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INDIANAPOLIS — Bradley Paulson has set up a lemonade stand every summer since he was a kid.
"It tastes great. It tastes good and it's refreshing for the summer," said Bradley, now 26.
His love for selling sweet drinks started early when he used to do it with his grandfather.
"He's my best friend," said Brad.
The going price for an ice-cold cup is anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar. Just enough to give him a little spending money and independence.
Bradley is on the autism spectrum and cannot work a regular 9-to-5 job.
"It's great to be his mom. I've been able to learn a lot from him. He's been able to achieve a lot as an adult. so far," said Brad's mother, Jenny.
Most summers he would make $5 to $20 here and there.
This summer, it's been a little slow, so his sister, Alexis, hoping to get him a few new customers, made a post on a local foodie Facebook page asking followers to consider stopping by Bradley's stand.
What she didn't expect was the overwhelming response.
Followers who couldn't stop by sent him more than $300 to support his efforts.
"To see the love that he got, the positivity and support, and how it made him feel so much better, he loved that. And I loved that for him," said Alexis.
This stand is about more than just lemonade. "It helps him work on his communication skills and his social skills and being a part of our community," Jenny said.
Brad plans to put the money back into the stand and expand his offerings. Just recently, he also used some of his earnings to donate food to the Southside Animal Shelter.
"As people do things for you, then we want to help our community and give back," said Jenny.
The family said this whole experience has given them hope.
"After Wednesday, it gives me a lot more relief that people are kind and people are a lot more caring," said Jenny.
"Thank you so much for coming to support me," said Brad. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/support-lemonade-stand-man-with-autism-give-back-community/531-d60ceda5-7e5a-40e3-aef4-b4139dfe4ef8 | 2022-07-03T13:24:26 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/support-lemonade-stand-man-with-autism-give-back-community/531-d60ceda5-7e5a-40e3-aef4-b4139dfe4ef8 |
REINBECK --- One person was injured when a van allegedly rear-ended a bus on Saturday.
Both the van and the bus were being used by an agricultural company, according to the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office.
Both vehicles were traveling north on Hicks Road east of Reinbeck when the crash happened at about 12:50 p.m. at the intersection with Reinbeck Road.
The van driver, Suzanne Bennett, was taken to MeryOne Waterloo Medical Center for treatment. No school bus occupants or van passengers reported injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Sheriff's Office was assisted by Hudson Police Department and Reinbeck Fire Department. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/one-injured-in-bus-van-crash/article_980d4ffa-6c66-5ce8-a781-d5ac83620ea4.html | 2022-07-03T13:37:48 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/one-injured-in-bus-van-crash/article_980d4ffa-6c66-5ce8-a781-d5ac83620ea4.html |
RAYMOND --- A motorcyclist was injured in a single-vehicle crash on Saturday.
According to the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, 35-year-old Dempsy Birchard of Westgate lost control of his Harley Davidson at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Raymond Road around 10:54 a.m.
Medics with Evansdale Fire Rescue took him to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital, and deputies said his injuries don’t appear to be life threatening.
Crews from the Raymond Fire Department assisted with the call. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/one-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-in-raymond/article_423c8094-2cc2-5833-9fa2-559c2cf798f0.html | 2022-07-03T13:37:54 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/one-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-in-raymond/article_423c8094-2cc2-5833-9fa2-559c2cf798f0.html |
WOODBINE — Inside the now-idle sorting facility of the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, a dense mound of cardboard, glass, cans and multiple kinds of plastic stands in the corner, piled high with a front end loader.
It represents one truckload of recycling collected at curbsides that day, and several more truckloads were on their way. Each ton of recycling collected is one less ton to be buried in the nearby landfill, a towering hill that is the highest point in the county.
Not long ago, each of those materials would be parsed out into different categories at the multimillion-dollar recycling center, some by hand, others by specialized machinery. This year, that takes place about 40 miles away, under a contract with Omni Recycling LLC. Now, that company will separate the plastics, paper, metal and glass and market them for a potential new life as new products.
Both Cape May and Atlantic counties contract out for the sorting and marketing of single-stream recycling, at least for now.
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Once, not long ago, most recycling in the United States was loaded onto ships bound for China and other nations, where some was turned into new products and more was either landfilled or burned. Starting several years ago, China began to get more particular about what it would accept, eventually all but closing the door to America’s recycling. There were too many contaminants, too much material that could not be recycled and would have to be landfilled, now thousands of miles from where the product was used. Other countries did the same, a big change in the math of recycling.
Some skepticism
VINELAND — The city and the Atlantic County Utilities Authority have reached a new 17-month …
In North Wildwood, Mayor Pat Rosenello describes himself as a die-hard environmentalist. But he is becoming a recycling skeptic.
“From what I understand, the entire recycling system has been artificial. We would dutifully recycle our stuff, the ships would be sent to China, where 90% of it would end up in a landfill. So we weren’t really recycling,” he said in a recent interview. “The whole house of cards has collapsed.”
Towns in Cape May County do not pay the county Municipal Utilities Authority for recycling. But the process does require an entire second collection. That can be an expensive proposition, Rosenello said, suggesting it may not be worthwhile if the material ends up in the same landfill anyway.
It does not, according to John Conturo, the solid waste program manager for the MUA. Or at least most of it does not.
“The only things that typically get landfilled are contaminated or non-recycling materials,” Conturo said. “Those get pulled out and they go in the landfill.”
Those who work in municipal recycling often seem to relish the horror stories of what people try to recycle, things such as bowling balls, garden hoses and car parts. Some items could be used for scrap metal, but the curbside recycling program is not equipped to deal with it.
“The worst are dirty diapers,” Conturo said. “On the package at the store, there’s a recycling symbol, so people think they can recycle them. But that’s just for the cardboard box, not for the diapers inside.”
Cape May County has been recycling for decades, separating paper from other materials. About 10 years ago, and after millions of dollars spent upgrading the recycling system, the county went to what’s called single stream recycling. That means everything that can be recycled would be put in a single container, taken away from your alley or curb in a single truck, and then separated out again at the county facility.
Last year, the contract with Republic Services expired. That was the company that operated the recycling center. This year, the MUA has a $2.275 million contract with Omni Recycling to do that job. Next year, Conturo said, the local recycling center may reopen. The authority is carefully looking at options. But he said the center would need a major upgrade to keep up with the constantly changing types of packaging material.
“It all comes down to the cost, what’s better for the Municipal Utilities Authority and for the ratepayers of Cape May County,” Conturo said.
Paying for used boxes
The soaring cost of fuel for garbage trucks is a burden on the companies and public departme…
Cape May County’s recycling program used to make money. In 2010, a ton of recyclable cardboard could fetch about $285. A few years ago, the number was closer to $25, and that is the material in most demand. Industry reports say the values are climbing back, however, with a 200% climb in 2019.
“It goes up and down week to week,” said Richard Dovey, president of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority. “In the last two years, it’s gone up.”
Aluminum is the simplest to recycle. Melt down an aluminum can, and you can make most of a new aluminum can.
Right now, both Dovey and Conturo said the plastic that makes up most 1-gallon milk jugs is increasingly valuable. They are not typically used to make new food containers, but rather become building materials, fabrics or part of carpets. Automobiles increasingly use recycled materials for interiors.
Paper and cardboard have a steady market.
Since China closed its doors, more plants have opened in the United States.
“There are more mills now than there were four years ago,” Dovey said. All of this is impacted by the overall economy and other factors. For instance, because most plastic is made from petroleum, rising costs of oil will also translate to a rising cost of plastic in the recycling stream.
Glass, on the other hand, usually ends up getting ground for fill.
“Glass is not marketable in an economic way,” Dovey said. Glass is easy to make into new glass, but in the single stream process, most bottles get broken. Even then, if all the clear glass was broken together, while the green or brown beer bottles were on their own, there might be more companies willing to take the material. But while there were once multiple glass factories in South Jersey, there are now just a few specialty glassmakers, and glass is heavy to ship, making it even less economically viable.
Like plastic, glass doesn’t readily decompose. But unlike plastic, it is inert.
“It’s really just sand that’s been made into something else,” Dovey said.
The market can also influence what can be accepted. For a while, Atlantic County stopped accepting containers made from polypropylene, which have a number 5. That includes most yogurt containers.
They would still arrive at the center.
“We try to be pretty adamant: Don’t put in what we’re not asking for. We’re not really asking you to take a vote that this should be recyclable,” Dovey said.
Authorities in both counties try to educate the public on what can be accepted. But as Conturo pointed out, visitors come into local communities from areas with a wide range or rules on recycling. Plus, he said, a lot of people will include items they just hope can be recycled.
Manufacturers also change their packaging regularly, and various trends have an effect. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Conturo said, the MUA took in far more cardboard as more people relied on online delivery services.
Atlantic County is back to accepting plastic with the numbers 1, 2 and 5 printed inside the recycling arrows. Both counties keep updated lists online of what can and cannot go in the blue bins.
Changes and more changes
The Atlantic County Utilities Authority is soliciting bids for the hauling and disposal of s…
As in Cape May County, Republic Services used to operate the recycling center for Atlantic County. The ACUA now has a $4.6 million annual contract with Mazza Recycling Services in Tinton Falls, Monmouth County.
Dovey said the contract allows the ACUA to get a refund based on the materials that can be resold and used as raw material. He said that’s meant about a million dollars a year coming back to the authority.
On Thursday, James Rocco, solid waste engineer with the Cape May County MUA, drove around the base of the landfill, in the midst of deep forest a few miles outside Woodbine. He paused as a deer ran off the hill across the road.
He pointed out the mulching system, where brush, trees and wooden pallets get turned into mulch to be sold for gardeners.
The MUA taps the landfill to capture methane, which is then used for power.
According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the total amount of municipal solid waste generated nationally in 2018 was 292.4 million tons, or 4.9 pounds per person per day. Of that, almost 69 million tons were recycled, and another 25 million tons composted.
Rocco expressed optimism on the future of recycling. He said consumers want to see it happen, and will support products that support recycling. More and more, he said, manufacturers are looking for ways to incorporate post-consumer recycling into new products, or considering recyclability in designing packaging.
“The worst are dirty diapers. On the package at the store, there’s a recycling symbol, so people think they can recycle them. But that’s just for the cardboard box, not for the diapers inside.”
John Conturo
Sold waste program manager for the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/after-a-crash-recycling-market-sees-improvement/article_bd0553d6-f98a-11ec-9d28-7f844cc3410a.html | 2022-07-03T13:38:06 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/after-a-crash-recycling-market-sees-improvement/article_bd0553d6-f98a-11ec-9d28-7f844cc3410a.html |
Don’t be fooled by the name: There is nothing small about the Little Gardens Club tour, or the nine gardens featured in this year's 23rd installment.
They are packed with varying hues and colors, textures and styles. They are also a journey through other gardeners’ evolutions in their own corner of the world. On July 10, they will welcome visitors.
The booklet/ticket for the tour gives participants an easy-to-follow route to travel to all the gardens. The first stop is the Linwood Arboretum, an absolute gem that even The New York Times has praised. Inspired by the late Dr. Allen Lacy, the arboretum is a stroll through beautiful camellias, magnolias, dogwoods, salvias and hydrangea along with other plants that are native to New Jersey and some exotic. Think the Pinelands are just trees? Here you will learn about pitcher plants, sundews and other plants that are included in a raised bed behind the red shed.
Just down the road is the second stop. Tanna and Dick Williams built their home in the 1970s with a few azaleas and rhododendron added to the few trees on the property. In the years that followed, they have had many successes along with a few failures to create a garden that has something beautiful to enjoy through every season, like crepe myrtle, hosta, hydrangea and roses.
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Sisters Jessica Dziegrenuk and Daphne Wood had a vision for their early 1960s home when they began the arduous task of returning it to its original prominence. Over the past decade, they have stripped away vines and neglect and, in its place, made a home for multitudes of beds including native along with unique perennials incorporated with beautiful annuals for splashes of continuous color. Taking inspiration from their mother and aunt, the sisters have transformed the East Revere Avenue property into a paradise that includes breathtaking views of the meadows.
Nokko and Katsu Sumioka moved into their Northfield home 28 years ago with the challenge of finding a way to allow the light in. They have accomplished that and much more, creating a lovely red-and-yellow color scheme along the way. They have enjoyed creating their special space and welcoming visitors.
After watching the sport on TV two decades ago, Danny Philippi joined The Arc of Atlantic Co…
The next stop on the tour is the home of Pat and Jon Bitzer. They moved into their circa 1932 beach bungalow 10 years ago. The property was overgrown and lacked sunlight for gardening. They have spent a decade creating a wonderful garden with a retaining wall, grand entrance, raised beds, many ornamental plantings and a hobby greenhouse. At 11 a.m., a talk on growing vegetables will take place at their home.
For 20 years, Mark and Kim Mazak have found themselves making adjustments and changes to their one-third-of-an-acre property. The vision was to incorporate nature and make it a true home indoors as well as out. Now, the landscape provides a habitat for birds to nest, butterflies to flutter and creatures to visit each season. Hardscaping provides a wonderful gathering place, and the couple hope visitors will leave inspired to do something in their own space.
The next garden was once the winner of an MSNBC backyard garden contest. The couple have created an outdoor sanctuary with a welcoming arch and dense greenery to give the feel of entering a small paradise. Soft grasses, perennials and climbing vines surround the pool area. They also incorporated an 8,000-gallon koi pond that is home to more than 40 fish. It is their pride and joy.
The next home will make you want to stay and take in the beauty and tranquility around you. Sitting on the Great Egg Harbor River, the home offers not only a beautiful garden and magnificent sunsets but a property that is steeped in history. Scattered about the property are chainsaw carvings by the late Jeff Wood, memorabilia from the former Adventure Village in Egg Harbor Township and a piece of the original Miry Run bog iron bridge built in 1914.
The final stop on the tour will take visitors to Mays Landing, where Tony and Maryann Catalano have lived for more than 30 years. Maryann loves to garden, and Tony loves to make her happy. There are arbors, ponds for frogs, meandering paths around the garden and a variety of interesting birdhouses. Look for color from the zinnia, cone flowers, coleus and more.
The tour will take you from Linwood to Mays Landing with stops in Northfield, Somers Point and Egg Harbor Township in between. Each year, the garden tour reminds seasoned and aspiring gardeners that there are so many amazing and creative ideas to share that will make you want to dabble in your backyard.
Proceeds from the tour benefit civic and environmental projects including Smallwood Gardens in Port Republic, the Child Federation in Pleasantville, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Cookie Till: A Work in Progress Foundation, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission Garden in Goshen, Linwood Arboretum educational outreach and the Community FoodBank garden in Egg Harbor Township. Tickets are $15 and are available at Joe’s Garden Center in Absecon, Lang’s Garden Market in Linwood, Bob’s Garden Center in Egg Harbor Township and Homestead Nursery in Egg Harbor City. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/little-gardens-have-big-surprises-in-store/article_8ac837fa-f6e5-11ec-a04f-53b8199de076.html | 2022-07-03T13:38:12 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/little-gardens-have-big-surprises-in-store/article_8ac837fa-f6e5-11ec-a04f-53b8199de076.html |
A man was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife inside of a home in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia Saturday night, police said.
The 56-year-old man was stabbed once in the chest while visiting with friends on the 400 block of Seville Street shortly before 8 p.m., officers said.
According to Philadelphia Police Inspector D. F. Pace, a neighbor on the block had invited three friends over. At some point, one the guests, a 52-year-old man, stabbed the 56-year-old with a large kitchen knife.
Police and medics attempted life-saving measures, however, the victim was pronounced dead in the home, Pace said.
Witnesses told police they don't understand why the violence broke out.
"We do not have a motive," Pace told NBC10 at the scene. "There was no argument. Just appeared there were four friends over, spending a Saturday night together, when one of them decided to stab another with a knife, killing him on location."
Police said when they arrived the suspect was over victim's body, trying to talk to him.
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The witnesses identified the 52-year-old man as the suspect and he was taken into custody, Pace said.
Entering Sunday, there were at least 257 homicides in Philadelphia this year, down 8% from the same time last year which was ultimately the deadliest in the city on record.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/56-year-old-man-fatally-stabbed-visiting-friends-in-roxborough-home/3289139/ | 2022-07-03T13:40:01 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/56-year-old-man-fatally-stabbed-visiting-friends-in-roxborough-home/3289139/ |
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has chosen a family foundation as the recipient of an award for its commitment to investing in the city and it's youth.
Kenney choose the Neubauer Family Foundation as its 2022 Mayor's Magis Award recipient.
The foundation run by Joseph and Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer will be awarded at the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony on the morning of July 4th at Independence Hall in Old City. You can watch that ceremony live on NBC10.com and the NBC10 app at 10 a.m. or on NBC10 later in the day at 6 p.m.
The Neubauer Family Foundation supports initiatives in education, the arts and Jewish culture.
The foundation focuses a lot on education, in 2015 they founded the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders. The organization provides professional development programs to enhance leadership in Philadelphia's public, charter and parochial schools.
“Education is the surest path to economic security, and economic security enables social progress," Joseph Neubauer said in a news release.
The mayor's office said schools impacted by the foundation have seen higher retention rates, higher student attendance rates and improved student performance.
The Magis Award was created by Kenney in 2016 to honor people or organizations that "does and achieves more, serving the greater good in the City of Philadelphia."
The Celebration of Freedom event will also feature the awarding of the Wawa Foundation Hero award to a local nonprofit organization and the Celebration of Freedom Award presented by Freedom Mortgage.
The event will broadcast on NBC10 and Telemundo62 at 6 p.m. followed by the Wawa Welcome America evening concert live from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Sign up for our Wawa Welcome America newsletter to get the latest on all the events. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/neubauer-family-foundation-to-receive-philly-mayors-magis-award/3288286/ | 2022-07-03T13:40:07 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/neubauer-family-foundation-to-receive-philly-mayors-magis-award/3288286/ |
Jon Langford is a Chicago-based musician — by way of his native Wales — who has built a reputation for no holds barred live shows.
He and the rest of the Waco Brothers are performing here at Public Craft Brewing Co. Wednesday night.
So, expect some post-July Fourth fireworks.
When asked how a nice boy from Wales doing in Chicago, Langford fires back: “Who told you I’m nice?”
More seriously, he explained that he moved to our southern neighbor “in the ‘90s ‘cause that’s which way the wind was blowing. Chicago has been a great town to play music, make art and raise a family. I miss Wales though — the hills and the beer!”
Langford is often described as “one of the leaders in incorporating folk and country music into punk rock.”
Turns out, meeting Johnny Cash was part of the inspiration for this mashup of punk rock and country.
“By the mid-’80s, punk was dead on its feet in the UK,” he said, “and we were just looking into all the other forms of music that gave us pleasure.
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“I got to meet Johnny Cash a few times, and I was hooked. Country music is a great storytelling device, I think — a great connector.”
While his live shows are known for purposely going off the rails, Langford jokes that “we try to stay on the rails, but we go so fast it’s hard to see where they are at times.”
Like so many performers who had to stay off the road — and out of clubs — during the early days of the COVIS-19 pandemic, that forced isolation gave Langford a better appreciation for live shows.
“I love the whole thing,” he said. “I realized during the pandemic that the bit I missed most was hanging around afterward with my bandmates talking rubbish and having a beer.”
(Asked about the worst part of performing live, Langford is quick with a pragmatic response: “Definitely packing the drums up. That’s why I play guitar.”)
Now that venues have opened up again for live shows, Langford’s performance schedule “got very hectic very quick. Just as we’d got used to everything being canceled, things started happening and now we are constantly chasing our tails to catch up.”
The band’s 2022 schedule includes “loads of brilliant gigs: The Outlaw Country Cruise, South By Southwest (SXSW), Opening Day in Wrigleyville, lakeside festivals in Wisconsin. It’s great to be back.”
Langford is known for “being very funny and politically left,” and when asked if local audience should expect some mention of recent political and social happenings — and about the reaction from audience members to any mention of politics — Langford leans on his Welsh heritage.
“We cloak it all in humorous doublespeak and talk with thick Welsh accents so it’s hard for them to know what we are on about,” he joked, adding, “Actually, we have a conversation with the audience and don’t shy away from tricky topics. So, yes, America’s current retreat into the Dark Ages may pop up on the agenda.”
Politics aside, the band has a new album coming out next week: “The Men That God Forgot.”
“It’s our first new material in five years,” he said, featuring “loads of bangers.”
Looking ahead to his Wednesday night gig here in Kenosha, Langford said the crowd can expect “a jolly good night out and ringing ears. Our violinist, Jean, may even tell some jokes.” | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/jon-langford-brings-his-waco-brothers-band-to-kenosha/article_66953d94-f657-11ec-b1a0-272d22ab142b.html | 2022-07-03T13:46:31 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/jon-langford-brings-his-waco-brothers-band-to-kenosha/article_66953d94-f657-11ec-b1a0-272d22ab142b.html |
It’s a day filled with Fourth of July fun:
The annual Firecracker 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk starts this morning in Library Park, 60th Street and Eighth Avenue. The 10K run and the 5K run/walk will both start at 8:30 a.m. There is also a 1-mile Fun Run. For more details, go to kenoshaymca.org.
An Outdoor Mass is 10 a.m. on the band shell in Pennoyer Park, at 35th Street and Seventh Avenue. Music starts at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Bench seating is available; visitors may also bring lawn chairs.
The Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade steps off at 1 p.m. The parade follows a new route, starting from Washington Road and Seventh Avenue. The parade travels south on Seventh Avenue, then Sixth Avenue through the heart of downtown, ending at Library Park. This year’s theme is “America the Beautiful.” For more parade information, visit www.kenosha.org
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The Paddock Lake bike parade sets up at 9:30, rolling at 10 a.m. The parade route starts at McAlonan Park, on 248th Avenue between 72nd and 73rd streets. It proceeds north on 248th Avenue to 61st Street, east to 236th Avenue, and south to the Village Hall. After the parade, there will be hot dogs, chips and lemonade for parade participants at the park adjacent to the Village Hall.
The Paddock Lake Boat Parade is 7 p.m. on the lake, with fireworks blasting off at 9:30 p.m.
In Downtown Kenosha, “Celebrate America” activities along the harbor are 3 to 10 p.m. today. Live music, the Dock Dogs Diving contest and vendors are north of 54th Street between Sixth Avenue and Second Avenue, with more music and vendors in Veterans Memorial Park, 625 52nd St. Admission is free and open to the public. Food and beverages are available for purchase.
The Dock Dogs Diving contest is in a large pool set up next to the harbor, on 54th Street, east of Sixth Avenue. On-site registration and practice begins at 3 p.m. today, with performances beginning an hour later each day. Big Air Finals start at 7 p.m. on July 4. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-sunday-july-3/article_9134236e-f998-11ec-8a40-dbca98fff65c.html | 2022-07-03T13:46:37 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-sunday-july-3/article_9134236e-f998-11ec-8a40-dbca98fff65c.html |
Are you ready to cheer on floats, marching bands, local pageant queens — and a city bus?
If you answered yes, you’re all set for today’s Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade.
The biggest news about this year’s parade? The bands are back!
While the 2021 parade had a few bands — the Kenosha Pops Concert Band and the Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin marching band — this year, the local KUSD summer marching bands are back in action.
The most exciting news, however, involves a band from south of the border.
“We got the Navy Band Great Lakes,” said parade organizer Kris Kochman. “They are difficult to get because they are in such high demand, and they like to spread the joy. This will be the band’s first visit to our parade in about six years.”
Downtown route
Another huge change in 2021 was a new parade route — which will be used again today.
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Instead of starting on 22nd Avenue and 60th Street in Uptown, the parade now steps off from Washington Road and Seventh Avenue.
The parade route takes Seventh Avenue south into the Downtown area, heading toward Library Park.
“We like having the parade go through the heart of Downtown,” Kochman said.
Her advice: Don’t watch the parade from Library Park — the parade ends there, on the west side of the park — if you enjoy hearing bands play. “People might be disappointed if they’re sitting there,” Kochman explained. “It’s at the end of the parade, and the groups are getting ready to disband there.”
Two city parks are along the route — Union Park, 4500 Seventh Ave., and Veterans Memorial Park, 625 52nd St. — offering great viewing options. Also, the parade will only take up the southbound lane of Seventh Avenue, so parade watchers can set up chairs and blankets on the avenue’s median, too.
“There are a lot of good spots for watching the parade,” Kochman said. “People gather in the parks and at the harbor and in Downtown.”
Candy!
Parade participants are allowed to hand out — but not toss — candy to spectators along the parade route.
The City Council approved this change to a city ordinance in 2021, Kochman said.
“People have asked about this for years,” she said, “and other parades hand out candy.”
Bikes!
The community bike parade is back for more fun on two wheels.
All ages are welcome to participate, but you must be able to ride two miles without stopping.
To join the fun, simply show up by 12:30 p.m. Sunday (on a bicycle) at Washington Road and Seventh Avenue. Note: No walking/jogging is allowed in the bike parade.
“The nice thing is, people can decide at the last minute to participate,” Kochman said. “There’s no signup required; you just show up on Sunday.”
Parade highlights
Pre-parade group: VFW Post 1865 riders, the Community Bike Parade, American Legion Post 21 Color Guard and those fire and police department vehicles. Also in the “pre-parade” — which is actually the start of the parade — are classic cars from local car clubs and the Kenosha History Center.
First Division: The Navy Band Great Lakes leads this division, followed by our own Navy Club Ship 40’s float. You’re in the Navy now! There are plenty of local politicians in this division, too, along with a Snap-on float and the Kenosha Kingfish. KUSD’s Band of the Blackwatch marching band wraps up the First Division.
Second Division: You can sing along with The Greasers on their float, clap for KUSD’s Rambler Band, cheer with the Bullen Middle School Cheerleading Team and wonder how the heck those Jesse White Tumbling Team members fly into the air. Seriously, have you seen their stunts? Amazing.
Third Division: This is the division you want to watch for. I’m not just saying that because this is where you’ll find me in the parade, riding with the rest of the Kenosha Pops Concert Band and playing polkas and marches (though that is a good reason). This is also the division featuring the Indian Trail High School Cheerleading Team’s float, Miss Kenosha Jenna Zeihen and the Carthage College Firebirds.
Fourth Division: The Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin marching band returns to Kenosha to lead off this division. Also here: Kenosha County Fairest of the Fair Royalty Katelyn Hannah and Shannon Diedrich, Dr. Destruction and something called “Slingshots of Kenosha.”
Fifth Division: Two bands are in this final division: the River City Rhythm drum and bugle corps from Anoka, Minn., and the Route 66 Belle City Band. The Festival Foods Big Cart is also here, along with water-based entries from the Kenosha Community Sailing Center and the Kenosha Yacht Club. And bringing up the rear: a city bus!
Don’t rain on our parade
Of course, the most important thing on any parade day is the weather.
Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies, a high of 81 degrees and a scant 11% chance of rain. Translation: Perfect parade conditions.
As the city’s community relations liaison person, Kochman has worked on the parade since 2011, and she’s learned to be zen about forecasts.
“I never worry about rain,” Kochman said, “because there’s nothing we can do about the weather. We’ve cut it close a few times and got drenched in 2019, but the parade still continued that year. People were still watching, too; they probably figured ‘we’re wet anyway, so we may as well stay.’
“I’m hoping for perfect parade weather,” she added. “Moderate temperatures and no rain.”
IN PHOTOS: See expanded photos from the 2021 Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade
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Have a comment? Email Liz at esnyder@kenoshanews.com or call her at 262-656-6271. And have a happy and safe Fourth of July Weekend. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-kenosha-civic-veterans-parade-steps-off-today-at-1-p-m/article_e38fff6a-f8a9-11ec-ba44-b72a778c7043.html | 2022-07-03T13:46:44 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-kenosha-civic-veterans-parade-steps-off-today-at-1-p-m/article_e38fff6a-f8a9-11ec-ba44-b72a778c7043.html |
The Kenosha Pops Concert Band has loaded up its July 4 and 6 programs with patriotic favorites.
“We will do our ‘Yankee Doodlest’ to keep everyone entertained,” said Craig Gall, the band’s conductor. “This concert is a real slice of Americana — with marches, American folk melodies and songs reaching all the way back to the Revolutionary War.”
The Pops is performing starting at 4 p.m. Monday on the band shell and at its regular time — 7 p.m. — on Wednesday.
In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, we offer a patriotic quiz, with the answers provided by the pieces on the programs:
1) What is our state march?
A: “On Wisconsin” by W.T. Purdy. (And not the “Budweiser” song, despite what you may have heard at UW-Madison football games.) The state made it official in 1959.
2) The Marine Corps’ motto, “semper fidelis,” is also the title of a John Philip Sousa march. But that is not the official march of the Marine Corps. What is?
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A: “U.S. Marines on Parade” by Albert Mancini.
3) What are the official marches of the other branches of the armed services?
A: “U.S. Field Artillery March” (Army), “Anchor’s Aweigh” (Navy), “Army Air Corps March” (Air Force) and “Semper Paratus” (Coast Guard). Those marches will be performed July 4 during the concert’s traditional grand finale. The marches will also be played on July 6, but not all together.
4) Which beloved Sousa march is the national march of the United States?
A: “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is the official national march of the U.S., through an act of Congress.
5) What song contains the lyric “mine eyes have seen the glory”?
A: “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Greg Berg, the band’s master of ceremonies, will sing the song with the Pops.
6) Who was Israel Beilin?
A: That’s the real name of Irving Berlin, who came to the U.S. from Russia at age 5 and who wrote an estimated 1,500 songs during his 60-year career. The Pops Band is playing “Irving Berlin’s Songs for America,” a medley of some of those songs, including “The Is the Army, Mister Jones” and “God Bless America.”
7) Who was Clare Grundman?
A: Grundman was an American composer and arranger and is a Pops Band favorite. Tonight’s program features two Grundman pieces — “American Folk Rhapsody No. 3,” a medley that features traditional songs including “Colorado Trail,” “Git Along, Little Dogies,” “Careless Love” and “Turkey in the Straw,” and Grundman’s “The Spirit of ’76,” featuring songs from the Revolutionary War era, including “Washington’s March at Trenton,” “Yankee Doodle,” “Norah, Dear Norah” and “Chester.” Grundman “really knew how to make a band sound good,” Gall said.
8) Which Sousa march was used as theme song for the British TV comedy series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”?
“The Liberty Bell.” Rumor has it the comedy troupe chose that song because the copyright had expired, and they wouldn’t have to pay to use it. Very cheeky!
9) What Civil War battle was fought July 1 to 3, 1863?
The battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Kathy Ripley, the band’s assistant conductor, is directing the band on “Gettysburg” by Randy Edelman. The music was written for the 1993 movie about the epic battle.
10) What Samuel Augustus Ward hymn was combined with a poem by Katharine Lee Bates and has become a beloved patriotic tune?
“America the Beautiful.” The Pops Band is playing Carmen Dragon’s arrangement of the piece, with vocals by Berg.
Bonus question: Who wrote music for the epic TV series “Victory at Sea”?
Richard Rodgers composed the music for the 26-part, 13-hour TV series about the U.S. Navy’s battles during World War II. The series first aired on NBC in 1952. The Pops Band is playing “Guadalcanal March,” which was part of the “Victory at Sea” music. “It doesn’t get much better than this. This was a huge TV project, and Rodgers wrote the music for it,” Gall said.
Both concerts will also feature other tunes, including “American Patrol” by F. W. Meachem, James D. Ployhar’s arrangement of the traditional folk melody “Shenandoah” and the “National Emblem” and “32nd Division” marches. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-kenosha-pops-band-playing-patriotic-programs/article_2456ef84-f8bb-11ec-8f21-1f43d3712e5e.html | 2022-07-03T13:46:50 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-kenosha-pops-band-playing-patriotic-programs/article_2456ef84-f8bb-11ec-8f21-1f43d3712e5e.html |
In honor of Independence Day, The Times is providing unlimited access to all of our content from June 28th-July 4th!
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A prominent Indiana attorney for conservative causes, including the National Right to Life Committee, has prepared what he describes as a model law for states to enact if they want to ban nearly all abortions.
Attorney Jim Bopp, of Terre Haute, said his proposal offers "the best opportunity to protect the unborn" following last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling rescinding the constitutional right to abortion established by the high court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
"It is important that such states not only prohibit illegal abortions, but also employ a robust enforcement regime, so that these laws are sure to be enforced," Bopp said. "Our model law does just that. It builds on the substantial experience the right-to-life movement has had in developing pro-life legislation."
Leaders of the Republican-controlled General Assembly so far have been mum following the Supreme Court ruling on exactly how far the House and Senate plan to go toward eliminating the approximately 7,000 abortions performed each year in Indiana, and whether any abortion ban will include exceptions for rape, incest or the life or health of the mother.
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has called the Legislature into special session July 6 to tackle abortion and other state issues. But legislative leaders last week postponed the session's start until July 25 to have more time to develop preliminary abortion legislation.
If history is any guide, the GOP abortion measure ultimately filed at the Statehouse is likely to look like Bopp's proposal, since Bopp repeatedly has guided Hoosier lawmakers in developing and defending abortion, immigration, campaign finance and anti-LGBTQ policies.
Bopp's abortion plan would ban all abortion, including in cases of rape and incest. The only permissible abortion would be to prevent the immediate death of a pregnant woman, where delay would create serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions.
A doctor or another person who successfully performs an abortion would be subject to prosecution for a level 2 felony, punishable by 10-30 years in prison.
The perpetrator of an incomplete abortion that results in the birth of a live child could be charged with a level 3 felony, punishable by 3-16 years in prison.
Bopp's proposal also would apply the same criminal penalties to any person who provides a pregnant woman, or someone acting on her behalf, any information about where to procure an abortion, including hosting or maintaining a website advising women about abortion availability elsewhere.
Likewise, Bopp's legislation would make the sale, distribution or advertising of the two-dose abortion pill to a person likely to use it for an illegal abortion a level 3 felony, as well as taking a pregnant minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without the consent of her parents.
In no case, however, would a pregnant woman who obtains an abortion be subject to criminal penalties, according to the plan.
Bopp acknowledges such criminal laws are likely to be ineffective in "large urban centers and college towns" where most Indiana abortion clinics are located because "radical Democrat prosecutors" have indicated their reluctance to enforce stringent abortion bans.
As a result, he's recommending the state's attorney general be authorized to either supplement or substitute for the county prosecutor if the locally elected prosecutor uses their discretion not to pursue alleged abortion crimes.
In addition to criminal sanctions, Bopp also is urging state legislators to authorize civil lawsuits against abortion providers for "wrongful death of an unborn child."
Potential litigants, including the pregnant woman, the father of an aborted fetus and the parents of a minor who obtains an abortion, could seek monetary penalties, punitive damages, attorney fees and court costs.
Under the model law, an abortion-related civil action could not be filed by a person who impregnated a woman through rape, sexual assault, incest or other criminal conduct.
It also would require the state medical licensing board to revoke the license of any physician who performs an illegal abortion.
Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said states enacting the model law will take a big step toward continuing the efforts of anti-abortion advocates to drastically reduce the number of abortions in America.
"With this model law, we are laying out a roadmap for the right-to-life movement so that, in a post-Roe society, we can protect many mothers and their children from the tragedy of abortion," Tobias said.
Statehouse Democrats, who hold just 29 of 100 seats in the House and 11 of 50 Senate seats, generally oppose new abortion restrictions, in part because they say Indiana isn't doing nearly enough to support families and children already living in the state.
"It's convenient for Republican lawmakers to advocate for the unborn when there are literally hundreds of thousands of children and families that are suffering right now. If I must take a side, I will take the side of a living, breathing human who is in need," said state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary.
"We are elected to do what you want us to do. And right now, 79% of the individuals in our country are against the ban on abortion. ... So let your voices be heard," said state Rep. Carolyn Jackson.
Attorney General Todd Rokita is seeking permission to enforce Indiana abortion laws federal courts struck down as unconstitutional prior to the U.S. Supreme Court rescinding its Roe v. Wade decision.
Following Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Indiana lawmakers are almost certain next month to enact severe restrictions on abortion access, or outright ban the procedure in the Hoosier State.
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday issued an official proclamation directing the General Assembly to convene on July 6 “in order to consider and address the current adverse economic conditions."
The Republican chief executive outlined a plan Thursday for Indiana to pay $225 to all adult Hoosiers in July or August, on top of the $125 automatic taxpayer refund payments already going out.
Petitions signed by some 400 Hoosier health care workers and medical students were delivered Thursday to Gov. Eric Holcomb urging the Republican not to call a special legislative session on abortion.
Republican legislative leaders aren't saying what new abortion policies they plan to implement if the Supreme Court gives states the green light to further restrict, or outright ban, abortion access.
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun would welcome the U.S. Supreme Court rescinding its 1967 ruling that legalized interracial marriage nationwide in favor of allowing each state to decide such issues on its own.
Republican state legislators are urging Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to call the Indiana General Assembly into special session if the U.S. Supreme Court limits or rescinds the right to abortion.
Coercing a woman into having an abortion already is a crime under Indiana's intimidation statute. Nevertheless, the Legislature agreed Tuesday to create a new crime of "coerced abortion."
Prominent conservative attorney Jim Bopp, of Terre Haute, has prepared a "model law" the Indiana General Assembly is likely to consider adopting this month as it weighs new abortion restrictions, or an outright abortion ban, following the June 24 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rescinded the constitutional right to abortion established by the high court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/conservative-attorneys-model-law-would-ban-nearly-all-abortions-in-state/article_9f851d3d-0103-597c-bc09-db68b7df847d.html | 2022-07-03T13:52:20 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/conservative-attorneys-model-law-would-ban-nearly-all-abortions-in-state/article_9f851d3d-0103-597c-bc09-db68b7df847d.html |
ORLANDO, Fla. – We all know gas and grocery prices have climbed substantially since this time last year.
What you may not have noticed is that even though some products are still being sold at the same price, the sizes are shrinking.
For instance, you likely remember Gatorade selling large 32-ounce drinks. Now their slimmed-down bottles are just 28 ounces.
UCF business professor Anand Krishnamoorthy said it’s called “Shrinkflation,” and it is here to stay.
To make sure their customers don’t feel too bad about it, Krishnamoorthy said companies often pass it off as “product innovation.”
“Gatorade in this case, PepsiCo. argued that the size of the packaging decreased not because they wanted to provide less of the item, but because these containers are becoming less easy to hold so what they did is they introduced a groove in the middle of the packaging which makes a product easier to hold, so this is positioned less as shrinkage, more as product innovation,” Krishnamoorthy said.
Krishnamoorthy said something similar happened with bar soap as well.
He said soap was originally square. Then, over time manufacturers put a groove in the soap so it would be easier to hold. Then, he said the groove got deeper and deeper, meaning less product for consumers, even though the prices remained the same.
But, Krishnamoorthy said, companies are not always working to fool customers, sometimes they do just make valid changes.
“There might be cases where there is actual innovation going on because Bounty for a long time has claimed that their paper towels are more absorbent today, as a result of which you don’t need as much paper towel,” he said.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below:
Krishnamoorthy said chocolate bars also used to be a lot longer 15 years ago. But, changing the size of the sugary snack could be a part of trying to reduce the number of calories people are consuming.
With costs rising, Krishnamoorthy said many companies are struggling to stay profitable and even after the market stabilizes package sizes likely won’t go back to their original sizes.
You can learn more about shrinkflation on Florida’s Fourth Estate.
In this episode, you can also learn more about this year’s Fireworks at The Fountain returning to Lake Eola.
You can check out Florida’s Fourth Estate with Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/shrinkflation-how-companies-are-tricking-you-into-paying-for-less/ | 2022-07-03T14:00:41 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/shrinkflation-how-companies-are-tricking-you-into-paying-for-less/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – There are currently 10 Democrats running for U.S. House District 10, which has been held by Congresswoman Val Demings for the last three terms.
It’ll no doubt be competitive, and with the primary election less than two months away, name recognition will likely play a major role.
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Alan Grayson, who was a member of Congress from 2009-17, joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly” to lay out his platform and why he decided to run for Congress again.
“Right now, people are struggling so badly with inflation,” Grayson said. “We have to lower the tolls, lower the taxes and lower the rent. What people want more than anything is someone who uses the power of the office in order to make lives better. That’s what I did in Congress before and that’s what I can do again.”
The other nine Democrats running for District 10 are State Sen. Randolph Bracy, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Natalie Jackson, Jeffrey Boone, Corrine Brown, Teresa Tachon, Jack Achenbach, Terence Gray and Khalid Muneer.
There are also six Republicans vying for seat: Lateresa Jones, Thuy Lowe, Willie Montague, Peter Weed, Calvin Wimbish and Tuan Le.
Watch the full interview in the video player above. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/the-weekly-alan-grayson-talks-congressional-campaign/ | 2022-07-03T14:00:48 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/the-weekly-alan-grayson-talks-congressional-campaign/ |
SAN ANTONIO — Crews spent several hours of Sunday morning trying to put out a fire on the x side, officials said.
The San Antonio Fire Department responded to the 6600 block of Topper Ridge for a fire just after 12:30 a.m. When the first crews arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the back of the building. When firefighters gained access of the building, SAFD says there were met with several obstacles that made putting the fire out difficult.
Crews were still trying to extinguish the fire as of 4 a.m. Officials said over 30 crews have responded. There were no reported injuries. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/safd-working-to-put-fire-out-after-several-hours-officials-say/273-2bbdc3a2-deb6-4d45-80a9-26145bd59d4b | 2022-07-03T14:06:42 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/safd-working-to-put-fire-out-after-several-hours-officials-say/273-2bbdc3a2-deb6-4d45-80a9-26145bd59d4b |
SAN ANTONIO — A teen is recovering in the hospital after being shot three times in a drive by on the west side Sunday morning, officials say.
Around 2 a.m., San Antonio Police and the San Antonio Fire Department responded to the intersection of SW 36th Street and Castroville for a reported shooting.
Police said a teen was sitting in a vehicle at the intersection when another vehicle pulled up and opened fire. The teen was shot three times and taken to University Hospital in stable condition.
The suspect vehicle sped away but SAPD's Eagle helicopter was in the area and able to find a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect's vehicle. Officers pulled the vehicle over and detained two people, but SAPD said they were not able to confirm those two individuals were the suspects but they are continuing to be questioned, officials said.
The investigation is still ongoing. There were no other injuries reported. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/teen-hospital-after-being-shot-in-drive-by-in-west-san-antonio/273-dc312102-b264-4e3f-b31a-47c4e54bfb19 | 2022-07-03T14:06:48 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/teen-hospital-after-being-shot-in-drive-by-in-west-san-antonio/273-dc312102-b264-4e3f-b31a-47c4e54bfb19 |
HOUSTON — New pictures released by the U.S. Marshals show agents leading Kaitlin Marie Armstrong through Bush Intercontinental Airport after arriving from Costa Rica.
Armstrong is expected to see a judge in Houston before being transferred to Austin.
The 34-year-old Armstrong is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Anna Moriah Wilson at a home in Austin back in May.
Investigators believe Armstrong used a fake passport to fly from Newark, New Jersey to San Jose, Costa Rica.
Agents say they were able to track Armstrong down and capture her at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach on June 29.
"We know that she registered at specific yoga studios based on communication that was brought back to us here in the United States. So we knew she had a pattern of life, she was trying to extend that career possibly to be a yoga instructor, to get the knowledge of it," said Deputy Brandon Filla with the U.S. Marshal Service.
"The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlin Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” said Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, bring an end to that run and hopefully a sense of closure to the victim’s family.”
Authorities say Armstrong sold her vehicle in the days after being questioned in Wilson's death.
U.S. Marshals say Armstrong had been signing up for yoga classes using the same alias she flew to Costa Rica under.
According to court records from Travis County, Armstrong will be held on a $3.5 million bond. If she posts that, she'll have to give up her passport and submit to GPS monitoring. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/kaitlin-marie-armstrong-captured/285-723252d4-6a27-437b-9e07-e89ad1cc6ead | 2022-07-03T14:06:54 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/kaitlin-marie-armstrong-captured/285-723252d4-6a27-437b-9e07-e89ad1cc6ead |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
A horrific event in San Antonio last week showed the country that the U.S.-Mexico border can be as deadly for migrants as a sniper firing into a crowd.
Last week, dozens of migrants climbed into the back of a tractor-trailer as they tried to sneak across the border in Texas. The suffocating heat killed 53 of them, making it the deadliest border crossing in recent memory. The ghastly death toll put it on par with the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, where a gunman fired into crowds at a country music festival and killed 58 people.
In response to the deaths in San Antonio, several senators issued statements last week drawing parallels with mass shootings and calling for action with some urgency. Now it’s time for them to commit to finding a solution, just as they did with mass shootings last month.
“The tragic discovery of at least 53 migrants who perished after crossing our border should be a galvanizing moment — like the tragic shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde,” Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, said in a tweet.
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“The Senate needs to rally to produce an agreement on immigration in the spirit of the recent gun safety compromise,” Durbin said.
“Nineteen students and two teachers died in Uvalde prompting a national response,” Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, said in a tweet. “What will it take to provoke a response to preventable deaths at the border from the Biden administration?”
“The latest mass murder in America didn’t involve guns, it was the direct result of Joe Biden’s open border policy,” Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, said in a campaign ad.
I agree to a certain extent with Johnson and Cornyn. I think Biden’s policies played a role in these deaths, just as the policies under Trump, Obama, Bush and Clinton played a role in the deaths of thousands of migrants, including about 4,000 in Southern Arizona.
I also believe the failure of senators like Johnson, Durbin, and Cornyn to pass necessary laws created the situation where dozens of migrants felt they had no choice but to climb into a tractor-trailer in the June heat.
The best path for lawmakers to take would be to give different options to people huddled in tractor-trailers and to migrants walking through the desert, such as the chance to apply for a visa. But that likely would require a monumental compromise on U.S. immigration policy.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers who wrote the gun safety law didn’t take on the biggest challenges related to gun violence. Instead, they chose measures that could get broad support, such as going after firearms trafficking and expanding background checks. They should do the same with migrant deaths.
One straightforward option would be to expand the use of screening technology by Customs and Border Protection, which allows officers to see inside tractor-trailers and makes dangerous human-smuggling attempts, as well as the smuggling of drugs like fentanyl, much more difficult.
In Southern Arizona, a simple option would be to enlarge the Border Patrol program that installs rescue beacons in the desert. They also could put more placards with coordinates on them, which migrants can relay to rescuers when they call for help.
Other options that wouldn’t require an overhaul of the immigration system include funding overtime pay for sheriff’s deputies to conduct search-and-rescue efforts, improving the 911 system and expanding cell phone coverage in remote areas.
Although no new border policies were put in place last week, it is heartening to see senators talking about migrant deaths with urgency. I hope they can seize on the bipartisan momentum from the gun safety law and work together to stop these preventable deaths.
Curt Prendergast is the opinion editor at the Arizona Daily Star. Prior to becoming opinion editor in 2021, he covered the border, immigration, and federal courts for the Star. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/curt-prendergast-use-gun-safety-model-for-border-deaths/article_90d2446c-f350-11ec-a153-2f6821616dd7.html | 2022-07-03T14:11:49 | 0 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/curt-prendergast-use-gun-safety-model-for-border-deaths/article_90d2446c-f350-11ec-a153-2f6821616dd7.html |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Last week, I was excited to find my 2022 Arizona Primary Voter Election Guide nestled in my mailbox. I flipped to the Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate statements and began reading.
The position of superintendent, who helps schools comply with education policies and distributes almost $6 billion in funding to Arizona schools, is currently held by Kathy Hoffman. Her re-election blurb addressed issues like retaining teachers, investing in counselors and increasing technology for rural areas. I expected the other candidates to cover similar topics, but as I continued reading my stomach sank.
Returning candidate Tom Horne, who held the superintendent position from 2003-11, warned that “educators are indoctrinating students in critical race theory and other radical liberal propaganda.” He stated he will fight back against “all types of brainwashing” and promote “real learning.” Candidate Shiry Sapir promised families that she will oppose the “new radical woke education agenda” and the “political indoctrination, radical division, and illicit sexual content being sown in the minds of their children as young as kindergarten.” She ended her statement calling her bid for election a “statewide child rescue mission.”
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There are many, many reasons why these claims are troubling. First, they are incredibly insulting to educators. I have worked as a teacher or teacher mentor for 16 years, and I’ve navigated the school system as a parent for seven years. The words these candidates use–indoctrination, brainwash, rescue mission–feel like a slap in the face to those of us who have dedicated our lives to helping children.
Surely these candidates understand that teachers spend most of their energy not on salacious scheming, but on foundational topics like classroom management and curriculum development. Certainly they know that kindergarten teachers do everything in their power to shield students from illicit content, not expose them to it. At the very least, they must recognize the important role teachers played in their own lives and development. When candidates ignore these truths and instead promote distrust of the very teachers they hope to supervise, we should all be alarmed.
More importantly, we must ask ourselves why they are building entire campaigns around accusing Arizona’s teachers of corrupting our children. The answer is simple: if we believe our children are in danger, we will vote for anyone who vows to save them. The real tragedy is that claims of students being taught to hate America or embrace critical race theory are distracting voters from current legislation that will truly jeopardize our children’s education.
On June 24, Arizona Republican lawmakers voted to approve HB 2853, thus creating the most expansive educational voucher system in the nation. It will offer every Arizona student $7,000 of taxpayer money to put toward private or parochial school tuition, with zero accountability to report student achievement data or demographics of families who receive the vouchers. Even if only current private school students use these vouchers, it will cost taxpayers about $125 million by the 2024-25 school year.
A decisive 65% of Arizonans voted against voucher expansion in 2018, opting for their taxes to continue funding the public schools attended by 1.1 million Arizona students. But while some candidates distract us with claims of student brainwashing, their counterparts in the Legislature are undermining voters and siphoning money away from public schools under our noses.
We all want quality schools in our communities, and getting there may mean having hard conversations about what should be included or left out of our schools. These conversations are important and healthy for our democracy, but they require us to think critically about which issues actually impact our children most.
As we approach election season, I urge Arizonans to pay close attention to which candidates are using their platforms to vilify teachers and what purpose it serves. Candidates who run on a platform of fearmongering might succeed at the ballot box, but they just may dismantle public education in the process.
Heather Mace is a contributor to the Arizona Daily Star and a teacher mentor in Tucson. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/heather-mace-brainwashing-claims-distract-from-school-funding-issues/article_96c8a356-f7d4-11ec-9260-137ceb47f773.html | 2022-07-03T14:11:55 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/heather-mace-brainwashing-claims-distract-from-school-funding-issues/article_96c8a356-f7d4-11ec-9260-137ceb47f773.html |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
The political winds have been blowing to the right for the past 40-plus years, pushing us to a place where common sense is no longer welcome.
“By denying the reality of the 2020 election, Republicans are giving up their own identity and independent judgment and have become vassals of (Donald) Trump, unable to see the great needs of the American people,” former Sen. Bill Bradley told me in an interview for this column last week.
Bradley still believes strongly in American meritocracy, in the hard work and independent thinking that took him from a small river town in Missouri to Princeton and Oxford, the basketball Hall of Fame and eventually 18 years in the United States Senate. In his spare time, he has written a play and seven books on subjects as diverse as basketball, tax fairness, and the future of America. Most are best sellers.
I wonder what Bill Bradley thinks today, whether he is horrified or amused—maybe both – to learn that President Trump’s dining habits sometimes have the wait staff ducking for cover. The higher one climbs the ladder of governance, the greater the number of people who follow your instructions. As a young Assistant Secretary of a major government department, I inherited a staff of 44 professionals, the people who make government work.
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My first step after all the secret briefings was to get to know their names and functions. The next was to learn from them how the department worked. Like Richard Nixon before him, there is little evidence that President Trump made much of an effort to get a feel for who staffed the lower levels of their personal offices. Both paid a big price.
What do Cassidy Hutchinson and Alexander Butterfield have in common? Both delivered to the prosecutors the key information on the scandals of their eras, the Capitol insurrection and Watergate. And both had identical jobs, deputies to the chiefs-of-staff, 49 years apart. The fact that both were three levels down on the organizational chart caused Trump and Nixon to ignore them, even though they were often in sight.
In 1972, President Nixon won 49 states in an historic landslide against Sen. George McGovern who was deemed a socialist for proposing a child care tax cut, higher Social Security payments, increased health care, and additional social spending as we wound down the Vietnam War. Of course, we know today that our involvement in Vietnam was a historic mistake, and the social programs for which McGovern was so bitterly criticized are commonly accepted today as good policy.
There is a rhythm to American politics, and the political winds change every half century. For the last 40-plus years, we have ridden them to the right with Nixon, Reagan, and the Bushes and survived a populist tornado with Trump and his contemporary Luddites.
For Mr. Trump and his acolytes, I see the dying of the light. Sen. Bradley, who has witnessed the best and worst of America during his decades of public service, agrees.
“When absolutist thinking pervades a political party, then they inevitably become overly extreme,” he tells me. “This is where we find Trump’s GOP on practically every issue from abortion to income inequality. They have reduced civic life to a series of false choices, and the American people know deep down that life is more complex.”
I now feel a warm breeze returning that I believe will carry us to a place built on common sense. It is a place where we learn once again to talk, insist on truth in our discussions and be willing to compromise.
It is a place where our kids go to safe schools, where old and young have sufficient food and medical care, and where a new generation of Americans will shape a better future.
Terry Bracy, a regular Star contributor, has served as a political adviser, campaign manager, congressional aide, sub-Cabinet official, board member and as an adviser to presidents. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/terry-bracy-the-dying-light-in-trumpland/article_a1086944-f8b2-11ec-a4c9-03736e3ff02e.html | 2022-07-03T14:12:01 | 0 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/terry-bracy-the-dying-light-in-trumpland/article_a1086944-f8b2-11ec-a4c9-03736e3ff02e.html |
ROANOKE, Va. — The ambassador of the bananas came to talk with the community of oranges to see how the two fruits could peacefully coexist on the imaginary island of Fruitopia.
The whole exercise was part of a role-playing game among members of Roanoke’s expanding refugee and immigrant populations that taught methods for communicating across language and cultural barriers and forming communities, like a real-life Fruitopia.
Words of Dari, Swahili, Spanish and English weaved together as students talked and worked with art supplies and fruit to create personalities for their imaginary communities. A frowny face was made from pipe cleaners on a banana. Feathers popped out from the head of an orange with googly eyes.
More than 20 high school and college students gathered at Belmont Library on a Saturday afternoon in May to participate. Some were refugees, others grew up in Roanoke. Many had never met before.
Each fruit group faced challenges in their homeland, which led them to Fruitopia alongside other fruit groups that had persecuted them. The project mimicked the immigrants’ own experiences of leaving home and seeking refuge in a new country.
The activity was organized by Hardwired Global, a nonprofit organization based in Richmond that is traveling throughout the commonwealth this year, targeting areas with high refugee populations, and using their simulation workshop to support social integration of refugees and newcomers into schools and communities. They are partnering with resettlement organizations, including Commonwealth Catholic Charities in Roanoke which, as of May , has helped resettle 438 refugees to the Roanoke area since 2019.
Victoria Tiggas, outreach and development officer with Hardwired Global said the goal of the workshop is to promote pluralistic societies where people can go beyond simply coexisting with others who might be very different and engage with those people more fully.
“So for example, here (during the Roanoke workshop) we have Afghan refugees, we have some Hispanic refugees, and we also have Congolese refugees,” Tiggas said. “So, even between those refugee groups, they will have to engage with one another here in their community and in their schools, and we want them to feel comfortable doing that.”
Tiggas said fruit is used as an analogy to help students feel more comfortable discussing hard topics such as pluralism, acceptance and tolerance.
“Throughout the simulation, they work through fears and misconceptions that they have with one another, they break those down, and then they rebuild them into a more positive view or perception of the other fruit. Even the ones that persecuted them back in their home.”
Four hours later, a roomful of students that began mostly silent, erupted with excitement. Members from the different fruit groups put fears and prejudices aside to discuss attributes each group had that could help contribute to the community.
Werness, the banana ambassador, wanted to attend the workshop to learn more about the different cultures that she sees at school.
“I learned how different my life has been from the newcomers’ life,” said Werness, who was born in Roanoke. “I’ve learned their stories.”
Josette Iradukunda, 24, one of the oranges, talked about her own life, moving around for 15 years as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been ravaged with civil war for over two decades.
“Just be you and grip opportunities,” advised Iradukunda, talking to fellow oranges Negina Rasoli, 20, and Marjan Sharifi, 22, both refugees from Afghanistan.
Iradukunda came to Roanoke in March 2021.
“I understand because, in Congo, we lost a lot of people,” said Iradukunda about the ongoing civil war in her homeland.
She lost many of her own family members. “We had to split and when we are running away everyone is running for their life,” she said. “It’s so frustrating.”
“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” agreed Rasoli who said she came to Roanoke in October 2019, fleeing Afghanistan just after finishing high school in an unsafe area controlled by the Taliban, and having to leave some family members behind.
“Right now it’s going wonderful for me because it’s almost three years I’ve been here,” Rasoli said. “But the first one and a half years was too hard for all my family members.”
Rasoli currently works at a textile company and will attend Virginia Western Community College in the fall. She hopes to be a surgeon someday.
Werness said she liked the simulation because it was fun and informative.
“My high school is very diverse, but so separate,” Werness said about Patrick Henry.
She said she is not uncomfortable reaching out to students who came from other countries but that she can be hesitant because she is unsure what to ask. But she said she does try.
“I think it’s really important to understand and empathize with everyone,” she said, “to learn about different cultures and where they came from, and just to make everyone feel comfortable and accepted.”
The workshop ended with the citizens of Fruitopia mingling and sharing what they learned from each other.
Tina Ramirez, executive director with Hardwired Global, concludes that all fruits have seeds on the inside and that it is not ideal to simply coexist with one another. She said she hoped the simulation taught the group that through interaction, different cultures can learn from each other and people need other people to survive.
“Does this orange have to believe the same thing that the banana believes in order to get along with the banana?” Ramirez asked.
A resounding “No,” is the response from the room.
“In your schools you have people that are different from you and not just newcomers and Americans, you have people that believe and act and have lots of different ideas from you. Is it possible to live together, is it possible to get to know them?”
“Yes,” replied the group. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/students-learn-to-turn-differences-into--fruit-salad/2022/07/03/4e228938-fad0-11ec-b39d-71309168014b_story.html | 2022-07-03T14:19:37 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/students-learn-to-turn-differences-into--fruit-salad/2022/07/03/4e228938-fad0-11ec-b39d-71309168014b_story.html |
As the planet warms, Idaho’s high-elevation streams may remain cold enough for spring chinook salmon, but lower flows will reduce the abundance and quality of spawning and rearing habitat, according to a soon-to-be-published study.
Snowpack-dependent flows have already dropped about 20% from levels recorded in the late 1950s. That decreased spawning habitat by about 10%. Flow velocity is down 17% and side channel habitat declined 6%.
But those losses are modest compared to what researchers led by University of Idaho professor Daniele Tonina predict will happen in the future.
“Before, the headwater streams were an ideal place,” Tonina said. “Now they will be less ideal.”
Tonina’s team used a new type of lidar, a remote sensing system, combined with hydraulic modeling, to predict how Bear Valley Creek, a tributary to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, will change as air temperatures become warmer and more winter precipitation falls as rain instead of snow, and mountain snowpacks don’t persist as long into summer months.
Adult spring chinook return to freshwater in April, May and June as their name implies. But the fish don’t spawn until late summer. They need an ample supply of cold water to get them through the hottest months and to successfully spawn in gravel-lined streams. Likewise, their offspring need sufficient flows of water during their early freshwater lifestage. The juvenile fish especially like slower-moving and slightly warmer side channel habitat where they can feed and escape predators.
The team mapped the stream and built models that indicate as the climate warms and less snow accumulates in the mountains of central Idaho, summertime flows in Bear Valley Creek will decrease 45% by 2040 and 72% by 2090.
Spring chinook spawn in shallow riffles. Tonina said when flows drop, shallow areas will be affected more severely than deeper pools. Previous studies focusing on climate change impacts to spring chinook habitat have largely focused on water temperatures. Although they show the temperatures will increase in Idaho’s mountain streams, much of the water will largely remain in a zone habitable for chinook.
Tonina’s study offers a further look at how unabated warming of the planet may further imperil salmon.
“We will see that the spawning habitat will be much smaller, and so the temperatures might still be good but the amount of water that will be there will be much, much smaller,” he said.
Spawning habitat in Bear Valley Creek will be reduced by about 25% in 2040 and nearly 40% by 2090.
“We are getting close to a 50% reduction,” he said. “That is quite a strong reduction.”
Some side channels that spur from the main channel only to rejoin it downstream will become fragmented. Some of those side channels will become detached altogether from the main channel and become stagnant. Off-channel rearing areas will slide by as much as 30% by 2090.
“That is probably the most worrisome for us, a loss of connectivity with the floodplain,” he said.
Even so, Tonina said Bear Valley Creek will remain available to chinook and will likely support the fish at their current levels, which are well below historic averages and short of abundances called for in recovering planning documents.
The work, which will be in Geophysical Research Letters on Tuesday, is in line with a study published last year by scientists from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northwest West Science Center. That team found salmon will be severely affected across all life stages and ocean survival may plummet as much as 90%.
“I think it’s really important to recognize the challenges these fish are going to face. In even the highest elevation, most remote places, they are going to be facing challenges,” said Lisa Crozier, author of the 2021 report who was not involved in Tonina’s study. “We have ignored some of those. I think it is fantastic (Tonina and his team) are drawing attention to what can happen when you are restricted to limited habitat and summer flows go down.”
She is less optimistic than Tonina, saying the productivity of habitat in pristine areas already limited. She predicts chinook may respond to a drop in water availability by spawning later, when fall rains bump up low summer flows. Doing that will give their eggs the best chance of hatching, but it won’t be easy.
“It puts a lot of pressure on adults,” she said.
Crozier said fish may also retreat some from high-elevation areas to seek more water downstream. But those areas tend to be less pristine.
“I think it really puts pressure on us to restore some of the mid-to-high-elevation habitat where there is water but the human impacts are huge.”
Tonina hopes others will duplicate the work and methods of his team to predict localized climate impacts and the impacts of other actions, such as withdrawing water from streams and rivers.
“We are now able to characterize how the habitat will change at the scale of a single fish, but over very long distances, and that will help us to have better constraints and quantify losses or gains in habitat,” he said. “And the methodologies are transferable to a lot of other systems and not just for climate change. It can be used to understand the impact of any other type of water management.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/report-guided-by-university-of-idaho-professor-concludes-that-warming-will-stress-idaho-s-spring/article_c7bac6a3-c452-5eb2-9158-ced94100351e.html | 2022-07-03T14:21:28 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/report-guided-by-university-of-idaho-professor-concludes-that-warming-will-stress-idaho-s-spring/article_c7bac6a3-c452-5eb2-9158-ced94100351e.html |
BLOOMINGTON — Gerald Gilbert, a Young Men's Club member, has donated $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.
An additional $8,550 was donated by other YMC members, bringing the total donation to $33,550.
Gilbert and John Yoder, treasurer of the YMC Youth Opportunity Foundation, presented the check to Tony Morstatter, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.
The 2022 fund drive will be announced at a luncheon on Tuesday, July 12, with Boys & Girls Club members and the YMC at First Christian Church.
Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3240. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/boys-girls-club-of-bloomington-normal-receives-33k-donation/article_06f55560-f966-11ec-98ca-e700078cc7a4.html | 2022-07-03T14:25:32 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/boys-girls-club-of-bloomington-normal-receives-33k-donation/article_06f55560-f966-11ec-98ca-e700078cc7a4.html |
When Arizona lawmakers targeted transgender youth, this woman knew she had to speak up
Ten Arizona legislators are sitting around a horseshoe-shaped desk, debating a bill that would force educators to out transgender students to their parents.
Members of the public, some of them clutching notes, watch from the rows of gray seats behind a wooden podium.
Among them is Paul Bixler, sitting, listening, waiting for her turn to speak.
It's January, and Bixler's first time at a meeting of the House Education Committee. She's there because of House Bill 2161.
The wide-ranging bill would require schools to get consent from parents before surveying students on topics like guns, religion and money. It would grant parents access to their child's counseling records (though a right to access all records already exists in the state Parents Bill of Rights).
And it would allow parents to sue if they felt a school had "usurped" their fundamental right to raise their kids as they saw fit.
But Bixler wants to address one specific line.
The line would mean educators could not withhold or conceal information from parents about a student's "purported gender identity or requested transition, if the student's purported gender identity or expression is incongruous with the student's biological sex".
Most speakers at the committee meeting support the bill. Their sentiment is clear: my children, my business.
Then Bixler's name is called, and she approaches the podium.
"My name is Paul Bixler," she begins. "I am a citizen of Arizona."
Bixler tells the committee she sits on the board of the Liberty Elementary School District, which covers eight schools on the outskirts of metropolitan Phoenix. But, she says, she isn't there to speak for the board.
She is there just as herself, a 72-year-old transgender woman.
"I know from personal experience that transitioning is not easy," she says. "It's hard."
She argues the proposed law would harm, not help, vulnerable children.
"When you threaten a child's disclosure with exposure, those children will continue to question, but will not seek the highly qualified individuals that could assist them," she says. "Threatening dedicated trained caregivers with litigation also threatens the welfare of the children within that student population.
"When you marginalize this student population and force them to go into hiding, they won't stop questioning," she says. "They simply will not receive the help that they need."
Bixler says forcing children into the closet will seriously affect their well-being, and spark drug use, homelessness, and ill mental health.
"But I believe there's a bigger question here," she says.
In Phoenix: Gov. Doug Ducey won't say transgender people exist
Bixler knows the bill is just one of many aimed at transgender youth, in Arizona and around the country. She looks up from her notes, eyeing the committee members.
"What are you afraid of?"
'It's been positive'
Bixler lives in Goodyear, in a spacious home thoughtfully decorated in desert colors. It's on a sculpted cul-de-sac, lined with cactuses, in the long shadows of the Estrella Mountains, right on the edge of the city sprawl.
It's a conservative pocket of metropolitan Phoenix. In 2020, when Arizona turned blue, 59% of Bixler's precinct voted for Trump.
You might expect a transgender woman — and a Democrat to boot — to feel like a fish out of water.
But not Bixler.
"It's been pretty positive," she tells The Arizona Republic.
She goes everywhere, she says, and is mostly met with blissful indifference.
"When I do get a reaction, it's usually the little kids. They'll kind of look at me, they kind of wonder what's going on," she says. "And I just smile and wave at them and so on."
But Bixler, a retired school teacher, was left in disbelief at the January meeting as legislators grappled with the issues at hand.
"The lack of understanding is just amazing," she says.
"I couldn't believe this guy didn't understand why a child would feel that having this deep, dark secret exposed without their permission would be a problem.
"How could they not see that?"
Bixler hasn't in the past made a habit of turning up to committee meetings. But the gender identity clause in HB2161 seemed so patently unfair that she felt compelled to say something.
"I figured I was in a good place to do that," she says.
She was certainly in a unique place to speak out.
As someone who transitioned — albeit late in life, which carries different considerations than with children — Bixler understands the process. She knows what it feels like to have gender dysphoria from a young age, and to go through life trying to repress it.
And, Bixler knows schools.
She spent more than three decades working in the public school system in Arizona and Texas, in roles ranging from teacher to coach to principal.
She also may very well be the first transgender woman to hold an elected public office in Arizona.
In 2020, she found herself with time on her hands, and wanting to contribute to the community.
"I thought, 'shoot, what I know is public education. And right here in Arizona, they could use me.'"
So in the summer of 2020, she went from door to door in her district, collecting signatures to get on the ballot for the Liberty Elementary School District board.
Bixler is so gregarious that it's actually believable when she says she enjoys canvassing, even in the Arizona heat. "I like people," she says, grinning.
The election was uncontested in the end, and so Bixler is careful to clarify she is not the first transgender woman to actually be elected to public office in Arizona.
It's hard to pin down those kinds of firsts. No one is officially keeping track, there are a ton of public office positions, and transgender identity is not always apparent.
But Bixler's research has not uncovered anyone else. "I've looked under a lot of rocks," she says.
"I just felt that I was probably as good a person as any to step forward," Bixler says.
"That I had enough experience, in so many areas that that would be touched upon, that I could be of help."
HB2161 passed the education committee that day, 6-4, went on to pass through the legislature and was signed by Gov. Doug Ducey on April 29.
But along the way, the "purported gender identity" language was removed. Other parts of the bill remained largely intact.
In recent months, Ducey has signed into law a bill banning gender reassignment surgery for minors, which Bixler also spoke on at committee, and another banning transgender girls from playing on girls' school sports teams.
Intersex advocates say:Arizona's ban on surgeries for trans minors hurts both groups
Planning for one future
Originally from Akron, Ohio, Bixler's family moved to Phoenix in 1955, when she was five.
She and her mother and twin sister lived all over the valley, their zip code changing with their financial fortunes. It was just the three of them, after Bixler's father died when she was 10.
Even as a child yet to hit double digits, Bixler knew she was different, somehow.
"But I didn't know what it was," she says.
She thinks she was around 11 when she learned about Christine Jorgensen, the first transgender woman in the United States to receive widespread publicity after undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
Jorgensen's story gave young Bixler the vocabulary for the incongruence she felt, the difference between her body and the way she was perceived, and how she felt about her own gender.
But she stashed those feelings away, not wanting to tell anyone.
Bixler went into teaching and met her wife, Candace, while working at Camelback High School.
A stint out of the classroom selling copiers for Xerox took the couple to Prescott, where they lived for 15 years.
But Bixler became disillusioned with the state of public education in Arizona. She and Candace had two sons by this point, and didn't see a future in the state, either for their children's education or their careers.
So in 1995 the family moved to Austin, Texas, which became home for the next two decades.
"I love Austin," Bixler says. "My very favorite place on earth."
In 2009, Bixler retired, Candace following suit six months later.
Soon after retiring, Candace was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a grueling treatment, she went into remission.
Excited by their newfound freedom and Candace's clean bill of health, the couple started planning for the rest of their lives, what they wanted to do, and where else they might like to live.
But they ran up against a minor problem: They couldn't find anywhere they liked more than Austin.
"It's funny because people knew that we were looking around," Bixler says. "They would ask us, 'Hey, you know, what are you going to do? Are you going to stay?'"
They were sure of one thing only.
"We will never go back to Phoenix."
Dealing with the dysphoria and grief
But the universe had other plans for the Bixlers.
Candace's cancer came back. This time, it was stage four. She started treatment at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America hospital in Goodyear. The building sits just off Interstate 10, along a road called Celebrate Life Way.
Initially, Candace flew back and forth from Austin.
"It just didn't make sense," Bixler says. "An airplane full of people breathing all kinds of weird things, and with a bad immune system."
So in 2015, they moved back to Phoenix. Candace died in 2017. She and Bixler had been married 36 years.
"There's actually a picture of it over there," Bixler said, pointing to a shelf covered in frames.
In another photograph, Candace reclines on a young, sleeping Bixler's chest, looking serenely into the camera. Behind the couple, both dressed in retro mustard, is a tent on a beach in Mexico.
"That's in Rocky Point," Bixler says. "That was the very first picture taken of us."
Candace knew about Bixler's gender dysphoria. She tried to be supportive, Bixler says. To be along for the journey.
"But it was clear that it just wasn't comfortable for her. There was just too much to it that she couldn't do."
It wasn't until after Candace died that Bixler resolved to really explore the feelings she had had since she was a child.
"I just did a Google search: dysphoria and grief," she says. "I figured I was dealing with both."
She saw a counselor about her gender dysphoria. She started hormone replacement therapy. And she came out as a transgender woman, to the surprise and — mostly — support of her family and friends.
"I used to say I didn't have any sad stories (about transitioning). I've since developed a couple of sad stories, but not many," Bixler says. "Overall, it's been very, very positive."
Does she wish she had been able to transition as a child?
"Oh, absolutely."
It's a thought that she puts to the back of her head. There's nothing she can do about it now. Carrying that regret around is just part of her life.
But it's a nuanced burden.
"Do I wish I had had the courage to do this earlier? Yeah. I think I would have been happier," Bixler says. "But look what I would have missed. I would have missed Candace."
She gestures at the photos.
"For me, that's a good enough trade-off. It was worth it."
She stayed on in Goodyear, for two reasons. First, Austin is expensive. Moving back didn't make financial sense, especially as Bixler and Candace had sold in the Texan capital and bought in Phoenix at the right time.
Which leads to the second reason: the house itself. With money from the Austin sale, Bixler says, Candace was able to decorate their new home in Goodyear.
"It's just so much her," she says. "I just don't see myself leaving it."
'I'm trusting in history'
Bixler believes the current attacks on transgender youth are a backlash to the massive progress her community has made over the past decade.
It's not great right now, she acknowledges. But it's a pendulum. Sooner or later, it will swing back the other way.
"I'm trusting in history," Bixler says. "We may have to get through 2024 before it's going to happen, but I see it coming back and hopefully it'll go a little bit farther."
Come 2024, she will collect signatures for another tilt at the Liberty Elementary School District board, cheerfully greeting people as they answer the door with: "Hi, I'm Paul Bixler."
It's common for transgender people to adopt a new name when they transition, especially if they have a traditionally gendered name.
Like Paul, for example.
"It's interesting in the transgender community, because it appears to me that there are maybe two camps about that," Bixler says.
Bixler has a good friend, also a transgender woman, who sees her own transition as the start of a brand new life.
"That she had one life as a male, and now she's living a life as a female," Bixler says. "And so that person did change their name."
But Bixler doesn't see it that way.
"I don't think I've changed at all. I think I am who I am. And I think I've always been who I am.
"And so my parents named me Paul. I've always liked being Paul," she says, before slipping into the third person.
"Paul Bixler's had a really good life."
Reach the reporter at lane.sainty@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @lanesainty. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/07/03/paul-bixler-hopes-trans-youth-can-learn-her-experiences/7666019001/ | 2022-07-03T14:31:11 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/07/03/paul-bixler-hopes-trans-youth-can-learn-her-experiences/7666019001/ |
Salvation Army thrift stores fund rehab services, but seeing fewer donations
The Salvation Army is putting out the call for more donations and more shoppers at its chain of Valley thrift stores.
Last year, revenue at the second-hand outlets was down about $385,000 -- roughly 25% lower than pre-COVID levels. Proceeds from the stores largely fund the nonprofit's Adult Rehabilitation Center, which provides free substance abuse treatment.
“The Salvation Army is not immune from the economic obstacles other businesses face, including changed buyer behavior due to the pandemic, staffing shortages, and the rising cost of gas and other products," said Major Darren Stratton, who oversees the stores in Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler and Peoria.
The stores sell typical items: second-hand clothes for adults and kids, home decor and housewares. Prices are competitive. Women's T-shirts are $1.99. The selection of used furniture has dwindled since the store cut out at-home pick ups to save money.
"Donor support is the lifeblood of what we do," Stratton said.
The 117-bed Adult Rehabilitation Center is located next door to the Salvation Army's operation just south of downtown Phoenix.
Residents get three meals a day and attend counseling and support groups. The program is Christian faith- and 12-step based. Bible scriptures are read daily and worship services are integral to the program.
Many of the residents work processing thrift store donations. Others are assigned kitchen or laundry duties.
Andrew Martin, 40, got kitchen duty when he showed up at the Salvation Army program 15 months ago after moving to Arizona from Tennessee, where he'd bounced around mental health treatment and sober living facilities.
Martin said the program helped him reconnect with his faith. And knowing that people were counting on him to be on duty gave him a purpose.
"This is the longest time I’ve been sober," Martin said.
After completing the program, Martin was given a job helping enroll people in the treatment center. He said he feels a sense of responsibility to "pay it forward to the next person that comes into the program."
“You can come in with the clothes on your back and they will help you,” Martin said.
How to help
Eight Salvation Army Thrift Store and Donation Centers operate in Arizona. Two are in Tucson, one in Casa Grande. Here are the Maricopa County locations:
- 24 E. Mohave St., Phoenix
- 2324 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe
- 1849 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix
- 4920 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler
- 8702 W. Cholla St., Peoria.
Additionally, a dropoff-only site is located in Surprise at 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts.. Make donations and find more information about the substance abuse rehab program at phoenixarc.salvationarmy.org. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/03/salvation-army-thrift-store-revenue-supports-substance-abuse-rehab/7541696001/ | 2022-07-03T14:31:17 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/03/salvation-army-thrift-store-revenue-supports-substance-abuse-rehab/7541696001/ |
DALLAS (KDAF) — USA, USA, USA! Ladies and gentlemen and the good people of North Texas the Fourth of July is upon us and you need to know what to expect from the weather on Monday.
That’s why we checked out the National Weather Service center in Fort Worth’s forecast to share with you! North Texans should expect a mostly sunny and hot day to celebrate the 4th. High temps will range from the mid 90s to around 100 degrees and you should expect southerly winds ranging from 10-20 mph.
The center says, “This 4th of July will be sunny, hot and humid with afternoon highs ranging from the mid 90s to around 100. Temperatures will gradually fall into the mid 80s to lower 90s by sunset under a clear sky. Remember to stay hydrated if participating in outdoor festivities.” | https://cw33.com/news/local/north-texas-fourth-of-july-forecast-from-nws-fort-worth/ | 2022-07-03T14:31:53 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/north-texas-fourth-of-july-forecast-from-nws-fort-worth/ |
GARLAND, Texas — Police in Garland, Texas, are calling for help to find a 17-year-old who's believed to have been kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend on Saturday night.
According to police, witnesses saw Yadhira Medina being dragged against her will into a White Ford or GM pickup truck with a tan or silver trim. This happened around 8:30 p.m. on West Buckingham Road.
Witnesses recognized the suspect as Yadhira's ex-boyfriend, 20-year-old David Emanuel Maldonado.
Police say the truck was driven by another suspect and was seen going westbound on Buckingham Road.
Yadhira Medina is a Hispanic female standing at five feet tall. She has brown eyes and wears glasses. Medina has reddish-brown hair and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black sweatpants and carrying a black backpack.
David Maldonado is a Hispanic man standing at 5 feet 7 inches with brown eyes and black hair. There's no description on what he was seen wearing or what the driver looked like.
Anyone with any information about either one's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 972-485-4840.
Garland police say Youth Crimes detectives are investigating the situation as a kidnapping and believe the 17-year-old is in danger. The Texas Department of Public Safety has activated an Amber Alert.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-garland-texas-teen-girl-kidnapped-by-ex-boyfriend-west-buckingham-road-july-2-2022/287-218bed20-3ac6-4b97-be77-bf3c36b25cf8 | 2022-07-03T14:44:17 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-garland-texas-teen-girl-kidnapped-by-ex-boyfriend-west-buckingham-road-july-2-2022/287-218bed20-3ac6-4b97-be77-bf3c36b25cf8 |
FORT WORTH, Texas — An early morning apartment fire led to three people needing medical treatment, including two children.
The Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) said they got a call at about 6 a.m. about a fire on Meadowbrook Gardens Drive. According to them, the caller didn't have many details but they said two kids were inside the burning complex.
Crews got to the scene and saw "heavy smoke" coming from the two-story complex. Some firefighters pulled hoses to put out the fire while others went to look for the kids.
The fire department said the children were found in the breezeway on the second floor of the apartment. They were brought to medical crews who took them to a hospital via helicopter.
The two kids haven't been identified, but the FWFD said they're 10 and 12 years old. Their current condition is unknown and there's no information on what started the fire.
Another unidentified man found at the scene also needed medical attention, according to the fire department. His condition is also unknown at this time.
This story will be updated if/when more information is available.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-ft-worth-texas-fire-apartment-meadowbrook-gardens-drive-july-3-2022/287-167ae2aa-ef50-4b66-bccf-b3e3eb0250c0 | 2022-07-03T14:44:23 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-ft-worth-texas-fire-apartment-meadowbrook-gardens-drive-july-3-2022/287-167ae2aa-ef50-4b66-bccf-b3e3eb0250c0 |
Five questions with ... Emily Miller of Country Cones
On any given day, Country Cones on Middlebranch Road in Plain Township has a line of customers standing through its parking lot. People come for the ice cream and the hot sandwiches, including what’s labeled as the "Best Coney in Stark County."
The popular ice cream stand is owned by the Williams family. Emily Miller is one of the owners.
It really is a family affair with Emily and her husband David Miller and their three children ages 8, 5 and 3 working with her parents Keith and Linda Williams; her older sister Adrienne (husband James and three children ages 8, 7 and 5); and her younger brother Patrick and his wife Bri with (one child who is 5 years old and they have one on the way).
Emily and her family members either live in Plain Township or in Louisville. All of the family, including Emily’s husband and her parents, are alumni of GlenOak High School.
Emily along with her sister Adrienne run the day-to-day operations. She said the boys do the maintenance and her mother is their babysitter.
More:Five questions with ... Daniel Matea, founder of Heart and Soles Ministries
"We have different roles, but all contribute in the success of the Cone. My brother Patrick and I grew up working here in high school and we knew the daily operations," Emily said.
Country Cones first opened in 1988. The second owner purchased it in 2002. The Williams family bought it in 2014.
Country Cones opens March 17 every year and closes in late September/early October. Hours vary each week depending on staffing, as it employs all high school and college students.
"We sold over 56,000 cones last year!" Emily said. "We are very well known for our coneys which we sold 16,000 last year and our jumbo ice cream cookie sandwiches sold over 2,500 last year. Our most popular flavor of ice creams is chocolate peanut butter cup."
More:Five questions with ... Rita Oser who run Holleydale Farm
Why do you think Country Cones has been such a staple here in Stark County?
I think it is a staple here in Stark County because it has been around since 1988.
We have always been known for our reasonable prices and generous portions. We are a family friendly environment with a good amount of outdoor seating. People come from all over for our coney sauce, drumstick (aka The Country Cone), and jumbo cookie sandwiches.
Which age group seems to be the biggest customers every year and why do you think that is?
I would say middle-aged parents with kids is our biggest group of customers. However, the older generation usually comes during the day while young families stop by in the evening.
Kids love ice cream and since we have food a lot of parents enjoy getting dinner and dessert at the same place. We also get a lot of the ball teams stop by during the season.
Who created the coney sauce you use on the “Best Coney in Stark County”?
This is a recipe that has been handed down from the previous owner, Ron Upperman. I believe he continued it from the first owner as well, John Walters. It is well loved and we will never change it.
Visiting Country Cones is often a family outing. What do you and your family enjoy participating in together?
In the summer, we like to get together and go swimming, boating and cook out at Adrienne and Jim’s house. My brother and parents have mini farms so chores around there are always happening.
What do you do in the off-season when Country Cones is closed?
We continue to run our insurance agency that is a couple buildings down the road from Country Cones. We usually take a large family trip after we close as we cannot do so during the summer months.
We also spend a little more time with our kids.
Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2022/07/03/emily-miller-country-cones-answers-five-questions-her-job-best-coney-in-stark-county/7657168001/ | 2022-07-03T14:44:51 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2022/07/03/emily-miller-country-cones-answers-five-questions-her-job-best-coney-in-stark-county/7657168001/ |
Stark Parks looks to build fishing pier at Fry Family Park pond
PIKE TWP. – The Stark County Park District reel-y wants to make fishing more accessible at Fry Family Park.
That's why the agency is looking to building a new fishing pier at the park's pond.
The proposed boardwalk would slope down to the water from the existing trailhead. It would be used for fishing, observation and other recreational purposes.
"A lot of people are interested in being able to access that (pond) and fish ... but because of the hilly nature of that site, the water is hard to get to," Stark Parks projects and administration manager Sarah Buell said.
The boardwalk will be designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This will provide park visitors with mobility issues easier access to the water. It will also be used as part of environmental education programs at the park.
Buell said it will give students access for activities like water quality testing.
Stark Parks requested $125,000 from NatureWorks, a grant program run by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The grant allows agencies to apply for up to 75% reimbursement assistance for development projects at public parks and recreation areas. That means Stark Parks must supply an additional $75,000.
The total cost of the project at $200,000, according to Stark Parks' website.
Buell said the parks district put out a survey asking members of the community what they wanted to see at the 323-acre park before creating its master plan in 2011. Many people said they would like to have opportunities for hiking and fishing.
"We have fielded a lot of calls from people just calling and asking 'When are you going to make fishing more accessible down at Fry Park?' So we know it's a continued interest, and we're really hoping we can be successful at funding it," she said.
Stark Parks is still working on the design. One of the challenges in making the boardwalk ADA accessible, Buell said, is that the slope cannot exceed a 5% grade. The agency has teamed up with designers to figure out the best way to construct the boardwalk while still meeting the standards.
The grant application deadline is July 15. Buell said Stark Parks likely won't learn whether the project received grant money until the end of the year.
The boardwalk would not be constructed until 2023.
Buell said it is unclear at this time how long the project would take because the design is not finalized.
"That will largely depend on how much of the boardwalk is going to be in the water versus how much of the trail we can keep on land and bank and to the side of the shore," she said.
Stark Parks also needs to conduct a wetlands survey before moving ahead with the project.
Fry Family Park is located at 2533 Farber St. SE. The pond is three-tenths of a mile from the parking lot, according to Stark Parks' website.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2022/07/03/stark-parks-hope-add-fishing-pier-fry-family-park/7709879001/ | 2022-07-03T14:44:57 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2022/07/03/stark-parks-hope-add-fishing-pier-fry-family-park/7709879001/ |
HIGH POINT — One man was killed and another injured following a shooting Saturday night.
Police said the incident occurred around 7 p.m. near the intersection of North Centennial Street and North University Parkway. The gunshot victims then drove to 1232 Eastchester Drive, where they called police.
Both men were transported to a local hospital for treatment. One man had succumbed to his injuries and was later pronounced dead.
It's unclear what led to the shooting. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/police-one-man-dead-another-wounded-in-high-point-shooting-on-saturday/article_1434dcea-faca-11ec-bd27-ef655307dfa2.html | 2022-07-03T14:50:10 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/police-one-man-dead-another-wounded-in-high-point-shooting-on-saturday/article_1434dcea-faca-11ec-bd27-ef655307dfa2.html |
“We’re here to ask permission,” my father said, as we rolled to a stop at a ranch house on the east side of the Big Sandy River.
“Permission for what?”
“I’m going to re-route the road that cuts across the farm so that it runs along northern fence line instead.”
“Who do you ask about that?”
He gave me that look. “When we’re inside, take off your hat and be polite.”
We parked beside four pickup trucks beneath a huge cottonwood. A million leaves rattled on a slight breeze.
A pair of yellow labs waddled out from beneath the porch wagging their tails. I scratched their ears while they wiggled and grinned. Dad knocked on the screen door. A tiny red-haired lady opened the door.
“Hello, Mrs. Houser,” my dad said. “This is my oldest boy, Tom.”
Her dentures and bright eyes gleamed at me. “Well, how nice of you both to stop by for a visit. Please, won’t you come in?”
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We followed her into the kitchen. The smell of coffee and baking bread made my stomach growl. Mrs. Houser asked us to take a seat at the kitchen table across from three other women of her vintage.
Mrs. Houser introduced everyone as she poured us tall glasses of cold, sweetened iced tea. They were all the widows of ranchers. Their men died early from hard work and harder living, leaving them behind to run their ranches and to watch the grandkids.
I sat quietly drinking my iced tea and watching the dogs at the screen door while my father and the women talked about wells and eggs and the price of beef. About how the copper mine across the mountains was buying water rights from failing farms. I heard talk of tomatoes and alfalfa.
In no time at all, it seemed to me, Dad said, “Well,” tapping my thigh with his ball cap, “we better get moving. Thank you for the tea.” We stood before the seated ladies, who smiled and nodded. Mrs. Houser followed us to the back door. She thanked us again for coming.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you a slice of bread,” she said to me. “I’m afraid that ol’ oven of mine is a slow one.”
We thanked her again for her hospitality and crossed the yard back to the jeep. The dogs followed and accepted one more scratch each behind their ears.
“What about the road?” I asked. “Weren’t you going to ask them for permission?”
“I got it.”
“You did? When? I didn’t hear any talk at all about it and I was right there.”
He gave me that other look. “Every place, big or small, has its version of those ol’ girls sitting at the kitchen table. They don’t hold public office and they make no claim to power. They just live in the world and take care of it as best they can. They’re the glue that holds things together. Sometimes, it’s not what you ask for that counts; sometimes, it’s who you ask and how.”
Happy Independence Day! Hope to see you at the parade! | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/carpenters-column-if-you-re-wondering-who-s-in-charge-around-here/article_457ce0be-f99d-11ec-9a36-f3b10a2fb732.html | 2022-07-03T14:51:54 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/carpenters-column-if-you-re-wondering-who-s-in-charge-around-here/article_457ce0be-f99d-11ec-9a36-f3b10a2fb732.html |
The 26,000-acre Pipeline Fire burned across multiple watersheds within the San Francisco Peaks, escalating the threat of post-fire flooding for several downstream neighborhoods in the Flagstaff area. Recently released flood models incorporated the data from soil burn severity analyses to predict flood patterning in severe storm conditions.
The models show that thousands of homes are likely to be impacted.
With a “wetter than usual” monsoon season in the forecast, residents are being urged to take preventative action to ensure the safety of their homes while city and county officials hurry to implement flood mitigation in affected areas.
The monsoons have come about two weeks earlier than expected, said Brian Klimowski, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service outpost in Flagstaff.
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Precipitation outlooks from the U.S. Department of Commerce suggest about a 33 to 40% chance of seasonal precipitation “above normal” between July and September. With higher than normal precipitation, an enhanced threat of flooding beneath burn scars is expected.
The impacted watersheds of the Pipeline Fires drain into two distinct “zones.” The first -- henceforth referred to as “Pipeline West” -- encompasses the Chimney and Schultz Creek watersheds that drain into the Rio De Flag and eventually flow into the downtown Flagstaff area. The second, “Pipeline East,” encompasses the Government Tank, Paintbrush-Siesta, Campbell, Copeland, Peaceful, Brandis, Lenox-Wupatki Trails Watersheds -- which drain into the neighborhoods of Timberline -- Wupatki Trails, Fernwood and Doney Park.
Pipeline West
The “concerning aspect” of the watersheds in Pipeline West is their burn severity, said Joe Loverich, project manager for JE Fuller, the engineering firm that conducted the recent flood modeling.
“There are significant areas in the Schultz Creek that were moderate or high [burn severity],” Loverich said during a Flagstaff City Council meeting Tuesday night. More severely burned soils repel water readily, correlating soil burn severity and flood risk.
Based on the JE Fuller modeling for Pipeline West, in the event that 2 inches of rain falls on the impacted watersheds in 45 minutes, water is expected to flow through Schultz Creek without impact until it meets the culverts at Highway 180 near Station No. 5 of the Flagstaff Fire Department. There, it is expected to back up at the culverts and flow over Highway 180 into the Cheshire neighborhood near Stevanna Way, where it could flow at depths of 3 three inches.
From there, Loverich said water would be inclined to take “the easiest path” toward the Rio De Flag and flow through the streets of Cheshire at depths of about an inch, “covering the full street.”
Water is expected to proceed through Cheshire on its path to the Rio De Flag, backing up at Meade Lane and continuing south beyond Beal Road.
Unfortunately there is simply “not enough infrastructure” to carry increased flows efficiently to the Rio de Flag, Loverich said. He also emphasized that uncertainty in the flood model increases the farther they proceed south down the Rio de Flag because the Rio de Flag also takes in water from several of other sources.
“The Rio de Flag is a regional water course,” Loverich said. “We aren’t modeling the rainfall over the entire 50-square-mile watershed.”
The other caveat to the modelling is that water can change its course.
“When this water comes off the watershed, it’s not clear water,” Loverich said. “Debris, sediment, rocks that come down can quickly change the course of how these streams are going. We try to predict the worst case of where this water would go.”
For reasons of uncertainty, models have not addressed flooding farther down the Rio de Flag, in the downtown and Southside areas. In these areas, common sense and historical knowledge will be key for preventative measures, said Samuel Beckett, Flagstaff public works director.
“People who’ve been here know where they get water,” Beckett said. “If you were out during Sunday’s storm and you received water in the downtown area, you probably need to consider sandbags at this point.”
Preventative measures in the Cheshire neighborhood are expected to be focused on the area where the Highway 180 culverts are expected to “quickly become overwhelmed,” Beckett said.
City public works officials are working to implement emergency mitigation in the area, including the placement of concrete jersey barriers at Stevanna Way, but supply issues could slow the process.
“Barriers, while ideal, are hard to come by,” Beckett said.
Residents in the area are urged to use sandbags, especially near areas that could permit floodwaters under the house, such as doors, windows and basements. Self-fill sandbag stations have been set up in Thorpe Park and at the “Y” of Schultz Pass Road and Mount Elden Lookout Road to service residents in the area.
“Protect your homes,” Beckett said. “Make sure they are safe enough to shelter in place.”
In the event of a flood emergency, residents are advised not to travel, but to stay put.
“If you live in Cheshire, and you’re not affected by the water, and we see water on Highway 180, please stay home,” Beckett said. “Don’t add to the burden of traffic on the road.”
Pipeline East
Burn severity in the watersheds of Pipeline East have "significantly" increased flood risk, said Lucinda Andreani, deputy county manager. She said the predictions based on the recent flood modelling are “somewhat worse" than what preliminary modeling suggested.
In a 2-inch, 45-minute rain event, water will make its way down off the Pipeline East watersheds and move through the Timberline and Wupatki Trails neighborhoods before it reaches Highway 89.
Because the immediately downstream neighborhoods in Pipeline East have varying levels of flood mitigation infrastructure put into place after the Schultz Fire flooding, some places are expected to get hit harder than others. The Lenox-Wupatki Trails watershed is likely to be “extremely reactive” to rainfall, Andreani said.
This was witnessed Sunday, when a protective sediment basin below the watershed filled with “4inches of sediment” and water “overwhelmed” the channels in the Wupatki Trails neighborhood.
According to principal engineer with Civiltec Engineering Chris Duza, the channels in Wupatki Trails were designed to handle about 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water.
“They saw 800 to 1,000 cfs on Sunday,” Duza said.
According to a public presentation given by the county on Wednesday, rain events of the magnitude seen last Sunday are “not unlikely” and should be expected to happen several times throughout the season.
Other areas at risk are where no mitigation exists, such as the Copeland and Peaceful washes. Floods are also likely beneath the Government Tank Watershed, which empties near Switchback Trail and Heppel Drive. This watershed experienced high burn severity and has no preexisting mitigation, making it doubly vulnerable.
Once water makes its way through the Timberline neighborhoods and crosses to the east side of Highway 89, it’s expected to flow heavily through residential sections near Girls Ranch Road, Leisure Lane, Last Chance Road, Ponderosa Lane, Campbell Avenue and Treadway Trail before splitting up, hitting the Twin Berms east of Campbell and crossing Landfill Road.
Then, waters are expected to converge on Doney Park, entering near Vista De Oro and Dianna Place to move south and eventually “pond” between Carmel Road and Yancey Lane.
Up to 1,500 properties are potentially impacted by these flood patterns, Andreani said.
Coconino County has already mobilized resources to add emergency mitigation in heavily impacted areas. This includes concrete barriers installed in “high velocity” areas at Wupatki Trails, Heppel, Paintbrush and a property on Doney Park. They’ve also cleaned out channels throughout the area, repaired terminal trenches at Campbell and Wupatki Trails that were impacted by the Tunnel and Pipeline Fires, and placed concrete barriers between Landfill Road and Doney Park.
In the works is an expansion of the Twin Berms between Highway 89 and Landfill Road, as well as more long-term expansion of food mitigation systems in the area. Long-term goals will come into play later down the line, according to Andreani. For now, the focus remains on the emergency response needed for this monsoon season.
Impacted residents are highly encouraged to obtain flood insurance and build sandbag walls. Conservation corps partners have produced 100,000 sandbags for residential use, and on Tuesday 60 inmates from the Winslow prison complex will be tasked with producing more sandbags for use in the area. According to the county presentation, more than 600,000 sandbags are still needed.
Further resources
Both the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County have compiled Pipeline Fire and flooding resources to assist residents in their preparations for heightened flood risk.
Pipeline West flood assessment maps, insurance information and rain gauges can be found at www.flagstaff.az.gov/4767/Pipeline-Fire-West-Flood-Area.
Pipeline East flood assessment maps, sandbag instructions, insurance information, hotlines, emergency notification sign-ups, address-specific mitigation “exhibits” designed to give homeowners a sandbag plan, and more can be found at coconino.az.gov/2926/SchultzPipeline-Flood-Area. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/models-show-pipeline-fire-significantly-increased-flood-risks-across-flagstaff-area/article_458950f0-f8b3-11ec-82f7-8f54685bf9b2.html | 2022-07-03T14:52:00 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/models-show-pipeline-fire-significantly-increased-flood-risks-across-flagstaff-area/article_458950f0-f8b3-11ec-82f7-8f54685bf9b2.html |
As an early monsoon season settles in, flood mitigation projects downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar are nearing completion -- not a day too soon.
While the infrastructure projects are expected to help control flood activity across the affected neighborhoods, the City of Flagstaff reminds residents that infrastructure will by no means eliminate flood risk. Residents are being advised to keep emergency mitigation, such as sandbag walls, in place and purchase flood insurance. A final volunteer event to help residents with flood preparation has been scheduled for Saturday, July 9.
City staff updated Flagstaff City Council on the progress of Museum flood projects during a recent meeting on Tuesday. According to the update, volunteer events have so far received 203 volunteers for an estimated 866 hours of aid to 35 residences in the area.
Pre-monsoon preparation costs, including volunteer events, sandbags and the recently installed early warning siren system, have charged about $400,000 to the city’s Stormwater Fund, reported finance director Brandi Suda. She also estimated that flood response activities this year, such as street clearing, debris removal and more sandbags would cost “just over $1 million.” The total would not include the cost of flood damages and repairs.
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Some outside funding has been secured fortunately through the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, reported Samuel Beckett, streets section director. The funds have helped support the purchase of a combo-vac truck, a mini excavator and trailer, two vehicle-mounted signboards, 200,000 empty sandbags and an automatic sandbagger.
When it comes to construction projects, the box culvert below Dortha Avenue and corresponding concrete channel improvement from Cedar Avenue to Dortha are functional, but not entirely complete, reported project manager Christine Cameron.
“We are ready to take water,” Cameron said.
Barriers blocking Dortha Avenue are still in place, but will be removed once the project is finalized. Construction costs for the project were estimated at about $2.6 million.
Ponderosa Park has “changed dramatically” in its preparation to serve as a funnel into the Killip detention basins, Beckett said. The park is now largely just a dirt field with concrete barriers in place.
“It’s not something we’re proud of,” Beckett said. “It’s just what had to happen for the safety of residents, children, and to reduce additional impacts to the Killip detention basin."
The Mount Elden Estates alluvial fan work is “complete and ready,” as the result of a “truly great partnership” with Coconino County, Beckett said.
The alluvial fan is expected to reduce sediment downstream and slow water velocity down Spruce Wash before it enters the city.
The early warning siren systems have been installed and tested, reported city public affairs director Sarah Langley. Some adjustments to volume will be made based on resident feedback, but the system is functional. Still, Langley reminded residents that this system is “supplementary” to county emergency notifications, and resident should sign up for notifications immediately.
Langley also reminded residents that “flood risk remains very, very real.”
“Infrastructure projects will help, but they will not solve everything,” Langley said. “You definitely need to keep sandbags in place.”
For more information, including the signup form for emergency notifications, visit www.MuseumFloodProjects.com. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/museum-fire-flood-mitigation-nears-completion-flood-risk-remains-very-real/article_a707c5c2-f8be-11ec-97e1-f3fcfd156cff.html | 2022-07-03T14:52:06 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/museum-fire-flood-mitigation-nears-completion-flood-risk-remains-very-real/article_a707c5c2-f8be-11ec-97e1-f3fcfd156cff.html |
Storms caused minor damage to vendor booths set up for Art in the Park late Saturday night. Organizers have delayed opening of the two-day festival until noon Sunday to give vendors time to clean up.
The festival is scheduled through 7 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday at Dykshoorn Park on Main Street in Mandan. For updated information, visit artintheparknd.com. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/mandan/mandan-art-in-the-park-opening-at-noon-due-to-storm-damage/article_33c59e82-facf-11ec-8333-236622d3cc3e.html | 2022-07-03T15:01:39 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/mandan/mandan-art-in-the-park-opening-at-noon-due-to-storm-damage/article_33c59e82-facf-11ec-8333-236622d3cc3e.html |
WHITE HAVEN, Pa. — Some residents of White Haven are overjoyed to hear that plans to toll some interstate bridges have been stopped by the commonwealth court.
"I think it's great because I thought it was bought and paid for so why would we have to pay for it again," said Frank Staines, White Haven.
Last year Governor Wolf and PennDOT proposed using tolls to fund nine interstate bridge projects.
One of those bridges was the Lehigh River bridge on Interstate 80 in White Haven.
Residents tell Newswatch 16 they are breathing a sigh of relief hearing the plans won't be moving forward.
"I'm glad it's not happening because gas prices are so high and besides, the turnpike is already so high, I don't even take the turnpike anymore because it's too expensive to drive," said Frank Staines, White Haven.
Residents expressed concerns when the proposal was first announced about the possibility of increased traffic through town.
"It would have only made a lot of hassle for these towns because tractors and trailers, and carts would just be driving through town trying to get around the bridge anyway," said Sam Gerhard, White Haven.
Others we spoke with say they understand why people are excited to hear the proposed plans have been blocked- but are now thinking long-term about where infrastructure funding will come from.
"It's nice in the short run but where are they going to get the money from other than that? I'm a firm believer that you pay taxes on things that you use so if they are now going to run short on money hopefully that doesn't come out of our state income tax or some other tax we'll get hit for later on," said Stanley Boc, Philadelphia.
Along with stopping the tolling plan, the commonwealth court also ruled that PennDOT must stop all studies about bridge tolling along with any planned hearings, meetings, and spending.
See news happening? | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/bridge-toll-plan-blocked/523-b9ed1c83-721e-4e1c-ade9-a3f0ab4a6d99 | 2022-07-03T15:05:25 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/bridge-toll-plan-blocked/523-b9ed1c83-721e-4e1c-ade9-a3f0ab4a6d99 |
Lost Island Themepark, located on 159 acres at 2600 E. Shaulis Road, opened in mid-June with a few hundred people coming through the gates on the first day.
“It was a planned soft opening to get staff up to speed, and also with new equipment we were going to have some hiccups here and there,” said Gary Bertch, a member of the family that operates the new theme park and its sister water park across the street.
“We’ve been in the low hundreds, and we’re hoping to increase that. The rides are reliable. We are starting to push the advertising now,” he said.
The park is home to an array of rides, ranging from a roller coaster so intense that it can suck the cell phone out of your shorts pocket — as it did for a Courier reporter on a recent visit — to a slow-and-easy Ferris wheel with a fantastic view of the entire park.
Playgrounds for the smaller children — and seating for their parents — also are abundant.
Visitors to the park are greeted with five colorful worlds to explore. Each land features its own characters and backstory that patrons can learn about from educational art and artifacts, such as a daVinci-like flying machine, while they queue up for the rides.
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Paths wind through Udara, the air element world that hosts the purple Nopuko air coaster, the Skyborne drop tower and the Amara Aviators flight ride.
The water realm, Awa, includes an island on a 30-acre manmade lake that is home to the park’s Ferris wheel.
The centerpiece of the fire land, Mura, is a Volkanu, an interactive ride set inside a volcano.
Tamariki, the spirit land, is geared for young children with a large playground and scaled-down versions of some of the other rides.
The park’s second roller coaster — the green Matugani launch coaster — and a carousel weren’t open as of last week because of supply chain issues. Bertch said the rides should be ready to go later this year.
Another attraction — the Yuta Falls flume ride — won’t be open this year because of a winter fire that damaged the control panel. It should be completed by opening day 2023, he said.
Bertch said Lost Island continues to accept applications for people looking to work at the theme park.
The park is open daily during the summer until Aug. 21. After that, it will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September, according to the park’s online schedule.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate and range from $45 to $49 depending on the day of the week. Parking is $10 per day and $15 for oversized vehicles.
In addition to the theme park and Lost Island Waterpark, the family also operates the Bamboo Ridge Campground, Monaleo Adventure Golf and Monaleo’s Speedway go-cart track, all located in the same area. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/lost-island-themepark-is-ready-for-crowds/article_e771b1ff-10e7-5012-938f-6a9dcbc1f382.html | 2022-07-03T15:11:23 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/lost-island-themepark-is-ready-for-crowds/article_e771b1ff-10e7-5012-938f-6a9dcbc1f382.html |
WATERLOO — Courier staff members headed to Lost Island Themepark’s media day Tuesday to check out the rides at the newly opened attraction.
Each reporter found their sweet spot in one of the five themed worlds that make up the park. Following are impressions of what they experienced, often while flying through the air, shooting down a track, spinning or flipping – likely all accompanied by some screams.
Vibrant, thrilling
Maria Kuiper: Stepping into the theme park felt very welcoming, similar to how I’d feel walking into a bigger amusement park like Disney World or Busch Gardens. The vibrancy of the park’s surroundings and its soundtrack reeled me in and continued to engage my senses throughout the visit.
The kids’ section — Tamariki — is very inviting with playful colors and cute critters! This world is reminiscent of Candy Land, but I think I’m probably too old to be caught in the Tamariki world.
The color of the paths and the sound of music changed as I walked through the park.
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As shades shifted from pastels to wispy blues and purples, I found myself in Udara, the air realm. Udara definitely has the biggest, most thrilling rides of any section of the park. It contains rides like the Skyborne Drop Tower, the purple Nopuko Air Coaster and Amara Aviators – my personal favorite.
The roller coaster is definitely not for first-time coaster riders! My feet dangled as I went upside-down at least five times (the Lost Island website says five, but it felt like a lot more to me).
My favorite, the aviator ride, put me in control. I sat in a chair and “flapped” the panels on either side of me. Once the chair got high enough, I could flap the wings in a correct rhythm and do as many barrel rolls as I liked.
On the complete opposite end of the ride spectrum is Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol. The track the ride follows took us through a cave to save the spirits of the theme park. We put on glasses that made the animated characters come to life.
There were points in the ride where my car stopped and monsters kept coming at me. I had to shoot them with laser guns we were equipped with. I didn’t think this ride would be that interesting but it ended up being one of my favorites.
Apart from the rides, all of the staff and guides seemed to really love what they did and made the visit much more special!
Cowardly comfort
Andy Milone: Lost Island Themepark offered the perfect amount of fun and thrill for me, as I think it would for others who describe themselves as scaredy-cats but also have some thirst for adventure.
I was delighted to discover Mura, the park’s “fire” world – where Shaman’s Curse, Rokava and Mura Fury stood ready to welcome my somewhat cowardly self.
While on Shaman’s Curse, I was one of a dozen or so people sitting on bicycle-like seats on a circular disc with wheels that spun while traveling back and forth up two slopes and over a central hump.
The speed is not too quick. The ride kept me relatively close to the ground. And I enjoyed the view of the park. I was never worried once about falling off and, thus, I had time to breathe, smile, and scream to the heavens.
Rokava took it up a notch, but it wasn’t too extreme. I was willing to give it a try. The most intimidating part about it was actually the big scary volcano monster in the backdrop.
I took a seat in what looked like a stadium bleacher. Despite it being detached from the lava-loving creature, it felt like his arm had picked me up and was moving me through the air rambunctiously – like a child with a toy airplane.
I felt higher up above the ground than when I was riding Shaman’s Curse and discovered along the way that this ride is not consistent in terms of its path through the air.
It had lots of sudden twists and jerks as well as some FLIPPING.
Mura Fury is a giant pendulum. I and others strapped into seats arranged in a circle, rocked back and forth until we got higher and higher and eventually past the point of no return. In other words, we did a full 360-degree vertical flip and were upside down for a few seconds while spinning slowly horizontally.
I’d say this ride was more therapeutic because I could enjoy being in motion. Similar to Shaman’s Curse, it provided some predictability and kept me at ease.
Flights of fancy
Donald Promnitz: The innovations of the people of Udara took them to the heavens. That was before the fall, though.
Now, the Udarans are consigned to the ground in Northeast Iowa. They haven’t given up on their ambitions to get back in the air — and they’re happy to use willing park-goers as test subjects on their newest experiments. That included me.
The rides in the air-themed Udara section include Nopuko Air Coaster, the Dream Spinner, the Skyborne Drop Tower and Amara Aviators. As a kid who grew up in California with some of the best roller coasters in America — and as someone with a lifelong love of aviation — I was more than satisfied.
Skyborne took me and the other riders 185 feet into the air before a sudden drop back down to Earth. Then came the Nopuko Air Coaster, which hurled me through the air while safely strapped into my seat — and still allowed for plenty of flips and twists.
Finally, there’s the Amara Aviators — a set of 12 individual, winged pods with controls on the wings. Pushing them up and down, I had control over my seat to spin and roll at my leisure. It took a couple of tries but, once mastered, it became my personal favorite.
All in all, if you like rides and love flight, don’t skip out on your chance to be an Udaran test pilot.
PHOTOS: Lost Island Theme Park
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Lost Island Theme Park Main Gate
Lost Island Theme Park Shaman's Curse
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The roller coaster is definitely not for first-time coaster riders! My feet dangled as I went upside-down at least five times (the Lost Island website says five, but it felt like a lot more to me).
Maria Kuiper | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/spinning-flying-and-flipping-through-waterloos-new-theme-park/article_f84d053f-e1ed-5ae3-a406-0a619e4389bb.html | 2022-07-03T15:11:30 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/spinning-flying-and-flipping-through-waterloos-new-theme-park/article_f84d053f-e1ed-5ae3-a406-0a619e4389bb.html |
Lubbock entertainment in brief
Rogers, Bowen kick off Fourth of July at Cook's
Come Kick off the 4th of July with Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen on their Hold My Beer and Watch This Tour at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 3, at Cook's Garage, 11002 Highway 87.
Rogers was born in Cleburne and at the age of 6, he learned to play the piano from his grandmother, and later started playing the guitar.
The Randy Rogers Band recorded its debut album, "Live at Cheatham Street Warehouse", at a music hall of the same name in San Marcos. By 2002, the band was signed to the independent Downtime record label, on which they released the album "Like It Used to Be".
Bowen is a Texas Country/Red Dirt singer from Waco. He released his first album in 2002, "Try Not To Listen", which became a regional hit in Texas. He released his first live album in 2003, recorded live at The Blue Light in Lubbock, followed by studio albums "Lost Hotel" in 2006 and "If We Ever Make It Home in 2008".
About the event: Clear bags only, bag chairs allowed, no re-entry, no outside food or drinks, and $10 minor (under 21) upcharge at the door.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the gate (plus taxes and fees) or $1,000 for a table of eight.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cooksgarage.us
Cinemark 'MIB' for 25th anniversary
Cinemark Movies 16 and XD, 5721 58th St., will host a special 25th anniversary screening of "Men In Black" at 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 3, and 7 p.m. Monday, July 4.
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith star in this blockbuster as the Men in Black, regulators of all things alien on Earth. With our planet crawling with extraterrestrials cleverly disguised to blend in with the clueless human population, top-secret organization MiB is charged with monitoring and controlling alien activity while keeping it all a secret.
World-weary Agent K (Jones) and his enthusiastic young partner, Agent J (Smith), are investigating several mysterious alien deaths with the help of the coolly resourceful Dr. Laura Weaver (Linda Fiorentino), deputy medical examiner of New York. On the trail of an intergalactic terrorist (Vincent D'Onofrio) with a deadly agenda, K and J face a simple imperative: track down the interloper or the Earth will be destroyed. It's all in a day's work for the Men in Black.
Tickets for this special screening are $12.45 and available in advance online at www.fathomevents.com
SPC’s Upward Bound students slate concert
LEVELLAND – The Upward Bound Jazz and Performance Practice class at South Plains College will perform in a concert at 7 p.m. on July 5 in the Tom T. Hall Studio.
Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.
The concert will feature the performance of five original songs crafted by the students.
In the Jazz History and Performance class, the students study jazz history, music composition, and performance practices. They will perform the music they’ve written and perform the music on instruments they have been playing for only one month.
To help prepare and promote the concert, the students are placed on one of three teams – Producer and Production Team, Marketing Team and Art Design and Promotion Team.
Members of the Producer and Production Team are Adrianna Garcia, Chase Pickering, Eian Mulkey and Zoey Ruiz. The Marketing Team members are Ariana Vasquez, Daisy Perez, Noah Gonzales and Zachary Lopez.
The Art Design and Promotion Team members are Blake Clift, Elizabeth Sanchez, Jax Riege and Taylor Howard.
For more information, contact Emily Wheeler, adjunct instructor in Commercial Music, at (806) 716-2492.
Country legend Janie Fricke coming to Cactus
Janie Fricke, a certified country music legend with 18 No. 1 hits, is set to perform live at the Cactus Theater at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 8.
Fricke has gone from Indiana farm girl to internationally acclaimed recording artist throughout her career. Her voice led her to singing sessions for Country artists such as Loretta Lynn, Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Mel Tillis, Johnny Duncan and others.
Fricke soon began to dominate the country charts with smash hits such as “Don't Worry ' Bout Me Baby,” “He's a Heartache” and “You're Heart's Not In It.” It was only a matter of time before she started winning awards. Among them are: Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year, Music City News Female Vocalist of the Year, "Billboard" Top Country Female Vocalist, Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year, and she was chosen to the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars.
In her recording career, she has released 23 albums and 36 hit singles.
Tickets for the first four rows (rows A-D) are $40; remaining floor seats (rows E-M) are $35; standard balcony seats are $30; and limited balcony box seats are $70 and include concessions).
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cactustheater.com
CATS to present 'It Takes a Village'
CATS Playhouse, 2257 34th St., plans to present "It Takes a Village: Tales and Folklore" adapted by Whitney Ryan Garrity at 7:30 p.m. on July 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23.
“It Takes a Village,” was written by local playwright Garrity. The play was premiered at The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences Center last November, as the first of such theater events devised by Lubbock ISD.
Garrity wrote and directed his first musical at the age of 21. Since then, he has created numerous plays, revues and musicals, a dozen of which are published. He has worked with various theater organizations in New Jersey and Texas as a performer, director, and artistic director.
General admission tickets for all ages are $10 and may be purchased online at http://catsplayhouse.com/
Caprock Jazz Festival set for July 9
Caprock Jazz Festival 2022 is scheduled for Saturday, July 9, in the Helen DeVitt Jones Auditorium at the Texas Tech University Museum, 601 Indiana Ave.
The Caprock Jazz Concert aims to bring-quality contemporary jazz performers to the South Plains. The concert is a major fundraiser for the Roots Historical Arts Council and the Caviel Museum of African American History.
There will be performances from Lubbock's own Tom Braxton, who was inducted into the West Texas Hall of Fame along with his father James "JT" Braxton in 2017. Also performing is the amazing Jasmin Ghent who received the prestigious 2019 "NAACP Image Award" for Outstanding Jazz Album for her 2019 album "The Story of Jazz".
Groove Frequencies will be taking the stage with their unique style of smooth jazz that has been earning them fans with Jazz enthusiast worldwide since the release of their first album In The Groove in 2017.
Two types of tickets are available. A concert ticket which will allow entry from 6:30 p.m., and also a ticket for a pre-show dinner that starts at 5 p.m.
General admission concert-only tickets are $50 and concert and dinner combination tickets are $100. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit selectaseatlubbock.com
LCT presents 'An Evening with Natalie Weiss'
Lubbock Community Theater presents "An Evening with Natalie Weiss" at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 9.
Enjoy an evening of music on the LCT Main Stage with accomplished singer, Broadway actor and creator of the viral "Breaking Down The Riff" voice instruction series Natalie Weiss.
General seating tickets get you into the show at 7:30 p.m. but you also have the option of purchasing VIP tickets by the seat or by the table, which get you in early for cocktails and a meet and greet with Natalie at 6 p.m.
An acclaimed vocal performer and coach, Weiss has achieved major success on and off the stage. Her performance videos mixed with her “edutainment” series, Breaking Down The Riffs®, made her a viral sensation, with 30 million views on YouTube alone. Her groundbreaking and fun approach to pop technique has become a growing standard in the music industry.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.lubbockcommunitytheatre.org
Theater presents Ragtown! a Musical Drama
Now in its 16th season, Ragtown Gospel Theater is excited to be bringing Ragtown! A Musical Drama back to the stage with eight performances in July and August.
Ragtown is a fun-filled musical based on the 1907 founding of Post City, Texas, by the eccentric millionaire cereal inventor, C.W. Post. But underlying the rollicking story is a message that couldn’t be more timely.
Taking place just 40 years after the end of the Civil War, Ragtown is a story of forgiveness and healing the wounds of division between brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of skin color, or on which side of the war they may have been.
Glenn Polk directs, and portrays the enigmatic Rainmaker with Deborah Hobbs as Sister Pearl Talley, and Ron Meadows in the role of C.W. Post. The play and music are by Chip Polk, with orchestral arrangements by Andy Patterson. Choreography is by Kristen Williams.
Performances will be Saturdays at 3 p.m., July 9 through Aug. 27. All seats are reserved. Adult tickets are $22, discounted to $16.50 purchased in groups of 12 or more. Student tickets K through college are $10. Veterans and active military are welcome to attend as our guests.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ragtown.com.
Cinemark screening 'Transformers' for 15th anniversary
Cinemark Movies 16 and XD, 5721 58th St., is hosting a special 15th anniversary screening of "Transformers" at 3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, and at 3 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 14.
From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg comes the thrilling blockbuster battle between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. When their epic struggle comes to Earth, all that stands between the Decepticons and ultimate power is a clue held by a young man named Sam (Shia LaBeouf).
Teaming up Bumblebee, an Autobot disguised as Sam's car, the heart-pounding race is on, against an enemy unlike anything anyone has seen before.
Tickets for this special screening are $12.45 and available online in advance. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com
Wallace Theater presents 'Hunchback'
Levelland's Wallace Theater will present "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" at 7:30 p.m. July 15, 16, 22 and 23 and at 2 p.m. on July 17 and 24 at the LHUCA Firehouse Theater 511 Ave. K, Lubbock.
Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs. Peter Parnell’s new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo’s gothic novel.
The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be "Out There," observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful Romani woman, Esmeralda.
Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all.
Tickets for this production are $20 to $45 for general seating or $100 for front-row seats and are available online at www.wallacetheater.com
Blackwood and the Imperials to perform gospel
Terry Blackwood and the Elvis Imperials will be live at the Cactus Theater at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 17.
The journey of this renowned group, The Imperials, began in 1964 when Jake Hess organized a world-class vocal group with the best voices he could find. The Imperials quickly found their place in gospel music but after a few short years, Jake Hess developed some health issues. When he had to step down, he asked Terry Blackwood to take his place.
The Imperials impacted an entire generation of young people bringing a fresh new sound but an “uncompromised Gospel message” to millions of all ages. Along the way, they won multiple Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame among other accolades.
The songs on their new CD “The Way” were carefully selected to lead people to Christ. The Imperials pray that the listener will be blessed and encouraged by what they have endeavored to do on the project.
Reserved seat tickets are first 5 rows (A-E), $27.50; remaining 7 rows (F-M), $25; standard balcony, $20; and balcony box, $50.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cactustheater.com.
'Cabaret' on the big screen for 50th anniversary
TCM Big Screen Classics presents "Cabaret" 50th anniversary screening at Cinemark Movies 16 and XD, 5721 58th St., at 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 17, and Wednesday, July 20.
Berlin, 1931. As Nazism rises in Germany, flamboyant American Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) sings in a decadent nightclub and falls in love with a British language teacher (Michael York) — whom she shares with a homosexual German baron. But Sally's small, carefree, tolerant and fragile cabaret world is about to be crushed under the boot of the Nazis as Berlin becomes a trap from which Sally's German friends will not escape in this ground-breaking, blockbuster film version of the Broadway musical Cabaret.
Winner of eight Academy Awards®: Best Actress in a Leading Role - Liza Minnelli Best Director - Bob Fosse Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Joel Grey Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Best Cinematography Best Film Editing Best Sound Based on the book Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood, the Broadway play I Am a Camera based on the book and written by John Van Druten and on the Broadway musical written by Joe Masteroff.
This 50th anniversary event includes exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies.
Tickets for this special screening are $12.45 and available online in advance. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com
Yoakam coming to Buddy Holly Hall
Country star Dwight Yoakam will hit the stage of the Helen Devitt Jones Theater of Buddy Holly Hall at 8 p.m. Friday, July 22.
Star of country music and screen, Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner.
He has 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the Top 10.
Reserved seat tickets range from $39.99 to $139.99 (plus taxes & fees) and are available for purchase online at www.buddyhollyhall.com
Garth Brooks tribute coming to Cactus
The Garth Guy, the ultimate live tribute to Garth Brooks, will be live at the Cactus Theater at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22.
Dean Simmons followed the footsteps of his father, uncle and grandfather to a life of performing country music. At seven years old, Dean was strumming his guitar with his father’s band. Later, after playing lead guitar for several projects, he formed the Dean Simmons Band performing nightclubs, fairs and festivals and honky-tonks all over the Pacific Northwest.
Simmons began his career as a Garth Brooks tribute artist in 1994. In 1996, producer John Stuart discovered and hired him to perform in the world famous "Legends in Concert" in Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City and several tours and one-night performances throughout the USA and Canada. He is still the only "Garth" on Legends’ roster and still performs in many of the Legends shows.
Tickets for this show are first 4 rows (rows A-D), $27.50; remaining floor (rows E-M), $25; standard balcony, $20; and balcony box, $50 (Note: Box ticket includes concessions).
For more information, visit www.cactustheater.com
Trevino to perform at Cactus
Texas-born country star Rick Trevino is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Cactus Theater.
Special guest opener will be Hannah Jack and featuring Lubbock's Dustin Garrett on guitar.
Trevino is a Mexican-American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1993, Trevino began his career with the release of his debut single, "Just Enough Rope," the first mainstream country music single to feature separate English and Spanish-language versions. The song was included on his debut album, "Dos Mundos," a self-titled album that followed in 1994.
Trevino has charted 14 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recorded seven studio albums. His highest charting single, "Running Out of Reasons to Run," spent one week at No. 1 in 1997 on the Billboard Country Chart. "Learning As You Go" and "She Can't Say I Didn't Cry" also reached No. 1 on the Radio & Records Country Chart.
Reserved seat tickets are: first four rows (A-D), $27.50; remainder of floor, $25; standard balcony, $20; and balcony box (includes concessions), $50.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cactustheater.com
America coming to Holly Hall
America, the perennial classic-rock favorite, is continuing to celebrate its 50th anniversary with its powerful performances and is set to perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 24, in the Helen Devitt Jones Theater of Buddy Holly Hall.
Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (along with former band mate, the late Dan Peek) met in high school in London in the late 1960s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.”
America became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first No. 1 single. Their best-known tunes, include “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair.”
Reserved seat tickets range from $39.50 to $79.50 (plus taxes & fees), depending on seating.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.buddyhollyhall.com
Holly Hall hosting 'Encanto' sing-along event
"Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert" is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 in the Helen Devitt Jones Theater of Buddy Holly Hall.
From the Disney movie that is warming hearts all over the world, Disney Concerts and Live Nation bring you Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert, where Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award® winning film comes to life in a one-of-a-kind concert event, featuring the entire feature-length film and an on-stage band celebrating all the record-breaking hit songs from the beloved soundtrack. Live characters do not appear as part of this event.
Reserved seat tickets range from $39.50 to $79.50 (plus taxes & fees), depending on seating.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.buddyhollyhall.com
Aguilar brings comedy to civic center
Mario Aguilar brings his new comedy show to Lubbock at 10 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center theater.
"Ser Loca no es Facil" if you enjoyed, "Celosa yo? Jamás..!!" prepared to be filled with laughter. The show is complete with dancers, music, humor and fun for the whole family.
Mario awaits you with all of his characters.
Tickets for this show range from $45 to $75 (plus taxes and fees) depending on seating.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit selectaseatlubbock.com
Live comedy coming to Cactus stage
James Gregory, the "funniest man in America," will present a live comedy show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at the Cactus Theater.
For decades, the unforgettable caricature of veteran comedian James Gregory has stood grinning: his shirt untucked, his arms outstretched, a carefree welcome to a down-home, hilarious comedy experience. It’s storytelling at its best. The trademark caricature is the essence of James Gregory’s comedy: rib-tickling reflections on life from the front porch.
Gregory is heard weekly on syndicated radio shows such as Rick and Bubba, John Boy and Billy and Bob and Tom. Combined, these shows are broadcast to people in over 220 cities nationwide. As a result, he now has a grass-roots following that numbers in the millions.
Tickets for this show are: first 6 rows on floor (rows A-F) $59.50; remaining rows on floor (G-M), $49.50; standard balcony, $39.50; and balcony box (includes concessions), $99.50.
For more information, visit www.cactustheater.com.
Classic rock's Journey coming to USA
Rock n' Roll hall of famers Journey are coming to Lubbock's United Supermarkets Arena at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.
World-renowned for their legendary rock anthems including “Any Way You Want It”, “Faithfully”, “Lights” and "Don't Stop Believin'", streamed over one billion times alone, Journey has sold more 100 million albums globally since their formation in 1973.
With 19 top 40 singles and 25 gold and platinum albums, their "Greatest Hits" album, 15 times platinum, makes Journey one of the few bands to ever achieve diamond-certified status.
Ticket prices with fees are $91.75, $86.75 and $78.75, depending on seating.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit selectaseatlubbock.com | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2022/07/03/lubbock-entertainment-brief/7758942001/ | 2022-07-03T15:12:37 | 1 | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2022/07/03/lubbock-entertainment-brief/7758942001/ |
This story first appeared in the Lede, a digital news publication delivered to our subscribers every morning. Go here to subscribe.
World Games visitors may notice complimentary sensory bags with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, and “feeling thermometers” located at the entrances to different events.
They’re a product of the World Games’ partnership with Birmingham-based KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit for sensory accessibility.
Earlier this year, KultureCity opened three sensory rooms around the city: one at Protective Life Stadium and two at the BJCC. Their purpose is to provide a calming and accessible area for those with autism and other sensory issues to decompress in a private setting.
Founder Julian Maha says the concept of KultureCity originated from a negative experience at a barber shop. Maha was trying to calm his son, who is autistic, during a “meltdown” when a stranger grabbed the boy and yelled. The incident prompted Maha to think of ways to make public spaces more accessible for people with sensory issues.
Maha and his wife and co-founder, Dr. Michele Kong, faced several obstacles during the early stages of building their nonprofit. Chief among them was the challenge of bringing the public’s attention to the issues they were trying to resolve.
“We were dealing with something that a lot of people did not realize or did not understand,” Maha said. “So there was a fundamental issue of awareness around the topic of invisible disability and sensory needs.”
Today, KultureCity has implemented more than 900 sensory-friendly spaces in more than five countries. In addition to the World Games, future plans include training Birmingham’s first responders to better interact with those with sensory needs, and providing sensory tents for Coldplay’s European tour.
KultureCity also has mobile sensory accessible options if businesses do not have the space to build a sensory room and any variety of locations can apply for their services through a form located on their website. Maha said the organization has served locations ranging from small public libraries to large sports stadiums.
For a location to become certified by KultureCity, Maha said the most important thing is training. Fifty percent of all full-time employees must undergo training, after which KultureCity will provide sensory bags or -- if space allows -- build a sensory room. Following this the business is added to the organization’s system through an app as the final step before becoming certified.
Maha said the cost for businesses to go through this process is evaluated on a case-by-case basis but should cost most businesses no more than $750 a year and this price is also to ensure services remain free to those who need them.
“The biggest thing to understand with this is it is the right thing to do for the community because a lot of these individuals have remained isolated for so long because of these challenges and because the community is not understanding them,” said Maha.
Maha explained how this lack of understanding can have deadly consequences and shared the story of Linden Cameron, a 13-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome who was shot by Salt Lake City police in 2020 when responding to his mother’s call for assistance with a meltdown.
Following the shooting the mayor of Salt Lake City reached out to a local contact who had worked with KultureCity before and asked to set up police training for individuals with sensory issues.
From that six-month training, KultureCity’s law enforcement training program was born. Maha said in the time they were training in Salt Lake City the organization helped prevent eight potential shootings that would have occurred had the police not received said training.
He said after COVID the law enforcement training program quickly grew and is now responsible for training both Alabama and Tennessee state troopers every year as well as local police and fire departments across the country.
“We were one of the weird nonprofits in that we actually grew significantly during COVID, and COVID also allowed us to go more virtual which really helped us scale a lot more of what we could do,” said Maha.
Maha shared that nearly ten years after it’s inception the inspiration for KultureCity, his son, loves the organization and that it has enabled him to go places he was never able to go before due to fear of judgement.
“I think that’s kind of the beauty of the whole thing we do. Sensory needs aren’t just autism, even though that’s sort of the one that gets all the press. Sensory needs can be things like PTSD or mental health challenges. Invisible disabilities can be acquired, and I think that’s something we all need to be aware of,” Maha said in reference to KultureCity’s website which stresses the importance of acceptance for those with sensory needs instead of just awareness.
If a venue is interested in becoming Sensory Inclusive™ they can email support@kulturecity.org to get started without a wait period. | https://www.al.com/local/2022/07/meet-the-man-bringing-accessibility-to-the-world-games-city-of-birmingham.html | 2022-07-03T15:14:15 | 0 | https://www.al.com/local/2022/07/meet-the-man-bringing-accessibility-to-the-world-games-city-of-birmingham.html |
SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — A group of young off-duty Ukrainian soldiers gathered at a military distribution center to enjoy a rare respite from the fighting that has again engulfed their fractured home in eastern Ukraine.
As they shared jokes and a pizza, artillery explosions could be heard a few kilometers away — a reminder of the looming battle that threatens to unfold here in the city of Slovyansk, which was occupied by Russian proxy fighters in 2014.
“Everyone knows that there will be a huge battle in Slovyansk,” said one of the soldiers, who could not be named for security reasons.
Now, eight years after their city was last occupied, the war has returned. Slovyansk could become the next major target in Russia’s campaign to take the Donbas region, Ukraine’s predominantly Russian-speaking industrial heartland, if Moscow captures Lysychansk — the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Luhansk province, 70 kilometers (43 miles) to the east.
Another soldier, a 23-year-old accountant who joined up when the invasion began, said Ukrainian forces simply do not have the weapons to fight off the superior arsenal of the approaching Russian army.
“We know what’s coming” he said with a sad smile.
These soldiers were still teenagers when pro-Russian separatists captured and held the town for three months. The brief occupation in 2014 terrorized Slovyansk, where dozens of officials and journalists were taken hostage, and several killings took place.
Fierce fighting and shelling broke out when the Ukrainian army laid siege to the city to recapture it.
“Actually, the war never left Slovyansk. It didn’t leave people’s heads” said Tetiana Khimion, a 43-year-old dance choreographer who converted a fishing store into a hub for local military units.
“On the one hand, it is easier for us because we know what it’s like. On the other hand, it is more difficult for us since we’ve been living like this for eight years in a suspended condition.”
Slovyansk is a city of splintered loyalties. With a large retired population, it is not uncommon to hear older residents express sympathy towards Russia or nostalgia for their Soviet past. There is also distrust of the Ukrainian army and government.
After a recent shelling of his apartment block, one resident named Sergei said he believed that the strike was launched by Ukraine.
“I’m not pro-Russian, I’m not pro-Ukrainian. I am somewhere in between” he said. “Both Russians and Ukrainians kill civilians — everyone should understand that.”
On Thursday, a group of elderly residents couldn’t hide their frustration after a bomb blast slashed open their roofs and shattered their windows.
Ukraine “says they are protecting us, but what kind of protection is this?” asked one man, who did not provide his name.
“They kneel to that Biden — may he die!” exclaimed his neighbor, Tatyana, referring to U.S. President Joe Biden.
After 2014, Khimion said, it became easier to know “who is who” in Slovyansk. “Now you can easily see: These people are for Ukraine, and these people are for Russia.”
She said not enough was done after 2014 to punish people who collaborated with Russian proxies to prevent a repeat of the situation.
“That is why we cannot negotiate, we need to win. Otherwise it will be a never-ending process. It will keep repeating” she said.
The mayor of Slovyansk, Vadim Lyakh, reflects the city’s new trajectory. Taking his cues from Ukraine’s wartime leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky, the mayor has decorated his office with Ukrainian flags, anti-Russian symbols, portraits of national poets — even a biography of Winston Churchill.
But before 2014, he was part of a political party that sought closer ties with Russia. Lyakh said that while pro-Moscow sentiment in the city has faded in past years — in part because of the horrors witnessed in 2014 — there are still “people who are waiting for the return of the Russian troops.”
As the front line creeps ever closer, attacks on the city intensify. Three-quarters of Slovyansk’s pre-war population has fled, but the mayor said there are still too many people here, including many children. He encourages them to evacuate. He spends his days coordinating humanitarian aid and strengthening the city’s defenses.
More and more, he is among the first responders at the scene of bombardments. The Associated Press followed Lyakh and recently witnessed what authorities described as a cluster bomb attack on a residential area. One person was killed and several others wounded.
The mayor says that shelling now occurs at least four or five times a day, and the use of cluster munitions has increased in the last week. Although he remains optimistic that Ukrainian forces can keep the enemy at bay, he is also clear-sighted about his options.
“Nobody wants to be captured. When there is an imminent danger of the enemy troops entering the city, I will have to go” he said.
Lyakh said he cannot allow himself to relax, even for a few minutes.
“It is emotionally difficult. You see how people are dying and being harmed. But nevertheless, I understand that this is my job and that nobody but myself and the people around me can do” it.
One morning last week, Lyakh paid a visit to an apartment block that had been shelled overnight. Most of the windows in the building were blown out, doors were broken wide open and a power line severed.
The same building was bombed in 2014, when the shell left a gaping hole on the sixth floor, and many residents suffered broken bones.
Andrey, a 37-year-old factory worker who has lived in the building for 20 years, recalls the bombing and occupation. He said separatist forces “did and took what they liked.”
People in his circle have different opinions about Russia.
“Those who have suffered understand what this ‘Russia world’ means: It means broken houses, stolen cars and violence” he explains. “There are those who miss the Soviet Union, who think we are all one people, and they do not accept what they see with their own eyes.”
In the eight years since the separatists retreated, he said, life has markedly improved in Slovyansk.
The statue of Vladimir Lenin that once stood in the central square has been removed. Water and power supplies were renovated. New parks, squares and medical facilities were built.
“Civilization was returned to us” Andrey said.
At the military distribution hub, the young soldiers talk wistfully about their lives before the invasion.
“I had a great car, a good job. I was able to travel abroad three times a year,” said the former accountant, who plans to stay in Slovyansk with the others to defend the city. “How can we let someone just come and take our lives away from us?”
Khimion’s husband is on the front lines, and she put her teenage daughter on a train to Switzerland as soon as the invasion began.
“I have been deprived of everything — a home, husband, child — what should I do now?” she asks. “We are doing everything we can to stop (the offensive), to keep it to a minimum … But to be afraid is to abandon this place.”
At the entrance to the city, a monument bearing Slovyansk’s name is riddled with bullet holes from 2014. It has been painted over several times. It now bears the national colors of Ukraine, and a local artist has painted red flowers around each perforation.
Residents of Slovyansk wonder — some with hope, many in fear — if the sign will soon be painted yet again, in the red, white and blue of the Russia flag.
___
Valerii Rezik contributed to this story.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.cbs42.com/local/splintered-ukrainian-city-braces-for-new-battle-with-russia/ | 2022-07-03T15:20:31 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/local/splintered-ukrainian-city-braces-for-new-battle-with-russia/ |
A 15-month-old child is recovering from numerous injuries, including a fractured skull, and the girl's foster parents are facing numerous charges related to those injuries, according to Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
Marissa Salas, 19, was taken to the Bexar County Jail last week and booked for injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, 1st degree felony. According to a Facebook post, she is being held on a $100,000 bond.
Thomas Torres, 24, also was booked into the Bexar County Jail for injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, 1st degree felony. He is being held on a $150,000 bond.
On Tuesday, a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy was alerted that a child was having a seizure in the 900 block of Novella in far East Bexar County.
Deputies and EMS responded and observed the child had bruises, bite marks and a bump on her head, the Facebook post said.
The child was taken to the Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital, where the ER doctor discovered additional injuries, including a burn mark to the left thigh, a hip fracture, a toe fracture, and a skull fracture.
The ER doctor said the head injury was consistent with child abuse that likely could be caused by a forceful hit to the head.
Investigators questioned Salas, who told them she dropped the child and claimed she had not seen the injuries, according to the sheriff's office. Salas is accused of being aware of the child being assaulted and never reporting it.
Investigators allege that Torres had thrown the child in the air inside their home with the child hitting her head on the ceiling. Torres was alleged to have laughed during these assaults to the child.
Torres acknowledged and admitted to injuring the child, according to the BCSO. Torres also said he would bite the child, pick up the child by one arm, and spank the child all out of anger.
When both Salas and Torres were asked how the child sustained her skull fracture, neither of the two could provide an answer. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Foster-parents-child-abuse-charges-17282162.php | 2022-07-03T15:29:46 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Foster-parents-child-abuse-charges-17282162.php |
Dana Davenport poses products for a TikTok she hopes will go viral — body bars, lotion bottles and fragrant candles, all stacked and centered.
Then she adds a trendy song. Tosses in a few hashtags, too.
Sometimes her co-workers make videos of themselves mixing soap or crumbling bath bombs. Other times, they’ll lip-sync songs and perform funny bits, aiming to keep viewers from scrolling past.
Davenport crafts her content for Aria Rose Bath Co., a skin care shop in south Lincoln with pastel-pink walls and floor-to-ceiling greenery. In addition to packaging products and assisting customers, she’s responsible for filming videos and taking photos that’ll harmonize with social media algorithms.
An Instagram post might seem trivial, but Davenport knows it can make or break a business.
Between herself, the shop’s owner, Dee Bronson, and two other employees, the business dedicates 40 hours to its social media each week.
People are also reading…
Aria Rose tries to post at least a couple times a day, whether that’s a peppy video or a pretty snapshot, and they always make sure to interact with their followers’ comments and messages.
If they didn’t, nobody would know who they were.
“In our age, if you are not on top of social media, it is very, very hard to be known,” Bronson said. “We have customers come in all the time, and they're like, ‘Oh, I follow you on Instagram,” or, ‘We saw your stories.’”
Plus, Bronson and Davenport said, their followers expect more output than they did even a few years ago.
As internet users are spending more time on social media, the demand for content has skyrocketed. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly half of 18- to 29-year-olds say they’re online “almost constantly.” One-third of adults of all ages say the same thing.
For business owners such as Bronson, that means it’s time to fire up the ring lights and get filming.
Or in some cases, get dancing.
It’s easier to build a loyal fan base and become known when things spread so quickly, Bronson said. If you’re lucky, you may just become an overnight sensation.
To create a successful video, Davenport follows a two-part recipe: pepper in people and add a dash of bright colors.
Bonus points if you can score a few laughs from viewers.
“You need to constantly switch up what you’re doing,” Bronson said. “It’s something you always need to keep up with and check up on.”
A little way from Aria Rose Bath Co., Morgan Dondlinger is prepping her set. Her videos feature the sights and sweetness of (402) Creamery. Photos of waffle cones with cinnamon snickerdoodle and almond brittle scoops flood the business’s Instagram grid.
It stops just short of letting followers experience the smells in the room.
Dondlinger, a recent Nebraska Wesleyan University grad, was hired by (402) Creamery owner Tyler Mannix to do marketing full-time. She spends her days taking photos of smiling employees and filming spoons stirring ice cream toppings.
Mannix said that before Dondlinger was hired, he would post haphazardly. It was more of a “when he remembered” thing than a priority, but he wanted someone who could spend the time carefully crafting shots and figuring out what would drive business.
Mannix said he’s noticed a difference in traffic.
“She does a good job with it,” he said. “She can dedicate a lot more time to pictures or better captions or thought-provoking comments.”
(402) Creamery’s customer base is pretty social-savvy already, so Mannix knew he needed to keep up. Dondlinger uses high-resolution cameras, lights and backdrops to shoot her sugary subjects.
Dondlinger said social media has taken the reliability of word-of-mouth marketing and brought it to new heights.
While non-media marketing moves at turtle speed, online interactions gain traction quickly. Businesses can build a customer base almost instantaneously.
“I think it's important to know how to create content that's always new and fresh and exciting — something that catches people's attention and makes them stop scrolling,” Dondlinger said.
But for small businesses that are one-man shows, that means the owner wears an extra hat on top of everything else.
Paige Newby, owner of Moon & Back Jewels, said the majority of her free time is spent creating media content for her business.
Newby crafts specialty jewelry, mostly out of clay. To make her products, she rolls clay slabs on her table, swirling colors together before cutting out shapes and baking them. Her phone catches the entire scene.
“People love seeing the process,” she said.
For Newby, Instagram is her most profitable platform. It’s hard for her to say exactly why, but TikTok reaches people from across the globe with ease, while Instagram seems better for businesses that want to latch onto a specific community. Facebook is dwindling, but its presence is still significant.
Even though juggling social media posts and jewelry-making can be overwhelming, Newby said it’s no longer an option for small businesses, especially new small businesses, to stay silent on social platforms.
“I have several friends who had started out kind of newer, and then because a TikTok went viral, or because an Instagram Reel went viral, they skyrocketed,” she said. “Followers don't always equate to business sales, but they have grown a lot more.”
Less-media conscious business owners are having to hire younger marketers to do that kind of work. Newby, 27, said young social media managers are able to figure things out by trial and error or from them already spending a majority of their leisure time online.
Newby found her social media groove by playing around with different ideas and seeing what works and what flops.
With her needing to make more content than she did even a few years ago, she makes sure to take constant snapshots, giving little glimpses into her clay-crafting world.
She fills packages for an Instagram post. Her hands cradle finished earrings on TikTok.
“With every business and everything that you do, 100% of what you put into it is what you're gonna get back,” Newby said.
Directions 2022: Changing times in Lincoln
Explore all of the articles, videos and photos in this year's Directions section here.
Several residential projects in or near downtown, including the 250-foot-tall Lied Place Residences, will open to residents this year.
Delta Nelson's entire life has been rooted in the auto industry, so it only made sense when she decided to open The Mechanix Garage in Lincoln.
Downtown Lincoln's population is expected to reach 10,000 in 2025 — a 730% increase since 2010.
The history, culture and DNA of the Cornhusker state are woven throughout the Scarlet, which is scheduled to open this spring.
Robin Eschliman's annual review of restaurants in Lincoln found more dining options opened in 2021 than shut down.
Over $2 billion worth of inventory was sold online through HiBid in 2021, and there are typically anywhere from 700,000 to 1 million items listed on the site at any given time.
Assurity's Jack Douglas moved with his wife from South Carolina in 2020, the height of the pandemic.
What started as an ambitious vision in 2015 has nearly come to fruition for Speedway Properties and Nelnet, which partnered together and bought more than a dozen properties in the once-blighted area in the 2010s.
Union Bank & Trust executive vice president Doris Robertson attributes the bank's recent success in part to the innovations the company made during the early days of the pandemic.
Before Boxcar BBQ officially served its first slab of ribs to a paying customer in October, the staff experimented with hundreds of pounds of meat and dozens of tweaks to their recipes.
Even when the work is hard and frustrating, Jayne Ellenwood says it fills her bucket to be a part of Bryan's response to the community.
The golf club that opened in 2001 has gone private and among its new features will be a 250-foot-long lazy river, an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar and a six-lane competition lap pool.
"I wrote thank-you cards to anyone that spent money with us. … I wrote hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of cards," owner Laurie Frasier said, even if someone only spent a few dollars.
With the South Beltway set to open next year, some developers worry the city isn’t thinking aggressively enough about spurring growth in an area still largely unserved by sewer and other infrastructure.
Jason Ball returns home to lead the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce with determination to "keep the ball rolling" for Lincoln as the city develops and grows.
CHI Health plans to open a new clinic at 40th Street and Yankee Hill Road, while Bryan Health will wrap up a multiyear expansion and renovation at its East Campus hospital.
Directions 2022: Growing chickens for Costco a link to origins of five-generation Seward County farm
Each of the eight Schulz Poultry barns holds 45,000 birds, which arrive at just a couple hours old and spend the next 42-44 days in the barns before going to Fremont for processing.
Jada Picket Pin said she enjoys serving first-time visitors to the Green Gateau, as well as regulars who return for the excellent food and quality service.
Christina Melgoza has seen big changes in Lincoln during her eight years as director of lot sales at Kreuger Development. She spoke to the Journal Star about Lincoln’s growth, the housing market and more.
Since CompanyCam's inception, more than 400 million photos have been stored and 15 million projects created largely by contractors looking to better document their work.
Monolith led a record year for investment in Lincoln-based companies, which collectively raised nearly $300 million in venture capital in 2021.
Many employees moved to remote work during COVID-19, a trend that's likely to stick around, experts say. But other pandemic effects, such as labor shortages and pay increases, are likely to be short-term changes.
A fundraising campaign brought in more than $10.3 million for the 7 acres of land near the airport and the 60,000-square-foot new office building and warehouse, almost doubling the Food Bank's current space.
Watch Now: Veteran coach and broadcaster Derrick Pearson brings a new sports radio vision to Lincoln
Jay Foreman, Erick Strickland and Vershan Jackson have shows on the The Ticket, which also has programs featuring 22 current Nebraska athletes.
The Journal Star invited businesses and other offices celebrating an anniversary divisible by five this year to share their history with readers.
The Journal Star invited readers to share honors that businesses or employees received as best of state, region or nation. Also included is a recap of the major awards presented by business organizations locally.
In June, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce resumed ribbon-cutting events to mark new businesses, businesses with new owners, relocated and renovated businesses, business anniversaries and ground-breaking ceremonies.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or jthompson@journalstar.com | https://journalstar.com/news/local/looking-to-go-viral-how-lincoln-businesses-are-adapting-to-shifting-social-media-trends/article_20929503-b0f6-55cb-bcf0-9f5eeb01f998.html | 2022-07-03T15:30:07 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/looking-to-go-viral-how-lincoln-businesses-are-adapting-to-shifting-social-media-trends/article_20929503-b0f6-55cb-bcf0-9f5eeb01f998.html |
Philadelphia police said they found a body in a burning car in the Fox Chase section of the city Saturday night.
Investigators were called to the 8500 block of Verree Road around 10:30 p.m. That's where they discovered the vehicle on fire with a body inside.
Police said the case is being investigated by Philadelphia Police's Homicide Division.
Entering Sunday, there were at least 257 homicides in Philadelphia this year, down 8% from the same time last year which was ultimately the deadliest in the city on record.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
This story is developing and will be updated. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/body-found-inside-burning-car-in-northeast-philadelphia/3289206/ | 2022-07-03T15:33:14 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/body-found-inside-burning-car-in-northeast-philadelphia/3289206/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philly-pops-to-perform-44th-annual-pops-on-independence-in-old-city/3289184/ | 2022-07-03T15:33:20 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philly-pops-to-perform-44th-annual-pops-on-independence-in-old-city/3289184/ |
Gateway Technical College has officially opened the application and nomination process for its next president.
Direct nominations, inquiries and application materials will be handled by Greenwood/Asher & Associates, the firm assisting the college in selecting the new president, which is listed in the profile.
Gateway defines the role of the president as the chief executive officer for the college, reporting to the board of trustees. The president is responsible for the day-to-day administration, management, and oversight of all college operations. The president leads strategically and works with a wide range of internal and external constituents to execute the college’s mission, vision and educational philosophy.
The president develops business partnerships to increase philanthropy and private funds for programming in support of the Gateway Technical College Foundation. The president must also advocate locally, regionally and nationally for the distinctive technical college mission aligning the needs of students, employers and the regional economic conditions of southeast Wisconsin.
An extended presidential profile, and guidelines to apply or nominate a candidate, can be found at the college’s presidential search page of www.gtc.edu/presidential-search.
Current Gateway President and CEO Bryan Albrecht announced earlier this year he would be retiring this fall. Albrecht has served as president and CEO since 2006. Under his leadership, Gateway has grown its national standing as an innovative college for student success, learning strategies and workforce development.
A total of 200 students, staff and community members participated in a series of listening sessions held in May and June to gain information on the qualities they would like to see in the new president. That feedback was used to produce an outline of the sought-after characteristics for the college’s new leader, which then became the profile.
Gateway Technical College is a two-year publicly funded technical college and is one of the largest members of the state supported Wisconsin Technical College System, serving Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties. Gateway has three main campuses, one in each county and six centers throughout the region. It provides an academic and occupational education pathway in more than 70 career programs of study.
Combined with robust online and hybrid options, Gateway serves approximately 21,000 students annually to enter new careers or advance in their current ones. Gateway provides educational pathways that lead to associate degrees, technical diplomas, industry-aligned certificates, continuing education and training, pre-college diplomas, state-recognized apprenticeships and customized training contracts.
In photos and video: Gateway Technical College opens its renovated Health Center in the Lincoln Building
The state of Wisconsin has revoked the wholesale dealer license for Elkhorn car dealer, Car Rangers LLC, after the dealership was found rolling back odometers and altering titles to reflect lower mileage, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/application-nomination-period-opens-for-gateway-president-candidates/article_4e469108-fa1b-11ec-b549-7b4dad6f31dc.html | 2022-07-03T15:39:35 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/application-nomination-period-opens-for-gateway-president-candidates/article_4e469108-fa1b-11ec-b549-7b4dad6f31dc.html |
GARLAND, Texas — Police in Garland, Texas, are calling for help to find a 17-year-old who's believed to have been kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend on Saturday night.
According to police, witnesses saw Yadhira Medina being dragged against her will into a White Ford or GM pickup truck with a tan or silver trim. This happened around 8:30 p.m. on West Buckingham Road.
Witnesses recognized the suspect as Yadhira's ex-boyfriend, 20-year-old David Emanuel Maldonado.
Police say the truck was driven by another suspect and was seen going westbound on Buckingham Road.
Yadhira Medina is a Hispanic female standing at five feet tall. She has brown eyes and wears glasses. Medina has reddish-brown hair and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black sweatpants and carrying a black backpack.
David Maldonado is a Hispanic man standing at 5 feet 7 inches with brown eyes and black hair. There's no description on what he was seen wearing or what the driver looked like.
Anyone with any information about either one's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 972-485-4840.
Garland police say Youth Crimes detectives are investigating the situation as a kidnapping and believe the 17-year-old is in danger. The Texas Department of Public Safety has activated an Amber Alert.
Other local news: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-garland-texas-teen-girl-kidnapped-by-ex-boyfriend-west-buckingham-road-july-2-2022/287-218bed20-3ac6-4b97-be77-bf3c36b25cf8 | 2022-07-03T15:46:29 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-garland-texas-teen-girl-kidnapped-by-ex-boyfriend-west-buckingham-road-july-2-2022/287-218bed20-3ac6-4b97-be77-bf3c36b25cf8 |
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The victim who died after an accident at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival has been identified as 40-year-old Chris Darnell.
Battle Creek Police Department released the update on their Facebook page in coordination with Field of Flight.
Darnell drove the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck during the air show. It races over 300 mph at the Battle Creek Executive Airport where the Field of Flight event occurs.
Visitors were in shock when the truck exploded on the runway during the pyrotechnic performance.
The explosion was caused by a mechanical failure on the Jet Truck, SHOCKWAVE's Neal Darnell, Chris's father, wrote on Facebook.
Chris was Neal's youngest son. Neal said he turned 40 just one month ago.
"We are so sad," wrote Neal. "He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was 'Living the Dream,' as he said."
The explosion happened around 1:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon. No one else was injured.
The remaining air show performances were canceled, but police say the air show will return on Sunday.
The rest of today's Saturday evening activities continued as scheduled, as is the plan for activities on July 3 and 4. See more information at fieldofflight.com.
Chris's family will speak on funeral arrangements later this week.
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Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 | 2022-07-03T15:46:35 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 |
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A fireworks display sparked a large brush fire Friday night, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office.
Fire officials were responding to a 3-acre brush fire around 9:17 p.m. near 29900 US-290 in the Cypress area.
Investigators say Second Baptist Church - Cypress Campus was putting on a fireworks display as part of their Fourth of July celebration, before the fire started.
The fireworks sparked the grass in a neighboring field. James Singleton with the HCFMO says crews worked to stop the show "immediately" following the fire.
Crews were able to contain the fire and put it out quickly with no injuries reported.
Singleton says all fire departments in the county are prepared for these events and that they keep crews on standby. The events are inspected by their office and licensed through the state.
HCFMO encourages people to visit the professional fireworks displays around town, since fire crews are always on standby and the displays are generally safer than popping fireworks yourself. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/houston-fireworks-brush-fire/285-5e69cc97-9516-49ea-87d0-4e0b5df2df7a | 2022-07-03T15:46:41 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/houston-fireworks-brush-fire/285-5e69cc97-9516-49ea-87d0-4e0b5df2df7a |
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin police are asking for help to find a missing man.
Keaton Long, 27, is 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
His family have not heard from him since Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. and are concerned for his wellbeing.
If you have any information call 911 immediately.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/keaton-long-missing-man/269-8845aac3-150a-4765-b577-2656fb0dcafe | 2022-07-03T15:46:47 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/keaton-long-missing-man/269-8845aac3-150a-4765-b577-2656fb0dcafe |
HALTOM CITY, Texas — Two people are dead, and four others, including three officers, were injured in a shooting incident in a neighborhood in Haltom City on Saturday night, police said.
There was a large police presence near the 5700 block of Diamond Oaks Drive North as authorities searched for an armed suspect. Police had asked residents in the area of Glenview Drive and Denton Highway to stay indoors during the search.
Police said they were called to a home in the area at around 6:45 p.m. in regards to a shooting.
Police initially said there was one civilian dead and one other injured at the home. In an update at 10 p.m., police said another victim was found dead at the scene.
According to police, one of the deceased victims, a man, was found in the driveway, while the other, a woman, was found dead inside the home.
The person who called 911, an elderly woman, was the one injured and had been shot in the leg, according to police.
In the 10 p.m. update, police said there was an exchange of gunfire between officers and the suspected gunman. Three officers were shot and transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
After searching the area, police said authorities eventually found the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the 3900 block of Golden Oaks Drive, less than a mile from the initial scene.
The identities of those involved in the incident were not immediately released.
The suspect was described as a white male with dark hair, a blue shirt, blue pants and a "battle belt." According to police, the suspect was armed with a rifle.
Police said the suspect was found with a "military-style rifle" and a handgun.
"The main concern is getting the scene secure, trying to get to our officers, be able to get them out of harm's way while also trying to keep containment on the suspect," Sgt. Rick Alexander of Haltom City police said.
The Texas Rangers will be investigating the incident.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information is released. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/large-police-presence-haltom-city-search-armed-suspect/287-8c697e9f-d058-409a-bab4-ea39cbfa3e76 | 2022-07-03T15:46:53 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/large-police-presence-haltom-city-search-armed-suspect/287-8c697e9f-d058-409a-bab4-ea39cbfa3e76 |
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Fire Department is looking into what caused a deadly fire in southeast Austin on Sunday morning.
The second-alarm fire took place at the Sofia apartment complex on Willow Creek Drive, near Interstate 35, around 6:30 a.m.
The Austin Fire Department said six apartments were damaged and one person died.
No other injuries have been reported at this time.
The fire has now been put out. Crews will remain on the scene throughout Sunday.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/sofia-apartment-deadly-fire/269-8b22ffaf-7f43-4d53-a90f-8746d295a960 | 2022-07-03T15:46:59 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/sofia-apartment-deadly-fire/269-8b22ffaf-7f43-4d53-a90f-8746d295a960 |
Danville, Va. – A judge sentenced a Danville man to seven years in prison for shooting a store manager.
The judge found Jaivon Alonzo Scott guilty for malicious wounding, possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon, and use of a firearm during commission of a felony.
Last July, WSLS reported Danville police arrested Scott after he shot and injured his manager Dacha Fitzgerald.
It happened at American Freight, Furniture, Mattress and Appliance.
Police said Scott worked at the store at the time.
Danville Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman said when the manager tried to get away, Scott continued shooting at him. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/03/danville-man-sentenced-for-seven-years-for-shooting-a-manager/ | 2022-07-03T15:52:16 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/03/danville-man-sentenced-for-seven-years-for-shooting-a-manager/ |
CALDWELL — When Idaho legislators began work on HB 389, a property tax bill, they brought city representatives to meetings for input.
But that working relationship quickly soured, recalled Idaho Rep. Mike Moyle, author and lead sponsor of that bill.
“When the city’s representatives came in and the whole thing was, ‘No; we’re going to kill it in the Senate; we don’t care what you do; we killed it in the Senate before; we’re going to do it again’ … we left them out after that,” Moyle said.
Moyle, along with Sen. C. Scott Grow and Sen. Jim Rice, held a roundtable with mayors and county staff from across the Treasure Valley on Thursday to discuss that bill and what can be done to further provide property tax relief that works for cities. City officials from Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, Greenleaf, Nampa, Star, and others attended the roundtable at the Canyon County Public Administration Building.
Grow has been holding meetings with stakeholders such as the Idaho Farm Bureau, the Idaho Association of Cities, and the Idaho Association of Counties.
The effort is being made in an attempt to find solutions on the property tax issue. Property taxes continue to increase in Idaho and are causing a strain on homeowners throughout the state. The topic continues to be hotly debated among locals and those within the state’s political sphere.
“We’re trying to have a group that can actually move something and not get bogged down by so many ideas, so many conflicts and disagreements between the different groups that we can’t do anything,” Grow said.
House Bill 389 passed during the 2021 legislative session, despite bipartisan opposition and pushback from local government leaders. The law instigated a variety of changes, including increasing the homeowner’s exemption from $100,000 to $125,000, and increasing the “Circuit Breaker” tax, which benefits low-income seniors and veterans.
The bill also specified an 8% cap on city budget growth each year, including a 5% cap on new construction and a 3% overall increase.
Ahead of the bill’s passage, some lawmakers argued that it did not offer property tax relief in the way that indexing property taxes to home prices would. And it wouldn’t allow tax districts to keep services on pace with growth.
At Thursday’s roundtable, legislators expressed skepticism at calls to index the homeowner’s exemption. Rice said this tends to affect renters, “which is a problem.” Rice said he and legislators are looking to stakeholders and constituents for other solutions. (Rice recently lost the Republican primary race in District 9 to Abby Lee.)
Moyle said he hopes solutions on property tax will come from cities and other local stakeholders, and said the press has “done a good job of blaming the Legislature for the problem.”
“As we talk about this, it’s important that we all realize that the state doesn’t collect (property tax), the state doesn’t spend (property tax),” he said. “The only thing we can do is put constraints on it, which is what HB 389 did a little bit of.”
City leadership on Thursday expressed concerns with how the law is affecting their communities.
Greenleaf Mayor Brad Holton, who has been a vocal critic of the bill’s impact, said it has hurt his town’s ability to accommodate desperately needed new housing due to the 8% cap on budget growth.
The law is forcing the city to consider halting building, a move that would help the city avoid creating two classes of people: those funding city services and those who are not, Holton said. The latter group would be above the 8% cap.
“The 8% cap is la-la land for the city of Greenleaf,” Holton said. “It was two homes this last time. Two homes. And I will go upside-down past that point on my budget.”
Greenleaf’s situation is representative of 160 other small communities in Idaho, Holton said. The law has created a divide between large cities that get to benefit from the law and small ones that don’t, he said.
“It truly is the defund-the-police-and-fire bill of the Idaho Legislature,” he said.
Last year, the city of Caldwell did pass an up-to 120-day moratorium on development following the bill’s passage.
Nampa Chief of Staff Rick Hogaboam questioned why legislators would not consider homeowners exemption indexing as a solution, though he acknowledged it would not solve the problem entirely. His father, a Vietnam War veteran, is paying more on his property taxes than he was five years ago, Hogaboam said. Local companies pay less in property taxes than their homeowner counterparts, he said. But indexing would allow his father to pay less and a local Walmart to pay more than they are currently, although the Walmart’s taxes would still be lower than they were five years ago, he said.
Having conversations with residents about their property taxes feels fraught, Hogaboam said.
“You’ve got some bright people who are like, ‘OK, what are the variables that are driving those various outcomes?’ And we’re saying it’s assessed values, and the rules are not established by the city, and the county is constrained to do only what it’s constitutionally mandated to do, that the rules are established in a way that’s created those outcomes ... that’s really frustrating,” he said.
Caldwell Mayor Jarom Wagoner echoed the sentiment about the stark difference between residential and commercial property taxes.
“The value of our levies is going down, but the (value) of the homeowners’ properties have gone up so much faster, that that levy, even though it’s lower, they’re paying more, and the commercial … has just steadily increased so that lower levy affects them where they pay significantly less,” Wagoner said.
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean called for looking at assessment policy to decrease the disparity between residential and commercial property tax rates. In some instances, the assessment for some big box stores has not changed in the past five years, she said.
When her office has asked the assessor to explain this, the assessor points to publicly available data on the Multiple Listing Service showing what people are selling their homes for, she said. However, there is not similar data readily available for commercial real estate, she said.
But when McLean has gone to commercial real estate conferences, the sentiment is, “’you got to have cash; things are selling in days; people are lining up; everybody wants retail,’” she said.
This information is not reflected in the valuations being made, she said.
“Many of us are talking about the need to look at assessments because somebody’s paying, and right now, it’s a homeowner, or retiree, or vet, and not a Walmart,” McLean said, suggesting that perhaps state policy on assessments could address this.
Grow said ahead of next year’s legislative session is the time for discussing policymaking with legislators. It’s when lawmakers have “some time to listen to people,” he said.
“The ideas have to be explored before we ever get there so that we have some idea of what we’re going to propose,” Grow said. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/lawmakers-ask-city-other-stakeholders-for-ideas-on-property-tax-reform/article_7cd1ccf9-732d-5a9a-a527-89df4fae413a.html | 2022-07-03T16:18:51 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/lawmakers-ask-city-other-stakeholders-for-ideas-on-property-tax-reform/article_7cd1ccf9-732d-5a9a-a527-89df4fae413a.html |
An abortion rights group has accused Idaho State Police of assaulting one of its demonstrators who was writing in chalk on a sidewalk in front of the Idaho Capitol.
The group was demonstrating Tuesday in support of abortion rights in front of the Statehouse, where an event later that evening was taking place in support of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade — an event that was met by protesters.
According to an Instagram post from Wednesday, one of the demonstrators had arrived first at the Capitol and was by herself when she was approached by Idaho state troopers. They told her she couldn’t use chalk on the sidewalk, though they did not cite a law, the group said.
When the woman continued to write, one of the officers “grabbed her arm, which resulted in ripping her shirt and leaving significant bruising on her arm,” Kimra Luna, co-founder of Idaho Abortion Rights, told the Idaho Statesman by phone.
“She wasn’t arrested, they did not give her a citation, but they assaulted her,” Luna said. “They said that they needed to, you know, balance their priorities, and so we asked them, ‘So your priority is to assault a person before giving them a citation?’”
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When the group had finished chalking the sidewalk, ISP troopers washed off the sidewalk with hoses, Luna told the Statesman.
“She’s very shaken up,” Luna said. “I felt the fact that she continued to chalk even after she was assaulted was her being extremely brave, and, you know, basically showing the police that we will continue to practice our rights to free speech.”
Who owns the sidewalks by the Capitol in Boise?
Idaho law states that “it is not an offense under this section for a person to engage in expressive conduct on the public sidewalks using non-permanent, non-toxic chalk in a manner that does not obstruct or interfere with the use of the sidewalks.”
The rule was rewritten to allow the use of chalk on public sidewalks in 2020, which had previously been illegal for 70 years.
When contacted about the incident, Tecia Ferguson, Idaho State Police public information officer, released the following statement to the Statesman via email: “ISP Troopers did not arrest or cite anyone yesterday for using sidewalk chalk on the capitol mall complex. ISP Troopers did work to educate several individuals about the IDAPA (Idaho Administrative Code) Rules that apply at the capitol mall complex.”
The email cited Idaho code regarding the exterior use of state property managed by Capitol Mall Services, which states that “users shall not use any material to mark on any surface of the state facilities including chalk, paint, pens, ink, or dye.”
In terms of whether the sidewalk extending from the Capitol is also managed by Capitol Mall Services, an additional section of the code defines the outermost part of the building’s Jefferson Steps as “the hard surface extending between the steps and the public sidewalk along Jefferson Street.”
Capitol Mall Services Facilities Manager Paul Navarro told the Statesman by phone that although the ownership of sidewalks surrounding nearby buildings can be a “gray area,” the sidewalk in front of the Capitol is considered the purview of Capitol Mall Services.
“We don’t know what piece of sidewalk we’re allowed to write on,” Luna said. “It doesn’t even matter. Even if she was writing right on the freaking Capitol with chalk, she should not be assaulted.”
Complaints about Idaho State Police
Luna said she invited the woman to her home following the demonstration.
“I wanted to make sure that she wasn’t left alone at the Capitol,” Luna said. “I felt extremely unsafe, having her near any of those officers.”
Luna said they took the woman to the hospital in response to legal advice. The woman was treated and plans to file a report against the Idaho State Police, Luna said.
“We didn’t even have posters, you know, we didn’t even have protest posters,” Luna said. “We were not chanting, we didn’t have megaphones, we had nothing. We just had chalk.”
Several Instagram posts from the same account showed the group participating in similar demonstrations in the past.
Idaho Abortion Rights had previously used chalk on sidewalks near the Capitol building to write messages supporting abortion access before Roe v. Wade was overturned, and separate organizations had used chalk in response to the school shooting at Uvalde, Texas.
“The police never (did) anything to us then,” Luna said. “They make up their own laws, and they purposely make it vague so they can harm us.”
Luna said the rules regarding sidewalks are ambiguous, which is something they believe the state and city should address more openly.
“The police, even when we’re doing things completely peaceful, not causing any harm, they’re still harming us,” Luna said. “And I think that that is starting to become blatantly clear that they do not want us to practice our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech.” | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/chalk-on-a-sidewalk-at-idaho-capitol-led-to-police-assault-abortion-rights-group-claims/article_80c5bf2c-f96d-11ec-a539-d3e6a847b23e.html | 2022-07-03T16:24:54 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/chalk-on-a-sidewalk-at-idaho-capitol-led-to-police-assault-abortion-rights-group-claims/article_80c5bf2c-f96d-11ec-a539-d3e6a847b23e.html |
RICHFIELD — Summer at the Lincoln County Youth Center offers something different every day.
Less than year since opening its doors, the youth center is a runaway hit in the community, offering activities that promote learning, socializing, and a place for kids to be themselves.
On a recent Monday, groups of kids participated in an archery course by assembling bows from popsicle sticks. Meanwhile, another, younger group of kids made musical instruments out of pots, pipes, and any other kind of everyday object, led by coach Tawnya Sorensen.
The summer programming, which serves some 85 kids a day, is a kind of choose-your-own adventure, Lincoln County Commissioner Rebecca Wood said.
“We really let our coaches do passion projects,” Wood said. “And we look to our kids to help us make a list of what they wanted to learn during the summer.”
The list they came up with is packed with activities such archery camp, survival camp, and an all-American camp to learn about the flag and patriotism.
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A basketball camp, a fishing camp, space camp — even a stand-up-comedy camp for teens to practice delivering jokes from a stage — are also available and kids are invited to attend nature walks, make their own musical instruments, or learn how to cook.
The center runs buses to the Shoshone swimming pool twice a week.
And it’s free to Lincoln County youth.
‘Nothing good is easy’
The center opened its doors at the start of the school year in August 2021 and immediately began offering after-school activities. It all came together quickly, but it took a lot of work to get it there.
“Just the amount of work that it’s been to get it all together and moving forward — it’s been tough. I won’t kid anybody,” Wood said. “But it’s getting better and better, and we’re building something for the future here.”
Wood credits the community for stepping in to participate, including all the volunteers and community partners who have pledged time, money, or sweat to make the center a place for everyone.
“Nothing good is easy,” she said.
Less than a year ago, few options for after-school activities existed for children in the area.
“I used to see kids get in a lot of trouble because they didn’t have anybody after school, and they didn’t have anywhere to go,” Wood said. “They hung out waiting for parents to get home — which was sometimes a long time because most of our parents in Lincoln County work out of the county.”
The first few months were tough, Wood said. Her group held garage sales, pitched the idea to area businesses, reached out to friends and talked to parents in the county to come up with lease money for an empty church building in Richfield.
“Everybody started jumping on board and helping us do little fundraiser projects,” Wood said.
The group began talking to the Boys and Girls Club and Region IV Development. That’s when things really took off.
One application resulted in a Idaho Department of Commerce grant that enabled the group to purchase and renovate the old church building.
Then, the Department of Education awarded program organizers a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant that put the group in partnership with schools in the county.
Altogether, the nonprofit has raised about $1.25 million in grant money.
“That whole year was nothing but work and fundraisers and grant writing, and it’s kind of just been on a roll ever since,” Wood said.
All involved were surprised at the response to the youth center, which saw 85 kids on the third day.
“People knew that we needed it,” Wood said. “They could see that our county really had the need for our kids to have a safe spot to go where they could get a meal and get some hands-on, project-based curriculum.”
The center offers everything from agriculture and STEM programs to art and healthy living.
Richfield school buses drop kids off at the youth center after school, then return them to the school afterward. Youth center vans transport kids to and from the center from Dietrich and Shoshone.
‘Moms and grandmas’ getting it done
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners was cautious in its support of the youth center in the beginning but quickly jumped on board. The commission, on which Wood has held a seat since 2015, created the Lincoln County Legacy Project as an agency of the county allowed to act and make decisions independently.
A few surprises have popped up along the way, given that nothing like this had been done in Lincoln County before, county resident Karma Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald chairs the Legacy Project, which has a memorandum of understanding with the county to manage the now county-owned facility.
“Rebecca and I have never done anything like this,” she said. “We’re moms and grandmas, and the team of people that worked with us are moms and grandmas, and are pretty determined to get it done. But I see what I would have wanted for my kids … and we just kind of winged it.”
One thing they have learned is that childcare is a “community issue and it’s a business issue,” Fitzgerald said.
“We have one mom with a grade-school-aged child, and she’s had to quit four jobs in the last year because she did not have adequate childcare,” she said. “But now that child comes to us every day after school, and (the mom has) been able to work and support her family a little bit better, without having to quit a job, because we are there and we are open.”
Originally, youth center founders anticipated they would get a lot of younger kids while the middle- and high-school kids might not be as interested in the program. But teenagers now make up a large portion of participants — large enough that the center plans to convert the former pastor’s house nearby house into a teen center.
“The middle school kids have found a really comfortable home with us, to the point that we had to expand that service,” Fitzgerald said. “I think the kids in middle school were just looking for a place where they could be accepted for who they are and figure out where they’re going, and we created that opportunity for them.”
Much of the time, the kids don’t know they’re learning.
“They just think they are doing a fun thing,” she said.
“The flagship section is our agriculture and STEM education center,” Fitzgerald said. “This is a farm-based community, so we like to wrap agriculture into the classrooms.
“And everything we do is for the kids to understand really where their food comes from and how to grow it themselves, and who the farmers are in their community that are also growing food, so they get exposed to that area quite a bit.”
The center even has a greenhouse and garden to use as a growing classroom.
Other groups in the community also use the center. The Idaho Food Bank maintains a food pantry at the building, and the AARP hosts a walking path for seniors in the mornings, providing a level surface in a temperature controlled environment out of the heat or the cold. A Zumba class uses the gymnasium in the evenings, and the center has even hosted community plays in the large space. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/moms-and-grandmas-getting-it-done-lincoln-county-youth-center-nears-1-year-anniversary/article_3577ebda-f94f-11ec-825d-cfe0c072d3aa.html | 2022-07-03T16:25:00 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/moms-and-grandmas-getting-it-done-lincoln-county-youth-center-nears-1-year-anniversary/article_3577ebda-f94f-11ec-825d-cfe0c072d3aa.html |
BOISE — A regional Planned Parenthood organization is suing Idaho over its “trigger law” abortion ban, contending the ban violates Idaho residents’ rights under the state Constitution and that it is so vague that physicians will not know when they can legally help patients who are miscarrying or facing medical emergencies.
Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, an abortion provider, joined with Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky in the lawsuit filed in the Idaho Supreme Court on Monday. The Planned Parenthood organization operates two reproductive health care clinics in Idaho and is in the process of opening another just over the state line in Ontario, Oregon.
“It is abhorrent that we have now entered an era where the delivery of safe essential health care will be criminalized,” Gustafson said in a press release. “Physicians take an oath to provide the care patients need to keep them safe, so we cannot stand by while the government intrudes on this deeply personal and complex medical decision.”
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The Idaho law, passed in 2020, makes it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison for anyone to perform or attempt to perform an abortion. The law says health care providers can attempt to defend themselves against criminal charges by saying that the abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant person, or that the pregnant person showed them a police report alleging rape or incest. The law also requires physicians to use the medical method that provides the “best opportunity for the unborn child to survive.”
Specifically, Idaho’s trigger law requires a judgement from the U.S. Supreme Court, which follows the court’s Friday opinion and allows time to allow requests for a potential rehearing. It’s not clear when the court will issue its judgement, but it’s expected fairly soon, starting the clock on Idaho’s trigger law.
Planned Parenthood is asking the state’s highest court to put the case on a fast track so that it can hear arguments and issue a decision before mid-August.
The Idaho Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden generally declines to comment on pending litigation.
Earlier this year Planned Parenthood and Gustafson filed a separate lawsuit over another Idaho anti-abortion law that allows potential relatives of the fetus or embryo to sue medical providers who perform an abortion. That law is on hold while the lawsuit works through the Idaho Supreme Court, and a hearing in the case is scheduled for August. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/planned-parenthood-sues-idaho-over-trigger-abortion-ban/article_2b55701c-f96f-11ec-bb87-1b4a95c1b913.html | 2022-07-03T16:25:06 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/planned-parenthood-sues-idaho-over-trigger-abortion-ban/article_2b55701c-f96f-11ec-bb87-1b4a95c1b913.html |
Rupert is has long been known for its five-day Fourth of July Celebration. This year, the town hosted its fireworks display on June 30, 2022, so folks could watch other displays on July 4.
A group of businesses stepped up Friday to donate enough money for Burley's fireworks show — after a glitch in the supply chain delayed the city’s fireworks order.
A group of businesses stepped up Friday to donate enough money for Burley's fireworks show — after a glitch in the supply chain delayed the city’s fireworks order.
Opinion: If you didn’t have doubts about former Congressman Raul Labrador’s capacity to serve as Idaho’s attorney general before the House Jan. 6 Committee convened its televised hearings, you should have a bunch of them now.
An Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet was killed in an training event on Friday at Saylor Creek Range, a part of the Mountain Home Range Complex.
The sun sets over the Rupert watertower as the community prepares for the fireworks display Thursday, June 30, 2022, during the Fourth of July Celebration in Rupert. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/rupert-fireworks-ignite-patriotism/article_f48f8858-fa6b-11ec-9f78-0704f5137a72.html | 2022-07-03T16:25:12 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/rupert-fireworks-ignite-patriotism/article_f48f8858-fa6b-11ec-9f78-0704f5137a72.html |
BOISE — A U.S. agency responsible for killing wolves and other predators to prevent attacks on livestock has agreed to settle a lawsuit by completing an extensive environmental study on its methods in Idaho.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services also agreed last week not to use poison gas cartridges or fire to kill wolf pups in dens in Idaho until the study is finished at the end of 2024.
Wildlife Services last week filed a joint motion with Western Watersheds Project, WildEarth Guardians and Predator Defense in U.S. District Court to settle the May 2020 lawsuit. The environmental groups contend Wildlife Service’s predator control activities violate environmental laws.
The settlement follows a separate 2020 settlement from a different 2016 lawsuit specifically involving wolves in Idaho and also filed by the three environmental groups and two others. That settlement also requires Wildlife Services to complete an environmental impact study on killing wolves in the state with a 2023 deadline.
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Environmental impact studies are time-consuming and expensive, and it’s possible, though not guaranteed, that Wildlife Services will combine the two settlement agreements into one environmental impact statement, or EIS. That would have the effect of extending wolf protections made in the 2020 settlement for an extra year. The creation of impact statements include comments from the public.
“I think this settlement layers on some additional protections for wolves,” said Erik Molvar, Western Watersheds Project’s executive director. “We got some of what we wanted (in the agreement). But, quite frankly, we’d like Wildlife Services to get out of the business of killing native wildlife entirely.”
Wildlife Services on Wednesday didn’t immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press sent by email, the agency’s preferred communication method.
The agency in 2021 killed 39 wolves in Idaho. Fourteen were killed using a helicopter, five with a fixed-wing aircraft, 10 with firearms, nine with foothold traps and one with night vision equipment. The agency also killed about 1,700 coyotes in Idaho in 2021 using various methods.
“Our goal is to have in the final EIS a thorough analysis of the impact of killing native carnivores,” said Lindsay Larris, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. She said prohibitions contained in the settlement should give Wildlife Services time to evaluate the results of killing restrictions.
The agreements each have two parts. The first part details what Wildlife Services will consider in the impact statement. The second part restricts agency actions on predator control until the impact statement and what’s called a record of decision are finalized. The record of decision will be the agency’s plan for moving forward with predator control in Idaho. It could, for example, leave wilderness areas off limits or give the OK for killing predators in them.
Notably, the settlements prevent the agency from using cyanide-spraying devices, known as M-44s but called “cyanide bombs” by opponents, in Idaho at least until the impact statement is completed. The devices look like lawn sprinklers but spray cyanide when triggered by animals attracted by bait. The devices are intended to kill mainly coyotes but have harmed humans and pets, including injuring a 14-year-old eastern Idaho boy and killing his 3-year-old yellow lab in March 2017 near Pocatello.
Overall, until the environmental impact statement is done, Wildlife Services now has multiple restrictions on killing wolves and other predators in the state. For wolves, the most recent settlement prevents using poison gas or fire to kill wolf pups in dens. The 2020 settlement has additional restrictions, including a prohibition on Wildlife Services killing wolves in wilderness areas, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and other public lands areas.
The most recent settlement extends the prohibition on Wildlife Services killing in wilderness areas and wilderness study areas in most cases to other predators. Wolves, it is thought, use wilderness areas as bases from which they expand their population. But environmental groups find the killing of wildlife in areas designated as wild places abhorrent.
“It’s particularly egregious to have our government killing wildlife for simply existing in the wild,” Larris said.
The agreements also preclude Wildlife Services from killing predators to bolster deer and elk populations.
The most recent settlement states that the agreement is not an admission of guilt by Wildlife Services or two other agencies named in the lawsuit — the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management — where Wildlife Services has carried out predator control actions. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/us-agency-to-limit-predator-killing-methods-in-idaho/article_c6809d8c-f96f-11ec-87e7-8f6f9cb250b5.html | 2022-07-03T16:25:19 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/us-agency-to-limit-predator-killing-methods-in-idaho/article_c6809d8c-f96f-11ec-87e7-8f6f9cb250b5.html |
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The victim who died after an accident at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival has been identified as 40-year-old Chris Darnell.
Battle Creek Police Department released the update on their Facebook page in coordination with Field of Flight.
Darnell drove the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck during the air show. It races over 300 mph at the Battle Creek Executive Airport where the Field of Flight event occurs.
Visitors were in shock when the truck exploded on the runway during the pyrotechnic performance.
The explosion was caused by a mechanical failure on the Jet Truck, SHOCKWAVE's Neal Darnell, Chris's father, wrote on Facebook.
Chris was Neal's youngest son. Neal said he turned 40 just one month ago.
"We are so sad," wrote Neal. "He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was 'Living the Dream,' as he said."
The explosion happened around 1:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon. No one else was injured.
The remaining air show performances were canceled, but police say the air show will return on Sunday.
The rest of today's Saturday evening activities continued as scheduled, as is the plan for activities on July 3 and 4. See more information at fieldofflight.com.
Chris's family will speak on funeral arrangements later this week.
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Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 | 2022-07-03T16:28:49 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 |
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A man died in Lake Lanier on Saturday night, authorities confirmed. It's the first major incident on the lake during a busy holiday weekend.
Around 7:30 p.m., Ga. Dept. of Natural Resources game wardens were called to a possible drowning near a home along Little River on Lake Lanier.
The man was pulled out of the water by bystanders and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he was pronounced deceased, the DNR said.
The man's name has not been released yet.
News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/lake-lanier-drowning-4th-of-july-weekend/85-66671223-6dfb-4a38-a5c5-8826a3f04fb3 | 2022-07-03T16:28:56 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/lake-lanier-drowning-4th-of-july-weekend/85-66671223-6dfb-4a38-a5c5-8826a3f04fb3 |
Sixty people sit sprawled in camp chairs at Washington Park on a Wednesday afternoon, listening intently to three candidates for Natrona County assessor make their cases.
The candidates sit on the band shell stage, two behind blue-and-red campaign signs.
Amid rising property values, a hot real estate market and nationwide inflation, it seems like nobody is happy with the tax bills that arrived in the mail this spring.
“Go Tammy!” one audience member shouts when Saulsbury says “something needs to be done” about the dramatic rise in valuations.
The moderator’s last question to candidates is: “Does a taxpayer have a fair chance to be heard on appeal?”
One man in the crowd shouts, “No!” and a chorus echoes him. “No way!”
All three candidates say yes, they do — or they should. A man stands facing the stage, holding a sign that says “Vote Matt Keating OUT! He is bad for Natrona County.”
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The crowd was much quieter for a trio of statehouse candidates whose discussion went first that night. All three of them also named increasing property taxes as a top issue.
Keating has said he’s lost friends, and even lost touch with some family members, during his 3 1/2 years in office.
Behind the podium, he tells a near-death story from his time as a firefighter.
“I thought that was a dangerous job,” he said, “until I got this one.”
***
The incumbent — Matt Keating
He took office in 2019, and immediately Natrona County residents say they saw their tax bills go up. Keating ran for the office, leaving his post on the commission, on the promise of fixing it. During his campaign, he criticized unreasonably high valuations and accused the office of doctoring numbers by lowering values for people who complained.
But since Keating took office, complaints of high and inconsistent values have only increased. People say their properties are being assessed at up to double the rates of their neighbors, thanks to categories that appear arbitrary and outdated. When they go in to talk to Keating, many of them leave overwhelmed and without answers. Hundreds of formal protests are filed each year, a huge uptick from single-digits before his tenure.
Keating’s refrain is that past assessors were systematically undervaluing property, meaning values in Natrona County lagged behind actual market values. The State Board of Equalization has commended his work for bringing the county into compliance. But residents who spoke with the Star-Tribune say they don’t care about compliance as much as the number at the bottom of their yearly tax bills.
The traditionalist — Tammy Saulsbury
She worked in the assessor’s office for 13 years before taking the post herself, after former assessor Connie Smith retired and passed away days later. Saulsbury was the interim county assessor for about eight months before losing reelection to Keating. She even mounted an enthusiastic write-in campaign.
When she first took the interim office, Saulsbury fired four employees on her first day. She didn’t comment on the dismissals at the time.
“When someone’s not willing to work with you, what else are you left with?” she said in a May interview. “That’s all I can say about that.”
Saulsbury, much like Keating in 2018, is running on a promise to fix the office. At the Washington Park town hall, she told the crowd she plans to listen to everyone coming through the office, and said the county needs to stop spending money on hearing hundreds of appeals. During her term at the helm of the office, she said, there were zero appeals.
The challenger — Tim Haid
Haid’s first job was in the county treasurer’s office, where he worked for five years. He heard people unhappy with their tax bills, but also got to know the back end of things — where the money goes and what it’s used for.
His big idea? Change the way the assessor values homes by taking a 10-year average of a property’s value. It’s not being done anywhere else, at least that Haid’s heard of, but he says he’s thought about it incessantly and “can’t think of a reason it wouldn’t work.”
“I think we’re really in a good position right now to make something happen,” Haid said. “We just have to make sure that it’s going to be good for the state, otherwise it just won’t happen.”
Haid’s proposal, and other ideas floated by Keating and Saulsbury, would need action from the state government — most likely a constitutional amendment — to be implemented. One of the most popular proposals would base property taxes on acquisition value, or purchase price, rather than comparable recent sales.
In 2021, a proposal that would have limited property tax increases to 3% or less from the previous year failed in the Wyoming Legislature. Keating is in favor of a cap like that; some of his campaign signs sport a red sticker that says “3% cap.” But the assessor, no matter who it is, can’t make that happen by themselves.
***
The assessment process works like this.
Every year, properties are assessed based on recent sale prices of similar properties. Land and buildings are technically assessed separately, but the values are then combined. That number is multiplied by a “neighborhood adjustment” that accounts for sales to bring the bottom line — the actual taxes an owner owes — within 5% of average sale prices for similar properties.
You need at least five sale prices to make a legitimate assessment. To find those, the assessor uses “stratification,” a method of sorting Natrona County’s 43,000 parcels into smaller groups of similar properties.
Ideally, you’d end up with groups that are as homogenous as possible — large east Casper homes built in the last two years shouldn’t be mixing with split-levels built on the west side in the ‘70s. Coveted riverfront land in Bessemer Bend shouldn’t be setting values for sagebrush plots north of Bar Nunn.
But residents say that’s what has been happening.
Pam and Ken Kozola said that in 2020, their land was valued much higher than the lot right next door. When they asked Keating, he told them there had been a “line in the sand” drawn at a quarter acre — meaning anyone with less than that was paying a higher tax rate for less land. There hadn’t been enough sales in their neighborhood, just two in the last few years, so their property was compared to homes elsewhere. This year, their property value went up around $40,000.
John Burd, one of the founders of the Natrona County Tax Payers Association, previously told the Star-Tribune he got interested in the assessment process in 2019, after a friend found her property in the Midwest Heights area of Mills was being compared to wealthier neighborhoods south of Casper and near Garden Creek during Keating’s first year. Her valuation went from $8,000 to $42,000 in a single year, Burd said.
In 2021, homeowner Mike DeLuca said his home value rose by 12%, as his neighbor’s fell by 8% the same year. He didn’t get a clear explanation until he showed up for a formal appeal hearing. Keating didn’t speak, DeLuca said, but someone else from the office said that the neighbor had a larger lot, which is valued at a lower rate.
Keating says that discrepancy is to make sure larger lots don’t have outrageously high valuations. You can’t value the square footage of a Walmart at the same rate as an outhouse, he’s told multiple people.
“It makes no sense to me,” DeLuca said.
***
In Wyoming, it’s not only Natrona County that’s feeling the heat from rising property values.
According to data from the state’s Department of Revenue, which oversees county assessor’s offices, every county has seen average residential property values go up this year. The rates range from 4% in Niobrara County to a 36% increase in Teton County — though most people will tell you that Teton, the wealthiest county in the nation, is an extreme anomaly in more ways than one.
But Natrona County is an outlier in the number of people protesting their valuations. Assessors in other counties with similar or bigger value increases said they haven’t seen much of an uptick in appeals, formal or informal.
This year, 538 formal and informal appeals have been filed. Each parcel has to be appealed separately, meaning there are fewer than 538 people appealing. Not all of those protests will be heard by the Natrona County’s Board of Equalization (aka, the county commission putting on a different hat).
That’s a big number, bigger than any other county by a long shot. Last year, there were 737 filed. The year before, values for more than 3,115 parcels were appealed formally or informally. In 2019, more than 2,000 appeals were filed, but just 256 sought formal hearings with the board.
“When you’ve got 3,000 appeals, that’s unheard of,” said Park County Assessor Pat Meyer, who’s worked in his office for 37 years. “That’s never happened to any other county.”
Most other counties, even larger ones, see just a handful of formal appeals each year. Assessors in those counties, including Meyer, said they mostly handle value changes on an informal basis.
This year, Laramie and Albany county assessors said they each had just one formal protest filed. Fremont County is set to hear 11 appeals, most of them from government entities or the local Catholic college looking for exemptions. Carbon County has seven protests docketed this year, largely from industrial or commercial properties.
“Once we show the sales we used for analysis, most of them understand,” Laramie County Assessor Kenneth Guille said. “These houses are selling for a lot.”
Natrona County used to have single-digit formal appeals, commissioner Rob Hendry said. In a busy year, the board would hear six. Now, they set aside several weeks for the hearings, which last all day and require commissioners and staff from the county assessor and attorney’s office.
County commission chair Paul Bertoglio said some people come back for appeals every year, contesting their values on principle. But others, mostly older people on fixed income, only appeal when they feel their valuations are really unfair.
They’ll try to quantify the cost the county pays to hold those hearings this year, he said.
“It’s the ones that are financially strapped, that they can’t afford a $50 increase in their property taxes, that there needs to be some mechanism for,” Bertoglio said. “It’s heartbreaking. And it’s extremely frustrating to sit there and go, no, there’s nothing we can do.”
Appeals also start from the assumption that the assessor’s valuation is correct. That means the burden is on the taxpayer to prove it’s unfair. Most of the time, the taxpayer has no idea what to bring to a hearing — some bring professional appraisal numbers, which aren’t considered. Others point to features of their home or land that could change its value, like outdated bathrooms or sloped land. Those usually have more success.
“We need to make it insanely easy to protest their taxes,” said Haid, the challenger in this year’s primary. “They’re our frontline.”
But the ones that are successfully appealed at the county, under Keating, are then sent up to the state board. There, the main factor in deciding whether to mandate a change in value is whether or not the assessor violated any statutes in making the assessment.
“What can a taxpayer bring then, if it isn’t a certified appraisal on his property?” Hendry said. “You’re not going to win with that state Board of Equalization. It ain’t gonna happen.”
Hendry said the commissioners also aren’t allowed to use their own knowledge of the area to object to or contextualize assessments. He’s appealed assessments on some of his own property, he said, and recently got one value changed for some rangeland. But the problem, Hendry said, is that doesn’t happen for everyone.
“I can’t really for the life of me see where he’s coming from,” Hendry said.
***
Several residents said that when they tried to make their cases informally to Keating, they felt that their arguments fell on deaf ears. Whereas with previous assessors, you could show up and get a good explanation for your value, or even have it changed, they said they felt Keating was unresponsive during those meetings.
Pam Kozola said when she went to his office in 2020, she found him “unapproachable,” “angry” and “rude.”
“What we thought was going to be a sit-down, work type of meeting turned into a seven-minute, max, stand-up discussion, right there off to the side,” her husband, Ken Kozola, said. “We never did get into any detail.”
That same year, Mike Deluca said someone else at the office told him they’d send an appraiser to look at his home when he complained of a spike, but no one ever came.
Ken Carpenter said he went to the office to request sale records for some of his 60 properties during Keating’s first year in office. After being told no a few times, he was finally taken to a room and given four bankers boxes with papers inside — not organized by any discernible pattern. It took him about an hour to go through one inch of paper, he said, looking at other people’s confidential sale documents in the process. Since then, Carpenter said, those files have been organized.
“Most of the time, what we have found in the Board of Equalization hearings, is the taxpayer has never been able to get in to talk to the assessor,” Bertoglio said.
When they come before the board for a formal appeal then, Bertoglio said, they end up essentially having that informal conversation they could have had in the office.
***
The Natrona County assessor’s office has been under a state-mandated work order since 2019, which says a statistical analysis found “undervaluation of commercial properties and non-uniformity across all property types.”
The state board said the office — which now has 16 employees — wasn’t staffed adequately. Keating has asked county commissioners for more money to hire more staff, but has been refused. A smaller staff means the office can’t fulfill the state’s requirement of checking every property on a six-year rotation, which is meant to keep them apprised of any new improvements.
It also noted that high turnover rates, four different assessors in Natrona County between 2013 and 2019, mean that institutional knowledge and experience are lost with each new assessor. In Keating’s office, just four of his staff members stayed on from past administrations.
“The described deficiencies and noncompliance are not the result of deliberate malfeasance, disinterest, or bad faith in the execution of appraisal responsibilities or the statutory duties of the office,” the order says.
The work order is still active, though Keating received a letter from the state board congratulating him on his “herculean efforts” to bring the county into compliance.
And though those who hate Keating are loud, there are still some residents satisfied with his work.
Without Keating in office, Jim Hunter says, property values in Natrona County would be lagging way behind market.
Hunter was an appraiser for decades in central California and said that Keating shouldn’t be blamed for following his mandate from the state. As homes sell for more, he said, people nearby can expect to pay the price.
“Your neighbors are not your best friends,” Hunter said. “You can go over and have barbecues with them… but when it comes time to sell their home, they’re going to do what’s in their best interest.”
Hunter said that his experiences with Keating as assessor have been “outstanding.”
Other Wyoming assessors say that home prices all over the state have gone up at a faster rate in the last two years than they had been before — some of that due, they said, to people moving from out-of-state and making high offers on homes Wyomingites usually can’t compete with.
New homes being built also add to higher taxes for everyone — they tend to be bigger, cost more and are systemically valued more by the assessor’s formula.
The way to get to a lower tax bill, Keating argues, is not through his office. He says the county commission, and other local government agencies, need to look at lowering their mills. Those are the set tax rates that fund counties and cities, school districts and water and sewer services.
But Hendry and Bertoglio said those mills, which are at the maximum levels allowed by the state, have been in place for years and are unlikely to change. The county relies on that money for daily operations, and has been hit by inflated costs just like the rest of the population.
And if a city or county isn’t charging the maximum mills, they can be disqualified from receiving state grant money for certain projects.
Still, Keating has tried to make his case to the commission.
“They said no,” Keating said.
He wrote to Gov. Mark Gordon this year, asking for a way to remove the limits on state grants for entities not charging full mills.
“No response,” he said. | https://trib.com/news/local/an-incumbent-traditionalist-and-challenger-all-say-they-can-fix-the-assessors-office-again/article_d2cd9e12-f8c7-11ec-b644-e3423e999fc4.html | 2022-07-03T16:29:53 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/an-incumbent-traditionalist-and-challenger-all-say-they-can-fix-the-assessors-office-again/article_d2cd9e12-f8c7-11ec-b644-e3423e999fc4.html |
In honor of Independence Day, The Pantagraph is providing unlimited access to all of our content from June 28th-July 4th!
Presented by
Illinois State University
The temperatures have been abnormally high this season and area farmers are no doubt feeling the heat in addition to being discouraged by the lack of consistent rainfall. Unfortunately, today as in the past, farmers have no control over nature’s forces, which sometimes challenge their best efforts.
Too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too dry or too buggy — no matter how a farmer shuffles the cards, Mother Nature controls the game. But smart moves and innovative actions on the farmer’s part, both before and after nature wields its forces, have throughout the history of farming reduced their impact in McLean County.
Take for example how James W. Keeney, who owned an 80-acre farm in Martin Township, reacted in 1871 when thousands of tiny chinch bugs began to consume his cornfields. He knew that if left alone his crop would be decimated, but he was determined to stop the bugs using a method he had read about in a farm magazine.
Keeney got to work with a horse and plow to create a large furrow ahead of the advancing insects. On the corn side he poured a line of coal tar. The bugs traveled to the tar ridge and then turned down the furrow, dropping into one of 75 pits he had dug along the furrow. At sundown he poured strong soap suds in the pits, which killed the bugs.
After two weeks of hard labor, the use of three barrels of coal tar and the removal of 35 bushels of dead cinch bugs, the remaining insects headed to his neighbor’s field. There we hope the farmer paid attention to Keeney’s efforts and did not lose crops as a result.
Insects have always been a constant challenge for McLean County farmers. In 1937 an infestation of grasshoppers threatened to ravage the soybean fields of McLean County, but Shirley farmers Avery Adams and Harry Morgan, with the help of Lloyd Rodman, took action.
They secured to the front of Adams' truck a tank filled with 2 inches of kerosene and surrounded it with a canvas backstop. They called their contraption a “hopper dozer.”
As it was driven through the fields, it disturbed the grasshoppers, which hit the backstop and fell into the kerosene and quickly died. According to reports, Adams captured 50 bushels of grasshoppers from a single field.
Similar contraptions had been developed as early as 1874 when grasshoppers consumed Kansas crops. When word got out about the success of the farmers’ contraption, MGM sent out a camera crew to film a newsreel that was later viewed in theaters across the U.S.
Weather, too, creates challenges for farmers.
A late freeze in the early hours of May 25, 1925, severely damaged western McLean County farmers' newly emerged corn. By 7 a.m., E.D. Lawrence of Dry Grove Township was in town looking for new seed, and that afternoon he and many others were already replanting.
But Covell farmer S.C. Beeler sat back and waited, advising others to do the same. Having farmed for over 30 years, he recalled the freeze of 1895, when 40 acres of damaged new corn regrew four days later. He decided to wait and see what would happen.
That summer McLean County experienced extreme heat, but Beeler and those who followed his lead had decent crops while those who replanted had smaller yields because their re-planted corn never reached full maturity.
On Aug. 24, 1982, at least three tornadoes tore through Central Illinois, destroying buildings and causing extensive damage to thousands of acres of corn. Farmers like Bob Laudau of Anchor, who had 300 acres of flattened corn, believed they had lost much of their crop.
Wanting to maximize their harvests, Landau and his neighbors investigated options and paid about $2,850 each to purchase special “Corn Saver” heads for their combines. The heads were designed to lift flattened corn to capture more of the ears that would otherwise drop to the ground and be lost.
Landau felt he only lost about five bushels per acre because of the unit, which paid for itself in saved corn. Some of his neighbors ended up with bumper crops.
Another serious threat to farmers comes from livestock diseases.
In the winter of 1886-87 McLean County’s hog feeders faced such a serious threat. An outbreak of hog cholera resulted in many desperate farmers purchasing Dr. Sewell’s Hog Cholera Cure, which was advertised in The Pantagraph. Despite his status as a professor of chemistry at Illinois State Normal University, the claim of a “cure” was false and those with one or more hogs infected with the disease lost 90% or more of their herds.
Arrowsmith farmer George Hedrick was a successful hog farmer until the 1870s, when he lost nearly 200 to hog cholera. Afterward he decided the risk was too great and turned his focus to cattle and sheep.
The development of a vaccine in 1903 reduced the incidence of hog cholera, but unfortunately many McLean County farmers chose to spare themselves the expense and did not vaccinate their hogs. Ten years later another outbreak of hog cholera decimated most of McLean County’s swine herds, but the herds that were vaccinated were spared. Most farmers learned their lesson and thereafter vaccinated their herds.
McLean County’s European-American farmers have faced Mother Nature’s relentless forces since 1822, when the first settlers came to this area to farm (indigenous people farmed here thousands of years before that). But with resourcefulness and determination, they have in many instances overcome or improved situations that seemed insurmountable.
To learn more about these resourceful and determined individuals and the history of farming in McLean County, visit the McLean County Museum of History’s exhibit, "Challenges, Choices, & Change: Farming in the Great Corn Belt."
The US states with the most organic farms
U.S. States With the Most Organic Farms
Organic food sales have more than tripled since 2008
Milk and chicken are the top two organic commodities
California accounts for nearly 20% of US organic farms and acreage
15. Ohio
14. Maryland
13. Utah
12. Oregon
11. Michigan
10. Pennsylvania
9. Idaho
8. Nevada
7. Massachusetts
6. Wisconsin
5. New Hampshire
4. California
3. Maine
2. New York
1. Vermont
Pieces From Our Past is a weekly column by the McLean County Museum of History. Susan Hartzold is curator of the museum.
"Space food' was among the many achievements of chemist Jason Alikonis, an Illinois Wesleyan University alumnus who worked for Bloomington candymaker Paul F. Beich Co.
Shirley-area farmers Avery Adams and Harry Morgan, center, pose with their "hopper dozer," a device credited with saving their 1937 soybean crop by scooping up, trapping and killing grasshoppers. Farm adviser Lloyd G. Rodman, right, provided the plans, while associate farmer adviser Lloyd D. Graham, left, helped them created the device, which cost about $10 to construct.
Tornadoes and high winds flattened thousands of acres of corn in August 1982, but the damage was reduced for three Anchor-area farmers who spent $2,850 each to equip their combines with "Corn Saver" heads, like the one pictured here, designed specifically for harvesting flattened corn.
The "hopper dozer" created by Shirley-area farmers Avery Adams and Harry Morgan in 1937 captured and killed an estimated 200,000 grasshoppers before it was full and more than 1 million total grasshoppers. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/mclean-county-farmers-take-on-nature-with-ingenuity-hard-work/article_7302e408-f8de-11ec-ad3f-5f86bc7b9ff0.html | 2022-07-03T16:32:21 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/mclean-county-farmers-take-on-nature-with-ingenuity-hard-work/article_7302e408-f8de-11ec-ad3f-5f86bc7b9ff0.html |
One person is dead and three others wounded following a shooting at an auto shop in Queens, police said.
The NYPD said several people were gathered inside the shop on 89th Avenue in Richmond Hill when the gunman walked in and opened fire.
It happened around 9 p.m. Saturday.
Two teenage girls were grazed by bullets and refused medical attention, according to police. An 18-year-old was grazed in her head and 17-year-old in her chest.
Police said a 25-year-old man was struck in the leg. He was transported to Jamaica Hospital for treatment.
A second man, 24, was shot in the head. Police said he did not survive his injuries.
Police have not announced any arrests or released a description of the shooter.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/auto-shop-quadruple-shooting-leaves-1-dead-in-queens-cops-ny-only/3760099/ | 2022-07-03T16:38:44 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/auto-shop-quadruple-shooting-leaves-1-dead-in-queens-cops-ny-only/3760099/ |
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after he crashed his dirt bike into a NYC Parks truck, and the bike went up in flames.
Sources tell News 4 he was riding the unregistered dirt bike illegally down Willow Avenue in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx late Saturday.
The rider crashed into a parks truck as it was making a left turn, and he was pinned under the bike as it burst into flames. He was not wearing a helmet.
Police said he was taken to the hospital with major body trauma and burns.
One week ago the city crushed nearly 100 dirt bikes that had been seized by police as part of the city's crackdown on the illegal rides.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-badly-burned-after-crashing-illegal-dirt-bike-into-nyc-parks-truck-ny-only/3759948/ | 2022-07-03T16:38:50 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-badly-burned-after-crashing-illegal-dirt-bike-into-nyc-parks-truck-ny-only/3759948/ |
Amid one of the busiest travel weekends in the country, the largest terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport experienced a "security incident" on Sunday that prompted a partial evacuation.
The first signs of trouble at the airport began surfacing on social media shortly before 11 a.m. as passengers were ushered out of Terminal 4.
A spokesperson for the Port Authority said passengers were cleared from the departures area of the terminal while the bomb squad investigated an unattended bag.
The arrival and departure levels of Terminal 4 were briefly closed to all inbound traffic due to the investigation.
Bomb squad investigators and K-9 teams deemed the unattended luggage safe and airport operations were resumed around 12 p.m.
The bag contained a common household product K-9s are trained to detect, a law enforcement source told News 4.
News
The impact of the over hour-long shutdown was expected to cause delays at the terminal as the holiday weekend rush continued. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/unattended-bag-prompts-evacuation-at-jfk-airport-terminal/3760120/ | 2022-07-03T16:38:57 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/unattended-bag-prompts-evacuation-at-jfk-airport-terminal/3760120/ |
LAKELAND, Fla. – Detectives with the Lakeland Police Department on Sunday asked the public what they knew about the death of a 24-year-old man who was found shot Saturday evening at an apartment complex off of Highway 98.
Police responded at 4:47 p.m. Saturday to a shooting call at the Big Oaks Apartments, where officers found the victim inside of a unit and rendered aid until emergency medical responders arrived, according to a news release.
The man was taken to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said. His identity will not be released at this time in accordance with Marsy’s Law, police said.
[TRENDING: Lawyer for Florida teen accused of killing classmate wants media excluded from pretrial proceedings | Disney announces menus for 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Multiple people who shared the apartment with the man were interviewed by detectives, who had since arrived at the complex to process evidence. According to the release, despite the homicide investigation still being in its early stages at the time of this report, detectives believe the shooting does not appear to be a random act.
Anyone with knowledge of the shooting or the people involved was asked to contact Detective Troy Smith at (863) 834-8958, or by emailing troy.smith@lakelandgov.net. One could also contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida in order to remain anonymous at 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), by dialing **TIPS, by visiting the Heartland Crime Stoppers website and clicking “Submit A Tip,” or by downloading the free “P3tips” application for tablets and smartphones.
A potential cash reward is being offered for information given to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest, police said.
Police were assisted at the scene by the Lakeland Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue, the release said. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/lakeland-detectives-ask-public-for-tips-in-death-of-24-year-old-man-found-shot-in-apartment/ | 2022-07-03T17:01:51 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/lakeland-detectives-ask-public-for-tips-in-death-of-24-year-old-man-found-shot-in-apartment/ |
ST CLOUD, Fla. – Search efforts resumed on Sunday for a missing man who fell off a pontoon boat Saturday night in East Lake Toho.
Yellow crime scene tape blocked off a boat ramp as investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office to search for the missing boater.
[TRENDING: Lawyer for Florida teen accused of killing classmate wants media excluded from pretrial proceedings | Disney announces menus for 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
FWC officials said they got a call from the sheriff’s office Saturday night about a man who fell off a pontoon boat and did not resurface.
Pictures shared on social media by the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department show how search efforts began Saturday night. Investigators were back out on the lake Sunday morning.
FWC said investigators are using vessels to search for the missing man from the water, as well as helicopters to search from the air.
This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for updates. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/search-efforts-continue-for-missing-boater-in-st-cloud/ | 2022-07-03T17:01:58 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/03/search-efforts-continue-for-missing-boater-in-st-cloud/ |
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The victim who died after an accident at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival has been identified as 40-year-old Chris Darnell.
Battle Creek Police Department released the update on their Facebook page in coordination with Field of Flight.
Darnell drove the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck during the air show. It races over 300 mph at the Battle Creek Executive Airport where the Field of Flight event occurs.
Visitors were in shock when the truck exploded on the runway during the pyrotechnic performance.
The explosion was caused by a mechanical failure on the Jet Truck, SHOCKWAVE's Neal Darnell, Chris's father, wrote on Facebook.
Chris was Neal's youngest son. Neal said he turned 40 just one month ago.
"We are so sad," wrote Neal. "He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was 'Living the Dream,' as he said."
The explosion happened around 1:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon. No one else was injured.
The remaining air show performances were canceled, but police say the air show will return on Sunday.
The rest of today's Saturday evening activities continued as scheduled, as is the plan for activities on July 3 and 4. See more information at fieldofflight.com.
Chris's family will speak on funeral arrangements later this week.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 | 2022-07-03T17:05:06 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 |
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Paul Bixlar speaks out against laws targeting transgender youth in schools
20 PHOTOS | https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/southwest-valley-education/2022/07/03/paul-bixlar-laws-targeting-transgender-youth-schools/7689704001/ | 2022-07-03T17:07:54 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/southwest-valley-education/2022/07/03/paul-bixlar-laws-targeting-transgender-youth-schools/7689704001/ |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The new leaders of the Salvation Army in Johnson City want to make sure no one misses out on the Fourth of July celebrations this year.
Captains Crystal and Benny Carringer are hosting a Fourth of July cookout at the Salvation Army this Monday for all the veterans staying at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope as well as anyone else experiencing homelessness at this time.
The cookout will be hosted during the Salvation Army’s normal lunch time from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The menu will include hot dogs, potato salad, and a dessert. Benny Carringer said they will continue serving as long as they can to make sure everyone gets to enjoy a nice lunch this holiday.
“Just like any other holiday when you’re wanting to be around family, and you’re wanting to have a good time,” said Carringer. “If you don’t have that support system that makes it a lot harder. So here at the Salvation Army, we want to offer that support to them, we want to offer that love to them, and we want to offer that hope to them as well.”
Crystal Carringer experienced homelessness as a teenager. She said she remembers how lonely the holidays can be, so hosting this cookout was important for her.
“I myself was homeless as a teenager,” said Crystal Carringer. “Had it not been for the Salvation Army and their investment in me, I wouldn’t be standing here.”
The Carringers are the newest leaders of the Salvation Army in Johnson City, having arrived on Sunday, June 26. Salvation Army officers are periodically transferred to different locations, typically on 3 to 5 year rotations. The Carringers arrived from Henderson, Kentucky where they worked at the Salvation Army there for 3 years. Prior to Kentucky, they were ordained and served in West Virginia for 7 years. The couple previously lived in the Tri-Cities area before going into seminary. In fact, their 9-year-old son Judah was born in Johnson City.
The couple is in charge of all church programs and social services.
The Salvation Army in Johnson City is located at 204 W Walnut Street. For more information you can call (423) 926-2101 or visit the website here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-salvation-army-to-host-july-4th-cookout/ | 2022-07-03T17:15:09 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/johnson-city-salvation-army-to-host-july-4th-cookout/ |
DALLAS (KDAF) — The summer heat in Texas is no joke and nobody wants to be outside in the rain and the Fourth of July weekend has the potential for rain and some high heat.
What better day to celebrate than National Stay Out of the Sun Day on Sunday, July 3! NationalToday says, “Although one doesn’t technically need to be indoors to avoid the sun, any excuse to lounge around the house for a lengthy period of time can (and should) be taken full advantage of. Moderate sun exposure will provide you with a healthy, all-natural dose of Vitamin D, but spending too much time basking in the sun speeds up the aging process. Whether you opt to spend this holiday relishing in the great indoors, or relaxing in a hammock in the shade — we’ve got a couple of ideas to help you celebrate.”
We want to help you out and found Tripadvisor’s list of the best activities for a rainy day in Dallas!
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
- The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Dallas Museum of Art
- The Dallas World Aquarium
- American Airlines Center
- NorthPark Center
- Rainbow Vomit
- Frontiers of Flight Museum
- Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
- Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
- Galleria Dallas
- Deep Ellum Brewing Company
- Old Red Museum
- Museum of Biblical Art
- Meadows Museum
- African American Museum
- Museum of Illusions Dallas
For more from this list, click here! | https://cw33.com/news/local/top-indoor-activities-around-dallas-to-escape-the-rain-or-beat-the-heat-according-to-tripadvisor/ | 2022-07-03T17:18:24 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/top-indoor-activities-around-dallas-to-escape-the-rain-or-beat-the-heat-according-to-tripadvisor/ |
The Hard Rock casino reached agreement with Atlantic City's main casino workers union on Saturday, removing the last threat of a strike during the busy holiday weekend and clearing the way for the gambling halls and their workers to concentrate on bouncing back from financial losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Local 54 of the Unite Here union said it reached a tentative agreement with Hard Rock, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
Combined with agreements reached Thursday with the Borgata, Caesars, Harrah's and the Tropicana, Hard Rock's deal leaves only two smaller casinos, Resorts and the Golden Nugget, without a contract. But the union said it expects both of them to agree to one in the coming days.
Bally's and the Ocean Casino Resort have signed so-called “me-too” agreements committing themselves to adopting the terms of contracts the union reaches with the larger casinos.
The deals still need to be ratified by the full union membership.
“We are extremely pleased that we were once again able to reach a successful settlement with Unite Here Local 54 to increase wages and benefits for our deserving team members,” said Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International. “We look forward to further expanding this excellent relationship at both the national and local levels as we expand our iconic brand.”
Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Atlantic City, said the deal allows the casino to concentrate on performing well during the peak tourist season.
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“We look forward to a vibrant holiday weekend and a tremendous summer season,” he said.
Contract terms were not immediately made public.
The deals not only avoid what would have been a costly and disruptive strike during one of the busiest weekends of the year for the casinos, but it provides labor peace in the crucial third summer of the coronavirus pandemic, as the casinos are struggling to return to the revenue and profit levels they enjoyed before it began.
In past contracts, the union concentrated on preserving health care and pension benefits, but this time sought “significant” pay raises for workers to help them keep pace with spiraling prices for gasoline, food, rent and other living expenses.
The deals avoided what would have been the city’s first casino strike since 2016, when the union rejected demands by billionaire Carl Icahn that the Trump Taj Mahal casino operate without health care and pension benefits that were terminated by a bankruptcy court.
The union went on strike on July 1 of that year, and the casino shut down on Oct. 10. It was sold months later to Hard Rock International, which gutted it and reopened it as the new Hard Rock Atlantic City in June 2018.
The finances underlying the current dispute are complex.
Including internet gambling and sports betting revenue, the casinos and their online partners have won $1.8 billion over the first five months of this year. That’s up more than 49% from the same period in 2019, before the coronavirus hit.
But the casinos claim those figures are misleading because third-party partners keep about 70% of internet and sports betting revenue, leaving little for the brick-and-mortar casinos.
___
Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/hard-rock-deal-ends-casino-strike-threat-in-atlantic-city/3288950/ | 2022-07-03T17:22:11 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/hard-rock-deal-ends-casino-strike-threat-in-atlantic-city/3288950/ |
CHESTERFIELD, Va. — A child is dead and another person is injured after multiple shootings at a party in central Virginia, police said.
Before police arrived, a sheriff’s deputy who was providing security at the party responded to the reported shooting to investigate, according to the news release. The deputy encountered and confronted an individual who was displaying a handgun. The deputy shot the person, who was taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening. That person was not immediately identified.
An investigation is ongoing. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/police-boy-fatally-shot-at-virginia-party-another-injured/2022/07/03/45071486-faf3-11ec-b39d-71309168014b_story.html | 2022-07-03T17:22:12 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/police-boy-fatally-shot-at-virginia-party-another-injured/2022/07/03/45071486-faf3-11ec-b39d-71309168014b_story.html |
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Tarpon Springs police say they're working to find out what happened to a man found dead in the woods Saturday afternoon.
The body was found around 1:45 p.m. just off the Pinellas Trail between the area of Meres Boulevard and Curlew Road, according to a release from the department.
Police say "it appears as if the person had overdosed."
The investigation is ongoing. It doesn't appear there are any signs of foul play, officers say.
Tarpon Springs Police worked with the Pinellas County Medical Examiners Office and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Forensics unit to process the scene.
If you or a loved one is battling a substance use disorder, below is a list of Tampa Bay area resources.
Get help now:
- Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Hotline: 211 or 813-964-1964
- Florida Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 813-234-1234
- Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1)
Treatment in Hillsborough County:
- ACTS - Adolescents & Adults (Residential and Outpatient): 813-246-4899
- COVE - Adolescents & Adults (Residential and Outpatient): 813-384-4000 or 1-855-322-2600 (after hours)
- Gracepoint Wellness (Mental Health Care) Youth & Adults: 813-272-2244
- Gracepoint Central Receiving Facility Adult SAMH: 813-272-2958
- North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital: 877-297-2192
- Oasis at Tampa Community Hospital: 866-933-3869
- Phoenix House: 1-844-851-9330
- Riverside Recovery of Tampa: 1-800-871-5440
- Tampa Crossroads: 813-238-8557
- Turning Point of Tampa (Adults only): 1-800-397-3006
Resources for recovery and support:
- Al-Anon and Alateen (Friends and families of problem drinkers): 813-881-9372
- Alcoholics Anonymous: 813-933-9123 (Online meeting list for AA/NA at meetings.intherooms.com
- Footprints Beachside Recovery Center: 727-954-3908
- Narcotics Anonymous: 813-879-HELP (4357)
- Nar-Anon: 800-477-6291
- SAMHSA Hotline (referrals to local treatment, support groups, and CBOs): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889
Resources for grief support:
- Healing Hearts Support Group: 813-238-4034 or togetheragain@earthlink.net
- Helping Parents Heal: helpingparentsheal.org
- A Bed for My Heart: abedformyheart.com
- Grief Support with Suncoast Hospice: suncoasthospice.org/grief-support/
- Compassionate Friends Support Groups: compassionatefriends.org | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/tarpon-springs-death-investigation/67-9a4460b6-3394-4a09-81d6-754cb476c032 | 2022-07-03T17:25:38 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/tarpon-springs-death-investigation/67-9a4460b6-3394-4a09-81d6-754cb476c032 |
Second 3-year-old boy in two days shot in Milwaukee; police say child is in critical condition
A 3-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was struck by gunfire Saturday in an apparently accidental shooting, Milwaukee police said.
Police responded to the shooting about 7:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of North 52nd Street, according to a news release.
It was the second 3-year-old boy to suffer gunshot wounds in two days in Milwaukee. On Friday, police say Akai W. Stilo unintentionally shot himself and died from his injuries.
It was not immediately clear who shot the second child on Saturday. Police said the shooting appeared accidental, but that the investigation was still active.
Earlier Saturday, a 15-year-old boy suffered injuries that were not life-threatening in a shooting in the 2400 block of North 36th Street. An argument led to the shooting, police said.
Responding to Akai Stilo's death on Friday, Mayor Cavalier Johnson urged people to store their guns in a safe place.
"I am disturbed by all gun deaths in Milwaukee, but when the victim is a 3-yr-old, I am horrified," he said in a tweet. "There are too many guns in the hands of people who should not have them. All weapons must be locked and secured in a home."
Police asked anyone with information on the shootings to call 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or use the P3 Tips App.
Where to find free gun locks
United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee, 1609 W. North Ave.
City on a Hill, 2224 W. Kilbourn Ave., during outreach events on the second Saturday of each month.
Milwaukee Christian Center, 807 S. 14th St., at their food pantry, which operates Monday through Thursday, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, 2819 W. Richardson Place.
Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Ave.
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64th St.
COA Youth and Family Centers, 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh St.
Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. Sixth St.
Journey House, 2110 W. Scott St.
All Milwaukee Fire Department stations and health centers run by the Milwaukee Health Department also hand out free gun locks. Directories for fire stations and health centers are available online.
Contact Sophie Carson at (414) 223-5512 or scarson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SCarson_News. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/07/03/milwaukee-3-year-old-boy-critical-condition-second-shot-two-days/7799252001/ | 2022-07-03T17:27:46 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/07/03/milwaukee-3-year-old-boy-critical-condition-second-shot-two-days/7799252001/ |
The City of Kenosha Public Works Department has received two Project of the Year awards from the American Public Works Association, recognizing the work for construction on Kenosha Fire Station 1 and storm water improvement projects.
Fire Station 1 was commended for its combination of architectural best practices and preservation of a sense of community and history. The station is located at the former site of Bain School, many of the features of the exterior mimic the school building and contain items from the school building.
Some challenges associated with the fire station project included limited site access due to road construction on the adjacent 22nd Avenue, maintaining complete records and meeting the department of Housing and Development’s requirements and installing walls filled with demolished materials from the former school to protect people and property near the intersection of 22nd Avenue and 52nd Street.
The storm water improvement project included the creation of a 90 acre-foot flood control basin, a 50 acre-foot detention and flood control basin and a new storm sewer. Other aspects of the project include a GIS map to help community members learn about the city’s storm water management efforts and a process to treat contaminated ground water before discharging it into the sanitary sewer system.
Project of the Year awards are given to recognize the partnerships among the managing agency, consultant, architect or engineer and the contractor who completed public works projects.
Ready for anything: Photos from live-fire training involving Racine and Kenosha area departments
The state of Wisconsin has revoked the wholesale dealer license for Elkhorn car dealer, Car Rangers LLC, after the dealership was found rolling back odometers and altering titles to reflect lower mileage, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/department-of-public-works-receives-2022-project-of-the-year-awards/article_2da54708-f310-11ec-99c9-8be6e97f7749.html | 2022-07-03T17:27:54 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/department-of-public-works-receives-2022-project-of-the-year-awards/article_2da54708-f310-11ec-99c9-8be6e97f7749.html |
The Pleasant Prairie Village Board has agreed to plans to create more consistent visual branding across social media, online and on the village’s vehicle fleet.
The new plans utilize updated typography and designs for department logos and village vehicles.
Village Communications Manager Steve Linn said Pleasant Prairie’s fleet of vehicles, which ranges from fire trucks to RecPlex vans, will be updated over time with the more consistent look.
Mockups show how the updated logos will look on a range of vehicles, including SUVs, trucks and vans.
IN PHOTOS: PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Garriet Dreger, right, and his wife, Viola, look at an exhibit during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Jean Werbie-Harris speaks during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum on Thursday.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Officials cut the ribbon during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Mark Riley of the Elizabeth J. Riley Charitable Trust speaks during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Pleasant Prairie History Museum Manager Kate Bennett looks on during the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Mark Riley of the Elizabeth J. Riley Charitable Trust makes a presentation to History Museum board member Jean Werbie-Harris.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Steinbrink
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Supporters gather at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM GRAND OPENING
Supporters gather at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.
SEAN KRAJACIC, Kenosha News
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Pleasant Prairie History Museum, which opened in late August 2020, has a number of exhibits focusing on different aspects of the village's past. It continues to grow and thrive, according to Museum Manager Kate Bennett.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Pleasant Prairie History Museum, which opened in late August 2020, has a number of exhibits focusing on different aspects of the village's past
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
Kate Bennett, museum manager, talks about the Pleasant Prairie History Museum.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Pleasant Prairie History Museum, which opened in late August 2020, has a number of exhibits focusing on different aspects of the village's past
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Pleasant Prairie History Museum, which opened in late August 2020, has a number of exhibits focusing on different aspects of the village's past
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
Pleasant Prairie History Museum is located in the former Dublin School building, built in 1927, at at 3875 116th St.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
Journalist Dan Truttschel interviews Kate Bennett, museum manager, at the Pleasant Prairie History Museum.
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Pleasant Prairie History Museum, which opened in late August 2020, has a number of exhibits focusing on different aspects of the village’s past. It continues to grow and thrive, according to Museum Manager Kate Bennett.
SEAN KRAJACIC, KENOSHA NEWS
PLEASANT PRAIRIE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Pleasant Prairie History Museum, which opened in late August 2020, has a number of exhibits focusing on different aspects of the village's past
KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/village-of-pleasant-prairie-to-update-logos-branding/article_5e1d27dc-f7db-11ec-9d2d-33bb77d90579.html | 2022-07-03T17:28:00 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/village-of-pleasant-prairie-to-update-logos-branding/article_5e1d27dc-f7db-11ec-9d2d-33bb77d90579.html |
An Oregon tribe and state leaders have agreed to co-manage fish and wildlife across a large swath of southwest Oregon, in what they say is a monumental arrangement and the first of potentially more comprehensive management partnerships between the state’s wildlife agency and tribal nations.
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 17 unanimously agreed to a framework agreement with the Coquille Indian Tribe, giving it more power in fish and wildlife management throughout a five-county area of southwest Oregon while also ensuring tribal members are able to fish, hunt, gather and trap on public lands for subsistence or ceremonial purposes under tribal regulations that the tribe and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) develop together.
“This is partially about the cultural restoration of my tribe,” Brenda Meade, chair of the Coquille Tribal Council, told commissioners. “But it is also about our tribal government working with the state as cooperative sovereigns on species restoration. It's about collaboration and sharing of resources.”
Drastically declining numbers of Chinook salmon — a species that Coquille tribal citizens and other Indigenous people in the state have long relied on for cultural, spiritual and subsistence reasons — prompted the tribe last year to declare a tribal emergency and pushed state and federal leaders to more aggressively work to protect salmon populations returning to the more than 1,000 square-mile Coquille River watershed.
That also led the tribe to request that the state formally agree to give it more authority in conservation and management issues in the rivershed, because, the tribe said, it had the resources and stake to do so. The tribe and others had also criticized ODFW for not adequately working to increase Chinook salmon numbers in the Coquille River. The agency admitted it didn’t have the resources needed to fully address the protection and restoration needs of the watershed.
“There is too much work for one agency and too few resources if left to only the state,” Meade said. “Coquille people have a sacred duty to care for fish and wildlife that aligns with the mission of (ODFW) as well.”
Many local governments and other area organizations near the river that are similarly worried about decreasing salmon populations sent letters to Gov. Kate Brown last year, urging her to support the tribe’s proposal to partner in managing the region’s fish and wildlife.
Brown supported the agreement, saying in a June 15 letter to the commission that it was an “important step” in “dismantling systems of racism and colonialism.” ODFW also recommended that the commission approve the proposal.
“This agreement presents an important opportunity for the State of Oregon to collaborate with the Tribe on fish and wildlife management, leveraging tribal expertise, knowledge, experience and resources. It also represents a significant step toward enhancing and affirming tribal sovereignty,” Brown said in her letter encouraging the commission to approve the agreement. “I welcome similar conversations between the State and other tribal governments.”
Still, about a dozen conservation groups, other organizations and individuals opposed the partnership or asked that a vote be postponed during testimony on June 17 and through submitted written comments, citing concerns that the agreement could lead to tribal commercial fishing or hunting, was drafted without adequate public input, ceded too much authority to the tribe, or gave “preferential treatment” to tribal citizens over non-Indigenous Oregonians.
Three other Oregon tribes — the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians — publicly supported the agreement.
The Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw and Cow Creek tribes originally withheld support until the proposal’s language was recently changed to acknowledge that, since the agreement’s boundaries overlap with the ancestral territories of other tribes, the boundaries of potential future tribal agreements with the state could overlap with the Coquille tribe’s management area. The updated language also guaranteed that the agreement wouldn’t diminish any other rights or privileges of other tribes.
“It is critical that both Tribal and State agencies work on a government-to-government basis to manage fish and wildlife to ensure that there are healthy and harvestable levels of resources across the State,” CTCLUSI Tribal Council Chair Brad Kneaper wrote in a June 12 letter indicating support for the co-management proposal after the changes were made. “This agreement is a good example of how these efforts can be implemented.”
‘We hope it can serve as a model’
The co-management agreement comes as some Oregon tribes have already sought more authority or agreements with state agencies in co-managing natural resources or wildlife in traditional homelands or on tribal lands. Last year, Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes wrote to Brown pushing her to ensure they are given a stronger voice in setting water use policies in the state over the coming decades.
Also, federal legislation proposed by Oregon congressional Democrats late last year would restore the power of the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes to regulate hunting and fishing on their own lands and allow them to re-negotiate restrictive agreements with the state, which were made as a condition of regaining federal recognition in the 1980s and have limited their ability to manage those activities.
With the pending federal legislation, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians said in a June 9 letter of support to the commission that it was negotiating a similar hunting, fishing, gathering and trapping agreement proposal with ODFW.
ODFW has been expanding its work and partnerships with Oregon tribes in recent years, Davia Palmeri, the agency’s conservation policy coordinator, said on June 17. But that’s typically been through “one-off agreements” like shellfishing and off-reservation hunting agreements. The partnership with the Coquille is “more expansive and comprehensive” than any other partnerships with an Oregon tribe, she said.
“We hope it can serve as a model to be replicated between the department and other tribes in the future,” Palmeri said.
For the nearly 1,200-member Coquille Tribe, the agreement with the state means tribal citizens will be guaranteed the opportunity to harvest fish and game for subsistence and ceremonial reasons, just as their ancestors have done for thousands of years.
“The history books might not have told you that we have been doing this for millennia and we were managing the land when settlers came,” Coquille tribal citizen Jennifer Procter Andrews said during testimony at the commission’s meeting. “We were doing it sustainably because why would we do it any other way? We're always planning for the future generations and generations who come after them.”
Under the agreement, tribal members won’t need to buy a hunting or fishing license from ODFW when harvesting fish or game within the agreement’s five-county area — Coos, Curry, Lane, Douglas and Jackson counties — and instead will have to get a tribal license to hunt or fish. Tribal citizens will otherwise have to follow existing ODFW regulations, with any violations passed to the Coquille tribal court for potential prosecution.
The 200 to 300 Coquille tribal citizens who buy state hunting, fishing or trapping licenses annually but will no longer need to do so make up a tiny fraction of the more than 100,000 people who bought a hunting or fishing license for that five-county area, Palmeri said.
Under the agreement, the tribe and state will meet annually to determine harvest limits for tribal subsistence and ceremonial use, as well as to discuss management issues, share data and information, and discuss how to coordinate the sharing of resources and expertise to protect and restore wildlife numbers or habitat. The tribe will then determine how and when those species can be harvested.
The current agreement doesn’t allow for commercial harvesting but says the tribe could apply for commercial harvest exemptions. It also doesn’t allow for tribal members to hunt, fish or trap on private property without permission.
Palmeri told the commission the agreement will mean increased “pace and scale” for habitat restoration goals in the area.
“The tribe has access to more and different resources than the department does,” she said.
The co-management agreement, Meade said, will also allow the tribe to bring in other partners and use other sources of funding, like federal grants, on conservation projects, increasing the money the two have to spend on protecting and restoring habitat and wildlife.
Coming full circle
The tribe first sought such a comprehensive agreement after ODFW told the tribe last May that the Coquille River would again be closed to Chinook salmon fishing because of critically low populations while presenting a long list of problems — like habitat degradation and invasive species predation — that had contributed to the fall Chinook salmon run’s sharp decline, Meade said.
“The words that they were using there that day were ‘near extinction numbers,’” she said. “We recognized that (ODFW) needed our support and our help. Our river needed more boots on the ground, more voices lifted and more resources than (the agency) had.”
That led to a tribal emergency declaration, as well as the tribe working to gather support from and build partnerships with the area's local governments, port authorities and other organizations.
While working on the agreement proposal, the Coquille Tribe and ODFW had already started informally cooperating last year to more aggressively work to increase the Chinook salmon numbers in the Coquille River and its tributaries.
The partnership included initiatives like increased electrofishing to decrease the population of invasive and ravenous smallmouth bass and the construction of obstacles to prevent seals from gorging on salmon navigating chokepoints to get upstream.
It also included an effort last fall led by the tribe and community volunteers to capture pairs of Chinook salmon as they returned from the ocean to be transported to a nearby hatchery to ensure they spawn. That effort resulted in the capture of 24 breeding pairs, a significant increase from the previous year when ODFW was solely responsible for the task.
Earlier in the week before the commission’s vote, the tribe released the first 1,000 juvenile Chinook salmon resulting from last fall’s spawning project to swim downstream and, according to tribal leaders, return someday to the Coquille River system from the Pacific Ocean as adults to spawn.
Linda Mecum, a Coquille tribal elder and former council member, testified in support of the measure. She, along with others, spoke of how the tribe responsibly hunted, fished and gathered on the land before settlers arrived. She also spoke of the tribe being terminated and how Coquille people were expected to abandon the practices and culture of their ancestors in favor of assimilation.
And despite regaining federal recognition years later, the tribe was still limited in how it could care for the resources it had relied on since time immemorial, Mecum said. She didn’t know whether the tribe would ever regain the ability to manage resources treasured by Coquille people.
“We are a fortunate people, for we have survived,” Mecum said. “It feels like we have come full circle at last.”
This story is co-published by Underscore News and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest. Funding is provided in part by Meyer Memorial Trust. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-tribe-and-state-leaders-enter-historic-rivershed-co-management-agreement/article_d2f32154-f7e7-11ec-b224-c78e429fc39e.html | 2022-07-03T17:29:46 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-tribe-and-state-leaders-enter-historic-rivershed-co-management-agreement/article_d2f32154-f7e7-11ec-b224-c78e429fc39e.html |
Don’t be fooled by the name: There is nothing small about the Little Gardens Club tour, or the nine gardens featured in this year's 23rd installment.
They are packed with varying hues and colors, textures and styles. They are also a journey through other gardeners’ evolutions in their own corner of the world. On July 10, they will welcome visitors.
The booklet/ticket for the tour gives participants an easy-to-follow route to travel to all the gardens. The first stop is the Linwood Arboretum, an absolute gem that even The New York Times has praised. Inspired by the late Dr. Allen Lacy, the arboretum is a stroll through beautiful camellias, magnolias, dogwoods, salvias and hydrangea along with other plants that are native to New Jersey and some exotic. Think the Pinelands are just trees? Here you will learn about pitcher plants, sundews and other plants that are included in a raised bed behind the red shed.
Just down the road is the second stop. Tanna and Dick Williams built their home in the 1970s with a few azaleas and rhododendron added to the few trees on the property. In the years that followed, they have had many successes along with a few failures to create a garden that has something beautiful to enjoy through every season, like crepe myrtle, hosta, hydrangea and roses.
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Sisters Jessica Dziegrenuk and Daphne Wood had a vision for their early 1960s home when they began the arduous task of returning it to its original prominence. Over the past decade, they have stripped away vines and neglect and, in its place, made a home for multitudes of beds including native along with unique perennials incorporated with beautiful annuals for splashes of continuous color. Taking inspiration from their mother and aunt, the sisters have transformed the East Revere Avenue property into a paradise that includes breathtaking views of the meadows.
Nokko and Katsu Sumioka moved into their Northfield home 28 years ago with the challenge of finding a way to allow the light in. They have accomplished that and much more, creating a lovely red-and-yellow color scheme along the way. They have enjoyed creating their special space and welcoming visitors.
After watching the sport on TV two decades ago, Danny Philippi joined The Arc of Atlantic Co…
The next stop on the tour is the home of Pat and Jon Bitzer. They moved into their circa 1932 beach bungalow 10 years ago. The property was overgrown and lacked sunlight for gardening. They have spent a decade creating a wonderful garden with a retaining wall, grand entrance, raised beds, many ornamental plantings and a hobby greenhouse. At 11 a.m., a talk on growing vegetables will take place at their home.
For 20 years, Mark and Kim Mazak have found themselves making adjustments and changes to their one-third-of-an-acre property. The vision was to incorporate nature and make it a true home indoors as well as out. Now, the landscape provides a habitat for birds to nest, butterflies to flutter and creatures to visit each season. Hardscaping provides a wonderful gathering place, and the couple hope visitors will leave inspired to do something in their own space.
The next garden was once the winner of an MSNBC backyard garden contest. The couple have created an outdoor sanctuary with a welcoming arch and dense greenery to give the feel of entering a small paradise. Soft grasses, perennials and climbing vines surround the pool area. They also incorporated an 8,000-gallon koi pond that is home to more than 40 fish. It is their pride and joy.
The next home will make you want to stay and take in the beauty and tranquility around you. Sitting on the Great Egg Harbor River, the home offers not only a beautiful garden and magnificent sunsets but a property that is steeped in history. Scattered about the property are chainsaw carvings by the late Jeff Wood, memorabilia from the former Adventure Village in Egg Harbor Township and a piece of the original Miry Run bog iron bridge built in 1914.
The final stop on the tour will take visitors to Mays Landing, where Tony and Maryann Catalano have lived for more than 30 years. Maryann loves to garden, and Tony loves to make her happy. There are arbors, ponds for frogs, meandering paths around the garden and a variety of interesting birdhouses. Look for color from the zinnia, cone flowers, coleus and more.
The tour will take you from Linwood to Mays Landing with stops in Northfield, Somers Point and Egg Harbor Township in between. Each year, the garden tour reminds seasoned and aspiring gardeners that there are so many amazing and creative ideas to share that will make you want to dabble in your backyard.
Proceeds from the tour benefit civic and environmental projects including Smallwood Gardens in Port Republic, the Child Federation in Pleasantville, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Cookie Till: A Work in Progress Foundation, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission Garden in Goshen, Linwood Arboretum educational outreach and the Community FoodBank garden in Egg Harbor Township. Tickets are $15 and are available at Joe’s Garden Center in Absecon, Lang’s Garden Market in Linwood, Bob’s Garden Center in Egg Harbor Township and Homestead Nursery in Egg Harbor City. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-countys-little-gardens-have-big-surprises-in-store/article_8ac837fa-f6e5-11ec-a04f-53b8199de076.html | 2022-07-03T17:31:50 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-countys-little-gardens-have-big-surprises-in-store/article_8ac837fa-f6e5-11ec-a04f-53b8199de076.html |
Tony Clark, 60, a chef's chef whose gumption helped him land a job at the Four Seasons Hotel in its glory days and who went on to help mentor a generation of restaurant professionals, died Thursday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital from complications of a stroke he had suffered about two months ago.
Clark was the eponymous chef-partner of a glitzy Center City Philadelphia restaurant in 1997 and was executive chef at four restaurants at the old Sheraton Rittenhouse Square, now the site of Parc. From there, he was private chef for a Main Line family before opening Old Grange at Cold Spring Village in Lower Township in 2011. He later was chef at such establishments as Valley Forge Casino & Resort. More recently, he was corporate chef for Samuels & Son, a seafood distributor, but moved to Ocean City and was executive chef at the Peter Shields Inn in Cape May.
A burly 6-foot-1, he commanded a kitchen and carried high standards.
"They think I'm a monster," he told The Inquirer in a 1999 interview. "My tempo is nonstop. First day here, we had this kid we thought was going to be good. He heard me yelling and he just disappeared. His wife came in to pick up his knives."
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Off hours, he turned off his tirades "like a light switch" to show his jovial side, said Martin Hamann, executive chef at the Union League and a former coworker at the Four Seasons. (Clark's son Anthony Jr. now works for Hamann.)
"He was all of our best friend," said his daughter Ashley, who called him "a true showman who used food as a medium. His real talent was making people feel special."
VENTNOR — The midday white pants crowd was brunching outside The Dorset in Ventnor Heights, …
Son Anthony said everything he knew about life and cooking came from his dad. "I was talking to people who said that whether he worked with you for three days or a year, you saw his passion and drive and that stayed with you forever," he said.
David Jansen, a former Four Seasons chef who owns Jansen restaurant in Mount Airy, called Clark "larger than life, always with a passion for family, food and friends. He mentored so many young chefs, including myself."
Clark grew up in Westmont, Camden County, the only boy among four girls and the class clown at Holy Savior School and at St. Paul VI High School. By his own admission, he was not great at school but had a strong work ethic.
He was a teenage dishwasher at Layers Dutch Kitchen near Cape May in the mid-1970s when he fell in love with the restaurant business. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After graduation, he decided he wanted to work at the Four Seasons, then on Logan Circle, whose Fountain restaurant was one of the top restaurants in Philadelphia under chef Jean-Marie Lacroix.
Clark mailed an application but got no response. He put on his only suit and turned up at the kitchen. He was turned away. For several days, he did the same thing. One day, someone didn't show up for work. Lacroix handed him a uniform, and Clark slid around the terrazzo floor for 10 hours in his dress shoes. He was hired that night. When he told his mother, she handed him the day's mail, which included a rejection letter from the Four Seasons. He spent 13 years in that kitchen among a hotbed of talent.
Clark gave Lacroix the nickname Papa, a gesture that still touches Lacroix nearly 40 years later. "He was such a hard worker, but so upbeat with an excellent sense of humor," Lacroix said.
ATLANTIC CITY — Seafood lovers from across New Jersey are at Bader Field this weekend for th…
Clark was lured from the Four Seasons by financiers to open his own restaurant, which opened in 1997. Tony Clark's, at the northeast corner of Broad and Sansom streets, was a multimillion-dollar project that quickly went off the rails due to infighting among partners. As the friction grew, Clark walked out in early 1998. "Tony Clarkless," as wags dubbed it, closed in 1999.
But Clark was left with at least one special memory. On the restaurant's fifth night, then-Inquirer critic Elaine Tait was eating a review dinner. Across the dining room was Clark's wife, Doreen, who went into labor. A waiter dashed into the kitchen, where Clark was fussing over Tait's plates. "How far apart are the contractions?" the chef said. The waiter returned and announced, "Ten minutes."
Clark wiped the edge of the plates, threw off his apron and whisked his wife to the hospital. Son Frank was born that night. Tait had no idea of the drama. Her review was glowing.
The couple later divorced but remained friends.
Clark won a best new chef award from Food & Wine in 1997 and got a cooking date at the James Beard House in New York as part of its Great Regional Chefs of America series.
Along with his former wife, sons Anthony and Frank, and daughter Ashley, Clark is survived by another son, Jimmy; another daughter, Brianna; sisters Eleanor Rand, Kathy Austin, Bridget Harron, and Regina Hankins; and grandchildren Savannah and Sheamus McAlorum.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at McGuinness Funeral Home, 573 Egg Harbor Road in Sewell. Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Saviour Church, 50 Emerald Ave., Haddon Township. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Blackwood. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cape-may-and-philadelphia-chef-clark-dies-at-60/article_f9f79216-faea-11ec-ba67-af45629436b6.html | 2022-07-03T17:31:56 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cape-may-and-philadelphia-chef-clark-dies-at-60/article_f9f79216-faea-11ec-ba67-af45629436b6.html |
GARLAND, Texas — Police in Garland, Texas, are now looking for a 20-year-old suspect that's believed to have kidnapped his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend.
According to police, witnesses saw the girl being dragged against her will into a White Ford or GM pickup truck with a tan or silver trim. This happened around 8:30 p.m. on West Buckingham Road.
Witnesses recognized the suspect as David Emanuel Maldonado. Police say the truck was driven by another suspect and was seen going westbound on Buckingham Road.
Police confirmed with WFAA that the 17-year-old is safe at home as of Sunday morning, but they have an active warrant out for Maldonado.
David Maldonado is a Hispanic man standing at 5 feet 7 inches with brown eyes and black hair. There's no description on what he was seen wearing or what the driver looked like.
Anyone with any information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 972-485-4840.
Other local news: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-garland-texas-teen-girl-kidnapped-by-ex-boyfriend-west-buckingham-road-july-2-2022/287-218bed20-3ac6-4b97-be77-bf3c36b25cf8 | 2022-07-03T17:32:13 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-garland-texas-teen-girl-kidnapped-by-ex-boyfriend-west-buckingham-road-july-2-2022/287-218bed20-3ac6-4b97-be77-bf3c36b25cf8 |
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HIGHLAND — The Town Council has given the Cardinal Campus three extra years to complete the project.
The complex, located west of Indianapolis Boulevard at the northeast corner of Main Street and Prairie Avenue, was originally scheduled to be finished this summer.
By now, it was expected to have seven two-story, professional office buildings and a three-story boutique hotel.
The first three buildings are already up and open for business, largely with medical firms.
The developer of the $41.4 million project is Dr. Claude Gendreau, a veterinary surgeon from Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Shortly after the first building was completed — prior to the pandemic — Gendreau moved his animal surgical center into the premises. That was followed by other medical firms buying portions of the other buildings.
But the project has been in a holding pattern for the past couple of years, mostly due to COVID-19, said Gendreau's attorney, Kymn Harp.
"It had a major impact" on professional services, Harp said. "It's had a significant effect on this particular project."
Supplies and nationwide material shortages have also contributed to the delay, he added.
After a long discussion, the council voted 4-1 to grant Gendreau an extension to complete all of the buildings.
Casting the lone negative vote was Councilman Mark Schocke, R-3rd.
"I'd like to see a definite completion date," said Councilman Roger Sheeman, R-5th, as he expressed frustration with the delay.
Harp assured the Campus should be completed by Oct. 31, 2025.
Hotel construction next in line
The final building originally slated for construction was the hotel. However, Gendreau now plans to construct this facility next and do the other buildings afterward.
Harp said that decision was made because office space is not very strong at the moment.
Once in operation, the hotel can bring more funding into the project, Gendreau noted.
The town has committed $16.5 million in tax increment finance bonds to help Gendreau.
The first bonds, for $5.8 million, were previously issued, and the council on Monday approved issuing the remaining $10.7 million.
In voting against the extension, Schocke said a 142-page explanation of the construction delay had no mention of COVID as the reason and therefore didn't believe the Cardinal Campus was being honest with the council.
Schocke also said a $16.5 million TIF deal is huge and compared it to the town budget, which is $16 million.
Gendreau pointed out that Cardinal Campus and Highland are partners and that an incomplete project would be a black eye for the town.
He also said his animal surgical center draws business from five different states, with most clients staying overnight and shopping at various Highland businesses.
"We want to continue to grow the Campus," Gendreau said. "We want to carry it forward to a successful ending."
Sheeman said that Highland has a reputation of being tough for new businesses to deal with and that he does not want to add to that perception.
He added that Highland does not want an empty piece of property.
"(So) let's get it done and go forward" even if we don't like the delay.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Crumbl Cookies, Southlake Mall stores and StretchLab opening; Chop House on Wicker site slated for redevelopment | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/highland/cardinal-campus-deadline-extended/article_5b705c97-8a92-5745-b7a6-674f58883e90.html | 2022-07-03T17:47:18 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/highland/cardinal-campus-deadline-extended/article_5b705c97-8a92-5745-b7a6-674f58883e90.html |
Originally published June 30 on on IdahoEdNews.org.The Boise School District’s five school board incumbents are running again.
The trustees made the announcement in a joint news release Thursday, ahead of the district’s Sept. 6 board elections.
The incumbents touted Boise’s track record — including graduation rate numbers that don’t square with the state’s data.
The news release pegs Boise’s graduation rate at 90%, based on the district’s data. But according to the State Department of Education, Boise’s 2021 graduation rate was 81.4%, slightly above the statewide rate of 80.1%.
In an email Thursday, district spokesman Ryan Hill said the 90% figure appears to be based on older graduation rates for Boise’s four high schools. According to state department data for the class of 2021, Boise graduation rates ranged from 82% at Capital High School to 90.6% at Timberline High School.
The incumbents also touted community support for the schools — as evidenced by a $172 million bond issue, which passed with 86% support in 2017.
“Our work is not done, and I pledge to use my leadership experience, business background, and community connections to provide superior college and career opportunities to all our students,” Board President David Wagers said Thursday.
“The Boise School District has a legacy of excellence,” trustee Beth Oppenheimer said.
With Thursday’s announcements, here’s how the Boise elections currently shape up:
- Elected in 2016, Wagers and Oppenheimer will run for six-year terms, along with any challengers who file. All candidates for six-year terms will run on a single ballot, and the top two vote-getters will be elected. Wagers is president of Idaho Candy Co.; Oppenheimer is executive director of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, an early education advocacy group.
- Andy Hawes, an attorney appointed to the board in April 2021, is seeking to serve out the remaining four years of his term. He has one opponent.
- — who has requested to be identified as Neil “Gnome” Mercer on the ballot — filed election paperwork Tuesday.
- Steve Schmidt, an engineer appointed to the board in December, will seek to serve out the final two years of his term. Shiva Rajbhandari, a rising senior at Boise High School,
- , but he has not filed formal paperwork yet.
- Elizabeth Langley, appointed in November 2020, is seeking to finish out the final two years of her term. She is a partner with the Echelon Group, a Boise financial services firm. Todd Kurowski of Boise also filed for the race Thursday.
The candidate filing period runs through July 8.
Most school districts hold trustee elections in November of odd-numbered calendar years. However, Boise operates on a governing charter that predates statehood; this document calls for elections on the first Tuesday in September. That means the Boise trustee election usually falls on the day after Labor Day, as will be the case this year.
With roughly 23,000 students, Boise is the state’s second largest school district. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-school-districts-incumbent-trustees-will-seek-reelection/article_33dadd63-0520-5b8d-9802-8e118784b2e7.html | 2022-07-03T18:07:54 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-school-districts-incumbent-trustees-will-seek-reelection/article_33dadd63-0520-5b8d-9802-8e118784b2e7.html |
BOISE, Idaho — This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
Ada County COVID-19 community transmission levels have moved into the “high” category, according to maps on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website.
Ada County’s transmission levels have been particularly volatile the past three weeks, dancing between “high” and “medium” designations, Boise Weekly’s Tracy Bringhurst recently reported.
However, this increase in cases is not necessarily creating as big of a strain on hospital resources as it has in the past, according to Taylor Reeves, public relations coordinator for St. Luke’s Health System.
“We are continuing to see significant community transmission and the number of reported cases is only a fraction of the actual numbers of cases, due to not testing or home testing that is going unreported,” Reeves said in an email. “However, we are not seeing this translate into a significant increase in hospitalizations or ICU hospitalizations.”
Reeves said that while ICU hospitalizations for patients with COVID-19 has roughly doubled in the past six weeks, St. Luke’s has had anywhere from zero to three ICU patients with COVID during this same period of time.
According to DHW, current inpatient bed utilization for COVID-19 patients at Ada County hospitals is at 5.9% and COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people is 11.9.
Currently, Ada County is showing a test positivity rate of 10.9%, according to DHW.
Over 98% of these positive cases have been identified as the omicron variant of COVID-19.
This new data makes Ada County one of 627 counties in the United States to be in the “high” community transmission category, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other counties in Idaho that fall into the “high” level transmission rates are Elmore, Valley, Payette, Bear Lake, Idaho, Adams and Washington counties. Canyon County is at a “medium” level.
“We would expect to continue to see these elevated case rates for at least several more weeks,” Reeves said.
In communities with “high” transmission levels, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and getting tested if you have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press. Read more at IdahoPress.com
Facts not fear: More on coronavirus
See our latest updates in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/ada-county-covid-19-transmission-levels-high-again-with-no-significant-increase-in-hospitalizations/277-c0aff831-8f9d-4184-bdb9-4282d9c9a6d8 | 2022-07-03T18:09:26 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/ada-county-covid-19-transmission-levels-high-again-with-no-significant-increase-in-hospitalizations/277-c0aff831-8f9d-4184-bdb9-4282d9c9a6d8 |
Chesterfield Police found a juvenile male who had been shot to death in the bathroom at a Chesterfield party Saturday night.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Police are withholding his identity until a next of kin is identified and notified.
Before police arrived, a Chesterfield sheriff's deputy who was providing security at the party shot and wounded a person who was holding a handgun, authorities said.
The incident, in the 6600 block of Iron Bridge Parkway, came less than a month after Chesterfield police said a barrage of gunfire at a June 3 graduation party in the area of Stepney and Weybridge roads left six people shot, one fatally.
In the latest incident, police responded to a call around 10:30 p.m. regarding a shooting at a party on Iron Bridge Parkway. Police discovered the victim, who they said appeared to have been the intended target of the shooting.
Before police arrived, a Chesterfield sheriff's deputy providing security at the party responded to the area of the reported shooting to investigate, according to police.
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Police said the deputy encountered a person with a handgun. The deputy shot the person, who was later transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police asked that anyone with information about the incident contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251, Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or through the P3 app.
Twitter: @MaddyFitzWrites | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-investigating-shooting-death-at-another-chesterfield-party/article_3f3d3632-e5be-54f7-a365-0aee65240d11.html | 2022-07-03T18:10:22 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-investigating-shooting-death-at-another-chesterfield-party/article_3f3d3632-e5be-54f7-a365-0aee65240d11.html |
Officials issued an Amber Alert Sunday morning for a missing teenage girl last seen Saturday night in Garland, about 20 miles northeast of Dallas.
Yadhira Medina, 17, was last seen at 8:20 p.m. Saturday in the 3000 block of West Buckingham Road, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. She is Hispanic with red or auburn hair, brown eyes and is about 5 feet tall. Medina was last seen wearing glasses, a black T-shirt and black sweatpants, carrying a black backpack.
Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old David Maldonado. He is Hispanic with black hair, brown eyes and is about 5feet, 7 inches tall.
Authorities are looking for a white pickup truck, either Ford or General Motors, with tan or silver trim on the body. Officials did not have a license plate number.
Anyone with information related to the case can call the Garland Police Department at 972-485-4840 or 911. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Amber-Alert-missing-teen-17282264.php | 2022-07-03T18:15:04 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Amber-Alert-missing-teen-17282264.php |
Western portions of South-Central Texas will see continued chance for showers and storms through late Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service said light to moderate rain continues to move northward for western portions of the region with the heaviest rain, including a "thunderstorm or two," occurring over portions of Maverick county, including Eagle Pass.
The NWS said San Antonio experienced its hottest June on record, and the start of July is bringing much of the same.
Highs today are expected to flirt with the century mark. Breezy south to southeast winds with gusts of up to 20 mph are expected mainly this afternoon into evening.
The Fourth of July forecast calls for more heat across South-Central Texas.
Highs will range from the lower 90s in parts of the Hill Country to near 103 close to the Rio Grande, the NWS said.
Elevated heat index values can be expected. If outside, drink plenty of water, take breaks in the shade or air conditioning, and wear light colored and light weight clothing. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/S-A-weather-Elevated-heat-index-and-gusts-up-to-17282218.php | 2022-07-03T18:15:10 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/S-A-weather-Elevated-heat-index-and-gusts-up-to-17282218.php |
FLOYD COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – The community of Floyd County is mourning after three law enforcement officers and a K-9 were killed and three officers and a civilian were injured in a shootout in Allen on Thursday, June 30.
The tragedy left many families heartbroken, and entire communities are hurting over the devastating loss.
On Friday and Saturday, communities gathered along the roads to honor their heroes as they returned back home from Frankfort, still processing the event that shocked the entire community. Those killed in the shootout have been identified as Floyd County Deputy William Petry, Prestonsburg Police Officer Captain Ralph Frasure, Prestonsburg Police Officer Jacob Chaffins, and Floyd County K-9 Drago. Petry, Frasure and Drago all died Thursday night. Chaffins was pronounced dead Friday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia.
Among those injured are Constable Gary Wolfe, Floyd County Deputy Darrin Lawson and Floyd County Emergency Management Director Joe Reynolds. One other person was injured, but they have not been identified at this time.
“It’s absolutely the worst thing I’ve ever been a part of,” says Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods.
A memorial was set up outside the city building in Prestonsburg.
Among those paying their respects was Seth Ousley, Officer Chaffins’ brother. Ousley spoke briefly with WOWK 13 News and says to him, all three of these men were heroes.
“They were three of the greatest men I’ve ever known. And I know that one of them was the best man I’ve ever known.”
Seth Ousley, Officer Jacob Chaffins’ brother
The community is also reflecting on the alleged actions of the man accused in the shooting, 49-year-old Lance Storz. Storz is currently in jail on a $10 million bond facing multiple charges including murder. He will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on July 11.
“He’s nothing but a coward,” said Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton. “And anybody with the same attitude as me knows that he is a coward.”
“I think he’s the scum of the Earth, and I’ll be there every step of the way to make sure that he can never hurt anyone’s family again,” Ousley said.
Following Chaffins’ procession, Chief Woods said it had been an emotional few days, and that these men were more than just officers, they were also his friends. Much like the rest of the community, it will take time before they can heal the scar this tragedy left.
“At this time, we’re a broken community, but a community I know that is strong and will heal.”
Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods
The community is also holding a vigil to honor the victims at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 3 at the Prestonsburg High School football field. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/floyd-county-mourns-fallen-officers/ | 2022-07-03T18:17:39 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/floyd-county-mourns-fallen-officers/ |
WACO, Texas — Police in Waco are calling on the city to help find a missing 18-year-old.
The department posted on Facebook that Shane Gandara hasn't been seen since about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. According to them, he was seen at the "Estella Maxie Apartment complex" on JJ Flewellen Road.
Gandara is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 130 pounds. He was wearing a black t-shirt and khaki pants before he went missing.
The Waco Police Department shared on Facebook, "His family believes that he may be paranoid and they are very worried about him."
Anyone with any information on Shane Gandara's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or (254) 750-7500.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/missing-18-year-old-waco-texas-apartment-complex-july-3-2022/287-2f7f0a36-b3e5-4c52-a497-643e820f48be | 2022-07-03T18:20:23 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/missing-18-year-old-waco-texas-apartment-complex-july-3-2022/287-2f7f0a36-b3e5-4c52-a497-643e820f48be |
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — As firework shows happen across the area, there's a lot that goes into putting them together to ensure they are both beautiful and safe.
Marc Davis is the lead operator for the MidCity District's pyro show and he says the preparations start with building and construction.
"[It starts by] taking the mortar racks and grouping those by whichever show you have…and the particular set up of the show and then staging those on the site in the order they should be staged in and according to the firing diagram."
The technicians then nail everything together after constructing the formation. Then the show day is, "primarily an explosive operation day where we are actually dropping the shells, wiring them, fusing them and wiring them into the controllers."
So, how are these things actually wired?
"The blue wire over here…that's what's called a 'black match' or a 'quick match'...the black powder match is in the blue sheathing and that runs down to the match holder, which is the clear plastic piece, and then that runs down to the red wire."
And the red wire is really important, "it has a little ball of explosive on the end of the red wire and when the controller wants to shoot that que or that rack it puts a voltage across the end of that wire and so as soon as this wire gets hit with a voltage, this will shoot out about a 3 inch flame and it'll light the traditional black powder."
And despite all of these wires involved, Davis actually commands the show through a controller.
"I shoot the show wireless, and this can give me a status indication of everything I have out here."
This specific show was choreographed to music and the set-up involved close to 20 people.
Davis is excited to be out here doing what he loves for you to enjoy.
"It's something that I have a passion for…doing it and doing it safely so I appreciate the ability to come out here and be next to these racks and make sure everything happens right."
RELATED: How does a fireworks show happen? | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/planning-building-loading-look-behind-scenes-firework-shows/525-effda772-ca23-49aa-94b9-2646653a33d6 | 2022-07-03T18:20:29 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/planning-building-loading-look-behind-scenes-firework-shows/525-effda772-ca23-49aa-94b9-2646653a33d6 |
The giraffe exhibit at the Lincoln Children's Zoo will be closed through Monday after a person was injured by one of the zoo's eight giraffes on Saturday.
All giraffes will stay inside following the incident while staff investigates the matter, a Facebook post said.
A giraffe stretches its neck and tongue to try to reach lettuce held up by Liza Young (left) and Emily Anderson while other visitors at right shoot photos with their cellphones June 18 during the Brews at the Zoo fundraiser at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
PHOTO BY JOHN SCHWANINGER
The injury, which occurred on the feeding deck, is the first known incident since the giraffe exhibit opened in the spring of 2018 -- part of a $16 million expansion that included exhibits for tigers and spider monkeys.
Top Journal Star photos for June
Top Journal Star photos for June
Members of a pride color guard perform their routine during the second-ever Star City Pride Parade at the Capitol on Saturday, June 18, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Campers participate in drills during the Nebraska football camp on Friday, June 17, 2022, at Memorial Stadium. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
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Jake Owen performs alongside his band during a performance at the Pinewood Bowl in Pioneers Park on Thursday, June 16, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Nebraska freshman guard Callin Hake gets a high five from head women's basketball coach Amy Williams during practice on Thursday, June 15, 2022, at Hendricks Training Complex. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Former Husker Jordan Larson does a demonstration during a volleyball camp, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Kinetic Sports Complex. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Trent Claus, a VFX supervisor and animation art collector, reminisces with some of his art on a couch for watching Saturday morning cartoons at the Eisentrager/Howard Gallery in Richards Hall on the UNL campus on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Daniel Bartek lounges by the waters of Holmes Lake after a long day of work on Friday, June 10, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Carpet Land’s Caden Cetak (left) slides for home as Judds Brothers’ Chase Blanchard tags him out during the annual Mike Peterson/Coach K Legion tournament championship game Sunday, June 11, 2022, at Den Hartog Field. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
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New Kids on the Block perform Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
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Nebraska offensive linemen Kevin Williams Jr (center) huddles up with campers before taking a break during a football camp held at the Lincoln Sports Foundation field on Saturday, June 11, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Spectators watch as purebred pigs are showcased Saturday, June 11, 2022, at the Cornhusker Classic Swine Show at Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
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A bicyclist peddles uphill past a field of wildflowers on a section of the Mopac bike trail near Vine Street on Friday, June 10, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Union Bank’s Reese Kortum pitches the ball against a Millard North batter during a Mike Peterson/Coach K Legion Tournament game on Friday, June 10, 2022, at Densmore Field. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
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Anderson Ford's Braeden Sunken bats in the third inning of a Mike Peterson Tournament legion baseball game against Millard North on Friday, June 10, 2022, at Densmore Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway has steel beams laid the entire west to east distance on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Lincoln Salt Dogs left fielder Randy Norris dives but misses the catch after a long ball hit by Chicago Dog's Grant Kay ( not pictured) in the second inning at Haymarket Park on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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A rancher takes a load off while waiting for an auction during the annual Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska at the Cass County Fairgrounds on June 4 in Weeping Water. The annual fundraiser moves around the state, and is held in a new location each year.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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North’s Kamden Dusatko (middle) and his teammates celebrate their win over South in the Shrine Bowl on June 4 at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium in Kearney.
JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
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Nebraska head football coach Scott Frost speaks with recruits to wrap up the Friday Night Lights camp at Memorial Stadium on Friday, June 3, 2022. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
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Tire marks mar the surface of the parking lot of Kohls, at the corner of 84th and O street, in this aerial view on June 2.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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A memorial to victims of a crash that occurred May 29 is set up on O Street at the site of the crash on June 2.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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A family-style seafood boil, tossed in butter and Cajun seasonings, is complimented by New Orleans-style beverages at Bourbon Street by Single Barrel, located in the Haymarket in Downtown, on June 1.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Lincoln Police Officer and CSI instigator Jason Hellmuth talks about using various lights to inspect crime scenes during Bridging the Gap on June 1.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-2657 or jebbers@journalstar.com
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Meet Scott Chenoweth — Roca’s “fireworks guy.”
Chenoweth takes pride in his vast inventory of everything that goes pop, sizzle or BOOM. He has glitzy fountains, screaming rockets and crackling shells.
The good stuff, he says.
He’s had 25 years to perfect his craft, at times while juggling other jobs. Now he works at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course and spends his free time preparing for the fireworks season, which for him begins in January.
“If you don’t order the tent Jan. 1, you’re not gonna get what you want,” Chenoweth said.
He starts choosing and buying inventory at about that time. But the hardest part comes in July.
At age 63, Chenoweth spends nearly two weeks outside with his son, Brady Chenoweth, and a surly-looking mannequin named Lucy. If you ask about Lucy — the smoking, mullet-sporting mascot — he might have you take a photo with her.
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“We try to have some fun with it,” the elder Chenoweth said.
Humor is how he manages long days in the heat after nights spent sleeping (or not sleeping) in his nearby camper, which is a stone's throw from a busy set of train tracks. The fireworks tent goes up right across the street from Roca Tavern — the sign on the front of the stand says “The only place you can get bombed on both sides of the street."
Regardless of the challenges, Chenoweth wants to keep selling fireworks for as long as he’s able. He’s the only stand in town, and he’s grown attached to his customer base.
“We'd have little kids that come down, and those little kids … they've grown up now, and they're bringing their kids,” he said.
To him, that’s what makes the sweltering days at “Camp Fireball” — the name for his trailer/tent area — worth it. Plus, he said, it pays well.
Stacey O’Keefe of Lincoln took two weeks of vacation to go camping a few miles southwest of Roca.
Well, not really, but she said it feels like she is. She sets her tent up in Sprague and sells fireworks with the help of her stepdad and sister.
When it’s not busy, she sits in her lawn chair and dives into a good book. She doesn’t mind the time outside, she said, and it’s nice to make extra money during her “time off.” But like Chenoweth, the planning begins long before customers start loading up their carts.
O’Keefe begins working on Mr. Boom! Fireworks in August, giving herself just a few firecracker-free weeks.
“There's a lot of work that people don't think about,” she said. “A lot of regulations we have to follow based on what the fire marshal says.”
The family looks at its numbers from the previous season and examines what sold well and what didn’t. Then O'Keefe can build inventory based on what customers like most.
O’Keefe and her stepdad started peddling fireworks 12 years ago because of their love for the Fourth of July.
“It’s bigger than Christmas for us,” she said.
In Hickman, Jenny Flanders’ stand is also a family affair. And then some.
Flanders and her husband, Chad, have been running Black Dragon along with their business partners, Aaron and Michelle Williams, for 13 years.
Jenny Flanders employs her kids and her kids’ friends to help run the stand. The Williams family does the same, giving them plenty of hands to stock smoke bombs and ring up poppers.
It also helps that Jenny Flanders’ job as a nurse is flexible. She works a few nights a week, while her husband works a day job and comes to the stand in the evenings.
On nights after Jenny Flanders is done with work, she sleeps for a few hours then heads to the stand.
“It can be tough some days,” she said. “It's not super busy until the first of July. … Then you have a lot of people in here running around.”
Thankfully, she said, she has plenty of reliable employees to help her out. She hires some to sleep at the tent, but in years past she’d drive her car into the tent and sleep inside until daybreak.
It was a whirlwind this year, she said. Shipping costs have jumped dramatically, and that made ordering fireworks in time for June 25, when sales began in more spots in Nebraska, more challenging.
In Lincoln, fireworks can only be sold on July 3-4.
But the folks at Black Dragon are used to weathering metaphorical and literal storms. They’ve re-pitched tents after severe weather has blown their stand down or torn it apart.
And yet Flanders calls the work fun. It’s not what she expected she’d be doing, she admits, but she loves it.
“Honestly, when my husband came to me 13 years ago, he was like, ‘We're gonna sell fireworks.’ I was like, ‘That's stupid,’” she said. “And here we are. It’s fun. We have so many returning customers, and you get to see them come back to buy fireworks.”
Photos: Uncle Sam Jam at Oak Lake Park
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Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or jthompson@journalstar.com | https://journalstar.com/news/local/for-fireworks-stand-operators-months-of-planning-hopefully-end-with-a-bang/article_66636f85-56a6-5cf9-96f7-34531f502d75.html | 2022-07-03T18:26:43 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/for-fireworks-stand-operators-months-of-planning-hopefully-end-with-a-bang/article_66636f85-56a6-5cf9-96f7-34531f502d75.html |
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As Soulinnee Phan sat in front of her longtime colleagues in 2020, she was just as nervous as she had been when she first interviewed for an entry-level position in city government nearly 20 years ago.
Despite the nerves, she felt like she had prepared for the interview to be the next Lincoln city clerk — or at least she thought she had.
"What in your life has prepared you for this?" asked one of her colleagues.
As Phan sat there trying to get her answer out, she took the interview in a different direction.
"I knew what I wanted to say, I was prepared, but my instincts told me different," Phan said. "I said, 'My family and my lived experiences, that's what's prepared me for this."
In her years working at the city offices, she had never spoke about her family's background, but she finally felt ready to share her story.
Phan's parents were originally from Laos and immigrated to the U.S. in 1980 after living in a refugee camp in Thailand for six years.
Although they first arrived in Omaha, they soon moved to Beatrice for a smaller, safer community.
But growing up in Beatrice wasn't as safe for her family as they once thought.
They often found trash on their lawn, received threatening phone calls, and being picked on at school was something Phan and her family quickly got used to.
"We were one of the only families of color there," Phan said. "I didn't see another person of color in school until my junior year of high school."
Life at home wasn't always the best, either, she said.
Phan had a roof over her head and food on the table, but she said her relationship with her parents was often difficult.
Because her parents were still learning English and assimilating to American culture, Phan took on some parental responsibilities as the oldest child.
She translated their bills, legal documents, her own parent teacher conferences and conversations at the bank when her parents needed a loan.
In a way, the responsibilities she had to take on made her feel as if she was the parent.
“With her parents working a lot, she was playing the adult role as a kid and that’s not what we want to put on our kids," said Phan's husband, Phuong Phan. "We want them to be kids 100% of the time."
Parentification — taking on parental roles during childhood — is something Soulinnee says many children of immigrants go through, leaving relationships between generations strained.
Although she had a rocky relationship with her parents because of this, she understood them more when she had her own children.
"I came to understand that they were the way they were because of generational parenting patterns," she said. "They became parents at a young age and never dealt with the trauma they endured, so the patterns continued."
Her experiences from childhood, which instilled a strong work ethic, is what Phan believes prepared her to be the Lincoln city clerk, a position that oversees the keeping of official government records and information.
After nearly two years in the position, Phan has been able to make significant changes in the city clerk office, including making it one of the most diverse city government offices, according to city ombudsman Lin Quenzer.
Phan acknowledges the platform she has and is working on ways to give back to children of immigrants who are experiencing the same conflicts she did as a child.
Although she believes sports clubs are a good way for these children to let their frustrations out, Phan says their mental health needs to be acknowledged.
She would like to focus on the mental health of these children by creating a mentorship program where they could be paired up with somebody who has lived through similar experiences.
“My concern is what they do when they're not letting their frustrations out. Who do they talk to about how they’re feeling?” Phan said.
Evelyn Mejia is a news intern and current sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She covers breaking news and writes feature stories about her community.
City leaders officially launched a project to find a second water source for Lincoln, naming an advisory council and contracting with Olsson to analyze the two options identified by the city.
The city plans to begin producing biochar — a charcoal-like substance that enhances soil and helps reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere — with a $400,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies matching grant.
Salary increases for sheriff's deputies and correctional officers — the "domino effect" of the state's pay hikes for its corrections staff — will have a major impact on Lancaster County's budget.
The Planning Commission voted to recommend a waiver to allow two houses where people recovering from substance abuse live to have up to nine residents, but it voted against a waiver for a similar house where up to 14 people live.
The Nebraska Secretary of State's office has received at least five new complaints against a voter identification petition in the last week claiming that petition circulators are being misleading.
Bennie Shobe, the only council member not to say publicly how he would vote, ultimately sided with Richard Meginnis, Tom Beckius and James Michael Bowers in voting to rescind the ordinance the council passed on a 5-0 vote in February.
In the Panhandle, advocates against abortion praised a 6-3 Supreme Court decision, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion set out in Roe v. Wade. Local Democratic leaders expressed disappointment in the decision, feeling such a decision could have unforeseen consequences.
There are still two weeks left to reach the $400,000 goal set for the monthlong campaign, which ends July 7. A total of about $245,000 has been raised.
Lincoln city clerk Soulinnee Phan poses for a portrait in the City Council chambers. Phan's parents were originally from Laos and immigrated to the U.S. in 1980 after living in a refugee camp in Thailand for six years. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/rough-upbringing-prepared-lincoln-city-clerk-for-the-job/article_52f27987-2731-55aa-9df6-00c52fb1e8b8.html | 2022-07-03T18:26:49 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/rough-upbringing-prepared-lincoln-city-clerk-for-the-job/article_52f27987-2731-55aa-9df6-00c52fb1e8b8.html |
The state of Idaho is swimming in an ocean of cash and poised to post its second consecutive record state budget surplus.
State budget analysts are projecting that the state ended fiscal year 2022 on Thursday with a surplus of about $1.3 billion, Idaho Division of Financial Management Director Alex Adams told the Idaho Capital Sun on Wednesday. State budget officials will likely know the exact figure on about July 20, after the state closes the books and completes year end transfers and bookkeeping work.
Assuming projections hold, a 2022 surplus of $1.3 billion would break the record for the largest state budget surplus in Idaho history, which was set just one year ago when the state ended fiscal year 2021 with a then-record surplus of about $890 million.
“What is important to think about with the $1.3 billion is that is after all the action this year with record tax relief and record investments in transportation and public schools,” Adams said. “After all of that is accounted for, we are still projected to end the year with an approximately $1.3 billion surplus.”
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Idaho runs on a fiscal year calendar that runs from July 1 to June 30 every year. That means the 2023 fiscal year starts today, with new 2023 budgets also kicking in for state departments and agencies.
The simple explanation for the record surplus is that state revenues beat projections, Adams said.
The spike in Idaho’s revenue growth over the past couple of years has been breathtaking.
For fiscal year 2020, the state brought in $4 billion in revenue.
In fiscal year 2021, revenues surpassed $5 billion for the first time in state history.
For fiscal year 2022, the budget year that ended Thursday, revenues were projected to surpass $6 billion for the first time in state history, Adams said.
Earlier this year, Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature spent fiscal year 2021’s previous record surplus on several programs and initiatives during the 2022 legislative session, as Adams alluded to. They spent $600 million on a tax cut package that reduced individual income and corporate tax rates and provided tax rebate checks to Idahoans. They increased funding for public schools by more than $258 million, increased money for raises for teachers, increased funding for Little’s kindergarten through third grade literacy initiative and set aside money to move school employees onto the state’s insurance plan. They paid down state building debt, invested in infrastructure projects and increased the balance of rainy day savings accounts, such as the budget stabilization fund.
Although most of the decisions on what to do with the surplus will be made by the Idaho Legislature and Gov. Brad Little when the 2023 legislative session begins in January, Adams said Little is already developing priorities and state agency directors are beginning to piece together fiscal year 2024 budget requests, which are due Sept. 1.
“(Gov. Little) is already saying he anticipates additional tax relief and additional investments in education and infrastructure,” Adams said.
Even with a record surplus at hand, Idaho officials call for restraint and cautious budgeting
Even though Adams said the state budget is in great shape with another record budget surplus at hand, Adams and an experienced legislator serving on the budget committee are urging caution. The surplus comes, they warned, as Idahoans are struggling to make ends meet as they face record gas prices, inflation that drives up prices, increases in rent and property tax rates and higher interest rates approved by the feds.
“Notwithstanding that large of a year-end surplus, I think we need to be very aware that families are struggling and that is their money,” Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said in a telephone interview.
Horman, who does not face an opponent in this year’s general election, will return to Boise for her sixth legislative session in 2023. She is a veteran member of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that sets the state budgets.
When it comes to budgeting, Horman said she has concerns about how much of the budget surplus will be one-time in nature, versus how much may be ongoing. Horman is also monitoring different financial experts and economic forecasts that predict a new economic recession could begin within two years.
“The question is how do we balance the needs of the state against the needs of Idaho families to retain their own dollars to use during these inflationary times?” Horman said. “I think we need to certainly restrain spending at the state level and do everything we can to keep costs down, starting with the cost of a college education and going on to food and fuel and all expenses that families experience.”
For his part, Adams believes a lot of the $1.3 billion surplus will be one-time in nature as opposed to ongoing money available year after year to sustain funding increases.
“It’s still driven, to a large extent, by a lot of one-time factors I know we have talked about before,” Adams said. “There has been a huge infusion of federal funds into the economy that helped boost consumer spending. Inflation is driving prices higher, and with states that have a sales tax (like Idaho), that drives higher sales tax collections.”
“The big question is how much is sustainable?” Adams said.
State of Idaho withholds most of McGeachin’s final paycheck so her budget will balance
While the state is sitting on an unprecedented pile of cash, not every state office ended the year on such a positive note.
As previously reported by the Sun, the state of Idaho withheld most of Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s final paycheck this week to ensure her office did not run a budget deficit. McGeachin has been working without a paid staff, the state is delaying her pay and paused vendor payments for McGeachin’s office. That’s because McGeachin was ordered by a district judge to pay the Idaho Press Club’s legal fees after a judge found that McGeachin illegally withheld public records related to her 2021 education task force, which the Idaho Press Club filed a lawsuit to obtain. A district judge ordered McGeachin to release the public records and pay the Idaho Press Club $28,973.84, which was going to cause McGeachin to run a budget deficit unless she cut expenses and the state stepped in. McGeachin originally wanted Idaho taxpayers to pick up the tab for the $28,973.84, but the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee never acted on McGeachin’s $29,000 supplemental funding request.
State records obtained by the Sun earlier this month show that McGeachin’s net pay for her final paycheck of fiscal year 2022 was $20.20 on June 24. The state withheld $1,713.26 from her June 24 check to avoid a budget deficit, according to a June 13 email sent to McGeachin by Chief Deputy State Controller Joshua Whitworth. Even though her paycheck was light last week, state officials plan to make McGeachin whole by paying the withheld portion of her paycheck on Aug. 5, when the fiscal year 2023 budget will be in effect, Whitworth wrote to McGeachin. Deferring a portion of her pay to Aug. 5 will result in a larger than normal gross paycheck of $3,575.02 on Aug. 5, Whitworth wrote.
State public records and Whitworth’s emails show McGeachin’s office was projected to end fiscal year 2022 on Thursday with an ending balance of 72 cents. It is illegal for any state agency or officer to spend money beyond funding that is approved by the Idaho Legislature, which is why the state delayed McGeachin’s pay and she worked without a paid staff for months this year.
McGeachin has not responded to more than a dozen requests for comment the Sun has left over the phone and email for McGeachin since April 4.
The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to begin Jan. 9 at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/idaho-poised-for-another-record-state-budget-surplus/article_40360806-f970-11ec-8723-07e3403b6bfd.html | 2022-07-03T18:40:17 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/idaho-poised-for-another-record-state-budget-surplus/article_40360806-f970-11ec-8723-07e3403b6bfd.html |
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The victim who died after an accident at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival has been identified as 40-year-old Chris Darnell.
Battle Creek Police Department released the update on their Facebook page in coordination with Field of Flight.
Darnell drove the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck during the air show. It races over 300 mph at the Battle Creek Executive Airport where the Field of Flight event occurs.
Visitors were in shock when the truck exploded on the runway during the pyrotechnic performance.
The explosion was caused by a mechanical failure on the Jet Truck, SHOCKWAVE's Neal Darnell, Chris's father, wrote on Facebook.
Chris was Neal's youngest son. Neal said he turned 40 just one month ago.
"We are so sad," wrote Neal. "He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was 'Living the Dream,' as he said."
The explosion happened around 1:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon. No one else was injured.
The remaining air show performances were canceled, but police say the air show will return on Sunday.
The rest of today's Saturday evening activities continued as scheduled, as is the plan for activities on July 3 and 4. See more information at fieldofflight.com.
Chris's family will speak on funeral arrangements later this week.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 | 2022-07-03T18:40:46 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 |
FORT SMITH, Ark. — The body of a man who was reported missing in Fort Smith has been found after a motorcycle crash.
According to the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD), the body of 66-year-old Ronald Casanova was found near Muldrow, Oklahoma. It is believed that he was involved in a deadly motorcycle accident, according to police.
Casanova was reported missing by family members on June 28. His family told police they were unable to reach him and were concerned for his safety.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) says the fatal crash happened sometime between June 24 and June 29 on Old US-64 in Sequoyah County.
The crash is still under investigation at this time.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/missing-fort-smith-man-dead-motorcycle-crash/527-56756676-d485-49cd-a0ac-cef6734dd2fd | 2022-07-03T18:40:52 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/missing-fort-smith-man-dead-motorcycle-crash/527-56756676-d485-49cd-a0ac-cef6734dd2fd |
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The victim who died after an accident at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival has been identified as 40-year-old Chris Darnell.
Battle Creek Police Department released the update on their Facebook page in coordination with Field of Flight.
Darnell drove the SHOCKWAVE Jet Truck during the air show. It races over 300 mph at the Battle Creek Executive Airport where the Field of Flight event occurs.
Visitors were in shock when the truck exploded on the runway during the pyrotechnic performance.
The explosion was caused by a mechanical failure on the Jet Truck, SHOCKWAVE's Neal Darnell, Chris's father, wrote on Facebook.
Chris was Neal's youngest son. Neal said he turned 40 just one month ago.
"We are so sad," wrote Neal. "He was so well loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was 'Living the Dream,' as he said."
The explosion happened around 1:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon. No one else was injured.
The remaining air show performances were canceled, but police say the air show will return on Sunday.
The rest of today's Saturday evening activities continued as scheduled, as is the plan for activities on July 3 and 4. See more information at fieldofflight.com.
Chris's family will speak on funeral arrangements later this week.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 | 2022-07-03T18:41:03 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/death-at-kalamazoo-balloon-fest/69-61e316cd-3472-4d49-bb3f-14480f824ac8 |
HOUSTON — New pictures released by the U.S. Marshals show agents leading Kaitlin Marie Armstrong through Bush Intercontinental Airport after arriving from Costa Rica.
Armstrong is expected to see a judge in Houston before being transferred to Austin.
The 34-year-old Armstrong is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Anna Moriah Wilson at a home in Austin back in May.
According to court documents, airline records show Armstrong flew from Austin to Houston on a Southwest Airlines flight on May 14. In Houston, she then connected to a flight at La Guardia in New York City.
Investigators believe she then flew to Costa Rica.
Agents say they were able to track Armstrong down and capture her at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach on June 29.
"We know that she registered at specific yoga studios based on communication that was brought back to us here in the United States. So we knew she had a pattern of life, she was trying to extend that career possibly to be a yoga instructor, to get the knowledge of it," said Deputy Brandon Filla with the U.S. Marshal Service.
"The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlin Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” said Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, bring an end to that run and hopefully a sense of closure to the victim’s family.”
Authorities say Armstrong sold her vehicle in the days after being questioned in Wilson's death.
U.S. Marshals say Armstrong had been signing up for yoga classes using the same alias she flew to Costa Rica under.
According to court records from Travis County, Armstrong will be held on a $3.5 million bond. If she posts that, she'll have to give up her passport and submit to GPS monitoring. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/kaitlin-marie-armstrong-captured/285-723252d4-6a27-437b-9e07-e89ad1cc6ead | 2022-07-03T18:41:09 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/kaitlin-marie-armstrong-captured/285-723252d4-6a27-437b-9e07-e89ad1cc6ead |
AKRON, Ohio — The following blog is providing updates on the unfolding story of the Jayland Walker shooting by Akron police. Walker died early Monday morning after he was shot by officers amid an overnight chase.
Sunday 2:33 p.m.
The Fraternal Order of Police, Akron Lodge 7 has released a statement after the body cam video of the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker was released.
"This incident is a tragedy for our entire community, including the family of Jayland Walker, as well as all of the officers involved," the FOP stated, adding that every officer involved is cooperating with the independent investigation conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
"We believe the independent investigation will justify the officers' actions, including the number of shots fired," the FOP continued. "The decision to deploy lethal force as well as the number of shots fired is consistent with use of force protocols and officers' training."
You can read the entire statement here.
Sunday 2:05 p.m.
The attorney for the Jayland Walker family, Robert DiCello, is holding a briefing outside of the Firestone Community Center in Akron in response to the release of the body cam footage of the fatal shooting earlier this afternoon.
DiCello told reporters that today's presentation of the video "was different from the presentation we received" last week. At that time, DiCello says Chief Mylett told him and Jayland Walker's family he "did not see the movement that would've put these officers in fear."
Sunday 2 p.m.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has released a statement after the release of the Akron police body cam video of the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker.
“People want and deserve answers, and they shall have them. BCI will conduct a complete, fair and expert investigation,” Yost said. “Body-worn camera footage is just one view of the whole picture – before drawing conclusions, the full review must take place.”
The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handing the investigation. Yost noted that the investigative file will be made public at the conclusion of the case, a practice his office began last year.
“The goal is the truth, and we need to talk to anyone who knows anything. Silence will never produce justice," Yost added.
Sunday 1:35 p.m.
Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett has just completed playing the body cam video containing footage of the pursuit and shooting of Jayland Walker. Mylett confirmed several key points before answering questions from reporters:
- Eight officers were involved in the fatal shooting
- It is unknown exactly how many rounds were fired at Walker. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office has reported that he sustained 60 wounds. However the number of entry and exit wounds need to be confirmed.
- At the time of the shooting, Walker was unarmed. Police discovered his gun, a loaded magazine, and a gold ring in the car.
- One officer determined that Walker still had a pulse after the shooting. He died after Akron EMS crews arrived.
Sunday 1 p.m.
The city of Akron is holding a briefing at Firestone Community Center with more details on the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker. Mayor Dan Horrigan, deputy mayor Marco Summerville, and police chief Steve Mylett are all speaking prior to the release of the body cam video.
You can watch the briefing, anchored by 3News' Russ Mitchell in the player below. WARNING: Images and video will contain disturbing and graphic content.
Sunday - 11:37 a.m.
3News' Russ Mitchell will host a live stream of the 1 p.m. press conference in Akron. During the press conference, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett will release new details about the shooting and the bodycam footage. The press conference can be watched on 3News' YouTube Page and wkyc.com.
Sunday - 8:11 a.m.
The Akron Police Department is setting up barriers prior to a 10 a.m. protest that is planned. The protest is planned to take place outside the Akron Justice Center.
Sunday - 7:22 a.m.
As the public braces for the bodycam footage to be released at 1 p.m., multiple groups have planned protests and marches calling for justice for Jayland Walker. 3News' Lindsay Buckingham shares details of what the public can expect:
Saturday - 11:00 p.m.
3News reporter Emma Henderson warns that the footage that is set to be released on Sunday is very graphic and "very difficult to watch". Please be advised if planning to view the video.
The video will show in graphic detail a number of officers firing at Walker.
Saturday - 2:58 p.m.
A group of pastors and people gathered to march from Second Baptist Church in Akron to the Akron Justice Center. The groups of people called for justice in the death of Jayland Walker.
DISCLAIMER: 3News live-streamed the event and can be watched in the video player below. Footage may contain offensive language.
Saturday - 10:09 a.m.
A Peaceful Community March and Rally in Akron is planned for Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The Akron NAACP will hold a peaceful march that will follow the 1 p.m. press conference where city officials release the body camera video to the public.
The march will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Quaker Station and end with a rally at Akron City Hall.
Speakers at the rally include the following:
- Akron NAACP
- ACLU Ohio
- Ohio Poverty Law Center
- The Freedom BLOC
- Black Elected Officials of Summit County
- Faith Community
Friday - 11:10 p.m.
Jayland Walker was involved in a chase with law enforcement less than 24 hours before leading Akron police on a high-speed pursuit that ended with him being shot and killed by eight officers, 3News Investigates has learned.
In addition, 3News Investigates has now confirmed that two Akron police officers initially used non-lethal Tasers before eight officers fired their service weapons over 90 times, killing Walker and striking his body over 60 times.
A New Franklin police officer tried to stop Walker's 2005 Buick sedan for having a broken taillight and license plate bulb as it left a Subway sandwich shop at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The driver did not stop, but instead drove away on Manchester Road at speeds approaching 50 mph. The officer ended the chase in less than three minutes as the driver passed the Akron suburb’s border.
Watch Marisa Saenz's story below:
Friday - 11:05 p.m.
Emma Henderson caught up with Jeremy Caudill, the owner of Melanie Lake in Springfield Township. Caudill has been fielding phone calls ever since Akron's Rib, White and Blue was called off, offering food vendors an opportunity to post up at his property. He has ample space and hungry swimmers, and knows what the workers are going through.
Friday - 10:30 p.m.
A march on behalf of Jayland Walker is being planned for Saturday afternoon. Dr. Roderick C. Pounds, Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Akron, posted on Facebook that the march will begin at 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church at 690 South Main Street. The march will then proceed to the Akron Justice Center before going back to the church. "We will march in Peace, but also in Power and Purpose," Pounds writes in his Facebook post.
Friday - 7:30 p.m.
During Friday evening's edition of "Front Row," 3News' Marisa Saenz spoke with two people have already seen the Akron Police Department's body cam video of shooting death of Jayland Walker: Walker family member and Pastor Robert DeJournett and Walker family attorney Robert DiCello. DeJournett, in particular, called the footage "troubling."
"I was shocked," DeJournett said of the video. "I was really caught off guard. They tried to prepare us that the video was troubling. The first word out of my mouth was 'Jesus.' I just broke down."
Friday - 5:30 p.m.
Rep. Shontel Brown has issued a statement in the aftermath of the death of Jayland Walker.
“I join with so many in the Akron community in mourning the death of Jayland Walker, who was revered as ‘a neighbor, brother, and nephew’ and, I’m sure, so much more,” said Brown, whose 11th Congressional District includes Akron. “I am gravely concerned about the killing of a young Black man at the hands of police, especially as it happens all too often across this country. As we await further details regarding the shooting, I urge the City of Akron and its Police Department to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to fully inform Mr. Walker’s family and our community and ensure accountability.”
In addition, the Black Elected Officials of Summit County (BEOSC) are calling on the Department of Justice to investigate Walker's shooting. BEOSC President and Summit County Councilwoman Veronica Sims said:
"As Black people, we are too often considered suspect and perceived as threatening, which is why the killing of Mr. Walker is so disturbing. After being shot 60 times, police still deemed it necessary to bind his hands in cuffs. Mr. Walker was already dead. When are we not a threat? The Summit County Black Elected Officials offer our sincerest condolences to the loved ones of Jayland and assure that we will be vigilant and watchful as the investigation details unfold."
Friday - 5:00 p.m.
We have team coverage on the Walker story to kick off Friday's edition of 3News' 'What's New.' Marisa Saenz spoke with Robert DiCello, the attorney representing the Walker family. DiCello is among those who have already seen the raw video of the shooting of Jayland Walker.
"It's difficult to watch," DiCello said. "I'm here because the family wants me to tell Northeast Ohio, please do not meet violence with violence. The family doesn't want a violent reaction, they just want peace, dignity and justice for Jayland."
DiCello adds that the video also contradicts the Akron Police Department's version of the shooting, which stated that Walker's actions posed a "deadly threat" to police. "The shooting is not justified based on what the video shows," DiCello said. "He makes no gesture. He doesn't point at them (officers). He's seen running away when the gunfire erupts. That's it."
Meanwhile, Amani Abraham spoke with Akron NAACP President Judi Hill, who spoke about the Walker family's request for peace and understanding.
Neil Fischer also provided coverage of Friday's protests in Akron
Friday - 12:30 p.m.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett will hold a 1 p.m. press conference on Sunday, July 3, that "will provide further details of the officer-involved shooting of Jayland Walker."
"Chief Mylett will be meeting with members of the Walker family and their representation before the press conference to allow them the opportunity to review the footage before the media and public," according to a press release sent early Friday afternoon from city officials.
Earlier Friday, 3News’ Austin Love witnessed trucks being used to block some streets downtown (East Bowery / High), but he later reported the truck was moved to allow traffic to pass around 8:30 a.m.
It comes after a protest was held in the area Thursday in response to Walker's death. He died early Monday morning after he was shot by police amid an overnight chase.
In response to the situation, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has announced the city’s Rib, White and Blue Festival has been canceled for the entire July 4 holiday weekend.
“I completely understand that some residents and guests will be disappointed by the decision to cancel the festival this holiday weekend,” Mayor Horrigan said in a statement Thursday. “Independence Day is meant to be a celebration and a time of gathering with friends and family. Unfortunately, I feel strongly that this is not the time for a city-led celebration.”
That also means no holiday weekend activities will be held downtown at Lock 3. Mayor Horrigan’s office says all vendors and musical acts will be “compensated accordingly.”
“The city encourages residents and guests to find other opportunities for their weekend plans,” city officials noted.
The community fireworks scheduled for Patterson Park and near the former Rubber Bowl will still go on as planned at 9:45 p.m. Monday.
3News' Investigates confirmed Wednesday that Walker was struck dozens of times as more than 90 shots were fired by eight police officers. Officers say Walker made a motion that caused them to fear for their lives.
At some point, police say Walker fired a gun during the situation.
"The gun Walker is believed to have fired was still in his car," according sources in previous reporting from Phil Trexler and Marisa Saenz of 3News' Investigates. "Shell casings from his gun were found inside his car and on the roadway near state Route 8, police sources told 3News Investigates."
The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is the department’s policy.
Akron police are expected to release body camera footage of the incident in the coming days.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- RELATED: Protesters in Akron call for justice in deadly police shooting of Jayland Walker
- RELATED: City of Akron cancels Rib, White, & Blue Festival festival for July 4 holiday weekend after Jayland Walker killed in police shooting
- RELATED: Family and friends of Jayland Walker, man fatally shot by Akron Police, hold press conference
- RELATED: 3News Investigates: 8 Akron police officers fired 90-plus shots during confrontation with fleeing motorist
Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in a previous story on June 30, 2022. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/trucks-blocking-akron-streets-roads-closed-police-shooting-death-jayland-walker/95-072a35fd-30b1-4632-99b1-db345291d528 | 2022-07-03T18:41:15 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/trucks-blocking-akron-streets-roads-closed-police-shooting-death-jayland-walker/95-072a35fd-30b1-4632-99b1-db345291d528 |
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