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On the verge of the Tuesday special primary, Ohio counties say they have enough poll workers to handle what is expected to be a very low-turnout election.
But the definition of “enough” has changed as Election Day approaches. On July 26, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office sent out a tally of every county’s required minimum, how many poll workers they wanted, and how many had actually signed up.
The state’s 88 counties needed a minimum of 24,522 poll workers, and 72 had reached that, for a statewide total of 28,356, the report said. But only 42 counties had met the recommended number, 115% of the minimum. The only Miami Valley county to do so was Butler, LaRose’s report said.
In most cases the Secretary of State’s reported totals for poll workers don’t quite match. That’s because LaRose’s count is based on reports from county boards of election last Friday, July 22, but the number of people actually available is constantly changing, according to election officials.
“They’re not wrong, we’re not wrong,” said Rob Nichols, spokesperson for LaRose.
The state set sets each county’s target for poll worker recruitment, including a reserve; but counties are steadily reducing their needed minimums by consolidating polling locations and predicting low turnout, he said.
On the ballot will be partisan primaries for state House and Senate sets, though many of those are uncontested; seats on the Democratic and Republican parties’ state central committees; and in some places local issues such as tax levies.
The primary for state House, Senate, and party central committees was to have been May 3, but moved to Aug. 2 due to the 10-month legal wrangle over district maps. A few counties already have local-option votes scheduled for Aug. 2, but holding an extra statewide vote required massive effort and expense. One of the biggest problems was guaranteeing enough poll workers. Both major parties must be represented at each precinct, even if voter turnout is minimal.
On Wednesday, LaRose’s office announced that in requests for absentee ballots Democrats had outpaced Republicans 47,829 to 35,059. That disparity held in absentee ballots returned thus far – 39,413 Democratic to 27,805 Republican – and early in-person votes with 14,514 Democratic and 12,065 Republican.
Early in-person voting ends at 2 p.m. Monday, and mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday to be counted.
County election officials said they’re also preparing for the Nov. 8 general election, and are still recruiting poll workers for that. They’ll need more for November since turnout is expected to be heavier, with all statewide offices on the ballot.
Election officials urge people to volunteer as poll workers for November and in future elections. Poll workers are paid for their time. People can sign up by calling their county board of elections office, going to county elections websites, or at VoteOhio.gov/DefendDemocracy.
Montgomery County
The state’s July 22 total says Montgomery County had 757 poll workers ready, but by Wednesday that had climbed to 800, according to Sarah Greathouse, deputy director, Montgomery County Board of Elections.
The statewide goal for poll worker recruiting is 115% of the legal minimum needed, to account for last-minute absences, Greathouse said. Those call-offs always happen in the last 10 days before an election, she said.
As of Wednesday, Montgomery County had seen fewer than 700 in-person early votes, and mailed out fewer than 3,000 absentee ballots, Greathouse said.
That’s low for a county-wide election, probably because the only contested races are party central committee seats, she said.
State law lets boards of elections cut the number of poll workers based on expected turnout – but only in some elections, Greathouse said.
“This is not an option in general elections where turnout is generally much higher,” she said.
All Montgomery County polling locations serve multiple precincts, so the board was able to reduce the number of workers needed in each location, Greathouse said.
“We have used this August poll worker recruitment season to do outreach for November and have so far seen positive results,” Greathouse said.
Greathouse praised the staffers who recruit poll workers. Their jobs require reaching to perhaps 1,000 people to find 800 that are available to work, she said.
“You just can’t say nice enough things about those people,” Greathouse said.
Butler County
The state’s numbers did exactly match the totals that the Butler County Board of Elections still had Thursday: a minimum o 609 poll workers, a goal of 700, and an actual total of 867 trained and ready to work, according to Deputy Director Eric Corbin.
“We have had about 1,100 people vote early in-person and just over 2,000 vote by mail,” Corbin said. “We expect turnout to be less than 10%.”
There are only two issues on Butler County ballots, Corbin said.
Warren County
Warren County needed a minimum of 450 poll workers, according to the state; but that number has been cut due to “super low turnout,” said Brian Sleeth, Warren County Board of Elections director and president of the Ohio Association of Election Officials.
Of the county’s 170,000 registered voters, only 2,600 had voted by mid-week, whether in person or by mail, he said. That includes votes from nursing homes.
“I think Election Day, overall we’ll probably be at 8 to 10 percent (turnout),” Sleeth said.
The county does still need a few more Democratic poll workers, but otherwise has met its goals, he said.
“We recruit all the way up to the day before the electron sometimes,” Sleeth said.
Greene County
Greene County needed a minimum of 300 poll workers and only 265 signed up, the state said July 22. But four days later the Greene County Board of Elections voted to cut that minimum to 230, meaning the county had enough.
Director Alisha Lampert and Deputy Director Llyn McCoy predicted that Greene County will only have about 12% voter turnout for the Aug. 2 primary, with only one local issue on the ballot in Xenia.
Miami County
Miami County needed 180 poll workers: 174 to work specific precincts and six “rovers” to go where they’re needed, said Laura Bruns, Miami County Board of Elections director. They actually have 200, but would like to have 214, she said.
The state’s announced numbers for poll workers came from a survey every county board of elections sent on the previous Friday, Bruns said.
“The number changes daily with additions and call-offs,” she said. “Thankfully, we haven’t had many call-offs. We did reduce the number of workers from the usual four per precinct due to the expected low turnout.”
It will take at least 350 people to work the Nov. 8 election in Miami County, Bruns said. Most of the county’s poll workers are very dedicated, returning election after election; but her office is still recruiting for the fall, she said.
Darke County
In Darke County the May 3 primary included a sheriff’s race, which drew a lot of attention, but the Aug. 2 vote has so far drawn low numbers even for an off-year primary, said Paul Schlecty, Darke County Board of Elections director. He’s hoping things pick up in the last few days of early voting.
“We do not have anything special on the ballot, it’s only the state candidates,” he said.
Previously Darke county had a minimum of 172 poll workers: four each in 43 precincts, Schlecty said. But low early turnout convinced the county board of elections to cut back to a minimum of 142, with a goal of 163, by eliminating some workers in precincts that shared polling locations, he said.
On July 22, Darke County had 159 workers signed up, according to the state. Schlecty said they could still use some more Democratic workers.
“Recruiting poll workers is a complex thing, because certain poll workers will only work at certain polling locations, and some have conflicts of interest like having relatives on the ballot,” he said. “It’s always a balancing act.”
Schlecty said Darke County has many poll workers who serve every election – but, not expecting one in August, had scheduled vacations. They’re likely to be back for the November general election, he said.
Preble County
The state’s figures on July 22 said Preble County needed a minimum of 107 poll workers, had a goal of 123, and had 122 actually signed up. By mid-week that was up to 123 confirmed, said Lisa Boggs, Preble County Board of Elections director.
“We’re very fortunate. We have a number of people who always commit to working polls,” she said. “We’re just holding our breath in case we have people saying ‘I’ve been exposed to COVID, I’m waiting for my test.’”
Early in-person turnout so far is low, Boggs said.
“I would say we’re down from where we usually are, but then this is sort of a one-off election,” Boggs said.
There is some local confusion about what’s on the ballot, but in Preble County only state House, Senate, and party central committee seats will be voted on, she said.
Tuesday’s races
Here are the contested primary elections in the Miami Valley on the Aug. 2 ballot:
House District 46 (Northeastern Butler County, including Monroe and Middletown)
Republican primary
- Thomas Hall (Incumbent)
- Matt King
House District 47 (Central and northwest Butler County including Hamilton and Oxford
Republican primary
- Sara Carruthers (Incumbent)
- Cody Harper
House District 55 (Eastern and northern Warren County, including Springboro)
Republican primary
- Thomas Goodwin
- Scott Lipps (Incumbent)
House District 56 (Central and southwest Warren County, including Lebanon and Mason)
Democratic primary
- Joy Bennett
- Sam Cao
Republican primary
- Kathy Grossmann
- Adam Mathews
House District 70 (Western Greene County, including Beavercreek)
Republican primary
- Brian Lampton (Incumbent)
- Katherine Shutte
House District 85 (Champaign, Shelby and part of Logan counties)
Republican primary
- Lilli Johnson Vitale
- Tim Barhorst
- Rochiel Foulk
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/numbers-change-but-polls-should-have-enough-workers-for-tuesday-vote/PNB6E6DBUFGSZF7SKSU5QGOUF4/ | 2022-07-31T08:45:58 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/numbers-change-but-polls-should-have-enough-workers-for-tuesday-vote/PNB6E6DBUFGSZF7SKSU5QGOUF4/ |
Ohio’s sales tax holiday on school supplies, instructional material and clothes is just around the corner at a time when inflation concerns are causing families to closely watch their spending.
This year’s installment starts at 12 a.m. Friday and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 7. Exempt from sales and use tax during the holiday are clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies priced at $20 or less and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.
With rising inflation continuing to takes its toll, 38% of respondents said they are cutting back in other spending to cover the cost of items for the upcoming school year, according to an annual survey released this month by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Officials said that makes the tax holiday even more important this year.
Consumers expect to spend record amounts on both K-12 and college supplies because of higher prices, according to the survey.
Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $864 on school items, up from $849 in 2021, according to the survey. Total back-to-school spending is expected to reach a record $36.9 billion, up from $37.1 billion last year and an all-time high in the survey’s history.
The survey also found college students and their families plan to spend an average of $1,199, which was in line with what they said they would spend last year. Total back-to-college spending is expected to reach a record $73.9 billion, up from $71 billion in 2021.
Shoppers are covering the cost of back-to-school and college this year by cutting back in other areas (38%), working overtime or taking on additional hours (18%), using buy now, pay later (17%), taking out additional credit cards (14%) and borrowing money or going into debt (12%).
Some shoppers were out before the tax holiday. Natalie Folino of Clearcreek Twp. shopped at the Walmart in Sugarcreek Twp. in Thursday with her three daughters, ages 9, 7 and 6, to pick up school supplies for the upcoming school year at Waynesville schools ahead of the tax holiday weekend.
“I guess if you plan to get your back to school shopping done during that time, that would be a really good savings,” Folino said. “We ended up spending quite a bit today, so I’m sure that would have helped.
“Right now, I think things are definitely more expensive and an opportunity like that would be a big help, especially if you’re shopping for multiple kids for back to school.”
But Kate Mossop, of Beavercreek, who went shopping at Walmart on Thursday with her 7-year-old daughter, said she avoids shopping the tax holiday weekend
“Honestly, I feel like you don’t really save that much and I don’t really like having to reach over people and be in the crowds to have to save a couple of bucks,” Mossop said. “For me, it’s not worth the stress. I like to go early to have that peace of mind that that’s already checked off my list.”
Mossop said shopping before the tax holiday weekend also helps her more easily find items that might sell out as a result of larger crowds that the tax holiday may generate.
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
The annual sales tax holiday weekend started in 2015 and was made permanent in 2018 by the Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio Department of Taxation answers questions on its website, tax.ohio.gov, according to Gary Gudmundson, spokesman for the department.
“For instance ... there’s this $75 limit on clothing,” Gudmundsn said. “Let’s say you find something that costs $80. Do I get $75 exempt from tax on that? No. It has to be $75 or less.”
Gudmundson said products sold by internet, email, postal mail and phone also qualify.
Items used in a trade or business deal are not exempt under the sales tax holiday. Also not eligible are items like clothing accessories; patches and protective equipment; sewing or knitting materials; sports equipment; and belt buckles, costume masks, patches and emblems sold separately.
Lora Miller, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants’ director of governmental affairs and public relations, said consumers benefit from the tax holiday weekend because “in this kind of (economic) environment ... every penny counts.”
“Consumers are so price-sensitive, more so now than in past years,” Miller said. “It makes them feel better to save money, especially when it comes to taxes.”
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
It also will help Ohio businesses, which will put needed items that are not subject to the tax holiday up for sale, she said
Deals like that, along with the tax holiday on school supplies and clothing, draw shoppers from areas that don’t have such a respite from taxes, including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia, Miller said. Pennsylvania doesn’t have a sales tax holiday, but it also doesn’t have a sales tax on clothing, she said.
The increase in commercial activity caused by the tax holiday helps offset losses from the temporary lack of taxes, Miller said.
“It’s really a win across the board for consumers, retailers and the state of Ohio,” she said.
Jamie Gleason of Kettering went shopping with her 9-year-old and 8-year-old daughters at the Sugarcreek Twp. Walmart on Thursday morning for mostly school supplies with some clothing purchased. She said she has not shopped during the tax holiday weekend and the possible crowds would keep her away this year.
“It’s nice to have a little break with the cash, but it’s a lot of shoppers in the store, so I kind of veer away from the busy hours,” Gleason said. “I’ve worked on the tax (holiday) weekend and the amount of people that I dealt with ... is overwhelming, so I tend to stay away.”
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Roger Geiger, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said the group has supported the tax holiday since its inception. He said it’s a chance for people to support local businesses still trying to recover from a series of economic setbacks starting with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all know that families plan for the next school year, everybody’s got to buy some school supplies, everybody likes to buy a new outfit for school and teachers are buying their school classroom supplies,” Geiger said. “Our pitch is don’t just think of the big box retail stores. Think about the small retailer that’s in your community. They can also offer the same tax holiday.”
The stores at The Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek benefit from the tax holiday, according to Leanne Rubosky. She said the tax holiday also benefits shoppers by helping to extend their back to school dollars.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, shoppers at The Mall at Fairfield Commons may stop by Center Court to receive a list of participating retailers that will be distributing free school supplies. Guests can also visit the Silly School Pictures photo booth and face painting and enter to win many back-to-school giveaways.
“Families who shop at the Center will have a vast array of stores to choose from ranging from clothing to back to school supplies and more,” she said. “Guests can also take a break from shopping and dine at our many food eateries.”
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Back to school coverage
This story kicks off a series of important reports about the return to school this year.
The topics our reports are digging into include: The latest on school safety issues, how schools are dealing with staff shortages, what districts are doing with COVID-19 relief funds and concerns about the mental health of students.
This coverage is part of our commitment to using our local reporting team to provide information the most important issues facing our region and what their status is locally.
School start dates
Aug. 10: Warren County Career Center, DECA.
Aug. 11: Miami Valley Career Tech Center.
Aug. 15: Beavercreek grades 1-12 last names A-L, North Dayton School of Discovery, Spring Valley Academy, Trotwood-Madison.
Aug. 16: Beavercreek grades 1-12 last names M-Z, Dayton Public Schools, Franklin, Greene County Career Center, Jefferson Township, Miamisburg, Springboro, Wayne Local.
Aug. 17: Alter HS freshmen, Brookville, Carlisle, Cedar Cliff, Centerville, Dayton Regional STEM School, Eaton, Emerson Academy, Greeneview, Incarnation, Lebanon, New Lebanon, Northmont grades 3-7 and 9, Oakwood, Pathway School of Discovery, Preble Shawnee, St. Peter, St. Charles, Tecumseh, Tri-County North, Twin Valley, Xenia grades 1-6.
Aug. 18: Alter HS all grades, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, Chaminade Julienne, Kettering, National Trail, Northmont grades 8 and 10-12, Northridge, Vandalia-Butler, Xenia grades 7-8, 10, Yellow Springs.
Aug. 19: Northmont grade 2, Xenia grade 11-12.
Aug. 22: Huber Heights, Northmont grade 1.
Aug. 23: Covington, Newton, St. Luke.
Aug. 24: Bethel, Miami East, Milton-Union, Troy, West Carrollton.
Aug. 25: Tipp City, St. Helen, Troy Christian.
Sept. 6: Fairborn, Mad River, Piqua, Valley View.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohios-sales-tax-holiday-arrives-next-weekend-heres-what-you-should-know/W4WFCU42Z5G4ZOBVHS3TZ3FGYE/ | 2022-07-31T08:46:04 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohios-sales-tax-holiday-arrives-next-weekend-heres-what-you-should-know/W4WFCU42Z5G4ZOBVHS3TZ3FGYE/ |
CALDWELL — In 2017, Nampa resident Leslie Van Beek filed to run for Canyon County commissioner, and was seeking a campaign treasurer. She soon connected with ElJay Waite, the former financial director for the city of Caldwell.
“He has served my campaign well,” Van Beek said in a written statement to the Idaho Press.“The only stipulation he had was that I appoint God as my campaign manager. It has been a great working partnership ever since.”
But recently, some Canyon County elected officials were surprised to learn that Van Beek and Waite had continued to communicate extensively even after she took office. Dozens of emails between Van Beek and Waite surfaced during a public records request searching for communication between the two of them.
The emails include many forwards from Van Beek to Waite, and include Van Beek seeking edits on questions or statements she would make to other elected officials and asking for Waite’s opinion about budget items and appropriate employee compensation increases.
The public records request obtained by the Idaho Press for emails between the two totals 410 pages and goes back to 2020. Van Beek was first elected in 2018.
After reviewing the emails, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue said in an emailed statement, “It was surprising and somewhat disturbing to see the sheer volume of emails between Commissioner Van Beek and Eljay (sic) Waite, who she commonly referred to as ‘boss’ in her emails. Most concerning to me is that the emails appear to give the impression that (Waite) isn’t just acting as an advisor to (Van Beek), but instead as a shadow commissioner telling her what to say, what questions to ask, and even how to vote on certain issues.”
Van Beek said that she often communicates with a group of informal advisors, and that her communications with Waite were focused on “how to lower property taxes, evaluate historical salary trends, identify revenue sources to fund capital improvement projects, as well as information related to budgets and levies.”
“We share a common goal of good government and fiscal responsibility with a high level of transparency to the taxpayer,” she said in the statement.
In a phone interview, Waite said, “(Van Beek) has never asked me for what she should do. She’s always said, ‘I have a question, and I’d like to know your position on it.’”
News of the emails is the latest development in a string of conflicts in the county, which include a lawsuit accusing certain elected officials of violating a severance agreement, and a letter signed by eight of the nine Canyon County elected officials expressing no confidence in Van Beek and asking her to resign. Subsequently, Commissioner Keri Smith and Commissioner Pam White were not reelected to their positions. Van Beek was not up for election this year.
THE EMAILS
One broad category of emails is Van Beek’s forwarding of information or communications she has received to Waite.
On Sept. 14, 2021, Van Beek forwarded an email from Commissioner Keri Smith that appears to discuss a proposed resolution to update the employee compensation plan.
Waite responded, calling the proposed raise in pay “unbelievable,” and questioning a proposed 7.5% cost-of-living increase for the human resources director.
“Try to get 7.5% down to 6.1,” he said. “But don’t vote for it in any case. I’m available if you want to call.”
In another instance, Van Beek forwarded Waite a copy of audited financial statements for Caldwell’s urban renewal district.
“FYI if you are interested...or maybe you already have them ;),” she said.
Waite replied, “Thanks. I serve on the Caldwell audit committee but do not get copies of the final reports.”
In November 2021, Sheriff Kieran Donahue wrote an op-ed in the Idaho Statesman saying he was not informed about plans by Van Beek and Smith to create a new urban renewal district to fund a new county jail. In early December, Van Beek appears to have forwarded the article to Waite.
Waite replied, “It is obvious the sheriff does not know enough about urban renewal or what it does to make any kind of statement on the matter.” After sharing a paragraph of thoughts, Waite said, “I hope these comments help with your interview tomorrow.”
On Dec. 8, Van Beek forwarded Waite a link to her appearance on KBOI, a local radio station.
Another broad category of emails entails Van Beek emailing Waite to ask for editing on the wording of emails she would be sending to other county staff and officials.
“How do I ask if an expenditure for a vehicle or an IT upgrade can wait?” Van Beek wrote to Waite on July 1, 2020, sharing an email draft she planned to share with several county departments.
“I think you ask each department head which expenditures can be deferred to a future year,” Waite replied. “Let them decide and make it known.”
In another email, later that summer, Van Beek provided a list of six reasons she voted no on the fiscal year 2021 tentative budget, and Waite replied with highlighted edits.
OFFICIALS REACT TO EMAILS
On June 8, 2022, shortly after the city of Middleton declared a building moratorium, Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Taylor said that the city’s mayor had acted on “erroneous information” provided to him “by Commissioner Van Beek in particular.” He proposed that the elected officials start regularly keeping track of questions that arise from Van Beek’s actions. Van Beek is included on the email.
In one section of the list that appears to center on decision making on compensation, Taylor brought up Van Beek’s communications with Waite, saying, “I am aware of public records … that suggest you have contemplated, with non-County personnel, advocating for changes in budget or approach that you had no intention of actually executing.”
Donahue replied to Taylor’s email, saying the emails between Van Beek and Waite were “beyond comprehension … of what she has been doing and the amount of information she is sharing with Eljay (sic) Waite, in addition to his instructions to her on how to cast votes in the (Board of County Commissioners), etc.”
“Completely deplorable,” Donahue said. “We should all be outraged.”
Smith told the Idaho Press in an emailed statement that she was aware of the relationship between Van Beek and Waite when she, Smith, ran for office in 2020, saying Waite was, “clearly leading (Van Beek’s) campaign and a lot of the information she was sharing came directly from him in the beginning.”
Smith said she felt Van Beek became biased against Clerk Chris Yamamoto because Waite did not get along well with Yamamoto or other elected officials.
“I would go as far as saying that Waite’s bias toward Clerk Yamamoto was what started Commissioner Van Beek’s mistrust of the County and began the start of the turmoil that revolves around the County Budget, Commissioner Van Beek and the Clerk’s office,” Smith said.
Yamamoto, for his part, told the Idaho Press in an emailed statement, “It is obvious to me that Commissioner Van Beek has little understanding of County finance and budgeting, and relies solely on direction from (Waite).”
Yamamoto also noted that Van Beek’s typical procedure is to ask for lots of information on financial matters “which typically feature repeated requests for more and more time to review and ask questions beyond the point of due diligence or reasonableness.”
“I guess that’s because she’s buying time to talk to (Waite), but when it came to Waite’s Urban Renewal plan, she was already clear on her marching orders,” he said, noting Van Beek pushed for “an expedited yes vote when there were obvious flaws to the plan.”
But Van Beek sees things differently. She says she, Waite, and others she consults have the taxpayers’ best interests in mind.
“Meanwhile, an ‘inner cabal’ made up of the prosecutor, the sheriff and the clerk, has successfully strong-armed and demoralized both elected officials and employees for nigh next to two decades,” Van Beek said in her written statement.
“This posture of poor governance has kept Canyon County gridlocked in a political power play marked by high turnover, interrogation tactics and eradication of those who do not bow to their personal agendas and political ideologies,” Van Beek said. “The Cabal’s regime, led by the Prosecutor, who bemoans the difficulty of retaining employees and says he is woefully behind in his work, finds enough time to pursue a witch hunt against me which he stated months ago was in excess of $50,000 in hard costs to the taxpayer. His insidious and toxic pursuit of a fellow elected, female commissioner has returned nothing; it is a relentless and costly pursuit to save face.”
Taylor, the county prosecutor, declined to comment on this story.
Waite said the work Van Beek is doing and the reaction she is getting from other elected officials is noteworthy. There has been “nothing substantial” to come from the no-confidence letter, and the officials are “still grasping for straws.”
“Why would they do that to her?” he said. “I think it’s because she’s a great commissioner and she’s doing the job she should be doing, she’s asking the questions that nobody’s been asking before that need to change.” | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/shadow-commissioner-emails-reveal-tension-over-idaho-commissioners-non-elected-advisor/article_ca4f83ac-1486-570d-8d54-340a4307f0cd.html | 2022-07-31T09:01:35 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/shadow-commissioner-emails-reveal-tension-over-idaho-commissioners-non-elected-advisor/article_ca4f83ac-1486-570d-8d54-340a4307f0cd.html |
Michael Hicks: Trying to measure the effect of abortion bans on our economy
The start of Indiana’s special legislative session has caused a number of folks to ask me about the economic impact of restrictive abortion rules. The plain answer is that I don’t know, and cannot really know with the type of certainty I feel comfortable with. The nation has been under one reasonably common set of rules for half a century. Thus, we are just beginning the type of natural policy experiment an economist might use to estimate impacts.
That does not mean we cannot use other policies that might influence the migration of people and jobs as a proxy for how changes to what abortion laws might influence our state’s economy. But, before evaluating the issue, it is important to acknowledge that there are a wide variety of truly principled positions on abortion. One valuable duty of citizenship in our Republic is to respect principled positions and those who hold them.
That does not mean all positions are principled or that many folks will fail to consider competing views in ways that are consistent with the U.S. Constitution. The plain fact is that we’ve been through a half century of cheap rhetoric about abortion. The bill is now due, and I expect it is going to be very steep.
The best study I’ve seen that might inform us about the effects of restrictive abortion laws comes from two economists at Kent State and the University of Akron. Curtis Lockwood Reynolds and Amanda Weinstein estimated gender differences in quality of life preferences in U.S. cities. They used individual data for single, childless adults. They found, that for the most part, men and women like the same things.
Where men and women differed was in their interest in the quality of local government, primarily schools and crime. Men also like some types of recreation more than women. The authors were surprised by one outlier city that men liked and women did not. This small town in Alabama was where Lilly Ledbetter (of the “Fair Pay Act”) lived and worked and was discriminated against.
Their careful data analysis led the authors to study the effect of gender norms on the location decisions of men and women. This is where the study went from “great” to “groundbreaking.” They used all sorts of measures of gender norms, such as the male/female employment ratio, the year of election of the first woman legislator and survey data on gender roles.
Across these measures, both men and women preferred places where gender roles were more equal. But women really, really preferred these places. This is relevant to the economic effects of abortion because, for the past few decades, the places women prefer have grown much faster than the places men prefer. As a happily married man, I fully understand this dynamic. However, this study was on the preferences of single people.
The study offered solid evidence that places with more equal gender norms grew faster than places that were less equal. The growth gap was about 25% over two decades, which is an enormous difference. Their findings also make sense because there is a large body of related research that finds places with less racial or ethnic discrimination grow more quickly.
More from Michael HicksWhy are rich places growing and poor places in decline?
That fact also challenges any good analysis of the effect of abortion restrictions on a state economy. The reason for this is that the states that are most likely to impose severe abortion restrictions are already significantly underperforming the rest of the nation.
As of this writing, there are 21 states that preemptively banned abortion in case Roe v. Wade was overturned. Three of these states have bans that go into effect after a short waiting period; the remaining 18 were immediate. Four of these states have bans that are currently blocked by courts. It is useful to compare the economic conditions in the states where bans were passed before Roe v. Wade was overturned with those who did not. The results are pretty stark.
In terms of current economic conditions, places with abortion bans in place have a poverty rate of 14% compared to 11.2% in non-ban states. Household income in the abortion ban states averages $75,892 per year, while it is $90,828 in the non-ban states. Both household and per capita incomes in the abortion ban states are 19.6% lower than in the states without a ban.
Future economic prospects in those states with an abortion ban are even worse than current conditions. The high school graduation rate is almost two percentage points lower in the ban, than the non-ban states. That is a meaningful difference, but not insurmountable. However, the share of adults with a college degree is a whopping 6.6% lower in the states with a pre-emptive ban than those without. That is a multi-generational gap.
The states with pre-emptive abortion bans spend 31% less per student in their K-12 system, and 20% less per college student. Finally, population growth in the states with preemptive abortion bans is 26% lower than in states without a ban.
Obviously, preemptive abortion restrictions didn’t cause longstanding differences in economic outcomes between states. Some other factor is limiting economic growth and prosperity in these states. Teasing out the incremental effect of an abortion ban will be nearly impossible given that the states who imposed abortion bans are already underperforming the rest of the nation on nearly every facet of economic vibrancy.
There are many potential hypotheses about the cause of these economic differences. Some of it is random. Wisconsin’s law dates to the 1840s, and was probably known to few residents before last month. In other places, dominant religious groups clearly play a role. Maybe it will take a few years and a couple of election cycles to reveal the real pattern of state abortion laws. What we see right now is vastly different from what we’ll see in a few years.
Whatever happens with this legislation, we are clearly in a time that calls for reflection. The role of government in abortion marks only one part of our need to do some deep thinking about the state’s future.
Note: A discussion of the study "Gender differences in quality of life and preferences for location-specific amenities across cities" (Reynolds & Weinstein, 2022) can be found via Ball State PBS: https://youtu.be/GyGzR-jmz_0 and via Dr. Hicks' Substack: https://michaeljhicks.substack.com/p/gender-differences-in-quality-of .
Michael J. Hicks is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/07/31/michael-hicks-trying-to-measure-the-effect-of-abortion-bans-on-economy/65381772007/ | 2022-07-31T09:05:57 | 1 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/07/31/michael-hicks-trying-to-measure-the-effect-of-abortion-bans-on-economy/65381772007/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. — On Saturday night, Portland witnessed several thousand people pedaling through the streets of town -- without clothing.
For the people on the 2022 World Naked Bike Ride, Saturday was a return to normal.
The event kicked off after 9 p.m. It's framed as a protest of oil dependency, while also calling attention to cyclist vulnerability. Organizer Evan Ross said in the past, 10,000 people have showed up to ride through Portland in the nude.
"Our goal has never been to make the ride as big as it can be, but more to promote the message," he said, "On a day like this when we’re experiencing a heatwave, it's a perfect day to protest oil dependency because we think that the combustion of fossil fuels is ... making our weather hotter.
"Other messages of the ride are anti-body shaming ... Everybody is welcome here and nobody should be sexualizing anybody or putting anybody down because of their body."
Christian Studebaker told KGW this is his fifth time at the ride.
"It's a lot of fun," he said, "I ride my bike around to school and to work, wherever I can really, so it’s a really good opportunity to come out and show with force how many people in Portland are ... more pro-commuter, pro-green life."
"I find that the camaraderie and the communal spirit is really powerful," said rider Nathaniel "Rabbit" Atterbury. "A lot of us have a message that we carry with us, and seeing that there’s a lot of people around us that speak with that same voice - it’s really empowering." | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/thousands-portland-world-naked-bike-ride/283-fdd16bc4-08fa-4203-81ad-e6c0494499f8 | 2022-07-31T09:34:37 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/thousands-portland-world-naked-bike-ride/283-fdd16bc4-08fa-4203-81ad-e6c0494499f8 |
ORLANDO, Fla – The Orlando Police Department is searching for the person they say shot into a crowd, injuring at least seven people early Sunday morning.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said at 2:22 a.m., a large fight broke out on South Orange and Wall Street. During the fight, a person pulled out a handgun and began firing into the crowd, Smith said.
Seven people were hurt in the gunfire, according to OPD.
Originally, OPD reported six people injured by the gunfire, however, another victim was reported after they transported themselves to AdventHealth.
Smith said the shooter is still at large, and their identity remains unknown.
“We’re still in the preliminary stage of this investigation,” he said, “we need the community’s help on this, so please reach out if you have any information.”
The sounds of gunshots were captured on a YouTube livestream near Wall Street. In the video, people could be seen running shortly after shots were fired.
The video went on to show at least two people lying on the ground, as well as officers securing the scene.
When asked about the video, Smith said he had not seen it.
“I am not aware of this at this time,” he said, “if you have any videos like that, please reach out to us.”
If you have any information, you’re asked to contact OPD through 911 or call Crimeline at **8847. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/31/7-injured-in-downtown-orlando-shooting-shooter-still-at-large-police-say/ | 2022-07-31T10:00:45 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/31/7-injured-in-downtown-orlando-shooting-shooter-still-at-large-police-say/ |
Cumberland felt like champions before Saturday's game was played. Paxton Chenevert made sure they felt the same way afterward.
NORTH PROVIDENCE – Confidence was never an issue.
Even after losing the first game of the Rhode Island Little League State Tournament, Cumberland never felt like it wasn’t going to win the title.
After ousting Johnston, then coming back to eliminate North Kingstown/Wickford, then beating Portsmouth on Friday to make Saturday’s if necessary game very necessary, Cumberland’s confidence only grew – and it showed.
Cumberland’s bats did all their damage in the first two innings and it was enough for Paxton Chenevert. The hard-throwing right-hander debuted a new pitch that served him well, helping get Chenevert cruise through five innings before Portsmouth came back in the sixth. Still confident, even with the tying run on base, Chenevert closed out the game in style, striking out the final batter to seal the 4-3 win and punch Cumberland’s ticket to Bristol, Conn. for the regional tournament.
“We knew we had this. We just didn’t want to let up,” said Cumberland catcher Dylan Slack. “We went right to it and got the win.”
“We thought we could win,” Chenevert said. “We thought we did and we kept thinking we would and it came true.”
Chenevert was electric on Saturday and kept Portsmouth’s sluggers off balance, pairing a fastball that was heard more than seen and a curveball that buckled knees and painted corners. Chenevert also mixed in a quick-pitch fastball, throwing it before Portsmouth’s hitters had a chance to settle themselves in the box.
The pitch was something Chenevert worked on with assistant coach Ken Cardoso during pregame. It clearly helped, as Chenevert gave up one run on two hits in the first five innings and finished the game with nine strikeouts.
“When the batter steps in, you automatically pitch it so they’re not ready,” Chenevert said. “The first couple did it; once I got the umpire and it didn’t count, but other than that I was doing good.”
“Quick pitching was tough,” Portsmouth’s Tyler Boiani said. “But if both your feet are in the box, you can hit.”
Spotted a four-run lead after two innings and looking completely in control up 4-1, Chenevert gave up a sixth-inning single to Portsmouth’s Ryan Campion, then got turned around when Boiani hit a bomb to right field to cut the deficit to one.
“I was just trying to make a good swing,” Boiani said. “It felt awesome.”
With momentum now on the Portsmouth side, Chenevert didn’t lose focus. He got a soft pop fly to second base for the second out of the inning. Because Chenevert was one pitch under the limit, he was able to pitch to one more batter.
Chenevert didn’t hold back, throwing fastballs that sounded louder than any he threw in the game, the last getting the strikeout for the game’s final out.
“I don’t get too shook up by home runs,” Chenevert said. “I knew we were still winning by one run, so I was positive we could still win this.”
“He left nothing on the table in that last at bat,” Slack said. “He knew he was coming out and he wanted to finish it himself. He wanted it to be his game.”
The game didn’t belong just to Chenevert.
The Cumberland offense didn’t quite have the firepower it did in Friday’s 8-0 win, but took advantage of opportunities to score on Saturday.
Cumberland scored its first run in the first when Evan Vitti wore a pitch off his left arm with the bases loaded, scoring Tyler Lamora. In the second, a single by Cameron Slack turned into a run when an error allowed Dean Corvello to score from first. Cameron Slack later scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0 and Chenevert capped Cumberland’s scoring with a two-out double that plated Ryan Amaral.
“That was really important. If I didn’t have that [lead] I don’t think we would have won the game,” Chenevert said. “It’s all my teammates, not just me. This was the whole team.”
“After we went up 4-0, Paxton was pitching great so we knew we had it in the bag,” Dylan Slack said. “Nobody can get by Paxton when he’s on his game.”
Portsmouth answered with a run in the top of the third on a solo blast by Lachlan Bronson, but didn’t score again until Boiani’s two-run home run in the sixth as their summer of fun came to an end.
“It’s great and it feels awesome, but to lose in the championship game stinks,” Boiani said. “If you lose the championship it stinks for this moment, but it’ll go away.”
Cumberland’s summer is extended for a couple more weeks, for now.
The team will head to Bristol, Conn., for the Little League Baseball Metro Region Tournament against state champs from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Cumberland is scheduled to play Fairfield American (Conn.) on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. in a game that will be streamed on ESPN+.
“We’re going to go there with a positive attitude and try and win as many games as we can,” Chenevert said. “But we’re going to go there and have as much fun as we can. I love this team and they’re all my friends and we’ve been playing together since Andreozzi [youth baseball].”
“It’s both,” Dylan Slack said. “We want to have fun, but we want to win at the same time.” | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/local/2022/07/31/cumberland-beats-portsmouth-win-rhode-island-little-league-state-title/10195223002/ | 2022-07-31T10:53:44 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/local/2022/07/31/cumberland-beats-portsmouth-win-rhode-island-little-league-state-title/10195223002/ |
WATERLOO — For the Rev. Charles Daniel, the dozens of people building a structure near Antioch Baptist Church on Friday morning to help grow fresh fruit and vegetables is about revitalizing and re-imagining the Unity community.
The Unity neighborhood, which spans an area south of Newell Street to the Canadian National Railroad tracks and from North Barclay Street to Linden Avenue, is now home to a seasonal high tunnel system. It sits in a once-empty lot behind the church.
The structure, 30 feet by 72 feet, will hold seven rows of crops almost year-round.
The idea was brought to Waterloo by James Bunch and the Hip Hop Farmers Initiative, based in Tennessee. Help in Waterloo consisted of volunteers associated with the church, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Resources Conservation Services, the Black Hawk County Veterans Association, the American Legion, Home Depot, Hawkeye Community College and Habitat for Humanity. Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart kicked off the event with opening remarks.
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Originally, the Guinness Book of World Records was invited to make an appearance as the volunteers attempted to raise the structure in record time. But organizers said there weren’t the 100 veterans there Bunch had hoped to get as volunteers and the cost to bring Guinness was too expensive – at $20,000.
The veterans who did participate, along with some active duty National Guard, were ready on the grounds at 7 a.m.
Bunch was also there with his wife, Christine; daughter, Latisha; sister-in-law Gwen; son-in-law Ricco; and his granddaughter, Freedom, who started the clock to see how long the building would take.
He and his team have built two other structures, one in Arkansas and another in Mississippi.
The Waterloo seasonal high tunnel was funded through a $461,000 grant from the USDA. Bunch said the purpose is to combat food deserts.
Food deserts are defined by the USDA as low-income areas where residents do not have easy access to a large grocery store or supermarket that sells healthy and affordable food.
Daniel, Antioch’s pastor, has worked on the project for a year and said 13.8 million people go hungry every day in the U.S.
“In order for us to close that gap … this is a small way to service the community,” Daniel said. “And it’s an opportunity to show youth there are careers and opportunities in agriculture.”
Starting next week, 10 teenagers and the project’s master gardener, Karen Moore, will start tilling and planting seeds. She said she received a phone call from the church, and “that was that.” She said the structure will always be 20 degrees warmer than the temperature outside. Moore said since they’re starting late in the season, she’s hoping to plant green beans, onions and collard greens.
For the rest of summer, Moore and the teens will work in the early morning until around 11 a.m. Once school begins, she said, they will work every Saturday morning.
There will also be two workshops for the youths. One in October will focus on healthy eating. Long-term goals are to teach teens about agricultural marketing.
“Agriculture is a lot more than driving a tractor,” NCGS District Conservationist Shaffer Ridgeway said. “I hope young people understand they can make money off of a small lot. It’s got great potential.”
The harvest will go to the food bank, as well as local farmers markets and donations to the community.
Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, most known for building houses, put its construction skills toward helping build the tunnel. Dylan Does, development director for the organization, said giving back and offering its volunteers’ blue-collar skills was a perfect marriage for the event.
“This is not just an empty lot but a place of growth, life and where people come together,” Does said. “Today is a step toward hope.” | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/community-helps-build-hub-for-growing-crops/article_71470d7b-a0b1-5e54-8796-2c461dbcd867.html | 2022-07-31T11:07:22 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/community-helps-build-hub-for-growing-crops/article_71470d7b-a0b1-5e54-8796-2c461dbcd867.html |
Jerry Allen Mark, 79, is serving a life prison sentence for murder in the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law, Les and Jorjean Mark, and their two children, Julie, 5, and Jeff, 18 months.
Prosecutors allege Jerry Mark shot and killed the family in their sleep because of a disagreement over inheritance of the family farm.
Jerry Mark has always said he is innocent of the crime, and over the years some of the evidence presented to the jury at his original trial has been debunked. The case even came close to a retrial in 2006.
Efforts to re-examine the case resumed in 2018 when the State Public Defender’s Office asked the court to review evidence as part of a U.S. Department of Justice grant to review convictions in cases that involved hair microscopy.
Then in 2021, the office sought to duplicate 8 mm film of Jerry Mark walking that was in evidence. The film had been used with testimony about his gait as it related to footprints found at the scene.
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The defense team is now reviewing chrome cupboard drawer pulls, bullets, a basement electrical panel and a note about the will found in a coat in the bedroom that investigators seized to check for fingerprints. They are also taking another look at lifts of a palm or glove print found on a stairway wall at the home and prints on doors to the master bedroom.
“Several latent finger or palm prints from the crime scene have never been identified and have not been searched using modern technology in greatly expanded national databases,” Assistant Public Defender Erica Nichols Cook wrote in a motion seeking testing.
She wrote that three prints didn’t come from the victims, Jerry Mark, investigators or others documented at the scene. No matches for those prints could be found in Automated Fingerprint Identification System database searches in 1990 and 1994.
A fingerprint examiner from Illinois was tapped to make digital reproductions of the print evidence and compare it with Next Generation Identification, the FBI’s current fingerprint database, according to court filings.
“FBI NGI also now contains more than 60 million civil (non-arrest) fingerprint records non-existent in the FBI’s AFIS before July 2001,” Nichols Cook wrote. Besides the additional prints on file, the new database has three times greater accuracy, according to court records.
More recently, defense attorneys asked to review evidence locked in a courthouse cabinet.
At the time of the crime, Cedar Falls native Jerry Mark lived in Berkeley, Calif.
Authorities allege he rode his motorcycle back to Iowa, killed the family with a revolver Nov. 1, 1975, and then hit the road to return to California.
Witnesses at trial in 1976 included a Paso Robles, Calif., gun store employee who testified he sold .38 Long Colt ammunition to Jerry Mark before the murders. Experts claimed trace elements in the lead in other .38 Long Colt bullets at the shop matched the lead found at the crime scene.
People testified they saw a person matching Jerry Mark’s description along the route between California and Iowa, and investigators said Jerry Mark gave different accounts of where he went on his motorcycle trip.
Forensic DNA testing wasn’t used at the time, but an expert testified that cigarette butts found at the crime scene had saliva with the same blood type – Type O – as Jerry Mark. Les and Jorjean Mark didn’t smoke.
Since the conviction, developments in science have cast doubt on the practice of linking bullets by lead testing.
And subsequent examination of the cigarette butts with the advent of DNA testing ruled out Jerry Mark as the smoker.
With those pieces of evidence eliminated, and partly because prosecutors allegedly failed to disclose exculpatory evidence before the trial, a U.S. District Court judge overturned the murder conviction in a 2006 ruling and set the case for retrial.
The following year, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision, allowing the guilty verdict to stand. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/watch-now-defense-team-is-testing-old-evidence-in-the-jerry-mark-murder-case/article_39a46e9a-3453-5b6a-844c-e574c29a85f8.html | 2022-07-31T11:07:28 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/watch-now-defense-team-is-testing-old-evidence-in-the-jerry-mark-murder-case/article_39a46e9a-3453-5b6a-844c-e574c29a85f8.html |
Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Waverly have different plans to build police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie through annual National Night Out events next month.
Waterloo has confirmed at least five events to be hosted by various neighborhood associations Tuesday, according to the city’s “National Night Out” website:
Fester’s Pub, owned by Daniel Corbett – one of the owners of Hungry Charlie’s food truck and restaurant – is taking over what was formerly known as Anton’s Volks Haus.
Church Row
- – From 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Washington Park, the corner of Washington Street and West Park Avenue: Live music, bike rodeo, kids games and raffles, visits from city officials, informational tables, antique cars, lemonade, popcorn, watermelon and cookies.
Greenbrier
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- – From 6 to 8 p.m. at the Greenbrier Building, 1554 Oakwood Drive: Hartsmith Concert (sponsored by the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center), family and kids games, activities, pulled pork sandwiches, and a fire truck and ambulance for kids.
Highland
- – From 6 to 8 p.m. at Little Highland Park, near the corner of Dietrick and Vine streets: Hot dogs and a potluck meal.
Orange
- – From 6 to 8 p.m. at Lichty Park, 6298 Grace Drive: Hot dogs, chips, watermelon, cookies and drinks.
Walnut
- – From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. outside Harvest Vineyard, 715 E. Fourth St.: Potluck, talent show, Walnut Baptist Church tours (6 and 6:45 p.m.), and firemen and police officer appearances.
“We’re elated. This is the final piece to fulfilling what has been a goal since the 1980s, to make the trail more accessible for all user groups and age groups."
Rudy Jones, director of Waterloo community development, expects the list to grow by Monday and Tuesday.
“Individual cities are made up of neighbors and families,” said Jones. “Without them, we don’t have communities. With all that everyone’s got going on, this should be a time to celebrate and come together to learn more about what’s working and what we could be doing better. It’s also a time we all rally together and take the time to meet new neighbors.”
Waterloo Community Development can be reached at (319) 291-4429.
Additionally, Waterloo’s Allen College, 1950 Heath St., and UnityPoint Clinic at North Crossing, 2140 Logan Ave., will host similar community celebrations from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
According to a press release, UnityPoint Clinic and Allen College will provide snacks, refreshments, kids activities and games, a chance to see rigs from Waterloo Fire and Rescue, and an opportunity to learn more about health care options and other community services.
As of Friday night, a city of Cedar Falls spokesperson said no National Night Out events scheduled for Tuesday had been confirmed.
Cedar Falls Public Safety personnel, as well as fire and police vehicles, will be available throughout the day and evening to visit local neighborhood events, according to a news release.
Contact the Cedar Falls Public Safety Department at (319) 273-8612 as soon as possible to arrange for a time.
To obtain an express permit for neighborhood block parties in Cedar Falls, go online to bit.ly/CFExpPermit.
Voters in Waterloo can head to the polls Sept. 13 to weigh in on whether the city should borrow $20 million to develop a municipal communications utility.
A permit is only needed if individuals would like to close off a street.
Mayor Rob Green suggested in a Facebook post that neighborhoods still get together on their own Tuesday, or organize in Overman Park, 316 W. Third St., prior to the celebration of life from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in memory of the late Tyler and Sarah Schmidt and their 6-year-old daughter, Lula.
The Cedar Falls family members were found shot to death July 22 in their tent at Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground in Jackson County during what appeared to have been a random act of violence.
The Waverly Police Department has planned a National Night Out event at Kohlmann Park, 212 First St. N.W., on Aug. 9, the following Tuesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/national-night-out-events-planned-throughout-the-cedar-valley/article_edc0b531-0471-5ea1-878a-0aa459d9550a.html | 2022-07-31T11:07:34 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/national-night-out-events-planned-throughout-the-cedar-valley/article_edc0b531-0471-5ea1-878a-0aa459d9550a.html |
Many of them had a rough year, skipping school and falling behind their peers in classes.
After wracking up 70 absences and arriving late 30 times, Joel Suazo-Cruz, 17, accepted his summer school fate. He said he primarily missed school because he overslept after staying up late. He said he failed science, English and math.
"I need a better work ethic," he said, adding that graduating from high school is "probably the most important thing I do in my life."
In Camden, its credit recovery program offers a second chance for students to make up work in four core classes and get back on track for the 2022-23 school year with an abbreviated summer schedule. Younger students are attending enrichment programs. Suazo-Cruz is making up three classes in order to stay on schedule as a senior at Big Picture Learning Academy.
"This just gives them a chance to be able to get caught up," said Kandace Butler, who runs an alternative program at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden known as SOAR, or Students on Academic Rise.
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Faced with the possibility of being held back, students say they are highly motivated. They credit a more relaxed environment, too, and classes that run about an hour. The program also has tough discipline: no more than three absences. Middle school students can also make up classes in order to get promoted.
ATLANTIC CITY — A city man was arrested Thursday after he ran from officers investigating gu…
"I just think it suits me. It's better for me than regular school," said Trinity Gray, 16, a rising sophomore at Camden High School who is taking three courses. "I know I need this to get to my next grade."
This year, nearly 1,000 students enrolled in summer school, which began July 5 at four sites across the city, and ends Thursday.
Under state takeover since 2013, the Camden district, with about 5,800 students in its traditional public schools, has struggled to improve its four-year graduation rate. The pandemic disrupted learning in 2020-21, when the rate dropped 11.4 percentage points to 58.5%, the lowest in the region. The state average is 91%.
Butler said there are various reasons why some students fall behind academically, including difficult home situations and personal challenges. Some students suffered learning losses when schools were closed during the pandemic. Camden schools were among the last in the region to fully reopen.
During a science class last week, veteran teacher Tracy Freeman covered biology, chemistry and physics lessons with about two dozen students scattered around her lab at Camden High. They used 3-D microscopes to examine insects eaten by "Lizzy," a lizard. Another day they learned how to measure liquids and solids and how to use a graphing calculator.
"I'm pulling a lot of hat tricks to keep them interested," said Freeman.
ATLANTIC CITY — City Council will hold public hearings Wednesday on ordinances to lease the …
She said some of her students failed classes during the school year after being tardy because they had to ready younger siblings for school. Freeman said others who spent two years learning remotely had difficulty transitioning to in-person.
"I blame COVID," Freeman said. "Hopefully, we're getting past that."
According to the district, 271 students are taking credit recovery classes at Camden High and Eastside High, including almost two dozen seniors from the 2021-22 school year who need a few credits to get their diploma. Summer school was also open to students from the city's charter and Renaissance schools.
Mahaaj Jones, 17, a senior at the Camden Big Picture Learning Academy, said he was not surprised when he received a notice that he had failed three classes. He had to pick up his siblings after school and then head to a part-time job to help support the family.
"I don't think about school when I leave school," Jones said. "I am thinking about life."
Jones, who hopes to attend trade school and become a carpenter, said he is back on track. He wants to be a role model for his siblings, especially his 6-month-old brother, Muzik.
SEA ISLE CITY — One South Jersey teenager is making waves in building a statewide community …
"I have to pave the way for them," said Jones. "I feel like I'm going to be great."
Across the hall in Tiffany Smith's math class, students were studying algebra and geometry. After reviewing formulas on a screen, she walked around the room to give personal attention.
Graciela Martinez, 14, a rising sophomore at Charles Brimm Medical Arts High School, said she "slacked off" during the last school year, and she failed algebra.
"I put in less effort, and now I'm here," she said.
Martinez, who is also making up a health class, said she was learning a lot and was happy "to have a fresh start." She said she plans to be more focused in the fall.
"I'm glad I got this opportunity to make up my wrongs," Martinez said.
Gray, an aspiring fashion designer, said she learned important lessons, too, about not succumbing to peer pressure. She said her freshman year "was just crazy."
"I know what I have to do in order to accomplish my goals. I have to be focused," she said.
In another wing of the sprawling campus, incoming freshmen at Brimm were getting help with the transition from eighth grade from teacher Greg Gasparovic. They were given a QR code with symptoms to diagnose a disease or disorder.
"I'm learning a lot of new stuff," said Katelyn Garcia, 14. "It will just give me a good head start with school." | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/education/im-glad-i-got-this-opportunity-to-make-up-my-wrongs-summer-school-offers-a/article_ba71a710-101d-11ed-8c90-dba011a87961.html | 2022-07-31T11:49:19 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/education/im-glad-i-got-this-opportunity-to-make-up-my-wrongs-summer-school-offers-a/article_ba71a710-101d-11ed-8c90-dba011a87961.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — People looking to maintain their health and well-being in a different way this summer took part in a belly dancing class in O’Donnell Memorial Park on Tuesday evening for AtlantiCare’s Summer Fitness in the Park classes.
It’s one of many ways residents get a healthy dose of exercise and movement at the park — Latin dancing, Tai Chi and walks in the park are also among the summer offerings.
AtlantiCare, in conjunction with the Atlantic City Development Corp. and Chelsea Economic Development Corp., is offering six options during its second year of the summer fitness classes aimed at promoting a healthy community.
The daily classes at O’Donnell Park on Atlantic Avenue and Brown’s Park on Bacharach Boulevard come with incentives. Attending 10 fitness classes at O’Donnell Park comes with a $20 voucher to Boom Market, while attending five fitness classes at Brown’s Park comes with a $15 gift card, while supplies last.
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“Physical and mental health are important to maintaining a healthy community,” said Audrey Heist, director of health engagement, health and wellness, and fitness for AtlantiCare. “We have a variety of classes that people of different ages and fitness abilities can choose from.”
Chelsea EDC President Elizabeth Terenik said bringing the classes to O’Donnell Park was a big priority, as they contribute to many opportunities that can benefit the community, including more health and wellness classes.
ATLANTIC CITY — More than 100 Stockton, elected and local school officials celebrated a mile…
“Wellness is one of our initiatives,” said Terenik, who was also present and actively participating in Tuesday evening’s belly dancing class. “Exercise fixes everything. By having these classes, we’re seeing more positive things in the park. We’ve had people from different neighborhoods, making it that we can get different cultures together, too.”
All of the classes are taught by local instructors. Every week, Arlin Padilla from Arlin’s Dance Spot in Ventnor teaches Latin dancing, and Diane Ramftl from Chi Flow for Health based in Atlantic County teaches Tai Chi and qigong. Instructors from Tilton Fitness conduct the walk in the park, while health instructors from AtlantiCare do the circuits, and Diane Miller, a former belly dancing teacher with more than 47 years of experience, puts on the belly dancing class.
“Diana is excellent. She knows I have two left feet, but she’s always helping me,” said Jaime Friedenberg, of Atlantic City, about Miller and her belly dancing class, which works for all ages and abilities.
Friedenberg, 58, said the summer fitness classes were “the best thing that ever happened to” her after she had foot surgery last year. She started doing the belly dancing fitness classes in the park last summer as an alternative exercise.
“It’s increased my standing duration, flexibility and motivation most of all. It changed my mindset,” said Friedenberg, who said the class inspired her to get better, work through her post-surgery pain and start exercising again. “The little tassels are a plus, too.”
Friedenberg said the belly dancing class was a positive, judgment-free zone where Miller tells the weekly group of about seven participants to do what they can at their own pace, which is a plus for her considering she could barely stand when she first started the classes last year.
Stockton University is bringing back its A.C. Walking Tour Series after going on a two-year …
Michelle Green, another Atlantic City resident, said she wasn’t sure what activities she would be able to do after recovering from a back injury she sustained in February, but the fitness classes helped her remain active.
“I like that you can go at your own pace, and they account for your injuries,” said Green, 56, who usually does the walks and circuit training. She said the class has made her feel more energetic and gives her a workout routine to get back into, which is also good.
Going to the gym isn’t always a possibility in Green’s case.
“I’m getting older, so I got to keep moving,” she said.
Green participates with a group of friends that got her to start attending the classes in August of last year. She said the class was fun, on top of the health benefits, and gave her the opportunity to share the experience with friends.
ATLANTIC CITY — Hundreds of volunteers were in O’Donnell Park Saturday morning with trash ba…
“It’s like a little outing, so it makes it fun,” said Green. “It’s another way to hang out besides going to the beach, or the bar.”
For being “fairly new” to Atlantic City after moving from Philadelphia a couple of years ago, Friedenberg said the summer fitness classes show there are positive, healthy, community-based activities in a gambling town that sometimes has a bad reputation.
“You don’t hear about events like this often, but this shows that greater things are happening in Atlantic City, and there’s a willingness from the community for events like this,” said Friedenberg. She believes the more people know about these classes and other community-centered events, the more participation there’d be. “This is something that could bring pride to the city.”
AtlantiCare’s Summer Fitness in the Park classes happen daily at various times, but all who are willing to participate are welcome.
“I’m going to try to drag my friends out next week,” Green said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/summer-fitness-in-the-park-benefits-atlantic-city-neighborhood/article_28f722ee-0d1e-11ed-b5b8-031094970aa4.html | 2022-07-31T11:49:25 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/summer-fitness-in-the-park-benefits-atlantic-city-neighborhood/article_28f722ee-0d1e-11ed-b5b8-031094970aa4.html |
Chase Petty got his first promotion within the Cincinnati Reds organization last week.
The 19-year-old right-handed pitcher and Mainland Regional High School graduate on Wednesday was assigned to the High-A Dayton Dragons after starting the year with the Single-A Daytona Tortugas. Listed as the Reds’ No. 6 prospect on MLB.com, he had yet to appear for the Dragons through Thursday.
Petty was 0-4 with a 3.39 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 16 games (11 starts) and 65 innings with the Tortugas.
Petty was selected 26th overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins and traded in the offseason to the Reds. In 19 career games (13 starts), Petty was 0-4 with a 3.34 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 70 innings.Here are updates on local players making their journeys through the minors, with their stats through Thursday:
RHP Joe Gatto (St. Augustine Prep), 27, who last pitched for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on July 14, was released July 23 by the Philadelphia Phillies. Gatto was 3-0 with a 6.62 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 34 innings through 28 appearances (two starts).
Gatto, from Hammonton, was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Los Angeles Angels. He spent the 2021 season in the Texas Rangers system. The Phillies signed him in December. In 185 career minor league games (88 starts), he is 36-34 with a 4.75 ERA, 480 strikeouts and three saves in 542 innings.
LHP Jay Groome (Barnegat), 23, pitching for the Worcester Red Sox, a Boston affiliate, was 4-5 with a 3.59 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 19 games (17 starts) and 92²/³ innings. In his latest start Wednesday, a loss, he allowed three runs and struck out five in five innings.
In 60 career games (58 starts), Groome was 12-22 with a 4.46 ERA and 318 strikeouts in 256 innings. He was drafted with the 12th overall pick by the Red Sox in 2016.LHP Zach Warren (St. Augustine Prep), 26, now pitching for Lehigh Valley, was 0-0 with a 3.42 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24 appearances and 23²/³ innings in Double-A and Triple-A combined.
In 158 career games, Warren was 5-10 with a 3.12 ERA and 319 strikeouts in 219 innings. Warren was selected in the 14th round by the Phillies in the 2017 draft.
Double-A
RHP Mike Adams (Holy Spirit), 27, pitching for the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies), was 6-0 with an 6.70 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 27 games (one start) and 41²/³ innings.
Adams, from Egg Harbor Township, was signed by the Phillies in January 2021 after he impressed scouts with his 98 mph fastball during a tryout. He is a co-owner of the Baseball Performance Center in Pleasantville. He was 8-2 with a 5.54 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 71 career minor-league games (one start) and 89¹/³ innings.RHP Brett Kennedy (Atlantic City), 27, is pitching for the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) since his contract with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League was purchased by the Red Sox on May 24. In 11 games (10 starts) with Portland, he was 3-5 with a 4.70 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 53²/³ innings. He earned the win in his latest start Wednesday, allowing four runs and striking out three in five innings.
Kennedy made six starts for the San Diego Padres in 2018, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA. In six starts with the Ducks this year, he was 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 32²/³ innings.
The Brigantine resident was selected by the Padres in the 11th round of the 2015 draft. In 111 career minor-league games (104 starts) with MLB-affiliated organizations, he was 35-33 with a 4.05 ERA and 492 strikeouts in 510²/³ innings.
High-A
RHP Sean Mooney (Ocean City), 24, was placed on the seven-day injured list Wednesday. He was 2-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 13 games (11 starts) and 49 innings for the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins).
Mooney was selected in the 12th round of the 2019 draft by the Twins. He didn’t pitch in 2019 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery after a season-ending injury at St. John’s University. In 26 career games (23 starts), he was 2-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 96 innings.
Single-A
LHP Daniel Nunan (Ocean City), 22, pitching for the Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Angels), was 0-0 with a 3.73 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 19 games (31¹/³ innings).
The Egg Harbor Township resident was selected in the 12th round of the 2018 draft. In 35 career games (three starts), he was 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA, 73 strikeouts and two saves in 63 innings.
Rookie League
LHP Jake McKenna (Ocean City), 20, is listed on the roster of the FCL Phillies, a Florida Complex League affiliate of Philadelphia. He made his first appearance July 7, allowing one run on three walks in one-third of an inning. He was placed on the team’s restricted list July 12 and hasn’t pitched since.
The Cape May Court House resident signed a minor-league deal in June 2020. In six career games (one start), he was 0-0 with a 15.63 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 6¹/³ innings.
PHOTOS: A look at local major and minor leaguers in 2022
I graduated from Rowan University in 2011 where I studied journalism. I covered local high school and college sports at the South Jersey Times and Vineland Daily Journal. I have been a sports reporter with The Press since July 2013
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Chase Petty was 0-4 with a 3.39 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 16 games (11 starts) and 65 innings with the Single-A Daytona Tortugas. Petty is listed as the No. 6 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization on MLB.com. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/chase-petty-promoted-within-reds-organization-local-minor-league-update/article_dd51e56e-0f7e-11ed-90a3-177bc563ce80.html | 2022-07-31T11:49:38 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/chase-petty-promoted-within-reds-organization-local-minor-league-update/article_dd51e56e-0f7e-11ed-90a3-177bc563ce80.html |
BLOOMINGTON — Two months after "American Idol," the 2022 top-three finalist Leah Marlene is still dreaming her own musical dreams.
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter, who grew up playing to local audiences in Bloomington-Normal, chatted with The Pantagraph last week about what life has been like for her with the successful "Idol" run on her heels. She also detailed how’s she’s been adapting to the reality of a music career post-"Idol," handling the pressures of entertainment industry expectations and staying true to herself and her music. She also discussed her big move to Los Angeles and embarking on her next adventure.
Marlene said her upcoming Aug. 27 show at the Corn Crib Stadium in Normal will be her top focus for the next month. She’s hoping to recreate the magic of the hometown visit and street concert that drew thousands to Uptown Normal, footage of which aired on "Idol" during the May 22 finale episode.
A limited transcript of The Pantagraph's interview with Marlene is printed below. Visit pantagraph.com to read the full conversation and see video.
Tell us about your favorite memories from American Idol.
It's really weird, because it feels like it all was a lifetime ago and it feels like it was a fever dream. I'm actually in Normal right now. I just moved to LA but I've been in Normal for a few days. But I'm in my basement right now. And after the show, I came back to my basement and I was like, did any of that even happen? I’m just like back here, and I don't even know what just happened. It felt like a fever dream.
Anyway, so accessing that now after what feels like years since I've been off the show is interesting.
Favorite memories: I would say that the last two weeks of the show were like all of my wildest dreams coming true at once … just so quickly, years and years of a career of dreams just happening in the span of 10 days. So of course, meeting and being mentored and singing with Carrie Underwood was one of the coolest things in the world. She is the one that put the dream in me to do this music thing. I would watch her music videos as a kid and just want to be her.
If you go on my YouTube channel from when I was 8 years old, almost like half the videos on there are me singing Carrie Underwood songs. She was like one of the first artists that I dove deep into her discography and learned like everything. So that was incredible.
Obviously, singing with Katy Perry was a very similar thing ... when I found out that I was gonna be doing a duet with her — first of all — I flipped out. That was the coolest thing ever.
But then I got the little demo of arrangement of our duet that had her voice on it, and I was actually on the private jet, flying home from the hometown visit when I heard it. Just hearing her voice, I was like "holy cow!" That's the voice of my childhood that I'm about to be singing with.
You kind of forget, because she's a human that you've interacted with a lot at this point of the show. And then you're like "oh my god." Her and Carrie Underwood are two of the biggest staples of my entire growing up. So that was crazy.
Singing with those people, same as Sara Bareilles and getting to talk with her, those were huge highlights. Honestly, the whole ride of "American Idol" and just being with all of my friends and getting to experience something so unique with everybody was incredible. I genuinely had the best time. It was really, really hard sometimes, but there were very few moments where I wasn't having fun — even when it was really hard.
There was never a time where the difficulty wasn't worth it … You were like chasing your dreams and having the experience of a lifetime.
Just continuing with these reflections, a few things we last discussed were what you've learned from "Idol," how you developed yourself as a musician, and how pre-"Idol" you worked a lot on yourself and your mental health. Now that you're out of "Idol," has all the fame given you a new perspective on that?
Coming off the show has been an experience and a half. Not gonna lie, it’s been really hard. I actually just opened up about it on Instagram yesterday... But I feel like I've been maintaining this perception of, "I’m living in the dream, man!" And that's what "American Idol" wants you to think: This is the big break and everything changes here. The public perception is that people that do well on the show, they got it made now … It's all figured out and whatever.
That's simply not the case, and I knew that going into it ... I always saw the show for what it was, I never expected it to be a golden ticket to anything. But nothing can prepare you for being on the show, and nothing can prepare you for coming off the show. It's something that I'm just learning how to navigate right now.
I’m at really interesting point where you're talking to me right now because I think I'm reevaluating everything about my perspective and my game plan. When I first came off the show, I was so on fire to make something happen out of the show. I just started working nonstop, and meeting with everybody I could think of. Now it's been two months and I've been going in circles and I'm hitting a wall and it's not a very effective way to do things and it's not a good way to live as a human being either.
I am just trying to reevaluate exactly how to be going about all of this post-show now in a healthy way. I'm discovering that as I go. But, I will say, still, just as it was on the show, everything that I went through before the show has set me up so beautifully to be able to walk through this process in a stable manner.
It has been so incredibly hard. The first month off the show, pretty much every day I would have a good cry — a good mental breakdown. This month, it's a little bit less, but it's a lot. I'm processing through this circumstance in a very healthy way, but it doesn't make the circumstance any less hard.
"American Idol" is a crazy rocket ship up to the stratosphere and then it all ends in one night. Unless you get signed immediately coming off the show, you are completely on your own to figure out what on earth do you do with that. It's a very unique experience that nobody can understand unless they've literally been in your shoes.
Even then so, everybody's journey is unique within that. It's just a lot to sort through. It's not a matter of willingness to work hard or knowing enough about the industry. There are so many paths you can take ... It's a matter of finding the right one and really putting your blinders on and focusing and putting all the energy into that place. But it's really hard to know which path is the right one.
Getting into that, you last talked to us about playing for the masses versus doing more abstract material. Are you still working on that balance between doing stuff that really makes you feel like you can live to your weirdest as an artist, but also make a living and land a deal?
That's been quite a predicament and I'm trying to figure out how to answer that.
The show really is a mind warp and it will kind of make you reevaluate everything you believe in as a human and as an artist. Before the show, I was just getting back on my feet as a human. I was like, "If I could just do music I believe in and literally play shows just around town and be able to make a living..."
I mean, that wasn't like a dream. It didn’t sound like I was super excited about that. I was like, if I can do that, if that's like the low bar, I can do that, like I'll be okay.
Then I went on the show and I was like "woah, I can like dream a lot bigger than that." And, I hadn't dreamed like that since I was a kid. The show makes you feel like you could have these really big dreams and make them come true.
Coming off the show and realizing some of my biggest dreams in certain aspects ... it's been really confusing to navigate what parts of that are just the hype of getting to experience the peak of what superstardom feels like on a show like that, and then what I actually want and need to be fulfilled as a musician and a human ...I'm still navigating that. I was really confused the first month coming off the show. I was like; "Do I even know what genre I am? Am I going to try to make something commercial for the sake of making it commercial?"
For a second there, I was like "maybe I do want to be a pop star. Maybe I want to assimilate." Now, I've definitely come a long way. I just want to make music that matters to me that I could feel in every part of my being. I know that in doing that, it'll matter to other people and other people will be able to feel it in a very similar way.
I want to do that and take it as far as I possibly can ... So ideally, the masses will relate ... and then it's like a whole thing. But even if not, I'm in this for the music and nothing else. It's one of those things where I can't not do it. I cannot not make music for my living. And so, music can't not be the focus of it. I could not just make mediocre music or music to fit in something just so I can achieve some sort of entertainment industry goal.
I think there's a difference between artists that are entertainers and use music as a vessel to entertain, and there's nothing wrong with that. That has its own beauty. But I'm musician-songwriter first. That is the number one priority and then wherever the songs take me is where I go. I don't go somewhere and just make the songs try to fit into that.
Thank for really great answers. I know these are really big questions.
I appreciate the big questions as much. I'd much rather talk about this stuff than surface level.
Some of my next questions might be a little more surface level. What’s life been like for you post-"Idol," such as visiting Europe?
Post-"Idol," again, life has been very interesting. The overwhelming feeling is that I'm like a fish out of water or flailing off of a cliff. But I'm learning how to swim and I'm learning how to fly and it's OK.
This is something that I think a lot of people have assumptions about: No opportunity came to me when I came off the show. Not one person, not one manager, publisher, indie record label or anything. There was no interest that came to me.
I didn't expect for anything to just happen after the show. I was taken just slightly off guard that there was not like one interested person to help me in any way at all. It was like nothing, and so that was quite a shift at the beginning. But that put a fire under me to make stuff happen.
The one thing that I do have going for me is I was connected with an incredible booking agent. That has been such a weight lifted in terms of playing live shows and getting booked on some great opportunities. That's the one thing I kind of go through right now and he's been amazing.
So you have to make that happen for yourself, is what you’re saying?
Somebody that I knew connected us. I was working (hard) … taking meetings with everybody I could think of under the sun and writing so many songs and all that stuff. Nothing was coming out of that. In the midst of that, this agent thing just naturally happened without me doing anything. That I'm so grateful for. So, no that wasn't necessarily a connection that I made by myself. But it was in the midst of me trying to do everything else. So it's just like a huge relief.
That agent has been amazing. I've had so many show inquiries, I just couldn't keep up with that. He was able to jump on board and just get going on all that.
But the Europe thing was actually an opportunity to play for the U.S. Navy at two different Navy bases and then on an aircraft carrier. That was incredible, and it was like a super last minute thing and I had to like give my agent an answer on that phone call and just clear out my schedule.
It was such an incredible opportunity. Other than that, post-show, I went to Nashville pretty much directly after … And like I said, just meeting, talking with everybody I could think of to talk to, and then they're connecting to me to the next person, then I'm talking to them and it's just going in circle ... but I'm doing something. Then I was I was writing every day, and then I came back for a week and caught up on some administrative stuff. And then I was in Europe for the next eight days for that gig opportunity, which was amazing. Then I was home for two days, packed up my life and drove out to LA and just moved out to LA, and then I was there for five days. Then I went to Ontario to play some shows this past weekend, and then I have a show in Chicago this next weekend.
So I‘m just home for a few days, and then I'll be in LA, for like three weeks without leaving, with just literally being there to write …. take more meetings and all that stuff before my homecoming show, which then I'll come home and put my band together the week before that and then that'll be a thing.
I'm sure that felt great getting to do something for service members.
Oh, it was incredible. It was such an amazing experience especially. We got to stay on an aircraft carrier for two nights and three days and get like a full tour of so many different departments and meet so many different sailors and just get to know people and it was just so beautiful. It was amazing.
So you probably haven't had too much experience in the LA music world yet, but what's your thoughts on moving to that scene? Are you really excited to make new connections, similar to your experiences in Nashville?
I've been going to Nashville since I was a freshman in high school. So Nashville feels like home … I feel like if I don't know somebody there, I know them by extension, probably by many, many mutual friends. It just feels like a very small town and it's always there and I have such an incredible community of writers there.
It's already unlocked. It's not this big, mysterious overwhelming thing. That city has been explored and I can always explore it more, but it's there whenever I need it... And I know the kind of music that I write when I go there. I think that's why I wanted to give LA a shot. I've never tried it!
I'm really curious to discover what kind of music will come out of me collaborating with LA writers and me just being in very, very different scenery than I am usually in. I think I have mixed feelings … because it's really overwhelming. It's very expensive. There's a lot that's really hard about living in LA. Right now, when I am honestly feeling pretty lost at what my game plan is, it’s scary to be committing to such a big move and not have a lot set up there, because I'm still the one running the ship.
It is overwhelming to me knowing that I'm basically going to do what I did as a freshman in high school, making cold calls and planning my first trips to Nashville. I'm starting all over again with LA. I do know quite a few people there but it is a lot to start from scratch. It's going to be a lot of work and a lot of just research and cold emailing people and getting to know people from scratch. It's going to take time.
I'm excited and overwhelmed, but I think it's going to be a really beautiful adventure, even if it's quite a bit of a struggle at first. I think that is even more fuel for the fire of things to write about.
The next question I had was to go over some of the concerts you have planned. You said this weekend you're doing one around Chicago?
I'm playing in Evanston at Space (Live Music Hall) … and I'm opening up for Maddie Poppe and she's awesome. She won "American Idol" season 16. She’s also going to be playing on my Corn Crib show.
How was it playing in Ontario?
I just got back from Ontario. I played a private show this past Saturday. And then I played my first public appearance since "Idol" in Kemptville, Ontario. That was great. It was a last minute thing. My dad's in a band and he was playing that festival. So, I was just going to be there and then they got wind that I was going to be there. They were like, "well, we gotta get her on."
They talked to my agent and they hired me to do a little set. So it was really great to just get back out again. And, actually meet people in the flesh instead of just like looking at a camera.
Was that exciting to see another big crowd again?
Oh yeah. My dogs are coming down. Hi Meiko, do you want to say hi? Come here, come say hi!
I'm sure you really missed your dogs while you're away.
Oh, it sucks. That's the hardest part about being gone. Yeah, that's my family at all. But the dogs — I can talk to my family over FaceTime and full on interact with them. Dogs, you can't just like FaceTime them and like full on interact with them. It's not like I need to pet my family, but I need to like pet my dogs. You can’t do that over FaceTime.
Anyways, first public appearance since "Idol": It's interesting because I had done four shows before that. They just weren't public… But there's nothing that I love more than playing for people. The experience of just being so immersed in a musical moment with other people, it's just euphoric. It's magical.
When I can sing something and I know everybody's holding on to every word that I'm saying, and I feel I'm holding on to a group of people in the palm of my hand with what I'm saying, it's just so, so incredibly beautiful. I crave that feeling more than anything as an artist … To actually be out there and to be able to share in that deep immersive experience with people is the best. It was really good to be back out for sure.
I'm sure you felt that feeling very strongly at the Uptown Normal show, right?
Honestly, the Uptown Normal show, I was so unrehearsed — I hadn't played any of those songs in days. I was so dog tired by the show. I was like: "All these people are here to see me play. I don't even know what I'm playing but I'm just gonna play something and talk a little bit and it'll be good."
Honestly, I was so far gone at that show. It wasn't the same experience as a show that I'm actually prepared to play. But, it was a very, very incredible experience in another way.
What was so cool about that was just seeing the sea of people that were all united in one moment, sharing one experience together and just had so much excitement towards a united thing. And, I was the reason that so many people were brought together … that was what was so beautiful about that.
How are your collaborations going? I heard you're working with Fritz Hager and also Maddie Poppe too for the Corn Crib show.
I'm so excited to have Maddie and Fritz on the Corn Crib show. That is going to be the best lineup ever. The group of us three together is just such a perfect little group of people and the way that our sounds are all different but are so cohesive at the same time. Then also just personality wise, it's gonna be so great.
But outside of that, honestly post-show, I have yet to collaborate with anybody musically, because I think we're all just so busy figuring out our own lives. We've all been taking our space, just getting a game plan together and sorting out life.
I look forward to writing with many of my Idol friends in the future but I think we've just been taking our second to figure out life first.
Would you like to talk about the Corn Crib show that's coming up? I'm sure you're gonna be bringing a lot of energy to that and hoping some familiar faces too?
Oh, it's gonna be incredible. I'm trying to think of like any ticketed shows I’ve done … I think maybe once in my life, like 75 tickets of me headlining like, that's it. Now, we've got like thousands of tickets sold for this Corn Crib show where I'm headlining it. That is crazy.
I feel like the energy is gonna be very similar to the homecoming concert for "American Idol," where the whole entire community is coming together for this one thing. I just want to make it the most memorable fun night of music ever and having Fritz (Hager) and Maddie (Poppe) on the bill, it's just going to add so much to it. I hope to have both of them up during my set and sing with them.
All I know is that I'm putting this show as my main focus for the next month in my life. I'm thinking about it every day. I want to make it the best show I've ever played, and an incredible experience for this community, because this community has done so much for me.
I just want to like give back an incredible memorable night where everybody can just like forget about the world and their troubles and just have fun.
Is there anything that you would like to say all the support you’ve gotten from people in the Twin Cities?
I mean, the support is incredibly overwhelming. In many ways, it puts such a fire in me to make something out of all of this, because I want to be able to continue to make everybody proud and take this thing to the next level and be able to bring everybody along with me on that … I wouldn't have had half the experience I had on the show if it weren't for the support. Coming off of the show, I think it's scary because there's this one-year timeline where you’re like "everybody's gonna have their new obsession in a year when the next season comes along."
Then I’m like, that's simply not true. Yes, that's true for a lot of "American Idol" fans, but the people here in this town genuinely are fans and just huge supporters of me as a human and what I do. Every time I get stressed or feel the pressure of a certain timeline or that I'm supposed to be doing such and such by this point, I just think about the people that are really just here for me. They're not thinking like that — they're here for the long haul and that is an incredible relief.
I just posted on Instagram yesterday a pretty vulnerable like check in with where I'm actually at with everything, and that response has been just so overwhelming: 600-700 people have written paragraphs on that, of just their support. Here I am all afraid that all this is going to fade away and in a year from now, nobody's gonna care about anything. Then I go and I share a vulnerable piece of my heart with people and then I'm like, "dang, like this there is sustainability to all of this."
It's because of the people that really are invested and really do care. That is a huge relief and that's something that I like always come back to when I feel the pressure of everything else.
This community is not going anywhere, and I don't need to rush things because I have people that are genuinely here for me so I can do things the right way and they will still be there when the time comes.
We definitely felt a lot of that when we went out and interviewed your former teachers or classmates. Everybody's just rooting for you as the person you are — and not the ‘you’ that "American Idol" puts out there.
I passed by Prairieland Elementary on my way home a lot, and they still have a sign: “We're so proud of you Leah.”
I came back from Ontario and that was a really hard day. I was just was really, really down and had quite a mental breakdown on the way home, and then we drove past that sign and I was like, "oh, yeah, people still care! It's all gonna be okay, people are in this for the long run."
I don't have to sell out for quick success just so that people will stick around. People are here. And they're so genuine, and it means the world. | https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/local/watch-now-whats-next-for-normal-idol-star-leah-marlene-after-the-shows-fever-dream/article_c95a2ec8-0f7d-11ed-a7ea-4ba9c3980623.html | 2022-07-31T11:52:22 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/local/watch-now-whats-next-for-normal-idol-star-leah-marlene-after-the-shows-fever-dream/article_c95a2ec8-0f7d-11ed-a7ea-4ba9c3980623.html |
100 years ago
July 31, 1922: Elmer Kincaid prevented O. Sebastian's store in Danvers from being robbed. Kincaid, who lives nearby, left to get a drink of water at the pump across the street around 3:30 a.m. He saw a man standing near the store who left immediately; four men drove away in a car. Investigation revealed that all of the stops were removed from a rear window. It is supposed that the store would have been looted if Kincaid hadn't appeared.
75 years ago
July 31, 1947: How's the weather in China? Hot as the dickens, according to John Fremont Melby, son of Harry Melby, 4 White Place, who called his father from Nanking on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. It was midnight in China when he made the call. The younger Melby, who is second secretary of the U.S. embassy in Nanking, said he had planted a garden at his house. The corn he brought with him from Central Illinois isn't doing too well.
50 years ago
July 31, 1972: Those attending this week's McLean County Fair may expect to have their hands shaken by a number of campaigning politicians, their relatives or representatives. Attending the fair Tuesday will be Mrs. Richard Ogilvie, wife of the governor; their daughter, Elizabeth, will attend Thursday night; Miss Aurelia Pucinski, daughter of Congressman Roman Pucinski, will be with her father Tuesday as he campaigns for U.S. Senate.
25 years ago
July 31, 1997: The movies won't be blockbusters like "Air Force One" and "Men in Black," but Drive-In Ministries still hopes to pack in a crowd for a Twin City film festival next month. The organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary in Bloomington-Normal by showing Christian films for four weekends on the Glass Specialty property. Films will include "Love Note," "The Homecoming," "Razor's Edge," "Final Exit" and "Second Glance."
Compiled by Pantagraph staff | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/75-years-ago-hows-the-weather-in-china-bloomington-dad-gets-call/article_8037c10e-0bb0-11ed-8b25-93f5cc2f7694.html | 2022-07-31T11:52:28 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/75-years-ago-hows-the-weather-in-china-bloomington-dad-gets-call/article_8037c10e-0bb0-11ed-8b25-93f5cc2f7694.html |
Ohio has a special primary election Tuesday. See what's on the ballot.
CANTON – Stark County voters will cast their ballots Tuesday in a special primary election to select candidates for the state House, Senate and Central Committee races that will appear on the November ballot.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Voters can check their voter registration status, find polling locations, view sample ballots and track their ballots using the voter tool kit on the Ohio Secretary of State's website.
Voters guide: Online guide available in partnership with BallotReady
More:Voting in Ohio's Aug. 2 primary? Use this voter guide
Regine Johnson, deputy director of the Stark County Board of Elections, said the numbers for early voting and requests for absentee ballots have been "somewhat low," but she hopes more people will come out and vote on Election Day.
"We've been hearing from voters that many of them don't realize that there is an election," she said. "There's been plenty of publicity about it, but people get confused because a lot of people are already running for the November election."
The Ohio House and Senate primary races typically take place in May, but were pushed back this year as a result of the state's redistricting process.
Johnson said voter turnout in special elections tends to vary based on the way voters engage with the items on the ballot.
"If (voters) are not terribly engaged, for example, if it's merely a renewal of a levy, then you might get a smaller voter turnout," she said. "If it is something where they are trying to pass something that they have not been successful in passing, then very often, if there are people on both sides of the issue, then they will often have a large turnout."
No issues will appear on the August ballot in Stark County.
People can vote early at the Stark County Board of Elections at 3525 Regent Ave. NE from 1 to 5 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. After that, voters must cast their ballots at their polling locations.
Stark County Board of Elections approves three precinct changes
Some voters in Plain Township and Canton's wards 2, 4 and 7 will head to new polling locations on Election Day.
The elections board approved a motion in June to move precincts 4A, 4C and 4D from Canton Harbor High School to Union Baptist Church at 413 Cornelia Ave. NE and precinct 2D to Gibbs Elementary School.
This came after several Ward 4 residents who are Black expressed concerns of voter suppression because Canton Harbor is located more than a mile from the previous polling location. The board has said it had no intentions of suppressing votes.
Meanwhile, precincts 7C, 7F and 7G will move from the Canton First Church of the Nazarene to the Kingdom Center at 2631 Harvard Ave. NW for the Aug. 2 and Nov. 8 elections.
Canton First Church of the Nazarene notified the Board of Elections in June that it would not be able to serve as a polling location for these elections because of a renovation project.
Four precincts in Plain Township that previously were at First Christian Church were also switched to Congregational United Church at 1530 Easton Street NE.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2022/07/31/ohio-voters-cast-ballots-special-primary-aug-2/10142591002/ | 2022-07-31T11:57:36 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2022/07/31/ohio-voters-cast-ballots-special-primary-aug-2/10142591002/ |
Eat, drink and be merry, right? Maybe. Go a little heavy on the eat and drink, and the merry gets ghosted. A remedy for overdrinking has yet to be found, so moderation still reigns. Fortunately, just about every culture has created a liqueur to aid with digesting a meal (a digestif), and we need but turn to the food-centric cultures of France and Italy to find the popular and beloved.
Elixir of Long Life
In the 1600s, as the story goes, one of King Henry IV’s marshals entrusted Carthusian monks with a manuscript containing a recipe to make the Elixir of Long Life. It took a century for the monks to develop the alchemic recipe into a formula using 130 different plants (barks, roots, flowers and spices) that they called Elixir Vegetal de la Grande-Chartreuse. They packed the elixir in wooden cases on the back of donkeys and sold the medicine in the surrounding villages to support their monastery located just outside of Paris. Still unchanged and in production today, 130-proof Elixir Vegetal is described as “a cordial, a liqueur and a very effective tonic.”
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Chartreuse liqueur, a milder 110-proof spin-off of the original tonic, came on board in 1840. The U.S. is Chartreuse’s top market, and it has shown up in the chicest spots from Daniel Bouloud’s dinner table to a ZZ Top song (Chartreuse/La Futura) to Quentin Tarantino’s movie Death Proof.
“They’re very tied to their tradition,” said Tim Master, senior director of spirits for Frederick Wildman and Sons, said about the way the monks craft Chartreuse. “It starts with picking herbs by moonlight until dawn and macerating them in the morning dew.”
The herbs? Only two monks, Dom Beinot and Brother Jean-Jacques, know the super-secret recipe. Lemon balm, angelica, juniper, rosemary, saffron and fennel are oft guessed. Each has a strong association with relaxing and toning the digestive apparatus, and once that’s humming life can be good.
But the monks use Chartreuse as the tonic its precursor was created to be. Master observed its use for digestive afflictions, bee stings and more.
“During a visit to the monastery I got a splinter in my hand when I picked up a picnic bench,” Master recalled. “Dom Beinot reached into his robe, pulled out a spray bottle containing Chartreuse and spritzed my finger. In essence when you have a recipe of 130 different herbs, you’ve got gold.”
A Most Bitter Bitters
Italy has its own charismatic digestif comprised of unknown ingredients. Fernet Branca, made with a mystery list of a few dozen botanicals to “settle the stomach,” the website states, has reached cult status in San Francisco and — ready for this? — Argentina. About a third of the liqueur sold in the U.S. is sipped in San Francisco, where it initially sold in Italian pharmacies to aid digestion, and over 75% of global production gets consumed in Argentina.
The family that has produced Fernet Branca for the past 175 years only admits to using mint, ginger, rhubarb and saffron. All of these herbs can settle the stomach, slay microbes and make you feel genuinely good. But the liqueur’s trademark bitterness hints of gentian. The herb belongs to the Gentianeae tribe, a few of which reside in Arizona’s highest country.
Gentian is a traditional herb of choice used to get the digestion in gear. As the bitter herb hits the tongue, the salivary glands, which shake hands with the pancreas, react by making the mouth water. The salivary gush contains enzymes to which the pancreas reacts in kind. As the digestive juices and gastric acids start to flow, the liver springs into action. This begins the flow of bile, which digests fats, and readies the gallbladder to release it.
A Folksy Favorite
Italy produces another captivating digestif that isn’t made of secret substances and doesn’t take the illuminati to concoct. Rather, it’s a folksy spirit anyone can make and it’s called nocino. Its main ingredient, green walnuts, is found all over the world, including deciduous canyons in northern Arizona. Right now they’d be ready for the harvest, when the nuts are soft enough to slice.
Italians traditionally break open their homebrewed bottles of nocino in late fall, which has given the liqueur an association with holiday feasts. Rather befitting when you look at the medicinal properties of the green walnut, which center smack-dab in the intestines.
Green walnuts contain hydrojuglone that when oxidized becomes juglone, a weapon of microbial mass destruction. Juglone provides natural protection for the tree from predator insects and microbes. It also waylays several species of plants that might try to encroach under a tree’s canopy by messing with the plants’ respiration and photosynthesis.
For us humans, the unripe walnut is an evidence-based antioxidant and antimicrobial with a strong tradition of soothing spasms. Research has discovered juglone inhibits three key enzymes from Helicobacter pylori, which can cause gastritis, ulcers and cancer. Green walnut hulls also contain phenolic acids, which can have a beneficial effect on glucose regulation, the heart and bone density. The American Cancer Society has concluded one of green walnut’s antioxidants, ellagic acid, “prevents the binding of carcinogens to DNA and strengthens connective tissue.”
DIY Nocino
If you plan to make nocino, the internet is full of recipes. But wear gloves. When cut, the juglone in the green walnut hulls leaves a brown stain that does not readily wash off with soap and water.
Nocino takes two to six months to make. The longer the mixture rests, the more rounded out the flavor. And maybe take a tip from the monks who make Chartreuse: Pick those walnuts during the night and process them in the morning dew. You might end up with one heavenly digestif. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/digestifs-elixirs-to-long-life/article_7164a8aa-0eb6-11ed-bdbe-cf0c788bb084.html | 2022-07-31T12:13:50 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/digestifs-elixirs-to-long-life/article_7164a8aa-0eb6-11ed-bdbe-cf0c788bb084.html |
Flagstaff mayoral candidates have been given the chance to answer a weekly question in no more than 150 words. After the primary, we'll also be including Flagstaff City Council candidates each week. This week's question: What's the most important reason you're running for office?
The third candidate for mayor, Daniel Williamson, did not respond before the deadline.
Mayor
Paul Deasy
I am running for re-election to build on the foundation of meaningful change that Flagstaff has experienced under our current administration. I’ve helped to secure funding to mitigate wildfire and flooding, expand high-speed internet access, grow the economy, further environmental sustainability, and improve bike/ped infrastructure.
One of the greatest proven accomplishment is the expansion of our emergency response to be “more help, less handcuffs,” through the creation of the C.A.R.E. Team that responds to 9-1-1 calls related to mental health and substance use without the need for a police presence. These collaborative accomplishments built in my first term have shown that real experience is leading to real results, and will continue to change our government’s approach to addressing the city’s most critical issues into the future.
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Becky Daggett
Flagstaff has serious issues and opportunities facing us and we need a leader who listens to the perspectives of others and invites people into the decision making process. Throughout my 25 plus years of service to our community, I’ve proven that I’m a problem solver and an inclusive leader. I have positive relationships with the current City Council despite voting differently on a number of issues and I’m honored to have the endorsement of four members.
We need strong leadership to navigate the challenges facing our community, including affordable housing, climate change, forest health and flooding, and transportation, just to name a few. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, instead I study the issues and seek out ideas and expertise. This collaborative problem solving and proactive leadership is sorely needed. I invite readers to visit my website to learn more about me and my experience: BeckyDaggett.com | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/candidate-question-1-whats-the-most-important-reason-youre-running-for-office/article_96b73822-1067-11ed-8f86-eb1e9f226b23.html | 2022-07-31T12:13:56 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/candidate-question-1-whats-the-most-important-reason-youre-running-for-office/article_96b73822-1067-11ed-8f86-eb1e9f226b23.html |
Fans who attended Saturday’s CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show had a nearly perfect weather day to watch the featured flying acts and to visit the displays, but here is what to know about today’s final day of the 48th annual event.
Weather an early issue
Gates at the air show open at 9 a.m. today.
The weather forecast calls for showers likely before 10 a.m., then partly sunny skies with a high near 80 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Flying acts are scheduled to perform from noon to 4:15 p.m. today.
Parking is different
Leave early and be patient, as traffic will likely be heavy as it was Saturday when many people took to social media to express frustration with how traffic concerns about getting to the show.
General admission parking is now entirely on the east side of North Dixie Drive across from the air show’s entrance.
Be aware also that part of North Dixie Drive directly in front of the gateway will be blocked to give general admission patrons a safer walk to the entrance.
Chalet, Pavilion, and Flight Line Hangar ticket holders with P-Lot parking passes will now park on the south side of the airport off West National Road. More than 30 shuttle buses will shuttle attendees to their chalets or pavilions, the show has said.
Handicap Parking, VIP Parking and C-Lot Parking lots have not changed.
Credit: Marshall Gorby
Credit: Marshall Gorby
Featured performers
Today, the feature flying show will be held from 12 to 4:15 p.m. But there will be plenty to see on the ground. A few of the ground-based “static displays” include the Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 and the Army CH-47F.
The show schedule is the same both days, but all acts and times are subject to change depending on weather or other factors.
This year, the Navy’s Blue Angels are the headline act. With their new F/A-18 Super Hornets, the Blue Angels can reach up to 700 mph and fly as close as 18 inches apart.
The Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels alternate as the show’s crowning performance every other year.
Ticket information
General admission tickets, priced at $20-$30, are available online, a Kroger near you or can be purchased at the gate. Tickets are to be used for one day. Children under the age of 5 have free admission.
Visit daytonairshow.com or call 800-514-3849.
Parking details
General admission for parking is $15 per car and $25 for RVs, buses and other large vehicles.
Take Exit 64 Northwoods Blvd from I-75. Follow signs to appropriate lots. Stay in right lane.
More information on parking can be found https://daytonairshow.com/parking-and-directions/.
Flying lineup
Flag Drop and National Anthem
U.S. Army Golden Knights
Kevin Coleman
U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo
Vampire Airshows
U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Kent Pietsch
USMC Fat Albert
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Credit: Marshall Gorby
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-air-shows-final-day-what-to-know-about-todays-show/G5AK76LKJRDNTEUASB2EFI4DO4/ | 2022-07-31T12:25:02 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-air-shows-final-day-what-to-know-about-todays-show/G5AK76LKJRDNTEUASB2EFI4DO4/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/car-strikes-home-after-driver-is-shot-dead/3320819/ | 2022-07-31T12:29:36 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/car-strikes-home-after-driver-is-shot-dead/3320819/ |
A car struck a house after the driver was shot in South Jersey Sunday morning.
Family members of the driver told NBC10 that the man died after the shooting and crash in a residential Vineland neighborhood. He only lived about five minutes from the crash site, they said.
The car was headed down the 1100 block of Elmer Road when it jumped the curb, went through two lawns and hit the front of the house before coming to a rest. Investigators also blocked off part of Main Road, up the street from Elmer Road, for hours during their investigation.
The investigation was ongoing, with the family members saying they wanted to know why someone would harm their loved one. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/driver-dies-after-being-shot-striking-home-in-vineland/3320829/ | 2022-07-31T12:29:42 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/driver-dies-after-being-shot-striking-home-in-vineland/3320829/ |
Bobblehead alert: The Kenosha Kingfish return to Simmons Field today, for a 4:05 p.m. game against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. But more important than a baseball game is the team’s second 2022 bobblehead giveaway! “Wisconsin Elvis” will be given out to fans, while supplies last. For tickets and more information, go to Kingfishbaseball.com, call 262-653-0900, or go to the ticket office at Simmons Field, 7817 Sheridan Road.
Nifty Thrifty, the resale store operated by Women and Children’s Horizons, is hosting a Family Fun Fest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The festival is outside the store, 4200 39th Ave., and will feature bouncy houses, games (with prizes!), a 50/50 raffle, silent auction items and bucket raffles. There will be a fashion show at 1 p.m. and music provided by the band On the Fly. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
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The Racine Concert Band performs 7:30 tonight in the Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St. Admission is free. Tonight’s program include a piccolo/trombone duet and guest vocalist Greg Berg. Note: The zoo’s gates at Walton Avenue and Augusta Street open at 7 p.m. for free admission to the concert site, the Kiwanis Amphitheater on the east side of the zoo grounds. A courtesy cart, for audience members who need assistance in getting to the concert site, is available before and after the concert.
Huzzah! The Bristol Renaissance Faire is open for another season of making merry while wearing chain mail. The Faire celebrates the day in 1574 when Queen Elizabeth visited Bristol, England. If you see the queen, remember to use your best royal wave to greet her majesty. The Faire is open weekends through Sept. 5, located just west of I-94 at the Wisconsin/Illinois border. For more details, go to renfair.com/bristol/ | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-sunday-july-31/article_3ecc7624-0eb7-11ed-8577-3fb48b4f37b3.html | 2022-07-31T12:44:03 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-sunday-july-31/article_3ecc7624-0eb7-11ed-8577-3fb48b4f37b3.html |
WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio. For an updated schedule, go online to wgtd.org. WGTD 91.1-FM’s “Morning Show” airs 8:10 to 9 a.m. weekdays.
Guests this week include:
Monday: Ryan Swanson, author of “The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete.”
Tuesday: David Adams Cleveland, author of “Gods of Deception,” a novel inspired by the infamous story of suspected spy Alger Hiss.
Wednesday: Frank N. Egerton, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, discusses his book “GunCrazy: A History and Critique of our Gun Culture.”
Thursday: Keri Blakinger, author of “Corrections in Ink: a Memoir.”
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Friday: Jason Reid, author of “Rise of the Black Quarterback: What It Means For America.” | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/wgtd-announces-morning-show-schedule-for-this-week/article_18600404-0f54-11ed-b545-4f2bae836481.html | 2022-07-31T12:44:09 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/wgtd-announces-morning-show-schedule-for-this-week/article_18600404-0f54-11ed-b545-4f2bae836481.html |
BOISE, Idaho — A Boise family has been displaced from their home after a fire broke out and caused severe smoke damage.
Boise Fire responded to a house fire on Castlebar Dr. around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Crews found a room on fire and heavy smoke, prompting a truck to be called.
Engine 9 was able to quickly extinguish the fire and no injuries were reported, according to Boise Fire.
Although the fire was confined to just one room, the smoke damage in the rest of the house has caused the family to be displaced for several days.
The Burnout Fund helped provide assistance to the family.
What caused the fire is still under investigation.
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See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/boise-family-displaced-after-fire-causes-smoke-damage-to-home/277-ad1c0a41-d927-48df-890a-8eca4c19254b | 2022-07-31T12:57:53 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/boise-family-displaced-after-fire-causes-smoke-damage-to-home/277-ad1c0a41-d927-48df-890a-8eca4c19254b |
KUNA, Idaho —
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
The city of Kuna’s annual Kuna Days celebration is set to kick off at Bernie Fisher City Park on Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. The event will run through Aug. 6.
This year’s theme is “Tailgating Party” and will feature a host of vendors and activities, according to the Kuna Chamber of Commerce website. On Aug. 5, community members will be able to enjoy live music, a Reptile Adventures exhibit, a beer garden and a movie to be played at the east baseball field. This year’s movie is “Remember the Titans.”
The bulk of activities will occur Aug. 6. The day starts off with a pancake breakfast at the basketball courts. The breakfast will be followed by a fun run. The Saturday portion of the program will also feature events like the second annual “Mullet Catwalk,” where contestants will compete for the longest, thickest, most spirited and best overall mullets; the Kuna Days parade; a youth mud obstacle course and a pet costume contest.
The event will conclude with a fireworks show in the park.
More information for Kuna Days, including a complete schedule of events, can be found on the Kuna Days Facebook page. Those interested can also check out kunachamber.org.
The Kuna Chamber of Commerce, which puts on Kuna Days, did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press. Read more at IdahoPress.com
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/kuna-days-celebration-set-to-kick-off-on-august-5/277-c41d16e1-a037-41b4-b3ef-d357a909a579 | 2022-07-31T12:57:59 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/kuna-days-celebration-set-to-kick-off-on-august-5/277-c41d16e1-a037-41b4-b3ef-d357a909a579 |
BOISE, Idaho — Volunteers for the Meridian Library District are busy making fidget quilts for more than 30 seniors in their community.
Volunteer coordinator Pamela Johnston said these lap-sized quilts are particularly beneficial for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Fidgeting helps keep their hands busy and helps improve their memory skills.
“It redirects their attention on something that is positive, safe and engaging for the brain,” she said.
Fidget quilts can have a variety of different activities sewn on – like buttons, zippers, charms, pockets and shoe laces. Johnston said volunteers who make fidget quilts can either use their own supplies or use supplies from the library.
She said they received a $600 dollar grant through the Idaho Community Foundation and Project Neighborly. Volunteers can grab a free kit with various supplies to get started.
Making a fidget quilt is a great way to give back, Johnston said. Especially for those who enjoy sewing, knitting or crocheting.
“This project supports the library's mission to meet critical service needs in the community by increasing access to enriching activities that support lifelong learning,” she said.
Currently, there are about 12 volunteers making fidget quilts. But Johnston said the library is looking for more help because they are getting more requests for quilts every single week.
People who are interesting in making a fidget quilt, can sign up through the Meridian Library District’s website. Quilts are due at the end of October.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/meridian-library-volunteers-make-fidget-quilts-for-seniors/277-4fc427c9-6238-4c08-9f79-cc694d889cf5 | 2022-07-31T12:58:05 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/meridian-library-volunteers-make-fidget-quilts-for-seniors/277-4fc427c9-6238-4c08-9f79-cc694d889cf5 |
VALPARAISO — After releasing a first draft in February, the Planning Department has finalized the Elevate Valpo downtown vision plan.
Conceived of as a sort of "playbook" for future growth in the downtown, Elevate Valpo lays out "where and what kind of development we are looking for," Planning and Transit Director Beth Shrader said.
The plan, which can be found on the city website under the Planning Department tab, delineates "thematic districts" throughout the downtown area, highlighting a business district along Jefferson Street, an arts district along Indiana Avenue, an entertainment district around Central Park, a barrel district where the new Journeyman Distillery will be and transitional districts connecting to surrounding residential areas on the east and west sides.
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Shrader said the impetus for the plan came from the city's 2020 housing study.
"What the housing study pointed out to us was in order to keep up with this pace of growth that we have been experiencing and will continue to experience, we need to focus our growth in one area in particular, which is our downtown," Shrader said.
A variety of housing will be needed throughout the city, but especially in the downtown.
The city worked with consultants from Context Design and Land Design to draft the plan. A month-long public comment period was held, and Shrader went before the Plan Commission and attended several neighborhood meetings.
"In my listening tour the things that I heard the most boiled down to one major thing, and that was attitudes about growth," Shrader said while presenting the final plan during a Monday night City Council meeting. "Growth can be something that is very exciting, it can also be very scary, and I think you see that reflected in the comments that I heard."
Shrader said about 95% of the public comment she received related to a section of the plan called Block C, located between Chicago and Jefferson streets, where BridgePoint Church sits.
Residents voiced concerns about the high density residential categorization Block C received. At a March Central Neighborhood meeting, attendees said high density housing would change the character of the neighborhood and worsen traffic.
During the Monday night City Council meeting, Shrader emphasized that the plan is simply a guide, illustrating what kind of development the city wants to see. The plan will not change existing zoning or development standards and has nothing to do with actual land acquisition, Shrader said, adding that the Block C area has a lot of architectural standards developers would have to adhere to.
However, resident Tom Davis said he worries developers would be able to get around existing standards through variances.
Though Block C is still classified as high density residential, Shrader said the city "would certainly entertain" medium density housing.
One of the major changes that came out of the listening sessions was reduction of the transitional zone shown on the north side of Lincolnway by about a half block.
Increased parking needs have also been a top concern among residents, who fear more residential spots will be taken up as the downtown is developed.
Though the plan is "not proposing that the city go build parking garages that aren't associated with a specific need," all developments will need to include a way of addressing parking issues, Shrader said.
The plan outlined a triangle of parking garages surrounding the downtown core. The recommendation would add two additional garages and would increase signage directing people to the Porter County garage, which the city rents.
The City Council passed a motion to accept the final version of the plan with a vote of 7-1. Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, was the sole "no" vote. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/watch-now-city-finalizes-elevate-valpo-downtown-vision-plan/article_6200b587-39de-53f9-af3c-5cbb489ef0b0.html | 2022-07-31T13:05:07 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/watch-now-city-finalizes-elevate-valpo-downtown-vision-plan/article_6200b587-39de-53f9-af3c-5cbb489ef0b0.html |
XENIA — Cows, chickens, bunnies, horses, turkeys and approximately 75,000 people will descend on Xenia this week for the 183rd Greene County Fair. The fair begins today and runs through Saturday.
Greene County has the oldest continuing fair west of the Allegheny Mountains, fair representative Kala Benton said.
“We’ve never missed a year for 183 years so come on out,” Benton said. “It’ll be a great time for the kiddos and the family. We have a lot of different events, from harness racing to demolition derbies.”
The Greene County Fairgrounds, located at 120 Fairground Road in Xenia will be open each day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily admission is $8. Children ages 9 and under are free with a paying adult.
Greene County has seen an increase in youth 4H and Future Farmers of America, or FFA, participants showing animals and projects this year, Benton said. Animal showmanship starts with beef and rabbits on Sunday, and continues with poultry, sheep, goats, hogs, horses and dogs throughout the week.
Attendee favorites, like Sunday night’s calf scramble, Monday’s demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, harness racing and drag races all return for 2022, as does an increase in live entertainment. Acrobat show the High Flying Pages returns this year after a two year hiatus, as does the Diaper Derby baby race on Wednesday afternoon.
The fair draws between 50,000 and 75,000 people annually. Last year 72,000 people attended, an almost 19% increase over 2019.
Patrons can get discounted tickets for entry multiple days during the week. Military and veterans get in for $4 on Monday. The county also does an annual food drive on Wednesday, and families who bring a non-perishable food item will get in for $4. Senior citizen tickets will be $4 on Thursday.
Rides will open Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. As pandemic restrictions have eased and more people attend Ohio’s county fairs, the state’s new laws governing ride inspections will be put to the test. Gov. Mike DeWine signed “Tyler’s Law” in 2019 to improve amusement ride safety standards by requiring two inspections of each ride and additional documentation.
Greene County had rides open to the public last year.
“One thing to know about your local rides is we have to be state-inspected before any child can be put on a ride,” Benton said. “We’re not reducing rides over safety concerns, we are ensuring that the rides that are gonna be present at the fair are up to par.”
How to attend
WHEN: Sunday, July 31 through Saturday, Aug. 6
WHERE: 120 Fairground Road in Xenia
COST: Daily admission is $8. Children ages 9 and under are free with a paying adult. Those who bring a non-perishable food item on Wednesday, Aug. 3 will get in for $4.
DETAILS: The fair includes favorites including a calf scramble, demo derby, truck and tractor pulls, harness racing, drag races and much more live entertainment.
MORE INFO: Facebook | www.greenecountyfairgrounds.com
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/greene-county-fair-begins-today-heres-what-you-need-to-know/GJ2EORMHCVFKLPPAMM55UXKJPQ/ | 2022-07-31T13:18:33 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/greene-county-fair-begins-today-heres-what-you-need-to-know/GJ2EORMHCVFKLPPAMM55UXKJPQ/ |
CEDAR FALLS — The search for a new Central Rivers Area Education Agency chief administrator has begun after the board of directors approved a search firm.
The board heard from four recruitment agencies on Wednesday: Grundmeyer Leader Services, GR Recruitment, Grieves/Richardson Consulting, and EDWise Consulting. The board chose GR Recruitment of Council Bluffs to lead the search – although Grundmeyer was a close second choice.
GR Recruitment listed its cost estimate at $15,200. Other proposals were around $19,800 for Grundmeyer, $10,100 for Grieves/Richardson and $9,500 for EDWise. Board officials said Grundmeyer’s expense was higher because “all the costs were known,” whereas the others could increase as time went on.
A board member put a motion on the floor to accept Grundmeyer Leader Services as its search firm. But others said they may have been moving too quickly and board president Deb Rich wasn’t quite ready to make the approval.
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“The folks (at Grundmeyer) have been principals and a board member and I’m wondering if they’ve got the administrative chops to look deeply at a chief administrator,” Rich said. “There’s a jump in experience in what a principal is expected to handle than a superintendent in a district and the chief in multiple districts and I’m wondering if they know what to look for.”
A motion was later made and unanimously approved to hire GR Recruitment.
GR’s presentation was led by Dick Christie, a former superintendent for Council Bluffs Community Schools, and Lane Plugge, the former administrator for Green Hills AEA in southwest Iowa. Plugge is also a former Iowa City Community Schools superintendent.
The duo said Christie alone has done 130 searches, and their team has done “significant” searches in Iowa and across the country. They said they conducted chief administrator searches in Green Hills AEA four times as well as for the Grant Wood, Northwest and Mississippi Bend area education agencies.
The Iowa associates, along with Christie and Plugge, include GR’s president, Gary Ray; Linda Brock, a former superintendent for Fort Dodge and Fort Madison; Beverly Smith, the former Waterloo Community Schools associate superintendent for human resources and equity; and Dale Monroe, who has held a number of roles in education in the Cedar Valley and across eastern Iowa.
The search will begin Monday and is set to conclude in late December.
The current chief administrator of Central Rivers AEA, Sam Miller, announced his retirement in June. He has led the agency for seven years and will retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
Central Rivers has more than 500 staff members who provide special education and school improvement services, as well as technology support for the 18 counties in north central and northeastern Iowa. The agency serves over 62,000 students and 5,000 educators. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/central-rivers-aea-selects-firm-to-search-for-new-chief-administrator/article_9a6a6aa7-a901-58b3-871e-914b678555e2.html | 2022-07-31T13:19:08 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/central-rivers-aea-selects-firm-to-search-for-new-chief-administrator/article_9a6a6aa7-a901-58b3-871e-914b678555e2.html |
CEDAR FALLS — Beginning this fall, a new program will allow Cedar Falls paraeducators to more easily earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and the certification needed to teach in elementary and special education classrooms.
In partnership with the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls Community Schools was recently awarded $719,452 through the Iowa Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Grant Program.
A total of 19 school districts were named benefactors of the $45.64 million made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
“We were just told this week that we are the first registered apprenticeship program in the state, which is super exciting,” Tara Estep, executive director of enrichment and special programs, said Friday. “We are ready to roll.”
The new program is being launched with $4.166 million in assistance from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) federal funding.
Paraeducators can be paraprofessionals, educational aides, teaching assistants, educational associates, instructional aides and behavior interventionists. They assist teachers in the classroom, often working with students who have challenging educational and developmental needs.
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All grant recipients will be part of the two-year “innovative pilot program” that allows them to stay employed with the Cedar Falls school district and get paid, while gaining on-the-job training.
“If they want to be a teacher, this is a way for them to jump-start their career,” Estep said. “If they had wanted to do something like this in the past, they probably needed to quit their job and go back to school for two years. This a fast track opportunity and innovative plan that UNI and Cedar Falls have put together.”
In doing so, they’ll also be among the students taking advantage of UNI’s newly launched “Purple Pathway for Paraeducators” program, which offers online courses outside of the work day.
Additionally, the grant will cover up to $17,000 of a participant’s tuition and fees per year, according to Estep.
Once complete, she feels the pilot program will have helped Cedar Falls “grow their own,” because the participants can apply for a full-time teaching job in Cedar Falls or elsewhere in the Cedar Valley.
On Monday, the Board of Education voted in favor of the plans and specifications, which include the 'shell' of the building without the 'actual pools.'
To be eligible, a person has to be a paraeducator in the Cedar Falls Schools and hold an associate of arts or science degree.
Purple Pathway
Some 40 students from across the state have applied for UNI’s Purple Pathway program.
“Anyone of those paras, as long as they have an AA or an AS, is eligible to be in this program,” said Benjamin Forsyth, UNI director of educator preparation. “And we have people who have applied from Storm Lake, Oskaloosa, Marion, Camanche, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Clear Lake, Iowa City, Des Moines, Mason City, Okoboji, I mean they’re applying from all over the place because this gives them access.”
As of a right now, an associate of applied science will not be acceptable, but Forsyth is optimistic those graduates will be accommodated in the future.
Previously, these applicants faced the barrier of not being able to obtain the Bachelor’s degree and teaching certification because they couldn’t leave their para job to attend day-time classes, which are “frequently” offered on campus.
“They literally have to leave the education profession in order to work in the education profession at the next level,” Forsyth said.
“In fact, when we presented (this program) to the State Board of Education, one of the comments was, ‘Why hadn’t this been around sooner?’ … Everyone has recognized that this is a need,” he added.
Cedar Falls Public Library patrons found the doors shut Saturday after the slaying of employee Sarah Schmidt, along with her husband, Tyler, and their 6-year-old daughter, Lula.
Not only will they be able to keep their jobs, but Forsyth said they “literally” will be able to try out things in the classroom that they learned through the Purple Pathway lectures.
As for other program benefits, Forsyth said, “It has the potential to affect generational poverty.”
“Let’s say you are making $12 to $15 per hour,” Forsyth said. “That is such a low wage, but you’ll have the ability to stay in that profession, and become a licensed teacher, with an average starting salary in Iowa for a teacher, which last year was $41,000.”
Additionally, he feels it will help bring about a more diverse group of teachers into the workforce.
If not coming from a pilot apprenticeship district like Cedar Falls, Forsyth said those interested in the program can seek financial assistance by applying for university aid and other scholarships.
Unlike the teaching apprenticeship, which for now is a two-year pilot program, Forsyth expects Purple Pathway to last in “perpetuity.”
And he emphasized that it grew from the success of the Teach Waterloo Program, which according to its website, is a partnership providing “financial resources and resilience support for Waterloo staff of color seeking a teaching certification.” | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/up-to-15-cf-paras-to-be-able-to-more-easily-land-bachelors-degree-teaching/article_9dbfa11f-6034-5277-b525-ad66822ec431.html | 2022-07-31T13:19:10 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/up-to-15-cf-paras-to-be-able-to-more-easily-land-bachelors-degree-teaching/article_9dbfa11f-6034-5277-b525-ad66822ec431.html |
CEDAR FALLS – Officials have seen increased usage of the public electric vehicle charger on West Second Street since it was installed in late 2019.
According to a memo from City Clerk Jacque Danielsen, that observation will play into a policy decision before the City Council at its 7 p.m. Monday meeting inside the Community Center, 528 Main St.
As part of a pilot program adopted in 2019, only one space had been designated for charging in the downtown area just north of City Hall, despite the unit having two charging cables, said Danielsen.
Danielsen described how signs were posted to indicate its use for charging only, and “other vehicles warnings” were given in “monitoring the space.”
She also noted the second “cable has been pulled over to other parking areas and even pulled across the sidewalk, creating potential hazards.”
“As the usage continues to increase, CFU and city staff feel that designation of a second charging space is needed to safely accommodate the additional vehicles wanting to use both charging spaces at this location,” she wrote.
If 'we lose one more officer, which is very likely,' Police Chief Mike Dean said Evansdale will not be capable of operating a 24/7 department.
On the first of three readings will be a proposed ordinance outlining the “enforcement of proper use of the spaces” in light of city staff now recommending that a second parking space, adjacent to the first one, be designated for charging.
The new proposal would outlaw anyone from stopping or parking a vehicle in those spots except for the purpose of using one of the electric cords.
Anyone found in violation of the ordinance would be a subject to a $10 fine.
The ball is in Waterloo’s court at this point in time, according to officials involved with the effort.
If not paid within 30 days from the date of the violation notice, the fine would increase to $15.
In other business, the council will consider approving:
A $2.69 million construction contract to Reinbeck-based Peterson Contractors, the lone bidder for the project to remove a bridge on Olive Street and expand the adjacent Pettersen Plaza on College Street. That would be done by extending the box culvert to Olive Street. The engineer’s estimate was $2.2 million.
Plans for a sidewalk assessment project, meant to replace deficient sidewalks and then bill the replacement cost to the owners of the property adjacent to them. Estimated construction cost is $40,591.
A contract with Waterloo-based Ritland+Kuiper Landscape Architects for up to $35,100 in design consultant work for the Seerley Park improvements project.
A site plan for a new 3,666 square foot Veridian Credit Union branch on 1000 Brandilynn Blvd.
Revisions to its public meeting procedures.
Photos: Don Felder and Sugar Ray perform at RAGBRAI
I've covered city government for The Courier since August 2021. I'm a Chatham, NJ native who graduated from Gettysburg College in 2018 and previously worked for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
A downtown Cedar Falls electric vehicle charger, jointly installed by CFU and the city, is now available for use. Vehicle owners can plug in at no cost until March 1.
The Cedar Falls City Council Monday approved a project with CFU to install an electrical vehicle charger north of City Hall and designate a parking space for its public use. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/second-public-spot-could-be-designated-in-cedar-falls-for-electric-vehicle-charging/article_52aa808b-c492-5a0b-b28c-21566f1e6f43.html | 2022-07-31T13:19:12 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/second-public-spot-could-be-designated-in-cedar-falls-for-electric-vehicle-charging/article_52aa808b-c492-5a0b-b28c-21566f1e6f43.html |
Two weeks ago, we had the official Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at our new Telegraph District offices.
It was a wonderful reminder of our long-standing commitment to the community at the same time we celebrated the transformation the Lincoln Journal Star has witnessed.
And that transformation continued this week with the news that Natalia Wiita has been named president and publisher of the Journal Star. I will continue to be president of the Omaha World-Herald, but I am taking on new duties, overseeing Lee Enterprises’ markets from Nebraska to Napa, California.
I’ll live in Lincoln, have an office for occasional use in Lincoln, but Natalia is running the show here now.
Having worked closely with her for almost 18 years, I am excited to hand the reins of a fantastic business to her.
When I joined the Journal Star in 1995, I was a single mom to a 5-year-old girl and an 11-day-old baby boy. I was attending UNL and working in the classified ad department. I took the job at the paper for the free parking close to the university, but I had dreams of finishing college and attending law school.
My mom took care of my son so I could work and go to school. The kids and I lived in a six-plex at 19th and F streets. My landlords were an amazing couple named Roger and Jan, who helped our little family in countless ways. My friends and other family members pitched in, too. It was a challenging time, but I had a ton of help along the way.
And I discovered I loved the Journal Star. Over the years, my work changed a lot. I joke that I’ve done just about every job in the company. It seems like just about the time I felt like I figured out one thing, my job changed again. There were long hours and many weekends spent working. My kids practically grew up in our old building at Ninth and P streets, but they didn’t complain.
What never changed — and still hasn’t — is my deep appreciation for those who have been part of making the past 27 years extraordinary, both inside and outside my newspaper family. I have been mentored by exceptional leaders, pushed and supported by caring co-workers and I have been uplifted by friendships and professional relationships with wonderful people everywhere in our community.
But my work outside Lincoln has demanded more time, and Natalia has been quick to step up — as she always has.
Like me, she started at the Journal Star in classified sales while attending UNL. She was named advertising director in 2012, then vice president in 2017. In January of 2021, her role was expanded to include markets across Nebraska.
Natalia has played a key role as the Journal Star has broadened the way it delivers content to readers and audiences to businesses.
She has been pivotal in the growth of our Inspire program, which celebrates women’s leadership across the broad spectrum of business, government, education and philanthropy. The growth of the Inspire Women’s Leadership program — in its eighth year — is a source of pride and joy for me.
In my roles at the Journal Star and on various committees and boards, I’ve been exposed to countless great leaders pushing this community forward, people who lead big businesses and are actively supporting Lincoln with their time and treasure. I have been involved in causes that have introduced me to people who have faced real-life struggles and challenges and have persevered, enriching our community one life at a time.
That’s why the Inspire program has become so important to me — and why I have been grateful for the community’s support of it. It honors women and cuts across socioeconomic lines to recognize good people doing good things wherever they may be. It honors women trying to transform our community. We’ll celebrate them at the upcoming event in September.
Transformation is a constant in life and in business. For a business that’s been around as long as the Journal Star, we’ve seen a lot of it. It’s accelerating, exhilarating and sometimes a little hard or sad.
I have relished — and will continue to enjoy — my relationships in the community. But I’m really excited to see where this staff in this new space and with its new leader will go.
Top Journal Star photos for July
+1
Ava Thomas worked at the Journal Star for 27 years. She is president of the Omaha World-Herald and oversees Lee Enterprises media outlets in 26 markets in the western half of the U.S. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/ava-thomas-gratitude-growth-and-more-change/article_b2d63dd2-3ee9-5fd9-92bf-a33007d2005b.html | 2022-07-31T13:24:49 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/ava-thomas-gratitude-growth-and-more-change/article_b2d63dd2-3ee9-5fd9-92bf-a33007d2005b.html |
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating an early Sunday morning hit-and-run crash in Manatee County that sent one man to the hospital with critical injuries.
According to FHP, the incident happened around 2:50 a.m. near 301 Boulevard East and 9th Street East.
Troopers said in a statement an unknown vehicle was traveling north on 301 Boulevard East, west of 9th Street East, when it collided with a person crossing the 301 Boulevard East travel lanes, west of the intersection of 9th Street East.
The vehicle fled the scene and remains unknown, troopers say.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol or Crimestoppers.
This crash is still under investigation. No other information has been released at this time. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/hit-and-run-manatee-county-bradenton-pedestrian-critically-injured/67-19672b0e-c086-4868-9bee-7ff442da76bb | 2022-07-31T13:27:33 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/hit-and-run-manatee-county-bradenton-pedestrian-critically-injured/67-19672b0e-c086-4868-9bee-7ff442da76bb |
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Emergency services throughout metro Atlanta are being stretched thin and making it harder to respond to those who need help right away.
Douglas County reports that its ambulances are having to wait at area hospitals for at least 30 minutes more than 500 times in both May and June. They report two reasons are behind this and are asking for people's help to improve public safety.
Responding to emergencies is where Douglas County EMT and firefighter Jordan Reid wants to be.
“We do love to be out there serving the community. It is frustrating to be stuck at the hospital and stuck not being able to serve the emergency calls that are coming in," Reid said.
Douglas County ambulances have responded this week to a variety of non-emergency calls.
“We had a young lady who was a newer parent whose baby would not go to sleep at about 3 o’clock in the morning, and she just couldn’t put the baby down," Reid said. "She didn’t know what to do, so she called the ambulance.”
“We’ve had everything from a sunburn to I can’t sleep to a UTI," Douglas County EMS Chief Stacie Farmer said.
Farmer said the problem isn't just responding to those non-emergency calls but also ambulances waiting at hospitals due to high call volumes.
“To turn that patient over is sometimes taking one, two, three hours," Farmer said. "A couple of days ago, [it took] five hours. The highest we’ve had is eight.”
Douglas County posted a public service announcement this week asking people only to call 911 for emergencies.
"We’re asking them to evaluate whether this is a true emergency or if there are avenues that are more appropriate," Farmer said.
Those avenues include telemedicine and urgent care, Farmer explained.
“If you have a situation that’s non-emergency that you’re using an ambulance for, that ambulance is not available for the other citizens in Douglas County," Reid said.
This isn’t just a problem in Douglas County. It’s a regional problem. DeKalb and Cobb counties said they're experiencing similar issues. Fire and rescue services in Clayton and Gwinnett counties said they'd get back to us, but we didn't get information on if they're seeing these problems by the time this story aired. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/douglas-county-ems-911-calls-delays/85-610697fe-6392-4068-b53a-abb30ddc8cfc | 2022-07-31T13:41:13 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/douglas-county-ems-911-calls-delays/85-610697fe-6392-4068-b53a-abb30ddc8cfc |
Day Two of the 2022 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show is under way.
Gates opened at 9 a.m. for today’s show.
The traffic that clogged roads leading into the show Saturday were absent on the way into it today.
Skies over the show were partly cloudy, but spokeswoman Shiela Wallace said that would not change the day’s planned activities.
“We do not postpone the start of the show for clouds,” said Wallace.
Today, the feature flying show will be held from noon to 4:15 p.m, but there will be a host of ground-based “static displays” all the way through 6 p.m. including the Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 and the Army CH-47F.
The Navy’s Blue Angels are the headline act. With their new F/A-18 Super Hornets, the Blue Angels can reach up to 700 mph and fly as close as 18 inches apart. The Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels alternate as the show’s crowning performance every other year.
Ticket information
General admission tickets, priced at $20-$30, are available online, at a Kroger near you or may be purchased at the gate. Children younger than 5 years old receive free admission. For more information, visit daytonairshow.com or call 800-514-3849.
Staff Writer Thomas Gnau contributed to this report
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-air-show-gates-now-open-as-second-day-events-take-off/QJHXMMNVIJB55A3T2KU3MSEKNY/ | 2022-07-31T13:58:41 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-air-show-gates-now-open-as-second-day-events-take-off/QJHXMMNVIJB55A3T2KU3MSEKNY/ |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! While the past two years have presented many challenges, I am excited for a fresh start with your child in my class.
Instead of asking you to purchase extra supplies for our classroom, this year I’d like to request something different. I ask that you try out the suggestions on this list, which have the potential to greatly impact your child’s education and well-being. These tasks may be more time-consuming than purchasing notebooks and pencils, but I believe they are worth the investment.
1. Monitor your child’s screen time. When it comes to screen time, both quantity and quality matter. A recent JAMA Pediatrics study shows that leisure screen time increased for children in all grade levels during the pandemic. Doctors noted that when screen time increased, so did children’s stress and worry, but their coping skills declined. Parents can help curb this trend by placing limits on screen time at home and providing natural consequences if rules are broken. Your child’s mental health — both at home and at school — will benefit as a result.
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2. Head to the library. It’s amazing how requests for screen time decrease when there are piles of books lying around! Libraries are a free, abundant source of entertainment, and reading at home helps your child reinforce the skills we are teaching here at school.
3. Provide opportunities for your child to contribute to the common good. When children enter their classroom, they become part of a vibrant community where they are expected to pitch in for the benefit of all. By giving kiddos responsibilities at home like cooking dinner or caring for a pet, you can help them develop pride in their work and prepare to contribute as part of a team at school.
4. Research the current candidates for state superintendent of public instruction and your district’s school board. These folks make critical decisions about school funding, curriculum and teacher certification; in other words, they profoundly affect the quality of our schools. Find the candidates who are dedicated to fully funding your child’s education, and cast your votes accordingly.
5. Inform the office if you change your phone number or email address. This step may sound obvious, but schools can waste hours trying to track down families with outdated contact information. This is both a courtesy and a safety issue: schools need quick contact with families in case of emergencies or illness. If you change phone plans often, consider getting a permanent free phone number through Google Voice so the office can easily reach you.
6. Encourage folks to get their substitute certificate. Last year’s substitute shortage meant many teachers had to cover each others’ classes during their prep time. This led to burn-out and fatigue for both teachers and students. If you know anyone willing to work 1-2 days per week (or even per month) as a substitute, ask them to check out the Arizona Department of Education website to apply for their certificate. Adding to the pool of available substitutes will relieve a huge burden for schools and ensure seamless coverage of your child’s classes.
7. Let your child be a kid. All of us, including children, are tired from the challenges brought about by the pandemic. While it’s important that children work hard in school, they also need to relax and let loose. They need to get outside, run around, and forget their worries. School days are long and childhood is short. Encourage your children to be active, silly, and creative, then join them. After all, you deserve joyful play in your life, too.
If you’ve read this entire list, thank you. Thank you for being someone who roots for our young people and wants to send them to school ready for success. You are the expert on your child, and I look forward to partnering with you this school year.
Sincerely,
Your Child’s Teacher
P.S. If you simply insist on contributing extra supplies, please send Kleenex and Clorox wipes. We will never, ever turn them away.
Heather Mace is a contributor to the Arizona Daily Star and a teacher mentor in Tucson. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/heather-mace-a-back-to-school-wish-list-with-impact/article_8143927e-0eb4-11ed-bedc-b77f072dc2cc.html | 2022-07-31T14:04:54 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/heather-mace-a-back-to-school-wish-list-with-impact/article_8143927e-0eb4-11ed-bedc-b77f072dc2cc.html |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
My heart sank when I heard witnesses at the Jan. 6 hearings say the attack on the Capitol didn’t really begin until the Proud Boys from Arizona — the ones in the orange hats — led the charge up the steps.
Oh no, not again! Arizonans were already playing a variety of ignominious roles in the events surrounding the insurrection: The QAnon Shaman hails from Phoenix. Three of the state’s nine members of Congress, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and Debbie Lesko, were deeply involved with the fake electors and other schemes to “Stop the Steal.” The state Legislature spent at least $3 million in taxpayer dollars on the Cyber Ninjas and other futile attempts to find fraud in the 2020 election results.
It’s not the first time the state’s been a national embarrassment. Gov. Ed Mecham’s 1987 repeal of the MLK holiday cost the state the Super Bowl and millions of dollars in lost business. The holiday wasn’t reinstated by the voters until 1992, making Arizona the last state to enact it.
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But this time, President Biden’s razor-thin victory and an evenly-split electorate have made Arizona more than a punch line. It’s a crucial battleground in the upcoming midterms. With control of the U.S. Senate potentially at stake, the state’s political landscape is now representative of our national divide.
Although other states have their wackos and wing nuts, their Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, Arizona does seem to have a disproportionate share. This may go back to the state’s beginnings as the last of the lower 48 to enter the union. Indian wars and other conflicts along its nearly 380-mile-long border with Mexico continued well into the 20th century, giving it a reputation as the last of the wild frontier. The border continues to attract far-right vigilantes and militia-types to this day.
While these people get a lot of attention, they are actually not typical of the state’s political geography. Generally speaking, Tucson and the border (except Yuma and Cochise County) are liberal, and metro Phoenix and places north of it (except Flagstaff and the reservations) are conservative.
We have Biggs, Gosar and Lesko (representing Gilbert, Bullhead City and Peoria, respectively), but we also have Ruben Gallego and Raul Grijalva, two of the more progressive members of Congress. (Gallego is from Phoenix, but we’ll forgive him that.)
Republicans in Arizona, like those in many other states, are currently engaged in a battle for the soul of their party. State House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who bravely testified against Trump at the Jan. 6 hearings, was censured by the Arizona Republican Party and said he expects to lose his race for a state Senate seat from east Mesa for refusing to buy into the “Big Lie.”
The Aug. 2 primary will also be a referendum on the legacy of outgoing Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who attracted Trump’s ire when he certified the state’s election results for Biden. Former Vice President Mike Pence appeared in Peoria and Tucson last week on behalf of Ducey’s choice for governor, the same day Trump held a rally for his preferred candidates in Prescott Valley.
In the fall, the Republican candidate for Senate will face centrist Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, who won a special election two years ago to finish the term of the late John McCain. Along with his beleaguered Democratic colleague Kyrsten Sinema — who fortunately for her does not have to face the voters this cycle — Kelly is trying to appeal to the third of the state’s electorate who are Independent and who will decide the election.
In this red state turning blue, Kelly and Sinema are testing the political wisdom of former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower, who said of the Lone Star State: “There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos.”
Here in Arizona, it’s the Grand Canyon.
Miriam Davidson is a Tucson-based writer. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-arizona-is-the-grand-canyon-of-u-s-political-divide/article_4d919eaa-0cfa-11ed-8a64-dfbef726be48.html | 2022-07-31T14:05:00 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-arizona-is-the-grand-canyon-of-u-s-political-divide/article_4d919eaa-0cfa-11ed-8a64-dfbef726be48.html |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Free and fair elections have been a core principle of our country since its founding. Certainly there have been stumbles along the way, but for more than two centuries Americans have trusted that their votes will be counted and that candidates — win or lose — will accept the outcome of each election and facilitate the peaceful transfer of power when voters make a change. This is particularly true for the election of our president. While in Congress, I participated in three such transfers of power from one party to the other.
But today, our democracy is facing a serious threat from those who reject the legitimate outcome of the last presidential election. The world watched in disbelief as a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol last year in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power and overturn the will of the people. Disinformation has been weaponized to sow distrust in our democratic process. Perhaps most worrisome, so-called election deniers across the country are running for offices at state and local levels that will oversee the administration of elections in 2024 and beyond, including here in Arizona.
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That’s why Mark Finchem, an avowed election denier, would be the worst choice in the Republican secretary of state primary.
As a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, Finchem tried to overturn President Biden’s election victory in Arizona in 2020. Though not himself one of the fake Republican electors who falsely claimed to have been elected to cast their vote for President Trump, he signed on to a resolution to confirm their legitimacy. When that attempt failed, Finchem took the fight to Washington, D.C., speaking at a Stop the Steal rally and then rallying outside the Capitol as rioters stormed the building on Jan. 6. Finchem is a self-described member of the “Oath Keepers” — an extremist militia group that helped facilitate the attack on the Capitol. He lied about how close he was to the Capitol and was later subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 Committee to testify about his activities that day. Even now, as a candidate for secretary of state in 2022, Finchem has a petition on his campaign website to decertify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
If Finchem is elected to be secretary of state, he will take a wrecking ball to our elections. Voters should not give him that opportunity.
For all his talk about election security, as secretary of state, Finchem would make our elections less secure and undermine public confidence in our democracy. He is currently suing the state to stop the use of electronic voting machines, echoing the former president’s calls to count every ballot by hand.
Fear-mongering about imagined insecurities of voting machines is easy, but counting each ballot by hand is far less accurate and introduces more opportunities for error — deliberate or not. Finchem also wants to roll back Arizona’s early voting system that was used by an astonishing 89% of voters in 2020. Early voting should not be a partisan issue; in fact, more Republicans than Democrats used this option in 2020. But Finchem wants to make it harder for Arizonans of both parties to cast their ballots in a safe and secure manner.
This race goes to the very heart of what the United States has worked to achieve in the last 200 years — that every American, regardless of race, gender, or whether they owned property or not, can make their voice heard through the ballot box and know with certainty that their vote will be tallied fairly and honestly. Certainly, there can be legitimate debate about ways to improve and strengthen our elections, but Finchem chooses instead to spread disinformation designed to erode public faith in our democratic system. He cannot be trusted to oversee elections that he himself does not trust.
In my 28 years in elected office as a state legislator and member of Congress, I worked with legislators from both parties to seek solutions to problems at the state and national level. Though I often disagreed with the positions of those on the other side of the aisle, I always supported their right to win their case with voters at the ballot box. Candidates like Finchem would rather rig the rules of politics than play the game fairly.
Arizona deserves a secretary of state who will not use the office to spread disinformation or deny the legitimate expression of voters’ will. Mark Finchem poses a direct threat to our state’s democratic processes. That is why I cannot support him in his quest to become the top election official for our state. To do so would violate my core American beliefs in our rule of law and free and fair elections.
Republican Jim Kolbe represented Arizona’s 5th Congressional District from 1985 to 2003 and Arizona’s 8th Congressional District from 2003 to 2007. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-mark-finchem-would-take-a-wrecking-ball-to-az-elections/article_a7afccd4-0ea0-11ed-ab67-8729415e6f9d.html | 2022-07-31T14:05:06 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-mark-finchem-would-take-a-wrecking-ball-to-az-elections/article_a7afccd4-0ea0-11ed-ab67-8729415e6f9d.html |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Fresh seafood is on special this summer at the Westfield Annapolis Mall.
You don’t have to be an ornithologist to know that osprey typically nest near water, and a parking lot seems like a ridiculous choice for birds who depend on fresh fish for food. But Dave Brinker, a regional ecologist with the Maryland Heritage Wildlife Program, a branch of the Department of Natural Resources, says the nesting site represents progress, population growth and a formerly endangered species that has survived by becoming more flexible.
“We’ve reached carrying capacity for natural nesting sites,” Brinker says, noting that the birds historically nested atop dead trees. When he began working for the state in 1989, osprey were still recovering from poisoning by DDT, a pesticide that thinned eggshells and decimated the populations of American raptors — another term for birds of prey — until it was banned in 1972. By 1996, a comprehensive study found more than 3,500 nesting pairs breeding on 427 tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, with 1,492 pairs in Maryland.
Twenty-five years later, Brinker says, “We are up to our armpits in osprey.”
But still. Why a mall parking lot? “These ospreys are doing what nature programs them to do: Looking for alternatives,” Brinker said. “To an osprey that is thinking outside the box, a light post on a parking lot looks like a lot like a dead tree surrounded by water. Instead of the sea of the Chesapeake, it’s a sea of asphalt and humanity.”
While he can’t know for sure, there’s a good chance that these two love birds were raised on a nonnatural nesting site, such as a communications tower. When it was time to breed, the mall raptors didn’t go looking for a tree, they went looking for something human-made, something like a large, tall, mall lighting fixture.
“We have osprey all over the place, in all kinds of strange locations,” Brinker said.
The 1996 Chesapeake Bay osprey study found that 50% of mating pairs were nesting on channel markers, but since then, the Coast Guard has redesigned markers to make them less hospitable, and in some cases installed alternative nesting platforms. Utility companies have tried moving empty nests when osprey interfere with transmission lines, through programs like Baltimore Gas and Electric’s “Osprey Watch.”
In other words, well-intentioned humans have convinced several generations of osprey that they can nest anywhere as long as they are within reasonable proximity to water where fish are plentiful. Westfield Mall is less than a mile from Weems Creek, and as Brinker said, “They don’t mind commuting to the grocery store.”
Osprey typically begin breeding around age 3, mate for life and can reach the age of 30, although seven to 10 years is a more likely average. The winter range for East Coast osprey spans from Florida to Argentina, and they prefer to return to the same nesting site each spring if they successfully raised chicks there the previous year.
Curtis Dingle, a facilities manager for Westfield Annapolis, said the mall initially called pest control when the osprey arrived several years ago, but have since opted to leave the birds alone. Under terms of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it’s illegal to disturb osprey nests once eggs are laid and until after the chicks fledge. No shoppers have complained about the nest, Dingle said.
Brinker said humans and mid-Atlantic osprey have learned to coexist, and that the Westfield Mall birds seem particularly well adapted, otherwise they would never have built a nest at the mall. The chief human threat now is discarded plastic. Osprey like to line their stick nests with softer materials, and don’t realize things like plastic bags could potentially strangle their chicks. Case in point: There appear to be several sheets of plastic wrapping dangling from the nest at the mall. “They aren’t slobs,” Brinker said, defending the birds.
There’s just one thing that shoppers should be wary of, and that is osprey leftovers landing on your car. “Pieces of fish could get down into the air vent, and you don’t realize it until things really start to stink,” he said laughing. “Those are the kinds of crazy things that happen once in a while.”
His overarching advice, besides checking the hood of your car if you park near an osprey nest, is to “have fun watching, and appreciate that osprey populations have rebounded tremendously.” | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/birds-of-prey-find-unlikely-home-in-mall-parking-lot/2022/07/31/f2b06b44-10d0-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html | 2022-07-31T14:27:07 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/birds-of-prey-find-unlikely-home-in-mall-parking-lot/2022/07/31/f2b06b44-10d0-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html |
VARINA, Va. — Growing up in Varina in the 1940s and ’50s, Howard Eberly played on his family’s farm, swam in the creek and found “treasures” on the land. Turns out, some of those treasures are significant historic artifacts.
Before no-till farming became the norm, Eberly’s family used to plow the ground before planting crops. Eberly said he remembers going outside after the rain fell on the plowed soil and finding such things as arrowheads and bullets.
His family knew the land had been a battlefield, but he didn’t know much about the history.
Eberly later befriended a state archaeologist and historians who taught him some of the history of the land where his family’s farm sits.
Four Mile Creek Farm is a core part of the New Market Heights Battlefield and the scene of the battle on Sept. 29, 1864, when the U.S. Colored Troops broke through Confederate defenses for their greatest victory of the Civil War. The battle directly led to the fall of Petersburg, and then Richmond. The National Park Service has deemed the property among the highest priorities for preservation.
In just over an hour into the battle, approximately 800 men died. Fourteen African American soldiers received the Medal of Honor, which is significant given that in American military history, only 16 Army Medals of Honor were awarded to Black troops during the entirety of the Civil War.
“When I think of the waste of men and resources of the war, it breaks my heart,” Eberly said. “A lot of great people were lost. I think we owe them to be remembered.”
That’s why Eberly decided to donate 28 acres to the Capital Region Land Conservancy to ensure that the land will be preserved forever.
“I feel very at peace with myself knowing what’s going to happen” to the land, Eberly said. “I think my family would believe I’m doing the right thing.”
The Four Mile Creek area has a number of archaeological sites that show it was an important early settlement for Native peoples.
The 28-acre tract that Eberly donated to the CRLC is one of two that make up Eberly’s 73-acre farm. A second 45-acre tract, owned by Eberly and his sister, will be transferred to the land trust at a future date. The agreement with CRLC ensures that the property will be protected while Eberly continues to live on the farm. CRLC has also committed to keep the Eberly name associated with the land and to open the site for future public access.
“The New Market Heights Battlefield is an important historical and cultural site in our Commonwealth, where brave U.S. Colored Troops heroically fought back against the Confederacy,” said Rep. Don McEachin, D-4th, in a statement. “I applaud the Eberly family for its generosity in donating the Four Mile Creek Farm to the Capital Region Land Conservancy, and I am confident CRLC will effectively care for and preserve the history of the property and the Varina area. We must continue working to share the USCT’s untold history of heroism and leadership during the Civil War.”
When Eberly met Parker C. Agelasto, executive director of the CRLC, he said he was shocked to learn that his farm was ranked within the top 10% of all land in Virginia to protect in numerous categories.
“You could have knocked me over with a feather,” he said.
The Varina District is the last undeveloped part of Henrico, and many who live there want it to stay that way despite pushes from developers.
Eberly said that when he was growing up in the ’50s, he knew every single car he saw driving down the road. Depending on the time of day, he knew where they were going, too.
“People move out here, buy a lot, build a home, and then start screaming about overdevelopment,” Eberly said. “That’s been going on since the ’50s.”
A swath of land just down the road from Four Mile Creek Farm was set to become The Ridings at Warner Farm, a subdivision of 770 homes that would have been built on nearly 420 acres. Residents worried about the potential impact on the Camp Holly Springs aquifer and the New Market Heights battlefield.
Eventually, developers pulled out of the project that had been planned for decades.
Eberly’s donation of his land to the CLRC ensures that it will remain intact as an important historic site as well as a significant environmental site.
The land is home to animals including deer, groundhogs and beavers. Ongoing studies show that birds migrating from South America to Canada make a pit stop at the farm, Agelasto said.
Eberly joked that the birds treat his house like a Motel 6.
A graduate of Varina High School, Eberly said he’s still friends with some of the 70 in his graduating class. Varina is a tight-knit community.
“This has been our peaceful corner of the world for four generations,” Eberly said. “I can’t think of a place I’d rather live.
“Since there’s so much history going on here, I’d like for it to stay that way and give people some interest and some knowledge of what went on here.” | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/farmland-where-civil-war-battle-occurred-to-be-preserved/2022/07/31/ec0d3470-10d0-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html | 2022-07-31T14:27:13 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/farmland-where-civil-war-battle-occurred-to-be-preserved/2022/07/31/ec0d3470-10d0-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html |
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Bob Gilson looks forward to Friday mornings when he and a group of volunteers sort through boxes of donated books at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library in Virginia Beach.
“It’s a treasure hunt on Friday mornings when we do this,” said Gilson, 75, a retiree who’s in charge of assessing the interesting ones.
At the end of a sorting session in May, Gilson picked up the last book in his cart, not realizing at first how special it was.
“The spine was broken,” he said. “It was just old and dusty.”
First, he saw the publication date: 1829.
Even the oldest books they see are usually dated years later.
Then he read the author’s name: Thomas Jefferson.
“It got my attention,” Gilson said.
The book, “Reports of Cases: Determined in the General Court of Virginia, from 1730, to 1740; and 1768, to 1772” is Jefferson’s compilation of Colonial-era court cases. It was published three years after his death.
Jefferson was the third president of the United States, from 1801 to 1809.
Gilson immediately went online and found a copy for sale with a hefty price tag.
“We’ve had some other valuable books come in over the years, but $9,800 is a gem,” Gilson said.
Gilson mentioned the book to a friend who contacted the Jefferson Library at Monticello in Charlottesville. The library provides access to and preserves research and archival resources related to Thomas Jefferson’s life and legacy.
Endrina Tay, director and researcher at Jefferson Library, was aware the book existed and had access to a reprint.
“We’ve never had an opportunity to acquire an 1829 edition,” Tay said. “This publication is essentially a first edition of one of Thomas Jefferson’s little known works.”
She was able to determine that 82 copies exist in law and academic libraries in the world, which makes the book “relatively rare,” she said.
Jefferson was known to be a meticulous record keeper. He kept detailed notes of the temperature outside, food in the farm markets and plantings in his garden, Tay said.
He wrote the court case book when he was a young lawyer, extracting details from decisions made in Colonial Virginia courts that would be used as legal precedence in the future.
“It was his way of documenting history,” Tay said.
After Jefferson’s death in 1826, his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, published the 145-page board book at F. Carr, and Co. print shop in Charlottesville. It was printed and bound by hand, before electronic typesetting was invented.
“This was a lot of work,” Gilson said as he carefully turned its yellow pages.
In the preface, Jefferson explained why he chose the court cases, which took place before the American colonies declared independence from British rule. He acknowledged that the judges were handpicked by the King of England, but their decisions represent “those peculiar to our own country.”
Jefferson also wrote that, whether the rulings were justified or not, they shaped the law.
“These decisions, therefore, were worthy of preservation,” he wrote.
Many of the cases focus on property disputes including ownership of slaves. Jefferson also included an appendix that fleshes out the relationship between church and state.
“It’s a window into Virginia legal history and Jefferson’s part in it,” said Tay, who asked the Friends of the Virginia Beach Public Library to consider donating the book to the Jefferson Library. The organization normally sells books at city libraries and donates the proceeds to children’s reading programs and projects.
The nonprofit’s board of directors agreed.
“It’s a book that is better served to go into the public’s hand,” said Gilson. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rare-book-by-thomas-jefferson-found-in-library-donation-box/2022/07/31/f606fc54-10d0-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html | 2022-07-31T14:27:19 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rare-book-by-thomas-jefferson-found-in-library-donation-box/2022/07/31/f606fc54-10d0-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html |
SAN ANTONIO — A fast-moving fire completely destroyed a home Saturday night, after the flames quickly spread from a shed to the house.
It happened just before 11 p.m. in the 3700 block of Beech St. on the west side of San Antonio.
According to officials on scene, when firefighters arrived on the scene, heavy flames and smoke were coming from the property. Firefighters tried to make a quick attack on the fire but it spread from a shed to the main home on the property.
Both structures were completely destroyed by the fire. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to get the flames under control. Officials believe the occupants were not home at the time of the fire.
No injuries were reported.
Arson and fire investigators were called to the scene to conduct their investigation.
The home is a complete loss, but no estimate on the dollar amount was provided.
No other details were given.
Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/fire-spreads-from-shed-to-home-completely-destroying-both-structures-flames-san-antonio-texas/273-0a035fc8-e4d1-451b-9102-09c08c0d2958 | 2022-07-31T14:28:42 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/fire-spreads-from-shed-to-home-completely-destroying-both-structures-flames-san-antonio-texas/273-0a035fc8-e4d1-451b-9102-09c08c0d2958 |
SAN ANTONIO — A northeast side home has a gaping hole in the wall after a driver crashed into it early Sunday morning.
Police responded to the 7400 block of Midcrown Drive around 3:30 a.m. for reports of an accident. Police say that the man who ran into the home stayed on the scene after the crash.
Thankfully, nobody was injured inside when the car crashed into the home, and neither was the driver.
Police are still investigating what caused the crash. Officers did not specify if alcohol was a factor in the crash, however the driver was taken into custody.
First responders stayed on the scene and made sure the home was safe for the residents. Firefighters also cleared the area of debris and sealed up the hole in the home with plastic until the homeowners can get the damage repaired.
No other details were provided and no injuries were reported.
Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/gaping-hole-left-in-home-after-driver-crashes-into-it-overnight-san-antonio-texas-crash-accident-car-building/273-f2d1c74e-5b1c-4d73-939a-561bf32f9855 | 2022-07-31T14:28:48 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/gaping-hole-left-in-home-after-driver-crashes-into-it-overnight-san-antonio-texas-crash-accident-car-building/273-f2d1c74e-5b1c-4d73-939a-561bf32f9855 |
25 people killed in catastrophic flash flooding in eastern Kentucky
Governor Beshear said nearly $700,000 has been donated to the Team Eastern Kentucky Relief Fund.
Gut-wrenching images continue to come out of eastern Kentucky days after heavy rainfall caused widespread flash flooding that devastated several communities.
As of Saturday, Governor Andy Beshear said 25 people have died in Kentucky and at least four of those deaths are children, all from the same family.
It was previously reported that six children were among the dead, but Beshear said Saturday two of the bodies were later identified as adults. There are five counties with death tolls, Beshear said. He called the disaster "devastating."
Beshear said he expects the death toll to increase as crews continue rescue operations.
"Continue to pray for the families that have suffered an unfathomable loss, some have lost almost everyone in their household," he said. "I'm worried we're gonna be finding bodies for weeks to come."
PHOTOS: Aftermath of eastern Kentucky flooding
More than 1,400 people have been rescued by boat and helicopter, and 142 people are being sheltered in temporary shelters, Beshear said. Fourteen counties and three cities have declared emergencies.
There are more than 18,000 power outages reported in the region, Beshear says unlike in western Kentucky, standing water has slowed restoration efforts.
Earlier this week, Beshear quickly launched the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund to help flood survivors as they work to rebuild.
As of Saturday, there have been 5,673 individual donations and more than $684,000 raised to help survivors.
Donations help with food, shelter and other necessities of life and go towards any emergency funds that come into the area.
The governor said the first expenditure will be for providing money to the families who have lost loved ones so they can have funerals.
"The least we ought to be able to do is grieve together," he said. "It's the least we can do, is to be there with these folks in this incredibly difficult time."
'By far the worst' State of emergency declared
Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency Thursday morning, enacting the National Guard to begin mobilizing for rescue operations.
The governor took a helicopter fly-over of some of the impacted communities on Friday, later saying this flood is "by far the worst" he's ever seen.
"Hundreds of homes, their ball fields, their parks, businesses, under more water than I think any of us have ever seen in that area, absolutely impassable in numerous spots, so just devastating," he said Friday afternoon.
Beshear says many more Kentuckians are still missing, but an exact number isn't reliable due to the level of destruction.
"Communication is still very difficult. We're trying to amplify cell service," Beshear said. "It's going to be very challenging to get a good number, but what people can do is to report their unaccounted loved one."
The governor says those with missing loved ones should email state police at ksppubaff@ky.gov or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. He said to not call 911 for missing people, it should only be used for emergencies.
"We're gonna do our best to find them all," he said.
Shelters have been established to help displaced people. Those shelters are located in the following state parks:
- Pine Mountain State Resort Park
- Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
- Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
What happened? 8-10.5" of rain in 48 hours
As rainfall hammered Appalachia this week, water tumbled down hillsides and into valleys and hollows where it swelled creeks and streams coursing through small towns.
The torrent engulfed homes and businesses and trashed vehicles. Mudslides marooned some people on steep slopes.
When the rain finally let up early Friday, parts of eastern Kentucky had received between 8 and 10 1/2 inches over 48 hours. But some waterways were still not expected to crest until Saturday.
"I believe it will be one of the most significant, deadly floods that we have had in Kentucky in at least a very long time," Beshear said.
The floodwaters raging through Appalachia were so swift that some people trapped in their homes couldn’t be immediately reached, said Floyd County Judge-Executive Robbie Williams.
Just to the west in hard-hit Perry County, authorities said some people remained unaccounted for and almost everyone in the area suffered some sort of damage.
“We’ve still got a lot of searching to do,” Jerry Stacy, the county’s emergency management director, said.
'We are grateful.' Incoming federal aid
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) response teams are on the ground in eastern Kentucky assisting with rescue efforts.
Beshear said Saturday additional FEMA teams are arriving in the state soon to help with processing damage claims.
FEMA is also providing 18 truck loads of clean drinking water, as many parts of the region are without drinking water or under a water boil advisory.
He reassured Kentuckians impacted by the catastrophic flooding that help is on the way and will remain there as long as it's needed.
"We're gonna be there for them today," Beshear said. "We're gonna be there for them once they're safe and when they're thinking of what's next as well."
On Friday, President Joe Biden approved Beshear's request for federal aid to help with recovery efforts in 13 eastern Kentucky counties.
"We asked for this last night; it came early this morning -- one of the fastest disaster declarations we've seen, and we are grateful for it," the governor said.
FEMA has also approved additional disaster funding for eastern Kentucky after Biden added Individual Assistance to the Major Disaster declaration. The federal funding is available to people affected by the floods in Breathitt, Clay, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties.
'Boots on the ground' Louisville groups head east
Multiple organizations are now getting ready to assist, like the American Red Cross and the Veteran's Club.
The American Red Cross has five chapters within the commonwealth, and on Friday, Louisville's center sent several volunteers on the road -- with hygiene products and medical PPE on board.
Within 12 hours of receiving a call asking if she could make the trip, Cindy Keeney was already packing up supplies.
"[It's] an opportunity to give back -- it's an opportunity to do something in times of crisis," Keeney said.
Jeremy Harrell, the founder of the Veteran's Club, said they're preparing to head to southeastern Kentucky, just like they did for Mayfield.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian organization Save the Children has a base in Madison County. And through more than 400 staff members, they're providing necessities for the kids impacted.
Shane Garver, head of Education, Hunger and Resilience work in the U.S. with Save the Children, said they have diapers, wipes, car seats and cribs.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/gov-beshear-flooding-eastern-kentucky-floyd-breathitt-clay-owsley-letcher-pike-county/417-205e4d41-73d3-4565-acbe-bc2ab1120a96 | 2022-07-31T14:28:54 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/gov-beshear-flooding-eastern-kentucky-floyd-breathitt-clay-owsley-letcher-pike-county/417-205e4d41-73d3-4565-acbe-bc2ab1120a96 |
HOUSTON — A 24-year-old Houston man in need of a kidney donor has taken his search to the streets.
Victor Robles has been on dialysis for a year and a half. He found out he had kidney failure after he ended up in an emergency room when he cut his finger. Now, he says he’s going to do everything he can to find a donor.
It’s not a typical way for a 24-year-old to be spending 12 hours of his day connected to his dialysis machine, but for Robles, it's keeping him alive. He connects himself every day after 6 pm and sleeps with the dialysis machine.
Victor is on a transplant list, but he began to worry after doctors told him his blood tests weren't coming back well.
"My results were not passing," Robles said. "My blood was a little bit dirty."
So, he decided to do something about it.
"I don’t really know a lot of people, my circle is really small. So that is why I am trying to see who would be willing to help me out," said Robles.
In search of a donor, he took to the streets. In his spare time after work, Robles finds a corner in this city and stands with a sign that says, "I don’t want money I just need one kidney. Who can help?"
"For another chance for me to live," Robles said.
Dr. Steve Bynon at UT Health and Memorial Herman says rates of kidney failure in Hispanic people in the Houston area are high. They’re actually the majority of the cases they see.
"It very high in that population diabetes is very common in the Hispanic population and renal failure leading for transplant in this country," said Dr. Bynon.
The wait time for these patients can be long.
"Generally it's between 5 or 6 years at least," Dr. Bynon said.
And Victor says that’s why every chance he gets, he finds a corner to stand on, hoping someone passing by feels compassion for him.
"I want to get married, have kids, work for what I want," said Robles.
He hasn't lost faith that one day, a person inside one of those cars will help save his life.
If you would like to find out if you're a match for Robles you can check Houston Methodist's website or contact Robles at 713-998-0669. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/houston-man-needs-kidney-donor/285-1c6c0234-a843-4eef-b339-63ec0425ad84 | 2022-07-31T14:29:00 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/houston-man-needs-kidney-donor/285-1c6c0234-a843-4eef-b339-63ec0425ad84 |
HOUSTON — An investigation is underway after an HPD officer opened fire on a man armed with a knife in west Houston overnight.
It happened a little before midnight on Riverview Circle between Wilcrest and South Kirkwood. According to Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief James Jones, the man was threatening someone inside a home.
“This appears to be a group home,” Jones said. “We don’t know the exact status of it. That’ll be part of the investigation.”
When officers arrived, the man was outside, suffering some type of mental crisis.
According to Jones, the man started running towards one of the officers, who then backed up. The other officer told the man to drop the knife and police say that's when the man changed direction and started going towards that officer.
One of the officers opened fire, striking the man, said Jones. The man was taken to the hospital and was undergoing surgery. At this point, we don’t have his condition.
The shooting remains under investigation. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/houston-police-officer-shooting/285-fb9338be-65dc-4461-b0f2-bff472036cb5 | 2022-07-31T14:29:06 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/houston-police-officer-shooting/285-fb9338be-65dc-4461-b0f2-bff472036cb5 |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man was reportedly bitten by a shark at Jacksonville Beach on Saturday afternoon, a witness told First Coast News.
Nadya Hicks, 16, was surfing near 12th Avenue South at when she heard screams from about 30-feet away. Hicks said she swam over to the man in distress and gave him her surfboard to help him get to shore.
Hicks told First Coast News there was a lot of blood and his foot was "dangling".
Ocean Rescue Lifeguards confirmed they responded to a "traumatic" injury at that location, which Hicks believes to be from a shark.
No further information about the victim's condition is available at this time.
This is a developing story. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-bit-by-shark-at-jax-beach/77-5d47a9ef-4c34-42e0-8a78-a041bca314cd | 2022-07-31T14:29:12 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-bit-by-shark-at-jax-beach/77-5d47a9ef-4c34-42e0-8a78-a041bca314cd |
SAN ANTONIO — Police are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a man early Sunday morning after an altercation in a parking lot turned deadly.
Police responded to the intersection of S. Flores St and Beatrice Ave. on the south side of town just before 3 a.m. for a shooting in progress.
The sergeant on the scene said a 35-year-old man and another man were got into a fight in the parking lot, and at some point, the fight got physical and one of the men pulled out a gun and fired it.
First responders performed life saving measures, but unfortunately their attempts were unsuccessful and EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. Police said the suspect drove away afterward on S. Flores in a black truck.
Police searched the area but couldn't find him.
No other details were provided and no other injuries were reported. The Homicide investigation is underway.
Learn more about KENS 5:
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Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/police-searching-for-suspect-who-shot-killed-man-after-altercation-in-parking-lot-san-antonio-texas-gun-weapon-shooting/273-c31bb85f-46f7-47b1-9435-f747d73242b0 | 2022-07-31T14:29:18 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/police-searching-for-suspect-who-shot-killed-man-after-altercation-in-parking-lot-san-antonio-texas-gun-weapon-shooting/273-c31bb85f-46f7-47b1-9435-f747d73242b0 |
SANTA FE, Texas — A 4-year-old Santa Fe, Texas boy was given only two weeks to live after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor.
Wylie is described by those who love him as a typical 4-year-old boy who loves tractors, trucks, Mickey Mouse and Blippi. When he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, hundreds of people in the Santa Fe community came together to throw him a parade.
Hundreds of jeeps, military vehicles, fire trucks, police cars and more showed up for the parade outside of Santa Fe Junior High School to show their support for Wylie on Saturday.
The family said they got the idea for the parade after seeing a similar event for a foster child's birthday last week.
For more information and updates on Wylie's fight, you can check out the Facebook page the family set up. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/santa-fe-four-year-old-brain-tumor/285-ab21b64a-4191-4815-a754-296ab1f3340b | 2022-07-31T14:29:24 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/santa-fe-four-year-old-brain-tumor/285-ab21b64a-4191-4815-a754-296ab1f3340b |
DALLAS (KDAF) — “It’s an avocado… thanks!”
Is it a vegetable is it a fruit, no one really knows… yes they do, it’s a fruit. We’re talking about this highly sought-after fruit because Sunday, July 31 is National Avocado Day!
NationalToday says, “If you’re creative in the kitchen, the avocado and the blender are your friends. Blend it with some bananas and cocoa powder and you’ll have chocolate pudding. Blend it with some garlic, olive oil, salt and lemon juice, and you’ve got salad dressing. If you want to make something with a fresh healthy fat, reach for an avo!”
We checked out Yelp’s list of the best spots around Dallas to eat avocados and the ever-so-popular breakfast/brunch food item, avocado toast:
- Ascension Coffee – Design District
- La La Land Kind Cafe – Lower Greenville
- Flower Child
- Foxtrot – Uptown
- The Berni Bean Coffee – Downtown
- Toasted Coffee + Kitchen – Lower Greenville
- SoCo Coffee House and Bistro – Lake Highlands
- Original ChopShop
- Cielo Wellness Cafe
- Avocado California Roll & Sushi
- The Juice Bar
- Nobu Dallas – Uptown
- Tiki Loco – Deep Ellum
- Ginza Express – North Dallas
- East Hampton Sandwich | https://cw33.com/news/local/top-spots-in-dallas-north-texas-to-eat-avocados-avocado-toast-according-to-yelp/ | 2022-07-31T14:40:56 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/top-spots-in-dallas-north-texas-to-eat-avocados-avocado-toast-according-to-yelp/ |
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The Clermont Police Department on Sunday said its officers had begun searching for a missing 17-year-old girl considered a runaway, according to a news release.
Heavyn Harleen Kies was last seen at 5:23 p.m. Saturday at the Lifestream Youth Center, located at 2120 N. Don Wickham Drive in Clermont, police said.
[TRENDING: 7 injured in Downtown Orlando shooting, shooter still at-large, police say | Supply chain issues could keep some Florida neighborhoods without power for months after a hurricane | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Kies was wearing a teal blue shirt, short denim shorts, black socks and black slippers at the time, the release states. She is 5 feet, 6 inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes, and weighs 125 pounds, police said. Additionally, Kies is reportedly missing two front teeth and was described as “very skinny.”
Anyone with information on Kies’ whereabouts was urged to contact the department’s detective division at (352) 394-5588, or 911 in case of an emergency.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/31/clermont-police-search-for-missing-17-year-old-girl/ | 2022-07-31T14:42:05 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/31/clermont-police-search-for-missing-17-year-old-girl/ |
MONTVERDE, Fla. – Lake County Firefighters early Sunday shared video to Facebook of crews’ arrival to a burning residential structure believed to have been set on fire in an act of arson.
Crews from the Lake County Office of Fire Rescue and Clermont Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 4350 responded to the fire at 17135 Franklin Ave. in Montverde around 11:09 p.m. Saturday, where the occupants of the home had since exited the building safely, officials said.
[TRENDING: 7 injured in Downtown Orlando shooting, shooter still at-large, police say | Supply chain issues could keep some Florida neighborhoods without power for months after a hurricane | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
In the video, as well as in photos of the scene, flames can be seen jetting from the building’s attic and through its roof.
According to the post, firefighters “quickly extinguished” the flames, going on to note that the cause of the fire was believed to be arson.
News 6 is working to learn more about the incident.
Watch the footage in the video player below.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/31/video-lake-county-firefighters-put-out-blaze-in-montverde-believed-to-be-arson/ | 2022-07-31T14:42:11 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/31/video-lake-county-firefighters-put-out-blaze-in-montverde-believed-to-be-arson/ |
Those with disabilities in Kenosha County are struggling to afford basic needs in higher numbers than their counterparts nationally, according to federal poverty data analyzed by researchers in a report for the local United Way.
About 50 percent of Kenosha County residents with disabilities—compared with 17 percent nationwide — cannot meet their needs. That number coincides with statewide data indicating an undercount, 43 percent compared with 16 percent, according to the report from United Way of Kenosha County and research partner United for ALICE.
The United Way’s report was released Tuesday on the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In 2019, while 17 percent of Kenosha residents with disabilities were deemed in poverty, 32 percent — almost twice as many — were considered “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.”
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These households earned more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to live and work in the modern economy, according to the report. Combined, 50 percent of the community’s 19,800 residents living with disabilities were below the “ALICE Threshold,” with incomes that don’t meet the basic costs of housing, childcare, health care, transportation and a smartphone plan.
The “ALICE in Focus: People With Disabilities” report and interactive tools revealed that, during the pandemic, people with disabilities below the threshold were six times more likely to be anxious than those without disabilities, according to the United Way release.
stephanie hoopes
“On the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we see that residents with physical, mental or emotional conditions who are struggling financially are not only being undercounted but underserved,” said Stephanie Hoopes, national director for United for ALICE, in the statement. “There is still work to do as having a disability puts individuals at substantial risk for financial instability, more than many other factors. Daily, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, these individuals face barriers to accessing a quality education, secure jobs and critical supports.”
Other findings
The new research also shows that outdated federal guidelines prevent the majority of residents with disabilities who are living in financial hardship from accessing critical public assistance, according to United Way officials.
According to the new report, 81 percent of residents with disabilities below the ALICE Threshold did not receive Supplemental Security Income. The program requires that recipients have income below the poverty level, be unable to work, have a “severe” impairment and have less than $2,000 in their bank accounts, or $3,000 for a married couple.
Friesch
“Income eligibility requirements for SSI haven’t been updated in nearly four decades, which is one of the big reasons why more than 234,000 residents across our state were shut out of receiving a much-needed financial lifeline,” said Carolynn Friesch, the United Way of Kenosha County’s CEO. “By using data that takes into account the true cost of living — we can establish critical supports that help those who need it the most.”
The report also indicated:
In Wisconsin, Black and Hispanic residents with disabilities — 73 percent and 56 percent, respectively — experienced disproportionate financial hardship compared with 39 percent of white people with disabilities.
Women with disabilities struggled more to afford the basics — 48 percent — compared to 38 percent of males with disabilities.
Wisconsin saw 60 percent of residents with disabilities below the ALICE Threshold spend 35 percent or more of their income on their mortgage, plus utilities, taxes and insurance.
Whether working full or part time, people with disabilities were more likely to be living paycheck to paycheck than those without disabilities: 16 percent of full-time workers with disabilities were below the ALICE Threshold compared to 12 percent of full-time workers without disabilities.
Hoopes said rates of hardship likely are higher than could be counted as data is not available for individuals living in nursing homes, correctional facilities and other group settings.
Weyker
Working together
Christine Weyker, CEO of the Kenosha Achievement Center, said the data was not surprising. Employees at the center, which has a mission to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities, “see it in action daily,” she said.
“There has been a lot of progress related to legislation like ADA and (the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and we see a shift where employers are very open to hiring a diverse workforce, yet the system is often the biggest barrier to success for people with disabilities,” she said. “An employee of KAC described it simply as a system of all or nothing. If you have nothing, you can access everything. If you have something, you can access nothing.”
Friesch said partners, including the KAC, play a crucial role in helping the United Way advocate for and address the needs of individuals with disabilities.
“Together, we can collectively build a stronger, more accessible, and more equitable community,” she said.
More information is available at www.kenoshaunitedway.org/ALICE. Interactive data featuring demographic filters for regional and local geographies, age, race, disability, living arrangements and household work statuses can also be found by visiting UnitedForALICE.org/Focus-Disabilities.
Read Across Kenosha March 2 community literacy event
Forest Park Elementary was one of about 40 schools to participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held virtually March 2. Students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade in programs and classrooms across the county, including All Saints Catholic School, Salem Consolidated Grade School, Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha, Salem Grade School, St. Joseph Catholic Academy, Westosha Head Start and multiple Kenosha Unified elementary schools were engaged in the coordinated live virtual event via Zoom. In total, 84 educators registered for the live readings with an estimated 2,000 students tuning in, according to Marisa Markowski, resource development manager for the local United Way. Local leaders, businesses and organizations participated via prerecorded or live virtual readings. Guest readers included Beth Ormseth, Kenosha Unified interim superintendent; Unified School Board President Yolanda Adams; Bryan Albrecht, CEO and president of Gateway Technical College; Zina Haywood, Gateway executive vice president and provost, among others. A total of 17 readers participated.
Forest Park Elementary was one of about 40 schools to participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community …
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year’s United Way of Kenosha County’s Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year's United Way of Kenosha County's Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held…
Forest Park Read Across America 2022
Students at Forest Park Elementary participate in this year’s United Way of Kenosha County’s Read Across Kenosha community literacy event held… | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/study-kenosha-area-residents-with-disabilities-struggling-in-greater-numbers-than-counterparts-nationally/article_0793fb00-0ef3-11ed-97a3-f35d3118df3d.html | 2022-07-31T14:45:27 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/study-kenosha-area-residents-with-disabilities-struggling-in-greater-numbers-than-counterparts-nationally/article_0793fb00-0ef3-11ed-97a3-f35d3118df3d.html |
But before learning of her punishment three weeks ago in a Chesterfield County courtroom, the 24-year-old Midlothian woman took the unusual step of recording a video that candidly detailed the troubling series of bad decisions she made that led the death of a woman she knew, Jordan Barksdale, 23.
Commonwealth's Attorney Colette McEachin in a statement said: “There is no criminal liability or culpability for any individual office who appropriately followed an order in the chain of command that was lawful but, with hindsight, in error.”
On Jan. 30, 2021, after a day of drinking multiple cocktails and hard seltzers with friends - a prosecutor described her behavior as "nearly 45 miles of drinking and driving" - Stine crashed head-on into a car driven by Barkdale as both vehicles met at the top of a hill. Barksdale, who had to be extracted from her Honda CR-V, later died at a local hospital.
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Stine's decision to drink and drive was compounded after police determined she was distracted by her cellphone at the time of the 10:28 p.m. crash.
As Stine acknowledged in her 3-minute video, she was checking her phone to see the location of her boyfriend, whom she believed was coming home to surprise her. Stine's boyfriend, a member of the Virginia National Guard, had been sent to Washington, D.C., after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
At the moment Stine checked her phone, her 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee drifted across the double yellow line into the opposite lane and collided with Barksdale. Stine's blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.215% — more than twice the presumptive legal intoxication level to drive.
"On this day, I destroyed the lives of her family and her friends," Stine said in her video, recorded days before being sent to prison. "I'm a felon for the rest of my life. My actions are completely irresponsible, and the damage has already been done. The worst part of this process is not only living with myself with what happened, and destroying so many lives, but throughout this, the legal system has prevented me from apologizing in person or through letter to her family or to her friends."
Following the crash, Stine sought to volunteer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. But the organization advised Stine that she could not participate in MADD activities until completing her prison term and finishing probation upon release, said Stine's attorney, John Luxton.
Luxton said Stine made the video, which was played during her July 11 sentencing hearing, as a teaching tool that MADD could use in anti-drunken driving campaigns.
The video, however, was small consolation to Barksdale's family and friends, who described in testimony how Barksdale's death had forever impacted their lives.
The video was an unexpected surprise to prosecutors and Barksdale's family, and because of its then-unknown content, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Gravens urged Barksdale's family members to leave the courtroom, Barksdale's mother, Staci, said Saturday. "He was fearful for what it may include," she said.
Staci Barksdale said she, her husband and her son, along with her niece, left the courtroom; other family supporters stayed.
Barksdale said Gravens and the family's victim-advocate told family members after the hearing that they believed the video was made for self-serving purposes to elicit sympathy from the judge.
"The selfish, irresponsible, law-breaking actions of one person who willingly got behind the wheel of a vehicle, while under the influence of alcohol, and without any regard for the life and safety of others has taken our daughter from us," Staci Barksdale said at Stine's sentencing hearing.
"It breaks my heart to think that Jordan's death could have been prevented by having a designated driver, or if Miss Stine had just stayed the night where she was," Barksdale testified. "After all, that night she was offered both options by her friends who said this wasn't the first time Miss Stine was in this position. But she still chose to drive with a blood alcohol content of more than double the legal amount, to get home to her dogs."
At the time of her death, Jordan Barksdale was working full time for the Chesterfield Treasurer's Office, although she had started taking classes four nights a week to complete a degree to become a surgical technician. She previously had taken classes at a local community college, completing general studies courses and prerequisites for nursing.
Barksdale said her daughter had been in a relationship with her boyfriend for nearly a year, and "they were building a life together and she had hopes of getting married and having a family of her own."'
"My daughter Jordan was a beautiful, tall blonde with big blue eyes and a smile that looked like sunshine," Barksdale said. "A smart, kind, loving young woman with so much to look forward to."
Stine and Jordan Barksdale grew up in the same community but didn't attend the same schools, and they also had mutual friends, Staci Barksdale noted.
"They were not real close to where they hung out together," Barksdale said, "but they would [on occasion] be at the same functions or same places ... and maybe mingle with mutual friends."
A psychologist who testified on Stine's behalf at her sentencing hearing said she was "very depressed" when she came in for a session and took full responsibility for her actions, Luxton said.
"The psychologist said that most people that come in kind of minimize what really happened," Luxton said. "The psychologist said she was spot on and didn't hide anything, [and] was completely devastated by what she had done. She was completely remorseful and showed sympathy for everybody she has harmed."
According to the prosecution's summary of evidence, Stine admitted to police she had consumed numerous drinks with friends, beginning early to mid-afternoon, at Barrio Taqueria in Richmond, Plaza Azteca in Chesterfield and at a friend's house in the hours leading to the crash in the 20400 block of River Road.
A motorist came upon the crash scene and attempted to render aid. He found Stine had exited her vehicle, telling him she was okay. He called 911 and turned his attention to Barksdale, who was trapped inside her vehicle and largely unresponsive.
After officers arrived and encountered Stine, she had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. She did not directly answer the officers' questions, but showed concern for the driver and wanted to know if she was ok.
After Barksdale died, an investigating officer retraced Stine's steps and retrieved receipts at the locations Stine stopped on the day of the crash. The waitress at Barrio's advised that Stine had consumed four mixed tequila and mezcal cocktails and one shot of tequila. At Plaza Azteca, a surveillance video showed Stine with a "Beer-rita," a margarita with an upside-down beer inside.
The officer also obtained videos from a gas station that showed Stine purchased two White Claw hard seltzers.
Finally, the officer spoke with Stine's friend who hosted the gathering at night's end, and the friend and the friend's boyfriend said Stine was drunk and they asked her multiple times to stay overnight and not drive. But Stine indicated she had to get home for her dogs. Stine also was offered a ride home, but she refused.
At the March 24 hearing where Stine pleaded guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence, Luxton told the court that Stine was immediately remorseful after the crash.
As Stine was outside her Jeep with a broken ankle, a police body camera captured her anguish. "She would say, 'Please tell me how that person is doing. Is she going to be okay? This is my fault.' "
On July 11, Circuit Judge Jayne Pemberton sentenced Stine to 20 years in prison with 13 years suspended, leaving her seven years to serve. The punishment was at the high end of discretionary state sentencing guidelines. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/watch-now-before-being-sent-to-prison-midlothian-woman-made-video-about-her-tragic-choices/article_0ea60eb1-3333-5b00-b100-91c6aff797c7.html | 2022-07-31T14:46:07 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/watch-now-before-being-sent-to-prison-midlothian-woman-made-video-about-her-tragic-choices/article_0ea60eb1-3333-5b00-b100-91c6aff797c7.html |
Tuesday marks a second primary Election Day this year in Ohio, and this one includes partisan primaries for state House and Senate seats, the central committees of both major political parties, and in some places local ballot issues.
Voting in person
Regular in-person voting for the Aug. 2 election will take place 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
To vote in person, people must bring identification to the polls. That can be a driver’s license, military ID or other official ID card; or a recent utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows the voter’s name and current address.
People without any of those kinds of identification can still cast provisional ballots by providing the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.
Through county boards’ websites or www.ohiosos.gov, people can also find their polling places and see sample ballots.
Absentee ballots
Absentee ballots must be returned to boards of elections by the time in-person polls close – unless they’re mailed, in which case they must be postmarked no later than Aug. 1 and received by Aug. 12. The deadline for mailing an absentee ballot application back to local boards of election is noon July 30.
Aug. 12 is also the day military and overseas absentee ballots must be received by election officials.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
What is on the ballot?
Here are the contested primary elections and ballot issues in the Miami Valley on the Aug. 2 ballot:
House District 46 (Northeastern Butler County, including Monroe and Middletown)
Republican primary
- Thomas Hall (Incumbent)
- Matt King
House District 47 (Central and northwest Butler County including Hamilton and Oxford)
Republican primary
- Sara Carruthers (Incumbent)
- Cody Harper
House District 55 (Eastern and northern Warren County, including Springboro)
Republican primary
- Thomas Goodwin
- Scott Lipps (Incumbent)
House District 56 (Central and southwest Warren County, including Lebanon and Mason)
Democratic primary
- Joy Bennett
- Sam Cao
Republican primary
- Kathy Grossmann
- Adam Mathews
House District 70 (Western Greene County, including Beavercreek)
Republican primary
- Brian Lampton (Incumbent)
- Katherine Shutte
House District 85 (Champaign, Shelby and part of Logan counties)
Republican primary
- Lilli Johnson Vitale
- Tim Barhorst
- Rochiel Foulk
Issues
- Ross Local School District in Butler County will ask voters to decide on a 5-year, 7.99-mill, emergency property tax levy.
- Clark-Shawnee Local School District in Clark County will ask voters to approve a substitute 12.1-mill property tax levy to replace two existing emergency levies.
- The city of Xenia is asking voters to approve amendments to the city charter to clarify rules for city council members and filling vacant seats, adding language that the city must comply with Ohio’s Uniform Tax Levy Law, and specifying that Ohio Ethics Law applies to all city officials and its employees.
Why this happened
State House and Senate seats, along with the related central committee seats for political parties, were supposed to be on May 3 primary ballots. But the 10-month wrangle over drawing new state legislative district maps, as required following the 2020 census, made that impossible. The Ohio Supreme Court repeatedly rejected Republican-backed maps as unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Republicans, who hold a supermajority in current General Assembly and control five of the seven seats on the Ohio Redistricting Commission.
On May 27 a panel of federal judges imposed one of those already-rejected maps for use in the 2022 election cycle, meaning the redistricting commission will have to reconvene late this year or in early 2023 to draw maps for the 2024 election.
The state House, Senate and party central committee primaries were moved to Aug. 2, when some counties already had local-option issues on the ballot.
Many of the partisan primaries for state legislative seats are uncontested, though in late June the Ohio Supreme Court ordered six Democratic candidates added to the ballot due to confusion over filing deadlines resulting from the map dispute. That includes one added to some ballots in Montgomery County.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/tuesdays-election-what-you-need-to-know-about-voting/3KU6QBIZBVB6TENWIICAGCBPHE/ | 2022-07-31T14:52:12 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/tuesdays-election-what-you-need-to-know-about-voting/3KU6QBIZBVB6TENWIICAGCBPHE/ |
Waterloo — Police are at the scene of a standoff following an early morning shooting in Waterloo.
No injuries have been reported but at least two homes were struck by gunfire on the 1100 block of Leavitt Street around 5:40 a.m. Sunday.
Officers removed people from a home in the area but believe someone may still be inside.
Police are using a bullhorn on a armored vehicle and a flash-bang grenade in an attempt to get the attention of anyone in the house.
This developing story will be updated.
PHOTOS; Mark murder evidence
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WATERLOO — A new parking ramp and additional housing could be coming to downtown.
The City Council on Monday will consider approving a purchase rights agreement to buy and redevelop the parking lot near the SportsPlex, adding a parking ramp and residential development. The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall.
The ramp would service the SportsPlex, Young Arena, the Waterloo Center for the Arts, Singlespeed and surrounding businesses. Developers are also looking at building apartments above the parking garage.
An agreement allows the developer to look for funding. The developer’s proposed project would be an investment of more than $40 million.
Four public hearings will be held during the meeting. Among them are:
- A site plan amendment for five single-family homes at Williston Field to be built by Hawkeye Community College students. The field has been sitting empty for years after previous developers didn’t follow through with projects. After the hearing, city documents suggest the council may adopt the ordinance Monday by suspending rules that require approval at three separate meetings before it goes into effect.
- The replacement of two Sergeant Road Trail bridges. The city received three bids for the project, which the council will vote on. Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck submitted the lowest proposal at $323,403.
- A five-year agreement for a property lease and conveyance of land in the South Waterloo Business Park. Multiple data containers/centers would be established at a cost of $1,000 a month with an option to purchase the property for $1. Documents say the city is working with a development group to look at blockchain development.
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Other scheduled business coming before the council includes:
- An amendment to the Animal Control Services agreement with the Cedar Bend Humane Society increasing fees 3% to hold an animal per day. Currently, it costs animal control $54 to hold an animal without identification for three days, which would rise to $55.62. Another increase of the same amount wouldn’t happen until July 2025. Sandie Greco, traffic operations director, said in city documents that growing costs at the humane society are driving the increase.
- An amendment to the lease agreement with the Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association for a 10-year extension and addition of land at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex.
Designating $4.5 million in city matching funds for the transformation of Gates and Byrnes parks project. Leisure Services submitted an application to the state’s Economic Development Authority for a $1 million grant. The agency requires the city to commit $4.5 million. The expense would be funded through the capital improvement plan program over the next two years. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/a-new-parking-ramp-and-additional-housing-could-come-to-downtown-waterloo/article_a8661224-8ffb-55e7-a1c1-458c21372c43.html | 2022-07-31T15:24:19 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/a-new-parking-ramp-and-additional-housing-could-come-to-downtown-waterloo/article_a8661224-8ffb-55e7-a1c1-458c21372c43.html |
'I love the older population, I love exercise': Lorrie Ward takes fitness beyond a class for seniors, building community
Lorrie Ward said it never entered her mind to become a fitness instructor. Now a year after she started teaching, Ward has a loyal following at the Madison Improvement Club in Phoenix.
The 62-year-old fitness instructor is committed to creating a space for people 65 years and older to confidently work out. Ward was a finalist in the 2022 Instructor of the Year Award from SilverSneakers, a national fitness company that caters to seniors staying active.
Ward speaks in a lively, enthusiastic way and expresses genuine care for her students. She says fitness has always been her passion, even before she became an instructor.
Ward said she played basketball in high school and received a basketball scholarship for college, and she also used to play softball. But beyond that, she said she also taught her children how to play several different sports and was always working out in some capacity.
"I come from a family of eight children, five boys. So, to make the teams even growing up I was the sixth participant," Ward said. "I guess you could say I’m a tomboy."
Ward's best friend and the former owner of SilverSneakers, Mary Swanson, 67, was the one who pushed her to teach her first class. Swanson opened her own fitness center, The Madison Improvement Club, after selling her company, and in 2021 she insisted Ward teach a SilverSneakers-partnered class.
“She’s the wind beneath my wings,” Swanson said. “... I just encouraged her to give it a try and she was just a natural.”
Ward worked at SilverSneakers for 15 years doing network development and eventually serving as the Director of Operations, but she said it never entered her mind to become an instructor. Now a year after she started teaching, Ward has a loyal following at The Madison, including Swanson.
Ward teaches an 11 a.m. strength circuit class every Tuesday and Thursday at The Madison’s Phoenix location through the SilverSneakers partnership. She says about 15 to 25 people attend the class depending on the time of year.
Ward says her group has come so far that even her grandchildren had trouble keeping up when they attended.
“I have a strong group of people that I push them and they are absolutely receptive and amazing to everything,” Ward said. “So we kind of think out of the box a little bit here, (more) than your normal SilverSneakers class.”
The class centers around chair-based exercises with weights and resistance bands, but Ward proudly said her group does things a little differently.
“You'll find other SilverSneakers classes that are strictly chair-based,” Ward said. “We avoid the chair as much as possible.”
When asked why she thought this particular group had come so far, she gave all the credit to the individual members.
"They've done all the work. I'm just their coach," Ward said. "I'm just there to play some music and tell a few jokes and make them laugh."
While Ward bragged about her group, her class members hold her in very high regard, too.
Nancy White, 68, started taking the class not long after Ward began instructing. Since then, White said she only misses it if she’s on vacation, even after having knee replacement surgery. The procedure put White on a hiatus for about two weeks and then she was back at it again.
“Lorrie makes us all feel like we're at our very best,” White said. “It's a joy to walk through the door.”
Swanson said she keeps track of what her members are doing in their lives, whether they are going out of town or going to a dental appointment. She has even written personal cards to them.
“It's just kind of like she's adopted all these grandparents,” Swanson said.
White said she could tell Ward cared for her and the other members attending the class because she would notice small victories, like picking up an extra pound or two. White said she and Swanson have now worked their way up to 20-pound weights.
She said the class has made it easier to come to the gym, which she said was hard to do at her age, and that she has seen real results.
Overall, though, it’s the community aspect – the “variety of people and their ages and their enthusiasm” – that brought White back again and again.
More Faces of Arizona: His Mexican-American identity guided him into teaching. In Maryvale, he helps students find their own voice
While the 2022 award ended up going to Jen Burgmeier, an instructor who owns her own studio in Pennsylvania, Ward was a top five finalist out of hundreds of nominees, according to Debbie Johnson, senior public relations manager at Tivity Health, the parent company of SilverSneakers.
Ward says she was so surprised she was a finalist that she didn’t believe the phone call she got from Johnson, which she thought had to be a bad joke as it came on April Fool’s Day.
“It shocked me to know that I’ve only been doing this less than a year here and I have that much support from my members,” Ward said. “It was absolutely amazing.”
She joked that she hoped her members didn’t get her mixed up with someone else, but that her group is truly like family to her.
“I love the older population, I love exercise and it just is such a safe and rewarding position to have,” Ward said.
The way Swanson and White described Ward’s instruction style as a judgment-free space filled with laughter, encouragement and good music. That style makes it clear there was no mix-up – Ward's members truly seem to value her unique technique and, more than anything, her care for each and every person who attends her class.
“It’s a great community with Laurie as the head, and she’s just fun,” White said. “She knows everybody. She encourages everybody. She's happy to see us all. It's wonderful to come through the doors here at The Madison.”
Find more Faces of Arizona stories here
Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at sburdette@gannett.com or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-people/2022/07/31/fitness-instructor-recognized-enthusiasm-class-seniors-ages-65-and-up/7815677001/ | 2022-07-31T15:30:24 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-people/2022/07/31/fitness-instructor-recognized-enthusiasm-class-seniors-ages-65-and-up/7815677001/ |
Arizona nonprofit School Connect brings communities together to help students in need
A Glendale-based nonprofit is working to bring together businesses, faith communities, nonprofits and government agencies to help Arizona students in need.
School Connect partners with lower-income schools to provide students with clothing, food, mentorship and emotional support aimed at improving academic success.
Last year approximately 700 Arizona schools were assisted through partnerships serving about 420,000 students.
"In the next three years our goal is to double the number of Arizona schools who have strategic partnerships," founder Tracey Beal said.
School Connect was one of 16 Arizona nonprofits that received A Community Thrives grants in 2021. The group received $8,400 from the program sponsored by The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com and Gannett Foundation. Gannett Co., Inc., owns The Republic. Additionally, School Connect received $13,000 in matching funds through the Community Thrives initiative.
The funds helped provide computers to schools around the state and helped students receive access to internet devices and services.
School Connect also hosts “Love Our School Day” where students and teachers receive handwritten cards, meals, coffee vendor visits and classroom supplies. But the organization's goal is to train and coach “school champions” who work alongside principals and support participating schools.
"The amazing achievements made by school communities who have united around the core needs of our students and families proved that School Connect not only belongs to the community, but it is part of the community," Beal said.
This year, almost three dozen Arizona nonprofits are raising matching funds to qualify for final Community Thrives grant consideration.
2022 list: Here's the list of this year's Arizona Community Thrives applicants
The 6-year-old grant initiative supports education, arts and culture, wellness and community building. In 2021, the program awarded almost $2.3 million to nonprofits nationwide.
Applicants have to raise a minimum amount of matching funds to qualify for final grant consideration. Qualified nonprofits are crowdfunding for 2022 Community Thrives grants through Aug. 12. Grants are expected to be awarded in October.
Find more details about A Community Thrives at acommunitythrives.com. Learn more about School Connect at schoolconnectsa.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/2022/07/31/school-connect-community-help-students-need/10166614002/ | 2022-07-31T15:30:30 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/31/school-connect-community-help-students-need/10166614002/ |
"There's nothing to do in San Francisco."
If you've ever said that sentence aloud, then this list is for you. Despite the constant refrain that San Francisco is on its deathbed, our city still has plenty of life left, from live music to film screenings to street fairs.
One of the greatest things about the city is its diversity of neighborhoods. So to celebrate the varied fabric that comprises our tapestry of 48 hills, we've organized this list by neighborhood, with the hopes that people become more familiar with their own hoods, and find excuses to visit other ones.
Of course this isn't a comprehensive list of every single neighborhood in the city, so forgive us if we didn't mention yours this time, but we'll be expanding on this guide every month to highlight the best that the Bay has to offer. And for more suggestions, check out our list of free things to do in San Francisco this summer and our Bay Area bucket list activities.
Cole Valley
The Cole Stroll, throughout August
A particular charm of Cole Valley is that it's central to the city, yet still off the main path. Unless you’re a resident, it's easy to miss the neighborhood’s boundaries, from Haight Street to the quaint vale between Sutro Forest and Buena Vista Park. In an attempt to boost interaction with the neighborhood, the folks behind Prototype SF created the Cole Stroll, a self-guided puzzle hunt through the community. The promise of riddles, puzzles, trivia and poetry are crammed within this one-mile saunter. Begin by purchasing a $40 ticket, which covers one team of up to four people playing together on a single phone using the free app ClueKeeper.
Lower Haight
Underground SF reopens, throughout August
Ever since Lower Haight dive Underground SF closed indefinitely at the beginning of the pandemic, there's been a serious hole in the city's nightlife scene. But fear not, it's back in action. A smaller venue that hosts mostly local parties from up-and-coming DJs, it’s a perfectly sized dancefloor for more intimate events, with just the right amount of grit. Daytime ravers will also be happy to hear that the space will function as an electronic music-focused coffee shop until 4 p.m. Follow its Instagram for updates on bookings. Underground SF, 424 Haight St.
The Marina
Ai Weiwei: Everyday Moments, through Aug. 27
Back in 2014, controversial Beijing-born artist Ai Weiwei transformed part of the Alcatraz prison building into a major installation focused on political prisoners. Now the Berlin-based artist has a new show in San Francisco, featuring 18 works created using everything from LEGO to marble. Haines Gallery, Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd Building C, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Russian Hill
Crazy Woke Asians, Aug. 4
From festivals to podcasts, Southern California comic Kiki Yeung has turned Crazy Woke Asians into a comedic force to be reckoned with. The collective’s comedy tour will stop in SF at Cobb’s for a show featuring nine stand-up comedians, mixing LA up-and-comers with some of the Bay Area’s brightest, including Dan Guan, Robert Hudson and K. Cheng. Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave., 8 p.m.
The Mission
Summer of Darkness, Aug. 5, 15, 22
While summer and sunshine are synonymous in most of the country, San Francisco dances to the beat of a much foggier drummer. But our notoriously chilly August just got even colder, thanks to an Alamo Drafthouse film series celebrating the cerebral horror films of John Carpenter. The series kicks off in Antarctica with “The Thing,” gets Lovecraftian with “Prince of Darkness” and concludes with the campy 1988 classic “They Live.” Alamo Drafthouse, 2005 Mission St.
Golden Gate Park
Outside Lands Music Festival, Aug. 5-7
Last year, San Francisco’s premiere music festival pushed its dates to Halloween weekend due to the pandemic, but for 2022, it has returned to its traditionally foggy August schedule. As far as locals go, Green Day gets top billing this year, with Post Malone and SZA filling the other headlining spots. Down the lineup, be on the lookout for buzzy young Brits Wet Leg, Russian activists Pussy Riot and a stacked tent of DJs, including Dixon, Avalon Emerson and DJ Seinfeld. Golden Gate Park, doors at 11 a.m.
Pacifica
World Dog Surfing Championships, Aug. 6
Although Pacifica isn’t a neighborhood in San Francisco, we’re making an exception because well, dog surfing. Inspired by the 2004 book “The Dog’s Guide to Surfing,” the first official canine competition was held in 2006 in San Diego, and has since become a yearly fixture at Linda Mar Beach. The competition is split into four categories by size of dog, with two additional tandem rounds (one for dog and owner, another for multiple dogs). Heats last 10 minutes, with scores given for length of ride, technique, confidence, size/strength of the wave and “other style aspects.” Linda Mar Beach, Pacifica. 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Japantown
Nihonmachi Street Fair, Aug. 6-7
The Nihonmachi Street Fair was created in 1973 by the youth activists of Japantown to honor the history and culture of the neighborhood and the city’s Asian American community at large. After an absence due to the pandemic, the fair is coming back this summer for its 48th year. The event will feature live music performances, origami making, a classic car show, AAPI community organizations and even a gathering space for dogs where you can get a portrait drawn of your pooch. Post Street between Webster and Laguna, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Mission Bay (goes to Oakland)
Battle of the Bay, Aug. 6-7
As July baseball came to a close, the A’s swept their division leader Astros and the Giants were grappling with an ongoing backslide — highlighted by a player accidentally kicking a baseball bat at his teammate in the dugout. Considering how the A’s have secured themselves at the bottom of the AL West and the Giants are petering out in the middle of NL West, this summer’s Battle of the Bay should be a scrappy performance from lovable losers. The Giants cross the bridge to play at the Coliseum, which suggests that attendance numbers should be at their highest yet for this year’s A’s. RingCentral Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. Aug. 6, 4:07 p.m.; Aug. 7, 1:07 p.m.
Inner Richmond
No Scrubs: 90’s Hip Hop and R&B night, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27
Get out from the passenger side of your best friend’s ride and make your way over to Neck of the Woods for a weekly 90’s hip hop and R&B dance party. The event takes place every Saturday and features a night full of throwback slaps, from TLC to Usher to Brandy. Neck of the Woods just reopened for the first time since 2020, and comes newly renovated with a brand new sound system and DJ booth. The bar also offers summer cocktail specials. Neck of the Woods, 406 Clement St., 10:30 p.m.
Excelsior
Jerry Garcia Day, Aug. 13
Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia is most often associated with the psychedelic streets of the Haight-Ashbury, but his San Francisco roots stretch back to the Excelsior, where he was born on August 1, 1942. An amphitheater in McLaren Park was named in his honor back in 2005, and ever since, there’s been a yearly celebration of his life and music held during his birth month. The 2022 event will feature live music from Melvin Seals & JGB (Seals was a longtime member of The Jerry Garcia Band) and Stu Allen & the Mars Hotel, one of the longest-running Dead tribute bands. McLaren Park, doors at 11 a.m.
Bayview-Hunters Point
Vegan Food Fest, Aug. 13
The busiest plant-based vendors in the Bay Area will dish out delicious vegan comforts during the Vegan Food Fest at Speakeasy Ales & Lagers. Enjoy soul food staples from Vegan Hood Chefs, red bean and mint or mushroom-stuffed pupusas from Nixta, and get your barbecue and mac-and-cheese fix from Vegan Mob. Additionally, Speakeasy’s monthly calendar is packed with various food pop-ups happening most weekends, with everything from Italian soul food to sweet caramel apples, beignets and more. Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, 1195 Evans Ave. noon - 6 p.m.
Parkside
The Big Picnic at Stern Grove Festival, Aug. 14
What’s better than live music? Free live music! All summer long, the 85th annual Stern Grove Festival has been providing music goers with free concerts every Sunday. The concert series concludes on August 14 with the Big Picnic, the festival’s annual fundraiser to help the nonprofit Stern Grove Festival Association continue providing admission-free concerts. The headliner for the Big Picnic is Phil Lesh, Berkeley native and bassist of the Grateful Dead during their 30-year career, and his band. Lesh will be joined by the genre-bending Midnight North and DJs Walkin’ Love and Arewenotdead (co-hosts of Freak Flag radio) to wrap up the Festival with a bang. Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove, free but reservations required via Eventbrite, entrances open at noon, concert starts at 2 p.m.
Tenderloin
Bowie Summer Bash, Aug. 19-20
There are few rock stars who’ve developed followings as fervent as David Bowie. But there are superfans, and then there are superfans who start rock and roll congregations dedicated to their favorite artists. The First Church of the Sacred Silversexual is a worship band formed around the teachings of The Man who Fell to Earth. Now in its 11th year, this annual event will celebrate David Bowie’s legacy with a 50th anniversary performance of “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St., doors at 8:30 p.m., concert starts at 9 p.m.
Portola
"What do you see?" Art Show and Night Market, Aug. 20
The southeastern neighborhood Portola is generating citywide appeal, but have you visited the slim greenway park blossoming alongside a Highway 101 soundwall yet? And if you haven't, Burrows Pocket Park boasts Hey Neighbor Cafe, where not only is the coffee tastefully brewed, the bakery is stocked with a signature black toast (baked with activated charcoal). Along with the eats, Hey Neighbor is hosting an event that gathers local fine artists and makers of color. Oakland’s ASTU will perform retro soul coated in nineties R&B, while Samantha Hoffman's SGGS Truck brings the bar to mix drinks — a “farm to cocktail experience”, if you will. Artists Devynn Barnes, Jermaine Jackson Jr. and Mekhayla Diaw will have their works on display, and racks of curated styles from ReLove Vintage and Unnamed Vintage are available to peruse. Hey Neighbor Cafe, 2 Burrows St., 6:30 p.m.
The Castro
"Big Trouble in Little China," Aug. 20
In the history of SF cinema, there’s no movie quite like ’80s action-comedy romp “Big Trouble in Little China.” Although it flopped hard at the box office, the John Carpenter flick became a cult classic, based largely off the charisma of Kurt Russell, who finds himself exploring the underbelly of San Francisco’s Chinatown to hunt down an ancient sorcerer. Although only the exterior shots were filmed here, it’s still one of the best vintage celebrations of Chinatown on film. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., 7:00 p.m.
Civic Center
KCON, Aug. 23
KCON is a fantasia of Korean pop music, and a parade for South Korea’s global soft power. In the past decade since KCON arrived on American shores — filling up arenas on both sides of the country along the way — Korean pop has blossomed from a delightful, albeit fringe, curiosity to a dominant player in international pop. The convention's pit stop in San Francisco during its U.S. tour is proof of the genre’s far-reaching influence. Over two days, emergent K-pop acts like STAYC and CRAVITY are set to perform. (The former is this writer’s favorite new girl group.) That said, organizers may be underestimating just how passionate and downright riotous K-pop fans in the Bay can be, considering it’s being held at the Orpheum Theater (2,197 capacity) as opposed to the considerably larger Bill Graham Civic Auditorium nearby. Orpheum Theatre, 1191 Market St., 7:30 p.m.
North Beach
Festa Coloniale Italiana, Aug. 27
San Francisco’s only Italian street festival returns to North Beach on Saturday, Aug 27. Festa Coloniale Italiana features opera from tenor Daniel Rodriguez, Italian eats, wine tasting, face painting for the kids and even some tarantella Italian folk dancing. The free festival runs all day across the street from Washington Square Park on Stockton. For an early taste of the festivities, take a look at Tony's Pizza Napoletana namesake (and 13-time World Pizza Champion) Tony Gemignani spinning some pies during the festival in 2017. Stockton St.
Chinatown
Autumn Moon Festival, Aug. 27-28
Autumn Moon Festival marks one of the most important times of the year in the Chinese calendar, as well as in other countries across east and southeast Asia. Here in San Francisco, Chinatown celebrates the holiday on August 27 and 28 on Grant Avenue between California and Broadway. While the schedule has not yet been announced, previous years have included not just one, but two, parades — as well as lion dances and other live performances. There will also be food vendors, including ones offering mooncakes, the traditional holiday treat. Grant Ave., 11 a.m - 5 p.m.
Embarcadero
OysterFest, Aug, 28
Waterbar’s popular OysterFest is returning this August for the first time in two years. The outdoor festival on the waterfront restaurant’s patio will feature its own offerings, as well as from Drake’s Bay Oyster Company, Epic Steak, Mersea, Alley & Vine, Bix, China Live and Dirty Habit. Local wineries — including Allan Scott, Barnett Vineyards, Comptoir Wines and more — will also be present. Ticket sales benefit the San Francisco Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting local coastlines. The $90 general admission ticket includes hor d’oeuvres, oysters, beer and wine, live music, games and a silent auction. Waterbar Restaurant, 399 The Embarcadero, noon to 3 p.m.
Additional reporting from Joshua Bote, Andrew Chamings, Fiona Lee, Sam Moore, Steph Rodriguez, Silas Valentino, Madeline Wells and Zach Zafran. | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/things-to-do-san-francisco-17336655.php | 2022-07-31T15:34:35 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/things-to-do-san-francisco-17336655.php |
FedEx at the Galleria; Asian comfort food in Raynham; message in a balloon: Top stories
Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers.
Top stories this past week included:
The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), a national advocacy and lobbying organization for aviation and the rights of pilots and plane owners, hosted a meeting on June 24 at Taunton Municipal Airport. Of the pilots, owners and mechanics who attended the meeting, a common message that many expressed was that they don't trust the Airport Commission. It's a feud that goes back years and years.
In local real estate, a more than 5,000-square-foot Colonial home on Short Street recently sold for $800,000. That square footage is about triple the size of the average single-family home in Taunton. Explore this palatial home, as well as other recent top-sellers, in the latest Greater Taunton real estate report.
These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers:
Could FedEx be coming to the former Silver City Galleria site?
Is it possible that FedEx might be setting up shop in Taunton? Maybe!
Our top story of the past week was about a business proposal for a brand new distribution facility for FedEx Ground Package Systems on Galleria Mall Drive.
A new plan?:Is $165M FedEx center coming to Taunton Galleria property? How many jobs would it bring?
Malis in Raynham offers modern Asian comfort food
Try some of the flavors of Southeast Asia, locally, in Raynham.
Malis, on Route 44, is run by owning partners and longtime friends, Sotheavong Meas and Nero Keo. They're serving up "modern Asian comfort food," modeled after popular street food from throughout Southeast Asia, generally, and Cambodia, specifically.
“What we do is Southeast Asian street food,” Meas said. “And we also focus on, you know, being more creative in what we do, you know, and try to bring in the traditional and be authentic in terms of street food, but with a modern twist.”
Check out the menu here, and find out where the Shaking Beef is.
Where's the Shaking Beef?:Shaking Beef, pho and noodle bowls: Malis in Raynham offers modern Asian comfort food
Retiring Berkley firefighters reflect on why they love the job
Two Berkley firefighters who retire this year are reflecting on the job and their years of service, from the tough calls to why they loved the job so much.
John Franco is retiring after 31 years and Amasa Harmon has retired after 42 years as a Berkley firefighter.
Memorable blazes, tough duty:Retiring Berkley firefighters on why they love the job
What Taunton is doing to tackle 'unruly' kids on bikes problem
Last month, Taunton Police and the mayor’s office responded to reports of reckless juveniles on bicycles and ATVs in and around Hopewell Park and other public areas with increased security and greater enforcement of city ordinances.
This news sparked a conversation among city councilors concerning the social and recreational options youths have during the summer, excluding summer jobs.
The Youth and Recreation Committee of the City Council met on July 19 to address this question and plan for the future. Read here about how they're looking to expand awareness of and access to social and recreational activities here in the city.
Planning for the future:Here's the latest on what Taunton is doing to tackle 'unruly' kids on bikes problem
Message in a bottle? No, Dighton woman finds message in a balloon
We've all heard about messages in bottles, but have you ever seen a message in a balloon?
Well, on a balloon, since this message was attached to one.
Karin Brady, executive assistant to the Dighton Board of Selectmen and town administrator, recently found a message attached to a deflated balloon on the lawn of Dighton Town Hall.
As it turns out, that balloon made it here all the way from a summer camp in Rockland County, New York, that had held a balloon derby.
See what the message was, and follow along on the journey, right here.
We've all heard of a message in a bottle:This Dighton woman found a message in a balloon.
Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today. | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2022/07/31/taunton-gazette-top-5-fedex-malis-message-balloon-dighton/10184011002/ | 2022-07-31T15:35:18 | 1 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2022/07/31/taunton-gazette-top-5-fedex-malis-message-balloon-dighton/10184011002/ |
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — The Swatara Creek was filled with rafts and kayaks to celebrate the life of Kortne Stouffer, ten years to the day she first went missing.
Friends and family gathered at Swatara Creek Park on Saturday, trying to make this year, the biggest celebration yet.
Stouffer's sister, Kerstin Jennings, was one of the event's organizers.
Although the case has no new developments, Jennings hopes the celebration can be a reminder for the community.
"We hope through this [event] and keeping her name alive, and the story alive, and her case alive, that somebody will eventually come forward and give our family closure that we deserve," said Jennings.
The family says that they chose a float event for a reason. The Stouffer family said that Kortne loved the outdoors, and that this was one way to keep her memory close.
Kortne's father, Scott Stouffer, said, "When I am on this float, It gives me a chance to reach out to her spirit."
The celebration of life did not end at the creek.
The Stouffer family welcomed people from all over the community to their farm house in the evening for food, live music and fireworks.
"It doesn’t matter if you knew her or didn’t know her, we welcome every single human that gives our family support," said Jennings.
Download the FOX43 app here. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/kortne-stouffer-cold-case-remember-me-float-swatara-creek/521-7184bf1a-3a63-442f-9bc8-9021032dfaea | 2022-07-31T15:40:48 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/kortne-stouffer-cold-case-remember-me-float-swatara-creek/521-7184bf1a-3a63-442f-9bc8-9021032dfaea |
BEAR CREEK, Pa. — Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire on a wind turbine in Luzerne County Saturday morning.
Crews arrived at the Bear Creek Wind Farm around 9:30 a.m.
There was a lot of black smoke but no flames showing. Crews were able to put out the fire in about an hour.
Officials say they are still investigating the cause of this fire in Luzerne County.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/wind-turbine-catches-on-fire-bear-creek-wind-turbine-farm-fire-luzerne-county-smoke/523-1633264c-5c75-48ed-adc7-3c73dc9d52bc | 2022-07-31T15:40:54 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/wind-turbine-catches-on-fire-bear-creek-wind-turbine-farm-fire-luzerne-county-smoke/523-1633264c-5c75-48ed-adc7-3c73dc9d52bc |
A rescue effort on Staten Island successfully recovered over 20 dogs and puppies kept in harmful living conditions, city officials said Saturday.
The joint operation found 24 huskies, many malnourished, abused and neglected at a Tompkinsville property on Friday.
A community complaint tipped off investigators, leading officials from the NYC Sheriff's Office, Staten Island District Attorney's Office and ASPCA to the home.
One person was arrested and charged with a felony, according to officials.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/2-dozen-malnourished-huskies-discovered-at-nyc-home/3802354/ | 2022-07-31T15:42:46 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/2-dozen-malnourished-huskies-discovered-at-nyc-home/3802354/ |
Police said they arrested a Yonkers man with a loaded AK-47 near the Brooklyn home of outspoken Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad.
Federal prosecutors and FBI agents said the suspect, Khalid Mehdiyev, also had 66 rounds of ammo in the car when he was arrested Thursday.
Alinejad is a well-known Iranian writer and dissident who last year was the alleged target of a kidnapping plot by Iranian agents, the FBI said. Iran has denied wrongdoing, calling the past kidnapping allegations “baseless.”
The FBI and NYPD are now looking into why Mehdiyev, 23, was seen near her home last week over a period of several hours. Investigators said he had been seen walking around Alinejad's property and looking into her windows. She was not home at the time.
According to a complaint filed late Friday by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, Mehdiyev allegedly admitted the assault weapon was his and then asked for a lawyer, after first claiming he had traveled from Yonkers to Brooklyn in search of an apartment.
Cash was also found inside the Subaru that had Illinois plates.
Mehdiyev was pulled over around 3 p.m. by the NYPD at the corner of Dorchester Road and Rugby Road after going through a stop sign, an NYPD spokesman said. The traffic stop, the complaint said, came after investigators observed the Yonkers man in the Brooklyn neighborhood a couple of times.
News
He was allegedly driving with a suspended license and police said they later found a loaded AK-47 in the back seat. Prosecutors said serial numbers on the weapon had been defaced.
Mehdiyev is charged with a federal weapons count. The FBI and NYPD are also looking into whether he was surveilling Alinejad’s home and, if so, they want to know why and whether he was acting alone.
In July 2021, the FBI said it had uncovered an Iranian kidnapping plot to target Alinejad - allegedly to take her from her home, transport her to South America and then fly her back to Iran. Alinajed was moved to safe houses during the investigation for her protection, officials said at the time.
Alinejad has a huge following on social media given her outspoken criticism of the Iranian regime - especially on the issue of women’s rights.
An FBI spokeswoman confirmed Mehdiyev’s arrest but referred questions to an SDNY spokesman, who late Saturday offered no additional comment beyond the details included in the criminal complaint.
Alinejad did not immediately return a request for comment.
Last year she said she has been "targeted for a number of years, but this is the first time that such an audacious plot has been hatched and foiled."
Attempts to reach Mehdiyev’s attorney were not immediately successful. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-carrying-loaded-ak-47-arrested-near-nyc-home-of-iranian-dissident-feds/3802308/ | 2022-07-31T15:42:53 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-carrying-loaded-ak-47-arrested-near-nyc-home-of-iranian-dissident-feds/3802308/ |
Police are looking for a man accused of putting a woman in a chokehold and forcing her to the ground Saturday morning in a violent sexual assault.
The 30-year-old victim was walking her dog in Bushwick around 8:30 a.m. when she was approached from behind by an unknown male perpetrator, according to the NYPD.
Police said the man put her in a chokehold, got her to the ground and began humping her. It happened near Woodbine Street and Ridgewood Place.
The attacker eventually got up and fled eastbound on Woodbine Street.
The woman sustained injuries to her neck and face, and went to a Brooklyn hospital for treatment, police said.
Investigators released video and surveillance images of the suspected attacker early the next day, describing him as a male around 30, 5'8" tall, with a medium build, wearing all black and a black cap with a red rose on the front. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-walking-dog-in-brooklyn-choked-from-behind-in-attempted-rape-nypd/3802371/ | 2022-07-31T15:42:59 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-walking-dog-in-brooklyn-choked-from-behind-in-attempted-rape-nypd/3802371/ |
The Miles Archer Correspondence School of Private Investigation hereby announces a recall of page 37 of the final written examination for the Shamus Certificate in Private Investigation.
If you are taking or have taken said examination during the period beginning May 31, 2021, and ending July 31, 2022, your score may be affected by a series of errors. The Miles Archer Correspondence School (hereinafter referred to as “The School”) admits no wrongdoing or malfeasance. However, you may replace the questions found on page 37 of the test booklet with the questions listed below.
NOTE: The legal department of The School insists that the following terms should be deleted from all questions where they appear in the test booklet: ankle, babe, broad, canary, chick, chippy, dame, dish, doll (or dolly), gams (when used in reference to female legs) jane, kitten, looker, pins (see gams), skirt, tomato, twist. In each instance, replace with “person,” or in the case of gams and pins, “well-nourished lower extremities.”
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Remember, the hallmark of The School is the honor system. This is a timed examination. Based upon our statistical data, the average correspondence student should be able to answer the questions on page 37 in 6.3 minutes. Please adhere to the instructions published in the examination booklet. Upon completion of this portion of the exam, cut the questions from this newspaper and mail them, along with the examination booklet, to the address found on page 82 of your examination booklet.
Where indicated circle the correct answer. You may begin.
56. Which is an acceptable term for liquor?
a. Jorum of skee
b. hooch
c. eel juice
d. All of the above
57. Mazuma is another term for
a. Penitentiary
b. Money
c. Cabbage
d. Mrs. Raymond Chandler
58. If a shamus is wearing a wooden kimono, what does it look like?
a. Fedora
b. Chicago overcoat
c. Skirt
d. Coffin
59. Deconstruct the following sentence:
“The sucker with the schnozzle poured a slug, but before he could cram out, two shamuses showed him the shiv and said they could send him over.”
60. Gat is to fog as __________ is to drill.
a. Gink
b. Fin
c. Roscoe
d. Lug
61. Palooka is to patsy as map is to __________.
a. Oyster fruit
b. Noodle
c. Schnozzle
d. Vig
You MAY NOW TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/carpenters-column-an-important-announcement-consumer-recall-notice/article_2745d100-103b-11ed-a3cd-533285820b22.html | 2022-07-31T15:43:22 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/carpenters-column-an-important-announcement-consumer-recall-notice/article_2745d100-103b-11ed-a3cd-533285820b22.html |
A team at Northern Arizona University recently received a National Institutes for Health (NIH) grant to develop a platform that will help local public health experts find and assess models to predict the spread of disease.
During disease outbreaks, researchers and public health experts will develop models to predict the pathogen’s spread. The processes involve mathematical equations based on patterns followed by not only the disease and its particular variant, but also people’s behavior in different areas.
As has been seen with COVID-19, changes can happen quickly and often, so models are frequently updated and can have a lot of variety.
The NAU project, known as EpiMoRPH (Epidemiological Modeling Resources for Public Heath), is developing a platform that can compare multiple models to determine their accuracy and the situations or areas in which they perform best.
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“If you’re a public health worker in a particular city or state, you could go to our system and figure out which models that are out there might work best for your area, and then our system could run that model for your area and make predictions,” said Joe Mihaljevic, assistant professor at NAU’s School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems (SICCS) and the project’s principal investigator.
EpiMoRPH is a collaboration between NAU researchers, including Eck Doerry, Crystal Hepp and Samantha Sabo, as well as TGen North, Arizona State University, the University of Nebraska Lincoln and Northwestern University
As Mihaljevic described it, epidemiological models are mathematical equations meant to show a disease’s transmission process in a specific place and time. To do so, modelers make assessments of the disease’s past behavior.
“It’s actually trying to understand in the past, up to now, how many hospitalizations did we see over time and then trying to match that pattern in the model to the data," Mihaljevic said. "If it can match that pattern in the past, then we have more confidence that whatever we see in the future could be true. It’s trying to match the past to the data … and then make a forward forecast of two to three weeks.”
Models use information -- about the ways a disease spreads in different zip codes, for example, or in rural versus urban areas–to make their predictions.
With a disease like COVID, this might include differences in behavior between different variants or subvariants or changing public health recommendations.
“When we implemented vaccines, we didn’t know all the dynamics of the vaccines, like how long would they last before someone could get reinfected, and so our models had to make assumptions about these things until we got data and we could update the models and improve them," Mihaljevic said.
Especially for new or quickly changing diseases, the modelers input equations based on their current understanding of these factors. Some of those models will make more accurate predictions than others as a result -- which is what the EpiMoRPH platform will be designed to determine.
A model’s accuracy is based on how well its predictions match up to what is actually happening in that time frame. Comparisons between a model’s predictions and reality can also be used to make adjustments to increase its accuracy going forward.
Mihaljevic said models need to be updated constantly.
“Especially when we don’t know as much about a particular emerging pathogen, we might not know how to build the best models; we just make assumptions that seem reasonable. Only in time do we then realize which models are performing the best, but there’s not automated infrastructure right now to understand which models might perform best in which locations, because different assumptions might be better in different locations,” he said.
During beginning of the COVID pandemic, for example, Arizona used a statewide model to predict hospitalizations. The differences between cities across the state, though, meant those were difficult to use on a more local level.
Once the platform is finished, the idea is for it to be a place where local public health experts could find models that would work best in their area and help them develop forecasts specific to that area. It relies on submissions of both models and updates, hopefully from across the country.
“So in our system, people in Flagstaff could say, 'I want to run that [statewide] model,' but if I predict it using my location data we have here in Flagstaff, then we could get a more fine-tuned and spatially refined forecast for that person,” he said.
He said the system would have an updating scoreboard-like feature that modelers can use to see how well their model is performing and potentially guide their updates.
The project was awarded a $3.5 million grant from the NIH in April. It is currently funded for up to five years with the potential for renewal, in which time the team hopes to develop a prototype of the platform, testing and consulting with public health partners throughout the process.
“I’m hoping that our system can integrate a lot of the things that we learned and improve our ability to quickly build good representative mathematical models that explain disease spread,” Mihaljevic said. “But more than that, part of the project is to actually work really closely with stakeholders in public health … so that we make sure that as we’re developing the technology, we’re building something useful that will get used by not just modelers and academia, but also public health.” | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/nau-researchers-receive-nih-grant-for-epidemiological-modeling-platform/article_7f38ad8a-0f8f-11ed-837d-57f6680a1f6b.html | 2022-07-31T15:43:28 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/nau-researchers-receive-nih-grant-for-epidemiological-modeling-platform/article_7f38ad8a-0f8f-11ed-837d-57f6680a1f6b.html |
Theo Quax and Lauren Orndoff were announced as NAU's 2021-22 Big Sky Scholar-Athletes of the Year on Friday. Both Quax and Orndoff were recognized as the Lumberjacks' top scholar-athletes at the 44th Annual Golden Eagle Awards in April.
Quax was the Lumberjacks' Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipient after another solid season in both cross country and track and field. In the fall, he competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships -- placing 114th -- as the NAU men captured their fifth Division I National Championship. He followed up by placing fourth in both the indoor and outdoor 800-meter at the Big Sky Track and Field Championships and qualified for the NCAA West Regional in the 1,500-meter, placing 28th.
The Auckland, New Zealand native, who also placed fourth in the spring in the 1,500-meter at the conference outdoor meet, is an eight-time Big Sky All-Academic honoree and recently earned his third career USTFCCCA track and field all-academic nod. Quax is nearing completion of his bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
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The Big Sky Scholar-Athlete of the Year award caps Orndoff's career on the hardwood and follows her Golden Eagle Top Female Scholar-Athlete award that she shared with NAU golfer Elle Kocourkova. Orndoff graduated with her master's degree in communication in the spring and also earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at NAU.
During her five-year career with the NAU women's basketball team, Orndoff was a consistent contributor, scoring 922 career points in 104 games. She started 96 of those 104 games, including 76 consecutive to end her career, and led the team with 342 points scored last season. In her final year, the Medford, Oregon, product and three-time Big Sky All-Academic selection averaged 11 points per game.
Women's soccer
The Lumberjacks were named a United Soccer Coaches academic award recipient for the 2021-22 school year.
After posting a team GPA of 3.56 throughout the 2021-22 school year, the NAU soccer program was once again acknowledged for their efforts in the classroom.
NAU was one of four Big Sky conference schools to receive the award. United Soccer Coaches annually celebrate programs who are active members of the association's service program and hold a team GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the school year.
The Lumberjacks had five players with a 4.0 in the spring semester, along with 18 others that held a 3.0 or higher. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-roundup-quax-orndoff-honored-for-athletic-academic-success/article_72831596-0f92-11ed-9a49-7b85cbdfe171.html | 2022-07-31T15:43:40 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-roundup-quax-orndoff-honored-for-athletic-academic-success/article_72831596-0f92-11ed-9a49-7b85cbdfe171.html |
Every New Years in my 20s I made the same resolution: Start running. I’d lace up my sneakers and jog around the block. Once I even did it two days in a row. But it never lasted long, and I’d wait until the next January to run again.
The year I turned 30 was different. This time I didn’t only start, I kept going. I ran my first race before I turned 31. Fourteen years, dozens of long-distance races, and almost 10,000 miles later, I still haven’t quit. So what changed?
I started a podcast.
Podcasting was still new 2008, but I thought it might be fun to give it a shot. I had an idea that recording my efforts and putting them out to the world might help me stick to running just a little longer than usual. My friend Anthony joined me and we called our podcast Two Gomers Run a Half Marathon. Our moms were our only listeners for a while, but that was OK -- we really liked the weekly rhythm of talking things through with a friend and we were motivated by the thought that several more people were wondering if we would actually run a 13.1-mile race at the end of that first season (good news: We did).
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A lot has changed over the past 14 years. Subsequent seasons have had titles like Two Gomers Run a Marathon, Two Gomers Race a Triathlon, and the more general Two Gomers Run For Their Lives. The current iteration is called Overcoming Runner’s Block, and we spend each episode taking an honest look at an excuse we have (or a guest has -- Jeff Galloway joined us on our latest episode) that keeps us on the couch. Our listenership has changed too, growing from our two moms to thousands of engaged amateur runners who seem to enjoy hearing our antics, fumbles, and accomplishments on a weekly basis.
But mostly things have stayed the same. Even after a decade and a half, we feel like amateurs in the world of running (living in Flagstaff helps with that). Anthony and I still rely on one another for encouragement and accountability. We still have fun – usually a good third of each ep is taken up with tangents like which McDonald’s dipping sauce is best and “how awesome was Top Gun: Maverick?” And at the end of each episode we say “If we can do it, you can do it,” because that’s what we’ve always believed.
Am I saying you need to start a podcast to run regularly? No. I’m saying I found what works for me. For you, it might be joining a running group. Or telling one other person about your goals and asking them to keep you accountable. Or finding that perfect reward for after a long run (for me it’s Oreos, which I’ve convinced myself doesn’t defeat the purpose). Whatever it is, find it and do it. I’m so glad I did. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/the-running-journey-podcasted/article_06188ada-1041-11ed-90f3-7f07afd78536.html | 2022-07-31T15:43:46 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/the-running-journey-podcasted/article_06188ada-1041-11ed-90f3-7f07afd78536.html |
Former councilman Shawn Barigar pauses for a photo outside City Hall on Friday in downtown Twin Falls. Barigar stepped down from the council to pursue the economic development director position with the city.
DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Former councilman Shawn Barigar pauses for a photo while holding his old name plaque Friday in downtown Twin Falls. Barigar stepped down from the council to pursue the economic development director position with the city.
DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS
Former councilman Shawn Barigar pauses for a photo outside City Hall on Friday in downtown Twin Falls. Barigar stepped down from the council to pursue the economic development director position with the city.
TWIN FALLS — The City Council will say goodbye to the longest currently serving council member. When Shawn Barigar steps down, the council will lose the wealth of knowledge about how the city council runs and how past decisions were made.
Mayor Ruth Pierce has known Barigar for several decades. They had met through other organizations in the community before either of them had served on the council.
Pierce has been on the council with Barigar for more than six years.
“I really enjoy having Shawn on the council and I’m definitely going to miss him,” Pierce said. “He has great institutional knowledge. He has quite a strong passion for this community and is always very positive and forward thinking in his ideas.”
Vice Mayor Chris Reid said he respects Barigar’s opinion and that Barigar will missed on the council.
“He’s someone I value when he speaks up and I want to listen to that and try to understand where he’s coming from,” Reid said. “Who Shawn is has been very good for the council and ultimately he’s going to be missed. And what he’s done for the community while on the council is going to be something that’s remembered for a long time.”
For his part, Barigar tends to downplay his contributions.
“I think back on some of the people I’ve served with on the council in the past who have served longer and in my mind done greater things for our community,” Barigar said. “But I’m honored to have served.”
Life in the desert
After tendering his resignation to the council, Barigar, 51, reflected on some of the decisions he had a part in that have shaped the city over the past dozen years.
Before he first ran for council in 2003, Barigar had been on two citizens advisory panels to help develop plans for the city’s future. One was the 50-year water plan, which resulted in, among other things, using pressurized irrigation for landscape watering. That change, he said, stretched the city’s potable water supply well into the future.
The other committee he had served on had recommended the purchase of 600 acres of land down in the canyon next to the Snake River. That land is now known as Auger Falls Park, which provides recreational opportunities and preserves public land uses.
Between those two projects at the very start of his public service, Barigar can see the thread of what he had always tried to accomplish: Contributing to a prosperous city with a strong economy, good jobs, and the kinds of amenities that make a place attractive to residents and newcomers alike.
“We have to try to build a prosperous community that individuals and their families can be stable and successful,” Barigar said. “And hopefully have some perks in the community that they don’t have to take off elsewhere to get those.”
As a council member and a mayor, Barigar sometimes brought ideas that seemed too new; people forgot that he grew up in Buhl in a family five generations deep.
“While maybe at times my actions have been a little more progressive than folks would have liked to have seen here, I have never done anything that I regret because I was trying to impose my will on other people,” he said. “I really have tried to listen to all sides of issues and, with those facts and opinions, try to make the best decisions for the kind of place that I want to live in, and the kind of place that I’m hopeful someday my kids will choose to come back to.”
If your city’s not growing, it’s dying
When Barigar was a teenager in Buhl in the late 1980s, the normal thing to do on a Friday night was to cruise up and down Blue Lakes. Today, the view looks quite a bit different, with an additional 20,000 people inside the city.
“It certainly is a bigger community,” he said. “And with that comes its challenges.”
Barigar said that while he understands that change often makes people uncomfortable, he sees it as necessary. One of his favorite quotes is from a general who said, “If you dislike change, you’re going to dislike irrelevance even more.”
As he sees it, growth and opportunity are a component of a prosperous society. He says that with planning and input from the community, growth can be done in a forward-thinking way that preserves the regional heritage and advances the community.
“You have to keep your foot on the gas pedal to keep moving forward, Barigar said. “Because, if you’re not advancing the community, you are dying.
“There’s no such thing as pause. You can’t just sit there and be what you’ve always been.”
During his tenure new companies such as Chobani and Clif Bar have come to town. Existing companies like Glanbia and Westrock have expanded. Main Street has undergone a revitalization, anchored by City Hall and the Downtown Commons.
Across the street, the tallest building in Twin Falls is under construction. Barigar said he is proud to have had a small hand in processes that have taken the hard work of many people to make things happen.
“There certainly are elements of luck and fortune that come along with it,” he said. “But it’s pretty diligent work from all of the partners who are involved.”
‘That took a lot of courage to do’
Barigar said it’s fun to attend groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings for new businesses that provide jobs and put local agricultural products to market. But another aspect of the job has become increasingly trying over time. The degree of vitriol that has swept national politics began showing up on the smaller municipal stage.
As can be expected in any community, Barigar and the council have weathered a number of public dust-ups that put the council under pressure.
Councilor Craig Hawkins recalls one particularly unsettling meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the council held a hearing on mask mandates.
“It was pretty intimidating,” Hawkins said. “There were a lot of people in the chamber.”
As Hawkins recalls, the meeting was very negative and it dragged on for hours as person after person stood to give opposition to the idea of a mask mandate.
At about 11:30 at night, Barigar saw the meeting wasn’t getting anywhere and made a motion to table the resolution.
“And I saw the wisdom in what he did,” Hawkins said, “and I think it played out okay, but I think that took a lot of courage to do.”
Barigar said the nature of public elected service has changed over the last five to 10 years.
“We live in a nation that tends to find more things to disagree about than find in common,” Barigar said. “I knew what I was signing up for to a certain extent when I got in to public service.”
In leaving the council, he said he won’t miss getting angry emails or anonymous phone calls at 2 a.m. It can be difficult in a town of this size to not take that kind of incivility personally.
“You want to have consensus and camaraderie and sing kumbaya,” he said. “And that’s hard to bottle up and not let it blow up. It’s hard to bring home to your family.”
Barigar is not leaving town, and there is a strong likelihood that his future endeavors will continue to be public-facing. He’ll likely continue to contribute to the community he’s always called home.
“Twin Falls is a place I love — and anything we can do to help make it a better place in the future, I’m excited to do that.”
PHOTOS: Former city councilman Shawn Barigar over the years
Twin Falls Mayor Shawn Barigar answers question about external influences on refugee discussion
After more than 14 years of serving on City Council, Shawn Barigar on Monday announced that he will be stepping down as councilor to pursue the position of economic development director for Twin Falls.
Former councilman Shawn Barigar pauses for a photo outside City Hall on Friday in downtown Twin Falls. Barigar stepped down from the council to pursue the economic development director position with the city.
Former councilman Shawn Barigar pauses for a photo while holding his old name plaque Friday in downtown Twin Falls. Barigar stepped down from the council to pursue the economic development director position with the city.
Former councilman Shawn Barigar pauses for a photo outside City Hall on Friday in downtown Twin Falls. Barigar stepped down from the council to pursue the economic development director position with the city. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/building-a-prosperous-community-shawn-barigar-reflects-on-14-years-on-the-twin-falls-city/article_197d3ed0-1029-11ed-b69e-2718bb14e77f.html | 2022-07-31T15:52:55 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/building-a-prosperous-community-shawn-barigar-reflects-on-14-years-on-the-twin-falls-city/article_197d3ed0-1029-11ed-b69e-2718bb14e77f.html |
According to the Twin Falls Police Department’s Facebook page, since 2015, officers from the Twin Falls Police Department have participated in a program designed to engage community members in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.
The “Coffee with a Cop” program provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Twin Falls’ neighborhoods.
The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/coffee-with-a-cop-makes-a-comeback/article_d511ea9e-0e9c-11ed-bd47-5fd771f249b2.html | 2022-07-31T15:53:01 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/coffee-with-a-cop-makes-a-comeback/article_d511ea9e-0e9c-11ed-bd47-5fd771f249b2.html |
A steelworker was seriously injured and taken to the hospital Thursday after an industrial accident at the Cleveland-Cliffs Indiana Harbor mill in East Chicago.
The steelworker was pinned under a steel coil on a man-made peninsula in Lake Michigan and was then airlifted to the intensive care unit at the University of Chicago Medicine hospital in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.
"Cleveland-Cliffs confirms that an accident involving one employee occurred on Thursday afternoon at its Indiana Harbor facility which resulted in the employee being transported to the hospital," Cleveland-Cliffs spokesperson Patricia Persico said. "Due to standard privacy protocols, we are not at liberty to disclose the name of the employee or any further personal details."
United Steelworkers District 7 Director Mike Millsap said the industrial accident was being investigated. Fellow union workers strove to free the recent high school graduate who was hurt at the mill.
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"A coil rolled on the lower part of his body below the waist," Millsap said. "He was taken to the University of Chicago. He is in stable condition. He has a broken femur."
Though not as deadly as they once were, steel mills remain dangerous places to work with many inherent hazards like heavy machinery, rumbling trucks, barreling trains, molten metal, raging temperatures, high catwalks and steel coil that's weighed by the ton. The Department of Labor's Occupational Health and Safety Administration estimates steel mills had 7.3 recordable illnesses or injuries per 100 qualifying hours in 2020, the most recent year for which data was available, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Southlake Mall restaurants, Morkes Chocolates, Pandora Jewelry and Junkluggers of Greater NW Indiana opening
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NWI Business Ins and Outs: Geitonia Greek Grill, Las Delicias Mexican Ice Cream, Underground Thrift Clothing, gym, courthouse patio opening; T… | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/steelworker-taken-to-chicago-hospital-after-serious-injury-at-cleveland-cliffs-indiana-harbor/article_c5ba9b5b-71d2-5ff1-9953-bb0db9b61cad.html | 2022-07-31T16:02:16 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/steelworker-taken-to-chicago-hospital-after-serious-injury-at-cleveland-cliffs-indiana-harbor/article_c5ba9b5b-71d2-5ff1-9953-bb0db9b61cad.html |
A 38-year-old man died Saturday afternoon after losing control of his car and crashing into a parked vehicle on the West Side.
According to a San Antonio Police Department email, the man was driving a Ford Fusion northbound on North Minter Street, approaching the intersection of West Houston Street.
The driver drifted off the road through the grass before reentering the road and hitting a parked vehicle.
When EMS arrived on scene, the driver was in cardiac arrest and unresponsive, police said. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.
"This fatality is being handled as a non-traffic fatality at this time, pending final autopsy and cause of death ruling by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office," police said. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Driver-dies-after-hitting-parked-vehicle-on-West-17341225.php | 2022-07-31T16:09:29 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Driver-dies-after-hitting-parked-vehicle-on-West-17341225.php |
Under the stars on a warm July night in 1978, tucked away on the old tennis court of Illinois State University's historic Ewing Manor, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival took the stage. The audience, seated on folding chairs in a temporary auditorium, watched the first production of what would become one of the nation’s premier Shakespeare festivals.
By 2022 and its 45th season, the festival has become an integral part of the Central Illinois entertainment scene and a beloved summertime tradition.
ISU is no stranger to Shakespeare. As early as the university's founding in 1857, students performed and recited Shakespeare plays, poems and sonnets as part of the university’s literary societies. Theater education developed as a program within the speech department, and students used the Bard's words in classrooms and on stage.
The College of Fine Arts was formed in 1969, and the theater department was officially created in 1970 out of the theater education major.
The idea for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival began early in founder Cal Pritner’s tenure at ISU. Soon after he arrived at ISU in 1966, Pritner regularly visited Ewing Manor, then a museum, giving tours and talking about how the grounds of the former estate in Bloomington would make a perfect site for a Shakespeare festival.
Launching the festival was no easy task but Pritner found a partner in Don LaCasse when he arrived at ISU in 1973. With support from College of Fine Arts Dean Charles Bolen and department faculty, Pritner persuaded Tom Jacob, president of the ISU Foundation, to provide financial backing.
In its first season, the festival hosted several actors who went on to become highly sought-after performers. Familiar names such as Gary Cole ("Veep," "Office Space," "The West Wing"), William Petersen ("CSI," "To Live and Die in L.A.," "The Contender"), Tom Irwin ("My So-Called Life," "Saving Grace," "Devious Maids") and Tim Russ ("Star Trek: Voyager," "Spaceballs" "Live Free or Die Hard") were all part of that first acting company. A few of those performers would later work with the revered Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.
The production, "Twelfth Night," included a twist. Instead of shipwrecked twins navigating love, the siblings were lost space travelers. The futuristic theme, directed by Dennis Zacek, transported audience members to the planet Illyria where, “From first to last, the comic spirit hovers over the play and both actors and audience join in the gaiety.”
Pritner served as the festival's first artistic director for 13 years. During that time, Pritner led an ensemble that produced 39 shows.
In those early shows, productions of audience favorites included "Hamlet" (1979, 1986, 1997, 2004 and 2016), "King Henry IV, Part 1" (1979 and 1994), and "The Taming of the Shrew" (1979, 1984, 1991, 2000 and 2008).
Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays, but the festival has only produced 32. Its most frequently produced shows are "A Midsummers Night Dream" (1980, 1985, 1993, 2003, 2008 and young audiences shows in 2009 and 2017) and "As You Like It" (1978, 1986, 1992, 2003, 2010 and young audience shows in 2012 and 2019) with seven productions each.
Because of the small number of Shakespeare plays and the time constraints limiting production of lengthier works, the festival in 1989 began featuring a "third play," which often contains themes that complement the current season’s offerings. The first was "She Stoops to Conquer," a 1773 comedy by Oliver Goldsmith.
Though this practice was not always consistent in the early years, the third play has become an essential part of the festival. Recent third plays include "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)" (2008, 2011 and 2022) and "Q Gents" (2013).
To date, there have been seven artistic directors who have collectively produced 140 performances: Pritner (1978-1990), John Sipes (1991-1995), Cal MacLean (1996-2006), Alec Wild (2007), Deb Alley (2008-2012), Kevin Rich (2013-2017) and John Stark (2018 to present).
The original outdoor facilities were designed by ISU faculty members Earl G. Stringer (auditorium) and Edward A. Andreasen (theater). Their designs were only meant for a short period of use, but they lasted for 22 years.
By the 1990s, a campaign to construct a new outdoor performance and audience space was launched. With designs by Shive-Hattery, construction began after the end of the 1999 season.
The new theater and expanded 438-seat auditorium debuted to the public in time for the 2000 season. The festival opened with "The Taming of the Shrew" on June 28, but a storm cut the performance short at halftime.
Another beloved part of the festival experience is the green shows and "Shakesperiences" on the grounds of what is now the Ewing Cultural Center.
Green shows are mini-performances on the grounds during the festival season. In the early years, for example, ISU English professor and Shakespeare scholar Bill Woodson gave pre-show talks introducing people to Shakespeare and the plays.
Festival attendees bringing a pre-performance picnic to the grounds enjoyed strolling performances in period costumes by ISU’s revered choral group, the Madrigal Singers.
Shortened versions of the season’s plays have also been a highlight for many young audience members. Clocking in under an hour, “Shakespeare Alive!” and later “Theatre for Young Audiences” have introduced the Bard to new generations of theater lovers.
Want to revisit your favorite productions? Check out the digital programs available through Illinois State University’s Milner Library institutional repository: https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/isf/
PHOTOS: The Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s Theatre for Young Audiences
Pieces From Our Past is a weekly column by the McLean County Museum of History. April K. Anderson-Zorn is the university archivist at Illinois State University's Milner Library.
This image circa 1999 shows an architectural model for the new Illinois Shakespeare Festival theater space and auditorium that opened in summer 2000 on the grounds of Ewing Manor in Bloomington.
Image courtesy of the Dr. JoAnn Rayfield Archives, Illinois State University. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/illinois-shakespeare-festival-turns-45-at-illinois-state-university/article_a4b4054a-0e0f-11ed-ad72-6376f3cec96b.html | 2022-07-31T16:09:33 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/illinois-shakespeare-festival-turns-45-at-illinois-state-university/article_a4b4054a-0e0f-11ed-ad72-6376f3cec96b.html |
A man is dead after being shot early Sunday and a suspect remains on the loose.
San Antonio police responded to a shooting just before 3 a.m. on the 4900 block of South Flores Street.
When they arrived, a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds, according to an SAPD email. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the shooting was a result of a "physical altercation."
As of 8:30 a.m., police are still searching for potential suspects. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/SAPD-searching-for-suspect-in-fatal-shooting-17341212.php | 2022-07-31T16:09:36 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/SAPD-searching-for-suspect-in-fatal-shooting-17341212.php |
Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series exploring the issue of food insecurity in Bloomington-Normal.
TODAY: How nonprofit organizations and advocates are working to make sure Bloomington-Normal residents have enough to eat
PART ONE: Click here for look at the barriers some Bloomington-Normal residents face as they seek to put food on the table for their families
Kyan Glenn knows the kind of people he wants to feed with the produce grown on his small farm outside Bloomington.
People who struggle to make ends meet. Who might work 80 or 90 hours a week and still not know security. Who turn to frozen or prepackaged food out of necessity, but never feel full even after their plates are empty.
"I'm really highly motivated to feed those people because I come from those people," said Glenn, owner of The Table Farm and Workshop.
His donations to the food co-op run by Home Sweet Home Ministries are part of a homegrown movement to end food insecurity in Bloomington-Normal. Nonprofits, government bodies, faith-based organizations and individual volunteers are working to feed the community through a variety of means: pantries, community gardens, produce pickups and other types of donations.
Tremendous energy fuels these efforts. But the need may be even greater: Over 15,000 McLean County residents experienced food insecurity in 2020, according to estimates from Feeding America, a national food bank network.
With soaring inflation and gas prices, the cost of putting food on the table is rising — and so is the need for help across the country. A recent survey found that 80% of food banks reported either an increase or steady demand for emergency food services, according to Feeding America. More than 53 million Americans sought such help last year.
Beyond rising costs, access to food also presents a challenge for some. Parts of the community, most notably west Bloomington, are considered a "food desert," meaning residents don’t have easy access to a supermarket or large grocery store.
Local advocates don't foresee the problems dissipating anytime soon.
"I feel like, in Bloomington, the need would always be there unless something drastically changed," said Caroline Bubulka, director of school nutrition for Bloomington District 87.
'Nutritionally empty'
Growing up in Chicago, Glenn said, his family often struggled, even though his father worked long hours to provide. "We had a house," he said, "but barely."
As a result, Glenn's diet then was a long way from the leafy greens and vibrant vegetables that now fill his table at the Bloomington farmers market.
"When you grow up really poor, you end up eating a lot of Wendy's," he laughed. "That stuff is so nutritionally empty."
That's to say nothing of the disease and complications associated with unhealthy eating.
Researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation studied the health impact of diet in 195 countries. Among their findings: Worldwide, poor diet was linked to 11 million deaths in 2017, with 9.5 million of those from cardiovascular disease. Many people eat far more sodium — and far fewer fruits and whole grains — than recommended.
On Glenn's farm, the produce is "certified naturally grown," a designation awarded by other farmers that requires avoidance of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers or genetically modified organisms.
He said there's a tangible difference when compared to convenience foods. "You can eat my food and be full for multiple hours," he said.
Glenn sells his produce at a premium at the farmers market and through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, which allows consumers to "subscribe" to regular boxes of produce. But he said profit is not his priority.
In addition to helping stock Bread for Life Co-op, Glenn is among the local growers who feed the hungry through a volunteer effort called the Veggie Oasis.
Here's how it works: Every Saturday, as the Bloomington farmers market winds down in Museum Square, volunteers from West Bloomington Revitalization Project collect donations from vendors with leftover produce. The volunteers bring the food to the corner of Washington and Allin streets, where anyone can take some for free.
"It's a great way to provide nutritional value for the community," said volunteer Karla Kossler of the effort, which has been going on for eight years. And it helps farmers too, mitigating waste and lightening the load after hours in the hot sun selling their product.
"It's super convenient because, at the end of market, we don't have product that needs somewhere else to go," said Chelsea Meiss of Cook Farms.
West-side roots
While access to a variety of larger grocery stores remains lacking on Bloomington's west side, several organizations are working to fill the gap.
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest on West Illinois Street has distributed thousands of pounds of fresh produce to the community since it opened in 2016.
"We give food to about 400 different families on the west side each year," said director Caleb Phillips, wiping the dirt from his hands on a recent summer day. Around him, young apprentices — who are allowed to take food from the garden in addition to their pay — mulched various vegetable beds for turnover.
The nonprofit, operating under the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, hosts "pop-up market" events that allow customers to pay what they can. Sunnyside donates to Bread For Life Co-op, Eastview Christian Church and Center for Hope. Phillips also sells produce through the online delivery service Market Wagon, a venture that helps fund the apprentice program.
Using the Market Wagon revenue as a guide, Phillips can estimate a dollar figure for the garden's value to the community: "The total price of the food that we give away is, roughly, about $15,000."
Another key resource is Western Avenue Community Center, which distributes about 80 free food boxes each month through a program funded by the Tinervin Family Foundation.
The boxes contain food that any family would use daily, such as canned vegetables and fruits, pasta, cereals, rice, beans, cans of chickens and tuna, sweets and snacks, said Martha Saldana, food program director at the center. Thanks to sponsored grants, extras such as spices or proteins are added monthly.
This year, the center also partnered with the West Bloomington Revitalization Project on a new community supported agriculture, which provides fresh produce boxes to 48 westside families. Families enrolled in the program receive a box, filled with produce from Cook Farm, once a week from mid-June to mid-November.
Participants in the CSA must live on the city's west side, but organizers say the need extends well beyond the neighborhood.
"We have a lot of people who are interested in the program that don't live in west Bloomington," said Kristen Buhrmann, president of WBRP. The organization is seeking to expand the program through grant funding.
Caring for children
Hope comes in many forms. At Midwest Food Bank, it starts with an 800-pound bag of Apple Jacks cereal.
Volunteers at the Normal nonprofit divide this bounty — which the food bank can recover because of its Illinois salvage license — into snack-sized individual bags. These become one component of "Hope Packs," bundles distributed to thousands of McLean County children to ensure that those who qualify for free lunch at school during the week still have food to eat over the weekend.
The packs contain an individual warm meal, breakfast meal, fruit, granola bar and a snack. Executive Director Tara Ingham said they help bridge the gap between Friday and Monday school meals, a crucial time for children in need.
And there are many children in need, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education. Over half of the students in Bloomington District 87 live in low-income households, meaning they meet federal guidelines for free or reduced lunch, are receiving public aid or are living in substitute care. Nearly a third of McLean County Unit 5 students meet those criteria.
Both school districts offered free meals to anyone younger than 18 on weekdays during the summer, an effort funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The districts provided food at several elementary schools, and District 87 took the further step of conducting mobile feeding stops at a few churches and other locations.
"A 5-year-old is not going to be able to go, purchase food, go home and cook," said Bubulka, the District 87 director of school nutrition. "So we do that for them."
The problem extends beyond high school graduation.
A fall 2020 survey of over 195,000 college students found that 39% of students at two-year institutions and 29% of those at four-year institutions had experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days. The survey was conducted by Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, which studies whether college students have access to basic needs like housing and food.
It was a recognition of this growing need that led to the creation of the School Street Pantry in Normal, said Doris Groves, board chair.
Since 2018, the pantry has been open to all college and trade school students in the Bloomington-Normal area, Grove said. Students must bring their school ID and can visit as often as they need. The pantry has canned goods, produce, toiletries, refrigerated items like milk and eggs and frozen foods.
During the school year, about 100 students a week seek the help. "We try to make it as least stigmatizing as possible," Grove said, noting that the bag students use has a logo but no wording to indicate its association with the pantry. "It's generally a good experience."
A structural problem
Dorothy Deany’s desk overlooks the garden at the corner of Chestnut and Center streets. She is the vice-president for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Bloomington, a subsidy of Eastern Illinois Food Bank.
The pantry serves about 250 families every Monday, Deany said, but some of their most important customers live right next door in Phoenix and Lincoln Towers.
“We pack up food in the truck and we take it over there,” she said, as many of the residents are older adults and people with disabilities.
Eligibility is based on federal poverty guidelines and family size. Deany said the pantry receives monthly donations from individuals in the community as well as from businesses like Jewel Osco, Fresh Thyme and Target. She said they do take fresh produce donations, but the on-site garden is crucial.
In 2021, the garden produced over 3,000 pounds of tomatoes — double what it has been in the past.
Fresh produce remains a key part of the efforts at Midwest Food Bank, which distributes millions of dollars of food each month to pantries and other nonprofits. Ingham, the executive director, said it receives and distributes about 7,000 pounds of fresh produce each month.
The organization saves money by buying in bulk and relying on volunteers — about 7,700 annually — as well as donations from local grocery stores.
"Every dollar we get we can provide $30 worth of food," she said, surveying the hundreds of pallets of non-perishables and household items neatly stacked three-high in the Normal warehouse.
In May alone, the food bank received over 55,000 pounds of food for free, including 8,700 pounds of fresh meat, 6,700 pounds of fresh produce and nearly 27,000 pounds of breads, said Debi Petrillo, office coordinator.
One of the organization's programs, Tender Mercies, distributes packets of par-boiled rice and beans to help people who only have a microwave. "It's low-cost, but it's a mighty ally in (fighting) food insecurity."
Perhaps it speaks to the deep-rooted nature of food insecurity in Central Illinois that even with so many volunteer hours, acres of urban garden and tons of donations, the problem continues to persist.
None of the organizations interviewed for this story reported a decrease in demand — some quite the opposite.
Committed as he is to helping feed the people whose hunger is so familiar to him, Glenn sees the problem as one much larger than individual solutions could resolve.
He sat in the shade on his farm, leaned forward in his chair and sighed.
"The people that need help the most ... in American systems today are the furthest from it," he said.
He said the structure itself — the process by which food is grown, processed and made accessible — needs to change. “But no one wants to change the structure."
Resources
If you are facing food insecurity — like thousands of people in Bloomington-Normal — here's how to connect with the resources mentioned in this story.
Want to help? Each organization details donation and volunteer opportunities on its website. You can also donate to the Midwest Food Bank, which helps a number of area pantries and organizations. Visit midwestfoodbank.org.
Home Sweet Home Ministries Bread for Life Co-op
- 309-828-7356, ext. 228
- 303 E. Oakland Ave., Bloomington
- hshministries.org
- 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays, 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, 2 to 4 p.m. Fridays
School Street Food Pantry
- 211 North School St., Normal
- schoolstreetfoodpantry.org
- 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays August through May, 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays June and July
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- 309-829-9611
- 705 N. Roosevelt St., Bloomington
- svdp-htpantry.org
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, 9 to 11 a.m. every second and fourth Saturday
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
- West Illinois Street, Bloomington
- sunnysidecommunitygarden.org
- 6 to 7 p.m. Fridays; follow social media for more
Veggie Oasis
- Corner of Washington and Allin streets
- Noon, every Saturday while the Bloomington Farmers Market is in season
Western Avenue Community Center
- 309-829-4807
- 600 N. Western Ave., Bloomington
- https://westernavenuecc.org
- Reach out to the organization about food boxes
West Bloomington Revitalization Project
- 309-829-1200
- 724 W. Washington St., Bloomington
- https://www.westbloomington.org
- Reach out to the organization about food boxes | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/how-mclean-county-groups-volunteers-are-fighting-to-end-food-insecurity/article_266b81de-0eed-11ed-8fe0-a34af0fdac2c.html | 2022-07-31T16:09:40 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/how-mclean-county-groups-volunteers-are-fighting-to-end-food-insecurity/article_266b81de-0eed-11ed-8fe0-a34af0fdac2c.html |
The owner of a popular cheesesteak shop in South Philadelphia says he will rebuild after the iconic eatery burned for hours during a fire this week.
Jim’s Steaks owner Kenneth Silver told NBC10 Saturday that the city’s licensing and inspections department does not believe the building on South Street is a total loss and that its structural integrity will be able to be maintained.
Jim's Steaks first opened in 1939 in West Philadelphia, but the South Street location opened in 1976. The building on South Street was originally constructed around 1900, according to city property records.
“We are definitely going to be back for year 48, so just give us a break. Visit the other great establishments in Philadelphia. There are so many of us. We’re one big family and we’re one big cheesesteak community,” Silver said standing outside the boarded-up restaurant.
The eatery on the corner of 4th and South streets caught fire Friday morning, but it was several hours before it was placed under control as the flames weaved through the heating and cooling system.
Firefighters responded after someone reported that some wires had caught fire around 9:15 a.m., Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Adam Thiel said. Smoke could be seen billowing from every floor of the four-story building as firefighters knocked down windows.
The floors on top of the cheesesteak shop were empty and are used for storage, Thiel noted. A manager at the restaurant told NBC10 that everyone was able to make it out OK after seeing smoke coming from the air conditioning system.
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Firefighters had to proceed with caution because of the risk that the building was structurally unstable, Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Adam Thiel said, referencing an incident in which a firefighter died last month after a building collapsed following another blaze. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/jims-steaks-owner-vows-to-rebuild-after-fire-rips-through-south-philly-eatery/3320909/ | 2022-07-31T16:19:57 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/jims-steaks-owner-vows-to-rebuild-after-fire-rips-through-south-philly-eatery/3320909/ |
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Plans to build an Amazon delivery facility in the township appear to have been shelved, dampening hopes of bringing the online retail giant to the area — but there is a chance another project at that same location is en route.
The township Planning Board announced in February that there was a proposal to build an Amazon “last mile” delivery station at Aloe Street and Genoa Avenue. Officials from the township and Atlantic County now say that proposal has been scrapped.
Ole Hansen & Sons, which owns the lot at Aloe and Genoa, confirmed Friday that the Amazon project was not moving forward. While Amazon did not explain its decision, Ole Hansen believes it to be part of the online retailer’s broader response to national economic conditions.
Ole Hansen is continuing to market the property and “several interested parties” have contacted the company about acquiring the land for future projects, a company official said.
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“Our 300 acres of industrial property in Galloway is an ideal site for development because it is in a wonderful location near major highways and the airport and has all utilities available to the property,” Ole Hansen & Sons CEO and President Jennifer Hansen said in an email Friday.
Bluewater Property Group, a development company contracted by Amazon for the project, did not respond to requests for comment.
Employees at a Trader Joe’s in Massachusetts are casting votes over the next two days in an attempt to form the supermarket chain’s first union. A union organizer says about 80 workers at the Hadley store are scheduled to vote Wednesday and Thursday. The workers are organizing under the name Trader Joe’s United, which if successful, would be an independent union, and not affiliated with a larger existing union. Trader Joe's in a statement welcomes the vote, but said its compensation and benefits are already among the industry's best.
Mayor Anthony Coppola said Amazon officials told him they were no longer pursuing the project. Those officials, he said, attributed the decision to Amazon’s strategy of scaling back development nationwide, rather than any particular concerns about the Galloway site.
Like Hansen, Coppola said the Aloe-and-Genoa lot is still drawing attention from large businesses, with two companies in particular interested in the site. While he declined to give their names, Coppola said one was another online retailer and the other was a company involved in the aviation industry. He said both companies had a national presence and did work globally. The two new companies, like Amazon, recognized the economic potential of the site.
“There’s a big sense of interest,” Coppola said. “Amazon gave that spot credibility.”
The township recently joined the Atlantic County Economic Alliance and is working with it to develop the Aloe-Genoa site. ACEA President Lauren Moore confirmed the Amazon project was not in the works, and that two other developers were now interested.
The Amazon delivery station would have encompassed 181,000 square feet and delivered to a location within a 45-minute-drive of the site. Amazon was set to hire between 150 and 200 full-time employees, along with additional part-time staff, who were set to receive a wage of at least $15 per hour and a benefits package. Contract drivers would have been required to operate the site, which would have created another 300 to 500 jobs.
It was set to operate 24 hours a day without in-store customer pickup.
Lululemon workers in Washington, D.C. are filing to hold a union election, joining workers at other major companies aiming to organize amid a wave of labor wins over the past year. The petition was filed this week by the Association of Concerted Educators. The company refers to its sales staff as educators. The group is seeking to unionize a store in the Georgetown neighborhood with roughly 30 workers. Among other demands, it is calling for more pay transparency and “equitable pay structures.” A Lululemon spokesperson says the company was notified of the petition and would “respect the process, and welcome being in continued conversations with our teams.”
Some residents at the Planning Board meeting in February opposed the plan. They were concerned the site would have drawn too much traffic and resulted in irritating lights and noise. Developers and township officials said they had worked to mitigate these issues in advance of the proposal.
The cancellation of the Galloway project is reflective of Amazon’s efforts to reduce its physical presence nationwide.
Amazon, based in Seattle, announced it would sublease its warehouses in several states, including New Jersey, as it tries to cut costs associated with running those properties.
In April, Amazon reported its first quarterly loss since 2015, dropping $3.84 billion. The decline was attributed to a decrease in online shopping, which surged at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when brick-and-mortar shopping was paralyzed by public-health shutdowns. Amid the growth in online retail over the past two years, Amazon had doubled both its operation size and workforce.
That loss was followed by a $2 billion quarterly loss reported Thursday.
Amazon has also struggled with increased shipping costs, a result of global supply-chain disruptions and high inflation.
High diesel prices are driving up the cost of everything, from groceries to Amazon orders and furniture. That's because nearly everything that’s delivered, whether by truck, rail or ship, uses diesel fuel. Truckers are turning down hauling jobs in the states with the most expensive diesel. They're choosing lighter loads and in some cases working longer hours to make up for the money lost on fuel. Farmers harvesting hay and planting corn with diesel-fired tractors are taking a hit of thousands of dollars per week. And many of these high costs are passed down to consumers.
Unprecedented unionization drives have also beset the online-retail and technology giant, with workers at a Staten Island, New York, warehouse voting to form the first Amazon labor union in the United States in April. Union leaders eventually earned praise from several Democratic politicians, including President Joe Biden.
New Jersey U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross, D-1st, and Frank Pallone, D-6th, criticized Amazon on Wednesday for what they said were high rates of workplace injuries at its New Jersey warehouses. They noted that an Amazon worker died at an Amazon facility in Carteret, Middlesex County, during the company’s Prime Day sale from July 12 to 13.
Moore said whatever new developments come to the Aloe-Genoa site would complement ongoing development efforts meant to strengthen and diversify the Atlantic County economy. Projects in and around the county’s aviation hub — consisting of Atlantic City International Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration’s William J. Hughes Technical Center — were things Moore highlighted as potential engines of economic growth for the area.
The Board of Commissioners of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which operates the airport, adopted a resolution July 20 authorizing an aeronautical development project on the 400-acre northwest quadrant of the airport property. Details of the project are to be negotiated by the SJTA executive director and Los Angeles developer Industrial Realty Group LLC. Moore said the project could create more than 1,000 jobs.
“One project simmers down, and another project simmers up,” Moore said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/amazon-facility-no-longer-coming-to-galloway/article_62d19156-0eb9-11ed-a087-abc2e9a89165.html | 2022-07-31T16:27:25 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/amazon-facility-no-longer-coming-to-galloway/article_62d19156-0eb9-11ed-a087-abc2e9a89165.html |
HINDMAN, Ky. (AP) — The number of deaths from massive flooding in Kentucky continued to climb on Sunday amid a renewed threat of more heavy rains.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on NBC’s “Meet The Press” that the death toll had risen by one to 26 from last week’s storms.
Beshear has said the number would likely rise significantly and it could take weeks to find all the victims. As many as 37 people were unaccounted for, according to a daily briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
On top of that, more flash flooding was possible in portions of Appalachia on Sunday and Monday as the latest storms roll through, the National Weather Service said. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were possible in some of the same areas that were inundated last week.
A dozen shelters were open for flood victims in Kentucky with 388 occupants on Sunday, according to FEMA.
Beshear said state police were taking calls from worried people who can’t locate loved ones due to spotty cell phone service.
“We still can’t get into some areas to check on people,” Beshear said. “We’re doubling our National Guard. We’re going to work to go door to door, work to find, again, as many people as we can. We’re even going to work through the rain. But the weather is complicating it.”
On an overcast morning in downtown Hindman, about 200 miles (322 kilometers) southeast of Louisville, a crew cleared debris piled along storefronts. Nearby, a vehicle was perched upside down in Troublesome Creek, now back within its debris-littered banks.
With the threat of more rain, workers toiled nonstop through mud-caked sidewalks and roads.
“We’re going to be here unless there’s a deluge,” said Tom Jackson, who is among the workers.
Jackson was with a crew from Corbin, Kentucky, where he’s the city’s recycling director, about a two-hour drive from Hindman.
His crew worked all day Saturday, and the mud and debris were so thick that they managed to clear one-eighth of a mile of roadway. The water had rushed off the hillsides had so much force that it bent road signs.
“I’ve never seen water like this,” Jackson said.
In Knott County, Teresa Perry Reynolds’ home was inundated with water and mud. She and her husband would have taken refuge in their 44-foot travel trailer, but it was swamped by the floodwater.
“I have the clothes on my back,” she said Saturday when asked what they could salvage.
They found her husband’s wallet after searching a day and a half. It was left behind as they escaped the fast-rising water Thursday and went to a neighbor’s house. A team of volunteers hauled debris out of her house Saturday.
She and her husband are staying with friends. She’s a retired teacher and her husband is a retired school administrator.
“All I know is I’m homeless and I’ve got people taking care of me,” she said.
The rain let up early Friday after parts of eastern Kentucky received between 8 and 10 1/2 inches (20-27 centimeters) over 48 hours. About 13,000 utility customers in Kentucky remained without power Sunday, poweroutage.us reported.
President Joe Biden declared a federal disaster to direct relief money to more than a dozen Kentucky counties.
Last week’s flooding extended to West Virginia, where Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for six southern counties, and to Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin also made an emergency declaration that enabled officials to mobilize resources across the flooded southwest portion of the state.
___
Associated Press writer John Raby contributed to this report from Charleston, West Virginia. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/death-toll-in-kentucky-hits-26-amid-renewed-flood-threat/ | 2022-07-31T16:34:07 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/death-toll-in-kentucky-hits-26-amid-renewed-flood-threat/ |
PASCO COUNTY, Fla — The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating an early Sunday morning hit-and-run that fatally injured a 45-year-old Hudson man, according to a news release.
Troopers responded around 8:30 a.m to a bicyclist who was struck on Scenic Drive north of Jasmine Boulevard, per the news release.
The unidentified vehicle fled the scene following the crash, troopers say.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol or Crimestoppers.
This crash is still under investigation. No other information has been released at this time. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pascocounty/hit-and-run-pasco-county-scenic-drive-jasmine-boulevard/67-58fdb0ca-c37d-4ca6-b281-eb5f6deee738 | 2022-07-31T16:34:07 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pascocounty/hit-and-run-pasco-county-scenic-drive-jasmine-boulevard/67-58fdb0ca-c37d-4ca6-b281-eb5f6deee738 |
BOONE COUNTY, WV (WOWK)—Some West Virginia law enforcement departments will send some much-needed help to their brothers in blue across the border in Eastern Kentucky.
The Whitesburg Police Department in Letcher County lost eight police cars in the devastating flooding that ravaged Eastern Kentucky this week, and both the City of Hurricane and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office have pledged to donate retired cruisers.
Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards said on Facebook that he talked to the Assistant Chief of Police and the Emergency Services Deputy Director in Whitesburg and arranged to donate a fully-equipped, retired police car on Sunday.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office also posted on Facebook that they would donate at least one retired police cruiser and that they plan to deliver it on Tuesday evening.
Both encouraged the public to drop off donations of water and cleaning supplies. In Hurricane, donations will be collected at Teays Valley Christian School on Tuesday between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the gym. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office says they will accept donations at their office, which is in the annex on the second floor behind the courthouse in Madison. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/west-virginia-law-enforcement-to-donate-cruisers-to-eastern-kentucky/ | 2022-07-31T16:34:13 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/west-virginia-law-enforcement-to-donate-cruisers-to-eastern-kentucky/ |
WAUKEGAN, Ill. -- The Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Police Department are partnering to host the 2022 Touch a Truck and Waukegan Night Out on Friday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, located at 201 E. Seahorse Drive.
Attendees of all ages will have the opportunity to see, touch, and explore trucks, policevehicles, machines, and more.
The Waukegan Police Department will be celebrating National Night Out. National Night Out isan annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Police officers will be engaging with children and their families through hands-on activities and exhibitions, including a live canine unit demonstration.
Following the event, the Waukegan Park District will host a free movie at the Stiner Pavilion. The movie will be family-friendly and free popcorn will be available while supplies last. Attendees are encouraged to bring snacks, blankets, chairs, picnic gear, and insect repellent.
People are also reading…
Preregistration is not required to attend. More information is available at waukeganparks.org/touchatruck.
10 hot audiobooks for your summer downtime
Listen to the latest
For many people, summer is for savoring books.
With audiobooks, you can enjoy the latest celebrity biography or literary sensation on a road trip or long plane ride. What could be better company for a long solitary stroll in nature than immersing yourself in a four-century-long saga or listening to the intimate yet humorous confessions of comedians while on an extended train ride?
These aren’t the typical beach reads — instead, you’ll find food for thought and in-depth looks from entertainment icons, latest works from literary stars and hard-to-put-down page-turners.
Here are some recent hot titles perfect for vacations and downtime this season.
‘Time is a Mother’ by Ocean Vuong
One of the most popular modern poets of the past few years, Ocean Vuong made a splash with his 2016 collection “Night Sky With Exit Wounds,” which won the T.S. Eliot prize.
After six years spent working on other projects — including his 2019 debut novel, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” — his long-awaited second collection, “Time is a Mother,” published this year to acclaim. Vuong narrates himself, and the rhythm of the author’s voice over the course of the 1-hour and 43-minute audiobook makes it easy to savor the imagery of his words.
‘Sea of Tranquility’ by Emily St. John Mandel
Emily St. John Mandel writes complex, time-jumping novels and her latest is no exception. Set over four centuries, “Sea of Tranquility” explores the stories of four different people who are connected by a single event in a forest.
It’s a lot to wrap your head around, but the narration for the audiobook version — provided by Arthur Morey, Dylan Moore, John Lee and Kirsten Potter — helps to make it more accessible. And as the timelines begin to merge and the narrators bleed into other sections, it helps convey the sheer ambition of what Mandel is attempting.
‘Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama’ by Bob Odenkirk
Few actors are more beloved than Bob Odenkirk, a brilliant comedian who ended up becoming a brilliant dramatic actor. His new memoir tells the story of that transition, beginning with Odenkirk’s early years at Second City, his work on the acclaimed “Mr. Show” and the phone call that would change his life by offering him the part of Saul Goodman on “Breaking Bad.”
It’s a hilarious, clear-eyed look at working in Hollywood, and Odenkirk brings his wit and comedic timing to the narration.
‘Hello, Molly!’ by Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon concluded a successful 2021 on television (starring in the comedies “White Lotus,” “The Other Two” and “I Love That For You”) with a memoir — "Hello, Molly!" — that is just as enthralling to read as she is to watch on screen.
Shannon’s book is at turns depressing and hilarious, giving insight into a true legend of comedy, from her days on “Saturday Night Live” to the most difficult days of her life. Her writing style is playful, and she narrates the audiobook with all the charisma you’ve come to expect from the comedian.
‘Lapvona’ by Otessa Moshfegh
No matter how much you liked Otessa Moshfegh’s “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” it’s possible the author’s new novel “Lapvona” may be harder to swallow.
Set in a medieval village where filth and sickness is as commonplace as air, Moshfegh tells a gruesome story of religion, sexual deviance and cannibalism. The story follows a young, deformed boy named Marek who becomes heir to a terrifying lord. Moshfegh takes the freakiest and most unsettling bits of her previous novel and pushes them to a breaking point in “Lapvona.”
‘Honey and Spice’ by Bolu Babalola
Narrated by Nigerian actor Weruche Opia (seen in HBO’s “I May Destroy You”), “Honey and Spice” is a salacious and entertaining debut romance novel from journalist and cultural critic Bolu Babalola. She uses fiction as a means to explore the current state of Black British society without sparing a moment of drama or sex appeal.
And although the story of Kikiola Banjo — a student broadcaster in an unpredictable romance — is interesting enough on its own, Opia gives so much life to the narration that you won’t want to put it down.
‘Two Nights in Lisbon’ by Chris Pavone
When recently married Ariel wakes up in her Lisbon hotel room, she’s surprised to find her husband is gone. Ariel is a small-town bookshop owner and mother of a young teen whose quiet life doesn’t seem like the stuff of international intrigue. But as she appeals to the American embassy and Portuguese police for help, it turns out Ariel and her husband have been keeping secrets from each other.
This engrossing mystery combines the beauty and history of Lisbon with the story of an American couple who turn out to have more secrets than either could imagine.
‘I’ll Be You’ by Janelle Brown
Twins Sam and Elli were successful child actors, riding high until their paths began to diverge sharply as teenagers. Flash-forward more than a decade later, when over-achieving Elli fails to return from a mysterious retreat in Ojai, and Sam, who’s just beginning to finally get her life back together in L.A., is called in by their mother to help figure out what’s going on behind her twin’s perfect-seeming facade.
With lots of sharply observed details and themes that echo the practices of recent cults, “I’ll Be You” is a thoroughly entertaining contemporary California novel.
‘Age of Cage’ by Keith Phipps
Nicolas Cage, who has starred in classics such as “Con Air,” “Face/Off,” “The Rock” and “Mandy,” has cemented himself as a national treasure in Hollywood.
Written by critic and journalist Keith Phipps, “Age of Cage” is a detailed, intimate record of one of this generation’s most electric screen presences. The book paints a colorful portrait of the enigmatic icon by analyzing Cage’s expansive filmography and the transformation of film itself throughout his career. As much a story about Hollywood as it is about a movie star, “Age of Cage” is a must-listen for Cage fans.
‘Blood, Sweat and Chrome’ by Kyle Buchanan
The story of how George Miller’s 2015’s tour-de-force action film, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” was made is a saga unto itself.
“Blood, Sweat & Chrome” showcases a deep, compelling examination, including more than 130 interviews with creators and admirers. The story begins long before the film’s inception and continues through the grueling 2012 location shoot in Namibia. With a highly challenging production, this chronicle of Miller’s miraculous masterpiece is a turbocharged tale, behind the scenes of one of the most astounding films ever shown on the big screen. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/waukegan-plans-touch-a-truck-night-out-events/article_da4b257c-1020-11ed-a795-5733fba6dcc4.html | 2022-07-31T16:38:55 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/waukegan-plans-touch-a-truck-night-out-events/article_da4b257c-1020-11ed-a795-5733fba6dcc4.html |
City settles multi-million-dollar lawsuit with Amelia Baca’s family. Another lawsuit is in the works
LAS CRUCES - The City of Las Cruces agreed to pay Amelia Baca’s family $2.75 million after settling a wrongful death lawsuit.
The settlement is the first of two following Baca’s killing on April 16. Baca, 75, was shot twice by Las Cruces Police Department officer Jared Cosper. Cosper was dispatched to Baca’s home on the 800 block of Fir Avenue after Baca’s daughter called 911.
Baca threatened to kill her daughter while in the throes of a mental health crisis, according to a statement she gave to police. Cosper’s body camera shows the officer walking up to Baca’s house and making brief contact with two of Baca’s family members as they calmly exit their house. Then, Cosper sees Baca holding two kitchen knives. For about 40 seconds, Cosper shouts at Baca to “drop the knives, drop the f***ing knives!” before shooting her twice.
The City has yet to confirm that Cosper killed Baca. However, an investigation conducted by the Sun-News confirmed his role in the shooting.
Shortly after Cosper’s body camera footage became public, Baca’s family held a press conference to announce their plans to sue the City. Their attorney, Sam Bregman, also called on the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office to press criminal charges against Cosper. However, as of the publication of this article, the DA’s Office has not decided whether to charge Cosper.
According to public records obtained by the Sun-News, the City and Baca’s family settled the lawsuit on June 30. A Las Cruces judge accepted the settlement on July 28 and dismissed the case.
The $2.75 million settlement was the most amount possible, Bregman said.
Bregman also settled a lawsuit with the City of Las Cruces after an LCPD officer used a controversial grapple technique on Antonio Valenzuela in 2020. As a result, the City settled with the Valenzuela family for $6.5 million. In that case, Bregman said the City agreed to pay out a federal lawsuit and state lawsuit simultaneously.
The City of Las Cruces declined to comment on this story. In an email, City spokesperson Mandy Guss said the City would not provide a statement due to pending litigation.
While the state case for wrongful death is over, a lawsuit in federal court is just beginning. In that case, Baca’s family accuses Cosper and the City of using excessive force on Baca and killing Baca without due process. Unlike the state case, there is no limit on the amount of damages.
“We look forward to presenting this entire matter to a federal jury for the constitutional violations,” Bregman said.
Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com.
Others are reading: | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/courts/2022/07/31/city-of-las-cruces-settles-multi-million-dollar-lawsuit-with-amelia-baca-family/65386432007/ | 2022-07-31T16:42:59 | 1 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/courts/2022/07/31/city-of-las-cruces-settles-multi-million-dollar-lawsuit-with-amelia-baca-family/65386432007/ |
District attorney sends Amelia Baca decision to state attorney general. Here’s what we know
LAS CRUCES - The decision to prosecute a Las Cruces Police Department officer is now in the hands of the New Mexico attorney general — at least for now.
“The mere fact the case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office for review should not be seen as indicating presumptive innocence or guilt,” 3rd Judicial District Attorney Gerald Byers told the Sun-News on Friday.
The move is the latest in the ongoing case regarding the fatal shooting of Amelia Baca.
Baca, 75, was shot twice by Las Cruces Police Department officer Jared Cosper on April 16. The department dispatched Cosper to Baca’s home on the 800 block of Fir Avenue after Baca’s daughter called 911.
Baca threatened to kill her daughter in the throes of a mental health crisis, according to a statement Baca's daughter gave to police. Cosper’s body camera shows the officer walking up to Baca’s house and making brief contact with two of Baca’s family members as they calmly exit their house. Then, Cosper sees Baca holding two kitchen knives. For about 40 seconds, Cosper shouts at Baca to “drop the knives, drop the f***ing knives!” before shooting her twice. Baca spoke only Spanish, her granddaughter later told investigators.
The city has yet to confirm that Cosper killed Baca. However, an investigation conducted by the Sun-News confirmed his role in the shooting. Since then, Cosper has been on paid administrative leave.
Shortly after Cosper’s body camera footage became public, the Baca family and their attorney, Sam Bregman, called on the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office to press criminal charges against the officer.
After the shooting, a task force led by an LCPD detective delivered its investigation and findings to Byers on June 21.
The DA said there was no timeline for making a decision on whether to prosecute.
“When evaluating a case for possible criminal charges, the statutes applied are the same for average citizens and law enforcement officers,” Byers said. “There is no ‘special’ short-term time limit to make a charging decision that governs Officer-Citizen encounters.”
If the AG’s Office does not prosecute Cosper, the charging decision will fall back on the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. From there, the DA’s Office can ask other district attorneys in the state to review the case or decide themselves.
Earlier in July, prosecutors from the AG’s Office unsuccessfully prosecuted a trial against a former LCPD officer charged with second-degree murder. In that case, a Las Cruces judge issued a directed verdict of acquittal, saying prosecutors failed to show that Christopher Smelser intended to kill Antonio Valenzuela.
“These cases are incredibly complex, emotionally charged, and extremely important to both law enforcement and the community at large,” Byers said.
Keep reading:
- Las Cruces Public Schools, police assure public on school security
- Outage south of Las Cruces affects 4,100 El Paso Electric customers
- Has New Mexico's relentless focus on DWI missed bigger problem of addiction?
Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/courts/2022/07/31/da-sends-amelia-baca-decision-to-the-attorney-general/65387160007/ | 2022-07-31T16:43:05 | 0 | https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/courts/2022/07/31/da-sends-amelia-baca-decision-to-the-attorney-general/65387160007/ |
ALBANY – The Sowega Council on Aging recently received the 2022 USAging Aging Innovations and Achievement Award in the Home and Community Based Services category for its Senior Center Without Walls program.
The award was announced at the 47th Annual Conference for USAging, the national association representing and supporting the network of area agencies on aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging programs. The annual awards program recognizes USAging members who have developed leading-edge and successful ways to demonstrate sound management practices replicable by others in the aging network.
SCOA implemented its Senior Center Without Walls program in a 14-county region in response to overhead expenses, supply chain issues, work force shortages and low participation rates at senior centers. SCOA contracts with local restaurants, providing nutritious meals on-site or for pickup. Activities and programming, including evidence-based programs, are offered in person at local community organizations or via zoom.
Awards were given based on the criterion of budget, accomplishments, and replicability and noted the following:
-- The Senior Center Without Walls model reduces overhead costs, with no physical senior centers or kitchens to maintain and a dramatic reduction in employees, resulting in more funds allocated to meals.
-- Participation across the region tripled from 500 to more than 1,500, with 720 more consumers on the waiting list. Volunteer participation increased from 12 to 24 advisory members. Virtual attendance includes thousands of tablet interactions per month.
-- The model of SCOA is replicable by delivering Senior Center programming at new places in the community and contracting with restaurants, YMCAs, public libraries, churches or other nonprofits while also including virtual components for those who cannot attend in person.
"Partnerships are vital to our work," Sowega Council on Aging Executive Director Izzie Sadler said. "Senior Center Without Walls is proof that engaging a community and seniors together, at the same time, results in growth for everyone and ultimately allows us to serve more seniors in need."
“Through the Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards, we salute our members’ outstanding accomplishments and hold up their programs in the hopes that doing so will seed replication and additional innovation by their peers around the country,” USAging CEO Sandy Markwood said. “We applaud our members for their tireless efforts to creatively develop vital services and supports for older adults, as well as their caregivers and people with disabilities in communities nationwide.”
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/sowega-council-on-aging-wins-national-award/article_49838cd2-10de-11ed-90d6-a7e148540cd4.html | 2022-07-31T16:43:18 | 1 | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/sowega-council-on-aging-wins-national-award/article_49838cd2-10de-11ed-90d6-a7e148540cd4.html |
A 1-year-old baby was shot in the hand in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood Sunday morning, police said.
The child was taken to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children after being wounded on the 3400 block of Emerald Street, the Philadelphia Police Department said. The child’s condition was not immediately known.
The shooting seems to have stemmed from some sort of fight inside a house where a wedding party was going on, police said. The mother’s child was holding the baby when the fight spilled outside and four shots rang out, according to police.
Sunday’s shooting is only the latest involving a child in Philadelphia. According to the city controller’s office, at least 151 minors have been shot this year. That includes 24 fatal and 127 nonfatal shootings as of July 28.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/1-year-old-baby-shot-after-argument-at-party-leads-to-gunfire-police-say/3320928/ | 2022-07-31T16:45:57 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/1-year-old-baby-shot-after-argument-at-party-leads-to-gunfire-police-say/3320928/ |
DALLAS — Police have opened an investigation on the death of a man that was allegedly harassing a Dallas neighborhood late Saturday night.
The police department said officers responded to a shooting on Quinto Drive at about 11 p.m.
A preliminary investigation determined that the man shot was bothering the neighborhood while attempting to break into several cars.
According to police, the man threatened to kill one homeowner while he was pretending to have a weapon. He allegedly charged at the homeowner twice before he was shot.
The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The Medical Examiner's Office is working to identify the man.
Dallas police didn't say whether the homeowner was the one that shot the suspect.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-shooting-quinto-drive-alleged-car-burglar-suspect-shot-dead-piedmont-addition-neighborhood/287-85a7e930-3f9d-4d26-8dc3-902ab450effd | 2022-07-31T16:57:50 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-shooting-quinto-drive-alleged-car-burglar-suspect-shot-dead-piedmont-addition-neighborhood/287-85a7e930-3f9d-4d26-8dc3-902ab450effd |
State police: Eight shot, one fatally, on Detroit's west side
The Detroit News
Detroit — Detroit and Michigan State Police are investigating a mass shooting in which eight people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday morning.
The shooting was reported in the area of Coyle Street and Plymouth Road on the city's west side.
The Metro Detroit Post of the Michigan State Police tweeted that its Homicide Task Force is helping Detroit Police investigate the shooting scene and has called for a canine to assist with the search.
Detroit police did not immediately respond to requests for information.
Come back to detroitnews.com for more on this story. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/07/31/state-police-eight-shot-one-fatally-detroits-west-side/10196203002/ | 2022-07-31T17:07:44 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/07/31/state-police-eight-shot-one-fatally-detroits-west-side/10196203002/ |
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Clear The Shelters
Finding forever homes across the country | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/clear-the-shelters/pet-of-the-week-nova/3036159/ | 2022-07-31T17:08:54 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/clear-the-shelters/pet-of-the-week-nova/3036159/ |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — A house on the market in Fayetteville, Georgia is getting national attention because of its unique design.
Featured on the popular Instagram account "Zillow Gone Wild," the guitar-shaped home is listed for $789,000.
The listing agent, Evgeniia Piven with EXP Realty, says the house is ready for a "true connoisseur." She says it will "blow your mind away."
According to Piven, the home was designed by country music singer Elvis L. Carden. One of his albums is named after the home, titled "Living in an Old Guitar." She adds that the single became a favorite with radio promotors and DJs.
You can listen to the song here:
She says the 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house is fully renovated, but mentioned that the "guitar just needs a slight tune-up and polishing."
The Instagram account with more than 1.6 million followers, featured the home last week. The post has nearly 40,000 likes on it.
The acoustics are probably pretty good in the house if you're willing to string up nearly $800K. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/guitar-shaped-home-for-sale-georgia/85-3b58e242-8059-410f-b68a-1b2ffb9192f8 | 2022-07-31T17:23:07 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/guitar-shaped-home-for-sale-georgia/85-3b58e242-8059-410f-b68a-1b2ffb9192f8 |
ATLANTA — A man told police that he believes a road rage incident on Interstate 85 in Atlanta led to a shooting that ended near Atlantic Station.
Around 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to 12 Atlantic Station off 17th Street to reports of a person shot.
He said he believed the incident between himself and another driver escalated to shots fired when he was driving southbound on I-85. He then drove himself to the hotel and residential high rise.
The driver was alert, conscious and breathing when paramedics took him to the hospital. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/road-rage-i85-atlanta-atlantic-station/85-b2ec3e09-9235-4b70-b413-98024fb439cc | 2022-07-31T17:23:08 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/road-rage-i85-atlanta-atlantic-station/85-b2ec3e09-9235-4b70-b413-98024fb439cc |
Organizer Chad Shipman couldn’t be more excited.
“We have the best lineup we’ve ever had in 16 years of Iowa Irish Fest. We have so many new experiences to offer this year. The family area has expanded. There are so many free things to do in the kids’ area. The entire fest will be a ton of fun. The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are back as headliners on Friday, and the High Kings will close out the fest on Sunday,” he said.
A full range of activities, performances, events and workshops will take place in Lincoln Park and the surrounding area in downtown Waterloo during the open-air gathering. “We’re more than just a music and beer festival. Iowa Irish Fest is actually a cultural event,” Shipman noted.
Organized by the Cedar Valley Irish Culture Association, the group fosters and develops Irish fellowship and community outreach. Shipman credits widespread community support for the fest’s success.
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“We have strong corporate backing with 80 companies and corporate partners. If it wasn’t fun and successful, they wouldn’t be partnering with us. It’s a gated event, a premium festival. There are costs involved, and the fest is well-managed financially to be in a position to come back year after year and continue to expand and grow,” he explained.
In addition to entertainment, food, beverages, sports, games, dance, contests and special events – including a bike rally, 5K run and motorcycle cruise, there are numerous workshops to attend.
The public can learn about everything Irish from the language, music and dance to the best places to visit in Ireland, its history, and gain an appreciation for Irish whiskey and Guinness beers through tastings and master classes. Workshops begin Friday and are offered throughout the weekend. For a full listing and registration details, visit IowaIrishFest.com.
“Workshops have been a large addition to our mission in the past few years. Some workshops this year are already sold out or almost sold out. And there are so many different elements happening all three days of the fest,” Shipman said.
More than 20 additional premier musical acts will take part in the three-day event on multiple stages, including: The Screaming Orphans, the Dublin City Ramblers, Ian Gould, Blame Not the Bard, Brother Crowe, Scythian, the Black Donnellys, Peadar Hickey and The Langer’s Ball.
Also performing will be The Elders, Socks in the Frying Pan, the Logues, Aoife Scott, Boxing Banjo, Shane Hennessey, the Friel Sisters, the Lads of Dubuque, Ballyheigue, Wylde Nept, Kellen O’Cullom and Cedar Glenn Pipes and Drums.
A variety of other performers, including Celtic dancers and traditional Irish musicians, will be on stage, as well.
In addition, the Iowa Irish Fest will host the USS The Sullivans DD537/DDG68 reunion, beginning Thursday. The Sullivans was named for the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo – Albert, George, Francis, Joseph and Madison – who were killed in action when their light cruiser USS Juneau was struck by a torpedo and sank in the South Pacific around Nov. 13, 1942, during World War II’s Battle of Guadalcanal.
More volunteers are always needed, Shipman said, and they will receive benefits, including three-day pass and T-shirt. To volunteer, sign up at IowaIrishFest.com.
General admission weekend passes are $30 available at IowaIrishFest.com, or admission can be paid at the gate. Eligible veterans, active-duty military personnel, first responders and their families can request free tickets at vettix.org or 1sttix.org, or show ID at the gate. Youth ages 15 and younger are free.
An official Irish Fest app is available to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/three-day-iowa-irish-fest-opens-friday-expected-to-draw-nearly-50-000-visitors-to/article_eb6efe10-e845-5cd3-8fc9-35c990ebc245.html | 2022-07-31T17:24:56 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/three-day-iowa-irish-fest-opens-friday-expected-to-draw-nearly-50-000-visitors-to/article_eb6efe10-e845-5cd3-8fc9-35c990ebc245.html |
About 1,000 Ameritas employees in Lincoln will consolidate their work in one central location.
The Nebraska-based company offering insurance and financial products has multiple Lincoln locations — a headquarters near Gateway Mall at 5900 O St. and an office building in the Fallbrook neighborhood.
“Bringing all our Lincoln-based associates together on one campus will create great benefits,” President and CEO Bill Lester said in a news release. “We can strengthen and energize collaboration among teams and business units and make better and more efficient use of our flagship facility here in Lincoln. We also look forward to renovating the home office into a modern and flexible working environment, demonstrating our determination to continue growing and winning in this changing market.”
Officials said Ameritas has more than 230 employees who exclusively work remotely through the company's flexible workplace strategy that emerged during the pandemic. Others work a hybrid schedule, spending some time at home and some in the office.
To better accommodate the modern hybrid work setting, the company's headquarters on O Street will be remodeled for the first time since 2006, said Derek Rayment, senior media relations specialist at Ameritas.
The project will cost about $7 million and will include new HVAC, flooring, paint and restrooms, according to a building permit filed in May.
Construction will start later this year and will be done in phases to allow employees the option to continue working in the office. The project is set for completion in 2024.
Officials said the Fallbrook location built in 2003 will be vacated around the same time and the more than 200 employees there will be transferred to the O Street office.
There are currently no official plans for the Fallbrook building.
Additionally, Ameritas will close a customer contact center in Wayne, transitioning the 20 employees working there to remote work.
“Rethinking how we use our spaces is a natural next step and the right thing to do, as we invest in our future and make the best use of our resources,” Lester said.
Lancaster County Sheriff's Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said they still are exploring the motive and the possibility that others may have been involved and are asking anyone with information or evidence to contact them.
Two men had found Kurt Roe's boat floating unattended Saturday afternoon and towed it back to the marina, alerting lake staff of the situation. His body was found Sunday.
Even with a suspect in custody, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office says the investigation into the Branched Oak Lake killing remains active, sharing few details. "The investigators told me less is better," the sheriff said.
Mensah L. Gozo, 59, was charged with first-degree child sex assault and child enticement for his alleged role in the seemingly random crime, which began around 10 a.m. Sunday when the girl was reported missing.
The winner among the chosen contestants earns $25,000 plus a cover spot with the international men’s magazine, which has a monthly circulation worldwide of about 9 million.
Inside the Chevy, officers found an AR15-style rifle and a 50-round magazine attachment fit for a Glock 9 mm handgun, according to police. It's unclear if either the rifle or handgun ammunition matched casings left behind. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/ameritas-to-close-fallbrook-building-remodel-consolidated-o-street-main-office/article_61603cc6-09a0-58e1-aa34-10cd86346b8b.html | 2022-07-31T17:37:58 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/ameritas-to-close-fallbrook-building-remodel-consolidated-o-street-main-office/article_61603cc6-09a0-58e1-aa34-10cd86346b8b.html |
Nebraska Wesleyan University will receive a grant from the U.S. Department of State to provide more opportunities for its students to study abroad.
The liberal arts university in northeast Lincoln was one of 44 colleges and universities across the U.S. and the only one in Nebraska to be named part of the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) program for 2022.
NWU plans to use the grant to expand study abroad destinations beyond the "Global North" -- generally defined as North America, Europe and Australia -- to other countries, and make global experiences more accessible, the university said in a news release.
That could mean a study-abroad trip, a virtual exchange program or local interactions with an international person or perspective.
Sarah Barr, NWU's director of global engagement, said the grant would grow capacity for in-person and virtual engagement programs.
"Our goal is for students to develop intercultural competencies and skills needed to serve in a diverse, multicultural global society," Barr said. "We are excited to see the connections that NWU faculty and students will make as a result of the IDEAS grant."
The state department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs said it doubled the number of grants this year as it seeks to rebuild study-abroad experiences following the coronavirus pandemic.
Fifth grader Sage Stanley was struck in a crosswalk in front of Saratoga Elementary School when a car ran a red light. The crash has prompted officials to make changes to the school zone.
The new MacBook models — which run about $879 apiece — have more than double the storage of what teachers have now and use a new CPU that runs Apple's operating system more seamlessly.
Superintendent Paul Gausman on Friday unveiled the district's return-to-school plan, which spells out its pandemic procedures for the upcoming school year.
Some districts — like Weeping Water and Tri County — employ individual lockable pouches. At Lincoln Southwest, students this fall will have to place their phones in a designated area before class begins.
Superintendent Paul Gausman announced Tuesday that LPS will use a "targeted model" to start the school year in which decisions on masking will be made building by building.
While work obviously remains, officials are clear on this point: Students will be walking the halls of Lincoln Northwest next month. What they'll find is a building defined by collaborative, open-concept spaces.
Ballots for the Palmyra school bond election stipulated that the person who fills it out reside in Lancaster County, which raised concerns among Otoe County voters who live in the district.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program allows qualifying borrowers to apply to have their debt canceled if they have routinely made payments while doing public interest work. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/state-department-grant-to-boost-nebraska-wesleyans-study-abroad-programs/article_657b7234-b964-50eb-a9b0-791a474f55f5.html | 2022-07-31T17:38:05 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/state-department-grant-to-boost-nebraska-wesleyans-study-abroad-programs/article_657b7234-b964-50eb-a9b0-791a474f55f5.html |
Originally published July 28 on IdahoEdNews.org.
MIDDLETON — When students enter Mill Creek Elementary this fall, there’s no guarantee they’ll end up in a classroom.
The school is at 123% capacity, according to an April demographics study conducted by the district. Overcrowding fueled by local population growth has pushed administrators to use any available space for student learning.
Mill Creek’s lunchroom, staff lounge, hallways, music room, conference room, computer lab and individual office spaces will all be used as instructional space this school year.
The district hopes voters will solve the issue by approving a $59,435,000 school bond on August 30 to build a new elementary school, but similar efforts have failed in past elections, as voters weigh more taxes against the need for new schools.
But time may be running out, said Middleton superintendent Marc Gee, who worries that short-term solutions eventually won’t be enough.
Overcrowding isn’t new, but the school is hitting a limit
Mill Creek administration has converted all open areas into learning space over time, said the school’s principal Jessica Holman. It isn’t a new practice.
But this year, Holman added the music room and library to a long list of non-classroom spaces being used for instruction. When Gee asked the principal what space was not being used by students, she replied, “Nothing.”
“(The music teacher) will either push into classes or co-teach with PE, depending on what we can do,” said Holman. “Our librarian is going to reach out to teachers and pick out books and that’s how the students will check out their books. They’ll get an interest for the class and then she’ll pull books, put them on a cart, roll them in and that’s how they’ll get checked out.”
The library will simultaneously serve as a 5th grade classroom and an art room. The music room is being converted into a classroom to hold 26 students. The computer lab was also converted into a classroom.
The staff conference room, located behind the front office, is regularly used for student testing. The teachers’ lounge is used for intervention, testing and the gifted-and-talented program. It’s open from 11:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. for teachers to eat lunch.
Counseling groups and fifth-grade focus groups meet in the lunchroom in the mornings and afternoons. Holman says leaders are considering using the gym for book fairs and conferences, as well as music and physical education classes. Even hallways are used for intervention.
The school also uses two portable classrooms, and expects another two to arrive in November, after supply chain issues prolonged delivery. But even with the extra square footage, Holman says the school isn’t gaining any ground.
“We’re not really gaining any space,” she said. “We’ll still instruct in the lounge, we’ll still instruct in the cafeteria, the computer lab, the other half of the library.”
Growth impacts the district, and it isn’t expected to slow down soon
Middleton’s most recent elementary school, Purple Sage, opened in 2003. Since then, the district has gained 514 elementary students for a total of 1,638 last school year.
Middleton is not expecting growth to slow.
The district contracted with Davis Demographics in 2021 to analyze Middleton’s demographic data in preparation for future plans. The Davis study projects an added 250 elementary students will join the district by fall 2028 — a 15.5% increase from 2022.
The growth isn’t just affecting Mill Creek. Heights, the second of three Middleton elementary schools, hit 127% capacity last spring, according to the study. Heights uses two portables, but cannot fit any more on the property.
Heights principal Nicole Kristensen says staff has developed creative solutions, including using stairwells as intervention spaces.
Purple Sage, the third elementary, is under capacity, but the superintendent says that’s a deliberate decision. The district needs to keep class sizes small because the school is used for additional special education programs.
Middleton’s middle and high schools are between 80-85% capacity, while its alternative school sits at 91%.
The district will float a bond this fall
Middleton residents will see a bond resolution on the August 30 ballot. The measure would go toward building a new elementary school with a 700-student capacity to absorb growth from both Mill Creek and Heights. The school would be built on land the district already owns, located between the two elementary schools.
The bond would also go toward building a new career-technical education center and renovating Heights, which was built in 1987 and needs a new roof and modernizations to meet ADA requirements. The school will not gain any additional space through the measure.
Similar bonds failed once in 2015, and three times in 2018.
The new bond would be tied into Middleton’s existing bond payments for the high school. It includes a projected tax rate of $155 per $100,000 of taxable property, down from $225 per $100,000 in 2022. The bond would not increase Middleton residents’ current rate, but it would extend the length of time residents would pay by around 20 years.
The district projects individual payments to decrease over time with continued growth. As families move into Middleton, there will be more taxpayers to share the burden, which could reduce payments for everyone.
Gee says the district understands why families might not want to take on the bond, especially in light of high property assessments and gas prices. But he worries that waiting will only result in higher costs down the road. If the bond fails, the district will purchase two portables for a total of $500,000. The district currently leases the portables at $42,000 per year, per unit.
The district is focused on spreading information about the bond to voters. An information meeting will be held August 10 at 6 p.m. at Mill Creek. Middleton residents can also invite district personnel to present at “cottage meetings” in their own homes, clubhouses or other smaller meeting places.
Idaho law requires a two-thirds supermajority of votes to pass a bond issue. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/overcrowded-middleton-school-using-hallways-and-teachers-lounge-for-instruction/article_62bf2f16-dc12-5b62-a6e1-59ebaa4ba981.html | 2022-07-31T17:41:17 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/overcrowded-middleton-school-using-hallways-and-teachers-lounge-for-instruction/article_62bf2f16-dc12-5b62-a6e1-59ebaa4ba981.html |
Although the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion overturning Roe v. Wade on June 24, the court did not complete its official judgment until Tuesday, meaning Idaho’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions will now go into effect on Aug. 25.
According to the text of Senate Bill 1385, the trigger law takes effect 30 days after the U.S. Supreme Court issues its judgment returning the power to regulate abortion to the states.
Idaho passed its trigger law in 2020, making the act of abortion a felony. The law outlines affirmative defenses for rape, incest and to save the patient’s life, which allows a person prosecuted for performing an abortion procedure to use those reasons as a defense. A rape or incest victim would also have to provide a copy of a police report to the physician who would perform the procedure, a process which can sometimes take weeks or months.
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Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit challenging the law on June 27, saying it violates a fundamental right to privacy outlined in the Idaho Constitution. That lawsuit came a few months after a similar challenge from Planned Parenthood over Idaho’s Texas-style law that allows family members to file civil suits against medical professionals who perform abortions. Both cases were filed by Planned Parenthood Great Northwest and one of its abortion providers in Idaho, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe, the Idaho Supreme Court vacated its original plans for a hearing on the Texas-style law and decided to use the same date to hear specific arguments related to how that lawsuit and the challenge to the trigger law should proceed.
The hearing will include arguments over whether the Idaho Supreme Court should pause enforcement of the trigger law pending the outcome of the case, whether a pause on the Texas-style law should remain in place pending the outcome, whether the two lawsuits should be consolidated into one and whether both cases should be transferred to district court for further review.
The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 3. Those who want to attend the hearing in person are required to request tickets for seating. Details and instructions on how to reserve tickets can be found here.
Planned Parenthood files 3rd lawsuit with Idaho Supreme Court over 6-week abortion ban
Planned Parenthood Great Northwest and one of its Idaho abortion providers, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, filed a third lawsuit Tuesday with the Idaho Supreme Court attempting to block a six-week abortion ban that is scheduled to take effect on or around Aug. 19. The Idaho Legislature passed a bill in 2021 criminalizing abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, when fetal cardiac activity can typically be detected by ultrasound.
Like the trigger law, the language in that bill included a 30-day clock from a judgment issued by an appellate court ruling on a similar law. According to Planned Parenthood’s petition to the court, that may have occurred on July 20, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld Georgia’s six-week abortion ban.
Because of the time constraints, Planned Parenthood has asked the court to intervene and pause implementation of the law, and to add the third lawsuit to the hearing scheduled on Aug. 3. Katie Rodihan, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, said the organization would prefer to consolidate the three cases into one moving forward.
“It’s confusing to providers and to patients if all of those cases don’t get ruled the same way or all together,” Rodihan said. “Our hope would be to simplify everything by ruling on them all at once.” | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/idaho-s-abortion-trigger-ban-clock-starts-now-ban-will-take-effect-aug-25/article_c9ff8266-0f59-11ed-a1b0-37f7330cc6bd.html | 2022-07-31T18:12:47 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/idaho-s-abortion-trigger-ban-clock-starts-now-ban-will-take-effect-aug-25/article_c9ff8266-0f59-11ed-a1b0-37f7330cc6bd.html |
The New York City Medical Examiner has linked a fourth death to the most recent hot weather that gripped the tri-state.
No information about the victim's name, age or exact location were released Saturday. In at least one of the other three cases, the person who died also suffered from serious underlying health conditions.
The first heat-related death was reported on July 24, the final day of the brutal nearly week-long heat wave. That individual suffered from heart disease and pulmonary emphysema, the city medical examiner's office said at the time.
The NY Post reported that the fourth confirmed death occurred in a private dwelling.
Throughout the heat wave, temperatures soared well above 90, hitting the mid to upper 90s over the weekend. And partnered with stifling humidity for most of the days, it was a borderline insufferable week for the city and tri-state.
With another heat wave potentially coming during the first days of August, public officials have urged caution during the hot weather and to look out for symptoms of heat-related illness to stay safe. Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Hot, dry, red skin
- A rapid pulse
- Rapid and shallow breathing
- A body temperature higher than 105°
- Loss of alertness, confusion, and/or loss of consciousness.
Learn more and find cooling center locations here. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/4th-nyc-death-confirmed-in-last-weeks-heat-medical-examiner-says/3802396/ | 2022-07-31T18:15:03 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/4th-nyc-death-confirmed-in-last-weeks-heat-medical-examiner-says/3802396/ |
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Siren alerts flooding for those downstream from Museum Fire burn scar | https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/arizona-weather/2022/07/31/monsoon-2022-flooding-elm-street-and-7th-ave/10196030002/ | 2022-07-31T18:15:20 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/arizona-weather/2022/07/31/monsoon-2022-flooding-elm-street-and-7th-ave/10196030002/ |
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Monsoon 2022: Flooding on Elm Street and 7th Ave
Water surges down the Pipeline Fire burn scar on San Francisco Peaks
Siren alerts flooding for those downstream from Museum Fire burn scar | https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/arizona-weather/2022/07/31/monsoon-2022-flooding-tatum-boulevard/10196287002/ | 2022-07-31T18:15:26 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/arizona-weather/2022/07/31/monsoon-2022-flooding-tatum-boulevard/10196287002/ |
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