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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro called on the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday to return to the Pennsylvania Capitol to finalize a state spending plan, as the state government neared a week without full spending authority.
He disputed Republican accusations that he went back on his word about the $45 billion spending plan. Rather, Shapiro said it was a failure of the Senate and Democratic-controlled House to reach a deal on the final budget, and he blamed Senate Republicans for sending the other chamber a bill that they knew might fail.
“They may not like how this process played out, but it’s the process that they put into effect because of their inability to close the deal,” he said.
The House approved the plan late Wednesday. Negotiations had hit a wall over education funding, particularly $100 million to create a school voucher program to let students use state funds to attend private and religious schools.
Senate Republicans pushed for setting up the program, finding an ally in Shapiro, who reaffirmed that he supported the measure on Thursday. But Democrats in the House objected to the program, and Shapiro then pledged to use his line-item veto to kill it.
That rankled Senate Republicans, who said they had agreed to provisions in the budget bill in exchange for getting the vouchers.
Senate Republican leadership criticized him for lacking “enough respect and standing within his own party to follow through with his promise.” Shapiro said the idea that it’s his responsibility to win House approval was an “inaccurate assessment of the situation.”
Shapiro urged the Senate to return to Harrisburg to sign off on the budget bill, and also to work with the House to pass legislation to direct how money in the budget bill can be spent.
Republicans on Thursday did not say when they would return, but suggested the budget fight isn’t over.
In a statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward rejected Shapiro’s portrayal of negotiations, saying the GOP gave him “all the goodies he wanted” in return for the voucher program, and that the governor still has the authority to get it in the budget.
The Senate is scheduled to return to session Sept. 18. Republicans say that gives them the ability to hold up the budget bill until then without the constitutionally required signature of the presiding officer.
Other items Shapiro wanted in the budget bill — and that Senate Republicans agreed to in exchange for the voucher program — might need separate legislation to allow that money to be spent.
Also snarled is funding for three Pennsylvania universities that receive state subsidies — Penn State, University of Pittsburgh and Temple. Shapiro and Democrats have supported raising state aid to the three schools by 7% to $623 million collectively. However, Republicans have balked.
On Thursday, House Republicans rejected another effort to approve the aid, complaining that the schools are too willing to raise tuition and saying they would prefer to send money to students, not the institutions. Every Democrat voted for it, but 73 of 101 Republicans voted against the subsidies.
The lack of state aid could play a role in how the state universities budget and determine tuition for the upcoming school year.
By just about every measure there is, Pennsylvania is ranked at the bottom among states in size of student debt and affordability of its colleges. Some education advocates blame lawmakers for the lack of higher education aid.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/pennsylvania-governor-calls-divided-legislature-finalize-budget-past-deadline/Y34ZKXLASZF5ZGGXRI2VZ5WAR4/ | 2023-07-07T04:54:44 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/pennsylvania-governor-calls-divided-legislature-finalize-budget-past-deadline/Y34ZKXLASZF5ZGGXRI2VZ5WAR4/ |
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Efforts to control illegal firework use in the city were deemed a success by Mayor George Brown after a new ordinance was put in place ahead of this year's July 4th celebrations.
"This new ordinance that we put through as a law is not going to stop fireworks, what it is going to do is it is going to make people think twice about setting off fireworks, and we saw that people were setting them off, our police were going from call to call to call," Brown said.
The ordinance raised fines from $100 dollars to $500 dollars for anyone caught in the Diamond City igniting or discharging fireworks within 150 feet of a building.
According to Brown, Police cited 20 people from July 3 to July 5.
At that same time, more than 550 911 calls were made due to noise or firework-related incidents.
"See, really, the whole key here is the safety of it because when you set off fireworks, you really don't know where they are going to go. They can land anywhere," Brown explained.
Firefighters responded to this house on Johnson Street in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday night, where a rogue firework landed on the roof.
The homeowner was able to put out several embers before any damage was done.
Brown says this could've been a lot worse.
Two years ago, a building on Westminster Street quickly caught fire after the use of fireworks nearby, leaving eight people displaced.
"The dangers are out there, so people should not be using them, they are illegal anywhere in the city of Wilkes-Barre," Brown said.
Want to see what Newswatch 16's newscast was like in 1976? Head on over to WNEP's YouTube. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/wilkes-barre-fireworks-crackdown-worked-mayor-george-brown-wnep-newsatch16/523-63528919-03fc-48b4-b06a-bc50299c1e28 | 2023-07-07T04:57:52 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/wilkes-barre-fireworks-crackdown-worked-mayor-george-brown-wnep-newsatch16/523-63528919-03fc-48b4-b06a-bc50299c1e28 |
DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor Thursday confirmed its Wage and Hour Division is investigating payroll issues affecting Dallas County employees.
Problems began in April 2023, when employees say the county upgraded to a newer version of its payroll software.
"We're still finding new things wrong," Dallas County Sheriff's Association president Sgt. Christopher Dyer said. "Everybody that touches our payroll has had to go through incredible problems to try and fix this."
The county still owes some employees money, Dyer said. Some missed entire paychecks, while others received incorrect payments.
People who've taken time off have been incorrectly compensated for their vacation days. Others are not accruing paid time off at the rate they should, employees say.
Dyer said one county employee received a court summons for failing to make child support payments which should've been automatically deducted from his paycheck. A different person received a 36 cent direct deposit for his paycheck, he added.
"When payday comes, you expect to be paid a certain amount of money," Dyer said, expressing concern for the employees who live paycheck-to-paycheck.
The labor department can levy fines against employers that fail to pay employees. In addition, businesses in violation of labor laws must also make up missed or incorrect payments.
A spokesperson did not offer details about the labor department's investigation, though.
“Obviously, it’s important that all are paid fully and on time," county judge Clay Jenkins said. "Dallas County is working to fix this issue and will cooperate fully with the Department of Labor.”
Dyer said he doesn't want anyone fired, but hopes the county will move with more urgency to address the problem and better communicate with affected employees. Deputies are spending too much time away from work addressing payroll problems, he says.
"It's about accountability," Dyer said. "I hope this gets enough attention that it never happens again." | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/department-of-labor-investigating-dallas-county-payroll/287-4cd55609-b3ac-43dd-9780-d9adcf47b3c7 | 2023-07-07T05:02:09 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/department-of-labor-investigating-dallas-county-payroll/287-4cd55609-b3ac-43dd-9780-d9adcf47b3c7 |
FORT WORTH, Texas — Human remains found in March 2023 have been identified as a woman who went missing in January 2006, the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) says.
The man the family believes is responsible for the woman's disappearance and death is currently serving life in prison for another woman’s kidnapping.
On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office said DNA testing confirmed that the human remains found on March 2, 2023, near the 900 block of S. Hughes Avenue belong to Taalibah Fatin Bint Islam.
Islam was reported missing on Jan. 21, 2006, by her ex-boyfriend and the father of their child, Christopher Revill.
Revill told police that Islam dropped off their baby boy at his home and then left in an unknown SUV. Revill claimed that Islam never returned.
Islam’s family was adamant Revill had something to do with her disappearance, but police never investigated his involvement.
Another disappearance
A decade later, in October of 2016, Revill was arrested in connection to the kidnapping and disappearance of another ex-girlfriend of his, Typhenie Johnson.
According to arrest records, Revill was the last person seen with Johnson, and pieces of her clothing were found in the backyard of his parents' east Fort Worth home.
In August 2019, Revill was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of Johnson’s kidnapping. Revill is not eligible for parole until 2046, according to court records.
During his trial, prosecutors said Revill was possessive, controlling and abusive. Prosecutors in that case also pointed to Islam’s missing person case and said Revill had a long history of violence.
Months before Revill reported Islam missing, he was investigated in an assault against her when she was nine months pregnant, a Fort Worth sergeant testified in that trial.
Islam’s family celebrated with Johnson’s family after Revill’s life sentence.
"Happy, overwhelmed, overjoyed," Islam’s sister, Hadiyah Islam told WFAA in 2019. "He’s gone. [My sister] doesn’t have to worry about him anymore."
Johnson's aunt, Janelle Hofeldt told WFAA the two families have become close through their shared grief and efforts to raise awareness.
"I wont stop and my family wont stop until Typhenie is found," said Hofeldt said.
Shortly after Islam's remains were confirmed, Hofeldt told WFAA she was heartbroken for Islam's family.
"The Islam family is our family," Hofeldt said. "I love them, and my heart is with them. I'm sending them prayers."
FWPD says that the investigation into Islam’s case is ongoing.
Johnson's body has never been found.
"In my heart, she’s still out there and we will find her and get the help she may need," Hofeldt said. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dna-confirms-human-remains-found-in-fort-worth-is-woman-who-went-missing-in-2006/287-19b6fe05-317d-483e-baea-3ed1cb735be2 | 2023-07-07T05:02:15 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dna-confirms-human-remains-found-in-fort-worth-is-woman-who-went-missing-in-2006/287-19b6fe05-317d-483e-baea-3ed1cb735be2 |
HOUSTON — On Thursday, for the first time in more than eight years, relatives of Rudy Farias got to see him.
Farias' aunt, Pauline Sanchez, said she spoke to him at a home in east Houston and told KHOU 11 that he said he wants nothing more to do with his mother.
Farias, who had been reported missing in 2015, was found outside of a church last week. Police have now confirmed that he had run away from home more than eight years ago, but then came back home the next day. Ever since then, police said he was living at his mother's home and was never really missing.
Sanchez said after speaking to Farias, she believes all of the accusations Houston community activist Quanell X made about Farias' mother, Janie Santana, are true.
“He made the statement that he doesn’t want to see his mom," Sanchez said. "He doesn’t want to go back to his mom.”
Quanell X said he spoke to Farias in the presence of an investigator Wednesday. He said Farias told them that Santana had been hiding, drugging and sexually abusing him.
Police, however, said Thursday that Farias never reported any sexual abuse by his mother when they interviewed him Wednesday.
When Sanchez went to visit the home at which Farias was staying Thursday, the person inside at first wouldn't allow her in, yelling from the front door. But eventually, Sanchez's son was allowed in to see Farias. Soon after, Sanchez was allowed in, as well.
Sanchez said during their meeting, she gave Farias a blessed Rosary from the Holy Land.
“It was beautiful, very beautiful to see him,” she said. “We hugged until I finally let go.”
Sanchez said Farias will clearly need professional help for what he's endured.
Though HPD Chief Troy Finner said Thursday that Farias is choosing to stay with his mother as they continue to investigate this case, Sanchez said he's actually staying with a friend of his mother.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office has declined charges at this time, but Chief Finner said it's early in the investigation.
Family members have publicly said they want Santana arrested. On Friday, community activists will demand that Santana be charged. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-investigation/285-d1cb5a1e-44e2-49b4-bdf3-74170415d735 | 2023-07-07T05:02:21 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-investigation/285-d1cb5a1e-44e2-49b4-bdf3-74170415d735 |
INDIANAPOLIS — Dave Calabro went to the fair in search of some good news and found a new job!
Dave visited with the queen's court in the petting barn at this year's Marion County Fair, which runs through Sunday, July 9.
Marion County Princess Madison Jordan shared the good news that there are three baby goats at the fair, one of which is just six days old and two others that are 11 days old.
Another member of Queen Sara Zink's court is excited to start college at Butler University in the fall, on a pre-med track.
"It's been such a great experience just going around and seeing everybody at the fair," said another member of the court.
"I'm enjoying the rides and the food," said one member of the court, who admitted liking the fried Oreos the best.
After meeting the fair's royalty, Dave was put to work.
"You're going to be cleaning the pen today," said one woman, handing Dave a rake and a scoop to clean up after the goats in the petting barn pen.
"Oh my goodness, I found a job. Put me to work!" Dave said. "This wasn't part of the deal. I was told I was going to come interview the queens and promote the fair."
Watch Dave's full visit to the Marion County Fair in the video player above and check out some of his past Good News visits in the links below. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/good-news/good-news-marion-county-fair-dave-calabro/531-3bdf787e-cde7-4965-8b08-24170a8f1eb3 | 2023-07-07T05:07:05 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/good-news/good-news-marion-county-fair-dave-calabro/531-3bdf787e-cde7-4965-8b08-24170a8f1eb3 |
INDIANAPOLIS — Summer Celebration is here for Indiana Black Expo!
Over the next week-and-a-half, there will be uplifting programs to empower and enrich the lives of Black Hoosiers. And with new leadership steering this historic organization, community members have much to look forward to.
IBE's new CEO and president, Alice Watson, has been on the job for six months and said the experience has already been a journey.
"It's been going. It's crazy. I'm not new. Even when I took this role, there was some hesitancy. Because I know what to expect, and it's significantly different. Behind the scenes, I pretty much touched every part of this organization. But I didn't have to be solely accountable for it."
Watson has been a member of the IBE family for over 10 years. She's worked several jobs behind the scenes. She's not letting the pressures of leadership get in the way of advancing Indiana Black Expo into the future.
"It's ramping up. There's activity now. There's a lot of noise. We've got programming. So, it really is starting to come together," said Watson.
IBE has been operating for 53 years. As they embrace all that history and tradition, the group has also been working to engage a new generation.
"It's very interesting. We had a listening session in trying to figure out how we make ourselves relevant to a whole new generation. And they said, ‘You guys are like the 'Bougie Aunts.' You won't let us in!' And so it's like really trying to be more responsive and listen to what are those touch points and how do we prove to be more engaging to the entire community," Watson said.
The CEO recognizes that one of their biggest hurdles is improving messaging.
"And a lot of it is messaging. Because a lot of the community don't realize that we do more than just events. We do programming and we do youth programming, so really getting the message out to explain what it is that we truly do as an organization. And what is our intent and our purpose?" she said.
And listening to the community is what they did. Last year, the Circle City Classic featured a "Battle of the Bands" competition. Historically Black Colleges and Universities brought that cherished part of the culture, but they didn't have a football game.
"The community was in an uproar. 'Bring back football!' 'Where's football?' 'What's happening with the Classic?' So, we said OK. The attendance over the years had been down. And a lot of that was challenging, because (there are) so many Classics throughout the country now, versus when we were one of the first. The community asked for it. We're going to give it to them. We hope they will come out and support it, because you know you lose things when you don't support them," Watson said.
At this year's Circle City Classic in September, Mississippi Valley State University and North Carolina Central University will showdown on the gridiron at Lucas Oil Stadium. IBE is encouraging people to buy tickets and support the programming they want to see in their community. Though there will be a football game this year, there is nothing to guarantee that there will be one next year.
"We must do what's right. And be very responsible. We need the community to support it to buy tickets to sustain it. So hopefully that will happen. But we'll assess each year to figure out if it makes good sense," Watson said.
As IBE leaders hope for a great turnout this year, they are encouraged for the future of the organization in Indiana.
"I think it's bright. Hopefully, we'll continue for another 53 years. Again, I like to tell the community that you've got to be able to navigate whatever the needs are at the time. So, I hope they understand that. That's what we do, we do it intentionally for our community and we try to be as impactful as we can be with having 12 chapters across the state of Indiana," said Watson.
From July 6-16, people can experience education, health, and business workshops. There will also be an outdoor concert featuring the O'Jays and Stephanie Mills on American Legion Mall on Friday, July 14. Plus, the All White Affair and concert featuring Juvenile and 111 will be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 15.
For more info on Indiana Black Expo and Summer Celebration, click here. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-black-expo-gears-up-for-first-summer-celebration-with-new-ceo-alice-watson/531-868068b8-9eb5-4c97-bb42-1d21164ac7a9 | 2023-07-07T05:07:11 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-black-expo-gears-up-for-first-summer-celebration-with-new-ceo-alice-watson/531-868068b8-9eb5-4c97-bb42-1d21164ac7a9 |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/neighbors-came-together-for-a-peace-walk-after-mass-shooting-shook-community/3599825/ | 2023-07-07T05:15:20 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/neighbors-came-together-for-a-peace-walk-after-mass-shooting-shook-community/3599825/ |
TAMPA, Fla. — Grieving family and friends gathered at the beach along the Courtney Campbell Causeway to remember 7-year-old Yitzian Garcia.
Garcia was killed when someone started shooting after two groups had an argument about jet skis while he watched fireworks with his family on July 4.
“He was just a baby, he was just 7 years old,” his aunt said.
Dozens of people placed teddy bears, flowers, and candles in the spot where the 7-year-old was shot and killed by a stray bullet earlier this week.
“We just want justice, he was just a baby who came here on vacation and wanted to enjoy the fireworks,” his aunt said.
Yitzian’s aunt is asking for anyone who knows anything about the shooter to come forward as they grieve a little boy who was looking forward to celebrating his birthday next month.
“He was so sweet, he was the sweetest baby,” she said.
Yitzian’s mother flew down from New Jersey Wednesday night, surrounded by family as she wept over a growing memorial for a son who always let her know that he loved her.
“He’d say ‘Mom, I love you’ like five times,” his aunt said. “That’s one of the things that my sister is going to miss.”
The family is preparing to bring Yitzian to Puerto Rico to be buried, but at the vigil tonight, his grandfather pointed out bullet holes that remain in the awnings of the beach shelter.
They’re hoping someone on the beach saw or caught something on camera that will help police find the person who killed Yitzian. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/vigil-7-year-old-shot-july-4-tampa/67-ce6328bc-13f7-4ead-834c-2cd3f9315333 | 2023-07-07T05:17:09 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/vigil-7-year-old-shot-july-4-tampa/67-ce6328bc-13f7-4ead-834c-2cd3f9315333 |
Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub sued New York City on Thursday to block its new minimum pay rules for food delivery workers.
The recently announced rules, touted as a national first, could nearly triple average earnings for app-based delivery workers in the coming years. An increased pay rate of $17.96 an hour is set to take effect July 12.
New York’s more than 60,000 delivery workers currently make an average of $7.09 an hour, according to the city.
The food delivery services are seeking a temporary restraining order in state Supreme Court in Manhattan to stop the changes from going into effect on July 12. The companies claim the changes would result in higher costs for consumers.
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“The city’s entire rule depends on the false assumption that restaurants make no money on deliveries - it must be paused before damaging restaurants, consumers and the couriers it purports to protect,” Uber spokesperson Josh Gold said in a prepared statement.
DoorDash and Grubhub jointly filed a lawsuit. Uber filed its own lawsuit, as did New York-based Relay Delivery.
An email seeking comment was sent to city officials.
News
In a prepared statement sent to The New York Times, Vilda Vera Mayuga, the commissioner of New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, said delivery workers “deserve fair pay for their labor.”
“These workers brave thunderstorms, extreme heat events and risk their lives to deliver for New Yorkers — and we remain committed to delivering for them,” she said.
Under the new rule, food delivery services will have some flexibility in how they pay new workers. Apps can choose if they want to pay delivery workers per trip, per hour worked or another policy created by the company — as long as earnings meet the minimum pay rate, the city has said. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/uber-eats-doordash-and-grubhub-sue-nyc-to-stop-new-pay-raise-for-delivery-workers/4484129/ | 2023-07-07T05:21:14 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/uber-eats-doordash-and-grubhub-sue-nyc-to-stop-new-pay-raise-for-delivery-workers/4484129/ |
DULUTH — A motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash on Rice Lake Road in Gnesen Township on Thursday evening, July 6.
At about 6 p.m., a motorcycle with two passengers collided with a sport-utility vehicle near the 7400 block of Rice Lake Road.
The driver of the motorcycle, 62-year-old Michael Allen Scott of Duluth, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger on the motorcycle was airlifted to a local hospital with critical injuries.
The driver of the SUV was not injured.
Responding agencies included the Gnesen Volunteer Fire Department, St. Louis County Rescue Squad and North Memorial Air Medical. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and Minnesota State Patrol continue to investigate the incident. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-rice-lake-road-collision | 2023-07-07T05:29:06 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-rice-lake-road-collision |
MARLIN, Texas — A body was discovered at City Park in Marlin on Thursday, July 6, according to the Marlin Police Department.
Police said the body was discovered partially submerged in water and mud at approximately 1:59 p.m.
According to police, the body has not been identified at this time, and it is not yet clear if it is the body of a person who was reported missing on July 2.
Police said an investigation is ongoing. Updates will given as more details become available.
More from 6 News: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/body-discovered-city-park-marlin/500-887721e1-6e60-4e4e-8d9b-cfda7cdfeb7f | 2023-07-07T05:33:58 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/body-discovered-city-park-marlin/500-887721e1-6e60-4e4e-8d9b-cfda7cdfeb7f |
OMAHA – Amythyst Kiah walked onto the Orpheum Theatre stage with her band, Chest of Glass, strapped on her guitar, stepped to the microphone and blew the audience away with deep, powerful soul vocals on her Grammy-nominated song “Black Myself.”
Forty-five minutes later, Kiah wrapped up her set with the traditional “Trouble So Hard,” creating an audible buzz in the crowd there to see Jason Isbell and sending dozens to the merch table to buy T-shirts to support the artist who, it sounded like, found the roots of her music in gospel.
While she didn't grow up singing in church, Kiah recognizes its influence on popular vocals.
She said the singers with huge voices that she listened to when she was young — Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard, Sister Rosetta Tharpe — all sang in church.
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"That essentially became part of rock 'n' roll. So it came from church through the influences," she said.
Midway through her Omaha set, Kiah swapped the guitar for a banjo to deliver a pair of numbers that harken back to century-old string band music – a style she picked up at East Tennessee State University.
Kiah, who grew up in Chattanooga and got a guitar from her dad at 13, studied classical guitar and developed her fingerstyle as a teenager. Then she enrolled in the Johnson City school to study guitar in the music department.
Before then, the image she conjured when she heard the word bluegrass was the "Beverly Hillbillies," she said. But the class expanded her fingerstyle range and added a layer to her musical orientation.
“It led me to playing old-time music, which is the bedrock of, really, all American music,” she said. “It was before bluegrass. It was before electric blues. So it was really the precursor because it's a mix of European and African traditions and cultures.”
Immediately before playing “Trouble So Hard” at the Omaha show, Kiah, who was a punk rocking skateboarder in high school, pulled out an up-tempo, guitar-rocking version of Tori Amos’ “Sugar,” adding the indie-rock and singer-songwriter elements that complete her hard-to-define musical mix.
Kiah uses the term Americana for her music. She recognizes it can be vague, but she said it's also a perfect description for her music.
“I feel like Americana is kind of where everybody falls in where they don't fit anywhere else. It's where all the misfits that didn't fit in with pop country or they didn't quite fit in with blues or they didn't quite fit in with like, rock.
“Anytime I say Americana, I follow it up with blues, rock, country, folk. It's never just as simple as, I'm a country singer."
“Black Myself,” Kiah’s anthem of enslaved people, both literal and figurative, comes from her breakthrough 2021 third album “Wary + Strange” that is filled with often dark songs grappling with the personal, such as her mother’s suicide and the struggle of Black and queer Americans.
Having written a bunch of songs over the last year and a half, Kiah and the band went into a Nashville studio for a couple days last month to start recording. The plan is to finish recording this summer and release the new album late next year.
Kiah will be playing a couple of the new songs when she makes her Lincoln debut Friday at ZooFest where she’ll take the stage at 7 p.m. before headliner Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.
“I can't wait to be there and hear the music as well,” she said. “It's always nice when I can actually see a show. Festivals make that a little bit easier. We're excited for the band to get over there. It’s going to be cool.”
ZOOFEST - IF YOU GO
On 14th Street between O and P streets
Friday
5 p.m. — The Jimmys
7 p.m. — Amethyst Kiah
9 p.m. — Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
11 p.m. — Andy William & The Nebraska All Stars
Saturday
1 p.m. — BluesEd
3 p.m. — The Lightning Bugs/Fabtones 5
5 p.m. — John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
7 p.m. — The James Hunter Six
9 p.m. — Shemekia Copeland
11 p.m. — The 50th Waltz
ZooFest tickets
Friday – $50 advance, $60 day of show
Saturday – $50 advance, $60 day of show
3-day pass - $120
Advance tickets available at zoobar.com and ticketweb.com | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/amythyst-kiah-bringing-her-distinctive-musical-mix-and-powerful-voice-to-zoofest/article_c967710a-1a85-11ee-8f5f-a72ba425f1a1.html | 2023-07-07T05:40:45 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/amythyst-kiah-bringing-her-distinctive-musical-mix-and-powerful-voice-to-zoofest/article_c967710a-1a85-11ee-8f5f-a72ba425f1a1.html |
It’s been years, actually decades, since Tommy Stinson’s played Lincoln. As in since The Replacements brought their chaotic rock ‘n’ roll to The Drumstick and the Nebraska Union in mid-to-late ‘80s.
“There's probably a really good reason for that,” Stinson said Monday morning. “I just don't know it off the top of my head.”
Stinson, however, will make his return to the Capital City on Sunday, when he and musical partner Chip Roberts, along with upright bassist Chops Laconte — aka Cowboys in the Campfire — play Zipline Brewing Co. on a tour promoting their new album “Wronger.”
So how did Cowboys in the Campfire, an acoustic duo, come about for Stinson, who, after the 'Mats broke up in 1991, was a member of Guns ‘N Roses, Soul Asylum and led two bands, Bash and Pop and Perfect?
Stinson and Roberts became friends when they met about 15 years ago and slowly started playing together and doing shows in the past five or six years.
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"After all these years touring around, just in our spare time, we made a record. Now we're out to promote it. It's kind of that simple,” he said.
The songs on “Wronger” feel like they could be Stinson songs from Bash and Pop or Perfect, with the power pop rock ‘n’ roll shifted toward rockabilly and country. But the acoustic-based arrangements of the songs have led many to characterize “Wronger” and Cowboys in the Campfire as Americana.
After years of being considered punk rock or rock 'n' roll, Stinson said he doesn't care how the band is classified.
"What radio format are we supposed to fit and all that has been a lifelong issue that, quite frankly, I've never given a crap about. I just kind of do what I do when I do it.”
That punk rock or rock ‘n’ roll conundrum was created by The Replacements, who were formed in 1979 by 11-year-old Tommy on bass and his older brother Bob on guitar. Adding drummer Chris Mars, then singer-guitarist and songwriter Paul Westerberg, the punk band put out its debut album “Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out The Trash” in 1981.
By the 1983 release of “Hootenanny” and 1984’s “Let It Be,” the Replacements were touring, often heading south out of the Twin Cities to Lincoln, and The Drumstick, one of the key venues on the alternative rock circuit of the ‘80s.
Who doesn't remember The Drumstick?,” Stinson said with a laugh. “That's still not still a venue. Is it?"
When he heard it had been knocked down and turned into a McDonald's, he replied: “Of course it is.
“Most of the clubs of that nature from back in the day are a McDonald's.”
The Replacements, who signed to Sire Records and released a handful of classic albums that have made them one of the most hailed and influential bands of their era, split up in 1991.
Westerberg and Stinson regrouped for a a series of shows in 2013-2015 and, over the last decade, Warner Brothers, which owns Sire, has done boxed sets for “Pleased to Meet Me,” “Don’t Tell a Soul” and “Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out The Trash.”
So is there any Replacements news?
“Funny enough that we're still awkwardly relevant in some ways,” Stinson said. "There's always s***in the works.
He said Warner Brothers has done a good job with the boxed sets and he expects more.
"So, there'll be other stuff coming down the pike, I'm sure. Then, who knows? I don't see us doing any more shows or any of that. We did that bit. I think we kind of wore out our welcome with the last one. But you never say never.”
For now, Stinson is in a perfect place with Cowboys in the Campfire, who play unorthodox venues, often backyards, on tours that can be as short or as long as they desire. They write songs and make a record when it feels right.
That’s not a rock star thing. But, after The Replacements' rise through the alt rock world, playing stadiums with Guns N’ Roses and leading his rock ‘n’ roll bands, it’s good enough for Tommy, a 45-year-veteran at age 56.
“I still just enjoy it for what it is,” Stinson said. "Singing and writing songs, that’s not the cure for cancer. But it helps a lot of people. It helps me, you know. It’s been all I've known to do since I was a kid. It's my little thing. Pretty lucky I get to do it. I get to go out and do my form of art, whatever that is and make a living at it, roughly.”
Tickets for Sunday’s 6 p.m. show at Zipline Brewing Co. 2100 Magnum Circle, are $25 to $100 and available at eventbrite.com. | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/on-the-beat----tommy-stinson-returning-to-lincoln-after-decades-away/article_357f33d6-19c9-11ee-877f-f37d560881c2.html | 2023-07-07T05:40:51 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/on-the-beat----tommy-stinson-returning-to-lincoln-after-decades-away/article_357f33d6-19c9-11ee-877f-f37d560881c2.html |
Shemekia Copeland isn’t sure what to make of the Blues Music Award for Instrumentalist Vocals that she received this spring.
Does it mean she’s the best singer in blues, male or female? Or was it another way to honor her after she’d already won 14 BMAs in categories from the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, the top prize, to Album of the Year and Contemporary Blues Female Artist.
She said she was shocked with the award. “I feel like I’m more of a storyteller than a singer. The one thing I can say is I don’t sound like anybody else. My voice is different. That’s one thing I appreciate about myself,” Copeland said.
Widely considered today’s Queen of the Blues, Copeland will bring her powerful vocals and captivating performance to ZooFest Saturday, where she’ll headline the final night of the Zoo Bar’s 50th anniversary celebration.
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But she won’t be playing straight-up traditional blues, at least in terms of subject matter.
“In order for anything to grow, it kind of has to evolve,” Copeland said from her California home. “That’s kind of been what I’ve done for a long time, evolve and grow as an artist so my music can do the same. That’s very important for me."
That evolution can be heard on “Done Come Too Far,” Copeland’s album from last year that’s the final installment of a trilogy with 2018’s “America’s Child” and 2020’s Grammy-nominated “Uncivil War,” records that find her reflecting on Black America’s past, present and future.
“It’s always been important to me to sing and talk about things that others don’t,” she said. "I want to be different and I want to talk about what goes on in the world. I’m very much trying to bring people together.”
That’s the aim of the searing history-based songs, like “Too Far To Be Gone” which addresses the Civil Rights Movement, with allusions to Rosa Parks, John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr., and “Gullah Geechee,” which looks at the ongoing impact of slavery.
When it comes to facing difficulties and having burdens to bear, Copeland believes people should recognize we're all the same.
"It shouldn’t be ‘my ancestors went through something worse’ or anything like that. That’s one of the things that gets lost. We should all be aware of what others had to endure and be sympathetic. Not just ‘screw you.’”
There are other, more topical songs on the album as well, like “Pink Turns to Red,” on which she decries the country’s gun violence epidemic and “The Talk,” about a Black mother talking to her son about an encounter with police — something Copeland will soon have to do with her boy, Johnny.
“Done Come Too Far” isn’t all serious. There are a pair of funny songs, a zydeco number and a torch song, “Why Why Why,” that’s a stunning showcase for her voice.
Plus, there’s Copeland’s version of her late father Johnny “Clyde” Copeland’s “Nobody But You,” that can only be heard as a loving nod to her past.
At 8 years old, Shemekia joined her father on stage at New York’s famed Cotton Club and spent her teenage years learning the blues and the business with her dad, who was a frequent Zoo Bar visitor back in the day.
Signed to Alligator Records at 18, Copeland immediately became a blues and R&B sensation, hailed for her vocals, performance and personality. Her 2000 album “Wicked” garnered the first of her four Grammy nominations and 2005’s “The Soul Truth” earned eight Blues Music Awards, establishing her as one of the genre’s top artists.
With 12 albums and decades of performing now under her belt, the 44-year-old doesn’t feel like all that much is different decades after she began singing with her dad.
But she said she's grown up.
“I love that. Aging has been the best thing that’s happened to me. Age and acceptance have been wonderful for me,” she said.
Perhaps the biggest change for Copeland came six years ago, with the birth of Johnny, who’s named for her father.
“I really want to make the world a better place for him. I want to be the best version of myself I can be for him."
She said wants her son to have confidence, to be himself and love himself unconditionally.
Copeland was dealing with a sick 6-year-old, who couldn’t go to summer camp, when we talked a couple weeks ago, trying to keep him happy and busy inside their home in Oceanside, Calif., where the family recently relocated from Chicago.
Her husband, Brian Schultz, who makes the new album on the semi-autobiographical “Fell in Love With a Honky,” grew up in Nebraska, in Scottsbluff. But she said the move has been great for her family and her husband who says "he’s never going back anywhere it snows.”
Copeland, hasn’t been back to Lincoln in years. There's a reason for that that goes beyond the pandemic touring shutdown.
“I don’t consider myself a touring musician,” she said. She said she likes performing on weekends, rather than being out on long tours.
"But I love going out and performing. I’m a weekend warrior.”
ZOOFEST - IF YOU GO
On 14th Street between O and P streets
Friday
5 p.m. — The Jimmys
7 p.m. — Amethyst Kiah
9 p.m. — Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
11 p.m. — Andy William & The Nebraska All Stars
Saturday
1 p.m. — BluesEd
3 p.m. — The Lightning Bugs/Fabtones 5
5 p.m. — John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
7 p.m. — The James Hunter Six
9 p.m. — Shemekia Copeland
11 p.m. — The 50th Waltz
ZooFest tickets
Friday – $50 advance, $60 day of show
Saturday – $50 advance, $60 day of show
3-day pass - $120
Advance tickets available at zoobar.com and ticketweb.com | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/the-queen-of-the-blues-shemekia-copeland-set-to-close-zoofest-saturday/article_1823c31c-1b4d-11ee-8213-17dcb9027510.html | 2023-07-07T05:40:57 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/the-queen-of-the-blues-shemekia-copeland-set-to-close-zoofest-saturday/article_1823c31c-1b4d-11ee-8213-17dcb9027510.html |
Hilliard shooter gets life without parole in slaying of the Wicomico deputy
Austin Jacob Allen Davidson, the man found guilty of slaying Wicomico County Sheriff's Deputy Glenn Hilliard in June 2022, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday.
Judge S. James Sarbanes, administrative judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced Davidson to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 66 years of incarceration on July 6, 2023, after he was found guilty on all counts in a six-day trial found on May 8.
Charges included first-degree murder, second-degree murder, two counts of burglary, firearm use in a crime of violence and six additional gun related charges. Sentencing had been postponed to allow for a presentencing investigation to be completed. Davidson had remained in custody pending Thursday's sentencing.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit took the lead in the investigation, with State's Attorney Jamie Dykes and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Patirizia Coletta prosecuting the case.
More on the Davidson trial'He chose to take the life of a law enforcement officer': Hilliard slaying trial scene
The trial and the evidence
The state characterized Davidson as a man looking for a confrontation with law enforcement and staying in plain sight despite being wanted on numerous warrants. A mere three-and-a-half hours of jury deliberation led to Davidson being found guilty.
Davidson's legal team tried in vain to paint the Delmar native as a man trying to get out of town following a string of run-ins with law enforcement.
The state countered with evidence that ranged from testimony by Davidson's acquaintances to social media posts and text messages in which he was boasting he was armed with illegal and modified firearms, including an AK-47 style assault rifle with high-capacity magazines.
According to Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, deputies received information on Sunday, June, 12, 2022, that Davidson – who was wanted by Maryland State Police in several counties, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office and city of Baltimore police – was at the Talbot Apartments complex in Pittsville.
More on Hilliard's passing'He was our protector': Wicomico Deputy Glenn Hilliard memorialized at funeral
The night of the incident
During the evening hours of June 12, 2022, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office received a call from acitizen advising that Austin Davidson was wanted and that he was in the area of the Pittsville Park.
Cpl. Glenn Hilliard was among the deputies dispatched to the area to locate Davidson, who had four open warrants for his arrest.
While patrolling the area, Cpl. Hilliard observed a subject matching Davidson’s description walking along Gumboro Road. As Hilliard turned his patrol vehicle around, Davidson ducked into the Talbot Apartments complex and entered the stairwell of a building.
As Cpl. Hilliard pulled his patrol vehicle to the end of the parking lot and in close proximity to the stairwell, Davidson exited the stairwell and began to flee around the building. Hilliard drew his agency-issued Taser and beganto pursue Davidson. As Davidson fled, Hilliard closed the gap to a distance of less than 10 feet, while repeatedly warning Davidson that he would be “Tased” if he did not stop fleeing.
More on Blue MassCpl. Glenn Hilliard gets hero's tribute at Blue Mass in Newark, NJ: PHOTOS
Davidson chose not to surrender and instead drew a fully loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, activated the laser sight, turned and fired multiple rounds at Cpl. Hilliard. Tragically, two of the rounds struck Hilliard, who was later pronounced dead at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.
Members of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police, the Natural Resources Police, the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office & Detention Center, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, and allied agency personnel from all over the Eastern Shore assisted in the hours, days and months following the events of the shooting. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/deputy-hilliard-shooter-gets-life-without-parole-in-slaying/70388462007/ | 2023-07-07T05:55:09 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/deputy-hilliard-shooter-gets-life-without-parole-in-slaying/70388462007/ |
Man sentenced to nearly two decades in drug investigation and fatal car crash
A Worcester County man was sentenced to almost two decades in prison after being convicted in two separate cases.
Eddie Collick, 46, of Stockton was sentenced to serve a total of 19 years in the Division of Corrections.
Judge Brian D. Shockley of the Worcester County Circuit Court ordered Collick to serve four years for failing to immediately stop his vehicle at the scene of an accident involving death, and ordered him to serve a consecutive 15-year sentence for distribution of cocaine.
Judge Shockley suspended seven years of his sentence and placed Collick on three years of supervised probation upon his release.
The traffic charge comes from a collision that occurred in August of 2020 in Snow Hill, Maryland. On Aug. 14 of that year, deputies responded to the scene at West Market Street and Coulbourne Lane and identified two victims who had been ejected from the vehicle and were lying in a field. Richard Armstrong and Brandon Bibbins both succumbed to injuries as a result of the collision.
Further investigation and accident reconstruction revealed that Collick had been engaged in street racing with the victims’ vehicle, causing that vehicle to lose control and crash into a utility pole. Collick then failed to stop his vehicle and remain at the scene as required by law, a Worcester County State's Attorney's release said.
The drug charges stem from an investigation conducted jointly by the Ocean City Police Department's Narcotics Unit and the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team in September of 2022. During the course of their investigation, Collick distributed cocaine to an undercover police officer in the area of Baltimore Avenue in Ocean City, Maryland.
More:Maryland to pay $13 million settlement for correctional officers' unpaid overtime
More:Salisbury mass shooting: All the latest info as teen who died identified and more | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/worcester-county-man-sentenced-in-drug-distribution-fatal-car-crash-cases/70388723007/ | 2023-07-07T05:55:15 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/worcester-county-man-sentenced-in-drug-distribution-fatal-car-crash-cases/70388723007/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As of this week, Farmers is the latest insurance company to change how it does business in California amid rising costs, an uncertain regulatory environment and a volatile natural environment.
“With record-breaking inflation, severe weather events, and reconstruction costs continuing to climb, we are focused on serving our customers while effectively managing our business,” a spokesperson for Farmers told ABC10 Thursday. “Effective July 3, Farmers will limit new homeowners insurance policies in California to a level consistent with the volume we projected to write each month before recent market changes.”
This change comes just a little over a month after State Farm announced it would no longer offer new homeowners insurance policies, and Allstate stopped offering new home insurance back in November.
Typically, unless someone owns their house outright, insurance isn’t optional; having a mortgage requires homeowners insurance. Since people looking for new homeowners insurance policies now have fewer options, more are flocking to Farmers.
Specifically, sources tell ABC10 that Farmers is now limited to 7,000 new homeowners insurance policies per month in all of California, as the company tries to limit its risk exposure. To be clear, as Farmers stated above, this is the volume of new homeowners policies it already anticipated writing before State Farm made its announcement in late May. What’s noteworthy is the company choosing to cap that number in order to hold steady, amid an influx of people seeking new policies with them.
In other words, the more companies that limit new policies or stop writing them altogether, the more the market – customers and insurance companies alike – feels the squeeze. California still has about 115 companies offering home insurance, a California Department of Insurance spokesperson told CalMatters.
“We are working diligently with the California Department of Insurance and others interested in improving the availability of property insurance in the state,” a Farmers spokesperson told ABC10.
Additionally, ABC10 obtained an internal memo from Foremost, a company owned by Farmers. Effective Aug. 1, it says Foremost will no longer accept new business for certain specialty properties, including landlord mobile home, landlord condo, vacant properties and renters.
“Catastrophic storms, increasing costs for repairs and the overall state of the economy have significantly impacted the insurance industry. In order to address these challenging trends, while continuing to serve our customers, we’re announcing a temporary change in California,” the memo said, explaining the move.
Changes are also coming for all Foremost property products, the memo said.
“Effective October 15, 2023, we will be non-renewing all policies that do not meet our FireLine® new business eligibility guidelines, which represent greater wildfire exposure. Note: These non-renewals will not include policies with the FAIR Plan Companion endorsement,” the memo said. “Non-renewed properties may be eligible for a fire insurance policy from the California FAIR Plan.”
ABC10 reached out the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to ask about the state of the home insurance market.
“In short: Californians are covered,” Deputy Insurance Commissioner Michael Soller told ABC10. “While both State Farm and Allstate made a business decision to put a temporary pause on new homeowners policies in our state, current customers will not lose their insurance, and both State Farm and Allstate continue to write auto insurance. While the Department of Insurance cannot do anything about rising costs of repairs, materials, and rebuilding, we are not powerless.”
He laid out actions the CDI is taking, including working with the Governor and Legislature to invest $2.7 billion into wildfire resilience programs over the past three years.
Insurance companies use risk modeling tools like Verisk's FireLine® and RedZone's RZRisk to determine whether a home is in a fire-prone area. Many California homeowners - especially ones living in those areas - are finding their home insurance policy non-renewed or their premium sharply increased. Some are finding the California FAIR Plan (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) is their only remaining option.
The whole situation drove two El Dorado County homeowners - Laura and Charlie Callahan - from their house of 25 years to Tennessee.
ABC10 first spoke with them in 2019, as they grappled with the rising cost of insurance.
"We had our homeowners insurance for over 20 years and we got 'the letter,' as people refer to it, and we were canceled,” Laura told ABC10 in 2019. “I'm now paying four times what I was paying before. It's gone from less than $1,000 a year to almost $4,000 a year. And we're on a fixed income. He's retired. I'm retiring, and it wasn't something we expected."
Less than a year later - in 2020 - the Callahans moved to Savannah, Tenn.
“Homeowners insurance was the big one because it was an unknown,” said Laura. “We didn't know what the future held for that - if we even were able to get to keep getting insurance, much less how much we are going to have to pay for it."
Compared to their California home, the Callahans now own a house twice the size, 20 years newer, “and my homeowners insurance is $1,600 a year,” Laura said. “I mean, you can't beat that with a stick."
Back in 2019, one of their frustrations was that no matter how much defensible space they cleared, it didn't seem to matter to insurance companies.
"I always kept working on my property, taking down brush and things like that all the time,” Charlie told ABC10 from Tennessee. “But it doesn't matter."
Since then, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara – who held a series of town halls on this very topic back in 2019 - has attempted to address that.
"Commissioner Lara has mandated insurance companies to recognize and reward wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by homeowners and businesses,” Soller told ABC10. “His new [Safer from Wildfire] regulation requires insurance companies to submit new rates that recognize the benefit of safety measures such as upgraded roofs and windows, defensible space, and memberships in community-wide programs such as Firewise USA and the Fire Risk Reduction Community designation developed by the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. It further requires insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers that meet various elements of the Safer from Wildfires framework and to provide consumers with their property’s ‘wildfire risk score,’ including a right for consumers to appeal that score."
ABC10 asked the Callahans if that would have made a difference to them.
Laura said she thinks the new regulations will prompt insurance companies to leave the state.
“Try to force a business to do business, they're going to leave,” she said. “I just don't see how it's feasible.”
Read more about some of the measures the CDI is taking HERE.
ABC10 is working on a larger story about the home insurance market in California. If you would like to share your story or some information, please email tothepoint@abc10.com.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/farmers-insurance-limiting-new-homeowners-policies-california/103-8ef55b37-02f1-454a-ad97-f6650e5c5095 | 2023-07-07T06:08:13 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/farmers-insurance-limiting-new-homeowners-policies-california/103-8ef55b37-02f1-454a-ad97-f6650e5c5095 |
TURLOCK, Calif. — George Piro was a man from the small city of Turlock who played a big role in history. It was a role amid a dedicated law enforcement career that his hometown couldn't be more proud of, awarding Piro the Key to the City.
Piro was the FBI agent leading the seven-month interrogation of Saddam Hussein.
"When I was informed that I had just been selected to interrogate Saddam Hussein, I'm the first to admit I was overwhelmed," said Piro.
It's the moment Piro worked his whole career for, and one that he realized the magnitude of. He spent more than seven months overseas interrogating the former Iraqi president during the second Gulf War.
"Saddam was extremely difficult to to interrogate. But we were very, very focused and very prepared. Spent nearly seven months on the interrogation focused on the two key questions, which were where was Iraq's WMD and its alleged relationship with al Qaeda -- the two reasons why we went to war."
Hussein didn't speak any English, and as the lead interrogator, Piro's Arabic language skills proved critical in getting the answers that millions of people were waiting for.
"We were able to get him to provide us everything that we wanted to know and clarify why we were wrong about Iraq's WMD program, the true nature of the relationship, and really address all of the questions not only did our administration or government have, but really what the American people also wanted to know," said Piro.
For his lifelong dedication to service, the now retired FBI special agent was awarded the Key to the City of Turlock.
Piro, who is from Lebanon, came to Turlock with his family when he was 12 years old. Turlock is known for having one of the largest Assyrian communities in the United States.
"It was really incredible to be surrounded by Assyrians, who took us and cared for us, and for me, made me really appreciate our history, our language, our culture," said Piro.
From a young age, Piro had a dream of joining the FBI and started his law enforcement journey with the Ceres Police Department. It was a dream that he would turn into a reality and a more than two decade career.
"I grew up in a very small town; I found that to be, actually, a good thing. It really instilled the right work ethic and values that allowed me to be successful. But I also use it as an opportunity to push myself to reach my potential and seek that excellence," said Piro.
Piro said he's writing a book about his experiences with plans for it to be released later this year.
The man from Turlock also had a message for youth who are aspiring to be something more, even if they're small town kids with big ambitions like he was.
"I truly believe while there will be hurdles or obstacles in one's path, the only person that can stop you from ultimately achieving your goal is you," said Piro. "So, it's all about chasing your dream and making it happen."
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/turlock/george-piro-turlock-key-to-city/103-b365a2cc-202e-4203-8f0b-26c156d0728b | 2023-07-07T06:08:19 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/turlock/george-piro-turlock-key-to-city/103-b365a2cc-202e-4203-8f0b-26c156d0728b |
MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) - Members of the UAW Local 598 volunteered to help build a ramp outside of Kaden Stevenson's door Thursday morning.
The ramp was donated and is part of the UAW/United Way Ramp program.
Stevenson's mom had to lift him from the house to the car and carry his wheelchair back and forth.
His story holds a special place in the hearts of those helping because they are helping make life easier for a fellow UAW member and her child.
"Any time we do a ramp for a child it is gut wrenching," said Teresa McGinnis of the UAW/United Way Ramp Program. "It is very exciting to hear stories of how the children will watch the ramp being done as they are looking out the window. We know it's a way from them to now get back out and into the world and in the community."
The 16th annual Cruzin' For UAW/United Way Ramp Program Car Show is this Saturday, with the lineup beginning at 2 p.m.
The "Cruze" begins at UAW Local 659 on Van Slyke Road in Flint at 3 p.m. with a police escort on their way to Auto City Speedway in Clio.
Participation costs are $20, and checks can be made out to United Way of Genesee County. Money raised will help other ramps be built for those in need. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/ramp-provides-independence-for-7-year-old-who-had-legs-amputated/article_7c36e54c-1c32-11ee-a474-3f0d6fc62dd1.html | 2023-07-07T06:12:33 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/ramp-provides-independence-for-7-year-old-who-had-legs-amputated/article_7c36e54c-1c32-11ee-a474-3f0d6fc62dd1.html |
MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) - A double infection of strep and the flu claimed Kaden Stevenson's legs just after Christmas.
The doctors said he would have to have both legs amputated to survive the severe illness. Afterward, the 7-year-old learned to adapt by mastering his new wheelchair.
But this summer, Kaden's mom noticed that there was something that he was unable to do.
"I'll never forget it," said Michele Stevenson. "We went for a walk, went to the sidewalk, and I was thinking he would pop wheelies and be OK. Then he saw them on bikes and scooters, he kind of got sad, stayed close to me and put his head down. I got sad, because what do you do? I can't fix it."
Michele made it her mission to find someone who could help them and revamp his Spider Man Power Wheels so he could drive it.
Some occupational therapy students at the University of Michigan-Flint went to work redesigning it.
"Normally, the car is powered by a simple pedal," said Elizabeth Mansfield, an occupational therapy student. "We took the car apart, rerouted all the wires, basically putting the foot pedal under the steering wheel. Lets him turn and use both hands."
The car was designed for Kaden to do everything on his own and he is thrilled about this opportunity. All he has to do is crawl in, put on his seat belt, start it and drive off.
It's a moment of freedom and fun that every child deserves.
The only one smiling more than Kaden during his test drive was his mom.
"Now he will have something that he can play with outside, give him independence," said Michele. "Now he can play with his friends and I can take a step back and just let him go."
On Saturday there will be a bike run fundraiser for Kaden's family. There will be motorcycles, Jeeps and classic cars starting at the American Legion Post #64 on Carpenter Road in Flint. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/spider-mobile-gives-7-year-old-double-amputee-chance-to-ride-again/article_eae30390-1c37-11ee-8d26-b7ddeb98235b.html | 2023-07-07T06:12:39 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/spider-mobile-gives-7-year-old-double-amputee-chance-to-ride-again/article_eae30390-1c37-11ee-8d26-b7ddeb98235b.html |
IDAHO, USA — Almost two months after a jury found Lori Vallow Daybell guilty on all counts, her brother and uncle are writing a book and doing a podcast about what led to her conviction.
Daybell was found guilty of the murders of her two children, JJ and Tylee Ryan, and the death of her husband's former wife. Lori's uncle, Rex Conner, said the family was "relieved" when the jury finally made up its mind.
"You never know until the verdict comes in," he said. "You never know about the jury process, what they'll do, what they hear."
Lori's brother, Adam Cox, said the verdict was "no surprise." Although Lori is now waiting for her sentencing on July 31, both Adam and Rex said there are "gaps in the story," which is why they are working on the podcast and book.
They released episode one of the podcast, "Tylee and JJ's Silver Linings," on June 30. Rex said the two will likely record nine more, although they might add more depending on how many viewer questions they decide to answer.
They are trying to get the book published as soon as possible.
"Being part of this book and podcast, I feel like it's another way for me actually to get therapy and also help other people who may be going through similar things with their families," Adam said.
Because while Adam said it is unlikely other families will go through something so extreme, he said lots of people deal with dysfunctional or estranged relationships with loved ones.
"Sometimes families cut other family members off," Adam said, "or they don't investigate, or they don't do the right things to help, or they're confused about what to do and if they are in a position to help."
Adam said the last four years were not something he ever expected to happen to his family. Talking, writing and sharing his side of the story helps the long healing process.
Rex agrees.
"We stay in tune with each other's needs and just try to be supportive of what each other needs to work through this," he said. I don't think any of us will ever work completely through it. I think it'll be a lifelong process."
They both said Lori is as much a stranger to them now as she is to the rest of the world. Although they are talking about Lori and how she changed throughout the years in both of the projects, Adam and Rex said they want to keep JJ and Tylee at the center.
"They were each so unique," Rex said, "so unique in their place in the family. You can't replace that."
At the end of the day, Rex said they want justice.
"I hope that neither Lori or Chad are out in public again in their lives," he said. "Look, what they've done to their children, their own families, just humans around them ... look what they've done. Who would be safe if they were out in public?
Lori still faces charges in Arizona; Chad's trial will happen in Ada County next spring. Click here for more coverage on this case.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-lori-vallows-brother-uncle-explain-the-why-behind-current-projects/277-79a42785-ece3-4b05-9bcd-80e01c03cd54 | 2023-07-07T06:34:19 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-lori-vallows-brother-uncle-explain-the-why-behind-current-projects/277-79a42785-ece3-4b05-9bcd-80e01c03cd54 |
July 16, 1960—June 30, 2023
TWIN FALLS—Jack Arthur Betty, 62, passed away on June 30, 2023. Jack was born on July 16, 1960, in Bannock County, Idaho to Melvin and Ingrid Betty. He grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, graduating from Highland High School.
He lived in Hagerman, Idaho between 2004 and 2006 before relocating to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he stayed for 18 years. Jack spent many happy years married to the love of his life, Elizabeth “Liz” Betty. They enjoyed lots of love and adventures together.
Jack worked for Cable One for 40+ years in Pocatello and Twin Falls, Idaho. He was actively involved in BSA. He was a hard worker and built custom homes, several of which were featured in the Parade of Homes.
Jack enjoyed such hobbies as hunting, fishing, woodworking, finish carpentry, and being outdoors. He also loved football and played as an offensive lineman for Highland High School. He was a member of the Rod and Gun Club and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was well known and loved by all people he met. He was generous with his time and talents. He took joy in his family and will be loved and missed by many.
Jack is survived by his wife, Liz Betty of Twin Falls, ID; daughters: Cassandra (Bryan) Hansen of Hayden, ID, and Nicole (Heston) Williams of Herriman, UT; son, Jeremy (Tesha) Betty of Jerome, ID; parents, Ingrid and Melvin Betty of Pocatello, ID; sister, Patricia Neeser of Pocatello, ID; brothers: James Betty and Thomas Betty of Pocatello, ID; former wife, Debbie Simmons of Lehi, UT; and 12 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son, Blake Christopher Heron and grandson, Fisher Wayne Betty.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4775 Hawthorne Rd., Chubbuck, ID 83202. Viewings will be from 6:00-8:00 pm on Friday, July 7, 2023 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd., Chubbuck, ID and for one hour prior to the service at the church. To share memories and condolences, please visit wilksfuneralhome.com. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/jack-arthur-betty/article_22706e09-88c5-5b99-989c-c850292b767f.html | 2023-07-07T06:44:11 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/jack-arthur-betty/article_22706e09-88c5-5b99-989c-c850292b767f.html |
Free Family Day coming to Museum of North Texas History
Cecil Witherspoon
Wichita Falls Times Record News
The Regional Museum Alliance’s “Sunsational” summer is catering to families from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday with Free Family Day at the Museum of North Texas History, 720 Indiana. The museum is showing “Sunsational Tales: Texas Summers Through Time,” a collaboration of nine area museums. Saturday will feature free admission for Free Family Day, make-and-take art activities and a fire truck on hand for pictures. The exhibit covers historic Texas summer topics from fashion to sailing to wine and much more.
Related:Regional museums embrace summer with Sunsational theme | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/free-family-day-coming-to-museum-of-north-texas-history/70386147007/ | 2023-07-07T07:06:37 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/free-family-day-coming-to-museum-of-north-texas-history/70386147007/ |
Peach Day right around the corner
Cecil Witherspoon
Wichita Falls Times Record News
The Wichita Falls Farmers Market Association is serving up one of its juiciest events July 8 at 807 Austin St. with Peach Day, an event offering a plethora of peach-related food, drinks and more.
The day kicks off at 7:30 a.m. and free peach cobbler samples are available from 9-11 a.m., or until supplies run out. Food and beverage trucks scheduled to be present include B POPS, Old Dog Street Eats, Mythic Roasters and Billionaire Cuisine. The list of vendors and offerings includes:
- Morath Orchards
- Jetton Farms
- Harvest Peach Pies from Deer Creek Delights
- Peach Milk from Hoegger Family Farms
- Texas Hot Peach Sauce from Victus Preserving
- Peach Paradise Candles from Foster Candle Co
- Freeze Dried Peaches & Peach Rings from Texas Farmers Kitchen
- Life's A Peach Wine from Horseshoe Bend Cellars Winery
- Georgia Peach Freshies from Staying Fresh with Sweetpea
- Peach Bread from Backroad Bakery
- Peach Jam & Jelly from Archer Jam Co
- Peachy-O Shaved Ice from Southern Sips & Sweets
- Peach Kiss Candles from Stories & Wicks Candle Co.
- Peach & Honey Granola Bar from Season's Eating Snack Co
- Peach Salsa from LMW Grilling | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/peach-day-right-around-the-corner/70385642007/ | 2023-07-07T07:06:43 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/peach-day-right-around-the-corner/70385642007/ |
The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in investigating a fire that broke out at the Alcova Marina on the Fourth of July, as community members raise money to rebuild the “cherished” destination.
Alcova Reservoir is one of Natrona County’s most popular Fourth of July spots, with hundreds gathering for the annual fireworks show each year. The resort burned down during the early mornings of the holiday, “leaving the Alcova community devastated,” the GoFundMe page, organized by general manager Sam Marion, states.
“The community cherished the memories and fun times that the marina offered,” Marion wrote. “We want to make the marina a place where family and friends can enjoy their time at the lake.”
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As of Thursday morning, community members had raised $2,585 of the $1 million needed to rebuild, the page shows.
Marion lives near the property, so an employee ran over to his home when he smelled smoke in the building early Tuesday morning, he told the Star-Tribune. The employee was “instrumental” in keeping the blaze from spreading further.
“I got my door banged on and just saw massive flames” Marion said.
The docks and boathouse weren’t impacted, but the entire building was destroyed, Marion said. The property was insured, but there are “very high” costs associated with restoring the marina.
For those who choose to donate, Marion stressed every dollar will be a matter of public record, and every transaction made during the rebuild will be tracked, he said.
It is unknown when Alcova Resort will be able to reopen, but Marion hopes to have it up and running as soon as possible, he said.
“I think we have a long, difficult path ahead of us,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable giving a timeline yet.”
The Casper-Natrona County Public Communications Center received numerous reports of a structure fire on Lakeshore Drive at 5:08 a.m. Tuesday, the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
Upon arrival, first responders determined that Alcova Lakeside Marina was “heavily involved with fire throughout the entirety of the building, the statement said.
“Fire units used more than 10,000 gallons of water in a two to three hour time span to get the fire under control,” the statement said.
There were no deaths or injuries reported and a cause has not been determined, the sheriff’s office said.
No arrests have been made in connection with the blaze, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was brought in to help with the investigation.
The statement urged community members to respect the barricades in the area and noted that unauthorized individuals who cross into the area are subject to be ticketed or arrested.
Anyone with videos or photos of the building fire taken before emergency personnel arrived is asked to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 307-235-9282. Information may also be reported anonymously at crime-stoppers.com or by calling 307-577-8477.
In the meantime, Alcova Resort is working to provide basic services out of the marina property and will provide updates as services become available again.
All the employees are grateful for the support provided by members of the public, who are offering everything from equipment to lodging to food, Marion said. Most importantly, no one was hurt.
“We’re kinda past the initial shock of it now,” Marion said. “We’re in the ‘where do we go from here now’ phase.”
“It’s still open and ongoing, and the scene is still considered active as part of the investigation,” Natrona County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kiera Grogan said.
The office expects to release more details in the coming days, she said. | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-courts/fourth-of-july-fire-alcova-reservoir/article_da7737c0-1c1d-11ee-9924-73d61cff1474.html | 2023-07-07T07:12:19 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-courts/fourth-of-july-fire-alcova-reservoir/article_da7737c0-1c1d-11ee-9924-73d61cff1474.html |
The state's highest court ruled Wednesday that Wyomingites cannot recover emotional damages for the death of a pet — a case on appeal, which was argued in Wheeler Concert Hall at Casper College in April.
Despite pets being considered property under the law, a Casper family argued "some animals, because of this emotional attachment to some owners, should fall into a property-plus category," the ruling states. People can't make emotional damage claims for property, as things stand.
“I’m reluctant to go down this road with you, but if dogs aren’t property, what are they?” Justice Keith G. Kautz said in April.
In 2014, the Cardenas' family let all three of their St. Bernard dogs Brooklyn, Barkley and Jax outside to run near their home, which was situated in the foothills of Casper Mountain next to large tracts of state land, the ruling states. The dogs frequently ran unleashed, and they would always return home before dark.
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But on one occasion, Brooklyn didn't come back.
The Cardenas' family frantically searched for him with the help of the other two dogs, the ruling states.
During the search, Jax and Barkley got caught in hidden snares set by a neighboring trapper Sigiel Swanson, the ruling states. Both dogs died in the arms of their family, and Brooklyn was also found dead in another of Swanson's traps shortly after.
Two members of the Cardenas' family sustained minor injuries while trying to free their dogs.
The family sued Swanson for his alleged "negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, violation of statutes, infliction of emotional distress" and civil rights violations, the rulings states.
Swanson filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, the rulings states. The district court found that Swanson did not consciously or recklessly set those snares, so the family was not entitled to emotional damages.
The Cardenas' family appealed this decision, arguing they suffered emotional damages from watching their dogs die because of Swanson's alleged negligence, and they were injured too, the ruling states.
They proposed that the Wyoming Supreme Court draw a distinction between animate and inanimate personal property, which would allow people to recover emotional distress damages when an animate property is harmed.
Most jurisdictions do not allow people to recover damages for the loss of a pet, and even in the ones that do, there are very limited circumstances in which a pet was killed intentionally or with malice, the ruling states.
The state's highest court ultimately decided against making Wyoming one of the jurisdictions that allows for limited circumstances when a property is alive, as "this is an argument best made to the legislature," the ruling states.
"[W]e decline to expand the reach of emotional damages to property inanimate or animate." | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-courts/wyoming-supreme-court-casper-trapper-snare/article_c1dce1b0-1c04-11ee-bcf7-2b6f26002937.html | 2023-07-07T07:12:25 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-courts/wyoming-supreme-court-casper-trapper-snare/article_c1dce1b0-1c04-11ee-bcf7-2b6f26002937.html |
After several years of discussion on police accountability, the Laramie City Council unanimously voted Wednesday evening to create a police advisory board aimed at improving community-police relations.
Wednesday's vote was on the proposal's third and final reading. It marks a significant milestone in the city's years-long discussion on police accountability and community relations.
The board's purpose is to increase transparency, enhance accountability and promote "trust and understanding" of law enforcement training, policies, practices and procedures.
It will consist of seven members — the Laramie police chief and the city manager as a non-voting members, as well as voting members appointed by the City Council, which will include one Albany County resident with previous law enforcement experience and four other Albany County residents. These members will serve without compensation.
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Laramie Police Chief Brian Browne and Laramie City Manager Janine Jordan jointly recommended the ordinance to the city council.
Council members Brian Newman and Joe Shumway were initially opposed to the board’s creation. But both ultimately voted in favor of the board after hearing council members’ discussion.
Many of those who came to speak at the Wednesday meeting opposed the creation of the board. They argued that the City Council already has oversight over police and were concerned that the review board, which would be made of appointed rather than elected members, wouldn’t be accountable to the public. What's more, they expressed satisfaction with the work of Laramie's police force, and some argued that creating the board could damage police morale.
The Albany County GOP sent out an action alert Tuesday afternoon calling on people to show up at the meeting and speak in opposition to the ordinance, arguing that there are already mechanisms in place to keep police in check. The email linked to a resolution that expresses the county GOP's opposition and describes the board as a means "to put on trial the peace officer rather than the law-breaker..."
Council member Jayne Pearce emphasized that the board won't have authority over matters like personnel records, hiring or terminations. And others at the meeting described the board's creation as "an opportunity for dialogue" that could strengthen the relationship between the police department and community members. The board could help people understand why someone from a particular group may fear law enforcement, Linda Devine, a Laramie criminal justice attorney, argued.
“Folks are saying that they feel comfortable with going into the chief's office. They see no problems and I think that's great. There are a lot of folks that perceive things differently," Devine said, commenting later on about the makeup of people at the meeting who opposed the ordinance.
“It does not escape me today that the people opposed to this are primarily white, and you have to ask yourself, why is that?"
Wednesday’s vote marks a significant milestone for the City of Laramie’s years-long discussion around police accountability and community relations.
In 2018, Laramie resident Robbie Ramirez was killed when then-Albany County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Colling shot him following a traffic stop. Ramirez's death — and later on the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin — sparked conversations about police accountability that led to calls for the creation of an oversight board.
Though the Laramie Police Department wasn't implicated in Ramirez's death, those conversations on police accountability eventually came to the Laramie City Council. In 2022, the Council formed an ad hoc working group tasked with making recommendations to the city about policing. The idea to create a community oversight board for the Laramie Police Department became the top priority of that group.
The idea initially met roadblocks. In March 2022, the city council voted down a measure to keep exploring the implementation of an oversight board, in part because some members questioned the legality of the board, Wyofile reported.
That board would have granted wider power to its members than the one approved Wednesday will; as the board was originally devised, it would have had the authority to review all use of force within the police department and potentially given members the power to review and recommend terminations and hiring. The board that was approved on Wednesday, on the other hand, won't have those powers, and will be used more as a sounding board for policy decisions.
Laramie Mayor Brian Harrington described the board that was approved as “pretty radically in the middle.”
“I don't think it's something that any of us campaigned on. I don't think it's something any of us is leaving this meeting thinking, ‘Yeah, that's everything I wanted, or close to it.’ But I think what it is is a reasonable approach that fits Laramie.”
The Laramie City Council will discuss the board's governing bylaws at its next meeting on July 18. The Council will also need to establish an interview committee to hire and appoint members to the new board.
Last month, the council also approved a budget amendment of $75,000 to fund a mental health response effort for the police department. | https://trib.com/news/local/government-politics/laramie-city-council-unanimously-approves-creation-of-police-advisory-board/article_e7ee4f62-1c1b-11ee-9af6-cfd711f1828f.html | 2023-07-07T07:12:31 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/government-politics/laramie-city-council-unanimously-approves-creation-of-police-advisory-board/article_e7ee4f62-1c1b-11ee-9af6-cfd711f1828f.html |
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. — Family, friends, fellow troopers and soldiers, and the community are gathering Friday to honor fallen Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith. The 33-year-old trooper was killed in the line of duty June 28.
The funeral service will be held in Greenwood and is expected to be attended by hundreds, if not thousands of officers from around the country.
Here is the schedule for Friday's services:
- Funeral: Friday, July 7 at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Church Greenwood Campus located at 1640 W. Stones Crossing Road in Greenwood.
- Procession from Emmanuel Church Greenwood Campus to Whiteland High School and then to Crown Hill Cemetery (34th street entrance) 700 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Trooper Smith will be laid to rest in the Heroes of Public Safety Area at Crown Hill Cemetery. He will receive police and military honors, as he served both as a state trooper and a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard.
At the conclusion of the burial service, fellow officers will lay carnations atop his casket. The white carnations will have a red dot in the middle. The flower symbolizes a good life and the red dot represents his blood that was shed.
Remembering Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith
Members of the community will be encouraged to line the procession route to honor Smith's service and sacrifice.
Here's detailed information on the procession route:
- Start at Emmanuel Church of Greenwood at 1640 West Stones Crossing Road
- Exit church lot and turn west on to West Stones Crossing Road to S.R. 135.
- South on S.R. 135 to Whiteland Road.
- East on Whiteland Road to U.S. 31
- North on U.S. 31 where we will go by Whiteland High School and pass under the Garrison Flag. We will continue north into Greenwood, then make a small right on to South Madison Avenue.
- North on South Madison Avenue to roundabout, first exit east, Smith Valley Road. Continue east on Smith Valley Road where we will pass by the neighborhood where Trooper Smith grew up.
- East on Smith Valley Road and as you make the curve to left it turns into north bound South Emerson Avenue.
- Continue north on South Emerson Avenue where we will pass by Greenwood Airport to the left, to Stop 11 Road.
- West on to Stop 11 Road, which turns into East Meridian School Road at East Street. Continue west to S.R. 135.
- North on S.R 135 to Hanna Avenue.
- West on Hanna Avenue to Bluff Road.
- North on Bluff Road to where it turns into West Street.
- Continue north on West Street, passing IFD Station 13 at West Street and Ohio Street. Continue north on West Street to New York Street.
- East on New York Street to Illinois Street.
- North on Illinois Street to 34th Street.
- West on 34th Street to the entrance to Crown Hill Cemetery.
State police noted that three ramps on central Indiana interstates will be closed during the procession: the ramps from I-65 to Main Street and County Line Road, as well as the ramp from I-70 to West Street in Indianapolis.
Memorial fund established
Donations in memory of Trooper Aaron N. Smith can be made at Indiana Members Credit Union branches or by calling 800-556-9268, Indiana State Police announced Thursday.
Donations can also be made via PayPal to the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization at this link.
Companies and other organizations who are looking to provide donations to help with funeral and other final expenses can contribute directly to the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation at:
Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation, Inc.
1710 South 10th Street
Noblesville, IN 46060
(317) 431-0755
Smith's service
Trooper Smith also served with the Indiana National Guard since 2011, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. He currently served as a utilities equipment repairer for the 38th Infantry Division, 38th Sustainment Brigade, 190th Transportation Battalion and 1638th Transportation Company.
He earned military awards, including the Army Achievement Award and National Defense Service Medal.
Series of events on June 28
According to court documents, on June 28, state police got a notification from the Flock camera system, which alerted them to a reported stolen vehicle out of Missouri. Trooper Grover Scott spotted the vehicle in the parking lot of the McDonald's/BP gas station at 4906 Kentucky Ave. and gave the occupants of the vehicle commands to put their hands out the window. Scott said those in the vehicle complied for several minutes before the driver put the vehicle in reverse and backed into Scott's patrol car before fleeing the scene, striking another vehicle.
Scott and Trooper James Williams began pursuing the vehicle on Kentucky Avenue, then onto Ameriplex Parkway/Ronald Reagan Parkway. Police said the suspect drove over I-70 onto Ronald Reagan Parkway, then made a U-turn at Stafford Road, turning back toward I-70.
According to the documents, as the suspect approached I-70, Trooper Aaron Smith had parked his patrol car with its emergency lights on and retrieved stop sticks from the trunk. As the trooper deployed the stop sticks in an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle and end the pursuit, state police said video from a trailing trooper's dashboard camera shows the vehicle veering to the right, striking Smith.
Smith was killed and the suspect's car crashed. He and the two passengers with him were taken into custody. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fallen-indiana-state-police-trooper-aaron-smith-laid-to-rest-funeral-burial-procession-memorial-fund-national-guard/531-8193c8f6-b5a7-438a-ae86-8e779d34593a | 2023-07-07T07:13:19 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fallen-indiana-state-police-trooper-aaron-smith-laid-to-rest-funeral-burial-procession-memorial-fund-national-guard/531-8193c8f6-b5a7-438a-ae86-8e779d34593a |
City of Salem lifts burn ban Thursday due to cooler weather
The City of Salem has lifted its burn ban that was put in place earlier this week due to cooler weather, lighter wind and more humidity after a spate of high temperatures.
All outdoor activities involving burning are now permitted again including:
- The use of legal fireworks
- Recreational fires, such as backyard fire pits or outdoor fireplaces and portable fireplaces.
- Ceremonial fires
- Agricultural burning
- Fire for land clearing or slash burning
While the ban has been lifted, the city is still recommending people stay aware of recent dry conditions. Both city and fire officials encourage practicing fire safety measures when burning outside, including taking precautions ahead of time for fireworks or open flames.
“While the ban may no longer be in effect, it's important for individuals to stay vigilant and follow any additional guidelines or regulations put forth by local authorities regarding outdoor burning,” according a press release from the city.
Abigail Landwehr is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at alandwehr@gannett.com | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/city-of-salem-lifts-burn-ban-thursday-due-to-cooler-weather/70388656007/ | 2023-07-07T07:19:52 | 1 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/city-of-salem-lifts-burn-ban-thursday-due-to-cooler-weather/70388656007/ |
Historical marker for women's suffrage unveiled on Capitol grounds
A historical marker for women's suffrage in Oregon was unveiled Thursday on the east end of the State Capitol grounds, 111 years after the Oregon Legislature granted women the right to vote.
Oregon was one of 15 states to recognize women's suffrage rights before Congress passed the 19th Amendment.
The marker is part of a nationwide "Votes for Women" marker project launched in 2020 by The National Collaborative for Women's History Sites and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation commemorating the centennial of women's suffrage in the United States and putting historic sites on the map.
The Pomeroy Foundation committed to donating up to 250 markers, ideally five per state. The markers cost $1,140 each, according to the foundation.
This marker is the first in Oregon and No. 211 for the project.
Oregon's role in history
The markers have a similar look, 33 1/2 inches wide and 19 inches tall, made of cast aluminum, painted white with purple trim and inscription, and installed on a 7-foot-tall aluminum pole. But each has a unique inscription highlighting the significance of the location on the road to the 19th Amendment.
The inscription on the marker at the Oregon State Capitol reads:
VOTES FOR WOMEN
A DIVERSE COALITION SECURED VOTING RIGHTS FOR MANY OREGON WOMEN IN 1912 & RATIFICATION OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT HERE IN JANUARY 1920.
The struggle for suffrage in Oregon began in the 1870s. Abigail Scott Duniway was one of the earliest leaders as a lecturer, organizer, writer and editor. Her weekly newspaper, The New Northwest, was dedicated to women's issues and voting rights, and she devoted more than 40 years to the cause.
The issue appeared on the state ballot six times — 1884, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1910 and 1912 — and Oregon has the dubious distinction of defeating woman suffrage more times than any other state, according to the "Centennial Web Exhibit" on the Secretary of State website.
It was finally approved Nov. 5, 1912, by 52% of male voters. The results were 61,265 for and 57,104 against.
"Now that is persistence," Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum told the small crowd gathered in front of the marker with Capitol construction clatter in the background.
'Years of hard work fighting'
Persistence was a common theme among the speakers, many of them wearing white "Votes for Women" sashes.
Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson referred to the state as a voting rights champion, with the highest voter turnout rate in the country last November.
"Creating the model voting system in the country doesn't happen overnight," Wilson said. "It can take years of hard work fighting for what you believe in to see meaningful progress. Thankfully, the pioneering women who led the suffrage movement signed on for a long fight."
Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Meagan A. Flynn reminded the crowd how the struggle for women extended to lawyers and judges.
"Despite the obstacles, our early women civic leaders forged a path that others cleared and widened," Flynn said. "I'm here because of the foundation laid by so many who came before."
One of the few Capitol memorials
The Oregon Women's History Consortium partnered with the Oregon Historical Society and the Oregon State Capitol Foundation to host the unveiling event, held July 6 to recognize the day in 1905 when national suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony unveiled a statue of Sacagawea at the Lewis and Clark Exhibition in Portland.
The National Woman Suffrage Association convention was held in Portland for the first time that year in conjunction with the exhibition, creating momentum for the Oregon movement.
The historical marker is on the east side of the Capitol, not far from the Circuit Rider statue and near the Rev. Jason Lee statue and Corinthian column segments pulled from the ashes of the old state house.
Votes for Women markers have been erected in a variety of locations across the county, including homes, women's club buildings, churches, and any place a significant person lived, organization organized or an event occurred related to helping women gain the vote and full citizenship.
Few, however, are on the grounds of current or former state capitols.
One is near the steps outside the Maine State House in Augusta. Two are at former state capitols turned museums in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Pendleton to get next sign
The markers are part of the National Votes for Women Trail sponsored by the National Collaborative for Women's History Sites, with more than 2,400 sites on its database and digital map.
Janice Dilg, the Oregon state coordinator for the National Votes for Women Trail project, said Pendleton will get Oregon's second suffrage marker.
Dilg said that one will note how national and state suffragists traveled by train to the Pendleton Round-Up in 1912 before the women's suffrage ballot measure was up for a vote, giving speeches standing on the back seats of cars near the rodeo entrance.
Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6710. Follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/oregon-historical-marker-womens-suffrage-unveiled-on-state-capitol-right-to-vote-19th-amendment/70383537007/ | 2023-07-07T07:19:58 | 1 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/oregon-historical-marker-womens-suffrage-unveiled-on-state-capitol-right-to-vote-19th-amendment/70383537007/ |
Did Salem's last-minute fireworks ban work?
At 1 p.m. on the Fourth of July, the City of Salem issued a ban on open burning and fireworks — just a few hours before many were set to begin celebrating the holiday in flammable, spark-filled star-spangled fashion.
The ban came in the midst of a stretch of bone-dry, hot weather. A Red Flag Warning had been issued several hours earlier that morning for the Willamette Valley due to high temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts of up to 30 mph.
Hoping to avoid sparking a wildfire or vegetation fire, several cities banned fireworks.
More:Red flag warning issued as Oregon faces a summer of extreme wildfire danger
Salem officials warned that anyone who violated the burn ban could be billed for the cost to put out any resulting fire and any property damage resulting from the illegal fire.
The ban included all amateur fireworks, ceremonial fires, outdoor fireplaces and portable fireplaces, backyard fire pits, land clearing or slash burning and agricultural burning. Cooking with propane grills was still allowed, as were the professional fireworks shows planned for the area.
The City of Keizer joined Salem in the fireworks ban with an announcement on its website Tuesday afternoon.
But the impact of the ban remains unclear.
On social media, residents complained about how late in the day the ban came, in many cases after they'd already legally purchased fireworks. Many others said they planned to shoot off fireworks regardless of any ban.
Illegal fireworks displays continued in many parts of the city, lighting up the night sky and loudly booming past midnight.
Several fires were reported.
More than 100 calls to fire
Salem Fire Department, which earlier in the week had encouraged people to only call 911 if fireworks resulted in injuries, fires or posed a threat to people or property, reported receiving a high volume of calls.
Fire officials could not say how many of the more than 100 calls received were related to fireworks incidents but expected to have more data by next week.
The dispatch log for July 4 listed several house fires, vegetation fires and smoke investigations.
Some were left wondering why the city waited until the afternoon of the holiday to make the announcement.
City spokesman Trevor Smith said the city received the Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service the morning of July 4.
"There was no prior indication of the warning the day before," Smith said. "It further underscores the importance of timely and up-to-date information in making decisions about burn bans and fireworks."
He said the city fire chief consulted with the fire department and city officials before ultimately making the call to institute the ban.
Although the city has previously implemented bans, Tuesday marked the first time a burn ban was in place on Independence Day.
"The priority is always to ensure the community's safety and make informed decisions based on the best available information at the time," Smith said.
Salem sent out a news release at 1 p.m. and posted on various social media pages about the ban.
Other residents asked why a mass text, similar to the Everbridge emergency alerts, was not sent out to increase awareness.
Smith said the burn ban was not an active emergency and did not require dissemination through the Everbridge Alert System, which is primarily designed for urgent emergency alerts.
Police issue no citations
Salem police reported receiving about 100 calls about fireworks, in addition to those the fire department received.
"It's usually a very busy time of year," Salem Police Deputy Chief Treven Upkes said.
He noted that police often balance high call volumes in general with additional calls about fireworks. On July 4, the department had 20 officers at the State Fairgrounds, additional patrol officers and two detectives on.
From midnight on July 4 to 5 a.m. on July 5, police received 334 calls for service.
No citations were issued by Salem Police for fireworks use.
Upkes said fireworks calls are typically challenging because callers don't always know where the exact location is, and by the time police respond, the people setting off fireworks are gone.
He said officers first try to educate people about using fireworks. If the parties don't respond to this approach or present a hazard, officers can issue a misdemeanor citation. Additional charges can ensue if the fireworks result in fire, injuries or property damage.
Despite the challenges of responding, Upkes said they appreciate people calling in with their concerns over safety in the community.
"When we can, we try and educate the public," he said. "It's really about keeping everybody safe. We don't want to see anyone hurt on the Fourth of July while they're celebrating."
The ban on open burning and legal fireworks was rescinded Thursday as cooler temperatures and lighter winds returned to the Willamette Valley.
No ban in Marion County
Despite incorrect information posted on social media, fireworks were not banned outside of city limits in Marion County. The Marion County Fire Defense Board issued a high-fire danger burn ban, but fireworks weren't covered under that restriction.
Marion County Fire District officials said they had 33 calls for service on July 4. Six of those were fire calls, which included house and grass fires.
Fire Chief Kyle McMann said the day was 20% busier than last year.
He said the investigations and reports on whether any of the fires were fireworks-related are still underway.
Eugene's first holiday with restrictions
The Salem area was not the only city concerned over illegal fireworks.
Eugene had banned fireworks late in 2022, but this was the first Fourth of July holiday under the ban.
The city received 185 calls regarding illegal fireworks from 8 p.m. on July 4 to 2 a.m. on July 5 — a 40% increase from the previous year.
The Eugene Springfield Fire/Eugene and Springfield Police's amnesty program for people wanting to turn in illegal fireworks without being cited collected 240 pounds of fireworks this year.
Eugene also has an app to report fireworks with a geolocation and a number for people wanting to report illegal fireworks in progress.
Eugene police officials said no citations were issued for illegal fireworks on the holiday.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/salem-fireworks-ban-brought-frustration-no-citations/70385037007/ | 2023-07-07T07:20:04 | 0 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/salem-fireworks-ban-brought-frustration-no-citations/70385037007/ |
'Troubling growth': Hate and bias incidents increase in Oregon
Reports of bias crimes in Oregon continue to grow, according to the latest Criminal Justice Commission report released by the Office of the Attorney General.
The Oregon Department of Justice launched the Bias Response Hotline in January 2020 to assist in collecting more accurate data on bias incidents across the state and direct victims to resources. The latest report is the fourth annual report that is required under 2019's Senate Bill 577.
Bias-motivated reports to the hotline have increased 178% since 2020, according to the latest report. In 2022, there were 2,534 bias-motivated reports made to the hotline, compared to 1,457 in 2021 and 910 in 2020.
A release announcing the results called the findings "sobering" but the commission also said it could reflect more effective outreach.
“Hate is a stain on our state,” Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in the release. “Our Bias Response Hotline is an essential resource for supporting victims of bias and hate incidents, as well as a critical tool for monitoring trends in bias and hate in Oregon. Everyone should feel like they belong in Oregon.”
More than 400 reports in Marion County
The extended report outlines further what kind of incidents the hotline receives reports on. The CJC reported that since it's launch, the hotline has collected 6,000 reports of:
- People experiencing or witnessing hateful slurs.
- Violent threats online and in person.
- Hate-raiding on online gaming and social media platforms.
- Assaults, stalking, doxing, swatting and spitting on people.
- Grocery stores and restaurants refusing to serve people and intentionally poisoning their food.
- Runners and dog walkers chased and shoved to the ground in parks or campers driven out of campsites.
- Vandalism of cars or property with swastikas and other hate symbols.
- Nooses left on doorsteps and in schoolyards.
- Pride flags torn down and burned.
- Employers and schools requiring employees and students to use alternate entrances and materials from colleagues and peers.
- Zoom-bombing.
- Animal carcasses left on lawns near signs of affirmation.
- Law enforcement flashing hate symbols while on duty.
- Local government approving hate groups to adopt a highway.
- Death threats and targeted, biased propaganda flyers.
- School boards banning Pride flags in schools as “political” indoctrination; radicalized county and city governing boards spewing anti-Jewish tropes in local newspapers and during public meetings.
- Elected officials shutting down book clubs in public libraries.
- Race-based murder.
And much more.
In 2022, reporting rates in Multnomah County were the highest, with 733 reports made. Marion County was second with 444 bias and hate incidents reported to the hotline. Lane County had 179 reports.
Black residents most impacted
All racial groups, except for multiracial and white victims, reported greater numbers of bias-motivated events in each successive year, the report said.
But anti-Black and anti-African American bias incidents remained the largest category of bias-motivated reports last year, according to the report.
One in four reports submitted were bias incidents against Black or African-American individuals.
Incidents against Hispanics and Asians in the state also remained high in comparison to the makeup of the state population, but "still lower than expected given self-report surveys," the report said.
Growing anti-LGBTQ+ incidents and incidents in schools
As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric rises across the country, Oregon has not remained unscathed.
Gender identity-based bias has increased by 639% since 2020 and anti-sexual orientation bias was up 430% since 2020, according to the report.
Compared to 2021, incidents against someone's sexual orientation were up 97% and bias-motivated reports targeting gender identity were up more than 150%.
Growth of reported incidents in Oregon schools was also "troubling," according to the report.
In 2020, there were 36 crimes and incidents reported and in 2021 there were 150 reported. School-based reports jumped to 408 in 2022. It was a 172% increase between reports in 2021 and 2022.
Most incidents involve strangers
The report also tracks the victim-defendant relationship of bias-motivated reports.
For all three years, stranger relationships remained highest with a total of 225 (25%) bias-motivated reports in 2020, 339 in 2021 and 617 (24%) in 2022.
But reports in which the perpetrator was a schoolmate or teacher/school official increased by 229% between 2021 and 2022.
"The increasing number of bias-motivated reports occurring in school settings and committed by schoolmates and teacher/school officials suggests a spillover effect of current social, ideological and political polarization. Additional research by academics and other researchers is needed as this is outside the scope of the current report," the report said.
The report makes several recommendations, including continuing outreach with community-based organizations, collaboration with the Department of Education, and legislative fixes to gaps remaining in statutes related to bias crimes.
"The work of our community partners and our Bias Response Hotline team are critical in Oregon’s response to hate and bias, but more must be done to stop hate in its tracks, to restore civility and to respect our human purpose,” Fay Stetz-Waters, Oregon DOJ’s Director of Civil Rights, said in a release. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to eradicate hate and it will take all of us to commit to stopping hate and bias.”
How to report an incident
To contact the hotline, call 1-844-924-2427 or a web report feature in nine languages is also available online at StandAgainstHate.oregon.gov. A new live chat feature in four languages will also be available later this summer.
Victims can also visit the Community Bias Response Toolkit launched last spring by the DOJ.
Counseling benefits for victims of a bias crime or incident are also available with application to the Crime Victims' Compensation Program. Additionally, victims can apply for up to $1,000 in emergency money to assist with safety, security, relocation, repair of property or anything needed in the aftermath of a bias crime or incident. The fund can go to costs incurred within 90 days of a bias incident or bias crime and victims can call the hotline to apply.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her atdlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2023/07/06/report-reveals-ongoing-growth-of-hate-and-bias-crimes-and-incidents-in-oregon/70388435007/ | 2023-07-07T07:20:10 | 1 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2023/07/06/report-reveals-ongoing-growth-of-hate-and-bias-crimes-and-incidents-in-oregon/70388435007/ |
“The Lesson” is a locked-room mystery set on a English country estate, an exploration of a family ripped apart by the death of a child and an examination of art and ego that can lead to devastating ends.
Cleverly constructed, the debut from director Alice Troughton and writer Alex MacKeith, “The Lesson” begins with a public interview of Liam Sommers (Daryl McCormack), who, when asked for the inspiration for his acclaimed debut novel about a failing patriarch and his family, flashes back to the country estate of the Sinclair family.
Novelist J.M. Sinclair (Richard E. Grant), Sommers’ literary hero and the subject of his thesis, and his art curator wife Helene (Julie Delpy) have summoned Liam to serve as a tutor for their son Bertie (Stephen McMillan) to get him into Oxford.
Forced to sign a contract that allows the Sinclairs not to disclose they have hired him, and a non-disclosure agreement to prevent him from talking about it, Liam goes to work, struggling to break through to the sullen Bertie, get through Helene’s icy exterior and deal with raging egoistic Sinclair, who spends nights drinking scotch and working on a years-in-the-making novel.
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It would be unfair to reveal much more of MacKeith’s carefully concealed and deliciously vengeful storyline. But spoiler-free, Sinclair eventually opens up to Liam, inviting him in to first, work on his computer, then critique his work in exchange for reading Liam’s handwritten debut novel.
That, of course, isn’t going to go well — starting from the time that Liam informs Sinclair that people believe he’s retired. But it is only one of the elements that contributes to the twist and turns of what becomes a mystery thriller.
With just one other character — the butler Ellis (Crispin Letts), who keeps a watchful eye on Liam, “The Lesson” is a tightly contained picture that slowly rolls out its story, and sets its tone, through a quartet of fine performances.
Delpy, the superb French-American actress who works extensively with director Richard Linklater, makes Helene a study in quiet and control, McMillan gradually reveals the troubles and ego of a seemingly disappointing son and McCormack plays Liam flawlessly, showing how he, too, has secrets to keep and quietly uses the situation to his advantage.
But the picture, in many ways, belongs to Grant, who’s one of today’s top actors – most popularly known for playing Allegiant General Pryde in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
Diving deeply into the role, Grant makes the fading writer imperious, passionate, pitiable, mean and, ultimately, devastated. In doing so, he sets up all the causes and conditions for the film, which clicks into thriller mode about two-thirds of the way through, to satisfyingly, and somewhat surprisingly, play out.
“The Lesson” isn’t perfect, lapsing, at times, into predictable convention. But, for the most part, it’s an engrossing gem that works as an art-house mystery and character study carried by an acting showcase. | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/review-the-lesson-is-a-deliciously-satisfying-art-house-mystery-thriller/article_7e5f52fa-1a98-11ee-ac1d-7b1b608d5a0e.html | 2023-07-07T07:25:16 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/review-the-lesson-is-a-deliciously-satisfying-art-house-mystery-thriller/article_7e5f52fa-1a98-11ee-ac1d-7b1b608d5a0e.html |
Violin virtuoso Mark Feldman will perform in “The Barnyard” of Fuse Coworking Friday to open the weekend of the 2023 Meadowlark Music Festival.
Arguably the most eclectic violin virtuoso in history, Feldman has performed as a soloist with major European symphony orchestras, toured and recorded over 200 country albums with artists such as Loretta Lynn and Ray Price, and toured and recorded dozens more with major jazz artists including John Abercrombie, John Lovano, and Chris Potter.
He’ll be joined by New York guitarist Rolf Sturm (John Zorn, Roswell Rudd, Loudon Wainwright) and award-winning percussionist Dane Richeson (Bobby McFerrin, Lyle Mays, Roscoe Mitchell).
Saturday, Astral Mixtape, an award-winning young Los Angeles quartet, will perform at Prairie Pines Nature Preserve, 3100 N. 112th St.
A multifaceted group, Astra Mixtape blends classical instrumental virtuosity with the sounds of their generation, using its unique blend of two violins, cello, piano, synthesizer and electronics to create and perform compositions that combine the pop spectacle, jazz spontaneity and contemporary music experimentation.
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Beyond their cutting-edge performances in clubs and concert halls, the quartet has contributed to the soundtracks of numerous short films. Many of these films – such as "Leaving the Factory," "Broken Layers," and "Ink" – have won prizes at Cannes and BAFTA film festivals. Most recently, the quartet was named a winner of the prestigious Astral Artists National Competition.
The concert event will also offer food and beverages from Venue and Saro Cider.
On Sunday, Meadowlark’s Grand Finale will take place at The Jewell, 2221 N. 24th St., in downtown Omaha.
Feldman’s quartet and Astral Mixtape will share the stage at one of the Midwest’s finest listening rooms. Founded just prior to the pandemic, The Jewell was designed as a music room celebrating Omaha’s musical heritage and features state of the art acoustics and instruments including a Steinway grand piano. Valet parking and a full menu is available.
All shows begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at meadowlarkmusicfestival.org and at the door of each show.
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Thousands of South Korean firefighters and troops have been battling wildfires that tore through an eastern coastal area and temporarily threa… | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/violin-virtuoso-mark-feldman-and-quartet-astral-mixtape-to-play-meadowlark-music-festival/article_db237dc8-1b50-11ee-9b7c-d7c52b91fc61.html | 2023-07-07T07:25:22 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/life-entertainment/local/violin-virtuoso-mark-feldman-and-quartet-astral-mixtape-to-play-meadowlark-music-festival/article_db237dc8-1b50-11ee-9b7c-d7c52b91fc61.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Hundreds of businesses, community members and elected officials are banding together in Clackamas County in a fight to keep the county’s Office of Equity and Inclusion funded and supported.
Nearly 800 community members signed a letter urging the county to continue funding the office ahead of next week’s county commission meeting. The letter follows news that one commissioner wants to strike its funding.
“Currently, Clackamas County commissioner Mark Shull is the only person who is calling to defund and reduce the work of the county office of equity and inclusion,” Cole Merkel, co-director at HereTogether Oregon, said.
The office provides services to county employees and residents with everything from translation and interpretation accommodations, supporting racial equity in the workforce, and even LGBTQ advocacy.
Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff said, “We represent everybody, not just select groups of everybody.”
“This is not something that is just one and done and you checked a box,” she said. “This is something that is ongoing, something we have to work at.”
The letter’s signatures included elected officials, education and faith leaders, businesses and community members. They all urge the board of commissioners to continue funding and even consider boosting those funds as they work toward inclusiveness and equality.
“For us, it’s really important that this work doesn’t stop, in fact, and is funded at equal or greater levels,” Catherine McMullen, Clackamas County Clerk, said
Those behind the letter told KOIN 6 that beyond the services by the office itself, the work the office accomplishes extends into the greater community. They say it helps with economic growth and diversity, and they want to see that continue.
“At the end of the day, what we all want to see is a Clackamas County where we can all work, live, play and pray without fear of discrimination,” Merkel said.
Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops. | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/we-represent-everybody-nearly-800-signatures-back-clackco-office-of-equity/ | 2023-07-07T07:26:31 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/we-represent-everybody-nearly-800-signatures-back-clackco-office-of-equity/ |
PHOENIX — Authorities are investigating after a woman was found dead in a Phoenix alley Wednesday evening.
Phoenix police said the woman's body was found around 7:45 p.m. near 22nd and Taylor streets.
Police said after locating the victim, officers began interviewing neighbors and looking for cameras in the area.
Authorities said medical examiners are determining her cause of death.
If you have any information, you are asked to call Phoenix police at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for updates.
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Silent Witness
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/woman-found-dead-in-central-phoenix-alley-22nd-street-and-taylor-street/75-90056f30-33e8-40d6-9bfa-dc881ff8df60 | 2023-07-07T07:26:34 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/woman-found-dead-in-central-phoenix-alley-22nd-street-and-taylor-street/75-90056f30-33e8-40d6-9bfa-dc881ff8df60 |
Bismarck Art & Galleries Association will feature "Artist & Muse" by artist Charles Beck and poet Timothy Murphy through July 28.
Member artist is Alicia Leingang.
The Beck and Murphy exhibit displays Beck's woodcuts and Murphy's poetry. Beck's primary subject was the landscape and nature of Otter Tail County. Poet Timothy Murphy was a friend of Beck, whose works inspired his poems.
Leingang works in watercolors, drawing inspiration from nature.
An opening reception that's free and open to the public will be held Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. with a gallery chat at 5:30 p.m. Bismarck Art & Galleries Association is at 422 E. Front Ave. and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/bismarck-gallery-to-feature-artists-poet/article_155b5292-1c17-11ee-9dcc-07a499389514.html | 2023-07-07T07:40:10 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/bismarck-gallery-to-feature-artists-poet/article_155b5292-1c17-11ee-9dcc-07a499389514.html |
Many people in Richmond and beyond are going on vacation for the first time since the start of the pandemic, leading to significant slowdowns in blood donations.
The American Red Cross is taking steps to keep its blood supply strong during the busy summer months. On Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin attended the Real American Heroes Community Blood Drive in Petersburg to give blood and raise awareness about the need for donations.
While the Red Cross is not currently experiencing a shortage, the organization is making a push for more donations to maintain Food and Drug Administration blood supply benchmarks and avoid emergency situations.
“We have to look at the blood supply not just as a Richmond supply, but as a holistic approach for the whole country because we’re a national supplier,” said Jonathan McNamara, Communications Director for the American Red Cross of Virginia .
According to McNamara, many hospitals see increases in trauma cases during the summer, increasing the need for blood during that time.
The summer heat combined with other weather events such as storms can lead to fewer people showing up to give blood, and in some cases, donation drives being canceled.
Donations tend to decrease as fewer drives are held in school and more people travel during the summer months.
High schools and colleges being largely out of session during the summer also takes away a key blood donation base.
“Some of our largest drives are on high school and college campuses,” McNamara said. “Many of those same students who could theoretically donate at home are on vacation, working summer jobs or doing a number of different things that lead to them not signing up for appointments or engaging with the Red Cross.”
The American Red of Cross of Virginia is working with churches, campuses and local businesses to organize donation drives, which can rally their member bases to donate blood in larger numbers.
Donors can register for appointments at redcrossblood.org . The Red Cross has 11 donations centers across the Commonwealth, including three in the Richmond area:
Glen Allen Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center — 4040 Cox Road
Emerywood Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center — 2825 Emerywood Parkway
Arboretum Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center — 9200 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 100
Additionally, several community partners throughout the region host Red Cross-sponsored blood drives. Upcoming drives are taking place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at VCU Health Main Hospital, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Chesterfield Towne Center and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Regency Mall.
8 hidden gem restaurants in Richmond
Oceano
Tucked in an unassuming corner of Sycamore Square, you might miss Oceano if you aren’t looking for it. But take that extra look. Oceano’s seafood-focused menu that blends French, Latin and Italian flavors and cooking techniques is worth seeking out.
Start with the mojito; it’s one of the best we’ve tried in the Richmond metro area. Next, go for the petite seafood plateau featuring raw oysters, steamed shrimp with spicy cocktail sauce and tangy ceviche.
Then try co-owner and chef Maria Oseguera’s house-made cavatelli enrobed in a creamy combination of ricotta, arrabbiata and cilantro pesto. Some entrees feature Mexican flavors, like the sweet corn tamal that’s balanced with a tangy punch of poblano and served with seared scallops, plump shrimp, tangy tomatillo sauce, white wine reduction and red pepper sauce.
Oceano also recently added Saturday and Sunday brunch with options such as crab and avocado Benedict, huevos rancheros and filet steak and eggs. 1352 Sycamore Square, Midlothian. oceanorva.com .
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
Casa Italiana
From the hand-cut calamari appetizer to the handmade ravioli, it’s hard to find something on the Casa Italiana menu that isn’t made fresh.
The extensive menu makes it hard to decide what to order: made-in-house mozzarella breaded and fried with fresh tomato sauce or Parmesan risotto “fries” with caponata to start? And then, should you go for the house-made braised beef ravioli topped with a decadent mushroom mascarpone sauce, arugula and white truffle oil or the fresh pappardelle topped with creamy sausage ragu, fried fennel and shaved Parmesan cheese? Spoiler alert: It will all be delicious and will arrive at your table in a generous portion alongside baked-daily bread.
Save room. The desserts are also homemade, large and in-charge with options such as house-made cannoli, chocolate cake with spumoni and whipped cream and, of course, tiramisu della famiglia. Pair it with with the reasonably priced and extensive wine list — glasses average around $8 — or try a signature cocktail. We’ll be back for the tiramisu martini made with vodka, Bailey’s, amaretto, Kahlua and Casa Italiana’s signature tiramisu cream. 8801 Three Chopt Road in Westbury Plaza. casaitalianarestaurant.com .
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
Liberty Public House
Located in the former East End Theater in Church Hill, Liberty Public House, cranks out quality American food and creative cocktails in a friendly, “everyone knows your name”-type atmosphere.
A big, approachable menu is highlighted by brunch served all day every day. Choose from eight Benedicts, four breakfast biscuit sandwiches and other well-executed favorites, such as shrimp and grits, a “giant breakfast burrito!” (Yes, that’s the menu name) or “wafflettes.”
In recovery mode? Try the hot mess, featuring buttered and griddled cornbread topped with sweet potato chili, cheddar cheese, two over-easy eggs, crème fraîche and green onions. The menu doesn’t end there.
Lunch and dinner feature comforting appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. We dig the blue crab croquettes with red pepper aioli, the “frickles” (fried pickles) in Old Bay batter and the RVA hot chicken sandwich, crisply fried and topped with garlic aioli and a generous quantity of house-made pickles, served on brioche.
The bar menu rotates regularly and features local liquors. On a recent visit, we enjoyed The Lady Belle, featuring Belle Isle Lemon Lavender Moonshine, coconut and fresh lemon, shaken and served topped with lemon petals, from a “Cocktails for River Weather”-themed menu. 418-A N. 25th St. thelibertyrva.com .
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN,TIMES-DISPATCH
Balkan Restaurant
Tucked into an unassuming strip mall on Patterson Avenue, Balkan Restaurant blends Western and Eastern influences, allowing Richmond to try the melting pot that is Balkan cuisine. Not sure exactly where the food is coming from? Just ask your server, who likely will walk over to the giant map that’s painted on the wall and explain the origins of the delicious dishes you're sampling.
Start with the feta salad that’s a a refreshing blend of tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, onions, roasted red peppers, feta and house dressing. Then mosey over to the burek, a hand-stretched flaky puff pastry filled with cheese and spinach (meat is optional). For the main course, grab a friend and split the mixed grill platter, featuring grilled beef and chicken kebabs, cevapi (flavorful ground beef sausages), veal cutlets and grilled vegetables. For your side, don’t miss the Balkan potatoes, which are creamy and indulgent, like scalloped potatoes, but even more rich and luxurious.
Your meal is served with homemade bread, and don’t forget to add a wine flight. The staff will also help you select from a range of Bulgarian, Hungarian, Austrian, Macedonian, Serbian and Italian selections. 8905 Patterson Ave. balkanrichmond.com .
Margo Wagner, Times-Dispatch
The Caboose Market & Cafe
What started as a beer, wine and specialty market in downtown Ashland expanded to the farm-to-table Caboose Market & Cafe in 2015 with seasonal small plates, sandwiches and salads.
Order the stuffed peppadews with goat cheese and cream cheese, the smoked salmon dip made with Bombolini hot smoked salmon, and the fig pro quo sandwich featuring prosciutto di parma, fig spread and provolone dolce cheese served on sourdough. Choose from the rotating wine and beer menu, sit back, relax and enjoy in the cute cafe environment.
Or, drive out for a special event like Wednesday date night, when you can order an appetizer, two entrees, dessert and a bottle of wine for $50. You’ll also find beer dinners, monthly wine takeovers with special menus — South Africa was a recent feature — and pizza nights on first Fridays. 108 S. Railroad Ave., Ashland. cabooseashland.com .
MARK GORMUS, TIMES-DISPATCH
Greek Cuisine
If you want to get a table for lunch at Greek Cuisine in Tuckahoe Village Shopping Center, you better arrive before noon. The kitchen is complemented by just a few tables, and diners fill them fast for the home-cooked classic Greek specialties done right.
A classic go-to is the creamy, lemony avgolemono soup paired with a fresh Greek salad and a stack of pita for less than $10. Or, if you’re hungrier, go for hearty stuffed cabbage, pasticcio or moussaka, all made fresh. Greek Cuisine also does a robust takeout business. You can order online, but it’s worth calling to learn about daily changing specials, such as lamb stew or Greek-style pork chops.
Save room for the galaktobouriko dessert featuring layers of phyllo, butter and creamy custard. 11214 Patterson Ave. greekcuisine.smartonlineorder.com .
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
Hobnob
Head to North Side for Hobnob’s cozy vibe and quality Southern continental cuisine. Options such as fluffy beer-battered fish and chips, fried green tomatoes with blackened shrimp, shredded lettuce and creole remoulade, and a Seven Hills Farm smash burger topped with pimento cheese are served in generous portions.
Brunch is a standout, offered on Saturdays and Sundays, with choices including biscuit doughnut holes, lemon-blueberry pancakes, and a Lowcountry scramble featuring shrimp, andouille sausage, garlic, scrambled eggs, bacon potato hash, Old Bay, sweet corn and tomato, served with a buttermilk biscuit.
To drink, try rotating cocktails that work for any time of day, such as the Party on the Seven Seas, featuring Virago Four-Port Rum, Earl Grey-vanilla simple syrup, lemon and sparkling wine. 6010 Hermitage Road. hobnobrva.com .
Daniel Sangjib Min, TIMES-DISPATCH
Afghan Cuisine
Don't leave Afghan Cuisine , located near Virginia Commonwealth University, without ordering the mantu. The delicate handmade dumplings, filled with spiced meat, sprinkled with lentils and drizzled with yogurt, are flavorful, plentiful and practically a work of art to look at, even when packaged for takeout.
This casual spot also features plenty of kebabs — the chicken is flavorful and juicy, served over earthy palow long-grain rice with classic white sauce and spicy green chakney on the side. Dip the homemade naan in the side salad of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions with a zippy mint, lemon juice and olive oil dressing. Other menu options span lamb shank; sabzi kurma, a spinach stew cooked with beef meat, tomato, red and green peppers and served within naan bread; and gyros. 1335 W. Broad St. afghancuisine5.godaddysites.com
Margo Wagner, Times-Dispatch | https://richmond.com/news/local/richmond-offers-several-blood-donation-options-to-combat-summer-slowdown/article_ea29ef40-1bf1-11ee-90fa-83570db52e02.html | 2023-07-07T08:47:59 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/richmond-offers-several-blood-donation-options-to-combat-summer-slowdown/article_ea29ef40-1bf1-11ee-90fa-83570db52e02.html |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies found a man shot outside an Orange County convenience store Thursday night.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Deputies responded to Rose Avenue near Maitland Boulevard in the Lockhart area shortly before 11 p.m.
They said they located a man with a gunshot wound shot near the 7-Eleven store.
READ: Deputies share surveillance video of shooting at Orange County banquet hall that left 2 dead
He was rushed to a hospital but died from his injuries, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.
Channel 9 was near the scene early Friday and watched as detectives collected evidence around fuel pumps outside the store.
Investigators said the victim was in his 20s but did not release his name.
READ: 2 charged with murder for fatal stabbing at Orlando hotel
They did not release details about a possible suspect or motive in the case.
Reporter Q McCray is near the crime scene and will have live updates beginning at 5 a.m. on Eyewitness News.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputies-investigate-deadly-shooting-orange-county-gas-station/FI3G4CWC3JFHPOZSILS37PWIGY/ | 2023-07-07T09:23:29 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputies-investigate-deadly-shooting-orange-county-gas-station/FI3G4CWC3JFHPOZSILS37PWIGY/ |
WE'RE JAMMIN', JAMMIN', AND I HOPE YOU LIKE JAMMIN' TOO: Join the Sahara Reggae Band at Oak Hollow Festival Park in High Point as they take the Arts Splash Summer Concert stage Friday evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners as they jam along to the free performance from 6-7:30 p.m. Call 336-839-2787 for any weather-related updates or more information.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://greensboro.com/life-entertainment/local/jam-with-this-reggae-band-in-high-point-on-friday-evening/article_41c8ddba-1779-11ee-ba6d-e36ed960466f.html | 2023-07-07T09:40:25 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/life-entertainment/local/jam-with-this-reggae-band-in-high-point-on-friday-evening/article_41c8ddba-1779-11ee-ba6d-e36ed960466f.html |
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK: If you didn't get enough fireworks earlier in the week, no worries; there are still plenty more at Truist Ballpark on Saturday. Before you watch the Winston-Salem Dash face off against the Hickory Crawdads on Friday, get to the stadium a little earlier than 7 p.m. to the see local band GOryanGO perform. Or head over on Sunday at 2 p.m. as the Dash rebrand as the Winston-Salem Salsa as part of the MLB Copa de la Diversion initiative. Tickets for both games start at $9 and can be bought at milb.com/winston-salem or at the gate. And if you're in Greensboro, the Grasshoppers are playing this weekend, and they have fireworks too.
top story editor's pick | https://greensboro.com/life-entertainment/local/looking-for-more-fireworks-and-some-baseball-too-the-dash-are-in-town-this-weekend/article_10f2da54-177b-11ee-8134-77eadf5757ab.html | 2023-07-07T09:40:31 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/life-entertainment/local/looking-for-more-fireworks-and-some-baseball-too-the-dash-are-in-town-this-weekend/article_10f2da54-177b-11ee-8134-77eadf5757ab.html |
GREENSBORO — City police on Thursday were investigating the city's fourth homicide within the first six days of July.
Officers found Tevin Christopher Johnson, 29, with a "life-threatening" injury when they responded at 1:18 a.m. Thursday to the 2100 block of White Street.
As of Thursday afternoon, the nature of his injuries could not be confirmed, the Greensboro Police Department said in a news release.
Police temporarily closed White Street between Nealtown Road and Partnership Court while they investigated the scene.
Johnson's death follows a double homicide late Monday night in which Theressa Little Johnson, 66, and Chestani Elizabeth Jones, 21, were killed by gunfire outside a home in the 1300 block of Blackmoor Road, police said. The shootings also wounded a 3-year-old boy, who was hospitalized in stable condition that night and is recovering.
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Late Sunday night, Darrin Lamont Dennis, 40, was shot in the 2100 block of Randall Street. He later died from his injuries, police said.
As of Thursday afternoon, the city had 36 homicides in 2023.
By late December of 2022, Greensboro saw 41 homicides for the entire year. That was down from 53 in 2021, which was eight fewer than the record 61 the year before.
Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson is expected to hold a media briefing Friday afternoon to provide an overview of the types of violent crimes occurring in the city and the department's plans about how to best respond. Other community leaders are also scheduled to speak about how violent crime is affecting communities across Greensboro.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about recent crimes to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-courts/greensboro-police-id-man-who-died-thursday-after-being-found-injured-on-white-st/article_4e316c32-1bef-11ee-9bc7-4339e8f3c314.html | 2023-07-07T09:41:02 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-courts/greensboro-police-id-man-who-died-thursday-after-being-found-injured-on-white-st/article_4e316c32-1bef-11ee-9bc7-4339e8f3c314.html |
The filing period opens at noon Friday for people wishing to run in one of the 12 municipal elections being held this year in communities wholly or partially in Guilford County.
Elections are scheduled for High Point, Jamestown, Pleasant Garden, Burlington, Oak Ridge, Sedalia, Whitsett, Gibsonville, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Kernersville and the Sedgefield Sanitary District. Greensboro’s next municipal election will be in 2025.
The deadline for filing for the 2023 elections is at noon on Friday, July 21.
Candidates can file in person or by mail at one of these addresses:
*301 W. Market St, Greensboro, NC, 27401
*325 E. Russell Ave., High Point, NC, 27260
The application must be notarized and include the appropriate filing fee. Fees differ based on municipality and office, with most ranging from $5-$20, with the exception of High Point where it costs $96 for both mayor and city council.
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Candidates living in municipalities that cross county lines, like High Point, Kernersville and Burlington, will need to file for candidacy only in the county of residence.
The 2023 general election date is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Depending on the number of candidates filing, Burlington, High Point, Jamestown and Pleasant Garden may hold primary elections on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
“The most important thing for candidates to know right now is that they must file by the deadline at noon on July 21 or they will not be qualified to appear on the ballot,” said Guilford County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt.
“This is a hard deadline,” he added. “It must be in our hands by noon, that means no running down the sidewalk at 12:05 p.m.”
For more information, including filing fees, visit www.guilfordelections.org and www.ncsbe.gov/candidates, or call 336-641-3836. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/government-politics/candidate-filing-period-set-to-open-in-guilford-county/article_97521854-1c39-11ee-93ce-7736284b9850.html | 2023-07-07T09:41:08 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/government-politics/candidate-filing-period-set-to-open-in-guilford-county/article_97521854-1c39-11ee-93ce-7736284b9850.html |
Freedom Taillight Project aims to reduce police-driver confrontations
- Studies show Black motorists are more likely to be stopped by police.
- Freedom Taillight Project founder was inspired by similar effort in New Orleans.
- The group's goal is to reduce driver-police confrontations.
CANTON − Jayland Walker was pulled over by Akron police last year after officers noticed his Buick Century had a broken taillight and license plate light.
The encounter ended in Walker's death, as he was shot numerous times by officers who told investigators that Walker, 25, fired at them before trying to flee the traffic stop. A Summit County grand jury cleared the officers involved of any wrongdoing, which has since prompted protests and a civil lawsuit.
A local group of volunteers are working to ensure that such tragic incidents become rare.
The Akron-based Freedom Taillight Project will offer free car-bulb installations and inspections from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Advanced Auto Parts at 4566 Tuscarawas St. W.
The clinic also will offer warrant checks, a free lunch, and arts and crafts for children, said volunteer Skylark Bruce of Canton.
"We're removing one more excuse for pulling people over," she said, adding that the upcoming clinic will be the third one held in Canton this year.
The Freedom Taillight Project is the brainchild of an Akron organizer who goes by the singular name of "Madonna," who said she was inspired by a similar project in New Orleans.
"Our overarching mission is to reduce harm in underserved and over-policed communities," she said. "I said if ever there was time to do this, it was now."
Though numerically, the majority of Americans killed by police are white, numerous studies have shown that minority drivers are more likely to be stopped by police, hence the the phrase "Driving While Black."
A 2020 study published by New York University and the Stanford Open Policing Project, found that "of nearly 100 million traffic stops across the United States, Black drivers were about 20% more likely to be stopped than white drivers relative to their share of the residential population."
Black citizens are three times more likely to die during an encounter with police according to a 2022 study by Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
In 2019, the Los Angeles Times conducted a study on 385,000 traffic stops and found that Black and Latino drivers, when stopped by police, were searched more often than whites, though white drivers were more likely to be carrying contraband. The study also found that 24% of Black motorists were searched, compared to 16% of Latinos and 5% of whites. Also, traffic stops for faulty equipment such as a broken taillight occurred in 20% of Black drivers' cases, compared to 11% of stops for white drivers.
Madonna said the group repaired 85 cars last year, with the first clinic taking place last August at the Advanced Auto Parts store on Vernon Odom Boulevard in Akron.
More on the Jayland Walker shooting:Never-before-seen texts, photos, more shed new light into life and death of Jayland Walker
"They have been phenomenal," Bruce said of the auto parts company.
So far this year, they've served 45 motorists
Madonna said the people they've served have been grateful.
"It's been interesting," she said. "Some of the people who were more affluent bought bulbs but didn't know how to install them. Others, no way could they afford it. A $20 headlight bulb is a nonstarter for some folks."
She added the group welcomes donations, and is seeking partnership with minority-owned and other businesses. They also are working on acquiring their 501-C4 status, which will enable them to support political causes and candidates.
There also are plans for fundraisers to help support the purchase of bulbs and other equipment.
"I now have a vision for a nationwide nonprofit," Madonna said.
Clinics will be conducted on the second Saturday of every month through November. To learn, more visit www.freedomtailpro.org
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/freedom-taillight-project-visiting-canton-for-minor-car-repairs/70346225007/ | 2023-07-07T10:06:31 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/freedom-taillight-project-visiting-canton-for-minor-car-repairs/70346225007/ |
Television ads are hitting local airwaves and volunteers are knocking on doors in an effort to sway local voters in the leadup to the Aug. 8 election.
Both campaigns mobilizing for and against Issue 1, the only thing on the ballot, say they are motivated by protecting Democracy. The group backing Issue 1 is called Protect Our Constitution. The group against it is One Person One Vote.
While that message is consistent on both sides — and might be the actual motive for some — both campaigns are endorsed by special interest groups with vested interest in either keeping the option of changing the constitution within reach, or making the constitution harder to amend.
If Issue 1 passes, it would require all future constitutional amendments to receive over 60% of the vote in order to pass — up from the current simple majority requirement — while mandating that canvassers for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments hit signature quotas in all 88 counties, up from the current 44 county requirement, in order to get an initiative on the ballot.
While Issue 1 wouldn’t flat-out ban citizen-initiated amendments, it would make them exceedingly harder to get on the ballot and harder still to pass.
Ohio lawmakers will still be able to put amendments before voters, but any amendment would need more than 60% of the vote. Of the 227 constitutional amendments put on the ballot since 1913 — most of which were submitted by lawmakers — only 75 of the 127 that passed did so with 60% of the vote.
The most imminent example of Issue 1 being more about specific issues than abstract democratic ideals is the reason it’s on the ballot in a special August election in the first place — abortion.
Abortion rights groups on Wednesday submitted petitions to put a measure on the November ballot asking voters to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution. Abortion foes include lawmakers who put Issue 1 on the ballot to make it harder for the abortion measure to pass and instead keep Ohio’s more restrictive abortion laws that went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
On either side, endorsers who spoke to Dayton Daily News shed light on what they stand to gain, or lose, through Issue 1 and its consequences.
The campaigns
On the “No” side, officially called One Person One Vote, over 200 organizations have signed on in opposition, including niche groups, local and national unions, citizen action groups, education and healthcare associations and policy organizations.
“If you look at those groups or those organizations, they’re Ohio,” said One Person One Vote campaign spokesperson Dennis Willard, who described the opposition lineup as bipartisan and inclusive of the entire state.
Among those, several have active interest in getting amendments on the ballot, whether it be to protect abortion access up to 20 weeks, raise the minimum wage, or create an independent redistricting committee to address gerrymandering in Ohio.
The “Yes” side, officially called Protect Our Constitution, doesn’t boast as many organizational endorsements as the opposition, but its eight endorsers include “many of the groups that represent Ohio’s business community,” according to campaign spokesperson Spencer Gross.
Those groups, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, span from grassroots Ohio farming advocates to to national pork special interests, along with the nation’s leading small business advocate and the state’s leading restaurant and hotel associations.
The measure also found support from billionaire donor Richard Uihlein, an Illinois Republican who spent over a million dollars on Ohio TV ads to urge Republican lawmakers to put the issue on the ballot earlier this year, according to investigative watchdog Documented.
At the time of reporting, Protect Our Constitution declined to comment on its current TV strategy, while FCC public inspection files for Dayton-area TV stations show ad spots purchased by One Person One Vote in the Dayton market for over $100,000.
Both campaigns declined to comment on funding. The public won’t know how much money is behind either effort until campaign finance reports are due to the Secretary of State by July 27.
Livestock standards
Duane Stateler, the vice president of the National Pork Producers Council Board of Directors, said the Ohio Pork Council’s primary concern in this fight regarded making it harder for citizen-initiated livestock standards of care to get on the ballot and pass.
“Our position is, we don’t like to see a small majority of someone being able to bring an issue forward that would complicate things in the way we can individually farm. That is the basis of where we’re at,” Stateler, a fifth-generation pig farmer in northwest Ohio, told the Dayton Daily News.
Stateler, along with Whitney Bowers, the director of state policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau, cited California’s Proposition 12, a citizen-initiated amendment that mandated certain practices on livestock and blocked producers who didn’t meet those standards from the California market.
“There’s so many uncertainties in agriculture that the potential of ballot initiatives from guiding our practices instead of proven research, we always hope to not be part of the equation,” Bowers said. “Groups that are partnering with agriculture to develop and implement best practices to support food production in Ohio are generally not the same groups that seek ballot initiatives to mandate very specific practices.”
Ohio’s most recent amendment regarding livestock standards was 2009′s legislature-initiated vote to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, which passed with 63.8% of the vote. Lawmakers put it on the ballot to pre-empt a more extensive measure sought by the Humane Society of the United States.
Right-to-work
The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police came out in opposition to Issue 1 because the union wants to reserve its ability to bring an amendment to the ballot if the legislature were to ever chip away collective bargaining power or pass “right-to-work” laws that would weaken police unions’ position.
“We don’t get involved in issues that don’t relate to law enforcement. All the rhetoric that’s been out there about why this amendment is coming up now, we’re not interested in that. Our members are on both sides of pretty much every fence, and we’re only concerned about the things that affect us,” said Gary Wolske, president of the Ohio FOP.
Wolske referenced the 2011 fight over limiting collective bargaining rights for public workers.
“It’s a whole lot easier to get 50% of something than it is to get 60% of something; if this comes up again, it’s huge for us,” Wolske said.
The Ohio FOP was joined in its opposition to Issue 1 by the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, the state’s leading firefighter union.
The Associated Builders and Contractors, a national trade group which represents a majority of the largest contractors across the state, supports Issue 1.
“We don’t have anything directly to gain or lose with Issue 1. We are in favor of Issue 1 because we believe that the state of Ohio is one of the states in the nation where it’s far too easy for a special interest group to bypass the traditional legislative process to negotiate and work with the legislature to form laws,” said John Morris, CEO of the association’s Ohio Valley branch.
Morris said lawmakers often do nothing on controversial topics like right-to-work because of the lingering threat of a citizen-initiated amendment, which could more-or-less act as a referendum on any law passed in the legislature. He hopes a passed Issue 1 would eliminate that excuse.
“We believe this is going to empower our legislators to act better, to do what we elected them to do, because many of them sit back and do nothing, and they sit back under the auspices of, ‘Well, if we passed it it would just get overturned,’ or, ‘We think you should just do this on the ballot instead of legislatively,’” Morris said. “It allows an elected official to essentially get a pass, take a target off their back and avoid any controversial issues.”
Key dates:
July 10: Voter registration deadline for Issue 1 election
July 11: Early voting begins
August 8: Election day
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/where-groups-stand-on-issue-1-largely-depends-on-where-they-sit-on-other-issues/LPZUNFWWJZAVRJOYFRYLONARWI/ | 2023-07-07T10:09:47 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/where-groups-stand-on-issue-1-largely-depends-on-where-they-sit-on-other-issues/LPZUNFWWJZAVRJOYFRYLONARWI/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Happy Friday! Grab your morning coffee and check out the Morning Sprint to find out what’s trending.
The digital-only newscast is filled with laughter, smiles and stories you won’t want to miss. You can catch it Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.
Don’t be shy! Be sure to join the conversation as we chat about the news of the day.
Here are some of the stories we’re discussing:
- Empty Tomb Motorcycle Ministry hosts fundraiser ride for local girl who lost her feet in a freak accident
- A hospital in Lynchburg is adopting an innovative way to use AI-based technology
- A guitar maker right here in the Commonwealth is helping train the next generation of musicians
- Young people in the Star City can now use Uber to get around
Here’s how you can have your photos featured during the Morning Sprint.
Here’s where you can watch us:
The Sprint can be watched on our website, YouTube account and wherever you stream WSLS 10 weekdays at 8 a.m.
You can also watch it on our 10 News app. Click here to download if you’re an IOS user and here to download if you have an Android.
Be sure to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for watching!
Want to know more about the Morning Sprint? Leave us a question using the form below: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/07/watch-how-you-can-see-bret-michaels-in-the-star-city-for-half-the-price-the-morning-sprint/ | 2023-07-07T10:17:05 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/07/watch-how-you-can-see-bret-michaels-in-the-star-city-for-half-the-price-the-morning-sprint/ |
The popular splash pad at First Federal Bank Park in Twin Falls looks more like a no-splash zone this year.
The water feature opened for the first time this year on Monday, after contractors said they repaired the surface. Repairs lasted just four days when problems with the surface showed up again.
“The new surface isn’t holding,” city spokesperson Josh Palmer said, and the decision was made to shut it down.
Turning it on in present condition is just going to make it worse, city spokesperson says
It was a difficult decision to make and Palmer knows people will be disappointed, but the surface would have kept getting worse if the water was left running and potentially caused further problems.
“We appreciate the public’s patience,” Palmer said. “We are going to have the contractor repair it, and repair it correctly.”
He didn’t have an estimate when repairs will be complete.
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First Federal Bank donated the park to the city of Twin Falls in 2016 and the city is responsible for maintenance. The splash pad surface is under warranty, Palmer said. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/twin-falls-splash-pad-closes-again-due-to-surface-problems/article_ef06e68e-1c4c-11ee-b273-cfb4f509f6ce.html | 2023-07-07T10:41:00 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/twin-falls-splash-pad-closes-again-due-to-surface-problems/article_ef06e68e-1c4c-11ee-b273-cfb4f509f6ce.html |
TUPELO - Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 8 primary election, the first since redistricting moved some voters to new districts and polling places.
The Republican and Democratic party primaries will choose nominees for county, regional and state offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, and northern district public service commissioner. New voters who fail to register in-person before 5 p.m. or mail their application with a July 10 postmark cannot vote in the primary election.
In-person registration is available at county circuit clerk offices. The Lee County Circuit Clerk's Office at 200 W. Jefferson St. in Tupelo will be open for voter registration 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday and 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays.
To register by mail, voters can download and print a registration form on the secretary of state’s website and send it to the county circuit clerk. The form is also available at the clerk’s office.
The primary will be the first election since the redistricting of state and county election maps, which affected about 40% of Lee County voters. Some voters have changed districts, and some will need to vote in different polling places than they are used to.
Lee County election officials mailed notice to nearly 20,000 voters last week who were affected by redistricting. At least 400 notices have already been returned to sender, meaning those voters will be marked inactive, Lee County Circuit Clerk Camille Roberts Dulaney told the Daily Journal.
Lee County had 51,008 active voters registered as of May, according to data collected from county officials by the secretary of state’s office. That was down to 50,807 active voters as of Thursday, Dulaney said.
Voters marked inactive will have to file an affidavit ballot if they fail to update their information with county election officials before the Saturday prior to the election.
Lee County voters can call 662-432-2300 to check their registration status and polling place. All Mississippi voters can check their registration online at the secretary of state’s elections website, yallvote.sos.ms.gov, or call 1-800-829-6786.
Voters who will be 18 years old on the Nov. 7 general election day are eligible to vote in the Aug. 8 primary.
Under Mississippi’s open primary system, voters can choose on the day of the election to vote in either party’s primary.
The winners of the Aug. 8 primary, or any primary runoffs as needed, will go on the ballot for the Nov. 7 general election.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/july-10-voter-registration-deadline-nears-for-august-primaries/article_95ea303e-1c23-11ee-a806-3707acb8734c.html | 2023-07-07T10:45:52 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/july-10-voter-registration-deadline-nears-for-august-primaries/article_95ea303e-1c23-11ee-a806-3707acb8734c.html |
TUPELO — A pair of Tupelo property owners are suing the All-America City over construction that will connect a service road from Gun Club Road to the location of the new Chickasaw Heritage Center, claiming the road cuts through their land illegally.
Members of the Tupelo City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to hire Pat Caldwell of Tupelo-based law firm Riley, Caldwell, Cork and Alvis as legal counsel to defend the city in a against a lawsuit filed by David Wilson, his estate and Yvette Wilson.
The lawsuit spawned from an 18-month battle between the city and the property owners along Gun Club Road, where the city is currently building an access road for the proposed Chickasaw Heritage Center. Once complete, the center will serve as a museum dedicated to helping visitors better understand the history of the Chickasaw Nation as viewed through the eyes of the Chickasaw themselves.
The service road was required to give heavy machinery access to the Chickasaw Village, located along the Natchez Trace. The road was part of a 2021 agreement between the City and Chickasaw Inkana Foundation to help build the center. The village is located on the Natchez Trace between the McCullough Boulevard and West Mainstreet Exit, near the Wildwood neighborhood.
Wilson, through Tupelo-based attorney Joshua Daniel, argues the city did not have the right-of-way to cut trees and build a service road on his property. He also claims the city made indirect threats to intimidate the Wilsons, and that the work has caused standing water and erosion on their property.
The complaint details a single event as intimidation where City Attorney Ben Logan allegedly called the property owners “troublemakers” and asked Police Chief John Quaka to provide police presence when Hodges Construction planned to continue work on the road.
The lawsuit concludes with a request that the property be returned to its previous state, including the planting of mature trees to replace those cut down and other damages.
The complaint also requests a juried trial.
According to the complaint, the lawsuit follows a long series of negotiations between the city and property owners over the service road. During that time, the city eventually offered to make improvements to the Wilsons' property and shift the road south in exchange for a quick-claim deed.
Though the city did shift the road design south, the lawsuit claims it was still within the Wilsons’ property lines.
Logan said Thursday that the city believes it has the right-of-way on the property, secured an easement from another section of the property the Wilson’s claim to own and did everything within its power to solve the issue without litigation. The city also received easements from another property owner and the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation as part of the road construction.
The next step, Logan said, is for Caldwell to send a response to the complaint, and during that time, the city will also file an eminent domain complaint to the circuit court, which the council also voted unanimously to approve during the Wednesday night meeting.
He said the city’s law team will handle the eminent domain case.
“We contend that we have the right-of-way already, and the property owner contends he owns the center of the road,” Logan said. “We will eminent domain what we need … just to clear anything up.”
The eminent domain complaint, Logan said, will encompass the parts of the Wilson’s property where the road is already constructed.
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/tupelo-being-sued-over-chickasaw-heritage-center-service-road/article_d77e1422-1c12-11ee-879d-0b282fbcf8de.html | 2023-07-07T10:45:58 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/tupelo-being-sued-over-chickasaw-heritage-center-service-road/article_d77e1422-1c12-11ee-879d-0b282fbcf8de.html |
Country singer Dustin Lynch is set to play 8 p.m. Saturday at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center Chiefs Event Center, 777 Bannock Trail in Fort Hall.
Lynch has achieved “four top (five) albums, (10) gold and platinum-certified singles,” the event page said.
He has also toured with the likes of Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley.
The free LIVE United Concert series will begin its season 6 p.m. Thursday at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing, 1220 Event Center Drive in Idaho Falls.
On Thursday, singer Paige Anne will perform with the southeast Idaho band Almost Famous.
Each concert is family-friendly and includes a food truck, STEAM activities and books for kids aged 5-13. The Idaho Brewing Company also has local beers and cornhole boards.
The concert series will run from July through August. Each week attendees are encouraged to bring items for a United Way project.
On Thursday, attendees can bring hygiene items for students with challenges in their lives. Items needed are “shampoo, conditioner, combs, soap, deodorant, Kleenex, wet wipes, chapstick (and) feminine products,” according to the event page.
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OVIEDO, Fla. — The Oviedo Fire Department will present a local teacher, Suzanne Matos, with a life-saving award on Friday.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
According to officials, on May 26, 2023, Matos was parking her car at the Oviedo Mall when she noticed smoke coming from another vehicle nearby.
She also noticed that two children were trying to escape the burning vehicle and Matos was able to help the children out of the car and to safety.
Read: Deputies investigate deadly shooting at Orange County gas station
The children were taken to Arnold Palmer Children`s Hospital and suffered several first-degree burns on their faces and ears.
Eventually, Oviedo Police arrested the children’s mother, Alicia Moore, 24.
Read: Shoppers rescue 2 kids from car fire while mother was shoplifting at Oviedo Mall, police say
According to police, Moore was inside the mall at the time of the fire, shoplifting from stores. She also faces additional charges of neglect of a child with great bodily harm and first-degree arson.
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/oviedo-fire-will-honor-good-samaritan-friday-with-life-saving-award/JCX4VLLI65BW3N2RAK7WMYND3M/ | 2023-07-07T10:55:03 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/oviedo-fire-will-honor-good-samaritan-friday-with-life-saving-award/JCX4VLLI65BW3N2RAK7WMYND3M/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — WFTV Meteorologist Brian Shields says Friday will be hot and humid.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
There is a 60% chance of afternoon and early evening storms, with temperatures reaching 93.
This weekend, expect low to middle 90s across Central Florida and scattered afternoon storms Saturday and Sunday.
Read: Orange County HOA refused to turn over financial records after questions about spending
Out at the beaches, rip current risk is moderate. Remember to always swim near a lifeguard if one is on duty.
Keeping an Eye on the Tropics, nothing in the Atlantic to track and all is quiet.
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/weekend-filled-with-afternoon-storms-around-central-florida/NEC5HR7VDZF2PLNEWR6GQNAG3Y/ | 2023-07-07T10:55:09 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/weekend-filled-with-afternoon-storms-around-central-florida/NEC5HR7VDZF2PLNEWR6GQNAG3Y/ |
PITTSBURGH — Muggy start with fog in spots, so watch for reduced visibility in some areas this morning. There will be clouds and sunshine with isolated showers. A few storms are possible before the front clears later today. Highs will reach the low 80s. Humidity will decrease tonight and lows will fall to the upper 50s and low 60s.
The weekend will kick off with a mix of clouds and sunshine, highs will reach the low 80s. There will be a chance for showers, and a few storms Saturday evening. Clouds are expected on Sunday with scattered showers and storms through the day. Highs will only make it to the mid-70s.
Latest timing on rain showers and storms over the weekend on Channel 11 News.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/muggy-start-friday-with-isolated-showers-few-storms-possible-later/ZH37YJCTQNGS5MR5XI6J7CDUVE/ | 2023-07-07T10:58:19 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/muggy-start-friday-with-isolated-showers-few-storms-possible-later/ZH37YJCTQNGS5MR5XI6J7CDUVE/ |
PITTSBURGH — A male was rushed to the hospital after he was found stabbed multiple times in East Liberty early Friday.
Pittsburgh police were called to the 100 block of Larimer Avenue around 2:30 a.m.
When officers arrived, they found a male in a parking lot who was stabbed four times in the chest. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he was taken into surgery.
There is no word on what led up to the stabbing or any suspects. Police continue to investigate.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/person-found-stabbed-multiple-times-east-liberty-parking-lot/COJ3PN2TJJF3ZPZNV36U4YMTGM/ | 2023-07-07T10:58:25 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/person-found-stabbed-multiple-times-east-liberty-parking-lot/COJ3PN2TJJF3ZPZNV36U4YMTGM/ |
Annual event draws nearly 20,000 guests for day filled with music and meat
The area’s largest celebration of blues-inspired music and local barbecue gets cooking this weekend.
North Liberty’s 15th annual Blues & BBQ is Saturday, jam-packed with free live music from Midwest blues artists and local pitmasters firing up ribs, pulled pork, ice cream and pizza in the city’s Centennial Park.
Officials expect another large turnout after last year’s event brought in nearly 20,000 visitors, North Liberty communications director Nick Bergus told the Press-Citizen.
Blues & BBQ is meant to celebrate community, good food and music.
“It’s a great opportunity for folks who are new to North Liberty to come and connect with neighbors and friends,” Bergus said. “We also know that it’s drawing folks from outside the area and showing off North Liberty and our community.”
The event started in 2007 as a one-off for a new development and has moved around before settling in Centennial Park. Its popularity has grown within North Liberty, Bergus said.
Who is performing at this year’s Blues & BBQ?
This year's lineup provides a full day of music.
ZZ Ward will headline when she takes the stage at 9 p.m. The east coast singer and songwriter has collaborated with Fitz and the Tantrums, Gary Clark Jr. and Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar.
She has also appeared and performed on late-night television and Good Morning America. Her latest singles include “Forget About Us” and “Ride or Die.” She announced her “One Hell of a Night” Tour last week, with more than 15 stops across the country, including Des Moines.
The local indie blues rock band The Wilted will open the day’s musical performances at 11 a.m. The Iowa City trio consists of Maiya Kauffmann, Gage Netolicky and Jack Lumsdon.
Singer-songwriter Dave Moore will hit the stage at 12:30 p.m. The Iowa City-area musician plays guitar, button accordion and harmonica. Country blues heavily influence his performances. Throughout his life, Moore has explored Latin America and has also been heavily influenced by the conjunto style of music. Moore has been making music in Iowa City since the 1980s.
James Tutson & the Rollback, a modern rhythm, blues, and soul band from Iowa City, performs at 2 p.m. A singer and songwriter, the group came together when Tutson put together a backing band while recording his second album. The group includes Tutson on vocals and guitar, Tyler Carrington on drums and vocals, Heath Hospodarsky on guitar, Erik Lehmann on keyboard and vocals, Jesse Upah on keyboard and vocals and Dave Livingston on bass.
The mid-afternoon includes a performance by The Diplomats of Solid Sound, an Iowa City-based band combining funk, soul, blues and Americana. The group was originally formed in Iowa City but now has members from Chicago to Austin, Texas.
Omaha’s Hector Anchondo, who received the 1st Place award at the 2020 International Blues Challenge for best solo/duo performance as well as the top spot as the competition’s best guitarist, will make his way to North Liberty this weekend and hit the stage for the first of the three straight 90 minute performances. Anchondo’s performance begins at 5 pm.
The self-taught Midwest blues legend Kevin Burt & Big Medicine takes the stage for the final performance before the headliner at 7 p.m. Burt achieved similar accolades to Anchondo in 2018, also winning for his performance on the harmonica. Throughout his career, Burt has shared the stage with well-known icons in the music scene, including B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Three Dog Night.
All performances will take place on the purpose-built GreenState Credit Union Stage in North Liberty’s Centennial Park. The Blues & BBQ organizers curated the lineup with help from Iowa City’s Englert Theatre.
What local food and drink options will be available?
Delectable meats are the anchor of North Liberty's summer festival.
Guests can chow down starting at 10 a.m. as they sample a variety of BBQ, including ribs, burnt ends, and classic treats like ice cream. All food will be served in or on compostable materials, and all silverware and napkins will also be composted.
Local vendors include Rodney’s Jamaican Jerk & BBQ, Iowa City-based Luna’s Taqueria, Mosley’s Backyard Grill, Yolanda’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes and more. The list of vendors is available on the city’s Blues & BBQ website.
The beverage garden is open from 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., serving up local brews, seltzers and ciders as well as nonalcoholic beverages. The full list of available alcoholic options can be found at https://northlibertyblues.org/cold-brews/. Pints will cost $7 or 3 for $20.
Saturday's event will feature children's events as well, including an inflatable slide and bounce house, a mini rock wall, and more. These activities will be available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
North Liberty's next phase
The site of this weekend's festival, Centennial Park, is slated for massive development. The centerpiece of the "Next Stage" project is the construction of the Centennial Center, an event space for live indoor or outdoor music and events. The city hopes to complete the project by the summer of 2025.
Construction will likely cancel Blues & BBQ or force a relocation next summer.
Bergus said solidifying an event space would help not only Blues & BBQ but the community as a whole, providing space for family reunions, birthday parties, weddings, and more.
He said they hope to showcase the city to folks around Iowa since more than a third of Blues & BBQ's visitors come from outside of Johnson County.
“We know that folks are coming back time after time and they’re experiencing North Liberty,” Bergus said. “I think it’s an opportunity for us to really show off both our local businesses as well as the broader community.”
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/2023/07/06/blues-and-bbq-celebrates-15th-year-on-saturday-live-music-local-vendors/70387413007/ | 2023-07-07T10:58:27 | 0 | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/blues-and-bbq-celebrates-15th-year-on-saturday-live-music-local-vendors/70387413007/ |
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Indiana's oldest veteran celebrated another birthday on Thursday.
A party was held in Evansville for Thurman Carnal, who celebrated his 107th birthday with family and friends.
“He was treating people right, and people are treating him right. It’s a combination of that. He’s had some good friends along the way,” his son, Darrell, told WFIE-TV.
Carnal served in the U.S. Army in the European Theatre of World War II after being drafted.
He said he didn't know the secret to his long life.
"Just luck," he said.
But those who have known Carnal the longest said he maintained an active lifestyle and was always helping others.
"He's a very intelligent man, always willing to do whatever," said Don Burch, who got to know Carnal through his son as a teenager.
Burch said Thurman even helped him hang drywall at the age of 98 and that he lived on his own well into his 100s.
After blowing out the candles on another birthday cake, Carnal was wheeled outside for one final surprise, a ride-by and special presentation by the Indiana Patriot Guard. Sharing a salute, Thurman smiled as he was handed an American Flag and a special pin — a fitting end to a hero’s birthday. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana/indianas-oldest-veteran-thurman-carnal-celebrates-107th-birthday-in-evansville/531-bcd19298-97cd-4059-bd29-7f0a0b743580 | 2023-07-07T11:04:24 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana/indianas-oldest-veteran-thurman-carnal-celebrates-107th-birthday-in-evansville/531-bcd19298-97cd-4059-bd29-7f0a0b743580 |
Welcome to Food Truck Fridays, a weekly video series about the various and unique food trucks in the Richmond area.
Each week, we will talk to a different owner/chef about their food, history and culture, highlighting signature dishes and love for cuisine.
This week, Alex Britland and Zack Phifer chat about Cocina Calle.
Britland and Phifer have known each other since middle school. They had been friends/acquaintances for years when they decided to jump into the Richmond food truck scene.
The concept came about when Phifer visited a friend who was finishing up time in the Peace Corps El Salvador. While splitting his time between helping build a house with Habit For Humanity and enjoying the beaches, Phifer discovered a love for papusas. Papusas are thick corn tortillas typically stuffed with beans, cheese and meats.
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When Phifer came back home, he and Britland began playing around with recipes. Britland had been wanting to start a food truck and had many different concepts in mind, but they decided that what the Richmond scene was lacking was quick, fresh and delicious pupusas. And so Cocina Calle was born.
Along with chicken, pulled pork and traditional cheese and bean pupusas, the duo serves tacos, quesadillas and their signature: yuca tots. One hefty pupusa goes for $6 and a plate of loaded yuca tots rounds out at $12.
Each week, we're taking a look at a food truck around Richmond. All videos shot and edited by RTD staff photographer Mike Kropf. | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/the-guys-at-cocina-calle-food-truck-are-slingin-pupusas-and-yuca-tots-in-richmond/article_67a4390a-16aa-11ee-8ff4-0bb94b994551.html | 2023-07-07T11:07:19 | 1 | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/the-guys-at-cocina-calle-food-truck-are-slingin-pupusas-and-yuca-tots-in-richmond/article_67a4390a-16aa-11ee-8ff4-0bb94b994551.html |
The K-12 “learning recovery grants” touted by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in March as a way to “combat severe learning losses“ went mostly to higher-income families.
Originally announced as a $30 million initiative, the fund was doubled to $60 million to meet demand, Youngkin announced Thursday.
Less than a quarter of the families who received a grant were eligible for the larger grant that was given to students whose family income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of three, that threshold is $74,580.
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According to the Virginia Department of Education, 34,650 students were approved for the state’s learning acceleration grants.
Of those, 8,247 students qualified for the $3,000 grant that was available to families whose income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty limit. But more than three quarters of the students — 26,403 — received the $1,500 grant, which was available to families whose income exceeds the threshold.
The grants were given out on a first-come, first-served basis, and are intended to be used for qualifying tutoring services and other education services or materials. The $60 million comes from the state’s share of federal COVID-19 relief funds.
“I’m very pleased that so many Virginia families are able to find help to close the learning gap,” Youngkin said on Thursday morning at a blood donation event in Petersburg.
“A learning gap that was, in my view, unnecessary because schools were closed for an extended period of time unnecessarily.”
Youngkin referenced Virginia’s performance on a congressionally-mandated assessment known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” the results of which were released late last year. The scores showed that fourth-grade reading scores in Virginia fell by 10 points, the largest dip in the nation, since the last assessment in 2019.
“This is a great program, I think it’s hugely important,” Youngkin said. “I’ve been so concerned about this massive learning loss in Virginia.”
Virginia students deemed as “economically disadvantaged” by the state perform on average far below their peers on state assessments in every subject, year after year, according to state data.
Del. Schyuler VanValkneburg, D-Henrico, said the distribution of the grants to mostly higher-income families was to be expected.
“If we actually care about getting the (National Assessment of Educational Progress) scores up, and if we want to help students make up for lost time, the way to do it is to target the kids who need it the most,” VanValkneburg said. “And you do that with high frequency, in-school tutoring because you’re then able to get to the kids who need it the most with the least amount of friction.”
The delegate proposed a budget amendment earlier this year that aimed to provide highly intensive tutoring during the school day to students who have suffered severe learning loss. The amendment failed.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin advocated for K-12 learning recover grants that totaled $60 million, most of which went to high-income households.
The Senate Finance Committee calculated that it would have cost about $268 million. At the time, Vanvalkenburg said the state needs to target the students with the lowest test scores. Historically, those are low-income students.
“If we want to fix the problems that we say we want to fix — and I do want to fix those problems — we know how to do it,” Vanvalkenburg said. “And this program just doesn’t do that. It creates a lot of barriers. It creates a lot of waste.”
Youngkin’s learning acceleration grants program was under fire this week following claims from many parents who said they had received the grants but were unable to use them.
Gov. Youngkin is leaving our families behind by adding bureaucratic hurdles after they were promised critical tutoring assistance from his admin. The Gov is failing to address learning loss for our students who need it the most.
— Mayor Levar M. Stoney (@LevarStoney) July 6, 2023
Grant funds are deposited into parents’ ClassWallet account, and parents can browse the website and place orders for approved education materials and tutoring services.
But some parents said their requests have been denied.
“Youngkin and the Department of Education lied and scammed parents,” said Richmond parent Gabrielle Cevallos in an email.
According to emails to Cevallos from tutoring providers, her attempts to purchase education materials were denied several times.
Youngkin addressed the criticisms at a blood donation event in Petersburg on Thursday morning.
“I really am sorry those families are having challenges but we’re going to get those resolved,” Youngkin told reporters.
The VDOE Chief of Staff Jeremy Raley said the department assigned additional staff to work together with the families to resolve their issues.
“Decisions were made today to remedy some of the concerns we’re aware of from our families, and those remedies are being put in place as we speak,” Raley said Thursday afternoon. “We’ll see the results of that within the next 24 hours.” | https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/virginia-grants-higher-income-homes/article_31c2b39a-1c25-11ee-82d3-9fdd2142d18c.html | 2023-07-07T11:07:26 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/virginia-grants-higher-income-homes/article_31c2b39a-1c25-11ee-82d3-9fdd2142d18c.html |
Someone shot and killed a couple as they returned to their West Philadelphia home early Friday, with the majority of the 18 shots fired at them from close range.
The deadly shooting took place around 2:45 a.m. along Locust Street, near 61st Street, in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood, Philadelphia police said.
"They're husband and wife and they were returning home and they were just a few feet from the front steps of their house when they were shot multiple times," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
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Medics pronounced the man and woman -- who were both in their 40s -- dead at the scene a short time later.
The couple's bodies were found one house away from their family home, Small said. There were family members in the home at the time.
Investigators found evidence that at least 18 shots were fired at the couple, Small said.
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"It appears that the shooter or shooters fired at least 15 of these shots from point blank-range," Small said.
The woman had a firearm on her, but never pulled it from the holster, Small said.
It didn't appear the couple was robbed as a purse and their cellphones were left at the scene, but police couldn't rule out robbery as a motive.
Police hoped that surveillance video could help them track down whoever killed the couple.
Entering Friday, at least 218 people have been killed in Philadelphia so far this year, according to police data. That's down about 20% from last year at this same time, but at a pace that is ahead of many other recent years on record.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/couple-shot-killed-west-philly/3599924/ | 2023-07-07T11:22:03 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/couple-shot-killed-west-philly/3599924/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/husband-wife-shot-to-death-while-returning-home/3599936/ | 2023-07-07T11:22:10 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/husband-wife-shot-to-death-while-returning-home/3599936/ |
How legislation will prevent restaurants from ever being built in Cape Henlopen State Park
Gov. John Carney is set to sign a bill that will prevent a restaurant from ever being built in Cape Henlopen State Park, after such a proposal caused an uproar last year.
Delaware State Parks faced public protest in 2022 when they considered allowing La Vida Hospitality to build a restaurant in the area of the park's bathhouse and concessions. Ultimately, they dropped the idea, but freshman Sen. Russ Huxtable, a Lewes Democrat, filed a bill in May to hold them to their decision.
At first, with complaints about concessions and the 50-year-old bathhouse, La Vida's plan was appealing to Delaware State Parks officials, but the backlash from the public was swift. Social media teemed with criticism, letters to the editor were sent and the citizens’ group Preserve Our Park Coalition was formed and organized a march.
“If State Parks is in such dire need of more resources, there are better ways to raise funds. (The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, State Parks' parent agency,) should preserve Delaware’s natural heritage, not exploit it for as much money as it can,” Preserve Our Park Coalition's mission statement says.
However, numerous other state parks have restaurants and other private business partnerships. La Vida itself operates Big Chill inside Delaware Seashore State Park. So what makes Cape Henlopen any different?
The Warner Grant, according to Preserve Our Parks, officially made Cape Henlopen public lands in 1682, nearly a century before Delaware became a state. In 1979, the General Assembly further defined the boundaries of the Warner Grant Trust Lands and what it could be used for.
A restaurant would violate the 1979 legislation, a Preserve Our Parks Coalition attorney wrote in a letter to the state, but the case never went to court.
In December 2022, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and La Vida Hospitality “mutually decided,” according to a DNREC news release, not to move forward with the idea.
Specifically, though, the news release says they decided “not to move forward at this time.” It was issued during a public meeting at Cape Henlopen High School, where a huge crowd had come ready to fight for the park. Huxtable was there, too.
“I think a lot of people noticed the phrasing of that,” Huxtable said. “That means they’re going to come back and revisit this.”
Now, Huxtable’s bill will not only ensure Cape Henlopen is “administered for the public benefit” through conservation, nature education and public recreation, but that “hospitality amenities such as a restaurant, hotel, hostelry, or entertainment center,” will never be developed there.
The bill sailed through the House and Senate without a single vote against it. Gov. Carney is expected to sign it in the next few months.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught
Background:Does a proposed restaurant at Cape Henlopen State Park violate state law? What we know
The beach:What to know and do at the Delaware beaches this weekend
Photos:How the Delaware beaches celebrated the Fourth of July | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/restaurants-prohibited-cape-henlopen-state-park-delaware/70383763007/ | 2023-07-07T11:24:15 | 0 | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/restaurants-prohibited-cape-henlopen-state-park-delaware/70383763007/ |
'Tranq dope' is becoming more prevalent in Delaware. Can this outreach help?
Dr. Sandra Gibney stood on the corner of East Ninth and Bennett streets in Wilmington, a drug test strip in hand.
Flanked on both sides by local users, she pointed to the back of the strip’s packaging, which had five different images printed on the plastic.
“Three is key,” Gibney said, explaining how to read the test results. “If you see three lines, it means your dope is good.”
As the doctor repeated herself, the man and woman by her side stared intently at the packaging, the gears in their heads slowly turning as they tried to make sense of it.
The test – which detects both fentanyl and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that’s increasingly being cut into fentanyl and that can cause death and necrotic wounds on a user’s body – is counterintuitive.
While most rapid strips used for pregnancy or coronavirus are positive if they have multiple lines, this is the opposite. A red control line, a line above the fentanyl marking and a line above the xylazine marking means a user’s drug is negative for fentanyl and xylazine.
XYLAZINE WOUNDS:The race to treat wounds caused by 'tranq dope' in Delaware before amputation is needed
If there is no line above one or both of the drug makings, it means the strip has detected the presence of fentanyl and/or xylazine.
As Gibney remained on the street corner, patiently reiterating how to read the test, a glimmer of understanding flashed across the man’s face.
“No lines, leave it the (expletive) alone,” he said, garnering a laugh from those around him.
“Sorry,” he added a moment later. “I didn’t mean to be so gross, but I had to keep it simple for my brain.”
In part, this exchange is why Gibney, Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and volunteers with Brandywine Counseling & Community Services walked the streets of Wilmington on a recent Monday evening, handing out bags of food and toiletries, the opioid-reversing naloxone and the new test strips.
BACKGROUND:'Tranq dope' is killing Delawareans. The state hopes these tests will help curb overdoses
Created by Bear-based SIVAD Diagnostic Medical Group LLC, the dual tests are the first of their kind nationally. While rapid fentanyl tests have been around for years – and more recently, companies have begun producing rapid xylazine tests – there has never previously been a single test that can detect both drugs.
With overdoses often spiking around holidays, the volunteers wanted to begin handing out supplies in hopes of making users more aware of what’s in their drugs – if for nothing else than to simply improve education about xylazine.
“Will they not take a drug because it has it in it? No,” Gibney said. “But I think eventually, if enough people are aware and enough people get these xylazine wounds, there may be some pressure to do something.”
‘Chop their limbs off’
Though xylazine is not a new drug – it’s been used by veterinarians for decades to sedate large animals such as horses, cattle and non-domesticated animals – it was only relatively recently that users in Delaware began to report the drug in the state’s fentanyl supply.
Those who work in addiction medicine knew it was coming, given users in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood began seeing it on a more widespread scale in 2018. While xylazine first appeared in Kensington in the mid-2000s, it didn’t become prevalent until about a decade later.
Addiction specialists have long said anything that hits Kensington ultimately makes its way to northern Delaware. That was the case when fentanyl became an additive to heroin, and then when fentanyl slowly overtook that opioid as users’ drug of choice.
ADDICTION IN DELAWARE:Her son died after being kicked out of a Florida sober home. How Delaware may prevent that
As Gibney and the volunteers made their way through Wilmington, it was clear that city residents who struggle with addiction know of xylazine’s effects.
“People out here be trippin’ off that dope,” one man said as the volunteer group handed him supplies and explained why they were on the city’s East Side. Xylazine often causes users to go into stupors or a trance-like state, which can make them vulnerable to robbery and assault.
“That’s what’s killing people,” another man said.
“Yeah, and what’s causing them to have to chop their limbs off,” Gibney replied.
Though xylazine can be deadly – too much can cause dangerously low blood pressure, slow breathing and low heart rate, leading to death – it also often causes wounds that become infected and necrotic, resulting in the amputation of limbs and digits.
The way the drug kills skin and muscle, Gibney said, is by deoxygenating the tissue it comes in contact with. A “very acidic” substance, xylazine comes in powder form, meaning it’s typically only snorted or injected.
READ:They were parents, friends and colleagues. This gallery shows them beyond their addiction
If injected into a vein, the vein can collapse. But, Gibney said, users often miss, which causes the xylazine to then travel under a person’s skin, killing the tissue as it goes.
If snorted, xylazine can completely obliterate a person’s septum – the part of the nose that separates the two nasal chambers. Recently, Gibney even had a patient at her weekly wound care clinic whose nose was completely eroded by the drug.
“Her nose just fell off because it was completely necrotic,” Gibney said. “And the other girl's just looked like a blow-hole.”
Aside from the cosmetic issues brought about by snorting the drug, Gibney said, xylazine can cause the blood-brain barrier membranes to explode, which means there’s nothing blocking harmful substances from reaching the brain.
This can then lead to encephalitis or inflammation of the brain tissue. The inflammation causes the brain to swell, which can lead to seizures and death.
Because there’s currently no reversal approved for use in humans, educating users about the drug and how to reduce harm – such as by testing their drugs – is currently the best tool addiction specialists have.
Still, it’s not a particularly good option.
“The bottom line is, until we have a reversal agent, there's no way that we can fix this,” Gibney said.
Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_ | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/delaware-addiction-xylazine-fentanyl-tranq-dope/70384308007/ | 2023-07-07T11:24:21 | 1 | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/delaware-addiction-xylazine-fentanyl-tranq-dope/70384308007/ |
These 25 Indianapolis schools will get flashing beacons to improve safety in school zones
Amid a pedestrian safety crisis that saw a record 40 people killed by drivers in 2022, Indianapolis plans to make several changes to increase safety, especially in school zones.
As part of a roads package announced Thursday by the Hogsett Administration, the city said it aims to install at least one flashing beacon at each Indianapolis school located along thoroughfares by the end of the year.
This move comes almost two years after a 7-year-old, Hannah Crutchfield, was killed crossing the street outside George W. Julian School 57 in Irvington.
Flashing beacons are a traffic warning system aimed at reducing speeding with flashing lights and a school zone reduced speed limit sign. Currently, 190 schools have a flashing beacon. The city wants to put them up at the remaining 25 schools by the end of 2023.
The schools that will receive a flashing beacon:
- A Children's Habitat
- Allegiant Preparatory Academy
- Brookside School 54
- Building Blocks Academy
- Cardinal Ritter High School
- Christ Temple Christian Academy
- Christel House Academy West
- Clearwater Elementary School
- Fortune Academy
- Indianapolis Southside Christian Academy
- Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center
- Marian University Preparatory School
- Matchbook Learning
- Muhammad's School
- Shepherd Community Academy
- Vision Academy at Riverside
- Wayne Preparatory Academy
- Worthmore Academy
- Christ Church Christian Academy
- Curtis Wilson Primary School
- Hagia Sophia Classical Academy
- Indy West Christian School
- James Whitcomb Riley School 43
- Maria Montessori International Academy
- Herron Preparatory Academy
Contact the reporter at 317-903-7071 or kcheang@indystar.com. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/07/07/25-indianapolis-schools-will-get-flashing-beacons-to-improve-pedestrian-safety-school-zones/70387908007/ | 2023-07-07T11:48:09 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/07/07/25-indianapolis-schools-will-get-flashing-beacons-to-improve-pedestrian-safety-school-zones/70387908007/ |
DALLAS — A North Texas boy is trying to achieve his goal of becoming a LEGO Mini Master Model Builder.
Bennett was challenged to build a creation that represents Dallas-Fort Worth. Here's what he created:
The LEGO model comes complete with a Texas-shaped American flag and the Reunion Tower!
You can vote for Bennett by going to the Legoland Discover Center Facebook page and liking his photo.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/legoland-competiton-2023/287-7386ced6-57e0-4e8e-a6e7-0dd0b7538145 | 2023-07-07T11:50:26 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/legoland-competiton-2023/287-7386ced6-57e0-4e8e-a6e7-0dd0b7538145 |
HIGHLAND VILLAGE, Texas — Dive crews recovered the body of a 19-year-old who went under water while swimming with friends and did not resurface.
The Highland Village Fire Department said it and Lewisville Fire Department searched for the teen, who is from Dallas, at Copperas Branch Park in Highland Village. The Highland Village Fire Department said it was notified about a possible drowning at approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 5.
At approximately 9:12 p.m. on July 5, officials said the Lewisville Fire dive team was not able to recover the 19-year-old, and their efforts would continue Thursday, July 6. The 19-year-old was found by dive crews Thursday afternoon at around 2 p.m.
This is the third drowning at Lewisville Lake in three straight days.
On Monday, July 3, another 19-year-old teen died after drowning at Lewisville Lake while swimming in the public beach area of Lake Park. Dive teams pulled him from the water later that day and he was transferred to Medical City Lewisville Hospital with CPR in progress for possible life-saving measures. Online records showed the victim was later pronounced dead.
On Tuesday, July 4, a man in his 40s was part of a group that rented a pontoon boat and was out swimming in the lake. Dive crews were unable to locate him on Tuesday, but recovered his body late Wednesday evening, officials told WFAA.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/lewisville-lake-drowning-teen-copperas-branch-park-highland-village/287-f97016f3-65e7-45ef-bbc8-cd2ec94ebb03 | 2023-07-07T11:50:32 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/lewisville-lake-drowning-teen-copperas-branch-park-highland-village/287-f97016f3-65e7-45ef-bbc8-cd2ec94ebb03 |
HOUSTON — On Thursday, for the first time in more than eight years, relatives of Rudy Farias got to see him.
Farias' aunt, Pauline Sanchez, said she spoke to him at a home in east Houston and told KHOU 11 that he said he wants nothing more to do with his mother.
Farias, who had been reported missing in 2015, was found outside of a church last week. Police have now confirmed that he had run away from home more than eight years ago, but then came back home the next day. Ever since then, police said he was living at his mother's home and was never really missing.
Sanchez said after speaking to Farias, she believes all of the accusations Houston community activist Quanell X made about Farias' mother, Janie Santana, are true.
“He made the statement that he doesn’t want to see his mom," Sanchez said. "He doesn’t want to go back to his mom.”
Quanell X said he spoke to Farias in the presence of an investigator Wednesday. He said Farias told them that Santana had been hiding, drugging and sexually abusing him.
Police, however, said Thursday that Farias never reported any sexual abuse by his mother when they interviewed him Wednesday.
When Sanchez went to visit the home at which Farias was staying Thursday, the person inside at first wouldn't allow her in, yelling from the front door. But eventually, Sanchez's son was allowed in to see Farias. Soon after, Sanchez was allowed in, as well.
Sanchez said during their meeting, she gave Farias a blessed Rosary from the Holy Land.
“It was beautiful, very beautiful to see him,” she said. “We hugged until I finally let go.”
Sanchez said Farias will clearly need professional help for what he's endured.
Though HPD Chief Troy Finner said Thursday that Farias is choosing to stay with his mother as they continue to investigate this case, Sanchez said he's actually staying with a friend of his mother.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office has declined charges at this time, but Chief Finner said it's early in the investigation.
Family members have publicly said they want Santana arrested. On Friday, community activists will demand that Santana be charged. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-investigation/285-d1cb5a1e-44e2-49b4-bdf3-74170415d735 | 2023-07-07T11:50:38 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-investigation/285-d1cb5a1e-44e2-49b4-bdf3-74170415d735 |
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park is getting $27.5 million in federal highway money to upgrade its aging fleet of shuttle buses, which help the more than 4 million annual visitors get around the huge park.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced the grant at an event Thursday on the canyon’s south rim.
The replacement project includes 30 new buses — 20 that run on compressed natural gas and 10 electric buses. Charging stations will be installed for the electric buses. The new buses are expected to reduce pollution and ease the overcrowding of vehicles at the park.
The park has over 270 miles of paved and unpaved roads.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
The Grand Canyon project is one of seven to receive grants totaling $130.5 million under a Federal Highway Administration program that recognizes transportation projects of national significance that serve federal and tribal lands.
Officials from the Department of Transportation, Interior Department, the park and surrounding communities attended Thursday’s event.
“With this National Park Service grant that is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re helping to deliver safe, sustainable and reliable transportation investments that help families and visitors explore the Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding communities,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.
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Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/grand-canyon-gets-275-million-federal-grant-greener-shuttle-buses/75-c66669e9-0dd5-402b-a376-c80f16c154ec | 2023-07-07T11:57:07 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/grand-canyon-gets-275-million-federal-grant-greener-shuttle-buses/75-c66669e9-0dd5-402b-a376-c80f16c154ec |
PHOENIX — It's a nightmare for anyone living in Arizona during the hot summer months.
Air conditioning repair shops are getting hundreds of calls a day from people living in the Valley who either need their AC repaired or replaced entirely.
Josh Carmona who lives in North Phoenix is one of many in that unfortunate situation.
“Last night we were at like 102 degrees indoors,” Carmona said.
It was toward the end of June when he said his AC was starting to make weird noises. Then the next morning his family woke up to 90-degree heat inside the home.
“Our air conditioner had actually just stopped,” Carmona said.
It's been a week since this all started. Carmona and his family have been staying at hotels since then. He is currently waiting on his home warranty to come through with repairs but said they are still in the same situation.
“It’s just been a nightmare, it’s been horrible,” he said.
For homeowners who lose their air conditioning and have a home warranty, the process can take a while to either repair or replace the unit. The other option they have is to just fix the system themselves.
Carmona is now looking into that option but said the lowest estimate he received for his home is $12,000.
Precision Air and Plumbing out in Chandler sells and repairs AC units. General manager Rey Higuera said they get between 150 and 250 calls a day for service.
"My technicians are running anywhere from five to eight calls a day,” Higuera said.
AC units in the Valley can last between 10 to 12 years Higuera said. He added that it is imperative for people to stay on top of maintenance. The small cost for that could end up saving you thousands down the road.
For renters who lose AC, there are several options they can take.
HomeSmart Realtor Stephanie Kaufman said for tenants who find themselves in this situation, the first thing they need to do is write to their landlord or property manager to let them know what is happening. Kaufman said it's key that there is a timestamp somewhere on the written note, like in an email, that shows when the notice was sent.
“The Arizona Residential Landlord Tenant Act requires your landlord to provide reasonable access to cooling and the reason why you want to do it in writing is because you want to provide documentation that you contacted them. Then ideally you want to follow up with a phone call,” Kaufman said.
In the City of Phoenix, landlords are required to provide reasonable cooling for tenants.
The city's ordinance requires places with air conditioning units to cool to at least 82 degrees. Those with evaporative coolers to 86 degrees.
“It’s life-threatening heat so they have 24 hours to make the accommodation,” Stefanie Nader a program manager for Phoenix's Landlord Tenant Program.
Nader said those accommodations could be temporary hotel stays or even a portable AC unit that can bring down the temperature. However, Nader pointed out that the portable unit only has to cool down one room while the landlord fixes the situation.
When it comes to reimbursement, Nader said renters can ask for up to 125% of their daily rental rate. Meaning if your AC is out for an entire month and you pay $800 a month for rent, you will be reimbursed that $800 plus an additional $200.
However, Nader made it clear that people should not stop paying rent. He recommended tenants keep their receipts for hotels or portable coolers and then submit those invoices to landlords for reimbursement.
There is also the situation of no response from your landlord. When that happens both Kaufman and Nader said legal representation may need to be the next step.
Renters can also reach out to the City of Phoenix Landlords Tenant Program for assistance. While they do not offer legal advice, Nader said representatives can put people in contact with mediators who can assist.
Heat Beat
Here are several videos about Arizona's extreme heat and how you can stay safe during the state's summer months. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/heatbeat/what-to-do-if-ac-goes-out-phoenix-arizona/75-50b6b25b-d968-466f-92b2-b36e200bc07b | 2023-07-07T11:57:13 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/heatbeat/what-to-do-if-ac-goes-out-phoenix-arizona/75-50b6b25b-d968-466f-92b2-b36e200bc07b |
NORMAL — The Heartland Community College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society has been recognized with multiple honors.
Accomplishments include receiving the Most Distinguished Honors in Action Project Award, securing the top position for the region. The Heartland chapter was recognized for its two-day speaking seminar "Hawk Talks."
The chapter also garnered accolades for its College Project on the regional level. The Honors in Action Project encompassed the chapter's meticulous process of formulating a research question aligned with the chosen theme, conducting research, drawing conclusions, and developing an event or project based on those findings.
The organization's performance across both projects led to its receival of the Outstanding Chapter Award.
The awards came under the leadership of advisers Cristina Prestin-Beard and Jennifer Pauken, and students Alisa Wright and Veronica Swanson. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/a-look-at-the-latest-central-illinois-academic-successes/article_71656232-1c2e-11ee-bd7c-3f0dff971e2f.html | 2023-07-07T12:20:36 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/a-look-at-the-latest-central-illinois-academic-successes/article_71656232-1c2e-11ee-bd7c-3f0dff971e2f.html |
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.
100 years ago
July 7, 1923: Final results of the local campaign for Near East Relief, conducted in May, showed that Bloomington residents contributed $2,510 to the cause. All but $75 was contributed by church congregations. The city also donated several tons of coal to the effort, which aids Greek and Armenian refugees.
75 years ago
July 7, 1948: Four hundred yellow metal insect traps will be set in Bloomington-Normal during the next few days to target the Japanese beetle. Arnold P. Benson, state director of agriculture, asked residents to allow the traps to be placed on their properties for roughly 30 days. The presence of the beetles, which can damage fruit, corn, soybeans and other plants, was discovered here a week ago by L.D. Morris of 1402 E. Grove St.
50 years ago
July 7, 1973: A proposal to locate McLean County Unit 5's service center at the former dump site on Adelaide Street met with a cold reception from school board members at a joint meeting with Normal Town Council members. Mayor Carol Reitan presented the property as an alternative to the district's proposed site near the new junior high school at Parkside Road and West College Avenue.
25 years ago
July 7, 1998: What's in the box? About 100 residents in Minonk gathered to learn the answer for themselves, as Mayor Earl Anderson opened the small copper container found when an old bandstand was demolished in the city's West Side Park. The answer? A handwritten list of people who donated money to the bandstand and a copy of the May 17, 1923, edition of The Minonk News-Dispatch.
101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922
Gerthart's
Union Gas and Electric Co.
Hoover
Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists
Moberly & Klenner
W.P. Garretson
W.H. Roland
Pease's Candy
Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine
The Kaiser's Story of the War
Ike Livingston & Sons
Gossard Corsets
Cat'n Fiddle
'Stolen Moments'
Case Model X
The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co.
The Pantagraph want ads
Franklin Motor Car Co.
'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'
Calumet Baking Powder
Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket
'The Emperor Jones'
'California Fig Syrup'
Compiled by Pantagraph staff | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/75-years-ago-bloomington-residents-urged-to-trap-japanese-beetles/article_f490d3e2-1906-11ee-824c-2f0ae544393c.html | 2023-07-07T12:20:42 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/75-years-ago-bloomington-residents-urged-to-trap-japanese-beetles/article_f490d3e2-1906-11ee-824c-2f0ae544393c.html |
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in two cases—regarding Harvard and the University of North Carolina's admissions practices—that using race as a factor for college admission violates the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. This major decision, with the ruling falling along ideological lines, ends affirmative action in higher education.
Schools across the country still deal with racial segregation today, even though the systematic separation of students by race in American schools legally ended in 1954 with the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. A 2019 EdBuild study of high schools across the country found more than half of students in the United States attend schools in predominantly segregated districts—which are often a result of gerrymandering—with these school systems consisting of 75% white or 75% non-white students. Colleges face similar issues with enrollment diversity. While a 2020 report by nonprofit research organization The Urban Institute found that nonwhite student attendance has increased 191% since 1976, it also reported that currently, about 54% of college students enrolled in four-year institutions are white.
Still, affirmative action in higher education—or a set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among university applicants—has been hotly debated since its inception. From when it became common practice to today, it still faces scrutiny on whether or not it should be instituted.
A 2016 Gallup poll found 70% of adult Americans surveyed believed college applicants should be judged solely on merit, even if doing so means fewer people of color are admitted. A more recent 2021 Gallup poll saw a shift in mindset: Public support for affirmative action is at an all-time high, although Gallup notes support is for the general concept of affirmative action across the country, including the workforce.
The story of affirmative action in higher education covers a complex history of push and pull spanning seven decades, 12 presidential administrations, and countless college students. Best Universities outlined a timeline of affirmative action in higher education, compiling historic court dockets, executive orders, and news reports. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/long-story-short-s3-e13/article_b37a6270-1c43-11ee-be93-875bf3d37c90.html | 2023-07-07T12:20:48 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/long-story-short-s3-e13/article_b37a6270-1c43-11ee-be93-875bf3d37c90.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Police Department released gun violence numbers Thursday.
Jan. 1, 2023, through July 4, 2023:
- City-wide:
- Fatal shootings – 16 victims,
- Non-fatal shootings – 70 victims
- Old Town:
- Fatal shootings: – 1 victim
- Non-fatal shootings – 11 victims
Jan. 1, 2022, through July 4, 2022:
- City-wide:
- Fatal shootings – 14 victims
- Non-fatal shootings – 65 victims
- Old Town:
- Fatal shootings – 0 victims
- Non-fatal shootings – 0 victims
Keena Charles lost her 25-year-old son Semaj to gun violence over five years ago.
“Grief, the trauma, this community is so traumatized,” Charles said.
Her life was shattered because of gun violence.
“Survivors … that’s what we are doing,” Charles said. “We are trying to survive. When you bury your child, you are trying. You are in survival mode from that time on.”
She started the Violence Impact Community Integration Program, which helps the survivors of the victims and works to end gun violence.
“We are just thinking, this is a way of life, or this is just how it is, and no, we should not be living this way,” Charles said. “We have to turn this around. We have to stop.”
The problem, Charles believes, stems from a lack of communication.
“I think, as a community, we have lost value in each other,” Charles said. “We have lost the ability to respect each other, to respect the fact that you have an opinion about something, I have an opinion about something, and that’s OK. We both should still live.”
She says it’s going to take everyone working and understanding to stop it.
“Justice can only be achieved when those who are not injured by crime feel as indignant as those who are.”
Charles says she wants people not to wake up feeling like she does. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/gun-violence-numbers-higher-compared-to-last-year-mom-who-lost-son-to-gun-violence-speaks-out/ | 2023-07-07T12:24:54 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/gun-violence-numbers-higher-compared-to-last-year-mom-who-lost-son-to-gun-violence-speaks-out/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Wichita woman says she is now homeless after falling prey to scammers claiming to be from the IRS.
For 70-year-old Susan Ballinger, the last year and a half has been rife with personal struggles. In addition to having back surgery, her husband of 54 years passed away in January 2022.
Ballinger says that in April, she received a Facebook message from a family member claiming there was a way to receive money supposedly owed to her by the IRS. She then connected to someone she thought was an IRS agent via Facebook Messenger, a decision she says resulted in her losing everything.
“That was my rent money, my car payment money,” Ballinger said. “So, I got evicted. Never, ever been evicted.”
Ballinger says a scammer claiming to be from the IRS promised her $90,000 in grant money. However, Ballinger had to provide personal information and pay several fees upfront before she could get it. In two months, she paid the scammer a total of $3,500.
“I used the Apple gift card, and I used my Cash App,” Ballinger said. “I should have known better.”
This is happening as government-impostor scams are on the rise. According to the Better Business Bureau, the amount of money lost to government-related scams nationwide in 2020 was roughly $175M. In 2021, that number was more than $445 million.
“If you send money via Western Union, prepaid gift cards, or any sort of gift card, whether that be iTunes, Apple, it is very unlikely, if not impossible, that you will get any money back,” Denise Groene with the BBB said.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says to watch out for anyone claiming to be from a government body attempting official business through social media.
“No federal, state, local, county, city agency that handles taxes, handles money are going to send messages to you by Facebook Messenger, by any social media,” Bennett said.
As for Ballinger, the search for a new home continues. She has since filed a police report hoping no one else falls victim to the same scam.
“Facebook is gone,” Ballinger said. “So is Cash App. I’m getting rid of all that. I’m not going to do anything more with the medium. I’m just going to be strictly done with it.”
The IRS does have a tax scams section on its website. Bennett says if you think you’ve fallen prey to a scam, contact law enforcement as soon as possible. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wichita-woman-falls-prey-to-irs-scammer/ | 2023-07-07T12:25:00 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wichita-woman-falls-prey-to-irs-scammer/ |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a death sentence in the 2013 murder of a man who was found shot in the head after being taken from his Volusia County apartment.
The court, in a 5-1 opinion, rejected arguments by Death Row inmate Christian Cruz that stemmed from his co-defendant, Justen Charles, receiving a life sentence in the murder of Christopher Jemery.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Cruz argued that he should have received a life sentence as Charles was “equally culpable,” the ruling said. But the court majority pointed to a 2020 decision in another case that did away with what is known as “comparative proportionality review” in considering death sentences.
Thursday’s ruling, shared by Chief Justice Carlos Muniz and Justices Charles Canady, John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans and Renatha Francis, said the legal precedent “means that Charles’ life sentence is irrelevant to and has no bearing on Cruz’s death sentence.”
Read: Behind the scenes: Tracking down drugs in the mail by Zip code
But Justice Jorge Labarga, who opposed eliminating comparative proportionality review in the 2020 case, dissented Thursday.
“Surely, in a state that leads the nation with 30 exonerations of individuals from Death Row, every reasonable safeguard should be retained in this (Supreme) Court’s toolkit when reviewing death sentences to ensure that the death penalty is reserved for the most aggravated and least mitigated of murders,” Labarga wrote.
Read: FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi
Justice Meredith Sasso did not take part in the decision.
Cruz and Charles were accused of going to the Deltona apartment where Jemery lived --- and where a drug dealer had previously lived.
They broke into the apartment, beat Jemery, put him in the trunk of a car and drove him to a remote location, according to the ruling. Jemery was shot in the head and later died.
Read: ‘Jaws’-themed restaurant announces updated location in Central Florida, opening date
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/florida-supreme-court-upholds-death-sentence-volusia-county-murder/QP4OGE4ABRCLJIPIUVTONL7O2Y/ | 2023-07-07T12:26:37 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/florida-supreme-court-upholds-death-sentence-volusia-county-murder/QP4OGE4ABRCLJIPIUVTONL7O2Y/ |
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A stormy start in life turned into a happy ending for one kitten in Seminole County.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
On June 15, the kitten got trapped in a storm drain in Altamonte Springs.
Seminole County Fire Department shared details of how Battalion Chief Chad Chorak helped rescue the little guy outside of Publix along State Road 434.
Seminole County Animal Services took him in and provided the care he needed.
Less than one month after the his scary experience down under, the kitten is sitting pretty in a brand new home.
READ: Oviedo fire will honor Good Samaritan Friday with life-saving award
That’s because another Seminole County Fire Department employee, Engineer/Paramedic Ryan Lewallen, decided his family could use a new feline friend.
Now known as “Eddie,” the kitten recently joined the family and their dog Pete, their other cat Remy, Tom the lizard, and some fish.
And by the way, the firefighter is no stranger to giving a good home to a kitten in need.
Lewallen said he took in Remy after someone abandoned the animal at his fire station.
A purrrrfect start to the day today: Engine 12 & Battalion 1’s Chief Chorak assisted getting a kitten out of a of storm drain at @Publix in Altamonte on SR 434. Engineer/Paramedic Ryan Lewallen adopter the kitten 🐱 ❤️🚒 pic.twitter.com/S4Skkz7kG7
— Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) PIO Media (@scfdpio) June 15, 2023
SEE: These kittens need foster homes in Seminole County
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/kitten-rescued-by-members-seminole-county-fire-department-twice/2T7ND357IVFQVNJL7SMYBQT5TI/ | 2023-07-07T12:26:44 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/kitten-rescued-by-members-seminole-county-fire-department-twice/2T7ND357IVFQVNJL7SMYBQT5TI/ |
OCOEE, Fla. — The Ocoee Police Department is reminding Kia and Hyundai owners about a popular social media trend after they arrested four juveniles for attempted car theft Wednesday.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
On Wednesday, offices responded to the 1000 block of Caballero Court to investigate an attempted car burglary.
When they arrived, they noticed the steering column of a 2023 Kia Soal had been damaged.
Read: Deputies investigate deadly shooting at Orange County gas station
Officers set up a perimeter and secured four juvenile suspects for their involvement in the crime, according to police.
Officers said two of the four juveniles are connected to three other stolen Kia and Hyundai cases between June 30 and July 2.
The four juvenile suspects were arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center, awaiting charges.
Oviedo officers also want to remind Kia and Hyundai owners of the popular social media trend of stealing those types of cars, increasing vehicle thefts nationwide.
Officials also ask if you have any additional information regarding this case, to contact the Ocoee Police Department, Criminal Investigations Unit at (407) 905-3161 or Crimeline at 800-423-8477
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/ocoee-police-arrest-4-juveniles-warn-kia-hyundai-owners-about-tiktok-trend/QF2SBPDAJBGUNBK6S5DFOWTFYY/ | 2023-07-07T12:26:50 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/ocoee-police-arrest-4-juveniles-warn-kia-hyundai-owners-about-tiktok-trend/QF2SBPDAJBGUNBK6S5DFOWTFYY/ |
One person is dead after a car crashed into a parked train's tank car in Dallas Friday morning.
It happened on Cedar Springs near Mockingbird Lane just before 5 a.m.
Police on the scene said a red four-door sedan crashed into a parked train's tank car -- officers attempted CPR, but the driver of the car died at the scene.
No word on why the driver crashed into the train.
An NBC 5 crew on the scene saw the car being loaded on a tow truck and the scene being cleared of debris so that Cedar Springs could reopen, but the road was closed.
Check back for the latest on this developing story. As details unfold, elements of this story may change. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/one-person-dead-after-car-crashes-into-parked-train-in-dallas/3291432/ | 2023-07-07T12:34:20 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/one-person-dead-after-car-crashes-into-parked-train-in-dallas/3291432/ |
The Grapevine Police Department is investigating the discovery of a body in Grapevine Lake Thursday afternoon.
Police say someone driving on Fairway Drive called 911 to report the passenger in her car thought he saw a body floating near the spillway on the right side of the dam.
Officers who responded to the scene confirmed a body was in the water.
Fairway Drive was closed for several hours as the Grapevine Fire Department, Flower Mound Fire Department, game warden, Army Corps of Engineers and medical examiner were called out to recover the body and investigate.
An adult female's body was pulled from the water and police say officers saw signs of trauma not consistent with drowning.
Police say it's not clear how long her body was in the water. Now the medical examiner will work to determine the woman's identity and exact cause of death.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to call Grapevine Police at 817-410-3900 or email tips to cidmail@grapevinetexas.gov. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/police-investigate-a-body-discovered-near-grapevine-lake-spillway/3291419/ | 2023-07-07T12:34:26 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/police-investigate-a-body-discovered-near-grapevine-lake-spillway/3291419/ |
MACON, Ga. — There's a mystery brewing on Macon's Gray Highway. But you might say it's on the "lite" side.
If you're driving down Gray Highway, you might miss it at first glance. Ashely Brooker says it's out of the ordinary for sure.
"That's ridiculous," he chuckled.
It does look to be a billboard blunder.
"It's crazy that we're more than 100 miles away, and yet we have a sign that says Alabama on it," one man said, standing in a parking lot near the billboard.
It reads, "tastes like Miller time Alabama," but it sits in Macon, Georgia.
The larger-than-life lager ad looms over Fountain Express Car Wash.
Briana Taylor says she watched the guys paste it up.
"I was looking at it because I'm amazed at stuff like that," she said.
Taylor works at Fountain Express, and she says maybe Miller didn't think geography mattered much. After all, we're talking about it.
"Maybe just to boost their sales, people look at it and say 'ooh that's funny' You know, they might go get some they see the sign, and they thought it was funny," she said.
We are all here for a joke.
So, for grins and giggles, we called Lamar advertising. They said no comment and advised us to call Miller.
Like a pitcher with too many suds, we were disappointed when Miller didn't call us back.
So, for now, we'll "barely" make sense of it all.
"Someone needs to get a slap on the hand for that one," Booker said. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/billboard-blunder-makes-people-chuckle-macon/93-d92cd90f-bf32-4ab4-9fc5-82d0a80524fb | 2023-07-07T12:39:23 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/billboard-blunder-makes-people-chuckle-macon/93-d92cd90f-bf32-4ab4-9fc5-82d0a80524fb |
Capitol Shakespeare is presenting a free production of William Shakespeare’s "Love's Labor's Lost."
Performances are July 19-23 at the outdoor Prairie Amphitheater on the Capitol grounds south of the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. Each night's performance begins at 7 p.m. Prior to each production, the youth theater troupe the Young Bards will present "Shakespeare: the Loved and Lost" featuring scenes from "Romeo & Juliet," "Two Gentlemen of Verona," "Hamlet" and sonnets.
"Love's Labor's Lost" is directed by Erin Weichel and produced by Capitol Shakespeare in partnership with the North Dakota State Historical Society.
People who attend should bring blankets or folding chairs. Donations are accepted, and snacks and drinks are available for purchase.
Capitol Shakespeare is a nonprofit organization committed to producing a free, outdoor Shakespeare play on the Capitol grounds each summer and a classic each winter. It also has various outreach programs for children and teenagers. | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/capitol-shakespeare-performing-william-shakespeare-s-loves-labors-lost/article_e5826310-1b69-11ee-bff1-e3121aa4b040.html | 2023-07-07T12:50:24 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/capitol-shakespeare-performing-william-shakespeare-s-loves-labors-lost/article_e5826310-1b69-11ee-bff1-e3121aa4b040.html |
The Morton Mandan Public Library is seeking artists for its Chalk Festival event set for this month.
Artists of all talents and experience can register and there is no entrance fee to participate. Event hours for artists are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 17 and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 18.
“We are excited to showcase what our community is capable of,” said Michaela Schaff, library community engagement associate. “And if it goes well, we hope to make this into an annual event.”
Artwork will be presented during the Burgers in the Park and Musicians Association Concert the evening of July 18.
For more information and to register, go to www.mortonmandan.librarycalendar.com. | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/events/morton-mandan-public-library-seeking-artists-for-chalk-festival/article_7496f784-1b6d-11ee-8f30-cffe67cdd289.html | 2023-07-07T12:50:26 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/events/morton-mandan-public-library-seeking-artists-for-chalk-festival/article_7496f784-1b6d-11ee-8f30-cffe67cdd289.html |
Average daily flows
Snake River at Jackson 292 cfs
Snake River at Palisades 11,514 cfs
Snake River at Heise 12,214 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 1,979 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 15,472 cfs
Snake River at Milner 3,006 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 204 cfs
Jackson Lake is 89% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 98% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 76% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 87% of capacity.
As of July 5 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_dc4fe244-1c1e-11ee-9897-93ab010f2c5a.html | 2023-07-07T12:50:26 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_dc4fe244-1c1e-11ee-9897-93ab010f2c5a.html |
Brig. Gen. Farin D. Schwartz speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the National Guard Readiness Center on Thursday in Jerome County.
DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS
Dignitaries break out the golden shovels and move some dirt during a groundbreaking for the National Guard Readiness Center on Thursday in Jerome County.
The Idaho Army National Guard will soon have a new home for battalions from Twin Falls and Jerome. Construction on a new 55,000-square-foot readiness center in the desert southeast of Interstate 84 and U.S. Highway 93 began in May, and an official groundbreaking was held on Thursday.
The center will serve as headquarters of the 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion, currently stationed in Twin Falls, and E Company of the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, currently located in Jerome.
The site will include the Readiness Center, an access road, military vehicle parking, personnel vehicle parking, and, in the near future, a 28,000-square-foot vehicle maintenance facility. The footprint will take approximately 12 of the 55 acres.
The facility will house over 200 soldiers on drill weekends, standard equipment, and associated wheeled vehicles ranging from Humvees to larger trucks.
The two entities have proposed a land swap, allowing CSI to consolidate and "square up" its property, and removing a water rights conflict.
Once construction is completed in 2025, units will relocate from their locations in Twin Falls and Jerome.
The activities at the Readiness Center are administrative and will mostly go unnoticed by the public. The units will conduct their monthly drills at the facility, which will include classroom training, briefings, and other administrative tasks to ensure readiness.
The center will not serve as a site for annual training or other physical training. Those activities are conducted at the guard’s Orchard Combat Training Center south of Boise. The public may see convoys of military vehicles once or twice a year during training periods.
PHOTOS: National Guard Readiness Center groundbreaking
Dignitaries break out the golden shovels and move some dirt during a groundbreaking for the National Guard Readiness Center on Thursday in Jerome County. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/national-guard-breaks-ground-on-new-readiness-center-for-units-from-twin-falls-and-jerome/article_4c2bc578-1c43-11ee-9266-f3497ffb614e.html | 2023-07-07T12:50:27 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/national-guard-breaks-ground-on-new-readiness-center-for-units-from-twin-falls-and-jerome/article_4c2bc578-1c43-11ee-9266-f3497ffb614e.html |
A Twin Falls man is charged with multiple felonies after he was accused of beating a woman and breaking the windshield of her car, court records say.
Joshua Christopher Vermillion, 24, is charged with aggravated battery, strangulation, burglary and misdemeanor malicious injury to property after a June 26 incident and is being held on $25,000 bond, records say.
The woman notified police about the incident on June 30 when swelling around her eye worsened, records say.
The victim told a Twin Falls Police officer that she went to Vermillion’s house in Twin Falls at about 7 a.m. and Vermillion, an acquaintance of hers, told her she made a mistake by coming to his house. As she left and walked toward her vehicle, Vermillion punched her, causing to fall to the ground, she said.
He then put his forearm on her neck and pressed his weight on it to the point she couldn’t breathe, she told the officer. He then broke the windshield on her car with a pole or board, prompting the woman to break a window on Vermillion’s vehicle with a rock.
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The attack continued, she said, when she went to get into her car and Vermillion slammed her foot into her vehicle’s door and took her key fob.
Vermillion has a preliminary hearing set for July 14.
Due to the incident, Vermillion was also charged with probation violation that was due to a September 2019 incident where he attempted to elude a police officer in his vehicle, and crashed his car in the attempt.
Man testifies it started with an invitation to have beer and use marijuana | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/police-man-charged-with-battery-after-attacking-woman/article_b1fdbc3c-1c46-11ee-8427-e3b1d478448e.html | 2023-07-07T12:50:27 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/police-man-charged-with-battery-after-attacking-woman/article_b1fdbc3c-1c46-11ee-8427-e3b1d478448e.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — For many, the food is the best part of the Indiana State Fair.
Fairgoers can expect typical fair-favorites like ears of corn, chicken legs, and elephant ears, but fair officials announced 30 new food items for the 2023 Indiana State Fair.
Since one person surely can't visit all of the more than 140 different food stands — or can they? — maybe you'll want to get a group together, so everyone can sample from each other!
Here are the unique offerings making their debut this year (NOTE: Descriptions provided by the Indiana State Fair):
- BBQ Pig Wings (Indiana Pork): The BBQ bone-in pork wing comes from the bottom of the ham and consists of tender, dark meat that is full of delicious flavors! There is a single small bone running through the center with a small handle sticking out – it’s pork without a fork!
- Bratchos (Urick Concessions): Tortilla Chips topped with a sizzling Bratwurst, creamy hatch queso, zesty jalapeños, fire roasted salsa, and a dollop of Sour Cream. It's the ultimate fiesta on a plate that will leave you craving more with every crunchy bite.
- Buffalo Pork-n-Mac (Nitro Hog BBQ): A bowl of homemade mac-n-cheese with pulled pork, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing drizzled on top.
- Cherry Lemonade Twister (Twisted Drinks and Food): A fresh squeezed lemonade with cherry syrup and maraschino cherries added to make for the perfect summertime drink!
- Cherry ShakeUp (Hi & Mighty): Eat, drink and be cherry! Keep it bright and Cardinal red with a citrus refresher made to shake it up for celebrations big & small. In partnership with Ball State University... Chirp Chirp Cherry!
- Chocolate Glazed Popcorn (Olde Tyme Poppin Korn): Popped the old fashion way, but with a tasty chocolate glaze and a hint of salt.
- Cinnamon Crunch Corn (Fairlivin Concessions): Shredded sweet corn on the cob in butter, topped with a cinnamon toast crunch and a cream cheese icing.
- Deep Fried Corn on a Stick (Cantina Louies by Meatball Factory): A 6 inch ear of corn on a stick seasoned then dipped into a buttermilk and egg mixture and then rolled into a flour corn meal with spice, then placed in the fryer until it is a golden brown and topped off with mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese. A little Cholula hot sauce pack is handed out with each one to enhance the flavor and give it a good kick!
- Deep Fried Sandwich Cookie Ale (Sun King Brewery & Spirits): Deep-Fried Sandwich Cookies is an Oatmeal Milk Porter made with oats, lactose, chocolate malt, and 300lbs of chocolate sandwich cookies.
- Elote Street Corn Pizza (DG Concession): Signature crust topped with a mixed base of mozzarella and cotija cheese, corn, jalapeños, a drizzle of chipotle mayo, a sprinkle of tajin, and crushed ranch tortilla chips for added crunch.
- Flaming Hot Cheeto Corn in a Cup (Wilson Concessions): Corn, nacho cheese, Flaming Hot Cheetos, and tajin served in a cup.
- Gimme S’more Bourbon Shake (Urick Concessions): A summer staple, but as a boozy milkshake with the help of Hotel Tango's Shmallow Toasted Marshmallow Bourbon. Creamy vanilla ice cream, milk, and Shmallow Bourbon blended together and topped with the classic s'mores essentials.
- Hoosier Burger Mango (Black Leaf Vegan, LLC): Born in the Hoosier State, this one of a kind plant-based burger patty submerged in our unique Black Leaf sauce (teriyaki bbq), topped with fresh mango salsa and vegan cheddar cheese on a buttery brioche bun is the best of what Indiana has to offer.
- Indiana Hardwood Nachos (Twisted Drinks and Food): Nacho chips layered with queso cheese, homemade Indiana street corn and then drizzled with Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce to top it off!
- Italian Melt (American Dairy Association Indiana Inc.): Provolone and basil pesto on sourdough, served with marinara sauce for dipping.
- Lemon Drop Drizzle (R&W Concessions): 5 mini sponge cakes with lemon icing dipped in funnel cake batter, deep fried to a golden brown, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with vanilla icing.
- Ooey Gooey Deliciousness! Nutellaphant Ear (Urick Concessions): A whimsical twist on a State Fair favorite! Fried dough generously slathered with velvety Nutella, and topped with strawberries and bananas. A final sprinkle of powdered sugar adds the perfect touch of sweetness and nostalgia meets pure delight in every bite!
- Pepperoni Pizza Pretzel (Wilson Concessions): A jumbo pretzel with pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
- S’mores Funnel Cake (LT Concessions LLC): Funnel Cake with marshmallow drizzle, Hershey's Chocolate and graham cracker crumble.
- Sirloin Tip Fries (SW Concessions): A base of curly fries cooked to a golden brown and topped with cheese, Sirloin Tips, and of course A1 steak sauce.
- Smoked Bologna Burnt Ends (Red Frazier Bison): Smoked bologna burnt ends served with pickles and mustard.
- Spicy Sweet Chili Walking Taco (Georgia’s Kitchen): Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa and sour cream.
- Street Corn Pizza (Swains Pizza on a Stick): Fresh dough made daily topped with a homemade white sauce, sprinkled with a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, finished off with fire roasted corn, a generous dusting of chili lime seasoning and cilantro then baked to perfection.
- The Dirty Dog (R&W Concessions): Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa and sour cream.
- The Hoosier Slam Dunk Caramel Apple Surprise (Jessop Candy Products): Cinnamon sugared apple slices with hot caramel sauce, nuts, sprinkles, optional mini chocolate chips or chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cherry and topped with cotton candy.
- The Indiana Grown Burger (Red Frazier Bison): Red Frazier Bison Burger 1/4lb Patty, Rice’s Farm Quality Meats Bacon, Metal Honey Foods Burger Jam, Rising Creek Goat Cheese, Dillman Farm’s Bread & Butter Pickles, and Cornerstone Bread Pretzel Bun.
- The Mac Daddy Empanada (Gobble Gobble): The newest twist on our Original Mac Daddy! The cheesy mac and cheese and the pulled BBQ Turkey combo stuffed in the empanada, is one you don't want to miss this year!
- The Walking Burger (Indiana Ribeye): Regular or BBQ chips with a hamburger cut into bite sized pieces and a scoop of our cowboy beans, made right at our stand! Add a fork and you are ready to explore the rest of the fair!
- Vanilla Dream Coffee Ice Cream Soda (Hooks Drug Store Museum and Soda Fountain): Vanilla flavored iced coffee topped with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and whipped topping.
- Wicked Chicken N Waffles (Urick Concessions): An infinitely hot take on the classic chicken and waffles. The Wicked Chicken N Waffles features chicken tenders sandwiched between two waffles drenched in Mike's Hot Honey, and topped with crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
The Indiana State Fair opens on Friday, July 28 and runs 18 days, closing on Aug. 20. The fair is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Click here for more information on the 2023 Indiana State Fair, including tickets, deals and more.
The theme of this year's fair is basketball, in partnership with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and will feature multiple interactive experiences and exhibits paying homage to Indiana’s rich basketball legacy.
Also new in 2023, the state fair announced new safety measures to keep fairgoers safe, including:
- Unaccompanied Minor Policy: Fairgoers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or chaperone (age 21+) to enter the Indiana State Fair starting at 6 p.m. daily. This applies to all 18 days of the Fair.
- Each adult may chaperone up to six individuals and must remain at the Fairgrounds while the minors they are chaperoning are still present.
- Bag Policy: All bags permitted into the State Fair must be 9”x10”x12” or smaller. All bags are subject to search upon entry to the Fair through metal detectors.
- Weapons of any kind are prohibited at the Indiana State Fair.
- Visitors will be screened through metal detectors at entry gates.
The lineup is set for the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage, including Styx, "Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure," TobyMac, a Taylor Swift dance party, Latino Fest, Breland and more. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/30-new-food-items-2023-indiana-state-fair/531-f2f3f117-fc3b-4995-883a-0ac2dd1fb05b | 2023-07-07T12:53:34 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/30-new-food-items-2023-indiana-state-fair/531-f2f3f117-fc3b-4995-883a-0ac2dd1fb05b |
What to Know
- At least six people were hurt after a fire broke out at Mt. Sinai Hospital in East Harlem Friday morning, the FDNY said.
- The call reporting the fire took place just before 1 a.m. According to FDNY, it appears the fire started in a generator room located in a sub-cellar floor.
- Fire officials said that medical staff and patients were told to shelter in place while ConEdison personnel came to assist in the emergency, before the fire was eventually deemed under control just before 4 a.m.
At least six people were hurt, including two firefighters, after a two-alarm fire broke out at Mt. Sinai Hospital in East Harlem Friday morning, the FDNY said.
The fire was reported just before 1 a.m. According to FDNY, it appears the fire started in a generator room located in a sub-cellar floor.
Fire officials said that medical staff and patients were told to shelter in place while ConEdison personnel came to assist in the emergency, before the fire was eventually deemed under control just before 4 a.m.
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At one point dozens of employees were waiting outside the hospital. Additionally, NBC 4 New York was told that some patients had to be relocated inside the hospital for safety.
Six people were reported hurt, including two firefighters who were transported to Cornell Medical Center.
Mt. Sinai administration has declined to comment. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/hurt-in-early-morning-fire-at-mt-sinai-hospital-in-east-harlem-fdny/4485159/ | 2023-07-07T12:58:07 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/hurt-in-early-morning-fire-at-mt-sinai-hospital-in-east-harlem-fdny/4485159/ |
Milwaukee has some of the fastest growing rents in the country, study says
Milwaukee has some of the fastest growing apartment rents in the nation, according to a new report from Apartment List.
Ranking ninth for fastest growing rents in the county, rents in the Milwaukee metro area jumped more than 2% over the past year, according to the study. Chicago is topping the list in the Midwest, with the second fastest growing rental market in the country, as rents shot up by more than 4% over the past year.
Still, rental prices in the Midwest are facing a relatively modest growth this year compared to last year in the U.S. In May 2022, metro areas with more than a million people reported year-over-year growth rates greater than Tucson's current 4% rate over the past 12 months, which is now the nation's fastest.
What's the median cost of an apartment in Milwaukee?
Since the start of the pandemic, Milwaukee rents have increased by 13%, according to Apartment List. The median price of a one-bedroom apartment is $843 per month and $1,023 for a two-bedroom. That ranks Milwaukee at 94th in the nation among the country's 100 largest cities.
After six months of 2023, rents in the city Milwaukee have risen by 2.4% as of June, which is a slower rate of growth compared to what the city was experiencing last year; from January 2022 to June 2022 rents increased nearly 5%.
In the past month, Milwaukee rents went up 0.6%, compared to the national rate of 0.4%, according to Apartment List.
How do Milwaukee rent prices compare to other cities?
The median rent across the nation is $1,175 for a one-bedroom and $1,346 for a two bedroom and $1,369 overall, according to Apartment List. In Milwaukee, the median rent is 25% lower than the national median price.
Comparable cities include places like Birmingham, Alabama where the median price is $1,045 and Cincinnati where the median price is $997.
What to do if you're struggling to pay your rent:
If you're struggling to pay your rent or need help resolving an issue with your landlord, here are some resources to consider:
Community Advocates: For Milwaukee or Waukesha county residents, contact Community advocates for temporary rent assistance and eviction prevention. Call 414-270-4646 or visit communityadvocates.net.
Legal Action: Provides civil legal service free of cost. Call 855-947-2529 or visit legalaction.org.
Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center: Resources for Wisconsin landlords and tenants on rent assistance, housing rights and management. Call 414-895-7368 or visit renthelpmke.org.
Mediate Wisconsin: Mediators to help tenants and landlords work through disagreements. Call 414-939-8800 or visit mediatewisconsin.org.
RELATED:Renting in Milwaukee? Here are some things you need to know. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/apartments-in-milwaukee-rent-prices-what-you-need-to-know/70370621007/ | 2023-07-07T13:01:27 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/apartments-in-milwaukee-rent-prices-what-you-need-to-know/70370621007/ |
HOUSTON — On Thursday, for the first time in more than eight years, relatives of Rudy Farias got to see him.
Farias' aunt, Pauline Sanchez, said she spoke to him at a home in east Houston and told KHOU 11 that he said he wants nothing more to do with his mother.
Farias, who had been reported missing in 2015, was found outside of a church last week. Police have now confirmed that he had run away from home more than eight years ago, but then came back home the next day. Ever since then, police said he was living at his mother's home and was never really missing.
Sanchez said after speaking to Farias, she believes all of the accusations Houston community activist Quanell X made about Farias' mother, Janie Santana, are true.
“He made the statement that he doesn’t want to see his mom," Sanchez said. "He doesn’t want to go back to his mom.”
Quanell X said he spoke to Farias in the presence of an investigator Wednesday. He said Farias told them that Santana had been hiding, drugging and sexually abusing him.
Police, however, said Thursday that Farias never reported any sexual abuse by his mother when they interviewed him Wednesday.
When Sanchez went to visit the home at which Farias was staying Thursday, the person inside at first wouldn't allow her in, yelling from the front door. But eventually, Sanchez's son was allowed in to see Farias. Soon after, Sanchez was allowed in, as well.
Sanchez said during their meeting, she gave Farias a blessed Rosary from the Holy Land.
“It was beautiful, very beautiful to see him,” she said. “We hugged until I finally let go.”
Sanchez said Farias will clearly need professional help for what he's endured.
Though HPD Chief Troy Finner said Thursday that Farias is choosing to stay with his mother as they continue to investigate this case, Sanchez said he's actually staying with a friend of his mother.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office has declined charges at this time, but Chief Finner said it's early in the investigation.
Family members have publicly said they want Santana arrested. On Friday, community activists will demand that Santana be charged. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-investigation/285-d1cb5a1e-44e2-49b4-bdf3-74170415d735 | 2023-07-07T13:11:44 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-investigation/285-d1cb5a1e-44e2-49b4-bdf3-74170415d735 |
A woman walking on railroad tracks in Chesterfield County has died after being hit by a train.
Around 8:34 p.m. Thursday, Chesterfield police responded to an incident on the 11900 block of Chester Rd. involving a train striking a pedestrian.
A female was walking north on the tracks when she was struck by a northbound train, according to police. Her name is being withheld until next of kin is notified.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660.
This is a developing story and will be updated. | https://richmond.com/news/local/pedestrian-killed-by-train-in-chesterfield-county/article_26b2c55e-1cba-11ee-a994-53de797ba6d0.html | 2023-07-07T13:13:43 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/pedestrian-killed-by-train-in-chesterfield-county/article_26b2c55e-1cba-11ee-a994-53de797ba6d0.html |
U.S. Route 30 exit ramps at state Route 43 to close this weekend
A couple of U.S. Route 30 exit ramps east of Interstate 77 in southeast Canton will be closed this weekend for resurfacing and pavement repairs, the Ohio Department of Transportation said.
The following ramps will close 8 p.m. today and are scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday:
- Route 30 east to northbound state Route 43/Belden Avenue SE. The detour is to continue to the Trump Avenue SE exit in Canton Township, go north on Trump and state Route 172 west to Belden.
- Route 30 east to southbound Route 43. The detour is continue to Trump, get on westbound Route 30 and exit at Route 43.
Route 30 and Route 43 will have various lane restrictions as part of construction through mid-July.
ODOT is also closing a stretch of state Route 241 northeast of state Route 93 in Tuscarawas Township as part of a culvert replacement on Route 241 at the Pigeon Run creek from Monday to July 20. The detour involves north on state Route 93 to Route 172, east to state Route 21, and south on Route 21 to Route 241.
ODOT has posted a list of all current road closures and lane restrictions for the state agency's ongoing construction in Stark County at https://tinyurl.com/yc4upvke.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/07/odot-to-shut-down-ramps-on-u-s-route-30-at-state-route-43-in-canton/70389965007/ | 2023-07-07T13:18:33 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/07/odot-to-shut-down-ramps-on-u-s-route-30-at-state-route-43-in-canton/70389965007/ |
News Tribune, July 7, 1983
- Unemployment in most of Northeastern Minnesota declined significantly in May, an indication that the area's troubled economy is beginning to turn around. Seasonal jobs and the improving economy dropped Duluth's unemployment rate to 12.1 percent in May, a 3.6 percentage point drop from April.
- Duluth mayoral candidate Wayne Gilbert said yesterday the Interstate 35 extension should stop at Third Avenue East and a four-lane boulevard be built from there to about 10th Avenue East. Gilbert said he will submit his proposal to city councilors as soon as possible.
News Tribune, July 7, 1923
- The jubilee celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant Church, 21st Avenue West and Second Street in Duluth, attracted a capacity crowd yesterday. Sunday's program will feature talks by four former pastors of the church.
- The Fifield Block, an Ashland landmark, was so badly damaged by fire this week that it is not likely to be rebuilt. It was built in the 1880s to house the Ashland Daily Press, and the newspaper remained there for many years. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-ashland-landmark-destroyed-by-fire-100-years-ago | 2023-07-07T13:20:13 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-ashland-landmark-destroyed-by-fire-100-years-ago |
A plea to help a New River Valley Family after their child lost both her feet in a freak accident. The Empty Tomb Motorcycle Ministry is hosting a fundraiser for Aubrey Scaletta and her family.
Aubrey was involved in a tragic accident on May 17 that caused her to lose both her feet. We are told she underwent a six-hour surgery to repair her amputated feet, along with a number of other surgeries. After a long hospital stay, she is now back home recovering.
With all those surgeries and long hospital stays, comes large medical bills. This is why Empty Tomb Motorcycle Ministry is hosting a fundraiser ride to support her. It is taking place on Saturday, July 8 at Exalted Church on Williamson Road. Anyone is welcome to join the ride. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on-site on Saturday.
The group of motorcycles, cars, and other vehicles will leave the church at 10 a.m. and ride all the way to the Fraternal Order of Police in Radford.
Rick Drewery, the founder of Empty Tomb Motorcycle Ministry says this is a chance for the entire community to come together and rally around a family in need.
“It is important to our ministry that the bible clearly says to help one another and to love people as you want to be loved and treated. It gives us the opportunity to share Jesus and let people see what we are about and just to bring this world together over one small thing and that is a tragedy,” said Drewery.
Registration for the ride is $20 and every penny will go directly to the Scaletta family.
Aubrey’s tragic story has gained national attention and because of that, organizers from the fundraiser are expecting a large number of participants from all across the country.
“We are expecting between 400 and 500 vehicles, between motorcycles and cars from what we are hearing. We’ve got them coming from Georgia, New York, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina. So we have groups that have confirmed they are coming,” said Chris Carr, director with Empty Tomb Motorcycle Ministry.
The ride is expected to take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. Virginia State Police is helping to spread the word about the fundraiser and will be escorting the ride because Aubrey’s father is a trooper. This is a chance for local law enforcement to support one of their own.
When participants from the ride arrive in Radford, there will be food and a silent auction to help raise more funds for the Scalettas.
If you would like to donate to Aubrey’s family, there is a Go Fund Me. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/07/empty-tomb-motorcycle-ministry-hosts-fundraiser-for-6-year-old-who-lost-feet-in-tragic-accident/ | 2023-07-07T13:20:38 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/07/empty-tomb-motorcycle-ministry-hosts-fundraiser-for-6-year-old-who-lost-feet-in-tragic-accident/ |
July 7 is World Chocolate Day. And if you’re wondering, we prefer ours dark, with hazelnuts ... though there’s no wrong way to enjoy chocolate.
Blast off with Tom Cruise tonight! “Movie Nights in the Park” features a free outdoor film shown at dusk each Friday night in Petrifying Springs Park, Area No. 1 (next to the Biergarten), 5555 Seventh St. in Somers. Tonight’s film is the high-flying adventure “Top Gun: Maverick.” Bring a lawn chair and bug spray — and snacks, of course.
The monthly free folk music hootenanny gathering is is 7 to 10 p.m. at the Anderson Arts Center, 6603 Third Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join, by bringing an acoustic instrument or just singing along. For more information or updates, “like” Kenosha Hootenanny on Facebook.
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Boys and Toys — a Kenosha band that’s been rockin’ for decades — is playing tonight, starting at 7 p.m., at The Nash, 522 Sixth St. in Racine. Yes, it will be LOUD.
In Milwaukee, the Big Gig is back! Summerfest continues its third (and final) weekend. Here’s today’s admission special: On “Free with Fritos Day,” EVERYONE gets in free until 6 p.m. Also, the first 1,000 patrons who enter through the Mid Gate will receive a free Fritos and Summerfest branded bag. For more details about the festival, go to summerfest.com. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-friday-july-7/article_240af33c-1c09-11ee-8837-dbea3ab69233.html | 2023-07-07T13:23:08 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-friday-july-7/article_240af33c-1c09-11ee-8837-dbea3ab69233.html |
Thanks to my mom, I have a bottle of “SunPop” Watermelon Moscato cooling in my refrigerator.
Of course, there are many other ways my mother contributed to my life — starting by literally giving me life — but this bottle of wine, purchased three weeks ago, is a tangible sign of her everlasting presence.
We were supposed to try it together this summer, after she discovered they make her favorite drink in different flavors.
But now, every time I open the refrigerator and see the bottle on the middle shelf, I’m reminded that we’re never going to share it.
Jean Snyder, who was so many things to so many people — daughter, student, wife, mother, friend, teacher, gardener, grandmother — died on June 30 after a short illness.
She leaves a legacy, like we all do, of moments big and small.
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For every “big” day, like when she graduated from college as a 36-year-old mother of four daughters to start a three-decade teaching career, there were many more times where nothing more exciting than finishing a good novel happened.
One of those “small” days for my mom, however, continues to have a huge impact on my life.
‘She’s playing the flute’
As a fifth-grader, I went to Washington Junior High School one night with the rest of the kids on our block to pick out a band instrument.
“I’m going to play the French horn,” I told the band director — because I dreamed of creating that beautiful sound.
Standing behind me, my mom just kept repeating “She’s playing the flute.”
The band director explained that every other girl wanted to play flute, but he could really use some horn players.
But my mom wouldn’t budge.
Her reasoning? My parents had already purchased a flute for my older sister, Karen, who no longer played. “And this one,” she said, pointing to me, “will quit, too. So we’re not buying another instrument.”
That’s how I became a flute player — as a sibling hand-me-down.
Now, 50 years later, I play in three community bands and hope to never stop.
In recent years, I often teased her, vowing, “Just to prove you wrong, I’m not quitting until you die.”
Far from admitting she may have been wrong about the whole instrument business, however, my mom acted like that was her plan all along. “See? I inspired you,” she said. “Spite is a strong motivation.”
Close quarters
In her last few days, we joked about how the two of us had shared a cabin on four different cruises — and no one was tossed overboard. (If you’ve ever squeezed into one of those cabins, you’ll applaud our restraint.)
“That’s one of our greatest accomplishments,” I told her.
On a 2006 Disney cruise — our first as roomies — we scored an upgrade from an inside, windowless cabin to one with a balcony. All we had to do was endure a very stuffy night after the air conditioning unit failed.
From then on, we vowed to destroy something electronic on every cruise, just for the free upgrade. (We didn’t, of course, but it was fun to plot.)
Our cabin on a 2015 cruise that took us north, passing by Scotland, was right next to the bridge. I only discovered that the first morning onboard when I stepped out onto our balcony in my pajamas and was greeted by a ship’s officer sipping his coffee a few feet away.
Back inside, I warned Mom to never walk out there naked. “I wasn’t planning on it,” she assured me — unless it would get us a good room upgrade.
Also on that cruise, we were on deck one night past 1 a.m. in the North Sea, miles from anywhere, and watched the sky explode with green and purple swirls.
“What is that?” my mom asked, perhaps fearing the End Times had come. “That,” I replied, “is the Northern Lights.” (At least, I think it was. Either way, the world didn’t end that night, and we had a wonderful memory to cherish.)
I learned a lot from my mom, from how to share a small space with another person to enjoying cheap thrills.
For as much as she loved traveling to different parts of the world, she could have just as much fun going to Walgreens with $50 in bonus points to spend. More recently, she treated me to a shopping spree at the Addison Assisted Living Center’s “Bingo Bucks Store.”
90ishMy mom always hated it when I mentioned my age in a column — it made her feel old — but I am going to break that rule here. She died just a few weeks shy of her 89th birthday but had been hoping to make it to age 90.
“We’re going to give it to you,” I promised during our last visit.
Just like she gave out extra credit to her third-grade students at Holy Rosary School, we’re going to boost her “score” to 90.
Here’s to you, Mom, the woman who made me a flute player, a traveler and a lover of “Bingo Bucks.”
Have a comment? Email Liz at esnyder@kenoshanews.com or call her at 262-656-6271. And if you’re able to, call your Mother! | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/moscato-fan-and-gardener-jean-snyder-leaves-quite-a-legacy/article_4cf1399e-1c10-11ee-bb73-5365a93c668d.html | 2023-07-07T13:23:14 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/moscato-fan-and-gardener-jean-snyder-leaves-quite-a-legacy/article_4cf1399e-1c10-11ee-bb73-5365a93c668d.html |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – A new study from the United States Geological Survey says at least 45% of households in the country have synthetic chemicals known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in the tap water.
The Cahaba Riverkeepers say Alabama has some of the highest levels of PFAS in the water in the country. Many people don’t think twice before turning on the tap and getting a glass of water to drink, but the “forever chemicals” that could be in this water are now found to have harmful effects on people.
“For years and years these chemicals were discharged into the environment with little to no regulation and they don’t break down,” David Butler, the riverkeeper at Cahaba Riverkeepers, said.
The Cahaba Riverkeepers say PFAS cannot be permanently removed from water sources as the chemicals have now leaked into the sediments, plants and animals that live along the waterways.
“Everything that we consume, certainly anything that comes from a freshwater environment, is likely to have some level of PFAS contamination,” Butler said. “Recent studies have indicated that eating one freshwater fish is the equivalent of thirty days of drinking contaminated drinking water.”
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) released a statement saying:
ADEM is a national leader in addressing PFAS, both through testing and in requiring the cleanup of contaminated sites using an interim consent agreement with 3M in 2020. Since then, ADEM has required public drinking water systems in the state to test for PFAS. (Results are available on ADEM’s website.)
Based on ADEM’s required testing, approximately 70 of the state’s 587 public water systems may be required to take additional measures to reduce the levels of PFOA or PFOS in their finished water.
ADEM is in communication with all public drinking water systems in Alabama to make them aware of funding available through the department to address PFAS.
ADEM is investing more state and federal resources than ever before to make sure Alabama’s drinking water is healthy and safe, including $463 million awarded in 2022 for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. To date, ADEM has been allocated $32 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to address PFAS in drinking water, in addition to the $52.6 million from EPA to deal with PFAS in drinking water in small or disadvantaged communities. Every Alabamian deserves clean, safe drinking water.
Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)
People have mixed reactions to finding out there could be “forever chemicals” in their tap water.
“I’m just not sure what’s in the tap water,” Linda O’Shea, a visitor from Georgia, said. “A lot of bacteria. Bottled water forever, how about that. Bottled water forever.”
“Honestly, I think of other things like the aspartame study about Diet Coke that came out and I think about the quality of our dairy and hormones in dairy and eggs and it’s kind of something that affects food in general, just things that we consume,” Chelsea Pruitt, Birmingham resident, said. “I read [the USGS study] and just was like not too concerned about it.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-riverkeepers-say-forever-chemical-levels-in-state-are-some-of-highest-in-country/ | 2023-07-07T13:24:40 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-riverkeepers-say-forever-chemical-levels-in-state-are-some-of-highest-in-country/ |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - Neighbors say pests like racoons and possums are out of control at blighted buildings. The city of Flint hopes that a new $74,000 partnership will help get rid of them.
"There's like racoon families everywhere and they're not scared either," said Flint resident Santiara Henry. "So they're running around by your houses. They're under your porches and they're really scary."
Henry is a first-time homeowner on Flint's east side. She says the rodents running rampant through her neighborhood come from buildings owned by the Genesee County Land Bank.
"They definitely are living in these houses," said Henry. "I see them coming from this abandoned house across the street. I see them running over here and climbing up the tree."
Today, the City of Flint announced a new partnership to stop Henry's rodent problem. Professionals from Rose Pest Solutions, Landscape Services, Inc., and Griffin Pest Solutions will each take a section of the city to begin removal of the pests.
"We don't want these rodents to overtake our city," said Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley. "In most parts we have experienced trouble, so we thought it would be wise to engage with this in a proactive way."
The three companies will begin live trapping and removal a week before each property is set to be demolished. Henry says she'll be happy to see them go.
"I'm an animal lover so I wouldn't want them to be harmed but you know for them to kind of find a space to do their thing would be fine," said Henry.
The pest control companies say animals will not be harmed during the removal. They will work with the Department to Natural Resources to return them safely to their natural environment. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/flint-to-spend-74-000-on-pest-removal-from-blighted-properties/article_5a6700ac-1c3a-11ee-ad2d-c35500f63574.html | 2023-07-07T13:44:02 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/flint-to-spend-74-000-on-pest-removal-from-blighted-properties/article_5a6700ac-1c3a-11ee-ad2d-c35500f63574.html |
SAN ANTONIO — Firefighters quickly put out a fire at a Korean restaurant on the northeast side of San Antonio Friday morning.
The fire was reported around 4:30 a.m. at a restaurant on Austin Highway.
Fire officials say there was a grease fire in the kitchen that spread to a vent over the stove and then into the ceiling.
The fire caused only minor damage to the restaurant, officials said.
The restaurant was closed at the time, so luckily, no one was hurt. There is no word on whether the restaurant will open to customers Friday.
This is a developing story and further details will be added as they are received.
Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/firefighters-quickly-put-out-fire-at-korean-restaurant-on-the-northeast-side-san-antonio-texas/273-5c3d82ec-478c-4776-bd83-7bcead22b239 | 2023-07-07T13:52:55 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/firefighters-quickly-put-out-fire-at-korean-restaurant-on-the-northeast-side-san-antonio-texas/273-5c3d82ec-478c-4776-bd83-7bcead22b239 |
TOWN 'N' COUNTRY, Fla. — Stephanie and Henry Noble had just moved into their new apartment in Town ‘N’ Country.
It was their first time staying overnight, they said. The next morning the couple woke up with their 3-year-old son, Cody, dead.
"I still see his little smile and his little hands," Stephanie Noble said through tears. "It's hard to understand sometimes why God takes them from us."
Cody managed to get out of their locked door and wander away from the Valencia at Westchase Apartments in the middle of the night, the family said. Around 3 a.m., Hillsborough County deputies said a driver struck and killed him on Sheldon Road.
High-spirited, full of energy, loving and smart. Those are among the qualities Cody’s parents said they’ll miss the most.
"It just made me happy that he can make eye contact with me and smile, and hug me. I'll never have it again," Cody's father, Henry, said.
Cody, who is autistic, was an “eloper,” his mother said, meaning he would wander or run away from secure locations. It is common behavior for children who have autism spectrum disorder.
Previously, the family said they had cameras with alerts on their phones and extra security but didn’t get to install the features on their first night.
The family had just moved after their previous location didn't allow them to renew their lease, they said. They had been moving belongings since Monday and went to bed around midnight.
Stephanie Noble said she blames herself.
However, the family said the gates at the apartment complex also remained open. The open gates were something Stephanie said she inquired about prior to moving in because her family has special needs.
Cody also had a twin sister, Eleanor, who is autistic and has Down syndrome.
"At this point, you know, I mean, are we going to blame everybody? That's not going to bring him back," Stephanie Noble said.
Neighbors told 10 Tampa Bay the gates typically remain open, even through the night. Nearby the gate sits a fenced-in playground. Those living on and nearby the property expressed their condolences, not realizing what had happened in the area.
"It's a child, so as a parent, I'm shocked and concerned because there are a lot of children in the area and it can happen to anybody's child," Joanna Ceno, a neighbor living in the property, said.
10 Tampa Bay called the complex's management company, Venterra Realty Management Company. A spokesperson explained over the phone that there is a project in place to fix the gates. They added, she believes on-site staff is in the process of seeking bids for a contractor to do the job. At this time, the company couldn't give a timeline on when the gate will be fixed.
10 Tampa Bay also reached out to a former Hillsborough County judge on who could be held accountable. The judge said it's possible, but not certain that the family can hold the complex responsible for the gates not working. He added, ultimately it could be in the hands of a jury to make that decision.
Meanwhile, Edeza Rodriguez, who lives across the property, said the tragedy is a nightmare for people living around the area because of how busy the road is.
"It breaks my heart that something like this happened," Rodriguez said.
Stephanie said part of what she hopes to gain by sharing her story is to have the gate closed.
However, she also wants to let other parents know to take the proper safety precautions before it's too late.
"Don't take kids for granted. Don't take the little things for granted," Stephanie Noble said. "If it's something as simple as your child locks and safety locks and alarms."
As Stephanie and Henry, also parents of a 12-year-old and 19-year-old, make plans for Cody's funeral, they said they turn to God and wonder what to do next.
"I don't understand why you would give me this precious boy, then take him?" Stephanie said. "We'll hopefully get to be with him one day."
10 Tampa Bay reached out to the Valencia at Westchase Apartments for comment, but did not hear back.
A friend of the family has started up a GoFundMe to help the Noble family with funeral expenses. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/florida-family-of-child-hit-has-message-for-parents/67-3f5e7609-5cb5-45fa-8d44-6780dbeb565c | 2023-07-07T13:53:01 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/florida-family-of-child-hit-has-message-for-parents/67-3f5e7609-5cb5-45fa-8d44-6780dbeb565c |
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