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BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding an 84-year-old woman they say is diagnosed with a cognitive impairment.
Barbara Martin was last seen at 6:14 p.m. on August 2, 2022 at 2310 North 11th Street in Beaumont, according to a silver alert issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
She is 5'3", 100 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink sweater, black spaghetti-strap shirt, blue scrubs and white slippers.
Law enforcement officials believe Martin's disappearance poses a credible threat to their own health and safety, according to the release.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Martin, you are encouraged to contact the Beaumont Police Department at 409-880-3865.
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/missing-elderly-woman-cognitive-impairment/502-f66208cd-76dd-4893-8cb6-54201399402c | 2022-08-04T17:26:00 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/missing-elderly-woman-cognitive-impairment/502-f66208cd-76dd-4893-8cb6-54201399402c |
DUBLIN, Ga. — The oldest living WWII nurse celebrated her 108th birthday right here in Central Georgia.
The Carl Vinson Medical Center threw Meta Monteleon a birthday celebration to recognize her for her service.
For nurses Tina Montford and Nicole Dent, Monteleon has plenty of nuggets of wisdom to share.
"She's just a joy to take care of. She brightens my day every time I see her," Dent said.
She was wearing a birthday crown that sparkled, and pearls she wears everyday.
"Pearl earrings and pearl necklaces, and that fits her personality. If you think about Monteleon you definitely think of a jewel," Montford said.
Her jewelry preferences, fitting, because the pearl is a symbol for wisdom.
"She has a very welcoming and warm spirit. She's genuine everything about her is just lovely," Montford said.
Monteleon served a total of 3 years in the army, with 2 of those years in Pearl Harbor taking care of German prisoners of war.
"She's always been a life long learner and insatiably curious," Duke said.
Monteleon's daughter Martha Duke enjoys seeing the recognition her mother has gotten these last 10 years of her life once she arrived at the Dublin VA.
"She tries things and does things that other people don't necessarily do at that age, and other people like knowing that," Duke said.
At 98, Meta gave a speech at the VA's memorial day service.
"I am telling you when she gave that speech she brought the house down," Duke said.
At 99, she did chair yoga, making CBS news.
"Everybody was so fascinated by the fact that a 99 year old was doing chair yoga," Duke said.
Her secret for a happy life, and longevity?
"Learn to labor and to wait and those words that have followed me throughout my whole entire time here at the VA, and those are certainly words to live by. Learn to labor and to wait," Monteleon said.
Meta's daughter says among the many things she learned from her mother is resilience, and keeping a good sense of humor.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE READING: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/oldest-living-wwii-nurse-celebrated-her-108th-birthday/93-14d5e5f6-990a-455c-9cdd-7939560bd3cf | 2022-08-04T17:26:06 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/oldest-living-wwii-nurse-celebrated-her-108th-birthday/93-14d5e5f6-990a-455c-9cdd-7939560bd3cf |
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo has announced their entertainment lineup for the 2023 rodeo, which is set to take place in February.
Here are the following artists scheduled to be at the rodeo along with the dates you can catch them live.
- Jake Owen - Friday, February 10, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
- Carly Pearce - Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 12:00 p.m.
- Lee Brice – Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
- Keith Urban (two performances) - Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Los Tigres Del Norte - Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
If you're wanting to go to the rodeo, tickets are now on sale at sarodeo.com or ticketmaster.com. The rodeo will take place from February 9 - 26, 2023 at the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-rodeo-announces-entertainers-for-2023-events/273-2b36254c-e98b-422a-a0a5-dbfc602e89a5 | 2022-08-04T17:26:12 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-rodeo-announces-entertainers-for-2023-events/273-2b36254c-e98b-422a-a0a5-dbfc602e89a5 |
SAN ANTONIO — An area car wash want s to show teachers just how much they are appreciated by offering free car washes!
The Wash Tub is giving local teachers, faculty, and staff a free “Premier Shine” car wash. The offer is valid at all 25 Wash Tub locations from August 4 – 7, 2022. Folks must show their employee ID to take advantage of this offer.
The Wash Tub’s “Premier Shine” Car Wash includes a complete interior vacuum, soft cloth wash, towel dry, complete wipe down of dash and console, all windows cleaned inside and out, air freshener, and tire shine.
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/the-wash-tub-is-offering-free-car-washes-for-teachers-san-antonio-texas-auto/273-327ee464-c5f7-415d-b60d-61edba1e9c67 | 2022-08-04T17:26:18 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/the-wash-tub-is-offering-free-car-washes-for-teachers-san-antonio-texas-auto/273-327ee464-c5f7-415d-b60d-61edba1e9c67 |
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty University is mourning the loss of one of its own.
On Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m., Republican Indiana Congresswoman and former Liberty University student Jacqueline R. Walorski, 58, lost her life in a tragic two-vehicle crash.
Walorski and two members of her congressional staff, 27-year-old Zachery Potts and 28-year-old Emma Thomson, were riding in an SUV when a car crossed the center line on a state highway, crashing into them head-on, according to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office.
Unfortunately, Walorski and the staffers did not survive the incident. Authorities say the woman driving the other car was killed in the crash as well.
Liberty University said Jackie attended school there from 1981 to 1983, which is when it was known as Liberty Baptist College. She would go on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Taylor University in 1985.
“This is a sad day for our country and Liberty University. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rep. Walorski’s family,” said Liberty University President Jerry Prevo. “We are grateful for her service and devotion to our nation as a member of Congress and most importantly for her faith in Christ. We know, and we are thankful that as believers in Jesus Christ, we will one day be with Him and all one day see each other again.”
Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell expressed his condolences as well.
“The Liberty family is saddened by the loss of Rep. Walorski,” he said. “While her time at LU was many years ago, she has been a great example of what it means to be a Champion for Christ. We are praying for the families involved in this tragic accident.”
On Thursday morning, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin ordered that Virginia flags be flown at half-staff in her honor.
The flags will remain lowered until sunset Thursday.
Former Liberty University student and Indiana Congresswoman Jacqueline R. Walorski (IN-2) died yesterday at age 58. She was tragically killed in a head-on vehicle collision on Wednesday afternoon in her northern Indiana district.
Rep. Walorski died along with two staffers, Zachery Potts (27) and Emma Thomson (28). Jackie attended Liberty University, known as Liberty Baptist College at the time, from 1981 to 1983 and graduated from Taylor University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration in 1985.
Jackie’s husband, Dean Swihart, was informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office of her passing, her office said in a statement yesterday. “She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” the statement said, “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.”
“The Liberty family is saddened by the loss of Rep. Walorski,” said “While her time at LU was many years ago, she has been a great example of what it means to be a Champion for Christ. We are praying for the families involved in this tragic accident.”
Ranking members of the House and Senate on both sides of the political aisle have offered their condolences and praised Rep. Walorski as a respected member of Congress and for her kindness and devotion.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff in honor of Walorski and her staffers. The White House also said it would fly flags at half-staff on Wednesday and Thursday in memoriam of Congresswoman Walorski. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/liberty-university-saddened-by-the-passing-of-former-student-indiana-rep-jackie-walorski/ | 2022-08-04T17:28:43 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/liberty-university-saddened-by-the-passing-of-former-student-indiana-rep-jackie-walorski/ |
7 years of sex abuse: How Mormon leaders learned Arizona man was abusing his kids and let it continue
BISBEE, Ariz. — MJ was a tiny, black-haired girl, just 5 years old, when her father admitted to his bishop that he was sexually abusing her.
The father, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an admitted pornography addict, was in counseling with his bishop when he revealed the abuse. The bishop, who was also a family physician, followed church policy and called what church officials have dubbed the “help line” for guidance.
But the call offered little help for MJ. Lawyers for the church, widely known as the Mormon church, who staff the help line around the clock told Bishop John Herrod not to call police or child welfare officials. Instead he kept the abuse secret.
“They said, ‘You absolutely can do nothing,’” Herrod said in a recorded interview with law enforcement.
Herrod continued to counsel MJ’s father, Paul Douglas Adams, for another year, and brought in Adams’ wife, Leizza Adams, in hopes she would do something to protect the children. She didn’t. Herrod later told a second bishop, who also kept the matter secret after consulting with church officials who maintain that the bishops were excused from reporting the abuse to police under the state’s so-called clergy-penitent privilege.
Adams continued raping MJ for as many as seven more years, into her adolescence, and also abused her infant sister, who was born during that time. He frequently recorded the abuse on video and posted the video on the internet.
Adams was finally arrested by Homeland Security agents in 2017 with no help from the church, after law enforcement officials in New Zealand discovered one of the videos. He died by suicide in custody before he could stand trial.
The Associated Press has obtained nearly 12,000 pages of sealed records from an unrelated child sex abuse lawsuit against the Mormon church in West Virginia. The documents offer the most detailed and comprehensive look yet at the so-called help line Herrod called. Families of survivors who filed the lawsuit said they show it’s part of a system that can easily be misused by church leaders to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harm’s way.
The help line has been criticized by abuse victims and their attorneys for being inadequate to quickly stop abuse and protect victims. Yet the Utah-based faith has stuck by the system despite the criticism and increasing scrutiny from attorneys and prosecutors, including those in the Adams case.
“‘I just think that the Mormon church really sucks. Seriously sucks,” said MJ, who is now 16, during an interview with the AP. “They are just the worst type of people, from what I’ve experienced and what other people have also experienced.”
MJ and her adoptive mother asked the AP to use only her initials in part because videos of her abuse posted by her father are still circulating on the internet. The AP does not publish the names of sexual abuse survivors without their consent.
William Maledon, an Arizona attorney representing the bishops and the church in a lawsuit filed by three of the Adams’ six children, told the AP last month that the bishops were not required to report the abuse.
“These bishops did nothing wrong. They didn’t violate the law, and therefore they can’t be held liable,” he said. Maledon referred to the suit as “a money grab.”
What to know:4 takeaways from investigation into sex abuse within Mormon church
In his AP interview, Maledon also insisted Herrod did not know that Adams was continuing to sexually assault his daughter after learning of the abuse in a single counseling session.
But in the recorded interview with the agent obtained by the AP, Herrod said he asked Leizza Adams in multiple sessions if the abuse was ongoing and asked her, “What are we going to do to stop it?”
“At least for a period of time I assumed they had stopped things, but — and then I never asked if they picked up again.”
'The perfect lifestyle'
The Adams family lived on a lonely dirt road about 8 miles from the center of Bisbee, an old copper-mining town in southeastern Arizona known today for its antique shops and laid-back attitude. Far from prying eyes, the Adams home — a three-bedroom, open concept affair surrounded by desert — was often littered with piles of clothing and containers of lubricant Adams used to sexually abuse his children, according to legal documents reviewed by the AP.
Paul’s wife, Leizza, assumed most of the child-rearing responsibilities, including getting their six children off to school and chauffeuring them to church and religious instruction on Sundays. Paul, who worked for the U.S. Border Patrol, spent much of his time online looking at porn, often with his children watching, or wandering the house naked or in nothing but his underwear.
He had a short fuse and would frequently throw things, yell at his wife and beat his kids. “He just had this explosive personality,” said Shaunice Warr, a Border Patrol agent and a Mormon who worked with Paul and described herself as Leizza’s best friend. “He had a horrible temper.”
Paul was more relaxed while coaxing his older daughter to hold a smartphone camera and record him while he sexually abused her. He also seemed to revel in the abuse in online chat rooms, where he once bragged that he had “the perfect lifestyle” because he could have sex with his daughters whenever he pleased, while his wife knew and “doesn’t care.”
He would later tell investigators the abuse was a compulsion he couldn’t stop. “I got into something too deep that I just couldn’t pull myself out of,” he said. “I’m not trying to say the devil made me do it.”
The Adams family was deeply involved in the Mormon community, and on Sundays they attended services in Bisbee. So Adams turned to his church, and to Bishop Herrod, when he sought help and revealed his abuse of MJ.
Herrod later told Homeland Security agent Robert Edwards he knew from the start that Leizza Adams was unlikely to stop her husband, after he called her into the counseling sessions. The bishop, who was also Leizza’s personal physician, said she seemed “pretty emotionally dead” when her husband recounted his abuse of their daughter. The bishop also recognized the harm being done to MJ. “I doubt (she) will ever do well,” he said in his recorded interview with Homeland Security agents.
Herrod also told Edwards that when he called the help line, church officials told him the state’s clergy-penitent privilege required him to keep Adams’s abuse confidential.
But the law required no such thing.
Arizona’s child sex abuse reporting law, and similar laws in more than 20 states that require clergy to report child sex abuse and neglect, says that clergy, physicians, nurses, or anyone caring for a child who “reasonably believes” a child has been abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report the information to police or the state Department of Child Safety. But it also says that clergy who receive information about child neglect or sexual abuse during spiritual confessions “may withhold” that information from authorities if the clergy determine it is “reasonable and necessary” under church doctrine.
In 2012, when Herrod rotated out of his position as bishop of the Bisbee ward — a Mormon jurisdiction similar to a Catholic parish — he told incoming Bishop Robert “Kim” Mauzy about the abuse in the Adams household. Instead of rescuing MJ by reporting the abuse to authorities, Mauzy also kept the information within the church.
In a separate recorded interview with federal agents obtained by the AP, Mauzy said church officials told him he should convene a confidential disciplinary hearing for Adams, after which Adams was ex-communicated in 2013. Mauzy and other church leaders still didn’t report Adams to the police.
Two years later, in 2015, Leizza Adams gave birth to a second daughter. It took her husband just six weeks to start sexually assaulting her, recording the abuse, and uploading the videos to the internet.
The revelation that Mormon officials may have directed an effort to conceal years of abuse in the Adams household sparked a criminal investigation of the church by Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre, and the civil lawsuit by three of the Adams children.
“Who’s really responsible for Herrod not disclosing?” McIntyre asked in an AP interview. “Is it Herrod,” who says he followed the church lawyers’ instruction not to report the abuse to authorities? “Or is it the people who gave him that advice?”
'The call comes to my cell phone'
When it comes to child sexual abuse, the Mormon church says “the first responsibility of the church in abuse cases is to help those who have been abused and protect those who may be vulnerable to future abuse,” according to its 2010 handbook for church leaders. The handbook also says, “Abuse cannot be tolerated in any form.”
But church officials, from the bishops in the Bisbee ward to officials in Salt Lake City, tolerated abuse in the Adams family for years.
“They just let it keep happening,” said MJ, in her AP interview. “They just said, ‘Hey, let’s excommunicate her father.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Let’s have them do therapy.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Hey, let’s forgive and forget and all this will go away.’ It didn’t go away.”
A similar dynamic played out in West Virginia, where church leaders were accused of covering up the crimes committed by a young abuser from a prominent Mormon family even after he’d been convicted on child sex abuse charges in Utah. The abuser, Michael Jensen, today is serving a 35- to 75-year prison sentence for abusing two children in West Virginia. Their family, along with others, sued the church and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
“Child abuse festers and grows in secrecy,” said Lynne Cadigan, a lawyer for the Adams children who filed suit. “That is why the mandatory reporting came into effect. It’s the most important thing in the world to immediately report to the police.”
The lawsuit filed by the three Adams children accuses The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several members, including Bishops Herrod and Mauzy, of negligence and conspiring to cover up child sex abuse to avoid “costly lawsuits” and protect the reputation of the church, which relies on proselytizing and tithing to attract new members and raise money. In 2020, the church claimed approximately 16 million members worldwide, most of them living outside the United States.
“The failure to prevent or report abuse was part of the policy of the defendants, which was to block public disclosure to avoid scandals, to avoid the disclosure of their tolerance of child sexual molestation and assault, to preserve a false appearance of propriety, and to avoid investigation and action by public authority, including law enforcement,” the suit alleges. “Plaintiffs are informed and believe that such actions were motivated by a desire to protect the reputation of the defendants.”
Very few of the scores of lawsuits against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mention the help line, in part because details of its operations have been a closely guarded secret. The documents in the sealed court records show how it works.
“The help line is certainly there to help — to help the church keep its secrets and to cover up abuse,” said Craig Vernon, an Idaho attorney who has filed several sex abuse lawsuits against the church.
Vernon, a former member, routinely demands that the church require bishops to report sex abuse to police or state authorities rather than the help line.
The sealed records say calls to the help line are answered by social workers or professional counselors who determine whether the information they receive is serious enough to be referred to an attorney with Kirton McConkie, a Salt Lake City firm that represents the church.
A document with the heading “Protocol for abuse help line calls,” which was among the sealed records obtained by the AP, laid out the questions social workers were to ask before determining whether the calls should be referred to the lawyers.
Mormon officials in the West Virginia case said they did not recognize the protocol and could not authenticate it. But a ranking church official in a separate sex abuse lawsuit in Oregon confirmed that those answering the help line used a “written protocol” to guide them.
“There would be a page containing various topics to discuss and handle,” said Harold C. Brown, then director of the church’s Welfare Services Department.
The Protocol instructs those staffing the help line to tell callers they are to use first names only. “No identifying information should be given.” Under the heading “High Risk Cases,” it also instructs staffers to ask a series of questions, including whether calls concerned possible abuse by a church leader, an employee, or abuse at “a church-sponsored activity.”
The protocol advises those taking the calls to instruct a “priesthood leader,” which includes bishops and stake presidents, to encourage the perpetrator, the victim, or others who know of the abuse to report it. But it also says, in capital letters, that those taking the calls “should never advise a priesthood leader to report abuse. Counsel of this nature should come only from legal counsel.”
That counsel comes from attorneys from Kirton McConkie, which represents the church.
Joseph Osmond, one of the Kirton McConkie lawyers assigned to take help line calls, said in a sealed deposition that he’s always ready to deal with sex abuse complaints.
“Wherever I am. The call comes to my cell phone,” he said. He then acknowledged that he did not refer calls to a social worker and wouldn’t know how to do so.
Osmond declined to comment through church officials. Peter Schofield, a Kirton McConkie lawyer long associated with the help line, also declined to answer questions from the AP.
Maledon, the attorney for the church in the Adams lawsuit, said church clergy or church attorneys have made “hundreds of reports” of child abuse to civil authorities in Arizona over an unspecified number of years. But he could not say how many calls to the help line were not referred to police or child welfare officials and could not provide a referral rate.
Two church practices, identified in the sealed records, work together to ensure that the contents of all help lines calls remain confidential. First, all records of calls to the help line are routinely destroyed. “Those notes are destroyed by the end of every day,” said Roger Van Komen, the church’s director of Family Services, in an affidavit included in the sealed records.
Second, church officials say that all calls referred to Kirton McConkie lawyers are covered by attorney-client privilege and remain out of the reach of prosecutors and victims’ attorneys. “The church has always regarded those communications between its lawyers and local leaders as attorney-client privileged,” said Paul Rytting, the director of Risk Management, in a sealed affidavit.
An ominous time
Mormon leaders established the help line in 1995 and it operated not within its Department of Family Services, but instead in its Office of Risk Management, whose role is to protect the church and members from injury and liability in an array of circumstances, including fires, explosions, hazardous chemical spills and severe weather. The department ultimately reports to the First Presidency, the three officials at the very top of the church hierarchy, according to records in the sealed documents.
Risk management also tracks all sex abuse lawsuits against the church, according to a sealed affidavit by Dwayne Liddell, a past director of the department who helped establish the help line. He said members of the church’s First Presidency knew the details of the help line.
“I have been in those type of meetings where ... the training of ecclesiastical leaders (and) the establishment of a help line have been discussed,” Liddell said. When asked who attended the meetings, he answered, “Members of the First Presidency and the presiding bishopric,” or the top leaders of the church.
Before establishing the help line in 1995, the Mormon church simply instructed bishops to comply with local child sex abuse reporting laws.
At the time, child sex abuse lawsuits were on the rise and juries were awarding victims millions of dollars. The Mormon church is largely self-insured, leaving it especially vulnerable to costly lawsuits.
“There is nothing inconsistent between identifying cases that may pose litigation risks to the church and complying with reporting obligations,” church lawyers said in a sealed legal filing.
But one affidavit in the sealed records which repeatedly says the church condemns child sexual abuse, also suggests the church is more concerned about the spiritual well-being of perpetrators than the physical and emotional well-being of young victims, who also may be members of the faith.
“Disciplinary proceedings are subject to the highest confidentiality possible,” said Rytting. “If members had any concerns that their disciplinary files could be read by a secular judge or attorneys or be presented to a jury as evidence in a public trial, their willingness to confess and repent and for their souls to be saved would be seriously compromised.”
A global investigation
In 2016 police in New Zealand arrested a 47-year-old farm worker on child pornography charges and found a nine-minute video on his cell phone, downloaded from the internet, showing a man in his 30s raping a 10-year-old girl.
A global search for the rapist and his victim was on. It started with Interpol and led to the U.S. State Department, where investigators using facial recognition technology matched the rapist with a passport card photo of a U.S. Border Patrol employee living in Bisbee, Arizona, according to a Homeland Security synopsis obtained by the AP.
Agents rushed to the Naco, Arizona, Border Station and arrested Adams, then a lanky, bearded mission support specialist with the Border Patrol. After some coaxing, Adams admitted to raping MJ and to sexually assaulting her younger sister, and to posting video of the assaults on the internet. When agents raided his home, they seized phones and computers holding more than 4,000 photos and nearly 1,000 videos depicting child sex abuse, many featuring the Adams daughters.
But the nine-minute video stood out. “This video is one of the worst I’ve ever seen,” Homeland Security agent Edwards later testified, adding that haunting dialogue between Adams and his older daughter helped make the video “stand out in my mind and continue to stand out in my mind.”
That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by.
After Paul Adams died by suicide, Leizza Adams pleaded no contest to child sex abuse charges and served two-and-a-half years in state prison. Three of the Adams children went to live with members of Leizza’s extended family in California. The other three were taken in by local families.
The survivors
MJ’s little sister was only 2 when she met her adoptive mother for the first time. The toddler wrapped her arms and legs around Miranda Whitworth’s head, buried her face in her neck, and refused to look up to say good-bye to members of Leizza’s family. “It was the craziest thing,” said Whitworth who, with her husband, Matthew, welcomed the toddler into their family. “It was like when you see a baby monkey or baby gorilla cling to their mother, and they just won’t let go.”
Over the next few days and weeks, the Whitworths would see additional markers of the unfathomable abuse the toddler endured at the hands of her father — much of it recorded on video. She would howl in terror when any man attempted to touch her, whether it was Matthew or the family physician. “The nurse was fine but the minute the doctor walked in she climbed onto me and started screaming bloody murder,” Miranda said.
The 2-year-old was also terrified of the water, which made bathing an ear-splitting ordeal. She wouldn’t tolerate anything wrapped around her wrists. And at church, she would run and hide behind Miranda whenever anyone greeted her by an old family nickname.
When they took in the toddler, neither Miranda nor Matthew knew very much about what had happened to her. But while sitting in on Leizza Adams’s sentencing hearing, they learned about the repeated rapes, the videos, and the fact that church bishops knew about the abuse of the older daughter and did nothing to stop it.
The Whitworths were converts to the Mormon faith and, like many new followers of a religion, they were especially enthusiastic about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In particular, they appreciated the efforts Mormons make to help fellow church members in times of need through church organizations established to give special attention to women, teens and children.
“It’s all about family,” Miranda said. “That’s one of the things we absolutely loved.”
But after learning about what Adams did to their new daughter, and the failure of the church to stop him, the scales fell from their eyes. “We decided to remove our records from the church,” said Matthew Whitworth. “I personally couldn’t continue to provide tithing money to a church that would allow young children to be abused and not do anything to prevent it.”
Unlike the Whitworths, Nancy Salminen has never been a member of the Mormon church. But as a special needs teacher and a rape victim herself, she has a special affinity for MJ and others like her. Over the last five years, she has opened her home to 17 girls and boys who needed a safe place to stay. Her house is a modest, ranch-style structure she bought out of foreclosure.
“Everything’s a little broken here and that’s perfect because so are we,” she said.
Salminen said she met MJ after receiving an urgent call on a Friday evening to rescue a 12-year-old from another family. “She was pretty scared and pretty confused when I picked her up,” Salminen recalled. “She spent a lot of time in her closet in her room when we got home, but we got to know each other and got to like each other.”
Like the Whitworths, Salminen knew very little about what MJ had endured until Leizza Adams’s sentencing hearing.
“What I heard made me want to throw up,” she said. “And the more I learned the more I wanted to help her fight this fight that she didn’t even know about.”
Safely settled in Salminen’s household — which today includes a foster girl Salminen also plans to adopt — MJ has been transformed from a victim of unimaginable abuse to a bubbly 16-year-old who plays in the high school band and proudly dons a crisp, new uniform for her job at a fast-food restaurant.
“She had every excuse to fail and to just fold into herself and run away,” Salminen said. “But instead, she came back stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”
So strong that she appears eager to play an active role in the battle she and her two siblings are waging against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I just want them to do what they’re supposed to do and report to the police,” MJ said.
The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Like MJ, Miranda and Matthew Whitworth said they joined the lawsuit against the church on behalf of their young daughter not in hopes of a payday, but to change church policy so that any instance of child sexual abuse is immediately reported to civil authorities. “We just don’t understand why they’re paying all these lawyers to fight this,” Matthew Whitworth said. “Just change the policy.”
The privilege
That policy is the key to the church’s defense. In a recent filing asking a Superior Court judge to dismiss the case, Maledon and other lawyers for the church said the case “hinges entirely on whether Arizona’s child abuse reporting statute required two church bishops ... to report to authorities confidential confessions made to them by plaintiffs’ father.”
Whatever moral or public policy arguments one could make that the church should have told authorities that Paul Adams was raping his daughters are irrelevant, the lawyers argued. “Arizona’s reporting statute broadly exempts confidential communications with clergy, as determined by the clergyman himself,” according to the church motion to dismiss the case. “Reasonable people can debate whether this is the best public policy choice. But that is not an issue for a jury or this court.”
Bishop Herrod, in his recorded interview, said church officials told him he had to keep what Adams told him confidential or he could be sued if he went to authorities.
But McIntyre, the Cochise County attorney, said that’s false, noting the Arizona reporting law says that anyone reporting a belief that child sex abuse occurred “is immune from any civil or criminal liability.”
Aside from the legal arguments over whether Bishops Herrod and Mauzy were excused from their reporting obligations under the clergy-penitent privilege, critics of the inaction by the two bishops and the broader church have raised ethical issues.
Gerard Moretz, a seasoned child sex abuse investigator for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and an expert witness for the Adams children, is one of them.
“What aspect of your religious practice are you advancing if you don’t report something like this?” he asked. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/mormon-church-sexual-abuse-help-line-paul-adams/10234183002/ | 2022-08-04T17:31:02 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/mormon-church-sexual-abuse-help-line-paul-adams/10234183002/ |
4 takeaways from investigation into sex abuse within Mormon church
When an Arizona bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church, learned that a member of his ward was sexually assaulting his 5-year-old daughter, he followed church policy and called the Mormon Abuse Help Line.
The bishop later told law enforcement that church attorneys in Salt Lake City who staff the help line around the clock said that because he learned of the abuse during a counseling session the church considers a spiritual confession, he was legally bound to keep the abuse secret.
Paul Douglas Adams, a U.S. Border Patrol employee living with his wife and six children in Bisbee, Arizona, continued abusing his daughter for as many as seven more years, and went on to abuse a second daughter. He finally stopped in 2017 with no help from the church only because he was arrested.
7 years of sex abuse:How Mormon leaders learned man was abusing his kids and let it continue
The Associated Press obtained thousands of pages of sealed court documents that show in detail exactly how the church’s “help line” can divert abuse complaints away from law enforcement, leaving children in danger.
Takeaways from the AP’s investigation:
The clergy-penitent privilege
The seven years of secrecy in the Adams case began when church attorneys in Salt Lake City advised Bishop John Herrod and later Bishop Robert “Kim” Mauzy they were exempt from reporting requirements under the state’s child abuse reporting law because of the law’s so-called clergy-penitent privilege.
“You absolutely can do nothing,” Herrod said he was told during an interview with federal investigators.
Arizona’s child sex abuse reporting law, and similar laws in more than 20 states, says clergy, physicians, nurses, or anyone caring for a child who “reasonably believes” the child has been abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report the information to police or the state Department of Child Safety. But it also says that clergy who receive information about child neglect or sexual abuse during spiritual confessions “may withhold” that information from authorities if the clergy determine it is “reasonable and necessary” under church doctrine.
An Arizona attorney who is defending the bishops and the church in a lawsuit filed by three of the Adams children, told the AP that Herrod and Mauzy — and by extension the church — were acting within the law and in accordance with their “religious principles.”
“These bishops did nothing wrong. They didn’t violate the law, and therefore they can’t be held liable,” said William Maledon. He also called the Adams children’s lawsuit “a money grab.”
The help line
The Associated Press obtained nearly 12,000 pages of sealed records from an unrelated child sex abuse lawsuit against the Mormon church in West Virginia, which show that the help line is part of a system that can easily be misused by church leaders to divert abuse accusations against church members away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys, who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harm’s way.
It was established in 1995 when legal claims of sex abuse against churches were on the rise.
Officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in sworn statements included in the sealed records that the help line is staffed by social workers who destroy records of all calls at the close of each day.
When the social workers receive calls about abuse that may present a risk to the church — such as abuse committed by prominent church members, abuse perpetrated during church activities, or especially egregious instances of abuse — the calls are referred to attorneys with the Salt Lake City law firm Kirton McConkie. The church maintains that all calls referred to the attorneys are protected by attorney-client privilege, leaving no record of the accusations accessible to prosecutors or victims’ attorneys.
The lawsuit filed by the Adams children alleges: “The Mormon Church implements the Helpline not for the protection and spiritual counseling of sexual abuse victims ... but for (church) attorneys to snuff out complaints and protect the Mormon Church from potentially costly lawsuits.”
The survivors
Miranda and Matthew Whitworth adopted the Adams’ younger daughter when she was just 2 years old. Miranda said when they met, the toddler wrapped her arms and legs around her head, buried her face in her neck, and refused to look up to say good-bye to her mother’s family.
“It was the craziest thing,” Miranda Whitworth said. “It was like when you see a baby monkey or baby gorilla cling to their mother, and they just won’t let go.”
The couple said they joined the lawsuit to push the church to change its policy so that any instance of child sexual abuse is immediately reported to civil authorities. “We just don’t understand why they’re paying all these lawyers to fight this,” Matthew Whitworth said. “Just change the policy.
Nancy Salminen, a special needs teacher in public schools, adopted the older Adams daughter, MJ, after providing her with foster care when she was 12 years old. Today, MJ is a bubbly 16-year-old who plays in her high school band and proudly dons a crisp new uniform for her job as a fast-food restaurant.
“She had every excuse to fail and to just fold into herself and run away,” Salminen said. “But instead, she came back stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”
The upshot
Paul Adams died by suicide in jail before he could stand trial on federal child pornography charges and state child sex abuse charges.
Leizza Adams pleaded no contest to two counts of child abuse and served two-and-a-half years in state prison.
Judge Wallace Hoggatt called the abuse endured by MJ and her younger sister “one of the most horrendous cases of child molestation” he had ever encountered.
Today, the lawsuit filed by the Adams children in Cochise County Superior Court, as well as a criminal investigation by the Cochise County attorney, continue to unfold.
“I just think that the Mormon church really sucks. Seriously sucks,” MJ told the AP. “They are just the worst type of people, from what I’ve experienced and what other people have experienced.” | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/sex-abuse-within-mormon-church-investigation/10234397002/ | 2022-08-04T17:31:08 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/sex-abuse-within-mormon-church-investigation/10234397002/ |
Phoenix-area storms and flooding cause commuter headaches, outages, delays at Sky Harbor
Overnight storms in the Valley left flooded roads, power outages in the area and affected operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport early Thursday.
North Phoenix had heavy rainfall with more than 1.5 inches received in some areas as of 6:45 a.m., according to the Flood Control District of Maricopa County. Near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, up to 1.81 inches of rain was recorded.
There were reports of floods around 5 a.m. on Interstate 17 southbound near Cactus Road and around 6 a.m. at State Route 41 southbound near McDowell Road, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Flooding was also reported in both directions of I-17 at Indian School Road around 6 a.m. There was traffic in the area and cars could be seen traveling on the flooded road. The flooding cleared a short time later.
"We want to remind drivers to keep your distance and don't tailgate in rain and don't drive into flooded roads, a car can be swept away in just 12 inches of water," ADOT said in a statement.
There were no restrictions on highways around 8:30 a.m. due to weather conditions, according to ADOT.
At Sky Harbor Airport, the weather caused some delays and cancellations on Thursday morning, said Eric Everts, spokesperson for the airport. He said Southwest Airlines had some connectivity issues due to the storm.
Passengers can check delays and cancellations on the airport's flight status page at https://www.skyharbor.com/Results/flight-status. According to the website, 18 flights were canceled and 133 were delayed from midnight until 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Dan Landson, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, said in an emailed statement that there were issues with Southwest's systems, but their teams were able to restore connectivity with local systems that were affected by the storms and they began resuming their operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor as of 8 a.m.
"We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to get them to their destinations safely and as quickly as possible. Customers with travel plans that include Phoenix are encouraged to visit Southwest.com or the Southwest app to view their flight status," Landson said in the statement.
The overnight storms also left more than 580 customers with power outages in central Arizona.
According to the Arizona Public Service outage map, there were 22 customers affected in Paradise Valley, 83 in Sun City, 173 in El Mirage, 54 in Buckeye, 204 in Tonopah and 29 in Gila bend due to storm-related conditions as of 9 a.m. on Thursday.
In Phoenix there were about 16 customers affected due to the storms and in Glendale about 10 as of 9 a.m. on Thursday, according to the Salt River Project outage map.
Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-weather/2022/08/04/phoenix-area-storms-bring-flooding-airport-flight-delays-power-outages/10234392002/ | 2022-08-04T17:31:14 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-weather/2022/08/04/phoenix-area-storms-bring-flooding-airport-flight-delays-power-outages/10234392002/ |
Six years ago, Bradford graduate Adam Meier, 44, had the opportunity to coach Kenosha’s only Little League state champion.
On Friday, he gets to do it again, on national TV, and this time has the privilege of coaching his son, Chase.
It’s a big enough deal that after Friday’s state championship win, Meier has already spent hours on what he calls “leg work” going through name pronunciation with the TV guys at ESPN.
This is only the second time a Little League squad from Kenosha has made it all the way to regionals, and the boys of summer will play Friday night in Indianapolis at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
It’s a dream come true for Adam’s players, many of whom have visions of making it all the way to the major leagues some day.
On Friday, they will get their first taste of that type of fame and glory, representing Wisconsin and taking on Nebraska.
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If Kenosha can win the double-elimination tournament, it will earn a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
“We’ve had an amazing experience,” Meier said Tuesday at the Kenosha Sports Complex. “Each team member and coach had to fill out a questionnaire already for ESPN. This is the second team from Kenosha to have the opportunity to go to Williamsport.”
“Chase was 6 when the last guys made it. Once those kids turned 13, I came back and started coaching Chase in machine pitch. I’ve been coaching this tournament team since they were 9 years old. Seventy-five percent of the roster has been consistent since age 9.”
Meier says last Friday’s state championship at Kenosha Sports Complex was all about juggling pitching.
Kenosha won the state championship 10-3 against West Madison, on Friday after winning 10-0 in the semifinals Thursday against Rhinelander.
The talented 12-year-olds went 7-0 in the state tournament and a perfect 5-0 in district.
“We juggled our pitching through pool play so you line up your top pitchers for the championship round,” Meier said. “Ben Smet-Cooper, Tytus Nichter and Nick Falk led us to the championship round, and three other pitchers beyond that.”
Smet-Cooper, Nichter and Falk were nothing short of lights out at state. They combined to pitch 26 innings and only allowed three earned runs. The trio struck out a whopping 62 batters.
In the championship game, Kenosha actually fell behind, 2-0, and had to fight back.
But the boys bounced back with small ball to score five in the next innings and cruise from there. They scored 10 runs with only one home run, which is atypical.
At state, Nichter hit five home runs in seven games, Smet-Cooper added four and Mallory Meier, Adam’s niece and starting left-fielder, smacked two long balls.
In the five-inning, 10-0 semifinal victory, Smet-Cooper struck out all 15 of the possible outs.
Smet-Cooper and Nichter followed that up with 18 strikeouts in the title game.
Kenosha proved it can battle through adversity, too.
They fell behind, 3-0, in pool play against West Madison where they had to rally for a four-run sixth to win, 4-3. Also, Kenosha needed eight innings to beat Glendale, 15-12, after an 11-11 tie late in the game.
In the game to get to state, the district championship, Kenosha knocked off Burlington, 7-5, and Meier said Burlington is probably the best team they faced in both tournaments.
“We find ways to win,” Meier said. “We can find a way to win regardless, whether we’re hitting or not. We’ve probably played 150 games together, maybe 200 over the last four years. The team never gets down. Our biggest adversity was against Burlington before state, at Burlington. Hostile environment, championship game, we were down 4-0. I don’t think we scored until the third. We worked to come back and win, 7-5. Hats off to Burlington, they’ve probably been our best competition. It wasn’t fair for one of us to not make state.”
The 2016 12U team that won state featured future star athletes like Westosha’s Jack Rose and St. Joe’s Jacob Aushmus and Andrew Setter.
“Some of these kids, it will be the pinnacle of their athletic careers,” Meier said. “For some, it will be just the start. For Jack Rose, it was just the start. Being on TV is amazing for these kids. I showed them one of the regional games that was on TV, and they were totally geeked.”
The boys headed to Indianapolis Wednesday, with hopes of winning four or five games and advancing to Little League’s grandest stage.
“If we play our game, throw strikes, play clean defense and we squeak across a couple runs and put pressure on them, we’ll do OK,” Meier said.
Meier added that pitch counts are tricky. If Kenosha loses Friday, they have to play Saturday. Any pitcher that throws more than 20 pitchers in day one can’t pitch in day two. But if they win, they get a day off, so a kid can pitch 35 pitches and also pitch in the next game.
“It’s more complicated than you can really explain in a short article,” Meier joked. “So you won’t see anyone throwing more than 50 pitches day one, otherwise you might one or two games.”
“I’m not trying to win one or two, I’m trying to win the whole thing.”
There is no Wisconsin Little League team that has ever gone to the Little League World Series.
Meier and the Kenosha 12U are trying to make history.
“I’m optimistic about our chances,” he added. “The Kenosha Little League program is great. We have the best facilities around, it’s only $150, and we’ll get in almost 80 games between summer and fall. The kids play a lot, and they learn a lot.”
“These are the kids of Kenosha. They are phenomenal kids, and they’ve all bought in. They have the ability to understand what their role is on the team, and that goes a long way.” | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/headed-for-big-time-kenosha-little-league-team-plays-friday-in-u-s-regionals-on/article_a4ea851c-1354-11ed-a307-c76e9391ab84.html | 2022-08-04T17:37:48 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/headed-for-big-time-kenosha-little-league-team-plays-friday-in-u-s-regionals-on/article_a4ea851c-1354-11ed-a307-c76e9391ab84.html |
A host family is needed quickly for a girl from France who will be attending school in the Kenosha Unified School District starting this fall.
Clothilde, 15, needs a host family for the fall. Depending on the family, she would be attending either Tremper High School or Indian Trail High School and Academy. She needs to know soon as she has to get her visa. She likes movies, sports, pets, music, hiking, dance, swimming, bowling, and skiing.
Families can contact Carrie at schulzcarr@aol.com or text 414-899-3890 for more information.
IN PHOTOS: REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Mahone Fund Chairman Tim Mahone, left, brother Malcolm, second from left, and sister Ardis Mahone-Mosley, second from right, stand with Bryan Albrecht, right, Mahone Fund president and outgoing Gateway Technical College president and CEO. Albrecht was presented with the organization's Living Legend Community Award, which will now bear his name, at the Mahone Fund's Reaching for Rainbows "Pursuit of Excellence" dinner Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Mahone Fund Chairman Tim Mahone, left, with Bryan Albrecht, Mahone Fund president and outgoing Gateway Technical College president and CEO. Albrecht was presented with the organization’s Living Legend Community Award, which will now bear his name, at the Mahone Fund’s Reaching for Rainbows “Pursuit of Excellence” dinner Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Mahone Fund Chairman Tim Mahone, left, addresses a sold-out crowd during the organization's Reaching for Rainbows "Pursuit of Excellence" dinner Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Behind him are his sister, Ardis Mahone-Mosley, second from right, and Bryan Albrecht, right, Mahone Fund president and outgoing Gateway Technical College president and CEO. Albrecht was presented with the organization's Living Legend Community Award, which will now bear his name going forward.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Mahone Fund Chairman Tim Mahone, left, with Bryan Albrecht, Mahone Fund president and out-going Gateway Technical College president and CEO. Albrecht was the presented with the organization's Living Legend Community Award, which will now bear his name, at the Reaching for Rainbows "Pursuit of Excellence" dinner Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Mahone Fund Chairman Tim Mahone, left, with Bryan Albrecht, Mahone Fund president and out-going Gateway Technical College president and CEO. Albrecht was the presented with the organization's Living Legend Community Award, which will now bear his name, at the Reaching for Rainbows "Pursuit of Excellence" dinner Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Reuther High School senior Kiara Rios Bradford High School senior left, smiles as Kenosha Unified Interim Superintendent Bethany Ormseth presents her with the Mahone Fund's CEO scholarship award during the Reaching for Rainbows dinner Tuesday night, April 12, 2022. Rios plans to study business and will be attending the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in the fall.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
LakeView Technology Academy senior DaRon Green is emotional as Kenosha Unified Interim Superintendent Bethany Ormseth presents him with the Mahone Fund's CEO Scholarship during the Reaching for Rainbows dinner Tuesday night, April 12, 2022. Green plans to study civil rights law and will be attending Xavier University in Cincinnati in in the fall.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Bradford High School senior Christopher Lyons gives his acceptance speech for his award for full tuition to Carthage College during the Reaching for Rainbows dinner Tuesday night, April 12, 2022. Lyons plans to study business and finance and will be attending Carthage beginning in the fall.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Bradford High School senior Christopher Lyons, left, smiles as Kenosha Unified Interim Superintendent Bethany Ormseth presents him with a scholarship for full tuition to Carthage College during the Mahone Fund's Reaching for Rainbows "Pursuit of Excellence" dinner Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Lyons plans to study business and finance and will be attending Carthage beginning in the fall.
Terry Flores
REACHING FOR RAINBOWS 2022
Reaching for Rainbows "Pursuit of Excellence" scholarship and award winners among others line up following the banquet held Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Back row (left), scholarship winners Grace Ziegelbauer, Yesenia Muma, Gracie Underwood, Leslie Sauceda, Haylee Applegate, Ashley Osorio, Heaven Williams, Stefinie Washington, Tiffany Villalobos, Lauryn Johnson and Living Legend Community Award honoree Bryan Albrecht, Mahone Fund president. Front row (left) Shebaniah Muhammad, Executive Director, 21st Century Preparatory School, UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford, Terri Wruck, co-chair of the Mahone Scholarship Committee, scholarship winners Christopher Lyons, Kiara Rios, Tra'Shawn Gordon, DaRon Green and Justus Wilhoit, Ardis Mahone-Mosley, Malcolm Mahone, Carthage College President John Swallow and Mahone Fund Chairman Tim Mahone.
Terry Flores
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/host-family-needed-quickly-for-kenosha-unified-foreign-exchange-student/article_4083f8da-140b-11ed-b45b-279cfa56fcd1.html | 2022-08-04T17:37:54 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/host-family-needed-quickly-for-kenosha-unified-foreign-exchange-student/article_4083f8da-140b-11ed-b45b-279cfa56fcd1.html |
The 16-year-old who fell into Lucky Peak Reservoir more than two weeks ago has been found, according to Ada County Sheriff's Office Marine deputies.
The boy's body was found in the water near a dock, in the general area where he was reported to go missing, according to Patrick Orr with the Ada County Sheriff's Office.
The missing teenager was riding with another person on a watercraft in the reservoir when they were hit by a wave that caused the boy to fall into the water. According to the sheriff's office, the two people were not wearing life jackets.
The driver of the watercraft reportedly jumped into the water to rescue the boy, but was not able to locate him. Several people from a nearby boat tried to assist in looking for the teenager, but were unable to find him, as detailed in a news release from the Ada County Sheriff's Office.
The water in the area where he was reported to have fallen in is very deep, with temperatures in the low 60s.
Dive teams with the Ada County Sheriff's Office searched the water for nearly a week after the teen went missing, suspending dive operations on Monday, July 25; however, Ada County marine deputies remained on lookout during their daily patrol.
The night the boy disappeared, deputies spent more than an hour doing rescue dives, but could not locate him. They ceased their searches around 11 p.m. that night and "transitioned to recovery" the next morning, according to the sheriff's office.
The identity of the teenage boy has not yet been released, but his family has been contacted. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/body-of-missing-16-year-old-recovered-from-lucky-peak-reservoir/article_debfd450-0f01-588e-b9f2-2d757550718f.html | 2022-08-04T17:39:24 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/body-of-missing-16-year-old-recovered-from-lucky-peak-reservoir/article_debfd450-0f01-588e-b9f2-2d757550718f.html |
EAGLE — A young bull moose was located Wednesday evening in Eagle — not in the foothills, but in the middle of town. The Ada County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that the moose has been safely captured and moved to the mountains.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game said that at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, IDFG enforcement staff located the moose in the area of Ballantyne Lane and Floating Feather Road and Highway 44/State Street. They located the moose shortly after people starting calling in with reports to Idaho Fish and Game's Southwest Region office.
Responding officers from other agencies observed the moose, looking to keep it away from the highway, until about 6 p.m. They lost sight when the moose made its way to a nearby cornfield, according to a news release from IDFG.
“At that point, the peak traffic period was over, and the animal was in as good a place as it could be under the circumstances," Regional Wildlife Manager Ryan Walrath said.
A spokesman for the Ada County Sheriff's Office said Thursday morning that the moose was tranquilized at Cobblestone and State streets, just west of downtown Eagle.
"Eagle Police kept a close eye on the beast this morning as it strolled in the Cobblestone Way/State Street neighborhood just west of downtown to try to keep him off the street and out of traffic," Eagle Police said in a Facebook post Thursday morning.
The moose, Eagle Police said, is about 6 feet tall and 600 to 700 pounds, and "pretty much kept to himself and majestically strolled through the neighborhood and munched on leaves until Fish and Game arrived."
Fish and Game officers tranquilized the moose and will move him to "a better habitat in the mountains," Eagle Police said.
IDFG said it's important for drivers and people living in the area to be aware and do their part to help avoid any conflict with wildlife.
Moose are typically rare in the Treasure Valley, but the moose spotted Wednesday in Eagle is the second moose to make its way into a populated area of Ada County within the past month. A yearling cow moose spotted in Hidden Springs was relocated on July 20.
Moose can become aggressive and unpredictable when surprised or cornered. If a moose perceives a threat, it could charge and attempt to stomp on that perceived threat.
Keep a respectful distance from the moose of at least 50 yards or more.
The presence of a dog can be especially alarming to a moose, so keep dogs leashed and far away from the moose.
Drivers should use caution during the early morning commute. Moose are most active at sunrise and sunset, particularly during the summer. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/moose-spotted-in-eagle-tranquilized-thursday-morning/article_97acabbe-1ed5-521c-bcb2-0d8b44584dda.html | 2022-08-04T17:39:30 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/moose-spotted-in-eagle-tranquilized-thursday-morning/article_97acabbe-1ed5-521c-bcb2-0d8b44584dda.html |
Radio documentarian Dave Isay stands next to one of two StoryCorps Airstream trailers outfitted with recording studios, Thursday, May 19, 2005, in Washington. Isay launched StoryCorps in an effort to create an oral history of America through the stories of everyday people.
StoryCorps, the national nonprofit organization that shares audio stories of people from varying backgrounds and beliefs, will be recording remote interviews in Boise from Aug. 4 to Sept. 2 as part of its Mobile Tour.
“StoryCorps tells an authentic American story — that we are a people defined by small acts of courage, kindness, and heroism. Each interview reminds people that their lives matter and will not be forgotten,” founder Dave Isay said in a press release. “During this pandemic, the value of preserving these stories, and of strengthening connections between people who may feel physically isolated, is more important than ever.”
In Boise, StoryCorps will partner with National Public Radio affiliate Boise State Public Radio. KBSX 91.5FM will air a selection of the local interviews and create special programs around the project, according to the release. StoryCorps may also share excerpts of these stories with the world through the project’s popular weekly NPR broadcasts, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books.
According to the press release, participants have the option of recording in-person in an Airstream-trailer-turned-recording-studio parked at Boise State Public Radio or via StoryCorps’ Virtual Recording Booth, a video-conferencing platform that can be accessed remotely using an internet-connected device.
During a StoryCorps interview, two people are able to record a conversation with one another about who they are, what they’ve learned in life, and how they want to be remembered. A trained StoryCorps facilitator guides them through the interview process, per the press release.
After each 40-minute recording session, participants receive a digital copy of their interview. With participant permission, a second copy is archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations to hear, per the release.
Reservations to record can be made by calling StoryCorps’ 24-hour reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or visiting boisestatepublicradio.org. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/storycorps-returns-to-boise/article_f8f5662e-7d21-52a2-afa0-2616557d5dae.html | 2022-08-04T17:39:36 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/storycorps-returns-to-boise/article_f8f5662e-7d21-52a2-afa0-2616557d5dae.html |
The Coquille Chess Club will be hosting a chess tournament August 20 at 5th Street Park In Coquille (5th and Elliott near the hospital).
Register at 9:30 a.m. and start play at 10 a.m. Beginners finish about 1 p.m. Advanced finish about 4 p.m. There is a $5 registration fee.
No elimination, play all five rounds for all ages and skill levels. Only requirement is to know how to move the pieces. Prizes are squirt guns and outdoor toys. Between rounds, enjoy the creek, the playground and the new pickleball/basketball/foursquare court.
The club will provide canopies for shade. Chess boards and clocks will be at site. A potluck lunch and snacks will be provided. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/chess-tournament-aug-20/article_5432769e-1358-11ed-9d69-7fa29ec21be9.html | 2022-08-04T17:39:39 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/chess-tournament-aug-20/article_5432769e-1358-11ed-9d69-7fa29ec21be9.html |
Emergency responders and law enforcement agencies from Coos Bay to Clackamas County met in Tillamook for emergency training Thursday and Friday to learn techniques on best practices in the event of a mass shooting.
Coos Bay Police officer Deven Deck attended the training which included the initial response, helping those injured, securing the area, triage and planning and coordinating with the many agencies who respond to such tragedies.
“This course is designed enhance the collaboration and teamwork between your first responders (Law Enforcement, Fire & EMS) as we implement proactive survival strategies and response to violent intruder or active shooter incidents,” said Tillamok Police Chief Raymond Rau. “It is also designed to show potential gaps in how we respond and handle these types of situations to make sure that we will minimize the loss of life or injury in the event something like this does ever happen.”
The overall goal of the type of training is to provide first responders with real survival-enhancing options for saving lives in those critical moments when a violent situation begins until the threat is stopped.
“Moments that have no room for mistakes or hesitation in our efforts to protect human life at all costs,” Rau said. “During this training simulation rounds were used along with alarms, other distracting noises with role players.”
The goal is for all local responders, Sheriff, Police, Ambulance, Fire Departments and State Police to all work together should something happen.
“In the past this training would have been only cops,” Rau said. “This way all emergency responders are working on the same page through this important training — the goal is to save lives.” | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/public-safety-standards-training-helps-emergency-responders-collaborate-for-active-shooter-events/article_2e67a722-11c8-11ed-8409-ef614b163a28.html | 2022-08-04T17:39:39 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/public-safety-standards-training-helps-emergency-responders-collaborate-for-active-shooter-events/article_2e67a722-11c8-11ed-8409-ef614b163a28.html |
Tyler Schmidt, 42, Sarah Schmidt, 42, Arlo Schmidt, 9, and Lula Schmidt, 6, from a picture posted online at gofundme.com.
Courtesy photo
Emergency personnel block an entrance to the Maquoketa Caves State Park as police investigate a shooting that left several people dead Friday in Maquoketa.
CEDAR FALLS — A Cedar Falls couple and their daughter who were killed while camping last month died of stabbing and gunshot wounds, according to autopsies.
On Thursday, the Iowa Department of Public Safety released the finds of the autopsies in the July 22 attack at Maquoketa Caves State Park camp ground.
According to authorities, Tyler Schmidt, 42, died from a gunshot wound and multiple sharp force injuries.
Sarah Schmidt, 42, died from multiple sharp force injuries.
Their daughter, 6-year-old Lula, died from a gunshot wound and strangulation.
PHOTOS: Celebration of Life vigil for Schmidts
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An autopsy also confirmed that Anthony Sherwin, 23, of LaVista, Neb., died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and his death has been ruled a suicide.
“The investigation into the events surrounding the homicides is ongoing. However, the known facts and circumstances, and all evidence collected to this point, substantiate Sherwin was the perpetrator of the homicides and acted alone,” Mitch Mortvedt, deputy director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release.
A couple of hundred people attended an hour-long celebration of life ceremony for Tyler and Sarah Schmidt and their six-year-old daughter, Lula. The Cedar Falls family members were found shot to death July 22 in their tent at Maquoketa Caves State Park.
Three Cedar Falls family members died Friday at Maquoketa Caves State Park in apparent homicides, with a fourth person dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The mother of a man suspected of killing a Cedar Falls couple and their daughter at an Iowa state park said her son gave no indication anything was wrong prior to the shooting.
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.
Emergency personnel block an entrance to the Maquoketa Caves State Park as police investigate a shooting that left several people dead Friday in Maquoketa. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/autopsy-results-released-in-maquoketa-caves-campground-slayings/article_860a361b-b965-5dce-9256-637619bc90ea.html | 2022-08-04T17:42:51 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/autopsy-results-released-in-maquoketa-caves-campground-slayings/article_860a361b-b965-5dce-9256-637619bc90ea.html |
WATERLOO — A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly stealing copper pipes and wire and other items from a vacant home.
Police arrested Derrick Alan Moore, 36, on charges of third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, assault on a peace officer with a weapon, interference while armed and eluding.
According to court records, patrol officers stopped Moore in a Toyota RAV4 leaving a Butler Avenue home known as a target for burglars around 8:40 p.m. on Sunday.
The Toyota turned down Dubuque Road and hit speeds of up to 75 mph in a 35 mph zone before driving off road and disappearing. Officers later found the vehicle parked at Moore’s home at 1502 Shultz St.
When police approached Moore, he allegedly threatened them with a barstool. Officers recovered pipes, wire and a TV that had been inside the house along with other items.
Photos: RAGBRAI rolls through Mason City
Photos: RAGBRAI rolls through Mason City on Wednesday
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down First Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down First Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
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Residents watch and wave as RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Cyclists claim their baggage from the RAGBRAI trailers as they set up camp at East Park in Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI participants roam through the vendors and entertainment in downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists set up camp at East Park in Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists set up camp at East Park in Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 19th Street into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down Lark Avenue into Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Residents watch as RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists stream down 1st Street Northwest into downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI participants roam through the vendors and entertainment in downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI participants roam through the vendors and entertainment in downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Danny Grause performs on the Principal Pavilion stage as RAGBRAI participants roam through the vendors and entertainment in downtown Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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RAGBRAI cyclists set up camp at East Park in Mason City on Wednesday.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-arrested-for-taking-copper-pipe-wire-from-vacant-home/article_75f0ea7e-ff0d-5c7c-8af1-13a6877d770a.html | 2022-08-04T17:42:57 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-arrested-for-taking-copper-pipe-wire-from-vacant-home/article_75f0ea7e-ff0d-5c7c-8af1-13a6877d770a.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Kansas Highway Patrol was busy on Thursday morning inspecting school buses in preparation for classes. In Wichita, all students will head back to school on Aug. 15.
During the inspection, troopers look for mechanical issues, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers to make sure the buses meet the state standard.
“We have a checklist that we go through, but we’ll start on the exterior of the school buses, checking all the lights, all the emergency exits, make sure all the markings are proper. That way, kiddos, in case there is an emergency, they know exactly how to operate a door or roof hatch, things of that nature,” said Trooper Chad Crittenden, KHP public information officer.
The KHP inspects 11,000 school buses yearly and has been doing it for about 20 years. The patrol says the bus drivers in the school districts do a very good job of maintenance. However, periodically, the patrol says they fail buses due to tire, exit markings, and brake issues.
Troopers also want to remind drivers that buses will return to the road in less than two weeks.
“We’re paying attention to the stop arms or the amber lights. Usually, those amber lights come on just prior to the stop arm coming out, so even once that stop arm closes, we still need to be paying attention to kids because they may be darting right out in front of our cars,” Crittenden said. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/kansas-highway-patrol-inspects-school-buses/ | 2022-08-04T17:45:54 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/kansas-highway-patrol-inspects-school-buses/ |
Narcotics investigators serving a search warrant in east Lincoln on Wednesday found 630 ecstasy pills, 154 grams of marijuana and a .40-caliber handgun, resulting in the arrest of a Lincoln man, according to police.
The warrant, served around 4 p.m. Wednesday near North 79th Street and Yellow Knife Drive, a block north of Holdrege Street, also led investigators to 54.6 grams of ecstasy powder, Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian said Thursday.
Gotti Waters, 20, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm while violating a felony drug statute.
A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Andrew Wegley joined the Journal Star as breaking news reporter after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in May 2021.
In court records, police said two men beat, tortured and branded a 26-year-old Lincoln man in a warehouse, later tying him to a tree and threatening to kill him.
A Lincoln orthopedic surgeon was sentenced to probation in federal court Tuesday for writing fraudulent prescriptions to a patient, then buying back thousands of painkillers.
"He violated me and so many other underaged women. He did not have the right to do that," one woman, identified as Victim 4, said at Gregory Dightman Sr.'s sentencing.
Deputies noticed Brett Balak had "bloodshot and watery eyes" as he approached his vehicle that night, and later observed "a strong odor" of alcohol, according to court filings.
"It was at that moment ... I saw him with the gun in his hand," State Patrol Trooper Adam Strode said according to a transcript. "I honestly thought I was going to be shot."
The contents of the fire extinguisher are considered a skin irritant, forcing store employees to destroy the merchandise affected in the incident, which happened Sunday evening inside Gateway Mall.
Michael McNeil is accused of robbing a bank in north Lincoln earlier this month is a suspect in a bank robbery in Geneva in June and an attempted bank robbery in York in May. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/warrant-turns-up-630-ecstasy-pills-handgun-in-lincoln-police-say/article_e5500a6b-56a0-5d98-a010-7dd15e2e7a91.html | 2022-08-04T17:47:15 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/warrant-turns-up-630-ecstasy-pills-handgun-in-lincoln-police-say/article_e5500a6b-56a0-5d98-a010-7dd15e2e7a91.html |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — President Biden is expected to sign legislation soon to benefit veterans impacted by burn pits.
The Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act passed with a vote of 86-11 in the Senate on Tuesday.
The PACT Act will expand health care benefits to an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It adds conditions related to burn pit and toxic exposure, including hypertension, to the Department of Veterans Affair’s list of illnesses.
The passage ended a standoff after Senate Republicans unexpectedly blocked the bill last week during a procedural vote. Twenty-five Republicans who initially voted to advance the bill in June changed their votes last week. Some Republicans claimed the bill created a “budgetary gimmick” by moving $400 billion spent by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs to mandatory spending.
The bill also removes the burden of proof from veterans seeking care for exposure-related conditions.
Alabama Senators Tommy Tuberville and Richard Shelby were among the 11 Republicans who voted against the passage of the bill.
Burn pits are holes soldiers use to burn human and trash waste.
US Army veteran Jay Gibbs tells CBS 42 News just the cloud of smoke alone is toxic for soldiers on the field. He says they tried to protect themselves by covering their faces with masks, but there was still no way to escape toxic chemicals.
“At the time, I didn’t think anything about it. Because when a sand storm would come, I would be covered in it but knowing the difference of what was in that sand storm or what was in that smoke was a big difference,” Gibbs said.
Those toxic chemicals bring long-term health conditions, including hypertension, high blood pressure, and several cancers.
Gibbs, who now serves as the executive director of Three Hots and A Cot Veteran Center, says several veterans at the center have conditions from toxic burn pits, including him.
At 26, he says his breathing was affected by the toxic chemicals from burn pits.
“I wear a c-pap machine,” Gibbs said. “I wheeze a lot, and I catch myself a lot of times out here, and I think to myself, ‘man, is that ok?'”
US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough released this statement on the passage:
“Veterans who were exposed to toxic fumes while fighting for our country are American heroes, and they deserve world-class care and benefits for their selfless service. The bipartisan PACT Act will help VA deliver for those Veterans — and their survivors — by empowering us to presumptively provide care and benefits to Vets suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions. To those Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors: you can apply for PACT Act benefits by filing a claim at VA, and you can learn more about the PACT Act at VA.gov/PACT or by calling us at 1-800-MyVA411. We’ll be communicating with you every step of the way to make sure that you and your loved ones get the benefits you’ve earned. We couldn’t be more grateful to President Biden, who made this day possible by fighting like hell for our nation’s Veterans. Once the President signs this bill into law, we at VA will implement it quickly and effectively, delivering the care these Veterans need and the benefits they deserve.”
Others locally and nationally are also responding to the bill’s passing.
“To our veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits, we have your back,” US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said.
“It’s big on our hearts; it lets us know that every little thing and it shows that people still care,” Gibbs said.
Senator Tuberville released a statement on Twitter regarding his “No” vote: “Ensuring veterans have access to quality care is a priority of mine. Unfortunately, I do not believe the Pact Act will enable the VA to efficiently deliver care and benefits to veterans suffering from illnesses related to toxic exposure. We can do better.”
Senator Shelby, who has stated he will not seek another term, also tweeted out a statement regarding his vote against the bill: “Throughout my career, I’ve remained a strong advocate for our veterans. However, the PACT Act would reclassify nearly $400 billion in VA funding, allowing Dems to instead spend that on their liberal wish list. I want to support the PACT Act, but this budget gimmick must be fixed.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/local-and-national-reaction-to-veterans-toxic-exposure-bill-passage/ | 2022-08-04T17:50:37 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/local-and-national-reaction-to-veterans-toxic-exposure-bill-passage/ |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A new partnership between deputies and shelter workers in Volusia County is aiming to get more help to the homeless population.
The First Step shelter in Daytona Beach is now working directly with on-duty deputies who know their community and see people who are homeless while on the job. Another big part of the program is a new hotline for east Volusia County residents and business owners to call in if they see someone who needs help.
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With hundreds of people facing homelessness on the east side of the county, Deputy Samuel Andreesen and outreach worker Pamela Alexander started hitting the streets Monday, offering services to those who might not know they are available.
Body camera video showed their first interactions.
“I’ve got a social worker with the First Step shelter that’s offering programs and stuff. Do you guys want to talk to her?” asked Andreesen in one video.
The man responded: “I would like to, yeah! Yeah, I need help!”
The team looks for those who may be in need or responds to calls into the shelter’s new hotline.
“The programs offer you housing, free food, shower, job placement, the whole nine,” said Andreesen.
They invite the person to try First Step’s safe zone where shelter and food are available. Then, once in the program, the goal is to get them permanent housing and a job.
The team said there is some hesitation.
“It’s their life, it’s all that they know pretty much. So of course, it’s hard to get them to detach themselves from what they’re used to,” said Alexander.
The hesitation usually starts, they said, when the person sees law enforcement.
“I thought maybe I was in trouble when I saw you pull up and I thought man what the **** did I do,” asked one person in the video.
Andreesen responded: “No man, we’re trying to help people!”
Andreesen said he tries to explain right off the bat what they’re there for.
“It’s completely up to them. Even our conversations, I let them know that as soon as I make contact with them,” he said.
If the person isn’t ready the first time, the team will visit again.
“Just placing them so they can be more independent on their own with their own shelter over their head,” said Alexander.
If you do see someone who needs help on the east side of Volusia, you can call the hotline any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 386-999-HELP.
The shelter said eventually, they would like to get funding to make the hotline 24/7. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/deputies-outreach-team-work-to-get-more-homeless-into-volusia-shelter/ | 2022-08-04T17:50:38 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/deputies-outreach-team-work-to-get-more-homeless-into-volusia-shelter/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies believe they have arrested a man who sexually battered at least two women in Orange County and they believe there may be more victims who have not yet come forward.
Marcus Baker, 31, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Orange County jail.
Deputies said they were called to a Red Roof Inn, 8296 S. Orange Blossom Trail, on Sunday for a report of a woman who was attacked, robbed and sexually battered.
Investigators said the woman had gotten into Baker’s car, a silver 2014 Hyundai sedan, willing to exchange money for sexual favors. However, deputies said Baker demanded the woman’s money shortly after she got into his car.
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Records show the two struggled and the victim stabbed Baker before he managed to choke her until she was unconscious. Deputies said Baker ultimately took off with the victim’s phone, purse, some of her clothing and cash.
Deputies said the victim was not able to identify Baker, but did provide a description of his vehicle.
On Tuesday, deputies said they were called to a Knights Inn for reports of another sexual battery. Investigators said they were able to identify Baker as the suspect in this attack and found that his registered vehicle matched the description provided by the first victim.
The first victim was then able to identify Baker in a photo line-up as her attacker, according to the affidavit for an arrest warrant.
Baker currently faces charges of sexual battery, false imprisonment and robbery.
If anyone has any additional information on Baker or any other possible victims, they are asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
ARRESTED: OCSO detectives have arrested Marcus Jonathan Baker, 31, for sexual battery. He frequents the area of Landstreet Rd. & S.O.B.T. Detectives want to know if there may be other victims. If you have any information on Baker, call Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477. pic.twitter.com/BGMyzs9cQO
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) August 4, 2022
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/man-sexually-battered-2-women-more-victims-possible-orange-county-deputies-say/ | 2022-08-04T17:50:45 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/man-sexually-battered-2-women-more-victims-possible-orange-county-deputies-say/ |
With almost everything costing more these days, Consumer Reports has some great news: you don’t have to spend a lot to get a quality laptop.
One of the best options for a tight budget is a Chromebook.
“They’re generally less expensive than Mac and PC laptops. They’re not the fastest computers out there but for everyday tasks like browsing the web, editing documents, school/work type of stuff, they’re totally fine,” said Consumer Reports Editor Nicholas De Leon.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a great option, according to Consumer Reports. This convertible laptop can be folded back and also used as a tablet.
An even better bang for your buck is the 14-inch HP Chromebook. Consumer Reports said it’s a solid choice for people on the go because it’s lightweight and its anti-reflective which makes it perfect for using just about anywhere.
If you need something more powerful, for a little more money, Consumer Reports suggests the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 with a 12.4-inch touchscreen.
“It’s among the fastest in our ratings for things like web browsing and editing text documents,” said De Leon.
There’s also the Acer Swift 3. This Consumer Reports Best Buy scored excellent for portability, performance, and display. It also has a battery life of more than 23 hours.
If you’ve been saving up or just want to treat yourself to a shiny new Mac, Consumer Reports recommends the Apple’s 13-inch Macbook Air with the M1 processor. If you’re wondering, why not the newer M2 model, here’s why.
“We’re currently testing the M2 Macbook Air. But our early impressions are that it’s not a lot faster than the M1 MacBook Air. So it might make sense to get the M1 Air, save a little bit of money, and still get a very good Mac laptop,” said De Leon.
While a new laptop might not guarantee good grades, it may give students one less thing to complain about.
Consumer Reports said August and September are some of the best times to buy a computer because of sales. When you’re shopping, don’t forget to check for student discounts from your school, stores, or computer makers. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/these-affordable-laptops-gained-best-quality-ratings-for-back-to-school/ | 2022-08-04T17:50:51 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/these-affordable-laptops-gained-best-quality-ratings-for-back-to-school/ |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The City of Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Thursday announced they are making additional efforts to deter truck drivers from traveling downtown along Front Street.
The city, in partnership with PennDOT, has banned vehicles 12 feet, 6 inches or taller from traveling on Front Street due to the underpass located in front of UPMC Harrisburg Hospital and Riverfront Park.
Vehicles that exceed 12 feet, 6 inches in height often get stuck at the underpass, which is owned by Amtrak and used sparingly by trains as a turnaround point, the city said in its announcement.
PennDOT has installed new signs along Front Street, shortly after passing the Verbeke Street intersection, that warn truck drivers that their vehicles will likely get stuck at the underpass, the city said.
There is also new signage located at the intersection of Front Street at Chestnut Street, which is the last place for trucks to turn to avoid the bridge, according to city officials.
These signs indicate vehicles 12'6" or taller are strictly prohibited from going any further.
PennDOT said drivers who do so are liable to be punished by $500, the maximum allowed under Pennsylvania law.
Truck drivers traveling south on Front Street are urged to turn onto Forster Street or the Harvey Taylor Bridge, Market Street or the Market Street Bridge, or Chestnut Street as a last possibility. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/harrisburg-front-street-truck-ban-enacted/521-9a8380f9-e8ec-4fa1-9962-9c697bf63db6 | 2022-08-04T17:54:21 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/harrisburg-front-street-truck-ban-enacted/521-9a8380f9-e8ec-4fa1-9962-9c697bf63db6 |
CAMP HILL, Pa. — The Lower Allen Township Police Department on Thursday announced the passing of one of its former K9 officers, Rocco.
The dog was euthanized after a veterinary exam revealed he was suffering from advanced cancer, the police department said.
Rocco retired from service in 2020 after joining the department in 2013. He served in many searches for people and evidence and stood ready to protect the officers he assisted, according to the police department.
After his retirement, Rocco spent his remaining years with the family of his handler, Cpl. Michael Scarlato.
"Please keep the Scarlato family in your thoughts, as Rocco had been living his best life as a family pet since his retirement, and was a big part of their pack," the police department said. "He was a very good boy." | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/k9-officer-rocco-lower-allen-twp-police/521-058fbda8-afae-4c57-8fc5-a19f9a1455d1 | 2022-08-04T17:54:27 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/k9-officer-rocco-lower-allen-twp-police/521-058fbda8-afae-4c57-8fc5-a19f9a1455d1 |
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State University is easing some of its COVID-19 rules heading into the fall semester.
Indoor mask-wearing will no longer be required but only recommended in counties with a high CDC COVID level.
The university will continue to recommend, but not require, COVID vaccines.
And the University Park campus will have fewer isolation and quarantine spaces for students.
Information on the university's response to COVID-19 is posted here.
Watch more stories about the coronavirus pandemic on WNEP’s YouTube page. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/penn-state-easing-some-covid-19-requirements-university-coronavirus/523-70ad4478-1e4f-4ae4-9c19-4b99ede124ca | 2022-08-04T17:54:33 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/penn-state-easing-some-covid-19-requirements-university-coronavirus/523-70ad4478-1e4f-4ae4-9c19-4b99ede124ca |
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was scheduled to conduct black fly spraying operations in York County on Thursday, the county's Office of Emergency Management announced.
The helicopter used to conduct spraying operations, a Bell 206 with the tail number N655HA, could be observed flying at low altitude while spraying for the annoying insects, the OEM said.
Black flies, otherwise known as gnats, "have the annoying habit of swarming around the heads of people on warm days," the DEP said on its Black Fly Suppression website. "Swatting them is useless as they are quick to return, often flying into people's eyes and sometimes delivering a painful and itchy bite."
The DEP has been conducting black fly suppression efforts since 1983, according to its website.
"The PA Black Fly Suppression Program provides relief to millions of Pennsylvania residents and tourists each summer," the DEP said. "Black flies have been a recognized pest of humans and livestock in Pennsylvania since the 1970s. Black flies have been present in Pennsylvania since pre-Columbian times. There is anecdotal evidence of pest level populations of black flies from the late 1800s through present in some areas of Pennsylvania, and that black flies were present in pest numbers in some areas in the 1950s and 1960s.
"In many areas, the black fly populations were present for many years before the program provided service. In other areas, such as acid affected streams where discharges have been eliminated or treated, black fly populations have developed to relatively high levels in a single season and have remained at those levels, unless affected by a pollution incident. The black fly populations have built to a high stable endemic population and remain at that level."
The black fly suppression program expanded in 1986 to include not only the lower Juniata River, but a total of 535 stream miles in 17 counties in the Susquehanna and Allegheny River basins, the DEP said. In 1996, the program expanded into the Delaware River basin, and in 2001 into the Schuylkill River basin. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/state-dep-conducts-black-fly-spraying-operation-york-county/521-98504e10-b3a4-4a81-a7d8-edbb2b14e65e | 2022-08-04T17:54:39 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/state-dep-conducts-black-fly-spraying-operation-york-county/521-98504e10-b3a4-4a81-a7d8-edbb2b14e65e |
The South Shore Line will bus passengers between its Michigan City Carroll Avenue Station and Gary Metro Center through the spring of 2023 as work on the Double Track project continues.
The $650 million project will add a second set of rails to single-track areas between Gary and Michigan City, upgrade stations, expand parking and replace bridges.
Train service between Gary Metro and Millennium Station in Chicago, and between Carroll Avenue and South Bend International Airport, will continue to operate as normal, the railroad said.
Buses will make all intermediate station stops, operating on the regular South Shore train time schedule for Carroll Avenue, Dune Park, Portage/Ogden Dunes and Miller, the railroad said. Westbound passengers boarding at Gary Metro should plan to board trains on the platform throughout the duration of busing.
Loop bus service will continue to be provided to the Michigan City 11th Street station area, using a bus stop at 920 Franklin St., and to Beverly Shores Station. Those passengers will be bused to either Dune Park or Carroll Avenue, where they may board the next scheduled South Shore train or bus.
Westbound passengers at Carroll Avenue, Dune Park, Portage/Ogden Dunes and Miller should be prepared to board buses in front of the station and reboard trains at Gary Metro. Eastbound passengers will detrain at Gary Metro to board buses for their destination station, or to board eastbound trains again at Carroll Avenue. The bus loading zone at Gary Metro will be located on the northwest side of the station.
The railroad said passengers should expect delays of 15-30 minutes due to busing.
With busing in effect, bikes cannot be brought onboard between South Bend International Airport and East Chicago. Bikes are permitted as scheduled from East Chicago Station west.
Busing between Carroll Avenue and Dune Park stations has been in effect since the end of February. More than 20,000 passengers have used the bus service each month since then, according to the South Shore.
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Open
Bombers BBQ is now serving up its beloved brisket and other slow-cooked meats in Crown Point.
The acclaimed military aviation-themed barbecue joint has built up a fervent following at its original location at 435 Ridge Road in Munster. It reached a deal with Darin Jacobs, who owns Rosati's pizzerias in Munster, St. John and Valparaiso, to open franchises.
Jacobs, a longtime bombers customer, on Monday opened the first Bombers BBQ franchise at 35 W. 112th Ave. next to Cold Stone Creamery and Three Monkeys Pub in Crown Point. He's eyeing future locations in St. John and Valparaiso.
"It's definitely the barbecue smoking shows on the Food Channel," he said. "We carry more than most. We sell smoked turkey that's the most tender turkey you've ever had. Our best customers are those who smoke or barbecue themselves because they know what they're looking for. They come in, ask how we prepare our food, understand it makes sense and keep coming back."
Jacobs hopes to open more franchises after establishing the Crown Point location.
"We're thinking of Valparaiso and St. John once we feel comfortable we've replicated it in Crown Point," he said. "This is the freshest, best-tasting barbecue around."
"Everything is fresh, smoked that day," he said. "Not to disparage other barbecue restaurants, but if they say they close at 9 p.m. and then close at 9 p.m. the meat's not all fresh."
The new Bombers BBQ in Crown Point seats 80 people in a former furniture store and another 24 on an outdoor patio. It has a liquor license that lets it serve 12 types of beer, half craft and half domestic.
The 5,000-square-foot restaurant is decorated with the same military aviation theme, inspired by how founder Chris Cole's relatives served as pilots in World War II and Vietnam.
"We've had a lot of military people come in and say they appreciate it. They like to take it all in," Jacobs said. "Some people don't know where the name comes from or think it's because the food is the bomb, but it's because both Chris Cole's relatives were bomber pilots."
Bombers BBQ in Crown Point has the same menu as the original Munster restaurant, adding banana pudding. It smokes its meat fresh every day, selling it until it runs out and closing early if sold out.
"We smoke meat daily and stay open until we sell out," he said. "If we still have some left we donate it or let employees take it home. But we're pretty good at estimating how much we'll need based on the previous day's sales."
Spirit Halloween will return to 1525 U.S. 41 in Schererville this Halloween season. Long located every fall at the former Ashley Furniture big-box in Schererville, it moved across the street last year to the Crossroads of America shopping center anchored by Strack and Van Til.
Though it's still beach season when many have little more than beer and sunshine on their mind, to paraphrase the artist who just played Hammond's Festival of the Lakes, the Halloween retailer already posted "coming soon" and "now hiring" signage at the location.
The seasonal pop-up is known for occupying vacant commercial real estate for a couple of months, selling a wide array of Halloween costumes like Jason Vorhees hockey jerseys, as well as Halloween decorations like the styrofoam headstones you can plant to make your front lawn look like a cemetery.
The local chain of barbecue joints in Munster, Crown Point and Griffith is coming to Merrillville, near the busy intersection of U.S. 30 and Interstate 65.
It's taking over the former Fresh to Order space at 540 81st Ave., where it will share a strip mall with Planet Fitness and Catch Table and Tap.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is coming soon to Crown Point.
The restaurant at 146 E. 109th Ave. is now hiring for a variety of positions, offering sign-on bonuses. It offers Greek favorites like grilled lamb, tzatziki, village salads, rice and pita bread. The menu includes many handhelds such as gyros, wraps and Greek burgers.
For more information, call 219-274-7335, email greatgreeknwi@gmail.com or find the business on Facebook.
True BBQ has opened its long-awaited third location in downtown Griffith, where it's bringing smoked meats and another late-night spot for drinks.
The modern barbecue restaurant took over the former Twincade space at 106 N. Broad St. at the corner of Broad and Main streets in downtown Griffith.
True BBQ first opened in Munster in 2014 and recently opened a second location in downtown Crown Point.
It's owned by Progressive Dining Group, which also owns Bullpen Luxury Bar & Grill, Gino's Steakhouse and The Links in Schererville.
The True BBQ in Griffith has the same menu, which includes baby back ribs, St. Louis-style ribs and smoked rib tips. It offers full slabs of ribs for $16 on Mondays. Other barbecued meats include turkey, andouille sausage, pork belly, pork shoulder, brisket, corned beef and chicken.
The menu also features steaks, pasta salads and appetizers. A full bar serves up craft beers, artisan cocktails and a wide selection of whiskeys.
Catering toward dinner and drinks in Griffith, True BBQ is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. It's closed on Tuesdays.
Port of Peri Peri's ship has sailed in Schererville.
Signs posted outside the Portuguese peri peri chicken restaurant in Shops on Main on U.S. 41 have said it was temporarily closed "for improvements" for some time.
But now the Port of Peri Peri sign on the building facade has come down. And Shops on Main owner Regency Center is listing the 2,388-square-foot restaurant space as available for lease.
Sports Clips left its longtime spot in the Crossroads of America shopping center anchored by Strack and Van Til and Walmart and moved a few miles north in Schererville.
The sports-themed hair care chain, in which customers can watch sports on television getting their hair cut, moved to 336 Indianapolis Blvd. in a newer strip mall by McAlister's Deli and Buona Beef.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Bombers BBQ, True BBQ and Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opening; Port of Peri Peri closed
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Bombers BBQ, True BBQ and Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opening; Port of Peri Peri closed
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Open
Bombers BBQ is now serving up its beloved brisket and other slow-cooked meats in Crown Point.
The acclaimed military aviation-themed barbecue joint has built up a fervent following at its original location at 435 Ridge Road in Munster. It reached a deal with Darin Jacobs, who owns Rosati's pizzerias in Munster, St. John and Valparaiso, to open franchises.
Jacobs, a longtime bombers customer, on Monday opened the first Bombers BBQ franchise at 35 W. 112th Ave. next to Cold Stone Creamery and Three Monkeys Pub in Crown Point. He's eyeing future locations in St. John and Valparaiso.
Joseph S. Pete
Brisket the top seller
It has three smokers on site, two for the restaurant traffic and one for catering. It will cater to as few as 50 people and as many as 500.
Top sellers include brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, mac and cheese and jalapeno cornbread.
"The brisket is by far the No. 1 seller," he said. "It's the recipe and because we made everything fresh."
Joseph S. Pete
Drive-through for online orders
It has a drive-thru pickup window for online and phone orders.
"It's a trend," Jacobs said. "The drive-through at Rosati's is 20% of our business and growing. This is perfect for pickup."
Barbecue has taken off in Northwest Indiana in recent years, with many new barbecue joints opening.
Joseph S. Pete
Further expansion planned
"It's definitely the barbecue smoking shows on the Food Channel," he said. "We carry more than most. We sell smoked turkey that's the most tender turkey you've ever had. Our best customers are those who smoke or barbecue themselves because they know what they're looking for. They come in, ask how we prepare our food, understand it makes sense and keep coming back."
Jacobs hopes to open more franchises after establishing the Crown Point location.
"We're thinking of Valparaiso and St. John once we feel comfortable we've replicated it in Crown Point," he said. "This is the freshest, best-tasting barbecue around."
Joseph S. Pete
Meat smoked daily
"Everything is fresh, smoked that day," he said. "Not to disparage other barbecue restaurants, but if they say they close at 9 p.m. and then close at 9 p.m. the meat's not all fresh."
The new Bombers BBQ in Crown Point seats 80 people in a former furniture store and another 24 on an outdoor patio. It has a liquor license that lets it serve 12 types of beer, half craft and half domestic.
The 5,000-square-foot restaurant is decorated with the same military aviation theme, inspired by how founder Chris Cole's relatives served as pilots in World War II and Vietnam.
Joseph S. Pete
Open daily
Bombers BBQ will be open in Crown Point from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call 219-613-4444, visit bombersbbq.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Open until sold out
"We've had a lot of military people come in and say they appreciate it. They like to take it all in," Jacobs said. "Some people don't know where the name comes from or think it's because the food is the bomb, but it's because both Chris Cole's relatives were bomber pilots."
Bombers BBQ in Crown Point has the same menu as the original Munster restaurant, adding banana pudding. It smokes its meat fresh every day, selling it until it runs out and closing early if sold out.
"We smoke meat daily and stay open until we sell out," he said. "If we still have some left we donate it or let employees take it home. But we're pretty good at estimating how much we'll need based on the previous day's sales."
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
It's almost the most spooktacular time of year.
Spirit Halloween will return to 1525 U.S. 41 in Schererville this Halloween season. Long located every fall at the former Ashley Furniture big-box in Schererville, it moved across the street last year to the Crossroads of America shopping center anchored by Strack and Van Til.
Though it's still beach season when many have little more than beer and sunshine on their mind, to paraphrase the artist who just played Hammond's Festival of the Lakes, the Halloween retailer already posted "coming soon" and "now hiring" signage at the location.
The seasonal pop-up is known for occupying vacant commercial real estate for a couple of months, selling a wide array of Halloween costumes like Jason Vorhees hockey jerseys, as well as Halloween decorations like the styrofoam headstones you can plant to make your front lawn look like a cemetery.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
True BBQ hasn't stopped growing.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon to Merrillville
The local chain of barbecue joints in Munster, Crown Point and Griffith is coming to Merrillville, near the busy intersection of U.S. 30 and Interstate 65.
It's taking over the former Fresh to Order space at 540 81st Ave., where it will share a strip mall with Planet Fitness and Catch Table and Tap.
Joseph S. Pete
Coming soon
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is coming soon to Crown Point.
The restaurant at 146 E. 109th Ave. is now hiring for a variety of positions, offering sign-on bonuses. It offers Greek favorites like grilled lamb, tzatziki, village salads, rice and pita bread. The menu includes many handhelds such as gyros, wraps and Greek burgers.
For more information, call 219-274-7335, email greatgreeknwi@gmail.com or find the business on Facebook.
Joseph S. Pete
Now open
True BBQ has opened its long-awaited third location in downtown Griffith, where it's bringing smoked meats and another late-night spot for drinks.
The modern barbecue restaurant took over the former Twincade space at 106 N. Broad St. at the corner of Broad and Main streets in downtown Griffith.
True BBQ first opened in Munster in 2014 and recently opened a second location in downtown Crown Point.
It's owned by Progressive Dining Group, which also owns Bullpen Luxury Bar & Grill, Gino's Steakhouse and The Links in Schererville.
The True BBQ in Griffith has the same menu, which includes baby back ribs, St. Louis-style ribs and smoked rib tips. It offers full slabs of ribs for $16 on Mondays. Other barbecued meats include turkey, andouille sausage, pork belly, pork shoulder, brisket, corned beef and chicken.
The menu also features steaks, pasta salads and appetizers. A full bar serves up craft beers, artisan cocktails and a wide selection of whiskeys.
Catering toward dinner and drinks in Griffith, True BBQ is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. It's closed on Tuesdays.
Port of Peri Peri's ship has sailed in Schererville.
Signs posted outside the Portuguese peri peri chicken restaurant in Shops on Main on U.S. 41 have said it was temporarily closed "for improvements" for some time.
But now the Port of Peri Peri sign on the building facade has come down. And Shops on Main owner Regency Center is listing the 2,388-square-foot restaurant space as available for lease.
Joseph S. Pete
Relocated
Sports Clips left its longtime spot in the Crossroads of America shopping center anchored by Strack and Van Til and Walmart and moved a few miles north in Schererville.
The sports-themed hair care chain, in which customers can watch sports on television getting their hair cut, moved to 336 Indianapolis Blvd. in a newer strip mall by McAlister's Deli and Buona Beef.
Steelworkers will take home bonus checks of upwards of $14,000 for the three-month period that ended on June 30, U.S. Steel Media Relations Manager Amanda Malkowski said.
Customer complaints have mounted as Old National Bank has integrated First Midwest Bank branches. Customers have complained about debit cards being declined, being locked out of their accounts online, being allowed to overdraft their accounts without warning and having to wait for hours on the phone.
The cost of gas has dipped under $4 a gallon at a few Region gas stations, including BP in Dyer, Murphy USA in Valparaiso, Speedway in Wanatah, Family Express in Hobart and Valparaiso and Sam's Club and Costco in Merrillville as of Monday, according to GasBuddy.com.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 filed unfair labor practice charges against California-based SOLV Energy and recruiter Aerotek charging they are recruiting workers from outside Indiana for the Mammoth Solar Farm Project and paying them "substantially lower than Indiana standards." | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/south-shore-line-will-bus-between-michigan-city-and-gary-into-2023/article_0c43e846-3fd4-5b7a-91bf-248de946b0a9.html | 2022-08-04T17:58:34 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/south-shore-line-will-bus-between-michigan-city-and-gary-into-2023/article_0c43e846-3fd4-5b7a-91bf-248de946b0a9.html |
GARY — During a Tuesday night meeting, the Gary Common Council approved a professional services contract with Cender Dalton Municipal Advisors to assist with the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
With a vote of 7-1, the council approved a one-year professional services contract not to exceed $125,000. Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5th, was the sole no vote.
Cender Dalton will work with the city to implement the ARPA spending plan, give guidance on the ARPA requirements laid out by the U.S. Department of Treasury, maintain a schedule of expenditures and help the city prepare requests for qualifications for certain ARPA programs.
The city was awarded $80.3 million in ARPA funds. Thus far, funds have gone toward premium pay for city employees, the public safety payroll, revenue loss, the guaranteed income program, youth job training, citywide broadband improvements and supporting renovations at the Gary YWCA.
"This is a significant amount of funds to the city and it does require a lot of detail, a lot of record keeping and a lot of organization, so that's what we intend to do for the city," Cender Dalton CEO and President Karl Cender said.
Gary's ARPA manager allocation was first introduced as a one-year contract not to exceed $60,000. However, Council President William Godwin, D-1st, asked that the manager description include more specificity. The ordinance was amended to include a brief job description, explaining the contract would go to an individual manager or an accounting firm.
After the Cender Dalton contract was approved, Godwin asked that the municipal financial advisors work "collaboratively, both with the administration and the council."
"American Rescue Plan dollars have been highly contentious to some degree," Godwin said. "We are making good progress and headway now, and I just ask that you see yourself as working not just with the administration but for the whole city."
PHOTOS: Gary Fire Department holds pinning ceremony | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-sets-aside-funding-for-arpa-manager/article_799b1535-0e1e-52a1-af74-efbc27d7c4de.html | 2022-08-04T17:58:40 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-sets-aside-funding-for-arpa-manager/article_799b1535-0e1e-52a1-af74-efbc27d7c4de.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — Police have changed their description of the crash that killed Republican U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, saying Thursday that it was the SUV in which she was a passenger that crossed a state highway's center line and caused the head-on crash.
Walorski and two members of her congressional staff died in the Wednesday afternoon crash in northern Indiana, along with the woman driving the other vehicle, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office said.
The department's initial account of the crash was that the car driven by Edith Schmucker, 56, of Nappanee, crossed into the SUV's path, but the office released a statement Thursday saying investigators had talked with witnesses and viewed video evidence that their preliminary determination of which direction the vehicles were traveling was incorrect.
Investigators determined that the SUV driven by Zachery Potts, 27, of Mishawaka, crossed the center line for unknown reasons in a rural area near the town of Wakarusa. Potts was Walorski's district director and the Republican chairman for northern Indiana's St. Joseph County. Also killed in the crash was Emma Thomson, 28, of Washington, D.C., who was Walorski's communications director.
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Occupants of both vehicles were wearing seatbelts, and airbags did deploy, police said.
Walorski, 58, was first elected to represent northern Indiana's 2nd Congressional District in 2012. She previously served six years in the state's Legislature. Walorski was seeking reelection this year to a sixth term in the solidly Republican district. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/police-change-account-of-crash-killing-indiana-rep-walorski/article_7ec57867-ca92-5532-9362-5ea423aad0c0.html | 2022-08-04T17:58:46 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/police-change-account-of-crash-killing-indiana-rep-walorski/article_7ec57867-ca92-5532-9362-5ea423aad0c0.html |
Sprawling USA Parkway office and conference center in Fishers has new owner, name
The burly 11100 USA Parkway conference center and office complex east of Interstate-69 in Fishers has been sold to a new owner with plans to rehab and slap it with a new name.
A partnership of DRA Advisors, a New York-based investment consultant, and M&J Wilkow, a real estate company in Chicago, will update common areas and amenities in the 350,000-square-foot complex and aggressively lease the office space.
The new name will be The Link at Fishers District because of its proximity to commercial area at 116th Street, particularly the Fishers District culinary and specialty shop enclave.
“We are advertising it as part of a mixed-use development with walking and bike trails,” said John Robinson, managing director for JLL Indianapolis, which represented the seller.
More:Chicago firm buys Fishers District restaurant hub, apartments and Test Kitchen
The building now has three tenants: Navient, the student loan company; Fiserve, a financial services company; and Pendrick, a medical debt purchaser. Navient owned the USA Parkway complex and will remain a tenant. Robinson would not disclose the purchase price.
The complex has 27 conference rooms and a 192-seat auditorium, a café, fitness center, lockers, showers and an outdoor patio. But the office tenants occupy only 42% of the space. Though office vacancies are generally high now, Robinson said the spots that do fill up offer workers something to do nearby.
“Office users want enticing amenities and Class A buildings with green space that are in proximity to exciting venues," Robinson said. "That is exactly what this space offers."
The complex is five buildings connected by a hallway in front. Four of the buildings are three stories high, each floor with 30,00 square feet of space. The fifth building is five stories, with about the same square footage.
Robinson said the new owners have already signed up one tenant and are highlighting not only the Fishers District, but other nearby businesses like Ikea, Topgolf and Portillo's. In addition, Slate at Fishers District, a development of 242 single family villas and townhouses is being built. As part of the project, a public park with a paved trail and direct pedestrian and bike access to Fishers District is being constructed in partnership with Fishers.
More:250 villas, townhouses planned near Ikea and Fishers District, to include mile-long trail
Robinson said the new owners plan to install an electric bike share at the building and Fishers is considering extending a driverless shuttle car service it experimented with downtown this year to the facility.
Since 2018, DRA and Wilkow have purchased Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis, Meridian Plaza in Carmel, and Lake Point Center III & IV in Indianapolis area. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/fishers/2022/08/04/usa-parkway-office-conference-center-fishers-new-name-owner/65390035007/ | 2022-08-04T17:59:19 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/fishers/2022/08/04/usa-parkway-office-conference-center-fishers-new-name-owner/65390035007/ |
FRANKFORT, KY (WOWK)—Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear held a Team Kentucky press conference on Thursday.
According to the governor, the death toll from the floods remains unchanged at 37 Kentuckians. Beshear says the fatalities include eight in Breathitt County, two in Clay County, 17 in Knott County, three in Letcher County, and seven in Perry County.
Kentucky State Police say they are still searching for two missing people in Breathitt County.
On Wednesday, Gov. Beshear gave an update on flood relief efforts in Eastern Kentucky. He said that those who lost some important documents in the devastating floods that tore through eastern Kentucky last week will soon be able to get them replaced.
The governor says he has signed an emergency order to help make it easier for victims of the floods in 13 counties to replace essential documents such as driver’s licenses and titles for free by waiving the fees required for duplicates of the documents. Those counties include Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties. He says the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will deploy driver licensing staff to help the area with a full range of licensing services.
Pop-up locations for the licensing services will be available at the following locations between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the designated days with no appointment needed:
- Friday, August 5: Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, 75 Theatre Court, Prestonsburg, Ky. 41653
- Monday, August 8: Pine Mountain State Resort Park, 1050 State Park Road, Pineville, Ky. 40977
- Tuesday, August 9: Buckhorn State Resort Park, 4441 Ky Hwy. 1833, Buckhorn, Ky. 41721
Emergency shelters for those displaced by floods are available at the following locations:
Those in need of travel trailers can find out more about them at governor.ky.gov/floodresources. To qualify, residents need to register with FEMA. Beshear encouraged everyone significantly impacted by flooding in the eight qualified counties needs to apply for assistance.
On Thursday, Beshear announced that Owsley County is now eligible for FEMA assistance.
Eligibility had already been granted to Pike, Floyd, Breathitt, Clay, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties.
Those who sustained losses in the designated counties can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Mobile FEMA registration centers will be open to help with applications for federal assistance and provide information about other disaster recovery resources. Here are the registration centers:
Kentucky Power said approximately 23,000 customers lost power due to the storms. As of Thursday, Aug. 4, the company says power has been restored for around 89% of those customers. According to the outage map, approximately 2,829 outages are still in need of repair throughout the region.
Due to extreme heat in the forecast, cooling stations have been opened in eight counties, including:
To report a missing person in the floods:
According to the Kentucky State Police, if you want to report someone in Magoffin, Johnson, Martin, Floyd or Pike counties, contact Post 9 Pikeville at 606-433-7711.
If you want to report someone missing in Breathitt, Perry, Knott, Letcher or Leslie counties, contact Post 13 Hazard at 606-435-6069.
If you want to report someone missing in Jackson, Owsley or Lee counties, contact Post 7 Richmond at 859-623-2404.
If you want to report someone missing in Wolfe or Morgan counties, contact Post 8 Morehead at 606-784-4127.
If you want to report someone missing in Harlan County, contact Post 10 Harlan at 606-573-3131. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/gov-beshear-to-provide-team-kentucky-update/ | 2022-08-04T18:03:08 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/gov-beshear-to-provide-team-kentucky-update/ |
FORT SMITH, Ark. — The City of Fort Smith announced that because of emergency maintenance to repair issues at the Lee Creek Water Treatment Plant, residents must now restrict water use under what the city calls Water Conservation Phase II.
A mechanical issue was first found Tuesday morning, August 2, and the plant was shut down for repair. During the maintenance, Lee Creek was still able to produce water using a "small back-up system," while Lake Fort Smith increased its water production to continue providing clean drinking water to residents.
"After the maintenance was completed, staff began the process to return the plant to full water production, but another maintenance issue was found that required Lee Creek to be completely shut down to repair," the City of Fort Smith said in the announcement.
The maintenance needed to repair the second issue isn't projected by the city to be done until Monday, Aug. 8 with the plant being back to full-water production on Friday, Aug. 12.
"Unfortunately, the repairs are the result of unforeseen maintenance issues and needed to be completed immediately."
The Fort Smith City Administrator issued a Phase II emergency water conservation declaration, with special requirements from residents and businesses to conserve water.
Phase II requires that nobody should " use water to such an extent as to allow water to escape from his premises onto public property, such as alleys or streets, nor onto another person's property."
Refrain from the following uses of water:
- Watering lawns, shrubs, plants, trees, and gardens (permitted only by handheld hose and should be limited to the minimum amounts necessary to sustain plant life.)
- Washing motor vehicles, trailers, airplanes, or boats (does not apply to commercial car washes and licensed dealerships, but the city asks they use as little water as possible.)
- Filling swimming pools or fountains
- Washing building exteriors
- The use of water from fire hydrants at any time for construction purposes, fire drills, or routine hydrant testing is prohibited
- Golf course watering and other commercial irrigation from City sources shall be done only to the extent necessary to preserve turf and other plant life
- Golf courses are permitted to water only greens and tee boxes from City sources
- Golf course fairway and rough watering and school football and baseball field watering from City sources is specifically prohibited.
- The washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, patios, parking lots, concrete tennis courts, and other hard-surfaced areas by hosing or by use of water directly from faucets or other City sources is prohibited.
- Food processing and food service establishments may engage in such use of water only to the extent necessary to maintain and preserve the public health and in compliance with any state or federal regulations.
- Restaurants and other food service establishments may hose or wash only walkways immediately adjacent to entrances and not beyond ten (10) feet of entrances and not beyond ten (10) feet of garbage facilities, food delivery or food serving areas.
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Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/fort-smith-asking-residents-to-conserve-water-due-to-plant-repairs/527-62476968-5ad9-43a5-a1ad-52b692edd772 | 2022-08-04T18:03:09 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/fort-smith-asking-residents-to-conserve-water-due-to-plant-repairs/527-62476968-5ad9-43a5-a1ad-52b692edd772 |
VINTON COUNTY, OH (WOWK)—Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal head-on crash that happened Wednesday morning.
In a release, OSHP said that the crash happened at around 6:47 a.m. on SR93 near mile marker 16 in Vinton County, Ohio. They say that 22-year-old Casey Jordan, of Albany, crossed the center line of SR93 while driving northbound and drove head-on into another car.
Jordan was pronounced dead on the scene.
The driver of the other car was taken to the hospital with non-incapacitating injuries.
The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation, McArthur Fire Department and Vinton County EMS responded to the scene. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/one-dead-after-head-on-crash-in-vinton-county-ohio/ | 2022-08-04T18:03:14 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/one-dead-after-head-on-crash-in-vinton-county-ohio/ |
KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK)—A vehicle fire closed two lanes of I-79 near the I-77 split on Thursday morning.
The Pinch Volunteer Fire Department said they responded to the fire at 10:53 a.m. and posted the photos below on their Facebook page:
Kanawha metro says that both lanes are now back open and that there were no injuries. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/photos-vehicle-fire-that-closed-i-79-thurs-morning/ | 2022-08-04T18:03:20 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/photos-vehicle-fire-that-closed-i-79-thurs-morning/ |
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia woman has admitted accepting more than $42,000 in paycheck protection loans under a federal COVID-19 assistance program for businesses that were not engaged in substantial activity.
Alexis Ransom of Logan pleaded guilty Wednesday to wire fraud in federal court in Charleston. Ransom obtained three paycheck protection loans that were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the CARES Act.
Ransom admitted falsely stating that her two businesses were established in 2019 and had substantial income. The SBA forgave the loans in August 2021. Ransom faces up to 20 years in prison. Her sentencing is set for Nov. 16. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/west-virginia-woman-admits-covid-19-loan-fraud-scheme/ | 2022-08-04T18:03:26 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/west-virginia-woman-admits-covid-19-loan-fraud-scheme/ |
KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — A grant from the Federal Government to West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) will be used to make a connection to the Lone Star State.
Airport Director Nick Keller says the money will be used to support new services to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) or Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Keller says they are seeing a demand in travelers wanting to go west. “There is really a demand in the community to get Dallas and Texas back. They’re in our top 10 destinations already. And also it provides a lot of connectivity westbound. So if you’re flying out to Phoenix or Vegas or LA, for example, being able to connect in Texas would really be a time saver and a big advantage,” says Keller.
The grant from the Department of Transportation can be used for start-up costs, recruitment costs, and marketing to initiate and support new, nonstop service to either airport.
The money does not guarantee a route. “The airlines are facing serious shortages with pilots right now so to add new service anywhere, it pretty much means you have to take it from somewhere else. So we’re going to try our best as soon as possible but you know. There’s no guarantee,” says Keller.
American Airlines also wrote a letter of support as a part of CRW’s grant application process. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/yeager-airport-looks-to-add-flights-to-dallas-houston/ | 2022-08-04T18:03:32 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/yeager-airport-looks-to-add-flights-to-dallas-houston/ |
Children injured in fatal tractor crash while on Amish family outing remain in hospital
UPDATE THURSDAY:Another child has died from injuries suffered in the crash.
Previously reported:
Four children who were injured last Friday in a deadly tractor crash in southern York County remain in Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, according to a spokeswoman.
Five children were rushed to the hospital after the crash in Lower Chanceford Township. Three of the patients are listed in critical condition, and one is in serious condition, said Barbara Schindo, a media relations specialist.
One youth was treated and released, she said.
Four people died when an old farm tractor pulling a flatbed trailer left the roadway and traveled down an embankment. Both the tractor and trailer overturned, state police said. One adult and 11 children were riding in the trailer.
Katie Ann Stoltzfus, 36, and two of her daughters, 14-year-old Mary Etta Stoltzfus and 7-year-old Naomi Rose Stoltzfus, all of the 800 block of Goram Road, along with 9-year-old Caleb Emmanuel Fisher of the 200 block of Osceola Mill Road in Lancaster County, died in the crash.
'We're all in this together': Residents respond to deadly tragedy in the Amish community
Initial report:Mother, two daughters and another child die in tractor accident
It isn't clear what the condition is of the driver, Amos Stoltzfus, Katie's husband, or the three other children involved. State police had said on Friday that the tractor operator was in serious condition.
The Amish family members were heading to Otter Creek for a picnic and some fishing when the accident happened in the 1100 block of Furnace Road.
State police say the crash remains under investigation, and the crash reconstruction and analysis will likely take several months. | https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/children-injured-in-deadly-amish-tractor-crash-york-county-remain-in-hospital/65390689007/ | 2022-08-04T18:15:39 | 0 | https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/children-injured-in-deadly-amish-tractor-crash-york-county-remain-in-hospital/65390689007/ |
Amish families grieve death of yet another child after tractor rollover crash
A 4-year-old boy has died from injuries he sustained in a deadly tractor crash in southern York County last week, according to a Dauphin County spokesman.
The child died Tuesday at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center from multiple traumatic injuries, spokesman Brett Hambright said. The manner is accidental.
An obituary for Jeffrey Ryan Fisher, 4, of Lancaster County was posted on Lancaster Online. It states that he had suffered injuries in Friday's crash in York County.
Jeffrey is a younger brother of 9-year-old Caleb Emmanuel Fisher, who died at the scene of the accident in Lower Chanceford Township on Friday, according to the obituary.
Five people now have perished as a result of the crash. State police say an old farm tractor pulling a flatbed trailer left the roadway and traveled down an embankment. Both overturned. One adult and 11 children were riding in the trailer.
'We're all in this together':Residents respond to deadly tragedy in the Amish community
Initial report:Mother, two daughters and another child die in tractor accident
In addition to the Fisher brothers, Katie Ann Stoltzfus, 36, and two of her daughters, 14-year-old Mary Etta Stoltzfus and 7-year-old Naomi Rose Stoltzfus, all of the 800 block of Goram Road, died.
The service for Jeffrey Fisher was Thursday morning, according to the obituary. The family attends the Old Order Amish Church.
Five pediatric patients were rushed to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center after the crash last week.
Three of the children had been in critical condition, and one was in serious condition, the hospital had reported. One youth was treated and released.
An update on the current conditions of the patients was not available.
The operator of the tractor, Amos Stoltzfus, Katie's husband, was in serious condition at the time of the crash, state police said at the time. No word on his condition or of others injured was available.
The Amish family members were heading to Otter Creek for a picnic and some fishing when the accident happened in the 1100 block of Furnace Road.
State police continue to investigate the crash. | https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/tractor-crash-in-york-county-results-another-death-4-year-old-boy-jeffrey-ryan-fisher/65391877007/ | 2022-08-04T18:15:45 | 0 | https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/tractor-crash-in-york-county-results-another-death-4-year-old-boy-jeffrey-ryan-fisher/65391877007/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Northern California has had high humidity and hot weather to kick off August. Valley areas have routinely hit 100 degrees or hotter.
Monsoon moisture from the south has added extra humidity to the mix, resulting in muggy afternoons and warm mornings in the 70s. The normal low for Sacramento this time of year is 59 degrees.
The leftovers of Tropical Storm Frank have also been moving to the north, adding more humidity and clouds for Northern California.
Mountain areas have seen an increase in not only thunderstorms, but storms that produce heavy rain. A storm near Markleeville Wednesday produced heavy rain in a burn area, resulting in flash flooding with damage and road closures.
More thunderstorms in the McKinney Fire burn area east of Yreka produced flash flooding and road closures.
Due to more heat and humidity, thunderstorms will fire up again near the crest of the Sierra and quickly drift to the north and east. This could produce more afternoon showers, thunderstorms and heavy rain with localized flooding.
The pattern will slowly change and cooler temperatures will move into valley areas with highs in the low 90s for Friday and continue through the weekend.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Devastating storm brings mudslides and flooding to Markleeville area | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/humidity-sets-stage-for-more-thunderstorms-northern-california/103-505065c7-daeb-4b58-8356-94df56d045f7 | 2022-08-04T18:21:39 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/humidity-sets-stage-for-more-thunderstorms-northern-california/103-505065c7-daeb-4b58-8356-94df56d045f7 |
FAIRFIELD, Calif. — A Dixon man was killed Wednesday night in a motorcycle accident.
According to the Fairfield Police Department, it happened around 10 p.m. on Daniel Court.
Police say the 42-year-old motorcyclist from Dixon was speeding on Matthew Drive near Daniel Court when he lost control, hit a curb, and collided with a tree.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. He has not been identified yet.
The crash investigation is being led by Fairfield Police Traffic Division.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Car sent off Capital City Freeway after being hit by alleged street racer, couple says | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/man-killed-in-motorcycle-accident-fairfield/103-bf6e9f23-8faf-4e2d-813c-5545d83c5715 | 2022-08-04T18:21:45 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/man-killed-in-motorcycle-accident-fairfield/103-bf6e9f23-8faf-4e2d-813c-5545d83c5715 |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - A Flint family was devastated Wednesday after their home caught fire, which destroyed all of their belongings.
The fire was reported around 5 p.m. in the 5000 block of Miami Lane, which is near the intersection of Pierson and Fleming roads on Flint's north side.
The Flint Fire Department was busy responding to dozens of thunderstorm-related calls across the city when the house fire was reported.
Joslyn Shaw was inside the home with her 1-year-old son, mom and step-dad when they heard a loud boom. They looked out the window and saw the entire garage engulfed in flames.
"We were pretty much sitting around talking and we heard a big boom," Shaw said. "Looked out the window and it was just big flames. I went and told my mom and my step-dad and we all ran outside."
The entire family, including their dog, was able to make it out safely. But the damage was so extensive that they lost everything and don't have insurance.
The Flint Fire Department will continue investigating what caused the fire. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/flint-family-left-homeless-after-house-fire-during-wednesday-thunderstorm/article_07713ab6-1411-11ed-8253-6b6abd1e6d8b.html | 2022-08-04T18:21:48 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/flint-family-left-homeless-after-house-fire-during-wednesday-thunderstorm/article_07713ab6-1411-11ed-8253-6b6abd1e6d8b.html |
OAKDALE, Calif. — A sergeant with the Oakdale Police Department was hit by a car while directing traffic after a crash on Wednesday night.
Officers responded to reports of an accident involving two cars around 8:20 p.m. near the 1300 block of West F Street. While officers were investigating the traffic accident, a car hit a sergeant who was directing traffic.
The sergeant was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to a news release from the Oakdale Police Department. California Highway Patrol is investigating the sergeant being hit and Oakdale police are also helping.
Police said that alcohol or drugs did not seem to factor into the crash.
Watch more on ABC10 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/oakdale-police-sergeant-hit-by-car/103-d5dfff85-ccd0-45ee-b5fc-a389a0c89905 | 2022-08-04T18:21:51 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/oakdale-police-sergeant-hit-by-car/103-d5dfff85-ccd0-45ee-b5fc-a389a0c89905 |
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News from around the state of Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/wnbas-griner-convicted-at-drug-trial-sentenced-to-9-years/3040335/ | 2022-08-04T18:37:00 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/wnbas-griner-convicted-at-drug-trial-sentenced-to-9-years/3040335/ |
DAMARISCOTTA, Maine — Police are trying to locate Ronald Slicer, 88, whom officials said was last seen around noon Wednesday in the Damariscotta area.
Slicer has dementia and other health issues, according to a news release issued by Damariscotta police. He experiences memory loss and is known to stray from home, the release stated.
He is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds, with hazel eyes and grey hair, officials said.
Police said Slicer drives a 2018 White Chevy Trax SUV with license plate 1856XU.
Officials ask that anyone who may have information about Slicer's whereabouts contact the Damariscotta police at 207-563-1909. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/silver-alert-issued-for-88-year-old-with-dementia-ronald-slicer-damariscotta-maine/97-43fb6ac4-3cda-45fa-b68b-203404371523 | 2022-08-04T18:43:47 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/silver-alert-issued-for-88-year-old-with-dementia-ronald-slicer-damariscotta-maine/97-43fb6ac4-3cda-45fa-b68b-203404371523 |
LOWER TOWNSHIP — Drivers traveling throughout Town Bank and North Cape May the morning of Aug. 13 may be forced to adjust their routes while the Coombs Douglas Run is ongoing.
The run starts at 8:30 a.m., causing detours on Town Bank Road, Clubhouse Road, Miramar Avenue, Beach Drive, Shore Road and at Douglass Park, township police said Thursday.
Drivers are asked to avoid that area from 8 to 11 a.m. on Aug. 13, police said.
Douglass Park will be closed from 10 p.m. Aug. 13 until the race ends on the following morning, police said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/detours-expected-for-coombs-douglass-run/article_f7cdd18a-1408-11ed-8405-53beee08e023.html | 2022-08-04T18:46:45 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/detours-expected-for-coombs-douglass-run/article_f7cdd18a-1408-11ed-8405-53beee08e023.html |
Office buildings in the Tucson market are increasingly vacant as some employers struggle to get workers back into the office, while others contemplate the need for one.
Many companies are downsizing their footprint and looking for alternatives to cramped workstations to offer gathering places with open seating for those who want to work from an office a few days a week.
Nearly 15% of offices in the Tucson market are currently vacant.
When the return to the office began, many employees eager to get out of the house were disappointed with the new work environment.
"Teammates are not here, the manager is not here and, the irony is, that he will meet many of his colleagues through hybrid meetings," said Gilles Raymond, CEO of Letsmeet, a site for booking meetings. "On the other hand, if (employee) stays home, it saves one hour of subway or traffic, (employee) can have lunch with the kids, can have a quick game with the dog, and receive the Amazon delivery.
People are also reading…
"What life sounds the best to you?"
LinkedIn reports that 50% of applications for new jobs are for companies that offer fully remote work.
David Montijo, an office and medical real estate broker with CBRE in Tucson, said vacated office space by call centers are a hard sell because they were set up to be efficient by getting as many people in one space as possible.
With a computer, phone and internet connection, those workers were able to go home and continue to do the required job.
One of the biggest vacancies that happened after the COVID-19 pandemic started was Comcast vacating the 211,152-square-foot space on Oracle Road, near Tucson Mall.
Earlier this year, Southern New Hampshire University terminated its lease with Pima County for its office at 97 E. Congress St. after the majority of employees said they would prefer to continue working remotely.
Design shift
"We now have 1 million square feet available that was not there before the pandemic," Montijo said. "What's going to change is how offices are designed."
A company with 80 employees, for example, may only need 50 workstations.
And, since Tucson does not have a lot of companies with headquarters locally, decisions about space needs are being made from out of town.
"The shifts of an unpredictable post-COVID office climate, rising vacancy and falling lease rates has dampened development appetites for the time being," according to the most recent CBRE office report. "Yet, it is likely that some appetite will return, most likely for Class A product, as office users determine their ideal work arrangements and adjust their real estate portfolios accordingly."
In the Tucson market, there are currently no new multi-tenant office buildings under construction.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that large cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco lost the highest percentage of residents in 2020 — between 40,000 and 305,000 that year alone.
Tucson was a recipient of many of those folks who came here to work, but not from an office.
"I believe we see a trend that leads to the end of the work-from-office as the absolute rule," Raymond said. "It might be scary, disturbing and challenging, but you have no other choice than to embrace the change.
Embracing it will give you the choice to organize and structure it."
Montijo said some office building owners are looking at converting obsolete space into apartments, self-storage units or medical suites.
"We're going to see a lot more of that," he said, noting that offices of the future will likely have more amenities for employees but less dedicated seating.
"We're going to get better than we currently are," Montijo said. "It will be choppy for a little bit as regional companies make decisions.
"But there's always going to be a function for the office."
Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at grico@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/with-continued-shift-to-remote-work-many-tucson-offices-sit-empty/article_4ae3531c-0c58-11ed-82ac-e7bd238d57e6.html | 2022-08-04T18:48:29 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/with-continued-shift-to-remote-work-many-tucson-offices-sit-empty/article_4ae3531c-0c58-11ed-82ac-e7bd238d57e6.html |
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — An 11-year-old girl was shocked when she walked up to Anna from "Frozen" at Disneyland—and the character started talking to her in sign language.
Her mother Jeanette Tapley, who is from New Braunfels and appeared on CBS This Morning Wednesday, posted the heartwarming video to on TikTok. It's since racked up more than 2 million views.
Her mother tells us that they traveled to Disneyland with 14 people, including their 11-year-old daughter Zoe, who is deaf, as well as their best friends families.
"My best friend Julianna's youngest daughter, "L" was just dying to meet Anna and Elsa and my only real request for this trip was to be there when that happened," said Tapley.
Tapley said she was in line to get a coffee when she noticed that her friend's daughter was having "the sweetest conversation with Anna that ended in a precious hug and the cutest picture. Zoe was next in line."
Zoe steps up and signs, "hello" and the Disney princess Anna noticed immediately that Zoe was deaf and looked to her parents and asked, "can I sign?" Her parents thought maybe she knew how to sign hello or nice to meet you, but much to their surprise, the Disney princess started having a full ASL (American Sign Language) conversation with Zoe.
Zoe usually has to have her parents translate, so her parents said they were 'floored' that she knew ASL.
This trip was Zoe's second trip to Disneyland. But according to her mom, this was the first time she has had an interaction with a character that knew ASL, the Uplift reported.
"I only tell you the whole story because I feel it needs to be told," said Tapley. "What if, for a second today, we saw someone and went out of our way to love on them? To smile or buy their coffee. What if a kind word about their shoes was just what they needed? Or that soft, knowing smile to a stressed-out mom at a target made her feel seen."
Tapley's message for everyone:
"Take some time today to slow down.
SEE THOSE AROUND YOU!
It is life-changing for us and others."
Take a look at the video below:
---
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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.wfaa.com/article/news/local/disney-princess-signs-deaf-texas-teen-new-braunfels-tiktok-viral/273-018ceac5-c4da-478d-a2f0-aabdc3bf0dc2 | 2022-08-04T18:51:55 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/disney-princess-signs-deaf-texas-teen-new-braunfels-tiktok-viral/273-018ceac5-c4da-478d-a2f0-aabdc3bf0dc2 |
AUSTIN, Texas — A Conroe, Texas, woman who suffered a miscarriage last year says the state's restrictive abortion law put her into a dangerous health situation.
According to a report from ABC 13 in Houston, Marlena Stell miscarried nine-and-a-half weeks into her pregnancy in early September 2021. She asked her doctor for a dilation and curettage, or D&C, a common procedure to remove the fetus after a miscarriage to prevent infection.
But she miscarried after Texas banned abortion for pregnancies after around six weeks.
Stell told ABC 13 that she was first required to get a second ultrasound. Then, she said every doctor she called in the Houston area refused to perform the procedure, citing confusing abortion bans.
"You feel like a walking coffin. You're just walking around knowing that you're carrying a loss," Stell told ABC 13. "It felt like I was jumping through so many hoops just to get care for something that had already happened. I already had lost the baby."
Stell told ABC 13 she carried the unviable fetus for two weeks before ultimately going to an abortion clinic for a D&C procedure. That clinic stopped offering abortion care after Roe v. Wade was overturned and is now closing, according to the report.
"That's the story that a lot of people don't realize. That it's not just affecting those that aren't ready to be moms," Stell told ABC 13. "It's people like me who want children, but need care. Because I cannot expel a miscarriage. It's just as simple as that. If there is medical intervention available, why do I have to fight to get it?"
Stell, who publishes beauty vlogs on YouTube, shared her story in a video posted in October. That video has nearly nearly 80,000 views as of Aug. 4.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/marlena-stell-texas-miscarriage-abortion/269-72eae43f-7aeb-44a6-868a-e3dba57e8fc0 | 2022-08-04T18:52:01 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/marlena-stell-texas-miscarriage-abortion/269-72eae43f-7aeb-44a6-868a-e3dba57e8fc0 |
A bus fire in the Lincoln Tunnel forced a total shutdown of inbound traffic to New York Thursday afternoon, according to the Port Authority.
It wasn't clear if anyone was hurt or what kind of bus was involved in the incident in the inbound lanes. Traffic was halted completely by 2:30 p.m. and backups had begun to stretch.
A tweet from the Port Authority Bus Terminal warned of delays at the Midtown hub. No other details were immediately available.
Get real-time transit updates from all your key commute sources here. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/bus-fire-shuts-down-lincoln-tunnel-traffic/3810634/ | 2022-08-04T18:56:39 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/bus-fire-shuts-down-lincoln-tunnel-traffic/3810634/ |
What to Know
- A 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from a New York City suburb was sentenced to 30 months in prison Wednesday for mailing dozens of violent threats to LGBTQ affiliated individuals, groups and businesses over several years.
- According to prosecutors, Robert Fehring threatened to blow up the Stonewall Inn, a historic bar in Manhattan considered the birthplace of the gay rights movement.
- Other messages threatened to kill, shoot and bomb LGBTQ affiliated businesses and individuals, including an African American-owned barbershop in Brooklyn that Fehring wrote in one letter “is the perfect place for a bombing.”
A 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from a New York City suburb was sentenced to 30 months in prison Wednesday for mailing dozens of violent threats to LGBTQ affiliated individuals, groups and businesses over several years.
According to prosecutors, Robert Fehring threatened to blow up the Stonewall Inn, a historic bar in Manhattan considered the birthplace of the gay rights movement. He also threatened to place explosives at 2021 New York City Pride march that would “make the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting look like a cakewalk,” referring to the 2016 attack in which 49 people were killed and dozens wounded at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Other messages threatened to kill, shoot and bomb LGBTQ affiliated businesses and individuals, including an African American-owned barbershop in Brooklyn that Fehring wrote in one letter “is the perfect place for a bombing.”
Fehring pleaded guilty in February to mailing threatening communications through the postal service.
“We are disappointed in the length of the sentence, but Mr. Fehring is happy to be putting this nightmare behind him,” his attorney, Glenn Obedin, said in an email. “He is deeply remorseful for what occurred, and looks forward to living quietly with his family once he has served his sentence.”
An FBI search of Fehring’s home last November in Bayport, Long Island, yielded two loaded shotguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in addition to copies of letters containing threats. Investigators also found a stamped envelope addressed to an LGBTQ-affiliated attorney containing the remains of a dead bird, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York.
News
“Robert Fehring made heinous threats against members of the LGBTQ community in locations throughout New York, including Suffolk County, for nearly eight years,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said in a statement. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our department’s Hate Crimes Unit detectives and the diligent work of our law enforcement partners, Fehring is being held accountable for his crimes.” | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ny-man-who-sent-threats-to-lgbtq-groups-sentenced-to-30-months-in-prison/3810515/ | 2022-08-04T18:56:45 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ny-man-who-sent-threats-to-lgbtq-groups-sentenced-to-30-months-in-prison/3810515/ |
Editor’s Note: News Channel 11 is currently not using the real name of the man known as “Robert Voe” in a federal lawsuit filed against Johnson City Police Chief Karl Turner and others pending the availability of official records that would make it legally appropriate to name him.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The City of Johnson City announced Thursday it hired a Connecticut-based law group to investigate the Johnson City Police Department’s (JCPD) handling of sexual assault cases.
A release from city officials named the firm as Daigle Law Group, which will conduct an independent investigation on the city’s police force following a lawsuit and allegations from a former special assistant U.S. attorney that she was fired after pressing the department to look more into a series of rape allegations. Those allegations accused a Johnson City business owner referred to only as “Robert Voe” of sexual assault.
The three-phase investigation, which is expected to take five to six months, is currently in its first phase, launching with a review of sexual assault offense reports dating back to January 2018. Attorney Eric Daigle leads the third-party investigation and has access to all of the JCPD’s sexual assault reports for the past four and a half years.
Daigle will compare how the cases were handled to national standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) as well as compare the handling of the cases to the District Attorney’s Office and JCPD’s general orders.
The attorney will then interview JCPD personnel, victims and others before assembling a report of the findings. The release noted that the process may be modified as the investigation unfolds.
“I’m pleased that we were able to secure the services of a national expert on these matters, and we are committed to trusting their methods, process and recommendations,” said City Manager Cathy Ball.
According to its website, Daigle Law Group acts as “a leading law firm specializing in management consulting services in support and development of effective and constitutional policing practices.”
The leading attorney in the investigation, Daigle, practices civil litigation in state and federal courts, his bio on the website states, with an emphasis on municipalities and public officials.
For more coverage of the ongoing investigation:
- Former federal attorney’s lawsuit: JC police chief fired her in retaliation after she pressed for rape investigations
- Five-story fall victim ‘Jane Doe 1’ discusses alleged serial rapist ‘Voe,’ new lawsuit against police
- Johnson City manager on police conduct review: ‘We take this very, very seriously’
- Protesters gather in Johnson City calling for police chief’s suspension
- No comment from city leaders on JCPD lawsuit
- JCPD protesters shut down at Johnson City Commission meeting | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/jc-hires-3rd-party-group-to-investigate-jcpds-handling-of-sexual-assault-cases/ | 2022-08-04T18:57:11 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/jc-hires-3rd-party-group-to-investigate-jcpds-handling-of-sexual-assault-cases/ |
Providence residents applying for citizenship can get help: What Elorza is doing with $500K
PROVIDENCE — Mayor Jorge Elorza on Thursday announced the start of a $500,000 legal aid fund to help immigrants in Providence gain U.S. citizenship.
The program, funded by federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act, is administered through local nonprofit Dorcas International, which assists immigrants and refugees with everything from employment to resettlement and citizenship.
Those who wish to apply must be Providence residents with "a household income that is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level guidelines or at or below 65% of the area median income," the city said. Dorcas can help applicants to either achieve or renew their citizenship status.
How the money will help Providence residents applying to be U.S. citizens
At present, a naturalization application fee costs $725 for anyone younger than 75 years old. Those who are 75 and older must pay $640. Such costs can deter immigrants from applying, though Dorcas' new fund can help offset expenses.
Rayanny Thornton, who emigrated from Brazil to Providence in 2017 and is in the process of gaining citizenship, called the process "very expensive."
"It’s a very complicated system that if you don’t have the knowledge, you can fall through gaps of information that feel difficult to process," Thornton said, crediting Dorcas as a place she was able to find assistance.
Searchable database:Who in Rhode Island got Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic?
For Elorza, the issue is personal. The mayor's parents arrived in the U.S. illegally from Guatemala, which meant a life of constant concern and economic woes.
"Before citizenship, my family worked in odd jobs, always in factories, sometimes being paid less than minimum wage," Elorza said. "We never had healthcare insurance. We were never able to fully participate in various programs. We were always concerned about what may happen if my family was discovered to be living here undocumented."
Education in Rhode Island:Literacy experts say a new RI bill will weaken the proven approach to teaching reading
Kathy Cloutier, Dorcas' executive director, noted that attitudes toward immigration assistance have shifted, and "in the last few years, there was much more openness and awareness to supporting our foreign-born natives." However, "in the past, funding for immigration meant we're helping undocumented folks only as opposed to immigration legal services is really helping navigate ... a very complicated system," Cloutier said.
A path through the smoke:Fire academy offers Providence students a shot at a career
Cloutier is hoping the added attention to the issue will encourage continued investment and help the legal aid program continue.
"I think with this kind of acknowledgement and recognition, there will be many more opportunities for funding, public and private," she said.
Those interested in applying for Dorcas' program can call the organization at 401-784-8600 or visit PVDRescuePlan.com/Apply. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/providence-ri-money-u-s-citizenship-application-dorcas-international-mayor-elorza/10234946002/ | 2022-08-04T18:57:17 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/providence-ri-money-u-s-citizenship-application-dorcas-international-mayor-elorza/10234946002/ |
DECATUR, Ga. — The DeKalb County Courthouse was being evacuated Thursday afternoon, the county clerk said.
There was no immediate information available about why the courthouse was being evacuated.
In a tweet, DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry asked people to please stay clear of the area.
"Alert: The DeKalb County courthouse is being evacuated at this time. Please stay clear of the area until further notice," she wrote.
The courthouse is located on North McDonough Street in downtown Decatur.
11Alive is working to learn more details about this story. Download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/dekalb-county-courthouse-being-evacuated/85-2aa0e075-9180-4475-ba21-adb2096620bf | 2022-08-04T19:02:27 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/dekalb-county-courthouse-being-evacuated/85-2aa0e075-9180-4475-ba21-adb2096620bf |
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Attorneys in the case of a Bruceville-Eddy man charged in connection to the January 6 Capitol riot have renewed discussions about a plea agreement, according to court records filed Thursday.
Christopher Grider is charged with three felonies and six misdemeanors for his alleged role in the riot. If convicted he faces up to 40 years in prison.
Grider was offered a plea deal back in June, but rejected it. He claims he went to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 with no intention of rioting, but he said he got caught up in the mob of angry supporters of President Donald Trump.
Due to the renewed plea discussions, the deadlines for future hearings were extended, according to the court records.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said the next motions would be due Aug. 29 with any opposition due on Sept. 5. Replies to the opposition are due Sept. 12.
A status hearing was also scheduled for Aug. 25. Kollar-Kotelly set Nov. 2 as the deadline for plea discussions to end.
According to a criminal complaint, Grider was seen in several areas of the Capitol on Jan. 6 before arriving at the Speaker's Lobby where a woman named Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot.
He was also seen holding a black helmet and later handing it to another person who used it to break the glass windows of the doors leading to the House chambers, according to the complaint. Video showed him trying to push open the doors and then kick them.
Grider owns the Kissing Tree Vineyards in Bruceville-Eddy. He's out of jail but must wear an ankle monitor. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/plea-bargain-discussions-renewed-case-bruceville-eddy-man-charged-january-6-capitol-riot-case/500-ca0ca6e8-932d-4b6a-8387-2d1b9c37d9df | 2022-08-04T19:09:02 | 1 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/plea-bargain-discussions-renewed-case-bruceville-eddy-man-charged-january-6-capitol-riot-case/500-ca0ca6e8-932d-4b6a-8387-2d1b9c37d9df |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Have a laugh, will you? If you want to spend the night sitting back and enjoying a night of non-stop laughter, here’s an event for you.
Australian comedian Celeste Barber will be performing at the Winspear Opera House next Friday, Aug. 12, as a part of her tour Celeste Barber: Fine, Thanks.
Ticket prices range from $45 to $65 per ticket. To buy your ticket, click here.
The actor, comedian and writer (often referred to as Australia’s Queen of Comedy) has amassed a huge following, with more than 9 million Instagram followers.
On top of her comedic career, Barber has also pursued philanthropy. During Australia’s extreme wildfires, the comedian raised more than $50 million to support the Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donation Fund.
For more information about her Dallas show, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/local/australias-queen-of-comedy-celeste-barber-performing-at-winspear-opera-house-august-12/ | 2022-08-04T19:09:03 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/australias-queen-of-comedy-celeste-barber-performing-at-winspear-opera-house-august-12/ |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Dallas Love Field Airport has reached a new milestone for North Texas. The airport has become the first airport in North Texas to earn ACI’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation.
According to the ACI’s website, “Participating airports take part in a comprehensive review and training process that includes stakeholder and employee engagement and staff development.”
Airport officials celebrated this milestone on Twitter, saying “We’re the first airport in North Texas to achieve this accreditation! 🎉”
For more information on how to get this accreditation, visit ACI’s website. | https://cw33.com/news/local/dallas-love-field-becomes-first-ntx-airport-to-get-airport-customer-experience-accreditation/ | 2022-08-04T19:09:09 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/dallas-love-field-becomes-first-ntx-airport-to-get-airport-customer-experience-accreditation/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department is searching for 65-year-old Natividad Gonzalez Castillo, whom they consider endangered.
Castillo was last seen around 7 p.m. Wednesday near her house on the 10600 block of Lanshire Drive.
She is described as a 5-foot-4-inch tall Hispanic woman weighing 130 pounds. She has frizzy, gray hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.
Police said that "Castillo has cognitive issues and several medical conditions that require daily medication."
Anyone with information on Castillo is asked to call 911.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-police-missing-woman-last-seen-wednesday/269-91b72195-7d32-4054-ba1a-5a6705435514 | 2022-08-04T19:09:12 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-police-missing-woman-last-seen-wednesday/269-91b72195-7d32-4054-ba1a-5a6705435514 |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Do you want to know how to live your best life? Now’s your chance with Arlington’s Aging Well Expo.
At Arlington’s Aging Well Expo, officials from across the area will be presenting important information on how to live a long and healthy life. This one-day event is geared toward people ages 50 years old and older and will feature more than 100 vendors, fitness demonstrations, health screenings, housing resources, volunteer information and more.
The expo will be at the Esports Stadium Arlington & Expo Center, located at 1200 Ballpark Way from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Registration is required. You can register for the event by clicking here. City of Arlington officials say participants who pre-register for the Aging Well Expo by 5 p.m. on Sept. 15 will get a complimentary lunch box. | https://cw33.com/news/local/get-important-information-about-how-to-live-your-best-life-at-arlingtons-aging-well-expo/ | 2022-08-04T19:09:16 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/get-important-information-about-how-to-live-your-best-life-at-arlingtons-aging-well-expo/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — In the Texas summer heat, people who recently started working outdoors are at the highest risk for heat illnesses. That's because their bodies aren't used to working in extreme temperatures.
Heat acclimatization is the body's ability to tolerate heat. This happens by slowly increasing the length and intensity of work performed in a hot setting.
Dr. Diana Fite, an emergency physician and former Texas Medical Association president, recommends beginning the process of acclimating by spending 20% of your day outside. The second day, increase to 40%, then 60% and so on.
"By day No. 5, they can probably tolerate the whole plan that they have for being out in the heat," Fite said. "But it's so important to stay well hydrated."
Fite said when our bodies begin to understand they're getting exposed to extra heat, they'll start sweating sooner. That's why acclimatized workers need more water.
She also recommended drinking electrolytes and sodium to replenish lost minerals.
"Sports drinks that are properly formulated would be good to start adding on," she said. "They don't recommend high caffeine or high sugar or, of course, alcohol. That really does not do well in the heat like that."
Once acclimatized, workers will be able to comfortably perform physical tasks in the heat. However, it is important to know that you can quickly lose the heat tolerance you've built up if you spend days out of the sun.
"If you actually leave the work, so you go on a vacation ... and not in the heat, if you leave more than seven days, your body may lose all that ability and you have to start all over again," Fite said. "Maybe not quite as regimented, but you do have to start over again."
After one month away from work in the heat, most people’s heat tolerance will have returned to baseline.
It's also important to know your body will acclimate to the level of work demanded from it. So, if you're planning on completing longer and more strenuous tasks, it'll take more time to build the ability to do so comfortably.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/heat-acclimatization-body-tolerance-heat/269-1aebb4dc-2c2d-442c-a599-de508830aafb | 2022-08-04T19:09:18 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/heat-acclimatization-body-tolerance-heat/269-1aebb4dc-2c2d-442c-a599-de508830aafb |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Aug. 4 is just a day full of fun, Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, former president Barack Obama’s Birthday, and also, National IPA Day!
There’s just way too much fun to be had, so, why not tell Obama happy birthday while eating a cookie and sipping some killer IPA from your favorite spot in North Texas?
Wait, what is IPA? NationalToday says, “The IPA is a full-bodied, bold, and bitter beer made with hops and pale malts. It contains more alcohol than the average beer and is brewed with a variety of hop strains. Through several IPA tasting events, festivals, and other activities, I.P.A. Day brings together large and small breweries, as well as beer lovers and connoisseurs.”
We wanted to make sure you can go out to get the best IPA for your heart’s desire, so, we checked out Yelp’s list of the top spots in Dallas to grab some:
- Deep Ellum Brewing Compay Taproom
- Four Corners Brewing – South Dallas
- Community Beer Company – Design District
- Peticolas Brewing Company
- Pegasus City Brewery – Downtown
- Manhattan Project Beer Company
- Celestial Beerworks – Oak Lawn
- Union Bear
- Westlake Brewing Company – Deep Ellum
- Turning Point Beer | https://cw33.com/news/local/its-brew-time-these-are-the-best-spots-in-dallas-to-drink-ipas/ | 2022-08-04T19:09:22 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/its-brew-time-these-are-the-best-spots-in-dallas-to-drink-ipas/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department is investigating what it is calling a suspicious death Thursday afternoon.
Police are currently on scene on the 2300 block of Douglas Street, which is right off of East Oltorf Street near the 76 gas station.
Officials said calls began coming in around 9:21 a.m. about gunshots heard at the Douglas Landing apartments at 2347 Douglas St. Callers said a male was lying on the ground at one of the apartment buildings.
Officers arrived on scene around 9:22 a.m. and located a male with "obvious signs of trauma incompatible with life." The victim was pronounced deceased on scene at 9:26 a.m.
Officials received information that a disturbance had occurred shortly before the incident. At this time, it's not clear how the disturbance could be related to the death.
While no arrests have been made, police will remain on scene investigating and speaking to several witnesses.
At this time, police believe the incident to be isolated and there is no known threat to the general public. Still, the public is asked to remain vigilant and report any information to police immediately at 512-477-3588.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/police-investigating-suspicious-death-in-southeast-austin/269-48ead9ad-320f-47cb-b40a-9f119f04e7a6 | 2022-08-04T19:09:24 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/police-investigating-suspicious-death-in-southeast-austin/269-48ead9ad-320f-47cb-b40a-9f119f04e7a6 |
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — On Aug. 4, 2021, Grand Prairie Animal Services issued a stark warning to the public: A venomous West African Banded Cobra was on the loose, having gone missing from a home off Cherry Street.
Eventually, the snake's owner, 23-year-old Lawrence Matl, was arrested for "intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence releases a regulated snake from captivity."
One year later, though? His snake is still unaccounted for.
In February, upon news of Matl's arrest, animal experts told WFAA that the likelihood of the snake still being in the area -- or even alive -- was significantly less than it had been when it was first reported missing. Freezing temperatures, and the unknowns of whether the snake was able to find shelter, were the biggest factors cited.
Factor in too the fact that police say there have been no sightings of the snake since its disappearance a year ago, and it seems increasingly likely that the snake will never be seen again.
In fact, according to Diane Barber -- the director of ectotherms at the Fort Worth Zoo -- the snake is almost certainly dead.
"I'm sure it just went off somewhere and is no longer with us," Barber said on the one-year anniversary of the snake's escape from captivity. "In the month of January, I think we had a high of 38 [degrees] for the entire month. So it’d be really hard for a tropical species to persist that long."
Barber also said that any animal that lived for any time in captivity would have a tough time surviving after being released into the wild.
“I would say it's highly unlikely [that it's alive]," Barber said. "It probably would’ve died quite, quite quickly."
The missing slithery serpent garnered a plethora of questions after catching the attention of Texas media outlets and even inspiring a parody Twitter account -- queries beyond whether it could survive in North Texas' climate. For instance, could the snake reproduce asexually? What about crossbreeding with another snake more native to the region?
Laura Wandel, a representative from the Dallas Zoo, eased those worries almost immediately. She said it was improbable that this particular cobra would reproduce copies of itself without another of its kind with which it could mate.
"There have been cases of asexual reproduction in some snake species," Wandel said after the snake's disappearance in 2021. "But a single cobra on its own is incredibly unlikely to reproduce just spontaneously."
When asked about crossbreeding, Wandel said that was highly unlikely too.
"There are some cases where snakes in the same family may interbreed or crossbreed," Wandel said. "But there needs to be another cobra for this one to reproduce."
On Wednesday, Barber backed up Wandel's assertions.
"Even if it were able to mate with something else, the offspring wouldn’t be viable," Barber said.
Still, the cobra is -- or was -- extremely dangerous.
“It’s a cobra, so you don’t want to get bit by one," Wandel said. "[A bite] would affect your central nervous system, stop your breathing and affect your heart.”
In February, neighbors on Cherry Street told WFAA that they were still keeping snake traps near their homes just in case the snake was still alive, slithering around their neighborhood.
Better safe than sorry, right?
"If people are going to have venomous snakes, they need to do it responsibly," Barber said. "Think about the consequences if you’re bitten, your family members are bitten or if something were able to escape. What might happen? That’s a very serious pet to have." | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/grand-prairie-texas-cobra-missing/287-433247c3-aaed-499b-82d3-53fc8c1be932 | 2022-08-04T19:09:30 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/grand-prairie-texas-cobra-missing/287-433247c3-aaed-499b-82d3-53fc8c1be932 |
AUSTIN, Texas — A Conroe, Texas, woman who suffered a miscarriage last year says the state's restrictive abortion law put her into a dangerous health situation.
According to a report from ABC 13 in Houston, Marlena Stell miscarried nine-and-a-half weeks into her pregnancy in early September 2021. She asked her doctor for a dilation and curettage, or D&C, a common procedure to remove the fetus after a miscarriage to prevent infection.
But she miscarried after Texas banned abortion for pregnancies after around six weeks.
Stell told ABC 13 that she was first required to get a second ultrasound. Then, she said every doctor she called in the Houston area refused to perform the procedure, citing confusing abortion bans.
"You feel like a walking coffin. You're just walking around knowing that you're carrying a loss," Stell told ABC 13. "It felt like I was jumping through so many hoops just to get care for something that had already happened. I already had lost the baby."
Stell told ABC 13 she carried the unviable fetus for two weeks before ultimately going to an abortion clinic for a D&C procedure. That clinic stopped offering abortion care after Roe v. Wade was overturned and is now closing, according to the report.
"That's the story that a lot of people don't realize. That it's not just affecting those that aren't ready to be moms," Stell told ABC 13. "It's people like me who want children, but need care. Because I cannot expel a miscarriage. It's just as simple as that. If there is medical intervention available, why do I have to fight to get it?"
Stell, who publishes beauty vlogs on YouTube, shared her story in a video posted in October. That video has nearly nearly 80,000 views as of Aug. 4.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/marlena-stell-texas-miscarriage-abortion/269-72eae43f-7aeb-44a6-868a-e3dba57e8fc0 | 2022-08-04T19:09:37 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/marlena-stell-texas-miscarriage-abortion/269-72eae43f-7aeb-44a6-868a-e3dba57e8fc0 |
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Sharks are swimming in Texas waters, including two large adult males who have been swimming near the Corpus Christi coastline over the past two months, according to OCEARCH Tracker.
A nearly 8-feet-long hammerhead shark weighing 170 pounds was last pinged swimming off the coast near Port Aransas on July 19, but swam all the way into the Corpus Christi Bay over the past month.
His name is Buddy, originally tagged in Port Aransas back in November of 2015. Since then, he stays swimming along the Corpus Christi Bay and Matagorda Bay, according to OCEARCH.
A larger mako shark measuring over 9 feet long and weighing 330 pounds was last pinged on June 27, also near Mustang Island, but swam right along the coast of Padre Island in April.
This shark's name is BobHayes, originally tagged somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico in early 2021. He has been traveling from the Maragorda Bay and as far south near Brownsville, according to OCEARCH.
As some San Antonians continue venturing to the coast for summer trips, remember that multiple shark sightings have been reported in the Corpus Christi area this summer and, like Buddy and BobHayes, can travel great distances.
OCEARCH, a global nonprofit, conducts research expeditions that include taking samples from sharks, like blood and tissue. After they are tagged, the animals are released back into their waters as researchers continue collecting data while they migrate.
The OCEARCH website says you can track and explore the migrations of sharks that have been tagged using state-of-the-art technology. The website and app also lets you track dolphins, turtles, whales and seals. | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/sharks-corpus-christi-texas-coast-port-a/273-c3ae74b2-549d-4501-94ab-9faa15a9e747 | 2022-08-04T19:09:43 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/sharks-corpus-christi-texas-coast-port-a/273-c3ae74b2-549d-4501-94ab-9faa15a9e747 |
Detroit man charged in death of strip club security guard
Detroit — The man accused of killing another man last month after a fight at a strip club on Eight Mile has been charged by the county prosecutor's office, officials said.
James Kimball Jr., 35, has been charged by prosecutors in connection with the death of Lamar Waller, also of Detroit.
Kimball is scheduled to be arraigned in 36th District Court Thursday on a charge of first-degree murder, according to authorities. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Investigators allege Kimball killed Waller July 12 at the Ace of Spades Gentlemen’s Club in the 18900 block of Eight Mile.
Officials said Wednesday an argument between the two men spilled over into a nearby parking lot. According to media reports, Waller worked as a security guard at the club.
They said Kimball got into his car, accelerated and struck Waller before fleeing. Waller died from his injuries on July 18.
Detroit police investigated the incident and a tip led officers to Kimball, who was arrested Monday in Southfield. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/08/04/detroit-man-charged-death-strip-club-security-guard/10237116002/ | 2022-08-04T19:20:48 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/08/04/detroit-man-charged-death-strip-club-security-guard/10237116002/ |
Redford man indicted on federal charges in alleged tech support, opioid sales scheme
A Redford man was arrested Thursday, according to U.S. Justice Department officials, and has been indicted on a variety of federal charges of conspiracy related to online tech-help scams and opioid sales.
Doyal Kalita, 35, allegedly ran several fraudulent schemes aimed at defrauding users and sold drugs, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins of Massachusetts said.
He is scheduled to appear Thursday in court in the Eastern District of Michigan and in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to a Department of Justice press release, on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to import Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy charges.
"The defendant and others allegedly operated a variety store of online scams," said Joleen D. Simpson, special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, Boston Office. "First, they are alleged to have devised a complex help-desk scam to defraud innocent individuals who were simply trying to resolve phony computer problems."
Kalita and a co-conspirator allegedly used pop-up screens that falsely told users their computers were damaged or infected with viruses and directed them to a technical support line. Victims were connected to call centers in Michigan and India, officials allege, where they were deceived into buying products they did not need.
At the same time, Kalita and his partner allegedly sold controlled substances, including opioids, from India and Europe to people across the U.S. According to the indictment, one other person was allegedly involved in the drug scheme as a supplier.
The online scams and drug distribution schemes are no longer in operation, Simpson said.
Kalita faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge and fines potentially totaling nearly $3 million.
Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said tech support scams like Kalita's cost Massachusetts residents $5.3 million last year and had a nationwide toll of $347 million.
Kalita's scams have been active since 2015, authorities allege.
Rollins called Kalita's alleged crimes "cowardly" and said the U.S. government has the tools to identify and prevent online criminal activity.
"Bad actors think they can remain undetected from law enforcement while behind a computer screen," she said. "They should think again."
hmackay@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/redford-man-indicted-federal-charges-alleged-tech-support-opioid-sales-scheme/10235821002/ | 2022-08-04T19:20:54 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/redford-man-indicted-federal-charges-alleged-tech-support-opioid-sales-scheme/10235821002/ |
TAMPA, Fla. – In honor of National Roller Coaster Day on Aug. 16, Busch Gardens is giving its Tampa Bay guests an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of fan-favorite coasters.
The behind-the-scenes three-day opportunity is full of twists and turns, allowing guests to see the not typically accessible maintenance areas for SheiKra, Iron Gwazi, Cheetah Hunt and Cobra’s Curse.
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Those interested can also participate in a Q&A with ambassadors that work on the rides, who will loop them into the latest thrill ride news.
Guests are required to sign up for the tours at the Serengeti Outpost, where they will receive a ticket outlining their tour’s ride choice and time. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The behind-the-scenes exclusives will be available from Saturday, Aug. 13 to Tuesday, Aug. 16 with 12 p.m., 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. time slots available each day.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is also offering a limited time BOGO ticket sale until Sunday, Aug. 14, that gives guests who purchase a single-day ticket a second ticket for free which can be used to experience a different ride.
Use the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com In the Loop: Theme Park Scoops newsletter, sent every Friday morning.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/busch-gardens-tampa-bay-offers-behind-the-scenes-exclusives-for-national-roller-coaster-day/ | 2022-08-04T19:22:02 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/04/busch-gardens-tampa-bay-offers-behind-the-scenes-exclusives-for-national-roller-coaster-day/ |
A series of four ordinances that aim to protect abortion rights in Allentown brought over a dozen people, both in favor of and against the measures, to speak at Wednesday’s city council meeting.
Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania, but that could change if the state’s lawmakers pass a ban and a future governor signs it. Josh Shapiro, the Democratic candidate for governor, has said he would protect abortion rights, while Republican nominee Doug Mastriano has said he would sign a bill banning abortion at six weeks with no exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the pregnant person.
Council members did not discuss or take action on the ordinance Wednesday night — instead, they referred the proposals to a special committee meeting.
The ordinances that would create a 15-foot “buffer zone” around clinics and hospitals, intended to keep distance between anti-abortion picketers and clinic employees and patients, prompted disagreement. The measure targets clinics like Planned Parenthood on Ninth Street, a frequent site of anti-abortion protests.
Several cities have passed clinic buffer zone laws including Chicago, Pittsburgh and Rochester, New York. Such laws also exist at the state level in Colorado, Massachusetts and Montana.
Some at the meeting identified themselves as clinic protesters, and said that their conduct is peaceful and their goal is only to have conversations with patients entering those clinics. To restrict that area is an infringement of their rights, they argued.
“What is the problem council wants to forbid or prevent?” said John Merwarth, executive director of Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers, which provides resources to pregnant people intended to dissuade them from choosing abortion. “Do you want to forbid a peaceful conservation that leads a woman to resources she didn’t know existed, that help her achieve her goal of becoming a parent?”
Clinic advocates who spoke at Wednesday’s meeting said the buffer zone is needed to prevent harassment, but does not violate the rights of protesters, who can still gather at a 15-foot distance from the clinic.
Hannah Clark, board member of Planned Parenthood Keystone and member of the Allentown Planning Commission, said Planned Parenthood uses “volunteer escorts” to bring patients to and from the clinic, shielding them from protesters. Establishing a buffer zone would help keep employees and patients safe, she said.
“We know there is very strong opposition here in Allentown,” Clark said. “They show up often ... and they are harassing patients and making patients feel unsafe.”
Anti-abortion advocates also criticized council’s other proposed measures, which include ordering police to de-prioritize enforcing future bans, mandating city officials to not cooperate with any out-of-state criminal abortion investigations without a court order, and regulating the “deceptive advertising practices” of crisis pregnancy centers.
Critics said the deceptive advertising ordinance unfairly targets pregnancy centers and is duplicative of Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, making it redundant. Some also worried that the two ordinances that direct law enforcement’s response to abortion bans could run afoul of the law.
But advocates said those laws are needed to protect the right to abortion in Pennsylvania.
The four ordinances are sponsored by Josh Siegel, Cynthia Mota, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie Santos and Candida Affa. Members Daryl Hendricks and Ed Zucal plan to vote against them, because they think the ordinances are an overstep of City Council’s authority.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said last week he supports the buffer zone ordinance, but is concerned the de-prioritization and noncompliance ordinances could be legally unenforceable.
City Council will hold a special committee meeting Aug. 24 to discuss the ordinances.
Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 and liweber@mcall.com. | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-abortion-ordinance-city-council-meeting-20220804-pzxfko4trzggdoj3oovn6et33m-story.html | 2022-08-04T19:22:47 | 1 | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-abortion-ordinance-city-council-meeting-20220804-pzxfko4trzggdoj3oovn6et33m-story.html |
Two people were reportedly shot on the porch of a house located on 14th Avenue and 50th Street, across from the Imagination Station playground Wednesday night.
According to the department, Kenosha Police responded to the 5000 block of 14th Avenue to a report of a shooting just after 6:30 p.m.
There, police say they encountered a hostile crowd and evidence of multiple gunshots that were fired.
Two victims were located from the shooting, one juvenile and one adult. Both victims were transported to local hospitals and were subsequently transferred to Milwaukee area hospitals due to serious injuries.
Unconfirmed reports from witnesses at the scene said a man jumped onto the back porch of the house and ran to the front of the house and opened fire. One person was reportedly shot in the face and the other was shot in the leg.
Police remained on scene for several hours after the incident. Due to the size of the crime scene, Kenosha Police requested assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol Traffic Reconstruction Unit to assist with the Crime Scene mapping.
Authorities blocked off 14th Avenue as they questioned witnesses and neighbors. Bystanders and passersby gathered outside of the crime scene and watched police investigate.
It remains an active and ongoing investigation. and there were no suspects in custody, according to the police department.
Kenosha Police is requesting the public's assistance and cooperation when investigating crimes, especially with senseless gun violence. It is asking anyone with information regarding Wednesday's shooting incident to contact the Kenosha Police Detective Bureau at 262-605-5203. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the Kenosha Area Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333.
Two people were reportedly shot on the porch of a house located on 14th Avenue and 50th Street, across from the Imagination Station playground Wednesday night. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/latest-update-two-people-in-serious-condition-after-shooting-wednesday-evening/article_70b69684-1393-11ed-a570-d7083311afd1.html | 2022-08-04T19:26:26 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/latest-update-two-people-in-serious-condition-after-shooting-wednesday-evening/article_70b69684-1393-11ed-a570-d7083311afd1.html |
Flagstaff Chief of Police Dan Musselman has been placed on administrative leave, following growing public concern over the handling of an investigation into possible sex trafficking operations in local massage parlors.
The police department has confirmed that Chief Musselman is on leave, and that currently Deputy Chief Mansfield is the acting chief of police. The duration of the administrative leave was not disclosed.
"There will be no effect on our quality and level of service," said Odis Brockman, the Public Information Officer with the Flagstaff Police Department. He would not comment further on the investigation, and said there has not been, and will not be, a press release on the issue.
At the time of publication, the City Manager's office has not returned the Daily Sun's request for comment. However, the Daily Sun has learned that police were informed about the administrative leave by the chief himself via email.
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"I'm utterly frustrated with the lack of transparency," Mayor Paul Deasy said, adding that he was not informed internally by city staff. "When I attempted to confirm with the active city manager, the city manager is out of town, and I got no response from staff."
Mayor Deasy said he requested court documents three weeks ago so that he could look into the massage parlor investigations further. He told the Daily Sun that his request has not been filled.
"If documents are being withheld from the mayor, what does that mean for the citizens?" Deasy said. "We're not being transparent; personnel issues can be handled internally, but there needs to be communication." | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/flagstaff-police-chief-placed-on-administrative-leave/article_d74253c2-1418-11ed-a6a7-57b0602ce358.html | 2022-08-04T19:27:58 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/flagstaff-police-chief-placed-on-administrative-leave/article_d74253c2-1418-11ed-a6a7-57b0602ce358.html |
A 56-year-old Flagstaff man was killed Wednesday night while crossing the road near Motel 6 on East Butler Avenue. The crash happened after dark.
Kee Begay was hit by a vehicle around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. He died on the scene.
Flagstaff police officers who responded called a detective and crash reconstruction team to launch an investigation. Police said they do not believe speed was a factor in the fatal crash.
For his part, the driver stayed at the scene of the crash and cooperated with responding officers.
Investigators performed a field sobriety test and said the driver did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/pedestrian-hit-and-killed-near-butler-motel-6-in-flagstaff/article_e171f136-1422-11ed-9874-af2f0ee945e7.html | 2022-08-04T19:28:06 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/pedestrian-hit-and-killed-near-butler-motel-6-in-flagstaff/article_e171f136-1422-11ed-9874-af2f0ee945e7.html |
GREENSBORO — With more people using at-home kits to test for COVID-19, health officials say it's unclear how many active cases are in any community.
What seems to be certain, however, is that more residents who have previously avoided COVID-19 are contracting it for the first time as "high" transmission levels remain in every county across North Carolina.
Many are also learning about when and how to test at home.
"The rapid antigen test kits detect current infection and can provide a result in minutes. If you have COVID symptoms, test immediately," Dr. Daniel Jobe, a family physician at Novant Health Primary Care High Point, said in an email.
For anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 but has no symptoms, Jobe said to test on the fifth day after exposure. If that test is negative, he said the person should test again in one or two days to confirm.
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For those who test positive, Jobe said most people will no longer be contagious after 10-14 days.
Locally, test results reported to the Guilford County Health Department are giving officials an idea of how COVID-19 is affecting the community. There were 270 new reported infections for a total of 2,834 active cases on Wednesday and no new deaths. The single-day rate of tests coming back positive is 20.4%.
Statewide, there were 31,848 newly reported cases during the week ending July 30 — down from 33,159 the previous week, according to a report Wednesday by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
At least 1,350 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals across North Carolina during the week ending July 30. That’s up from 1,289 the previous week, according to the DHHS report.
In Cone Health hospitals on Thursday, 64 patients were hospitalized with the coronavirus. Of those patients, 42 are unvaccinated and 22 are fully vaccinated.
Cone Health said on its website that several factors are affecting why hospitals are seeing more vaccinated patients, including fewer people getting a second booster, existing vaccination wearing off, and more people testing positive without serious symptoms.
Health officials are encouraging those who are eligible for a second booster to get one as the highly contagious BA.5 subvariant of omicron becomes the dominant strain.
State vaccination data released to the public each Wednesday does not indicate how many residents have received a second booster.
The percentage of all emergency room visits statewide for patients with coronavirus symptoms was 7.1% during the week ending July 30 — down from 7.5% the previous week, according to the state report.
Another metric that health experts are watching closely is the number of COVID-19 virus particles found in wastewater, which has been shown to be an early indicator of how quickly the virus may spread without relying on individual test results.
In the state’s latest report, 23.2 million coronavirus particles were found in wastewater samples during the week ending July 27 — an increase from 20.5 million the week prior.
By comparison, 100 million COVID-19 particles were found in wastewater samples in late January during the peak of the omicron surge. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/covid-update-er-visits-statewide-drop-but-hospitalizations-continue-to-rise/article_cc02a1b4-13e7-11ed-a4fd-435d2b1410ee.html | 2022-08-04T19:29:11 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/covid-update-er-visits-statewide-drop-but-hospitalizations-continue-to-rise/article_cc02a1b4-13e7-11ed-a4fd-435d2b1410ee.html |
Holly Coy will be officially appointed at the Henrico County School Board’s meeting next week. Coy served as assistant superintendent of policy, equity and communications at the VDOE from May 2020 to March of this year. Before that, she was the deputy secretary of education for Virginia from 2015-2020 under former governors Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam.
She replaces Beth Teigen, who worked in HCPS administration for six years, the last four of those as chief of staff. Teigen left her post in Henrico in July to take the role of superintendent of Powhatan County Public Schools. Teigen replaced Eric Jones, who retired from his superintendent post after nine years. He also came from Henrico Schools, where he worked for more than a decade. As chief of staff, Teigen was one of HCPS’ most public-facing figures.
At the time she left HCPS, Teigen’s salary was $188,470, according to salary records. In Powhatan, her salary is $173,810 and she will also receive $700 per month for a car allowance, according to her superintendent contract.
Coy is the second former VDOE official to join HCPS this year after the new state administration took over in January. Coy left the VDOE in early March, less than two weeks after the departure of Ken Blackstone, who worked as the VDOE’s executive director of communications for about a year. Blackstone joined HCPS in April as assistant director of communications.
Top 5 weekend events: BrewHaha, Todd Barry & Avail Over the James
Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill in April - sponsored by Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico - requiring the education department to develop - and local school boards to adopt - such policies. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/henrico-schools-appoints-former-vdoe-official-as-chief-of-staff/article_faabc827-5911-5bd2-957f-50fc1844937b.html | 2022-08-04T19:34:05 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/henrico-schools-appoints-former-vdoe-official-as-chief-of-staff/article_faabc827-5911-5bd2-957f-50fc1844937b.html |
After weeks of climbing coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, Ohio reported a slight decrease.
The state added 27,785 COVID cases in the last week, about 2,000 fewer than the 29,876 cases reported last Thursday, according to the Ohio Department of Health. It’s the first time in more than a month that the state’s weekly case total decreased.
Hospitalizations and ICU admissions also dropped in the past week. Ohio recorded 679 hospitalizations last week compared to 705 hospitalizations the previous week. On Thursday ODH added 36 coronavirus ICU admissions, down from 39 admissions reported last Thursday.
However, deaths nearly doubled. The state recorded 98 COVID deaths in past week compared to 54 in the previous week, according to the state health department.
As of Thursday, there were 1,275 people hospitalized in the state who tested positive for COVID, according to the Ohio Hospital Association. That included 136 people in west central Ohio and 212 people in southwest Ohio.
West central Ohio consists of Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby counties and southwest Ohio includes Butler, Warren, Hamilton, Adams, Brown, Clermont and Clinton counties.
In the last week southwest Ohio reported a 2% decrease in COVID inpatients. However, compared to 60 days ago, hospitalized coronavirus patients have increased by 106% in the region, according to OHA.
Patients hospitalized with the virus grew by 1% in the past week in west central Ohio, and is up 167% over the last 60 days.
Ohio had 166 ICU patients with the virus on Thursday, including 29 in southwest Ohio and 19 in west central Ohio.
It’s a 73% increase from last week in west central Ohio and an 850% increase from 60 days ago, according to OHA.
Southwest Ohio reported a 12% decrease in ICU patients with the virus over the last week, but an 81% increase compared to 60 days ago.
More than 7.41 million people in Ohio have started the COVID vaccine and nearly 6.88 million have completed it, according to ODH.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohio-reports-slight-dip-in-covid-cases-hospitalizations/OKTIRWLZJNF7NOANBYLGDE6PBY/ | 2022-08-04T19:34:37 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohio-reports-slight-dip-in-covid-cases-hospitalizations/OKTIRWLZJNF7NOANBYLGDE6PBY/ |
WINKLER COUNTY, Texas — One person has been killed in a crash in Winkler County on August 2.
The incident happened on SH 302 at 2:26 p.m. involving four vehicles.
64-year-old Jimmy Walker of Crockett was pronounced dead at the scene. The rest of the drivers involved in the crash were not injured.
The initial investigation revealed that Walker was traveling eastbound on SH 302 when he traveled into the westbound lane and hit one of the other vehicle's involved. Due to this action, multiple vehicles looked to evade the incident, but ended up hitting into Walker's vehicle.
The investigation is still ongoing and we will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-after-fatal-crash-in-winkler-county/513-c30edc8a-a5a7-45dd-bd15-69660db090cb | 2022-08-04T19:35:05 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/one-dead-after-fatal-crash-in-winkler-county/513-c30edc8a-a5a7-45dd-bd15-69660db090cb |
HOUSTON — Residents in one north Houston neighborhood are holding their breath, literally, after Houston city officials say a truck spilled cow intestines all over the road.
“I have not ever encountered anything like this before," said Tahj Scott. "This is a first, but definitely the worst smell I ever smelled.”
Scott says she had to pick up her little daughter Teigan from daycare. She drove right through the mess.
“It’s indescribable and I should have a mask on like you right now," Scot saidt. “Ended up pulling up to her daycare and got out of my car and couldn’t figure out what that bad scent was. Walked back out with her and stuff was hanging from the bottom of the car and flies were swarming.”
City officials say cow intestines littered the corner of Hardy Street and Cavalcade Street. Someone called in the stench around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
“It’s horrible," said Jerry Benoit. "Most people are walking around gagging.”
Benoit says the city quickly cleaned up the mess, but the horrible smell is sticking around.
“Yeah it going to be here awhile," said Benoit. "It’s going to linger a little bit.”
KHOU 11 reached out to the city of Houston to see if they know whose truck the intestines fell from. We are still waiting to hear back. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/texas/cow-intestines-spilled-houston-texas/285-5b2ba9a3-88ca-4a69-aa41-3eaf3ba8202a | 2022-08-04T19:35:11 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/texas/cow-intestines-spilled-houston-texas/285-5b2ba9a3-88ca-4a69-aa41-3eaf3ba8202a |
DUNMORE, Pa. — A teen girl has admitted to two crimes related to a plot to carry out a Columbine-style attack on Dunmore High School, according to Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell.
According to the District Attorney's Office, the 16-year-old admitted to aggravated assault and unlawful possession of weapons of mass destruction she made and is now considered delinquent.
It's not clear what punishment the girl may receive within the juvenile system.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/teen-admits-to-plotting-mass-murder-officials-say-dunmore-high-school-columine-attack-bomb-shooting/523-5258977f-b580-4588-8845-9f98951abf4d | 2022-08-04T19:37:43 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/teen-admits-to-plotting-mass-murder-officials-say-dunmore-high-school-columine-attack-bomb-shooting/523-5258977f-b580-4588-8845-9f98951abf4d |
PENNSYLVANIA, USA — As back-to-school season comes closer, the GIANT Company and Kellogg Company announced they are teaming up to help families across Central Pennsylvania.
Each company will donate $5,000 to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, for a total of $10,000.
Additionally, Kellogg's will donate a semi-truck load of cereals to the food bank, including Frosted Flakes, Mini-Wheats, and Froot Loops.
The GIANT Company is also partnering with Kellogg to donate 1,000 books to local chapters of the Boys & Girls Club of America and YMCA.
“Research consistently shows the connection between good nutrition and the ability to learn. With Kellogg’s support, we’re truly creating a better tomorrow for thousands of families and students in Pennsylvania," said Jessica Groves, manager of community impact with The GIANT Company.
According to Feeding America, more than 38 million people in the U.S., including 12 million children, face food insecurity. In Pennsylvania, one in eight children face hunger.
“We’re proud to stand alongside The GIANT Company to help students in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country reach their potential," said Mark Seagreaves, the customer team lead with Kellogg's. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/giant-kellogg-support-pennsylvanians-back-to-school-season-hunger/521-a21c5799-d27f-47b1-afcd-82a37f311474 | 2022-08-04T19:38:26 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/giant-kellogg-support-pennsylvanians-back-to-school-season-hunger/521-a21c5799-d27f-47b1-afcd-82a37f311474 |
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — UPDATE (2:40 p.m.): Authorities say they have taken the suspect into custody, and more information is expected to be released when it becomes available.
PREVIOUSLY: State Police are searching for a man and warning the public to avoid the area of Harrisburg Pike in Middlesex Township on Thursday afternoon.
According to State Police Trooper Megan Frazer, the public is asked to avoid the area of the 1200 block of Harrisburg Pike in Middlesex Township.
As of 1:30 p.m. on August 4, police were searching for a 22-year-old man who was last seen on foot in that area.
Authorities say the man stands 5'7" tall, weighs between 130 and 140 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black shirt.
Police ask that anyone seeing a person matching that description calls 911, and do not approach that person.
Officials say more information is expected to be released later.
This is a developing story. FOX43 will provide updates as they become available. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/police-searching-for-man-harrisburg-pike-middlesex-township-cumberland-county/521-6326052c-c8fd-4bfe-9c81-e5a406cd638a | 2022-08-04T19:38:32 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/police-searching-for-man-harrisburg-pike-middlesex-township-cumberland-county/521-6326052c-c8fd-4bfe-9c81-e5a406cd638a |
County Commissioners Pritchett, Smith replacing their Tourist Development Council appointees
Two Brevard County commissioners plan to remove their appointees from the advisory Tourist Development Council in the middle of their terms.
The moves come following a rift between the County Commission and the TDC over the commission's 3-1 vote to approve a $30 million marketing grant to hotel developer Driftwood Capital. Money from the grant would come from tourist development tax revenue generated by the Westin Cocoa Beach Resort & Spa that Driftwood plans to build off State Road A1A.
TDC members were opposed to using the 5% tourist tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals to help Driftwood market the Westin hotel and its conference facilities in the a 30-year, up to $1 million-a-year deal. During a July 27 TDC meeting, some TDC members lashed out at the County Commission for its vote on the Driftwood grant — with Commissioner Rita Pritchett sitting there, listening to the criticism that was in part directed at her.
Brevard Tourist Development Council:Opposes $30 million grant for Cocoa Beach Westin
Commissioners approve funding:Brevard County Commission OKs $30M marketing grant to Cocoa Beach Westin hotel project
Testing height limitations:Cocoa Beach developers proposing 70-foot buildings, exceeding the city's 45-foot limit
County Commission Vice Chair Curt Smith and Pritchett say their plans to remove their appointees from the TDC have nothing to do with the TDC's opposition to the Driftwood grant. They say they are making the move because they want to appoint people to the TDC who represent tourism venues within their own County Commission districts.
Smith said he plans to replace his appointee, Julie Braga, general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott in Melbourne, with Donald DeDonatis III, chief executive officer of the U.S. Specialty Sports Association. That youth and amateur adult sports organization operates the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Viera, which is in Smith's County Commission District 4.
Pritchett said she plans to replace her appointee, Tom Hermansen, a hotel owner in the Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral area and current TDC chairman, with Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The Visitor Complex is in Pritchett's County Commission District 1 and is considered Brevard County's most popular paid tourist attraction. A hotel operated by Delaware North, which runs the Visitor Complex, also is in District 1.
The appointments would need to be approved by a majority vote of the County Commission.
Interim County Attorney Christine Schverak said county commissioners also would need to approve a conflict of interest waiver for DeDonatis, because the USSSA has a contract with the county and receives money from the tourist tax.
Pritchett is the County Commission representative to the nine-member TDC, and was nominated to that post by County Commission Chair Kristine Zonka.
At Tuesday's County Commission meeting, Pritchett praised her fellow TDC members before telling the county commissioners that she planned to replace Hermansen — although not mentioning him by name.
"They're all wonderful people in there and they are so smart. They do their work," Pritchett said. "This is no reflection on the people that are on there. I think they're really, really smart. I very much appreciate them."
But Pritchett contended that some of the TDC members are focused on the Cocoa Beach area, and she wants to have someone who is focused on her North Brevard District 1 on the TDC.
"So I take the blame for this, because I really didn't think about that a lot" when appointing Hermansen, Pritchett said. "But I really need to make this change for District 1, and it's just all about getting the diversity on there," as far as geography goes.
Pritchett said Hermansen is "a wonderful person. It's really hard to do it. I'm not trying to hurt anybody or offend them. I have the greatest respect for these people. I really do."
Hermansen said he is disappointed by the news.
"I heard from watching the commission meeting that Ms. Pritchett plans to remove me from the TDC, based on the premise that my businesses are not in District 1. That’s disappointing," Hermansen said. "In my 15 years of serving on the TDC and its subcommittees, I have always focused on what's best for the entire county with respect to bed tax expenditures. My family has been in tourism in this county for almost 40 years, and will be for decades to come. I look forward to serving on the TDC again in the near future."
Pritchett said the addition of Protze to the TDC "will be a good thing for us because he's going to be focusing on those (space) launches and those things that will bring more of the tourism from other areas of the country into that area. And we have got a beautiful, natural beach that probably needs a little more love, too."
Pritchett also told Smith at Tuesday's County Commission meeting that "USSSA probably could use a little more representation, too," on the TDC.
Smith replied that he was thinking about that as well.
Smith said he wanted DeDonatis on the TDC in part because USSSA generates so much hotel business for the Space Coast through the baseball and softball tournaments it organizes at its Viera complex.
USSSA and Driftwood both employ the same lobbyist — Rockledge attorney Kendall Moore. But Smith said Moore had no role in Smith's decision to replace Braga with DeDonatis.
District 3 County Commissioner John Tobia said that although he sometimes does not agree with votes by his TDC appointee, Brevard Zoo Executive Director Keith Winsten, he has no plan to replace Winsten. Tobia said it is good to have differing views on the TDC and on the County Commission's other advisory boards.
Tobia was the only county commissioner to vote against the Driftwood grant, so he and Winsten were in agreement on that matter.
County Commission Chair Kristine Zonka, who represents District 5, said she is "not planning on changing my appointments at this time."
Among current TDC members Zonka nominated are Christy Galzerano, general manager of the Doubletree/Hilton Garden Inn Oceanfront Hotel in Cocoa Beach; and Giles Malone, a partner in the Space Coast Daily media company, as well as a partner in an event and sports management business.
The chair of the County Commission is responsible for nominating three other people to the TDC — a county commissioner, the seat now filled by Pritchett; an elected official from Brevard County's most populous city, the seat now filled by Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina; and an elected official from another Brevard County municipality, the seat now filled by West Melbourne Deputy Mayor Andrea Young.
The County Commission chair changes every November, so the responsibility for those appointments also changes each year.
The ninth TDC seat is held by Larry Jarnes, president and chief executive officer of Northboro Builders, which develops commercial properties. Jarnes was nominated by then-District 2 Commissioner Bryan Lober, who resigned in April. The District 2 County Commission seat remains vacant.
TDC members — except for the County Commission representative — typically serve four-year terms. They are nominated by commissioners, subject to approval by the full County Commission.
The County Commission can remove an appointee with or without cause by a simple majority vote, as long as the district commissioner who initially nominated the appointee is in the majority.
Braga chairs the TDC's Beach Committee. Her current term on the TDC expires on Dec. 31, 2022. But Smith would need to replace her before then, since he leaves office in November.
Hermansen's current term expires on Dec. 31, 2023.
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.
Support local journalism and journalists like me. Subscribe today. | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/brevard-commissioners-switching-out-tourist-council-appointees/10233386002/ | 2022-08-04T19:44:42 | 0 | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/brevard-commissioners-switching-out-tourist-council-appointees/10233386002/ |
A man was found burned to death after firefighters put out a brushfire in Southwest Philadelphia Thursday morning.
The man was about 30-40 years old and was found unresponsive in a field after the blaze on the 3100 block of 81st Street in the Eastwick neighborhood was extinguished, the Philadelphia Police Department said. Police were investigating the death as homicide by arson.
The man was found around 8:13 a.m., the PPD said. NBC10’s SkyForce10 helicopter showed several officers placing a white blanket over what may have been the body. Those officers were only a few yards from a road.
The victim was not immediately identified. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/mans-death-in-southwest-philly-brushfire-investigated-as-homicide/3326321/ | 2022-08-04T19:47:02 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/mans-death-in-southwest-philly-brushfire-investigated-as-homicide/3326321/ |
BOISE, Idaho — In the next couple of weeks, five justices from Idaho's Supreme Court will likely decide whether abortion will become illegal in the Gem State.
Wednesday morning, the court heard arguments from Planned Parenthood, which originally filed multiple lawsuits against the state over its abortion laws, and those defending the laws, including the Attorney General's office and the outside counsel representing the legislature.
For nearly an hour, the court heard arguments over reproductive freedoms and the legitimacy of the abortion laws recently passed in the Gem State. Two of the three lawsuits from Planned Parenthood were heard in court.
The court had previously paused one of those lawsuits, which was against the state's trigger law that banned most abortions in the state and was modeled off Texas's abortion ban.
Planned Parenthood is arguing that the new laws are written too vague.
"Take the first offense, which is available when an abortion is 'necessary to prevent the death of a pregnant woman'," Alan Schoenfield, Attorney for Planned Parenthood said. "That language gives no indication of how imminent or substantial the risk of death must be in order for the provider to feel confident that he can provide an abortion without risking prosecution, jail or professional sanction."
Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Office pushed back, saying the laws are not vague at all.
"The statute says that, 'only the physician in his good faith medical judgment needs to determine whether the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of pregnant woman'," Megan Larrondo, Deputy Attorney General said. "This provision on a facial challenge sets the standard and gives the physician the discretion to decide whether that standard has been met."
That decision is in the hands of Idaho's Supreme Court Justices who could decide to send the two lawsuits to a lower court, or put a stay on the lawsuits while legal proceedings continue.
Around the state, lawmakers reacted to Wednesday's arguments.
Republicans, including one of the bill's sponsors, echoed much of what the state had already argued.
"I believe the legislation is very clear," Megan Blanksma, (R) Hammett, said. "And one of my pet peeves that what's been going on is that the left has really been using a lot of talking points that are completely inaccurate when it comes to the bill."
While some Democrats said watching the hearing was a very emotional experience.
"As I sat there, I'm thinking of women. Hundreds of stories that I have listened to. Experiences, especially victims of violence and incest, and that everything is right on the steak today," Melissa Wintrow, (D) Boise, said. "My stomach was turning."
However, as Idahoans await the court's decision, many are working to make sure their voices are still heard, no matter the outcome.
"The whole premise of this country is we wanted to have a say in what was going on, like taxation, all of that. We wanted to have a say," said Sylar Williams, an abortion rights advocate. "You don't get a say if you don't say anything at all."
Hundreds of abortion rights advocates joined Williams in making their way to the state capitol steps Wednesday night, telling Idahoans to use their voice by voting.
"If you're registered to vote, set a reminder to get out to the polls or request an absentee ballot," Yvonne Shen, a speaker and organizer said. "If you're like me and you're not old enough yet, make sure your family and friends are registered to vote and make sure they actually get out and do it."
The Idaho Supreme Court has three options; they can pause the pending abortion laws and continue legal review, rule there is no reason to prevent the laws from going into effect and allow them to be set later this month, or pass the question over the laws' constitutionality to the district court.
It is unclear when the justices will make a decision about the two abortion laws on the books, but the conversation on reproductive rights in Idaho continues.
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/abortion-rights-rally-held-outside-idaho-statehouse/277-7e83090e-cc15-402d-afc1-38b24638f238 | 2022-08-04T19:58:11 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/abortion-rights-rally-held-outside-idaho-statehouse/277-7e83090e-cc15-402d-afc1-38b24638f238 |
MOSCOW, Idaho — A University of Idaho College of Law professor will get her day in court on Oct. 11 to argue she was unfairly discriminated against by deans in the school after a judge said the court found sufficient evidence to raise the issue of alleged discrimination.
Shaakirrah Sanders was hired to teach at the College of Law in 2011, becoming the first Black woman and second person of color to achieve becoming a full professor with the College of Law.
In a July 28 ruling, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill said Sanders was able to move forward with her lawsuit to trial and pursue individual action against an interim dean for discrimination and retaliation.
Sanders will now be able to sue former interim dean Jerrold Long and former dean Mark Adams in their individual capacities.
What the court found to be sufficient evidence
In a summary judgment, the Court said they found plenty of evidence that was "more than sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Sanders was subjected to a race- and/or gender-based hostile work environment.”
This evidence the court is referring to includes what was provided during the discovery period and presented in the statement of facts. The statement alleges Long's attitude towards diversity and bias issues, derogatory responses to Sanders bringing forth the issues, unknowingly recording Sanders during certain occasions, calling her a b----, negatively rating her performances, not interfering with students using racial slurs in class and laughing at a recounting of an incident that showed a student had used the Nazi salute and shouted "Heil Hitler."
Additionally, it said, a couple investigations were opened into Sanders by the University's Office of Civil Rights and Investigations, but were not found to contain sufficient evidence to move forward, due to a student accusing her of being a "Marxist" along with talking about race-related issues in student discussions. Long had complaints with the office, it said, but no investigations were opened into him. The facts statement said that the University paid these investigators $20,000 - $30,000 to investigate Sanders.
She was never given a raise, denied promotions and retaliated against for bringing up diversity issues, the complaint says.
The statement said Sanders now makes $7,534.80 less than her white, male counterparts who retain the same credentials.
Background
In 2019, a federal lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Idaho by Sanders that alleges unfair discrimination even after the school created a diversity plan.
In the complaint, Sanders repeatedly says Mark Adams, the law school dean who stepped down in 2018, approached white and male professors with the same experience and title Sanders had about serving in certain positions within the school. He never approached Sanders, who expressed interest to him and met all of the qualifications for the new position.
According to the complaint, when Sanders asked, Adams said he "did not believe she was serious."
A similar position was given to a white man with the same experience as her even though Sanders expressed interest in that position, too, the complaint said.
Additionally, it said, Sanders applied for a stipend she met all the criteria for, but the stipend was given to two professors, both white men, who started the same time as her and were of equal rank.
During a faculty retreat, Sanders asked Adams if he would consider more representation of gender within the college.
"Dean Adams was extremely dismissive of Professor Sanders and her concerns to the point that several faculty members expressed dismay at his treatment of her afterwards," the complaint said.
Other faculty members also expressed the lack of female leadership within the college, and Sanders sent out an email about it in 2017.
Sanders said the dean did not follow up on any other claims of discrimination.
"Instead, she was chastised for not complaining 'forthrightly' enough," the complaint said.
Right before Adams stepped down, a climate and culture review of the College of Law from 2018 documented that leadership was aware of multiple complaints including concerns of “disrespectful, uncivil and abusive communication, gender bias and/or sex discrimination, poor leadership, lack of transparency in process, a perception of favoritism in the allocation of resources and poor morale amongst staff and faculty members'," the complaint said.
It also said the review documented that racial diversity is not valued by the College of Law.
When Jerrold Long stepped in, Sanders claimed in the complaint that he was giving merit raises for excellence. Sanders's performance review from 2019 lists her as an excellent teacher and scholar, the complaint says, but she was not given a merit raise from Long at all.
Long also allegedly held a campus forum that Sanders moderates, but Sanders was never included, the complaint said. During that forum, a student asked to consider genocide as a solution to climate change, which shocked other participants.
Long later sent out an email stating that it is important to engage in difficult conversations and conversations that "might make us uncomfortable," which upset people. He also recorded a discussion Sanders was holding on discrimination, which was not known to her.
Additionally, the statement of facts filed alleged that Long repeatedly texted the College of Law's Affirmative Action Coordinator about Sanders, saying “no worries. I rant about her somewhat regularly” and “she thinks everyone is looking up to her for salvation.”
The judgment also said Long allegedly laughed at recounting an incident of a student saying "Heil Hitler."
Later, during a performance review, Long told Sanders “we are not in a space where we feel like it is working” and that things had become “increasingly complicated," the complaint said. In her written review, it said, Long wrote that "Unfortunately, throughout the year it became increasingly apparent that Professor Sanders is uninterested in working with the College administration on many important aspects of her position description."
Sanders asked for follow up on this, to which Long ignored, it said. She received another evaluation from Long alleging the same things, even though she has never had issues before, the complaint said.
The statement of facts said that former Professor Katherine MacFarlane recently left the college and made clear to others that she was leaving reluctantly due to "Dean Long’s actions."
Sanders maintained to the court that this behavior continued through 2021 until Long was replaced as dean.
Following, Long issued a letter of reprimand to Sanders. She did not receive a raise after that, the complaint said, even though she qualified for one. Long went back to being a law professor within the college, and Johanna Kalb was hired as the current dean.
Sanders, in addition to the lawsuit, filed a whistleblower claim. This claim was denied as being allowed to go forth, petitioned, and denied once more.
Sanders helped form the University’s Black Faculty Staff Association. She was also selected by faculty to receive the Diversity Award in 2020 for her leadership.
KTVB reached out to the University of Idaho, and was told that they do not comment on pending litigation. Sanders's attorneys said they will not be commenting at this time.
The trial is scheduled for Oct. 11 in Coeur d'Alene.
Watch more Idaho politics:
See all of our latest political coverage in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/discrimination-lawsuit-against-university-of-idaho-proceeding-to-trial/277-9a613d7b-68e6-41a4-8cf8-1c2e4dd773ba | 2022-08-04T19:58:17 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/discrimination-lawsuit-against-university-of-idaho-proceeding-to-trial/277-9a613d7b-68e6-41a4-8cf8-1c2e4dd773ba |
HAYDEN, Idaho — Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris will host a “community conversation” in late August to discuss local and regional issues and receive feedback, as reported by KREM 2 News partner the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press.
The town hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Office of Emergency Management in Hayden, 1662 W. Wyoming Ave.
Norris will address multiple topics, a news release said, including the procedures and training used by the Sheriff’s Office when responding to threats, such as active shooters.
He is also expected to discuss the June 11 Pride in the Park Celebration, which received international attention after the mass arrest of 31 men associated with the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front.
Challenges posed by Idaho’s common border with Washington state is also on the agenda.
“Your feedback and participation is vital in the Sheriff’s Office response to these issues in the future,” a news release said. “All Kootenai County citizens are encouraged to attend.”
The Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press is a KREM 2 News partner. For more from our news partner, click here.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/kootenai-county-sheriff-town-hall-mass-arrest-patriot-front-members-june/293-563f27d4-1ba0-4537-b510-69841d8fb124 | 2022-08-04T19:58:23 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/kootenai-county-sheriff-town-hall-mass-arrest-patriot-front-members-june/293-563f27d4-1ba0-4537-b510-69841d8fb124 |
LAPORTE —The Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte (HFL) offers two grant cycles annually to community partners and nonprofits looking to improve health and wellness in LaPorte County.
In the first grant cycle this year, 2022 Cycle 1, HFL awarded $3,804,550 across 55 grants. Those grants span HFL’s three strategic priorities—Healthy Children, Healthy Minds, and Healthy Living—as well as projects that contribute to the overall health and wellness of LaPorte through the Foundation’s Healthy LaPorte grants.
HFL began accepting applications for Cycle 1 grants on Jan. 7, 2022, and grant applications were due by Feb. 25.
Grant recipients were notified by June 2022.
The 55 grants awarded in 2022 Cycle 1 fall within HFL’s main strategic areas:
• Healthy Children: 17 grants, totaling $900,069
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• Healthy Living: 17 grants, totaling $2,464,741
• Healthy Minds: 5 grants, totaling $108,000
• Healthy La Porte: 16 grants, totaling $331,740
Most of the grants awarded are for a one-year term, but HFL did award a few two-year and three-year grants.
Grant awards for Healthy Children, HFL’s strategic priority focused on prenatal, infant, and child wellness, numbered 17 and totaled $900,069. Grants included a $75,000 award to The Salvation Army of LaPorte for its Weekend Backpack Program, which serves approximately 600 children.
HFL also awarded a two-year grant for $150,000 to LaPorte County Habitat for Humanity for the 2022-2024 Habitat Home Build. This grant will allow for five homes to be built within the city of LaPorte for low-income residents, including single parent families, seniors, veterans, and ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households to help people become successful homeowners.
Healthy Living, HFL’s priority area focused on improved physical health through access to healthy foods and an active lifestyle, accounted for 17 grants and the largest investment totaling $2,464,741.
Highlights include a two-year grant to the city of La Porte in the amount of $960,000 for Soldiers Memorial Park improvements, comprised of a greenway from Craven Pond to Orchard Avenue, restroom facilities and the construction of a viewing deck and trails at Link Park, and paving and lighting for the existing mountain bike parking lot and trail head area, among other upgrades.
Within this strategic priority area, HFL also awarded a $200,000 grant to the town of LaCrosse for the Grand Kankakee Marsh Trail, which will span approximately nine miles and connect LaCrosse to the existing 11-mile trail that runs southeast out of North Judson.
A $50,848 grant was awarded to Citizens Concerned for the Homeless to create a teaching kitchen at Grace Learning Center. The teaching kitchen will engage participants with hands-on lessons, including in-person and live-streamed cooking classes.
HFL awarded five Healthy Minds grants totaling $108,000, including a $6,000 grant to Anam Cara Stables for a Grief and Loss Group that will provide peer support sessions hosted by trauma-informed and trained facilitators and will include interactions with horses.
HFL also awarded a two-year grant to Samaritan Counseling Centers supporting Healthy Minds for a Healthy Community ($50,000). HFL’s strategic priority Healthy Minds targets the importance of mental health through prevention and treatment of mental health disorders, including substance use.
Within Healthy LaPorte, which allows HFL to respond to community health and wellness needs outside of the Foundation’s three strategic priorities, HFL awarded 16 grants totaling $331,740 to community partners.
These included $24,713 to the city of LaPorte for its La Porte Fire AED Program, which provides student CPR certifications, life-size realistic mannequins, and maintenance and software updates to the department’s seven AEDs.
It also awarded a 25,000 Challenge Grant to Interfaith Community PADS for phase 2 of the emergency overnight shelter remodel. Phase 2 involves replacing the windows and front doors of the building. As a Challenge Grant, Interfaith Community PADS needs to raise $25,000 from the community to receive the HFL grant.
To view the full list of 2022 Cycle 1 Grants awarded, visit https://www.hflaporte.org/post/2022-grant-cycle-1-grants-awarded.
“Effecting positive change truly takes a village, and HFL’s partners are invaluable to the mission of empowering LaPorte County residents to live healthy and well, said Maria Fruth, HFL President & CEO.
"Since 2017, HFL has invested over $34 million in the LaPorte County community by giving to our dedicated partners. We applaud our partners for all the hard work they put forth toward helping us achieve our mission, and we continue to be proud of what they do for our community.”
HFL’s Grant Cycle 2 closed July 15, 2022, and applicants will be notified of decisions no later than the end of October.
Local organizations with innovative ideas to improve health and wellness in LaPorte County should submit applications for the 2023 grant cycles when they open next year in January. To learn more about HFL’s grantmaking, including eligibility, guidelines, and FAQs, please visit the Foundation’s website at hflaporte.org/grant-opportunities.
The mission of Healthcare Foundation of L Porte is to empower LaPorte County residents to live healthy and well. The foundation’s vision is for LaPorte to be among the 10 healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030. Learn more at fflaporte.org or by calling 219-326-2471. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/healthcare-foundation-of-laporte-awards-grants/article_bad1364c-51ad-5fa9-95c2-8a4b68c46ae8.html | 2022-08-04T19:59:31 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/healthcare-foundation-of-laporte-awards-grants/article_bad1364c-51ad-5fa9-95c2-8a4b68c46ae8.html |
The number of NIPSCO customers still without power a day after power thunderstorms tore through the Region was at just under 3,000 early Thursday afternoon, the company reported.
The figure is down from a high of 23,000 and the company said most of its customers should have power back by the end of the day Thursday.
"Due to the extensive damage caused by many downed trees and wires, we estimate that a small number of customers, including those in portions of Gary, Hobart, Merrillville and Portage may not be restored until tomorrow (Friday) evening," according to NIPSCO.
"We are tracking weather patterns and there is a potential for additional storm activity especially in the Eastern portion of our service area which could contribute to new outages today if severe."
Merrillville remained the hardest hit at 900 outages as of early Thursday afternoon, followed by Portage at 640, Hobart at 482 and Gary at 446, according to NIPSCO.
Wednesday's heavy winds and rain resulted in widespread damage, including downed trees, poles and power lines, the company said.
"As crews continue to work on restoration, customers are encouraged to make the plans necessary to keep themselves and their families safe during an extended outage," NIPSCO said.
"It can be frustrating to see power restored in other parts of your town or city or even across the street from home," according to the company. "You may be on a different circuit than your neighbor."
"An outage affecting your home/business may call for a more extensive repair needed down the street or in another part of your neighborhood before what's affecting your service can be restored. Rest assured, even if you don't see our trucks, our crews are focused on finding and fixing your outage as quickly and safely as possible."
The company warns the public to avoid downed power lines, damaged poles or other hazardous situations.
"Every downed wire should be treated as though it is a live wire," NIPSCO said.
"Following an assessment of the damage, NIPSCO’s restoration process begins with repairing large transmission and distribution lines that supply electricity to large numbers of customers in large geographic areas - including critical customers such as hospitals and emergency response," according to the company.
"Repairs to other lines that serve smaller groups of customers can't be made until the larger lines feeding electricity to those areas are repaired."
NIPSCO customers experiencing a power outage should report it by texting "out" to 444111, visiting nipsco.com/outages or by using the NIPSCO app, available on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
PHOTOS: Night Out celebrates partnership with law enforcement
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National Night Out in Portage
Night Out celebrates partnership with law enforcement
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident.
Hobart police officers rescued a woman and began CPR after responding about 8:10 p.m. to a report of multiple people struggling in the water, Cmdr. Simon Gresser said.
The True Cost of Washington Tour sponsored by Americans for Prosperity came to Luke Convenience Store & Gas Station on Tuesday afternoon rolling back regular gasoline from $3.99 per gallon to $2.38 per gallon.
Merrillville Assistant Police Chief Kosta Nuses said the department has “an insane amount of calls” to local hotels and motels, and it’s been putting a strain on the force.
If you’re into normal, better stay out of Whiting this weekend. Inspired by a popular Slavic dumpling, Pierogi Fest for more than two decades has been anything but normal.
The scholarship will allow her to pursue a major in chemical and biomolecular engineering as she works toward a career she has had dreams about since she was a child.
Nearly 4,600 NIPSCO customers were still without power early Thursday in the wake of powerful thunderstorms that tore through the Region Wednesday afternoon. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/update-most-nipsco-customers-should-have-power-back-today-but-a-few-will-wait-until/article_529f40ff-f11a-5710-bff0-92ce63d6db7f.html | 2022-08-04T19:59:37 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/update-most-nipsco-customers-should-have-power-back-today-but-a-few-will-wait-until/article_529f40ff-f11a-5710-bff0-92ce63d6db7f.html |
Bond denied for 33-year-old man charged in death of 22-year-old woman from Simpsonville
A Simpsonville man was denied bond Thursday after he was arrested and charged in the stabbing death of his estranged wife in 2016.
John Blauvelt, 33, was arrested in Medford, Oregon, in July by U.S. Marshals and Medford police, six years after he was charged in the murder of Catherine "Cati" Ann Blauvelt.
Captured:'We knew John did it': Family of slain Simpsonville woman says they never lost hope
Cati Blauvelt, 22, last spoke to a family member on Oct. 24, 2016, while on the way back home from her job at PetSmart on Woodruff Road. She was reported missing by her mother the following day and was discovered by friends just a few hours later.
Cati Blauvelt's body was found hidden in the basement of an abandoned house off of S.E. Main Street in Simpsonville. The property had been abandoned for over 20 years.
On Nov. 18, 2016, the Simpsonville Police Department obtained warrants for John Blauvelt's arrest, charging him with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
More:Police seek estranged husband of Simpsonville woman who was stabbed to death
After the hearing, Cati's mother, Patricia Piver, said when she saw John Blauvelt walk through the door, she felt the realization that he was arrested.
"It's one thing that they tell you but actually seeing it, you feel like you're coming close to the end of a very long road. I'm just so glad he's caught, and he's here and can finally stand trial," Piver said.
Piver said after years of waiting, hope begins to dwindle, but when she came in Thursday morning, she felt urged to keep fighting until John Blauvelt gets sentenced.
"We got a life sentence without Cati and he deserves a life sentence," Piver said.
Tamia Boyd is a Michigan native who covers breaking news in Greenville. Email her at tboyd@gannett.com, and follow her on Twitter @tamiamb. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/john-blauvelt-denied-bond-2016-death-cait-blauvelt-simpsonville-south-carolina/10235402002/ | 2022-08-04T20:04:59 | 1 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/john-blauvelt-denied-bond-2016-death-cait-blauvelt-simpsonville-south-carolina/10235402002/ |
SAN ANTONIO — Graffiti was found on the Alamo Cenotaph... again.
The damage is fixed but the investigation continues after someone tagged the Cenotaph monument on Alamo Plaza. One of the centerpieces of the plaza is also known as "The Spirit of Sacrifice" and it honors the people who fought on the Texas side in the Battle of the Alamo.
We have images of the tagging, but we're not giving the vandal the satisfaction of seeing their name on television.
As you can see from this still photo, the actual signature that was put on the monument with some sort of marker, wasn't that big. Maybe six inches by 18 inches total.
But when you sign your name right next to an inscription honoring people who died here – that will not stand.
A spokesman for the Alamo Trust says the damage was minimal.
They say as soon as the damage was discovered they got permission from the City and the Texas Historical Commission to fix the issue.
They did it carefully and immediately.
We reached out to Alamo Trust, Inc. for a statement:
"On Wednesday afternoon, the Alamo Trust, Inc. (ATI) was made aware of the unfortunate graffiti on the Alamo Cenotaph. The conservator, Pam Rosser, immediately reached out to the City of San Antonio and the Texas Historical Commission to ensure that ATI was coordinating with the appropriate channels to address repairs needed for the monument.
The graffiti was carefully removed Wednesday evening, a few hours after it was discovered.
ATI has also filed a police report with the San Antonio Police Department."
Nobody is saying at this point whether the incident was caught on surveillance cameras in the area.
And there is a police report, but no arrests though.
Don't Mess With Texas, y'all.
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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/alamo-cenotaph-monument-vandalized-texas-san-antonio-graffiti-paint/273-8e9cf941-0f27-4e0e-8481-71d38974e650 | 2022-08-04T20:05:32 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/alamo-cenotaph-monument-vandalized-texas-san-antonio-graffiti-paint/273-8e9cf941-0f27-4e0e-8481-71d38974e650 |
CAMP HILL, Pa. — The Lower Allen Township Police Department on Thursday announced the passing of one of its former K9 officers, Rocco.
The dog was euthanized after a veterinary exam revealed he was suffering from advanced cancer, the police department said.
Rocco retired from service in 2020 after joining the department in 2013. He served in many searches for people and evidence and stood ready to protect the officers he assisted, according to the police department.
After his retirement, Rocco spent his remaining years with the family of his handler, Cpl. Michael Scarlato.
"Please keep the Scarlato family in your thoughts, as Rocco had been living his best life as a family pet since his retirement, and was a big part of their pack," the police department said. "He was a very good boy." | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/k9-officer-rocco-lower-allen-twp-police/521-058fbda8-afae-4c57-8fc5-a19f9a1455d1 | 2022-08-04T20:05:38 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/k9-officer-rocco-lower-allen-twp-police/521-058fbda8-afae-4c57-8fc5-a19f9a1455d1 |
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Police officers, along with SWAT teams and police negotiators, are approaching 15 hours of being at a north-side apartment complex where a standoff has been unfolding since Wednesday night.
Authorities arrived at the Agora Stone Oak Apartments around 11 p.m., where they continue trying to peacefully resolve a situation with a person wanted for murder outside Bexar County, according to SAPD Spokesperson Ricardo Guzman.
"There is no active threat to the public," Guzman said, adding that the unidentified suspect has a total of four outstanding warrants. "Right now it’s a very isolated incident."
He didn't say if the suspect was armed.
This is a developing story.
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/law-enforcement/sapd-standoff-san-antonio-police-texas-suspect/273-0f91bbb2-7a61-472d-a073-e4a54e72d9cc | 2022-08-04T20:05:44 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/law-enforcement/sapd-standoff-san-antonio-police-texas-suspect/273-0f91bbb2-7a61-472d-a073-e4a54e72d9cc |
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Two Maryland women were killed when the house their family was sleeping in caught fire in Southampton, New York early Wednesday morning.
According to the Southampton Town Police Department, the Wiener family was visiting the area from Potomac, Maryland.
Neighbors tell WUSA9 the family was in the Hamptons for a quick summer trip before the kids went back to college.
On Wednesday night, Lewis Weiner, 60, and his wife Alisa Wiener, 52, were sleeping on the first floor when Lewis awoke to the sound of glass breaking. Officers say Lewis warned his family to get out of the house while he and his wife escaped. Their children -- Zachary, 23, Jillian, 21, and Lindsay, 19 -- were sleeping on the second floor when the fire sparked.
When Lewis noticed his children hadn't made it out of the house, he tried to go back inside to save them but the flames were too strong for him to pass through.
Zachary was able to escape the fire by jumping from a second-story window. Jillian and Lindsay remained trapped inside the burning home.
Help was called to the home just after 3:30 a.m. When first responders arrived they found the home "fully engulfed" in flames.
Firefighters found Jillian and Lindsay inside the home and took them to SUNY Southampton Hospital where both sisters died from their injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
"Our sons grew up together, our daughters grew up together. They are the salt of the earth," said neighbor and friend of the family Mark Kilner. "They are the most generous, thoughtful, loving and helpful."
Jillian and Lindsay had previously graduated from the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda. The school head Susanna A. Jones shared the news of the young women's deaths in a letter to the community Wednesday.
"As much of the Holton community can attest, the sisters were warm, engaged members of the Holton community who positively impacted both their classes and the larger school community," said Jones.
Jillian was described as an artist who also played soccer and ice hockey and had a passion for yoga and community service. She was a certified yoga instructor who would teach yoga to younger students as part of her senior project.
Jones described Lindsay as a bright spirit and leader who was the President of the Community Service Club and President of the Jewish Culture Club.
Both women were supposed to return to school later this year, Jillian for her senior year at the University of Michigan and Lindsay for her sophomore year at Tulane.
"Jillian and Lindsay’s passing is a great loss to the Holton-Arms community and both will be deeply missed by their family, friends, and the school community," Jones said.
The community came together Wednesday evening to remember the sisters.
"As word spread, the community had a cry-in and we decided to come together tonight and just support each other," said Kilner. "They are just so loved."
WATCH NEXT: Woman and child killed in Waldorf townhouse fire
No one else was injured but there is significant damage to the house. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/maryland-sisters-killed-house-fire-the-hamptons/65-d99d3f1e-21fb-4f66-a900-a8bba5620d5f | 2022-08-04T20:05:50 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/maryland-sisters-killed-house-fire-the-hamptons/65-d99d3f1e-21fb-4f66-a900-a8bba5620d5f |
SAN ANTONIO — Everything is bigger and better in Texas, including savings on gas. San Antonio is one of the cheapest places to get gas in the Lone Star state, ranking in the top 10.
The American Auto Association says that Texas has the cheapest statewide average in gas prices at $3.64 a gallon for regular unleaded. This is 14 cents less than the price was this time last week, AAA said.
Although we are seeing the price of gas decreasing, it's still costing drivers on average 80 cents more than it was a year ago.
Here's a breakdown of the five metropolitan areas in Texas paying the most and the five paying the least...
Top five most expensive places to get regular unleaded gas in Texas:
- College Station/Bryan - $3.851
- Midland - $3.814
- Odessa - $3.732
- Beaumont/Port Arthur - $3.727
- Galveston/Texas City - $3.725
Here are the five cheapest places in Texas to get regular unleaded gas:
- Brownsville/Harlingen - $3.333
- McAllen/Edinburg/Mission - $3.341
- Laredo - $3.346
- Corpus Christi - $3.402
- Sherman/Denison - $3.421
San Antonio ranks number nine on the list followed by Dallas.
“Texas has the lowest gas price average of any state in the country according Gasprices.AAA.com,” said AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster. “It remains to be seen how far gasoline prices can actually fall with the busy summer driving season still underway.”
On Wednesday, Crude oil prices reached their lowest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, AAA said in a statement. Another reason for the declining prices is due to a declining demand for gasoline.
The other states that have lower prices nationally are South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Louisiana.
The most expensive states, in order, are California with a statewide average above $5, Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Maine and Illinois. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas-has-cheapest-gas-in-the-country-aaa-says-san-antonio/273-fad0fdae-d520-47e7-aed5-fa62d874a584 | 2022-08-04T20:05:56 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas-has-cheapest-gas-in-the-country-aaa-says-san-antonio/273-fad0fdae-d520-47e7-aed5-fa62d874a584 |
A former Richardson mayor and her husband have been sentenced to federal prison for their 2021 convictions on public corruption charges.
Laura Jordan (Maczka), 57, and Mark Jordan, 55, who were convicted last summer on multiple conspiracy, bribery and tax fraud charges, were each sentenced to 72 months in federal prison on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.
The Dallas Morning News reports the couple must report to prison on Oct. 24.
According to the DOJ, between May 2013 and April 2015, Laura Maczka was the mayor of Richardson and Jordan was a land developer.
Prosecutors said Maczka and Jordan "conspired to devise and execute a scheme to commit bribery. Maczka, contrary to her campaign promises, supported and repeatedly voted for controversial zoning changes sought by Jordan, ultimately allowing for the construction of over 1,000 new apartments in Richardson near other Richardson neighborhoods."
In exchange for the votes, the DOJ said Jordan paid Maczka more than $58,000 and also paid more than $24,000 in renovations to her home.
“Citizens should be able to trust that their elected representatives honestly conduct themselves in a manner that solely benefits the community,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “When the greed of personal gain and benefit results from official actions taken on the pretense of altruistic motives, then the integrity of the whole process is corrupted. Jordan and Maczka have now been convicted by a jury of their peers and their punishment should reflect some measure of repair of that trust by the citizens of Richardson.”
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The pair, who had reportedly begun an adulterous relationship, got married after the federal investigation began. The DOJ said Jordan "also paid for luxury hotel stays and airfare upgrades for Maczka and provided Maczka lucrative employment at one of Jordan’s companies."
According to court testimony, the DOJ said, Maczka and Jordan failed to disclose to the public that they had coordinated to affect the zoning changes Jordan wanted and that Jordan had provided a stream of benefits to Maczka.
“For the residents of Richardson, today is a step toward rebuilding public trust,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “Laura Jordan violated her obligation to serve her constituents, and along with Mark Jordan, carried out a conspiracy to commit bribery and tax fraud all while concealing their illicit conduct from the City of Richardson and its taxpayers. Our elected officials are held to the highest standards, and the FBI will continue to ensure that those who disregard their duty to serve the public are held fully accountable.”
Maczka and Jordan were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 10, 2018, and were convicted on July 24, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the City of Richardson. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/former-richardson-mayor-husband-sentenced-in-federal-conspiracy-bribery-case/3040511/ | 2022-08-04T20:08:22 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/former-richardson-mayor-husband-sentenced-in-federal-conspiracy-bribery-case/3040511/ |
A series of crimes connected to a viral social media trend has reached North Texas.
Across the nation, police departments are seeing an increase in stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles, and they blame a social media challenge called “Kia Boyz.” In some cases, it shows people using a USB charger cord to steal vehicles.
In July, the Arlington Police Department started noticing a trend of Kia and Hyundai vehicles being stolen and recovered. Police say 12 vehicles stolen from Arlington, Fort Worth and Mansfield were found in Arlington.
“We do believe this uptick is probably related to a YouTube video that was posted that showed information on how to steal this type of car,” Arlington police spokesperson Jesse Minton said. “It appears there is a big problem with Kias and Hyundais stolen in Wisconsin which is where it appears this video originated.”
Arlington police arrested several juvenile suspects for the thefts and say the number of thefts has dropped since the arrests.
“It’s a serious crime because it usually leads to somebody evading in the car. Someone could get injured,” Minton added “As a person who is a victim of auto theft – that’s how they’re getting their kids to daycare, or school. That’s how they’re earning their money to get to work. It can be devastating for somebody who loses their ability to do those things.”
Kia issued the following statement:
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The latest news from around North Texas.
“Kia America is aware of the rise in vehicle thefts of a subset of trim levels. All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the year or as a running change. All Kia vehicles for sale in the U.S. meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”
TikTok also issued a statement:
“TikTok does not condone this behavior which categorically violates our policies and will be removed if found on our platform.”
Arlington police say that until the trend ends, people with these types of vehicles should remain aware.
“Park in well-lit areas. Maybe put a different car behind this one if you’re worried about it and it might be an older model that might be easier to steal,” Minton said. “You can purchase an alarm system or look at GPS tracking that are both affordable options to keep an eye on your car that way.”
Get updates on what's happening in North Texas to your inbox. Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kia-and-hyundai-thefts-blamed-on-social-media-challenge/3040126/ | 2022-08-04T20:08:30 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kia-and-hyundai-thefts-blamed-on-social-media-challenge/3040126/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-kia-and-hyundai-thefts-may-be-connected-to-social-media-post/3040171/ | 2022-08-04T20:08:38 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-kia-and-hyundai-thefts-may-be-connected-to-social-media-post/3040171/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita State University says the City of Wichita is giving the school $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help small businesses that are struggling. The money will ultimately address technology problems.
WSU says a lot of small businesses have face-to-face interaction with customers. Therefore, many of those businesses were the ones that had to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.
“If these businesses had access to tech talent and resources to shift to a digital platform, they not only could have survived but possibly thrived and competed against large corporations that had the financial means to pivot to digital quickly,” said Dr. Jeremy Patterson, executive director of WSU’s Office of Innovation and New Ventures.
The $1 million will go toward the Small Business Digital Transformation (SBDT) Program. The program has developed a four-week training for business owners to streamline workflow, focusing on converting to online sales and tracking digital sales and growth.
“We are rethinking nearly every element of instruction to deliver a program that builds business resiliency while connecting and embedding students from across campus into this real-world application with the goal of ultimately filling local job demands,” Patterson said.
Wichita State students hired as digital navigators will help businesses design a digital-integration plan and will help implement specific technology to boost efficiency.
“Long-term, the hope is that it will allow the businesses to be more successful and to grow,” said Troy Tabor, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “This is the way for the university to bring these small businesses up to speed – it will raise all ships.”
For more information on the Wichita State University Office of Innovation and New Ventures and the Small Business Digital Transformation Program contact Jeremy Patterson at 316-978-3786 or email jeremy.patterson@wichita.edu. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wsu-gets-1m-to-help-wichita-small-businesses/ | 2022-08-04T20:10:54 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wsu-gets-1m-to-help-wichita-small-businesses/ |
2 Muncie authors shortlisted for Indiana Authors Awards
The 2022 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards recently announced the shortlist of books eligible for top honors in its eight literary categories. Forty books written by Indiana authors — including two by Muncie writers — that were published in 2020 and 2021 have been shortlisted. Winners will be announced on Aug. 24.
In the debut category, J.R. Jamison is nominated for "Hillbilly Queer: A Memoir," "an enduring love story between a conservative dad and gay son who find that sometimes the differences between us aren’t really that different at all," according to a release.
Jamison is host of the NPR podcast and radio show "The Facing Project," recorded and produced at Indiana Public Radio), and a founder of the national Facing Project network, a nonprofit organization in 18 states and more than 100 communities. Currently, he is writing his debut young-adult novel. He is a two-time graduate of Ball State University with a B.S. in cultural geography and creative writing and an M.A.Ed. in higher education administration.
In the poetry category, Mark Neely is nominated for "Ticker,"a collection of poems that follows the life of its main character as he navigates marriage, children, aging parents, politics, race, religion, global catastrophe and the irrelevance of middle age.
Neely is the author of "Beasts of the Hill" and "Dirty Bomb." "Ticker," his third book, won the Idaho Prize for Poetry. His other awards include an NEA Poetry Fellowship, an Indiana Individual Artist Grant, the FIELD Poetry Prize, and the Concrete Wolf Chapbook Award. He is a professor of English at Ball State and a senior editor at "River Teeth: a Journal of Nonfiction Narrative."
Other authors with Muncie connections on the list include Ashley C. Ford, a Ball State graduate and former writer-in-residence, in the debut category for her memoir "Somebody’s Daughter," and Angela Jackson-Brown, who previously taught creative writing at Ball State, in the fiction category for "When Stars Rain Down." | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/2-muncie-authors-shortlisted-for-indiana-authors-awards/65387067007/ | 2022-08-04T20:15:57 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/2-muncie-authors-shortlisted-for-indiana-authors-awards/65387067007/ |
Flooding in Pipeline West area to be addressed at Flagstaff community meeting
Flagstaff is holding a community meeting Thursday night to discuss post-wildfire flooding in the Pipeline West area. During the meeting at City Hall, city staff will outline flood risks for impacted neighborhoods as well as both short- and long-term mitigation efforts and take questions from residents.
"The decision to hold a community meeting was made as we have seen multiple flood events to date, and we want to provide another opportunity to make sure residents have all of the information they need as we continue through monsoon season," said a spokesperson for the Flagstaff mayor's office.
Notably, the community meeting is specifically focused on the west side of the Pipeline Fire burn area. This includes the neighborhoods of Cheshire, Coconino Estates, Coyote Springs, Ridge Crest, Rock Ridge Estates and Valley Crest.
The areas and flooding issues on the east side of the burn scar, including Doney Park and Timberline, will not be specifically addressed in this meeting.
City Hall is at 211 W. Aspen Ave. in Flagstaff. The city can be reached at 928-213-2000.
Residents can attend the meeting in person or watch the livestream online. Asking questions virtually will not be available but residents with specific questions are encouraged to attend the meeting in person or email them to info@pipelinewestflooding.com.
Contact northern Arizona reporter Lacey Latch at llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatch. Coverage of northern Arizona on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is funded by the nonprofit Report for America and a grant from the Vitalyst Health Foundation in association with The Arizona Republic. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/flooding-pipeline-west-area-addressed-flagstaff-community-meeting/10237594002/ | 2022-08-04T20:21:02 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/08/04/flooding-pipeline-west-area-addressed-flagstaff-community-meeting/10237594002/ |
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