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New College: More details in alleged spitting incident involving student and trustee Rufo
New College student Libby Harrity is scheduled to appear in court on July 27 on a battery charge for allegedly spitting on Board of Trustees member Christopher Rufo in May, according to a summons document.
Rufo recently posted on Twitter about the charge stemming from a heated confrontation between Rufo and New College students and supporters following a bill signing ceremony by Gov. Ron DeSantis on the campus May 15.
New documents posted by the 12th Judicial Circuit Court detailed the encounter leading to the charge. New College Police Capt. Kelley Masten reported that Rufo exited College Hall, where DeSantis had signed legislation banning state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public universities, and was headed to the intersection of Dort Promenade and College Drive.
The officer said Harrity, 19, broke the police line and spat toward Rufo, with the spittle hitting him in an "unknown location," according to the court document.
Masten wrote that Harrity was escorted away by an officer, but an arrest was not made at the time for the safety of the officers and Rufo. Later, officers escorting Rufo discussed the incident with him, and he said he wanted to press charges, the report said.
Rufo was appointed by DeSantis as part of the conservative transformation of the college he launched in January, and the conservative activist, a critic of diversity and inclusion and critical theory programs, has been at the forefront of the effort.
During the encounter, Rufo blew kisses toward student protesters just in front of the building, as students students chanted "f*** you fascist."
Matt Sandburg, Harrity's legal representation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/07/12/new-document-details-confrontation-between-new-college-of-florida-student-chris-rufo/70405533007/ | 2023-07-12T20:37:11 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/07/12/new-document-details-confrontation-between-new-college-of-florida-student-chris-rufo/70405533007/ |
Sierra Vista's deputy police chief has been appointed to the department's top post, officials say.
Chris Hiser replaces Adam Thrasher, who held the post for more than 27 years, the department said Wednesday in a news release.
Hiser's term begins July 15.
“I’m grateful to chief Thrasher for the excellent job he did as chief and the many years he has spent serving our community with the Sierra Vista Police Department,” said city manager Chuck Potucek. “I’m confident chief Hiser will continue to lead our police force with the integrity and professionalism he has demonstrated throughout his career.”
Born-and-raised in Mesa, Hiser is a 20-year veteran of the department.
“The mission of protecting and serving our community is a responsibility in which I take much pride. I’m honored to lead the men and women of the Sierra Vista Police Department in pursuit of our mission,” Hiser said in a news release. “We will continue to build upon a foundation of professionalism, courage, and integrity as we prepare for future challenges.” | https://tucson.com/news/local/sierra-vista-names-new-police-chief/article_3a4c7638-20dd-11ee-99aa-0f7efcd4020f.html | 2023-07-12T20:38:16 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/sierra-vista-names-new-police-chief/article_3a4c7638-20dd-11ee-99aa-0f7efcd4020f.html |
Here's how elderly Arizonans can prepare for wildfires, evacuations
Wildfire season preparedness is much the same for seniors, with experts recommending making sure homes are prepared, evacuation plans are tested and in place, and go bags are packed.
Seniors may have additional needs if they are under medical care or have lost some of their agility or mobility. The American Red Cross has a three-step guideline for senior disaster preparedness as composed by seniors.
"We are just like many of you. Some of us are in good health but aren’t quite as agile as we used to be," the guide reads. "Some of us have hearing or vision problems; others use a cane or wheelchair. Whatever our limitations, we still need to be prepared."
Check out the full guide:How to prepare for Arizona wildfires
Get an emergency kit
- Label wheelchairs, canes or walkers with identifying information and phone numbers.
- Check expiration dates.
- Take medications and medical items, sanitation and personal hygiene items.
- Take an “emergency blanket” and a whistle to draw the attention of first responders.
- Take bottled water.
- Take sunscreen lotion SPF 15 or higher and a shade item like an umbrella or a wide-brimmed hat.
Go-bags are essential to evacuating.
Make a plan in case of a wildfire evacuation
It's important to think about the following items in addition to your evacuation plan checklist.
- Assess what personal abilities and household limitations may affect your response to a disaster and then practice planned actions to ensure evacuation is effective.
- Choose an out-of-town person as a contact after an evacuation as it is often easier to make a long-distance call than a local call from a disaster area.
- If you do not own a vehicle or drive, make transportation arrangements.
- Ensure all escape routes from your home are wheelchair accessible.
- Plan for transportation if you need to evacuate to a shelter and do not have a vehicle or cannot drive.
- Talk with friends, family and neighbors and let them know your needs in an emergency and ask them how they could help you.
- Connect with a local group like Community Emergency Response Team, a neighborhood watch, community block associations or a faith-based organization. If you are unable to join, let them know your needs and ask them how they could help you in a disaster.
- If you live in a senior community, become familiar with any disaster notification plans that may already exist. Talk to your community management or resident council about how you can all be more prepared together.
Be informed and prepared
- Wear sturdy shoes when evacuating.
- Notify shelter management of any needs you may have.
- Let your out-of-town contact know when you left and where you are going.
- Beware of high-pressure sales, disclosing financial account numbers and credit card information and services provided with no written contract.
- Understand you may experience emotional, physical, mental and spiritual reactions during an emergency.
“Be encouraged by a positive attitude, remind yourself of your strengths, and tasks can be more easily done. Support is most important. And getting help is important. Ask for what you need,” read a statement from the Red Cross’s guidelines. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/how-elderly-prepare-for-wildfires-evacuations/70238745007/ | 2023-07-12T20:40:49 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/how-elderly-prepare-for-wildfires-evacuations/70238745007/ |
When is the next Mega Millions drawing? Jackpot hits $560 million after no July 11 winner
No one has come forward with a jackpot-winning ticket for Tuesday night's Mega Millions draw. The jackpot pool has now grown to more than half a billion dollars, sitting at an estimated $560 million with a cash option of $281.1 million, almost cracking the top 10 largest Mega Millions jackpots ever.
Lottery players looking to be America's next millionaire will have their shot at the prize during the next Mega Millions drawing later this week.
Before you go out and purchase your ticket, here is everything you need to know about playing the Mega Millions, where to purchase a ticket and how to watch the results of the next draw.
What were the Mega Millions winning numbers for July 11, 2023?
The winning numbers for Tuesday night's drawing were 10, 17, 33, 51, 64, and the Mega Ball was 5. The Megaplier was 2X.
Did anyone win Mega Millions July 11, 2023?
No one matched all six numbers for the estimated $500 million jackpot for Tuesday night's drawing. However, you do not need to match all six numbers to win a prize on the Mega Millions.
There were three tickets purchased in California, South Dakota and Wisconsin that matched five of the winning numbers. Those lottery players won $1 million.
How much is the Mega Millions jackpot now?
Because no one hit it big on this last draw, the jackpot has now grown to an estimated $560 million with a cash option of $281.1 million.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The next opportunity to win the Mega Millions jackpot is on Friday, July 14, 2023.
When are Mega Millions drawing days?
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET or 8 p.m. Arizona time.
What time is the next Mega Millions drawing in Arizona?
Mega Millions drawings are at 11 p.m. ET or 8 p.m. Arizona time.
How to watch the next Mega Millions drawing in Arizona
You can watch the drawing of the next Mega Million live by streaming at MegaMillions.com.
Where to buy Mega Millions tickets in Arizona
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 47 different jurisdictions across the U.S., including most states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with the exception of Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
You can buy a ticket at your local gas station, convenience store or grocery store. You can find a retailer using the Arizona Lottery's finder tool.
Have a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at rromeroruiz@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @raphaeldelag. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/12/when-is-next-mega-millions-drawing-july-14/70406251007/ | 2023-07-12T20:41:13 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/12/when-is-next-mega-millions-drawing-july-14/70406251007/ |
When will it rain in Phoenix? Some parts of the Valley have seen a bit of rain already
Monsoon rains made a belated appearance in the Phoenix area when some light showers were seen in the southwest Valley early on Wednesday morning. However, the climax of the season is still far off, and more rainfall likely won't come in the next weeks, according to the National Weather Service.
While Flagstaff and Tucson saw their first storms of the season on Tuesday, the Phoenix area stayed mostly out of the monsoon's reach, with only a few drops falling east of Avondale.
According to meteorologist Sean Benedict with the weather service in Phoenix, chances for monsoon rains will be very low through the latter half of this month.
"The odds are tilting more favorable of rainfall once we get beyond the next several days," Benedict said. "Likely toward the end of July we will see a little bit more of normal precipitation."
However, Benedict said it's not impossible to see a few unexpected showers in the mornings, like on Wednesday.
"It does happen during monsoon at times, not always we will forecast, we just get the moisture coming in from the east or southeast during the overnight hours and in the morning it brings small showers, and then they go away," Benedict said.
Some parts of the Valley, particularly in the southeast and southwest, could see more showers on Wednesday as chances climb to 10% in the afternoon.
Arizona weather:Monsoon, heat and storm forecasts, alerts, warnings in Phoenix and across the state
Benedict added it's hard to predict where in the Phoenix area the first rains will hit, since significant precipitation seems far from happening. Even then, he said storms likely won't affect central Phoenix too much.
Experts have forecast this monsoon season to have above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation, leaving Arizonans to weather a hotter and drier summer compared to past years.
Although the monsoon season, which runs from June 15 to Sept. 15 every year, kicked off about a month ago, the Phoenix area has yet to see the first thunderstorm of the season, and will likely not see it in the next several days, Benedict said.
Benedict advised residents to take precautions as an extended heat wave drags on and temperatures keep rising, threatening to break heat records in the Valley.
"Take breaks, find shade, stay hydrated," Benedict said. "Keep an eye on any information we will provide on our website and social media platforms."
Hot weather tips
The Arizona Department of Health Services provided tips to prevent heat-related illness:
- Drink water: It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day if people are staying inside all day. Those who spend time outdoors should drink 1 to 2 liters per hour they are outside.
- Dress for the heat: Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing. Sunscreen should always be applied to exposed skin and it is recommended to wear a hat or use an umbrella when outdoors.
- Eat small meals and eat more often: Officials recommend avoiding foods high in protein that increase metabolic heat.
- Monitor those at risk: Check on friends, family or others for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Slow down and avoid strenuous activity: It is recommended to only do strenuous activity during the coolest hours of the day, between 4 and 7 a.m.
- Stay indoors.
- Take breaks when engaged in physical activity: Take a break in a cool place when doing activity outside on a hot day. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-weather/2023/07/12/when-to-expect-rain-phoenix-monsoon-season/70406045007/ | 2023-07-12T20:41:14 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-weather/2023/07/12/when-to-expect-rain-phoenix-monsoon-season/70406045007/ |
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Should Merritt Island become its own city?
There’s a study underway in Brevard County to assess the feasibility of it happening.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
It’s an idea that’s been rejected before, but the Merritt Island Preservation Committee said a lot has changed since the last time residents were asked to consider the issue.
If the idea gets beyond the study phase, the ultimate decision would be made by residents.
Read: Brevard County seeks contractor for nearly $5M project
More than a decade ago, county commissioners voted to have staff determine the cost of a feasibility study on this same issue only to rescind the motion.
An initial financial projection for the island indicates $9 million in potential revenue sources and $2.7 million in expenses.
Read: Deputies identify man fatally shot at Merritt Island home
“It is preliminary. The numbers did seem to indicate that Merritt Island could become a city, and they would have reserves without raising any taxes,” said Marcus Herman, with the Merritt Island Preservation Committee.
Once the feasibility study is complete, Herman said there will be a series of community meetings. If there’s support, state lawmakers will be asked to draft language to bring to voters.
In theory, that vote could happen in November of 2024.
Read: Planes crashed, flipped upside down after strong storms strike Merritt Island Airport
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brevard-county-study-prospect-merritt-island-becoming-its-own-city/WVCDXPKR2BC4NITP2JBZUHGLSA/ | 2023-07-12T20:46:47 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brevard-county-study-prospect-merritt-island-becoming-its-own-city/WVCDXPKR2BC4NITP2JBZUHGLSA/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Pet Alliance said they are experiencing longer stays for their dogs with 50 in their care right now.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Additionally, hundreds of kittens have come through their doors during the summer as the heat has increased.
That’s why they are hoping local residents will get out and adopt a pet this weekend.
Read: Man, 70, killed in Oviedo crash
With National Adoption Week ending Sunday, they are asking pet lovers throughout Central Florida to visit PetSmart and give a sheltered dog or cat a new home.
Read: Police: 3 men dead, 1 in custody after Daytona Beach shooting
Dog adoptions will be available this Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at PetSmart’s stores in Lake Mary, and Ocoee. and at the Altamonte store Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Read: Derek Diaz’s family, attorney speak after Orlando police release bodycam video of shooting
Cat adoptions are all week long at PetSmart in Altamonte, Ocoee and Lake Mary.
For more information click here:
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/happening-this-weekend-adopt-new-furry-family-member-during-national-adoption-week/6TT4POGSURGT7NHEFGEULUYM5E/ | 2023-07-12T20:46:53 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/happening-this-weekend-adopt-new-furry-family-member-during-national-adoption-week/6TT4POGSURGT7NHEFGEULUYM5E/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — More than $1.3 billion is up for grabs this week as America’s dueling jackpots, POWERBALL and MEGA MILLIONS, continue to climb.
After no winner following Monday’s drawing, Wednesday’s POWERBALL jackpot has reached an estimated $750 million.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
On Tuesday, the MEGA MILLIONS jackpot grew larger to an estimated $560 million ahead of Friday’s drawing, after no one won Tuesday’s drawing.
If you win the jackpot, you have the option to receive your winning in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum cash option of approximately $379 million for POWERBALL and $282 million for MEGA MILLIONS.
Read: Back to school: Tips for teachers, students, parents on how to beat high cost of supplies
Since joining POWERBALL in 2009, the game has generated more than $2.68 billion in contributions to education statewide. Florida is among the top-selling POWERBALL states in the country, with more than 123.1 million winning tickets totaling more than $3.59 billion in prizes, including 16 jackpot winners.
Since joining MEGA MILLIONS in 2013, the game has generated more than $1 billion for education and has awarded $1 billion in prizes to 72.3 million players.
Read: Farmers insurance holders: What you can do next
The next POWERBALL drawing will be held tonight, Wednesday, July 12, at 10:59 p.m.
The next MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be held Friday, July 14, at 11:00 p.m.
Read: Shetland pony just born at Disney will one day help pull Cinderella’s pumpkin coach
Tickets must be purchased by 10:00 p.m.
The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $44 billion to enhance education and sending more than 950,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Read:
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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/powerball-mega-millions-combined-jackpots-continue-grow-now-worth-more-than-13b/EGZ6IPQVTND2JCBHVF54MYRNUY/ | 2023-07-12T20:46:59 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/powerball-mega-millions-combined-jackpots-continue-grow-now-worth-more-than-13b/EGZ6IPQVTND2JCBHVF54MYRNUY/ |
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A truly terrifying experience turned a little brighter for a Cape Coral woman when two good Samaritans helped rescue her after a violent car crash.
Every day, Amanda Wilson drives through the intersection at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Gleason Parkway. What’s normally a mundane routine turned unforgettable on July 1.
“On my way back to work, I was going through the intersection of Santa Barbara and Gleason. I had a green light. Right as I was crossing through the intersection, there was a red Nissan Altima that turned left right in front of me and we collided with each other,” Wilson recalled.
Her brand new 2023 Hyundai Elantra was totaled. Wilson only bought it a month prior to the accident.
“The first thing running through my mind was just to make sure I was okay. I was looking at myself. I was looking at my arm. I have some abrasions on my arm. Then I looked at my other arm, and my arm was shaped like a Z,” Wilson explained.
As Wilson grabbed her broken arm, a blonde woman made her way past the chaos to check on her. Not far behind, was an off-duty EMT, who also stopped to help.
“We’re going to get you out of the car,” Wilson remembers the man saying.
The two strangers worked together to get Wilson’s seatbelt off, the car engine off and her out to the safety of the sidewalk.
Living in another state, Wilson’s mom is brought to tears hearing about the two Good Samaritans who stopped to help her daughter.
“People are busy, people are rushing, they don’t stop, so I’m just grateful they stayed there,” Candy Wilson said.
“I think if it wasn’t for them, I probably would’ve been A. alone and B. probably freaking out so much more,” Amanda added.
She describes the two Good Samaritans as follows: 1) a male off-duty EMT 2) a young blonde mom, with a tattoo on her thigh, driving a black SUV. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/07/10/good-samaritans-rescue-woman-trapped-in-wrecked-car-after-cape-coral-crash/ | 2023-07-12T20:54:19 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/07/10/good-samaritans-rescue-woman-trapped-in-wrecked-car-after-cape-coral-crash/ |
Gainesville man who threatened city officials enters veteran treatment court
Ordered to issue an apology, have no contact with commissioners
A Gainesville realtor will be sent to veterans treatment court after threatening city commissioners on Facebook last year.
Terry Martin-Back, was booked into the Alachua County Jail in September 2022 after being charged with making written threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
Martin-Back took to Facebook last year to address his frustrations with the commission.
"I'm about to lose control of my PTSD with the City of Gainesville elected Commissioners," he wrote. "When I see them in public, I don't think I will be able to control my actions... You have a choice... stop me or join in"
More:Gainesville real estate broker booked on charges for threatening to harm elected leaders
More:New book explores struggle between GRU, City Hall from eyes of former general manager
Martin-Back indicated in his thread that he also sent elected leaders a follow-up email that said he may "pull them out of an establishment and "beat their ass" if they vote for inclusionary zoning."
"I hope I'm first in line and my combat emotional stress kicks in and I can take [it] all out on your face!!" the email said.
An Army veteran, Martin-Book was evaluated during a Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) status hearing held in June. His case was transferred on July 6 to the VTC.
As part of the transfer, he is ordered to issue an apology to former commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos by July 20, and have no contact with Hayes-Santos, former commissioner David Arreola, former mayor Lauren Poe, and current commissioners Cynthia Chestnut, Reina Saco, Desmon Duncan-Walker, and Mayor Harvey Ward.
Martin-Back will have his charges dropped after completing a 12-month program with the VTC. The VTC is a “voluntary, treatment–based, diversion court program serving military veterans with mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses charged with certain misdemeanor and felony crimes," according to the Alachua County website. | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/gainesville-man-who-threatened-city-leaders-enters-treatment-court/70406285007/ | 2023-07-12T20:58:22 | 0 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/gainesville-man-who-threatened-city-leaders-enters-treatment-court/70406285007/ |
University of Florida Police Department recognized for mental health response work
The University of Florida Police Department is making strides in its efforts in handling mental health emergencies around the Gainesville campus.
UFPD has recently been honored as a national leader in mental health programs and initiatives. A plaque was given to the police department recognizing their work as a law enforcement-mental health learning site, the department announced.
The program, within the Bureau of Justice Assistance, helps law enforcement agencies who aim to build collaborative responses for individuals facing mental health struggles.
Leading the way in mental health-law enforcement policies for over a decade, UFPD was part of six initial agencies selected as learning sites in 2011 when the program first launched, according to the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center.
“I am extremely proud of our agency for its involvement with progressive policing models proven to benefit our UF community and beyond,” Chief of Police Linda Stump-Kurnick said in a press release. “We are grateful for this recognition and look forward to our continued partnership with this innovative program.”
UFPD continues to improve:UF opens new $26M public safety facility to serve as community hub
More:City, GPD reach settlement in 2021 SWAT raid case of realty office
The department's program has become a model for intensive crisis intervention and suicide prevention training, and is similar to efforts made by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office and Gainesville Police Department. The program has expanded from six to 15 learning sites since starting up, though UFPD is one of only three spread across the Southeast.
One vital part of its initiatives is the co-responder program, implemented in June 2022, which pairs clinicians with law enforcement officers to improve the department’s response to those experiencing mental distress or a mental health crisis.
Every clinician responding with officers must be a master’s level mental health professional with a background in crisis intervention.
Having professional clinicians allows officers to shift the process to mental health professionals trained to properly assist and de-escalate the situation, being as minimally invasive and intrusive as possible.
UFPD became the first higher education police department in the country to implement this type of co-responder program, which focuses on a partnered model.
Finding solutions
There are many different types of co-responder models, but those all generally involve law enforcement and clinicians working together to respond to calls involving a person experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, according to UFPD’s website.
The model provides alternatives to arrest, officer use of force and hospitalizations, and promotes access to mental health services and treatments.
“I think our hardest problem right now is even just getting the word out,” said Meggen Sixbey, UFPD's director of behavioral services. “We’re tracking lots of things, and one of the things for me that’s important is: Are we getting people connected to resources for the long term, and are we not inappropriately hospitalizing individuals? Those are definitely things that we’ve seen a huge shift in.”
When Sixbey first arrived at UFPD in March 2022, she looked at data from 2015 to the current time and determined Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. was the heaviest call load for services relating to mental health.
Every officer at UFPD is Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained within the first six months of their hire to gain knowledge about how to help individuals experiencing mental health concerns. The 40-hour, scenario-based training teaches officers how to respond effectively, compassionately and in the least intrusive way to someone in crisis.
After training, officers who are interested in being a part of the co-responder program must then submit a letter of interest. Both the behavioral services director and the captain of operations at UFPD review the letters and determine if the officer is a good fit for the team.
Currently, UFPD has eight officers and two clinicians in the co-responder program, allowing each clinician to have four officers to work closely with.
“A lot of times there’s things that are nuanced on these types of calls,” Sixbey said. “If they don’t have familiarization with each other or a working relationship with each other, then it’s a little bit harder to know: Why is my clinician doing this thing, or why is my officer doing that thing?”
The program is currently available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. as a resource. UFPD officials hope to expand the program over the coming months by hiring more staff to ensure someone is always on duty and able to help. | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/police-department-at-university-of-florida-recognized-for-mental-health-in-mental-health-initiatives/70387230007/ | 2023-07-12T20:58:28 | 1 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/police-department-at-university-of-florida-recognized-for-mental-health-in-mental-health-initiatives/70387230007/ |
UF student sentenced to probation after participation in U.S. Capitol riot
Chase said he regrets actions
A University of Florida student has been sentenced with three years of probation after pleading guilty to charges relating to the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.
Gabriel Chase, 22, pled guilty on Nov. 10 to one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building. He is a history major enrolled at UF for the upcoming fall semester, the Independent Florida Alligator reported Monday.
Chase reportedly went into Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office, helped barricade doors against police officers, and destroyed media equipment. He was inside the Capitol for 30 minutes.
Chase was affiliated with white supremacist Nicholas Fuentes’ far-right extremist movement dubbed "America First." He said he participated in the insurrection after engaging with Fuentes’ content and message. Since the riot, he has expressed regret for his actions.
“I regret my part in what it did to our nation, our democracy, and to the congresspeople and law enforcement who were present at the Capitol that day,” Chase wrote in a letter to Senior Judge Kollar-Kotelly.
His July 5 sentence and probation mandate a three-day prison sentence and a $500 payment to the Architect of the Capitol. | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/uf-student-sentenced-to-probation-after-participation-in-capitol-riot/70406767007/ | 2023-07-12T20:58:33 | 1 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/uf-student-sentenced-to-probation-after-participation-in-capitol-riot/70406767007/ |
KOKOMO, Ind. — Kokomo police said a missing 11-month-old baby was found safe in Ohio and a suspect was taken into custody.
Police responded to a report of a missing child on Wednesday, July 12 at 1:13 p.m. at an apartment in the 300 block of West Walnut Street, near North Washington Street.
Based on a preliminary investigation, police believe someone went in the back door of the apartment around 10 a.m. and took Dominique Spence.
Police put out a description of a vehicle of interest, a 2013 Ford Escape, and said two people might be in that car.
About 30 minutes later, police released an update that Spence had been found in Ohio. The release said Spence was found safe and a suspect is in custody.
No other details on who that suspect might be or a possible relationship to the baby were released.
Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert: What's the difference?
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/kokomo-police-missing-child-11-month-old-boy-dominique-spence/531-560a8d87-432b-4749-93fe-ec8c233a120b | 2023-07-12T20:59:10 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/kokomo-police-missing-child-11-month-old-boy-dominique-spence/531-560a8d87-432b-4749-93fe-ec8c233a120b |
INDIANAPOLIS — Tucked into the Haughville neighborhood on the west side of Indianapolis, Christamore House is a nonprofit that empowers Hoosiers living nearby through community partnerships and education.
On Thursday, July 13, Christamore House is hosting a free summer festival and resource fair for Hoosiers of all ages.
It's from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 502 N. Tremont St. in Indianapolis.
Organizers say there will be free food, free shoes and other supplies to help children get ready for the return of the school year.
Plus, there will also be community resources and check-ups available for families. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/westside-non-profit-hosts-free-summer-festival-haughville-indianapolis-christamore-house-indiana/531-cb429203-a85f-41b1-ac34-5c61fa0468cf | 2023-07-12T20:59:16 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/westside-non-profit-hosts-free-summer-festival-haughville-indianapolis-christamore-house-indiana/531-cb429203-a85f-41b1-ac34-5c61fa0468cf |
The ramps from northbound Interstate 65 to Interstate 80/94 in Lake County will see restrictions this weekend, weather permitting, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced.
Contractor Rieth Riley Construction is scheduled to close the ramp from northbound I-65 to eastbound I-94 Friday evening for concrete patching. It is expected to reopen Monday morning. The official detour, using state roads, will be to exit at U.S. 12/20 and use Ripley Street to access eastbound I-94.
The ramp from northbound I-65 to westbound I-94 will have a single lane closure overnight Friday, reopening the following morning. The lane closure will be pushed back to the following evening until weather allows, if needed, INDOT said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/i65-i94-borman-roadwork-indot/article_1f4d7b8a-20c3-11ee-86e1-43507774e851.html | 2023-07-12T21:01:53 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/i65-i94-borman-roadwork-indot/article_1f4d7b8a-20c3-11ee-86e1-43507774e851.html |
ALIQUIPPA, Pa — An Aliquippa woman will spend one day in prison for bank fraud and conspiracy.
Following the day in prison, Lee Ann Benninghoff, 45, has three years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan.
Olshan said Benninghoff was convicted of bank fraud and conspiracy for submitting fraudulent gift letters “in support of mortgage loan applications” while running an escrow agency and real estate agency from 2014 to 2017. Prosecutors claim the gift letters misrepresent the source of and purpose for the funds.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/aliquippa-woman-sentenced-1-day-prison-bank-fraud/ZAJO74M7XFGXXGYBPNCXQFOPR4/ | 2023-07-12T21:02:30 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/aliquippa-woman-sentenced-1-day-prison-bank-fraud/ZAJO74M7XFGXXGYBPNCXQFOPR4/ |
The USPS is holding several job fairs across western Pennsylvania in July.
The postal service is hiring to fill immediate openings for multiple positions, including city carriers, rural carriers and mail handler assistants. A spokesperson for USPS says accepting a position is “the first step” to a potentially long career with the agency.
Each job fair takes place at a different post office from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and USPS personnel will be at each event to answer questions.
Find the full list below:
July 18 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Brownsville Post Office
100 Charles St.
Brownsville, PA 15417
July 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Pleasant Hills Post Office
500 Regis Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
July 20 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Mercer Post Office
109 E. Venango St.
Mercer, PA 16137
July 21 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Girard Post Office
113 Main St. E.
Girard, PA 16417
July 25 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Belle Vernon Post Office
611 Circle Dr.
Belle Vernon, PA 15012
July 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Aliquippa Post Office
517 Franklin Ave.
Aliquippa, PA 15001
July 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Washington Post Office
153 Jefferson Ave.
Washington, PA 15301
July 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Greensburg Post Office
238 S. Pennsylvania Ave.
Greensburg, PA 15601
Click here for more information about USPS career opportunities or the application process.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/usps-looking-fill-immediate-openings-during-upcoming-job-fairs/HWD2PVWGCFEQNNAOANX3XLQD3Q/ | 2023-07-12T21:02:36 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/usps-looking-fill-immediate-openings-during-upcoming-job-fairs/HWD2PVWGCFEQNNAOANX3XLQD3Q/ |
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police have arrested 20 people in just the last two weeks on felony drug trafficking charges in Downtown Pittsburgh, but some of them are ending up right back on the streets.
Watch Channel 11 News starting at 5 p.m. as Channel 11′s Alyssa Raymond sits down exclusively with Pittsburgh’s Police Chief to find out why this is happening and what can be done about it.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/we-will-do-our-part-20-drug-related-arrests-same-area-downtown-pittsburgh-spark-concerns/R2ODSKAJ5RH2TOD4G42WNUBM7E/ | 2023-07-12T21:02:42 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/we-will-do-our-part-20-drug-related-arrests-same-area-downtown-pittsburgh-spark-concerns/R2ODSKAJ5RH2TOD4G42WNUBM7E/ |
The annual Mayor's Cup race heated up the Washington Park Velodrome Tuesday evening.
Over a dozen cyclists competed in the 75-lap race at the historic velodrome, 1901 Washington Road, before a crowd of spectators and junior cyclists. The race is equivalent to 15 miles.
Mayor John Antaramian presented the Mayor's Cup to first-place finisher Matt Gittings, 31, of Indianapolis.
"It feels great," said Gittings, who previously won in 2017. "It's a long race. It's pretty hard."
Gittings, who drove to Kenosha just to compete, said he's "pretty proud of myself."
"I can't complain about a win. It's always nice to win a bike race," Gittings said. "I love this velodrome. It's the oldest velodrome in the country."
"It's my last mayor's race. It's just wonderful to see this historic track being used," Antaramian said. "It's a gorgeous night and it's really exciting seeing the track used. It is a gorgeous park."
Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell sang the National Anthem before the race and fired off the starter's pistol. It was her first time at the velodrome.
"This is so cool. It's a gem of Kenosha," Newell said. "I can barely ride my bike down the street. I could never do this. I'm just so happy to be here watching this."
The Mayor's Cup has been held nearly every year since 1979.
Race Director Chris Riva said she "loves seeing all the riders come out."
"You have to be an experienced rider to race in this," Riva said. "There are no brakes, there's no coasting."
Built in 1927, the Washington Park Velodrome is the oldest operating velodrome in the U.S. and remains the only bike race track in Wisconsin. It's also one of only about two dozen cycling velodromes left in the nation.
Check out where Wisconsin football will work out, live during August stay in Platteville
Matt Gittings, top, races to first place during the Mayor's Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday. Gittings, 31, of Indianapolis, won the 75-lap race, the equivalent of 15 miles.
Matt Gittings, left, is congratulated and handed the trophy from Mayor John Antaramian, center, and Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell after winning the Mayor's Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-mayors-cup-race-heats-up-velodrome/article_1dc2ad40-20e0-11ee-9497-2fe08136fdcf.html | 2023-07-12T21:03:40 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-mayors-cup-race-heats-up-velodrome/article_1dc2ad40-20e0-11ee-9497-2fe08136fdcf.html |
Concert-goers listen to the Peacetree Allstars during the MAAM concert series at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell in Pennoyer Park on Tuesday, July 12, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS
Hundreds of music lovers attended the opening night of "Tuesdays at the Shell" in Pennoyer Park.
The Peacetree Allstars play during the MAAM concert series at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell in Pennoyer Park on Tuesday, July 12, 2023.
SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS
Peacetree Allstars opened the 2023 season at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell in the park at Seventh Avenue and Kennedy Drive. Attendees brought lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to the free concert.
The Peacetree Allstars play during the MAAM concert series at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell in Pennoyer Park on Tuesda. The free concerts runs every Tuesday through Aug. 29.
SEAN KRAJACIC KENOSHA NEWS
The concert series runs every Tuesday through Aug. 29. It's presented by Musicians Assisting Advancing Music, the City of Kenosha and Happenings Magazine.
Rick Branch, president of MAAM, said Tuesday was a success.
"We couldn't ask for better weather or location," Branch said. "Come on out and listen to some great music."
Marilyn and Ken Citterman of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., said they appreciate Kenosha's live summer entertainment.
"We come up here quite a bit," Ken Citterman said.
Marylin Citterman said they also enjoy visiting the city's public parks with their dog.
"We go to all the parks just to try them out," Marylin Citterman said.
Photos: Inside Wisconsin football's 'Squat Fest'
University of Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen prepares to perform a squat during the program's "Squat Fest" event Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI, FOR BADGEREXTRA
The University of Wisconsin football program participated in its inaugural "Squat Fest" event under the Luke Fickell era Friday morning inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
Redshirt senior inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta mans the DJ booth during the offense's Squat Fest session Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
University of Wisconsin wide receiver Chimere Dike prepares to perform a squat during the program's "Squat Fest" event Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
University of Wisconsin offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini performs a squat during the program's "Squat Fest" event Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
University of Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen prepares to perform a squat during the program's "Squat Fest" event Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
University of Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson prepares to perform a squat during the program's "Squat Fest" event Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
University of Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi performs tricep extensions during the program's "Squat Fest" event Friday inside the weight room of Camp Randall Stadium.
JAKE KOCOROWSKI
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/tuesdays-at-the-shell-draws-crowd-at-kenoshas-pennoyer-park/article_46a6c424-20dd-11ee-b5df-13e5d0836d3a.html | 2023-07-12T21:03:41 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/tuesdays-at-the-shell-draws-crowd-at-kenoshas-pennoyer-park/article_46a6c424-20dd-11ee-b5df-13e5d0836d3a.html |
As the sun began its descent west behind a cloudy but tinted sky, the Kal Bergendahl Project brought its smooth sounds to the hundreds who relaxed on the lawn outside Anderson Arts Center on Kenosha's lakeshore.
A cool breeze kept temperatures in the upper 60s for Tuesday night’s Twilight Jazz concert featuring the six-piece band led by Bergendahl, a Kenosha native whose instrumental jazz-funk style band has thrilled and chilled audiences for years.
Janice Caputo of Kenosha with Mark Martin, of Kenosha, snuggled beneath a large blanket as they soaked in the sounds while staying warm.
“It was a toss-up tonight because there’s jazz playing at the (Pennoyer Park) band shell,” said Caputo who went with Martin’s suggestion to come to Anderson Arts Center, 6603 Third Ave.
“We enjoy the music. We enjoy the relaxation,” she said as a tenor saxophone meandered around notes in a major key. Caputo said she also appreciated the event because it “brings different generations together.”
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Martin said he enjoys the jazz series because he likes “getting out ... getting some Vitamin D and listening to good music,."
Lakeside seat
Doug Holleran said his wife Jan has wanted to see the Kal Bergdahl Project for a year. What better venue than one that has a lakeside seat, he said.
“I like music. It’s a perfect spot,” Holleran, of Kenosha, said of the venue, backed by a view of the Lake Michigan.
“We always have a good time here,” he said. “It’s on beautiful Lake Michigan. The people here are nice and all are interested in music. That always brings people together.”
“We’re down at the lake all the time so we go to concerts every chance we get,” said Jan Holleran. “It’s a nice evening. A little chilly, but nice.”
Steve Sanborn, of Kenosha, held on to Norm and Wendy Nestler’s miniature schnauzer, Coconut. They joined the family, including their son Nolan, for a picnic to go along with the concert.
Sanborn said he came to Twilight Jazz to see Bergendahl, the band’s leader and bass guitarist.
“We know Kal, so we just come here to support him. They’re very good. We saw them last year,” said Sanborn, who moved to Kenosha in September with wife Janet.
Wendy Nestler, of Pleasant Prairie, a first-timer at Twilight Jazz, said she missed last month’s first concert due to inclement weather.
“It’s a beautiful setting, right?” said Nestler, who moved to the area a week and a half ago.
She said the Twilight Jazz series is a great value compared with some venues that have a lawn fee. The local concert is free.
“This is very nice,” she said. “I just like outdoor music.”
Twilight's 20th year
Kemper Center Executive Director Ed Kubicki, said the he was excited with turnout for the Tuesday night performance and the six-event series, which is celebrating its 20th year on the Kemper Center grounds.
“It’s a beautiful night. Look at all the people here,” he said, referring to hundreds who brought blankets and lawn chairs to the event. “We have six free acts for you to come here and enjoy among the good people of Kenosha.”
All concerts are privately sponsored.
“There are no taxpayer dollars involved in this,” Kubicki said. “I appreciate all the help from all our sponsors and all our workers, our volunteers and everyone (can) just come out and enjoy themselves.”
Concerts are scheduled every two weeks, with three remaining. Following the concert series finale on Aug. 22, Twilight Jazz will celebrate its two decades in existence with a bang, according to Kubicki.
“We’re going to have a fireworks show at the end of the program to commemorate our 20th year here at Kemper Center,” he said. “So come on down.”
PHOTO GALLERY: TWILIGHT JAZZ AT ANDERSON ARTS CENTER
Hundreds gathered on the lawn outside the Anderson Arts Center overlooking Lake Michigan to listen to the dulcet and funky sounds of the Kal Bergendahl Project Tuesday night. The band is one of six featured performances during 2023 summer season for the center's Twilight Jazz series of free concerts that play every two weeks on Tuesdays through Aug. 22. Anderson Arts Center is located at 6603 Third Ave. in Kenosha. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/twilight-jazz-anderson-arts-center-hundreds/article_630bab0a-2085-11ee-af2e-5318a405d562.html | 2023-07-12T21:03:41 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/twilight-jazz-anderson-arts-center-hundreds/article_630bab0a-2085-11ee-af2e-5318a405d562.html |
The Lincoln Park Live music concert set for Wednesday night (July 12) in the Lincoln Park flower garden in Kenosha has been postponed due to pending inclement weather and concern for public safety in the park.
The concert has been rescheduled to Wednesday Aug. 30.
The next concert in the 2023 Lincoln Park Live series will be Wednesday, July 19, with Reggae Night featuring Natty Nation.
For concert details visit mahonefund.org. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/weather-concerns-lincoln-park-live-concert-wednesday-night-postponed/article_2fb01f4e-20e3-11ee-95ac-e7520196954a.html | 2023-07-12T21:03:42 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/weather-concerns-lincoln-park-live-concert-wednesday-night-postponed/article_2fb01f4e-20e3-11ee-95ac-e7520196954a.html |
BAY CITY (WJRT) - A Michigan man is making a 2,400-mile trip on a bicycle across the Upper and Lower Peninsula all for a cause.
Tim Ward is the president of Michigan Legislative Consultants, which is a lobbying firm. Through his passion for cycling, he launched the "Trace Michigan" tour.
On Monday, Ward began the 22-day Trace Michigan tour to raise awareness of Chance for Life in Detroit. The program offers behavior and life skills training to incarcerated individuals about returning to society.
On Wednesday, Ward will bike from Bay City to Ossineke.
Throughout Ward's trip, he will make stops in communities to share messages about Chance for Life. The Trace Michigan tour is scheduled to wrap up on Aug. 3.
To learn more about Chance for Life, visit their website chanceforlifeonline.org. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/michigan-bicyclist-riding-2-400-miles-around-the-state-for-a-cause/article_a4500ce4-20d2-11ee-8030-a3d8d31762d0.html | 2023-07-12T21:07:01 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/michigan-bicyclist-riding-2-400-miles-around-the-state-for-a-cause/article_a4500ce4-20d2-11ee-8030-a3d8d31762d0.html |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - A vehicle fire spread to two neighboring houses in Flint, causing serious damage to both of them Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported around 12:55 p.m. in the 1500 block of Indiana Avenue.
Fire crews on the scene say the vehicle parked between the two houses caught fire first and the flames spread to both structures. Both houses and the vehicle sustained significant damage.
Firefighters used an aerial ladder to access the second floor on one of the residences due to the extent of damage on the main floor.
The Flint Fire Department says everyone escaped the houses safely and nobody was injured. Investigators could not immediately say what caused the vehicle to catch fire. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/vehicle-fire-spreads-to-two-houses-on-flints-east-side/article_7dfd7c52-20dc-11ee-a437-9b9c092914e4.html | 2023-07-12T21:07:07 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/vehicle-fire-spreads-to-two-houses-on-flints-east-side/article_7dfd7c52-20dc-11ee-a437-9b9c092914e4.html |
NEW ORLEANS — A federal court has sided with an insurance company in a lawsuit by Blue Bell shareholders over economic losses tied to the company's listeria outbreak of 2015, saying insurance does not have to cover the losses.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, a three-judge panel in New Orleans, issued the opinion Tuesday.
Their ruling affirmed an earlier ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
The ruling concluded that Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and Travelers Indemnity Co. of Connecticut do not have to cover Blue Bell's claims over economic losses
The insurance policy covered damages due to "bodily injury" - three people died and 10 people were hospitalized - but the judges ruled that coverage does not extend to economic losses incurred by Blue Bell investors.
The Fifth Circuit judges wrote that "there is no colorable argument that the shareholder lawsuit seeks damages 'for care, loss of services or death' because it only seeks compensation for breach of fiduciary duties. Even the Blue Bell Defendants do not argue that there are any such damages at issue. As the Sixth Circuit observed, the inclusion of damages 'for care, loss of services or death' was meant to include claims 'like loss of consortium claims by family members, and subrogation claims.'"
Blue Bell's 2015 listeria outbreak brought production and sales to a halt for several months, and the company had to recall ice cream that had been contaminated by the bacteria.
The outbreak caused 10 illnesses and three deaths in Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.
As the weeks passed, Blue Bell would lay off 1,450 workers and furlough 1,400 others (from a total workforce of 3,900). According to both the Houston Press and The Wall Street Journal, the crisis sent Blue Bell's annual revenue plummeting from $680 million in 2014 to a projected $500 million this year – or a loss of $180 million. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/blue-bell-listeria-outbreak-2015-insurance-company-claims-losses-court-ruling/287-712e25df-0f89-4901-b44b-0ffc73afda28 | 2023-07-12T21:11:20 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/blue-bell-listeria-outbreak-2015-insurance-company-claims-losses-court-ruling/287-712e25df-0f89-4901-b44b-0ffc73afda28 |
DALLAS — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is likely to have John Scott, a Fort Worth attorney and lobbyist, on speed dial by now.
Scott has become a go-to for the governor. He's the man Abbott called a couple months ago to take over at the Attorney General’s office after Ken Paxton was impeached and suspended from his position.
“I took the smallest office I could find on the floor,” Scott said in an upcoming episode of the Y’all-itics political podcast. “A lot of that was to make sure they understand that I was last and least among the equals there. I was there to help serve them, serve the state, and I wanted to make sure they knew I was there in a humble role.”
For the first time, Scott revealed what the morale is like inside the Texas Attorney General’s Office after Paxton was suspended.
“The real goal at that point in time was to visit with folks who worked there. So, those first two weeks over there, there was a lot of talk about what happens with the impeachment. And it was always about the same subject,” Scott explained. “After about two weeks people were back talking completely about cases, what is our next step. And that is what’s going on today. They’re back as close to normal as possible since the impeachment.”
This is Scott’s second high-profile appointment by the governor in the last few years.
Abbott appointed him as Texas secretary of state in 2021 as some were suspicious of voting systems after the 2020 election. Scott led an audit that found no widespread fraud.
He left as secretary of state in January only to have Abbott call him back as attorney general in May.
But Scott, 61, said this temporary assignment ends on Friday morning after six weeks in the position because he said he needs to return to his law practice.
“It’s hard to disengage from clients who need you for a purpose and say I’ll see you when I see you. I at least wanted to let them know when I might be back able to represent them again,” he added.
Angela Colmenero takes over on Friday morning at 10 a.m. as the interim attorney general. She spent a decade in the office but most recently served as Abbott’s deputy chief of staff.
Scott has helped calm some sticky situations. What remains uncertain with his departure, though, is when and why the governor will call on him again. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/outgoing-attorney-general-john-scott-glimpse-inside-texas-office-after-ken-paxton-suspension/287-9f209fed-235f-4a65-ba42-55c8333f58f1 | 2023-07-12T21:11:26 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/outgoing-attorney-general-john-scott-glimpse-inside-texas-office-after-ken-paxton-suspension/287-9f209fed-235f-4a65-ba42-55c8333f58f1 |
PITTSTON, Pa. — Inside Grace and Park in Luzerne County is a fashionista's dream.
"Pink is definitely our favorite color here at Grace and Park, it's a staple. You will always find something pink here," said Grace and Park owner Sandy Eramo.
In the excitement of the upcoming release of the new Barbie movie, store owner Sandy Eramo is kicking the pink up a notch, all for the iconic doll.
"I remember myself, I always had my favorite Barbie and then having a daughter myself, just making sure she had every Barbie and accessory, it brings you right back to your childhood," said Eramo.
"I would dress my dolls up, and I'd dress myself up and get the matching outfits with the Barbies and everything," said Grace and Park employee Aleni Alfano.
So in honor of the Barbie movie, Grace and Park are holding a "Barbie Drive."
"No little girl should go without a Barbie," said Eramo.
Anyone can bring in a brand new Barbie, which will be donated to the Kirby House, helping families in need.
"Because Grace and Park is a mother-daughter-owned business, we wanted to do something to give back to mothers and daughters. The Kirby House is a transitional place where they are in-between homes or maybe homeless right now, so anything we could do to give back to them and put a smile on the children's faces," explained Eramo.
"It honestly melts my heart, I just love seeing people donate and giving back to our community. It's so nice to see that they are willing to bring a Barbie in to give back to the Kirby house," said Alfano.
Donations can be dropped off at Grace and Park on South Main Street in Pittston through the end of July.
The donation will also get you a 20% discount on one item.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/movie-inspires-donation-drive-in-luzerne-county-grace-and-park-pittston-wnep-barbie/523-02676a59-7be3-4e7a-a250-6e816f4cc48f | 2023-07-12T21:16:19 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/movie-inspires-donation-drive-in-luzerne-county-grace-and-park-pittston-wnep-barbie/523-02676a59-7be3-4e7a-a250-6e816f4cc48f |
STROUDSBURG, Pa. — A mural on the office building at Camp Papillion Animal Shelter in Monroe County is almost done.
Artists with Origin Gallery have been working on the project near Snydersville for the past month in between the rain showers.
The mural symbolizes a labor of love, not just for what the shelter workers do, but for the artists who are painting for free.
All supplies and paint were donated by local hardware stores in the Poconos.
"We're so happy to have all this talent. This local talent come together and provide something that could be nice and helpful not only to Camp Papillon but to the people who come here and see it," said Jody Singer, Origins Gallery Artist.
The artists say there were nine revisions made to get the mural just right.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/mural-in-monroe-county-getting-its-final-touches-camp-papillion-animal-shelter-wnep/523-e5f71949-0ef5-4841-9d3c-bc0ded923fd0 | 2023-07-12T21:16:25 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/mural-in-monroe-county-getting-its-final-touches-camp-papillion-animal-shelter-wnep/523-e5f71949-0ef5-4841-9d3c-bc0ded923fd0 |
BRODHEADSVILLE, Pa. — A woman is dead after a lawnmower accident in Monroe County.
It happened Tuesday night along Countryside Road in Chestnuthill Township, near Brodheadsville.
Officials say 70-year-old Gloria Myler was found dead under the lawnmower.
Her cause of death is still under investigation, state police say there are no signs of foul play.
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/monroe-county/woman-dies-after-lawnmower-accident-in-monroe-county-gloria-myler-countryside-road-in-chestnuthill-township-wnep/523-490d9b1f-1d7e-478f-864d-3cf62b6bf072 | 2023-07-12T21:16:31 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/woman-dies-after-lawnmower-accident-in-monroe-county-gloria-myler-countryside-road-in-chestnuthill-township-wnep/523-490d9b1f-1d7e-478f-864d-3cf62b6bf072 |
MOUNT CARMEL, Pa. — Beatrice Topolski has loved pierogies all her life.
"I was buying them when I was just a kid like 9 or 10 years old. They were $0.39 a box back then," she said.
The 80-year-old from Northumberland County resides here at the Mount Carmel Senior Living Community.
She recently entered hospice care.
To lift her spirits, Pierogi Man and an official from Mrs. T's Pierogies stopped by to surprise her.
"I didn't know what was going on, I didn't know what they were going to do," Beatrice added.
"You're thinking about her being here in a nursing home and everything, and you want to make her day. So, why not, why not do it? Mrs. T's is all about making people smile, so that is why we are here," said Therese Rakus with Mrs. T's.
Kaitlynn Brown is married to Beatrice's grandson, Troy.
The couple sent an email to Mrs. T's detailing Beatrice's love for pierogies.
Just days after, they got a response.
"My husband got an email, and he was like, 'Oh my God, they are coming,' and he sent screenshots to everybody, and nobody responded, and then we called them, and his mom was like, 'We thought this was a joke,' and we were like no the pierogi is coming," Brown explained.
Not only did that email lead to a visit from the company, but Beatrice also got some gifts.
"We brought her some t-shirts, we brought a cup, a bag, flowers, and we brought coupons for the family," Rakus said.
"I love it. I think it is so nice," Beatrice added.
Family members told Newswatch 16 that this is a moment they will cherish forever.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/northumberland-county/nursing-home-resident-gets-surprise-pierogi-visit-mount-carmel-senior-living-community-beatrice-topolski-wnep/523-9045680a-04ae-4e04-87d2-67ecbf0392bc | 2023-07-12T21:16:37 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/northumberland-county/nursing-home-resident-gets-surprise-pierogi-visit-mount-carmel-senior-living-community-beatrice-topolski-wnep/523-9045680a-04ae-4e04-87d2-67ecbf0392bc |
HIGH POINT — A 63-year-old High Point man fatally shot his older brother Friday before he turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, High Point Police said in a news release.
Officers responded just after 4 p.m. that day to the 100 block of Spring Garden Circle and found Russell M. Rose, 65, of Archdale dead in the driveway of the home. A short time later, they found Randall G. Rose dead inside the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police are not releasing any additional information at this time. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-courts/high-point-police-id-brothers-who-died-friday-in-murder-suicide/article_7bd47a8e-2028-11ee-b58c-930293250482.html | 2023-07-12T21:19:09 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-courts/high-point-police-id-brothers-who-died-friday-in-murder-suicide/article_7bd47a8e-2028-11ee-b58c-930293250482.html |
GREENSBORO — Eight members of Greensboro Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team arrived Monday in Vermont to assist with search and rescue efforts after significant flooding from severe weather.
Greensboro’s team members were deployed to help stranded residents in Camp Plymouth State Park who were isolated because of washed-out roadways. They have been staged in Hanover, N.H., and will be deployed on additional missions today, according to Greensboro Deputy Fire Chief Dwayne Church.
Montpelier, the capital city of Vermont, has asked for swift water rescue crews to be moved into the area to assist when possible, according to reports from the Associated Press. Crews from North Carolina, Michigan and Connecticut were among those helping to get to Vermont towns on Monday that had been unreachable since torrents of rain began belting the state.
The teams have done more than 50 rescues, mainly in the southern and central areas of the state, Vermont Emergency Management said Monday night.
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“Of course it makes us proud and should make the city’s residents proud that the state of North Carolina has enough confidence in us to request our assistance,” Greensboro Deputy Fire Chief Dwayne Church said Tuesday.
Church said other employees offered to take overtime shifts to enable the department to send resources to Vermont.
“Without that commitment, this couldn’t happen,” Church said of recent staffing shortages. “They do so much training throughout the year. They’re always preparing. Be proud of who is serving all of us in Greensboro.”
Charlotte fire departments also sent personnel to join the North Carolina team in Vermont. The deployment is expected to last up to 10 days.
“If we can help neighboring departments or even those in another state, it’s really a plus for those people,” Church said. “But this is the type of protection that we have here on a daily basis.” | https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-sends-8-swift-water-rescue-team-members-to-flooded-areas-of-vermont/article_75a0bd28-1fef-11ee-9925-5f92153b8e96.html | 2023-07-12T21:19:16 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-sends-8-swift-water-rescue-team-members-to-flooded-areas-of-vermont/article_75a0bd28-1fef-11ee-9925-5f92153b8e96.html |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Salvador Dalí's art is full of hidden symbols and inventive mind tricks — now imagine being surrounded by it.
Dalí Alive 360° is set to open Saturday, July 15, at The Dalí Museum on St. Petersburg's waterfront. The immersive exhibit brings the surrealist painter's work to life in a brand new museum space, The Dalí Dome.
The climate-controlled steel dome was constructed in the museum’s Avant-garden, and at 39 feet tall and 60 feet in diameter, it's impossible to miss.
The exhibit will illuminate — literally — the triumphs and challenges of Dalí's life and career through dynamic animations.
"The experience immerses the visitor in Dalí’s surreal landscapes, iconic melting clocks and mind-bending illusions with touchpoints from the artist’s childhood in Spain, through his introduction to the surrealist circles in Paris, his refuge in America and finally his return to Spain," the museum wrote.
Dalí Alive 360° was co-produced by the creators of Van Gogh Alive, which has been experienced by more than 8.5 million people in 90 cities across the world, including St. Petersburg when the exhibit came to the Dalí Museum in 2020.
Tickets for Dalí Alive 360° are a $15 add-on to the $29 gallery admission ticket.
The combined $44 admission will provide access to a Dalí Alive 360° showtime plus everything in the museum's permanent collection, including the Dreams of Dalí virtual reality experience, special exhibits and Café Gala. Discounts are available for seniors, students, children, first responders and military service members.
Dalí Alive 360° | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/dali-museum-dome-alive-360-exhibit-tickets/67-dfb9dd40-d2d8-4df0-b6a2-cf548b923096 | 2023-07-12T21:19:16 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/dali-museum-dome-alive-360-exhibit-tickets/67-dfb9dd40-d2d8-4df0-b6a2-cf548b923096 |
MADISON — A 69-year-old male tuber, who along with five other adults and one teen was rescued from the Dan River on Saturday morning, has died from injuries sustained while riding the water near Madison River Park.
The other six tubers did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, officials said.
The victim’s name was not immediately available, and the exact nature of his injuries has not been disclosed. However, officials have said that the man flipped his tube while in a relatively gentle Class 1 rapid near the second of seven rock weirs that are part of the recreational area. They also say the man sustained a cardiac arrest.
Officials said that the people in the group were not wearing life jackets.
The weirs, created by Raleigh environmental engineer Kris Bass, are part of a $2.5 million overhaul of the Lindsey Bridge Dam Restoration Project in 2020 near the former Lindsey Bridge Dam area. Each of the seven chevron-shaped stone weirs drops one foot, creating enticing water for paddling.
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The weir project serves to protect endangered fish species, such as the Roanoke Logperch and enhance recreation at the Madison River Park at Lindsey Bridge, which opened last summer.
The death brought back memories of a tragedy on the popular waterway in June 2021, some 30 miles away in Eden. That incident claimed the lives of five tubers, including a child and a pregnant woman — none of whom was wearing a life jacket.
The five who died and four other family members had set out on a tubing trek near Eden’s Draper Landing. Authorities said all nine floated over a nearby low-head dam, not realizing that the current at its base held deadly churning force.
Low-head dams form a barrier across the full width of a river and are used to control the flow of water to generate electricity, as well as prevent flooding. They’re often called “drowning machines’’ by boating experts and are notorious for trapping people in the powerful current that roils at their base.
Rescue teams and regional river guides theorize that when the tubers went over the dam, they were pulled under by the hydraulic force and drowned.
County river experts and emergency workers called the accident the worst they can remember.
The four surviving family members were rescued a day later after a Duke Energy employee saw them stranded near the utility’s steam station.
Mandatory life jackets and enforcement would save lives
Following Saturday’s rescue, members of the Madison-Rockingham Rescue Squad posted a request for help on the agency’s Facebook page: “Madison Rescue Squad is 95% volunteers ... Please help us get the funding needed to provide timely service to the citizens. Call Town Council men and women and ask why they continue to not fund the rescue squad appropriately.”
Li Burris, a veteran paddler who helps head up Mad Town Tubing, a river tubing business in Madison that operates through the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Center, said he and the recreation staff feel solidarity with the rescue squad and want to find ways to help them.
For example, he said, first responders need more access points for entry to the river for rescues, establishment of which would facilitate the fastest response times for an already-short-staffed and underfunded squad. Burris said some homeowners with river access might even be able to allow use by first responders.
“We need to be proactive instead of reactive,’’ said Burris, who saw 270 tubers take inflatables down the Dan from Madison Water Park on July 4.
Burris also believes that the state and Rockingham County should mandate the use of life jackets on the county’s rivers.
Also, the county or state should help the local community enforce the practice, posting monitors on the river and riverbanks, he said.
Until this happens, Burris is insisting all of Mad Town’s customers pull on life vests. The new rule goes into effect immediately, he said.
He said about 70% of patrons typically have declined vests when Mad Town employees offered them. But with an average 300 tubers traveling the river each weekend of the summer, accidents will happen, he said.
And floatation devices are essential to save lives and already come as part of the $15 per person tube rental fee, Burris said.
More and more tubers and paddlers will come to Rockingham County’s blueway, Burris said. And it’s important that the county and first responders have adequate data about exactly what it takes to perform the most efficient river rescues.
“We need help, and that shouldn’t all be on the rescue squad,’’ Burris said. “We need to be ready because more people are coming.’’ | https://greensboro.com/news/local/tubers-dan-river-low-head-dam/article_9c971fe4-2012-11ee-9dc3-ef7f5150c2fb.html | 2023-07-12T21:19:22 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/tubers-dan-river-low-head-dam/article_9c971fe4-2012-11ee-9dc3-ef7f5150c2fb.html |
THONOTOSASSA, Fla. — Deputies pulled a 4-year-old boy from a pond Tuesday in Thonotosassa, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.
Authorities responded at around 10:30 a.m. to Valleyridge Court after a person called 911 stating they saw a child running across a street and into a nearby pond.
Two deputies arrived and began searching the water through thick shrubs at the edge of the pond. That's when they found the boy who was being kept afloat by cattails and pulled him to safety.
"You see his head," one deputy said, pointing toward the lake. "He's just sitting right there at the edge of the water."
Body camera video released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office showed the two deputies treading through waist-high shrubs.
"I'm gonna get soaked, I'm gonna go get him," another deputy said. "Hey buddy, where are you at, buddy?"
In the background of the video, the child can be heard crying.
Following the rescue, deputies learned that the boy was autistic and non-verbal. He was not hurt during the rescue and was reunited with his family.
"I shudder to think of the outcome if not for the tenacity and efforts of these deputies," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "We will now work with the Department of Children and Families to determine if negligence played a role in this young boy's disappearance." | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/boy-autism-rescue-pond-thonotosassa/67-d78dae1b-31a3-4948-abce-69d442b083d0 | 2023-07-12T21:19:22 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/boy-autism-rescue-pond-thonotosassa/67-d78dae1b-31a3-4948-abce-69d442b083d0 |
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa's "Little Skimmer" trash boat is celebrating one whole year on the water this week.
The boat operates eight hours a day, four days per week picking up floating trash along the Hillsborough River, Davis Islands and the Bay.
It gathers the debris from the water and places it onto a conveyor belt. It's then pulled into a storage bin, and it can be thrown away properly later.
After the Little Skimmer launched last year as part of the "Keep It Clean, Tampa" initiative, there has been a lot going on, including:
- Been on the water for a total of 841 hours
- Collected 40,216 pounds of trash
- Generated 9,645 KWh of electricity from the trash collected
Along with those accomplishments, the boat also received an Urban Excellence Award last February in the Public Sector Project category.
In its first week of operation, the trash boat collected 840 pounds of garbage by using a conveyor system to collect trash from the water, the city said in a previous news release. That includes just about any sort of metal and plastic imaginable, from bottles and caps to Cheetos bags and Slurpee cups.
Ocean Conservancy says trash in the water is a pollutant, which can be consumed by animals — or entangle them — and potentially pose a contamination risk to species that eat them.
The top contributor to marine debris is reportedly single-use, or disposable plastic products, including container caps and lids, beverage bottles, plastic bags, food wrappers, cups, plates, cutlery and drinking straws.
10 Tampa Bay's Andrew Krietz contributed to this report. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/tampa-little-skimmer-celebrates-1-year/67-f26d64aa-907a-4688-9ec9-fc3e76a0beea | 2023-07-12T21:19:28 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/tampa-little-skimmer-celebrates-1-year/67-f26d64aa-907a-4688-9ec9-fc3e76a0beea |
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Two passengers and two flight attendants were injured on a flight that experienced turbulence Wednesday afternoon while en route to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.
According to airport officials, passengers and crew members were injured when Allegiant Air flight 227 from Asheville, N.C., hit some turbulence on its way to Florida.
The plane was carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, according to an Allegiant statement.
"Airport paramedics met the plane to assess two passengers and two flight attendants for injuries. They were transported to the hospital for further evaluation," it reads. The company added that the plane landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power.
Data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware shows the plane appeared to suddenly lose altitude roughly 15 minutes before landing. The plane was at an altitude of about 18,000 feet before dropping to about 13,000 feet in a minute.
Passenger Lisa Spriggs told 10 Tampa Bay the plane hit a small amount of turbulence while on the descent, which caused an attendant to fall to the floor — and then the plane hit a major patch.
"Literally, she flew up in the air — like 'Matrix' is the only way I can think to describe it — was there for maybe half a second and then landed straight down," Spriggs said. She recalled the attendant and another worker broke their ankles.
Another passenger came out of the plane's lavatory with a cut above her eye, Spriggs said.
"Thank goodness there was medical personnel on our flight...they were just administrating whatever help they could do," Spriggs said.
"...I'm just thankful to be on the ground. It was terrifying. You hear of it happening, but you don't expect it to be that bad."
Allegiant says it will investigate the incident with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/turbulence-allegiant-flight-st-pete/67-075e87d3-3ee3-438c-8157-ec599132f953 | 2023-07-12T21:19:34 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/turbulence-allegiant-flight-st-pete/67-075e87d3-3ee3-438c-8157-ec599132f953 |
LAKELAND, Fla. — Citing an independent investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Polk County State Attorney’s office says it will not recommend criminal charges to be filed against four officers accused of using excessive force.
Six months later, the state attorney's office says no charges are warranted.
“It's very discouraging to see a matter of such importance just dealt with a lack of integrity,” said Pastor Clayton Cowart, a community activist highly critical of the decision.
Community leaders say they're not just disappointed, they are perplexed by the letter from State Attorney Brian Haas outlining his decision not to recommend criminal charges against the officers.
Especially, says Cowart, in light of video shot by witnesses in several incidents involving many of the same officers.
“To me, it's almost as if you're saying 'Are you going to believe me or you're lying eyes?'” said Cowart. “I mean, look at the cameras. The cameras are clear about what happened. It’s certainly wrong and it was illegal. And it's disheartening.”
In January, Taylor viewed a video shot in December of last year involving the four police officers.
The images appeared to show a man named Antwan Glover on the ground with his hands to the side of his head as police officers began punching him repeatedly.
“His hands are lifted up. He's in a surrendered position,” said Cowart. “And you're still hitting him in the head. If he was a threat at any time, he didn't pose a threat when he was sitting on the ground.”
In a letter to Taylor, the state attorney's office points to an independent FDLE investigation and interviews with other officers who said what you don't see in the video is Glover previously placing an officer in a headlock and then resisting arrest.
They’re allegations Glover has repeatedly denied.
Critics of the state attorney’s decision want to know what video evidence the FDLE was referring to since the police department has claimed the officers involved in Glover's arrest were not wearing body cameras.
“We've been requesting the information that they claim they have,” said Cowart. “But no one has ever given it to us.”
The police department has been conducting its own internal investigation.
In a statement, Taylor said the four officers will remain on modified duty at least until after that investigation has been concluded as well.
Community activists say there is still a federal investigation underway, and that Glover is suing the department claiming his civil rights were violated. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/polk-state-attorney-criminal-charges-antwan-glover-arrest/67-7ad8e38d-3bb1-4465-a1ff-aa3b9c024be1 | 2023-07-12T21:19:40 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/polk-state-attorney-criminal-charges-antwan-glover-arrest/67-7ad8e38d-3bb1-4465-a1ff-aa3b9c024be1 |
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — A company is expanding in Bristol and creating 58 jobs at a site where NETWORKS-Sullivan Partnership recently installed a rail site with the help of a $1 million state grant.
Tennessee Economic and Community Development (ECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter was on hand Wednesday for the announcement at Bristol’s Partnership Park II, where Seaman Corp. will build a new 350,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution center.
Wooster, Ohio-based Seaman will employ more than 170 people at four sites in Sullivan County after the project is complete. The company produces industrial coated fabrics and textiles. The new facility will help it meet demand in the roofing, architectural, military and industrial sectors and also adds a new line of hot metal coating equipment.
“This is an exciting venture for Seaman Corp and a great opportunity to further our commitment
to the Bristol community,” Seaman CEO Jeff Swartz said in a news release. “We are proud of our partnership with the State of Tennessee and Sullivan County and glad to have the support of Governor Lee and Commissioner McWhorter as we expand our business.”
NETWORKS CEO Clay Walker told News Channel 11 Seaman is investing close to $40 million in the new building, which is occupying 38 acres at the park. He said Seamans looked at dozens of sites before choosing Partnership Park, where they’ll work with Norfolk Southern to complete the rail site, which has been flat and set to rail grade.
McWhorter’s boss, Gov. Bill Lee, called Tennessee “the best state in the nation for companies to expand and succeed.”
McWhorter spoke of Seaman’s 75-year history in its sector and said he was proud the privately held company had put its trust in Tennessee.
“Bristol is centrally located in the Southeast with access to two-year, four-year and technical institutions, all of which will support Seaman Corp’s expansion and future growth,” McWhorter said. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-company-adding-58-jobs-with-new-manufacturing-and-distribution-facility/ | 2023-07-12T21:20:07 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-company-adding-58-jobs-with-new-manufacturing-and-distribution-facility/ |
MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Officials are investigating after human remains were found in a burned trailer in Johnson County.
According to a release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), a structure fire was reported on West Holy Hill Road around 11 p.m. Tuesday. Crews arrived to find a mobile home on fire and extinguished the blaze after roughly 80% of the structure was severely damaged.
While searching the residence, investigators reportedly found unidentified human remains. The Johnson County Coroner and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were then called in to assist with the matter.
The identity and cause of the fire remains under investigation, the release said. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/sheriff-human-remains-found-inside-burned-johnson-co-home/ | 2023-07-12T21:20:16 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/sheriff-human-remains-found-inside-burned-johnson-co-home/ |
BALTIMORE COUNTY — A Baltimore County police officer, Mitchell Tuveson, has been charged with first-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse, first-degree assault and second-degree assault for physically abusing his two-month-old son.
An investigation was opened May 17 by the Harford County Sheriff's Office when they responded to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) after being notified that an infant patient was discovered to have "concerning injuries," according to charging documents.
The infant was taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center due to the medical staff's fear the victim was suffering from meningitis and hyperthermia, as well as seizures.
Medical tests showed the infant had old and new hemorrhages in various parts of the victim's head, as well as skeletal fractures. Medical staff feared these injuries came from non-accidental trauma or shaking.
Prior to this Upper Chesapeake Medical Center visit, the infant had numerous other hospital visits.
Medical staff at GBMC told Tuveson and his wife to use a saline solution to help extract mucus from his son's nose. When the solution was applied, the infant started to choke and the couple used life-saving measures.
Tuveson allegedly delivered back blows, chest compressions and rescue breaths to their son according to charging documents.
Emergency services were never called and the decision was made to "give him a couple of minutes and see what happens," and then "he was fine."
Ultimately, Tuveson and his wife took the infant to the hospital later that day where they informed the staff about their life-saving measures.
According to charging documents, medical staff did not cite any visible injuries on the victim and that he was otherwise healthy.
Two days later, the infant was taken to a different hospital after seizure like symptoms began. Hospital staff said he was most likely suffering from acid reflux.
After this diagnosis, the parents felt that hospitals weren't taking them seriously charging documents say.
For the next 11 days, the infant didn't show any concerning symptoms until May 15.
Possible signs of a seizure were observed by Upper Chesapeake staff and they say the victim possibly contracted meningitis and hyperthermia. The infant was then sent to UMMC where they identified brain cysts, hemorrhages of both eyes, as well as both new and old signs of brain hemorrhage.
Genetic testing was done to rule out congenital defects that could have happened due to the injuries.
The infant was placed with his maternal grandmother until the CPS investigation is completed. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/baltimore-county-officer-charged-with-child-abuse-infant-had-numerous-injuries | 2023-07-12T21:37:03 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/baltimore-county-officer-charged-with-child-abuse-infant-had-numerous-injuries |
WESTMINSTER, Md. — Forklifts load peaches and plums bound for North Carolina, and while its orchards are still producing plenty of fruit, Baugher’s Farm in Westminster can no longer count on Mother Nature to save crops like sweet corn and pumpkins that it plants in the ground.
“We’re pulling a lot from our irrigation ponds and you can only pull so much water from them until they’re dry,” said Nick Wilhide, “and if we don’t get rain here soon or some sort of water, we’re going to pull them until they run dry.”
According to federal data, this is the second driest year to date in Carroll County in more than 129 years.
During the drought of 2002, Westminster had to truck in water, and now that the state has issued a drought watch calling for voluntary conservation measures, Mayor Mona Becker is concerned.
“We suffer from not having enough water for economic development and we are very water-limited in Westminster,” noted Becker, “and in the City of Westminster, we are solely dependent on precipitation, because precipitation feeds our reservoir and precipitation feeds our ground water wells.”
Becker says the city has already limited development for lack of water resources, but refraining from watering lawns or washing cars may help, if those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and going to stay afloat should the dry weather continue.
“Rain is super important and if we can’t do that with all of the extra costs of adding all of the irrigation that we’re put in, then it just drives up costs,” said Wilhide, “and then we have to pass that on, which is unfortunate to the customer and we never want to do that. It’s an unfortunate reality that we’re in.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/drought-tests-westminsters-water-supply | 2023-07-12T21:37:09 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/drought-tests-westminsters-water-supply |
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. — The Anne Arundel County School Board voted down the proposal to limit which flags can be displayed on school property Wednesday afternoon.
The vote was close finishing 4-3 and one board member abstained.
If passed, the new policy would only allow flags with a "bona fide educational purpose."
It would have limited the American, Maryland State, Anne Arundel County, and Annapolis City flags.
RELATED: Proposed school flag policy sparks debate in Anne Arundel County
Those against the proposal included members of the Teachers' Association of Anne Arundel County and LGBTQ+ proponents who say something as simple as a flag displayed would help a marginalized student feel comfortable and express themselves WMAR-2 News' Jack Watson reports.
BREAKING: Anne Arundel School Board decides NOT to adopt policy proposal which would limit flags in classrooms. @WMAR2News
— Jack Watson (@JackWatsonTV) July 12, 2023
Those in favor of the proposal said the U.S. flag already unifies everyone. Students are free to hold those beliefs but since students of all beliefs go to school, they should practice them outside the school they said. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/proposed-school-flag-policy-voted-down-in-anne-arundel-county | 2023-07-12T21:37:15 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/proposed-school-flag-policy-voted-down-in-anne-arundel-county |
Police are on scene for a vehicle accident in North Baltimore.
Officers were called to the 3900 block of Falls Road where they discovered a construction worker was struck by a construction vehicle.
No further information was given.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/worker-struck-by-construction-vehicle-in-north-baltimore | 2023-07-12T21:37:21 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/worker-struck-by-construction-vehicle-in-north-baltimore |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson will be in Wichita on Thursday.
He will be joined by Sedgwick County Treasurer Brandi Bailey at the Sedgwick County Tag Office. They will be there to present new Unclaimed Property Kiosks that are being installed.
In Sedgwick County, residents have over $50 million in unclaimed property. The kiosks are designed to help streamline the process of recovering their property, which can include everything from lost bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, to refunds and payroll checks, according to Sedgwick County.
Johnson and Bailey will be at the tag office, located at 2525 W. Douglas Ave. in Wichita, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday. For more information, click here. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/unclaimed-property-kiosks-coming-to-sedgwick-county/ | 2023-07-12T21:41:11 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/unclaimed-property-kiosks-coming-to-sedgwick-county/ |
LOCAL
RI Department of Health recommends three beach closures
Lynne Sullivan
The Providence Journal
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends closing Briar Point Beach in Coventry, Hope Community Service Pond in Scituate and Georgiaville Pond Beach in Smithfield for swimming because of high bacteria levels.
RIDOH will continue to monitor and review beach water quality through Labor Day. The status of a beach may change as new data become available. The most up-to-date beach information is available through a recorded message on RIDOH’s beaches telephone line (401-222-2751). A list of closed beaches can also be accessed at health.ri.gov | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/ri-beaches-closed-due-to-high-bacteria-levels-briar-point-georgiaville/70407356007/ | 2023-07-12T21:41:52 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/ri-beaches-closed-due-to-high-bacteria-levels-briar-point-georgiaville/70407356007/ |
CALIFORNIA, USA — Abraham Quintanilla, father of slain Tejano star Selena Quintanilla, is suing a cruise ship company for using his daughter's likeness and image without the family's permission.
The lawsuit was against Catalina Classic Cruises and was filed in the Central California District Court.
The lawsuit says the cruise company operated an evening boat cruise in November of 2022 called the "Cumbia Cruise" that was advertised using Selena's name and photo.
The lawsuit claims the company "engaged in the unauthorized and unlawful promotion, marketing, and sale of services and/or merchandise through or containing the name, identity, image, and depicted likeness of Selena."
Take a look at the full lawsuit below:
The lawsuit is asking the company to stop using Selena's name and likeness and also seeks punitive damages to be determined at the trial.
Selena Quintanilla was just 23 years old when she was fatally shot by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, at a Corpus Christi motel on March 31, 1995. She had been steadily rising to mainstream national fame in the years before her death and was about to release her first English-language album.
Her family has maintained the rights to Selena's music, voice, likeness, name and signature.
KENS 5 has reached out to the Catalina Classic Cruises for a response and has not received a response.
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/selenas-father-sues-cruise-ship-company-name-likeness-lawsuit-california/273-3a691a51-9497-41b2-9f44-ae8e430236af | 2023-07-12T21:45:02 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/selenas-father-sues-cruise-ship-company-name-likeness-lawsuit-california/273-3a691a51-9497-41b2-9f44-ae8e430236af |
In this file photo from July 2022, Macey Greco and the rest of the color guard from San Antonio-based Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps rehearse before the Drum Corps International competition hosted by Tupelo High School. The event brought world-class drum corps from across the country to Tupelo to demonstrate their marching skills and musicianship.
TUPELO — Tupelo High School will host a Drum Corps International (DCI) contest this Thursday featuring eight bands in "Marching Music's Major League."
The contest includes member corps from Memphis, Tennessee, to Nashua, New Hampshire.
Last year, Tupelo hosted a DCI contest with six corps consisting of approximately 1,100 performers and support staff, along with more than 1,000 spectators from around the region.
Tupelo previously hosted 10 years of DCI contests starting in 1997 but last year marked the return of the event to the All-America City.
"Tupelo and Northeast Mississippi enjoy the drum corps activity," Cliff Moore, THS director of bands, said. "DCI recognized that and they saw the support that they received when they visited Tupelo in 2022, so they were quick to include Tupelo on their 2023 calendar."
THS has encouraged area high schools to send their students, and Moore has confirmed that there will be students from north Mississippi, southern and western Tennessee and northwestern Alabama in attendance. He anticipates the audience nearing 2,000 this year.
"DCI represents marching band at its absolute highest level," Moore said. "Our students get a chance to see the skills and techniques on display — and hopefully they'll leave with a spark of motivation to achieve what the performers on the field were showcasing."
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7:30 p.m. Scores will be announced after 10 p.m.
To find out more about Drum Corps International, visit www.dci.org. Tickets for the Tupelo DCI contest can be purchased at the gate or by visiting www.dci.org/events/2023-dci-tupelo.
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BANKS, Idaho — Work to clear dead and dying trees between Horseshoe Bend and Banks will mean delays for drivers on Idaho Highway 55 over the next several weeks, the Idaho Transportation Department said Friday.
ITD is working with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to cut down dead trees along the highway between mileposts 72 and 79. The goal is to improve overall forest health and minimize risk to drivers.
Crews will be on site each weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the tree-removal work.
"While we're dropping trees on the highway, it isn't safe to allow traffic to pass underneath," Operations Field Manager Eric Copeland said in an ITD news release. "Crews will temporarily close the highway, remove several trees, clear the road and then let traffic through."
Drivers should expect delays of up to 30 minutes while crews are working. No work will take place on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.
ITD encourages travelers to check the 511 website for any delays before setting out on a trip.
ITD, the Forest Service and the BLM started discussions in late 2022 about removing hazard trees along the highway. ITD also said the agencies are working on a long-term solution to manage the Highway 55 right of way, which is maintained under an easement.
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Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-highway-55-tree-removal-delays-banks-horseshoe-bend/277-03149e8f-e6ba-4647-9b81-2ac0c5a4e25f | 2023-07-12T21:48:42 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-highway-55-tree-removal-delays-banks-horseshoe-bend/277-03149e8f-e6ba-4647-9b81-2ac0c5a4e25f |
Sponsored by Pivot Lifestyle & Fitness.
Today we learn about helpful tips to keep up with our fitness this summer.
Learn more here: https://www.pivotbyka.com/
Sponsored by Pivot Lifestyle & Fitness.
Today we learn about helpful tips to keep up with our fitness this summer.
Learn more here: https://www.pivotbyka.com/ | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-feel-good-fitness/277-c5d0d4c5-89ee-46c8-b5f6-f62a0a588abe | 2023-07-12T21:48:48 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-feel-good-fitness/277-c5d0d4c5-89ee-46c8-b5f6-f62a0a588abe |
Idaho Today Idaho Today: Idaho To Do - Brew at the Zoo Brew at the Zoo is at Zoo Boise on August 4, 2023! More Videos Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video Learn more here: https://zooboise.org/events/adult-events/ | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-idaho-to-do-brew-at-the-zoo/277-82861d6a-f145-4770-819e-2ef65d355dc3 | 2023-07-12T21:48:54 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-idaho-to-do-brew-at-the-zoo/277-82861d6a-f145-4770-819e-2ef65d355dc3 |
Idaho Today Idaho Today: Life in Balance 100 Deadliest Days More Videos Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video Sponsored by Saint Alphonsus. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-life-in-balance/277-a94c1ea9-e66a-4850-8b0a-25d13aef454e | 2023-07-12T21:49:00 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-life-in-balance/277-a94c1ea9-e66a-4850-8b0a-25d13aef454e |
Idaho Today Idaho Today: The All Electric Nissan Ariya Now available at Bronco Motors More Videos Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video Sponsored by Nissan. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-the-all-electric-nissan-ariya/277-7f6365b2-6c70-4d3b-89e9-013180701f3f | 2023-07-12T21:49:07 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-the-all-electric-nissan-ariya/277-7f6365b2-6c70-4d3b-89e9-013180701f3f |
Idaho Today Idaho Today: This week on Daily Blast Live July 11, 2023 More Videos Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video Don't miss Daily Blast Live every week day at 2PM on KTVB! | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-this-week-on-daily-blast-live/277-81eb1496-fe09-4fde-92e0-965410b575d8 | 2023-07-12T21:49:13 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-this-week-on-daily-blast-live/277-81eb1496-fe09-4fde-92e0-965410b575d8 |
Idaho Today Idaho Today: This week's adoptable pet with Idaho Humane Society Today we meet Rex More Videos Next up in 5 Example video title will go here for this video Rex is available for adoption. Learn more here: https://idahohumanesociety.org/ | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-this-weeks-adoptable-pet-with-idaho-humane-society/277-73b8f2e5-7d25-4624-8693-31a1cb3471df | 2023-07-12T21:49:19 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/idaho-today-this-weeks-adoptable-pet-with-idaho-humane-society/277-73b8f2e5-7d25-4624-8693-31a1cb3471df |
Thousands of Nebraskans may have an income tax refund waiting for them to claim from the 2019 tax year, and time is running out to do so.
The Internal Revenue Service recently estimated that there are nearly 1.5 million taxpayers across the U.S. with unclaimed 2019 tax refunds, including about 7,800 in Nebraska.
Those Nebraska residents are collectively owed an estimated $7,745,600, or about $893 per person, but they have to act fast if they want to collect the money.
The vast majority of those people haven't gotten a refund because they have yet to file a tax return for that year.
"Time is running out for people owed a tax refund in 2019," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a recent news release. "The final window closes on July 17 for taxpayers who didn't file a tax return for 2019 to claim their refund. The IRS continues to urge people who may have overlooked filing during the pandemic to act quickly before they lose their final chance to claim a potentially substantial refund."
Those needing to file a 2019 return can find current and prior-year tax forms (such as the tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) and instructions online on www.irs.gov at the Forms, Instructions and Publications page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
The IRS cautions that 2019 refunds could be held back for anyone who has not yet filed a 2020 or 2021 tax return.
In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past-due federal debts, such as student loans.
$1.5 billion of unclaimed tax refunds are about to expire
$1.5 billion of unclaimed tax refunds are about to expire
Missing the July 17 deadline for claiming 2019 taxes could mean losing an average of $1,006
How to file your 2019 taxes
15 states with the biggest 2019 unclaimed tax refunds | https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/nebraskans-have-until-monday-to-claim-2019-tax-refund/article_a6403bd8-1f46-11ee-83a8-d7740035b5a3.html | 2023-07-12T21:50:38 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/nebraskans-have-until-monday-to-claim-2019-tax-refund/article_a6403bd8-1f46-11ee-83a8-d7740035b5a3.html |
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird has nominated a local architect to be the new director of the city's Urban Development Department.
Peter Hind, who is manager of the Lincoln Architecture Group at Schemmer Associates Inc., will start in September, assuming his appointment is approved by the City Council. His salary will be $165,000.
Hind has more than 23 years of experience in residential, commercial, multi-family and health care design. Before joining Schemmer in 2019, he was a founding partner of studio951 in Lincoln and principal of award-winning FOUNDarchitects.
Hind also was a tenured professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a member of the city's Urban Design Committee.
“Peter’s diverse professional background and impressive portfolio position him to continue Lincoln’s trajectory of growth and success,” Gaylor Baird said in a news release. “He commands rich experience in seeing complex projects through to completion and brings with him a strong commitment to problem-solving, innovation, and public service.”
Hind would take over for Dan Marvin, who is retiring this month after leading the department since 2019.
“Dan Marvin’s visionary leadership of our Urban Development team resulted in record-setting progress on affordable housing, increased housing stability for our most economically vulnerable community members, improved quality and safety of our existing housing stock, and a boom of growth and development across the city," Gaylor Baird said. "He leaves a legacy that can be seen across Lincoln’s growing skyline and in the hearts and homes of residents across the community."
The Urban Development Department manages Lincoln's share of federal Community Development Block Grant funds, serves as the city's redevelopment authority, coordinates acquisition of right of way and sales of city property, and manages public parking resources.
"I am truly honored to be given this opportunity to serve the people of the city of Lincoln. I'm excited to work with the Urban Development Department team, the mayor's office, and the various constituents and stakeholders to help make Lincoln an even more vibrant, sustainable, and beautiful city," Hind said. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/government-politics/lincoln-architect-nominated-to-lead-urban-development-department/article_43e6fd2c-20e6-11ee-b601-1f240a442cb3.html | 2023-07-12T21:50:44 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/government-politics/lincoln-architect-nominated-to-lead-urban-development-department/article_43e6fd2c-20e6-11ee-b601-1f240a442cb3.html |
NORMAL — Two lane reductions are planned in Normal.
The eastbound lane of Bowles Street between North Main Street and Normal Avenue, as well as the northbound and southbound center lanes along South Linden Street at Vernon Avenue to the Sugar Creek bridge, will be closed starting at 6 a.m. Thursday for pavement repairs.
Once the eastbound lane is completed along Bowles Street, the westbound lane will then be closed for pavement repairs.
The work on Bowles Street expected to be completed by 2 p.m. Monday, July 17, weather permitting.
A map highlighting the affected area can be found online at arcg.is/KPWrv0
The work along South Linden Street is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 13, weather permitting.
A map highlighting the affected area can be found online at arcg.is/mPX1S
Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the areas.
🎆 From the Archives: Fourth of July in Central Illinois
State Rep. Dan Brady during Fourth of July Parade in Downs
Ran in The Pantagraph on Wednesday, July 5, 2006.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Tim Phillips of Lincoln walks with American flag
Ran in The Pantagraph on Saturday, July 5, 2008.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Annual parades with local school bands
Ran in The Pantagraph on Thursday, July 2, 1998.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Captain Rat greets fans at Normal's Fairview Park
Ran in The Pantagraph on Sunday, July 5, 1987.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Fireworks Displays
Ran in The Pantagraph on Friday, July 1, 1988.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Youngsters perform during "Celebrate America"
Ran in The Pantagraph on Thursday, June 28, 2018.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Organizers hope to repeat the event every Fourth of July
Ran in The Pantagraph on Sunday, July 5, 1987.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
The McManus family celebrated the Fourth
Ran in The Pantagraph on Friday, July 5, 2002.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Sites for Sounds
Ran in The Pantagraph on Thursday, June 29, 2006.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Fourth full of fun options
Ran in The Pantagraph on Thursday, July 3, 2003.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Fourth of July marked by OpSail 2000
Ran in The Pantagraph on Wednesday, July 5, 2000.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Fourth of July to be given gay observance
Ran in The Pantagraph on Sunday, June 30, 1935.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
A park celebration for the Fourth of July
Ran in The Pantagraph on Wednesday, July 5, 1978.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Matt Hedeman showed his colors during Fourth of July Parade
Ran in The Pantagraph on Friday, July 5, 2002.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Relaxing picnic fare for the Fourth of July
Ran in The Pantagraph on Wednesday, June 29, 1994.
See the clipping
The Pantagraph Archives
Contact Mateusz Janik at (309) 820-3234. Follow Mateusz on Twitter:@mjanik99
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/2-lane-reductions-planned-in-normal-this-week/article_c52fa6d8-20e4-11ee-98b8-cb16b02465c6.html | 2023-07-12T21:55:20 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/2-lane-reductions-planned-in-normal-this-week/article_c52fa6d8-20e4-11ee-98b8-cb16b02465c6.html |
BLOOMINGTON — A Normal man faces battery charges surrounding an incident from Monday, July 10.
Ransom C. Carr, 30, was charged with aggravated domestic battery — strangulation, a Class 2 felony; unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony; domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor; and four traffic charges for fleeing police.
Carr
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
According to prosecutors, Carr instigated a confrontation with a victim on Monday in the victim’s residence.
Prosecutors said Carr threatened the victim, saying, “If you leave, I will make it worth my while to go back to prison.”
Prosecutors said Carr then hit the victim in the back of the head several times and strangled them with his hands before the victim was able to escape Carr’s grasp, and another individual in the residence called 911.
Carr fled the residence, and police encountered him on Tuesday driving near the intersection of Empire and Park streets in Bloomington. Prosecutors said Carr took off at a high speed, made an improper turn and ran his car off the road before fleeing on foot. Police were them able to apprehend him.
His bond was set at $100,000 with 10% to apply, meaning he would have to pay $10,000 plus court fees to be released from the McLean County Detention Facility.
His next court date in this matter is July 28 at 9 a.m.
Normal Police chief Steve Petrilli talks about training for local police
Clay Jackson
Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph
Bryant Lewis
Bryant Lewis, 28, of Bloomington, is charged with home invasion causing injury, a Class X felony. His next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
Derek Roesch
Derek Roesch of Saybrook was charged Thursday, Nov. 10 in McLean County Law and Justice Center with several counts, including:
-Two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, Class 2 felonies
-One count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon while on parole, Class 2 felony
-Two counts of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon, class 2 felonies
-One count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon while on parole, class 2 felony
-Unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (greater than 2000 grams but less than 5000 grams), a class 1 felony
-Unlawful possession of cannabis (greater than 2000 grams but less than 5000 grams), a class 2 felony
-Unlawful possession of a controlled substance, psylocibin less than 15 grams, a class 4 felony
-Unlawful possession of methamphetamine, less than five grams, a class 3 felony.
-Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor
Justin M. Mata
Justin M. Mata, 28, no address given, is charged with possession of less than five grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony, and possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony. He was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and his next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
Marcus D. Wesley
Marcus D. Wesley, 36, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle (Class 4 felony), unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 3 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Phillip Tinch
Phillip Tinch of Normal was charged Thursday, Nov. 10 at the McLean County Law and Justice Center with several felonies including:
- Five counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, more than one but less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 1 felony.
-One count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, less than one gram of a substance containing cocaine, a Class 2 felony.
Trisha L. Hanke
Trisha L. Hanke, 36, is charged with theft of over $10,000 (Class 2 felony). Court documents indicate she knowingly took $14,000 belonging to a Love's Travel Stop, in LeRoy, where she was employed.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
William B. Givens
William B. Givens, 49, no address given, is charged with unlawful possession of five to 15 grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony, possession of less than five grams of meth with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony, possession of five to 15 grams of meth, a Class 2 felony, and possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony. His next appearance is Dec. 30.
Connor Wood
David L. Oliver
David L. Oliver, 51, of Bloomington, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault.
Kenneth E. Funk
Kenneth E. Funk, 27, is charged with residential burglary (Class 1 felony) involving an apartment in Lexington on Dec. 31, 2022.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jordan R. King
Charges have been filed against Jordan R. King, 34, for violation of the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Holly M. Isaacson
Isaacson
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Kenneth L. Minton
Kenneth L. Minton, 51, is charged with aggravated home repair fraud (Class 2 felony) and theft (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tony L. Jackson
Tony L. Jackson, 50, is charged for violation of the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Britley L. Hilger
Britley L. Hilger, 32, is charged with aggravated battery (Class 2 felony) after she supposedly punched a McLean County Detention Facility officer in the chest.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jasmine L. Smith
Jasmine L. Smith, 31, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (Class 2 felony) and five counts of endangering the life or health of a child (Class A misdemeanors).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jackie S. Claypool
Jackie S. Claypool, 46, appeared for a Friday bond court hearing for two new cases which charged her for one count of burglary (Class 2 felony), four counts of forgery (Class 3) and one count of deceptive practices (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Noah R. Demuth
Noah R. Demuth, 22, of Evanston, is charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, aggravated battery in a public way, a Class 3 felony, mob action, a Class 4 felony, and obstructing a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. His next court date is Feb. 17.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Brandon L. Parsano
Brandon L. Parsano, 39, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony. His next appearance is Feb. 17 for an arraignment.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Alexander N. Williams
Alexander N. Williams, 24, was charged Feb. 2 with the following:
3 counts of unlawful delivery of cannabis between 30 and 500 grams - Class 3 felonies. 2 counts of armed violence - Class X felonies. 1 count of unlawful possession of cannabis between 2,000 and 5,000 grams with the intent to sell - a Class 1 felony. 1 count of unlawful possession of cannabis between 500 and 2,000 grams with the intent to sell - a Class 2 felony. 3 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon - Class 3 felonies. 1 count of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon - a Class 3 felony 3 counts of violating the Illinois FOID act - Class 3 felonies.
PROVIDED BY MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano
Carlos H. Sanchez-Solozarzano, 22, was charged with 1 count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony.
PROVIDED BY MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jaylin S. Bones
Jaylin S. Bones was charged with four counts of first-degree murder stemming from a homicide in Bloomington last year. A McLean County grand jury also returned a bill of indictment charging him with attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm (Class X felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jordan R. King
Jordan R. King, 34, was charged with violating the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Act (Class 2 felony) a second time in under a month.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Dominique M. Banks
Dominique M. Banks, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery involving strangulation (Class 2 felony). The incident happened in October 2022 and involved one victim.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Austin T. Daugherty
Austin T. Daugherty, 29, was charged with burglary (Class 2 felony) after he entered an Avis Car Rental, 3201 Cira Drive, in Bloomington, without permission and with the intent to commit theft.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Sandra M. Lewis
Sandra M. Lewis, 77, is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance containing MDMB-4E-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid, with the intent to deliver (Class X felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Samantha E. Morris
Samantha E. Morris, 40, is charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer (Class 2 felony) after supposedly spitting on a Colfax police officer.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Nolan C. Love
Nolan C. Love, 46, appeared in court Friday for a bond review hearing after being charged with aggravated domestic battery involving strangulation (Class 2 felony) on Feb. 26.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Nikkita L. Sandefur
Nikkita L. Sandefur, 36, is charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Class 2 felony) containing cocaine.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Katlin M.B. Wilson
Katlin M.B. Wilson, 32, is charged with aggravated identity theft (Class 2 felony) after being accused of fraudulently obtaining money exceeding $300 but not exceeding $10,000 from a 60 year old man.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Eli C. Garozzo
Eli C. Garozzo, 20, is charged with two counts of home invasion, a Class X felony, two counts of attempted armed robbery, a Class 1 felony, and two counts of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. His bond was set at $200,000 as a 10% bond, meaning he must pay $20,000 plus fees to be released. His next appearance is an arraignment on April 13.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tysean T. Townsend
Tysean T. Townsend, 35, is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), three counts of child abduction, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and obstructing justice (Class 4 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Curtis J. Byrd
Curtis J. Byrd, 31, is charged with two counts of burglary (Class 2 felony), two counts of fraud and two counts of financial institution fraud (Class 3 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Noral K. Nelson
Noral K. Nelson, 31, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm (Class 4 felony) after he was arrested in connection to a shooting along the 1500 block of S. Main Street.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Charles J. Tankson
Charles J. Tankson, 23, was charged with burglary (Class 2 felony), theft and two counts of unlawful use of a debit card (Class 3 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Davis, Micah S
Davis was charged with 3 counts of arson, Class 2 felonies, and 3 counts of criminal damage to property, Class 4 felonies.
His next court date is May 5 at 9 a.m.
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Livingston, Joshua D.
Livingston was charged with 2 counts of possessing stolen vehicles, Class 2 felonies, possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and criminal damage to government property, a Class 4 felony.
His next court date is May 5 at 9 a.m.
PROVIDED BY THE MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Kevin L. Ewen
Kevin L. Ewen, 42, appeared in a Thursday bond court hearing and was charged with aggravated battery (Class 2 felony), obstructing a peace officer (Class 4 felony) and two counts of resisting a peace officer (Class A misdemeanor).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Emmanuel K. Mpay
Emmanuel K. Mpay, 23, appeared in a Thursday bond court hearing following a grand jury indictment for two counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Ahmad S. Manns
Ahmad S. Manns, 19, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing and was charged with cannabis trafficking (Class X felony), unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver (Class 1 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Dylan R Mann
Dylan R Mann, 31, appeared Friday in bond court following four grand jury indictments for two separate cases relating to aggravated assault and battery.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tony L. Jackson
Tony L. Jackson, 50, was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), domestic battery, violation of an order of protection and driving while license revoked or suspended (Class 4 felonies).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
William R. Linden
William R. Linden, 79, was released Tuesday on felony burglary charges for trying to pass a forged check at Busey Bank.
Zadek U. Moen
Zadek U. Moen, 20, is facing six felony drug charges after being arrested by the Illinois State Police on Thursday.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Zachary T. Willis
Zachary T. Willis, 27, is charged with aggravated domestic battery by strangulation (Class 2 felony) and domestic battery subsequent offense (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Cecily M. Sexton
Cecily M. Sexton, 39, was charged with two counts of burglary, a Class 2 felony; one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony; financial institution fraud, a Class 3 felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Tonisha A. Jackson
Tonisha A. Jackson, 27, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
James A. McConnaughay
James A. McConnaughay, 53, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland. McConnaughay is charged with unlawful possession of 5-15 grams of methamphetamine (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Jessica M. Longberry
Jessica M. Longberry, 38, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland. Longberry is charged with burglary (Class 2 felony) and forgery (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Barry D. Guyton
Barry D. Guyton, 26, was charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felonies) two counts of unlawful possession of 15-100 of cocaine with the intent to deliver with one being a Class X felony and the other being a Class 1 felony.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Keon E. Spiller
Keon E. Spiller, 22, appeared in a Friday bond court hearing before Judge Amy McFarland and was charged with attempted escape after his jury trial reached a verdict.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Melina Aguilar
Melina Aguilar, 32, was charged with harassment of witnesses (Class 2 felonies) after asking a witness to lie on the record.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Carlos D. Cregan
Carlos D. Cregan, 35, was charged with harassment of witnesses (Class 2 felonies) after asking a witness to lie on the record.
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Andrea M. Sheets
Andrea M. Sheets appeared was charged Friday with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), aggravated fleeing a police officer (Class 4 felony) and obstructing a peace officer (Class A misdemeanor).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Wayne M. Damron
Wayne M. Damron, 52, is charged with one count of violation of the Illinois Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Terrance L. Ford
Terrance L. Ford, 25, is charged with two counts of burglary (Class 2 felony) and two counts of retail theft (Class 3 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Stanley M. Miller
Stanley M. Miller, 61, was charged Friday with aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol (Class X felony) and driving while driver's license revoked (Class 4 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Darryl R. Vinson
Darryl R. Vinson, 60, is charged with violation of the sex offender registration act (Class 2 felony).
MCLEAN COUNTY JAIL
Contact D. Jack Alkire at (309)820-3275. Twitter: @d_jack_alkire
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-courts/ransom-carr-aggravated-domestic-battery/article_5d073732-20e0-11ee-9ee7-2f1924c15df9.html | 2023-07-12T21:55:26 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-courts/ransom-carr-aggravated-domestic-battery/article_5d073732-20e0-11ee-9ee7-2f1924c15df9.html |
BLOOMINGTON — Meetings of the McLean County Board and Bloomington City Council will be relocated temporarily due to renovations in the Government Center's council chambers.
McLean County Administrator Cassy Taylor said the chambers will be unavailable from July 20 to Sept. 23.
City Council meetings scheduled for July 24, Aug. 14 and Aug. 28 will be held at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts, 600 N. East St. The city's committee of the whole meeting on Aug. 21 also will be held at the BCPA.
McLean County Board committees will meet in Room 404 of the Government Center, and the County Board's Aug. 17 meeting will take place at the McLean County Museum of History, 200 N. Main St.
Bloomington Deputy City Manager Billy Tyus said that over the last several years, the city has worked to renovate existing space within the Government Center to accommodate the needs of city departments.
Part of these discussions has included renovations to the council chambers, which the city has shared with McLean County over the last year. Tyus said an integral part of the design process is to accommodate everyone for public meetings.
"One of the things we know that is necessary is a renovation and reconstruction of this dais," Tyus said. "It is currently not designed for the meetings that we're currently having and so we're working to redesign this dais as part of that overall space need renovation project."
The city will be covering the cost of these renovations while the county will cover the costs of furnishings. Estimates for this work have not been received as of Tuesday, according to Taylor.
In a separate project, Tyus said a bulk of city entities have been relocated to the McLean County Government Center, but a part of the IT department still needs to be moved. This would leave the public works department and a portion of the parks department operating in Bloomington's old city hall space.
Photos: 2023 History Makers Gala
Contact Drew Zimmerman at 309-820-3276. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DZimmermanLee | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/government-politics/mclean-county-bloomington-government-meetings-relocated-through-august/article_b6173810-20d4-11ee-b284-c7ac5ee7c256.html | 2023-07-12T21:55:33 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/government-politics/mclean-county-bloomington-government-meetings-relocated-through-august/article_b6173810-20d4-11ee-b284-c7ac5ee7c256.html |
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo plans on opening a two-story, ropes-style course and marketplace in the fall.
Bamboo Forest Adventure Play and Marketplace will be part of the revamped Asian Trek area, the zoo announced Wednesday. It will be located across from the Red Panda Ridge, which opened in May.
Bamboo Forest will include opportunities for children of all ages to play. Children will have 27 elements to explore throughout a two-story, ropes-style course, the news release said.
The free flying sky rail for more experienced climbers will be more than 120 inches long. Bamboo Forest will also include a sky tykes section with 11 different elements for kids who are shorter than 48 inches.
Bamboo Forest will also include a marketplace that will combine retail and convenient food offerings and an outdoor seating area, the news release said.
Construction is expected to be completed in early fall and opened before the end of the zoo’s season, which ends in October, the news release said.
A grand opening will be announced at a later date.
Rick Schuiteman, executive director, said he can’t wait for guests to experience the Bamboo Forest.
“We are always excited to bring new experiences to the Zoo,” Schuiteman said in a statement, “but we can’t do that without the support of the community, our members, but especially our generous donors.”
More information about Bamboo Forest is available on the zoo’s website at https://kidszoo.org/ | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/bamboo-forest-at-fort-wayne-childrens-zoo-expected-to-open-this-fall/article_8629a208-20f4-11ee-8cee-63cb27827980.html | 2023-07-12T21:59:41 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/bamboo-forest-at-fort-wayne-childrens-zoo-expected-to-open-this-fall/article_8629a208-20f4-11ee-8cee-63cb27827980.html |
Sen. Mike Braun has raised $2.2 million in the first six months of 2023 for his campaign for governor, his campaign announced this week.
A news release from his campaign called it a record amount raised in this fundraising period for an open gubernatorial race. As of Tuesday, the campaign had $4.6 million on hand.
The money came from almost 1,400 individual donors since Braun’s campaign began, according to the news release. About 60% of those donors gave less than $100.
Some benefactors gave more than once, campaign spokesman Jahan Wilcox said. The news release said of the 1,712 total donations received, 92% came from Indiana.
Four other candidates have announced they’re running for governor in the May Republican primary: current Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, Indianapolis resident Jamie Reitenour and former Attorney General Curtis Hill.
In the Democrat primary, it’s a contest between Jennifer McCormick, who served as a Republican while state superintendent of public instruction from 2017-2021, and Bob Kern, who’s run for multiple offices on the state and national level.
Donald Rainwater, a software engineer and U.S. Navy veteran, is running as a Libertarian.
Braun has served as a U.S. senator since 2019 with the term set to end Jan. 3, 2025, according to his page on the Congressional website. He was previously a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing District 63, from 2014-2017. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/braun-pulls-ahead-of-other-governor-candidates-in-fundraising/article_ec5703f6-202f-11ee-8ff7-03b83bff8c18.html | 2023-07-12T21:59:47 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/braun-pulls-ahead-of-other-governor-candidates-in-fundraising/article_ec5703f6-202f-11ee-8ff7-03b83bff8c18.html |
The video above is from a previous segment on LVI, a restaurant featured in DFW Restaurant Week.
DALLAS (KDAF) — Restaurant Week whether you’re in Houston or Dallas is huge for the food and culinary world in both of its respected locations and many more around the nation. Not to mention, it’s always for a good cause. Good food, a good cause and good memories! What more can you ask for?
DFW Restaurant Week
The name may be misleading (since it’s a month-long affair) but the food surely isn’t. Different local Dallas restaurants create specific three-course menus at a set price and a portion of the proceeds go to local nonprofits.
“The restaurant will donate approximately 20 percent of the cost of each meal to our charity partners the North Texas Food Bank (Dallas area) or Lena Pope (Tarrant area). Dine out and give back this August!,” DFWRW mentions via their website.
Last year, during the city-wide event, DFWRW raised over $400,00 for the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Foundation.
When is DFW Restaurant Week
Restaurant Week will begin with a preview weekend, Aug. 3 to Aug. 6. With it officially starting Aug. 7 through Aug. 13 with extensions beginning Aug. 14 through Sept. 3.
Who is Who DFW Restaurant Week
There are over hundreds of different restaurants for you to choose from across North Texas – Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton Counties! The goal for Restaurant Week is also to try different restaurants that are in your area, while raising money for a good cause.
Our friends at LVI in Downtown Dallas are featured on this list as well as other greats like La Neta Cocina y Lounge, Jalisco Norte and local favorite Javier’s.
You can start making reservations now as well as virtually plan your restaurant visits, when you check out the complete list of restaurants offered here.
Be quick! As some places are only participating for a certain amount of time.
The Best Part?
Not only are you eating and trying new and exciting places for a good cause, but you won’t be breaking the bank in order to do so too. This is why so many people gravitate towards participating, being able to try food while enjoying an upscale experience:
Special Offerings
DINNER
Three-courses for either $39 ($8 donated) or $49 ($10 donated)
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE DINNER
$99 ($20 donated) – Exclusive VIP experience created by select restaurants. Features may include signature cocktails, chef’s table or additional courses crafted for an especially memorable meal. Timing varies.
LUNCH
Two-courses for $24 ($4 donated) at many restaurants
WEEKEND BRUNCH
Two-courses for $29 ($6 donated) at select restaurants
FOURTH COURSE CERTIFICATE
“Many restaurants offer a free DFW Restaurant Week dinner course when you present your FedEx Office Fourth Course Certificate”, DFWRW mentions. “Beginning July 10, spend $10 at a local FedEx Office location to receive a Fourth Course Certificate at the register with your qualifying receipt.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
BOTTOM LINE
Each restaurant is different, and with over 100 different restaurants participating it’s always good to check the website beforehand for a smooth experience! Happy eating! | https://cw33.com/news/local/dfw-restaurant-week-is-right-around-the-corner-how-to-prepare-and-where-to-go/ | 2023-07-12T22:04:15 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/dfw-restaurant-week-is-right-around-the-corner-how-to-prepare-and-where-to-go/ |
The video above is from a previous segment on a business in the Dallas area
DALLAS (KDAF) — Recently, Dallas Mavericks point guard, Luka Dončić, proposed to his girlfriend of 11 years. How romantic!
The 24-year-old proposed to Slovenian model Anamaria Goltes on July 7, and of course now all we hear are wedding bells!
Even though the couple will probably have a wonderful wedding somewhere outside of Dallas, if not the United States, it doesn’t hurt to imagine them choosing a Dallas venue!
The Springs Venue – Rockwall
Cliff House by Boxwood- Dallas
The White Sparrow Venue – Dallas
Nasher Sculpture Center – Dallas
Arlington Hall Special Events – Arlington
These are just some cute venues that we found in Dallas. They may not be the style of what the Dallas Maverick player and his girlfriend are looking for, but they may just inspire some wedding ideas or bells for the special person in your life! | https://cw33.com/news/local/hey-luka-doncic-we-know-places-in-dallas-you-can-get-married-check-out-these-dallas-wedding-venues/ | 2023-07-12T22:04:21 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/hey-luka-doncic-we-know-places-in-dallas-you-can-get-married-check-out-these-dallas-wedding-venues/ |
The city of Dallas is partnering for the first time with a federal government program for urban heat island mapping to help reduce the impact of heat in the future.
“Extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. than any other weather event. Part of the goal is to realize a more resilient and sustainable city,” Dallas Environmental Quality Director Carlos Evans said.
Extremely hot weather is even worse on hard pavement areas without trees for shade.
Experts call those extra hot areas ‘Heat Islands.’ The whole city is considered an urban heat island and some parts of the city are hotter than others.
“The city is experiencing more extreme heat events. We know these events are even more severe in certain areas,” Evans said. “Historically disadvantaged communities have more pavement than other areas and have fewer trees.”
This year the city of Dallas is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and 18 other communities to collect data on the ground to map where people are most at risk during extreme heat.
The city is seeking 100 volunteers to place a monitoring device on their cars. They will cover a 1/3 sample of the city three different times, morning, midday and evening. An outside group is helping the city map the data.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
City officials said past heat island mapping in Dallas mostly used information from satellites.
“I think it’s a good and valuable study. It’s a really good opportunity for people who want to participate and do something about climate change,” said Kevin Overton, a senior coordinator with the Dallas Environmental Quality Department.
The nonprofit Texas Tree Foundation is already working in Dallas to reduce the impact of heat by planting more trees.
Here is a link to details on the program and how to volunteer. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-urban-heat-island-mapping-volunteers-needed/3294556/ | 2023-07-12T22:05:28 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-urban-heat-island-mapping-volunteers-needed/3294556/ |
Five celebrity cats are now taking up residence at In-Sync Exotics in Wylie.
Mdiba, Ibasa, Shadow, Timba and Naruda, all part of the famed Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden, have all moved from Las Vegas to North Texas.
The cats were part of the last group to leave The Mirage -- with other cats headed to the Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary in Scotts Mills, Oregon.
In-Sync Exotics said their transport team returned home in May with two male, white lions and three leopards. The In-Sync transport team then returned to Vegas at the end of June to transport the remaining big cats to the sanctuary in Oregon.
The Mirage permanently closed the Secret Garden habitat in 2022 and has been relocating the animal residents since that time.
In-Sync Exotics is open to visitors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Click here for an updated schedule. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/five-celebrity-cats-move-from-las-vegas-to-in-sync-exotics-in-wylie/3294635/ | 2023-07-12T22:05:31 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/five-celebrity-cats-move-from-las-vegas-to-in-sync-exotics-in-wylie/3294635/ |
Photos: Five Siegfried and Roy cats move from Las Vegas to North Texas Published 38 mins ago • Updated 37 mins ago 7 photos 1/7 Zach Trelfa Madiba 2/7 Dave Smith Madiba 3/7 Zach Trelfa Ibasa 4/7 Zach Trelfa Naruda 5/7 Dave Smith Ibasa 6/7 Dave Smith Shadow 7/7 Michelle Buchanan Timba More Photo Galleries Photos: Meow Wolf's ‘The Real Unreal' opens in Grapevine Velvet Taco's new Chat GPTaco Can you bake cookies in your car? A Keller mom says yes! Splooting squirrels spotted around North Texas | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/photos-five-siegfried-and-roy-cats-move-from-las-vegas-to-texas/3294642/ | 2023-07-12T22:05:51 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/photos-five-siegfried-and-roy-cats-move-from-las-vegas-to-texas/3294642/ |
Six people, including two teenagers, were shot after an argument led to gunfire, according to Dallas police.
Around 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dallas police responded to the 3000 block of South Lancaster Road. Preliminary information from authorities shows the victims were shot in the 8200 block of Willoughby Boulevard.
According to police, the six victims were involved in an argument with unknown suspects who fired at them. The victims include two men who were transported to the hospital by Dallas Fire and Rescue. The other four victims including a 37-year-old woman, a 14-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, and an 18-year-old man were “self-transported” to a hospital.
Dallas police said all of the victims were in stable condition.
No arrests have been made as of this writing. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/police-six-people-shot-in-dallas-including-two-teens-during-argument/3294560/ | 2023-07-12T22:05:58 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/police-six-people-shot-in-dallas-including-two-teens-during-argument/3294560/ |
PHOENIX — Arizona has been one of the most popular states for people to relocate to in recent years.
From the amazing natural scenery to the incredible weather (for seven months out of the year, anyways), the Grand Canyon State is a pretty attractive state. But according to a recent study, the state may soon be out of people's price range.
According to CNBC's "Top States for Business 2023" study, Arizona tied for ninth place with Idaho in the top 10 most expensive states to live in for 2023.
The article states the supply of homes in Arizona is falling behind the demand and home prices are rising even higher. According to the study, the average price of a four-bedroom, 2,400-square-foot house in Lake Havasu City moved over $1 million in 2022.
Ranking the states involves a number of factors. Among them, each state ranking was based on an index of prices for a wide range of goods and services calculated by the Council for Community and Economic Research.
For Arizona, the state received a D+ for the 2023 Cost of Living score. When researching the average cost of goods and services, a half gallon of milk cost $2.09 and the average monthly energy bill is $264.56.
To see the full list, visit the CNBC article online.
What do you think about Arizona's ranking? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #BeOn12.
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Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-most-expensive-states-in-us-cnbc-study/75-f86a8d16-0da2-4b68-9aea-aa0678ed64b0 | 2023-07-12T22:16:11 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-most-expensive-states-in-us-cnbc-study/75-f86a8d16-0da2-4b68-9aea-aa0678ed64b0 |
A judge sentenced an Atlantic City man to five years in prison for shooting a victim in the leg in January, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.
Ivan Tintigan, 19, was sentenced Monday by Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor as part of a plea deal for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.
Tintigan also will be subject to parole supervision for three years upon release.
Tintigan pleaded guilty to shooting his victim, identified only as "A.S.," in the lower leg Jan. 13. He shot twice, but only one bullet hit the victim.
Investigators relied on surveillance footage, witnesses and cellphone tower records to identify Tintigan as the shooter.
Prosecutors said Tintigan, after seeing his victim in public, returned home, disguising and arming himself before the shooting. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/atlantic-city-man-sentenced-for-january-shooting/article_2490e57a-200d-11ee-9862-834d9ff5aa37.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:11 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/atlantic-city-man-sentenced-for-january-shooting/article_2490e57a-200d-11ee-9862-834d9ff5aa37.html |
PHOENIX — A child died Wednesday afternoon in a north Phoenix apartment fire, officials said.
A woman is also in critical condition from burn injuries sustained from the fire, officials said.
The fatal fire was reported in a first-floor apartment unit near 2nd Avenue and Bell Road at about 1 p.m. A toddler could not be revived by the time firefighters found the young child in the unit.
Two firefighters sustained minor burn injuries and are in stable condition. A man who attempted to get inside the burning apartment before firefighters arrived also sustained some lacerations, the Phoenix Fire Department said.
Firefighters managed to control the fire from spreading to other parts of the building. The fire's cause is under investigation.
Over a dozen people have been displaced by the fire. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/child-dies-in-phoenix-apartment-fire/75-e02db14f-14a2-4a52-a843-4444db14f08e | 2023-07-12T22:16:18 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/child-dies-in-phoenix-apartment-fire/75-e02db14f-14a2-4a52-a843-4444db14f08e |
A second teenager was arrested Thursday in the murder of a 16-year-old in Millville late last month, and two adults have also been charged, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said.
The 16-year-old also is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of law.
Also on Thursday, Alavion Harris, a 20-year-old Bridgeton resident, was arrested in Jefferson City, Missouri, in the case. Another Bridgeton resident, Nashaloni Harris, 21, is wanted in the murder, the Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday in a news release.
Both Harrises are charged with obstructing the administration of law and hindering apprehension, the Prosecutor's Office said. Nashaloni Harris is additionally charged with destruction of evidence.
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Alavion Harris is in jail in Missouri awaiting extradition to Cumberland County.
Their charges stem from a 16-year-old's shooting death June 25. Police found the teenager dead from a gunshot wound on Mount Vernon Street in Bridgeton.
Another 16-year-old was arrested June 30 and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, destruction of evidence, hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of law.
Anyone with information about Nashaloni Harris' whereabouts can call Bridgeton police at 856-392-9031 or the Prosecutor's Office at 856-579-1431. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/bridgeton-millville-newjersey-teen-murder/article_26608c2c-201f-11ee-8993-c3760e819de7.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:18 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/bridgeton-millville-newjersey-teen-murder/article_26608c2c-201f-11ee-8993-c3760e819de7.html |
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Law enforcement, including the FBI, are searching a field off FM 1825 in Pflugerville on Wednesday afternoon in connection with the case of accused serial killer Raul Meza Jr.
Agencies on the scene include the FBI, Austin Police Department, City of Pflugerville Police and the Round Rock Police Department.
Meza was arrested in May and confessed to murdering 80-year-old Jesse Fraga in Pflugerville, as well as a woman, Gloria Lofton, in 2019. Authorities called Meza the "worst of the worst" and a serial killer.
He was convicted in 1982 for the murder of 8-year-old girl Kendra Page in Austin, ambushing her as she rode her bicycle on an elementary school playground. Page's body was found in a nearby dumpster.
Authorities said Meza could be connected with up to 10 other cold cases. Former investigators have been looking into cases dating back to 1996 potentially involving Meza.
Mark Gillespie, a former forensic director for APD, told KVUE in May evidence will also be a large part of the investigation.
"The key, I think, in many of these cases, especially with cold cases, are physical evidence," Gillespie said.
But he said time can be the greatest issue when investigating evidence.
"Evidence could be degraded, you know, could be destroyed," Gillespie said. "Every time it's handled, you run the risk of contamination or loss of evidence."
He said the same is true for talking to witnesses.
"One of the biggest challenges they'll have is just time itself," Gillespie said. “Time has an effect on memories, on recollection.”
PHOTOS: FBI search Pflugerville field in connection with Raul Meza Jr.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Brendon Filla said when Meza was arrested, he was carrying a bag with zip ties, duct tape and a .22-caliber pistol with additional rounds. He told authorities he was ready to kill again.
"I will let you know that Mr. Meza said he was ready and prepared to kill again, and he was looking forward to it," one detective said. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/pflugerville-fbi-search-raul-meza-jr/269-a10cb2b3-29cb-4c9e-8f80-15f72b3904b7 | 2023-07-12T22:16:21 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/pflugerville-fbi-search-raul-meza-jr/269-a10cb2b3-29cb-4c9e-8f80-15f72b3904b7 |
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — A local man was arrested for simple assault Tuesday, one day after he was released from jail on charges that he fought a police officer last week.
Rene DeJesus, 59, is charged with simple assault, police said in a news release.
Last week, DeJesus was accused of assaulting an officer by punching him and using a metal bird feeder and rock to attack him.
DeJesus was arrested Tuesday following reports of an assault at the Tilton Terrace mobile park about 12:45 a.m. He was brought back to the Atlantic County jail.
Police were called to the same park at 8:58 p.m. July 4. Sgt. Michael Keeping engaged DeJesus, who was "shouting and acting disorderly" in the street, police said then.
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After threatening Keeping, DeJesus punched him. He then grabbed an ornamental rock and a metal bird feeder, using both as weapons against the officer, police said.
DeJesus retrieved his pit bull from his home, charging again at Keeping. The animal didn't harm Keeping, but DeJesus tried assaulting the officer again before he was arrested, police said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/eggharbortownship-newjersey-arrest-assault-jail/article_3dc8143c-1fef-11ee-9ad3-ebd3e8b055a4.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:24 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/eggharbortownship-newjersey-arrest-assault-jail/article_3dc8143c-1fef-11ee-9ad3-ebd3e8b055a4.html |
MILLVILLE — A 14-year-old boy was shot to death Monday night, authorities said.
Police found the teenager, a city resident, near City Park Drive about 10:20 p.m., the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday in a news release.
The boy was taken to a nearby Inspira hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities are investigating. Anyone with additional information can call police at 856-265-4596 or the Prosecutor's Office at 856-332-9487. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/millville-newjersey-teen-shooting-death/article_b5bb4bc4-1ffb-11ee-a7cb-937eed6090f3.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:30 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/millville-newjersey-teen-shooting-death/article_b5bb4bc4-1ffb-11ee-a7cb-937eed6090f3.html |
WILDWOOD CREST — Three teenagers drove from Cumberland County in a stolen car and burglarized multiple parked cars in the borough last week, police said Tuesday.
The three 15-year-olds from Millville led police on a chase through backyards after they damaged several vehicles near Monterey and Pacific avenues Friday, police said in a news release.
The teenagers were each charged with burglary, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
Police investigating the damaged cars learned the teenagers, using a stolen car out of Millville, drove to the borough.
Three burglarized cars in the area were found with broken side windows, disassembled steering columns and exposed ignition wiring, police said. The teens' stolen automobile had similar damage.
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Each juvenile was released on a summons pending court. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/millville-wildwoodcrest-car-burglaries/article_94d81f4e-2029-11ee-9502-83adc57745d9.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:36 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/millville-wildwoodcrest-car-burglaries/article_94d81f4e-2029-11ee-9502-83adc57745d9.html |
CALIFORNIA, USA — The campaign text messages have stopped, and your recycling bin is finally empty of mailers. But while it’s not election season anymore, California lawmakers are still tinkering with how voting happens.
The number of election-related bills introduced this session — close to 50 — is average, election officials said. But that number has been whittled down since January, and this week’s policy committee deadline may narrow the active proposals more.
Some bigger measures failed early on — including a constitutional amendment, inspired by the 2021 failed recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, to limit a recall ballot for statewide officials to only asking voters “yes” or “no” on removing the official. Under the proposal, a recalled governor would be replaced by the lieutenant governor and others would be replaced in a special election.
Another constitutional amendment that fell by the wayside would have changed the state superintendent of public instruction from an elected position to one appointed by the governor.
Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, dropped his effort to provide more detail to voters on who is funding ballot measures after the bill was heavily amended in committees. The amendments “reduced the impact to the point that it was no longer worth passing,” said Erik Mebust, spokesperson for Wiener’s office.
And a bill that would speed up vote counting by changing how mail ballots are processed is in limbo, having passed the Assembly but been sent to the Senate appropriations “suspense file.”
That issue has been a key focus for Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, who says the state’s notoriously slow results are not just embarrassing but bad for representation and voter confidence.
“The longer that it takes to determine a winner in a contest, the less time that winner has to prepare an agenda for their stint in public office,” she told CalMatters. “The longer that it takes to get the results out to the public, the more suspicious people become.”
She’s not surprised, however, that momentum for bigger election changes has diminished: “Unfortunately, people get really excited about election issues during and immediately following elections. And then you get to the start of the new year and folks might put that behind them.”
But there are still some proposals that could impact voting in 2024. Here are some of the key bills:
Making sense of the ballot
Ballot language can be confusing. Look no further than Proposition 8, which asked voters to ban gay marriage. Voting “no” meant voting “yes” on gay marriage, while voting “yes” meant gay marriage would be disallowed.
The 2008 measure was approved by 52% of voters, then superseded by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2012 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. But it’s not the only example: Propositions 6 and 10 on the 2018 ballot — a repeal on the state gas tax, and a rent control measure, respectively — drew similar confusion.
Assembly Bill 421, authored by Culver City Democrat Isaac Bryan, would simplify language on the ballot to make more clear what voters are deciding. When he introduced the bill, Bryan said its aim was to curb abuse of the ballot measure process — increasingly being used by wealthy corporations to overturn laws.
The 2024 ballot already includes two such measures: one by the oil and gas industry to overturn a ban on new oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, hospitals and other “sensitive” facilities; another by the fast food industry to overturn the law creating a state council to set wages and other workplace standards.
But the current version of the bill is vastly different than what was first introduced.
Originally, the bill sought to curb disinformation by requiring signature gatherers to disclose whether they are paid or volunteers; mandating training and registration with the Secretary of State’s office; and instituting a three-year ban if someone violates the law.
In its latest form, the bill focuses on one primary fix: clarifying ballot language for referendums to either say “keep the law” or “overturn the law.” It’s also now an urgency bill, so if it becomes law, it can take effect for new measures added to the 2024 ballot.
Bryan’s office did not make him available for comment on the amendments.
SEIU California, part of the Empower California Voters coalition backing this effort, says while it plans to continue fighting for further reforms to signature gathering, the bill still “responds urgently to pain points reported by voters: confusing ballot language that is easily exploited by corporations spending their vast wealth to veto policies they don’t like,” Tia Orr, the union’s executive director, said in a statement to CalMatters.
“Under AB 421, voters’ ballots will match their intent,” she wrote. “We know that the best way to do this is a clear statement of what a voter is choosing: to keep or overturn the law. ”
Clearing up the language has strong bipartisan support among voters, according to a poll published in June by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies: 81% of registered voters said they supported clarifying whether a referendum’s intent is to uphold or overturn a law.
Poll respondents also supported other aspects of AB 421 that have now been gutted: requiring a portion of signatures for a referendum to be gathered by volunteers, a requirement that the top three funders of a referendum be disclosed on the signature pages and requiring paid signature gatherers to sign a statement saying they are giving voters accurate information.
Who draws your districts
Redistricting is the once-a-decade process of redrawing election districts after each Census to make sure each has the same number of people. But without guardrails in place, those who draw the maps can use the process to preserve their own power.
For legislative and congressional maps in 2010 and 2020, California adopted an independent commission to take the power out of the hands of elected officials. The idea has trickled down to some counties and cities, but because state law doesn’t require local independent commissions, local redistricting has varied widely, leading to some allegations of gerrymandered maps.
That’s why, this year, we’re seeing more bills to require independent redistricting — though some may overlap. The bills are scheduled to go before two different committees today and must pass to stay alive this session.
Building on ordinances in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Riverside and Kern counties, legislation this year proposes independent redistricting commissions for Orange and Sacramento counties.
Sen. María Elena Durazo also introduced a bill for the city of Los Angeles, though that was later amended to any charter city with a population of at least 2.5 million.
But is this piecemeal approach best? Assemblymember Bryan argues that a statewide bill is needed.
That’s why he introduced two bills. The first is AB 1248, which would require independent redistricting commissions for cities and counties with more than 300,000 residents by the next round in 2030 and would include school and community college districts.
“This is an approach that really answers the question and calling that’s coming statewide,” Bryan said at a July 5 Senate elections committee hearing.
If the statewide requirement fails, though, Bryan has a backup plan: AB 764, which strengthens rules around redistricting, regardless of who draws the maps.
Officials from Common Cause California, a good government advocacy group that is co-sponsoring AB 1248 and AB 764, said they’re excited to see the “groundswell of support” for independent redistricting this year.
“There are some technical amendments to do to make sure the bills don’t conflict with each other,” said Laurel Brodzinsky, legislative director for the organization. “But definitely on a policy level, it’s really exciting to see.”
The bills are opposed by groups representing local governments, including the California State Association of Counties, the Urban Counties of California and the Rural County Representatives of California.
In their opposition letter, they wrote that commissions needed more financial resources and support to achieve the goals of the bill and without it “we are concerned that counties will be set up for failure and such a failure would only serve to validate public distrust in the redistricting process and in our democratic systems that are already under intense public scrutiny.”
Who funds campaigns
Where there’s talk of election reform, you can expect talk of campaign finance.
A bill by Democratic Sens. Tom Umberg of Santa Ana and Ben Allen of Redondo Beach that cleared the policy committee deadline last week proposes expanding public financing of campaigns. The intent of SB 24 is to level the playing field for candidates against those backed by wealthy corporations or interest groups.
If passed, the bill will ask voters to decide in November 2024 whether to lift the ban on public financing of campaigns for state offices and those in counties, most cities and districts. Currently, only charter cities permit public financing programs.
California voters have previously rejected similar ballot measures — though, unlike the current legislation, all three of the failed bills proposed a specific public financing program for state offices.
Some opponents say the legislation would make no change to the status quo because unless public money is the only source of campaign financing, candidates would still face the same financial disadvantages.
Another bill, AB 83, to prohibit foreign-influenced businesses from contributing to California campaigns, was shelved by its author.
Keeping elections secure
While California’s 2022 elections went off without major incidents, some lawmakers aim to ensure that remains the case ahead of the 2024 election.
AB 969, introduced by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a Santa Cruz Democrat and the new chairperson of the Assembly elections committee, is a response to Shasta County’s termination of its contract with Dominion Voting Systems over unproven allegations of fraud by the company, which provides voting machines.
The bill bans jurisdictions from terminating contracts for a certified voting system without having a plan in place for a replacement. It also seeks to prevent elections officials from choosing or being required to manually tally ballots in elections where there are more than 1,000 registered voters. After passing the Assembly, the bill has made it through the Senate committee process.
Another bill aimed at election integrity is from Assemblymember Mia Bonta, an Oakland Democrat. Her AB 37 would allow candidates or elected officials less restricted use of campaign funds to pay for security expenses.
Bonta cited threats against fellow legislators in her introduction of the bill, which is before the Senate appropriations committee.
“As public servants, there is a lot we humbly and willingly sacrifice to serve, including spending time with family and our privacy,” she said. “However, the one thing we should never be willing or expected to give up is our sense of safety, or the safety of our families, and those who work closely with us.” | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/big-changes-to-california-elections/103-d78d8d87-dacc-4451-a6ce-6c6da35b6324 | 2023-07-12T22:16:42 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/big-changes-to-california-elections/103-d78d8d87-dacc-4451-a6ce-6c6da35b6324 |
Rowan University recently was awarded more than $70 million in grants, the state Office of the Secretary of Higher Education said Tuesday.
The money was part of nearly $400 million awarded by the office in capital facilities grant funding to 54 projects at colleges across the state.
“By funding capital improvement projects that both revitalize and expand campus offerings, we not only affirm our commitment to high-quality postsecondary education but demonstrate a commitment to growing talent across the Garden State," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.
Rowan received five grants total, including $50 million for the construction of a translational engineering and biomedical sciences research tower, a clinical learning center, offices for the nursing school and infrastructure to support those facilities, according to the project synopsis.
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The other four grants are for various technological updates: remote service improvements, card access and surveillance improvements, core network and data center telecommunications infrastructure, and business continuity and disaster recovery improvement, according to information provided by the office.
Stockton University received more than $20 million in state grants. Over $19 million will be used for developing learning spaces and improving technology.
About $1.9 million was awarded to upgrade the oldest building on campus into a learning facility "containing a 250-seat multi-experience auditorium, 24 technology infused classroom upgrades, a technology enhanced atrium, three high-capacity innovation driven computer labs, and a completely upgraded Wi-Fi network," according to the project synopsis.
Atlantic Cape Community College received a $434,087 grant for improving information technology infrastructure.
And Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland received $250,000 to purchase and install intelligent learning technology in five classrooms in its Alampi Science Building. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/education/rowan-other-south-jersey-colleges-receive-state-funds/article_d894c9a4-200f-11ee-9b9d-bb262b792ce8.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:42 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/education/rowan-other-south-jersey-colleges-receive-state-funds/article_d894c9a4-200f-11ee-9b9d-bb262b792ce8.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Housing Authority is expected to take steps to approve an extermination contract and raise maintenance worker salaries to $20 per hour in a special meeting Friday.
“We want to be aggressive in getting the best maintenance employees,” Executive Director Matt Doherty said Tuesday. “Once we have a good maintenance team, compensated at a reasonable level, we need to train them to provide the best services to residents.”
That will also mean saving money by using fewer contractors, Doherty said.
The authority has filled several leadership positions recently, hiring a new procurement director, maintenance director, contract administrator and security director.
“Everyone started yesterday,” Doherty said of the new leadership staff.
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One resolution on the agenda would allow the authority to advertise for maintenance workers at $20 per hour, up a little more than $5 per hour from the current salary, Doherty said.
Another resolution allows opening up the existing contract for already hired maintenance workers, to bring their wage to $20 per hour; and a third resolution allows opening up the contract for maintenance supervisors, so their pay increases by $5 per hour as well, Doherty said.
“It’s an issue run into when you raise wages on low-wage employees — which is a good thing — it causes wage compression above them, and you have to adjust for that as well,” Doherty said.
The Atlantic City Housing Authority has not followed federal rules for years in most of its …
The authority had approved emergency contracts for exterminating services earlier this year, but in early June the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the local authority, said such emergency contracts are not appropriate. Instead, regular competitive contracts had to be advertised for and awarded.
There is also a resolution to post documents to bring the authority into compliance with federal rules regarding the Violence Against Women Act.
That includes the emergency transfer plan, notice of occupancy rights, emergency transfer requests and certification of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
Doherty said the authority was already operating properly under the Violence Against Women Act but had not put its policy in writing, so the resolution does that.
Last month, HUD’s compliance report said the authority has not followed federal rules for years in most of its operations, including how public housing residents are chosen, how their rent is calculated and collected, and how public health and security issues are handled.
It has not tested children living in its complexes for lead-based paint poisoning or taken steps to address any problems found, as required by law. It also has not followed rules on required criminal background checks or sex offender background checks.
And it has not kept security deposits in interest-bearing accounts as required under state law, the report said.
“We’re going to fully implement everything in the report,” Doherty, who started the job in March, said last month. “I don’t know the exact time frame yet.”
ATLANTIC CITY — The new leaders of the Atlantic City Housing Authority have been interviewin…
HUD conducted the review in March, listing its findings and corrective actions for each and sending it to the authority in June.
HUD listed 42 violations of its public housing rules and 18 violations of its Housing Choice Voucher program rules in the report.
The executive director at the time of the compliance review was John Clarke, who was hired as the interim executive director in August 2022 on a one-year contract at an hourly rate of $125 for about 15 hours of work per week, the report said.
At the same time, Clarke was working as executive director of the New Brunswick Housing Authority and interim executive director of the Princeton Housing Authority.
The previous executive director, Thomas Hannon, left the job in May 2021, with no explanation given for his reasons for leaving. For a time the board appointed Director of Finance Denise Gordy as interim executive director, from May 2021 to August 2022.
According to HUD, the Housing Authority owns and operates 1,476 units of federal public housing, and in Fiscal Year 2022 HUD provided almost $9.6 million in operating grant funds and $4.8 million in capital grant funds to support those units. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/atlantic-city-housing-authority-meeting-to-raise-maintenance-salaries-award-contract/article_c796943a-1ff5-11ee-8b6f-474836e4c4a3.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:45 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/atlantic-city-housing-authority-meeting-to-raise-maintenance-salaries-award-contract/article_c796943a-1ff5-11ee-8b6f-474836e4c4a3.html |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was originally published by Calmatters.
The hardest parts of Grace Diaz’s caregiving job are the sleepless nights and aches and pains. And the time away from her family.
Even when Diaz’s client, an elderly Alzheimer’s patient, gets a good night’s sleep, Diaz wakes up at her slightest rustle or groan. Diaz’s shoulder bothers her because she often lifts her client from bed to wheelchair.
She lives with her client in Westminster, a city in Orange County, seven days a week, making $15.50-an-hour and sending some to her children back home in the Philippines, from which she emigrated 20 years ago.
Diaz, who is 56, worries that when she needs care, she won’t be able to afford it.
“We take care of the elderly, but I’m not even sure that, if I stay here, I’m going to have the same care that I’m giving right now — if I’ll be able to afford it,” said Diaz.
Like many of California’s caregivers, Diaz says she needs a living wage, safer working conditions and benefits.
That’s important not just for in-home workers, advocates say, but for California’s Baby Boomers, who will need to hire them.
California’s caregiver workforce is already too small, experts say, and many are aging immigrants like Diaz, earning near-minimum wages. A few state lawmakers have introduced bills to protect workers and encourage growth in the workforce.
“The need for care is going to more than double in the next 12 years here in California, and it’s happening across the country,” said Arnulfo De La Cruz, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015, which represents long-term care workers throughout California. “We’re a country that’s aging, and how do we want to care for people when they age?”
California caregivers undervalued, underpaid
By 2030, nearly 1 in 5 Californians will be age 65 or older, according to the nonprofit Public Policy Institute of California. The state will be facing a shortage of as many as 3.2 million care workers by then, said Susan DeMarois, director of the California Department of Aging.
Caregiving has been an undervalued field, largely because its workers are predominantly immigrant women, said Fernando Torres-Gil, director of the UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging.
“We don’t, as a society, value or honor persons that do caregiving,” Torres-Gil said.
In California 80% of care workers are women, 74% are people of color and 47% are immigrants, according to PHI, a New York-based research and elder policy nonprofit.
Caregivers who work in homes or nursing centers often earn minimum, or close to minimum, wages, Torres-Gil said, and they lack benefits and safety protections typical of 9-to-5 jobs.
That makes careers in long-term care a hard sell for young people, he said.
The solution is two-pronged, said Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California. Long-term care workers should receive living wages and benefits good enough to attract and retain them, she said, and government systems should help Californians pay for the care they’ll need as they age.
“It’s a shortage of good jobs,” she said of caregiving. “People are not going into care work, even though it’s one of the fastest growing jobs, because of the conditions and what it’s paid.”
Caregivers’ pay
The state and counties help set that pay. The state’s In-Home Supportive Services Program serves 700,000 Californians, paying for in-home care for low income residents age 65 and older and others who are disabled.
It’s funded with a mix of government money. A state audit in 2020 showed California contributing $4.5 billion, counties $1.6 billion and the federal government $7.2 billion.
The in-home program pays caregivers, who help people stay in their homes. Caregivers’ pay rates are negotiated by the counties where they work and the unions that represent them.
Workers often complain about slow negotiations stymied by regional politics.
In Kern County, for instance, six years of bargaining for a new contract yielded a recent county offer of 50 cents an hour more on the $15.50 base pay. Sandy Moreno, who left a career in labor to care for her grandmother, said showing up at county supervisors meetings didn’t change things.
“It just feels like they don’t really care about IHSS providers,” she said. “No matter how many times we go to their sessions to talk about our work, to let them know we need to invest in this program, it just feels like we’re at the end of their list.”
The Fresno County Public Authority and SEIU Local 2015 also are in active negotiations for caregiver contracts. Sal Quintero, the only Latino Fresno County supervisor, said he supports organized labor and caregivers — his brother was a caregiver — but “we have to be careful with our county budget and see what’s affordable for us as well.”
Statewide bargaining?
A few state lawmakers introduced bills designed to improve pay and working conditions for caregivers.
Assemblymember Matt Haney, a Democrat from San Francisco, authored a bill earlier this year to shift collective bargaining for publicly funded caregiver contracts from counties to the state. Labor supporters said that would make contracts more fair across the state and allow care workers to move across county lines.
“Who would you want caring for someone you love,” asked De La Cruz, “someone who’s making poverty wages, no retirement and little benefits? Or someone who has a living wage and is able to have benefits to care for their own families?”
The bill passed the Assembly, but Haney said he pulled it before a Senate vote after agreeing, in discussions with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, that the state needs time to flesh out logistics and finances for statewide bargaining for caregivers.
Newsom’s budget includes $1.5 million for a working group on the issue. Haney said he expects its findings in 2025. Newsom also agreed to increasing state fines for counties that fail to promptly reach contract agreements with caregivers.
The United Domestic Workers said in a statement, “This is a vital first step towards bringing equity and a true living wage” to in-home caregivers.
Opponents of Haney’s proposal said counties have varying needs and costs of living that statewide rates likely won’t address. Assemblymember Bill Essayli, a Riverside Republican, said in a statement he voted against the bill because it would impose a one-size-fits-all approach.
“The way we can actually support these workers is by focusing on policies in Sacramento that address our affordability crisis,” he said. “For example, stopping the upcoming gas tax increase July 1 would greatly benefit IHSS workers, who drive more than other workers.”
In-home worker safety
Senator María Elena Durazo, a Democrat from Los Angeles, introduced a proposal this year to include home caregivers in the state’s oversight of workplace safety. Her bill, which targets a variety of domestic workers, passed the Senate and is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Currently, California’s safety work rules don’t apply to domestic workers, including caregivers in private homes. If approved, Durazo’s bill would change that. It’s her third bill to improve domestic worker safety.
In 2020 she proposed extending the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) protections to domestic workers, but Newsom vetoed it.
In 2021, taking feedback from Newsom, she proposed creating an advisory committee on domestic workers for Cal/OSHA. That led to California’s first voluntary occupational health and safety guidelines for domestic workers.
If Durazo’s latest bill becomes law, Cal/OSHA would have the authority to develop and enforce its health and safety guidance for employers, making in-home work safer and more desirable, she said.
“It’s a very isolating job, to be one caregiver in a person’s home,” Durazo said. “They’re vulnerable to exploitation. So we want to make sure … they would have the same rights as other workers.”
That sounds like a good idea to Diaz, who said it would help caregivers in difficult employment situations. Caregiving is not for the faint of heart, she said. It requires physical and emotional strength.
Sometimes her client yells at her out of the blue, she said. On better days, they do arm exercises in the garden or listen to soothing music in the living room.
Diaz likes her work. With her own family thousands of miles away, Diaz said her client has become like family.
“She’s like a mother to me,” Diaz said. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-caregivers-pay-lawmakers-to-change/103-79b9c561-d975-4957-9851-eb0d285c973b | 2023-07-12T22:16:48 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-caregivers-pay-lawmakers-to-change/103-79b9c561-d975-4957-9851-eb0d285c973b |
The company building a controversial wind farm off New Jersey’s coast is suing Cape May County officials for not fulfilling permitting requests and following regulator orders it argues has delayed the project.
Ocean Wind 1, owned by Danish-based energy company Ørsted, contends the county, its clerk and its engineer are prolonging the paperwork needed for easements required by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
The officials also are not yet granting road opening permits for work in Ocean City, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit was filed July 3, in the same week the Biden administration approved the wind farm’s construction about 13 nautical miles southeast of Atlantic City.
The wind farm’s builder names the county’s clerk and engineer, Rita Rothberg and Robert Church, respectively. It also names Kevin Lare, the clerk for the Cape May County Board of Commissioners.
The lawsuit was filed in Cape May County Superior Court by attorney Christine A. Roy, who did not return a request for comment Tuesday.
Ocean Wind 1’s legal teams contend county officials are not following BPU orders.
The county, however, insists the orders’ being placed in the county’s record would have to be a decision by a court, not state regulators, the lawsuit states.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill giving a tax break to Danish offshore wind developer Orsted for the first of two energy projects it plans to place in the waters off the Jersey Shore. And he faces pressure from another offshore wind company looking for similar assistance. The governor’s office said he would sign the bill, allowing Orsted to keep federal tax credits that it otherwise would have been required to pass along to New Jersey utility ratepayers. Another offshore wind project, Atlantic Shores, also wants government aid for its own project off the southern New Jersey coast.
Michael Donohue, an attorney representing Cape May County on wind-related matters, denounced the lawsuit Tuesday, saying the company chooses to sue instead of meeting for negotiations.
“Demand letters and lawsuits seem to be the only language Ørsted knows,” Donohue said. “The county is reviewing the latest lawsuit from Ørsted and will respond shortly.”
In November, the BPU authorized the easements across Ocean City, where the company intends to run cable lines underground at Roosevelt Boulevard and Bay Avenue. The line would connect to a new energy hub at the site of the former B.L. England Generating Station, which is in the process of being demolished.
The company filed a similar lawsuit in May over Ocean City not awarding city permits for 12 test pits and two soil borings, part of the wind power project’s plans to bring electricity ashore.
The developer’s lawsuit also cites the county’s failure to award road-opening permits to perform “utility and environmental investigations within portions of 35th Street,” leading to a delay in starting construction.
The scope of that work consists of 23 soil borings, two long-term monitoring wells and 40 test pits from 35th Street and West Avenue in Ocean City to Roosevelt Boulevard and Route 9 in Upper Township, the lawsuit states, adding it would take about three weeks to complete the work.
To limit interference with the summer tourism season, Ocean Wind 1 requested April 13 that the road application be issued within 30 days, allowing the work to be finished no later than May’s end, the lawsuit states.
The county’s neglect to grant the permits has slowed construction, which is planned to begin as early as 2023’s third quarter, the lawsuit states. It’s also having “cascading and adverse” effects on other needed permitting and approvals.
With a wind power project proposed off the beach taking a big step forward this week, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian on Thursday criticized the approval process and called offshore energy production “a crazy gamble.”
Plans call for up to 98 wind turbines along the Jersey Shore through the project. Plans are for the first power to be delivered onshore in late 2024.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management endorsed the project formally last week as aligning with President Joe Biden’s broader clean-energy initiatives for the U.S.
Gov. Phil Murphy also signed into law Thursday a bill giving Ørsted a tax break, saying the financial aid ensures offshore wind projects and the jobs they create happen in New Jersey rather than in competing states.
The wind farms have been the subject of heated political debate.
Republicans and officials in several Cape May County communities, most notably Ocean City, have shown opposition to the project. They argue their construction would negatively affect tourism and the local fishing industry.
Other arguments have tied their development to a string of offseason marine mammal deaths in New Jersey and New York, but those theories lack evidence, according to federal officials.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif — This story was originally published by CalMatters.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jon Heggie wasn’t expecting much to worry about when a late summer fire erupted north of Santa Cruz, home to California’s moist and cool “asbestos forests.” This place doesn’t burn, he thought, with just three notable fires there in 70 years.
Heggie’s job was to predict for the crews where the wildfire might go and when, working through calculations based on topography, weather and fuels — the “immutable” basics. For fire behavior analysts like Heggie, predictable and familiar are manageable, while weird and unexpected are synonyms for danger.
But that 2020 fire was anything but predictable.
Around 3 a.m. on Aug. 16, ominous thunder cells formed over the region. Tens of thousands of lightning strikes rained down, creating a convulsion of fire that became the CZU Lightning Complex.
By noon there were nearly two dozen fires burning, and not nearly enough people to handle them. Flames were roaring throughout the Coast Range in deep-shaded forests and waist-high ferns in sight of the Pacific Ocean. No one had ever seen anything like it. The blaze defied predictions and ran unchecked for a month. The fire spread to San Mateo County, burned through 86,000 acres, destroyed almost 1,500 structures and killed a fleeing resident.
“It was astonishing to see that behavior and consumption of heavy fuels,” Heggie said. “Seeing the devastation was mind-boggling. Things were burning outside the norm. I hadn’t seen anything burn that intensely in my 30 years.”
Almost as troubling was what this fire didn’t do — it didn’t back off at night.
“We would have burning periods increase in the afternoon, and we saw continuous high-intensity burns in the night,” Heggie said. “That’s when we are supposed to make up ground. That didn’t happen.”
That 2020 summer of fires, the worst in California history, recalibrated what veteran firefighters understand about fire behavior: Nothing is as it was.
Intensified by climate change, especially warmer nights and longer droughts, California’s fires often morph into megafires, and even gigafires covering more than a million acres. U.S. wildfires have been four times larger and three times more frequent since 2000, according to University of Colorado researchers. And other scientists recently predicted that up to 52% more California forest acreage will burn in summertime over the next two decades because of the changing climate.
As California now heads into its peak time for wildfires, even with last year’s quiet season and the end of its three-year drought, the specter of megafires hasn’t receded. Last winter’s record winter rains, rather than tamping down fire threats, have promoted lush growth, which provides more fuel for summer fires.
Cal Fire officials warn that this year’s conditions are similar to the summer and fall of 2017 — when a rainy winter was followed by one of the state’s most destructive fire seasons, killing 47 people and destroying almost 11,000 structures.
It’s not just the size and power of modern wildfires, but their capricious behavior that has confounded fire veterans — the feints and shifts that bedevil efforts to predict what a fire might do and then devise strategies to stop it. It’s a dangerous calculation: In the literal heat of a fire, choices are consequential. People’s lives and livelihoods are at stake.
Cal Fire crews now often find themselves outflanked. Responding to larger and more erratic and intense fires requires more personnel and equipment. And staging crews and engines where flames are expected to go has been thrown off-kilter.
“We live in this new reality,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a recent Cal Fire event, “where we can’t necessarily attach ourselves to some of the more predictive models of the past because of a world that is getting a lot hotter, a lot drier and a lot more uncertain because of climate change.”
CalFire has responded by tapping into all the new technology — such as drones, military satellites, infrared images and AI-assisted maps — that can be brought to bear during a fire. Commanders now must consider a broader range of possibilities so they can pivot when the firefront shifts in an unexpected way. The agency also has beefed up its ability to fight nighttime fires with a new fleet of Fire Hawk helicopters equipped to fly in darkness.
The state has thrown every possible data point at the problem with its year-old Wildfire Threat and Intelligence Integration Center, which pulls information from dozens of federal, state and private sources to create a minute-by-minute picture of conditions conducive to sparking or spreading fires.
“We’re enlisting cutting-edge technology in our efforts to fight wildfires,” Newsom said, “exploring how innovations like artificial intelligence can help us identify threats quicker and deploy resources smarter.”
An unforeseen assault on a coastal town
The 2017 Thomas Fire stands as an example of what happens when a massive fire, ignited after a rainy winter, veers and shifts in unexpected ways.
The blaze in coastal Ventura and Santa Barbara counties struck in December, when fire season normally has quieted down. Fire veterans knew fall and winter fires were tamed by a blanket of moist air and fog.
But that didn’t happen.
“We were on day five or six, and the incident commander comes to me and asks, ‘Are we going to have to evacuate Carpinteria tonight?’,” said Cal Fire Assistant Chief Tim Chavez, who was the fire behavior analyst for the Thomas Fire. “I looked at the maps and we both came to the conclusion that Carpinteria would be fine, don’t worry. Sure enough, that night it burned into Carpinteria and they had to evacuate the town.”
Based on fire and weather data and informed hunches, no one expected the fire to continue advancing overnight. And, as the winds calmed, no one predicted the blaze would move toward the small seaside community of 13,000 south of Santa Barbara. But high temperatures, low humidity and a steep, dry landscape that hadn’t felt flames in more than 30 years drew the Thomas Fire to the coast.
The sudden shift put the town in peril. Some 300 residents were evacuated in the middle of the night as the blaze moved into the eastern edge of Carpinteria.
In all, the fire, which was sparked by power lines downed by high winds, burned for nearly 40 days, spread across 281,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other buildings and killed two people, including a firefighter. At the time, it was the largest wildfire in California’s modern history; now, just six years later, it ranks at number eight.
The unforeseen assault on Carpenteria was an I-told-you-so from nature, the sort of humbling slap-down that fire behavior analysts in California are experiencing more and more.
“I’ve learned more from being wrong than from being right,” Chavez said. “You cannot do this job and not be surprised by something you see. Even the small fires will surprise you sometimes.”
Warmer nights, drought, lack of fog alter fire behavior
Scientists say the past 20 years have brought a profound — and perhaps irreversible — shift in the norms of wildfire behavior and intensity. Fires burn along the coast even when there’s no desert winds to drive them, fires refuse to lay down at night and fires pierced the so-called Redwood Curtain, burning 97% of California’s oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods.
The changes in wildfires are driven by an array of factors: a megadrought from the driest period recorded in the Western U.S. in the past 1,200 years, the loss of fog along the California coast, and stubborn nighttime temperatures that propel flames well into the night.
Higher temperatures and longer dry periods are linked to worsening fires in Western forests, with an eightfold increase from 1985 to 2017 in severely burned acreage, according to a 2020 study. “Warmer and drier fire seasons corresponded with higher severity fire,” the researchers wrote, suggesting that “climate change will contribute to increased fire severity in future decades.”
“What we are seeing is a dramatic increase in extreme fire behavior,” Heggie said. “When you have a drought lasting 10 years, devastating the landscape, you have dead fuel loading and available fuel for when these fires start. That’s the catalyst for megafire. That’s been the driving force for change in fire behavior.”
About 33% of coastal summer fog has vanished since the turn of the century, according to researchers at UC Berkeley. That blanket of cool, moist air that kept major fires out of coastal areas can no longer be relied upon to safeguard California’s redwood forests.
Firefighters are losing another ally, too, with the significant increase in overnight temperatures. Nighttime fires were about 28% more intense in 2020 than in 2003. And there are more of them — 11 more “flammable nights” every year than 40 years ago, an increase of more than 40%.
The upshot is that fires are increasingly less likely to “lie down” at night, when fire crews could work to get ahead of the flames. The loss of those hours to perform critical suppression work — and the additional nighttime spread — gives California crews less time to catch up with fast-moving blazes.
Also, fire whirls and so-called firenados are more common as a feature of erratic fire behavior. The twisting vortex of flames, heat and wind can rise in columns hundreds of feet high and are spun by high winds.
Firenados are more than frightening to behold: They spread embers and strew debris for miles and make already dangerous fires all the more risky. One was spotted north of Los Angeles last summer.
Fires are “really changing, and it’s a combination of all kinds of different changes,” said Jennifer Balch, director of the Environmental Data Science Innovation & Inclusion Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder and a longtime fire researcher who tracks trends that drive wildfires.
“We're losing fog. We're seeing drier conditions longer and later into the season. And so what that means for California right now is, under these record heat waves, we're also now butting up against the Santa Ana wind conditions,” she said. “I think we're loading the dice in a certain direction.”
A fire behaviorist’s day
Among the many specialists at work are fire behavior analysts, who are responsible for predicting a fire’s daily movements for the incident commander. As a fire rages, Cal Fire analysts get their information in an avalanche of highly technical data, including wind force and direction, temperature and humidity, the shape and height of slopes, the area’s burn history, which fuels are on the ground and, in some cases, how likely they are to burn.
Gleaned from satellites, drones, planes, remote sensors and computer mapping, the information is spat out in real time and triaged by the fire behavior analyst, who often uses a computer program to prepare models to predict what the fire is likely to do.
That information is synthesized and relayed — quickly — to fire bosses. Laptops and hand-held computers are ubiquitous on modern firelines, replacing the time-honored practice of spreading a dog-eared map on the hood of a truck.
“On a typical day I would get up at 4:30 or 5,” said Chavez, who has served as a fire behavior analyst for much of his career. “We get an infrared fire map from overnight aircraft, and that tells us where the fire is active. Other planes fly in a grid pattern and we look at those still images. I might look at computer models, fire spread models, and the weather forecast. There’s other data that tells you what fuels are in the area. You plug all that in to see where the fire will be 24 hours from now.”
At the fire camp’s 8 a.m. briefing, “you get two minutes to tell people what to watch out for,” he said. Throughout the day, Chavez says he monitors available data and hitches a helicopter ride to view the fire from the air. At another meeting at 5 p.m., he and other officers prepare the next day’s incident action plan. Then he’s back to collating more weather and fire data. The aim is to get to bed before midnight.
The importance of the fire behavior analyst’s job is reflected by the sophistication of the tools available: real-time NOAA satellite data, weather information from military flights, radar, computer-generated maps showing a 100-year history of previous burns in the area as well as the current fuel load and its combustibility, airplane and drone surveillance and AI-enabled models of future fire movements. Aircraft flying over fires provide more detail, faster, about what’s inside fire plumes, critical information to fire bosses.
In California, the National Guard is entering the fourth year of an agreement to share non-classified information pulled from military satellites that scan for heat signatures from the boost phase of ballistic missiles. When those heat images are associated with wildfires, the agency’s FireGuard system can transmit detailed information to Cal Fire every 15 minutes.
Meteorologist Craig Clements, director of the Fire Weather Research Laboratory at San Jose State University, has chased fires for a decade.
“We can pull up on a fire, and the radar starts spinning and you’re peering into a plume within four minutes,” Clements said. “It gives us information about the particles inside, the structure of it.”
Fire behavior decisions are not totally reliant on outside data inputs. Seasoned fire commanders remain firmly committed to a reliable indicator: the hair on the back of their necks.
Fireline experience and hard-earned knowledge still counts when formulating tactics. But it’s a measure of how norms have shifted that even that institutional knowledge can fail.
Future of firefighting: AI crunches billions of data points
Perhaps the biggest leap is applying artificial intelligence to understand fire behavior. Neil Sahota, an AI advisor to the United Nations and a lecturer at UC Irvine, is developing systems to train a computer to review reams of data and come to a predictive conclusion.
The idea is not to replace fire behavior analysts and jettison their decades of fireline experience, Sahota said, but to augment their work — and, mostly, to move much faster.
“We can crunch billions of different data points in near real time, in seconds,” he said. “The challenge is, what’s the right data? We may think there are seven variables that go into a wildfire, for example. AI may come back saying there are thousands.”
In order for their information to be useful, computers have to be taught: What’s the difference between a Boy Scout campfire and a wildfire? How to distinguish between an arsonist starting a fire and a firefighter setting a backfire with a drip torch?
Despite the dizzying speed at which devices have been employed on the modern fireline, most fire behavior computer models are still based on algorithms devised by Mark Finney, a revered figure in the field of fire science.
Working from the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory in Montana, Finney has studied fire behavior through observation and, especially, by starting all manner of fires in combustion chambers and in the field. In another lab in Missoula, scientists bake all types of wood in special ovens to determine how fuels burn at different moisture levels.
Still, Finney is unimpressed by much of the sophisticated technology brought to bear on wildfires as they burn. He said it provides only an illusion of control.
“Once you are in a position to have to fight these extreme fires, you’ve already lost,” he said. “Don’t let anybody kid you, we do not suppress these fires, we don’t control them. We wait for the weather.”
The Missoula research group developed the National Fire Danger Rating System in 1972, which is still in place today. Among the fire behavior tools Finney designed is the FARSITE system, a simulation of fire growth invaluable to frontline fire bosses.
Finney and colleagues are working on a next-generation version of the behavior prediction system, which is now undergoing real-world tests.
“This equation has an awful lot of assumptions in it,” he said. “We’re getting there. Nature is a lot more complicated. There are still a number of mysteries on fire behavior. We don’t have a road map to follow that tells us that this is good enough.”
By far the best use of the predictive tools that he and others have developed is to learn how to avoid firestarts, he said, by thinning and clearing forests to reduce threat.
“I would love to tell you that the key to solving these problems is more research. But if we just stopped doing research and just use what we know, we’d be a lot better off.”
Still, research about fire behavior races on, driven by the belief that you can’t fight an enemy you don’t understand.
Mike Koontz is on the frontlines of that battle, tucked into a semicircle of supercomputers. Koontz leads a team of researchers in Boulder, Colo., studying a new, volatile and compelling topic: California megafires.
“We began to see a clear uptick in extreme fire behavior in California since the 2000s,” said Koontz, a postdoctoral researcher with the Earth Lab at University of Colorado Boulder. “We keyed in on fires that moved quickly and blew up over a short period of time.” California is a trove of extreme fires, he said.
Koontz is using supercomputers to scrape databases, maps and satellite images and apply the data to an analytical framework of his devising. The team tracks significant fires that grow unexpectedly, and layers in weather conditions, topography, fire spread rates and other factors.
What comes out is a rough sketch of the elements driving California’s fires to grow so large. The next hurdle is to get the information quickly into the hands of fire commanders, Koontz said.
The goal: if not a new bible for fighting fires, at least an updated playbook. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-fights-unpredictable-wildfires/103-9c6e12d5-121b-48eb-82a2-b2b2ed7b0b7b | 2023-07-12T22:16:54 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-fights-unpredictable-wildfires/103-9c6e12d5-121b-48eb-82a2-b2b2ed7b0b7b |
PLEASANTVILLE — New attractions could be coming to an old sports site.
City Council voted last month to award a $3.37 million contract to build a park at the old Jokers’ Field.
The project, formally titled the Bayview Avenue Waterfront Park according to state records, adds to a broader, at times controversial effort to create new recreational opportunities and outdoor space while developing an area of the city that had long sat vacant.
The start of the project, city officials said, comes after it had been put on hold due to a years-old misallocation of state conservation land.
Mayor Judy Ward said the new project for the old Jokers’ Field would provide a much needed outdoor gathering space for residents. She said residents in the past had often been forced to visit out-of-town parks when looking for a place to play with their children and families.
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“It’s nothing that Pleasantville has had before, all in one spot,” Ward said. “The part I’m most excited about is that our residents will be able to stay in the city to enjoy these activities rather than go to another municipality.”
City Administrator Linda Peyton said the project would be a critical addition to the city, marking progress and economic growth.
“This is another milestone,” Peyton said at the City Council meeting June 21. “We’re happy to really promote and encourage City Council to vote on this tonight, so we can put a shovel on the ground at that waterfront site.”
PLEASANTVILLE — The city is pursuing new funds for a new park project, as Trenton continues …
The old Jokers’ Field, so called due to its former use by the Pleasantville Jokers youth football team, is a waterfront site off Bayview Avenue. It is adjacent to the site of the old Pleasantville High School, which is a property by the waterfront that is also undeveloped.
The city is funding the project through a series of state grants. City Chief Financial Officer Barry Ludy said about half the funding is to be provided by $1.6 million from the state Green Acres program.
Another $1.1 million for the project was recently given to the city through the Garden State Preservation Trust.
The city may collect up to $1 million for the project from a grant related to the Urban Enterprise Zone, which is used by the state to support historically “distressed areas,” typically by subsidizing local business.
Council awarded the contract for the project to Command Company, based in Egg Harbor City, which bid below the $3.62 million project offered by Think Pavers Hardscaping, based in Mount Royal, Gloucester County. The city had previously solicited bids on contracts for the old Jokers’ Field project earlier this year, which drew offers from the same contractors at slightly higher prices — $3.46 million for Command Company and $3.8 million for Think Pavers. Council voted in May to reject those offers and reissue the request for proposals.
City officials have outlined what the project could bring to the area, although they cautioned some of the plans were subject to change as the project moves forward. The development must also be in keeping with criteria for the Green Acres grant.
After the improvements currently planned, the old Jokers’ Field would include a gazebo, a trail, a water splash pad, flowerbeds and a picnic area.
The project also may include a lookout station where people could view Atlantic City and other parts of Absecon Island across the water.
PLEASANTVILLE — A proposal to develop the long-vacant site of the old high school is dead, d…
“It’s an outdoor event space,” Peyton said. “We’re hoping that it’s going to be a place considered as an attraction for others to come into our community, and it’s a great outdoor space.”
The Green Acres funds for the project had previously been unavailable, city officials said, due to a mishap tracing back to an affordable-housing development. The city had previously deeded 2.62 acres of parkland to the Pleasantville Housing Authority for an improvement project for one of its affordable-housing communities. Only later did city officials realize the parkland had been encumbered with a Green Acres designation, setting it aside for conservation and protecting it from further development. Under an agreement with the DEP, the city was required to designate other land in the city as Green Acres property and pay related fines. Council voted to designate a replacement Green Acres property in April 2021 and voted June 21 to authorize Fidelity title company to pay about $98,000 total to a pair state conservation and environmentalist programs.
Ward said the schedule for the project to get underway was still in flux. A preconstruction meeting is scheduled for later this week and more details would be forthcoming.
“Whenever it comes, it’ll be welcome,” Ward said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/pleasantville-new-park/article_ceae9394-1f87-11ee-b30f-b3ff65c27ad8.html | 2023-07-12T22:16:58 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/pleasantville-new-park/article_ceae9394-1f87-11ee-b30f-b3ff65c27ad8.html |
PLACER COUNTY, Calif — A man was arrested on suspicion of being part of a burglary ring operating out of Southern California, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.
The sheriff's office said there was a breakthrough in a burglary of a Granite Bay home that happened in May. Martin Ignacio Jimenez-Rojas, 34, was arrested in Daly City and is accused of being part of the burglary crew. He was extradited to Placer County and booked in the South Placer Jail facing first-degree burglary charges.
The burglary crew is responsible for several burglaries across California, Oregon and Washington according to the sheriff's office.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office is working with other law enforcement agencies to find other people involved in the burglary crew.
Watch more on ABC10 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/roseville/martin-ignacio-jimenez-rojas-burglary-crew-granite-bay/103-a352ddd1-d347-47a0-ab06-6d008252c8c8 | 2023-07-12T22:17:00 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/roseville/martin-ignacio-jimenez-rojas-burglary-crew-granite-bay/103-a352ddd1-d347-47a0-ab06-6d008252c8c8 |
The northern lights will not make an appearance in New Jersey Thursday night. Meteorologist Joe Martucci says the K index, which looks at the size of the geomagnetic storms needed for the aurora borealis, will be too low for the Garden State to glow in greens and purples.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/aurora-borealis-forecast-for-nj-thursday/article_e392cf0c-2043-11ee-bb76-c79ad5eb59b2.html | 2023-07-12T22:17:05 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/aurora-borealis-forecast-for-nj-thursday/article_e392cf0c-2043-11ee-bb76-c79ad5eb59b2.html |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Following the busy Fourth of July weekend, many of Lake Tahoe's beaches were trashed.
8,500 pounds of trash were left at Lake Tahoe following the holiday celebrations, according to the League to Save Lake Tahoe (Keep Tahoe Blue).
In collaboration with Ecoclean solutions, the League has introduced the use of a beach cleaning robot by the name of BeBot.
“This is a robot that is remote control operated, solar panels supported, and it's four-feet wide, and it goes up to four inches under the sand. It picks up debris and litter that is a quarter of an inch and larger,” said Marilee Movius, senior community engagement manager.
BeBot plays a key role in sifting through the sand and collecting trash that is difficult to pick up by hand and helps keep it out of the lake.
"It's really important that we get this litter out of the sand because these are small pieces of trash, like cigarette butts or broken down plastics. And this is really the last effort before it makes its way to the waters,” said Movius.
Once the robot sifts through the sand and collects the trash, the contents are sifted through by hand and the organic matter that is collected is returned to the environment. The work done by the robot, along with other cleanup efforts, is just part of the overarching goals of the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
"We focus on the top contributors to the impact the lake's clarity. This is urban stormwater runoff, pollution, invasive species and bad development. So our team works to advocate for the lake collaborate with agencies educate, and also host volunteer opportunities," said Movius.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/meet-bebot-tahoe/103-c99ba23a-fdd8-40d8-b737-220ca6a5e80f | 2023-07-12T22:17:07 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/meet-bebot-tahoe/103-c99ba23a-fdd8-40d8-b737-220ca6a5e80f |
Meteorologist Joe Martucci explains why high temperatures stayed in the 80s, instead of the 90s, Tuesday. Looking forward, inland 90s should return to the forecast Wednesday, as the humidity stays low for one more day.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/tuesday-july-11-nj-weather-forecast/article_84739e48-2048-11ee-b11d-7b118a3907e0.html | 2023-07-12T22:17:26 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/tuesday-july-11-nj-weather-forecast/article_84739e48-2048-11ee-b11d-7b118a3907e0.html |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — More money for law enforcement, fire and emergency services is headed to Central Florida as Orange County takes a hard look at what the area needs now to keep people safe.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The budget shows that the county wants to send a message that safety is key.
In the first Orange County budget workshop, the focus was on the first responders, and public service members who protect the community.
READ: Bodycam videos show police officer fatally shoot man seated in car in downtown Orlando
In total, $860 million is being proposed for Orange County’s public safety departments. That’s about $100 million increase from last year’s budget.
Aside from new positions to support operations, Orange County Fire Rescue’s $300 million budget includes expanding its Marine Rescue program, going from 11 stations with boats to 20.
READ: Derek Diaz’s family, attorney speak after Orlando police release bodycam video of shooting
Among other public safety highlights, corrections wants to invest in technology. Its budget includes implementation of a drone detection system and money to address recruitment and retention of corrections officers, a lingering issue that has cost the county thousands of dollars in overtime.
Wednesday’s budget workshop is the first of many before that budget gets finalized.
READ: Police: 3 men dead, 1 in custody after Daytona Beach shooting
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/860m-heading-orange-county-law-enforcement-emergency-services/RUVQKWXTA5EYHBPLSV7RMISNJM/ | 2023-07-12T22:18:58 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/860m-heading-orange-county-law-enforcement-emergency-services/RUVQKWXTA5EYHBPLSV7RMISNJM/ |
WASHINGTON, D.C. — There’s a push to help federal student loan borrowers repair their credit scores if they have fallen behind on payments.
A group of House Democrats reintroduced three bills: the Clean Slate through Rehabilitation Act, the Clean Slate Repayment Act and the Clean Slate Through Consolidation Act.
The measures would remove negative credit reporting from a borrower’s credit history if they have taken steps to get back on track with repayment.
“The three bills in the clean slate legislative series will help borrowers truly get a second chance after doing the hard work to get their finances in order from crippling student loan debt, and I know exactly how hard this can be because I’ve been there after falling behind on my own student loan payments,” said Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA), a co-sponsor of the measures.
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It comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness plan last month.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the debt is just too damn high,” said Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), another co-sponsor of the proposals. “The Supreme Court is helping to turn college and universities into another barrier that keeps families out of the middle class.”
Republicans in Congress blasted President Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness plan from the start.
“Senate Republicans will continue to stand against radical student loan socialism – in whatever form it may take,” said Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor on Wednesday.
Senate Republicans are pushing a proposal for more transparency with college costs and to cap borrowing for certain students.
House Republicans introduced the Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment (FAIR) Act, which aims to streamline the repayment process and prevent excessive interest from accruing on loans.
In a joint statement, the sponsors of the FAIR Act including Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) said: “The FAIR Act is a fiscally responsible, targeted response to the chaos caused by Biden’s student loan scam. This Republican solution takes important steps to fix the broken student loan system, provide borrowers with clear guidance on repayment, and protect taxpayers from the economic fallout caused by the administration’s radical free college agenda.”
We spoke with Melissa Byrne, the founder of the group We, The 45 Million, which is fighting to cancel student debt about the proposals announced by House Democrats on Wednesday.
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“I think it’s great that members of Congress want to take action on student loan debt, but right now the action they should be taking is fully engaging in the Higher Education Act process,” said Byrne.
The Higher Education Act is the step the Biden administration is now taking to try and provide student loan debt relief following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The Biden administration argues the law gives the Education Secretary a broad set of tools to help borrowers in financial distress.
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“They need to be all in, and they need to be publicly demanding that we provide relief for people,” said Byrne. “The president made a promise.”
There is a lengthy process for the Higher Education Act, which involves public hearings and public comment.
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ORLANDO, Fla. — An area of low pressure over the Central Atlantic is currently producing disorganized, scattered storms roughly 800 miles east of Bermuda, Channel 9 certified meteorologist George Waldenberger said.
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While it does have a 50% chance of organization into a subtropical or tropical depression – or becoming Don, the next named storm – Waldenberger said it will not pose a threat to the U.S.
READ: Missing St. Cloud woman’s body found in East Lake Toho
If it is going to develop, it’d have to do so in the next few days before it moves over cooler waters, Waldenberger said.
Aside from that, no tropical systems are expected to form over the next week over the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf.
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Toward the end of the month, we’ll keep a close eye on any tropical waves that can move off the west coast of Africa.
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — George “Krusha” Randall Sr. and his wife are looking forward to some great mountain riding this week on his six-cylinder Honda road bike — but the Richmond, Va. motorcyclist said that’s not the main thing that’s brought him to Johnson City.
That would be the 21st Annual Reunion of the Nubian Kruzers United Motorcycle Club, founded at Randall’s own Richmond Chapter.
“It’s the camaraderie for me,” said Randall, a truck driver and military veteran. “I mean this is just one big happy family, motorcycle enthusiasts and everything, and we just have a good time. The Nubian Kruzers is all about loving each other, loving our community, respect — high on respect.”
The Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the several hundred bikers and their families will pump about $80,000 into the local economy. The official event kicks off at Wild Wing Cafe downtown at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The Nubians, proud of their African heritage and Blackness, focus on God first, family second, and the club third, Johnson City President Fred “Big Dawg” Hairston said.
“Our founder … instilled that in every one of us,” he said. “We’re all about helping community. They have charity rides. We don’t want people thinking that bikers are bad. We’re a bunch of guys that get out, have fun, but it’s a family-oriented thing.”
One of the weekend’s highlights is a ride from Johnson City to Bristol and across South Holston Dam — one of the “Southern Dozen” marketed rides that has made Johnson City a hub for motorcycle events.
“There is some curvy roads, but we’ll take it easy, they can see the beautiful scenery between Johnson City and Bristol, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Nubian Kruzer United riders will come from as far afield as Arkansas, Louisiana and Maryland.
“We’ve got 13 chapters coming in,” Hairston. “We’ve also got five other (clubs) from Knoxville coming up and then we’ve got a couple social clubs coming up.”
The group will also offer an open ride, leaving from the VFW in south Johnson City at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a party to follow. A picnic is planned for Saturday at the Barn at Boone Falls Reserve. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/nubian-kruzers-to-rally-in-prime-motorcycle-country-this-weekend/ | 2023-07-12T22:19:12 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/nubian-kruzers-to-rally-in-prime-motorcycle-country-this-weekend/ |
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Pima County supervisors want Arizona's water agency to expedite a study of the Tucson area's groundwater supply to see if it's large enough to support all subdivision development expected over the next 100 years.
The Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to send a letter making that request of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, as requested by Democratic Supervisor Matt Heinz. Republican Supervisor Steve Christy was opposed; Democratic Supervisor Sharon Bronson wasn't present for the vote.
Although the supervisors and County Administrator Jan Lesher said they didn't know it, the state water agency has begun such an evaluation, but it's not clear if the work can be expedited. The computer model analysis by the state won't be finished until 2024 and may need 18 months, ADWR spokesman Doug MacEachern told the Star.
"We know the Colorado River is in a crisis at this point. We are living in a desert," Heinz told the board.
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Heinz noted that in early June, ADWR released results of a computer model-based study that projected a 4.86 million acre-foot gap between groundwater supply and demand will occur in the Phoenix area over the next century. Because of those findings, ADWR announced it will stop issuing new certificates of assured, 100-year water supplies for subdivision developments that rely solely on groundwater in the state-run Phoenix Active Management Area and aren't served by water providers with their own designations of assured supply.
"I think it’s important we figure out what the situation is here in the Tucson Basin and we do so as soon as possible," Heinz said.
Tucson area's 'water resources are under control'
This appears to be a solution looking for a problem, Christy countered.
"Everything I've been led to believe is that water resources are under control as far as Tucson AMA is concerned," said Christy, referring to the state-run water management area that covers most of the Tucson metro area. "I don’t want the Arizona DWR expediting any plans regarding a groundwater model. We have the capacity to figure that out on our own."
Board Vice-chairman Rex Scott said, "I'll go ahead and vote for it, just because I think it's good to have that information."
"I would certainly hope that if they come to any kind of conclusions similar to one in Maricopa County, that they share the information with the public in the same prudent and nuanced way that they shared that information with that (earlier) report," said Scott, a Democrat.
He noted that Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs pointed out when the Phoenix-area report was released that the state's order banning new subdivisions in certain areas wouldn't cause development "to come to a grinding halt."
That was in part because most Phoenix-area cities have ongoing designations of assured, 100-year water supplies that cover all new development within the boundaries of their utilities' water service areas until the designations expire.
The ban on new subdivisions affects two cities that lack such designations, Queen Creek and Buckeye, along with other areas, including some lying within some city boundaries, that are served by private water companies that don't have such designations.
The Tucson area's water picture has generally been considered by most experts to be brighter than Phoenix's. Because the city of Tucson now relies almost exclusively on renewable Colorado River water instead of groundwater for drinking supplies, water tables have been rising in parts of the city.
The Tucson Active Management Area has been on the edge of reaching the state's goal of balancing groundwater pumping and recharge by 2025. That condition is known as "safe yield."
Phoenix isn't expected to make that goal. Plus, the recent ADWR study indicates the Phoenix area's ongoing overdraft of groundwater, while it has decreased markedly since 2000, is likely to increase dramatically between now and 2121 as development continues.
Actions needed not just in Phoenix, state says
But in a slide presentation at a public meeting late last month, ADWR warned that the Tucson area may not always be in such good shape. The slide noted that updated groundwater modeling for the Phoenix and Pinal County water management areas "demonstrate that, over the next 100 years, these two AMAs have reached the anticipated limits of growth on groundwater supplies.
"Without action, this limitation will eventually be reached in the other AMAs, as well," said the slide, referring to three other state-run Active Management Areas covering the Tucson and Prescott areas and Santa Cruz County south of Tucson.
One unknown factor for the Tucson area is whether major cuts in Central Arizona Project deliveries will occur here due to ongoing drying of the Colorado River — a condition that could force more pumping of groundwater. A separate problem is that many unincorporated areas of Pima County north, south and southeast of Tucson remain reliant on groundwater to serve rapid growth occurring there.
That's raised concerns among some water experts that those aquifers could ultimately be prone to ground-sinking known as subsidence, along with diminished water quality.
But the bar will be high for the state to determine that such areas won't have an assured, 100-year water supply. ADWR's groundwater modeling will have to show that pumping would cause their water tables to fall by at least 1,000 feet over 100 years.
In a June 28 memo, Heinz noted that Tucson this year is voluntarily leaving 50,000 acre-feet of its total annual supply of water from the Central Arizona Project in Lake Mead in an effort to maintain reservoir levels. Democratic Mayor Regina Romero has said the city has agreed to leave a total of 110,000 acre-feet of CAP water in the lake over the next three years, in return for compensation of about $44 million from the federal government.
"In the near future, our region will rely increasingly on groundwater, putting stress on our AMA’s ability to balance groundwater levels and use," Heinz wrote. "Given this inevitability, we urgently need a clear understanding of the demands of our groundwater system and how much growth our aquifers can safely support in the coming 100 years."
Future battery plant's water use criticized
In a July 9 letter to the Board of Supervisors, resident Kathy Madsen put a different spin on Tucson's actions to leave some of its river water in Lake Mead. She noted that Tucson Water Director John Kmiec has said in announcing such actions that the city can afford to leave some water in the lake because it's not using all the CAP water it receives and has been "banking" the surplus underground.
"If Tucson's mayor and our water director feel confident, why is the BoS (Board of Supervisors) suspicious? What exactly is going on?" Madsen wrote. "As long as the pumps and parts for maintaining our existing underground water wells are stocked and the wells monitored — the job of our local water departments, not the board — why this sudden concern from the board?"
Two other letter writers essentially accused the board of being inconsistent, by expressing concern about water now after voting in December to approve a lease-purchase agreement that will enable an out-of-state company to build a battery manufacturing plant that will use large amounts of water.
A Utah-based lithium battery startup, American Battery Factory, plans to invest more than $1 billion to build a “gigafactory” complex south of Tucson International Airport, projected to eventually employ 1,000 workers, under the lease-purchase agreement with Pima County. County supervisors approved the agreement on Dec. 6.
The company, a spinoff of energy-storage systems maker Lion Energy, plans to produce lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells for home and commercial energy-storage systems. The factory will use about 150,000 gallons of water daily, Lesher, the county administrator, told the board in a memo before its vote.
American Battery Factory will lease up to 267 acres of land at the county’s Aerospace Research Campus, south of Raytheon and the airport, at fair market value as determined by an appraisal.
The company will have the option of buying the land as soon as 30 months after the lease is finalized, at a price of about $21 million for all 267 acres, provided it makes lease payments on time and meets initial construction and employment milestones, Lesher told the board.
One of the residents who wrote to the board, Terra Radliff, asked, "Are you planning on implementing water restrictions and fees on your constituents in the near future? Will you implement it due to our current 'climate emergency?' You created this situation by not responsibly managing the use of county water supplies. How will you responsibly correct it?"
Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987. | https://tucson.com/news/local/government-politics/groundwater-tucson-arizona-development/article_0cd1b7e6-1f51-11ee-ba55-1703a8007674.html | 2023-07-12T22:21:03 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/government-politics/groundwater-tucson-arizona-development/article_0cd1b7e6-1f51-11ee-ba55-1703a8007674.html |
The eastern edges of the Tucson metro area had the season's first monsoon storm, with parts of the Vail area recording about 1½ inches of rainfall Tuesday night.
But the little bit of relief from the especially hot and dry summer here so far will be fleeting.
"Isolated storms have made it to the south and east side of Tucson," the National Weather Service posted on Twitter shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday.
But no rain was recorded at Tucson International Airport, site of the official rain gauge. And that means Tucson's official rainfall for Tuesday: zilch.
In fact, the last time rain has fallen at the airport was May 19 (assuming it stays dry there overnight Wednesday).
To put the rainfall amounts close to 2 inches, some Vail residents were tweeting about into perspective, the total official precipitation for Tucson since Jan. 1 is 3.60 inches.
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Tucson's immediate future will be more about the heat and humidity than thunderstorms, Carl Cerniglia, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tucson, said on Wednesday.
Cerniglia said Tuesday night's rain "was probably the high point, for now."
"It looks like we're going to back off a bit on storm chances, and unfortunately that's going to cause our temperatures to rise," Cerniglia said. "We're looking at being in another excessive heat warning in the Saturday-Sunday-Monday timeframe."
He said storm activity is expected to ramp up next week.
While rain might be in the cards, Cerniglia said Tucsonans need to be mindful of the high temperatures in the coming days.
"We've had plenty of hikers rescued here, there and everywhere due to heat exhaustion," Cerniglia said.
"This weekend we're going to see similar temperatures to what we did in the previous heat episode, however humidity levels will be higher, which only makes the heat worse."
An excessive heat warning is on tap for Pima County from Saturday through Monday evening. High temperatures could be about 112 degrees. | https://tucson.com/news/local/monsoon-tucson-2023-rain/article_288aecc6-2075-11ee-aa89-23469f2b7ddc.html | 2023-07-12T22:21:09 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/monsoon-tucson-2023-rain/article_288aecc6-2075-11ee-aa89-23469f2b7ddc.html |
How do I keep my home safe during a wildfire evacuation?
When getting the call to evacuate your home during a wildfire, the safety of your property should truly be the least of your worries.
While both the Coconino and Pinal sheriff's offices told The Arizona Republic that there have been no issues with marauders or looters during past wildfire evacuations, there are measures homeowners can take to ease their minds when fleeing.
These measures will protect your home in general, too, not just during wildfire season.
Lock all doors and windows before leaving
This is the relatively simple answer but ensuring the safety of your property to deter any thieves or even animals from wrecking your home while away is critical.
Arizona wildfire resources:What to know during an emergency
Consider installing security cameras and video doorbells
It's gotten to the point where having a doorbell camera is nearly a necessity these days. Everyone has seen at least one viral clip from the point of view of someone's front porch showcasing curious animals or even helping solve a murder.
Having a doorbell or just security cameras, in general, can help homeowners keep an eye on their homes while away in the wake of a wildfire.
Additionally, the Coconino Sheriff's Office recommends it, not only for your peace of mind but for theirs as well.
"With these video security cameras, homeowners can monitor their residence in real-time and report any suspicious activity they see," Coconino County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jon Paxton told The Republic.
First responders close roads and do patrols during evacuations
Fire crews, law enforcement agencies, search and rescue teams as well as county departments constantly patrol evacuated areas too, adding additional levels of security and protection for homes in the area.
Roads into evacuated areas will typically be closed as well, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, and are enforced by a deputy or posse volunteers. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/secure-home-arizona-wildfire-evacuation/70204901007/ | 2023-07-12T22:25:56 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/secure-home-arizona-wildfire-evacuation/70204901007/ |
If you have breathing issues, follow these extra wildfire safety tips
Smoke from wildfires can hang heavy in parts of metro Phoenix and sometimes travel to nearby areas.
Make sure to check where the smoke may be traveling because of the wind. If you have a breathing or respiratory issue, you may want to discuss your concerns with your doctor. This includes people who live with asthma, lung diseases or COPD.
Even if you are healthy, consider following some or all of these suggestions.
Arizona wildfire resource:Your guide to preparing for wildfires
Follow these wildfire smoke guidelines if you have breathing issues
These are American Lung Association guidelines' to follow for those with asthma, COPD or other lung diseases:
- Stay indoors, and keep windows and doors closed.
- Block outdoor air by tucking damp towels at the bottom of doors and windows.
- Do not smoke indoors. Do not burn anything indoors like wood or candles. Do not vacuum.
- Run the air conditioner and set air to recirculate to reduce smoke.
- Keep windows closed in vehicles.
Stay inside if you can when wildfire smoke is near
Additionally, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality advises people reduce any physical exertion.
"You might notice your eyes are running, you might notice your scratchy throat. That's when you really want to start limiting your time outdoors and spend more time indoors," ADEQ meteorologist Matthew Pace told The Republic.
But further action may be needed.
"If symptoms persist or become more severe, please contact your primary health care provider — even persons considered healthy can experience symptoms when exposed to smoke," the ADEQ states.
AirNow.gov has similar recommended actions as the American Lung Association and ADEQ. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/smoke-safety-breathing-issues-wildfires/70238713007/ | 2023-07-12T22:26:02 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/smoke-safety-breathing-issues-wildfires/70238713007/ |
What medicines should I take when evacuating due to wildfires? What to know
While evacuating from a wildfire, the American Lung Association and the American Red Cross have tips for how evacuees should keep medications a priority.
You will want to take important, necessary medication with you, and make sure it is packed in your go-bag as well. However, you may end up leaving some over the counter medicine at home, especially those which are easily obtainable in other places.
Here are some basic tips on how to handle your medication, prescription and not, during a wildfire evacuation.
Arizona wildfire resources:Your guide to wildfire season and how to prepare your home and family
What medication should I bring while evacuating?
You should have several days' worth of medications on hand before a wildfire to prevent an evacuee from going without during the disaster, the American Lung Association explained.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross urges potential evacuees to have a one-month supply of medication in a child-proof container as part of evacuation preparation and copies of prescriptions during an evacuation.
Is my medicine usable after a wildfire?
The general rule for food also applies to medication: When in doubt, throw it out.
If an evacuees’ home suffers from a wildfire, medications exposed to heat could have been altered. The higher education-supported nonprofit Extension Foundation advises that one’s doctor should be consulted on prescriptions or over-the-counter products before using them.
If anything was left open and exposed to wildfire smoke, throw that out as well. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/medicine-wildfire-evacuations/70238752007/ | 2023-07-12T22:26:08 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/medicine-wildfire-evacuations/70238752007/ |
How to prepare your children and family for wildfires
Preparing your home and property for wildfire season is one thing, but you also need to keep your whole family involved in preparation.
It will help everyone if your children know what the evacuation plan is and you know what potential issues could arise with your kids. Your family may not be together when an evacuation is put into place, so consider sitting down with everyone well before an emergency and outlining the plan.
Ready.gov has a whole section of resources to help prepare families and children for wildfire season, including planning kits and curriculum in multiple languages.
Arizona wildfire resources:Your guide to preparing your home and family from wildfires
Make sure your kids know the evacuation plan
Among the ways to prepare children for wildfires, according to the international Save the Children charity, is explaining to kids why wildfires occur and how to prevent them. Caregivers whose children’s school or child care center may be in an at-risk area should learn what the facility’s wildfire response plans are, Save the Children urges.
The nonprofit also encourages caregivers to do wildfire evacuation drills with their children, planning for and practicing two ways out of their neighborhood in anticipation of an outlet being blocked.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units and the American Academy of Pediatrics, has a tip sheet with advice for protecting children.
Your children should also have their own go-bags with medication and precious items.
Keep an eye out for breathing issues in kids
Wildfire smoke, and ash especially, put children’s health at risk because their lungs are not fully grown, according to the tip sheet.
Some of the symptoms the EPA tip sheet cites:
- Chest pain and tightness.
- Trouble breathing.
- Wheezing.
- Dizziness.
- Coughing.
- Burning in the nose, throat and eyes.
Consider keeping a clean room
Homes should give children access to a so-called clean room with few windows and doors and a portable air cleaner, but not an ozone-generating cleaner, the EPA advises.
The appearance or smell of smoke outside, poor air quality reports or officials issuing health warnings should bar outdoor activities.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality puts out regular air quality and wildfire smoke forecasts.
What do I do after a wildfire to keep kids safe?
Following a wildfire, ash and debris should be removed before children return home or to school. Fires leave heavy ash, dust and harmful chemicals, the tip sheet warns. Shoes should be removed at the doorway, clothes washed separately and clothes should be changed before making contact with children, the tip sheet advises.
Experts warn that children could express psychological distress if they have been through a disaster like a wildfire.
"You are their biggest influence. When you can manage your own feelings, you can make disasters less traumatic for your kids," says Project Wildfire, a site based out of Oregon. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/how-to-prepare-children-and-family-for-wildfires/70238715007/ | 2023-07-12T22:26:14 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/12/how-to-prepare-children-and-family-for-wildfires/70238715007/ |
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Authorities in Cumberland County are investigating two deadly crashes that occurred in Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs on Tuesday, the county coroner's office said Wednesday.
The first crash occurred at about 7 p.m. on the 2000 block of Ritner Highway in Carlisle. A single vehicle traveling west lost control, left the roadway, traveled up an embankment, sheared off a utility pole, and rolled over, Cumberland County Coroner Charley Hall said in a press release.
Zacherie Cordell Miller, 26, of Newville, was driving the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, Hall said. Miller's death was caused by blunt force head trauma. The crash remains under investigation by State Police.
The second crash occurred a short time later in the borough of Mt. Holly Springs, Hall said.
According to Hall, a motorcycle struck a tractor trailer truck at the intersection of Baltimore Street and Yates Street. The operator of the motorcycle, Leonard G. Mortorff, 74, of York Springs, was transported to Carlisle Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mt. Holly Springs Police are investigating the second crash, Hall said. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cumberland-county/cumberland-county-fatal-crashes-mt-holly-springs-carlisle/521-3007584c-7f51-458f-b2c7-f765cf62e859 | 2023-07-12T22:27:57 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cumberland-county/cumberland-county-fatal-crashes-mt-holly-springs-carlisle/521-3007584c-7f51-458f-b2c7-f765cf62e859 |
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