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A week after Ohio Task Force 1 left for Kentucky to help with search and rescue efforts following deadly flooding, the task force said it has completed its current missions and is resting and working on equipment while it waits for its next assignment.
The team’s tasks so far have included search and rescue operations using boats near the Hindman and Knott County line, as well as wide area search operations in the Breathitt County area southeast of Jackson. It also works to evaluate structural damage and following up with house emergency visits.
The original 16-person team expanded to 48 with the gradual addition of 29 more task force members and five canine handlers. The team is operating as a Type III Search and Rescue team.
Ohio Task Force 1 was deployed in the wake of heavy rain that caused flash flooding and mudslides in southeastern Kentucky, killing at least 16 people.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/a-week-after-deploying-to-kentucky-ohio-task-force-1-rests-awaits-next-assignment/TN7JAGI5EVG55LROMRFRX5IEDY/ | 2022-08-04T22:37:56 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/a-week-after-deploying-to-kentucky-ohio-task-force-1-rests-awaits-next-assignment/TN7JAGI5EVG55LROMRFRX5IEDY/ |
GADSDEN, Ala. (WIAT) — Three Alabama towns are major stops for the “World’s Longest Yard Sale,” which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this weekend.
From Thursday through Sunday, tourists and travelers can stop by three-yard sale locations in Gadsden, Collinsville and Fort Payne set up by vendors associated with the “World’s Longest Yard Sale,” also known as the 127-Yard Sale.
The locations of the yard sale stops in Alabama are:
- Between Co Rd. 297 and County Rd. 115(Fort Payne, AL)
- Intersection of AL-176 (Lookout Mountain Parkway) and AL-68 (Collinsville, AL)
- Noccalula Falls Park (Gadsden, AL)
- 2266 Tabor Road (2.5 miles from Noccalula Falls) (Gadsden, AL)
The event began in 1987 when Tennessee locals wanted to encourage motorists to take scenic routes instead of interstate highways to promote local economies. Organizers later partnered with other towns located on Route 127 to form the chain of yard sales that now spans six states and 690 miles.
Information about detailed travel directions, places to stop on the route and more can be found on their website. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/worlds-longest-yard-sale-begins-in-gadsden-celebrating-35-years/ | 2022-08-04T22:38:50 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/worlds-longest-yard-sale-begins-in-gadsden-celebrating-35-years/ |
Shasta County Public Health warns residents about scam phone calls: News roundup
Shasta County is warning residents to be aware of recent scams and fraudulent activities by individuals posing as public health officials.
The Health and Human Services Agency has received tips from the public of scam phone calls and Facebook posts.
"The phone scammers say they are calling from Shasta County Public Health and request information on vaccination status. The Facebook scammer claimed to be an agent of Shasta County Public Health and requested money so that it can receive a large grant," a county news release said.
Public Health officials will contact people who have been exposed to certain infectious diseases and may request health information related to them, but they will never solicit money from the public or ask for personal information, such as Social Security number or bank account information, the news release said.
For more information on how to avoid scams, go to the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice website at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam.
Visit Report Fraud site at reportfraud.ftc.gov to report a scam.
— David Benda
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. | https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/shasta-county-public-health-warns-residents-scam-phone-calls/10241795002/ | 2022-08-04T22:41:29 | 0 | https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/shasta-county-public-health-warns-residents-scam-phone-calls/10241795002/ |
ASTORIA, Ore. — Oil cleanup from the historic Columbia River Ferry, Tourist No. 2, that capsized on July 28 at a dock in Astoria is scheduled for Thursday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
"We are working closely with our local partners to remove any potential contaminants from the vessel," said Coast Guard Capt. Justin Noggle. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of our first responders and protection of the environment."
The Global Diving and Salvage responded to the report of the sunken ferry by subcontracting US Ecology, placing a temporary floating barrier to help contain an oil spill and minimize harm to the environment.
PHOTOS: Ferry capsizes in Astoria
The Tourist No. 2 was a historic Astoria ferry that was brought back to the dock in 2016 in hopes of being restored and becoming a tourist attraction. Built in the 1920s, the ferry carried people and cars across the Columbia River up until 1966 when the Astoria Bridge was built.
Earlier this week, the Coast Guard said it was working with Global to raise the sinking ferry and safely remove approximately 500 gallons of oil. Global brought in a crane to lift the boat, but was unable to get close enough to due to numerous wood pilings in the area.
According to Mayor Bruce Jones, Tourist No. 2 was docked illegally on Department of State Lands land, and the owner was cited for trespass and other civil penalties.
The Coast Guard is working with the owner and local and state agencies to figure out the final arrangement of the ferry once the pollution threats are cleaned up. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/coast-guard-scheduled-remove-fuel-capsized-astoria-ferry/283-91e6aed1-26d9-4213-a825-d585beac9bfa | 2022-08-04T22:50:11 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/coast-guard-scheduled-remove-fuel-capsized-astoria-ferry/283-91e6aed1-26d9-4213-a825-d585beac9bfa |
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has announced restrictions on campfires, smoking, and other activities on National Forest System lands in the gorge.
The restrictions were issued Thursday due to wildfire risk and will remain in effect through Nov. 1, 2022, unless repealed sooner.
Building, maintaining, attending, or using fire is prohibited in lands, roads, and trails within the gorge area. The ban includes campfires, stove fire and charcoal fire.
Smoking is prohibited unless outside of cars, buildings or designated campgrounds that are in barren areas at least three feet in diameter from flammable material.
Firearms and other explosives are also banned on National Forest System land. Motorized vehicles are prohibited from trails, as is the use of welding equipment and torches.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture put the restrictions in place to try to avoid additional wildfires. The ban comes during a week that has seen several wildfires break out around Oregon.
The Miller Road wildfire began Tuesday afternoon near Maupin, about 30 miles south of The Dalles, and has since grown to more than 10,000 acres, prompting the Wasco County Sheriff's office to issue evacuation orders for nearby communities.
On Thursday morning, a separate large fire broke out near Interstate 84 in The Dalles.
Highway 197 was closed around noon in The Dalles due to the fire. The closure stretches from the interstate to the intersection with State Route 30. State Route 30 remains open, The Oregon Department of Transportation said. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/fire-restrictions-issued-columbia-river-gorge/283-b8dcdc72-f9f5-495a-b10f-d7555613280e | 2022-08-04T22:50:17 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/fire-restrictions-issued-columbia-river-gorge/283-b8dcdc72-f9f5-495a-b10f-d7555613280e |
THE DALLES, Ore. — A large fire broke out near Interstate 84 in The Dalles Thursday morning. Video shot by KGW reporters shows a plume of smoke billowing from a site to the south of the freeway, with emergency vehicles blocking Exit 87 to U.S. Highway 197.
The fire is separate from the Miller Road wildfire currently burning near Maupin, about 30 miles south of The Dalles, which began on Tuesday and has since grown to more than 10,000 acres, an area roughly the size of the city of Corvallis, and prompted evacuation orders.
Officials at the Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue Department said Thursday morning the fire in The Dalles was at the site of a treatment plant for manufacturing railroad ties operated by AmeriTies, but an AmeriTies spokesperson told KGW it was a brush fire to the east of the facility and not on the property.
The Oregon Department of Transportation announced shortly before noon that Highway 197 was closed in The Dalles due to the fire, including the exit from Interstate 84. The closure stretches from the interstate to the intersection with State Route 30, although State Route 30 itself remains open, ODOT said.
All available firefighters from Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue have been dispatched, the agency said, and mutual aid from surrounding fire agencies has been called in.
The Wasco County Sheriff's Office initially issued a Level 2 evacuation warning for the Columbia Heights area, but later reduced them to a Level 1 notice. No new evacuations had been issued on the fire as of shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday.
This is a developing story and will be updated. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/fire-burning-the-dalles/283-23e89f3d-4638-49e0-9452-9b5042e2ad45 | 2022-08-04T22:50:23 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/fire-burning-the-dalles/283-23e89f3d-4638-49e0-9452-9b5042e2ad45 |
ADAMS COUNTY, Wash. — A growing wildfire has been reported three miles south of Lind, according to Washington State Patrol District 4.
The fire started at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Thursday and is currently burning 2,000 acres and growing, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal. 91 Avista customers in Lind are without power due to the fire.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office reports that the entire town of Lind is being evacuated. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) said the fire could pass through the city.
The sheriff's office said all of the individuals are being evacuated to the Ritzville Grade School. According to WSDOT East, Highway 395 has been reopened, but crews are on standby if the fire warrants a closure. State Route 21 is also open, but residents are being advised that there are some low visibility areas.
At this time, 10 homes have been lost. Homes, crops and infrastructure are threatened by the fire, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday at the request of Fire Chief Kevin Starring, Adams County Fire District 2.
Adams County Fire management is heading to assist. Emergency management is aware of the fire, according to the sheriff's office.
Photos: Wildfire burning near Lind, Wash.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This is a developing news story and we will provide more updates as they become available.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/firefighters-responding-to-growing-wildfire-near-lind-in-adams-county/293-ff059c8a-3a13-4fd8-ad42-68550f20e702 | 2022-08-04T22:50:29 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/firefighters-responding-to-growing-wildfire-near-lind-in-adams-county/293-ff059c8a-3a13-4fd8-ad42-68550f20e702 |
Five candidates are running for Kenosha County Sheriff to follow David Beth, who held the office for two decades.
The primary on Tuesday, Aug. 9, will narrow the crowded GOP field to just one candidate. Running for the Republican Party are Tyler Cochran, Ray Rowe, David Zoerner and Albert Gonzales. Rowe and Gonzales are both of Kenosha, and Zoerner and Cochran are of Pleasant Prairie.
The winner will face James Simmons, of Kenosha, during the general election in November. Simmons appears on the primary ballot as the lone Democrat.
Responses to questions from the Kenosha News have been edited for length.
What are the main issues in this election?
COCHRAN: The path we will take to better law enforcement in Kenosha County will ultimately lead to an improved quality of life for all citizens. Too often, the most recognizable candidate wins instead of the most qualified. Kenosha County has grown considerably, and we need law enforcement agencies with leaders who can adapt to our fast paced, growing community and advancements in technology.
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Law enforcement’s response to mental health related calls needs a complete overhaul in Kenosha County. Currently, those suffering from a mental health related crisis are treated as a person who committed a crime. We also must take care of department personnel’s mental health needs, which would include improving peer support programs and department wellness programs, both of which I have a lot of experience with.
GONZALES: The most important issues in this race are the role of the Sheriff in Kenosha County and how that individual deals with the various problems in the county.
The role of the Sheriff is to enforce the various laws and ordinances of the county, take care of civil processes and run the jail. I have found the citizens of this county want this done in a no-nonsense way. They are not interested in catering to one community over another, enforcement based on “how it might look” or a Sheriff that will enforce illegal mandates or other orders that would violate the citizens’ constitutional rights. ie: federal red flag laws. They want a Sheriff that will be tough, honest, fair and answer to them
ROWE: One issue is staff recruitment and retention, especially our corrections division. Many of our corrections employees are leaving for other careers because they’re working too many hours a week and getting burned out. We need to get creative to retain our staff, while maintaining our hiring standards so that we get the best possible candidates for personnel.
Most of us can say that we didn’t see the Covid-19 pandemic or the 2020 riots coming. I want to work collaboratively with other community leaders and first responders on training and preparing for unpredictable events. to help keep our county safe.
It seems that the number of mental health cases has increased over the years. It would be beneficial to have mental health professionals offer annual trainings to our deputies and corrections so they can effectively identify and service mental health calls. Providing the services and treatments for those dealing with mental health or drug dependency issues is incredibly important.
SIMMONS: The biggest issue is there are candidates who are not the best qualified for the position. Candidates are running on their popularity versus their experiences. Voters must do their diligence in electing a candidate, who will move Kenosha County in the right direction and not business as usual. Race, color or creed shouldn’t matter in this election, only the best qualified candidate should win.
ZOERNER: Keeping families safe. Crime is at an all time high nationally and in Kenosha County. Our highways need dedicated enforcement to slow dangerous traffic trends, and I intend to increase our Traffic and Drug Interdiction Enforcement with K-9 units. The escalating crime rates must be met head on with a proactive police presence and aggressive pursuit of criminals. The law enforcement in Kenosha County needs well-trained, supported staff to be able to combat these issues. We are in the midst of the deadliest drug epidemic Kenosha has seen to date, and stopping this activity must be a paramount priority. The riotous behavior and destruction of recent years as well as the establishment of our county as a drug trafficking corridor has caused a spike in crimes like home invasion. High speed chases and gun violence plague the entire county. These criminals must be made aware that Kenosha County is not soft on crime.
Why are you running for office?
COCHRAN: I have have seen, firsthand, countless dedicated local law enforcement personnel leave the profession due to poor leadership. After the lack of response to the civil unrest in 2020, I decided that I could either be part of the problem and complain or become part of the solution and make a positive difference. With my current position as Kenosha’s Officer Friendly, I have the community connections needed to repair broken relationships between law enforcement and the community. I also have experience managing a large budget, and currently directly supervise the largest number of employees at the Kenosha Police Department.
GONZALES: (I want) to be a servant leader to those who serve in all capacities of the Sheriff’s department. The office of Sheriff is one granted to a person by the people to protect their God given rights under the constitution. I’ll be responsible for the lives of close to 300 people who work on the department and a budget of over $30 million, that means I’ll have to be a good steward of both. I have been studying the habits of leaders of different companies and spoken to Sheriffs of other counties about how best to go about the task. I have even consulted with some “numbers” people both in this county and abroad to know how best to break down the budget and use the money allocated to the department.
ROWE: I am running for office because I care about my hometown. This is the community where I grew up, where I raised my children, and where I work. I want to continue moving our department and community forward. I want to work to make Kenosha County a safer place to live, work and visit.
SIMMONS: I’m running for Sheriff because the people of Kenosha County deserve a Sheriff who has vast knowledge in several divisions. I’ve been in Corrections, Court Security, Highway Patrol, Investigations (Adult and Juvenile), executed warrants and civil process tasks. I know the communication between law enforcement and the community is at an all-time low. The time is now to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community with respectable dialogue. I will listen to the concerns of the community and the concerns of my law enforcement subordinates. We as a community will create the blueprint which will turn the County in a positive direction. I want to create scenario-based training which will cover every aspect of law-enforcement including mental health. Hopefully this training will reduce lawsuits in the future. I have many more ideas which help move the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department in the right direction.
ZOERNER: Over my 23 years serving the Sheriff’s Department, I’ve gained a unique perspective to the issues that exist within the Sheriff’s office. I have a close working relationship with the Sheriff’s deputies and detectives and I know that many of them do not feel supported by current leadership. They deserve a leader who understands their departments and the issues that are causing such low morale and who respects them enough to do something about those issues. Additionally, no one is talking about the real issues in Kenosha County, like the fentanyl crisis, the fear of more riots with no helpful response from law enforcement, increased break-ins, child predators, etc. We continue to hear about pet projects or tired campaign slogans from the other candidates rather than the actual duties and responsibilities they would be adopting in this role. I’m not in it for power or recognition. I have dedicated my entire adult life serving our community and I want to see it thrive. When it is in its most dire hour of need, I won’t turn my back on Kenosha County I want to see the families of the county feel safe again so they can prosper.
Anything you’d like to add?
COCHRAN: I think it’s important for voters to do their research before voting for a candidate. I am the only candidate that is not retiring or at retirement age. I’m currently in the prime of my career and not looking for a paycheck or a title. I’m seeking this position to make positive change in the place I have called home my entire life.
GONZALES: I have run this campaign from the beginning as a political outsider. I ran as a boots on the ground street cop who has persevered throughout my career. A leader who has been in the trenches and not afraid to back up his fellow law enforcement officers no matter what agency they work for. A leader that brings 25 plus years of law enforcement service combined with 32 years of helping run a family business to the table. A leader that knows there are vast untapped personnel resources within the Sheriff’s department. Resources that when tapped and combined with my own ideas will help improve not only the department but Kenosha County as well. Overall, I want to be a servant, constitutional upholding, on his knees in prayer, leader for Kenosha County.
ROWE: I look forward to serving the citizens of Kenosha County. My goal is to continue building trusting relationships between our community and law enforcement. I want to ensure our staff has the training and equipment necessary to serve their community well. My nearly 26 years at the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department has given me the opportunity to work with so many children and families. Our deputies and corrections staff have an incredibly difficult job, I’m hoping that citizens continue to appreciate the job that law enforcement does. I want to be part of the effort to bring our community together again.
SIMMONS: Vote for an all round candidate with vast experience and innovative decision thinking.
ZOERNER: I believe the depth and breadth of my experience sets me apart from my opponents. Not only am I the only candidate who has command and supervisory experience, but I have worked and supervised in every division of the Sheriff’s Department: Patrol, Civil Process and Detentions. In addition to the specialty teams, I serve Kenosha County on the Opioid Task Force, the Chapter 51 Committee on Mental Health, and I’ve been a board member of Women and Children’s Horizons for 20 years helping victims of domestic and sexual abuse. There are real dangers facing Kenosha County citizens right now and I seem to be the only candidate who is drawing on expertise to put a stop to them. I believe my dedication and constant involvement is a testament to that. In addition, over my career I have developed relationships throughout the region and have garnered the respect and endorsements from the Kenosha County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, The Republican Party of Kenosha County, Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling, as well as several Chiefs of Police from our area that I have actually worked beside. That trust will allow us all to collaborate and work together to improve law enforcement throughout the entire region, which will be a huge benefit to Kenosha County. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/next-weeks-primary-election-to-narrow-field-as-four-seek-republican-nod-for-kenosha-county/article_4fb4b196-133e-11ed-be8e-479a6367c326.html | 2022-08-04T22:50:48 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/next-weeks-primary-election-to-narrow-field-as-four-seek-republican-nod-for-kenosha-county/article_4fb4b196-133e-11ed-be8e-479a6367c326.html |
The family of the 18-year-old Virginia Union University freshman football player who collapsed and died during a team workout on Aug. 8, 2021, is asking for a $10 million judgment against the school in a wrongful death case.
The legal action relating to the death of Quandarius Wilburn was filed July 13 in Richmond Circuit Court.
Wilburn, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound defensive end from Wadley, Ga., was involved in conditioning drills on VUU’s campus when he died. Five months later, the Chief Medical Examiner's Office determined, "The manner of death is natural and the cause of death is acute sickle cell crisis in the setting of sickle cell trait [hemoglobin S gene heterozygosity], physical exertion, and elevated environmental temperature."
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As a student-athlete with sickle cell trait, Wilburn’s conditioning program should have been adjusted, contends the lawsuit, which says Virginia Union coach Alvin Parker and VUU’s athletic trainer and conditioning coach knew that Wilburn had sickle cell trait.
“Once they’re on notice that an athlete has the sickle cell trait, it’s commonly known in the industry that those athletes have to be trained differently than the other athletes, and if you don’t do it, they’ll die,” Victor C. Hawk, a Georgia-based legal representative of the Wilburn family, said Thursday.
"Given the substantial number of improvements" that the Virginia Employment Commission needs to make "and the challenges and complexities associated with making them," legislative oversight in the near term is key, said Hal Greer, director of JLARC.
“You don’t throw a child that you know can’t swim into the deep water.”
A jury trial is requested. According to Hawk, the discovery phase of the case will begin in October and last until about the end of the year.
Contacted Thursday afternoon, Pamela Cox, VUU's chief of staff/associate vice president for university relations, offered no immediate comment. She said she had not seen the filing.
Listed as defendants in the lawsuit are VUU; Parker, the Panthers' coach; Felicia Johnson, then the school’s athletic director; Sean Ahonen, then the head athletic trainer for the football team; and Monterio Hand, then conditioning coach for the football team.
“At all relevant times, including prior to August 8, 2021, all Defendants knew Wilburn had a known sickle cell trait,” according to the lawsuit.
The blood disorder involves inherited genes, and about one in 13 Black babies in the U.S. is born with sickle cell trait, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For athletes with sickle cell trait, gradual buildup of physical activity is recommended by the medical community.
"The very thing that you're not supposed to do in conditioning athletes with sickle cell trait is require them to do a series of conditioning exercises with very short intervals of recovery and limited access to hydration," Hawk said.
According to the lawsuit, “Wilburn was undergoing 80-yard sprints with little rest in between each sprint. When Wilburn had trouble, he was pushed to the point of exhaustion and, inexcusably, beyond.”
The high temperature in Richmond on Aug. 8, 2021, was 86 degrees.
After Wilburn collapsed, he was rushed by ambulance to VCU Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to VUU. The lawsuit contends that VUU failed to administer appropriate medical assistance in a timely manner, and also failed to call for appropriate emergency assistance in a timely manner.
"Wilburn's death not only could have been prevented, it should have been prevented," according to the lawsuit.
According to Hawk, in the past two decades a football player died about every other year as the result of a sickle cell crisis during conditioning.
A report from the National Athletic Trainers' Association notes that research shows "sickle cells can 'logjam' blood vessels ... Sickling can begin in two to three minutes of any all-out exertion – and can reach grave levels soon thereafter if the athlete continues to struggle."
According to the CDC, some people with sickle cell trait “have been shown to be more likely than those without SCT to experience [heatstroke] and muscle breakdown when doing intense exercise, such as competitive sports or military training under unfavorable temperatures [very high or low] or conditions.”
The NCAA recommends that athletics departments confirm sickle cell trait status of each athlete at the school. At VUU, the athletics website included before Wilburn’s arrival a medical form for student-athletes in advance of participation in a sport.
The second item on the form involved sickle cell test results, with the note, "Infants born after 1984 were tested for the sickle cell trait and therefore the documentation should be available from your family pediatrician."
According to the suit, Wilburn underwent a physical examination at the East Georgia Health Center before reporting to VUU, and the examination confirmed he had sickle cell trait, information related to Parker before Wilburn and the team started VUU workouts.
Coaches are advised by the NCAA to provide a slow and gradual preseason conditioning regimen for those who have sickle cell trait, and schedule fitness tests for later in the training program. Hydration is vital. Having sickle cell trait doesn’t preclude a person from participating in sports.
According to a fact sheet provided for coaches by the NCAA, “the incidents of sudden death in athletes with sickle cell trait have been exclusive to conditioning sessions rather than game or skill practice situations ... Student-athletes can begin to experience symptoms after only one to three minutes of sprinting, or in any other full exertion or sustained effort, thus quickly increasing the risk of complications.”
A planned emergency response reviewed and rehearsed is critical, the NCAA added in its fact sheet. The lawsuit contends VUU failed "to maintain an adequate emergency plan." | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/family-of-deceased-vuu-football-player-files-10-million-lawsuit-against-school/article_b1e639e8-7c6a-599f-a92f-a54647dcb265.html | 2022-08-04T22:50:53 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/family-of-deceased-vuu-football-player-files-10-million-lawsuit-against-school/article_b1e639e8-7c6a-599f-a92f-a54647dcb265.html |
Holly Coy will be officially appointed at the Henrico 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 2015-20 under former Govs. 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 since 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-public-schools-appoints-former-vdoe-official-as-chief-of-staff/article_faabc827-5911-5bd2-957f-50fc1844937b.html | 2022-08-04T22:50:55 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/henrico-public-schools-appoints-former-vdoe-official-as-chief-of-staff/article_faabc827-5911-5bd2-957f-50fc1844937b.html |
Two years after adopting codes regulating the short-term rentals of homes through digital platforms like Airbnb, Richmond city officials are preparing to revise the rules to address lingering concerns.
The city is considering the changes alongside two other significant changes to the city’s zoning code: the potential elimination of parking requirements for new developments and new rules allowing residential property owners to build and rent out a second home or an above-garage apartment on their lot.
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Specific ordinances have not yet been introduced, but the city announced Thursday that it will hold a series of community meetings this month to share information about the potential changes and gather public feedback before legislative hearings this fall.
Under the city’s short-term rental code adopted in June 2020, Airbnb and other short-term rental operators must reside in their rental units — or a home on the property — for at least 185 days of the year. The number of nights a year each short-term rental can operate is unlimited.
The rules also require that renters pay a $300 fee every two years for a short-term rental permit, but few operators have actually obtained the permit.
In a presentation at a January meeting where the Planning Commission voted to re-evaluate the code, planning director Kevin Vonck said there have been about 600 to 800 rentals listed online at various points since the adoption of the ordinance, but that the city had received only 84 permit applications.
The other two zoning changes under consideration are also based on adopted City Council and Planning Commission resolutions.
Under the city’s new Richmond 300 master plan for growth and development over the next 20 years, a section of the 262-page document recommends that the city allow “accessory dwelling units” by-right with some regulations in “all residential zones.”
The purpose of the recommendation is to encourage the development of more housing throughout the city and increasing density along transit corridors and areas targeted for more development, such as Downtown, Southside Plaza, the Richmond Highway corridor and the Greater Scott’s Addition area.
Advocates of accessory dwelling units say more of them would also help create more affordable housing options for people struggling to find a place to live in the city.
Seeking to lower building costs for new apartments, homes and offices, 1st District Councilman Andreas Addison proposed that the city study the possibility of eliminating parking requirements for new development projects.
While some council members have said they are skeptical of the idea, fearing that it will lead to significant on-street parking constraints and complaints from residents and businesses, Vonck has said he thinks the idea is worth considering because surface parking lots in new developments can cost about $10,000 to $20,000.
“We’re built out and our boundaries can’t expand, so we need to make the most efficient use of our land,” Vonck said last year. “Surface parking lots are definitely one of the most inefficient uses of that land.” | https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/richmond-wants-to-know-what-you-think-of-airbnb-short-term-rental-code-potential-elimination/article_e3b5cb73-8c0e-5675-99b4-5599013e5733.html | 2022-08-04T22:50:55 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/richmond-wants-to-know-what-you-think-of-airbnb-short-term-rental-code-potential-elimination/article_e3b5cb73-8c0e-5675-99b4-5599013e5733.html |
Virginia's U.S. senators have added their names to a federal bill to address hazing on college campuses following the death of a Virginia Commonwealth University student last year.
The bill, the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing, or REACH, Act, would require similar provisions to a law Virginia legislators passed this year. The Virginia statute is nicknamed Adam's Law for Adam Oakes, a 19-year-old freshman who died after a fraternity party in February 2021.
Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., said too many families have lost loved ones because of hazing.
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Enayat Sheikhzad, 22, admitted Wednesday in Richmond Circuit Court to helping provide the alcohol that killed Oakes.
"Parents who send their kids off to college never imagine that their child may be injured, seriously impaired or killed by the actions of their friends or peers," the senators said in a statement.
The REACH act would require colleges to report hazing incidents as part of their annual crime report. It would establish a definition for hazing – not all states have one – and it would require colleges to establish an educational program about the dangers of hazing.
Virginia's law, which Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed, requires schools to report instances of hazing in a separate document each September. Colleges nationwide are already required to report the number of sexual assaults and other campus crimes each October as part of the Clery Act.
Named for Adam Oakes, "Adam's Law" passed unanimously in the Senate and received 98 of 100 votes in the House.
Adam's Law also requires student organizations in Virginia to undergo hazing-prevention training. Virginia already has a definition for hazing – to recklessly endanger the health or safety of a student or to inflict bodily injury in connection with the initiation to a student organization, regardless of whether the student participates voluntarily.
Hazing is a Class 5 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail. Oakes' family urged the General Assembly to pass a bill upgrading the crime to a felony, but the bill failed to gain consensus.
Since 2000, there have been more than 100 deaths associated with hazing, according to Hank Nuwer, a former University of Richmond professor who tracks hazing deaths across the country.
Just before midnight three years ago, 20 members of the Delta Chi fraternity at Virginia Com…
The REACH Act got its first push from Julie and Gary Devercelly. Their son, Gary Devercelly Jr., died at Rider University in 2007 following an alcohol-infused party for the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Federal lawmakers introduced bills in 2017 and 2019, but they failed to reach the House or Senate floors for voting.
Eric and Linda Oakes, Adam Oakes' parents, met with Warner and Kaine last week in hopes of gaining their support. Eric Oakes said Rep. Don McEachin, D-4th and Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, have indicated they will vote in favor, too.
"Right now we've got a lot of momentum," Eric Oakes said. "I'd love to see all Virginia reps get behind this."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., reintroduced the Senate version of the bill last year, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has introduced similar legislation.
"We owe it to parents and students to pass this legislation to provide transparency and accountability around these incidents, as well as education on the dangers and life-long consequences of hazing," Kaine and Warner said. | https://richmond.com/news/local/kaine-warner-back-federal-anti-hazing-bill-following-death-of-vcu-student/article_7edbb39e-636b-569c-bc13-c0340a74efd0.html | 2022-08-04T22:50:55 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/kaine-warner-back-federal-anti-hazing-bill-following-death-of-vcu-student/article_7edbb39e-636b-569c-bc13-c0340a74efd0.html |
“Swagger,” the sports drama based on basketball star Kevin Durant’s youth, is back in Richmond filming its second season for Apple TV+, and film crews have been spotted around town.
On Thursday, crews were setting up around Huguenot High School at 7945 Forest Hill Ave. Earlier this week, “Swagger” crews were spotted at Maymont.
Filming is expected to continue now through November. So get ready to see lots more “Base Camp” and “Crew Parking” signs around town.
“Swagger” filmed season one in the Richmond area from 2019 to 2021 with breaks due to the pandemic.
In season one, Gilpin Court was a major site for filming as it served as the home for Carson, the main character and up-and-coming basketball star. Other Richmond sites popped up in season one, including the Brookland Park neighborhood, the Seminary Avenue neighborhood, the Mayo Bridge and the basketball courts at the downtown YMCA.
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If you’re interested in being an extra, Kendall Cooper Casting is taking applications at www.kendallcoopercasting.com/rva.
“Casting will be ongoing throughout the season and we need lots of people. It’s definitely not too late to submit. Submissions will stay open throughout filming,” Cooper said via email. | https://richmond.com/news/local/swagger-film-crew-spotted-around-richmond-at-maymont-huguenot-high-school/article_b07e93b5-0aed-55c6-a86b-ae66361e9857.html | 2022-08-04T22:51:04 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/swagger-film-crew-spotted-around-richmond-at-maymont-huguenot-high-school/article_b07e93b5-0aed-55c6-a86b-ae66361e9857.html |
Meet the candidates for DeLand City Commission Seat 3: Jessica Davis and Deirdre Perry
Unlike DeLand's mayoral race, which could head to the general election in November, voters will decide seats 3, 4 and 5 on the City Commission during the Aug. 23 primary.
Seat 3 incumbent Jessica Davis is running against newcomer Deirdre Perry.
Commissioners, who are elected citywide, serve four-year terms and receive an annual salary of $11,601 and change.
There are three candidates — Chris Cloudman, Buz Nesbit and Reggie Williams — running for mayor. If neither receives more than 50% of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes head to a runoff in November.
Growth, development, Spring Hill:DeLand mayoral candidates share thoughts
Seat 3 candidates
Jessica Davis, 38, is a middle school teacher with Volusia County Schools. She became the first Black woman elected to the commission in 2014; she ran unopposed in 2018.
Davis also is a member of multiple political and civic organizations: Florida League of Cities; Volusia League of Cities; National League of Cities; Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; Minority Elected Officials of Volusia County; Young Elected Officials Network; Spring Hill Community CRA Board; and the Downtown DeLand CRA Board.
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Her top priorities include:
- Increasing the number of police, fire and information technology staff. Additional officers dedicated to community policing reduce recidivism, prevent crime, and improve efficiency and effectiveness. Additional firefighters, who also serve as medical responders, mean more timely responses. Additional support in IT is critical to combat potential cyber security attacks.
- Safe, efficient and updated real assets – including bridges, roads, highways, sewage systems, parks, sidewalks, trails and power grids – are crucial to our continued growth and development. I proudly supported a $100,000 investment to improve our sidewalks and trails. As our economy recovers from COVID-19, investments in infrastructure will be necessary to help DeLand fulfill its destiny.
- COVID-19 taught us we must be prepared for uncertainties on all fronts. Because voters approved a $15 minimum wage hike, I supported efforts to be proactive. Budgeting for wage hike implications now allows us to phase in these investments and gives us a comprehensive plan for finances today and into the future.
Deirdre Perry, 53, is a business administration manager for Macy's.
Her top priorities include:
- Being transparent in order to build trust with the constituents: This will give a more open line of communication so when concerns are being addressed, we can openly discuss them with honest responses.
- The concern for the development in our area and the impact positively or negatively on our citizens, making sure they understand the why behind the discussions, and allow them to have a voice as how this type of growth would affect their community.
- More investment into our youth: I would like to focus on programs that would decrease the rising number of instances of bullying and harassment within our schools, and increase teacher/parent interaction to identify at-risk students.
Candidates comment
The following questions were posed to each candidate with a request to limit responses to 100 words. Answers are presented as they were submitted, save for minor corrections to punctuation.
In your opinion, what is DeLand's most pressing issue, and what efforts would you make to address it?
Davis: In DeLand and across our nation, we are experiencing an affordable housing crisis causing more of our workforce to become homeless. We must be innovative and creative in our approach in moving forward to accommodate our residents and their housing needs. I will be actively engaged in looking to provide solutions.
Perry: One of the most pressing issues that has been a concern is the development of the area. Many of our residents are concerned about the growth and how it has/will affect the natural resources. When decisions are made on development, we should make sure that the areas that are being developed would not destroy natural habitats.
In your opinion, what is DeLand's best feature, and how can it be expanded on?
Davis: There are many great things happening in the beautiful city of DeLand, also known as the "Athens of Florida." I want to expand on the great things we are doing in DeLand by strengthening public safety, investing in infrastructure improvements and budgeting for DeLand’s future. Add additional police officers dedicated to community policing and more firefighters to reduce wait time during an emergency. All components work together simultaneously.
Perry: DeLand is best known for its hometown feeling. Our downtown area is popular for its unique businesses, historic buildings and a great university, plus the people who make it all worth visiting. We can expand this by keeping landowners responsible for maintaining unused properties to a standard that will represent the hometown feel and having more beautification acknowledgments throughout the city that will speak to DeLand's beauty as a whole.
Why should someone choose you over your opponent?
Davis: I am a dedicated and experienced public servant who is active in our community, and I did not start being involved last week. I have missed less than three meetings and I missed no budget workshops in eight years. I made a commitment to my constituents to stay engaged, therefore I will!
Perry: I am a true DeLandite. Born and raised in DeLand would give you an idea that my heart is truly here and for the people. With the many changes throughout the years, I have always been an advocate for people, regardless of their background. I have a passion to help others and would be the voice they need to address concerns they may feel have been unheard. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2022/08/04/election-2022-deland-city-commission-seat-3-candidates-share-priorities-florida-primary/10132081002/ | 2022-08-04T22:52:56 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2022/08/04/election-2022-deland-city-commission-seat-3-candidates-share-priorities-florida-primary/10132081002/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Another heat wave is around the corner and temperatures are expected to climb to 100 degrees on Sunday.
For anyone hoping to head to a lake or river near the Portland metro area to cool down, there are several spots to check out rafts, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and innertubes. Some of them are located in the city and others are right next to bodies of water.
Here are 10 places to rent recreational floatation devices and more:
Located in Happy Valley, Oregon River Rentals specializes in inflatable watercraft. People can reserve their boat of choice, pick up their deflated gear, use it wherever they want, then return it when they’re done. The business rents rafts, kayaks, stand-up paddleboard and event rooftop cargo carriers.
Alder Creek rents gear in five different locations: Portland, Ridgefield, Tualatin, Lake Oswego and Dayton. The store’s main location is in Portland and the other shops are satellite rental locations. Customers can make reservations online for kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and rafts.
Oregon River Experiences is based in Lake Oswego but is known for guiding rafting trips around the state. For people wanting to venture out on their own, the company offers inflatable kayak and cataraft rentals. Customers can also rent wetsuits and tents.
While its flagship store is located in Portland, Next Adventure also offers watersports rentals in two other cities: Scappoose and Sandy. In Scappoose, customers can rent kayaks or canoes by the hour or by the day. The Portland store offers kayaks, rafts and stand-up paddleboards. The Sandy shop has stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and river tubes.
As the name implies, Portland Kayak Company is located in Portland. The store backs up to Willamette Park, allowing people to check out their gear and head directly onto the water. The store allows people to rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and canoes.
REI, the store known for selling outdoor recreation gear, also rents flotation devices to help people get out on the water. The REI stores in Portland, Clackamas, Tualatin, Hillsboro and Keizer all rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, innertubes and car racks to help haul them.
Portland State University’s campus recreation gear rentals aren’t only for students. Members of the public can also check out gear. However, campus recreation members will get a discount on rentals. The gear shop allows people to rent rafts, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
Clackamas River Outfitters encourages people to explore the waters of Estacada and has three locations spread around the city. The shop downtown rents stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, rafts, and river tubes. The locations at Milo McIver State Park and Estacada Lake have kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to rent.
For people who don’t want to transport their rented gear to the water, Tualatin Riverkeepers has you covered. There are two locations, one at Cook Park in Tualatin and one at Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro. People can rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
Located on Lacamas Lake at Heritage Park in Camas, Sweetwater SUP Rentals is another business offering gear rentals on the water. Customers can call or make reservations online in advance to rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards. | https://www.koin.com/local/10-places-to-rent-float-tubes-kayaks-sups-and-more-near-portland/ | 2022-08-04T22:56:47 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/10-places-to-rent-float-tubes-kayaks-sups-and-more-near-portland/ |
PIKE COUNTY, KY (WOWK) — The Pike County school board has voted unanimously to push the start date for students from Aug. 11 to Aug. 18.
Schools in the area that were directly hit will be given the option of when they’d like to host an open house event.
They say this will hopefully give families enough time to deal with the aftermath of flooding before sending the kids to school. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/pike-county-schools-votes-to-push-start-date-for-students/ | 2022-08-04T23:03:43 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/pike-county-schools-votes-to-push-start-date-for-students/ |
SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – Crews have been working on the Jefferson Connector in South Charleston for a while now. Here’s what those crews have been up to.
“That’s going to be expanded to a five-lane road with what we can a flyover which is an overpass over the railroad tracks and that was key to get that done,” Frank Mullens, Mayor of South Charleston said.
The five lanes will go from Route 60 to the Southridge Corridor and the access road will lead out where the Ice Arena and Target are.
“That’s going to be a tremendous help to getting you out of the parking lot. Those of us that shop out there when it’s really crowded you sometimes get stuck in that parking lot from Lowes and target, may take you 45 minutes to get out the parking lot,” Mullens said.
Many who have been in traffic here, especially during the holidays, know it can be a real headache.
“Very good idea. It’s going to take a lot of the traffic away,” Harry Hanshaw, a man driving by said.
“To make the roads and bring them to the twenty-first century and make the roads more accessible for higher traffic and things of that nature, out-of-towners and tourists and I think is nothing but solid and great for us,” Toi Bain, a man driving by said.
Not everyone agrees.
“I wish they would fix the small roads up in the hills before doing stuff like this,” Sarah Sentman, a woman driving by said.
Mullens believes the expansion will also help with the new Park Place shopping center that will hold up to 26 stores.
The project is expected to be completed by 2024. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/whats-happening-with-the-jefferson-connector-in-south-charleston/ | 2022-08-04T23:03:49 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/whats-happening-with-the-jefferson-connector-in-south-charleston/ |
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Parents are getting their kids ready to go back to school at a time when inflation is at its highest rate since 1981. Luckily, starting Friday and continuing through Monday, there will be no sales tax for shoppers in the Mountain State.
This includes clothes, school supplies, electronics, and even instructional material.
According to the National Retail Federation, parents will spend an average of $864 on school supplies for the 2022-2023 school year. That is up about $170 from 2019.
For many parents, this means some necessary supplies will have to be forfeited.
“It’s kind of scary, especially for the high school kids, a lot of the calculators they need are closer to $100, so sometimes they have to go without,” Teauna Niemeyer says.
Another mom, Angela Sites, homeschools her children, but that doesn’t cut any costs.
“We still have to buy everything you have for a regular school. Glue, pencils, staplers, all that, so it makes it difficult, especially when you are already paying for curriculum to homeschool,” she says.
Shoppers in Ohio will also have a sales tax break this weekend from the 5th through the 7th.
According to the Sales Tax Handbook, Kentucky does not have a sales tax holiday. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/wv-parents-welcome-sales-tax-holiday-for-back-to-school-items/ | 2022-08-04T23:03:55 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/wv-parents-welcome-sales-tax-holiday-for-back-to-school-items/ |
COVID-19 weekly update: Cases increase by 15,034, with 74 new known deaths
Reported COVID-19 cases in Arizona continued to increase at a relatively consistent weekly pace, with still large portions of tests for the virus returning positive, according to the state's weekly update.
Health officials on Wednesday added 15,034 new COVID-19 cases and 74 new known deaths over the weeklong period ending July 30. June and July have seen relatively similar weekly case additions.
Case counts are still far below the winter, state data shows. Case numbers in recent months likely are not showing the full picture of infections as many more people have used at-home test kits and may not report positive results to their doctors or county health departments.
Arizona, like other states, is seeing an ongoing case increase largely driven by two contagious subvariants of the virus, BA.4 and BA.5, with BA.5 the more dominant of the two. It's also likely contributing to reinfections given its contagiousness and ability to evade antibodies.
Residents in five of Arizona’s 15 counties should be wearing face masks indoors in public because of COVID-19 levels, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Thursday. Those counties were Mohave, Navajo, Apache, Yuma and La Paz.
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The CDC’s “community level” guidance is updated weekly and ranks counties as low, medium and high, or green, yellow and orange. The six Arizona counties designated as “medium” were Coconino, Gila, Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima. Maricopa, Yavapai, Pinal and Greenlee were “low” as of Thursday.
The metrics are based on a county’s COVID-19 hospital bed use, COVID-19 hospital admissions and case rates for the virus over the past week.
Reported cases since the pandemic began are over 2.2 million. Known deaths in Arizona exceed 30,800.
Wednesday marked the 23rd of the weekly updates to the state's data dashboard, instead of daily updates that Arizonans became accustomed to following for the latest data on infections, illnesses and deaths.
The previous week's update added 17,249 cases and 70 deaths, compared with 18,135 cases and 66 deaths, 15,280 cases and 60 deaths, 20,198 cases (high because old cases were added) and 57 deaths, 16,514 cases and 63 deaths, 15,373 cases and 52 deaths, 16,334 cases and 28 deaths, 14,677 cases and 40 deaths, 13,042 cases and 33 deaths, 11,498 cases and 40 deaths, 7,204 cases and 29 deaths, 5,490 cases and 41 deaths, 3,911 cases and 238 deaths, 2,350 cases and 99 deaths, 2,377 cases and 29 deaths (low because of a processing error), 2,777 cases and 142 deaths, 6,840 cases and 413 deaths, 10,143 cases (high because of a reporting catch-up) and 385 deaths, 4,566 cases and 336 deaths, 5,153 cases and 457 deaths, 6,549 cases and 382 deaths and 9,647 cases and 449 deaths the 21 weeks prior.
This week's update shows the differences between data reported for the week of July 24-30 and July 17-23.
Health officials say weekly updates match how public health monitors trends and other disease reporting.
Case numbers generally were relatively lower in the past couple of months, and public health experts estimate cases of the highly contagious omicron variant peaked in Arizona around mid-January.
The state data dashboard no longer shows key hospitalization information since Gov. Doug Ducey ended the COVID-19 emergency declaration on March 30. State health officials said hospitals are no longer required to report some COVID-19 surveillance data to the state, meaning certain graphs showing weekly hospitalization levels for the disease and bed usage by COVID-19 patients are no longer updated.
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At the time that data reporting stopped, hospitalizations for the disease had dropped steadily since late January.
The CDC still reports state hospitalization data for Arizona and showed a 17.1% decrease in the seven-day average of COVID-19 hospital admissions during July 25-31 compared with July 18-24. Hospital admissions last week were down 82.7% from the peak seven-day average in early January 2021.
The number of known deaths in the state was at 30,842 as of Wednesday, after passing 30,000 known deaths in the May 4 update, 29,000 deaths in the March 30 update, 28,000 deaths in the March 9 update, 27,000 deaths on Feb. 10 and 26,000 deaths on Jan. 28. The state surpassed 25,000 deaths on Jan. 13. Deaths are now reported with a four-week lag.
Arizona's overall pandemic death rate since early 2020 is the third-highest nationwide.
State data on breakthrough infections
The state in December began publicly disclosing data on breakthrough COVID-19 infections, and state officials say the data underscores the effectiveness of the vaccine — especially for people with booster doses.
Data from June show that 23.3% of hospitalizations and 22.4% of COVID-19 deaths were among fully vaccinated people without a booster, with 47.3% of hospitalizations and 42.7% of deaths among unvaccinated people. Fully vaccinated people with a booster made up 29.4% of hospitalizations and 34.9% of deaths in June.
For the first time, the monthly data did not include a breakdown of cases by vaccination status, just hospitalizations and deaths. Health officials said that's because testing changes, including more at-home testing, made that comparison "far less reliable."
The COVID-19 virus' disproportionate impact on older adults, who are also more likely to have a booster dose, could help explain why a higher percentage of people who were fully vaccinated and boosted died of COVID-19 in June than those who were fully vaccinated and not boosted. The effectiveness of boosters also appears to wane after several months. But the precise explanation for those percentages of deaths is unclear.
Looking at the proportions of deaths by vaccination status does not tell the risk, though. State health officials recommend considering the rates of death among boosted individuals versus unvaccinated individuals, which show significantly lower death rates in vaccinated and boosted individuals compared with unvaccinated individuals.
Health officials emphasize the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 is to remain up to date with recommended vaccinations, including second booster doses for those 50 and older and people who are immunocompromised.
Unvaccinated people 12 and older in Arizona had a 9.8 times greater risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 and 12 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19 in June compared with fully vaccinated people with a booster, according to a state analysis.
Unvaccinated people had a 8.4 times greater risk of hospitalization and 10 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19 compared with individuals who were fully vaccinated without a booster.
As of July 13, there had been 2,057 breakthrough deaths in fully vaccinated individuals, according to state health officials’ preliminary data, which works out to a breakthrough death rate of about 0.04% among fully vaccinated people.
Case rates and death reports
Contagious omicron subvariants, particularly BA.5, are contributing to many of the cases in Arizona, according to results from sequencing labs.
Percent positivity, which refers to the percentage of COVID-19 diagnostic tests that are positive, varies somewhat based on how it's measured. It was high in the winter months, a sign of more community spread. Then it was much lower but has been climbing upward since April.
For most of December, Arizona's percent positivity for COVID-19 testing was at 11%-13%, before rising to 22% for the week of Dec. 26, 29% for the week of Jan. 2, 32% for the week of Jan. 9, 34% for the week of Jan. 16, 29% for the week of Jan. 23, 22% for the week of Jan. 30, 16% for the week of Feb. 6, 11% for the week of Feb. 13, 7% for the week of Feb. 20, 4% for the week of Feb. 27, 3% for the week of March 6, 3% for the week of March 13, 3% for the week of March 20, 3% for the week of March 27, 3% for the week of April 3, 4% for the week of April 10, 5% for the week of April 17, 6% for the week of April 24, 8% for the week of May 1, 11% for the week of May 8, 15% for the week of May 15, 18% for the week of May 22, 21% for the week of May 29, 22% for the week of June 5, 23% for the week of June 12, 27% for the week of June 19, 26% for the week of June 26, 28% for the week of July 3, 29% for the week of July 10, 30% for the week of July 17 and 29% for the week of July 24. The percentages are now for all diagnostic tests conducted, rather than for unique individuals tested, following a change to the state dashboard.
A positivity rate of 5% or less is considered a good benchmark that the disease's spread is under control.
The state's overall COVID-19 death and case rates since Jan. 21, 2020, still remain among the worst in the country.
The COVID-19 death rate in Arizona since the pandemic began is 422 deaths per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, according to the CDC, putting it third in the country in a state ranking that separates New York City from New York state. The U.S. average is 308 deaths per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, according to the CDC.
New York City has the highest death rate, at 489 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Mississippi at 425.
Arizona's first known death from the disease occurred in mid-March 2020.
Many of the reported deaths occurred days or weeks before because of reporting delays and death certificate matching.
A total of 2,211,463 COVID-19 cases were identified across the state through July 30.
Vaccination update
Arizonans ages 6 months and older are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, while the Moderna vaccine is approved for children ages 6 months to 5 years and people 18 and older. The CDC has recommended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on a more limited basis for people 18 and older. Many individuals are eligible for booster doses, too.
The state reported over 5.2 million people in Arizona — about 73.4% of the total state population — had received at least one vaccine dose through July 30, with about 4.5 million residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The state’s data dashboard now separates out doses administered to Arizona residents versus all doses administered in the state.
Arizona's rate of fully vaccinated people out of the total population was 62.7%, which was behind the national rate of 67.2%, according to the CDC as of July 27.
Out of people ages 5 and older, 66.7% of those in Arizona were fully vaccinated, compared with 71.5% at the national level, CDC data shows.
Health experts strongly recommend booster shots for those eligible, especially with the omicron variant spreading. About 47.6% of fully vaccinated Arizonans over the age of 18 had received a first booster shot as of July 27, below the national rate of 51.5% for that same age group.
What to know about latest numbers
Reported cases in Arizona: 2,211,463, as of July 30.
Cases by county: 1,392,047 in Maricopa; 281,185 in Pima; 143,145 in Pinal; 66,214 in Yuma; 62,485 in Mohave; 53,247 in Yavapai; 48,448 in Coconino; 42,559 in Navajo; 34,895 in Cochise; 29,488 in Apache; 18,943 in Gila; 17,909 in Santa Cruz; 12,876 in Graham; 5,630 in La Paz; and 2,392 in Greenlee, according to state numbers.
The rate of cases per 100,000 people since the pandemic began is highest in Apache County, followed by Navajo, Gila, Santa Cruz, Graham and Coconino counties, according to state data. The rate in Apache County is 41,065 cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, the U.S. average rate since the pandemic began is 27,512 cases per 100,000 people as of Tuesday, according to the CDC.
The Navajo Nation reported 60,723 cases and 1,859 confirmed deaths as of July 28. The Navajo Nation includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Arizona Department of Corrections reported 15,255 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday, including 2,471 in Tucson, 2,278 in Eyman, 2,241 in Yuma, 1,786 in Lewis and 1,474 in Phoenix; 57,568 inmates statewide have been tested. A total of 5,448 prison staff members have self-reported testing positive, the department said. Sixty-two incarcerated people in Arizona are confirmed to have died of COVID-19, with 16 additional deaths under investigation.
The race/ethnicity breakdown of cases since the start of the pandemic in 2020 is 40% white, 29% Hispanic or Latino, 5% American Indian, 4% Black and 2% Asian/Pacific Islander. Race/ethnicity of positive cases since the onset of the pandemic is unknown in 14% of cases and listed as other race in 6% of cases.
Helping pandemic woes:Students affected by COVID-19 can get free tuition at Maricopa Community Colleges, funded by Phoenix
Of those who have tested positive in Arizona since the start of the pandemic, about 21% were younger than 20, 42% were 20-44, 13% were 45-54, 11% were 55-64 and 12% were age 65 or older.
Laboratories had completed 20,363,818 total diagnostic tests for COVID-19 as of July 30, 12.6% of which have come back positive. That number includes both PCR and antigen testing.
Percent positivity was at 29% for the week of July 24, similar to the previous few weeks and close to the highest it's been since January. The state numbers leave out data from labs that do not report electronically.
The state Health Department includes probable cases as anyone with a positive antigen test, another type of test to determine infection. Antigen tests (not related to antibody tests) use a nasal swab or another fluid sample to test for current infection. Results are typically produced within 15 minutes.
A positive antigen test result is considered very accurate, but there's an increased chance of false-negative results, Mayo Clinic officials said. They say a doctor may recommend a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to confirm a negative antigen test result.
Arizona as of Tuesday had the 14th highest overall case rate in the country since Jan. 21, 2020. Ahead of Arizona in cases per 100,000 people since the pandemic began are Alaska, Rhode Island, North Dakota, Guam, Kentucky, New York City, Tennessee, Florida, Utah, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Delaware, according to the CDC.
Arizona's infection rate is 30,176 cases per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. The national average is 27,512 cases per 100,000 people, although the rates in states hard hit early in the pandemic may be an undercount because of a lack of available testing in March and April 2020.
Reported deaths in Arizona: 30,842
Deaths by county: 17,664 in Maricopa; 3,925 in Pima; 1,698 in Pinal; 1,508 in Mohave; 1,252 in Yavapai; 1,192 in Yuma; 921 in Navajo; 619 in Apache; 584 in Cochise; 487 in Coconino; 390 in Gila; 235 in Santa Cruz; 180 in Graham; 148 in La Paz; and 39 in Greenlee.
People age 65 and older make up 21,966 of the 30,842 deaths, or 71%. About 15% of deaths were among people 55-64 years old, 8% were 45-54 and 5% were 20-44 years old.
While race/ethnicity was unknown for 4% of deaths, 56% of those who died were white, 26% were Hispanic or Latino, 7% were Native American, 3% were Black and 1% were Asian/Pacific Islander, the state data shows.
The global death toll as of Wednesday was 6,407,932. The U.S. had the highest death count of any country in the world, at 1,031,427, followed by Brazil at 679,010 and India at 526,477, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Arizona's 30,842 deaths represent about 3% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States.
Republic reporter Stephanie Innes contributed to this article.
Reach the reporter at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-4282. Follow her on Twitter @alisteinbach.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2022/08/04/arizona-weekly-covid-19-update-adds-15-034-cases-74-deaths/10222518002/ | 2022-08-04T23:06:12 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2022/08/04/arizona-weekly-covid-19-update-adds-15-034-cases-74-deaths/10222518002/ |
Roof collapses at Bashas' store near 75th Avenue, Thunderbird Road in Peoria
Part of a roof at a Bashas' store on 75th Avenue and Thunderbird Road collapsed on Thursday morning, according to the Peoria Fire-Medical Department.
Authorities say the cause is still under investigation but could be related to overnight rainfall. The store will remain closed for the next several hours for reparations, the fire department said.
According to Capt. David Arreguin with the Peoria Fire-Medical Department, Glendale and Phoenix firefighters also responded to the location after receiving reports of a gas leak.
No one was injured during the incident and all customers and employees were evacuated, Arreguin said.
The gas was shut off and Glendale and Phoenix police were investigating, Arreguin said.
Reach breaking news reporter Laura Daniella Sepulveda at lsepulveda@lavozarizona.com or on Twitter @lauradNews.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/peoria-breaking/2022/08/04/roof-collapses-bashas-store-near-75th-avenue-thunderbird-road/10239984002/ | 2022-08-04T23:06:18 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/peoria-breaking/2022/08/04/roof-collapses-bashas-store-near-75th-avenue-thunderbird-road/10239984002/ |
Monsoon storm floods Phoenix streets near 7th Avenue, Camelback RoadVideo of monsoon storm passing through PhoenixMonsoon 2022: Video of storm near Central Avenue and Bethany Home RoadMonsoon 2022: Flooding on Tatum Boulevard
Video: Reported of armed man at Arizona Mills MallVideo: Police shooting at Little Caesars Pizza in ChandlerWater surges down the Pipeline Fire burn scar on San Francisco PeaksSiren alerts flooding for those downstream from Museum Fire burn scarFlowing River B-Roll | https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/peoria-breaking/2022/08/04/glendale-bashas-roof-collapses-water-gas-leak-weather/10238969002/ | 2022-08-04T23:07:10 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/peoria-breaking/2022/08/04/glendale-bashas-roof-collapses-water-gas-leak-weather/10238969002/ |
FORT MYERS, Fla. – A nationwide carbon dioxide shortage is causing problems for craft breweries. It comes after a large gas production hub in Mississippi became contaminated.
In Southwest Florida, Fort Myers Brewing Company and Millennial Brewing Company say the issue isn’t affecting them, but without it they’d struggle.
“CO2 is a critical part of what we do and how we make beer,” says Kyle Cebull from Millennial Brewing Company. “Without co2 everything stops.”
Jennifer Whyte with Fort Myers Brewing Company says both production isn’t the only thing that would stop.
“If we were to run out of CO2 we wouldn’t be able to pour beer any longer,” says Whyte.
Whyte says they go through about 6,000 pounds of CO2 a month. Cebull says they go through approximately 1,500 pounds in a busy week. It’s a crucial part of the business.
“A carbon dioxide shortage would be something that is hard to mitigate against and could be a big challenge, not just for breweries but for restaurants too,” says Whyte.
Both businesses rely on outside companies to deliver CO2 into their tanks.
“Our provider this morning told me their allocation of CO2 has dropped by 50% and they’re doing about 100 tons a week,” says Cebull.
The only effect our local spots are seeing, they say, is a price increase.
“We’ve been fortunate that we haven’t felt the effects of a shortage but we have had our pricing go up about double,” says Whyte.
For Millennial Brewing, Cebull says the cost of CO2 more than 200%. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2022/08/04/is-a-southwest-florida-beer-shortage-a-brewin/ | 2022-08-04T23:08:38 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2022/08/04/is-a-southwest-florida-beer-shortage-a-brewin/ |
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The first day of school is less than a week away in Lee County. While parents across the district are planning for the perfect first day, security is a year round concern.
So what kind of security measures will students have protecting them when school starts back up in a few days?
“I think the biggest thing you’ll see when you get here is that you can’t just walk into a school,” said David Newlan, the Executive Director of Security and Safety for the Lee County School District.
On Thursday, we found out how visitors had to show their ID to a camera, and had to wear a “visitor badge” when signed in.
“Its not meant for convenience, its there for a reason, its there for a purpose. But we have to have it in place.” Newlan said.
This year, the District is encouraging parents to visit during school hours, but they’ll have to go through the same kind of protocol.
Schools will also feature a School Resource Officer at every school, and two at every high school. Last year the District rolled out Centegix, an alarm system that allows any teacher to trigger a lockdown remotely.
“I just press this button when I need help, say I have an active assailant on the property, this goes right to local dispatch.” Newlan said.
They’ve also made it easier for Law Enforcement to get into the schools when seconds matter most.
“We want no delay in time, so under an exigent circumstance, if Law Enforcement needs to get in, I want them to be able to get in immediately.” | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2022/08/04/lee-county-school-district-shares-safety-measures-for-new-year/ | 2022-08-04T23:08:44 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2022/08/04/lee-county-school-district-shares-safety-measures-for-new-year/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/beating-the-heat-people-try-to-stay-cool-as-temperatures-soar/3326421/ | 2022-08-04T23:11:17 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/beating-the-heat-people-try-to-stay-cool-as-temperatures-soar/3326421/ |
The man wanted for opening fire during a wedding celebration inside a home in Kensington that left a 10-month-old girl wounded is under arrest, Philadelphia police said.
Police said Santos Diaz, 45, was arrested Thursday afternoon.
The baby girl was shot in the hand Sunday morning n the 3400 block of Emerald Street, police said. She was taken to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and was listed in stable condition.
The shooting stemmed from a fight in a house where a wedding party was going on, police said. The mother’s child was holding the baby when the fight spilled outside and four shots rang out, according to police.
Diaz is accused of firing those shots at the family, Philadelphia police said.
Sunday’s shooting is only the latest involving a child in Philadelphia. According to the city controller’s office, at least 134 minors have been shot this year.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-arrested-after-10-month-old-girl-wounded-in-shooting-during-wedding/3326531/ | 2022-08-04T23:11:24 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-arrested-after-10-month-old-girl-wounded-in-shooting-during-wedding/3326531/ |
HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Update: Michael Ricci was found safe parked in an area in Brooksville. The sheriff's office says his car had run out of gas.
He was returned home safely to his family.
The previous story is down below.
---
Have you seen Michael?
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said Michael Ricci Sr. was last seen before 10 a.m. Thursday driving away from his home on Fairhaven Avenue in Spring Hill.
He reportedly left the area driving a silver 2003 Chrysler Voyager with Florida tag #587RQDS.
Authorities say Ricci becomes confused easily.
According to the sheriff's office, he is 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has brown eyes and gray hair.
If you have any information on her whereabouts, call the Hernando County Sheriff's Office at 352-754-6830 or your local law enforcement agency. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hernandocounty/michael-ricci-sr-spring-hill-hernando-county-missing-man-sliver-alert/67-b2ddcf6b-5e95-4cdd-9a74-10c4f6531fba | 2022-08-04T23:16:42 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hernandocounty/michael-ricci-sr-spring-hill-hernando-county-missing-man-sliver-alert/67-b2ddcf6b-5e95-4cdd-9a74-10c4f6531fba |
TOWN 'N' COUNTRY, Fla. — The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue was called to the scene of a house fire following storms that rolled through the area Thursday evening.
Several 911 callers reported seeing lightning strike a house in the Twelve Oaks Subdivision in Town 'N' Country.
As of now, there's no news of anyone injured or if the fire has been put out.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/lightning-striking-town-n-country-home-hillsborough-county-fire-rescue/67-b5f6aa08-80dd-49b4-9572-b7e0b609fb3f | 2022-08-04T23:16:48 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/lightning-striking-town-n-country-home-hillsborough-county-fire-rescue/67-b5f6aa08-80dd-49b4-9572-b7e0b609fb3f |
TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa-area pharmacist has been banned Thursday from filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances after a federal court issued a temporary restraining order, the Department of Justice announced.
According to a news release, a complaint was filed Monday, which the U.S. alleged that Nathaniel Esalomi "unlawfully distributed powerful opioids by filling prescriptions he knew were not valid at Apexx Pharmacy in Hudson, Florida, where he is the owner and sole pharmacist."
The complaint also alleged Esalomi:
- Inflated prices and accepted thousands of dollars in cash for drugs
- Instructed individuals to forge signatures and falsify addresses
- Filled numerous controlled substance prescriptions for persons who were deceased
The complaint seeks to permanently stop Esalomi from filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, and from owning or supervising a pharmacy, the news release stated.
“The illegal distribution of opioids by medical professionals has caused great harm to people in our communities, and has led to a nationwide epidemic,” U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement. “We are committed to using every enforcement tool available to stop those individuals whose unlawful actions and abandonment of their professional responsibilities have fueled the opioid crisis.”
The temporary restraining order came down from U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, per the news release.
DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office is conducting the ongoing investigation.
On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a "massive expansion" of a first-of-its-kind model of care for substance use disorder in Florida.
The expansion called Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) is a network of addiction care and a coordinated effort between different departments in the Sunshine State, the governor explained at a news conference in Brevard County.
The model originally started in Palm Beach County and is now being stretched across the state to 12 different counties after seeing success over the past two years.
Working together with the Florida Department of Health and the Department of Children and Families, the expansion will not only continue in Brevard County but will also extend to Clay, Duval, Escambia, Gulf, Manatee, Marion, Pasco and Volusia counties, as well.
DeSantis says the state also has its eyes on Citrus, Flagler and Pinellas counties as possible areas to expand to in the future.
"This network will be able to streamline resources and break down barriers for those battling addiction..." the governor said. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/nathaniel-esalomi-pharmacist-opioid-tampa-bay-apexx-hudson-controlled-substances/67-ea05569e-c24d-4a4c-a730-fd121ef3d196 | 2022-08-04T23:16:54 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/nathaniel-esalomi-pharmacist-opioid-tampa-bay-apexx-hudson-controlled-substances/67-ea05569e-c24d-4a4c-a730-fd121ef3d196 |
TAMPA, Fla. — Renters and neighbors packed the Tampa City Council meeting Thursday to express support for rent stabilization.
However, a motion to adopt the draft ordinance on putting a housing emergency declaration on the November ballot failed 4-2 with Council Member Bill Carlson absent.
Supporters hoped it would get enough support on the ballot and give the council the ability to enact rent control.
Some council members expressed concerns including the need for a study to better understand the impact rent control would have on tenants.
It comes after the council voted 6-1 last week in favor of moving forward with plans to put a housing emergency declaration on the ballot.
The measure would likely face a legal fight due to state law, however, council members in favor said they were up for the challenges.
Those supporting the measure said they believe it would alleviate their financial burdens. Meanwhile, other speakers argue it's necessary given the number of people being evicted or losing their homes to the rising rent prices.
"I was making decent amount of money with my work. Now, I'm living paycheck to paycheck," Getulio Gonzalez-Mulatteri said.
However, public comments also drew opposition from landlords who argued rent control would instead harm tenants and hinder the much-needed supply of housing.
Some argued the need for the city to make better use of its tax revenues and it should be up to the state Legislature to provide for those harmed by the current rent prices.
"It is a serious problem to have rents this high but the solution isn't rent control," Andrew Dougill, a private landlord in Tampa, said.
Had the council adopted the draft ordinance, a final vote was expected to take place on Aug. 22.
The deadline to put rent control on the ballot has to be before Aug. 23, according to the city's legal department.
Ahead of the council vote, renters and housing activists also gathered outside city hall demanding more funds for affordable housing be included in Tampa Mayor Jane Castor's proposed budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Castor announced she is proposing to devote $5.5 million in general fund money and $20 million overall for housing-related services.
In St. Petersburg, the city council voted to draft a resolution and place its own housing state of emergency measure on the ballot.
Demonstrators woke up on the steps of St. Pete City Hall as part of a sleep-in to protest rising rent prices. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/tampa-city-council-housing-emergency-declaration-vote-rent-control/67-7a305992-0917-4d0b-94bd-664b6229ab97 | 2022-08-04T23:17:00 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/tampa-city-council-housing-emergency-declaration-vote-rent-control/67-7a305992-0917-4d0b-94bd-664b6229ab97 |
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — The Mall of America is in the process of lifting a lockdown following a shooting inside the building.
Bloomington Police confirmed at 5:40 p.m. that shots were fired inside the mall earlier Thursday afternoon and said the suspect fled the mall on foot.
Police have secured the scene at the mall, but at this time "have not located a victim." Once the lockdown is fully lifted, the mall will remain closed for the rest of the evening.
Bloomington Police confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the department had "numerous officers" on scene "working an active incident" inside the mall.
In a later tweet, Mall of America called it a "confirmed isolated incident" but would not specify a shooting.
Ava Malloy, an employee at Air Traffic Toys in the Mall of America, spoke to KARE 11 over the phone while in lockdown. "I turned off the lights and everyone's huddled behind something," Ava said.
"We were working with customers and then all of a sudden there were people running in the store. There was probably about 25 to 30 people and we looked and thought they were kids just goofing around," Macy's employee Brenda Wachello said via phone while taking cover inside the store. "And then people were saying 'There's a shooter."
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to a woman who said she heard "two gunshots above the DSW." The woman was able to leave the mall, but said her daughter remained inside under lockdown.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 | 2022-08-04T23:17:06 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Two children and an adult were taken to the hospital after being rescued from a burning house Thursday evening, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue reports.
At around 5 p.m., fire crews responded to a two-story house off of 13th Avenue S. with an ongoing fire in the garage, the agency explains in a media alert.
Two people were found on the second floor just above the fire. They both were rescued by crews using ladders while the third person inside escaped the home on their own.
The adult, who is considered to be stable, was sent to Bayfront hospital. The two children saved, one being in critical condition while the other is considered stable, were taken to different hospitals.
Investigators are en route to the scene, and the cause of the fire is unknown as of now.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/children-adult-rescued-st-pete-house-fire/67-1c214339-e1d7-4dc0-96b2-c3ac848dbd8b | 2022-08-04T23:17:12 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/children-adult-rescued-st-pete-house-fire/67-1c214339-e1d7-4dc0-96b2-c3ac848dbd8b |
TRI-CITIES, Tenn. (WJHL) As the back-to-school season is in full swing, districts are not only focused on getting kids back into the classroom, but having enough teachers to staff them.
A shortage of certified teachers has been a nationwide trend for several years now, worsened by two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and many teachers leaving the profession.
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) confirmed to News Channel 11 Thursday the state currently has just over 1,000 teacher vacancies.
A May 2022 report from the state board of education shows the most vacancies are in general education (K-5), special education (k-12) and math (9-12).
Local districts that were reported to have zero vacancies include Greene County, Greeneville City, Hawkins County and Sullivan County Schools.
In Johnson City, a recent population boom has resulted in the need for more teachers as more kids enter the school system, according to district leaders.
“We have a posting now, an emergency posting, for elementary school teachers. And that is due to growth,” said Dr. Steve Barnett, Superintendent of Johnson City Schools.
A law change that began July 1, 2022 now allows retired teachers to come back to the classroom without losing their retirement benefits.
Several local systems have not had to utilize it yet, but are glad the option is on the table.
“It’s a win, win for the teachers and the school systems,” said Barnett.
Assistant Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools Dr. Andy True agrees.
“Those retirees that have had long careers in education, have the experience, the skill level built up over the course of a career. It is certainly a great resource to be able to draw from. We have made efforts this year to increase our substitute pay for retirees to show the value there,” said True.
In Washington County, Tennessee schools, leaders say they are fortunate to be fully staffed with teachers. Leaders attribute it to a big change.
“Over the summer our school board and our new superintendent worked together with our county commission to have a significant pay increase on our pay scale for all of our teachers. I feel that’s really helped us attract new teachers and keep our older teachers here in the system,” said Jarrod Adams, Chief Operations Officer of Washington County Schools.
The need isn’t just for teachers.
All districts we spoke with report they are actually struggling more to hire support staff.
“We could use 4 to 5 more bus drivers, we need food service workers. People who will work in the schools in the cafeterias,” said Adams.
The sentiment was echoed in Kingsport and Johnson City schools.
“In our current economy and what we are working through right now, we are going to need bus drivers and custodial food service, a lot of support positions, but also teachers,” said Barnett.
The University of Tennessee system and TDOE in May 2022 launched a $20 million project called the ‘Grow your Own Center’ with a goal of helping prepare teachers and eliminate the state’s teacher shortage.
The TN Education Job Board on the TDOE’s website works to support districts and students by providing a central location for interested applicants from across the state to apply for jobs available within Tennessee schools. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/back-to-school-news/tennessee-has-1000-current-teacher-openings-how-are-local-districts-faring/ | 2022-08-04T23:18:22 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/back-to-school-news/tennessee-has-1000-current-teacher-openings-how-are-local-districts-faring/ |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — As it continues struggling with high turnover and staffing issues, Ballad Health will raise starting pay for certain nurses at its four largest and highest-turnover hospitals by 23% effective Aug. 14 — and is increasing pay at its community hospitals following “constructive feedback” after the initial announcement.
Starting registered nurses (RNs) at Johnson City Medical Center (JCMC), Holston Valley Medical Center (HVMC), Bristol Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Johnston Memorial Hospital (JMH) will now make $56,160 a year, up from $45,760, based on standard pay with no overtime.
The starting rate increases are among changes that also include “compression increases” for existing staff nurses and support staff designed to retain appropriate gaps between experienced and new nurses, as well as a doubling of on-call pay and a doubling of the annual wage increase from 2% to 4%.
CEO Alan Levine internally announced the increase for the four larger hospitals July 26, noting Ballad’s biggest staffing challenges have consistently been for bedside nurses and in operating room (perioperative) services at those hospitals. Levine said that leads to bottlenecks at all levels of the system.
“The lack of staffing in these positions at these facilities has created significant pressure on our emergency rooms as patients wait for bed availability, delays in necessary transfers from community hospitals, and longer than usual wait times for elective surgeries,” Levine wrote in an email. “The shortages in these receiving hospitals cascades throughout the system, which creates a necessity to target these facilities as an urgent priority.”
That email also announced the on-call increase, from $1.50 an hour to $3 an hour, and the doubling of the annual rate increase to 4% (maximum, depending on review). It noted some other Ballad positions “we have identified which are appropriate for some wage adjustments. Individuals will be notified directly as any adjustments are made.”
Just three days later, Levine sent another email saying he had heard “very helpful feedback” from staff across the system and said the targeted increase wasn’t intended to “send the wrong message to RNs in our community hospitals…”
That email still noted the worst turnover, vacancies, and use of expensive contract labor were occurring in the four large, acute-care receiving hospitals. But it acknowledged the pressure on the community hospitals as well.
“Our community hospitals are holding patients who would normally be transferred to a major receiving hospital due to the availability of the specialty services needed by the patients in the receiving hospitals. This is placing a strain on the community hospitals, their nursing and support staff, and more importantly, disrupting the continuum of care for our patients – who are the most important part of this discussion.”
New hire rates for community hospitals will increase to $24, also on Aug. 14, with “an appropriate compression adjustment” for existing staff.
Levine wrote that all the changes are part of an effort “to solve a problem that, if not solved, will harm patients and make the work of all our nursing staff in each care setting even harder than it is today.” He asked Ballad’s 13,000-odd staff to “bear with” Ballad’s leadership as it attempts to address the overall problem “systematically.”
David Campbell, an economist at Milligan University, said the increase amounts were significant.
“There’s only a nursing shortage at the current salaries,” Campbell said in reference to the national nursing shortage. “When salaries go up, that tends to work in the direction of getting rid of the shortage.
“People are drawn to where there’s pay, so markets would predict this would happen, that in a shortage salary would go up, and so you love it for the nurses that are working so hard. And then the next thing that markets would predict is that the higher salary would entice more people to enter the nursing profession, but that takes time.”
The hospitals where the $24 starting pay will take effect include: Dickenson Community Hospital, Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Greeneville Community Hospital, Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, Hancock County Hospital, Indian Path Community Hospital, Johnson County Community Hospital, Lee County Community Hospital, Lonesome Pine Hospital, Mountain View Regional Hospital, Niswonger Children’s Hospital, Norton Community Hospital, Russell County Hospital, Smyth County Community Hospital, Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Unicoi County Hospital and Woodridge Hospital.
Levine wrote that the problem was national, but Ballad needs to discover its own solutions. “I hope you will continue to provide the feedback to us as we navigate these very unchartered issues,” he wrote.
He pointed to additional compensation changes Ballad has made in the past couple of years.
“I hope, at a minimum, the steps we have taken – and will take in the future – to provide bonuses, withhold increases to insurance premiums, make pay adjustments and more, demonstrate you are not forgotten.”
Ballad Health currently is offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus for a limited number of nursing positions at multiple facilities. More information is available here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/some-ballad-starting-rn-rates-going-up-23-to-56k/ | 2022-08-04T23:18:28 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/some-ballad-starting-rn-rates-going-up-23-to-56k/ |
AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas jury on Thursday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay more than $4 million in compensatory damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, marking the first time the Infowars host has been held financially liable for repeatedly claiming the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history was a hoax.
The Austin jury must still decide how much the Infowars host must pay in punitive damages to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse Lewis was among the 20 children and six educators who were killed in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut.
The parents had sought at least $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jones’ attorney asked the jury to limit damages to $8 — one dollar for each of the compensation charges they are considering — and Jones himself said any award over $2 million “would sink us.”
It likely won't be the last judgment against Jones over his claims that the attack was staged in the interests of increasing gun controls. A Connecticut judge has ruled against him in a similar lawsuit brought by other victims' families and an FBI agent who worked on the case.
The Texas award could set a marker for other cases against Jones and underlines the financial threat he's facing. It also raises new questions about the ability of Infowars — which has been banned from YouTube, Spotify and Twitter for hate speech — to continue operating, although the company's finances remain unclear.
Jones conceded during the trial that the attack was real and that he was wrong to have lied about it. But Heslin and Lewis told jurors that an apology wouldn't suffice and called on them to make Jones pay for the years of suffering he has put them and other Sandy Hook families through.
Jones' media company Free Speech Systems, which is Infowars' parent company, filed for bankruptcy during the two-week trial. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/alex-jones-defamation-case/285-9a074cbd-45a5-4556-b2d2-cf3244c7ac68 | 2022-08-04T23:23:55 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/alex-jones-defamation-case/285-9a074cbd-45a5-4556-b2d2-cf3244c7ac68 |
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County detectives are investigating why a 21-year-old was shot multiple times and left for dead near an apartment swimming pool last month.
Police are investigating the death of Jason Escoffrey. He was found dead July 17 at 11:15 p.m. by the Highlands of West Village pool in Smyrna. Officers said he was rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Anyone who has information about the case is asked to the department's Crimes Against Persons Detectives at 770-499-3945. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.
News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/smyrna/jason-escoffrey-death-investigation-smyrna/85-d4b7fb0c-3308-4d04-865b-7f988a11b538 | 2022-08-04T23:24:01 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/smyrna/jason-escoffrey-death-investigation-smyrna/85-d4b7fb0c-3308-4d04-865b-7f988a11b538 |
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — The Mall of America is in the process of lifting a lockdown following a shooting inside the building.
Bloomington Police confirmed at 5:40 p.m. that shots were fired inside the mall earlier Thursday afternoon and said the suspect fled the mall on foot.
Police have secured the scene at the mall, but at this time "have not located a victim." Once the lockdown is fully lifted, the mall will remain closed for the rest of the evening.
Bloomington Police confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the department had "numerous officers" on scene "working an active incident" inside the mall.
In a later tweet, Mall of America called it a "confirmed isolated incident" but would not specify a shooting.
Ava Malloy, an employee at Air Traffic Toys in the Mall of America, spoke to KARE 11 over the phone while in lockdown. "I turned off the lights and everyone's huddled behind something," Ava said.
"We were working with customers and then all of a sudden there were people running in the store. There was probably about 25 to 30 people and we looked and thought they were kids just goofing around," Macy's employee Brenda Wachello said via phone while taking cover inside the store. "And then people were saying, 'There's a shooter."
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to a woman who said she heard "two gunshots above the DSW." The woman was able to leave the mall, but said her daughter remained inside under lockdown.
A large group was still in the MOA basement waiting to leave as the lockdown was being lifted.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 | 2022-08-04T23:24:33 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 |
ADAMS COUNTY, Wash. — A wildfire approximately three miles south of Lind has destroyed approximately eight to 10 structures and sent one firefighter to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
The fire started at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Thursday and is currently burning 2,000 acres, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal. Approximately 50 Avista customers in Lind are without power due to the fire.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office reports that the entire town of Lind is being evacuated. It is unknown exactly how many people have evacuated at this time, but sheriff's deputies went door-to-door to alert residents of the evacuation. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) said the fire could pass through the city.
The sheriff's office said all of the individuals are being evacuated to the Ritzville Grade School. Red Cross is at the elementary school assisting evacuees.
According to WSDOT East, Highway 395 has been reopened, but crews are on standby if the fire warrants a closure. State Route 21 is also open, but residents are being advised that there are some low visibility areas.
Homes, crops and infrastructure are threatened by the fire, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday at the request of Fire Chief Kevin Starring, Adams County Fire District 2. Two airplanes and one helicopter are assisting with containment, according to Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner.
Adams County Fire management is heading to assist. Emergency management is aware of the fire, according to the sheriff's office.
Photos: Wildfire burning near Lind, Wash.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This is a developing news story and we will provide more updates as they become available.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/wildfire/firefighters-responding-to-growing-wildfire-near-lind-in-adams-county/293-ff059c8a-3a13-4fd8-ad42-68550f20e702 | 2022-08-04T23:24:39 | 0 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/wildfire/firefighters-responding-to-growing-wildfire-near-lind-in-adams-county/293-ff059c8a-3a13-4fd8-ad42-68550f20e702 |
City Hall is shown through the entrance gate at Fairpark in downtown Tupelo in a March 3, 2022 file photo. City officials are back to the drawing broad on a project to bring four restrooms to the Fairpark after all bids came in significantly over budget.
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TUPELO • Tupelo city officials are back to the drawing board after bids for the Fairpark restroom project came back significantly over budget.
The Tupelo City Council unanimously rejected bids to install restrooms in downtown Tupelo's Fairpark on Tuesday after the lowest bid came in at more than $150,000 over the project's budget.
Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Neal McCoy, who has led the project, said the lowest bid came in at a little over $500,000. The city has budgeted $350,000 to build the restrooms.
The project, which the city modeled after a historic train depot, would have four individual use restrooms comprised of a male, female and two family restrooms. There are currently no restrooms at the park.
McCoy said families often come to the neighboring City Hall to use the bathroom but that was an imperfect solution because families could only access the building during business hours.
“It is needed, and I think the support is there from the public to do it,” McCoy said.
McCoy told the Daily Journal the city received four bids for the project. The highest bid came in at $759,000.He said he was unsure what brought the costs so far out of the city’s price range but pointed to rising costs in material and labor.
“That is the nature of where we are with construction costs these days,” he said.
The next step, McCoy said, is to work with engineers to find cost-saving measures. He said the city has between two to three months before weather will cause the project to be delayed.
“Timing is a big deal," he said.
Mayor Todd Jordan said he understood the need for the bathroom and hoped once redesigned, the project would fall within the $350,000 budget.
“We were disappointed bids came in over budget,” he said, noting that they had to walk a balance of style and functional longevity.
Board President and Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan said, along with tweaking the design to lower cost, the council would most likely need to increase the project’s budget.
With the cost of materials seemingly in constant flux, estimating the project's price tag, he said, could be a challenge.
“It is 90 days for the bid and another 30 to 60 days before construction can begin,” he said. “(Contractors) can’t guarantee the price.”
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Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/tupelo-city-council-rejects-over-budget-fairpark-restroom-bids-await-redesign/article_127f2726-7d2d-5239-a91c-5c4d3a48b200.html | 2022-08-04T23:29:06 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/tupelo-city-council-rejects-over-budget-fairpark-restroom-bids-await-redesign/article_127f2726-7d2d-5239-a91c-5c4d3a48b200.html |
ROANOKE, Va. – Maybe your kid needs a playmate, or maybe you need someone to keep up with you on your runs – either way, Jr. K might just be a perfect fit in your fun family.
This energetic 5-year-old Pitbull mix is neutered and looking for a new home after being in the shelter for over 200 days.
As of August 4, Jr. K has been playing around at his foster home while he’s treated for heartworms, but once he finishes treatment, he’ll be ready to head off to his forever home.
Jr. K is a very active dog, so shelter staff said he’ll need someone who is equally as patient as they are energetic while Jr. K learns more basic obedience skills.
Shelter staff said that Jr. K is a big extrovert in the dog world – he loves people and other dogs, but he can be a bit rambunctious, so if you have another dog, a meet and greet is required before adoption just to make sure he’s a good fit in your household.
Jr. K’s ideal home would be one with a family that can keep him busy and that gives him the opportunity to exercise.
If you’re interested in learning more or adopting Jr. K, you can visit the RCACP website. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/jr-k-is-looking-for-a-family-that-can-play-with-him-for-the-rest-of-his-dog-days/ | 2022-08-04T23:34:12 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/jr-k-is-looking-for-a-family-that-can-play-with-him-for-the-rest-of-his-dog-days/ |
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The town of Blacksburg is gearing up for the 41st annual Steppin’ Out Festival.
Visitors will be able to hear a variety of live music from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“We have three stages with live music and performances,” Downtown Blacksburg Inc. Event Coordinator Amelia Tuckwiller said. “It ranges from all kinds of different music, and the performances, we’ve got taekwondo, dancers, choir members, all from our community.”
There will also be over 200 vendors and local businesses participating, including local food staples.
The festival typically draws over 30,000 people to the Blacksburg area.
“This is a big event just for our community as well. The college students are not in town, so a lot of our community members that don’t really get an opportunity to come down will come out for this event,” Tuckwiller said. “We have people from all over the region that will come, and even some people from out of town.”
Admission and metered parking in the area is free during the festival.
Blacksburg transit will be providing shuttles throughout the festival as well.
The full list of road closures for the weekend can be found here. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/steppin-out-returns-to-blacksburg-on-friday/ | 2022-08-04T23:34:18 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/steppin-out-returns-to-blacksburg-on-friday/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – While many people in Virginia tried their luck at last week’s Mega Million jackpot, Virginia’s schools were the only ones to come out on top.
That’s because 100% of the profits from lottery tickets sold in Virginia go towards kindergarten through Grade 12 education.
Officials said in Virginia, $30.2 million was made from sales of the most recent Mega Million jackpot run.
Since 1999, all profits from the Virginia Lottery have gone towards public school education in the Commonwealth.
“By law, that money goes to K-12 education in Virginia. So that jackpot run was very good news for Virginia,” said Virginia Lottery Spokesperson, John Hagerty.
Virginia’s Department of Education is the one who decides how the lottery profits are split among school districts.
Find the previous year’s revenue distribution here. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/virginia-made-302-million-in-profits-from-july-mega-million-drawing/ | 2022-08-04T23:34:24 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/04/virginia-made-302-million-in-profits-from-july-mega-million-drawing/ |
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Voters in Southern California's San Bernardino County will have the chance to decide in November whether they want the county to potentially secede from the state.
The county's Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on Wednesday to put the secession measure on the 2022 ballot, the Southern California News Group reported. One supervisor was absent.
The measure will go before the board again next Tuesday for final adoption. The initial draft would put this question to voters on Nov. 8: "Do the citizens of San Bernardino County want the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to study all options to obtain its fair share of state and federal resources, up to and including secession?"
While supervisors voted for the measure, they aren't all enthusiastic supporters of secession, the news group reported.
Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. said he's against splitting from the state but interested in studying whether the county and its residents are owed more state and federal funds than they currently receive.
"I do think we have to look at anything we can do to enhance services for our residents," Baca said. "I'm not in favor of seceding. I'm proud to be from California. I love California."
The secession idea was initially floated by real estate developer Jeff Burum at the board's July 26 meeting.
Secession would require approvals by the California Legislature and U.S. Congress.
According to county spokesman David Wert, a finance team conducted a per-capita comparison of federal and state revenue received by California counties based on data from the state controller. The data show San Bernardino County ranks 36th out of 56 counties for per-capita revenue received from the state and federal governments, Wert said.
"If the worst thing that comes out of this is a study that will be ammunition for our state representatives to fight for more money for us" that would be acceptable, said board Chairman Curt Hagman.
Home to 2.1 million people east of Los Angeles, San Bernardino is the fifth-most populous county in California and the largest in the nation by area. It's physically larger than Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island combined.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/san-bernardino-county-secession-measure-2022-ballot/103-3ca2d7f2-2528-4632-b0ab-0da8783a2f64 | 2022-08-04T23:34:48 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/san-bernardino-county-secession-measure-2022-ballot/103-3ca2d7f2-2528-4632-b0ab-0da8783a2f64 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Stockton man has been identified as the victim in a Friday homicide that was investigated in an agricultural area of San Joaquin County just east of the city of Stockton.
Jaime Acevedo Vega Jr., 25, was identified Thursday by the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner's Office as the man found shot to death Friday in a car near Gillis Road and Farmington Road, also known as State Route 4.
Officials have not released information on a possible motive or suspect in the shooting.
The deadly shooting was the sixth homicide case handled by San Joaquin County Sheriff so far in the year.
Watch More Stockton News from ABC10: Stockton's Victory Park pool could return by 2024 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/jaime-acevedo-vega-jr-identified-victim/103-b49616f3-6a20-4ede-a3df-0e910e0b116a | 2022-08-04T23:34:54 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/jaime-acevedo-vega-jr-identified-victim/103-b49616f3-6a20-4ede-a3df-0e910e0b116a |
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — The Mall of America is in the process of lifting a lockdown following a shooting inside the building.
Bloomington Police confirmed at 5:40 p.m. that shots were fired inside the mall earlier Thursday afternoon and said the suspect fled the mall on foot.
Police have secured the scene at the mall, but at this time "have not located a victim." Once the lockdown is fully lifted, the mall will remain closed for the rest of the evening.
Bloomington Police confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the department had "numerous officers" on scene "working an active incident" inside the mall.
In a later tweet, Mall of America called it a "confirmed isolated incident" but would not specify a shooting.
Ava Malloy, an employee at Air Traffic Toys in the Mall of America, spoke to KARE 11 over the phone while in lockdown. "I turned off the lights and everyone's huddled behind something," Ava said.
"We were working with customers and then all of a sudden there were people running in the store. There was probably about 25 to 30 people and we looked and thought they were kids just goofing around," Macy's employee Brenda Wachello said via phone while taking cover inside the store. "And then people were saying, 'There's a shooter."
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to a woman who said she heard "two gunshots above the DSW." The woman was able to leave the mall, but said her daughter remained inside under lockdown.
A large group was still in the MOA basement waiting to leave as the lockdown was being lifted.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 | 2022-08-04T23:35:01 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal injunction stopping the city of Sacramento from clearing homeless encampments for the rest of this month is in effect. The lawsuit was filed by the Sacramento Homeless Union.
The Sacramento Homeless Union and Sacramento city officials tells us part of the issue is the extreme heat. By breaking up these encampments, people are removed from the shade, their more established set up and community resources.
To some, it’s a camp removal, but to others like John Taylor, it’s losing a home. Taylor has been experiencing homelessness since he was 15 years old.
Now, almost two decades later of living on the streets, he said that in the past year he has had to rebuild his home 10 times due to camp removals and territory issues.
“They completely destroy everything that you have. They just throw everything away, and you have to restart from scratch again. If you are doing anything with your life, or attempting to do anything with your life, it’s kind of tough,” Taylor said.
The Sacramento Homeless Union that filed the lawsuit said the main issue right now is that extreme heat. The California Homeless Union legal counselor Anthony Prince said the city doesn’t have enough centers with hours and transportation to them.
“I believe there are going to be deaths this year due to extreme heat in the homeless community,” Prince said.
He said the precedent not to criminalize and remove those experiencing homeless has already been set back in 2018 in the Martin v Boise decision in the Ninth Circuit of the U.S Court of Appeals.
“Whether it’s the cities or counties if they do remove people, they can only do that if they can provide alternative indoor - actually accessible - housing or shelter,” Prince said.
The homeless union filed this same injunction two years ago to stop camp removals during the COVID pandemic.
A city spokesman said the city has not been clearing encampments, and this injunction is narrowly focused to the summer time when there is extreme heat.
The injunction doesn’t affect anything regarding people living in vehicles.
The order expires in 28 days, but homeless advocates can file a motion to reinstate the injunction if they can show the need is still there.
A full statement from the City of Sacramento is available below.
The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Troy Nunley reflects the complexity of the homelessness crisis in our state and city and the challenges encountered while working to address various health-and-safety needs in our communities.
The preliminary injunction temporarily prohibits the City from clearing homeless encampments during extreme heat events. According to the Plaintiffs’ allegations, the City has been clearing or sweeping encampments. The City informed the Court that it has not been clearing encampments. The Court did not hold a hearing before issuing the preliminary injunction. Instead, the Court clearly was concerned about the extreme heat the region is experiencing and made a prompt decision to prohibit clearing encampments for at least the next 28 days.
The Court’s order is narrow and explicit in stating that the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling on Martin v. the City of Boise has no bearing on its temporary injunctive relief granted to the Plaintiffs. The order also is clear in stating that it does not address any arguments with respect to vehicles.
The order acknowledges that temporarily restraining “the City from clearing encampments may hamper the City’s ability to promote the public health, safety and general welfare.” However, in balancing the harms, the Court found that “the City’s interest in clearing encampments during extreme heat events is far outweighed by the Plaintiffs’ interest in their own health and welfare.”
The preliminary injunction will remain in effect for 28 days. After that, Plaintiffs may once again ask that it be reinstated. The City will at that time inform the Court that it has not been sweeping encampments and welcomes the opportunity to continue to clarify its position and unhoused protocols – especially surrounding critical infrastructure -- and to explore solutions with community partners. Meanwhile, the City will continue to use all its available resources to address the hardships encountered by unhoused individuals while working to ensure the health and safety of all residents.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/temporary-ban-homeless-encampments-removals/103-824e9163-4aa8-4e55-ad96-0764b00c2fc0 | 2022-08-04T23:35:07 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/temporary-ban-homeless-encampments-removals/103-824e9163-4aa8-4e55-ad96-0764b00c2fc0 |
CRESSON, Texas — The hot Texas summer has brought with it plenty of wildfires and work for fire departments across the state to take care of.
And for many of the smaller towns in the North Texas area, they are made up of firefighters devoting time outside the workplace to keep their communities safe.
Three firefighters were recently treated for injuries as crews battled a growing grass fire in Hood County. Crews were working a fire in the 8300 block of Colony Road near Tolar. Other crews also battled a brush fire in Millsap, officials said Wednesday afternoon.
The Cresson Fire Department helped with most of the fires happening this week, specifically because of how close they are to so many different counties.
The department is made up entirely of volunteers. About 50-60 firefighters are ready to help with fires or calls daily. Depending on firefighters’ availability, the department hopes to have at least 12 volunteers out to the call. For bigger issues, they try to get 20-30 people.
Sam Stoltz is a probationary firefighter with the Cresson Fire Department, just recently joining. He came from Las Vegas and is now living with his grandpa.
"He takes care of me, and I take care of him,” Stoltz said. “It's just something I always wanted to do."
Stoltz full-time job is being the manager of Whataburger in south Fort Worth. He normally gets Thursdays and Fridays off and usually tries to spend that time at the department.
"Icing the trucks, cleaning the trucks,” Stoltz said. “Making sure everything's stocked up and ready for the next fire. It's remarkable seeing all these guys come out here. We all work 50-60 hours a week."
Logan Nelson is one of the department's engineers. He said he gets most of his notifications about calls through apps on his phone.
"If we can go, we go,” Nelson said. “If we can't go, we can't go."
Since Cresson is connected to multiple county lines, the department’s trucks and volunteer firefighters have had a busy couple of months.
"The last few fires, we've come back with something broken,” Nelson said, referencing the department’s trucks.
"This is proving to be a very, very challenging summer,” Cresson Fire Chief Ron Becker said.
Becker said July 2022 was the busiest month his department has ever seen. He said of the 50-60 available firefighters, only two or three weren’t able to make calls this last month. He also said some made as many as 50-60 calls.
"Everybody's throwing in,” Becker said. “We all know that we are getting clobbered, and everybody's trying to do their part."
One of the department's five light brush trucks was recently destroyed when firefighters were helping with a wildfire in Tolar. With those trucks costing about $150,000-$200,000, Becker said his volunteer fire department can’t afford to replace it right now.
"We save and scrimp every penny that we can,” Becker said. “You can tell that we're not very fancy around here."
Even with his department’s limited resources, Becker said he knows his volunteers will come through.
“We have some great firefighters here,” Becker said.
Something Stoltz sees in his colleagues as well.
"They're all just really, really remarkable people,” Stoltz said. “Anybody who is out here volunteering their time to give back to other people. It takes a special kind of something in your heart to be out here to do this stuff for free. Put your life out on the line for free." | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/cresson-fire-department-fully-volunteers-brush-fires-lost-truck/287-d084dc20-560e-4bad-864e-b9d585a6ed05 | 2022-08-04T23:39:45 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/cresson-fire-department-fully-volunteers-brush-fires-lost-truck/287-d084dc20-560e-4bad-864e-b9d585a6ed05 |
DALLAS — Dallas County data shows COVID cases among kids have increased 10.3% in the last week.
“We're seeing a bigger increase in (cases in) kids than we are in adults,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said. “Keep in mind that these numbers are much lower than reality because so many people are using the home test.”
This comes at a time when most Dallas ISD students are getting ready to head back to school one week from Monday on Aug. 15.
“Children generally are more social,” Jenkins said. “And with school coming back, they're going to be around each other even more.”
In addition to a rise in COVID cases, Dallas County is also seeing an uptick in monkeypox cases.
Dallas ISD said they are keeping a close eye on the county’s overall health situation and will take actionable measures if they need to.
Tarrant County leaders are watching COVID and monkeypox cases closely, too.
“Parents need to be aware: It can happen as schools and colleges open. Family members, friends, somebody in your circle has monkeypox: It can seep into a school setting or a college setting,” Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja said.
Education at a time like this is important, Taneja said.
“Vaccine preventable diseases do tend to have an outbreak when lots of kids show up and they're not protected,” Taneja said.
To help protect kids, Tarrant County kicked off its back to school vaccination clinics on Aug. 1, offering school-required shots, plus the COVID vaccine.
In the clinics’ first three days, Taneja said they gave 2,700 doses of different vaccines to 1,100 people, describing it as “a big demand.”
These vaccination clinics are open six days a week for the rest of the month and rotate between six locations. Click here for the full schedule.
Tarrant County Public Health is encouraging parents not to wait until the last minute to get their kids vaccinated.
“You don't want to do it like the day before school’s about to open because you haven't given the child’s body enough time to actually build the immunity,” Taneja said. “It takes several days, sometimes up to two weeks.” | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-county-reports-increase-youth-covid-19-cases/287-a16feb22-25b8-4bb4-a198-dff8a40adad1 | 2022-08-04T23:39:51 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-county-reports-increase-youth-covid-19-cases/287-a16feb22-25b8-4bb4-a198-dff8a40adad1 |
DALLAS — In a Dallas County courtroom, Patricia Owens saw her former husband and the father of their children for the first time in 14 years.
The last time she was him was the night Yaser Said allegedly killed their two teenage daughters – Amina and Sarah – for dating American boys.
Speaking haltingly and softly at times, Owens told jurors about the controlling and abusive man she married at 15 after dating for only three weeks, how she had three children in quick succession and how she repeatedly left only to return out of fear.
Said didn’t work much and when he did, he drove a taxi, she said. She worked retail jobs and he took what money she earned that didn’t go for bills.
“When he got income tax, he would take it,” she testified. “When I got my check and paid the bills, what was left he would take it.”
Yaser Said is charged with capital murder in the deaths of his daughters. Their bodies were found Jan. 1, 2008, in a cab at an Irving hotel. He was captured 12 years later.
In the late 1990s, the family moved to Hill County, just outside Waco.
While living there, the girls told their mother that Yaser Said had been sexually abusing them. Owens took them to the police station to report the alleged abuse.
Owens left Yaser in the fall of 1998. She and her children lived with her sister in Duncanville and kept her whereabouts from Yaser a secret.
In November 1998, Owens reported to Garland police that Yaser Said had threatened to kill her. Owens also sought a protective order.
But, Owens ultimately returned to Yaser and took the girls to Hill County to recant the sexual abuse allegations.
“I felt scared not to go back,” she said in a low tone. “Yaser was abusive.”
Owens repeatedly left Yaser only to return.
“He was controlling (and) abusive,” she said.
Asked why she would return, “I was just scared.”
By the mid-2000s, the family was living in Bedford. The girls were teenagers, but not allowed to date.
Amina got a car and began driving herself to karate classes. She had also struck up a friendship with Joseph Moreno. Owens said she did not tell Said about it.
Around 2006, the family abruptly moved to Lewisville during the school year. Owens said he decided to move the family because he wanted to be closer to his taxi-driving job.
Owens said she and the girls got jobs working at Kroger.
Erik Panameno also worked there. He and Sarah began dating.
Amina also began dating Edgar Ruiz, a junior college student who sometimes came into the store.
Owens testified that by the fall of 2007 she was aware of the girls were dating Ruiz and Panamemo, but she did not tell Said because she knew he would disapprove of it.
The girls had also gotten engaged to their boyfriends, she testified.
Around that time, Said began checking the girls’ phone records and calling the numbers in it. If a boy answered, he would write “boy” beside the contact and if a girl answered, he would write, “girl.”
In December 2007, the girls told their mother that they were going to run away.
“We thought Yaser found out they were dating boys,” Owens testified. “Sarah said that Yaser had threatened Amina.”
Clearly reluctant to answer questions, Owens said Sarah told her that Said threatened Amina with a gun. She said she did not confront Said about it because she knew “he would have gotten abusive toward me.”
Once the plan was hatched, Owens testified that she told the girls to put their clothes in trash bags in hopes of making it appear that they were merely donating clothing.
Then they waited for Said to go to work.
Several days went by. Said finally went to work on Christmas Day.
Owens testified that she told her son that she was taking the girls to a convenience store to get a drink. She took $4,000 from Said’s safe. When they left, she said she and the girls destroyed the SIM cards in their phones, so that Said could not track there whereabouts.
Owens, the girls and the boyfriends fled first to Kansas and then to Oklahoma, where they rented an apartment. Once in Oklahoma, she said they got a pre-paid phone.
Said and his brother began leaving messages on her and Amina’s voicemail.
She said in the messages, the Said brothers begged her to return with the girls so they could finish school. She said they promised that Yaser Said would leave the family home and stay elsewhere if they would only come home.
“They were trying to be nice and convince us that everything was going to be ok, just come back and finish school,” Owens said.
Owens said she ultimately decided to return because Amina only had a few more months to finish her senior year and she didn’t want to mess up her chance to go to college.
“I didn’t think anything would happen,” she testified.
Back in Texas, Sarah returned to the family home with Owens. Amina went to stay at Edgar’s home. Owens testified that she told Said that Amina was at a female friend’s house.
She said she did not tell Said about the boys nor that they had accompanied them on the out-of-state flight.
At the house, Owens said Said told Sarah that he was glad she was back and things seemed OK. Owens testified that Said spent quite a bit of time talking to Sarah alone.
He also gave Sarah a new SIM card for her phone.
Still, he was chewing on the side of his cheek, which she said she knew to be a sign that he was angry.
Owens said she made contact several times with Amina asking when she would be ready to return home.
The next day, Jan. 1, Owens said she went to Edgar’s home to get Amina.
She said Amina did not want to return home, but Amina finally agreed to come with her.
A prosecutor asked if Amina comprehended what could happen to her.
“Yes,” she said.
“Did you comprehend what could happen to her?” the prosecutor asked.
“I did. A part of me did. A part of me didn’t,” Owens responded, before pausing and saying, “I’m sorry.”
She said Said came to the door when she got there with Amina.
“He kissed her on the forehead and I seen a tear go down his cheeks and he hugged her,” Owens said.
Owens said Amina then told she was hungry. She offered to warm up pizza. But Said said he wanted to take the girls to dinner and talk.
He left in the orange cab he drove for work, she said.
After Said and the girls left the house, Owens said she reached him by phone and asked if she and Islam could join them. Said said no and that he was getting gas and would be home soon.
That was the last time she ever spoke with him, she testified.
The bodies of the girls were soon found inside that cab. They had been shot to death.
Said was nowhere to be found.
With that SIM card that her father had just bought her, Sarah managed to make one 911 call. On the call, she told authorities, “Help. My dad shot me.”
Owens said after the girls died and Saids fled, Islam went to Egypt and she mostly lost contract with Islam. He is now serving a 10-year prison sentence for helping his father avoid capture.
Prosecutors also entered into an evidence a green ammunition box recovered from Said’s home.
The ammunition recovered from the box was the same brand as the rounds used to kill the girls, a detective testified.
Former Irving police detective John Schingle testified about his brief meeting with Edgar and Erik on the night of the murders.
He said it was clear to him that the boys did not yet know the girls were dead, so he went ahead and told them.
“They were very upset and shaken,” Schingle said. “You could tell that nobody had told them anything.”
Defense attorneys questioned why Schingle did not take the boys official statements, their fingerprints, DNA or check them for gunshot residue.
“Sir, I had no reason to believe that these young men were lying to me,” Schingle told the defense attorney.
Banging on the table, the defense attorney said, “So you didn’t do any investigation that would determine their credibility, did you officer?”
“Well, there’s reason to yell at me because at that time I was just obtaining their information,” Schingle said. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ex-wife-of-yaser-said-testifies-day-3-capital-murder-trial/287-1e47fc1d-6c4a-45a8-a388-373f03b0f691 | 2022-08-04T23:39:57 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ex-wife-of-yaser-said-testifies-day-3-capital-murder-trial/287-1e47fc1d-6c4a-45a8-a388-373f03b0f691 |
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — The Mall of America is in the process of lifting a lockdown following a shooting inside the building.
Bloomington Police confirmed at 5:40 p.m. that shots were fired inside the mall earlier Thursday afternoon and said the suspect fled the mall on foot.
Police have secured the scene at the mall, but at this time "have not located a victim." At around 6:30 p.m., officials said guests on Level 2 were being asked to wait for an escort. All other people are being asked to leave.
The North entrance is closed and the mall will remain closed for the remainder of the night, according to mall officials. Metro Transit service to he mall has also been halted for the rest of the night.
Bloomington Police confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the department had "numerous officers" on scene "working an active incident" inside the mall.
In a later tweet, Mall of America called it a "confirmed isolated incident" but would not specify a shooting.
Ava Malloy, an employee at Air Traffic Toys in the Mall of America, spoke to KARE 11 over the phone while in lockdown. "I turned off the lights and everyone's huddled behind something," Ava said.
"We were working with customers and then all of a sudden there were people running in the store. There was probably about 25 to 30 people and we looked and thought they were kids just goofing around," Macy's employee Brenda Wachello said via phone while taking cover inside the store. "And then people were saying, 'There's a shooter."
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to a woman who said she heard "two gunshots above the DSW." The woman was able to leave the mall, but said her daughter remained inside under lockdown.
A large group was still in the MOA basement waiting to leave as the lockdown was being lifted.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 | 2022-08-04T23:40:04 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 |
THE TEXAS TRIBUNE – A lawsuit filed Thursday by 25 Texas cities claims that Disney, Hulu and Netflix have for years stiffed the cities out of dollars the streaming giants are required to pay under state law — and now cities are coming to collect.
Austin, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth are among the cities that sued the streaming services in Dallas County to recover money they say they has been owed since 2007 and to require the services to pay each year going forward. Under state law, the services have to pay cities a franchise fee — which traditional cable providers also pay — in exchange for using communication lines over public rights of way to transmit their services into homes.
As more people abandon cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services, cities have lost franchise fee revenue — money that goes to fund city services like police and fire protection as well as roads, parks and libraries.
Cities haven’t made up that revenue with fees from streaming services, said Steven Wolens, a former Texas lawmaker and lead attorney for the cities. Even though state law classifies them as video service providers that must pay the fees, the major streamers haven’t paid cities a dime, Wolens said.
“They should have been paying this fee from the very beginning,” Wolens said. “Shame on them because they are using the public right of way that every other company pays the city to use.”
Exactly how much the streaming giants owe Texas cities isn’t known, Wolens said. For a smaller city, the losses could number in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said. For a larger city, that figure could be in the millions.
Other Texas cities that joined the lawsuit are Abilene, Allen, Amarillo, Arlington, Beaumont, Carrollton, Denton, Frisco, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Lewisville, McKinney, Mesquite, Nacogdoches, Pearland, Plano, Rowlett, Sugar Land, Tyler and Waco.
The cities are seeking funds dating to when the services launched — Netflix in 2007, Hulu in 2008 and Disney+, The Walt Disney Co.’s streaming service, in late 2019. Their subscriber bases number in the tens of millions worldwide, with Netflix on top with more than 220 million subscribers.
Representatives for Disney, Hulu and Netflix did not immediately return requests for comment.
This story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.
Texas Tribune mission statement
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/disney-hulu-netflix-owe-texas-cities-money-in-unpaid-fees/269-c084b97c-68ef-408b-851e-c2c34440509b | 2022-08-04T23:40:10 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/disney-hulu-netflix-owe-texas-cities-money-in-unpaid-fees/269-c084b97c-68ef-408b-851e-c2c34440509b |
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.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/sharks-corpus-christi-texas-coast-port-a/273-c3ae74b2-549d-4501-94ab-9faa15a9e747 | 2022-08-04T23:40:16 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/sharks-corpus-christi-texas-coast-port-a/273-c3ae74b2-549d-4501-94ab-9faa15a9e747 |
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A team of scientists, including one from Oregon State University, concluded in a recent paper that breaching four dams in the Lower Snake River Basin in Washington provides the best and only reasonable opportunity to promote recovery of key fish species, including salmon and steelhead.
The paper, published in the journal Water Biology and Security, takes a comprehensive look at current fish populations in the basin, past efforts to aid the recovery of those populations and the future impacts of climate change.
“We set out to answer the question of what should be done to maximize the likelihood of recovery of these critical fish species in the Lower Snake River Basin,” said Bob Hughes, courtesy associate professor in Oregon State’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “This analysis clearly showed that the aggressive action of breaching the dams is necessary.”
Dams have been built around the world to allow humans to store and alter the timing and amount of water released downstream and often to generate electricity. However, growing evidence indicates that dams also negatively affect ecosystems.
This has led to exponential growth in dam breaching over the last several decades, particularly in North America and Europe. In the United States alone, more than 1,200 dams have been breached, most in recent decades.
Breaching is viewed as a form of river rehabilitation because it can help restore river flows, water temperatures, sediment and particle transport, river and riparian ecosystems and access to upstream and downstream habitats essential for aquatic organisms to complete life cycles, said Hughes, an aquatic ecologist for more than 40 years, including the last 18 at Oregon State.
The Snake River Basin in southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and Idaho is part of the Columbia River Basin. The Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River.
In 1960 and 1970s, the federal government built four dams on the Lower Snake River in southeastern Washington to improve navigation, produce hydropower and create recreational opportunities.
Since completion of the dams, despite considerable effort to improve habitat and provide for better passage conditions, native fish populations have been, and continue to be impaired, with many species or populations now facing extinction or extirpation, the authors of the paper note.
Nowhere is this decline more evident than in the Snake River Basin, they say. This basin once supported almost 50% of the chinook salmon and steelhead in the entire Columbia River Basin, which includes much of Oregon and Washington, almost all of Idaho and parts of Wyoming and Nevada.
Today, after decades of attempts to mitigate the effects of the dams, only 1% to 2% of historic wild salmon and steelhead numbers return and all populations in the basin face extinction or extirpation.
“The weight of evidence we’ve outlined in the paper points to a strong likelihood that breach, more so than any other measures that have been implemented in the past, will promote a real possibility of rehabilitation,” said Adam Storch, the lead author of the paper who is an analyst with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This is a particularly important consideration given the dire state of many populations.”
In the recent paper published in Water Biology and Security, the researchers examined the impact of breaching the four Lower Snake River dams – Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite – on the rehabilitation of salmon, steelhead, bull trout, white sturgeon and pacific lamprey.
For a comparison, they studied research from recent years about the Elwha River in Washington, where dams were breached and native populations of salmon, steelhead, bull trout and Pacific Lamprey have rebounded quickly.
They also looked at research that modeled fish extinction risk for Lower Snake River chinook Salmon and steelhead populations under current conditions and if dams were breached and spill over the four dams in the Lower Columbia Basin increased to aid fish passage.
And they considered climate change dynamics. The Snake River Basin currently contains 20% of the habitat occupied by salmon and steelhead in rivers of the Pacific Northwest; by 2080 it is forecast to contain 65% of the coldest, most climate-resilient stream habitats in the region that these cold-water species need.
Recent research has shown that even with the potential effects of climate change much of the habitat on the Snake River Basin will remain suitable for fishes. However, under current conditions with the dams, it is unclear how migratory fishes like salmon and steelhead will access those areas without succumbing to stress from warm water.
All these factors led the authors of the paper to conclude the wealth of credible scientific evidence indicates clearly that breach of the four Lower Snake River dams and more spill over the Lower Columbia River dams is necessary to rehabilitate declining populations of Snake River salmon, steelhead, bull trout, white sturgeon and pacific lamprey.
“This rehabilitation would, in turn, benefit human populations that depend on these species economically, recreationally, and culturally,” they write.
In addition to his position at Oregon State, Hughes is a senior research scientist at the Amnis Opis Institute, a water resource consulting business. Other co-authors of the paper are Howard Schaller, Charles Petrosky, Robert Vadas Jr., Benjamin Clemens, Gary Sprague, Norman Mercado-Silva, Brett Roper, Michael Parsley; Edward Bowles and Jay Hesse. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/breach-of-lower-snake-river-dams-will-aid-recovery-of-native-fish-new-study-says/article_5c4a04a4-11c9-11ed-8eb9-4bf250709495.html | 2022-08-04T23:40:55 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/breach-of-lower-snake-river-dams-will-aid-recovery-of-native-fish-new-study-says/article_5c4a04a4-11c9-11ed-8eb9-4bf250709495.html |
July 12, 1944 – July 11, 2022
Monty Page born in Marshfield, Oregon on July 12, 1944, died in Coos Bay, Oregon on July 11, 2022.
Monty is survived by his partner, Dianne Yeager; children, Casey Page and wife, DeeDee of La Pine, OR; daughter, Molly Weaver and husband, Rhett of Gilbert, AZ; grandchildren, Ashetan, Monica, Kelsea, Erik, Logan, Cooper, and Tryp; as well as great grandchildren, Tristin and Connor.
Monty was preceded in death by wife, Judi (nee Winters) and parents Marvin “Bud" Page and Edie Page.
Dad attended Eastside Grade school, Marshfield Junior High and Marshfield High School. He also attended SWOCC.
Dad worked at Bay Motors before starting at Coos Head Timber Company. He then, along with wife, Judi and family, moved to San Mateo to try his hand as a free-lance photographer, supplementing his income by working at National Oil Seal. He moved us back to Oregon’s Bay Area in early ‘69 where he began his career as a steel fabricator working for Cy King and beginning 30 year career at Industrial Services Inc., with stops at Stalcup Truck and Supply, Oregon Pacific, Southport Lumber and Bandon Dunes. Monty retired as a fully qualified, journeyman millwright from Georgia Pacific’s Coos Bay Sawmill.
Dad was a true renaissance man, master level fitter, welder, very talented wood worker, he also wrote and published several novels and short stories and he designed and built his own home.
Lately he loved developing his vineyard and “Thunderdome” viewing area, where gatherings happened during his famous wood fired pizza parties, being with friends especially Les Engle and “The Class of 62”, and spending lots of time with his family and Dianne.
Dad, you were deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
In lieu of services, a Celebration of Life for Monty will be held on August 13, 2022 at Dad’s house beginning at 10:30 am. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/monty-page/article_b296d88e-1442-11ed-a52c-3f06e0260099.html | 2022-08-04T23:41:02 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/obituaries/monty-page/article_b296d88e-1442-11ed-a52c-3f06e0260099.html |
Franciscan Health Crown Point installed new Ion robotic bronchoscopy system to detect lung cancer earlier.
The disease accounts for 25% of cancer deaths, killing more people than breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer combined, according to the American Cancer Society. But the five-year survival rate is 92% when it's diagnosed in the earliest stages.
The new technolgy at Franciscan Health Crown Point helps doctors find malignancies and make diagnoses sooner.
“Robotic bronchoscopy will give many patients the opportunity to get that early, life-saving diagnosis,” said Giovanni Infusino, pulmonologist with Franciscan Physician Network Crown Point Internal Medicine and Specialty Center. “Intricate and narrow segments in the lung often make it difficult or unsafe to obtain a biopsy of a nodule. This new technology provides a minimally invasive option for patients who otherwise would have been told to ‘watch and wait.’”
The device enables an ultra-thin catheter to reach the furthest segments of the lung. It locates the nodule, locks in place and takes a tissue sample.
“The Ion can rotate 180 degrees, providing flexibility that allows us to reach all 18 segments of the lung,” said Jason Fitzgerald, thoracic surgeon with Cardiac Surgery Associates. “This is critical, because up to 70 percent of lung nodules are found in the most distant regions of the lung.”
The doctors guides the catheter through the airways with a view from a camera.
“This radical technology combined with the da Vinci robot gives our multidisciplinary lung cancer team at Franciscan Health Crown Point the most comprehensive and minimally invasive options to our patients in the region,” said Dr. Michael Tuchek, thoracic surgeon with Cardiac Surgery Associates.
The Franciscan Health Burrell Cancer Center Crown Point also offers genomic testing, personalized treatment plans, targeted radiation therapies, minimally invasive robotic surgeries, lung cancer nurse navigation and a $49 lung and heart screening program.
The physicians there have gotten specialized training on the new Ion robotic technology in Crown Point.
“The Ion robotic bronchoscopy platform is the perfect complement to our already robust lung cancer program,” said Daniel McCormick, president and CEO of Franciscan Health Crown Point. “This new technology is not only important as we continue to provide exceptional patient care, but also as we support our extraordinary team of physicians, which strives to offer leading-edge screening and treatment options.”
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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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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.
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
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/franciscan-health-crown-point-installs-new-robotic-system-to-diagnose-lung-cancer-earlier/article_39b78f19-901d-5c13-9727-cbda8f9e8d73.html | 2022-08-04T23:42:44 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/franciscan-health-crown-point-installs-new-robotic-system-to-diagnose-lung-cancer-earlier/article_39b78f19-901d-5c13-9727-cbda8f9e8d73.html |
Horizon Bank has named a former First Midwest Bank executive its new president.
The Michigan City-based bank appointed longtime banking industry leader Thomas Prame to serve as president of both Horizon Bancorp and its subsidiary Horizon Bank. The company describe the appointment as an "important step in Horizon’s strategic expansion of its leadership team."
“I am very pleased to welcome Thomas to the Horizon executive team,” said Chairman and CEO Craig Dwight. “Thomas brings extensive strategic leadership and digital technology experience along with a deep understanding of our local markets that will enable Horizon to continue serving the growing numbers of consumers and businesses in Indiana, Michigan and throughout the Midwest.”
Prame previously worked at Chicago-based First Midwest Bank, a larger player in the Northwest Indiana banking landscape where he most recently served as executive vice president and CEO of community banking. He was hired at First Midwest in 2012 and worked in a number of executive roles.
The University of Notre Dame graduate previously worked for RBS Citizens Bank, Colonial Bank, CitiMortgage and Fifth Third Bank. He stayed with First Midwest for a decade until it merged with Old National Bank last month.
Prame will assume the role of president at Horizon Bank on Aug. 15. He will be tasked with expanding lending, technolgy, low-cost Midwest deposit franchise and long-term customer relationships.
"I am excited to join the Horizon team," Prame said. "I am inspired by the culture the bank has created, and I look forward to leading our talented and dedicated team. Together, we will expand our technology-enabled business model and continue to position Horizon for long-term success. I look forward to being part of the people first culture that Craig and the Horizon team have established."
Horizon Bank has $7.4 billion in assets and branches through Indiana and Michigan.
1 of 14
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
1 of 14
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.
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
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/horizon-bank-names-former-first-midwest-executive-new-president/article_dab4265f-4ca3-598d-b0ed-6f5cea15ba36.html | 2022-08-04T23:42:50 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/horizon-bank-names-former-first-midwest-executive-new-president/article_dab4265f-4ca3-598d-b0ed-6f5cea15ba36.html |
The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce is soliciting input on its strategic plan.
The chamber board recently met at Agave Mansion in Michigan City to talk about the chamber's recent successes and future goals. It plans to have a board retreat later this year to start crafting a new strategic plan.
Cynthia Roberts, dean of the School of Business and Economics at Indiana University Northwest, has been helping with the chamber's strategic planning efforts.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, and the resulting changes in the economic climate, it is a perfect time for the chamber to reflect upon their past service as well as develop a strategic direction for the future,” Roberts said.
The chamber represents businesses across the greater Michigan City area, giving them opportunities for networking while working to promote growth and economic development in the lakefront city in LaPorte County.
The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce board plans to gather feedback from community stakeholders, committees, focus groups and one-on-one partner conversations as it crafts a new strategic plan to identify its future priorities. It also will collect data from a survey of the public.
“While we build a pathway to create a stronger chamber, everyone’s voice is extremely important in this process. We are inviting everyone to participate in the conversation,” President Katie Eaton said.
People have until Aug. 11 to take the survey online. To take the survey or for more information, email keaton@mcachamber.com, visit MichiganCityChamber.com or call 219-874-6221.
1 of 14
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
1 of 14
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.
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
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/micihigan-city-chamber-seeks-input-for-strategic-plan/article_edb0de3f-efcc-5113-8f33-3042d5a469ed.html | 2022-08-04T23:42:56 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/micihigan-city-chamber-seeks-input-for-strategic-plan/article_edb0de3f-efcc-5113-8f33-3042d5a469ed.html |
Merchants Capital New York provided $13 million in financing for the rehabilitation of the historic Carolyn Mosby Apartments in Gary.
The financial services provider financed a $13 million Merchants Bank of Indiana construction loan to fund the joint venture between Gorman & Company and the Gary Housing Authority to renovate the apartments at 650 Jackson St. just west of downtown Gary.
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project was held in late June.
The Gary Housing Authority built the eight-story high-rise building as a public housing development in the late 1960s, when such structures were going up in cities nationwide. The 142-unit apartment complex houses seniors and disabled residents who earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income in one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The Gary Housing Authority sought $13 million in tax-exempt bonds from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to do renovations and convert the building into long-term Section 8 housing, in which residents get rental assistance. It says the project is needed to preserve the long-term affordability of the Carolyn Mosby Apartments.
“Preserving existing affordable housing developments is just as important as financing new properties, so we were honored to partner on the Carolyn Mosby project in Indiana,” said William Jones, a senior vice president at Merchants Capital New York. “This was a complicated deal in which all stakeholders worked creatively to get to closing. The rehabilitation of the Carolyn Mosby Apartments will be a tremendous asset to the existing residents as well as members of the Gary community.”
The financing will pay for interior and exterior renovations, including to the plumbing, electrical systems and common areas. The building will be made more energy-efficient.
After construction is done, the loan will converted into a $5.239 million permanent Freddie Mac tax-exempt loan that will be serviced by Merchants Capital. The project also received $9.7 million in equity investments in exchange for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
The construction is expected to be finished in 2024.
1 of 14
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
1 of 14
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.
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
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/new-york-firm-finances-13-million-rehabilitation-of-the-historic-carolyn-mosby-apartments-in-gary/article_cb09812f-9e20-5ba6-b5db-c152ad2a87bf.html | 2022-08-04T23:43:02 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/new-york-firm-finances-13-million-rehabilitation-of-the-historic-carolyn-mosby-apartments-in-gary/article_cb09812f-9e20-5ba6-b5db-c152ad2a87bf.html |
Former First Midwest customers have complained about a number of issues since the merger was finalized in July, including problems with their debit cards, being unable to look up balances and being locked out of their online accounts.
"We are incredibly focused in on continuing to integrate this partnership," CEO Jim Ryan said during a recent conference call with investors. "This was a transformational partnership and we feel really good about where we're at with the integration of the clients and the team members, but there's still work to do. And so we will continue to do that as a team."
Customers reported many glitches and snafus after the acquisition of Fist Midwest was finalized, including being allowed to overdraft their accounts, not being able to conduct routine transactions and having to wait in line or on the phone for hours to get their questions answered.
People are also reading…
Ryan said during the conference call with investors that while some critics have been vocal, the transition was seamless and hassle-free for most customers.
"The data systems conversion went incredibly well. I was in here a couple of Sundays ago, and we balanced out very early on Sunday morning," he said. "Our commercial clients adapted to our new systems very well. There's just a lot of retail — we have 300,000 clients, and there's just a lot of clients, getting them to register debit cards and getting them through their online and mobile channels."
Most of the issues have been resolved, Ryan said.
"We feel really good about it, overall. And certainly, again, it's easy to pick the handful of clients that maybe have said something. But we continue to believe, overall, we feel really pleased with the integration. And more importantly, it's largely behind us in the rearview mirror going forward."
Some customers, however, say they are still running into issues. Dyer attorney Robert Golding got a letter telling him his account number would be changed but said he could still use his old checks for two years.
"Today, I attempted to cash a check, and the teller refused to honor my check even though she is one of the old First Midwest Bank tellers who has known me for years," Golding said Wednesday. "I think that Old National Bank is very dishonest for sending out a letter saying one thing and then doing another. She said I must have new checks immediately in order to cash a check. I have to wonder if they will return checks that I have used to pay bills."
He's had an account there since 1976 when it was Calumet National Bank and is very frustrated. | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/old-national-bank-ceo-says-first-midwest-bank-integration-problems-largely-behind-us/article_a9df59a8-d2c9-51fc-82b3-45d577853cf7.html | 2022-08-04T23:43:09 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/old-national-bank-ceo-says-first-midwest-bank-integration-problems-largely-behind-us/article_a9df59a8-d2c9-51fc-82b3-45d577853cf7.html |
A Stroke and Diabetes Awareness Fair will take place Wednesday at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago.
Community Healthcare System will host the health fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Catherine Hospital’s Professional Office Building at 4320 Fir St. in East Chicago. It seeks to educate the public about strokes, the fifth leading cause of death and disability in the United States, and diabetes, the eight leading cause of disability in the United States.
From 9 a.m. until noon the fair will offer health screenings for A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol and foot assessments. Community Healthcare System recommends 10 hours of fasting for blood screenings.
It will offer presentations to educate the public on diabetes, stroke, the Mediterranean diet, exercise and movement from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.
People are also reading…
People also can stop by the Community Healthcare System’s Farmers Market, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Stroke and Diabetes Awareness Fair at the north entrance of St. Catherine Hospital.
"Stop by one or both events for a day of wellness," Community Healthcare System said in a news release.
The health fair and farmers markets are both free and open to the public.
Advance registration is not required.
For more information, call 219-836-3477 or visit comhs.org/programs-and-events/s/stroke-and-diabetes-awareness-fair. | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/st-catherine-hospital-to-host-stroke-and-diabetes-awareness-fair/article_d7b80e74-700d-5354-b009-4de861831eed.html | 2022-08-04T23:43:15 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/st-catherine-hospital-to-host-stroke-and-diabetes-awareness-fair/article_d7b80e74-700d-5354-b009-4de861831eed.html |
There are some things that defy belief. Things so incredible it’s nearly impossible to find the words to describe them.
Like how we put a man on the moon.
Or how the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.
Or how a reality show personality became President of the United States.
Ask anyone to explain any of them for you, and you’ll see what I mean.
However, as far as I am concerned, what I have trouble finding the words to describe isn’t anything incredible. Rather, it’s quite simple: It’s what someone looks like. In other words, I don’t know how to describe a description.
What is even more incredible to me — besides a man hitting a six-iron on the moon or one with an orange face sitting behind the Resolute Desk — are the drawings an artist makes of someone whom they’ve never met. Specifically, the ones done by sketch artists. Their talent for illustrating a face they’ve never seen before, using only someone’s verbal description of it, absolutely fascinates me.
But what fascinates me even more is that a common citizen such as you or I can describe someone with enough detail and precision that a sketch artist can draw a reasonably accurate portrait of them. That, my friends, takes talent. A talent I simply do not have.
Think for a moment how you would describe a person’s face to a sketch artist. It they had a distinctive facial feature, I might have a snowball’s chance. For example, I could point out a teardrop tattoo under someone’s eye, which indicates the person was in a gang or served time in prison. Or, if I were to describe a man with a rather peculiar combover, that might narrow it down to a particular POTUS. Otherwise, about as detailed as I could possibly get with my description is that they have two eyes, a nose and a mouth.
With a little luck, I might have noticed the color of their eyes, and I only mention it because my wife, who has been with me now for almost 50 years, still isn’t aware of the color of mine. So chalk eye color up as a big fat maybe.
As an illustration of my ability — or rather, my lack thereof — to describe someone’s face to a sketch artist, I present a real-life example from my past. When I was a student at the University of Florida, I worked with the local Gainesville Police Department for a class project. One day I met their sketch artist, so I took the opportunity to ask him how he was able to draw someone’s face simply from a person’s verbal description of it. “Actions speak louder than words,” he said.
The sketch artist took me to his studio (an out-of-commission bathroom with an easel) and asked me to describe someone I knew. So I thought it would be in my best interests to pick the girl I’d been dating for five years with the green eyes, who didn’t know the color of mine. After the most elaborate description I could possibly provide over the course of an hour, the sketch artist produced an absolutely perfect portrait — of Alice the Goon from the old Popeye cartoons.
Had I done a better job, his drawing should have — at the very worst — resembled a blond Olive Oyl.
My point is this: Law enforcement agencies need to be aware that if I don’t know the actual name of the person they’re looking for, I would be a terrible witness.
That is, unless there was something I’d remember about the person’s face other than just the two eyes, nose and mouth.
Or, if the person they’re wanting to find looks like Alice the Goon. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/scott-ludwig-it-s-hard-to-describe/article_44cfb69e-13ee-11ed-8413-7b142e373b6c.html | 2022-08-04T23:43:16 | 0 | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/scott-ludwig-it-s-hard-to-describe/article_44cfb69e-13ee-11ed-8413-7b142e373b6c.html |
Briana Carter, right, and her children Briniyah Martin, 13, left, and Brielle Martin, 10, and De'Angelo Magee, 4, prepare to have lunch at Catch Table & Tap in Merrillville. They had just come from a back-to-school shopping trip at Meijer courtesy of the Merrillville FOP. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/fop-takes-kids-back-to-school-shopping/article_f0f9b630-a249-50e8-a637-330e7e9c805d.html | 2022-08-04T23:43:21 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/fop-takes-kids-back-to-school-shopping/article_f0f9b630-a249-50e8-a637-330e7e9c805d.html |
The number of NIPSCO customers still without power a day after power thunderstorms tore through the Region was at just under 2,000 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-but-a-few-will-wait-until-friday/article_529f40ff-f11a-5710-bff0-92ce63d6db7f.html | 2022-08-04T23:43:27 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/update-most-nipsco-customers-should-have-power-back-but-a-few-will-wait-until-friday/article_529f40ff-f11a-5710-bff0-92ce63d6db7f.html |
GREENSBORO — Police say a Durham man was one of two people who vandalized eight downtown Greensboro buildings with graffiti last week.
Surveillance images from the vandalized businesses and a Crime Stoppers tip led to one of two suspects being identified, Greensboro police said Thursday in a news release.
Jesse Dillon Boutchyard, 36, faces charges of willful and wanton injury to real property, police said. Durham police officers have tried to serve the arrest warrants but have not been able to, Greensboro police said.
Officers patrolling downtown around 6 a.m. July 27 discovered the vandalism. Investigators determined that two people began walking north along North Elm Street about 3 a.m. and vandalized eight businesses from McGee Street to Fisher Avenue.
Durham’s Crime Stoppers is seeking help identifying the female involved in the vandalism. Tips can be made by calling 919-683-1200.
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The Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers number is 336-373-1000. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/durham-man-faces-charges-in-downtown-greensboro-graffiti-vandalism/article_8803b44e-1437-11ed-a01a-43014c9a80ac.html | 2022-08-04T23:46:02 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/durham-man-faces-charges-in-downtown-greensboro-graffiti-vandalism/article_8803b44e-1437-11ed-a01a-43014c9a80ac.html |
There’s not much water moving under the CSX Bridge in Whitesboro, and Town Officials hope to keep it that way. During heavy rains and ice breaks, the bridge tends to catch all the debris from upstream causing the creek to back up and flood the nearby neighborhoods. To keep the water from building up speed, Ramboll Engineering Program Manager Maggie Reilly has helped to develop floodplain benches along the Sauquoit Creek.
"Originally they had put in for 11 or 12 benches along the creek. So there’s 2 here existing at Dunham Manor Park. We did just finish our 2nd mitigation project in the Village of Whitesboro down by the CSX rail bed."
That project consists of a floodplain bench on the south side of the tracks, another bench on the north side of the tracks, and 5 new culvert pipes that allow water to pass under the CSX rail bed. The inlet bench at project 2 uses large poles to catch ice from upstream normally collected at the CSX Bridge, allowing water to flow through to the north side. The DEC will be awarding the Town with a $161 thousand Forest Conservation Grant which will be used to acquire almost 16 acres of forest. Some of the land will be used to construct another floodplain bench.
"Actually this will be our 5th floodplain bench that we build. We’re going to enhance and enlarge that existing one on the south side of the rail bed, so we can think of that as almost our 6th one."
The Natural Resource Conservation Service is spending about $26 million to acquire the homes affected by past flooding, which will then be turned over to the Town.
"They’re buying out those homes so that that floodplain can be restored in that area, and so that would again be forever a floodplain and remain green when the homes are removed of the area."
Construction on the 3rd floodplain bench project is expected to start in the spring of 2024. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/whitestown-continues-with-flooding-mitigation/article_549300be-1438-11ed-86d3-2f3951ccd6b0.html | 2022-08-04T23:55:57 | 0 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/whitestown-continues-with-flooding-mitigation/article_549300be-1438-11ed-86d3-2f3951ccd6b0.html |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — THV11 announced this week that a new anchor has joined the evening team alongside Craig O’Neill, Rolly Hoyt, and Chief Meteorologist Tom Brannon.
Faith Woodard, originally from Tampa, Fla., served most recently at CBS4 in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. Prior to that, she worked as a reporter at WBOC in Maryland and as a sideline reporter for SportsNet New York and Big East Digital Network. She studied at Georgetown University as well as the Columbia School of Journalism.
Her extensive resume includes having reported on NASA launches, devastating tornado damage, offshore-drilling, immigration and U.S.-Mexico border issues, Texas’s mass power outage, and most recently the Uvalde school shooting, helping seek answers for Texans and families who lost loved ones.
“Faith is a tried and true journalist with a passion for helping others through the platform of local news. We’re thrilled to have her join our team,” THV11’s news director Shayla Teater said.
In addition to Faith’s news background, she was a four-year starter and captain on Georgetown University’s Women’s Basketball Team.
She told THV11 that it was news coverage of Hurricane Katrina that first inspired her to pursue journalism as a career. She described her position in news as being an anchor for the community – someone who can be counted on to get answers, even when the questions are tough.
“I was drawn to THV11 because of the amazing leadership and team members. They’re building something really special here, and are some of the brightest minds this industry can offer,” Faith said. “I’m excited to get to know the community, too.”
Faith is particularly excited about calling Arkansas home for the first time and looks forward to growing some roots in the Natural State. She said when she’s not at work, she loves spending time with family, reading, and listening to her favorite artist, Steve Wonder.
THV11 general manager Marty Schack said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Faith to THV11 and Arkansas, and know she’ll connect with and inspire new audiences to tune in across our various news platforms. She is not to be missed.”
She’ll start this month, and will appear on THV11 News at 5, 6, and 10. In addition to broadcasting on-air, THV11 also streams 24/7 on its premier Roku and FireTV apps.
For media inquiries, please contact Jessica Johnson Amis at (501) 244-4527 or jessica.amis@thv11.com.
➤ Sign up now for THV11's Lunchbox newsletter. It sends you the top trending stories, the latest forecast, and more straight to your email! | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/faith-woodard-thv11-evening-team/91-3f88d37d-b53d-45b4-be80-2397aa84c526 | 2022-08-04T23:58:19 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/faith-woodard-thv11-evening-team/91-3f88d37d-b53d-45b4-be80-2397aa84c526 |
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover announced she will not drop criminal charges against Louis Taylor for his conviction in the 1970 Pioneer Hotel fire after her office “did not find any new evidence of innocence,” she announced Wednesday.
The move is a reversal of Conover’s previous considerations to vacate Taylor’s conviction and came the day after the county’s Board of Supervisors held an hour-long executive session discussing the case behind closed doors.
The office’s Conviction and Sentencing Integrity Unit has completed its review of the case, according to a news release from Conover, who said, “I have concluded that where the criminal case is concerned, I have met my ethical obligations as a prosecutor.”
Taylor served 42 years in prison after being convicted of starting the fire that killed 29 people in 1970. In 2013, he made a plea deal with then-county attorney Barbara LaWall’s office that set aside the conviction and released him from prison with time served.
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At the time, LaWall insisted the move was not an exoneration. Taylor has continued to maintain his innocence.
Taylor sued Pima County and the city of Tucson in 2015 for violating his right to due process and a fair trial, alleging racism and civil conspiracy led to his arrest and conviction. The amount of compensation he is seeking is undisclosed.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2019, however, that Taylor could not collect damages for his time in prison because of the no-contest plea he made. Taylor’s lawyers have said new evidence, and evidence left out of the time of Taylor’s criminal case, permits a new hearing.
The Arizona Justice Project, which worked on Taylor's case for more than 20 years, said in a news release Thursday, “The Pima County Attorney has foregone a critical opportunity to correct one of the most severe injustices Pima County has ever seen.”
The release states the county attorney’s office was “on the verge” of concluding Taylor was wrongly convicted, but “for reasons never explained,” never did so.
“Since Taylor’s 1972 conviction, critical witnesses have recanted and numerous instances of intentional prosecutorial misconduct have surfaced — including hiding exculpatory evidence from the defense, extracting false testimony from juveniles threatened with incarceration, and secretly speaking with a dismissed juror mid-trial to get a handle on the jury’s leanings,” the release said. “The case was suffused from the outset with intent to blame the 'Negro' or 'Colored boy.'”
During Taylor’s trial, then-Tucson Fire Department investigator Cy Holmes said he believed the fire was set intentionally by a black teenager and that “Blacks at that point, their background was to use fire for beneficial purposes.” Taylor, who is Black, was 16 at the time of the fire.
In a news release sent out Thursday, Taylor's attorneys also expressed dismay with the decision and said Taylor "remains confident that justice will be served."
"Ms. Conover holds herself out as a prosecuting attorney willing to correct the injustices of the past. Her decision in this case belies that and shows she is more interested in protecting the County from financial exposure resulting from her predecessors’ misconduct," the release said.
Taylor’s attorneys have argued throughout the civil case that the dismissal of the 2013 convictions would permit him to receive damages from the time he spent in prison. Now, Conover’s decision won’t give Taylor that leg up in the case.
Conover denies conflict of interest
Before Conover took office in 2021, LaWall’s team hired outside counsel to take over the Taylor civil lawsuit after finding her prosecution of the case would pose a conflict of interest.
The basis of the conflict, they said, was that Conover conducted research for one of Taylor’s parole hearings while she was in law school and discussed her dismay with how the Taylor case was handled throughout her campaign for county attorney.
Conover has said she never worked on Taylor’s case and that she didn’t know outside counsel had been hired until January, after she had already directed senior counsel in her staff to discuss settlement options in the Taylor civil case.
Conover said in a news release Wednesday: “I have never represented or participated in the representation of Mr. Taylor, whether in law school 20 years ago or since” and that “The prior administration’s conclusions were wrong, but rather than disrupt the defense of the County in the civil lawsuit, I chose not to contest their decision after I took office.”
However, Conover’s Facebook page shows she replied to a comment in January 2020 asking if she had met Louis Taylor, and said: “During law school I was able to provide a little research to prepare for one parole hearing, but it was sadly minimal as I was only a student. I felt powerless to help. That feeling has stayed with me. I still pray for Louis.”
In another Facebook comment, Conover said: “He should have been compensated, in my humble opinion. The case caused outrage in me at an early age and has stayed with me.”
When asked to comment further on the matter, C.T. Revere, the county attorney’s office’s director of communications said in an email: “We are going to let the statement stand and not do any interviews on the final decision in this review.”
While Conover has maintained she wasn’t aware of the conflict of interest finding from her predecessor's office, a Sept. 28 email between Conover and then-Chief Ethics Counsel Regina Nassen shows the county attorney was informed the Taylor case was sent to outside counsel.
Regardless, Conover told Nassen in an email she was “left completely in the dark” about her removal from the case when asked about sending counsel to mediate with Taylor’s attorneys.
Both Nassen and former Chief Civil Deputy Andrew Flagg resigned from the office over Conover's actions in the Taylor case.
“You will separately receive my resignation letter, but your decision to blame Regina for this situation is unfair, greatly disappointing, and requires its own response,” Flagg wrote in an email to Conover in February 2021. Flagg added later, “At a minimum, I would expect that you could understand, from the client’s perspective, why the election of a new county attorney who publicly espoused those views could cause a lack of harmony in the representation."
Photos of the 1970 Pioneer Hotel fire in downtown Tucson
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Louis Taylor to be free
Contact reporter Nicole Ludden at nludden@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/pima-county-attorney-reverses-course-wont-drop-charges-in-pioneer-hotel-fire-case/article_dbb170e8-1380-11ed-9c32-bbb146121861.html | 2022-08-04T23:58:29 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/pima-county-attorney-reverses-course-wont-drop-charges-in-pioneer-hotel-fire-case/article_dbb170e8-1380-11ed-9c32-bbb146121861.html |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — Day in and day out, the Fayetteville Public Library hosts all kinds of events for a variety of organizations.
Northwest Arkansas advocacy group for LGBTQIA+ youth, The Equality Crew, planned a back-to-school event that was supposed to happen at the library this weekend. The organization canceled the event, citing safety concerns.
The back-to-school festival would have included a resource fair, picnic, concert and dance party.
"We thought it was an opportunity to get resources into the hands of a population of students who may not feel comfortable with some of the traditional outlets in regards to school supplies," said David Johnson, Executive Director of the Fayetteville Public Library.
The library was just going to supply the space for the event. Soon after posting information about it online, Johnson says complaints started rolling in. Many of the concerns centered around a drag show associated with the dance party.
"I know from an administrative standpoint, we were unaware until the promotional materials went out that there was going to be any sort of, quote-unquote, 'drag,' performance or appearance," Johnson said.
Fayetteville parent Paul Heck is among those who voiced their concern.
“It’s not appropriate for a drag show to be put on for children in a bar in Dallas, Texas, much less than a taxpayer-funded, you know, facility, such as a library where we actually encourage children to go to,” Heck said.
Online posts called for the cancelation of the event and encouraged people to call the library and its board members.
Johnson says in addition to the drag show, there were also concerns about whether or not there would be adult supervision.
"Anytime we have an event that involves minors, parents are allowed to be there. And there were going to be adult chaperones," Johnson said.
The Equality Crew declined 5NEWS' request for an on-camera interview, but released the following written statement Thursday, Aug. 4:
"The Equality Crew was scheduled to host a Back to School Festival on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at the Fayetteville Public Library. This event was co-organized by The Equality Crew and the Fayetteville Public Library. The Library was to provide space for all components of the Back to School Festival which included a Community Resource & Connection Fair, a Community Picnic & Concert, and a Dance Party. The Library was also supporting the event with event management, teen library, and facilities staff.
The Community Resource & Connection Fair and Community Picnic & Concert were free and open to the public. As with most school and community dances, the Back to School Dance Party was open to incoming middle and high school students. Registration for the dance was free but required so that The Equality Crew could ensure safety by collecting emergency contact information for each attendee.
The Equality Crew and the Fayetteville Public Library recruited approximately one dozen volunteers to act as chaperones of the dance. These volunteers were required to pass a background check, national sex offender registry check, and undergo extensive training including Arkansas Mandated Reporter Training and Promoting the Emotional Well-Being of LGBTQ+ Youth. The venue would not safely allow for 200+ youth along with 2 or more parents to remain in accordance with fire safety codes.
The Equality Crew previously hosted a prom with over 150 students (open to only 10th-12th graders) in attendance and over 50 background checked and trained volunteers with no incidents of abuse, neglect, or injury. This event proved to provide a valuable safe and inclusive space for students who otherwise may have not been able to enjoy such a milestone due to an increasingly discriminatory and anti-LGBTQ+ environment across our state.
On Thursday, July 28, 2022, The Equality Crew was made aware of several direct communications made to the Fayetteville Public Library regarding the Back to School Festival. After reviewing the publicly posted communications and noting that they were increasing in violent and threatening language towards potential attendees, parents, volunteers, and organizations, we made the difficult decision to cancel the event. This was largely due in part to the increasing number of violent and disruptive attacks on parents, children, and organizers seeking to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community or provide inclusive programming, particularly in public library spaces around the world.
LGBTQ+ youth in the state of Arkansas, and across the nation, are historically underserved and experience anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination from multiple angles. In a 2019 survey, GLSEN found that the vast majority (87%) of LGBTQ+ students in Arkansas regularly heard anti-LGBTQ+ remarks and experienced bias-based victimization at school. Nearly three-quarters of students reported experiencing at least one form of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and at least 90% of LGBTQ+ students in Arkansas did not have access to in-school resources and supports. Furthermore, The Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021 found that 94% of LGBTQ youth reported that recent politics negatively impacted their mental health. Research shows that having support at home and school and in their community is the strongest defense against attempted suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. The Trevor Project reports that LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their sexual orientation and gender identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide than those who did not. Yet only 14% of LGBTQ+ youth in the South report having access to LGBTQ+-affirming community events.
According to preliminary results from our LGBTQ+ Youth Survey, youth in Northwest Arkansas reported a need for safe and inclusive events, such as prom and back to school dances.
We are disappointed, sad, and upset that this vital event could not safely take place. We will continue to move forward with regular monthly programming including events for LGBTQ+ youth in a safe and inclusive manner with increased attention to security and de-escalation needs. We know many students and families were looking forward to the Back to School Festival, including the resources and community connections to be provided. We encourage you to reach out to The Transition Closet for any back-to-school clothing needs. We have also developed a Back to School Guide for LGBTQ+ Students and Families that is accessible on our website (www.theequalitycrew.org/resources), along with our Affirming Teacher and School Staff Database.
We look forward to gathering with you again very soon, and hope you have an amazing school year!"
Johnson says library staff met with members of the organization earlier in the week.
"They expressed apologies and concern for the response that we were receiving, and that we all agreed that we can be better at what we do. Moving forward having learned lessons from this," Johnson said.
He says that in the wake of this incident, the library will be reviewing its processes.
"We want to just continue to support everyone in this community and make sure that everyone feels like they're getting the best value for their invested tax dollars," Johnson said.
Those who planned to attend the event can click here for helpful resources.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/lgbtq-back-to-school-event-canceled-controversy-fayetteville/527-70ef323d-3a6c-4ea5-a369-2bd59ef960b1 | 2022-08-04T23:58:53 | 1 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/lgbtq-back-to-school-event-canceled-controversy-fayetteville/527-70ef323d-3a6c-4ea5-a369-2bd59ef960b1 |
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — The Mall of America is in the process of lifting a lockdown following a shooting inside the building.
Bloomington Police confirmed at 5:40 p.m. that shots were fired inside the mall earlier Thursday afternoon and said the suspect fled the mall on foot.
Police have secured the scene at the mall, but at this time "have not located a victim." At around 6:30 p.m., officials said guests on Level 2 were being asked to wait for an escort. All other people are being asked to leave.
The North entrance is closed and the mall will remain closed for the remainder of the night, according to mall officials. Metro Transit service to he mall has also been halted for the rest of the night.
Bloomington Police confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the department had "numerous officers" on scene "working an active incident" inside the mall.
In a later tweet, Mall of America called it a "confirmed isolated incident" but would not specify a shooting.
Ava Malloy, an employee at Air Traffic Toys in the Mall of America, spoke to KARE 11 over the phone while in lockdown. "I turned off the lights and everyone's huddled behind something," Ava said.
"We were working with customers and then all of a sudden there were people running in the store. There was probably about 25 to 30 people and we looked and thought they were kids just goofing around," Macy's employee Brenda Wachello said via phone while taking cover inside the store. "And then people were saying, 'There's a shooter."
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to a woman who said she heard "two gunshots above the DSW." The woman was able to leave the mall, but said her daughter remained inside under lockdown.
A large group was still in the MOA basement waiting to leave as the lockdown was being lifted.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 | 2022-08-04T23:58:59 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 |
Natrona County’s assessor candidates agree on one thing — the way they determine property taxes needs to change.
This year’s race, one of the most closely watched in the county, is a rematch of 2018’s election. Assessor Matt Keating narrowly defeated then-interim assessor Tammy Saulsbury that year, and will be facing Saulsbury again in less than two weeks as he tries to maintain his position.
In the four years since being elected, Keating has taken heat from residents who complain of dramatic increases in taxes on their homes and say the assessor isn’t willing to adjust values.
Mike Corrigan eventually got fed up enough to organize a protest of the assessor’s office. He and others plan to meet at 5:30 on Sunday night at Washington Park.
“I’ve not talked to a single person who’s happy with what he’s doing,” Corrigan said.
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The Aug. 16 Republican ballot will also include challenger Tim Haid, who owns a landscaping business and has advocated for switching the assessment model to a 10-year average — a change that would, like most other proposed solutions, require a constitutional amendment. There are no Democratic candidates for assessor.
All three candidates recently signed a petition that calls for a major change to the way assessors in Wyoming calculate property tax. The petition specifically advocates for switching to an “acquisition” model that would base taxes on a property’s purchase price. Now, property tax is determined based on recent sale prices of similar properties.
Making that change would need to be done on a statewide level — one county can’t calculate its property taxes using a different model from the rest of Wyoming.
Rozmaring Czaban, the Natrona County resident who started the petition, said she doesn’t expect to collect enough signatures to put the issue directly to a public vote (Wyoming’s threshold for ballot initiatives is one of the highest in the country). But she still plans to deliver the signatures she does collect to state lawmakers, Gov. Mark Gordon and the state Board of Equalization, which oversees property assessments.
“It’s not a Matt (Keating) problem,” Czaban said. “People always go for the tax man… I think people do see it as a larger problem.”
Czaban has gathered signatures at candidate forums and around the Casper area this summer, and has found that most candidates are interested in adding their name. As of Thursday, she estimated the petition had around 200 signatures.
“It’s more for accountability at this point,” she said. “So we can show and present something that says, this number of the population feels this way. It’s the words of the people.”
Local candidates who’ve signed the petition include Casper Mayor Ray Pacheco, Rep. Pat Sweeney and challenger Bill Allemand, Rep. Chuck Gray, Sen. Drew Perkins and nearly every candidate for county commission.
Commissioner Peter Nicolaysen, the board’s most recent addition, said he did not sign the petition because he was concerned its language was too broad. He’s personally felt the pain of property tax increases, Nicolaysen said, but isn’t convinced that changing to an acquisition model would solve the county’s problems.
The commission’s chair, Paul Bertoglio, did sign despite not agreeing with every word on the petition.
“I believe it’s important that we support the individuals, to get their voice down to Cheyenne en masse,” he said. “The deck is stacked against the taxpayer … we’re going to need legislation to fix this.”
Keating is optimistic there could be legislative changes coming to the assessment process. He’s testified to lawmakers several times about the need to give taxpayers some relief.
“This issue is serious enough, we have the ear of our legislature like we’ve never had before,” Keating said Thursday.
There are some potential problems with the acquisition model — for one, the state doesn’t have its own historic data on sale prices, so would have to rely on property owners to truthfully report their purchases. It would also result in much lower property tax revenue around the state. Haid, who signed the petition, said while he doesn’t support the acquisition model he does feel there needs to be statewide changes to the assessment process.
Property taxes have been on the rise across the state in recent years, but some Natrona County residents have reported rises of 30, 40 or 50% that can’t be explained purely by market increases.
That may be partly due to a work order imposed on the county’s assessor office in 2019, which warned that values in Natrona County were out of compliance with state standards.
Since then, Keating has been commended on his work to bring the county closer to compliance, which the state Board of Equalization called “herculean.” But that process also brings jumps in assessed values, in an attempt to correct undervaluations from decades past. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/natrona-county-assessor-candidates-agree-process-needs-fixing/article_54c8567a-1441-11ed-ab03-3b56d6a5dde3.html | 2022-08-05T00:03:46 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/natrona-county-assessor-candidates-agree-process-needs-fixing/article_54c8567a-1441-11ed-ab03-3b56d6a5dde3.html |
Lower Huntington Road between Kress and Homestead roads will be closed from 8 a.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Monday during crossover-pipe replacement, the Allen County Highway Department said today.
Lower Huntington Road section closing for pipe work
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'Greatness' of Northwest Allen County Schools attracted new superintendent | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/lower-huntington-road-section-closing-for-pipe-work/article_cdb77df8-143d-11ed-98de-cf30fc81bc35.html | 2022-08-05T00:07:04 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/lower-huntington-road-section-closing-for-pipe-work/article_cdb77df8-143d-11ed-98de-cf30fc81bc35.html |
An Allen Superior Court jury found Kennisha Jackson guilty tonight of murder in the Jan. 14, 2020, murder of Diquan Meriwether.
Jackson, 21, was also found guilty of an enhancement of using a gun to commit the crime. She faces up to 85 years in prison when she is sentenced Aug. 29.
Closing arguments this afternoon presented the jurors with a decision of whether Jackson, 21, acted in self-defense when she shot Meriwether inside her home. Both were 19 at the time.
Security camera video of the porch at 2827 Abbott St. in Fort Wayne — recorded from many angles — figured heavily in the closing arguments.
Defense attorney Donald Swanson said the shooting became a matter of self-defense when Meriwether tore open the screen door while the two were arguing, allegedly over money she owed for marijuana. He said she had a right to protect herself by any means necessary when he went in and battered her.
County Deputy Prosecutor Tasha Lee argued that the video and evidence don’t support that. After Meriwether pulled the screen door open, he stood there until Jackson grabbed him by the hood of his sweatshirt and pulled him into the home, while he resisted.
Meriwether left shortly after, clutching his chest and without his hoodie, and Jackson is seen in the doorway switching an automatic handgun from one hand to the other with a calm demeanor and without evidence of any bleeding from an eye injury police photographed later and she said came from Meriwether.
Lee maintained that Jackson’s injury happened later and that she and people who came over afterwards cleaned the scene and altered things to hide that the shooting wasn’t self-defense. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/woman-found-guilty-of-murder-in-2020-shooting-death/article_09e2f9ae-142c-11ed-8a63-1f69fa53fdd6.html | 2022-08-05T00:07:04 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/woman-found-guilty-of-murder-in-2020-shooting-death/article_09e2f9ae-142c-11ed-8a63-1f69fa53fdd6.html |
Man charged in Planned Parenthood clinic fire in Michigan
Kalamazoo, Mich. — A man who made a video describing abortion as genocide was arrested for a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in southwest Michigan, authorities said Thursday.
Joshua Brereton, 25, of Paw Paw was charged in federal court with committing arson at an organization that receives government money.
Fire was set Sunday with fuel and a fireplace starter log at Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo, investigators said in a court filing. Damage was mostly limited to the exterior of the building, which was not open at the time.
Agents got a tip about Brereton and looked at surveillance video from the building. They also looked at videos he posted online.
“Right now we have a genocide happening, genocide of babies. … Read a science book. It’s not a religious debate. It’s not a political debate,” Brereton said in one.
Brereton was in custody awaiting a court hearing Friday. An attorney wasn’t listed in the court file. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/man-charged-planned-parenthood-clinic-fire-michigan/10242599002/ | 2022-08-05T00:12:16 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/man-charged-planned-parenthood-clinic-fire-michigan/10242599002/ |
Monkeypox cases more than double in Michigan; emergency declaration called unusual
The country's top health official declared the quickly spreading Monkeypox outbreak a national public health emergency on Thursday, as cases skyrocketed across the country and in Michigan, where the number grew 164% in a week.
Confirmed and probable cases of the virus rose from 25 on July 27 to 66 through Wednesday, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' website. The nation had 6,617 confirmed cases confirmed as of Wednesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Just over three weeks ago, there were only six cases around the state.
It's unusual for a public health emergency to be declared for a disease that's unlikely to cause death, said Dr. Nigel Paneth, an emeritus distinguished professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and pediatrics at Michigan State University. No deaths from monkeypox were reported by the CDC through Wednesday.
But the emergency declaration will free up resources to fight monkeypox and signals that health officials are taking the outbreak seriously, Paneth said.
"Given that it’s not killing very many people, I think it’s not a massive public health emergency but people feel that they better get it under control," Paneth said Thursday.
State health department spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin also indicated the public health emergency declaration "will help mobilize more resources to fight the outbreak."
"In Michigan, we continue to work to ensure those at highest risk from severe monkeypox disease have access to vaccine and are working to obtain pre-deployed doses of the anti-viral medication TPOXX (Tecovirimat) to reduce the time between a patient qualifying for and starting their treatment," Sutfin said in a statement.
Michigan has received just over 7,600 doses of the anti-Monkeypox vaccine, said Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Chelsea Wuth. State health officials expect to receive around 14,500 total doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine through the first three phases of the government's pre-deployment plan, she added.
As of Tuesday morning, 416 individuals have received JYNNEOS in Michigan, according to Wuth.
"It is important to note we don’t have real-time data for vaccines administered and that there is a slight lag in administration data being reported to MDHHS," she said.
Michigan ranked 19th highest for cases in the nation through Wednesday, according to the CDC, whose numbers tend to lag behind Michigan's reported totals. New York leads the country with more than 1,600 cases; only Wyoming and Montana have not reported cases.
New York, California, Illinois, Texas and Florida account for more than 60% of all the Monkeypox cases reported across the country, according to CDC data. California and Illinois declared state public health emergencies on Monday, following a declaration by the state of New York on Friday.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra's announcement Thursday followed the World Health Organization's declaration of a global health emergency late last month.
At a Thursday afternoon media briefing, Becerra said the emergency status will allow the government more flexibility and resources to deal with the monkeypox outbreak.
"I think the main reason is to increase some resources (to fight) the condition," said MSU's Paneth. "It really opens up the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to do more things. It allows it to bypass some of it’s more stringent rules."
The FDA was able to give emergency authorization to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments because of a public health emergency declaration, he said, adding that "It gives them great flexibility."
In Michigan, there have been 26 total cases in Wayne County, including 17 specifically in Detroit, according to the state health department. Oakland County has 12 cases and Macomb County has eight.
There are cluster of cases in other parts of the state. In west Michigan, Kent County has reported seven cases. Neighboring Ottawa County has two cases, Ionia one and Montcalm one.
Washtenaw County has reported four cases, as has Ingham County. Neighboring Livingston County has one case, as does St. Clair County.
Paneth said monkeypox isn't nearly as contagious as COVID-19. Most of the cases so far have been been spread through male-to-male sexual contact, but the virus can also be spread though heterosexual contact, or through the non-sexual touching of someone who has the disease, he said.
People at risk should be vaccinated and avoid contact with others if they have symptoms, Paneth noted.
The infection often begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes. The disease progresses to a rash on the face and body, according to the state health department. The rash can look like pimples or blisters and can be on the face, inside the mouth or on other parts of the body. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills and exhaustion.
The illness typically lasts between two and four weeks, according to the CDC. Unlike COVID, asymptomatic people cannot spread the virus.
The first case in Michigan was announced on June 29 in an Oakland County resident. The virus has spread around the world.
But before this, most cases found in people living outside of Africa were linked either to international travel in places where the disease occurs or through contact with animals imported from other countries, the CDC has said.
Kbouffard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @kbouffardDN
Twitter: @Hayley__Harding | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/monkeypox-cases-skyrocket-michigan-emergency-declaration-called-unusual/10239385002/ | 2022-08-05T00:12:22 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/monkeypox-cases-skyrocket-michigan-emergency-declaration-called-unusual/10239385002/ |
Monroe County man arrested for falsely reporting robbery, officials say
A Monroe County man faces charges of falsely reporting a robbery Thursday, the Sheriff's Office said.
The 41-year-old told deputies he was working his delivery route in the 8000 block of Swan Creek Road in Berlin Township around 4:30 a.m. when two males robbed him at gunpoint, investigators said in a statement.
The Frenchtown Township resident provided descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle; deputies and surrounding law enforcement agencies searched the area for the suspects, according to the release.
"During the investigation, deputies found discrepancies in the statement, which led deputies to believe the report was false," officials said.
When confronted, the would-be victim told detectives the incident "was fabricated and never occurred," the Sheriff's Office reported. "As a result, the false report tied up numerous deputies, detectives and officers who could have provided their services elsewhere."
The man was arrested and held in the Monroe County Jail.
He was expected to be arraigned through the 1st District Court in Monroe on filing a false police report. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/monroe-county-man-arrested-falsely-reporting-robbery-officials-say/10242718002/ | 2022-08-05T00:12:28 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/04/monroe-county-man-arrested-falsely-reporting-robbery-officials-say/10242718002/ |
His wife was missing; now Southgate man charged in slaying
A Southgate man was charged Thursday in connection with his wife's slaying, the Wayne County Prosecutor announced.
Gil Vega, 44, was arraigned through 28th District Court in Southgate on charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and felony firearm, authorities reported.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 12, followed by a preliminary examination a week later.
Vega was arrested Monday. Southgate police went to the home on Walter that he shared with his wife, Ilena Luna, after a relative reported not hearing from her for more than two days.
While investigating the 43-year-old's disappearance, her husband became a person of interest, police reported.
"It is alleged that the defendant shot Ms. Luna in their home and he moved her lifeless body to another location in Washtenaw County," prosecutors said Thursday.
Vega later told investigators he was involved in her death, police said Monday.
Police described it as an "isolated incident stemming from a domestic dispute."
More details were expected to be released at the next court hearing, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2022/08/04/his-wife-missing-now-southgate-man-charged-slaying/10242331002/ | 2022-08-05T00:12:34 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2022/08/04/his-wife-missing-now-southgate-man-charged-slaying/10242331002/ |
TWIN FALLS — Cory Grant Collard was the latest victim of Pillar Falls.
The 31-year-old from Payson, Utah, was a new father, married to his sweetheart from junior high school. An athlete, Collard loved skateboards, wakeboards and snowboards. He was an outstanding student and graduated with honors from Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
He was dedicated to his brothers, especially after the loss of one of them a year ago, and enjoyed spending time with them. "That is exactly what they were doing at the time of Cory’s passing," his obituary reads.
Pillar Falls may look serene, but dangerous undercurrents can pull people under, police say.
A call came into the Twin Falls Sheriff’s Department at 1:30 p.m. Saturday that a man had gone under the water at Pillar Falls. Collard had been under a significant amount of time before being pulled out of the river. First aid was administered but he died that evening at Magic Valley Memorial Hospital.
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The death is tragic but only one of a string of drownings at Pillar Falls: Officials estimate eight drownings and two near-drownings over the past decade. Three people drowned there in 1994 within a three-week period.
Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office deputies found Austin Carey's body Wednesday morning.
A North Carolina man kayaked through Pillar Falls and nearly drowned.
The falls, with its pillar-shaped rocks emerging from the river east of the Perrine Bridge, look serene enough. The main chute might look “like a simple little waterslide,” said Sgt. Ken Mencl of the sheriff’s office. But in reality, it can be deadly.
Several underwater tubes act as “leg-catchers,” Twin Falls County Parks and Waterways Director Rocky Matthews said Thursday. Undertows and other hazards make it a risky place, especially for those not familiar with the area.
Warning people about the dangers isn’t easy. Mencl and other waterway patrol officers from the sheriff's office talk to people at the falls about the dangers, but they can't always be there. Drowning victims are most often people who are swimming and walking around the falls.
As far as placement of warning signs, "it isn’t as simple as screwing a sign into a rock,” Matthews said. Several government entities, including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Idaho Department of Lands and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, may need to sign off on such signage.
Getting things done with all the entities and paperwork involved has been frustrating, Lt. Daron Brown said.
A plan is now in place to get buoys with warning signs placed at Pillar Falls.
The wording of the signs hasn’t been determined yet, but the message will be that the water is dangerous, said Mencl.
While admitting that placement of the buoys constitutes a “gray area” due to the distance from Centennial Park, Matthews says it is within the legal right of the Parks and Waterways department. The buoys won't be anchored into the rock but by 50-gallon drums filled with cement.
“I think we are doing the right thing,” Matthews said. The department has other similar buoys, including “no wake” signs near Centennial Park and buoys warning of rock hazards at Murtaugh Lake.
The "DEQ supports protecting human health and has no concerns with signs being placed around waterways," Idaho Department of Environmental Quality regional administrator Sue Switzer said.
As far as the other government agencies, Matthews said, "I don't think this will give them reason to complain."
Authorities spent much of Thursday waiting for the water level to drop so they could find the body of a 22-year-old man who drowned Wednesday night at Pillar Falls.
A man who became trapped within Pillar Falls Saturday was saved by the efforts of bystanders who held his head above water.
A Parks and Waterways meeting coincidently took place Monday, three days after the most recent drowning, and a safety discussion around Centennial Park was on the agenda.
“We, for the better part of two hours, basically discussed issues at (Centennial Park) and Pillar Falls,” Matthews said.
Saturday’s drowning wasn’t the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, he said, but it has been on the minds of board members.
“When you talk about someone drowning, the room gets pretty sober and changes the tone,” Matthews said.
Someone suggested the signs contain pictures of skulls and crossbones, he said.
Whatever wording is chosen, Mencl said he knows it’s not a 100% solution. There are signs all over Centennial Park telling people where to park, for instance, and then violators “wonder why they got a $150 fine.”
A 41-year-old man from Washington state is missing and presumed drowned after falling into the Snake River near Pillar Falls.
Most of the local people who visit Pillar Falls are aware of the danger and the signs will be most helpful to tourists, Mencl said.
"Tourism has brought a lot of people into Twin Falls County," he said. "We get a lot of people from Utah and Treasure Valley."
Mencl wasn't sure of the timeline for getting the buoys in the water, as the signs' wording will need to be approved by the legal department.
Twin Falls resident D'ante Vargas said he agreed with the effort to place signs.
"As a local, I think signage at tourist-driven places would let them know the worries of the river," Vargas said. He works at the Twin Falls Visitor Center and said he warns people about Pillar Falls when they ask for places to recreate.
"I always advise tourists to not swim close to the waterfalls themselves," he said. "If tourists were more aware of the situation I think the number of accidents would drop." | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/warning-signs-planned-for-pillar-falls/article_a8b0b3ba-1430-11ed-9b87-27c954e9cfd0.html | 2022-08-05T00:15:32 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/warning-signs-planned-for-pillar-falls/article_a8b0b3ba-1430-11ed-9b87-27c954e9cfd0.html |
Originally published Aug. 3 on KTVB.COM.
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.
Originally published Aug. 3 on KTVB.COM.
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.
He was identified as Bobby Sichulailuck, of Boise, on Thursday by the Ada County Coroner's Office. His cause and manner of death are still pending.
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 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.
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A receipt was sent to your email. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/coroner-ids-16-year-old-recovered-from-lucky-peak-reservoir/article_debfd450-0f01-588e-b9f2-2d757550718f.html | 2022-08-05T00:24:07 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/coroner-ids-16-year-old-recovered-from-lucky-peak-reservoir/article_debfd450-0f01-588e-b9f2-2d757550718f.html |
The U.S. Senate announces its final vote on passage of the PACT Act, expanding health care for veterans exposed to toxins during service, including from burn pits.
The U.S. Senate announces its final vote on passage of the PACT Act, expanding health care for veterans exposed to toxins during service, including from burn pits.
Screenshot/PBS
This monument sign at the entrance to the Boise VA grounds proclaims, “The price of freedom is visible here.”
BOISE — Idaho’s two GOP senators both say they voted against the PACT Act, the newly passed bill expanding health care for U.S. veterans exposed to toxic substances from burn pits while serving overseas, because they objected to a provision in the bill they contended could lead to billions more in unrelated spending over the next decade.
“As an ardent supporter of America’s veterans, I am committed to ensuring health and disability benefits are provided to veterans exposed to toxic substances while on their tours of duty,” Sen. Mike Crapo said in a statement to the Idaho Press. “This Congress, I have led or co-sponsored four bills included in this package to address burn pit injuries and illness.”
“These important bills had broad bipartisan support and probably could have passed the Senate without opposition, but instead Democrats created a nearly $400 billion slush fund for additional unrestrained spending,” Crapo said.
Sen. Jim Risch, in a statement from his office, said, “As a strong supporter of veterans and cosponsor of legislation included in the PACT Act, Senator Risch wanted to get to ‘yes’ on this bill. Unfortunately, Democrats wrote in a $400 billion hole in the discretionary budget they can fill with spending totally unrelated to veterans. It is inappropriate to use a bill for veterans as a backdoor to usher in huge sums of unrelated spending.”
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, a lead sponsor of the bill, wrote in an Aug. 2 letter to his Senate colleagues, "The charge that this bipartisan legislation creates a 'slush fund' that will be spent on unrelated things is false. ... This legislation does not include any spending on unrelated activity beyond supporting our toxic-exposed veterans."
The bill passed the Senate on an 86-11 vote on Wednesday and headed to the president’s desk. The bill first passed the House in March on a 256-174 vote, with both Idaho GOP Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson voting no; it’s been through several iterations and votes since then.
In July, the Senate unexpectedly defeated a procedural motion on the bill, which it had approved in June, as two dozen GOP senators switched their votes to “no” from their June vote. They were led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who contended Democrats had added a $400 billion “budgetary trick” to the bill between the two votes. That prompted a strong response from comedian Jon Stewart and veteran advocates who said the bill didn’t change between those two dates.
A Newsweek fact check concluded that Stewart was correct that the bill hadn’t changed between those two votes, and the budgetary rule at issue was in the bill all along.
Risch and Crapo weren’t among the senators who switched their votes; they opposed the bill each time they voted on it.
When the Idaho Press asked Risch’s office for more information about $400 billion in spending unrelated to veterans being included in the bill, Risch’s office provided a link to a video of a floor speech by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania. In his speech, Toomey contended the bill included a “budget trick that allows for more spending in other areas,” and said a Congressional Budget Office estimate showed that could lead to Congress approving up to $400 billion over 10 years in unrelated spending. Toomey, in his speech, said that meant there were “skids greased for a massive spending binge.”
Toomey also voted no on the bill on Wednesday, while Cruz voted in favor.
Crapo, in his statement, said, “I have a strong record of supporting veterans to ensure they have access to high-quality health care, opportunities to thrive following their transition from the military and protecting their Second Amendment rights. I, too, remain committed to Idaho veterans impacted by burn pits and toxic exposure and will continue to support bipartisan legislation that can withstand necessary fiscal standards to ensure solvency and endurance, not additional slush fund spending placed on the American people.”
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, during a visit to the Boise VA, decried the delay in Senate passage of the bill and said the Department of Veterans Affairs has added staff to ensure it is ready for increased claims made by veterans, the Idaho Capital Sun reported.
The VA calls the PACT Act “perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history.” It expands eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans from the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras; adds numerous “presumptive” conditions for which veterans can qualify for benefits for exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation and more without having to first prove service connection; and launches a new toxic exposure screening program for all veterans enrolled in VA health care. The bill also expands VA research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.
President Joe Biden said in a statement Tuesday, “I look forward to signing this bill, so that veterans and their families and caregivers impacted by toxic exposures finally get the benefits and comprehensive health care they earned and deserve.”
Betsy Z. Russell is the Boise bureau chief and state capitol reporter for the Idaho Press and Adams Publishing Group. Follow her on Twitter at @BetsyZRussell. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-senators-explain-vote-against-veteran-health-care-expansion/article_5294e6b8-9732-5dda-be9a-3914367b8fdf.html | 2022-08-05T00:24:13 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-senators-explain-vote-against-veteran-health-care-expansion/article_5294e6b8-9732-5dda-be9a-3914367b8fdf.html |
Originally published Aug. 4 on KTVB.COM.
Editor's note: This story contains graphic content that may be disturbing to some readers.
Former Idaho state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger filed his motion for acquittal or a new trial on Thursday, and his defense submitted 14 pages to describe why they believe he was not given fair trial based on witness testimony, "new" evidence and potential violation of constitutional rights.
Von Ehlinger, 39, was convicted in April by a 12-person jury after a 19-year-old statehouse intern accused him of rape, saying he took her to dinner and then back to his apartment where she was forced to perform oral sex. He was scheduled to be sentenced in July, but that was postponed due to the defense appealing his conviction. Von Ehlinger will get a hearing to decide if he will get a new trial on Aug. 25.
If not, he could be sentenced to between one year and life in prison.
The motion, filed by the former lawmaker's attorney Jon Cox, asks the court to grant acquittal or a new trial.
The motion says the state was "leading" one of the testifying witnesses, sexual assault nurse Ann Wardle, by asking her if von Ehlinger forced himself into Jane Doe's mouth.
Wardle previously testified she was the one who examined Doe after she reported the assault. Doe told Wardle that she had told von Ehlinger "no" and said "I don't want to do this," but he had straddled her with his knees pinning her arms down and forced her to perform oral sex. When Doe pulled her head back in resistance, she received a lump from hitting her head on the headboard or wall; Wardle said she could feel the lump with her hand.
Cox also says in the motion that there is "new" evidence — evidence that he can prove Doe made conflicting statements to someone only referred to as "B.B."
This evidence is sealed, but the motion says that this evidence could have been brought up if Doe had testified and the defense was able to cross-examine her.
Doe ran out of the courtroom mid-testimony after she paused on the stand, saying, “I can’t do this.”
Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Katelyn Farley told the judge that Doe would not be back to finish her testimony, and the jury was ordered to strike what she said, pretending like she was never there to begin with.
"If this evidence had been discovered earlier than during deliberations, it is likely that the defense would have subpoenaed (Doe) to insure that such evidence could be considered by the jury," the motion says.
However, Judge Michael Reardon gave Cox the opportunity to file for a mistrial after Doe bolted from the stand. He didn't take it. Cox also did not file a subpoena for Doe to testify after the first appearance.
Lastly, the motion asks for acquittal or a new trial on the grounds that Cox believes von Ehlinger's Sixth Amendment rights were violated because he did not get the opportunity to face his accuser in court.
"The defendant asserts that the manner in which the state attempted to produce the accuser and the happenings that took place upon her taking the stand and then abruptly leaving, denying the right to fully confront and cross-examine, are 'other grounds' upon which a new trial can be granted," Cox wrote in the motion.
Idaho law does not require a victim to testify at trial. If there is other sufficient evidence that’s presented during a trial, a jury can use that information to reach a verdict.
The state will be able to file a response to the motion before von Ehlinger attends his hearing on the matter for Aug. 25.
More from KTVB.COM: | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/von-ehlinger-defense-files-motion-touting-new-evidence-claiming-witness-leading-and-rights-violations/article_f1e76ce5-696e-564b-a865-43a7c2093975.html | 2022-08-05T00:24:20 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/von-ehlinger-defense-files-motion-touting-new-evidence-claiming-witness-leading-and-rights-violations/article_f1e76ce5-696e-564b-a865-43a7c2093975.html |
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Now that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison, attention turns to the prospect of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia that could get her home.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken went public with that possibility last week, revealing in an unusual announcement that the U.S. had made a “substantial proposal” aimed at securing the release of Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan.
With her court case concluded and her sentence pronounced, such a deal — assuming one can be reached with the Russians — is Griner's best chance of being freed early.
Though the guilty verdict was seen as a foregone conclusion, the imposition of a sentence her lawyers decried as far longer than average could give the U.S. extra impetus to strike a deal palatable to Russia as soon as possible. And the formal end of the court case could be the opening both sides need to forge a diplomatic resolution, too.
A look at what's at stake:
WHAT DID THE U.S. OFFER?
Blinken did not specify the terms other than to describe the offer as substantial and something that he intended to discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
A person familiar with the situation said that the U.S. offered to release Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence on charges that he conspired to sell tens of millions of dollars in weapons to Colombia’s former FARC guerrilla army. At the time of his conviction, the group was classified by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization, though that designation was lifted last year.
The officials did wind up speaking by phone last Friday, the highest-level known contact between the two sides since Russia invaded Ukraine. They are also in Cambodia for meetings involving foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE RUSSIAN RESPONSE?
Minimal, at least in public. Blinken did not provide details after his call with Lavrov about his response. The Russians gave no hint about their interest in the offer, other than a statement chiding the U.S. to pursue the Americans’ freedom through “quiet diplomacy, without releases of speculative information.”
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Russian government had responded in a “bad faith” manner with an offer that U.S. officials did not regard as serious. She did not elaborate, though CNN reported last week that Moscow also wanted the release of a former colonel from one of its spy agencies who was convicted of murder in Germany last year.
WOULD THERE BE A PRECEDENT FOR A PRISONER SWAP?
In many ways, yes — and a recent one too. In April, Russia traded Marine veteran Trevor Reed, convicted of a physical altercation with police in Moscow, for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot imprisoned for a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Yet that involved a Russian with far less notoriety than Bout, a former Soviet air force officer who once inspired a Hollywood movie and who earned the nickname the “Merchant of Death” over allegations that he supplied weapons used for civil wars in countries around the globe. He has adamantly maintained his innocence.
But there's not much recent precedent, at least by the U.S. government, for public discussions of prisoner swaps until after the deal is done and planes are in the air. That's what made Blinken's announcement from the State Department briefing room all the more striking.
On one hand, it seemed intended to communicate to the public that the administration will do whatever it needs to do to bring home wrongfully detained Americans.
But such a public overture also risks weakening the administration's negotiating hand to the extent it makes the U.S. look overly desperate for a deal, or signals to other countries that it is willing to meet potentially unreasonable demands.
SO WILL THE DEAL TAKE PLACE?
It's hard to say, but the contact between Blinken and Lavrov does suggest more progress than has been made before. It also reinforces the idea that the two countries are willing to maintain communication despite extraordinary tensions related to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Griner is the most prominent American detained by a foreign country. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist detained since February when police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at an airport in Moscow. And though some Republicans including former President Donald Trump have expressed opposition to a deal, the conviction and sentence will only ramp up pressure on the administration to reach an agreement that can get her out soon.
“Today’s sentencing of Brittney Griner was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn,” Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner's agent, tweeted Thursday.
She said getting a deal done for Griner and Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive imprisoned on an espionage conviction he and his family says is baseless, may be difficult but it is “urgent” and the “right thing to do.” The U.S. government also regards Whelan as wrongfully convicted.
For their part, Russian authorities have suggested that they regard a conviction as basically a prerequisite for a prisoner swap.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden again urged Russia to release Griner immediately.
“My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible,” he said in a statement.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/explainer-what-will-it-take-to-get-phoenix-mercury-player-brittney-griner-home/75-6244567c-12bb-4c46-bd9b-e2c27fb0bf75 | 2022-08-05T00:26:00 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/explainer-what-will-it-take-to-get-phoenix-mercury-player-brittney-griner-home/75-6244567c-12bb-4c46-bd9b-e2c27fb0bf75 |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A Valley man has been taken into custody after Scottsdale police discovered several inappropriate videos that suggest he was surreptitiously filming individuals without their consent.
Ryan Kocak, 36, of Goodyear was arrested Wednesday after security guards at a Scottsdale bar allegedly observed him pointing his cell phone camera underneath the dresses and skirts of female patrons.
Court records show the security guards seized Kocak's phone and handed it over to Scottsdale police.
Officers reported finding up to 15 videos recorded from a low angle and all pointing toward a female's pelvic area.
Investigators additionally discovered several other materials on the suspect's phone that might implicate him in other crimes.
Court records show Kocak's phone contained videos of what appeared to be child pornography, as well as recordings of an adult couple having sex.
Up to six videos showed the adults having sex in a bedroom and they made no indication that they were being filmed. The videos appeared to have been recorded through window blinds, court records show.
Investigators are attempting to identify the individuals captured in the suspect's videos.
Scottsdale police also are in the process of reviewing other electronic devices owned by the suspect.
Kocak is facing charges of voyeurism, unlawful recording, and other sex crimes. He has been booked into the Maricopa County jail.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12 News YouTube playlist here. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/valley-man-accused-of-sneaking-phone-underneath-womens-skirts-scottsdale/75-2f19731c-7ca5-4041-bee1-9dddd1998517 | 2022-08-05T00:26:07 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/valley-man-accused-of-sneaking-phone-underneath-womens-skirts-scottsdale/75-2f19731c-7ca5-4041-bee1-9dddd1998517 |
2 cases of Monkeypox in Northwest Louisiana. Here's what you need to know
The Louisiana Department of Health reported Thursday that two cases of the Monkeypox have been discovered in Northwest Louisiana.
This comes after the federal government declared a public health emergency Thursday, the outbreak has infected more than 6,600 Americans.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus
More:From spread to vaccines, here's what you need to know about monkeypox in Louisiana
Monkeypox is a virus that spreads mostly through direct contact with a rash or sore of someone who has the virus.
It can also spread through contact with clothing, bedding, and other items used by a person with monkeypox, or from respiratory droplets that can be passed through prolonged face-to-face contact, including kissing, cuddling, or sex.
There have been no deaths to date in the U.S. in response to this virus.
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/2-cases-monkeypox-northwest-louisiana/10241406002/ | 2022-08-05T00:26:53 | 0 | https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/2-cases-monkeypox-northwest-louisiana/10241406002/ |
A child under the age of 5 from central Virginia has died of complications from influenza, the state health department announced, a rare occurrence given the low levels of flu in the state.
The child was the first pediatric flu death in the state in the 2021-22 flu season.
Information about the child was not released.
The flu season begins in October, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Typically, flu cases rise from December to February, but this year, cases in Virginia continued into the summer.
At a congressional hearing, senators and health experts criticize UNOS’ technology, the number of kidneys going to waste and the organs damaged or sitting in overnight in an airport’s cargo hold.
On average, three children in Virginia die of the flu each year. Children under 5, people ages 65 and older, pregnant women and people with immunocompromising conditions are at elevated risk.
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The flu has behaved differently lately, said Dr. Elaine Perry, director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts.
In the fall of 2020, when many residents were still observing lockdowns, there were few instances.
A molecule called SHP099, first discovered in 2016, showed the ability to disarm neuroblastoma, a cancer that is responsible for about 13% of all pediatric cancer deaths.
The 2021-22 season brought low-to-moderate levels; there have been 23 outbreaks in the state. Nationwide, the CDC estimates there have been about 10 million flu illnesses and between 5,000 and 14,000 flu deaths this season.
The flu hasn’t been strong locally this summer, Perry added.
But studies suggest that most people who are currently unvaccinated have no intention to get a shot.
The best way to reduce flu risk, said state Health Commissioner Dr. Colin Greene, is to receive a vaccination. An updated version of the flu shot will be available in two months. | https://richmond.com/news/local/central-va-child-is-first-pediatric-flu-death-in-state-in-2021-22-season/article_a91e1296-6324-5fc2-b637-d2cdb410ef0c.html | 2022-08-05T00:28:45 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/central-va-child-is-first-pediatric-flu-death-in-state-in-2021-22-season/article_a91e1296-6324-5fc2-b637-d2cdb410ef0c.html |
Richmond police are investigating a death after responding to a shooting Tuesday in the Forest Hill area.
Police responded to reports of random gunfire around 3:13 p.m. near the 4000 block of Forest Hill Avenue.
At the scene, officers located a vehicle nearby on West 44th Street that had collided with a curb near the Forest Hill intersection, though detectives say they believe the shooting may originally have occurred off Roanoke Street.
Police said they discovered a man and woman occupying the vehicle, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims were transported to the hospital, where the woman later died. The man’s injury is not considered life-threatening, police said.
The victim’s identity has not been released, and the shooting is still under investigation.
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Anyone with information about this death investigation is asked to contact Richmond police at (804) 646-3246 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/richmond-police-responded-to-double-shooting-on-forest-hill-avenue/article_f928af09-e62c-5e01-90d1-afd67bccb358.html | 2022-08-05T00:28:52 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/richmond-police-responded-to-double-shooting-on-forest-hill-avenue/article_f928af09-e62c-5e01-90d1-afd67bccb358.html |
The Hanover County School Board on Tuesday is expected to introduce and discuss a new proposed policy regarding the treatment of transgender students.
The proposed policy would require transgender students, along with their parents or guardians, to submit a written request asking for access to restrooms, locker rooms or changing facilities that align with the students’ gender identities.
The proposed policy states that the written request may include signed statements from the student’s personal physician, therapist or licensed counselor verifying that the student has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and/or that the student consistently and authentically expresses a binary gender identity. Other items that may be included in the request include statements from the student’s parent or guardian and the student’s disciplinary or criminal records.
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After the request is compiled, the principal of that student’s school would then provide a written summary of the request to the School Board, who would retain the final authority to approve or decline the request for the transgender student to use the bathroom or locker room that aligns with their gender identity.
The proposed policy was crafted by the School Board, its legal counsel and the outside organization Alliance Defending Freedom, according to School Board Chairman John Axselle. ADF is a conservative legal advocacy organization with overt anti-LGBTQ views. In March, the School Board voted 4-3 to allow ADF to review School Board policy.
The proposed policy is slated for a discussion, and the board is not expected to vote on the item on Tuesday.
The school division’s string of controversy surrounding the treatment of transgender students began last year when School Board did not put into place Virginia Department of Education guidelines regarding the treatment of transgender and nonbinary students. A 2020 law required school boards to implement appropriate policies by the start of last school year.
The board took a vote in November, which covered some parts of the requirements but stopped short at language involving transgender students’ access to bathrooms.
The Virginia ACLU filed a lawsuit in December on behalf of five parents of transgender students. On Thursday, a spokeswoman from the Virginia ACLU said that the organization is currently reviewing the proposed policy and is not prepared to comment. | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-school-board-to-introduce-proposed-transgender-policy/article_9128c984-4cda-5b58-931b-45baa4d852c6.html | 2022-08-05T00:28:58 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-school-board-to-introduce-proposed-transgender-policy/article_9128c984-4cda-5b58-931b-45baa4d852c6.html |
BRISTOL — A 20-year-old Buffalo Grove, Illinois, man faces criminal charges in Kenosha County for allegedly burglarizing a business for airsoft guns.
Michael A. Kubiak was charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court Thursday with felonies of burglary of a building or dwelling, theft of moveable property valued over $5,000 and possession of burglary tools.
Kubiak’s initial appearance at Intake Court is set for next month.
A Kenosha Sherriff’s Department deputy responded to the parking lot of a furniture store located in the 12000 block of 77th Street for a report of an abandoned vehicle on June 2 around 1 a.m.
The vehicle had Illinois plates and was registered to a Buffalo Grove woman who advised that her son, identified as Kubiak, drives the vehicle and that she does not know why he would be in Kenosha, according to the complaint.
The sheriff’s deputy found the vehicle locked and with a wallet inside in plain view. The deputy then observed a male subject some 200 yards away walking toward him. The man was identified as Kubiak.
Kubiak reportedly claimed he lost his wallet and was attempting to locate it at Black OPS Airsoft, 8025 128th Ave. The deputy then told the Kubiak there was a wallet in the vehicle.
The deputy and Kubiak went to the airsoft field and spoke with the owner who advised he discovered one of the buildings on the property used for fixing broken airsoft guns was broken into and multiple airsoft guns were taken from inside.
On the south side of the building in question there a window air conditioner was ripped from the window and on the ground in pieces. The owner estimated more than 20 airsoft guns that belonged to the owner and other customers were missing. A security system on site also indicted the alarm was tripped at 12:20 a.m.
Kubiak eventually told the deputy he went to the airsoft field to steal fenders from an old BMV that was on site and drove to the field with a bag of tools to steal the fenders, according to the complaint.
He allegedly parked his vehicle where he knew there would be no video surveillance and walked to Black OPS Airsoft. When he failed to remove the fenders with his tools because the screws were stripped Kubiak “admitted that since he was already there he thought he would make the trip worthwhile by stealing some airsoft guns.”
Kubiak allegedly entered the building in question by crawling through a window that housed an air conditioning unit and then selected whatever guns he could find and placed them bags he brought with him.
However, in the process of removing the airsoft guns Kubiak said he was spotted by a security camera and decided to leave everything in a pile near the BMW and walk back to his own vehicle and leave when he was spotted by the deputy.
The airsoft guns are valued at $8,000.
Should red-flag law have stopped July 4 parade shooting?
Intro
What is Illinois' red-flag law?
Did Crimo ever display the kind of behavior meant to activate the law?
Does that mean Crimo bought the gun legally?
Did Highland Park police pass information about the threats to state police?
Is the law invoked often?
Who can request an order and how is a decision made?
What happens after an order is issue?
Do red-flag laws prevent violence?
Ethical Life podcast: What do hunters say about increased gun regulations?
A crash early Sunday morning involving a wrong-way car on Interstate 90 in northern Illinois left seven people dead, including five children, authorities said.
Three months after pleading guilty to drug dealing charges and still with three months until his sentencing, one of the Huffhines brothers was arrested after being accused of driving while inebriated.
On Tuesday, Racine Police Department officers, Kenosha Police Department officers and FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force reported that they executed a search warrant on Thurston Avenue. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/buffalo-grove-man-accused-of-burglarizing-business-for-airsoft-guns-in-kenosha-county/article_c74f509a-1428-11ed-a7bb-772f7656c953.html | 2022-08-05T00:30:45 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/buffalo-grove-man-accused-of-burglarizing-business-for-airsoft-guns-in-kenosha-county/article_c74f509a-1428-11ed-a7bb-772f7656c953.html |
Wirch sets open hours Saturday
State Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Somers, will hold open office hours to hear from the public on state issues on Saturday, Aug. 6.
He will hold a listening session from 11 a.m. to noon at Northside Library, Activity Room A, 150 27th Ave.
The public is invited to attend. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/state-sen-bob-wirch-to-hold-listening-session-on-saturday/article_b25bd6a4-140a-11ed-a893-ef6f06e739de.html | 2022-08-05T00:30:46 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/state-sen-bob-wirch-to-hold-listening-session-on-saturday/article_b25bd6a4-140a-11ed-a893-ef6f06e739de.html |
BLOOMINGTON, Minn — The Mall of America has lifted a lockdown following a shooting inside the building.
Bloomington Police confirmed at 5:40 p.m. that shots were fired inside the mall earlier Thursday afternoon and said the suspect fled the mall on foot.
Police have secured the scene at the mall, but at this time "have not located a victim." At around 6:30 p.m., officials said guests on Level 2 were being asked to wait for an escort. All other people are being asked to leave.
The North entrance is closed and the mall will remain closed for the remainder of the night, according to mall officials. Metro Transit service to he mall has also been halted for the rest of the night.
Bloomington Police confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the department had "numerous officers" on scene "working an active incident" inside the mall.
In a later tweet, Mall of America called it a "confirmed isolated incident" but would not specify a shooting.
Ava Malloy, an employee at Air Traffic Toys in the Mall of America, spoke to KARE 11 over the phone while in lockdown. "I turned off the lights and everyone's huddled behind something," Ava said.
"We were working with customers and then all of a sudden there were people running in the store. There was probably about 25 to 30 people and we looked and thought they were kids just goofing around," Macy's employee Brenda Wachello said via phone while taking cover inside the store. "And then people were saying, 'There's a shooter."
KARE 11's Morgan Wolfe spoke to a woman who said she heard "two gunshots above the DSW." The woman was able to leave the mall, but said her daughter remained inside under lockdown.
A large group was still in the MOA basement waiting to leave as the lockdown was being lifted.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will provide more details as new information becomes available. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 | 2022-08-05T00:33:09 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/mall-of-america-shooting-lockdown-lifted/89-a727b712-90e1-4c6b-bb7e-5d76a254e507 |
SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — Cause for alarm. The Sedgwick County Firefighters Union said if the staff shortage gets worse, they might have to shut down a station. The union president wants staff to get a bump in pay to address the issue.
In 2016 previous Sedgwick County Commissioners voted to take away bargaining power from the Sedgwick County Firefighters Union. Now the president of the union is asking for that power back. He said call volume is up, but staffing is not.
“Over the last few years, we’ve had people leave here and there. In the last few months, we’ve really had people voice their concerns and say they can no longer financially stay with this department,” said Casey Ingalls, the president of the Sedgwick County Firefighters Union Local 2612.
Ingalls said the department has lost 29 firefighters since 2015. He said pay is partly to blame. Staff received a 4 percent raise in January, but he said it wasn’t enough.
“It’s been, even before 2016, since we have seen a raise like that. It might be 2013, around that time frame. So, that 4%, more or less, it kind of held us in check with the cost of living,” said Ingalls.
The starting rate is more than $14 an hour. A Wichita Fire Recruit makes more than $19 an hour. Ingalls said the union needs to be brought to the table.
“That bargaining chip is important because we are able to negotiate contracts that provide a future for our firefighters. They provide a sense of security. They take care of the people that work for the fire district,” said Ingalls.
The chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission said pay raises for firefighters are already underway.
“They have benefits that other employees do not have. So right now, they are not an organization that we negotiate with. We do with the fire department exactly what we do with every department. We work with the leadership to figure out what the perfect plan is,” said David Dennis, the chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission.
County commissioners are talking about a pay raise during this budget season and a clear map of promotions. At least two commissioners are open to reinstating bargaining with the union. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/sedgwick-county-firefighters-union-pushes-for-higher-pay-for-staff/ | 2022-08-05T00:35:58 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/sedgwick-county-firefighters-union-pushes-for-higher-pay-for-staff/ |
For the first time in nearly three months, the average price of gasoline in Lincoln has dropped below $4 a gallon.
As of Thursday morning, gas in the Capital City cost $3.998 a gallon on average, according to AAA. That's down about 8 cents from a week ago and 71 cents from a month ago.
But it's still nearly $1 more than at this time last year, and the cheapest prices for gas in Lincoln remain well above gas prices available in Omaha.
Local gas prices surged above $4 a gallon in early May, pushing past that mark for the first time in more than 14 years, and they hit an all-time record high of $4.80 a gallon in mid-June, driven by a range of factors including increased demand and a surge in oil prices after Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year.
According to Gas Buddy, the cheapest gas in Lincoln was available at the membership clubs -- Sam's ($3.64) and Costco ($3.65). In the Omaha area, gas at the same warehouse clubs was $3.07 on Thursday.
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The statewide average also has fallen below $4 a gallon, sitting at about $3.97 as of Thursday. According to AAA, Nebraska had the fourth-largest decline in prices among states in the past week, with an average drop of 21 cents.
Prices have declined thanks to a drop in oil prices, a decline in demand for gasoline and fears of a recession.
The decline in demand was somewhat due to people changing their driving habits. In a survey, AAA found that 64% of U.S. adults changed their driving habits or lifestyle since March, with 23% making “major changes.”
"We know that most American drivers have made significant changes in their driving habits to cope with high gas prices,” Andrew Gross, an AAA spokesperson, said in a news release earlier this week.
However, Gross said that with average prices below $4 at more than half the gas stations in the U.S., it could rekindle demand and lead to prices going back up.
But any surge doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon. On Wednesday, oil prices hit six-month lows after data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed a rise in supply of both crude oil and gasoline. In addition, OPEC said it would raise its oil output by 100,000 barrels per day.
The national gas price average has declined for 51 days in a row, and Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a blog post earlier this week that most areas of the U.S. are likely to continue to see a decline in prices, especially if oil prices remain stable or drop further.
7 gas-saving tips that actually work
Get junk out of the trunk
Car engineers spend a lot of time engineering pounds, ounces and grams out of today’s cars. Don’t undo their efforts (and the gas savings they represent) by leaving anything unnecessary in the luggage compartment. Golf clubs are a common violator, but so is random dead weight like those items slated to go to the second-hand store one of these days. Or, dear lord, a case of individual water bottles for after-workout hydration.
Every time you accelerate, you’re using gas to get that stuff up to speed with you. How much more? This depends on your car, but the EPA estimates a 1% reduction per 100 pounds. On a per-gallon cost basis, that’s about $0.03, using the EPA baseline figures. Get your stuff in order and you’ll save money, too.
Get the rack off the roof
When they’re not worrying about the weight of their designs, auto engineers fuss over aerodynamics. Improvements to how your car cuts through the air bear fruit most at high speeds — highway miles. The most common way drivers hurt their aerodynamics, and thus mileage, is by putting items on the roof.
Do you have activities that mandate a lot of equipment? Consider whether you could use a hitch-mounted rack or box instead. Tucked in the slipstream of your car, these have a much smaller mileage penalty. And, finally, if your vehicle came with a factory roof rack that you never use, see if you can remove the crossbars. You’ll save a few pounds this way, too.
Combine your trips
Being told to group your errands sounds a bit like a nag, much like the admonition not to use the trunk as a storage locker. Still, we will repeat the reasons why planning ahead can save gas:
If grouping trips means fewer miles driven, well, that’s obvious.
But even if you have to go in multiple directions, all non-electric cars use more fuel when the engine is cold. So the fewer times you to bring the engine up to temperature, the better. Cold starts aren’t good for your car (or the environment, for that matter).
Shut that puppy off
Americans continue to wildly overestimate how much fuel it takes to start an engine versus to keep it running. The reality is, once you’re stopped, your car is wasting fuel after about 7-10 seconds of idling. That’s why newer cars have a feature that shuts the engine off during stops when the brake is applied. The car’s still on, but the engine isn’t. Push the accelerator pedal and the engine snaps back on — off you go. Some people find this maddening, but the gas savings is real. If you want to maximize mileage, don’t disable the auto on-off feature.
Check apps and join clubs
Finding the cheapest fuel was once sport for me. But phone apps like GasBuddy, Gas Guru and Fuelzee make it almost too easy to find the best gas deals. Since you can use them to screen for brands, you can also make sure you’re getting good quality fuel, which, in the long run, matters to the health of your car.
Joining a membership club like Costco or Sam’s Club could also pay off. Figuring how quickly you’ll recoup your membership cost with the per-gallon savings on their discounted fuel is pretty easy math.
Don’t rely on the tire light
All cars built since 2007 have tire-pressure monitoring systems. The hitch is this: The system might not alert you until a tire is 25% lower than the recommended pressure. And if you wait for that, you’re wasting money, as underinflated tires reduce your gas mileage by roughly 0.2% per pound that they’re low. That might not sound like much, but try this math: If your recommended inflation pressure is 40 psi, and you’re 25% low on air, that’s a 2% hit to your gas mileage. Plus, underinflated tires wear more quickly and unevenly, reducing your tire life.
Drive slowly wisely
No list of gas-saving tips would be complete without the admonition to slow down. There’s no getting around the fact that lower speeds require less fuel, most because aerodynamic resistance increases with the square of speed.
That’s the lecture. But driving to save fuel doesn’t have to be a dull crawl in the slow lane. Try thinking of it this way: brakes turn your money into heat, so can you avoid using them?
This isn’t meant to encourage dangerous behavior like not stopping for stop signs or the like. Rather, anticipate, anticipate, anticipate. Look down the road farther, and coast down when you know that traffic signal’s going to change to red. While hybrid and electric vehicles are best equipped to take advantage of this style (through regenerative braking), many conventional gas cars now engage power-sapping accessories like the alternator during coast-down to maximize fuel efficiency.
As for accelerating, if you know you’re going to be holding a higher speed for a while, like when you’re merging onto a highway, go ahead and shove the gas as hard as you need. Not only is slow acceleration in this situation potentially dangerous, it doesn’t actually save fuel. | https://journalstar.com/business/local/average-gas-prices-in-lincoln-drop-below-4-a-gallon/article_be1e05e9-de09-5296-87fe-e201b941a0d2.html | 2022-08-05T00:42:16 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/business/local/average-gas-prices-in-lincoln-drop-below-4-a-gallon/article_be1e05e9-de09-5296-87fe-e201b941a0d2.html |
Frank Hilsabeck, the CEO who engineered the largest sale of a business in Lincoln's history, died earlier this week. He was 77.
Hilsabeck, who died Monday in Frisco, Texas, was president and CEO of Aliant Communications, formerly known as Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Co., when it was sold in 1998 to Alltel Communications in a deal valued at $1.8 billion. The sale to this day remains the largest involving a Lincoln company.
He spent his entire professional career at the company, starting in the mail room in 1966 while still a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and working his way up to the role of president in 1990 and adding the CEO title in 1993.
After the sale, Hilsabeck worked for Alltel for a couple of years as an executive vice president before retiring and concentrating on community involvement with numerous business and philanthropic groups, including the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Community Foundation and the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Hilsabeck's son, Spencer, said his dad was a private person who did a lot of work in the community quietly and anonymously.
"He loved Lincoln dearly and had hundreds of friends," Spencer Hilsabeck said in an email. "He loved helping small-businessmen achieve their goals, whether through financial support or helping them with their finances. He even delivered flowers for the Stem Gallery when they would get overwhelmed on special holidays."
Spencer Hilsabeck also said his dad was a family man who "loved his family first and foremost and was always there for support." Frank Hilsabeck loved spending time with his grandchildren, including going hunting and playing golf with them.
Hilsabeck was an accomplished golfer who attended UNL on a golf scholarship and participated in many amateur tournaments, winning the 1977 Lincoln city golf tournament, according to his obituary. He also was a founding member of the Sand Hills Golf Club in Mullen.
In addition to son Spencer, Hilsabeck's other survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; son Chris; daughters Tracey, Jessica and Whitney; two brothers; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The family is planning a celebration of life sometime in the fall.
150 Notable Nebraskans
1. Willa Cather
1. Willa Cather
1873-1947
Author
Known for her depictions of Nebraska pioneer life in novels such as “My Antonia” and “O Pioneers!,” Willa Cather is a primary figure of American literary modernism and was the leading U.S. novelist of the 1920s and early '30s.
Wilella Cather, who shortened her name to Willa, was born in Virginia and moved to Nebraska with her family at age 9. The Cathers settled in Red Cloud, where Cather was drawn to the prairie and its settlers — later the subject matter of seven of her 12 novels.
In 1890, Cather moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska, intending to become a physician. But having an essay published in a Lincoln newspaper inspired her to become a writer, starting her career as theater critic and columnist for the Nebraska State Journal.
In 1896, Cather became editor of a woman’s magazine in Pittsburgh, then taught high school from 1901 to 1906, before returning to magazine work. In 1911, she became a full-time fiction writer, publishing her first novel, "Alexander's Bridge," a year later, followed by “O Pioneers!” in 1913 and the autobiographical “My Antonia” in 1918.
AP file photo
2. Standing Bear
2. Standing Bear
c. 1829-1908
Native leader
A renowned Ponca chief, Standing Bear, in 1879, became the first Native to be legally recognized as a person.
In 1877, the federal government forced the Ponca from their northeast Nebraska land to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma. A year later, honoring the wish of his 16-year-old son to be buried along the Niobrara River, Standing Bear led a band of tribe members back to Nebraska.
Arrested for leaving the reservation, Standing Bear stood trial at Fort Omaha, his lawyers filing a writ of habeas corpus contesting the detention. The judge ruled in favor of Standing Bear and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling.
Journal Star file photo
3. Johnny Carson
3. Johnny Carson
1925-2005
Talk show host
One of television's best-known personalities, Carson hosted "The Tonight Show" for 30 years (1962-92), winning four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award (1985) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992).
Born in Iowa, he moved at age 8 with his family to Norfolk, where he developed an interest in magic. After graduating from the University of Nebraska (1949), Carson worked in Omaha radio before moving to Los Angeles in 1951.
He took over "The Tonight Show" from Jack Paar on Oct. 1, 1962, opening the show with a signature monologue, following a "Here's Johnny" intro from sidekick Ed McMahon.
AP file photo
4. George Norris
4. George W. Norris
1861-1944
Politician
Called “the very perfect, gentle knight of American progressive ideals” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Norris served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1903-13) and five terms in the U.S. Senate (1913-43), all save the final term as a Republican.
An Ohio native, Norris moved to Beaver City in 1885 to practice law. He established an office in McCook in 1899, practicing law before beginning his political career.
Norris promoted the unicameral Legislature in Nebraska, approved by voters in 1934, and led the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Rural Electrification Act, both championing public power.
Nebraska State Historical Society
5. William Jennings Bryan
5. Wm. Jennings Bryan
1860-1925
Politician
A famed orator and leader of the populist wing of the Democratic Party, Bryan was the Democratic presidential nominee three times — in 1896, 1900 and 1908. He served two terms in Congress from Nebraska and was Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson.
Born in Salem, Illinois, “The Great Commoner” settled in Lincoln in 1887 to practice law. Known for his oratory, Bryan was a champion of free silver and delivered his famous “Cross of Gold” speech in 1896.
Touring the country as a public speaker, Bryan worked for peace, Prohibition and women’s suffrage and opposed the teaching of evolution, joining the prosecution in the famed Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925.
Journal Star file photo
6. John Neihardt
6. John Neihardt
1881-1973
Poet
The writer, poet and historian is best known for "Black Elk Speaks," the biography of the Oglala Lakota holy man Neihardt published in 1932.
Born in Illinois, Neihardt moved to Wayne in 1892 as an 11-year-old. Bancroft became his home in 1901. He became a published author at age 19, started his major work, "The Cycle of the West," at 31 and became Nebraska's Poet Laureate at 40.
At 45, he was literary editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and at 68 became poet-in-residence and lecturer in English at the University of Missouri. He returned to Nebraska in his 80s, continuing to write until his death at 92.
Journal Star file photo
7. Warren Buffett
7. Warren Buffett
1930-
Businessman
One of the world’s most successful investors and the second-wealthiest person in the U.S., with a net worth estimated at $76 billion, Omaha native Buffett started making money young, delivering newspapers and selling golf balls and chewing gum.
After attending the University of Nebraska and the Columbia Business School, Buffett worked as a stockbroker, beginning his investment company in 1956.
In 1962, Buffett invested in, then took over failing textile company Berkshire Hathaway, which the Oracle of Omaha turned into a highly successful conglomerate with holdings that include some of the world’s biggest brands, using his value-investment method.
AP file photo
8. William "Buffalo Bill" Cody
8. William F. Cody
1846-1917
Entertainer
U.S. Army scout and bison hunter William F. Cody was popularized in dime novels as “Buffalo Bill.” In the early 1880s, he created in Nebraska “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West,” a circus-like Old West show that toured the U.S. and Europe.
The show's success resulted in Cody becoming one of the country's first mass entertainers and arguably the most famous American in the world at the time.
Born in Iowa, Cody served as a scout for the U.S. Army in the 1860s and '70s, earning his nickname when he was hired by a Kansas railway to supply buffalo meat. He purchased Scout’s Rest Ranch in North Platte in 1886 and founded the town of Cody, Wyoming, in 1895.
Courtesy photo
9. Charles Dawes
9. Charles Dawes
1865-1951
Vice president
Dawes (above with pipe) pursued two careers in his lifetime, one in business/finance, the other in public service, with the two coming together in 1925 when he won the Nobel Peace Prize while serving as Calvin Coolidge's vice president.
Dawes moved to Lincoln in 1887, where he practiced law until 1894. Purchases of gas companies in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and near Chicago started investments that made him rich. The Republican activist took his first government position in 1898.
A self-taught musician, he composed what eventually became the pop standard "It's All in the Game."
Journal Star file photo
10. Ted Sorensen
10. Ted Sorensen
1928-2010
Presidential adviser
In 1953, the Lincoln native and University of Nebraska College of Law graduate became chief legislative aide for Sen. John F. Kennedy and, after the 1960 election, became President Kennedy’s chief aide and speechwriter.
Responsible for crafting Kennedy’s famous inaugural address, Sorensen served as a key adviser during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis and penned the letter to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev that defused the crisis.
After his White House years, Sorensen joined a prominent New York City law firm and built an international law practice.
Journal Star file
11. J. Sterling Morton
11. J. Sterling Morton
1832-1902
Politician
Founder of Arbor Day, Morton moved to Nebraska City in 1854 and became editor of the local paper. He served as acting governor in 1858 and again in 1861 and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1893-1897.
Julie Koch
12. Tom Osborne
12. Tom Osborne
1937-
Football
The Hastings native played professional football before becoming a Nebraska assistant coach in 1964. Named head coach in 1972, Osborne led the Huskers for 25 years, winning three national championships. He served in Congress from 2001-2007 and as UNL athletic director from 2007-2013.
13. John J. Pershing
13. John J. Pershing
1860-1948
Military
In 1891, Army officer Pershing became professor of military science at the University of Nebraska where he earned his law degree in 1893. “Black Jack”Pershing served in the Spanish-American War and became the leading American commander in World War I.
14. Harold Edgerton
14. Harold Edgerton
1903-1990
Engineer
Fremont-born Edgerton grew up in Aurora and received his engineering degree from the University of Nebraska in 1925. In 1927, he began working with stroboscopes and in 1937 began collaborating with a photographer to make his motion capture images.
15. Loren Eiseley
15. Loren Eiseley
1907-1977
Nature Writer
The Lincoln native began writing while attending the University of Nebraska. In 1947, he began teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. In the 1940s, he began writing his acclaimed nature essays and books combining natural science with literature.
16. Dick Cavett
16. Dick Cavett
1936-
Television
Born in Gibbon, Cavett grew up in Lincoln before attending Yale University. Hired as a writer for “The Tonight Show” in 1960, Cavett also worked in stand-up comedy before landing “The Dick Cavett Show,” which ran from 1968 to 2007.
17. Bob Kerrey
17. Bob Kerrey
1943-
Politician
Winning the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam, Lincoln’s Kerrey was elected governor in 1982, became a U.S senator in 1989 and was a Democratic presidential candidate in 1992. He also served on the 9/11 Commission.
18. Henry Fonda
18. Henry Fonda
1905-1982
Actor
Born in Grand Island, Fonda began acting at the Omaha Community Playhouse at age 20, moving to California to pursue his career. He starred in more than 106 films and TV programs and won Tony, Grammy and Academy Awards.
19. Roscoe Pound
19. Roscoe Pound
1870-1964
Education
Lincoln's Pound became dean of the NU College of Law in 1903. In 1911, he began teaching at Harvard Law School, becoming dean in 1916, where he was recognized for social jurisprudence and his conflicts with legal realists.
20. Ernie Chambers
20. Ernie Chambers
1937-
Politics
In 1970, Omaha’s Chambers was elected to the Nebraska Legislature and served continuously until 2004. Re-elected in 2013, he is Nebraska’s longest-serving senator and known as a champion for minorities and the poor.
21. Bob Devaney
21. Bob Devaney
1915-1997
Football
The Michigan native became the Nebraska football coach in 1962, revitalized the program and led the Huskers to national championships in 1970 and 1971. He began serving as Nebraska’s athletic director in 1967 and continued in that role through 1993.
22. Crazy Horse
22. Crazy Horse
c. 1840-1877
Native leader
The Oglala Lakota warrior fought in battles with tribal enemies before famously leading the attack against Gen. George Custer at the Little Big Horn in 1876. He surrendered in 1877 and was taken to Fort Robinson, where he was stabbed and later died.
U.S. Post Office
23. Susan La Flesche Picotte
22. Susan La Flesche Picotte
1865-1915
Physician
Born on the Omaha Reservation, La Flesche Picotte became the first Native woman to become a physician, earning her medical degree in Philadelphia. She returned to the reservation in the 1890s to practice and became a prominent health-care reformer.
24. Bob Gibson
24. Bob Gibson
1935-
Baseball
The Hall of Famer from Omaha pitched 17 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals beginning in 1959. He finished with 251 wins, 3,117 strikeouts and a 2.91 ERA. He won two World Series and two Cy Young Awards.
25. Peter Kiewit
25. Peter Kiewit
1900-1979
Business
In 1931, the Omahan dissolved the construction company established by his father and his uncle and created Peter Kiewit Sons' Co., building the business into one of the nation’s largest contractors over the next five decades.
26. Marlon Brando
26. Marlon Brando
1924-2004
Actor
Born in Omaha, Brando is regarded as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He began studying acting in the 1940s and starred in his first movie in 1950. He appeared in 39 films, winning two Academy Awards.
27. Charles Bessey
27. Charles Bessey
1845-1915
Botanist
An Ohio native, Bessey became a nationally known University of Nebraska professor of botany and horticulture from 1884 to 1915. He twice served as the university’s acting chancellor and was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
28. Louise Pound
28. Louise Pound
1872-1958
Folklorist
An accomplished athlete in her teens and early 20s, the Lincoln native taught at the University of Nebraska for 50 years, becoming an authority on folklore, dialects and popular language. In 1955, she was the first woman elected Modern Language Association president.
29. George Beadle
29. George Beadle
1903-1989
Geneticist
Wahoo-born and University of Nebraska-educated, Beadle began his career teaching and researching plant genetics in 1931. He and Edward Lawrie Tatum were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1958 for their work together on the fungus Neurospora.
30. Hartley Burr Alexander
30. Hartley Burr Alexander
1873-1939
Philosopher
The Lincoln native led the University of Nebraska philosophy department from 1908 to 1927. A prolific writer, Alexander was the first non-Native to study Native art, mythology and philosophy, and teamed with Bertram Goodhue on the design of the State Capitol.
31. Solomon Butcher
31. Solomon Butcher
1856-1927
Photographer
In 1886, Butcher decided to produce a photographic history of Custer County, which led to nearly three decades of documenting pioneer life throughout the Sandhills, taking more than 3,000 photographs and producing two books.
32. Bess Streeter Aldrich
32. Bess Streeter Aldrich
1881-1954
Author
In 1909, Aldrich moved to Elmwood, where she became one of the most-prolific, highly-paid writers of her time. She penned more than 200 short stories and 13 novels, including “Miss Bishop,” which was made into a film.
33. Joyce Hall
33. Joyce Hall
1891-1982
Business
Born in David City, Hall and his brothers began selling postcards in 1905 and founded the Norfolk Post Card Company in 1908. In 1910, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where his company became Hallmark, the country’s largest greeting-card manufacturer.
34. Ted Kooser
34. Ted Kooser
1939-
Poet
Iowa-born Kooser received his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1968 and worked as an insurance executive while writing poetry. He served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2004-2006 and remains a public advocate for poetry.
35. Mari Sandoz
35. Mari Sandoz
1896-1966
Author
Born near Hay Springs and educated at the University of Nebraska, Sandoz began writing about life in the Sandhills with 1935’s “Old Jules.” She wrote 10 nonfiction books about pioneer life and Plains Indians and seven novels, including “Capital City,” about Lincoln.
36. Robert Henri
36. Robert Henri
1865-1929
Artist
Born Robert Henry Cozad, Henri grew up in Cozad, founded by his father. He studied art in Philadelphia in the late 1800s and became the leader of a group of realistic painters of urban America known as the Ashcan School.
37. Grover Cleveland Alexander
37. Grover Cleveland Alexander
1887-1950
Baseball
Born in Elba, "Old Pete" began playing semi-pro baseball as a teenager, signed a pro contract in 1907 and joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 1911. A dominant pitcher, the Hall of Famer's 373 wins are tied for third all-time.
38. J.J. Exon
38. J.J. Exon
1921-2005
Politician
After serving in World War II, Exon founded an office equipment company in Lincoln and helped build the Nebraska Democratic Party. Exon, who never lost an election, served as governor (1971-1979) and U.S. Senator (1979-1997).
39. Alexander Payne
39. Alexander Payne
1961-
Filmmaker
The two-time Academy Award winner from Omaha has made six critically acclaimed films, beginning with 1996’s “Citizen Ruth.” Three of those films were set in his home state: “Election” (1999), "About Schmidt" (2002) and “Nebraska” (2013).
40. Daniel Freeman
40. Daniel Freeman
1826-1908
Homesteader
On Jan. 1, 1863, Freeman became the first person to stake a claim under the Homestead Act, settling near Beatrice. In 1902, he was a plaintiff in a lawsuit that became a landmark legal decision on the separation of church and state in schools.
41. Fred Astaire
41. Fred Astaire
1899-1987
Actor
Omaha-born Astaire, the first dance star on film, made 31 movies, often partnering with Ginger Rogers. He made multiple television appearances and released recordings during his 76-year career, ranking fifth on AFI’s list of Hollywood Golden Age male stars.
AP file photo
42. Edith Abbott
42. Edith Abbott
1876-1957
Educator
Grand Island's Abbott, the first female dean of a graduate school, was a social science researcher and educator who helped draft the Social Security Act and establish welfare systems. She wrote more than 100 books as a “passionate statistician.”
43. Red Cloud
43. Red Cloud
1822-1909
Oglala Leader
Born near North Platte, Red Cloud led the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He commanded one of the worst defeats inflicted on the U.S. Army prior to Little Bighorn, and then led his people through the transition to reservation life.
44. Darryl Zanuck
44. Darryl Zanuck
1902-1979
Film producer
Wahoo’s Zanuck produced the first talking film, "The Jazz Singer," in 1927, co-founded 20th Century Fox in 1933 and won three Academy Awards as a producer. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
45. Chuck Hagel
45. Chuck Hagel
1946-
Politician
A Vietnam veteran and successful businessman, Hagel was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 1996 and was overwhelming re-elected in 2002. In 2013, he became Secretary of Defense under President Obama, serving until 2015.
46. Walter Behlen
46. Walter Behlen
1905-1994
Business
Born near Columbus, the businessman and philanthropist co-founded Behlen Manufacturing Company, a business known for designing and manufacturing agricultural equipment products such as grain bins. In 1968, he won an Horatio Alger Award for personal initiative and belief in the free-enterprise system.
47. Roger Welsch
47. Roger Welsch
1936-
Folklorist
Born in Lincoln and now of Dannebrog, the humorist delivered “Postcards from Nebraska” as a senior correspondent for "CBS Sunday Morning." He’s written nearly 30 books ranging from pioneer folklore to tractor restoration to humorous observations of the state.
48. Cliff Hillegass
48. Cliff Hillegass
1918-2001
Publisher
In 1958, Hillegass, who was born in Rising City, and his wife, Catherine, co-founded CliffsNotes, the literary study guides for students. By 1989, the Lincoln-based company had produced more than 220 titles and sold more than 50 million guides.
49. Kay Orr
Kay Orr
1939-
Politician
Appointed state treasurer in 1981, she became Nebraska’s first female governor and the first Republican woman to be elected governor in the country in 1986 when she defeated Helen Boosalis in the first U.S. gubernatorial election between two women.
50. Ernst Lied
Ernst F. Lied
1906-1980
Business
An Omaha car dealer-turned-Las Vegas developer, Lied gave millions of dollars under the direction of trustee Christina Hixson for projects around the state that he considered home, including the Lied Center for Performing Arts and Lied Jungle at Henry Doorly Zoo.
51. Grace Abbott
51. Grace Abbott
1878-1939
Social worker
Abbott, born and educated in Grand Island, moved to Chicago’s Hull House in 1907, becoming an advocate for immigrants and working against child labor. She was later the first woman nominated to a cabinet position, but was not confirmed.
52. Terry Carpenter
52. Terry Carpenter
1900-1978
Politics
Scottbluff's Carpenter was elected to the House of Representatives in 1933, but failed in many subsequent elections while building a successful business. He was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1952, serving 22 years and becoming one of its most powerful members.
53. Paul Johnsgard
53. Paul Johnsgard
1931-
Science
In 1961, ornithologist Johnsgard joined the University of Nebraska, where he taught for 40 years. One of the world’s foremost authorities on birds, Johnsgard has published more than 50 books and written more monographs of bird groups than any other author.
54. Malcolm X
54. Malcolm X
1925-1965
Activist
Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Malcolm X was imprisoned in the 1940s, joined the Nation of Islam and was its spokesman before breaking off, traveling the world, and working and speaking out against segregation before his 1965 assassination.
55. Robert Taylor
55. Robert Taylor
1911-1969
Actor
Born Spangler Arlington Brugh, Taylor grew up in Beatrice and attended Doane College before moving to California, where he began acting in the 1930s. "The Man With the Perfect Profile" became one of the most-popular leading men of his time.
56. Harold Lloyd
56. Harold Lloyd
1893-1971
Actor
Silent-film comedy master Lloyd was born in Burchard and moved to California as a boy. He began acting at 19 in some of the earliest films, then developed the bespectacled character that made him a star through the 1920s.
57. Johnny Rodgers
57. Johnny Rodgers
1951-
Football
Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers in 1972 became Nebraska’s first Heisman Trophy winner. A standout at Omaha Tech, the wingback set the NCAA all-purpose yardage record with the Huskers before playing professionally for six seasons in the CFL and NFL.
58. Rose Blumkin
58. Rose Blumkin
1893-1998
Business
An immigrant from Russia, Blumkin moved with her husband to Omaha in 1919, where she opened a secondhand clothing store. In 1937, “Mrs. B.” founded Nebraska Furniture Mart, which she helped develop into the nation’s largest home furnishings store.
59. Harold Warp
59. Harold Warp
1903-1994
Inventor
Born in a sod house near Minden and orphaned at 11, Warp invented Flex-O-Glass, a plastic window material in the 1920s and his Chicago-based company has produced the wrap and other products. He opened Pioneer Village in Minden in 1953.
60. Mike Johanns
60. Mike Johanns
1950-
Politician
Elected to the Lancaster County Board (1983-87) and the Lincoln City Council (1989-1991), Johanns became Lincoln’s mayor (1991-99) and then governor (1999-2005). He was named U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in 2005 and was elected to the Senate in 2008.
61. Sandy Dennis
61. Sandy Dennis
1937-1992
Actor
The Hastings-born Oscar and Tony Award-winning actress began her theater career in Lincoln, moved to New York, winning Tony Awards in 1963 and 1964. She received the best supporting actress Oscar for 1966’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
62. Chip Davis
62. Chip Davis
1947-
Musician
Davis moved to Omaha to work in advertising, where he created the C.W. McCall character and became an award-winning country songwriter. In 1974, he founded Mannheim Steamroller and American Gramaphone records and has sold more than 28 million records.
63. Larry the Cable Guy
63. Larry the Cable Guy
1963-
Comedian
Pawnee City’s Dan Whitney developed the Larry the Cable Guy persona in the late ‘90s, becoming a stand-up star with his “Blue Collar” comedy and starring in films, including voicing for Disney’s “Cars” series, TV commercials and on Sirius/XM radio.
64. Walter Scott Jr.
64. Walter Scott Jr.
1931-
Business
Scott began his career as a civil engineer with Peter Kiewit & Sons in Omaha, was elected to the company board and succeeded Kiewit as chairman in 1979. Now chairman of Level 3 Communications, Scott is a Berkshire Hathaway board member.
65. Wright Morris
65. Wright Morris
1910-1998
Author
Born in Central City, Morris, who lived in Philadelphia and Mexico before settling in California to teach, wrote novels and essays portraying the people of the Great Plains, as well as being known for working in experimental writing forms.
66. Gerald Ford
66. Gerald R. Ford
1913-2006
President
Born Leslie King in Omaha, Ford moved to Michigan as a boy, taking the name of his adoptive father. He served in Congress from 1949 to 1973, when he was appointed vice president. He became president in 1974 following the resignation of Richard Nixon.
67. Gale Sayers
67. Gale Sayers
1943-
Football
One of the best high school football players ever in Nebraska, the Omaha Central running back was a two-time All-American at Kansas, a first-round Chicago Bears draft pick and a five-time all-pro in his six-year, injury-shortened career.
68. Virginia Smith
68. Virginia Smith
1911-2006
Politician
In 1974, Smith, a longtime Republican Party activist from Chappell, became the first Nebraska woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served on the Appropriations Committee and championed rural projects until her retirement in 1991.
69. Clayton Anderson
69. Clayton Anderson
1959-
Astronaut
Nebraska’s only astronaut, Ashland’s Anderson studied physics at Hastings College before joining NASA in 1998. He spent 152 days aboard the International Space Station in 2007 and another 12 days in space in 2010. He retired from NASA in 2013.
70. Edwin Perkins
70. Edwin Perkins
1889-1961
Inventor
At age 31, Perkins moved to Hastings, where he worked with patent medicines and household products, including a line sold door-to-door and by mail. In 1927, he invented a powdered soft-drink mix, originally called Kool-Ade. He sold Kool-Aid to General Foods in 1953.
71. Matthew Sweet
71. Matthew Sweet
1964-
Rock Musician
Lincoln singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sweet began in local bands before moving to Athens, Ga. where he began his now three-decade career, highlighted by his 1991 album, “Girlfriend,” a power-pop masterpiece recognized as one of the best records of the decade.
72. Bob Boozer
72. Bob Boozer
1937-2012
Basketball
Omaha Tech graduate Boozer was a two-time all-America forward at Kansas State, won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and was an all-star (1968) and champion (1971, Milwaukee Bucks) during his 11-year NBA career.
73. Susette La Flesche Tibbles
73. Susette La Flesche Tibbles
1854-1903
Activist
The author, activist and advocate for Native rights was the first Native lecturer and the first published Native artist and writer. “Bright Eyes” also helped bring about passage of the Dawes Act in 1887.
74. Alvin Johnson
74. Alvin Johnson
1874-1971
Education
Born in Homer and educated in economics at the University of Nebraska, Johnson was an educator and editor who co-founded the New School in New York and became its director in 1922. He was known for rescuing European scholars from Nazi persecution.
75. Father Edward Flanagan
75. Father Edward Flanagan
1886-1948
Religion
Irish-born Flanagan immigrated to the U.S. in 1904, was assigned to his first parish in O’Neill in 1912 and, in 1917, founded an orphanage for boys that, in 1921, after moving to a farm west of Omaha, became Boys Town.
76. Moses Kinkaid
76. Moses Kinkaid
1856-1922
Politician
In 1881, attorney Kinkaid moved to O’Neill and served in the Nebraska Legislature and as a judge before being elected to Congress in 1902, where he authored the Kinkaid Act that enlarged the amount of land available to settlers in the Sandhills.
77. Robert Furnas
77. Robert Furnas
1824-1905
Politician
The second governor of Nebraska, Furnas came to the state in 1856, where he published the Nebraska Farmer magazine, was elected to the territorial legislature, served on the Board of Regents and served as governor from 1873-75.
78. Jeff Raikes
78. Jeff Raikes
1958 -
Business
Ashland’s Raikes joined Microsoft in 1981, where he drove early work in business applications and headed the company’s sales force and services group before retiring in 2008 to become head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and his Raikes Foundation.
79. Joel Sartore
79. Joel Sartore
1962-
Photographer
Lincoln’s Sartore is a 20-year contributor to National Geographic, a nature photographer whose work has been featured on TV and in documentary film. He was named a National Geographic Fellow in 2012 and co-founded the International League of Conservation Photographers.
80. Donald Clifton
80. Donald Clifton
1924-2003
Psychologist
Butte’s Clifton, an honored WWII vet, was a University of Nebraska educational psychology professor (1950-69) known for developing Strengths-Based Psychology. He founded Selection Research, Inc., which acquired the Gallup Organization in 1988.
81. Sarah and George Joslyn
81. The Joslyns
Business/Philanthropy
George Joslyn and wife Sarah (above) moved in 1880 to Omaha, where he developed the country’s largest newspaper service company, then gave more than $7 million to community projects, most notably the Joslyn Art Museum, which opened in 1931.
82. Robert Daugherty
82. Robert Daugherty
1922-2010
Business
Omaha-born Daugherty co-founded Valmont Industries in 1954, running the company that became the world’s first and largest supplier of center-pivot irrigation systems and a major supplier of utility poles with annual sales of more than $800 million in 2000.
83. Dwight Griswold
83. Dwight Griswold
1893-1954
Politician
Born in Harrison, the banker and newspaper publisher served three terms as governor, was a 1944 GOP vice-presidential nomination contender, a director of the U.S. Military Government in Germany and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1952.
84. Nathan Gold
84. Nathan Gold
1894-1970
Business
Gold moved to Lincoln with his parents in 1902, joined his father William in the family business, the Gold and Company Department Store, in 1913, and began serving as its president in 1936, overseeing it through years of expansion.
85. Ben Kuroki
85. Ben Kuroki
1917-2015
Military
Hershey-raised Kuroki was the only American of Japanese descent in the United States Army Air Force to serve in combat operations in the Pacific Theatre in World War II, flying 58 combat missions and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross.
86. William Petersen
86. William Petersen
1880-1962
Inventor
The Danish immigrant invented the interlocking Vise-Grip pliers in 1921 and three years later founded DeWitt-based Petersen Manufacturing Co. (later American Tool) that became the largest privately held manufacturer of hand tools.
87. Terry Pettit
87. Terry Pettit
1946-
Volleyball
In 23 years as coach, Pettit established Nebraska volleyball as one of the nation’s best, winning 21 conference championships and the school’s first national title in 1995. He is highly regarded as a coaching mentor and volleyball expert.
88. Preston Love
88. Preston Love
1921-2004
Musician
Omaha’s Love was a renowned alto saxophonist, bandleader and songwriter who played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles and served as the Motown bandleader, as well as leading his own band and making recordings.
89. Evelyn Brodstone Vestey
89. Evelyn Brodstone Vestey
1875-1941
Business
The Superior native was the world’s highest-paid woman in the 1920s running the London-based, world-wide Vestey’s meat-packing business before marrying Lord William Vestey in 1924, becoming Lady Vestey and the world’s richest woman.
90. The Creightons
90. The Creightons
Business
A contractor who pioneered the construction of telegraph lines, Edward Creighton (above) organized the first national bank in the Nebraska territory and, with his brother John, co-founded Creighton University in Omaha, which was incorporated by the Jesuit Order in 1879.
91. Grenville Dodge
91. Grenville Dodge
1831-1916
Engineer
Dodge, an engineer who served in the Union Army, was asked by President Lincoln in 1864 to help decide the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad and became the company’s chief engineer, routing the rail line down the Platte River valley.
92. Norman Geske
92. Norman Geske
1915-2014
Museum director
The founding director of the Sheldon Museum of Art is largely responsible for the construction of the Philip Johnson-designed building, acquiring much of Sheldon's acclaimed American art collection and helping establish the Museum of Nebraska Art.
93. Frank Woods
93. Frank Woods
1868-1952
Philanthropist
The attorney founded what became the Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company in 1905, helped create universal telephone service in the 1910s and pioneered use of dial telephones. He established the Woods Charitable Fund, which continues to operate, in 1941.
94. J. Lee Rankin
94. J. Lee Rankin
1907-1996
Attorney
Born in Hartington, Rankin got his law degree and practiced in Lincoln, served as U.S. Solicitor General (1956-1961), argued the groundbreaking Gideon vs. Wainwright case for the ACLU and was general counsel for the Warren Commission.
95. Gordon MacRae
95. Gordon MacRae
1921-1986
Actor
New Jersey-born MacRae, a singer and actor best known for starring in 1950’s film adaptations of “Oklahoma” and “Carousel,” appeared on dozens of TV shows and worked the Broadway stage. He lived in Lincoln in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
96. Montgomery Clift
96. Montgomery Clift
1920-1966
Actor
Omaha-born Clift, an original method actor, began his career on Broadway at age 15, was nominated for four Academy Awards, most notably for “A Place in the Sun,” before a 1956 car accident essentially ended his career.
AP file photo
97. Mabel Lee
97. Mabel Lee
1886-1985
Educator
Lee served as director and chair of physical education for women at the University of Nebraska (1924-1952), became an internationally-known fitness expert and physical education pioneer and expanded sports and academic programs for women.
98. Weldon Kees
98. Weldon Kees
1914-1955
Poet/Artist
Born in Beatrice, Kees studied at Doane College and the University of Nebraska before establishing himself as a poet and abstract expression painter in 1940s New York. He spent his final years in San Francisco, mysteriously disappearing in 1955.
99. Howard Hanson
99. Howard Hanson
1896-1981
Composer
The Wahoo-born composer won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for his Symphony No. 1. He was director of the Eastman School of Music for 40 years and became known as a champion for classical music.
100. William 'Speedy Bill' Smith
100. William Smith
1929-2014
Auto Racing
"Speedy Bill" founded Lincoln-based Speedway Motors, America's oldest speed shop and one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of parts for racing and street rod markets. He also owned nationally-competitive go-karts, dragsters and Indy cars.
101. Keith Jacobshagen
101. Keith Jacobshagen
1941-
Artist
The pre-eminent painter of Heartland landscapes, Jacobshagen, a retired University of Nebraska-Lincoln art professor, has had his distinctive, low-horizon views of Southeast Nebraska displayed in prominent museums and private collections across the country.
Julie Koch
102. Mary Pipher
102. Mary Pipher
1947-
Psychologist, author
The author of the No. 1 bestseller, “Raising Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls,” Lincoln clinical psychologist Pipher has written nine books, primarily on how American culture influences mental health. She is a strong voice for progressive causes in the state.
Julie Koch
103. Andrew Higgins
103. Andrew Higgins
1886-1952
Manufacturer
Higgins, who grew up in Columbus and Omaha, has been credited as “the man who won the war for us” for his invention and manufacturing of “Higgins boats,” the ramp-bowed landing craft used by American forces during World War II.
104. Gilbert Hitchcock
104. Gilbert Hitchcock
1859-1934
Publisher
The son of a U.S. senator, Omaha’s Hitchcock established the Omaha Evening World in 1885 and four years later purchased the Omaha Morning Herald to create the Omaha World-Herald. He served as a Democratic congressman and two-term U.S. senator.
105. Charles Gere
105. Charles Gere
1838-1904
Publisher
Gere established The Nebraska Commonwealth, the state’s first newspaper, in Lincoln. As a member of the Nebraska Legislature, he led efforts to establish the University of Nebraska, as well as the state’s first prison and first asylum.
106. Jordan Larson
106. Jordan Larson
1986-
Volleyball
Larson drew statewide attention as a prep phenom in the small town of Hooper, then became every young volleyball player's idol — winning a national title at Nebraska in 2006 and twice winning medals at the Olympic Games.
Julie Koch
107. Ed Zorinsky
107. Ed Zorinsky
1928-1987
U.S. senator
In 1976, after switching political parties, the popular Omaha mayor became the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Nebraska in more than 40 years and the first Jewish person ever to win a statewide election. He was known for his Foreign Relations Committee work.
Julie Koch
108. Dick Cheney
108. Dick Cheney
1941-
Vice president
Cheney, who grew up in Lincoln, was one of the most powerful and influential vice presidents in history during his 2001-2008 tenure with President George W. Bush. Cheney was seen as being responsible for expanding presidential powers and implementing Bush’s Iraq War policy.
Julie Koch
109. Roman Hruska
109. Roman Hruska
1904-1999
U.S. senator
The David City native served in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to 1976. One of the most vocal conservatives of the era, Hruska was a skillful legislator who strongly influenced the federal criminal justice system.
110. Gutzon Borglum
110. Gutzon Borglum
1867-1941
Sculptor
Borglum, who grew up in Omaha and Fremont, was involved in the carving of Stone Mountain in Georgia and created Mount Rushmore, working on the South Dakota stone faces of four presidents from 1927 until his death in 1941.
111. Dave Rimington
111. Dave Rimington
1960-
Football
An All-American for Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, Omaha-born Rimington played seven seasons in the NFL and now is president of the Boomer Esiason Foundation. He's the namesake of the Rimington Trophy presented annually to the best collegiate center.
112. Thomas Rogers Kimball
Thomas R. Kimball
1862-1934
Architect
Coming to Nebraska in his teens, Kimball became known for his classical style of architecture, with many of his buildings now on the NRHP, including the Lincoln Telephone Company Building (1894) and Omaha's St. Philomena's Cathedral (1908).
113. Logan Fontenelle
113. Logan Fontenelle
1825-1855
Interpreter
Born of French and Omaha ancestry, Fontenelle served as interpreter during land negotiations between Omaha leaders and the U.S. government in the 1850s. He died when his hunting party was attacked by Sioux.
114. Nick Nolte
114. Nick Nolte
1941-
Actor
The Omaha-born, Oscar-nominated actor was expelled from Benson High before graduating from Westside and playing college football in Arizona. He's acted in more than 70 movies and several TV series, currently starring as the title character on EPIX's "Graves."
115. James Coburn
115. James Coburn
1928-2002
Actor
The Laurel-born Oscar winner appeared in more than 70 films and 100 TV shows during his 45-year career. He’s best known for his “cool” in the ‘60s in movies such as “In Like Flint” and “The President’s Analyst.”
116. Randy Meisner
116. Randy Meisner
1946-
Musician
Born in Scottsbluff, the bassist was a founding member of The Eagles. He moved to California in the mid-'60s where he played with Poco and The Stone Canyon before joining The Eagles in 1971 and playing to 1977.
117. Max Baer
117. Max Baer
1909-1959
Boxing
Born in Omaha, Baer boxed professionally for 13 years (1929-41), beating Adolf Hitler's favorite fighter (Max Schmeling), winning the heavyweight title in 1934 and fighting in the first televised heavyweight prizefight in 1939.
118. Magic Slim
118. Magic Slim
1937-2013
Bluesman
Morris “Magic Slim” Holt was born in Mississippi and moved to Chicago in the 1950s becoming a Blues Music Award-winning band leader, guitarist and singer. A fixture at the Zoo Bar for more than 35 years, Slim moved to Lincoln in the early 1990s.
119. Carl Curtis
119. Carl T. Curtis
1905-2000
Politician
The Kearney-born attorney represented Nebraska in Congress from 1939 to 1954, with several of his ideas implemented in the 1950 Social Security Act, and served as U.S. senator from 1955 to 1979.
120. Seacrest Family
120. Seacrest Family
Publishers
In 1901, Joe C. Seacrest (above), a Pennsylvania “printer’s devil” turned editor, purchased the Nebraska State Journal, beginning more than 90 years of Nebraska newspaper publishing by the Seacrest family. The Journal won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for public service.
121. Gabrielle Union
121. Gabrielle Union
Actress
1972-
The title character in BET's "Being Mary Jane" was born in Omaha and attended UNL before transferring to UCLA and beginning her acting career. She has appeared in more than 30 movies and 20 TV series.
122. Paul Revere
122. Paul Revere
1938-2014
Musician
Born Paul Revere Dick in Harvard, Revere, known as the “Madman of Rock ‘n’ Roll” was the keyboard-playing leader of the Revolutionary War-themed band Paul Revere & The Raiders, known for songs like “Kicks” and “Not Your Steppin’ Stone.”
AP file
123. Jonas Brandeis
123. Jonas L. Brandeis
1836-1903
Retailer
Brandeis moved his family to Omaha, where he started J.L. Brandeis & Sons, which during its pinnacle in the 1960s and '70s was deemed Nebraska's department store, with locations throughout the state.
124. Herman Cain
124. Herman Cain
1945-2020
Business
Cain arrived in Omaha in 1986, where he turned around the then-Pillsbury-owned Godfather's pizza chain as its CEO and president. His business success served as springboard for him to go into politics and make a 2012 presidential run.
125. Paul Williams
125. Paul Williams
1940-
Composer
The Omaha-born Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe winner earned induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for such gems as "We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "An Old Fashioned Love Song" and "The Rainbow Connection."
Wade Payne
126. Nicholas Sparks
126. Nicholas Sparks
1965-
Author
Born in Omaha, Sparks has become one of the world's most-beloved storytellers, with many of his best-selling, tear-jerking novels adapted for the big screen, including "The Notebook," "Dear John" and "Safe Haven."
Richard Shotwell
127. Edward Ruscha
127. Ed Ruscha
1937-
Artist
Omaha-born Ruscha was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2001, recognized for his paintings that incorporate words and phrases and commercial graphics and his photographic books that draw on the Beat Generation and pop art.
128. "Wahoo" Sam Crawford
128. Sam Crawford
1880-1968
Baseball
Nicknamed "Wahoo," the Hall of Fame outfielder holds MLB records for triples in a career and inside-the-park homers in a season. Playing from 1899 to 1917, he became first player to lead both AL and NL in homers.
129. Neal Hefti
129. Neal Hefti
1922-2008
Composer
Most popularly known for his theme songs to the “Batman” TV show and “The Odd Couple,” Hefti was born in Hastings, grew up in Omaha and became a jazz trumpeter and arranger before writing scores for film and television.
130. Marg Helgenberger
130. Marg Helgenberger
1958-
Actress
Raised in North Bend, Helgenberger gained attention on the daytime soap "Ryan's Hope" before winning an Emmy for "China Beach." She is best known for her role as Catherine Willows on the long-running CBS hit "CSI."
131. Charlie Greene
131. Charlie Greene
1945-
Track & Field
The inaugural member of the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame won a gold medal on the U.S. 4x100-meter relay and a bronze in the 100 at the 1968 Olympics. He tied the world record in the 100 three times.
132. Lee Simmons
132. Lee G. Simmons
1938-
Zoo Director
As director of the Henry Doorly Zoo (1970-2009) and chairman of the Omaha Zoo Foundation (2009-), Simmons built the zoo into a world-class destination, elevated conservation awareness and launched new research programs.
133. Zager and Evans
133. Zager and Evans
Rock band
In 1969, guitarist/singers Denny Zager and Rick Evans, bassist Mark Dalton and drummer Dave Trupp released “In The Year 2525.” It hit the top of the charts in July 1968, staying for six weeks — the only No. 1 hit from Nebraska.
134. James Valentine
134. James Valentine
1978-
Guitarist
Moving from Lincoln to California with his band Square in 2000, Valentine joined the group that became Maroon 5 a year later. The most popular band of the 2000s, Maroon 5 has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide.
135. Fred Seaton
135. Fred Seaton
1909-1974
Politician
The longtime Hastings Tribune publisher went from serving in the Nebraska Legislature (1945-49) to becoming the 36th U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1956-61) under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
136. John Falter
136. John Falter
1910-1982
Illustrator
Falter, who grew up in Falls City, became one of the top magazine illustrators of the 20th century. He’s best known for creating more than 120 covers for “The Saturday Evening Post,” many of them derived from imagery of middle America.
137. Aaron Douglas
137. Aaron Douglas
1899-1979
Painter
Painter, illustrator and educator, Douglas graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1922 and settled in Harlem three years later, where he became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance and became the father of African-American art.
138. Guy Chamberlin
138. Guy Chamberlin
1894-1967
Football
The Blue Springs native played for both NWU and NU, then went on to play and coach in the NFL. He's a member of both the college and pro football halls of fame. Four of his NFL teams won titles.
139. Johnny Goodman
138. Johnny Goodman
1909-1970
Golf
The Omaha native made a name for himself at age 19, defeating golfer Bobby Jones in the U.S. Amateur in 1929. Four years later, he won the U.S. Open and remains the last amateur to win the Open.
Tom Sande
140. Norbert Tiemann
140. Norbert Tiemann
1924-2012
Politician
Elected in 1967, “Nobby” Tiemann, a banker from Wausa, is the most significant governor of the modern era. During his administration, the state began a sales and income tax system, state aid to schools and saw the expansion of the University of Nebraska.
CODY DUTY
141. Victor Lewis
141. Victor Lewis
1950-
Drummer
The Omaha-born University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate is widely recognized as one of the world’s top jazz drummers. In his 40-year career, Lewis has played with a who’s-who of jazz, writes songs, records solo albums and teaches.
142. Reinhold Marxhausen
142. Reinhold Marxhausen
1922-2011
Artist
A 40-year art department chair at Concordia, Nebraska (1951-91), Marxhausen painted two mosaic murals in the Nebraska State Capitol and appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman" in 1986 with his Star Dust moon rocks.
143. Michael Forsberg
143. Michael Forsberg
1966 -
Photographer
Not only are the Lincoln-born nature photographer's books found on coffee tables throughout the state (and beyond), but his photo of sandhill cranes flying near the Platte River at sunset will be used for a U.S. postage stamp celebrating Nebraska’s 150th birthday as a state.
MICHAEL FORSBERG
144. Buddy Miles
144. Buddy Miles
1947-2008
Drummer
Miles, born in Omaha, was a fixture in late '60s/'70s rock, playing with Jimi Hendrix in the Band of Gypsies, as a member of Electric Flag, leading his own band and as the voice of the “California Raisins” TV ads.
145. "Gorgeous" George Wagner
“Gorgeous George" Wagner
1915-1963
Professional wrestler
Wrestling’s first flamboyant “heel,” Butte-born Wagner grew his dyed-blond hair long, entered the ring in a sequined robe and became wrestling’s biggest drawing card when the sport hit TV in the late 1940s. He influenced Muhammad Ali, James Brown and every subsequent “heel.”
146. Jack Van Berg
146. Jack Van Berg
1936-
Thoroughbred trainer
The Columbus native followed in his father's footsteps, and both are in the National Racing Hall of Fame. In 1987, he became the first thoroughbred trainer to win 5,000 races. He won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic with Alysheba.
147. Mike Hill
147. Mike Hill
1952-
Film editor
Omaha-born Hill and his editing partner, Dan Hanley, are best known for working with director Ron Howard. Their collaboration dates back to Howard's "Night Shift" (1982) and includes a Best Film Editing Oscar for "Apollo 13" (1995).
148. Wynonie Harris
148. Wynonie Harris
1915-69
Blues shouter
A blues shouter and R&B singer, Harris had 16 “race” and R&B hits in the ‘40s and ‘50s, notably “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” later recorded by Elvis Presley, one of those influenced by the Omaha-born forerunner of rock ‘n’ roll.
149. Swoosie Kurtz
149. Swoosie Kurtz
1944-
Actress
The Omaha-born daughter of an Air Force colonel is a two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner who appears regularly on TV, including a recent six-season run on the CBS hit sitcom "Mike & Molly."
150. Charles Starkweather
150. Charles Starkweather
1938-1959
Spree killer
The most infamous Nebraskan, Lincoln garbage man Starkweather killed 11 people in Southeast Nebraska and Wyoming during a two-month murder spree in 1957 and 1958. He has been the subject of movies, books and Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska.”
JOURNAL STAR ARCHIVES
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. | https://journalstar.com/business/local/former-aliant-ceo-hilsabeck-dies-at-77/article_b28d2f8b-66f6-5fbd-a87f-12fd43223abd.html | 2022-08-05T00:42:22 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/business/local/former-aliant-ceo-hilsabeck-dies-at-77/article_b28d2f8b-66f6-5fbd-a87f-12fd43223abd.html |
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.
Lauren Vlach moved to Lincoln after losing more than $1,000 to a fraudulent company. She believes she was the victim of a moving scam, something that's becoming increasingly more common.
"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."
Kolby Nash, known as “Catfish Kolby” by the locals, began selling his bait at gas stations three years ago. Now, his product is in 30 stores across three states. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/belmont-pool-to-have-adjusted-schedule-for-final-weeks/article_5f10e023-919e-59ca-9c97-31fc73506f86.html | 2022-08-05T00:42:29 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/belmont-pool-to-have-adjusted-schedule-for-final-weeks/article_5f10e023-919e-59ca-9c97-31fc73506f86.html |
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The family of an Arlington man who died after investigators say he was intentionally set on fire by his girlfriend is sharing his story as they fight for justice.
Ricky Doyle, 25, died this week after a two-week fight in the hospital.
Doyle’s little sister, Mikayla, said on July 18, Doyle and his girlfriend 24-year-old Breana Johnson were arguing outside the family’s Arlington home.
“She [Johnson] just started beating on his chest. She took his phone. She threw his phone. Then she came back and she picked his phone up, threw it at him, and then started beating his chest,” Mikayla recalled. “We knew she was abusive to him, but we didn’t see this. We didn’t know this was going to come.”
While she was on the phone with police, Mikayla said Johnson took off in her Jeep with Doyle still inside. According to an arrest warrant, Johnson and Doyle eventually stopped at a nearby gas station on Mayfield Road in Arlington where she purchased 50 cents' worth of gasoline and pumped it into the backseat of the car where Doyle was sitting and intentionally ignited it.
“Officers spoke with another witness who stated the suspect was smiling as she fled the scene,” the arrest warrant states.
This week, Arlington police announced the aggravated assault charge for Johnson will soon be upgraded to murder.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Doyle’s family said he was first taken to Medical City Arlington before being transferred to a hospital in Plano, where he was being treated for burns covering more than 90% of his body. Family said the top of his head, groin and buttocks areas, along with the bottoms of his feet were spared.
“I was so scared to touch another part because I didn’t know. I didn’t want to damage another part. I said, 'would it be OK if I touch his foot?' He [the doctor] said, 'yes go ahead,'” Doyle’s mother Lisa said. “That’s the only part of his body I could touch. That’s all that was left.”
Lisa said her son always dreamed of becoming an author.
“And the times I went and saw him in the hospital, I told him, 'you didn’t know what kind of story you wanted to tell. But this is a big one. This is a big story for you to write,'” she said. “If you hurt someone that you care about, it’s not love. It’s not love.”
Johnson is currently held at the Tarrant County Jail. It is not clear whether she has an attorney. Her family was not immediately available for comment. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/he-was-my-hero-my-protector-family-of-arlington-man-lit-on-fire-killed-shares-story/3040646/ | 2022-08-05T00:43:04 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/he-was-my-hero-my-protector-family-of-arlington-man-lit-on-fire-killed-shares-story/3040646/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/mother-testifies-in-trial-of-texas-man-accused-of-killing-his-teen-daughters/3040861/ | 2022-08-05T00:43:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/mother-testifies-in-trial-of-texas-man-accused-of-killing-his-teen-daughters/3040861/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/neighbors-file-negligence-lawsuit-in-grand-prairie-plant-fire/3040863/ | 2022-08-05T00:43:18 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/neighbors-file-negligence-lawsuit-in-grand-prairie-plant-fire/3040863/ |
Neighbors of a tremendous Grand Prairie plastics plant fire two years ago are suing the company claiming negligence that left them with lasting health problems.
Fire officials at the time said the August 19, 2020 fire at the Poly America plant started with an explosion. The fire burned for 23 hours before firefighters from several cities put it out.
Billowing thick black smoke could be seen for miles around.
Neighbor Stacey Mims said he drove through the smoke on his way home that morning.
“It was coming through the vents and then when I got to my residence, you could see the filaments and the debris, little flakes, coming down and you could smell the chemicals,” he said.
Two of the 39 plaintiffs in a new lawsuit against the company spoke about it with one of their lawyers Thursday.
Amber Rodriguez said she fled from her home about a mile from the site with her young son that morning.
“We woke up to the smoke inside our apartment and we had to literally run away. My son was a year old and we were coughing,” she said.
Dallas Attorney Jennifer Kinder is one of the lawyers involved in the lawsuit for the neighbors.
“We know everyone has respiratory issues, long-term respiratory issues,” she said.
The $7.8 million lawsuit seeks $200,000 in damages for each of the 39 plaintiffs.
“And there's a variety of issues that they're having. Headaches, fatigue,” Kinder said.
The plant on Marshall Drive in Grand Prairie handles polyethylene and petroleum-based products.
READ MORE: GRAND PRAIRIE FIRE
The Poly America website says the company makes Husky brand trash bags and other plastic products.
Amber Rodriguez said she is angry that the company has done nothing for neighbors since the fire and she hopes the lawsuit brings action.
“Apologies; they need accountability for what happened,” Rodriguez said.
Shortly after the fire, electric provider Oncor issued a statement saying its investigation concluded that transmission lines through the site were intact and not to blame for what happened.
Kinder said the court action will seek information about the actual cause.
Voice mail and email messages seeking comment from Poly America Thursday were not returned. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/neighbors-sue-over-2020-grand-prairie-plastic-plant-fire/3040792/ | 2022-08-05T00:43:25 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/neighbors-sue-over-2020-grand-prairie-plastic-plant-fire/3040792/ |
Texas has a variety of great bookstores, and some are located here in North Texas.
Several local bookstores made the Top 25 list, including Recycled Books Records and CDs in Denton (No. 2) and Fort Worth’s Monkey and Dog Books (No. 3). The top sport went to Recycled Reads in Austin.
In all, North Texas had seven bookstores on the list.
YELP'S LIST OF THE TOP LOCAL BOOKSTORES IN TEXAS:
- Recycled Reads (Austin)
- Recycled Books Records CDs (Denton, TX)
- Monkey & Dog Books (Fort Worth, TX)
- Kaboom Books (Houston, TX)
- Becker's Books (Houston, TX)
- BookPeople (Austin, TX)
- Literarity Book Shop (El Paso, TX)
- Book Woman (Austin, TX)
- Malvern Books (Austin, TX)
- Brazos Bookstore (Houston, TX)
- Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston, TX)
- Leaves Book and Tea Shop (Fort Worth, TX)
- Brave Books (El Paso, TX)
- Lark & Owl Booksellers (Georgetown, TX)
- The Wild Detectives (Dallas, TX)
- Lucky Dog Books (Dallas, TX)
- Deep Vellum Books (Dallas, TX)
- The Book Nook Brenham (Brenham, TX)
- Front Street Books (Alpine, TX)
- South Congress Books (Austin, TX)
- The Twig Book Shop (San Antonio, TX)
- Interabang Books (Dallas, TX)
- Golden's Book Exchange (Waco, TX)
- Nine Lives Books (San Antonio, TX)
- Black Pearl Books (Austin, TX) | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/the-best-little-bookstores-in-texas-according-to-yelp/3040379/ | 2022-08-05T00:43:32 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/the-best-little-bookstores-in-texas-according-to-yelp/3040379/ |
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