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KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Kingsport Area Transport Services (KATS) plans to provide free rides to the community during the week of Fun Fest.
Dubbed “Try Transit, Dump the Pump,” KATS leadership says the event will give back to the community along all six routes during the week of festivities. The event will start Monday, July 18 and run through July 22.
“One way that were wanting to give back is offering those free rides and offering a chance for people to save some money on some gas,” said public transportation manager Chris Campbell.
KATS typically hosts a “Dump the Pump” event each year. In 2022, the service planned to conduct it in July in order to match up with Fun Fest.
“We thought it was a great time and a great way with a lot of visitors in the area,” Campbell said. “It’s a great way to explore Kingsport if you’re not familiar with the city, you can just hop on a bus and just drive around and see what we have the offer.”
KATS routes start running at 7:30 a.m. and will wrap up around 5:30 p.m. Campbell said. The free rides will not be restricted to people heading to Fun Fest.
To learn more about KATS, click here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kats-offering-free-rides-during-fun-fest/ | 2022-07-06T23:25:20 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kats-offering-free-rides-during-fun-fest/ |
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) – News Channel 11’s Kelly Grosfield sat down with Jonesborough Mayor Chuck Vest to discuss his leadership background and ongoing projects throughout the city.
Have a question for the mayor who represents the city or county where you live in Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia? Email them to KGrosfield@WJHL.com. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/meet-the-mayor-jonesborough-mayor-chuck-vest/ | 2022-07-06T23:25:26 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/meet-the-mayor-jonesborough-mayor-chuck-vest/ |
(WJHL) – Portions of Southwest Virginia are without power Wednesday evening.
According to Appalachian Power’s outage map, several counties are affected by the outages.
Affected counties are:
- Buchanan County – 465 outages
- Dickeson County – 157 outages
- Scott County – 373 outages
- Smyth County – 799 outages
- Washington County – 646 outages
- Wise County – 617 outages
Check back with New’s Channel 11 for updates. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/power-outages-affect-some-in-southest-virginia/ | 2022-07-06T23:25:32 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/power-outages-affect-some-in-southest-virginia/ |
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A 44-year-old Henry County woman pleaded guilty to one of the charges in her role in the Capitol Riots on January 6th.
On Wednesday, Jamie Ferguson of Collinsville pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building in a conference call with the U.S. Magistrate.
The charge is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Ferguson also agreed to pay $500 in restitution for the $1.5 million in damages to the Capitol.
Ferguson is facing three other charges, and prosecutors asked those to be dismissed.
In an investigative report, there were screenshots of surveillance footage reportedly showing Ferguson in the Capitol Rotunda on the same day the rioters stormed the Capitol.
Ferguson is expected to make another appearance in court in November. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/06/henry-county-woman-pleads-guilty-to-her-role-in-capitol-riot/ | 2022-07-06T23:26:57 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/06/henry-county-woman-pleads-guilty-to-her-role-in-capitol-riot/ |
PULASKI, Va. – The pandemic has impacted our lives and affected small businesses everywhere, and in Pulaski County, the Chamber of Commerce staff is working to help make sure they can continue to grow by helping business owners network in the innovation center.
The purpose of the innovation center is to help businesses that are starting up get access to resources like low start-up costs until they can sustain themselves.
“What we hope for is continued growth,” Bill Cunningham with the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce said. “We want more businesses to realize the advantage of being in Pulaski County; we offer a tremendous amount of resources.”
Other resources include ‘Shop Small Pulaski’ which helps local business owners, like Southern Hart’s Boutique owner Christy Underwood.
Underwood always had an interest and a good eye for fashion.
“We just got some rompers, and they just sold like this,” Underwood said.
For Underwood, the shop is her pride and joy.
“I’m excited and nervous. I feel like this is what I called to do,” Underwood said.
Underwood bought the business from her friends earlier this year.
“I had always said if you ever sell the boutique, I would be interested,” Underwood said.
Underwood’s boutique has been doing well since she took over in April and she credits the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce for having initiatives like ‘Shop Small Pulaski,’ which encourages customers to shop local.
“They are just so kind, they are always willing to help you, and they have a lot of ideas. "
Another owner that takes advantage of the assistance with the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce is Jon Jarrells.
Jarrells is the owner of Electrical and Control Solutions and the business is in the Innovation Center that houses other companies.
Jarrells expressed that the center is crucial for other businesses as well.
“Very attractive with the aspect of paying one lease and you have access to manufacturing space, shared space, conference room,” Jarrells said.
Jarrells said that in the long run, the innovation center could also benefit the county.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity we’ve had to be a part of the business center, I just look for the center to grow, and hopefully, other communities will look at what is happening here and introduce that to other areas,” Jarrell said.
“There is enough room for everyone, and I want us all to grow,” Underwood said. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/06/pulaski-county-chamber-of-commerce-works-to-sustain-small-businesses-after-pandemic/ | 2022-07-06T23:27:03 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/06/pulaski-county-chamber-of-commerce-works-to-sustain-small-businesses-after-pandemic/ |
PULASKI, Va. – Pulaski County leaders are honoring those who took the risk to protect people’s freedom in the United States.
The Pulaski museum is dedicated to highlighting Pulaski County natives who served in the military and showcases the history of the American Revolution to the Afghanistan War.
Museum staff said they are proud of the men and women who served in Pulaski County.
“It feels wonderful, and I’m honored to be among these people who served from this location, our county who went out and did serve, and for our freedom to keep us safe,” Melinda Worrell, a committee member, said.
The museum is located at the old Pulaski County Courthouse, and is open on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/06/pulaski-county-leaders-unveil-veterans-exhibit/ | 2022-07-06T23:27:09 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/06/pulaski-county-leaders-unveil-veterans-exhibit/ |
Richmond police on Wednesday said a tip from a “hero citizen” prevented a mass shooting at the Dogwood Dell Fourth of July celebration on Monday. Two men were arrested and two assault rifles, a handgun and several hundred rounds of ammunition were seized in a South Richmond residence, authorities said.
The announcement came two days after a rooftop gunman opened fire during an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago, killing seven, in a massacre that wounded dozens.
Police in Richmond did not release information about a possible motive in the Dogwood Dell case. Police Chief Gerald Smith during a press conference Wednesday said an officer in the 2nd Precinct received the anonymous tip from a concerned citizen, who overheard a conversation regarding a mass shooting.
Officers and agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated the information, which led them to a residence in the 3100 block of Columbia Street, Smith said. One of the occupants on Friday allowed police to search the home, where several firearms were found out in the open, police said.
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Police later arrested Julio Alvarado-Dubon, 52, of Richmond, who faces a preliminary charge of being a non-U.S. citizen in possession of a firearm. He is being held at Richmond City Jail without bond.
BREAKING NEWS w/@RTDNEWS
— Lyndon German (@Lyndon__G) July 6, 2022
I’m at Richmond police HQ where officials will discuss how officers thwarted a potential mass shooting attempt over the Fourth July weekend.
Tons of media here already.
Follow this thread for updates. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/dS7mmdd8H5
Police also monitored Alvarado-Dubon’s roommate "very, very closely," Smith said, until obtaining probable close for an arrest warrant. Rolman Alberto Balcercel, 38, of Richmond, was arrested by Virginia State Police in Charlottesville on Tuesday.
He faces the same preliminary charge as Alvarado-Dubon and is being held in Albemarle County Jail with no bond.
We must get illegal guns off the streets and have better gun control measures that ban assault rifles. But while @RichmondPolice is on the job we have a lieutenant governor @WinsomeSears posing with an assault rifle in a political ad. This is not the progress that Virginia needs. pic.twitter.com/0b8FxHhzHr
— Michael Jones (@thedrmikejones) July 6, 2022
Police spokesperson Tracy Walker said both men are from Guatemala. Initial documents filed in General District Court in Richmond say both Alvarado-Dubon and Balacarcel are not in the U.S. legally. The documents, which say Alvarado-Dubon has an expired visa, did not include any details about the alleged plot.
Court documents note bond was set at $15,000 for Alvarado-Dubon on Wednesday, but it was unclear if he had been released. The documents say he has lived in the Richmond area for three years and works full time in the construction industry. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled in Richmond on Aug. 2. Alvarado-Dubon’s attorney, Jose Aponte, declined to comment Wednesday.
The suspects may face more charges as law enforcement's investigation continues. A Richmond police spokesperson said Homeland Security officials are leading the investigation.
Smith said they’re unsure how the weapons were obtained, but the suspects did say their intent was to "conduct a mass shooting on the Fourth of July."
He credited the officer in the 2nd precinct and the person who provided information with preventing the shooting.
"There is no telling how many lives this hero citizen saved from one phone call," Smith said. "It is the responsibility of law enforcement that if we hear something, that we do something, and that is the message I would like to get out there — that 'see something, say something' works."
‘A constant state of vigilance’
The Dogwell Dell event, which featured music and fireworks, was held despite the threat.
Isaiah Cabino, 23, of Richmond, was at the Dogwood Dell event Monday and said the crowds spanned all the way to the Fan.
Cabino, who was with his partner, said he’s has gotten into the habit of looking for exits and places to hide when going out in public, a routine he said feels common for a generation that's grown up in an era of mass shootings.
And in the wake of a Fourth of July parade shooting in a Chicago suburb, Cabino was already uneasy about Monday night.
"It was a constant state of vigilance," said Cabino, a 23-year-old Richmond resident. "This reality is not OK. You shouldn't have to go to these events with an expectation of potentially being shot ... The sense of inaction by all levels, both the federal and state level, it's something that's not sustainable, especially for kids and folks in my generation."
While music played and people settled into their chairs around 9 p.m. on Monday night, Kristin Dittmann sat with her spouse on the curb of Pump House Drive waiting for the fireworks to begin.
"It was dark and crowded — chaos and terror would have ensued," said Dittmann, 63. "We must now recognize that we're not safe anywhere from gun violence. Guns are everywhere in this country, and what few regulations we have are falling away by the day."
‘Got to stop’
Smith said police “had a very robust plan” for security for Dogwood Dell. He said they also were monitoring The Diamond, which also had fireworks Friday night.
In the Illinois shooting, hundreds were sent fleeing after gunfire erupted in Highland Park. Robert E. Crimo III was charged with seven counts of murder Tuesday.
Two Philadelphia police officers were also wounded during a shooting Monday night during an Independence Day celebration.
In Richmond, a pair of shootings occurred on Independence Day: one incident occurred at a business on Broad Street in which four men and two women were injured. Another person was shot and killed at the City Dogs Restaurant on Main Street the same night.
Smith said the pattern of violence has to end.
"It's just got to stop," said Smith. "You know, I may be the police chief but I'm also a citizen. It's ridiculous. At some point in time, this has got to stop."
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney on Wednesday urged citizens, local, state and nationally elected officials to do more to curb gun violence.
"We need more," Stoney said during the press conference. "More policies to keep people safe, so these firearms, these weapons of war don't get in the hands of the wrong people."
When asked if he believes Richmond police have enough resources to continue to prevent tragedies from occurring, Stoney said he and the City Council have taken steps. The city approved an $17 million public safety plan that included pay hikes for police and firefighters and funding for the city's gun buyback program.
Stoney said he's also had conversations with the Commonwealth's Attorney Colette McEachin about how help in this effort, but the justice system is just one piece of the solution.
"We can't just be tough on crime and say investing law enforcement is the only answer, we also have to be tough on the root causes of crime," said Stoney.
Said Stoney: “Whether you’re at home in your cul-de-sac, or in your neighborhood, or in a park, or at a parade, out dining — you have to keep your head on a swivel," Stoney said. “And that’s not the country that I know I desire to live in ... but those are the facts of the matter at this moment.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mass-shooting-on-the-fourth-of-july-was-intent-of-richmond-shooting-suspects-police-say/article_d1130562-3161-5b9b-8a37-9f1a3df4bfe3.html | 2022-07-06T23:29:09 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mass-shooting-on-the-fourth-of-july-was-intent-of-richmond-shooting-suspects-police-say/article_d1130562-3161-5b9b-8a37-9f1a3df4bfe3.html |
A Richmond Public Schools spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the district's chief academic officer has submitted her resignation.
WTVR, the local CBS affiliate, reported Wednesday that Chief Academic Officer Tracy Epp's resignation was due to extended medical leave.
WTVR obtained an email Epp sent to her team. In the email, Epp said the decision to leave RPS was "incredibly difficult."
In his RPS Direct newsletter Wednesday night, Superintendent Jason Kamras, with permission from Epp, shared an update about her resignation.
"Dr. Epp has been on leave tending to some family matters and has decided to step down from the CAO role so that she can continue to do so. Though I am going to miss her dearly, I applaud her for truly putting family first," Kamras wrote.
Kamras asked recipients of the newsletter to join him in thanking Epp, "his dear friend and colleague," for her work and "wishing her and her family peace, joy and lots of love."
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"Those of you who know Tracy know that she's a fierce advocate for children – especially for those furthest from opportunity. She's also wicked smart, incredibly hard-working, and more determined to help students succeed than just about anyone else I know. She has had a profoundly positive impact on RPS that will last for many years to come, and we are all deeply in her debt," Kamras wrote.
Epp is the second member of Kamras' leadership team to resign in the past two months.
Chief Operating Officer Alana Gonzalez, who joined the school district in early 2021, resigned effective May 20.
In an email to the School Board that circulated on social media at the time, Kamras wrote that "despite my best efforts to retain her, she felt she could not effectively perform her duties given the current political climate, in which she has felt harassed, undermined, and demeaned.”
In February, five School Board members sought to eliminate the positions of the chief operating officer and the chief wellness officer from the district's upcoming annual budget. In a deadlocked vote regarding a bloc of unspecified personnel actions the following month, the School Board barred Kamras from filling the position of chief wellness officer. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/rps-chief-academic-officer-resigns-due-to-medical-leave/article_c48130ae-0446-5eba-82f9-f47eb2137942.html | 2022-07-06T23:29:15 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/rps-chief-academic-officer-resigns-due-to-medical-leave/article_c48130ae-0446-5eba-82f9-f47eb2137942.html |
Chesterfield County will be having a community meeting next Tuesday to share draft recommendations for the Genito / Route 288 Special Focus Area Plan.
The open house will take place from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Clover Hill High School, where residents can ask questions or discuss the proposal with Supervisor Chris Winslow, Planning Commissioner Gloria Freye and officials with the county’s parks and recreation department.
A major point of contention is the future of Southside Speedway, which sits at the intersection of Genito Road and Oak Lake Boulevard and is adjacent to River City Sportsplex – a major hub for athletic tournaments that has generated millions in revenue since being acquired by the county in 2016.
The Speedway, a 47.1-acre property assessed in 2021 for about $1.8 million, was purchased by the county for $4.5 million last year from a family who had owned it since 1958. Currently, no racing is taking place.
Winslow said in an October community meeting that he had not been made aware of any formal offer to bring racing back but is “absolutely open to that.”
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“We want to be intentional about getting a direction in place and so that means that if those folks who have financing for plans or have plans to finance, we want to hear about what those are,” Winslow said.
During that same meeting and last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, people spoke up about the need to save what they called a site filled with history, where NASCAR champions such as Denny Hamlin, David Pierce and Wendell Scott, the first Black driver to compete full time in the pro circuit, once raced.
County officials have voiced plans to “incorporate elements that highlight the racing history,” in Board documents.
In a public comment period during last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Chesterfield resident Rob Mills said he chose to move to Chesterfield County to be close to Southside Speedway, noting how the site has brought in industry experts and entrepreneurs to the area to work on the cars.
“Racing is a way of life for us. It’s part of our culture. It’s a passion that requires us to invest every bit of time, talent and treasure we’re able to,” Mills said. “Southside Speedway has the potential to attract national events …. Make the smart move by greenlighting the shovel-ready investment and get it moving.”
The Southside Speedway site is currently zoned for general business use, which can include being used for automobile repair, a sales yard, self-storage facility and warehousing. In a survey from the county on what residents would like for the site to be used for, about 40% said to keep the Speedway while 46% asked for it to be used for parks, recreation and entertainment use.
That could mean expanding River City Sportsplex, adding pickleball or disc golf, converting it into a concert venue or incorporating walking and biking trails.
County officials said the projected budget for this plan is $48 million, allocated as part of the Capital Improvement Program. In the 2023-27 CIP, $19.2 million is allotted for River City Sportsplex, and will go toward adding “fields and lighting, hillside stadium seating, parking, restrooms and playground.”
One stadium is estimated to seat 3,500 people. The playground would be about 58,000 square feet.
Past upgrades have included adding a turn lane on Genito Road and replacing the turf on the complex’s 12 fields. Future plans also include a 15,000-square-foot event building with a rooftop restaurant and an adult fitness center with a track. A consideration previously talked about is adding more hotels, restaurants or shops in the vicinity of the Sportsplex to complement or support River City.
“When most of our tournament folks are coming in from out of town, they would like to be as close to the facility as possible. The way the hotels are set up in Chesterfield, there’s not a whole lot close to this facility,” said Stuart Connock, Chesterfield’s chief of parks and design and construction.
Garrett Hart, the county’s director for economic development, said there hasn’t been a report done about how many people choose to stay in hotels in Richmond or Henrico over Chesterfield for proximity reasons but noted that creating walkability or shortening people’s commute to the Sportsplex could drive more revenue toward the county.
The goal, Hart said, is “to get the people who visit to spend their money in the community, in the county.”
An RTD Special Report on short track auto racing: “I don't think anybody is in short track racing to make money." ... “It's a very, very difficult business model to pay back millions of dollars with an $18 ticket.” | https://richmond.com/news/local/future-of-southside-speedway-site-will-be-a-focus-of-tuesday-meeting-in-chesterfield/article_386346ba-19c9-5786-8d66-4af58670b224.html | 2022-07-06T23:29:22 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/future-of-southside-speedway-site-will-be-a-focus-of-tuesday-meeting-in-chesterfield/article_386346ba-19c9-5786-8d66-4af58670b224.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory and now, the Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Bar has one more thing to brag about.
It was just named the Greatest Yeast Donut in America by The Underground Donut Tour.
The company released its list of “America’s Greatest Donuts” in late May and Voodoo Doughnut acknowledged the honor on July 5.
“We are grateful and humbled to be voted as America’s Greatest Doughnut. Often imitated, but never duplicated, the Bacon Maple Bar was where it all began for Voodoo Doughnut and has continued to set the bar for innovation and taste for every doughnut that followed,” Voodoo Doughnut’s CEO Chris Schultz wrote in a statement.
To celebrate, the doughnut chain is hosting deals on the famed Bacon Maple Bar throughout the month of July.
On July 13, customers can visit any participating store to purchase $1 mini Bacon Maple Bars. July 20-22, customers can add a Bacon Maple Bar to any order of a dozen doughnuts for an additional $2, and from July 25-31, Bacon Maple Bars will be on sale for $2.50.
“For the rest of July, we are going to celebrate all things Bacon Maple Bar,” Voodoo Doughnut wrote on Instagram. “Buckle in for a sweet & salty ride.” | https://www.koin.com/local/this-voodoo-doughnut-staple-makes-list-of-americas-greatest-donuts/ | 2022-07-06T23:31:46 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/this-voodoo-doughnut-staple-makes-list-of-americas-greatest-donuts/ |
Authorities in South Dakota have arrested an Aberdeen woman they say helped an inmate escape from the Missouri River Correctional Center south of Bismarck.
Emily Margolies, 35, allegedly admitted to police that she picked up David Corn at the center Tuesday morning, according to North Dakota Highway Patrol documents.
Burleigh County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Margolies on Wednesday. She was arrested in Aberdeen around midday. Margolies is charged in Burleigh County with felony conspiracy to commit escape and accomplice to escape, court records show.
The Patrol during its investigation learned from Dickey County authorities that Corn, from Forbes, was active on Facebook under the name Mitch Connor. He updated his profile picture Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
Corn, 35, is 6 feet tall, weighs 370 pounds, and has red hair and brown eyes. Burleigh County authorities have issued an arrest warrant for him on felony charges of conspiracy to commit escape and escape. He had not been arrested as of late Wednesday afternoon, Patrol Sgt. Ryan Duletski said.
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Telephone calls recorded at the center and reviewed by police after Corn left the minimum-security facility showed that he had made arrangements with a woman to be picked up about 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. The woman said she would be driving a white Suburban, the Patrol affidavit states.
Correction center officials notified the Patrol that Corn left the center in a white, early 2000s Suburban with no license plates driven by a female with “very blond long hair.” The vehicle initially didn't attract notice because it resembled other vehicles on the property.
Information on the recorded calls included a phone number that officials confirmed belonged to Margolies, the affidavit states.
Troopers say Corn later used Margolies’ phone to call a known drug dealer in Dickey County.
Corn pleaded guilty in April to fleeing police, drug possession with intent to deliver, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The charges were filed in Dickey County in November 2021. A judge sentenced him to three years in prison and three years on probation, court records show. He’d been at the center since May 26, had a scheduled good behavior release date of June 1, 2024, and a maximum release date of Nov. 28, 2024, the Patrol document states. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-helping-mrcc-inmate-escape/article_d13c1d72-fd76-11ec-b65b-578e4072b015.html | 2022-07-06T23:36:16 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-helping-mrcc-inmate-escape/article_d13c1d72-fd76-11ec-b65b-578e4072b015.html |
The state Board of Higher Education has given North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott a two-year contract extension and a raise.
Hagerott will get a 2.7% raise, bringing his annual salary from $389,516 to $400,033, Prairie Public reported.
"He has been a great leader. We see him as visionary," Board Chair Casey Ryan said.
Hagerott said his success derives from staff and the college presidents.
"The presidents are the most thoughtful, collegial group on the front line," he said. "They have a much harder job than I have."
The University System oversees the 11 public colleges and universities in North Dakota, including Bismarck State College.
BSC President Doug Jensen is receiving a 2% pay increase, raising his annual salary from $230,292 to $234,898, according to University System spokeswoman Billie Jo Lorius.
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Hagerott's and Jensen's new contracts took effect July 1. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/education/chancellor-hagerott-gets-contract-extension-raise-bsc-leader-also-gets-raise/article_7f9ca086-fd35-11ec-be4a-bf2fcd93d4e5.html | 2022-07-06T23:36:22 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/education/chancellor-hagerott-gets-contract-extension-raise-bsc-leader-also-gets-raise/article_7f9ca086-fd35-11ec-be4a-bf2fcd93d4e5.html |
UIA questions pause on unemployment overpayment collections
The status of collections activities on alleged overpayments of unemployment insurance is unclear once again as the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has urged a judge to clarify an order pausing collections on overpayments.
The confusion stems from a June 13 order in a class action lawsuit in which Michigan Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle issued a preliminary injunction, halting state unemployment collections activity in cases where a claimant is appealing the agency's determination that he or she was overpaid.
In its Tuesday motion for reconsideration — filed three weeks after Swartzle's initial order — the state Unemployment Insurance Agency asked the judge to "clarify the parameters of the preliminary injunction" but did not challenge the injunction itself.
The agency said in its filing it seeks to understand the scope of "who the injunctive relief applies to, whether collection suspension applies to untimely or late appeals, and what collection activity must be suspended."
Swartzle on Wednesday called for further briefings on the matter to be submitted by Aug. 3 since "the court believes that proper resolution of the questions would be aided by application of the adversarial process."
It's unclear whether the agency stopped collections after Swartzle's initial June 13 order or if it will pause them through August while awaiting briefings and a final order on the issue. The agency did not immediately respond when asked Wednesday whether it ever paused its collections after Swartzle's June order.
The January class action lawsuit challenging the state Unemployment Insurance Agency alleged the agency violated the due process rights of claimants by collecting money from them while their appeals were still pending.
The lawsuit was filed as the agency sought to claw back benefits it said were erroneously paid to countless claimants during the rushed rollout of expanded unemployment aid during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agency has confirmed the authorization of at least 55,000 overpayment waivers and had paused collections briefly between April and May with permission from the U.S. Department of Labor.
In his June 13 order requiring the agency to pause collections, Swartzle noted the agency had already agreed in a separate 2017 federal settlement that it would not recover overpayments until the individual had gone through the full administrative appeals process.
"To say that the agency’s efforts at identifying and recouping erroneously paid benefits have been uneven and challenging would be an understatement," Swartzle said.
In its Tuesday filing, the unemployment agency asked Swartzle to clarify whether his injunction order should be limited to the named plaintiffs in the suit or all similarly situated individuals fighting overpayment decisions.
The agency argued Swartzle's order should be limited to the named plaintiffs because the class hasn't been certified in the case.
The agency also bucked at the order's requirement to pause all collections without detailing how that would interplay with laws that bind the collection process or whether those who had filed untimely protests or appeals were also included in the injunction.
"Defendants are legally required to intercept tax refunds in certain cases, and therefore, defendants asks that these tax intercepts be excluded from the injunction due to the confines of federal law," the filing said.
eleblanc@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/07/06/uia-questions-pause-unemployment-overpayment-collections/7826005001/ | 2022-07-06T23:36:42 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/07/06/uia-questions-pause-unemployment-overpayment-collections/7826005001/ |
COVID-19 infections in Alachua County continue slow climb in recent state data
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Alachua County remains an area of high community transmission for COVID-19 as the most recent data from the state Department of Health show case counts for new infections and positive test results continue to rise.
There were 964 new infections in Alachua County for the week ending June 30, according to state data. That's a rate of 347 cases per 100,000 population, higher than the statewide rate of 334 cases, with only eight counties in Florida reporting higher numbers.
The positivity rate — the percentage of reported positive test results for COVID-19 infection — climbed to 22.4%, up from 17.6% from the last reporting period on June 17. It has risen steadily since March 25 when the rate was 2.5%. It is an indication that the virus is spreading widely across the community.
Medical experts say in-home testing may be masking an even worse reality in Alachua County and elsewhere.
"A lot of that is not getting reported," said Dr. Nicole Iovene, director in the Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Health at UF Health in Gainesville.
Iovene said the number of new cases, while slowly rising, has been at more of a plateau for nearly a month. "We're still in for quite a lot of new infections," she said.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 70% of cases nationwide are due to the B.A. 4 and B.A. 5 subvariant of omicron, which Iovene said is likely the culprit locally as well.
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While those subvariants have shown greater ability to break through complete immunity from vaccines or protection from prior infection, "that's different from the huge benefit of decreased chance of getting severe disease, hospitalizations and death," Iovene said.
UF Health has been seeing about 60 to 70 hospitalized patients who are infected with COVID-19 on any given day. However, Iovene said most of those were not admitted because of the disease, but identified because the hospital tests all incoming patients. Very few of them are in intensive care due to COVID-19.
One positive number in the new state data is a sharp rise in the number of new vaccinations in Alachua County. That had been hovering at fewer than 100 per week but jumped to 302 in the most recent report. That's the most for a single week since January.
"We are wondering if this is related to parents who are protecting their children below age five," she said, although no data is yet available on the age of those getting vaccinations.
Vaccinations for children ages 5 and younger was approved by the CDC and the federal Food and Drug Administration on June 16. UF Health in Gainesville has made those shots available.
Even so, health experts fear hesitancy over the COVID-19 vaccines may spill over to traditional childhood vaccinations. Iovene said she has spoken to pediatricians who say that's already happening. | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2022/07/06/florida-reports-covid-19-cases-alachua-county-continue-rise/7821580001/ | 2022-07-06T23:38:00 | 0 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2022/07/06/florida-reports-covid-19-cases-alachua-county-continue-rise/7821580001/ |
NESQUEHONING, Pa. — In a couple of weeks, a faculty room at Panther Valley Elementary School will get a facelift thanks to the Lowe's Hometowns Grant, whose goal is to find projects that are at the heart of the community and give them the funding to revitalize. For Nesquehoning, that's Panther Valley Elementary School.
"We really can't allocate general budget money to improve a faculty room. It's not in the cards, we have to do things like make sure we have the curriculum materials that we need, make sure we pay for transportation... those things that are essential to education," Panther Valley Principal Robert Palazzo said.
Thanks to the grant, Panther Valley will have $45,000 to improve the heating and cooling system, make the kitchen usable, and provide a safe haven from the students.
"We're going to have a lounge kind of area that allows teachers to collaborate and work. And we'll have a lunch area as well so really it's going to serve 2 functions," Principal Palazzo said.
He said he wants teachers to use this space to share ideas with each other, taking the close-knit community of Nesquehoning into the school.
"We want a space for the faculty to feel comfortable, have the opportunity to collaborate, to have that full 30-minute lunch during the course of their day. In a place they feel good about that can really improve their teaching throughout the day," the principal said.
With a background in school psychology, Principal Palazzo said he wants to ensure his teachers are taken care of to prevent burnout throughout the school year.
"Even though it doesn't directly impact student outcomes, it's going to affect student outcomes. 'Cause our teachers are going to be well-rested, they're going to have a better attitude, and they're going to learn from each other. Overall, I think that's going to create a better learning environment for our students," he said.
Panther Valley Elementary School will begin construction for the new faculty room soon so the teachers can enjoy it at the start of the new school year.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/grant-helps-revitalize-faculty-room-at-elementary-school-nesquehoing-panher-valley-elementary-school/523-c19902f1-ad0d-4fb9-bd53-87d7357d28a9 | 2022-07-06T23:40:43 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/grant-helps-revitalize-faculty-room-at-elementary-school-nesquehoing-panher-valley-elementary-school/523-c19902f1-ad0d-4fb9-bd53-87d7357d28a9 |
SCRANTON, Pa. — In a conference room on the campus of Lackawanna College, veterans from our area shared stories about some of the problems they've faced since returning home from war, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I was around burn pits. What's gonna happen to me in 10,15, 20 years? I'm sure that there's a lot of veterans out there that didn't even know what's happening to them. They feel some burning sensation in their lungs, but I don't know was it COVID? Was it? I don't know pneumonia? Was it something else? I don't know," said Andy Chomko, U.S. Army Veteran.
"Eighty-two of my troops, my Marine soldiers and sailors were killed in action there. And now many of them continue to suffer the ill effects of that war by wounds and disease that cannot be seen, but has it adversely affected their lives in significant ways," said John Gronski, U.S. Army Veteran.
Senator Bob Casey listened to these stories. He expects approval of legislation to help get care for veterans exposed to toxins while they served.
"It gives us a rationale for why it was so important to pass this legislation to provide three and a half million veterans this kind of access to health care," he said.
"You didn't even know that you may have been exposed to something you know or didn't know that. This is now a symptom of what you were previously exposed to. So that it will definitely help a lot of people and especially for the families of service members who have passed away," said Amber Viola, U.S. Navy Veteran.
The bill will also fund improvements in care for veterans through the Department of the VA.
"We see all the time you know, 2000 backlogged claims, veterans are dying because of some of these conditions and somebody's not pushing that, that paperwork forward all the time. It's sad because then the claim stops and a spouse has to start over," said David Eisele, Lackawanna County Veterans Affairs.
Senator Casey hopes for the Veterans Affairs health care bill to be passed and be on the President's desk law next week.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/area-veterans-look-forward-to-more-funding-lackawanna-college-iraq-afganistan/523-3a00d9b6-de3a-4723-bead-f240b667d2e7 | 2022-07-06T23:40:49 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/area-veterans-look-forward-to-more-funding-lackawanna-college-iraq-afganistan/523-3a00d9b6-de3a-4723-bead-f240b667d2e7 |
LUZERNE, Pa. — A man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in Luzerne County waived his preliminary hearing.
John Watson, of Luzerne, is accused of abducting a girl, assaulting her, and keeping her captive in October.
He was picked up by U.S. Marshals in Ohio in December.
Watson faces child sex charges.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/accused-abductor-waives-prelimnary-hearing-john-watson-of-luzerne/523-7e9812f3-d683-44a4-b9ff-c7c84b9c3dde | 2022-07-06T23:40:55 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/accused-abductor-waives-prelimnary-hearing-john-watson-of-luzerne/523-7e9812f3-d683-44a4-b9ff-c7c84b9c3dde |
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The D's Diner in Plains Township is now on the move with the expansion of a new "location" on wheels. But its owner said this was "plan B."
"Well, originally, we wanted to head out towards the Back Mountain area into another diner. But we were a little hesitant with trying to have the manpower to run it," D's Diner owner Dan Demellier said.
A problem causing some restaurants to close, but Dan Demellier said his place is overcoming challenges such as staffing and price increases.
"[We] have returning customers, we have the volume. A lot of restaurants right now are hurt, and because they don't have the volume of people coming in. Here we do. We have a lot of hotels around here, we have the casino," Demellier said.
The owner said people will be able to book this truck for events, and it won't have the same menu as the diner. It will be a tailored menu that will be displayed on the screens.
"We're pretty well booked for the month of July. We're getting calls nonstop," Demellier said. "It's something new to us, we have to adjust to it, but I think we'll do very good."
This truck was ordered in November from a company in Florida and driven to the area over the weekend. Its first stop will be this weekend at the Little League tournament in Plains Township
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/plains-township-diner-food-truck-now-caters-on-the-road-ds-diner/523-4af632af-b9de-44dd-a8fb-e85b4c734549 | 2022-07-06T23:41:01 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/plains-township-diner-food-truck-now-caters-on-the-road-ds-diner/523-4af632af-b9de-44dd-a8fb-e85b4c734549 |
MONTROSE, Pa. — A mother was sentenced in Susquehanna County on Wednesday for a DUI crash that led to the death of her daughter.
Paige Scully from Montrose was sentenced to three years in prison.
Scully pleaded guilty in March to the charges related to the high-speed crash in 2020 on Route 367 after leaving a bar in Rush Township with her daughter Aubrey.
"It was a terrible tragedy," said Bill Thompson, Scully's attorney. "I have a daughter around the same age. Her actions dictate a consequence, but there's nothing anyone can do to punish her more than she's punishing herself."
Scully won't have to serve her entire three-year sentence behind bars. She was granted credit for time served on house arrest.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/susquehanna-county/mother-sentenced-for-deadly-dui-crash-in-susquehanna-county-paige-scully/523-1dbec233-4d75-4080-9885-afc523022c82 | 2022-07-06T23:41:07 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/susquehanna-county/mother-sentenced-for-deadly-dui-crash-in-susquehanna-county-paige-scully/523-1dbec233-4d75-4080-9885-afc523022c82 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A body was found in the Susquehanna River early Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
The Lancaster County Coroner was confirmed on the scene, but additional information on the identity and circumstances of death have yet to be released.
Emergency dispatchers said boaters discovered the body on the Western Shore of Crow Island.
This article will be updated as more information is released. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/body-found-susquehanna-river-harrisburg/521-c55d3550-1762-48f9-833f-24cc398c1dbe | 2022-07-06T23:41:53 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/body-found-susquehanna-river-harrisburg/521-c55d3550-1762-48f9-833f-24cc398c1dbe |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The dog days of summer have arrived, and the heat has been suffocating.
"Unfortunately there's a heat wave that's pretty much reaching across the country," Brandi Hinkle, spokesperson for Entergy Arkansas, said.
Hinkle knows the strain the heat and humidity can put on our power system, but she said it's not just Arkansas who is on that power grid.
"Within your community, within cities and towns, across the state, it's all one grid," Hinkle said. "Even though there are different power providers within that footprint."
Much of Arkansas is on the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, grid. The grid extends all the way up through the Midwest and all the way to the Canadian border.
What happens to them all the way up there can actually affect us down here as well.
"It's just to ensure that we have enough power to supply the demand so that we can use power from other generators if we need to, other power companies," Hinkle said.
The North and Central regions of MISO have been under an alert because of hot weather up there, which something we've been much better at dealing with here in the South.
In a statement, MISO officials said that this is typical during challenging grid conditions. Hinkle also agreed with that statement.
"We are absolutely not in panic mode," she said. "Again, we prepare for this kind of thing."
Entergy isn't alone in that. At Benton Utilities, General Manager David Vondran said they constantly monitor conditions in case MISO asks them to conserve power.
Some of the ways to conserve power, include raising your thermostat a couple degrees, turning off lights that aren't in use and unplugging unnecessary appliances.
Doing those may be a slight annoyance, but they can help keep the lights on for everybody, whether they're in Arkansas or not.
"So the best way we can do that, again, is ask our customers to just be mindful of how much power they're using," Hinkle said. "So that we don't create too much demand on the grid." | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-power-grid-and-other-cities/91-9c481d70-9b63-4c2d-9b7a-225c8d4cb948 | 2022-07-06T23:41:53 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-power-grid-and-other-cities/91-9c481d70-9b63-4c2d-9b7a-225c8d4cb948 |
ARKANSAS, USA — In order for recreational marijuana in Arkansas to be legalized, the issue has to be on an election ballot. Groups across the state have been trying to get it there by racking up more than 89,000 signatures on a petition by July 8.
Arkansas law says in order to have a constitutional amendment on a ballot, the number of signatures has to be 10% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election. The deadline to get that amount is four months before the election the issue is to be on.
In the case of recreational marijuana in Arkansas, the requirements include:
- A deadline of July 8, 2022
- At least 89,151 valid signatures
If the secretary of state verifies all the signatures are there, then Arkansans will be able to vote on the issue in November. However, if petitioners are only able to come up with at least 75% of the number of signatures, then they are given an extra 30 days to try to get there.
However, Responsible Growth Arkansas, a group advocating to get recreational marijuana on the ballot, has reported having around 200,000 signatures—twice over the threshold needed.
If recreational marijuana makes it on the 2022 ballot and is passed, it would:
- Legalize marijuana for adults over 21
- Reform existing drug laws in the state
- Dedicate marijuana tax income toward the state court and law enforcement systems
- Remove taxes from Arkansas medical marijuana program
In June, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (ADFA) reported that 102,710 pounds of medical marijuana had been sold so far since 2019.
“Through the first five months of 2022, an average of $741,000 is spent each day across the state’s 38 dispensaries to purchase medical marijuana,” said Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the ADFA.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-recreational-marijuana-ballot/527-22f7e8da-a2f2-4fae-8551-2836d033fd4a | 2022-07-06T23:41:56 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-recreational-marijuana-ballot/527-22f7e8da-a2f2-4fae-8551-2836d033fd4a |
INDIANAPOLIS — Thirty-one Indianapolis grassroots organizations are now recipients of grant funding to help reduce violence in the city.
The Elevation Grant Program, formerly known as the Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program, focuses on empowering youth, uplifting neighborhoods and offering mental wellness.
On Wednesday, city leaders and the Indianapolis Foundation announced the first round of $4.3 million in grant money will be given to organizations by July 31.
One of the groups receiving money is Free Wheelin' Community Bikes, which provides STEM education for young people, like bicycle mechanic courses and a youth employment training program.
Destiny Wilson started working there last year.
"Free Wheelin' isn't really your average, like fast food or McDonald's, job. I felt like I had a purpose and I felt like I was helping my community, which I'd never gotten an opportunity to do before, so it was really exciting for me," Wilson said.
Applications are now open for the second round of grants. You can find more information on the Central Indiana Community Foundation's website. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/grassroots-groups-get-grant-money-funding-help-stop-indianapolis-violence/531-a70571f8-1dbb-4c40-8b10-bb544f1b025a | 2022-07-06T23:43:39 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/grassroots-groups-get-grant-money-funding-help-stop-indianapolis-violence/531-a70571f8-1dbb-4c40-8b10-bb544f1b025a |
The playground at George W. Julian School 57 will honor 7-year-old Hannah Crutchfield, who was hit and killed by a car in a crosswalk outside the school last year.
INDIANAPOLIS — An Irvington school has now raised the $200,000 needed to build a playground in memory of a student who was hit and killed in a crosswalk walking home from school.
In fact, George W. Julian School 57 surpassed that goal.
Hannah's Memorial Playground will honor 7-year-old Hannah Crutchfield, who was hit and killed as she, her mother and a crossing guard were crossing the street after school on Sept. 14, 2021.
Students came up with the idea to build the playground as a way to honor Hannah, who was a first grader at the school. Students even got to pick the colors for it — yellow, with two shades of blue and gray.
In a Facebook video, Michelle Pleasant, PTSA president and co-chair of the Hannah's Memorial Playground Project, talked about meeting their goal.
🦋We did it!!!! Hannah’s Memorial Playground has raised OVER $200,000!!!
Our team has been able to order the new playground equipment, with installation scheduled in the fall of '22. Meeting our goal means we are able to install new equipment in both playground spaces. All of the funds raised beyond our goal will go toward the murals, final project details, and wish list items. The fund will continue to be open for donations if you would like to contribute to the murals and final project details.
❤Check out the video for a short explanation and some big THANK YOUS from a few of our George Julian Family! ❤
We are overwhelmed by the generosity we have received from our community, people in Indianapolis, Indiana, and all over the country. We are thankful for those who have shared our story, shared about who Hannah was, and why this project is so important to our community and to our students. Our students asked to build this space to honor their friend, to share the joy she brought to so many people. We can’t wait to share the finished space with our community!
The ipsfund.org/honorhannah website and fund will continue to stay open. (If you had planned to donate you are still able to make your contribution)
Thank you for your support!!
George W Julian School 57
George Julian Parent Teacher Student Association
Indianapolis Public Schools
Posted by Hannah's Memorial Playground on Wednesday, July 6, 2022
"We are excited and overwhelmed at the amount of generosity that we have seen from our community, from all over the city of Indianapolis, all over Indiana, all over the country," said Pleasant.
Any additional funds raised over the $200,000 will go toward murals and artwork for the playground.
"We now get to build a beautiful space, a space where we can come together where there can be healing where we can show our students we can do big things, we can do hard things, and we can do something beautiful to honor who Hannah was and how important she is to so many people," said Pleasant.
Playground equipment has been ordered. It is expected to be complete by the fall. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/irvington-george-w-julian-school-57-hannahs-memorial-playground/531-fe5d22da-5529-4dcf-9c21-bdb182dd4fa8 | 2022-07-06T23:43:45 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/irvington-george-w-julian-school-57-hannahs-memorial-playground/531-fe5d22da-5529-4dcf-9c21-bdb182dd4fa8 |
CORYELL COUNTY, Texas — Five different fire departments are on the scene of a fire in Coryell County near FM 107 east of 1829 cutoff, according to reports.
There is no estimation on the size of the fire but one home is being protected by fire personnel, according to Coryell County Emergency Management.
Reports near 700 West County Rd. describe south of the fire being about half a mile long. There are at least four aircrafts dropping water and one helicopter on the scene.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but reports say winds could be a factor.
6 News will keep you updated as more information is received.
More on KCENtv.com: | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/coryell-fire-reported/500-034ca49e-e3f7-4ba6-8305-776a36230482 | 2022-07-06T23:46:37 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/coryell-fire-reported/500-034ca49e-e3f7-4ba6-8305-776a36230482 |
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – A nearly 100-year-old building in Bonita Springs could soon be demolished to put in a parking lot, despite protests from members of the City’s Historical Preservation Board.
At the last City Council Meeting, Bonita Springs’ City Council voted unanimously to tear down the building known as the “Wonder Gardens Cafe”, the building located right next to the Everglades Wonder Gardens on Old US 41.
The building was last used as a Cafeteria about 6 years ago, but since then has sat vacant and unused. In that time, it’s deteriorated to the point where city officials say it’s no longer code compliant.
“My guess is 6, 7 years. Its a long time, you know what happens in Florida in the sun, it deteriorates.” said Bonnie Whittemore, from the Bonita Springs Historical Society. “I remember going in here years ago, when it was a cafeteria. Where you could go inside here, get a bite to eat and sit out here.”
City Historians like Bonnie said at the City’s Council Meeting, they are asking Council Members to explore other options for the building other than demolition, like its preservation by a private developer.
“I think there is an opportunity to get a private developer, I know the city has put out RFPs, but I think if we got the right people with the right money, I think this could be revamped.” she said. “It would be a great museum, a great gift shop. A lot of things can be done here, so lets not tear it down.”
So far, there is no concrete date yet on when the building with be demolished. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2022/07/06/100-year-old-bonita-springs-building-may-be-razed-for-parking-lot/ | 2022-07-06T23:46:41 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2022/07/06/100-year-old-bonita-springs-building-may-be-razed-for-parking-lot/ |
KILLEEN, Texas — Editor's Note: The attached video was published June 13.
Killeen police were investigating the death of a man who was found with severe burns Tuesday night.
Ofelia Miramontez said officers arrived at Independence Place Apartments off Watercrest Road a little after 8 p.m.
Paramedics were performing life-saving measures on the man. He was taken to Advent Hospital where he died
Miramontez said detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division along with the Killeen Fire Marshal's Office were conducting a death investigation.
Miramontez did not provide the man's name.
6 News will provide more information as it becomes available. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/killeen-police-investigate-mans-death-after-he-was-found-with-severe-burns/500-6f531313-b8b0-4acd-8968-abf264d784c5 | 2022-07-06T23:46:43 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/killeen-police-investigate-mans-death-after-he-was-found-with-severe-burns/500-6f531313-b8b0-4acd-8968-abf264d784c5 |
SAN DIEGO — One note submitted to the federal judge sentencing a 38-year-old California woman for embezzlement claimed that a biopsy had revealed “cancerous cells” in her uterus. Another indicated that she was undergoing a surgical procedure, and her cancer had spread to the cervix. Yet another letter warned she “cannot be exposed to COVID-19” because of her fragile state.
But federal officials say the notes and cancer were all fake, and now Ashleigh Lynn Chavez is headed to prison for three times as long. The court this week added an additional two years to her initial, one-year prison sentence.
The fake claim of having cancer kept Chavez out on bond from the time of her guilty plea in 2019 to embezzling more than $160,000 from her former employer through her sentencing hearing on March 31, 2021. The notes then bought her an additional three months of freedom by the judge who believed she was getting medical treatment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of California.
All told, Chavez was able to avoid being locked up for six months, federal officials said.
Chavez’s attorney, Benjamin Kington, said in a sentencing memorandum that Chavez was “terrified” about being separated from her newborn son, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The notes also claimed she was too ill to work and could not make restitution payments to her former employer.
Two different attorneys hired by Chavez believed the notes were authentic and submitted them to the court, according to federal officials.
By August 2021, the notes forged by Chavez were asking the court to permit her to serve time in home confinement. In one forged note, attributed to a San Diego-area oncologist, Chavez wrote that “(a) year in prison could be a death sentence for my patient."
Federal authorities contacted the doctors named in the letters who denied writing them, though Chavez had been a patient of one of the physicians, according to federal officials.
“This defendant went to appalling lengths to avoid her initial prison sentence by falsifying medical documents to claim she had cancer. This offensive conduct is an affront to every person fighting that battle,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy said in a statement.
Click here to read the story on APNews.com | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-woman-fakes-cancer-forges-notes-avoiding-prison/103-2ccd9b4b-fbb7-45ae-931d-59d42e42f227 | 2022-07-06T23:46:55 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-woman-fakes-cancer-forges-notes-avoiding-prison/103-2ccd9b4b-fbb7-45ae-931d-59d42e42f227 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom is on vacation in Montana visiting family, I was the first to report Tuesday evening.
It was information that the governor’s office appeared loath to disclose. Although the office said Friday the governor had left California to spend time with family, it did not until Tuesday answer questions about where he was or when specifically he would return, a noticeable difference from communication surrounding other recent out-of-state trips. (A spokesperson said Tuesday Newsom hasn’t yet booked his return trip, but that he will return to California over the weekend and be back in the office on Monday.)
The governor’s office didn’t respond to a question about why that information wasn’t initially shared. But one possible reason could be that Montana is among the 22 states to which California has banned state-funded and state-sponsored travel, citing policies it deems discriminatory to LGBTQ+ people.
Montana is also one of the states Newsom’s office has called out for restricting abortion access. His office said in a June 24 press release that Montana will likely ban the procedure following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, though local outlets say abortion is likely to remain legal there for the foreseeable future.
- Anthony York, Newsom’s senior advisor for communications, told me: “We don’t legislate where people vacation. Never have. The travel ban applies to expending state funds. The Governor’s travel is not being paid for by the state.”
- Asked if the state is paying for Newsom’s security while he is in Montana, York said: “We don’t comment or provide details on the governor’s security.”
The parents of Newsom’s wife, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, own a ranch in Montana and the couple was married there in 2008, according to the Associated Press.
The reluctance of Newsom’s office to share details about the vacation contrasts sharply with clearer communication surrounding other recent out-of-state trips. And it suggests the governor is aware of the politically perilous optics of vacationing in a red state while he attempts to position himself at the vanguard of the Democratic Party — a strategy praised by columnists in national outlets such as the Washington Post and the Atlantic — and he slams Republican-led states for COVID-19 policies and high crime rates, among other things.
For example, when Newsom and his family departed on vacation for spring break, the governor’s office disclosed that they would be in Central and South America from March 30 to April 12. And last year, when Newsom and his family took a trip for Thanksgiving, the governor’s office shared they would be in Mexico from Nov. 22-28.
- Harmeet Dhillon, California’s Republican National Committeewoman, told me in a statement: “At a time when Californians are still living under a two years and counting state of emergency, our gas taxes were raised (again) July 1 to the highest levels in the nation … Gavin Newsom is running campaign ads in better-run states and refusing to tell the taxpayers where he is or when he will return to his overtaxed, under-served constituents. We’d love to know the gas prices and the COVID emergency status where the Governor is. Most Californians can’t afford to take their normal holidays this year, thanks to Gavin Newsom and his party’s lack of leadership of our state.”
Dhillon was referring to the ads that Newsom’s reelection campaign began airing Monday not in California, but in Florida — which is also on the travel ban list. On Tuesday, Newsom’s reelection campaign followed up with a fundraising email whose subject line read simply, “Florida.”
- The email reads: “Ron DeSantis (the Republican governor of Florida) likes to talk a lot about ‘freedom.’ He signed a ‘Freedom First Budget.’ His hashtag is #KeepFloridaFree. His team even released a tortuous rock ballad about Florida’s freedom. But the truth is, Freedom is under attack in Florida.”
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is serving as acting governor in Newsom’s absence, but it’s unlikely that she will have to take action on any bills. The governor’s office said it isn’t aware of any bills that have a signing deadline this week; according to veteran Sacramento lobbyist Chris Micheli, 55 bills are currently awaiting action on the governor’s desk.
Kounalakis became the first woman to sign a bill into California law during Newsom’s family vacation in March. The bill she signed — which extended statewide pandemic eviction protections for residents waiting for payments from California’s rent relief program — expired on June 30.
Geoffrey Ross, a deputy director for the state Department of Housing and Community Development, told CalMatters’ Manuela Tobias that all eligible rent relief applications had been approved as of July 1. He said the department is still processing about 13,000 applications that are missing documentation or represent an appeal following a denial, and that the state expects to clear all of those pending applications by early August.
CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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WATCH MORE ABC10: Is Gov. Gavin Newsom planning a presidential run? He ran advertisements on TV stations in Florida over the weekend and has been trolling former President Donald Trump on his own social media platform, Truth Social. ABC10's Morgan Rynor was told a run for president is in Newsom's DNA and even if he's saying 'no' right now, recent actions would indicate it's not out of the question... | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/newsom-montana-vacation/103-0b74cf2e-2d21-4853-bbab-808c8de2e250 | 2022-07-06T23:47:01 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/newsom-montana-vacation/103-0b74cf2e-2d21-4853-bbab-808c8de2e250 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Animal shelters across the country are experiencing their busiest time of the year in the days surrounding the Fourth of July weekend.
The Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), along with many other shelters in the greater Sacramento region, are feeling the aftermath of the massive firework shows just as they do every year.
“Most shelters that we've talked to are feeling overwhelmed right now with the number of pets that came in over the holiday weekend,” said Sacramento SPCA marketing director, Dawn Foster. “As soon as fireworks can be legally sold, you start seeing the effects of those fireworks on the impact of the animals coming into the shelters.”
Shelters spend months preparing for the Fourth of July by attempting to make room for the inevitable influx of runaway animals, particularly dogs, trying to get away from the loud fireworks.
According to Foster, some shelters began seeing the rush of new animals as early as the week before the holiday.
“It's a wonderful holiday for us humans, but unfortunately it's a pretty frightening holiday for most of the four-legged animals in our lives,” said Foster. “Cats, dogs and small animals just don't like the big bangs, booms, and pops.”
Sacramento SPCA encourages anyone whose dog may have run away over the holiday weekend to take the necessary steps to retrieve them as soon as possible.
“I know there's a lot of fees being waived for reclaiming, so that's one way to encourage people to find their pets,” said Foster.
If another person’s dog is found, Foster says it's best to keep them around, if possible, and try finding the owner as a way to relieve already overflowing shelters.
“We always love it if folks can hold onto the lost pet and try to reunite them again in their community without them having to come into the shelter,” said Foster.
According to Foster, a lost animal has a better chance of being reunited with its owner when it remains in the area where it was found. She adds many pet owners will either fail to or neglect to find their pet.
“We just encourage people to continue to look at all the shelters in their region and in the Greater Sacramento region for their animals and continue to look for the next couple of weeks,” said Foster. “An animal might be hanging out at a good Samaritan's house for a couple of days and they might be trying to do all these things before they take the animal to the shelter and then might be forced to take them down there.”
While there’s no way to stop the fireworks, there are some ways for pet owners to prepare for future holidays.
Sacramento SPCA stresses getting your cats and dogs microchipped and making sure they have identification tags.
“It's $25 to microchip your pet here at the Sacramento SPCA and I know a lot of the agencies in the Sacramento region will do special low cost and free clinics,” said Foster. “We also recommend it to people that didn't have time to get a microchip or go get new tags, worst case scenario, your backup plan is taking a sharpie and writing your phone number on your dog's collar.”
Foster says there are also steps pet owners can take before the chaos to keep pets calm and feeling safe at home.
“Bringing them inside the house, finding a comfortable place for them to stay and then making that space as comfortable as possible. Making sure they have plenty of food and water, creating some ambient noise in the background to kind of drown out the outdoor sounds,” she said. “Playing some music, turning the TV on, all those things kind of distract that animal from thinking about what's going on outside while you also have them contained in a safe place in your house.”
Sacramento SPCA also suggests getting pets lots of exercise to tire them out before the fireworks begin.
More tips and information can be found on the Sacramento SPCA’s website.
Watch more from ABC10: Electra Fire | Why firefighters light fires to keep wildfires at bay | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/animal-shelters-after-4th-of-july/103-f23ce0f2-3e51-4cdd-bb54-658197fd4917 | 2022-07-06T23:47:08 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/animal-shelters-after-4th-of-july/103-f23ce0f2-3e51-4cdd-bb54-658197fd4917 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Independence Day celebrations across the Sacramento region resulted in an overwhelming amount of reports of firework-related injuries and illegal firework displays, drunk driving arrests, and high call volumes for emergency services.
A total of 44 people died in vehicle accidents statewide over the weekend, while California Highway Patrol made nearly 1,000 DUI arrests.
The Sacramento Fire Department says crews received 63 calls of reported fires; including 27 rubbish fires, 26 vegetation fires, and four structure fires.
"We believe 100% of them last night were created by illegal fireworks and/or legal fireworks used improperly," said Sacramento Fire spokesman Capt. Keith Wade. “The vast majority were due to illegal fireworks, but can't be proven in court of law a lot of the time without reliable witnesses and these fires will be labeled undetermined.”
The department also issued 35 citations for illegal firework usage totaling $35,000 in fines.
According to Wade, the department received at least over 400 complaints of illegal fireworks on July 4 and over 1,000 complaints in the week leading up to the holiday.
He also says they have no way of knowing the exact number of complaints of illegal fireworks they received after the phone line system shut down due to high call volumes.
Additionally, the Sacramento Fire Department faced understaffing this year leaving only four officials available to take illegal firework calls versus having six the year before, according to Wade.
Meanwhile, fire crews in Yuba City reported a total of 11 fires; including five vegetation fires, three dumpster fires, and three structure fires on July 4.
Roseville received over 100 calls due to several fires on Sunday and Monday.
One of the calls received was for a house fire confirmed to be started by improper disposal of fireworks, according to the Roseville Fire Department.
The Woodland Fire Department reported an 68% increase in average calls with a total of 169 calls about illegal fireworks. Officials gave out 16 citations, each with $1,000 fines attached.
In Citrus Heights, at least 500 online reports of illegal firework activity were received. Authorities seized over 200 pounds of illegal fireworks and made five DUI arrests, according to Citrus Heights Police.
Along with the many reports of firework activity, hospitals in the area took on a number of extra patients due to failed firework safety.
“After several years of reduced and canceled 4th of July celebrations due to the pandemic, our Emergency Departments were prepared to treat injuries as a result of personal fireworks and other holiday-weekend incidents,” said Kaiser Permanente. “In the greater Sacramento area, we treated about 10 injuries related to personal fireworks this holiday weekend, in addition to auto and alcohol-related cases.”
ABC10 reached out to several other medical centers seeking numbers of patients with firework-related injuries.
More information on firework safety is shared by Kaiser Permanente as well as the city of Sacramento in an effort to decrease these numbers following future Fourth of July celebrations.
Watch more from ABC10: Electra Fire | Why firefighters light fires to keep wildfires at bay | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/fourth-of-july-2022-follow-up/103-d741907b-6a7a-4bed-bcf5-d92a30b1a47a | 2022-07-06T23:47:14 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/fourth-of-july-2022-follow-up/103-d741907b-6a7a-4bed-bcf5-d92a30b1a47a |
STOCKTON, Calif. — A man is charged with murder after a fatal shooting last week in Stockton's Spanos Park West neighborhood, according to a Stockton Police Department Facebook post.
Investigators say Jing Zhi Chen, 59, shot and killed a 50-year-old man in the 5400-block of Cosumnes Drive around 10 a.m. Friday.
Officials tell ABC10 an argument led to the homicide, which occurred near a park just feet away from houses.
Chen was arrested Tuesday after a four-day search by Stockton Police officers and booked into San Joaquin County Jail on a murder charge.
Chen is expected to appear in San Joaquin County Superior Court Thursday afternoon, jail records show.
The identity of the 50-year-old man allegedly shot and killed by Chen has not been released.
STOCKTON CRIME IN CONTEXT
An increase in homicide cases in Stockton during the early months of 2022 came on the heels of a decline in 2021, where police reported fewer homicides ending the year with a total of 38 cases.
While that’s not the lowest number the department has dealt with in the past 12 years, it is below the annual average of 40 homicide cases per year since 1995.
In response to the rise in homicides, community groups held prayer vigils and outreach events meant to unite Stockton residents against violence.
Activists have called on the community to show up to such events and work with local organizations such as Advance Peace, Faith in the Valley, Lighthouse of the Valley and the Office of Violence Prevention to discourage crime and help impacted communities heal.
Click here for a map of crime statistics.
In an interview with ABC10 in March, Stockton City Manager Harry Black said the Stockton Police Department is trying to prevent more deaths by working more on intelligence gathering and cooperating with federal partners such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshall's Service.
The city is also working to improve its crime prevention, intervention and fighting strategy, Black said. Representatives with the city's Office of Violence Prevention are working to be more present in communities impacted by crime. The office's 'peacekeepers program' places mediators and mentors in high-crime areas.
Watch More Stockton news from ABC10: Police find two men shot after car crashes into Stockton apartment complex | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/man-arrested-spanos-park-west-homicide-shooting/103-11892da3-60b7-48fe-8885-3eb04960a006 | 2022-07-06T23:47:20 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/man-arrested-spanos-park-west-homicide-shooting/103-11892da3-60b7-48fe-8885-3eb04960a006 |
STOCKTON, Calif. — A bomb threat forced evacuations at San Joaquin Delta College Wednesday afternoon.
At around 3 p.m., San Joaquin Delta College police received reports from the Stockton Police Department that a bomb had been placed on the university's main campus in Stockton.
Since then, college officials provided an update saying they haven't found anything on the campus. Police are currently searching the area and evacuating those on campus as a safety precaution.
"If you are on, or in the vicinity, prepare immediately for possible evacuation," said the initial emergency alert from the university.
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
Watch more from ABC10: Man seen on camera switching gas pump nozzles in Roseville, California | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/san-joaquin-delta-college-bomb-threat/103-187f6f53-14f4-4199-998e-324a9767efdb | 2022-07-06T23:47:26 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/san-joaquin-delta-college-bomb-threat/103-187f6f53-14f4-4199-998e-324a9767efdb |
15-year-old girl from Arizona goes missing in California; search underway
A 15-year-old girl from Arizona who was visiting family in Nipomo, California, has been missing for nearly a week. Authorities are asking for the public's assistance to locate her.
Alilianna Trujillo was visiting relatives for the summer and was last seen leaving a family member's home in Nipomo around 1 a.m. on Friday, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office.
It is unclear what part of Arizona she is from.
She was last seen wearing a tie-dyed shirt and black leggings. Trujillo is described as a Hispanic teen who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 105 pounds and has red hair and brown eyes.
Detectives were asking residents in the Galaxy Mobile Home Park in Nipomo to check their surveillance or doorbell cameras for any suspicious person or vehicle who might have been in the area between midnight and 2 a.m. on Friday.
Authorities are asking anyone who has footage from that night to contact the Sheriff's Office Detective Division at 805-781-4500.
Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2022/07/06/arizona-teenager-goes-missing-after-visiting-family-california/7823686001/ | 2022-07-06T23:47:43 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2022/07/06/arizona-teenager-goes-missing-after-visiting-family-california/7823686001/ |
COVID-19 weekly update: Cases increase by 20,198 as 28% of weekly tests return positive
Arizona's COVID-19 cases increased last week as the percentage of positive tests remained high, according to the state's weekly update.
On Wednesday, health officials added 20,198 new COVID-19 cases and 57 new known deaths over the weeklong period ending July 2. That's the highest case report since Arizona switched to weekly updates at the start of March.
State health officials said this week’s new case report was higher because of older data being added from a new provider reporting electronically. The report of more than 20,000 new cases included about 3,500 older cases that were recently added, officials said. That would put this week’s report more in line with the past few weeks.
Case counts are still far below the winter, state data shows. Case numbers in recent months likely are not showing the full picture of infections as many more people have used at-home test kits and may not report positive results to county health departments.
Reported cases since the pandemic began are at more than 2.1 million. Known deaths in Arizona exceed 30,500.
Wednesday marked the 19th of the weekly updates to the state's data dashboard, instead of daily updates that Arizonans became accustomed to following for the latest data on infections, illnesses and deaths.
The previous week's update added 16,514 cases and 63 deaths, compared with 15,373 cases and 52 deaths, 16,334 cases and 28 deaths, 14,677 cases and 40 deaths, 13,042 cases and 33 deaths, 11,498 cases and 40 deaths, 7,204 cases and 29 deaths, 5,490 cases and 41 deaths, 3,911 cases and 238 deaths, 2,350 cases and 99 deaths, 2,377 cases and 29 deaths (low because of a processing error), 2,777 cases and 142 deaths, 6,840 cases and 413 deaths, 10,143 cases (high because of a reporting catch-up) and 385 deaths, 4,566 cases and 336 deaths, 5,153 cases and 457 deaths, 6,549 cases and 382 deaths and 9,647 cases and 449 deaths the 17 weeks prior.
This week's update shows the differences between data reported for the week of June 26-July 2 and June 19-25.
Health officials say weekly updates match how public health monitors trends and other disease reporting.
Case numbers generally were relatively lower in the past couple of months, and public health experts estimate cases of the highly contagious omicron variant peaked in Arizona around mid-January.
The state data dashboard no longer shows key hospitalization information since Gov. Doug Ducey ended the COVID-19 emergency declaration on March 30. State health officials said hospitals are no longer required to report some COVID-19 surveillance data to the state, meaning certain graphs showing weekly hospitalization levels for the disease and bed usage by COVID-19 patients are no longer updated.
At the time that data reporting stopped, hospitalizations for the disease had dropped steadily since late January.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still reports state hospitalization data for Arizona and showed a 19.8% decrease in the seven-day average of COVID-19 hospital admissions during June 27-July 3 compared with June 20-26. Hospital admissions last week were down 85.3% from the peak seven-day average in early January 2021.
The number of known deaths in the state was at 30,572 as of Wednesday, after passing 30,000 known deaths in the May 4 update, 29,000 deaths in the March 30 update, 28,000 deaths in the March 9 update, 27,000 deaths on Feb. 10 and 26,000 deaths on Jan. 28. The state surpassed 25,000 deaths on Jan. 13. Deaths are now reported with a four-week lag.
Arizona's overall pandemic death rate since early 2020 is the third-highest nationwide.
Frankie Muniz tests positive: Actor's family 'very sick' as he recovers from COVID-19
State data on breakthrough infections
The state in December began publicly disclosing data on breakthrough COVID-19 infections, and state officials say the data underscores the effectiveness of the vaccine — especially for people with booster doses.
Data from May show that 25.6% of cases, 24.9% of hospitalizations and 19.2% of COVID-19 deaths were among fully vaccinated people without a booster, with much of the rest among unvaccinated people. Fully vaccinated people with a booster made up 36.4% of reported cases, 31.5% of hospitalizations and 26% of deaths in May.
The COVID-19 virus' disproportionate impact on older adults, who are also more likely to have a booster dose, could help explain why a higher percentage of people who were fully vaccinated and boosted died of COVID-19 in April than those who were fully vaccinated and not boosted. The effectiveness of boosters also appears to wane after several months. But the precise explanation for those percentages of deaths is unclear.
Looking at the proportions of deaths by vaccination status does not tell the risk, though. State health officials recommend considering the rates of death among boosted individuals versus unvaccinated individuals, which show significantly lower death rates in vaccinated and boosted individuals compared with unvaccinated individuals.
Health officials emphasize the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 is to remain up to date with recommended vaccinations, including second booster doses for those 50 and older and people who are immunocompromised.
Unvaccinated people 12 and older in Arizona had a 1.8 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19, 8 times greater risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 and 21 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19 in May compared with fully vaccinated people with a booster, according to a state analysis.
Unvaccinated people had a 3.4 times greater risk of testing positive, 6.6 times greater risk of hospitalization and 15 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19 compared with individuals who were fully vaccinated without a booster.
As of June 1, there had been 1,948 breakthrough deaths in fully vaccinated individuals, according to state health officials’ preliminary data, which works out to a breakthrough death rate of 0.04% among fully vaccinated people.
Case rates and death reports
Contagious omicron subvariants are contributing to many of the cases in Arizona, according to results from sequencing labs.
Percent positivity, which refers to the percentage of COVID-19 diagnostic tests that are positive, varies somewhat based on how it's measured. It was high in the winter months, a sign of more community spread. Then it was much lower but has been climbing upward since April.
For most of December, Arizona's percent positivity for COVID-19 testing was at 11%-13%, before rising to 22% for the week of Dec. 26, 29% for the week of Jan. 2, 32% for the week of Jan. 9, 34% for the week of Jan. 16, 29% for the week of Jan. 23, 22% for the week of Jan. 30, 16% for the week of Feb. 6, 11% for the week of Feb. 13, 7% for the week of Feb. 20, 4% for the week of Feb. 27, 3% for the week of March 6, 3% for the week of March 13, 3% for the week of March 20, 3% for the week of March 27, 3% for the week of April 3, 4% for the week of April 10, 5% for the week of April 17, 6% for the week of April 24, 9% for the week of May 1, 11% for the week of May 8, 16% for the week of May 15, 18% for the week of May 22, 22% for the week of May 29, 22% for the week of June 5, 23% for the week of June 12, 27% for the week of June 19 and 28% for the week of June 26. The percentages are now for all diagnostic tests conducted, rather than for unique individuals tested, following a change to the state dashboard.
A positivity rate of 5% or less is considered a good benchmark that the disease's spread is under control.
The state's overall COVID-19 death and case rates since Jan. 21, 2020, still remain among the worst in the country.
The COVID-19 death rate in Arizona since the pandemic began is 419 deaths per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, according to the CDC, putting it third in the country in a state ranking that separates New York City from New York state. The U.S. average is 305 deaths per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, according to the CDC.
New York City has the highest death rate, at 485 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Mississippi at 420.
Arizona's first known death from the disease occurred in mid-March 2020.
Many of the reported deaths occurred days or weeks before because of reporting delays and death certificate matching.
A total of 2,145,765 COVID-19 cases were identified across the state through July 2.
Vaccination update
Arizonans ages 6 months and older are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, while the Moderna vaccine is approved for children ages 6 months to 5 years and people 18 and older. The CDC has recommended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on a more limited basis for people 18 and older. Many individuals are eligible for booster doses, too.
The state reported over 5.2 million people in Arizona — about 72.8% of the total state population — had received at least one vaccine dose through July 2, with nearly 4.5 million residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The state’s data dashboard now separates out doses administered to Arizona residents versus all doses administered in the state.
Arizona's rate of fully vaccinated people out of the total population was 62.4%, which was behind the national rate of 66.9%, according to the CDC as of June 29.
Out of people ages 5 and older, 66.3% of those in Arizona were fully vaccinated, compared with 71.2% at the national level, CDC data shows.
Health experts strongly recommend booster shots for those eligible, especially with the omicron variant spreading. About 47% of fully vaccinated Arizonans over the age of 18 had received a first booster shot as of June 29, below the national rate of 51.1% for that same age group.
What to know about latest numbers
Reported cases in Arizona: 2,145,765, as of July 2.
Cases by county: 1,355,204 in Maricopa; 272,138 in Pima; 139,128 in Pinal; 63,767 in Yuma; 60,284 in Mohave; 51,183 in Yavapai; 46,865 in Coconino; 40,629 in Navajo; 33,589 in Cochise; 27,698 in Apache; 18,052 in Gila; 17,178 in Santa Cruz; 12,334 in Graham; 5,430 in La Paz; and 2,286 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.
The rate of cases per 100,000 people since the pandemic began is highest in Apache County, followed by Navajo, Gila, Santa Cruz, Graham and Coconino counties, according to state data. The rate in Apache County is 38,572 cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, the U.S. average rate since the pandemic began is 26,404 cases per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, according to the CDC.
The Navajo Nation reported 57,319 cases and 1,811 confirmed deaths as of July 1. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Arizona Department of Corrections reported 15,150 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 2,467 in Tucson, 2,278 in Eyman, 2,238 in Yuma, 1,778 in Lewis and 1,402 in Phoenix; 56,810 inmates statewide have been tested. A total of 5,248 prison staff members have self-reported testing positive, the department said. Sixty-two incarcerated people in Arizona are confirmed to have died of COVID-19, with 15 additional deaths under investigation.
The race/ethnicity breakdown of cases since the start of the pandemic in 2020 is 40% white, 29% Hispanic or Latino, 5% American Indian, 4% Black and 2% Asian/Pacific Islander. Race/ethnicity of positive cases since the onset of the pandemic is unknown in 14% of cases and listed as other race in 6% of cases.
Of those who have tested positive in Arizona since the start of the pandemic, about 21% were younger than 20, 42% were 20-44, 13% were 45-54, 11% were 55-64 and 12% were age 65 or older.
Laboratories had completed 20,059,804 total diagnostic tests for COVID-19 as of July 2, 12.3% of which have come back positive. That number includes both PCR and antigen testing.
Percent positivity was at 28% for the week of June 26, the highest it's been since January. The state numbers leave out data from labs that do not report electronically.
The state Health Department includes probable cases as anyone with a positive antigen test, another type of test to determine infection. Antigen tests (not related to antibody tests) use a nasal swab or another fluid sample to test for current infection. Results are typically produced within 15 minutes.
A positive antigen test result is considered very accurate, but there's an increased chance of false-negative results, Mayo Clinic officials said. They say a doctor may recommend a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to confirm a negative antigen test result.
Arizona as of Tuesday had the 14th highest overall case rate in the country since Jan. 21, 2020. Ahead of Arizona in cases per 100,000 people since the pandemic began are Rhode Island, Alaska, North Dakota, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York City, Guam, Utah, Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Delaware, according to the CDC.
Arizona's infection rate is 29,202 cases per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. The national average is 26,404 cases per 100,000 people, although the rates in states hard hit early in the pandemic may be an undercount because of a lack of available testing in March and April 2020.
Reported deaths in Arizona: 30,572
Deaths by county: 17,526 in Maricopa; 3,895 in Pima; 1,679 in Pinal; 1,481 in Mohave; 1,234 in Yavapai; 1,187 in Yuma; 914 in Navajo; 616 in Apache; 578 in Cochise; 480 in Coconino; 386 in Gila; 232 in Santa Cruz; 180 in Graham; 145 in La Paz; and 39 in Greenlee.
People age 65 and older make up 21,708 of the 30,572 deaths, or 71%. About 16% of deaths were among people 55-64 years old, 8% were 45-54 and 5% were 20-44 years old.
While race/ethnicity was unknown for 4% of deaths, 56% of those who died were white, 26% were Hispanic or Latino, 7% were Native American, 3% were Black and 1% were Asian/Pacific Islander, the state data shows.
The global death toll as of Wednesday was 6,342,723. The U.S. had the highest death count of any country in the world, at 1,018,434, followed by Brazil at 672,429 and India at 525,270, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Arizona's 30,572 deaths represent about 3% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States.
Republic reporter Stephanie Innes contributed to this article.
Reach the reporter at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-4282. Follow her on Twitter @alisteinbach.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2022/07/06/arizona-weekly-covid-19-update-adds-20-198-cases-57-deaths/7821006001/ | 2022-07-06T23:47:43 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2022/07/06/arizona-weekly-covid-19-update-adds-20-198-cases-57-deaths/7821006001/ |
GOSHEN, Ohio — Goshen Township Administrator Steve Pegram declared a state of emergency Wednesday after a tornado touched down, damaging multiple buildings and knocking down trees, according to our news partners at WCPO.
A tornado was on the ground around 3 p.m., according to Doppler radar. Two people were injured as a result of the storm, though Pegram said there are no serious injuries.
Goshen, in Clermont County, is about 17 miles south of Lebanon.
WCPO reported significant storm damage could be seen near the intersection of OH-28 and Dick Flynn Road. Pegram said there has been extensive damage to the fire and police departments. Video and photos from the scene show the fire station is partially collapsed.
Other buildings in the area, including one that houses an Allstate Insurance branch, had their roofs torn off. A building that houses Bick’s Driving School was also destroyed.
The tornado came while a line of strong storms was moving through the Tri-State, producing winds of more than 70 miles per hour and knocking out power to more than 100,000 homes in the region.
A Tornado Warning was in effect for the area and the surrounding counties of Clermont and Brown at the time.
An official survey by the NWS will determine the size and scope of the tornado once the storms have passed. No major injuries have been reported.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/tornado-touches-down-in-goshen-ohio-state-of-emergency-declared/PRDK7NS2IJFBTPI5MWLTOFIPBQ/ | 2022-07-06T23:50:57 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/tornado-touches-down-in-goshen-ohio-state-of-emergency-declared/PRDK7NS2IJFBTPI5MWLTOFIPBQ/ |
ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta is working to bring relief to renters facing a growing crisis. A housing crunch, plus the rising cost of rent, have left many tenants in a bind.
District 5 City Councilwoman Liliana Bakhtiari said because the state of Georgia tends to side with landlord protections, local governments have to get creative in expanding renters' rights and resources.
"We cannot do rent control," Bakhtiari said. "We can't do caps on how much rent can grow in a year. We can't stop LLC's or hedge funds or outside investors from buying up houses by the block in Atlanta. So we have to get very creative with how we fight back against an unregulated and unchecked market."
This week, Atlanta City Council passed two resolutions. The first establishes "Access to Counsel" and sets aside $500,000 to offer free legal counsel to fight evictions, working with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
"It will enable people in our hardest-hit communities facing evictions to have free access to a lawyer and the system to fight the eviction process," Bakhtiari said. "We had over 16,000 evictions filed during the pandemic, and we’ve currently got an 11,000 case backlog, so there’s a huge demand for a service like this.”
The second resolution urges the Fulton County District Attorney's Office to crack down on negligent landlords. It calls for more investigations into violations of the city's housing code and demands more accountability on safety standards.
"We have property owners refusing to take care of their properties, and it’s creating a hazard for the neighborhood because of infestations or because of dead trees in the backyard falling on other people’s properties," Bakhtiari said. "There's a balance. You don’t want to penalize people that are trying to get back on their feet, but we do want to penalize the people holding onto the properties, sitting on them, mismanaging them, not being responsible and feeding into more crime and health hazards.”
11Alive reached out to the Fulton DA's Office for comment on the resolution but did not hear back.
Another option for rental help is through the Salvation Army and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Both have already spent millions in federal funds and donations to help thousands of families with rental and utility assistance. These organizations and their affiliates also have millions more in funding for those who are eligible for the money.
"We are seeing a pretty hefty increase in the requests for rental assistance,” Sgt. Janeane Schmidt said, social services director with the Salvation Army of Greater Atlanta. “The housing demand is so high right now that it’s easier to move some of these people out and then increase the rental rate to bring other people in.”
Schmidt said COVID remains a factor, especially with recent surges forcing many people out of job stability. She said her organization has recently put more effort into streamlining the application process and making it easier for people to apply on the go.
Schmidt said the urgent need of rental assistance comes at a critical time. Atlanta lost nearly 10,000 affordable rental units from 2014-2019, per the Atlanta Regional Commission, just before the pandemic hit. She said it's likely the pandemic exacerbated the rental crisis, and many more people could face homelessness if they can't receive desperately needed resources.
"They may have to live in a shelter environment," Schmidt said. "They may end up living on the street. All of those things, when you become homeless, you’re more likely to be a victim of crime and have less access to health services. All the negative things that can happen to you escalate once you become homeless.”
For more on rental assistance, click here. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/city-works-to-bring-relief-to-atlanta-renters/85-904af7ea-1035-4705-8a25-6a7b249a67d7 | 2022-07-06T23:56:42 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/city-works-to-bring-relief-to-atlanta-renters/85-904af7ea-1035-4705-8a25-6a7b249a67d7 |
CONYERS, Ga. — Conyers Police is asking the public to avoid the area of Centennial Olympic Parkway near Steeple Chase Wednesday evening.
Authorities said they are conducting an active death investigation but have not provided specific details yet.
11Alive has a crew on the way to the scene and is working to find out more about what's happening.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
Also download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/conyers-police-activity-centennial-olympic-parkway/85-7454d044-31df-4db5-9800-15faab237a70 | 2022-07-06T23:56:49 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/conyers-police-activity-centennial-olympic-parkway/85-7454d044-31df-4db5-9800-15faab237a70 |
ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released surveillance video following an early morning explosion that destroyed the Georgia Guidestones in Elbert County.
The GBI said the videos show the explosion and a car leaving the scene shortly after the explosion happened.
Authorities previously told 11Alive "unknown individuals" detonated an explosive device around 4 a.m. on Wednesday. The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office responded to discover the explosion destroyed a large portion of the structure, they said.
Fortunately, the GBI said no one was hurt.
According to multiple people nearby, the explosion was heard in the area and even shook their homes. Some shared images showing debris near the stones. 11Alive's Dawn White reported from the scene in Elbert County in the evening that crews had gone in to level the remaining standing parts of the Guidestones. The GBI said the structure, located in northeast Georgia, near the South Carolina state line, has been completely demolished for safety reasons.
This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 283-2421 or the GBI Athens Office at (706) 552-2309.
The GBI said anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Watch the video below: | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/video-explosion-georgia-guidestones-gbi-investigation/85-5af424a7-262f-4162-ac78-fc45187296fb | 2022-07-06T23:56:55 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/video-explosion-georgia-guidestones-gbi-investigation/85-5af424a7-262f-4162-ac78-fc45187296fb |
An 81-year-old inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary died Tuesday. The cause of death is unknown.
Charles Kays was serving a sentence of 16 years and eight months to 20 years that began in June 2011.
Kays was charged with first-degree sexual assault on a child and two counts of third-degree sexual assault on a child in Douglas County.
As is the case whenever an inmate dies, a grand jury will conduct an investigation.
Photos: Nebraska's new Reception and Treatment Center
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd talks about a new dining area at Reception and Treatment Center on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The new Reception and Treatment Center includes 32 behavioral and mental health beds.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd talks about new maximum-security prison beds during a tour of the facility Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A body scanner is seen at the public entrance of the Reception and Treatment Center on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd leads a tour of the new prison on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Part of a prison expansion project that includes 384 new prison beds is seen in this photo taken at the Reception and Treatment Center on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Part of Reception and Treatment Center's expansion project includes 384 new beds seen on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A mental health wing at the Reception and Treatment Center seen on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
The new Reception and Treatment Center includes a "blind feed" food line.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A prison courtyard at Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A dining area at the Reception and Treatment Center seen on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The public entrance to the Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A program room is part of a 384-bed expansion project at the Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Construction is ongoing at the Reception and Treatment Center in southwest Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The new Reception and Treatment Center includes 384 new prison beds.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A mental health wing at Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A mental health wing at Reception and Treatment Center is seen under construction on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The Reception and Treatment Center has a mental health wing.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The new kitchen is seen at the Reception and Treatment Center on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd talks about the center's new mental health wing.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Part of a prison expansion project includes 384 new beds.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd talks about a new mental health wing at the center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd leads a tour of Nebraska's new prison.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Part of a prison expansion project that includes 384 new prison beds is seen in this photo taken at Reception and Treatment Center on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Part of a prison expansion project includes 384 new prison beds at the Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The new structure includes an intake center where nearly every man admitted into the state's prison system will be processed before assigned to a long-term location.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A hospice bed at Reception and Treatment Center is seen on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
An on-site dental office is part of the new Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A skilled nursing bed at Reception and Treatment Center is seen on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN. Journal Star
A skilled nursing bed at Reception and Treatment Center is seen on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Reception and Treatment Center warden Taggart Boyd talks about a new mental health wing at Reception and Treatment Center on Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
An X-ray machine at the new Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
An admission cell at the Reception and Treatment Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/inmate-dies-at-nebraska-state-penitentiary/article_3775ea0e-e3c6-501d-aeb4-1542d28f61f1.html | 2022-07-06T23:57:43 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/inmate-dies-at-nebraska-state-penitentiary/article_3775ea0e-e3c6-501d-aeb4-1542d28f61f1.html |
DALLAS — Here's a terrific update on two brothers WFAA featured in a Wednesday's Child segment three years ago!
It was not easy to get these children adopted together, but their caseworker made it happen.
WFAA met Ethan and Evan in 2019 at Dino Rock Indoor Rock Climbing in Arlington. At the time, 12-year-old Ethan talked about how much the brothers wanted to be adopted together.
"I just wanna [sic] be adopted, because I want to live a happy rest of my life," he said during the April 2019 interview.
Evan, who was 10 years old at the time, told WFAA that he had a special message for the family who adopted them.
"Thank you for adopting us, and I love you."
Fast forward more than three years later and WFAA is thrilled to announce Ethan and Evan were adopted two years ago this month!
When asked if he was happy, Evan answered, "yes." And while pointing to his mother and father, he said he was happy because, “I have these two.” His mother was visibly touched and told him how much they love him.
Julia and Robert Perez adopted Evan and Ethan after seeing WFAA's Wednesday's Child report.
"Because of that video, it allowed us to see how they would be a fun fit with the boys that we had in our family," Julia Perez said.
The Perez family have adopted eight children, including Ethan and Evan. They showed WFAA a picture of Ethan and Evan from their 'Adoption Day' on July 31, 2020.
Evan is now 13. His older brother Ethan is 15. Ethan couldn't join WFAA for an interview because he's on a mission trip to Honduras.
"We're proud about his maturity to be able to get to a place to go and do something like this,” Julia said. “ It's a goal that he had, and he reached that goal."
Ethan and Evan were adopted together in a system where siblings are often separated.
"They’re good kids with soft hearts who struggled. It just means a lot to see them grow and having a home that they know they're never going to have to leave,” said their father in an emotional moment.
The boys continue to be active. In fact, with all of their siblings, Ethan and Evan now have plenty of people to play a game of basketball.
Evan is even the poster child for an organization that raises international awareness of fostering and adoption. The organization is called StandSunday.org.
"Without the Lord, we wouldn't be here," said their father.
No more moving from foster home to foster home. No more having to switch schools constantly. Ethan and Evan are in their forever home where they have direction, discipline and most importantly -- love.
If you would like to read more Wednesday's Child stories and would like to adopt a child visit wfaa.com/wednesdayschild. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/brothers-ethan-and-evan-adopted-together-parents-thank-wednesdays-child/287-5f029861-ecff-43a6-8d06-105b47dd2276 | 2022-07-06T23:57:47 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/brothers-ethan-and-evan-adopted-together-parents-thank-wednesdays-child/287-5f029861-ecff-43a6-8d06-105b47dd2276 |
A 20-year-old Lincoln man shot in the head in a drug deal in the parking lot of Edgewood Cinema nearly a year ago has been sentenced to federal prison time on drug and gun charges.
U.S. District Judge John Gerrard gave Jayden Prentice six years of incarceration, plus three years of supervised release, on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine and psilocyn and possession of firearms in furtherance of the drug crime.
He also forfeited $3,929 in cash found the day he was shot.
Prentice pleaded guilty in March.
Federal prosecutors say Aug. 2, 2021, Lincoln police were called to the parking lot near 56th Street and Nebraska 2 about a shooting and arrived to find Prentice shot, in the passenger seat of Christopher Duncan's Mercedes, Duncan on the ground nearby with multiple gunshot wounds and Riley Mills standing nearby.
A Mini Draco, described as an AK-47-style firearm, was on the ground near the car, a 9 mm handgun near Prentice's feet and $3,929 cash spilling out of the back seat and in Duncan's and Prentice's pockets.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Molsen said police also found a half-pound of marijuana at Prentice's feet, as well as 23 grams of cocaine, 3 grams of psilocyn and more marijuana in the car.
He said Prentice went there to sell a half-pound of marijuana. Then came the gunfire. A bullet tore through Prentice's cheek and neck before lodging near his spinal cord, ear canal and throat, requiring extensive surgeries and ongoing therapy.
Duncan's leg had to be amputated as a result of the shooting.
Mills wasn't injured.
Two weeks later, Buongkhoy Wal, then 17, was charged in state court with first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony for his alleged role in the shooting.
He is seeking to have his case transferred to juvenile court.
In court records, police allege Wal arrived in a Kia, fired at the three, all then-teenagers, striking Prentice, but said investigators believe there were additional passengers in the Kia, which was found days later with two bullet holes on the passenger side.
Accessory charges against the alleged driver later were dismissed.
Duncan, who was indicted, is awaiting trial. Last week, Mills was sentenced to eight years and eight months, plus three years of supervised release.
I-80 bust turned up $100K, led to 1,830 pounds of drugs, sheriff’s captain says
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says it found $103,194 in suspected drug money and arrested a 25-year-old North Carolina man in a traffic stop on Interstate 80 west of Lincoln shortly before 10 a.m. Friday.
Capt. Ben Houchin said Brandon Montoya, of Charlotte, was stopped in a westbound Toyota Tundra for following too closely and driving on the shoulder. During the stop, Houchin said, the deputy developed suspicions Montoya was involved in illegal activity. A search turned up the money, which was sealed and in a suitcase, and a ledger.
Houchin said deputies reached out to law enforcement in Charlotte, where Montoya lives and rents a storage unit, believing that there was a strong possibility they would find a large amount of narcotics there.
He said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department took the information, got search warrants and found 1,290 pounds of marijuana and THC edibles in Montoya's storage unit and at his home, tens of thousands of empty and loaded bottles of THC oil, marijuana cigar tubes and THC vape cartridges, 10 pounds of THC wax, 40 pounds of marijuana, packing materials, a 9mm Glock handgun and $90,000 in cash.
Houchin said the drugs added up to 1,831 pounds.
Pair accused of hauling 645 pounds of pot on I-80 through Lincoln area
Two men remained at the Lancaster County jail Thursday, a day after prosecutors charged them in connection with 645 pounds of marijuana found in their rental truck.
Brandon Arrington, 30, of McDonough, Georgia, and Edward Babb of Houston both are facing four felonies: two counts of possession with intent to deliver and two counts of no drug tax stamp.
In an affidavit for their arrests, a Lancaster County Sheriff's deputy said he stopped a GMC Penske rental truck with Virginia plates Tuesday after seeing its passenger side tires cross onto the shoulder of Interstate 80 near the Lincoln Airport exit.
During the traffic stop, the deputy became suspicious the men were involved in criminal activity.
They both denied a request to search the truck, but the deputy deployed his police dog around it after seeing what he believed to be marijuana residue on the floorboard.
The search turned up 645 pounds of marijuana and 4.74 pounds of THC vapor pens in the truck's cargo area inside cardboard boxes wrapped in plastic wrap, according to court records.
On Wednesday, at their first court appearances on the charges, Lancaster County Judge Matt Acton set their bonds at $250,000.
515 pounds of marijuana
$1 million in vacuum-sealed bags
$500K of meth
300 pounds of marijuana
55 pounds of cocaine
$235K in cake mix cans
250 pounds of marijuana in fake compartment
218 pounds of marijuana
214 pounds of marijuana
145 pounds of marijuana
116 pounds of marijuana
110 pounds of marijuana, shatter
Lancaster County deputies find 109 lbs of pot in I-80 traffic stop
A California woman was arrested Friday morning after Lancaster County sheriff's deputies found more 100 pounds of marijuana in her vehicle during a traffic stop.
At about 9:30 a.m., Pakou J. Yang, 37, of Oroville, was pulled over on Interstate 80 about three miles east of the Pleasant Dale interchange for following another vehicle too closely.
During the stop, a deputy determined the 2018 Nissan that Yang was driving was a one-way rental, which the deputy described in court records as a common sign of drug trafficking. She also became "extremely nervous" while being questioned by the deputy.
Deputies searched the vehicle after a drug-sniffing dog indicated the presence of drugs. They found 109.5 pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana in the trunk, according to court records.
Yang was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and no drug tax stamp. She remained in jail Friday on $50,000 bail.
Lincoln drug bust nets an estimated $125K in pills, pot, LSD and mushrooms
Investigators with the Lincoln/Lancaster Narcotics Task Force carried a search warrant into a home on the 2800 block of North Third Street on Friday, and they carried out a lot more.
They found more than 4 pounds of marijuana, nearly 3 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 3,604 oxycodone pills, 1,281 Alprazolam pills, 855 hits of LSD, 209 THC syringes, nearly $2,300 in cash and four firearms.
The drugs had an estimated street value of about $125,000, Lincoln Police Officer Erin Spilker said Tuesday.
The seizure started just before 9 a.m., when investigators visited the home on a tip that someone was selling drugs out of it, she said.
They contacted three men: 22-year-old Gustav Rockey, his roommate and a 20-year-old visitor.
The visitor had an outstanding warrant — and THC wax in his wallet — and was arrested. Rockey and his roommate each turned over a glass pipe and bags of marijuana and were allowed to leave.
Investigators then applied for the search warrant and found the drugs, guns and cash in the home.
They found Rockey three days later near First Street and Cornhusker Highway and arrested him on three counts of suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, possession of money while violating a drug law and possession of a firearm with a drug law violation.
They’re still searching for others who live in the house, Spilker said.
$118,000 in suspected drug money
100 pounds of marijuana
100 pounds of marijuana
Father and son arrested in cocaine bust, Lincoln police say
A father and son were arrested Thursday by the Lancaster County Narcotics Unit after investigators found 6.8 pounds of cocaine, a pound of marijuana and almost $4,000 in cash at an apartment complex near Capitol Beach.
Police arrested Russell Rucks Sr., 50, and Russell Rucks Jr., 28, on suspicion of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and money during a drug violation.
Officer Erin Spilker said the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at the apartment where both live at 500 Surfside Drive as part of an ongoing drug investigation.
Investigators had been looking for the elder Rucks and ended up arresting both men prior to the warrant being served. Spilker said Rucks Sr. had 8.9 grams of cocaine and over $1,600 cash in his pocket.
She said the search at the apartment turned up drugs throughout the apartment they shared.
Steven A. Alexander was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of first-degree assault, manslaughter and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in connection with the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old Austin Gress on Friday.
The 21-year-old initially told police he was confident everyone at the rural Fillmore County party was of legal age to drink. But investigators later found at least 50 attendees were under 21, according to court filings.
19-year-old Alexandor Eskra was driving a Subaru east in the inside lane of O Street near 37th Street around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when a westbound Ford Focus crossed the raised median and collided with Eskra's vehicle, according to police.
Christopher Gardner had been traveling north on 27th Street near Arbor Road around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when he ran the stop sign at the T-intersection and entered the bean field, Sheriff Terry Wagner said.
The woman had been driving near 12th and A streets around 3:30 p.m. Sunday when she noticed a white sedan following her, the police said. An occupant of the sedan fired a gun at the woman's car, leaving six bullet holes.
The investigation into the 20-year-old man started in May, when he began sending emails to district employees mentioning a specific administrator, according to police.
Fire investigators determined the fire started in a garbage can and crept up the side of the house, entering the attic and causing damage to the siding of a neighboring residence, according to a city housing complaint.
No one was injured in the incident, which occurred around 5 p.m. Thursday near 190th Street along Bennet Road, spilling coal along the rail line and closing access to adjacent roads for several hours. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-shot-in-edgewood-lot-gets-federal-prison-time-on-drug-and-gun-charges/article_e36cd928-ea7d-5ef9-b4e7-fdaa8cabce93.html | 2022-07-06T23:57:49 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-shot-in-edgewood-lot-gets-federal-prison-time-on-drug-and-gun-charges/article_e36cd928-ea7d-5ef9-b4e7-fdaa8cabce93.html |
On Tuesday, local nonprofit leaders filled the yellow vinyl seats at a Casper City Council meeting.
During the public comment period, several residents took the mic and spoke passionately about the Natrona County Library and its myriad free services.
Both groups came with a mission — to convince the city to continue its community grant program, funded by 1-cent tax revenue.
“Hopefully our city council will recognize the value we provide,” said Kilty Brown, executive director of Central Wyoming Hospice. “Many of these organizations are providing critical infrastructure, we’re filling those gaps. But we look at it as a partnership with the city.”
The city council heard a proposal last week that would forgo grant applications for the $3 million slice of 1-cent money it’s planning to set aside for community funding.
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Instead, the city proposed splitting that money among a small group of local nonprofits and city-supported services. The proposal would dedicate $1.3 million for pool admission subsidies, $900,000 for operations at the Life Steps Campus, $400,000 for improvements to the Nicolaysen Art Museum and $122,000 to help fund the College National Finals Rodeo.
City Manager Carter Napier said Wednesday that the city decided on those proposed payments because those organizations provide services the city would be unable to take over if they weren’t funded. There is always far more need than there is money, Napier said, and the city determined that the grant application process wasn’t making 1-cent dollars stretch “as far as they need to.”
Nonprofit leaders, however, said replicating their services would be a difficult, and expensive, task.
David Hulshizer, director of the Casper Youth Crisis Center, said the center works with the Casper Police Department to take in children “multiple times a week.” They serve the most people of any youth crisis center in the state, Hulshizer said, and two-thirds of their kids come from Casper. The city would need to hire — and pay — employees to take over the work of his roughly 30 staff members.
Napier also said the city anticipates having less 1-cent money left over from the last cycle than usual, and has found more infrastructure needs thanks to recent studies of city buildings and streets. One-cent revenue is one of the “only remaining sources” of capital funding — basically, building expenses and big purchases — available to the city, the manager said.
But the proposal could mean that other organizations that fill in gaps in the city’s services — including the library, food banks, county health department, Central Wyoming Hospice, Youth Crisis Center, Mercer Family Resource Center, Self Help Center and others — are at risk of losing vital pieces of their annual budgets.
***
Leaders of those organizations said they heard about the proposed change from social media or from a story on Oil City News — not from the city itself. The lack of communication from the city left some nonprofit representatives frustrated.
“I don’t have any ill will towards any of the nonprofits, I think they all provide a really, really good service,” Napier said. “But in the same token, I’m not going to load the council up with a bunch of haters because I’m going to call them up and say, 'Hey, you’re not being funded, you should come to council and make your position known.'”
The library sent out an email Tuesday morning, rallying supporters to speak at the council meeting or contact their council members. Four people spoke to the council Tuesday, and council members said they’d received “hundreds” of emails on the subject.
No decisions have been made yet, and the council plans on revisiting the community assistance funding proposal next week at a Tuesday work session.
After that, it’ll have to be approved and adopted before the fall election that will decide whether the 1-cent tax will continue in Natrona County for the next four years.
***
Nonprofit leaders who have relied on grant funding from the city for decades say that losing that money would likely mean losing staff and some of the services they provide.
That would be especially concerning now, as many nonprofits say they’re seeing more need than ever. The pandemic and the inflation that has followed means people are struggling to pay bills and reporting depression and anxiety at higher rates as well, they said.
Lindsey Tempest, executive director of Interfaith of Natrona County, said her organization receives about 25% of its annual funding from the city’s 1-cent allocation. Without that, she said she would have to consider letting one of her three staff members go, and sacrifice the services — such as rent and utility assistance and helping people obtain identifying documents needed for jobs and housing — they provide along with them.
If the county library didn’t receive any 1-cent funding from the city, executive director Lisa Scroggins said, they wouldn’t be able to buy more books, movies and audiobooks for circulation. Most of their operations, she said, are funded by the county, but she was also planning to apply for more city funding to cover additional security at the facility.
The city’s grants can also help pay for things like building repairs and big purchases that aren’t covered by other grantors who want their money used only for operations.
At the Central Wyoming Hospice Center, Brown said they recently used more than $150,000 in grant money from Casper to install a chiller to keep hospice patients cool and comfortable in their last days. That wouldn’t have been covered by their other funding, Brown said.
Likewise, 1-cent money helped The Science Zone move out of its old basement space and into a newly purchased downtown building, executive director Steven Schnell said. But there is still more to be done — this upcoming cycle, Schnell said, they planned to apply for another grant to cover HVAC installations and other infrastructure needs.
“Not every city has these things,” Schnell said. “We are really lucky to have a city that has supported these types of endeavors in the past and hopefully will continue to. It helps people want to live here, raise their kids here, and recruit businesses to our region.”
***
Casper’s nonprofits form a highly interconnected network, Tempest and others said, that’s careful not to duplicate any services. In other words, one organization cutting back on its services means there aren’t many good options to fill that gap.
And they’re not confident the city has the capacity or ability to step in.
“It is a tradeoff, if you want limited government we have to support the nonprofit community,” Brown said after Tuesday’s meeting.
“We can ... do the job for a lot cheaper than the government,” said Executive Director Jen Dyer of the Self Help Center.
One dollar spent on prevention for things like substance abuse, suicide and domestic violence can save as much as $10 on treatment and incarceration down the road, said Mercer Family Resource Center Executive Director Cori Cosner-Burton.
Nonprofits, or “community assistance,” ranked low among priorities identified in a 750-person survey that the city uses to help guide 1-cent revenue spending. But Scroggins and others said that community members answering the survey may not have known what “community assistance” meant.
“It felt like the library was not represented accurately,” Scroggins said. “The only mention was providing books to the poor. I don’t think it was malicious, just misinformed.”
Other nonprofit leaders also said people in the community may not recognize how much the organizations do if they’ve never needed their services.
“We all drive the streets every day, so we feel the potholes,” Anna Wilcox, director of learning and development at the Wyoming Nonprofit Network, said at Tuesday’s meeting. “People aren’t seeing the need for these services because they’re currently being provided.”
Of course, the issue of grant applications only matters if the 1-cent tax is approved this fall. City officials and community leaders alike agree that if it fails, and the city loses the estimated $64 million it expects in revenue from the tax, many more basic services will be in jeopardy. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/casper-nonprofits-speak-out-against-proposal-to-remove-1-cent-city-grant-funding/article_011bf96c-fd7d-11ec-97ae-d79e8e5003ff.html | 2022-07-07T00:03:13 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/casper-nonprofits-speak-out-against-proposal-to-remove-1-cent-city-grant-funding/article_011bf96c-fd7d-11ec-97ae-d79e8e5003ff.html |
A wildfire that prompted evacuations in a rural area east of Casper burned 39 acres on Tuesday night, a Natrona County fire official said Wednesday.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but it is not considered suspicious, said county Fire Marshall Matt Gacke. No structures were harmed.
The fire ignited sometime after 8 p.m. Tuesday. The grass fire threatened multiple structures in the area of Geary Dome and Cole Creek roads, resulting in the evacuations.
As of about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, crews had contained the blaze, Natrona County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kiera Grogan said.
The fire prompted road closures in the area, but they were lifted by about 10:15 p.m. Fire crews remained in the area on Tuesday night in case of flare ups.
Before the closures were lifted, dozens of residents lined up on the side of the road waiting to be let back in. One of those homes is the “Little R&R,” a house farm that was boarding roughly 20 horses when the owners got the call to evacuate around 8:15 p.m.
“We're trying to figure out what to do with all of them and contacting their owners,” said Kimberly Zeitner, the farm's assistant manager.
Hat Six Travel Center, which is just south of the area of the fire, offered its services to evacuated residents, the sheriff's office said.
Rocky Mountain Power, meanwhile, reported outages in the area.
The fire drew a strong response, with all departments within the county participating. Authorities advised the public, meanwhile, to stay away.
Grass fires have burned the Geary Dome/Cole Creek area in the past. In 2015, a fast-moving blaze destroyed 14 homes and burned 15 square miles. About 1,300 people were temporarily displaced.
Here's a look back at the 2015 Cole Creek fire:
1 of 23
Cole Creek Fire Anniversary
Heavy smoke from the Cole Creek Fire rises along Metro Road on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015 near Evansville. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Heavy smoke from the Cole Creek Fire, burning just across the North Platte River, consumes Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Cars line the intersection of Cole Creek Road and the Old Glenrock Highway after evacuations began along Cole Creek on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Cars and emergency vehicles crowd the intersection of Cole Creek Road and the Old Glenrock Highway after evacuations began along Cole Creek on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
An air tanker attacks the Cole Creek Fire on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 east of Evansville. The fire damaged or destroyed at least 10 homes on Sunday, with additional structures lost Monday. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 acres had burned as of Monday afternoon. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Mary Ann Chavez helps her father Robert Gilmore to the steps of what was their family's home along East Lake Drive on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. Residents were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday afternoon more than two days after being told to evacuate due to the Cole Creek Fire. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
A helicopter flies over devastation from the Cole Creek Fire on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. 12 homes were lost in the blaze. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Lt. Stew Anderson looks out across a neighborhood swept by the fire on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. Residents were allowed to return to their homes at about 4:30 p.m. after being evacuated Sunday. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
A bucket truck destroyed by the Cole Creek Fire catches the first rays of sunlight the morning after evacuees were allowed back to their homes on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, along East Lake Drive in Evansville. The fire burned more than 10,000 acres of prairie and destroyed 12 homes. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
The torched body of a car is all that remains in front of a home along East Lake Drive on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Evansville. The Clear Creek Fire swept across 10,000 acres, destroying 12 homes and displacing 1,342 people for more than two days. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
The remains of a home wait to be cleaned up on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Evansville. The Cole Creek Fire destroyed 12 homes in the area of Cole Creek Road. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Daniel Clark gets a hug from longtime family friend Sharon Deist near what remains of his home on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Evansville. Clark's home of 26 years was one of 12 destroyed by the Cole Creek Fire, which swept across more than 10,000 acres before residents were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday afternoon. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Firefighters work to put out hot spots on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, along East Lake Drive in Evansville. Some 150 firefighters battled the Cole Creek Fire on Tuesday when residents were allowed to return to their homes. Fire crews monitored several hot spots throughout the area Wednesday. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Deb Knox looks out at her backyard on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. Knox and her husband Robert's home along East Lake Drive was spared by the fire while neighbors as near as across the street lost everything. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Greg Balser surveys the loss on his property on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, following the Cole Creek Fire in Evansville. 12 homes were destroyed in the blaze, which swept across 10,000 acres and temporarily displaced more than 1,300 people. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Shane Phelps walks through the remains of Curtis and Patty Fortin's home while helping the family clean up on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Evansville. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Darby Fortin takes a break while helping her family clean up the remains of their home on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, along East Lake Drive in Evansville. 11 other families lost their homes in the Cole Creek Fire, which displaced more than 1,300 residents and burned over 10,000 acres. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
"I found two little diamonds. Put them somewhere safe, and we'll have them put in your wedding ring," Steven Merring said to his fiancee Darby Fortin while cleaning up the remains of the family's home on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Evansville. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Duane Hoots, in white, helps clean up the remains of a home along East Lake Drive on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Evansville. 12 homes were destroyed in the Cole Creek Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres northeast of Casper. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Food and drinks for volunteers sit on the trunk of Patty Fortin's new car on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, at her home in Evansville. Residents were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday afternoon, and many volunteers began helping with the clean-up effort Wednesday morning. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
On Oct. 10, 2015, a fire started at the City of Casper Landfill. The following day high winds pushed it onto the dry grasslands and eventually over 10,000 acres, destroying 14 homes and killing many pets and livestock animals along the way. Residents of the area are still trying to rebuild one year later.
1 of 23
Cole Creek Fire Anniversary
Heavy smoke from the Cole Creek Fire rises along Metro Road on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015 near Evansville. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Grass burns along the southern flank of the Cole Creek Fire on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015 east of Evansville. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Heavy smoke from the Cole Creek Fire, burning just across the North Platte River, consumes Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Cars line the intersection of Cole Creek Road and the Old Glenrock Highway after evacuations began along Cole Creek on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Grass burns along the southern flank of the Cole Creek Fire on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015 east of Evansville. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Cars and emergency vehicles crowd the intersection of Cole Creek Road and the Old Glenrock Highway after evacuations began along Cole Creek on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire - Monday
An air tanker attacks the Cole Creek Fire on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 east of Evansville. The fire damaged or destroyed at least 10 homes on Sunday, with additional structures lost Monday. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 acres had burned as of Monday afternoon. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Heavy smoke from the Cole Creek Fire rises along Metro Road on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2015 near Evansville. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Alan Rogers
Cole Creek Fire
Mary Ann Chavez helps her father Robert Gilmore to the steps of what was their family's home along East Lake Drive on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. Residents were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday afternoon more than two days after being told to evacuate due to the Cole Creek Fire. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
A helicopter flies over devastation from the Cole Creek Fire on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. 12 homes were lost in the blaze. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
Lt. Stew Anderson looks out across a neighborhood swept by the fire on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. Residents were allowed to return to their homes at about 4:30 p.m. after being evacuated Sunday. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
A bucket truck destroyed by the Cole Creek Fire catches the first rays of sunlight the morning after evacuees were allowed back to their homes on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, along East Lake Drive in Evansville. The fire burned more than 10,000 acres of prairie and destroyed 12 homes. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
The torched body of a car is all that remains in front of a home along East Lake Drive on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Evansville. The Clear Creek Fire swept across 10,000 acres, destroying 12 homes and displacing 1,342 people for more than two days. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
The remains of a home wait to be cleaned up on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Evansville. The Cole Creek Fire destroyed 12 homes in the area of Cole Creek Road. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
Daniel Clark gets a hug from longtime family friend Sharon Deist near what remains of his home on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Evansville. Clark's home of 26 years was one of 12 destroyed by the Cole Creek Fire, which swept across more than 10,000 acres before residents were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday afternoon. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
Firefighters work to put out hot spots on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, along East Lake Drive in Evansville. Some 150 firefighters battled the Cole Creek Fire on Tuesday when residents were allowed to return to their homes. Fire crews monitored several hot spots throughout the area Wednesday. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
Deb Knox looks out at her backyard on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Evansville. Knox and her husband Robert's home along East Lake Drive was spared by the fire while neighbors as near as across the street lost everything. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
Greg Balser surveys the loss on his property on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, following the Cole Creek Fire in Evansville. 12 homes were destroyed in the blaze, which swept across 10,000 acres and temporarily displaced more than 1,300 people. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire Anniversary
Shane Phelps walks through the remains of Curtis and Patty Fortin's home while helping the family clean up on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Evansville. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire Anniversary
Darby Fortin takes a break while helping her family clean up the remains of their home on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, along East Lake Drive in Evansville. 11 other families lost their homes in the Cole Creek Fire, which displaced more than 1,300 residents and burned over 10,000 acres. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire Anniversary
"I found two little diamonds. Put them somewhere safe, and we'll have them put in your wedding ring," Steven Merring said to his fiancee Darby Fortin while cleaning up the remains of the family's home on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Evansville. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire Anniversary
Duane Hoots, in white, helps clean up the remains of a home along East Lake Drive on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Evansville. 12 homes were destroyed in the Cole Creek Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres northeast of Casper. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Cole Creek Fire
Food and drinks for volunteers sit on the trunk of Patty Fortin's new car on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, at her home in Evansville. Residents were allowed to return to their homes late Tuesday afternoon, and many volunteers began helping with the clean-up effort Wednesday morning. (Ryan Dorgan, Star-Tribune)
Ryan Dorgan
Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis
Joshua Wolfson joined the Star-Tribune in 2007, covering crime and health before taking over the arts section in 2013. He also served as managing editor before being named editor in June 2017. He lives in Casper with his wife and their two kids.
The Central Wyoming Hospice Kids Grief Camp's final week of the summer finished on Wednesday. The last day featured a painted horse parade and a butterfly release.
Fireworks are illegal in the county. But Casper Fire Deputy Chief Cameron Siplon said the department still ends up responding to a handful of injuries and fires that start from their use each year. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/grass-fire-that-prompted-evacuations-burned-39-acres-east-of-casper/article_ee5b0370-fd6f-11ec-aefb-bb7bc3668189.html | 2022-07-07T00:03:19 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/grass-fire-that-prompted-evacuations-burned-39-acres-east-of-casper/article_ee5b0370-fd6f-11ec-aefb-bb7bc3668189.html |
Since the opening of her deli, Toni Dovalina has known exactly what she wants the future of the restaurant to look like. And while efforts have been slowed over the past couple of years, the business has recently taken another step toward reaching that original dream.
At the Casper City Council meeting last Tuesday, the Steamboat Deli & Outlet requested a liquor license from the city. The license would allow the deli to serve beer, wine and other digestifs alongside the current menu of salads and sandwiches. It’s also something that would further Dovalina’s efforts towards turning the deli into a more traditional Italian restaurant.
“It was always my goal to have a deli that had an Italian emphasis on Italian sandwiches, then it was eventually going to be a trattoria in the evening,” Dovalina said. “I wanted to fill the niche of having a place where somebody could go to get an affordable plate of pasta, a glass of wine, just an affordable date night and have mass appeal.”
Trattorias are small Italian restaurants that serve simple foods in an informal setting. Dovalina says Steamboat could potentially serve traditional dishes, charcuterie boards, espresso and other Italian drinks. It’s an idea that’s been in the works since the deli first opened its doors in 2017 on Center Street in downtown Casper.
The mountains were what originally drew Dovalina from Chicago to the West, first in Jackson Hole. To honor her half Mexican and half Italian heritage, she chose to open Nani’s Genuine Pasta House, an Italian restaurant recently renamed Glorietta. After meeting her husband, the two decided to move to Casper in 1994 as a better place to raise kids.
July 17 will mark the five-year anniversary of Steamboat.
However, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in the plans to expand the business.
“You have to be a weather vane for the economy,” Dovalina said. “You have to really try and stay ahead of all the shortfall that these challenges are presenting. So ever since COVID, man, you really have to pivot ... I tend to do things like this in Casper gradually, because you don’t want to promise a lot and not be able to deliver.”
Regardless, the deli is making progress. It finished construction on a patio behind the building this past month. Dovalina said the liquor license is just another step towards the original goal for the restaurant.
But until the decision about the license is made at a July 19 public hearing, it’s sort of a waiting game, she said.
“I’m hoping it works,” Dovalina said. “I do a lot of creative visualization in the morning and I picture people here having a nice time, enjoying the food, the atmosphere and the music. I’ll have lots of vintage Italian music playing.”
If the license is granted, alcohol would arrive gradually. Other changes could include moving away from serving grab-and-go breakfast, reducing the size of the retail side of the building — it offers Wyoming apparel — and introducing later hours.
For any wary customers, Dovalina wanted to reassure them that the main roots of the business will remain.
“I want to keep the deli business, because we’ve done very well with that,” Dovalina added. “And I do want to keep the Western look too. We’re in a Western town, it’s exciting for me to bring my Italian heritage to a Western atmosphere.” | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/liquor-license-for-downtown-deli-part-of-bigger-plans/article_da42ca06-fd71-11ec-bb5b-9f8f52337497.html | 2022-07-07T00:03:25 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/liquor-license-for-downtown-deli-part-of-bigger-plans/article_da42ca06-fd71-11ec-bb5b-9f8f52337497.html |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People who showed up for a planned public hearing on plans to allow construction of a 120-foot-tall cell phone tower, were greeted with a posted notice that the meeting had been postponed until August 3.
“I just wanted to see what was going to happen so I know what to ballpark and plan for traffic etc.,” said Rosie Bridgeford, a St. Petersburg resident who went to the meeting with her two daughters.
The proposed tower would be built near a four-way intersection at 45th Avenue and 4th Street, and some homeowners who live nearby aren’t happy with the plan.
“I am definitely against it and so is my husband,” said Margarita Sorah, who lives across the street. “We are not happy it is too close to my house, and it’s going to be an eyesore, and I feel like it’s going to make the neighborhood look a lot less appealing.”
People who live in the area say a structure that tall hovering over a four-way intersection is an eyesore. They want it moved to somewhere less residential, as they worry it could drive down their property value.
“My husband has owned this house for 20 years and we’re making major renovations and I just hope we’re not throwing our money away,” a resident said.
It’s a spot where a lot of development is already planned. Some neighbors are less worried about the tower, and more about what all the new additions will mean for the area.
“Maybe it's little ugly, doesn’t matter, you don’t have to look at it. But if they’re going to build like an apartment complex here, there’s gonna be way more traffic and I don’t like that,” said Indrek Karne who lives down the street from where the tower would be.
The public hearing to discuss the cell tower was rescheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 3. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/st-petersburg-concerned-cell-tower/67-6da24a0f-9dc9-40d0-8142-83ae8eedffd1 | 2022-07-07T00:05:32 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/st-petersburg-concerned-cell-tower/67-6da24a0f-9dc9-40d0-8142-83ae8eedffd1 |
SARASOTA, Fla — The supply chain crisis continues to impact different sectors across the country, including right here in the Tampa Bay area.
It has not just affected those businesses that provide goods and services but also local governments and their construction projects. One Sarasota county park restroom project which was scheduled to open to the public this month has now been delayed.
The upgrade to the Culverhouse Nature Park included ADA Parking, additional sidewalks, and some stormwater improvements. However, the lack of much-needed equipment and supplies means construction is on hold and expected to open later this summer.
"We're not immune to what is happening in private industries, at not-for-profits, all of us that have construction projects that are going on are feeling the same pain," Nicole Rissler of Sarasota Parks and Recreation said.
"Across all industries, as we know supply chain continues to be a little bit of an issue and so we're working through that as we move forward with this project," Rissler said.
In Bradenton, an ADA-compliant playground project with the Rotary Club has also been delayed because the playground equipment which was ordered several months in advance has still not arrived. The city is also waiting on a firetruck and some new vehicles which have been delayed. Many municipalities are also struggling to fill several vacant positions.
"If you can't find key productive input, it can put a project like a construction project really off track for a while," Victor Claar, an economist with Florida Gulf Coast University, said.
According to supply chain experts like Claar, a wide range of key sectors are struggling due to many factors which stemmed from the pandemic.
Those factors have continued to adversely impact the shipping and maritime industry which may soon also have to grapple with labor union actions.
The developments have forced businesses and organizations to get creative and activate contingency plans to minimize any negative impact.
"We realize now that sometimes relying on a single source for particular parts can be problematic in the short run, so we're probably going to see more production and some of these things that we used to import move back here at home," Claar said.
The experts also say because of China's zero COVID policy, not a lot of manufacturing has happened there and that has caused fewer goods to be shipped from the Shanghai port.
The best advice — continue planning ahead and remain patient, Claar says. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/supply-chain-crisis-delays-sarasota-projects/67-f277bba4-c1e9-405a-a8c4-23d4274fb546 | 2022-07-07T00:05:38 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/supply-chain-crisis-delays-sarasota-projects/67-f277bba4-c1e9-405a-a8c4-23d4274fb546 |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Billy Williams, the husband of former Wichita City Councilwoman Lavonta Williams, has died.
The Wichita chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) says Billy died on July 3. The retired postal worker and United States Air Force Veteran was active in the community serving on the NAACP Legal Redress committee as chairman.
Billy met Lavonta while attending Emporia State University, then known as Emporia College, where he played basketball. They moved to Wichita shortly after they married in 1971.
Billy is survived by Lavonta, their two sons Darren and BJ, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Services will be held on July 12 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Mark United Methodist Church, 1525 N Lorraine. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/billy-williams-husband-of-former-wichita-councilwoman-dies/ | 2022-07-07T00:10:16 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/billy-williams-husband-of-former-wichita-councilwoman-dies/ |
SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Baptist Minister’s Union to host an active shooter training event following the recent scourge of gun violence across the nation.
The aftermath of the Uvalde mass shooting has prompted not just school districts but law enforcement and businesses to reassess their safety plans.
“We’re raising our game as unfortunately these crooks are getting better at their job of wreaking havoc in the community, we have to continue to get better at our job and that means giving the public information they need to protect themselves,” Salazar said.
BCSO’s active shooter training focuses on situational awareness and how to coordinate with law enforcement.
Salazar stressed the importance of understanding the psychology of an active shooter incident, which includes the mind of the assailant and how to react to the first shots fired if a gunman is on site.
“Now let’s say for arguments sake avoiding and denying access have failed and then we go into defense mode and that may mean picking up a fire extinguisher and hitting somebody on the head with it or stabbing them with a pair of scissors,” Salazar said.
Rev. Patrick Jones, former president of the Baptist Minister’s Union in San Antonio, feels mounting pressure to do everything he can to ensure the safety of those who come to pray every Sunday.
But he believes any law enforcement-provided training should be attended by everyone.
“Just last week you had the one that wanted to shoot up Amazon and that was foiled, then you have the school house shootings, the daycare shootings, parade shootings. Nothing has been off limits. We want to make sure, we want to try educate people on what to do if that ever happens wherever they are,” Jones said.
BSCO’s active shooter training event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church, which is located at 1534 Peck Ave in San Antonio. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/bcso-hosting-active-shooter-training-event-to-prepare-community-for-the-worst/273-d6d165aa-392c-4c27-943c-261b8c30f9dc | 2022-07-07T00:13:59 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/bcso-hosting-active-shooter-training-event-to-prepare-community-for-the-worst/273-d6d165aa-392c-4c27-943c-261b8c30f9dc |
SAN ANTONIO — After directly requesting that President Joe Biden address what he called a "humanitarian crisis" that unfolding at the southern border, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says he met with federal government officials this week to discuss ways to stem the flow of human-smuggling incidents like the one that left 53 dead last week in San Antonio.
"There's only so much we can do despite our best efforts," Salazar said via a Zoom call with local media Wednesday afternoon, saying he recently talked with two high-level officials from the Department of Homeland Security.
Salazar said San Antonio being a "hub jurisdiction" for migrants – meaning it's one of the first major cities one would cross when coming from the border – presents unique challenges for law enforcement. The sheriff added that what law enforcement has been doing in response to the high border traffic hasn't been working.
One of the possible solutions Salazar said he asked for was more resources in hub jurisdictions, including other urban Texas counties like Harris, Tarrant and Travis. The sheriff made his case that more federal resources, including grant money to hire more staff or an increase in agents stationed in Texas, could provide Lone Star State authorities with the help they need.
He also brought up the possibility of working to remove the financial incentives that the cartel receives from smuggling migrants.
Salazar says he is not against immigration, but is also not advocating for open borders. He says part of the issue is that migrants trust cartels more than they do law enforcement.
"They just want to come here and work and provide an honest living for an honest day's pay," the sheriff said.
Salazar said he has voiced his concerns that tragic incidents like last week's overheated-semitruck deaths could happen in Bexar County. He also said, however, that even with more resources he wasn't sure if this particular scenario could have been prevented. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/bexar-county-sheriff-salazar-bcso-migrants-biden-letter-texas/273-45b9d814-7957-4351-8726-7e1960a0f84e | 2022-07-07T00:14:06 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/bexar-county-sheriff-salazar-bcso-migrants-biden-letter-texas/273-45b9d814-7957-4351-8726-7e1960a0f84e |
SAN ANTONIO — Shallow water may not seem dangerous but if you go underwater and hold your breath too long, you can get "Shallow Water Blackout" which can stimulate genetic triggers leading to various causes of death.
Jennifer Northway, the Director of Injury Prevention with University Health told us, "There are lots of scenarios where adults have been unintentionally knocked out and then even shallow water can become a grave risk to their life. You know whether they're using jet skis or they're paddling around in shallow water at a local lake."
Unlike in a pool, a river or lake can have many unknowns making it even more important to stay aware of what you may not be able to see.
Dr. Pedro Nelson Chavez, the Medical Director of the Pediatric ICU at Baptist Children's Hospital told us, "If you're going to stand when the current is coming, like in lakes, rivers open in the ocean, you don't know when you lose your footing. And also you get tired because you fight in the current and you can drown in that water too."
The American Red Cross has these important safety precautions to keep in mind:
- Know your limitations, including physical fitness, medical conditions.
- Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present.
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life-jacket appropriate for your weight and size.
Always wear the life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
Northway added, "Just as turbulence is a unexpected hazard, when you're flying, waves can be an unexpected hazard when you're on a boat. And so because you have these unexpected hazards there, there are rules around the importance of wearing life jackets."
Even experienced swimmers sometimes forget to understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment such as river currents, ski boats, sudden change in water temperature, shallow or unclear water, and using the buddy system.
Dr. Chavez also said, "Be in close contact with the person, avoid alcohol, drug use, avoid nocturnal swimming. Those things are always essential."
To get a free "Water Watcher" safety tag and whistle email University Health at InjuryPrevention@uhs-sa.com. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/water-safety-tips-that-could-save-your-or-someone-elses-life-news/273-c5f61dbb-dad7-4659-92e8-b0bf8269cd11 | 2022-07-07T00:14:12 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/public-safety/water-safety-tips-that-could-save-your-or-someone-elses-life-news/273-c5f61dbb-dad7-4659-92e8-b0bf8269cd11 |
SAN ANTONIO — The Tejano Music Awards is returning in-person this November for the first time in two years.
Three time Grammy-Award Winning Tejano Star Sunny Sauceda was at Tech Port Center this morning for the announcement, giving a taste of of what’s in store at the upcoming awards show.
“It's going to be great for the Tejano music industry and for the fans of Tejano, for this part of town and for tech port,” said Texas Talent Musician's Association President Robert Arellano.
It will be the first time a major Tejano music awards show is held at the Tech Port Center and Arena and the first time the Texas Talent Musician's Association has held the event in person in two years.
“The past two years due to the COVID-19, we've had two awards programs that have been virtual,” said Texas Talent Musicians Association Board Vice-President Frank Salazar. “And of course, it's not the same as being live, so now that going back for the first time after the virus, we're very excited to be here."
The show on November 26 will feature 15 Tejano musical acts from all over the country. Texas talent musician's association president Robert Arellano says the media attention this award show is going to bring is just what the industry needs.
“The Tejano Music Awards Industry has not had this following in many, many years,” he said. “We believe this is going to give a jump-start to the industry."
For Port San Antonio Board Chair Chris Alderete, bringing the Tejano Music Awards to Tech Port Center is special because of it's historical connection to Kelly Air Force Base and the many Latinos who used to work there every day.
"On their commute, guess what they were listening to? Tejano music in the 70's 80's and 90's,” Alderete said. “So I look at it personally as it's coming home. Coming home to the southwest part of our city. "
Tickets go on sale on Friday, July 8 and cost $50 to $125. They can be purchased at here. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/tejano-music-awards-coming-in-person-to-tech-port-center-events/273-333cac41-18fd-4e1d-8044-e62f2ed23bf6 | 2022-07-07T00:14:18 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/tejano-music-awards-coming-in-person-to-tech-port-center-events/273-333cac41-18fd-4e1d-8044-e62f2ed23bf6 |
As the spread of coronavirus continues, here are the latest updates from Southern Arizona.
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Tuesday, March 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/updates-tucson-area-coronavirus-developments-july-7-what-we-know/article_dc8e92ea-6561-11ea-9e87-17207f678ee6.html | 2022-07-07T00:22:45 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/updates-tucson-area-coronavirus-developments-july-7-what-we-know/article_dc8e92ea-6561-11ea-9e87-17207f678ee6.html |
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said he disagrees with sheriffs on the Texas border who say the state is under “invasion” as he requests more action from Washington, D.C.
“That’s political rhetoric,” the sheriff said. "It’s dead wrong.”
On Tuesday, several border county leaders called on Gov. Greg Abbott to start expelling immigrants suspected of crossing into the U.S. illegally — instead of handing them over to Border Patrol.
But Salazar said that approach is creating a monetary incentive for smugglers as undocumented immigrants pay thousands of dollars to be brought into the U.S. in dangerous conditions.
On ExpressNews.com: Texas border county leaders declare ‘invasion,’ urge Abbott to expel migrants
“They feel more comfortable handing $10,000 to a cartel member and maybe making it to their destination in one piece,” Salazar said.
By contrast, the sheriff said a majority of immigrants are looking for a better life and willing to work for it, while people with a criminal history and bad intentions clearly need to be kept out.
“Until we find a way to do this holistically, we’re not going to have success,” he said. “Characterizing it as an enemy invasion is fearmongering.”
Salazar said he’s written three “candid” letters regarding what he perceives as inaction on the part of the federal government since August. On Tuesday, he spoke with immigration officials from the White House and high-level officials from the Department of Homeland Security.
In his first letter, he mentioned fears to the effect of immigrants’ dying in tractor-trailers. That concern became a horrific reality on June 27, when dozens of immigrants were found dead or dying in a sweltering tractor-trailer on the Southwest Side.
Salazar said the policy of building a wall and keeping immigrants out is not working.
“We’re failing miserably in that endeavor, and we’re going to see more of this,” he said.
One possible solution Salazar proposed in recent phone calls with federal officials is pouring resources into what he calls “hub jurisdictions” — places like Bexar, Dallas, Travis and El Paso counties. In these areas, undocumented immigrants are often kept in stash houses in horrid conditions until they are ready to be moved to another destination.
His resources locally to combat smugglers are limited, he said. To that end, he is asking for a grant to target transnational crime, including with analysts who can perform link analysis. The tactic is a form of phone tracing that allows law enforcement to make connections, the sheriff said, such as whether bad things happen when three specific people get together.
The sheriff’s organized crime group — a collection of deputies who target various crimes including illegal gambling, animal fighting rings and narcotics — is already stretched thin as they work to target transnational crimes as well.
“But while they’re doing that, who’s keeping up with street gang crime?” Salazar asked.
The sheriff proposed that a squad of federal agents work alongside the organized crime deputies.
Salazar said the phone calls were the first of several meetings and that he hopes to continue discussing workable ideas.
“This is not all for nothing,” he said. “Fifty-three people died in my county, and that’s extremely heartbreaking and frustrating, and I’m not just going to sit quietly by while I feel like we’re taking the wrong approach.”
jbeltran@express-news.net | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Bexar-County-sheriff-slams-invasion-17288828.php | 2022-07-07T00:25:18 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Bexar-County-sheriff-slams-invasion-17288828.php |
COVID-19 is on the rise again in San Antonio, with diagnosed cases and hospitalizations related to the illness surging in recent weeks.
In five 24-hour periods in the past two weeks, more than 1,000 positive COVID tests were reported in Bexar County — levels not seen since February.
In June alone, more than 20,000 cases of the virus were reported to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. That’s more than double the 8,503 cases reported in all of May and more than six times the nearly 2,900 cases reported in April.
And just since July 1, more than 5,500 cases have turned up. The local community’s risk level is classified as “high” and “worsening,” according to the city’s COVID-19 dashboard.
On ExpressNews.com: Will vaccinating younger kids affect the spread of COVID in Bexar County? Initially, not much.
The rising official numbers don’t capture the full scale of the increase, since many — “probably the majority of people” — are testing themselves for the virus at home instead of through a lab that reports results to Metro Health, said Dr. Jan Patterson, a professor and infectious disease physician at UT Health San Antonio.
The real number of infections is almost certainly higher.
Part of the reason for the rise is that the latest omicron subvariants, known as BA.4 and BA.5, are more transmissible, Patterson said.
BA.5 currently accounts for about half of COVID infections in the nation, while BA.4 is responsible for another 20 percent, she said. Those strains are more contagious than previous versions of the virus.
But Patterson also noted that many people are no longer taking precautions to protect themselves.
“They’re not wearing masks even in crowded settings,” she said. “We know that people can get reinfected. So just because they had the delta strain a year ago or they had the early omicron strain in January, they could get sick again with one of these BA.4 or BA.5 infections.”
It’s too soon to say if the latest subvariants are milder in their effects than past strains of the virus, Patterson said.
Children 6 months and older are now eligible to receive COVID vaccines. Patterson also encouraged people to get their COVID booster shots, noting only 34 percent of eligible people nationwide have done so.
Those 5 years old and up are eligible to get one booster shot. Adults 50 and older can get two booster shots, as can those 12 and older whose immune systems are moderately or severely compromised.
“Even though you might not be totally protected against symptomatic infection, the data that we have so far suggests (vaccines and boosters) will protect you against serious infection and hospitalization,” Patterson said. “And that’s really what the vaccines were designed to do. So if you haven’t gotten your booster, go ahead and do that.”
The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are also the predominant strains circulating locally, said Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health’s communicable diseases division.
On ExpressNews.com: COVID-19 infections are on a sharp rise in San Antonio
Waning immunity from the vaccines or past COVID infections could be another factor contributing to the rising numbers, besides the latest strains of the virus being more transmissible, she said.
But the good news is that patients seem to be contracting milder forms of the illness, Kurian said. She attributed that to increased vaccination coverage and better therapeutics, such as Paxlovid, a widely available antiviral pill that she said is 80 percent effective in preventing severe illness in COVID patients.
A prescription is required for Paxlovid, which should be taken within five days of a positive test for COVID or the development of symptoms. Within 10 days, a monoclonal antibody infusion might also be helpful.
The city has opened a testing and treatment site, designed primarily for uninsured and underinsured patients, at 7142 San Pedro Ave., where they can be tested for the virus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Those who test positive can receive infusion treatments on site. Health insurance isn’t required, but patients must bring identification cards and wear face masks.
“We have been documenting a steady increase in cases for about four weeks now,” Kurian said. “It’s a steady, slow increase ... But the increase is pretty small compared to the increases we’ve seen in the past surges.”
The rising numbers may not reach the magnitude of the previous omicron and delta spikes, but the virus is reaching the point of becoming endemic, she said.
“At this point of the pandemic, the goal is not to eliminate or eradicate,” Kurian said. “We may never be able to prevent these infections. We may never reach zero infection. But the goal is to prevent hospitalizations and death.
“Vaccinations still are the most powerful tool for preventing severe COVID-19 infections. I cannot emphasize this enough — vaccinated individuals still have a decreased chance of catching COVID-19 … and even more importantly, significantly decreased risk of hospitalization and death.”
The number of patients hospitalized in San Antonio with the virus is now poised to break 300. That’s a departure from the low numbers, typically in the double digits, seen through April and May. The last time COVID hospitalizations exceeded 300 was Feb. 28.
Hospital systems in San Antonio and South Texas are carefully monitoring the latest surge but have no concerns about capacity or capability, said Eric Epley, CEO of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, which oversees the regional trauma and emergency health care systems in those areas.
“At this point, the slow rise is being well-managed,” Epley said Wednesday.
pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/New-covid-strains-San-Antonio-17288759.php | 2022-07-07T00:25:24 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/New-covid-strains-San-Antonio-17288759.php |
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Each year, Central Florida teachers are faced with an extra cost to help their students—paying out of pocket for school supplies. When you add inflation into the mix, teachers Corin Plucinski and Meaghan Bohn are concerned about that extra expense.
“It’s never like you have to do this but we want it for the kids and we see it making a difference,” said Bohn, a lower elementary special education teacher.
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Both Bohn and Plucinski teach at the Arbor School of Florida, a private school for special needs students. The small school does provide them with supplies, but they told News 6 some specific items are still needed.
“(We need) sensory stress balls and the fidgets and finger painting and all that stuff all of our kids need,” Bohn said.
They are among the dozens of elementary, middle and high school teachers who turned to the My Oviedo Florida Facebook page in hopes of getting help by posting their wish lists.
“I have children of my own and even the supply list from five years ago to now, it’s like, it’s a ton more money than we’re spending as parents and then also as educators,” said Plucinski, adding last year, she spent over $500 in school supplies.
Emma Reichert, the realtor and Oviedo resident who started the Oviedo Facebook page more than a decade ago, said for the past five years, she’s been posting about the need for school supplies on behalf of teachers, so the community lends a helping hand.
“My concern is that a parent is going to have to make a decision between food and school supplies,” Reichert said. “Hopefully, (the page) will alleviate any pain—financial or otherwise—to local families (and) 3,500 people have seen the post so hopefully it does its job.”
Organizations, like the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, have Tools 4 Seminole Schools. It’s a supply store in Sanford where teachers can shop for free.
“When we surveyed our teachers this year, they were spending anywhere from $500 to 1,000 of their own money on supplies,” said Emma VanSmith, the executive director of the organization. “We have about 200 to 250 (teachers) a month that come through. Prices on everything have gone up. Our backpacks that we purchase went up from about $4 per backpack to 6. Reams of paper have almost doubled.”
The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools also distributes 3,500 brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies throughout the school district for less fortunate students. On Monday, July 11, the organization will be holding a virtual supply drive.
For more information, click here. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/06/oviedo-woman-crowdfunds-school-supplies-for-teachers-through-facebook-page/ | 2022-07-07T00:31:29 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/06/oviedo-woman-crowdfunds-school-supplies-for-teachers-through-facebook-page/ |
According to the Food Industry Association consumers are spending roughly 6% more at the grocery stores, but are purchasing about 2.5% less. Most of the local retired people I spoke with aren’t changing their spending habits at all, basing their decisions on a higher income level, but the story changes for those still working. Utica Resident Matt Davies:
"I’ve noticed that shopping for Instacart people haven’t really changed their options of what they’re buying. It’s just the name brand stuff is kind of sitting on the shelf a little bit more. They’re buying store brand stuff, but the quantity of food still hasn’t changed."
Utica Resident Audra Ross says, "Things are a little bit more expensive lately. I have to choose more generic brands maybe. Things like that. It’s been a little bit crazy."
West Leyden Resident Brittney Bonanza says, "They haven’t really changed, but I’m a single parent so I do struggle."
Food prices have jumped almost 10% since April of 2021. That’s the largest increase in 41 years. Many may be opting for hamburgers and hotdogs over the usual steak, but everyone’s food priorities are a little different.
"I don’t pay much attention what she buys, but she shops. She’s a smart shopper. She’s always looking for the best buy, and how she can save money here and there," said Tom Smedley, a New Hartford resident.
The price of gas has Marcy Resident Barbara Mario considering whether it’s worth the drive from one grocery store to another to save a few dollars.
"I only go to two. I don’t go all over any more. I don’t look for the sales. I used to, but then I buy things I don’t need," she said. "My time is more valuable, and you’re in one place, by the time you go to another it costs you twice as much."
If you are bargain hunting you’ll want to spend a little more time comparing prices, as the -amounts- in some items are getting smaller, but the -prices- keep going up. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/is-the-price-of-groceries-changing-your-buying-habits/article_c95c3d1c-fd62-11ec-9bcb-57d619a47974.html | 2022-07-07T00:33:15 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/is-the-price-of-groceries-changing-your-buying-habits/article_c95c3d1c-fd62-11ec-9bcb-57d619a47974.html |
New gun laws out of Albany have triggered mass confusion.
“There’s an awful lot of misunderstanding. There's a certain percentage of people that thought they don't need a license any more cuz of this decision. There's a certain percentage of people that thought they could open carry now cuz of this decision,” says Dan Sullivan, Oneida County's assistant pistol licensing officer.
Their ineffectiveness or effectiveness aside, Oneida County's assistant pistol licensing officer says some of Albany's new directives are simply impossible to execute.
“The Judge Dwyers of each county have to review three years of social media of each applicant and have to meet in person with each applicant. It's not a possible task," says Sullivan.
Not when each applicant could have two, five, 10 or countless social media accounts. Then there's the requirement of two hours of live fire training.
"How do you provide live training to somebody that doesn't have a pistol license? In New York State, you cannot possess a handgun and shoot a handgun unless you have a pistol license," says Sullivan.
There is a long list of where even unrestricted license holders can't bring their guns, including houses of worship, libraries and restaurants and bars that serve alcohol. They're permitted in stores, provided the owners post a sign indicating it's ok. But Sullivan wonders if insurance concerns could keep many from doing that. And what if a licensed gun owner uses their gun to neutralize a person who comes in and starts shooting people? If the store doesn’t have a sign posted, expressly permitting licensed guns, could the licensed gun owner who stopped the shooting be charged with a gun crime?
“Yeah, the person will probably be charged with a class A misdemeanor. I think under the circumstances, the charge would probably go away, that's up to the district attorney's office,” says Sullivan.
Lots of gunmetal gray area. So much, the phones in Oneida County's pistol licensing office are ringing nonstop.
“First time in 22 years, we've got a recording on the phone, because usually we don't have the ability to pick the phone up with the amount of people that are coming in the door," says Sullivan. "We're putting about two hours a day into the phone calls that we do pick up.”
New York lawmakers passed the sweeping gun legislation on Friday. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/oneida-county-gun-licensing-officials-some-new-nys-gun-laws-impossible-to-enforce/article_6bf72f50-fd72-11ec-b92f-effc82ca7692.html | 2022-07-07T00:33:21 | 1 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/oneida-county-gun-licensing-officials-some-new-nys-gun-laws-impossible-to-enforce/article_6bf72f50-fd72-11ec-b92f-effc82ca7692.html |
UTICA, N.Y. – Rome parks have only been open for just over a week and vandals have already caused nearly $10,000 worth of damage.
According to a post on the city’s Facebook page, there have been incidents of vandalism at various city parks almost every night since they officially opened last Monday.
One of the slides at Triangle Park on East Garden Street was completely destroyed, causing $7,000 worth of damage. The post says the city will not be able to replace the slide because the necessary parts have been discontinued.
A swing at Bellamy Harbor Park was also broken and the arms had to be rebuilt and reinforced.
The clubhouse at Pinti Field was ransacked as well, leaving behind $2,000 worth of damage.
Several parks have also been defaced with graffiti, which buildings and grounds crews spend hours cleaning.
City officials are pleading with residents to respect the parks and facilities, saying, “We have a wonderful parks system which we work very hard to maintain for the community’s enjoyment. We hope this level of vandalism does not continue so that adults and children who frequent our parks will continue to have a safe and happy summer.”
The city advised any witnesses with information about the vandalism to reach out to Rome Police Department. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/vandals-cause-nearly-10k-worth-of-damage-at-rome-parks/article_a8f65bbe-fd6e-11ec-9e00-1b7e575d4665.html | 2022-07-07T00:33:27 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/vandals-cause-nearly-10k-worth-of-damage-at-rome-parks/article_a8f65bbe-fd6e-11ec-9e00-1b7e575d4665.html |
A New York man was indicted on murder and kidnapping charges after his girlfriend, with whom he shared two children, was found dead and stuffed inside the trunk of her car in Queens, the district attorney said.
In addition to two counts of second-degree murder, 30-year-old Kareem Flake was charged with kidnapping, weapon possession and tampering with evidence, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a press release Wednesday.
Authorities previously said Destini Smothers was found in the trunk of a Toyota Camry with no plates in March 2021, months after the 26-year-old went missing in New York City following a birthday party in November. The city medical examiner determined that Smothers died from a gunshot to the head, according to Katz, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Smothers, a mother of two from Troy, in Rensselaer County, traveled to Queens in early November for a funeral but went out two nights before that service to a local bowling alley to celebrate her 26th birthday, according to charges. No one saw her again afterward.
Flake later told Smothers' family the two got into an argument while in Smothers' black 2011 Toyota Camry. At some point during that fight, he said Smothers got out of the car and walked off, leaving her purse, wallet, keys and ID behind.
"He actually got in my car and took me to where he said she jumped out in Astoria. Took me and my family," said Tima Fowler, a cousin of Smothers'. "I don't understand how he did that. But he did it and we found the car, the car is found now, she's found."
Smothers' family said Flake went missing shortly after.
According to a senior NYPD official, the car had been abandoned and parked near the intersection of 134th Avenue and 151st Place in South Jamaica for "a while" before sanitation tow trucks came to pick it up. Neighbors said that the car, which was later determined to be Smothers', had been parked there for months, and that abandoned cars are common in the area.
The tow truck crew drove off with the vehicle, then noticed a problem with a tire and pulled over on Lefferts Boulevard to pop the trunk and look for a new one, an NYPD official said at the time Smothers' body was found. Police said the truck made it to South Ozone park when the decomposing remains were discovered.
A senior NYPD official with direct knowledge of the case told News 4 that clothing on the body matched what Smothers was wearing when she was reported missing, with no further signs of trauma, aside from the deadly gunshot wound. Her ID was also on her, the official said, and the body was in the fetal position.
The couple's two young children had been staying at Smothers' mother's home in the Bronx at the time she went missing. The family got concerned when Smothers didn't show up there to pick up her clothes for the funeral she planned to attend Nov. 5.
“She loves those children and would do anything for them,” aunt Shareen King told Dateline, which covered the case in late November. “She wouldn’t just leave them. And there’s no way in hell she’s not calling her mama. My sister is just devastated.”
Flake, also from Troy, was arrested April 9 in Florida, before being extradited to New York on Wednesday.
"On the run for more than a year, this defendant is now in custody and charged with the brutal murder of his girlfriend, who was also the mother of his two young children," Katz said in the press release. "This is the worst possible outcome for any individual experiencing intimate partner violence, and we express out condolences to the victim's family."
Attorney information for Flake was not immediately available. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 11. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/boyfriend-of-ny-mother-found-dead-in-car-trunk-indicted-on-murder-kidnapping-charges-da/3764044/ | 2022-07-07T00:39:46 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/boyfriend-of-ny-mother-found-dead-in-car-trunk-indicted-on-murder-kidnapping-charges-da/3764044/ |
Battling a major deficit late, the Continental Little League 8-10 All-Stars nearly came back against crosstown rival West Flagstaff Little League Tuesday, but lost, 13-11, in the District I championship game.
WFLL, who is now moving on to the state tourney, started hot, taking a 13-3 lead through the top of the fourth inning. CLL scored one in the bottom of the frame and seven more in the bottom of the fifth to get within striking distance.
Neither team scored in the sixth -- and final -- inning as the time expired at the park and WFLL finished with the win.
Carson Abbey led the way for WFLL, going 3 for 3 from the plate with five RBIs and a pair of runs scored. He also pitched three innings, recording five strikeouts.
For CLL, Tekoa Ruiz also went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, a run and a walk. He faced one batter as a pitcher and struck him out.
WFLL joins the Juniors All-Stars team as district champions. The 8-10 squad will play in the state tournament beginning July 11 in Mesa. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/wfll-holds-on-against-cll-in-8-10-all-stars-district-title-game/article_f2d62be4-fd49-11ec-9f94-a3038862c945.html | 2022-07-07T00:41:27 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/wfll-holds-on-against-cll-in-8-10-all-stars-district-title-game/article_f2d62be4-fd49-11ec-9f94-a3038862c945.html |
The 113th annual NAACP National Convention will be taking place in Atlantic City this July and the theme is going to be centered around the hashtag #ThisIsPower.
Ever since its inception, each convention has had a specific theme centered around it. The last two conventions were held in a virtual setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They each had the theme #FightingForward and the events highlighted racial justice.
The last in-person convention was held in 2019 in Detroit, MI and the theme was "When We Fight, We Win," which highlighted issues regarding racism, police brutality, voter suppression, and mental health.
In 2016, the convention took place in Cincinnati, OH and with that year being a crucial election year, the theme for the convention was "Our Lives Matter, Our Votes Matter."
NAACP president Cornell William Brooks, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump were some of the keynote speakers at this event which highlighted recent killings of black men and black police officers as well as encouraged people in attendance to vote in the presidential election.
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The 105th convention in 2014 took place in Las Vegas, NV and also had a theme centered around voting. The theme was "All in for Justice and Equality," and the events that took place put an emphasis on securing voter turnout for the mid-term election. The convention also went over other issues including the struggles for criminal justice reform, voting rights, economic opportunity, and education equality.
In 2013, the convention took place in Orlando, FL under the theme "We Shall Not be Moved." This convention was centered around voting issues and more notably the jury decision to acquit George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin
Zimmerman was known throughout the trial for saying that the shooting was justified because he was standing his ground. Shortly after the trial concluded, Attorney General Eric Holder stated that black people should "stand their ground," and pushed for laws to be passed that would reduce violence against them.
This year's theme is titled #ThisisPower and the various events throughout the convention will go over issues related to voting and reproductive rights, student debt, and police reform. The NAACP organization will also use the convention as a time to lay out their policy agenda for the rest of this year and into 2023. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/naacp-bringing-thisispower-theme-to-atlantic-city-convention/article_4a9cbbfe-f8bd-11ec-9dee-23f073193f8b.html | 2022-07-07T00:44:59 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/naacp-bringing-thisispower-theme-to-atlantic-city-convention/article_4a9cbbfe-f8bd-11ec-9dee-23f073193f8b.html |
WILDWOOD CREST — Earle Aiken, of Galloway Township, did not get what he wanted from the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday.
Over the weekend, he and his brother started a rental business for e-bikes and power scooters, similar to what has been put in place in multiple cities, in which people can use a phone app to activate and ride the battery powered vehicles, and then leave them on the sidewalk.
“We left them around town,” Aiken said. “People can pick them up, scan them, ride them around town and leave them where they are.”
The thing is, the borough’s public works crews assumed they were abandoned. Over the busy July 4 weekend, he said, the crews collected the scooters and bikes and brought them to the police station.
At the morning meeting of the borough’s three-member governing body, he asked officials to work with him on the project, started with the national company ANIV.
“We teamed up with a company, and now we want to team up with you,” Aiken said. “I can’t get a mercantile license without a brick-and-mortar address.”
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WILDWOOD CREST — At the end of the 19th century, the area that is now Wildwood Crest was an …
He asked the commission to hold a special meeting on how the rentals can take place this summer.
“I think your request for us to do that in the middle of summer is unreasonable, to be honest,” said Mayor Don Cabrera. He said he would want the proposal evaluated by the police and public works departments and have a chance for public comment before making a decision, which he did not expect to happen this summer.
He also suggested the business model is not fair to the small businesses here and in neighboring Wildwood, which pay mortgages or rent, local taxes and were required to obtain mercantile licenses.
Like other communities, the borough is struggling with ways to address e-bikes and other battery-powered vehicles on the beachfront bike path, said Commissioner Joseph Schiff. He also said the scooters left on the sidewalk can become a tripping hazard.
According to Aiken, his scooters are set to be unable to function on the bike route. He said the vehicles can be set with “red zones,” mapped out on the app, where they cannot be taken.
“So you’re renting bicycles with pickup and drop-off locations on other people’s properties, including public,” Cabrera said at the meeting. “I just want to understand what you’re saying.”
OCEAN CITY — Andrew Gallagher had wanted a Onewheel since the first time he’d heard of them.
Aiken compared the system to rideshare services like Uber, saying someone could have ridden the bike from Rio Grande or another community into Wildwood Crest.
“You kind of just threw them out there,” said Commissioner Joe Franco. “We didn’t know about it.”
Contacted after the meeting, Aiken said the business started in several communities over Independence Day weekend. It sounds like other communities were also skeptical.
“I was in four communities. Now I’m in one,” he said. He had placed rechargeable scooters and e-bikes in Cape May, North Wildwood, Wildwood and the borough. He said they were still in Wildwood as of Wednesday.
Someone finding one of the bikes or electric scooters could scan a code with their smartphone, leading to the ANIV app that would allow them to rent the vehicle and ride it where they wanted.
The style of bike rentals has become popular in the tourist areas of many cities.
In the latest pandemic delivery craze, apps vow a bottle of Tylenol or a coffee in 30 or even 15 minutes or less. Experts say they're unprofitable.
On its website, Aniv describes itself as a “Customizable micro-mobility sharing platform” that allows cities and entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.
“To be a one-stop resource for one’s micro-mobility business, ANIV provides not only the best bike and scooter sharing system but also offers the needed equipment, including bikes, electric bicycles, scooters, mopeds, as well as smart lockers from top international suppliers,” reads the description.
Aiken said the powered scooters and e-bikes reduce traffic and emissions, and can improve parking. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/wildwood-crest-won-t-consider-allowing-app-rented-e-bikes-this-summer/article_57d63ef2-fd5a-11ec-b063-fbcc524a5efc.html | 2022-07-07T00:45:05 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/wildwood-crest-won-t-consider-allowing-app-rented-e-bikes-this-summer/article_57d63ef2-fd5a-11ec-b063-fbcc524a5efc.html |
GREENSBORO — State health officials announced Wednesday that newly reported COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions have increased across North Carolina.
Officials say there were 24,613 newly reported cases during the week ending July 2 — up from 23,544 the previous week, according to a report released Wednesday by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Guilford County’s “community level” remains a “low” classification as determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC uses several different metrics to classify the impact of COVID-19 illness on health and health care systems in a county.
Locally, public health officials reported 78 new infections for a total of 1,835 active cases on Wednesday and no new deaths.
In Cone Health hospitals on Wednesday, 56 patients were hospitalized with the coronavirus. Of those patients, 36 are unvaccinated and 20 are fully vaccinated.
Statewide, at least 889 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals during the week ending July 2. That’s up from 831 the previous week, according to the DHHS report.
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The percentage of all emergency room visits statewide for patients with coronavirus symptoms was 4.9% during the week ending July 2 — down slightly from 5% the previous week, according to the state report.
Another metric that health experts are watching closely is the number of COVID-19 virus particles found in wastewater, which has been shown to be an early indicator of how quickly the virus may spread without relying on individual test results.
In the state’s latest report, 15.8 million coronavirus particles were found in wastewater samples during the week ending June 29 — down from 16.4 million the week prior.
By comparison, 100 million COVID-19 particles were found in wastewater samples in late January during the peak of the omicron surge. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/state-newly-reported-covid-19-cases-slowly-rising-across-north-carolina/article_f9a92ffc-fd6c-11ec-8127-efab99df847c.html | 2022-07-07T00:46:38 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/state-newly-reported-covid-19-cases-slowly-rising-across-north-carolina/article_f9a92ffc-fd6c-11ec-8127-efab99df847c.html |
WATERLOO – Cedar Valley Center for ENT, Sinus & Allergy is excited to welcome Kenny Rodriguez, M.D., to its team. Rodriguez will begin seeing patients Monday, July 11.
“When interviewing for this position, the current team and myself bonded over the importance of patient-provider relationship,” Rodriguez said. “Throughout my time in health care, I’ve learned that first and foremost, I enjoy caring for people, and that’s something that really drew me to the team here.”
Rodriguez most recently served as administrative chief at the University of Colorado Otolaryngology, as well as serving as field surgeon in the Colorado Army National Guard. Prior to that, he worked for two years as a rural home health and hospice nurse and then as a pediatric nurse.
Born in Venezuela and raised in Aurora, Colorado, Rodriguez attended Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he received his nursing degree. He then moved back home to study medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He completed his otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency program at the University of Colorado Graduate Medical Education in 2022. He is most passionate about sleep disorders, facial plastic surgery and sinus surgery. He and his wife, Harmony, have three children (Austin, Daisy and Parker).
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Cedar Valley Center for ENT, Sinus & Allergy specializes in facial plastics, sleep apnea testing and treatment, balloon sinuplasty, allergy treatments, hearing aid technology and skin cancer screening and treatment. The clinic is located at 2515 Cyclone Drive in Waterloo, and is open from 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Toschedule an appointment or learn more, call (319) 888-8044. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/rodriguez-joins-cedar-valley-center-for-ent-sinus-allergy/article_8583cc3a-9d80-5636-8472-cf3194a87dee.html | 2022-07-07T00:49:13 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/rodriguez-joins-cedar-valley-center-for-ent-sinus-allergy/article_8583cc3a-9d80-5636-8472-cf3194a87dee.html |
BOISE, Idaho — New affordable housing is on its way to Boise — this time, near the Saint Alphonsus campus.
The plans for this building are still in its early stages. If the city gives its approval, the building on Denton Street will have 201 units, but the neighborhood association has some concerns.
“We want our neighborhood to be for everyone. That includes the people that live here and the new people coming in,” Liberty Park Neighborhood Association Vice President, Christi Perkey said.
These units would be for people who make less than 60% of the median income. According to the City of Boise, if you live by yourself, that’s about $35,000.
Developers who build affordable housing units follow a Housing Bonus Ordinance, according to City Director of Planning and Development, Tim Keane. This ordinance allows exceptions to zoning requirements, like less parking spots and taller building heights.
Denton Street is also part of a federal opportunity zone. Keane said people who choose to build affordable housing in these zones get tax incentives.
Perkey said she is not against housing for low-income people, but she is against the current building plans, which spans about 2 acres.
According to Boise City Planning, the Denton property is zoned for about 90 units, 100 less than the proposal. Perkey said she is concerned there is not enough space to accommodate all the people.
“We know that overflow parking will be all over, all over the streets,” Perkey said. “If somebody wants to come over and visit a friend, or their children, where are they gonna park?”
Perkey said privacy is also a concern.
“There will be a five-story building and when they go outside and do a barbeque or work in their yard, people will be able to see them and they’ve never had that before,” Perkey said.
Keane said while he understands neighborhood concerns, having low-income housing in central locations is important. These units are right off Emerald Street and close to public transportation.
“Part of how this is, is how do you shape the city so that you’re addressing the housing affordability issues, but you’re doing it in a way of how people will get around, which is exactly what this is doing," Keane said.
While 200 units only makes a dent in the 27,000 affordable units the city says they needs by 2030, Keane said any progress is good progress.
“You have to do it one at a time,” Keane said. “In order to get to the goal, you have to take it one step at a time.”
Watch more 'Growing Idaho':
See the latest growth and development news in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/growing-idaho/new-affordable-housing-coming-to-boise/277-1e26f7cb-4588-492c-b1e7-cfdfe0e359ca | 2022-07-07T00:50:39 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/growing-idaho/new-affordable-housing-coming-to-boise/277-1e26f7cb-4588-492c-b1e7-cfdfe0e359ca |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/big-tex-choice-semifinalists-the-connection/3008005/ | 2022-07-07T00:51:31 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/big-tex-choice-semifinalists-the-connection/3008005/ |
OurCalling in Dallas is asking for the public's help as triple-digit temperatures are expected in the forecast for several days.
The nonprofit, which works with the city's homeless, is asking for donations to create "Beat the Heat" kits.
“When it’s hot it can be extremely dangerous for our homeless friends,” said Ali Hendricksen with OurCalling.
The nonprofit is hoping to help protect the city's 10,000 unsheltered residents who live on the streets.
Their facility will stay open later to offer an air-conditioned space for people to cool off and they are asking the public for donated items or monetary donations to create the kits.
Items requested include:
- Sunblock and lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Sun visors or hats
- New and reusable insulated water bottles
- Instant cooling towels
- Financial donation to OurCalling.org/Hot
People can also download the OurCalling app on their mobile devices and report the location of someone who may be in need.
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“Our search and rescue teams will go out and visit that individual right where they are, give them the heat kits and more importantly find opportunities to get them off the street permanently.”
Donations can be dropped off at OurCalling's facility at 1702 S. Cesar Chavez Blvd in Dallas.
To make an online donation or learn more visit ourcalling.org/hot | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-charity-requesting-donations-to-help-homeless-during-heat-wave/3008351/ | 2022-07-07T00:51:37 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-charity-requesting-donations-to-help-homeless-during-heat-wave/3008351/ |
Dallas County is reporting its first locally transmitted case of the monkeypox virus.
Dallas County Health and Human Services said Wednesday that it was an out-of-state visitor who was in the area for the Daddyland Festival over the Fourth of July weekend.
The person went to a Dallas hospital with a rash and was diagnosed with monkeypox through laboratory testing at the health department.
The person attended festival events and private parties while infectious, the health department said. There is now concern that people who attended the Daddyland Festival could have been exposed and possibly infected with monkeypox, the health department said.
The festival included dance parties with live music, pool parties and nightclub events where there was a high risk of monkeypox transmission.
According to DCHHS, anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, can spread monkeypox through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox. Monkeypox virus can also spread between people through respiratory droplets typically in a close setting, such as people living in the same household or in a health care setting.
Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes and general body aches before development of a rash.
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Common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus.
Dallas County has previously reported four monkeypox cases among county residents. All four of those cases are local residents who have self-identified as men who have sex with other men and reported a history of international travel. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-county-reports-first-locally-transmitted-monkeypox-case/3008295/ | 2022-07-07T00:51:43 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-county-reports-first-locally-transmitted-monkeypox-case/3008295/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-county-reports-first-monkeypox-case-spread-locally/3008440/ | 2022-07-07T00:51:50 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-county-reports-first-monkeypox-case-spread-locally/3008440/ |
The Dallas Mavericks Foundation dedicated a new basketball court in South Dallas on Wednesday.
Dallas Maverick Maxi Kleber was in attendance to help dedicate the new court to the public.
“I just remember from my childhood, it is easy if you have an outdoor court. Just go there with friends, play basketball, you know it keeps you away from trouble," said Kleber. "That is just one of the things that my mom always said, I would rather have you guys play basketball and know where you are than getting in trouble. That’s basically what we did all day."
The new court is located at Frazier Revitalization, a non-profit dedicated to change and transformation in the Dallas neighborhood.
Antong Lucky, who is on the Frazier Revitalization board, grew up there. He reflected on what it used to look like.
“I remember back in the day we used to have that rim of the bicycle. So to actually have a real goal with lights, and a nice court,” said Antong Lucky.
“If you don't know what the court looked like before it was a mess it. It was just a concrete pad it had one goal, no lights, but they were out there every day playing on it. This is going to make their day, their year,” said Dorothy Hopkins, President and CEO of Frazier Revitalization.
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The children in attendance got on the new court after the formal dedication. There is also fencing, lighting, and new equipment. And now a chance to create new memories for children as they take their first shots in their new digs.
“That is one of the things I really love about the Mavericks, about Mark, about the whole organization. They really care about the community, about giving back. That is the number one thing and every year before we start the season, it’s about like what can we do to give back,” added Maxi Kleber. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mavericks-dedicate-new-community-basketball-court/3008334/ | 2022-07-07T00:51:56 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mavericks-dedicate-new-community-basketball-court/3008334/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mavericks-foundation-unveil-new-court-for-community/3008392/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:02 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mavericks-foundation-unveil-new-court-for-community/3008392/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mayor-announces-new-safety-initiatives/3008390/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:09 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-mayor-announces-new-safety-initiatives/3008390/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dog-days-of-summer-tanner-chip-and-baxter/3008363/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:17 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dog-days-of-summer-tanner-chip-and-baxter/3008363/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/first-responders-brace-for-heat-related-calls/3008439/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:24 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/first-responders-brace-for-heat-related-calls/3008439/ |
This might be a good time to stock up on books.
Grand Prairie’s Friends of the Library will host a summer clearance sale this month, with 25-cent hardback and paperback books, puzzles, audiobooks and more.
Sale times at the Main Library at 901 Conover Drive are:
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 14
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 16
If you want to donate to the library, read more from our media partners at The Dallas Morning News | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/get-25-cent-books-other-deals-at-grand-prairies-summer-book-sale/3007998/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:31 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/get-25-cent-books-other-deals-at-grand-prairies-summer-book-sale/3007998/ |
A convicted felon with an anarchist symbol tattooed on his chest faces federal charges after he parked his car at Cabela’s in North Fort Worth with a sign advertising an illegal device that converts pistols into machine guns, according to court records.
A recently unsealed criminal complaint and search warrant affidavit by an ATF agent spelled out details of the investigation.
On Jan. 8, Fort Worth police received a report of a silver Mitsubishi parked at Cabela’s with a handwritten sign that said, “Glock Full Auto Switches 4 Sale.”
Investigators traced the car to Hayden Gow who has two criminal convictions for burglary, the ATF said.
An undercover agent texted Gow asking about buying the conversion device.
“Man I just sold out. I’ll be getting more though so I’ll let you know,” he texted back, according to the warrant.
Gow has a “distinctive chest tattoo displaying an anarchist symbol and the quote, ‘Awake, Arise, or be Forever Fallen,’” an ATF agent wrote in a demand for Gow’s Facebook information.
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Gow was arrested on charges he was a convicted felon in possession of a firearm after agents obtained surveillance video of him selling a gun at a Burleson pawn shop, the complaint said.
He is not charged directly with selling or possessing machine gun conversion kits.
Gow is currently held in the Johnson County jail on a drug charge after he was arrested by Burleson police in May.
Sara Abel, spokeswoman for the ATF’s Dallas office, said she could not comment on the Gow case but added that the issue of machine gun “conversion kits” is a growing problem. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/man-faces-federal-charges-after-he-tried-to-sell-machine-gun-conversion-device-atf/3008234/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:38 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/man-faces-federal-charges-after-he-tried-to-sell-machine-gun-conversion-device-atf/3008234/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/multi-vehicle-crash-ties-up-traffic-in-dallas/3008400/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:44 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/multi-vehicle-crash-ties-up-traffic-in-dallas/3008400/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/new-report-details-missed-chances-in-uvalde-shooting-the-connection/3008419/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:51 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/new-report-details-missed-chances-in-uvalde-shooting-the-connection/3008419/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/new-report-of-uvalde-school-shooting-investigation-reveals-more-details/3008441/ | 2022-07-07T00:52:57 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/new-report-of-uvalde-school-shooting-investigation-reveals-more-details/3008441/ |
With a forecasted heat index of 105, people rushed to get inside Plano’s Oak Point Rec Center on Wednesday.
“I’m already sweating and I’ve only been walking for 2 minutes, so yeah – it’s pretty hot,” said Jay Young.
Offering indoor basketball, swimming and camps, the rec center offers plenty of ways for people to escape the heat.
Plano Fire-Rescue is bracing for an uptick in heat-related calls as the triple-digit temperatures remain in the forecast into next week.
Lt. Daniel Daly encourages people to start hydrating before they go outside, wear loose-fitting clothing and limit time outdoors, especially during the hottest part of the day.
“Heat emergencies – weather emergencies – are unbiased,” said Lt. Daniel Daly with Plano Fire-Rescue. “Usually by the time we are called [someone] is teetering on that line from heat exhaustion to heat stroke.”
Crews are also bracing for an increased fire threat as the forecast shows no signs of rain.
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“Everything is just so brittle, so dry that the slightest spark could cause a pretty good fire,” said Daly. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/plano-residents-look-for-ways-to-stay-cool-in-triple-digit-heat/3008342/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:04 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/plano-residents-look-for-ways-to-stay-cool-in-triple-digit-heat/3008342/ |
President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia, and assured her that he is working to win Griner’s freedom as soon as possible, the White House said.
Biden’s conversation with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, followed Brittney Griner’s personal appeal to the president in a handwritten letter from the basketball player the White House received on Monday.
In the letter, Griner acknowledged her fears that she would spend forever in detention in Russia and asked Biden not “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”
Griner has been detained for four months and is currently on trial in Russia, accused of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.
“The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world,” the White House said in a statement. “He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.”
Biden offered his support to the family and committed to making sure they receive “all possible assistance” while the administration pursues steps to win Brittney Griner’s release, the White House said.
Griner is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday.
Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.
Cherelle Griner told “CBS Mornings” in an interview Tuesday that it was “disheartening” to her that she had yet to hear from Biden during Brittney Griner’s detention.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/president-biden-tells-brittney-griners-wife-hes-working-to-get-her-home/3008093/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:12 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/president-biden-tells-brittney-griners-wife-hes-working-to-get-her-home/3008093/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/semi-finalists-for-18th-annual-big-tex-choice-awards-announced/3008453/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:19 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/semi-finalists-for-18th-annual-big-tex-choice-awards-announced/3008453/ |
A 31-year-old suspect in a June 29 Fort Worth officer-involved shooting has died, Tarrant County Medical Office confirms.
The shooting took place shortly after 8:30 p.m. on the 3100 block of Lackland Road and came after Alejandro Cornelio Molina, armed with a shotgun, had attempted to take children from their home.
After unsuccessfully trying to take the kids, Molina fled the scene. After unsuccessful attempts to have him pull over, police followed Molina in a car chase where he was possibly headed back to the home, still armed.
"In order to take proactive measures, officers decided to block the streets to the North and the South to stop his attempts from gaining access to the house and hurting people," said Sgt. Amy Heise with FWPD. "Shortly after that, the suspect did arrive back on the scene in his vehicle. He attempted to circumvent our police vehicles to gain access to the residence."
At this moment, police say he crashed into the police cars. Sgt. Heise said the man "presented officers with a deadly force situation" so officers fired upon the vehicle and struck the suspect.
Molina had since been in intensive care where he succumbed to his gunshot wounds Tuesday evening shortly after 9 p.m. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/suspect-in-fort-worth-officer-involved-shooting-dies/3008433/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:25 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/suspect-in-fort-worth-officer-involved-shooting-dies/3008433/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texans-share-perspectives-on-abortion-at-dallas-rally/3008061/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:31 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texans-share-perspectives-on-abortion-at-dallas-rally/3008061/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-abortion-provider-plans-to-relocate-to-bordering-state/3008449/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:38 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-abortion-provider-plans-to-relocate-to-bordering-state/3008449/ |
All but six of the 53 migrants found dead or dying in a tractor-trailer in Texas last week have been identified, officials said Wednesday.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office said 22 of the dead were from Mexico, 19 were from Guatemala and six were from Honduras.
The migrants were found in an abandoned trailer June 27 on a back road on the edge of San Antonio. The alleged driver of the truck was due in federal court Wednesday for a detention hearing.
The dead included a 13-year-old and 14-year-old from Guatemala and two 16-year-olds from Mexico, the medical examiner’s office said.
One survivor of the journey, a 20-year-old from Guatemala, told The Associated Press that smugglers had covered the trailer’s floor with what she believes was powdered chicken bouillon, apparently to throw off any dogs at checkpoint.
The truck was carrying 73 people in all when it was found June 27. Federal prosecutors say four people have been arrested in connection with the discovery of the truck, including the driver.
Guatemala’s investigation into the smuggling networks is moving slowly, said Stuardo Campo, the prosecutor who is overseeing the case.
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“So far we believe that there were four smuggling structures involved in this case,” Campo said. His office is working with counterparts in Mexico and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Guatemala’s Foreign Relations Ministry has said that the majority of the 22 victims from that country were from the San Marcos department that borders Mexico.
Associated Press journalist Sonia Pérez D. contributed to this report from Guatemala City. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/all-but-6-of-53-migrant-truck-victims-identified/3008030/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:45 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/all-but-6-of-53-migrant-truck-victims-identified/3008030/ |
What to Know
- The report is yet another damning assessment of how police failed to act on opportunities that might have saved lives.
- It appears that no officer waiting in the hallway during the shooting ever tested to see if the door to the classroom was locked.
- Some of the 21 victims at Robb Elementary School likely “could have been saved” had they received medical attention sooner, the report concludes.
A police officer armed with a rifle watched the gunman in the Uvalde elementary school massacre walk toward the campus but did not fire while waiting for permission from a supervisor to shoot, according to a sweeping critique released Wednesday on the tactical response to the May massacre.
Some of the 21 victims at Robb Elementary School, including 19 children, likely “could have been saved” on May 24 had they received medical attention sooner while police waited more than an hour before breaching the fourth-grade classroom, a review by a training center at Texas State University for active shooter situations found.
The report is yet another damning assessment of how police failed to act on opportunities that might have saved lives in what became the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since the slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
“A reasonable officer would have considered this an active situation and devised a plan to address the suspect,” read the report published by the university’s Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program.
Authors of the 26-page report said their findings were based off video taken from the school, police body cameras, testimony from officers on the scene and statements from investigators. Among their findings:
- It appeared that no officer waiting in the hallway during the shooting ever tested to see if the door to the classroom was locked. The head of Texas’ state police agency has also faulted officers on the scene for not checking the doors.
- The officers had “weapons (including rifles), body armor (which may or may not have been rated to stop rifle rounds), training, and backup. The victims in the classrooms had none of these things.”
- When officers finally entered the classroom at 12:50 p.m. — more than an hour after the shooting began — they were no better equipped to confront the gunman than they had been up to that point.
- “Effective incident command” never appears to have been established among the multiple law enforcement agencies that responded to the shooting.
The report follows testimony last month in which Col. Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told the state Senate that the police response was an “abject failure.” He pinned particular blame on Chief Pete Arredondo, saying that as on-scene commander the Uvalde schools police chief made “terrible decisions” and stopped officers from confronting the gunman earlier.
Arredondo has tried to defend his actions, telling the Texas Tribune that he didn’t consider himself the commander in charge of operations and that he assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. He said he didn’t have his police and campus radios but that he used his cellphone to call for tactical gear, a sniper and the classroom keys.
According to the report released Wednesday, Arredondo and another Uvalde police officer spent 13 minutes in the school hallway during the shooting discussing tactical options, whether to use snipers and how to get into the classroom windows.
“They also discussed who has the keys, testing keys, the probability of the door being locked, and if kids and teachers are dying or dead,” the report read.
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McCraw said police had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it.
A lawyer for Arredondo and a spokeswoman for the Uvalde city police department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Arredondo is on leave from his job with the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and resigned from his position as a city councilor last week.
Public leaders, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, initially praised the police response in Uvalde. Abbott said officers reacted quickly and ran toward the gunfire with “amazing courage” to take out the killer, thereby saving lives. He later said he was misled. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/missed-chances-to-stop-uvalde-shooting-detailed-in-new-report/3008219/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:52 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/missed-chances-to-stop-uvalde-shooting-detailed-in-new-report/3008219/ |
One of the largest abortion providers in Texas is planning to move its operations to New Mexico and another provider that offers tele-health services related to abortion and reproductive health care is expanding its footprint in the state.
Austin-based Whole Woman’s Health began winding down its Texas operations after a ruling Friday by the Texas Supreme Court forced an end to abortions in that state. Now, the provider wants to establish a new clinic in a New Mexico city near the state line to provide first and second trimester abortions.
Whole Woman's Health CEO Amy Hagstrom said between 30% and 40% of their recent patients seeking services at their Minnesota clinic are from Texas.
"There’s no reason we should have this “two different America’s” that’s emerged that some people have access to safe, compassionate abortion care legally in their communities. And other people are forced to travel hundreds of miles," Hagstrom Miller said. "New Mexico is a safe haven state. It is a state that has firmly recognized abortion care as essential medical care. It is protected. There aren’t restrictions or bans, like we have experienced in Texas."
Home to a Democratic-led legislature and governor, New Mexico recently took an extra step to protect providers and patients from out-of-state prosecutions. It’s likely to continue to experience a steady influx of people seeking abortions from neighboring states with more restrictive abortion laws.
Michael Maslanka, an associate professor of law at UNT Dallas, said the Texas law which existed in 1925 criminalizing abortion is now currently in effect due to the most recent ruling from the state's highest court.
Another hearing is set for July 12.
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"It’s a game of inches, but we know the outcome," Maslanka said. "It’s a game of inches now but once the trigger law takes effect, game over. Game over. Abortion will be prohibited in Texas, period."
Whole Woman’s Health has started a fundraising effort to help with the costs of moving equipment and supplies from Texas to New Mexico and for the purchase of a building to serve as its new home.
Kimberlyn Schwartz with Texas Right to Life, the state's largest and oldest anti-abortion organization, said there are programs that currently exist to help pregnant women and families. Schwartz pointed to the Alternatives to Abortion program, state funded program that started in 2005.
According to Texas Health and Human Services, the program promotes childbirth and provides support services to pregnant women and their families, adoptive parents, and parents who have experienced miscarriage or the loss of a child.
"Maybe you just had the baby and you’re looking for rental assistance or baby clothes. These abortion facilities do not provide that. On the flip side, the Alternatives to Abortion program does provide that," Schwartz said. "You can get job skills training or education mentorship if you’re trying to figure out what are the next steps for life? How can I provide for this child and push for these goals and these opportunities?"
Officials with Mississippi’s only abortion clinic also have plans to relocate to southern New Mexico and the tele-health provider Choix, based in San Francisco, announced Wednesday that it is now licensed to operate in New Mexico and plans to serve all states where abortion care remains legal by the end of 2023.
New Mexico lawmakers last year repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, thus ensuring access to abortion even after the federal court rolled back guarantees.
The state’s largest city, Albuquerque, is home to one of only a few independent clinics in the country that perform abortions in the third trimester without conditions.
An abortion clinic in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is just a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the state line with Texas near El Paso. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-abortion-provider-to-relocate-to-new-mexico-border-city/3007949/ | 2022-07-07T00:53:58 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-abortion-provider-to-relocate-to-new-mexico-border-city/3007949/ |
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating potential civil rights violations in Texas’ multibillion-dollar border security mission that has given the National Guard arrest powers and seen state authorities bus migrants to Washington, D.C., according to public records.
A lawyer for the state police agency acknowledged the federal probe of Gov. Greg Abbott’s initiative to curb people crossing from Mexico in a May email, records obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune show. The state prison system also cited a “formal investigation” in a letter seeking to withhold public records related to Operation Lone Star.
The investigation comes to light as a human smuggling attempt that left 53 people dead in a sweltering tractor-trailer highlights the limits of state and federal border controls. Crossings along the entire southern border are at or near their highest point in about two decades.
Last year, Abbott, a Republican seeking reelection, rolled out a massive law enforcement apparatus on the border, alleging inaction by President Joe Biden’s administration. The surge in officers has driven arrests — including for trespassing, low-level amounts of marijuana and other minor crimes that appear to have little to do with border security. Some of those detained have spent weeks in state jails.
The emails from Texas Department of Public Safety officials indicate federal authorities are looking at whether the operation may have broken a law against discrimination based on race, color or national origin by organizations receiving federal funds.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice’s civil rights division declined to comment. A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman did not respond to a request for comment and a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not immediately provide any comment.
Since April, Abbott has also offered migrants bus rides to Washington, D.C., saying he was taking the immigration issue to Congress's doorstep. So far, about 3,000 migrants have taken the trip at a cost of more than $5 million.
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An NBC 5 Investigates report in June detailed how state records showed the cost of Abbott’s plan to bus undocumented immigrants from the border to Washington D.C. has cost more than $1,400 per rider so far.
The efforts have not stopped a recent increase in crossings at the southern border. Authorities stopped migrants from crossing illegally 523,000 times between January and May, up from 417,000 over the same span a year ago. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-operation-lone-star-investigated-for-alleged-civil-rights-violations-report/3008156/ | 2022-07-07T00:54:04 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-operation-lone-star-investigated-for-alleged-civil-rights-violations-report/3008156/ |
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News from around the state of Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/woman-accused-in-cyclists-murder-awaits-first-court-hearing/3008060/ | 2022-07-07T00:54:10 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/woman-accused-in-cyclists-murder-awaits-first-court-hearing/3008060/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/utas-maverick-pantry-to-help-fight-hunger-for-students/3008356/ | 2022-07-07T00:54:16 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/utas-maverick-pantry-to-help-fight-hunger-for-students/3008356/ |
About 9,300 Indiana Michigan Power customers remained without power in the Fort Wayne area as of 4 p.m. following storms Tuesday and early today, the utility reported.
In a statement, I&M said it has restored service to about 25% of the customers who lost it, and estimated power would be restored to 90% of the customers with outages by 11 p.m. Thursday.
Winds of up to 70 mph in the Fort Wayne area caused trees and limbs to fall, damaging power lines, the statement said. It said the area received 5 to 9 inches of rain in 24 hours, resulting in flooding and standing water. I&M said it had discovered 15 broken or damaged poles and 30 individual spans of wire down.
Restoration may be affected by more rain and storms, traffic issues, flooding and the heat, the statement said.
It said more than 700 workers were working today to restore service. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/i-m-9-300-remain-without-power-in-fort-wayne-area/article_45d0f876-fd39-11ec-8216-6b45f7c93da6.html | 2022-07-07T00:57:23 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/i-m-9-300-remain-without-power-in-fort-wayne-area/article_45d0f876-fd39-11ec-8216-6b45f7c93da6.html |
The Three Rivers Festival has canceled river excursions for 2022, saying the increased speed and height of the rivers made them unsafe to host the event.
"The decision was made because of high water levels on the river due to the heavy rainfall in the past few days," the festival said in a statement.
“Although we really looked forward to the return of this popular event, we will always err on the side of caution when it comes to the safety of our community and volunteers,” said John Nichter, festival board president, in the statement.
All other events will continue as planned, the festival said. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/three-rivers-festival-cancels-river-excursions-for-2022/article_42d404ca-fd74-11ec-be73-cfb52fa92b5d.html | 2022-07-07T00:57:29 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/three-rivers-festival-cancels-river-excursions-for-2022/article_42d404ca-fd74-11ec-be73-cfb52fa92b5d.html |
White Socks stares down the camera while resting in the cat shelter at the Idaho Humane Society in Boise on June 2. The shelter received an influx of animals during the Fourth of July weekend.
It has been a busy past few days for the folks at the Idaho Humane Society.
With the recent Fourth of July fireworks celebrations, some furry friends experienced extreme anxiety and ran away from their homes.
“We've had a decent amount of cats and dogs come into us as strays, which is pretty typical this weekend,” said Laurien Mavey, public relations assistant with Idaho Humane Society.
She told KTVB that over the Fourth of July weekend alone, the shelter received a total of 54 animals
Friday: nine cats and six dogs
Saturday: seven dogs
Sunday: four cats and 17 dogs
Monday: three cats and four dogs
An additional three cats and one dog came by noon on Tuesday.
“If you have lost your pet, you can go to our website and click on services and then at the top of the menu, you will see lost and found pets," Mavey said. "There you can access our portal, which is where we'll have pictures of all the animals that have been found. They'll be listed on there and then if you have lost a pet, you can also file a missing pet report."
This comes as the shelter is also looking for foster parents to help take care of an influx of cats. The Humane Society said it has received more than 500 cats since the beginning of June. With that many cats and kittens coming in, the staff needs help. But why is this happening?
“So during our kitten season, we can see these numbers, that's not that out of the ordinary, but this is a pretty high one just for this month,” Mavey said. “Cats can have quite a few kittens in each litter, so that just really, really adds up pretty quickly.”
Foster parents would help feed and socialize the kittens. Idaho Humane Society told KTVB it is also looking for foster parents for adult cats, as well as dogs. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-humane-society-receives-influx-of-animals-over-july-4th-weekend/article_d1f1705e-3e1c-5f34-b7b1-e074a8133b74.html | 2022-07-07T00:58:44 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-humane-society-receives-influx-of-animals-over-july-4th-weekend/article_d1f1705e-3e1c-5f34-b7b1-e074a8133b74.html |
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Mike Lindell, known as the MyPillow guy, is back at it again — suggesting there’s voter fraud in Idaho despite Republican and Democratic assurances that the state’s elections are fair and accurate.
In a news release earlier this year, the Idaho Democrats noted the “accuracy and integrity” of the November 2020 election in Idaho. And ahead of this May’s primaries, Idaho Republican Party Chairman Tom Luna echoed a similar message.
“Idahoans should have the utmost confidence that our elections are both fair and free,” Luna said in a statement. “In the state of Idaho, we have a history of safe and secure elections.”
This is the latest baseless election fraud allegation Lindell has made against Idaho. The founder and CEO of MyPillow Inc., far-right political activist and supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has made a number of dubious statements in recent years including unsubstantiated claims regarding COVID-19 and attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Idaho’s May primary had a number of high-profile races, but none more so than the governor’s race pitting against each other Gov. Brad Little and Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin. Their campaigns for the highest office in the state attracted significant national attention.
McGeachin, who was endorsed by Trump, lost with around 32% of the vote to Little’s 53%.
The state conducted audits after the election. In Ada, Kootenai and Bonneville counties, the audits found perfect results — or no differences between the new hand counts and the already certified results.
Last November, the Ada County Elections Office recounted a few precincts in a Meridian City Council election and found no change in the results from the certified election.
But Lindell, speaking on his web video show with a caller who said he was from Idaho, questioned Idaho’s primary elections, despite substantial evidence to the contrary.
Mike Lindell says he is opening an investigation alleging Janice McGeachin (32%) was defrauded in the ID Gov race. He says he has “evidence piled all the way to the sun and back,” and that he is doing to melt down their voting machines and make prison bars for elections officials pic.twitter.com/6vLeoNjfia
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) July 5, 2022
“Idaho, we are not letting this sit idly by,” Lindell said. “Idaho’s at the front of the line.”
Last year, the Idaho Secretary of State’s office investigated allegations Lindell made that some votes for Trump were switched electronically to votes for President Joe Biden. Lindell alleged this happened in all 44 counties, but seven counties don’t have an electronic component of the vote counting process, as previously reported.
Trump won almost every single county in Idaho and won the state with over 63% of the vote.
Earlier this year, Idaho sent Lindell a cease-and-desist letter and a bill for over $6,000 it spent investigating his claims.
“I don’t care Idaho. Send me another bill. Send me another bill,” Lindell said on his show this week. “It’s kind of funny, I thought it would be so easy going to these red states and saying open up your machines and let’s see what happened in your state.”
Lindell is “very, very uninformed,” said Luna, the Idaho GOP Chairman.
“I have full confidence in the validity of the results and what was reported and I would think that Mr. Lindell, if he did his homework, he would see the same thing,” Luna said.
He pointed to the audits and reviews of the election and to a race in District 9, where a recount confirmed Scott Syme lost to Judy Boyle by just six votes.
Questioning the legitimacy of a vote can lead to questioning the winner’s legitimacy in office, Luna said, which is why Idaho was proactive in doing the audits.
“We can’t get into this pattern that every time there’s an election and we don’t like the results that we question whether there was integrity,” Luna said. “Not only will people begin to lose confidence in the election results but it removes the legitimate concerns that can be raised if there is an issue.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/mypillow-guy-suggests-idaho-election-fraud-again-despite-evidence-to-the-contrary/article_0f2edb53-533d-5969-b3c1-17666122f284.html | 2022-07-07T00:58:57 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/mypillow-guy-suggests-idaho-election-fraud-again-despite-evidence-to-the-contrary/article_0f2edb53-533d-5969-b3c1-17666122f284.html |
BOISE — Reclaim Idaho volunteers formed a human chain from the Capitol steps to the Idaho Secretary of State’s office on Wednesday pass 44 colorful school backpacks, hand to hand, containing the verified petitions from each of Idaho’s 44 counties to qualify the group’s school funding initiative for the ballot.
The initiative, dubbed the Quality Education Act, would increase corporate and personal income taxes on the wealthiest taxpayers to raise hundreds of millions in additional funding for Idaho schools, with the aim of pulling Idaho out of last place in the country for per-pupil school spending. That’s the opposite direction Idaho lawmakers have been moving in recent years; they’ve passed record corporate and personal income tax cuts in each of the past two legislative sessions, reducing state tax revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reclaim Idaho, the same statewide grassroots group that successfully pressed for the Medicaid expansion initiative on the 2018 Idaho ballot, collected more than 100,000 signatures. The Idaho Secretary of State’s office now will conduct a final review of the petitions before placing it on the November ballot; that’s expected to take up to 10 days.
The crowd of cheering volunteers, in bright-green T-shirts, gathered on the Capitol steps for a rally before delivering the petitions, at which Luke Mayville, Reclaim Idaho co-founder, brandished a copy of the Idaho Constitution. “When the founders of our state drafted this document 132 years ago, they stated clearly that it is the obligation of our Legislature to provide a quality education to every Idaho child,” he told the crowd. “But in recent decades, especially in the last 20 years, the majority of our legislators failed to fulfill their obligation to Idaho’s children. They let Idaho sink to 50th out of 50 states in funding for education.”
Reclaim Idaho volunteers turned in over 100,000 signatures to qualify the #QualityEducationAct for the ballot. #ReclaimIdaho #idpol pic.twitter.com/yLsEIfqIZ4
— Reclaim Idaho (@reclaimID) July 6, 2022
He said, “We know this initiative won’t solve every problem in our education system. But make no mistake: This initiative will be the most significant investment in our schools in a generation.”
Other speakers included avid Reclaim Idaho volunteer Anise Welty, an incoming South Junior High School ninth-grader who’s just 13. “I started because I see how hard teachers work for their students,” she told the crowd. “I have also seen a lot of teachers leave the profession. Reclaim Idaho’s work will encourage teachers to stay. We need teachers to educate our future generations.”
To cheers and applause, Anise said while volunteering over the past year to gather signatures for the initiative, “I met people from both sides of the aisle who enthusiastically agreed to sign. It is a great experience to be volunteering for a group that is working for positive change.”
“We’ve gotten this far,” she told the crowd. “I can’t vote yet, so I need all of you to get out there and make this happen in November!”
Gary Multanen, owner of Best Bath Systems in Caldwell, which employs more than 200 people, told the crowd, “Why am I supporting the Quality Education Act, knowing that I’ll pay a little more in taxes? The answer is simple: The cost of these modest tax increases is almost nothing compared to the benefit of an educated workforce. Every business owner understands that it’s impossible to grow a business without workers who are talented and skilled. … The cultivation of talent and skill begins with an excellent education.”
The initiative would restore Idaho’s corporate income tax rate to 8%, its level from 1987 until 2000; and add an additional tax bracket for individual income taxpayers who earn more than $250,000 a year, or $500,000 for a married couple. Those taxpayers would pay a new rate of 10.925%, but only on that portion they earn over those amounts. No one earning less than those amounts would see any increase. This year, the Legislature lowered the top individual income tax rate from 6.5% to 6%, and also lowered the corporate tax rate from 6.5% to 6%.
The plan would raise an estimated $323 million a year for K-12 public education in Idaho.
Leah Jones, a second-grade teacher from Twin Falls, said in her nine years of teaching, she keeps seeing fellow teachers leave. “It’s not hard to understand why,” she told the crowd. “Idaho teachers are paid far less than teachers in neighboring states. On average, we earn $27,000 less than teachers in Washington, $16,000 less than teachers in Oregon, and $8,000 less than teachers in Wyoming. And it’s not just about salaries. It’s also a lack of support in the classroom.” She described spending more than $4,000 of her own money each year on student and classroom supplies, from shelves and staplers to glue and pencils.
Jones said her district is scrambling to fill teaching vacancies, and in June, offered her a $500 bonus if she could find someone to teach there, even as highly trained and experienced teachers continued to leave. “Now I watch my district struggle to fill their positions with people who don’t even have a degree in teaching,” she said. “Our kids deserve so much better.”
Multanen said he and his wife moved to Boise in 1972. “Governor after governor, legislature after legislature has failed to do their job,” he said, “so now the citizens have to do it for them.” Cheers broke out as he added, “Let’s vote yes.”
It takes at least 64,945 valid signatures to place a voter initiative on the November ballot, including signatures from at least 6% of the voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. Mayville announced that the initiative met that mark in 20 districts. To become law, it would need majority support from voters in the November general election.
Anise, the 13-year-old volunteer, was smiling happily as she received backpacks full of petitions from the volunteer next to her and passed them on, as the packs traveled down the line of cheering and chanting supporters and into the Idaho Secretary of State’s office. She said she first heard about the initiative when her mom saw it on Facebook, and she was determined to get involved; she’s glad she did. She brought her mom along. “I’m going to be involved in something from now on,” she said. “I loved it.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/reclaim-idaho-delivers-petitions-to-secretary-of-state-to-get-school-funding-initiative-on-november/article_78d639e5-1bae-59e4-a834-ff87b2ae7560.html | 2022-07-07T00:59:03 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/reclaim-idaho-delivers-petitions-to-secretary-of-state-to-get-school-funding-initiative-on-november/article_78d639e5-1bae-59e4-a834-ff87b2ae7560.html |
JACKSON COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – Starting next school year, a new safety program will be underway in Jackson County Schools.
“Being good enough in this particular instance wasn’t really good enough moving forward,” said Ross Mellinger, Jackson County Sheriff.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Jackson County Schools are partnering to start the new program, called the Shield Program.
Mellinger said it’s the result of an event that unfolded 3 months ago when a 15-year-old student brought a handgun onto a school bus at Ripley Middle School.
“Even though things went well in terms of the response and appropriate actions on all levels, myself and the superintendent at the time decided we could do better,” Mellinger said.
Now, the sheriff and his deputies will be required to spend a few hours each week patrolling a school in the county.
“The goal is for every officer, every deputy here to be just as familiar with the one school today as they are the next one tomorrow, you know, every school they should know inside and out,” Mellinger said.
The initiative is bringing ease to people like Lisa Casto, who says she has a grandson attending school in the county next year.
“First and foremost, the safety of our kids is the most important,” Casto said. “I feel this will ease parents [and] grandparents raising kids.”
Cassandra Judge, a Jackson County school substitute nurse, also said she’s happy about the new program.
“I think that they will help promote the children feeling safer, and I think the teachers and staff will feel safe, more safe,” Judge said.
According to Mellinger, this program isn’t just about prevention, it also allows deputies to build relationships within the community.
“Walking the halls, fist-pumping the kids, having lunch with them, playing kickball on the playground, talking to the teachers, the custodians, the staff, whatever you need to do to help build that relationship and help learn what you can what’s going on in the school system itself,” Mellinger said.
So far, Mellinger said he’s optimistic about this new approach.
“Complacency will get your kids killed and looking at this thing within its entirety, this is designed specifically for that, not to be complacent. [To] move forward and try to make it better every day,” he said. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/jackson-county-schools-to-start-new-safety-program/ | 2022-07-07T00:59:50 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/jackson-county-schools-to-start-new-safety-program/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland's crime and homeless crisis are affecting the city's real estate market. Office buildings in downtown Portland are going on the market at an alarming rate.
“It felt like a punch in the gut,” said Todd Gooding, president of ScanlanKemperBard Companies (SKB), which invests in commercial real estate.
Two years ago, SKB bought the 100,000-square-foot Mason Erhman Annex building on Northeast 5th and Everett — right in the middle of Old Town — for $25 million. Now, it’s back on the market after tenants felt the area was unsafe.
“They informed us that they're going to honor their lease, but they're moving out and they're not coming back,” said Gooding.
The tenants still have four years left on the lease. Gooding even offered to pay for security escorts to and from work.
“We just feel let down by the city of Portland… We didn't realize the city would ignore the public safety concerns as long as they did.”
Mayor Ted Wheeler told KGW that community safety continues to be a top priority for his administration. He said he added increased police presence and bike patrols in Old Town along with investments to help the area's economy.
"My office extends an open door policy, we hope that business owners reach out as they navigate the uncertain economy," he said in a statement to KGW.
Gooding said his staff has called the city numerous times.
“Nobody will pick up the phone and respond. It's been pretty disappointing,” said Gooding.
SKB owns seven buildings in Portland. So far, this is the only one they have on the market, but Gooding anticipates that to change since tenants are now looking to move out of downtown, which is home to half of all of Portland’s office buildings.
“We have other tenants in other properties that have also reported other public safety issues,” Gooding said.
“If our downtown is struggling to do well, our city is struggling to do well,” added Tim Harrison, Pacific Northwest regional research director for Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), a global leader in real estate services.
Harrison said between the pandemic, protests and people working from home, office spaces are struggling to find new tenants.
Right now, JLL knows of 30 office buildings bigger than 10,000 square feet for sale in the urban core. Building vacancies in the urban core have increased by 80% since 2019.
“It's all part of the recovery,” said Harrison. “It's taking longer than we would've liked. The downtown urban core is still extremely important to the health of our city.”
As for finding new tenants, that's also proven to be a slow process.
The Mason Erhman building in Old Town has been on the market for 120 days.
And Portland isn’t alone.
Harrison said other major cities such as San Francisco, Denver and Phoenix are seeing an even higher percentage of empty commercial buildings hitting the market.
“Portland is a pretty good average for what's happening in the country right now,” Harrison said.
Harrison believes the future of the city depends heavily on people returning to the office. He said larger companies and the city itself must take the lead on bringing employees back to the workplace if the urban core is to fully recover from the past few years. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/homeless-crime-portland-commercial-real-estate/283-42c632b7-79c7-4e32-9c5c-33ef90ee2c6b | 2022-07-07T01:02:35 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/homeless-crime-portland-commercial-real-estate/283-42c632b7-79c7-4e32-9c5c-33ef90ee2c6b |
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