text string | url string | crawl_date timestamp[ms] | label int64 | id string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BOISE, Idaho — According to a social media post by the Boise Police Department (BPD). Around 1:45 p.m. today a single motorcycle crash happened on Fairview Ave. The driver was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.
Fairview was closed for several hours but now one lane on the street is back open. KTVB will update this story as more information comes in.
Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.
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-motorcycle-crash-sends-rider-to-the-hospital/277-831e6ada-b827-4183-84e0-2d44b0de0a80 | 2023-06-20T23:14:56 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-motorcycle-crash-sends-rider-to-the-hospital/277-831e6ada-b827-4183-84e0-2d44b0de0a80 |
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — The Tupelo Police Department is investigating an afternoon shooting on Martin Street.
Police officers responded Tuesday at approximately 3:45 and were told the victim had been transported to the emergency room.
Officers later found a male gunshot victim at the emergency room. His current condition is not known.
Officers found no other victims. Police did not announce an arrest. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/east-tupelo-shooting-under-investigation/article_2f225c7c-0fb3-11ee-a0e9-db5d457e9a2b.html | 2023-06-20T23:15:54 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/east-tupelo-shooting-under-investigation/article_2f225c7c-0fb3-11ee-a0e9-db5d457e9a2b.html |
FULTON, Miss. (WTVA) — The Fulton Fire Department has new life-saving equipment.
The city received three rescue tools that'll allow firefighters to remove trapped people from wrecked vehicles.
This replaces 22 years of old tools.
Assistant Fire Chief Jason Laney said the new gear is portable, powerful and can be operated without the need of a generator. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/fulton-fire-receives-new-rescue-tools/article_6b330c7e-0faf-11ee-9758-6ffc23f1d113.html | 2023-06-20T23:16:00 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/fulton-fire-receives-new-rescue-tools/article_6b330c7e-0faf-11ee-9758-6ffc23f1d113.html |
CALEDONIA, Miss. (WTVA) — A homicide investigation is underway in Lowndes County.
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said a woman was found dead late Tuesday morning inside a house on Grant Road.
The sheriff wasn’t able to share any more details.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant is expected to release the victim’s name soon.
Grant Road is northeast of Caledonia.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/woman-found-dead-near-caledonia/article_76437cd6-0fbc-11ee-9784-2bbff525a60c.html | 2023-06-20T23:16:06 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/woman-found-dead-near-caledonia/article_76437cd6-0fbc-11ee-9784-2bbff525a60c.html |
'It starts here.' Lilly's Pad focuses on resiliency, social interaction, family support
- Sixteen thousand child care centers closed during COVID-19 pandemic.
- STEM and problem resolution are part of Lilly's Pad curriculum.
- Lilly's Pad took seven years to develop.
CANTON TWP. − Lilly Davenport-Price says it took years of experience and preparation before she could comfortably answer the question people were asking:
"Why don't you start a child care center?"
She recently opened Lilly's Pad Child Care Center in the Southgate Shopping Center at 3095 Cleveland Ave. SW for infants 6 weeks to age 5.
Davenport-Price said Lilly's Pad is unique in that it will focus on children's social-emotional development and family involvement. She said it's never too early for a child to acquire good social skills, resiliency and to learn what she calls "self-soothing" techniques.
"It's about educating a young person on how to be able to manage their emotions in a positive way," she said. "And I know some people might think, 'Infants and toddlers and preschoolers? That's too young.' But it's not. People don't think it's too young to put preschoolers on medication or as soon as they get to kindergarten, so why is it too young to practice resiliency? It starts here."
Davenport-Price has worked in children's mental health, developmental disability, and early childhood prevention. A mother of three, she previously worked for the former Community Services as mental health case manager and wraparound services coordinator from 2007 to 2014. In 2015, earned a bachelor's degree in business from Malone University.
Davenport-Price said that when children arrive in the morning, they'll be greeted and asked about their previous evening.
"It's not to be in their families' business, but it's to create a space where they can communicate and feel safe," she said. "Problem-solving is going to be a huge thing, along with positive conflict resolution. We don't do things like, 'Hey, you need to sit in corner.'"
Davenport-Price said she also will use her metal health case management and background to support families because a stable home helps to prevent chaos.
A seven-year process
Davenport-Price said Lilly's Pad has been seven years in the making.
"I was approached to do this in 2016," she said. "It was a discussion for seven years, however I did not feel like I was in a safe enough space to step out. So, I would brush it off. Some of it was fear but most of it was because I believe God wanted the right people around me to do it. But in those seven years, I gained the skills I needed in order for it to be what God intended for it to be. Not the way I intended or the way other folks may have intended it to be."
In 2015, Davenport-Price left Community Services to take a job with Stark Developmental Disabilities, where many of the children she served had a dual diagnosis of mental illness and a developmental disability.
"I gained so much experience because I had that mental health (background) and had worked with systems partners all those years," she said. "I was able to utilize all those skills to create this."
In 2017, she took a job as a school-based services coordinator with the Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Board. She also graduated from Malone that same year with a master's degree in leadership.
"I worked with all the school districts in the county, with the exception of Northwest," she said. "StarkMHAR was instrumental in ensuring safety for students during the suicide contagion. My experience pulling data for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and (distributing) the surveys the CDC created helped educate our county on what families needed; prevention and connection. My hope is that's what our center can create for families."
Though most children in the U.S. enjoy good mental health, the CDC reports that some of the most common issues among children 3-17 who have been diagnosed with a mental illness include:
- ADHD: 9.8% (6 million)
- Anxiety: 9.4% (5.8 million)
- Behavior problems: 8.9% (5.5 million)
- Depression: 4.4% (2.7 million)
Parental input welcome
Davenport-Price left StarkMHAR in 2022 to begin work on Lilly's Pad.
Davenport-Price said Lilly's Pad will also will adhere to Ohio's Step Up to Quality standards, and families will be encouraged to be actively involved in their children's learning.
"We'd like to have parents come in and say 'This is a goal,'" she said. "Each parent when they come in will have a form asking, 'What does your child like? What are the things that make them happy?' If there's an idea of things they want do, like, here's a book or here's a game we played. It can't just be me saying, 'This is what we're doing.' Identifying kids as individuals rather as a group is how we'll measure success. It's about the consumer."
Lilly's Pad also offers a STEM component and will incorporate "sand play" as a self-soothing technique.
While watching over three babies, Tyshaune Toney said she jumped at the chance to work for Davenport-Price.
Fighting child hunger:Stark County Hunger Task Force, libraries distribute food for kids
"She has very welcoming spirit," she said. "She's very kind and very considerate of families and their needs. She goes out of her way to help them."
Davenport-Price said her husband Aaron's confidence in her was key in her deciding to launch Lilly's Pad. The two have known each other since childhood when they attended the same church, but weren't well acquainted.
"It was like our second date, and we were talking, and he was like, 'Have you ever thought about a day care?'" she recalled. "Had it not been for my husband I would have not had the courage. He saw my strengths. He was like, 'You're way too smart and way too driven for someone not to listen to you.' He's was like 'You have so much passion, you have to do your own thing.'"
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/lillys-pad-focuses-on-kids-social-interaction-trauma-informed-care/70290062007/ | 2023-06-20T23:18:19 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/lillys-pad-focuses-on-kids-social-interaction-trauma-informed-care/70290062007/ |
Stark County Fatherhood Coalition to host fishing derby Saturday in Alliance
ALLIANCE − The Stark County Fatherhood Coalition will host its annual fishing derby from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Silver Park, 2930 S. Union Ave. The event is free and open to the public.
The Fatherhood Coalition encourages fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and other significant malerole models to attend with their children. Mothers, stepmothers and other household members are welcome.
Free food will be provided, and the lake will be stocked with fish.
The Stark County Fatherhood Coalition is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, administered through SCJFS’ Division ofChild Support. Its mission is to improve the lives of children by encouraging and enabling fathers totake an active and positive role in their child’s life.
For more information about the fishing derby, visit the Fatherhood Coalition’s Facebook page at facebook.com/StarkCountyFatherhoodCoalition or call 330-451-8477. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/stark-county-fatherhood-coalition-to-host-fishing-derby-in-alliance/70325841007/ | 2023-06-20T23:18:25 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/stark-county-fatherhood-coalition-to-host-fishing-derby-in-alliance/70325841007/ |
CANTON
Canton to close section of Dewalt Avenue SW for four weeks for repairs
The Repository
CANTON − The 100 block of Dewalt Avenue SW will be closed starting Wednesday between Tuscarawas Street W and Second Street SW for four weeks for building repairs.
The city Engineering Department asks motorists to avoid the area. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2023/06/20/canton-to-close-section-of-dewalt-avenue-sw-for-repairs/70339199007/ | 2023-06-20T23:18:31 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2023/06/20/canton-to-close-section-of-dewalt-avenue-sw-for-repairs/70339199007/ |
DORA juvenile curfew starts Thursday in Canton
CANTON − The new juvenile curfew in the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORA) takes effect Thursday.
Minors are not allowed in the DORAs between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is an approximately 69-acre DORA in downtown Canton and a 100-acre DORA at the Hall of Fame Village.
Exceptions to the curfew include emergency errands or activities allowed by a parent or guardian and a minor present for employment. City Council approved the change in May after Canton police Capt. Les Marino shared concerns about juveniles disrupting First Friday.
"Unaccompanied minors contacted in violation of this ordinance, and their parents or guardians, will be held accountable," according to a Monday police news release.
The penalty could be an unruliness charge in Stark County Juvenile Court for minors and a minor misdemeanor for parents.
The citywide juvenile curfew remains 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2023/06/20/dora-juvenile-curfew-starts-thursday-in-canton/70337394007/ | 2023-06-20T23:18:37 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2023/06/20/dora-juvenile-curfew-starts-thursday-in-canton/70337394007/ |
Contractor injured at TimkenSteel Faircrest plant in Perry Township
PERRY TWP. − A third-party contractor was injured at TimkenSteel's Faircrest plant Tuesday morning and taken to the hospital, the company said.
Perry Township Fire Chief Larry Sedlock told Fox 8 News that the man was taken to Aultman Hospital in critical condition. The chief said the man was working at the plant at 4511 Faircrest St. SW on a scissor lift when steel came down upon him and pinned him down.
Sedlock could not be reached later Tuesday for comment.
The mishap occurred around 8:15 a.m.
In emails, TimkenSteel's spokeswoman Jennifer Beeman wrote that "the safety and well-being of all individuals on our premises are of utmost importance to TimkenSteel and the company continues to investigate the cause of the accident," so TimkenSteel could not comment on the details at this time.
Last year, a worker at the plant died after a furnace explosion.
Reach Robert at (330) 580-8327 or robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/perry/2023/06/20/contractor-in-hospital-after-apparent-accident-at-timkensteel-plant/70340270007/ | 2023-06-20T23:18:43 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/perry/2023/06/20/contractor-in-hospital-after-apparent-accident-at-timkensteel-plant/70340270007/ |
BALTIMORE — A floating time machine is now docked at the Inner Harbor.
The Maryland Dove is a history museum on water.
The ship is a re-creation of one of the two ships that first arrived on Maryland's shores back in 1634.
It sailed into the Broadway Pier in Fells Point on Monday and offers free tours of the deck.
The ship, it's dockside exhibits, and costumed re-enactors teach about the waterways of the region, precolonial heritage, and interactions between different cultures.
Educators say it provides a one of a kind history lesson.
"Being able to hear the ship and the windlass, and the lines move, and the wind move through the sails, to smell the different types of wood and varnishes that are used in constructing a vessel like this. It just gives you a whole different experience of learning then you can get in any kind of classroom," said Marlee Putnam, Publics Programs Coordinator at the Maryland Dove.
The free tours run through Thursday, June 22. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/maryland-dove-docked-at-inner-harbor | 2023-06-20T23:20:45 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/maryland-dove-docked-at-inner-harbor |
How food shortages led Maryland to plan for the next pandemic and avoid future pain
For many Marylanders, recollections of the worst of the pandemic conjures images of empty venues and equally empty grocery shelves. And thanks to the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council, food scarcity is now a top priority.
The little-known government body, established by 2021 state legislation, addresses the food insecurity crisis in Maryland resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis. It is also tasked with developing a strategic plan to increase the production and procurement of Maryland certified food.
"The council was born out of the lessons learned by the pandemic in that we saw how incredibly fragile supply chains are. We also saw how vulnerable we are for being prepared for future emergencies and also saw, in those instances, that so many resources come from the federal government," said Heather Bruskin, co-chairperson of the council and director of the Office of Food Systems Resilience in Montgomery County.
The scope of all the moving parts needed to stay ahead of the food scarcity curve includes increasing food production, storage capacity and transportation capabilities. In short, it means a hard look at logistics.
A 2020 study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development noted domestic demand in the food service industry normally accounts for 10% of the consumption of fruits, 32% of vegetables, 25% of dairy, 31% of cereals and 33% of protein foods. During the height of the pandemic, those numbers crumbled, leading many to panic buy in local grocery stores, causing a strain on the supply chain.
A similar 2020 supermarketnews.com study corroborated that trend, finding consumers opted to stock up on groceries and supplies, boosting sales for the goods by 29% over the prior year.
"Aside from partnerships with state agencies, we create connections with farmers and local food banks," Bruskin said. "We work with local food councils, of which there are five, and there is seed funding to bring more of those groups to more local counties and regions. That connects the voices of farmers and watermen to food assistance provider organizations."
More on hunters feeding the publicHow hunters are taking aim at hunger and feeding Marylanders
More on future Eastern Shore chefsMeet the next generation of Eastern Shore chefs in training at Wor-Wic
According to Bruskin, what the pandemic really exposed was the severity of the circumstances surrounding food insecurity. It also made it abundantly clear how reliant the public is on food not sourced locally.
By definition, a resilient food system is able to withstand and recover from disruptions to the supply chain in a way that "empowers communities and ensures sufficient and sustainable supply of acceptable and accessible food for all," the council noted.
Food insecurity and the pandemic
For a population already at risk for food insecurity, the pandemic exacerbated the hunger problem. Lack of supply meant strain on public, and notably free, sources of food. The various food bank locations across the state also saw increase in demand.
The issue was they were as susceptible to supply chain and transportation issues as grocery stores.
Gov. Wes Moore, in an effort to shore up the food safety net for Marylanders, has undertaken a series of programs to provide the Maryland Food Bank as a whole with a fresh and local supply of food.
In April, Moore announced two Maryland Department of Agriculture initiatives to establish new market connections between farmers, watermen and Maryland food banks. Funding for both the federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and Maryland Food and Agricultural Program will help provide Marylanders in need with fresh, local food.
TAX HIKES FOR SALISBURY:Tax, fee increases on way as Salisbury City Council passes new budget: What to know
FEDERAL BOOST FOR PARKS:Assateague, Chincoteague parks get big boosts with federal funds. Here's what's in works.
In the fiscal year following the peak of the pandemic, the food bank's 58 Eastern Shore partners have contributed to 7.2 million distributed meals. Those partners have been instrumental in expanding to 178 distribution points.
During the worst of the pandemic, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were expanded at the federal level to help more participants.
"We understood how important federal dollars were in addressing the hunger problem. One thing that was a problem was the emergency allotments for SNAP came to end in February nationwide. That was the end of that pandemic-era benefit," Bruskin said.
That policy shift represented a $75 million loss a month across Maryland.
Currently, the council continues to meet and, as an appointed body by the state, all meetings are public and can be attended. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/06/20/after-food-shortages-how-maryland-aims-to-make-sure-they-wont-return/70330210007/ | 2023-06-20T23:22:26 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/06/20/after-food-shortages-how-maryland-aims-to-make-sure-they-wont-return/70330210007/ |
Princess Anne woman dies, four injured in crash on Route 13
A Princess Anne woman died Monday in a two-vehicle crash on Route 13 at Route 529 in Eden, Maryland State Police report.
Police said Awatif Ibrahim, 65, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. She was the front passenger of a Toyota Corolla involved in the crash.
The driver of the Toyota, identified as a 70-year-old male, and a rear passenger, identified as a 28-year-old female, both of Princess Anne, were transported by ambulance to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury for treatment of their injuries.
The driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in the crash, identified as a 32-year-old male, and a passenger, identified as a 35-year-old male, both of Chestertown, Maryland, were also taken by ambulance to TidalHealth.
CRASH SURVIVOR DIES:'Baby Ava,' survivor of 2011 Ocean City car crash, dies at age 13
Police said in a release that troopers from the Princess Anne Barrack responded shortly after 5 p.m. on June 19 to northbound U.S. Route 13 at Route 529 in Eden for the report of a two-vehicle crash.
According to a preliminary investigation, the Toyota was traveling east on Route 529 in the median crossover at the intersection of Route 13 while a Jeep was traveling north on Route 13.
The Toyota failed to yield to the Jeep and entered the roadway and was hit on the passenger side by the Jeep, police said.
Investigators do not believe speed or impaired driving were factors in this crash.
Route 13 northbound was closed for approximately four hours following the crash.
BOARDWALK FIRE:Ocean City warns against sky lanterns after fire breaks out at Boardwalk Hooters | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/06/20/princess-anne-woman-dies-in-route-13-crash-in-eden/70339046007/ | 2023-06-20T23:22:32 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/06/20/princess-anne-woman-dies-in-route-13-crash-in-eden/70339046007/ |
Virginia man dies in single vehicle crash on Eastern Shore
Keith Demko
Salisbury Daily Times
An Accomack County man died Saturday in a single-vehicle crash after being ejected from his vehicle on Beartown Road in Mappsville.
Virginia State Police said troopers responded to the crash atabout 9:06 p.m. on June 17.
The driver was identified as a Stevie Justice, 56, of Mappsville.
Preliminary investigation reveals that Justice was operating a 1999 Ford Expedition when he drove off the road, over corrected and ran off the road, overturning several times.
Alcohol was a contributing factor.
BABY AVA DIES:'Baby Ava,' survivor of 2011 Ocean City car crash, dies at age 13
FATAL CRASH:Princess Anne woman dies, four injured in crash on Route 13 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/20/virginia-man-dies-in-single-vehicle-crash-on-eastern-shore/70339349007/ | 2023-06-20T23:22:38 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/20/virginia-man-dies-in-single-vehicle-crash-on-eastern-shore/70339349007/ |
What are Sarasota-Manatee officials doing to reduce Malaria cases? Here's what to know
Florida's much-disliked, year-round pest has caused a mosquito-borne illness alert to be issued for Sarasota and Manatee counties on Monday after a person was infected.
The new Sarasota-Manatee case has been identified as the P. vivax species of malaria, which is not as fatal as other species, according to the Florida Department of Health.
In less than a month, there have been two mosquito-borne illness alerts for Sarasota and Manatee counties. Here are ways to avoid mosquitoes this summer.
What are Sarasota County and surrounding areas doing to prevent cases?
County mosquito control and local partners are working with the Florida Department of Health to prevent further transmission of the disease. Aerial and ground mosquito spraying is being conducted.
On Monday, an aerial treatment to kill adult mosquitoes was issued for rural Sarasota along Lorraine Road, north of Highway 72, according to Sarasota Mosquito Management Services.
Manatee County has several ground treatments planned in West Bradenton, G.T. Bray Park, an area north of Braden River High School and others, according to the Manatee County Mosquito Control District.
Our list for dining:Best waterfront restaurants with outdoor seating in Sarasota and what to eat, drink there!
Where are the malaria cases?
While health officials haven’t said where the most recent malaria case is, the first Florida Department of Health said that the first case was in Sarasota County on May 27 and that the person had spent “extensive time outdoors."
Sarasota and Manatee counties make up two of the five Florida counties where mosquito-borne illness health advisories have been issued this year. The other three were in Miami Dade County, Orange County and Polk County.
How to avoid contracting Malaria?
Malaria isn’t transmitted from person to person, and only infected mosquitoes can transmit it to humans. Here are some ways to avoid getting bitten.
Drain standing water to stop mosquito population from growing.
- Drain water from garbage cans, buckets, pool covers, flowerpots or any other container where water has accumulated.
- Clean birdbaths and pet water bowls.
- Keep swimming pools in good condition.
Who lives here?Most famous celebrities with homes in Sarasota and Bradenton area
Cover skin with clothing or repellent
- If you’re working or staying in an area where mosquitoes are present, wear long pants and long sleeves.
- Apply mosquito repellent to skin and clothing.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children who are younger than 2 months old.
Keep mosquitos out of your house
Cover doors and windows with screens to prevent mosquitos from entering.
How do I know if I have Malaria?
If you’re experiencing fever, chills, sweats, nausea or headache after coming in contact with a mosquito, visit a hospital or your local healthcare provider where Malaria treatment is available.
Contributing: Anne Snabes, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/malaria-sarasota-mosquito-bites-tips-prevention/70338681007/ | 2023-06-20T23:24:48 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/malaria-sarasota-mosquito-bites-tips-prevention/70338681007/ |
ASALAH Freedom School is a statement about the power of learning and community in Sarasota
SARASOTA — On Saturdays over the past few months, a handful of educators and historians have been quietly teaching African American history to local students in Sarasota's historically Black neighborhood of Newtown through a community-based program known as Freedom School.
The pilot Freedom School program is run by the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALAH), a branch of the national organization that researches, disseminates, and preserves Black history and culture.
Leaders of ASALAH are on a mission to directly combat Florida HB 7, known to critics as the ‘Stop WOKE Act,’ through engaging history lessons about Black Americans' contributions throughout the history of the United States.
HB 7 restricts how race is discussed in schools, colleges and workplaces, and sparked a nationwide debate over censorship, critical race theory and diversity training. Essentially, the Stop WOKE Act prohibits any teaching that could make students feel they bear personal responsibility for historic wrongs because of their race, color, sex or national origin.
With the restriction on how race is discussed in Florida classrooms in place, the next step for legislators was the removal of the advanced placement (AP) African American Studies curriculum for high school students. However, many high school students choose to take AP courses to earn college credits while enrolled in high school to give them a leg up as they approach their higher education journey. Gov. Ron DeSantis has criticized aspects of African American studies and stated the course "lacked educational value and historical accuracy" in its current form earlier this year.
It was around that time that Manasota ASALAH president, attorney and historian David Wilkins, began to move forward with efforts to keep students educated about Black history.
“This attack on our history is so painful because it has happened before,” Wilkins said.
More:Newtown teens commemorate historic Lido Beach wade-ins that helped integrate Sarasota beaches
More:Gov. Ron DeSantis' feud with the College Board over AP African American Studies, explained
What is Freedom School?
The Freedom School program isn’t new. The original Freedom Schools organized by ASALAH came about during the Civil Rights Movement to address literacy and disparities in education.
The parallels between then and now, Wilkins said, are easy to see.
“The schools were birthed during Freedom Summer … ," Wilkins said, referring to the June 1964 campaign to register Black voters in Mississippi. "People during that time saw the need for learning the basics as they were working to get adults registered to vote and organizing.
“When we started strategizing about how to respond to the bill it was recommended to take a look at reinstituting the Saturday Freedom Schools.”
Word about Freedom School grew quickly, Wilkins and the volunteer educators say. Ahead of its late February launch, the Freedom School had over 50 registered students who signed up to learn about African American history on Saturdays in Newtown.
Through engaging classwork about Black Americans, coupled with the latest online e-books and lessons, Freedom School’s 10-week pilot program made an immediate impact on local students and educators.
Passion for teaching and learning reignited at Freedom School
Chloe Truewell, 14, attended each session of Freedom School to satisfy her curiosity about the African American side of her identity she said, but the incoming ninth-grader has been independently learning about Black history since she was a first-grader.
Truewell credits Emma E. Booker Elementary teacher, Major Hundley, for sparking her curiosity about Black history.
“She taught me everything I know already about Black history,” Trewell said. “I’ve always loved my history. I used to give up my recess time to teach other kids about history and my teachers always helped me.”
As a biracial child, Truewell felt led to continue learning more about her culture since she was 7.
“She did a PowerPoint presentation while she was at Bay Haven for her classmates,” Marie Truewell said of her daughter. “I remember she wanted to just do more than her assignments.”
Truewell completed all 10 weeks of the pilot program and says the school opened her up to even more knowledge.
“I got to know the truth. There were some things I did not know, a lot of it kind of shocked me and it kind of hurt too to know that I've been lied to, that my teachers lied to me about different things. Like how the rumors about how Africa is an unstable (continent), I didn't know it was one of the most economically stable places in the world until I came here," Truewell explained. "This program really shows you a different perspective of the world and history. It really has made me think about things differently.”
Freedom School has also connected Truewell with new, diverse teachers who all share the love of learning.
Educators such as Gretchen Johnson, who was tasked with teaching students as young as pre-K basic lessons about Black history throughout the program. Johnson, led by Freedom School teacher coordinator Edna Sherrell and program director Jennifer Joseph, curated and sourced materials for the youngest learners after a chance encounter with a grandmother who saw other students attending Freedom School on a regular library visit one Saturday.
“What you want to foster more than anything, in any kid, is intellectual curiosity,” Joseph said. “Once I knew what the mission was, I was onboard.”
Joseph is a retired higher education administrator who previously worked at Dartmouth University and Morehouse University. She serves as Freedom School’s program educator and leads a volunteer team of 30 multiracial educators from 15 Sarasota County district schools. She believes the show of community support, educator interest and student engagement demonstrate the need for the Freedom School.
“This (Freedom School) is a statement. Having to implement this program speaks to people’s awareness of how threatened our students are with not being able to access this crucial history. It’s such a shame … there are many adults who don’t know things — Juneteenth is a good example of that, and how it’s become such a big holiday over the past few years. People didn’t know this history.”
Wilkins echoed Joseph.
He believes that ASALAH’s Freedom School, which has been reinstituted in ASALAH’s five other branches across Florida, helps to ensure that students are able to learn lessons that could be otherwise forgotten.
“The support we have for this program is a reflection of the level of angst organizations and community members have,” Wilkins said. “When we lie about our history, we miss stories like Juneteenth and many others. There are great stories all Americans need to know. These hidden stories and truths need to be told.”
Samantha Gholar covers social justice news for the Herald-Tribune and USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at sgholar@gannett.com or on Twitter: @samanthagholar | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/20/asalah-freedom-school-has-big-impact-on-students-seeking-black-history/70289585007/ | 2023-06-20T23:24:54 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/20/asalah-freedom-school-has-big-impact-on-students-seeking-black-history/70289585007/ |
Local NAACP hosts "Stay WOKE" Votercade bus tour in Newtown June 21
SARASOTA — A statewide bus voter registration and community advocating initiative, dubbed the 'Stay Woke' Votercade, is scheduled to stop in Sarasota's Newtown community at Bethlehem Baptist Church on June 21 from 9-11 a.m.as part of a 15-city Florida NAACP tour.
The church is at 1680 18th Street in Sarasota.
Manasota NAACP organizers and president Trevor Harvey will welcome residents and visitors to visit the bus on its fourth day of the week-long tour, which began in Jacksonville on June 18.
Harvey said locally the tour is an opportunity to educate residents about recently passed Florida laws that affect not only Black residents but many other marginalized residents in the region and state as well.
With stops in Gainesville, Ocala, Tampa, and Orlando before making its way here, the tour will continue Wednesday after Sarasota to Fort Myers. Organizers will wrap up the NAACP's Wednesday itinerary in Miami.
The event was the idea of the Transformative Justice Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that works toward equal voting rights and other causes. The Manasota chapter of the Florida NAACP as well as local groups and six other national organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the Rainbow Plus Coalition, are participating.
"The goal of these brief two-hour stops in all 15 cities across the state is to mobilize the communities and really make sure our communities are really aware of what's happening in the state of Florida," Harvey said. "These laws that our government is putting into place, and how detrimental to communities of color − we have to inform our community about what's happening."
Other issues, such as the start of Florida's new open carry policy which takes effect on July 1, Harvey said, also prompted the bus tour and the community activation and engagement.
The bills SB150/HB543 will eliminate the need for a concealed weapons license, which required a mandatory background check and a firearms training course.
"We have issues with this open carry law that’s coming down, too. It will have adverse effects on communities of color. I’m telling people to continue to go through the licensing process. I’m concerned about giving people open season to carry, not being vetted, or going through the appropriate channels…," Harvey said.
"All we can do is educate and make people aware; they say that it’s equal but it's not going to be equal for everyone. And people have to understand that: the laws are different for us. It won’t guarantee the same protection for communities of color."
Speakers, strategies such as voter registration, poll visits, and voter law education will be discussed during the stop at Bethlehem Baptist in Newtown in Sarasota. Harvey and the Manasota NAACP will also be hosting a banned book giveaway for the community — sharing some of the 10,000 recently donated banned books collected from the Florida NAACP over the past several months.
Bethlehem Baptist's Rev. Patrick Miller will host the event at the church following the bus ride that will be through the historic Newtown community. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/20/bus-tour-will-stop-in-sarasotas-newtown-as-part-of-naacp-initiative/70268387007/ | 2023-06-20T23:25:00 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/20/bus-tour-will-stop-in-sarasotas-newtown-as-part-of-naacp-initiative/70268387007/ |
HCA Florida Fawcett opens new emergency room near North Port
Sister hospital in Englewood also plans a free-standing ER to serve Wellen Park area of North Port
PORT CHARLOTTE – HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital opened its new freestanding emergency room at 150 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, intending to serve Port Charlotte, including the growing western part, and the eastern portion of the city of North Port.
The 10,820-square-foot facility, dubbed HCA Florida Tamiami Trail, is part of HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing full emergency services for adults and children, including laboratory, x-rays, CT scanning and ultrasound.
“HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital continues to grow to meet the needs of the communities we serve,” Michael Ehrat, Chief Executive Officer at HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital, said in a prepared statement.
Though technically in Charlotte County, this is the first of two free-standing emergency rooms that HCA Florida Healthcare is pursuing that would serve the booming North Port area – the second-fastest growing city in the country, according to a Quicken Loans survey.
HCA Florida Englewood, a sister hospital, recently closed on the purchase of 30 acres in the North Port community of Wellen Park, which is on the west side of the Myakka River, and announced plans to build a free-standing emergency room.
In a prepared statement last month, Steve Young, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, said, “From emergency care to hospital care, we will continue to build to match the healthcare needs of the community as it grows.”
Despite being the largest city in Sarasota County, with a population of more than 80,000 people, North Port does not have its own hospital.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System currently operates a free-standing emergency room at 2345 Bobcat Village Center Road off of Toledo Blade Boulevard and plans to build a hospital on 32 acres it owns off of the Sumter Boulevard Exit off of Interstate 75. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2023/06/20/new-hca-florida-fawcett-emergency-room-adds-north-port-health-options/70337629007/ | 2023-06-20T23:25:06 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2023/06/20/new-hca-florida-fawcett-emergency-room-adds-north-port-health-options/70337629007/ |
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson laid out three goals for the next four years in his inaugural address Tuesday -- becoming the safest big city in America is number one.
As an example of bi-partisan cooperation, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) gave Johnson the formal oath of office at the inauguration ceremony. Dallas city government is non-partisan but Johnson is a Democrat.
Cornyn said Johnson invited him to attend the ceremony.
“People are members of political parties for good reasons. They don’t always agree with everything. But that doesn’t mean we can’t agree when we find [a] common cause and that’s what the mayor and I have been able to do,” Cornyn said.
In his speech, Johnson praised a Dallas reduction in violent crime the past two years in a row.
“No other Top 10 American city has achieved what we have in Dallas, period, full stop,” Johnson said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
His three goals for the next four years were property tax rate reduction, achieving the best park system in Texas and becoming “the” safest big city in the nation.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said that goal is achievable.
“There’s a lot of work to do. There’s no question about it. We can’t do this alone. We need to make reinvestments in people and places around the city that I think we all recognize,” Garcia said.
Councilman Jaime Resendez, who represents Pleasant Grove, said his district is an area that needs more investment. Resendez said he supports the mayor's goals but they may not be enough to satisfy residents.
“I don’t disagree that we need to focus on those things, but our city has a lot of needs. We have to also listen to the community members,” Resendez said.
North Dallas City Council Member Gay Donnell Willis said she supports crime fighting and property tax rate reduction to counter soaring property values.
“We have to stick to the basics though, as far as our quality of life, driving down a smooth street, driving down a smooth alley. So we can’t let that get out of our sight,” Willis said.
In his speech, Johnson said Dallas dealt with a pandemic and big weather events over the past four years.
“Dallas not only weathered these storms but emerged as a beacon of resilience and a leader on this national stage,” he said.
The mayor said Dallas is prepared to do more in the years ahead.
Wednesday the city council hears a resident survey that includes some priorities that are different than the mayor’s goals.
A budget briefing is also planned, which will provide some insight into how the city can pay for all its needs.
Two new members of the Dallas city council, Zarin Gracey and Kathy Stewart, replace Casey Thomas and Adam McGough who were term-limited from running for re-election.
All of the other council members, including the mayor, are incumbents. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mayor-focuses-on-public-safety-property-tax-and-parks-in-next-term/3281159/ | 2023-06-20T23:30:46 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mayor-focuses-on-public-safety-property-tax-and-parks-in-next-term/3281159/ |
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced a new property tax bill Tuesday afternoon that includes more tax cuts for businesses.
Patrick said all 31 state Senators approved the new $18 billion plan Tuesday, making it the largest property tax cut in state history.
Patrick said Senators added $400 million to the previous $17.6 billion earmarked for property tax relief. The lieutenant governor said the bill gives homeowners approximately a 41% cut in their school taxes and gives businesses the biggest cut they've ever had. The bill also preserves the homestead exemption and creates new paths to save small businesses money.
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston, District 7), who proposed the bill, said the Senate's plan still uses compression and the homestead exemption to save homeowners money.
"The components are simply this, there is a tremendous amount of what’s called tax rate compression in here. But there’s also an eye-popping $5.3 billion for homestead exemptions, which is critical," Bettencourt said. "That means that the homesteads, homeowners – all 5.17 million of them – will be getting $1,270 in the first year savings. If you happen to be over 65, those savings are really $1,450.
Bettencourt said the final component is again lowering the rollback rate for cities, counties and school districts from 2.5% to 1.7%.
At a press conference Tuesday, all 31 Texas state senators were present.
"Yes, there have been issues in the past that we have not agreed upon. This is one we agree upon for all of our constituents," said Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas, District 23).
The governor's office, meanwhile, said Abbott continues to encourage the two chambers to work together on a solution that'll end up on his desk.
"The governor has been clear that his goal is to put Texans on a pathway to eliminate their school M&O property taxes, and the best way to do that is to devote all property tax relief to cutting property tax rates," Abbott's office said in a statement Tuesday. "The governor has also been clear that the only way a property tax bill gets to his desk is for the Texas House and Texas Senate to agree to a bill and get it to the governor's desk, and he encourages the two chambers to work towards a solution."
Patrick, the leader of the Texas Senate, has been held up in a stalemate with Republican Dade Phelan, the Speaker of the Texas House, over the best way to provide millions of Texans with property tax relief.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has tasked state legislators with approving a $17.6 billion plan to reduce the property tax burden. Both the House and Senate have put forth plans, though they have yet to agree on a path forward.
The Senate previously wanted to use compression, which would reduce the school district's maximum compressed tax rate, along with an increase of the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. The House's plan uses only compression and spreads the relief across both residential and commercial property owners.
The House gaveled out of the special session last month and has resisted calls from the Senate to return, so the future of the Senate's new bill is uncertain.
Abbott, who said he'd call "special session after special session until a solution is reached," gave the chambers an ultimatum last week threatening to veto bills awaiting his signature. While the governor did sign the state budget on Sunday, he did follow through on his threat to veto legislation.
TEXAS HOUSE CREATES COMMITTEE TO STUDY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
On Tuesday, ahead of Patrick's news conference, Phelan's office announced the creation of the House Select Study Committee on Sustainable Property Tax Relief.
The 16-member committee is made up of 13 House members and three public members. The group will be tasked with considering issues that broadly affect property taxes and make recommendations for long-term, sustainable property tax relief for Texas property owners.
“The burden of rising property taxes weighs heavily on our state’s property owners, and it is imperative that we look beyond the current special session to identify long-term, sustainable solutions to this evergreen problem,” said Phelan.
Phelan's office said the committee will evaluate the dynamic effects of compression, limits on taxable value, and homestead exemption increases to maximize savings. The committee will also study the viability and sustainability of eliminating the school maintenance and operations taxes by 2035; examine the historical rates of appraisal increases and recommend methods to reduce the tax burden of those increases on real property; and examine the long-term value of homestead exemptions in conjunction with the impact of appraisal increases.
The committee is made up of Rep. Morgan Meyer, Chair, Rep. Shawn Thierry, Vice-Chair, Rep. Steve Allison, Rep. Dustin Burrows, Rep. Mano DeAyala, Rep. Donna Howard, Rep. Janie Lopez, Rep. Candy Noble, Rep. Richard Pena Raymond, Rep. Hugh Shine, Rep. Ellen Troxclair, Rep. Chris Turner, Rep. Armando Walle; Cheryl Johnson, public member; Brad Livingston, public member; Don “Skeeter” Miller, public member. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-senate-passes-new-18-billion-property-tax-bill-amid-a-stalemate-with-house/3280996/ | 2023-06-20T23:31:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-senate-passes-new-18-billion-property-tax-bill-amid-a-stalemate-with-house/3280996/ |
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) — Downtown Hutch and the City of Hutchinson are partnering with local artist and teacher Kara Vaughn to host 2023 Chalk the Town.
Downtown Hutch says the event is inspired by the response to Vaughn’s viral TikTok video documenting her chalk art, which has received over 30 million views and 418,400 followers.
The event will start with a kick-off celebration from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, at George Pyle Park, 118 S. Poplar St. It will include food, family-friendly entertainment and chalk art opportunities to celebrate the full day to follow.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, at Carey Park, Carey Park Blvd, there will be activities, a demonstration and a scavenger hunt to find chalk art creations by Vaughn representing five downtown business sponsors.
Upon arrival Sunday, participants will check in and receive a map, chalk and a passport.
Hutch Downtown says the map will guide participants to each of the five locations in Carey Park to find a chalk icon representing a business sponsor. At each location, a volunteer will provide a sticker with one of the letters C, H, A, L, and K to represent each icon found on the passport. Once the word “CHALK” is completed, participants can provide their contact information on the back of the passport and enter into a drawing at check out, with a winner selected and announced on Facebook Live and TikTok at 6 p.m. when the scavenger hunt is closed
The first 150 participants to return a completed scavenger hunt passport will receive a free Chalk the Town 2023 t-shirt.
Business sponsors are invited to provide a booth in the park, along with more family-friendly entertainment and opportunities to chalk the town.
To become a sponsor, contact Downtown and Grant Coordinator Sarah Diamond at sarahd@hutchchamber.com.
For more details on 2023 Chalk the Town, email Kara Vaugh at vaughnkara@gmail.com. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/hutchinson-hosting-2023-chalk-the-town-in-response-to-viral-tiktok-video/ | 2023-06-20T23:35:27 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/hutchinson-hosting-2023-chalk-the-town-in-response-to-viral-tiktok-video/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Warmer weather is bringing homeless people outside instead of staying in shelters. The Wichita Police Department’s (WPD) Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.) said it can be a challenge to manage.
A little over 700 people are homeless in Wichita and Sedgwick County, according to the recent point-in-time count from the United Way of the Plains.
Summer temperatures change the way people unhoused live and use services just like in the winter.
“Winter you have this buildup we have to worry about all these winter issues, and it is the same thing with summer now we are worried about dehydration, especially with people that use a lot of alcohol they are already dehydrated,” said United Methodist Open Door Homeless Services Director, Joshua Watkins.
“It’s warmer out, and they want to be by themselves, and you know, maybe they have mental health issues or substance abuse issues,” said WPD H.O.T. Officer Nate Schwiethale.
In the last two years, Officer Schwiethale said Wichita camps have doubled.
“You begin to wonder what is happening in Wichita, and I would say we are getting more calls about, ‘Hey, I saw someone out on the street corner,'” said Union Rescue Mission CEO Doug Nolte.
Last year, H.O.T. saw 144 campsite complaints.
“We are on target to hit over 300 this year,” said Officer Schwiethale.
When complaints are sent to the H.O.T. team, they have to make sure shelter is available.
There are legal challenges that come with removing camps.
“The last thing we want to do is put someone in jail just because they didn’t have a home, that is criminalizing homelessness, and we aren’t going to do that here,” said Officer Schwiethale.
The H.O.T. team works with local nonprofits to try and get people help.
“We are seeing probably more people than after the pandemic, especially subsidies have run out, or maybe they’ve had some extra help or maybe not been needing services because they’ve been able to stay in an existing location,” said Nolte.
Union Rescue Mission is lowering its capabilities for overnight shelter due to a remodel, but Nolte said it should only take about four to six months, and they hope to be open to more when colder months hit.
Despite an increase in a need for services, change is happening.
“They don’t see that the City with us, in conjunction with us, has housed 300 people since November. They don’t see that 32 people out of this facility hard chronically homeless people have been housed since January,” said Watkins.
Watkins said a new women’s clinic is also opening at Open Door in collaboration with ICT Street. The nonprofit works with multiple organizations to provide food, clothing, shelter, and other resources to those experiencing homelessness in the area.
The H.O.T. team and Open Door are working to provide more water for the hotter months to keep people hydrated.
Any campsites can be reported to the H.O.T. team here, they said it can take time to remove them or get them shelter. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wpd-homeless-camps-increase-as-summer-moves-in/ | 2023-06-20T23:35:32 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wpd-homeless-camps-increase-as-summer-moves-in/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Prosecutors drop more charges against Orange and Osceola teenagers than their counterparts anywhere else in the state of Florida, according to a new report from the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) released Tuesday.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s office dropped – either before or during the prosecution process – 41% of all violent felony charges juveniles faced between November 2021 and October 2022, compared to 21% state-wide, the agency said.
Prosecutors in Florida’s other major cities – Miami and Tampa – dismissed 30% and 26% of violent felony charges against juveniles respectively, during that time.
The pattern repeated for all felony charges, not just violent ones, as well as felony charges involving guns.
READ: Tropical Storm Bret slightly strengthens; watch issued for Barbados
“When serious juvenile offenses are not prosecuted, youth are not held accountable for their actions nor are they receiving effective services that will keep them from reoffending,” DJJ Secretary Eric Hall said.
While no prosecutors were called out by name, the report continued the agency’s recent pattern of casting State Attorney Monique Worrell, who oversees the Ninth Circuit office, in a negative light.
Worrell has been at odds with the state government since late last year, when she proposed reforms over juvenile justice cases that would give prosecutors and judges more oversight.
READ: Van crashes into Holly Hill home nearly missing sleeping teen
The microscope intensified after the Pine Hills shooting in February, when Gov. DeSantis called Worrell out for being soft on crime and speculation began growing about him removing Worrell from office.
Worrell, a criminal justice reform advocate, ran a liberal outsider campaign centered around reforming the system when she was elected to office and has been one of the few prominent elected officials willing to call DeSantis and his staff out as she defended her practices.
“The State Attorney is committed to public safety, advocating for victims and protecting our community. There’s no policy in our office regarding to no file or drop cases other than to follow the law,” spokesman Jason Gunn wrote in response to the report. “As far as this report is concerned on juvenile cases, we are unsure how the raw data was compiled. No one from the Department of Juvenile Justice has reached out to us to corroborate these numbers, nor have they provided a copy prior to its release to verify.”
READ: Who is on the missing submersible that was headed to the wreck of the Titanic?
In response to a follow-up email, DJJ officials said they sourced their data from the Juvenile Justice Information System, commonly referred to as JJIS. WFTV forwarded that response to Worrell’s team.
Recently, Worrell has said outright her office doesn’t move forward with cases they cannot stand behind, and has called out law enforcement officials for providing weak evidence or failing to provide contact information for people who could possibly testify against suspects. She recently dropped charges for teenagers accused of murdering another teenager outside a football game because she said a significant amount of doubt remained.
She has championed a report showing a more than 90% conviction rate for cases her team took to trial in the first quarter of this year.
READ: Hunter Biden to plead guilty to federal charges
“The Department of Juvenile Justice briefing report is very concerning,” Sheriff John Mina, who has been at odds with Worrell, wrote. “I have always said that young people who make mistakes and commit low-level, non-violent crimes should be diverted out of the criminal justice system, but those who commit violent felonies and terrorize this community – particularly through gun violence - must be held accountable.”
Orlando Police administrators declined to comment.
You can read the full report here. For reference, Brevard and Seminole counties are in the 18th circuit, Lake, Sumter and Marion counties are in the 5th circuit, Polk is in the 10th and Volusia and Flagler counties are in the 7th.
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/teens-get-more-violent-charges-dropped-orlando-than-rest-state-report-shows/HLTJDRCRKFH6DH7LQPBOP4K27M/ | 2023-06-20T23:37:07 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/teens-get-more-violent-charges-dropped-orlando-than-rest-state-report-shows/HLTJDRCRKFH6DH7LQPBOP4K27M/ |
MANTECA, Calif. — An 82-year-old Manteca man was hospitalized Monday after being attacked during a carjacking.
Manteca police say it happened on the 300 block of Edwards Avenue.
Police say they identified the suspect — a minor — and they began looking for the suspect and the stolen car.
The vehicle was later found in a McDonald's parking lot off W Lathrop Road and the suspect was taken into custody.
They were booked on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse because of the victim's age. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/82-year-old-injured-during-manteca-carjacking/103-65dfc2b7-bed6-4624-baec-3aa8d3e84541 | 2023-06-20T23:38:30 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/82-year-old-injured-during-manteca-carjacking/103-65dfc2b7-bed6-4624-baec-3aa8d3e84541 |
FOLSOM, Calif. — Folsom’s popular outdoor shopping center has some new additions.
The Palladio at Broadstone announced two new tenants now open in the outdoor mall: Skin Laundry and LoveSac.
This location of Skin Laundry is the first in the Sacramento region, but they have more than 40 clinics worldwide. According to the announcement, the clinic specializes in advanced technology and utilizes medical-grade lasers to promote healthy glowing skin.
LoveSac is widely known for its beanbags and ‘sactionals’ furniture. Sactionals are customizable with StealthTech Sound systems and charging capabilities.
Skin Laundry and LoveSac both opened June 9.
The Palladio is also welcoming an expansion of Patrick James. This West Coast Classic men’s clothing and menswear opened a store in Folsom in 2021 but relocated to the Palladio next to Starbucks.
“We are excited to welcome new tenants and to congratulate others for growing their retail space at the Palladio at Broadstone,” said Gloria Wright, General Manager at Palladio. “The Palladio continues to attract the very best retail and restaurant tenants, providing customers the finest outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment experience.”
Watch more from ABC10: Westfield Mall in San Francisco leaving the city | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/new-stores-opening-in-folsom-palladio/103-cd6f9ad8-847b-4e92-b3a1-f57eb3f5519a | 2023-06-20T23:38:36 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/new-stores-opening-in-folsom-palladio/103-cd6f9ad8-847b-4e92-b3a1-f57eb3f5519a |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two Sacramento natives reunited to buy back the comedy YouTube channel they launched nearly 18 years ago.
In a video posted to the Smosh channel, Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla said they spent months on negotiations before becoming the new owners of Smosh.
“This was a dream that we never released was possible,” Hecox said in the video talking about the channel's beginnings and early success.
The duo actually launched the channel in 2005 and at one point it was one of the biggest channels on the platform. It was known for sketch comedy videos the duo created and performed.
After six years, Smosh was eventually bought by another company, growing the channel and brand. However, it eventually led to Padilla leaving after he said the goals he had for Smosh and the goals of the parent company didn't align.
Then-parent company Defy Media would collapse in 2017, putting the future of the channel at risk. It was eventually bought by Mythical Entertainment, known for Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal and Good Mythical Morning.
“So flash forward to last year, Ian and I started hanging out a ton and we realized that the sketches that we'd made weren't just great because they were products of the times, I wasn't just being blinded by the nostalgia when I'd go back to get a laugh at the old videos,” said Padilla in the YouTube video. “They were a reflection of the magic that we felt when we were making something together.”
The pair was able to make the purchase and now officially own the channel they created nearly two decades ago.
“Classic Smosh is back,” said Padilla
WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT: WE BOUGHT SMOSH! | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/smosh-youtube-sacramento-natives/103-017be26f-937c-4d29-b1d3-8bc05df9edc9 | 2023-06-20T23:38:42 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/smosh-youtube-sacramento-natives/103-017be26f-937c-4d29-b1d3-8bc05df9edc9 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — ABC10 created an index about halfway through spring related to how 'ideal' this spring has been in terms of temperature.
The index was based solely on temperature in order to simplify the argument, although variables like wind speed, precipitation, cloud cover and humidity certainly play a role in how ideal a day's weather really is.
By subtracting five degrees off the average high temperature for the date of the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, the (subjective) range comes out to 65-85 degrees. This lines up well with the average Americans ideal temperature of 72, according to a YouGov poll.
Out of the 92 days of spring so far, and with the first day of summer on Wednesday, 49 fall within this category (53%).
In comparison, an idealized, completely average spring based on historical climate normals would consist of 74 days within the given threshold.
The main story in 2023 has been how many days have been below the threshold, rather than above.
The map below from ag-wx.com shows average daily temperatures - not high temperatures. It demonstrates that apart from a few warm stretches, Sacramento has stayed cool for most of the year, including spring.
Sacramento has also been spared from 100 degree temperatures this year, falling far behind the average first 100 degree day of June 4. Surprisingly enough, Sacramento is ahead of the curve on 90 degrees so far in 2023, even though it has been a relatively cool spring. Fifteen days have reached at least 90, compared to the average of nine days through the summer solstice.
Unfortunately, it looks like 100s could be on their way back to Northern California by very late June and into early July. The Climate Prediction Center's 8-14 day outlook shows California being above average in terms of temperature for the first time in over a month.
WATCH ALSO: Here's what it looks like to drive through the traffic lane shift on westbound Highway 50 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/spring-index-how-nice-was-weather-spring-sacramento-california/103-21fbfac3-c645-4d69-9b54-fce5110ec5e3 | 2023-06-20T23:38:48 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/spring-index-how-nice-was-weather-spring-sacramento-california/103-21fbfac3-c645-4d69-9b54-fce5110ec5e3 |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Editor’s note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.
A highly visible, standalone retail property at what is arguably Winter Park’s busiest intersection has inked a new tenant in “a record-breaking rent deal.”
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The 2,621-square-foot space at 600 S. Orlando Ave. that long was home to a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen fast-food restaurant will become a new store for telecommunications giant AT&T.
It also may be among the most expensive retail lease deals in the affluent Orlando suburb.
Read: Georgia woman crashes into Popeyes after order was missing biscuits, police say
Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal’s website.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/former-popeyes-space-busy-winter-park-corner-inks-new-tenant-record-breaking-deal/3RK7WPTVTFEWFPTHYJIMEZTREI/ | 2023-06-20T23:38:51 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/former-popeyes-space-busy-winter-park-corner-inks-new-tenant-record-breaking-deal/3RK7WPTVTFEWFPTHYJIMEZTREI/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Editor’s note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.
The first lease has been signed in the market expansion of Potbelly Sandwich Shop into metro Orlando.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Parent company Potbelly Corp. (NASDAQ: PBPB) announced this week that the popular sandwich shop chain’s first location here will open at 2714 E. Colonial Drive, in Kimco Realty Corp.’s Colonial Plaza shopping center, next to Total Wine & More and Orange Theory Fitness.
It will be the chain’s fourth location in Florida, with three existing locations in the Tampa market.
Read: Orange County neighbors concerned about possible exotic snakes on the loose after house fire
Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal’s website.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/heres-where-1st-potbelly-sandwich-shop-will-open-orlando/CNTPU4ZKARDZFLO7G42MQJ2LQA/ | 2023-06-20T23:38:57 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/heres-where-1st-potbelly-sandwich-shop-will-open-orlando/CNTPU4ZKARDZFLO7G42MQJ2LQA/ |
For a Sahuarita teen who tried to rescue a coyote pup, the best of intentions produced a painful learning experience.
The 17-year-old girl encountered the pup Friday, June 16, on the front porch of a neighbor's house. Believing that it had been abandoned by its mother, she picked it up to take it to a rescue organization and was bitten on her left hand. She is being treated for rabies out of caution, and the pup was euthanized.
The animal most likely was not in need of rescue at all, according to Mark Hart, an Arizona Game and Fish Department public information officer.
“It’s very common for wildlife mothers to leave their offspring unattended so that they can go feed,” Hart said. “Typically they try and find what is perceived to be a safe place. Mom may have thought, ‘House is vacant, there’s no activity here, this is a fine place for (the pup).'
People are also reading…
"We don’t believe it was abandoned," Hart said. "Even though it appeared that way to the teen, in all probability it was not.”
While the timeline of events is uncertain, an initial call was made to the Tucson Wildlife Center. A staffer there informed the would-be rescuer that the center could not take the animal in unless it was injured and recommended that the animal be returned to the location it was found. In another call, the Game and Fish Department made the same recommendation.
According to Hart, the teen instead took the animal to the Tucson Wildlife Center. Within this timeframe, the teenage girl was bit on the left index finger while handling the pup.
“Any wildlife that attacks a human, by policy, is put down. Moreover we needed to test that coyote pup for rabies, which can’t be done while the animal is alive,” said Hart.
While the results of the examination are not yet known, the teen's rabies treatment was begun out of caution.
Heading into the summer months, Hart said, Tucsonans are likely to encounter litters of various wildlife, including coyotes, Cooper’s hawks, deer and bobcats. While it may appear that a young animal has been abandoned if it’s left alone, Hart urges the public to not intervene.
“In general, a young (animal) that is left unattended for more than 24 hours may be abandoned,” he said. “However, we don’t want people effecting a rescue on their own. We want people to call us so that we can evaluate next steps or talk to a certified rehabber.
"The only indicator (that animal has been abandoned) would be if it’s unattended for 24 hours.”
If young wildlife is found and suspected to be abandoned, Hart counseled, do not intervene. Instead, call the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s Phoenix dispatch at (623) 236-7201. | https://tucson.com/news/local/coyote-rescue-goes-awry-for-sahuarita-teen/article_b74b5bfc-0fa0-11ee-a3cd-734645a113bc.html | 2023-06-20T23:39:14 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/coyote-rescue-goes-awry-for-sahuarita-teen/article_b74b5bfc-0fa0-11ee-a3cd-734645a113bc.html |
Traffic control on Bismarck Expressway between Washington Street and Ninth Street will be removed before the start of this year's Sam McQuade Sr. Charity Softball Tournament.
Cones will be removed on or before Thursday to ease traffic flow, according to the city. The tournament starts Friday and runs through Sunday.
Traffic control on that portion of Expressway will resume sometime after the Fourth of July holiday for night paving and signal work.
Lane closures will remain in place on Expressway from Ninth Street to 26th Street South. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/expressway-traffic-control-removed-for-softball-tourney/article_b34c1396-0fb6-11ee-9b68-ab6d49abb2f9.html | 2023-06-20T23:39:20 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/expressway-traffic-control-removed-for-softball-tourney/article_b34c1396-0fb6-11ee-9b68-ab6d49abb2f9.html |
A coalition of Southern Arizona environmental groups is suing the U.S. Forest Service over several new mining ventures in the Patagonia Mountains.
The eight groups, most of them from Tucson, accuse the federal agency of failing to consider the cumulative effects of the projects, especially on endangered species in the area.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Tucson by the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Tucson Audubon Society, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, Friends of the Santa Cruz River, Friends of Sonoita Creek, Earthworks, and the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition.
The Patagonia Mountains serve as breeding territory for the threatened Mexican spotted owl and yellow-billed cuckoo, and may be used by elusive jaguars and ocelots as they venture north from Mexico.
People are also reading…
The mountain range about 65 miles southeast of Tucson is also home to several proposed mines, including the Sunnyside copper project by Canada-based Barksdale Resources and the adjacent Flux Canyon exploration by Australia-based South32.
According to the lawsuit, the two projects could result in the construction of as many as 37 exploratory drill shafts thousands of feet deep. The work will involve machinery running day and night for several years, driving away wildlife and threatening to contaminate the water supply of the nearby town of Patagonia, the suit says.
"Reckless exploratory mining has no place in the wild, biodiverse Patagonia Mountains," said Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a written statement. "Endangered species like jaguars, ocelots and Mexican spotted owls already face threats from border walls, climate change and habitat loss. The last thing these rare animals need is a new copper mine ravaging the heart of their Arizona range."
"The Patagonia Mountains and Sonoita Creek watershed are the lifeblood of our beautiful region," added Patagonia Area Resource Alliance president Carolyn Shafer. "Our priority must be to protect this critical habitat, which is the source of drinking water, clean air and the biological wealth that fuels our regional nature-based restorative economy."
The Forest Service signed off on Barksdale’s seven-year exploratory well program on June 16, less than three weeks after granting approval for drilling to begin at the Flux Canyon site about a mile away.
Flux Canyon is part of South32’s much larger Hermosa project, a proposed $1.7 billion zinc and manganese mine now under federal review as part of an Obama-era program aimed at streamlining the permitting process for critical infrastructure.
Both manganese and zinc are designated as critical minerals by the U.S. Geological Survey, and President Joe Biden has authorized increases in domestic manganese mining and processing under the Defense Production Act to strengthen the large-capacity battery supply chain.
South32 is the world’s largest producer of the mineral, but no significant ore deposits have been mined in the U.S. since the 1970s.
Company officials are expected to make a final decision later this year on whether to proceed with underground mining on the private land the firm owns at the Hermosa site. If developed as planned, the project would represent the single largest investment in the history of Santa Cruz County.
The Hermosa site is just northwest of the proposed San Antonio project, another Barksdale-owned effort to explore a suspected copper deposit on about 6,300 acres of land in the Patagonia Mountains.
All of the recent exploration projects are located in historic mining districts that date back to the 1800s but have not seen significant activity for decades.
The Forest Service manages much of the Patagonia range as part of the Coronado National Forest. The agency and Coronado National Forest Supervisor Kerwin Dewberry are both named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Forest Service spokeswoman Starr Farrell said the agency would not comment on the litigation.
The environmental groups are seeking an immediate injunction that would block the Forest Service’s approvals and halt any drilling work until a more thorough review is conducted.
All eight groups are being represented in the lawsuit by attorneys for the Western Mining Action Project and the San Francisco-based environmental law organization Earthjustice.
"These projects threaten to drive away imperiled species and cut off wildlife movement between Mexico and the American Southwest," said Scott Stern, associate attorney for Earthjustice’s Biodiversity Defense Program. "This needs to be sent back to the drawing board so the government can properly consider the potential harm to the land, water and species of Southeast Arizona."
Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@tucson.com or 573-4283. On Twitter: @RefriedBrean | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/environmentalists-sue-to-block-mine-exploration-in-patagonia-mountains/article_95997f96-0f93-11ee-acbc-6f4ecaeac54d.html | 2023-06-20T23:39:20 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/environmentalists-sue-to-block-mine-exploration-in-patagonia-mountains/article_95997f96-0f93-11ee-acbc-6f4ecaeac54d.html |
SAN ANTONIO — Two people have been taken to a hospital after a car crashes into a home on the northwest side Tuesday afternoon, according to San Antonio Police.
The incident occurred near Bandera and Texas Road around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Police say a family of four lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a home damaging a fence and side of the home. The parents sat in the front seats with a 5-year-old and 15-year-old in the back, according to officials.
Police say one of the children hit their car window when the vehicle crashed into the home. The child and teen were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
An investigation is ongoing. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/car-crash-home-san-antonio-child/273-c11c6eaa-98d4-4ac8-8e03-9b2cdbdbd584 | 2023-06-20T23:41:50 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/car-crash-home-san-antonio-child/273-c11c6eaa-98d4-4ac8-8e03-9b2cdbdbd584 |
SAN ANTONIO — Pamela Ann Almazan recalls running an errand when she spotted smoke rising from I-35 near Brooklyn Avenue just before 11 p.m. Sunday. Two days later, Almazan hopes to bring awareness about the ongoing issue of homelessness in San Antonio.
"It's just overwhelming," Almazan said.
Crews with the Texas Department of Transportation were out tending to charred infrastructure Tuesday afternoon following the fire that stalled traffic for hours.
Firefighters tackled a fire underneath I-35 west of downtown for more than five hours, which shutdown several lanes through the early morning on Monday.
Authorities have yet to definitively determine what was on fire but the current assumption leads to trash buildup. A police officer noted the area is a common area for homeless individuals to sleep so it's possible some of their personal items caught fire, although the exact cause has not been revealed.
Almazan, who's lived in a nearby neighborhood for decades, said she's seen how the water drainage area underneath the highway serves as refuge for the houseless population. She stressed the living conditions are hazardous, which is why she's hoping the city and local non-profits continue to offer relief and shelter. However, she's also concerned about safety of homeowners, including herself because of past unruly interactions with the homeless community.
“Some of them are under the influence and are not coherent and actually need mental health care and they should seek that but you can’t help someone that doesn’t want to help themselves," Almazan said.
The lifelong San Antonian has raised issue about homelessness near I-35 and the Vista Verde neighborhood for years by reaching out to law enforcement, state and local leaders.
“I would like to see proper care for them that is beneficial to them as well as our society and our communities and hopefully this can be resolved, especially considering the conditions they’re living in," Almazan said.
KENS 5 is waiting for a statement from city officials in response to Almazan's specific concerns about the homeless.
The city has been working with SAMMinistries, Haven for Hope and Christian Assistance Ministry to address homelessness.
Among the initiatives is to increase the affordable housing supply by using a combination of local and federal dollars. One of the prominent funding sources is coming from the $150 million housing bond approved in May 2022. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/homeless-i-35-trash-fire-san-antonio/273-b3d98de4-701f-43c6-8645-81b5a6e9639c | 2023-06-20T23:41:56 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/homeless-i-35-trash-fire-san-antonio/273-b3d98de4-701f-43c6-8645-81b5a6e9639c |
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio leaders are sharing its progress on helping domestic violence victims.
Police have received thousands of family violence reports this year.
But SAPD is letting Metro Health provide support and assess the risk victims face.
Over time, San Antonio has tried to changing its approach from being handled by police to being handled by other organizations. It’s something both sides say is helping victims get connected to resources they need.
Domestic violence is a complex problem that requires many solutions. Some of those solutions were discussed during Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting.
“There’s nothing wrong with how the police department does it, but we have the ability to enhance it. We have the ability to change the factors around the person…and separating ourselves makes a victim feel more at ease,” Erica Haller-Stevenson, a public health administrator says they provide long-term services to victims once a case is reported to SAPD.
“Find permanent housing that’s safe for them, a job that gives them their own money and financial control, counseling anything that helps them get out of that abusive environment,” Haller-Stevenson said.
In the first half of the 2023 fiscal year—more than 6,700 people received screening and advocacy services while 507 got direct assistance such as emergency lodging, transportation, or goods.
The partnership and change of supervision over the programs allows San Antonio Police to handle the criminal side of domestic violence.
“Those hours or days after the incident, that’s where it’s changed to make sure the services are there, that there’s a safety plan in place,” Rene Gallegos, supervisor of SAPD’s Special Victims Unit told KENS 5.
The top five reports SAPD investigates include family violence, aggravated family violence, and protective order violations. Nearly 4,000 family violence reports were filed so far in 2023.
But police and their partners are trying to solve the problem together.
”This is a public health approach now that’s victim-centered, regardless of the relationship between the police and the health department, our focus is on getting what the victim needs,” Haller-Stevenson adds. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/metro-health-domestic-violence-san-antonio/273-bac9fc01-f551-49e1-855c-da1e5c3e1ad0 | 2023-06-20T23:42:02 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/metro-health-domestic-violence-san-antonio/273-bac9fc01-f551-49e1-855c-da1e5c3e1ad0 |
SAN ANTONIO — When extreme heat moves in most of us know how to take care of ourselves, but are we doing right by our pets?
It is actually fairly simple. Whatever you would do to keep yourself safe outside in the sun and the heat, you shouldo it for your pets too. Dr. Eduardo Guevara, a veterinarian from Callaghan Road Animal Hospital told us, "Yes, we do still see the occasional heat stroke patient comes through here."
Here are some helpful hints for pet parents from AmeriVet Veterinary Partners when it comes to walking their dog, or even cat. First, timing is everything. Dr. Guevara added, "One of the biggest mistakes people make is walking their pet the wrong time of day."
The best time to walk your dog, before it gets too hot in the morning, or later in the evening. Not in the middle of the day. Second, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Carry water for both you and your pet on your walk. Next up, take breaks.
Stop as frequently as your pet needs. You may notice your dog panting loudly or their tongue hanging out of the side of their mouth. Dr. Guevara told us, "If they start doing that, give them a break, Cool them off with some water."
Next, cover your pet up to avoid sunburn, especially for light colored breeds. Apply thin layer of sunscreen to the ears and the nose. And finally, if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for them. Dr. Guevara said, "Booties are always encouraged. Of course, it's not always the case. Not every dog allows them to have bodies put on the feet."
Dr. Guevara also recommends keeping your dog inside as much as possible, never tether them outside, and using a fan whenever you can. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/pets-safe-extreme-heat-summer/273-89a13298-b676-4dbd-95a0-68ff1c90561e | 2023-06-20T23:42:08 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/pets-safe-extreme-heat-summer/273-89a13298-b676-4dbd-95a0-68ff1c90561e |
AUSTIN, Texas — ERCOT is asking Texans to voluntarily conserve electricity Tuesday afternoon as temperatures continue to reach up into the triple digits.
ERCOT has issued a voluntary conservation notice from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. due to extreme heat and forecasted record demand. They added that they are not in emergency operations at this time.
ERCOT believes the grid should have enough power to handle the record demand Tuesday. A big part of that energy experts say is thanks to all the renewable energy generators, like solar and wind Texas has added over the years, doing their job to keep A/Cs going in the extreme heat.
While ERCOT’s request is voluntary, that doesn’t mean you don’t want to conserve at home especially if you are looking to cut down on energy bills.
Here are a few tips:
- Close the curtains or blinds, because up to 30 percent of the heat in your homes, comes through the windows.
- Run ceiling fans counterclockwise when it's hot to properly move air around.
- Turn up the thermostat a degree or two.
If you're going to be gone for the day, experts say to keep your A/C on since turning it off to save money doesn't work in the long run.
Rather they suggest you bump it up a few degrees higher.
Here's a real-time look at how the Texas power grid is holding up
Anytime the Texas power grid is the subject of a conservation advisory, or when the weather turns extreme in the Lone Star State, it's a good time to check on supply and demand.
The ERCOT has a dashboard that allows you to monitor real-time grid conditions.
This is a real-time look at the supply of power and demand, as reported by ERCOT. It also shows projected supply and demand, based on forecast.
ERCOT is tracking the state of the grid, as well as the state of the operating reserve.
There are several more real-time monitors that you can check on ERCOT's site, including system-wide demand, solar, current prices, and more. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-ernergy-consevation/285-ff9f018a-a9a8-4b11-aec3-5f4cac8d88ac | 2023-06-20T23:42:14 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-ernergy-consevation/285-ff9f018a-a9a8-4b11-aec3-5f4cac8d88ac |
SAN ANTONIO — The Texas power grid has a math problem, and the solution is in the wind.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which is directly in charge of the power grid, says Texas could see a power demand of 83,412 Megawatts (MW) this summer. This is the highest amount of power the grid would need to provide at one time at any given point.
If you added together all the power available from every natural gas plant, nuclear plant, and coal plant in the State of Texas, you would only have 73,239 MW. Additionally, a summer-readiness report from ERCOT said they state may only have 65,091 MW available from those sources.
This means that the grid must make up the difference between the predicted demand of 83,412 MW and the reliable 65,091 of generation.
The state has another 4,861 MW from hydro-electric power, battery power, and power from other girds. This means the remaining 12,000+ MW needed would need to come from wind farms and solar arrays.
The problem: Solar power is only available during half the day and the wind is variable.
ERCOT Vice President of Planning and Weatherization Woody Rickerson summarized the issue at a Tuesday Board meeting like this:
"Resource adequacy for high demand days is going to be very dependent on wind. That's just the reality of where we are. Every day we'll have to look at what the wind is doing," Rickerson said.
Rickerson said ERCOT is most concerned about the time frame between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. when solar power is dropping off but wind has still not picked up enough to compensate. This is why ERCOT asked the public to conserve electricity on Tuesday.
You can see the supply and demand curves get close in real time on this ERCOT page.
Fortunately, the grid is expected to have at least 4,000 MW more power available than needed throughout Tuesday. Wind and solar power are combining to provide enough power to get though the day KENS 5 forecasts a similar wind situation though the next few days.
ERCOT could continue to request conservation multiple times this week as the weather remains hot and power demand remains high. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/wind-speeds-state-power-grid-texas/273-0c623bbd-2a5f-476e-bad0-905785e6f3a9 | 2023-06-20T23:42:20 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/wind-speeds-state-power-grid-texas/273-0c623bbd-2a5f-476e-bad0-905785e6f3a9 |
Texas Tech System regents name Haynie as sole finalist for president of Midwestern State
LUBBOCK— The Texas Tech University Board of Regents named Stacia "Stacy" Haynie as the sole finalist to serve as the 13th President of Midwestern State University during a special-called meeting on Tuesday.
Haynie, an alumna of MSU and a native of Henrietta, will return to the institution following a 33-year tenure at Louisiana State University.
According to the system, Haynie has served in numerous positions during her academic tenure, including as Executive Vice President and Provost and Chief Academic Officer; Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Vice Provost for Academics and Planning; Associate and Interim Dean of the Graduate School and Department Chair.
Haynie was recognized by MSU as an Outstanding Education Student in 1981, Distinguished Alumna in the Department of Political Science in 1999 and the same distinction from MSU's Fain College of Fine Arts in 2011.
Earning her bachelor's in theater and master's in political science from MSU, Haynie went on to earn her doctoral degree in political science from the University of North Texas.
After 29 minutes of deliberating in the executive session, the board unanimously approved the new appointment and directed the Chancellor to negotiate the new president's contract and pay.
Haynie's tenure as MSU's president will officially begin 21 days from the notice, according to Texas State Law.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the sole finalist for the presidency of Midwestern State University,” Haynie said in a statement from the system. “MSU Texas and the Wichita Falls community have always held a special place in my heart, and I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to lead my alma mater into the next chapter in its history. My intellectual foundation was built at MSU Texas – which is a credit to the faculty and staff of this extraordinary university. I am excited to serve the MSU Texas community and to work tirelessly with the incredible faculty, staff and students to provide that same foundation for others.”
Background about the search and Midwestern State University
MSU joined the Tech System in September 2021 becoming the fifth component institution within the system. At the time, President Susan Shipley resigned as the 11th president of MSU president for retirement.
Gov. Abbott signs bill allowing Midwestern State to join TTU System
A search committee was convened and the regents appointed JuliAnn Mazachek as the 12th president of MSU in March 2022. Mazachek would later resign 10 months later as she accepted the president position at Washburn University.
Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell appointed Keith Lamb as the interim president of MSU in January 2023, and he has served since then.
On June 16, Vice Chairwoman Ginger Kerrick-Davis of the Board of Regents and chairwoman of the MSU Presidential Search Committee announced the special called meeting asking the MSU community to watch the meeting as it announced the new president.
Mateo Rosiles is a journalist covering Breaking News and Trends in Lubbock and around the area as well as covering the Texas Tech System and the Board of Regents. Send him news tips atmrosiles@gannett.com. | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/texas-tech-regents-name-haynie-sole-finalist-for-msu-president/70339326007/ | 2023-06-20T23:43:44 | 0 | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/texas-tech-regents-name-haynie-sole-finalist-for-msu-president/70339326007/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — As the summer travel season heats up, a major concern remains as to whether the country is heading for a recession.
Elliott Potter, co-founder and CEO of the Birmingham technology startup Linq, is keeping a close eye on the economy as he leads his new company.
“I am very optimistic about the future and I’m hiring people into that spirit of optimism and into that future,” Potter said. “Yeah, we put our money where our mouth is.”
In May 2019, Potter, Jared Mattsson and Patrick Sullivan left their jobs at the delivery service company, Shipt, to found Linq. Four years later, Potter is grateful for where the company currently stands.
“At a macro level and compared to a lot of the startups we started with and have grown up alongside, Linq is doing really well,” he said.
Potter and his team have secured $6.5 million in funding and are growing, even amid talk of a looming recession later in the year. However, Potter has not fully bought into those fears.
“I think we are going to continue to see a tightening, not to the point of a doomsday recession, but a tightening and kind of a readjustment back to the baseline,” he said.
Patrick Murphy from UAB Collat School of Business feels the talk of a coming recession is overblown.
“I think we are at risk, not of a recession but of a weakening in the economy, and there’s only so much a government can do,” Murphy said.
For Potter and the Linq team, growing a business under pressure is nothing new, especially since they launched just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Potter feels the lessons he and his team learned then will pay off, no matter what the next year holds.
“What is the core problem I’m solving as a business? Who are my core customers? And how do I reach them efficiently, effectively and cost effectively and deliver real business value that they are willing to pay for,” he said.
Murphy also believes that with all the recession talk, the best thing that cities and states can do is to back entrepreneurs like Potter and focus on growth.
”I think the real opportunity here is to shift back into growth mode, away from redistribution mode and toward growth mode and that means supporting entrepreneurs with policies, that means education, that means making it as easy as possible from a policy perspective for entrepreneurs to launch, start and grow business,” Murphy said. “I think that’s the best thing we can do about the economy right now.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-startup-linq-focuses-on-bottom-line-amid-recession-rumors/ | 2023-06-20T23:51:08 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-startup-linq-focuses-on-bottom-line-amid-recession-rumors/ |
OXFORD, Ala. (WIAT) — Two men are dead and a little girl is in the hospital after a house fire broke out at a home on Main Street in Oxford early Tuesday morning.
A woman who lives at the home, but did not want to go on camera, told CBS 42 she lost her uncle, her brother and the family’s Yorkie in the fire. She said her 8-year-old granddaughter is still being treated at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham and is doing okay.
Her neighbor and current spokesperson for the family, Raul Mayorga, described hearing “a big explosion” at around 3:00 a.m. His daughter first spotted the flames and woke him up, and he immediately called the police and rushed to help his friends.
“They’re very nice people to me, they’re always cooking, they’re always inviting us to their party, Mayorga said. “They lost everything. They lost their wallet, their phone, they don’t even have their car keys.”
He said it took about four hours to put it out.
Oxford Fire Chief Gary Sparks reported that 11 people were currently living there, and six people were at home when the fire started. The state fire marshal has taken over the investigation into the cause.
“When [first responders] got there, they encountered heavy fire coming out the front of the house,” Sparks said.
Firefighters were forced to go through the back, rescuing the little girl through a window. They found one of the men dead in a bedroom upstairs and the other right next to the back door.
“Things burn quicker and hotter today because of all the polyester and all the foam and different things you have in furniture. There’s no doubt a smoke detector will save your life,” Sparks said.
For now, Mayorga said the family is staying with him and he’s hoping to get the community’s help to get them back on their feet. He encourages community members to reach out to him at 773-934-8674. The American Red Cross is also assisting.
“You help people, somebody else is gonna help you,” Mayorga said. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/family-devastated-after-two-people-killed-child-hospitalized-in-oxford-house-fire/ | 2023-06-20T23:51:14 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/family-devastated-after-two-people-killed-child-hospitalized-in-oxford-house-fire/ |
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Elvis Costello will perform at The Venue at Hammond Horseshoe Casino Friday.
The two-time Grammy winner will perform with his band The Imposters at 8 p.m. Friday at 777 Casino Center in Hammond.
The singer-songwriter is known for being literate and lyrical in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, often deploying clever wordplay and a wide vocabulary in his songs. His work has received a significant amount of critical acclaim – Rolling Stone Magazine for instance named him one of the Top 100 Artists of All Time and his first three albums among the Top 500 Albums of All Time.
First emerging on the scene in the late 1970s, Costello has composed melodic songs in a number of genres. The London native known for his geeky, bespectacled look is most closely associated with new wave, punk rock and power pop.
People are also reading…
His debut album "My Aim is True" earned him acclaim in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It won him a cult following with hits like "Alison," "Watching the Detectives," "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," "Less Than Zero" and "Radio Radio."
His follow-up album "Armed Forces" charted on the Top 10. He continued to receive critical acclaim as his sound evolved on "Get Happy!!," "Trust," "Punch the Clock" and "Goodbye Cruel World." He scored hits with songs like "Everyday I Write the Book," "Shipbuilding" and "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding."
Over the course of his lengthy career, he's worked with many artists like Paul McCartney, The Specials, The Pogues and the Danish Royal Opera.
Fellow English musician Nick Lowe, who produced Costello's "My Aim is True" and wrote the original version of "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding," will open. He's also produced The Damned, The Pretenders and other acts. He went on to release music of his own like the albums "The Impossible Bird and "Dig My Mood."
He's appeared in many films and television shows like "30 Rock," "Treme" and "A Colbert Christmas."
Tickets start at $59.
For more information or tickets, visit https://www.caesars.com/horseshoe-hammond/shows.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Maple + Bacon, deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening
Open
Open
Open
Coming soon
Open
Open
Open
219 News Now 6/16/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan's Pierogies updating | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/elvis-costello-to-pump-it-up-at-the-venue-at-hammond-horseshoe-casino/article_afcb53da-0f25-11ee-922d-671613075f30.html | 2023-06-20T23:57:14 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/elvis-costello-to-pump-it-up-at-the-venue-at-hammond-horseshoe-casino/article_afcb53da-0f25-11ee-922d-671613075f30.html |
Muncie mother: Ethnicity played role in heartbreaking pregnancy
Editor's Note: The following is part of a class project originally initiated in the classroom of Ball State University professor Adam Kuban in fall 2021. Kuban continued the project this spring semester, challenging his students to find sustainability efforts in the Muncie area and pitch their ideas to Deanna Watson, editor of The Star Press, Journal & Courier and Pal-Item. Throughout the spring and into summer, stories related to health care have been featured.
MUNCIE, Ind. – Muncie resident Molly McGuire described her first pregnancy as “a perfect storm.”
After her “horrific pregnancy experience,” she started to do more research and learned how her ethnicity may have played a role. McGuire is Native American and found a handful of data of infant-mortality rates due to ethnicities.
“I had all kinds of signs and symptoms starting from the very beginning. If somebody had just taken me seriously and also looked at my background — my race, my family history of other native women in my family when it came to their adverse pregnancy outcomes,” McGuire said.
According to the OMH U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, “American Indian/ Alaska Natives have almost twice the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.”
Karrie Osborne, RN and a professor at Ball State University, has been teaching for 10 years and explained how the nursing program is preparing future health professionals by working with people of different races and ethnicities.
Osborne said minority students in the nursing programs have brought up their concerns in the teaching in the classroom. For example, students of color have noticed how the textbook will show examples of white or light skins for skin assessments. Students were concerned with the limited examples of working with different skin colors, especially brown or dark skin. The students' concerns helped guide Osborne to provide more resources as she taught her classes such as online examples of darker skin assessments.
Osborne said she and her other staff members are listening to minority students, having them [students] share their personal experiences when dealing with health care.
That’s not what happened when McGuire met with her doctors.
When McGuire’s gynecologist prescribed her Clomid, an oral medication used to treat infertility in women, McGuire said she started having abnormal bleeding. She said she felt a little concerned, but her doctors explained how the bleeding is common during pregnancies.
“I felt dismissed at that point in time, [but] I still stayed with them, and then, as I got into my third trimester, things just got worse way fast,” McGuire said.
She explained how she gained five pounds and was swollen throughout her body within a week. Then she noticed that her baby wasn’t moving as much.
“Every time I’d call, it was like, ‘Well, you and the baby’s gotten bigger. Bigger babies don’t move around. A lot of swelling is common in pregnancy,’” McGuire said.
After taking a gestational diabetes test at the recommendation of her doctor, returning with positive results, she was told she needed to take an educational class to gain a better understanding of what diabetes she’ll be having. She was sitting in the class and listening to the nurse explain a list of symptoms of when to call your doctor — symptoms that raise red flags and recommend patients to seek medical attention.
“There was a list of the top 10, and I just burst out into tears because I had all 10 of them, and then I explained to her how I hadn’t felt my baby moving for days,” McGuire said. “I’d been to the doctor’s office, and I felt like they didn’t take me seriously.”
Dr. Ronald Wyatt, vice president and senior fellow of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, explains the science of patient safety, noting that no one should be harmed during the process of receiving health care.
“When you care for people, you should exceed their expectations. The industry definition says you should meet the expectations of the customers, but in [improving] health care, I’d say that quality means we exceed those expectations,” Wyatt said.
An article from “Medical Regulation,” defines patient safety as “health care professions that apply safety science methods toward the goal of achieving a trustworthy system of health care delivery.”
Once McGuire shared her story with the nurse, she was taken to another doctor who was familiar with her situation. They took her into labor to remove the baby once they couldn’t find the heartbeat and determined the infant had died.
McGuire now encourages everyone to advocate for themselves.
“Now, I know doctors are human, and I know [it’s] true they don’t know everything, but I put my life in this person’s hands, and I was paying them to make the decision for myself because that’s not my area of expertise,” McGuire said, “but my area of expertise is my body.” | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/muncie-mother-stillbirth-came-after-few-listened-to-her-worries/70328101007/ | 2023-06-21T00:00:21 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/muncie-mother-stillbirth-came-after-few-listened-to-her-worries/70328101007/ |
On Tuesday, the heat index in North Texas was in the 'Excessive Heat Warning' zone for yet another day, with 'feels like' temperatures soaring over 100 degrees.
"I've learned to deal with it," valet supervisor Oscar Lopez said.
Lopez is a valet outside Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas.
'I drink water, stay under this umbrella, or if I really have to, I go between the double doors right there and just cool off," Lopez said.
A few blocks away, construction crews worked in the afternoon heat, wearing wide-brim hats and layers of clothing to protect them from the sun. Their cooler, filled with water and Gatorade sat on the sidewalk, ready for breaks.
Preparing for the heat is key. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is an average of 702 heat-related deaths every year in the United States.
"I'm just gonna try and do what I know to do; stay out of it as much as possible," Roger Russell, who ministers to people experiencing homelessness, said. "Right now I'm in the shade and I'm gonna stay in the shade until I make my next move!"
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
The 'Excessive Heat Warning' continues through 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/another-day-with-excessive-heat-warning-in-north-texas/3281209/ | 2023-06-21T00:00:49 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/another-day-with-excessive-heat-warning-in-north-texas/3281209/ |
There’s a battle over blood donations in North Texas and whether patients can choose their own donor.
Direct blood donations have been around since the 1980s, in part, to help ease worries over the safety of blood supplies during the AIDS epidemic.
One of DFW’s major blood banks unexpectedly changed its direct donor policy in April, leaving some families very upset.
Although Tanya Lair’s daughters, 9 and 11, appear to be normal, healthy, beautiful girls, Lair says she’s noticed a marked difference since April.
“One of my daughters, you can see her lips are white. If she had good blood, she’d have bright red lips like I do. Like you do,” said the Farmersville mother. “She literally sleeps all the time.”
The girls were born in China with a rare blood disorder called Beta thalassemia major. “What this means is they are missing the gene that makes hemoglobin, so they literally cannot produce red blood cells. This will make them dependent on blood transfusions every month for the rest of their lives,” she said. “It can’t just be O-positive. It has to be negative for A, C, D, E, all those things.”
Lair said when the girls came home to North Texas, they were initially given transfusions from the general blood bank inventory, but they did not appear to thrive.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Doctors advised the family to find direct donors who could be carefully screened and allowed to donate blood that would be set aside for each girl.
The Lairs managed to compile a list of 30 donors, through an online petition and through friends and family.
Every month, one of their contacts would roll up their sleeve and give blood through Carter BloodCare.
Such blood units are kept separate from the center’s general inventory.
“For 10 years we had no issues,” said Lair. “Our daughters have done phenomenal. They’re growing they’re thriving, they play sports, gymnastics. Then, without any reason whatsoever back in April, Carter BloodCare calls me and says: Hey, we’re sorry. We’re doing away with the direct donor program. No explanation as to why.
The blood bank, like others, has supported direct donor programs in North Texas since the 1980s when the AIDs epidemic left some concerned over the safety of blood donations.
A message on the blood bank’s website simply stated, "effective April 14, 2023, Carter BloodCare is no longer accepting requests for directed donations."
There were initially no other details provided.
The blood bank has now included a lengthy explanation after "social media" discussions began circulating.
Lair says she is concerned her daughters’ are now receiving “weeks-old blood” supplies nearing their expiration dates or blood that has not been properly vetted to match her daughters’ needs.
Carter BloodCare agreed to an interview with NBC 5 to address the decision.
“Throughout the years we look at what is required, as far as resources to continue programs or whether or not a program needs to continue anymore,” said Veronica Moore, VP of marketing and operations support for Carter BloodCare. “The blood supply is safe now with the screening and the testing, those advancements that have happened over the years the blood supply is safe and so that’s one of the reasons we looked at that program to say, this is probably not something we need to have in that capacity.”
Moore said Carter BloodCare always looks at operational efficiencies “and we had noticed an increase in some of these [direct donor] requests and so we just looked at what do we need to do to continue to support a program such as this, or is there a need to continue to support it?”
Moore stressed the decision was not made over a lack of money or personnel.
“There’s not really any medical reason to continue the program at that same level,” she said.
They are, however, allowing patients with rare blood types or those with no other matches to request a direct donor supply.
“Yes, we honor that request from a physician that is taking care of that patient or patients and we do our best to fill that,” said Moore.
The Lairs say that has not been their case at all, despite repeated calls pleading to be allowed to use direct donors.
They worry their daughters will suffer long-term medical problems after having to rely on Carter BloodCare.
The blood bank contends patients can seek out a different bank for their needs, but the family says they have no other option as their children’s hospital works directly with Carter BloodCare.
They’ve considered whether to seek this medical care in another state, but Lair says she would have to start a new list of donors from scratch.
“As a parent, you will do literally anything to help your girls,” she said. “I just want to give my girls the absolute best quality of care that I can provide for them and I don’t understand why they would take this away.” | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/battle-over-direct-blood-donations-leaves-parents-upset/3281247/ | 2023-06-21T00:00:55 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/battle-over-direct-blood-donations-leaves-parents-upset/3281247/ |
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.
What we know
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.
- State Sen. Angela Paxton, the AG's wife, has confirmed she will participate in the trial.
- Houston state Rep. Ann Johnson, who is one of the managers, said she's hoping for a trial that's transparent to the public.
- Paxton's legal team, who is led by Houston attorney 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.
Follow along with the latest on the impeachment trial. KHOU 11's Janelle Bludau is in Austin and will have live updates as information becomes available today:
Tuesday
11:22 A.M.: Today in the Senate chambers, we’re expecting to hear the rules that will govern the impeachment trial for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Monday
6:18 P.M.: State Sen. Angela Paxton, wife of Attorney General Ken Paxton, released a statement not fully confirming that she will vote in the possible impeachment of her husband but that “I will carry out my duties.”
10:15 A.M.: 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. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-update/285-0d912e26-bad7-4474-8837-348de5259dba | 2023-06-21T00:06:57 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-update/285-0d912e26-bad7-4474-8837-348de5259dba |
The city of Camden honored a 6-year-old boy who died more than a decade ago while protecting his sister from an armed rapist who broke into their home.
On Sept. 2, 2012, Osvaldo Rivera broke into a home in Camden, New Jersey, and raped and stabbed a girl who was sleeping on the sofa. Family members said the girl’s 6-year-old brother, Dominick Andujar, confronted Rivera to protect his sister. Rivera – who investigators said had been smoking marijuana laced with PCP at the time of the attack – then stabbed the boy. The girl survived while Dominick died from his injuries.
Rivera was later arrested and sentenced to 110 years in prison for murder, attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, burglary and terroristic threats.
Nearly 11 years after his murder, Dominick’s heroism has not been forgotten. On Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners, Camden City Mayor Victor Carstarphen and other community partners unveiled $1.5 million worth of upgrades to a North Camden park which was named after Dominick in 2021.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
“This actually helps us a lot dealing with him and his passing because we used to play here when we were younger,” Dominick’s sister told NBC10 during Tuesday’s ceremony. “This is a park that we do come to all the time and we do clean up and we make sure that all the kids stay safe.”
The park upgrades include the removal of soil contamination and other environmental concerns as well as a new baseball field with solar powered lights, new trees, benches and trash cans and a walkway connecting the northern and southern parts of the park.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
“This is a well-loved park here in North Camden and ensuring it’s in the best shape possible was a top priority for us,” Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Parks Department, said. “The project is part of Camden County’s continued $21 million commitment to partner with Camden City to rehabilitate and expand green spaces here in the city. We are thrilled to have this park completed and we cannot wait for the community to enjoy this in its entirety.”
Dominick, who loved t-ball and baseball, would’ve just turned 17 years old.
“He also played on this park when he turned 5-years-old for North Camden Little League,” Dominick’s mother, Debbie Burgos, said during Tuesday’s ceremony.
Former Camden police chief J. Scott Thomson also attended Tuesday’s ceremony and praised Dominick's courage.
“In my 27 years of policing, I have witnessed courage and bravery from adult men and women but none as great as little Dominick’s,” he said.
In addition to the park upgrades, officials also unveiled a statue of a lion cub to memorialize Dominick and his bravery.
“Thank you to everyone who put their heart and soul into making this park and field a fun and safe place for children to play the sport that my son loved so much,” Burgos said. “The lion cub symbolizes courage, strength, and bravery which Dominick displayed at such a young age and will continue to help honor his memory.” | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/camden-honors-boy-who-died-protecting-his-sister-from-armed-rapist/3589184/ | 2023-06-21T00:10:15 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/camden-honors-boy-who-died-protecting-his-sister-from-armed-rapist/3589184/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
Phillies Baseball
I-95 Collapse
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/camden-honors-boy-who-died-saving-his-sister-from-rapist/3589155/ | 2023-06-21T00:10:22 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/camden-honors-boy-who-died-saving-his-sister-from-rapist/3589155/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
Phillies Baseball
I-95 Collapse
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/former-camden-police-chief-remembers-boy-who-died-protecting-his-sister-from-rapist/3589183/ | 2023-06-21T00:10:28 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/former-camden-police-chief-remembers-boy-who-died-protecting-his-sister-from-rapist/3589183/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The recent stretch of cool, rainy days have reminded Oregonians that spring is still here, but that changes Wednesday on the summer solstice.
Wednesday, June 21 marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. Summer officially begins at 7:57 a.m. Pacific Time.
Portlanders are in for a whopping 15 hours and 41 minutes of daylight on the solstice, with sunrise at 5:21 a.m. and sunset at 9:03 p.m.
The June solstice occurs at the moment the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, which is the northernmost parallel latitude on Earth at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon.
After reaching this point, the sun will begin appearing lower in the sky for the northern hemisphere and the days will start getting shorter. For the southern hemisphere, the days start getting longer.
The summer solstice also marks the only day of the year when all locations inside the Arctic Circle experience a continuous period of daylight for 24 hours.
In Portland Wednesday, the noon sun will reach its highest point in the sky near 68 degrees from the southern horizon.
Jim Todd, director of space science education at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, said there will be nearly 93.6 days of summer from the June solstice to the September fall equinox.
When Portland reaches winter solstice in December, the Portland area gets just under 9 hours of daylight and the sun is at its lowest point near 21 degrees. | https://www.koin.com/local/portland-will-experience-more-than-15-hours-of-daylight-on-summer-solstice/ | 2023-06-21T00:21:47 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/portland-will-experience-more-than-15-hours-of-daylight-on-summer-solstice/ |
North Main Street in Herkimer is looking pretty run down, but Herkimer High School Students are working on beautifying some of the blight. A vacant building was boarded up to keep homeless people out, but students are painting a mural on the front of the building where it was boarded up. Arts Educator Heather McCutcheon says instead of leaving the plywood blank, Student Council and Art Students are brightening up Main Street.
"This is our hometown, this is where we live, this is where we drive by, and eat here in these restaurants, so they get a sense of pride."
Student Council Senior Bailey Bray believes this is mural can help change the attitude about Main Street.
"Usually people don’t come down Main Street because of how rotten it looks usually, but now I hope they come down and look at the sun and have a brighter day."
Main Street Business Owners are ready for the change, and some like Collis Hardware Owner Kenneth Collis, have even helped with donations.
"It makes the community look better. I mean it lifts everybody’s spirits when they can walk down the street and see something instead of just a sheet of plywood or an empty store front."
Scott Tranter the CEO/President of Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner stopped down to check on the progress of the mural.
"It just gives it more appeal because of the eyesore and stuff the way some of it is. It’s really a shame what’s happened to our Main Street, and to see someone at least taking an interest and putting something up that looks good, that’s an eye catcher, I think it’s great."
The Village is working on a number of downtown revitalization grants to improve the area, and the High School Student Council Junior Peter Mosny would like to see the Village succeed.
"I’ve always wanted to see what Herkimer looked like in the 70’s you know when it was in its heyday, but I guess I just wish that it was like that again, and maybe this will help us get back there."
There are still a few finishing touches left to do on the mural, but it’s expected to be completed by the end of the week. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/brightening-up-main-street-in-herkimer/article_22ac8576-0fa4-11ee-84f2-539ed0253d23.html | 2023-06-21T00:24:38 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/brightening-up-main-street-in-herkimer/article_22ac8576-0fa4-11ee-84f2-539ed0253d23.html |
Many people up north are upset and very sad about a goose they're seeing on Old Forge Pond, near the Water's Edge Inn.
The goose has an arrow in its back, yet he's still able to swim, walk, eat, and, wildlife rehab experts suspect, can fly.
The Department of Environmental Conservation was in Old Forge today.
Local wildlife rehabiliitator Judy Cusworth also went, brainstorming ways to capture the bird.
The biggest challenge they face: capturing the bird-so they can remove the arrow without making the injury worse.
More on this developing story will be posted as it becomes available. The photo of the goose was courtesy of Tanya Field. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/old-forge-goose-struck-by-arrow/article_008e6c64-0fb0-11ee-b849-8f872a636b85.html | 2023-06-21T00:24:44 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/old-forge-goose-struck-by-arrow/article_008e6c64-0fb0-11ee-b849-8f872a636b85.html |
UTICA, N.Y. -- The City of Utica today unveiled its new and improved Jason Waterman Skate Park in Lincoln Park.
It's the work of an L.A. design firm, and plenty of skateboarders were there for the ribbon cutting.
Mayor Robert Palmieri said that's one thing this renovation process taught him--just how many avid skateboarders are out there.
The park's namesake, Jason Waterman, was one of them; he was killed in a car crash in 2016. His family was there today and said that their son and brother would have been thrilled.
"For them to be able to have new equipment to be able to learn on and grow as skateboarders is super exciting, not only for them, but I know he would be proud, too, because this is something he's always wanted," said Waterman's sister, Alexandria Almas.
"Oh, he would have been here as it was being built. You probably couldn't get him out of here if he was here. If you had one rail, he was on it. They used to come here in the wintertime, shovel the ramps and skate in the wintertime. They don't care. Day or night, snow, rain, they were here," said Waterman's brother, Josh Waterman.
Park hours are 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/utica-unveils-newly-renovated-jason-waterman-skate-park/article_4740bede-0fae-11ee-a372-4f1ee5e206d1.html | 2023-06-21T00:24:51 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/utica-unveils-newly-renovated-jason-waterman-skate-park/article_4740bede-0fae-11ee-a372-4f1ee5e206d1.html |
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County says a water sample has tested positive for blue-green algal toxins in Lake Monroe, between Volusia and Seminole counties.
Officials say the toxins were found in a sample taken on June 15 in the center of the lake.
Blue-green algae can irritate the skin, and swallowing large amounts of contaminated water can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. People who are sensitive to smells can have respiratory irritation.
They are urging the public to take the following precautions:
- Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft or boats in waters where there is a visible bloom
- Keep pets and livestock away from the area
- Eating healthy fish from the lake is safe as long as it’s been filleted. Be sure to rinse the fish, throw out the guts and cook it well
- Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms
If you see any fish kills in the area, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 1-800-636-0511.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/20/blue-green-algae-alert-issued-for-lake-monroe-between-seminole-volusia-counties/ | 2023-06-21T00:25:52 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/20/blue-green-algae-alert-issued-for-lake-monroe-between-seminole-volusia-counties/ |
ORANG COUNTY, Fla. – Much needed updates are coming to the streets surround the University of Central Florida to make them safer for pedestrians.
Tuesday, commissioners in Orange County approved a $13 million construction contract for their safety improvement project near University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail.
Director of Public Works Joseph Kunkel shared details about the project with News 6. He says the changes have been a long time coming.
“There is a lot of traffic on both University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail,” said Kunkel. “You have a lot of cars, and along with that you have demand from pedestrians. In this case, mostly students.”
[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]
Kunkel says the county plans to add two mid-block crossings in areas close to student housing. They will provide a safe space for students to cross in places between intersections. There are also plans to widen sidewalks, among other changes.
“It’s called pedestrian channelization, some things we’re putting in the median to help guide pedestrians to the crosswalks,” said Kunkel. “We are also having a larger, multi-purpose path put in on the east side of Alafaya Trail and that will provide a place for pedestrians, as well as cyclists, to go and be off the roadway.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Jerry Demings spoke about the high volume of pedestrians in the corridors close to UCF. He also acknowledged past incidents where students have been hit by cars.
“Over time we’ve seen several different tragic accidents in this particular area, impacting most often students from the University of Central Florida,” Demings said.
In 2014, Brooke Dawkins was killed near Alafaya and Gemini. Her father spoke to News 6 about the pain of her passing in the years that followed.
“It was rough. It’s still rough,” he said. “We still cry every day.”
In 2017, Austin Ekern’s father says he was visiting from FSU when he was hit by a car along Alafaya Trail. The same year Alexandria Clark was killed crossing University Blvd.
Kunkel explained why it’s taken years since their deaths for changes to be made.
“There are always challenges with developing plans, doing studies, and getting a contractor on board,” said Kunkel. “It’s a major, major project.”
Public Works says every solution also comes with a cost. They say the plans they have in the works cost more than $13 million and anticipate construction will be complete in late 2024.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/20/major-project-county-officials-approve-construction-project-to-improve-pedestrian-safety-near-ucf/ | 2023-06-21T00:25:59 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/20/major-project-county-officials-approve-construction-project-to-improve-pedestrian-safety-near-ucf/ |
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A Flagler County man was arrested after trying to take several strange products from a Target in Palm Coast, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said they responded to reports about the Target theft along Moody Boulevard on Monday afternoon.
Upon arrival, deputies found 46-year-old David Romero trying to back out of a parking spot outside the Target, the sheriff’s office announced in a release.
The release shows that deputies then tried to take Romero into custody on an arrest warrant out of Putnam County, but as they tried to place him in the patrol car, a pink vibrator fell out of his pants.
𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝐏𝐮𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝐅𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐂𝐒𝐎
— Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (@FlaglerSheriff) June 20, 2023
A Putnam County fugitive was arrested on Monday afternoon after shoplifting a series of personal care items from the Target in… pic.twitter.com/Xh0W9ESTUC
Investigators later learned that Romero had stolen the vibrator from Target, along with condoms, personal lubricant, several “sexual enhancement products” and a t-shirt, according to the sheriff’s office.
Romero had been caught on surveillance footage stuffing the items inside tan shapewear he found in the store, deputies said. Then, he picked up a few groceries and paid only for the food before leaving the store — still holding onto the stolen goods, according to the release.
Romero faces one count of petit theft, four counts of larceny and a charge of grand theft in connection to the Putnam County arrest warrant. He is held on a bond of $3,000.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/flagler-man-accused-of-shoplifting-vibrator-condoms-from-target/ | 2023-06-21T00:26:05 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/flagler-man-accused-of-shoplifting-vibrator-condoms-from-target/ |
ATLANTA — Staffing shortages impacting call response times have been an issue plaguing Atlanta's 911 Call Center for some time now, but some are hoping new cash bonuses will help.
On Tuesday, leaders approved legislation to allocate $100,000 dollars for bonuses for new hires for the Atlanta Police Department's E911 Communication Center.
Gina Pagnotta, the union president representing the city of Atlanta employees has been concerned about staffing issues at the call center for years, saying delayed call response times are directly related to a lack of manpower.
“Any department or any call center that has a staffing issue, they will have response delayed times," Pagnotta said.
The council approved $100,000 for bonuses of up to $10,000 - but according to APD, its leadership will determine the bonus amounts.
Pagnotta says Tuesday's move by the city council to approve funding for cash bonuses for new 911 call center employees is desperately needed, but that leaders need to now address the pay of current employees.
"We also need to talk about the ones that are there, that have been there, have fought through all of this COVID that are still getting sick, that have fought through all of this understaffing," Pagnotta said.
Last year, a $15 million investment was approved by voters to address infrastructure issues at the city's call center that resulted in power outages and unanswered calls. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-city-council-approves-bonuses-new-911-center-employees/85-77613ccc-2a11-4d52-b225-08c526be6635 | 2023-06-21T00:28:17 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-city-council-approves-bonuses-new-911-center-employees/85-77613ccc-2a11-4d52-b225-08c526be6635 |
ATLANTA — Council members voted to keep Atlanta’s citywide curfew the same but change the penalties on Tuesday afternoon.
As it stands, the City’s curfew is 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weeknights and midnight to 6 a.m. on the weekends.
The ordinance, which the council passed with a 12-1 vote, changes the penalties attached to the curfew. It takes away the $1,000 fine and jail time and instead added required participation in an educational program for the parents. The child is encouraged to attend the program, as well.
“If I see a kid outside after 11 p.m., the police or whoever sees them the first time, we stop them and say, ‘Hey, here's a note. Call your mom. You have one hour and 30 minutes to get home,’” said Councilmember Antonio Lewis.
Lewis explained the next time the child is seen, the program is mandated for the parents.
“We're not locking folks up. Not fining, but similar to any stipulation in which a person has to attend a class, you've got to come be a part of this because we want to lock people into a different type of way of thinking,” said Lewis.
A resolution also passed, on second reading, that councilmembers Antonio Lewis and Keisha Sean Waites said goes hand-in-hand with the passed ordinance.
It encourages parents to know where their kids are at night, even before the curfew comes into play.
“It is from 9 p.m. during the weekdays,” said Waites. “On the weekends, it is 10 p.m. It mirrors the ordinance, but it is urging parents to pretty much be accountable with respect to their children.”
City leaders, including the mayor, have discussed potential changes to the curfew for months now.
“Our group concerns about what happens with our youth are weighing heavy on this decision,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “Do we create these mechanisms that are over-policing young folks when we’re really trying to show them that they have opportunities and creating more police and youth interactions which could lead to challenges? But also, the other thing is, we don’t want kids hanging out at 1 o’clock in the morning with nowhere to go.”
Waites also addressed people who feel the changes to the curfew are too strict.
“For any person who feels that this is an overreach -- you have never buried a child,” said Waites. “I can assure you that there are exceptions in this legislation for individuals who are working, for individuals who are involved in athletic activities or religious activities or emancipated unsheltered teenagers.”
Council members said this is just the start of the discussion.
“This is the beginning of the conversation. And what goes away and what we're hoping is that you know, through this partnership and through these two pieces of policy that will save one life,” said Waites.
Waites said she expects to see more changes come in the future. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/changes-to-atlanta-city-curfew-penalties/85-756953d2-b394-4323-b7e1-7bbbcffd8a44 | 2023-06-21T00:28:23 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/changes-to-atlanta-city-curfew-penalties/85-756953d2-b394-4323-b7e1-7bbbcffd8a44 |
ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Revenue appears to be "on track" to meet its goal of having most of the highly-anticipated Georgia surplus tax refund checks out to recipients by the end of the month.
The news comes in an update provided by the Georgia DOR on Tuesday.
According to the department, as of June 15, 2.75 million Georgia taxpayers have received nearly $856.5 million, with $90 million still left to be released in the coming days to those who qualify.
Why are we getting the tax refund check payments?
Georgia had a very large budget surplus, of which $1 billion the governor and legislature decided to return to taxpayers in the form of these payments.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law in March, allowing the Department of Revenue to disburse the round of payments, replicating the ones that went to taxpayers last year in the form of a tax refund.
They're structured just like last year, which is as follows:
- $500 for married couples filing jointly
- $375 for single filers with dependents
- $250 for single filers
Who was eligible for the Georgia tax refund checks?
Georgia workers who paid state income tax in 2021 and 2022 will be eligible. Taxpayers must have filed by the deadline of April 18 (the same deadline as federal Tax Day) to ensure they would get the newest payment.
The plan was to have most of the payments issued by July 1.
What if I haven't received my payment yet?
11Alive financial expert Andrew Poulos said that if you still haven’t received your refund, don't worry, yet.
"It does appear that everything’s going on track," he said.
Poulos said for those who filed their taxes by the April 15 deadline but are still waiting, "I'd give it a couple more weeks," he advised.
"The Department of Revenue is processing tax returns first and foremost," he added. "That's the first priority. Then they issue the budget surplus checks to those who qualify."
What if I filed an extension?
The Department of Revenue said an estimated 1.1 million Georgia taxpayers filed their taxes on extension. Those taxpayers, if eligible to receive the payments, can't receive a check until they have filed their returns.
"You’re likely not going to see the additional refund until after that is processed, which could be late October, sometime in November, perhaps even extending out to December," Poulos explained.
Who is not eligible for a tax refund check?
Having said that, Poulos added its important to note that not everybody qualifies for a portion of the budget surplus checks.
“If you file a tax return and on your state return you have zero tax liability, then you will not receive any refund," he explained. "And you cannot receive more than your tax liability. For example, if you're a single taxpayer, the maximum you can receive is $250, but let's just say that your Georgia tax liability is $100. Your budget surplus refund check is going to be $100. So it cannot exceed what your liability is.”
Poulos adds that if you have not filed your 2021 tax return, you won't be qualified, either.
For more information, click here. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-surplus-tax-refund-checks-on-track/85-095d90b0-79c7-43d8-9602-5761277f6316 | 2023-06-21T00:28:29 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-surplus-tax-refund-checks-on-track/85-095d90b0-79c7-43d8-9602-5761277f6316 |
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.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
9NEWS+
9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and 9NEWS+ Daily, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates, and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features.
To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA.
To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/joe-exotic-2024-president-ballot-colorado/73-3be6f6b0-d18e-4297-8231-05aaa1b1e0a5 | 2023-06-21T00:28:35 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/joe-exotic-2024-president-ballot-colorado/73-3be6f6b0-d18e-4297-8231-05aaa1b1e0a5 |
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A man sentenced to life in prison without parole made another plea to a Gwinnett County judge Tuesday, hoping to win a new trial.
“Most nights I sleep, I cry myself to sleep to this day. It just hurts. It’s like you want this pain to stop,” said Sandeep “Sonny” Bharadia while on the witness stand.
Bharadia has always maintained his innocence. Still, a jury found him guilty of aggravated sodomy and sexual battery, as well as burglary. He has been in prison for more than 20 years now, on a sentence of life without parole.
“I did everything I’m supposed to do. I provided everything I’m supposed to provide. And that’s all I can do,” said Bharadia.
Bharadia has filed several failed motions for a new trial based in part on new DNA evidence he believes proves he did not commit the crime.
Now, attorneys with the Georgia Innocence Project are trying to prove Bharadia’s previous legal representation made critical mistakes, failing to provide him with effective counsel. For several hours, two of his previous attorneys were asked questions about missing evidence and conflicting statements to determine why they were not challenged.
Bharadia says he was in Stone Mountain at the time of the attack, more than 250 miles away from where a woman was attacked at knife-point near Savannah.
The woman told police the man that attacked her was wearing blue and white batting gloves. Those gloves, as well as a knife and some of the woman’s other belongings, were found inside Bharadia’s car, which he had earlier reported was stolen by Sterling Flint.
Flint told police he was holding the items for Bharadia. He pled guilty to theft by receiving stolen property and agreed to testify against Bharadia in relation to the sexual assault. Attorneys say no physical evidence tied Bharadia to the crime.
It wasn’t until years later, as DNA testing technology evolved, that the batting gloves were tested. Bharadia’s DNA was not found on the gloves, but the skin cells left on the gloves did match Sterling Flint.
After the hearing, Georgia Innocence Project Senior Attorney Christina Cribbs released a statement saying, “Sonny remains incarcerated today despite overwhelming evidence of innocence and DNA that identifies the actual perpetrator, because of procedural problems in the investigation, at trial, and post-conviction. We tried very hard today to ensure that the Court sees this and grants his petition. We know that Sonny is innocent and we won’t stop fighting for him until we can bring him home.”
A ruling by Judge Laura Tate isn’t expected for at least two months. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/sonny-bharadia-hopes-for-new-trial-georgia-innocence-project/85-c75ef0be-fae2-4d00-9f45-e240c0e51dd8 | 2023-06-21T00:28:42 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/sonny-bharadia-hopes-for-new-trial-georgia-innocence-project/85-c75ef0be-fae2-4d00-9f45-e240c0e51dd8 |
PITTSBURGH — A 99-year-old Tuskegee Airman played a big role in the Juneteenth parade in the City of Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The Tuskegee Airmen are widely known as America’s first Black military airmen.
Retired Lt. Col. James Harvey, one of the group’s original members, served as grand marshal for the parade.
Tuesday, the World War II and Korean War veteran was at the Pittsburgh International Airport touring the Tuskegee exhibit.
He said he didn’t know anyone featured in the exhibit, but that it’s about time the group gets the recognition it deserves.
“The Tuskegee Airmen, we were the best, we weren’t supposed to be, but we were,” Harvey said. “Just like my hat says. We finally got our recognition in January of last year.”
Harvey finished his interview with a great anecdote.
He said when German pilots were briefed before missions, they were told if they saw that famous red tail, don’t go in.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
TRENDING NOW:
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/99-year-old-tuskegee-airman-serves-grand-marshall-pittsburghs-juneteenth-parade/NMA5PK3TKZDFVA7SJJI7XQZDFE/ | 2023-06-21T00:30:14 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/99-year-old-tuskegee-airman-serves-grand-marshall-pittsburghs-juneteenth-parade/NMA5PK3TKZDFVA7SJJI7XQZDFE/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett joined Indy Parks staff and stakeholders in breaking ground on a new environmental community center and playground on the city's far east side.
Grassy Creek Regional Park will be funded through a $7 million investment from Hogsett's Circle City Forward Initiative, as well as $5 million from the Lilly Endowment. Indy Parks also secured $2.95 million from the City of Indianapolis to purchase an additional 119 acres of land to extend the park.
"These are transformational upgrades for a far east side neighborhood park,” Hogsett.said. "Thanks to our Circle City Forward initiative, the new environmental community center and park extension will offer something for residents of every age and ability, from education to recreation to the natural beauty of our environment."
Grassy Creek Regional Park renderings
The center will include a bird-watching area, multipurpose rooms and more. The playground will include a treehouse structure, a bird outlook and accessible sensory tunnel. There will also be picnic areas and new trails to enhance the connectivity of the park.
Located at 10510 E. 30th St., near North German Church Road, the park currently features a diverse range of nature including lowlands, wetlands and forests. On the south end of the park, community members can enjoy the basketball and tennis courts, a splash pad, picnic shelters and open greenspace.
"As Councillor of District 14, I understand the importance of investments in building and sustaining healthy communities by investing in our local parks," Councillor La Keisha Jackson said. "It's exciting to see Grassy Creek Park being improved and upgraded ensuring that it remains a cherished spot for residents for years to come."
Grassy Creek Regional Park is expected to open for summer 2024. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/grassy-creek-regional-park-far-east-side-indianapolis-ground-breaking/531-8b98d200-16a1-475d-9397-8b791de10201 | 2023-06-21T00:30:19 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/grassy-creek-regional-park-far-east-side-indianapolis-ground-breaking/531-8b98d200-16a1-475d-9397-8b791de10201 |
INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD Missing Persons Detectives are asking for the public's help in finding a missing teenager.
Police said 17-year-old Henry Ingram was last seen May 20 in the 3400 block of North Olney Street, near East 34th Street and North Sherman Drive.
Ingram is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. Police did not provide a clothing description.
Police said Ingram may require medical attention.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call 911, the IMPD Missing Persons Unit at 317-327-6160 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert: What's the difference?
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/missing-teenager-henry-ingram-impd-near-northeast-side-olney-street/531-3edf7170-643e-45a4-8558-42ad94a1b7e5 | 2023-06-21T00:30:25 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/missing-teenager-henry-ingram-impd-near-northeast-side-olney-street/531-3edf7170-643e-45a4-8558-42ad94a1b7e5 |
INDIANAPOLIS — A local nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness is now providing help at three locations in Marion County. The latest satellite center for Outreach.
Outreach empowers and equips homeless teens and young adults to achieve stability and life transformation.
Part of the education wing at the Lawrence United Methodist Church is no longer for Sunday school.
The church has donated the space rent free to Outreach, which has renovated one room into a bathroom with a shower, another into a laundry room, and a third a multi-purpose room with computers and meeting space.
"To see this come to fruition is just a blessing,” said Elaine Bolton, Director of Programs at Lawrence United Methodist Church. “It's exciting to know that we are expanding. We're growing in the community, and we're welcoming and building relationships with youth and young adults.”
The main Outreach center and headquarters are located on the near eastside, at 2416 E. New York Street.
The organization is not a homeless shelter. But Outreach provides warm meals, showers, laundry, clothing, and life coaches for people ages 14 to 24. Outreach research estimates 7,800 people in that age group experience homelessness in Indianapolis each year.
"If we are able to intervene early, we're able to prevent that chronic homelessness that can come later in life,” said Outreach CEO Andrew Neal. “And really what research has shown is that it takes relationships to prevent chronic homelessness. It takes early intervention. It takes for youth experiencing a caring adult relationship who's going to walk alongside them."
Outreach believes intervention in youth homelessness can also reduce youth violence.
“What we're seeing is a reduction in recidivism among our youth who have experienced homelessness and who have a criminal history,” said Neal. “So, I think we are a part of the solution. We're not the only answer, but we are definitely a part of the solution to ending this epidemic of youth violence."
All the services that are available at the main Outreach center are also available at the new Lawrence location, on a smaller scale. The Lawrence Outreach center is now open Thursdays from four to seven p.m.
Outreach also has a satellite center at the Impact Center in the Old Southside neighborhood. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/outreach-to-youth-experiencing-homelessness-opens-third-location-indiana/531-e9da0007-cf64-4661-9f96-ccfc65a8a799 | 2023-06-21T00:30:31 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/outreach-to-youth-experiencing-homelessness-opens-third-location-indiana/531-e9da0007-cf64-4661-9f96-ccfc65a8a799 |
Two Kenosha residents have been charged with attempted homicide and other serious crimes stemming from an April shooting that left a 15-year-old boy injured.
Elliana D. Echols, 18, and Michael F. Brown, 16, are each charged as adults with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, Class A felonies, in Kenosha County Circuit Court.
They are also each charged with aggravated battery, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and endangering safety by reckless use of a firearm. Brown is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Both are being held on $500,000 cash bonds in Kenosha County Jail. Preliminary hearings are set for Friday.
According to the criminal complaint, on the night of April 12 a Kenosha Police officer was advised of a shots fired call in the area of Fifth Avenue and 66th Street. The officer then responded to an area hospital to speak with a 15-year-old boy who was shot in the face.
People are also reading…
The boy who was shot, according to the criminal complaint, said he was parked in front of his grandmother's house and listening to music with a cousin when "a black sedan with tinted windows" pulled up alongside him. The boy said he then "felt blood spatter on his face" and was unsure how many rounds were fired at him.
The boy reportedly fled and then told family members he had been shot. He then taken to a hospital.
A projectile, according to the complaint, appeared to have entered the right side of the boy's head and then exited on the right side of his head just above his ear. He was later transported to a Milwaukee-area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A brass shard was removed from his cheek.
A witness reportedly told police he saw a black car pull up with its lights off before hearing about 12 shots. Another witness told police he saw a black car pull through an alley with a passenger's side window rolled halfway down before someone fired several shots near Fifth Avenue and 66th Street. That witness heard some 20 shots.
Investigators reportedly found a bullet casing in front of a home along 66th Street. Eleven more casings were found near the boy's car, three of which are believed to be from someone firing back at the car that pulled up and began firing, according to the complaint.
Investigators reportedly used a Snapchat account to connect Brown to the shooting. A phone call between Brown and his incarcerated brother also tied Brown to the shooting. Brown reportedly said "that's my work" on a call.
Brown's Facebook records also showed a conversation with Echols hours before the shooting, according to the complaint. After the shooting, Echols reportedly messaged someone "it's done" before exchanging messages about getting rid of her phone and a firearm.
On May 23, both Brown and Echols were arrested during a traffic stop. The vehicle they were in reportedly had heavy tint and a firearm was found under Brown's seat, according to the complaint.
Mugshots: Racine County criminal complaints, June 15, 2023
Today's mugshots: June 15
These are images of people charged with a crime in Racine County. Booking photos are provided by Racine County law enforcement officials. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted.
Dominique D. Branch
Dominique D. Branch, 4200 block of Marquette Drive, Racine, operate motor vehicle while revoked, misdemeanor bail jumping.
Patrick Frank Degrave
Patrick Frank Degrave, 32200 block of Academy Road, Rochester, possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bryce M. Holland
Bryce M. Holland, 1200 block of 11th Avenue, Union Grove, misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments).
Jeffrey O. Mack
Jeffrey O. Mack, 2400 block of 53rd Street, Kenosha, terrorist threats, disorderly conduct.
Shyaira S. McDonald
Shyaira S. McDonald, Minneapolis, Minnesota, misdemeanor battery, obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct.
Lanuasia J. Shannon
Lanuasia J. Shannon, 2800 block of East Fieldstone Way, Sturtevant, possession of THC, carrying a concealed weapon, felony bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping.
Jesse J. Zemke
NO PHOTO AVAILABLE
Jesse J. Zemke, 900 block of Peck Avenue, Racine, threat to a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct (use of a dangerous weapon, domestic abuse assessments).
Tyrone M. Gister
Tyrone M. Gister, 900 block of Center Street, Racine, endanger safety by reckless use of firearm.
Tarvis J. Koker
Tarvis J. Koker, 900 block of Center Street, Racine, possession of a firearm by a felon, endanger safety by reckless use of firearm. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-18-boy-age-16-both-charged-as-adults-with-attempted-homicide-in-connection-with/article_95042bfc-0fa8-11ee-97bb-3b931bfe0db3.html | 2023-06-21T00:33:09 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-18-boy-age-16-both-charged-as-adults-with-attempted-homicide-in-connection-with/article_95042bfc-0fa8-11ee-97bb-3b931bfe0db3.html |
LEHIGHTON, Pa. — The corn at Yenser's Tree Farm near Lehighton may be tiny now, but farmer Ryan Wentz says because of recent rain, it'll be knee-high by the fourth of July.
"I don't think we're out of the woods yet, but the last couple of storms that we had put us in pretty good shape," said Wentz. "I mean, everything really started to green up. Things are coming out of the ground now that we planted."
The farm in Mahoning Township grows pumpkins, sunflowers, Christmas trees, and corn.
Wentz said it was difficult during the dry spell to pick and choose what needed water the most.
But no matter how much you water, he says, the rain just does a much better job.
"We tried watering some of our Christmas tree seedlings, and nothing compares to the Rain, and it's amazing when you look at how much rain falls even with a drizzle. The number of gallons that fall on the ground as opposed to you trying to water," Wentz said.
It's been so dry that only recently, these sunflowers started to grow. But don't worry, thanks to the recent wet weather, this entire field will be covered with flowers and be ready for the first two weeks of August when the farm hosts its sunflower festival.
"They're on track," Wentz said. "They're coming out of the ground now again; they were planted Memorial Day weekend; some of the stuff for our maze, the taller branching ones that take a little bit longer, but we planted them a week earlier than we did last year. "
Wentz says if we didn't get the rain when we got it, not only would he have lost a lot of crops, but it would have set all the plants back.
"Like the driest May that anyone remembers," Wentz said. "So between the drought and we had that frost, it put a number on some of our Christmas trees, but the younger ones, luckily, are what hits us most, and they'll grow out of that, you know, by the time they're ready to be harvested. So very fortunate.
Wentz hopes mother nature cooperates for the rest of the warm weather season.
Click here for information on the Sunflower Festival.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/recent-rainfall-helps-carbon-county-farmers-yensers-tree-farm-ryan-wentz-crops-weather-mahoning-township/523-e3b6c2f8-fbd1-4d94-ab00-90f564da626c | 2023-06-21T00:36:21 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/recent-rainfall-helps-carbon-county-farmers-yensers-tree-farm-ryan-wentz-crops-weather-mahoning-township/523-e3b6c2f8-fbd1-4d94-ab00-90f564da626c |
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Gathered around a table at Miller's Ale House in Wilkes-Barre Township, these Vietnam War veterans share their stories of their time in the service.
"I wish us Vietnam veterans would get the respect we deserve, and we will never get it," said Stanley Solarczyk, Vietnam veteran.
The support group used to meet at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in Plains Township.
Once the pandemic hit, they weren't allowed to use the center.
"They are not letting them into the va to be together, so a few of us meet here, but it is not the same as the whole VA group meeting," said Carol Jonas, wife of a Vietnam veteran.
"They need to be there because when you are with a group, I'm with combat veterans that I feel like I can trust, and they know they can trust me," said Spencer W. Jonas, Vietnam veteran.
Three years later, the group says they still can't meet at the VA.
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity wanted to hear these stories firsthand.
"Three years and four months, and so it's been pretty ridiculously sad to treat our heroes and veterans who have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today," said Stacy Garrity, PA State Treasurer.
She tells Newswatch 16 she will take the group's concerns to leaders in Washington, "Well, as a vet myself, it's heartbreaking we need to make sure these veterans are living out their twilight years with dignity and respect, doing everything we can to support them."
Newswatch 16 reached out to the Wilkes-Barre Va Medical Center for comment.
They tell us the VA still sponsors support groups at other locations, saying in part, "The meetings are facilitated by Licensed Mental Health Providers, providing specific therapies in secure neighborhood locations to encourage community integration which is vital to the therapeutic process."
Officials with the VA Medical Center also tell Newswatch 16 throughout the pandemic, the center has followed the Veteran Health Administration's national guidance.
Officials say veterans staying in the center are allowed to have visitors.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/concerns-over-pandemic-restrictions-at-wilkes-barre-va-medical-center-stanley-solarczyk-plains-township-carol-jonas-spencer-stacy-garrity/523-30ffdb7f-2b33-48ee-92b3-cea4aa7f53a8 | 2023-06-21T00:36:27 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/concerns-over-pandemic-restrictions-at-wilkes-barre-va-medical-center-stanley-solarczyk-plains-township-carol-jonas-spencer-stacy-garrity/523-30ffdb7f-2b33-48ee-92b3-cea4aa7f53a8 |
YWCA Northeast Indiana celebrated Tuesday the groundbreaking for the more than $16 million renovation and expansion of its West Washington Center Road facility.
YWCA purchased the former Hall’s Guesthouse Hotel at 1313 W. Washington Center Road in December 2020 and has since raised most of the needed money through a private capital campaign, a news release said. The 125-unit hotel will be able to house up to 100 women once the renovations are completed.
Paula Hughes-Schuh, CEO of YWCA Northeast Indiana, said in a statement that the renovation will strengthen the organization. The current YWCA Northeast Indiana headquarters is at 5920 Decatur Road.
“Prior to the purchase of the building, our YWCA facilities were divided over three locations creating inefficiencies during a time of limited human capital and high turnover in the midst of a pandemic,” Hughes-Schuh said. “Upon the completion of our new facility, all of our programs will come together and be housed under one roof, enabling us to expand and meet the growing demand for our services.”
The $16.7 million project has experienced delays and rising costs, the news release said. The YWCA is launching a public campaign, called Old Keys Won’t Open New Doors, to raise the remaining $600,000 needed for the project.
The new facility will be called The Hefner Center in honor of William J. and Bonnie L. Hefner. The Hefner’s foundation invested a “sizable lead gift” into the project, the release said. Aimee Myers, executive director of the William J. and Bonnie L. Hefner Foundation, said it was important for the organization to invest in the campaign.
“The old location was bursting at the seams,” Myers said in a statement. “We wanted to do our part in helping the ladies who have been through so much.”
The city has invested in the project with a $10 million allocation of federal New Market Tax Credits through the Fort Wayne New Markets organization and $1.75 million from HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program. The contributions will provide about $4 million toward the project’s cost.
Mayor Tom Henry said he was proud to see YWCA Northeast Indiana, which he called one of the city’s pillar nonprofits, bring new life into the former Guesthouse Hotel.
“The work they do to support women and children in our community is crucial,” Henry said in a statement. “Pairing their mission with the renovation of the Guesthouse creates an anchor in our community.”
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction also invested in the project. Douglas Huntsinger, is executive director for the state’s drug prevention, treatment and enforcement program.
“Any time we have an opportunity to infuse more dollars into a community for the benefit of Hoosiers, we take advantage of it,” Huntsinger said in a statement. “These funds will go a long way toward building out the care continuum and improving outcomes for Hoosiers with substance use disorders and mental health needs.”
The renovations are expected to be completed by the end of March. For more information about the capital campaign, go online to https://ywcanein.org/new-doors. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/local-ywca-celebrates-groundbreaking-for-new-facility-at-former-guesthouse-hotel/article_a6532f10-0fb8-11ee-a7b8-9f882b368074.html | 2023-06-21T00:36:43 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/local-ywca-celebrates-groundbreaking-for-new-facility-at-former-guesthouse-hotel/article_a6532f10-0fb8-11ee-a7b8-9f882b368074.html |
Fort Wayne/Allen County
South County Line Road over Saint Mary's River between Winchester Road and U.S. 27 will be closed Thursday, according to the Allen County Highway Department.
A bridge deck replacement crew is working in the area and should finish Nov. 19.
For more information, call 260-449-7369.
Area
State to host COVID-19 clinics in Auburn
The Indiana State Department of Health will host COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinics in Auburn today and Thursday.
The clinics at Middaugh Hall, 708 S. Union St., will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This clinic, which allows walk-ins, has bivalent Pfizer vaccine for ages 5+, bivalent Moderna vaccine for ages 12+, and the flu vaccine for ages 3 to 64.
Ohio
Blood drive planned in Williams County
The Red Cross and Cedar Fair invite the public to donate at select blood drives. The goal is to ensure blood and platelets are available for individuals in need of lifesaving transfusions.
As a thank you, donors will receive one free Cedar theme park ticket that can be used at participating parks. A drive is scheduled from Noon to 6 p.m. Friday at Hilltop High School, 1401 W. Jackson St., West Unity, Ohio
— The Journal Gazette | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/work-to-close-part-of-south-county-line-road-for-5-months/article_6ca9a222-0f80-11ee-9435-1f6ae8aabc04.html | 2023-06-21T00:36:49 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/work-to-close-part-of-south-county-line-road-for-5-months/article_6ca9a222-0f80-11ee-9435-1f6ae8aabc04.html |
Environmental groups sue to block mining projects in the Patagonia Mountains
PATAGONIA — A coalition of local and national environmental groups sued the U.S. Forest Service Tuesday over its authorization of two mining exploration projects in the Patagonia Mountains of southern Arizona.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Tucson alleges that the agency violated the National Environmental Protection Act by approving exploratory drilling for minerals without considering the cumulative effects of the area’s mining activity on water in the Sonoita Creek drainage or on endangered species including the Mexican spotted owl.
The two exploration districts, each within 4 miles to the south of the town of Patagonia, are near another district where the Australian mining company South32 is seeking approval to open the Hermosa Mine for minerals critical to electric vehicle production.
“Reckless exploratory mining has no place in the wild, biodiverse Patagonia Mountains,” Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news release announcing the lawsuit. “Endangered species like jaguars, ocelots and Mexican spotted owls already face threats from border walls, climate change and habitat loss. The last thing these rare animals need is a new copper mine ravaging the heart of their Arizona range.”
Endangered owls and yellow-billed cuckoos are among birds that nest in the Patagonia Mountains. While jaguars and ocelots are not believed to have had breeding populations in Arizona in recent decades, individuals of both species at times have been confirmed roaming from Mexico into several southern Arizona ranges. The Patagonias straddle the border, providing a possible migration corridor.
Mining proposals would extract copper, silver, among other minerals
The Patagonias also historically hosted mining activity, including some abandoned tunnels visible along Forest Road 812, a mountainside gravel road that accesses the disputed sites at Flux and Humboldt canyons. Arizona Minerals, owned by South 32, seeks six drill pads there.
Farther south at a dead end in Humboldt Canyon, Arizona Standard, owned by Canadian mining company Barksdale Resources, seeks to drill up to 30 exploratory holes. Between the two projects the companies are prospecting for ores including copper, silver, lead and zinc.
The lands are on the Coronado National Forest, which approved the exploration this year. A spokesperson for the Forest Service said the agency would not comment on the lawsuit.
South32 Hermosa Project President Pat Risner provided a statement saying the company "keeps sustainability at the core of our approach" and will narrow Flux Canyon activities to about the size of a residential lot.
Risner said the company has more than a decade of environmental monitoring to back the work.
"Regularly conducted surveys have determined that no (endangered) listed plant or wildlife species, critical habitat, or cultural resources will be impacted," Risner added.
More on the mines:New southern Arizona mine slated for ecologically diverse Patagonia mountains
Barksdale Resources CEO Rick Trotman provided a written statement defending the Forest Service’s approval of his company’s exploration at Humboldt Canyon, called the Sunnyside project.
“The Forest Service decision on the Sunnyside project is the culmination of almost five years of extensive environmental review, public scoping and process,” he said. “We stand by the decision and are confident that it will stand up in court. The company stands by its thorough and conscientious approach to the protection of the natural environment.”
Joining the Center for Biological Diversity in challenging the approvals are the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, Earthworks, Friends of the Santa Cruz River, Friends of Sonoita Creek, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and Tucson Audubon Society.
'This has become a cathedral to me'
Patagonia Area Resource Alliance President Carolyn Shafer toured the area with journalists from The Republic on Sunday, emphasizing that the mountains are a mixing zone of species from the north and south and a rare biodiversity hotspot.
She stopped at road’s end in Humboldt Canyon to admire the oaks, pines and grasses shaded by canyon walls where she said she has heard Mexican owls responding to calls. She has also officiated at a wedding there.
“I always say my favorite canyon is whatever one I’m in,” she said. “(But) if I had to make an exception, Humboldt Canyon is so unique and special. This has become a cathedral to me.”
She feared that she would not be able to return through years of exploration, after which the birds may be gone.
Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach him at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com or follow on Twitter @brandonloomis.
Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can support environmental journalism in Arizona by subscribing to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/06/20/in-mountains-harboring-endangered-species-two-firms-seek-minerals/70339681007/ | 2023-06-21T00:37:09 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/06/20/in-mountains-harboring-endangered-species-two-firms-seek-minerals/70339681007/ |
'Leave it alone' Sahuarita teen bit by coyote pup while attempting to "rescue" the animal
A 17-year-old Sahuarita teen was bitten by a coyote pup while the teen was trying to “rescue” the young animal after believing it was abandoned Saturday, according to Mark Hart from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“This is a common scenario because a wildlife mother has to eat at some point and it almost always needs to go out,” Hart said. “So they’ll leave their youngster in a location they feel is secure, go off and hunt, and then they’ll return.”
The teen then brought the coyote pup to her house.
The teen's mother called officials to inform them of their possession of the cub, they were advised to return the pup to where it was found. But they were reluctant to do so, instead transporting the pup to the Tuscon Wildlife Center.
During this process, the coyote pup bit the teen on her left index finger. Unfortunately, the pup had to be put down and tested for rabies, a standard operating procedure in the state.
“A coyote is among a long list of species you cant possess in the state, so theoretically they could have been charged with illegal take of wildlife, which likely won't happen in this instance," Hart said. "Hopefully, they learned a hard lesson."
When asked what guidance residents can take to avoid situations like these, Hart had a simple message.
“Leave it alone,” Hart said.
According to him, young wildlife is considered abandoned after 24 hours or more of being unattended. However, it is still advised for residents to not intervene at all, instead, they should call the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“We don't want the public handling juvenile wildlife because of the risks that were realized on Friday, you can get bit,” Hart said. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/06/20/sahuarita-teen-bit-by-coyote-pup-she-believed-was-abandoned-on-porch/70339601007/ | 2023-06-21T00:37:15 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/06/20/sahuarita-teen-bit-by-coyote-pup-she-believed-was-abandoned-on-porch/70339601007/ |
Teen arrested in connection with weekend party shooting that left another teen dead in Gilbert
Police arrested a teenager on Monday evening in connection with a house party shooting that left a teenager dead in Gilbert this weekend.
Gilbert police did not release the identity of the person who was arrested because the suspect is a minor, authorities said. The victim was identified as Jacob Carlson, 18, police said in a Monday news release.
Just after midnight on Sunday, police responded to a shooting call at a residence near Baseline and Gilbert roads. When police arrived, they found Carlson shot in the chest and upper torso and began lifesaving measures. He was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries, according to police.
Police said they believe Carlson was shot after an altercation occurred in the backyard of a small house party. No other injuries were reported.
After analyzing evidence from the scene, police arrested a teenager. The teen was booked as a juvenile at Durango Juvenile Detention Facility and was facing one count of second-degree murder, two counts of misconduct involving weapons, one count of unlawful discharge of firearms, three counts of endangerment, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of burglary.
"We would like to remind the public that charged offenses are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until pleading guilty or being found guilty," police said in a statement released on Tuesday. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/gilbert/2023/06/20/teen-arrested-in-connection-with-gilbert-party-shooting-that-killed-another-teen/70340221007/ | 2023-06-21T00:37:21 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/gilbert/2023/06/20/teen-arrested-in-connection-with-gilbert-party-shooting-that-killed-another-teen/70340221007/ |
Man arrested in connection to Phoenix shooting that left victim in critical condition
A man was arrested Friday in connection to a shooting near the vicinity of an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper, according to court documents.
On June 15, at around 1:30 p.m., an Arizona DPS trooper was on patrol using a marked police motorcycle near the southeast corner of Third Avenue and Culver Street in Phoenix.
Court documents stated that while on patrol, the officer saw a man, later identified as 35-year-old Terrence Felder, riding a bike through Margaret T. Hance Park and eventually past him.
The trooper then followed Felder, making his way to a stop sign at Fifth Avenue and Culver Street, where the officer saw the eventual unidentified victim.
According to documents, Felder approached the victim and as he did, the trooper looked out into the opposite direction of the two before hearing a single gunshot. When the DPS officer turned back around, he saw the victim fall to the ground, bleeding from the head.
Felder continued south down Fifth Avenue at a "fast pace", documents state, heading east into the park and out of the trooper's sight.
The DPS trooper provided aid to the victim until responding Phoenix Fire crews arrived to transport him to the hospital.
According to Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Robert Scherer, the victim remains hospitalized and is "in extremely critical condition."
Additional DPS troopers responded to the scene as well and were able to track down Felder under a bridge, where he was detained and identified by the initial DPS officer.
Felder had met up with a woman under the bridge. When interviewed by investigators, she told them that Felder had been with her when the gunshot was heard and that the bike in question was not his, according to court documents.
However, two additional witnesses told investigators that they had seen Felder on a bike in the area, with one stating Felder had seemed lost and was "looking around in an unusual manner."
Both witnesses said they had seen Felder change clothes as well, but in different instances. Additionally, the witnesses noted the bags Felder had been carrying, a red, black and gray duffel bag in one observation and a backpack with a red and pink design in the next.
Each of these bags was eventually located, one at the scene of the shooting along with a bullet casing, and the other where Felder was detained housing one change of clothes and the handgun that matched the lone casing.
In a post-Miranda interview, Felder denied that he shot the victim but told investigators that "he hears voices, and he did what they told him to do", documents state.
Felder was ultimately booked into jail on a $500,000 bond and faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder and one count of possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2023/06/20/shooting-margaret-t-hance-park-victim-in-critical-condition-one-arrested/70339960007/ | 2023-06-21T00:37:27 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2023/06/20/shooting-margaret-t-hance-park-victim-in-critical-condition-one-arrested/70339960007/ |
Trial for driver in fatal self-driving Uber crash in Tempe is delayed again
The start of a criminal trial for a woman who was behind the wheel of an autonomous vehicle when it crashed into a pedestrian was again delayed and now won't take place until at least September.
Rafaela Vasquez now is scheduled to have a settlement conference on July 28 and possibly go to trial on Sept. 25. Vasquez has previously rejected plea offers in the case that would allow her to avoid incarceration if convicted. She faces four to eight years in prison if found guilty.
Vasquez, who was working as a test driver for Uber in its self-driving vehicles, was charged with negligent homicide in the death of Elaine Herzberg. Herzberg was struck while jaywalking in Tempe on Mill Avenue near Curry Road in 2018.
Police reports from the time allege Vasquez was distracted behind the wheel, streaming the TV show “The Voice” when the collision happened. A report from the National Transportation Safety Board in 2019 determined the driver was mostly to blame for the crash.
However, the report also revealed that Uber had disabled its emergency braking as well as the factory-installed emergency-braking system on the Volvo XC90, in part to reduce the jerkiness of the rides. The vehicle could not anticipate the actions of jaywalkers or slam on the brakes, according to the report.
Vasquez was scheduled to go to trial on June 26, but the trial was delayed in a pretrial conference on June 19.
Reach the reporter at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @CorinaVanek. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2023/06/20/autonomous-fatal-uber-crash-trial-delayed-until-september/70339904007/ | 2023-06-21T00:37:33 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2023/06/20/autonomous-fatal-uber-crash-trial-delayed-until-september/70339904007/ |
QUINCY, Wash — One of five people shot near an electronic dance music festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre on June 17 says he was thinking of his daughters as he ran for his life.
Andrew Cuadra was looking for his brother that evening when the shooter began firing into a crowd. Two people were killed and three were injured, including the suspected shooter, before the suspect was taken into custody.
Cuadra told KING 5 it was his first festival in 10 years. His brother purchased a two-day VIP ticket for him.
Earlier in the day, Cuadra said people were igniting fireworks. After leaving his campsite to look for his brother, he said he thought he heard more.
Then, a female nearby said someone needed to call police. Cuadra kept walking, not knowing why the police would need to be called.
He heard another female saying to call 911.
Instincts kicked in and Cuadra felt the need to turn around. About 10 to 15 seconds later he heard a female say, "You don't have to do this."
The suspected shooter, a male, according to Cuadra, walked out from behind a tent and shot him.
Cuadra dove behind a tent to get out of the shooter's line of sight, then began running. The shooter chased him, he said, firing as he did.
He was thinking about his daughters as he did everything he could to flee the area.
"Don't want my daughters to not have a dad," he recalled of what was going through his mind.
Cuadra was helped at a medical tent and eventually flown to Harborview Medical Center. He said he didn't sleep for about 24 hours because he was afraid he wasn't going to wake up.
The shooter was taken into custody around 8:25 p.m., according to information from the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
The North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit took over the investigation. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/man-injured-shooting-gorge-amphitheatre-edm-festival/281-2050ee1b-31ba-4626-a637-52acb784f4d6 | 2023-06-21T00:44:35 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/man-injured-shooting-gorge-amphitheatre-edm-festival/281-2050ee1b-31ba-4626-a637-52acb784f4d6 |
SALTILLO – A new piece of public art – the handiwork of local third graders – was unveiled Tuesday evening in downtown Saltillo.
The 8-by-20-foot mural was attached to the west side of Saltillo City Hall. The colorful mural, which spells out “Saltillo,” is along Front Street, between the city’s administrative offices and the fire department.
Mississippi Arts Commission representative artist Amanda Koonlaba worked with the Madison Roncalli’s third grade class at Saltillo Elementary School during the last school year to create the mural.
“As a teaching artist for the Mississippi Whole Schools, it was important to include the kids in this project,” Koonlaba said. “There is something magical about the way kids put marks on canvas. I can’t replicate it.”
In the classroom, Koonlaba used desks to support much smaller canvases. The children were able to walk around them and reach all areas. Instead of just painting simple letters, Koonlaba introduced perspective, shading and other techniques used by artists.
“We talked about layering and how to build up to add depth,” Koonlaba said.
Because the intended location on the side of city hall is covered with vinyl siding, officials had to rethink the traditional mural. The original artwork, painted onto canvas, was photographed. That digital image was carried to Fast Wrapz, where it was printed on five 4-foot-by 8-foot Dibond panels designed to survive the elements.
And even though the panels are two-dimensional, the final result is true to the young artists' work.
“It is an accurate representation,” Koonlaba said. “It captures their brush strokes and even the layering.”
Saltillo Main Street Association President Erica Morgan said the original art will be installed inside the community room, where it will be safe from the weather.
The children’s artwork is the third mural Saltillo officials commissioned last year, when the association renewed its push for more public art. Just a block away, the two other murals sit diagonally across the intersection of Mobile Street and Second Avenue from each other.
Artist Kit Stafford completed her historic image of a Mobile & Ohio train at the original Saltillo passenger depot on the west wall of the old Saltillo Bank building in April. The old depot was located where city hall is today.
The third mural is being painted on the east side of Al Rice’s building on the northwest corner of the Mobile Street and Second Avenue intersection. Kim Pastis Westhouse’s artwork will cover the history of the Saltillo area, including references to Lake Lamar Bruce, the Natchez Trace Parkway, the high school Tiger mascot, the old opera house and even an image of the original Euclatubba.
There are already a pair of murals in downtown Saltillo. Muralist McKinnon Herring painted the Yellow Submarine mural on the side and rear of the Teacher’s Resource Center in the summer of 2017. In 2016, she created a vintage-inspired Coca-Cola advertisement on the east side of Integrity Auto Body.
Newsletters
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/third-graders-spell-out-art-in-downtown-saltillo/article_5a9c00da-0fbb-11ee-9efe-03fc058f207d.html | 2023-06-21T00:44:52 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/third-graders-spell-out-art-in-downtown-saltillo/article_5a9c00da-0fbb-11ee-9efe-03fc058f207d.html |
The bomb squad was called to a Philadelphia grocery store after three teenagers tried to light sticks of dynamite inside of it, police said.
Police responded to the Fresh Grocer on 5301 Chew Avenue at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday after security guards reported that a group of three teens ranging in age from 16 to 19 tried to light sticks of dynamite inside the store, according to investigators. The guards recovered the dynamite and the teens fled the scene, police said.
The bomb squad responded to the store and recovered the dynamite before clearing the scene. No injuries were reported.
Police have not released a detailed description of the teens but said they were all wearing black clothing at the time of the incident.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
This story is developing. Check back for updates. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/3-teens-try-to-light-dynamite-inside-philly-grocery-store-police-say/3589237/ | 2023-06-21T00:45:03 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/3-teens-try-to-light-dynamite-inside-philly-grocery-store-police-say/3589237/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
Phillies Baseball
I-95 Collapse
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/longtime-dispute-between-neighbors-lands-1-in-jail-and-the-other-in-the-hospital-police-say/3589144/ | 2023-06-21T00:45:09 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/longtime-dispute-between-neighbors-lands-1-in-jail-and-the-other-in-the-hospital-police-say/3589144/ |
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A Cape Coral park and its popular boat ramp are temporarily closed while contractors work on Caloosahatchee Connect construction.
On Tuesday, crews worked to carefully pull a 7,650-foot-long pipe from Everest Parkway through Horton Park, deep under the Caloosahatchee River and out the other side where they will tie into the City of Fort Myers South Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.
“Today is pretty much the final phase and the most critical,” said Jeff Pearson, utilities director for the City of Cape Coral.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Construction continues on Caloosahatchee Connect pipeline project
Sandra Smith lives near the project site. She has dealt with dirt, dust and digging for more than a year.
“I just want my neighborhood back to normal again,” said Smith.
Pearson said crews spent about the last 30 days drilling 100 feet under the Caloosahatchee River from both sides until they met in the middle. Now, over the next few days the nearly a mile-and-a-half pipe will be fed.
Once finished, the pipeline will provide up to 12 million gallons of additional reclaimed water per day for Cape Coral, something that will keep canal levels up during dry season.
“This project is going to save millions of dollars for our utility customers versus purchasing drinking water to irrigate lawns because it’s a much cheaper option,” said Pearson.
Pearson added the connection will also remove over 50 tons of excess nutrients from the Caloosahatchee River.
The Horton Park Boat Ramp will be closed through June 25, barring no further delays.
Pearson said the entire Caloosahatchee Connect project should be finished by December of 2023. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2023/06/20/cape-coral-park-boat-ramp-temporarily-closes-as-caloosahatchee-connect-pipeline-project-progresses/ | 2023-06-21T00:48:44 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2023/06/20/cape-coral-park-boat-ramp-temporarily-closes-as-caloosahatchee-connect-pipeline-project-progresses/ |
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Punta Gorda is working on repairing more than seven miles of collapsed seawalls. Hurricane Ian knocked out seawalls on hundreds of properties.
“We were going to be at a point where the house might be a risk over time,” Tim Buch said.
Damage is so bad that Buch’s backyard has only about a foot and a half of yard left before it drops down sharply into the canal below.
“It’s been a real engineering challenge,” Buch said as he explained crews are working to preserve the dock he had installed right before the hurricane.
Over the past nine months, a barge coming to his yard was a sight he was excited to see. He didn’t know when it was coming…until the contracts were complete.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Punta Gorda to begin repair work on miles of hurricane-damaged seawalls
“We were just waiting forever to see that barge come down the canal. We couldn’t believe it when we finally saw it, we were so excited,” Buch said.
“This is going to be a long road and we are really excited it’s moving forward,” Chris Fankhauser said.
Fankhauser is the community outreach coordinator for the public works department. She said hundreds of homes have work that needs to be completed. The process is expected to take at least 18 months.
“This first month or so is going to be just everybody getting their groove on so to speak and then once we get rolling with it, it’ll be a lot smoother process,” she said.
Three different companies are working throughout sections of the city to get the work done as quickly and efficiently as possible. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/charlotte-county/2023/06/20/punta-gorda-repairing-7-miles-of-hurricane-damaged-seawalls/ | 2023-06-21T00:48:50 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/charlotte-county/2023/06/20/punta-gorda-repairing-7-miles-of-hurricane-damaged-seawalls/ |
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — They were only kids in the 1990s. Now as adults, one group is looking back at one night that changed the rest of their lives.
“Being 10-11 years old, you went home playing with your friends, and then the next day, your life is changed forever,” Lance Fisher said.
“Our childhood was over,” Jennifer Pancoast added.
Pancoast and Fisher’s friend and Tropic Isles classmate, 11-year-old Robin Cornell, was murdered alongside her mom’s new roommate, 32-year-old Lisa Story.
Friends of the two, who lived in Cape Coral at the time they were murdered, lived through a painstaking 26 years of waiting for the perpetrator to be arrested. In 2016, the arrest finally came. Joseph Zieler would face the death penalty for the cold case. It was the first taste of justice for all who loved Lisa and Robin.
“Only us truly understand that this… the agony of it. We all truly knew what it felt like firsthand, and a lot of people didn’t understand on the level that we all did,” Misty Ramsey said.
“Thank God his stupid a** shot his son,” Jolie Wilson said with a laugh.
She can only make jokes now. Before 2016, Wilson and many others lived in fear.
“Anyone we knew,” Corey Leon remembered, “we looked at them like, was it him? Was it that person?”
As kids – 10,11,12 years old – the people we talked to today walked the halls of their respective schools. Most attended Tropic Isles Elementary in Cape Coral, the same school as Robin.
After May 10, 1990, walking the halls at school and sitting in their classroom felt very different. Some even remember how they found out about the heinous crime.
“We got a phone call. I walked in the door, and my mom was on the phone with someone from the school. That’s how I found out,” Charles Parish recalled.
Cornell and Story were found by Cornell’s mom around 4 a.m. Both had been brutally raped and suffocated in their bedrooms.
“I can speak for myself and probably most people sitting here,” Pancoast said. “That we didn’t know what sex was at that young age. So to have to learn what sex was through one of our friends being raped and tortured was horrible.”
In the days after the crime, emotions soared. Feelings of sadness, anger, and fear took over. Their childhood would never be the same.
“Misty and I used to run as fast as we could in front of our sliding glass doors in fear that he was standing there waiting for us,” Pancoast cried.
“We were scared of everything. We literally were. We were scared to go to sleep in our beds alone. We would have sleepovers as often as we could. We never went anywhere alone ever,” Ramsey added.
The fear they felt transferred into adulthood. They were fully grown, many with kids of their own, by the time an arrest was made. Zieler was charged after investigators matched DNA from the cold case to a 2016 shooting.
“For a while, I thought he died. Really I did,” Wilson stated.
Wilson was Robin’s best friend. She never gave up hope that even if the man was dead, they’d find answers. She held onto every piece of her best friend, including her safety patrol belt and a light green outfit Robin wore weeks before being killed.
“You know it meant a lot to her, and she meant a lot to me,” Wilson said with tears running down her cheeks. “So there’s a lot of stuff. Yeah, I kept her outfit she had on weeks before, weeks before he murdered… it was April 23rd, I think… It has such an impact. It takes you forever to realize. Is this really happening? Is she really? We’re never going to see her again?”
“You never throw away something of your best’s friends… ever…” Leon remarked.
33 years, one month, and ten days after the double murder: justice.
After a tense trial, including bombshell testimony from Zieler himself, a jury found the now 61-year-old guilty of both murders. In a 10-2 vote, they recommended death.
Still, no one knows how he found Robin and Lisa or why he killed them. For the first time, closure is closer for this group than ever before.
“They’re killing our boogeyman. They’re going to kill the monster,” Pancoast said with confidence.
“I’m just so grateful that Jan was here,” Wilson added with a smile on her face.
Jan is Robin’s mom. She is now 71.
The judge has the ultimate say about Zieler’s final fate. Sentencing is scheduled for next week, June 26.
“Oh my God, we finally have the end of the chapter, I guess you could say,” Chris Webb said.
Spending time with these people in person, you can feel a sense of relief and a burden lifted now that there’s a conviction. Those prior feelings of sadness and fear are turning into relief and justice.
“We’re all lucky, I think to have each other and have each other all these years.”
Looking back on the 33 years they waited to hear guilty, these friends can now walk lighter, remembering the good memories of their friends instead of the horrible nightmare of how they died.
“Robin was just the sweetest girl. She was really funny. She liked to joke around a lot. She loved animals. She loved helping people. (she was so nice) She was so nice,” Pancoast said, with Wilson chiming in.
“Lisa was a great woman,” Leon smiled. “When she walked into a room, she made them smile. She never had anything bad to say about anything. She loved the earth. She loved people. She was a nurse. She did advertisement. She was just a great human being all around.”
“We finally got justice after 33 long a** years,” Wilson said.
Count on NBC2 to be with family and friends in the courtroom as the judge decides Zieler’s fate next week. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/20/friends-of-11-year-old-girl-killed-by-joseph-zieler-finding-closure-33-years-later/ | 2023-06-21T00:48:57 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/20/friends-of-11-year-old-girl-killed-by-joseph-zieler-finding-closure-33-years-later/ |
CAPTIVA, Fla. — Talks of building South Seas Island Resort higher is postponed after many voiced concerns to Lee County Commissioners. Dozens packed the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, wearing “Vote No” stickers, against the Captiva resort’s push to change building height rules.
“Not only do you have more hotel rooms, but you need staff to service those hotel rooms, you need more restaurants, it also opens the door to other resorts in other areas of the county,” said Ann-Marie Wildman, the executive director for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society Board.
She is concerned about the impacts on wildlife, traffic and water quality.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Captiva residents concerned about proposal to increase building height rules
- South Seas Island Resort committed to bring back “real resort experience”
Others feel the land code changes will affect public safety and ruin the island feel on Captiva and Sanibel.
“We all love our islands,” said Wildman. “And we care about them and even more so September 28th, we realized how important and fragile they are and we want to protect them.”
If approved, the regulations would allow some structures — like South Seas, to build up to 75 feet high.
Commissioners say they’ve gotten thousands of emails from islanders against the proposed changes. The CEO of Timbers Company, which owns South Seas, said they won’t be able to rebuild the hotel portion of the property with the current code.
“Go do it somewhere else! Not at the northern tippy top of Captiva,” said Sabine Pratsch, who lives on Sanibel. “It’s a two-lane road and a two-lane bridge. That’s the only way on and off the island! It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Commissioners voted to delay the discussion surrounding the building heights until after Labor Day. Timbers Co. is promising to be better about communicating the resort’s plans with the community in the meantime. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/20/lee-county-postpones-decision-on-south-seas-island-resort-building-height-changes/ | 2023-06-21T00:49:03 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/20/lee-county-postpones-decision-on-south-seas-island-resort-building-height-changes/ |
Palm Coast woman euthanizes dog following fatal attack; city investigates its response
Deborah Sefcik described Blu, her 95-pound American bulldog, as a sweet dog. But she decided to put him down after he killed a neighbor's chihuahua.
She said in a phone interview that she could not keep Blu after what happened.
“I shouldn’t have an animal that can do that. This dog changed at the snap of a finger. This was a nice dog that was people-oriented,” Sefcik said. “At the snap of a finger, it turned into a vicious dog and killed that little dog.”
The chihuahua's owner, Carole Brasfield, spoke Tuesday during the public portion of the Palm Coast City Council meeting and described Blu as a pit bull. She said Blu knocked her down, injuring her left hip, shoulder and head. Then Blu attacked her chihuahua.
“Also, the pit bull took the life of my beloved pet, a chihuahua,” Brasfield said.
Brasfield said the attack left her with PTSD and a bite from Blu. Brasfield criticized the city’s animal control officer's response, saying the officer argued with her about whether or not the dog was muzzled. She also said that the animal control officer told her not to talk to her neighbors or the owners of another dog who was attacked by the same dog last year.
Brasfield said that she could not find any indication that the owner of the attacking dog had ever been fined, just given recommended actions.
Vice Mayor Ed Danko said that the Brasfields called him after the attack and he met with about 15 neighbors who all had a bad experience with the dog. Danko said the city needed to review the animal control officer's handling of the incident.
“We really do need to look into this,” Danko said.
City Manager Denise Bevan said Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman was reviewing the city's response.
What happened between the two dogs?
The incident occurred June 3 on Weymouth Lane. Brasfield was walking her chihuahua, Rookie. She was on her third lap around when she saw Blu's owner, Sefcik, who also lives on Weymouth, according to documents.
But Brasfield did not see Sefcik’s large dog. Brasfield said that Sefcik told her the dog was wearing a muzzle and was in an undeveloped wooded lot.
Seconds later the dog came out of the lot without a muzzle and attacked the chihuahua. Blu also bit Brasfield as she tried to protect her chihuahua, according to documents. The chihuahua bit Sefcik as she tried to separate the dogs, the document stated.
Sefcik told the city that her dog was muzzled and on a leash. But the dog ripped the leash from her hands as it bolted after a rabbit into the wooded lot, an affidavit stated.
Sefcik said the dog must have somehow gotten free of the muzzle in the woods.
Dog attack injures deputy:Deputy needs stitches after dog attack
Sefcik received a violation for her dog “running at large.” The violation stated that she was required to “keep control" of her dog.
This wasn't the first accusation against Blu
It was the second time that Blu attacked a dog. On May 10, 2022, Jonathan and Sharon Fairbanks were walking their corgi, JoJo, when they encountered another person walking a dog. The dog appeared to be calm but suddenly attacked JoJo, according to documents. They took the corgi to the vet who did not find any puncture wounds, according to documents.
Following Rookie's death, Blu remained at Sefcik’s home for the 10-day quarantine period. Sefcik then had her dog euthanized on Thursday. She requested the animal’s ashes and a paw print, according to documents.
She said she was going to try to find a new home for the 4-year-old dog until she learned the city was going to declare Blu a dangerous dog.
She said she rescued Blu two years ago. She thought the first incident was a "fluke" and decided to only walk Blu while he wore a muzzle.
Sefcik said the incident has also left her with PTSD and added she tried hard to rescue the chihuahua.
Woman accused of biting deputy:Palm Coast woman bites, injures deputy during wild arrest
"I tried so hard to save that dog’s life," she said.
Sefcik said she didn't want to have Blu euthanized.
"I killed a young, beautiful, healthy animal," Sefcik said. "It was a hard thing to do, but it was the right thing to do, so (Blu) can’t hurt anybody else." | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/flagler/2023/06/20/palm-coast-woman-euthanizes-dog-following-fatal-attack-on-neighbors-dog-city-investigates-response/70338775007/ | 2023-06-21T00:51:03 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/flagler/2023/06/20/palm-coast-woman-euthanizes-dog-following-fatal-attack-on-neighbors-dog-city-investigates-response/70338775007/ |
Volusia County Council unanimously approves new corrections director, will start in July
Volusia County Council members unanimously approved a new Corrections Division director on Tuesday.
Joseph DeMore, the warden for Butler County Prison in Pennsylvania, will take over the role on July 31. His salary will be $148,000, county spokesman Clayton Jackson said.
"It's been my wife and I's dream for the last 10 years to get down here," DeMore said. "We're beach people. It's very exciting to take this next step in my career."
Interim director Steven Smith will return to his position as Volusia County Jail Warden once DeMore begins, according to Jackson.
Work to be done
"It's a big job, and there's work that needs to be done," council chairman Jeff Brower said.
Smith took over as interim corrections director after former Corrections Director Mark Flowers was placed on administrative leave in August and ultimately fired. While the county said Flowers was fired over performance issues, his attorney Kelly Chanfrau said he was retaliated against for raising concerns about an alleged inmate beating.
An investigation into the allegations led to no charges against the corrections officers involved in the incident.
County jail use-of-force incident:No charges against Volusia guards
Flowers plans to file a lawsuit against the county but had not as of Tuesday, according to Chanfrau.
New leadership
DeMore has worked in the corrections field for over 22 years, according to county documents.
His previous roles include corrections officer, "sergeant, captain, major of the guard, and chief deputy warden with Allegheny County Corrections."
As warden in Butler County, DeMore is responsible for managing a $14 million budget, a 574-bed facility with an average daily population of 440 inmates, according to his resume.
From December 2014 to April 2015, he was chief deputy warden of operations for the Allegheny County Bureau of Corrections in Pittsburgh. He ran "daily operations of a 3,165-bed direct supervision facility with a daily average population of 2,600 inmates."
Volusia County has an average daily inmate population of about 1,300 and a capacity of about 1,494, Smith said.
DeMore attended Tuesday's meeting with his family. Council members welcomed them to Volusia County and said they were looking forward to working with DeMore.
County Manager George Recktenwald said officials conducted a nationwide search for the position, and representatives from the sheriff's office, the state attorney's office, court administration, and the county's Public Protection Department helped in the process.
"We're very happy to attract a lot of good applicants, but Mr. DeMore clearly rose to the top," Recktenwald said. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/20/volusia-corrections-division-to-get-new-director-in-july/70331803007/ | 2023-06-21T00:51:09 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/20/volusia-corrections-division-to-get-new-director-in-july/70331803007/ |
TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County School Board members voted 4-3 to pass new school boundary lines for the 2024-2025 school year. It's a move that the school district hopes will save millions of dollars.
Under the new plan that's been in the works for months, Hillsborough County Schools leaders will repurpose six schools, partially repurpose three schools, expand grade levels at one school and change boundaries for 103 schools. The plan impacts roughly 15,000 students.
The school board estimates by reallocated resources through redistricting they will save roughly $13 million. Newly chosen interim superintendent Van Ayres said he supports the redistricting changes, 100 percent.
However, parents and homeowners have expressed concerns in public comment periods that this would negatively impact their children's education and their property values. In addition, the changes disproportionately impact minority families.
"It is biased and it is biased toward lower social economic individuals," Stanley Gray from the Urban League of Hillsborough County said Tuesday during the meeting before voting took place. "If we don’t look at this issue with due diligence we’re going to get what we have right now and that is – we have in our lower social economic schools we have a lack of parent participation and a lack of achievement."
Here's a breakdown of how Hillsborough School Board members voted on the boundary line changes.
- Nadia Combs – Yes
- Henry Washington – No
- Lynn Gray – Yes
- Patti Rendon – Yes
- Jessica Vaughn – No
- Karen Perez – No
- Stacy A. Hahn – Yes
The changes will not impact the 2023-2024 school year, but by the next school year, parents and students will have to prepare for the changes to come.
The vote comes after just a couple of years ago, Hillsborough County was in danger of its finances being taken over by the state after budget woes. In 2021, the school district said half of its failing schools improved to a "C" or higher grade. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/hillsborough-schools-boundary-changes-passes-vote/67-1a629c09-4f4c-4965-b425-8e0281484bde | 2023-06-21T00:53:49 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/hillsborough-schools-boundary-changes-passes-vote/67-1a629c09-4f4c-4965-b425-8e0281484bde |
Family of Roseville man fatally shot by police files $10M lawsuit
The family of a Roseville man fatally shot by police last year after a crash has filed a $10 million federal lawsuit, alleging the officer involved violated his constitutional rights and the city failed to properly train department staff on using reasonable force in some interactions.
The suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court on behalf of Frank Robles’ wife aims to “establish recognition that the shooting … was unjust and contrary to clearly established law, to secure compensation for these wrongful acts, and to help end the violence perpetrated by the City of Roseville against the people of this state,” her lawyers wrote.
The shooting occurred after Frank Robles crashed his Chevrolet Silverado head-on into a semitractor-trailer on April 26, 2022, according to video authorities released.
As witnesses approached the truck to check if the 57-year-old was hurt, he exited and produced what police later identified as a 4-inch fish fileting blade. They retreated and alerted authorities, investigators reported.
Roseville officers found Robles standing in the road between 12 Mile and Martin holding the weapon. They approached and asked the Roseville Community Schools custodian if he was all right. Police said he responded "no" and the video showed him taking steps toward the officers.
The lawsuit claims the man left his truck “in a state of disorientation, confusion and under the traumatic stress of the event, in possession of a pocket fishing knife. Police body camera video footage demonstrates plaintiff Robles (having moments earlier extricated himself from his vehicle following a significant head-on collision) in a visible state of confusion, unable to fully comprehend the officer’s instructions.”
Police have said they repeatedly told Robles to drop the weapon. An officer, identified as Chad Lee, shot Robles, knocking him to the ground.
Macomb County Sheriff’s officials said Robles tried to stand up with the knife still in hand and the officer fired several more shots.
The lawsuit filed by the Moss & Colella firm paints a different picture.
“Rather than ascertaining whether plaintiff Robles could comprehend his instructions, was coherent or injured, defendant Lee drew his firearm and ordered plaintiff to ‘drop the (explicative) knife,’ ” attorneys said.
“Immediately thereafter, defendant Lee fires upon plaintiff Robles multiple times. Plaintiff Robles collapsed to the ground rendered incapacitated by the gunfire. While on the ground, defendant Lee again began to fire his weapon upon the plaintiff Robles (at least 4 additional rounds), striking him in the right cheek and head.”
An autopsy obtained by The Detroit News found Robles had five gunshot wounds and cuts to his wrist when he died.
The lawsuit claims Lee violated Robles’ Fourth Amendment rights since the officer owed him “a duty to act prudently, with reasonable care, and otherwise to avoid unreasonable and excessive force.”
It also accuses Lee of assault and battery as well as gross negligence. The officer, according to the document, discharged his firearm “multiple times when he knew or should have known that he was not in imminent or immediate harm and that Robles did not pose a physical threat to his safety or that of other officers or civilians.”
Meanwhile, the city “had a policy, practice and/or custom of training its police officers to use excessive and/or deadly force in lieu of less lethal force contrary to constitutional limits of the use of deadly force. Defendant city of Roseville failed to train and supervise its officers in the use of approved use of force procedures when required, including the use of less lethal force in encounters with persons who are injured, in distress or suffering from a mental health crisis.”
Representatives with the city and the Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
Weeks after the shooting, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office ended its investigation without any charges against Lee, who had been placed on leave.
"Macomb County Sheriff’s Office investigators met with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes’ Unit and reviewed the investigation in its entirety,” officials said at the time. “After this review, a consistent opinion was reached that no criminal charges are warranted …”
Robles, a father of two who lived in Roseville for more than 40 years, had served in Kuwait and Afghanistan as a contractor from 2008-12, according to an online obituary.
He was driving to work at the time of the crash, his wife's attorneys said in the lawsuit Tuesday. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/06/20/family-of-roseville-man-fatally-shot-by-police-files-10m-lawsuit/70340409007/ | 2023-06-21T00:53:52 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2023/06/20/family-of-roseville-man-fatally-shot-by-police-files-10m-lawsuit/70340409007/ |
TAMPA, Fla. — A man was found shot and killed Tuesday evening in Tampa after police say they received a report of a shooting.
The shooting occurred a little after 6 p.m. in the 800 block of East Yukon Street and that's where the man was found dead, the Tampa Police Department said in a news release.
Authorities say they are now searching for the gunman who is believed to be in his late 50s to early 60s, about 6-foot, 3-inches, weighs 150 pounds and has graying hair. He was also seen riding a bike as he left the shooting in an east direction.
Police are still in the early stages of the investigation but say the information they gathered so far suggests the man killed and the suspect knew each other.
"This was not a random act," the news release reads.
Investigators say the investigation of the shooting remains ongoing and are working to develop any leads that will lead to an arrest. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/man-shot-killed-yukon-street-tampa/67-6bc0b6f8-23a1-4b17-9fbe-de85406781b1 | 2023-06-21T00:53:55 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/man-shot-killed-yukon-street-tampa/67-6bc0b6f8-23a1-4b17-9fbe-de85406781b1 |
CLEARWATER, Fla. — It’s been a difficult period for Clearwater Marine Aquarium where five dolphins have died there in the past 19 months.
The staff is grieving while also working to make sure that they’re providing the best care possible.
“Anytime you have a loss it's hard. And then to have multiple in a row, that's a challenge,” CMA Senior Veterinarian Shelly Marquardt said. “Obviously, there is a period of grieving and mourning that you would normally work through and having to do that, and then respond to something else and having it, it does compounded itself, and this team is certainly still dealing with those emotions and feelings associated with that.”
The most recent dolphin to die at Clearwater Marine Aquarium was Apollo.
On Tuesday, his caretakers announced the initial necropsy showing that Apollo died from Hydrocephalus – or water on the brain.
They say it’s likely something he was born with or was exposed to in the wild and that, unfortunately, the condition is untreatable.
Marquardt says staff members have been leaning on each other for support while focusing their love and attention on the five dolphins still in their care.
“We show up for them and we do everything that we need for them,” she said. “And so, everyone's going to have a different response.”
The dolphins that come to CMA are always sick or injured, nursed back to health and then cared for if they can't be released back into the wild.
“We need to take solace in the fact that we do things well, and that we provide each individual the care that they deserve, and they need,” CMA Vice President of Zoological Care Kelly Martin said.
Despite those illnesses and vulnerabilities, CMA wanted to make sure it wasn't something they were doing, or not doing that contributed to the recent losses.
They brought in a panel of experts to conduct an outside audit which they just received. Dozens of smaller recommendations were made, but it found no glaring issues.
“It does take some of the pressure off,” said Marquardt. “I mean, it doesn't take away from the fact that we still lost them, but it does provide some comfort, knowing that we did what we could. And we're getting these animals what they need.”
“We’re going to continue doing what we’re doing,” said Martin. “And continue to improve.”
One of the recommendations already being implemented is to bring in more researchers who can determine what some of the dolphins’ favorite things are, such as food, toys and tasks.
That will enable staffers to work with them more effectively and ultimately improve the quality of their life. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/clearwater-marine-aquarium-receives-dolphin-deaths/67-fba1a681-783c-4223-ab27-ca42bfdc7f32 | 2023-06-21T00:54:01 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/clearwater-marine-aquarium-receives-dolphin-deaths/67-fba1a681-783c-4223-ab27-ca42bfdc7f32 |
BOISE, Idaho — Staffing levels within Idaho’s medical system has been under the microscope in recent years. The COVID pandemic illustrated the capacity of Idaho’s system, but Idaho hasn’t really been "fully-staffed" when it comes to healthcare providers in several years, predating COVID.
According to a Kaiser Family Health Foundation study from 2019, Idaho was already dead last in the country when it came to the number of doctors per people.
There are plenty of stories and statistics that illustrate the overall burnout across the medical profession in Idaho and beyond. The stress and reality of working through a pandemic in Idaho that saw the medical system operating in crisis standards of care for months.
As the serious nature of the COVID pandemic ramped down there was hope that there would be a resurgence in medical professionals filling needs across Idaho.
Hospital and some political leaders say another factor impacting Idaho’s ability to have enough doctors, nurses, and specialists are recent changes to Idaho laws, specifically on the topic of abortion.
With the Dobbs v Jackson decision in the US Supreme Court, Idaho’s abortion ban went into effect. That law outlawed abortion in almost all situations, something medical professionals in Idaho have said is difficult to work with.
The first noticeable and newsworthy impact from that development came from North Idaho this past March. Bonner General announced it would stop delivering babies or offering other obstetrical care for several reasons. Loss of pediatrician coverage, a decrease in how many babies they deliver, but also because of Idaho's legal and political climate.
"Highly respected, talented physicians are leaving. Recruiting replacements will be extraordinarily difficult. In addition, the Idaho Legislature continues to introduce and pass bills that criminalize physicians for medical care nationally recognized as the standard of care," Bonner General wrote on their website.
KTVB recently spoke with a major hospital system across Idaho, Saint Alphonsus, about the topic. They told KTVB they are losing two-thirds of their maternal fetal medicine physicians because of Idaho’s political climate.
St. Luke’s Health System, the other major hospital system and Idaho’s largest, says they too are still seeing impacts from COVID and more recently the Gem State political climate.
Dr. Frank Johnson is Chief Medical Officer for St. Luke's Health System in Boise, Elmore, and McCall. He says the political climate and reality of laws passed is a clear factor in the situation.
“Burnout, that's real. We absolutely are seeing that. We have a high number of physicians and other providers who are saying, hey, I've had enough. I'm looking at retirement. I'm looking at that next phase of my life. That's definitely happening,” Johnson said.
It’s not community rumor or political wordplay, Idaho laws do impact the current medical roster.
“We have lost doctors because of the abortion laws. Total abortion ban law really comes down to that criminalization of the physician patient relationship. Doctors, my colleagues, myself are ethically committed to serve that patient in front of us, have shared decision making and have a discussion of risks, benefits, limitations. That's what we do and that's what our expectation is,” Johnson said. “When there are laws that criminalize that conversation, potentially criminalize that conversation that creates a lot of fear and anxiety for docs appropriately so, and the ability to feel supported in that relationship, that it's been eroded by that. So especially when it comes to OB docs or maternal fetal medicine docs, that's where the biggest impact on that law is.”
So, what do those numbers look like?
“The numbers that we have look like across the state, we've lost about 40% of maternal fetal medicine doctors here at St Luke's. It's a small number of maternal fetal medicine docs. We've had six. We're down to four. So, we're working. It's a third,” Johnson said.
Recruitment and retention of medical professionals is equally challenging for Idaho groups, Dr. Johnson says it is even more difficult now than it was during the peak of COVID.
“I would say that today I believe that we have seen the biggest immediate short-term impact of physicians leaving because of the because of the laws that are in place now. I believe, I don't know that for sure. What we're facing now is probably a bigger impact is that recruitment piece when this starts happening and physicians are feeling like the laws in the state of Idaho put an undue burden and a risk on their profession and on their practice and on their ethical responsibility, they tend to shy away,” Johnson said.
Dr. Johnson says to address the need of maternal fetal medicine physicians, St. Luke's brings in what are essentially traveling doctors.
They can fill need but aren't really a long-term solution as many of those doctors like to move around.
Join 'The 208' conversation:
- Text us at (208) 321-5614
- E-mail us at the208@ktvb.com
- Join our The 208 Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/the208KTVB/
- Follow us on Twitter: @the208KTVB or tweet #the208 and #SoIdaho
- Follow us on Instagram: @the208KTVB
- Bookmark our landing page: /the-208
- Still reading this list? We're on YouTube, too: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/208/local-idaho-medical-staffing-levels-under-the-microscope-as-systems-see-need-for-more-medical-professionals/277-728f85c8-3fda-470e-893b-c7e685b23c7d | 2023-06-21T00:54:49 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/208/local-idaho-medical-staffing-levels-under-the-microscope-as-systems-see-need-for-more-medical-professionals/277-728f85c8-3fda-470e-893b-c7e685b23c7d |
BOISE, Idaho — After creating a new position nearly a year ago, the City of Boise is on the hunt for a new Language Access Program Manager.
The person that currently holds that position, Eulalia Gallegos, is the first to take on this position.
What does the Language Access Program Manager position entail?
Gallegos focuses on ensuring equal access to city serves, activities, programs and facilities for bilingual or multilingual people, or those who prefer a language other than English.
"This position has really allowed us to focus on nurturing those community partners partnerships so that we know what our community members need," Gallegos said.
The City of Boise offers many different programs, but what if there's a language barrier?
"We've developed a translation management platform," Gallegos said. "We work with local linguist to provide translations in our top languages, including Spanish, Swahili, Arabic, Chinese – traditional and simplified – as well as many other languages."
Gallegos has held this position for over a year now, but is stepping down to continue her work as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Idaho in Chicano History.
City of Boise Senior Community Outreach Manager, Lana Graybeal, said the job Gallegos has helped build from the ground up has become a vital position in the city.
"She's also been integral to building relationships within the community with our partners who serve residents who prefer a language other than English, so that we have that trust and that connection to those communities as well," Graybeal said.
Gallegos said she is very grateful to have had this opportunity and help serve a greater purpose.
"For me, personally, this was an opportunity to build on the work that I felt very passionate about," Gallegos said.
The Language Access Program is only a year old, but its value has been noticed by city officials.
The City of Boise is looking for new candidates to fill the role and by doing so they hope to continue the work that Gallegos started.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/city-of-boise-looking-for-new-language-access-program-manager/277-c0c0a1a0-79b6-4514-842a-7d1ef1156b9d | 2023-06-21T00:54:55 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/city-of-boise-looking-for-new-language-access-program-manager/277-c0c0a1a0-79b6-4514-842a-7d1ef1156b9d |
AUSTIN, Texas — On Tuesday afternoon and evening, Texans were under a voluntary power conservation notice because of extreme heat and potentially record-setting demand across the state.
ERCOT is the agency that manages the state power grid and is asking everyone to cut back on power use.
On Monday, Texas broke a peak power demand record, with people across the state using more than 79,000 mega watts of power. Earlier, ERCOT was projecting we would surpass that new record.
The conservation notice started at 4 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m.
Vic Fredlund with Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical said these are ways you can conserve energy while creating a "cooling effect."
"Your ceiling fans, if you have ceiling fans on house, run those. That's going to draw a lot less electricity than an air conditioner," Fredlund said.
Also, consider limiting use of your kitchen appliances.
"Try not to use your stove in the heat of the day," Fredlund said. "If you're running a 400-degree oven in the kitchen, then you're creating more heat."
Fredlund also wants to point out another mistake people make when it comes to thermostat usage.
"A lot of people, when they leave for the day, they turn the thermostat up and some of them actually turn it off when you get home. And it's been 100 degrees outside, that air conditioning is going to run so much longer to bring it back down to your set point than you had just turned it up a couple of degrees and let it run while you were gone," Fredlund said.
Abacus crews tell us they've received 2,500 calls over the past 24 hours. If your air conditioning needs maintenance, experts say you want to get that done as soon as possible since we're experiencing hot temperatures earlier. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/ercot-conservation-air-conditioning-tips/269-8376eed2-3671-4da2-8d82-b508a635e3ab | 2023-06-21T01:00:17 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/ercot-conservation-air-conditioning-tips/269-8376eed2-3671-4da2-8d82-b508a635e3ab |
Here's what to expect at downtown Iowa City's sixth annual Block Party Saturday.
Much of Iowa City's downtown district will transform into a massive celebration Saturday, featuring several stages of live music, a giant sandbox, and games.
Iowa City’s sixth annual Block Party sponsored by the Iowa City Downtown District is poised to draw large crowds into the closed-down city streets from 4-11 p.m. June 24. The city will prohibit vehicle traffic across 14 blocks, offering a safe and festive environment.
Saturday's various performances and activities are free, though a select few require pre-registration. Local businesses will also sell food throughout the event.
A unique aspect of The Block Party is the special $10 pre-sale cups which allow patrons to purchase beer or wine inside an Iowa City establishment and take it into the city streets. Cups can be picked up or purchased at one of five downtown Iowa City locations near the block party entrances.
Cups can be purchased the day of for $15.
All parking ramps in the downtown area are free on Saturday until 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Performances range from wrestling to live music
Saturday's annual event will feature performances on three main stages − the Englert Theatre Stage at the Weatherdance Stage on the Pedestrian Mall, the Iowa Avenue Side Stage and the SCW Pro Wrestling Stage.
The Englert’s stage will feature The Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band beginning at 5 p.m., followed by Jim Swim & Friends and Katy Guillen & The Drive. The performances will conclude with a 75-minute set from Mucca Pizza starting at 8:45 p.m.
The Iowa Avenue Side Stage will feature a wide range of events, beginning with a Drag Storytime at 4 p.m. followed by a children’s talent show, and juggler Luther Bangert. The drag performers will return for a fashion show beginning at 7 p.m. before the Wright House of Fashion headlines the stage with its "Baddest in the City" Fashion Show.
Pro wrestling returns to the block party for a second year, with extended programming on the SCW Pro Wrestling Stage. Two-and-a-half hours of wrestling will be split up with selfies the wrestlers. The throwdown begins at 6 p.m.
Gabe's will also feature DJs on its side stage from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Hard Luck & The Troubles will hit Washington Street for a two-hour performance from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Downtown fun and games for all ages
The Iowa City Public Library will have free-to-play Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros available for all ages from 5 to 8 p.m. A sandy beach area will be commissioned for local children to enjoy at the corner of Clinton Street and Washington Street.
Chess, bingo, and puzzles will be available throughout the evening around downtown alongside sand volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, bocce ball, tug-of-war, as well as yard games such as cornhole, Jenga, and ping-pong.
FilmScene is hosting an outdoor movie presentation of Romeo and Juliet in Chauncey Swan Park. The movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes begins at sunset, around 8:45 p.m.
Iowa City businesses will also hit the streets on Saturday, providing several food options including hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and even chicken tikka masala.
Many downtown businesses will provide vendor stations outside of their establishments as well. The list of available food and drink specials is on the block party web page.
The block party will close down the same roads as the last two years. These include:
- Iowa Avenue from Clinton Street to Linn Street.
- Dubuque Street from Iowa Avenue to Washington Street.
- Washington Street from Clinton Street to Gilbert Street.
- Clinton Street from College Street to Iowa Avenue.
- Linn Street from the alley north of Iowa City Public Library to Iowa Avenue
Saturday’s forecast calls for highs in the mid-90s before potential evening rain, but the National Weather Service projects the main vein of thunderstorms will hold off until about 1 a.m.
Here’s the full schedule for Saturday’s Block Party
- Iowa City Letters — College and Clinton — All Day
- Sand Volleyball — On Clinton Street, near The Summit — 4-11 p.m.
- Bocce Ball Courts — 4-11 p.m.
- Ping pong, cornhole, Jenga, and yard games — On Iowa Avenue, in front of Joe’s Place — 4-11 p.m.
- Drag Storytime — Iowa Avenue Side Stage — 4-5 p.m.
- Rollerskating — Clinton & College, near Yotopia — 4-8 p.m.
- Beach Area — On Clinton Street, near Pancheros — 4-8 p.m.
- Tennis and Pickleball Courts — On Linn Street, near Joystick — 4-9 p.m.
- 3-on-3 basketball — On Iowa Avenue, in front of Joe’s Place — Free play from 4-5 p.m. and 9-11 p.m., with pre-registered games taking place from 5-9 p.m.
- Electronic Fencing Target — Washington St. near Iowa Artisans Gallery — 4-6 p.m.
- Bingo — Linn Street near White Rabbit — 4-6 p.m. and 8:30-10 p.m.
- ICOR Boxing Booth — Washington Street near Discerning Eye Optical — 4-7 p.m.
- FitMeReach Booth — Washington Street near U.S. Bank — 4-9:30 p.m.
- Childserve Talent Show — Iowa Avenue Side Stage — 5-6 p.m.
- The Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band — Englert Theatre Stage on the Ped Mall — 5-5:45 p.m.
- Blitz & Bullet Chess Tournament — Black Hawk Mini Park on the Ped Mall — 5-8:30 p.m.
- Dueling Pianos — Washington Street in front of Target — 5-10 p.m.
- Silent Disco — Dubuque Street near Pullman Bar & Grill — 5-11 p.m.
- Mario Kart & Smash Bros — Iowa City Public Library — 5-8 p.m.
- SCW Pro Wrestling — SCW Pro Wrestling Stage — Wrestling 6-7 p.m. and 8-9:30 p.m., with a wrestler photo booth in between
- Jim Swim & Friends — Englert Theatre Stage on the Ped Mall — 6-6:45 p.m.
- Pomtasticks from the Iowa City Senior Center — Iowa Avenue Side Stage — 6-6:30 p.m.
- Juggler Luther Bangert — Iowa Avenue Side Stage — 6:45-7 p.m.
- Puzzle Competition — Linn Street near White Rabbit — 7-8:30 p.m.
- Studio 13 Drag Show — Iowa Avenue Side Stage — 7-8 p.m.
- Katy Guillen & The Drive — Englert Theatre Stage on the Ped Mall — 7:15-8:15 p.m.
- Tug-of-War Games — Clinton Street near Pancheros — 8-11 p.m.
- The Wright House of Fashion’s Baddest in the City Fashion Show — Iowa Avenue Side Stage — 8-9 p.m.
- Mucca Pazza — Englert Theatre Stage on the Ped Mall — 8:45-10 p.m.
- FilmScene’s Outdoor presentation of Romeo & Juliet — Chauncey Swan Park — Begins at sunset, around 8:45 p.m. | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/downtown-iowa-city-block-party-2023-what-to-know/70338162007/ | 2023-06-21T01:15:02 | 0 | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/downtown-iowa-city-block-party-2023-what-to-know/70338162007/ |
Hank Stratton, the head of acting/musical theater at the University of Arizona and the artistic director of the Arizona Repertory Theatre, has been named director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, and executive director of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre.
Stratton, whose appointment is effective Aug. 1, replaces Christina Kirk, who returned to the faculty in January.
A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Stratton has been at the University of Arizona since 2016 and became head of acting/musical theater and artistic director for the Arizona Repertory Theatre in 2019.
A working actor, Stratton starred in the Broadway revival and television film adaptation of “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” opposite Nathan Lane. He appeared in the CBS drama “The Unit,” in addition to recurring roles on “Heroes” and “American Dreams.” His television work includes films for NBC, CBS, Hallmark and HBO, along with numerous guest appearances including “The Closer,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “ER” and “Frasier.”
He played Berowne in “Love’s Labour’s Lost” for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works Festival. Additionally, he starred in the national tours of the Tony Award-winning production of “Copenhagen,” the Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall collaboration of “Cabaret,” the off-Broadway hit “Jeffrey” and played the role of Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady," Pulitzer in “Newsies” and King Marchand in “Victor/Victoria.”
“Hank has executed a strong vision for enrollment growth at the national level,” Andy Belser, dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, said in a news release announcing Stratton’s appointment. “He still acts in Hollywood in television and film and is well connected internationally in (the) industry. Hank intentionally moved into education because that is where his heart is. He understands the opportunity that we have for both theater and emerging media arts to be national leaders.”
In the release, Stratton concurred with Belser’s vision of the Carson School’s potential.
“I am deeply honored and excited by this opportunity,” Stratton said. “I believe the Johnny Carson School and the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts are uniquely positioned to be one of the most innovative and powerful arts programs in the nation. I cannot wait to begin collaborating with faculty, staff and students as we envision the future together.”
PhotoFiles: Stuart Theater's long history in Lincoln
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Stuart Theater
Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. On Twitter @KentWolgamott | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/arizonas-hank-stratton-named-director-of-unls-johnny-carson-school-of-theatre-and-film/article_23d8e442-0fab-11ee-bc8b-8342d8a3b283.html | 2023-06-21T01:23:32 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/arizonas-hank-stratton-named-director-of-unls-johnny-carson-school-of-theatre-and-film/article_23d8e442-0fab-11ee-bc8b-8342d8a3b283.html |
MASON CITY -- Due to a water main break, the outside eastbound lane of 19th Street Southwest will be closed at the intersection of South Monroe Avenue. The lane closure is anticipated to last until Friday.
Related to this story
Most Popular
A Mason City man already facing felony burglary and drug charges was charged with two more counts of felony burglary after allegedly stealing …
Former Britt Police Chief Mark Anderson's attorney responded to the Globe Gazette's inquiry after Anderson was fired by the city council last week.
The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura school district at its Monday meeting approved a resolution that would sell the district’s former school buildings…
According to the arrest affidavits, the Clinton man sexually abused a 13-year-old girl three times, and he purchased sexual favors from a 16-y…
A Mason City woman was given a deferred sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty to a threat of terrorism charge for sending threatening email… | https://globegazette.com/news/local/water-main-break-closes-lane-of-19th-street-southwest/article_d7d20596-0fc4-11ee-af15-77f40381e18f.html | 2023-06-21T01:26:12 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/water-main-break-closes-lane-of-19th-street-southwest/article_d7d20596-0fc4-11ee-af15-77f40381e18f.html |
NORTHFIELD — The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners passed an amended resolution on offshore wind Tuesday, eliminating a request for a moratorium on the new technology and instead supporting a new federal investigation and more public comment time on the Atlantic Shores South project.
"In light of recent events — the announcement of a federal investigation into the impact of offshore wind development ... I'd like to offer a few amendments so we don't muddy the waters," said Republican Commissioner Richard Dase, one of two sponsors of the resolution.
The board then amended the resolution to remove requests for a moratorium and to instead support a federal investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office into "matters relating to the potential impacts of offshore wind energy development” in the northern Atlantic between Maine and New Jersey.
People are also reading…
The GAO is the independent watchdog agency of Congress. It agreed June 15 to conduct the review, which is expected to include effects on whales and other marine life, the fishing and tourism industries and more.
It agreed to the study at the request of U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, and Chris Smith, R-4th, as well as two out-of-state Congress members.
The amended resolution also supported requests by several coastal communities for a 90-135 day extension on the time allotted to a public comment period on the 6,200-page draft environmental impact statement for the Atlantic Shores offshore wind farm.
The 45-day comment period opened May 19 and ends July 3.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1 and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 2 are proposed for a lease area of more than 100,000 acres, with the closest turbines 8.7 miles off the coast. Combined, Atlantic Shores South is set to be the biggest offshore wind project in the state, according to Joris Veldhoven, CEO of Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind.
There are also two wind farms being developed by Danish firm Ørsted, located about 15 miles off Atlantic and Cape May counties.
The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners will vote Tuesday on a resolution supporting an i…
All seven Republican commissioners voted for the resolution, as did District 1 Commissioner Ernest Coursey, a Democrat. Voting no was Democratic Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick, of Linwood, who is running for the state Assembly this year.
Coursey said he supports offshore wind but also understands concerns of some about the impacts of the new industry and wants the public to get their questions answered.
"Nobody has been able to prove (the deaths of whales) have anything to do with windmills at this point," Coursey said. "I'm more inclined to support asking for additional answers. I do not support a moratorium."
Fitzpatrick said there is an opportunity for the public to ask the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management about the Atlantic Shores offshore wind plans from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday evening at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
"There has been an exhaustive application process by the developers," Fitzpatrick said. "Studies have been done by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). It seems like when people aren't getting the answer they want, they want to keep asking questions."
She also reminded people of the effects of oil spills in the Delaware River on area beaches, where she remembered tar balls washing up in the late 1980s, and of the threat of offshore drilling.
"What do you want, offshore wind ... or oil rigs?" Fitzpatrick asked.
"I question the whole economics of wind power," said Commission Chair John Risley, a Republican who is the resolution's other co-sponsor. "A number of questions have to be answered — whether or not our economy, the fishing industry, is going to be damaged in some way."
ATLANTIC CITY — The independent watchdog agency of Congress agreed Thursday to look into the…
A large crowd came out to express their views on the matter, with many speaking on each side.
Those in favor of offshore wind farms cited the jobs they will bring, the fossil fuel use they will displace and their impact on climate change.
Those against them talked about industrialization of the ocean and how that will damage ecosystems and wildlife, and effects on the fishing and tourism industries.
The Cape May County Board of Commissioners has hired law firms to help fight plans for offshore wind farms.
Offshore wind plans face other challenges as well. Ocean City and Ocean Wind 1 are fighting over permits to bring power lines from wind turbines across that community at 35th Street, and other organizations are also seeking to hold off the work.
On Friday, the anti-wind power groups Save LBI, Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect Our Coast NJ announced they filed with a state appellate court challenging a Department of Environmental Protection certification of the Ocean Wind 1 project.
In April, the DEP found the project proposal was consistent with the state’s Coastal Zone Management Act.
The court filing seeks to overturn that decision, and members of the groups said this is only the beginning of the legal challenges to be filed.
The Biden administration and Gov. Phil Murphy support offshore wind energy, seeing a means of reducing carbon emissions believed to contribute to climate change. Both have also cited the potential for new jobs in a clean-energy sector. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/atlantic-county-commissioners-pass-resolution-on-offshore-wind-without-moratorium/article_384eb506-0fb9-11ee-bb5e-2fecca87e5e7.html | 2023-06-21T01:26:58 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/atlantic-county-commissioners-pass-resolution-on-offshore-wind-without-moratorium/article_384eb506-0fb9-11ee-bb5e-2fecca87e5e7.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Construction equipment and Portland Bureau of Transportation trucks lined an empty asphalt lot along Southeast 13th Place and Gideon Street Tuesday morning. It’s soon to be Portland’s first Temporary Alternative Shelter Site for homeless people waiting for long-term housing.
The site which will house up to 150 homeless people is set to open in July the same month a daytime ban on camping goes into effect. The site is not to be confused with the city’s Safe Rest Villages which are smaller and have already popped up in other parts of Portland.
“We are really aware that we’re on the tip of the spear with this,” said John Karabaic who lives near the incoming campsite. He’s the chair of the Brooklyn Action Corps, a neighborhood association.
“We thought this wasn’t a great solution to the problem, but we weren’t going to block it,” said Karabaic.
He alongside surrounding neighborhood groups has been working with the city for months to create a Good Neighbor Agreement since many have concerns over the site including the potential for vandalism, crime, and the wellbeing of homeless people who are staying there. That agreement will be finalized once the site opens.
“So, what we’re hoping to see is that it decreases the amount of unsanctioned camping in the neighborhood,” said Karabaic
The mayor’s office says they are planning to open this site early next month but can’t give an exact date.
The city aims for these sites to provide temporary safe shelter, sanitary services and consistent case management as homeless people wait for long-term housing. It will be managed 24/7 and there will be a ban on camping within 1,000 feet of the site.
“If it’s going to be managed, I pretty much approve of it,” said Charles Garver who lives nearby.
“I think everyone involved sincerely wants it to work,” added Michael O’Connor who’s lived in the neighborhood for 33 years.
Karabaic is looking to set a precedent for future sites and how they fit into the surrounding neighborhoods since the mayor is hoping to open five more — even though the city currently only has enough funding for three.
“I think other neighborhoods will take a look at what we’ve done and possibly replicate it,” he said.
The mayor said in a community meeting last week with the Portland Business Alliance that they are close to finalizing the locations for the next two Temporary Alternative Camping Sites. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/southeast-portland-city-sanctioned-homeless-camp/283-5d4b0c09-2c8c-403d-830e-c69cb4976702 | 2023-06-21T01:31:26 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/southeast-portland-city-sanctioned-homeless-camp/283-5d4b0c09-2c8c-403d-830e-c69cb4976702 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — The longest walkout in Oregon legislative history ended late last week as Democratic and Republican leadership in the Senate hashed out a deal to provide a quorum in the chamber for the first time in six weeks.
It was a compromise that left some people unhappy on both sides of the aisle, though legislative leaders all proclaimed it a victory for Oregonians. Four Republican senators and one Independent have continued to shun the Senate chamber, preferring to continue their protest.
Here's a quick rundown of the final compromise that ended the stalemate.
First and foremost, there's House Bill 2002. As originally passed in the House, the bill would have allowed a child under the age of 15 to get an abortion without parental permission. After insisting for weeks that HB 2002 was untouchable, Democrats agreed to compromise on that part of the bill.
The new version, which has now passed the Senate, only allows abortions without parental permission if a doctor agrees that notifying the parents would be dangerous to the child, or in slightly wider circumstances if they get a second opinion from another clinician. Funding for mobile abortion clinics in rural areas and abortion care at public universities was taken out of the amended bill as well.
The bill will make clear that abortion is both legal and protected in Oregon. It also requires insurance companies to cover gender-affirming care.
Second, the compromise changed House Bill 2005, a gun control bill. As passed in the House, the bill made untraceable "ghost guns" illegal, but it also raised the age to buy a gun from 18 to 21 (with some exceptions) and allowed cities to prohibit all guns in public buildings and on public grounds.
Post-deal, HB 2005 was cut down to just the ghost gun provisions.
The deal also resulted in Senate Joint Resolution 33 being sent off to purgatory in the Senate rules committee, where Republicans say it will die. Under its latest form, SJR 33 would have have asked voters to amend the Oregon Constitution where it defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Senate Bill 348 and Senate Bill 393 are also dead. They represented technical changes to voter-approved gun control law Measure 114, currently held up in court, and a directive to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to study the effect of different sentencing types on crime recidivism rates.
Republicans reportedly agreed as part of the deal that, were Measure 114 to be upheld in court, they will not walk out in 2024 to stop the bill that implements it. There's also an agreement that if Measure 114 goes through, the state will hand Oregon State Police $7 million to get the necessary permitting and background check systems up and running.
Finally, House Republicans claimed that many bills will have their summaries reworked in order to pass a long-forgotten test adopted by the legislature that requires they be readable at an 8th grade level. Thus far, there have been no signs that this is happening.
The ghosts of walkouts past
With the walkout at an end, The Story's Pat Dooris had a chance to talk to the longest-serving Senate president in Oregon history, the now-retired Peter Courtney. In his time, Courtney saw several of these walkouts — and in some cases helped to bring them to an end.
"I think there's relief .... I do think there's hard feelings. You can tell it. There's not — they're not giving each other hugs and things. They gotta deal with that," Courtney said of the latest walkout's end. "But you know, when you consider how hard it is on you when you do these walkouts, and how much it strains the institution when its over, there's a tremendous relief."
Courtney said that now that lawmakers are in the final week of the session, things will move very quickly.
"Very chaotic, very tough on the staff. Your staff — the staff of the House and the Senate — it gets crazy because they've got to get documents from one chamber to another chamber," Courtney said. "They've got to have paperwork ... you've got to constantly take recesses to let things catch up. So its a very hectic time, very hectic."
"And is there a lot of opportunity for last-minute mischief?" Dooris asked him.
"Well, as long as the legislature's in session, there's always an opportunity for mischief," Courtney replied. "It's by nature a body that's been known for mischief, and that will never change. So I would say, you always gotta be on guard regarding mischief, horseplay, things of that nature — it's just the nature of the institution."
Dooris also touched base with Betsy Johnson, who resigned from the legislature ahead of the 2022 election in order to run for governor as an unaffiliated candidate. Back in 2001, Johnson was a Democrat in the state House of Representatives when they staged a walkout.
"We were told the police could come and get us," Johnson recalled. "I had checked into a hotel in downtown Portland with a credit card. The caucus called me and said, 'How did you check in to that hotel?' Well, I used a credit card. 'Oh they can track you!' And so I ended up being checked into a 'no-tell motel' out by Portland International in my best friend's name, paid for with cash. And it convinced me that I would make a miserable felon on the run."
Johnson said that it was a scary experience, being on the lam from the legislature.
There was a similar tenor during the Republican walkout of 2019, when then-Gov. Kate Brown authorized state police to track down delinquent senators. The most recent walkout has been different — for the most part, Republicans never left the capitol. Democrats seemed loathe to use the power of the state police this time around, although they didn't rule it out.
Even though state police didn't get involved this time around, Courtney seems to be right that there is a certain level of bitterness after this particular walkout. As mentioned before, five conservative senators were so irked by the compromise with Democrats that they're still staying away in protest.
That includes Sen. Kim Thatcher from Marion County. Over the weekend she sent a blistering newsletter to her constituents, complaining that the Democrats got the better end of the deal.
Thatcher wrote that she cannot return to the chamber in good conscience, because the deal did not address "corruption by the Democrats" or tyrannical bills.
Independent Sen. Brian Boquist of rural Polk and Yamhill counties, in his own update to constituents, referred to HB 2002 as "Mengele's Law" and called it a "crime against humanity." He compared the current session to the "communism, fascism and socialism" of the 1920s and '30s, conjuring the specter of eugenics and the extermination of undesirables.
Before his descent into bloody-minded doomsaying, Boquist also hit on something else. After concluding the deal last week, with little more than a week left in the legislative session and with hundreds of bills left to pass, Senate Democratic leadership dismissed everyone for a three-day weekend. While lawmakers have been passing bills at a feverish rate since they returned Tuesday, it remains to be seen if they'll pass all of the bills that they ostensibly support.
A question of quorum
Under the Oregon Constitution, two-thirds of lawmakers must be present in order to provide a quorum in either chamber, allowing them to hold floor votes. In 45 other states, quorum is met by a simple majority.
Dooris asked Johnson if she thinks Oregon voters should amend the state constitution in order to take walkouts off the table completely.
"Well, it's hard to say. What should go away is the lack of trust in the legislature, the tyranny of the majority party. And I served in both the minority and the majority," said Johnson, neatly sidestepping the question. "And I think, occasionally, the majority can get pretty frisky wanting to jam through their agenda and run roughshod over the minority. I still am old-fashioned enough that I believe there is room for compromise. I believe there's an opportunity to build trust — when you shake hands you mean it. And that is absent in the legislature that I left in order to run for governor."
Though she did not say directly that she supported the current quorum rules that allow for walkouts, Johnson pointed out several times during the discussion that walkouts are the last resort of a minority party. She seemed to think that was valuable.
Dooris asked the same question of Courtney. He was of the opinion that changing the quorum rules might be better than the system now in place under Measure 113. Voters approved the measure last November, and it disqualifies lawmakers from holding the same office again if they reach 10 or more unexcused absences.
"I think that, yes, there has to be (a change). It's not that I think it has to be because this is gonna go on and on and on — next time if the Democrats get the minority, it could go back and forth," Courtney said. "And so, I don't think the present deal, where you don't show up so many times you cant run again — I never understood that one. I just think you gotta go after the quorum. We're one of the few states that still has this two-thirds quorum situation. I think that needs ... it shouldn't be two thirds. It should be something less. It really should be." | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-republican-walkout-quorum-rules/283-e0fc0091-cb23-457a-93e5-605a88f243e8 | 2023-06-21T01:31:32 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-republican-walkout-quorum-rules/283-e0fc0091-cb23-457a-93e5-605a88f243e8 |
The city of Boise’s decision to grant a conditional use permit to Interfaith Sanctuary has been upheld, according to a court decision released Tuesday.
The petition for judicial review, by the Veterans Park Neighborhood Association, was first filed in July 2022. The neighborhood association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Veterans Park Neighborhood Association can appeal to the Idaho Supreme Court.
“I’m just relieved to make it through another process and continue moving forward,” Interfaith Sanctuary Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers told the Idaho Press. “Last week we did obtain our building permit, so it looks like we’ll begin construction in July.”
Interfaith Sanctuary is moving from its current location on West River Street to a larger building — a former Salvation Army building — on West State Street. The move has caused some of the area's residents to push back.
The decision came from Ada County's Fourth Judicial District Court.
“The Council did not commit error when it approved the conditional use permit,” the decision said. “For the reasons set forth above, VPNA’s request to overturn Boise City Council’s denial of CUP21-00026 and remand the matter back to the City is DENIED. Boise City Council’s decision to overturn the denial of CUP21-00026 is AFFIRMED.”
In the appeal, the neighborhood association challenged the city council’s findings that the conditions of approval will ensure the homeless shelter will not create adverse impacts and that the shelter wouldn’t place an undue burden on transportation or other public facilities.
The neighborhood association argued, among other things, that Interfaith Sanctuary hadn’t provided a security and operations plan and that some of the conditions placed on Interfaith were not new, but were practices the shelter already does.
The Planning and Zoning Commission faulted Interfaith for not having a security plan, which the Boise City Council said was in error, court documents said.
“Boise City Council’s findings are not erroneous,” the decision said. “There is nothing in Boise City’s application form that required Interfaith Sanctuary to submit either an operations plan or a security plan as part of the application process.”
The Veterans Park Neighborhood Association also argued that even with 30 conditions, there will be adverse impacts and undue burden to public facilities, the document said.
There was lots of conflicting evidence before the council, the court said, but substantial evidence to support the city council’s decision.
“Boise Chief of Police Ryan Lee testified on three separate days. Chief Lee testified that BPD was neutral as to the conditional use permit at issue, but that 'the Boise Police Department will be able to pivot and reallocate resources as necessary,'” the decision said.
The court’s role is not to reweigh the evidence, the decision said, but to determine if there is enough quality evidence so that a reasonable person could reach the same conclusion as the city council.
Veterans Park Neighborhood Association also argued it was wrong for the Boise City Council to consider best practices for operating a shelter, because best management practices won’t eliminate adverse impacts.
“The Council’s job is to consider the evidence before it and then apply that evidence to the applicable code criteria at issue. The Council did so here,” the decision said.
The court also rejected the neighborhood association’s argument that it was denied due process because some conditions for approval were recommended at the last minute and were not new.
“First, VPNA had notice of the recommendations made by Ms. Brewer and Mr. Mattoon at the hearings before the Council because the recommendations were part of Interfaith Sanctuary’s Supplemental Submittal to its application,” the decision said. “Second, representatives from VPNA, including Katy Decker-President of VPNA, participated in the Task Force that developed such recommendations.”
Ultimately, the court decided neither the city of Boise nor the Veterans Park Neighborhood Association is entitled to attorney's fees.
It’s been a long process to get to this point for Interfaith Sanctuary.
The shelter delayed a conditional use permit application in early 2021 after neighbors asked for more information. Later that year, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean asked the shelter to pause the application. Boise’s Planning & Zoning Commission denied the conditional use permit at first, and then after a series of contentious hearings, the Boise City Council approved the permit with 30 conditions in April 2022.
Afterward, the Veteran’s Park Neighborhood Association challenged the decision in court.
"We ended up with a really happy ending because of the team that surrounded us and our community of support," Peterson-Stigers said. "It doesn't happen everywhere. It's pretty special." | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/court-makes-ruling-on-interfaith-sanctuary-petition/article_d0d9549c-0fba-11ee-b0f8-7f1bef8ab4a8.html | 2023-06-21T01:31:34 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/court-makes-ruling-on-interfaith-sanctuary-petition/article_d0d9549c-0fba-11ee-b0f8-7f1bef8ab4a8.html |
The Nampa School Board passed policy 2050 after reading it a second time on Monday. The policy affects all grade levels and prohibits gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender identity and gender expression to be discussed or taught in Nampa schools.
“If I was to say ‘what is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life’ when I die, I would say number one: I raised a good family and I tried to do good. Number two: I passed this policy,” Marco Valle, Nampa school board member, said.
The Nampa schools’ policy explains that the school board recognizes the “rights of parents, guardians, and caregivers to discuss, address, and educate their child on every subject matter, especially the non-academic subject matters not addressed in the District.” The policy has similarities to the controversial Florida bill known to critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Florida Gov. and Republican presidential nominee hopeful Ron DeSantis’ bill banned classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades.
Policy 2050 was first brought to the board in May and comes on the heels of a board meeting in April, where Nampa High School student Cassie Hugo made comments at a board meeting about a psychology class that was "controversial," with some curriculum covering sex and gender. Discussions amongst the board about what students should or should not be taught have loomed over the district ever since.
The intent of the policy is to empower and provide parents and guardians with the opportunity to have discussions that can have a sensitive nature with their child, board member Jeff Kirkman said. The policy is also intended to prevent staff from having those conversations in the presence of students who don't want to have those discussions.
"There is no place in my world where the school district becomes the parent to that child," Kirkman said. "They could become the caregiver or the guardian for a certain amount of time, but they do not become the parent."
Kirkman suggested students be allowed to talk to their teachers about issues of sex and gender in an informal setting.
"What about those students who do not come from a stable family environment, who need the direction," Kirkman said. "I can't forget about those students."
His concern for those students was addressed by Superintendent Gregg Russell, who said students who need support should be referred to a school counselor.
“I’m very much in favor of this policy, and it’s not because I’m a bigot,” Board Chair Brook Taylor said. “My aunts are gay, my brother-in-law is gay."
School should be a safe place for all students, Taylor said, but not every teacher is an ally.
"It is not for me to decide or dictate how another parent determines or decides to deal with what their child is going through, what their child is not going through, where their child is going to end up later in life," Taylor said. "We need to provide safe spaces in the event that there is abuse, there is no question about that in my mind."
If abuse does exist in homes, it needs to have an outlet and kids should be protected, Taylor said.
"When you ask a 5-year-old their pronouns, this has happened, you are challenging that family through their child, and that is the school district challenging that family's core beliefs because these are core beliefs ... I want to preserve our rights to have all of our individual beliefs, and to me this policy does that."
The policy passed with a 3-1 vote; only board member Mandy Simpson voted against the policy passing.
"My biggest problem, and the most sleep I’ve lost over this, is this idea that our teachers can't survey our students," Simpson said during the board meeting. "...I know from firsthand experience that if kids don't feel safe in a classroom, they will not even begin to try to learn the reading, the writing, the math."
A teacher's knowledge of their students is pivotal to a student's education, Simpson said. Kids will achieve more in the classroom if they feel loved and cared for by teachers, Simpson said.
"It does silence people," Simpson said. "We do need a policy that respects parent involvement and parents' decision-making — I agree. I actually don't think this does it."
Throughout the months of the policy deliberation process, both public comments and occasional board member comments have pointed to God or teachings from the Bible.
"Religion should not come into play in any decisions that are made," Simpson said. "It’s about the morals and health of the pupils, not my morals, not anyone else’s morals, but the morals of the pupils that are in our buildings."
The intent of the policy — to have parents involved and informed about what their children are learning at school — is a good one, but the policy isn't as good as it can be, Simpson said.
"I think we need a policy that truly speaks to how we are going to make sure everyone is loved and respected when they walk in the classroom," Simpson said. "We’re not there." | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/nampa-school-board-approves-controversial-gender-sexual-orientation-policy/article_0483472a-0f8f-11ee-b0be-9bf47356ff38.html | 2023-06-21T01:31:41 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/nampa-school-board-approves-controversial-gender-sexual-orientation-policy/article_0483472a-0f8f-11ee-b0be-9bf47356ff38.html |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A Birmingham-based nonprofit organization aimed at increasing literacy rates among children of color is hosting a summit designed to achieve that goal.
The second annual I See Me, Inc. Literacy Summit will be held at 9 a.m. this Wednesday in the Kress BHM Building in downtown Birmingham.
Tickets are $45 for the literacy summit and $25 for the reception to be held at the Kress
BHM at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 for both events. Click here to purchase tickets.
Speakers will include renowned educator Dr. Ayanna Brown and former Sesame Street actress
Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on the children’s TV show for over 40 years.
The literacy summit is open to educators, parents, grandparents, guardians, educational stakeholders, and corporate leaders. and will panel discussions to a session that will equip parents with strategies to assist a child at home.
I See Me, Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the mission to dismantle the “School-to-Prison Pipeline” by increasing the literacy rates in children of color by engaging them in literature that reflects their culture and mirrors their image.
For more information please contact I See Me, Inc.’s founder and CEO Devon Frazier at dfrazier@iseemeinc.org or by phone at 205-542-1025. You can also visit their website. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/former-sesame-street-actress-to-attend-i-see-me-inc-literacy-summit-in-birmingham/ | 2023-06-21T01:39:42 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/former-sesame-street-actress-to-attend-i-see-me-inc-literacy-summit-in-birmingham/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.