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A former Bishop Luers High School teacher has been arrested and charged with felony child solicitation after allegedly admitting he had a sexual relationship with a student.
Matthew Jacob Brown, 40, has been charged with four counts of child solicitation.
A woman initially reported the sexual activity that happened while she was a student at Bishop Luers to the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 2018, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Detective Sgt. Todd Battershell. The sexual activity reportedly happened in the spring of 2017 when she was 17.
The diocese reported the incidents in 2018 to police despite the woman saying she wanted to remain anonymous and didn’t want an investigation, according to court records.
Earlier this month, the victim contacted the diocese, saying she changed her mind and wanted an investigation. The woman told police that she was groomed by Brown, who was her English teacher, in December 2016.
The Journal Gazette typically does not name victims of crimes unless they come forward publicly.
Brown and the student allegedly engaged in sexual activity on several separate occasions, including at his residence.
An administrator confronted Brown in 2018 after hearing the allegations. Brown admitted to the inappropriate relationship and was then fired, the probable cause affidavit said.
A witness also told police that she remembers the victim disclosing in 2017 that Brown had seduced her.
On the last day of her senior year, the woman said she waited for everyone to leave school and went to Brown’s classroom, where more activity happened, the probable cause affidavit said. The woman provided investigators with a photo she took in the classroom that day.
Officers took Brown to the police station for a formal interview after executing search warrants Wednesday at his home. Brown admitted to the allegations during the interview and was taken into custody, the probable cause affidavit said.
Brown paid the $32,500 bond to get out of the Allen County Jail on Friday. A hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/former-bishop-luers-teacher-charged-with-child-solicitation/article_cd7cdcc4-120d-11ee-87a5-3f629522d5ad.html | 2023-06-23T23:45:28 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/former-bishop-luers-teacher-charged-with-child-solicitation/article_cd7cdcc4-120d-11ee-87a5-3f629522d5ad.html |
PICKSTOWN — Lake Francis Case isn’t Duane Hjelm’s home body of water, but the South Dakota pro angler owned the section of the Missouri River on Thursday and Friday.
Hjelm hauled in a 27 pound bag of fish after two days on the water to claim the Pickstown-leg of the National Walleye Tour tournament, which was a special win for the South Dakota native. The finish marked Hjelm's first individual NWT tournament championship in his home state, and the crowd's roar showed their pride for the Woonsocket native.
"I feel really good, honestly. Going out today I knew I had a chance to win, but I did throw a couple of overs back. One was a 21 inch fish, and in a way I threw back a pound," Hjelm said. "I thought that would probably cost me. I love this place."
With the win Hjelm claimed a $15,000 check and a new Ranger fishing boat with Mercury engine.
As the field of 132 pro anglers made their way off the water for 3 p.m. weigh-ins, it looked like Pennsylvania pro angler Dylan Nussbaum was on his way to take first place with 26 pounds after two days of fishing. But Hjelm, who was one of the last anglers to bring his limit of five walleye to the scale, erased Nussbaum's lead and brought a dramatic finish in front of a packed crowd.
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After a strong day on the Missouri River in day one of the tournament, Hjelm's 15-pound bag of fish had him sitting atop the leaderboard heading into Friday's finale. He predicted a combined roughly 30-pound bag would be enough to win the event.
Hjelm knew it would take another solid performance on Friday to maintain his lead and hoist the trophy, and he delivered.
“It was really a fun day. The bite was a little bit off today, but we never really lost a good fish,” Hjelm said of his opening day performance.
The two over 20-inch walleye on Thursday that Hjelm and his co-angler caught were good enough to skip the thought of throwing them back and hoping for another larger fish to weigh.
“I never weighed any of the big ones. We just threw them in and were high-fiving,” Hjelm said of the two over 20-inch fish he reeled in. “I thought I had 13.5 pounds, but I was surprised to see it turn out to be more.”
Heading into the tournament, he predicted a combined 30 pound bag of fish will be enough to win the Pickstown stop.
The Pickstown tournament win is just the latest big performance from Hjelm. In 2022, he strung together a dominant season, claiming first place at the Green Bay, Wisconsin tournament, followed by a runner-up finish at the season championship event and being named the Angler of the Year.
Hjelm’s momentum hasn’t relented this year, as he finished second at the season opening tournament in Illinois. Midway through the season, he’s sitting in third place for the Angler of the Year standings. He likely moved up significantly after the Pickstown win.
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When Minnesota pro angler John Hoyer got off the water to weigh his fish and found out Hjelm brought in 15 pounds of walleye on day one, he said “that’s what Dewey (Hjelm’s nickname) does, he just catches big fish” during his conversation with a tournament official.
Although anglers reported sudden changes in fish patterns compared to what they’ve seen over the past few weeks, South Dakota’s pro anglers showed they know how to figure the river system out.
As part of the tournament rules, anglers have a daily five fish limit. Each day, they are allowed to weigh two walleye over 20 inches and three under 20 inches. However, the minimum length of the three under 20-inch fish is 15 inches.
Each boat consists of a pro angler and a co-angler. Boats launched at 7 a.m. from a Lake Andes ramp and finished before 3 p.m. for weigh-ins.
With his first South Dakota National Walleye Tour tournament under his belt, Hjelm said it marked an emotional win he will never forget. | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/south-dakotas-duane-hjelm-claims-pickstown-national-walleye-tour-championship-in-dramatic-finish | 2023-06-23T23:45:32 | 1 | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/south-dakotas-duane-hjelm-claims-pickstown-national-walleye-tour-championship-in-dramatic-finish |
WATERLOO — In conjunction with the Northwoods League Foundation, the Waterloo Bucks have named the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley the recipient of this year’s Share the Glove equipment grant program.
The Bucks will make an on-field presentation to representatives of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley before a Bucks game this season. The organization will receive more than $2,000 in baseball and softball equipment.
"We are really excited to receive this Share the Glove Grant from the Northwoods League Foundation, and especially the Waterloo Bucks,” said George Phillips, program director with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley. “These items will give our members a chance to experience participating in softball and baseball activities. Sports are very important to the growth and development of youth, as they instill teamwork, leadership, self-discipline and continuous improvement."
The Northwoods League Foundation has donated more than $45,000 in youth Rawlings baseball and softball equipment this spring.
Photos: Waterloo East vs. Waterloo West baseball at East, June 13
BBall West vs. East 1
Waterloo West junior Tayvon Homolar celebrates at second base after hitting an RBI double against Waterloo East on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 2
Waterloo West sophomore Brady Dean loses the ball as he fields a ground ball against Waterloo East on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 3
Waterloo East freshman Caleb Peters fields a ground ball and makes the throw to first base against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 4
Waterloo East junior Tye Schellhorn celebrates after reaching third base against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 5
Waterloo East junior DeMaris Henderson looks to scoop a ground ball against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 6
Waterloo East junior DeMaris Henderson fields a ground ball and makes the throw to first base against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 7
Waterloo West junior Kaden McConnell slides safely into home plate to score against Waterloo East on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 8
Waterloo East sophomore Maddox Harn delivers a pitch against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 9
Waterloo West senior Brenner Ortman delivers a pitch against Waterloo East on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 10
Waterloo East freshman Caleb Peters knocks down a ground ball to keep it in the infield against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 11
Waterloo East senior Brayden Peters catches the pickoff attempt as Waterloo West's Thomas Gettman dives back to first base on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 12
Waterloo East senior Gavin Peters rounds second base against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 13
Waterloo East freshman Caleb Peters celebrates after reaching second base against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 14
Tayvon Homolar Waterloo East junior Tye Schellhorn comes up short of a catch in right field against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 15
Waterloo West junior Tayvon Homolar rounds second base after hitting a triple against Waterloo East on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 16
Waterloo West junior Cael Caughron delivers a pitch against Waterloo East on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
BBall West vs. East 17
Waterloo East junior Tye Schellhorn delivers a pitch against Waterloo West on Tuesday at East.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-bucks-donate-baseball-equipment-to-boys-and-girls-clubs/article_f64995e2-0b01-11ee-8c23-d7846571de16.html | 2023-06-23T23:46:03 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-bucks-donate-baseball-equipment-to-boys-and-girls-clubs/article_f64995e2-0b01-11ee-8c23-d7846571de16.html |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It’s been nearly three months since an EF-3 tornado hit Central Arkansas, and some agencies are still helping Arkansans rebuild and recover.
However, deadlines for certain assistance are nearing.
Since the tornado, the Little Rock Public Works Department has been working around the clock to clean up debris.
“The first couple of weeks, we saw vast quantities of debris being picked up," Little Rock Public Works Director Jon Honeywell said. "Anywhere from 15 to 20,000 cubic yards a day."
Honeywell said they've cleaned up 445,000 cubic yards as of Thursday.
“We originally estimated about 600,000," Honeywell said. "I think we'll probably come close to that number before it's all said and done."
June 26 is the last day the department plans to pick up debris from the tornado.
“Have your materials that need to be collected out... at the edge of the road in the public street,” Honeywell said.
Another deadline approaching is assistance from FEMA, as the disaster relief group is closing its remaining three recovery centers on June 28.
According to FEMA, they've helped more than 3,000 households and have approved $8,500,000 to help Arkansans recover. The deadline to register is July 3 for anyone still needing assistance.
Honeywell said anyone who doesn't meet the debris deadline can still receive help from the city depending on what needs to be picked up.
“For garbage, it has to fit within your cart that the city supplies," Honeywell said. “For vegetative debris, we have limits on the size of what can be put out. It has to be no greater than six inches in diameter and can't be longer than six feet.”
People unsure can have public works come by and look.
“We're more than happy to work with them to try to get the best solution to whatever they have at their properties,” Honeywell said.
Following the June 26 debris deadline, Honeywell said the next step is cleaning up wooded areas around Central Arkansas.
“In some of the areas along Chanal Parkway," Honeywell said. "The rock creek area where we have a lot of trees that were knocked down." | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/tornado-recovery-deadlines/91-3f911ccc-b73d-4afd-bfbf-1cdd32c4c398 | 2023-06-23T23:48:33 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/tornado-recovery-deadlines/91-3f911ccc-b73d-4afd-bfbf-1cdd32c4c398 |
DALLAS — The suspect wanted in the kidnapping of a 7-year-old girl that triggered an AMBER Alert, has been added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List and $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to his arrest, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced.
On Tuesday, June 14, the Dallas Police Department announced that they were searching for Leonard Lamar Neal, 41, who is suspected in the abduction of two children. He is wanted for aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Police sources told WFAA that Neal is the suspect in the AMBER Alert from Sunday, June 11.
Police said a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl left their apartment around 12 p.m. Sunday in the 1500 block of Argentia Drive.
According to police, the children were then approached by the suspect who offered them a ride in his car.
The suspect then drove the children to a store near West Kiest Boulevard and South Polk Street, police said. The boy walked to the door of the store and, when he turned around, he saw the car drive away with the girl still inside, according to police.
A witness at a nearby restaurant told WFAA that a woman rushed into the building and said that a boy was wandering around the parking lot, crying.
"[The woman] came inside the restaurant," Jessica Montanez told WFAA. "She asked for water for [the boy], and she pulled me aside and told me that his sister was missing that someone kidnapped his sister."
Montanez and the other woman called 911, and police responded to the area just after 12:30 p.m.
The AMBER Alert was issued at 6:45 p.m. that evening for the 7-year-old girl.
Hours later, at around 12:40 a.m. Monday, the 7-year-old was found wandering near their apartment complex on Argentia Drive. She was taken to a local hospital to be checked on, police said.
Law enforcement is now searching for Neal, and have released surveillance images of his vehicle.
He's described as a Black man, standing at 5 ft. 11 in. and weighing about 150 pounds. He has tattoos on his neck, right ear and left arm. In addition to Dallas, DPS said he also has ties to DeSoto.
Anyone with information on Neal's whereabouts is urged to call 911.
Crime Stoppers will also pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and indictment for this felony offense. You can reach Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at P3tips.com, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, police say. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/suspect-identified-kidnapping-7-year-old-girl-dallas-texas-amber-alert/287-4e4252b7-b929-4b84-ac3e-c6a000436fc3 | 2023-06-23T23:53:20 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/suspect-identified-kidnapping-7-year-old-girl-dallas-texas-amber-alert/287-4e4252b7-b929-4b84-ac3e-c6a000436fc3 |
SAN ANTONIO — The Medical Examiner has yet to release the name of a 46-year-old woman who died when she was shot by three San Antonio Police Officers early Friday.
It happened around 2 a.m. at the Rosemont at Miller’s Pond on Old Pearsall Road.
Police Chief William McManus said, “What we know right now from preliminary information is that there was a disturbance and a woman was tinkering or destroying a fire alarm in her apartment.”
McManus added, “The fire department showed up first and the woman continued to destroy property in the apartment and the fire department backed off.”
Five times in his narrative about the sequence of events, McManus characterized the early information as ‘very sketchy,’ saying he had not had time to review body worn camera evidence of the incident.
“The disturbance continued and at some point, again this is very sketchy, at some point, three officers fired at the woman,” McManus said. The three officers, he said, have three, five and 14 years of service with the department.
One neighbor who did not want to be identified said everyone in the building was rousted out of bed by blaring fire alarms.
The neighbor said as they all congregated outside and talked among themselves, everything seemed calm.
One person said they are in shock that the woman that had been having a normal conversation during the incident ended up dead just a few minutes later.
McManus said, “My understanding right now is that she did something that threatened the officers and the officers fired at that point. I don’t know what that was. I have not seen the video.”
When asked if the woman had a weapon, McManus said, “We haven’t spoken to the officers yet. There’s some due process that has to take place before that happens that hasn’t happened yet. Once it does we will speak to the officers.”
McManus said he would return to his office to review the body worn camera video.
Eight hours after the shooting the Public Information Office sent an email stating “We currently do not have any details to update. We are working to get preliminary information and will provide an update as soon as we can.”
As of the close of business Friday, no additional information has been released.
KENS 5 requested calls for service at the address for the last 60 days to see if there has been a pattern of troubling behavior. That data has not been received yet. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/three-sapd-officers-shoot-and-kill-a-woman-during-a-disturbance-san-antonio-texas/273-2915f11e-30b1-4ee2-a1b8-db3dc28caf0e | 2023-06-23T23:53:26 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/three-sapd-officers-shoot-and-kill-a-woman-during-a-disturbance-san-antonio-texas/273-2915f11e-30b1-4ee2-a1b8-db3dc28caf0e |
LANCASTER, Texas — In her Lancaster home, Carla Gates is surrounded by family -- a sadness consumes the air. Crosses hang on the wall, and pictures of her wedding day from 2015 are perched high in her living room.
Beside her in those photos is her best friend, 66-year-old Eugene Gates, Jr., a man she now misses dearly.
Gates, a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 36 years, collapsed delivering mail door-to-door Tuesday in Lakewood and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
It was one of the hottest days of the year, with a weather warning even in effect.
Over the last 48 hours, Carla Gates’ faith has guided her through a horrific tragedy she wishes upon no one in this world.
“I don’t wish this on anyone. A mother, a father, a son, a wife -- anyone,” Carla Gates told WFAA. “To have to go to a hospital and be told your husband died in the line of duty -- I don’t want that to happen to anyone.”
Gates was a man of service, according to Carla. Someone who took the utmost pride in their calling. He had already been delivering letters when the two met in 2010 at a church in Lancaster.
The pair started dating in 2013 and tied the knot two years later.
Carla Gates, 56, says she was struck by how sincere and intentional Gates was -- how dedicated he was as a member of their congregation.
“When he meant yes, he meant yes. When he meant no, he meant no, and when he loved you, he loved hard,” Gates said. “If you came across his path, you would have never forgotten him.”
Per Gates, her husband got his sense of duty and service from the military.
The 66-year-old was born at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) in North Carolina and later moved to Killeen with his family.
His family was rooted in the military, which pushed Gates to join the Army, serving eight years.
Carla says Gates joined the post office while looking for a job after his time in the Army and ended up loving it.
“He was a man of integrity,” Gates said. “Once you got to know him, you would think you’d known him all your life. He was a loving father and husband, and he cared about people. When he put his hands into anything, he gave it his all.”
“He liked to walk, he liked being outside, and he loved his route.”
Gates walked that route for more than ten years, she said. It was the one he was on when he collapsed.
Officials said Gates fell over in a yard and was taken to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.
Gates says she learned about the news first from a post office official and then from a chaplain at the hospital who asked her to arrive immediately.
Hours earlier, Gates showed texts from her husband, who had warned her about how hot it was that day.
“Morning, sweetheart, love you and have a wonderful day,” Eugene texted at 6:48 a.m.
Carla replied, “Good morning, baby. Love you.”
Eugene then texts, “It’s 88 degrees outside.” Carla replies, “Already?”
The two exchanged a few more texts, then Carla never heard from her husband again.
Gates said that Eugene was a very prepared individual, healthy, and took precautions.
USPS officials aren’t ready to say that the heat played a role in Gates’ death. Officially, they’re waiting on an autopsy to be completed.
But Gates isn’t waiting to give her opinion -- and is begging for more answers and considerations to be made for letter carriers during hot days.
“My husband was trying to complete his assignment. That was his job...and the heat got to him,” Gates said. “No one should have been outside working like that when the heat index is that high. No one. Deliver the mail earlier or later, or wait.”
“Am I mad at the postal service? Yes. Am I angry? Yes. The mail will still be there, but my husband won’t.”
Some changes are being made in the wake of Eugene Gates' death. Letter carriers at his office in Lakewood are allowed to begin their routes early on hotter days at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
But a union official for the National Association of Letter Carriers told WFAA that was the only office where changes were being made in the metroplex.
That official also told WFAA that OSHA is now investigating Gates’ death.
Gates added that no one from USPS has officially responded to her and offered their condolences.
WFAA asked the USPS about that and was told no comment. Furthermore, WFAA requested the number of times a mail or letter carrier had died due to the heat and have not heard back.
A union official said that Gates’ death is not the first time but didn’t give specifics.
Friday, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), who represents the Gates' district, shared her condolences, saying she's "devastated by the news of the loss of my constituent and one of Lancaster's own, Eugene Gates. My heart goes out to to his wife Carla, his family, friends, USPS coworkers, neighbors, and the entire Lancaster community.
Crockett didn't shy away from saying heat played a role and called for an investigation.
"As a member of the House Oversight Committee, which has jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, as well as a member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, I intend to investigate the circumstances that led to this tragedy and work with my colleagues to ensure that we prevent avoidable deaths such as this arising from federal employees performing public service during extreme weather conditions," Crockett said in a statement.
"Summer has only just begun, temperatures are only getting hotter, and tragedies like this can happen in any state, and any district. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to address the hazards faced by our country's postal workers before another life is lost. "
Gates’ daughter, Shanaye Jones, is also eager to see change enacted.
“I don’t want this to happen to anybody else either,” Jones said. “It hits me hard that he’s not with us anymore. Everything that happened was so unexpected; I really want to see better conditions for the workers.”
Late Thursday, the NALC president released a statement regarding Gates’ death for the first time.
“On behalf of NALC, I send my deepest sympathies to Brother Gates’s family, friends, and colleagues,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “Eugene was a dedicated letter carrier with a long and successful Postal Service career. He will be greatly missed by everyone, particularly his fellow branch members and customers.”
Gates’ family said they are hoping to bury the 66-year-old sometime next weekend. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/widow-usps-letter-carrier-died-during-route-pushing-for-answers-change/287-fd54a18b-19f9-46f2-9866-7cefdd4c7506 | 2023-06-23T23:53:32 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/widow-usps-letter-carrier-died-during-route-pushing-for-answers-change/287-fd54a18b-19f9-46f2-9866-7cefdd4c7506 |
DES MOINES, Iowa — A family-friendly event celebrating the varied cultures that make up central Iowa is coming to Tower Park on Saturday, June 24.
Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa is hosting the free event Saturday in honor of World Refugee Day, which was Tuesday, June 20.
While the day may have passed, the celebration is far from over - the event will feature the Cup of All Nations Soccer Tournament, international musical performances and plenty of food from 20+ local refugee and immigrant family businesses.
Since the inception of the modern resettlement program in the mid-'70s, the group estimates that Iowa has welcomed 40,000 people to the state.
Need help getting to the event? Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) is a free pass for those attending the celebration. To participate, just hop on the DART Route 5 – Franklin Ave and scan a QR code provided by the organization.
The route runs every hour between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. For more information and to find the QR code, click here. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/des-moines-world-refugee-day-celebration-tower-park/524-ac974a21-14cc-4168-8029-0004e2a3ea24 | 2023-06-23T23:54:30 | 1 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/des-moines-world-refugee-day-celebration-tower-park/524-ac974a21-14cc-4168-8029-0004e2a3ea24 |
A collision between a motorcycle and a bicycle on N. River Road at 11:19 a.m. Thursday resulted in one fatality at the site of the accident, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The deceased bicyclist has been identified as Arn Peter Berglund, 70, said Bonneville County Chief Deputy Coroner Greg Black. Berglund succumbed to injuries “that were inconsistent with life," Black said.
The motorcycle rider, an adult male, was taken by first responders to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center with severe injuries, the statement said.
According to the release, “They were both traveling northbound just prior to the crash. … Initial details indicate the bicycle attempted to make a U-turn in the roadway to go back south and was struck by the motorcycle attempting to pass by.”
Both men involved in the accident had helmets.
The collision occurred north of 49th N. Bonneville County Sheriff's deputies and Idaho Falls Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene.
The sheriff’s office is still investigating the incident.
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Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles. | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/motorcycle-and-bicycle-involved-in-fatal-collision-thursday/article_16f87db6-1210-11ee-ac4e-5fe2e7cf5a32.html | 2023-06-23T23:56:33 | 1 | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/motorcycle-and-bicycle-involved-in-fatal-collision-thursday/article_16f87db6-1210-11ee-ac4e-5fe2e7cf5a32.html |
ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando coalition that played a major role in ensuring Asian American Pacific Islander history would be a required part of the curriculum in Florida public schools is celebrating that accomplishment at a community event Saturday.
Make Us Visible Florida, led by Mimi Chan, pushed for its AAPI bill to be turned into law, a dream that became reality in May when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1537 after this past 2023 legislative session.
The group is set to celebrate this legislative win with a community event starting at 2:30 p.m. at the Wah Lum Temple, located at 851 N. Goldenrod Road in Orlando. It’s where Chan works by day as a kung fu and tai chi instructor when she’s not leading grassroots efforts championing Central Florida’s diverse AAPI community.
[RELATED: New law requires AAPI history lessons in Florida classrooms | Orange County leader takes to Tallahassee to fight for inclusion of AAPI history in schools]
Anyone in the community is welcome to attend the event, which includes free food, a lion dance and kung fu show, coloring activities for children and a meet-and-greet with Central Florida legislators.
To RSVP, click here.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/orlando-event-to-celebrate-new-law-requiring-teaching-of-aapi-history-in-schools/ | 2023-06-23T23:58:40 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/orlando-event-to-celebrate-new-law-requiring-teaching-of-aapi-history-in-schools/ |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The murder trial for the man accused of shooting and killing a Daytona Beach police officer in June 2021 has relocated to Clay County.
The move comes after the attorneys for Othal Wallace requested a change of venue back in April. Wallace is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Officer Jason Raynor, who was shot in the head and died 55 days later in August 2021 from his injuries
According to the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which covers Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties, they considered the various factors when making its decision, including safety measures and protocols for each courthouse, accessibility, stipulation of the parties in selecting Clay County, community demographics, the area’s willingness to host the trial and more.
[RELATED: Murder trial relocated for man accused of killing Daytona Beach police officer | Attorneys for man accused of killing Daytona Beach police officer request change of venue]
Court officials also considered moving the trial to Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay or Lee counties.
This comes after Wallace’s trial, previously scheduled for April 3, was pushed back to July 31.
The 7th District State Attorney’s Office announced it would be seeking the death penalty against Wallace after the death of Raynor, who was shot in the line of duty while investigating a suspicious vehicle.
“The homicide was committed in the cold, calculated and premeditated manner,” State Attorney RJ Larizza said during a September 2021 news conference.
Raynor, who had been with the Daytona Beach Police Department for about three years, was rushed to the hospital in grave condition after he was shot in the head and remained in critical condition until officials said on Aug. 17 he died as the result of his injuries.
He was laid to rest on Aug. 23 in a tribute that took place across Volusia County.
The Daytona Beach Police Department marked one year since Raynor’s death with a public vigil.
Wallace was arrested following a multi-state manhunt 56 hours after the shooting. He previously faced a charge of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer before an arrest warrant with an upgraded murder charge was served.
Read the full court filing below.
Othal Wallace trial relocation by Sam Dunne on Scribd
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/trial-for-man-accused-of-killing-daytona-beach-police-officer-moved-to-clay-county/ | 2023-06-23T23:58:46 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/trial-for-man-accused-of-killing-daytona-beach-police-officer-moved-to-clay-county/ |
FRANKLIN, Pa. — Patience is key to adopting this rescue pet. 6-year-old Bradley is a funny, timid Miniature Pinscher mix who is looking for a family willing to get to know him. When given the chance to, rescue workers know he will thrive.
"Once he really knows you, this side of him comes out, and you can't help but love him," says Emma Ripka, Blue Chip Farm Animal Rescue.
Something about Bradley's sweet face is impossible to resist. He came to Blue Chip about 6 months ago and has been giving rescue workers here laughs ever since. They say despite his small stature: he is full of personality.
"He has a ton of energy, and sometimes when he is using his energy, he doesn't really know what he's doing, and he will be running around and literally do front flips. I don't know if he can't stop himself, but he has a hysterical personality," explains Ripka.
Bradley was taken in as a stray, so rescue workers don't know his entire background.
He could be standoffish when meeting new people, and rescue workers believe he was likely mistreated before coming to them.
Bradley could be a bit jumpy sometimes, literally, but with the right family, he will be all the best things a dog could be.
He's great in the car, so he could travel with his new forever family. He is also good on a leash for all of his future adventures.
The right family for this small dog is patient. Bradley might take some time to warm up, but he is worth the time spent getting to know him.
Ripka says, "He is such a loyal dog. His past probably wasn't kind to him, so at this point, he needs someone that will just rewrite his future, and they'll be the luckiest family in the world because he is really such a great dog."
Bradley should be the only dog in his new home, rescue workers say he likes all eyes on him, so no children either.
Certain cats in the home would be fine. He is also food motivated, which Ripka says is helpful for skittish dogs like Bradley to help him learn to bond with his new human friends.
Because he has been known to bark at noises, Bradley cannot live in an apartment.
Rescue workers know the right people are out there for this petite pup, and hope they are watching now.
If you would like to learn more about Bradley, you could find his adoption information by clicking here.
See more pets and animal stories on WNEP’s YouTube playlist. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/bradley-16-to-the-rescue-blue-chip-farm-animal-refuge-emma-ripka-miniature-poinscher/523-c0374faa-2448-4fe9-889b-35b399ed1730 | 2023-06-24T00:00:42 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/bradley-16-to-the-rescue-blue-chip-farm-animal-refuge-emma-ripka-miniature-poinscher/523-c0374faa-2448-4fe9-889b-35b399ed1730 |
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Kyle Beaver of Snydertown did not always know he wanted to be a mushroom grower. But about six years ago, he gained access to a small barn on his family's property and googled "things to do with a small amount of space."
"A small UK mushroom growing website came up, and it said you can grow this much with X amount of space. It really got my gears turning," Kyle Beaver said.
With a $300 investment, Kyle started growing mushrooms and selling them at area farmers markets.
People were quickly becoming interested in Kyle's ready-to-fruit blocks.
"It kind of started a whole new avenue for our business where now mainly what we do is sell these ready-to-fruit blocks to other farms across the country and supply these farms with the material to just grow mushrooms for their local markets everywhere," Kyle said.
Recently Kyle was able to expand his business into this facility near Elysburg. He now supplies both home and commercial mushroom growers. Kyle had help from Bucknell University's Small Business Development Center.
"If people have questions when a small business owner is not sure where to go or what to do or wants to bounce ideas, we try to be available for that guidance and to be a sounding board," Amber Guerrero said.
Kyle hopes to keep expanding.
"We're looking to get into some major grocery chains. We're looking to start supplying farms that are dealing with major grocery chains. We're looking to hit the mainstream now, essentially," Kyle said.
Kyle also plans to expand the varieties of mushrooms he is growing.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/northumberland-county/mushroom-grower-expands-in-northumberland-county-kyle-beaver-snydertown-elysburg-ten-mile-mushroom-amber-guerrero/523-0d49b5e9-123c-48c1-8f9e-6698bf0fe256 | 2023-06-24T00:00:48 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/northumberland-county/mushroom-grower-expands-in-northumberland-county-kyle-beaver-snydertown-elysburg-ten-mile-mushroom-amber-guerrero/523-0d49b5e9-123c-48c1-8f9e-6698bf0fe256 |
UNION COUNTY, Pa. — There's a prehistoric party this weekend at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland near Allenwood.
Dino Days is a weekend dedicated to dinosaurs, inviting you to take a step back in time.
"Kids love dinosaurs but also adults. And the professors we have answer questions ranging from what did this eat to extremely in-depth questions from adults, so it is just a great time," Kathryn Allen said.
In addition to the regular happenings at the zoo, Dino Days feature a fossil prep station, a Komodo Dragon carcass feed, and guided dino tours.
Dr. Alan Gishlick is a Paleontologist from Bloomsburg University. He brought fossils for people to see and touch.
"I think any time you have a chance to interact with actual material and the people who study it, you have a chance to learn in a way that you were if you were reading a book because it's an interactive experience," Dr. Alan Gishlick said.
Victor the Velociraptor roamed around the zoo, posing for pictures with children.
"We talked about Dino Days all morning, so they wanted to come and see the dinosaurs," David Peterson said.
"They are big dinosaur fans, so I looked to see. And he loves snakes. When I looked to see about Clyde Peeling's, I saw it was Dino Days too, so I was super excited," Michelle Debernardi said.
Dino Days run through Sunday at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/union-county/dinosaurs-take-over-union-county-dino-days-clyde-peelings-reptiland-kathryn-allen-dr-alan-gishlick-michelle-debernardi/523-49483294-fb36-49cc-b149-82fbb2e11c79 | 2023-06-24T00:00:54 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/union-county/dinosaurs-take-over-union-county-dino-days-clyde-peelings-reptiland-kathryn-allen-dr-alan-gishlick-michelle-debernardi/523-49483294-fb36-49cc-b149-82fbb2e11c79 |
MATADOR, Texas — A 23-year-old San Angelo man and a 43-year-old Abilene man have been identified as two of the four people killed in a tornado that hit the town of Matador Wednesday evening.
Fifteen people were injured in the storm that claimed the lives of Troy Hernandez of San Angelo, Victor Garcia Valenzuela Jr. and two other people.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said Friday that the search and recovery of victims has been completed.
Everyone in Matador has been accounted for and no additional deaths have been reported.
DPS identified the four people killed as:
- Jo Etta Bumgardner, 85, of Matador
- Randell (Randy) Rolin, 59, of Purcell, Oklahoma
- Victor Valenzuela Jr., 43, of Abilene, formerly of Austin
- Troy Hernandez, 23, of San Angelo
The damage of property reported was 29 structures destroyed, 11 with significant damage and 23 with damage with 61 properties affected by the storm.
As of 9:30 p.m. Thursday, power had been restored to 80 percent of the town.
DPS said city and county officials are sending thanks to people from surrounding cities and counties for their overwhelming support and outpouring of food, water and supplies.
Matador does not have any unmet needs at this time and ask that people stop sending water, food and supplies as they cannot store any more supplies. Donated clothing is not currently needed in Matador, DPS said, because officials are not equipped to store or categorize those types of donations.
An account has been set up through Happy State Bank under the name of the Matador Relief Fund.
A GoFundMe account for Hernandez said he and Valenzuela were coworkers who were staying in a small travel trailer. According to the account, both were part of the RES Transmission and Distribution team working on the nearby Paleo and Dickens sites, where the company began construction earlier this year.
An online obituary for Valenzuela says viewing and memorial service will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 30 at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/abilene-san-angelo-men-identified-as-matador-tornado-victims/504-c5aebbe8-7a91-4562-8062-d4ce7d2822d0 | 2023-06-24T00:02:03 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/abilene-san-angelo-men-identified-as-matador-tornado-victims/504-c5aebbe8-7a91-4562-8062-d4ce7d2822d0 |
A Lakewood man will serve 14 years in prison in the fatal shooting of a Little Egg Harbor Township man in 2021, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
Jahvontae Debose, 26, was sentenced by Judge Lisa A. Puglisi to seven years in prison on charges of manslaughter, certain person not to possess a weapon and possessing a firearm in the course of committing a drug offense, and an additional seven years on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Debose pleaded guilty to all charges March 28.
About 7:40 p.m. Feb. 21, 2021, Lakewood police were summoned to Tudor Court for a 911 call regarding a man who had collapsed in the middle of the road. Officers found Dajour Randolph, 20, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Randolph was transported to Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, in Lakewood, where he was pronounced dead.
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A Lakewood man on Tuesday admitted fatally shooting a Little Egg Harbor Township man in 2021…
The Ocean County Medical Examiner determined the cause of Randolph’s death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.
Debose was initially charged Feb. 23, 2021, with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in the course of committing a drug offense and being a certain person not to possess a weapon. He was arrested in Pleasantville following a motor vehicle stop and was transported to the Ocean County jail, where he has been since his apprehension.
Investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office, Lakewood police and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office found Debose was responsible for Randolph’s death, and on Feb. 25, 2021, Debose was served in the Ocean County jail with the complaint charging him as such.
State Police, Brick Township police, Manchester Township police, Toms River police, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Pleasantville police and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lakewood-man-sentenced-in-death-of-little-egg-harbor-man/article_8a527e7c-1212-11ee-84e4-8b7f9ac0c9bd.html | 2023-06-24T00:03:20 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lakewood-man-sentenced-in-death-of-little-egg-harbor-man/article_8a527e7c-1212-11ee-84e4-8b7f9ac0c9bd.html |
SEATTLE — President Joe Biden announced this week an agreement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end tariffs on exports of Washington apples, chickpeas and lentils.
The Indian government imposed a 20% tax increase on U.S. apples after the U.S. imposed tariffs on India for steel and aluminum in 2018.
According to Washington State's Congressional Delegation, the state's apple exports to India were worth $120 million in 2017 but dropped to $3 million in 2022 due to the tariffs.
Washington apples make up 90-95% of apples exported. India was the state’s number two export market prior to the tariffs.
“Today is a very good day for Washington's world-famous apples and a huge boost to Washington state's agriculture economy," Senator Maria Cantwell said.
Washington state is also the largest U.S. producer of chickpeas and the third-leading U.S. producer of lentils.
“This is great news for apple growers,” said Jorge Sanchez, of Northern Fruit Company in East Wenatchee, Washington. “India was a critical market for the Washington apple industry, and the tariffs have hit producers of Red Delicious apples especially hard in the last few years. We look forward to the opportunity to rebuild this market, and thank Senator Cantwell and members of the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation for their hard work and dedication in making this happen.”
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/india-ends-tariffs-washington-apples-chickpea-lentil-exports/281-c5d01920-7fee-48f7-9030-26ee741fb7ff | 2023-06-24T00:08:01 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/india-ends-tariffs-washington-apples-chickpea-lentil-exports/281-c5d01920-7fee-48f7-9030-26ee741fb7ff |
SEATTLE — While calling it one of the more fun events Seattle police officers provide security for, Chief Adrian Diaz also said he's disappointed officers can't march in the annual Pride Parade while wearing their uniforms.
Diaz said there are many people in the department who identify as LGBTQ+.
"And it's disappointing for them to not be able to be who they are and also be in the profession that they are. They're trying to make a difference," Diaz said in an interview with KING 5.
Diaz went on to say the Seattle Police Department is one of few "that probably has the most transgender officers in the entire country. And it's something to be proud of.
"And I think that you want to make sure that officers feel valued and respected, and when they don't feel valued and respected by their own community, that is really tough."
This is the second year officers will not be allowed to march in the Seattle Pride Parade in uniform. The decision by, according to a statement from Executive Director of Seattle Pride Noah Wagoner, was made "based on feedback from a community survey, as well as the result of the queer community’s long history of distrust of law enforcement, criminalization of LGBTQIA+ people, and police violence against marginalized groups – which was the genesis of the Pride movement, and is why Pride Parades around the country are held on the last Sunday in June in remembrance of the Stonewall rebellion.”
Diaz said he understands why the decision would be made, but would also like the progress that has been made to be recognized, including the creation of the LGBTQ Advisory Council, which works with the police department to improve safety for the LGBTQ community.
Though they can't march in uniform, Seattle officers will be visible along the parade route to provide security.
Seattle Pride Parade
The 49th annual Pride Parade will be held Sunday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It begins at Westlake Park. The route will go through downtown Seattle along Fourth Avenue, between Pike Street and Denny Way. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-police-chief-officer-policy-pride-parade/281-4af726cf-3ac3-4c25-b216-e1b84d4d00cb | 2023-06-24T00:08:07 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-police-chief-officer-policy-pride-parade/281-4af726cf-3ac3-4c25-b216-e1b84d4d00cb |
GREENSBORO — An officer in the Greensboro police department has been charged with a sex offense against a person with a mental disability, police said Friday evening.
A police department news release identified the officer as Miguel A. Garcia. He has been charged with one count of second -degree forcible sex offense, the release said.
The department was made aware of the allegations on June 8 when it began an internal investigation and placed the officer on administrative duty, police said.
Investigators say the incident occurred on May 31 in Greensboro, according to the news release. The officer completed his shift, left work in his police vehicle, in uniform, and met with the victim who was known to him, the news release says.
It has also been determined the victim suffers from a mental disability, it says
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On Friday, the police department presented initial findings to the District Attorney’s Office, and Chief J.W. Thompson terminated the accused employee.
The investigation is continuing.
GPD is holding a press conference at Police Headquarters, 100 E Police Plaza. The press conference will be held at 7 p.m.
This is a developing story. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/greensboro-police-officer-charged-with-sexual-assault-mental-disability/article_8a6cd1c6-1214-11ee-a9d5-af5441d7d1e5.html | 2023-06-24T00:09:23 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/greensboro-police-officer-charged-with-sexual-assault-mental-disability/article_8a6cd1c6-1214-11ee-a9d5-af5441d7d1e5.html |
LOCAL
Police searching for missing 15-year-old girl who ran away in Spring Grove
Teresa Boeckel
York Daily Record
York County Regional Police are looking for a missing 15-year-old girl.
Angel-Nevah Nicollete Kemper ran away from her mother around 9 p.m. Wednesday while at the VFW in Spring Grove, according to a news release.
The teen is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. Police say she was wearing the same clothes as in a photo submitted of her and a gray and blue hoodie with horizontal stripes.
Anyone who has seen the teen should contact 911 or police at (717) 741-1259. Tips also can be submitted on the department's website, york.crimewatchpa.com/ycrpd.
Sports:Wizards take Jarace Walker of Houston basketball in 2023 NBA Draft, trade him to Indiana | https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/york-area-regional-police-are-looking-for-a-missing-15-year-old-girl/70349429007/ | 2023-06-24T00:09:47 | 0 | https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/york-area-regional-police-are-looking-for-a-missing-15-year-old-girl/70349429007/ |
HAMILTON, Miss. (WTVA) — A train collided with a car Friday afternoon in Monroe County.
The collision happened on Stovall Crossing Road near Stovall Bottom Road.
WTVA reporter Wayne Hereford traveled to the scene and spoke with a woman who claimed her son was driving the car.
He walked away from the wreck but a passenger in his car was taken to the hospital. The condition of that person is unknown at this time.
The car’s bumper was damaged and some of its windows shattered.
The crossing has no warning lights or arms. The woman claims her son did not hear anything. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/train-collided-with-car-friday-afternoon-in-monroe-county/article_e39c83fe-120f-11ee-a6f5-9b8a8f24513e.html | 2023-06-24T00:11:28 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/train-collided-with-car-friday-afternoon-in-monroe-county/article_e39c83fe-120f-11ee-a6f5-9b8a8f24513e.html |
UPDATE: Driver identified in fatal Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel tractor-trailer crash
UPDATE: Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel authorities Friday evening identified Christopher A. Scott, 36, of Henrico, Va.. as the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in Thursday's crash.
Following a fatal accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Thursday, officials said they have recovered the tractor-trailer and its deceased driver a day later.
Crofton Diving, of Portsmouth, Va., successfully recovered the truck on Friday, June 23, around 3 p.m. The body of the driver was recovered with the vehicle. Police are still working to identify the driver, CBBT said in a release.
A single lane of traffic was open for northbound traffic around the site of the accident Friday afternoon while CBBT maintenance crews continued to make repairs for guardrail and curb damage. The left travel lane will be closed until repairs can be completed, which are expected to take approximately one week.
More on the incidentTractor-trailer goes overboard on Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
On June 22, the tractor-trailer went overboard at around 1:50 p.m. on the west side of the northbound span of Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The truck went overboard between Virginia Beach and the southernmost island.
The U.S. Coast Guard joined the search efforts for the driver after watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Virginia command center were notified at about 2 p.m. that the truck with trailer attached went over the rail with at least one person inside roughly one mile from Chic’s Beach.
The multiple-agency effort included Coast Guard Station Little Creek, Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Virginia Beach Police, Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach EMS and the Virginia Marine Resource Commission.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a four-lane, 20-mile-long vehicular toll crossing of the lower Chesapeake Bay. The facility provides the only direct link between Hampton Roads, Virginia and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Bridge-Tunnel is operated by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District and governed by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission.
The accident investigation is being conducted by CBBT Police and remains ongoing. The cause of the accident remains undetermined at this time.
More on CBBT legal troublesWidow sues Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel over trucker's death in 2017 plunge
More on Bay crash victim'Why don't we do this for him?' Crash victim Erik Mezick to be honored with 18-mile bay swim | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/23/tractor-trailer-driver-recovered-after-fatal-chesapeake-bay-bridge-tunnel-crash/70351916007/ | 2023-06-24T00:11:31 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/23/tractor-trailer-driver-recovered-after-fatal-chesapeake-bay-bridge-tunnel-crash/70351916007/ |
Mellon grant will add three new positions and two courses for deep dive into African art
A startingly discovery of stolen art has spawned a new initiative and a significant grant.
The University of Iowa’s Stanley Museum of Art is creating three new positions to study the origins of their African art collection thanks to a $400,000, two-year grant.
The grant is from the Mellon Foundation, named for famed art collector and philanthropist Andrew Mellon. The foundation is the country's most prominent financial backer of arts and humanities programs, Stanley director Lauren Lessing told the Press-Citizen.
The three new positions will assist in understanding the museum’s African art collection, with a special focus on ensuring that the artifacts were not stolen or looted by colonizers, Lessing said.
A full-time Mellon Curatorial Fellow, as well as a part-time graduate assistant and a part-time curatorial assistant, will focus on researching the origins of the university’s African art collections and who the owners were. The museum’s Curator of African Art, Cory Gundlach, will supervise the positions.
The work will be accompanied by a retrospective catalog that reflects the origins of the artifacts as well as an exhibition of the entire African art collection.
“We want to make sure that we're not holding work in our collection that may have been unethically or illegally removed from its place of origin,” Lessing said.
Lessing has researched the provenance of art at the Art Institute in Chicago.
The Illinois museum discovered that Nazis had looted some of the facility's art during World War II. After the painting was returned to the original owners' descendants, the museum tried to analyze the rest of the collection for stolen pieces.
Provenance research includes the study of historical records, including estate records and auction sales partnered with journal entries, diaries, letters, and notes, Lessing said.
Local museum discovers stolen art
Gundlach, who will lead the newly-funded team of three, conducted provenance research that revealed how some of the UI museum's African art had been stolen.
Lessing then informed university leadership and a few of the museum’s donors of what she called the museum’s past “mistake” and began working to correct it.
Those pieces are being returned to their home.
“I’m honored and excited to work for a university art museum that prioritizes sustained research on the ethical status of historical objects in its permanent collection and that is committed to using that research to manifest social justice,” Gundlach said in a statement provided to the Press-Citizen.
Lessing emphasized that most of the collection was legally or morally obtained. Still, provenance research is important because it provides deeper insight and gives the museum a richer, more complete story to tell.
“They have these biographies that begin when they're created, continue through the early years of their use, and then as culture changes, as people move from place to place, as colonization and urbanization and modernization have transformed countries in Africa, those artworks move,” Lessing said. “So those stories are really important for us to know and to teach.”
The three new Mellon-funded researchers will lay the foundation for similar provenance research of the museum’s collection of indigenous art from across the Americas. Lessing said most of it is from Peru, Bolivia, and parts of ancient-time Mexico.
$400K grant will create new UI courses
The Mellon Foundation grant will fund the creation of two courses at the UI focused on African art and museum studies. One of the courses will be co-taught by UI and Indiana University art museum staff with plans for students to travel to each school.
Gundlach and Allison Martino, IU’s Eskanazi Museum of Art Curator of the Arts of Africa, will co-teach the course.
“The University of Iowa and our African Studies program really gave birth to the program at Indiana University,” Lessing said. “Our collections and our programs remain very closely linked.”
The lecture will take place over Zoom, along with an in-person lab at each school, Lessing said.
The second course will focus on the history of African art. Gundlach will lead the class, drawing from the provenance research.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached atrhansen@press-citizen.com or on Twitter @ryanhansen01. | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/stanley-museum-of-art-mellon-grant-to-research-history-of-african-art-collection/70339417007/ | 2023-06-24T00:16:45 | 1 | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/stanley-museum-of-art-mellon-grant-to-research-history-of-african-art-collection/70339417007/ |
CARLISLE, Pa. — Nearly 1,000 classic, vintage and modern cars rolled into the Carlisle Fairgrounds for the 2023 Carlisle GM Nationals.
From Corvettes to Camaros, you could experience a plethora of old and new Chevrolet models.
But if Chevy isn't your thing, there's a diverse amount of other makes on the Showfield. They featured Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and so much more.
In addition, the Nova Nationals and Solid Lifter Showroom was back at the fairgrounds. Corvettes for Chips also returned to raise money and awareness for the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation.
You could also shop around at the automotive flea market for original and after market parts, collectibles and merchandise.
The Carlisle GM Nationals ran from June 23 to June 24.
For more information, click here. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/2023-carlisle-gm-nationals/521-cbd2d452-47ff-4c10-bb9e-d44b70bcd513 | 2023-06-24T00:22:05 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/2023-carlisle-gm-nationals/521-cbd2d452-47ff-4c10-bb9e-d44b70bcd513 |
PERRY COUNTY, Pa. — After 18 years of weaving through heroin addiction and 11 stints in prison, Perry County woman Kim Wynings was tired.
“I had just felt defeated going in and out of jail, the constant paranoia that I was going back,” said Wynings.
A string of petty theft and drug charges kept sending her back. Now 47, she had struggled with addiction since the age of 18.
In 2019 she asked a court for the one thing never previously offered to her: drug rehab. Wynings attended rehab and has been clean for more than three years.
She was then finally free from addiction, but not the criminal justice system. With no car, a low-paying job and several minor children, she still had to pay fines, restitution and ongoing parole fees of $70 per month. By 2023 she owed $12,700.
In Pennsylvania, technical violations such as not paying fines can result in further prison time.
“Some of my violations, as simple as a curfew violation, I went back 16 months. Non-payment of fines, back for months and months,” Wynings said. “Sometimes you just get stuck.”
In May another Kim stepped in to help—celebrity Kim Kardashian. She and businessman Michael Rubin paired with nonprofit REFORM Alliance to pay off the balances of more than 50 mothers across the country in situations similar to Wynings’.
“The blessing that I got from receiving that is surreal to me. It has helped me,” Wynings said. “I had such a fear of going back over fines and restitution it didn’t even make sense.”
Staff at REFORM Alliance, which advocates for criminal justice reform, said Wynings’ case was far too common in Pennsylvania. Two thirds of people released from prison in the state return within three years, according to a report from the Department of Corrections.
“The problem with the system is that rather than being set up to support people, to provide services, to coach folks through being successful in the community, getting back on track, it really has ended up being incredibly punitive and serving as a trap door to incarceration,” said Erin Haley, REFORM Alliance’s senior director of policy and law.
A bill soon to be voted on in the state Senate would reform the system by rewarding good conduct with shorter probation. The bill would require mandatory probation review conferences at regular intervals, with a presumption that probation will be terminated unless the individual does not qualify.
“We want to create a mechanism for them, if they have good behavior, if they’ve pursued education, for them to get a chance to eliminate their parole sentence, their probation sentence,” said the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Wyoming/Susquehanna/Wayne/Pike).
The bill passed out of committee on June 22 and has broad bipartisan support.
Wynings is scheduled to end her probation in April 2024, but would likely be eligible for an early termination should the bill pass. Now that her financial obligations have been paid off, she has requested to be taken off supervision, but hasn’t heard back yet. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/kim-kardashian-restitution-probation-reform-paid-pennsylvania-womans-dues/521-b327777e-6391-4935-aee5-d41c996cedd8 | 2023-06-24T00:22:12 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/kim-kardashian-restitution-probation-reform-paid-pennsylvania-womans-dues/521-b327777e-6391-4935-aee5-d41c996cedd8 |
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. — State Police in Chester County are searching for a missing teenage girl.
Kayla Sample, 14, of Sadsbury Township, left her home Thursday night during the overnight hours, police said.
She is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 85 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, police said.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact State Police at (610) 486-6280. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/state-police-search-missing-teen-kayla-sample/521-5f3f7508-48c4-49a2-8857-2325b5ec22f9 | 2023-06-24T00:22:18 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/state-police-search-missing-teen-kayla-sample/521-5f3f7508-48c4-49a2-8857-2325b5ec22f9 |
ABILENE, Texas — Abilene Zoo has a new baby!
For the first time in 30 years, a secretary bird has been hatched on the property.
On June 15, the new two-three ounce bird was born to seven-year old Pam and nine-year old Jagger, a process that began earlier this year when the mother began collecting sticks and building a nest.
Last month, Pam laid her egg while Jagger helped in the incubation process.
“Secretary Birds are such majestic animals, I just love them. They’ve been my favorite animal at the Zoo since I can remember and I’m so excited that we have a baby,” Stan Chapman, Abilene Zoo Board Member said. “A lot of people don’t know about secretary birds. We have an opportunity to do more to educate the community about this chick and the plight of the species. We encourage everyone to come see the chick and learn about these snake-stomping birds!”
Since the baby was hatched, the two parents have been taking on parental roles of feeding and overall supervision.
It is difficult to see the baby in the habitat at the moment because of plants to protect them, but soon the bird will grow to be more than four feet tall.
Check out the zoo's website for more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/secretary-bird-hatches-at-abilene-zoo/504-d7089e5a-ac7d-474a-bddb-711ceef371bc | 2023-06-24T00:25:13 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/secretary-bird-hatches-at-abilene-zoo/504-d7089e5a-ac7d-474a-bddb-711ceef371bc |
CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — A renowned Titanic expert, a world-record holding adventurer, two members of one of Pakistan's wealthiest families and the CEO of the company leading an expedition to the world's most famous shipwreck were all killed when a small submersible suffered a "catastrophic implosion" in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
“This was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel,” said Rear Adm. John Mauger, of the First Coast Guard District on Thursday.
OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the submersible, said in a statement that all five people in the vessel, including CEO and pilot Stockton Rush, “have sadly been lost.”
The others on board were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans,” OceanGate said in a statement. “We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.”
"I don't know if I've fully grasped that I'll never see PH again," said Tom Dettweiler.
Dettweiler is an ocean explorer who was part of the crew that discovered the Titanic wreckage in 1985. He says Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who he and others knew as PH.
"He was just an incredible person. Everybody who knew PH loved him," said Dettweiler.
Both shared interest in the Titanic. He says Nargeolet was instrumental in helping to bring some of the wreckage from the Titanic, to the surface.
"He was the expert on the Titanic. It's thanks to PH that we know as much as we know about the Titanic," said Dettweiler.
With a search area covering thousands of miles — twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep — rescuers all week rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance.
While the Navy likely detected the implosion Sunday through its acoustics system, underwater sounds heard Tuesday and Wednesday — which initially gave hope for a possible rescue — were probably unrelated to the submersible. The Navy's possible clue was not known publicly until Thursday, when The Wall Street Journal first reported it.
With a search area covering thousands of miles — twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep — rescuers all week rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the site of the disappearance.
The sliver of hope that remained for finding the five men alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible’s 96-hour supply of oxygen was expected to run out and the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters.
Dettweiler says his friend, and the others on board, likely did not suffer.
"They didn't suffer. It happened in milliseconds. With that amount of pressure, when just a little failure starts it's instantaneous. The entire thing is crushed immediately," he told WUSA9.
"Robin Williams who was a well known naval architect put it probably best when we were looking at the Israeli submarine Dakar, for the crew it was like somebody switched off a light switch and that's what it was before they could realize what was happening it probably failed," said Dettweiler.
"To go to this depth is like almost like going to space," said Robert Weiss, a coastal hazards expert at Virginia Tech.
He told WUSA9 recovery of anything, will be very difficult.
"We're talking about a very large area and finding things might be difficult just because of the moving of the water, things may be spread more out," said Weiss.
The Coast Guard will continue searching for more signs about what happened to the Titan. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/he-was-the-expert-the-titanic-maryland-man-reflects-on-death-of-friend-who-was-on-board-the-titanic-submersive/65-d75a78bb-7b4c-43ef-a16b-822020747969 | 2023-06-24T00:25:13 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/he-was-the-expert-the-titanic-maryland-man-reflects-on-death-of-friend-who-was-on-board-the-titanic-submersive/65-d75a78bb-7b4c-43ef-a16b-822020747969 |
All I-75 lanes closed at Warren Ave. amid tanker fire
All north and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 are blocked at Warren Avenue due to a vehicle fire, the Michigan Department of Transportation said.
A three-car crash occurred around 5 p.m. and a tanker truck cab caught on fire, Michigan State Police reported on Twitter. One minor injury has been reported, according to state police.
The truck's trailer is not on fire and hazmat crews are emptying gasoline from it, MSP tweeted. Once the gasoline has been emptied the trailer can be removed.
The freeway was closed in both directions just after 5:30 p.m., MDOT reported at Twitter.
Northbound traffic was diverted off at Mack Avenue while the southbound lanes were closed at Interstate 94, officials said.
MDOT cameras showed long backups nearby as emergency crews tended to the scene and MSP says the freeway will be closed for hours. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/23/all-i-75-lanes-closed-at-warren-ave-amid-tanker-fire/70352799007/ | 2023-06-24T00:26:50 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/06/23/all-i-75-lanes-closed-at-warren-ave-amid-tanker-fire/70352799007/ |
PITTSBURGH — The district attorney’s office said a former employee at Highmark hacked into several customers’ accounts, including a school district and stole thousands of dollars.
“You put your money in and it’s up to them to safeguard your money and when that doesn’t happen and you lose its detrimental,” said Lori Hickman.
Lori Hickman of Butler County is one of eight victims in Highmark’s major data breach.
Allegheny County District Attorney’s office charged Zakayah Scott who worked remotely from South Carolina for Highmark Health.
Authorities said Scott had access to customers’ personal information including birthdays, addresses and phone numbers.
They said she called Highmark’s customer service department, claiming to be one of the victims, change their password to their health savings account, log in, then withdrew and transferred money. The amount stolen totals more than $50,000
There’s a warrant out for Scott’s arrest as she faces several serious charges.
“Better that they were able to find all the information and charge her rather this continuing for a long time and you know more victims,” said Hickman.
Hickman said she got this letter from Highmark about the theft, stating the customer service department followed procedures and are working with its vendor to recover the funds.
“The money was gone I was looking I’m out high mark is not offering to replace the money,” said Hickman. “Highmark should be auditing these and this shouldn’t happen they are responsible for the money.”
According to the criminal complaint, Scott used the stolen money to buy things at Lululemon and the Apple store. Her coconspirators spent money at fast food restaurants and gas stations.
Highmark Health sent us a statement saying, “We are aware that a former employee, who resigned earlier this year, is facing a criminal complaint related to allegations of theft and fraud. We are thoroughly reviewing this ongoing investigation and have a number of systems in place to protect our members from fraudulent activity.”
Four of the eight victims work for Hershey. Hickman said she left Highmark and opened a new savings account with UPMC.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/former-highmark-employee-accused-hacking-customer-accounts-stealing-thousands-dollars/VUG25G6BOBAPPM562ECMM7XBCQ/ | 2023-06-24T00:29:06 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/former-highmark-employee-accused-hacking-customer-accounts-stealing-thousands-dollars/VUG25G6BOBAPPM562ECMM7XBCQ/ |
PITTSBURGH — A guilty verdict on 63 indictments is how Robert Bowers ended the first phase of his trial.
“The guilt was never really in question. The defense readily admitted Mr. Bowers had committed these crimes so the proceeding is really just about what kind of punishment he should receive,” said Robin Maher who’s the Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center.
PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING TRIAL: FULL COVERAGE ⇒
That’s where the penalty phase comes into play. But in a rare move, the defense requested to split it into two elements with the first being the eligibility phase.
“One reason to have a separate proceeding like that is to focus the jury intention on eligibility of the defendant and not on the rest of the evidence in the case,” Maher said.
>>> Tree of Life, community react to guilty verdict in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial
So, the prosecution will have to prove that Robert Bowers had the intent to commit these hate crimes while the defense will use his mental capacity as a reason why he isn’t eligible for a punishment of death.
“I assume the defense will present some evidence of mental health and brain impairment since that’s the information we’ve seen in the proceedings and argue that Bowers didn’t have the intent because of his severe mental illness,” Maher said.
A big decision for a jury that could go either way if the jury unanimously agrees he’s eligible for the death penalty then comes the sentencing.
“It’s a very difficult proceeding and very emotional for the jurors and very compelling,” Maher said.
This is a federal death penalty case which is extremely rare.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/look-federal-death-penalty-cases-ahead-sentencing-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-case/NF6SMSVGRNGMXLDBL7SM424QFQ/ | 2023-06-24T00:29:07 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/look-federal-death-penalty-cases-ahead-sentencing-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-case/NF6SMSVGRNGMXLDBL7SM424QFQ/ |
PITTSBURGH — After a year-long investigation, 24 people have been indicted for federal drug charges. Investigators say that some of those people who were indicted were operating an open-air drug market in the Hill District.
Channel 11 broke the news of the drug investigation on Thursday, agents raided a home in Perry South.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> More than 20 suspected drug dealers behind bars after FBI sweep in Pittsburgh
Friday, federal investigators revealed that several of the 24 suspected drug dealers recently indicted were running an open-air drug market along Watson Street in the Hill District.
Agents say they were selling guns and drugs, including crack cocaine and fentanyl.
Investigators also found multiple kilos of cocaine, illegal guns, and thousands of dollars in cash.
“This week’s arrests represent a continuation to dismantle drug trafficking organizations throughout western PA,” said Eric Olshan, a US attorney. “When drug traffickers operate with impunity in our communities, ordinary citizens suffer.”
Federal agents say of the 24 people indicted, several of them were involved with the “Drizzy Gang,” a well-known gang in the Hill District.
“Some of our neighborhoods suffer daily from gang and gun violence,” said Mike Nordwall, an FBI special agent. “We know the individuals charged here terrorized the uptown and hill district communities.”
Agents believe those indicted are involved with other violent crimes throughout the area.
“Those arrested this week are members associated with the neighborhood-based gang responsible for extremely violent acts including shootings, robberies, and illegal gun trafficking,” Nordwall said.
The FBI is still looking for two suspects, Mark Cook and Marvin Coates.
This was not only a federal investigation, investigators said tell us that state and local authorities were helping too.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/police-still-searching-2-suspects-after-major-fbi-drug-raid-pittsburgh/TYG4IXR5WJHLBFC4ACQMDEIVTM/ | 2023-06-24T00:29:13 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/police-still-searching-2-suspects-after-major-fbi-drug-raid-pittsburgh/TYG4IXR5WJHLBFC4ACQMDEIVTM/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mayor-revives-talk-of-giant-trinity-river-park/3283661/ | 2023-06-24T00:29:48 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mayor-revives-talk-of-giant-trinity-river-park/3283661/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — A 43-year-old man from Austin was among four people who died following a deadly tornado that ripped through Matador, Texas Wednesday night.
Victor Valenzuela Jr. is among those reported to have died. Valenzuela is the only person from Central Texas to have died during the storm, but was reportedly living in Abilene at the time of his death, according to our partners at KIDY.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said Friday that the search and recovery of victims has been completed, and that everyone in Matador has been accounted for.
DPS identified the four victims as:
- Jo Etta Bumgardner, 85, of Matador
- Randell (Randy) Rolin, 59, of Purcell, Oklahoma
- Victor Valenzuela Jr., 43, of Austin
- Troy Hernandez, 23, of San Angelo
The damage of property consisted of 29 structures destroyed, 11 with significant damage and 23 with damage with 61 properties in total affected by the storm. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-native-killed-in-panhandle-tornado/269-fe607e4c-ee4d-483c-af65-674a4aff2150 | 2023-06-24T00:29:49 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-native-killed-in-panhandle-tornado/269-fe607e4c-ee4d-483c-af65-674a4aff2150 |
LOCKHART, Texas — Incarcerated women at the Lockhart Correctional Facility have been working toward earning their high school degrees through the Goodwill Excel Center, and on June 23, 62 of them became high school graduates.
For Ivory Heister, a woman ran away from home at 15 and wasn’t able to complete her high school education, this graduation meant everything.
"I felt victory, for once in my life,” Heister said. “I felt like I did it."
Heister's mom said it's been a long road for her daughter to get here.
"I really felt like she wasn't going to probably live to see even 20, just the things she was doing were so dangerous,” said Amanda Heister, Ivory’s mom.
Ivory's parents have only seen her once in the past six years, but to see her turning her life around through education meant everything to them.
“Proudest moment in years,” Amanda Heister said.
The Goodwill Excel Center has three campuses on correctional facilities including the Billy Moore Correctional Center, the Coleman Unit for Women in Lockhart, and the Diboll Correctional Center. The program lets students finish the courses they need to graduate high school. They can also get specific certifications in culinary, construction, or business office management, that will help them find a job once they are released from prison.
"The likelihood of them recidivating is significantly lower when they have that education while they're incarcerated,” said Theresa Rappaport, Superintendent of the Goodwill Excel Center.
There’s a 43% reduction in the rates that a convicted criminal will repeat offend if they participate in education programs like the Excel Center, according to a study by Northwestern University. That number goes down the higher the degree gets: it’s 14% for those with an associate degree, 5.6% for a bachelor’s degree, and 0% for a master’s degree.
Ivory has plans of going to college and creating a new life, and she credits this this program with giving her the skills to do that.
"Now that I've graduated, I feel like the sky is not even the limit, it's just what I'm going to step on to become the great woman I'm going to be,” Ivory Heister said. “Just accomplishing things I never thought possible, it makes me feel like I can do anything."
It was a day students got to celebrate their growth and success.
“So many of them have been having conversations about mistakes they've made in the past and that seems to follow them around, and so to see them get to celebrate something that they've done that they can be really proud of is also just really rewarding to witness,” Rappaport said. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/incarcerated-women-get-diplomas/269-2116ea4f-8b6d-48af-86e2-1a20a50a892a | 2023-06-24T00:29:52 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/incarcerated-women-get-diplomas/269-2116ea4f-8b6d-48af-86e2-1a20a50a892a |
TURIN, N.Y. -- The South Lewis Central School District was named a Top Transportation Team in North America for all their great work with school bus transportation.
All of those who make a bus garage operate were honored with this award, which was sponsored by Transfinder--a Schenectady-based transportation technology company, providing intelligent solutions to schools, municipalities and adult care facilities.
Rick D'Errico, Transfinder director of public relations, said the people who take care of transporting kids to school are "amazing people."
"And they do it with a smile," he added.
D'Errico said that there is a "huge amount of responsibility" when it comes to driving kids. "If you can't get the kids to school, you can't educate them."
"We want to shine a spotlight on that," he added.
There were six winners of the Top Transportation Team award. They were from Indiana, Michigan, New York and Texas.
School bus departments across the county with more than 100 employees and departments with no more than 100 employees, were asked to take an anonymous survey about their team, "with those districts scoring the highest in employee satisfaction receiving the Top Transportation Teams designation."
South Lewis CSD was in the 100 employees or fewer category.
The survey had questions focused on morale, leadership, safety and benefits.
One representative from the district will accept the award at the School Transportation News Expo in Reno, Nevada. Plane tickets will be paid for by Transfiner. There will also be a moderated discussion by the Transfiner president and CEO at the expo.
This is the first year the company presented the award. Transfinder expects the transportation award will continue next year and beyond. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/south-lewis-central-school-district-named-top-transportation-team-in-north-america/article_4afe3e36-11fa-11ee-9310-fb59114dcc09.html | 2023-06-24T00:31:14 | 1 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/south-lewis-central-school-district-named-top-transportation-team-in-north-america/article_4afe3e36-11fa-11ee-9310-fb59114dcc09.html |
New Smyrna Beach area to see 'zero-tolerance' special event zone for JDM Beach Day
Parts of New Smyrna Beach will be treated as a "zero-tolerance" special event zone Saturday in anticipation of a pop-up car event.
New Smyrna Beach police posted pictures of the documentation and a map of the aforementioned zone on Facebook shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.
Law enforcement set up the zone in response to plans for "JDM Beach Day," a gathering of Japanese Domestic Market cars.
Where is JDM Beach Day planned for in New Smyrna Beach?
The special-event zone covers the area bounded by A1A at Hiles Boulevard, "including the beach north to North Beach, then south to the North Causeway, then west on the North Causeway to North Riverside Drive, then south on North Riverside Drive to the South Causeway, then east on the South Causeway to A1A including the beach."
Policing pop-up parties:Florida House bill gives law enforcement tools to better control special events
When does 'zero-tolerance' go into effect?
The designation goes into effect at 7 a.m. Saturday and will remain in place "as long as is reasonably necessary to ensure the public health, safety and welfare but will not remain in effect after the unpermitted special event dissipates."
What are the penalties?
For in-zone violations:
- Fines are doubled.
- Vehicles involved in noncriminal or criminal traffic infractions and violations are subject to impoundment for up to 72 hours. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/23/jdm-beach-day-prompts-zero-tolerance-event-zone-in-new-smyrna-beach/70352684007/ | 2023-06-24T00:31:35 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/23/jdm-beach-day-prompts-zero-tolerance-event-zone-in-new-smyrna-beach/70352684007/ |
'Stay Woke Rolling Votercade' stops in Daytona Beach
DAYTONA BEACH — For nearly three hours Friday afternoon, the sanctuary of Allen Chapel AME Church was packed with hundreds of people ready to do more than complain about new Florida laws they see as a dangerous assault on education, history, book choice, voting rights, gun safety, immigrants, Black people, gender identity and sexual orientation.
The event — part church service and part political rally — was spurred by the visit of a few dozen people traveling Florida as part of the "Stay Woke Rolling Votercade."
Speaker after speaker stepped up to the church lectern to sound the alarm on changes lawmakers in Tallahassee have made, and to light a fire under people to do something about it.
"Put your words and your actions into something that will bring back the Florida we love," said Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference of NAACP branches. "We are going on this bus to organize. We are here to inform you and wake you up."
In the spirit of the Freedom Riders who rode buses into segregated southern states in 1961, people from several different states have been riding three buses around Florida over the past week to push back what they believe is an erosion of basic rights, choices and protections.
Among those riding the buses are a few relatives of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot to death while jogging down a road in Georgia in February 2020. The three white men involved in the shotgun murder have all been convicted.
Daryl Jones, a criminal defense and civil litigation attorney from Washington, D.C., said people from different states have joined the bus tour "because they recognize the hate legislation coming out of Florida will spread" if no one fights back.
"We've come to stomp out the hate," Jones said.
'Keep justice moving forward'
Several local leaders also spoke during Friday's event inside the Midtown neighborhood church.
"Lord, we ask you to help fix a broken system," said the Rev. Victor Gooden, past president of the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance. "With all we've gone through with injustice Lord, we need you to put it back together. We're here to keep justice moving forward so our citizenship is citizenship."
Also addressing the biracial crowd of both adults and children was third-term Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry.
"These are the roughest, darkest, most perilous, troublesome times of my lifetime," Henry said. "Not ever in a million years would I have thought we'd be where we are now."
Cynthia Slater, president of the Volusia County — Daytona Beach NAACP for more than 20 years, reminisced about going to Steak 'n Shake and Woolworths with her brothers and sisters 60 years ago to try to integrate those businesses.
"It is my hope when you leave this place you're energized," Slater said.
'Our children are counting on us'
One Black male speaker referred to some new Florida laws as "a cancer that's permeating our society of how they intend to deal with us as a people. They're trying to push us in a corner again."
He said the "cancer" is centered around the word woke, which began with an African American blues singer in the 1930s who used the word in a song to communicate how vigilant Blacks had to be in certain places and situations.
Several years ago, white liberals adopted the word and used it to describe people who are very socially aware. Then white conservatives essentially said woke really means liberal people who go too far with their beliefs.
A teacher who spoke Friday delved into new legal restrictions in Florida on the way race-related concepts can be taught in the state's classrooms.
"Sweeping history under the rug is not OK," he said.
He said Black history is a part of U.S. history, and it traces back to the early 1600s.
"There's a lot to be angry about. Don't do it," he said. "Go at it with joy. Our children are counting on us to get it right."
Daytona Beach marks Juneteenth :Rain can't dampen the spirits of Daytona Beach's 25th annual celebration of Juneteenth
Attendees of Friday's church event were given signs that said "Stay Woke Florida, Vote!" Fliers were also handed out reminding people to register to vote, remain registered and then vote.
"Challenge us God to stay woke in the midst of everything going on," said the Rev. Nathan Mugala, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church. "So much is happening in this state, but God, we look to you."
You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/23/new-florida-laws-impacting-education-voting-guns-immigration-gender-identity-have-some-concerned/70349287007/ | 2023-06-24T00:31:41 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/23/new-florida-laws-impacting-education-voting-guns-immigration-gender-identity-have-some-concerned/70349287007/ |
LAPORTE — The LaPorte County Council is expected to consider switching from precinct-based voting to vote centers at its meeting on Monday.
The proposal unanimously approved by the LaPorte County Election Board on June 16 also requires approval from both the County Council and the County Commissioners.
LaPorte County Clerk Heather Stevens said her plan for switching to vote centers would reduce the number of polling locations countywide from 52 to 38.
However, she said voters from LaPorte County would be able to cast ballots at any location here, not just the precinct in which they reside.
One of the ideas behind voting centers, which are now in place in most Indiana counties, is to increase voter turnout by making it more convenient to cast ballots.
For example, Stevens said a person running behind schedule with the polls about to close can go to the nearest voting center to cast a ballot instead of running the risk of getting to their precinct location on time.
She said convenience is important especially in LaPorte County, which is the largest by square miles in the state.
“I feel it’ll increase turnout by having more convenient locations for a county our size,” she said.
Stevens said another benefit of switching from precinct voting would be saving money from not having to hire as many election workers since there would be fewer polling locations.
Under her plan, the reduction in polling locations is mostly in Michigan City and LaPorte.
The number of polling locations in the unincorporated areas is about the same to avoid people having to drive much longer distances, in some cases, to vote.
Stevens said additional polling locations in lightly populated areas could be eliminated in the future, though, if they were drawing just a handful of voters from residents using other locations closer to their workplaces or wherever they happen to be when they wanted to cast a ballot.
“I’m sure we’re going to have to tweak a few things. That’s fine, but this is definitely a good start,” she said.
LaPorte County Council President Mike Rosenbaum said he fully supports vote centers, but is concerned about having enough poll workers to handle a potential increase in voters from switching to fewer, but more convenient locations.
“I caution there should be enough staffing for the increase in potential voters to each site,” he said.
Councilman Mark Yagelski said he’s leaning toward supporting the move primarily because of voter convenience.
Yagelski has doubts, though, if voter centers will produce a higher turnout.
“I know everything sounds good. I hope it works and we get more people to vote but, so far, everything we’ve put in has not,” he said.
Stevens said she plans to seek approval from the county commissioners sometime in August.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte-county-moves-forward-with-vote-center-plan/article_bebf471a-11f6-11ee-b337-f38b33de3db5.html | 2023-06-24T00:33:31 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte-county-moves-forward-with-vote-center-plan/article_bebf471a-11f6-11ee-b337-f38b33de3db5.html |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - The City of Flint is getting state funding to install surveillance cameras in the city.
The State Treasurer announced more than $2.5 million dollars are being awarded to 12 communities statewide.
The includes nearly $130,000 for the City of Flint to install the cameras.
The grants come from a program that helps cities, townships and villages experiencing budget pressures.
There is no word yet on when the cameras will be installed or where they will be at. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/city-of-flint-gets-funding-to-install-surveillance-cameras/article_6aa00e08-1214-11ee-a4d2-eb4f3e1d53d9.html | 2023-06-24T00:38:12 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/city-of-flint-gets-funding-to-install-surveillance-cameras/article_6aa00e08-1214-11ee-a4d2-eb4f3e1d53d9.html |
Defense asks for a new trial in 'canal killings,' calling judge's actions into question
Bryan Miller, who was sentenced to death earlier this month for committing two brutal murders in Phoenix in the early 1990s, has asked for a new trial in his long-running case, calling into question actions by the judge.
In a motion filed Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court, Miller's attorneys argued that Judge Suzanne Cohen's decision to sentence Miller to death was "unjust."
The motion focuses on Cohen's conduct and decisions during the bench trial, in particular her dual roles as judge and jury and her approach to mitigation evidence, which was presented in a bid to persuade her to deliver a life sentence.
It argues, among other things, that Cohen should have assessed herself for "unconscious feelings and beliefs" about the murders and their severity when she agreed to act as the jury in the case.
There are credible questions, Miller's attorneys wrote, about whether Cohen's beliefs were so strong nothing could have swayed her from imposing the death penalty.
In the motion, public defenders RJ Parker, Denise Dees and John Canby describe an incident in which Cohen called counsel to her chambers and "tearfully" asked for a witness to not read aloud a letter written by Miller's daughter.
The trial, the verdict and the sentence
Cohen found Miller guilty of killing Brosso and Bernas in April, three decades after the two young women were brutally murdered as they cycled along Phoenix canals.
Brosso never came home after going out cycling on Nov. 8, 1992, the evening of her 22nd birthday. She died from a stab wound inflicted to her back, and after death was decapitated, mutilated and sexually assaulted by Miller.
Her body was discovered the next morning, but her head did not turn up for 11 days, eventually found in the Arizona Canal.
Ten months later, Bernas, a 17-year-old high school student, was found dead in the same canal. She had a similar fatal stab wound to her back, as well as a cut to her neck and figures carved into her chest.
Miller was arrested in Phoenix in 2015 after a DNA breakthrough in the case and pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity at trial.
Cohen sentenced him to death earlier this month.
Canal killings:Bryan Miller speaks at last, but offers no apologies or new clues
'Unconscious feelings'
Part of the motion deals with the fact that Cohen presided over a bench trial, in which she was both the trial judge and the trier of fact, a position typically held by a jury in a capital murder case.
The attorneys write that Cohen herself suggested the state and defense consider a bench trial during an unrecorded conference held over Microsoft Teams in October 2021.
"(Cohen) expressed it might be something to consider and remarked on more death outcomes post-Ring for capital cases tried in front of juries," the motion reads, referring to the 2002 Supreme Court case Ring v. Arizona.
The parties eventually agreed to waive a jury.
At this point, Miller's attorneys argue, Cohen should have assessed herself for any "unconscious feelings" about the facts of that case that might have impaired her from meaningfully considering Miller's mitigation evidence, in the same way a juror is questioned pre-trial.
"The gravity of the offenses could understandably be too significant for most people to truly be receptive to information that could warrant life," the motion reads.
"This Court's imposition of death sentences raises credible questions as to whether the Court's unconscious feelings and beliefs were so strong that no mitigation evidence could ever rise to the level of warranting a life sentence for this trier-of-fact."
The attorneys also wrote they were concerned Cohen "made a premature death decision," describing an incident when she called counsel into chambers as witness Deena McGlade testified.
"The Court was visibly emotional during the conversation and tearfully requested that counsel not have Ms. McGlade read a letter that was written by Bryan's daughter, which had already been admitted."
Cohen said she would read and consider the letter "but that the testimony was too much (emotionally) for her that day," the motion reads.
Ultimately the letter was not read aloud in court.
The attorneys wrote that this incident raised a constitutional concern in that Cohen made a request of counsel that she would not have made if there were a jury in the case.
"The trial judge would not have prevented a jury from experiencing mitigation that might move a juror in his or her heart to vote for life," the motion reads.
Mitigating circumstances
The defense also argued that Cohen undermined Miller's constitutional rights by "weighing" — rather than considering — the aggravating and mitigating circumstances of Miller's crime and life.
This "fundamentally changes the assessment" from one that focuses on quality and value of mitigation evidence to a "dueling comparison" in which the burden of proof shifts, the motion argues.
As well, they contend the judge failed to consider and give effect to the mitigation evidence presented.
In Cohen's special verdict, she detailed her findings on 86 mitigating factors put forward by the defense, ruling some had been proven and others had not.
She found Miller was not a reliable reporter and as such many experiences and events he described to experts were not proven solely by his retelling.
She found childhood abuse generally, as well as some specific incidents, were proven in the context of corroborating evidence. This abuse and Miller's age at the time of the murders carried the most weight of all mitigating factors, the judge found.
Miller's attorneys criticized Cohen's approach as failing to consider the "holistic narrative" they had spent months laying out at trial.
"Bryan's life value and mitigation is not, and cannot be, captured in a list of pretrial factors from 2015," they wrote.
In particular, the attorneys wrote, Cohen erred in finding that while Miller may have high-functioning autism, it wasn't proven, and in not finding that he had PTSD or dissociative disorders.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office said it was unable to comment as the case is ongoing. A spokesperson for Maricopa County Superior Court said judges are prohibited from commenting on active cases. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/23/bryan-patrick-miller-defense-asks-for-new-trial-in-canal-killings/70352471007/ | 2023-06-24T00:42:20 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/23/bryan-patrick-miller-defense-asks-for-new-trial-in-canal-killings/70352471007/ |
Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2023.
Hello, triple-digit temperatures!
Don’t let those high temperatures deter you from doing fun stuff this summer. Here’s a list of 10 fun, indoor things to do this summer to beat the Arizona heat.
Museums, museums and museums 🖼️
Tucson is filled with unique and fun museums to keep you entertained year-round, especially in the summertime when we finally see those triple-digit temperatures and rush to find the coolest A/C available.
Some of our favorite museums to check out include the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, Children’s Museum Tucson, Ignite Sign Art Museum, The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, Tucson Museum of Art, and the Arizona State Museum.
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Try your favorite outdoor activities, inside 🧗
Are you looking to be a little more active this summer? There are a few indoor places in Tucson where you can get your outdoor activity fix.
Try Rock Solid Climbing + Fitness, Rocks and Ropes, the BLOC climbing+fitness+yoga, Elevate Trampoline Park, Get Air Trampoline Park and Defy Tucson. If you’re looking to go to one of these places more than a few times this summer, many offer summer passes that cover multiple visits.
Take the kiddos to an indoor playground 🤸
If you have active little ones at home who need to burn off some energy but you don’t want them running around under the hot Arizona sun, check out some local indoor playgrounds. These indoor playgrounds include jungle gyms, play mats and other child-safe equipment and toys.
Visit Wild Katz Children’s Adventure Playground, We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym or Playformance for child-safe summer fun.
Head to the movies 🍿
Going to the movies is the perfect way to beat the summer heat. You can relax in the cool A/C, eat a bucket of buttery popcorn and watch your favorite flick on the big screen. Sure, there are plenty of theaters from big businesses in Tucson, but summer is the perfect opportunity to support our local theaters.
Check out The Loft Cinema for their wide selection of films and the annual Loft Kids Fest. The Fox Theatre is also screening movies this summer!
Go to a live theater or comedy performance 🎭
Maybe the movies aren’t your thing.
If you prefer to see performances live on stage, check out one of the performances at The Gaslight Theatre or catch a comedy show at Laffs Comedy Cafe, Unscrewed Theater or the Tucson Improv Movement.
Try your hand at axe throwing, breaking stuff at a rage room or finding your way out of an escape room 🪓
Don’t let the summer heat put you in a cranky mood. Instead, take out your pent-up emotions in an axe-throwing session or by breaking stuff in a rage room at The Breaking Point. Check out St. Hubert’s Hatchet House or Splitting Timber Axe Throwing for axe-throwing.
If you’re looking for another indoor activity to take your mind off things, try finding your way out of an escape room. Tucson has quite a few escape rooms to choose from, including Fox in a Box, Ace of Escape, Mystery Escape Room and Will You Escape?
Find a new favorite book at your local library 📖
With 27 libraries across Pima County, there are plenty of locations for you to hang out and hide from the sun while curling up with your favorite book (or finding a new favorite). If you’re feeling stumped about what to read, ask a librarian!
The Pima County Public Library also has tons of events on their calendar this summer, from book clubs and tech help to crafts and story times.
Relax at indoor yoga 🧘
Another peaceful option this summer is taking an indoor yoga class.
Tucson has many outdoor yoga options, but the best way to beat the heat is with an indoor yoga class. Some of your options include classes at Yoga Oasis, which has three locations across Tucson, 4th Avenue Yoga and Om Yoga, which also offers aerial yoga classes.
Get your drink on at local breweries or coffee shops 🍺☕
Tucson is home to amazing breweries (and coffee shops, if beer isn’t your thing). So whether you’re drinking an ice-cold beer or an extravagant iced coffee, local breweries and coffee shops are the perfect place to hang with your friends, eat a delicious snack and start working on your summer reading list.
Some of our favorite breweries include Barrio Brewing Co., Borderlands Brewing Company and Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. A few coffee shops you can check out are Presta Coffee Roasters, Exo Roast Co. and Café con Leche at American Eat Co.
For the animal lover 🐈
If you’re looking for something a little more soft and cuddly this summer, we have you covered. Check out the El Jefe Cat Lounge to hang out, cuddle and play with 35 adoptable kitties.
If you want a longer commitment with a furry friend, take a stroll through the Pima Animal Care Center and foster or adopt a pet!
What are your favorite summer indoor activities? Let me know at everdugo@tucson.com. | https://tucson.com/news/local/10-indoor-things-to-do-in-tucson-summer-2022/article_18ac559e-1088-11ee-ab23-fbfe679a9b2c.html | 2023-06-24T00:46:22 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/10-indoor-things-to-do-in-tucson-summer-2022/article_18ac559e-1088-11ee-ab23-fbfe679a9b2c.html |
The death of a man found unresponsive on the sidewalk Thursday night on Tucson's south side is being investigated as a homicide, police said.
Officers went to the area of South Ninth Avenue and West Ohio Street about 7:30 p.m. after a caller reported the man on the sidewalk, police said in a news release.
The caller was performing CPR when police arrived, but the man was declared dead at the scene.
Police say Arath Robles Miranda, 19, had "signs of trauma," but provided no more details in the news release.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88CRIME, the anonymous tip line. | https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tucson-police-19-year-old-man-dies-on-sidewalk/article_5eba55ec-121b-11ee-82dc-eb08bbf8a95b.html | 2023-06-24T00:46:28 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tucson-police-19-year-old-man-dies-on-sidewalk/article_5eba55ec-121b-11ee-82dc-eb08bbf8a95b.html |
PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order Friday stripping the state's 15 elected county attorneys of their authority to prosecute doctors and other medical professionals who perform abortions and give it to the attorney general.
And given Attorney General Kris Mayes' views on the issue, that could effectively lead to total decriminalization of abortion in Arizona as she has said she won't bring charges. Hobbs and Mayes are Democrats.
In the order, Hobbs noted that the U.S. Supreme Court, in the Dobbs case last year, overturned Roe v. Wade and its constitutional right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy. That led to legal questions — still playing out before the Arizona Supreme Court — about which state laws can now be applied and enforced.
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Hobbs said that "could lead county attorneys across the state to make disparate decisions on whether and how to criminally prosecute the same, or similar, conduct relating to abortion care.''
"The state has an interest in ensuring that abortions laws are applied equally, consistently, and predictably to all people and in all counties in Arizona,'' the governor said in her order.
She is directing Mayes to "assume all duties with regard to any criminal prosecution of a medical provider or other entity or individual that is pending or brought in the future by the county attorney of any county in the state for violation of any state law restricting or prohibiting abortion care.''
Conflict between laws
Hobbs specifically cited a statute that dates back to territorial days that imposes a prison term of between two and five years on anyone who performs an abortion unless it is necessary to save the life of the woman.
That's crucial because the Arizona Supreme Court is set to decide whether that law, which never was repealed after the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe in 1973, automatically became enforceable again once the justices voided Roe last year. That was the legal position of Republican Mark Brnovich who was Arizona attorney general at the time.
Mayes has instead taken the position that a law banning abortion after 15 weeks, approved by the Legislature last year before the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling, takes precedence. That is the law being enforced for the moment based on a ruling by the state Court of Appeals. Abortion providers can be prosecuted under that law if they terminate a pregnancy after 15 weeks. Arizona lawmakers previously repealed penalties against women who obtain abortions.
Abortion foes are urging the state's high court to restore the territorial-era ban. That leaves the question of which law is enforceable in legal limbo.
Hobbs' order, though, is about more than whether abortions remain legal through 15 weeks.
During her campaign last year, Mayes said she believes the 15-week ban is no more legal than the territorial law. That is based on her argument that, regardless of what the U.S. Supreme Court says, women in Arizona have a right to terminate a pregnancy based on a specific state constitutional provision which says "no person shall be disturbed in his private affairs ... without authority of law.''
Mayes takes an absolutist view of it, including when it comes to so-called "late-term'' abortions.
"Late-term abortions are extremely rare and almost always done to save the life or the mother or when the fetus is no longer viable,'' said Mayes' press aide Richie Taylor. "The attorney general believes decisions in such matters should be made between the woman, her family and her doctor."
Mayes refused this year to defend another law, which makes it a crime to perform an abortion if the sole reason the woman is seeking it is because of a genetic abnormality of the fetus. That resulted in Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, and Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, filing a motion to intervene so they could defend the 2021 law in federal court.
Is the order legal?
The legality of the governor's order is being questioned.
Hobbs' press aide Christian Slater cited a statute saying she has the power to direct the attorney general to "prosecute and defend any proceeding in a state court ... in which this state or an officer of this state is a party or has an interest.''
But Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre said Hobbs is misreading the scope of that authority.
"It says the governor has the power to say 'enforce this,' '' to the attorney general, he said. "It doesn't say the governor has the power to then remove a constitutional officer, the county attorney's office."
The phrasing in the state constitution is that county attorneys "shall be the public prosecutor of the county," McIntyre said.
He said that, whatever people believe about abortion, the governor's order sets a dangerous — and he contends illegal — precedent, setting the stage for what might happen in the future when there are vastly different people holding the offices of governor and attorney general.
McIntyre, a Republican, said that if the governor doesn't want people going to prison for performing abortions, she does have other legal remedies.
For example, he said, she could tell the state Board of Executive Clemency that it should recommend that anyone convicted of an abortion offense be given an immediate pardon.
And McIntyre said Mayes could eliminate the possibility of prison sentences by simply deciding her office will not mount a defense any time someone convicted of an abortion-related offense files an appeal.
No prosecutions in Pima County
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said she supports Hobbs' action, citing the lack of a final ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court on which abortion law — the near-ban or the 15-week limit — is enforceable.
"We agree with the governor as to both the urgency and severity of this very unique situation,'' she said in a written statement.
Conover, a Democrat, said that while abortion providers are protected against prosecution in her county, by her office, that may not be true statewide.
"This is an unacceptable equal protection problem and dangerous, especially for our rural communities,'' she said.
Conover initially sidestepped the question of whether she believes Hobbs' action is legal. Instead, she said her office "will voluntarily send all criminal referrals to the attorney general in the spirit of fixing this constitutional inequity.''
But an aide later said Conover now believes the statute cited by Hobbs "appears to convey the power to the governor to issue the executive order. "We respectfully defer to the governor and the attorney general at this time,'' the statement says.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell had no qualms about analyzing the order.
"The governor's attempt to undermine the 15 elected county attorneys' authority is outrageous,'' she said. Mitchell, a Republican, said her attorneys are reviewing the order "and will take the appropriate next steps.''
At the Capitol, Toma, the House speaker, who has voted for abortion restrictions, said Hobbs can't legally do what she did.
"The governor cannot unilaterally divert statutory authority to prosecute criminal cases from Arizona's 15 counties to the attorney general,'' Toma said in a written statement.
He said the issue isn't just gubernatorial power.
"At a minimum, this order shows disrespect and contempt for the judiciary,'' Toma said, noting that the state Supreme Court is still deciding which laws are in effect in Arizona.
That is not the view of Brittany Fonteno, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona.
"This executive order will help ease the fear and uncertainty that swept through Arizona in the year since Roe was overturned, and protect all those seeking and providing necessary health care,'' she said in a prepared statement.
But Cathi Herrod, executive director of the anti-abortion Center for Arizona Policy, said in a statement Friday that the order is illegal. She cites a provision of state law that says the governor "may require the attorney general to aid a county attorney in the discharge of his duties.''
"Aid does not mean supplant or replace,'' Herrod said.
"In her zeal for abortion, Gov. Hobbs has exceeded her authority as governor,'' she continued. "The law does not allow her to strip county attorneys of their clear authority as granted in various Arizona laws.''
Out-of-state residents
Hobbs' order also directs state agencies not to assist in investigations from other states, where abortion restrictions remain, about their own residents seeking abortion care in Arizona. There would be cooperation only if ordered by a court or state or federal law.
Hobbs also said she will decline to extradite anyone from Arizona to a state that seeks to prosecute that person for abortion services that, while illegal in the other state, are not illegal here.
Collection: Tucsonans respond to Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a landmark decision Friday morning. Abortion-rights activists protested in front of the Evo A. DeC…
Watch now: Abortion-rights supporters march through downtown Tucson
Watch now: Protestors at Reid Park after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade
Watch Now: Roe v. Wade protests
Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com. | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/arizona-gov-hobbs-strips-county-prosecutors-of-authority-to-prosecute-abortion-cases/article_b4b1a226-11d9-11ee-946f-f39bb13adc38.html | 2023-06-24T00:46:34 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/arizona-gov-hobbs-strips-county-prosecutors-of-authority-to-prosecute-abortion-cases/article_b4b1a226-11d9-11ee-946f-f39bb13adc38.html |
This year’s uncharacteristically cool June temperatures are coming to an end.
Tucson's highs are expected to shoot into the 110s Monday and Tuesday.
Only four days of June have been above normal and then rest have been below, said Gary Zell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson.
However, Tucson has consistently hit 100 degrees since June 16th.
The highs coming in for next week are well above normal, but won't be record hitting.
Monday is expected to be sunny and hot with a high of 113 degrees, according to the Weather Service.
Zell says to practice heat safety from here until the end of the summer.
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Now would not be the time to go on a hike, Zell noted.
"No matter how cool it feels at 6 a.m., it's still going to be dry," he said.
That'll be true even though Friday was nine days into this year's monsoon season, which begins June 15 and runs through September.
Traditionally, however, Tucson's summer thunderstorms don't get going until early July.
Forecasters say this year it could even take longer for the rains to arrive.
6 tips for protecting your pets in Tucson this summer
Keep them hydrated
Provide clean, cool drinking water in an easily accessible, spill-proof container.
Stay inside
Just like us, pets prefer the AC. Keep pets indoors on hot days: there’s no better place to avoid the heat.
Never leave them in the car!
Don’t leave a pet inside a vehicle: even with the windows cracked, the interior temperature can become deadly within just a couple of minutes.
Prevent paw burns
Walk your pet in the early morning or in the evening when the asphalt has cooled down. Place the back of your hand on the ground for five seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet’s paws.
Provide shade
Ensure your pet has all-day access to a shaded spot with good air flow. For dogs with longer coats, even shaded spots can be too hot in 100-degree weather.
Know the warning signs
Some signs of heat-related illness include: being lethargic, not eating high-value treats like chicken, excessive panting or difficult breathing, excessive drooling, bright red gums, rapid pulse, muscle tremors, dry nose, nausea, and vomiting.
Pets that are overweight, old or are of a short-nose breed are more prone to overheat. | https://tucson.com/news/local/weather/heat-over-110-degrees-expected-in-tucson-next-week/article_eef2d2cc-10a6-11ee-b298-7b51c2dae8b4.html | 2023-06-24T00:46:41 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/weather/heat-over-110-degrees-expected-in-tucson-next-week/article_eef2d2cc-10a6-11ee-b298-7b51c2dae8b4.html |
OCALA, Fla. — An “explosion/fire” caused by an apparent gas leak was reported around 7:30 p.m. at an Ocala restaurant Friday evening, blocking roads, according to police
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The explosion happened at Jugo Cafe Tropical, police said. Nobody was inside the restaurant at the time of the explosion and no injuries were reported, Ocala police said.
READ: Ocoee man sentenced to death for 2nd time for burning ex-girlfriend to death
All southbound lanes on Pine Avenue from State Road 40 to Northwest 10th Street are closed due to first responders working at the scene, police said. All northbound lanes have since reopened.
READ: Ocala temporarily closes 3 more parks due to flooding
ROAD BLOCKED DUE TO EXPLOSION: All Northbound and Southbound lanes on Pine Ave from St Rd 40 to NW 10th St are closed due to first responders working an explosion/fire incident at Jugo Cafe Tropical. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/pZjrofHSdO
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) June 23, 2023
See a map of the scene below:
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/roads-blocked-after-reported-explosion-ocala-restaurant/D63IQGYEYJFN5DFBF7VDNVR4FI/ | 2023-06-24T00:48:32 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/roads-blocked-after-reported-explosion-ocala-restaurant/D63IQGYEYJFN5DFBF7VDNVR4FI/ |
LODI, Calif. — A man was arrested in Lodi Tuesday after allegedly hitting another man with a metal pipe, then trying to attack a Lodi Police Department officer and hitting a K-9.
The man who was hit was taken to the hospital and has since been released. The K-9, Raider, was hit at least once on the head but not seriously hurt, according to officials.
Tasers were used against the man and were "ultimately effective."
Frank Courtnier was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a police officer and assault on a police K-9.
Lodi Police Department officials say Courtnier was on parole for several "prior violent assaults of Lodi police officers." | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/man-arrested-metal-pipe-lodi/103-fb695507-3b42-4504-b270-9333e5a7c454 | 2023-06-24T00:51:00 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/man-arrested-metal-pipe-lodi/103-fb695507-3b42-4504-b270-9333e5a7c454 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — A judge ordered Oregon Health & Science University to pay more than $430,000 to PETA for concealing videos that show animal experiments.
The animal rights organization sued OHSU for concealing footage from a public records request. PETA officials said the footage showed rodents being given large amounts of alcohol in tests of relationship infidelity.
Multnomah County Circuit Courts agreed with PETA that public records requests were not abided by.
In 2017, OHSU published a report, which PETA officials said shows prairie voles, a type of rodent, ingesting the equivalent to 15 bottles of wine.
PETA officials said soon after seeing the report, they submitted public records requests, but OHSU didn’t comply with it.
Instead, PETA lawyers argue the university said it couldn’t produce the records, because they were in the possession of the VA hospital.
PETA officials claimed when they contacted the VA, employees told them OHSU lead researchers had destroyed the videos.
"OHSU came back and sprung into action saying 'oh these videos no longer exist, we don't have that,'" PETA Director of Litigation Asher Smith said.
Smith said PETA officials didn’t learn that the records were still in existence until the trial was about to begin.
"This case really exposed OHSU's deep contempt for public accountability in a ton of ways," Smith said.
OHSU claimed the experiments were to study the effects of alcohol in male prairie voles. In a statement about the lawsuit, OHSU said the university takes seriously their obligation to comply with Oregon Public Record Laws.
In the statement, OHSU said the university had a long history of responding to public records requests in a timely manner.
But PETA officials said in this situation, that didn’t happen. Footage exposed by PETA showed male and female voles paired together. The males had alcohol in their system. Females were tethered to the wall.
"PETA eventually learned through litigation that the experimenters made a conscience decision that they didn't want these videos to fall into the wrong hands," Smith said.
In the same statement, OHSU said its research is monitored and inspected by the USDA. They claim the USDA visits campus at least once a year to inspect animals, facilities and food supply. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ohsu-peta/283-2f16326a-7b6d-475e-a1bb-201f17c108cf | 2023-06-24T00:51:13 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ohsu-peta/283-2f16326a-7b6d-475e-a1bb-201f17c108cf |
PORTLAND, Ore. —
John Saltenberger, fire weather program manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hasn’t seen a fire season start like this in at least a few years.
Areas to the south of Oregon are mostly free of drought. Meanwhile, areas north of the Pacific Northwest are hot and dry.
“Canada is on fire, it’s been warm and dry. California has been cool and wet. It’s not on fire,” Saltenberger said. “How often do we see that pattern shape up?”
Saltenberger was delivering a briefing at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland on Friday morning to experts from across state and federal firefighting agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Parks Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
The dramatic winter rains in California, which featured more than a dozen atmospheric rivers, have left much of the state and parts of the Great Basin much wetter than normal for this time of year, according to Saltenberger — so much so that some crews in parts of southern Oregon have been unable to do prescribed burns because the fuels are just too green.
But residents in the rest of the region have seen unusually hot and dry conditions for nearly two months leading into the start of the summer. Prescribed burns in parts of western Oregon have been curtailed because the fuels were too dry.
Couple that with the return of El Niño — warm sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific that can portend hot and dry summer weather for the Pacific Northwest — and Saltenberger said that has the makings for high fire risk.
“I’m putting all of Washington into above-average potential for large costly fires as we move into the heat of July and fire season really kicks in,” Saltenberger said. “I’m also going to include southeast Oregon and northwest Oregon.”
Many of the ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest have evolved to coexist with fire, and in fact, some species depend on periodic burns to thrive. What Saltenberger tracks is areas that have the potential to burn at intensities far beyond what would occur naturally.
“These areas are probably the prime regions where those optimum combinations of windy, dry conditions, high fire danger and ignitions all come together at the same time and the same place,” he said.
Of course, several of those factors are beyond human control, but experts at Friday’s meeting drove home that the vast majority of ignitions are caused by people. They stressed that recreating responsibly — along with proper disposal of cigarette butts and avoiding using equipment that can create sparks on days with high fire danger — can make everyone safer. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/wildfire-season-pacific-northwest-rainy-washington-oregon/283-756a5623-42a6-4356-a223-10cb42717516 | 2023-06-24T00:51:19 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/wildfire-season-pacific-northwest-rainy-washington-oregon/283-756a5623-42a6-4356-a223-10cb42717516 |
At an emotionally charged hearing that, at times, became unruly, a Lancaster County judge gave a Lincoln woman probation and a fine for her role in a September 2022 crash that killed Jeffery Zeiger, a motorcyclist whose friends and family were largely outraged by the judge's ruling.
"My dad's life is worth $1,000?" shouted one of Zeiger's daughters in the aftermath of the hearing, which transpired in front of a packed courtroom at the Lancaster County courthouse Friday morning.
"Seriously? Seriously? And 24 months of probation?" the teen shouted, referring to the sentence that Judge Joseph Dalton had just given 33-year-old Marciyanna Nielsen for her role in the crash that killed the 45-year-old man.
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The outburst was one of many Friday morning in Courtroom 20, where more than 50 supporters — nearly all of whom had attended in support of Zeiger's family — formed a standing-room-only crowd for Nielsen's sentencing.
Nielsen, who pulled her Hyundai sedan into Zeiger's path on West O Street at about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24, pleaded no contest in April to motor vehicle homicide, a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
Many of the onlookers wept throughout Friday's hearing as Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Decker centered his monologue on who the 45-year-old motorcyclist was to his friends and family.
"A father, a husband, a brother, a coworker," Decker said. "I think one of the victim impact statements describes him best: as a superhero to these folks."
"Jeff earned that title," the prosecutor added. "He was that superhero to those people. He was there, not just in title, but he was there every day for those folks. And that, judge, is why that's a monumental loss to those folks."
When Zeiger collided with Nielsen's sedan that day, Decker said, he had been on his way home to build a shelf for one of his daughters and work on a car for another. He had been with his wife, Marissa, for 20 years.
"I think what those folks would like you, judge, to remember the most of is — and what's so tragic to them is that — they won't have a father to walk them down the aisle, to be there for holidays," Decker said, as once-quiet cries grew louder in the courtroom.
Both Decker and Andrew Joyce, Nielsen's attorney, noted that police investigators, including a drug recognition expert, detected no signs of drug or alcohol use playing a role in the crash — a fact that drew the ire of some attendees, who seemed not to believe either lawyer.
Joyce opened his comments Friday by acknowledging the outpouring of emotion from Zeiger's friends and family for the 45-year-old, who he said was "truly loved" and "a great man."
Then, the attorney repeatedly described the crash in many of the same terms Dalton would later use in his ruling: an unintentional action, a horrible tragedy, an accident.
"Nobody wanted this to happen," Joyce said.
He described Nielsen as a former employee of Nebraska Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office — a fact that drew scoffs from the crowd of observers.
She wasn't on her phone or driving distracted, her attorney said, and didn't dart her way from Northwest 19th Street into Zeiger's path. She had stopped for eight seconds before pulling onto West O Street, he said.
"I sincerely believe that she never saw the motorcyclist," Joyce said.
Nielsen, reading from prepared remarks, repeatedly apologized to Zeiger's loved ones even as she acknowledged that "nothing I can speak of can bring Mr. Zeiger back."
"I can only imagine the suffering the family is experiencing as a result of this accident and will continue to experience on every holiday, birthday or a random Tuesday in perpetuity," she said. "I am so sorry you're going through this. I'm so sorry."
Then came Dalton, the judge, who noted Nielsen's lack of criminal record and lamented the accidental nature of the crime committed — the kind of "very difficult case" the judge seemed to dread.
"This is one of those cases, unfortunately, that this court typically refers to as: 'but for the grace of God go I.'" he said. "This could happen to anybody."
Dalton described what statute allows — up to a year of incarceration — for the motor vehicle homicide charge that defendants used to be able to have dismissed through diversion court.
Then, the judge said he saw Nielsen as a suitable candidate for probation, prompting outcries from the crowd of attendees — some of whom hurled expletives toward the judge as others stormed out of Courtroom 20 in tears.
"Understand this folks: This is a court of law and you will be dignified in this courtroom," Dalton said, before threatening to clear the entire courtroom. "If you cannot act in a dignified in a manner I will have you excused."
Less than a minute later, the judge sentenced Nielsen to two years of probation and the $1,000 fine, adjourning the matter as Zeiger's family wept. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-woman-gets-probation-for-2022-fatal-motorcycle-crash/article_d4eeeb16-11f2-11ee-b0d0-5fb81400195b.html | 2023-06-24T00:55:55 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-woman-gets-probation-for-2022-fatal-motorcycle-crash/article_d4eeeb16-11f2-11ee-b0d0-5fb81400195b.html |
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has revived talk of a giant Trinity River park that voters approved 25 years ago.
But what voters are likely to get now is very different than the plans they’ve seen over the past two decades. Instead of in the riverbed between the downtown river levees, the features planned now will be outside the levees overlooking the river.
At the West Dallas Trinity overlook, which was to be adjacent to the park, Ian Johnson was having his lunch Friday. It’s a spot he enjoys visiting.
“All the time, three or four times a week, yeah,” he said.
Trails were built there leading down into the river bed. Big apartments have gone up on both sides of the river near what was to be the developed park.
Johnson spoke about it Tuesday as he was sworn in for a second term. He said it was part of his goal for Dallas to have the best park system in the state.
“A 250-acre community park that's going to transform the Trinity River corridor and become an iconic Dallas destination,” Johnson said.
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Seven years ago when the Harrold Simmons family donated $50 million to secure park naming rights, then-Mayor Mike Rawlings forecast a year of park design. But renderings shown then of construction inside the levees are no longer on the drawing board.
A spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees the Trinity floodway, said no official park plan has been submitted by Dallas. But city officials have said they received clear indications that park construction would not be approved inside the levees.
“The Army Corps of Engineers is not interested in any type of true construction when it comes to recreation area, with the exception of what they've already approved which are the lakes,” Dallas City Council Member Omar Narvaez said.
He represents much of the proposed park area and West Dallas where the lakes are under construction west of Westmoreland Road. The dirt dug for the lakes is being used to raise the levees. Downtown, the Harrold Simmons Park development is now planned to be above the river levees.
Gateway overlook features are being planned at Commerce Street and at the west end of the Ron Kirk Pedestrian Bridge near Singleton Boulevard.
The park may also one day use the old Dawson State Jail building on the east side of the river at Commerce Street.
The Trinity Conservancy is still raising money and advancing plans, said President and CEO Tony Moore.
“The Harold Simmons Park is absolutely going to happen and we are thrilled with Mayor Johnson’s commitment to parks and green spaces,” Moore said. “Harrold Simmons Park will absolutely be an iconic attraction and it will complement the other series of parks and green spaces that Dallas has.”
Narvaez said he has seen the plans and he is anxious for it to move forward.
“We're not going to see as much inside the levees as we are going to see outside the levees, and in all honesty, I think that's better,” Narvaez said.
Moore said the plans will be released to the public soon.
Frequent visitor Ian Johnson said he agrees with the new approach.
“Yeah, it makes more sense over here, it definitely makes more sense, because it does flood down there,” he said.
Fundraising is still necessary and there’s no completion date forecast, after 25 years of delays on the Dallas Trinity River Park.
A toll road was also once included in the plan approved by voters in 1998, but that was killed by the Dallas City Council in 2017. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/new-talk-about-old-dallas-trinity-river-park-plan/3283668/ | 2023-06-24T00:59:36 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/new-talk-about-old-dallas-trinity-river-park-plan/3283668/ |
Bruce DeLaney makes an adjustment to a display at Rediscovered Books in downtown Caldwell in May 2022. The Caldwell location will be closing by late summer.
Rediscovered Books will be closing its location in Caldwell.
A longtime institution in Boise, Rediscovered Books opened its Caldwell store in 2019 at 802 Arthur St., next to Indian Creek Plaza and across the street from Flying M Coffeeshop. The closing, which was first reported by BoiseDev, was announced on the store’s Facebook page by owners Bruce and Laura DeLaney.
“After 4 years, this location is not able to stand on its own,” the post says.
“We’ve been challenged by many circumstances outside of our control, and we have tried everything we can to make it work. After much careful consideration we believe the only path forward is to close the Caldwell location.”
In a phone interview with the Idaho Press, Bruce DeLaney said opening the Caldwell store on the precipice of the COVID-19 pandemic and establishing its brand during that time proved challenging. He estimated the Caldwell location would close by late summer.
The Facebook post added that Rediscovered Books is planning pop-up shops, book and wine events and school projects in Caldwell, and looks to physically be in the city every month.
“We will still find ways to stay connected with you, and when the time is right, we hope to come back,” it said.
Rediscovered Books stores in Boise, located downtown and on State Street, are “remaining open and are thriving,” the post said.
The business first opened in west Boise in 2006 before moving downtown in 2010 and is known for its substantial stock of children's and contemporary literature.
Rediscovered Books made headlines last year in its response to Nampa School District’s decision to remove 22 books from its library shelves for content the school board deemed inappropriate and, in some cases, pornographic. The store, in turn, vowed to carry the books and created a special section for them at its locations. It also hosted a banned books giveaway in tandem with Flying M in Nampa. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/2cscoop/rediscovered-books-to-close-caldwell-store/article_cff8ceec-11f7-11ee-8631-8b6193382f6c.html | 2023-06-24T00:59:38 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/2cscoop/rediscovered-books-to-close-caldwell-store/article_cff8ceec-11f7-11ee-8631-8b6193382f6c.html |
Two suspicious fires reported in northwest Redding on Friday, among flurry of reports
Firefighters kept busy Friday morning when at least four fires were reported in northwest Redding within a 3-hour period ― all of them within the vicinity of Quartz Hill Road ― and two of them were deemed suspicious.
None of the fires exceeded 1 acre, no structures burned and no one was injured in the blazes, Redding Fire Department officials said.
A fire in the area of Benton Drive and Barbara Road briefly threatened residents as the blaze burned uphill toward a neighborhood. Residents were asked to evacuate for a short period while firefighters knocked down the flames.
The first fire, on Quartz Hill Road and Stone Canyon Drive, was reported at about 8:15 a.m. That fire burned brush, grass and trees and was confined to less than an acre.
Shortly after 9 a.m., firefighters were called to a second fire near Barbara Road and Benton Drive, less than a mile north of Quartz Hill Road.
The Stone Canyon Drive and Barbara Road fires were both deemed suspicious, according to the Redding Fire Department, but the agency said Friday afternoon the cause of the blazes was still under investigation.
The Barbara Road Fire started on a small, little-used dirt road about 100 feet north of Benton Drive, said Shawn Plummer, a Redding Fire Department battalion chief. The Barbara Road fire was kept to about three-quarters of an acre, Plummer said.
Mark Dill, who lives on nearby Pearl Street, said he was at home when he spotted the smoke on the hill behind his house.
“And so we went into action. We set up sprinklers; that's all we can do. I went right to two neighbors down, which is the house it burned behind, and got out their hose and put out a couple of little things that were starting to burn in their flower beds in the mulch and tried to do what I could with a little hose. And Cal Fire and the Redding Fire Department showed up right at the exact minute it was starting to cross the fence — and that was a miracle,” Dill said.
Note to readers: We've made this story free as an important public service to our North State communities. If you are able, help power local journalism by subscribing to the Redding Record Searchlight.
Plummer said Barbara Road and Pearl Street residents were evacuated until the fire was knocked down.
Down the hill, below Pearl Street, firefighters hosed down hot spots, chopped brush and cut fire line while a fire investigator and a Redding police officer poked through the ashes in an area off the dirt road where the fire originated.
The fire investigator, Guido Concello, had been at the fire at Stone Gate and Quartz Hill roads only minutes earlier.
Dill said he felt the fire near his home was a blessing in disguise because it helped to clear some of the thick brush from the hillside below the homes.
“You couldn't have prescribed a fire like this to actually create such a great fire break and what was cool was the weather is a little cooler today, miraculously, and it's a little moist. So that fire crept at a reasonable rate, rather than that at firestorm rate. So we feel very fortunate and we win,” Dill said.
Another fire was dispatched just before 11 a.m. in the area of Keswick Dam Road and Quartz Hill Road, outside the Redding city limits.
Crews reported a 50-by-50-foot spot fire east of Keswick Dam. Another fire was reported off Bellagio Terrace, not far from the Stone Canyon Drive and Quartz Hill Road blaze. But crews who went to the site were not able to locate a fire.
Fire danger in the Barbara Road neighborhood has been an issue over the past several years as numerous fires have started in the Sulphur Creek Canyon north of Benton Drive and south of Lake Boulevard.
Residents in the Barbara Road neighborhood have reported that some insurance companies have dropped their homeowner’s insurance coverage because of the fire danger in the area.Dill, though, said he still has insurance on his house.
Two residents of the Barbara Road neighborhood have said while they were dropped by their insurers, they have been advised not to talk about their loss of coverage.
State Farm Insurance announced last month that it would stop selling new home insurance policies in California. But State Farm is not the only insurer dialing back coverage in the state. The number of homeowners statewide who have had their fire insurance policies canceled jumped to 235,000 after the fires of 2017 and 2018, according to the news website Cal Matters.
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today! | https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/fires/2023/06/23/vegetation-fir-reported-in-west-redding/70350538007/ | 2023-06-24T00:59:55 | 0 | https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/fires/2023/06/23/vegetation-fir-reported-in-west-redding/70350538007/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/i-95-open-just-12-days-after-collapse-a-project-thought-to-take-months/3591682/ | 2023-06-24T01:01:36 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/i-95-open-just-12-days-after-collapse-a-project-thought-to-take-months/3591682/ |
Philadelphia sports teams, the Flyers, Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and Union, made a collective $50,000 donation to build a trust for the daughter of Nathan Moody, the driver who died in the collapse on June 11.
The money is to alleviate the care and studies of the daughter of the victim, who lost his life when the fuel truck he was driving under the bridge of the busy road exploded.
On June 11 at 6:20 a.m. 53-year-old Moody, was driving a tanker truck that was carrying about 8,500 gallons of gasoline in Northeast Philadelphia.
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The collapse closed I-95 in both directions between the Aramingo and Woodhaven exits. On Friday, June 23, temporary lanes were finished construction and open for drivers.
Moody’s death was listed as accidental by investigators.
While much attention has been placed on the rebuild of I-95 and the impact on traffic, Moody’s friend Alex Harcharek of Merchantville, New Jersey, is making sure he isn’t forgotten.
“This was a dad. This was a partner. This was a community member,” Harcharek said. “I wanted to make sure the story of the man didn’t get overshadowed by the story of a bridge repair and that people understood that this was a real human being.”
Funeral plans have not yet been finalized, but Harcharek created a GoFundMe to help Moody’s family cover the costs. So far, more than $37,000 have been raised.
Mascot’s for every Philly sports team were among the first to go across the temporary lanes of the new I-95 lanes that opened Friday, June 23. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philadelphia-sports-teams-donate-50000-to-daughter-of-man-killed-in-i-95-collapse/3591776/ | 2023-06-24T01:01:42 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philadelphia-sports-teams-donate-50000-to-daughter-of-man-killed-in-i-95-collapse/3591776/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Birmingham Water Works is reminding you to hydrate this summer through its “Hydrate the City” program.
Water comes with a number of health benefits, but BWW said it can taste good too. And that’s what it wants to show people through its Hydrate the City program.
BWW held a pop-up event at the Botanical Gardens. All summer long, water works staff will be visiting different parks in the city and passing out fruit infused water samples and recipe cards you can make at home.
BWW Public Relations Manager Rick Jackson said water can help you beat the Alabama heat we experience each summer.
“Some of our favorites are strawberry lemonade, cucumber mint,” Jackson said. “We have watermelon, peaches. We have recipe cards that anyone can do at home with their family and get in a habit of doing it. And once you enjoy it for the summertime, our hope is that you can enjoy it year round.”
According to the CDC, more than 600 people die from extreme heat every year. This program hopes to prevent these incidents through education.
BWW will have pop-up hydration stations every Friday from now until the end of July. Its next stop will be at Veterans Park on June 30. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-water-works-promotes-hydration-through-hydrate-the-city-program/ | 2023-06-24T01:12:02 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmingham-water-works-promotes-hydration-through-hydrate-the-city-program/ |
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Blue-green algae alerts have been issued by the Department of Health across Lee County, including areas of Downtown Fort Myers. These blooms aren’t usually common on the Fort Myers side of the river.
Dr. Barry Rosen of the FGCU Water School explained what could be causing this increase in algal blooms.
“The blue-green algae like freshwater,” said Dr. Rosen. “However, they can tolerate a little bit of salt water, and if they’re flowing down the Caloosahatchee, they could be blooming anywhere in the very long Caloosahatchee River.”
Freshwater released from Lake Okeechobee is normally a catalyst for these blooms, but the water levels in the lake aren’t high enough yet.
Dr. Barry Rosen explained that this increase in freshwater is due to an increase in flow from our local watershed. With the rainy season upon us, we can expect to see more of these blooms as the salinity of the Caloosahatchee decreases.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Officials issue blue-green algae alert for Able Canal in Lee County
Dr. Barry Rosen says that, although harmful if ingested, blue-green algae doesn’t pose a respiratory threat like red tide does.
“Unless we’re drinking the water which we typically are not drinking this water, there really is no issue for people,” said Dr. Rosen.
But he recommends not letting pets or children swim in the water to minimize the risk of ingestion.
“Your pets will get it on their fur, and they will lick it, and if it has toxin, they will get a very high dose,” said Dr. Rosen. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/23/blue-green-algae-spreading-across-lee-county/ | 2023-06-24T01:13:20 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/23/blue-green-algae-spreading-across-lee-county/ |
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Starting Monday, Cape Coral Permitting Counter is no longer taking walk-in appointments. The City of Cape Coral said it’s not because of an increase in requests. It’s to help you skip the line, and maybe even a trip to City Hall.
Melissa Mickey is the Communications Manager for the City of Cape Coral. She said the city is making this change to point more people to its website. Booking an appointment in advance will also decrease wait times.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: The City of Cape Coral is changing its building permit application format
She said right now wait times really depend on the day.
“Honestly you could come in one day of the week where you just get lucky…and other times there’s a wait.”
Cape Coral’s self-service site has 13 push buttons that can get your permit approved instantly. The push buttons include the following:
- Air Conditioning (Residential)
- Emergency Electrical Repair/Replace (Residential and Commercial)
- Fence Repair/Replace (Residential)
- Garage Door Replacement (Residential)
- Roof Metal or Shingle (Residential)
- Roof Tile (Residential)
- Dock Electric (Residential)
- Plumbing Re-pipe (Residential and Commercial)
- Shutters/Awning (Residential)
- Shutters/Awning with Electric (Residential)
You can apply for and receive your permit immediately by visiting here. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/23/city-of-cape-coral-switching-to-online-system-for-building-permits/ | 2023-06-24T01:13:26 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/23/city-of-cape-coral-switching-to-online-system-for-building-permits/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Four suspects with outstanding warrants were arrested Thursday afternoon following a search of a home at 1700 Nebraska Street NE, Salem police say.
After an alleged attempt to run from officers, police arrested 25-year-old Gerardo Lara-Alvarez, 26-year-old Jesus Camarena, 26-year-old Jasthmine Monic Pena and 38-year-old Benito Salinas Jr.
Police arrested Lara-Alvarez on three warrants including the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree burglary and first-degree theft.
Officers say Camarena was found possessing 8.6 grams of meth and charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance. He had two outstanding warrants including a probation violation (unauthorized use of a motor vehicle) and a parole violation (harassment).
Pena faces a probation violation warrant for the distribution of a controlled substance and was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm at the time of arrest, police say.
Salinas faces a parole violation warrant of first-degree manslaughter and was also charged for being a felon in possession of a restricted weapon.
Salem police say they seized the handgun and ammunition found during the arrest. An investigation is ongoing.
Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops. | https://www.koin.com/local/marion-county/four-arrested-with-outstanding-warrants-after-salem-house-search/ | 2023-06-24T01:21:32 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/marion-county/four-arrested-with-outstanding-warrants-after-salem-house-search/ |
FORT SMITH, Ark. — The City of Fort Smith has released its findings in an audit of the city's shelter, Animal Haven, which was originally accused in a draft audit of there being over $100,000 unaccounted for in their records.
The city is contracted with the Animal Haven which is required to follow city animal control ordinances and the city assists with costs that the shelter might take on.
In the official audit released on Friday, Animal Haven is accused of overcharging and incorrectly charging the city, going against proper euthanasia procedures, and even allowing a heartworm-positive animal to be in the shelter for eight months before receiving treatment.
In May 2023, a city meeting was tense after it was discovered the audit by the city was being done without contacting the shelter. “I have never had a phone call, an email, or a visit from one of the board of directors regarding this,” said Animal Haven veterinarian Chris Ashworth during the meeting in May.
Fort Smith auditor Tracey Shockley said she was planning to meet with the shelter, but the draft was leaked to the public on Facebook beforehand.
In the official audit, a total amount of misappropriated funds wasn't given, but several findings were related to either Animal Haven overcharging the city or inappropriate charges to the city for animals that didn't exist according to the available records.
The audit also says the shelter euthanized animals "outside of required Arkansas laws/protocols."
In one instance, an animal owner was arrested and when they returned to the shelter, the animal was allegedly heartworm positive but didn't receive treatment for eight months.
The shelter "took the initiative to identify what changes were needed to strengthen the process," the city said. In response, management at the shelter said "The discrepancies and recommendations discovered during the audit were discussed with the intent of providing improved documentation and a more efficient documentation process."
A clerk at the shelter will now review transactions and submit them to the Fort Smith Police Department for five months, who will make sure the numbers match up. "Once FSPD command is satisfied with the financial reporting, the clerk will switch to a sample of 20% to review for accuracy."
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/fort-smith-releases-findings-animal-haven-audit/527-73df5be7-fd01-42a4-845d-8f3d4aace62a | 2023-06-24T01:24:49 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/fort-smith-releases-findings-animal-haven-audit/527-73df5be7-fd01-42a4-845d-8f3d4aace62a |
A man suspected of shooting and killing a Fort Wayne man in 2022 was found guilty by a jury Friday night.
Issac Martin, 30, was accused of gunning down Dequavius Tyler, 27, on Fort Wayne’s southeast side in the 5000 block of Oliver Street on June 12, 2022.
Martin, who was arrested in October, was charged with murder, criminal recklessness and faces a sentencing enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of the offense.
The jury was sent out to deliberate at about 4:40 p.m. and returned its verdict less than three hours later. Martin is scheduled to be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 4.
During closing statements Friday afternoon, Tesa Helge, chief counsel for the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office, said it’s hard to know what Martin’s motive for shooting Tyler would be, but the evidence points to him being the shooter regardless.
Helge and her co-counsel, Deputy Prosecutor Tasha Lee, emphasized that the shell casings found at the crime scene came back to Martin. They matched shell casings found near Martin when he was apprehended after a car and foot chase with police.
What prosecutors did not have, however, was the alleged murder weapon they believe was hidden by Martin shortly before police found him. They believe it was hidden in a bush at the home Martin was found at, picked up by a friend of Martin’s and subsequently destroyed before police could locate it.
Helge and Lee told jurors to pay heavy attention to jailhouse phone calls when Martin told the friend in coded messages that she needed to retrieve something from a bush at the house – phrases like “granny needs her ramp” and a “bush with an afro” could be heard in the phone call. Prosecutors say those phrases described items or physical attributes of the house where they believe the gun was hidden.
“We don’t have the weapon because he made sure we don’t,” Lee said pointing at Martin.
Tyree Barfield, co-defending Martin with Jamie Egolf, said the item Martin was directing the woman to find could have been anything, but Barfield said he believes it was likely drugs.
Barfield said the prosecution simply did not do its due diligence in looking into other possibilities.
“They said, ‘We’ve got our guy and we’re going to get him come hell or high water,’ ” Barfield said.
In fact, he said, jurors would have to disregard other evidence to accept the state’s theory and find the defendant guilty – describing the state’s exhibits as a “mountain of evidence, quantity over quality.”
Barfield ended by asking the jury to focus on the elements needed to convict Martin.
By doing so, he said, the jury would see the prosecution did not make its case to convict his client.
Lee closed for the prosecution, asking jurors to look at Martin’s behaviors in the hours after the shooting, specifically running from police, before making their decision.
“There is not guilty, and there is all of his behavior that night,” Lee said. “They don’t walk down the same street.”
“Find him guilty because there is no evidence he is not,” she said. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/courts/jury-finds-suspect-guilty-of-2022-murder/article_5fa87d1c-11e9-11ee-89a0-db21c8746a9b.html | 2023-06-24T01:26:12 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/courts/jury-finds-suspect-guilty-of-2022-murder/article_5fa87d1c-11e9-11ee-89a0-db21c8746a9b.html |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/locals-hope-i-95-repairs-now-resolve-surrounding-traffic-concerns/3591687/ | 2023-06-24T01:27:46 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/locals-hope-i-95-repairs-now-resolve-surrounding-traffic-concerns/3591687/ |
CHAMBLEE, Ga. —
A new Chamblee officer has entered the building and they have four legs! City leaders approved for the police department to launch a K-9 program this week.
The new program allows Chamblee to have its own K-9 unit to help with field operations, evidence, locating criminals, drugs and more. Just last year, the department requested the use of K-9s 70 times to assist with investigations, according to a press release.
“This K-9 program not only provides more safety and efficiency to our department, but will be utilized as a great outreach resource to interact socially in a positive manner with our school-aged children,” said Chamblee Interim Police Chief Gary Yandura.
The program will be initiated under Officer David Luna-Rodriguez, who is pictured below with K-9 officer Robin.
Luna-Rodriguez owns and trains the 2-year-old police dog, a Belgian Malinois from Holland. Luna-Rodriguez has been with the police department since March. He is familiar with K-9s as he has been training them for 15 years. He was also instrumental in training and donating a K-9 to the Lithonia Police Department after it loss its own, the city said.
He feels he is fully equipped to start this program.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I begin my journey in the K-9 program. K-9 Robin and I are incredibly grateful for everyone's support. We are excited to be a part of such a great community as we continue to bridge the gap between law enforcement and our communities, ” said Luna-Rodriguez. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/chamblee/chamblee-police-new-k-9-program/85-282d4fcc-dc47-46a6-a859-6465babe3739 | 2023-06-24T01:30:46 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/chamblee/chamblee-police-new-k-9-program/85-282d4fcc-dc47-46a6-a859-6465babe3739 |
ATLANTA — The director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is stepping down after less than a year on the job.
GBI Director Mike Register said he’s accepted an offer to serve as public safety director for Cobb County in metro Atlanta. County commissioners scheduled a Tuesday vote to formally hire him.
Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Register, a former police chief, to lead the GBI and its nearly 1,000 employees last August. The agency helps local law enforcement agencies investigate murders and other serious crimes. Its agents investigate almost all shootings by police officers. The GBI also performs autopsies and runs the state’s crime lab.
“It has been an honor to be the director of the GBI and serve under one of Georgia’s greatest governors, Brian Kemp,” Register said in a statement Thursday. “I leave a great law enforcement agency with some of the most dedicated and competent professionals I have ever worked with.”
Kemp’s office said Register will remain as GBI director through July. There was no immediate announcement of who would replace him.
“The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and its future success will continue to be a top priority of my administration as we work to keep Georgia families safe and support our local law enforcement partners across the state,” Kemp said in a statement.
As Cobb County’s public service director, Register would oversee 1,800 employees working in police, fire, 911 and emergency management services in the county of more than 760,000 people.
Register previously held the same job in 2019 but resigned after just four months, saying he had to leave the state for personal reasons. He has also served as police chief for Cobb and Clayton counties. Before joining the GBI, he was assistant chief of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/gbi-director-mike-register-to-resign/85-cd07fa7f-a157-4197-a902-7c5562513f4f | 2023-06-24T01:30:52 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/gbi-director-mike-register-to-resign/85-cd07fa7f-a157-4197-a902-7c5562513f4f |
SAN ANTONIO — Meals on Wheels San Antonio is actively working to recruit more delivery drivers amid a national volunteer shortage for nonprofit organizations.
“Volunteers are critical to do what we do,” said Forrest Myane, Meals on Wheels San Antonio’s strategy and development officer. “We deliver to about 4,000 households across Bexar County and some of the rural counties five days a week.”
The U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps released a report that shows the formal participation rate was 23.2% between 2019 and 2021, a seven-point drop marking the largest decline since the survey began more than 20 years ago.
“Understandably, volunteering really shifted during the pandemic and coming back out of it is a little bit slow,” Myane said.
Meals on Wheels San Antonio operates with 60 volunteers a day, but the nonprofit needs around 200 people to be most efficient in delivering free, nutritious meals to a mostly older clientele. Volunteer routes consist of 10 stops and typically take less than an hour to complete.
“We used to have over 50 corporations that supported us with volunteer teams and that number just really hasn’t come back and a lot of that’s due to remote work and the way people are working is so different now,” Myane said.
The nonprofit has taken to social media, church groups, schools and several other organizations to promote the urgent need for more volunteers. One of its goals is to regain corporate support through their teams of volunteers.
Claire Huerta enjoys connecting with the residents when making her weekly deliveries. She’s been volunteering with Meals on Wheels San Antonio every Friday for the past few months, and this week was working to deliver cheese enchiladas.
“It’s fun, it’s just very simple," she said. "But it’s just a consistent bright spot in my week and I want to be a bright spot in their week too.”
“Social interaction and food—wonderful things for our older adults in our community."
Administrative staff have stepped up in light of the decline in volunteer delivery drivers, although volunteers are able to make the biggest impact.
“I think people have really understood the way our clients live every single day, and they just really don’t see other people," Myane said. "So those volunteers are their lifeline to the outside world."
To learn more about volunteering at Meals on Wheels San Antonio, go here.
>MORE LOCAL NEWS:
>TRENDING ON KENS 5 YOUTUBE: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-meals-on-wheels-how-to-volunteers-texas-charity-food/273-764d4804-74bd-41dc-88a8-08ef9518b21d | 2023-06-24T01:33:25 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-meals-on-wheels-how-to-volunteers-texas-charity-food/273-764d4804-74bd-41dc-88a8-08ef9518b21d |
SAN ANTONIO — U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) last week announced over $24 million in federal funding for the San Antonio area through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).
While new Biden administration policies have helped, Cuellar on Friday told KENS 5 that Mexico has stepped up in its partnership with the United States in order to address the border situation since Title 42 expired just over one month ago.
"They were getting at the border around 10,000 people or more a day. Now it's around 3,100 a day, and this week it's about 3,500," Cuellar said. "Still, it's a large number of people. But certainly it has dropped down."
Cuellar said Texas communities, and especially border communities, still need help through EFSP to deal with the stream of immigrants.
"It's basic food, shelter and transportation. That's what the money is being used for. If we don't do that, the City of San Antonio, the United Way and Catholic Charities would have to get the money locally from tax payer," Cuellar said.
At the same time, Cuellar said the U.S. is making progress on the immigration crisis thanks to new policies and new partnerships—particularly with Mexico.
"Mexico, when Title 42 went away, started doing two things. One, people that were being returned across the border... they are not taking them to their (Mexico's) southern border with Guatemala," Cuellar said.
Migrants who were caught at the border are much less likely to want to travel all the way though Mexico a second time, especially if they were relying on traffickers to get them to the border.
Cuellar said the second policy change made by Mexico was to increase its national guard force at their southern border with Guatemala.
"Mexico had, as of two weeks ago, 40,000 national guard and other people at their southern border with Guatemala. So that slowed down a lot of people," Cuellar said. "The U.S. has also been working with Panama and Columbia to slow down people in the Darién Gap. So it's really what's done outside the U.S. that slows down the number of people San Antonio sees."
Mexico has also agreed to take back migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, which keeps those individuals out of U.S. detention centers.
Cuellar told KENS 5 Mexico won't do that forever, but the help is very appreciated.
"Mexico is doing a lot. We don't give enough credit to Mexico. We want to thank them, we think they can do more, but we want to give them credit for the things they are doing," Cuellar said.
Cuellar said the new federal policy that requires migrants to apply for asylum in another country they travel though before applying in the United States has been helpful as well, though it's not popular with everyone.
"The ACLU is saying they are going to challenge it. I disagree with them. When somebody wants to ask for asylum because they want to get away from fear, the U.S. is not the only place in the whole world," Cuellar said. "It may be your preference, but if you pass though another country where they fear is taken away, there goes your asylum claim."
KENS 5 also asked Cuellar about the CBP One mobile app. Cuellar said that app is currently allowing the U.S. to take the number of people they were expecting, so the process is still working.
The Biden administration is still working to set up migrant processing centers in Columbia and in Central America. Cuellar said he doesn't know if those centers are close to being operational or not.
>MORE BORDER COVERAGE: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/henry-cuellar-migrants-texas-us-mexico-border-politics-immigration-san-antonio/273-359b81d1-616b-4820-b4cf-08920003f35c | 2023-06-24T01:33:31 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/henry-cuellar-migrants-texas-us-mexico-border-politics-immigration-san-antonio/273-359b81d1-616b-4820-b4cf-08920003f35c |
OCALA, Fla. – A restaurant exploded in Ocala on Friday, forcing a road closure as crews work to clean up in the aftermath, according to the police department.
Police said that the explosion caused the northbound and southbound lanes on Pine Avenue to close down between State Road 40 and Northwest 10th Street.
The explosion itself happened at Jugo Café Tropical, and first responders are at the scene to deal with debris and fire left in its wake, police said in a release.
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At 8:15 p.m., police announced that no one was inside when the explosion happened, and no injuries were reported. Furthermore, investigators explained that a gas leak appears to have been the cause.
UPDATE: Thankfully, no one was inside and no injuries were reported. It appears to be related to a gas leak. All northbound lanes are open. Southbound lanes are still closed but should open soon.
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) June 24, 2023
Northbound lanes have since reopened. Southbound lanes are still closed, but police said drivers could expect them to reopen soon.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/24/road-blocked-after-restaurant-explodes-in-marion-county/ | 2023-06-24T01:33:59 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/24/road-blocked-after-restaurant-explodes-in-marion-county/ |
SCRANTON, Pa. — The state Department of Human Services has downgraded the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services, which is located inside the Lackawanna County Government Center in Scranton, to a provisional license after allegedly not responding to cases in a timely manner.
County officials say they do not have adequate staff to cover the more than 9,000 cases the office deals with annually.
The state plans to reassess Lackawanna County's Office of Youth and Family Services in six months.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/lackawanna-countys-office-of-youth-and-family-services-license-downgraded-provisional-child-welfare-services/523-7e18671f-e267-497e-8c49-2f156cac3d3c | 2023-06-24T01:36:29 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/lackawanna-countys-office-of-youth-and-family-services-license-downgraded-provisional-child-welfare-services/523-7e18671f-e267-497e-8c49-2f156cac3d3c |
LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — For many people in the Pittston area, the historic bridges over the Susquehanna River are often the topic of conversation.
"Just about how beautiful it used to be with the lights and everything, we've been wondering how they were going to fix it," said Al Federici, West Pittston.
The bridges help connect the city of Pittston to West Pittston.
In summer of 2021, the Firefighters Memorial Bridge was closed after it didn't pass inspection.
Now plans to replace both the Firefighters Bridge and Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge are one step closer, thanks to $19 million in federal funding.
"While the process has been long, I think it's been a really good process, and it's been the right process with our partners in west Pittston, the county, PennDOT, and now the federal government we've been working together, and that's how government should work," said Mayor Mike Lombardo, (D) Pittston.
The funding comes from a U.S. Department of Transportation grant program, which will not only go towards the bridge replacements but also upgrades to the surrounding intersections and other safety improvements.
"One thing that's big for me is the pedestrian crossing on both bridges and also some sort of protected bike lane, we've invested millions in our trail and downtown and on the west side, so we are forward-thinking," said Mayor Lombardo.
People who live and work in the area say they're happy to hear plans are moving forward, especially since the bridge closure has caused a traffic headache.
"There's always a traffic back up, it's an inconvenience, a lot of tractor trailers and a lot of traffic jams," said Vita Cella, Harding.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/federal-funds-to-replace-two-bridges-in-luzerne-county-al-federici-mayor-mike-lombardo-pittston-west-vita-cella/523-f7b7750f-f723-478a-9d61-83cd560a669b | 2023-06-24T01:36:36 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/federal-funds-to-replace-two-bridges-in-luzerne-county-al-federici-mayor-mike-lombardo-pittston-west-vita-cella/523-f7b7750f-f723-478a-9d61-83cd560a669b |
Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona reopens after Post Fire closure
Kartchner Caverns State Park is now open and resuming normal operations, according to Arizona State Parks.
Power has been restored to the park, and entry is reopened to visitors and campers.
The state park was temporarily closed to the public after a wildfire was reported in Cochise County, 7 miles southwest of Benson, on June 22.
As of Friday morning, the Post Fire had an acreage of 1,200 and fire crews had achieved 5% containment. The fire stayed within its footprint overnight, but the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management says that interior pockets of fuel continue to burn.
Evacuation orders in Cochise County have since been lifted, and State Route 90 is now open.
As temperatures rise, fire activity is expected to increase but smoke should be minimal, according to the Department of Forestry.
The department has not specified how the Post Fire started. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/06/23/kartchner-caverns-state-park-reopens-after-post-fire-closure/70330979007/ | 2023-06-24T01:43:49 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/06/23/kartchner-caverns-state-park-reopens-after-post-fire-closure/70330979007/ |
Phoenix updates sale, use laws for fireworks as Fourth of July approaches
Arizona state law has superseded the Phoenix Fire Code's prevention of sales and use of consumer fireworks and will allow the sale and use of fireworks during specific dates, according to Phoenix.
This revised law does not apply to novelty items that include the following: snappers, snap caps, glow worms, snakes, party poppers, and sparklers, according to Phoenix.
This law may be updated and referred to the current requirements and dates.
The city law stated the dates in which the sale of permissible consumer fireworks is allowed in the following:
• April 25 through May 6.
• May 20 through July 6.
• Dec. 10 through Jan. 3.
• Two days before the first day of Diwali through the third day of Diwali each year.
The city law stated the dates in which the use of permissible consumer fireworks are allowed in the following:
• May 4 through May 6.
• June 24 through July 6.
• Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.
• The second and third days of Diwali of each year.
Despite the use of permissible consumer fireworks between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. being prohibited, Phoenix has allowed use between 11 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 1 a.m. Jan. 1 of each year, as well as between 11 p.m. July 4 through 1 a.m. July 5.
Below are some of the Valley cities' firework usage dates heading up to the week of the Fourth of July:
Scottsdale: June 24- July 6
Chandler: June 24 - July 6
Peoria: May 20 - July 6
Gilbert: June 24- July 6
Mesa: June 24- July 6
Tempe: June 24- July 6
Surprise: June 24- July 6
Goodyear: June 24- July 6
Tolleson: June 24- July 6
Buckeye: June 24- July 6 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/23/phoenix-laws-for-fireworks-use-sales/70351749007/ | 2023-06-24T01:43:52 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/23/phoenix-laws-for-fireworks-use-sales/70351749007/ |
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — The Army dedicated a memorial Friday morning at the site of a deadly helicopter crash at Joint Base Lewis-McChord that happened December 12, 2011.
Four members of the 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron were killed when two Kiowa helicopters crashed during a training exercise: Chief Warrant Officer Three Frank Buoniconti, Captain Anne Montgomery, Chief Warrant Officer Three Shan Joseph Satterfield, and Chief Warrant Officer Two Lucas Sigfrid.
“Those ‘fantastic four’ were, and still are very much respected and loved by those that knew them and worked alongside of them,” said Lt. Col Lori Perkins.
Shortly after the crash volunteers from nearby Rainier, Washington, marked the location with four homemade crosses to honor the soldiers.
“I drive past this place every day,” said Rob Champion, one of the volunteers who installed and maintained the original memorial.
Last year he contacted the military about getting a more permanent memorial. He was proud to attend Friday’s ceremony.
“You want to make sure they’re never forgotten, they’re always here,” said Champion.
An Army spokesperson said the family members in attendance Friday, were appreciative of the work of the volunteers, and the military to ensure the site will continue to be treated as a sacred place.
”Our desire, our hope, our prayer is that this memorial will stand as a memorial to these troopers but also a memorial to the connections shared between this community and the Army,” said Army Chaplain Capt. Daren Armstrong.
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/soldiers-killed-2011-helicopter-crash-honored-memorial-site/281-9b762186-cfc6-4075-9668-f516efacfce1 | 2023-06-24T01:48:14 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/soldiers-killed-2011-helicopter-crash-honored-memorial-site/281-9b762186-cfc6-4075-9668-f516efacfce1 |
NORTH BEND, Wash. — Students dug fire lines and learned to burn out extra fuels to contain fires at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' Fire Academy training Friday.
It was just a fraction of what they'll learn in the 10-day session, with 295 students rotating through the camp this spring.
It is the first year the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding this training at the North Bend location, and the first time holding a full in-person training of this kind since 2019 due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fire Academy Incident Commander Sean Kibbe said.
"It's a way to put them through multiple repetitions of different types of fire, scenarios, under really controlled environments," Kibbe said.
The training is setup like a fire camp, with students spending the night in tents and DNR's kitchen and supply trucks on site for meals and other needs. Along with live fire exercises, students learn about techniques like education and analyze firefighting strategies.
"We basically build our own town, city here with the different kinds of functions," Kibbe said.
Some of the students are in their first training session. Others have been firefighting for a few years. Though experience ranges, all receive comprehensive education meant to prepare them for diverse firefighting needs across the state.
DNR says it is staffed up for this wildfire season. Forecasters say it could be a busy one, based on the below-average precipitation and impact of springs warm temperatures on snowpack levels.
Download the KING 5 app to check the interactive radar near you, as well as the latest forecast, cameras and current conditions. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/wildfire/behind-the-scenes-at-washington-states-dnr-fire-academy/281-9a3cf8d2-76c4-4e0a-989c-cfb541002a73 | 2023-06-24T01:48:20 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/wildfire/behind-the-scenes-at-washington-states-dnr-fire-academy/281-9a3cf8d2-76c4-4e0a-989c-cfb541002a73 |
MITCHELL — In its continued efforts to turnaround the Davison County Fairgrounds and potentially bolster revenues, the Davison County Commission is considering a new building to bring back a state government tenant and its offices.
The county commission will open bids on the project at its Tuesday, June 27 meeting for constructing a 4,000-square foot metal building that will, if built, return the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks employees based in Mitchell back to the fairgrounds.
Commissioner Mike Blaalid, who has worked closely on the county’s efforts to reinvigorate the fairgrounds as a rental property, said it’s part of the plan to make it a more sustainable and attractive facility. He said discussions with GFP regional officials indicated they would return to the fairgrounds if there was a heated place to work on equipment in the winter.
“A year ago, they rented our office space there and they needed a heated shop that they could work on for their equipment over the winter,” Blaalid said. “We lost them and we pretty much sat empty with our five offices there not being used. We believe this will be a better use of our facilities going forward.”
The potential improvements at the fairgrounds come as Davison County commissioners consider ways to turn around the fairgrounds from being an annual money drain for the county. The facility, according to information from the Davison County Auditor’s Office, has lost more than $500,000 total from 2018 to 2022, including at least $56,000 a year annually in that span.
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The year 2022 was a major loss for the county at the facility of $186,000. But that’s in large part due to spending $109,000 on repaving the parking lot at the fairgrounds, along with replacing two sections of sidewalk, plus additional improvements that included a new accessible doorway, new security system and more efficient lighting.
GFP rented office space for years at the Davison County Fairgrounds until 2021 when it split its personnel throughout the city in part because it needed indoor space for its vehicles and equipment. Since then, GFP has bounced around Mitchell with its facilities, including a location at the 955 N. Commerce St. industrial park near the Highway 37 bypass.
The new fairgrounds building would be 50 by 80 feet and will be located near the southeast corner of the property, in line with a number of other outbuildings on the property.
The exact cost of the new building is unknown, Blaalid said, although he said he expects it to be at least $100,000. The goal is that the facility could be constructed by November, although the construction timeline will depend on the outcome of the bid opening.
If the building goes ahead, the county and GFP will have a 10-year lease, with a possible five-year option available to be added. The first five years will have a step system, which will provide a penalty payment to Davison County if GFP leaves early. (For example, if GFP leaves after a year, it would pay 80% of what it still owes, and 60% after year two and so on.) At that point, the building will be mostly paid for, Blaalid said.
“We know this will better suit their needs,” Blaalid said. “It’s not in their interest to be jumping around and we want it to work for them. They have a ton of equipment and we believe this can rebridge the long-term relationship we want to have with GFP.”
From 2018 to 2022, the fairgrounds averaged $34,299 in annual revenue, and GFP’s contract accounted for about $10,000 annually from 2018 until its departure in 2021.
In rental rates alone, the county has averaged $25,000 a year in rental revenue from 2018 to 2022, with last year being its best rent year in that five-year span at $29,423.75. Blaalid said the fairgrounds is important to bring in revenue for the county.
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“We want it to be more sustainable,” Blaalid said. “As a county, we don’t have a lot of ways to be able to make money, and so the property is important to us to use it as frequently as we can.”
The county already has more than 25,000 square feet of indoor, rentable space, with the meeting and activity halls constructed in 2002, built at the time for $1.65 million . The activity hall is the larger section at 15,000 feet and can be used for indoor auctions, exhibits, flea markets and certain Davison County 4-H events. The meeting hall, measuring at 10,000 square feet, has a kitchen and can be used for weddings and family reunions, along with three classrooms of meeting space.
Blaalid pointed out the investments that have been made into the fairgrounds complex and the loosening of alcohol rules on the grounds for rentals make the facility more attractive to outside events, such as dart tournaments.
“We’ve put a bunch of money into the facility. We have voted to allow alcohol out there, which is a big change. … We have some groups that have been looking for a big, open facility and hopefully this can be attractive to them,” Blaalid said. “We want to really start to turn the fairgrounds around. We lose money out there every year. We would like to be able to break even.” | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/davison-county-looks-at-new-building-to-house-gfp-reverse-money-drain-at-fairgrounds | 2023-06-24T01:52:08 | 1 | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/davison-county-looks-at-new-building-to-house-gfp-reverse-money-drain-at-fairgrounds |
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Looking for an elevated experience with beer, dinner and dessert?
A new San Angelo brewery is partnering with Freida's Sweets & Meats food truck to serve the community with beer and barbecue.
"I love smoked meats," food truck owner Freida Cooney said. "That's really, kind of my passion but I also really like good sauces and fine dining."
Cooney has been working at her food truck since 2015. Growing up with a family of fifth generation West Texas ranchers, she has transformed her skills into a full time career.
In fact, the chef previously spent time in television and was even featured on "Barbecue Pit Masters" and "Chopped," where she showcased her skills to a larger audience.
"I think they set it up to be a real challenge," Cooney said of her time on "Chopped." "I think it tests no matter what level of chef you are, whether you're just a backyard barbecue or all the way to a thirty year veteran chef at some fine dining resort or something, it really does challenge you because they really give you a limited amount of time to cook things."
Cooney previously graduated from Angelo State University but continued her education in culinary school following her time on the screen.
Now, she has decided to take on a new challenge: partnering with the soon-to-open Wandering Mind Brewery to create new menu items as much as possible.
"It's kind of like what I've been wanting to do and we just found each other, serendipity, you know," she said.
The brewery will be open for a soft launch June 23 and 24, serving unique creations like "Early to the Party" Sangria Golden and "Weather Report" Belgian Style Triple.
Cooney has created charcoal "smashburgers" for the launch based on her taste test of the beers and the pair plan to open full time July 15 for a new dining experience.
There will also be the chance to sit outside and play cornhole while spending time with family and friends.
"I really like the idea of barbecue and elevated beer and barbecue," Cooney said.
Go to Wandering Mind Brewery to learn more information or for updates on San Angelo's newest dining endeavor. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/looking-for-beer-and-barbecue-a-new-san-angelo-brewery-partners-with-a-food-truck-for-just-that/504-c502acba-ca46-4403-9b07-5be412594135 | 2023-06-24T01:55:31 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/looking-for-beer-and-barbecue-a-new-san-angelo-brewery-partners-with-a-food-truck-for-just-that/504-c502acba-ca46-4403-9b07-5be412594135 |
SHARPSBURG, Pa. — Crews from a gas company dug up bones while working in Sharpsburg on Wednesday.
The bones were found along Short Canal Street.
Allegheny County homicide detectives and forensic crews were at the scene digging on Friday.
The Sharpsburg police chief said the bones are small, and investigators are not ruling out the idea of them being part of a Native American burial ground.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner is working to determine how long the bones have been there.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/crews-dig-up-bones-while-working-sharpsburg/S7NMQ2R4BJCAZNESGLZSW6B54M/ | 2023-06-24T02:00:26 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/crews-dig-up-bones-while-working-sharpsburg/S7NMQ2R4BJCAZNESGLZSW6B54M/ |
ODESSA, Texas — A hearing was held Friday at the Ector County Courthouse regarding the case between Gaven Norris and the City of Odessa.
The hearing had been postponed twice already, but finally went ahead as scheduled. Judge John Shrode gave both parties 15 minutes to give an argument before making his decision.
After hearing from both sides, the judge ultimately moved to dismiss the case.
“The city attempted to, or filed a motion to, try to dismiss the suit, saying that there was no controversy or no existing pending suit," Norris said. "So that’s what the hearing was on today. We had the argument in front of the judge on their motion for that.”
Norris initially filed a lawsuit against the city in December after he and others were not allowed to speak during an Odessa City Council meeting that saw a city manager and a city attorney fired.
However, Norris was able to speak at a second city council meeting that was organized by Odessa.
This, among other reasons, contributed to the judge's decision to dismiss the case.
“The judge said that he didn’t think that he had the jurisdiction to do that," Norris said. "Obviously, we disagree. We think the law actually says he has jurisdiction. But that was the judge's ruling and we respect the ruling.”
Odessa mayor Javier Joven did not attend the hearing today, but was made aware of the results.
He is hopeful that the City of Odessa will be able to continue moving forward.
“Basically, it’s that this is not really about myself, this is not about the council," Joven said. "This is more about the City of Odessa, and propelling the City of Odessa as a whole forward, and having that momentum going forward.”
Norris, however, doesn’t plan to give up yet, and said that he has plenty of options on the table.
“We know that we will likely have to look at all of our options, including appealing this judge's ruling," Norris said. "We've been consistent in that there are other lawsuits we intend to file, so we have some that will be coming in the same vein. Our goal is to hold the city accountable, and we intend to do that by any means necessary, including the judicial process.” | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-gaven-norris-lawsuit-dismissed/513-bf62b9fa-8928-4e84-8d77-ecef26db04f7 | 2023-06-24T02:05:22 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-gaven-norris-lawsuit-dismissed/513-bf62b9fa-8928-4e84-8d77-ecef26db04f7 |
A 25-year-old man was shot and killed, and a woman was injured in the shooting, Thursday night on Tucson's south side, police said.
Daniel Lopez was killed, police said.
The woman was taken to a hospital with injuries police described as non-life-threatening.
Police gave the following account in a news release Friday evening:
Dispatchers received 911 calls just before 11 p.m. Thursday reporting shots fired in the 900 block of East Marketplace Boulevard and that an unresponsive male was in a street nearby.
Officers found Lopez and the injured woman at the intersection of Park and Ajo with gunshot wounds.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives learned Lopez was involved in a fight in the 900 block of East Tucson Marketplace Boulevard, shots were fired, and he and the woman were struck by gunfire. They were able to leave the area in a vehicle, but stopped at the Park and Ajo investigation.
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Detectives ask that anyone with information about the shooting or what led up to it call 911 or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster line.
The homicide was the second Thursday night in which a victim died on a south-side Tucson street, police said. A 19-year-old man was found on a sidewalk about 7:30 p.m. in the area of South Ninth Avenue and West Ohio Street and declared dead of the scene. Police said Arath Robles Miranda, 19, had "signs of trauma," but provided no more details.
There was no indication given by police that the two homicides were related. | https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tucson-crime-homicide-police/article_f1c3c690-122d-11ee-92b1-7b838907915c.html | 2023-06-24T02:14:53 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tucson-crime-homicide-police/article_f1c3c690-122d-11ee-92b1-7b838907915c.html |
ORLANDO, Fla. — After a week of unusual timing with rounds of heavy storms both early and late, we’re tracking more evening storms right now and into the weekend.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The storm happening tonight will move toward the east coast through midnight, Channel 9 Certified Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry said.
READ: Roads blocked after explosion at Ocala restaurant, police say
The storm system that’s brought our daily barrage is beginning to break down and move away, so the area will have more traditional summer afternoon storms this weekend, some of which will be heavy, Terry said.
Seabreeze storms will dominate the weekend, Terry said, forming after 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon and heading toward the east coast by late afternoon.On Sunday, both seabreezes will bring scattered afternoon storms through the area. Terry said rain coverage each day is expected to be at 60%.
READ: Ocala temporarily closes 3 more parks due to flooding
Orlando-Sanford International Airport has ongoing record rainfall at 3.62 inches. Marion County remains under a flood watch through Friday evening.
READ: Tropical Storm Bret moves across eastern Caribbean; Tropical Storm Cindy slightly strengthens
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/more-storms-expected-dominate-weekend-forecast/JFUNIDLLMVEUDASRAHAQ6LINWU/ | 2023-06-24T02:20:06 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/more-storms-expected-dominate-weekend-forecast/JFUNIDLLMVEUDASRAHAQ6LINWU/ |
Carolyn Harrison played with her three young grandchildren outside her home.
Twenty-four books she had checked out from the Idaho Falls Public Library sat in her office. At the bottom of the pile was a purple cartoon book titled “It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health.”
Harrison’s 8-year-old granddaughter walked into the office, found the book and began to read. The book contains images of genitalia, sexual intercourse and masturbation. Ten minutes later she walked outside to her grandmother with a load of questions.
Harrison said she wasn’t prepared to talk to her young grandchildren about the topics presented in the book. And yet, the book is advertised for children ages 10 and up.
Harrison had checked out “It’s Perfectly Normal” and 23 other books she believes to be obscene from the library a few weeks prior. She had been preparing to show the Idaho Falls Public Library patrons what books sat inside on the third-floor shelves.
Harrison is the co-founder of Idaho Parents for Educational Choice. She showed up outside the public library Thursday afternoon as a part of the group “Parents Against Bad Books,” an offshoot of the IPEC.
Five other women from the group joined Harrison at the library’s main entrance. They set up a table displaying the 24 books Harrison checked out of the library weeks earlier.
The group believes there are a total of 52 obscene books on the library’s shelves. They determined the level of obscenity using The Miller Test, the U.S. Supreme Court’s test for determining whether a speech or expression could be considered obscene.
Almost all 52 books are considered obscene and “not for minors” under The Miller Test, Harrison said.
At the end of May, the library implemented a new restricted and unrestricted card system for minors. This solution seemed to be a compromise between the IPEC, those opposing them and the library’s board of trustees.
However, the protesters on Thursday afternoon disagreed.
“We didn’t ask them to do what they did,” said Kelly Porter with Parents Against Bad Books.
Porter said the group is not for banning any books.
“All we’re asking is, let’s just rope it off and have an ID. That’s so easy,” Porter said.
Porter is a volunteer with Operation Underground Railroad, an organization combating human trafficking. She said the material inside the library creates people that she sees in the human trafficking realm.
“After arresting one of these people abusing children, they (the person arrested) will say ‘I didn’t used to be a monster.’ Porn is what feeds it. That’s where it starts,” Porter said. “Especially with kids in puberty. That’s like putting a drug right in their mouth. Having it on the shelves is terrible. That’s like having a drug dealer on the shelves. And they are just waiting for you to get close enough so they can put it in your mouth.”
Many of the challenged books contain LGBTQ+ themes. The Post Register previously reported of someone claiming the IPEC is discriminating against that group with these book challenges.
However, when asked if that was their intention, Harrison said, “Oh, my heavens. I couldn’t care less about the LGBT. I really couldn’t. That’s their business. Not mine. This is about kids.”
Porter said, “This is about the kids. Adults can make their own decisions.”
But Harrison believes the problem runs deeper than just having these books currently on the shelves. Harrison wondered how they made it there in the first place.
Harrison is currently working on a bill for the 2024 legislative session which would call for parents to be a part of libraries’ board of trustees. She pointed out that the average amount of time a member has been on the board for the Idaho Falls Public library was 16 years.
“Mayor Casper selected the board of trustees. Why hasn’t she taken action on this? Why hasn’t Jim Francis, who was the library liaison before, why didn’t he take action?” Harrison asked.
“Library boards are established under State of Idaho Statutes. It is this board that, while appointed, hires the director and manages the library and its policies. The law is written this way to protect the library from trends, topics and forces that would insert politics into library management,” said Idaho Falls spokesman Eric Grossarth in response to Harrison’s questions. “Our board does very well with managing our library and any complaints that may arise. If anyone wishes to express themselves to the library director or trustees, I am sure they’d welcome the input.”
Harrison placed a petition for her proposed bill on the protesters’ table. Several parents walked up to the table and immediately signed the petition, saying the books were “disgusting” and “ridiculous.”
Robert Wright, the director of the library, previously told the Post Register that this is an issue left to the parents, not the library.
“We firmly believe parents have the right to parent their children. We’re not getting involved with individual families,” Wright said about the new restricted cards.
“Robert Wright says you can’t protect kids from everything, but I think you can protect them from some things,” Harrison said.
Harrison believes the new restricted library cards are not preventing children from obscene material. When she checked out the 24 books, she saw some children reading books she said are a part of the 52 obscene books.
“You’re not going to take these books home to mom and dad,” Harrison said.
Some of the protesters were pointing out specific material in the books on the table.
“We’ve created this idea that if you put it between two hard covers, it’s a book,” said Gail Inglet. “There’s nothing sacred about a book. It’s what’s in a book.”
Harrison wanted to make clear that the group is not calling for a book ban.
“It’s not about banning books. We want to relocate those books,” Harrison said. “This has nothing to do with the freedom of speech.”
Parents Against Bad Books will be setting up in front of the library throughout the summer. Harrison said they will also protest in parks.
“These kids deserve so much better,” Harrison said. | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/parents-against-bad-books-protests-outside-i-f-public-library/article_2240c344-11ee-11ee-8d69-a35ae1f3f955.html | 2023-06-24T02:20:43 | 0 | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/parents-against-bad-books-protests-outside-i-f-public-library/article_2240c344-11ee-11ee-8d69-a35ae1f3f955.html |
SOLWAY TOWNSHIP — Firefighters were called to a fire in the 3900 block of Crosby Road at 4:17 p.m. Friday and arrived to find a home fully engulfed, with no one inside the residence at the time.
The structure is considered a complete loss. A report from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office estimated the damage to the house to be about $100,000, plus another $70,000 for its contents. It also said the property was uninsured.
The Red Cross has offered assistance to the displaced residents. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office will investigate the fire, which coincided with a lightning storm in the area. The incident report said "nothing about the fire appeared suspicious in nature."
The Solway, Grand Lake, Cloquet Area, Esko and Proctor fire departments responded, along with Lake Country Power. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/solway | 2023-06-24T02:22:41 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/solway |
AUBURN, Calif. — It’s now fire season in Northern California and Cal Fire is fully preparing. There have already been a few small fires this month and Cal Fire is staying busy.
"Locally, each unit will declare fire season — do a declaration. The Nevada-Yuba-Placer (NEU) Unit here just in the foothills and up towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains, up towards Lake Tahoe… we're going to declare officially next Monday (June 26). We'll also move to our burning suspension as well,” said Jim Hudson, deputy chief of operations for the NEU Unit.
They’re staffing up as more fires are expected to develop based on current conditions and fuels. New firefighters are being brought in and trained to respond.
"This Monday (June 19), we started moving toward what we call peak staffing, which is our full staffing for the year with all of our aircraft available within the unit. Crews, dozers and we end up hiring our firefighters back,” said Hudson.
Earlier this week, several Cal Fire units announced the suspension of burn permits in Northern California counties, effective June 26. It bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris like branches and leaves.
"Obviously with the winter storms this year, we had a lot of snow and that brings a lot of debris onto the landscape and into our foothill and mountain communities. Luckily with the conditions that we had with the wet weather, it allowed us to keep burning up until Monday, June 26,” said Hudson.
The department might also issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason.
As we get into the 2023 fire season, Cal Fire wants you to be prepared, follow the guidelines and regulations, and be educated on the ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ program to ensure you have the items you need if you have to evacuate.
Burn permits are suspending in the following counties on June 26: Alpine, Amador, Colusa, El Dorado, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.
Burn permits were also suspended in Calaveras, Tuolumne, Eastern San Joaquin and Eastern Stanislaus counties on June 19. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/norcal-fire-units-prepare-for-start-of-2023-fire-season/103-dd9ba1de-9b05-40ce-b933-ae775a60d62a | 2023-06-24T02:26:22 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/norcal-fire-units-prepare-for-start-of-2023-fire-season/103-dd9ba1de-9b05-40ce-b933-ae775a60d62a |
DES MOINES, Iowa — Filmmaker Conrad Weaver has come a long way. Years ago, he was out on a call with police officers for a fatal overdose.
Up until that moment, he hadn't realized the very tough calls that first responders were sent out to.
"As a citizen I wasn't really aware of what goes on with first responders, and the more I researched it... the more I realized that this is a problem that needs to be talked about," Weaver explained.
So, he decided to do something about it. Weaver began to work on a documentary titled "PTSD911" in 2018, and just finished it up in October of 2022.
He began researching stats, people to interview and more to create a film that could potentially reach thousands.
Well, now it has. Weaver and his buddy John Patterson have been biking across the country, stopping at fire stations and police departments to share the documentary, and having discussions about first responders’ mental health.
“The trip itself has been great, and I feel real strongly that it’s going to help a lot of first responders," Patterson said. "The film is incredible.”
Weaver, Patterson, local first responders and even people out in the community came out to Reach Church in Des Moines on Friday night to learn more first responders’ stories firsthand — by watching "PTSD911."
“100 people and their loved ones ... spouses, family, friends that have lived through this, that have seen this," explained Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert. "And now we’re gonna learn what it’s like and what the coping skills are. People in this room tonight will learn that no one fights alone.”
One of Weaver’s goals when making his documentary.
"Those are conversations that sometimes are hard," Weaver said. "But the film kind of helps to get these conversations started.”
If you want to catch Weaver and his new documentary, click here for the full schedule and ticket information. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/filmmaker-ptsd-documentary-iowa-first-responders-police-fire-department-ptsd911-movie/524-06100054-54fb-4433-8699-f6c48f9c773f | 2023-06-24T02:27:17 | 1 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/filmmaker-ptsd-documentary-iowa-first-responders-police-fire-department-ptsd911-movie/524-06100054-54fb-4433-8699-f6c48f9c773f |
DES MOINES, Iowa — The bodies of 14 people — 12 veterans and two spouses with honors — were laid to rest at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in a Friday afternoon ceremony.
The unclaimed veterans and spouses were honored at Hamilton's Funeral & After Life Services with an 11:30 a.m. service before a disposition at the cemetery around 2 p.m.
"Today we proclaim that no veteran ever goes unclaimed. No veteran will sit on a shelf to collect dust," one speaker said. "Today I thank each and every one of you for standing. We are now the family of these veterans."
The circumstances surrounding the veterans and spouses' unclaimed title differ greatly, with remains abandoned in storage units, a couple whose urns were stored separately and a recently-deceased marine with no family among those honored Friday.
"The quickest way to change the world is to be of service to others, to show that your love can make a difference in the lives of people and thereby somebody else's love can make a difference in your life. By each of us doing that and working together, we can change the world one person at a time," another speaker said.
More than 20 different law enforcement agencies attended the ceremony. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/unclaimed-veterans-funeral-service-memorial-des-moines-iowa/524-f0b13683-f559-466e-a0ea-038e96d22d6f | 2023-06-24T02:27:23 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/unclaimed-veterans-funeral-service-memorial-des-moines-iowa/524-f0b13683-f559-466e-a0ea-038e96d22d6f |
Greenville County raising taxes for the first time in 30 years, avoids government shutdown
Greenville County Council voted Friday night to raise taxes for the first time in nearly 30 years, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown.
The council voted 8-4 before a vocal crowd of residents to approve a $785 million budget that will raise county taxes by $28 for every $100,000 in value, which was negotiated down from a previous proposed increase to 11 mills.
To pass the budget, a supermajority of two-thirds of the council must vote, according to county rules. Council members Rick Bradley, Benton Blount, Steve Shaw and Stan Tzouvelekas voted against. Council Vice Chairwoman Liz Seman and council members Dan Tripp, Mike Barnes, Ennis Fant, Chris Harrison, Butch Kirven and Alan Mitchell voted in favor, as did Joey Russo, who initially voted no at first and second reading.
"At the end of the day, it's an easy decision to stick your finger up in the air and feel the wind blowing, and go that direction," Russo said Friday. "I've studied the facts, I've talked to people on both sides. I wouldn't respect myself if I did what I felt was not the right thing to do. I can kick the can down the road and see how things roll in 2027. But I didn't think that was the right thing to do."
The vote Friday night helped the county narrowly avoid a government shutdown and came on the heels of a 6-6 stalemate vote earlier that week. Without a budget passed by July 1, the county administrator wouldn't be able to pay employees or spend any money under state law.
The contentious adoption was a marked departure from previous years. The county has avoided increasing its tax rate for nearly 30 years while balancing an $80 million fund and boasting a AAA credit rating, the best rating granted by creditors. But Greenville's growth and increased inflation has strained county resources, creating a need for more resources, County Administrator Joe Kernell said.
"It is a solid plan, it is a responsible plan. I know it's not a popular plan, but at the end of the day, we have to do what's best for the operation of the county and the residents of this county, and that's what this plan does," Kernell said.
Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter@maconatkinson. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/greenville-county-raising-taxes-for-first-time-in-30-years-no-shutdown-updates-sc-government/70352691007/ | 2023-06-24T02:28:05 | 0 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/greenville-county-raising-taxes-for-first-time-in-30-years-no-shutdown-updates-sc-government/70352691007/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Law enforcement in Portland is using a new approach to tackle illegal and dangerous drugs on the city's streets.
A Portland police officer recently arrested a man in the downtown area for "Practicing Medicine Without a License" after the officer spotted him dealing drugs.
Officer Eli Arnold has been with the Portland Police Bureau for approximately six years. He has spent the last two years on the bureau's Central Bike Squad.
"I primarily deal with street level crime which includes a lot of drug use, drug dealing, and the associated crime," Officer Arnold said.
Officer Arnold was on the prowl for that on June 14, near the corner of Southwest 9th and Morrison, when he spotted a man, later identified as John Baker Jr., dealing drugs. The officer approached the man.
"He appeared to be one of these low-level dealers," Officer Arnold said. "He had a little bit of drugs but not a ton, not a lot of money, and he had a story."
Officer Arnold said Baker told him he was dealing drugs to people who needed them to battle withdrawals. Baker was acting as a doctor even though he wasn't one.
"He told me he hadn't been to medical school and didn't have prescription writing authority," Officer Arnold said.
Taking into account the small amount of drugs Baker had on him — 2.1 grams of meth and two fentanyl pills, according to court documents — Officer Arnold arrested Baker for "Practicing Medicine Without a License."
"He didn't have all the markers we see a lot with a regular delivery case and so I thought this is a great opportunity to try this out and explore the charge," Officer Arnold said.
This sort of tactic is not unheard of.
Since the start of the year, the Multnomah County District Attorney has prosecuted more than a half dozen people for trademark counterfeiting. These are people who stamped fake oxycontin pills laced with fentanyl with M30, ultimately infringing on the trademark of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
"I personally feel it offensive to sell fentanyl for $4 or something to a guy dying on the sidewalk," Officer Arnold said about his recent arrest.
KGW reached out to the DA's office and a spokesperson sent a statement that said they were able to prosecute Baker on the "Practicing Medicine without a License" charge, and the case now heads to a Grand Jury.
"It is important to us to use all available laws to prosecute people who are propagating dangerous drugs like fentanyl on our streets," the statement from the DA's office said. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-drug-dealers-arrest/283-57661969-810b-4dad-8db5-17b7493e7560 | 2023-06-24T02:31:29 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-drug-dealers-arrest/283-57661969-810b-4dad-8db5-17b7493e7560 |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/babysitter-free-on-bond-after-police-allege-she-sexually-assaulted-a-minor/3591690/ | 2023-06-24T02:33:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/babysitter-free-on-bond-after-police-allege-she-sexually-assaulted-a-minor/3591690/ |
BALTIMORE — It has been a year since someone killed Trevor White.
And now, you could earn $42,000 for helping Metro Crime Stoppers find his killer.
One relative of Trevor White asked WMAR not to use her name. She takes things day by day - but she's still holding out hope for justice.
"Each day we continuously pray and hope for leads on his case," said the relative.
"His children miss him dearly. He was their hero. And for someone to do this, in a cowardly way, is something that tears the family apart," she added.
White was 40 years old; he co-owned a restaurant and had an accounting firm, and worked with a nonprofit focused on affordable housing.
His contributions to Baltimore came to an untimely end this time last year - he was gunned down.
READ MORE: 'No respect for life': Owner of soul food restaurant killed during violent weekend in Baltimore
And with a year gone by since his murder, there's a new plea for anything that might lead to something.
A reward for information is up to $42,000, according to Metro Crime Stoppers, which contributes some of that money but the vast majority of it, $34,000 is coming privately, including money from people who want to see his killer brought to justice.
"It makes me feel so joyful so blessed to know Trevor has touched so many lives, and that everyone wants to see justice prevail for him," White's relative continued.
"We know he’s up there, we know he’s looking down on us."
You will, as always, remain completely anonymous when you send information to Metro Crime Stoppers. They can be reached at 1-866-756-2587 or their website. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/reward-grows-to-42-000-for-information-in-trevor-white-case | 2023-06-24T02:34:47 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/reward-grows-to-42-000-for-information-in-trevor-white-case |
ERCOT, the operator of Texas’ power grid, is issuing a Weather Watch from June 25 to June 30 in anticipation of high temperatures paired with expected higher electrical demand across the state.
Grid conditions are expected to be normal however reserves may be lower.
"ERCOT is trying to be more transparent," University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs said.
Hirs said the Weather Watch is something people should pay attention to.
"I think what ERCOT is explaining is it's going to be hot and the grid is going to be stressed," Hirs said.
"We do bring them outside when the sun is going down because it is getting hotter out here," said Angelique Grace from a park in Euless. She and her family are already preparing for what's to come knowing temperatures will likely be over 100 degrees for several days ahead.
"Staying hydrated,” Grace said. “Just staying cool. Keeping that air conditioner running."
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The latest news from around North Texas.
ERCOT said there is a possibility of reaching an all-time peak demand record next week. But adds there is enough capacity to meet forecasted demand. Still, ERCOT says it will monitor conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid.
Hirs still has concerns looking towards the future.
"As the economy of Texas keeps growing while the population keeps growing our ability to service electricity needs during peak demand periods during the summer and winter is diminishing," Hirs said.
People who have lived through Texas power issues before are just trying to remain hopeful.
"Well let's just hope they don't start doing those outages again,” Grace said. “That would suck just because it is hot and we need that AC running and keeping cool. We are in 2023 so I would hope they would do better."
You can track the ERCOT Supply and Demand Dashboard here.
ERCOT energy-saving tips can be found here. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ercot-issues-weather-watch-ahead-of-higher-temperatures-and-electrical-demand/3283684/ | 2023-06-24T02:35:40 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ercot-issues-weather-watch-ahead-of-higher-temperatures-and-electrical-demand/3283684/ |
FORT WORTH, Texas — The case that has shared a lot of spotlight in the court of public opinion will have to wait just a little bit longer for its spot in a real civil court.
Judge Don Cosby, of Fort Worth, reset Friday's hearing to next week after the plaintiffs raised a point that there is a "crucial evidentiary matter" to look through.
Bishop Michael Olson of the Fort Worth Diocese attended Friday's hearing with his attorneys. The nuns were not in court but were also represented by their attorneys.
"Well of course I want them to be here, but Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes is too frail," said Sheila Johnson, a supporter of the monastery and close confidante of the nuns.
Johnson is also the eldest great granddaughter of Amon Carter Sr. whose family donated the Arlington property to the sisters back in 1970s.
The Reverend Mother is at the center of this civil case. The nuns and their attorney are arguing they were defamed and that the Bishop Olson took their mobile devices from them. They are seeking $1 million in damages.
"This is no disrespect to the court, but this is a matter for the Vatican," said Michael Anderson, attorney for the diocese.
Anderson said there is a parallel church or canonical investigation happening and he wants the case dismissed because the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction.
In early April, Bishop Olson suspended Agnes, alleging she broke a vow of chastity with a priest from another diocese. Olson alleged she admitted to breaking the vow five separate times.
The diocese also accuses Agnes of using drugs -- and shared photos they claim show pill bottles and cannabis products.
The attorney for Mother Agnes Gerlach Matthew Bobo denies all of it.
The reason for Friday's reset may be central to the civil trial: Does a Tarrant County Civil Court have jurisdiction over an issue that is intertwined with ecclesiastical implications?
"The other side has raised whether certain canonical matters can come in. Obviously, we would like them in because it completely vindicates the Bishop. It shows that he acted appropriately, ecclesiastically, canonically, in all respects of this matter and this case doesn't belong in civil court," said Anderson.
The attorney for the nuns had no comment Friday. Johnson says she'd like a quick end to this.
"Whether it applies to both sides of course it needs to be appropriately postponed. Am I disappointed? Sure," said Johnson.
The judge will have both sides back in court next week to properly and legally address a feud that has already been in the court of public opinion for some time. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/civil-hearing-fort-worth-bishop-nuns-feud-postponed/287-faf83c28-c3a9-48ff-aabd-ec33d9a2a312 | 2023-06-24T02:35:50 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/civil-hearing-fort-worth-bishop-nuns-feud-postponed/287-faf83c28-c3a9-48ff-aabd-ec33d9a2a312 |
DALLAS — A year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court removed the constitutional right to abortion.
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. This decision gives states the power to make their own laws on abortion.
In Texas, abortion is banned.
Since the decision -- known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization -- where bans are in place, how many abortions are performed in states and the support levels for abortion differs across the country.
For anti-abortion advocates, the day last year was filled with joy. However, for abortion-rights advocates, it was the opposite.
Those on both sides of the aisle share with WFAA what the last 12 months have looked like for them.
Amy Hagstrom Miller is President and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health. Clinics they had in McKinney and in Fort Worth closed after the state’s abortion ban went into effect in summer 2022.
Whole Woman’s Health’s closest clinic is now in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In its first few days open in March, the clinic saw 19 patients – 18 of them were from the Texas. Miller said this is the norm, and that the “majority of patients are from Texas.”
“A ban on abortion does not stop the need for abortion,” Miller said.
Disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision, the clinic vowed to continue helping women receive abortion care.
“Abortion care is part of regular reproductive healthcare,” Miller said. “It’s essential medical care.”
Miller called last year’s overturn of Roe v. Wade “devastating,” but not a surprise. She said when the North Texas Whole Woman’s Health clinics closed, DFW lost more than just access to an abortion – but well-women check-ups, contraceptive care, and sexually-transmitted infection screenings.
“This what Texas politicians have done and the ramifications of this abortion ban is going to be felt by generations of Texans,” Miller said.
Meanwhile, anti-abortion organization Texas Right to Life, called the Supreme Court decision a “success for the pro-life movement.”
“We’ve seen just here in Texas, you know, our abortion rate go down, or going from about 55,000 abortions every year down to less than 100 a year,” Texas Right to Life President John Seago, said.
The organization strictly opposes abortion. While Texas Right to Life does not directly provide resources to mothers or expecting mothers, the group has spent the last year working on policy that would do just that.
“We also supported a policy that would give moms 12 months of Medicaid coverage after she gives birth,” Seago said, referring to House Bill 12, which was signed into law this legislative session.
Seago said Texas Right to Life has also been working on ways to better track other illegal forms of abortion care in Texas – whether its “rogue attorneys who say they won’t prosecute illegal abortions in their districts,” or mail-in abortion pills from out-of-state.
“It is a state jail felony to mail abortion-inducing drugs to a woman in Texas,” Seago said. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/one-year-roe-v-wade-overturn/287-ca52e631-f6e4-49f0-aa8c-8b1c59f32ba8 | 2023-06-24T02:35:56 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/one-year-roe-v-wade-overturn/287-ca52e631-f6e4-49f0-aa8c-8b1c59f32ba8 |
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — With multiple upcoming days expecting to reach temperatures higher than 100 degrees in North Texas this weekend, PETA wrote a letter to Lone Star Park urging them to cancel the upcoming races.
PETA urged that high temperatures can endanger horses, putting them at risk of brain damage, heatstroke and fatal cardiac trauma.
“Horses are pushed to the limit every time they race, and the added physical stress caused by skyrocketing temperatures can have deadly consequences,” PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in a statement. “PETA is calling on Lone Star Park to prevent more tragedies by canceling races in the face of extreme heat.”
The letter, written to Lone Star Park Racing Secretary Michael Shamburg by Guillermo, says temperatures this weekend are expected to reach 100 degrees or higher this weekend.
"Extra caution should be taken if horses are racing on Lasix, a diuretic that can cause dehydration and that compounds the risks of racing in extreme heat," the letter states. "Many horses have experienced breakdowns or collapsed because of heat, including Merciless Cat, who suffered a catastrophic breakdown after his aorta burst when the temperature at the track was over 100 degrees."
The letter goes onto say that tracks across the country have postponed races in the past to protect horses and jockeys when high temperatures or heat indexes were expected, including Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park last summer.
"An average of three horses die in racing every day, and extreme heat can easily add to this death toll," the letter concludes. "By cancelling racing until temperatures cool down, racetracks can help prevent further heat-related deaths. Please take immediate action to protect horses in Texas." | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/peta-urging-lone-star-park-cancel-upcoming-races-heat-wave/287-1b52f8de-168b-44f0-bb83-4ef4e291de5a | 2023-06-24T02:36:02 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/peta-urging-lone-star-park-cancel-upcoming-races-heat-wave/287-1b52f8de-168b-44f0-bb83-4ef4e291de5a |
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The Bristol, Virginia Police Department is asking the community to be on the lookout for a missing 13-year-old girl who has autism.
The police department is trying to locate Kennady Abigayle Branch.
Police said Kennady’s father, Dabian Branch, made an agreement Thursday with the Department of Children’s Services to temporarily place the child with family members while an investigation was conducted.
However, Dabian Branch took Kennady from the family members on Friday, the police department said. Children’s Services assumed custody of the child and reported her missing to the police.
Dabian Branch was located and arrested by police on Friday but Kennady was not with him.
The police department said Kennady is autistic and nonverbal.
Anyone with information on her possible location is asked to call the Bristol, Virginia Police Department at 276-645-7400.
Police charged Dabian Branch with cruelty to children and possession of a schedule II drug. He is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail without bond. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-va-police-looking-for-missing-13-year-old-girl-with-autism/ | 2023-06-24T02:37:45 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-va-police-looking-for-missing-13-year-old-girl-with-autism/ |
MERRILLVILLE — After tens of safety hazards left the Hickory Ridge Lake Apartments uninhabitable for a group of residents in early June, officials from the Friedman Management Company have decided to step up and address the issues.
Town officials are "regularly monitoring" the work on Hickory Ridge and working with Chuck Delaney, executive managing director of administration and operations at Friedman, according to a news release from the Town of Merrillville. The company plans to hire an engineering firm to examine the structures, which were compromised due to bowed-out walls, Merrillville Fire Marshal Robert Pillman said. Of the 150 vacant units, 120 have been examined for mold and 25 units will require mold removal. Two outside companies will contract with the property managers to handle the electrical concerns and fire hazards.
This comes just over a week after the Merrillville Fire Department issued a report to the company owners June 14 which list the appearance of mold, electrical hazards, inaccessible fire extinguishers, missing or inoperable smoke detectors, inoperable fire alarms and a large accumulation of trash in buildings in addition to concerns about the structure. Delaney said Friedman’s on-site staff and a landscaping company have been collecting the trash that’s accumulated throughout the Hickory Ridge property.
A potential sale is in the works, officials said, and the company interested in buying the property previously offered to help clean up the property. Pillman said the potential new ownership group has experience upgrading apartments that haven’t been properly maintained.
“Almost every day, there’s some type of update, whether it’s a contractor, the potential new owner, executives of the management company that’s currently there,” Pillman said. “I have my finger on the pulse of all of that.”
He said Merrillville instructed Friedman to obtain building permits from the Town before work is done, which officials said is necessary to make sure they make progress.
“As soon as they get permits on construction, demolition, and all that stuff, our team of inspectors can make sure to get eyes on it and make sure all that is done properly and safely,” Pillman said.
Hickory Ridge residents can contact Pillman if they observe additional safety concerns at the property or if vacant apartments haven’t been properly secured. Pillman can be reached at rpillman@merrillville.in.gov or 219-742-0107.
Town officials are "regularly monitoring" the work on Hickory Ridge and working with owners Friedman Management Company to ensure the buildings meet compliance, according to a news release from the Town of Merrillville. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hickory-ridge-merrillville-management-apartments/article_dd54d874-121f-11ee-b3ae-a743ca1a241f.html | 2023-06-24T02:44:27 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hickory-ridge-merrillville-management-apartments/article_dd54d874-121f-11ee-b3ae-a743ca1a241f.html |
School district employees reprimanded, demoted for taking notes after Bible meeting
High-ranking school district employees are being reprimanded and demoted in Alachua County for taking notes during meetings in what appears to be the fallout from an event where the superintendent referenced biblical scripture.
The district maintains that the shifting around is being done during the summer months as part of the standard business to prepare for the upcoming school year. But the names of recent resignations and a key demotion raise questions about the superintendent retaliating and forcing others out by ostracizing them.
In late April, the Gainesville Sun reported that employees and school board members were growing frustrated with Superintendent Shane Andrew's lack of progress on major issues facing the district. It was later discovered through a records request by the newspaper that he brought a Bible into a cabinet meeting a week earlier with a dozen of officials present, likened himself to the biblical character Joshua and accused employees of backstabbing him.
Though Andrew has repeatedly denied the April incident occurred, he is the only one at the district who has done so publicly and has yet to turnover his own notes from the meeting as part of The Sun's request.
Since a split school board voted 3-2 in May to retain Andrew into next year, several high-ranking officials at the district have submitted resignations, including one from an employee who was admonished for taking notes during a separate meeting.
"This is the time of year when the superintendent, with input from the leadership team and after reviewing school and district needs, traditionally makes administrative changes," District spokeswoman Jackie Johnson wrote in an email. "That process is happening now. It’s complex and time-consuming, and Mr. Andrew is focused on making decisions that are in the best interests of our students and schools."
More:Records suggest district leader misled public, school board about Bible in meeting
More:Superintendent Shane Andrew defends lack of progress, evaluation during heated meeting
Punishment for note taking
On May 31, Jacquatte Rolle, who at the time served as the district's school-improvement principal, wrote a scathing email to Taylor Gilfillan that took issue with his attendance in a strategic planning meeting a day prior. Gilfillan, who worked as the district's director of evaluation, accountability and analytics, has played a key role in gauging metrics, achievement gaps and strategic planning at the district to promote better outcomes during his tenure.
She said his "gratuitous" note taking and "barrage of questions" were disruptive and "disingenuous in nature" to the purpose of the meeting. She accused him of stalling the strategic planning process, something that has seen little movement since the appointment of Andrew last year.
Rolle, who wasn't Gilfillan's supervisor, then barred him from future meetings unless directed by the superintendent or deputy superintendent, an email shows.
In response, he wrote an email back expressing his concern over an issue of him taking of notes − a common practice in professional settings − and ensured that his intentions were only to develop a clear understanding of the district's direction with planning. There was no follow-up or further discussion of the matter from district leaders.
Gilfillan submitted his resignation the next week, citing a lack of communication and direction that has made his job increasingly difficult.
"A workplace culture where top leadership doesn't fully address or rectify breaches of professional conduct has also been a concern, including openly negative perceptions of taking notes during meetings," his resignation letter states. "Additionally, there have been instances where I couldn't fulfill my duties due to siloed departmental structures, creating a lack of trust in our organization's decision-making process and its use of data to guide decisions."
His resignation follows the departure of a handful of other employees, including Alex Rella, the chief of finance and assistant superintendent for business services. He, too, was also often blocked out of certain key discussions prior to leaving.
The host of resignations were previously hinted at prior to the school board's decision to retain Andrew.
Andrew's Bible meeting
Gilfillan isn't the only employee who has been in trouble for taking notes recently.
The superintendent provided a list to school board members this week with district-wide changes to personnel.
The list included Gilfillan's boss, Jennifer Wise, who served as the district's chief of teaching and learning. She was demoted with no prior notice.
Wise was notably the employee who wrote about Andrew's Bible and Joshua references in the April cabinet meeting.
She will now become principal of Howard Bishop Middle School, replacing longtime Principal Michael Gamble, who will lead Mebane Middle School. Gamble, who held the title for 13 years, expressed disappointment with the change in a letter to parents Tuesday.
"It's going to take some time for this to sink in for me," he wrote. "HMBS and all that it encompasses have been such a huge part of my life these past 13 years.
Though the district denies the moves are in retaliation, Andrew previously took issue with not knowing employees referenced in an article publish by The Sun.
So far, Wise is the only employee who turned over notes from the meeting as part of the newspaper's records request, one that came only after Andrew denied the biblical exchange happened. Wise has yet to publicly criticize her boss or speak with the newspaper about the incident.
Andrew also promoted Rolle to Wise's old job.
School Board chairwoman Tina Certain said she is perplexed to see Wise demoted, given that she hadn't had an evaluation based on her job performance. She also said that she has heard from several other district employees who say taking notes at meetings is now "frowned upon" in Andrew's administration.
Among the renewals Andrew authorized were Camp Crystal Director Scott Burton and his wife, Holly Burton, who last year sued the school board and former superintendent Carlee Simon. The couple were the center of an investigation revolving around years of mismanagement of the camp.
Certain said she asked multiple times for Andrew's list of staffing changes over the weeks in hope of discussing the moves, but hadn't received anything until minutes before Tuesday's meeting. While staffing decisions are well within Andrew's control, she said she is worried about some decisions and lack of communication.
"I am very concerned about the turnover and issues raised by staff," she said. "I have received complaints from various employees that the environment is toxic." | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/alachua-county-district-employees-demotes-punished-for-taking-notes/70350871007/ | 2023-06-24T02:49:03 | 0 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/alachua-county-district-employees-demotes-punished-for-taking-notes/70350871007/ |
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Ahead of National HIV Testing Day, a new event is offering free testing in an inaugural health festival.
Unity Fest aims to be a health event that works to bridge all communities within the LGBTQ+ umbrella. It will host a sneaker ball, bike show, free food, bars, an outdoor skating rink and a bounce house. Everyone, including children, are welcome to attend.
Organizers hope people can have fun but don't want them to get lost in the true purpose of the event.
"Sexual safety is, I think, part and parcel with overall health and wellness," Jason Panda with the B Holding Group said.
The organization is the nonprofit arm of B Condoms, the only minority-owned condom company carried in the United States. It also supplies about a third of condoms that are distributed through nonprofits and works primarily in communities of color, according to Panda.
That's why he and his team will be in College Park Sunday to live up to the company's mission and to educate people about the importance of HIV testing and staying safe - even when having fun.
"Right now the numbers are really disproportionate when you look at certain types of disease illnesses," he said.
Panda pointed to data, saying African Americans make up around 13% of the population but nearly 40% of new HIV and AIDS cases. Atlanta ranks among the top cities with new HIV cases as well.
"That's something that needs immediate attention," he said. "The same is also true when you look at STIs, for example, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis."
That's why Panda wants to make sure people know what's available to them in terms of medication, prevention and treatment.
Awareness is key when treating STIs or detecting HIV. So what better way than a welcoming event that can also provide resources and immediate guidance to care, Panda said.
"The idea was actually birthed through a like-minded approach," he said, adding that the event is aimed at furthering education and awareness in populations that seem to be most impacted by HIV and STIs.
"We're going to have same-day onsite HIV testing, same day linkage to care," Panda said.
The event will have around 10 organizations that can test from blood pressure to STIs providing holistic health help. There will also be vendors and outdoor activities meant to spark joy.
"We've gotten a tremendous amount of community response and excitement around the event," Panda said.
Unity Fest event details
Sunday, June 25 | 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Best Friends Restaurant and Bar
2672 Godby Road
College Park, GA 30349 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/unity-fest-free-hiv-testing/85-b74483dc-7162-4a47-bc70-c0f277db5eb5 | 2023-06-24T03:02:13 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/unity-fest-free-hiv-testing/85-b74483dc-7162-4a47-bc70-c0f277db5eb5 |
Post-pandemic educational performance is declining, and adolescents report higher rates of mental health crises such as depression and suicidal ideation, according to the Indiana Youth Institute.
The Indiana Youth Institute presented its concerns Wednesday at a Commission on Improving the Status of Children meeting. The commission was formed in 2013 and includes members from the governor’s office, the justice system, state agencies and the Legislature.
Taylor Johnson, the policy and data advocacy manager for the Indiana Youth Institute, said overall child well-being in Indiana ranks 24th in the country. This is an improvement from past years, he said, when Indiana ranked 28th or 29th.
To measure how traumatic events affect children, Johnson used the term “adverse childhood experiences” to describe instances of abuse or neglect.
Two out of every 5 children experience an adverse experience, with 1 out of every 5 experiencing multiple adverse experiences. Hoosiers have a higher incidence of adverse childhood experiences compared with the rest of the Midwest, Johnson said.
Although one adverse experience might not affect a child, the experiences compound, the experts said. The more adverse experiences a child has, the more likely they are to have negative life outcomes such as substance abuse or obesity.
In the face of high incidence of childhood trauma, Indiana is seeing a gap in health care providers, with many counties classifying as underserved in areas of dentistry, primary care and mental health.
Parents often forgo care for their children as well. From 2020 to 2021, half of parents who chose to forgo care said it was because of difficulty getting an appointment, with another 36% saying cost was a barrier.
Johnson also talked about a lack of adequate support in school, where the ratios of students to school counselors, psychologists, nurses and social workers were behind the national average.
Bernice Corley, a commission member and the executive director of the Indiana Public Defender Council, said she saw a lack of support staff when she worked for the Department of Education.
“There are so many schools that do not have … a school nurse,” she said.
Lindsay Weaver, state health commissioner, talked about positive developments in the effort to improve school support, saying 20 counties have opted in for funding for a school health liaison to fill the gaps.
Another aspect of youth issues was depression and suicidal ideation.
According to Indiana Youth Institute data, 1 out of every 3 students from seventh to 12th grades reported experiencing persistent sadness and hopelessness. One out of seven students made a plan to commit suicide.
The mental health data is even more dire for students who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
In 2021, 80% of respondents said they were depressed, 65% said they considered attempting suicide and a little over 20% said they actually attempted suicide.
Another significant trend from the Indiana Youth Institute data was a decline in positive education metrics following the pandemic.
These include decreases in IREAD and ILEARN scores, declining graduation rates and college enrollment, and a decrease in 21st Century Scholars – the state’s financial aid program for low-income students exploring postsecondary education – which saw only half of eligible students enroll.
Across the board, these decreases were more pronounced in Black, Hispanic and Pacific Islander students.
Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/indiana-youth-face-mental-health-crises-declining-school-performance/article_2306b286-11fb-11ee-a862-272b959f837c.html | 2023-06-24T03:06:35 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/indiana-youth-face-mental-health-crises-declining-school-performance/article_2306b286-11fb-11ee-a862-272b959f837c.html |
A former Bishop Luers High School teacher has been arrested and charged with felony child solicitation after allegedly admitting he had a sexual relationship with a student.
Matthew Jacob Brown, 40, has been charged with four counts of child solicitation.
A woman initially reported the sexual activity that happened while she was a student at Bishop Luers to the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 2018, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Detective Sgt. Todd Battershell. The sexual activity reportedly happened in the spring of 2017 when she was 17.
The diocese reported the incidents in 2018 to police despite the woman saying she wanted to remain anonymous and didn’t want an investigation, according to court records.
Earlier this month, the victim contacted the diocese, saying she changed her mind and wanted an investigation. The woman told police that she was groomed by Brown, who was her English teacher, in December 2016.
The Journal Gazette typically does not name victims of crimes unless they come forward publicly.
Brown and the student allegedly engaged in sexual activity on several separate occasions, including at his residence.
An administrator confronted Brown in 2018 after hearing the allegations. Brown admitted to the inappropriate relationship and was then fired, the probable cause affidavit said.
A witness also told police that she remembers the victim disclosing in 2017 that Brown had seduced her.
On the last day of her senior year, the woman said she waited for everyone to leave school and went to Brown’s classroom, where more activity happened, the probable cause affidavit said. The woman provided investigators with a photo she took in the classroom that day.
Officers took Brown to the police station for a formal interview after executing search warrants Wednesday at his home. Brown admitted to the allegations during the interview and was taken into custody, the probable cause affidavit said.
Brown paid the $32,500 bond to get out of the Allen County Jail on Friday. A hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/former-bishop-luers-teacher-charged-with-child-solicitation/article_cd7cdcc4-120d-11ee-87a5-3f629522d5ad.html | 2023-06-24T03:06:41 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/former-bishop-luers-teacher-charged-with-child-solicitation/article_cd7cdcc4-120d-11ee-87a5-3f629522d5ad.html |
HARRISON, Maine — Hundreds of visitors are flocking to a campground in Harrison, where smoking marijuana is not only allowed but encouraged. Camp Laughing Grass, which is in its fourth season, is fast becoming a major cannabis-friendly tourism destination.
Located on the Crooked River, this campground has everything, from glamping and primitive tent sites to cabins, hiking and bike trails, and a new dock.
But for these campers, it's all about the freedom to use cannabis whenever they want.
"You can just light up anywhere and pass it around. There is always a joint or cone going around," Alicia Morris, a camper from Portland said.
Campers can bring their own supply of weed and sample other strains provided by local dispensaries.
For Marnie Dearborn, the draw was being able to smoke weed without bothering other campers.
"It's a better choice. You don't have to think about it. You are not making anyone upset," camper Dearborn explained.
The 17-acre campground opened in 2020 and is the brainchild of Trinity Madison.
She wanted to create an adult camping experience without the stigma, despite Maine being a legal state for recreational marijuana since 2016.
"Just to make it easier for us to not feel ostracized, the market is there? Oh, definitely the market is here. All I do is turn people away nonstop, all day," Madison said.
Earlier this year, out-of-state visitors posted this video about the campground on TikTok. The video got 5 million views and spurred a boom in bookings this season. The campground has about 2,000 bookings from across the U.S. Madison renovated the bathhouse at the campground, which is open from May to September.
As the campground continues to spark interest from campers across the country, Madison hopes to add more accommodations, including an A-frame cabin, a tree house, and a fully converted school bus, which can house two people.
But for Madison, the success is bittersweet. Her longtime groundskeeper Ryan Harrington, who greeted every visitor with a hearty "welcome to weed camp," passed away last summer.
"He had a huge impact on everyone who was at camp," Madison said.
She forging on with a new staff and a vision to keep this cannabis-friendly campground growing and on the map. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/camp-laughing-grass-campground-harrison-tourism/97-34874271-0697-4c41-91d9-cca3bd3fd796 | 2023-06-24T03:07:03 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/camp-laughing-grass-campground-harrison-tourism/97-34874271-0697-4c41-91d9-cca3bd3fd796 |
FALMOUTH, Maine — Drive Fore Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament at Falmouth Country Club has fans from all over thrilled to have been a part of the weekend's festivities.
While some attended to catch a glimpse of their favorite celebrities teeing up, the true essence of the event lies in the $100,000 raised for the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.
The Korn Ferry PGA Tour is usually here this weekend at Falmouth, as it has been here past two years, but this celebrity tournament is replacing it.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated team and a lineup of familiar names worked together to make this charitable endeavor a resounding success.
Kate Quinn, the executive director of Drive Fore Kids from Maine Medical Center, emphasized that the event is not solely about the glamour of celebrity attendance but about the shared goal of providing the best care possible for children.
"They are normal people like us. They have children, and we want the best care for our children," Quinn said.
The stars in attendance, such as Marshall Faulk and Ronde Barber, echoed this sentiment, recognizing the importance of coming together as a community to support a worthy cause.
Many participants in the tournament had personal connections to the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, further fueling their determination to make a difference.
"The Barbara Bush Hospital is near and dear to my heart. With having two little boys at home, I want to do anything I can," Blaire O'Neal, a celebrity golfer, said.
This emotional connection propelled participants to strive for more than just shooting under par. They aimed to contribute to a cause that touched them personally.
While the celebrities and participants received much of the limelight, it was the behind-the-scenes heroes who ensured that everything ran smoothly.
Zander Abbott, the vice president of children's health services at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, acknowledged the vital role played by the nursing and care teams who volunteered at the event.
"One of the cool things about the course is when you walk around, you see the nursing and care team volunteering. It's a nice way to bridge the gap between those providing care at the bedside and a community event where we are interacting with celebrities from across the nation," Abbott explained.
Additionally, the event would not have reached its $100,000 goal without the unwavering dedication of over 200 volunteers, according to Brian Corcoran, the executive director for Drive Fore Kids.
The Drive Fore Kids Golf Tournament will continue until Saturday.
As the tournament continues, the positive impact this tournament has on the lives of children and their families at the children's hospital will undoubtedly be immeasurable. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/drive-fore-kids-celebrity-golf-tournament-2023/97-61a88881-d72c-4ebc-8197-adb4073ceaf6 | 2023-06-24T03:07:09 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/drive-fore-kids-celebrity-golf-tournament-2023/97-61a88881-d72c-4ebc-8197-adb4073ceaf6 |
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