-county/ | 2023-06-20T02:15:31 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/collier-county/2023/06/19/experts-warn-of-increased-burmese-python-presence-in-collier-county/ |
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Apartments may not be coming to a Cape Coral golf course, after all.
WB Property Group, based in New York, canceled the contract to purchase Hunters Run Executive Golf Course because of pressure and concern over possible litigation from neighbors, according to the course’s listing agent with ERA Cape Realty.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rezoning of historic Cape Coral golf course put on hold
Now, neighbors who live next to the nearly 60-year-old course are making plans to buy it so no one else builds.
“When we got that phone call we said, ‘Wow this is the day we’ve been waiting for’,” said Charlie Pease, referring to the canceled contract involving WB.
Pease is a part of Keep Our Parks And Rec, a Cape Coral community group that’s been fighting the future land use application change from Parks & Rec to Multi-Family since the beginning.
“As we grow out to 300,000, 400,000 residents, there are not going to be many spaces to go where there are green spaces and golf courses and things like that if we keep on putting up apartment complexes and paving paradise to put up parking lots,” said Pease.
Now, Pease said he is working with the owner of Hunters Run to buy the course alongside a few other community members and investors.
“We’re not talking about massive amounts of money. We’re talking about people who care about protecting green space, the environment and the golf course. That is a huge thing for our community, especially in season,” said Pease.
The listing agent at ERA Cape Realty said the course’s owner has decided to give the community group a reasonable amount of time to come together to iron out a contract and purchase the nearly 30 acres of land.
Count on NBC2 to keep tracking the latest on the sale. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/19/neighbors-aim-to-purchase-historical-cape-coral-golf-course-after-buyer-cancels-contract-for-sale/ | 2023-06-20T02:15:38 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/19/neighbors-aim-to-purchase-historical-cape-coral-golf-course-after-buyer-cancels-contract-for-sale/ |
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Fresh off his announcement that he will be retiring soon, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak will make a stop in Central Florida.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Give Kids the World will host An Evening with Pat Sajak Aug. 12.
Sajak will discuss his decades-long career and conclude the event with a Q&A session.
READ: Pat Sajak will retire as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host after upcoming season
Tickets are $34.99 for general admission. VIP tickets are $159.99 and include one autographed item, a photo with Sajak, reserved seating and snacks. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Give Kids the World Village.
Last week, Sajak, 76, announced he will retire after 41 seasons at the end of the 2023-2024 season. He will remain as a consultant for three years after leaving his position as host, according to media reports.
Catch Pat Sajak on “Wheel of Fortune” weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on WFTV Channel 9.
READ: Disney announces new events, returning favorites for holiday season
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/give-kids-world-host-evening-with-wheel-fortune-host-pat-sajak/2DTOZTFNIBHVRDQXP6T6CSWNZE/ | 2023-06-20T02:15:38 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/give-kids-world-host-evening-with-wheel-fortune-host-pat-sajak/2DTOZTFNIBHVRDQXP6T6CSWNZE/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Spider-Man fans in Central Florida will be able to experience the Spider-Verse like never before later this summer.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert” swings into the Dr. Phillips Center on Aug. 30.
The showing pairs a screening of the Oscar-winning film with live musicians and turntables featuring a DJ scratcher live on stage.
READ: Give Kids the World to host evening with ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak
The hit film’s soundtrack was composed by Emmy-winning Daniel Pemberton and features songs by Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Jaden Smith, Nicki Minaj and more.
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced the world to Miles Morales, an Afro-Latinx teen who is bitten by a radioactive spider and gains mysterious powers that he must use to save Brooklyn from a villain who could destroy it all, a news release reads.
READ: ‘A refreshed brand’: Orlando REP announces name change
The film is the first of a planned trilogy. The sequel, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” was released this month and is already one of the biggest movies of the year.
Tickets for the live concert are $30. Click here to purchase.
READ: Disney announces new events, returning favorites for holiday season
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/spider-man-into-spider-verse-live-concert-swings-into-dr-phillips-center-this-summer/C33DCRZ6NVHVHODS3XEKYOSK2A/ | 2023-06-20T02:15:44 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/spider-man-into-spider-verse-live-concert-swings-into-dr-phillips-center-this-summer/C33DCRZ6NVHVHODS3XEKYOSK2A/ |
A 65-year-old man is in custody for the murder of his daughter-in-law on Friday.
On Friday, June 16, 2023, shortly before 9:30 a.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report that a woman had been shot at her residence in the 100-block of Adams Loop in the Green District.
Deputies and medical personnel arrived on scene to discover 47-year-old Roseburg resident Amy Jo Coder suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center and later transferred to an out of area hospital. Coder succumbed to her wounds on Sunday afternoon.
Deputies quickly identified her 65-year-old father-in-law, David Foster Coder of Myrtle Creek as her assailant. He was apprehended and taken into custody within a half hour the initial 9-1-1 call.
David Foster Coder was initially lodged on charges of Attempted Murder, Assault I and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Those charges have since been modified to include Murder.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is investigating the homicide, with the Sheriff's Office assigned as the lead investigating agency. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
The investigation is ongoing and no additional details are expected to be released at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 541-440-4458 referencing Case #23-2263. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/homicide-investigation-in-douglas-county/article_eb919c8c-0ef1-11ee-835e-4f6e02df7ceb.html | 2023-06-20T02:20:12 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/homicide-investigation-in-douglas-county/article_eb919c8c-0ef1-11ee-835e-4f6e02df7ceb.html |
TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple Police Department recovered a male body from Temple Lake Park Monday afternoon.
Police say around they recovered the body of 31-year-old Kendall Mitchell around 4:04 p.m., a day after it was reported how he jumped into the lake from a boat to save a child.
On Sunday, around 5:30 p.m., officers were called to the lake because Mitchell did not resurface after he jumped in. The child did resurface, police added.
The Temple Police Department, Temple Fire and Rescue, Morgan's Point Resort Dive Team, Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Parks and Wildlife were all reportedly searching for the man. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/police-identify-temple-lake-drowning-victim/500-54695e8a-a8a1-4108-aec0-c0f25771613d | 2023-06-20T02:20:45 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/police-identify-temple-lake-drowning-victim/500-54695e8a-a8a1-4108-aec0-c0f25771613d |
EVERETT, Wash. — A search is underway for a missing submersible that carries people to view the wreckage of the Titanic. The submersible had five people on board when it was reported missing on Sunday.
The U.S. Coast Guard said that a search was underway Monday about 900 miles off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
Everett-based OceanGate Expeditions confirmed it owns the missing vessel.
“We are exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely,” the company said in a statement to KING 5. “Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families.”
The family of British billionaire Hamish Harding said he was on board the vessel. Last year Harding rode a Blue Origin rocket to space.
Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said during a press conference that the submersible was reported missing Sunday afternoon after the surface team lost contact with it about an hour and 45 minutes into the mission.
A submersible is different than a submarine. A submersible is ferried out to the location where it will go underwater, and it's able to resurface on its own, whereas a submarine is able to travel entirely on its own power.
The vessel is equipped to survive for 96 hours underwater.
One pilot and four mission specialists were on board the submersible. The mission specialists are civilians who go through training prior to the mission. Mauger could not confirm the identity of any of the people on board.
The Coast Guard launched an aerial search and coordinated with Canadian forces for additional assets. The Coast Guard deployed two C-130 aircraft to look for surface evidence of the submersible and are using sonic buoys and other technology to search below the surface. The search area is about 13,000 feet below the water's surface, Mauger said.
“It’s a remote area and it’s a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area,” Mauger said.
The Coast Guard is working on getting the capabilities for an underwater rescue out to the area.
Mauger said the Coast Guard has also been in touch with commercial fishing vessels in the area to look for the submersible.
In 2021, OceanGate Expeditions began what it expected to become an annual voyage to chronicle the deterioration of the iconic ocean liner that struck an iceberg and sank in 1912.
The company said at the time that in addition to archaeologists and marine biologists, the expeditions also would include roughly 40 paid tourists who would take turns operating sonar equipment and performing other tasks in the five-person submersible.
The initial group of tourists was funding the expedition by spending anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 apiece. The voyages are eight days long based out of Newfoundland. The company goes out on a support ship and the submersible goes on several missions down to the Titanic over the course of the expedition. Each one of the trips is between eight to ten hours.
The Associated Press contributed. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/search-underway-missing-submersible-titanic/281-ff3b67b3-1523-4ffc-a50d-75c349ef440e | 2023-06-20T02:20:47 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/search-underway-missing-submersible-titanic/281-ff3b67b3-1523-4ffc-a50d-75c349ef440e |
CEDAR LAKE — A Robinson R22 helicopter crashed into the south end of Cedar Lake around 2 p.m. Monday, WLS-TV reported.
The crash occurred between 140th and 145th avenues. The two people onboard were not injured, according to WLS-TV.
Crews are working on removing the helicopter, which has submerged. The cause of the crash is unclear.
Cedar Lake Police and Fire Department haven't responded to request for comment.
PHOTOS: Dredging of Cedar Lake begins
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
Dredging Cedar Lake
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/cedar-lake/no-injuries-as-helicopter-crashes-into-cedar-lake/article_7dce7d62-0eee-11ee-a773-33ccb404861f.html | 2023-06-20T02:30:12 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/cedar-lake/no-injuries-as-helicopter-crashes-into-cedar-lake/article_7dce7d62-0eee-11ee-a773-33ccb404861f.html |
BLOOMINGTON — Discussions will continue on the establishment of a special commission to address local gun violence after the Bloomington City Council reached consensus on Monday.
Several aldermen voiced concerns, however, that such a commission could be counterproductive due to the work of local groups like the city's own Public Safety and Community Relations Board that perform similar functions.
According to data presented by Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington in March, there were 42 shots-fired incidents, 15 people shot and five homicides by gun in 2022, compared to 31 shots-fired incidents, 12 people shot and three homicides in 2021.
Alderwoman Mollie Ward, who introduced the initiative, said the goal would be to collect gun violence data, including statistics on suicide, that currently is scattered across various websites and community groups.
The commission then would be able to identify patterns and develop a comprehensive plan to address them.
"I don't see this is a never-ending kind of a commission," Ward said. "I see very concrete, clear mile markers being put in place for when we want reports, when we want recommendations (and) how long this commission will exist."
Alderwoman Donna Boelen countered that the commission would lead to a duplication of services from local groups that already are invested in the reduction of gun violence.
"The police department has its strategic plan (and) they are working on their goals constantly," Boelen said. "I see this Bloomington gun violence commission initiative as creating a silo (and) we don't need to create another silo."
Ward argued that handing this goal over to another group that is not specifically designed for the task runs the risk of the data being "watered down."
The measure had been brought before the council during a committee of the whole meeting in February but aldermen voted to place it on a future agenda for further discussion. It was pushed back again after the city council authorized the use of a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for various violence prevention initiatives.
This money was earmarked to provide for, among other things, access to a national database of ballistic evidence, the purchase of two mobile public safety trailer cameras for public events and the initiation of a gun buyback program.
An ordinance to fund these expenses was amended in March at the request of Ward to include measurable reduction targets and an assessment of the overall success of each program.
Five out of the nine council members said they would like to hear more about the initiative with Aldermen Boelen, Sheila Montney, Nick Becker and Kent Lee saying they don't need to hear more.
Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason said he will have to speak with Ward and Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe to determine whether this matter will be introduced as an informational item or as an action item during the next city council meeting.
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
Contact Drew Zimmerman at 309-820-3276. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DZimmermanLee
Bloomington Alderwoman Mollie Ward discusses her proposal for a special commission to address local gun violence during a committee of the whole meeting on Monday. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/bloomington-city-council-requests-additional-discussions-on-gun-violence-commission/article_a594d97c-0f07-11ee-997f-03bf702965a8.html | 2023-06-20T02:43:29 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/bloomington-city-council-requests-additional-discussions-on-gun-violence-commission/article_a594d97c-0f07-11ee-997f-03bf702965a8.html |
A $10,000 reward is being offered for help in finding a man who remains missing nearly three months after his reported abduction in Philadelphia.
On Thursday, March 31, at 2:15 a.m., police responded to a reported abduction on 900 East Godfrey Street. When police arrived they were met by a witness who said he saw two armed men in black hooded sweatshirts exit a black Ford SUV and abduct a man, later identified as 48-year-old Wey Um. The men threw Um into the SUV and drove off, the witness said.
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Police said there hasn’t been any trace of Um since the reported abduction, with no phone calls or evidence that he’s at a hospital and no bank account activity or contact about a ransom.
On March 6, a few weeks before his disappearance, Um had been robbed a block away from Oxford Tavern, a bar that his family owned where he worked as a bartender, investigators said. While Um never reported the robbery, police later released photos of a person of interest in the incident. Investigators have not determined if that person of interest was also involved in Um’s reported abduction or if the two incidents are connected.
“There are people out there that are concerned,” John Apeldorn, president of the Citizens Crime Commission, told NBC10. “You got community, you got friends, and of course the police. So anybody with information, give us a call. We want to know what happened.”
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The Citizens Crime Commission and Philadelphia Police are offering a $10,000 reward for help in finding Um.
“Money opens mouths and hopefully that’ll be the case this time,” Apeldorn said.
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During an interview in March, Harold Smith, a customer at Oxford Tavern, described Um as a kind man.
“He is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life,” Smith said. “Wey cares. That’s why it hurts us.”
If you have any information on Um’s whereabouts, call the Citizens Crime Commission’s anonymous tip line at 215-546-TIPS or Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS.
. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/10k-offered-for-help-in-finding-man-who-remains-missing-months-after-reported-abduction/3588610/ | 2023-06-20T02:47:37 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/10k-offered-for-help-in-finding-man-who-remains-missing-months-after-reported-abduction/3588610/ |
IDAHO, USA — Some unexpected snow in the higher elevations has affected some of the summer operations for the local ski resorts. Normally during this time of year people are mountain biking and hiking the trails, but due to some unexpected snow they had to shut down the mountain and summer activities for the time being.
The official opening for a full week of summer activities at Tamarack was last Friday. There's also ziplines and other summer fun on the lake. However, as of this morning, the Vice President of Mountain Operations for Tamarack told KTVB there was around 4 to 6 inches of snow on the upper slopes, forcing them to shut down any activities on the mountain.
Tamarack added that they expect to get bikers back on those trails in plenty of time for the Northwest Cup Mountain Biking Race that the resort is hosting this upcoming weekend.
Austin Hemperley, who traveled here from Oregon to compete in the race, arrived at Tamarack this past weekend to get a feel for the trails but the snow has cut into some of his training time.
“We can’t really affect the weather and it seems like every time there’s a mountain bike race it either rains or snows or something come in so a big part of being in the sport that we do we just run with it so it going to obviously slow down practice and make it more slippery," he said. "Yesterday we got a taste of the rain up top, and the granite is really slick. The dirt tracks out the rocks and sliding down the rocks and were trying to make the lines work out and doing the best we can.”
KTVB also spoke with Brundage Mountain Resort, and they said that this storm won’t affect their summer activities due to the fact that they are only open on the weekends for now and they expect everything to even out in the warmer months.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-instead-of-summer-activities-some-mountain-resorts-are-getting-snow/277-131ebd0d-cccc-45b5-af63-9a43cb2de1e4 | 2023-06-20T02:52:01 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-instead-of-summer-activities-some-mountain-resorts-are-getting-snow/277-131ebd0d-cccc-45b5-af63-9a43cb2de1e4 |
Firefighters and Spirit Airlines crew members check out a plane after it made an emergency landing at the Lincoln Airport on Monday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Firefighters check out a Spirit Airlines plane after it made an emergency landing at the Lincoln Airport on Monday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Firefighters check out the Spirit Airlines plane’s luggage compartment after an it was forced to make an emergency landing in Lincoln because of an indication of smoke.
A flight from Detroit to Los Angeles carrying 188 passengers and crew got diverted to the Lincoln Airport Monday afternoon due to possible smoke coming from the plane’s cargo area.
Spirit Airlines Flight 706 departed Detroit Metropolitan Airport shortly before 1:30 p.m. and was bound for Los Angeles International Airport when the aircraft, an Airbus A320, got rerouted mid-flight.
The cause for the flight’s diversion was an "indication of smoke," according to Rachel Barth, the airport's director of communications and customer engagement.
Upon landing, all 188 passengers deplaned the aircraft. None required medical attention, Barth said.
In an emailed statement to the Journal Star, Spirit Airlines said Flight 706 got diverted to Lincoln "out of an abundance of caution following a suspected mechanical issue," adding "Safety is our top priority, and the aircraft will be taken out of service and thoroughly evaluated by our maintenance team."
The statement also included an apology issued by the airline and that it has "arranged a new aircraft to continue the flight to Los Angeles."
In the statement, a Spirit representative also clarified that "there was no smoke in the cargo area or on board."
Flights getting diverted aren’t an uncommon phenomenon, and Lincoln sees some “on a pretty routine basis,” according to Barth.
“We’ll see different types of aircraft or different airlines land here at Lincoln,” she said. “We can handle almost any size of aircraft.”
Flight 706 landed on runway 18, the airport's longest runway.
Spirit does not have service at the Lincoln Airport, which has flights on United Airlines and Red Way. Passengers of Flight 706 will either have to wait for the new Spirit plane or find other means to get to their destination.
“If they have to spend the night because they can’t get on (a new flight) the next day, usually the airline will set them up in a hotel or something," Barth said. "But usually they’ll stay in the security area because they don’t want to come down here and then have to leave.”
Firefighters check out the Spirit Airlines plane’s luggage compartment after an it was forced to make an emergency landing in Lincoln because of an indication of smoke. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/flight-carrying-more-than-180-people-diverts-to-lincoln-airport-due-to-indication-of-smoke/article_12d7cc9a-0ee7-11ee-a4c3-9f912d2fdd98.html | 2023-06-20T02:54:28 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/flight-carrying-more-than-180-people-diverts-to-lincoln-airport-due-to-indication-of-smoke/article_12d7cc9a-0ee7-11ee-a4c3-9f912d2fdd98.html |
ARKANSAS, USA — A Crawford County attorney has been accused in a lawsuit of taking advantage of two developmentally disabled siblings in Alma by charging nearly $200,000 of a $700,000 trust fund created to support their needs.
Larry and Loreva Boatright were left with a trust fund from their sister Barbara Steffen who died from Parkinson's in 2021. According to the lawsuit filed by a lawyer representing the siblings, Barbara's primary intention behind the trust was to support the "lifetime needs" of her siblings due to their disabilities and limited employment ability.
Two other beneficiaries were included in the trust: Dylan Conrad and Brian Steffen, the latter of whom also have disabilities and is believed to be in a nursing home in Bryant.
Prior to Barbara's death, an amendment was made to the trust that separated Larry, Loreva, and Brian's shares "in order to safely hold and carefully distribute the funds" to confidently ensure the funds will provide for their basic needs, the lawsuit says.
Between Loreva and Larry, their share of the trust totaled 75% of the total amount in the fund, an amount in which Van Buren Attorney Gentry Wahlmeier is accused of "baiting and switching" the siblings into signing over one-third of that total amount to him for his work in distributing the money. Attorney Matt House now represents the Boatright's.
“You've got a situation where an attorney, and a trustee that is Citizens Bank and Trust, were supposed to be protecting these folks. And yet, collectively, they walk away with far more than any of the individual trust beneficiaries. That is not what Barbara Stephen wanted,” he said.
Distribution of the trust:
- Loreva Boatright: 40%
- Larry Boatright: 35%
- Dylan Conrad: 13%
- Brian Steffen: 12%
While Barbara was alive, she reportedly made a deal with Ameriprise to distribute the trust when she died, however, the lawsuit states that after Barbara's death, Ameriprise "declined to serve."
Eventually, Larry and Loreva were referred to Van Buren Attorney Gentry Wahlmeier.
Wahlmeier was reportedly employed by Larry and Loreva to create their "supplemental needs trusts," which according to the lawsuit, may not have actually even been needed, but "even if they were, that is all the legal work that Larry and Loreva needed, and that is all the legal work that they wanted."
Our affiliate Arkansas Business spoke to Timothy Russell, the president of Estate Planners of Arkansas, who said that a trustee's duty is to ensure that the rules of the trust are being followed and that beneficiaries aren't being cheated.
He said that the special needs trust that Wahlmeier worked on was largely redundant because Steffen had already made provisions for her siblings, the Boatrights. Russell said all the work required of Wahlmeier was getting two or three tax IDs, which are free, and arranging for a trustee to be appointed.
“And so that would have been maybe an hour’s worth of work,” Russell told Arkansas Business.
The lawsuit states that the work requested by Larry and Loreva "should have taken a minimal amount of work (an hour or two at the very most)" and should only cost a "few hundred dollars."
In early 2023, caretakers for Larry and Loreva reportedly realized that Wahlmeier had charged them $197,591 for creating the documents, an amount of money that was disbursed from the trust into Wahlmeier's law firm.
The nearly $200,000 fee is, according to the lawsuit, the largest payout of the entire trust distribution—larger than each of the four named beneficiaries.
In February 2022, Wahlmeier filed a petition to appoint Citizens Bank & Trust as the trustee of Larry and Loreva's trust, which was granted in May 2022.
The lawsuit states that Wahlmeier sent a letter to Joe Stewart, who reportedly serves as the bank's trust officer, senior vice president, and cashier, to send a check "to Wahlmeier Law Firm, P.A. for 33% of the gross value of Larry Boatright and Loreva Boatright's share."
Loreva and Larry reportedly were not sent a copy of the letter, or informed of its existence.
The ongoing lawsuit argues that Citizens Bank & Trust "inexplicably distributed $197,591 as an attorney fee to Wahlmeier, evidently without questioning its reasonableness or otherwise insisting upon any rationale or documentation justifying such an incredibly large fee."
Two weeks after distributing the funds to Wahlmeier's law firm, the lawsuit states that Citizens Bank & Trust took $26,483.50 out of the trust as its own "administration fee." The lawsuit states that this fee "was evidently for really doing nothing more than distributing a car to Loreva and improperly distributing $197,591.49 to Wahlmeier."
“A trustee is designed to protect the beneficiaries and to look out for their best interests. The reason why Barbara Stephen wanted to put the money in trusts was because she knew that Larry and Loreva were not particularly sophisticated, and couldn't really handle their own financial affairs,” said House.
He claims Wahlmeier and the bank should’ve known better saying that while corporate trustees like citizens bank can charge a percentage of the trust assets as their administration fee -- it has to be a reasonable amount and this wasn’t. He says the same goes for attorneys.
“That's where Citizens Bank was supposed to come in and questioned this. [The bank] should have demanded documentation from Mr. Wahlmeier. [The bank] should have gone to a court and said, 'Hey, this guy is asking for $197,000, we're not sure if this is reasonable. What do you think about it, Judge?' They didn't do any of that. From what we can tell, they just wrote the check,” said House.
It wasn't until six days later that Loreva, Larry, Dylan, and Brian had their shares of the trust funds distributed.
A quote in the lawsuit reads, "Wahlmeier's conduct is precisely the type of greedy, self-serving behavior that gives lawyers a bad name and seriously injures the reputation of the legal profession in society at large."
Wahlmeier's attorney, M. Jered Medlock of Fort Smith, said he wasn’t interested in commenting, he told Arkansas Business. But in a March 30 filing in a probate proceeding that raised the allegations, Medlock wrote that Wahlmeier “Denies all allegations.”
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/river-valley-attorney-cheats-disabled-siblings-200000/527-e75d892c-4e9f-4248-98da-5afb8a220163 | 2023-06-20T02:54:55 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/river-valley-attorney-cheats-disabled-siblings-200000/527-e75d892c-4e9f-4248-98da-5afb8a220163 |
It’s a tough time to be a parent, and for some species, it’s even a tough time to become a parent, thanks to light pollution. Firefly males attempting to attract mates are hindered by the high levels of light on the planet, which means entering the world of fatherhood has never been harder for them.
Bioluminescence is the key to attracting female fireflies, who prefer the most conspicuous males — the ones who flash most frequently, most brightly, or for the longest time. Males are trying to show off their light-producing and signaling capabilities to impress females and get them to flash back in response. This courtship with light is tricky when the lights are on, which is an issue in many urban areas.
Females are most responsive to bright flashes of light, but in areas with lots of light pollution, even bright male flashes don’t charm or interest females like those same flashes do in proper darkness. The fireflies who must cope with light pollution do adjust as best they can.
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In general, when the ambient light is more intense, males compensate by changing their flashing behavior. They produce brighter flashes of light, but generate fewer of them overall. They lower their flash frequency, measured by the number of flashes per minute. Even when males do light up in the face of light pollution, females will not respond if they can barely see the males or do not consider them sufficiently flashy.
One study looked at the effect of specific wavelengths of light rather than a broad spectrum of light on the flashing behavior of fireflies. Different colors of light had different impacts on firefly courtship behavior. When exposed to light with a wavelength of 533 nanometers or less (green, blue, and violet light), males gave flashes that were extra bright but did not flash as often. When males were exposed to light with a wavelength of 597 nanometers or more (orange and red light), they did not adjust their flashing behavior at all, which makes sense since fireflies are unable to perceive light in that part of the color spectrum. That is useful information for making policy decisions related to light pollution because light of those colors may be less damaging to firefly populations.
In our International Dark Sky City of Flagstaff, these insects could prosper in a way that is not possible in many other areas of the world, so it’s a shame we don’t have fireflies in the west. Fireflies need darkness to thrive, and that’s becoming increasingly rare here on the earth.
If it’s too bright out, males don’t signal at all, which is why there is no firefly courtship during the day or when the moon is full. Now fireflies are up against light pollution every night with high levels of light from streetlights, porch lights and other sources of artificial light.
Whether there is light pollution in an area or not, the brightest courtship behavior attracts females, so it’s the flashiest males who become dads.
Karen B. London, Ph.D. is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and an author of seven books about animals, including her most recent: Cows, Ants, Termites, and Me: Revealing the World of Animals One Newspaper Column at a Time, which is a collection of 145 London Zoo columns. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/london-zoo-the-flashiest-males-become-dads/article_1c432c62-0efa-11ee-bd64-ebb27f55b9da.html | 2023-06-20T02:56:45 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/london-zoo-the-flashiest-males-become-dads/article_1c432c62-0efa-11ee-bd64-ebb27f55b9da.html |
The Wilbur Fire near Clints Well is now at 41% containment, forest officials announced Monday. The lightning-caused wildfire is now about 7,938 acres in size as firefighters continue to work the blaze.
Meanwhile, firefighters near the Grand Canyon continue to manage two lightning-caused fires as well.
The Ridge Fire, about 7 miles southeast of Tusayan near Skinner Tank, is now at 611 acres and moving south.
The Hull Fire, near Lower Hull Tank and Hull Cabin along the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park boundary, is 356 acres.
Both are being used by fire officials to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in a similar way to how the Coconino National Forest has utilized several fires this spring, including the Wilbur Fire.
Crews on the scene of both blazes are patrolling, collecting data on fire behavior and on-the-ground conditions, and preparing roads and other natural control features by clearing any brush and burning areas to create perimeters around the fires, officials said.
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Smoke from the Hull and Ridge fires may be visible from various forest roads in and around the vicinity Highway 180 and State Route 64. Within Grand Canyon National Park, smoke impacts may be most significant along Desert View Drive.
Wilbur Fire
Over the weekend fire crews patrolled and secured the Wilbur Fire’s edge along Forest Road 142 and Highway 260 near FR 144.
Crews conducted back burns along FR 616 to FR 149 utilizing interior forest roads and continuing west to the 2016 Corduroy Fire scar.
Firefighters and the Arizona Department of Transportation road crews will continue to remain on scene overnight to monitor the fire perimeter and smoke conditions along highways and provide for public safety.
Back burns were halted Monday with high winds predicted. Fire officials said work was likely to start back up early Monday evening.
Officials said on Tuesday they planned to continue burning along interior forest roads between FR 149 and State Route 260 if conditions allow. Drivers in the area may encounter smoke and diminished visibility along SR 87 and SR 260, officials warned.
Road delays of 15 minutes will be in effect at the junction of and along SR 87 and SR 260 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
For further information, please visit https://az511.gov.
The Coconino National Forest issued an area closure to protect public health and ensure firefighter safety earlier this month. The full closure order and map are available at fs.usda.gov/alerts/coconino/alerts-notices.
Impacts from smoke may be visible from multiple locations including the Verde Valley and along Lake Mary Road, SR 260 and SR 87.
Smoke will remain visible as operations continue into the week. As temperatures cool overnight smoke may linger in drainages and valleys until daytime winds surface. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/weather/wilbur-fire-41-contained-as-firefighters-continue-working-two-fires-near-grand-canyon/article_c7f86914-0ecd-11ee-b0d2-d78869c63003.html | 2023-06-20T02:56:51 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/weather/wilbur-fire-41-contained-as-firefighters-continue-working-two-fires-near-grand-canyon/article_c7f86914-0ecd-11ee-b0d2-d78869c63003.html |
Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford, right, speaks to the Ada County Commissioners during a public interview at the Ada County Courthouse in June 2021. Despite a tight budget proposal from the county, Clifford and the sheriff's office is asking for 15 new positions to be funded.
Inflation affects governments just as much as its citizens – that much was made clear last week as Ada County officials presented the proposed 2024 fiscal year department budget to the Ada County Commissioners.
Across the board, the county has applied a 2.5% increase for operating capital budgets to address inflation. The budget is $373,437,946, including $1.5 million in personal supplementals and $5.8 million in operating supplementals and right now, Ada County has $3.2 million in requests more than it has revenue to cover.
The Ada County Sheriff's Office is asking for a budget of $101,944,774 in the fiscal year 2024, which is $3,355,353 over the appropriation total.
In preparation for the budget meetings, every department was asked to not ask for new positions. Sheriff Matthew Clifford asked for 15 new positions: five 911 dispatchers, a jail investigator, two training deputies, a training sergeant, two courthouse security deputies and an IT project manager. Three other positions will be funded internally, including a sex offender registration coordinator, jail health services admin tech and a 911 emergency dispatcher.
Since Oct. 20, 2022, the number of daily non-emergency calls has increased by 27% and the number of emergency calls has increased by 43%, Clifford said.
"We are getting a rash of 911 hang up calls," Clifford said. "We need to return all those calls and if no one answers we need to send out resources to check them out. In May 2022, we had 482 911 hang-ups. In May 2023, we had almost 2,400. That lost time in the field and on the phone slows the whole process down."
Based on national standards, the center should have 74 dispatchers for maximum efficiency. They only have 56.
According to Clifford, the number of inmates in the county jail is getting "dangerously close" to their capacity of 1,116. As of Wednesday last week, there were 1,070 inmates in the county jail — the highest occupancy the county has seen all year, Clifford said.
"Every position I'm asking for today is a direct result of what we've experienced in the county and the need to provide a high level of service to our stakeholders," Clifford said. "Whether it's increasing emergency calls into the dispatch center and exploding jail population, or mitigating risk by ensuring our staff has the very best training to keep them safe, my team needs to know that we hear them and we support them."
Idaho is the fastest growing state in the nation, Trent Tripple, clerk of Ada County District Court, said. The more people move to Idaho, the more competition increases, which drives inflation and cost of living higher.
"With rising costs, the pressure's on our employees — including health care increases, retirement savings increases, and prices for just about everything else in their lives increasing — we have to compensate them appropriately or we will lose them and not be able to provide the high quality central services our citizens have come to expect," Tripple said.
Between fiscal year 2019 and 2023, Ada County added 251 new positions, but went from a 94% fill rate to 90%.
"We're adding positions, but not filling them," Tripple said. "...We needed to consider serious employee salary adjustments to keep up with inflation to address the large number of vacancies that we have."
Ada County's average hourly wage is $28.42, which is below the statewide and Boise private sector average. Two-thirds of Ada County employees make less than $22.80 an hour, where one-third of employees make over $39 an hour.
Still, Idaho's unemployment rate has remained low at 3.1%, Tripple said.
Although inflation has made for a tight budget, Idaho recently utilized some of its surplus to address property tax relief, which the county is "sifting through" in the new house bill 292, Tripple said.
"The reduction in home values has reversed the trend of property taxes, shifting from residential properties to commercial properties," Tripple said. "For the first time in many years, residential homeowners can expect a decrease in the property tax bill due to this alone."
Budget deliberations will begin on June 20, the commission could adopt the tentative budget on Aug. 1, finalizing the budget on Aug. 15.
Emily White is a reporter for the Idaho Press. She covers Boise and Ada County with an emphasis on education. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyWhite177 and email her at ewhite@idahopress.com
Emily White is a reporter for the Idaho Press. She is a graduate from Utah State University and holds degrees in journalism and English. Previously, White worked as a reporter and content manager at the Utah Statesman. In her free time, she can be found baking or watching a good movie. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/ada-county-proposed-budget-is-tight-amidst-inflation/article_536c493a-0ebe-11ee-9ea4-c31ff8379a8b.html | 2023-06-20T02:56:58 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/ada-county-proposed-budget-is-tight-amidst-inflation/article_536c493a-0ebe-11ee-9ea4-c31ff8379a8b.html |
Following the unanimous decision by Boise City Council last week to approve the update of the zoning code, a prominent mayoral candidate has criticized the process by which it got passed.
Mike Masterson, a former Boise police chief who’s challenging Boise Mayor Lauren McLean in the upcoming election, released a press release Saturday that argued the rewrite of the zoning code was needed but rushed and lacked adequate input from the public.
The rewrite represents the first major change to the code since it was adopted in 1966.
“The rewrite of a zoning code is a big undertaking, and Boise needed it. The rewrite required time, analysis and consideration,” Masterson said in the statement. “Most of all, it required a thorough community discussion. So I watched the public comment process over the last three months for the proposed modern zoning ordinance with interest. I am sad to say it fell short.”
The code rewrite won’t be in effect until Dec. 1. The more-than-600-page document will guide how growth could occur, allowing more density and diverse housing types in some areas and more mixed-uses in neighborhoods.
In the fall of 2020, the city of Boise solicited feedback about its current zoning code and sought recommendations; it received more than 800 responses, according to the city’s website. Boise also created a citywide advisory committee to help guide the direction of the rewrite.
Boise Planning and Development Services Director Tim Keane said during recent city council meetings that this advisory group met 23 times and was “instrumental” in helping create the draft.
“A year to 18 months ago that we really made significant changes to this proposal that's before you because of the public discussion because of what people were telling us about how they wanted to achieve the goals that we have as a city,” Keane said at the June 12 council meeting. "So that was a big shift a year to 18 months ago in terms of how we fundamentally organize these regulations"
The first draft module, which included the section of the zoning code that outlines what would and wouldn’t be allowed within certain zones, was released in spring 2021. The city sought feedback from May to June that year. The second draft module included development and design standards and was released in January 2022; community outreach for this section took place from January to April.
A revised draft of modules one and two, created based off community feedback, was provided in the summer of 2022. The city held three public open houses to gather input on the revised draft. That fall, Boise released module three, which included the processes and procedures developments will need to go through to receive approval. In October and November 2022, the city held five community conversations on this module.
The proposed new code was released in February 2023 and reported to the Planning and Zoning Commission. In April, the commission held four days of public hearings on the rewrite before unanimously recommending approval on April 27.
Masterson wrote in his statement that the outcome of the zoning rewrite felt “already decided from the beginning.” He also called an advocacy group that supported the rewrite “mysterious.”
The group, Neighbors for Boise, began as a Facebook group called “Afford Boise,” according to Joe Jaszewski, who started both groups.
“We’re all local. We started here. I don’t know what’s mysterious about it,” Jaszewski said.
Jaszewski moved to Boise in 2003 but moved into Garden City in 2019. He said he didn’t provide comments on the zoning code but helped efforts, and the group’s other board members — Nina Schaeffer and Patrick Sproutz — are both Boise residents.
It began as a Facebook group to discuss housing projects and the need that Jaszewski saw for more types of housing and more affordability, he said. It became an official not-for-profit corporation in May, according to its business filing. Masterson questioned why it had a Post Falls address in its filing.
Jaszewski said the organization used a registration service with a North Idaho location because it doesn’t have a physical address, but the group has a Boise P.O. Box.
Masterson said the rewrite still has unanswered questions. “How will this add to our affordable housing supply? Not just rentals but most importantly homeownership,” he wrote.
The testimony on the code, on both sides, was often emotional.
After it passed, McLean became choked up.
“This shows us as Boiseans always do where it matters most. We find what we value and we work from here,” she said at the meeting. “And this council did that through countless hours of testimony this week for many, many questions over the last year from communications and conversations with residents in all neighborhoods of the city with neighborhood associations that I too deeply value.”
Idaho Press reporter Carolyn Komatsoulis contributed to this report | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-mayoral-candidate-criticizes-zoning-rewrite-process/article_2ab11d34-0eed-11ee-9d43-3f9128f18cb0.html | 2023-06-20T02:57:04 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-mayoral-candidate-criticizes-zoning-rewrite-process/article_2ab11d34-0eed-11ee-9d43-3f9128f18cb0.html |
Inmate dies from injuries from assault IDAHO PRESS STAFF newsroom@idahopress.com Jun 19, 2023 4 hrs ago Comments Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email The walls of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution June 12, 2012 in Kuna, Idaho. Greg Kreller/IPT Support Local Journalism If you value these stories, please consider subscribing. Subscribe Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A 26-year-old man died Sunday of injures from an assault by two other residents of Idaho Maximum Security Institution.Two inmates reportedly attacked the man on June 14.A spokesperson for the Idaho Department of Correction said on June 15 no further information about the incident was available at this time. The 26-year-old was taken to a hospital in critical condition and declared dead at 8:02 p.m. Sunday, according to a press release.Idaho State Police detectives are conducting an investigation, the release said.The 535-bed correctional facility is located south of Boise. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Featured Local Savings Load comments Enter our Current Contests! Newsletter Signup Sign up today for one of our great newsletters and get headlines right in your inbox every morning. Sign up now! Trending Now Poilice: Suspect in custody after 4 people fatally shot at residence in north Idaho A Tribute to Juneteenth: A brief history of Black people in Idaho Our state is facing a veterinary shortage. What does this mean for Idaho pet owners? Bogus Basin summer season ready to roll Idaho students are hitting historic lows in math, so educators are teaming up to help Latest e-Edition To view our latest e-Edition, click the image on the left. Archive Search the complete digital archives for all papers in the Pioneer News Group. Visit the Archives
Sign up today for one of our great newsletters and get headlines right in your inbox every morning. Sign up now! | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/inmate-dies-from-injuries-from-assault/article_ac95c128-0ef3-11ee-a67c-3b5576d8317f.html | 2023-06-20T02:57:10 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/inmate-dies-from-injuries-from-assault/article_ac95c128-0ef3-11ee-a67c-3b5576d8317f.html |
RIO VISTA, Calif. — A motorcyclist died after crashing along Highway 160 near Rio Vista Sunday afternoon.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash was reported around 3:09 p.m. along Highway 160, north of Highway 12.
Police said the motorcycle rider was traveling at an unknown speed when he veered across the southbound lane and hit the guardrail. It's not clear why the motorcyclist veered into the southbound lanes.
The motorcyclist was ejected, hit the guardrail and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sacramento County Coroner's Office identified the man as Harry Leonard Uncapher, 65 of Hayward.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-dies-crash-near-rio-vista/103-eb297988-3238-4224-a14b-682dd31e3092 | 2023-06-20T03:00:03 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-dies-crash-near-rio-vista/103-eb297988-3238-4224-a14b-682dd31e3092 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Monday marks Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Locals are observing the holiday at an array of events across the region, including one at the State Capitol Monday.
"It's something that we must do to form a more perfect union because the blood of people fighting for freedom is in my veins," said Michael Harris, regional director of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation and director of California's Black Agriculture Working Group.
The groups hosted an event at the Capitol with the goal of sharing what Juneteenth is from different perspectives. Speakers discussed the history from slavery to emancipation.
"June 19, 1865 when the enslaved folks in Texas began their journey towards freedom," said Harris, referring to the date the holiday recognizes.
Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday two years ago.
As locals look to the future, children's book author Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs is highlighting the need for diversity in school books.
"Literacy is so important, especially literacy for children of color," she said. "And for children to be able to see themselves in books that they read, especially children of color, is really huge."
She also aims to help parents and kids navigate sensitive subjects including talking about childhood sexual abuse and social/emotional health, in addition to showcasing diversity in her children’s books.
"I want to be here to showcase that there are books for children of color that feature children of color as the main characters. Let's get them into the schools," she said.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/juneteenth-california-state-capitol/103-48bfa062-b6d8-4ac7-b0d3-58466045477b | 2023-06-20T03:00:09 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/juneteenth-california-state-capitol/103-48bfa062-b6d8-4ac7-b0d3-58466045477b |
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No one has put a face on Midland’s shelter animals like Tasha Sport.
A veteran of Midland’s animal rescue community, Sport has not only been an advocate for dogs and cats looking for their “furever” home but has put her considerable talents toward the mission. In fact, it has changed how Midlanders see those animals. Gone are the sad lineup pictures of the animals (cue the Sarah McLachlan song “Angel”). Instead, she has brought costumes and weekly themes to the animal showcase, showing off the personality of an animal ready to leave the Midland Animal Shelter for a living room and backyard of a responsible pet owner.
With themes related to Christmas, Thanksgiving and other calendar dates, along with photos Midland PD’s finest and sports teams, Sport's photography has changed the way Midland Animal Shelter has marketed its residents. Her work appears weekly on Facebook pages, such as those belonging to the City of Midland, Midland Animal Shelter Adoptables (MASA), Permian Basin Animal Advocates and the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
In retrospect, Sport's work showcasing the fur babies was naturally going to be a hit. Those walking the halls of the Animal Services building can see her work (including animals at iconic Midland locations like the Duck Pond, the Petroleum Museum and Yucca Theatre) on the walls of the multi-million-dollar center.
“My photos show how they will interact with family, how they behave,” Sport said. “I really enjoyed the ‘Lemonade Stand,’ and ‘Memorial Day,’ the military aspect to it (with the animals in military garb).”
There is meaning in all of them, including the “Dr. Suess” and “Top Gun” shoots (among others), Sport said.
Sport is the operator of TashaSportPhotography.com, a site that shows off more of her considerable talents. Sport told the Reporter-Telegram about the unique opportunity for pet owners to take part in photo sessions at a pet’s end of life. The idea is based off the “Tilley Project” (https://thetillyproject.org). Sport said the sessions that memorialize the relationship a person has with their pet can be “emotional,” “difficult” and “extremely rewarding.” She recommends pictures with animals not necessarily in their last days. She even talked about a Tilley Project photoshoot with a person and their horse.
“Most are delivered in black and white,” Sport said. “They are timeless and meaningful.”
Sport, 47, was born and raised in Midland. She and her husband have a home with five dogs, four cats and two turtles. Her time in the animal rescue business includes presiding as the chair of the City of Midland Animal Services Advisory Committee and working with nonprofits like Midland Human Coalition, Sassy’s Dog Rescue, MASA and PBAA.
She helped “facilitate” Rescue Runners, the twice-a-month activity when people volunteer walking/running dogs from the shelter to a nearby park. Those interested in helping to socialize animals through Rescue Runners can go to Midland Animal Shelter on the first and third Saturdays of the month (from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.).
Mainly she is for activism without the “drama.” She is for those without considerable talents around Midland’s rescue community working together. One will see Sport contribute by chairing a meeting, sitting through a council session and, of course, taking her impactful pictures.
“A good photo can be the difference in a dog getting a home or not,” she said.
Which is why Midland is lucky to have Tasha Sport contributing when Midland’s shelter population needs her most. | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/midland-photographer-makes-difference-animals-18159970.php | 2023-06-20T03:05:25 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/midland-photographer-makes-difference-animals-18159970.php |
The National Weather Service is showing Midland’s streak of 100-degrees could hit at least 12 days through next Monday (June 26).
And along the way, high temperatures are forecasted to reach at least 105 degrees seven times. But does the National Weather Service show 110 degrees in the future at Midland International? On Monday, it did.
The thermometer is expected to flirt with 110 degrees, including five days with high temperatures of 107 degrees or warmer. The hottest days, according to the National Weather Service, are expected to be Monday (108 degrees) Wednesday (108 degrees) and Saturday (109 degrees) and Sunday (111 degrees, which would tie for the sixth warmest day in Midland’s history).
The National Weather Service reports the average high for June 18-June 26 is typically 96 degrees. The high on Monday tied a record for June 19 (108 degrees, set in 2011). The NWS showed a high of 107 expected for Tuesday.
Hot is hot. And should the NWS forecast hold true, then June 2023 will at least tie for third all-time for consecutive 100-degree days in Midland’s history. The all-time record is 14 straight days, set in June 1998 and June 2011.
Lastly, here’s a little bit of history about Midland’s hottest days on record. There have been 11 days in Midland’s history when the thermometer reached at least 111 degrees. And for those keeping track, a majority of those hottest days happened from 1989 to 1998, including the two hottest days on record (116 degrees on June 27, 1994, and 114 degrees on June 28, 1994). | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/nws-midland-111-degree-day-forecast-18160010.php | 2023-06-20T03:05:31 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/nws-midland-111-degree-day-forecast-18160010.php |
Sankofa statue honoring the late Patricia Hilliard-Nunn replaces Confederate "Old Joe."
The statue of a Confederate soldier known as "Old Joe" has been replaced with a statue that represents the legacy of the late Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, Ph.D., a Black woman who shined the light on the ugly history of racism, slavery and lynchings in Alachua County.
Hundreds gathered on the west lawn of the Alachua County Administration Building at 12 SE First St. on Monday to witness the unveiling of the Sankofa bird statue in honor of Hilliard-Nunn, who was a University of Florida senior lecturer, historian, community activist and much more.
The Sankofa bird is a symbol of wisdom from the Akan people of West Africa. While holding an egg in its mouth, its backward-looking pose signifies the importance of learning from the past to shape the future.
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"Old Joe":'Old Joe' comes down
“She modeled strength and dedication and she brought that to Gainesville,” said Anna Prizzia, chair of the Alachua County Commission as she welcomed those attending the unveiling ceremony. “She modeled love and kindness and created an atmosphere where all belonged. I want this statue to be a memory of her love for history, her kind spirit and her love for the community.”
Hilliard-Nunn, who passed away in August 2020, taught African and African American history at UF and lectured at many venues throughout Alachua County. In her lectures, she often emphasized the importance of “Sankofa,” which teaches people to honor their roots, embrace their history and carry forward their ancestors' valuable lessons and experiences, experts on Sankofa say.
E. Stanley Richardson, Alachua County’s poet laureate, recited a poem during the ceremony titled “Sankofa Sister” in honor of Hilliard-Nunn’s legacy.
“She who empowered us and helped us to know,” Richardson said. “The way back is the way forward. This is not the end, but an ever-learning constant beginning.”
The ceremony featured family, friends and others who played a role in creating and advocating for the statue that replaces "Old Joe," which stood for over 100 years.
The ceremony began with pouring of libations by Nii Sowa-La and Ayoka Sowa-La.
Kenneth Nunn, Patricia Hilliard-Nunn's widower, thanked those who played a part in making the Sankofa statue a reality.
“This is a historic day,” Nunn said. “It is historic because we are in Gainesville and the "Old Joe" will be replaced by an African symbol.”
Nunn said his late wife was passionate about sharing the untold stories about Black history everywhere she went.
“She loved all of you and shared what was dear to her with you,” Nunn said. “Let’s celebrate our unity and diversity. She is the reason why people know what Sankofa is. She took special interest in covering Sankofa by addressing the racial violence in Alachua County.”
Nunn hopes the statue will be a reminder to residents and visitors to continue the work of building a better future by knowing history.
“I hope when people see it, they ponder about history,” Nunn said. “When they see it, they will do Sankofa and remember our history — never to forget it and never to repeat it.”
Charles Chestnut IV, an Alachua County commissioner, said the statue is a significant representation of Hilliard-Nunn and how she lived her life.
“It is bittersweet to remember someone who was in our fight,” Chestnut said. “We’re here to recognize her and her tireless efforts. We see it (Sankofa) as a fitting symbol for what she stood for. She will never be forgotten.”
Vivian Filer, chair of the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, reminisced about being in Hilliard-Nunn’s presence and how she would affectionately call Filer her “Gainesville Mother.”
“You can be in her presence for two to three minutes and know her compassion for humanity,” Filer said. “She didn’t say she loved you, she showed you she loved you. She made you feel royal.”
Filer said the CCMCC dedicated a room to Hilliard-Nunn’s research about the plantations in Alachua County.
“We teach Sankofa everyday to all of the children and adults who visit,” Filer said. “I’m glad she brought love and history to its truest form. Black folks owe it to Patricia for people to get it (history) right.”
Nkwanda Jah, director of the Cultural Arts Coalition, talked about what Hilliard-Nunn meant to her as a historian and friend.
“We were lucky to have her for more than three decades,” Jah said. “We reap the benefits of her work. I know she is beaming with pride. She taught us that we must face history so we can discontinue the same evil and the same mistakes.”
George Gadson, the sculptor the county selected to create the statue, also spoke.
“She knew her history and she knew her purpose,” Gadson said. | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/sankofa-statue-in-gainesville-honors-the-late-patricia-hilliard-nunn/70326382007/ | 2023-06-20T03:07:42 | 1 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/06/19/sankofa-statue-in-gainesville-honors-the-late-patricia-hilliard-nunn/70326382007/ |
Mayes joins coalition urging stronger HIPAA protections for reproductive health data
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of attorney generals last week in support of reproductive protections that would make it illegal to share someone's reproductive health information if that person is being investigated in connection to an abortion, according to a statement released Monday.
Mayes signed a comment letter that comes about a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, ruling that Americans no longer have a constitutional right to abortion and allowing states to put their own policy on abortion access.
The letter, directed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was signed by a coalition of attorneys in 24 states including California, Colorado, New York and Washington D.C., among others.
The letter states support to adding Biden-administration proposed amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the federal law that dictates protections of private health information. If the amendments are approved, they would strengthen protections for reproductive health information.
For subscribers:Arizonans who need abortions have alternatives to mifepristone, providers say
"In a post-Roe world, strong protections for patients' health information are critical to ensuring private medical data is not misused or weaponized by anti-abortion extremists," Attorney General Mayes said in the statement. "I strongly support the proposed amendments to strengthen HIPAA privacy protections and urge the Biden administration to implement them quickly."
Mayes said in the Monday news release the proposed protections would be important in preventing criminal or civil penalties for abortions as the Supreme Court ruling has allowed conservative states to enforce more restrictions. According to the statement, 15 states currently have laws in effect prohibiting abortion under all or most circumstances, Arizona included.
The amendments would protect people who access reproductive procedures as well as health care providers.
The proposed changes would forbid the disclosure of protected health information for an investigation, civil liability, and criminal prosecution against a person who sought, obtained, provided, or assisted a reproductive procedure if the person is in a state where it is legal or if the person is seeking reproductive health care that is protected under federal law, like the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, regardless of the state where they are, according to the letter.
"These provisions are essential to begin creating a more unified privacy landscape for access to reproductive care," the statement said.
The coalition also asked for the creation of an online platform available nationwide that provides information on reproductive care and privacy rights, followed by a public awareness campaign to promote the website.
In the letter, the coalition also urged the Biden Administration to create the online site and implement the new amendments as soon as possible.
"The signatory states strongly support the increased privacy protections offered by the Proposed Rule, which will provide much-needed updates for the digital age, offer essential guidance to covered entities, and help shore up protections for critical reproductive health care," the letter reads. "The Department’s swift action in implementing these necessary protections is a vital step in defending sensitive reproductive health information against disclosure to the maximum extent possible in today’s rapidly-shifting and increasingly hostile climate." | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2023/06/19/mayes-signs-letter-seeking-more-abortion-information-protections/70336262007/ | 2023-06-20T03:08:07 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2023/06/19/mayes-signs-letter-seeking-more-abortion-information-protections/70336262007/ |
Phoenix man sentenced to 58 years in prison in wife, roommate murders
A man convicted earlier this year of fatally shooting his wife and their roommate was sentenced to 58 years in prison, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Estevanico Dos Quilombo Palmares, 40, was sentenced on two counts of second-degree murder in the May 2020 deaths of his wife, Cristina Palmares, 30, and a man only identified as a roommate of the couple in Phoenix, the County Attorney's Office disclosed on Monday.
Palmares was found guilty on both murder counts on Feb. 22, and was found guilty by a judge on the prohibited possessor charge on May 19, according to court records, which did not disclose whether a jury or judge handed down the sentence.
Palmares received a concurrent sentence for misconduct involving weapons due to being a prohibited possessor at the time of the killings, prosecutors said.
Evidence of domestic violence history between Palmares and his wife was presented in court, the County Attorney's Office said. Palmares bought the handgun used in the shooting, according to the County Attorney's Office.
“A man is supposed to protect his wife but instead he killed her, and he took her away from us. He needs to go away for a long time so he doesn’t do this to someone else,” Cristina Palmares' sister said during the sentencing on Monday, according to the County Attorney's Office.
Officers found the bodies while conducting a welfare check as prompted by an open door at a house near Jones Avenue and 48th Street on May 18, 2020, police said at the time. A caller reported hearing gunshots earlier in the day, police added.
Palmares was located and arrested a day after the shooting near Broadway Road and 48th Street, police said.
“This case is an example of the harm that comes to a family and a community when a prohibited possessor with a violent history gains access to a firearm," County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/19/phoenix-man-sentenced-to-58-years-prison-in-wife-roommate-murders/70336303007/ | 2023-06-20T03:08:13 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/19/phoenix-man-sentenced-to-58-years-prison-in-wife-roommate-murders/70336303007/ |
EVERETT, Wash. — Washington-based OceanGate Expeditions is the company behind a submersible that was reported missing on Sunday after losing contact with a surface team an hour and 45 minutes into a trip to survey the wreckage of the Titanic.
The company takes paying customers to see the Titanic at a price tag of $150,000 a spot.
Teams from OceanGate Expeditions began surveying the deterioration of the iconic ocean liner in 2021, and have returned every year since. There are five mission legs planned for 2023.
The company said the aim of their Titanic expeditions are to document flora and fauna living in the wreckage, document the condition of the wreck with high-definition photographs and video, and supplement the work of previous scientific expeditions by capturing data and images that can be used for continued scientific study at the site.
The submersibles
The company has three submersibles: Antipodes, which can go 305 meters or 1,000 feet deep, Cyclops 1 which can go 500 meters or 1,600 feet deep, and Titan which can reach depths of up to 4,000 meters or 13,200 feet. According to a promotional video by the company, the controls are made using a repurposed PlayStation 3 controller.
Titan is the submersible that the company takes on Titanic expeditions. The vessel was designed in consultation with a team of engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The submersible includes the company's proprietary Real Time Hull Health Monitoring systems (RTM) which assesses the integrity of the hull throughout every dive, according to the company's website. The company said off-the-shelf components helped to streamline the submersible's construction.
The expeditions
Each mission leg is 10 days, which includes eight days at sea. In an interview with KING 5 back in 2021, the company said missions would include roughly 40 paid tourists, who take turns operating sonar equipment and performing other tasks on the five-person submersible, in addition to archeologists and marine biologists.
The submersible goes on several missions down to the Titanic over the course of the expedition. Each one of the trips is between eight to 10 hours. Each submersible trip typically includes a pilot, a researcher and three "mission specialists," or paying customers.
Mission specialists' training and support fees underwrite the expeditions and the participation of the science team, according to the company's website.
The submersible is launched from a platform that is towed behind the mothership, according to a promotional video. The submersible command module then leaves the platform, performs its mission and returns to the underwater platform to be brought back to the surface. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/oceangate-expeditions-missing-submersible-not-submarine-titanic/281-58d1676c-dc66-4c8e-9620-50032f3555ed | 2023-06-20T03:11:51 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/oceangate-expeditions-missing-submersible-not-submarine-titanic/281-58d1676c-dc66-4c8e-9620-50032f3555ed |
WASHINGTON — An event will be held in Washington County to help people get rid of house chemicals.
Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) is hosting the event at Wild Things Stadium on June 24. It will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
People can bring household chemicals such as cleaners, paint, pesticides, mercury thermometers, or pool chemicals that need to be disposed of.
All materials should be brought to the event in car trucks or truck beds. A worker will unload the materials.
Anyone who disposes of up to 10 gallons or 50 pounds of aerosol cans will need to pay a $20 fee. Loads exceeding that amount will cost an amount decided on-site.
Disposal of a fire extinguisher will cost $12 and mercury will cost $15 per pound.
Anyone who would like to drop off their chemical waste is asked to register by calling 412-488-7490 or by visiting www.prc.org/CollectionEvents.
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PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Police are looking for a missing 13-year-old boy.
Ronnell Miller Jr. was last seen on Brighton Road and Marshall Avenue when he was dropped off at around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. He was reported missing after he did not return to his home in Turtle Creek by 9 p.m. as he had planned.
Miller has not been heard from since and does not have a cell phone.
The boy is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 130 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
Miller was last seen wearing a green zip hoodie, blue jeans and black orange and green Puma shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact Pittsburgh Police at 412-323-7800.
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MCCANDLESS, Pa. — A police officer took time out of his day to rescue a raccoon from a jar in McCandless.
Police were called to a tree between two buildings where a raccoon had climbed into a tree with a clear jar stuck on its head.
Officer Todd Ray told Channel 11 that he was able to use a tool that pries doors open to help remove the jar.
“I was able to reach up far enough within the tree and I just latched on to the back of the jar and pulled the jar forward,” said Ray. “The raccoon just dipped its head and it came right off.”
It is not clear how the jar ended up on the raccoon’s head but Officer Ray thinks it was a jelly jar with jelly left inside.
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PITTSBURGH — Western Pennsylvania might not be producing the amount of Power Five talent that it once did, but that doesn’t mean major college recruiting has gone dry in the area.
Looking back at the classes of 2022 and 2023, the WPIAL has produced players that have signed with Notre Dame, Pitt (twice), Kentucky, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Rutgers and Penn State (twice).
Thus far for the Class of 2024, Belle Vernon four-star athlete Quinton Martin has committed to Penn State, Pine-Richland three-star offensive lineman Ryan Cory has given a verbal to Wisconsin, Central Catholic three-star defensive end Ty Yuhas and Aliquippa four-star linebacker Cam Lindsey both decided to stay home and committed to Pitt, Central Catholic three-star linebacker Cole Sullivan pledged to Michigan while Sullivan’s teammate four-star linebacker Anthony Speca is heading to Penn State.
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TEXAS, USA — A special committee is expected to announce the rules of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial on Tuesday.
That can include details on what kind of evidence can be presented, how witnesses can be called and when the trial will actually start.
Back in May, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleging a pattern of misconduct and abuse of power. The vote immediately led to Paxton's temporary suspension from office, pending the outcome of the impeachment trial.
Paxton took to social media Monday and called the trial a "kangaroo court," before asking the public for donations to fight back.
"RINOS and far-left radicals have established a kangaroo court in the TX Lege. to eliminate America’s most conservative Attorney General. Help me fight back! Would you donate $1, $5, $50, $100 today to show Austin you are in this fight w/me? Follow the link below to donate TODAY," the tweet read.
What we know
A committee of five Republicans and two Democrats has been drafting the rules for the impeachment trial.
Senators, which include Paxton's wife, will act as the jury while 12 state representatives will act as prosecutors.
Angela Paxton has confirmed she will participate in the trial.
Houston Rep. Ann Johnson, who is one of the managers, said she's hoping for a trial that's transparent to the public.
“And that’s why we do think that the proceedings should be televised, people ought to have an opportunity to tune in, they can hear from these witnesses themselves," she said.
Paxton's legal team, who is led by Tony Buzbee, said there should be no live testimony, calling it a needless piece of showmanship.
High-profile Houston-based attorneys Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin will present the Texas House's case in the impeachment trial.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will serve as the judge in this trial, but he also gets to set the rules. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial/285-0a898b6b-e848-4a78-9d99-b2d0599df095 | 2023-06-20T03:15:18 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial/285-0a898b6b-e848-4a78-9d99-b2d0599df095 |
For years, Denton residents Amber and Adam Briggle have been traveling the country advocating for their transgender son, Max, and other youths like him.
Earlier this month, Max joined five of his peers to start telling his own story in the latest episode of the ABC series Our America: Who I'm Meant to Be, which is now available for streaming on Hulu.
"I think that there are a lot of misconceptions about trans people," Max said. "People spreading false information from, I don't know, someone who has never even met a transgender person or nonbinary person or whoever, anybody part of the LGBTQ community, and I think that transgender people, we don't get represented.
"It's like LGB minus the ‘T’ part."
The Briggles have spent much of their son's 15 years working to demystify transgender children and adults. For kids like Max, who was assigned female at birth but began insisting that he was a boy as soon as he could talk, attention can range from bemused curiosity to fear and hostility.
The Briggles have just spent the recent Texas legislative session splitting their time between work — Adam is a philosophy professor at the University of North Texas and Amber runs a successful massage therapy business — and advocating for equality during a season that saw Texas lawmakers considering a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills, with transgender youth losing access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The Briggles were reported to Child Protective Services when Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state child welfare officials to launch child abuse investigations of parents and guardians who provided social and medical support for their transgender children.
Anchoring everything for Amber and Adam is their life with their family, including a plucky elementary school daughter, Lulu, plus a pair of pet cats.
So much of Max's story is emphasizing how normal he is. He recently ended years worth of competitive gymnastics to try out rock climbing and bouldering ("I'm kind of obsessed with it," he says), passing the virtual part of his driver's ed class for a learner's permit and booking time for the driving portion. He studies and plays the ukulele.
But when Max sat down with a panel of his peers in the GenderCool Project to talk with ABC correspondent Gio Benitez, there was another feeling. Not regret or sadness, but something more along the lines of Now, why do we have to do this, again?
"It's also sort of, like, this is the least interesting thing about me," Max said. "There are other things about me that are so much more interesting."
Amber said the ABC special was a team effort between the GenderCool Project, an initiative to tell and promote positive stories about transgender and nonbinary teens, and ABC. Max, who signed on to be part of the GenderCool Project early in 2020, joined a panel of transgender teenagers for the special.
Benitez sat down with the GenderCool Champions, who act as ambassadors to tell their stories to the public. There is Max, who has his sights set on becoming a writer; Eve, who hopes to be an actress; Jonathan, who started college at 14 and is now pursuing a doctorate in chemistry; Chazzie, who first stepped into the media spotlight at 11; Amir, an aspiring barber; and Adelyn, a fellow Texan and, like Max, an older sibling.
Benitez queries the teens on their lives and experiences. For the most part, the conversation reveals just how ordinary the teens are — some aren't morning people, some are devoted to skincare or video games, and all of them are dreaming of their futures and where they'll go in life.
Probably the most remarkable thing about the teens are that Jonathan started college at the same time the other Champions were starting their freshman year of high school.
"Everyone wants to talk about trans kids," Amber said. "And no one wants to talk to them. No one wants to hear from them."
"This was a situation where they were really listened to," Adam said.
Part of the special was spending some time talking to parents. Accompanying the teens was a group of moms and one dad, Adam.
"It just sort of happened that way, which I think is good," Adam said. "We knew they were going to do some interviews with the parents, but I think we thought it was going to be like a snippet. But I thought it ended up being a positive thing. I'd like to see more dads step up and tell their stories more than we see them do that."
Dads of transgender children have gotten more plentiful on TikTok, but media often highlight the "mama bears" who, like Amber, face off with lawmakers and critics.
"I think it's something really universal about a mother's love for her child. But there's plenty of affirming, awesome dads like Adam, and they don't get a microphone," Amber said.
Max and the other teens spent some time for the special in Central Park, near the famous mosaic that says "Imagine." The teens are close to graduation, and Max said he's planning to go to college. He's even eyeing college in Scotland. Until then, he said he'll keep working on "dynos," a rock climbing move that requires the climber to heave themselves to the next handhold with just their upper body. The most impressive dynos see a climber propelling himself or herself with one hand.
This summer, he's splitting his downtime between the local climbing gym and water park. He likes to spend time with friends, his parents said — another normal teenage preference.
"I'm writing a book right now," Max said. "It's like 90 pages so far. I don't really know how to describe it. It's kind of like I'm going back to these memories and I'm talking to the people that are trapped in them. And there's some poetry."
Max called the ABC special "a big leap" for him when it comes to his friends. He's gotten some feedback, he said.
"None of my friends know about me," he said. "They know I love rock climbing and stuff like that. But I guess people just told me that I'm very brave, which I guess would make sense for traveling to New York City and talking to people like Gio Benitez. But I don't see why I'm brave for just living my life."
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