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The American Cornhole League is bringing pros, celebrities to Canton. Here's how to watch
- The Johnsonville SuperHole IV will take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton.
- The SuperHole is a cornhole series where 32 ACL professionals are paired with 32 celebrities.
- Canton is the last stop before the Aug. 4 championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
CANTON − The American Cornhole League's celebrity pro-am tournament is coming to Canton for the first time.
The Johnsonville SuperHole IV will take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the Hall of Fame Village.
Spectators can watch in person for free at the Center for Performance, 1901 Champions Gateway. ESPN2 will air a live broadcast of the competition.
The American Cornhole League (ACL) promotes the bean bag toss game and establishes rules to govern the sport around the world. There are 15 ACL conferences in the United States divided by region. Ohio and Pennsylvania comprise the Mid-East Conference.
What is the SuperHole?
The SuperHole is a series where 32 ACL professionals are paired with 32 celebrities, who compete for charity. There are eight preliminary events throughout the year, and Canton is the last stop before the Aug. 4 championship during the ACL World Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The teams competing Friday are:
- Logan Chamberlain and Chad Ochocinco, former wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Cody Henderson and Terrell Owens, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers and other teams
- Berklee Pair and Andre Reed, former wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
- Jordan Power and Derrick Mason, former wide receiver for several NFL teams.
The bracket for the SuperHole matches were to announced on the ACL's Instagram account, @americancornholeleague. According to Marlon LeWinter with the ACL, the celebrities will share the charities they're playing for if they make it to the championships.
"We are pairing up four of our most personable ACL pros who are known to talk smack and back up their game by hitting shot after shot," LeWinter said in a prepared statement.
Cornhole in Canton
This weekend's events include an ACL Pro Shootout, which also will air live on ESPN2, at 7 p.m. Friday. The shootouts include men's singles, women's singles and doubles. Winners will compete in the 2023 ACL Pro Shootout Championship in Rock Hill.
Then an ACL Open, where players of all ages and skills compete in single and doubles matches, will be Saturday and Sunday. Doors open at 8 a.m. each day and the doubles games occur Saturday with singles games on Sunday.
Anne Graffice, executive vice president of global marketing and public affairs at the HOF Village, welcomed the public to attend any of the games, which begin at 9 a.m. each day. In an email, she said progress with the Village helped attract the new event.
"Our unique venue and continued developments and offerings on campus was felt to be a great fit for their program and target audience by tournament directors," Graffice said.
The Center for Performance, which opened last summer, is a multipurpose space with more than 100,000 square feet enclosed in a dome. Don Shula's American Kitchen, The Brew Kettle and Topgolf Swing Suite have since opened at the Village.
Ohio is a "big market" for the ACL, LeWinter said. Henderson, one of the ACL pros playing Friday in the SuperHole, is from Jackson and at least four competitors in the Pro Shootout are from Ohio.
“As the ACL continues to grow in popularity, we are consistently looking for ways to engage with fanbases around large-scale events such as Super Bowl, PBR, SummerFest and now in Canton around the Hall of Fame,” he said.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2023/07/13/american-cornhole-league-acl-association-rules-bags-canton-ohio-hall-fame-village-chad-ochocinco/70402251007/ | 2023-07-13T13:27:22 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2023/07/13/american-cornhole-league-acl-association-rules-bags-canton-ohio-hall-fame-village-chad-ochocinco/70402251007/ |
Odyssey of baby V.J.: Why a raped infant went home to Canton abuser after hospital visit
- Aultman Hospital staff were upset with how baby's suspected abuse case was handled.
- V.J., 41/2 months old, was sent back home to abuser house after Children Services failed to respond immediately.
- Canton police detective, state legislator, say something like this should never happen again.
CANTON ‒ Baby V.J. doesn't have a law named after her — but maybe she should.
That sometimes happens for crime victims. After the fact, laws get introduced, passed and enacted to prevent others from suffering the same fate. Like the Adam Walsh Child and Safety Protection Act, Matthew Shepard Act or Megan's Law, named for Megan Kanka.
Too often, it comes after a victim's death.
But V.J. is alive.
She was 5 months old when she was raped last year by her 22-year-old father. He was sent to prison for life with no possibility of parole. V.J.'s 26-year-old mom is serving four years' probation (The Canton Repository is not naming the parents to help protect the identity of the baby.)
Along the way, though, V.J.'s story exposed flaws in a system designed to protect children.
What happened to baby V.J.?
After the rape, she was taken by her mom to Aultman Hospital on a Saturday in September. When Stark County Children Services did not respond to the hospital after being notified of suspected abuse, V.J. was sent home for the rest of the weekend. To the same house with her rapist. She waited days — presumably in pain according to court records — before she was treated at Akron Children's Hospital to repair tears to her anus.
"Unbelievable ... that should never have happened," said state Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, when he was provided details of the case by a reporter. "This is mind-blowing."
Plummer and state Rep. Susan Manchester, R-Waynesfield, had previously sponsored a law to require Children Services agencies to better communicate with law enforcement in suspected abuse cases.
House Bill 4 went into effect last year, before V.J.'s rape. But it contains a seven-day window for much of the inter-agency information sharing. Although the change in the law had added a layer of protection for children in suspected abuse cases, it didn't address V.J.'s situation — and won't stop it from occurring again.
Here's why:
By law, mandatory reporters, such as Aultman physicians, still must report suspected child abuse to Children Services or law enforcement. Only one or the other. But not both.
So, that's what they did.
On that Saturday, Sept. 17, Aultman staff contacted Stark County Children Services four times about V.J., but the agency did not send a case worker to the hospital. Instead, they waited until Sept. 19, to follow up on it. And no one notified Canton police of the suspected abuse until Sept. 20, four days after the rape.
"I'm willing to research this to see if the law needs changed again," said Plummer, who'd worked in law enforcement for three decades, including a stint as Montgomery County sheriff.
Aultman staff did not contact police
An ensuing Canton police criminal investigation of the rape revealed that:
- V.J.'s mom took her daughter to Aultman's emergency room on Sept. 17 for rectal bleeding. She provided them two stories — that the infant had a constipated bowel movement the night before; that she'd noticed blood while changing a diaper that morning. Both accounts, mom later admitted, were lies.
- An Aultman nurse noted the severe damage to V.J. was clearly not from a hard poop. That's why hospital staff repeatedly contacted Stark County Children Services. However, the agency's response remained the same; they would not be coming to the hospital, but instead would follow up on the case on Monday morning.
- Emergency room physician Aaron Clark declined to have Aultman staff contact police because he told a nurse "he couldn't be sure" V.J.'s injuries were from abuse.
- It wasn't until two days later, when V.J. was taken to Akron Children's, that the extent of her injuries were diagnosed. Staff there notified Canton police shortly after midnight.
Aultman Hospital declined comment and Clark did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
Jerry Coleman, executive director of Stark County Job & Family Services, which operates Children Services, said he could not comment on specific cases. He did speak, generally, about agency response.
"We're constantly re-evaluating. ... The system always looks to improve," Coleman said.
He said the agency has and will respond to suspected abuse callls from a hospital, based on information it receives. But he noted Children Services does not have legal authority to take emergency custody of a child, without an order from a Family Court judge.
Such action, he said, can be done on the spot only by law enforcement.
That's true. State law does give police power to remove a child from a home, if the child is in imminent danger. However, because neither Aultman nor Children Services had notified Canton police while V.J. was there, officers never had that option.
So, V.J. went back home, suffering from an injury that would eventually lead to surgery. Back to a Webster Avenue NE house with her mom, a father who'd raped her and four other adults.
Although Coleman did not speak about V.J.'s case, the agency was already familiar with her.
V.J.'s mom has two other kids and was pregnant with a fourth at the time of the rape. The custody status and where the four children currently live is unclear. V.J.'s mom initially responded to a request to be interviewed for this story, but never provided one.
According to police records, Children Services had worked out a plan with V.J.'s mom a month prior to the rape: The baby's father, once charged as a juvenille for a sex crime, was not to be alone with her.
The father's public defender who represented him in court did not respond to a request to be interviewed for this story. The conviction is being appealed in the 5th District Court of Appeals.
Aultman nurses upset over handling of case
Here's what happened on Sept. 19, three days after V.J.'s rape, when a Children Services case worker followed up on Aultman's report:
V.J. was taken to the Children's Network of Stark County. The state's first child advocacy center when it was founded in 1987, the Network brings together a multitude of disciplines, such as Children Services, law enforcement, medical staff and child advocates under one roof.
After a medical exam at the Network, the case worker was told to take V.J. to Akron Children's for a thorough evaluation. Finding damage to the infant, staff there performed a sexual assault kit on her, and reported the abuse to Canton police.
Finally, action was underway.
But the inexplicable delay wasn't lost on Canton police detective Kevin Sedares, who was among those assigned V.J.'s case on Sept. 20.
In a written report, Sedares said the Children Services case worker assigned to V.J. could not explain why the agency hadn't responded to Aultman two days prior.
"I then went to Aultman ER and spoke with several staff who were highly upset with the manner in which the case was disposed of on Aultman's side," Sedares wrote.
Within two days of being notified, police had arrested V.J.'s father; they'd searched the Webster Avenue home and confiscated evidence, including bloody wipes and diapers; and detective Vincent Romanin got a confession from the father that he'd raped the baby.
"The confession was very important," said Kelsey DiFrancesco, the assistant Stark County prosecutor who'd prosecute and ultimately secure convictions of V.J.'s parents.
After all, there were multiple adults in the house and V.J. had spent two more days there after the rape.
Sedares, the detective, remained frustrated by how Children Services and Aultman initially responded when V.J. showed up in the hospital emergency room.
So, he wasn't done.
Text message: ER doc knew mom was lying
Especially when he later examined a text message between V.J.'s parents, which occurred when V.J. was at Aultman.
"The doctor said it doesn't look like she just had a poop; it might be something else and to take her to her doctor on Tuesday and see what he says," V.J.'s mom texted to the baby's father while she was at Aultman.
In November, Sedares emailed those connected to the Children's Network of Stark County. He explained that he now had evidence that the system needed fixing.
"The ER doctor had told (the baby's mother) that the injuries were not from a bowel movement ... yet sent the infant home anyway," he wrote. "We as a team of professionals who work together in the protection of children must absolutely ensure that another incident like this never happens again."
Through a public records request to the City of Canton, The Canton Repository obtained copies of email exchanges amongst those Sedares had contacted. They show that, in unison, many of those involved directly or indirectly with V.J.'s case agreed with Sedares:
- Dr. Cortney Owoc, pediatric director at Aultman, who also works at Akron Children's, referred to the handling of V.J.'s case as a "HUGE miss at Aultman." She also wrote,"This case is awful." In a separate email, she wrote, "My initial alert to this case was by two Aultman nurses, sobbing. "Both moms. Both went to the physician multiple times with concerns. I think empowering them will be very important."
- Dr. Paul McPherson, chief of the division of child protection and child abuse prevention at Akron Children's, said: "I too am disheartened about what happened to the patient and the missed opportunity to protect." In a separate email, he pointed out that Aultman tried to do the right thing by contacting Children Services multiple times. "Unfortunately, their response was lacking," he wrote.
- Chelsea Fashbaugh, Children's Network administrator, said: "We absolutely need to do better. ... I will ensure that Children Services is a part of meetings/training in the future ... "
- Alissa Edgein, nurse practitioner at the Akron Children's Care Center of Stark County at the Children's Network, said, "I do want you to know that (Children Services) is also looking into how this case could have been handled better on their end. This was a tough one for all of us."
The series of emails also indicated internal fixes — to prevent a reoccurence — may be in the works.
Owoc made a host of suggestions and explained she'd begin working with others to come up with a plan "to improve care for any and all potential abuses cases (presented) to Aultman ... namely early involvement of the pediatric hospitalist group being the most important."
McPherson largely agreed with Owoc's ideas, and added one.
"Detective Sedares, your suggestion of contacting law enforcement concurrently with (Children Services) is timely as it is important," McPherson wrote. "The Ohio Revised Code requires mandated (reporters) to contact either law enforcement or CPS when abuse is suspected.
"Frequently Akron Children's Hospital social work staff contacts both. I cannot speak for the typical practice for Aultman Hospital, but that will be an important point of discussion in future training."
Edgein's ideas included more and better training; early contact with the Children's Network or an on-call child abuse provider through Akron Children's; or even establishing some sort of direct referral system, should Children Services not respond on the spot.
Plummer, the state legislator, said he'll research related state laws, to see if something else needs changed. He said he wasn't aware of other instances where the either/or contact route to law enforcement or Children Services had been an issue.
After all, nothing in the law had prevented the hospital or Children Services from contacting police immediately.
"I didn't think we'd have to legislate common sense," Plummer said. "Shame on Children Services for letting that kid go back home ... that baby fell through the cracks; it's unbelievable."
Another fix in law needed? Parents convicted
House Bill 4, Plummer explained, was a response to the death of 10-year-old Takoda Collins in Montgomery County in 2019. It came after what prosecutors said was years of abuse.
In that case, Plummer said, Children Services wasn't communicating with police, so each side had only a partial story.
"The biggest hurdle there was the child advocacy groups; everybody wants to get territorial," he explained.
When the bill cleared the House and Senate in February 2022, Plummer and co-sponsor Manchester lauded the improvements.
"This legislation works to prevent any cases from failing through the cracks," Plummer said in a prepared statement. "House Bill 4 helps prevent any vital information from being lost and through a collaborative effort of all agencies, including law enforcement, we can help improve the outcome for children in dire need of help."
Among the changes is that Children Services agencies must now disclose to law enforcement confidential information it discovers during a child abuse or neglect investigation — within a seven-day window. It also requires Children Services to give written notice of a report's receipt or closure of an investigation to the reporter.
"With this legislation, we are creating safety nets for the children during the process of investigation," Manchester said at the time. “Too many times you hear about a child that should have been protected by the system. We don’t want that to happen to the children of Ohio."
DiFrancesco, who prosecuted V.J.'s parents, said medical evidence from both Aultman and Akron Children's hospitals were presented during the father's trial held in Stark County Common Pleas Court in March.
Akron Children's staff testified; DiFrancesco did not subpoena testimony from Aultman staff.
After being found guilty by a jury, V.J.'s father was sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole, on March 23 by Judge Kristin Farmer. The baby's mom, who'd changed her plea to guilty, got her four years' probation on endangering children and obstructing justice charges.
Her sentence also included a stipulation that she is not allowed to contact her baby, V.J., during that period — unless it's part of a care plan set up by Children Services.
After the criminal cases concluded, Sedares, the detective, filed a complaint with the State Medical Board of Ohio, over treatment V.J. had received at the Aultman emergency room.
The status of the complaint is unclear.
Under Ohio law, such complaints and investigative materials are confidential, said Medical Board spokesperson Jerica Stewart. Only formal action by the board, such as suspension or revocation of a medical license, for example, is a public record.
However, an email from a Medical Board investigator to Sedares on May 17 — also obtained in the public records request — indicated the board had subpoenaed and received V.J.'s medical records.
The investigator wrote that interviews were next.
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 ortim.botos@cantonrep.com.On Twitter: @tbotosREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/13/raped-canton-baby-sent-back-to-abusers-home-from-aultman-hospital-stark-county-childrens-services/70350372007/ | 2023-07-13T13:27:24 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/13/raped-canton-baby-sent-back-to-abusers-home-from-aultman-hospital-stark-county-childrens-services/70350372007/ |
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A crash is causing major traffic troubles Thursday morning in Central Florida.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Flagler Country deputies are working a crash on I-95 near Palm Coast Parkway.
Deputies said the crash happened early Thursday and involved two vehicles, including a semi-truck.
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The crash has all northbound lanes of I-95 blocked in the area.
I-95 northbound is closed from Matanzas Woods Parkway to Palm Coast Parkway.
Drivers are being asked to use alternate routes as the closure is expected to last for an extended period of time.
Crews are working to clear the crash, but officials expect a prolonged closure.
Watch: Central Florida sees spike in child labor cases
Drivers are urged to exercise caution and patience while passing through this area.
Channel 9 will continue to monitor the crash and will provide updates on Eyewitness News at Noon.
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/crash-involving-semi-truck-closes-part-i-95-flagler-county/V7EFKB4QIZFAVLHDPB4OLEW7YU/ | 2023-07-13T13:35:31 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/crash-involving-semi-truck-closes-part-i-95-flagler-county/V7EFKB4QIZFAVLHDPB4OLEW7YU/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s chief financial officer visited Orlando on Thursday to focus on what he says is a need to protect local businesses from the IRS.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Jimmy Patronis said the IRS will use tens of billions of new taxpayer dollars to unfairly target Florida businesses.
Read: These are the three most commonly missed tax deductions, according to TurboTax
His roundtable discussion Thursday morning was focused on ways to fight back.
Channel 9 has a crew at the conversation and will provide updates on Eyewitness News at Noon.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/florida-cfo-warns-billions-irs-funding-could-be-used-target-businesses-state/ALBELBG3D5AIHBPAYD7AGGX7HY/ | 2023-07-13T13:35:37 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/florida-cfo-warns-billions-irs-funding-could-be-used-target-businesses-state/ALBELBG3D5AIHBPAYD7AGGX7HY/ |
SANFORD, Fla. — Police in Sanford are looking for a man they say is responsible for a deadly shooting.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Investigators said Marquis Goodwine Jr. got into an argument with Lovell Brown on Sunday morning.
Police said the shooting later happened on 25th Street near French Avenue.
Officers said Brown was walking to a nearby gas station when he encountered Goodwine and another group.
Goodwine is accused of shooting Brown several times before taking off.
Watch: Police: 3 men dead, 1 in custody after Daytona Beach shooting
Brown later died at a hospital.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked the call the Sanford Police Department at 407-688-5070.
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/sanford-man-wanted-after-argument-leads-deadly-shooting-police-say/SAILVOTJN5D3ZIIB3UBHYRVID4/ | 2023-07-13T13:35:43 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/sanford-man-wanted-after-argument-leads-deadly-shooting-police-say/SAILVOTJN5D3ZIIB3UBHYRVID4/ |
If you’ve been out to Wupatki National Monument in the past decade, you’ve likely seen two shaggy ravens hanging around the parking lot. Years ago a ranger dubbed the couple “George and Gracie,” and so they’ve been known ever since.
Young readers of this article might not recognize the reference to the late great comic duo George and Gracie Allen.
Nation Park Service Ranger Lauren Carter lived in employee housing at Wupatki from 2017 to 2021 and observed the pair daily. She reports that George and Gracie have raised dozens of chicks over the years. In some years (such as in 2021) no chicks hatched; other years saw multiple chicks (three in 2019 and two in 2022). George and Gracie use the same nest near the visitor center -- on Woodhouse Mesa -- each year. Rangers are happy to point it out to visitors. Lauren has seen George and Gracie bring beakfuls of food to their chicks until the nestlings fledged, at between 4 and 7 weeks of age.
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Rick Ruess, a volunteer ranger at Wupatki, reports that the parents teach their children well. In July of 2022, Rick saw George and Gracie demonstrate how to drink from the visitor center rain barrel. Perched on the gutter, the two adults oversaw their youngsters after showing them where and how to get a drink from the barrel.
Lauren enjoys watching the gawky chicks hop around on the ground, begging their parents for food. In a few years' time, these “ugly ducklings” become handsome, glossy adult ravens who can forage for food on their own. After a summer spent with Gracie and George, the young head off to find lifelong mates and establish nests of their own.
Ravens are opportunistic omnivores: they eat berries, seeds, roadkill, insects, lizards, and other birds’ eggs and/or nestlings. One year Lauren noticed that the water in the birdbath at Wupatki’s employee housing area was red with blood. When Gracie and George appeared, she saw chunks of raw meat in their bills. They had discovered a roadkill jackrabbit and were bringing its meat to be tenderized in the water.
One way to tell a raven from a crow is by the shape of their tails: raven tails are v-shaped; crow tails are straight across at the end. Ravens are larger than crows, and they usually appear in pairs; crows prefer being in groups. Both species mate for life and have excellent family values: male and female parents of both species tend to their young with great devotion.
When you see George and Gracie, you may notice how shaggy their feathers are. Ravens have prominent black beaks, often referred to as “Roman noses.” On the wing, ravens tend to soar while crows usually flap their wings. The raven's call is a deep “quork quork” -- not to be confused with the “caw” of a common crow.
At Wupatki, George and Gracie spend many hours each day in the parking lot at the visitor center. They perch on traffic signs and vehicles, seemingly posing for delighted photographers. Lucky visitors may see them grooming each other’s feathers. When rangers became aware that George and Gracie were frequenting the public water fountain, they realized that this behavior was a nuisance and perhaps a human health issue. So the rangers made one of the visitor center's rain barrels raven-accessible instead. Problem solved.
Similarly, Wupatki staff installed locking trash cans in the early 2000s because of the ravens’ interest in and skill at accessing standard waste receptacles to scavenge for human food.
When the parking lot gets too hot for George and Gracie, they choose a shady spot near the entrance to the visitor center to spend their afternoons. Rangers often find excretions similar to owl pellets, frequently full of undigested juniper berries, left by the ravens.
Scientists refer to the species of ravens found in northern Arizona as “common ravens” or Corvus corax. But when you come to visit Wupatki, just ask for George and Gracie.
Ellen Wade has been a roving ranger for 15 years. She enjoys hiking, biking, birdwatching and most other outdoor activities.
The NPS/USFS roving rangers volunteer through a unique agreement between the Flagstaff Area National Monuments and the Coconino National Forest to provide interpretive ranger walks and talks in the Flagstaff area each summer.
Submit questions for the Ask a Ranger weekly column to askaranger@gmail.com. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/ask-a-ranger-george-and-gracie-the-wupatki-ravens/article_def1f24a-202d-11ee-ae3c-6796f161de17.html | 2023-07-13T13:37:05 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/ask-a-ranger-george-and-gracie-the-wupatki-ravens/article_def1f24a-202d-11ee-ae3c-6796f161de17.html |
A couple weeks ago I republished my article from 2016 entitled Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD afflicts honey bee colonies when worker bees (those that collect pollen and nectar from flowers) go missing from the hive, leaving behind the queen and nurse bees to care for the proliferation of larvae. This malady has decimated honey bee colonies worldwide, and because one-third of our food originates from plants pollinated by honeybees, the disorder has endangered world food supplies.
In 2016 entomologists believed contributing factors could include parasites, pesticides, malnutrition, and climate change.
During the past several weeks of researching the status of honey bee health, I was bewildered to find almost no studies conducted since 2016 on Colony Collapse Disorder. Hence, I took my search to experts on the subject: Patrick Pynes, longtime local beekeeper, Dr. Boris Baer of the University of California at Riverside, and Daniela Zarate of the University of California, San Diego.
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Pynes told me, “For now, at least, CCD is no longer a major issue for beekeepers.”
In the American Southwest, many entomologists are attributing some of the diminishment of CCD to the intermingling of genes from our domestic European honey bees (EHBs) with Africanized honey bees (AHBs).
When Africanized bees arrived in Texas in 1990, agriculturists and beekeepers were unnerved. They believed that if AHB genes became intermingled with domestic bee genes, commercial hives would become aggressive, unmanageable, and even dangerous. At first, there was a problem, but after 30 years of interbreeding, many aggressive traits have been diluted. In fact, most American Southwest domestic colonies now have various combinations of EHB and AHB genes.
Studies have shown these bees to be better adapted than the EHBs to the dry, warm environment of the American Southwest. They have also shown better survival rates from varroa mites, parasites, and apparently, CCD.
But this doesn’t mean honey bees are not in danger. In the United States, beekeepers lose an average of 39.6% of their bees from year to year. Beekeepers worldwide are in a constant battle to restock their hives and find new queens. Plus, they must be persistent in surveying each hive for parasites, predators, disease, and more. For now, U.S. honey bee populations are fairly constant, but with an ever-expanding global demand for pollination — now twice as much as it was 50 years ago — the agriculture industry is alarmed.
Years after the CCD scare, its causative concerns remain, playing roles in present-day honey bee decline, including:
Climate change: Honey bees haven’t had the millennia required to adapt to extreme temperature fluctuations. Unseasonal heat spells or cold snaps are often lethal.
Varroa mites and viruses: We’ve known for years that the varroa mite can kill bees by sucking out their hemolymph; now we also know the mite transfers a number of harmful viruses as well.
Pesticides: Bees of all kinds are exceptionally sensitive to pesticides.
Nutritional deficiencies due to herbicides and monoculture: Bees require a balance of nutrients from many food sources, not just an almond or orange grove. Years ago, crops were often surrounded by wildflowers and weeds, offering a healthy and diverse diet. These days, this type of vegetation is all too often treated with herbicides.
Despite all the challenges, I am upbeat about honey bee survival — there are many promising ongoing studies. Through selective breeding of AHB and EHB populations, a team led by Boris Baer and Barbara Baer-Imhoof is on a quest to create honeybee strains capable of withstanding heat and other stressors. On top of that, they are also researching the development of a chemical scent that would keep honeybees away from flowers treated with pesticides. The team has already uncovered several substances produced by the larvae of EHB and AHB hybrids that repulse mites.
Presumably, a plethora of honey bee populations can be found across the globe. I speculate that, through survival of the fittest, their genes have evolved to endure the particular hardships of their environments. Suppose there’s a population of bees inhabiting northern latitudes, displaying greater tolerance to winter cold snaps. Perhaps entomologists can find these populations and crossbreed them with EHBs to produce offspring that will strengthen commercial colonies.
I am optimistic that efforts like these will greatly advance honey bee health across the world. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/gardening-etcetera-colony-collapse-disorder-revisited/article_202152c2-2026-11ee-b269-bfb1d5649618.html | 2023-07-13T13:37:12 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/gardening-etcetera-colony-collapse-disorder-revisited/article_202152c2-2026-11ee-b269-bfb1d5649618.html |
Tetris: that’s the way Tiffany Construction general superintendent Michael Garrison described their work on new county flood infrastructure within Schultz Creek.
Using excavators, the crew sorts through a pile of huge boulders, fitting them together like puzzle pieces.
The boulders are either buried in the ground in long lines, blocking the flow of water and forcing it to slow down or spread out, or line the channel of the creek to reduce erosion.
But how each boulder fits is important, so each piece of the puzzle can support one another, Garrison said.
“We are playing the world's biggest game of Tetris, that’s exactly what we are doing,” Garrison said, gesturing toward the team of three who were working the creek in the heat of Friday afternoon.
“There's Jeff on the [excavator], he'll have a bundle of rocks over here. He gets his first one in, what we call the throat rock, and then he starts sorting. He'll lay out four or five rocks, kind of getting his plan,” Garrison said. “The guys that are doing this are truly artists. I've got half a dozen that specialize in these structures.”
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Garrison said they are hoping to have the project completed by the end of this week, before the potential onset of monsoons create challenges for the project.
The work comes as a response to the onset of post-fire flooding in the wake of last year’s Pipeline Fire that impacted large portions of west Flagstaff neighborhoods.
But for the amount of work that has occurred within the area of lower Schultz Creek, the landscape looks notably similar to its state before the construction began.
That’s largely the result of a new technique for this project rather than the creation of a traditional alluvial fan, said County Flood District Administrator Lucinda Andreani.
The new method, called “plug and spread,” allows them to slow water down, spread it out and drop sediment out of it, while largely preserving the surrounding environment, said Alan Haden with Natural Channel Design.
“I think we maybe pulled 30 trees, at the most, out of the over 3,000 that we counted here in this work area. So we're pretty happy about that and kind of excited to see how this thing works,” he said.
That company, like Tiffany Construction, has been working on county flood mitigation for decades. Interestingly, Haden said the method is more commonly used to restore wetlands and meadows.
Indeed, the technique was used on a section of the Coconino National Forest near Clints Well to do just that in an area that had been impacted by overgrazing.
“Obviously we're trying to [use the technique] for an awful lot more discharge than was ever imagined to do before in the applications. So we’ve upped the ante on rock size, we’ve done an awful lot engineering,” Haden said.
Throughout the area that previously held the Schultz Creek Trailhead, Haden said, they created 13 dams that not only block the channel, but also stretch hundreds of feet across the valley floor, reaching up just about a half foot from the natural floor of the valley.
Those dams, created by digging a large trench and “Tetris-ing” boulders within it, are expected to become nearly invisible within the valley as plants begin to grow back, he said.
That few inches of height is just enough to impact the flow of the water in the way they need.
“It pushes water up, spreads it around, slows it down, and the seals on the side keep it from coming back together and cutting a new [channel] around your structure,” Haden said. “If it does work, like the math says it's going to work, we have a new tool we can use in less disturbed areas -- which is going to be really helpful going forward because this is probably not the last fire were going to see.”
And that’s a far cry from the appearance of other alluvial fans created by the county for similar purposes. Instead, traditional infrastructure is reminiscent of a moonscape.
“Our normal approach to alluvial fan restoration for post-fire flooding is we grade it all out, take a bulldozer and make our fan surface. That's usually because we don't have any trees left. There all dead, burned sticks, and there's not a lot of value,” Haden said. “On the other hand, there’s a huge amount of trees here for recreation, for wildlife habitat, for everything else.”
Andreani said the plug and spread technique represents a new and important tool in the effort to mitigate post-fire flooding throughout the county -- one that will likely be used on the other side of Flagstaff within the Government Tank watershed as county officials look to address flooding issues in the area west of State Route 89.
Even so, the technique doesn’t eliminate the need for more traditional alluvial fans, she said.
“It all comes down to the engineering, really, and what's prescribed by the [terrain] type itself,” Andreani said. “So it can't be applied everywhere. But where it can be, we think it's going to be an important tool in the tool chest.”
While this week should see the conclusion of work on the plug and spread infrastructure within Schultz Creek, it just represents the conclusion of the first phase of work within the watershed, Andreani said.
This fall and early this winter, she said, work farther up the creek will begin with the hope of stabilizing slopes and reducing the origin of sediment in the first place.
In all, the county flood district is expected to spend between $5-$6 million on work within the Schultz watershed, one part of about $90 million worth of flood mitigation projects to other areas impacted by the Pipeline Fire. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tetris-with-an-excavator-schultz-creek-flood-work-nears-completion/article_d05c8238-1f72-11ee-9a2d-2f6911d106e4.html | 2023-07-13T13:37:15 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tetris-with-an-excavator-schultz-creek-flood-work-nears-completion/article_d05c8238-1f72-11ee-9a2d-2f6911d106e4.html |
Hitting the books: Where to find free back-to-school essentials in and around Indianapolis
Summer may have just begun, but the start of a new school year is already fast approaching.
As Hoosier families start preparing for school, here are some of the places where you can find free school supplies, backpacks, hygiene products, healthcare kits and more.
More:These Central Indiana schools are trying out a ride app for some students
Hensley Legal Group Backpacks 4 Good
Hensley Legal Group aims to give back to the Indianapolis community by giving out 30,000 backpacks this year. The law firm will be hosting two drive-thru events on the north and south sides of Indianapolis, where families can pick up free backpacks with school supplies.
You can also enter a raffle to win a Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a $100 gift card, camping chairs and Yeti products by pre-registering for the event. If you’re one of the first 200 cars at each location, you will also receive a free Domino’s pizza and a popsicle for each child in the car.
When: Noon to 2 p.m. July 14 in Greenwood, and 10 a.m. to noon July 15 in Fishers
Where: 107 N. State Road 135 Suite 105, Greenwood, and 8350 Sunlight Drive Suite 300, Fishers
Event information:bit.ly/3Y46jW9
Indy Hygiene Hub Back-to-School Bash
The Indy Hygiene Hub will give out hygiene kits, books and school supplies at their third annual Back to School Bash. School-aged kids can also get haircuts from licensed hairstylists and play with coloring backs and temporary tattoos in the activity area. Families who qualify for Medicaid and/or food stamps can also receive free cell phones. Attendees should register ahead of the day at bit.ly/3rkF25b.
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15
Where: 9511 Angola Court
Event information:bit.ly/3D9eIh1
More:These IPS schools will offer general and special education pre-K classes this year
Drive-Thru Prayer & Backpack Giveaway
Ministry leaders Robert and Deborah Cooley will be giving out 500 backpacks with school supplies for the third year of their annual backpack drive. Included will also be a food box and other items supplied by the Indy Black Firefighters Association.
When: Noon to 2 p.m. July 15
Where: 2186 N. Sherman Drive
Event information: bit.ly/3D91eSH
Abundant Life Church's Backpack Giveaway
Anyone is welcome to attend Abundant Life Church’s backpack giveaway event, where kids can pick up free backpacks. Free food, live entertainment and bouncy castles are guaranteed.
When: 6-9 p.m. July 21
Where: 7606 E. 82nd St.
Event information: bit.ly/46NbNsg
H.O.P.S. CARES Community & Backpack Drive Day
H.O.P.S. Heart of Charity is hosting their annual backpack drive, offering middle- and high-school students free backpacks and school supplies while celebrating the start of a new school year with food and face-painting.
When: 1-4 p.m. July 22
Where: 2100 W. 38th St.
Event information: bit.ly/3pOTbqU
Indianapolis Urban League Back-to-School Block Party
Children can get free backpacks and school supplies, while families enjoy free food and entertainment at the back-to-school block party hosted by the Indianapolis Urban League. Free haircuts and health screenings are also available to kids.
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 22
Where: 777 Indiana Ave.
Event information: bit.ly/43hFJcU
Catch the Stars Foundation Back-to-School Celebration
Olympic gold medalist and retired WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings’ Catch the Stars Foundation will hold their 18th annual back-to-school celebration with live music and entertainment. Families that register ahead will also receive a free backpack.
When: Noon to 2 p.m. July 23
Where: Tarkington Park, 45 W. 40th St.
Event information:bit.ly/44HjQVC
Westminster Neighborhood Services Back-to-School Bash
Students can pick up free backpacks, school supplies, uniforms and a free lunch at Westminster Neighborhood Services' ninth annual back-to-school bash.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 29
Where: 2325 E. New York St.
Event information: bit.ly/3pMrz5U
ILEARN 2023:Indiana students make little progress toward post-pandemic learning recovery
Indy Parks Back-to-School Bash at Brookside Park
Indy Parks is holding a back-to-school event at Brookside Park's auditorium featuring school supply giveaways, free food and free haircuts from Indy barbers. Attendees should register ahead to guarantee they will receive the supplies.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 29
Where: 3500 Brookside Parkway South Drive
Event information: bit.ly/3pNKVYn
You Feed Them MFP's Back-to-School Community Resource Day
Book bags, supplies, haircuts and more will be available to Marion County residents with children that register ahead at You Feed Them MFP’s community resource day. The event will also feature face-painting, bounce houses and free food.
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 12
Where: Barnes United Methodist Church, 900 W. 30th St.
Event information:youfeedthemmfp.org/crd | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/back-to-school-2023-where-to-find-free-supplies-backpacks-in-indianapolis-area/70406082007/ | 2023-07-13T13:37:57 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/back-to-school-2023-where-to-find-free-supplies-backpacks-in-indianapolis-area/70406082007/ |
HSE approves referendum renewal for fall that would reduce tax rate
The Hamilton Southeastern school board voted Wednesday to place a renewal of the district's operating referendum on the November ballot.
District officials recommended continuing HSE’s operating referendum, last passed in 2016, without an increase. The current rate is $0.2275 per $100 of assessed property value. It generates about $26 million a year for the district.
If approved by voters, the new rate would be $0.1995 per $100 of assessed property value and would last through 2031. It's considered a tax reduction. In a joint meeting with Fishers City Council Wednesday, council members voiced support for the referendum ahead of the school board's vote.
School board members then voted to move HSE's referendum to its next stage; board member Tiffany Pascoe abstained.
Last month, HSE school board members came under scrutiny for delaying the contracts of five administrators, which some board members felt put the district in a vulnerable position to renew the referendum.
More:5 HSE administrator jobs hang in balance amid latest school board criticism
What cuts could happen without the referendum?
If the referendum does not pass, more than $26 million would need to be cut from the district budget.
A budget committee made up of community members developed recommendations for spending reductions although the plan cuts less than $24 million, said Katy Dowling, the district's chief financial officer.
Some possible cuts if the referendum fails:
- A reduction of eight administrative positions, valued at $1.2 million
- Redistricting to save facility costs, valued at $200,000
- Larger class sizes and classroom teacher loss, valued at $12.5 million
- Medical insurance restructuring, valued at $4 million
- Reduction of noncertified, nonclassroom staff, valued at $1.2 million
- Reduction of school librarians, valued at $1 million
What will ballot language say?
A majority of HSE’s ballot language for the referendum is state-mandated with only about two sentences written by staff.
In the state’s language, “increase” is used several times, which Dowling said could confuse voters because there's no tax increase but rather a reduction.
“It’s not a full picture of what’s happening,” Dowling said.
Previously:HSE is mulling a school referendum to avoid cuts. Here's what we know
How much money will this referendum raise per student?
The levy will generate about $24 million in revenue for the district annually. Ultimately, about $1,100 per student will be available if the referendum passes, Dowling said.
Operating referendum money cannot be used on capital or construction projects.
What comes next for operating referendum?
Advance HSE, a political action committee composed of parents, teachers and community members, will lead an effort to renew the district's operating referendum. Support also comes from Fishers City Council, which approved a resolution backing the referendum Wednesday.
"This isn't a partisan conversation," Council President John Weingardt said at Wednesday's joint meeting. "This is a conversation about our kids. This is a conversation about the future kids who will be coming into HSE."
Seven years ago voters approved HSE’s referendum with more than 70% of the vote.
Voters will be asked again in November.
Contact the reporter at rfradette@gannett.com. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/education/2023/07/13/hse-approves-referendum-renewal-lower-tax-rate/70407863007/ | 2023-07-13T13:38:03 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/education/2023/07/13/hse-approves-referendum-renewal-lower-tax-rate/70407863007/ |
Indianapolis airport flies high with Travel + Leisure readers
Indianapolis International Airport has landed in the top domestic airports for Travel + Leisure readers.
The airport ranked second in the nation in the survey, with readers rating their favorite U.S. airports, with a focus on conveniences such as short security lines, abundant parking and easy-to-navigate terminals, the magazine said.
The airport keeps racking up notoriety, being recognized the Best Airport in North America for those servicing 5 million to 15 million passengers annually for the past 11 years; as best medium-sized airport in the J.D. Power 2022 North America Airport Satisfaction Study; and as a 2022 ACI Voice of the Customer Honoree.
Dining and dashing:These restaurants are opening at the Indianapolis airport
All of that excellence makes for some pretty chill travelers. Passengers going through Indianapolis International Airport were recently rated least angriest of those posting on Twitter about 52 airports.
And it continues to up the customer experience for the more than 7.1 million travelers coming through each year.
Recent upgrades to Indianapolis airport include dining options, art installation
On the dining front, the airport in 2023 saw the opening of the Farmers’ Market restaurant, featuring products and foods from the Indiana State Department of Agricultures’ Indiana Grown initiative, and the completed expansion of Harry & Izzy’s.
It’s in the midst of a multi-year $190 million construction project that includes the expansion of the Terminal Garage and the installation of advanced Computed Tomography (CT) checkpoint scanners at every TSA lane, resulting in fewer bag checks for passengers because they no longer need to remove 3-1-1 liquids or electronics.
The airport recently also became a KultureCity-certified sensory-inclusive venue, with special rooms and a trained staff to help travelers navigate sensory challenges, and in June announced plans for a permanent art installation, the first since 2008.
More:5 big public artworks that are changing the look of Indianapolis
As part of its World's Best Awards survey, T+L asked readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe and share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. About 165,000 readers completed the 2023 survey.
Airports were rated on access, check-in/security, restaurants/bars, shopping and design, with readers rating them as excellent, above average, average, below average or poor.
Travel + Leisure's best domestic airport rankings
- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport — Manchester, New Hampshire; Reader Score: 85.31
- Indianapolis International Airport — Indianapolis, Indiana; Reader Score: 81.10
- Tampa International Airport — Tampa, Florida; Reader Score: 80.08
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport — Minneapolis, Minnesota; Reader Score: 79.93
- Portland International Airport — Portland, Oregon; Reader Score: 79.44
- T.F. Green Airport — Warwick, Rhode Island; Reader Score: 78.80
- Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport — Savannah, Georgia; Reader Score: 78.47
- Palm Beach International Airport — West Palm Beach, Florida; Reader Score: 76.15
- Salt Lake City International Airport — Salt Lake City, Utah; Reader Score: 76.14
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport — Jackson, Mississippi; Reader Score: 75.88
Contact the IndyStar reporter at 317-444-6264. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/07/13/indianapolis-international-airport-ranked-no-2-in-nation-by-travel-leisure-readers/70406598007/ | 2023-07-13T13:38:09 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/07/13/indianapolis-international-airport-ranked-no-2-in-nation-by-travel-leisure-readers/70406598007/ |
News Tribune, July 13, 1983
- Enrollment in Duluth public schools is expected to decline by about 10% over the next five years, Superintendent Richard Pearson said yesterday. Despite that decline, the district may avoid substantial new teacher layoffs because of the increasing retirement rate, he said.
- Duluth will be the second stop in the inaugural seven-day Tour of Minnesota bicycle race next month, completing the 104-mile segment from Mora to Duluth, on Aug. 10. Three riders from Duluth — Dave Plotnicky, Scott Hanson, and Ken Johnson — are expected to participate.
News Tribune, July 13, 1923
- More than 1,266,000 tons of ore have been shipped from the Oliver Iron Mining properties near Eveleth since the opening of the navigation season. The shipments represent one of the largest periods of business in the history of the Oliver mines.
- The Duluth Boat Club Regatta rowing race will begin at 7 p.m. tonight in the Duluth harbor. Part of the purpose of the race is to select crews to represent the Duluth Boat Club at the Northwestern-International Regatta and the National Regatta. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-in-1983-duluth-school-district-predicted-large-decline-in-enrollment | 2023-07-13T13:39:18 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-in-1983-duluth-school-district-predicted-large-decline-in-enrollment |
HIBBING — A man already serving prison time for drug crimes has been charged with causing a woman's overdose death in February.
Authorities this week filed a third-degree murder charge against Travis James Paul Lukkar, 28, of Hibbing, who allegedly arranged a fentanyl sale that led to the death of Ginae "Gigi" Jo Songer, 36.
Lukkar, according to public records, has four prior felony convictions for possessing or selling controlled substances and is currently serving out a sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud.
According to a criminal complaint:
Songer's daughter called 911 after finding her unconscious on the floor of their Hibbing residence early Feb. 8. She was taken to a local emergency room and then transferred to St. Luke's in Duluth, never regaining consciousness and dying the next day.
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The Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force later learned the family had found drug paraphernalia in the apartment, including a container with just under a gram of fentanyl. A medical examiner also confirmed that Songer's death was the result of fentanyl toxicity.
Investigators reviewed the victim's phone records, finding a text conversation between Songer and Lukkar starting at 6:20 p.m. Feb. 7. Lukkar asked, "Know anyone who would want straight fetty?" to which Songer replied, "How much tho? I can call ppl."
The messages go on to show Songer and Lukkar discussing pricing and quantity, with the victim indicating she was relaying the information to another person. Around 9 p.m., Lukkar wrote that he was on his way and the two also had a two-minute phone call.
Songer left the apartment for approximately an hour that night, stating she was going to a friend's apartment, according to her daughter.
When interviewed by investigators in late February, Lukkar admitted that he had gone to Chisholm that day to get fentanyl and messaged Songer. He stated that he owed money to his supplier and was attempting to sell some heroin and/or fentanyl to cover the debt. However, he asserted that it was one of the dealer's "cronies" who actually delivered the fentanyl to Songer.
But law enforcement spoke with Songer's friend and neighbor, who reported that she had received the fentanyl from a man named Travis. The woman said they together snorted some of the substance before Songer took the remainder back to her apartment around 10-11 p.m.
Lukkar, while in jail on other matters, was recorded telling his mother in a phone call that he was going to be charged with Songer's murder "because I sold her a bag for her neighbor and that's what she died from."
"How do they know that you didn't get it for yourself, and you never brought it to her?" his mother asked. "It's that simple."
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"I told them I didn't bring it to her," Lukkar replied. "I told them the plug (supplier) brought it to her."
In another recorded phone call, Lukkar was heard asking a different person to delete the contents of his iCloud account, indicating he had "dropped" a quarter-pound of drugs around the Iron Range every other day over the previous two months.
"I'm just more worried because I was f---ing dropping a s--- ton of s--- right before I got picked up," he said. "I don't want them to get all of that s---."
Investigators eventually obtained Lukkar's phone location data, confirming he had been at Songer's apartment building on the night of Feb. 7, one minute after he messaged, "I'm almost there."
Lukkar has several prior convictions in northern St. Louis County and Itasca County, including third-degree sale of a controlled substance and three instances of fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance. While initially receiving probationary sentences, records show that Lukkar racked up a number of violations and, in recent months, requested the execution of prison sentences.
The longest sentence was for 21 months, and with credit for time served and good behavior, Lukkar would be placed on supervised release in October, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
His first appearance has yet to be scheduled in the murder case. In signing the complaint, Judge Bhupesh Pattni set bail at $200,000; if Lukkar does not post that sum, he presumably will be transferred to the St. Louis County Jail upon his prison release.
Songer was a lifelong resident of the Iron Range and had five combined children with her fiance, according to an obituary. Being a mother, the family wrote, was "her greatest of achievements."
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"(She) was a very caring and loving person to more than just her children," the obit states. "She watched out for the neighborhood children who didn't have the right shoes or a jacket. She listened to those who just needed an ear and lended a shoulder and offered a hug. She loved those that were unlovable. She reached those who were unreachable. She was pure with her compliments and loved to give them." | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/hibbing-man-charged-with-murder-in-womans-overdose-death | 2023-07-13T13:39:26 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/hibbing-man-charged-with-murder-in-womans-overdose-death |
Here is your Duluth News Tribune Minute podcast for Thursday, July 13, 2023.
The Duluth News Tribune Minute is a product of Forum Communications Company and is brought to you by reporters at the Duluth News Tribune, Superior Telegram and Cloquet Pine Journal. Find more news throughout the day at duluthnewstribune.com. Subscribe and rate us at
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. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/listen-st-lukes-to-join-with-wisconsin-health-care-giant | 2023-07-13T13:39:27 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/listen-st-lukes-to-join-with-wisconsin-health-care-giant |
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Arizona Department of Education holds teacher training
5 PHOTOS | https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona-education/2023/07/13/arizona-department-education-holds-teacher-training/12245671002/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:08 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona-education/2023/07/13/arizona-department-education-holds-teacher-training/12245671002/ |
It's hot in the Valley. Here's how Phoenix plans to deal with heat this summer
As Valley residents swelter through a string of 110-degree days that has the region heading toward its longest heatwave on record, Phoenix officials have mapped out dozens of tactics to provide heat relief this summer, including old, new and revised ideas.
Phoenix's heat office, which hired its first director in October 2021, released its plan for this summer in April. The document lists 31 strategies that target residents citywide as well as specific populations, such as individuals experiencing homelessness, low-income people, renters, children and hikers.
Some ideas are old, like providing first responders with heat education. Some are unique, such as partnering with Google and a handful of universities to study heat-related searches. Others are brand new, including a new mobile drinking water unit to deliver water to people in need and an educational heat booklet for kids.
Here's what the city says about how it is addressing heat for different populations.
People experiencing homelessness
- Volunteers and city staff will take 80 shifts this summer to help steer individuals to cooling centers, hydration stations and heat relief supplies. It's part of the "We're Cool Volunteer Program," which is expected to include 40 volunteers from Arizona State University's Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, APS and the Maricopa County Medical Reserve Corps, a civilian group trained to respond to public health emergencies. This program is also intended to help hikers by placing volunteers at popular trailheads.
- More supplies for regional nonprofits that deal with heat: Phoenix will use federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy 30,000 supplies for heat relief and respite.
- More shade near the Human Services Campus/"The Zone": Three shade and cooling tents have been installed in the last two years, plus a chilled water station at a tent near Ninth Avenue south of Jackson Street.
- Additional shelters underway: City officials say they continue to work toward building shelters to house people experiencing homelessness. They've hit a few snags, such as halting a shelter planned for Lower Buckeye Road due to environmental problems found in the soil. The city also recently announced a structured campground, which will primarily house people from The Zone, the state's largest encampment. The campground will include security, bathroom facilities and water.
Children
- Heat safety activity books will be distributed at Phoenix public libraries. "City staff partnered with ASU to develop age-appropriate curriculum and a local artist was commissioned for the graphic design. The activity book, geared toward students in first through third grades, is an educational guide to promote awareness about staying safe during the summer heat," according to the heat office's plan.
- Help educate students, school staff, coaches and parents about symptoms of heat illness and preventative steps to avoid it by promoting the state health agency's "School Heat Safety Toolkit."
Renters
- City cooling law: Residential homes in Phoenix have to be capable of cooling rooms to 86 degrees Fahrenheit if cooled by evaporative cooling and 82 degrees Fahrenheit if cooled by air conditioning. Renters whose landlords are not providing these conditions can file complaints to the city's Neighborhood Services Department.
- Information is available about your rights as a landlord or tenant related to cooling, provided by Phoenix's Human Services Department.
When will it rain in Phoenix?Some parts of the Valley have seen a bit of rain already
Seniors or those who live alone
- Wellness calls: Volunteers will call residents who opt into the "Cool Callers" outreach program to ask about the resident's health and if the home is cool enough. Callers will refer them to Phoenix's emergency utility assistance program plus other heat relief services if needed. The city hopes to see 20 volunteers reach 300 residents this summer.
Low- to moderate-income people
- Home weatherization assistance program: Phoenix's Neighborhood Services Department provides grants to help residents repair their homes to improve indoor cooling. The income limits start at $29,160 for a one-person household. Add $10,280 to the limit for each additional household member.
- Emergency utility assistance: Residents in need can reach out to the city's Human Services Department by calling 602-534-AIDE.
- City will suspend water shutoffs: Residents who struggle to pay their water bills can be part of a three-month low-flow program, in which the city reduces your water pressure, allowing the customer water for basic needs.
- Improving staff knowledge of utility disconnection rules: The governing board that regulates utility, the Arizona Corporation Commission, changed utility disconnection rules in 2021. Phoenix officials say they're working with employees department-wide to ensure they know the rules and can accurately relay information to residents.
Leading the heat response:Phoenix names a heat officer, with a goal of easing the risk of rising temperatures
Hikers
- Volunteers will visit hiking trailheads to provide information about heat relief centers.
- Large signage will be posted at trailheads with information on heat safety.
- Park Rangers trained in heat illness symptoms will be deployed to popular trailheads on days when the temperature exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit to provide heat relief information. Five-gallon water coolers will be available where possible, according to the heat office's plan.
- Dogs are barred from Phoenix trails when temperatures exceed 100 degrees.
- Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain will be closed between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on days when the National Weather Service issues excessive heat watches.
- Parking lots at certain trailheads will see extended hours to promote hiking during cooler parts of the day.
Workers
- Phoenix's heat office will work to connect businesses with the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health. ADOSH provides heat stress prevention training.
- Phoenix's heat office will take emails and calls from workers about workplace heat safety "to help the City contribute to the ongoing federal rulemaking process related to occupational heat safety," according to the plan.
Transit users
- Audio messaging at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and light rail platforms about heat relief and education.
- Transit security will be equipped with cards that provide information about heat resources.
- Installing new shade structures at transit stops. The city has installed 512 new shade structures since 2018, according to the plan. Phoenix also published a goal in 2010 to reach shade 25% of the city with trees by 2030. Now, the city says they want to revise that goal in the name of equity, focusing shade in areas that need it most. The city's 2020 transportation plan calls for a cool corridors program that would plant 1,800 trees.
Climate:Low-income and Latino neighborhoods endure more extreme heat in the Southwest, study shows
Those struggling with substance abuse
- The city is providing opioid education to volunteers who will participate in summer programs related to heat relief. In 2021, substance use was a factor in 60% of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County. Fentanyl, an opioid, was relevant in 30%.
Those in immediate need
- Police and fire will continue to respond to those in need of help. The Fire Department's Community Assistance Program can also respond when appropriate.
- The city is working to improve communication between the city's 3-1-1 helpline and the state's 2-1-1 helpline.
Tactics to help everyone
- 10,000 aluminum water bottles with Phoenix-specific heat safety advice and resources printed on the bottles will be given out by city staff and volunteers of the "We're Cool" program.
- More than 100,000 plastic water bottles will be given out at city facilities participating in the regional Heat Relief Network program. This is an intentional reduction from 500,000 last year because the city is upping efforts to deploy reusable aluminum water bottles.
- A new mobile water unit, modeled after the water trailer in Avondale, will be deployed to high-need areas to fill up 4,400 water bottles at a time. The unit is still being built and has not yet been deployed, according to a city spokesperson.
- Raises for lifeguards to open more pools. The city tried signing bonuses to attract more lifeguards but the effort has fallen short. Eleven of 29 city pools will remain closed this summer.
- Study search data: Phoenix will partner with Google, Boston University, ASU and the University of Arizona to study search data to improve heat response programs.
- Heat relief network: Phoenix will designate more than 50 facilities, such as libraries, as cooling centers or hydration stations. Information available at hrn.azmag.gov. HRN stands for heat relief network.
- Weekly communication between the city, state and other agencies to discuss weather conditions, heat-health impacts.
Reporter Taylor Seely covers Phoenix City Hall for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com, by phone at 480-476-6116 or on Threads @taylor.azc. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/13/phoenix-heat-how-the-city-will-provide-relief-this-summer/70399862007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:14 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/13/phoenix-heat-how-the-city-will-provide-relief-this-summer/70399862007/ |
June sees second-highest number of metro Phoenix eviction filings in 15 years
Metro Phoenix eviction filings in June hit the second-highest monthly total since September 2008, and the U.S. was in the middle of the Great Recession back then.
Landlords filed to evict 6,976 times last month, according to the Maricopa County Justice Courts.
January of this year had the highest number of eviction filings in 15 years. There were 7,031 filings that month.
In September 2008, landlords filed to eject metro Phoenix tenants 7,273 times
Eviction filings in the Phoenix area aren’t expected to slow substantially anytime soon because rents aren’t falling. But not all renters who face eviction actually lose their homes. That number can't be tracked.
Eviction filings up since pandemic
The per capita eviction rate climbed to about 115 eviction filings per 10,000 metro Phoenix renter households in January, according to an Arizona Republic analysis.
The rate accounts for population growth, which has boomed since the recession.
During the five years before the pandemic, the highest rate was 105 eviction filings per 10,000 Valley renters in October 2019.
June’s rate is close to January’s pace.
Maricopa County eviction filings are on pace to hit 78,000 in 2023. That's a few thousand lower than during the housing boom years of 2004-06 and 2008, when the recession took hold.
3 evictions, 3 stories:Why the Phoenix area eviction crisis is only getting worse
What does it cost renters facing eviction to stay in their homes?
The average judgment for a Maricopa County renter is $3,054 so far this year.
That’s the amount typical tenants facing eviction must pay in missed rent and court fees to avoid an eviction on their record and potentially stay in the rental.
The average judgment is down from $3,351 in 2022 but triple the average from 20 years ago.
What help is available for Valley renters?
There is some rental aid left from pandemic stimulus funding. Check out azevictionhelp.org to find out what rental aid is available.
Also, Community Legal Services can provide free legal help.
And a new law requires Arizona eviction records to be sealed when a court dismisses a case before a judgment, if a judgment is in favor of a tenant or if a landlord and renter agree to set aside a judgment.
Not having a judgment on their credit records helps tenants rent again.
Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on Twitter @CatherineReagor.
Coverage of housing insecurity on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/13/metro-phoenix-eviction-filings-hit-second-highest-peak-in-15-years/70407700007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:20 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/13/metro-phoenix-eviction-filings-hit-second-highest-peak-in-15-years/70407700007/ |
Tom Horne doubles down on discipline in Arizona classrooms during educator training sessions
Sid Bailey calls the crowning tool of his no-nonsense classroom management approach "the turn."
He stands up straight and points his entire body toward a misbehaving student and stares directly at them, all without making a sound or uttering any verbal reprimand.
On a Tuesday morning smack in the middle of Arizona's summer break, he tested "the turn" during a classroom management workshop for educators put on by the Arizona Department of Education.
One drawn-out second passed. Then two. Then three. Some people squirmed uncomfortably in their seats, while others hurried to take notes. Even in a room of adults who were expecting it, "the turn" was foreboding.
"When that kid walks into your classroom the first day of school, they got one question in their mind: Why should I trade in the joys of goofing off for the rigors of responsibility?" asked Bailey, a longtime school administrator and now associate superintendent of public instruction.
Bailey's boss, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, promised to bring traditional discipline back to classrooms and, in doing so, keep Arizona teachers from leaving their jobs. At the same time, Horne has said he will work to eradicate social and emotional learning, a set of skills that helps students understand their emotions and relationships to others that have become widely accepted and used by educators in recent years.
Bailey's role in the administration, like his part in the educator training, is to put forward the discipline policy that Horne promised will stem the teacher shortage and get students to perform better. Bailey guarantees to help educators redirect student attention, stop back talk in its tracks and demonstrate the consequences of misbehaving.
The training was the third for Bailey since Horne took office in January. Their hard-line approach is being brought to Arizona educators as students, reeling from the stressors and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, are coming to school with historically high rates of mental health problems, as well as the distractions of cellphones and vape pens, all of which make day-to-day learning more challenging.
Sixteen people attended the classroom management workshop earlier this summer.
One of them was Melanie Chapman, a 14-year teaching veteran newly promoted to dean of students at Imagine Schools, a charter network in the Phoenix area. She attended the workshop to learn how to teach classroom management strategies in her new position.
She said she found the training session helpful and a strong addition to the work she was already focused on: building relationships in her classroom.
“It was a really great reminder to be honest, and validating of the things I have done in class,” she said.
Still, she was also supportive of social and emotional learning, despite its rejection by the Horne administration, and didn't see it as separate from efforts to create a classroom environment conducive to learning. Social and emotional learning, Chapman said, "are intertwined, and you can’t really have one without the other.”
COVID-19 graduates:4 years of high school interrupted by COVID. Here's what 11 Arizona graduates have to say
Zero tolerance for 'back talk'
The start of the training was led by Kelly McQuaid, a deputy associate superintendent who helps support instructional effectiveness, and a former teacher and principal. She worked with participants to think through what a well-managed classroom looks like, sounds like and feels like in terms of teacher and student behaviors. That includes clear instructions and relationships with students, McQuaid said.
“I can tell when people are starting to feel safe, even in the training, because they start risking, they start volunteering,” she said. Teachers should bring that same awareness to how they assess whether students feel comfortable in their classroom, McQuaid suggested.
Then, Bailey, speaking energetically and with handfuls of rousing anecdotes, put forward his philosophy: Educators should take a no-nonsense approach to any minimal disruptions from students and have clear and escalating consequences to discourage students from speaking out of turn or disrupting the class.
Bailey believes teachers need a clear plan for responding when a student violates the behavioral norms of the classroom so that everyone can get back to work.
When students step out of line, the power battle starts, Bailey said.
“Let the games begin,” he said. “Now I am officially moving from the instructor of this classroom to being the manager of behavior.”
Bailey suggests that teachers use increasingly focused forms of physical attention to stop a student from goofing off in class, from simply swiveling their head to walking over and standing silently over a student.
Speaking to a hypothetical student to illustrate his tone and demeanor, Bailey said one of the tools of last resort he used was instructing a student to sit silently at a desk separate from the rest of the class before considering a letter to their parents or bringing in administrators.
“What I’m going to do is change your assignment to sit here for the rest of the hours and stare at the wall and do absolutely nothing else. ... I’m going to consider it a complete success today if you can do nothing,” Bailey said.
The goal is to make sure that learning can happen, Bailey said, by making sure students are treating each other with respect and giving the teacher room to teach.
“Calm is a skill that can be learned. It's a sign of strength and control,” he told the teachers. “You have to practice if it doesn't come easy.”
Alejandra Villar Gomez, a teacher who moved to Yuma last year from Baja California, found the training helpful for issues she has seen in the classroom: a student who keeps chattering with their neighbor or talks back to the teacher to get laughter from their classmates.
“Kids don’t need you to yell at them,” said Gomez, who now works at a charter school and attended the training with several colleagues. In her experience, she said, misbehavior has often been a sign that a student was confused about what they were learning, but they were embarrassed to tell a teacher.
Professor: Classroom management should include social and emotional learning
Social and emotional learning, a teaching approach that Horne opposes, was not specifically mentioned in the Arizona Department of Education's classroom management training.
According to Horne, the teaching framework, which aims to help young people regulate their emotions, establish and maintain relationships, and show empathy for others, is a "Trojan horse" for critical race theory and pulls educators away from teaching academic subjects.
But ignoring social and emotional learning when teaching classroom management is a mistake, says Carl Hermanns, an education professor at Arizona State University. Previously, Hermanns was a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent in public schools in California and Oregon.
A zero-tolerance approach characterized education in the 1980s and 1990s, Hermanns said. The result of that period was a dramatic rise in suspensions that the education establishment has since recognized as harmful, particularly to students of color. In the post-pandemic landscape, where many students have mental health challenges, a zero-tolerance approach could push students who need help out of the classroom, he said.
Not 'core academic issues':Horne cancels educator presentations on trauma, social emotional learning
Instead, he suggests that teachers work on investing in their relationships with students through classroom community circles, a teacher-led discussion space for students to express themselves, as well as clarifying classroom norms and showing students they care about them.
Those recommendations are in line with research on the science of learning that says students engage best in environments that consider their emotions, identity and cognition. It is also in line with the practice of social and emotional learning.
“Classrooms of social control is a futile exercise. That just doesn’t work,” Hermanns said. “But if you make it a classroom of social engagement ... that is what you can use to create the kind of disciplined classrooms we are talking about.”
But Bailey said he didn’t see the racially disparate effects of harsh punishment when he used his approach in the classroom.
“I never really saw color,” Bailey said. “I try to focus on what I have control of. And I control the conditions for success.”
Yana Kunichoff is a reporter on The Arizona Republic's K-12 education team. You can join The Republic's Facebook page and reach Yana at ykunichoff@arizonarepublic.com. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2023/07/13/tom-horne-arizona-classroom-policies-zero-tolerance-for-back-talk-discipline-teacher-training/70326918007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:26 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2023/07/13/tom-horne-arizona-classroom-policies-zero-tolerance-for-back-talk-discipline-teacher-training/70326918007/ |
Relentless heat, hot Phoenix nights raise risk of another record-breaking year for deaths
Phoenix has entered the deadly hot phase of summer, when sustained daytime temperatures stress bodies and simmering nights offer little relief.
Climate warming and urban magnification of heat have led to nighttime lows that hover around 90 degrees, presenting a danger to both those experiencing homelessness and those who can’t or don’t cool their homes. Experts advise that it’s a time for those at risk to seek out cooling centers, though most are not open at night.
Even after a dozen days at or above 110 degrees, “the exclamation point on this event is yet to come,” said Phoenix Heat Response and Mitigation Director David Hondula.
That’s because still hotter days, with highs reaching perhaps 118 degrees, are in the forecast for the weekend and beyond. Those days will carry with them hot nights that cause cumulative stress on people who can’t escape the heat.
“The lack of respite during this whole event has been a concern,” Hondula said.
His office and others have joined volunteers in focusing on the unsheltered population, getting people water and information about where to go, he said.
Heat deaths take a toll among unsheltered people
Though always hot in summer, Phoenix in recent years has experienced a worsening heat crisis that often reaches a peak in July. Maricopa County counted 425 heat-related deaths last year, a 25% increase from 2021, and saw a spike when, as now, daytime highs peaked above 110 and nighttime lows lingered around 90.
July 15 was last year’s hottest day, at 115 degrees, and 10 people died then. The county’s death reports lag, and Hondula said it’s too early to compare this summer’s numbers. This year, the temperature reached 116 degrees on July 3.
Latest on heat stretch:Is this the worst heat wave ever in Phoenix? What to know about the current hot streak
With 245 deaths last year, Phoenix far outpaced the next deadliest city, Mesa, which recorded 36. The largest cluster was in the Phoenix neighborhood surrounding “The Zone,” with encampments of unsheltered people. The Maricopa County Public Health Department’s report considered 178 of the 425 countywide victims to be people who were homeless.
But 51 of last year’s victims died indoors in places with air conditioners that were not functioning at the time, while three had no electricity to power their units. Fifteen of them died indoors but had no air conditioning units.
For people in that situation, or with no shelter, a network of cooling centers including libraries, Salvation Army sites and others can be lifesavers, though many close even before the heat of the day has passed. Hondula said he expects some will extend their hours and remain open on the weekend. In the home, he suggested, people should shade their windows during the day to reduce heat accumulation.
Phoenix is also working to add shade trees and structures and to revise building methods and materials to reduce the daytime absorption and nighttime release of heat.
“These overnight temperatures are really the clearest consequence of our urban design, past to present,” Hondula said.
Nationwide, nighttime lows in the June-August summer season have risen an average of 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, according to government data compiled by Climate Central. The increase is much higher in many cities of the West, and Phoenix’s nighttime average climbed 5.8 degrees in that time.
'There's a clear climate change signal here'
While concrete and blacktop play their roles, it’s not just fast-growing cities that are heating up. Detroit experienced similar heating, while Northeastern cities like Buffalo and Rochester, New York, warmed at rates closer to the national average.
“Of course we expect hot summers (in Arizona), but part of what we see with climate change is longer and more intense heat waves,” said Kathy Jacobs, who directs the University of Arizona’s Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions. Still, the current heat wave’s intensity and duration is “not what we would expect in the absence of climate change.
“There’s a clear climate change signal here," Jacobs said, "but you can’t say which proportion is directly attributable to climate change.”
Jacobs has participated as an author or reviewing scientist in several iterations of the National Climate Assessment and led the Obama administration’s completion of the third assessment report.
Disaster in the making:Phoenix is not prepared for a simultaneous heat wave and blackout, new research shows
Most people who succumb to heat waves die from cardiovascular collapse, said Jennifer Vanos, an extreme heat researcher and associate professor in Arizona State University’s Global Futures Laboratory. The body seeks to cool itself partly by pumping hot blood toward the skin, she said, which can exacerbate heart conditions if it goes on too long. That’s one reason hot nights keep the danger elevated.
“The longer (the heart) has to do that without recovery, the more stressful it’s going to be,” Vanos said.
People often think that heat stroke, with core body temperatures above 108, pose the greatest danger, but core temperatures just over 100 can be dangerous for those with heart conditions. Victims may also suffer from kidney problems if they become dehydrated, she said, and may lose the ability to cool themselves by sweating.
Days on end without cooling also build the risk. “After a three-day heat wave, we see the highest numbers of deaths,” Vanos said.
For those who can’t stay cool at home, Vanos said, finding a cool place — even a shady area in a grassy park — can be critical to reducing heat stress. While some cooling stations close during the hot part of the day, she said, spending time in them can still provide a critical break.
People’s reactions to heat vary, she said, so it’s not clear how long it might take a given person to get their core temperature back to a safe level. She and colleagues are seeking to clarify that for people of various body types and with various conditions, using a high-tech manikin that senses both atmospheric and body-generated heat. But they just used it outdoors for the first time this week, and don’t yet have results to report.
Taking the temps:ANDI the manikin can take the heat. ASU hopes it can also help people weather hotter days
People with homes that lack functioning air conditioners may find some relief by setting a fan in front of buckets of water or soaked sheets, she said, so it will encourage the cooling effects of evaporation. That’s less effective on more humid days, when a fan alone would still help.
The Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department has programs to assist low-income residents with home weatherization and air conditioner repairs. The city’s Human Services Department assists low-income residents with utility bills through an online application or by phone at 602-534-AIDE (2433). The Arizona Department of Economic Security also assists with utility bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, online or at 866-494-1981.
Information about cooling stations is available online at https://hrn.azmag.gov/.
Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach him at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com or follow him on Twitter @brandonloomis.
Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can support environmental journalism in Arizona by subscribing to azcentral.com today | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/07/13/arizona-string-of-hot-days-risks-repeat-of-2022-record-deaths/70406713007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:32 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/07/13/arizona-string-of-hot-days-risks-repeat-of-2022-record-deaths/70406713007/ |
Clean energy and cattle: Wind farm begins operation on historic Winslow ranch
WINSLOW — Just over 20 miles south of the small northern Arizona town of Winslow, past seemingly endless fields of grass sprinkled with grazing cattle, a row of massive wind turbines comes into view.
Nearly five dozen wind turbines stretched across the landscape are already up and running, and it is only the beginning for the Chevelon Butte wind farm from global energy company AES. Construction recently started on the project's second phase, which will add 48 more wind turbines and is expected to begin commercial operations in summer 2024.
Once fully complete, the 454-megawatt wind farm will generate enough clean energy to power 110,000 homes across the state with no operational emissions or water use. The 120m tall wind turbines are also equipped with a radar-activated lighting system to limit light pollution and preserve the expansive dark sky that blankets northern Arizona.
Visiting Winslow for the first time as governor to celebrate the project, Katie Hobbs said that Arizona's rural communities will be key to the state's transition to clean energy.
"With a long history of self-sufficiency and innovation, cities like Winslow are primed to lead the way to a green economy," Hobbs said.
"As I travel to every corner of the state, I see what so many people have ignored: The potential for growth and prosperity outside of Phoenix and Tucson is immense and as of now largely untapped," she said.
Wind farm joins forces with longtime locals
The wind farm's 105 turbines are uniquely located on one of the state's longest-running cattle ranches, owned and operated by the O'Haco family for more than a century.
"This project's co-location with the largest working cattle ranch in Arizona shows that our traditional industries can coexist, and in fact thrive, with emerging industries," Hobbs said.
Crucially, the nearly 60,000-acre O'Haco cattle ranch will remain active with the new wind farm on site, just as it has been since before Arizona was a state.
Jim O'Haco's grandfather came through Ellis Island at just 14 years old in 1898 and soon made his way to Arizona to help an uncle raise sheep.
After working for a few years, he was able to save enough money to buy his own sheep, and the O'Haco Sheep Company was born. By the end of World War II, he had become one of the biggest sheepherders in the state, O'Haco said.
A generation later, the ranch transitioned to a cow-calf operation, raising mostly Black Angus and Black Baldy cattle now known as the Jim O'Haco Cattle Company.
O'Haco was initially skeptical about the wind farm taking over areas of land that have been connected to his family for more than a century, but project developers presented a design that would have little impact on ranch operations.
"One of the main pitches was that we can engineer and build this project in a way that's compatible with their long-standing existing land uses, which is cattle ranching," said Terrance Unrein, senior director of Western Wind Development at AES.
O'Haco ultimately agreed to the project after ensuring that it would have limited environmental impacts.
The project developers worked closely with the O'Haco family, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to minimize the ecological impact throughout the wind farm's construction and operation, including identifying and avoiding sensitive or vulnerable areas, Unrein said.
Any land disturbed during construction has been re-seeded with native plants. Sprawling water lines throughout the property have been maintained, and cattle are free to roam directly up to the base of the turbines, said Luke McCandless, Wind Regional Site operations manager with AES.
The project will also provide a new level of financial security for future generations of the family, O'Haco said, who in the past has not always had a reliable income from the ranch.
"The livestock business is a tough business," O'Haco said. "This'll make life a lot easier."
Winslow already feeling economic benefits
While the wind farm only recently started operation, the local economy is already feeling a boost from the project.
The wind farm has brought nearly 300 jobs to the area during peak construction for both phases, which has brought much-needed business to the city of around 9,000 people.
The crews working on the project have frequented the hotels, restaurants and other businesses since they came to town, which in turn supports the local schools and hospitals through the sales tax, said Berry Larson, president of the Winslow Chamber of Commerce.
"It's vital for us because we're such a small town, and it's a poor town," Larson said.
Winslow residents have a median household income of $41,926, with more than 25% of residents in poverty, according to the most recent census data.
Locally, the wind farm is expected to generate $18 million in local property tax payments to both Coconino and Navajo counties over the life of the project, while contributing $267 million in total investments to the state's economy.
Turbine energy:Largest wind farm in Arizona planned near Flagstaff to provide power for Salt River Project
AES also donated to programs in the community, including $30,000 to Willow Bend Education Center for STEM education and $2,000 to the Winslow library.
Statewide, the project has also included more than $10 million paid to the Arizona State Land Department Trust, which directly goes to support public schools and colleges.
"Our slogan is 'A City in Motion,'" Larson said. "Before, that was all about trains, but look at us now — we are the gateway to the largest wind farm in Arizona, and that is a city in motion," she said, tracing a circle in the air to mimic the spinning turbines that could eventually become synonymous with the small city.
Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.
The Republic’s coverage of northern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report from America. To support regional Arizona news coverage like this, make a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/13/clean-energy-and-cattle-wind-farm-operates-on-historic-winslow-ranch/70384319007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:38 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/13/clean-energy-and-cattle-wind-farm-operates-on-historic-winslow-ranch/70384319007/ |
A fence set on fire months earlier and a fight led to fatal shooting at Eastlake Park, documents say
A man who was arrested after a shooting at Eastlake Park told Phoenix police the other man set fire to his fence, and he feared for his family.
Larry Hall, 71, was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly shot and killed 60-year-old Jerry McGee, who he believed had set the fire two months ago and attacked him with a stick that day, according to court documents.
On July 11, just after 9:30 a.m., Phoenix police responded to Eastlake Park at 1549 East Jefferson Street for reports of a shooting. Two different calls had come in, one from a man's girlfriend of four years and one from the Hall reporting the incident. When police arrived, officers met with Hall, McGee, and McGee's girlfriend around the southeast corner of the park.
McGee had multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 a.m.
In an interview with McGee's girlfriend, she told police Hall had pulled up in a pickup truck and began speaking with a woman, later learned to be Hall's niece and a friend of McGee. Following the talk, Hall exited his truck and approached McGee, who was seated at a covered picnic table, according to court documents.
'College prospect to handcuffs':Teen gets 18 years in prison after fatal shooting in Tempe
A verbal argument began between the two and eventually turned physical when Hall grabbed a gray plastic bucket and swung at McGee.
McGee then grabbed a wooden stick and swung at Hall before the two were separated by McGee's girlfriend and Hall left the area.
Hall would return around ten to fifteen minutes later, this time with a handgun, said McGee's girlfriend, and shot him multiple times, documents state.
According to Hall's niece, McGee had a "previous issue" with a different family member, not present at the incident, and had been making comments earlier in the day while at the park about starting a fire at Hall's house.
Hall was told about McGee's statement when he arrived at the park to give his niece cigarettes, leading to the quarrel. Ultimately, Hall's niece told police that she believed her uncle acted to protect his family.
Westgate shooting:Police search for 3 suspects. Here's what we know
Hall corroborated his niece's statement, saying in an interview at police headquarters, that she had pointed out McGee and mentioned his statements about burning down Hall's house, according to court documents.
Hall told them he approached McGee initially to ask if he knew who he was, but McGee said he did not know Hall. Hall asked McGee if he was the one responsible for setting fire to his fence two months ago.
McGee admitted he had, which prompted the argument, according to court documents.
The order of events presented by Hall differed from what McGee's girlfriend told police. Hall said McGee instigated the squabble turning physical by reaching for a wooden stick on the table, then the two fought. McGee grabbed the plastic bucket and swung it at Hall.
Court documents state that Hall told investigators that he had left the park to go home and grab his gun and return to the park for "closure," saying he had "felt disrespected by the victim who had treated him like a dog."
Police prompted Hall about potentially reporting the incident to them rather than dealing with it himself, but Hall said he "wanted to handle the situation like a man," according to court documents. He told police he feared for his family and wanted to let McGee know to leave them alone.
As he came back to the park, Hall concealed the gun in his waistband and made his way toward McGee.
McGee then stood up from the table and ruffled through his pants pockets, but Hall said he did not see anything as McGee walked around the table. Hall denied coming to the park with the intent to kill McGee but brought his gun, so both men would have a weapon, court documents state.
Hall told investigators he fired once away from McGee as he kept walking toward him, then fired an unknown amount of times.
According to court documents, McGee was unarmed.
Hall was booked into jail on $500,000 bond and is facing one count of first degree murder. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2023/07/13/man-arrested-phoenix-shooting-of-man-who-allegedly-burned-fence/70406853007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:44 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2023/07/13/man-arrested-phoenix-shooting-of-man-who-allegedly-burned-fence/70406853007/ |
Glendale man tells police he gunned down victim in murder case, court docs reveal
A Glendale man is in jail after he admitted to police that he gunned down someone as captured by video over the weekend at a north Phoenix apartment complex, according to court documents.
Leroy Junior Allen, 44, was charged with murder in a July shooting death at an apartment complex off West Northern Avenue near North 27th Avenue, according to court records. The male victim's identity was redacted in charging documents as Phoenix police say next-of-kin notification remains pending.Police cornered in on Allen as the suspect through a 2007 white Chevrolet Tahoe whose license plate numbers were seen on surveillance footage and whose VIN was found inside a backpack at the crime scene, according to the charging documents. During a separate investigation in June about the Tahoe being parked at a business, Allen told police he purchased the vehicle and provided them with an address, court documents explained.
Witnesses told police they recognized the Tahoe as belonging to someone named Junior and that the vehicle was present when the victim tried to sell them a handgun, court documents showed. Subsequently, the same witnesses identified Allen as Junior after police showed them his photo and mentioned where he lived, court documents added.
'College prospect to handcuffs':Teen gets 18 years in prison after fatal shooting in Tempe
Phoenix police obtained surveillance video that showed Allen was joined by the victim and a woman at a liquor store a day before the fatal shooting, according to court documents.
Charging documents revealed the surveillance video from the shooting showed a man with physical descriptors matching Allen and traveling in a white Tahoe, according to charging documents. The video also captured a shooting by the man against the victim, charging documents show. The woman, resembling the person seen with Allen and the victim the day before, was present during the shooting caught on video, according to court documents. The woman left with the shooter in a white Tahoe, court documents added.
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Investigators on Sunday evening found Allen and the white Tahoe at a Glendale home, and police arrested him and seized the vehicle, court documents show.
Allen told police he joined the woman in going to the apartment complex where the shooting happened because she was owed money from the victim for the sale of the gun, according to court documents.
Police were told by Allen that the situation escalated after he told the victim to pay the woman and showed the victim a gun he said he could sell him, court documents noted. Allen told police the victim then turned around and pointed a handgun at him, leading him to shoot at the victim, according to charging documents.
Allen told police he tossed the gun into a trashcan near his home, charging documents mentioned.
As of Wednesday, Allen was being held in jail on a $500,000 bond, according to jail and court records.
Allen also was charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, according to court records. Allen has been convicted of multiple drug related offenses, court and prison records show.
Allen's charge was listed as second-degree murder in initial court documents released Tuesday, but court records on Wednesday showed the charge listed as first-degree murder.His preliminary court hearing is set for July 19, according to court records. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/13/glendale-man-tells-police-he-committed-july-phoenix-shooting-court-docs/70404368007/ | 2023-07-13T13:40:50 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/13/glendale-man-tells-police-he-committed-july-phoenix-shooting-court-docs/70404368007/ |
More showers and storms expected in Nebraska today. Damaging hail and wind are possible in spots. Flooding and tornadoes can't be ruled out. Get the latest on timing and where severe storms are most likely in our weather update video.
Counties with the warmest summers in Nebraska
Counties with the warmest summers in Nebraska
It's almost summer, and the weather is starting to heat up.
With this in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the warmest summers in Nebraska using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information . Data represents the average temperatures from June to August 2022; the historic average is the average for these months from 1901 to 2000.
Maxim Grohotov // Shutterstock
#25. Cass County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 75 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 1.3 degrees
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#24. Thayer County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 75 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.7 degrees
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#23. Johnson County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 75 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.8 degrees
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#22. Pawnee County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 75 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.6 degrees
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#21. Saline County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.9 degrees
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#20. Gage County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.6 degrees
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#19. Washington County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 73 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.3 degrees
Ruth McNeill Photography // Shutterstock
#18. Nemaha County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.7 degrees
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#17. Dodge County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 73 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.6 degrees
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#16. Merrick County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.3 degrees
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#15. Sarpy County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 1.8 degrees
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#14. Douglas County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.1 degrees
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#13. Jefferson County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 0.9 degrees
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#12. Frontier County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 73 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.8 degrees
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#11. Saunders County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.3 degrees
culturalrelic // Shutterstock
#10. Lancaster County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 1.6 degrees
Katherine Welles // Shutterstock
#9. Franklin County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 1.7 degrees
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#8. Hayes County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 73 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 3.3 degrees
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#7. Richardson County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 1.1 degrees
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#6. Chase County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 73 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 3.6 degrees
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#5. Furnas County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 76 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 1.9 degrees
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#4. Dundy County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 77 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 73 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 3.3 degrees
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#3. Harlan County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 77 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 75 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 2.1 degrees
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#2. Hitchcock County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 77 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 3.2 degrees
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#1. Red Willow County
- Summer 2022 average temperature: 77 degrees
- Historic average summer temperature: 74 degrees
-- 2022 difference from historic average: 3.5 degrees
Lesleyanne Ryan // Shutterstock
Local Weather
Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox! | https://journalstar.com/news/local/weather/weather-forecast-nebraska-rain-storms-severe/article_5c502c94-0915-54e2-9bd6-d18122d51f5e.html | 2023-07-13T13:40:56 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/weather/weather-forecast-nebraska-rain-storms-severe/article_5c502c94-0915-54e2-9bd6-d18122d51f5e.html |
WARREN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities are seeking information about a drone that may have been flying near a northwestern Pennsylvania jail before the escape of a homicide suspect last week, and they say they have increasing concerns that the escaped prisoner may be armed.
Michael Burham, 34, fled the Warren County Prison late Thursday by climbing on exercise equipment to gain access to the roof and then used a rope fashioned from jail bedding to get down, authorities said. Prior to his escape, Burham had been held on $1 million bail and was facing numerous charges, including kidnapping and burglary.
Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters Wednesday afternoon that the drone was heard by a couple of people — although he didn’t know whether it was seen — “immediately adjacent to the jail” just before the escape. Surveillance video did not capture any drone, he said.
“I’m not a big believer in coincidences,” he said. “There could be a perfectly innocent and reasonable explanation. ... If there’s not an innocent explanation, perhaps that assists us in finding him and also finding anyone providing aid.”
Bivens also said recent information has made him increasingly worried that Burham is armed. He did not give further details.
Prosecutors in Chautauqua County, New York say Burham is the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin, 34, and a related arson in Jamestown, New York. He’s also accused of having abducted an elderly couple in Pennsylvania while trying to evade capture before his arrest in South Carolina, and Warren police consider him “very dangerous.”
State police say more than 200 state, federal and local law enforcement officers are involved in the manhunt and reward money in the case now totals $19,500. Police have said they believe Burham is still in the area more than five days after his escape, having found campsites and small stockpiles they believe are associated with him. Investigators have also said they believe he is getting help from someone and have vowed to prosecute anyone who aids him.
Warren County commissioners, meanwhile, vowed Wednesday to make security upgrades and reevaluate procedures.
Commissioners say the law requires inmates to be provided with time in the jail yard, a room with a cage on the top floor, and inmates are taken there in shifts. While there, they are on camera monitored by staff, but “the amount of time that he got out of that roof was quicker than anybody could respond to to get inside the room,” Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said Wednesday. Whether such monitoring was effective security was “absolutely” under review, he said.
“Everything associated with the yard, and the people inside, and how they’re observed is going to be reviewed and potentially changed,” he said. The exercise equipment is being replaced with equipment “that doesn’t provide access to higher elevations,” commissioners said in a statement, and officials were also going to review prisoner access to materials, such as the sheets used to make a rope, once the criminal investigation is completed, Eggleston said.
“Every element of their life in the jail is being evaluated and we’ll potentially change policy,” he said. Commissioners had already agreed to allocate money to increase security on the rooftop complex so that “no one’s ever going to even think to try to climb out of there ever again.”
The commission’s vice chair, Benjamin Kafferlin, said the county’s “rigorous internal investigation” would include a review of “every second” of video surveillance and interviews with people both inside or outside the jail.
“We’re not on a witch hunt, but we are going to seek justice, including if that means with our employees,” he said.
Warren County Sheriff Brian Zeybell has said the response by police and guards “couldn’t have been any quicker,” and in fact he believes “Burham saw red and blue lights within two minutes of leaving that jail.”
Police have said Burham taught himself survival skills and had military reserve training, and the large search area includes difficult terrain and cabins, oil and gas sheds, and shacks affording a fugitive a place to hide. Bivens said 500 tips have come in since the manhunt began.
In September 2014 in Pennsylvania, a manhunt of more than a month and a half ensued after a gunman killed a state trooper and permanently disabled another in an ambush outside the Blooming Grove barracks. Eric Frein, of Canadensis, also described as a self-taught survivalist, was captured after a 48-day search. He was convicted and sentenced to death, though Pennsylvania has a moratorium on executions.
After the deadly July 1996 Olympic park bombing in Atlanta, Eric Robert Rudolph hid in the mountains of western North Carolina for more than five years, apparently living off the land and using survival skills he learned as a soldier. Authorities also suspected the serial bomber had help from sympathizers or others during that time. Rudolph, who also was charged in a deadly blast at an Alabama abortion clinic, was caught in 2003 after being seen scavenging for food near a grocery store trash bin in Murphy, North Carolina. He was sentenced to life in prison.
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The latest updates in the expansion of a Cumberland County landfill set to be full by 2030
The quest to expand Cumberland County’s Ann Street landfill has moved into the next phase, according to records from June meetings of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.
The landfill, which opened in 1980, is projected to run out of space by 2030, according to the Cumberland County Department of Solid Waste. Efforts to extend the site’s life by 20 years began this year.
Amanda Bader, director of the Department of Solid Waste, said Tuesday that a pilot study of the balefill is ongoing, having been delayed by recent rains and employee shortages due to summer vacations. Here are the latest updates on the landfill expansion project.
Transferring waste
While workers mine the balefill — an old, unlined landfill where waste is compacted into bales — for useable soil and compost to cover new trash with, half of the county’s incoming waste will need to be transferred elsewhere, according to a May memorandum prepared by the Department of Solid Waste during budget talks for the upcoming fiscal year.
Doing so will require contracts with a company to transfer the waste and a company to build a transfer station for that purpose. On June 19, the Board of Commissioners gave the department permission to begin contract negotiations with two recommended contractors submitted by Bader.
Green for Life Environmental, a Toronto-based waste management company, will handle waste transfers during the landfill expansion, charging $20 a ton for hauling and $20 a ton for waste disposal at the company’s Sampson County facility, according to the memorandum. The company was the only of three potential contractors with a facility less than 80 miles away and the only contractor to include costs for both hauling and disposal, the memorandum said.
To build the station necessary for those transfers, T.A. Loving, a Fayetteville-based general contractor, and WithersRavenel, a Cary-based civil engineering company, were approved to enter negotiations for a contract of up to $975,000, board minutes show.
The 2024 Cumberland County budget allotted $6 million for the transfer station and $1.94 million for the cost of mining the balefill.
Community relationship
After a litany of concerns from community members who attended in-person and virtual open houses on the landfill expansion project, including concerns about increased criminal activity and the presence of rats and bugs, the Department of Solid Waste suggested six potential strategies to address those concerns in a May 30 memorandum to the Board of Commissioners.
The potential strategies include:
- Hosting regular community meetings to provide residents an opportunity to share concerns and receive updates on the project’s progress.
- Deterring criminal activity by adding a new gate on Irene Street and making aesthetic improvements to Ann Street.
- Repurposing existing structures at the landfill for new activities.
- Creating a greenway in the area.
- Installing a community playground along the Cape Fear River Trail using the same builder for the landfill’s transfer station.
- Improving community gardens on Irene Street by adding raised beds and providing compost materials.
The 2024 county budget includes $250,000 in funding for those strategies.
"We'll be hoping to implement some of the mitigation strategies very soon as we start moving forward with transfer construction," Bader said.
Government watchdog reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com. | https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/cumberland-countys-ann-street-landfill-moves-forward-with-expansion/70389573007/ | 2023-07-13T13:49:17 | 1 | https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/cumberland-countys-ann-street-landfill-moves-forward-with-expansion/70389573007/ |
PITTSBURGH — The jury has reached a verdict in the eligibility phase in the trial against Robert Bowers, the man convicted of killing 11 people inside a Squirrel Hill synagogue in 2018.
The jury has returned a verdict. We will update as everyone gathers back in the courtroom to read off their decision. @WPXI
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) July 13, 2023
PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING TRIAL: FULL COVERAGE ⇒
The defense is trying to persuade a jury to spare his life, while prosecutors are seeking a death sentence.
>>> Tree of Life, community react to guilty verdict in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial
Both sides delivered their closing arguments Wednesday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health effects from the trial, go to 1027healingpartnership.org to find help resources. As always, call 911 to report threats.
- Phone: 412-697-3534
- Email: info@1027HealingPartnership.org
- Web: 1027healingpartnership.org
The jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon and wrapped up about 40 minutes in. Deliberations resumed Thursday morning and the court has signaled that they have come to a decision as to whether or not he is eligible for the death penalty. That decision will be announced in about 20 to 30 minutes, Channel 11 is told.
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$7.1 Million bond issue for DelCom mainly used in upgrade of Albany Elementary
ALBANY, Ind. − Delaware Community Schools has approved a $7.1 million bond issue to make profound improvements to Albany Elementary School.
According to Superintendent Greg Kile, school officials plan to make updates to the elementary school to address spatial concerns inside and out. The changes will include updates for specialized populations within the school as well as for better teaching spaces. The work will also allow more efficient use of utilities and better safety and security.
About $6 million of the $7.1 million will be dedicated to Albany Elementary School.
Changes include construction of a physically secure main entrance.
"Our concern for the safety of students, staff, and patrons was what led to our initial discussions about this project," Kile said in a statement to The Star Press. "Albany is the only remaining school in our district still needing this work to be done. This is the only addition we are making to the existing building footprint. When the new secured entrance is completed, visitors will gain access to the building only after being allowed through three different sets of controlled doors, allowing office staff to ensure that it is appropriate for them to be inside the school building."
Kile said Albany Elementary houses a special education program for students with severe disabilities. This program is thriving and serves students with a variety of complex needs.
He said the bond issue will allow the school to renovate existing spaces within and create "modern educational spaces" for the special education students and better meet their needs.
"Needless to say, we are very excited about this," the superintendent said.
The plans also call for the enclosing of an existing open courtyard in the middle of the school building.
More:Another Delaware County community opens a splash pad
That change will also allow the school to capture additional space for instructional intervention, he said.
"These are spaces in which we will work with small groups of students to provide learning opportunities in addition to those they receive in their regular classrooms," Kile told The Star Press.
He said plans also call for the remodeling of the Albany Elementary library/media center, which all students use on a regular basis. Also the bond issue will pay to put a new roof on about two-thirds of the building.
"We will refresh wall coverings and flooring in the main hallways and common areas," Kile said. "We will add some square footage to the cafeteria where students eat lunch and do some work to make that space more enjoyable and functional for students."
School officials will also do work to improve the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system at the school during the building project.
The work will extend to the parking for the school.
"Albany Elementary has always had a significant lack of parking," Kile said. "We are using bond money to purchase a little property behind the school that will be turned into a parking lot, approximately 80 spaces."
The superintendent said the school partnered with the Town of Albany to expand parking, with the town taking care of the demolition of existing structures to make room for the added spots and the school creating the spaces and maintaining the and maintaining the lot.
"In the summers, this lot can be used by the town for a variety of events they hope to hold at their new amphitheater," Kile said. "This additional parking will make it easier for patrons to visit our school and much safer on evenings when we host large school events."
Kile said the remaining bond money will be used on a variety of smaller projects around the district. He added that he hopes the project in Albany will be done by about January 2025
More:Commissioners spend $193,000 in ARP money on advice from Innovation Connector
Last September the school board adopted a budget of about $32 million for the corporation this year with a tax levy of about $8 million for property taxpayers in the school district. Debt service for the year was budgeted at $2.76 million.
"The goal at DelCom Schools is to manage tax impacts in an effort to avoid and major unanticipated impacts," Kile said.
The school corporation has managed to keep a "fairly consistent tax rate" for the past 8-10 years, he said.
"This project prioritizes student safety, student learning, and the physical condition of the building," Kile told The Star Press. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/albany-elementary-targeted-for-upgrade-with-7-1-million-bond-issue/70407517007/ | 2023-07-13T13:54:23 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/albany-elementary-targeted-for-upgrade-with-7-1-million-bond-issue/70407517007/ |
EULESS, Texas — Almost a hundred people were evacuated in Euless early Thursday morning due to a natural gas leak in the area.
The fire department said the leak was in the area of South Pipeline Road and South Main Street. The smell of gas was reported to be north of that location.
The Euless Fire Chief said a call about the gas leak came in around 1 a.m. on July 13. The high pressure line is said to be about 6 inches.
Residents had been evacuated from homes near the reported leak. The chief reported 96 people who were evacuated to Cross Life and Hope Church next door.
As of 5:30 a.m., the fire department said residents have been cleared to return home.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/euless-texas-gas-leak-july-2023-thursday/287-e60b42b1-766a-4f36-bb3a-222825187d31 | 2023-07-13T14:01:12 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/euless-texas-gas-leak-july-2023-thursday/287-e60b42b1-766a-4f36-bb3a-222825187d31 |
PLANO, Texas — Read this story and more North Texas business news from our partners at the Dallas Business Journal
National multi-discipline engineering firm Westwood plans to relocate its headquarters to Plano by year’s end.
The Minnesota-based firm has 1,600 employees across 27 offices nationwide. Of those, several hundred workers are already in the North Texas area, and the firm has seven offices alone in DFW.
Bryan Powell, chief operations officer of Westwood, said in an interview with the Dallas Business Journal on Wednesday that the company plans to move its headquarters to North Texas. “Our corporate headquarters will be in Plano by year’s end,” he said.
When asked for additional information about the pending relocation, the company declined to comment. Westwood has an office in Plano located at 2901 Dallas Parkway, according to the firm's website.
According to a regulatory filing, as of March 6, at least five of the firm's senior leadership, including Powell and CFO Jennifer Bradbury, work out of the Plano office.
The company operates in 11 market segments, including wind, solar, energy storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, commercial, institutional, residential, state and local government and aviation. The firm provides services such as civil engineering and environmental surveying within those market segments.
The company was established in 1972 and is currently headquartered in Minnetonka.
The firm has seen rapid-fire growth, both locally and across the nation. Recently, Westwood acquired Fort Worth-based Peloton Land Solutions.
Peloton has approximately 200 employees between five offices in Fort Worth, Frisco, Austin, Dallas and Las Vegas. The company counts firms such as Hillwood among its clients.
The Peloton acquisition supports Westwood's long-term strategy to expand its existing markets and services, according to a news release. Peloton Land Solutions is the planner and engineer of record for AllianceTexas, a 27,000-acre masterplanned, mixed-use development by Hillwood, and other major projects throughout North Texas.
In 2021, Westwood acquired Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers, an engineering, surveying and landscape architecture firm. At the time of its purchase, the 12th largest engineering firm in North Texas.
Powell said the company has targeted growth in areas where people are moving because that creates demand for things such as housing, infrastructure and energy. “Where high population centers are, that’s where we want to invest…” he said. “Because of that, we’ll continue to invest heavily in the DFW market and Texas.”
The Westwood headquarters move will be another significant economic development win for Plano, a city with a history of attracting prominent corporate relocations.
In March of this year, wealth management firm Fisher Investments announced it is moving its headquarters from Washington to its existing office in Plano, which will serve as the headquarters for the company moving forward.
More business news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fast-growing-minnesota-based-westwood-professional-services-company-plans-hq-move-to-plano/287-a14f2688-4aaa-48f5-a06f-1510d4f7496b | 2023-07-13T14:01:12 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fast-growing-minnesota-based-westwood-professional-services-company-plans-hq-move-to-plano/287-a14f2688-4aaa-48f5-a06f-1510d4f7496b |
Inside Out Gallery announces classes
BLOOMINGTON — The Inside Out Accessible Art Gallery and Cooperative has announced August classes.
The first class is titled "Van Gogh Sunflower," where participants will learn how to make texture acrylic to create Van Gogh-style sunflowers. The class will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23. The cost is $15 or $12 for IOAA members. The class is for those 10 and up, and is taught by Peg Dunlap.
Visit insideoutcoop.org to register.
The second class is "LGBTQIA+ Painted Rocks," which will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. for teens and from 3 to 4 p.m. for adults on Sunday, Aug. 13. The class is free, but donations are encouraged. The instructor is C. Varlese, an IOAA artist.
To register for the second class, contact clara@claravarlescounseling.com.
The third class is "Paint with Me Flamingo," on an 11 x 14 acrylic canvas. The class will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. The cost is $35 per pair and $20 per extra child. Registration can be completed at bloomingtonparks.org.
IOAA also offers private art classes at request. Contact mjjohnson@1956@gmail.com for more information.
IOAA plans Inside Out Art Festival
BLOOMINGTON — The IOAA Art Fair will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Miller Park Pavilion.
The event is co-sponsored by Bloomington Parks & Recreation. Art activities will be provided by IOAA artists and community organizations will have booths to discuss services and activities.
There will also be activities provided inside, on the building porches, and the lawn. Activities include mosaic decorations, air dry necklaces, permanent marker tiles, foam rockets, pointilism painting, stenciled boxes, beaded bracelets, blow painting and stenciled boxes.
Other activities include Anuja Durwas henna tattoo, Needle in a Haystack band, drumming with Diane Boeck, bubble making and hula hoop fun.
Attendees can bring a chair to listen to music, picnic in the park or buy concessions at the zoo, take a pedal boat ride, go to the zoo, play mini golf or enjoy the playground, with some activities requiring additional fees.
Participating community organizations include Bloomington Parks & Recreation, Boys & Girls Club, Central Illinois Beekeepers, Children's Discovery Museum, Ecology Action Center and the ISU Horticulture Center. | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/arts-in-brief-inside-out-gallery-announces-august-classes/article_1f3d3658-2028-11ee-8a62-735df89a23a6.html | 2023-07-13T14:02:50 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/arts-in-brief-inside-out-gallery-announces-august-classes/article_1f3d3658-2028-11ee-8a62-735df89a23a6.html |
All that glitters is gold, and all that rages is solid rock ‘n’ roll.
Normal-based hardcore punk-metal band Karat’s Gold has a new 7-inch vinyl ready for you record heads to spin. Their 31-year-old guitarist, Christopher Whitacre, was very kind to share with me a copy of “Solid Gold” before its Thursday release. And, it sounds real heavy.
The three-piece band is taking off Friday at an album release party at Bombsight Recording Studios, which moved in May to a new space in west Bloomington. Karat’s Gold will be supported by the spacey soundwaves of Shinzon, a Chicago-based band that formed in Bloomington in 2015 and released a new album last month. Their bassist, Storm Angone, still resides in the Twin Cities.
Also on Friday's show bill is The Recombinants, which was featured in this column just over a year ago before their Midwest Punkfest set at nightshop. This band recorded a new album in December at Tone Good Studios in Urbana; a release date is still to be determined.
Drummer Nick “Toads” Rhoades said he's especially excited for their guitarist Nick Bretz to travel in from Oregon to join them for the set.
Nap House Studios is slated to video tape Friday's live sessions. Set your sights on this show, because that studio will be blasting out jams.
Whitacre, who is temporarily staying in Bloomington, Indiana, said the gilded “Karat” of their band’s namesake could be anyone or anything.
In his mind, he said it’s a dog. And I think he’s right. House pets are lovable creatures with hearts of gold, but they’re also pretty metal. Growing up, I once caught my mother’s dainty, one-eyed shih tzu hunting rabbits in the backyard.
Karat’s Gold formed in 2018. Whitacre said their goal was play rock ‘n’ roll at house shows and drink beer with their friends. “Hail Gold” came out in March 2019 as their debut record, delivering seven sultry tracks with feral, fast guitar riffs and pulsating percussion.
The third track, “You’re No Good,” gallops out of the gate with mathy, cowpunk fretwork by Whitacre. It shifts seamlessly into the following song, “Outta Line.”
The guitarist said they’re inspired by music that gets technical and “makes us think.” He said listeners might not understand it on the first listen, and may need a few repeats until they can relate.
For their latest release, Whitacre said they just kept writing and got better. Second up on the track list of “Solid Gold” is “Disown You,” which maintains those same themes of breaking up from “Hail Gold,” but with even heavier breakdowns.
These tracks may be short — but when they’re this hardcore, they’re dense as gold. “Ministry of Love” tracks in at 69 seconds, and hooks well with lyrics “Finally felt alive” and hammering bass lines.
A lyrical music video for that song began streaming April 20 on Nap House Studios’ YouTube account, and includes footage scenes around Carlock, shot by Beth Randall. That’s also where KG’s bassist Alex Poole resides.
The band belts out the line “Mask full of rats” in this song. That’s a reference to the ending of George Orwell’s famous novel “1984.” Whitacre recalled how the protagonist's face was forced inside a cage of hungry, rabid rats to threaten him into compliance of Big Brother.
The record was also recorded at Russian Recording in Bloomington, Indiana, which Whitacre said specializes in vintage Russian microphones.
Contrasting themes of gold and animal pestilence in KG’s songs are not a coincidence. Just like gold, Whitacre said the band’s sound is quality.
As for the performers, he said: “We're all just a bunch of rats.”
To support Karat’s Gold, you can pick up the new album via an online Bandcamp auction or on the merchandise table at their shows. Whitacre expects Waiting Room Records in Normal to be stocked with them by Saturday.
KG’s drummer, Sheridan, was also sharing his sound engineering skills with Shinzon for its latest record “MIMIC,” which was released June 2. You can listen on Bandcamp and send some digital support their way.
When asked to explain the sounds of math rock, Shinzon’s drummer and vocalist, Champaign's Adam Meyers, said: “Imagine hitting ’record,’ then throwing some guitars, a bass, a drum kit and an emotional singer down a flight of stairs.”
The band’s latest record blends an eclectic mix of several rock styles, in true experimental form. Meyers added other elements of prog rock, math rock, surf rock, garage rock, shoegaze and more.
He said their sound stems from how he, Angone and guitarist Luc Chamberlain all bring distinct, stylistic opinions to the table.
“Each member gets room to speak authentically in their own musical voice while still contributing to something that is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Meyer.
From the start, “MIMIC” dives deep into the shoegaze on track “Canopic Jars.” Even though I’m a huge fan of that genre, I love how the mood swings far from it several times throughout the album. It ranges sonically from the intro’s warm and fuzzy, pop hooks reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine, to the monstrous noise rock in track “Scream Through Clenched Teeth.”
The group’s namesake takes after the Romulan clone of the indispensable Star Trek Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard, also the primary antagonist of 2002 film “Star Trek Nemesis. The band rockets into even deeper space with track “Gravii,” dropping heavy into reverb and serene vocal layers.
This Shinzon rocket ride hits its apogee on track “Earth Realm,” a title that repeats thematically in the bands previous releases. Another galactic concept was termed in the band’s debut full-length 2016 album is: “Behold: Neo Radical.”
Meyer said they were hyperfixated on those phrases while writing both albums.
He supposed that “Earth Realm" is a place that is" precious, beautiful, and life giving."
“It should be defended at all cost," he continued.
He described “Neo-Radical” as a both a dream-faring research facility, and a social-fashion movement.
Meyer said it also has good “mouth feel.”
“Mostly we’re concerned with the mouth feel,” he said.
Misheard lyrics from iconic rock songs
Misheard lyrics from iconic rock songs
'Tiny Dancer' by Elton John
'Simply the Best' by Tina Turner
'Livin' on a Prayer' by Bon Jovi
'Africa' by Toto
'Purple Haze' by Jimi Hendrix
'Seven Seas of Rhye' by Queen
'The Zephyr Song' by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' by The Beatles
'I'm a Believer' by The Monkees
'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana
'Rock and Roll All Nite' by KISS
'Enter Sandman' by Metallica
'The Final Countdown' by Europe
'Bad Moon Rising' by Creedence Clearwater Revival
'Edge of Seventeen' by Stevie Nicks
'I Want to Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles
'We Built This City' by Starship
'Blinded by the Light' by Manfred Mann
'Hotel California' by The Eagles
'Smooth Criminal' by Michael Jackson
'Summer of '69' by Bryan Adams
'Say You Love Me' by Fleetwood Mac
'American Pie' by Don McLean
'Message in a Bottle' by The Police
'Don't Bring Me Down' by Electric Light Orchestra
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
"We're all just a bunch of rats." — Chris Whitacre of Karat's Gold | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/music/karats-gold-shinzon-and-more-playing-friday-album-release-show-in-bloomington/article_0fa5221c-20e8-11ee-8b67-0bf4763da8ca.html | 2023-07-13T14:02:56 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/music/karats-gold-shinzon-and-more-playing-friday-album-release-show-in-bloomington/article_0fa5221c-20e8-11ee-8b67-0bf4763da8ca.html |
CHESTERTON — Police say a man imitating Chief Tim Richardson went so far as to reproduce the department's phone number on the target's caller ID.
A resident of the town's Westwood Manor neighborhood said she received a call from what appeared to be the local police department's number and the caller identified himself as Richardson, the town reported.
Riding Shotgun with Merrillville Police Officer Amanda Earley
"The man then told her that he needed to discuss a complaint against her involving Homeland Security," police said. "Sensing something amiss, the resident asked the man whether he happened to know a particular person who once served with the CPD, at which the man abruptly ended the call."
The woman also reported that the caller had an accent that did not sound like it was from the area.
He then opened the door to the master bedroom and saw a baby sleeping inside a crib with a bottle propped up by blankets, Portage police said.
"It is worth noting that it is relatively easy nowadays to manipulate caller ID information, making it appear as though you are receiving a call from a specific phone number," Assistant Police Chief Francisco Rodriguez said.
"Unfortunately, the resident did not engage in conversation long enough to determine the nature of the scam this caller was attempting to perpetrate," he said. "Nonetheless, she wanted us to be aware of this call."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Michael Torres
Arrest date: July 7, 2023
Age: 33
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302819
Charges: OWI, felony
Eric Torkelson
Arrest date: July 7, 2023
Age: 48
Residence: Hebron, IN
Booking Number: 2302826
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
Breanna Mendoza
Arrest date: July 7, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302818
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Jack Isbell
Arrest date: July 7, 2023
Age: 50
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302815
Charges: Intimidation/threats, felony
Levi Jordan
Arrest date: July 7, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: South Bend, IN
Booking Number: 2302823
Charges: Possession hypodermic syringe or needle, felony
Amanda Rafalski
Arrest date: July 6, 2023
Age: 33
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302796
Charges: Possession or use of legend drug or precursor, felony
Austin Rose
Arrest date: July 6, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302813
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Andrew Sanchez
Arrest date: July 6, 2023
Age: 25
Residence: Sauk Village, IL
Booking Number: 2302806
Charges: Battery, felony
Jermal Horsley
Arrest date: July 6, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: North Platte, NE
Booking Number: 2302807
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Kyle Kressen
Arrest date: July 6, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: Wheatfield, IN
Booking Number: 2302798
Charges: Habitual traffic offender, felony
Anthony Prokopos
Arrest date: July 6, 2023
Age: 18
Residence: Wheatfield, IN
Booking Number: 2302797
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Chandra Thomas
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 44
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number: 2302787
Charges: Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, felony
David Swisher
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 27
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302795
Charges: Sex offender/failing to register as a result of not having reported online activity, felony
Maxwell Rodriquez
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Fort Wayne, IN
Booking Number: 2302794
Charges: Residential entry, felony
Danny Suddoth
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 56
Residence: Schaumburg, IL
Booking Number: 2302786
Charges: Possession of cocaine or narcotic drug, felony
Gary Leggitt
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302785
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Gage Kirchhoff
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number: 2302788
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Napoleon Cortez
Arrest date: July 5, 2023
Age: 43
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302784
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Donald Parlock
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Lake Station, IN
Booking Number: 2302774
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Shannon Sciba
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 33
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302778
Charges: Possession hypodermic syringe or needle, felony
Michele Paree
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 54
Residence: Porter, IN
Booking Number: 2302780
Charges: Battery, felony
Jon Navarro
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 50
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302777
Charges: Criminal confinement, felony
Tammie McDonald
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2302781
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Jackie Jent III
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Porter, IN
Booking Number: 2302776
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Gerald Christian
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 34
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2302773
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Gregory Driver
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 58
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302775
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Brett Brehmer
Arrest date: July 4, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Ocala, FL
Booking Number: 2302772
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Bernard Delph Jr.
Arrest date: July 3, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302768
Charges: Theft, felony
Amy Mills
Arrest date: July 3, 2023
Age: 41
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2302763
Charges: Theft, felony
Andrew Williams
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302757
Charges: Neglect of a dependant, felony
Fernando Aguilar
Arrest date: July 3, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302761
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Natalie Stowe
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 27
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Booking Number: 2302759
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Aleyah Rebac
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 21
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302755
Charges: Neglect of a dependant , felony
Carolyn Schlegel
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 53
Residence: Channahon, IL
Booking Number: 2302753
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Edgar Lopez
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 22
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302754
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Michael Lynch
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 25
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2302756
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Jessenia Jeronimo
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Lake Station, IN
Booking Number: 2302752
Charges: OWI, felony
Geoffrey Erakovich-Andonov
Arrest date: July 2, 2023
Age: 49
Residence: Munster, IN
Booking Number: 2302749
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Fernando Fernandez Jr.
Arrest date: July 1, 2023
Age: 45
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2302745
Charges: Domestic battery, felony
Erik Grant
Arrest date: July 1, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Schererville, IN
Booking Number: 2302736
Charges: Possession of methamphetamine, felony
Lianne Loving
Arrest date: July 1, 2023
Age: 65
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302738
Charges: OWI, felony
Daniel Bulow
Arrest date: July 1, 2023
Age: 41
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2302748
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Adam Zuleger
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302719
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Dylan Melia
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Hammond, IN
Booking Number: 2302721
Charges: OWI, felony
William Kaplan
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 60
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302734
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Lukas Fugate
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 20
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number: 2302733
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Lakeisha Gray
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 30
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2302726
Charges: Theft, felony
Adam Brady
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 45
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number: 2302718
Charges: Theft, felony
David Clem
Arrest date: June 30, 2023
Age: 44
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302722
Charges: Domestic battery, misdemeanor
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/porter-county-resident-learns-you-can-no-longer-trust-caller-id-police-say/article_a6a511ac-2171-11ee-8bad-c32fead43ce7.html | 2023-07-13T14:08:29 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/porter-county-resident-learns-you-can-no-longer-trust-caller-id-police-say/article_a6a511ac-2171-11ee-8bad-c32fead43ce7.html |
Trains have long rumbled through Gary, often hauling slate grey coils of steel off to auto plants, dishwasher factories and metal service centers all across the country.
The South Shore Line whips through the City of the Century, whisking commuters off to jobs in Chicago before their morning coffee gets cold. An industrial center in its own right, the Steel City is crisscrossed with train tracks as it's just east of the largest rail hub in the country in Chicago.
Long, serpentine, graffiti-mottled trains clatter on the tracks, dragging rust-kissed freight containers and tar black oil tankers to parts unknown.
At one time, back during the heyday of passenger rail travel in the early 20th century, people flocked to the Beaux Arts-style Union Station in downtown Gary down to take trains all over the country. They went to the two-story Union Station to visit other cities, sightsee, go on business trips, visit family or head off to war.
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The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Baltimore & Ohio rail lines once took Region residents to far-flung destinations like New York City, Jersey City, Washington, Boston, Buffalo, Baltimore and Detroit until the interstate highway system and commercial air travel came along.
But the train station that's on the National Register of Historic Places has been abandoned for decades and deemed by Indiana Landmarks as one of the most 10 endangered historic buildings in the Hoosier State.
The local Decay Devils group of urban explorers, whose name is a mishmash of urban decay and daredevils, has been working for years to revive Union Station, which the city turned over to them after all the sweat equity that went into sprucing up the long-vacant site. Now a developer is interested in redeveloping the train depot with the help of historic tax credits, potentially eyeing an educational use.
Over the years, the Decay Devils have cleared out debris, cleaned up the property, commissioned murals, dug a garden and added a historical sign and a bench.
"We started in 2015. We're photographers. That's how we started," President Tyrell Anderson said. "We traveled all over and did a couple trips down south to Savannah and New Orleans in particular. We wanted to do something when we came back home because everybody in the south is doing preservation way better than we are."
The Decay Devils honed in on Union Station, a grand structure built with a pioneering cast-in-place concrete method in in 1910, shortly after the then-newly constructed Gary Works mill drew immigrants from the world over to the fledgling boom town. It went on to be featured in movies like the Alan Ladd noir "Appointment with Danger" and the blaxploitation homage "Original Gangstas."
The classical-looking train station at 251 Broadway just outside the gates of Gary Works was abandoned in the 1970s.
"At one point it was a grand structure," Calumet Heritage Partnership board Chairman Gary Johnson said. "It doesn't have the scale of Union Station in Chicago or Grant Central Station in New York City but it was a miniature version of that. It was very luxurious for its time. It's a wonderful building."
The Decay Devils collective of urban explorers, artists and philosophers did yearly cleanups of Union Station every spring and landed a $22,000 Legacy Foundation grant in 2017 to plant flowers, remove trash and put up murals on the abandoned building.
"It was something a little different but it needed to be done," Anderson said.
It leveraged the grant into $150,000 of funding and the project started to take on its own life. The Decay Devils have since been seeking $5 million in funding to rebuild the roof and reactivate the space, turning it into a mixed-use building.
"We have a developer who's interested. As long as the engineering study comes back good, we have commitments for $3.5 million," Anderson said. "Under this deal, I would not retain site control. I would have partial ownership."
The Decay Devils would bring in about $200,000 while the developer would ultimately put in the $5 million needed to restore the property, he said.
"We don't want to sell, just give away the property," he said. "We want to be able to work with them."
The hope is to bring in tenants who would pay rent and make the building self-sustaining so it would no longer have to rely on volunteer work and grants, Anderson said.
"They're not the tenants we originally envisioned," he said. "But we don't want to write grants, write grants, write grants to keep everything afloat."
The Decay Devils hope to break ground as soon as spring of next year.
"We are being very aggressive," he said. "We're working with engineers out of Indianapolis who did the study in the 1990s, five years ago and are now doing an update. We just need to make sure everything is still structurally sound as far as the walls go. As long as the walls are structurally sound, we think we're going to be able to move forward."
The exterior of the building will have to be restored to exactly what it was previously.
"We can't make any changes," he said. "It's all poured-in-place concrete so we have to do everything exactly the same. That's going to drive the price up the most, making sure the architectural design and construction is 100% historic. There's no value there. There's no wiggle room."
The Miller Bathing Beach Aquatorium on the shores of Lake Michigan in Gary's Miller neighborhood was also a cast-in-place concrete structure that was restored to its historic glory after being saved from demolition by the Chanute Aquatorium Society in 1991. It's now a popular wedding venue that gets quickly booked every summer because of its sweeping lakefront views.
The Decay Devils hope to pull off a similar feat of historical preservation in downtown Gary. Anderson said the more than century old train station can have a second life that links Gary's future to its storied past.
"It's all surreal," Anderson said. "I'm looking forward to it. The work at Union Station has been a lot."
The group also has been in talks with the National Park Service since it abuts the western edge of the Indiana Dunes National Park and there's been talk of extending a trail to Broadway there.
"You can envision bike rentals, cafes, all sorts of things," Johnson said. "It's a short distance from the South Shore Line station so tourists could come from Chicago with or without bikes and with or without hiking shoes. They could easily get on trails because the Marquette Greenway will go right through there. There's a wonderful confluence that makes it a wonderful community asset."
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/developer-eying-garys-long-vacant-union-station-considering-educational-use/article_e59cff36-20ff-11ee-8a13-33aa93c4ca4a.html | 2023-07-13T14:08:35 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/developer-eying-garys-long-vacant-union-station-considering-educational-use/article_e59cff36-20ff-11ee-8a13-33aa93c4ca4a.html |
Whatever happened to the search for Berkley resident Donald Flint?
BERKLEY — It's been more than six years since 48-year-old Donald Flint disappeared without a trace.
Flint, who is developmentally disabled, disappeared on June 8, 2017.
The search for Flint, 48, began after his mother, Nadine, reported him missing from her mobile home on Padelford Street in Berkley.
Former Police Chief Scott Labonte previously said Flint worked part-time at Home Depot in Taunton and was known to “wander off by himself occasionally, but never for so long or so far.”
According to police, Flint could not be tracked by officers because he did not have a cellphone or GPS wristband tracking device in his possession at the time of his disappearance.
What happened when Flint disappeared?
When Flint went missing the community and law enforcement officers from the surrounding communities mobilized to help find him.
Flint’s disappearance sparked an intense manhunt in 90-degree heat of a square-mile area, including swampy woods, behind his house and the nearby privately owned airfield.
Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (SEMLEC) divers and Taunton Police Sgt. Matthew McCaffrey also searched unsuccessfully for Flint in a pond near a farm on Myricks Street.
Flint was described at the time as a white man who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds and has brown eyes, very fine gray hair and prominent ears.
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Possible sightings in 2018
There was a report of possible sightings of Donald Flint in Gilford, New Hampshire, in February of 2018. Someone had called Berkley police saying they had twice seen a man resembling Flint at the Lowe’s store in Gilford, prompting Berkley police to reach out to Gilford police for help, the Gilford chief told the Taunton Daily Gazette at the time.
Gilford police posted "Have you seen Donald Flint?" on Facebook in hopes of helping track him down, but, unfortunately, despite the raised hopes, the report did not lead anywhere.
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Where does the case stand now?
Berkley Police Chief Christopher Baker said recently, unfortunately, the department doesn’t have any new leads in the case.
“Any new leads we would welcome from whatever sources we can get them,” he said. “We would follow up on them immediately, but at this time, we have no new leads we are currently following.”
Flint would say ‘Hi to everybody'
Berkley resident Ginny Starvish, 72, said recently many people knew Flint, and she became acquainted with him while visiting Star Drive-In on Myricks Street in East Taunton.
“Donald lives on the street that is the way to the Star Drive-In,” said Starvish, a registered nurse and co-founder of the non-profit Cancer Care Community Advisory Board in Raynham. “You could drive by Donald’s house, and he would sit on his tractor lawn mower and wave to everybody.”
Starvish said she would talk with Flint when he was buying ice cream at Star Drive-In.
“He is very friendly,” she said. “He’d say hi to everybody."
Starvish said she became acquainted with Flint’s mother, Nadine, and had some telephone conversations with her.
“It doesn’t seem possible he vanished into thin air,” she said.
Starvish said she hopes police will continue to investigate Flint’s disappearance.
If you have any information about Flint's whereabouts
Anyone with with any information about Flint’s possible whereabouts or why he is missing can call Berkley Police at 911 or the department’s business phone number, 508-822-7040.
Former Taunton Daily Gazette reporter Charles Winokoor contributed to this report. | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/berkley-ma-police-missing-person-donald-flint-search-padelford-street-tractor-disabled/70383996007/ | 2023-07-13T14:13:11 | 1 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/berkley-ma-police-missing-person-donald-flint-search-padelford-street-tractor-disabled/70383996007/ |
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - A Beaverton couple sustained serious injuries in a head-on crash that claimed the life of a Georgia woman in Osceola County on Wednesday afternoon.
Michigan State Police say a 63-year-old man from Georgia was driving a Lexus SUV west on U.S. 10 when he crossed the center line near 15th Avenue around 12:15 p.m. He crashed head-on into a GMC pickup truck carrying a Beaverton couple.
The 62-year-old woman riding as a passenger in the Lexus was pronounced dead on the scene. An ambulance rushed the 63-year-old to an area hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.
The 69-year-old man and 68-year-old woman from Beaverton in the pickup truck also were rushed to area hospitals. The male, who was driving, was listed in serious condition while the female passenger was in critical condition.
Michigan State Police will continue investigating what caused the Lexus to cross the center line. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/beaverton-couple-badly-injured-in-deadly-head-on-crash-on-u-s-10/article_caa5f060-2173-11ee-8564-1f1f0e5647c3.html | 2023-07-13T14:15:12 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/beaverton-couple-badly-injured-in-deadly-head-on-crash-on-u-s-10/article_caa5f060-2173-11ee-8564-1f1f0e5647c3.html |
SWARTZ CREEK, Mich. (WJRT) - A Swartz Creek woman who sustained a traumatic brain injury while standing in line for a roller coaster at Cedar Point is suing the amusement park's parent company.
The lawsuit alleges Rachel Hawes became permanently disabled and will no longer be able to work after she was struck by a piece of metal that fell off the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster while waiting in line in 2021.
The suit says she racked up to $2 million in medical bills and further expenses are expected to reach $10 million.
Hawes was hospitalized in critical condition for more than a week after the incident on Aug. 15, 2021. Investigators from the Ohio Department of Agriculture say a piece of metal dislodged and hit her in the head.
Officials say the L-shaped piece of metal was about the size of an adult hand.
Regulators compiled a 620-page report on the incident, but investigators never determined where the metal came from or how it became dislodged when Hawes suffered her injury.
Top Thrill Dragster closed after the incident and has not carried any riders since. Cedar Point is planning to reconfigure the ride and reopen in it 2024 with a new look.
Top Thrill Dragster saw more than 18 million riders in nearly 20 years of service beginning in 2003. At 420 feet high, it's the second highest coaster in the world. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/swartz-creek-woman-suing-cedar-point-after-suffering-brain-injury/article_756e1af2-2176-11ee-8985-9f4b302a8f1a.html | 2023-07-13T14:15:18 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/swartz-creek-woman-suing-cedar-point-after-suffering-brain-injury/article_756e1af2-2176-11ee-8985-9f4b302a8f1a.html |
SAGINAW COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - A call for a downed power line early Thursday morning quickly turned into a fire that spread to two homes.
Fire crews responded to the area of Young and Sheridan roads on the border of Bridgeport and Spaulding townships around 4 a.m. to investigate a power line that came down during overnight thunderstorms.
The Bridgeport Township Fire Department found two homes ablaze when they arrived on the scene and immediately called for help from other area fire crews.
Fire consumed the back wall of one house and caused serious damage to the attic of another house.
No injuries were reported from the fires. Investigators will look into how the power line sparked the flames. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/two-homes-heavily-damaged-by-power-line-fire-in-saginaw-county/article_0061fa72-217a-11ee-a79b-af8cd4cc8272.html | 2023-07-13T14:15:24 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/two-homes-heavily-damaged-by-power-line-fire-in-saginaw-county/article_0061fa72-217a-11ee-a79b-af8cd4cc8272.html |
MITCHELL — Mitchell Post 18's American Legion baseball season is over.
After the Mitchell Baseball Association board of directors opted Wednesday to allow baseball activities to resume following a suspension of more than two weeks, the MBA reversed its decision Thursday morning.
“As a result of information provided by investigating authorities to the Mitchell Baseball Association late in the day on July 12, 2023, the board has reconsidered its decision to reinstate the Legion baseball season,” read a statement from MBA president Jason Christensen to the Mitchell Republic. “Based on the new information, the MBA has decided to terminate the remainder of the 2023 Legion baseball season.”
Christensen was not immediately available for further comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
ADVERTISEMENT | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/remainder-of-mitchell-post-18-baseball-season-terminated | 2023-07-13T14:25:57 | 1 | https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/remainder-of-mitchell-post-18-baseball-season-terminated |
Petoskey council places 6-month moratorium on short-term rental licenses
PETOSKEY — As they consider new ordinances related to short-term rentals, the Petoskey City Council voted to place a six-month moratorium on any new or transfer short-term rental licenses in the city.
“Based on feedback at our last city council meeting, the city attorney has put forward a resolution for consideration that establishes a moratorium on all new short-term rental licenses and all short-term rental license transfers for a period to be determined by this council,” said city manager Shane Horn. “That is up to you how long you want this moratorium to be in place.”
Horn added that this resolution will essentially “hit a pause on new and transfers of short-term rental licenses.”
“The planning commission has done a substantial amount of work drafting two ordinances that you have,” he said. “Based on feedback at the last meeting, council again wants to do their due diligence, take as much time as they need to walk through those ordinances, make any adjustments that you all may need to make, and then just give us the time to go through that before we process any new or transfer licenses.”
Mayor John Murphy asked if Horn had any recommendations on a time period for the moratorium, and Horn suggested six months.
“That doesn’t mean we have to take that long,” he said. “I would encourage us to kind of have this on as a regular discussion. If we even go through it (one) section at a time, we can wrap this up and it shouldn’t necessarily take that long but that gives us that ability to really do our deep dive, if you will.”
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Council member Tina DeMoore said she agreed with the recommendation.
“That would give us the time that’s legally defensible yet with a thought toward completing it sooner than that and it would obviate the necessity of having to make repeated motions to extend the time should it be necessary,” she said. “I support that period of time.”
The other council members agreed, and the resolution was approved in a 4-0 vote at their meeting on July 10, with council member Lindsey Walker absent.
Council member Brian Wagner added his thanks to the planning commission for their work on the new ordinances.
“I really appreciate it,” he said. “I wanted more time to digest it.”
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/petoskey-council-places-6-month-moratorium-on-short-term-rental-licenses/70403576007/ | 2023-07-13T14:30:26 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/petoskey-council-places-6-month-moratorium-on-short-term-rental-licenses/70403576007/ |
Crowds converge on downtown Gaylord for 58th Alpenfest
GAYLORD — The 58th edition of Alpenfest got off to a good start Tuesday as crowds enjoyed the crafters and vendors in the Alpenstrasse, rides on downtown streets and the food.
Cloudy weather gave way to sunshine by the afternoon as many attended the luncheon under the Pavilion to salute the festival award winners selected by the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the 2023 Alpenfest Committee.
Dona Wishart, executive director of the Otsego County Commission on Aging, served as this year's der Buergermeister, which translates as the mayor in German. It is an honorary title awarded to someone who has made the community a better place to live.
The parade marshal this year, Allan Zielinski, superintendent of public works for the City of Gaylord, received his Alpenfest black jacket in honor of his many years of service to the festival. Pam Anthony was the winner of the DAR Award, which is designed to honor all Alpenfest volunteers.
The Edelweiss Award went to Patrick Tholl. It is presented to an individual who goes above and beyond the normal volunteer duties and is named in the memory of Pam Duczkowski and Patti Dobrzelewski.
The Northern Michigan Veterans Coalition, the Ralph Holewinski VFW Post 1518 and Patriot Place received the Alpenfest Honored Industry Award for their work providing services to veterans in the region.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, Gaylord Mayor Todd Sharrard presided over the Willkommen or opening ceremonies. Afterward he praised the contribution of the many volunteers who work the festival.
"Any big event requires a village to do what needs to be done. The volunteers from within and outside of the community step up and this great event couldn't happen without them," said Sharrard.
Gaylord Police Chief Frank Claeys was there and noted that Alpenfest is a great opportunity for the police department to connect with the community.
"Last year our officers did a great job of providing security while doing it in a friendly and warm manner. It was well received and I got a lot of positive feedback. We will have that same presence this year," he said.
Meanwhile, Chris Beck was manning a tent on the Alpenstrasse selling everything honey. He is from Breckenenridge near Mount Pleasant and has been coming to the summer festival for about 10 years.
"Alpenfest is great because it is well attended and supported by the community. I come here because I like the people and I do a good business," said Beck.
Sales have been steadily increasing for Beck.
"I have expanded from one to two booths and added a table to display more products," he said.
Beck said he was given an award for his display. In addition to selling his honey, he also uses the time to visit his cabin at Higgins Lake.
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Russ Glasby, 49, has been coming to Alpenfest for over 30 years. He grew up in Gaylord and remembers his role in the festival when he was a member of the Gaylord High School marching band.
"I remember playing Taps on the courthouse lawn because the Pavilion didn't exist back then," he said.
As a young person Glasby looked forward to Alpenfest every summer.
"Not the rides so much but the camaraderie from the community," he said.
"The memories (that Alpenfest) brings back are what is so special," Glasby continued. "With my kids walking around the 'strasse is important."
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/07/13/crowds-converge-on-downtown-gaylord-for-58th-alpenfest/70405614007/ | 2023-07-13T14:30:37 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/07/13/crowds-converge-on-downtown-gaylord-for-58th-alpenfest/70405614007/ |
A storm was coming last summer when Nicole and Jack Thompson passed by pickleball players on a tennis court. They heard the players regretting that they’d have to stop playing because of the imminent rain.
After many late night talks and spreadsheets, Bangers & Dinks, an indoor pickleball space at 1516 Koger Center Blvd. , was created.
“I could not get the idea out of my head,” Nicole Thompson said.
The new business opened on July 1. A “banger” is when a player likes to play with power, comparable to spiking in volleyball, Nicole Thompson said. A “dink” is when a player goes for a softer and more controlled ball.
Pickleball is on the rise both locally and nationally. The sport was originally invented in 1965 by Washington state vacationers, including a former U.S Congressman. It took off during the pandemic, when it provided people who had been cooped up inside with a chance to get outside with minimal equipment.
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Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America for the past three years. There are currently 36.5 million pickleball players estimated in the United States according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals in 2022. Additionally, pickleball participation has grown an average of 158.6% over the last 3 years according to the SFIA. Players 18-34 make up the largest percentage of pickleball players at 28.8% nationwide.
Performance Pickleball RVA is bringing 12 indoor courts to he Regency site in Henrico County, with an estimated opening date this December.
Pickleball is played in singles or doubles, on a court that looks like a shrunken tennis court. Play with hard paddles and brightly colored, perforated plastic balls is fast but involves less running than tennis.
The courts are open play, which is a differentiator to other indoor courts.
“Here we decided to go a completely different direction, where we’re bringing the outside courts in,” Thompson said, adding that usually indoor courts require reservations, while public tennis courts take the open-play approach.
The space offers eight courts, permanent fencing, pro-cushion flooring to minimize impact, and food and drinks. It’s open every weekday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the bigger influx of patrons in the mornings and evenings.
There are daily passes for $12, and monthly memberships varying in price. The couple offered a “founder’s membership” with discounted rates for community members that supported the business and signed up before it even opened.
“I feel very fortunate,” Thompson said. “I feel very optimistic, and not just optimistic about the success of the business, but I also feel optimistic about the community that’s developing here.”
Nicole and Jack hope to instill “competitive comradery” in a place where there’s laughter and powerful energy. Nicole said pickleball is easy to learn, difficult to master, but has yet to find a group that didn’t leave without laughing and having fun.
“I laugh every time I play, doesn’t matter if I’m winning or losing,” Thompson said, adding that that is the vibe she wants for the place.
Nicole started playing approximately a year and a half ago, and Jack a bit before that.
Nicole and Jack had an uncommon meet-cute. Both are from Richmond, the same age, born in the same hospital, and moved to Northern Virginia for college. In 2001, they met at the same sports bar.
Now, they have three kids and run Bangers & Dinks together; Jack handles more of the business’s financial side, while Nicole has a knack with marketing. This isn’t their first business venture — she used to own a small business, and he runs a construction company.
Bangers & Dinks offers lessons ranging from beginner to advanced levels. For pickleball, there are one to seven levels, each counting in 0.5 increments, said Chrishawn Spackman, head of coaching and clinics at Bangers & Dinks.
Spackman brought in 14 coaches and worked with them to develop clinics, or lessons in pickleball. Each clinic has a one coach to four players ratio, and during the first week open, they were offering 40 clinics — like beginner’s three times per week for flexibility.
Spackman offered three main tips for people curious about starting pickleball:
Get curious about the game and research. There is plenty of information online about what it consists of. It may be overwhelming, but get acclimated with it.
Take a look at clinics. It’s a good idea to watch other people play it, but learning the correct movement right away is the best way to start. It’s important to avoid creating bad habits at the beginning, as the game is all about muscle memory.
Expect mistakes and learn from them.
“The reason I think people love pickleball is that everybody can do it. And everybody can do it well enough,” Spackman said. “Whatever it looks like.”
Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves (804) 649-6123
gdecamargogoncalves@timesdispatch.com
@decamgabriela on Twitter
With additional reporting by the Associated Press. | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/bangers-dinks-offers-open-play-indoor-pickleball/article_623b43ee-20f2-11ee-9004-ef759f3c6917.html | 2023-07-13T14:45:03 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/bangers-dinks-offers-open-play-indoor-pickleball/article_623b43ee-20f2-11ee-9004-ef759f3c6917.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Clackamas County deputies are at a scene near Damascus, where officials say it appears there has been a murder-suicide.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation is underway near Southeast Delia Street.
Information is currently very limited but authorities ask people to avoid the area while the investigation is underway.
Stay with KOIN 6 News for more on this developing story. | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/damascus-two-dead-investigation-07122023/ | 2023-07-13T14:55:25 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/damascus-two-dead-investigation-07122023/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Fentanyl exposure at a senior care facility in McMinnville caused police to initiate a “mass casualty incident” that potentially affected 20 people, authorities said.
The incident caused Northwest Senior and Disability Services, located at 300 SW Hill Road, to be evacuated.
Officers arrived at the scene around 2:40 p.m. after an employee alerted police that a man had been discovered smoking what was believed to be fentanyl inside the building earlier in the afternoon.
When confronted during the 911 call, the man refused to identify what he had been smoking and walked away from the building, according to police. Twenty occupants were inside at the time.
The McMinnville fire and police departments assisted with the evacuation, and 11 people were evaluated for their symptoms. Officials say one was taken to the Willamette Valley Medical Center for evaluation.
The suspect has yet to be located, and the investigation is ongoing.
Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops. | https://www.koin.com/local/possible-fentanyl-exposure-affects-20-in-mcminnville-senior-home/ | 2023-07-13T14:55:31 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/possible-fentanyl-exposure-affects-20-in-mcminnville-senior-home/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Residents in the Deltona area can pick up food items at no cost Friday morning.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Farm Share, a nonprofit that aims to help food-insecure residents in Florida, will hold a food giveaway.
Organizers said the distribution event will be hosted in conjunction with Nitty Gritty True Talk Ministries, Inc.
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The July 14 event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will be held at:
- 1049 East Normandy Boulevard, Deltona, FL 32725
See the map below for event location:
Farm Share said it helps to fight hunger “by working hand-in-hand with local farmers to recover and redistribute produce that would otherwise be thrown away due to aesthetic imperfections.”
The organization will also hold a free food distribution event in Mount Dora on Saturday, July 15, in conjunction with Bethel Independent Free Methodist Church.
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That giveaway also starts at 10 a.m. and will be held at the church, located at:
- 303 East Jackson Avenue, Mt. Dora, FL 32757
See the map below for event location:
Food availability at both giveaways will be on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.
The distribution events will be drive-thru style to minimize contact and to help ensure the safety of everyone who participates, organizers said.
READ: Orange County Public Schools hosting job fairs to hire ‘school lunch heroes’
Attendees should arrive in a vehicle with a trunk or cargo bed.
Farm Share also distributes food to communities throughout Florida, free of charge, through soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, churches, and senior centers.
To find a food pantry near you, click here.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/farm-share-holding-2-food-giveaways-this-weekend-central-florida/UOGDWQNMZJAPVCGXLV4SWXUEBI/ | 2023-07-13T15:07:49 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/farm-share-holding-2-food-giveaways-this-weekend-central-florida/UOGDWQNMZJAPVCGXLV4SWXUEBI/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools is putting out a call for its next “school lunch heroes.”
The district’s Food and Nutrition Services team is looking to beef up its staffing before the next school year.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
To do so, the department is hosting three job fairs this month with interviews provided on the spot:
- July 17 - Wolf Lake Elementary School - 1771 W. Ponkan Rd, Apopka
- July 18 - Olympia High School - 4301 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando
- July 19 - Azalea Park Elementary School - 1 Carol Avenue, Orlando
Read: Orange County Public Schools to examine solutions to student behavior issues
The district said benefits include competitive pay; no nights, weekends or holidays; retirement packages through the Florida Retirement System; and paid employee health insurance.
You can learn more about apply ahead of time here.
Read: Orange County Public Schools addresses concerns over possible gang violence
WE NEED SCHOOL LUNCH HEROES! @OCPS_FNS is holding three job fairs this month. Benefits include competitive pay, no nights, weekends or holidays, retirement packages through the Florida Retirement System, paid employee health insurance, and MORE! Apply at: https://t.co/UmJF373mlX pic.twitter.com/Cn6Odps1bJ
— ocpsnews (@OCPSnews) July 12, 2023
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county-public-schools-hosting-job-fairs-hire-school-lunch-heroes/7MZY3XLNKRDHLA5MCGC7B6PFFI/ | 2023-07-13T15:07:50 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county-public-schools-hosting-job-fairs-hire-school-lunch-heroes/7MZY3XLNKRDHLA5MCGC7B6PFFI/ |
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — SpaceX crews are preparing for its next launch from Florida’s Space Coast.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
SpaceX said it is targeting 12:40 a.m. on Friday for a Falcon 9 rocket launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The rocket will be used to send another 54 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The first stage booster will return to Earth and attempt to land on SpaceX’s drone ship off the Brevard County coast.
If the rocket cannot launch Friday, there is a backup opportunity early Saturday morning.
Watch: SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Channel 9 will monitor the planned launch and will provide updates on Eyewitness News This Morning.
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/spacex-set-falcon-9-rocket-launch-friday-floridas-space-coast/JX5D6MKNEBBOZJVBKRE364GJ4M/ | 2023-07-13T15:07:58 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/spacex-set-falcon-9-rocket-launch-friday-floridas-space-coast/JX5D6MKNEBBOZJVBKRE364GJ4M/ |
These 5 Hattiesburg restaurants have something special you may not know. Find out what
Hattiesburg has the most locally-owned restaurants per capita in Mississippi, according to the city's tourism organization, VisitHattiesburg, so there are plenty of options when considering a dining experience.
Here's a look at five places to eat (or drink) in the Hub City that recently opened, closed or have other news to share.
Thirsty Hippo
Fans of the Thirsty Hippo were heartbroken earlier this year when the live music venue and restaurant announced it was closing its doors for good. The Hippo had a good long run, first on Main Street and later at 309 McLeod St.
It wasn't just "a" place to listen to live music. It was "the" place. Owner Brad Newton was well-connected with the traveling band circuit and brought in some of the best nationwide acts to play at the eclectic concert hall in downtown Hattiesburg.
While the Hippo itself won't be coming back, a couple of Hattiesburg entrepreneurs have secured the building and will be launching something new. What it is, we have yet to find out, but we are looking forward to learning more when the time is right.
Grin Coffee
Grin Coffee isn't new to Hattiesburg, but the coffee roaster and tasting room closed at the end of May to move across the street to a much larger location at 415 Broadway Drive, which opened at the beginning of July.
Gone is the drive-thru window, but the spacious and well-decorated coffee shop is worth the trip inside.
Pull up a chair and visit with friends while sipping on a latte and sharing a fresh-baked cookie or muffin or bring a laptop to work on homework while sampling the roast of the day.
Guests can view the roasting room through glass windows and know they are getting the freshest coffee in town.
Remember, Grin's motto is "Cultivate Happy." Relaxing with some hot or cold joe at Grin can do that.
Monday nights at Equinox Coffee
Equinox Coffee isn't new to Hattiesburg either, but the coffee shop now serves food on Monday nights at the 1901 Hardy St. location.
Sample freshly made small-plate dishes while sipping on crafty beer or wine cocktails and enjoy live music by local artists.
If beer or wine isn't your thing, you can still get a cup of your favorite coffee or tea and a homemade muffin.
If you're looking for Equinox at Southern Miss, the Wesley Center location will reopen at the beginning of the fall semester.
Gold Post Sandwich House
Gold Post fans may have gotten a big shock last week when they saw an announcement on Facebook that the restaurant was closing.
Don't panic. The restaurant that dishes up po' boys, burgers, gumbo and a number of other fan favorites isn't gone for good. The 51-year-old eatery at 2210 Hardy St. is undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen with a new look on July 24.
Check the restaurant's Facebook page, facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063672368181, for updates.
Reunion Cafe
We are all curious to find out what the Reunion Cafe will look like when it opens at 302 Broadway Drive along with the new Fairview Pharmacy location.
Fairview Pharmacy and Compounding is currently on Katie Avenue.
Owner Dr. Mike Acheampong said the new location isn't quite ready, but we'll let you know when he gives us the green light.
Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge. | https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/something-new-at-5-hattiesburg-restaurants/70400538007/ | 2023-07-13T15:16:03 | 0 | https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/something-new-at-5-hattiesburg-restaurants/70400538007/ |
Las Cruces man charged with 39 counts of sexual assault agasint a child takes plea
This article discusses sexual assault against children. If you or someone you know experiences sexual violence, you can find local support via La Piñon's 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 575-526-3437 or go to www.lapinon.org.
A Las Cruces man charged with 39 counts of child sexual assault crimes will face a judge for sentencing this week.
Christian Silva, 40, pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor after police said he sexually assaulted a teen family member in 2021. Silva was initially charged with 39 sexual assault crimes. However, a grand jury indicted him on eight crimes shortly after his arrest.
According to court records, Silva agreed to plead guilty to the three counts of criminal sexual contact in exchange for prosecutors dropping the more serious charges of criminal sexual penetration.
In an affidavit, police accused Silva of molesting and raping the teen family member dozens of times between June 2021 and September 2021. The teen family member came forward with the allegations to a school official, who informed police.
Court records show prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than three years in prison – the maximum sentence for three charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. Silva would also be forced to register as a sex offender for his entire life.
Justin Garcia covers public safety and local government in Las Cruces. He can be reached via email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com, via phone or text at 575-541-5449, or on Twitter @Just516Garc. | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/courts/2023/07/12/las-cruces-man-charged-with-39-counts-of-sexual-assault-takes-plea/70404156007/ | 2023-07-13T15:16:03 | 0 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/courts/2023/07/12/las-cruces-man-charged-with-39-counts-of-sexual-assault-takes-plea/70404156007/ |
Las Cruces teen crowned Miss New Mexico 2023, strives to be 'pillar of inclusivity'
From Miss Las Cruces to Miss New Mexico, Lianna Hartshorn is preparing to represent the state on the national pageant stage.
Hartshorn, 19, was born and raised in Las Cruces. She started getting involved in pageants when she was 14 and the experiences have only benefited her on her journey of becoming a doctor.
Hartshorn first got involved in the Miss USA organization at the state level. While she said she enjoyed the experience, she did not place very high in the competitions. Her pageant coach suggested she enter the Miss America pageants instead.
“First and foremost, (Miss America) empowers women and gives them scholarships so that way they're able to achieve higher levels of education. So that's why I initially got into it because, you know, wanting to be a doctor, I'm going to have a lot of student debt ahead of me,” Hartshorn said. “It's a great way to just get some scholarship money.”
Hartshorn was named Miss Las Cruces last year and competed in the Miss New Mexico Outstanding Teen competition. She was named first runner up.
This year, Hartshorn competed in the statewide competition for Miss New Mexico and was crowned the winner on June 10. She made history being the first Jewish Miss New Mexico and will be one of the youngest women competing for Miss America.
Surgical aspirations in southern New Mexico
Hartshorn explained that the organization also asks that all participants have a community service initiative that gets them involved with the larger community they reside in. She tied her medical interests into her initiative, called How To Start A Healthy Heart.
She went to schools as Miss Las Cruces and taught children of all ages about heart health, CPR, the negatives of vaping and how to take steps to protect themselves from heart disease. She also worked with Thomas Branigan Memorial Library to expand literacy within the community.
Hartshorn’s mother is a nurse and said hearing about how she has helped people inspired her to take the medical route as well.
“I grew up hearing stories about how she helped save lives and everything else and I just thought it was so cool that we were able to use science to be able to do that,” Hartshorn said.
She graduated from Arrowhead Park Medical Academy in the summer of 2022 and has since completed her first year at New Mexico State University, studying biology and chemistry.
She added that she specifically is interested in pursuing pediatric surgery and loves working with kids.
Hartshorn’s family runs Freedom Church in Las Cruces – a small Jewish Christian church – where she runs the nursery and occasionally teaches Sunday school.
“As corny as it may sound, I'm a firm believer that our children today are really our future so there needs to be a cultivating group that has their best interest in mind because they're going to be, you know, running the world one day,” Hartshorn said. “If we're not here to support them and teach them, then no one else will.”
Representing New Mexico on the national level
Part of being Miss New Mexico includes competing at the national level for Miss America. The competition will be in January 2024, but specific dates have not been announced.
In the meantime, Hartshorn has a lot of plans for her year at Miss New Mexico. She said she intends to continue with her How To Start A Healthy Heart initiative throughout the state, as well as supporting the Miss Initiative. This involves encouraging more young women in the state to participate in the Miss America competitions and gaining more sponsorships so there are more scholarships available to award.
“I want to be just a pillar of inclusivity on behalf of the organization and show girls it doesn't matter what your sexual orientation may be, what your ethnicity or your culture or religion. There's always a place for you and there's always room for you to go out and do more,” Hartshorn said.
She already has several events lined up and has set the goal of visiting all 33 New Mexico counties during her year.
Hartshorn added she wants to work with other girls interested in competing in the Miss America organization in New Mexico, to answer questions they may have on the competition and how it works.
“It’s really cool to be able to incorporate not just glitz and glam and everything else but to be able to show women around New Mexico that it's not about that. It's also that we're able to make an impact within our society,” she said. “Everybody has individual talents that God has given us and so being able to show kids and women that I'm more than just, you know, a pretty face but I have a brain behind me and I have a story behind me and I have a future ahead of me.”
Those interested in competing, becoming a Miss America sponsor or who would like to invite Hartshorn to an event can contact her by email at missnewmexico@yahoo.com, online at www.missnewmexico.org or on Instagram @missamericanm.
Others are reading:
- Over 60 participants join in annual Turtle Derby in Tortugas
- Las Cruces dual language charter school hopes to grow enrollment
- New Mexico approves 'Two Strikes' rule for upcoming high school athletic seasons
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter. | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2023/07/12/pillar-of-inclusivity-las-cruces-teen-crowned-miss-new-mexico-2023-america-pageant-lianna-hartshorn/70350284007/ | 2023-07-13T15:16:09 | 0 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2023/07/12/pillar-of-inclusivity-las-cruces-teen-crowned-miss-new-mexico-2023-america-pageant-lianna-hartshorn/70350284007/ |
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News from around the state of Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-house-set-to-vote-on-historic-property-tax-bill/3295121/ | 2023-07-13T15:16:43 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-house-set-to-vote-on-historic-property-tax-bill/3295121/ |
Protecting public health or 'pushing people around'?: Peoria pauses tobacco licenses
A 90-day moratorium on the issuance of new tobacco licenses in Peoria was approved by the City Council on Tuesday but not without some caveats and concerns from some on the council.
The moratorium is designed to give city staff time to come up with new regulations for the issuance of tobacco licenses in Peoria after some city council members raised concerns over the number of vape shops "expanding like wildfire" in the city.
Businesses that already have a standing application for a tobacco license — of which there are four — will be grandfathered into the new system and will not be impacted by the moratorium.
Still, some on the council worried 90 days was too long to have a moratorium and that the council was overstepping its authority in passing it.
Councilmember John Kelly took issue with wording of the moratorium, which says there is a "surplus" of vape shops in Peoria, arguing if there was indeed a surplus, the market would naturally weed some of them out of business.
"We don't like the number that we have, there's not a surplus," Kelly said. "Secondly, I am worried about just pushing people around because we can push them around."
Kelly said he thinks the moratorium goes "overboard" and said if there really is an issue with vape shops selling to minors, rather than restricting licenses, the council should seek to increase the penalties on offenders.
More:'Lives are on the line': Violence prevention funding creates tension for Peoria leaders
"As far as someone opening a business in Peoria that other people don't like... I have a problem with that idea, that concept" Kelly said. "There are businesses I don't like and I am not going to sit here and try to outlaw them, even for 90 days."
Kelly was the lone councilmember to vote against the moratorium.
But Mayor Rita Ali and councilmember Mike Vespa worried about the length of the moratorium and said they hoped to see a resolution from city staff before the 90-day period ends.
"My understanding is the 90 days is a maximum with no intention to extend, and hopefully the recommendations can come back earlier than that time, maybe even within 60 days, possibly," Ali said.
Vespa wanted to see not just a quick resolution but also a more specific focus for the city staff's efforts to change tobacco licensing.
"I would like a quick turnaround, and I do think it probably should be narrowly tailored to places that would get more than 50% of their revenue from tobacco sources as opposed to something like grocery stores or CVS," Vespa said. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/peoria-passes-tobacco-license-moratorium-for-businesses/70405893007/ | 2023-07-13T15:20:38 | 1 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/peoria-passes-tobacco-license-moratorium-for-businesses/70405893007/ |
The baby boom at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is still going strong.
The zoo announced Kai, a male California sea lion pup, was born on June 16. He and his mom Kelilah are said to be doing well.
He is the fifth species to be born at the zoo this year. He joins two Western lowland gorillas, twin Amur leopard cubs, three nyala calves and several pot-bellied seahorses as the newest animals to call the zoo home.
A zoo spokesperson said staff picked Kai’s name, which means “sea” in the Hawaiian language and includes letters from his mom’s name.
“The Pittsburgh Zoo’s Animal Care team was with Kelilah throughout her journey, and we are happy to say the end result is a happy and healthy sea lion pup,” said Henry Kacprzyk, curator of Reptiles and Kids Kingdom, said in a statement.
Zoogoers can see Kai at the Zoo’s Kids Kingdom sea lion habitat.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/california-sea-lion-announced-latest-edition-pittsburgh-zoo-baby-boom/3WAI5WCOINGIVPXLLLMZEB2IJQ/ | 2023-07-13T15:20:52 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/california-sea-lion-announced-latest-edition-pittsburgh-zoo-baby-boom/3WAI5WCOINGIVPXLLLMZEB2IJQ/ |
If you must drive near an Arizona wildfire, follow these safety tips
Wildfires often close highways and freeways in Arizona, as firefighters work to gain control and eventually put out the fire.
Take a road trip in the summer, and you're likely to drive near a brushfire or a wildfire sooner or later, especially in more rural or wooded areas of the state. We asked public officials for the best etiquette for drivers who find themselves on the road near a wildfire.
Driving in a wildfire should be avoided at all costs and only as a last resort. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire recommends always calling 911 and not trying to put out fires themselves, as it can be extremely dangerous.
How do I drive near a wildfire?
For overall vehicle etiquette, the Pima County Sheriff's Office advises those on the road to keep the following in mind:
- Do not linger to take photo or videos and put yourself or others in a dangerous situation.
- The wind can change suddenly and often (prepare for road closures to move).
- Visibility will change rapidly with wind and fire intensity.
- Drive with your headlights on.
- Keep a safe following distance at all times.
- Drive with windows up.
- Avoid the area and situation if at all possible.
Arizona wildfire resources:Your guide to preparing your home and family for fires
DriversEd.com, an online drivers' education provider offering licensed courses in more than 30 states, heavily echoes the sentiment of avoiding the area at all costs.
However, if you must trek forward, the site recommends these guidelines:
- Make sure to keep your gas tank full to avoid running out of fuel when escaping.
- Put your AC on the recirculate setting and close all vents.
- Wrap exposed skin in dry fabric to keep radiant heat off of you.
What if I have to take shelter in my car from a fast-moving fire?
Taking shelter inside your vehicle is a method to outlast the fire if moving through it becomes impossible. For that, you'll want to make sure you put yourself in a prime position to wait out the blaze.
- Park away from debris or vegetation, such as a clearing or parking lot.
- Leave the engine on and lie down on the floor.
- Cover yourself in a wool blanket or jacket.
- Call 911 if you haven't already.
How to make sure your car doesn't start a wildfire
Dropped cigarettes, trucks dragging chains and other things can happen that spark a wildfire as you drive. Being thoughtful with your vehicle is critical in preventing wildfires as well, as the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds motorists to:
- Never park in tall dry grass or brush.
- Check secure tow chains and never substitute parts when towing.
- Check tire pressure before traveling (exposed rims can cause sparks).
- Do not toss lit cigarettes out of the window. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/13/driving-wildfire-season-evacuations/70404159007/ | 2023-07-13T15:22:06 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/13/driving-wildfire-season-evacuations/70404159007/ |
How do I keep my pets safe during a wildfire? Everything you need to know
As Arizona’s wildfire season comes into full swing, animal rescue professionals are urging pet owners to prepare not only themselves but their pets as well, should they need to evacuate their homes.
Tracey Miiller, field director for the Arizona Humane Society, told The Arizona Republic plans can often fall apart if they’re made at the last minute, and having a strategy for multiple scenarios is key to ensuring things go smoothly.
It's worth doing the same things for your pets that you'd do for other members of your family, such as creating a go-bag and an evacuation plan and practicing that plan a few times so everyone knows what to do.
Full guide:What to know and how to prepare for Arizona wildfires
How can I keep my pet from getting lost during a wildfire?
Miiller said not only should pet owners have an evacuation plan for when the owner and pet are together and one should the owner be away from the home when the evacuation commences.
“Find a neighbor that you trust or a friend or family member that can go to the house and take the animal out,” Miiller said. “Because most of the time you're not going to be able to be allowed back into that neighborhood to get your belongings or your animals or things like that, if it's already being evacuated.”
Miiller also stressed the need for a go-bag for one’s pet. Items you should have include bowls, two-weeks worth of food and water, leashes, harnesses, blankets, toys and a litter box and litter for cats.
Miiller also recommends keeping a copy of their pet’s vaccination records, the name and number of the pet’s veterinarian and written information about the pet’s feeding schedule in case one has to board their pets.
She also advised owners to practice evacuations with their pets.
“This may sound ridiculous, but the first time you put your cat or your dog or, let’s say your parakeet, in a travel container or crate should not be in the time of an emergency,” Miiller said. “The should be comfortable going into a travel crate or travel kennel in your vehicle.”
Miiller said she’s heard stories of people trying to corner and catch their cat to put it in a carrier only to have it bolt and escape, or dog owners not noticing their dog had dug a hole underneath their backyard fence.
What do I do if I’ve lost my pet?
Miiller said folks should ensure their pet is microchipped and the information within it is up-to-date. She also recommended ensuring the pets had ID tags with the owner’s contact information.
“If the animal gets out, there’s still going to be first responders that are going to be in the vicinity. There’s still going to be other neighbors or citizens that are also evacuated and they may come across your pet and hang on to it and be able to rescue it — but then they don’t know who to return it to.”
A microchip or ID tag can expedite that reunification.
Miiller said owners of a lost pet can also use social media to post pictures of their pet along with when and where they were last seen. She added that the Arizona Humane Society has a lost and found pet Facebook page for that very purpose.
She warned that animal rescue organizations would likely be overwhelmed with calls about missing pets, but they should be able to take the owner’s information and see if they have any animals matching their pet’s description.
Where can my pet stay and can I stay with them?
Miiller said many hotels have adopted more pet-friendly policies since COVID-19 and would typically allow pets to stay with their owners in areas with evacuation orders, though she noted that hotel rooms often fill up quickly during such events.
Miiller noted that, for those taking shelter at a Red Cross, the nonprofit only allows service animals to say with their owners. That said, the Arizona Humane Society often sets up an emergency pet shelter in conjunction with the Red Cross, meaning the two shelters are in separate parts of the same building and allow opportunities for the owners to visit.
She added that at shelters, pets get three walks and two meals per day as well as access to a vet who can administer medications and vaccinations.
“We are literally a fully functioning local shelter when we’re there,” Miiller said.
Miiller added that the Arizona Humane Society will also board pets for those not staying at a Red Cross shelter.
The Humane Society accepts just about any type of pet whether it a dog, cat, rabbit, snake or small bird, she said. The only animals it won’t take in are livestock, which Miiller said are often housed at local fairgrounds by different organizations.
Miiller said the Arizona Humane Society prefers monetary donations to donated items, like beds or blankets, as there won’t be an efficient way available to clean them. The additional funds help the nonprofit keep items they need stocked. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/13/how-keep-pets-safe-during-wildfire/70271672007/ | 2023-07-13T15:22:12 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/13/how-keep-pets-safe-during-wildfire/70271672007/ |
What Arizona roads are closed due to wildfires? How to check
Wildfire season in Arizona can be unpredictable, so it's important for travelers to know what to do if they happen upon one and how to avoid closed roads.
Roads may be closed for several miles and for several days as firefighters and others work to suppress a fire. A handful of solid resources exist when needing to pinpoint a fire and track down how it may affect your travel plans.
Here are a few sites and accounts to check before you hit the road:
InciWeb
InciWeb is a great resource when needing to see what fires have started and are spreading. It tracks fires across the United States. The site allows you to search incidents, down to the state, and provides users with a map of the area as well as incident information, agency contacts and overall containment for each fire.
To access InciWeb, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov.
Arizona wildfire resources:Your guide to wildfire season and how to prepare your home and family
U.S. Forest Service Safety Map
Similar to InciWeb, the U.S. Forest Service provides up-to-date information pertaining to forest orders, fire restrictions and active fires reported in Arizona and across the country.
Additionally, users can see alerts and updates for several national forests in Arizona, as well as effective regional restrictions and orders.
AZ511
AZ511.gov works as a tool to get up-to-date roadway information on what is happening across the Grand Canyon State. Road closures, weather alerts and message boards are constantly updated to let motorists know what to expect on their way out.
To plan out a trip ahead of time, visit az511.gov.
Your local sheriff's office
Often during wildfires, your local Sheriff's Office will provide updates, likely via their website or social media. These updates will normally include the location of the fire, potential roadways impacted, and — in worst case scenarios — evacuation orders.
A comprehensive list of information for all Arizona sheriff's offices can be found on the Arizona Sheriff's Association website.
Social media
Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook can serve as reliable sites to receive updates from local law enforcement or agencies on potential fires brewing in the area.
Some institutions that provide valuable fire information on social media during Arizona wildfire season are: | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/13/what-arizona-roads-are-closed-wildfires/70150740007/ | 2023-07-13T15:22:18 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-wildfires/2023/07/13/what-arizona-roads-are-closed-wildfires/70150740007/ |
Newborn baby returned to hospital after mother took him; Amber Alert deactivated
A newborn baby was returned to a Phoenix hospital after police say his mom took him and left the facility on Wednesday morning, despite the child having medical conditions that required immediate treatment.
An Amber Alert was issued just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday after the woman, identified as Rosa Santana, was seen leaving Valleywise Health Medical Center near 24th and Roosevelt streets at about 11:45 a.m. with her newborn son in a black duffel, police said.
The alert was deactivated a few hours later after the baby boy was returned to the hospital and was receiving the medical help he needed, according to police.
Santana was in police custody and the incident was under investigation.
Republic reporter Perry Vandell contributed to this article. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2023/07/13/newborn-baby-returned-to-hospital-amber-alert/70409437007/ | 2023-07-13T15:22:24 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2023/07/13/newborn-baby-returned-to-hospital-amber-alert/70409437007/ |
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The Lineup | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/the-lineup/underrated-local-communities-to-visit-the-lineup/3603457/ | 2023-07-13T15:24:53 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/the-lineup/underrated-local-communities-to-visit-the-lineup/3603457/ |
This weekend’s Powerball drawing will either be one for the ages or the next step to an even greater payoff.
The jackpot for the thrice-weekly draw soared to an estimated $875 million ahead of Saturday’s drawing, with a lump sum payout of $441.9 million before taxes, because no ticket matched all five white balls and the red Powerball to win Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot, according to the Powerball website.
It is the third largest Powerball jackpot ever.
Powerball drawings are held each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in 45 states. The Ohio Lottery says Powerball ticket sales close at 10 p.m. on the day of each drawing.
The Powerball jackpot was last hit in the April 19 drawing, when a ticket in northeast Ohio won a grand prize worth $252.6 million, according to the Powerball site. Since then, there hasn’t been a jackpot winner in the past 36 consecutive drawings.
Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot is at $560 million for Friday’s drawing, with a cash option before taxes of $281.1 million, according to the Mega Millions website. It is the seventh largest Mega Millions ever.
Drawings are conducted at 11 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tickets are sold in 45 states.
The last jackpot was won on April 18.
To see where you can buy tickets from lottery retailers in Ohio, click here.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/with-no-powerball-winner-wednesday-jackpot-surges-to-third-largest-ever/NSGI5ULFARF3REK23UFKJJ4QRE/ | 2023-07-13T15:25:52 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/with-no-powerball-winner-wednesday-jackpot-surges-to-third-largest-ever/NSGI5ULFARF3REK23UFKJJ4QRE/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – American Airlines has announced seasonal nonstop service to Miami International Airport beginning Saturday, Nov. 11. The service will operate on Saturdays only through March 30, 2024. The flights will be operated by a 76-seat Embraer-175 aircraft.
- Depart ICT at 6:45 a.m.; arrive MIA at 11:20 a.m. (local times)
- Depart MIA at 7:30 p.m.; arrive ICT at 10:30 p.m. (local times)
American’s Miami hub currently serves 133 destinations and offers connections to the Caribbean, South America and Europe.
“American Airlines is excited to offer new nonstop service between Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Miami International Airport starting this November,” said Philippe Puech, American Airlines Director of Short-Haul Network Planning. “As our fourth nonstop destination from ICT, American is thrilled to offer local residents the most convenient access to all that Miami has to offer and one-stop access to the largest network of destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
“We’re excited to add this attractive destination to our route map for the winter, and very grateful to American Airlines for expanding service in Wichita,” said Jesse R. Romo, Director of Airports.
Flights may be booked at aa.com beginning Saturday, July 15. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/american-airlines-announces-nonstop-flight-to-miami-from-wichita/ | 2023-07-13T15:27:28 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/american-airlines-announces-nonstop-flight-to-miami-from-wichita/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said two deputies helped save a man from a submerged vehicle. It happened on Tuesday evening.
The sheriff’s office said Deputy Harris observed a vehicle parked on the I-235 exit ramp from I-135 with people standing outside when he observed a van submerged upside-down in the west KDOT Lake.
Deputy Harris responded to the submersion and was told there was a person trapped inside. He entered the water with a citizen and broke out several of the windows in the vehicle to locate the victim. Deputy Kingery arrived on the scene and assisted Deputy Harris, and the citizen extract the victim from the vehicle.
The victim was unresponsive, and the deputies administered life-saving measures until EMS and Fire arrived and took over.
EMS transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition. Deputy Harris was treated at a local hospital for injuries he received during the rescue. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/sedgwick-county-sheriffs-office-deputies-save-man-in-submerged-vehicle/ | 2023-07-13T15:27:35 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/sedgwick-county-sheriffs-office-deputies-save-man-in-submerged-vehicle/ |
SALEM, Va. – Upcoming bridge repairs in the work zone on northbound Interstate 81 are expected to create significant delays for drivers, according to VDOT.
We’re told the work is tentatively scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 16, at 6 p.m., and is weather dependent.
VDOT spokesman, Jason Bond said two bridges are in need of repairs after being hit by tractor-trailers, causing damage.
“Our crews will be removing the damaged concrete, replacing some of the reinforcing steel, and pouring new concrete,” said Bond.
When work begins, a right lane closure will be in place at mile marker 137 on the bridge over Route 635 (Goodwin Avenue) and the bridge over Route 619 (Academy Street), crews said.
The construction will significantly impact drivers traveling from the New River Valley to the Roanoke Valley.
“With the traffic that travels on a daily basis, we are expecting congestion, delays, and backups so certainly folks really need to take this seriously and pay attention and really consider using the alternate route to consider avoiding that congestion on Interstate 81,” said Bond.
Alternative routes are as follows, according to VDOT:
- Drivers between Christiansburg and Roanoke - Route 11/460
- Drivers on northbound I-81 at Wytheville going north of Roanoke - Interstate 77 north to Interstate 64 east
City of Salem’s Communications Director, Mike Stevens told 10 News the city will be adjusting traffic light intervals on Main Street and Fourth Street to help ease traffic traveling through Salem due to the repairs.
The lane closure will remain in place around the clock until work is completed. VDOT expects the lane to reopen prior to the afternoon commute on Tuesday, July 18.
You can read more about the closure and repairs here. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/12/construction-on-i-81-nb-near-salem-to-impact-traffic/ | 2023-07-13T15:31:30 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/12/construction-on-i-81-nb-near-salem-to-impact-traffic/ |
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – UPDATE
At the Montgomery County Planning Commission meeting Wednesday night, the motion to approve the request with conditions failed on a 2-4 vote, according to county leaders.
We’re told there will be a second public hearing for the request for a special use permit. That request will likely be placed on the August 14 meeting agenda, leaders say.
ORIGINAL STORY
Residents in Christiansburg are raising concerns over a proposed construction landfill.
The proposal is being discussed at Wednesday’s planning commission meeting.
If passed, it would allow for an estimated 8 to 40 dump truck loads per day over a three to ten-year period.
Residents say they are worried the road is too narrow for commercial vehicles like dump trucks.
“Dump trucks aren’t known for the maneuverability or for their braking distance especially when you have dead angles, especially when they’re loaded to capacity,” Resident Derek Mueller said.
“We really need an answer to where, how do you maneuver this?” Mueller said. “Are you to back up a tenth of a mile to make space?”
Officials from Roanoke-based company E.C. Pace tell us however, the site is already commercial use and that neighbors should not be concerned.
“Mr. Tannehill himself has large wreckers that he uses to clean up 81 when bad wrecks happen that are actually larger than the actual dump trucks that would be coming back and forth,” Mark Pace, the president and owner of E.C. Pace said.
“We just find it a win, win, win if we can take the material out of the ground, enhance Mr. Tannehill’s property so that he can build a barn, and save the taxpayer’s dollars from the shorter haul,” he said. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/12/proposed-landfill-in-christiansburg-draws-mixed-reactions/ | 2023-07-13T15:31:36 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/12/proposed-landfill-in-christiansburg-draws-mixed-reactions/ |
You could walk away with millions if you hit the Powerball jackpot.
The Powerball jackpot is up to $750 million, with an estimated cash value of $378.8 million, according to Powerball.
The Powerball drawing happened on Wednesday night at 11 p.m., and your odds of winning were bout 1 in 292,201,338, according to the Virginia Lottery.
Now, check your tickets! These were the winning numbers for July 12, 2023, with a multiplier of 3: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/are-you-feeling-lucky-see-the-winning-powerball-numbers-for-july-12-2023/ | 2023-07-13T15:31:42 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/are-you-feeling-lucky-see-the-winning-powerball-numbers-for-july-12-2023/ |
The Bedford General District Court has dropped a charge against a Bedford teen who was accused of making a threat toward Liberty High School.
Bryce Wilson Snead, 18, is one of two students who was arrested and charged with the incident that prompted a lockdown at the school back in May; the second wasn’t identified due to the fact that authorities aren’t allowed to reference a juvenile and their charges.
Snead was initially charged with threatening a school, a Class 5 felony; however, the Commonwealth’s Attorney has decided not to pursue the felony charge.
We’ve reached out to authorities to learn the reasoning behind the decision and will update this article as we learn more. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/charge-dismissed-against-bedford-teen-accused-of-making-threat-toward-liberty-high-school/ | 2023-07-13T15:31:48 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/charge-dismissed-against-bedford-teen-accused-of-making-threat-toward-liberty-high-school/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Happy Thursday! Grab your morning coffee and check out the Morning Sprint to find out what’s trending.
The digital-only newscast is filled with laughter, smiles and stories you won’t want to miss. You can catch it Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.
Don’t be shy! Be sure to join the conversation as we chat about the news of the day.
Here are some of the stories we discussed:
- The shocking reason an Ohio plastic surgeon had her medical license permanently revoked
- What the winning Powerball numbers were and the new grand prize estimate
- How you can get Krispy Kreme donuts for just 86 cents
- It’s ‘Thankful Thursday’ so be sure to head to Pin It and let us know what you’re grateful for. Here’s how you can have your photos featured during the Morning Sprint.
If you missed it, you can watch it here.
Here’s where you can watch us:
The Sprint can be watched on our website, YouTube account and wherever you stream WSLS 10 weekdays at 8 a.m.
You can also watch it on our 10 News app. Click here to download if you’re an IOS user and here to download if you have an Android.
Be sure to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for watching!
Want to know more about the Morning Sprint? Leave us a question using the form below: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/coming-up-plastic-surgeon-has-license-revoked-for-posting-surgeries-to-tiktok-the-morning-sprint/ | 2023-07-13T15:31:54 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/coming-up-plastic-surgeon-has-license-revoked-for-posting-surgeries-to-tiktok-the-morning-sprint/ |
LYNCHBURG, Va. – As Lynchburg City Schools works to improve its facilities, it wants community members to be a part of the conversation.
The school division has worked with the City of Lynchburg and a team of consultants to draft possible scenarios that break down ways the school can best meet the needs of its students, whether that’s through renovating, closing or repurposing school buildings. All ideas are based on feedback from those in the Hill City.
Now, Lynchburg City Schools is inviting the public to participate in an open house to learn more about the scenarios they’ve come up with. The upcoming events will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates:
- Monday, July 17: Paul Munro Elementary at 4641 Locksview Road
- Tuesday, July 18: Sandusky Elementary at 5828 Apache Lane
- Wednesday, July 19: Heritage Elementary at 501 Leesville Road
- Monday, July 24: Dearington Elementary at 210 Smyth Street
You can also provide additional feedback on the LCS Facilities Master Plan Survey if you wish to do so.
In August, the Facilities Master Plan recommendations will be presented to the Lynchburg City School Board and City Council based on input received in the coming weeks. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/lynchburg-city-schools-seeking-community-input-on-ways-to-improve-school-facilities/ | 2023-07-13T15:32:01 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/lynchburg-city-schools-seeking-community-input-on-ways-to-improve-school-facilities/ |
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE
This crash has been cleared.
ORIGINAL STORY
A vehicle crash on I-81N in Montgomery County is slowing down traffic, according to VDOT.
We’re told it happened at the 124 mile marker.
At this time, the north left shoulder and left lane are closed.
Traffic is backed up for about 2.5 miles. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/vehicle-crash-on-i-81n-in-montgomery-county-causing-delays/ | 2023-07-13T15:32:07 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/13/vehicle-crash-on-i-81n-in-montgomery-county-causing-delays/ |
SILVER SPRING, Md. — Five people were injured after an argument turned into a shooting at a Maryland restaurant early Thursday, police said.
An argument inside the restaurant spilled into the parking lot, where shots were fired, and investigators are working to determine who was involved, police said.
One person had non-life-threatening but serious injuries and three others were left with less significant injuries after being shot, police said. One person had a minor injury and may have been hit with shrapnel, department spokesperson Shiera Goff said. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2023/07/13/shooting-restaurant-maryland-silver-spring/bfba3c30-218f-11ee-8994-4b2d0b694a34_story.html | 2023-07-13T15:33:59 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2023/07/13/shooting-restaurant-maryland-silver-spring/bfba3c30-218f-11ee-8994-4b2d0b694a34_story.html |
Dan Williamson joined the Duluth News Tribune in June 2021 where he's involved in digital content such as video, photos and podcasts. Previously, he worked in television broadcasting as a Sports Director/Anchor at WDIO-TV in Duluth, Sports Director/Anchor in Bismarck, N.D., News and Sports Anchor at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, and Reporter/Photographer/Editor with the syndicated show "Life to the Max" in Eden Prairie. He was also the Development Director for the Duluth Salvation Army. Williamson grew up in Alexandria, graduated from St. Cloud State University and has lived in Duluth since 2012. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/photos-and-video-sidewalk-days-in-downtown-duluth | 2023-07-13T15:37:21 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/photos-and-video-sidewalk-days-in-downtown-duluth |
Check out these top stories and more in The Times and nwi.com.
Landmark Man of Steel sculpture to get restored after years of neglect: https://bit.ly/3pUpfK1
Indiana students recovering in math, some struggle with ELA: https://bit.ly/3rsbgM4
Stay connected with all your Region News at www.nwi.com.
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-landmark-man-of-steel-sculpture-to-get-restored-after-years-of-neglect/article_ed75204c-217e-11ee-ab25-9ba3964dfff6.html | 2023-07-13T15:40:10 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-landmark-man-of-steel-sculpture-to-get-restored-after-years-of-neglect/article_ed75204c-217e-11ee-ab25-9ba3964dfff6.html |
SEATTLE — Before All-Star Week, leaders with both MLB and the Mariners said it would be "the most inclusive" All-Star game ever.
Now that it's over, however, small business owners in the neighboring Chinatown-International District said they hardly saw any of the $50 million in revenue expected to have been generated.
"I walked around the whole Chinatown a couple times these last couple days. I kind of just check on everyone, and, I think everyone's business has been affected by this in a negative way surprisingly," said Hai, who preferred not to share his last name. He owns Baegopa, a Korean barbecue restaurant in Chinatown.
"We got kind of everything prepped, more food inventory and more staff for the last couple, maybe four or five days," said Hai.
Ultimately, he said they were over-staffed and even had to throw out expensive products.
He said his restaurant experienced an unusually low turn-out over the busy weekend. Four other businesses in the CID told KING 5 that during All-Star week they had the same experience-- despite their close proximity to the stadiums.
"I feel like we were forgotten in a way," said Tanya Woo, a CID community advocate who is running for Seattle City Council District 2. "Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, it was just, no one. It was like a ghost town here."
Despite CID businesses being empty, parking spots were full, according to Hai.
"Because nobody wanted to really pay those high prices near the stadium, so they would park there and then walk over," said Hai.
Instead of spending their dollars there, however, "the locals stayed away, and so did the tourists," according to Woo.
Woo said they followed green arrows that had been placed on sidewalks in the CID, leading people out of the community and toward the All-Star Village. Woo and a group of ten volunteers took matters into their own hands and distributed fliers near the stadiums.
"Wanted to help draw people out of the stadiums and to the CID," said Woo. "So we had a little piece of paper with a QR code on it that had a map of all the small businesses here in the area."
She added, "Going forward I believe that Seattle Sports Commission is going to have a debriefing in the next several months, so we're definitely going to bring this up that we would like to have more of a partnership."
It has been 22 years since the city of Seattle hosted an event of this size. So with other events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Seattle Sports Commission President Beth Knox said they plan to reflect on this event and discuss future adjustments, as necessary. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/chinatown-businesses-money-lost-all-star-week/281-ab421728-89bc-473f-b242-7f73def904ec | 2023-07-13T15:47:10 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/chinatown-businesses-money-lost-all-star-week/281-ab421728-89bc-473f-b242-7f73def904ec |
TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma was listed as one of the best places to live and move into, according to a study from bankrate.com. The study looked at criteria such as well-being, affordability, job market, diversity and migration.
Tacoma ranks third, beating out places like Alexandria, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina and Oakland, California.
The study was featured on the Today Show, which says Tacoma is a more appealing city for those looking to work in Seattle since the cost of living is around 20% cheaper in Tacoma. The website also highlights the city's vibrant natural habitat, museum district, and festivals which continue to impress, according to Travel Tacoma President Dean Burke.
"The thing we do here all the time when people get here is that especially if they're in the region is they go 'Wow, I didn't know it was this good. This is really cool'," said Burke.
Now, the city is focused on preparing for growth, starting with building more housing, and expanding it like real,
"They're running tests right now that might have been one of the test trains to open the whole other half of this thing that's getting ready to open in just a few days. That was a big investment. So they literally doubled the length of this, run up into the hilltop areas to serve more of that to be prepared for that growth. And as the city transforms and grows on this slope, that's a critical piece.
Tacoma Pierce County's Chamber of Commerce CEO Andrea Ray said in a statement," The most important economic development resource any community has are the people who live and work there, and you won't find better people in anywhere in the world then in Tacoma." | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tacoma/tacoma-named-best-places-live/281-53273688-2959-4ea0-ad45-46a48331084e | 2023-07-13T15:47:16 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tacoma/tacoma-named-best-places-live/281-53273688-2959-4ea0-ad45-46a48331084e |
SEATTLE — Washington State Ferries Captain Harlow Wood looks ahead as he guides hundreds of passengers from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
Wood looks down at the radar and then calls out directions to his second mate.
"A lot of people ask isn't that job boring? No. Every crossing’s different," Wood said.
A career mariner, Wood’s been a captain for Washington State Ferries for six years. However, he’s worked for WSF for a total of 14 years.
"Being a point guard, quarterback or free safety where you have to take in a lot of inputs and make a decision. That's what this job is," Wood explained.
However, Wood has watched as the interest in positions like his have declined. He said decades ago it was an extremely competitive field, but as more industries developed, many followed different career paths.
WSF faces an aging workforce. There were 53 retirements in just the last year, according to Washington State Ferries.
For years, WSF has been attempting to increase its staffing.
"We're being creative with the way we can keep our employees and train them faster to get the license they need," Washington State Ferries spokesman Dana Warr said.
That includes adding accelerated programs.
"It will look just like this. He'll be on one radar, and I’ll be on the other one," Wood explained while being shadowed by apprentice mate Garrett Meyers.
Meyers’ program speeds up the process of becoming a licensed crew member. Right now, he’s in the mandatory process of 360 days of shadow training.
"The program I’m in is really fast-paced,” Meyers said. “It’s two years whereas every other program is going to be four years.”
He started last spring and anticipates by spring of 2025 he’ll be eligible to work as a mate.
Wood said there’s really no politics involved. If you put in the time, you can work your way up to a captain. However, that typically takes about a decade.
"We have the most precious cargo that exists: People," Wood said.
The number of riders has returned to pre-pandemic times. One Saturday this month brought the most riders in a single day since the summer of 2019.
A ferry like Wenatchee requires a team of 15 to leave the dock. That includes licensed deck officers, seamen, engineers and oilers.
"If something happens, life happens. We can't sail," Warr said.
The staffing shortages and ship shortages have led to downsized routes this summer.
Despite hiring hundreds of workers in the last two years, enough staff has retired or left for other jobs to eliminate much of that progress.
It means WSF is looking for more people like Meyers.
"I fully intend to be out here for the rest of my career. I'm hoping for a good 30 years," Meyers said.
He’s hoping to have a career like Captain Wood to help keep this much-needed form of transportation alive. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/washington-state-ferries-staffing-issues/281-c9f8b3ed-700c-47c5-8684-921835d86f1a | 2023-07-13T15:47:22 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/washington-state-ferries-staffing-issues/281-c9f8b3ed-700c-47c5-8684-921835d86f1a |
A young man was killed after he was shot multiple times in Kensington during the early morning hours of Thursday.
At approximately 11:59 p.m. police were called to the 2700 block of A Street in Kensington where they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
The man, 19, had been shot multiple times throughout his body and was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:57 a.m., according to the police.
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Police found multiple shell casings at the scene and blood on the street.
Police believe that the victim was not from the neighborhood, but from Northeast Philadelphia.
At this time authorities do not have any information on the motive or any information on the suspect.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
There are cameras in the area which will be reviewed by the homicide unit for any evidence that may have captured the incident.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/19-year-old-killed-after-being-shot-multiple-times-in-kensington/3603633/ | 2023-07-13T15:55:27 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/19-year-old-killed-after-being-shot-multiple-times-in-kensington/3603633/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Kingsport Police Department has ceased posting updates and alerts to its Twitter account, the department announced on Thursday.
According to a release from the KPD, the decision is due to Twitter implementing a new fee for auto-posting.
“KPD previously auto-posted all News Releases and Traffic Alerts to the KPD Twitter feed. Unfortunately, however, due to a new fee structure, Twitter has recently implemented for auto-posting, it has become cost prohibitive to continue this practice,” said the department.
News releases, traffic alerts and daily media reports will now be consolidated on the KPD’s website under “The Latest” heading.
“Citizens and the media can check this page periodically to stay informed, or for more timely notification, clicking “View More” will give them an opportunity to enter their email address to subscribe in order to receive all future posts directly to their inbox,” stated the release.
News releases will still auto-post to the KPD’s Facebook page. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-police-department-ceases-twitter-posting-due-to-new-fees/ | 2023-07-13T15:56:25 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-police-department-ceases-twitter-posting-due-to-new-fees/ |
A look at Clemson University construction: 6 projects giving campus, facilities a new look
From expanded classroom space to improving the game day experience of Tiger Walk near Memorial Stadium, several ongoing construction projects at Clemson University are planned to improve campus life and safety.
Perimeter Road, one of the busiest roads on campus, is getting improvements to improve safety, the University reported.
By realigning Old Stadium Road and Williamson Road, it will provide an improved intersection for pedestrians and vehicles.
Also, a bridge between the third floor of the Humanities Hall and Daniel Hall will connect the two. This is expected to open in the fall of 2023.
Clemson's new women's lacrosse program and the upcoming women's gymnastics program will have a new facility soon.
The South Campus Stormwater & Landscape Improvements project, including "enhanced landscaping and more than 170 new trees of a variety of species planted on the site," will be completed around Nov. 2023.
Here are photo illustrations of the ongoing construction across Clemson's campus:
Tiger Walk: Memorial Stadium Phase III
Memorial Stadium Phase III (Nov. 30, 2022-Aug. 1, 2023) includes work involving Tiger Walk and Lot 5 adjacent to the stadium, according to Clemson University news services reports.
It includes a wide pedestrian walkway meant to be a more fan-friendly and inviting way to navigate through the mid-level of the WestZone to other areas of the stadium.
Women's sports program expansion
Clemson will have new and upgraded $27.5 million lakefront facilities for lacrosse, gymnastics and rowing.
The new women’s lacrosse program and upcoming women’s gymnastics program will move into the facilities later this year.
Williamson Road re-alignment
Williamson Road re-alignment realigns Old Stadium Road and Williamson Road to provide an improved intersection for pedestrians and vehicles, according to Clemson University reports.
Perimeter Road construction
A stretch of Perimeter Road, just over a mile long, increases from two lanes to four, from Cherry Road to U.S. 76, a $21 million project to improve pedestrian safety, according to Clemson University.
Also, improved bike and pedestrian paths, lighting, and signals are part of the project.
Daniel Hall expansion and renovation
Daniel Hall expansion and renovation creates new classrooms, informal learning spaces and a 200-seat auditorium, according to Clemson University.
Existing spaces are being upgraded as well. A bridge between the third floor of the Humanities Hall, right, and Daniel Hall, left, will connect the two, and is expected to open in the fall of 2023.
South campus stormwater and landscape improvements
The South Campus Stormwater and Landscape Improvements project, expected to complete around November 2023, is taking place in the low-lying area below the Strom Thurmond Institute, known as the Suber Dam area, which receives stormwater runoff from a significant portion of Clemson's campus.
The project features a stormwater retention pond and a pedestrian path, enhanced landscaping and more than 170 new trees of a variety of species planted on the site.
Ken Ruinard is a photo journalist for the Anderson Independent Mail and the USA Today Network. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/clemson-university-construction-photos-updates-on-projects/70392332007/ | 2023-07-13T15:56:27 | 0 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/clemson-university-construction-photos-updates-on-projects/70392332007/ |
BLOOMINGTON — Bloomington Parks and Recreation announced two themed open skates this summer at the Bloomington Ice Center.
The first one, "Christmas in July," will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Those who wear holiday attire will receive $1 off the $6 admission. Guests will be transported into a winter wonderland with games, music, Santa Claus, snow and more.
The second event, "School Spirit Night," will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Those who bring their student ID will receive $1 off admission. Guests will be able to show off their school pride while skating to the summer's top musical hits.
Skate rentals are $2 at the center, 201 S. Roosevelt, Bloomington. Both events are open to all ages.
Visit bloomingtonparks.org or call 309-434-2877 for more information.
Organized by the Central Illinois Girls Hockey Association, the tournament brought about 2,000 spectators and 250 athletes over three days to the Grossinger Motors Arena and Bloomington Ice Center. Seventeen teams from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Ohio came out to grip it and rip it.
Photos: Bloomington Youth Hockey building top athletes for tomorrow
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Nicholas Sleevar of the Bloomington Sharks makes a pass after the Thunder's attack on the goal during a game Feb. 11 at the Pepsi Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks' Nicholas Sleevar makes a shot on the Bloomington Thunder goal during a game last month at the Bloomington Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks' Connor Campbell leads an attack on the goal during a game last month at the Bloomington Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Parents and relatives watch the Bloomington Sharks take on the Thunder during a game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at the Pepsi Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks' Alexander Bricker moves the puck behind the net after stopping the Thunder's attack on the goal during a game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at the Pepsi Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks Connor Campbell takes a slap shot on the Thunder's goal during a game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at the Pepsi Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks goalie Burt Jolley deflects a puck after the Thunder's attack on the goal during a game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at the Pepsi Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks goalie Burt Jolley makes a save during the Thunder's attack on the goal during a game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at the Pepsi Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
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Bloomington Sharks player Andrew Samet recovers the puck after the Thunder's attack on the goal during a game Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at the Pepsi Ice Center. Arena.
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Players from the Bloomington Sharks and Bloomington Thunder youth hockey teams shake hands after a game last month at the Bloomington Ice Center.
DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH
Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3352. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs
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Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/events/bloomington-ice-center-to-host-themed-open-skates/article_0b8760e4-20ef-11ee-af48-536a426fa5f2.html | 2023-07-13T15:56:28 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/events/bloomington-ice-center-to-host-themed-open-skates/article_0b8760e4-20ef-11ee-af48-536a426fa5f2.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — The Fire Department has discovered lead dust at two of its fire stations and closed them indefinitely.
The city acknowledged the closures, which are impacting Fire Stations 3 and 6, in a statement issued Tuesday night, saying the decision was made to prioritize the public welfare.
“The safety of our employees and taxpayers are of the utmost importance,” the city said in a statement.
The city said fire officials first temporarily closed Fire Station 6, which is undergoing renovations, on Friday over concerns of potential lead-dust contamination.
Fire Station 3 was temporarily closed Saturday due to the same concerns.
“Upon first discovering this issue, the Atlantic City Fire Department acted quickly and closed the stations out of an abundance of caution, preventing further complications,” the city said.
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Despite the closures, the city said there would be “no disruption to service.” Firefighters from Station 3, who serve the neighborhoods of Westside and Venice Park, were relocated to Fire Station 2, and Station 6 firefighters, who serve Lower Chelsea, were relocated to Station 4. The city said it is trying to put temporary housing on site at each fire station so firefighters can be closer to their assigned neighborhoods and be stationed closer to neighborhood emergencies. There are four firefighters working at each fire station over a 24-hour period.
To address the lead-dust contamination, the city said it is “aggressively pursuing mitigation contractors.” Potentially impacted fire personnel, meanwhile, are set to be examined.
“Medical evaluations begin this week," the city said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-closes-two-fire-stations-due-to-lead-dust/article_67e2ae86-205c-11ee-b22e-87b7be60a3f7.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:02 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-closes-two-fire-stations-due-to-lead-dust/article_67e2ae86-205c-11ee-b22e-87b7be60a3f7.html |
CAPE MAY — For the first time in two decades, the city plans to consolidate the design standards that guide what can and cannot be done on historic properties, and officials say the new standards are beautiful.
City Council expects a public hearing and final vote on the historic design standards at its next meeting, set for 3 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
At a recent meeting, Warren Coupland, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, and member Philippa Campbell presented the proposal, joined by commission attorney Robert Fineberg.
Coupland described the update as a huge project that was more than a year in the making, collecting the standards into a single book.
The last time that was done was in 2002.
“I think I want to mention up front what this is not, because I think that some people may have a concern. What this is not is an increase in the authority of the HPC,” he said.
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Everything included in the book has already been approved as land use law by council after review by the Planning Board, Coupland said. This brings that information together in a single place, making it easier for homeowners and potential investors to plan projects.
“It’s not a reach. What it really is, is a consolidation,” Coupland said.
LOWER TOWNSHIP — The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum will host a Q&A session …
Campbell and council members described the finished product as beautiful and praised the effort that went into it. Coupland said the existing standards were already good, but the new book will be easier to use and provide more detail, including illustrations and specific examples.
Cape May has one of the strictest historic districts in the area, and many in the city see the large number of Victorian-era homes and older structures as a vital part of the community’s charm, right up there with the beach and fine dining options.
Council introduced an ordinance creating the new document in a unanimous vote. If approved in a final vote, that will cement the book’s position as a zoning document homeowners can look to when planning projects.
Coupland said the effort was to improve the design standards for the historic district — not an easy task, he said, because Cape May’s design standards were already award-winning.
A state grant helped fund the project, Coupland said at the meeting. A resolution approved in 2022 indicates the state put $44,700 toward updating the design standards. Late last year, the city approved a contract with Steven Smolyn of Architectural Heritage Consultants LLC to work on the update.
The new book is only one step in the process, Coupland told council members. The commission also plans public outreach to inform residents and homeowners about the book, and to update the city’s website with the new, consolidated information.
He also brought a copy of the standards published in the 1970s, saying the city has come a long way.
The book from 2002 remains available on the city website in a PDF format. In the future, the city will be able to update information about the design standards on the site as they are amended.
As the summer of 2023 warms up, a beach replenishment project in Stone Harbor and Avalon is winding down, the latest in a decades-long effort to keep sand on the beaches of New Jersey.
At a separate meeting July 3, council also introduced an ordinance adopting a survey of historic sites in Cape May. That ordinance is set for a public hearing and final vote Aug. 1.
The survey includes 186 properties and indicates whether each is contributing to the historic district or non-contributing.
Council amended the list to remove a property on St. John Street that was demolished in 2021.
“That building is no longer there. This just tells you how long it takes to navigate this process,” said city attorney Christopher Gillin-Schwartz. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cape-may-historical-designs-standard/article_611bbc20-20e6-11ee-b232-1319dbaa5513.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:08 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cape-may-historical-designs-standard/article_611bbc20-20e6-11ee-b232-1319dbaa5513.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — A two-car crash Wednesday on Route 30 sent both vehicles' drivers to a nearby hospital.
The crash was reported at 8:38 a.m. on the highway's westbound side, police Lt. Kevin Fair said.
One vehicle struck an electrical box, light pole and fence before catching fire, Fair said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Both drivers were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, for injuries police said were not life threatening.
Crews shut down the pike for about 45 minutes.
No criminal charges were filed in the crash as of Wednesday afternoon. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/atlanticcity-newjersey-crash-hospital/article_0b905fec-20f3-11ee-aef6-7381934b549e.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:14 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/atlanticcity-newjersey-crash-hospital/article_0b905fec-20f3-11ee-aef6-7381934b549e.html |
A former Margate firefighter who unsuccessfully fought charges of participating in a South Jersey health care fraud scheme will spend eight years in prison, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
Thomas Sher, 50, of Northfield, took charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud to court last August, spending about two weeks in a trial in Camden federal court. He was convicted of the offenses in the multimillion-dollar scheme in September.
While he was found guilty on health care fraud charges, he was acquitted of wire fraud charges.
Sher was one of three brothers charged in the case. He was represented by attorney Joseph Grimes, who did not return a request for comment Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors illustrated for the jury how the former firefighter joined the conspiracy and was given payments for prescription compound medications unnecessarily prescribed to holders of state health care plans.
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Those plans, in turn, would provide hefty reimbursements to conspiracy leader William Hickman, who would then hand down a slice of that money to his recruiters and sub-recruiters.
Hickman is scheduled for sentencing in October.
CAMDEN — One of three brothers who joined a conspiracy that defrauded state health benefits …
Sher was on trial for having been a “sub-recruiter” in the scheme, which cost taxpayer-funded health insurance plans about $50 million. Prosecutors say the ring collected the reimbursements, using some of the profit to pay kickbacks to doctors and employees who’d submitted the prescriptions, according to court documents.
Sher directly received about $115,000 from the scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The scheme took place from July 2014 to April 2016.
During the trial, several scheme participants testified on behalf of the government. People Sher solicited for prescriptions also testified, recounting how he approached them, promising a product beneficial for their health.
Also on Wednesday, Christopher Broccoli, 51, of West Deptford, Gloucester County, was sentenced to two years in prison in the scheme. Broccoli pleaded guilty July 28, 2022, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
To date, 50 people have been charged in the overarching conspiracy, and 46 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/margate-newjersey-heatlhcare-fraud-conviction/article_c678e62e-20fa-11ee-a4ac-e382a0420720.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:20 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/margate-newjersey-heatlhcare-fraud-conviction/article_c678e62e-20fa-11ee-a4ac-e382a0420720.html |
VINELAND — Police are offering an award of up to $50,000 for information that can help them catch a suspect who assaulted a U.S. Postal Service worker last week.
The letter carrier was assaulted and robbed about 11:25 a.m. July 3, police said Tuesday in a news release.
The suspect was photographed wearing a dark-colored hoodie and gloves.
Anyone with information can call police at 856-691-4111, the Postal Service's Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or email asperez@vinelandcity.org. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/vineland-newjersey-postal-worker-assault/article_c80324b6-20c1-11ee-b187-f3bf7725a236.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:27 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-courts/vineland-newjersey-postal-worker-assault/article_c80324b6-20c1-11ee-b187-f3bf7725a236.html |
Atlantic County has received a $147,000 state grant to fund a feasibility study for a centralized emergency dispatch call center.
“Atlantic County continues to work with our municipalities to find cost savings through shared services,” county Executive Dennis Levinson said in a statement about the Local Efficiency Achievement grant Tuesday.
Thirteen municipalities adopted resolutions supporting the study after the county executive received initial letters of request from the Atlantic County Fire Chiefs Association, Atlantic County Firefighters Association and the Atlantic County EMS Association, county officials said.
“Atlantic County remains one of only four counties in the state without some form of a centralized emergency dispatch center,” Levinson said. “We attempted this before, but this time I am told we have solid support from the fire and EMS communities. This grant will enable us to hire a consultant to study several elements involved in creating a successful multi-use center before proceeding.”
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Levinson previously attempted to initiate a dispatch system to handle all emergency calls countywide, but towns that supported it early on later changed their minds after new officials were elected. The project fell apart in 2016, after years of work and spending about $351,000 on designs for a proposed $31 million building to be built on land to be donated by Stockton University.
The county also recently received a $45,000 grant that will allow it to purchase a pair of portable traffic lights that will be available to municipalities as needed at no cost to them, county officials said.
Portable traffic lights may be used in place of flagmen to help control traffic flow in construction zones, during localized power outages and as a temporary replacement for a damaged or inoperable traffic pole.
“Making portable traffic lights available to towns saves them the expense of having to individually purchase them for relatively sporadic use,” Levinson said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/atlantic-county-grant-feasibility-study/article_4136dbe8-20cc-11ee-90c8-9fae034c780c.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:33 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/atlantic-county-grant-feasibility-study/article_4136dbe8-20cc-11ee-90c8-9fae034c780c.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — First lady Jill Biden will appear Thursday at the National Governors Association Conference in the resort.
She will be speaking to leaders about workforce training and education.
Biden will also speak about preparing high school and community college students for high-earning jobs when she appears for a lunch session with governors and their spouses at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The first lady is expected to give her presentation from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., according to the conference's agenda.
The National Governors Association, which is chaired by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, was founded in 1908.
As the "voice of the leaders of 55 states, territories, and commonwealths," the association gives governors opportunities to collaborate and discuss public policy and leadership at the state, national and global levels, according to its website. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/firstlady-biden-atlanticcity-hardrock/article_79b9d43a-20b2-11ee-943f-13377f831ae6.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:39 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/firstlady-biden-atlanticcity-hardrock/article_79b9d43a-20b2-11ee-943f-13377f831ae6.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — On the opening day of the National Governors Association summer meeting at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a group of about 30 school integration advocates tried to see Gov. Phil Murphy but were turned away at the meeting entrance.
“We’ve been flexible for four years, the governor has been inflexible,” Building One America Executive Director Paul Scully told Michelle DeAngelo, deputy chief of staff for operations for Murphy, who talked to the group.
Scully said the governor has refused to meet with the group on the issue of how to better integrate the state’s schools, and showing up at the national meeting was an effort to finally get his attention.
“I understand your frustration,” DeAngelo told the group, also associated with the New Jersey Coalition Against Racial Exclusion, and said she would work to try to get them a sit-down meeting with the governor.
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No one from the governor’s press office could be immediately reached for comment.
Murphy, the chair of the governors association, is hosting the three-day meeting.
The Latino Action Network and NAACP-NJ are leading a lawsuit against the state, filed in 2018 and heard last year, to force the state to take action to integrate schools. A decision is awaited.
Building One America is not part of that lawsuit, said Scully, but the governor has indicated he cannot talk to the group because of the litigation.
EGG HARBOR CITY — Activists demanding more integrated New Jersey schools are continuing thei…
“That’s like Trump saying he can’t talk about his taxes (because of litigation),” Scully said.
More than half of Black and Hispanic students attend schools that are predominantly non-white, according to the suit, and half of white students are in schools that are predominantly white.
The Building One New Jersey group — a mix of educators and retired educators, parents and members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville — talked to police and security staff and avoided turning their presence into a protest.
“We need special programs in hometown schools,” said Leonard Fitts, of Moorestown, Burlington County, a retired school administrator.
If magnet schools offered programs for preparing for medical, veterinary and other specialized studies, students from various towns would attend them and integrate the schools, he said.
“I went to integrated and non-integrated schools,” said Jason Howell, of Hamilton Township, a 2004 graduate of Oakcrest High School, which he called quite diverse.
“In my experience the more diverse school was much more pleasant socially,” Howell said.
Christine Ruth, of Northfield, is a seventh to eighth grade special education teacher in Atlantic City and earlier in her career taught or worked in administration in Linwood and Galloway Township.
A coalition campaigning against school segregation in New Jersey is now threatening to file …
“I know opportunities are different in Linwood than my kids get in Atlantic City,” said Ruth, who is a member of AC Ed Equity and said her school’s population is about 98% Black and brown.
AC Ed Equity’s goal is “to increase the number of K-12 teachers of color in Atlantic County, and to support and train educators of Atlantic County in developing culturally responsive practices,” according to its website.
A representative of one governor, Connecticut’s Ned Lamont, spoke to Scully and others in the group briefly.
Lamont, co-chair of the association’s Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force, will lead a talk Thursday on preparing for and responding to concurrent crises. He will be joined by his co-chair, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott.
Other governors slated to lead sessions are North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who will lead a roundtable discussion on accelerating infrastructure projects.
A large contingent of city and state police were on hand to provide security to the governors and their staff, as well as members of the casino’s security team.
More than 20 governors from all over the U.S. are expected to attend, but information on exactly which governors are attending is being kept close to the vest.
The association is not publicly distributing the list of governors attending, a spokesperson for the group said.
SOMERS POINT — Activists spent the first day of spring trying to uproot school segregation i…
First lady Jill Biden will speak Thursday afternoon on the importance of investing in workforce training programs that prepare students for good-paying jobs.
New Jersey is the sixth most segregated state in the nation for Black students, and the seventh most segregated for Hispanic students, according to a 2017 analysis by the Civil Rights Project at the University of California at Los Angeles.
Schools largely reflect the neighborhoods in which they are located, and the lack of affordable housing outside urban areas is blamed for much of New Jersey’s segregation. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/school-integration-group-raises-issue-at-national-governors-meeting/article_cd69c768-20e7-11ee-b211-a33c3b6b6860.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:45 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/government-politics/school-integration-group-raises-issue-at-national-governors-meeting/article_cd69c768-20e7-11ee-b211-a33c3b6b6860.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — A handful of state first ladies from throughout the U.S. convened at AtlantiCare’s newest facility Wednesday while in town for the National Governors Association Conference, learning about the company’s efforts to improve infant and maternal mortality rates.
They specifically were given insights about the company’s Safe Beginnings program, which is offered to women living in the resort, providing care from pregnancy into a baby’s first year.
“Being able to wrap all the services around the moms and make it as easy as possible to receive the care that’s needed, that’s what we’ve been saying from the beginning,” New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy said after touring AtlantiCare’s Medical Arts Pavilion on Ohio Avenue.
Murphy was accompanied by Utah first lady Abbey Cox, Alaska first lady Rose Dunleavy and Rhode Island first lady Susan McKee.
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Wednesday’s visit was coordinated by the National Governors Association, which was holding its yearly meeting at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, has made infant and mother mortality rates part of her platform during her time in Trenton.
Often, the issue revolves around poverty rates. Atlantic City is the Garden State’s second-poorest city, Murphy told her colleagues.
A study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics last fall says researchers found higher death rates for infants born to Black women.
ATLANTIC CITY — With the past several years bringing health inequities to the forefront, the…
AtlantiCare has moved to be proactive in addressing the problem.
Its Medical Arts Pavilion, a three-story, 69,700-square-foot building furbished with new equipment, opened in November, making available to local patients services in pediatrics, maternity, family planning, dialysis and medical education.
The $38.3 million facility comes as the city is moving to address disparities in health care outcomes for Black people, an objective outlined in a 2018 report on the city’s pathway back to self-governance by Jim Johnson, then special counsel to Gov. Phil Murphy on the state takeover of Atlantic City.
Throughout the tour, Tammy Murphy, Cox, McKee and Dunleavy looked around the different rooms shown to them by Sandra Garrett, AtlantiCare’s assistant director of women’s and children’s services. Afterward, they were among two dozen women who took part in a roundtable discussion of nationwide efforts to improve infant and maternal mortality.
The Safe Beginnings program is funded by grants from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. AtlantiCare has lauded it as the first program in the city developed to lower rates of maternal and infant mortality.
A pair of the program’s graduates were guests at the roundtable, telling the first ladies how they would have been left in the dark without it. They also credit the program for making their birth “fun.”
“I thought I knew everything,” said Teela Grayson.
The mortality rate for infants is six of every 1,000 live births in Atlantic County, compared with four of every 1,000 statewide, which is “reason for concern,” according to New Jersey state health assessment data.
ATLANTIC CITY — As the stench of a dead whale hung in the air, environmentalists and opponen…
Safe Beginnings makes use of on-staff doulas, health care professionals trained in childbearing, for home visitations. It also employs certified nurse midwives, professionals in social work, neonatologists, peer specialists and registered nurses.
Families also have access to no-cost items, such as car seats, regardless of insurance or payment abilities.
In Utah, they’re becoming more prevalent in the workforce, said Cox, wife of Gov. Spencer Cox.
“I think it’s a growing field,” Cox said. “After my four babies, I didn’t even know that was a thing.”
Alaska is somewhat different, said Dunleavy, who said midwives, which are clinical professionals used in the birthing process, are prominent in the state, especially in smaller villages.
Dania Daniels, a community-certified doula with AtlantiCare, encouraged the first ladies to consider pushing to adopt similar programs in their respective states.
“It makes an amazing difference,” Daniels said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/newjersey-atlanticcity-firstlady-childbirth/article_7082088a-20e2-11ee-b8fe-bb881b4f1704.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:46 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/newjersey-atlanticcity-firstlady-childbirth/article_7082088a-20e2-11ee-b8fe-bb881b4f1704.html |
NORTH WILDWOOD — As the fight between the city and the state Department of Environmental Protection over beach protection continues, Mayor Pat Rosenello appeared to try to lower the heat.
In a lengthy letter to DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, Rosenello did not back down but outlined the city’s position, and avoided some of the rhetoric of previous exchanges. The letter was sent in response to letters from LaTourette scolding the city over work on the beach, in what has become a high-profile argument between layers of government.
The state has imposed more than $12 million in fines against the city, while North Wildwood has filed a suit alleging more than $20 million in damages related to beach erosion.
“I share your perplexity and frustration that we continue to find ourselves at loggerheads over issues that both organizations should be working cooperatively to address,” Rosenello wrote.
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Larry Hajna, a spokesperson for the DEP, declined to respond to Rosenello’s letter Tuesday. He said LaTourette’s July 6 letter speaks for itself.
Over the past several winters, North Wildwood has trucked sand onto its beaches, staving off erosion while awaiting a large-scale beach replenishment project. Last winter, the beaches had eroded to the point that the sand could not be added, leaving little beach this summer and new worries for storms next winter.
Rosenello said the beach between 13th and 16th avenues is an ongoing safety hazard.
“It has only gotten much worse,” he wrote.
Shawn LaTourette, the commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, scolded North Wildwood Mayor Pat Rosenello in a letter Thursday over the city’s work on the beach.
Rosenello said the state has repeatedly faulted North Wildwood for its attempts to address the safety issues. The state has described the city’s actions as reckless and counterproductive, while the city says the state has acted too slowly considering the stakes. Without some of the actions the city has taken, the mayor argues, North Wildwood would have seen the destruction of streets, storm drains and infrastructure and millions of dollars’ worth of private property from coastal storms.
Last week, in a letter released to media, LaTourette accused North Wildwood of repeatedly breaking coastal zone management laws when dealing with severe beach erosion, including work on dunes and the previous installation of a bulkhead.
“Meanwhile the city — pointing to its northernmost beaches, a known erosion hotspot — has repeatedly engaged in destructive and illegal conduct in the name of tourism and, supposedly, public safety,” LaTourette’s letter states. “This is wrongheaded and it must stop.”
On Tuesday, Rosenello blamed the DEP for some issues, including stating that in some instances, the city communicated with the department, but those communications apparently failed to reach the correct office, mentioning the specific example of a mitigation plan sent in June. Latourette’s letter demands its submission by July 14.
“What happened to that communication once it was transmitted is an internal matter that needs to be addressed by your department,” Rosenello wrote. “This is but the latest example of communications to one office or representative of the NJDEP not being shared with another and then the NJDEP blaming the city for failure to communicate.”
Over the four-page letter, Rosenello expresses disappointment that the formerly strong working relationship between the city and the DEP has deteriorated, and said both want to see the beaches restored and properties protected from future coastal storms.
But Rosenello said the state should not evaluate North Wildwood’s actions the way it would a private developer seeking to increase profits. The city’s actions aim to keep people protected and safe, he said.
“I recognize and appreciate the land-use and regulatory responsibility that your department holds regarding shore protection,” Rosenello wrote. “I do not believe, however, that you or your department recognize the public safety responsibility of North Wildwood.”
Not even $12 million worth of fines is enough to stop a Jersey Shore town from bulldozing sand on its beach to bolster eroded spots in defiance of state environmental officials. The Department of Environmental Protection says North Wildwood once again carried out unauthorized repairs to its dunes in June. DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette warns that the city’s conduct jeopardizes funding for future beach protection projects. But Mayor Patrick Rosenello says the DEP should spend as much time on getting a beach replenishment project approved as it does issuing threats.
He cites an accidental death in North Carolina in which a man was buried in a dune collapse, in conditions he said were similar to those in North Wildwood. Waiting for the DEP to act could be a threat to public safety, Rosenello states.
“During my time as mayor, I have had personal experiences with people dying because of the natural hazards that are always present on our beaches and oceans,” Rosenello wrote. Those included ocean rescues, and in some cases, the city has been sued for failing to address hazardous conditions.
He cited instances in which emergency personnel have sought to revive people while their families watched.
“Commissioner, unless or until you or members of your regulatory staff have lived these experiences, you cannot possibly have the same perspective or sense of urgency on public safety as I do,” Rosenello wrote.
He also discussed attempts to get the beaches rebuilt, including promises to put $1 million into a local replenishment project. He said the state’s position saw a major shift.
“Any talk of an interim beach nourishment project became off limits and instead the NJDEP took the position that the federal project was the only project the state would participate in,” he wrote.
A federal beach replenishment project has long been in the works but has not yet started. Officials plan for the project to encompass the entire barrier island, which also includes Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and a portion of Lower Township.
In his previous letter, LaTourette said progress has been made toward that project. He said the state committed close to $10 million toward that work, part of $16 million in shore protection planned to benefit North Wildwood.
AVALON — With hopes high for the summer tourist economy in 2023, the borough is going to hav…
“The $16 million in promised future state funding for the seawall extension and federal beach nourishment project are greatly appreciated and eagerly anticipated,” Rosenello wrote. “However, when compared to the over $30 million and counting in actual expenses incurred by the city of North Wildwood while we tried to protect our town, coupled with the many years of delays we have experienced, the future commitment must be viewed in perspective.”
Rosenello holds out hope for resolution. He praised LaTourette for getting personally involved with issues relating to the city, saying it provided real progress. He said the city and the state want the same things, and asked for understanding that what the city has done, it has done in the name of public safety.
“I can think of no reason why any sane person would willingly or intentionally engage in this fight if not for deeply held beliefs that one’s actions are necessary and justified,” Rosenello wrote. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/north-wildwood-responds-to-dep-in-beach-fight/article_99a8b4f4-201d-11ee-a838-5f1dab4703eb.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:53 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/north-wildwood-responds-to-dep-in-beach-fight/article_99a8b4f4-201d-11ee-a838-5f1dab4703eb.html |
Multiple local beaches were placed under bacterial advisories Tuesday after tests showed subpar water quality levels, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.
The beaches are at Albany Avenue in Atlantic City, Philadelphia Avenue in Cape May and Hollywood Avenue in Wildwood Crest, according to the DEP's website.
Cape May's 57th Street bay beach's water also tested poorly, the DEP said.
The waters were to be tested again Tuesday, with the results released Wednesday. The beaches would be closed to bathers if two straight test samples show high levels of enterococci.
The affected beaches were still listed as being under advisories Wednesday morning.
DEP standards require that bacteria concentration doesn't exceed 104 colonies of the bacteria per 100 milliliters of a sample. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/southjersey-beaches-jerseyshore-bacteria/article_bd1c612c-20ba-11ee-901a-8fd88b8f24c4.html | 2023-07-13T16:00:59 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/southjersey-beaches-jerseyshore-bacteria/article_bd1c612c-20ba-11ee-901a-8fd88b8f24c4.html |
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — American Airlines customers traveling from Atlantic City International Airport to Philadelphia International Airport using the Landline bus service can now check in, go through security at ACY and board the bus on the secure side of the airport.
Under the plan, passengers who use this service will not have to go through security in Philadelphia.
Previously, travelers who checked in at ACY and took the Landline service would then have to go through security at Philadelphia.
The change is a result of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's recent approval of airside-to-airside transportation.
"This unlocks access to the world," Nick Johnson, an executive at Landline, said at an event at ACY on Wednesday.
Johnson said the service will be important for local business travelers and has the potential to attract worldwide tourism.
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While the concept of bus systems between airports isn't new, Johnson said, the service being "fully sterile and secure" is the first of its kind.
When customers arrive at ACY, they check in with American Airlines as if they were checking in for a flight, then proceed through security. Then, they wait at the gate for the bus to transport them to Philadelphia, where they can go straight to their gate.
Rick Dovey, having worked as president of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority for 33 years, officially retired July 1. His three decades in office saw him become an institution unto himself, shaping much of the modern landscape of South Jersey waste management.
There are three 35-person buses to Philadelphia each day, at 6:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m.
The bus times coincide with the bulk of American Airlines flight times out of Philadelphia.
Johnson said traffic patterns are monitored and bus times can be adjusted accordingly.
"This will open new doors for tourism," said Larry Sieg, president of Visit AC, at the event.
"It was a nice bus ride, and it was very comfortable," said Amelia Chalhoub, who used the service Monday when she flew from Houston.
Chalhoub was waiting for the 4:20 p.m. bus with her two children, who were flying from Philadelphia back to Houston.
"It was definitely convenient," Chalhoub said.
Nathan Wilson, of Rochester, New York, was also waiting for the bus. He said he didn't realize at first that he had booked the bus, rather than a flight, but that it was an enjoyable experience.
Because of the heat-trapping effects of fossil fuel emissions, mosquitoes are here longer. By analyzing temperature and humidity trends from a station at Atlantic City International Airport, science and news group Climate Central found the mosquito season here is 23 days longer on average than it was in 1979.
"It was super comfortable, and the whole bus kind of felt like business class on a plane," Wilson said.
To use the service, customers book their flight through American Airlines as normal, and look for a connection to or from PHL that says "operated by The Landline Company," according to the American Airlines website.
“This program streamlines the passenger experience and enables travelers to seamlessly travel out of a large international airport conveniently by going through our security screening process from a smaller international airport,” Gerardo Spero, TSA’s federal security director for Philadelphia International Airport, said in a statement.
“We have put in numerous security requirements for the bus operators and all airline personnel to ensure robust security protocols are followed at all times," Spero said.
More than 30,000 people have used the service so far at ACY, Lehigh Valley International Airport and Philadelphia. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/tsa-approves-airside-to-airside-bus-connection-from-acy-to-phl/article_99cd606c-20c0-11ee-bb75-8fabb9615d64.html | 2023-07-13T16:01:05 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/tsa-approves-airside-to-airside-bus-connection-from-acy-to-phl/article_99cd606c-20c0-11ee-bb75-8fabb9615d64.html |
Wednesday will be another excellent, comfortable day for the beaches and bays. Water temperatures will stay above average, well in the 70s. Meteorologist Joe Martucci says to get out and enjoy what the Jersey Shore has to offer.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/wednesday-july-12-jersey-shore-weather-forecast/article_c6f96986-2044-11ee-8040-bbe5d63498db.html | 2023-07-13T16:01:06 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/wednesday-july-12-jersey-shore-weather-forecast/article_c6f96986-2044-11ee-8040-bbe5d63498db.html |
So close yet so far away is how the saying goes. Tuesday failed to hit 90 degrees inland, which would have started our first heat wave of 2023. However, 90s should arrive Wednesday and remain Thursday.
Wednesday and Thursday will be on track for morning lows in the upper 60s to low 70s.
Then, inland highs will reach the low to mid-90s. The exceptions will be from the Garden State Parkway corridor to the bayside area. Towns like Pleasantville and Somers Point should stay around 90 degrees for a high.
At the shore, highs will be in the mid- to upper 80s. Daily sea breezes will slide temperatures lower into the 80s as the day goes on, though.
Evening temperatures will slide into the 80s and 70s.
While Wednesday’s and Thursday’s temperatures look the same, it will feel different to us.
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Wednesday will continue in the footsteps of Tuesday, with dew points in the “touch humid” 60- to 65-degree range.
By Thursday, we’ll be back to the humid air. Dew points around 70 degrees will make it feel sultry out. A breezy wind out of the southwest will blow, too.
It’s fair to ask how will these two days will be in the 90s inland when it didn’t happen Tuesday. I can’t say with certainty but believe it comes down to two factors.
First, both mornings will be milder than Tuesday’s, which was in the mid-60s. We’ll be three to five degrees warmer Wednesday, giving us a head start of sorts.
Secondly, temperatures aloft will be a bit warmer going forward. That will translate down to the surface.
In terms of rain, Wednesday will be dry. In fact, there will be plenty of blue sky like Tuesday.
Thursday is shaping up to be a “boom or bust” scenario. A cluster of organized thunderstorms will come out of the Midwest and head toward us during the evening.
If they hold together, severe weather will threaten during the evening. Damaging winds would be the biggest threat.
If they don’t, anything from rain showers to even dry weather will be likely.
In short, expect most of the daytime hours Thursday to be OK for outdoor plans. Just make sure to stay cool and hydrated in the heat and humidity.
By Friday, we’ll be back to our typical airmass thunderstorms, lasting throughout the weekend.
The highest coverage of storms will be inland and during the p.m. hours Friday. However, isolated showers will be around Friday morning.
If you can tolerate some risk for rain, you’ll be alright, but your driest times will be in the morning. Highs will go back into the 80s everywhere, with a humid feel.
Saturday and Sunday will be about the same. Expect a dry morning with afternoon and evening storms. Sunday will see slightly more places wet than Saturday. Pool or ocean time will be OK.
High temperatures will be in the upper 80s inland, with low 80s at the shore. It’ll be muggy, too.
Patchy fog with temperatures in the 70s is expected each night. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/wednesday-july-12-nj-weather-forecast/article_f743fb1e-2022-11ee-b6a5-1b7e022be54e.html | 2023-07-13T16:01:13 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weather/wednesday-july-12-nj-weather-forecast/article_f743fb1e-2022-11ee-b6a5-1b7e022be54e.html |
Offshore wind power opponents scheduled a waterfront protest starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, with plans for participants to gather on beaches throughout South Jersey.
Hundreds of people have expressed interest in the event on social media. Online details of the plans call for participants to line up on the beaches for about 10 minutes. Beach tags will be needed on beaches where they are required, and the organizers hope for participants on beaches the length of the state.
Some have posted plans to gather in Ocean City, Wildwood Crest, on Long Beach Island and on Atlantic County beaches.
“This is not just an Ocean City event. This is all New Jersey beaches and beyond,” said Adrienne Possenti, a Vineland resident who is helping organize the Ocean City gathering. But she said the Ocean City gathering is particularly urgent as the plans call for cables to pass under the city to bring offshore wind power to the grid.
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“If we can stop that, we stop the rest of the project,” Possenti said Wednesday.
Ocean City and Cape May County have resisted allowing those cables. Ocean Wind 1 has taken the local governments to court in hopes of forcing them to issue permits for the project to begin preparation work for the cables.
The organization Protect Our Coast has shared details of the protest plans. In Ocean City, plans are for participants to gather at the 14th Street beach before the start of the event. Possenti said that organization is supporting the Saturday event but is not sponsoring it.
Advance information includes a warning that access to beaches from 14th Street to 19th Street is restricted because of the endangered piping plover, which nests on the beach.
Ocean Wind 1, the entity owned by Danish energy company Ørsted that's building offshore wind farms along the Jersey Shore, is suing Cape May County officials for not following permitting requests and procedures ordered by state regulators.
“Save our ocean from industrialization,” reads a flyer about the event.
Plans for energy generating wind turbines off the coast have proven deeply controversial in New Jersey’s coastal communities, with several local governments stating opposition to them, and others raising concerns about the potential impact on tourism, wildlife and the region’s fishing industry.
Possenti indicated she is passionate about standing in the way of the plans.
“The public is generally uninformed of what is being done to us, and our ocean, and to the life within it,” she said. “This is a travesty being shoved down the throats of the New Jersey citizens.”
The Ocean Wind 1 project recently received federal approvals to begin work. The furthest along of the planned projects, it is expected to begin generating power in 2025, with 98 large turbines built on monopiles off the beach.
As proposed, the wind farm will generate enough electricity to power a half-million homes, part of a commitment from Gov. Phil Murphy to move the state’s power supply to renewable sources.
Murphy, and other supporters of the offshore projects, argue a move away from fossil fuels is vital, as carbon emissions continue to contribute to a warming planet. Some climate scientists say the past week was the hottest on Earth for as long as there are records, possibly in eons, although there is not a consensus on that claim.
But there is a global consensus that temperatures continue to rise, and that warming oceans will mean more flooding and more powerful storms hitting coastal communities.
With a wind power project proposed off the beach taking a big step forward this week, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian on Thursday criticized the approval process and called offshore energy production “a crazy gamble.”
Opponents of the plans, including Protect Our Coast and others, argue wind power is unreliable and more expensive for consumers than other sources of electricity.
The turbines are expected to be visible from the beach. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weekend-event-to-challenge-wind-farm-plans-up-and-down-shore/article_39939ed4-20cd-11ee-a87b-c740cda8269b.html | 2023-07-13T16:01:27 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/weekend-event-to-challenge-wind-farm-plans-up-and-down-shore/article_39939ed4-20cd-11ee-a87b-c740cda8269b.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — The ZAZA music festival, originally scheduled for this weekend at Bader Field, has been postponed due to performers’ scheduling conflicts, the festival announced Saturday via Instagram.
There is not yet a rescheduled date.
The pop-up festival, which was announced a month ago, was to feature rappers Latto and DaBaby, along with at least 20 other hip-hop artists. The lineup for the rescheduled festival is subject to change, according to the festival’s website.
According to a news release announcing the festival, the Atlantic City dates were to be the first in a series of live and streaming events by ZAZA across the globe. A portion of ticket sales were to support the World Education Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to educating young women in rural Africa.
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The festival “was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances regarding some of our epic headliners tour schedules which was beyond our control,” the website says. Ticket holders will be notified when a new date is finalized.
This is the second time this year a Bader Field music festival was canceled. The Bamboozle Festival was set to be held there May 5-7 but was shut down by the city after it did not receive proper permit applications and plans from festival organizers. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/zaza-music-festival-at-atlantic-citys-bader-field-postponed/article_7687280e-20ca-11ee-a076-27c29e4ad983.html | 2023-07-13T16:01:33 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/zaza-music-festival-at-atlantic-citys-bader-field-postponed/article_7687280e-20ca-11ee-a076-27c29e4ad983.html |
Police identify Maryville woman killed in Alcoa Highway crash
The Knoxville Police Department has identified Kimberly Mendes, 38, of Maryville, as the woman killed in a multivehicle crash on Alcoa Highway on July 12.
Officers responded to a serious crash in the northbound lanes of Alcoa Highway near Cherokee Trail, just south of the river, that was reported just before 7:30 a.m., according to a department spokesperson.
Based on the investigation at the scene, police say Mendes was driving a sedan south on Alcoa Highway and a southbound semi-truck was trying to merge to switch lanes when it struck the sedan, the spokesperson said in a press release. The sedan spun across the median and into the northbound lanes of Alcoa Highway, where it was struck by an SUV.
Mendes was pronounced dead at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, while the driver of the SUV was taken there for treatment for severe, nonlife-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported in the crash, the release said.
Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/police-identify-maryville-woman-killed-in-alcoa-highway-crash/70405314007/ | 2023-07-13T16:02:00 | 0 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/13/police-identify-maryville-woman-killed-in-alcoa-highway-crash/70405314007/ |
BREMEN, Ga. (WIAT) — Whenever the Powerball number grows, Bart says he and his brother drive across the state line from Birmingham, AL to Bremen, GA just to get their hands on a Powerball ticket.
“I come over here on a regular basis. It might be once a month,” said Bart. “Everybody wants to take out that opportunity to try to win, be a millionaire.”
Bart and his brother are just two of many Alabamians who drive to Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida to do so, but they’re hoping that will change.
“Long overdue. I feel like it would really benefit our state a whole lot,” said Bart. “If you take this kind of money for the education that’s set up now in our state in Alabama, it will help out a whole bunch of children put them in the right direction. You’re changing a generation if we get the lottery in Alabama.”
Alabama is one of five states that do not have a lottery.
Over the last few years, it’s been a topic of discussion among state lawmakers. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/750-million-dollar-powerball-lottery-draws-alabama-residents-to-cross-state-the-line/ | 2023-07-13T16:06:18 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/750-million-dollar-powerball-lottery-draws-alabama-residents-to-cross-state-the-line/ |
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — This week, hundreds of athletes with various disabilities are performing all across the Birmingham-Hoover metro area in The Hartford Nationals.
Conducted by Move United, the nationals are a major championship event for adaptive sports, and a priority for the city of Hoover. They began July 8 and will continue through this week.
Many of the individual competitions are taking place at venues in Hoover, such as the Finley Center, Spain Park High School and the Hoover Met.
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said that family, friends and other supporters of about 400 athletes are in town cheering them on while enjoying the city’s restaurants and hotels. He said the economic impact is projected to be right at about a million dollars.
Brocato also said he is honored their city was chosen for this event, saying inclusivity is a top priority in Hoover.
“To give folks that maybe don’t walk and talk like me or like you or have all the various functions that we enjoy, but to show that they can be a part of society,” Brocato said. “They are a part of our society- a very important part of our society.”
14-year-old Michael Sosa, a rising sophomore at Hoover High School, found a passion competing in archery, inspired by his time at Lakeshore Foundation.
He said competing on a national stage in his hometown is stressful, but an amazing opportunity to represent his team well and open doors for the future. His eyes are set on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
“Take the opportunity you have because if you say, ‘Oh, I’m not sure,’ you’re going to waste that opportunity,” Sosa said. “And you won’t have that chance for another while if you don’t take it while you have it. And you don’t know what kind of things are going to cross your path that you want to do. So, my best advice is take it, and if you don’t like it, don’t do it.”
Move United, a foundation for adaptive sports in the U.S., is working to break some of the barriers these athletes can face through their disability inclusion movement.
They said adaptive sports equipment is on average 15 times more expensive than traditional sports equipment, but having the right equipment is critical to an athlete’s success at competition.
Move United said more than 45,000 athletes have engaged with pieces of equipment they’ve donated over the years. This week, three athletes were surprised with their own custom-fit adaptive sports equipment, including a sports chair, a field chair and field equipment. One of the recipients was Hoover teen Jah’kyra Daniel.
Executive Director Glenn Merry said adaptive sports as a whole changes people’s life.
“It’s showing them that when you have a goal and a team that you’re working with, you can achieve anything you want, and that for us is the power of sports,” Merry said.
The event is free to the public and competition will continue through Friday of this week. The schedule can be found here. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/hoover-hosts-hartford-nationals-championship-for-adaptive-games/ | 2023-07-13T16:06:24 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/hoover-hosts-hartford-nationals-championship-for-adaptive-games/ |
Greater Brockton Big League baseball players stick together for the 'love of the game'
BROCKTON – Dre Burgess, Richie Stappen, Patrick Healy and Tim Murphy were considered underclassmen, of sorts, when their Tigers team won three Greater Brockton Big League baseball championships a few years ago.
Not only do they live different lives now, but the roster turned over and the once-enforced 18-plus age limit was relaxed. The foursome is still united, but as 16-year-old starting pitcher Anthony Gonclaves took command of the mound on this day, they looked around the Hutchinson Field diamond in Brockton as grizzled league veterans.
“I just love the sport," said Burgess, 24, now in his eighth season playing in the league, and first as team captain. "I’d play for free every day, even if it was MLB. That’s how much I love it.”
Burgess graduated from Brockton High in 2016, and although he played one season at Fisher College as a pitcher/first baseman hybrid, he did not play high school baseball. He walked into a tryout at Fisher as a 17-year-old freshman and made the team. "It was like a dream come true," he said. "Getting picked for that was an eye-opener."
Burgess began playing in the GBBL in 2016, shortly after graduating high school. Now, he and his father, Marty, a youth baseball coach for over 15 years, run the team together.
“I love it," Marty Burgess said. "I see a lot of kids that I’ve had since they were eight years old up here now. I know they’re not out on the streets doing stuff I don't want them to do. They’re playing here on the weekends. ... They’re all just here because they love the game. I think that’s special.”
“That’s all it is,” said Murphy, a Cardinal Spellman alum who recruited his younger brother, Brady, a catcher, to the team.
Stappen, a 22-year-old former Brockton High student in his sixth GBBL season, pitched the final stretch of the Tigers' game last Saturday. He is just weeks away from joining the Navy.
Healy, 27, is a 2014 Brockton High graduate. He played baseball for the Boxers under former coach Bill Maloney and is now in his 12th GBBL season at shortstop for the Tigers.
“It’s a family," Murphy said. "You become close. You’re friends with everybody and you know how each other play.”
What is the GBBL?
The Greater Brockton Big League, according to its Facebook page, was founded in 2005.
It shrank from five teams to four this summer -- Burgess' Tigers, the SeaDogs (last year's champ), the Wizards and the Spinners -- due to roster sizes and turnout.
The teams play on the weekends at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Hutchinson Park, a field located off Rodney Street in Brockton, and occasionally at Edgar's Field off Dover Street.
Join the fun
Marty and Dre Burgess agree that expansion is high on the league's list of ideas going forward. Maybe, just maybe, they could entice other men's league teams from neighboring communities to enter the fold. More teams, more competition, more opportunity.
“We just want to be seen," Dre Burgess said. "That’s our main goal, to expand and travel to other cities. Maybe play at Campanelli Stadium, where the Rox play. I’d love to play there. I’ve never gotten to play there.”
"It would bring more competition. It brings players that want to play more because you're going to different places," Marty Burgess said. "Every time you change up and go to another field, it's fun. You're out there having fun." | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/sports/local/2023/07/13/gbbl-baseball-players-stay-together-for-the-love-of-the-game/70394858007/ | 2023-07-13T16:10:02 | 0 | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/sports/local/2023/07/13/gbbl-baseball-players-stay-together-for-the-love-of-the-game/70394858007/ |
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — After years of practice and competing in local competitions, 89-year-old Willow Valley Communities resident Rachel Williams is going for the table tennis gold and the national title at the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, proving age is just a number.
“I wanted to do something that was different,” Williams said
Williams began playing table tennis in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She purchased a ping pong ball shooting robot to help her improve her aim and coordination. She says the game was too fast-paced for her at first, however, she was determined to improve.
“Who’s telling me I can’t do it, so I changed the conversation,” Williams said.
Williams spent hours practicing and gradually learned the ins and outs of the game. She later began playing against other residents in the community.
In 2021, she competed in Lancaster County’s Senior Games and placed second. In 2022, Williams returned and placed first. These local victories qualified her to participate at the national level.
“It’s one of those things I’ve been picturing in my mind is how to play the game as graciously as I could and as well as I could,” Williams said.
Williams hopes she can bring home the gold but says she’s leaving for Pittsburgh to have fun and enjoy the comradery of the games.
“That would really be the epitome of excitement,” she told FOX43 News.
However, table tennis isn’t the only activity Williams has picked up. She enjoys tap-dancing and outdoor activities that get her moving. She adheres to an exercise schedule that has helped her maintain an active lifestyle even in her senior years.
Staff at Willow Valley hope a win could inspire other residents to take on something new.
"She would come back and be that perfect example of what ‘live your life forward’ is like at Willow Valley,” said Stacy Musser, senior director for resident life and Wellness Valley.
Williams is expected to compete at the games on Monday, July 15. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/retirement-senior-competition-athlete-table-tennis-national/521-c77a2d56-6cc0-4e39-b284-6874d5da0c76 | 2023-07-13T16:15:55 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/retirement-senior-competition-athlete-table-tennis-national/521-c77a2d56-6cc0-4e39-b284-6874d5da0c76 |
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