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AUSTIN, Texas — An 11-year-old transgender girl from Texas who has advocated for others like herself for most of her life is leaving the state.
Kai Shappley and her mother, Kimberly Shappley, have been vocal in their activism for years, pushing against legislation that has targeted the Texas transgender community and transgender children in particular.
In April 2021, Kai Shappley told state lawmakers that she moved from Pearland, Texas, to Austin for a "more welcoming environment," as she urged them to reconsider a bill that would make gender-affirming care illegal for minors. In March 2022, she was present at an event proclaiming Austin a safe city for transgender families.
But it seems the Shappley family no longer feels safe in Texas, in Austin or otherwise. On July 4, Kai Shappley tweeted a photo of a garage sale sign with the caption, "My mom sold our home & everything that doesn't fit in our car because the state I was born in is not safe for trans kids. Anyways... happy Independence Day to everyone who gets to celebrate that."
On a GoFundMe page she created, Kimberly Shappley wrote that her goal is to get her daughter and her son, Kaleb, "out of Texas and into a safe state."
For her reasoning, she referenced a June Vogue article written about Kai Shappley, which discussed in part a February order from Gov. Greg Abbott, directing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care for their transgender children.
Kimberly Shappley wrote that "it's not just trans kids Texas is harming by scapegoating them for political purposes," saying that Kaleb regularly expresses fear that he will be taken from his mother by state agents and fear for the "irreparable damage he knows would be caused to his sister were she forced to de-transition."
"When states target trans kids, their parents, and their doctors, there is collateral damage – so I'm looking for a new state where my daughter will be allowed to be a kid, and my youngest son will no longer have to worry about being taken from me or his sister," Kimberly Shappley wrote.
Britny Eubank on social media: Twitter
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/kai-shappley-transgender-activist-leaving-texas/269-7bc9e89d-0685-4309-9edf-1272ea701732 | 2022-07-08T19:58:43 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/kai-shappley-transgender-activist-leaving-texas/269-7bc9e89d-0685-4309-9edf-1272ea701732 |
SAN ANTONIO — A woman in her 80s was shot and killed by her husband inside a hospital, the San Antonio Police Department said.
The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on Friday at a local hospital in the 7000 block of Floyd Curl.
Authorities said this was not an active shooter, and at no point were hospital employees, visitors or patients in any danger.
Police said they believe the husband, who was also in his 80s, shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. This information is preliminary, but authorities said it is a "very tragic situation."
The homicide unit is now conducting their investigation.
More on KENS 5: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-fatally-shoots-wife-himself-inside-san-antonio-hospital-police-say/273-d8cd6c5d-4e0d-4a5d-844f-eb4801bd5602 | 2022-07-08T19:58:49 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-fatally-shoots-wife-himself-inside-san-antonio-hospital-police-say/273-d8cd6c5d-4e0d-4a5d-844f-eb4801bd5602 |
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — First Lady Jill Biden is set to travel to San Antonio on Monday.
Biden will speak at the 2022 UnidosUS Annual Conference, titled "Siempre Adelante: Our Quest for Equity." The conference is described as "the largest gathering of Latino advocates, community and business leaders to tackle issues affecting more than 62 million Latinos across the country," according to a Friday release.
This year's conference is its first in-person event in two years and lasts from July 9 to July 11.
Biden will also attend a Democratic National Committee finance event at 2 p.m.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/first-lady-jill-biden-travel-san-antonio/269-ea1cbde6-401c-420d-a39c-5b39e8f33015 | 2022-07-08T19:58:56 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/first-lady-jill-biden-travel-san-antonio/269-ea1cbde6-401c-420d-a39c-5b39e8f33015 |
UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin is speaking out over what he says are inaccuracies in the report by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center (ALERRT) about what happened at Robb Elementary School on May 24.
"No Uvalde police department officer saw the shooter on May 24 prior to him entering the school," said Mayor McLaughlin. "No Uvalde police officers had any opportunity to take a shot at the gunman. A Uvalde Police Department officer saw someone outside, but was unsure of who he saw and observed children in the area as well. Ultimately, it was a coach with children on the playground, not the shooter."
The mayor went on to add that the ALERRT report and the timeline given by Texas DPS after the Senate hearing were incorrect. He added that DPS troopers were onsite and at the door of Robb Elementary School about three minutes after the shooter entered the building on that tragic day. He said there were also dozens of DPS troopers onsite by the time of the breach in the classroom.
"’I've said it once and will say it again, the premature release of piecemeal information or anything related to the May 24 Department of Public Safety (DPS)/Texas Rangers investigation is a disservice to families who lost children or parents because the true facts need to come out once all investigations/reviews, which the City expects will be thorough and fair, are complete," said Mayor McLaughlin. "I firmly believe it is imperative the families are provided with complete, unbiased, and comprehensive information about this incident. I will continue to advocate for comprehensive information to be provided to the families and citizens of Uvalde and to make every effort that something like this does not happen again."
Read the statement from the mayor here
The mayor's office, the Uvalde County District Attorney and the Texas DPS have requested the city to not release any City records related to the Robb Elementary School investigation.
The district attorney said that the material is still being reviewed and the investigation is still ongoing. When the investigation and review is complete, the city will evaluate the release of city records. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/uvalde-mayor-says-alerrt-report-not-accurate-account-of-what-happened-at-robb-elementary-texas-school-shooting-tragedy/273-ab14407a-3edf-4ef1-b01a-61b63e1252f8 | 2022-07-08T19:59:02 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/uvalde-mayor-says-alerrt-report-not-accurate-account-of-what-happened-at-robb-elementary-texas-school-shooting-tragedy/273-ab14407a-3edf-4ef1-b01a-61b63e1252f8 |
Man sentenced to 44 years in prison for 2020 Westgate shooting
A 23-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 44 years in prison for the May 2020 shooting at Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale that injured three people.
Armando Hernandez pleaded guilty in April to two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Dozens of other counts were dismissed under a plea agreement.
The 44-year prison sentence handed down Friday was the maximum allowed under the plea agreement. Some of the shooting victims and their families made statements at the hearing.
ON BACKGROUND:A timeline of the May 20 Westgate shooting, as detailed by police records and video
On the evening of May 20, 2020, Hernandez strode through the open-air mall carrying an AR-15 in one hand and a phone in the other.
He first opened fire outside a Johnny Rockets restaurant. He injured a teen couple, hitting a 16-year-old girl in the leg and a 19-year-old man in the chest. He then shot a 30-year-old woman in the parking lot — an encounter he filmed on his phone and posted on Snapchat.
All three people injured in the shooting survived.
Hernandez surrendered to police soon after the shooting.
Hernandez, who was 20 at the time of the shooting, told police he wanted to shoot at least 10 people who were in couples around his own age, according to a 250-page police report. He also described himself as an "incel," telling police he defined the term as "someone who cannot get attention or relationships from other people," the report said.
He told police his plan was to aim for their legs and never their heads because his intent wasn't to kill anyone, according to the report.
More on courts:Does Arizona need to give more to schools? Judge orders trial in school funding case
Republic reporter Bree Burkitt and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale-breaking/2022/07/08/man-sentenced-44-years-prison-2020-westgate-shooting/10013883002/ | 2022-07-08T20:00:47 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale-breaking/2022/07/08/man-sentenced-44-years-prison-2020-westgate-shooting/10013883002/ |
Hope House of Sedona prepares to open doors to families in need
A year after a successful fundraising effort through the Arizona Republic-sponsored A Community Thrives grant program, Hope House of Sedona is about to open.
The nonprofit has completed construction, made its final hire and expects to welcome housing-challenged families within the next few weeks, said John Lothrop, president of Hope House's board of directors.
"We really look forward to serving families who need a helping hand," he said.
Hope House was conceived by members of the Church of the Red Rocks, whose members were looking to help Verde Valley families challenged by homelessness and rising housing costs. In 2019, it became a standalone nonprofit with community-wide support from faith groups, businesses and other community groups.
Hope House of Sedona was one of 16 Arizona nonprofits that received A Community Thrives grants in 2021. The group received $4,700 from the program sponsored by The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com and Gannett Foundation. Gannett Co., Inc., owns The Republic. It also raised matching funds through Community Thrives totaling nearly $31,000.
The funds helped pay for the construction and furnishing of a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home that will provide housing to families and children from the Sedona area and the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District.
Residents are working families struggling to find affordable housing. Hope House will provide transitional housing aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness for these families.
"It’s been one thing after another, but we’ll get there. We started this journey four years ago, learning about homelessness," Lothrop said.
Lothrop stressed that Hope House is not a homeless shelter, day drop-in center, halfway house or an addiction rehab center. The group's goal is to house 30 to 40 people a year with an average stay of three months.
“(A Community Thrives) support ... was crucial in making Hope House truly feel like 'home' for our residents,” he said.
The 6-year-old Community Thrives program supports education, arts and culture, wellness and community building. In 2021, the program awarded almost $2.3 million to nonprofits nationwide.
Grants are broken into two categories:
- National grants of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 awarded for specific projects themed around community building.
- Operating grants awarded for specific projects or for day-to-day expenses.
In both cases, nonprofits have to raise a minimum amount of matching funds to qualify for final grant consideration. Qualified nonprofits begin crowdfunding for 2022 Community Thrives grants on July 18.
A Community Thrives 2022
Timeline:
- July 18-Aug. 12 — Crowdfunding by qualified nonprofits.
- Early October — Grants awarded.
Nonprofits can find more details about A Community Thrives at acommunitythrives.com. Learn more about Hope House of Sedona at hopehouseofsedona.org.
Roxanne De La Rosa writes about nonprofits for The Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her at rdelarosa@azcentral.com. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/08/hope-house-sedona-help-families-affordable-housing/7822984001/ | 2022-07-08T20:00:53 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/08/hope-house-sedona-help-families-affordable-housing/7822984001/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge is allowing an Indiana law largely banning a second-trimester abortion procedure to take effect following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protection for abortion.
U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker's order signed Thursday lifts the injunction she issued in 2019 blocking the law against the procedure that the Republican-backed legislation called "dismemberment abortion."
Barker granted a request from the Indiana attorney general's office to lift her order, writing that the Supreme Court's decision last month overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling removed the "linchpin holdings" for her analysis.
The law prohibits doctors from performing dilation and evacuation abortions unless to prevent serious health risk or save the life of the mother. A doctor violating the law could face a felony charge, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Barker, however, declined to lift her injunction against a 2017 Indiana law that would require parents to be notified if a court allows a girl younger than 18 to get abortion without parental consent. Barker cited procedural reasons, pointing out that the challenge of that law was pending with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
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Indiana could have more sweeping abortion restrictions by sometime next month as the Republican-dominated Legislature is scheduled to begin a special legislative session on July 25. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/judge-lifts-order-against-indiana-abortion-procedure-ban/article_19b86dcd-270e-5438-bc4a-33a2b703569f.html | 2022-07-08T20:02:17 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/judge-lifts-order-against-indiana-abortion-procedure-ban/article_19b86dcd-270e-5438-bc4a-33a2b703569f.html |
HOBART — A portion of the eastbound lane of Third Street will be closed from Monday until Aug. 30.
The closure affects a stretch of the road between Wisconsin and Ash streets.
A detour plan directs motorists to use Second and Ellendale streets to travel around the closure.
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Don't have an account? Sign Up Today | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/portion-of-third-street-closed-until-aug-30/article_fa35047b-8594-5c1a-839b-01765f7de044.html | 2022-07-08T20:02:23 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/portion-of-third-street-closed-until-aug-30/article_fa35047b-8594-5c1a-839b-01765f7de044.html |
SCRANTON, Pa. — For the past 12 years, WNEP has teamed up with Allied Services to raise more than $4 million through events leading up to and including the New York City Marathon. You may recall the campaign as Ryan's Run.
This year, it's called Team Allied Services — different name, same cause.
"All the money stays local, whether we're reinvesting in new technology for pediatrics, adult rehabilitation, end-of-life care. We invest in our teams and training in new specialties, new modalities in therapy, to make sure they're always on the cutting edge," said Jim Brogna, a vice president at Allied Services.
There are already 72 people pledging to run for Team Allied Services and several events will be held to raise funds leading up to the marathon, including the 5K & All-Abilities Walk in the fall.
Your donations help pay for equipment and training for people with disabilities, life-changing injuries, and chronic illnesses.
"Everything changes year to year. There's always new research coming out. You really just want to make sure that you're offering the best that you can to your patient. And that's what this initiative does for us. This just enables us to give the best care that we can," said Leslie Ritter, a therapist at Allied Services.
Last year, Allied Services was able to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, including the ALTER-G Anti-Gravity Treadmill.
Art Williams of Peckville is one of the patients using the machine.
"I want to get back to walking in my own my way of life before I had this surgery. But it's great up here and working with these people they've enabled me to get from a wheelchair to a walker to walking again," Williams said.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/team-allied-services-ready-to-run-ryans-run-new-york-marathon-fundraiser-5k-all-abilities-walk-donations/523-58e3db75-db04-4dd9-8d91-520dd1fae964 | 2022-07-08T20:05:37 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/team-allied-services-ready-to-run-ryans-run-new-york-marathon-fundraiser-5k-all-abilities-walk-donations/523-58e3db75-db04-4dd9-8d91-520dd1fae964 |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A 72-year-old woman who was struck in a hit-and-run on Barnes Road has been identified, Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.
Authorities identified the woman as Diana Petty and said she is still in critical condition.
Petty was struck by a vehicle that ran a red light around 7:22 p.m. Thursday, according to WCSO. Deputies said they found her lying in the road with serious injuries that may result in the loss of some limbs.
Petty was reportedly hit while on her way home from visiting her sick husband in the hospital.
WCSO noted the location of the crash likely saved Petty’s life, as several hospital workers sprang into action to provide aid.
“It always warms my heart that even in kind of the worst-case or the worst situation that we investigate, that there are still so many good Samaritans out there,” Sergeant Robert Rookhuyzen of Washington County Sheriff’s Office said. “One of the nurses applied a tourniquet, which as we know really prevented a lot more loss of blood.”
Anyone with information on the hit-and-run is urged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503.629.011. | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/72-year-old-woman-hit-on-barnes-road-identified/ | 2022-07-08T20:10:52 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/72-year-old-woman-hit-on-barnes-road-identified/ |
Benton Harbor's lead levels fall below federal action level for first time since 2018
Lead levels in Benton Harbor's drinking water have dropped to just below the federal action level for the first time since 2018, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
At the 90% level, the 63 residences tested in the southwest Michigan community from Jan. 1 to June 30 had 14 parts per billion of lead particles, according to the state. It was down slightly from the 15 ppb recorded in the last six-month period of August-November 2021.
In the latest samples, the readings ranged from 0 ppb to 53 ppb, with five locations exceeding the action level of 15 ppb, according to the state. In the August-November period, samples ranged from no lead detection to 48 ppb, while six samples still had more 15 ppb in the water tested.
The city of 9,100 residents exceeded the federal standard for three straight years, starting at 22 ppb in 2018. In the first half of 2021, the reading was 24 ppb.
“This is a significant step forward for our community as we work to ensure Benton Harbor has access to safe drinking water,” Mayor Marcus Muhammad in a statement provided by EGLE. Muhammad has been the target of a recall petition.
Public health experts maintain that no level of lead is safe in drinking water. Exposure to sustained high levels of lead can cause problems such as abdominal pain, memory loss, high blood pressure, reduced fertility as well as heart and kidney disease, according to health experts.
The city has been replacing lead service lines with state money as a way to eliminate the presence of lead in the water. About 72% of Benton Harbor's estimated 4,488 lead service lines had been replaced through Friday, leaving 1,273 lines from removal.
The latest water sample results are evidence that the city's efforts including corrosion control are working, said Eric Oswald, director of EGLE’s Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division.
“This is positive news and an indication that Benton Harbor’s drinking water system is remaining stable while the city accelerates this critical infrastructure work,” Oswald said in a statement released Thursday. “Having said that, today’s news does not lessen the urgency around our continuing efforts to assist the city in aggressively reducing lead exposure —through lead service line replacement and corrosion control treatment.”
Residents in the majority-Black city are still being urged to use filtered or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, rinsing food and mixing powdered baby formula. The state is continuing to distribute free bottled water. Some resident have claimed they were not given proper instruction on how to install the filters, which require correct installation to be effective.
Since the 2018 discovery of dangerously elevated lead levels in Benton Harbor, state and city officials have been criticized for their initial slow response to the public health crisis and failure to warn residents about the unsafe conditions. The state didn't start delivering free bottled water to residents until late September 2021.
Last fall Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all lead service lines in Benton Harbor to be replaced by 2023.
The state continues to treat Benton Harbor's lead water lines with a corrosion control chemical blend, the goal of which is to reduce the amount of lead that dissolves into pipes. Criticisms by experts and environmentalists claim this corrosion treatment was initially ineffective.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services alerts all households whose lead levels exceed federal and state standards and offers additional testing and lead abatement services. All residencies in Benton Harbor are eligible for free lead water testing and abatement and can apply for these services using an online form.
hmackay@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/07/08/after-4-years-benton-harbor-lead-levels-fall-below-federal-maximum/10013060002/ | 2022-07-08T20:14:20 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/07/08/after-4-years-benton-harbor-lead-levels-fall-below-federal-maximum/10013060002/ |
INDIANAPOLIS —
As the City of Indianapolis is working to upgrade its public transit lines, city leaders are also working to increase pedestrian safety.
"The Last Mile," through the $4.5 million Safe Routes Transit program, will develop improvements around transit corridors. The streets that are getting these changes were decided based on crash data and site inspections.
"The Last Mile that the mayor [Joe Hogsett] spoke about is of particular importance of transit riders, especially those who have mobility issues who can use the transit system for the majority of their commutes, but also use the sidewalks for the final connection to their neighborhoods," City-County Council President Vop Osili said.
In total, the $4.5 million project will include:
- 152 new ADA-compliant ramps
- 109 new crosswalks
- 4,835 linear feet of new curbs
- 2,863 linear feet of rehabilitated sidewalks
- 12 new street signals (rectangular rapid-flashing beacons)
"We are using data to drive these decisions. We have eight pedestrian crash zones that will be under construction for the next three years to improve safety in the most high-crash areas in our city,” Indianapolis Department of Public Works Director Daniel Parker said.
Target locations are required to be within half a mile of the IndyGo Red Line corridor on the southeast side. There is a similar project targeting the northern portion of the Red Line corridor, which is almost complete.
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- Mother told she owed $31K on son's student loan after he died | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/city-of-indianapolis-pedestrian-safety-southeast-side-traffic-construction-project/531-ecc13e2f-b249-4148-b697-9209582f7d8f | 2022-07-08T20:14:30 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/city-of-indianapolis-pedestrian-safety-southeast-side-traffic-construction-project/531-ecc13e2f-b249-4148-b697-9209582f7d8f |
INDIANAPOLIS — For the last 10 years, an organization called Empowering Indy has been helping families in an area east of downtown Indianapolis that's experienced high crime rates.
Members of Church 52 started Empowering Indy to help those in the community thrive, with much success.
Now, they are teaming up with the Midwest Food Bank, to bring in "Feed The Need," a new pop-up food distribution program.
At first, members started with the Christmas project – a yearlong fundraiser to provide families in their communities with necessities like shoes, clothes and toys.
The group, which has grown over the years, decided they needed a yearlong program to provide more help.
Jamie Inskeep is excited about the number of volunteers from Church 52 that keep looking for ways to help.
"We started with just a handful of volunteers, and now, we're into the hundreds," Inskeep said. "We went from serving 25 kids, [and] this past year, we served over 650, so it's just grown every single year. So we developed this nonprofit in response to that."
Now, they are partnered with the Midwest Food Bank to bring much-needed food relief to those impacted by the current economy and with food insecurity on the east and southeast sides of Indianapolis.
John Whitaker, executive director for Midwest Food Bank Indiana, said these pop-up distributions will be instrumental in supporting many facing their greatest time of need.
"People that were on the edge of poverty have fallen over across the line and are in poverty for the first time. And so we're seeing about a 25% increase in need," Whitaker said.
Other churches have been successful with pop-up shops, and Feed The Need knows the demand is there – but not just for food.
"This will be our first opportunity to feed families that we are also serving at Christmas time. We're calling it the Feed The Need as a way to say that we're going to feed your immediate needs, but we're also going to help the other needs in your life," Inskeep said. "We're hoping it will become a hub, a pop-up place where people know they can come and not just get groceries, but also resources such as ... affordable childcare and job opportunities and free haircuts and child support services."
The weekend pop-ups will help about 500 people in an area of Indianapolis with the highest percentage of poverty in Marion County.
The first Feed The Need pop-up will be held Saturday, July 9, at Church 52 Family Worship Center on Brooksville Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Families will get free groceries and have a convenient pickup every second Saturday of the month.
NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the name to Empowering Indy. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/empowering-indy-helps-launch-pop-up-food-pantry-on-east-side-indianapolis/531-978fc236-7413-4340-b4d5-61d718f4bd65 | 2022-07-08T20:14:36 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/empowering-indy-helps-launch-pop-up-food-pantry-on-east-side-indianapolis/531-978fc236-7413-4340-b4d5-61d718f4bd65 |
BOONE COUNTY, Ind. — On the Mennen family farm in Boone County, every drop of rain that fell on Friday, July 8 was an answered prayer.
“We need it,” Gerald Mennen said. “The next seven to 10 days are very critical."
It could make or break this year’s yield.
Mennen farms about 1,200 acres with his wife and son. Their crops are growing in the middle of a drought, along with corn and soybeans across much of central Indiana.
“The heat has been the worst thing," Mennen said.
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It’s been a tough season from the get-go. A lot of Indiana’s crops were planted late this spring because it was too wet to get into the fields. Then came the drought, with temperatures soaring near 100 degrees, hotter than it’s been in central Indiana in nearly 10 years.
“If we don't get some significant rainfall and nice, slow and steady rain, then we can lose quite a bit,” said Dr. Pat Williams, an educator with Tippecanoe County’s Purdue Cooperative Extension Office.
The latest USDA crop report shows less than half the state's corn was in good or excellent condition.
According to experts, we need long and steady rain to penetrate soil that, in places, is as hard as a rock.
"It’s tough for the plants, it's tough for the farmers," Williams said.
And without more rain, it could be tough for consumers, too. Smaller yields will mean higher prices for livestock feed, which could mean higher food prices at the grocery store.
“So pork and chicken and beef will all be up,” Mennen said.
"Farming's a hard way of life,” Williams said. "Farmers love it and wouldn't do anything else, but Mother Nature is not being kind to them as we keep going on in years."
In his 44th year of farming, Mennen has lived through it all and calls it a way of life.
“You have to be willing to accept the good with the bad,” Mennen said. “We’ve done all we can do, so it's not up to us now — it's up to God."
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- Indianapolis Zoo staff working to bring back wandering macaw | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-farmers-battle-drought-welcome-fridays-rain-july-8/531-5dfdb613-03ac-44b6-882a-0ebdbd393e7e | 2022-07-08T20:14:42 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-farmers-battle-drought-welcome-fridays-rain-july-8/531-5dfdb613-03ac-44b6-882a-0ebdbd393e7e |
TEMPE, Ariz. — At 13 years old, Alena Analeigh is making history as the youngest Black person to ever get accepted into a medical school in the United States.
In just one year, Alena has already finished two and a half years of college by taking a full course load at Arizona State University and Oakwood University.
“I really want to leave my mark on the world. And lead a group of girls that know what they can do,” Alena said.
12 News talked with Alena last year when she got accepted to ASU’s engineering program at only 12 years old with dreams of one day working for NASA.
But another passion took over shortly after: biology.
“It actually took one class in engineering, for me to say this is kind of not where I wanted to go,” she said.“I think viral immunology really came from my passion for volunteering and going out there engaging with the world."
She was inspired by a trip to Jordan and The Brown STEM Girl foundation.
“What I want from healthcare, is to really show these underrepresented communities that we can help that we can find cures for these viruses,” Alena said.
If everything goes as planned Alena will be 18 when she becomes a doctor.
“I want to inspire the girls. I want them to see that there are no limits,” she said.
Alena will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/13-year-old-girl-accepted-into-medical-school/75-5c66baa0-dd20-40e5-82fb-b077b7c6b2fe | 2022-07-08T20:16:13 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/13-year-old-girl-accepted-into-medical-school/75-5c66baa0-dd20-40e5-82fb-b077b7c6b2fe |
LEROY — LeRoy’s ambulance service and a local thrift store will each receive grants from the energy company planning a wind farm in McLean County.
Apex Clean Energy, the Virginia company that’s planned the 300-megawatt wind farm project in the southeastern part of McLean County, announced a sixth round of grant funding this week as part of the Diamond Grove Wind Community Grant Program.
The LeRoy Emergency Ambulance Service plans to use the $5,000 grant to purchase CPR training materials and pagers for first responders, said Laura Willis, administrator of the ambulance service.
“This grant allows us to educate more people in our community on CPR procedures and safety,” Willis said. “We know that CPR-trained bystanders can double or even triple the chances of a person’s survival in an emergency.”
The second $5,000 grant will be awarded to Faith Second Chance Thrift Store to support operating costs and the shop’s mission “to fulfill Matthew 25:38-40, which challenges us to welcome, feed, and clothe all strangers who are in need,” store manager Kim Schimpf said.
“Grants like this allow us to keep our prices low and our doors open to those who are unable to afford clothing for their family,” Schimpf said.
The Diamond Grove Wind Community Grant Program, named for the wind farm project, aims to support programs in McLean County “that build healthy communities” in the areas of economic development, environmental sustainability, education and health and recreation, according to Apex.
Since April 2021, the company has awarded grants to United Way of McLean County, the Heartland Community College Foundation, the Heyworth school district, the City of LeRoy, LeRoy Community Food Pantry and the LeRoy Park District.
Organizations interested in applying for a Diamond Grove grant should visit diamondgrovewind.com/grant.
Apex aims to begin production on Diamond Grove by 2024 with 75 turbines planned.
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The summer is upon us, so here are three summer garden hacks you need to know. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/leroy-ambulance-service-thrift-store-awarded-5k-grants-from-wind-farm-project/article_5941c96a-feee-11ec-92f4-ef772562defd.html | 2022-07-08T20:16:59 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/leroy-ambulance-service-thrift-store-awarded-5k-grants-from-wind-farm-project/article_5941c96a-feee-11ec-92f4-ef772562defd.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon Health Authority (OHA) analysis released Thursday has found that drug overdose deaths in Oregon more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, driven largely by misuse of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Preliminary data indicate that the trend is continuing this year, officials said. The trend is prompting urgent requests for supplies of the rescue drug naloxone that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
“We are seeing a critical need for naloxone as many communities experience dramatic increases in overdoses due to fentanyl misuse,” Dr. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, said in a statement. “We encourage everyone in Oregon to educate themselves and their loved ones—including young people—about the importance of naloxone, how to use it in an overdose emergency, and where people can access it.”
Health officials said Thursday that unless a “pharmacist directly hands you a prescription pill, assume it is counterfeit and contains fentanyl.” Anyone taking pills should do it with others and have naloxone available, officials said.
OHA’s Naloxone Rescue for Opioid Overdose webpage contains naloxone frequently asked questions and a map showing Oregon pharmacies that distribute the medicine.
Officials also say anyone actively using opioids, or other drugs, can get naloxone and other harm-reduction materials at no cost through syringe service programs. Syringe service programs and needle exchange services in Oregon are available to anyone who uses drugs, regardless of whether they inject them. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/fentanyl-drug-overdoses-report/283-3f30b165-7cc7-4e96-bf10-3c62cac049c8 | 2022-07-08T20:19:16 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/fentanyl-drug-overdoses-report/283-3f30b165-7cc7-4e96-bf10-3c62cac049c8 |
SALEM, Ore. — In 2020, Black Lives Matter protesters were doused with tear gas, making them gasp for breath, their eyes feeling as if they were on fire. Bystanders, including children and pregnant women, were also exposed.
As police responded to mass protests across the nation two years ago with tear gas and other chemical munitions, more than a dozen U.S. senators asked the congressional watchdog to find out whether federal agencies have assessed how safe they are.
But the report by the Government Accountability Office skipped that question, dedicating only three paragraphs to the effects of “chemical irritants” and flash-bangs.
Both of the U.S. senators from Oregon — where the Trump administration deployed militarized federal agents — believe the report leaves too many questions unanswered and are calling for regulation of the tear gas industry.
The GAO report noted there were incidents in which less-lethal force may have been used by federal agents in violation of policy, but provided no details.
“This report is completely inadequate,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, one of the report requesters, said through spokeswoman Molly Prescott. “Congress and the American people deserve to know the details to better understand the significant issues and damage done by inappropriate use of less-lethal force."
Portland, Oregon’s largest city, was an epicenter of the protests, with months of nightly, often violent demonstrations and vandalism following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Portland police used tear gas and pepper balls against protesters, and the Trump administration sent militarized federal agents to the city, starting in July 2020.
At least 1,315 federal officers were deployed to Oregon, according to a redacted document obtained by U.S Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, from the Department of Homeland Security. They used more than a dozen different types of crowd-control devices, including 40 mm canisters loaded with tear gas or an oily extract of pepper plants, 40mm “direct impact rounds” loaded with tear gas or pepper compounds, smoke grenades and foggers that emit chemical irritants, the document showed.
Law enforcement officials say tear gas, if used properly, is an effective tool for crowd control. On Sunday, police in Akron, Ohio, used tear gas against people protesting the shooting of Jayland Walker, a Black man who was killed by police on June 27 in a hail of gunfire.
Wyden isn’t satisfied with the GAO report and will keep pressing for answers, spokesman Hank Stern said.
Gretta Goodwin, a director of the GAO and lead author of the report released late last year, said her office was unable to answer the senators’ question on whether federal agencies have assessed the safety and effectiveness of tear gas and other chemical munitions, or their impacts on underlying health conditions.
“We start out by looking to see what information is out there,” Goodwin said over the phone. “We weren’t really able to find anything.”
Instead of government oversight, the multi-billion-dollar industry regulates itself, a situation Wyden believes must end.
“He will push... for the appropriate federal agencies to oversee the manufacture of tear gas in our country, as well as to undertake an urgently needed non-industry and neutral study into the impact of these weapons on human health and the environment,” Stern said.
The Associated Press previously found few studies exist on the health effects of tear gas, with many being old and focusing on military personnel, who tend to be healthier and in better physical condition than the general public.
The GAO found that three federal agencies — the Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Secret Service — don’t even document when officers violate their agencies’ policies while using these weapons.
“That needs to be known. That needs to be more transparent,” Goodwin said.
Among controversial tactics and actions taken by law enforcement during Black Lives Matter protests: "Kettling,” in which police seal off escape routes while blanketing people in tear gas and firing pepperballs; and firing projectiles point-blank at people. Donavan LaBella suffered severe injuries while peacefully protesting in Portland when he was hit in the face by a projectile fired by a federal officer.
Samira Green, pregnant at the time, found herself enveloped by tear gas fired by Portland police on June 2, 2020.
“Literally, you cannot breathe anything. It is clenched,” Green said, describing how her lungs seemed to seize up.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that “long-lasting exposure or exposure to a large dose of riot control agent, especially in a closed setting” may cause blindness, glaucoma, severe chemical burns to the throat and lungs, respiratory failure and death.
The GAO report footnoted a 2016 study by Physicians for Human Rights and the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations on health consequences of crowd-control weapons.
But the congressional watchdog agency should have noted that “our data is quite limited because there is no transparency about the weapons,” said Rohini Haar, co-author of the 2016 study.
Tear gas, which is banned in warfare by the Chemical Weapons Convention, is getting more powerful, Haar said. Silicon is sometimes added to make tear gas last longer in the air and on surfaces, even though its health effects are unknown, said Haar, an emergency room physician and researcher at the University of California School of Public Health in Berkeley.
Haar said it’s time for the U.S. government to either do its own research on riot-control agents or support others to conduct it. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/tear-gas-senators-decry-lack-federal-safety-assessment/283-a97585f3-ec8c-4de4-9743-8b1b20ae2419 | 2022-07-08T20:19:22 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/tear-gas-senators-decry-lack-federal-safety-assessment/283-a97585f3-ec8c-4de4-9743-8b1b20ae2419 |
PAINTSVILLE, KY (WOWK) — At 10:30 a.m. on Friday, W.R. Castle Fire-Rescue and Paintsville Fire were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Route 23 at Steep Hill Road.
Rescue crews freed two people, one of whom with serious injuries, according to W.R. Castle Fire-Rescue.
Three people were transported by EMS to Paintsville ARH Hospital, officials say.
W.R. Castle-Fire Rescue says Paintsville Police Department and Constable Bruce Ritz are investigating the accident and a second accident caused by backed-up traffic. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/rescue-crews-free-two-people-after-crash-on-us-23/ | 2022-07-08T20:21:00 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/rescue-crews-free-two-people-after-crash-on-us-23/ |
UPDATE (4:05 p.m.) A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING is in effect for the following areas until 4:30 p.m.
- Southern Mason County in West Virginia
- East Central Cabell County in West Virginia
- Northwestern Kanawha County in West Virginia
- Southern Putnam County in West Virginia
- Northeastern Lincoln County in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK)—The National Weather Service in Charleston, West Virginia has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the following areas:
- Southern Gallia County in Ohio
- Southeastern Lawrence County in Ohio
- Southwestern Mason County in West Virginia
- Cabell County in West Virginia
- Putnam County in West Virginia
This warning will remain in effect until 4:00 p.m. 60 mph wind gusts and penny-sized hail are possible.
Scioto County Sheriff Davit Thoroughman says that Scioto County is already experiencing high water across secondary roads. Drivers are urged to use caution in the area.
For the latest weather alerts, stick with StormTracker 13. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/severe-weather-warnings-across-the-tri-state/ | 2022-07-08T20:21:06 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/severe-weather-warnings-across-the-tri-state/ |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was originally published by CalMatters.
Racial and economic health disparities exposed by the pandemic have factored into a widening gap in Californians’ life expectancies, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers found that between 2019 and 2021, the life expectancy for Latino Californians fell by almost six years — from 82.5 years to 76.8. That plunge is twice the average decline of about three years for all Californians and three times more than the decrease for white Californians of close to two years.
Prior to the pandemic, white Californians had a lower life expectancy than Latinos of 80.5 years. In 2021 the expected life span of whites had decreased to 78.6 years.
Life expectancy is a hypothetical measure of how long those born in a specific year will live based on that year’s mortality rates. It is not a measure of actual life spans, but researchers use it to understand loss of life within various populations, according to the California Policy Lab.
It decreased by nearly four years for Black Californians, from 74.8 years to 71, and by three years for Asian Californians, from 86.6 years to 83.5, the study says.
“Our findings are another troubling sign of how the pandemic’s impact was not felt evenly across all communities,” said Till von Wachter, a UCLA economics professor and California Policy Lab faculty director who is one of the report’s co-authors.
Increased risks of exposure
The researchers wrote that the disproportionately large decreases in life expectancy among Latino and Black populations reflect their greater exposure to COVID-19 infection, reflected in higher hospitalization and death rates.
Latino and Black people were more likely to work frontline jobs and rely on transportation and housing that increased the risks of exposure, researchers said, and they were more likely to encounter barriers to healthcare. They also were likely to have medical conditions and socioeconomic challenges that jeopardized their health.
The study also showed a life expectancy gap increased between the rich and the poor.
Before the pandemic, researchers found, residents in the state’s poorest 1% of census tracts could be expected to live to nearly 76 years, about 11.5 fewer years than those in the richest 1% of tracts. In 2021 that gap grew to 15.5 fewer years of life.
Disparities in life expectancy by neighborhood and income have been well-documented nationwide. The researchers of the new study believe it is the first study to find this gap worsened during the pandemic.
State data show Latinos experiencing COVID cases and deaths at a rate far exceeding their 38% share of the population. Latinos made up 46% of COVID cases and 43% of deaths overall, according to the state’s COVID dashboard.
Black people, who make up 6% of the population, accounted for 5% of cases but 7% of deaths.
Setting priorities
The researchers did not offer policy recommendations but noted that they studied life expectancy based on incomes of neighborhoods. Household and geographic factors, such as local job opportunities, the quality of schools and environmental conditions, shape health disparities, they said.
“Documenting area-based health disparities can help inform policy development and set priorities for targeting resources and investments to marginalized communities,” they wrote.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers recently passed a major expansion of the state’s health safety net, budgeting funds to open Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible undocumented immigrants regardless of age. Past expansions included immigrants who were young adults or older than 55.
CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Watch more from ABC10: First LGBTQ senior-focused affordable housing complex launches in Sacramento | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-gap-in-life-expectancy-widened-during-pandemic/103-21608f9b-130b-48ee-a91e-241743857989 | 2022-07-08T20:21:11 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-gap-in-life-expectancy-widened-during-pandemic/103-21608f9b-130b-48ee-a91e-241743857989 |
CHARLESTON, WV (AP) — West Virginia International Yeager Airport will close a runway for an improvement project.
The Charleston airport says the closures will occur from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. from July 29 through Nov. 13 without disrupting commercial traffic, and all day from Sept. 12 until it reopens on Sept. 15.
Airlines that serve the airport have been notified of the closures. The runway, which hasn’t seen improvements since 2003, will receive a 2-inch asphalt overlay.
The airport says other upgrades are planned to the runway lighting system, runway edge lights, electrical conductors and runway exit signs.
It marks the final phase of a three-year project funded by a federal grant. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/yeager-airport-runway-to-close-during-improvement-project/ | 2022-07-08T20:21:12 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/yeager-airport-runway-to-close-during-improvement-project/ |
ATLANTA — One of Georgia's most influential lawmakers is calling on the MLB to bring a future All-Star game to the state -- especially after the event was pulled in 2021.
In a letter sent to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston demand the game be played in Cobb County.
"I call on you to award a future MLB All-Star Game to be played at Truist Park in the coming years. The sooner this announcement is made, the quicker we can all put this unfortunate incident behind us," Ralson said.
In 2021, MLB moved its All-Star game to Denver. At the time, Manfred announced the decision followed by extensive discussions with clubs, players, the Players Association, and others regarding voting rights and recent developments in Georgia.
Those recent developments involved Georgia's Election Integrity Act, also known as SB 202 being passed by state lawmakers.
Leading up to and after the passage of SB 202, critics said it would disenfranchise many of the state's voters.
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box," Manfred stated when announcing the decision to move the game. "I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft."
A year later Ralston notes in his letter that the upcoming MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles took him back to 2021 and that the league, "unjustly deprived the State of Georgia of the opportunity," to host the game.
Ralston mentions how the decision to move the game was based on claims made against SB 202.
The Republican lawmaker specifically names President Joe Biden and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams as people who made such claims. He cites the Wall Street Journal writing Biden's claims were "malarkey."
"Time has proven that the bill did increase accessibility and security," Ralston said Friday during an interview with 11Alive. "We had record turnout in the primary in May, so the reasons that they used to pull the game out of Atlanta just had no basis in truth."
Ralston also mentions estimates of $100 million in economic impact being lost by moving the game in 2021. That figure though has been questioned by local economists who said an All-Star game would have a much smaller impact and perhaps less than $5 million was lost.
11Alive's sister station KUSA in Denver looked at the impact the game eventually had on its city and the same $100 million figure was thrown around by politicians in Colorado, but it appears the game by itself didn't provide that big of an economic boom.
Ralston on Friday though said economic impact is only one reason to host the game. Another reason is to simply have the event in Georgia so families can benefit.
"Putting aside the economic impact, we deprived Georgia kids of the opportunity of seeing one of the great sporting events in the country each year," Ralston said. "I remember sitting in the upper right field deck at old (Atlanta) Fulton County Stadium when the All-Star game first came to Atlanta back in the '60s and I can tell you many, many things about that game that I remember and we took that away from kids."
11Alive contacted Major League Baseball Friday to confirm if Manfred had received Ralston's letter and if he had any comment to provide. MLB hasn't responded. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-lawmaker-calls-on-mlb-to-award-all-star-game-to-atlanta/85-0653f78e-3095-4356-be9d-c1e36256a959 | 2022-07-08T20:35:21 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-lawmaker-calls-on-mlb-to-award-all-star-game-to-atlanta/85-0653f78e-3095-4356-be9d-c1e36256a959 |
ATLANTA — Kaiser Permanente of Georgia will host its 39th annual Corporate Run, Walk & Roll event on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. This inclusive 5K race will be held in Piedmont Park, welcoming people of all ages and physical abilities to join with the option to run, walk or roll in a wheelchair.
The annual event is a unique workplace fitness program that kicks off with an 8-week “Let’s Move” training promotion (July 1-September 1, 2022) powered by Phidippides and culminates in a 5K Run, Walk & Roll in Piedmont Park.
“We are so excited to be back in person for this year’s race and reconnect with co-workers, friends, and family,” said Pam Shipley, regional president at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. “The Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run Walk and Roll is a great way to kick off or maintain your fitness goals, no matter where you are on your health and wellness journey. Most importantly it is just good, healthy FUN!”
Jeff Galloway, a U.S. Olympian, marathon runner and best-selling author, partnered with Kaiser Permanente in 1983 to create the world’s largest corporate 5K race. Since then, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia’s Run, Walk & Roll has promoted health and fitness in hundreds of companies in Atlanta.
“It has been a lifelong passion of mine to share the many benefits of movement with others,” said Jeff Galloway, founder and race director. “Exercise, alone, has the ability to boost creativity and productivity and forge greater bonds, so it’s the perfect way to improve workplace morale and build lasting connections and healthy habits for Atlanta companies.”
Both in-person and virtual participation will be available for the event, allowing those outside Atlanta to join by submitting proof of completion for the 5K distance. Now through July 31, registration is priced at $35 which includes medals and t-shirts that will be awarded to each participant to celebrate their achievement of finishing the race. Following July 31, registration prices will increase to $39. To register your company, co-workers, family, and friends for this year’s event, visit https://kprunwalkroll.com.
Since 2004, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia has sponsored the Corporate Run, Walk & Roll Fitness Program to motivate Metro Atlanta’s workforce to lead healthier, more active lifestyles. A portion of the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run, Walk & Roll proceeds benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Piedmont Park, Back on My Feet, Kyle Pease Foundation, and Elliott Galloway Scholarship Fund. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/outreach/companies-that-care/registration-open-for-kaiser-permanentes-annual-run-walk-roll-event/85-970ff1f9-e21f-4840-b8dc-46debcecb90e | 2022-07-08T20:35:27 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/outreach/companies-that-care/registration-open-for-kaiser-permanentes-annual-run-walk-roll-event/85-970ff1f9-e21f-4840-b8dc-46debcecb90e |
BRIGANTINE — To keep several north-end beaches accessible this summer, the city is using crushed shells and newly built stairs to overcome cliffs created by erosion.
Several coastal storms over the past couple of months have depleted the beach's dune system.
A severe storm over Mother's Day weekend particularly hit the island hard, causing erosion that damaged beach walkways, Mayor Vince Sera said.
Repairs have been made to beach access points on Roosevelt Boulevard, as well as Fourth and Fifth streets.
Steps have been placed at Eighth Street, where erosion created cliffs.
Sixth and Seventh streets will also see crushed shells because the residents were adamant about not having stairs installed at those spots, Sera said.
BRIGANTINE — City police, firefighters and lifeguards will have an increased presence at the…
"A lot of what we're trying to do now is Band-Aid the problem, so we can get people through this year and this summer season," Sera said.
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The short-term solutions are needed because the city is ineligible for federal beach replenishment until next year.
Although the replenishment process is far off, preparations have begun, Sera said.
The city is working with U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, to secure federal funding needed to fulfill the job.
The congressman isn't new to being by Brigantine's side for marine needs.
Van Drew earlier this year supported city leaders working to secure a dredging project for St. George's Thorofare.
VENTNOR — The midday white pants crowd was brunching outside The Dorset in Ventnor Heights, …
"The congressman is happy to work with the mayor and the town on the St. George’s Thorofare dredging that will take place later this summer, and he looks forward to securing beach replenishment funding for Brigantine, as well," Ashley Brown, Van Drew's spokesperson, said in a statement Thursday.
Van Drew also is orchestrating "Stronger Shores," an initiative he announced in November to support beach and waterway work, specifically dredging to the Mullica River and intracoastal water routes throughout Cape May and Atlantic counties. The congressman said he intends to advocate for billions of dollars provided by President Joe Biden's infrastructure deal, from which New Jersey would be given roughly $13 billion.
Some beach path repairs might be delayed, however, because the crushed shells are on backorder. They're expected to arrive before summer ends, Sera said.
Brigantine, Sera said, is continuing to coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for next year's replenishment. The city has sent its beach studies to the Army Corps for review.
Both the Army Corps and the state Department of Environmental Protection visited the island community to inspect the damage a few weeks ago. Visible erosion could be seen from Third Street North to 14th Street North. Several crossover pathways from about Fifth Street North through Ninth Street North also are in poor condition, DEP spokesperson Larry Hajna said.
Until the Army Corps returns in 2023, the city is responsible for its beaches' upkeep, per the state aid agreement for the project, Hajna said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/brigantine-seeks-quick-fix-for-access-to-eroded-beaches/article_fd75ef38-fd3c-11ec-9c87-33c5372492bf.html | 2022-07-08T20:36:33 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/brigantine-seeks-quick-fix-for-access-to-eroded-beaches/article_fd75ef38-fd3c-11ec-9c87-33c5372492bf.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — A group dedicated to improving public safety in Tanger Outlets The Walk and other city areas heard Friday that some repeat shoplifters have been arrested as the city gets tougher on quality-of-life crimes.
New Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds said he has compiled data on about 30 repeat offenders — many of whom are drug or alcohol abusers — and will offer them a choice: substance abuse treatment or jail.
Stores at The Walk and elsewhere in the city have complained of constant trouble with the same people, who steal hundreds to thousands of dollars in merchandise at a time.
"Some have actually been picked up already," Reynolds told the group of local, county and state officials and Atlantic City merchants meeting at City Hall.
The effort comes just as the NAACP National Convention is coming to town July 14 to 20 but will continue long after the conventioneers are gone, said 3rd Ward Councilman Kaleem Shabazz, organizer of the weekly meetings.
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Shoplifting may not seem like a serious crime, but when it is done in an organized way it can hamper community development, he said.
ATLANTIC CITY — The Board of Directors of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority disc…
"ShopRite got $18 million (to come to Atlantic City), and they are not open. They are getting another $8 million," Reynolds said. "They are concerned about the losses. They are asking for a half million dollars of losses to be guaranteed."
He also said CVS has said its losses in Atlantic City are $5,000 a day, and they are considering leaving the city.
"My job is to stop this, and all the talented people working for me," Reynolds said. "We are going to do everything in our power to make this go as fast as it possibly can."
COVID-19 restrictions, which ended May 22, restricted law enforcement as it didn't allow such low-level criminals to be picked up on warrants when they missed court dates. Now, law enforcement again has options for getting them off the streets, Reynolds said.
"These improvements are not just for the NAACP convention. We want to keep on these improvements," said Shabazz, whose ward includes The Walk and the Atlantic City Convention Center.
He is also the president of the NAACP's Atlantic City chapter and a delegate to the convention.
Residents of Atlantic City have expressed some impatience, verging on worry, that work on bu…
"Like I said, July 21 the convention will be over, but we are still going to be here," Shabazz said. "This initiative has to continue."
Reynolds will oversee prosecution of those repeat offenders, he said.
He also said he has the full support of the state Attorney General's Office.
In Atlantic City, the shoplifters are part of a "theft ring" that sends out low-level criminals to steal and feed black-market sales, Reynolds said.
Last weekend, a single female thief stole $5,000 from one store at The Walk, Reynolds said. But unlike in the past, this time she was arrested and taken to jail, resulting in some celebrations among merchants.
"That's an example of how one person can cause a lot of damage and this partnership can cause a lot of difference," said Atlantic City police interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos.
ATLANTIC CITY — In November, a line of city and state officials, including Gov. Phil Murphy …
"The past two years during the pandemic was a challenge for us. We felt like we were fighting with our hands tied behind our backs. We feel like the bonds have finally been taken off," Sarkos said.
Sarkos said the Police Department has increased its presence at The Walk, and on Monday will begin embedding mental health clinicians with officers under a new program with Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties.
Reynolds described how the theft ring works.
It's made up of about 30 low-level criminals and drug abusers who steal and pass the merchandise to middlemen who deliver it to a "fence" for money, he said.
The thief and middleman get pennies on the dollar of the value of what is taken, Reynolds said, to support their drug habit.
Another repeat offender was a man who has been cited for pulling a fire alarm at a casino 40 times to improve his chances of theft, Reynolds said.
He also is documented as "dining and dashing," or not paying his restaurant bills.
"When somebody has 120 open cases in two years, they are a menace. … They are either going to get help or going to pay," Reynolds said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crackdown-on-repeat-shoplifters-underway-will-continue-after-naacp-convention/article_9c136bde-fed2-11ec-9cbf-8729219c4ac3.html | 2022-07-08T20:36:39 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crackdown-on-repeat-shoplifters-underway-will-continue-after-naacp-convention/article_9c136bde-fed2-11ec-9cbf-8729219c4ac3.html |
Here’s an update of the COVID-19 numbers in the state:
New positive cases: 3,392
New deaths: 8
Total positive cases: 2,148,410
Total number of deaths: 31,011
Total vaccine doses administered: 14,095,199
Rate of transmission: 1.04
CASES BY COUNTY
Atlantic: 60,490 cases, 954 deaths, 379,716 doses administered
Cape May: 11,955 cases, 262 deaths, 134,158 doses administered
Cumberland: 35,544 cases, 573 deaths, 186,307 doses administered
Ocean: 148,004 cases, 2,862 deaths, 702,421 doses administered
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Figures as of 1 p.m. July 8
Source: N.J. Department of Health | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-reports-nearly-3-400-new-covid-19-cases-8-new-deaths/article_a23ca6b6-feea-11ec-bf57-4b023ec53d1e.html | 2022-07-08T20:36:45 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-reports-nearly-3-400-new-covid-19-cases-8-new-deaths/article_a23ca6b6-feea-11ec-bf57-4b023ec53d1e.html |
National parks in Arizona welcomed 10.7 million visitors who pumped $1.12 billion into local economies in 2021, both sharp increases from the pandemic-induced lows of the year before, according to the National Park Service.
While the numbers were still shy of their pre-pandemic levels, in the state and nationally, Arizona tourism officials were not complaining about the report for 2021.
“It’s a huge part of our city,” Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy said of national park tourism. “Small business is the backbone to most economies. And tourism is the way that our small businesses are able to survive and thrive.”
In Arizona, the number of visitors in 2021 was down from 12.5 million in 2019, when the amount spent by tourists was $1.3 billion. But both of the 2021 numbers were a vast improvement over the intervening year, when COVID-19 pushed visitors down to 7.6 million and spending on gas, lodging, food and more to $711 million.
That pattern was repeated at Grand Canyon National Park, which remained the state’s most popular national park. It saw visitors go from 5.9 million in 2019 to 2.9 million in 2020 before bouncing back to 4.5 million visitors last year.
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But some parks in the region actually bested their pre-pandemic numbers in 2021. Visitors to Saguaro National Park spent $10 million more than they did in 2019, and Zion National Park in southern Utah saw spending rise by $409 million, a 158% increase over the same period. The number of visitors to Lake Mead in 2021 was 104,425 higher than in 2019.
That Grand Canyon did not match the surges posted by other parks in the region is “not concerning, at all,” said Brian Drapeaux, deputy superintendent for the Grand Canyon National Park.
“We don’t really look at how we compare visitations to other national parks,” he said. “Unlike many of the other large parks in the country, we’re a year-round park. A lot of the parks are seasonal parks, and so they’ll get crushed when they’re open.”
Drapeaux expects the number of visitors to rise this year as international travel returns to pre-pandemic norms.
Considering the tight travel restrictions and health safety concerns, the 4.5 million Grand Canyon National Park visitors in 2021 are “still really amazing numbers,” Drapeaux said.
The NPS report said visitors to Grand Canyon National Park spent $710 million last year in local “gateway economies,” or communities near the park, up from $433 million in 2020.
Nationally, the number of visitors to national parks went from 327 million in 2019 to 237 million in 2020 before climbing back to 297 million last year. Spending over the same period went from $21 billion to $14.5 billion and then back to $20.5 billion.
The park service report ranked Arizona sixth among states for visitor spending and fifth for the total economic output from its national parks. It said Arizona’s 22 national park sites generated $1.8 billion in economic output and supported 16,074 jobs that paid $627.6 million in salaries.
Park visitors “support their nearby communities because they bring visitors there,” said Josh Coddington, director of communications at Arizona Office of Tourism.
“Visitors typically will stop and eat and buy gas and stay the night in different places in our communities across the state,” he said.
The diverse landscape and natural wonders Arizona offers will continuously bring tourism dollars to the state, Coddington said.
With more tourists expected in coming years, Coddington said the focus will need to shift to managing what he called an anticipated national park tourism boom.
“These places and experiences, these amazing natural places that people have enjoyed for many, many years, how do we do it in a way that reduces the impact on that place?” Coddington asked. “It needs to be here for future generations to enjoy.” | https://tucson.com/news/local/business/visitors-to-arizona-national-parks-pump-1-12b-into-economy/article_eb5a9abc-fee8-11ec-bd16-9b9d63f86987.html | 2022-07-08T20:36:46 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/business/visitors-to-arizona-national-parks-pump-1-12b-into-economy/article_eb5a9abc-fee8-11ec-bd16-9b9d63f86987.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — Count panhandlers in the resort among those who scoff at cash.
Assemblyman Don Guardian, R-Atlantic, was out for a walk recently on the Boardwalk, and as he came down the ramp onto Pennsylvania Avenue, a guy asked him for some money.
"I said, 'I don't have any cash,'" Guardian said in retelling the story at a public safety meeting Friday at City Hall. "He said, 'Just Venmo me five bucks,' and pulls out his cellphone."
Guardian said he didn't know what Venmo was, and the panhandler explained it. Venmo is a mobile payment service that allows people to send and receive money via their bank accounts through their cellphones.
"I went home and signed up," Guardian said, adding he was feeling a bit old.
For more than four decades, throughout the casino era, making Atlantic City clean and safe h…
The homeless don't lack intelligence, Guardian said after the meeting.
Something has happened in their lives, some trauma or tragedy, that threw them off course.
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Years ago, Guardian said he saw a homeless encampment under the Boardwalk where someone found a way to wire appliances into a casino's electrical system, including an air conditioner in what was essentially a cardboard box. It wasn't just a matter of plugging in, Guardian said, but of adjusting the casino's 440 volts to the household 110 volts.
"You and I wouldn't know how to do it," he said. "But they did." | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/panhandlers-getting-creative-in-atlantic-city-just-venmo-me/article_64797670-fee4-11ec-863b-ff7d16e6fb3c.html | 2022-07-08T20:36:52 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/panhandlers-getting-creative-in-atlantic-city-just-venmo-me/article_64797670-fee4-11ec-863b-ff7d16e6fb3c.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — It’s a classic case of whodunit. Who would take a new table from a nearly century-old business?
Last weekend, as Tony's Baltimore Grill initiated outdoor dining for the first time to provide its longtime and new customers with a different experience, a patio table, an umbrella and six chairs were stolen from the historic establishment's outdoor dining area that seats 30 people.
As a way to entice people to help with the search for the stolen goods, Tony's is offering a free pizza, an alcoholic beverage a week for life and a $1,500 reward. As of Friday afternoon, the stolen items were still missing.
The reward and the theft have gone viral on social media.
The establishment’s Instagram account has dubbed the case "the Atlantic Avenue Furniture Fiasco." On the account, a drawing of a black cat running from the scene is shown in jest. The three posts related to the theft have more than 1,220 likes as of Friday afternoon.
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“We had a credible tip from a Facebooker who described the suspect to a local forensic sketch artist to help solve this crime,” the post said. “The suspect is short, rude, and smells like hot tuna fish.”
ATLANTIC CITY — It was always in Alberto Robalino’s mind to start his own restaurant. And At…
The posters have even gone as far as asking people to post photos of their own patio furniture.
"Everything that we do is centered on making sure that the Baltimore Grill stays in business for another 100 years," said the caretakers of Tony's, Julie and Nolan Aspell, who said the bar's legacy was as much a part of the city as the Boardwalk. "We decided to do outdoor dining primarily to accomplish that goal of being a place that new memories will be created without disturbing the ones that already live here."
While many restaurants added outdoor dining to stay afloat during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony's Baltimore Grill — in business since 1927 — decided to add the option this summer simply to offer patrons a new experience.
The experience was more than the bar bargained for, and "the thief is still at large," according to a spokesperson for Tony's.
The establishment had a soft opening of the new dining area last Friday afternoon, during which guests could get served by the bar's singing waiter, James.
Unfortunately by the weekend, the bar had to post an alert on its Instagram page offering the cash reward, pizza and drinks for life in exchange for information about the stolen items.
Outdoor dining is still available at Tony's from 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/reward-of-beer-and-pizza-in-tonys-baltimore-grill-theft-yet-to-be-claimed/article_0dfd2b02-fee9-11ec-a233-931b7f95df7e.html | 2022-07-08T20:36:58 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/reward-of-beer-and-pizza-in-tonys-baltimore-grill-theft-yet-to-be-claimed/article_0dfd2b02-fee9-11ec-a233-931b7f95df7e.html |
UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin is speaking out over what he says are inaccuracies in the report by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center (ALERRT) about what happened at Robb Elementary School on May 24.
"No Uvalde police department officer saw the shooter on May 24 prior to him entering the school," said Mayor McLaughlin. "No Uvalde police officers had any opportunity to take a shot at the gunman. A Uvalde Police Department officer saw someone outside, but was unsure of who he saw and observed children in the area as well. Ultimately, it was a coach with children on the playground, not the shooter."
The mayor went on to add that the ALERRT report and the timeline given by Texas DPS after the Senate hearing were incorrect. He added that DPS troopers were onsite and at the door of Robb Elementary School about three minutes after the shooter entered the building on that tragic day. He said there were also dozens of DPS troopers onsite by the time of the breach in the classroom.
"’I've said it once and will say it again, the premature release of piecemeal information or anything related to the May 24 Department of Public Safety (DPS)/Texas Rangers investigation is a disservice to families who lost children or parents because the true facts need to come out once all investigations/reviews, which the City expects will be thorough and fair, are complete," said Mayor McLaughlin. "I firmly believe it is imperative the families are provided with complete, unbiased, and comprehensive information about this incident. I will continue to advocate for comprehensive information to be provided to the families and citizens of Uvalde and to make every effort that something like this does not happen again."
Read the statement from the mayor here
The mayor's office, the Uvalde County District Attorney and the Texas DPS have requested the city to not release any City records related to the Robb Elementary School investigation.
The district attorney said that the material is still being reviewed and the investigation is still ongoing. When the investigation and review is complete, the city will evaluate the release of city records. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/uvalde-mayor-says-alerrt-report-not-accurate-account-of-what-happened-at-robb-elementary-texas-school-shooting-tragedy/273-ab14407a-3edf-4ef1-b01a-61b63e1252f8 | 2022-07-08T20:37:58 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/uvalde-mayor-says-alerrt-report-not-accurate-account-of-what-happened-at-robb-elementary-texas-school-shooting-tragedy/273-ab14407a-3edf-4ef1-b01a-61b63e1252f8 |
CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FUNNEL CLOUDS...
Current atmospheric conditions support the development of funnel
clouds. Usually, these funnel clouds can form from showers and
weak thunderstorms. These funnels are normally brief, drop only
a few hundred feet from the cloud base, and rarely become a
tornado or cause damage. However, if one is spotted, please
immediately report it to the National Weather Service. If a tornado
warning would become necessary, take appropriate action. | https://www.kimt.com/news/local/special-weather-statement-conditions-favorable-for-funnel-clouds/article_c84ead26-fef0-11ec-bae2-e7f411247630.html | 2022-07-08T20:41:45 | 0 | https://www.kimt.com/news/local/special-weather-statement-conditions-favorable-for-funnel-clouds/article_c84ead26-fef0-11ec-bae2-e7f411247630.html |
The city of Bismarck has announced more road construction updates.
Pavement repairs will begin on Bismarck's Broadway Avenue between Fourth Street and Fifth Street at 6 a.m. Monday, and the area will be closed to traffic in both directions. The work is expected to last three weeks. No detour routes will be provided. Drivers are asked to modify their travel routes to avoid the area.
Starting at 7 a.m., Broadway from 11th Street through 13th Street will be closed to traffic for water main work. Twelfth Street will be closed from Main Avenue to Rosser Avenue. No parking will be allowed on Broadway within the closure, which will be in place for about two weeks. Access to adjacent properties will be maintained. No detour will be in place. Motorists can expect congestion and are advised to seek alternate routes.
Starting at 1 p.m. Monday, Main Avenue will be reduced to one lane eastbound from Airport Road to 600 feet east of Airport Road, for concrete work. The southernmost eastbound lane of Main will be closed to traffic. Access to businesses in the area will be maintained. The closure will be in place until the end of the day.
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Meanwhile, Fourth Street between Broadway Avenue and Thayer Avenue will reopen to traffic on Monday.
For more information, go to www.bismarcknd.gov/streets. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/city-of-bismarck-provides-road-construction-updates/article_c673320c-feef-11ec-9530-ab498e672b64.html | 2022-07-08T20:47:28 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/city-of-bismarck-provides-road-construction-updates/article_c673320c-feef-11ec-9530-ab498e672b64.html |
The men’s Ukrainian Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling Team will train this summer in a new place — an Indiana high school.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday that the wrestling team has collaborated with state officials, the Indiana Sports Corp and the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority to relocate for the summer.
The team arrived in Hammond Thursday, and will train at Hammond Central High School until Aug. 3. The high school opened last year a state-of-the-art facility, which includes a weight room, track, football field, gymnasium and pool.
The Olympic wrestling team will have joint training sessions and meetings with local wrestlers. The travel arrangements for the wrestling team were funded by an Indiana Economic Development Corporation grant received by the Indiana Sports Corp.
“We are so happy to play our small part in providing these world-class athletes with refuge to continue their training in such a fantastic facility,” Holcomb said in a statement. “This confirms what we have known all along – that our strongest state export has, and always will be, our Hoosier Hospitality.” | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/ukrainian-olympic-wrestling-team-to-train-in-indiana/article_e9c74130-feea-11ec-a2be-c32637359434.html | 2022-07-08T20:48:19 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/ukrainian-olympic-wrestling-team-to-train-in-indiana/article_e9c74130-feea-11ec-a2be-c32637359434.html |
Weather Aware Saturday
SATURDAY STORMS: Incredibly warm and humid air has been in place for the last several days across Central Alabama. An advancing cold front on Saturday will be able to tap into that warm, humid, and unstable air to produce thunderstorms. Some storms from 2 pm Saturday to 2 am Sunday could be strong and impactful, with damaging winds and heavy rain being the primary threats.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is also likely with storms Saturday, so be sure to head indoors as soon as you hear thunder.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Showers and storms that popped up in the heat of the day slowly fizzle out. Temperatures remain warm, staying in the mid 70s.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK: The aforementioned storms are the big story for this weekend. Those could pack a punch, and some could produce strong enough winds to warrant severe thunderstorm warnings. Additionally, heavy rain could lead to some isolated flooding issues Saturday evening as well. For those attending outdoor activities at The World Games on Saturday, be prepared to head indoors if you hear thunder, or are asked to leave for a weather delay by World Games staff. It won’t be an all-day rainout, so hopefully at least some of the events are able to be completed.
A few lingering showers are possible Sunday, but the better rain chances through the day will be south of Birmingham. The temperature and humidity will drop a bit Sunday as well, leading to a slightly more comfortable afternoon compared to Saturday.
NEXT WEEK: The humidity remains relatively low on Monday, and the rain chance will be quite slim, making Monday the nicest day of the week. The humidity trends back up by mid-week, and with that comes additional showers and storms, and occasionally heavy rain. The wetter forecast does have a silver lining though; the additional rain and cloud cover will lead to a slightly cooler week next week.
GULF COAST FORECAST: The purple flags were no longer flying on Alabama’s beaches as of Friday morning, but yellow flags are still flying (yellow is the lowest risk category flag Alabama beaches fly) as we head into the weekend. The rip current risk remains limited Saturday and Sunday, but trends up to Moderate on Monday. Rip currents are the number one killer on Alabama beaches. Storms are likely through the next several days along the Gulf Coast. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/weather-aware-for-saturday-storms/ | 2022-07-08T20:49:18 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/weather-aware-for-saturday-storms/ |
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies are investigating after antisemitic literature was reportedly distributed across several Lake County neighborhoods over the last few days.
Investigators said they collected the pamphlets, filed reports and are actively investigating the incidents.
[TRENDING: New Championsgate I-4 intersection opens this Sunday | Brevard County family helps teen recover from Panhandle shark attack | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
If you find similar literature, which is typically left in plastic bags on lawns or in driveways, you should discard it as deputies already have enough submitted for evidence, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.
Anyone with surveillance video showing a person or vehicle leaving the literature is encouraged to notify the sheriff’s office.
“This situation is not unique to Lake County and law enforcement agencies throughout the nation have encountered similar incidents,” the sheriff’s office said.
This comes months after antisemitic flyers were found in neighborhoods across Ormond Beach, Melbourne Beach and Indialantic.
News 6 has recently reported on antisemitic rhetoric and behavior in other parts of Central Florida, including a Nazi rally held in Orange County back in February which resulted in the arrests of three men accused of attacking a Jewish victim.
No other information is available at this time. Check back here for updates.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/antisemitic-literature-distributed-across-lake-county-neighborhoods-deputies-say/ | 2022-07-08T20:49:25 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/antisemitic-literature-distributed-across-lake-county-neighborhoods-deputies-say/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – After Japan’s longest serving prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated during a speech Friday, a UCF expert in the field of global perspectives explained why the aftershock of the fatal shooting was felt around the world.
David Dumke, executive director of the University of Central Florida’s Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives, said world leaders and experts were particularly shocked because the shooting was such a departure from the Japanese culture, which is known for stringent gun laws and very little political violence.
[TRENDING: New Championsgate I-4 intersection opens this Sunday | Brevard County family helps teen recover from Panhandle shark attack | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
“Japan has very strict gun laws. They also, unsurprisingly connected to it, they have very few gun fatalities every year. I think about a dozen a year perhaps,” he said.
Dumke added that Japan’s gun laws make owning a gun very difficult.
For someone to be able to buy a gun in Japan, they must:
- Attend an all-day class
- Pass both a written test and a gun range test
- Go through mental health and drug evaluations
- Complete an extensive background check
Dumke said the loss of Abe, who despite stepping down from his role as prime minister two years prior due to health reasons was still politically active, will be felt across Japan, the United States and the world.
“Shinzo Abe was such a well-known figure having served for so long,” Dumke said.
Abe was a polarizing politician, popular among conservatives and reviled by many liberals, known for pushing to revitalize the country’s military, for adopting a revisionist view of Japan’s history and for leading efforts to strengthen the nation’s economy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/heres-why-assassination-of-former-japanese-leader-shocked-the-world-ucf-expert-says/ | 2022-07-08T20:49:31 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/heres-why-assassination-of-former-japanese-leader-shocked-the-world-ucf-expert-says/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it initiated an investigation into an incident where a construction worker fell to his death from an Orlando apartment building roof.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released documents showing that deputies responded to an area near the ARIUM Greenview Apartments complex Tuesday after receiving reports of an “industrial accident.”
[TRENDING: New Championsgate I-4 intersection opens this Sunday | Brevard County family helps teen recover from Panhandle shark attack | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Reports show Emery Bailey, a witness at the scene, told investigators he hear a loud “thump” outside, after which he looked out his window and saw two men in the pool area yelling for help.
Deputies said Bailey told them he then went outside and found a roofer face-down at the corner of a breezeway with blood on his head.
While deputies said the roofer did not have identification on him, witnesses at the scene identified him as 32-year-old Javier Jimenez.
Investigators said the man had fallen from the roof above onto the sidewalk. Reports show he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to OSHA, the agency has initiated an investigation into the worker’s death, though OSHA said it was not able to provide further information about the case while the investigation is ongoing. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/osha-initiates-investigation-into-death-of-man-who-fell-from-apartment-roof/ | 2022-07-08T20:49:37 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/osha-initiates-investigation-into-death-of-man-who-fell-from-apartment-roof/ |
BUHL — Police have identified a suspect in the murder of an 89-year-old woman who was found dead last winter in the South Hills.
Buhl Chief of Police Jeremy Engbaum released a statement Friday saying the investigation into the murder of Alyce Marlene Armes is nearly complete.
"During this investigation, substantial DNA and video evidence identified a suspect in the homicide case, who has since committed suicide," Engbaum said
The police chief did not disclose the name of the suspect. The Times-News reached out to the chief but the police department is closed on Fridays.
Armes was killed sometime between Feb. 21 and Feb. 22 in the 100 block of Paysee Street in Buhl, Engbaum told the Times-News in February.
Her body was found Feb. 22 near Ross Falls in Cassia County, Cassia County Coroner Craig Rinehart told the Times-News at the time. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/suspect-in-buhl-murder-investigation-commits-suicide/article_74e9bb6c-feeb-11ec-9a7c-fb605bfd592d.html | 2022-07-08T20:51:49 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/suspect-in-buhl-murder-investigation-commits-suicide/article_74e9bb6c-feeb-11ec-9a7c-fb605bfd592d.html |
Shreveport is offering $100 for COVID vaccines. Here's what you need to know
The City of Shreveport is teaming up with LSU Health Shreveport to provide a $100 incentive for COVID vaccinations.
On July 7, the Louisiana Department of Health reported that only 45% of Northwest Louisiana residents have been vaccinated. This comes after LDH reported the largest spike in cases since Jan. 31, at 5,400 cases.
To improve this number the city and LSU Health are providing $100 gift cards to Shreveport residents. To be eligible you must receive your first or second vaccine or booster shot.
Vaccines are available to those 5 and up, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian that can present identification, verifying the minors’ age.
Days, times and locations of incentive vaccines
You must attend one of the incentive sites and the specified time to receive the $100.
Saturday, July 9
- Shreveport Farmers' Market- Festival Plaza 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Galilee Baptist Church- 1500 Pierre Avenue 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 16
- Shreveport Farmers' Market- Festival Plaza 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Peaceful Rest Baptist Church- 8200 Vincent Avenue 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
More:Barksdale Air Force Base reinstates mask mandate as COVID cases rise in Shreveport, Bossier
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2022/07/08/city-shreveport-offering-covid-vaccine-incentive/10012726002/ | 2022-07-08T20:54:58 | 1 | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2022/07/08/city-shreveport-offering-covid-vaccine-incentive/10012726002/ |
Ramp closures and lane closures. Here's what you need to know about delayed summer travel
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has announced four projects that will delay traffic in the coming weeks.
LaDOTD said, "DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment."
Here's what you need to know and how you can prepare for the possibility of delayed travel.
LA 1: Nightly Ramp Closure
Starting July 11, the LA 1 southbound (Market Street) to I-20 westbound ramp will be closed.
This closure will take place in the evening hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will be in effect until July 15.
LaDOTD said the closure is due to the installation of an overhead sign, which is part of the ongoing project to replace signage along I-20.
Signage will be in place to provide an alternate route for motorist.
Texas Street Bridge: Lane Closure
On July 13, the Texas Street Bridge will experience lane closure from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This lane closure will reduce the flow of traffic to one lane in each direction.
The closure is in response to routine bridge inspections. LaDOTD said vehicles larger than 10 feet wide will have to take an alternate route using LA 1, I-20 and LA 3.
More:I-20/I-220/BAFB Interchange Access Project will start to cause ramp and lane closures
Jimmie Davis Bridge: Lane Closure
On July 17, the westbound lane of Jimmie Davis Bridge will be closed for routine bridge inspection.
This lane closure is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. and is expected to reopen at 5 p.m.
LaDOTD said that vehicles larger than 10 feet wide will be detoured to the Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge.
I-20 eastbound to I-220 westbound: Ramp Closure
The I-20 eastbound to I-220 westbound ramp will be closed for approximately two months. Starting July 18 at 7 a.m., motorist will be asked to take an alternate route.
This closure is in response to the ongoing I-20/I-220 Barksdale Air Force Base Interchange Project. The closure will allow for a new segment of roadway to extend southward onto the base.
For more about this project, visit wwwapps.dotd.la.gov.
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2022/07/08/heres-what-you-need-know-delayed-shreveport-summer-travel/10014651002/ | 2022-07-08T20:55:04 | 0 | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2022/07/08/heres-what-you-need-know-delayed-shreveport-summer-travel/10014651002/ |
TAMPA, Fla. — The premium cigar industry scored a major legal victory this past week, and that’s welcomed news in spots like Tampa's own Ybor City.
Tampa has a long history of cigar-making, dating back more than 100 years, but a regulatory battle threatened to send the industry up in smoke.
Now, it looks like local cigar makers will be able to keep on rolling — for years to come.
The favorable ruling comes in a case that’s gone on for years now.
In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration identified a wide range of tobacco products including premium cigars, saying they should be subject to the same type of regulations as cigarettes.
The cigar industry received political support from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and others who asked for an exception – saying those kinds of regulations would wipe out premium cigar makers.
About 17 months ago, three cigar industry groups sued the FDA and this week the judge agreed with them, saying the government ignored data that suggests premium cigars do not appeal to young people, are consumed far less often and don’t pose the same level of health threat associated with cigarettes and other tobacco products.
“I do agree,” Thomas Prewitt said, visiting a Tampa cigar shop, “Because cigar smoking to me is just more relaxing.”
“This is where it all started,” a customer, Robert Walton, said. “I mean, down the street, you’ve got the building where it all started. You’ve got the culture that went behind it. I mean, this is Ybor, definitely 100% known as cigar city.”
One of the oldest cigar makers in our area, J.C. Newman Cigar Company, released a statement saying in part, “For the past five years we have been living in regulatory purgatory.” Thedecision, they added, “… is a landmark ruling that will shape America’s premium cigar industry for generations.”
The judge’s decision did not go so far as to strike down FDA regulation of premium cigars, but the industry hopes that is what will happen after both sides submit legal briefs by July 26th.
After that, the court is expected to issue what it called an appropriate remedy.
In the early 1900s, Ybor City was considered the cigar capital of the world with 200 cigar factories employing 10,000 cigar rollers.
Those factories produced close to a half-billion hand-rolled cigars a year. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/legal-victory-tampa-premium-cigar-makers/67-d246253c-c498-464f-9fe8-fdd7e6292072 | 2022-07-08T20:56:49 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/legal-victory-tampa-premium-cigar-makers/67-d246253c-c498-464f-9fe8-fdd7e6292072 |
Less than seven weeks before Rackspace co-founder Graham Weston’s divorce case is set to go to trial, his estranged wife finds herself in an odd predicament.
Elizabeth Weston appeared without counsel at a court hearing Thursday in New Braunfels, telling a judge she can’t afford legal representation.
She’s had at least 29 lawyers from some 16 law firms representing her at one time or another during the course of the more than 20-month-old case.
“Though more than a billion dollars were created during my marriage to Graham Weston, money over which my husband has unfettered access … I do not have access to any marital estate funds to support myself nor my son, nor pay attorneys’ fees,” she said. “As a result, your honor, I am now out of money with which to hire attorneys and proceed in this divorce case.”
A lawyer for Graham Weston disputed the assertion.
Elizabeth Weston’s remarks were part of a roughly 5-minute statement she read to the court, in which she also said she hasn’t gotten a “fair and even playing field” in the case.
“OK,” Comal County District Judge Dib Waldrip said after her statement.
In October 2020, Elizabeth Weston, 61, filed to end the couple’s nearly 26-year marriage. The filing came about a week after Graham Weston, 58, filed divorce papers, though he dropped the action the next day. The pair wed in 1994.
Their split has been bitter. She has accused him of sexually assaulting her and having extramarital affairs, allegations he has denied. She has been accused of recording him and hiring a private investigator to track him for a year and a half.
Community property?
A key issue in the divorce is whether the wealth Graham Weston has amassed represents community property. His lawyers intend to argue assets acquired by various trusts during the marriage are not part of the marital estate.
“I find it ironic that after 28 years of marriage to Graham Weston, my husband is saying that all the assets created during our marriage are his and the marital estate is bankrupt,” she said in her statement. “My husband, Graham Weston, is not bankrupt, nor should I be.”
The couple does not have a prenuptial agreement.
The case represents potentially one of the biggest divorces ever in the San Antonio area. Graham Weston made an appearance on Forbes magazine’s annual billionaires list in 2013, but never made the list again.
He is best-known for co-founding Rackspace Technology Inc., the cloud-computing company. His real estate company Weston Urban built the $142 million Frost Tower in downtown San Antonio and is attempting to acquire property near San Pedro Creek for a downtown baseball stadium.
He also has spearheaded various community endeavors. He co-founded nonprofit Community Labs to conduct coronavirus testing and promotes entrepreneurship and education through his 80|20 Foundation.
Lawyers withdraw
The Westons’ divorce trial has been delayed multiple times. Most recently, on June 2, the judge reset the trial from Monday to Aug. 22 to give Elizabeth Weston’s attorneys more time to prepare.
But on June 15, lead counsel Lawrence Friedman and Ryan Lurich of the Dallas firm Friedman & Feiger — who requested the continuance — filed a motion to withdraw from the case.
Multiple reasons were given, including Elizabeth Weston’s failure to pay for legal services and her failure to communicate with attorneys. They also cited her “persistence upon pursuing an objective that (they) consider repugnant or impudent or with which (they) have a fundamental disagreement.”
Less than two hours later, Lubbock attorney Anna McKim, also part of Elizabeth Weston’s legal team, filed a similar motion to withdraw. She said there was a “breakdown in communication” with her client, as well as a “fundamental disagreement on how to proceed.”
Then, that same evening, attorneys Lindsey Craft and Amy Smith sought to withdraw. They said Elizabeth Weston has “failed and refused … to cooperate” with them and insisted upon “pursuing an objective” they considered “imprudent.”
A couple of other lawyers subsequently filed to withdraw, as well.
In granting the motions to withdraw, Judge Guadalupe Rivera found Elizabeth Weston’s “conduct interferes with counsel’s duty as an officer of the court.”
Inventory of assets
During her statement Thursday, Elizabeth Weston stated she has spent more than $4 million so far in the divorce case.
William Ford, an attorney for Graham Weston, responded that a June 1 inventory of her assets shows she had $3.7 million in one account and $521,000 in another.
“I’m happy to put her on (the stand) and have her testify to that if I need to,” Ford said to Waldrip. “She has access to funds.”
“Mr. Ford is incorrect,” she replied. “Those funds are not there as we speak today.” She added she would not testify without legal representation.”
Elizabeth Weston didn’t say during the hearing whether she would hire new counsel soon. It’s not clear how her lack of representation may affect the trial date, but Waldrip seems intent on going forward with it.
“We will proceed in this case as the law allows,” the judge said.
The purpose of the hearing was for him to hear a few motions from Graham Weston’s lawyers.
The judge ordered that Elizabeth Weston must comply with an independent medical examination by the end of next week. Graham Weston already submitted to the examination, his lawyers said.
“Your honor, with what shall I pay” the doctor? she asked. “I have not been given by you, this court, interim attorneys fees, nor have I been given temporary orders of support.”
“It is not a matter of course that everybody that files a divorce gets such funds,” the judge answered. “That’s all I can say. I have not been presented the motion” for support and attorneys’ fees.
The parties are scheduled to mediate two days in August ahead of the trial.
pdanner@express-news.net | https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/Weston-wife-divorce-money-17293026.php | 2022-07-08T20:58:22 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/Weston-wife-divorce-money-17293026.php |
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U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and several fellow members of Congress urged the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to protect survivors of the human-smuggling tragedy in San Antonio’s Southwest Side, which left 53 dead.
In a letter made public by a tweet from his official Twitter account, the San Antonio Democrat urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to “exercise prosecutorial discretion” by not deporting or detaining survivors. He also called for expediting humanitarian visa applications from the 11 individuals who survived the sweltering heat of the abandoned tractor-trailer.
“As the remaining survivors focus on their recovery at San Antonio Hospitals, they should not be worried about their future in the United States,” Castro wrote. Castro previously visited survivors of the incident and stated he would work with Mexican, Guatemalan and Honduran authorities to assist the victims and their families.
Castro also asked Mayorkas to provide humanitarian parole for families of victims, allowing them to collect the bodies of the deceased and visit survivors. Parole allows individuals unable to enter the U.S. to temporarily enter the country for “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit,” according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
As of Thursday night, the identities of 52 of the 53 deceased have been “conclusively identified” by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office. An update on the remaining survivor is expected no later than Monday, according to a news release from the Medical Examiner’s Office.
“The tragedy is a symptom of a broken immigration system, and while we continue to work with you and our colleagues in Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, we hope that you will work tirelessly with us to ensure the protection and security of the survivors and their families,” Castro concluded.
Ricardo.Delgado@express-news.net | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Castro-DHS-Dont-deport-survivors-17293131.php | 2022-07-08T20:58:59 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Castro-DHS-Dont-deport-survivors-17293131.php |
Stark County Sheriff's Office awarded $2 million for new violent crime task force
CANTON – The Stark County Sheriff's Office will receive more than $2 million in grant funding to create a multi-jurisdictional task force to address violent crime.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday that the sheriff's office will be receive funding to establish the Stark County Violent Crime Task Force. It will be a collaboration between the sheriff's office and the Canton, Jackson Township, Massillon, Perry Township and Alliance police departments.
The task force will "deploy proactive and preventative enforcement strategies targeting problem areas known for gang-related activity and other incidents of violent crime," according to a news release from the governor's office.
Each law enforcement agency will assign a full-time and part-time officer to the task force to help with hot-spot policing, community-oriented policing and engagement at community events.
The funds come as part of the fourth round of DeWine's Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. In total, the program will award $58 million to Ohio law enforcement agencies to aid with their efforts to reduce violent crime.
“My job as governor is to make sure that tools and resources are available at the local level to help our local law enforcement officers combat the violence they face,” DeWine said in a prepared statement. "These grants provide a means for local law enforcement to protect their citizens from violent crime through solid staffing levels and enhanced crime-fighting initiatives."
Twenty five other law enforcement agencies received funding as part of the fourth round of grants.
Stark's $2 million was the largest grant awarded to any agency in this wave.
A call to the sheriff's office Friday afternoon was not immediately returned.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2022/07/08/stark-county-sheriff-nets-2-million-address-violent-crime/10016618002/ | 2022-07-08T21:01:38 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2022/07/08/stark-county-sheriff-nets-2-million-address-violent-crime/10016618002/ |
A 39-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to federal prison stemming from drug sales to an undercover officer.
U.S. District Judge John Gerrard sentenced Anthony Jackson on Thursday to 15 years and eight months, plus 10 years of supervised release.
Jackson, who had been on parole on methamphetamine charges at the time, faced a 15-year mandatory minimum because of the prior conviction.
Prosecutors say between January and March 2021, Jackson sold an undercover Lincoln Police officer methamphetamine six times, in amounts ranging from an eighth of an ounce to 3 ounces.
On April 8, 2021, police arrested him near 33rd and Y streets and found him with about an ounce of meth, a digital scale and baggies. The meth was at least 90% pure.
The case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-gets-15-years-in-federal-prison-on-drug-charges-after-undercover-investigation/article_f814f0bc-3243-5363-9f6a-1ce747179598.html | 2022-07-08T21:02:31 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lincoln-man-gets-15-years-in-federal-prison-on-drug-charges-after-undercover-investigation/article_f814f0bc-3243-5363-9f6a-1ce747179598.html |
City spending $4.5M on pedestrian upgrades at these south-side intersections near Red Line
Indianapolis officials announced a wave of pedestrian-focused intersection improvements in the southern part of the city this summer, continuing to chip away at its overwhelming lack of infrastructure that exists for non-car users.
In a program called Safe Routes to Transit, the Department of Public Works is spending $4.5 million on upgrades at 61 intersections within half a mile of the Red Line, each with a combination of sidewalk, curb, ramp or signal improvements.
Some have already been completed, such as a flashing beacon signal and ADA-compliant curbs and crosswalks along Prospect Street.
In total, the city will install 152 new ADA ramps, 109 new crosswalks, nearly a mile of new curbs, just over half a mile of rehabilitated sidewalk, and 12 new flashing beacons at locations selected based on crash data and site inspections. The locations also address a particular need: making safer the "last mile," or the first or final leg of a transit journey, often on foot or bike.
See inside:The downtown Indy Steak 'n Shake underwent a $1M renovation. Here's what's new.
"The last mile is of particular importance to transit riders, especially those with mobility issues," City-County Council President Vop Osili said Friday.
The scale of the overall issue is immense. So far this year, there have been 141 crashes in the city involving pedestrians, 15 fatal, including one this week.
Pedestrians have been dying at increasingly high rates over the last decade on Indianapolis streets, with 73 people dying in 2020 and 2021 alone, according to state crash data.
In-depth:Why pedestrians keep dying in Indianapolis and what can be done about it
The money for Safe Routes to Transit comes from competitive federal dollars that require a 20% local match.
"Despite a historic level of infrastructure funding in the city budget this year, these improvements would not have been possible with city dollars alone," Mayor Joe Hogsett said. "That's why we continue to tap every funding resource available."
Indianapolis does not have a dedicated local funding source for infrastructure like sidewalks. Parking meter profits can be used for sidewalks, but only in areas that have parking meters, DPW Director Dan Parker said. The state gas tax funds can be used on sidewalks, but given the extremely limited amount of money available, DPW sees the most efficient method as rehabilitating existing sidewalks alongside planned road projects.
More: Why Indianapolis never has enough funding for infrastructure
Most often, pedestrian-oriented infrastructure gets built by leveraging federal dollars. Since the passage of President Joe Biden's infrastructure law, a major influx is imminent.
"And we're going to be really aggressive going after it," Parker said.
Through a variety of funding initiatives in addition to Safe Routes to Transit — including the Indianapolis Neighborhood Infrastructure Partnership program and the Circle City Forward initiative — the city in 2022 will install:
- 1,450 upgrades to ADA-compliant ramps.
- 500 upgrades to crosswalks, 66 of which are new.
- Nearly 20 miles of new or rehabilitated curbs.
- Nearly 38 miles of new or rehabilitated sidewalks.
- More than 10 new or upgraded trails and greenways.
While this year's Safe Routes to Transit program focuses on the southern corridor of the Red Line, the initial round of the program in 2021 dedicated $6.6 million toward upgrades at about 60 locations along the northern Red Line corridor, generally north of 21st Street.
Contact IndyStar transportation reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2022/07/08/pedestrian-crossing-intersection-upgrades-indianapolis-red-line/10008051002/ | 2022-07-08T21:02:32 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2022/07/08/pedestrian-crossing-intersection-upgrades-indianapolis-red-line/10008051002/ |
There are few bands in the history of American music that have made a mark as indelible as the one made by the Eagles. During their time together, they sold millions of records, were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame and defined and cultivated a sound and style that was synonymous with popular Americana, and on July 15, Arizonans will have the opportunity to experience the sound of the Eagles again with one of their most renowned members: Don “Fingers” Felder.
As a former lead guitarist for the Eagles, Felder is a certified rock and roll legend. During his 27-year tenure with the Eagles, he brought his lyrical guitar work to many of the Eagles’s best tracks including Life in the Fast Lane, One of These Nights and New Kid In Town, but Felder’s most soaring achievement during this time would be his work on the band’s zeitgeist defining masterpiece, Hotel California. The song’s beautiful and exotic melody would distinguish the Eagles as one of the greatest bands of the 20th Century. But as time went on, the band grew apart, and in 2001, Felder too would leave.
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Making a name for yourself is hard when your entire career has been defined by the group you were in. That separation becomes even harder when that group is the Eagles, but Felder managed to build an impressive career for himself that has not only strengthened the power of his legacy but also charted a path forward with new sounds, new collaborators and new fans.
The Arizona Daily Sun will be interviewing Felder for a more in-depth piece about his career and his plans for the future, but until then, make sure to secure your tickets to the concert on the Pepsi Amphitheater website at pepsiamp.com. You’re not going to want to miss it. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/theres-a-new-kid-in-town-don-felders-of-the-eagles-performs-the-classics-at/article_b4557506-fef6-11ec-89ec-fbea984765bd.html | 2022-07-08T21:02:48 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/theres-a-new-kid-in-town-don-felders-of-the-eagles-performs-the-classics-at/article_b4557506-fef6-11ec-89ec-fbea984765bd.html |
ROANOKE, Va. – Imagine you or a loved one is in need of basic healthcare – Even worse, imagine your need is a medical emergency.
For too many people living in our region, access to basic and emergency care is simply out of reach.
Tuesday at 7, a 10 News investigation explores why so many people struggle with access to healthcare.
We’re working toward answers that could help bring healthcare within reach for so many. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/08/for-many-in-our-region-healthcare-is-out-of-reach/ | 2022-07-08T21:07:00 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/08/for-many-in-our-region-healthcare-is-out-of-reach/ |
The Richmond Fire Department investigation that found the fire that engulfed William Fox Elementary accidental estimates damage to the building at $2.5 million.
The price includes $2 million for property damages from the three-alarm Feb. 11 blaze and $500,000 for content losses. Last month, the Richmond School Board voted to fast-track the procurement process for design at Fox after previously approving a recommendation to renovate the building instead of replacing the school, which opened in 1911.
On July 1, the department announced the fire at the school on Hanover Avenue was “accidental” and a cause was “undetermined.” The fire department would not hand over a copy of the investigation report last week. The Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained the report through a Freedom of Information Act request.
“During this investigation, no evidence or information was discovered that would support any deliberate act which would have caused this fire,” the investigation report states.
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While the fire was found to be accidental, the report says examinations to find "fire or building code issues" found sufficient evidence or information "that a pre-fire building or fire code violation existed." The report also says Fox Elementary was cited for violations following an August 2021 fire safety inspection.
The 31-page document includes witness statements, examinations of the building’s interior and exterior and exposure areas and analysis of evidence. Portions of the report are redacted.
The fire that shuttered the beloved Fan District school originated from the school’s attic area on the second floor “which contained a separate classroom and auditorium according to interviews conducted with the school principal,” as stated in the report.
According to the report, Fox Elementary Principal Daniela Jacobs told the investigator in an interview the day after the fire that the school "has been experiencing issues with the alarm panel for several months" and that she "has several emails and communications with RPS personnel regarding issues with the alarm panel."
The report says the violations found in the August 2021 fire safety inspection referred to an emergency power system that was to provide illumination in case of an outage; storage of combustible material in equipment rooms; exit sign illumination; a copy machine obstructing an exit in a modular class; an electrical panel that was blocked in a storage area, leaving insufficient work space; an alarm system that was "in Trouble mode" with "no updated annual inspection report; and an extension cord that was being "used as a permanent electrical source."
The 2021 citation says those violations were to have been corrected by Sept. 30. The new report does not say whether or when those problems were addressed.
Jacobs, the school's principal, said that sometime before the fire she had been made aware that Fox “was infested with mice and the mice had previously chewed through the wires in the attic area,” according to the report. Orkin Pest Control had made school staff aware of the rodents issue, according to Jacobs.
Surveillance cameras at Fox also did not work, according to the interview with Jacobs.
Visual inspections were completed of each classroom, which indicated that fire damage was more significant on the school’s second floor than on the first floor.
While school officials' statements helped determine the fire's area of origin, “this area could not be accessed due to safety concerns for the investigators,” according to the report.
A fire investigator reported an initial observation indicated that the “fire damage appeared to be the most significant” on the second floor. The roof had collapsed onto the floor in this area, according to the report.
Further information regarding the area of origin and cause will not be available until the investigation portion conducted by VaCorp insurance company and the city of Richmond is completed. Unfinished business includes removing asbestos and shoring up the school building. A building engineer needs to determine that the area of origin is safe for investigators to enter, according to the report.
In the days following the fire, Richmond Public Schools and the fire department came under scrutiny. The night of the fire, firefighters left the scene after an initial search did not show signs of a fire. However, the school would soon burst into flames, with the roof collapsing.
The Times-Dispatch reported the morning following the fire that audio logs from the initial emergency dispatch indicated the responders couldn’t reach a school representative in order to access the building. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/fox-fire-probe-estimates-damage-at-2-5-million-school-faced-prior-fire-code-violations/article_8515e695-5e88-56f8-a7c3-6f2272e32c53.html | 2022-07-08T21:07:59 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/fox-fire-probe-estimates-damage-at-2-5-million-school-faced-prior-fire-code-violations/article_8515e695-5e88-56f8-a7c3-6f2272e32c53.html |
The out-of-the-blue dissolution of the Enrichmond Foundation is a distressing but otherwise fitting end for an organization that was never as transparent as it needed to be.
The foundation was established in 1990 to support the development of local parks and public spaces. But its acquisition several years ago of two historic African American cemeteries — and dissatisfaction about its stewardship and transparency among the descendants of those buried there — made it a flashpoint destined to burn everyone involved.
And so it has come to pass.
Its executive director for 11 years, John Sydnor, quietly left the nonprofit in April. Board members resigned en masse. Its website went dark. And last Tuesday, a lawyer alerted its 86 partner organizations that Enrichmond, their fiscal agent, was being shut down.
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The state and fate of the monies these groups entrusted to Enrichmond remains unclear.
“My sense is it’s an absolute mess,” said Scott Morrison, treasurer of Richmond Tree Stewards.
Kerry Hutcherson, the attorney charged with unraveling the mess, said in an email Thursday: “The Enrichmond Foundation is not ready to make any comments at this time, but I expect to have a statement within the coming days.”
The dissolution, he added, “requires a substantial amount of document review and analysis, and until the Enrichmond Foundation has completed that part of the process we won’t be in a position to provide many details.”
This is a sad denouement to the hopes of 2017, when Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, secured state recognition and funding for the preservation of East End and Evergreen cemeteries, the latter the final resting place of Black Richmond luminaries Maggie L. Walker and John Mitchell Jr.
In hindsight, the beginning of the end occurred during the spring of 2021, when the administration of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, concerned about the rancor between a descendants group and Enrichmond, withdrew $75,000 in annual funding — effectively a vote of no confidence.
But the crux of the issue was too much confidence in Enrichmond, suggests Virginia Commonwealth University historian Ryan Smith, author of “Death & Rebirth in a Southern City: Richmond’s Historic Cemeteries.”
”In hindsight, this scenario seems utterly predictable,” Smith blogged. “The Enrichmond Foundation never demonstrated that it had the capacity for the task or an ability to build trust with its partners in the work.”
But after years of butting heads with Sydnor and Enrichmond, descendant Brian Palmer was hardly celebratory about its demise.
“When an organization that people rely on folds, it’s not good news,” he said. “But it does provide an opportunity for those who remain in that organization to take a new path.
“One would hope that the board members of Enrichmond would provide clarity and transparency to partner groups, on the one hand, and descendants, on the other. This is essential to make these groups whole and to protect the cemeteries.”
The abrupt collapse of the nonprofit, coupled with its history of opacity, left folks unsure of exactly owns the cemeteries: Enrichmond or Sydnor’s limited liability corporation, the ironically named Parity LLC.
Years before James Madison’s Montpelier would establish a model of structural parity and power sharing with the descendants of the enslaved, a group of descendants of the interred at East End cemetery sought a power-sharing arrangement on an Enrichmond governance board. It never happened, and Sydnor’s relations with Palmer and other descendants was often fraught.
Sydnor is now the fundraising and communications program officer for Virginia LISC. On Thursday, as he traveled with his family, he sounded like a man ready to move on.
“I left Enrichmond for an opportunity that opened with an organization I had been monitoring for years,” he said in an email. “When I left, Enrichmond owned both East End and Evergreen. I’m not in the loop any longer on these things.”
Not so fast.
Everyone associated with Enrichmond has a lot of explaining to do. Rarely do organizations collapse so quickly without warning.
“Our public officials — elected and appointed; local, state, and federal — must also account for the hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars they have given to Enrichmond and its holding company, Parity,” Palmer said. “How has that money been spent? Is there any left? Audits have been conducted ... why not share these public records with the public, with the descendant community?
“We can’t move forward to save the cemeteries until we sort out the mess in front of us; we can’t get to reconciliation until we have the truth.”
A nadir in Enrichmond’s stewardship of the cemeteries occurred during the summer of 2020, when a cache of exposed human remains was found by an employee in an eroding ravine at East End cemetery. Imagines of the remains were shown on a local television newscast. Folks were later stunned to learn during a virtual meeting that the bones bore evidence of medical dissection.
This untimely dissolution amounts to the latest desecration of the Black dead in Richmond. | https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/williams-enrichmond-foundation-is-dissolving-its-death-calls-for-more-transparency-than-it-demonstrated-in/article_47d997a9-3f2f-5557-997c-8e9dab0ed98a.html | 2022-07-08T21:08:05 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/williams-enrichmond-foundation-is-dissolving-its-death-calls-for-more-transparency-than-it-demonstrated-in/article_47d997a9-3f2f-5557-997c-8e9dab0ed98a.html |
The BA.5 strain of COVID-19 is spreading quickly across Virginia and now accounts for more than half of all cases in the state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates.
A subvariant of omicron, BA.5 is causing new infections, even among those vaccinated and those who have already contracted COVID. It's considered the most transmissible variant yet and might be capable of producing more severe disease.
In Virginia, hospitalizations are on the incline. Deaths remain low.
A “concerned citizen” who tipped Richmond police off about a mass shooting planned on Monday at Dogwood Dell told investigators that one of the suspects showed him two rifles, a red dot sight and a “longer higher caliber gun” with a kickstand on June 21, according to a court affidavit filed Thursday.
"The BA.5 omicron variant has become the majority variant of the virus in the USA in a matter of weeks and is a very troubling development," said Dr. Gonzalo Bearman, head of infectious diseases for Virginia Commonwealth University Health.
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The University of Virginia's Biocomplexity Institute said BA.5, along with the slightly older BA.4, may cause a small surge this summer.
What kind of effect they'll have on the Richmond area isn't determined yet, said Dr. Melissa Viray, Richmond and Henrico interim health director.
"I think it's a little too early to say," Viray added. "We need to monitor the impact of BA.4 and BA.5."
Experts aren't sure yet if the BA.5 variant can cause greater severity of illness. As variants have evolved, they've typically become more transmissible and less deadly. But the BA.5 variant arrives at a time when immunity for many people is declining.
"As many individuals are not vaccinated and others have waning vaccine protection, this may lead to both greater numbers of infection and greater severity of disease," Bearman said.
As of July 7, 2022, over 73% of the U.S. population is in a location with a medium or high #COVID19 Community Level. If you live in a medium or high community level, consider taking steps to protect yourself and others.
— CDC (@CDCgov) July 8, 2022
Find your COVID-19 Community Level: https://t.co/w3365V9Zr4 pic.twitter.com/OmqHpMTB6G
In Virginia, 72% of residents are fully vaccinated. But less than half of Virginians have received a booster, and vaccine immunity wanes overtime. It's unclear how much immunity is necessary to ward off infection.
The older BA.2.12.1 variant is shrinking but continues to have a presence in the state. Pfizer and Moderna plan to have boosters that target omicron by this fall.
For the past two weeks, COVID hospitalizations in Virginia have been on the rise. There were 615 average hospitalizations Friday, the most since early March, when the original strain of omicron was receding. Friday's hospitalization total remains relatively low compared to previous variants – there were 2,000 hospitalizations at the peak of delta and 3,700 at the peak of the original omicron.
Hospitals in the Richmond area haven't seen their patient populations swell. At Virginia Commonwealth University Health, 94% of the hospital's 645 adult inpatient beds were full last week, roughly the same figure as a month earlier, according to federal data.
At Chippenham and Johnston-Willis Hospitals, fewer beds were occupied last week than a month prior. In the last week of June, 72% of adult inpatient beds were full, compared to 77% four weeks earlier.
St. Mary's Hospital has also seen its patient volume slide. COVID patients made up just 3% of the patient population in late June. At VCU, 9% of their patients were treated for COVID.
The state health department reported a daily average of 2,600 cases Friday, but cases are no longer a reliable indicator, because the health department can't count the numerous rapid tests conducted at home. Despite the undercounting in cases, the case rate in Virginia is four times higher than last summer, before at-home testing was widely available.
Deaths remain low – the state health department reported seven in the past two weeks – but deaths typically don't increase until weeks after hospitalizations do.
The level of transmission throughout the state is growing. One section of the state is surging, according to the University of Virginia Biocomplexity Institute – the area northeast of Richmond from King William County to the Northern Neck.
UVA lists 24 health districts as having slow growth, one in plateau and eight in decline.
The CDC continues to label Henrico, Chesterfield and Charles City counties and the city of Richmond as having high transmission rates. Hanover, New Kent, Goochland, Powhatan and Dinwiddie counties remain at medium levels of transmission.
Residents of high-transmission localities are recommended to wear masks indoors while around others.
A large swath of northwestern Virginia remains in low transmission, including Albemarle, Madison and Rappahannock counties. | https://richmond.com/news/local/newest-covid-variant-ba-5-is-spreading-fast-in-virginia-experts-are-unsure-what-impact/article_bf9cdb3b-42b3-5317-bb2b-b6f3e8b6829f.html | 2022-07-08T21:08:11 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/newest-covid-variant-ba-5-is-spreading-fast-in-virginia-experts-are-unsure-what-impact/article_bf9cdb3b-42b3-5317-bb2b-b6f3e8b6829f.html |
A fire that destroyed a rural Natrona County home Thursday began when flames spread from an unattended burn barrel, authorities say.
The fire quickly spread from the normally operating barrel to the surrounding grasses, where it continued to burn due to windy conditions and dry vegetation, the Natrona County Fire District reported.
Flames completely destroyed one home west of the Casper area, along with the same family's nearby shop, two trucks and a tractor. The family was unhurt, but lost all of their possessions, authorities say.
The American Red Cross and the Natrona County Burn Fund were providing assistance to the family.
The fire ignited at about 11:30 a.m. in the area of Natrona Road and U.S. Highway 20/26. It spread quickly from the grass to trees and then to the home.
Multiple county fire crews responded to the blaze, according to the fire district. So did Bureau of Land Management wildland firefighters and a crew from Bar Nunn. Two air tankers and two helicopters also worked to keep the fire from spreading.
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County sheriff's deputies, meanwhile, helped to evacuate the Natrona Road subdivision. Other nearby residents were told to prepare to leave their homes, but did not ultimately have to evacuate.
Crews contained the fire after it burned fewer than 7 acres. No one was injured.
Thursday was the second time in three days that a wildfire necessitated evacuations in Natrona County. On Tuesday, a 39-acre grass fire burning east of town prompted people in the Geary Dome area to leave their homes.
Another small wildland fire ignited Wednesday, near the Casper landfill. It was “quickly contained,” Casper fire officials said in a statement.
“Fire activity in the wildland is becoming more frequent as fuels cure and dry out,” the statement said Wednesday.
Stage-one fire restrictions went into effect in Natrona County on Thursday, meaning open burning is prohibited. Campfires at homes or in campsite fire rings are still allowed. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/fire-that-destroyed-home-caused-by-unattended-burn-barrel/article_8b51e312-fed1-11ec-810f-b341eb09fee6.html | 2022-07-08T21:14:17 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/fire-that-destroyed-home-caused-by-unattended-burn-barrel/article_8b51e312-fed1-11ec-810f-b341eb09fee6.html |
School districts from Laramie, Teton and Fremont counties will participate in a pilot teacher apprenticeship program this fall, the Wyoming Department of Education announced on Friday.
The teacher apprenticeship program is meant to help turn around Wyoming’s teacher shortages.
It’s based on an existing statewide program in Tennessee. The idea of the apprenticeship is to lower financial barriers and give hands-on training to people who want to become teachers. The program in Tennessee is still pretty new, so it’s not clear yet how the apprenticeship programs will pan out in terms of actually getting people into teaching who stay in the profession for the long-haul.
Representatives of several Wyoming education groups are meeting with Gov. Mark Gordon today to hash out a plan for creating a teacher apprenticeship program here.
Last month, the Wyoming Department of Education and the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board opened an application for school districts interested in participating in the apprenticeship pilot. They chose Laramie County School District No. 1, Teton County School District No. .1 and Fremont County School District No. 24 to be participants.
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The three districts will collaborate with the education department and teaching standards board over the summer to prepare to launch their own apprenticeship programs come fall, the Wyoming Department of Education’s statement says.
The pilot is meant to act as a model for a statewide rollout of teacher apprenticeship programs in 2023. It will be up to districts to decide whether or not they want to participate.
Applications for school districts to be part of a Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship pilot opened Wednesday. The apprenticeship is meant to help turn around the state’s teacher shortage crisis. The application closes June 30.
The rollout will come in three phases.
Adult paraprofessionals and substitute teachers who are already working in a school district can apply and get automatic entry to the program in the first phase. They’ll continue to do paid work while taking classes through community colleges and the University of Wyoming while getting support from a mentor. The goal is to have school districts hire these apprentices after they finish the program.
Phase two is pretty much the same, except that the apprenticeship will also be open to people with at least a high school diploma or GED.
Phase three will develop a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students. Those who finish the pre-apprenticeship program can then apply for the regular apprenticeship program.
It isn’t clear right now how much the apprenticeship program will cost and if the state will have to contribute funding. Wyoming Department of Education spokesperson Linda Finnerty said in an email that the team working on the apprenticeship program is still building cost estimates. | https://trib.com/news/local/education/three-school-districts-chosen-to-participate-in-pilot-teacher-apprenticeship-program/article_d345e612-feec-11ec-b490-531f679fad98.html | 2022-07-08T21:14:23 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/education/three-school-districts-chosen-to-participate-in-pilot-teacher-apprenticeship-program/article_d345e612-feec-11ec-b490-531f679fad98.html |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-dead-after-delaware-co-funeral-procession-ambushed/3294393/ | 2022-07-08T21:15:18 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-dead-after-delaware-co-funeral-procession-ambushed/3294393/ |
Two men in the middle of a funeral procession Friday afternoon were gunned down by shooters who "targeted" the victims in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, police said.
The victims were not identified about three hours after the 1 p.m. shooting in Upper Darby Township as a funeral procession of vehicles wound its way to a cemetery, police said. The cemetery is Friends Southwestern Burial Ground.
"100% targeted, 100% ambushed," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said. "They were followed and they were targeted, and they were assassinated right there."
The funeral procession had begun in North Philadelphia, where friends and family were mourning the death of another person who had been murdered recently, police said.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for more details as they become known. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-men-assassinated-during-funeral-procession-in-upper-darby/3294405/ | 2022-07-08T21:15:19 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-men-assassinated-during-funeral-procession-in-upper-darby/3294405/ |
KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Kootenai County's positivity rate for COVID-19 has reached its highest point in more than five months, as reported by our news partners, the Coeur d'Alene Press.
According to the state's COVID-19 Dashboard on Thursday, the county's positivity rate for virus was 22% based on 735 PCR tests for week ending July 2. Just three and a half months ago, it was 0.9%.
The Panhandle Health District's positivity rate rose to 20.6 based on 1,035 tests, up from a low of 1.4% on March 26.
The state's COVID-19 positivity rate was 14.3% based on 13,256 PCR tests. That's the highest in nearly five months.
The PHD reported 368 new COVID-19 cases this week and three more deaths attributed to the virus, which brings the total of COVID-19 deaths in the PHD to 974. Ninety percent of those deaths were people age 70 or older, as the virus continues to take more of a toll on the elderly.
Six districtwide hospitalizations are currently attributed to the coronavirus. Statewide hospitalizations were at 130 as of July 4, down from 155 the previous week.
Kootenai County's fully vaccinated rate of those age 5 and older remains low at 45%, according to the state. The national average is 71%.
One recent study found that nearly half of Idahoans' views on COVID-19 rules remain unchanged.
"After 1 million deaths, months of squabbling over stimulus aid, street protests, vaccine mandates, chronic supply problems, compulsory mask wearing and enforced social distancing, two years of nation infighting has not moved the needle for almost half of Americans," according to the study by MyBioSource.com, a biotechnical products distribution company, who questioned 3,442 people.
They asked people whether their views on COVID rules and regulations have shifted over time, or whether they have remained the same.
The survey found that 48% of Idahoans said their opinions about COVID-19 rules and regulations haven't changed. Thirty-five percent of Idahoans surveyed said they supported the rules, while 17% said they were against them.
One in three reported losing friends over COVID rules, while 61% said if there were to be another pandemic, Americans would be more divided on ways of dealing with the virus in terms of related regulations.
The Coeur d'Alene Press is a KREM 2 news partner. For more from our partners, click here. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/covid-positivity-rate-in-kootenai-county-reaches-highest-level-in-more-than-5-months/293-a458f9bf-b31c-4f47-b8de-7f18bc3fc043 | 2022-07-08T21:16:33 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/covid-positivity-rate-in-kootenai-county-reaches-highest-level-in-more-than-5-months/293-a458f9bf-b31c-4f47-b8de-7f18bc3fc043 |
BLOOMINGTON — A scheduled sentencing for Aaron Parlier on sexual assault and child porn charges was postponed to Aug. 1, after he was not brought to the courthouse for the trial.
Parlier was previously sentenced to 450 years in prison after the first of possibly six trials. He is charged with having assaulted and filmed students while he was a piano teacher in Bloomington. He is incarcerated at Menard Correctional Facility, according to online Illinois Department of Corrections records.
Parlier was at the courthouse on writ during his second trial in April, where he was found guilty on another 12 charges. Separate trials are being held for the charges for each of the alleged victims of the assaults.
IDOC brought Parlier for the second trial but was not informed to bring him back for Friday's hearing, Judge Casey Costigan said.
A hearing on post-trial motions and possible sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1.
What you missed this week in notable Central Illinois crimes and court cases
This week's local crime and court updates from The Pantagraph.
Internet scammers are targeting numerous Chicago restaurants, leaving one-star reviews on their Google profiles, and then asking for money to make them go away.
Police records paint the picture of a turbulent home life for alleged sniper in the Highland Park mass shooting that left seven people dead and more than 30 injured.
A suburban Chicago family is requesting criminal charges against an off-duty Chicago police sergeant who they say pinned their 14-year-old son down and pressed a knee to his back because he mistakenly thought the boy was trying to steal his son's bicycle.
The defendant was charged Monday and a grand jury returned a bill of indictment Thursday.
A Bloomington man is facing felony charges after prosecutors say he forged a check and tried cashing it at a Normal bank.
The accused gunman's parents are under scrutiny as the reeling community questions why they apparently supported their son's interest in guns only months after he reportedly threatened suicide and violence.
A grandson and nephew of Chicago's two longest-serving mayors was sentenced to four months in prison Wednesday after being convicted of tax crimes and making false statements.
Ray E. Tate pleaded guilty in March to murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Wayne County Deputy Sean Riley — but in May, sought to withdraw the plea.
Ray E. Tate pleaded guilty in March to murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Wayne County Deputy Sean Riley — but in May, sought to withdraw the plea.
A McLean County grand jury indicted Zachary J. Williamson, 20, who knowingly entered the Mucky Duck Marina, 17845 Park View Lane, in Hudson, on April 22 with the intent to commit a theft.
Stephon T. Carter, 33, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal trespass of a restricted landing area at an airport and two counts of criminal damage to property.
A Bloomington man is charged with possessing a stolen motorcycle.
The alleged shooter who attacked an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois and came to Madison "seriously contemplated" using a gun and 60 rounds in his car to attack a celebration in Madison on the same day, police said.
R. Kelly is no longer on suicide watch following the jailed R&B singer's sentencing in a federal sex abuse case, prosecutors said in court papers filed on Tuesday.
The gun that was used in the Highland Park mass shooting was purchased legally in Illinois, authorities say. Details:
"There are no words for the kind of monster who lies in wait and fires into a crowd of families with children celebrating a holiday with their community," the governor said.
Federal authorities are pushing back on R. Kelly's claims that he was placed on suicide watch as a form of punishment last week after a judge sentenced him to 30 years behind bars for using his fame to sexually abuse young girls.
Bail has been set at $2 million for a man who prosecutors say shot a Chicago police officer multiple times as the officer stepped off an elevator while responding to a domestic disturbance call.
Although gun violence across Chicago declined in the past six months, issues downtown, a place where people from all over the city gather, have been higher than usual this year, leaving many in Chicago on edge.
Soon enough, Kelly will be back in a federal jail in his hometown, with decisions to make about how to proceed on his other cases. The hard time he got in New York could well change how his lawyers and prosecutors in Chicago proceed.
A Chicago man pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot, court records show.
Dakota Flint, 23, of Campus, was indicted in federal court for child pornography possession in June 2020 and he pleaded guilty to the charge in January.
Brennen M. Whiteside, 33, is accused of reaching into a man’s car Thursday at a gas station in the 600 block of West Raab Road in Normal and punching the man in the face, causing a bloody cut.
A social media post has led to firearm charges against a Bloomington man.
John W. Beck, 55, pleaded guilty in January to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery and one count of attempted escape.
A Chicago police officer was shot Friday morning, and the suspect was being sought, officials said.
How could R. Kelly's lengthy prison term in New York affect his cases in Illinois? Here's a look.
A new analysis by the Chicago Tribune found that only about 23% of the violent deaths of transgender women in recent years have been solved by Chicago police, compared to 38% of homicides solved overall. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/hearing-possible-sentencing-moved-to-august-for-piano-teacher-charged-with-sex-crimes/article_bacda654-feda-11ec-805f-c3116599b455.html | 2022-07-08T21:17:50 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/hearing-possible-sentencing-moved-to-august-for-piano-teacher-charged-with-sex-crimes/article_bacda654-feda-11ec-805f-c3116599b455.html |
Some Pinal County early ballots go to voters without city, town contests listed
Pinal County officials said Friday that some early ballots sent to a yet unknown number of voters ahead of the Aug. 2 primary election may contain errors.
At least some ballots in Apache Junction, Superior, Maricopa and Casa Grande were sent out this week without city and town contests printed on them, according to Pinal County spokesperson James Daniels. The contests erroneously appeared on ballots sent to voters in nearby unincorporated areas who are not eligible to vote in the municipal races.
"Those are the areas we are aware of at the moment, but I have also heard reports of ballots where they are fine," Daniels said. "In Florence, for example, we are not hearing of errors. So, it doesn't necessarily appear it is every single city and town that has been impacted, but that's what we're working to get to the bottom of."
Daniels said county officials heard about the issue Thursday afternoon. Staff with the Pinal County Elections Department and Pinal County Recorder's Office are currently working with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office to identify how many voters are impacted and how the error occurred.
"It's very difficult to put a number on that right now," Daniels said. "The ballots only started arriving on Wednesday and Thursday, so a lot of people haven't even taken them out of the mailbox at this point. Hopefully, whatever the solution is, it is early in the process so that we can get a resolution in place as quickly as possible."
The issues come amid intense scrutiny of elections officials in the aftermath of unfounded allegations of widespread fraud in Arizona during the 2020 presidential election. Those claims were dismissed in dozens of courtrooms in Arizona and around the country. An Arizona Senate Republican-ordered ballot review and hand recount in Maricopa County attempted to raise questions about election security but found no widespread fraud.
"It's looking like it's just simple human error," Daniels said. "There's nothing to suggest anything untoward, or anything related to technology or anything like that."
Pinal County was without an elections director after Michele Forney left at the end of 2020 for a job with the state of Nevada. The county hired its current director, David Frisk, in March. Frisk was tapped to spearhead election planning, voting and tabulation from Kitsap County in Washington, where he was a programs manager for the Elections Division.
Daniels said county officials will keep the public updated on next steps.
This is an ongoing story. Please check back for updates.
Reach reporter Sasha Hupka at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.
If this story mattered to you, please support our work. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/pinal/2022/07/08/some-pinal-county-early-ballots-go-voters-without-municipal-races/10016843002/ | 2022-07-08T21:18:44 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/pinal/2022/07/08/some-pinal-county-early-ballots-go-voters-without-municipal-races/10016843002/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Kingsport city officials have decided to delay water and sewer rate increases by one month due to recent water meter issues.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted on the first reading Friday morning to push back the rate increases to Aug. 1. The board will vote on the measure on the second and final reading on July 19.
Last month, the board approved a 7.5% rate increase for water customers and 13.5% increase for sewer customers. Those rates were supposed to go into effect July 1.
In a press release Friday, Deputy City Manager Ryan McReynolds said city staff recommended delaying the rate hikes in an effort to be fair to customers.
“In the interest of fairness and due to the billing issues, we’re pushing back the rate increases by one month,” McReynolds said. “We apologize for the disruption and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this time as we work to return billing back to normal.”
The city has been working to replace thousands of water meters due to issues with the meters’ batteries failing prematurely. Issues reading the meters resulted in the city falling a month behind on water bills. In an effort to catch up, the city announced in June that it would do two billing cycles covering three months instead of three billing cycles. The city said monthly billing would resume in August.
According to the city, water meters are registering the correct water usage and customers are not being overbilled. The city is currently not charging late fees or performing any cutoffs of water service. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-delays-water-sewer-rate-increases/ | 2022-07-08T21:20:14 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-delays-water-sewer-rate-increases/ |
UVALDE, Texas — The Houston Astros, along with the Astros Foundation, are set to visit Uvalde on Friday to show support for the community after a mass shooting killed 19 students and two teachers.
In an effort to bring some joy to a grief-stricken town, the Astros Foundation has planned various events in Uvalde from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including the following:
- Ice cream giveaway at H-E-B
- When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: H-E-B store located at 201 East Main Street in Uvalde
- Play Ball baseball event
- Astros Youth Academy players and staff will help giveaway prizes and lunch provided by Whataburger.
- When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: Memorial Park, located at 401 East Main Street in Uvalde
- Uvalde Memorial Hospital visit
- Astros mascot Orbit will bring prizes and giveaways to patients, doctors and nurses at the hospital.
- When: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/houston-astros-uvalde-texas-school-shooting-support/285-1baa0beb-1df3-474b-b9b2-2da6dcd684d4 | 2022-07-08T21:23:05 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/houston-astros-uvalde-texas-school-shooting-support/285-1baa0beb-1df3-474b-b9b2-2da6dcd684d4 |
A lifeguard in the Fire Island community of Ocean Beach is the latest person to be bitten in recent days by a shark in New York's Long Island waters.
Ocean Beach Mayor James Mallott tells Newsday the lifeguard was performing training about 150 to 200 yards offshore on Thursday morning and he felt something bite him near his left foot.
The lifeguard then swam to shore, where he was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, treated and released.
Ocean Beach is a village on Fire Island, a barrier island off the southern shore of Long Island.
Thursday's bite comes days after another lifeguard, who had been playing the role of a victim during a training exercise, was bitten in the chest and hand by a shark off Smith Point Beach, also located on Fire Island.
On June 30, a man swimming off Jones Beach on Long Island was bitten on the foot, possibly by a shark. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/lifeguard-on-nys-fire-island-latest-to-be-bitten-by-a-shark/3767038/ | 2022-07-08T21:24:39 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/lifeguard-on-nys-fire-island-latest-to-be-bitten-by-a-shark/3767038/ |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - The annual summer float down the Flint River won't happen this year because of uncertainty after the massive oil spill into the waterway.
The flotilla, which started in 2014, draws about 300 people on canoes, kayaks and tubes floating down the Flint River from Tenacity Brewing on Grand Traverse Street to the Mott Park Recreation Area on the city's west side.
A massive spill from Lockhart Chemical on James P. Cole Boulevard dumped thousands of gallons of an oily substance in the Flint River.
The Genesee County Health Department has a no contact order in place for the river between Stepping Stone Falls and Leith Street on Flint's east side. So organizers are planning a new Flotilla Pirate Fest on land at Tenacity Brewing in Flint.
“We simply do not have enough time to ensure our concerns about the impacts of the chemical spill are answered and to plan a safe and fun event for the Flint community,” said Sarah Scheitler, manager for the Flint River Corridor Alliance.
The family-friendly Flotilla Pirate Fest will include live entertainment, a costume contest, a treasure hunt, sprinklers, water toys and more for a $5 per person admission. The event is a fundraiser for the Flint River Corridor Alliance.
The event runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 6 at Tenacity Brewing, which is located at 119 N. Grand Traverse St.
“There will be no on-the-water event this year, but we hope this party will uplift our Flint River community and continue to spread the word about the importance of protecting the waters that belong to all of us,” said Corridor Alliance Chairwoman Kathleen Gazall. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/annual-flint-river-flotilla-replaced-by-event-on-land-after-oil-spill/article_483b45be-feef-11ec-9ae0-0f1e75577329.html | 2022-07-08T21:25:16 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/annual-flint-river-flotilla-replaced-by-event-on-land-after-oil-spill/article_483b45be-feef-11ec-9ae0-0f1e75577329.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The B-29 Doc Wichita Warbird Weekend continues through Sunday at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center located at 1788 S. Airport Road.
July 8 (Friday)
Until 4 p.m.
July 9 (Saturday)
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (concert begins at 7 p.m.)
July 10 (Sunday)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A concert will be held Saturday night in the hangar, featuring the Echos Band, who will play music from the 1980s to provide fun for all ages. A food truck and beverages will be available during the evening event.
Admission throughout the week, including the evening concert event, will be $10 per person or $20 per family.
The event, which started Wednesday, features nine vintage and historic warbirds and aircraft, including four airplanes will have ride flight opportunities.
The aircraft attending the event will be:
- B-29 Doc (Doc`s Friends, Wichita, KS)
- B-25 Berlin Express (EAA: Oshkosh, WI)
- Stearman PT-13 (CAF Heart of America Wing: Gardner, KS)
- Cessna UC-78 Bobcat (CAF Jayhawk Wing: Wichita, KS)
Aircraft Available for Static/Ground Display:
- Cessna L-19
- North American Aviation T-6 Texan
- Beech Staggerwing
- Fairchild PT-26
- Taylorcraft L-2
In addition to the aircraft on display and operating ride flights, the Kansas Women in Aviation Hall of Fame and Exhibit, along with the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center will be available for tour. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/b-29-doc-warbird-weekend-in-wichita/ | 2022-07-08T21:28:40 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/b-29-doc-warbird-weekend-in-wichita/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/local/tori-kelly-performs-unbothered-medley-of-songs-at-july-4th-concert-in-philly/3289979/ | 2022-07-08T21:32:42 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/local/tori-kelly-performs-unbothered-medley-of-songs-at-july-4th-concert-in-philly/3289979/ |
This story has been updated with additional quotes from Bryan Jurrens, principal at Charles City High School.
CHARLES CITY — A softball game between Charles City and Waterloo East on Thursday was interrupted when East High players lodged allegations of racist taunts by fans.
Before the top of the fourth inning in the Class 4A-Region 6 quarterfinal, a Trojan player ran to tell head coach Chad Adams inappropriate language that was racial in nature was being yelled by Comet fans in the center field bleachers. That claim was backed up by another player, and a conversation with the umpires followed.
Adams voiced his displeasure, and the fans eventually were ejected from the complex. Those fans were young, but it is unknown if they were all Charles City students.
Bryan Jurrens, the principal at Charles City High School, was the administrator tasked with talking to the fans. He was not informed by the umpires what exactly had been said, only that the group needed to leave.
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After the ejection from the bleachers, the fans remained gathered behind the outfield fence. They were told to leave the complex entirely, and proceeded to yell profanities at the field for several minutes before departing. The situation caused a delay of roughly 10 minutes.
As play resumed, those same fans gathered behind a fence along the street just a short walk from the outfield fence, still within earshot of the field. They remained there for the rest of the game, continuing to yell at the field.
Charles City eventually won the contest, 9-5.
A similar incident happened in 2020 when Charles City baseball player Jeremiah Chapman was on the receiving end of racially charged language during a game against Waverly-Shell Rock. His mother, Keisha Cunnings, was at Thursday's game in Charles City, and said she is certain the Charles City fans were not saying anything racist.
“I know for a fact that the kids were chanting, but they were not making any racial slurs or anything like that," Cunnings said. "I was literally feet away from them, and if they were doing that, then I wouldn’t have any problem addressing it.”
“I think that a player heard them being kids, and they came back and told (someone). I understand that because of what happened with Jeremiah they have to take action, but I’m saying on the record that that did not happen.”
Waterloo East shortstop Aalonna Ford is adamant she knows what she heard, and Adams and fellow teammate Jocelyn Foss back her up.
They believe incidents like this happen at Waterloo East games often, and it's something they take into account when they travel.
"It’s something at East High we kind of expect," Foss said. "We go everywhere and it’s like that.”
As for what exactly was said, Ford confirmed what she heard was racial in nature without repeating the alleged words.
“They know what they did," she said. "If they’re not ashamed of what they did then that’s them, let it be. Unfortunately racism has been going on. You can’t stop something that people believe in.”
Adams said he appreciated the way the situation was handled by Charles City administrators in removing the fans quickly.
Comets head coach Brian Bohlen said he didn't hear what was said by the crowd, but accepted the right of the officials to remove fans who were disrupting the contest.
“It was the umpire’s decision," he said "They’re in charge. At that point they wanted them removed, so they were removed.”
Charles City players Natalie White and Rachel Chambers also were unaware of any racially charged language coming from the crowd, but hope it is dealt with effectively if it happened.
“It’s just kind of who you believe," Chambers said. "I didn’t hear anything, but I also didn’t hear the cheering. I just block that out. If that’s what they said then that’s inappropriate and childish.”
As of Friday, Jurrens stated that there is an uncut video of the crowd from about ten feet away that administrators from both schools are looking at.
Jurrens also noted that the schools are working together to make sure both sides are seeing the same thing. Once the nature and severity of the video is agreed upon, a statement will be made.
“The best thing we can do is investigate," he said. "Any allegations out there, we have to make sure and see if it happened. If it happened, we’ve got to take action.”
The administrators at CCHS want to make sure that Waterloo East is comfortable with playing in Charles City again and understand that it is being treated as seriously as it should be.
CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) also called for an independent investigation of the alleged racist taunts on Friday.
Jurrens and his fellow administrators are willing to work with any additional investigations that could be opened in the aftermath of Thursday's incident.
“I would have no concern with that," Jurrens said.
This is a developing story. Additional quotes and context may be added later. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/update-allegations-of-racist-taunts-mar-waterloo-east-softball-game-at-charles-city/article_1d31d1c9-b9eb-5c3d-bba5-118b80b368d3.html | 2022-07-08T21:36:37 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/update-allegations-of-racist-taunts-mar-waterloo-east-softball-game-at-charles-city/article_1d31d1c9-b9eb-5c3d-bba5-118b80b368d3.html |
A Bethlehem man was arrested Thursday after he used a gun to threaten a Subway employee, according to a news release by the Bethlehem Police Department.
Wayne T. Powell Jr., 23, has been charged with possession of a firearm without a license, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and disorderly conduct.
The incident occurred between Powell and a store employee at the Subway on 8 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem, when Powell “became irate with the employee over a food order,” according to BPD. Powell then purportedly left the store and returned with a handgun. The employee told the police Powell pointed the gun at him and “threatened to harm him.”
Police were called to the scene at 6:55 p.m. the Bethlehem Police Department over a report of a disturbance involving a firearm. Patrol officers located the described Powell in the 500 block of High Street and he was taken into custody without further incident. During a search of Powell’s apartment, police found a loaded handgun in the kitchen. | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-nws-subway-gun-threat-20220708-uamotqx6pbf2pmesb7hpv6jrma-story.html | 2022-07-08T21:36:37 | 0 | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-nws-subway-gun-threat-20220708-uamotqx6pbf2pmesb7hpv6jrma-story.html |
DUNMORE, Pa. — The Mosaic Project is continuing its mission to beautify Dunmore one wall at a time.
"I really just wanted to convey the excitement of a team coming out and breaking through a banner," said artist Eric Bussart. "I just want people to get excited about their community."
The nonprofit began in 2017 and has painted several walls on local businesses, highlighting the history of the area.
"I think we are all trying to give back and also inspire one another through the performing arts," said John Occhipinti, the Mosaic Project president.
Occhipinti and other board members see these murals as their way of giving back to the community that helped raise them.
For local businesses, it is greatly appreciated.
"It does display of sense of pride in our community when people are passing through. Obviously, we have customers who aren't from Dunmore, but it gives them an opportunity to see our area, so it brings people out to enjoy art," said Tom DePietro, owner of DePietro's Pharmacy.
"We are even looking to work with the businesses, local businesses, to have bus or guided tours at some point," Occhipinti said.
With plans for the Mosaic Project to expand, Occhipinti knows it wouldn't be possible for anything without the artists who bring these visions to life.
"The talent and the skills and experience that the artists bring to this project make it work. It is what it is because of them," he said.
"I love challenging myself, improving my skills ... being able to provide value to the people and communities around you, being able to brighten a space with my art. it's very important to me," Bussart added.
The group plans to create five more murals by the end of this year.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/more-murals-in-dunmore-mosaic-project-beautification/523-40de4484-14c8-4121-9bd9-b639ae4f9a59 | 2022-07-08T21:45:47 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/more-murals-in-dunmore-mosaic-project-beautification/523-40de4484-14c8-4121-9bd9-b639ae4f9a59 |
MUNCY, Pa. — Gregory Fleck is riding his tricycle for Go Joe 25. Fleck, 22, has cerebral palsy and has been raising money for the bike ride for the past seven years.
"I think the main idea just to help others is incredible for the center," he said.
Kristin Fleck, Gregory's mother, has been a huge advocate for raising money for St. Joseph's Center. She says taking care of kids with special needs can be expensive.
"There are many children and adults in our community who cannot be taken care of at home like Gregory can be, and they have to go to a facility like St. Joseph's Center up in Scranton."
This weekend, Gregory will host a fundraiser at the Church of the Resurrection in Muncy. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 10.
"We are doing a walk, ride, bicycle, even skateboard in our own parking lot here to support Go Joe 25 and St. Joseph's Center in Scranton," said Fr. Glenn McCreary, the church's pastor.
"His enthusiasm for this is just so contagious. We just love working with Gregory," Mary Toder said.
Folks are encouraged to come and support Go Joe and Gregory. You will be able to make donations to the bike ride at the church. All proceeds will go to St. Joseph's Center.
"We are doing this just to help people, and I think that is a point to life, to God, and to others."
If you can't make it to Muncy this weekend, you are still in luck. Gregory will be hosting another fundraiser at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Milton from noon to 3 p.m.
Check out WNEP's YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lycoming-county/just-to-help-people-man-with-special-needs-riding-for-st-joes-tricycle-cerebral-palsy-st-josephs/523-0c43a765-d435-4ff1-b46c-338227aa3f30 | 2022-07-08T21:45:53 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lycoming-county/just-to-help-people-man-with-special-needs-riding-for-st-joes-tricycle-cerebral-palsy-st-josephs/523-0c43a765-d435-4ff1-b46c-338227aa3f30 |
DELAWARE WATER GAP, Pa. — Inside the Hikers Hostel at Presbyterian Church of the Mountain in Delaware Water Gap, you'll hear the stories of folks hiking along the Appalachian Trail.
"I've walked here about 1,300 miles right now so far since March, and we've got about another 900 miles to go before we reach Maine. So this is one step along the way," said Red Beard, a hiker on the Appalachian Trail.
Since 1976, the church along Route 611 has welcomed hikers from around the world, making it the longest-running hiker center on the trail.
"It's very rewarding to see folks come in and spend time here and that we can help them," said David Childs, the coordinator of the hiker's center.
The idea for the center started when attendance at the church began to drop. So the ministry looked to reach out and help those in the community.
"We saw these smelly hikers walking up and down the street of the Appalachian Trail, and we said, 'OK, well, how about this?' And we welcomed them in. In the first year, we had a couple hundred that came in. Now we get about 1,400 or something a year," said Larry Beck, a member of the church.
Congregation members say over the years, the community has welcomed hikers passing through with open arms.
"The community has embraced the whole hiker thing because they come through and they see 'em, and so they open their doors, and they open their restaurants," Beck says.
Sherry Blackman is the pastor of the church, which offers hikers a place to sleep and shower. Hearing so many stories from hikers inspired her to write a book about them.
'I'm just intrigued by the human struggle, and that's really why I wanted to write it to let people know that we are all in this together and that the trail, according to most of the hikers, as you heard them say it, restored their faith in humanity," said Pastor Blackman.
Members of the congregation in Delaware Water Gap say they will continue serving hikers as long as they can.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/hostel-offers-a-resting-spot-for-hikers-delaware-water-gap-appalaichian-trail/523-92441692-895a-427b-986e-a160ae94f8e9 | 2022-07-08T21:45:59 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/hostel-offers-a-resting-spot-for-hikers-delaware-water-gap-appalaichian-trail/523-92441692-895a-427b-986e-a160ae94f8e9 |
TANNERSVILLE, Pa. — From colorful floral displays to interesting-looking flowers — the inside of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Tannersville has been transformed into every gardener's dream.
The annual flower show and plant sale are back after the coronavirus pandemic canceled it.
"We're very excited about this and we have a great turnout, with lots of donated plants for sale and lots of flowers from our gardens that were going to be in competition with," said Nell Cadue, the president of the Pocono Garden Club.
The Pocono Garden Club's flower show and plant sale have been going on for more than 50 years.
This year's theme is "A Magical Kingdom, Disney in Flowers."
The show features floral arrangements, made by members, depicting movies Disney produced.
"Frozen, Toy Story, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and others. So the creativity that comes from our members is something that's really special and I think a lot of the public would like to come and see it," said Joan Lippi, the flower show co-chair.
Not only will you be able to see all the beautiful arrangements, but you'll also be able to take home a plant of your own. All the money raised from the plant sale with go to three local nonprofits.
"I would say hundreds of plants," Lippi said. "Perennials and annuals at very good prices. These are native-grown plants that our members donate and they're perfect for Pennsylvania and native gardens."
And if the flowers aren't enough, there will also be a basket raffle and bake sale, as well as educational gardening presentations.
"We have a lot of new members now since COVID. A lot of people have joined and so it's a fresh face and a lot of new ideas and we're hoping lots of people will be coming and interested," Cadue said.
Admission is $4 for adults.
The show runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Tannersville.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/pocono-flower-show-and-plant-sale-returns-garden-club-st-pauls-lutheran-tannersville/523-7dc5acf9-b44b-476e-8309-f629af8eb7b7 | 2022-07-08T21:46:05 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/pocono-flower-show-and-plant-sale-returns-garden-club-st-pauls-lutheran-tannersville/523-7dc5acf9-b44b-476e-8309-f629af8eb7b7 |
SUNBURY, Pa. — With temperatures reaching 90 degrees in parts of our area, it was a good day to go swimming. But with more people in the pool, reports of drownings tend to increase. That's why experts suggest people learn CPR.
"Everybody should have this skill. There could be a lot of lives saved just by doing compressions, circulating blood and oxygen to the brain," said Barry Mutschler, an EMT with the Americus Hose Company in Sunbury.
Mutschler is also a CPR instructor and believes children should learn CPR.
"Young, school level — children will get the idea that they can actually help somebody in a crisis, emergency. It does save lives."
Recently, the importance of young children learning CPR was in the national spotlight. 10-year-old twins from Alabama helped save their father's life last month when he was drowning in the family's pool. The young boys had no formal CPR training but remembered what they had seen in the movie "The Sandlot."
Mutschler demonstrated how to do chest compressions.
"You're not doing any harm because dead is dead, and something you can do to bring that person back, circulating that blood, is going to keep that person alive."
The Americus Hose Company recently got a donation of training aides. If somebody comes to take a CPR class, they'll get to take them home.
In addition to the mannequin, the kit includes a DVD, instruction booklet, and extra lungs to breathe into.
Earlier this week, the Americus Hose Company gave out some of the kits and gave CPR demonstrations at Sunbury's 250th-anniversary festival. The ambulance company also does CPR classes for members of the community.
"Boy Scouts, we do a lot of industry, the general public a lot of times just wants to do a general public class."
If you are interested in taking a CPR class, contact your local ambulance company or the American Heart Association.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/northumberland-county/renewed-interest-in-cpr-training-sunbury-americus-hose-company-emts/523-a25c29eb-58b5-4943-8517-b75ceaeed0cb | 2022-07-08T21:46:11 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/northumberland-county/renewed-interest-in-cpr-training-sunbury-americus-hose-company-emts/523-a25c29eb-58b5-4943-8517-b75ceaeed0cb |
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Everywhere you walk on Market Street in Lewisburg, there is one colorful design after another. People of all ages and skill levels are participating in the Lewisburg Sidewalk Chalk Festival.
"The girls wanted to try it out for the first time. They're set up under the marquee and enjoying the day," Andrea Witmer said.
The festival is a longtime tradition on Market Street. There is live music, face painting, and prizes.
"All of this is free. It's all family-friendly. If you're an artist yourself and you want to let go of your inner creative side, we encourage everybody to bring your bucket of chalk, come on down," Della Hutchison said.
Around 100 people preregistered for the sidewalk chalk festival, but anyone can join in, grab some chalk, and draw.
"This is a monster we designed together based on bionical toys we had. We basically designed it and decided we were going to draw it with chalk and a bunch of other stuff around it," Richard Rheam said.
This is Rheam's second time participating in the sidewalk chalk festival.
"Chalk is pretty fun, and I don't have that many chances to showcase it that much because you know it's gone after a rainstorm," Rheam said.
"It's a lot of fun. It's like being a kid again," said Michelle Tavaras, an art major in college.
"I just like taking these opportunities to get back into art and be creative, and I only live a couple of blocks away, so it just makes it easy to come out here and get some sidewalk chalk and be creative," Tavaras said.
The sidewalk chalk will be on display until the rain washes it away.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/union-county/chalk-it-up-to-good-art-lewisburg-art-festival/523-2dd97538-0634-430e-be4b-f54f56a030f1 | 2022-07-08T21:46:17 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/union-county/chalk-it-up-to-good-art-lewisburg-art-festival/523-2dd97538-0634-430e-be4b-f54f56a030f1 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the main Pennsylvania state budget bill Friday, more than a week after it was due — a plan fattened by federal stimulus cash and unusually robust state tax collections.
Big winners were public schools, environmental programs and long-term care facilities, but the budget also will leave some $5 billion in the state's rainy day fund, create a multibillion-dollar cushion for next year and cut the tax on corporate net income.
The Senate approved the bill 47-3 after the House passed it by a similar margin the prior evening. A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said he will sign it.
“This is government, this is progress,” said Appropriations Chairperson Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, shortly before the vote.
The $42.8 billion general fund spending plan includes hundreds of millions to clean streams and renovate or repair parks and forest land, and new money for home repairs, flood control, sewer and water infrastructure, child care, additional state troopers, anti-gun violence efforts and mental health support. Along with $2.4 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act and federal Medicaid match money, the total spending is $45.2 billion.
K-12 education spending jumps by more than a half-billion dollars, and Pennsylvania's 100 poorest districts are splitting an additional $225 million. There are also larger subsidies for early childhood education, special education and the state-owned Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
“We all made compromises,” said Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland. “None of us got what we wanted, but we all came to a good compromise.”
With strong majorities in both chambers, Republicans got a lot of what they wanted, including a 1% decrease in the corporate net income tax and a program to help counties run elections while prohibiting the type of outside financial support that was controversial during the 2020 election.
The state fund will be used to help counties register voters, prepare and administer elections and audit the results.
The budget includes more money for a property tax and rent rebate program for seniors and to help lower-income people afford the cost of heating.
A new $125 million “whole home repairs program” was started, offering grants of up to $50,000 for homeowners with household incomes at or below 80% of local median income. Some landlords will also qualify for forgivable loans. The money can be used to make homes habitable, make utilities more efficient or improve access for those with disabilities.
Ward called it the first functionally balanced budget in Pennsylvania since the late 1990s. In recent years, lawmakers have regularly relied on one-time infusions of cash and accounting tricks to “balance” the state budget, but the 2022-23 plan repays some $2 billion in budget-related borrowing while paying off a $42 million debt in the unemployment compensation trust fund.
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, a state-run effort popular with Republicans that gives businesses tax breaks in return for donating to private school tuition, will rise by 45% to more than $400 million.
As part of the deal, Wolf has agreed to pull charter school regulations that had been approved in March. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/budget-passes-senate-pennsylvania-harrisburg-governor-wolf/521-85ac5d99-db42-41e7-a701-51d6d3d46b4f | 2022-07-08T21:49:13 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/budget-passes-senate-pennsylvania-harrisburg-governor-wolf/521-85ac5d99-db42-41e7-a701-51d6d3d46b4f |
CONESTOGA, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police armed with rifles responded to an incident in Conestoga Township, Lancaster County.
The incident allegedly occurred Friday afternoon in the area of Sandhill Road and Sickman Mill Road.
Dispatch logs indicate that fire police are in the area as well.
State troopers are currently limiting information regarding the incident. They are asking the public to avoid the area.
This article will be updated as more information is released. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/pennsylvania-state-police-incident-conestoga-township-pennsylvania-lancaster-county/521-c9ccc5e2-730c-42cf-8006-9e74cad06b41 | 2022-07-08T21:49:19 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/pennsylvania-state-police-incident-conestoga-township-pennsylvania-lancaster-county/521-c9ccc5e2-730c-42cf-8006-9e74cad06b41 |
MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. — The Mifflin County Coroner's office responded to an aviation accident Friday morning.
The crash occurred at 100 Plane View Drive, Menno Township, around 10 p.m.
Samuel R. Peachey, from Belleville, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Peachey was operating a Powered Hang Glider when he allegedly lost control and crash-landed in the field of a farm.
The cause of death was pronounced as blunt force trauma.
The aircraft’s characteristics met the definition within Part 103 and is considered an Ultralight, which the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) does not investigate. The investigation has been transferred to local law enforcement. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/police-fatal-aircraft-crash-mifflin-county-pennsylvania/521-98f72864-200a-453c-8773-5b096e8d93da | 2022-07-08T21:49:25 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/police-fatal-aircraft-crash-mifflin-county-pennsylvania/521-98f72864-200a-453c-8773-5b096e8d93da |
DEL RIO, Texas — Four Border Patrol agents were recommended for discipline after an aggressive confrontation near Del Rio, Texas last year that involved hundreds of thousands of Haitian migrants.
How the border patrol agents will be punished is unknown, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said those involved have been notified of their proposed discipline.
"It's important that I'm clear right up front that the disciplinary process, in this case, is still ongoing. I have an obligation to preserve employees' due process and privacy rights. So I won't be discussing any proposed disciplinary actions today," said Chris Magnus, the commissioner of CBP.
The incident involving border patrol agents and Haitian immigrants garnered national attention last year after photos showed horseback-riding agents using horses and their horse reins to push back migrants at the river between Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, and Del Rio, Texas.
The incident led to CBP conducted an investigation into the actions of the agents involved.
“We’re gonna learn from this incident and we’ll find a way to do better,” CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said during a news conference announcing the report. “Not everyone’s going to like all the findings but the investigation was comprehensive and fair.”
What did the investigation find?
In a 511-page report released Friday from CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, officials said they found no evidence that Border Patrol agents struck migrants with their reins but said there was an “unnecessary use of force," CNN reported.
Magnus said CPB's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) initiated an administrative investigation on Sept. 20, 2021, a day after the incident involving the horse patrol agents.
OPR immediately referred this investigation to the Texas Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General who declined to investigate the case and referred the matter back to CPB, Magnus said.
On Sept. 29, 2021, OPR presented the matter to U.S. District Attorney's Office for review and consideration of any potential criminal charges. After an extensive review, the U.S. District Attorney's Office issued a decision not to prosecute the case.
OPR completed its final investigation and issued its final report to CPB leadership on April 11.
The CPB disciplinary process began on April 19.
Magnus said the investigation was detailed and comprehensive and over 30 interviews were conducted with eyewitnesses, including members of the public and reporters who were on the ground. Investigators also talked to agents involved, border patrol leadership and other officials, Magnus said.
Efforts were even made to talk to the Haitian migrants involved, but they could not be located, according to Magnus. But statements and court documents that some provided as part of lawsuits they filed against U.S. authorities were used.
Investigation findings:
(according to CPB commissioner Chris Magnus)
- Senior Border Patrol leadership, elected to deploy horse patrol units, did not have appropriate training, supervision and coordination. The horses involved in this incident were equipped with split reins, which can be twirled by the rider to guide the horses' movements.
- One agent involved in this incident reported twirling the split reins as a distancing tactic, but other members of the horse patrol program gave different, inconsistent answers about twirling or whether twirling a split rein for any purpose was included in the agency's training
- Horse patrol personnel also gave inconsistent responses on whether they were trained or qualified to engage in crowd control.
- Investigators determined that the agents involved in the Del Rio activity were not carrying whips.
- OPR found no evidence that border patrol agents involved in this incident struck any person with their reins
- A determination was made that one agent acted in an unprofessional manner by yelling denigrating and offensive comments regarding migrants' national origin and gender. The same agent acted in an unsafe manner by forcing his horse to narrowly maneuver around a small child on a slanted concrete ramp, which puts the child's safety at risk, Magner reported
- On multiple occasions, several agents used force or the threat of force to drive migrants back into the Rio Grande River, despite the fact that the migrants are already within the United States. Despite the actions taken by certain agents during this time, there was no evidence found any migrant was ultimately forced to return to Mexico for denied entry into the United States
Disciplinary actions are separate from Friday's findings and won't be announced until later. All four CBP officials have been on administrative duty since the investigation began, according to senior agency officials who briefed reporters before Friday's report was released. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/border-patrol-agents-used-unnecessary-force-in-del-rio-incident-report/285-4b7859b3-c318-402f-ad11-e6d8547f133b | 2022-07-08T21:51:11 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/border-patrol-agents-used-unnecessary-force-in-del-rio-incident-report/285-4b7859b3-c318-402f-ad11-e6d8547f133b |
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas — A species of oak tree that was thought to be extinct has been found at a national park in Texas.
Researchers with the Morton Arboretum in Illinois and United States Botanic Garden discovered the Quercus tardifolia tree -- also known as a lateleaf oak -- at Big Bend National Park on May 25.
The tree was described as being 30 feet tall and in poor condition.
According to the Morton Arboretum, a research center specializing in trees, it was previously believed that the last living tree of this kind had perished in 2011.
Researchers said they may be able to help protect other endangered species of trees by studying why this particular oak tree is going extinct.
"This work is crucial to preserve the biodiversity that Earth is so quickly losing," said Murphy Westwood, vice president of science and conservation at The Morton Arboretum. "If we ignore the decline of Q. tardifolia and other rare, endangered trees, we could see countless domino effects with the loss of other living entities in the ecosystems supported by those trees."
Researchers described the condition of the tree at Big Bend as "dire," suffering from a severe fungal infection and with a trunk showing signs of scarring from fire.
The group that made the discovery is working with the National Park Service to help reduce threats that could end the tree's life, such as wildfires and drought.
Researchers are also looking for acorns to breed new specimens.
“The United States Botanic Garden is thrilled about the success of this partnership and collecting trip that rediscovered such a rare oak,” said Susan Pell, acting executive director at the United States Botanic Garden.
“Across the planet, oaks serve as an ecological anchor cleaning air, filtering water, sequestering carbon dioxide and supporting countless fungi, insects, birds and mammals,” Westwood added. "When one is lost, we don’t know what else we might permanently lose in its wake." | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/oak-tree-extinct-found-texas-big-bend-national-park/287-b276b2d5-8c9e-4265-970e-ee2f94a3b874 | 2022-07-08T21:51:17 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/oak-tree-extinct-found-texas-big-bend-national-park/287-b276b2d5-8c9e-4265-970e-ee2f94a3b874 |
YUBA COUNTY, Calif. — Cal Fire crews are battling a vegetation fire in Yuba County Friday afternoon.
According to Cal Fire NEU, the Bay Fire off Marysville Road at Bayberry Lane is 15 acres.
The Yuba County Sheriff's Office issued evacuation orders and warnings for some parts of Loma Rica. The evacuation order issued by deputies is for Zone LOM-E088 and LOM-E085, at Bayberry Lane and Marysville Road
Evacuations
For a full list of evacuation orders and warnings, click HERE.
Accounts to follow:
Evacuation Center
- Sycamore Ranch
- Large animals can be evacuated to Posse Arena
Fire Map
This wildfire map was created using data from NASA, NGA, USGS and FEMA.
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, the 2021 fire season started earlier than previous years, but also ended earlier, as well. January 2021 saw just under 1,200 acres burned from nearly 300 wildfires. Fires picked up in the summer when the Dixie Fire burned in five Northern California counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and wasn't contained until Oct. 25, burning nearly 1 million acres. It has since become the second-largest wildfire in state history and the largest non-complex fire.
Overall, 2.5 million acres were burned in 2021 from 8,835 wildfires. Over 3,600 structures were destroyed and 3 people were killed.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
Watch more from ABC10: California Wildfires | July 8 update: Electra, Washburn and Butterfield Fires | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/bay-fire-yuba-county-evacuations-maps-updates/103-9d5fdae8-6104-4f64-b896-6c2be87a855e | 2022-07-08T22:02:25 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/bay-fire-yuba-county-evacuations-maps-updates/103-9d5fdae8-6104-4f64-b896-6c2be87a855e |
The Kenosha Police Department is investigating a report of a gunshot that occurred near a gas station in the 5200 block of 39th Avenue on Friday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11:45 a.m.
“An anonymous caller, somebody who saw this happen, called in and reported that a red Chevy Monte Carlo was driving and shot at someone by the gas station at 52nd and 39th,” said Public Information Officer Lt. Joseph Nosalik.
Nosalik said a Kenosha Police officer further west on 52nd Street saw the vehicle westbound at a high rate of speed and gave chase.
Because the call about the shooting came in during the chase the officer didn’t know that was the vehicle involved with the reported shooting, Nosalik said.
“The chase was terminated because the speeds of that vehicle were way to fast and reckless,” Nosalik said.
Deputies with the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department later began pursuing the vehicle southbound on a highway but stopped when it crossed the state line into Lake County, Ill.
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Nosalik said police have been unable to locate an injured person.
“We have no way to know what the motive was or what the intention was of this person firing a shot from the Monte Carlo,” Nosalik said. “It seems to be directed at a person, though, and not just random.”
Nosalik asked for anyone with information regarding the Friday incident to contact the detective bureau at 262-605-5203 or Kenosha Area Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333. People who call Crime Stoppers remain anonymous.
The city has faced a sharp increase in gun violence this week. On the night of July 4 four adults were shot and a 20-year-old man was killed in a mass shooting in the city’s Uptown neighborhood. A day later another shooting occurred in the Uptown neighborhood just blocks away from the July 4 incident. On Wednesday night, a man arrived at a local hospital with multiple gunshots to his upper body after being shot in the Wilson Heights neighborhood.
No suspects have been identified in any of the shootings. Nosalik said detectives are “working countless hours on those shootings and trying to put the pieces together.”
“If you are aware of somebody who has a firearm and shouldn’t have the firearm, call the police,” Nosalik said. “If you see something, say something. We need people to cooperate with police. We need people to call the police and give us information.” | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/kenosha-police-investigating-report-of-shooting-near-gas-station-on-friday/article_cbf8b866-fef2-11ec-8ea5-9f8e1cf9c52a.html | 2022-07-08T22:02:27 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/kenosha-police-investigating-report-of-shooting-near-gas-station-on-friday/article_cbf8b866-fef2-11ec-8ea5-9f8e1cf9c52a.html |
FOLSOM, Calif. — Follow the yellow brick road -- no, really -- follow the yellow brick road laid on the street in front of the Bacchus House restaurant in Folsom and it will lead you to something extraordinary: A life-size replica tribute to the 1938 film, The Wizard Of Oz.
What's even better is that it's there to help Shriners Children's Hospital, as patrons are asked to give (if they wish) anything in form of a donation to the cause.
Alan Anderson, the director of services at Shriners was blown away. He said
"Everything about this is remarkable. The tribute to The Wizard Of Oz, a classic truly beloved film of all ages, realized in 3D experiential form here. It also equates to what we're trying to do for kids. Kids not just want to go home, they want to be somebody and that's what we want to do with our services," said Anderson.
Eric Adams, one of the owners of Bacchus House who both conceived and curated this exhibit, connects in a very specific way.
"The moment they walk in, they immediately go back to the past. Whether they’re young or young at heart, there’s a connection, there’s nostalgia there, and it just brings out the best in people to revisit because all the characters were looking for something much like us – and they all found it, much like us,” said Adams.
Just look out for the flying monkeys, they're there. The wicked witch? Full-sized too.
They're having a celebratory five-course dinner and wine pairing event on July 14 with all proceeds going to Shriners Hospital. For more information, click here. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/folsom-restaurant-transforms-into-oz/103-d0114b21-e3d9-4c6a-8ed1-3c20e1465f8a | 2022-07-08T22:02:31 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/folsom-restaurant-transforms-into-oz/103-d0114b21-e3d9-4c6a-8ed1-3c20e1465f8a |
A proposal to require a secret ballot election among alderpersons when selecting a Kenosha City Council president failed to pass Wednesday night.
A proposed ordinance change would have required council members to vote by secret ballot during the organizational meeting following elections. The City Council president presides over meetings when the mayor is absent and serve as “acting mayor” during the absence or inability of the mayor to do so.
The ordinance change was sponsored by Ald. Holly Kangas and co-sponsored by Alds. Bill Siel, Rollin Pizzala, Ruth Dyson and Daniel Prozanski. Currently, only a nominated candidate may request an election by secret ballot and have the clerk count the votes.
The role of City Council president is currently held by Ald. Rocco LaMacchia. He was unanimously elected City Council president by his colleagues during the city’s spring organizational meeting to replace Ald. David Bogdala.
LaMacchia was elected after an agreement was reached where Ald. Jan Michalski pulled his name from consideration for president and nominated LaMacchia. In turn, Michalski was elected chair of the council’s Public Safety and Welfare Committee.
Wednesday’s ordinance change failed 6 to 9 with all sponsors voting for it along with Ald. Brandi Ferree and Michalski.
Alds. Kelly MacKay and Prozanski were absent Wednesday.
Kangas said she sponsored the resolution because she believes some council members may be intimidated from voting for their preferred candidate if their vote is public or may be pressured or coerced into voting for a certain candidate.
“First and foremost, I want to say (this ordinance proposal) never had anything to do with the two qualified candidates that recently ran for council president but instead it has everything to do with the process. During this most recent election we had one qualified candidate drop out before the vote. When I asked him about it he indicated he didn’t have the votes,” Kangas said.
Kangas said the night of the election there was “so much fenagling going on in this room between the back hall, the computer room, all over.”
“It was decided long before we ever took that vote. That is the purpose of my ordinance (proposal). The election of council president is very important to this body as they are the acting mayor when the actual mayor isn’t available,” she added. “Why must candidates know if they will win or not before the election process takes place? One alderperson who is against my proposed ordinance told me that it wouldn’t be fair if someone tells you they would vote for you and then they actually vote differently. I say, so what? What are we in third grade? Have you never changed your mind at the last minute?”
Kangas said the voice vote for president is “intimidating” and “borders on bullying.”
Siel said he had some of the “same frustration” as Kangas after the spring vote.
“I’ve supported it through the committee process,” Siel said. “I’m not going to change my mind tonight based on the experience on other elections and how they’ve been conducted.”
However, Bogdala was “totally opposed to this ordinance.”
“I don’t think any vote — whether it’s for council president, whether it’s for the appointment of a Mayor’s Youth Commission or obviously any ordinance or resolution — no vote should be by secret ballot. I’ve never liked that from the very beginning. When I heard that there was going to be a change to this I actually thought it would be the other way around. That we would be eliminating the potential for a secret ballot,” Bogdala said.
Bogdala said he believes “fully in transparency.”
“There was a vote that was taken at our organizational meeting. If you didn’t like the ‘process’ or you didn’t like the candidate that was there, the mayor asked for unanimous consent and nobody spoke up, so that’s a unanimous vote,” he said. “I do think it’s important — I think I said it that evening — I think it’s important that we work together, we compromise. There was discussion between the two individuals and that’s what they came up with and at the end of the day you can vote for him or not vote for him. I don’t know that it’s bullying. I’m not sure where that came from.”
LaMacchia said canvassing for votes is nothing new and occurs on nearly every level of government.
“Cities do it, states do it, and they do it all the way to Washington. They canvas votes. That’s what you do,” he said. “This has been going on for years and I don’t see a problem the way it’s been running. If you didn’t want to vote for me you could have pressed the other button.”
Ald. Dominic Ruffalo said, “It’s all about transparency.”
“I don’t think we ought to hide anything and that’s why I’m a no vote tonight,” he said.
Republicans blame mental health issues for regularly occurring mass shootings in the United States, but statistical evidence shows it plays a very minor part.
I think mental health is a significant factor if you consider not the shooters but the enthusiastic supporters of unfettered gun rights. Their reluctance to put human life above their devotion to guns is seriously crazy. Guns far outnumber citizens, and assault weapons are de rigueur for the MAGA crowd. No one feels safe in any public venue, and passing legislation to address this epidemic is like pulling teeth.
With over 300 mass shootings in 2022, Republicans have done the bare minimum to reassert some sanity into the situation, and GOP legislators continue to use gun access as a political wedge issue. If the mentally unsound are a major contributor of gun violence, those people appear to be right-wing legislators.
Unfortunately, in today’s American elections, we are rarely given that option. Instead, we are presented a binary choice of candidates winnowed by the most extreme party loyalists, and we hold our noses as we select the lesser of two evils. The party then in power tries to govern from the fringes while the opposition has no choice but to oppose the hardcore legislation produced by the ruling party. The wonder isn’t so much that nothing gets done as that our government functions at all.
No one solution can fix the problem, but the obvious first step is to remove legislative redistricting from the political process. Our legislatures will continue to be populated by dogmatic, uncompromising zealots until legislators are prevented from gerrymandering safe districts.
Wisconsin will have a primary election on Aug. 9. Please do not vote for any candidate who will not support nonpartisan legislative redistricting.
I must disagree with the June 26 letter to the editor that proposed former Vice President Mike Pence enter the pantheon of those who are enshrined in John F. Kennedy's book "Profiles in Courage."
Granted, Pence did not buckle under former President Donald Trump's attempts to force him to overturn the 2020 election results. Pence did what he was legally required to do, plain and simple.
If we want to nominate people for "Profiles in Courage," we need look no further than U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. She has lost her role in the House Republican leadership for calling out Trump's "big lie" and voting to impeach him. As a result, she faces the strong possibility of losing her House seat. She has essentially put her entire political career at risk.
The majority of Republican members of Congress who fear incurring Trump's wrath belong in a different book: "Profiles in Cowardice" -- author U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh.
I am now 70. Though I am healthy and fit for a person my age, I know without doubt that were I elected president (I am not running) the job would require much more energy than I could muster.
The Constitution says a president must be at least 35 years old but sets no maximum age. Given that the average lifespan of an American in 1776 was 35 years, the Founding Fathers likely dismissed any concerns related to a president being too old to meet the demands of the job.
We must recognize that, in addition to experience, wisdom, intelligence, character and confidence, a presidential candidate should have energy, vitality and patience. These latter three are very hard to maintain as one ages. I believe that so much that I will never again happily vote for a candidate who is older than I am.
For those people who disagree with my opinion, I offer up the varied shortcomings displayed by the last two presidents. Regardless of your political affiliation, I urge you to support candidates who are best qualified to take on the onerous position of U.S. president.
The Highland Park, Illinois, mass shooting was too close to home.
What is the solution? The call for increased mental health services is a great idea. But how do you identify those disturbed 18- to 22-year-olds who are alienated from their families, are done with school and have few friends? We have to look at the weapons they use.
No one needs a military-style gun. The Constitution does guarantee the right to arms. But that was written decades ago when settlers had to protect themselves with no police or army. It is a part of the Constitution that has limited use these days.
No military weapons were ever in the minds of our ancestors when they added the "right to bear arms" to our Constitution. Someone tell me why anyone needs to owns a military weapon that blows a human body apart, other than "it is my constitutional right."
Are progressives born without any commonsensical economics in their DNA, or does persistent anti-capitalist propaganda take a toll on their developing brains?
A case in point would be the Biden administration's disastrous energy policies. From day one, through both words and deeds, Biden and his minions have conducted a full-scale assault on the American fossil fuel industry. Besides cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline on his first day in office, he paused new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters a week later.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been weaponized to achieve progressive political goals at the expense of all Americans. A specific target for the EPA has been the small U.S. refineries, which produce much of America's gasoline and diesel fuel. The Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced measures to make it more difficult for the oil and gas industry to access funds in the capital markets.
After doing everything in his power to constrict fossil fuels, Biden is now threatening a windfall profits tax on oil and gas production. In what world does increasing taxes on profits derived from a specific product lead to an increase in the supply of that product? Unbelievable.
Another week, another mass shooting in our country. No big surprise for us Americans who need to live in a atmosphere of continual danger, enabled by our society’s perceived "freedoms."
The recent killings in Highland Park, Illinois, by another disturbed young white man shines a light on how this could have been prevented. This country allows too much "freedom" to individuals without regard to how this endangers others.
Why was the alleged shooter allowed to put violent videos on You Tube? Under what misconstrued interpretation of our freedom of speech was that allowed? Countless other mass shooters have displayed their evil intentions on social media before their rampages.
Our society blindly follows the principles of the First Amendment without any conscience as to its possible tragic consequences, as displayed once again this Fourth of July. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press were never envisioned to be allowable if they harmed society.
And to no one’s surprise this killer’s weapon of choice was military-style rifle that has been used so often in mass shootings. This weapon of war is allowed to be owned because of the Supreme Court’s misguided view of our often misinterpreted Second Amendment.
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has returned the abortion decision to the states, it’s up to our elected officials to protect preborn children by enforcing Wisconsin’s pre-Roe abortion ban. Democrats whine about losing their democracy. But when democracy produces a result they don't like, they will rebel against democracy.
Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, both Democrats, announced a lawsuit to challenge the enforceability of Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban. Representatives from Planned Parenthood were in attendance.
During an abortion rights rally at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention, Gov. Evers said he will grant clemency to anyone who is charged and convicted of crimes for performing abortions in Wisconsin.
The executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, Heather Weininger, stated, “We are disappointed but not surprised to see that our top elected officials refuse to do their jobs and enforce the laws on our books. Rest assured, we’ll continue to work with the state Senate and Assembly to fight this lawsuit and, no matter what, we’ll continue our daily work of protecting mothers and babies throughout Wisconsin.”
Vote to replace Evers, Kaul and local district attorneys unwilling to enforce the law.
Richland County has had a stagnant population and basically stagnant property values for years. But it is located in one of the most scenic, hilly areas of the state with the Pine River and trout streams running through it and the Wisconsin River as its southern boundary.
I love living here where I am an integral part of a diverse-thinking community.
Our county as well as many other smaller counties is in financial trouble and having to make some major decisions. Recently, our state senator, Howard Marklein, R-Spring, stated that the county's financial troubles were a local issue.
State shared revenue to Richland County dropped 10% from 2001-2021 from $1.36 million in 2001 to $1.22 million in 2021. Meanwhile inflation has increased more than 40% between 2001 and 2021. If Richland County’s state shared revenues had kept pace with inflation, the annual amount of state shared revenue for 2021 would have been over $2 million.
We would not be in this deep trouble if the state kept up with shared revenue for mandated programs. The cuts that are being considered will greatly impact our quality of life as well as events and institutions that create economic development in the area.
I wish to publicly tell Sen. Marklein that this is not a local issue but a state issue, and he should start to care for his constituents.
Linda Gentes, Richland Center, Richland County supervisor
Imagine that a large private sector company had a CEO who made one horrible decision after another that adversely affected his employees and customers. All the while, this CEO blamed everyone else and refused to change. That person's employment would not last long.
Yet we have a president that takes no blame for anything and refuses to change his policies that are destroying this country. The stock market just had its worst first half of the year in 52 years. 401(k) plans and IRAs are down 30% or more since Jan. 1. How would you like to be in your mid-50s with retirement finally in site and realize your only nest egg is down 35%? The number of devastating decisions by this administration is beyond the pale, and two-and-a-half years remain on his term.
Come November the only ray of hope left is to vote for each and every Republican on the ticket, regardless of the position. If you voted for President Joe Biden, you have no right to complain. If you're one of those that don't vote, shame on you. Register and vote in November.
I am conflicted. In light of Roe v. Wade being overturned, one would think that someone like me -- who esteems life from conception to grave -- would be sending up fireworks.
But I am not, and this is why.
The Supreme Court’s ruling changes law, but it does nothing to change hearts and minds. Yes, some pregnant women will be desperate enough to seek an abortion. But I’m also referring to the hearts and minds of those of us who claim to be pro-life when our actions testify that we are merely pro-birth.
Providing support through pregnancy and child birth and then sending a mother on her way with a box of diapers and a “God bless you” falls short. Do we really expect things to magically work out from then on? Our job isn’t done.
If we truly value life, we have a responsibility to support families throughout all of their child-rearing years. Mentor a young mother. Provide child care so a mom can work. Donate school supplies. Support programs in your community that invest in young people. The possibilities (and needs) are abundant.
I just put my flags out for the Fourth of July weekend, and I'm thinking about all of the energy that is going into so many protests and demonstrations that won't change a thing. Perhaps a little civics lesson is needed.
The United States of America is a democracy of, by and for the people. We are a nation of laws. Laws are based on the Constitution. Therefore, we are all equal under the law. We are all obligated to obey the laws, and the laws need to be equitably enforced.
Now, if we disagree with a law, it can be changed. If we find that the Constitution is not to our satisfaction, it can be changed or amended.
Whether it's gun control, abortion or civil rights, we can legally change laws in our democratic government. It's not easy, but your energy would be generated into proper, legitimate change.
The Wisconsin Idea shaped me as a physician and scientist. My daughter learned to walk across the frozen ice of Lake Mendota. I tried all the cheeses in Monroe. Since leaving, I've come back every summer to the lakes and biking trails, maintaining a connection I hoped to make more permanent in the future.
But I'm not coming this summer.
The ongoing anti-majoritarian rule, now entrenching GOP state board members beyond their terms, has gone too far. I grumbled at extreme partisan redistricting and rolled my eyes at a physical altercation between two Supreme Court justices. But these events are not aberrations, they shine light on the true essence of the Legislature and state Supreme Court. There is no interest in benefiting the majority of the state, only in hurting the opposition. There is no interest in moving forward, only in remaining stationary -- in power in perpetuity.
I cannot support a rot at the core. It is shameful that a beautiful state with decent people can be stained with such spiteful ugliness.
I keep seeing reporting indicating that the pro-life organizations stand ready to provide financial support during and after for women and families in crisis pregnancies. Where have they been? They could have been doing that all along.
They could have been encouraging Republican (the Democrats were already for these things) members of Congress to support such things as paid family leave, direct payments to working families for child care expenses, expanded Medicaid and increased minimum wages. They didn't show up, and those bills failed.
At the pump or supermarket, we are experiencing higher prices. Republican attempts to blame President Joe Biden and Democrats are unfounded and disingenuous.
The underlying causes of inflation are the pandemic and Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Democrats are offering concrete proposals to reduce prices, while Republicans cynically complain but offer no ideas of their own. Recently House Democrats passed legislation to cap insulin at $35 and prevent gas companies from price gouging. Not surprisingly, every Wisconsin Republican House member opposed these efforts.
Under Trump, the unemployment rate surged. Biden's unprecedented economic recovery has added millions of jobs and reduced the unemployment rate to near record lows.
Putin's war has strained the U.S. and world economies, but the international community under Biden's masterful leadership has stood firm against Putin's dangerous actions, with NATO becoming stronger.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who coordinates the Republican effort to control the Senate, has proposed a plan which could raise taxes on Wisconsin residents and sunset Social Security and Medicare. Today's higher prices would pale in comparison to the catastrophic impact of Scott's proposal on tens of millions of Americans.
Controlling inflation is imperative, which is why we must elect Democrats in November.
The irony of the State Journal's story placement was not lost on me Wednesday on page A11.
“How much for an island” was the headline for a story detailing the hot real estate market to build mansions on multimillion-dollar islands. That was juxtaposed with the follow up to the front-page piece on Dane County’s efforts to address homelessness. The gap between the super wealthy and everybody else keeps widening.
As the State Journal's coverage notes, it’s now reaching absurd levels.
The Paisan's building, built in 1971, had a useful life of 50 years. People live longer.
The Service Building and Service Annex on the UW-Madison campus are being demolished -- and they were built a century ago. They served for 100 years, and would serve for another 100 years if good architecture, structural integrity and sustainability were actually valued.
Syndicated columnist Ramesh Ponnuru's June 29 column, "The Constitution is conservative, like it or not," praised recent decisions by the Supreme Court. These decisions expanded gun rights, weakened the First Amendment's establishment clause on religion, and stripped women's constitutional ownership of their own bodies. Each ruling was "right on the law" and reflected how the "ratifying public" understood the Constitution's text.
Hogwash. Ponnuru's opinion is pure sophistry, a specious constitutional theory known as originalism devised in recent decades to justify the intent to roll back the court's advancement of civil rights since 1954, especially rulings outlawing desegregation, protecting access to contraception, legalizing gay marriage and protecting women's right to choose when or if to become mothers.
Originalism ignores the constitutional protection of fundamental human rights, such as privacy, not specifically spelled out in the Constitution. These are the "immunities and privileges" noted in Article 4 of the Constitution and strengthened in the 14th Amendment that also guarantees equal protection under the law, ensures due process and guards people's rights of life, liberty or property.
Liberty and property rights are being denied to women, though one's body is the most important form of property. Travel is an unenumerated right, too, but some states are planning to make interstate travel for abortions illegal. It's hypocrisy.
It seems every day the U.S. or state Supreme Court issues a ruling that takes us backward. We now have a ban on abortion, expanded gun rights, an Environmental Protection Agency without power, and state appointees who can't be removed even though their terms have expired.
Our elected officials also bear some of the blame. They've had chances to change laws but failed to recognize how low Republicans would sink to retain power.
If this doesn't fuel the urgency to vote in national, state and local elections, I fear nothing can. Please vote.
Is this an oxymoron or what? In order to bring an integrity tour one would think that those who are bringing it would have integrity. The GOP in no way has any integrity regarding elections or voting.
They continue to challenge the official election results with baseless lies -- no integrity. They spent at least one million dollars of Wisconsin taxpayers' money to "prove" election fraud -- another baseless lie, no proof, thus no integrity. They attempted to send a bogus group of electors to cast votes for the "Orange Monster" so he could win the Presidential election -- an illegal act, no integrity.
They continue to disregard the January 6 incident that unquestionably is an act of insurrection by traitors to the people, government and Constitution -- no integrity. Their political leaders, including several from our own state, continue to refuse to renounce that insurrection and thus, by association, are also traitors to the people, government and Constitution -- no integrity.
The paradox is blatant. They desire to preach to everyone about integrity (as if they have a corner on the market of integrity) but in reality they possess none of it.
The GOP should be ashamed of themselves for this ridiculous attempt to further cast their lies on the voting process in our state in an effort to disenfranchise more voters in Wisconsin communities.
My daughter is having a spinal fusion for scoliosis at UW Hospital. She will have a hospital stay of three to four days following her six- to eight-hour surgery. She has a father, step-father and mother (me) who are all her parents.
Current COVID policy is bad for her mental health because she is restricted to two parents per day supporting her in the hospital. These unnecessary restrictions are putting undue stress and burden on families.
I have spoken to her care team who have said they cannot make an exception, except in the case of end-of-life care. So my daughter needs to be near death to have the support of all her parents. Ridiculous.
Even the prestigious Mayo Clinic Hospital is allowing five support people per patient. I know I am not the only blended family who is being denied access to their child in the name of COVID. I beg you to open the hospital back up for the sake of your patients and their families. It's time for UW Health to put families first.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, can we now ban suppliers of Viagra, testosterone and health care providers of erectile dysfunction? It seems only fair that we treat men's and women’s bodies equally.
The Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade thanks to the votes of three judges appointed by former President Donald Trump. These judges promised during their hearings that they would uphold precedent.
I wonder if that would be considered lying under oath? The ruling establishing Roe vs. Wade was over 50 years ago, which to me would qualify as an established precedent.
Women have had abortions long before this law. Many women died at the hands of back-alley practices and lethal home remedies. This ruling will not eliminate abortions because those who can pay and find a willing practitioner will be able to obtain them as they did prior to Roe v. Wade.
I didn't see any provision in the ruling that would help the woman care for the child that now must be delivered. The burden is placed entirely on the woman and not on the sperm contributor. Why is the Supreme Court more interested in the preservation of fetuses instead of the thousands of lives lost to gun violence each year.
Women should speak loudly and stand up to control their own health care decisions. Will a women's right to vote be the next established precedent to be overturned?
After years of neglecting needed repairs and upkeep, the owners a West Wilson Street building in Madison have caused there to be no other recourse than to tear the building down. Many tenants of this building have suffered losses due to the neglect. One notable tenant, Paisan's, is a Madison institution.
I can remember eating pasta in the iconic wooden high-backed booths at Paisan's restaurant in their original location back in the 1980s. Paisan's continued to thrive and serve the best pastas, pizzas and many other delectable meals for years in its current West Wilson Street location. Sitting on the patio or securing a table or booth overlooking the lake only added to the enjoyment of having a great meal there.
It would be a real shame to lose a Madison treasure such as Paisan's. I am hopeful that the owners of the building will do the right thing and reimburse Paisan's for their losses so the restaurant can move and continue to be a great place for Madison to go to eat.
This year our nation celebrates its 246th birthday of independence.
It is important to remember that our independence didn't come without the price of loss of life and the shedding of blood. Our nation had many struggles and pressures to become what it is today. We were blessed to have many statesmen and thinkers with impeccable values, and principles that has stood the test of time.
We desperately need a more united country. Witnessing much vitriol and anger just makes matters worse because of a person's ideology and point of view.
We all desire a safer and more orderly society, and it is imperative that people honor and respect our U.S. Constitution and obey God's Ten Commandments.
If the trend is reversed, it is obvious our society will be more peaceful and orderly today and in the future.
Congratulations to Nicki Vander Meulen for supporting the 4.7% teachers' raise and voting against a budget that does not include it.
I've watched the Madison schools deteriorate during the past four decades from a place where young teachers wanted to work, to a district to avoid. The lack of administrative leadership and support with an unnecessarily fat administration, the lack of a reasonable discipline policy and zero security have turned the school environment into a war zone.
Madison has one of the highest average household incomes in the state, yet does not pay their teachers what some communities with lesser incomes do. Many people moving into the area are avoiding the Madison School District and choosing suburban schools. How long will we be willing to allow this to go on?
We must retain the best teachers now by:
Listening to them.
Paying them appropriately.
Improving discipline.
Returning the student resource officers to improve safety.
Redistributing wasted administrative funds to teaching assistants where they'll do some good.
In the space of two weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court has ensured that many more babies will be born, and that those children will not have a decent world in which to grow up.
I'm referring of course to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate coal emissions. These are two of the right-wing, hot-button issues. So let's stop pretending that the current Supreme Court is anything but a GOP puppet.
Many of the additional babies will be born by economically and socially challenged women, and many will be among those most severely affected by worsening climate change. (The wives and daughters of the wealthy GOP supporters will still be able to travel wherever necessary to get their abortions.)
Is this what's called "pro-life"? The right claims life begins at conception. But for them, apparently, it ends at birth.
Now that the Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade, please consider this: Women will still continue to have "choices."
If you are unmarried, you can choose not to have sexual intercourse. If sex is your choice, you may choose to use a reliable form of contraception. And if conception should occur, you can even choose to carry the child to term and choose to place him or her up for adoption.
Please don't deceive yourself. Abortion is not birth control. Abortion is not health care. Abortion ends the life of a innocent human being.
Pro-life groups and legislators are rejoicing at the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Now is the time for these groups to do the real work to support babies and children. They must provide government funds to:
Ensure all women have access to high-quality medical care during pregnancy, delivery and recovery.
Ensure all families have access to excellent, affordable health care, including contraception for those who use it.
Require that all companies give parental leave to both mothers and fathers.
Support the development of many more high-quality child care sites staffed by well-trained and well-paid teachers. Make these affordable for low- to middle-income parents.
Increase funding for all public schools. Stop funneling public funds to private and religious schools. This violates the separation of church and state.
“Wait!” you say. “This is way too expensive.”
Really? Think how much it costs to raise a child. If you block choice, you need to assume responsibility. If you are truly pro-life, then support life with needed money. You can give up something.
How about other rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution?
Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wants to "reconsider" other decisions about rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, such as contraception and same-sex marriage.
Does this mean he will also want to restore the ban on interracial marriage? Seems that this would be the next logical step.
Kathleen Kelly and Babette Wainwright, Madison, a same sex, interracial married couple
An acorn is not an oak tree. Not planting an acorn has no equivalence to chopping down a mature oak tree.
A tiny collection of cells, smaller than a sesame seed, does not have the same rights as an adult woman. Or it shouldn’t, unless reason and logic are thrown out the window.
The current anti-abortion movement has a murky history, based as much on political strategizing as on a concern for the life of a fertilized egg. (For example, the evangelical Southern Baptist Convention passed several resolutions generally in favor of abortion rights in the 1970s.)
Who has a “right to life”? Women. Full-grown adult women whose lives can be overturned, full of tragedy or destroyed by abortion bans. Keep that in mind when you vote in the next election.
As a proud and grateful fifth-generation Badger, I had the privilege of accompanying my son on a tour of UW-Madison. I love the Wisconsin Idea, my friendships and the education I received. Walking on Bascom Hill reminds me not only of my years on campus, but the stories I know by heart of my parents and grandparents, and the tales told of my great-great-grandmother’s time at UW.
I graduated at the height of the Casey Supreme Court case, a serious threat to Roe. I was an active pro-choice student. At 22, I was unsure of having children, but I always knew the choice was mine. On a brilliant June day sitting on a rock-hard yellow Memorial Union chair, I couldn’t help but feel a little less proud of Wisconsin and a whole lot less convinced that sending my son to UW was the right thing to do.
UW gave women in my family an education before they could vote, and each daughter has benefited from more freedoms and opportunities. A post-Roe Wisconsin might end that UW legacy. All I can say is shame on the legislators and voters of Wisconsin. It’s a sad day.
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the talking heads of the media and those with political influence tried to brainwash us to believe the Constitution was altered and that somehow an abortion was a constitutional right.
Where in the Constitution is it written that murder is a right? Some people seem to think what is growing inside a woman is a Volkswagen and not a child. But abortion is not birth control, it is murdering a child. Birth control is the pill, a condom or even chastity. Birth control is a way to prevent a pregnancy. It is not for after-the-fact regret.
They twist the entire subject matter, arguing a woman can do as she wants with her body. Then they think otherwise when a vaccine mandate is involved. I guess the right to one's body only pertains to them.
Common sense has left the building. When I was in school -- and it was a public school -- they once taught you how to think, not what to think. I shall not be indoctrinated by others' views, or be persuaded by threats of violence.
Just one more thought if you'll allow such: Aren't you glad your mother didn't abort you?
In my undergraduate constitutional law class, my professor emphasized that case law (stare decisis) was only as solid as the next judicial ruling.
Democrats have known this for almost 50 years. One needs only to look at the questions asked of Supreme Court nominees by the Senate Judiciary Committee to see that they knew Roe v. Wade was tenuous. The Republicans have been clear on their intent to overturn this ruling.
I blame the Democrats for its downfall. They have had at least three opportunities under Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to codify abortion rights into law or the Constitution. Instead, they have sat on their thumbs and done nothing except wring their hands with every new court nominee.
It’s time to act. I call on our Democratic congressional delegation led by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, to codify abortion rights into law or, better yet, a constitutional amendment. If they fail to act -- vote them out. We deserve representatives willing to uphold our citizens' rights.
Now is the time for women to “choose” not to become pregnant.
Make sure you have done all you can to avoid becoming pregnant if you do not want to. Birth control for women is widely available in many different forms. Insist that your sexual partner use a condom. Surgical sterilization may be an option for you or your partner if you do not want any more children.
There are more choices for birth control now than at any time in history. Or you as a woman could always say “no,” if it seems risky. It is still your choice.
Be responsible for your reproductive choices -- a new way to look at being “pro-choice.”
As cofounder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation who believes in rational and reasonable gun safety laws, I take umbrage at the June 15 letter to the editor "Mass abortion has cheapened life" for trying to pin mass shootings on my organization (along with legal abortion).
Studies show that legal abortion has played an important role in reducing violent crime because unwanted children are at risk of having distressing lives and futures.
The writer complains that “Guns are getting all the blame” when mass shootings should be blamed on the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union for taking “God and creationism out of the schools and [leaving] the idea that everyone descended from slime and that there are no eternal consequences for anything that is done.”
Actions should be judged by consequences here on Earth, not based on the childish threat of hell or promise of heaven. Many shooters and terrorists are motivated by religious beliefs.
The greatest danger in our country today comes from extremist, white Christian nationalists such as those on Jan. 6, 2021. White Christian nationalists are anti-abortion because their god in Genesis commands of Eve, “I shall greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception ... thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
Republicans blame mental health issues for regularly occurring mass shootings in the United States, but statistical evidence shows it plays a very minor part.
I think mental health is a significant factor if you consider not the shooters but the enthusiastic supporters of unfettered gun rights. Their reluctance to put human life above their devotion to guns is seriously crazy. Guns far outnumber citizens, and assault weapons are de rigueur for the MAGA crowd. No one feels safe in any public venue, and passing legislation to address this epidemic is like pulling teeth.
With over 300 mass shootings in 2022, Republicans have done the bare minimum to reassert some sanity into the situation, and GOP legislators continue to use gun access as a political wedge issue. If the mentally unsound are a major contributor of gun violence, those people appear to be right-wing legislators.
Unfortunately, in today’s American elections, we are rarely given that option. Instead, we are presented a binary choice of candidates winnowed by the most extreme party loyalists, and we hold our noses as we select the lesser of two evils. The party then in power tries to govern from the fringes while the opposition has no choice but to oppose the hardcore legislation produced by the ruling party. The wonder isn’t so much that nothing gets done as that our government functions at all.
No one solution can fix the problem, but the obvious first step is to remove legislative redistricting from the political process. Our legislatures will continue to be populated by dogmatic, uncompromising zealots until legislators are prevented from gerrymandering safe districts.
Wisconsin will have a primary election on Aug. 9. Please do not vote for any candidate who will not support nonpartisan legislative redistricting.
I must disagree with the June 26 letter to the editor that proposed former Vice President Mike Pence enter the pantheon of those who are enshrined in John F. Kennedy's book "Profiles in Courage."
Granted, Pence did not buckle under former President Donald Trump's attempts to force him to overturn the 2020 election results. Pence did what he was legally required to do, plain and simple.
If we want to nominate people for "Profiles in Courage," we need look no further than U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. She has lost her role in the House Republican leadership for calling out Trump's "big lie" and voting to impeach him. As a result, she faces the strong possibility of losing her House seat. She has essentially put her entire political career at risk.
The majority of Republican members of Congress who fear incurring Trump's wrath belong in a different book: "Profiles in Cowardice" -- author U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh.
I am now 70. Though I am healthy and fit for a person my age, I know without doubt that were I elected president (I am not running) the job would require much more energy than I could muster.
The Constitution says a president must be at least 35 years old but sets no maximum age. Given that the average lifespan of an American in 1776 was 35 years, the Founding Fathers likely dismissed any concerns related to a president being too old to meet the demands of the job.
We must recognize that, in addition to experience, wisdom, intelligence, character and confidence, a presidential candidate should have energy, vitality and patience. These latter three are very hard to maintain as one ages. I believe that so much that I will never again happily vote for a candidate who is older than I am.
For those people who disagree with my opinion, I offer up the varied shortcomings displayed by the last two presidents. Regardless of your political affiliation, I urge you to support candidates who are best qualified to take on the onerous position of U.S. president.
The Highland Park, Illinois, mass shooting was too close to home.
What is the solution? The call for increased mental health services is a great idea. But how do you identify those disturbed 18- to 22-year-olds who are alienated from their families, are done with school and have few friends? We have to look at the weapons they use.
No one needs a military-style gun. The Constitution does guarantee the right to arms. But that was written decades ago when settlers had to protect themselves with no police or army. It is a part of the Constitution that has limited use these days.
No military weapons were ever in the minds of our ancestors when they added the "right to bear arms" to our Constitution. Someone tell me why anyone needs to owns a military weapon that blows a human body apart, other than "it is my constitutional right."
Are progressives born without any commonsensical economics in their DNA, or does persistent anti-capitalist propaganda take a toll on their developing brains?
A case in point would be the Biden administration's disastrous energy policies. From day one, through both words and deeds, Biden and his minions have conducted a full-scale assault on the American fossil fuel industry. Besides cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline on his first day in office, he paused new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters a week later.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been weaponized to achieve progressive political goals at the expense of all Americans. A specific target for the EPA has been the small U.S. refineries, which produce much of America's gasoline and diesel fuel. The Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced measures to make it more difficult for the oil and gas industry to access funds in the capital markets.
After doing everything in his power to constrict fossil fuels, Biden is now threatening a windfall profits tax on oil and gas production. In what world does increasing taxes on profits derived from a specific product lead to an increase in the supply of that product? Unbelievable.
Another week, another mass shooting in our country. No big surprise for us Americans who need to live in a atmosphere of continual danger, enabled by our society’s perceived "freedoms."
The recent killings in Highland Park, Illinois, by another disturbed young white man shines a light on how this could have been prevented. This country allows too much "freedom" to individuals without regard to how this endangers others.
Why was the alleged shooter allowed to put violent videos on You Tube? Under what misconstrued interpretation of our freedom of speech was that allowed? Countless other mass shooters have displayed their evil intentions on social media before their rampages.
Our society blindly follows the principles of the First Amendment without any conscience as to its possible tragic consequences, as displayed once again this Fourth of July. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press were never envisioned to be allowable if they harmed society.
And to no one’s surprise this killer’s weapon of choice was military-style rifle that has been used so often in mass shootings. This weapon of war is allowed to be owned because of the Supreme Court’s misguided view of our often misinterpreted Second Amendment.
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has returned the abortion decision to the states, it’s up to our elected officials to protect preborn children by enforcing Wisconsin’s pre-Roe abortion ban. Democrats whine about losing their democracy. But when democracy produces a result they don't like, they will rebel against democracy.
Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, both Democrats, announced a lawsuit to challenge the enforceability of Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban. Representatives from Planned Parenthood were in attendance.
During an abortion rights rally at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention, Gov. Evers said he will grant clemency to anyone who is charged and convicted of crimes for performing abortions in Wisconsin.
The executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, Heather Weininger, stated, “We are disappointed but not surprised to see that our top elected officials refuse to do their jobs and enforce the laws on our books. Rest assured, we’ll continue to work with the state Senate and Assembly to fight this lawsuit and, no matter what, we’ll continue our daily work of protecting mothers and babies throughout Wisconsin.”
Vote to replace Evers, Kaul and local district attorneys unwilling to enforce the law.
Richland County has had a stagnant population and basically stagnant property values for years. But it is located in one of the most scenic, hilly areas of the state with the Pine River and trout streams running through it and the Wisconsin River as its southern boundary.
I love living here where I am an integral part of a diverse-thinking community.
Our county as well as many other smaller counties is in financial trouble and having to make some major decisions. Recently, our state senator, Howard Marklein, R-Spring, stated that the county's financial troubles were a local issue.
State shared revenue to Richland County dropped 10% from 2001-2021 from $1.36 million in 2001 to $1.22 million in 2021. Meanwhile inflation has increased more than 40% between 2001 and 2021. If Richland County’s state shared revenues had kept pace with inflation, the annual amount of state shared revenue for 2021 would have been over $2 million.
We would not be in this deep trouble if the state kept up with shared revenue for mandated programs. The cuts that are being considered will greatly impact our quality of life as well as events and institutions that create economic development in the area.
I wish to publicly tell Sen. Marklein that this is not a local issue but a state issue, and he should start to care for his constituents.
Linda Gentes, Richland Center, Richland County supervisor
Imagine that a large private sector company had a CEO who made one horrible decision after another that adversely affected his employees and customers. All the while, this CEO blamed everyone else and refused to change. That person's employment would not last long.
Yet we have a president that takes no blame for anything and refuses to change his policies that are destroying this country. The stock market just had its worst first half of the year in 52 years. 401(k) plans and IRAs are down 30% or more since Jan. 1. How would you like to be in your mid-50s with retirement finally in site and realize your only nest egg is down 35%? The number of devastating decisions by this administration is beyond the pale, and two-and-a-half years remain on his term.
Come November the only ray of hope left is to vote for each and every Republican on the ticket, regardless of the position. If you voted for President Joe Biden, you have no right to complain. If you're one of those that don't vote, shame on you. Register and vote in November.
I am conflicted. In light of Roe v. Wade being overturned, one would think that someone like me -- who esteems life from conception to grave -- would be sending up fireworks.
But I am not, and this is why.
The Supreme Court’s ruling changes law, but it does nothing to change hearts and minds. Yes, some pregnant women will be desperate enough to seek an abortion. But I’m also referring to the hearts and minds of those of us who claim to be pro-life when our actions testify that we are merely pro-birth.
Providing support through pregnancy and child birth and then sending a mother on her way with a box of diapers and a “God bless you” falls short. Do we really expect things to magically work out from then on? Our job isn’t done.
If we truly value life, we have a responsibility to support families throughout all of their child-rearing years. Mentor a young mother. Provide child care so a mom can work. Donate school supplies. Support programs in your community that invest in young people. The possibilities (and needs) are abundant.
I just put my flags out for the Fourth of July weekend, and I'm thinking about all of the energy that is going into so many protests and demonstrations that won't change a thing. Perhaps a little civics lesson is needed.
The United States of America is a democracy of, by and for the people. We are a nation of laws. Laws are based on the Constitution. Therefore, we are all equal under the law. We are all obligated to obey the laws, and the laws need to be equitably enforced.
Now, if we disagree with a law, it can be changed. If we find that the Constitution is not to our satisfaction, it can be changed or amended.
Whether it's gun control, abortion or civil rights, we can legally change laws in our democratic government. It's not easy, but your energy would be generated into proper, legitimate change.
The Wisconsin Idea shaped me as a physician and scientist. My daughter learned to walk across the frozen ice of Lake Mendota. I tried all the cheeses in Monroe. Since leaving, I've come back every summer to the lakes and biking trails, maintaining a connection I hoped to make more permanent in the future.
But I'm not coming this summer.
The ongoing anti-majoritarian rule, now entrenching GOP state board members beyond their terms, has gone too far. I grumbled at extreme partisan redistricting and rolled my eyes at a physical altercation between two Supreme Court justices. But these events are not aberrations, they shine light on the true essence of the Legislature and state Supreme Court. There is no interest in benefiting the majority of the state, only in hurting the opposition. There is no interest in moving forward, only in remaining stationary -- in power in perpetuity.
I cannot support a rot at the core. It is shameful that a beautiful state with decent people can be stained with such spiteful ugliness.
I keep seeing reporting indicating that the pro-life organizations stand ready to provide financial support during and after for women and families in crisis pregnancies. Where have they been? They could have been doing that all along.
They could have been encouraging Republican (the Democrats were already for these things) members of Congress to support such things as paid family leave, direct payments to working families for child care expenses, expanded Medicaid and increased minimum wages. They didn't show up, and those bills failed.
At the pump or supermarket, we are experiencing higher prices. Republican attempts to blame President Joe Biden and Democrats are unfounded and disingenuous.
The underlying causes of inflation are the pandemic and Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Democrats are offering concrete proposals to reduce prices, while Republicans cynically complain but offer no ideas of their own. Recently House Democrats passed legislation to cap insulin at $35 and prevent gas companies from price gouging. Not surprisingly, every Wisconsin Republican House member opposed these efforts.
Under Trump, the unemployment rate surged. Biden's unprecedented economic recovery has added millions of jobs and reduced the unemployment rate to near record lows.
Putin's war has strained the U.S. and world economies, but the international community under Biden's masterful leadership has stood firm against Putin's dangerous actions, with NATO becoming stronger.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who coordinates the Republican effort to control the Senate, has proposed a plan which could raise taxes on Wisconsin residents and sunset Social Security and Medicare. Today's higher prices would pale in comparison to the catastrophic impact of Scott's proposal on tens of millions of Americans.
Controlling inflation is imperative, which is why we must elect Democrats in November.
The irony of the State Journal's story placement was not lost on me Wednesday on page A11.
“How much for an island” was the headline for a story detailing the hot real estate market to build mansions on multimillion-dollar islands. That was juxtaposed with the follow up to the front-page piece on Dane County’s efforts to address homelessness. The gap between the super wealthy and everybody else keeps widening.
As the State Journal's coverage notes, it’s now reaching absurd levels.
The Paisan's building, built in 1971, had a useful life of 50 years. People live longer.
The Service Building and Service Annex on the UW-Madison campus are being demolished -- and they were built a century ago. They served for 100 years, and would serve for another 100 years if good architecture, structural integrity and sustainability were actually valued.
Syndicated columnist Ramesh Ponnuru's June 29 column, "The Constitution is conservative, like it or not," praised recent decisions by the Supreme Court. These decisions expanded gun rights, weakened the First Amendment's establishment clause on religion, and stripped women's constitutional ownership of their own bodies. Each ruling was "right on the law" and reflected how the "ratifying public" understood the Constitution's text.
Hogwash. Ponnuru's opinion is pure sophistry, a specious constitutional theory known as originalism devised in recent decades to justify the intent to roll back the court's advancement of civil rights since 1954, especially rulings outlawing desegregation, protecting access to contraception, legalizing gay marriage and protecting women's right to choose when or if to become mothers.
Originalism ignores the constitutional protection of fundamental human rights, such as privacy, not specifically spelled out in the Constitution. These are the "immunities and privileges" noted in Article 4 of the Constitution and strengthened in the 14th Amendment that also guarantees equal protection under the law, ensures due process and guards people's rights of life, liberty or property.
Liberty and property rights are being denied to women, though one's body is the most important form of property. Travel is an unenumerated right, too, but some states are planning to make interstate travel for abortions illegal. It's hypocrisy.
It seems every day the U.S. or state Supreme Court issues a ruling that takes us backward. We now have a ban on abortion, expanded gun rights, an Environmental Protection Agency without power, and state appointees who can't be removed even though their terms have expired.
Our elected officials also bear some of the blame. They've had chances to change laws but failed to recognize how low Republicans would sink to retain power.
If this doesn't fuel the urgency to vote in national, state and local elections, I fear nothing can. Please vote.
Is this an oxymoron or what? In order to bring an integrity tour one would think that those who are bringing it would have integrity. The GOP in no way has any integrity regarding elections or voting.
They continue to challenge the official election results with baseless lies -- no integrity. They spent at least one million dollars of Wisconsin taxpayers' money to "prove" election fraud -- another baseless lie, no proof, thus no integrity. They attempted to send a bogus group of electors to cast votes for the "Orange Monster" so he could win the Presidential election -- an illegal act, no integrity.
They continue to disregard the January 6 incident that unquestionably is an act of insurrection by traitors to the people, government and Constitution -- no integrity. Their political leaders, including several from our own state, continue to refuse to renounce that insurrection and thus, by association, are also traitors to the people, government and Constitution -- no integrity.
The paradox is blatant. They desire to preach to everyone about integrity (as if they have a corner on the market of integrity) but in reality they possess none of it.
The GOP should be ashamed of themselves for this ridiculous attempt to further cast their lies on the voting process in our state in an effort to disenfranchise more voters in Wisconsin communities.
My daughter is having a spinal fusion for scoliosis at UW Hospital. She will have a hospital stay of three to four days following her six- to eight-hour surgery. She has a father, step-father and mother (me) who are all her parents.
Current COVID policy is bad for her mental health because she is restricted to two parents per day supporting her in the hospital. These unnecessary restrictions are putting undue stress and burden on families.
I have spoken to her care team who have said they cannot make an exception, except in the case of end-of-life care. So my daughter needs to be near death to have the support of all her parents. Ridiculous.
Even the prestigious Mayo Clinic Hospital is allowing five support people per patient. I know I am not the only blended family who is being denied access to their child in the name of COVID. I beg you to open the hospital back up for the sake of your patients and their families. It's time for UW Health to put families first.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, can we now ban suppliers of Viagra, testosterone and health care providers of erectile dysfunction? It seems only fair that we treat men's and women’s bodies equally.
The Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade thanks to the votes of three judges appointed by former President Donald Trump. These judges promised during their hearings that they would uphold precedent.
I wonder if that would be considered lying under oath? The ruling establishing Roe vs. Wade was over 50 years ago, which to me would qualify as an established precedent.
Women have had abortions long before this law. Many women died at the hands of back-alley practices and lethal home remedies. This ruling will not eliminate abortions because those who can pay and find a willing practitioner will be able to obtain them as they did prior to Roe v. Wade.
I didn't see any provision in the ruling that would help the woman care for the child that now must be delivered. The burden is placed entirely on the woman and not on the sperm contributor. Why is the Supreme Court more interested in the preservation of fetuses instead of the thousands of lives lost to gun violence each year.
Women should speak loudly and stand up to control their own health care decisions. Will a women's right to vote be the next established precedent to be overturned?
After years of neglecting needed repairs and upkeep, the owners a West Wilson Street building in Madison have caused there to be no other recourse than to tear the building down. Many tenants of this building have suffered losses due to the neglect. One notable tenant, Paisan's, is a Madison institution.
I can remember eating pasta in the iconic wooden high-backed booths at Paisan's restaurant in their original location back in the 1980s. Paisan's continued to thrive and serve the best pastas, pizzas and many other delectable meals for years in its current West Wilson Street location. Sitting on the patio or securing a table or booth overlooking the lake only added to the enjoyment of having a great meal there.
It would be a real shame to lose a Madison treasure such as Paisan's. I am hopeful that the owners of the building will do the right thing and reimburse Paisan's for their losses so the restaurant can move and continue to be a great place for Madison to go to eat.
This year our nation celebrates its 246th birthday of independence.
It is important to remember that our independence didn't come without the price of loss of life and the shedding of blood. Our nation had many struggles and pressures to become what it is today. We were blessed to have many statesmen and thinkers with impeccable values, and principles that has stood the test of time.
We desperately need a more united country. Witnessing much vitriol and anger just makes matters worse because of a person's ideology and point of view.
We all desire a safer and more orderly society, and it is imperative that people honor and respect our U.S. Constitution and obey God's Ten Commandments.
If the trend is reversed, it is obvious our society will be more peaceful and orderly today and in the future.
Congratulations to Nicki Vander Meulen for supporting the 4.7% teachers' raise and voting against a budget that does not include it.
I've watched the Madison schools deteriorate during the past four decades from a place where young teachers wanted to work, to a district to avoid. The lack of administrative leadership and support with an unnecessarily fat administration, the lack of a reasonable discipline policy and zero security have turned the school environment into a war zone.
Madison has one of the highest average household incomes in the state, yet does not pay their teachers what some communities with lesser incomes do. Many people moving into the area are avoiding the Madison School District and choosing suburban schools. How long will we be willing to allow this to go on?
We must retain the best teachers now by:
Listening to them.
Paying them appropriately.
Improving discipline.
Returning the student resource officers to improve safety.
Redistributing wasted administrative funds to teaching assistants where they'll do some good.
In the space of two weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court has ensured that many more babies will be born, and that those children will not have a decent world in which to grow up.
I'm referring of course to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate coal emissions. These are two of the right-wing, hot-button issues. So let's stop pretending that the current Supreme Court is anything but a GOP puppet.
Many of the additional babies will be born by economically and socially challenged women, and many will be among those most severely affected by worsening climate change. (The wives and daughters of the wealthy GOP supporters will still be able to travel wherever necessary to get their abortions.)
Is this what's called "pro-life"? The right claims life begins at conception. But for them, apparently, it ends at birth.
Now that the Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade, please consider this: Women will still continue to have "choices."
If you are unmarried, you can choose not to have sexual intercourse. If sex is your choice, you may choose to use a reliable form of contraception. And if conception should occur, you can even choose to carry the child to term and choose to place him or her up for adoption.
Please don't deceive yourself. Abortion is not birth control. Abortion is not health care. Abortion ends the life of a innocent human being.
Pro-life groups and legislators are rejoicing at the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Now is the time for these groups to do the real work to support babies and children. They must provide government funds to:
Ensure all women have access to high-quality medical care during pregnancy, delivery and recovery.
Ensure all families have access to excellent, affordable health care, including contraception for those who use it.
Require that all companies give parental leave to both mothers and fathers.
Support the development of many more high-quality child care sites staffed by well-trained and well-paid teachers. Make these affordable for low- to middle-income parents.
Increase funding for all public schools. Stop funneling public funds to private and religious schools. This violates the separation of church and state.
“Wait!” you say. “This is way too expensive.”
Really? Think how much it costs to raise a child. If you block choice, you need to assume responsibility. If you are truly pro-life, then support life with needed money. You can give up something.
How about other rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution?
Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wants to "reconsider" other decisions about rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, such as contraception and same-sex marriage.
Does this mean he will also want to restore the ban on interracial marriage? Seems that this would be the next logical step.
Kathleen Kelly and Babette Wainwright, Madison, a same sex, interracial married couple
An acorn is not an oak tree. Not planting an acorn has no equivalence to chopping down a mature oak tree.
A tiny collection of cells, smaller than a sesame seed, does not have the same rights as an adult woman. Or it shouldn’t, unless reason and logic are thrown out the window.
The current anti-abortion movement has a murky history, based as much on political strategizing as on a concern for the life of a fertilized egg. (For example, the evangelical Southern Baptist Convention passed several resolutions generally in favor of abortion rights in the 1970s.)
Who has a “right to life”? Women. Full-grown adult women whose lives can be overturned, full of tragedy or destroyed by abortion bans. Keep that in mind when you vote in the next election.
As a proud and grateful fifth-generation Badger, I had the privilege of accompanying my son on a tour of UW-Madison. I love the Wisconsin Idea, my friendships and the education I received. Walking on Bascom Hill reminds me not only of my years on campus, but the stories I know by heart of my parents and grandparents, and the tales told of my great-great-grandmother’s time at UW.
I graduated at the height of the Casey Supreme Court case, a serious threat to Roe. I was an active pro-choice student. At 22, I was unsure of having children, but I always knew the choice was mine. On a brilliant June day sitting on a rock-hard yellow Memorial Union chair, I couldn’t help but feel a little less proud of Wisconsin and a whole lot less convinced that sending my son to UW was the right thing to do.
UW gave women in my family an education before they could vote, and each daughter has benefited from more freedoms and opportunities. A post-Roe Wisconsin might end that UW legacy. All I can say is shame on the legislators and voters of Wisconsin. It’s a sad day.
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the talking heads of the media and those with political influence tried to brainwash us to believe the Constitution was altered and that somehow an abortion was a constitutional right.
Where in the Constitution is it written that murder is a right? Some people seem to think what is growing inside a woman is a Volkswagen and not a child. But abortion is not birth control, it is murdering a child. Birth control is the pill, a condom or even chastity. Birth control is a way to prevent a pregnancy. It is not for after-the-fact regret.
They twist the entire subject matter, arguing a woman can do as she wants with her body. Then they think otherwise when a vaccine mandate is involved. I guess the right to one's body only pertains to them.
Common sense has left the building. When I was in school -- and it was a public school -- they once taught you how to think, not what to think. I shall not be indoctrinated by others' views, or be persuaded by threats of violence.
Just one more thought if you'll allow such: Aren't you glad your mother didn't abort you?
In my undergraduate constitutional law class, my professor emphasized that case law (stare decisis) was only as solid as the next judicial ruling.
Democrats have known this for almost 50 years. One needs only to look at the questions asked of Supreme Court nominees by the Senate Judiciary Committee to see that they knew Roe v. Wade was tenuous. The Republicans have been clear on their intent to overturn this ruling.
I blame the Democrats for its downfall. They have had at least three opportunities under Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to codify abortion rights into law or the Constitution. Instead, they have sat on their thumbs and done nothing except wring their hands with every new court nominee.
It’s time to act. I call on our Democratic congressional delegation led by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, to codify abortion rights into law or, better yet, a constitutional amendment. If they fail to act -- vote them out. We deserve representatives willing to uphold our citizens' rights.
Now is the time for women to “choose” not to become pregnant.
Make sure you have done all you can to avoid becoming pregnant if you do not want to. Birth control for women is widely available in many different forms. Insist that your sexual partner use a condom. Surgical sterilization may be an option for you or your partner if you do not want any more children.
There are more choices for birth control now than at any time in history. Or you as a woman could always say “no,” if it seems risky. It is still your choice.
Be responsible for your reproductive choices -- a new way to look at being “pro-choice.”
As cofounder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation who believes in rational and reasonable gun safety laws, I take umbrage at the June 15 letter to the editor "Mass abortion has cheapened life" for trying to pin mass shootings on my organization (along with legal abortion).
Studies show that legal abortion has played an important role in reducing violent crime because unwanted children are at risk of having distressing lives and futures.
The writer complains that “Guns are getting all the blame” when mass shootings should be blamed on the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union for taking “God and creationism out of the schools and [leaving] the idea that everyone descended from slime and that there are no eternal consequences for anything that is done.”
Actions should be judged by consequences here on Earth, not based on the childish threat of hell or promise of heaven. Many shooters and terrorists are motivated by religious beliefs.
The greatest danger in our country today comes from extremist, white Christian nationalists such as those on Jan. 6, 2021. White Christian nationalists are anti-abortion because their god in Genesis commands of Eve, “I shall greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception ... thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/proposal-to-require-secret-ballot-for-election-of-kenosha-city-council-president-fails/article_6d3bba90-fee2-11ec-b406-4f46bab40578.html | 2022-07-08T22:02:33 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/proposal-to-require-secret-ballot-for-election-of-kenosha-city-council-president-fails/article_6d3bba90-fee2-11ec-b406-4f46bab40578.html |
HILLSBORO, Ore. — Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest (BBBS) is recruiting more BIPOC volunteers. Many kids are now asking for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) Big Brothers, saying they're more relatable. At last check, there are about 250 kids waiting for a mentor.
KGW's Lamar Hurd caught up with the organization during Hillsboro's Juneteenth Festival. The group said they were there to connect with the community, and attract more volunteers.
Chief program officer Carolina Adrianzen said that being a mentor is commitment, but it is something most people can do in addition to their normal tasks.
"If you have time to give, all it takes is meeting with mentee two to four times a month doing activities you already do: washing the car, throwing the ball, doing things you're already doing. Now bringing in a little with you to enjoy these activities and have someone to talk to," said Adrianzen.
The organization has had some recent success. Portland’s BBBS was recently recognized and awarded $1.5 million to transform mentorship in the Portland and Vancouver metro-area from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
The organization has been partnering at-risk youth with mentors for 20 years. Anyone interested in volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters can find more information on their website. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/big-brothers-big-sisters-juneteenth-bipoc/283-930ba7ff-a65f-4281-ad1d-6d756b698f85 | 2022-07-08T22:03:30 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/big-brothers-big-sisters-juneteenth-bipoc/283-930ba7ff-a65f-4281-ad1d-6d756b698f85 |
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has determined that Maine State Police Trooper Tyler Harrington acted in self-defense and in the defense of others when he shot and injured a man during a standoff in Waldo in January.
Harrington shot Kote Aldus, 30, of Waldo on January 9, 2022, after he threatened to shoot other troopers while appearing to draw a gun from his right pocket, according to a report released by Frey on Thursday.
Harrington was among troopers who responded to East Waldo Road around 4:30 p.m. that day after a woman reported from a neighbor's house that she had fled her home after being choked and attacked by her husband, later identified as Aldus. She also said he had their two-week-old baby with him in the home and that he had asserted earlier in the day that the baby was not his biological child.
Officials saw bruising around Aldus' wife's neck consistent with being strangled, and she said Aldus had been drinking and had weapons, Frey stated.
Around 5:10 p.m., the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Maine State Police Crisis Negotiation Team were activated, and troopers reported hearing at least one gunshot from within the home, where Aldus and the baby were, according to Frey.
Harrington said he saw Aldus change his clothes and emerge from the home with a bulge in his pants that "appeared to resemble the grip of a pistol sticking out of the pocket," according to Frey's report. Harrington said he saw Frey turn toward the driveway of the home, where he knew there were troopers, and say, "I'm going to shoot you [expletive]," Frey stated.
Aldus then made a motion that appeared as though he was drawing a gun from his pocket, and Harrington fired several rounds at him, according to Frey.
The shots, which were fired around 6:30 p.m., caused Aldus to fall to the floor a few feet inside the doorway of his home. Police could see him crawling and instructed him to surrender, but he refused, Frey said. He was ultimately taken into custody with the help of a police dog shortly before 8:30 p.m.
When troopers went inside the home, they found the baby in a car seat with no apparent injuries. Aldus was treated for a gunshot wound to his right knee and multiple dog bites to his lower back. Medical records described him as "acutely intoxicated," according to Frey.
A search of the home yielded ammo and guns, including multiple pistols, a shotgun, and a rifle, Frey stated.
According to Frey, when Aldus was interviewed by a detective from the Office of the Attorney General, he expressed his hope that the trooper would not get in trouble because "in my opinion, he made the same choice I would have made."
"In light of all that he knew, it was reasonable for Trooper Harrington to believe that when Mr. Aldus emerged from his house, turned in the direction of the officers in the driveway, threatened to shoot the officers, and appeared to be drawing a firearm, that the use of unlawful deadly force by Mr. Aldus was imminent," Frey stated.
Aldus was charged on Jan. 9 with felony aggravated assault, as well as the misdemeanor charges of domestic violence assault and creating a police standoff.
On Jan. 21, he was charged with the felony crimes of tampering with a witness, juror, or victim and violation of conditions of release. He was also charged with the misdemeanor crime of violation of a protection order.
On March 23, Aldus was again charged with felony tampering with a witness, juror, or victim and violation of conditions of release, as well as misdemeanor violation of a protection order.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-attorney-general-state-trooper-tyler-harrington-was-justified-in-shooting-man-during-kote-aldus-waldo-standoff/97-48af90e1-04a8-4b30-849f-d64be0c05c7d | 2022-07-08T22:18:21 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-attorney-general-state-trooper-tyler-harrington-was-justified-in-shooting-man-during-kote-aldus-waldo-standoff/97-48af90e1-04a8-4b30-849f-d64be0c05c7d |
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police reported at approximately 4 p.m. Friday that emergency crews are on the scene of a small private plane crash at the Portland International Jetport.
A news release issued on Friday around 5 p.m. by City of Portland spokesperson Jessica Grondin says the small plane, a Cessna, crashed on runway 18 shortly after taking off.
"The Portland Fire Department responded and put out the fire and immediately began assisting the passengers with medical treatment," Grondin wrote in the release.
The two passengers that were on the plane have been transported to the hospital.
NEWS CENTER Maine's Jackie Mundry was live on the scene as Portland Jetport Director Paul Bradbury spoke to media about the crash.
Bradbury said he believes the plane was taking off when it caught fire, and that the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The jetport said in a tweet around 5 p.m. Friday that it has resumed operations on its primary runway, but the runway where the crash occurred is to remain closed for the time being.
According to a tweet from the Portland Jetport around 4:30 p.m. Friday, the following inbound flights were diverted to other airports:
- Southwest 3102 to Manchester.
- United 2465 to Boston.
- United 785 to Boston.
- Frontier 1658 to Providence.
- American 4503 to Boston.
Grondin wrote in the release that the above flights are now expected to return to Portland.
A NEWS CENTER Maine photographer on the scene observed the plane tail bears the registration number N9946Q.
According to FlightAware, the registration is associated with Horizon Aviation LLC in Sinclair.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/small-plane-crashes-at-portland-maine-jetport/97-a1150479-9f72-44d4-a111-1071b2a2bf5b | 2022-07-08T22:18:27 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/small-plane-crashes-at-portland-maine-jetport/97-a1150479-9f72-44d4-a111-1071b2a2bf5b |
Two men have died after crashing into two cars on Tucson’s northwest side Thursday evening.
On July 7, Chandler Hartley, 21, and Alex Sanchez, 21, were traveling south at a high rate of speed on North Camino De Oeste and North Drabble Way in a Mercury Grand Marquis when they crossed over into oncoming traffic and struck a Jeep, causing the Jeep to roll, a news release from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said. The Mercury then collided with a Dodge Charger before coming to a rest.
Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene, the news release said. Hartley was taken to a hospital where he later died.
The driver of the Charger was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while the driver of the Jeep was evaluated and released.
Jamie Donnelly covers breaking news for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/two-dead-in-crash-on-tucsons-northwest-side/article_11530f64-ff08-11ec-86f3-3b13e12fa32a.html | 2022-07-08T22:20:37 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/two-dead-in-crash-on-tucsons-northwest-side/article_11530f64-ff08-11ec-86f3-3b13e12fa32a.html |
PHOENIX — A federal judge will decide whether a provision in a 2021 law could be used to bring criminal charges against doctors who perform otherwise legal abortions, including those to save the life of the mother.
Arizona has long interpreted its laws against child abuse, child endangerment and assault to not apply to legal abortions, attorney Jessica Sklarsky of the Center for Reproductive Rights told Judge Douglas Rayes on Friday.
Last year, however, lawmakers enacted a bill that all state statutes, without exception, have to be interpreted and construed to "acknowledge, on behalf of an unborn child at every stage of development, all rights, privileges and immunities available to other persons.''
Attorney General Mark Brnovich contends the June 30 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling guaranteeing a federal constitutional right to abortion now frees Arizona to immediately start enforcing a state law against it that dates to territorial days. That law outlaws all abortions except to save the life of the mother.
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Skarsky, who represents abortion doctors and the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that could free Brnovich — and any other prosecutor — to now use this "personhood'' language to charge doctors performing any abortion with crimes such as child abuse, child endangerment and assault.
Further complicating the issue, there is a 1973 injunction issued by the Arizona Court of Appeals blocking the attorney general from enforcing what had been the 1901 law outlawing abortion.
Brnovich has said he intends to ask Pima County Superior Court, where that case originally started, to dissolve the injunction based on the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe.
Legal in Pima County?
He has not yet done that. But Assistant Attorney General Kate Sawyer told the judge Brnovich believes that injunction applies only in Pima County, meaning the 1901 statute is in effect in the other 14 counties.
That acknowledgment also means that, at the very least, all pre-viability abortions remain legal in Pima County unless and until a judge lifts that injunction, something that is not a legal certainty.
But Sklarsky said Pima County doctors won't perform abortions because of the fear they could still be prosecuted for other crimes based on the "personhood'' language.
There is also the question of whether there will be other efforts to keep abortion legal in Arizona based on other legal theories, including that there is a specific right to privacy in the state constitution.
"This much is certain: Without an injunction or some other court order preventing the interpretation policy from being used to criminalize abortion services, plaintiffs cannot and will not resume providing care in Arizona,'' Sklarsky told the judge.
AG's Office: No role for federal judge
Sawyer, however, in essence, told Rayes there is nothing for him to decide. She said the personhood language about how other laws have to be interpreted is not, in itself, a criminal law that can be enforced — or that he can enjoin.
"So what does it do?'' the judge asked.
The assistant attorney general said the language acknowledging the personhood of unborn children simply explains how other existing statutes should be interpreted. That left the judge unsatisfied.
"I don't understand,'' Rayes said. "How does it help a judge or someone who's in law enforcement interpret the law?''
"There could be any number of reasons,'' Sawyer responded, suggesting for example a judge could use it in ruling in a probate case.
She also said if doctors fear being prosecuted for child abuse they are free to ask a state judge to decide the scope of the law and whether the requirement that laws be interpreted to acknowledge the personhood of fertilized cells, an embryo or a fetus — there are legal distinctions — subjects them to possible criminal penalties. That suggestion drew a skeptical response from the judge.
"They can eliminate that by hiring a lawyer and going to court and filing a lawsuit for a declaratory judgment as to how that lawsuit might be applied?'' Rayes asked.
"Yes, that would be the function of a state court in this instance,'' Sawyer responded.
But Sklarsky said it is precisely the role of federal courts to ensure laws are sufficiently clear so that people know what they have to do to avoid violating them. And that is not the case here, she said.
Will new Arizona law supercede?
Sklarsky said there are other issues.
One is the fact that Gov. Doug Ducey has insisted a law approved earlier this year by the Legislature, outlawing abortions after 15 weeks, will supersede any more stringent territorial-era law when it takes effect in late September.
If Ducey is correct — and even he has acknowledged that issue will have to be litigated in state court — that would keep legal the vast majority of abortions that until now have been performed in Arizona.
Sklarsky said that eventuality also would require enjoining the personhood provision to ensure it would not, and could not, be used to make criminals out of the doctors who perform such abortions.
What Rayes decides could plow new legal ground.
The judge noted that at least two other states, Missouri and Kansas, have similar language requiring that all statutes be interpreted to acknowledge the personhood of a child at any stage of development, including in the womb. Sklarsky acknowledged that neither has been challenged.
But she said that was because abortion law until now has been governed by Roe, making it unnecessary for someone to seek judicial intervention. Skarlsky said this will be the first case going to a federal court about the issue since the Supreme Court overturned Roe.
The judge gave no date for when he will rule. | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/judge-to-decide-if-az-personhood-law-outlaws-even-legal-abortions/article_fac28ea0-fedf-11ec-828c-6fe5777d2b0c.html | 2022-07-08T22:20:43 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/judge-to-decide-if-az-personhood-law-outlaws-even-legal-abortions/article_fac28ea0-fedf-11ec-828c-6fe5777d2b0c.html |
WINTER PARK, Fla. – Eric Reyes could be the face of frustrated unemployment claimants across the state of Florida.
The Winter Park man was unemployed in 2021 and 2022 for a total of 10 weeks, yet he never received a single payment between jobs because, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity, his requests were “disqualified.”
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“I just kind of gave up on it,” Reyes told News 6. ”I figured, ‘All right, well, they’re not going to help me.’”
Reyes just landed a job as a banking analyst, but in 2021, he lost a warehouse job and was out of work for five weeks before getting a customer service position, which he subsequently lost in early 2022.
“You call (the DEO number) and it hangs up on you,” Reyes said. “The main issue was nobody ever reaching out by phone to let me know what was happening.”
News 6 and Make Ends Meet presented his account information to the DEO and an investigator found that every time Reyes filed for benefits he said he had worked in 2019.
That made it appear as if he was employed while filing for unemployment benefits.
Years later, the DEO issued payments totaling $3,500 into his bank account giving him badly needed funds to cover past bills.
“I got the five weeks I was due last time (in 2021) and I got the weeks due this time,“ Reyes said. “You definitely got the results I wanted and you helped me out a ton because I would have been at a loss.”
DEO Press Secretary Morgan Jones told News 6 anyone that needs to speak to someone regarding their ID.me status has that option now.
“This option does not require the claimant to take a selfie and can be selected once the claimant signs into their ID.me account,” Jones said.
For step-by-step instructions on how claimants can select this option, click here.
Since Make Ends Meet debuted two years ago, the News 6 franchise has helped families in Florida and several states to collect more than $2 million in unemployment benefits.
If you have an unemployment issue, email makeendsmeet@wkmg.com or text the words “Make Ends Meet” to 407-676-7428 along with the issue you are facing. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/florida-man-issued-3500-after-2-years-of-disqualifying-for-jobless-benefits/ | 2022-07-08T22:20:52 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/florida-man-issued-3500-after-2-years-of-disqualifying-for-jobless-benefits/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday in an attempt to protect a woman’s access to abortion across the U.S. following the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe V. Wade.
This comes after the highest court in the land voted 5-3 to end nearly 50 years of abortion protection in a historic ruling two weeks ago, overturning the 1973 case first allowing for that constitutional right within the 14th Amendment.
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The ruling cascaded the decision on the legality of abortion down to the state level. While Biden’s response to the Supreme Court majority cannot restore access to abortion in the more than dozen states where bans have already gone into effect, his order intends to stop some penalties women seeking abortions may face.
The president also urged Americans who are upset with the high court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade to vote in November.
“The only way to fulfill and restore that right for women in this country is by voting, by exercising the power at the ballot box,” Biden said.
The executive order directs the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to protect access to abortion medication and protect women’s rights to travel across state lines to access clinical abortion services.
It also asks the Federal Trade Commission to take steps to protect the privacy of those seeking information about reproductive cases online.
The big question is does the president’s executive order impact Florida’s new abortion law? The state’s 15-week ban on abortions is still in effect after the state filed an appeal earlier this week challenging a temporary injunction.
Caroline Mala Corbin is a professor of law at the University of Miami School of Law. She said the president’s executive order also reinforces a federal law that said hospitals must provide abortions when medically necessary, even if it violates state law.
“This is a federal law that already exists, but I don’t think it’s been enforced to its full potential,” she said. “One of the things this executive order might do might be to really implement this law and therefore ensure that women who need abortions for medical reasons get them, even in states that don’t want to allow them.”
News 6 reached out to out to multiple organizations and lawmakers on both sides of the abortion issue following Biden’s executive order and received the below statements.
Senator Marco Rubio’s office sent a statement from last month when he introduced a bill to block the president from declaring federal emergencies on abortions.
“We should be protecting the lives of innocent babies, not Planned Parenthood’s ability to kill them. I will do everything I can to protect life and block this gross abuse of power,” Rubio said in a statement.
Senator Rick Scott also shared a statement from last month after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade.
“We cannot stop fighting until every life, born and unborn, is valued,” Scott said in a statement.
ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights responded to Biden’s executive order with the following statements:
“Abortion services have already ceased in nine states, and that number is expected to grow dramatically. This public health crisis will become more dire by the day. We are glad that President Biden is taking action and has directed the Health and Human Services Department to do everything in its power to expand access to medication abortion. This should include HHS immediately declaring a public health emergency and using the emergency powers of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to protect access to abortion for as many people as possible.”
Nancy Northup, President and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights
“Every day, pregnant people in this nation are facing the cruel reality of being forced to carry a pregnancy against their will and suffer the life-altering consequences. After decades of relentless attacks on abortion access by politicians, we must use every tool to address this nationwide crisis. Today’s announcement is an important step, and we urge the Biden administration to take swift, meaningful action to build on it. We won’t stop fighting until every person can get the care they need regardless of where they live.”
Georgeanne Usova, Senior Legislative Counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union
News 6 has not received any other responses aside from statements that we previously published.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/heres-what-president-bidens-executive-order-on-abortion-means/ | 2022-07-08T22:20:58 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/heres-what-president-bidens-executive-order-on-abortion-means/ |
ABSECON — To get a handle on rowdy and unsafe ATV riding, City Council passed an ordinance Thursday giving police authority to confiscate those vehicles and dirt bikes operated illegally on the streets.
Police Chief JR Laughlin told council June 22 the ordinance allows police to take the vehicles if they're managed to be stopped.
Typically, they can't be chased because of the public safety threat doing so poses, he said.
Fines would be also issued to gas stations supplying gas to any vehicles prohibited from being on public roads that drive up to the pumps. ATVs and dirt bikes arriving on trailers to the station would be excluded from being fined.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law in January that designates ATVs, dirt bikes and snowmobiles ridden on public streets or highways as contraband subject to state forfeiture regulations. These vehicles, when forfeited to a municipality, “shall be destroyed” per the new state statute.
Pleasantville City Council, at its June 22 meeting, adopted an identical ordinance. By seizing the vehicles, riders in the city cannot immediately recover them by filling out the proper paperwork or paying a fee. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/absecon-oks-atv-crackdown-ordinance/article_d00bc0b0-ff01-11ec-9fb0-bf3c0baaf99e.html | 2022-07-08T22:21:00 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/absecon-oks-atv-crackdown-ordinance/article_d00bc0b0-ff01-11ec-9fb0-bf3c0baaf99e.html |
SANFORD, Fla. – A former foster parent from Sanford accused of producing videos of children being sexually exploited pleaded guilty Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Justin Johnson, 47, was secretly recording videos of children using cameras he had set up in a home bedroom. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Johnson also had videos on his cellphone and computer showing him molesting children.
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Records indicate that law enforcement confiscated several of Johnson’s devices, which an investigation found contained numerous images and videos of children being sexually abused.
According to reports, the FBI has identified at least 16 children who were sexually exploited by Johnson.
Johnson pleaded guilty to five counts of producing and attempting to produce videos depicting children being sexually exploited, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse materials.
He faces 15 to 30 years in federal prison for each of the five production counts and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession count. A sentencing date has been set for Oct. 12.
Law enforcement is asking for any person who was a victim or has knowledge of someone who may have been a victim to contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/sanford-man-former-foster-parent-pleads-guilty-to-making-child-porn/ | 2022-07-08T22:21:04 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/sanford-man-former-foster-parent-pleads-guilty-to-making-child-porn/ |
TOMS RIVER — A Mays Landing man will spend five years in prison after pleading guilty to luring charges in February, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.
Richard Hoffman, 27, also must register as a sex offender and undergo post-release supervision for the rest of his life, Judge Guy P. Ryan ruled Friday.
Hoffman was caught messaging a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, asking the teenager to meet him at a Toms River residence for sexual purposes.
Hoffman was arrested Sept. 5, 2018, at the location where he agreed to meet the teenager.
The operation was led by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, state Division of Criminal Justice and state Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mays-landing-man-sentenced-in-ocean-county-luring-case/article_8efed414-fefb-11ec-91e0-1f1e5bfdce44.html | 2022-07-08T22:21:06 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mays-landing-man-sentenced-in-ocean-county-luring-case/article_8efed414-fefb-11ec-91e0-1f1e5bfdce44.html |
OAK HILL, Fla. – Thanks to an act of heroism from quick-thinking good Samaritans and first responders, Volusia County officials said a woman has a chance at life.
“We don’t decide what happens at the very end for that patient, but they gave that patient a fighting chance,” said Volusia Fire Battalion Chief Chris Davis.
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Investigators said on Tuesday, a woman was driving down Maytown Road in Oak Hill when her car veered off the road and overturned into a canal. They said other drivers who saw the wreck, stopped, called 911, and then jumped in.
“When I walked up, I saw the vehicle on its side, they were actively trying to push it over, so I jumped in to help the civilians in the water,” said Volusia Sheriff’s Deputy Doug Meyer.
Meyer’s body camera showed that effort. Both he and Deputy Jacob Adle got to work, too.
Then came Volusia firefighters Nick Corrente and Rob Hamel.
“A vehicle in a canal is not necessarily an everyday occurrence. We do get them in a ditch, we do get them in water, trapped upside down is not everyday training,” said Hamel.
They said instinct kicked in, though.
“I’m shocked and in awe that they were able to get it done and flip it over,” said Adle.
They got a task done that they say typically would take heavy, mechanical equipment.
“They secured it to trees, that’s all they had at that point was to secure the vehicle to trees,” said Davis.
Davis said the crews got the woman out of the car in record time.
“There was zero delay. Getting her out, putting her on a backboard, stabilizing her,” he said.
News 6 also spoke to one of those citizens, Andy Wasko.
“The real hero I think was the pregnant lady who called 911 and then handed my wife the phone and said I’m coming in with you,” he said. “Every person who was in that water pushing pushed as hard as they could. As hard as they could.”
Deputies said the woman was unconscious but had a pulse.
In a situation where seconds matter, these first responders say the good Samaritans helped give her a chance.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do it if they weren’t there. We would have had to call for additional units possibly,” said Corrente.
The sheriff’s office said as of Friday, the woman is still in the hospital in critical condition. Florida Highway Patrol has taken over the crash investigation. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/they-gave-that-patient-a-fighting-chance-volusia-first-responders-detail-heroic-canal-rescue/ | 2022-07-08T22:21:10 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/they-gave-that-patient-a-fighting-chance-volusia-first-responders-detail-heroic-canal-rescue/ |
UPDATE: Vineland police say the girl has been found and is safe.
VINELAND — Police are looking for a missing 14-year-old girl last seen Thursday.
Michelle Munoz is 4-foot-9 and 115 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair, according to a description provided by police. She was last seen wearing a red tank top, black shorts, red sneakers and brown glasses.
Anyone with information can call police at 856-696-1212 or 911. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/missing-14-year-old-vineland-girl-found/article_229a1666-fede-11ec-aaa7-df85e5a8ef17.html | 2022-07-08T22:21:12 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/missing-14-year-old-vineland-girl-found/article_229a1666-fede-11ec-aaa7-df85e5a8ef17.html |
TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Officers responded to a crash Friday afternoon that sent a man to the hospital with serious injuries, according to the Titusville Police Department.
A vehicle crashed into a tree near Park Avenue and Harrison Street at approximately 4:30 p.m., police said.
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Reports show the driver of the car was taken to a local hospital after suffering serious injuries. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/titusville-crash-injures-driver-titusville-police-say/ | 2022-07-08T22:21:17 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/08/titusville-crash-injures-driver-titusville-police-say/ |
OCEAN CITY — Even Tom Brady only managed seven Super Bowl wins, at least so far.
City officials on Friday touted a ninth consecutive win as New Jersey’s favorite beach in a statewide poll from the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium.
Representatives of the organization announced the win at a Friday morning event at the Ocean City Music Pier.
The contest is decided online. Participants can only vote once, according to the organization.
“It’s great to see Ocean City achieve this honor,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “Every year, we face new challenges. But Ocean City remains the best beach in the state and a tradition for generations of families.”
Winners were informed on the eve of the big Fourth of July weekend for all shore towns. This year, the contest again included winners for the four coastal counties, and Ocean City was the top beach in Cape May County. The Wildwoods were second overall and second in Cape May County.
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For the eighth consecutive year, beachgoers chose Ocean City as “New Jersey’s Favorite Beach…
The Sea Grant Consortium introduced the survey in 2008 to “inspire pride in and stewardship of New Jersey’s beaches while promoting a little healthy competition between New Jersey’s favorite beach towns.”
This year, radio personality Nicole Murray called on listeners to support beaches in Ocean or Monmouth counties.
“Every stinking year, Ocean City wins the gold as the favorite beach of the entire Garden State, and 2022 is the year it stops,” she posted in June on the website of her hits-format station at the Jersey Shore, 94.3 The Point.
Maybe next year.
Ocean City in recent years has been named “Best Beach in America” and “Best Beach” in many other statewide polls, according to details released by the city’s public relations office. “America’s Greatest Family Resort” has also been recognized for its Boardwalk, downtown, ecotourism, family destinations, women-owned businesses and more.
“I want to congratulate and thank the city team, our public safety departments, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Development Commission, the Boardwalk and Downtown Merchants associations, local businesses, all volunteer groups and the entire community in making Ocean City a wonderful place to live, work and play,” Gillian said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ocean-city-again-tops-statewide-beach-poll/article_7de7a424-fefd-11ec-81ca-f30e341d8aea.html | 2022-07-08T22:21:18 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ocean-city-again-tops-statewide-beach-poll/article_7de7a424-fefd-11ec-81ca-f30e341d8aea.html |
OCEAN CITY — Merchants and workers are celebrating a new law allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work longer hours each summer, and are hoping it helps them address a worker shortage.
"I am so excited about this," said Stainton's Gallery of Shops manager Bridget Buchanan. "When I saw this (new law), I thought I was going to start crying."
A new law allowing those older teens to work up to 10 hours per day and up to 50 hours per week took effect immediately upon Gov. Phil Murphy signing it Tuesday.
That's up from 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week previously.
It also allows workers under 18 to work for six hours without a break of at least 30 minutes, up from five hours previously.
It will give her more flexibility in staffing, Buchanan said. While she is almost fully staffed, it's good to be able to call on people to work longer hours when needed.
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She now has two locations in Ocean City to staff, the main one in the former Stainton's Department Store on Asbury Avenue near 8th Street, and a new location this summer at 12th and the Boardwalk.
"For locations like Ocean City that use a lot of teens, it's monumental. It extends everything for us," said Michele Gillian, president of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. "It's a big step forward to make sure we can stay open for business and during traditional hours we've been open previously."
Buchanan may not schedule many workers for 50 hours a week, but the new maximums allow her to be more relaxed about scheduling older teens for eight-hour days and 40-hour weeks.
Years ago when she worked in Atlantic City, one of her teenage workers was off her shift but got into a conversation in the break room and was delayed in punching out. The worker went a half hour over the 40 hours she was allowed, and the store was hit with a considerable fine.
"I get paranoid that will happen," Buchanan said. "Now, instead of scheduling (a 16- or 17-year-old) for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., I will schedule them 9 a.m. to 5 p.m."
Hooked on Breakfast's Alicia Stauffer, who owns the Asbury Avenue breakfast and lunch restaurant with husband Keven, hadn't heard of the new law but said there were pros and cons to it.
"It could benefit the businesses, but in my honest opinion, I don't think many minors want to work, or are able to work, 50 hours a week," Stauffer said. "A few but not many. Not many adults want that."
In general, she said she has found teens want to work less frequently than they did when she was a teenager. And that is true into their early 20s, she said.
On Friday, though, her 17-year-old server/busser Beth Kenny, a summer resident from Pennsylvania, said she'd like to work more hours, even up to 50 some weeks. She's heading into her senior year of high school and needs to save money for college.
Two teens working Friday afternoon at Spoon & Sip, which sells healthy treats like smoothies and acai bowls, had different takes on the new law.
"I work two jobs, I'm already working those type of hours," said Gianna Matlack, 17, of Ocean City. "It's so worth it. The years I have worked I have saved so much money."
But 15-year-old Ange Petracci, who will be 16 in a couple of weeks, said she is not looking to work so many hours.
"If somebody really needs the money it makes sense," Petracci said. "I'm personally not in that financial situation."
"We're thrilled the governor recognized (teens) are valuable to the workforce," Gillian said. "We lobbied along with the New Jersey Coalition of Businesses to make sure things like this go forward. It's a sensible way to help with the employment crisis at the shore." | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/older-teens-can-now-work-50-hours-a-week-but-will-they/article_7bd753d0-fd38-11ec-a44c-7bcd28f04b14.html | 2022-07-08T22:21:25 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/older-teens-can-now-work-50-hours-a-week-but-will-they/article_7bd753d0-fd38-11ec-a44c-7bcd28f04b14.html |
HIGH POINT — A 26-year-old Greensboro woman is in critical but stable condition after being thrown from a vehicle driven by another woman, High Point police said in a news release.
Dispatchers reported receiving a call at 11:34 p.m. Thursday from a female caller who would only tell them someone had fallen out of a vehicle and needed help in the 1200 block of Tarrant Road.
When officers arrived, they found a female victim in the road who was suffering from serious injuries to her head and upper body.
Investigators determined the driver of the car, 30-year-old Nikiya Banks Gray of High Point, and the victim were dating, police said in the news release. Before the 911 call, police said the women were actively involved in a domestic disturbance at an unknown location.
During the disturbance, Gray was sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with the other woman standing in the driver’s door jamb. Police said Gray put the vehicle into reverse and began to back up. That's when the woman who was standing in the door jamb jumped onto the side of the car.
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Gray continued to drive until she reached Tarrant Road with the woman still hanging on to the outside of the vehicle. While on Tarrant Road, the woman was thrown from the vehicle, which resulted in her injuries, police said.
Police said Gray remained on scene and called 911 to say someone had fallen out of a vehicle and needed help.
The High Point Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit and Traffic Unit worked together once officers determined it was a domestic-related case.
During the initial investigation, police said Gray was charged with driving while impaired and held on a $100,000 secured bond.
Later in the investigation, the Special Victim’s Unit obtained warrants against Gray on charges of assault inflicting serious bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, inflicting serious bodily injury. For these charges, Gray is in jail on a domestic hold, police said in the news release.
The victim underwent surgery for her injuries, police said.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers of High Point at 336-889-4000, or send tips via the P3Tips mobile app for IOS or Android. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/high-point-police-greensboro-woman-in-critical-condition-after-being-thrown-from-vehicle-in-domestic/article_37b9f382-fef6-11ec-9b25-9f55ba364ff1.html | 2022-07-08T22:27:50 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/high-point-police-greensboro-woman-in-critical-condition-after-being-thrown-from-vehicle-in-domestic/article_37b9f382-fef6-11ec-9b25-9f55ba364ff1.html |
GREENSBORO — Former County Commissioner Alan Branson is getting more time than he expected to consider whether to take his Guilford school bond referendum election protest to Superior Court and to raise money for the effort.
In the meantime, the certification of the results of the 2022 school bond referendum is still on pause, and so are some next steps for the county and schools to get going on early stages for their planned projects.
In May, voters approved $1.7 billion in school construction bonds that county leaders said would pave the way for a massive overhaul of buildings that would improve learning conditions for students.
Election officials have not yet certified those results because of a pending election protest from Branson, who also is a current candidate for an at-large seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Branson argues that public funds were illegally used by the county to campaign for the bond and wants the referendum put before voters a second time.
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County and school leaders have defended their efforts as appropriate voter education.
Branson first took his post-election protest before the Guilford County Board of Elections. That board, voting 3-2 along party lines, decided there was no probable cause to hold a hearing based on Branson’s protest. On June 30, the state elections board heard Branson's appeal of that decision.
In another 3-2 party-line vote, Democrats supported dismissal and Republicans voted against dismissing. The Democrats on the state board who later spoke about the vote said their choice to dismiss stemmed from finding it improbable that the bond issue would have failed without the alleged illegal activities by the county governments.
Voters approved the bonds by a margin of about 16,000 votes, with around 61% of votes cast for the bonds and about 39% against.
Branson had expected to receive a letter on June 30 from the state elections board officially sharing its decision, which would then kick off a 10-day period in which he could file an appeal. Instead, Branson said, he believes his lawyers received the letter a week later, on Thursday, so that 10-day appeal window has now started.
Branson said he and his lawyers are pulling together paperwork and proceeding as if they will file. He said he still needs more money to do so, but is feeling hopeful about raising it, based on the many people he said he knows with questions and concerns about how the school bond referendum was promoted.
He said he is also calling for legislation to be passed that would require bond referendums to be placed on general election ballots, where many more voters participate, as opposed to primary ballots, as happened this year. He said trying to raise attention and support for that cause is now a major motivating factor for continuing his efforts with the appeal. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/certification-of-guilford-school-bond-referendum-still-stalled-as-branson-gets-more-time-to-consider/article_9c0d243e-fede-11ec-842c-9b80a8a91f92.html | 2022-07-08T22:27:56 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/certification-of-guilford-school-bond-referendum-still-stalled-as-branson-gets-more-time-to-consider/article_9c0d243e-fede-11ec-842c-9b80a8a91f92.html |
DALLAS (KDAF) — North Texas has been a hot spot for people across the nation looking to find an affordable metro to move to, including many families.
If you are looking to move to North Texas and you want to bring your family, here are some suggestions from ExtraSpace Storage. They did a report saying which cities are the best neighborhoods & suburbs in Dallas for Families.
As stated on their website, “With warm weather and affordable real estate, Dallas is a city full of opportunities and a great place to raise a family. Whether you’re relocating to Dallas or simply moving across town, you’ll need to find a neighborhood that suits your needs. Check out our list of the five best neighborhoods in Dallas for families!”
- Bishop Arts District
- Deep Ellum
- Lake Highlands
- Lakewood
- Preston Hollow
For the full report, visit ExtraSpace Storage. | https://cw33.com/news/local/report-says-these-are-the-best-neighborhoods-in-dallas-for-families/ | 2022-07-08T22:36:04 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/report-says-these-are-the-best-neighborhoods-in-dallas-for-families/ |
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