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Flag Day ceremony pays homage to American flag in Jackson
Celebrated at Liberty Garden Arboretum & Park, June 14 commemorated Flag Day and the concerted effort made by local veterans and political officials to honor the American flag.
In addition to the honoring of Flag Day, the recognition of the U.S. Army's 248th birthday was celebrated at the event. 11-year-old Alyvia Baxter, a member of the Pinson Mounds Children of the American Revolution Society, began the ceremony by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jackson Mayor Scott Conger subsequently took to the podium to share the significance of what these conjunctive events mean to Americans.
"Throughout its history, the army has stood courageously against tyranny and injustice, safeguarding our nation and its people," Conger said. "We owe a debt of gratitude to the soldiers who have answered the call to serve, often in challenging and dangerous circumstances."
Adding that the flag "serves as a beacon of hope, unity, and resilience," Conger encouraged attendees to remember the contributions and sacrifices of service men and women, both past and present.
Victor Corson, a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, began his story by sharing the immense pride he takes in his service and his country.
"Remember that you are American citizens and to be proud of it every day of your life," he said. "It is not something to take lightly. There are many service personnel who are not here today because you are free in a country that has more to offer than any other nation in the world. Remember that."
Along with the Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard Chapter 995, Paul Reynolds narrated the significance of each of the 13 folds of the American flag, a presentation typically performed at military funerals and ceremonies. According to Reynolds, fold significance is broken down by the following:
- First fold: A symbol of life.
- Second fold: Symbolizes our belief in eternal life.
- Third fold: Made in honor and remembrance of the Veteran's parting their ranks who gave a portion of their lives in defense of our country and to attain peace throughout the world.
- Fourth fold: Our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to whom we turn in times of peace as well in times of war for his guidance.
- Fifth fold: A tribute to our country.
- Sixth fold: Where our hearts lie and it is with our hearts that we pledge allegiance to the United States of America.
- Seventh fold: A tribute to our American forces, for it is through the armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
- Eighth fold: A tribute to the ones who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that they might see the light of the day.
- Ninth fold: A tribute to womanhood and mothers, for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
- Tenth fold: A tribute to the fathers for they too have given their sons and daughters for the defense of our nation since they were first born.
- Eleventh fold: Represents the lower portion of the seal of the King of David and King Soloman and glorifies in the Hebrew's eyes the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
- Twelfth fold: Represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies in the Christian's eyes God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Thirteenth fold: For where the flag is completely folded and the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our nation's motto, "in God we trust."
As rain trickled down from the sky, the ceremony concluded with the playing of Radney Foster's "Angel Flight," a song that pays homage to the Texas Air National Guard C-130 responsible for transporting the bodies of fallen soldiers. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/flag-day-ceremony-pays-homage-to-american-flag-in-jackson/70330409007/ | 2023-06-21T15:40:34 | 1 | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2023/06/20/flag-day-ceremony-pays-homage-to-american-flag-in-jackson/70330409007/ |
BOISE, Idaho — Thirty-nine students celebrated on Tuesday afternoon after receiving the Idaho Governor’s Cup Scholarship.
It was a shock for Weiser high school student, Mattie Shirts.
"'What is going on? there is no way I just won this'," Shirts said. "I was just shocked and couldn't believe it."
The governor held a reception at the capitol to honor them with many community members and parents in attendance.
The Idaho Governor’s Cup helps Idaho students continue higher education and stay in the state. Each year, they raise funds to help provide scholarships, with most of the funds being raised through their annual golf tournament. This tradition dates back to 1974 when it was first started by the governor at the time, Cecil Andrus.
“Getting this award means the world to me because I am going into education, and the college I’m attending is expensive,” Shirts said. “I'm from a very small rural town and I'm proof you can get a sliver of a chance because you never know. There are other kids here that feel the same way.”
Governor Brad Little said the event and award honor students’ commitment to their neighbors, communities, and the state. For students who get the scholarship, this is the first step to launching their educational journey and achieving their dreams.
"The sky's the limit with a little bit of hard work and determination. I'm just excited, and it's a great opportunity," Madison Myers, another award recipient and Wendell high school graduate said, "This will really help me really be able to achieve my goals."
This year, the scholarship fund received more than 3,000 applicants. On Tuesday, 39 students each received one of the three scholarship options: either an academic scholarship of $5,000, the Career-Technical Education award of $3,000 or the Cecil D Andrus Excellence in Education scholarship.
These awards renew for up to four years. This year's Governor’s Cup event will be held Sept. 7 through 9, in Sun Valley.
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Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/39-students-receive-idaho-governors-cup-scholarship/277-935c73d7-0906-4db6-8d70-52e6db8e5458 | 2023-06-21T15:43:08 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/39-students-receive-idaho-governors-cup-scholarship/277-935c73d7-0906-4db6-8d70-52e6db8e5458 |
BLOOMINGTON — The cause of a Bloomington fire that displaced five adults and two children remains under investigation, authorities said Wednesday.
Frank Friend, public information officer for the Bloomington Fire Department, said the blaze at 804 E. Front St. was reported around 6 a.m. Wednesday by a passerby who said the front porch was on fire.
Arriving crews found a significant fire on the front porch extending up to the second floor and attic space, Friend said. Firefighters assisted the occupants out of the the three-story building.
No firefighters or residents were injured, Friend said. A damage estimate was not immediately available.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/bloomington-house-fire-front-clinton-street-investigation/article_4b2296ae-1043-11ee-b2fc-0776c386cdbe.html | 2023-06-21T15:50:08 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/bloomington-house-fire-front-clinton-street-investigation/article_4b2296ae-1043-11ee-b2fc-0776c386cdbe.html |
A Pennsylvania Lottery $1 million-winning scratch-off ticket was recently sold in Washington County.
The $1,000,000 Game ticket was sold at Shop ‘n Save at 125 West Beau St. in Washington. The store receives a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Scratch-off prizes expire one year from the game’s end-sale date posted at palottery.com.
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State police in Washington continue their investigation into the homicide of 52-year-old William Louis “Bill” Comer, who was last seen alive in Donegal Township on July 7, 2010. Anyone with information could be eligible for a $5,000 cash reward.
Comer was seen outside around 5:30 a.m., watering flowers.
When his roommate returned home that evening, he discovered Comer dead, having apparently been stabbed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the PSP Washington at 724-223-5200 or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS or online. All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous.
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Klondike is returning to its hometown of Pittsburgh to ask, “What would you do?”
Now through July 16, Klondike invites fans nationwide — virtually or in person in New York City, Austin and Pittsburgh, where Klondikes were invented — to the Klondike ‘What Would You Do’ Challenge Mobile. Participants are asked to show off their hometown pride by completing a ‘What Would You Do’: Hometown Edition challenge on-site where fans can enjoy free treats.
To complete, fans need to include at least four of their family members, friends or neighbors by posting a photo or video on Instagram with #WWYDHometownContest, tagging and following @KlondikeBar to enter. Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking is encouraged to prove why they are the #1 hometown and will be judged on group participation, creativity and Klondike spirit.
The Klondike ‘What Would You Do’ Challenge Mobile is traveling to Austin and Pittsburgh before making its final stop in New York City on National Ice Cream Day:
- Austin, TX – Saturday, June 24
- Pittsburgh, PA – Sunday, July 9 from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Market Square, between 4th and 5th Avenue
- New York City, NY – Sunday, July 16
The challengers will be judged by the Klondike team and actor/comedian Joel McHale. The winner will receive a personalized shoutout video from McHale for their hometown, a block party and will be featured on limited-edition Klondike Bar packaging.
For more details, click here.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/klondike-returning-hometown-pittsburgh-ask-what-would-you-do/65THOD7AYNCCVPWHJRZ2DEQCCI/ | 2023-06-21T15:55:43 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/klondike-returning-hometown-pittsburgh-ask-what-would-you-do/65THOD7AYNCCVPWHJRZ2DEQCCI/ |
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.
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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 decades ago, 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-seek-offshore-wind-delay-not-moratorium/article_384eb506-0fb9-11ee-bb5e-2fecca87e5e7.html | 2023-06-21T15:57:32 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/atlantic-county-commissioners-seek-offshore-wind-delay-not-moratorium/article_384eb506-0fb9-11ee-bb5e-2fecca87e5e7.html |
OCEAN CITY – Strict new limits on the Boardwalk seems to have had an impact on problems with crowds of teenagers on the Boardwalk, but time will tell if the city has fully addressed the issue.
Police Chief Jay Prettyman said there were fewer curbside warnings and stationhouse adjustments compared to Father’s Day weekend last year.
Both are means for police to address violations committed by juveniles, with curbside warnings essentially amounting to a talking to by an officer, while the other involves a trip to the station and a call to a parent or guardian.
“But overall it was a relatively quiet weekend and nothing like Memorial Day Weekend,” said city spokesperson Doug Bergen on Wednesday.
Officials, business owners and some Boardwalk patrons described Memorial Day weekend as out of control, with large crowds of teenagers, and multiple reports of fights, shoplifting, vandalism and public intoxication by those under 18 years old. Several juveniles were transported to the hospital.
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In response, Mayor Jay Gillian ordered beaches to be closed at 8 p.m. each evening. In 2021 and 2022, the city allowed teens to gather on the beach, with the understanding police could keep a better eye on them.
But Memorial Day weekend convinced officials they needed a tougher stance. That also included new ordinances to create an earlier curfew for juveniles – 11 p.m. instead of 1 a.m. – and a ban on backpacks on or near the Boardwalk after 8 p.m., with the intent of preventing alcohol on the Boardwalk.
Bergen said the next few weekends might be better indicators of the impact of the new rules, as New Jersey schools are now done for the summer and more teens will be in town.
In previous interviews, Gillian said some have criticized the early beach closure, but more people have thanked the city for taking action.
In 2022, city police issued 1,019 curbside warnings over Fathers’ Day weekend, including Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 16 stationhouse adjustments.
This year, police issued 918 curbside warnings and 13 stationhouse adjustments, according to details provided by the city.
Overall, calls for service were up this year. While the curbside warnings apply to juveniles, calls for service includes all calls to which officers respond.
There were 806 calls for service over Fathers’ Day Weekend in 2022, and 1,446 calls for service this year. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ocean-city-juvenile-laws/article_43e9d0aa-1048-11ee-93c2-67962469b05d.html | 2023-06-21T15:57:38 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ocean-city-juvenile-laws/article_43e9d0aa-1048-11ee-93c2-67962469b05d.html |
SAGINAW COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - Saginaw County commissioners voted to fire Controller Robert Belleman after several votes and discussions Tuesday evening.
A crowd erupted into cheers after the final vote.
Belleman had worked as Saginaw County's top executive for more than 10 years. He recently came under fire for his management style and recent disciplinary actions against county employees.
Belleman placed the county's information technology director on unpaid suspension four times since March. He also banned a volunteer from the Saginaw County Animal Care and Control Center over an interaction with a resident dropping off a dog.
Saginaw County commissioners initially came up one vote short of the 8-member supermajority required to oust Belleman on Tuesday evening. They voted instead to suspend him with pay.
However, commissioners took a recess. Afterward, one commissioner who initially voted against firing Belleman changed their vote to yes, giving the eighth vote needed to terminate Belleman.
Saginaw County commissioners did not immediately appoint anyone to take over Belleman's responsibilities as controller or announce a process for filling his former position. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/saginaw-county-controller-fired-after-closed-door-discussions/article_13257740-102e-11ee-a918-ab18443c43a4.html | 2023-06-21T16:00:15 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/saginaw-county-controller-fired-after-closed-door-discussions/article_13257740-102e-11ee-a918-ab18443c43a4.html |
WATERLOO — A Waterloo family escaped injury when their house caught fire Wednesday morning.
The blaze was discovered at 1547 Bertch Ave. around 8 a.m. and occupants were able to flee.
Crews with Waterloo Fire Rescue found a fire burning in the basement. They extinguished the flames and vented smoke from the home.
The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.
Photos: House Fire, Bertch Ave. June 21, 2023
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/basement-fire-damages-waterloo-home/article_e8599416-103b-11ee-9312-8ba0f900f262.html | 2023-06-21T16:02:29 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/basement-fire-damages-waterloo-home/article_e8599416-103b-11ee-9312-8ba0f900f262.html |
WATERLOO — Two teens were detained and a third is at large following a Tuesday night shooting.
Authorities said someone opened fire on a passing car in the area of Flammang and San Marnan drives around 11:45 p.m.
No injuries were reported and officers found spent shell casings at the scene.
A short time later, police investigating the shooting stopped a vehicle. One person ran from the car and officers cited two others – a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old male – with interference.
Police found a handgun in the vehicle.
Police alarmed by rise in cryptocurrency crime, and more of today's top videos
Officials around the world are alarmed by the rise in digital crime, watch a deputy sheriff in Florida get sucked under water during a rescue, and more of today's top videos.
Al Jazeera look at the arguments over regulating the crypto world.
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Suspected rebels attacked a school in a remote area of Uganda near the DR Congo border, killing at least 41 people.
In the 1930s, Black people forbidden from using public swimming pools were systemically pushed to open water lakes or sinkholes where water sa…
As authorities continued to search for victims and survivors of a trawler that sank off the coast of Greece with as many as 750 migrants on bo… | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-investigate-overnight-gunfire/article_6bb009fa-103f-11ee-a724-7b7df4213c31.html | 2023-06-21T16:02:32 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-investigate-overnight-gunfire/article_6bb009fa-103f-11ee-a724-7b7df4213c31.html |
CEDAR FALLS — The City Council had a lengthy dialogue at the dais Tuesday about raising its salary more than 70%.
But it wasn’t because councilmembers were debating with each other. A majority supported the measure and the item had been discussed before on two separate occasions.
Rather, several of them spoke in an effort to refute five engaged residents – the majority being current or past candidates who felt those on the council in 2024 shouldn’t each be receiving $12,000, or 71.87% more than the 2023 earnings of $6,982.
The council passed the first reading of the ordinance in a 5-2 vote, raising the base salary to $12,000. It will be raised each subsequent year based on the consumer price index as is already being done.
Councilmembers Dave Sires and Susan deBuhr, who are likely not running for reelection after their terms expire at the end of this year, dissented after previously voicing that they don’t think the elected leaders should be paid at all. It must pass two more readings before going into effect.
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“I won’t get one cent of this, and I’m OK with that, because I support it still,” said Councilmember Simon Harding, who’s also not seeking reelection. “It’s a very tough job to be up here. It’s a lot of hours.”
“There is no expectation but, at the same time, there’s an insanely high expectation that you put in the time. I tried to add it up and I got lost – interviews this, meetings that – it’s at least a 1,000 hours a year for me easy, especially with all of the mayor pro tem duties that I’ve taken on,” he added.
Nonetheless, supporting councilmembers relayed that rarely, if ever, does one choose to run for local office with the pay stub in mind. A majority of the reasoning behind the bump had been the salary falling behind other cities of Cedar Falls' size and needing to make up for the money lost by councilmembers who take time off from their everyday jobs to fulfil their elected duties.
By not offering adequate pay, some fear they’re limiting the younger, working person – who may be raising a family – from running.
“I have put no less than 15 hours per week of my time, if not more. That’s the average. And I will say this. It is very much a privilege to serve,” said Councilmember Kelly Dunn.
“I’ve been elected two times by this city as an at-large councilmember. I give my all to this position. My family gives their all to this position. For me, it is about not stifling anyone who wants to serve their community.”
“This is about, for me, making sure that a person can afford to serve on their City Council,” she added.
Several of the protestors asked for the salary hikes to be staggered and gradually raised over time. They argued that nearly doubling the salary was outrageous when other industries offer increases to their employees in the single digits each year.
However, state law only allows councilmembers' salary changes to become effective following a city election, which happens every two years.
People at the meeting also pointed out how it didn’t seem fair that city department heads were asked to make cuts to their budgets in fiscal year 2024 when elected officials would be getting a raise.
Former council candidate T.J. Frein took issue with not knowing where the money to cover the raises would come from and guessed they were working far fewer hours than what councilmembers later relayed and, thus, were making more per hour than many city employees.
“No other city has a (full-time) city manager and a city mayor," he said. "That takes a lot of the responsibility away from the council.
“A lot of stuff gets brought forward to council. Council’s not bringing a lot of stuff forward. That’s how it works here in Cedar Falls.”
Resident Josh Wilson, who’s worked in communications for state and federal politicians, bemoaned the “instant insane” and “unheard of” raises. He called it a political move and one that's not deserving for people he feels don’t lead the city – let alone their own meetings – when a lot of what’s recommended and approved by them comes as a result of the work of its paid staff.
“The other big argument – and here’s where we come to the politics – is you can’t get people to run for office, yet to date there are already candidates announced in every single race that will be held in November," said Wilson. "Clearly, the candidates aren’t worried about the pay. But that’s not the real issue. The real issue is that certain councilmembers don’t like the quality of candidates running.”
He went one step further and asked that they ride in the Sturgis Falls Celebration parade this weekend with the raise on the vehicles they ride in.
“There’s no better way to show your constituents that you’re gravely out of touch with the world we live in,” he said.
Discussion on the raises was introduced during the November retreat for setting goals. Councilmember Daryl Kruse pitched the $12,000 figure back in April as “reasonable” when compared with the salaries of the 15 most-populated cities in Iowa.
“We have a great responsibility to have good, business-minded people involved with running the city and operating it like a business,” he said at the time. “With that, I took the top 15 cities and did an average. … I got an average salary of $12,744. Going further, taking out the highest compensated and the lowest compensated to get a better average of the 12 middle cities, not counting Cedar Falls, I got $12,062.”
He stood by his recommendation on Tuesday.
The council in the next five years “has to decide what to do with a half a billion dollars, and I think getting $1,000 per month to reset our base pay to be comparable to what other cities of our size has is very reasonable,” he said.
A base salary of $4,098 was put in place Jan. 1, 2000, but that figure has increased each year due to the consumer price index.
Mayor Rob Green, a former councilmember, supported the effort and explained how those on the council are deserving.
“These aren’t the days of the paper packets where people open their packets at the meeting, pull it out and maybe that’s the first time they’ve seen it,” he said. “This is a council that does research and does homework behind the scenes and also attends important ceremonies in the life of the city, activities that’s very important for staff to see council at, ride-alongs, and other activities. I’m very proud of the council for how much work they put in every day, and for the excellent dialogue we have.” | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/cedar-falls-council-backs-raising-salary/article_2e0efe9c-0eed-11ee-bc9f-ef5a54495963.html | 2023-06-21T16:02:39 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/cedar-falls-council-backs-raising-salary/article_2e0efe9c-0eed-11ee-bc9f-ef5a54495963.html |
What we learned from the Milwaukee police reports in the Alexis Patterson case
Alexis Patterson, then 7, disappeared on her way to Hi-Mount School in Milwaukee on May 3, 2002.
The latest season of Unsolved, a true-crime podcast for USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, examines the case. The episodes feature exclusive interviews with Alexis' family and more details about the police investigation than have ever been made public. The eighth and final episode of Unsolved is now available on all podcast platforms.
As part of the podcast, reporters obtained the Milwaukee Police Department’s investigative files in the case, which are being made public for the first time. The documents reveal information that has been kept secret for more than 20 years. Here’s what to know:
What led up to Alexis Patterson's disappearance?
Alexis’ stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, sold drugs. In the three years leading up to Alexis’ disappearance, he had repeatedly robbed – and been robbed by – armed drug dealers during.
In one incident, a man held Alexis and her mother, Ayanna Patterson, at gunpoint, a witness told police.
A year and a half before Alexis disappeared, the principal of her sent home a letter to parents warning them about the attempted abduction of a little boy who was walking to school. It did not include the description of a vehicle. Patterson mistakenly believed the letter had been sent home mere weeks before Alexis vanished.
What happened the day Alexis Patterson disappeared?
Alexis’ stepbrother, who was 5 at the time of her disappearance, told police Alexis “got a whooping” that morning. But he did not describe a violent or life-threatening beating. He said Ayanna hit Alexis on the arm because she was pretending she didn’t know how to put her socks on. He said Alexis cried. He also said LaRon did walk Alexis to the corner that morning.
Alexis had been late for school 20 times during her first-grade year. She almost always walked alone to the school, which was less than two blocks from her home.
A school crossing guard, who was in fifth grade at the time of Alexis’ disappearance, couldn’t remember specifically whether LaRon Burgeois had walked Alexis to the corner the morning she disappeared. The crossing guard did say Bourgeois returned to the intersection in tears the next morning.
A man who supplied Bourgeois with drugs to sell came to Alexis’ family’s home the morning she disappeared. He said he had been there early in the morning only once before. After Bourgeois told him police had raided his house several days earlier, the man went to help him clean up.
What do the Milwaukee police think happened to Alexis Patterson?
Alexis’ mother, Ayanna Patterson, agreed to take a polygraph right away. Bourgeois, her husband, consulted an attorney first, but later agreed. Milwaukee Police withheld the records detailing the test results. At the time, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story, citing anonymous sources, reported that Bourgeois had failed. Bourgeois later told reporters the machine indicated deception on only one question: Do you know where Alexis is right now? He said he had not lied when he answered any of the questions, including that one. He always maintained that he didn’t know what had happened to his stepdaughter.
Patterson and Alexis’ biological father, Kenya Campbell, both provided police with DNA samples shortly after she disappeared in 2002. In 2016, authorities used that information to determine that an Ohio woman believed to be Alexis was not actually her.
FBI agents brought in to help in the case concluded that Patterson and Bourgeois likely had something to do with Alexis’ disappearance. A second possible scenario was that a neighbor or another family member had taken her. The FBI analysts dismissed the idea that she had been snatched by a stranger.
Several snitches who had been incarcerated with Bourgeois’ drug supplier claimed the supplier had admitted or implied that he had kidnapped or killed her.
Learn more about the Alexis Patterson case by listening to the true-crime podcast Unsolved.
Contact Gina Barton at (262) 757-8640 or gbarton@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @writerbarton. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2023/06/21/what-we-learned-from-secret-police-files-in-the-alexis-patterson-case/70338450007/ | 2023-06-21T16:03:27 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2023/06/21/what-we-learned-from-secret-police-files-in-the-alexis-patterson-case/70338450007/ |
DULUTH — Two people were killed when a small vintage plane crashed in the Pequaywan Lake area north of Duluth on Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed.
The two-seat 1946 Aeronca Champ went down near the 8300 block of Pequaywan Lake Road, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. Both occupants were men and their identities were being withhelding pending notification of family, Lt. Todd Abernethy said.
Abernethy reported that the plane's beacon went off at 8:12 a.m., notifying authorities that it possibly went down. More than a dozen first responders raced to the scene, with a spotter plane first locating the wreckage in a wooded area just west of the road.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash.
"It is believed the aircraft recently completed an annual inspection and was on a 'return to service' flight," Sgt. Eric Sathers reported in a news release. "The aircraft is believed to have taken off from the Duluth International Airport earlier in the morning."
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The wreckage, some 20-30 feet beyond a hayfield near the road, was not immediately visible to a News Tribune team on scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board had teams en route to the crash site, authorities said.
Up to 20 members of the sheriff's office, St. Louis County Rescue Squad and Pequayan Township Fire Department were on scene. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/2-killed-in-plane-crash-north-of-duluth | 2023-06-21T16:06:24 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/2-killed-in-plane-crash-north-of-duluth |
GREENSBORO — In March, Gov. Roy Cooper came to Guilford County touting the benefits of K-12 education in his proposed state budget.
On Tuesday, Cooper was back — again at a local school — but with a message that shifted toward warning against what the state legislature may have in store for education.
Chief among his complaints was the inclusion by Republican lawmakers of a provision in the budget that would expand private school vouchers so wealthy families would be eligible for them, too.
Cooper expressed concern about what he called “private school vouchers on steroids” during his stop at Western Guilford Middle School on Tuesday. The Democratic governor expects the expansion of voucher eligibility — and taking the accompanying dollars away from public schools — will have a deep impact districts, especially in poor, rural counties.
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To drive his message home, Cooper assembled a group of like-minded political leaders and educators from across the Piedmont who joined him for a panel discussion.
Alan Duncan, a Greensboro lawyer and vice chairman of the State Board of Education, said he found it ironic that the drive to expand private school vouchers is coinciding with politicians complaining that public schools are supposedly “indoctrinating” students.
Many private religious schools, he explained, are quite transparent and doing just that — literally explaining to parents that their children will be taught to know and believe the doctrine of the particular religion.
And that’s fine, he said, if parents want to send their children to such a school — but it’s not anything the state should be subsidizing with tax dollars.
Superintendent Whitney Oakley emphasized that, unlike private schools, public school districts accept all students. She stressed that to have public education for all, and to invest in North Carolina’s economic future, the state must better compensate public school teachers.
“North Carolina can’t be the best place for business and the last for education. It just doesn’t add up,” she said.
Deanna Kaplan, chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, said members can’t be silent when the state is funneling money to private and charter schools but not living up to the funding requirements spelled out by North Carolina’s judicial system in relation to the Leandro decision. The 1997 decision by the N.C. Supreme Court ruled that the state had an obligation to providing every child with a basic education.
“We just have to stand up,” she said. “And we have to make it known that this is not OK.” | https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/roy-cooper-private-school-vouchers/article_823168d0-0f9b-11ee-9dba-9f7d39fee37e.html | 2023-06-21T16:06:47 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/roy-cooper-private-school-vouchers/article_823168d0-0f9b-11ee-9dba-9f7d39fee37e.html |
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A lightning strike caused an overnight brush fire Tuesday night.
A 75 acres fire spread around Robin Road and South Gulf Cove in Charlotte County.
According to the Florida Forestry Services Myakka River District, the cause of the fire was lightning. Crews worked on containing the fire.
The last update shows that 90% of the fire has been contained. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/charlotte-county/2023/06/21/lightning-causes-overnight-brush-fire-in-charlotte-county/ | 2023-06-21T16:06:56 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/charlotte-county/2023/06/21/lightning-causes-overnight-brush-fire-in-charlotte-county/ |
Volusia County adopts its own 'Stupid Motorist Law'
The Volusia County Council swiftly and unanimously adopted a new ordinance targeted at drivers who ignore flood warnings during states of emergency.
It is a version of Arizona's "Stupid Motorist Law."
The ordinance could be activated during a local state of emergency, and it would be in effect for the entire county, including its cities.
It says drivers can't drive around a barricade that was put up by a government entity or law enforcement agency to go onto a flooded road; if they do they could face a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both.
Officials would need to post clear signage showing that the road is blocked.
The intent is not only to protect the public but also to help keep law enforcement from making hazardous rescues that divert resources during an emergency such as a hurricane.
New hires:Volusia County Council unanimously approves new corrections director, will start in July
The measure received written support from several police chiefs in Volusia County, including Port Orange Police Chief Manuel Marino.
"Despite the repeated warnings and signage, our officers still helped countless drivers whose vehicles became inoperable due to flood waters (during Hurricane Ian)," according to Marino. "Additionally, our agency also towed disabled vehicles when the flooding subsided that were abandoned on the roadway causing additional roadway hazards. I believe the ordinance would serve as an additional resource for law enforcement in protecting our community during a declared state of emergency."
The topic was one of about 20 items heard at the lengthy meeting, which began at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday and adjourned at 2:43 a.m. on Wednesday. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/21/version-of-stupid-motorist-law-adopted-in-volusia-county/70331832007/ | 2023-06-21T16:07:32 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/21/version-of-stupid-motorist-law-adopted-in-volusia-county/70331832007/ |
BALTIMORE — Mayor Brandon Scott and the Department of Transportation Interim Director Corren Johnson announced that the city has awarded its newest round of Dockless Vehicle Permits.
The permits have been awarded to two companies: Spin and LINK by Superpedestrian.
Missing another round of permits was the company Lime.
They came under fire due questions about the safety of its scooters.
This will be the fourth round of permits since the e-scooter and e-bike permit program launched in 2019.
RELATED: Lime scooters not included as Baltimore City gives dockless permits to three companies
With a dockless vehicle sharing program, electric scooters and bicycles can be conveniently rented throughout the city as an easy way to travel.
They come equipped with GPS technology so they can be easily located, rented and parked.
Spin and LINK were offered permit renewals because they didn't receive any citations during the 2022-2023 permit year.
They each provide unique services:
- Spin was awarded the first permit renewal in 2022 as a result of permit compliance and community rankings. Spin will continue to serve Baltimore City with their e-scooters and e-bikes branded in dark orange.
- LINK by Superpedestrian will continue to serve Baltimore City with e-scooters, seated e-scooters, and adaptive vehicles for people with special mobility needs. Their vehicles are branded with fluorescent yellow. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/4th-round-of-dockless-vehicle-permits-announced-for-two-companies | 2023-06-21T16:07:35 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/4th-round-of-dockless-vehicle-permits-announced-for-two-companies |
JESSUP, Md. — A former lieutenant accused of sexually assaulting three inmates at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup pleaded guilty to federal charges on Tuesday.
The DOJ says Owen Nesmith, 54 of Baltimore, admitted to committing multiple crimes while working as a corrections officer between 2005 and 2017.
Specifically, in February 2005, Nesmith followed an inmate into his cell and made them perform a sex act.
In July 2015, Nesmith was escorting another inmate to the ID office when he grabbed their genital area and ordered a strip search.
After removing their pants, prosecutors say Nesmith sexually assaulted the victim.
The third reported incident occurred in Deceember 2017, when an inmate approached Nesmith about getting a job in the jail's sanitation department.
During the discussion Nesmith is accused of engaging in sex without the victim's consent.
Nesmith also admitted to lying to agents, when previously denying inappropriate relationships with any inmates.
Nesmith now faces17 years in prison. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/former-lieutenant-pleads-guilty-to-sexually-assaulting-inmates-at-jessup-correctional-institution | 2023-06-21T16:07:41 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/former-lieutenant-pleads-guilty-to-sexually-assaulting-inmates-at-jessup-correctional-institution |
CASE CLOSED: State dismisses DUI case against Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse
Prosecutors have dropped a driving under the influence case against Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse.
State Attorney Ed Brodsky's office filed a case against Kruse in June 2022, months after the At-Large Manatee County commissioner crashed into a tree. The body camera footage shows MCSO deputies skipped field sobriety testing despite voicing suspicion that Kruse could be intoxicated.
In January, Circuit Court Judge Erika Quartermaine ruled to not allow body camera recorded statements made by Kruse to MCSO deputies at the time of the accident to be submitted as evidence in the trial because he was never read any Miranda warnings.
The trial was postponed upon appeal of the decision by prosecuting attorney Darlene Ragoonanan, but the case was instead voluntarily dismissed on June 15 after Attorney General Ashley Moody's office chose not to pursue the appeal further. Moody's office represents the state attorney's office on appeals. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/06/21/state-drops-dui-case-against-manatee-county-commissioner-george-kruse/70341393007/ | 2023-06-21T16:10:24 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2023/06/21/state-drops-dui-case-against-manatee-county-commissioner-george-kruse/70341393007/ |
When will construction be completed at Selby Gardens in Sarasota?
In the two years since ground was broken for a major transformation at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota, visitors have put up with a lot of obstacles to see special exhibits or just spend time at the bayfront venue.
Executive Director Jennifer Rominiecki said despite long lines for valet parking or the need for some guests to park at remote lots, attendance for the latest exhibition series show “Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature” by mid-June was at 102,164, up nearly 25% from last year’s showcase featuring Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith, which broke previous records.
“It’s pretty amazing considering the challenges our guests have to face,” Rominiecki said. “We have offsite parking and we have our team working really hard to accommodate and let people into the gardens to see this exhibit. I’m thrilled to say that despite the disruption, it has not prevented people from coming to see this exhibit.”
Parking will get easier in a few months. Rominiecki expects to hold a grand opening in November at a date to be determined for three new structures that make up the first phase of the extensive redesign of the campus. That includes a new parking garage that once threatened to derail approval from the city of Sarasota due to complaints raised by neighbors living near Selby Gardens.
Selby leaders also are nearing the end of the Phase One capital fundraising campaign. With a Campaign Capping Challenge, funded by a group of loyal donors, and a match by the contractor Willis A. Smith Construction, all donations up to $250,000 will be tripled.
Here is an update on what visitors can expect as the first phase nears completion., along with building and event plans to follow.
The LEAF (parking garage)
In its earliest plans, Selby proposed a five-story structure that included a rooftop restaurant, which raised concerns among nearby residents who filed challenges with the Sarasota City Commission. Selby revised the designs. The new 450-parking garage will have a restaurant attached on the street level, with a gift shop on the southwestern end of the building, leading to the new welcome center.
The garage structure is known as the LEAF or Living Energy Access Facility because it is more than a place to park cars.
On top of the structure, there will be an array of 50,000 solar panels that will generate more energy than Selby will need for its operations, making it the first net-positive botanical garden complex in the world.
The farm-to-table restaurant, to be operated by Michael’s on East, which has a contract with Selby as a food service provider, and more, will be supplied in part by the edible garden that will be planned, planted and tended by the non-profit Operation EcoVets, a group of wounded veterans who participate in horticultural therapy.
The restaurant (a name will be announced later), will have indoor and outdoor table service with views of the Christy Payne Mansion and the giant bunya-bunya tree. There will be a full-service bar and will be open during regular garden hours, and in the evenings during some special events, Rominiecki said.
Plants and buildings
Rominiecki said much of the project was designed around a tall bunya tree, a type of pine tree native to Australia and sometimes known as the monkey puzzle tree. It towers above the four-story garage building (which is at 48-feet high).
“It’s the tallest of its species at about 85 or 90 feet high. They’re not common in Florida,” she said. “We didn’t want to lose it.”
The garage structure, which currently looks like rows of painted cement separated by openings for each level of parking, will eventually have more of a garden look with hanging vines that will be attached to hooks placed at the top of the structure. Rominiecki said the goal is to make it look more like a living thing.
Welcome Center Pavilion
A tall, curved open-air structure metal structure that will have slatted wood panels underneath will serve as the new welcome/visitors pavilion, where guests will pay admission to gain access. Two concrete buildings on either side will house ticket counters and a roughly 80-seat theater where visitors may view an orientation film or performances by local arts groups. Outside, there will be a long L-shaped water-filled lily pond garden.
“We haven’t been able to grow water lilies before, and now we will,” Rominiecki said.
Plant Research Center
The welcome pavilion will connect to the new two-story research center that will house administrative offices “and all our scientific collections and research functions,” she said. That includes a new herbarium for pressed specimens (dried plants mounted on paper) and an expanded spirit lab for liquid-preserved specimens. With more than 35,000 samples, Selby Gardens has the second largest collection of liquid preserved specimens in the world, behind the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England.
The building, which is highlighted by decorative coral blocks on the outside, also will house a new molecular laboratory and a new library. Selby’s collection of rare books and prints has items that date back to the 1700s. Some aspects of the collection were previously housed in different buildings that have been torn down to make way for the new structures.
A new entry circle, dominated by a large oak tree, allows visitors to enter off Orange Avenue directly into the garage, or to a drop-off point for the visitor’s center.
Stormwater Management System
As part of the renovation, Selby is turning its portion of South Palm Avenue into a pedestrian walkway to better connect the 45-acre site. The roadway previously divided the property, and most of the main visitor experiences were on the west side of the street. When the projects are finished, the campus is intended to be more open. The street was topped by Augusta blocks, which were temporarily removed to allow utilities to be run underneath for the creation of an underground stormwater management system.
“We had to go down before we went up and build this tremendous stormwater vault under the project,” Rominiecki said. “All the rainwater that touches the footprint of Phase One will be collected and filtrated and then returned to the bay. We also are using some of the water for irrigation purposes. It will be an international model for sustainability.”
Multi-use recreational trail
Around the property, Selby has expanded sidewalks along Orange Avenue for a meandering recreational trail that leads to the Sarasota bayfront. It is open now but new plantings will be established. Along Mound Street (U.S. 41 outside Selby’s property), the walkway will be eight feet. Rominiecki said Selby took some land from its own property to widen and maintain the walkways that connect to the paths that lead to and from the Marina Jack area.
“We are encouraging walkability and connectivity to the whole downtown area,” she said.
Still to Come
Once the first phase is completed, Rominiecki said a schedule will be developed for the second phase, which “focuses on our living collections and glass houses and indoor/outdoor education programs,” she said.
A timeline has not been determined for the second phase. “We don’t know what the increased costs might be” from the initial project estimates.
This phase will include the creation of a series of new glasshouses to hold Selby’s living plant collections, which will be more accessible to visitors than the existing structures located behind the current visitor’s center and conservatory.
The new structures will be built on the southeastern end of the property, roughly where the current valet parking area is located. Once those structures are completed and the plants moved, the existing structures, including 20,000 square feet under glass, will be removed and turned into garden space, as will the old visitor’s center and gift shop.
Phase III “is all about unifying pathways throughout the gardens. The footprint will be different,” Rominiecki said. “There will be more garden because of the space we have opened, so we have to reroute pathways through the campus.” The final phase also will involve fixing dockage and seawalls and doing a full historic restoration of Christy Payne Mansion, which houses Selby’s Museum of Botany and the Arts.
The mansion, which many mistake for Marie Selby’s own home, was built in 1934 for Christy Payne, who was a director and treasurer for Standard Oil of New Jersey. His father, Calvin, helped John D. Rockefeller Sr. build the oil company.
Paying for it
When it was first announced, the renovation project was expected to cost $92 million and take about 10 years. Of that amount, $20 million was to be set aside for an endowment for the gardens. Rominiecki said it is too soon to know what the next two phases will cost “but we know it will be more expensive than what we first thought” because of inflation and supply chain issues that have raised most construction expenses.
The project has received some government support, but the bulk of the money raised has been privately donated, along with support from various foundations. There have been numerous million and multi-million dollar gifts, but Rominiecki said, “We want the whole community to participate. Gifts at all levels are welcome.” And with a current triple match, small gifts have greater impact.
There was already a capping challenge match before Willis A. Smith offered more support so that all donations up to $250,000 (in total) will be tripled.
There also are still naming opportunities available.
Upcoming events
The current Tiffany exhibition closes June 25. It will be followed July 22-Sept. 17 by “John Pirman: Diving Into Nature,” featuring artwork and prints by the artist best known for illustrations that capture a slice of life in the Sarasota area. It will be an indoor/outdoor exhibit that covers a range of Pirman’s life, beginning in Ohio, and through his career, which started in New York as a freelance illustrator. There will be large-scale prints of his illustrations on aluminum placed around the grounds.
Running concurrently and virtually will be Selby’s 43rd annual juried photo exhibition. A call for submissions runs Aug. 7-14, and a virtual gallery will be available Aug. 29-Sept. 30.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota. Admission $26, $11 for member guests and ages 5-17. 941-366-5731; selby.org
Follow Jay Handelman on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact him at jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com. And please support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/21/selby-gardens-nearing-end-of-phase-one-of-transformation-project-sarasota/70322826007/ | 2023-06-21T16:10:30 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/21/selby-gardens-nearing-end-of-phase-one-of-transformation-project-sarasota/70322826007/ |
Fatal crash in Cranston caused explosion threat, required 'complicated extrication'
Mass. man dies in Cranston crash of van carrying flammable oxygen cylinders
A Massachusetts man died in a head-on crash in Cranston Monday night involving a van carrying oxygen cylinders that could have exploded, according to the Cranston police.
Three of the cylinders were leaking because of the crash and "any spark or flame" could have ignited the highly compressed fuel, the Cranston police said in a press release.
The oxygen cylinders, about 44 in all, are used in healthcare and were inside a van owned by Life Supply Corporation of Ludlow, Massachusetts, the police said.
"A total of three occupants were involved in the crash and it required a complicated extrication to remove two occupants of the healthcare van due to the amount of damage sustained in the crash," the police said.
The driver of the medical supply van, Garrison Gonzalez, 61, of Leominster, was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital, the police said.
A passenger in the medical supply van and the driver of the other vehicle, also a van, suffered injuries that aren't considered life-threatening, the police said.
The two vans collided in the eastbound lane near 2150 Scituate Ave. at about 8:49 p.m. Monday night, the police said. The police are still investigating the cause but say there are no indications of driver impairment at this point in their investigation.
The oxygen cylinders had to be removed from the van before the van could be moved for further investigation, the police said. It was carrying one 300-pound cylinder, three 100-pound cylinders and 40 cylinders of 8 to 10 pounds, the police said. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/fatal-crash-in-cranston-caused-explosion-threat/70341319007/ | 2023-06-21T16:18:12 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/fatal-crash-in-cranston-caused-explosion-threat/70341319007/ |
CARLISLE, Pa. — The Carlisle Police Department is searching for a missing juvenile.
Officers say Keishka Marcucci ran away from home and was last seen in the 100 block of West Penn Street. Police were notified around 1:08 a.m. on June 21.
Marcucci was last seen at her residence wearing black and red Christmas pajama pants and a black hooded sweatshirt. She is approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and 125 pounds.
Anyone with any information is asked to please contact the Carlisle Police Department at 717-243-5252. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cumberland-county/carlisle-police-searching-missing-juvenile-keishka-marcucci/521-3d2ef321-2447-4648-940a-06155048f91b | 2023-06-21T16:20:43 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cumberland-county/carlisle-police-searching-missing-juvenile-keishka-marcucci/521-3d2ef321-2447-4648-940a-06155048f91b |
HUMMELSTOWN, Pa. — A Dauphin County man has been elected as State Commander of the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars, the organization announced Wednesday.
David W. "Spike" Gyger, of Hummelstown, was voted into the position on Saturday, the Pennsylvania VFW said in a press release.
Gyger, who enlisted in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in August 1979, served for 36 years and retired from the Middletown-based 193rd Special Operations Wing.
During his long and storied career, he served in combat operations and participated in at least 20 deployments to include worldwide and classified missions.
Gyger held many VFW positions for the Post, District and Department levels. He has served as the Pennsylvania VFW Homeless Veterans Chairman for many years as well.
“I am honored to Command the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars,” said Gyger. “I look forward to working with this great team and helping to support the Veterans of Foreign Wars across Pennsylvania.”
Gyger is the proud father of two children and three grandchildren. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/pennsylvania-vfw-state-commander-election-david-gyger/521-c3986509-59c0-468e-bf5e-ff0d247759ad | 2023-06-21T16:20:49 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/pennsylvania-vfw-state-commander-election-david-gyger/521-c3986509-59c0-468e-bf5e-ff0d247759ad |
ATLANTA — Atlanta Police gave the all-clear after a suspicious package was found at a medical facility early Wednesday morning.
No one was injured, according to police.
The call first came in around just before 9 a.m. at 1800 Howell Mill Road near I-75.
Authorities said initially that Homeland Security was called in to further investigate.
Several lanes appeared to be blocked off on I-75 as police were investigating.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
Also download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/police-howell-mill-road-investigate-suspcious-package/85-f2b0654d-87ae-4dd5-b291-ba306e7e5965 | 2023-06-21T16:20:55 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/police-howell-mill-road-investigate-suspcious-package/85-f2b0654d-87ae-4dd5-b291-ba306e7e5965 |
YORK, Pa. — June 21 is the first day of summer.
But it's also a holiday for skateboarders all over the world.
Tuesday is International Go Skateboarding Day, and it aims to promote the sport, the art and the craft of skateboarding to everyone.
Ben Powell, owner of Gonzo Skate Shop in Red Lion, was at Reid Menzer Memorial Skate Park to celebrate.
He said he just wants to see people riding all day—no matter their skill level.
"Even if you’re not dropping in on the biggest vert ramps or 'ollie’ing' down 20 stairs or hitting handrails, you can still find your own way to do it," said Powell. "It doesn’t have to be like what you see in the magazine, you make it your own art."
The International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) started Go Skateboarding Day back in 2004.
Skateboarders are encouraged to find any rideable (and safe!) surface to skate on throughout the day, and promote the world of skateboarding to the community. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/gonzo-skate-shop-reid-menzer-memorial-skate-park-go-skateboarding-day/521-4d32e663-ec5a-462a-b666-c90aef6329de | 2023-06-21T16:20:55 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/gonzo-skate-shop-reid-menzer-memorial-skate-park-go-skateboarding-day/521-4d32e663-ec5a-462a-b666-c90aef6329de |
COLUMBUS, Ga. — The "Miss Georgia" pageant concluded over the Juneteenth holiday weekend with the announcement of two title winners.
Tara Schiphof was crowned as the new Miss Georgia, while Charlie Key earned the title of Miss Georgia Teen. The pageant, held at a venue in Columbus, witnessed a display of talent, grace, and determination from all participants.
The victory comes as a testament to her unwavering dedication and perseverance. After securing the runner-up position last year, Tara expressed her elation upon being crowned Miss Georgia this year, describing it as an incredible honor.
The newly crowned beauty queen will now represent Georgia in the highly anticipated Miss America competition scheduled for December. With her talent, charisma, and passion for community service, Tara is poised to make Georgia proud on the national stage.
In addition to Tara's remarkable achievement, Charlie Key emerged victorious as the new Miss Georgia Teen. Charlie took to Instagram to express her gratitude for the opportunity to serve Georgia and represent the state nationally.
"My journey in this organization has never been about me, and this year will not be about me. It starts, ends, and continues with God. I plan to use this platform to shine the light of Christ because we all have the capacity to bring light into this dark world," Charlie's Instagram post read in part.
The newly crowned titleholders, Tara Schiphof and Charlie Key join the ranks of distinguished Georgia beauty queens who have made significant contributions to their communities. They will undoubtedly serve as inspirational figures for aspiring beauty pageant contestants throughout the state.
As Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia Teen titleholders gear up for their respective national competitions, the entire state of Georgia wishes them the very best in their future endeavors. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/tara-schiphof-charlie-key-home-titles-2023-miss-georgia-pageant/85-99ca3e4a-e442-4069-bb92-3513a1eb1587 | 2023-06-21T16:21:01 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/tara-schiphof-charlie-key-home-titles-2023-miss-georgia-pageant/85-99ca3e4a-e442-4069-bb92-3513a1eb1587 |
COLUMBIA, Pa. — After the Lancaster County Commissioners voted earlier in the day to lift the countywide ban on open burning, the borough of Columbia announced Wednesday that its temporary municipal ban on fireworks is also at an end.
"The Borough's Resolution on the ban of consumer fireworks was tied to the county ban and therefore has been lifted," the Columbia Borough Police Department said. "If you choose to use fireworks and other similar devices during the July 4th holiday, please be extra careful and follow the regulations on their use."
The county's temporary burn ban, which went into effect on June 9, was lifted Wednesday by the Board of Commissioners after they heard a report on the level of wildfire risk by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which set the county's level of risk at "low."
The determination was backed by the county's Association of Fire Chiefs. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/columbia-borough-fireworks-burn-ban-lifted-lancaster-county/521-c976620f-8a2d-432b-aaf4-cf474cc08bcb | 2023-06-21T16:21:01 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/columbia-borough-fireworks-burn-ban-lifted-lancaster-county/521-c976620f-8a2d-432b-aaf4-cf474cc08bcb |
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Lancaster County commissioners held their weekly work session on Tuesday and discussed plans to lift the current countywide burn ban.
During the session, which was recorded and uploaded publicly, Brain Pasquale, director of Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency, and Duane Ober, Warwick Township's fire commissioner, discussed why they felt the county should retract the ban.
"We made the ban effective on June 9 based on a risk that was prevalent throughout the area. Since that time, we received a pretty good bit of rain," stated Pasquale. "The State Forester has since rescinded the statewide ban on open burning, as well as lowering Lancaster County from moderate risk to low risk as of yesterday."
An updated resolution on the burn ban from the Lancaster County Commissioners also cites numerous chances of rain throughout the week.
Ober told commissioners, "If there's a need to enact a burn ban again, that'll be done at the local level with the local municipalities. Based on the recent rainfall and forecasted rainfall, we would support removing the burn ban."
The current burn ban has been in place for 11 days and was set to be lifted on July 9, 2023. The penalty for violating the burn ban results in fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense and $300 for the third and subsequent offenses.
"I think it's appropriate to rescind it and then if there are any municipalities out of our 60 in the county that have not gotten the rain that much of the county got, then that's an individual decision for them," said Vice Charmain Commissioner Joshua Parsons. "It is an unusual thing when we [enact a burn ban] at a countywide level, and I think that risk has passed."
Lancaster Commissioners say burn bans can still be in place throughout individual municipalities, at the discretion of Borough or Township officials.
The decision is set to be made official at the commissioners' meeting on Wednesday. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/lancaster-county-commissioners-hope-to-lift-burn-ban-fox43/521-287d502a-19c9-495f-bb20-5c691be686e8 | 2023-06-21T16:21:07 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/lancaster-county-commissioners-hope-to-lift-burn-ban-fox43/521-287d502a-19c9-495f-bb20-5c691be686e8 |
LANCASTER, Pa. — Lancaster County has lifted its temporary burn ban.
The county's Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to lift the ban, which went into effect on June 9, according to a press release.
The commissioners voted to end the ban after receiving an update on the county's wildfire risk from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and agreement from the county's Fire Chiefs Association.
DCNR assessed the Wildland Fire Danger as Moderate on June 18 and has downgraded their Fire Forecast to Low as of June 19 and for the next several days, the commissioners said.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for rain over the next few days, lasting into the next week.
The ban was first enacted by the commissioners due to significant brush and woods fires that occurred this spring across the Commonwealth, including some in Lancaster County, and the very high wildfire potential throughout the county due to the lack of rainfall, unseasonably warm temperatures, low humidity and winds.
Following the lift of the Lancaster County-wide burn ban, local municipalities have the authority to issue their own ban on open burning if a need arises, the commissioners said.
Lancaster County citizens are encouraged to check with their local municipalities to determine if a local ban is in place. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/lancaster-county-commissioners-lift-burn-ban/521-220fb221-7464-46ed-ba07-6b1b402d174e | 2023-06-21T16:21:13 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/lancaster-county-commissioners-lift-burn-ban/521-220fb221-7464-46ed-ba07-6b1b402d174e |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A higher minimum wage is one step closer to reality in Pennsylvania, after it passed in the State House on June 20.
Under the proposed law, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would grow to $15 per hour by 2026, then rise with inflation. The tipped minimum wage would be 60 percent of the minimum wage, rising to $9 per hour by 2026.
Many restaurant worker unions support the change, but some small business owners said they couldn’t afford to pay servers more than three times their current wages.
“I don’t know [if I could survive that]. That’s a tough question,” said Armando Martinez, president of Roxy’s Cafe in Harrisburg. “It’s going to be tough, but I have to maybe raise my prices, too, if I want to survive.”
House Democrats said they empathized with business owners but pointed out that all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have a higher wage floor.
“I know small business owners, it’s a challenge to keep their doors open, but you have to balance it out with giving their workers a living wage,” said State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin).
The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Republican leadership has been wary of raising the minimum wage.
However, some Republicans have expressed support. State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) introduce a similar bill in May. He wrote in a statement:
“Clearly the private sector has already raised the minimum wage. My legislation and the similar legislation passed by the House simply affirms what has already happened. As with any substantial piece of legislation, the Governor and the Leaders in both Chambers need to sit down and negotiate what it would take to get this issue signed into law. I look forward to working with both Chamber and the Governor in this process.”
The vote comes after years of debate over the minimum wage and a near-deal in 2019 that ultimately failed. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/pa-passes-minimum-wage-hike/521-d6e785f5-0491-4d9b-9a03-87204b2617c0 | 2023-06-21T16:21:20 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/pa-passes-minimum-wage-hike/521-d6e785f5-0491-4d9b-9a03-87204b2617c0 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Note: The video is from October 2022.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced Wednesday that the Treasury’s spring unclaimed property auction brought in more than $285,000, making it the most successful auction to date.
The two-day online auction, which was held in April, included more than 4,200 items, Garrity said.
“Our first priority is always to return unclaimed property to its rightful owner,” Garrity said in a press release. “I’m glad to safeguard these items, but even with the largest operating vault in the country, sometimes it’s necessary to auction items due to space restrictions. The proceeds from this auction will be cataloged, and the funds will be held in perpetuity until the owner is found. And we will never stop looking for rightful owners.”
The Pennsylvania Treasury partners with Pook & Pook Inc. of Downingtown for appraisal and auctioneer services.
“We are thrilled once again to have worked with the Pennsylvania Treasury on another outstanding auction,” said Deirdre Pook Magarelli, President of Pook & Pook Inc. “Like every auction at Pook & Pook, there were a few fun surprises.
"Lot 1218, a platinum and diamond necklace, was the top lot of the sale coming in at $11,500 – almost double the high estimate. Clearly the unique design and form caught more than one bidder’s discerning eye.
"Lot 1075, a very unusual 18K gold pocket watch with enamel decorated mechanical figures climbed to ten times the high estimate, $7,000. The auction team wasn’t completely surprised by the high price.
"In the weeks prior to the auction we had received a dozen or so requests for additional photographs of the lot. All in all, it was a fabulous auction and we’re excited to begin work on our next collaboration with the Pennsylvania Treasury, scheduled for October.”
Along with the platinum and diamond necklace and the 18K gold pocket watch, other items sold include a 14K two-tone gold stick pin brooch with two-carat diamond; multiple Engelhard 100 Troy ounce 999+ fine silver bars; $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle gold coins; one-ounce fine gold Canadian $50 Maple Leaf coins; Morgan dollars; and an 18K yellow gold George Melleze pocket watch with a silver-colored key attached.
More than 4,200 items were sold for a total of $324,750, Garrity said.
Pook & Pook receives a 12% commission for their services. Treasury expects to net $285,780 after all payments are received. Items not sold, or for which the winning bidder does not pay, will be returned to Treasury’s vault and relisted in future auctions.
State law requires businesses to report most types of unclaimed property to Treasury after three years of dormancy. Treasury keeps tangible unclaimed property for at least three years before it is auctioned. The only items never auctioned are military decorations and memorabilia, which will remain in Treasury’s care until a veteran or their family are found.
Treasury is working to return more than $4 billion in unclaimed property to its rightful owners. One in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, and the average claim is worth about $1,600.
To learn more about unclaimed property or to search Treasury’s database, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/pennsylvania-treasury-unclaimed-items-auction-april-2023-results/521-7eae0319-a7e7-42ba-8998-f7885f5dc7da | 2023-06-21T16:21:26 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/pennsylvania-treasury-unclaimed-items-auction-april-2023-results/521-7eae0319-a7e7-42ba-8998-f7885f5dc7da |
YORK, Pa. — The Central York book saga appears to be over after a vote by the school board returns two previously banned books back to library shelves.
The books, “Push” and “A Court of Mist and Fury” were removed from the Central York school library back in January, after some raised concerns about graphic sexual content.
“It’s really looking good and I’m really proud of how far we’ve worked to get to this place,” said Zachary Smith, a recent Central York graduate.
Policy 109.1 will create a book rating system, which will allow parents to keep their children from reading certain books without banning those books for all students. Mike Stewart, who is running for the Central York School Board, said the policy is a fair compromise.
“The issue is parental rights,” said Stewart. “And parental rights means each individual parent gets to decide for his or her student, not one school board candidate, who happens to be a parent, making the decision for everybody, before other students, parents, and educators really get a chance to review it.”
The policy still received criticism during the meeting. Some parents asked the district to revise the policy to allow for some books to be removed if enough parents raised concerns.
“Please do not make a decision that is self-preserving, just because you want this to go away,” said one unidentified resident. “But instead, please make the decision that preserves the hearts and minds of young children.”
Central York students protested the school district when the two books were removed back in December. Students at the meeting said they don’t want to see books taken away from school.
“If I would not have had difficult books in high school, if I wouldn’t have branched out and worked on my emotional maturity, I would be horribly unprepared for my first year in college,” said Olivia Pituch, a 2022 graduate of Central York High School.
With a policy set in stone, parents and students are hoping to move on as a district.
“They all agree, it’s time to get Central York School District back in the news for the right reasons,” said Stewart.
Central York librarians will now be looking at 2,000 books over the summer to review for adult content. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county/central-york-adopts-new-book-policy-and-returns-banned-books-to-the-library-fox43/521-af604dd0-2dff-4f1f-855e-4a261e23bba0 | 2023-06-21T16:21:32 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county/central-york-adopts-new-book-policy-and-returns-banned-books-to-the-library-fox43/521-af604dd0-2dff-4f1f-855e-4a261e23bba0 |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Summertime in Florida means thunderstorms send rain our way nearly every afternoon.
AAA says wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes a year.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Here are 9 tips from AAA to stay safe on the roads when you’re caught in the rain:
1. AAA recommends replacing windshield wiper inserts that leave streaks or don’t clear the glass in a single swipe so you can see the road clearly.
Read: Gas prices holding steady nationally, Florida sees spike: AAA
2. Make sure all headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are properly functioning.
3. Check tread depth with a quarter inserted upside down into the tire groove. If you can see above Washington’s head, start shopping for new tires.
Read: Flooding possible Wednesday as strong to severe storms move through Central Florida
4. Check each tire’s pressure, including the spare, at least once a month.
5. Avoid cruise control. When used in wet conditions, AAA says the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase.
Read: Tropical Storm Bret continues moving westward; Hurricane Hunters to investigate it later today
6. Slow down. Slowing your speed during wet weather driving can be critical to reducing a car’s chance of hydroplaning, which happens when the tires rise up on a film of water. AAA recommends that drivers reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway. At speeds as low as 35 mph, new tires can still lose some contact with the roadway.
7. To reduce the chances of hydroplaning, AAA also recommends avoiding hard braking or turning sharply and driving in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
Read: Happening today: Marion County to distribute sandbags to help with flooding issues
8. Leave ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of them and beginning to slow down to stop for intersections, turns and other traffic early.
9. If a driver feels their car begin to skid, it’s important to not panic and follow these basic steps:
- Continue to look and steer in the direction in which the driver wants the car to go.
- Avoid slamming on the brakes as this will further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to control.
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/9-tips-stay-safe-driving-wet-roads/2MYCQ4PU6FDK5AA2GY7MKNQS4E/ | 2023-06-21T16:23:35 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/9-tips-stay-safe-driving-wet-roads/2MYCQ4PU6FDK5AA2GY7MKNQS4E/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — If you’re looking for work, the Amway Center is hosting a series of upcoming summer hiring events.
The events will be held on June 28, July 19 and Aug. 16, from 3 to 7 p.m. each day.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Positions available include guest services, security, food and beverage and cleaning.
Applicants are encouraged to bring resumes and two forms of identification. Amway Center and its partner organizations, including Andy Frain Services, Levy Restaurants, Owens Realty Services and SP Plus, will conduct same-day on-site interviews.
Read: Brightline is hiring; here are 3 ways you can land a job
While visiting the Amway Center hiring event, job seekers may also apply for similar positions at Camping World Stadium and Tinker Field.
All applicants will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to an upcoming event.
For more information about Amway Center’s hiring events, click here.
Read: TSA hiring full and part-time security officer positions at Orlando International Airport
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/looking-work-amway-center-hosting-summer-hiring-events/ZG46CB3IUBCTTLHCENMR54KSDM/ | 2023-06-21T16:23:42 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/looking-work-amway-center-hosting-summer-hiring-events/ZG46CB3IUBCTTLHCENMR54KSDM/ |
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A local Army veteran was surprised this week with a Belgian Malinois puppy.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Holzerland Protection Dogs gifted the puppy to Keith Lynch as an emotional support pet.
Photos: Osceola County veteran given puppy as emotional support pet
Lynch served for four years and was deployed to Macedonia.
He said he was inspired by his father and brother who also served.
Lynch received his surprise at the Osceola County Corrections Department where he’s worked for 16 year.
Watch: UCF therapy center developing new virtual reality treatment for PTSD
“I had no idea,” Lynch said. “We’ve been working with Marsock and Kay, and she said she had something planned and she was working on helping us get a dog but this was a total surprise.”
Holzerland protection dogs say it gifted lynch his dog to help him with his PTSD.
Watch: Sanford non-profit organization using horses to help treat veterans with PTSD
The group said dogs can sometimes be more of a help than modern medicine.
See more in the video above.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/osceola-county-veteran-given-puppy-emotional-support-pet/VAATZPKAUBFETMS4XLJGFL2W6M/ | 2023-06-21T16:23:48 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/osceola-county-veteran-given-puppy-emotional-support-pet/VAATZPKAUBFETMS4XLJGFL2W6M/ |
PORTER — An 19-year-old man pulled Tuesday evening out of Lake Michigan at Porter Beach has died, amounting to the second presumed drowning death along the local popular shoreline in less than a week, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
A 14-year-old girl, pulled out of the water during the same incident Tuesday, was taken for medical care and is reportedly in good condition.
Riding Shotgun with Merrillville Police Officer Amanda Earley
The deceased man pulled from the water Tuesday is a resident of Mexico and release of his name is pending notification to his family, according to the Porter County Coroner's Office.
The man was pulled from the water following a 20-minute search, Porter police Lt. Dan Dickey had said.
Porter Fire Department crews were called out at 6:48 p.m. Tuesday to the Indiana Dunes National Park beach for a report of a girl who had been pulled from the water by a bystander and a male still in the water. His location was unknown at the time of the call, Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig said.
First responders searched for the man until he was located at 7:07 p.m. and brought to shore, Dickey said. Emergency crews administered CPR on the man and transported both individuals to Northwest Health Porter hospital.
Beachgoers in the Porter area were at moderate risk for swimming and rip current as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
"The people of Chesterton should be livid that a coward decided to vandalize town property with a call to violence and derogatory language," state Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said.
A 7-year-old Chicago child wading in Lake Michigan off the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Beach was swept away by the current and drowned Thursday, the DNR has said.
The child was reported missing shortly before 5 p.m. and emergency responders found the boy in the water along nearby Ogden Dunes minutes later.
"The child was removed from the water and taken to a waiting ambulance. Lifesaving measures were started, and the boy was transported to Northwest Health–Portage hospital, where he was pronounced dead," officials said.
An autopsy listed the cause of the 7-year-old's death as an accidental drowning.
The DNR is withholding identities "to allow for proper family notifications."
"Investigations have revealed the boy was playing in waist-deep water before entering deeper water," according to the statement. "A witness reported it appeared the child was caught in a current that pulled him away from shore. A family member entered the water in attempt to rescue the boy but also was caught in a current and lost sight of the boy."
The National Weather Service had put a beach hazard statement in effect at the time of the incident.
The history behind all 63 national parks in the US
The history behind all 63 national parks in the US
People entered U.S. national parks nearly 312 million times in 2022, up by 15 million visits from the year before, according to the National Park Service. Eight of these federally-owned and protected parks garnered 26% of visits, and another 25% of visits came from the 331 least-visited parks.
President Woodrow Wilson first signed the "Organic Act" on August 25, 1916, creating the National Park Service. Since then, the service has helped safeguard so many of the nation's scenic treasures with titles as varied as parks, preserves, reservations, fossil sites, and more. Stacker zooms in on national parks, and large land or water areas, typically larger than national monuments and more general than national preserves. Stacker used publicly available data and resources from the National Park Service to compile this brief history of all 63 national parks in the U.S.
Every national park is a natural or cultural resource the federal government deemed worthy of protection. Congress typically passes a statute to create a national park. Before that, each park passed a rigorous screening process to determine whether it is worth federal conservation. Researchers with the NPS have to deem the area of national significance, in other words, it is an unspoiled example of a resource that tells the story of U.S. natural or cultural heritage and history. Many of the older parks on this list, such as Acadia National Park, started as national monuments at the beginning of the 20th century, and later became national parks.
If you're looking for your next outdoor adventure, the West Coast offers plenty of opportunities. California has nine. Arizona and Washington each have three, and Oregon adds one more to the list. But national parks are found throughout the nation and offer a wide range of sites and experiences.
anthony heflin // Shutterstock
Acadia National Park, Maine
Before Acadia became a national park, it was home to the Wabanaki people for 12,000 years. After colonization, European American settlers and tourists began to strain the infrastructure of the Maine islands that now make up the park. In 1916, wealthy landowners donated thousands of acres to the care of the government, and in 1929, the park was officially named Acadia National Park. Today, it's one of the top 10 most visited national parks. NPS calls it the "crown jewel of the North Atlantic coast.
Doug Lemke // Shutterstock
National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa
The National Park of American Samoa is the only U.S. national park south of the equator . NPS established the park in 1988 across three islands in the U.S. territory. The park intends to conserve the tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and archaeology of the islands, among other things.
Danita Delimont // Shutterstock
Arches National Park, Utah
If you've ever seen a picture of Arches National Park in Utah, it probably contained the Delicate Arch , the most popular feature of the park. There are more than 2,000 naturally-forming arches in the park, as well as balanced rocks and other unique rock formations. President Herbert Hoover first signed a proclamation to preserve the land in 1929, and the area officially became a national park in 1971.
Fotoluminate LLC // Shutterstock
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Badlands National Park may have gotten its name from the original inhabitants of the land. The Lakota people called this part of South Dakota "mako sica ," which translates to "bad lands," likely a reference to the terrain that makes living here difficult. Today, the national park is known for its many mammal fossils and for its clear views of the Milky Way thanks to the dark sky.
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Texas' largest national park was established in June 1944. It preserves large parts of the Chihuahuan desert, the Chisos Mountains, and the Rio Grande River.
Piotr Kalinowski Photos // Shutterstock
Biscayne National Park, Florida
Biscayne Bay, inside Biscayne National Park, is one of the top places for scuba diving in the U.S. The national park is about 30 miles south of Miami and was originally created in 1968 to protect the area's keys, coral reefs, and marine life.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison may be one of the newer national parks, having been established in 1999, but the landscape is much older. The canyon has some of the oldest exposed rocks at almost two billion years old, not to mention the 2,250-foot Painted Wall, which is more than 1,000 feet taller than the Empire State Building.
Kent Raney // Shutterstock
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon is known for its many hoodoos —columns of weathered rock with a larger top, like the shape of a mushroom. The land in Utah officially became a national park in 1928 after first being declared a national monument in 1923. It encompasses more than 35,000 acres and is less than 40 miles from another popular park, Zion.
Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Canyonlands National Park was established in 1964 to conserve the canyons, buttes, and arches carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Canyonlands may not be as popular as other Utah national parks like Zion and Arches, but it still offers incredible views.
Kelly vanDellen // Shutterstock
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Another one of Utah's five national parks, Capitol Reef is also more of a hidden gem. It became a national park in 1971. In 2015, it was designated an International Dark Sky Park.
LHBLLC // Shutterstock
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico has some of the most publicly-accessible caves in the world. In order to protect the caves, timed-entry tickets must be reserved for $1 per person before getting to the park, either online or by phone (877-444-6777). Once visitors arrive during their scheduled time, they'll pay an entrance fee.
Kit Leong // Shutterstock
Channel Islands National Park, California
One of the country's least visited national parks can be found off the coast of Southern California. Five islands comprise Channel Islands National Park. Anacapa Island, which is about one square mile in total, is great for birding, and Santa Cruz is known for sea cave kayaking.
MarkinStillwater // Shutterstock
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
South Carolina's only national park is Congaree, located outside of the city of Columbia. Established in 2003 after being declared a national monument in 1976, the federally-protected land contains an old-growth bottomland hardwood forest. It is the largest intact area of this kind in existence in the southeast. It is also one of the smallest national parks when it comes to acreage.
University of College // Shutterstock
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Southern Oregon is home to Crater Lake National Park, which became a national park in 1902. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S. at 1,943 feet. It's also one of the clearest and cleanest lakes in the world.
Cat Dang Photography // Shutterstock
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley became a national park after years of pollution in the area between Cleveland and Akron spurred people into action. A fire on the Cuyahoga River in 1969 inspired Earth Day and helped launch the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Kelly vanDellen // Shutterstock
Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada
This national park along the eastern border of California and the western part of Nevada is known for being the hottest, driest, and lowest national park. The area became a national monument in 1933 to protect it from mining and became a national park in 1994.
fotomak // Shutterstock
Denali National Park, Alaska
The highest mountain on the continent is found in Alaska at Denali. Denali means "the tall one" in the Koyukon language, spoken by the native Athabascan people.
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Seven islands are the only land found in this national park near the Florida Keys, but the real gems are underwater, such as the coral reef and marine wildlife. Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by seaplane or boat.
Michael Gordon // Shutterstock
Everglades National Park, Florida
When visitors head back to Florida's mainland, they can find Everglades National Park on the southern tip of the peninsula. This is the largest mangrove ecosystem found in the western hemisphere and is home to several endangered and threatened animal species, such as the Loggerhead sea turtle.
JHVEPhoto // Shutterstock
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
NPS' second largest wilderness area is in Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. Visitors must be ready for a rugged adventure because there are no trails , signs, or even roads into the park.
Danita Delimont // Shutterstock
Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri and Illinois
On the other hand, St. Louis' Gateway Arch National Park is full of people in and around the iconic 630-foot tall monument, the largest man-made monument in the country. The national park tells the story of the many people who called this area home and the important court case of Dred Scott , tried in St. Louis' old courthouse. Scott's case hastened the Civil War.
William Silver // Shutterstock
Glacier National Park, Montana
Montana's Rocky Mountains are home to Glacier National Park, established in 1910 to make it the country's 10th national park. One unique thing to do in the park is to drive the 50-mile Going-To-The-Sun Road , which crosses the continental divide that separates the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds , and takes riders by waterfalls and glaciers.
Robert Paulus // Shutterstock
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Not to be confused with the former park, Glacier Bay National Park is found in Alaska. Although it's possible to fly into the park, most people reach Glacier Bay National Park by boat , either on a cruise ship, a smaller boat, or even a kayak. It became a national park in 1980 and a World Heritage Site in 1992.
Wildnerdpix // Shutterstock
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
With about 4.7 million visitors in 2022 , Grand Canyon National Park is the second most visited national park. The Hualapai Tribe manages the most well-known attraction on the west side of the canyon called The Skywalk , which gives stunning views of the canyon gorge.
Fabian Van Scshepdael // Shutterstock
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 to protect the Teton Range, which is part of the Rocky Mountains. It's next to the more popular Yellowstone National Park but holds its own for wildlife and mountain views.
Kelly vanDellen // Shutterstock
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Near Nevada's border with Utah, Great Basin National Park conserves the South Snake Mountains and Lehman Caves . The Shoshone Native people have lived in this area for hundreds of years.
Kelly vanDellen // Shutterstock
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Colorado is home to the largest sand dunes in the United States, found in Great Sand Dunes National Park. Visitors can surf on the sand or float down Medano Creek to cool off.
Gary Saxe // Shutterstock
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, is the NPS' most visited national park, averaging nearly 11.5 million visits per year since 2012. One of its most popular events is viewing the synchronous fireflies at night.
Steven Schremp // Shutterstock
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
In 2022, Guadalupe Mountains National Park celebrated 50 years as a national park after getting the designation in 1972. It contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest peak in Texas .
Cornelio Bravo III // Shutterstock
Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
The Hawaiian island of Maui is where Haleakalā National Park is located. It helps to conserve many endangered species, such as the Maui parrotbill . Watching the sunset at the park has become a popular activity.
Frederick Millett // Shutterstock
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Located on the nearby big island, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park includes the bases of two of the world's most active volcanoes. Mauna Loa and Kīlauea made news recently when they erupted in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
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Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
The ancient thermal springs may be one of the most popular enticements to this Arkansas national park. The eight bathhouses that make up Bathhouse Row, were declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1987.
Barbara Kalbfleisch // Shutterstock
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
One of the nation's newest national parks is found in northern Indiana along its border with Lake Michigan. Formed in 2019, the Indiana Dunes National Park is known as the birthplace of ecology thanks to a Chicago professor who studied the area in order to preserve it.
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Southern California's Joshua Tree National Park only gained national park status in 1994 (it was a national monument before that) but has quickly become one of the more popular parks in the national park system. Park leadership recently signed a cooperation agreement with the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians for shared stewardship of the land.
ThroughLensPhotosNVideos // Shutterstock
Katmai National Park, Alaska
One can't think of Alaska's Katmai National Park without conjuring images of brown bears hunting for salmon, especially along the Brooks River. It became a national park in 1980.
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
In 1980, Kenai Fjords in Alaska became a national park to protect the Harding Icefield , made of several glaciers, a coastal fjord, and nearby islands. The park also protects wildlife like seals and sea lions.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
Kings Canyon National Park, California
Kings Canyon National Park is where you can find the biggest grove of giant sequoia trees in the world. One can also find the "Nation's Christmas Tree " inside the park. Also known as General Grant, this sequoia is estimated to be at least 2,000 years old and stands 267 feet tall.
Noah Sauve // Shutterstock
Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Kobuk Valley is the ancestral home of the Iñupiat indigenous Alaskans. They've been in this area for more than 10,000 years. The park in their homeland encompasses arctic sand dunes and a boreal forest in the northwestern part of Alaska.
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
Alaska's Lake Clark National Park is about 100 miles outside of Anchorage. It lies in the ancestral home of the Dena'ina people and the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world.
Danita Delimont // Shutterstock
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Four different types of volcanoes are inside Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. It became a national park in 1916.
Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the longest-known cave system in the world . Visitors to the national park can walk on a path through some of the widest parts of the cave. It became a national park in 1941 and UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado preserves the Pueblo indigenous communities built into the rock cliffs of Mesa Verde. Because of this, the park is also a World Heritage site .
Jason Kolenda // Shutterstock
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
The pinnacle of Mount Rainier National Park is the 14,410-foot-tall volcano from which the park gets its name. The park's Wonderland Trail loops around Mount Rainier and includes stunning nature views.
Jon Marc Lyttle // Shutterstock
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia
The country's newest national park was made official in December 2020. West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park features the New River , which paradoxically, is one of the oldest rivers on the continent.
Gestalt Imagery // Shutterstock
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Washington state is home to North Cascades National Park, established in 1968. It's home to the North Cascade Range, over 300 beautiful glaciers and lakes, waterfalls, and deep valleys. Careful: grizzly bears also call this land home .
Mason Vranish // Shutterstock
Olympic National Park, Washington
Also in Washington state, Olympic National Park is about 120 miles southwest of North Cascades. Olympic National Park differentiates itself as a more accessible and family-friendly park, with easier hikes not too far from its parking lots.
Lindsay Snow // Shutterstock
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park is home to the Navajo Nation . While the park contains petrified forests, where the trees have turned to stone, perhaps its most stunning images are from the colorful badlands, rock striped with colors. Historic Route 66 used to run through a portion of the park. It's not in use anymore, but geocaching fans can search for telephone poles and other remnants of the old highway.
Edwin Verin // Shutterstock
Pinnacles National Park, California
East of Central California's Salinas Valley is where Pinnacles National Park is found. It became a national park in 2013 and protects what's left of an ancient volcano. Today, it's abundant caves, wildflowers, and nearly 500 different species of bees.
Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
Redwood National Park, California
Northern California's Redwood National Park was established in 1968 to protect the enormous redwood trees that reach heights of 300 feet. According to the National Park Foundation, the trees inside this park are some of the oldest and tallest on Earth .
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
With an average of 4.5 million visits a year, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is one of the most popular national parks in the country, and it's easy to see why. Its mountain vistas and scenic drives are a favorite, especially with Denverites who live close by. The park was established in 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson.
Christopher Jackson // Shutterstock
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Near Tucson, Arizona is Saguaro National Park, where visitors can find the largest cacti in the country. The average Saguaro can live 150 years . The blossoms are Arizona's state flower.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
Sequoia National Park, California
Next to its sister national park, Kings Canyon, Sequoia National Park also features the famed sequoia trees. If viewing the majestic trees is the goal, Sequoia National Park may be at the top of the list. It has more sequoia trees than any other national park.
Kelly vanDellen // Shutterstock
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park is found about 75 miles outside of Washington D.C. and stretches along part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One of its most well-known features is Skyline Drive , a National Scenic Byway that drivers can take through the entire park.
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established in North Dakota decades after the president left office. It was named after Roosevelt in 1947 to honor him for establishing the U.S. Forest Service and preserving several other land masses. It is the only national park established in memoriam.
Randy Runtsch // Shutterstock
Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands National Park is the only one of the 63 national parks found in the Caribbean. The park is on the U.S. territory's island of St. John. It conserves the history of the Taino Indigenous people and the enslaved Africans forced to work on sugar plantations.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Renting a houseboat to explore and camp is likely one of the most special experiences one can have at Voyageurs National Park. The park, near Minnesota's northern border with Canada, became a national park in 1975.
Becca in Colorado // Shutterstock
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands delivers on its name thanks to the one-of-a-kind dunes made of gypsum , the mineral providing the white color. The New Mexico park officially became a national park in 2019.
Kit Leong // Shutterstock
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
President Theodore Roosevelt declared South Dakota's Wind Cave a national park in 1903 . It's home to a large cave complex—not quite as vast as Mammoth Cave. It was the first park in the world to protect a cave. The atmospheric pressure between the cave and the surface is known to change the wind direction , flowing into or out of the cave.
SamanthaZurbrick // Shutterstock
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
At more than 13 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias is by far the largest national park in the national park system. The south-central Alaska park was established in 1980, but it was a World Heritage site a year before that. It contains the greatest concentration of glaciers in North America.
melissamn // Shutterstock
Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
According to a report by the RV insurance company Roamly, Yellowstone National Park is the most popular for overnight stays . These overnight visitors likely want to take their time exploring the sprawling park that covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Old Faithful, Yellowstone's most well-known geyser, erupts on average 20 times a day . It is the first national park in the world , established by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872.
blvdone // Shutterstock
Yosemite National Park, California
One of the country's most well-known national parks, Yosemite has sequoia trees , but it's also known for incredible views of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Established in 1890, Yosemite is the country's third oldest national park .
Katie Whit // Shutterstock
Zion National Park, Utah
Hiking through Zion Canyon may be the most popular activity in this national park, where some areas are only 20 to 30 feet wide. Visitors also love the natural arches found throughout this southwest Utah park. Zion has been a national park since 1919.
Data reporting by Dom DiFurio. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/update-mans-death-is-second-presumed-lake-michigan-drowning-in-less-than-a-week/article_bd66731e-103b-11ee-a523-4fe233622951.html | 2023-06-21T16:26:55 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/update-mans-death-is-second-presumed-lake-michigan-drowning-in-less-than-a-week/article_bd66731e-103b-11ee-a523-4fe233622951.html |
CHESTERTON — A state senator is denouncing Tuesday's defacing of a sign at the town's municipal complex with language that called for the death of members of the LGBTQ community.
"Kill all (homophobic slur)" was found spray painted in black on one of the two sides of the sign in front of the Chesterton Municipal Complex at 1490 Broadway, according to Chesterton police.
The graffiti was discovered around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday by a street department employee arriving at work, police said.
Surveillance video partly captured a person wearing all black run up the sign around 4:02 a.m., hang out for a minute and then spray paint the sign before running off, according to the incident report.
"(The town employee) stated he was unable to get a closer look at the person's face," police said.
"The people of Chesterton should be livid that a coward decided to vandalize town property with a call to violence and derogatory language," state Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said. "I denounce this senseless and shameful act."
Pol urged anyone with information on the offensive action to come forward.
"As a legislator and public servant, my priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all people in my community, and this inflammatory, ignorant message absolutely cannot go unanswered," Pol said in a press release.
VALPARAISO — A 33-year-old Kouts man arrested this week on four counts of possessing child pornography reportedly told investigators he could …
"LGBTQ+ people are our family, friends, and neighbors and they undoubtedly deserve to live safely and happily in our shared community just as much as anyone else," he said.
"Chesterton is strong thanks to its diversity and its amazing residents," Pol said. "This sort of hateful rhetoric has absolutely no place here. Our focus is on building an exceptional, inclusive community with opportunities for all."
"We have no time or patience for sowing division and fear. I know the residents of Chesterton feel the same way, which is why this act was carried out under the cover of night with no witnesses. This incident is a stain on a community of otherwise upstanding, honest and compassionate citizens."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
A state senator is denouncing this week's defacing of a sign at the town's municipal complex with language that he described as anti-LGBTQ and inciting violence. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/update-state-senator-denounces-porter-county-graffiti-calling-for-the-death-of-lgbtq-members/article_58e456dc-1035-11ee-afd8-273a81c71ea2.html | 2023-06-21T16:27:02 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/update-state-senator-denounces-porter-county-graffiti-calling-for-the-death-of-lgbtq-members/article_58e456dc-1035-11ee-afd8-273a81c71ea2.html |
GARY — The quarter-acre farm outside Peter Rock Church of God in Christ is part outdoor classroom, part science lab.
Laminated signs labeled "Field Test" one through six, sit beside neat rows of peppers and collard greens. Each sign marks one of Glenda George-Green's experiments, which are largely focused on the invisible part of farming — building soil health.
"Good soil health is everything," Green explained.
Now, George-Green will be able to explore the science of soil with a $30,000 grant awarded through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, or SARE, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. George-Green and the Peter Rock Church of God in Christ were awarded the grant earlier this spring. The funding will go towards George-Green attending "Soil Food Web" classes instructed by world-renowned microbiologist Elaine Ingham, tools to help George-Green conduct soil tests and necessary soil amendments.
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Once George-Green completes the online Soil Food Web course, she will be a certified soil consultant. The SARE funding will allow her to conduct soil tests at four local farms, George-Green said she plans on converting an old shed on the church's property into a lab of sorts, complete with a microscope and beakers.
Soil testing can help farmers learn what nutrients their farm is lacking. Soil amendments like alfalfa meal turned into a tea, coffee grounds and compost can make soil richer, improving crop yields.
George-Green said soil health is especially important in the more urban areas of Northwest Indiana where the earth may be contaminated with industrial waste. Her goal is to share all the knowledge she gains through her experiments and through the Soil Food Web course with other farmers throughout the Region, particularly those growing in urban spaces.
Baby Greens Family Farm
Growing up in a small Missouri suburb, George-Green was surrounded by corn and cows.
When George-Green was a junior in high school, her family relocated to Valparaiso. Adjusting to the new environment was tough; though George-Green's family had already been the "only Black family for miles" in Missouri, at least there she'd known most of her classmates since Pre-K.
George-Green said her mother's dedication to teaching her and her brothers all about Black history really helped.
"I never felt the need to assimilate," George-Green explained. "We got double education, so we learned at school and then we learned at home."
Fast-forward to when George-Green's own son began to struggle in school, she decided to homeschool him. Soon after, she was homeschooling all four of her boys, using time spent in the garden as part of their science curriculum.
Baby Greens Family Farm started as a way to expand her son's pallets and ensure they had access to vegetables all winter. She and her sons would grow microgreens in their home, adding the small seedlings to meals. However, as the operation grew, they began to sell the microgreens at local farmer's markets.
George-Green's enterprise expanded yet again when she connected with Pastor Allen Smith of the Peter Rock Church of God in Christ.
For 15 years, Smith's wanted to turn the empty field in front of the church into an urban farm, but he never had enough time to do it alone. Working with George-Green, Smith was able to transform the area.
Now the field, which is tucked next to the Frank Borman Expressway, contains a small greenhouse, a plot of fruits and veggies and an area that will soon be used for composting. Eventually, George-Green hopes to convert the overgrown space across the street into a "food forest," filled with fruit trees.
George-Green is also working to create a collective made-up of local farmers so they can share knowledge and resources.
"(Farming) woke up parts of my brain that I didn't even know were there," George-Green said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/farming-soil-health-grant-gary-growing/article_f6ae8516-0f97-11ee-a96a-fbc09fad4e76.html | 2023-06-21T16:27:08 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/farming-soil-health-grant-gary-growing/article_f6ae8516-0f97-11ee-a96a-fbc09fad4e76.html |
What to Know
- Operation Fox Hunt involved China's pressure campaign to bully expatriates on American soil into returning home
- Three men were convicted of charges including stalking and acting as an illegal foreign agent
- The defense argued that the men did not know they were working on behalf of the Chinese government
Three men were convicted of various charges Tuesday in a trial showcasing U.S. claims that China has engineered pressure campaigns on American soil to bully expatriates into returning home, as part of an effort called “Operation Fox Hunt.”
American private investigator Michael McMahon and two Chinese citizens living in the U.S. — Zheng Congying and Zhu Yong — all were accused of taking part in scare tactics aimed at a former Chinese official.
Zhu was convicted of acting as an illegal foreign agent, stalking, and conspiracy to commit stalking and to act as an illegal foreign agent. Zheng was convicted of stalking and stalking conspiracy but acquitted of the other charges.
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McMahon was convicted of all except conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. No sentencing date has been set for the three, who face potential maximum sentences ranging from 10 years for Zheng to 25 for Zhu.
The Brooklyn federal court trial was the first to result from a spate of U.S. prosecutions scrutinizing China’s “Operation Fox Hunt,” a nearly decade-old initiative that Beijing characterizes as a pursuit of fugitives, including corrupt officials. U.S. authorities view it, at least sometimes, as an exercise in “transnational repression,” or deploying government operatives to harass, threaten and silence critics living abroad.
“We will remain steadfast in exposing and undermining efforts by the Chinese government to reach across our border and perpetrate transnational repression schemes,” Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement after the verdict.
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China has denied trying to force repatriations through intimidation and says the U.S. is maligning an effort to fight crime.
Prosecutors say pressure from Beijing was brought to bear in suburban New Jersey, where former Wuhan city official Xu Jin and his family moved in 2010. China has accused him and wife Liu Fang of taking bribes; they deny it and say they were targeted because he got crosswise with China’s Communist power structure.
According to prosecutors, Zhu, Zheng and McMahon took part in a yearslong, multipronged effort to goad Xu into going back to China. The country couldn’t officially compel him to do so, as it has no extradition treaty with the U.S.
The defense acknowledged that Zhu, Zheng and McMahon took various actions but said the three had no idea that Beijing was allegedly behind it all.
“If I had known for one second that they were a foreign country, a foreign government, hiring me, I would never have worked the case,” McMahon said after being “devastated by the verdict.” His lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, said he would challenge the conviction and was confident that “this injustice will not survive the scrutiny that the legal system will give it.”
Zhu’s lawyer, Kevin Tung, said he believed the defendants were unknowingly used. The U.S. should have educated them on how to be alert, rather than prosecuting them, he said in an email.
“The message sent to the public is very troubling,” Tung wrote, predicting that any American with a foreign friend who requests a favor will have to try to figure out whether the friend is a government agent.
A message seeking comment was sent to Zheng’s attorney.
McMahon, 55, a former New York City police sergeant, conducted surveillance and data searches to smoke out Xu’s carefully guarded address and information about his loved ones. Zhu, 66, a retiree who also goes by Jason Zhu and Yong Zhu, helped hire McMahon and equip him with details to get started.
Zheng, 27, later went to Xu’s home and left an ominous note: “If you are willing to go back to the mainland and spend 10 years in prison, your wife and children will be all right. That’s the end of this matter!”
“Before I saw this, I felt that the threats from the Chinese Communist Party was only a mental threat to me. However, when I saw that note, I realized that it had become a physical threat,” Xu testified, through a court interpreter.
The defense said McMahon, Zheng and Zhu were told they were helping to collect a debt or achieve some other end for a company or individuals — not for China.
The trial unfolded at a fraught time in U.S.-China relations. The two powers have been at odds in recent years over a growing list of issues: trade, industrial espionage, human rights, Taiwan, the South China Sea, Russia’s war against Ukraine, U.S. allegations of Chinese spying, and Washington’s claims that Beijing is tracking and harassing dissidents overseas.
The two nations said they made some progress toward improving relations in recent days, when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and top diplomats. But it remains unclear whether the countries will be able to bridge their biggest divides.
U.S. prosecutors have brought several criminal cases involving alleged Operation Fox Hunt endeavors. In one, a pregnant U.S. citizen was held in China for eight months and pressured to persuade her mother to return to the country, prosecutors said.
Zheng, McMahon and Zhu were charged alongside eight other people also accused of harassing Xu, the former Wuhan official. Three have pleaded guilty; five are believed to be in China.
Prosecutors said the arm-twisting included derogatory Facebook messages to friends of Xu’s adult daughter and an onslaught of letters to a relative in New Jersey.
At one point, a Chinese prosecutor even flew Xu’s unwilling, octogenarian father to New Jersey to lean on his son to return to their homeland, according to prosecutors and trial testimony. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/3-convicted-in-yearslong-stalking-operation-of-nj-family-on-behalf-of-china-feds-say/3589699/ | 2023-06-21T16:27:26 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/3-convicted-in-yearslong-stalking-operation-of-nj-family-on-behalf-of-china-feds-say/3589699/ |
Recent wildfires that tore through hundreds of acres of woodland throughout Burlington County were likely started by lightning strikes, the New Jersey Forest Service recently found.
Earlier this month, a pair of wildfires -- one in Evesham Township, known as the Buzby Boggs Wildfire and another fire in the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in Browns Mills, dubbed the Acorn Hill Wildfire -- burned hundreds of acres of forest in the New Jersey Pinelands, threatening several structures.
After some investigation, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Tuesday that both fires were started by natural causes, not human error or intervention.
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Yet, the service noted that these types of wildfires are fairly rare, with only 1% of all wildfires in the Garden State to be caused by lightning strikes.
The fire service noted online that, after a lightning strike, fires can burn within trees "for several days before escaping into the surrounding vegetation."
"This occurrence is known as a 'holdover fire,' and is what led to the Acorn Hill Wildfire in Woodland Twp after a storm passed through the area on Friday, June 16," the service noted online. "Dry lightning ignited the Flatiron Wildfire shortly after a storm passed through Medford Twp on Friday, June 3."
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Officials said that they will continue to investigate other recent wildfires that have occurred throughout the state. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/burlington-county-wildfires-caused-by-lightning-officials-say/3589571/ | 2023-06-21T16:27:33 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/burlington-county-wildfires-caused-by-lightning-officials-say/3589571/ |
SEATTLE — The average cost of center-based childcare for a toddler in Washington is $14,355. For perspective, the University of Washington estimates tuition for the 2023-2024 school year will be $11,524.
That price tag, from the 34th Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT® Data Book, doesn't come as a shock to Michelle Maury. She relishes the few weeks a year her family gets to come visit Seattle.
"I want my kids to know what this place is because it's so special to me," Maury said. It was special enough for her and her husband to move up to the Pacific Northwest from Albuquerque around 20 years ago. "I love Seattle more than anything in the world." But Seattle didn't love her family back.
"We couldn't convince the grandparents or any of our family to move up here from New Mexico, so we had to go home especially when I realized I was pregnant with number two."
In bigger cities, like Seattle, childcare costs are easily thousands of dollars more than the average listed in the KIDS COUNT report. A Reddit thread on the topic showed people in and around Seattle sharing what they pay and how they manage. Maury describes how much childcare during the summer would typically cost for her boys who are in elementary school.
"For most childcare camps, you're looking at about $200-$250 per kid, times two, times four weeks. That ends up being $2,000," she said. "And those camps usually only run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. which isn't that helpful for people who have to work."
The KIDS COUNT report also encourages federal, state, and local governments to invest more money in childcare, something Maury believes is important for kids and the future of society.
"When we don't take care of our kids, they become broken grown-ups. That's not fair. If we want a society that is happy, we need to support and love the kids," she said.
Washington and several cities within the state offer up some form of childcare subsidies. The links below will take you to some of those resources. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/childcare-cost-washington-average-more-expensive-uw-tuition/281-2ba2c06e-8f2b-448b-8314-bb014386d4dc | 2023-06-21T16:28:00 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/childcare-cost-washington-average-more-expensive-uw-tuition/281-2ba2c06e-8f2b-448b-8314-bb014386d4dc |
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.
August Morningstar 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.
Morningstar 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, Morningstar 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. Morningstar kept walking, not knowing why the police would need to be called.
He heard another female saying to call 911.
Instincts kicked in and Morningstar 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 Morningstar, walked out from behind a tent and shot him.
Morningstar 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.
Morningstar 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.kgw.com/article/news/local/man-injured-shooting-gorge-amphitheatre-edm-festival/281-2050ee1b-31ba-4626-a637-52acb784f4d6 | 2023-06-21T16:28:06 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/man-injured-shooting-gorge-amphitheatre-edm-festival/281-2050ee1b-31ba-4626-a637-52acb784f4d6 |
QUINCY, Wash. — The two people killed during the shooting near the Gorge Amphitheatre on June 17 were identified as 26-year-old Josilyn Ruiz and 29-year-old Brandy Escamilla of Seattle.
The suspect, who has not been officially charged, is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The 26-year-old male remains in Grant County Jail after being hospitalized for a gunshot wound, according to Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete.
Officials with Joint Base Lewis-McChord confirmed the suspect is stationed out of there.
Two other people were wounded in the shooting, including a 20-year-old Mill Creek resident and a 31-year-old of Eugene, Oregon.
A private security officer responding to the report was struck by a bullet that deflected off her eyeglasses, according to the sheriff. She suffered bruising and lacerations due to the impact, but was not seriously hurt.
Around 8:20 p.m. on June 17, dispatchers received a 911 call reporting shots fired inside a campground near the Gorge, where an electronic dance music festival was being held.
Officers from several different law enforcement agencies were already providing services at the Gorge when the shooting occurred, including the sheriff's office, Moses Lake Police Department, Soap Lake Police Department, the US Bureau of Land Management, the Quincy Police Department and the Royal City Police Department.
Those officers responded to Campground H, where they found Ruiz and Escamilla unconscious. The two women were pronounced dead at the scene.
The attorney of Ruiz's family believes Ruiz and her fiancée had no relationship with the shooter.
"They did not know the suspect," said Kevin Boyle of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP.
Boyle told KING 5 that it is possible that the two young women were killed while they were trying to help a domestic violence victim.
"And that Josilyn and her fiancée Brandy stepped in to help the victim of the domestic violence," said Boyle. "And then shots started ringing out."
They were both nurses; Ruiz graduated from nursing school in 2018. Ruiz's sister-in-law said on a GoFundMe page that Ruiz had a contagious laugh and loved dancing, singing, and attending music festivals.
"The Ruiz family love Josilyn, and they're devastated," said Boyle. "As an attorney, I'm looking into, 'Why did this happen?'"
He said there's a possibility they could sue.
"I'm investigating whether there seems to be a potential of a civil case," said Boyle.
Another shooting victim who survived, August Morningstar, called his involvement "one of those wrong place, wrong time kind of things."
He said he was walking near an argument or fight within the campground.
"A guy popped behind a tent and points his gun at me and he shoots me once, and the moment he shot me, my survival instincts kicked in and I jumped behind one of my friend's tents," said Morningstar. "And then I ran, and he chased me, and he was shooting at me. There's bullets whizzing by me."
And while he lived to see another day, Brandy and Josilyn sadly did not.
"It’s as sad as sad can be," their next-door neighbor in Ballard told us. "They were very happy together.”
She said when she had a bad flooding problem once, in the middle of the night, Escamilla spent hours helping her contain it.
"She came right away with towels to help me," said the neighbor. "They were sweet oh my god.”
The couple were high school sweethearts, according to the attorney.
"They were planning on getting married in Greece, they were heading out in October to scout sites," said Boyle.
Meanwhile, the community is showing their support for Ruiz on a GoFundMe created by her sister-in-law.
The shooter was taken into custody within minutes.
The suspect is being held for investigation on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence.
The North Central Washington Special Investigation unit is conducting the investigation. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/name-victims-suspect-gorge-amphitheatre/281-10d81063-e848-40cb-bd6b-b0068f45b073 | 2023-06-21T16:28:12 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/name-victims-suspect-gorge-amphitheatre/281-10d81063-e848-40cb-bd6b-b0068f45b073 |
DES MOINES, Wash. — The summer season officially kicked off on Wednesday.
While swimming in one of western Washington's many lakes, beach parks, and pools, is popular - some places may be closed or have reduced hours or capacity due to a lifeguard shortage.
Because of the shortage, three beach parks in Seattle remain closed. This includes Magnuson Park Beach, Seward Park Beach and East Green Lake Beach.
It's a "drought" that has been happening nationwide for at least 10 years, according to Jared Wold, the aquatics coordinator for Mount Rainier Pool in Des Moines.
Wold said the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem when many pools or swim areas were closed, and returning slowly with limited hours and programming.
Currently, Mount Rainier Pool is operating with about 70% lifeguard staff.
Recruiting at the high school level has led to most of Mount Rainier Pool's success in keeping its staffing numbers on an upward trend. Because Des Moines is a smaller community, Wold said it is tough to recruit and hire.
At Mount Rainier Pool (MRP) - the minimum age requirement in addition to proper training and certification - is 15. Other pools or recreation centers for beach parks may have different age requirements.
Overall, Wold said more "water education" or "water competency" at the high school level would be beneficial to all places in need of lifeguards but he understands the costs that may incur for a school district.
If you are hesitant to further look into lifeguarding, Wold encourages you to call MRP or the nearest pool or parks system to learn more.
"Especially in the climate we’re in right now with lifeguarding – you would have such a huge advantage showing up just having some sort of swimming background," Wold said. "If it’s something you’re interested in that you want to work at - a lot of places are very eager to help those people become stronger swimmers and bring them into the workplace with that kind of drive.”
Starting young
One of Mount Rainier Pool's lifeguards has been on a swim team or a swim club since she was six years old.
Celina Lam, 19, started lifeguarding at MRP when she was 15.
“I thought it would be a good way to give back to the community that I’ve always grown up in," Lam said. "I just thought swimming was super important and having everyone be safe while swimming was a great idea.”
Lam is currently attending the University of Washington. With her interest in entering the healthcare field, Lam views her role as a first responder at the water as a great first step in her career.
While MRP has some long-time competitive swimmers on its lifeguard staff - there are others who just entered the field.
Jermaine Kihuhua, 20, learned how to swim just about five years ago, and just recently became a certified lifeguard.
"People like me are examples that it’s almost never too late to do something," Kihuhua said. "Everybody should try and take the chance to protect themselves in the water.”
Building a culture where lifeguards trust one another is important to the staff, according to Lam.
"I know that a lot of our guards are more confident in their skills so I think that’s a great environment to be in as well," Lam said.
When it comes to the shortage, Lam said she was surprised when seeing the trend continue since she has always been involved in swimming and now lifeguarding.
Kihuhua said he is not as surprised.
"It is a job that you definitely need to be fast-acting in serious situations." Kihuhua said. "I can see a lot of people probably shy away from that just because of the nature of it that once things get tough – people do tend to freeze up.”
Lam and Kihuhua said with regular first aid practice and swimming training - MRP lifeguards are ready to respond. The main goal is for swimmers to follow the rules of the water and avoid any dangerous situations.
To view lifeguard position openings and requirements at MRP, click here.
For more information about being hired as a lifeguard in the Seattle Parks and Recreation system - click here. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington-pools-beach-parks-recruiting-lifeguards/281-1f47bcdb-f3ce-4dca-bf0e-857c52a0d351 | 2023-06-21T16:28:18 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/washington-pools-beach-parks-recruiting-lifeguards/281-1f47bcdb-f3ce-4dca-bf0e-857c52a0d351 |
Richmond Public Schools will immediately begin a transition to four new school names approved by the school board at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The board in November and January voted to change the names of the four schools as part of an ongoing effort by most board members to change the names of schools named for enslavers or Confederates.
The four schools that received new names Tuesday evening are John B. Cary Elementary School, Binford Middle School, George Wythe High School and Ginter Park Elementary School.
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John B. Cary Elementary School is now named Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary School.
Harrison-Jones was RPS’ first female superintendent, and the first Black female superintendent in Virginia. She began her career in education as a sixth grade teacher in 1954, and became superintendent of RPS in 1985.
John B. Cary Elementary had been named for Col. John Barry Cary, who was the school division’s superintendent from 1886 to 1889 and fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Binford Middle School is now named Dogwood Middle School. The American Dogwood is Virginia’s official state flower, and tree of the commonwealth.
Binford Middle had been named for James H. Binford, recognized by RPS as the first superintendent of the school division. He enlisted in the Confederate army and served for 18 months with an artillery division of howitzers during the Civil War, according to his 1876 obituary in the Daily Dispatch.
George Wythe High School is now Richmond City High School of the Arts.
George Wythe was one of Virginia’s seven signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a lawyer, judge, state attorney general and a legislator in what was then the House of Burgesses.
At the College of William & Mary, he was the nation’s first law professor. At various times, he was a teacher of, and a mentor to, future presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe and future Chief Justice John Marshall.
Wythe voiced opposition to slavery, but owned slaves for most of his life. He began to free some of his slaves after his wife died in August 1787, according to Encyclopedia Virginia, and owned no slaves at the time of his death.
Ginter Park Elementary School is now Frances W. McClenney Elementary School.
McClenney was the first Black teacher at Ginter Park Elementary, hand-selected to integrate its segregated hallways, according to a 2011 obituary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She also served as the first Black and first female principal of the school.
Ginter Park Elementary was technically named for the neighborhood that it serves, but the neighborhood is named for Maj. Lewis Ginter, who joined the Confederate army in 1861, rising to the rank of major while serving under Gen. A.P. Hill.
Ginter later became a prominent Richmond businessman and developer and the driving force behind building the Jefferson Hotel. His name is also memorialized by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico County, which was established with funds bequeathed by his niece Grace Arents.
The school division allocated $100,000 for the name changes in the fiscal year 2024 budget. RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras initially urged the board not to more than two school names per year due to the time, energy and cost involved, but later said he could be persuaded to change three. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/richmond-school-board-renames-4-schools-named-for-confederates-enslavers/article_815d2f4e-103f-11ee-a10f-f361fb0c2039.html | 2023-06-21T16:32:03 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/richmond-school-board-renames-4-schools-named-for-confederates-enslavers/article_815d2f4e-103f-11ee-a10f-f361fb0c2039.html |
MARION, Ind. — A homicide investigation is underway after a person was found dead on the west side of Marion Monday night.
Shortly before 10:30 p.m. on June 19, Grant County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of an unconscious person in the 2700 block of West Avon Avenue, near South Buffalo Avenue. Deputies located a male dead on the property and gathered evidence "consistent with homicide being the manner of death," the department said.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the exact cause of death.
The victim's identity is being withheld while their family is notified.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Grant County Crime Stoppers at 765-662-8477 or Detective Lieutenant Matthew Ogden at 765-662-9864 ext. 4214. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/homicide-investigation-underway-person-found-dead-marion-grant-county/531-63974ec5-389b-4c82-add4-7eaa2e2a384f | 2023-06-21T16:32:23 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/homicide-investigation-underway-person-found-dead-marion-grant-county/531-63974ec5-389b-4c82-add4-7eaa2e2a384f |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A federal judge struck down Arkansas' first-in-the-nation ban on gender-affirming care for children as unconstitutional Tuesday, the first ruling to overturn such a prohibition as a growing number of Republican-led states adopt similar restrictions.
U.S. District Judge Jay Moody issued a permanent injunction against the Arkansas law, which would have prohibited doctors from providing gender-affirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers, or surgery to anyone under 18.
Arkansas' law, which Moody temporarily blocked in 2021, also would have prohibited doctors from referring patients elsewhere for such care.
In his order, Moody ruled that the prohibition violated the due process and equal protection rights of transgender youth and families. He said the law also violated the First Amendment rights of medical providers.
“Rather than protecting children or safeguarding medical ethics, the evidence showed that the prohibited medical care improves the mental health and well-being of patients and that, by prohibiting it, the state undermined the interests it claims to be advancing,” Moody wrote in his ruling.
“I am disappointed in the decision that prevents our state from protecting our children against dangerous medical experimentation under the moniker of ‘gender transition,'" Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said. "Unfortunately, Judge Moody misses what is widely understood across the United States and in the United Kingdom and European countries: There is no scientific evidence that any child will benefit from these procedures, while the consequences are harmful and often permanent. I will continue fighting as long as it takes to stop providers from sterilizing children."
Republican lawmakers in Arkansas enacted the ban in 2021, overriding a veto by former GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Hutchinson, who left office in January, said the law went too far by cutting off treatments for children currently receiving such care.
The ruling affects only the Arkansas ban but may carry implications for the fates of similar prohibitions, or discourage attempts to enact them, in other states.
“This decision sends a clear message. Fear-mongering and misinformation about this health care do not hold up to scrutiny; it hurts trans youth and must end," said Holly Dickson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas. "Science, medicine, and law are clear: gender-affirming care is necessary to ensure these young Arkansans can thrive and be healthy.”
At least 19 other states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors following Arkansas' law, and federal judges have temporarily blocked similar bans in Alabama and Indiana. Three states have banned or restricted the care through regulations or administrative orders.
Florida’s law goes beyond banning the treatments for youth, by also prohibiting the use of state money for gender-affirming care and placing new restrictions on adults seeking treatment. A federal judge has blocked Florida from enforcing its ban on three children who have challenged the law.
Children’s hospitals around the country have faced harassment and threats of violence for providing such care.
The state has argued that the prohibition is within its authority to regulate the medical profession. People opposed to such treatments for children argue they are too young to make such decisions about their futures. Major medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, oppose the bans and experts say treatments are safe if properly administered.
The state is likely to appeal Moody's decision to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which last year upheld the judge's temporary order blocking the law.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Hutchinson's successor, in March, signed legislation attempting to effectively reinstate Arkansas' ban by making it easier to sue providers of gender-affirming care for children. That law doesn't take effect until later this summer.
"This is not 'care' — it's activists pushing a political agenda at the expense of our kids and subjecting them to permanent and harmful procedures," Sanders said in response to the ruling. "Only in the far-Left's woke vision of America is it not appropriate to protect children."
A roughly two-week trial before Moody included testimony from one of the transgender youths challenging the state’s ban. Dylan Brandt, 17, testified in October that the hormone therapy he has received has transformed his life and that the ban would force him to leave the state.
“I’m so grateful the judge heard my experience of how this health care has changed my life for the better and saw the dangerous impact this law could have on my life and that of countless other transgender people,” Brandt said in a statement released by the ACLU.
Sabrina Jennen, another of the transgender youth who sued over the ban, said she felt a “wave of relief” over the ruling.
“I can say with 100% certainty that if I hadn't had this care, I would not be here today or at least in such a stable, mental state as happy as I am and as thriving as I am,” Jennen, 17, told The Associated Press. “Having this care, it truly lifted me up from the deepest, darkest place.”
THV11 contributed to this report. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/judge-strikes-down-arkansas-gender-affirming-care/91-2ce98d02-5a4c-4304-928b-3407176a60c6 | 2023-06-21T16:32:46 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/judge-strikes-down-arkansas-gender-affirming-care/91-2ce98d02-5a4c-4304-928b-3407176a60c6 |
HCA Healthcare stand alone emergency room opens in Haines City
HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital has announced a new freestanding emergency room opened in Haines City last week as part of HCA Florida Healthcare’s statewide expansion.
The 11-bed HCA Florida Haines City Emergency facility is 11,000 square feet, which will provide a range of medical services to children and adults, an HCA press release said.
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The facility at 36810 U.S. 27 in Haines City will be staffed with board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses working around the clock and every day, the release said.
Like an emergency room within a hospital, physicians and their colleagues will treat a range of general and specific medical conditions from infections to chest pain and broken bones.
“As the northeast Polk County community expands, the need for 24/7 emergency care close to where people live and work is paramount,” said Alex Romero, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital, in the release. “We are excited to establish a new health care location for all in need of emergency medical care.”
In Haines City, HCA Florida will offer:
- A pediatric entrance and waiting area
- CT scan capabilities
- Digital ultrasound
- Digital diagnostic and portable X-rays
- On-site laboratory
- Telemedicine focused on stroke care and behavioral health
Should an ER patient require in-patient treatment, HCA Florida has a statewide health care network, which includes hospitals, physicians and specialty care.
“We want to be here for all families in Florida, and with HCA Florida Haines City Emergency we can expand access and bring quality care closer to home for patients in northeast Polk Community,” Romero added. “While our approach to treatment has advanced, we continue to deliver collaborative, local care our communities expect and deserve.”
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HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital, a 76-bed acute care hospital, serves Osceola and Polk counties and provides a range of inpatient and outpatient services, including emergency care, diagnostic imaging, surgery, diagnostic cardiac catheterization, laboratory, and pharmacy and support services.
The campus also houses a freestanding 42,000-square-foot medical office building for physicians and other health care providers. HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital also operates ChampionsGate Emergency, a freestanding emergency room with 11 beds.
HCA Florida Healthcare is part of HCA Healthcare, a family of more than 570 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms.
Paul Nutcher covers business and industry for The Ledger and can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/hca-healthcare-stand-alone-emergency-room-opens-in-haines-city/70337350007/ | 2023-06-21T16:37:54 | 0 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/hca-healthcare-stand-alone-emergency-room-opens-in-haines-city/70337350007/ |
New Lakeland assistant city manager was fired by Cape Coral after leveling racism claims
LAKELAND — Lakeland will be welcoming a new assistant city manager, Rob Hernandez, this week.
City Manager Shawn Sherrouse announced Hernandez has been hired as assistant city manager effective Monday. Hernandez is a public administrator with more than three decades of experience working for different municipal governments. He most recently served as city manager of Cape Coral from August 2020 to February 2023.
"I am excited to add a proven, resourceful, and results-oriented public administrator to the City of Lakeland team," Sherrouse said in a statement. "Mr. Hernandez has more than 30 years of experience that will benefit Lakeland."
Hernandez left the City of Cape Coral after commissioners decided to fire him by a split 5-3 vote in February, as reported the Fort Myers News-Press. He had received an average score of 3.8 out of 5 in his annual review.
Hernandez said his termination was retaliation for acting as a whistleblower by calling out several council members, including the mayor, for racist and anti-LGBTQ conduct against city employees and residents, as Fort Myers News-Press reported. He laid out his accusations in a nine-page letter to the city.
Florida-based law firm GrayRobinson, which has offices in Lakeland, was hired by the city to investigate Hernandez's claim. Its investigation concluded many of Hernandez's claims could not be proved because of a lack of specific evidence, context or testimony.
PreviouslyCape Coral fires city manager, two weeks after not renewing contract.
InvestigationInvestigator hired by Cape Coral found claims by fired city manager unsubstantiated
Hernandez's background
Hernandez started working in municipal government in 1984 for Broward County, working his way to the position of deputy county administrator over 17 years. He has served as deputy or city manager in Fulton County, Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, and the Florida cities of Coral Springs and Fort Lauderdale.
The new assistant city manager is a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor's of public administration from Florida International University. He is an International City Management Association-credentialed manager and a member of the Florida City/County Management Association.
"I am honored that City Manager Shawn Sherrouse has invited me to join the Lakeland family," Hernandez said in a statement. "Lakeland is a vibrant and safe community with many “big city” amenities and a desirable quality of life. It is a city that is looking forward, but respectful of its history."
Hernandez takes over the office from Emily Colón, who was promoted to deputy city manager in June 2022.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/lakeland-assistant-city-manager-accused-bosses-in-cape-coral-of-racism/70338863007/ | 2023-06-21T16:38:01 | 0 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/lakeland-assistant-city-manager-accused-bosses-in-cape-coral-of-racism/70338863007/ |
Lakeland Electric executive wins national recognition from peer group
LAKELAND — A Lakeland Electric employee has been nationally recognized for her commitment and contributions to public power.
Cindy Clemmons, LE's manager of legislative and regulatory relations, received the Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award from the American Public Power Association's national conference Tuesday. The award recognizes individuals for their services to APPA, a nonprofit service organization for approximately 2,000 community-owned electric utilities.
"Cindy is a strong advocate for public power – locally, statewide, and nationally – and is keenly aware of the value public power brings to the community it serves. She has great relationships with her local elected officials, along with state and federal legislators that serve the Lakeland community, enabling her to have a positive impact on the reputation of public power utilities," Amy Zubaly, executive director of Florida Municipal Electric Association, said in a prepared statement. "She also has a deep understanding of the issues facing public power and her local community and is dedicated in her tireless efforts to advocate on behalf of the customers and community Lakeland serves."
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Clemmons has worked for Lakeland Electric since 2015 starting as the utility marketing manager, before stepping up to her current position. She has been an active member of APPA, including the public communications committee and governmental relations working group.
At the state level, Clemmons serves on the Florida Municipal Electric Association's legislative and regulatory committee and speaks regularly at conferences. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/lakeland-electrics-cindy-clemons-wins-award-from-national-group/70341760007/ | 2023-06-21T16:38:07 | 1 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/lakeland-electrics-cindy-clemons-wins-award-from-national-group/70341760007/ |
Sheriff's Office: Infected bat yields second case of rabies in Polk County this year
The Polk County Sheriff's Office has reported the second rabies case of the year in the county.
A family dog in the Orange Avenue area of Bartow was found with a dead bat in its mouth on June 14, PCSO reported in a news release. The family contacted the Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Control Section, and an officer took possession of the bat and sent its carcass to Tampa for testing, PCSO said.
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Animal Control received the test results from the state laboratory on Tuesday, and the bat tested positive for the potentially deadly virus.
"Thankfully, this dog was current on its rabies vaccination and not injured,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “He will have to be quarantined to make sure he is not infected. Remember, if a wild animal is in distress, acting aggressive or appears sick, stay away from it and contact Animal Control immediately." | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/pcso-rabies-in-bat-is-second-rabies-case-this-year-in-polk-county/70341657007/ | 2023-06-21T16:38:13 | 1 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/pcso-rabies-in-bat-is-second-rabies-case-this-year-in-polk-county/70341657007/ |
AUGUSTA -- A bill aiming to authorize harm reduction centers that would allow for illicit drug use under supervision was narrowly defeated in the Maine Senate Tuesday night.
LD 1364 "An Act to Prevent Opioid Overdose Deaths by Establishing Safe Consumption Sites" would authorize the establishment and operation of facilities where people could use drugs procured elsewhere under the supervision of medical personnel, though not necessarily physicians. Individual municipalities would have to authorize the facility first following a public meeting.
Senator Pinny Beebe-Center, who represents Maine Senate District 12, supports the bill.
"Harm reduction centers have been in operation around the world for three decades. During that time they have been studied at length and time and time again these sources tell us that these centers reduce crime, overdoses, community costs for emergency healthcare services public drug use, and syringe waste in parks."
Senator Joe Baldacci, who represents Bangor and Hermon, opposes the measure.
"The bill as written is a huge invitation to undermining the criminal justice system. The bill says that if you're in probation or on probation or on bail you can go to these sites and engage in as much drug activity as you want to and nobody could prosecute you. I don't know if that's what any person in this room wants to have happen. This is basically a back-door decriminalization bill," he said.
LD 1364 would also offer immunity from prosecution for users and center staff. The bill was voted down 16 yes and 18 no. But an amendment related to the bill was passed authorizing further study of the issue. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/harm-reduction-center-bill-narrowly-defeated-in-senate-amendment-passes/article_d0c71194-0fe5-11ee-99c7-3f47469bbb24.html | 2023-06-21T16:49:22 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/harm-reduction-center-bill-narrowly-defeated-in-senate-amendment-passes/article_d0c71194-0fe5-11ee-99c7-3f47469bbb24.html |
Every morning, NBC 5 Today is dedicated to delivering you positive local stories of people doing good, giving back and making a real change in our community. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/teens-learn-somethinggood-at-cleburne-police-academy/3281566/ | 2023-06-21T16:55:13 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/teens-learn-somethinggood-at-cleburne-police-academy/3281566/ |
Hutchinson's first Chalk the Town event will include activities, demonstrations
A Hutchinson artist and long-term substitute teacher has inspired a movement.
Kara Vaughn, a local artist and long-term substitute teacher in Hutchinson Schools, is working in partnership with Downtown Hutch and the City of Hutchinson to launch the 2023 Chalk the Town event.
Vaughn, who draws cartoonish chalk paintings on sidewalks, has garnered more than 30 million views on TikTok and around 400,000 followers. Vaughn had posted her drawings on TikTok (under Varakaughn).
"Lots of people from all over have told me that they are going to be coming in (for the event)," Vaughn said. "From like Wichita, Lawrence. People from out of state, Nebraska, Arkansas, even there's, someone who told me that they had a group of 13 that were coming in."
More:Chalk artist brings Hutchinson together to create Chalk the Town
Chalk the Town Event
The event will have a kickoff celebration from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, July 1, in George Pyle Park. On Sunday, Chalk the Town will run from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Cary Park.
The family-friendly Sunday event will feature a chalk art scavenger hunt, activities and demonstrations.
Upon check-in, participants will receive a map, chalk, and passport. 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 that each icon is found on the passport.
Free Chalk the Town 2023 t-shirts, which are sponsored by the Sleep Shoppe, will be provided to the first 150 participants to return completed scavenger hunt passports.
Once the word CHALK is completed, participants can provide their contact information on the back of the passport and enter into a drawing at checkout with a winner selected and announced at 6 p.m. on Facebook Live and TikTok.
More:Artist's chalk drawings upset landlord but win big on TikTok
Vaughn is collecting chalk from across the country. Her P.O. Box is Kara Vaughn at P.O. Box 301, Hutchinson, KS, 67504. The chalk will be used for the event.
"I'm just really excited and I'm super, super thankful for the chamber because I did come up to them very last minute and I was like, hey, I need help," Vaughn said. "I would like (to give) a big shout out to them and especially the sponsors that have been graciously donating and encouraging the event." | https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/hutchinson-chalk-artist-inspires-city/70340281007/ | 2023-06-21T16:59:43 | 1 | https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/hutchinson-chalk-artist-inspires-city/70340281007/ |
SAN ANTONIO — Officials are searching for a missing teen boy who was last seen June 18 on the 4000 block of Broadway, officials say.
Aiden Montgomery is 13-years-old, last seen wearing a blue long sleeve shirt, black sweatpants, possibly white shirt under long sleeve shirt, shorts under sweatpants and black shoes, SAPD says. He also has a black birthmark on his neck.
Montgomery is described as being 5'9 and weighs 165 pounds with brown eyes and wavy ear top length blonde hair.
Anyone with information on Montgomery's whereabouts is asked to contact the San Antonio Missing Person's Unit at (210) 207-7660. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/missing-teen-san-antonio/273-80642258-6db6-4797-bb3b-4dbef9d7d889 | 2023-06-21T17:05:31 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/missing-teen-san-antonio/273-80642258-6db6-4797-bb3b-4dbef9d7d889 |
FORT STOCKTON, Texas — Paul Casias has won the run-off election for the Fort Stockton Mayor position.
According to the Fort Stockton City Hall Facebook page, Casias received 54.14% of the votes (268 votes), while James B. Warnock received 45.86% of the votes (227 votes).
Back on May 6, 2023, no candidate for the mayor position received a majority of the votes to win the election, which to the run-off between Casias and Warnock. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/paul-casias-wins-run-off-election-for-fort-stockton-mayor/513-d3399fcd-b35f-4678-8fc5-a59b7c0cd9bc | 2023-06-21T17:07:11 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/paul-casias-wins-run-off-election-for-fort-stockton-mayor/513-d3399fcd-b35f-4678-8fc5-a59b7c0cd9bc |
A 41-year-old Lincoln man is in jail after he assaulted two people in an apparently unprovoked attack near 17th and Washington streets early Wednesday morning, police alleged.
A 40-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man told police that Brandon Heard struck both of them in the face as they were walking along Washington Street at around 1 a.m. Wednesday, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said.
The woman, who knew Heard prior to the alleged attack, said he stomped on her chest after his initial blow knocked her to the ground, Vollmer said.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews took the woman to a local hospital for treatment. The 63-year-old man reported minor injuries.
Police arrested Heard at his residence, near 16th and Washington streets, on suspicion of second-degree assault and resisting arrest.
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He was taken to the Lancaster County jail.
Tom Casady's list of the 10 most infamous crimes in Lincoln history
Crimes of the times
This is simply one man’s perspective from the early 21st century (first written in 2010). I had to make a decision about crimes that occurred at locations that are inside the city today, but were outside our corporate limits at the time they occurred. I chose the latter.
Before beginning, though, I have to deal with three crimes that stand apart: the murders of three police officers in Lincoln. I’m not quite sure how to place them in a list. They all had huge impacts on the community, and on the police department in particular. Because these are my colleagues, I deal with them separately and in chronological order.
Patrolman Marion Francis Marshall
Shot in the shadow of the new Nebraska State Capital, Gov. Charles Bryan came to his aid and summoned additional help.
Lt. Frank Soukup
Marion Marshall was technically not a Lincoln police officer, so Lt. Soukup was actually the first Lincoln police officer killed on duty. One of his colleagues who was present at the motel and involved in the gunbattle, Paul Jacobsen, went on to enjoy a long career and command rank at LPD, influencing many young charges (like me) and leaving his mark on the culture of the agency.
Lt. Paul Whitehead
In the space of a few months, three LPD officers died in the line of duty. Frank Soukup had been murdered, and George Welter had died in a motorcycle crash. Paul Whitehead's partner, Paul Merritt, went on to command rank, and like Paul Jacobsen left an indelible mark at LPD and the community.
No. 1: Starkweather
The subject of several thinly disguised movie plots and a Springsteen album, the Starkweather murders are clearly the most infamous crime in Lincoln’s history — so far. One of the first mass murderers of the mass media age, six of Charles Starkweather’s 11 victims were killed inside the city of Lincoln, and the first was just on the outskirts of town. I didn’t live in Lincoln at the time, but my wife was a first-grader at Riley Elementary School and has vivid memories of the city gripped by fear in the days between the discovery of the Bartlett murders and Starkweather’s capture in Wyoming.
The case caused quite an uproar. There was intense criticism of the police department and sheriff’s office for not capturing Starkweather earlier in the week after the discovery of the Bartletts' bodies. Ultimately, Mayor Bennett Martin and the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners retained a retired FBI agent, Harold G. Robinson, to investigate the performance of local law enforcement. His report essentially exonerated the local law officers and made a few vanilla recommendations for improving inter-agency communication and training.
Now I know that many readers are mumbling to themselves “how obvious.” Hold your horses, though. It’s not quite as obvious as you might think. I had two experiences that drove this fact home to me. The first was a visit by a small group of journalism students. Only one member of the class had any idea, and her idea was pretty vague. You need to remember that the Starkweather murders were in 1957 and 1958 — before the parents of many college students were even born.
The second experience was a visit by a Cub Scout den. I was giving the kids a tour of the police station one evening. We were in the front lobby waiting for everyone to arrive. As I entertained the boys, I told the moms and dads that they might enjoy looking in the corner of the Sheriff’s Office display case to see the contents of Starkweather’s wallet — discovered a couple of years ago locked up in the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office safe. After a few minutes, one of the confused fathers asked me who Starkweather was, and why it was significant.
No. 2: Lincoln National Bank
On the morning of Sept. 17, 1930, a dark blue Buick carrying six men pulled up in front of the Lincoln National Bank at the northwest corner of 12th and O streets. Five of the men entered the bank, while a sixth stood outside by the Buick, cradling a machine gun. Observing the unusual events, a passerby called the police. The officer who responded, Forrest Shappaugh, was casually instructed by the machine-gun-toting lookout to just keep going, which he wisely did. Returning with reinforcements, he found that the robbers had already made good on their getaway, netting $2.7 million in cash and negotiable securities.
Ultimately, three of the six suspects were arrested. Tommy O’Connor and Howard Lee were convicted and sentenced. Jack Britt was tried twice but not convicted by a hung jury. Gus Winkeler, a member of Al Capone’s gang, winged a deal with County Attorney Max Towle to avoid prosecution in exchange for orchestrating the recovery of $600,000 in bearer bonds. The following year, Winkeler was murdered in Chicago, the victim of a gangland slaying. The final two robbers were never identified.
The Lincoln National Bank robbery stood as the largest cash bank robbery in the United States for many decades. It precipitated major changes at the Lincoln Police Department. Chief Peter Johnstone was rapidly “retired” after the robbery, the department’s fleet was upgraded to add the first official patrol cars, the full force was armed and a shotgun squad was organized. Forty-four years later when I was hired at LPD, the echo of the Lincoln National Bank robbery was still evident in daily bank opening details, and in the Thomspon submachine guns and Reising rifles that detectives grabbed whenever the robbery alarm sounded at headquarters.
No. 3: The Last Posse
My first inkling about this crime came when I was the chief deputy sheriff. One of my interns, a young man named Ron Boden (who became a veteran deputy sheriff), had been doing some research on Lancaster County’s only known lynching, in 1884. I came across a reference in the biography of the sheriff at the time, Sam Melick, to the murder of the Nebraska Penitentiary warden and subsequent prison break. Melick had been appointed interim warden after the murder and instituted several reforms.
Several years later, a colleague, Sgt. Geoff Marti, loaned me a great book, Gale Christianson’s "Last Posse," that told the story of the 1912 prison break in gory, haunting and glorious detail.
To make a long story short, convict Shorty Gray and his co-conspirators shot and killed Warden James Delahunty, a deputy warden and a guard on Wednesday, March 13, 1912. They then made their break — right into the teeth of a brutal Nebraska spring blizzard. Over the course to the next few days, a posse pursued. During the pursuit, the escapees carjacked a young farmer with his team and wagon. As the posse closed in, a gunfight broke out and the hostage was shot and killed in the exchange, along with two of the three escapees.
There was plenty of anger among the locals in the Gretna-Springfield vicinity about the death of their native son, and a controversy raged over the law enforcement tactics that brought about his demise. Lancaster County Sheriff Gus Hyers was not unsullied by the inquiry, although it appears from my prospect a century later that the fog of war led to the tragedy.
Christianson, a professor of history at Indiana State University who died earlier this year, notes the following on the flyleaf:
“For anyone living west of the Mississippi in 1912, the biggest news that fateful year was a violent escape from the Nebraska state penitentiary planned and carried out by a trio of notorious robbers and safe blowers.”
Bigger news on half the continent than the sinking of the Titanic during the same year would certainly qualify this murder-escape as one of the most infamous Lincoln crimes in history.
No. 4: Rock Island wreck
The Aug. 10, 1894, wreck of a Rock Island train on the southwest outskirts of Lincoln was almost lost in the mist of time until it was resurrected in the public consciousness by author Joel Williams, who came across the story while conducting research for his historical novel, "Barrelhouse Boys."
The wreck was determined to be the result of sabotage to the tracks, perhaps an attempt to derail the train as a prelude to robbery. Eleven people died in the crash and ensuing fire, making this a mass murder, to be sure. G.W. Davis was arrested and convicted of the crime but later received a full pardon. The story was told in greater detail earlier this year by the Lincoln Journal Star.
A historical marker is along the Rock Island Trail in Wilderness Park, accessible only by foot or bike from the nearest trail access points about a half-mile away at Old Cheney Road on the north, or 14th Street on the south.
Here’s the big question that remains unanswered: Was there really significant evidence to prove that George Washington Davis committed the crime, or was he just a convenient scapegoat? The fact that he received a gubernatorial pardon 10 years later leads me to believe that the evidence must have been unusually weak. If he was railroaded, then my second question is this: who really pried loose the tracks with the 40-pound crowbar found at the scene?
No. 5: Commonwealth
On Nov. 1, 1983, the doors to Nebraska’s largest industrial savings and loan company were closed and Commonwealth was declared insolvent. The 6,700 depositors with $65 million at stake would never be fully compensated for their loss, ultimately receiving about 59 cents on the dollar for their deposits, which they all mistakenly believed were insured up to $30,000 through the Nebraska Depository Insurance Guaranty Corporation, which was essentially an insurance pool with assets of only $3 million.
The case dominated Nebraska news for months. The investigation ultimately led to the conviction of three members of the prominent Lincoln family that owned the institution, the resignation of the director of the State Department of Banking and the impeachment of the Nebraska attorney general and the suspension of his license to practice law. State and federal litigation arising from the failure of Commonwealth drug on for years.
At the Lincoln Police Department, the Commonwealth failure led to the formation of a specialized white-collar crime detail, now known as the Technical Investigations Unit. At the time, municipal police departments in the United States had virtually no capacity for investigating financial crime and fraud of this magnitude, and we quickly became well known for our expertise in this area. The early experience served LPD very well in the ensuring years.
No. 6: Candice Harms
Candi Harms never came home from visiting her boyfriend on Sept. 22, 1992. Her parents reported her as a missing person the following morning, and her car was found abandoned in a cornfield north of Lincoln later in the day. Weeks went by before her remains were found southeast of Lincoln.
Scott Barney and Roger Bjorklund were convicted in her abduction and murder. Barney is in prison serving a life term. Bjorklund died in prison in 2001. Intense media attention surrounded the lengthy trial of Roger Bjorklund, for which a jury was brought in from Cheyenne County as an alternative to a change of venue. I have no doubt that the trial was a life-changing event for a group of good citizens from Sidney, who did their civic duty.
I was the Lancaster County sheriff at the time, involved both in the investigation and in the trial security. It was at about this time that the cellular telephone was becoming a consumer product, and I have often thought that this brutal crime probably spurred a lot of purchases. During my career, this is probably the second-most-prominent Lincoln crime in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage.
No. 7: Jon Simpson and Jacob Surber
A parent’s worst nightmare unfolded in September 1975 when these two boys, ages 12 and 13, failed to return from the Nebraska State Fair. The boys were the victims of abduction and murder. The case was similar to a string of other murders of young boys in the Midwest, and many thought that these cases were related -- the work of a serial killer. Although an arrest was made in the case here in Lincoln, the charges were eventually dismissed. William Guatney was released and has since died.
No. 8: John Sheedy
Saloon and gambling house owner John Sheedy was gunned down outside his home at 1211 P St. in January 1891. The case of Sheedy, prominent in Lincoln’s demiworld, became the talk of the town when his wife, Mary, and her alleged lover and accomplice, Monday McFarland, were arrested. Both were acquitted at trial. The Sheedy murder is chronicled in a great interactive multimedia website, Gilded Age Plains City, an online version that builds upon an article published in 2001 by Timothy Mahoney of the University of Nebraska.
No. 9: Patricia McGarry and Catherine Brooks
The bodies of these two friends were found in a Northeast Lincoln duplex in August 1977. Their murderer, Robert E. Williams, was the subject of a massive Midwest manhunt during the following week. Before his capture, he committed a third murder in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and raped, shot and left for dead a victim who survived in Minnesota. He is the last man to be executed in Nebraska, sent to the electric chair in 1997.
No. 10: Judge William M. Morning
District Court Judge William Morning was murdered in February 1924. He was shot on the bench by an unhappy litigant in a divorce case. His court reporter, Minor Bacon, was also shot, but a notebook in his breast pocket deflected the bullet and saved his life.
Many other crimes
Choosing Lincoln's 10 most infamous crimes was a challenge. Although the top two were easy, the picture quickly became clouded. We tend, of course, to forget our history rather quickly. Many of the crimes I felt were among the most significant are barely remembered today, if not completely forgotten.
Some readers will take issue with my list. In choosing 10, here are the others I considered, in no particular order. They are all murders:
-- Mary O'Shea
-- Nancy Parker
-- Charles Mulholland
-- Victoria Lamm and Janet Mesner
-- Martina McMenamin
-- Regina Bos (presumably murdered)
-- Patty Webb
-- Marianne Mitzner
I also thought about the five murder-suicides in which a mother or father killed multiple family members before taking their own life. Though tragic, these crimes did not command the same kind of attention as the others, perhaps because there was no lengthy investigation, no tantalizing whodunit, no stranger-killer, nor any of the details that come out in the coverage of a major trial. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-arrested-after-attacking-two-people-wednesday-morning-police-allege/article_1b26da54-1044-11ee-b04d-53a631ed9b9d.html | 2023-06-21T17:07:47 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-arrested-after-attacking-two-people-wednesday-morning-police-allege/article_1b26da54-1044-11ee-b04d-53a631ed9b9d.html |
A Lincoln pair are facing felony charges for the alleged sexual abuse of three young girls.
At their first appearances on the charges Tuesday, Maurice Thomas, 43, and Sahara Williams, 19, were ordered held in jail without bond.
Both are charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child and third-degree sexual assault of a child. Thomas faces an additional charge of first-degree sex assault of a child.
If convicted, the first-degree sex assault charges carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison on each and up to life. The third-degree sex assault charge could lead to another three years.
In court records, Lincoln Police Officer Kathleen Brandt said on May 30, an officer was flagged down in the street by the mother of three girls, who range in age from 8 to 10, wanting to report the abuse.
In an interview that followed at the BraveBe Child Advocacy Center, the oldest of the girls said it had started a year earlier when Thomas asked her to kiss him and threatened to shoot her if she said no.
In separate interviews, the girls alleged multiple incidents of sexual abuse at the hands of Thomas, a friend of the family, and Williams' involvement.
Police arrested Thomas and Williams on Friday.
Top Journal Star photos for June 2023
Scott Copeland (Left) and Donnette Thayer (right) play Irish folk music with friends during the Hub Farmers Market at Union Plaza park on Wednesday. The markets are Wednesdays, from 5-7 p.m., through Sept. 20.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Open Harvest employees shovel gravel at the Open Harvest ground breaking in the Telegraph District, Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Dynasty Volleyball players Abigail Mullen (bottom left), Reese Messer (left), Claire Cisneros (top right), and Skyler Pierce (right) share snacks and stories with one another as they rest on the catwalk overlooking the volleyball courts ahead of their next match during the Midwest PreNationals tournament on Friday, June 9, 2023, at the Sports Pavilion Lawrence in Lawrence.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Fisherman Salem Alsareni, catches a 24 inch carp, weighing in at six and a half pounds at Holmes Lake, Monday, June 12, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Angela Gebhardt walks next to Star City Chorus during the Star City Pride Parade Saturday at the Nebraska state Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Foster Care Closet employee Brooke Horton lifts boxes of diapers onto the bus before departing for Norfolk on Friday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor candidate Rodney Bennett answers questions from students and staff who are part of the College of Law on Thursday at the Office of the President.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Terrance McIntyre gets his hair cut by Treveon Phinney at 402 Fades Barber Shop on Thursday at Gateway Mall.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Eliana Athena Vargas Smith, 2, plays in the fountain at Union Plaza park on Wednesday, when temperatures reached 88 degrees in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Children extend their arms outward as they reach for bubbles to pop during a family fun night ice cream party on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at the Charles H. Gere Branch Library in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Harper Trumble (top right) dances with her cousin Keegan VanDeWater (right) while Alexis Arai y Su Grupo perform as part of the Jazz in June concert series on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at in the Sheldon Sculpture Garden at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln. The first performers for Jazz in June drew a sizable crowd on Tuesday. The free concert series, held each Tuesday in June, will feature two sets of music from 7-7:45 p.m. and 8-8:45 p.m. Beyond the performances, the series will include education outreach coordinated by community centers and artists. A market offered food and drinks to hungry patrons. And a bike Valet will provided free, secure parking for bicycles from 5 p.m. until the end of the performance in the market.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
The Rev. T. Michael Williams signs the petition to repeal LB753 during Support our Schools Nebraska petition drive kickoff at the state Capitol on Tuesday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Mia Masch, 5, has her hair adjusted by her father Ian while his pet parrot Mango rests atop his shoulder during an animal blessing ceremony at First-Plymouth Church.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Shriner clowns cover their hearts for the invocation before the Nebraska Shrine Bowl on Saturday at Cope Stadium in Kearney.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A rainbow is seen near Ralston High School stadium during the Nebraska High School Soccer Senior Showcase on Friday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Grace Jacobson of Lincoln holds a rainbow umbrella over a coffin prop in front of the Governor's Mansion on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nikita (black) jumps into the dog pool as Pearl chases after her at Off Leash Dog Bar on Wednesday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Lincoln East’s Carter Mick (10) poses for portrait , Monday, May 29, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Rebecca Rager greets her grandfather Alfred Zieg (from left) during a celebration before his birthday on Wednesday, in the Gramercy dining room on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The Residence at Gramercy in Lincoln. 'It has been a life for sure," Alfred Zieg said during the celebration. "And on Wednesday I get to start all over again, right?"
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Muggs, a 6 year-old chocolate lab fetches his toy from the water following his dive on Saturday at Paws 4 Fun in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Fire fighters clear out hot debris pulled off of 411 Mulder Dr home after alert two back yard fire, Friday, May 26, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
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Property owners living inside Southeast Community College's 15-county service area could see a big increase on their tax statement when they go to pay their 2023 taxes next year.
On Tuesday, the SCC Board of Governors gave preliminary approval to a plan to raise the total tax levy to 11.25 cents per $100 of valuation, the maximum allowed under state law, in order to fund a $358.5 million budget.
The board will give final approval to the 2023-24 budget and property tax levy at its September meeting.
Combined with an expected 15.3% average increase in property valuations throughout the district — including more than 23% in Lancaster County alone, which accounts for half of SCC's $79 billion taxable value — some taxpayers could see the amount paid in support of the community college go up by as much as 40% next year.
But college administrators say a change in how Nebraska's six community colleges will be funded in the future as decided by the Legislature this year necessitated the change and added a new tax credit that will return half of the property taxes paid to SCC in 2024 and 100% of the taxes paid beginning in 2025.
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In January, Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil introduced a bill (LB783) on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen that eliminated SCC and other community college's ability to levy local property taxes beginning in the 2026-27 school year, replacing that funding with state tax dollars.
Eliminating the roughly $250 million in property taxes paid to support community colleges would save Nebraskans between 5%-6% on their tax bill, the Platte Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank, estimated at a hearing in February.
Community colleges raised concerns about the plan to the Revenue Committee, however, highlighting that removing the taxing authority of community college boards would erode local control and make the colleges less responsive to the needs of students, businesses and communities.
If, for example, a new manufacturing business were going to locate in McCook and told Mid-Plains Community College it needed to hire as many as 100 new welders within a short span of several months, the college would have no way to generate the funds needed to quickly expand the training program.
Rather, Mid-Plains, under LB783, would have needed to convince a state senator to bring an appropriations bill in the following session and hope that 25 lawmakers agreed to the plan on the floor in order for it to pass.
Depending on when a community college sought additional aid to respond to a need in their service area, it could take between 18-24 months before the college could respond to the needs of industry and the demands of students with that taxing authority removed.
Instead, during negotiations that SCC President Paul Illich and Nebraska Community College Association Executive Director Courtney Wittstruck described as collaborative and productive, negotiations with senators on the Revenue Committee and members of Pillen's team struck a middle road.
The agreement, which was included in LB243, a property tax reform package from Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, will continue to distribute state tax dollars to community colleges through the appropriations process, which occurs in every long, 90-day session.
Under LB243, community colleges will also retain their ability to levy 2 cents per $100 of valuation to pay for capital improvement projects on their campuses throughout the state — something SCC has taken advantage of since 2017, when it began an aggressive plan to renew and replace aging facilities in Lincoln, Beatrice and Milford.
The funding for community colleges' general operations that previously came from property taxes will be moved from a maximum 9.25-cent property tax levy to a "Community College Future Fund," a cash fund to be automatically funded by the Legislature every year.
The amount of funding each community college will receive from the future fund will initially be based upon the levy set for the 2023-24 fiscal year, or if community colleges are unable to raise their levy to the maximum, an amount equal to a levy of 7.5 cents per $100 of valuation.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year and for every year after, the distribution to community colleges from the cash fund will increase by 3.5%. Colleges that experience enrollment growth in certain educational units could see their distribution from the future fund grow beyond that amount.
But over time, the 3.5% cap is expected to ultimately slow and then limit a community college's budget growth, which Illich said necessitated SCC, which has not captured all of the funds through property taxes that it was authorized to in recent years, to move to set a high budget baseline moving forward.
"We have to set those rates based on future needs because we no longer have the ability to wait and go up later in property tax," Illich said. "You set it based on your future needs. This is not a one-time thing."
During a meeting at the Jack Huck Continuing Education Center in Lincoln on Tuesday, SCC administrators told board members there is a backstop built into LB243 for the colleges and a safety net for the taxpayers.
The backstop allows a simple majority of SCC's board and other community college boards to raise their property tax levy to meet the institution's needs if the state fails to provide full funding from the Community College Future Fund.
That provides some insurance to the colleges so that they can continue to operate into the future. More than two decades ago, in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 school years, an infusion of money from the Legislature in order to reduce property taxes was later pulled back after an economic recession took hold.
And the safety net gives property taxpayers a state income tax credit on all property taxes paid to community colleges — both to the general fund levy and the capital improvement fund — beginning in 2025, which would offset what they are expected to pay next year, college officials said.
An existing law will provide taxpayers with a 50% tax credit in 2024 on property taxes paid in support of community colleges this year.
Illich said SCC plans to meet with taxpayers across its district in order to explain that while they may see a huge increase on their tax bills this year, those dollars will be returned as the funding system for community colleges shifts over the next few years.
The board approved the preliminary plan on a 10-0 vote, with board member Brandon Gunther of Hickman abstaining.
Gunther said he was concerned about taxpayers seeing "a substantial increase" on their bills next year and not understanding the tax credit that will be available in the future.
Board member Arlyn Uhrmacher of Lincoln said SCC was acting to protect the college into the future by setting the highest baseline it could when its funding shifts from local property taxes to the cash fund set up by the state.
"We didn't ask for this," Uhrmacher said. "Nobody sitting at this table asked for our taxing authority to be taken away. Nobody asked for that, the community colleges didn't ask for that, but the governor wanted it and this is the situation we're set up with."
Chairman Neal Stenberg of Lincoln said requesting any less than the maximum property tax levy now could result in significant increases in tuition in the future when SCC is not receiving enough funding to meet its needs.
Hiking tuition too fast or too high could result in enrollment losses, which would be detrimental to SCC's open-access mission, as well as the local workforce that depends upon the college's training programs, Stenberg said.
"We've got one chance to get this right, and if we mess it up, it won't be just students that suffer, but the community will suffer," he said. "I know it's not an easy decision." | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/scc-property-taxes-to-soar-ahead-of-change-to-how-nebraska-funds-community-colleges/article_c2dd3f68-0fbd-11ee-8bb6-abcde60d903b.html | 2023-06-21T17:07:59 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/scc-property-taxes-to-soar-ahead-of-change-to-how-nebraska-funds-community-colleges/article_c2dd3f68-0fbd-11ee-8bb6-abcde60d903b.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Julie Stimson, Sedgwick County Emergency Management director, explained why tornado sirens failed to sound in Derby on Saturday night during a tornado warning. She made a presentation to Sedgwick County Commissioners during their staff meeting on Tuesday.
Stimson said that three tornado warnings were issued for Sedgwick County that night by the National Weather Service. Luckily, the storms did not produce a tornado. However, high winds damaged power lines and trees.
Stimson said sirens worked in two areas of the county. However, the tornado sirens failed to sound in Derby during the tornado warning.
“The system got overloaded because we had three polygons very close together. So as the system was analyzing this data and sending information out, we did have a problem in the Derby area that they are working on right now,” Stimson told commissioners. “We tried twice through automation, and we also tried to manually activate it with our manual backup system. The signal went. It just wasn’t received because of all the other traffic going on in the software system.”
In 2007, the National Weather Service introduced Storm Based Warnings or polygons for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash floods that are more geographically specific and not restricted to geopolitical boundaries. Polygons focus on the true threat area. In those areas, the sirens will sound.
“It is now automatic. That is part of the upgrade we have now. As soon as that polygon drops, the sirens in that polygon are going to sound,” Stimson said.
The county is in a five-year capital improvement program to upgrade the tornado system to work with new technology. It can be hard to test the system because the National Weather Service doesn’t provide test polygons.
“It is a conversation that is happening across the country. We really wish we had the capability because we don’t know how the software will handle a lot of data coming in at one time,” Stimson said. “If we could test the polygon piece to this, we would be able to identify issues ahead of time.”
Sedgwick County tests tornado sirens to make sure they are working at noon on Mondays.
“That is a maintenance check. It is a different type of test, just to clarify. It is to make sure our sirens are physically activating and making the noises that we want them to make. It does not test that polygon piece,” Stimson said.
The test is not performed on holidays or in stormy weather.
Stimson adds that outdoor sirens go off to alert people outside and that they are not meant or designed to be heard indoors. She said people should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, including signing up for civic alerts, tuning into local media such as KSN’s Storm Track 3 Weather, or getting a NOAA weather radio.
Stimson added that Sedgwick County 911 was overloaded with calls asking about the tornado warning. She said do not call 911 to ask about a warning as it is for immediate emergencies. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/sedgwick-county-explains-siren-failure-in-derby-during-tornado-warning/ | 2023-06-21T17:10:45 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/sedgwick-county-explains-siren-failure-in-derby-during-tornado-warning/ |
MELBOURNE, Fla. – In May, a shooting in downtown Melbourne began as an argument in a bar and ended with three gunshot victims — the initial shooter among them — being dropped off at a nearby hospital, according to police.
The victims’ arrival caused a stir, with some Melbourne officers already there and waiting for people to begin showing up with injuries as other LEOs responded to the scene on East New Haven Avenue.
Two people were arrested at the hospital, identified as Orlendo Green and Deonte Jones, who had transported two of the gunshot victims for treatment. Green and Jones were not identified as shooting suspects and rather went on to face charges of resisting officers, police said.
According to an affidavit for his arrest warrant, 36-year-old Nathaniel Spates, Jr., was identified as the third injured individual and as a shooter in the May 6 incident.
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The three shot showed up at the hospital one-at-a-time in a Buick, an Altima and an Infiniti, respectively. Spates was in the Altima, which police said bore two other individuals; Spates’ girlfriend rode as a passenger and another woman drove the car, according to police.
While Spates was being helped into the emergency room, his girlfriend allegedly pointed toward Green and Jones to tell police the two were involved in the shooting, what led to their respective takedowns as Spates went in for surgery unimpeded.
In the affidavit for Spates’ arrest warrant, which was filed Monday evening, detectives outlined the most detailed series of events to date of what was believed to cause and stem from the shooting.
According to the document, one of the victims had spoken with and allegedly hugged Spates’ girlfriend at Fiesta Bar and Grill, recounting interactions with “an unknown female” in talks with police.
Around 1 a.m., an altercation believed to have involved Spates and the victim who allegedly spoke to his girlfriend prompted the bar staff to close up early. Now standing outside of Cottonways, a nearby clothing store, Jones, Green, two women — one of whom was celebrating a birthday, which served as the reason for the group having gone out — and the two other victims were approached and shot at by Spates, police said.
The woman who drove Spates and his girlfriend to the hospital claimed to otherwise be a bystander, but police said that she willingly concealed a .38 caliber revolver and a 9mm Glock pistol in her purse, both being guns that investigators believe Spates used in the shooting.
As far as how Spates was injured, Police believe Jones followed and shot him with a revolver out of camera view after Spates shot the two others. Still, Jones only faces a charge of resisting an officer without violence, records show.
Police said Jones drove one of the victims to the hospital in the victim’s Infiniti and that Green drove the other victim to the hospital in a bystander’s Buick. That bystander had agreed to let Green drive his vehicle and later consented to submitting it as evidence, police said.
Spates faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, records show. He was being held on no bond amount at last check.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/main-suspect-among-3-hurt-in-downtown-melbourne-shooting-report-shows/ | 2023-06-21T17:11:29 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/main-suspect-among-3-hurt-in-downtown-melbourne-shooting-report-shows/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – A driver was arrested early Wednesday after crashing into a strip mall in Orlando, according to police.
The Orlando Police Department said the man, whose name has not been released, was driving recklessly and lost control before crashing into the building on Curry Ford Road near Semoran Boulevard.
Investigators said the driver initially ran from the crash but was later caught and arrested.
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Police said the damage was so bad that code enforcement had to be called in to make sure the rest of the building was structurally safe.
No other information has been released.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/man-arrested-after-car-slams-into-orlando-strip-mall/ | 2023-06-21T17:11:35 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/man-arrested-after-car-slams-into-orlando-strip-mall/ |
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A man was taken to the hospital and is set to face charges upon his release after allegedly eating a bag of cocaine during a traffic stop in Flagler County, according to the sheriff’s office.
Leslie Brock continued at a 15 mph crawl along an unspecified roadway as a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop around 11:26 p.m., a news release shows. After Brock finally stopped his vehicle, the deputy reported observing a torn-open baggie on Brock’s lap, as well as bits of white scattered on Brock’s shorts and beard, according to the release.
Brock reportedly refused multiple orders to leave his vehicle, with law enforcement allegedly watching as the baggie fell to the ground once Brock eventually complied.
Brock repeatedly spat out a white substance that tested positive for cocaine, deputies said. He was taken to a hospital in Palm Coast for medical treatment “due to ingesting a large amount of narcotics,” the release shows.
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Deputies recommended charges of resisting arrest without violence, possession of cocaine and tampering with evidence against Brock pending his release from the hospital, according to the release.
The sheriff’s office released the following video of Brock’s arrest:
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/man-hospitalized-after-eating-bag-of-cocaine-during-traffic-stop-flagler-deputies-say/ | 2023-06-21T17:11:41 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/man-hospitalized-after-eating-bag-of-cocaine-during-traffic-stop-flagler-deputies-say/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new report from the state is raising questions about the prosecution of juveniles accused of serious crimes in Orange and Osceola counties.
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice report released Tuesday shows that the State Attorney’s Office in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, covering Orange and Osceola counties, had the highest percentage of felony, violent felony and gun-related referrals for juveniles that were ultimately dropped.
The report analyzed data from referrals between Nov. 1, 2021, and Oct. 31, 2022, which included at least one felony, violent felony or firearm felony, to determine which cases the area’s state attorney’s office decided to drop and no longer pursue.
According to the data, the Ninth Judicial Circuit had 42% of juvenile felony referrals dropped, 29% of juvenile firearm-related referrals dropped and 41% of juvenile violent felony referrals dropped.
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A spokesperson for Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell responded to these findings in a statement on Tuesday.
“The State Attorney is committed to public safety, advocating for victims and protecting our community. There’s no policy in our office regarding to not file or drop cases other than to follow the law.
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.”
Jason Gunn, Communications Specialist for the Ninth Judicial Circuit
This is not the first time Worrell, who has been in a high-profile fight with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was called out by law enforcement and state officials for not prosecuting cases in her area.
In the wake of a string of Pine Hills shootings in February that left 9-year-old T’yonna Major, 24-year-old Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons and 38-year-old Nathacha Augustin dead, DeSantis went after Worrell. He demanded to see records relating to Keith Moses, the suspect in the fatal shootings, which also resulted in the injuries of Brandi Major, the girl’s mother, and 29-year-old Jesse Walden, a Spectrum News 13 photographer.
Worrell fired back, saying the governor was politicizing the Pine Hills tragedy to try and get her suspended.
Since then, DeSantis asked her office for records in two human trafficking cases she dropped, to which Worrell responded by saying he was “pursuing a witch hunt.”
Worrell has defended her prosecutions to local and state law enforcement officials by imploring law enforcement offices to look at the facts and “build better cases.”
“As I said repeatedly over the last several months, law enforcement has a burden of probable cause when they make an arrest,” Worrell said during a March news briefing. “When that case comes over to this office, we have an ethical burden of being able to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The report does concede that not all cases are suitable for prosecution.
“For example, there may be problems obtaining evidence or witness statements,” the report states. “Additionally, for minor offenses, prosecutors may elect to devote court resources to more serious cases that present a danger to public safety. However, to protect public safety through deterring future offending and facilitating access to FLDJJ’s research-supported delinquency interventions, it is important to pursue serious delinquency cases in the court system, while also prioritizing reductions in case processing times, which reinforces FLDJJ’s priorities for rehabilitation and accountability.”
Worrell and Orange County Sheriff John Mina hosted a discussion on youth violence solutions in March and a gun violence prevention summit open to law enforcement and public officials in May to help combat crime in the community.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/new-report-shows-orange-osceola-counties-dropped-most-cases-against-juveniles-in-florida/ | 2023-06-21T17:11:47 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/new-report-shows-orange-osceola-counties-dropped-most-cases-against-juveniles-in-florida/ |
OCALA, Fla. – Multiple sandbag locations have been set up in throughout Marion County on Wednesday due to the severe weather and flooding seen this week.
The stations are set up at four locations:
- Martel Recycling Center - 296 SW 67th Ave.
- Belleview Sportsplex
- E.D. Croskey Center - 1510 NW Fourth St.
- Jervey Gantt - 2200 SE 36th Ave.
Residents can fill sandbags from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The stations will reopen on Thursday for residents from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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There is a limit of 10 sandbags per resident.
Residents can use sandbags to prevent water from coming into their homes during storms and severe weather by placing them in doorways, garage doors or other areas around their house.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/ocala-sets-up-sandbag-locations-due-to-severe-weather-flooding/ | 2023-06-21T17:11:53 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/21/ocala-sets-up-sandbag-locations-due-to-severe-weather-flooding/ |
An Arizona man faces murder charges in the 2001 death of his stepdaughter. Here's what to know
Jury selection commenced on Monday for the trial of a man suspected of murdering his 17-year-old stepdaughter more than two decades ago.
Police arrested Michael Turney on Aug. 20, 2020 — 19 years after Alissa Turney of Paradise Valley disappeared on the last day of her junior year of high school. Her body was never discovered.
Alissa’s case garnered national media attention, with her sister, Sarah Turney, determined to see justice for her sister’s death.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Michael’s arrest and that he had been charged with second-degree murder, but did not elaborate on what new information may have led to his arrest after so many years.
Sarah lauded the news of her father’s arrest on Twitter shortly after the news broke.
Missing Arizona children:Phoenix teen Alissa Turney vanishes, killer confesses, explosives stockpile found
"I'm shaking and I'm crying. We did it you guys," she posted. "He's been arrested. Omg thank you. #justiceforalissa Never give up hope that you can get justice. It took almost 20 years but we did it."
Sister: ‘She was a survivor’
Alissa was raised in a blended family. Her mother remarried when Alissa was 3 and her stepfather adopted her. Her mother later died of cancer, before Alissa went missing.
Family members described Alissa as a good student. She had a boyfriend and worked at a Jack in the Box.
"She was a survivor," Sarah told The Arizona Republic in 2019.
According to Adel, Alissa was last seen by her boyfriend at Paradise Valley High School. She told him her stepfather was picking her up.
"Alissa's life was just beginning," Adel said. "For nearly 20 years, those who loved Alissa have longed to see her."
Stepfather previously imprisoned over possession of pipe bombs
If he’s convicted, it wouldn’t be the first time Michael was sentenced to prison.
As Phoenix police continued to investigate Alissa’s disappearance, the interviews detectives conducted indicated she wasn’t some runaway child. Police began looking into Michael more closely and later discovered he had 26 pipe bombs and three incendiary devices inside his Phoenix home.
FBI officials said Michael, who was a former electrician, had plans to blow up a union hall.
Michael ultimately pled guilty to unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices and was sentenced to serve a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. He was released in 2017.
Republic reporter Lauren Castle contributed to this article.
Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2023/06/21/jury-selection-begins-for-trial-of-man-accused-of-murdering-stepdaughter/70341018007/ | 2023-06-21T17:13:08 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2023/06/21/jury-selection-begins-for-trial-of-man-accused-of-murdering-stepdaughter/70341018007/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Happy Wednesday! Grab your morning coffee and check out the Morning Sprint to find out what’s trending.
The digital-only newscast is filled with laughter, smiles and stories you won’t want to miss. You can catch it Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.
Don’t be shy! Be sure to join the conversation as we chat about the news of the day.
Here are some of the stories we discussed:
- Underwater noises heard in frantic search for submersible missing with 5 aboard near Titanic
- Little girl reunited with her cat after 15-hour car ride
- Giant African land snail sends parts of Florida into quarantine
- Kansas City girl with passion for reading opens her own free library
Here’s where you can watch us:
The Sprint can be watched on our website, YouTube account and wherever you stream WSLS 10 weekdays at 8 a.m.
You can also watch it on our 10 News app. Click here to download if you’re an IOS user and here to download if you have an Android.
Be sure to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for watching!
Want to know more about the Morning Sprint? Leave us a question using the form below: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/coming-up-florida-county-under-quarantine-due-to-giant-african-land-snail-the-morning-sprint/ | 2023-06-21T17:14:34 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/coming-up-florida-county-under-quarantine-due-to-giant-african-land-snail-the-morning-sprint/ |
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – An Alleghany County sheriff’s deputy will not face charges after fatally wounding a dog in an attack in April, according to the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said on April 19, the deputy responded to a call of a dog running at large in the Paynes Grade area. We’re told the deputy was attacked by the dog, and subsequently, the deputy “fatally wounded the animal.”
We previously reported that when the deputy spotted the dog, which still had its chain attached, it began barring its teeth. It then bit the officer two times, aggressively shaking the deputy as it attacked him, authorities said.
The deputy tried to use his extendable baton, but was unable to do so due to the extreme aggressiveness of the dog.
On May 22, Alleghany County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Gardner found that criminal charges against the deputy are not appropriate in this case.
“After a thorough review of the evidence available, it appears that Deputy McGuire acted in reasonable fear of bodily injury while the dog was aggressively biting him. Consequently, criminal charges against Deputy McGuire are not appropriate,” Gardner said.
Ann Gardner by WSLS on Scribd | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/no-criminal-charges-filed-against-alleghany-county-deputy-who-shot-and-killed-dog-after-attack/ | 2023-06-21T17:14:41 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/no-criminal-charges-filed-against-alleghany-county-deputy-who-shot-and-killed-dog-after-attack/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Election day looked very different in the Commonwealth for this Primary with redistricting across the state flipping many districts on their head.
With all 140 seats up for grabs in November, just a few key swing districts could make the difference in who controls the General Assembly.
Primary elections have come to an end in the Commonwealth - with extremely low amounts of voters showing up to the polls.
The Roanoke City registrar reported less than 1,200 voters by 3 p.m. city-wide.
But 10 News political analyst Dr. Ed Lynch says this election is crucial, especially when it comes to the Star City.
[View Virginia Primary Election results here]
“That race right here in Roanoke could very well determine what party has the majority in the state senate,” Lynch said.
Redistricting has affected races all across the state.
The maps were redrawn with supervision from the Virginia Supreme Court after a bipartisan panel appointed by the legislature failed to come to an agreement on redistricting lines.
“Northern Virginia really got the benefits of that. So what the impact will be on people here in Southwest Virginia is they’ll be seeing some unfamiliar names, they’ll be grouped with parts of the valley that they haven’t been before,” Lynch said.
The newly redrawn fourth district senate race became one to watch as the day went on.
Roanoke Democrats Luke Priddy, Trish White-Boyd, and D.A. Pierce were all vying for a chance to run against Republican incumbent David Sutterlein in November.
Trish White-Boyd is now projected to beat Luke Priddy and D.A. Pierce for the Democratic nomination in the Virginia House of Delegates District 4 seat. She’s already prepping for that next election.
“This seat leans Republican, so it’s not going to be a cakewalk,” White-Boyd said.
Lynch says Governor Youngkin needs to flip the state senate red if he wants what is considered a successful term.
“They passed a lot of his initiatives this past time, but they stalled in the state senate. He’s hoping to break that log jam by controlling both houses and be able to go forward with his agenda starting next year,” Lynch said.
But redistricting may prove that difficult for the Republican Governor.
“Redistricting is definitely not helping that effort. But it may not depend on that. It may depend more on national issues, the popularity of President Biden, or the lack of popularity of President Biden as people look forward to 2024,” he said.
The next election is coming up in November, and we’ll have all of your coverage leading up to it on air and online.
To see results from Virginia’s Primary Election on June 20, 2023, click here. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/redistricting-rules-virginia-primary-election/ | 2023-06-21T17:14:47 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/redistricting-rules-virginia-primary-election/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke City Council got an update on the city’s largest plot of undeveloped land.
Evans Spring is an area of approximately 150 acres still undeveloped in Roanoke. The land sits between Valley View Mall and the Melrose-Rugby neighborhood.
The city has wanted to see the land developed for years but nothing has ever really been done to it. 10 News went through the history of the area and all the attempts to try and develop it.
The latest push to develop the land really started at the beginning of this year. In early March, a large-scale community engagement meeting brought in over 100 people to talk about their thoughts and concerns over developing the land.
One area of concern for Theresa Gill-Walker who lives in Northwest Roanoke is the environmental impact.
“I understand that they say development is necessary but don’t take away the essence of what makes Roanoke what it is,” Gill-Walker.
Another area of concern is people being forced from their homes. Roanoke has a deep-rooted history with Urban Renewal when Black homeowners were forced to move in the 60s and 70s.
Roanoke City Councilwoman, Stephanie Moon Reynolds, says people don’t want to see history repeat itself.
“They moved out of Gainsboro and moved over into the upper Northwest, primarily where you’re looking at Evans Spring … so to them, it’s almost like a déjà vu,” Moon Reynolds said.
During Tuesday’s city council meeting, the consultants talked about everything in terms of traffic, environmental impacts, economic impacts, etc.
The consultants say the plot of land is best suited for commercial properties because it lies so close to Interstate 581. However, many residents don’t want to see much development at all. Some say if there is development, it needs to be very small scale.
Initial proposals appear to be a mixed-use area ... some commercial, some residential. When it comes to residential properties, the consultants say it will be more single-story complexes rather than high-rise apartment buildings.
A big part of the development is the connection to the interstate. There are several ways developers can go about connecting Evans Spring to Interstate 581 but one idea that peaked Vice Mayor Joe Cobb’s interest was connecting the commercial side of the area to 581 and not the residential.
“The access to that would be very limited you’d still have the opportunity to protect and enhance the environmental assets that are there which I think is really important,” Cobb said.
It’s still very early on in the development stages with no true proposal finalized. Tuesday’s city council meeting was an opportunity for the consultants to provide an update on some of the feedback they’ve gotten.
They are continuing discussions with the public on the matter at a meeting Thursday at William Fleming High School at 7 p.m. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/roanoke-city-council-hears-update-on-evans-spring-future-development/ | 2023-06-21T17:14:53 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/roanoke-city-council-hears-update-on-evans-spring-future-development/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – A shooting at a business in Northeast Roanoke sent two men to the hospital early Wednesday (June 21) morning, according to the Roanoke Police Department.
Authorities say they were called to the scene of the shooting in the 3600 block of Plantation Road Northeast at about 3:25 a.m.
When officers arrived, they were flagged down by an individual at the business. After further investigation, officers found evidence of property damage that was left behind by the shooting; however, no victims of the shooting were located at the scene.
Not long after, officers determined that two men were taken to the hospital as a result of the shooting, one to LewisGale Medical and the other to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Both have non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
The police department said this is an ongoing investigation. Details surrounding the incident are limited at this time due to the victims’ lack of cooperation, according to police.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 540-344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text the department at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/two-men-injured-after-shooting-at-business-in-northeast-roanoke-police-say/ | 2023-06-21T17:15:00 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/06/21/two-men-injured-after-shooting-at-business-in-northeast-roanoke-police-say/ |
The Pleasant Prairie Police Department is looking for a missing 12-year-old girl according to a social media post.
Quetzatly Hernandez was last seen at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, in the Village of Pleasant Prairie. Her clothing is unknown but she is known to wear a red necklace and black glasses.
Anyone with any information about her whereabouts are asked to contact the department at 262-694-7353.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/pleasant-prairie-police-looking-for-missing-12-year-old/article_c124f852-104c-11ee-9497-07ce0166bb7b.html | 2023-06-21T17:19:40 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/pleasant-prairie-police-looking-for-missing-12-year-old/article_c124f852-104c-11ee-9497-07ce0166bb7b.html |
North Iowa Youth Center is celebrating Juneteenth in a big way with a special "Freedom Day" food truck.
Due to a food truck no-show on Tuesday, Mama Dee's is at the North Iowa Youth Center lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It is celebrated on June 19 and it's name is a portmanteau of the two words. June 19 is the anniversary of the order by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas in 1865.
North Iowa Youth Center is at 138 Fifth St. S.W. in Mason City. Mama Dee's in on site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/north-iowa-youth-center-celebrates-junteteenth--update/article_c3eec5f2-0eb9-11ee-89a2-1b69739e0564.html | 2023-06-21T17:21:48 | 0 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/north-iowa-youth-center-celebrates-junteteenth--update/article_c3eec5f2-0eb9-11ee-89a2-1b69739e0564.html |
HAMMOND — Former GOP Portage Mayor James Snyder could find out Friday morning if he will be required to surrender himself by Tuesday as requested by federal prosecutors to begin serving a 21-month prison term.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly, who had sentenced Snyder in October 2021, announced Wednesday morning his intention to hold a telephonic meeting to address the surrender date.
The sentence was well below the recommended sentencing guideline of 46 to 57 months on Snyder's federal bribery and tax violation convictions.
Federal prosecutors filed a request Tuesday for the prompt surrender date following Thursday's ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit that rejected all of Snyder's claims of error in his case, which upheld his convictions.
"Now that the judgment has been affirmed, it is appropriate to revoke the defendant’s bond and have the defendant surrender to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons," according to Amarjeet Bhachu, special attorney for the United States.
The motion references federal code "permitting bond pending appeal only when appeal presents a 'substantial question of law' likely to result in reversal or new trial."
"In view of the fact that this matter has been pending for a considerable period, the government respectfully requests that the defendant be ordered to surrender within seven days, on or before June 27, 2023," the motion reads.
"The people of Chesterton should be livid that a coward decided to vandalize town property with a call to violence and derogatory language," state Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said.
Snyder's defense attorney had not filed a response by late Wednesday morning.
Snyder, 45, was found guilty of soliciting and accepting a $13,000 bribe in 2014 in return for steering a $1.125 million contract for the purchase of garbage trucks for the city of Portage to the local Great Lakes Peterbilt company. Additionally, federal prosecutors said he obstructed the Internal Revenue Service's efforts to collect unpaid taxes on a private mortgage company he ran.
He was tried and found guilty in February 2019. When Snyder’s attorney’s moved for a judgment of acquittal or a new trial, the district court denied the motion for acquittal but granted Snyder a new trial on the bribery charge. He was convicted for a second time in March 2021.
In an appeal argued before the court in January, Snyder’s defense team said his rights were violated when the government seized email communications between him and his attorney as part of the discovery of evidence in the case.
The government maintained the integrity of its investigation through a filtering process in which federal agents determine which emails are considered “privileged” communications that should not be disclosed to the prosecution.
The man was pulled from the water following a 20-minute search, Porter police Lt. Dan Dickey had said.
"The emails had been seized and the filter process completed before Snyder was indicted in November 2016, and only at that time did his Sixth Amendment right to counsel attach," the appellate court wrote. The court also concluded that seizure of Snyder’s emails under the warrant did not violate the particularity requirement of the Fourth Amendment.
Snyder's team further argued that his conviction was not supported by sufficient evidence, which the judges did not find to be legitimate.
"The evidence here was sufficient to support the jury’s verdict," the judges said. "Evidence at trial established that Snyder owed personal and payroll taxes and that the IRS had taken ‘specific, targeted’ steps to collect by levying Snyder’s personal and business bank accounts."
Snyder’s legal team took additional action in March, suing the city of Portage, Democratic Mayor Sue Lynch and city attorney Dan Whitten, accusing the two of instructing city employees, including case witness Randall Reeder Jr., to not meet with Snyder and his legal team as they prepared for his second trial.
Attorneys for the city, Lynch and Whitten filed a motion in May to dismiss. Snyder’s legal team has five days to respond to the motion, according to federal court records.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Former GOP Portage Mayor James Snyder could find out Friday morning if he will be required to surrender himself by Tuesday as requested by federal prosecutors to begin serving a 21-month prison term. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/friday-hearing-set-on-request-for-former-gop-portage-mayor-snyders-prison-surrender/article_6699a160-1049-11ee-b831-5f08facc173e.html | 2023-06-21T17:23:30 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/friday-hearing-set-on-request-for-former-gop-portage-mayor-snyders-prison-surrender/article_6699a160-1049-11ee-b831-5f08facc173e.html |
Manchester University
Manchester University congratulates 347 undergraduate students who were named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List.
Those from the Region and the degrees they are pursing include:
Jillian Adamczyk of Hebron, studying Exercise Science and Fitness;
Serina Bachman of Lowell, Elementary Education;
Darvoni Christopher of Gary, K-12 human performance education;
James Corgan of Hobart, Psychology;
Madison Cunningham of Lowell, English/Language Arts Education;
Audrianna Diaz of LaPorte, History;
Alee Eaker of Lowell, Medical Technology;
Luke Fassoth of Portage, Exercise Science and Fitness;
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Isabella Flores of Valparaiso, Sport Management;
Kaitlyn Freel of LaPorte, Early Childhood and Elementary Education;
Maximus Herring of Hammond, Finance;
Peyton Horn of Crown Point, Exercise Science and Fitness;
Natalie Kotlin of Lowell, Chemistry;
Austin LeMar of Hobart, Accounting;
Omar Lemus of Portage, Biology-Chemistry;
Shadi Lemus of Portage, Pre-Pharmacy;
Reginald McKinney of Michigan City, Social Work;
Nicolas Melvin of Valparaiso, Marketing;
Rayann Nowacki of Lake Station, Exercise Science and Fitness;
Alexis Quick of Valparaiso, Marketing and business management;
Dia Rallings of LaPorte, Accounting;
Sieon Roberts of Hobart, Instrumental Music Education;
Rylee Stephany of LaPorte, Psychology;
Logan Tatalovich of Valparaiso, Finance;
Diana Wilson of Portage, Environmental studies.
University of Alabama
Several Region students have graduated from the University of Alabama.
They include:
Jenna Elliott of Chesterton, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences;
Gabriel Kroeger of Chesterton, who received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science;
Gavin Lachat of St. John, who received Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science;
Alecsander Mshar of Crown Point,who received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering;
Kaitlyn Sakich of Chesterton, who received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration;
Michael Sakich of Chesterton, who received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration;
Jaylyn Strayer of Crown Point, who received a Bachelor of Science in Education;
Lauren Tucker of Crown Point, who received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration;
Emmett Wilson of Chesterton, who received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration.
University of Findlay
Several Region students have graduated from the University of Findlay.
They include Reece Crossin, of Valparaiso, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Crossin graduated from the University with the academic designation of magna cum laude;
Katherine Curley, of Valparaiso, who received a Doctor of Physical Therapy;
Mikayla Hakala, of Valparaiso, who received a Doctor of Physical Therapy;
Ian Hardy, of Crown Point, who received a Doctor of Physical Therapy.;
Heather Hunter, of Valparaiso, who received a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Studies;
Curtis Munday, of Dyer, who received a Doctor of Physical Therapy. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/education-roundup/article_81fb661c-0f88-11ee-99e5-3356a6f59ddb.html | 2023-06-21T17:23:36 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/education-roundup/article_81fb661c-0f88-11ee-99e5-3356a6f59ddb.html |
MUNSTER —Dolores Smolen of Munster has received a state service award for her work with the Lake County Chorus, The Noteables.
The Patty Hunt Service award from the Melody Makers of Indiana is given annually to a person for extraordinary service to MMIA though her local Lake County Chorus, the Noteables.
She has been a member of the chorus for 19 years and was the vice president for 12 years. She is one of the top ticket salespersons and publicity chairman.
She is the mother to six sons and has 12 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. She has traveled the world, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and is a dedicated and enthusiastic member to both The Noteables and the Melody Makers of Indiana, Inc.
She is very active in her church, singing in the choir and serving as treasurer of the Altar and Rosary Society. She was also treasurer of her condo association and she served as treasurer on the endowment committee of her local school.
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She was 95 years old on June 1.
The plaque noting the award will hang in the office of the Lake County Purdue Extension Office for one year. The Noteables was originally organized under that office. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/munster-woman-wins-service-award/article_b5b35e4e-0f86-11ee-827c-efd601190ec1.html | 2023-06-21T17:23:43 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/munster-woman-wins-service-award/article_b5b35e4e-0f86-11ee-827c-efd601190ec1.html |
DENVER — Months after Colorado’s voters decided to join Oregon in decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms, Denver will host a conference this week put on by a psychedelic advocacy group bringing together an unlikely cohort of speakers — including an NFL star, a former Republican governor and a rapper.
The conference and the thousands expected to attend it is an indication of the creep, or perhaps leap, of cultural acceptance for psychedelic substances that proponents say may offer benefits for things like post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Still, medical experts caution that more research is needed on the drugs' efficacy and the extent of the risks of psychedelics, which can cause hallucinations.
NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who’ll soon debut with the New York Jets after years with the Green Bay Packers, has been open about his use of ayahuasca in the past and is slated to speak Wednesday. Rapper Jaden Smith, the son of Will Smith who has publicly shared the “ego dissolution” he felt when using psychedelics, will be speaking in Denver, too, as will former Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who is an advocate for researching psychedelics’ potential benefits for veterans experiencing PTSD.
>Video above: Meet the people who say magic mushroom therapy changed their lives.
The hosting organization, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, is the largest U.S. advocacy group. It has strategized to reach the full political spectrum, said Nicolas Langlitz, a historian of science who’s researched the boom and bust of psychedelic movements.
“Overall, this strategy has been tremendously successful,” he said. “At the time when any topic gets politically polarized, ironically these super polarizing substances now get bipartisan support.”
Still, Langlitz said, this conference is “purely designed to promote the hype," which can exaggerate the potential benefits but can also drive further funding.
“Any kind of overselling is not good for science because science should be accurate rather than pushing things," he said. “It’s a tradeoff. (The conference) generates interest, it generates ultimately more research, even though the research might be skewed toward positive results.”
Psychedelics are illegal at the federal level, though acceptance and interest in studying their potential benefits has grown. For example, some researchers believe psilocybin, the compound in psychedelic mushrooms, changes the way the brain organizes itself and can help users overcome things like depression and alcoholism.
The drugs themselves — and the interest in them — are not new. Mid-last century, authors Aldous Huxley and Ken Kesey helped spur the use of psychedelics during the counterculture movement, and optimism brimmed among some psychologists over the drugs’ potential to augment the human psyche.
But the Nixon administration criminalized psychedelics, pushing them underground.
“In both cases you have this upwelling of exuberance that may or may not be irrational,” said author Michael Pollan, who wrote a book on psychedelics and will be speaking at the conference. “But I think a big difference (now) is that the enthusiasm for the potential of psychedelics cuts across a much more representative slice of the population — it’s not about a counterculture."
Republican strongholds, including Utah and Missouri, have or are considering commissioning studies into the drugs, partly inspired by veterans’ poignant stories. That’s why, though he stops short of promoting recreational use, Perry has become an unlikely flagbearer and helped get a bill passed in the Texas legislature in 2021 to fund a study of psilocybin for treating PTSD.
In Congress, successful proposals to fund psychedelic research for PTSD in veterans brought progressive Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and far-right Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida into an unlikely alignment.
Public interest also appears to be growing. Just six years ago in Oakland, California, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies held a conference with roughly 3,000 attendees and a smattering of lesser-known speakers and die-hard proponents.
This time, organizers estimate at least 10,000 attendees. Other famous speakers will include former NHL player Daniel Carcillo, who owns a company specializing in psychedelic therapies; Olympic silver-medal figure skater Sasha Cohen; comedians Reggie Watts and Eric Andre, top-10 podcaster Andrew Huberman; and Carl Hart, the chair of Columbia University's psychology department.
The American Psychiatric Association has not endorsed the use of psychedelics in treatment, noting the Food and Drug Administration has yet to offer a final determination. The FDA did designate psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018, a label that’s designed to speed the development and review of drugs to treat a serious condition. MDMA, often called ecstasy, also has that designation for PTSD treatment.
Both Pollan and Langlitz believe further research is key — especially as the nation faces an unprecedented mental health crisis and people struggle to find adequate treatment. But, Langlitz said, it's important to let research shape the narrative.
“I would just try to keep my mind open to the possibility that in retrospect we will tell a very different story from the one that the protagonists of psychedelic therapies are currently predicting,” he said.
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To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/aaron-rodgers-denver-psychedelics-conference/73-7b41b55c-bf68-4e72-ad17-d054e5de5848 | 2023-06-21T17:25:46 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/aaron-rodgers-denver-psychedelics-conference/73-7b41b55c-bf68-4e72-ad17-d054e5de5848 |
CALIFORNIA, USA — The daughter of a California-based man sentenced to death in Iran has asked authorities in Germany to open criminal proceedings against members of the Iranian judiciary.
The family of Jamshid Sharmahd, who is a German-Iranian citizen, says he was abducted by Iran while staying in Dubai three years ago. Iranian authorities accused him of planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others. He was sentenced to death earlier this year.
German and European diplomats have condemned the verdict, which comes amid an increase in executions by Iran.
Germany follows the principle of universal jurisdiction, under which authorities can investigate serious crimes committed elsewhere in the world.
Sharmahd's daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd, filed a criminal complaint with the German federal prosecutor's office against eight high-ranking members of Iran's judiciary and the intelligence service, alleging crimes against humanity.
The Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, which is supporting her case, announced the filing Wednesday and said that the complaint targets prominent Iranian judge Abdolghassem Salavati and former Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi, among others.
“The kidnapping in Dubai, the unlawful detention, the torture while in detention, and the imminent execution of my father as a result of a show trial exemplify the untold crimes of the Iranian regime,” Gazelle Sharmahd said in a statement Wednesday.
“The regime in Tehran is responsible for the systematic torture, sexual violence, executions and ‘disappearances’ perpetrated against tens of thousands of people — most recently in the wake of the crackdown on the feminist revolution,” ECCHR's secretary general, Wolfgang Kaleck, said.
“Whether through criminal charges in Germany in the Sharmahd case, legal action in another country or before an international court, the goal is to bring high-ranking officials of the Iranian government, judiciary, and security apparatus to justice for these crimes.”
Earlier this year, Germany and Iran expelled each others’ diplomats over the Sharmahd case. His hometown is Glendora, California.
Watch more on ABC10 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-man-death-row-iran/103-c6fe6b5e-aeea-4195-92fc-19165664453f | 2023-06-21T17:25:52 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-man-death-row-iran/103-c6fe6b5e-aeea-4195-92fc-19165664453f |
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — West Nile virus has been found in Roseville, the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District said Wednesday.
This is the first mosquito sample and dead bird to test positive for the virus in Placer County this year. They were found near Westpark in Roseville.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted through a bite from a female mosquito. According to the CDC, there are no vaccines to prevent West Nile virus or medications to treat it in people.
“Annually, at this time of year, we detect West Nile virus circulating in the mosquito population in the county,” Joel Buettner, Placer Mosquito District Manager said in a statement. “We encourage residents to wear an EPA-registered repellent to protect themselves from mosquito bites while we enhance our surveillance efforts and schedule treatments to help lower the risk of disease transmission to people.”
The district traps and tests mosquitos weekly in Placer County during the summer. Those test results help assess the risk of the virus transmitting to people and inform the type of vector control treatments used.
If anyone thinks they have a mosquito problem, they can submit a problem report to the district HERE.
What repellent should you use?
There are five active, EPA-approved ingredients known to be effective mosquito repellents, according to the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District.
- DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
- Picaridin (KBR 3023)
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)]
- IR 3535
- Permethrin
Find more information HERE.
Watch more on ABC10: Mormon crickets take over homes, roads in Nevada city | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/west-nile-virus-found-in-roseville/103-99562d7e-378e-4d5b-985a-3c113444d930 | 2023-06-21T17:25:58 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/west-nile-virus-found-in-roseville/103-99562d7e-378e-4d5b-985a-3c113444d930 |
Federal regulators want first responders to a train derailment to know exactly what they are dealing with even before they reach the scene, because the dangerous chemicals trains carry might require a specialized response.
So the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed a new rule Wednesday that would require all railroads to immediately send the details of everything aboard their trains to every emergency responder within 10 miles, as soon as the railroad becomes aware of an accident.
The new rule comes one day ahead of a National Transportation Safety Board hearing to scrutinize emergency responses to the fiery Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train outside East Palestine, Ohio. The NTSB is still working to determine exactly what caused that wreck, which prompted the evacuation of thousands of people and ignited nationwide concern about railroad safety and calls for reforms.
The largest freight railroads already have an app they developed, AskRail, which for nearly a decade has enabled firefighters to quickly look up the details of what each train carries. And crews have long carried printed copies of their cargo in the cabs of their locomotives.
And railroads should already know who to push that information to electronically — dispatchers and rail police are expected to maintain contacts for first responders all along their routes, to reach out to whenever there is a crossing accident, a trespasser or any other issue.
But this proposed rule would apply to every railroad that carries chemicals — not just the six biggest ones that created AskRail. Nearly 600 railroads would be covered. And the rule would force the railroads to proactively send out this information to all nearby emergency services, using electronic push alerts, anytime there is a derailment or hazardous chemical release, instead of expecting arriving firefighters to look up the details on an app.
“On-demand access to key information about hazmat shipments coupled with proactive information sharing with those closest to the problem will enable first responders to better prepare for the risks present at the scene of an incident before they arrive on scene,” said Tristan Brown, deputy administrator of the agency.
The old standby of expecting train crews to provide cargo information at the scene has its limitations. Precious minutes can elapse in the chaos of a major derailment before first responders find crewmembers. But that would still be the backup plan in case first responders don’t get the electronic information right away.
The Association of American Railroads trade group emphasizes that railroads remain the safest way to ship dangerous chemicals by land with more than 99 percent of those shipments arriving safety.
But even one derailment involving hazardous materials can prove disastrous, and last year there were more than 1,000 derailments — roughly three a day. More than three quarters happened at slow speeds in railyards, without causing major damage.
Since the East Palestine derailment, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other regulators have pressed for changes, urging railroads to do more to prevent similar disasters and issuing advisories about various aspects of railroad operations.
Regulators said this proposed rule may not have changed the outcome of the derailment in East Palestine, but that accident and others show how important it is to provide emergency responders with timely, complete and accurate information.
Volunteer firefighters were first on the scene of the East Palestine derailment, and Ohio officials said they handled it about as well as they could under the circumstances, but Gov. Mike DeWine has pushed the railroads to disclose more information ahead of time to states and communities about the chemicals they carry.
“We applaud the DOT for prioritizing fire fighter and public safety,” said Edward A. Kelly, who leads the International Association of Fire Fighters.
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Two years after a former Gettysburg College student finally saw charges filed over her 2013 campus sexual assault, the man suspected of sending her a Facebook message that said, " So I raped you,” remains on the run.
Shannon Keeler, 28, and her attorneys question how Ian T. Cleary has avoided capture in an age when people are tracked by their cellphones, internet connections, security cameras and credit card purchases. Investigators, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, believe the 30-year-old from Silicon Valley is likely overseas and on the move.
“How is he financially supporting himself? How is he able to travel abroad without detection? Has he assumed a false identity?” asked Andrea Levy, legal director of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, who represents Keeler. “Who’s helping him?”
Keeler was sexually assaulted on a snowy December night in her dorm room. She texted friends for help even before he fled, and went to police the same day.
For years, local officials declined her pleas to file charges, even after she showed them the startling Facebook messages she discovered in 2020. They reversed course weeks after she went public in an Associated Press story that examined the reluctance of local agencies to prosecute campus sexual assaults.
For Keeler, the years of limbo have been painful, even as she moves forward with her life and career. She works for a software company and is getting married this fall. But she remains on high alert for an arrest that could come at any time, knowing a trial could disrupt her life for months or even years.
“She’s had to push and push and put herself out there … and then he’s just literally gone on with his life. It’s hard to measure that impact on her as a human being, (and on) her family, her partner,” Levy said. “There’s a cost. There’s a real human cost. It’s someone’s life.”
After leaving Gettysburg, Cleary, 30, graduated from Santa Clara University, near a family home in Saratoga, California, worked for Tesla, then moved to France for several years, according to his website, which describes his self-published medieval fiction.
Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett, who filed the arrest warrant on June 29, 2021, called the duration of the search “somewhat frustrating.”
“I just have to think this person is accessing resources from somewhere,” Sinnett said.
Neither Cleary’s father in California, a marketing executive who has served as a professor and trustee at Santa Clara, nor his mother in Baltimore returned messages this month seeking comment.
U.S. marshals said the search remains active. An Interpol Red Notice has been issued, asking police agencies worldwide to detain Cleary, although he is not yet listed in the public database, which includes a few dozen rape and sexual assault cases.
“We put a lot of work and effort into it,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Phil Lewis, warrant supervisor for the office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Any crimes against women and children, we take seriously and we make those types of cases a priority.”
As the #MeToo movement continues to shape society — and some adults, including accusers of Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, use the courts to seek monetary damages if it’s too late for criminal charges — college students are also seeking accountability.
In California, students are lobbying for campus health centers to keep rape kits on hand, or pay for victims in the throes of trauma to travel to a hospital for an exam. More states are requiring colleges to survey students on the climate around sexual assault, and groups such as End Rape on Campus are working on tools to make school data more accessible.
And some law enforcement agencies have shown sustained commitment, including police who stayed on top of advances in DNA science to make an arrest this year in a 2000 knifepoint rape on a Penn State golf course.
In 2004, they matched the DNA to an unsolved 1999 golf course rape in Michigan. In 2011, they filed a “John Doe” arrest warrant, identifying the subject only by his DNA before the 12-year statute of limitations in Pennsylvania expired. Using genetic genealogy, they identified the suspect this year as Michigan business owner Kurt Rillema, and matched the DNA samples to a coffee cup he discarded at a Lexus dealership before charging him in both cases.
“The police so often get beat up for doing the wrong thing. Here, it’s pretty impressive, they were on the ball,” said lawyer Conor Lamb, who sued Rillema last month on behalf of the Penn State accuser, a 42-year-old woman in suburban Philadelphia.
Rilemma’s lawyers plan to challenge the privacy issues raised by the genetic sleuthing, especially the way his DNA from the coffee cup was obtained without a warrant.
“Everybody wants to solve old crimes, but the process is so invasive, and when it’s done without a warrant, people ought to think about that. It’s creepy and scary,” said defense lawyer Deanna Kelley of suburban Detroit.
In Gettysburg, meanwhile, a small town known for its Civil War history, Sinnet said there is now more coordination between campus and local police, in the hope that more college rape victims can have their day in court.
Keeler is still waiting for that day, nearly a decade after she reported the attack and Cleary left school, ending the college’s Title IX investigation.
“Since then, he has again run away from facing this felony charge,” she said, while she tries to “to finally close this never-ending, painful chapter of my life.”
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PITTSBURGH — Admission to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will be free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday as part of the museum’s 40th birthday celebration.
The Summer Free Day birthday blowout will feature indoor and outdoor games, live music, circus artists, performances and dancing. There will be ice cream, vinyl painting, hat making, candle making and more.
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh was recently ranked No. 2 in the USA Today 10 Best’s “10 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S.”
“Summer Free Day is a big ‘Thank You’ to everyone who has enjoyed the Children’s Museum and supported us over the years,” says Max Pipman, senior director of communications at the museum. “We have come a long way. From a small, basement space in the Old Allegheny Post Office on the North Side, we’ve grown into the largest cultural campus for kids in the country!”
Advance tickets are recommended at www.pittsburghkids.org.
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McDonald Borough police are investigating the disappearance of 32-year-old Steven Paul McEwen, who has been reported missing in Aug. 2019 by a family member.
The last communication with McEwen was by phone, during which he made suicidal comments.
McEwen was from the Pittsburgh area and had become homeless after losing his job, according to police. He was last living in a tent in the woods in McDonald.
McEwen is five feet, seven inches tall and weighs about 210 to 220 pounds. He has red hair, which is possibly shoulder length, a beard and blue eyes. He has freckles on his face and a serenity prayer tattoo on his left forearm.
McEwen goes by the nickname “Polar Bear.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the McDonald Borough Police Department at 724-926-2105 and speak to Chief Ahlborn or Officer Kubacki or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS or online.
All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.
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This week marks a new era, a new name and a new logo for Sharpsburg and Aspinwall after a judge signed an order approving the two fire departments becoming one.
It’s a merger a year in the making, but now, Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services is official, with Station No. 1 located in Sharpsburg and Station No. 2 located in Aspinwall.
“Ultimately, regionalization is the only way the volunteer fire service is going to be sustainable for the long term,” said Asst. Chief Mike Daniher, who works out of Station No. 1 in Sharpsburg. “We’re working with both municipalities for a long-term funding strategy so the departments are not reliant on fundraisers — rather municipal dollars.”
Daniher said manpower and efficiency were key factors in this decision, with volunteers now able to share gear and equipment and two home bases to work from.
“By joining departments, we’re able to reduce the amount of apparatus we need to purchase, and the price of the apparatus has jumped exponentially,” Daniher said.
Channel 11 asked Daniher what impact this could have on response times. He said he anticipates an improvement in certain situations.
“Two weeks ago, I was stuck in traffic when we got a call, so instead of going to the Sharpsburg station, I turned one street, went to the Aspinwall station, and out the door we went,” Daniher said.
The department will have a chief and deputy chief, and each station will have an assistant, lieutenant, and captain. Those will be decided this fall.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/judge-approves-sharpsburg-aspinwall-volunteer-fire-departments-merger/MOJ5B57NMVB65AJ32ZBCAKIBMA/ | 2023-06-21T17:28:49 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/judge-approves-sharpsburg-aspinwall-volunteer-fire-departments-merger/MOJ5B57NMVB65AJ32ZBCAKIBMA/ |
MCKINNEY, Texas — The Erwin Farms neighborhood in McKinney had a group of uninvited visitors last week. The neighborhood is no stranger to wildlife as WFAA reported on the wild hogs that made a mess of a number of lawns in January.
"It gets a little wild around here now and then, we've lived here for years," laughed Garrett Piersall, a resident of Erwin Farms.
Their latest group of visitors took the "farm" in Erwin Farms too seriously.
"We woke up and I said, 'You won't [expletive] believe what happened on the Cove this morning,'" Piersall recalled saying to his wife on Sunday.
There were 40 goats on his lawn.
Multiple house cameras caught visuals of the goats slowly making their way through the neighborhood.
"They were coming down the road really slowly and kinda chilled out right here," said Mike Danielson, a longtime resident in the neighborhood.
WFAA was told that around 40 goats broke from the herd that was grazing at a nearby development. The goats are normally tasked with eating down the vegetation for the development which, in turn, helps with fire season.
But, they instead took a stroll through the neighborhood. The goats had migrated for more than a mile from the rest of the herd.
"I think they ate a little bit from everybody's yard all the way around the circle here. One of the guys on two legs was just eating my tree. It was pretty wild," said Piersall.
Naturally, a few front yards were picked clean including Piersall's bushes. "It actually did us a favor because we were probably going to pull them this week or next anyway," he laughed.
The small group of goats eventually reunited with the larger herd.
The firm that employs the goats did not want to be a part of the story. But WFAA was told the firm did replace the parts of the yard the goats destroyed.
"They took care of things very quickly. They got his flowers replaced in a couple hours," said Danielson.
Most everything has been replaced, including normalcy in the McKinney neighborhood.
"The grass is greener on the other side... over here," laughed Danielson. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/goats-grazing-break-from-herd-stroll-through-mckinney-texas-neighborhood/287-27f32c7a-652f-41c3-a9ad-85ffdb826295 | 2023-06-21T17:35:25 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/goats-grazing-break-from-herd-stroll-through-mckinney-texas-neighborhood/287-27f32c7a-652f-41c3-a9ad-85ffdb826295 |
BUTLER, Tenn. (WJHL) – Hidden in the depths of Watauga Lake lies what’s left of a once thriving town forced into abandonment by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Old Butler, Tennessee was flooded in 1948 as the TVA completed the Watauga Dam.
It is the only incorporated town ever flooded by the TVA.
While people enjoy what the lake has to offer every summer, many do not know the history that rests underwater.
At the Butler Museum, located off Highway 67 in the new Butler, it has become the mission of several volunteers to preserve Old Butler’s story and legacy.
Lynn Farmer volunteers and leads tours at the museum. Her mother and great-grandmother were both Old Butler residents.
“Before, you really couldn’t find a lot of information about the people of Old Butler,” Farmer said. “We were losing that history. The museum has really helped us capture that information.”
The museum offers a wide range of artifacts that showcase what life was like in the town and tells the history of “The Town that Wouldn’t Drown.”
Joe Lipford: One of the last of his kind
A walk through the Butler Museum reveals more than just those artifacts. The museum tells the stories of the people who lived there.
Now more than seven decades since the town was flooded, only a handful of people who lived in Old Butler are still around to tell their stories.
101-year-old Joe Lipford is one of the few remaining who lived in the original town. Years after the town went underwater, Lipford is still angry his hometown was lost to the dam.
“That dam ruined this country here,” Lipford said. “If you knew the country, if you were going from here to Butler, and you needed a drink of water all you needed to do was just step off the side of the road.”
Lipford was born in 1921 near Old Butler in Cobbs Creek, another Watauga Valley settlement taken under by the dam.
He still carries fond memories of traversing the hills while possum hunting with his uncle.
The Lipfords ran a small family farm, as did many in the valley, on which Lipford worked tirelessly growing corn, tobacco and wheat. He left town at 18 and joined the Army. He would earn a Purple Heart in the service during World War II.
“I didn’t like farming,” Lipford said. “That’s why I left home. After I was in, I wished I was back home.”
Lipford returned home in 1945 and found a town in limbo as the TVA continued its construction of the dam.
“People, they were really talking against the dam,” Lipford said. “But wasn’t nothing they could do about it.”
Historians at the Butler Museum said people in the flood plain were not allowed to sell their homes while the TVA completed the dam.
Many, including Lipford, moved their homes to different locations.
“I think everybody was down-hearted about it, but that’s the way things went,” Lipford said. “There’s many people that I knew that moved out, and I don’t know where they went.”
Everyone in town was gone by 1948 when the water started rising.
“It was a sour note for all of them,” Lipford said. “You know, the government they’re going to do whatever they want to do anyway.”
A thriving town in the mountains
Butler’s history, however, started long before Lipford’s time.
The area was originally settled in 1768 and became an incorporated town after the Civil War.
It gets its name from Roderick Butler who led the 13th Calvary for the Union Army. Despite Tennessee’s allegiance to the Confederacy in the war, Farmer said hundreds of men from the area left to serve in the Union Army in the 13th Calvary.
After the war and the town’s incorporation, the town started to grow. Churches and schools started popping up in town surrounded by small-time family farms specializing in beans, tobacco and timber.
“They really worked the land,” Farmer said. “They grew everything that they needed.”
It was in 1902 when the railroad was extended to town that Old Butler flourished.
David Shepherd, president of the Butler and Watauga Historical Association, said the train brought with it economic opportunity, transforming it into a thriving town tucked away in the mountains.
“It had its own police department, its own public works, its own school system, had roller skating rinks, movie theaters, grocery stores,” Shepherd said. “I mean, it was a thriving community.”
Lipford lived and worked in his youth in Cobbs Creek, but Old Butler was the place to be.
“Used to skate every Friday night,” Lipford said. “Everybody. Community.”
Old Butler was also a place to get an education. The Watauga Academy was in town, and people came from far and wide to get a quality education.
“It was a very important piece of the community,” Farmer said. “People who graduated there were really ready to go out and teach, really ready to go out and do anything. There’s a lot of really prominent people who graduated there.”
But trouble was lurking for Butler. The town’s future would be determined after a devastating flood in 1940.
Butler’s fate is sealed
Butler’s abundant water supply in the Watauga Valley would also be its downfall.
In 1940, the town was hit by a devastating flood that killed six people, destroyed homes and washed out the railroad.
“It destroyed the railroad, which was really how it connected to Elizabethton and Bristol,” Farmer said. “It was severe, and the railroad was never replaced.”
Congress approved the Watauga Dam project the next year as a means of flood control.
Over the next seven years, the people of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley lived in uncertainty.
“There was 650 families who lived in that area, and over 600 of those families had to move,” Farmer said.
Some picked up their house and moved it elsewhere, others were forced to start from scratch in other communities.
But Farmer said much of the community was forced to abandon agriculture in their new locations.
“When you have 600 families trying to buy property, it’s hard to find property,” Farmer said. “It was really difficult to go back to the farming life.”
Many townspeople did not believe they got a fair deal from the TVA, Farmer said. She used the example of one of her family members.
“She went from over 20 acres to a five-acre lot to raise a garden and a little bit of tobacco as a cash crop,” Farmer said. “Very few people thought it came out well.”
By 1947, the TVA had purchased all the property, and then the waters came in 1948.
While Old Butler is gone, its legacy and history live on at the Butler Museum.
Two floors house dozens of artifacts, including some pieces recovered from Watauga Lake when it was drained in 1983. You can also tour the original W.S. Stout Store on site, laid out to look as it did in Old Butler’s heyday.
Shepherd said the museum serves as an important link to the area’s past.
“I feel like that’s truly our only legacy is our history that we can pass on to the next generation,” Shepherd said. “It’s just being lost rapidly, and I want to help preserve it.”
For Lipford, the museum brings back strong memories of the early stages of his life spent in the town.
“I’ll tell you what, it was really good to know Butler, Old Butler,” Lipford said.
You can visit the Butler Museum at 123 Selma Curtis Road in Butler.
Be sure to also check out Old Butler Days, a festival celebrating “The Town that Wouldn’t Drown,” on October 7-8 at Babe Curtis Park, adjacent to the museum. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/celebrating-70-years/old-butlers-legacy-lives-on-decades-after-town-flooded-by-tva/ | 2023-06-21T17:36:07 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/celebrating-70-years/old-butlers-legacy-lives-on-decades-after-town-flooded-by-tva/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency (UETHDA) officials will come to Kingsport on June 28 to help low-income households apply for assistance in paying their delinquent utility bills.
Officials will be at City Hall in Kingsport from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to assist residents.
“UETHDA received federal COVID grant money to help low-income families pay utility bills through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Income limits depend on the number of people in your household,” stated a release from the City of Kingsport.
Residents are asked to bring the following for their application:
- One social security card for someone in the household
- An ID of the person completing the application
- Proof of Income for the last 30 days for everyone in the household over 18
Those needing assistance sooner can contact the UETHDA by phone (423-246-6180) or by visiting their office at 301 Louis Street.
Payment arrangements can be made with customer service to prevent water from being cut off, the release stated. To contact customer service, call 423-343-9860 or visit City Hall Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/delinquent-utility-bills-assistance-program-comes-to-kingsport/ | 2023-06-21T17:36:13 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/delinquent-utility-bills-assistance-program-comes-to-kingsport/ |
DALLAS — The United States Postal Service (USPS) is mourning the loss of one of its employees who passed away during their route in a North Texas neighborhood this week, the company confirms.
In a statement, USPS said the employee was working a route in the Lakewood area of Dallas, when he died of a possible heat-related illness. At this time, the letter carrier’s name has not been released to the public.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this time. Our carriers deliver the mail throughout the year during varying temperatures and climatic conditions. This includes during the summer months when the temperatures rise throughout the country,” USPS said.
USPS said the company has long implemented a national Heat Illness Prevention Program (HIPP) for their workers.
“In connection with the HIPP, the Postal Service provides mandatory heat-related and other safety training and instruction to all employees and assures they have the resources needed to do their jobs safely,” The USPS statement reads.
In Dallas alone, the heat index has been recorded above 110 degrees so far this week.
Meteorologists, including WFAA’s weather team, are advising those who work outdoors to stay hydrated and take an ample number of breaks. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/lakewood-usps-worker-dies-heat-related-illness-dallas/287-d3bf9ef9-ce0e-4896-8366-efe66a482c12 | 2023-06-21T17:39:13 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/lakewood-usps-worker-dies-heat-related-illness-dallas/287-d3bf9ef9-ce0e-4896-8366-efe66a482c12 |
BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington Fire Department is conducting live fire training in a mock airplane today at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.
The training, required by the Federal Aviation Administration, began at 10:30 a.m. today and will end around 4 p.m., according to a news release from the fire department.
People in the area may notice smoke and an increased amount of emergency vehicles on the airfield.
The training will focus on extinguishing fires inside the airplane, creating a safe path using simulated foam for evacuating persons on board the aircraft, and using specialized nozzles operated from within the CRASH truck to create exit paths and extinguish fuel fires, the fire department said.
BFD provides 24-hour aircraft rescue and fire-fighting protection to CIRA.
Photos: Emergency crews train on air disaster readiness at Bloomington airport | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/live-fire-training-underway-at-bloomington-airport/article_64b3421e-104b-11ee-bbf6-ebc5c236abb0.html | 2023-06-21T17:43:12 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/live-fire-training-underway-at-bloomington-airport/article_64b3421e-104b-11ee-bbf6-ebc5c236abb0.html |
BLOOMINGTON — The Salvation Army of McLean County has announced a new assistant corps officer, Lt. Kaitlin Fullop, for its Bloomington branch.
Fullop, who previously served in St. Charles, takes over on July 2 for Lt. Katherine Reid, who recently transferred to the Danville Salvation Army, the agency said in a statement.
According to the release, Fullop is originally from the New York and New Jersey area, but has been involved with the Salvation Army since she was 6 years old. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/salvation-army-bloomington-new-officer/article_8a4b54de-0f84-11ee-9ff8-17a0ed568ef2.html | 2023-06-21T17:43:18 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/salvation-army-bloomington-new-officer/article_8a4b54de-0f84-11ee-9ff8-17a0ed568ef2.html |
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — An airplane pilot was diverted to Atlantic City International Airport after reporting mechanical problems Tuesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
A Learjet 60 reported an equipment issue about 6 p.m. and was diverted to the airport, where it landed safely, FAA spokesperson Mina Kaji said Wednesday.
The plane departed Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York bound for Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, Kaji said.
It was unclear how many people were on board.
More information about the purported malfunction was not available in the FAA's preliminary report, Kaji said.
Kimberly Testa, a spokesperson for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which operates the airport, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlanticcity-airplane-airport-emergency/article_fbfa7220-104e-11ee-b3f3-bfd320605467.html | 2023-06-21T17:46:22 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlanticcity-airplane-airport-emergency/article_fbfa7220-104e-11ee-b3f3-bfd320605467.html |
Peoria journalist leaves TV station after three years for new job
PEORIA – After three years of working for WEEK-TV 25 News, reporter Paige Blanzy's last day was June 15.
Blanzy went to work at the station immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2020 with a degree in journalism.
On Blanzy’s final day at the station, her co-workers celebrated her work by showing clips from some of her more memorable stories on air. At the end of the video, a smiling Blanzy thanked her co-workers and the viewing audience.
“Thank you to central Illinois for everyone who invited me into their homes and trusted me to tell their stories. I appreciate it more than any of you will ever know,” she said.
More:Former Peoria journalist announces new TV station job on the East Coast
Though Blanzy declined to be interviewed for this story, she said she is taking on a new opportunity to be closer to her family. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/peoria-journalist-paige-blanzy-leaves-week-tv-25-news-for-new-job/70339285007/ | 2023-06-21T17:46:40 | 1 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/peoria-journalist-paige-blanzy-leaves-week-tv-25-news-for-new-job/70339285007/ |
Peoria has been named one of the top 100 midsized cities to live in the country
Peoria was named one of the 100 best small to midsized cities to live in the United States, according to livability.com
Livability gave Peoria a score of 685 out of 1000 on its livability score, citing Peoria's cheap home prices and easy transportation as its main factors.
Peoria's median home value is $132,995 and median rent per month is $661, according to livability's assessment. The average commute time for workers is 15 minutes.
Naperville, Evanston, Bloomington and Peoria all made the top 100 from Illinois.
More:Illinois has $3.5 billion in unclaimed funds. Is any of it yours?
Livability references the Peoria Civic Center, Peoria Chiefs, the Peoria Zoo and the Peoria Playhouse Children's Museum as adding to the quality of life in the city.
Green spaces such as Tower Park and the Rock Island Greenway are also mentioned.
Opinion:Peoria is the best place for my family to live. Here's why
"While it has earned its reputation as a manufacturing hub thanks to companies like Caterpillar Inc. who call the city home, the city on the Illinois River has diversified its economy in recent years, becoming a leader in health care innovation and startup incubation while maintaining the history and culture that have been part of its story for nearly 200 years," the ranking says of Peoria. "Once a massive producer of whiskey, new, hip and delicious distilleries have reestablished Peoria’s reputation for spirits." | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/peoria-named-to-list-of-top-100-places-to-live-for-midsized-cities/70339271007/ | 2023-06-21T17:46:46 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/21/peoria-named-to-list-of-top-100-places-to-live-for-midsized-cities/70339271007/ |
Armed with a handgun, a man entered the Florida Mart at the 800 block of West Florida Street around noon on Monday. The suspect held the gun to a cashier's head, demanded money, and then pulled the trigger. But the gun did not fire.
The suspect then fled the business, according to police, who responded about 1:19 p.m. and spoke with the victim of the robbery.
The investigation led officers to the area of Spring Garden and Granite streets where they found the suspect vehicle and decided that the suspect was inside a nearby house. The force — comprised of members of the Violent Crime Reduction Team (VCRT) and responding patrol officers —waited for the suspect to leave the house in the vehicle, and then stopped the car.
The suspect ran from the vehicle and officers from the violent crime team successfully chased them down.
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Greensboro Police detectives conducted the suspect interview and have charged Jevon Vernarda Thomas, 26, with second-degree kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and possession of a firearm by a felon. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/suspect-held-gun-against-cashiers-head-and-pulled-the-trigger-but-the-weapon-did-not/article_7b8e657c-0fa1-11ee-b511-538af4acaa33.html | 2023-06-21T17:52:10 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/suspect-held-gun-against-cashiers-head-and-pulled-the-trigger-but-the-weapon-did-not/article_7b8e657c-0fa1-11ee-b511-538af4acaa33.html |
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A Central Florida man with a long history of arrests in Flagler County was taken to the hospital Tuesday after deputies say he tried to hide a large amount of drugs by swallowing them.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
A Deputy on the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office “Problem Area Crime Enforcement” Unit attempted to make a traffic stop on a silver Infiniti shortly before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday for a minor violation.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Infiniti initially failed to stop and continued along the roadway at a low speed.
READ: Orlando police arrest man accused of shooting 2 near festival last month
The sheriff’s office released body-worn camera footage of what happened after the car finally stopped.
The deputy can be seen approaching the driver’s side of the vehicle before making contact with the occupant, identified as 34-year-old Leslie Brock.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was able to see a torn open baggie on Brock’s lap with several “small white flakes” resembling cocaine scattered across his shorts and on his face and beard.
READ: Osceola County veteran given puppy as emotional support pet
The deputy gave Brock multiple commands to exit the car, which he initially ignored. As Brock was removed from the car, deputies say the torn baggie fell to the ground.
Deputies say they also noticed Brock spit out a white substance several times which later tested positive for possible cocaine.
Due to the “large amount of narcotics” deputies say Brock swallowed, they requested Emergency Medical Services and had him taken to AdventHealth in Palm Coast for treatment.
READ: Suspect in multiple bank robberies arrested in Orlando
Once he’s cleared by AdventHealth, Brock will be taken to the Flagler County jail on charges of resisting arrest, possession of cocaine, and tampering with evidence.
According to the sheriff’s office, Brock has a “lengthy” record in Flagler County dating back more than 15 years for arrests on charges that include possession of cocaine, sale of a controlled substance, robbery and brawling.
“This poison peddler could have died while attempting to conceal his narcotics by swallowing them,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “If you get caught with illegal narcotics don’t make things worse by swallowing them. He is lucky to be alive.”
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputies-florida-man-hospitalized-after-swallowing-large-amount-cocaine-during-traffic-stop/ELGYF4MTTVBZRLUKPGNAOZ7HBU/ | 2023-06-21T17:54:43 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputies-florida-man-hospitalized-after-swallowing-large-amount-cocaine-during-traffic-stop/ELGYF4MTTVBZRLUKPGNAOZ7HBU/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dozens of recommendations to help cut crime in Orange County are now on their way to commissioners.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
They are coming from the Citizens Safety Task Force.
That group reassembled after the deadly shooting spree in Pine Hills in February.
Some of their recommendations include stricter prosecutors, more streetlights and greater involvement of community groups.
Read: Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force announces updated community survey
These recommendations are meant to cut the number of violent repeat offenders causing crimes.
Task force members chose to go about this in a targeted way.
They are focused on smaller steps that can help both community members and law enforcement make Orange County a safer place to live.
Watch: Orange County task force members brainstorm how to combat gun violence
Some of these recommendations will run into the same roadblock the first iteration of this task force encountered a few years ago. And the county doesn’t have the money to do it all.
Task force members say they know changes won’t happen overnight.
County commissioners are expected to discuss the recommendations in July or August.
Watch: Orange County leaders want the community’s help to find solutions for gun violence
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/orange-countys-citizens-safety-task-force-shares-ideas-help-stop-violent-crime/BSISQKC7GZG7FFRXJ2L6IADBEM/ | 2023-06-21T17:54:49 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-countys-citizens-safety-task-force-shares-ideas-help-stop-violent-crime/BSISQKC7GZG7FFRXJ2L6IADBEM/ |
DALLAS (KDAF) — You don’t want to end up like that guy, that’s why you clicked here. Isn’t it?
Dating in Dallas isn’t always cheap and it can definitely be stressful. Wanting to impress someone that we meet is always at the top of our minds.
From trying to find a place to go — things to do; wondering whether a walk in the park is too “cliche” or even putting in all the effort just for the chance the person may not even show up. All these things could potentially cross your mind!
In an ever-growing city like Dallas, you are bound to find someone you feel is worth meeting and we are here to make your first date less stressful! In this series, we will explore different events and places to go that won’t hurt your wallet and will give you a piece of mind.
FREE
Date Night at Adriatica Village | Dallas
Perfect waterfront scenery, the right atmosphere for a romantic picnic in the park.
Dallas Farmers Market | Dallas
This is a perfect weekend date idea! Walk around and experience the many different vendors and things to see and do!
ArtWalk Downtown | Downtown Dallas
A self-guided 3.3-mile tour showcasing thirty pieces of art and architecture in the Arts District and downtown Dallas.
Dallas Contemporary | Downtown Dallas
Free-timed entry tickets can be purchased here.
The Boho Market at The Village | The Village – Dallas
This is a perfect weekend date idea! Walk around and experience the many different vendors and things to see and do!
Movie Night | Sundown At Granada
Every Tuesday there is a free rooftop movie night!
Klyde Warren Park | Dallas
Perfect for a cute picnic date during the Summer weather
Dallas Museum of Arts | Dallas
Dallas Museum of Arts is free and includes the museum’s collection of galleries and most exhibits!
Downtown Fort Worth Modern Art Museum | Dallas
This museum is free on Fridays, enough said.
$
Cinepolis | Victory Park
This very classy movie theater offers $7 tickets on Tuesdays!
Art Park | Trinity Groves
This art park in Dallas offers different variety of food places, jumbo jenga and more!
Butterfly Gardens | Texas Discovery Gardens
Very natural and romantic date idea! Admission for adults are $12 each and $10 for Seniors
$$
Sharkarosa | Dallas
This one will definitely make an impression on the animal lover in your life. $15 per person – $10 for Seniors
Bowl Games | Design District
A cute place with huge bowling pins and awesome drinks, cute for an interactive date! MON-THURS: $14.50; PLAYER FRI-SUN: $19.50/PLAYER
Landmark Bar + Kitchen | Dallas
A free nacho bar, games galore and good atmosphere, cute date night!
iComplete | Dallas
This venue offers indoor games and bar food. $25 All-You-Can-Play all days!
Coyote Drive-In Movie Theater | Fort Worth
This drive-in movie theater always has affordable tickets and newly released movies. Go early to find a good spot!
$$$
Pipe & Palette | Plano
$80 for a Splatter Me Date Night. “Experience the fun of splatter painting!”
Escapology | Victory Park
Victory Park’s original premium real-life escape game experience! $39.95/person | https://cw33.com/news/local/dating-freely-series-where-to-find-your-cheap-dallas-date-ideas-but-still-make-an-impression/ | 2023-06-21T17:56:56 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/dating-freely-series-where-to-find-your-cheap-dallas-date-ideas-but-still-make-an-impression/ |
AUSTIN (KXAN) — With triple-digit temperatures and high humidity levels continuing this week, so, too are Excessive Heat Warnings in Central Texas.
For those without air conditioning or navigating a broken A/C, here are some tips for cooling your home amid the sweltering heat.
Close your drapes, blinds
Any sunlight entering your apartment or home will bring heat with it, so keeping your drapes or blinds closed during the summertime can mitigate any excess heat from entering your home. Reporting from the U.S. Department of Energy found medium-colored drapes with white-plastic backings on your windows can reduce heat gains by 33%.
Run a ceiling fan
Ceiling fans are your best friend in the Texas summer heat in terms of helping regulate your house or apartment’s internal temperature. Pro tip: Experts recommend setting your blades to run counterclockwise in the summer in order to collect and push cool air into the rest of the room.
And your wallet will thank your ceiling fan too: Running a ceiling fan can help cool down a room by up to 10°, while using roughly 10% of the energy use of a central air conditioner, according to research from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Create a DIY air conditioner
For those with a standing or box fan, you can finesse your own A/C unit. Some methods include hanging a cold, wet sheet in front of a plan, placing a large bowl full of ice cubes in front of it or attaching some frozen water bottles to the back of it, per Real Simple.
Close off doors to unused rooms
If you’re not spending much of the day in certain parts of your home, closing the doors to them minimizes the amount of space cool air needs to travel to, instead allowing it to concentrate in a designated area.
Install shade resources outside home, apartment
Not everyone has the benefit of natural vegetation and trees to provide some shade to their home. However, awnings and canopies can be installed and offer a similar reprieve. The U.S. Department of Energy found fixed or retractable awnings can reduce solar heat by up to 65% on south-facing windows or 77% on west-facing windows.
Cook meals outside or opt for no-cook options
It’s not surprising that cooking inside your home ticks up the temperature. During blistering summer days, the last thing you want to do is preheat an oven to 425° — especially if you lack an A/C or yours is broken.
Instead, grilling outdoors can allow you to whip up a delicious cooked meal without attracting more heat into your home. If you don’t want to go stand outside to grill — which, let’s be real here, I don’t blame you for that — invest in some cold salads or sandwich recipes to craft up.
Unplug unused electronics
Any power strips, appliances or phone chargers plugged inside of your home help draw in heat via the electrical sockets. Any appliances or strips not in use should be unplugged to eliminate any energy waste and added heat. | https://cw33.com/news/local/how-to-cool-your-texas-home-without-an-a-c/ | 2023-06-21T17:57:02 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/how-to-cool-your-texas-home-without-an-a-c/ |
DULUTH — A Brimson bait shop owner allegedly told police that he considered abducting children from a campground and spent thousands of dollars in an effort to have a minors brought to his residence for sexual acts.
The alleged confession came as Thor Alan Steenerson, 47, was arrested this month on nearly four dozen counts of possessing child pornography — a crime for which he was previously convicted in 2009.
"Clearly, the defendant poses an extraordinary and uncontrollable risk to public safety," St. Louis County prosecutor Nate Stumme told a judge.
Steenerson owns Brimson Sportsman's Corner, 1892 Townline Road, which operates out of a tiny manufactured home adjacent to his own residence, according to court filings and property records.
A criminal complaint states that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension began investigating Steenerson in late May after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The nonprofit resource center had been alerted by Google to a user who had uploaded 46 images of suspected child sexual abuse.
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When agents executed a search warrant at Steenerson's home on June 6, he allegedly admitted to being "heavily involved in acquiring and possessing child sexual assault material." He added that he had disseminated images in the past and, within the past few months, had destroyed laptop computers because he did not want to get caught, according to the complaint.
"He stated that he would like to stop using child pornography but has not been able to do so," officials wrote in the probable cause statement.
Despite claiming he did not have any computers in the residence, agents said they found a laptop in his bedroom and were able to confirm that he had downloaded 46 images depicting minors engaged in sexual behavior.
Steenerson allegedly went on talk about his efforts to arrange to have children brought to his home, noting he had apparently been "scammed" out of "many thousands of dollars" at some point. He reportedly said he "would not have sex with children" but would watch if they were sexually abused by others in his presence.
Stumme said the defendant also had a sign in his bait shop indicating minors must be accompanied by an adult, with "the purpose being to minimize the risk that he will be tempted."
Steenerson faces 46 felony counts. Judge David Johnson granted the prosecutor's request to set bail at $750,000.
Records show the defendant was sentenced in early 2009 to five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to a single child pornography charge. The sentence included 90 days in local custody and completion of sex offender treatment.
However, filings indicate he struggled to stop accessing pornography and had a number of probation violations, with his probation ultimately being extended three additional years.
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Steenerson remains in the St. Louis County Jail, with his next court appearance set for Tuesday.
The News Tribune called the bait shop on Wednesday, but there was no answer and a message was not immediately returned. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/charges-brimson-bait-shop-owner-pondered-abducting-children | 2023-06-21T17:59:25 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/charges-brimson-bait-shop-owner-pondered-abducting-children |
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