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MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Tracie Puskac was arrested Monday on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of her 17-month-old son, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
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Sheriff’s office investigators said they’re convinced the 36-year-old mother from Summerfield is responsible for the horrific death of her son Jermiyah.
But according Puskac’s mother detectives had it all wrong.
Channel 9′s Raphael Pires spoke to the mother of the accused killer at her home.
The suspect’s mother said she’s never seen her daughter harm her grandchildren.
Read: Bodycam videos show police fatally shoot man in downtown Orlando
“I’m still processing it” said Puskac’s mother Diane Watson. “I don’t think she has it in her.”
“I don’t think she’s a killer or murderer,” Watson added.
But the body camera video that Channel 9 obtained exclusively from the Sheriff’s Office tells a different story of the woman charged with the murder of her infant son.
Deputies said that on April 27, they responded to a call at Southeast 42nd Avenue.
That’s where they discovered Jermiyah Puskac unresponsive.
The body camera video shows the Marion County deputies questioning Puskac.
Read: Police: 3 men dead, 1 in custody after Daytona Beach shooting
“When he had a seizure last night, did you call for medics or take him to a hospital?” deputies asked.
Puskac responded “I don’t know what a seizure is.”
“Then how do you know he had a seizure.” investigators responded.
Read: Central Florida sees spike in child labor cases
The infant was taken to Advent Health Belleview Emergency Room before being transferred to UF Health Shands Hospital
Jermiyah died two days later.
Fast forward to just a few days ago where the medical examiner determined the cause of death was brain and spinal cord injuries.
Puskac was charged with homicide.
Read: Man, 70, killed in Oviedo crash
Marion County Sheriff’s office spokesperson Valerie Strong said the suspect’s story continued to change.
“At one moment the child was hitting his own head on the floor, the next moment he hit it in the shower, then she even blamed it on another 4-year-old child hitting him with a toy,” Strong said.
“Nothing she said fit the injuries she had, and she was the only one alone with him.” according to Strong.
Missing St. Cloud woman’s body found in East Lake Toho
This is not Puska’s first criminal charge.
Back in 2020, records show she was also arrested for battery of an elderly person and child neglect.
Puskac is being held without bail at the Marion County Jail.
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ORLANDO, Fla. — In the past month, a half-dozen Central Florida companies have announced hundreds of layoffs.
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Most recently, Wells Fargo announced it’s laying off more than 100 workers in Orlando.
READ: Disorganized, scattered storms off Bermuda has 50% chance of organization
A new inflation report out Wednesday shows inflation is down to 3%, just above the 2% economists try to target. People’s purchasing power is now climbing faster than inflation for the first time in a while.
Analysts said it’s too soon to tell if the hundreds of job losses companies are announcing are a trend or a coincidence.
“I think that this is not definitive,” university of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said. “You know, it could be part of this natural churn, it could be an inkling of what’s to come.”
Snaith said most of the evidence nationally pointed to a strong labor market, though not as strong as last year. He said it would take a few more months to know if this wave was temporary or the start of something bigger.
In a statement, Wells Fargo said: “We regularly review and adjust staffing levels to align with market conditions and the needs of our businesses. We work very hard to identify opportunities for employees in other parts of the company so we can retain as many employees as possible. Where it’s not possible, we provide assistance, such as severance and career counseling.”
READ: Bodycam videos show Orlando police officer fatally shoot man seated in parked car in downtown
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The segment above is a previous segment on another food establishment.
DALLAS (KDAF) — KFC has announced they will be launching a limited-time chicken sandwich and a new drink this month.
The chicken sandwich known as the Ultimate BBQ Fried Chicken sandwich is now available nationwide for a limited-time rollout.
“Just like summer, this sandwich is only here for a good time, not a long time, so hurry up to snag this ULTIMATE summer sandwich. Serving BBQ in every bite, the new BBQ fried chicken sandwich features an Extra Crispy™ 100 percent white meat filet topped with hickory smoked bacon, KFC’s signature honey BBQ sauce, crispy fried onions, melted cheese and pickles, all on a premium brioche bun,” KFC said via PR Newswire.
There is also an announcement of a giveaway as well from the fast food chain. From July 3 through Aug. 13, purchase the new KFC Ultimate BBQ Fried Chicken Sandwich on KFC.com or the KFC app for a chance to win a ticket to Aruba.
What’s the best way to pair a good meal, but with a mouth-quenching drink to match? The fast food chain will also be unveiling its new Blackberry lemonade.
So stop by your local KFC and give the limited items a try before they are all gone! | https://cw33.com/news/local/the-chicken-sandwich-saga-continues-kfc-launching-new-items/ | 2023-07-12T23:57:31 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/the-chicken-sandwich-saga-continues-kfc-launching-new-items/ |
NASA unveiled a stunning closeup of a stellar nursery on Wednesday to mark the first full year of scientific observations by the James Webb Space Telescope.
The $10 billion infrared observatory with deep roots in Tucson has already revealed the atmospheric composition of faraway planets and captured the most distant galaxies and supermassive black holes ever discovered.
Several dozen University of Arizona astronomers, engineers and students helped develop the telescope’s two main instruments: the Near Infrared Camera, or NIRCam, and the Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI.
“Webb results so far have exceeded our expectations,” said UA Regents’ Professor Marcia Rieke, who led the NIRCam development team and now serves as its principal investigator. “We hope to find more surprises that get revealed due to Webb's extraordinary image quality.”
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The picture revealed Wednesday features the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the nearest star-forming region to Earth at roughly 390 light-years away.
The zoomed-in view shows approximately 50 young stars, most of them similar in mass to the Sun or smaller. Some of the stars already display the shadowy disks that mark the beginnings of future planetary systems.
As the new suns first burst through their natal envelopes of cosmic dust, they cast off bipolar jets of molecular hydrogen that glow red like embers.
“Webb’s image of Rho Ophiuchi allows us to witness a very brief period in the stellar life cycle with new clarity,” said Klaus Pontoppidan, a Webb project scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. “Our own sun experienced a phase like this, long ago, and now we have the technology to see the beginning of another’s star’s story.”
Orbiting around the sun about 1 million miles from Earth, Webb is the largest and most powerful astronomical observatory ever sent into space.
The bonanza of discovery during its first year in operation has produced hundreds of scientific papers, including some by University of Arizona researchers.
Late last month, for example, a team led by astronomers from the university announced they had teased out one of the oldest threads of the “cosmic web” that binds the universe together — a 3-million-light-year-long filament hung with galaxies and anchored by a quasar powered by an active, supermassive black hole.
"This is one of the earliest filamentary structures that people have ever found associated with a distant quasar," said Feige Wang, an assistant research professor at the UA’s Steward Observatory and principal investigator for the team that made the discovery.
Their findings are documented in two papers published on June 29 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
This marks the first time such a cosmic filament has been observed at such an early time in the universe and in 3D detail — all thanks to Webb, said Wang, who served as lead author on one of the papers.
NASA released the new image Rho Ophiuchi one year to the day after President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson gathered at the White House to unveil one of Webb’s first triumphs: a deep-field image of impossibly far-off galaxies lighting up the early universe.
Rieke said the telescope she helped design has already spotted the most distant galaxy ever observed as it looked roughly 320 million years after the Big Bang, and she expects Webb to probe even closer to the beginnings of the universe.
“We hope to push another 100 million years back in time,” said Rieke, whose husband, fellow UA Regents’ Professor George Rieke, helped design MIRI and now leads that instrument’s science team.
NASA has allotted 13% of the space telescope’s total observing time to the UA, more than any other astronomy center in the world.
“In just one year, the James Webb Space Telescope has transformed humanity’s view of the cosmos, peering into dust clouds and seeing light from faraway corners of the universe for the very first time,” said NASA Administrator Nelson in a written statement. “Thousands of engineers, scientists, and leaders poured their life’s passion into this mission, and their efforts will continue to improve our understanding of the origins of the universe — and our place in it.”
Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@tucson.com or 573-4283. On Twitter: @RefriedBrean | https://tucson.com/news/local/webb-telescope-university-of-arizona-uofa-tucson-ties/article_604fdf40-20e3-11ee-9134-4f99907dc114.html | 2023-07-12T23:59:47 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/webb-telescope-university-of-arizona-uofa-tucson-ties/article_604fdf40-20e3-11ee-9134-4f99907dc114.html |
BOISE, Idaho — While home prices in many parts of the Treasure Valley have cooled down in recent months, high demand and relatively low supply are keeping prices at much higher levels than we saw just a few years ago.
The median sales price for June 2023 was $545,000 in Ada County, according to data from Intermountain MLS. That's 8% lower than the median price in June 2022, when it was almost $595,000, but more than $10,000 higher than the median price for May of this year. Boise Regional Realtors notes that it's the third consecutive month-to-month "bump up." Mortgage applications have been up for three weeks in a row, showing forward motion for the market, BRR said.
Some of the other counties in the region didn't see the same "bump up" that Ada County did. In Canyon County, the median sales price for this June was $405,000, exactly $10,000 lower than the median for May of this year and $40,000 lower than the median for June 2022.
Gem County's June 2023 median home sales price of $433,258 represents a 7.2% decrease from June 2022, but a "mirror image" of this May, BRR said in a news release.
Elmore County saw year-over-year growth in the median sales price, and was the only county in Boise Regional Realtors' orbit to see year-to-year growth for pending contracts. The median sales price, $335,000 in June of this year, increased by 0.5% from a year ago, but dropped by $5,000 compared to May.
Back to Ada County, Idaho's largest, the recent ups and downs in median home sales prices look like blips compared to the price increases over the past five years. In June 2018, the median home sales price was reported as $299,900, but adjusted in the next year's report to about $322,000. Today, it still exceeds the $500,000 mark first reached in June 2021.
Supply-versus-demand continues to shadow affordability. BRR reports 1,363 homes are currently available in Ada County, 36.2% less compared to June 2022.
However, BRR said, with "pressures from increasing rent prices for two-bedroom homes, consumers are looking for workarounds to get into home ownership." Idaho Housing and Finance Association has assistance programs to help renters explore options toward home ownership.
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BOISE, Idaho — For the first time in a half decade, local anglers will have an opportunity to catch Chinook salmon in the Boise River starting Friday, July 14.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) on Wednesday announced plans to release roughly 300 salmon in river later this week. The exciting news comes after the Rapid River Hatchery passed its number of fertilized eggs needed for the next generation of Chinook salmon.
With the surplus, IDFG staff will move Chinook to the Boise River early Friday afternoon. The goal is to release 300 fish, depending on how many Chinook are trapped at the Rapid River hatchery weir.
Around 100 larger adult fish will be released, in addition to "jacks," which are Chinook smaller than 24 inches. Both a fishing license and salmon permit is required to fish for Chinook in the river.
Idaho Fish and Game said it plans to stock Chinook at the Barber Park Boat Ramp, West Parkcenter Bridge, Americana Bridge and Glenwood Bridge.
Chinook salmon fishing on the Boise River opens from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam on Friday, July 14. Fishing is allowed 24 hours per day, with a closing date of Aug. 30.
If you catch a salmon on the Boise River, IDFG said it should be recorded with river location code 28. Anglers without a permit must immediately release hooked Chinook salmon.
“We are excited to provide this opportunity for folks to fish for one of Idaho’s most prized game fish, right here in the Treasure Valley,” Regional Fisheries Manager Art Butts said.
A person cannot exceed taking 20 adult Chinook salmon across Idaho during the seasons occurring before Aug. 10, 2023. Other Idaho Fish and Game limits for Chinook salmon fishing in the Boise River are included below:
- Bag (Daily): Two (2) Chinook salmon, regardless of size.
- Possession: Six (6) Chinook salmon, regardless of size.
Barbed hooks are allowed while fishing for Chinook on the Boise River. IDFG said hooks used for salmon fishing cannot be larger than 5/8 inch between the point and shank.
For more information on Idaho Fish and Game seasons, rules and methods of take for the Boise River and Chinook salmon, click here.
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NAMPA, Idaho — UPDATE: The Nampa Police Department on Wednesday said the 15-year-old boy it was searching for "has been located safe."
Police on Tuesday said Tyler Jay Gardner was entered into the National Crime Information Center as a missing person back in February. Tyler does not have any long-term relationships in Nampa, and was only in the city "for a short time before he left."
Tyler's family received reports he had been in Kuna, with one report indicating he was at a skatepark in the area, according to Nampa Police.
The police department said it "exhausted all of the leads" and its resources in an attempt to locate Tyler. Meridian Police's SRO also assisted with leads, but did not find any information.
Officials turned to the public on Tuesday for help in locating Tyler. Nampa Police said there was no activity on Tyler's phone.
On Wednesday, police said "thank you to all who helped" in efforts to find Tyler safely.
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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/nampa-police-15-year-old-boy-missing-since-found-safe/277-1d820d81-00f3-4474-9da0-92222d4b1a25 | 2023-07-13T00:04:02 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/nampa-police-15-year-old-boy-missing-since-found-safe/277-1d820d81-00f3-4474-9da0-92222d4b1a25 |
MITCHELL — For Dustin Wheeler, DWU’s new dean of students, it’s all about the relationships.
He is stepping up to the helm where he will be in charge of all student programs on campus. It's a job that he is bringing his own perspective to.
“I always kind of come back to this idea of relationship building and community building,” Wheeler said. “It was one of my big focus points even when I was the director of resident life. I feel like we're kind of the bridge builders between everyone on campus."
Wheeler — who resides in Mitchell with his wife and two daughters — has been a relationship-building person his entire life. A Hartford native, he graduated from Mount Marty with a double major in secondary education and history. A two-sport athlete, as well as a member of multiple clubs, he expressed his love for community involvement as a student.
"I loved campus life," he said. "I loved being involved, showing my pride," he said. Since going into higher education, after graduating and earning a masters-degree at the University of South Dakota in technology for education and training, he said that the most fulfilling thing about his job has always been the relationships he builds with students.
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Wheeler has worked at DWU since 2019, holding various positions in the student life office, as well as being a photographer for the campus. Prior to being named dean of students he was the director of resident life. The position entailed handling student disciplinary issues, policy, and procedures, including oversight of the student handbook. He said that during that time he became very familiar with all students, from those in academic probationary hearings to the top students on campus.
Then in February, he was named interim dean of students, and was appointed permanently in May.
Now, he hopes to bring his background to his new job.
The dean of students is in charge of all student programming on campus, promoting academic as well as social success. That requires having a hand in two worlds — understanding the needs of students, and helping to integrate their interests into campus policy created by administrators.
To get there, Weeler has a vision for his position.
The biggest part of it, he said, is making sure that he listens to what students want first and foremost, who he said are key to what his job is all about.
"I think our students forget that they're the catalyst in all this, and I've been trying to deliver the message that they are the shakers and the movers, they hold so much power to create the experience they want," Wheeler said. "So I'm really leaning into students being the leaders working on activities alongside me. What do they want to see done? What do they want to do? What initiatives do they want to push? What's valuable to them?"
To foster that, he’s big on being an approachable figure that students can trust. One practice he picked up as the director of resident life: holding open “office” hours outside of his office.
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"I understand that there's a barrier to them just walking into my office and having a casual conversation," Wheeler said. " I’ve had some great conversations when I meet them where they're at. You just get to ask the students how they're doing. Then if they engage a little bit and hang around, and you get into some meaningful conversations — that's where relationships are built."
That approachability is also something he has intentionally tried to cultivate as a photographer who takes pictures at student events. Wheeler — who owns a photography business on the side — said that taking photos is a great way for students to see he cares.
"I get some great reactions from students when I'm on the sidelines. Wheeler said. "When they score a touchdown, they immediately find me and look into the lens. I just capture their excitement of them doing what they came to Dakota Wesleyan to do, so they can have that forever. I think that shows the students that I care and that I see them, that I appreciate what they're doing."
DWU's President Dan Kittle gave his vote of confidence in Wheeler. "I know he has a true passion for supporting students, wants to strengthen bridges across campus, and is persistently focused on doing what’s best for students," Kittle said in a press release.
There will be challenges; Wheeler cited a unique one after the yearslong pandemic.
"Coming out of COVID students are used to being told, ‘Hey you need to spread out, you can't be together,'" Wheeler said. "We're trying to pull those students that are the product of that to break out of their shells and get used to being face to face with people again — building relationships and putting themselves out there.”'
"It's about making an intentional effort of pulling students out of their room, getting students out of their comfort zone, getting them to get to know others outside of their core groups," Wheeler said.
But he is ready for the challenge. He said that although DWU is — at 896 students — a small school that excels at relationship building, he looks to build on that strength.
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"I think I have taken so much from the people that have led me along the way — coaches, teachers, countless others through high school and college," Wheeler said. "Now it's a chance for me to do the same thing for the students at Dakota Wesleyan." | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/student-relationship-building-the-focus-for-dustin-wheeler-dwus-new-dean-of-students | 2023-07-13T00:05:32 | 1 | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/student-relationship-building-the-focus-for-dustin-wheeler-dwus-new-dean-of-students |
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A man has been convicted of trying to kidnap a jogger in Westmoreland County.
Frank Springer, 56, was convicted on all charges of attempted homicide, attempted kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and terroristic threats.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Man accused of attempting to kidnap a jogger in Westmoreland County arrested
Springer was charged in Jan. 2023 for following and attempting to kidnap an 18-year-old woman who was jogging in Ligonier Borough, near Rector.
RELATED >>> Surveillance video shows moments before man allegedly tried to kidnap jogger in Westmoreland County
Springer stopped the victim and tried getting her inside his vehicle using force and a firearm.
The victim was able to fight him off until a couple drove by and noticed she was in distress.
“The bravery, strength, and willpower this young woman showed to not only fight off her attacker, but to testify in court speaks volumes to her character,” said Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said. “We are incredibly pleased with the jury’s verdict, and we hope this conviction brings some peace and closure to the victim so that she can continue to succeed in her life. Assistant District Attorney Leo Ciaramitaro prosecuted this case with the highest degree of professionalism and remained committed to this victim and achieving justice for her.”
The jury deliberated for more than four hours and found Springer guilty on all counts. He is now awaiting sentencing.
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PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Channel 11 spoke exclusively with Jennifer Pardini’s family after her attack.
The 26-year-old esthetician grew up in Peters Township. She’s from a big family. Her cousins said Jen is the sweetest person, so bubbly, creative and always happy.
Over the weekend, police say Jennifer was brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend.
“It’s like a true crime story that you don’t ever think could happen to your family,” said Alex Egan, Jennifer’s cousin.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Peters Township community rallies behind woman brutally attacked with hammer by ex-boyfriend
According to the police report, Jen broke up with her ex and moved out of their apartment and back home with her parents, ten days before the attack.
Investigators say the ex-boyfriend admitted to taking an uber to her parents’ house, uninvited and went into her bedroom and waking her up.
The pair went outside, began arguing and he admitted to hitting Jen in the back and head with a hammer before kicking her while she was on the ground, then ran off leaving her unconscious.
“It’s a shocking, devastating incident and we still can’t wrap our minds around it,” said Elizabeth Egan, Jennifer’s Cousin.
“I couldn’t believe something so awful happened to someone so kind from someone she cared so much about,” said Alex.
Jen is being treated in Allegheny General Hospital. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries but has made some improvements.
“She’s breathing on her own which is some of the best news we could have hoped for,” said Elizabeth. “She can move her hands and her feet She was able to say her name this morning.”
Her cousin started an online fundraiser to help Jen and her family.
“We know her medical bills and rehab and all the long road she has ahead of her, we want to be able to support them as best we can. We don’t want them to worry about anything,” said Elizabeth.
So far, they have raised more than $120,000. The family thanks everyone for the donations and all the love, support, and prayers.
“It’s just so heartwarming to see everyone come together and support our family like this and support Jen,” said Elizabeth. “It’s just a testament of everyone who has ever met Jen.”
“She’s a fighter. If anyone who can get through this, it’s her,” said Alex.
Right now, the ex-boyfriend is being held at the Washington County Prison on no bond.
Meanwhile, Peters Township police are asking neighbors to check their surveillance cameras for any video of the attack.
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MONROEVILLE, Pa. — A woman is suing Monroeville and Pittsburgh police departments after police raided and searched her home while looking for a suspect.
“By the time I got to the bottom of the steps I turned around and looked and there was already SWAT in my house,” said Kelly Angell, the victim of the SWAT raid.
Kelly Angell, her boyfriend, and five young children, one of whom is autistic, were all at home on the morning of January 22.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Channel 11 Exclusive: Woman says police searched wrong house while looking for shooting suspect
“It was Sunday, we were cooking and cleaning,” Angell explained.
She said two dozen police officers ransacked her home, breaking the windows, destroying furniture, and clothes, and even throwing gas grenades into the home.
“There was so much glass,” she recalled.
The family was forced out into the freezing cold for hours.
“We had on short sleeves and shorts, no shoes, no socks, no coat no anything,” Angell said.
Police were searching for Daronte Brown, a teenage suspect wanted for a shooting in Monroeville.
According to police, Brown’s phone pinged near Angell’s home and they believed he was hidden inside.
“I don’t know the boy I had never in my life seen the boy until they showed me a picture of him,” Angell said.
Angell said they got the wrong house and terrorized an innocent family.
“They contaminated the entire house with tear gas that’s not the kind of thing we can allow to go on as a routine practice,” said Maggie Coleman, Angell’s attorney.
The family has filed a federal lawsuit against Monroeville and Pittsburgh police whose SWAT team assisted that night. We contacted the mayor’s office and Pittsburgh police. Both declined to comment, while Monroeville PD did not respond.
Angell said she just wants justice.
“They can go home with their kids and live normal lives, my life will never be normal,” Angell said.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/woman-suing-after-swat-raided-searched-wrong-house-while-looking-shooting-suspect/BHXDWFE7ERB3HBYGYMONRJ2PQA/ | 2023-07-13T00:06:50 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/woman-suing-after-swat-raided-searched-wrong-house-while-looking-shooting-suspect/BHXDWFE7ERB3HBYGYMONRJ2PQA/ |
CEDAR PARK, Texas — Residents have been evacuated in a Cedar Park neighborhood on Wednesday evening as police investigate suspicious items in a home.
The Cedar Park Police Department said officers are on the scene in the 2100 block of Parksville Way.
Nearby homes have been evacuated and some streets have been shut down in the area.
Police said the scene “could be active for several hours.”
No other information is available at this time. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/cedar-park-suspicious-items-evacuations/269-05336bb2-d5c8-42a5-9902-366ed58ef863 | 2023-07-13T00:09:36 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/cedar-park-suspicious-items-evacuations/269-05336bb2-d5c8-42a5-9902-366ed58ef863 |
HAYS COUNTY, Texas — A popular swimming hole in Hays County known for a dam that dates back nearly a century was vandalized, according to Hays County Parks and Recreation.
Hays County Parks and Recreation said the Five-Mile Dam, which dates back to 1931, was vandalized with graffiti.
Mark Sadler, who has been coming to the park for decades, calls it sad.
"For something that old and historic, to have somebody deface it is ridiculous," said Sadler.
Hays County parks officials also say there were fires to small trees in an area that was under restoration. They added they will increase security measures at the park.
They are asking anyone who sees suspicious activity to call the Hays County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 512-393-7896.
The graffiti was removed by park officials. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/five-mile-dam-hays-county-vandalized/269-e80a3e61-4f5f-404f-aefe-09eafa352070 | 2023-07-13T00:09:42 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/five-mile-dam-hays-county-vandalized/269-e80a3e61-4f5f-404f-aefe-09eafa352070 |
AUSTIN, Texas — The hot weather this week may set a new power demand for Texas.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages most of the power grid in Texas.
ERCOT’s record demand was set last year at 80,148 megawatts. Its forecast shows it may reach 84,221 megawatts on Thursday.
That difference is like doubling the amount of energy for homes in Williamson County and Bastrop County.
ERCOT’s dashboard shows we should have enough power supply to meet demand. It’s predicted to be 90,218 megawatts.
Last month, ERCOT asked Texas to conserve electricity. It was not considered to be an emergency condition at that time.
ERCOT records show power reserve capacity would need to drop below 3,000 megawatts for ERCOT to issue a Control Room Advisory.
Once reserves hit less than 2,500 megawatts, ERCOT will issue a Control Room Watch:
- Emergency level one – reserves <2,300 megawatts but greater than 1,750 MW and it is not expected to recover within 30 minutes
- Emergency level two – reserves <1,750 megawatts but greater than 1,000 MW and is not expected to recover within 30 minutes
- If reserves drop below 1,000 megawatts or if the frequency is below 59.91 hertz for 30 minutes, rolling blackouts would begin.
Local power outages may happen regardless of the ERCOT power grid reserves.
In Austin, about 8,000 people lost power on June 15 due to heat causing equipment failure on Austin Energy’s distribution power lines. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-predicts-record-electricity-demand/269-83019b1f-9269-4ba0-9aa5-cc3c57227979 | 2023-07-13T00:09:48 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-predicts-record-electricity-demand/269-83019b1f-9269-4ba0-9aa5-cc3c57227979 |
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — The National Park Service (NPS) is cleaning up two national battlefield sites in northeast Mississippi.
One site is the Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield, which is between Tupelo and Booneville.
The other site is the Tupelo National Battlefield.
The preservation teams are using specialized cleaning products to preserve stone and bronze elements.
The two Civil War battles took place during the summer of 1864. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/national-park-service-cleaning-battlefields-at-brices-cross-roads-and-tupelo/article_28707300-202a-11ee-9a7a-afe78f247d1d.html | 2023-07-13T00:10:36 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/national-park-service-cleaning-battlefields-at-brices-cross-roads-and-tupelo/article_28707300-202a-11ee-9a7a-afe78f247d1d.html |
NETTLETON, Miss. (WTVA) — Nettleton is replacing old water pipes thanks to a $3.2 million grant.
Some water pipes date back to the 1930s.
Nettleton Mayor Phillip Baulch said the city received a federal grant and the state of Mississippi matched the amount.
Baulch said the project will affect approximately 300 homes.
This project, which began on April 17, will take one year to finish. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/nettleton-in-the-process-of-replacing-old-pipes/article_086c923c-2016-11ee-846d-736e5598680f.html | 2023-07-13T00:10:42 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/nettleton-in-the-process-of-replacing-old-pipes/article_086c923c-2016-11ee-846d-736e5598680f.html |
NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) — Another arrest has been made in connection to a weekend drive-by shooting in New Albany.
New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson identified the second suspect as Janarius Harris.
Harris and the other suspect, Kentavious High, are accused of shooting into a Glade Street house Monday afternoon, July 10.
Several individuals were inside the house at the time of the shooting.
The police chief said the suspects are related to the individuals inside the house. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/second-arrest-made-following-new-albany-shooting/article_0abfb77a-20c1-11ee-8d0a-db2b97f57be5.html | 2023-07-13T00:10:48 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/second-arrest-made-following-new-albany-shooting/article_0abfb77a-20c1-11ee-8d0a-db2b97f57be5.html |
NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) — Authorities arrested a teenager following a Monday afternoon shooting in New Albany.
New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson identified the suspect as Kentavious High, 18.
High is accused of shooting into an occupied house in the 500 block of Glade Street. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/teen-arrested-for-new-albany-shooting/article_f3807a94-200d-11ee-947c-079131d8632e.html | 2023-07-13T00:10:54 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/teen-arrested-for-new-albany-shooting/article_f3807a94-200d-11ee-947c-079131d8632e.html |
VERONA, Miss. (WTVA) — A man convicted of robbing a bank in Lee County will spend more than five years in prison.
Antonia Cannon, 57, received the 63-month sentence on Sunday, July 9.
Cannon robbed the Renasant Bank in Verona on Dec. 30, 2022.
He used a BB gun that looked like a pistol and stole $4,700. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/verona-bank-robber-receives-63-month-prison-sentence/article_8b6dd098-2010-11ee-b677-3f204cbe1bf8.html | 2023-07-13T00:11:00 | 1 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/verona-bank-robber-receives-63-month-prison-sentence/article_8b6dd098-2010-11ee-b677-3f204cbe1bf8.html |
A Lancaster County man found himself behind bars on Tuesday shortly after being fined in Stanton County Court for separate driving offenses.
Shortly after 11 a.m., a motorcycle was observed by the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office going west on U.S. 275 at 106 mph in the 70-mph zone east of Norfolk, said Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger. The motorcycle was pulled over, and the driver, Zachary Robinson, 20, of Lincoln, was allegedly found to have a revoked driver’s license.
Unger said Robinson had just left the Stanton County Courthouse after being sentenced for driving under suspension and speeding. He was fined for both offenses after being found guilty following his arrest earlier this month by the Sheriff’s Office.
Robinson has a new court date for charges of speeding, driving under suspension, careless driving, no motorcycle license and no valid registration. He was released on Tuesday after being booked at the Sheriff’s Office and posting bond.
Top Journal Star photos for July 2023
Eleven-year-old Beau Taylor of Austin, Texas, tries to blow the biggest bubble at a contest during Seward's 155th annual Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday. He was the winner in the contest.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Speed Skaters compete in the Mens 300m race during the NSC 35 ultimate inline skating competition at Speedway Sports Complex on, Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Teams compete in knee deep water at the annual Beat Breast Cancer Mud Volleyball Tournament on Saturday in Prague.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Marlina Bowdery poses for a photo with pictures of her late son Timothy Montgomery, who also went by the name Timothy Wallace, Friday in Lincoln. She started an online group for grieving mothers after his death.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A BNSF train cruises along the tracks past Memorial Stadium as seen from the Haymarket pedestrian bridge on Thursday, July 6, 2023, outside of Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Reflected in a mirror, Francis Vigan walks on a treadmill with the assistance of physical therapy assistant Wendy Kyser on Friday at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. Vigan, a 34-year-old bodybuilder, has been recovering after a rare spinal cord stroke during a workout paralyzed him from the waist down.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Charlie Musselwhite sings the blues out to the crowd during the ZooFest music festival outside of the Zoo Bar at 136 N 14th St. on Thursday in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
City workers cut into a large tree branch that had fallen due to the storm on July 4th in front of Bethany Christian Church on the corner of N Cotner Blvd. and Aylesworth Ave, Wednesday, July 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Kids ride specially decorated bikes down South Sixth Street during Seward's 155th annual Fourth of July celebration on Tuesday. The city — known as Nebraska's Fourth of July City — draws thousands to its annual celebration.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Fireworks erupt leaving sparks falling during the firework show at the annual Uncle Sam Jam, Independence Day Celebration at Oak Lake Park on, Monday, July 3, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Steve Novak, lead singer for Soul Dawg performs during the annual Uncle Sam Jam, Independence Day Celebration at Oak Lake Park on, Monday, July 3, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Liam Dotson (left) is lifted out of the water by Brother Paul Holmes during a Jehovah's Witnesses' baptism Saturday in a swimming pool on the floor of Pinnacle Bank Arena. After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, more than 5,200 members of the denomination came to Lincoln for their annual convention, which ends Sunday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
The Swiftdogs Zach St. Pierre wears the sorting hat from the Harry Potter series as he celebrates a home run against the Sioux City Explorers on Friday at Haymarket Park. The Lincoln Saltdogs became the "Swiftdogs" for one night, as tickets to a Taylor Swift concert were up for grabs to all ticketholders.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Zoo Bar owner Pete Watters, who has worked at the club since 1987, said while it became famous for blues, there was always bluegrass, country, reggae and rock ‘n’ roll.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-arrested-for-driving-106-mph-shortly-after-being-sentenced-for-similar-offense-sheriff/article_49d3b2d2-20ed-11ee-b316-bf363806c0aa.html | 2023-07-13T00:14:33 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/lincoln-man-arrested-for-driving-106-mph-shortly-after-being-sentenced-for-similar-offense-sheriff/article_49d3b2d2-20ed-11ee-b316-bf363806c0aa.html |
ELLSWORTH -- Downeast Community Partners (DCP) is getting a jump on helping people get through the heating season this year. Starting next week people can start applying for heating assistance and the organization is encouraging Mainers not to wait until the last minute.
"Heating season starts this Monday July 17th, this year we're excited to be heading out to the communities that we serve in Washington and Hancock county," said James Nealey, director of energy services at DCP.
Through their Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) they offer funding to support Mainers through the winter and although it seems like the winter season is far away, they say now is the time for Mainers to start preparing for the winter weather.
"There are a lot of steps along the way and we want to make sure that people are aware that it is very difficult to do this last minute. If you don't start the process early you will potentially be in a situation where when you are in need of the benefits you'll be waiting in the process to get your appointment to get your benefits," said Nealey.
Starting in August they will be having in person events for people to learn more about their services and to apply early.
"Washington and Hancock counties are definitely two counties in Maine that have been undeserved and we are trying our best to make sure the people in these areas are given the opportunities that other Mainers are given and that's a big goal with DCP," said Nealey.
The first in person event will be Aug. 1st in Stonington, at the town hall. Organizers suggest calling before to schedule an appointment to learn if you are eligible for benefits.
They can be reached at 207-610-5914 or via email at heap@dcpcap.org. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/downeast-community-partners-kicking-off-heating-assistance-season/article_7e5d302e-2100-11ee-97ea-870858de4616.html | 2023-07-13T00:15:06 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/downeast-community-partners-kicking-off-heating-assistance-season/article_7e5d302e-2100-11ee-97ea-870858de4616.html |
ELLSWORTH -- There are several new food trucks that have made their way onto the Ellsworth scene this summer including The Salsa Shack and the Black Sheep. They both opened not far from each other and the community has welcomed them with open arms and empty stomachs.
"We try to make everything nice and quick so locals and tourists can get it nice and quick and its a nice refreshing light meal for the day," said Cory Laforge, owner of the Salsa Shack.
The salsa shack is owned by Orland resident Cory Laforge and locals can find delicious tacos there.
"We try to make everything nice and quick so locals and tourists can get it nice and quick and its a nice refreshing light meal for the day," said Laforge.
The black sheep is owned by two brothers from Sullivan, Jordan and Lyle Crosby. They offer a diverse selection of hot dogs, smash burgers and more.
We wanted something different for Ellsworth.. we wanted to do something a little elevated but still classic and bring something different," said Jordan Crosby.
The owners of both trucks say despite being in competition with one another they have also been able to lean on each other as they begin their new business ventures.
"We're all staying really busy we're all sharing business and we're all helping each other out the best we can and its actually been a lot of fun working with other local food trucks also trying to make a living," said Laforge.
It's been nice that we all work together too because its nice to support each other when we're all just three food trucks.. We all go to each other if we have time and we all pretty much have the same schedule but we do try to hit up everybody," said Jordan Crosby.
Crosby says he and his brother originally wanted to open a restaurant, but found the food truck avenue to make more sense as they start this business adventure.
Laforge says after growing up in the Ellsworth area and working all around the state of Maine, he is happy to be parking his truck in the Ellsworth community.
"Get to meet tourists from all over the world and it definitely stays exciting," said Laforge.
The Black Sheep can be found in the auto parts store parking lot on Route 1 and the Salsa Shack sits next to the Ellsworth Harbor park.
Both trucks plan to stay open at least into October. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/new-food-trucks-on-ellsworth-scene/article_030cbf60-20fc-11ee-bcee-2ba7866fd4ab.html | 2023-07-13T00:15:13 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/new-food-trucks-on-ellsworth-scene/article_030cbf60-20fc-11ee-bcee-2ba7866fd4ab.html |
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (WJRT) - The eighth annual Cars 108 Roof Sit started Wednesday in Grand Blanc.
The organization's CEO and on-air staff from Cars 108 are live on the roof of the Grand Blanc McDonald's.
Volunteers are collecting donations for Whaley Children's Center on-site, or you can make donations online.
This year, the goal is to raise $100,000.
"Cars and Townsquare Media loves being involved with things that are important in our community," says Cars 108 On Air Personality Lisa Marie. "To us, nothing is more important than children. Whaley's Children Center is just one of our passions. We love taking the time to help them raise much-needed funds for things so that kids can just be kids."
Whaley Children's Center is a nonprofit organization that provides residential childcare services to children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Funds will help kids have experiences like prom, camps, ballet classes and field trips.
The Roof Sit ends on July 14 at 10 a.m. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/cars-108-roof-sit-started-wednesday-in-grand-blanc/article_346662c2-20f3-11ee-8bd8-3b146cda65ac.html | 2023-07-13T00:15:21 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/cars-108-roof-sit-started-wednesday-in-grand-blanc/article_346662c2-20f3-11ee-8bd8-3b146cda65ac.html |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - Michigan is expanding the number of people eligible for SNAP benefits.
Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a law that removes a maximum amount of assets Michiganders can have to qualify for benefits. Previously people with more than $15,000 in assets were unable to apply.
"This legislation is really going to allow for the administrative burden to be reduced for families that are in need of food assistance," said Lewis Roubal, Senior Deputy Director for Opportunity at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Sean White at Christ the King Food Pantry says, here at home, the changes will be a much needed help for those that qualify.
"One question on our documentation is 'Do you get benefits? Do you get enough benefits?'" said White. "It's a surprising amount of people saying no."
But it goes beyond those who qualify. White adds that the changes will lighten their load, and help them serve more people in need.
"We don't have enough funding to even provide what we are providing right now honestly, said White. "So any type of help would help."
Opponents to the legislation argue that it could allow lottery winners and people who don't really need the help to claim benefits. Roubal says that in reality, the change will remove a barrier from those who qualify, but are having trouble getting the necessary paperwork.
"Less than 2% of our applications were being denied due to asset limits and of those the vast majority were denied not because they exceeded the $15,000," said Roubal, "but just because they were having trouble acquiring the documentation that they needed in order to prove to us that they did not have $15,000."
Roubal adds that the new law will allow MDHHS to be more efficient and get benefits in the hands of those in need much quicker. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/new-law-removes-asset-limits-for-snap-benefits/article_73f0d80a-20f3-11ee-9c02-0fd1bd73b41e.html | 2023-07-13T00:15:27 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/new-law-removes-asset-limits-for-snap-benefits/article_73f0d80a-20f3-11ee-9c02-0fd1bd73b41e.html |
Pastor Thomas McArthur will serve the Rescue Mission as its president and CEO, the organization’s board announced Wednesday.
McArthur assumed the role officially July 1 after serving as the president and CEO elect since May 1.
The move follows a two-month onboarding process alongside Pastor Donovan Coley, who served as the organization’s leader for more than 15 years. Coley stepped down in March.
McArthur previously served as executive director of The Chapel, a non-denominational church with nine locations throughout the Chicago area. McArthur has experience with developing partnerships, including with local police, city council and local school districts, to increase community partnerships and meet program objectives.
Coley said in a statement that the future of the Rescue Mission is bright.
“I am deeply honored to witness the extraordinary achievements that await us under the leadership of Pastor Thomas McArthur,” Coley said. “Over the past 15 years, serving this organization has been a profound privilege in my life, and I can confidently say that no one is better suited than Pastor Thomas to carry forward the torch that has illuminated Fort Wayne for 120 years.”
McArthur said in a statement that it’s been an honor getting to know the Rescue Mission team and the Fort Wayne community.
“I have been welcomed with open arms” McArthur said, “and have a deep sense God is going to continue to do great things at The Rescue Mission and throughout the entire community.” | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/rescue-mission-board-appoints-new-president-ceo/article_f41eb09e-2100-11ee-b3ca-0f756a5e9b78.html | 2023-07-13T00:19:44 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/rescue-mission-board-appoints-new-president-ceo/article_f41eb09e-2100-11ee-b3ca-0f756a5e9b78.html |
DULUTH — A few dozen union members picketed on Tuesday outside Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center to draw attention to their push for equal pay and paid time off for some workers.
"Casual” employees at the center for victims of domestic violence hope to win raises that would put their pay on par with full- and part-time staff, plus the ability to take time off without running afoul of a four-hour weekly work minimum. Picketers chanted “same job, same pay” as they marched in front of Safe Haven’s resource center on West First Street.
“The casual workers do the exact same work as the full- and part-time workers do,” Ken Loeffler-Kemp, a field representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5, told the News Tribune. “They often work alone, and they perform the same duties and responsibilities."
Full-time and part-time Safe Haven workers have been organized under AFSCME’s banner for decades. Casual workers agreed to do the same earlier this spring.
Union and nonprofit leaders met for a round of contract negotiations for casual workers in late May, and are scheduled to meet again next week.
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Casual staff at Safe Haven don’t have a regimented schedule and work comparatively light hours. They fill gaps in the 24/7 shelter’s schedule left by full- and part-timers who are off.
“Our casual staff are considered our fill-in pool of advocates,” said Brittany Robb, Safe Haven’s executive director. “So when we have an open shift for whatever reason, they self-select to sign up for those shifts.”
Full- and part-timers’ starting pay is $19.06 per hour under a different contract between AFSCME and Safe Haven. Casuals are paid $18.75 per hour — 31 fewer cents than their counterparts.
Casual employees are also expected to work at least four hours each week. That, Loeffler-Kemp said, can pose a problem: A casual worker who wants to take a vacation would need to navigate the weekly minimum or worry about possible repercussions, hence the push for time off of some variety, paid or unpaid, for casual staff.
Casuals can theoretically choose not to put themselves on Safe Haven’s work schedule, according to Joenah Sisson, one of the casual workers, but there’s a risk.
Another casual employee was nervous she’d be disciplined while she was grappling with the death of her mother, Sisson claimed, because there was no contract language that would protect her if she missed the four-hour mark.
“They (Safe Haven) were certainly very accommodating for her,” Sisson said, adding that the employee wasn’t disciplined. “But it’s mostly just so that other employees have that peace of mind in case of emergency.”
Robb emphasized that the nonprofit values its employees and supports them as they exercise their rights.
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About five of Safe Haven’s approximately 30 current employees are casual. The positions are often held by students or people working second jobs.
Sisson, for instance, left a full-time job at Safe Haven to be an operations manager at another Duluth company, but has since returned as a casual employee there while maintaining her new job.
“I really missed that work. I really missed being able to serve the community,” Sisson said. “I saw that they were offering the casual positions again, and thought that it would be a great fit for me to reapply and be able to help out.” | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/safe-haven-casual-employees-call-for-equal-pay-time-off | 2023-07-13T00:26:53 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/safe-haven-casual-employees-call-for-equal-pay-time-off |
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.newswest9.com/article/news/local/texas/outgoing-attorney-general-john-scott-glimpse-inside-texas-office-after-ken-paxton-suspension/287-9f209fed-235f-4a65-ba42-55c8333f58f1 | 2023-07-13T00:26:53 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/texas/outgoing-attorney-general-john-scott-glimpse-inside-texas-office-after-ken-paxton-suspension/287-9f209fed-235f-4a65-ba42-55c8333f58f1 |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The fallout continues from Multnomah County’s decision to hand out free drug paraphernalia to fentanyl users, even after the county put the program on pause.
Portland city commissioners taking a hard look at their partnership with the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and whether to go separate ways.
While the policy is now on hold, many people have weighed in on the county’s decision. City and county commissioners say there is concern with how the initial decision was made, especially with the open-air drug use and more than 200 fentanyl deaths in Multnomah County last year.
The Portland City Council recently but grudgingly approved extending its contract to partner with the JOHS for another year, using $43 million of city taxpayer money. Commissioner Mingus Mapps voted against the partnership, pointing out that it’s not reducing the number of people sleeping on the streets.
KOIN 6 News discovered that Multnomah County recently spent $82,000 on “smoking supplies.” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler blasted the county for what he believed to be enabling fentanyl users with free equipment.
The Multnomah County Health Department defended the decision, saying it brings users into clinics so they can be connected with addiction services.
The city and county formed the JOHS years ago to pool money to pay for reducing homelessness shelters, plus providing housing and services. However, it’s been a rocky road with the county having more of a say in how the $255 million budget is spent.
On Thursday, the county commission will hold their regular meeting, and the short-lived giveaway of drug equipment will be brought up by commissioners and the public.
Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops. | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/city-of-portland-questioning-county-partnership-after-decision-to-distribute-drug-supplies/ | 2023-07-13T00:27:25 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/city-of-portland-questioning-county-partnership-after-decision-to-distribute-drug-supplies/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — For the second day in a row a local former Olympic athlete pleads guilty to having an illegal relationship with a minor.
Rich Fellers, 63 of Oregon City, pleaded guilty Wednesday morning in Washington County Court to two counts of second-degree sex abuse.
Fellers was once on top of the American equestrian world, representing the United States in the 2012 Olympics in London riding his horse, Flexible until 2021 when he was arrested by Tualatin police.
On Tuesday, Fellers pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
That minor was one of his riding students, Maggie Kehring, who went public with what happened to her in 2021. Prosecutors said Fellers and his wife became surrogate parents to Kehring, while she was away from her home in California training at Fellers’ riding stables from the time she was 14.
“After she turned 16 years old the defendant told her that he loved her and couldn’t stop thinking about her and they began a sexual relationship with her which lasted several months,” said Deputy Prosecutor Rayney Meisel.
In 2021, Kehring told CBS News she looked to Fellers as a father figure and felt cornered into the illegal relationship.
Prosecutors said the illegal relationship began in Oregon and continued while they were competing at equestrian events in multiple states when Kehring was 17.
“This came out in the summer of 2020 when the victim was in a competition and staying with the defendant’s family in an Air BnB in Michigan and the defendant’s son and girlfriend walked in on the two of them,” said Meisel.
Court records show Fellers’ wife filed for divorce in March.
The District Attorney’s office said Fellers agreed to 30 months in prison on the state charges, to be served at the same time he will serve four years and two months in the federal prison in Sheridan after his sentencing in October. | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/ex-olympian-pleads-guilty-to-additional-sex-abuse-charges-in-washington-county/ | 2023-07-13T00:27:34 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/ex-olympian-pleads-guilty-to-additional-sex-abuse-charges-in-washington-county/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A senior community celebrated the Washington County Housing Authority’s official purchase to preserve an affordable housing complex in Tigard.
The previous owner out of California was about to raise rent for the Woodspring Apartments’ residents to bring it up to market rate, but the residents came to KOIN 6 to say that doing so would have forced them out.
Woodspring Apartments is home to more than 100 low-income seniors – many of whom, like Judy Hughes, have lived there for decades.
“Now I can relax and know that I’m safe,” Hughes said. “Where before I was wondering where I’m going to go because I don’t have the money to go some place.”
State leaders like Director of OHCS Adrea Bell said preserving affordable housing is important against an ongoing housing crisis.
“Keeping Woodspring Apartments affordable for the residents who have called it home for many years is an investment in our shared values that everyone deserves safe, stable, and affordable housing,” she said.
Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington congratulated the tenants at the special meeting on June 27.
“It’s been a long two and a half years and we are grateful for your [HAWC] practicing the art of the possible every step of the way,” she said. “We are also grateful to the State of Oregon for making funds available for the acquisition of Woodspring Apartments. What a terrific day.”
The decision came after KOIN 6 reporter Elise Haas first covered the story in February.
“If it weren’t for the media, I’m not sure where we’d be today,” said tenant Richard Calkin. “Especially this gal (Haas) here, she did a great job for us. She was the first one to take our story right out the gate.” | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/what-a-terrific-day-washco-signs-purchase-to-preserve-woodspring-apartments/ | 2023-07-13T00:27:38 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/what-a-terrific-day-washco-signs-purchase-to-preserve-woodspring-apartments/ |
IONA MCGREGOR, Fla. — Fires at the Century 21 mobile home community are not easy to put out since there’s no water. Another one Wednesday morning forced firefighters to close part of McGregor Boulevard since they had to hook up their hoses down the street.
Iona McGregor firefighters couldn’t use hydrants in the park, so they had to go the distance.
John Wisdom is the Iona McGregor Fire District division chief. He explains what firefighters had to do to combat the flames.
“Our crews had to drop 2,000 feet and do a relay operation, dropping all the hose and staging apparatus in line to ensure the pressure is boosted,” Wisdom explained.
There’s nothing left of the home, and now nobody lives here since Hurricane Ian took out the water and electricity.
Wisdom said, “Total fire ground operation was about two hours, but keep in mind that involves overhaul, mopping up what we call hot spots, making sure every lick of smoke is gone, nothings presented so those in the area feel comfortable when we leave.”
Thankfully, someone who lives in the next community over noticed the flames.
“I do believe a neighbor in an adjoining community called it in, recognizing an orange glow and significant amount of smoke coming from the park,” Wisdom stated.
In May, another fire damaged a mobile home in the community, and that’s not all; a tornado even ripped through last year.
The Iona McGregor Fire District is calling today’s an electrical fire, but they’re still investigating how it started. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/07/12/lack-of-water-hinders-iona-mcgregor-fire-crews-trying-to-save-mobile-home/ | 2023-07-13T00:28:09 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/07/12/lack-of-water-hinders-iona-mcgregor-fire-crews-trying-to-save-mobile-home/ |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville Parks and Recreation posted a warning on social media after a black bear and her cub were spotted in Mount Sequoyah Woods Park on July 12.
In the post, Parks and Rec recommend caution if using the woods. They also note a prior black bear sighting in the area a few weeks back. A reminder to dog owners is also issued as leashes are required in the park and a loose dog may agitate bears.
Parks and Rec also say bears should not be fed and any outdoor food source like bird or deer feeders should be secured as bears can become used to human sources of food.
If you see a bear, Parks and Rec asks to contact them at 479-444-3471.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bear-sighting-in-mount-sequoyah-woods-park/527-85c302cf-6ea3-49cc-9442-6faf6cad2e9f | 2023-07-13T00:29:23 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bear-sighting-in-mount-sequoyah-woods-park/527-85c302cf-6ea3-49cc-9442-6faf6cad2e9f |
BELLA VISTA, Ark. — The Bella Vista City Council members have unanimously voted to repeal an ordinance passed in December 2022 that regulated short-term rentals in Bella Vista.
The council also voted 4-2 to adopt a different and reportedly less restrictive ordinance related to short-term rentals and to include an emergency clause that makes the ordinance effective immediately.
The new ordinance mandates owners of short-term rental units obtain a permit from the city, as well as caps the total number of permits allowed within the city at 600. It requires the applicant to provide contact information and proof of the submission of local taxes.
The new ordinance also regulates guest occupancy at each rental unit, set at a maximum of three guests per bedroom, which aligns with the state’s fire code.
The new ordinance does not address anything related to septic systems, safety inspections, or insurance requirements.
Any permits that have already been issued from the city will remain valid for one year from the date of the new ordinance, July 12, and permit holders need not reapply. New permit applications will be available from Community Development Services soon.
As of July 12, there are 506 known short-term rentals in the city, said Council Member Doug Fowler, who also serves as the chairman of the A&P Commission.
To date, the city has issued 149 permits, with 144 pending.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bella-vista-short-term-rental-ordinance/527-01089c6b-04fc-432d-ab3c-001bf5d82131 | 2023-07-13T00:29:29 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bella-vista-short-term-rental-ordinance/527-01089c6b-04fc-432d-ab3c-001bf5d82131 |
VAN BUREN, Ark. — According to local authorities, Makayla Lintz, a Van Buren 16-year-old, has been reported missing.
She has been missing since Tuesday, July 11, and is 5 feet 4 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Any information that could help in locating Makayla should be sent to the Crawford County Sheriff's Office at (479) 474-2261.
5NEWS will update this story as more information becomes available.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/missing/van-buren-16-year-old-missing/527-eeb483ea-f4ec-4354-833c-07a01fecb4ce | 2023-07-13T00:29:35 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/missing/van-buren-16-year-old-missing/527-eeb483ea-f4ec-4354-833c-07a01fecb4ce |
MODESTO, Calif. — Sideshows have now officially been banned in Modesto, according to an announcement from the Modesto Police Department.
Modesto police say they are prioritizing public safety and maintaining order.
Sideshows are known to involve dangerous and illegal car stunts on public streets, which attract large crowds.
"These sideshows attract large crowds and create volatile environments where injuries can occur," Modesto police said on Facebook.
Modesto police said they want to protect both drivers and bystanders as well as the community from harm caused by sideshows.
The announcement from Modesto Police Department partially stated:
The ban on sideshows reflects the City's commitment to public safety, law enforcement, and the well-being of its residents. Modesto encourages responsible alternatives that prioritize safety within the automotive culture. Through the enforcement of this ban and the promotion of compliance, Modesto aims to foster a thriving community that upholds legality and safety.
The crackdown on sideshows comes after Modesto City Council approved sideshow penalties, which includes a spectator ordinance. This means anyone watching a sideshow could be fined up to $2,500.
Drivers or passengers could be fined up to $3,500 and those promoting, organizing or facilitating spectators to gather at sideshows could be fined up to $3,000.
Watch more from ABC10: 'Street takeover' Amazon cargo truck broken into during Sacramento sideshow | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/modesto/sideshows-officially-banned-modesto/103-99143e95-8324-4e93-956a-6f0c73b99595 | 2023-07-13T00:36:25 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/modesto/sideshows-officially-banned-modesto/103-99143e95-8324-4e93-956a-6f0c73b99595 |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Roughly 100,000 Floridians insured by Farmer's Insurance will soon be looking for new policies. Farmers is the latest domino to fall in the ongoing property insurance crisis in the state, and the finger-pointing from Tallahassee has already started.
"We warned early on that conditions could potentially get worse before they get better,” Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute said.
That's the only way to sum up the status of Florida’s property insurance market right now.
In the past 18 months, which saw two special legislative sessions aimed at the issue; seven insurers have gone insolvent, 15 stopped writing policies and now a fourth is leaving the state.
"Ongoing volatility in the private market has led to certainly a precarious situation for many consumers,” Friedlander added.
In a scathing statement, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis vowed to hold Farmers Insurance accountable, saying they are playing politics and their actions "are less a representation of the Florida market, and more of bad leadership at the insurer."
Patronis, state Republican lawmakers and industry experts believe reforms the state made to wrangle frivolous litigation, in time, will have a positive impact on the market.
"We were very supportive of the reform bills that were passed and signed into law and feel they will bring stability to Florida's property insurance market," Friedlander added.
"While our reforms will take time to take effect, we put the right systems in place to strengthen our insurance market and provide Floridians with the access to coverage and peace of mind they need for their property," Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, tweeted.
Though state Democratic lawmakers say not enough is being done, placing the blame on Republican leadership for not getting on top of rising costs.
"If lawsuits are the reason why didn't Farmers site that is one of its reasons for leaving this market," State Rep. Fentrice Driskell said during a press conference Wednesday. "Let me just say this to make it very clear. Trickle-down economics doesn't work and neither does trickle-down property insurance relief," Driskell added, referring to the $3 billion the state put into a reinsurance fund for insurance companies.
While many policyholders are wondering what's next and dealing with rising premiums, the state's Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has concerns about 18 other companies on a watchlist right now.
"18 of 47 Florida residential insurers are on that list. That's really our biggest concern right now," Friedlander explained, because we've seen in the past, some companies on the watch lists end up in insolvency. We're not predicting that. We're certainly not hoping that happens."
Thousands of homeowners will soon get non-renewal notice but this isn't just a Farmers Insurance issue, more and more Floridians have been getting them as the market struggles.
Due to state law, consumers have to be notified by their insurers 120 days prior to their non-renewal. So what steps should Floridians take if their coverage gets dropped?
We spoke with Kathy Walsh, agency owner at Coast to Coast Insurance in Tampa. She says the first thing you should do is call your insurance agent.
"See if the agent offers other options, they may have other markets, and they may have Citizens as a choice, Citizens is not a choice for every homeowner, but it is for the bulk of the industry,” Walsh said.
You only qualify for the state-backed Citizens (which is approaching a record number of policies) if you weren't offered coverage by anyone else or the premiums offered were 20% more than Citizens.
The second thing an agent will likely tell you to do is get your home inspected and make sure your roof isn’t too old.
"First thing to do is age of roof," Walsh added. "If the home is 20 years or older they should get a four-point inspection and wind mitigation inspection. They need those things in order for us to go ahead and look at the market for them."
She says homeowners should act quickly and don't expect to shop around.
"The market's slim," Kathy added. "It's not where can I get the price, it’s where can I get coverage for my home."
The state's Insurance Consumer Advocate is also available to help Floridians with insurance issues and even has resources to show you what fair rates in your area are. Granted, you will be paying a lot more than the national average. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/florida-property-insurance/67-68384731-5186-4c71-b076-6cf552873956 | 2023-07-13T00:40:12 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/florida-property-insurance/67-68384731-5186-4c71-b076-6cf552873956 |
LAKELAND, Fla. — A woman convicted in 2012 for killing a lottery winner from Lakeland was back in court on Wednesday.
Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore is asking for a new trial -- again.
A jury found her guilty of the 2009 shooting death of Abraham Shakespeare, a father from Lakeland, who won a $30 million jackpot. Moore befriended and stole money from Shakespeare before his body was found buried under a concrete slab in the backyard of a home Moore bought.
"This system is corrupt," Moore said during the evidentiary hearing.
Already, Florida appeals courts upheld her conviction in 2015 and 2019. This time, calling her own continuing claims of innocence “confusing, conclusory and vague.”
The alleged new piece of evidence discussed in court was a private recording done by Moore. Her defense argues Moore's former representation ignored the recording during the discovery of her trial.
The now 50-year-old and her defense team reportedly have Shakespeare's former girlfriend Antoinette Andrews allege the real killer is a drug dealer who paid off investigators to pursue Moore as a suspect.
"She listed the names to me," Moore told her defense team during questioning.
However, there is no opportunity for a testimony of this from Andrews because she had passed away. It's also one of the several people Moore had accused of killing Shakespeare in total.
The state argues the allegations are hearsay, telling Judge Michelle Sisco there are several problems with using the private recording as evidence.
"There's no way to judge the voracity or the truth or what she's saying in this recording," Assistant State Attorney Ronald Gale told the judge.
The judge allowed the tape to be entered in as evidence but it is not being offered as a truth of the matter, but only in certain of what Christopher Boldt did or did not do with the discovery. Boldt also testified during the hearing.
The judge will now decide whether to grant the motion for a new trial.
Last year, Florida lawmakers passed a new law aimed to protect lottery winners. Right now, there is a 90-day exemption that protects the names of certain lottery winners and it also allows them to waive the exemption.
The Associated Press and Fresh Take Florida contributed to this report. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/lakeland-lottery-winner-murder-trial-dee-dee-moore/67-27a26672-96fc-44cf-a0e9-455dfbae967b | 2023-07-13T00:40:15 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/lakeland-lottery-winner-murder-trial-dee-dee-moore/67-27a26672-96fc-44cf-a0e9-455dfbae967b |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After a near-death experience, a road rage survivor is sharing the moments that led up to a man shooting at her head one week ago.
The woman spoke to 10 Tampa Bay anonymously. The St. Petersburg Police Department asked we conceal her identity because the man who shot her has not been arrested.
On July 5, the woman was driving in St. Pete. She said while crossing an intersection on 116th Street, a car sped up, forcing her to brake.
"I flicked my lights for the guy to go, he wouldn't go," she described. "So I tried to go onto 116th street and he tried to go and we were still met. Next thing you know, I hear this car honking but from further down the street."
That car honking is the vehicle that later pulled up to her and shot her. The suspected road rage driver sped past her, then made a U-turn to follow her. When the woman makes it to the following intersection, she sees the car that was honking at her now pulled up next to her.
"He's just yelling, screaming while my car windows are up," she said. "I can hear him through [the windows]. He's just throwing his hands up on me. I'm saying like, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it wasn't my fault.' Just giving him the you know, the normal hand gesture that everyone does."
She said the light at the intersection turned green. She started to drive to make her turn when something caught the corner of her eye.
"I see something in my peripheral vision," she said. "I see his hand. Next thing you know, I hear a bang. I throw my head back. I pull my hands up to protect my face. I felt a lot of tingling, I saw blood splatter. I wasn't sure where it was coming from. So I pulled my hands down to like, make sure my face wasn't hit or anything around it. And then I see that he hit my thumb. The tip of my thumb was gone from what it looked like."
She then goes into shock, panicking as she processes what just happened. The car behind her pulled over to help. She and another driver call 911 to report the incident.
A bullet grazed her right below her eyebrow. She said the only reason the bullet didn't hit her head is because it hit her car first.
"So, the only reason why it did not hit my head was because it ricocheted off my doorframe and I threw my head back and it hit my thumb instead," she said.
Now, police need your help in tracking down this road rage driver.
"We know he was driving a white type of minivan type of vehicle," Yolanda Fernandez, a spokesperson for the police department, said. "And he is described as an Asian man, maybe 30 to 40 years old, with some gray in his hair."
This shooting happened at 9:30 p.m. on July 5 on 116th Street and 4th Street North.
"The charges are very serious because again, he fired a shot at her. And it could have killed her," Fernandez said.
The woman shot had surgery on her thumb Wednesday and will have additional surgeries on it before recovering.
"There's definitely going to be some lasting mental health effects but I know I'll make it through," she said. "Personally, I like to think I'm a very nice and sweet person. I love to help people. I'm always tried to be there for other people. So for this to happen to me -- everyone's just bewildered. And they're also very, very upset as to why someone would try to kill me."
SPPD said road rage incidents to this level of violence don't happen often. If you know anything about this incident, you're asked to call police.
Malique Rankin is a general assignment reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. You can email her story ideas at mrankin@10tampabay.com and follow her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/road-rage-st-petersburg-shooting/67-d77d1d36-7f86-486a-a431-1b5eece8381c | 2023-07-13T00:40:19 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/road-rage-st-petersburg-shooting/67-d77d1d36-7f86-486a-a431-1b5eece8381c |
TAMPA, Fla. — As part of the battle against malaria, a global mosquito dashboard set up right here in the Tampa Bay area to help in the fight now has Sarasota on that map.
This comes as mosquito control officials continue working to find mosquitoes that could be carrying the parasite.
MosquitoDashboard.org based at the University of South Florida is an interactive online mapping system that integrates data and photos sent in through several apps used for citizens' science campaigns.
The apps include iNaturalist, the Mosquito Habitat Mapper part of NASA's global observer app and Mosquito Alert.
The Global Mosquito Malaria Dashboard was created in 2021 by USF researchers, Dr. Ryan Carney, an assistant professor of integrative biology and digital science, and colleague Dr. Sriram Chellappan, a professor of computer science and engineering.
"Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet. You can think of them as little flying hypodermic needles of disease and so we are asking citizen scientists to help us find those malaria-spreading needles in the Florida haystack," said Carney.
The dashboard aggregates information from citizens and uses artificial intelligence to analyze them.
USF researchers would then use that information to track the movement, presence and introduction of potentially deadly mosquitoes, especially the invasive types.
The information also helps scientists learn what species of mosquitoes are where and improves local mosquito surveillance and control activity.
"Data images of mosquitoes, mosquitoes larvae or even to see their habitat, and use that information to help us fight mosquito-borne diseases," said Carney. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/usf-global-mosquito-dashboard-malaria/67-969cd1e6-7070-48e4-9bac-13ad0807dc47 | 2023-07-13T00:40:29 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/usf-global-mosquito-dashboard-malaria/67-969cd1e6-7070-48e4-9bac-13ad0807dc47 |
These suburban Indianapolis districts have Indiana's top ILEARN math, English scores
Several suburban school districts in Central Indiana remained at the front of the pack in state test scores, ILEARN results revealed this week.
Not only did the suburban districts perform above the state’s 2023 averages – 40.9% students at or above math proficiency standards and 40.7% at or above English language arts standards – but one was the highest-performing public school district in Indiana.
Bragging rights for Brownsburg
Brownsburg Community Schools had the highest proficiency for students passing math and ELA exams of all public school districts across the state. About 63% of students in the district passed both exams.
Trailing Brownsburg, but still among the top were Carmel Clay Schools (59.7%) and Zionsville Community Schools (54.6%). Zionsville Community students had the highest proficiency percentage on science and social studies exams.
Other school districts, including Westfield-Washington and Avon, remained mostly stagnant in ELA but Noblesville gained proficiency by a percentage point and a half.
Statewide ILEARN 2023 results:Indiana students make little progress toward post-pandemic learning recovery
Carmel, Noblesville officials react
Superintendent Michael Beresford said in a statement that Carmel Clay Schools' scores – which placed the district among the top five in the state – reflect the dedication and hard work of the community.
"The district's performance demonstrates the success of a rigorous curriculum, high-quality teachers and support provided throughout our district to students at all levels," Beresford said.
In Noblesville Schools, where students performed at a higher proficiency for math and English language arts this year than in 2022, Ryan Rich, assistant superintendent of learning, said test scores are only one measure of student success.
Still, the district is pleased with students' post-COVID progress, Rich said.
Marion County results:Schools' 2023 ILEARN scores improve slightly in math, remain steady in English
Here are suburban districts' proficiency rates for both ELA and math:
English language arts scores:
- Brownsburg Community School Corporation: 70.1%
- Carmel Clay Schools: 68.7%
- Hamilton Southeastern Schools: 59.1%
- Zionsville Community Schools: 64.8%
- Westfield-Washington Schools: 60.1%
- Noblesville Schools: 56.7%
- Center Grove Community: 58.3%
- Avon Community: 52%
- Clark-Pleasant Schools: 49.5%
Math scores:
- Brownsburg Community School Corporation: 74.5%
- Carmel Clay Schools: 70.4%
- Hamilton Southeastern Schools: 63.2%
- Zionsville Community Schools: 65.8%
- Westfield-Washington Schools: 65%
- Noblesville Schools: 56.2%
- Center Grove Community: 60.3%
- Avon Community: 59.3%
- Clark-Pleasant Schools: 43.6%
Combined math and English language arts scores:
- Brownsburg Community School Corporation: 63.4%
- Carmel Clay Schools: 59.7%
- Hamilton Southeastern Schools: 50.4%
- Zionsville Community Schools: 54.6%
- Westfield-Washington Schools: 52.1%
- Noblesville Schools: 45%
- Center Grove Community: 48.8%
- Avon Community: 44.7%
- Clark-Pleasant Schools: 35.2%
Contact the reporter at rfradette@gannett.com. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/education/2023/07/12/ilearn-2023-suburban-indianapolis-districts-top-math-english-scores/70405901007/ | 2023-07-13T00:41:22 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/education/2023/07/12/ilearn-2023-suburban-indianapolis-districts-top-math-english-scores/70405901007/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Opening celebrations for the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center at Wichita State University were disrupted Wednesday morning by a community advocate who questioned whether the center would help Wichitans harmed by poor water quality.
The Environmental Justice Center, part of WSU’s Environmental Finance Center, is one of 17 centers funded by the federal government to help communities impacted by toxins and pollutants access funding to make improvements.
The center will serve Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and nine adjoining tribes. It’s funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energies.
“There is an unprecedented amount of funding coming down from the federal government to environmental justice work, to take communities who have been unduly burdened with environmental justice issues and move the needle and really make positive impacts,” said Tonya Bronleewe, director of the WSU Environmental Finance Center.
However, during opening presentations, a member of the audience stood up to protest the center’s approach to environmental equity. She said the water contamination at 29th and Grove had yet to be fully addressed.
“So for you to sit here and tell us what you’re gonna do to help marginalized communities? Well, marginalized communities are Black people in the state of Kansas, in Wichita, who have been affected by this contamination and environmental injustice,” said Mary Dean, president of Kansas Justice Advocate.
Dean expressed concern that Black communities disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice were being overlooked by the Environmental Justice Center.
The center has plans to reach out to communities it covers and familiarize itself with their issues, according to Bronleewe.
“We don’t go in knowing how a community feels, what issues they’re seeing,” Bronleewe said. “So we’re just going in to listen. This first year or more we’re gonna go find communities, hopefully they come to us as well, and then we’re just gonna go and listen.”
From there, the center plans to connect people with resources and funding to make improvements in their communities.
“We’re gonna serve rural areas, we’re gonna serve urban areas, we’re gonna serve tribal communities, we’re gonna serve black communities, brown communities, communities that have different languages than we do, and find the resources to connect them to opportunities that will move their communities in the way they want to go,” Bronleewe said. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/community-advocate-worried-new-environmental-justice-center-wont-help-wichitans/ | 2023-07-13T00:44:39 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/community-advocate-worried-new-environmental-justice-center-wont-help-wichitans/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Following the influx of dogs due to the Fourth of July and dogs sick with canine infectious respiratory disease complex, the Kansas Humane Society is in a capacity crisis and needs fosters.
The KHS is currently at 99% capacity, according to KHS Director of Communications and Marketing Jordan Bani-Younes. He says the Wichita Animal Shelter is also at capacity.
“We are partnering with all of our rescues to get all of the animals out of here,” said Bani-Younes.
Many of the dogs have CIRD.
“We have a lot of sick dogs right now with CIRD, it’s canine infectious respiratory disease. It’s more commonly known as kennel cough. It is just a cold,” Bani-Younes said.
Bani-Younes says the KHS is in need of a lot of fosters due to the ill dogs.
“Right now, what we’re seeing is a lot of those spaces are being filled with them, and we need to get them out of our shelter,” said Bani-Younes.
Bani-Younes says fostering to adopt is also an option when it comes to getting a dog.
“It’s really simple. It’s exactly like adopting. It’s just we can’t legally adopt out these sick animals, so we chose to foster them instead,” Bani-Younes said.
When you foster to adopt a dog with the KHS, they help you.
“We give you all the supplies you need to foster. We treat our fostering to adopt exactly like we do our fosters,” said Bani-Younes.
Bani-Younes says the KHS is taking many steps to help stop the spread. Getting dogs adopted is the biggest help.
“If you have space in your home, take in a dog, take in a sick dog… If you don’t have any other dogs in the home, we really need the help right now,” Bani-Younes said.
All dogs available for adoption and fostering at the KHS can be found online. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/kansas-humane-society-in-a-capacity-crisis-needs-fosters/ | 2023-07-13T00:44:39 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/kansas-humane-society-in-a-capacity-crisis-needs-fosters/ |
Former Sunday School teacher gets life sentence for indecency with child
A Wichita County Jury on Wednesday sentenced a former Wichita Falls postal worker and Sunday School teacher to life in prison for urging a 13-year-old girl to give him a “peep show” and take a shower with him.
Daniel James Green, 63, pleaded guilty in 78th District Court Tuesday to Sexual Performance by a Child, a charge that stemmed from an incident in January 2022. His punishment was left to a jury of seven women and five men.
After Green was charged with the offense in 2023, two other women came forward and told authorities Green did similar things to them nearly 20 years ago. The jury was authorized to take those allegations into consideration as they deliberated Green’s sentence.
In the most recent allegation, a girl told investigators Green was a next-door neighbor to her family and attended their church, Church at Sheppard/First Baptist. She said Green, who taught Sunday School, befriended the family and in 2022 he paid her $10 to put on a pair of panties at his home and give him a peep show. She said he also offered her money to take a shower with him.
Green admitted to the accusations in a police interview but denied he had ever done similar things to children before. He was charged and bailed out of jail on a $50,000 bond.
Then, a woman learned of the charges and came forward with similar allegations against Green that stemmed from incidents in 2004 when she was nine years old. He was indicted on three counts of Indecency with a Child – Exposure and one count of Indecency with a Child – Sexual Contact. His new bonds total $300,000 and he has been in the Wichita County Jail since April 2023.
The woman testified she knew Green from Sunday school and said he would take her and other children to activities in his van and would bring her lunch at Kate Haynes Elementary School. He offered her bribes of money or toys to try on lingerie and to eventually remove her clothing from the waist down to give him a peep show. She said there were about 15 such encounters, including incidents in his vehicle where he exposed himself. She said he offered her money to take a bath with him where he instructed her to wash his genitals.
The woman said the experience has affected her life as an adult and she has become extremely protective of her own children.
“There are wolves in sheep’s clothing everywhere,” she said.
Another woman testified Green wanted to see her in a thong when she was nine.
Green took the stand in his own defense Tuesday and said, “I made a mistake,” but denied touching the girls. He said he knows he must serve prison time, but if he is released, he said, “I’m not going to do that sort of thing again. Never, ever going to do this again.”
Dobie Kosub, first assistant district attorney, asked Green why the jury should believe him since he had lied about committing crimes prior to 2022.
Green’s public defense attorney, Gant Crimes, told jurors in his closing statement he did not expect them to return the minimum sentence, but argued sex offenders can be rehabilitated. He said Green had been a good person earlier in his life.
“I don’t know what happened to Mr. Green. Can we find that person and reconnect him with humanity?” he said.
“This child molester has earned the right to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Kosub told the jurors. “You are going to determine what this community will put up with.”
He said the victims will carry what happened to them through the rest of their lives.
“Did you hear him say ‘sorry’ at all?” he asked. “Prison is not a place where he will have access to a 13-year-old girl.”
The jury deliberated 34 minutes before returning the maximum sentence.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Green’s latest victim said she now finds it difficult to trust any man and is glad she found the courage to come forward and prevent the same thing from happened to more girls.
Green could be eligible for parole in 30 years, when he is 93 years old. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/former-sunday-school-teacher-gets-life-sentence-for-child-sexual-assault/70405115007/ | 2023-07-13T00:44:56 | 1 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/former-sunday-school-teacher-gets-life-sentence-for-child-sexual-assault/70405115007/ |
Water use fines to start Monday
The city of Wichita Falls will start enforcing its water-use restrictions on Monday.
The combined levels of lakes Arrowhead and Kickapoo have again dropped below 65 percent of capacity. That's the point at which Stage 1 Drought Watch water restrictions kick in.
The lakes rose above 65 percent for several weeks, but the city council did not lift the restrictions, anticipating levels would fall again as hot temptures set in.
Residents and businesses are only allowed to irrigate two days a week, based on their address numbers.• Even number addresses can water on Monday and Thursday only.• Odd number addresses can water on Tuesday and Friday only.• Irrigation using sprinklers, and automatic sprinkler systems are not allowed between thehours of 10:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. any address and are not allowed at any time on Wednesdays,Saturdays or Sundays.• Hand-held hoses with a positive shutoff nozzle, soaker hoses, bubbler irrigation, dripirrigation, watering cans and buckets (5 gallons or less) may be used for landscape irrigationon any day and at any time.
Beginning Monday, the Public Works Department will issue water violation citations for residents and businesses that violate restrictions.Fines are:• First offense - $25• Second offense - up to $500• Third offense - up to $2,000• There is also an additional $76 court fee with each fine. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/water-use-fines-to-start-monday/70406993007/ | 2023-07-13T00:45:02 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/water-use-fines-to-start-monday/70406993007/ |
What's that sound? Bomb squad training happening this week
This week, Wednesday through Friday, the Wichita Falls Fire Department and the Denton Bomb Squad will be conducting training exercises.
From 2-4 p.m. each of these days, teams will be out at the WFFD Drill Field in the 1300 block of Harding.
The joint training operation aims to fine tune skills of local emergency response teams.
During the training, there may be intermintendent sounds of explosions. These controlled detonations are part of the training and do not pose any threat to the safety of the public.
The teams will simulate real-world scenarios in order to develop and refine strategies, techniques and coordination of these agencies.
Safety is the priority for the public and these emergency responders.
If anyone sees or hears explosions in this area during this training period, they can rest assured that every precaution is in place to prevent any potential risk associated with the exercise. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/whats-that-sound-bomb-squad-training-happening-this-week/70406331007/ | 2023-07-13T00:45:08 | 1 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/whats-that-sound-bomb-squad-training-happening-this-week/70406331007/ |
Wichita Falls, Workforce Solutions partner up for job fair
The City of Wichita Falls is partnering with Workforce Solutions North Texas to bring a community job fair to the MPEC at 1000 5th St. The fair will run from 1-4 p.m. July 13. Several employers from around the area typically participate in the fair.
Organizations recruiting in the past have included the U.S. Census office, the military, local police and many more.
Workforce Solutions North Texas also offers tips and assistance with resumes, interviews and more.
The City of Wichita Falls has encouraged participation in the fair for a variety of reasons, including meeting potential employers face-to-face, finding a workplace that’s a good fit and getting expert career advice. For more information, contact Workforce Solutions North Texas at (940) 322-1801. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/wichita-falls-workforce-solutions-partner-up-for-job-fair/70406325007/ | 2023-07-13T00:45:14 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/wichita-falls-workforce-solutions-partner-up-for-job-fair/70406325007/ |
Sheriff's officials ask public for help identifying man connected to June sexual assault
Fernando Cervantes Jr.
Arizona Republic
Deputies are searching for a man they say sexually assaulted a girl in June. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office released a sketch of the man to the public on Wednesday.
Sheriff's officials say the assault happened near the intersection of Adobe Road and Ellis Street in Mesa on June 11. According to officials, the suspect followed the victim on foot, approached her and assaulted her at around 5 p.m.
The suspect's identity is unknown.
MCSO officials are asking the public to help identify the man, and they also ask any tips or information be forwarded to the MCSO Tips Line at 602-876-TIPS (8477) or 602-876-1011. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2023/07/12/sheriffs-officials-ask-for-help-identifying-man-connected-to-june-sexual-assault/70408031007/ | 2023-07-13T00:45:59 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2023/07/12/sheriffs-officials-ask-for-help-identifying-man-connected-to-june-sexual-assault/70408031007/ |
District 1 Supervisor • Daniel “Dan” Gale, R, reported not more contributions and a total $6,500 in funds with $6,921 in spending. • William Richey, R, reported no contributions a total $1,040 in funds. He spent $1,723 last month for a total $35,86 in spending. • Hal Grissom, R, reported no contributions and $15,386 in spending since January. • George C Rutledge, R, reported $11,000 in contributions last month for a total $36,450 and $30,315 in spending, up by $11,584. District 5 Supervisor • Chris Gillentine, R, reported total contributions at $3,246 since January with $10,012 in spending. • Dakota Gilland, R, did not file. • Steve Holland, D, reported no contributions in June and a total $6,700 in cash on hand and no spending. • Barry Parker, R, reported $2,000 in contributions and $2,000 in spending for June. • Zachary “Bub” Rock, R, did not file. • Richard O. Wilson, I, reported no contributions or spending through January. District 1 Constable • Malcomb Driskill, R, reported no contributions and $1,991 in spending, up $594 since last month. • Randy Ellis, R, did not file • Joe Huckaby, R, reported no contributions and $40 in spending as of July 10. District 2 Constable • Ted Wood (i), R, reported no contributions or spending in July with a total of $1,447 in spending. • Sean McMickin, R, reported no contributions no contributions or spending in June, with a total $2,442 in spending since January. District 3 Constable • David “Davy” Estes, R, reported $2,000 in contributions and almost $3,737 in spending. This is up $200 in contributions and $360 in spending through June. • Byran Gann, R, reported no spending or contributions through January. County Sheriff • Jim Johnson (i), R, reported a total $23,400 in contributions up by $800 in May and $13,203 in spending, up from just $1,494 he reported in June. • Anthony “Tony” Rogers, I, reported a total $10,469 in contributions and $9,669 in spending through June. County Surveyor • Carl Scherff (i), R, reported no contributions and $100 in spending, unchanged from May 10. • Blaine Wade Holliday, R, did not file by July 10. County Tax Collector • Interim Tax Collector Crystal Heatherly, R, reported a total $12,015 in contributions and an a total 11,904 in spending, with $300 raised in June and $597 in spending. • Tupelo Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan, R,reported a total $15,473 in contributions and an additional $9,299 in spending. • Robbie Montgomery, R, reported $2,450 in contributions and 703 in spending. District 1 Election Commissioner • Steven Coon reported no contributions and no spending, unchanged from May 10. District 4 Justice Court Judge • Marcus Crump, D, reported an additional $1,010in contributions and $1,093. • Charlotte Copeland, D, reported $100 contributions for a total $1,350 and $3,664 in spending, up by $572. • Jermandy Jackson, I, reported $350 in contributions and no spending. • Timothy “Tim” Tubb, R, reported no contributions or spending by July 10.
Four Lee County candidates fail to report mandatory finance reports for July
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/four-lee-county-candidates-fail-to-report-mandatory-finance-reports-for-july/article_f79a1e9c-202f-11ee-9939-6f32f6f109c4.html | 2023-07-13T00:48:44 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/four-lee-county-candidates-fail-to-report-mandatory-finance-reports-for-july/article_f79a1e9c-202f-11ee-9939-6f32f6f109c4.html |
Lennie's restaurant in Bloomington sold to 2 former employees
Lennie Busch is excited about the future of Lennie's restaurant, even though she and her business partner Jeff Mease no longer own the establishment that bears her name.
On July 3, Michael Fox and Samantha Ezzo purchased the restaurant at 514 E. Kirkwood Ave. Although the couple are starting a new venture together, Lennie's isn't new to either of them — it's been part of their lives for years.
"We started working at Lennie's in 2002 and sort of fell in love and have been together for 20 years," Fox said.
Fox continued to work at Lennie's, one of the One World Enterprises companies owned by Busch and Mease, until February. When he left, he was director of operations for Lennie's and Hive, a position he had since 2017.
Food news:Hilltop for sale. When will Peach Cobbler Factory open?
Ezzo worked at Lennie's as a server, bartender and manager for several years and was the first general manager of One World Catering, where she worked for three years. Currently she is chief operating officer of Curare Physician Recruiting, a position she plans to keep.
Fox, Busch and Mease all said the sale keeps the longtime Bloomington restaurant "in the family."
"Lennie's will be in good hands for the next generation, and that feels great," Mease wrote recently in a message.
Busch agrees, adding, "Michael and Sami, they have the passion. They have the history. They have the youth, which is so important in the restaurant industry. I'm so excited with what they will do with it."
Busch said the transition came about "in a magical way, it just worked. We weren't looking for this."
Fox says Mease has been a mentor and the two talked "off and on" about possibilities for a couple years.
"I love the business. I love the restaurant industry. I'm good at it," Fox said. "I'm passionate about it. I missed the hustle and grind and the people, both guests and staff."
Fox was reluctant to talk about the recent sale, concerned about what the employees may be feeling. For the first couple of months, he wants to ensure the staff feel "comfortable, safe and secure" with the change.
There is no plan to change the name or the layout, Fox said. "It's a reputable brand in Bloomington and has a lot of history in Bloomington."
Another former One World business:Bloomington Brewing Co.'s new owners have plans to expand production
But Busch anticipates the new owners will make some changes. She said having Fox there will make a big difference, stating, "That kind of restaurant needs to have someone who is there and is the face of that restaurant."
Fox and Ezzo, Busch said, will "bring back the excitement" as she works to help them take over the accounting and Mease helps with operations. "We want them to succeed and we will do everything in our power to make that happen.
"It's the best. You want to leave the legacy," Busch said. "I think it's the best way to continue the legacy."
Reach Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/former-employees-buy-bloomington-restaurant-lennies/70402315007/ | 2023-07-13T00:49:05 | 1 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/former-employees-buy-bloomington-restaurant-lennies/70402315007/ |
The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is planning ribbon cutting ceremonies for a new dental office and a new insurance firm.
It will cut ceremonial ribbons for Glacial Sands Oral, Facial, Implant Surgery and Tom Wisch Allstate, both of which are in Chesterton.
Glacial Sands is located at 1008 Broadway. Dr. Sonia Bennett and her team offer an array of dental services including dental implants and wisdom teeth removal.
A grand opening celebration will take place at 4:30 p.m. July 20, with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m.
A grand opening for Tom Wisch All State at 711 Plaza Drive in Chesterton will begin at 4:30 p.m. July 17. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m.
Both events are open to the public but people planning to attend are encouraged to RVSP by calling 219-926-5513 or emailing info@dunelandchamber.org.
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The Duneland Chamber of Commerce represents merchants in Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres and Porter. It offers networking and education while promoting economic development in the Duneland along the south shore of Lake Michigan.
For more information, visit www.dunelandchamber.org.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Mi Tierra closing after 22 years; La Carreta, Flako's Tacos, Wendy's, Bulldog Ale House, WhoaZone, The Love of Arts and Illinois Dermatology Institute opening
219 News Now 6/23/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Maple + Bacon, deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/duneland-chamber-of-commerce-planning-ribbon-cuttings-for-new-businesses/article_548f3590-20e1-11ee-95e9-f33786e51ba1.html | 2023-07-13T00:49:10 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/duneland-chamber-of-commerce-planning-ribbon-cuttings-for-new-businesses/article_548f3590-20e1-11ee-95e9-f33786e51ba1.html |
Fate of Bloomington shelter for trafficked women may be heading to the courts
Does a local zoning board's vote against a nonprofit's home for recovering trafficked women violate state and federal housing standards?
Sojourn House founder Carissa Muncie and lawyers she's hired say the Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals' denial of a variance does just that.
And they are poised to take the five-member BZA to court to make their case.
A June 29 letter to the BZA and its five members — Dee Owens, Skip Daley, Pamela Davidson, Margaret Clements and Guy Loftman — as well the county planning commission and county attorney David Schilling, puts them on notice of a possible legal challenge regarding the March 1 vote against a group home use variance.
When Sojourn House tried to present a modified petition at the BZA's June 28 meeting, the members refused to hear the revised request after declaring it not substantially different from the one they denied four months ago.
Muncie and about 20 people had come to the June meeting at the courthouse to support the cause. They felt empowered, Muncie said, buoyed by a legal opinion that said denying Sojourn House was violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Several had written letters of support to balance the remonstrance letters from neighbors presented before the BZA voted on the variance.
Ten people, including the former owner of the Kerr Creek Road house at the center of the debate, were poised to speak on the record in support of the four-bedroom women's shelter.
But the item was removed from the agenda when the meeting started, so the Sojourn House backers went home.
The next day, Bloomington attorneys Lonnie Johnson and Cheyenne Riker sent the letter with notice of an intent to sue, which is required when someone intends to sue a government entity.
"Sojourn House has reason to believe that litigation may result from the claim it has against the Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals and Monroe County Planning Commission for several violations of the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act," the lawyers wrote.
"By this letter, you and your agents, including all Board of Zoning or Planning Commission members, are hereby given notice not to destroy, conceal or alter any paper or electronic files and other data generated by and/or stored on your client’s computers and storage media or any other electronic data, such as voice mail and all text message, messages sent or received through social media, or messages sent through any other platform," the notice continues. "As you know, your failure to comply with this notice can result in severe sanctions being imposed by the court."
Muncie accused the BZA of being biased against her shelter and the women it hopes to serve.
"I'm definitely feeling discriminated against, because we knew we had our right to be heard and then they decided not to consider our amended request," she said. "It comes down to who they think will live in that house."
Her frustration with the county planning and variance process goes back to December 2022, when county planning staff assured her no variance was required to establish Sojourn House at the Kerr Creek Road home.
And both times the petition has come before the BZA, the county planning staff has recommended its approval. Twice the advice was disregarded.
BZA member Davidson said that's not unusual. "I am amazed at how many times the staff gets overruled, and sometimes it has to do with compassion for a person's situation," she said.
Davidson wasn't at the meeting where Soujourn House was denied a variance, but voted at the June session to let the amended petition be heard "since the planning staff know more about this and has experience in these matters."
BZA member Guy Loftman, a retired lawyer, said it's not Sojourn House or its mission he objects to. He voted "no" on the variance and the rehearing, he said, because the request doesn't meet county regulations.
He said if Muncie "substantially" revises the petition, Sojourn House can come back in a year from the March denial and try again. He called the revised petition essentially the same as the one presented in March.
"If you look back on what I've said in the past, I think this is a wonderful program that needs to be supported," Loftman said. "But it needs to fit into our zoning guidelines."
Loftman said the pending litigation prohibits him from speaking more about the case and the alleged Fair Housing Act violation.
Sojourn House lawyers say the county planning code allows the group home to be established without a variance.
And they claim the Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities acts prohibit housing discrimination against people living with physical or mental disabilities such as post-traumatic stress disorder associated with human trafficking.
"Should the board deny the use, which is a use granted and protected by (federal statute), it will have 'interfered with' Sojourn House’s rights under the FHA and thereby violated the federal law. As such, the Board cannot lawfully deny this application," the letter states.
The lawyers' also allege that "denial of Sojourn House under the circumstances of this case constitutes discrimination under the ADA."
For now, Sojourn House for trafficked women, a $450,000 investment that's been furnished and ready for residents to move in to for months, sits unoccupied.
But maybe not for long. Because under county zoning rules, three unrelated adults can live in a house and be considered a family, which means no variance would be needed if just three women were to move into the home.
Muncie said the plan always has been to house eight women, but neighbors have complained that's too many. Maybe there's a compromise afoot. Or, given the lawyers' letter, possibly a lawsuit.
Contact Herald-Times reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/lawsuit-threatened-in-case-of-trafficked-womens-shelter-bloomington-indiana/70400566007/ | 2023-07-13T00:49:11 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/lawsuit-threatened-in-case-of-trafficked-womens-shelter-bloomington-indiana/70400566007/ |
Gas demand dropped after the surge in road trips on the Fourth of July weekend but prices have held steady.
The average price of gas in Indiana was $3.29 a gallon Tuesday, down from $3.34 a gallon a week ago and down from $4.74 a year ago, according to AAA. The average price in neighboring Illinois was $3.83 a gallon Monday, down from $3.84 a gallon a week ago and down from $5.44 a gallon a year ago.
National gas prices averaged $3.54 a gallon Monday, up from $3.53 a week earlier and down from $5.15 a gallon a year ago, according to AAA.
“After declining going into July 4, average gasoline prices have struggled to find much momentum in either direction as the price of crude oil has continued to bounce around, digesting offsetting news on both sides of the scale: supply, which OPEC+ continues to try and tighten, and weak global demand as monetary policy restrains growth,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “I don’t see much chance of a major break out of the tight range we’ve held since April, but there is rising risk for hurricane season and potential disruptions as major forecaster Colorado State University released its third forecast for the 2023 hurricane season, showing a sharp uptick in the number of expected major hurricanes."
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As of Monday, gas cost an average of $3.70 a gallon in Lake County, $3.83 per gallon in Porter County and $3.39 per gallon in LaPorte County, according to GasBuddy.com. The average price of gas was $3.34 a gallon in Newton County and $3.28 in Jasper County, Pulaski County and Starke County.
Gas prices in the greater Chicago metropolitan area averaged $4.30 per gallon Monday, including an average of $4.56 within city limits, according to AAA.
Retail gasoline demand fell 8.6% last week after people returned home from their Fourth of July road trips, according to GasBuddy.com.
Gasoline inventories fell by 2.5 million barrels last week, according to the Energy Information Administration. Oil inventories fell by 1.5 million barrels.
Utilization at refineries like those in Whiting and Joliet, Illinois, fell 1.1 percentage points to 91.1%.
"Heading into the prime of summer gasoline demand, any disruptions, whether storms or unexpected outages and what might be a small challenge outside of the summer driving season, could be a larger problem, so there is some risk to gas prices going into the second half of summer," De Haan said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/gas-demand-plummets-prices-hold-steady/article_44ae585e-1f65-11ee-9300-13d9ce7cca13.html | 2023-07-13T00:49:15 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/gas-demand-plummets-prices-hold-steady/article_44ae585e-1f65-11ee-9300-13d9ce7cca13.html |
South Korea has become one of the world's great hubs for business with giant global companies like Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai.
Indiana is looking to capitalize off of South Korea's economic vitality by opening an office to strengthen business ties there.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. established an office in Seoul, its eighth international office and second to open this year.
“Indiana’s new Seoul office underscores the importance of the state’s deepening relationships with Korean companies and their increased interest in a dynamic Hoosier workforce and economy,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers said. “With more than $6 billion of recently announced capital investment from Korean companies and their (joint venture) partners, an IEDC office in Korea is a further commitment to building high-tech, future-focused investments and job opportunities to the Hoosier state."
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Indiana is home to 14 companies based in South Korea, including Jaewon Industrial, Soulbrain MI and Samsung SDI. Six Indiana businesses also have operations there.
Indiana has been working to deepen ties, including with economic development trips there by Chambers and Gov. Eric Holcomb.
"After visiting with government and industry leaders in Seoul twice over the past year, I’m confident that Indiana and South Korea share similar visions for our futures and that investing in our growing partnership will deliver mutually beneficial results in industry and innovation," Chambers said.
Narai Kim and Max Kim will manage the Seoul office, which will chase foreign direct investment in energy, tech, mobility, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and other sectors expected to grow in the future.
Narai has 15 years of experience in the advance manufacturing sector, in which she's worked on international business-to-business, business-to-government and government-to-government projects. She's also worked with governments worldwide on technology transfer and licensing programs for the the battery, materials and aerospace sectors.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Mi Tierra closing after 22 years; La Carreta, Flako's Tacos, Wendy's, Bulldog Ale House, WhoaZone, The Love of Arts and Illinois Dermatology Institute opening
219 News Now 6/23/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Maple + Bacon, deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/indiana-economic-development-corp-opens-office-in-south-korea/article_9a41c5dc-20ee-11ee-996a-775293166131.html | 2023-07-13T00:49:35 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/indiana-economic-development-corp-opens-office-in-south-korea/article_9a41c5dc-20ee-11ee-996a-775293166131.html |
A Merrillville church installed a new pastor.
Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church ordained Brian J. Nygaard as its new pastor.
“It is with great joy that Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, Merrillville, announces the ordination and installation of our new pastor Brian J. Nygaard at a special service," said Greg Kamplain, head of lay ministers at the Lutheran Church. “After a year of vacancy, the Holy Spirit blessed our church with a wonderful new pastor and family.”
Pastor Nygaard graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He worked in finance before answering a call to the ministry.
Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church is a Lutheran church at 7950 Marshall St. in Merrillville that's affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
The church started in 1944 with Rev. Jack Muhlenbruch as the first fulltime pastor. He also served as pastor of Immanuel Church in Gary's Brunswick neighborhood and Hope Lutheran in Cedar Lake before departing for an opportunity in Fort Wayne. It purchased the first parcel of land at the corner of U.S. 30 and Marshall Street in Merrillville in 1948, adding more parcels over the next few years.
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Construction on the church began in 1951 with the dedication taking place the following April. It included a 133-year-old bell from a one-room schoolhouse in Pennsylvania but the bell has not been rung since the 1970s after the wooden framework rotted away.
The church soon added a kindergarten and a Call-A-Month Club. It expanded in 1977 just a year after burning its mortgage, adding more Sunday School space. It brought in Deaconess students form Valparaiso to teach Sunday School and confirmation.
It's continued to grow over the years, adding a children's choir and a new Allen Digital Computer Organ while serving hundreds of parishioners.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Mi Tierra closing after 22 years; La Carreta, Flako's Tacos, Wendy's, Bulldog Ale House, WhoaZone, The Love of Arts and Illinois Dermatology Institute opening
219 News Now 6/23/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Maple + Bacon, deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/trinity-memorial-lutheran-church-names-new-pastor/article_522660e0-2063-11ee-870c-f79511e9db88.html | 2023-07-13T00:49:41 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/trinity-memorial-lutheran-church-names-new-pastor/article_522660e0-2063-11ee-870c-f79511e9db88.html |
Hawley Council President Michelle Rojas refers to the bandstand at the center of Bingham Park as a crown jewel - and that jewel has been in the midst of a long-awaited polishing.
“It’s a full renovation, everything except for the roof,” she said.
When the extensive renovations on Hawley’s bandstand are complete, it will boast new electrical systems, new flooring, and a new name honoring the Norwegian architect who designed it in 1932 for the town he and his family called home.
“It’s going to be the Christopher Ellingsen Bandstand, or just Ellingsen Bandstand,” she said.
Rojas, with the help of the Wayne County Historical Society, has researched Ellingsen and his work extensively during the renovations. He was already an accomplished architect and engineer when he moved to Hawley from New York City and built a family farm on Spruce Street, just up a hill from the site of the park he would design.
Rojas says the park and bandstand quickly became a place for the Hawley community to gather, especially during the Great Depression when it opened.
“There were articles about how music venues helped during the depression,” she said. “I found that very interesting because, obviously, we’re coming out of the pandemic and people are…getting back together and back to normal life for a while.”
The town will celebrate the bandstand on July 29 with an all-day event featuring music, games and tables highlighting local nonprofit organizations.
The live entertainment has ties to the bandstand’s history as well - The Ringgold Band, a 23 person concert band, is set to play after the ribbon cutting and naming ceremony. Rojas discovered they were the first band to play at the bandstand when it opened.
“They have roots back to 1875,” Rojas said. “It’s a community band that had some aspects related to the American Legion and military bands.”
Find more information on the event at ellingsenbandstand.org. | https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2023-07-12/renovating-hawleys-historic-bandstand | 2023-07-13T00:51:27 | 0 | https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2023-07-12/renovating-hawleys-historic-bandstand |
The health of the planet—the oxygen we breathe and water we drink, as well as flood control, food-crop pollination, and carbon storage—is dependent on a biodiverse ecosystem, from the tiniest insect to the mightiest mammal. We humans each have the power to heal the planet, environmentalists say, and we can start in our own proverbial back (or front) yard.
According to environmentalists, we have been conditioned to think of a well-manicured lawn as a vital component of an attractive and desirable home—a status symbol, in fact. We spend our valuable free time mowing lawns, controlling weeds, and planting and tending flowering ornamental shrubs, all of which take a terrible toll on the planet. Ironically, experts say these practices have helped destabilize ecology by disrupting and destroying the insect population, a vital and unseen component of the natural balance.
“For ecological purposes, a lawn may as well be a parking lot,” cites Doug Tallamy, an entomologist with the University of Delaware.
Birds and insects are disappearing
According to Tallamy, the worldwide population of insects has declined by 45 percent since pre-industrial times. Consequently, the bird population has deteriorated by almost a third in the past half-century, according to a 2019 study in the journal Science. These statistics are important, Tallamy says, when you consider the role insects—particularly caterpillars—play as the first step in the food chain, serving as nourishment for songbirds, small mammals, and reptiles, and as pollinators of food crops.
“If you have an ecosystem that doesn’t make a lot of caterpillars—think of your front yard – then you have no functional food web: you don’t have any birds that can breed because it takes thousands of caterpillars to sustain one nest of birds. The good news is we can all do something about it,” says Tallamy.
He references the 135 million acres of residential landscape in the United States—all of it privately owned and potentially teeming with life, if only we nurture it the right way.
“Private citizens who own 44 million acres of lawn have to start practicing conservation on private property,” he urges. “Parks and forests are not large enough to foster the biodiversity we need to survive.”
We can do it
To encourage this effort, Tallamy two years ago started a movement, Homegrown National Park, to place nature at everyone’s doorsteps. It’s a grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function that calls on each of us to create new ecological networks. This is accomplished, he says, one person at a time, in a variety of simple ways, depending on where you live.
For lawn owners, Tallamy recommends removing half your lawnscape and replacing it with plants native to North America. If you’re a city dweller, it’s as easy as planting natives in containers and placing them on your window ledge or doorstep. You can register your property or plants at HomegrownNationalPark.org and join the nearly 30,000 people across the country who already support the cause.
“The goal is to get everyone to cut their area of lawn in half—whether they own 10 acres or one-tenth of an acre,” envisions Tallamy. “That would give us 20 million acres to put towards conservation. Homegrown National Park would actually be the biggest park in the country!”
At the same time, we must remove 70 percent of invasives and ornamentals that populate our world, says Tallamy. “If you measure the amount of biomass that doesn’t belong here, it’s about a third of the greenery that exists,” he said. “These plants aren’t functioning ecologically because they are poison—insects can’t eat them. The crepe myrtle in your yard is pretty, it’s a decoration, but it’s not passing on any of its energy.”
At HomegrownNationalPark.com, each state is rated on the extent of its involvement and performance in the crusade. Pennsylvania ranks in the top tier, and 8th in the country, with 1,282 users and 2,767 plantings over an area of 11,766 acres. However, that represents less than half of one percent of what’s possible.
“One person can make a difference and see that difference—just by planting the right plants on your property,” encourages Tallamy. “We all are responsible for the future of conservation. We have a biodiversity crisis and we are the solution. If we own a piece of the Earth it’s our responsibility to take care of it.”
Tallamy recommends starting small. “The easiest thing to incorporate into a suburban neighborhood is a white oak tree—plant one or two or three—and install a native bed under that tree. That tree is going to generate insects as many as 530 caterpillar species, for example—that run the food web. It’s also going to manage the watershed and sequester a lot of carbon.”
Another idea, says Tallamy, is to create what’s called a pocket meadow of about 5 feet by 10 feet, and fill it in with three or four native plants. “Enjoy watching monarchs, hummingbirds and bees come for the nectar,” he promises. “It creates positive feedback, and encourages people to want to do it again in another portion of their lawn.”
Ask for assistance
Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources can help. Its Lawn Conversion Program offers assistance to those who want to create a meadow or forest on their property. It kicked off in early 2020 as a result of goals set to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Phase III of the Watershed Implementation Plan, specifically, details how Pennsylvania is going to meet its federally mandated total maximum daily load—aka the pollution diet—to improve water quality. Pennsylvania has a goal to convert 5,000 acres of lawn to forest and another 5,000 acres of lawn to meadow by 2025.
“Much of the work previously done to improve water quality was really focused on agricultural settings, and with people who actually own streamside habitat,” notes Kelsey Mummert, coordinator of DCNR’s Lawn Conversion Program. “But with lawn conversion, we’re able to expand some of those nature-based solutions to water quality further upslope and into backyards.”
Mummert sees an uptick in the number of people interested in converting their lawns. “People are trying to figure out what else to do with their lawns,” she says. “Some are interested in getting back some free time on their weekends. But there’s a huge influx of people who are really starting to understand the benefits of native plants and the role they as landowners play in providing habitat and providing native plants in their space to improve biodiversity.”
Converting a lawn to a meadow or forest positively impacts the ecosystem in a variety of ways, according to Mummert. “Maintaining a lawn requires fossil fuel inputs—nutrient input, chemical use, water use, and the release of carbon,” she explains. “Just running your lawnmower every week compacts your soil. Lawns are typically composed of non-native species with really short and dense root systems that don’t promote water infiltration. They are also a monoculture that native pollinators and insects and other wildlife don’t use. By converting your lawn to a meadow or forest, you’re changing
both the above ground and below ground structure. With less lawn, you’re offsetting all those negatives.”
Native plants, conversely, are equipped with deep root systems that improve water infiltration into the soil, which recharges groundwater and improves soil health. It also reduces soil compaction. Instead of running off, water is absorbed into the ground where it can be soaked up, reducing flooding and promoting nutrient processing in the soil.
“Converting [your lawn] to a meadow or forest also means you’re adding a diversity of native species, which improves soil biodiversity, to allow for a great diversity of moth and butterfly caterpillars that typically only feed on one or a few different plant species,” adds Mummert. “It’s providing critical habitat for all of the life stages of a variety of wildlife throughout the entire year.”
Landowners, municipal governments, places of worship, and corporations are eligible to receive assistance from the Lawn Conversion Program. That assistance can take many forms, from financial remuneration to the creation of conversion plans, guidance on site preparation or maintenance, or serving as a liaison to a conservation organization with additional resources. The DCNR webpage https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/Water/LawnConversion provides links to other resources, DIY meadow implementation guides, native plant resources, and native garden templates.
“Planning is really important before anyone jumps into this,” underscores Mummert. “I really encourage people to take the time to think about what they want, and form a vision for how it’s going to look. Also, no effort is too small to benefit wildlife and pollinators. Even if someone has just a garden bed. Putting in a bunch of native plants provides a lot of food for caterpillars, pollinators, and bees that otherwise wouldn’t be there. I highly encourage everybody to do it, even if all they can do is put a couple of native plants in a planter on their doorstep. That’s awesome, too.”
Brian Auman, a landscape architect, is on board. He imparted a natural vibe to his lawnscape at his Lewisburg home 22 years ago. “Formerly, we had traditional lawn and landscaping,” he recalls. “We planted a lot of diverse native trees around the edge, and we’ve reduced the lawn component over time. In 2001, I transposed a section of the lawn into a native grasses and wildflower meadow. It’s the antithesis of a manicured lawn, filled with dandelions and wild violets. The lawn is bunchy and looks unkept, but it’s very little maintenance and you have a lot more biodiversity going on.”
Auman has become a birder by default, while sitting on his deck and watching what happens in his backyard. He uses Cornell University’s Bird Lab app, Merlin, to identify what he’s hearing. “I’ve been recording little segments to see how many birds the app picks up in one minute. My record is nine, everything from northern cardinal, affiliated woodpecker and song sparrow to house finch, American robin, chestnut-sided warbler, black bernie, house wren, and red wing black bird. It’s interesting, and it’s indicative that nature is thriving here.”
Auman sees a societal shift taking place, even among his clients, as people gradually learn about the benefits of less lawn. “From a financial standpoint, it’s not cheap to maintain a perfect lawn for large park areas and people are looking for parks to be an integrated part of nature. An external walking trail, for example, lends itself to not being mowed or maintained, and it looks different in every season. It offers a richer experience for being out in nature.”
And by incorporating the edge concept into his project, as he did in his backyard, Auman promotes a variety of ecological benefits.
“The ecological term is an ecotone—a very biologically diverse area,” said Auman. “We have the edge of a woodland, and a natural grass meadow, so you get species endemic to both in those areas. You have bird habitat in the shrubs and in the trees, and different types of bird habitat in the meadow. It’s a concept I try to work into a lot of my plans, and it’s an experiment in my own backyard.”
One of his recent projects, at Penns Prairie Park in Centre County, encompassed 175 acres of athletic fields for youth sports, and large areas of grass. The goal was to create a gathering place for the community.
“They realized it is costly to maintain turf grass and were looking for options,” said Auman of his client.
“We went back to the historical reference of that area—a map from the 1700s shows it as a large plain, so we built off the idea of the Great Plains and installed an oak savannah. Penns Woods is a misnomer, indicating that everything in Pennsylvania was wooded at one point. The Native American land management of that area created large grass lands. There was a great diversity of greenery there. We’re replicating that with a mixture of grasslands and tree species that are fire resistant, so prescribed burning is an option to maintain it.”
Auman cited another meadow-oriented project he is starting at Turtle Creek Park in East Buffalo Township near Lewisburg. He referenced 2006 photos from when the property was a dog park and grassland. By the time it was purchased about a year ago, invasive shrubs had encroached and deteriorated the biodiversity of the site.
“It was mowed down and nature reset it,” Auman said. “Natural doesn’t mean you just let the land go. We have to be rigorous about controlling invasive species, otherwise the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the site will deteriorate.”
Auman will use the site’s rich biodiversity—uplands, wetlands, and a stream corridor—to its fullest capacity.
“My plan will include both a park recreation plan, including an enclosed dog park area, a trail network, seating areas and parking. It will also include an ecological land management plan, indicating the different habitats created on the site. We’ll go through a public process with birders, the Linn Conservancy, and anyone else with an interest in this space to get everyone’s ideas on paper. It will be exciting.”
Where to start?
While most nurseries are stocked with ornamental non-native species of plants, there’s a growing industry of native trees and shrubs. Ask for native options when you shop and encourage your local nursery to begin to stock more native species.
Pennsylvania’s Keystone 10 Million Trees Program, a Chesapeake Bay initiative the PA DCNR helps administer, gives out free native trees to people willing to plant them and document where they’re planted.
For anyone looking at this big picture, and feeling overwhelmed, thinking they have to take some extreme measures to make a difference, Auman has some advice.
“You can start small and experiment,” he advises. “The next time you are replacing a tree or shrub, consider the native options. The state has a simplified list of what to plant where—shady, sunny, moist, dry, under a power line, etc. – so it doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult.”
What must change, Auman says, is Americans’ fascination with a well-manicured lawn.
“It's a bizarre relationship Americans have with lawns, with medieval roots – when lawns fortified castles—and it was a safety issue. Later, lawns translated to a status symbol with the upper classes in Europe: a manicured lawn proclaimed you were so well off you no longer had to grow food. Now it’s a conformity issue, and it’s been applied to deserts and everywhere else people irrigate lawn. I like to think we’re in a less conformist era, where we can rethink these standards. Analyze the value of your own time and the expense that goes into maintaining a lawn, against what you can do for ecological value to enhance wildlife habitat and the aesthetics of your yard. The timing is right: let’s reevaluate our
strange relationship with the lawn.” | https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2023-07-12/this-summer-create-your-own-homegrown-national-park-and-save-our-ecosystem-in-the-process | 2023-07-13T00:51:33 | 0 | https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2023-07-12/this-summer-create-your-own-homegrown-national-park-and-save-our-ecosystem-in-the-process |
PORTLAND, Maine — In 2021, Debbie Cupo, of Falmouth, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Little more than a year later, having undergone successful chemotherapy and radiation, she staged a gala and golf tournament called Drive Fore the Cure to raise money for cancer care in Maine. What Cupo saw during her own treatment moved her to act.
"When I was having chemo, I would be sitting next to someone who had their baby there," Cupo recalled. "They [went through] three hours with chemo with their baby. Then they had to go home and take care of their other children and their husbands and their jobs. I think it’s so important to remember that these people need help and care."
The goal for the first Drive Fore the Cure was to raise $50,000 for cancer care. It ended up raising $130,000. For a first-time charitable event, it was the equivalent of a 350-yard drive down the middle of the fairway.
"That type of money is really helping the Maine people," Cupo said. "That’s what’s important to me."
After the first year’s resounding success, Drive Fore the Cure is back for 2023 with a gala set for Aug. 20 and a charity tournament the following day, both at the Falmouth Country Club. The money raised will go to the MaineHealth Cancer Care Network.
You can find information on how to participate and donate here. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/after-beating-cancer-debbie-cupo-set-out-to-help-other-mainers-going-through-same-battle-life/97-907ce0e3-58ff-4f00-850e-a6f8739876f9 | 2023-07-13T00:58:09 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/after-beating-cancer-debbie-cupo-set-out-to-help-other-mainers-going-through-same-battle-life/97-907ce0e3-58ff-4f00-850e-a6f8739876f9 |
PORTLAND, Maine — A few months ago, retired Portland Press Herald columnist Bill Nemitz spearheaded an effort to save the state’s largest media company from falling into the hands of private investors who might be far more interested in profits than quality journalism.
The owner of Masthead Maine, Reade Brower, was ready to sell, but made it clear he hoped to find a new owner who would be a good steward of the company’s five daily newspapers, the Portland Press Herald, Lewiston Sun Journal, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, and Brunswick Times Record, as well as roughly two dozen weekly papers.
Moving quickly, Nemitz and two other Mainers with extensive media experience, Bill Burke and Emily Barr, created the nonprofit Maine Journalism Foundation. Its goal: to raise the money needed to buy Masthead Maine and run it as a nonprofit enterprise with a commitment to first-rate journalism.
Now we know the outcome of the MJF’s ambitious mission. It failed. Nemitz’s reaction?
"We are absolutely thrilled," he said.
The Maine Journalism Foundation won’t be buying Masthead Maine. Instead, Masthead will be taken over by a partner that’s likely an even better fit: the National Trust for Local News—a nonprofit devoted to independent, nonpartisan news coverage.
The National Trust will acquire the five dailies and seventeen of the weeklies. Brower will hold onto the remaining weeklies. The employees who’ve been putting out the papers—managers, editors, reporters, photographers, and more—will keep their jobs.
"This is really the realization of what we dreamed about," Nemitz said. "It’s great news for all of Maine. It’s great news for Maine newspaper readers and for journalism generally."
In the end, it came down to money, and the National Trust had more of it.
"We did some great fundraising here locally, but not to the point where we were going to be at the purchase price required," Burke said. "These are valuable properties. They’re very well run—great papers. And once we knew the National Trust is aligned as we are in terms of what we wanted to accomplish, they were the perfect partner."
This deal unfolded quickly, and the pace is not slowing down. The expectation is the National Trust for Local News will close on the sale before the end of July. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/nonprofit-set-to-take-over-group-of-maine-newspapers-national-trust-for-local-news-masthead-media/97-02d82321-bea2-4f3b-9425-29c6fcbb30c5 | 2023-07-13T00:58:15 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/nonprofit-set-to-take-over-group-of-maine-newspapers-national-trust-for-local-news-masthead-media/97-02d82321-bea2-4f3b-9425-29c6fcbb30c5 |
BANGOR, Maine — Bangor police responded to a possible incident on 3rd Street near Parker Street on Wednesday afternoon.
As of about 5 p.m., 3rd Street from Warren Avenue to Patten Street was closed during the police response, and drivers have been encouraged to detour around the area.
Several police vehicles were at the scene, and a tactical vehicle responded closer to 5:30 p.m. Penobscot County Sheriff's Office also responded to the incident.
As of 6 p.m. police appeared to be attempting to communicate with someone inside a residence there regarding a possible warrant.
Police have not yet responded to questions about the incident.
NEWS CENTER Maine is at the scene and will be updating the story as it develops.
Neighbors in the area told NEWS CENTER Maine that police have been present in the area since about 3:45 or 4 p.m.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/bangor/bangor-police-incident-response-third-street/97-f4d569d3-645d-4652-8fca-be01953fcf86 | 2023-07-13T00:58:19 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/bangor/bangor-police-incident-response-third-street/97-f4d569d3-645d-4652-8fca-be01953fcf86 |
BAR HARBOR, Maine — The trial is underway in federal court to decide whether the cap on the number of cruise ship passengers allowed in Bar Harbor—set to take effect next year—is unconstitutional.
A group of businesses, represented by the Association to Protect and Preserve Local Livelihoods (APPLL) filed a complaint against the town in December, one month after the voters approved the limit on visitors from cruises to 1,000 per day.
They argue the new ordinance violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the federal government ultimate authority over state and local powers.
APPLL claims cruise ships are an example of interstate commerce, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. government, not the town of Bar Harbor.
But to many in favor of the cap, the town’s democratic decision comes first.
"You really need to listen to the residents of Bar Harbor who voted overwhelmingly to limit cruise ship visitation," Gary Friedmann, who sits on the Bar Harbor Town Council, said last week.
Friedmann and his allies believe town rule trumps federal oversight when it comes to cruise ship passengers. He adds that congestion caused by these visitors downtown is impacting the residents.
"There’s a community of people here who have to have a higher quality of life than I think what we’re seeing now," he said.
Legal arguments aside, many supporters of both the APPLL are worried about the day-to-day impact that a cap could have.
For business owners like Sue Stanley, more cruise ship passengers mean more customers to her boutique home goods shop near the town green.
"They’re very good patrons of my store… they contribute a lot to our economy fiscally, not just in what they spend here, but what goes to the town of Bar Harbor," Stanley said.
Alison Barnes, another business owner, says a sizable portion of her revenue comes from cruise ship passengers, and if the cap were to go through, she fears her business might not stay afloat.
"It’s a very real possibility that we and many other stores will have to close if this goes through," Barnes said.
But not everyone is sold on this argument. Charles Sidman is a Bar Harbor resident and a co-defendant in the suit. He joined the defense this year. In his view, business owners are exaggerating the impact of a cruise ship cap.
"Even if they disappeared entirely, and weren’t replaced, there’s no catastrophe about to happen," Sidman said from his home on Sunday.
As for concerns that the cap is an overstep by the town, he countered, "If the plaintiff's arguments here were to be accepted, no regulations, from town to state, to federal [levels] would be possible. Businesses would simply be able to do whatever they want whenever they want for their own financial purposes."
To some in favor of the cap, which passed with the support of 58 percent of voters last November, unfettered tourism would actually hurt the town in the long run because Bar Harbor will become a less appealing destination.
Melisa Rowland is a retired physician and year-round resident. In her mind, the influx of cruise ships, which has increased in recent years, will ultimately drive locals out.
"I think it's going to hollow the town out from what it's already become from having normal people who live here… I think it's going to make this place a place where you’ll only have tourists and only have people that are here making money in the summer," Rowland said.
The trial to determine the fate of Bar Harbor’s cruise cap is expected to take place throughout this week. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/courts-news/federal-judge-to-rule-on-bar-harbor-cruise-ship-cap-small-business-maine-politics-courts-travel/97-e431f438-bebe-4e19-9f14-5131ff689b67 | 2023-07-13T00:58:25 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/courts-news/federal-judge-to-rule-on-bar-harbor-cruise-ship-cap-small-business-maine-politics-courts-travel/97-e431f438-bebe-4e19-9f14-5131ff689b67 |
KENNEBUNK, Maine — Finding an affordable housing unit these days in some parts of Maine has gotten increasingly difficult.
To help make a dent, Kennebunk Savings Bank is donating 12 acres of unused land in Kennebunk on Alewive Park Road, right by its Operation Center, for Avesta Housing to specifically make affordable units.
"We have 40 acres of land, our Operations Center covers about 20 acres of that property, so we have all that excess land back there," CEO and President of Kennebunk Savings Brad Paige said.
The piece of land will be divided into two lots, with two separate buildings, where a total of 70 units will be developed.
Paige said the project is specifically intended for senior citizens.
The land is zoned as industrial, so Kennebunk voters will need to decide in November whether the switch can be made, which would allow the land to be developed into senior low-income housing units in the near future, Paige told NEWS CENTER Maine.
"Next steps are, this is actually zoned industrial here, so we actually have to go to the town for approval for a contract zone to allow the project to be built for senior low-income housing," Paige said. "It'll go to a vote hopefully in November with the towns people, and if the voters approve the contract zone, we will be able to move forward and immediate donate the land to Avesta so the project can get going."
Another 12 acres near the construction site will be set aside for conservation.
"It'll be a great parcel back there for Avesta," Paige said. "They have a waiting list in Kennebunk for their existing three properties in excess of 300 people on that list, so we will be able to take maybe 70 or 80 of those people and put them into the housing over the next few years."
On top of the land donation, Paige says that Kennebunk Savings Bank has a foundation where they plan to donate $550,000 that will go towards the project, to help make it a reality, after it gets town and citizen approval. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/housing/kennebunk-savings-bank-donates-land-to-build-affordable-housing-units-older-mainers/97-962e346e-bf00-4041-9d76-ed3bd1d6dc71 | 2023-07-13T00:58:31 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/housing/kennebunk-savings-bank-donates-land-to-build-affordable-housing-units-older-mainers/97-962e346e-bf00-4041-9d76-ed3bd1d6dc71 |
PORTLAND, Maine — On Wednesday, Portland city leaders met with asylum seekers living at an emergency shelter to address concerns about living conditions the immigrants raised at the end of June.
On June 28, families living at the Portland Expo protested the lack of food options, short shower times, and sleeping arrangements of cots. At the time, city leaders said they would check back in two weeks, which is what a city spokesperson said prompted Wednesday's visit.
That spokesperson, Jessica Grondin, said city staff have increased showering times and tried to add more food options, but she said "the food networks we are using are already strained."
The larger question city leaders are trying to answer is where to house these roughly 300 people when the Expo stops operating as an emergency shelter on Aug. 16. The Expo will return to its main function as an event space, particularly for sports.
The city has a 180-bed shelter specifically designed for asylum seekers that leaders expect to come online by November. That shelter is for singles; the people living at the Expo are families.
Mayor Kate Snyder wrote a letter to Gov. Janet Mills on June 29, asking her to support the idea from the Greater Portland Council of Governments to house asylum seekers in dormitories at Unity Environmental University in the town of Unity. City staff said the governor has not yet responded.
UEU's president, Dr. Melik Peter Khoury, said the following in a statement on June 30:
“Before asylum seekers could be housed at Unity Environmental University’s campus in Unity there would need to be a comprehensive plan between the institution, the town, the state, county agencies, and advocacy groups, as well as adequate funding. At this time, no such plan exists.
The number of asylees that could be housed at our Quaker Hill Road facilities would depend on a range of factors. There has not been a meeting between GPCOG, Unity Environmental University, the Governor’s Office, and the Town of Unity to discuss the full scope, feasibility, timing, and infrastructure support required to effectively accommodate and provide for the potential influx of asylees at our Quaker Hill Road facilities.
We remain willing to help, but will not put the cart before the horse.”
Mayor Snyder acknowledged the complexity of the idea in her June 29 letter to Mills. She again asked Mills to use the National Guard to stand up an emergency shelter if the UEU dorms will not work out.
In an email statement Wednesday, Dr. Khoury said the university's stance remains the same. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-immigration/portland-city-leaders-anxiously-wait-for-help-with-plan-to-house-asylum-seekers-maine-housing-politics/97-241ac4b0-7c71-42c1-b3ae-50280021345b | 2023-07-13T00:58:37 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-immigration/portland-city-leaders-anxiously-wait-for-help-with-plan-to-house-asylum-seekers-maine-housing-politics/97-241ac4b0-7c71-42c1-b3ae-50280021345b |
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — A motorcyclist was found dead by a passerby in South Berwick Wednesday morning.
At about 5:30 a.m., a passing driver called South Berwick police regarding a motorcycle found off Ogunquit Road in the woods, according to a news release from the South Berwick Police Department.
The caller reportedly told police the motorcyclist appeared to be dead, and police said first responders pronounced the individual dead at the scene.
Police have not identified the motorcyclist pending family notification.
NEWS CENTER Maine reached out to the South Berwick Police Department for further information regarding the incident but did not immediately hear back. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-found-dead-in-south-berwick-by-passerby-ogunquit-road-maine/97-7f4a118e-d24b-48c7-821d-357e8b52ecd9 | 2023-07-13T00:58:39 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-found-dead-in-south-berwick-by-passerby-ogunquit-road-maine/97-7f4a118e-d24b-48c7-821d-357e8b52ecd9 |
KENNEBUNK, Maine — The recent warm weather has attracted beachgoers to York County's beautiful shores, seeking relief from the summer heat, but a new report from Environment America has raised concerns about the water quality at these beaches. State testing has revealed high levels of bacterial contamination at six beaches in the area.
Gooch's Beach in Kennebunk, one of the popular destinations in York County, has displayed conflicting signals about water safety. Green flags indicate the water is safe for swimming, but recent tests indicate it falls below the safety threshold for bacteria. This discrepancy has left visitors confused about the actual condition of the water and its potential health risks.
Tourists visiting the beaches for the first time were shocked to learn about the water contamination issue. Many had been swimming in the water without realizing the potential risks.
"With it being our first time here, our first family trip, because both my kids are COVID babies -- we had them during the pandemic -- so finally I said we can go, but now it’s just like we’re just going to play in the sand," Carmen Kowlaski, a tourist, said.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection conducted tests and found bacteria contamination at beaches throughout York County.
Moreover, a comprehensive study by Environment America from last year revealed that more than half of the 67 beaches examined were deemed unsafe.
John Rumpler, the clean water director at Environment America, highlighted the potential consequences of swimming in contaminated water, ranging from nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting to skin rashes and ear infections. These health risks underscore the importance of addressing the water quality issue promptly.
“It's not about how is the beach safe or unsafe exactly today as we stand here at this beautiful beach; it's looking at it overtime seeing how is this beach doing," Rumpler said.
Monitoring beach conditions over an extended period is crucial to accurately evaluate their overall health.
Environment America plans to continue testing the water quality at various beaches in York County until Labor Day. This long-term approach allows for better assessment and ensures that beachgoers are adequately informed about potential risks before making their recreational choices.
To ensure beach safety, it is essential for visitors to stay informed about the water conditions.
By staying updated on water safety levels and being aware of the potential risks, beachgoers can make informed decisions to protect their health and well-being while enjoying the natural beauty of Maine's beaches. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/public-safety/high-levels-bacteria-beaches-york-county/97-b0b27997-5079-4ebe-9ee0-781d52c63ddc | 2023-07-13T00:58:45 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/public-safety/high-levels-bacteria-beaches-york-county/97-b0b27997-5079-4ebe-9ee0-781d52c63ddc |
SAN ANTONIO — Having a premature baby can be scary for any mother. In this Wear The Gown, we find out the best ways medical professionals help keep the mother and baby in the best health possible, before and after birth.
There are three categories of premature birth. Starting with late preterm which is any birth before 37 weeks, moderate preterm, and extreme prematurity which goes down to 23 weeks.
"Sometimes mom will have an infection. Dehydration. If she's had previous preterm deliveries. There are multiples like twins or triplets. Sometimes they're born early," said Monica Garza-Vickery who is a registered nurse in the newborn nursery at University Health. She says there are many risk factors. Garza-Vickery told us, "Their age sometimes can play a factor. Any moms that smoke during pregnancy, drug use, infections that they may have."
According to the CDC as of 2021 one out of every 10 infants born in the U.S. were premature. The rate of preterm birth among African-American women was near 15 percent, for Hispanic women near 10 percent, and for White women 9.5 percent. Here in Texas, the premature birth rate is higher than the rest of the country, with one out of every nine infants born prematurely.
Premature babies could have many extra medical needs including respiratory support. Garza-Vickery said, "Their breathing may need to be assisted by a machine, the ventilator, sometimes just an oxygen flow."
Also maintaining temperature. Garza-Vickery added, "A lot of the much smaller babies are going to be in the incubator. That way we can regulate their temperature and make sure that all their systems are functioning as well as possible."
Next is extra monitoring of heart issues. Garza-Vickery explained, "They can have heart issues because they hadn't had that time to develop properly."
Also nutrition, often given through IVs, and a condition called NEC. Garza-Vickery told us, "An issue with baby's intestines where they lose blood flow over time."
Bonding is still extremely important in preemies, which is why University Health focus on that in their Family Nutrure Care program. Garza-Vickery said, "The specialist will interact with the family and show them how to care for a baby and how to really bond and connect with them."
For more information about premature babies and University Health's NICU check out this link. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/outreach/wear-the-gown/wear-the-gown-mothers-expect-baby-born-premature/273-764c79bb-5378-4074-95ac-b4e1f0d5f265 | 2023-07-13T00:59:21 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/outreach/wear-the-gown/wear-the-gown-mothers-expect-baby-born-premature/273-764c79bb-5378-4074-95ac-b4e1f0d5f265 |
SANGER, Texas — Police in the Denton County city of Sanger have released dash camera video of an "excessive use of force" incident that ultimately led to an officer's termination and arrest.
Sgt. Cole Thompson was fired for the October 2022 incident and then indicted in March 2023 on charges of official oppression and assault.
Sanger police said that on Oct. 23, 2022, the department received a call from the Denton County Sheriff's Office dispatch about a "vehicle disturbance." A summary of the incident call reveals "a rolling vehicle and verbal disturbance" with the driver refusing to stop and allow a female and children to get out of the vehicle.
Police performed a traffic stop on the vehicle in question. Police said the driver then complied with orders to exit the vehicle and move to the back of it.
As the driver was being placed in handcuffs, the driver was taken to the ground and was also tased, according to police. The dashcam video shows the physical force used while the driver was on the ground.
The driver had "minor injuries to his face and head area by striking him with a closed fist numerous times," according to public documents released to WFAA.
Police said Thompson submitted a report of the incident to be reviewed by the administration, per the department's use of force policy.
Thompson was initially placed on administrative leave when an internal investigation was launched on Nov. 7, 2022.
Police said the internal investigation determined that Thompson's report of the incident was inconsistent with what video recordings from dash and body cameras showed. The use of force was deemed "excessive", according to police.
Thompson was terminated on Dec. 9, 2022, police said.
The Texas Rangers also conducted a criminal investigation, which was then presented to a Denton County grand jury.
Thompson was indicted on March 30, 2023, on one count of official oppression and one count of assault. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/sanger-texas-police-dashcam-video-excessive-force-incident-officer-terminated/287-1cfe1e12-088b-44b1-b9cd-6aa746de2c8f | 2023-07-13T01:01:49 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/sanger-texas-police-dashcam-video-excessive-force-incident-officer-terminated/287-1cfe1e12-088b-44b1-b9cd-6aa746de2c8f |
Muncie tavern to celebrate 90th anniversary of John Dillinger robbery
MUNCIE, Ind. — A longtime tavern on Muncie's southeast side on Saturday will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the day John Dillinger held up a business at the same location.
The Oasis Bar & Grill — at Memorial and Burlington drives — will observe John Dillinger Day.
Special meals that day will include a frog leg dinner — reportedly a favorite of the Hoosier bandit — and a chicken dinner, a re-creation of what turned out to be Dillinger's final meal.
Also Saturday, Dillinger's cocktail of choice, the Old Fashioned, will be available, along with the robber's favorite dessert, coconut cream pie.
The festivities will begin about 5 p.m., according to Michelle Phillips, co-manager of the Oasis, who said organizers hoped those attending Dillinger Day would consider wearing "30s gangster-type attire."
A jazz band is set to perform at the Oasis from 8 to 10 p.m. A vehicle from Dillinger's era will also be parked outside the tavern.
Davis said the Dillinger anniversary has been observed before at the Oasis.
"I hope it becomes an annual event," she said.
Dillinger's ties to Muncie, Delaware County
John Dillinger — who had recently been paroled from the Indiana State Prison after serving time for a 1924 robbery conviction in his hometown of Mooresville — showed up in Muncie by the summer of 1933. He was reportedly in possession of a list of banks and businesses to be robbed that had been prepared by "Handsome Harry" Pierpont, a Muncie native doing time for robbery convictions.
At about 12:15 a.m. on July 15, Dillinger and his local associates — at least some of whom that week had taken up lodging in a Muncie boarding house at 515 S. Council St. — held up the Bide-A-Wee Inn, a "roadhouse" best known for its barbecue, at the present-day site of the Oasis.
That early morning heist netted Dillinger and his co-horts – including Indianapolis teenager Willie "The Kid" Shaw and Harry Copeland, a 36-year-old ex-con from Muncie – $70.
Later that morning, Muncie police in pursuit of the Bide-A-Wee bandits raided the Council Street boarding house, and arrested Shaw and two other gang members.
Dillinger — driving a Chevrolet coupe with Copeland on board — avoided capture, reportedly by backing down an alley onto Powers Street.
More:From 2009: John Dillinger – who frequented ECI – returns to the spotlight
Two days after the Bide-A-Wee holdup, Dillinger and Copeland targeted the Commercial Bank in Daleville, with Dillinger vaulting over a counter and announcing to teller Margaret Good, "Honey, this is a stickup."
That robbery netted the bandits about $3,500 in cash.
The Delaware County holdups, along with a Aug. 4 robbery at the Montpelier National Bank in northern Blackford County, helped launch a year-long crime spree that saw Dillinger become the nation's most notorious criminal — and improbably, something of a pop culture icon, although no one used the phrase at the time.
In addition to robbing more than a dozen banks, the Dillinger gang at times targeted police stations and arsenals, where they stocked up on firearms.
During his months in the national headlines. Dillinger was twice captured.
In October 1933, Muncie native Pierpont — who had escaped from the Indiana State Prison with firearms supplied by Dillinger — and two other associates broke Dillinger out of the jail in Lima, Ohio.
(A year later, Pierpont would die in Ohio's electric chair for fatally shooting the sheriff during the Lima break-out.)
In January 1934, Dillinger, Pierpont and other gang members were apprehended in Arizona.
Dillinger — by that time charged with killing a police officer during a bank robbery in East Chicago, Indiana — in early March escaped from the Lake County jail in Crown Point, by his account using a self-carved wooden gun. Some maintained the payment of bribes had also been a factor in that escape.
Officially named "Public Enemy No. 1" by federal authorities, Dillinger spent most of his final months on the run in the Chicago area, at some point undergoing plastic surgery in a bid to alter his appearance.
On the evening of July 22, 1934, Dillinger was leaving a movie theater on Chicago's north side when he was approached by federal agents. He was fatally shot as he tried to flee down an alley.
(In the nine decades since, conspiracy theorists have suggested authorities that night had somehow gunned down the wrong man, and that Dillinger was never captured.
As recently as 2019, a nephew of the bandit tried to obtain a court order allowing him to have Dillinger exhumed from his grave, at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, so his identity could be confirmed through DNA testing.)
The Oasis, at the former home of the Bide-A-Wee, represents one of the final physical ties to Dillinger in the Muncie area.
In recent years, the long-vacant Council Street apartment building — where Dillinger's associates were arrested hours after after the Bide-A-Wee holdup — was destroyed by fire.
In 2009, the old Commercial Bank building in Daleville was torn down after sitting unused for years. However, Daleville has annually hosted a John Dillinger car show for the past 36 years.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/muncie-tavern-to-observe-90th-anniversary-of-john-dillinger-robbery/70401038007/ | 2023-07-13T01:02:15 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/muncie-tavern-to-observe-90th-anniversary-of-john-dillinger-robbery/70401038007/ |
Detroit Police Commissioner cited for obscenity with hooker asks cop: 'Can you help me out?'
Detroit — Police Commissioner Bryan Ferguson told a Wayne County Sheriff's undercover officer that he was a member of the Detroit police board and asked "Can you help me out?" after being caught having sex with a prostitute on the city's northwest side, sheriff's officials said Wednesday.
The incident happened at about 7 a.m. Wednesday, when an undercover narcotics and morality squad spotted Ferguson sitting in his truck in the Happy Homes neighborhood near Schoolcraft and Sorrento on Detroit's northwest side, said Wayne County Sheriff's Capt. Jason Bates.
"The officers approached, and when the first vehicle drives by, they see what appears to be a female passenger inside the truck with her head in his lap," Bates said. "The officer turned around and approached the truck; she jumps out wiping her face off.
"Then, he gets out of the truck and says, 'Hey, listen, I'm a Detroit police commissioner. Can you help me out?' My crew continued to proceed with the investigation, and he was cited and released from the scene. The woman, who was a known prostitute, was also cited and released."
Ferguson, who did not return a phone call seeking comment, was given a misdemeanor citation for indecent obscene conduct, and his truck was towed, Bates said.
The commissioner, who was replaced as board chair July 1 by QuanTez Pressley, told WXYZ (Ch. 7) that the woman jumped into his truck bed.
"I start screaming at her: Get the F out of my truck. I was cussing — get the F out of my truck. Get out. Get out right now!'” Ferguson told the broadcast station. "She’s hollering out, 'Please help me, he’s going to kill me!' I said, 'I don’t even care. Get out of my truck.' While I was saying that, I’m trying to push her out of my truck ... well, when I went to go step out of my truck, an SUV go pulling out with white lights.”
Police Commissioner Ricardo Moore, a frequent critic of how the board has operated, said the alleged incident is the latest embarrassment for the body that was created in 1974 to provide civilian oversight of the Detroit Police Department.
"This is more reason for federal intervention into the board and the Detroit Police Department," he said. "Even though the board's distractions are temporary, it unconsciously gives DPD permission to run amok."
Detroit Police said in a statement: "We were made aware that a member of the Board of Police Commissioners was cited by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for alleged illegal activity. We have not seen the police report and do not have details of the incident. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to comment."
The DPD statement added: "We will consult with the Law Department regarding the matter."
Ferguson is married, according to his biography on the city's website.
ghunter@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2134
Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN
I | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/07/12/detroit-police-commissioner-busted-with-prostitute/70407983007/ | 2023-07-13T01:03:48 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/07/12/detroit-police-commissioner-busted-with-prostitute/70407983007/ |
PHOENIX — Sacred Saguaro and Prickly Pear Wheat sound very Arizona – because they are. And the breweries behind the beverages are now award winners.
Four Arizona breweries took home six medals on Monday from the 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship held in Oxford, Ohio.
The organization said more than 9,000 beers representing 170 different styles entered the competition.
The Arizona honorees include Huss Brewing, OHSO, 12 West Brewing and Grand Canyon Brewing which took home three medals.
Winners:
Category 4 – International Pale Ale
GOLD: Smooth Transitions – 12 West Brewing – AZ
SILVER: Monroe’s Hornpipe – Hop Dogma Brewing Company – CA
BRONZE: Mi Vida – Denver Beer Company – CO
Category 86 – Vienna-Style Lager
GOLD: Symphony – Big Ash Brewing Company – OH
SILVER: Adrianna – Alaro Craft Brewery – CA
BRONZE: Sacred Saguaro – Grand Canyon – AZ
Category 96 – American Wheat
GOLD: Redband Tangerine Wheat – No-Li Brewhouse – WA
SILVER: Golden State Wheat – INC82 Brewing – Ca
BRONZE: Kachina Throwback – Grand Canyon – AZ
Category 98 – American Berry/Fruit Beer – Blueberry
GOLD: My Blue Heaven – Grainworks Brewing – OH
SILVER: BlueBeary Ale – Big Bear Brewing Company – FL
BRONZE: Papago Blueberry Wheat – Huss Brewing – AZ
Category 98 – American Berry/Fruit Beer – General/Other
GOLD: Mango Blonde – Lift Bridge Brewery – Minnesota
SILVER: Prickly Pear Wheat – Grand Canyon – AZ
BRONZE: Honeydew Honeysuckle Wheat – Appalachian Mountain Beverage – NC
Category 140 – Tea Beer
GOLD: Hollowpoint – Cartridge Brewing – OH
GOLD: Earl’s Out! – Sanitas Brewing Company – CO
SILVER: Sudoku – OHSO Brewery Gilbert – AZ
BRONZE: Porch Swing – MadTree Brewing – OH
Grand Canyon Brewing opened in 2007 in Williams and has since opened locations across the state.
12 West Brewing opened in 2016 and has locations in Mesa and Gilbert.
Huss Brewing began in 2013 in Tempe and now has two more locations in Phoenix.
OHSO, or the Outrageous Homebrewer’s Social Outpost, has several locations across the Valley.
What is the U.S. Open Beer Championship?
The U.S. Open is an international competition that began in 2009 and became the first beer competition to be held in its own venue, a 6,000-square-foot Amish pole barn on a small farm, according to the organization's website. The barn has a judging area, a serving area, two 450-square-foot coolers, an office and a nano brewery.
Top winners in the U.S. Beer Open:
Toppling Goliath Brewing of Decorah, Iowa, was awarded the 2023 Grand National Champion by winning four gold medals.
Flix Brewhouse in Carmel, Indiana, placed second overall.
Schulz Brau Brewing out of Knoxville, Tennessee, placed third.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-breweries-awards-us-open-beer-championship/75-5163910e-a65b-439a-94a0-bf16518a9a04 | 2023-07-13T01:06:17 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-breweries-awards-us-open-beer-championship/75-5163910e-a65b-439a-94a0-bf16518a9a04 |
DOVER, Del. — A former Donald Trump supporter who became the center of a conspiracy theory about Jan. 6, 2021, filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Wednesday, saying the network made him a scapegoat for the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
Raymond Epps, a former Marine who said he was forced from his Arizona home due to threats, is asking for unspecified damages and a jury trial.
He filed his lawsuit in Superior Court in Delaware, the same court where Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox for lies broadcast following the 2020 presidential election. Shortly before a trial was to begin this spring, Fox agreed to pay Dominion $787 million to settle the charges.
Fox had no immediate comment on Epps' lawsuit.
Epps, who had traveled to Washington for the Jan. 6 demonstration, was falsely accused by Fox of being a government agent who was whipping up trouble that would be blamed on Trump supporters, the lawsuit claims.
“In the aftermath of the events of January 6th, Fox News searched for a scapegoat to blame other than Donald Trump or the Republican Party,” the lawsuit said. “Eventually, they turned on one of their own.”
Although the lawsuit mentions Fox's Laura Ingraham and Will Cain, former Fox host Tucker Carlson was cited as the leader in promoting the theory. Epps was featured in more than two dozen segments on Carlson's prime-time show, the lawsuit said. Fox News fired Carlson shortly after the Dominion settlement was announced.
The lawsuit said that Carlson “was bluntly telling his viewers that it was a fact that Epps was a government informant. And they believed him.”
Carlson ignored evidence that contradicted his theory, including Epps' testimony before the congressional committee that investigated the insurrection that he was not working for the government, and videotapes provided by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that showed Epps' efforts to try to defuse the situation that day, the lawsuit said.
Carlson was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Epps' lawyer, Michael Teter, said that Carlson “was an employee of Fox when he lied about Ray, and Fox broadcast those defamatory falsehoods."
"Fox is therefore fully liable for Mr. Carlson's statements,” Teter said.
The former Fox star did not return a message seeking comment.
Epps claims in his lawsuit that, as a result of the alleged defamatory statements made by Fox, he and his wife have been the target of harassment and death threats from Trump supporters.
"Epps, sleep with one eye open,” read one message that he received.
Epps said he was also forced to sell the Arizona ranch where they ran a successful wedding venue business, and now faces financial ruin. According to the lawsuit, Epps and his wife are now living in a recreational vehicle in Utah. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-man-caught-january-6-conspiracy-theory-sues-fox-news/75-3cc41db9-98e2-4240-bc8f-754f39905fb3 | 2023-07-13T01:06:23 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-man-caught-january-6-conspiracy-theory-sues-fox-news/75-3cc41db9-98e2-4240-bc8f-754f39905fb3 |
TEMPE, Ariz. — A Barbie-tastic event is coming to Tempe later this month.
The doll's biggest fans are invited to Barbie's Dream Bar at Tempe Marketplace on July 21 for a party to celebrate the release of the new movie.
Organizers said fans will experience lounge areas that look like Barbie's Dream House.
You should come dressed in your best Barbie outfit because there will be a contest for the best-dressed Barbie with the chance to win a shopping spree.
There will also be Barbie-themed cocktails from Dave & Buster's and a massive photo backdrop for photo ops.
Attendees will have the chance to win movie pass giveaways.
The event will be on District Street from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include:
- Best Dressed Barbie contest - Win a $200 shopping spree
- Barbie-themed cocktails from Dave & Buster’s
- Barbie Dream House - lounge area
- Barbie Inspired Fashions
- Barbie Movie pass Giveaways* photo ops and more
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Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/tempe-marketplace-opening-barbies-dream-bar-on-july-21/75-7669e0bc-04d2-453a-96a7-626a80a61861 | 2023-07-13T01:06:35 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/tempe-marketplace-opening-barbies-dream-bar-on-july-21/75-7669e0bc-04d2-453a-96a7-626a80a61861 |
A representative with Lime shows people how to use e-scooters on Oct. 16, 2018, two days before the company’s Boise debut. The city on Tuesday approved Lime as Boise’s sole e-bike and e-scooter provider.
The Boise City Council on Tuesday awarded Lime a contract to be the sole provider of e-scooters and e-bikes in Boise.
Up to 800 e-scooters and 150 e-bikes will soon be available throughout the city, and 50 more e-bikes are expected this September, according to a city of Boise press release. "Lime will expand the location of devices beyond downtown to include areas like the Boise Towne Square Mall and other underserved Boise neighborhoods," the release said.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Lime to further our goals of providing climate-friendly, affordable transportation options for the residents of Boise,” said Tim Keane, Planning and Development Services Director. “Lime has a long-standing track record of focusing on safe and affordable transportation options for residents and we look forward to building upon the quality service they provide in our city.”
Additionally, Lime is offering programs to reduce financial barriers for some riders.
"Low-income residents who qualify for Lime Access will receive 70% off all rides," the release stated. "Residents will automatically receive a 50% discount when residents begin a trip in locations such as the Borah, Central Bench, Liberty Park, Vista, West Boise and West Bench neighborhoods."
For users with disabilities, Lime Assist offers a device similar to a motorized wheelchair that can be reserved at no cost.
Lime will have staff at various community events over the next several months to help educate riders and provide safety training, the release said.
More information is available on the city of Boise's website. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-approves-lime-as-sole-e-bike-scooter-provider/article_f2975ec4-20e7-11ee-8062-33f27980bbe6.html | 2023-07-13T01:06:38 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-approves-lime-as-sole-e-bike-scooter-provider/article_f2975ec4-20e7-11ee-8062-33f27980bbe6.html |
ARIZONA, USA — That old-school 602 number you thought meant you were an OG Phoenix resident doesn't mean a thing anymore.
On Tuesday, Verizon let its customers know the company is eliminating area code boundaries between the 480, 602 and 623 area codes so that all three area codes serve the same geographic region.
The boundary elimination overlay does not require customers to change their area code or phone number. However, you must include the area code when dialing all calls, including local calls within the same area code.
What will be the new dialing procedure?
Anyone with a 480, 602 or 623 area code must include the area code when dialing local calls.
When will the change begin?
On Aug. 12, 2023, if you have a 602 or 623 area code you must dial the area code + telephone number on all calls, including calls within the same area code. If you do not dial the area code + telephone number, your calls will not be completed. All calls from the 480 area code already require dialing ten digits
Beginning Sept. 12, 2023, the boundary lines among the 480, 602 and 623 area codes will be removed.
New telephone lines or services in any of the former 480, 602 or 623 geographic regions may be assigned numbers from any of the three area codes.
What will you need to do?
In addition to dialing the area code + telephone number for all local calls, all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other equipment programmed to dial a seven-digit number will need to be reprogrammed to include the area code.
What will remain the same?
- Your telephone number, including the current area code, will not change.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the boundary elimination overlay.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
- You will continue to dial 1+10 digits for long-distance calls.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or and 811.
For more information, please contact Verizon or visit the Arizona Corporation Commission website.
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12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/verizon-area-code-changes-arizona/75-aef71aca-f0d2-4023-be12-1e8d3ffdc213 | 2023-07-13T01:06:41 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/verizon-area-code-changes-arizona/75-aef71aca-f0d2-4023-be12-1e8d3ffdc213 |
The J.R. Simplot Company will spend about $150 million on waste processing upgrades at its Don Plant fertilizer manufacturing facility outside Pocatello, as part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after allegations that the company failed to properly identify and manage certain hazardous waste streams.
The plant manufactures phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer for agricultural uses. The site includes phosphogypsum stacks, which hold the waste rock and acidic wastewater from phosphate processing.
“This settlement will bring important benefits to Idaho and the communities that have been affected by the Don Plant’s operations,” U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said in the news release. “We are grateful that our state partner, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, helped formulate and will oversee work that Simplot will fund to mitigate the impacts of its phosphate operations on water quality and the environment along the Portneuf River, working in cooperation with both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the City of Pocatello.”
Under the settlement, announced Tuesday by the Justice Department, Simplot will implement process modifications at the Don Plant facility to enable greater recovery and reuse of phosphate. The agribusiness giant is also required to set aside about $108 million for the environmental cleanup involved with any eventual closure of the plant, as well as pay a $1.5 million civil penalty.
Simplot is also providing $200,000 in funding that will be administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the city and tribe for environmental mitigation work on the Portneuf River.
“This settlement advances EPA’s goals by creating environmentally beneficial waste management practices and ensures that the U.S. taxpayer will not be responsible for future costs associated with closure of this facility,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Additionally, this settlement ensures that any future expansion of Simplot’s operations will be conducted according to strict requirements to minimize impacts to surrounding communities, including the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.”
Under the settlement, Simplot agreed to replace the facility’s cooling towers with one or more newly constructed cooling ponds by mid-2026, which should reduce the plant’s fluoride emissions into the air. The public will have a 30-day period to comment on the proposed consent decree, which was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for Idaho.
“After our 2020 settlement with Simplot’s phosphoric acid and fertilizer plant in Wyoming, we are pleased to reach this settlement with Simplot’s other major phosphoric acid and fertilizer operation,” Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division said in the news release. “This proposed consent decree will comprehensively address the waste management, air emissions and reporting issues EPA identified with respect to the Don Plant’s operations.”
The phosphogypsum stack was fully lined in 2017, the press release noted, in accordance with a previous consent order between the company and the government.
The Idaho State Journal reported that the plant at one time was responsible for 1,200 pounds per day of phosphorus load into the Portneuf River but had reduced that to about 600 pounds per day in 2010.
The state legislature refined design and construction standards for new phosphogypsum stacks in 2021.
J.R. Simplot Company spokesperson Josh Jordan provided Idaho Reports with the following statement:
“The J.R. Simplot Company is pleased to have worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice to reach this settlement. This more than 500-page settlement, which took over 15 years to achieve, provides for additional recovery of phosphate in our production process and other environmental protection measures associated with the handling of our ore processing materials and wastes. This settlement is part of our work to continue to provide important crop nutrients throughout North America to help feed a growing population.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/simplot-to-spend-150-million-on-fertilizer-process-upgrades-under-settlement/article_1e11a64e-20f3-11ee-8500-87318a5217a0.html | 2023-07-13T01:06:44 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/simplot-to-spend-150-million-on-fertilizer-process-upgrades-under-settlement/article_1e11a64e-20f3-11ee-8500-87318a5217a0.html |
The University of Idaho announced Wednesday it will pause demolition of the house in which four students were killed last fall and it will not be demolished before October.
The family of one of the victims had previously raised concerns about demolishing the house for its potential help with the trial, according to the University of Idaho Argonaut. The trial against Bryan Kohberger case is set for Oct. 2, but a 37-day stay was granted this week, KTVB reported.
"We know that every action and decision around this horrific incident is painful and invokes emotions. That is why every decision we have made this far is with the families of the victims and our students in mind," U of I President Scott Green said in a news release. "While we look forward to removing this grim reminder of this tragedy, we feel holding until October is the right thing to do."
The deaths of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kaylee Goncalves have drawn nearly unceasing national attention since they were found stabbed to death in the rental house in November. Kohberger, 28, is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths near the Moscow, Idaho, university campus.
Outlets including CNN, the New York Times and the Daily Mail ran stories last week about the house’s potential demolition.
Earlier this month, crews began removing all personal items from the house, the release said.
“The university is working to make those items available discretely and respectfully to the families in the coming weeks,” the release said. “The house has already been released by the court, and both the prosecution and defense attorneys have said they do not oppose destruction.”
The University of Idaho announced in February that it intended to demolish the house. The owner of the home gave the house to the university, as previously reported.
“This is a healing step and removes the physical structure where the crime that shook our community was committed,” a memo at the time said. “Demolition also removes efforts to further sensationalize the crime scene.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/university-of-idaho-to-pause-demolition-of-moscow-house-where-students-were-killed/article_683fb6b0-20f9-11ee-9501-e714c712892b.html | 2023-07-13T01:06:50 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/university-of-idaho-to-pause-demolition-of-moscow-house-where-students-were-killed/article_683fb6b0-20f9-11ee-9501-e714c712892b.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Blood-stained walls cover a historic Southwest Portland storefront. It’s just one of the many vacant buildings downtown struggling to get off the market.
The Charles F. Berg building on Southwest Broadway and Southwest Alder Street once stood out for its avant-garde design and pure gold façade. Now, it’s the latest side effect of the drug and homeless crisis plaguing Portland. Squatters broke in and took over the 20,000-square-foot space.
“They were living here for a couple of weeks before we noticed,” said Denise Brohoski the owner of Commercial Real Estate Northwest and the broker behind the listing. Brohoski took a KGW crew through the building to show the damage and destruction caused by the squatters.
The basement was hit the hardest.
“So, this room was completely cleaned and empty. The entire building was completely spotless ready for tours and showings, but they were obviously doing drugs throughout,” she said referring to piles of dirty clothes, leftover drug paraphernalia, old food and feces. Just some of the destruction scattered throughout the four-story building.
“You can see each of them kind of chose a bedroom,” she said referring to the empty offices.
The building has been on the market for a few years. The current owner purchased it back in 2019. He’s asking for $3.75 million. “We've got a 30% vacancy rate it changes these buildings in that no one's here to take care of them. I feel empathy for the building owner he has already lost a million on this and he's probably going to lose another million before it's all said and done,” said Brohoski.
Repairing all the damage will be costly.
“I've never had a commercial property that's been broken into and lived in by people that were on drugs,” she said of her 18 years selling real estate in downtown Portland. "It’s not a safe environment to be in downtown right now, and it's hard to attract buyers and tenants into this area."
The smell of urine inside the building was so strong, one could almost taste it. Given the state of the building, they’re hiring a biohazard team to clean it.
Brohoski points out a loaded syringe needle on the second floor laying on the ground of another office-turned bedroom.
Late last month Portland police raided the building at the request of the property owner and arrested nine people for trespassing and outstanding warrants. Police also seized body armor, a bandolier of bullets and a stolen wallet during the search.
Brohoski remains cautious as she walks through.
“It makes me afraid that somebody's still in here,” she said while trying to open the locked doors. “It's a big building and there are doors that are locked in here that I can't get into and I don't know why they are.”
On the third-floor squatters removed copper pipes from the water heater causing flooding which damaged the second-floor ceiling tiles.
Through all the destruction Brohoski fights to find a silver lining in a crisis bleeding its way through Portland.
“I can talk about the history of this building all day long. I can talk about the history of downtown and how vibrant it was and how its changed and it will change again it will get better. That it is an opportunistic market right now and it really is the time to buy right now, but other than that there's no smoke and mirrors it just is what it is,” she said.
The building was swept again Wednesday and a locksmith was there repairing the broken locks. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/historic-portland-building-squatters/283-ce104a3a-bed1-4ba7-abc8-8a64da0f0edd | 2023-07-13T01:14:54 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/historic-portland-building-squatters/283-ce104a3a-bed1-4ba7-abc8-8a64da0f0edd |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Fallout from the Multnomah County Health Department's now-suspended plan to distribute fentanyl "smoking supplies" through its harm reduction program continued on Tuesday, bringing in a letter from a Portland attorney urging the city to break off its 7-year homelessness partnership with Multnomah County.
John DiLorenzo, Jr., of the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, represented a group of 10 people with disabilities who sued the city of Portland last September, alleging that the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to clear homeless camps from public sidewalks.
Portland and the plaintiffs reached a settlement in May, with the city pledging to be more responsive in clearing camps that block public rights of way, as well as agreeing to quotas for clearing at least 500 campsites obstructing sidewalks each year, among other promises.
But according to a letter to city leaders that DiLorenzo publicly released Tuesday, Portland should now back out of its partnership with Multnomah County on the Joint Office of Homeless Services.
DiLorenzo hearkened back to a discovery last fall that the county had distributed $2 million in supplies to homeless people, including thousands of tents and tarps.
"When we discovered how the County had through its nonprofit partners blocked the sidewalks (only to have the City have to expend millions of dollars to remove them), we didn’t know whether to laugh or cry," the attorney wrote.
The last straw, DiLorenzo indicated, was the county health department's recent harm reduction plan.
"Up until Monday, the County staff were up to it again, preparing to distribute tin foil, straws and other drug paraphernalia to fentanyl addicts to further enable their habits," he continued. "This ill-conceived plan would not only have had disastrous policy implications for our homeless population, it would have presented clear and present dangers to those who must wheel through the piles of fentanyl-laced debris which would surely be abandoned on our streets in large quantities."
Here, DiLorenzo made the claim that fentanyl is "so toxic, even small exposures can have significant adverse health impacts on those whose hands come in contact with these toxic materials."
Claims like these have come up repeatedly since fentanyl started becoming more common as a street drug, but health experts tend to push back against that characterization. While certainly an incredibly powerful synthetic opioid, second-hand fentanyl exposure — either through smoke or skin contact — is considered relatively low-risk since the drug is primarily absorbed through mucus membranes.
RELATED: Secondhand exposure to fentanyl unlikely to cause harmful health effects, medical experts say
Regardless, DiLorenzo cited the aborted harm reduction program as another reason why the city should exercise its right to dissolve JOHS by providing a 60-day notice, or by simply ceasing its payments into the office.
"It is such a departure from City policy, and is such a threat to the safety of the community, that we believe it warrants the City suspending all further quarterly payments, dissolving the JOHS, and proceeding against Multnomah County to enforce its indemnity obligation to recover the City’s costs of defense of the Tozer litigation, (including any attorney fees awarded to the plaintiffs by the Federal Court)," DiLorenzo said in summation. "You have given the County staff more than enough time to get on the same page. It is apparent that they will continue to pursue their disastrous course unless you take a bold step. Dissolving the Joint Office should be that step."
It's worth noting that, though they both exist under the Multnomah County umbrella, the Joint Office of Homeless Services and the health department are separate entities — JOHS does not run the county's harm reduction program.
In response to a request for comment, Multnomah County released a statement attributed to JOHS Director Dan Field:
"The extension of the Joint Office is a done deal – both the City and the County recently agreed to move forward with a 12-month extension. The Joint Office’s relationship with the City is on the upswing, and we are working every day to increase our coordination and alignment to solve homelessness in our region.
"In just the past few months, we've doubled down on our close cooperation around new temporary alternative shelter sites, additional safe rest villages, an expanded Clean Start program to increase trash removal, and our work with the State to house individuals now sleeping at the foot of the Steel Bridge.
"Mr. DiLorenzo is raising this issue in an attempt to recoup attorney’s fees for his recent ADA lawsuit – he wants Multnomah County taxpayers to foot the bill. We're focused on leaning in to move the work forward and encourage others to do the same."
While Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Rene Gonzalez were both vocal in their opposition to the Multnomah County Health Department's harm reduction moves, the city of Portland did not immediately respond to a request for comment on DiLorenzo's letter.
Several Portland commissioners signaled earlier this year that they'd soured on the contract under which Portland and Multnomah County operate JOHS, complaining that the city does not have enough influence over how the office is operated. While the office gets funding from the city to the tune of $40 million per year, it's essentially run as a division of the county. Portland's funding accounts for about 15% of the estimated $265.5 million JOHS budget over the coming year.
The reason for the lopsided arrangement at JOHS, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson recently told KGW, is that Multnomah County has historically shouldered social services for the greater Portland area, while the city handles economic development and utilities. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/multnomah-county-fentanyl-foil-portland-ada-lawsuit/283-96261531-f76b-4869-ae10-111c25a3470f | 2023-07-13T01:15:00 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/multnomah-county-fentanyl-foil-portland-ada-lawsuit/283-96261531-f76b-4869-ae10-111c25a3470f |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Farmworkers of America said it received several complaints about Chalet North evicting for minor infractions.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The mobile home park is along Alpine Drive, not far from Orange Blossom Trail.
Some residents feel the owners of Chalet North are taking advantage of them because they don’t understand the law.
A spokesperson for Chalet North said it only uses the eviction process, which is lengthy and costly, as a last resort.
Outside of Chalet North’s gates today, current and former residents protested the mobile home park’s management and what they said are unfair eviction practices.
Former resident Leticia Ramiraz said management looks for minor infractions to evict people.
Ramiraz said she is thankful she had somewhere else to move before they kicked her out along with her mother.
Read: New report shows inflation down to 3% as several companies announce layoffs
Attorney Irene Bonds has been working with residents here to fight eviction.
“It seems to me they’re running a business and the business is that they take people’s trailers.” Bonds said.
Bonds also admits most residents don’t know the law, and by the time they get involved, it’s too late.
“Legally, Chalet North, what they’re doing is legally okay, but it’s the way that they’re doing it, how they’re handling it.” according to Bonds.
Read:$860M heading to Orange County law enforcement, emergency services
Channel 9′s Jeff Levkulich went to Chalet North’s management office to get their side of the story.
Out of the eight eviction cases filed in Orange County this year, only one person has been evicted according to a spokesperson from Chalet North.
That eviction case was highlighted in this letter that went out to residents today and involved a resident who bought a trailer but never filed an application, which included a criminal background check and other documentation.
Members of the Apopka community said the owner of a mobile home park are treating people unfairly.
But management also learned four people were subleasing their homes and they remained unwilling to comply with the process.
Managers said they are focused on safety and the wellbeing of residents and pointed to a letter that went out to residents Wednesday.
Read: Bills reintroduced to repair credit histories for student loan borrowers who defaulted
Chalet North told Channel 9 the community rules and regulations are in compliance with Florida law and it is focused on the safety and wellbeing of its residents.
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/apopka-community-said-owner-mobile-home-park-are-treating-residents-unfairly/Q4Z6QFTUIJAHVHMDSR53FDHLVU/ | 2023-07-13T01:21:42 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/apopka-community-said-owner-mobile-home-park-are-treating-residents-unfairly/Q4Z6QFTUIJAHVHMDSR53FDHLVU/ |
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — There are plenty of new projects to be excited about in Pine Bluff.
"I'm just ready for the track to get in. It will be pretty impressive," Go Forward Pine Bluff CEO Ryan Watley said. "[It's a] direct response to people saying we want more for family fun activities for our kids."
Go Forward Pine Bluff (GFPB) is involved in several projects around the city, including a go-kart track.
"It's all coming together and materializing," Watley said. "We're really excited about it."
Watley and GFPB are also involved in the Sixth Avenue District, which will house restaurants, shops, a stage and a park.
"Over $30 million has been invested in that block by various entities," Watley said.
Although the area is still under construction, Watley said they have an opening date in mind.
"Around May, the first quarter of next year," Watley said. "The vendors are being interviewed in the next two or three weeks."
Watley isn't the only one excited. Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington said she's ready for the changes.
"I think it's a period in Pine Bluff that we haven't seen in a long time," Washington said. "It does draw excitement."
Washington also shared some other projects, such as the old Plaza Hotel becoming a Marriott hotel.
Along with that is the Opportunity House, which Washington said will be for unsheltered individuals in Pine Bluff.
According to Washington, Chick-fil-A is looking to open a location before the end of the year.
In addition, a new high school for the Pine Bluff School District is up for a vote in August. Watley said GFPB donated $10,000 for the millage campaign.
"It's just so important. Education is the gateway to prosperity," Watley said. "You must have those facilities."
The vote is similar to the last one GFPB pushed for earlier this year, but was denied.
Watley recognized that not everyone is on board with some of their plans, but said GFPB's work speaks for itself. They want to keep improving the city.
"This is just a movement of the people to say we want better, we deserve better and we can have better," Watley said. "The projects that you see under construction result from that." | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/multiple-projects-underway-in-pine-bluff/91-f5cc67d4-1987-4819-95ca-0a02d58aa11d | 2023-07-13T01:24:52 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/multiple-projects-underway-in-pine-bluff/91-f5cc67d4-1987-4819-95ca-0a02d58aa11d |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Wednesday, police stated that both 37-year-old Karisha Grisby and 16-year-old Andre Westbrook were taken into custody in another state on murder warrants for a homicide near the Ronald Mcdonald House.
According to reports, the Little Rock Police Department responded to a shots fired call during the early hours of June 16 at 1501 W. 10th Street.
Upon arrival, officers located 27-year-old Devin Jones of Forrest City, Arkansas, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He later died from his injuries.
The U.S. Marshals had been previously searching for a Grisby for her involvement in the fatal shooting.
Both Grisby and Westbrook are awaiting extradition to Arkansas and will be charged with capital murder. Westbrook is being charged as an adult. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/two-suspects-custody-10th-street-homicide/91-c4d363d4-5472-4595-9108-c1e64e51a840 | 2023-07-13T01:24:58 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/two-suspects-custody-10th-street-homicide/91-c4d363d4-5472-4595-9108-c1e64e51a840 |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/grapevine-ready-to-host-immersive-art-exhibit-with-meow-wolf/3294798/ | 2023-07-13T01:27:54 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/grapevine-ready-to-host-immersive-art-exhibit-with-meow-wolf/3294798/ |
The city of Grapevine is known for its wine and for its love of all things Christmas.
But it's about to land itself another distinction as a destination in the art world, thanks to the opening of Meow Wolf Grapevine this Friday at Grapevine Mills Mall.
It's just another sign that North Texas is a hotbed for companies and major attractions looking for success.
"Meow Wolf Grapevine has chosen to come to the DFW Metroplex because we do have such a rich and vibrant arts community. And I think it's so important that we recognize that there are artists interwoven throughout the fabric of DFW,” said the exhibit’s general manager, Kelly Schwartz.
Artist Rachel Townsend Cerny is proud of her hometown.
"I’ve been in love with the area ever since I was a kid,” she said.
That’s why she opened the R Town Art Gallery on Grapevine's Main Street.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
So when Meow Wolf, a New Mexico-based and world-renowned art collective, announced it selected Grapevine as the site of its next major location, Townsend Cerny knew this could be a game changer for the local art scene.
"Meow Wolf is such a big powerhouse for artists. We do have so much talent here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is something I personally have been trying to shed light on,” she said. “I think Meow Wolf is just adding to that awareness of how much talent that we have here in North Texas.“
Meow Wolf is an interactive and immersive art experience, unlike anything the DFW Metroplex has probably ever seen before. The artist collective was founded in 2008 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where it eventually created its first permanent installation in 2016. The exhibit was built in a vacant bowling alley and featured elaborately decorated rooms, a full-scale house with multiple “portals” leading to other strange rooms, and interactive pathways all revolving around a sci-fi story. The concept has since become so popular, it expanded to other cities like Denver and Las Vegas.
Meow Wolf eventually evolved into an entertainment company but the brand has maintained a large reputation in the art world for its ongoing efforts to work with local artists in every installation it opens.
“I’m a big fan of Meow Wolf, been following them for years. So knowing that they were coming to our neck of the woods in our neighborhood was super exciting for Texas,” said Will Heron, a Dallas-based artist who now serves as Meow Wolf Grapevine’s artist liaison.
From sculptors to muralists, sound artists and video game designers, the Grapevine location features more than 40-Texas based artists – mostly from the DFW area.
"It's just really exciting for them to get this opportunity to work with a company that has the backing of Meow Wolf. Getting the budget, getting the freedom to explore,” said Heron. “We provide the space for them to dream big for one, and really create their hearts desire for what immersive art looks like for them.”
The artists have continued the storyline from the other locations in Grapevine, which is being called The Real Unreal. Some of the wild interactive features include a full-scale house with a seemingly normal kitchen refrigerator that one can walk through to more portal doors. Visitors can open the washing machine and dryer doors to slide through a light tunnel into another room of strange scenes, lights, music and walkthroughs. Just about piece inside the space is meant to be touched, opened, or investigated to understand more about the story.
“They’re not ready. They’re not ready for what’s in store when they enter inside here. This is all about discovery and finding your inner artist," said Heron. "I always challenge friends and visitors to explore every nook and cranny. Look in every detail you can, open every drawer and peek your head through every portal. Do everything you can to explore and try to dig up the story that’s trying to be told here."
Schwartz said the company is proud to be a new part of the North Texas art community.
“One of the things that we’re really committed to in the future is to be able to continue to work with the artists that are right here in our backyard," she said. "Whether that's through the outreach, programming, having them come on site, or expanding our exhibit in the future and giving them a place to bring their amazing creativity to -- all of that is just so important to us.”
Overall, the Dallas market has been a hotbed for companies and organizations searching for economic success. Peppa Pig World of Play selected Grapevine for its first theme park location in the U.S. Another park is opening up in North Richland Hills in 2024. This year, Universal Parks & Resorts picked Frisco as the location for its newest theme park and resort.
On the sports front, FIFA selected Dallas to host the World Cup in 2026. Dallas hosted the NCAA Women’s Final Four in March. The headlines seem to add up, especially over the last five years due to population growth and a robust economy.
"It's been incredible to see the growth with local families coming in, businesses coming in, and now Meow Wolf. It's just another amazing economic engine to contribute,” Schwartz.
Photos: Meow Wolf's ‘The Real Unreal' opens in Grapevine
BY THE NUMBERS
According to Grapevine’s economic development data, more businesses are taking a closer look at Grapevine partly due to the gravity that entertainment like Meow Wolf creates.
Grapevine Mills is in the top 1% of all regional malls in the country for foot traffic when shops, food and attractions like SEA LIFE Grapevine and LEGOland are factored in.
Early estimates for visitor count project 600,000 to 1,000,000 visitors could come to explore Meow Wolf Grapevine in the first year. That would be a 5% to 9% bump in traffic at Grapevine Mills from a single tenant. Last year, Placer.ai estimates that the mall recorded roughly 11.5 million visits.
Grapevine economic officials predict that based on their $45 ticket price, Meow Wolf Grapevine could generate roughly $27 million to $45 million if every one of those 600,000 to 1 million visitors purchased a base ticket and nothing else. That’s a low-end estimate because they’ll also be selling food, beverages, and souvenirs. The in-house café includes menu items from Main Street vendors including JudyPie, Buzzed Bull Creamery and HTeaO.
With annual visitor traffic of over 12 million and economic impacts of $2.5 billion in just Grapevine alone, tourism officials say they're not surprised to see yet another big brand choose North Texas.
"We're a gateway to DFW, a gateway to Texas with DFW Airport right there, so people are already coming in,” said Elizabeth Schrack, communications director for the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Meow Wolf is going to bring in a whole new group of people. They have fans that been obsessed with Las Vegas, Denver and Santa Fe. They want to come to see this. And they'll be able to experience grapevine and all we have to offer."
Meow Wolf Grapevine opens Friday, July 14. The first few days are already sold out but you can still book tickets online for later dates.
For tickets and more information about Meow Wolf and The Real Unreal, visit meowwolf.com. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/meow-wolf-grapevine-opens-this-friday-featuring-mind-bending-experiences-by-local-artists/3294777/ | 2023-07-13T01:28:00 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/meow-wolf-grapevine-opens-this-friday-featuring-mind-bending-experiences-by-local-artists/3294777/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Two new Alabama laws set to take effect in August will create stiffer penalties for those who participate in exhibition driving.
Birmingham area and state leaders are trying to eliminate that type of dangerous driving in cities across the state.
State Rep. Allen Treadaway sponsored House Bill 29. Under the bill, drivers could face felony charges and jail time if a driver injures or kills someone participating in exhibition driving.
State Rep. Juandalynn Givan sponsored House Bill 107. It allows police to seize a driver’s vehicle if they’re caught participating in exhibition driving.
Givan said these laws allow law enforcement the ability to crack down on exhibition driving.
“What I’m also hearing is these officers want this because they’re sick of it,” Givan said. “And they feel they hands are tied because they don’t have laws on the booked, but now they do.”
Givan said she plan to have a town hall in Birmingham soon to help educate the community on the two new laws. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/2-alabama-laws-to-create-stiffer-penalties-for-exhibition-driving/ | 2023-07-13T01:29:27 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/2-alabama-laws-to-create-stiffer-penalties-for-exhibition-driving/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — After two Birmingham firefighters were shot inside their station Wednesday morning, some other local fire departments are considering changing their safety protocols.
Michael Bartlett, the assistant fire chief for the Rocky Ridge Fire Department, said its firefighters are heartbroken for their brothers in Birmingham and sending their support.
“This is family, and we’re hurting as a family, so our prayers go out to them, that’s number one,” Bartlett said.
Historically, Bartlett pointed out, fire departments have been community hubs. They like to keep their doors open for anyone from someone needing help with a smoke alarm to parents taking kids to see the firetrucks to grandmothers bringing sweet treats.
But now, that might have to change.
“A whole new mentality for us where we were community oriented and open and public, and now, we’re having to worry about keeping ourselves safe so we can help the public,” Bartlett said.
He hopes this isn’t a trend, and until the perpetrator or perpetrators are caught, the department is tightening its security.
“For the next while, you’re gonna see bay doors closed at fire stations, and you’re gonna see locked doors and you have to ring bells and be let in,” Bartlett said. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/fire-departments-tightening-security-after-2-birmingham-firefighters-shot/ | 2023-07-13T01:29:34 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/fire-departments-tightening-security-after-2-birmingham-firefighters-shot/ |
It was a tradition that began 50 years before Eden Elmore was even born.
Like many, John Bernard Thompson came home from the Second Great War with a desire to start his family and begin a life after the conflict. When he returned home to Virginia, he brought with him his two loves: his wife and the sport of falconry — both of which he discovered while stationed in the Philippines.
Throughout the years, his interest only grew. The home he had built with his wife was filled with his paintings of the birds of prey he had come to respect. His cherished bird-handling equipment — when not in use during hunting season — sat proudly displayed on shelves.
However, when Thompson died, so did his interest in the ancient sport. His paintings and paraphernalia were packed into boxes and shoved into an attic to collect dust.
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Then, nearly a decade later, on a chance visit, Elmore came to help Thompson's widow — the family's stern, no-nonsense matriarch — clean out her home.
In the heat of the attic, under the dim glow of the overhead light, Elmore sat sorting through various discarded and boxed memories before stumbling upon a couple of boxes that would spark interest and kickstart a legacy.
“All that I knew of him was that he was in the Army,” Elmore said. “Then, all of the sudden I was confronted with this art and his poems, and I just kept pulling out more things. He had all of these pieces and it just stuck out to me.”
While the sport traces its roots back hundreds of years and can be observed in dozens of countries across the globe, it has become a topic of dispute in recent weeks as the Richmond City Council is set to vote on whether to ban wild, exotic animals in the city. As the ordinance was initially written, it would prevent falconers, like Elmore, from possessing a bird of prey.
When Elmore left the house that day, the aspiring falconer was determined to learn about the sport and how to join the ranks of the few remaining in the craft. Elmore's journey to learn about falconry stretched from Richmond to wherever other fans of the sport flocked. Earlier that week, it included a falconers' meet-up, a rental car and a trek.
Elmore has no regrets.
“I walked into this very excited. I’m thinking I’m going to do this, I’ve got the spirit of my great grandfather in me,” Elmore said.
The next day, the man who would later become a sponsor showed the ins and outs of a first hunt.
How to become a falconer
In order to become a falconer, one must follow a lengthy process to receive proper licensing from the U.S. Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
First, one must have a sponsor: someone who is already licensed and is willing to train the next generation.
Then, the novice has to construct a properly, federally regulated home for the bird. This includes ensuring that there are vertical bars, two doorways and space to roam.
Following the construction of the enclosure, a test consisting of various falcon-related care and treatment questions is mandatory. Once the requirements are met, a falconer can begin the next stage of obtaining a bird.
A typical hunt with a red tail hawk, the most common bird used in the state, consists of folks taking sticks and beating the bush to scare out any small mammals like rabbits.
Once a rabbit leaves the bush, the falconer offers up a call to signal the bird. From there, the bird does the heavy lifting, attacking its prey and bringing it back to its companion.
For Elmore, this is the part that continues to serve as a draw to the sport — the mutual, consensual relationship between the bird and the falconer.
While the falconer feeds and cares for the bird, the bird also is free to fly away with their dinner if they choose. But if the bird is cared for well and a mutual trust is established, then that is not likely to happen.
“You have to take it out, and you have to let it fly. Falcons really embody the spirit of consent,” Elmore said. “There’s no other interaction with wildlife or sports that really has this deep relationship.”
Additionally, a lot of falconers do not keep the same bird throughout their lifetime. The birds have high mortality rates in their younger years, and falconry helps protect the population and promote it growth. The care the birds receive is crucial to their development, and once they have reached their first breeding cycle, they are released back into the wild.
While it has been a long road to receive the required permits, Elmore has completed all of the necessary steps to obtain a bird in the fall. This step is typically done by netting and baiting a wild, young fledgling bird and taking it home.
For Elmore, the plan is to capture a red tail hawk, which make for better beginner birds, as they are “all purpose.” Red tail hawks tend to be sturdier, heartier and less finicky than others and to have better dispositions for training, Elmore explained.
'It’s a big commitment'
While the goal is to capture a bird later this year, Elmore is left with some uncertainty. This comes as a result of the recent consideration by the city to ban exotic animals.
Earlier this year, Richmond Animal Care and Control Director Christie Peters made a plea to the Richmond City Council to ban all wild and exotic animals in the city.
According to Peters, the ban would make it safer for her department as well as residents, as it would prohibit the possibility of big cats roaming the streets and venomous snakes biting their owners.
While the ban originally seemed like a simple ordinance that would be passed with little conversation as a consent agenda item, it has since become a hot-topic issue, with city council members calling for additional amendments and further consideration.
The most recent change to the proposed ordinance includes wording that would allow for the ownership of wild birds of prey permitted by state and federal agencies.
The addition comes after dozens of falcon enthusiasts, including Elmore, came forward to share their concerns with the proposed ban.
The added amendment offers some relief to Elmore, as the city council appears to be receptive to falconers' plight in electing to table the vote in order to add the additional verbiage. But Elmore's anxiety around the issue will not be fully quelled until a final decision is made.
Richmond City Council is set to make a final decision at its 6 p.m., Monday, July 24, meeting.
“It’s a lifestyle. It’s a passion. It’s a big commitment,” Elmore said. “But once you show your dedication, you will find such an inclusive family willing to help.” | https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/falconry-richmond-exotic-animals/article_edb140d8-15e2-11ee-ba42-f3b8af520217.html | 2023-07-13T01:33:12 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/falconry-richmond-exotic-animals/article_edb140d8-15e2-11ee-ba42-f3b8af520217.html |
GREENWOOD, Ind — An investigation is underway after a small aircraft was involved in an incident at Indy South Greenwood Airport Wednesday evening.
According to a Greenwood Police Department spokesperson, a small plane ran off the end of a runway and went into a grassy area.
There were no injures.
13News is working to learn more about the aircraft, its occupants and what may have led to the mishap.
The spokesperson said state and federal investigators had been called. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/police-small-plane-runs-off-runway-at-greenwood-indy-south-airport/531-6df9cef8-57a2-4b3a-9323-9029efbd39c5 | 2023-07-13T01:33:18 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/police-small-plane-runs-off-runway-at-greenwood-indy-south-airport/531-6df9cef8-57a2-4b3a-9323-9029efbd39c5 |
Snow Hill to raise taxes, fees for first time in 20 years, and here's why
For the first time in 20 years, Snow Hill residents will be paying more in property taxes and water and sewer fees this coming fiscal year after the Town Council approved the FY24 budget.
The previous rate of $0.86 per every $100 of assessed value prior to July 1 will now be $0.93 per every $100 of assessed value. That represents an increase of less than 9%, making the tax bill for a property assessed at $100,000 an estimated $77.50 more than in previous years.
"Snow Hill was locked into a status quo budget from one year to the next just trying to maintain what the town had," said Rick Pollitt, Snow Hill town manager. "But our police department had a challenge in recruitment and retention of quality officers because we didn't offer the LEOPS pension system. It's a high-quality plan that's a rarity if you don't have it, but it's expensive. Our budget couldn't support it prior to July 1."
More on recruitment woes'Recruitment’s the most difficult thing': How police undertake it in new environment
According to Pollitt, Mayor Mike Pruitt chose to increase the rate in the name of public safety.
After a meticulous look into what it would take to offer such a plan to current and prospective officers, the move also provided additional funds to the Snow Hill Fire Department and ambulance service. The budget fully provides for all budget requests made by the town's first responders.
"This budget was the subject of numerous work sessions and public meetings in May, and we didn't have the outcry on raising taxes. I believe it's because the mayor tied it closely to public safety. The mayor made such a strong case this wasn't to boost salaries or add positions. This was about keeping our hometown safe," Pollitt said.
Water and sewer rates also went up following a comprehensive study to see the extent to which the town could continue to provide that service at the current rate.
Under the new water rates, a gallon allowance of 6,000 will be charged $7.70 per 1,000 gallons after the 6,000. The customer rate has also risen from its previous rate of $39.89 to $50. Wastewater rates have also been adjusted to a gallon allowance of 6,000, charged $12.35 per 1,000 gallons after the 6,000. The customer rate has also risen from its previous rate of $73.47 to $135.00.
More on Salisbury raising ratesTax, fee increases on way as Salisbury City Council passes new budget: What to know
"If a customer were to stay within the gallon allowance, under the new rate, they would be expected to pay$185.00 per quarter for just their water and wastewater services, an increase of$71.64 per quarter from the previous rate. Staying under the gallon allowance, a customer would be paying$740.00 annually under the new rate, an increase of$286.56 per year from the previous rate," the report stated. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/snow-hill-residents-see-fy24-tax-hikes/70402564007/ | 2023-07-13T01:35:13 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/snow-hill-residents-see-fy24-tax-hikes/70402564007/ |
Ocean City firefighters rescue two dogs and extinguish residential structure fire
Two dogs have been rescued by Ocean City firefighters after a house fire broke out in the resort town.
Firefighters from the Ocean City Fire Department responded to an active residential structure fire with multiple dogs trapped inside in the 1500 Block of Shad Row on Wednesday, July 12, after receiving multiple 911 calls.
Assistant Chief 41 was the first to arrive on scene. Upon arrival, firefighters worked to extinguish the fire while simultaneously conducting a primary search of the residence. Both dogs were located and safely secured before being handed over to the homeowners, the fire department stated in a news release.
One firefighter sustained a medical emergency during the operation and was transported to Atlantic General Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. According to the release, two other firefighters sustained minor injuries.
The Ocean City Fire Chief expressed his admiration for the work and professionalism displayed by the firefighters who responded to the call.
"Our firefighters demonstrated exceptional skill extinguishing the fire and conducting the search for the trapped dogs," said Chief Richard Bowers. "Their dedication to protecting life, property, and our community is truly commendable."
VEHICLE CRASH:Virginia Eastern Shore fatal crash claims life of 34-year-old man
AIR QUALITY:What do the air quality issues from the Canadian wildfires mean for public health?
The Ocean City Fire Department would like to remind all residents to ensure the proper functioning of smoke detectors in their homes and to have an evacuation plan in place, the release stated. Early detection and quick response are vital in preventing and minimizing the impact of fires.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Ocean City Fire Marshal's Office.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/12/ocean-city-firefighters-rescue-two-dogs-from-residential-fire/70407524007/ | 2023-07-13T01:35:19 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/12/ocean-city-firefighters-rescue-two-dogs-from-residential-fire/70407524007/ |
Virginia Eastern Shore fatal crash claims life of 34-year-old man
Virginia State Police are investigating a single vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality Tuesday evening.
The crash occurred at about 9:30 p.m. July 11, 2023, on westbound Cobb Station Road, east of Cheriton Cross Road, in Northampton County.
The driver of a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado, 34-year-old Nelson Cruz, was traveling westbound on Cobb Station Road when he ran off the road right, overcorrected and ran off the road right, striking several trees and causing the vehicle to overturn.
Cruz was ejected from the vehicle and succumb to his injuries at the scene. Cruz was not wearing his safety belt at the time of the crash. It is unknown at this time if speed and/or alcohol are contributing factors at this time.
Notification has been made to family members.
More on Ocean City sentencingWorcester man sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2022 West Ocean City murder
More on air quality controlWhat do the air quality issues from the Canadian wildfires mean for public health? | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/07/12/virginia-eastern-shore-fatal-crash-claims-life-of-34-year-old-man/70405888007/ | 2023-07-13T01:35:25 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/07/12/virginia-eastern-shore-fatal-crash-claims-life-of-34-year-old-man/70405888007/ |
Former Stephen Decatur ace Hayden Snelsire drafted by Tampa Bay Rays
Former Stephen Decatur pitcher Hayden Snelsire has been selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Snelsire was selected with the 513th pick in the 17th round of the draft after four college seasons at Randolph-Macon College. While suiting up for the Yellow Jackets, Snelsire broke the program's strikeout record, finished third all-time in career wins, and was named a Second Team All-American and First Team All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings.
Snelsire recently announced his commitment to The University of Virginia, where he will continue his athletic career this upcoming season if he doesn't turn pro.
While at Decatur, the right-hander was named Bayside South Pitcher of the Year in 2019, starring on the mound for the Seahawks in his senior season.
More:Stephen Decatur pitcher Hayden Snelsire hopes for memorable final season
More:Salisbury getting new semi-pro arena soccer team, and here's how you help pick its name | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/local/2023/07/12/tampa-bay-rays-select-former-stephen-decatur-ace-snelsire-in-mlb-draft/70405411007/ | 2023-07-13T01:35:31 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/local/2023/07/12/tampa-bay-rays-select-former-stephen-decatur-ace-snelsire-in-mlb-draft/70405411007/ |
PITTSBURGH — Two women were shot near a baseball field in Brighton Heights on Wednesday night.
PHOTOS: Heavy police presence after 2 women shot in Brighton Heights
According to Allegheny County 911, police, fire and EMS units were called to the 600 block of Brighton Woods Road at around 7:40 p.m.
Channel 11′s Rich Pierce is at the scene, working to learn more. Check back for updates online and on 11 at 11.
BREAKING: Pittsburgh Police investigating a shooting near a baseball field in Brighton Heights.
— Rich Pierce (@RichPierceWPXI) July 13, 2023
More tonight on @WPXI pic.twitter.com/QCCRW35XpF
A male is in custody. His identity has not been released.
Witnesses told police there was some sort of altercation before shots were fired.
Two women were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Medics treated a pregnant female who was injured while running away from the scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/least-1-person-hurt-during-incident-near-baseball-field-brighton-heights/WWW2OPBLO5CPNFG2IU6PKCSVWA/ | 2023-07-13T01:37:50 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/least-1-person-hurt-during-incident-near-baseball-field-brighton-heights/WWW2OPBLO5CPNFG2IU6PKCSVWA/ |
State officials have closed to the public a meeting set for for Thursday, July 13 to discuss proposals for changing rules and possibly the state law requiring assured, 100-year water supplies for new subdivisions built in urban areas such as Tucson and Phoenix.
The meeting, originally planned to be open to the public, will be of a subcommittee of the State’s Assured Water Supply Committee. Behind closed doors, it will take up dozens of proposals from the committee’s 15 members. The proposals represent the first major opportunity to revise the law and/or the rules since the mid-1990s. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs wants them to be approved by the end of 2023 by the Governor’s Water Policy Council before going to the Arizona Department of Water Resources and/or the Legislature for full consideration.
Because of the importance of the issue, two committee members, state Sen. Priya Sundareshan of the Tucson area and former Arizona water director Kathleen Ferris of Phoenix, are raising concerns about the closed meeting. It could be the first of several closed meetings. They say the public should be in on discussions of these issues from the start.
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“The decision to shift the conversation to private subcommittee meetings is inconsistent with the governor’s January pledge to tackle our water issues openly. We need an inclusive, public process if the council is to have any success building unified, bipartisan solutions that will be supported by the general public,” said Ferris, an Arizona State University water researcher and a crusader for tougher groundwater supply rules.
But another committee member and former top ADWR official, Doug Dunham, said, “I don’t have much heartburn” about the prospect of private meetings. Ultimately, the issues will be subject to a “robust public debate” before the full committee votes on whether to recommend specific proposals, he said.
An agenda for the private meeting shows these issues will be considered:
— The use of “comingling” of renewable surface water supplies or treated sewage effluent with non-renewable groundwater supplies as a way for a water user or water company to show they have an assured water supply. Its use is now restricted by state rules, but some committee members and ADWR have suggested expanding its use to allow water users having access to both kinds of supplies to more freely mix them.
— The use of future plans, promises or commitments to build additional water infrastructure that will deliver renewable supplies, to bolster a water provider’s claim of having an assured water supply. This tactic was successfully used in the 1980s and 1990s to accommodate new development in cities and towns that have access to Central Arizona Project water from the Colorado River.
— Ways to create incentives to develop farmland for subdivisions and other non-irrigation uses, because subdivisions typically use less water than farms.
“In my 26 years of experience with this issue, a lot of times, you get people in a less public forum, you can pry what you really need out of them and arrive at a mutually agreeable position, after they yell, cuss and scream,” said Dunham, now water resources manager for Epcor Water, a private company serving much of the Phoenix area as well as Tubac south of Tucson. “The public is going to be able to see everything and debate whatever the final recommendations are.”
Sundareshan, however, said, “I was surprised to learn that it was a closed meeting, and I do think it is concerning that the public does not have access to the meeting. It’s still very early in the governor’s water policy council process. We haven’t done much quite yet. It is concerning the public does not have access to these meetings.”
The meeting and the proposals to be considered come about two weeks after a much smaller group of suggestions were aired at a public meeting of the full Assured Water Supply Committee.
Originally, Thursday’s meeting was scheduled as a public meeting of the full committee, to be complete with an audio recording for future use by people who couldn’t get there. The full committee’s first meeting, on June 27, also allowed the public and committee members who couldn’t attend in person to watch it online.
But on July 5, an ADWR official emailed members to notify them that, “In order to meet the Governor’s request for Council proposals by December of this year, we are changing the upcoming tentatively scheduled AWS Committee to an AWS Subcommittee meeting.” AWS is short for Assured Water Supply.
“We are asking that for the subcommittee meetings attendance be in person. We are planning for the subcommittee meetings to be working meetings and very interactive,” Trent Blomberg, ADWR’s council coordinator, told committee members in the email. “We fully expect over the next few months there will be many subcommittee meetings as we work through the details on recommendations to the governor and, consequently, there is a good chance that some of you will not be able to attend every meeting. There will be an opportunity to catch up at the next meeting.”
In a separate email, ADWR spokesman Doug MacEachern told the Star there will be no public meetings in July of either the Assured Water Supply Committee or the Rural Groundwater Committee, convened by the Governor’s Office to tackle groundwater issues in rural areas where no regulation of groundwater use currently exists.
Having private subcommittee meetings will allow members “to immediately begin working through potential policy proposals to meet the Council’s December deadline to bring recommendations forward,” he said. “These meetings are only open to subcommittee members and technical subject matter experts, as needed.”
The entire process concerning the water policy council and its committees was put together by the Governor’s Office and ADWR, he said.
The Star asked five other committee members how they felt about the use of closed meetings. Three, Phoenix water resources planner Cynthia Campbell, Tucson Water Director John Kmiec and Phoenix-area homebuilders lobbyist Spencer Kamps, declined comment.
Two others, Metro Water General Manager Joseph Olsen and Joe Singleton, executive director of the Pinal County Augmentation Authority, didn’t respond to emails seeking comment.
Campbell said “I see both sides” of the open-closed meeting issue, and that she’s more interested in the outcome of these discussions than the process. She’s a water resources adviser for the city of Phoenix.
In discussing the use of closed committee meetings, Dunham recalled “the legend of the groundwater code,” a reference to the creation of the Arizona Groundwater Management Act of 1980, the state’s pioneering groundwater law.
He recalled that before a final version of the law was adopted in public by the Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, “the key players got together at a hot springs with a bottle of whiskey and worked out their general parameters.
“Then, they went back to their constituencies, came up with the code, presented it to the public and worked out the final details,” Dunham said.
Ferris, who in the 1970s was executive director of the State Groundwater Management Study Commission, said it’s “really, really hard” to liken what happened then to what’s going on now. First, the commission held two years of public meetings, with experts making public presentations and “all kinds of input of policy ideas” occurring in the open, she said.
It wasn’t until after all the public meetings and after the U.S. Interior secretary threatened to cut off Central Arizona Project funding unless a groundwater law was passed that the major water interest groups — cities, mines and farms — went into closed sessions with Babbitt to hammer out the law’s details, she said.
“My point is, we have all of these concepts now for proposals that haven’t been aired or vetted fully, and now we suddenly have a whole bunch of new ones,” and closed meetings are already happening, Ferris said.
Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987. | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/arizona-groundwater-rules-law-development-phoenix-tucson-farms/article_1d76f40a-202b-11ee-996f-0b4c75caf581.html | 2023-07-13T01:38:12 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/arizona-groundwater-rules-law-development-phoenix-tucson-farms/article_1d76f40a-202b-11ee-996f-0b4c75caf581.html |
Detectives identify human remains found near Yucca, Arizona, in December 2022
Human remains found near Yucca in 2022 were identified by detectives from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office with the help of Othram, a genetic genealogy business that helps solve cases, officials announced Wednesday. The remains belong to 50-year-old Brandon Ray Parlanti of Kingman.
Deputies responded to a call about human remains found in a remote desert area near Yucca near Alamo Road and Boriana Mine Road on Dec. 4, 2022. The remains were found among a large pile of debris wrapped in a tarp.
The deputies found the remains and took them to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. They were unable to identify the victim at the time.
On Feb. 21, the special investigations unit for the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office contacted Othram for help. A sample from the human remains was submitted to Othram, and a genetic genealogy investigation was completed.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Wednesday announcing a positive identification of the remains.
Anyone with information about the death can contact the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 928-753-0753, ext. 4288, and reference DR# 22-045997.
Case background:Human remains found in northwestern Arizona; officials search for identification, cause of death | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/12/detectives-identify-human-remains-found-near-yucca-arizona-in-2022/70407608007/ | 2023-07-13T01:42:49 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/12/detectives-identify-human-remains-found-near-yucca-arizona-in-2022/70407608007/ |
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — Cameron Temple brings his daughter to Bloomsburg Town Park to enjoy some quality time outside.
"They have the nice playground down here, keeps kids out of trouble. They have a nice basketball court and everything else," he said.
In recent weeks police say several signs of vandalism have been popping up around the park in Columbia County.
"I had no clue that this was going on, really actually surprised people would come down and do that to such a nice community and such a nice park that they just redone after all the flooding and everything else that's been going on," Temple said.
Police were notified last week of the damage when employees from the public works department discovered graffiti depicting phallic images and messages on walls that had explicit language.
According to police, the Department of Public Works has been trying to cover the vandalism for some time, but now officials are asking for new security measures to be taken.
Police say the most vandalism has been reported in areas like the bathroom and pavilions.
Residents we spoke with say whatever changes come to the park, they just hope it focuses on the entire area.
"It doesn't have no place in a park like this because this is a good community, good people, good sense of value. You wouldn't think people would want to do that and destroy a park, and it's the only park they got here in Bloomsburg, and it's worth something," said Mark Young of Madison Township.
Police say they plan to have more officers driving through the park, and they are looking into security systems.
For Young, anything to ward off vandals is a step in the right direction.
"They deserve to be caught. They don't deserve to be destroying a park like this," he said.
Want to see what Newswatch 16's newscast was like in 1976? Head on over to WNEP's YouTube. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/columbia-county/police-looking-to-crack-down-on-vandals-in-bloomsburg-cameron-temple-wnep-newswatch16-mark-young/523-f89411f9-a421-4a2a-a16c-192c423ca55f | 2023-07-13T01:43:07 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/columbia-county/police-looking-to-crack-down-on-vandals-in-bloomsburg-cameron-temple-wnep-newswatch16-mark-young/523-f89411f9-a421-4a2a-a16c-192c423ca55f |
SCRANTON, Pa. — The outside of Central Station Marketplace and Antiques in Lackawanna County has a fresh new look.
Store owners Mary and Ed Beck were able to make these improvements thanks to money from the city's facade improvement program.
"I wanted the outside of the store to be as pretty as the inside. We can't thank them enough. It's a beautiful job. I love pulling up every day. I just love it," Mary said.
The city allocated $500,000 of its more than $68 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funding for the Facade Program.
Applicants can get up to $10,000 for one business or $20,000 for multiple.
"These funds came directly to the city of Scranton from the federal government. The President trusted us to have these funds and know what type of programs we needed for our city, and this is the result," Mayor Paige Cognetti said.
Mary says she had her concerns when starting the application process, but her fears quickly faded.
"They helped me every step of the way. We got a contractor, they helped us with that, they helped us with our bank. Tim is our contractor, and he is wonderful," she explained.
Other businesses in the neighborhood noticed the progress, including Fratelli's Restaurant next door and National Pastry Shop across the street.
Both business owners have also started the application process to make improvements of their own.
"Whatever we can to the outside of the building. We're talking to designers now to see what we can do. We want people to drive by and feel proud of the area," said Catherine Fox of the Pastry Shop.
The applications for the facade improvement program are open until September 20.
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/lackawanna-county/scranton-business-gets-a-facelift-central-station-marketplace-and-antiques-wnep-american-rescue-plan-act-funding-for-the-facade-program/523-7f4318ba-e342-46c7-b2a5-639af0c7dabb | 2023-07-13T01:43:13 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/scranton-business-gets-a-facelift-central-station-marketplace-and-antiques-wnep-american-rescue-plan-act-funding-for-the-facade-program/523-7f4318ba-e342-46c7-b2a5-639af0c7dabb |
PITTSTON, Pa. — The Pittston Memorial Library in Luzerne County has 12 computers that director Jessica Lane says people are using every day.
"It's amazing how many of them say we can't get it at home or we can't afford it," said Jessica Lane, Director of The Pittston Memorial Library.
Many come here to connect.
"Apply weekly for their unemployment benefits. We have people that are checking their charts for their health program that they are currently looking at. What they have in their X-rays are when they do have another doctor's appointment. We have so many people applying for their benefits for the state," Lane added.
Governor Shapiro visited the library with local leaders and members of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority to talk about a federal program to help change that.
"We have the funding. We were working on a plan to invest the funding, and we're committed to finally closing the digital divide," said Brandon Carson, PA Broadband Development Authority.
Pennsylvania will receive $1.16 billion to expand broadband coverage across the Commonwealth.
"My administration is working with partners at the local and federal level to bring broadband to communities all across Pennsylvania to fill in those roughly 325,000 or so spots where we either have no internet or not reliable internet," Carson said.
Shapiro says, eventually, this will make high-speed internet more accessible and affordable.
"What folks can expect are reasonable rates reasonable kind of based on statewide standards. There'll be competition in the marketplace between the various internet service providers which should also hopefully bring down those costs," Governor Shapiro said.
Shapiro says this project is still in its planning phase.
First, their plan has to get federal approval, then they can start building the infrastructure needed.
The governor hopes that the process will start at the beginning of next year.
In the meantime, if you are having trouble getting online, Jessica Lane at the Pittston Memorial Library says you can always come here to log on and learn more about assistance programs that are currently available.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/governor-shapiro-discusses-broadband-plans-in-pittston-jessica-lane-director-of-the-pittston-memorial-library-wnep/523-25be46dd-6897-47b5-a7ad-c4154b1308b8 | 2023-07-13T01:43:13 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/governor-shapiro-discusses-broadband-plans-in-pittston-jessica-lane-director-of-the-pittston-memorial-library-wnep/523-25be46dd-6897-47b5-a7ad-c4154b1308b8 |
STROUDSBURG, Pa. — A wildlife center in the Poconos was forced to euthanize a golden eagle in its care.
The wildlife center recovered the eagle from a home in Dushore.
Pocono Wildlife has been caring for it ever since.
Federal officials say the eagle cannot be released with only one foot.
Pocono Wildlife says it has seen three different vets, and they all agreed the bird didn't need to be euthanized.
Still, the center was ordered to put it down by the end of the day.
"I do not feel as though it should be euthanized. None of the three vets that have taken this bird looked at it and ran radiographs, and I have extensive diagnostics done. None of them feel the bird should be euthanized, and I also submitted all those letters of recommendation," said Janine Tancredi, the Wilderz at Pocono Wildlife. "If I don't follow through on that federal order, every bird here is in jeopardy. They can set whatever rules and regulations they want. So if I didn't comply. I'm in violation of that. They could take my license."
Pocono Wildlife had just ordered a prosthetic foot for the golden eagle.
See more pets and animal stories on WNEP’s YouTube playlist. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/feds-to-pocono-wildlife-euthanize-the-eagle-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-pocono-wildlife-golden-wnep-dushore/523-db420d9f-0596-4598-94d5-c9076fa963f6 | 2023-07-13T01:43:14 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/feds-to-pocono-wildlife-euthanize-the-eagle-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-pocono-wildlife-golden-wnep-dushore/523-db420d9f-0596-4598-94d5-c9076fa963f6 |
FACTORYVILLE, Pa. — About 100 kids are spending the week at camp on Keystone College's campus in Wyoming County.
They are learning about science, math, and developing leadership skills, but this isn't your typical summer camp.
These kids all have one thing in common, their parents are migrants or refugees working in Pennsylvania.
The camp is part of the Migrant Education Program put together by the state.
"They normally in the summertime are working and not doing what most American kids do in the summer, which is go to camp, have fun, swim," said Joyce Avila, Keystone College.
"A lot of these kids want to be nurses, doctors, business owners like they want to change the whole world, but when you don't put them in environments where they can easily express themselves, or be around people that relate to them, they really stop dreaming," said Cedrick Kazadi, Camp Connect Facilitator.
These kids say they are lucky to have a chance to find a different career path than their parents.
"You get this opportunity to do it, and your parents is trying to help you make a good life," said Karan Ran.
The translator says: "She's more concentrated on the things that she wants to be because in Venezuela, her career she's you just want to study it's not very well appreciated there than here," said Sharis Mareno.
Kazadi is one of the camp facilitators and is also an alumnus of the program
"I came here and got on campus, and it just felt, I'm back home. Just like that peace of mind and just seeing all the students knowing that I was once in their shoes and now I'm on the other side just inspires me to keep coming back and just paying it forward," he said.
The students say the best part about camp is the connections they've made.
"I met amazing people, and I feel like I've met them since, like, years, but I really met them two days ago," said Cristal Ortega.
Camp runs through Friday at Keystone College.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/wyoming-county/migrant-kids-connect-at-summer-camp-in-wyoming-county-keystone-college-migrant-education-program-wnep/523-a9f00e84-af47-481b-bb77-ed4e8a30fc8f | 2023-07-13T01:43:20 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/wyoming-county/migrant-kids-connect-at-summer-camp-in-wyoming-county-keystone-college-migrant-education-program-wnep/523-a9f00e84-af47-481b-bb77-ed4e8a30fc8f |
ELLSWORTH -- Construction is underway for a 72 unit housing building on High Street in Ellsworth.
Once completed, the building will be a combination of a hotel and multi-family housing.
Stone Park Properties based out of Ellsworth, is building the housing complex which will have short-term lease options for people who plan to stay during the busy months between May and October.
It will also accommodate long-term lease options for those who are looking to find a home in Ellsworth.
The land was officially purchased four years ago.
Owner of Stone Park Properties John Bates, says there will be a variety of lease options.
"The specifics of the demand will cater to whatever it is," said Bates. "It could be monthly, it could be May to October, or it could be weekly. We'll have that lease structure price adjusted accordingly."
According to Bates, there is still one year left of construction before doors officially open. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/construction-for-72-unit-housing-complex-underway-in-ellsworth/article_33c72364-210d-11ee-846c-073dc1d7a3f5.html | 2023-07-13T01:46:32 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/construction-for-72-unit-housing-complex-underway-in-ellsworth/article_33c72364-210d-11ee-846c-073dc1d7a3f5.html |
BAR HARBOR -- Since 1997, Mount Desert Island has offered rides for people who struggle to get around.
In suite 101 of the Bar Harbor Municipal Building, you will find Island Connections.
It's a nonprofit organization that began with the promise of providing free transportation to the elderly and people with disabilities in the Mount Desert Island area. A promise they've kept to this day.
"We are one hundred percent volunteer driven," said Island Connections Executive Director Sharon Linscott. "All of the rides we provide, we have a dedicated group of volunteers that are so amazing. We help people just be more independent and improve their quality of life."
Island Connections is seeking a crucial annual boost with its 4th Annual Match campaign. It starts on July 15th and runs for 30 days until August 15th, with the goal of raising money to match the 15,000 dollars given to them from donors.
The money raised will go towards proving rides for the thousands people who call on their services.
One of those people is Debbie Kennedy, who along with her mother, had trouble finding their way around the island.
According to Debbie Kennedy, "If I didn't have them to take me to my appointments for my hearing aids, for my physicals, for my eye glasses, whatever. I wouldn't be able to get their cause me and mom have no idea what we're doing. We both use walkers now, and it's just very difficult."
If it wasn't for the men and women who work and volunteer their time at Island Connections, Debbie says that her life could've been drastically different.
Today, Debbie is able to go where she needs to, which has greatly improved her life.
"It's a wonderful place," said Kennedy. "I mean we have nothing like this in Massachusetts where I came from. It's amazing. It truly is. It's amazing."
For more information on Island Connections services, donations towards the 4th Annual Match Campaign, or if you are interested in volunteering, visit: islconnections.org | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/island-connections-4th-annual-match-campaign-will-help-volunteers-and-the-public/article_904e244c-210e-11ee-aa95-0b08e04bdb34.html | 2023-07-13T01:46:42 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/island-connections-4th-annual-match-campaign-will-help-volunteers-and-the-public/article_904e244c-210e-11ee-aa95-0b08e04bdb34.html |
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