text
string | url
string | crawl_date
timestamp[ms] | label
int64 | id
string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Opioid crisis focus of roundtable in Great Falls
The United States is grappling with one of the worst Illicit drug crises in its history.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that overdose deaths involving opioids have increased more than sixfold in the United States since 1999. In 2019 alone — the most recent year for which full data is available — opioid overdoses killed nearly fifty thousand people; more than seven times the number of U.S. military service members killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to provisional CDC data, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths shot up in 2020 to around 70,000 and again in 2021 to 80,000.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the leading U.S. agency involved in counternarcotics, says the synthetic opioid fentanyl is “primarily responsible for fueling the ongoing opioid crisis.” Some law enforcement officials have labeled the drug “manufactured death” because it is cheaper and up to fifty times more potent than heroin. Amounts of fentanyl as small as a sharpened pencil tip can be enough to cause a fatal overdose.
Montana has not escaped the devastating effects of the opioid crisis. In April 2022 the Montana Highway Patrol announced that fentanyl arrests in the state were up 1600% from 2020 to 2021, and that through March 15 of this year, Montana Highway Patrol troopers have already seized 12,079 fentanyl pills – more than three times the total for all of 2021.
Interdictions of methamphetamine are also on the rise. Troopers made 163 felony arrests for methamphetamine in 2021, while seizing more than 49 pounds of the highly addictive synthetic stimulant. Through just the first 10 weeks of 2022, troopers had already interdicted more than two-thirds of last year’s total – 33.3 pounds.
On Thursday, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte convened a roundtable with Cascade County officials including law enforcement officers, and treatment providers to discuss the opioid crisis, more effective addiction treatment options, and efforts to improve public safety in Great Falls.
“Last summer Montana saw some of the highest opioid overdose monthly call volumes in the last three years,” Gianforte noted in his opening remarks. “We had 82 calls in July alone across the state. Here in Great Falls, you saw 33 overdoses and three deaths just in the first couple of months of this year.”
“As the Great Falls Crime Task Force heard last year, much of the increase in violent and drug related crime is being driven by cartels that are shipping drugs into our community across the southern border. We will continue to call on the Biden administration to secure our southern border so we can stop that flow of drugs.”
“It’s been a real priority for our administration to focus on this issue, so I would want to benefit from your input. We want to hear about what’s working, what’s not working. This crisis really requires our action.”
Gianforte asked each of the panel’s nine participants for their insights into the opioid crisis in Cascade County, and for specific proposals to improve the effectiveness of their efforts to combat it.
Eighth Judicial District Count Judge David Grubich highlighted the lack of funding for local treatment programs, especially the lack of facilities and placements within Montana for kids in the juvenile court system.
“I’ve seen kids who had to get shipped off to Georgia,” Grubich noted. "And there’s one kid recently who’s probably going to be sent to Oregon. They’re having enough trouble being separated from their family already, and those miles cause issues.”
Grubich also bemoaned the Eighth Judicial District’s lack of a pre-trial supervision program.
“I get folks in front of me all the time asking to be released on their own recognizance so they can go to mental health treatment,” the judge said. “The problem I have in weighing those factors on whether on not I’m going to release them is - they’re going to open the jail and this person has to walk out with me being able to trust that they’re actually going to go to that treatment.
“If we had something in place where we had individuals tasked with monitoring them, keeping them under supervision, making sure they follow the rules of their bail, then I’d be more comfortable issuing that order,” Grubich continued. “It would certainly give the judges in this county a little more confidence in releasing people.”
The lack of affordable drug and mental health treatment options was a recurring theme, touched upon by many of the roundtable’s panelists. Carrie Matter, Development Director for the Great Falls Rescue Mission, noted that for many low-income addicts, in-patient treatment is either unavailable or unaffordable. Matter asked the governor if it was possible to establish some type of state funding for in-patient treatment scholarships for low-income applicants.
“When people come to us and they want to be sober and clean, that’s the moment we need to intervene,” Matter said. “It’s a short time frame in which we need to get them into intake. We need to get them into an available bed. If we could just increase the capacity of what is available that would solve a lot of the issues.”
Thursday’s forum was the third Gianforte has attended in the past several months, with prior roundtable forums held in Billings and Missoula. The governor has used them as an opportunity to tout two new programs his office endorses. Foremost among these is the HEART Fund.
“In January of last year, we introduced our HEART Fund as a central component of our budget,” Gianforte told the Great Falls panel. “It was the single largest new expenditure in our budget.”
“The HEART Fund provides $25 million per year to fund a continuum of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs for communities,” he continued. “I want to be clear; this is not bigger government. It’s a community grant program to help non-profits and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) that are doing work at the local level.”
“The state can’t be the addiction counselor for every individual,” Gianforte said. “We can’t be the parent of every child. We have to work with community-based groups that can actually fill these gaps.”
However, some of the gaps in service people with drug dependencies and mental health problems face extend beyond the availability of treatment programs. Great Falls City Commissioner Susan Wolff noted how inadequate public transportation in Great Falls is undercutting patient attempts to improve their lives.
“One of the problems that his folks face is a lack of public transportation for these people to get to jobs,” Wolff said. “We have ADF International up on the hill, and they’re in desperate need of welders and are willing to help train them and work with the college to do that sort of thing. But the shift starts at 6 a.m. and our transit bus does not go up there because it’s not part of the transit district.”
“They can go through the treatment, they might have housing, they can be ready to go out, but then they can’t have a steady job where they can actually see some light at the end of tunnel,” the former Dean of Great Falls – MSU said.
The CEO for the Center for Mental Health clinic in Great Falls corroborated Wolff’s observation. Sydney Blair said improving public transportation options was important not only for people trying to go back to work, but also for those attempting to access local healthcare and treatment services.
“It’s a huge issue,” Blair said. “Yes, we can do telehealth, but sometimes that’s just not enough. There are so many barriers for them to get to work and try and get back on that recovery track again.”
Gianforte suggested that private enterprise has its own role to play in addressing the opioid and mental health crisis.
“I think the private businesses need to step up too,” the governor said. “Somebody like ADF who needs workers, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch that they might help with some transportation to get people to work.”
The second initiative the Gianforte administration has focused upon is the Angel Initiative, a policy that allows anyone struggling with addiction and substance abuse to go into any participating law enforcement office and ask for help and get connected to treatment.
“The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office was the first to officially partner with the state on the Angel Initiative,” Gianforte noted. “To date sheriffs in 20 Montana counties have signed up on this program, and we have 10 treatment providers. So, this is really allowing people to come into law enforcement and say, I need help, and get them into treatment.”
Yet several of the participants in Thursday’s forum said a large component of the addiction and mental health crisis is a lack of will from the people who might most benefit from these programs. Great Falls Police Chief Jeff Newton described the “revolving door” aspect of drug enforcement in Great Falls.
“This is not unique to Great Falls,” the Governor continued. “We’re seeing it across all communities in our state and the country.
“Yes, we see a need with non-violent offenders that need this treatment, but there’s no resources on the backside capacity to get that done for them,” Newton said. “So either one, they sit in that little zone of incarceration for a short period of time and then we have to deal with them again, or two it takes so long to get them where they need to be that they simply give up. They say I want the help, but it’s taken so long to get from point A to point B that I’m just going to go back to the behaviors that got me into trouble in the first place.”
Great Falls City Attorney Jeff Hindoien echoed Newton’s observation, stating that much of the cost and effort in addressing the city’s drug problems is driven by a small number of repeat offenders uninterested in seeking addiction treatment. He said that “sometimes the stakes just aren’t high enough” when it comes to prosecution of misdemeanor drug offenses.
“For some people it may be valuable enough to them to avoid having a misdemeanor conviction on their record … but for some folks it’s just not,” Hindoien said. “The judge can say, you’ve got this diversion program, you don’t need to be convicted of a misdemeanor, you won’t have to pay a fine, you won’t need to be sentenced to jail, but you’re going to have to go through this engagement with mental health care professionals where you’re going to have to do a lot of hard work. They’ll look at that and say, well it’s not worth it. I’ll just go do 10 days in jail and pay my fine, which by statute can’t exceed $500.”
Hindoien admitted he had no easy solution to encouraging more people to seek out treatment alternatives over judicial penalties.
“They have to want it more than what might be facing them in a diversion structure,” the city attorney said. “We’re struggling with how ultimately to make that something more successful - whether it’s a drug court or a mental health court.”
With a crisis as multi-faceted as opioid addiction and mental health care in Montana, no immediate solution was agreed upon.
“Drug addiction is ripping our communities apart, and that’s why we convened this discussion today," Gianforte said. “While there’s no silver bullet to end the drug epidemic, there are steps we can take to confront it. The goal here today was to figure out where the gaps are in the continuum of care so that we can help people that are trapped in addiction and treat the mental health issues so they can be productive members of society.”
“I think there were some good ideas here today,” the Governor said, “stuff that I’m going to take back and hopefully will make actionable.”
|
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2022/05/20/governor-cascade-county-officials-meet-in-opioid-crisis-roundtable/65356589007/
| 2022-05-21T12:29:25
| 0
|
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2022/05/20/governor-cascade-county-officials-meet-in-opioid-crisis-roundtable/65356589007/
|
Great Falls International Airport to get de-icing pad after rising costs delay construction
Work comes as airport ramps up plans to resume direct flights to Chicago
The Great Falls International Airport is set to start construction on a new de-icing pad after a yearlong delay due to increased costs, Airport Director John Faulkner said this week.
This comes as Great Falls International is slated to receive $4.8 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration.
The airport received about the same amount of funding last year through the same program that was to cover the costs of the de-icing pad, however, Faulkner told the Tribune that they had to increase their budget due to escalating costs.
“We're definitely seeing significant inflation on that project for sure,” Faulkner said.
He said that the money from last year will be added to the award from this year to cover the cost of construction, along with a 10% local match.
The project is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving, with construction not expected to cause disruption to flights, according to Faulkner.
“It won’t interrupt the flights, there will be some changes in operations,” Faulkner said. “The airplanes will be rerouted as they come and go from a terminal ramp.”
He said once construction is completed there will be designated spots for plane de-icing, where there currently are none, and will increase de-icing capacity.
It was announced earlier this year that the airport is resuming direct flights from Great Falls to Chicago. Faulkner said flights to Chicago are “booking up nicely.”
Great Falls received the most funding of any airport in Montana, with a total of $13.6 million in Airport Improvement Grant funding heading to the Treasure State.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester released a statement on the awarded funds Thursday.
“Great Falls is booming, and it’s critical that Cascade County has up to date infrastructure to support its growing economy,” said Tester. “This funding will allow Great Falls International Airport to expand its operations and support the increasing demand for reliable, affordable flights in the region. Improved facilities will pave the way for more flights in and out of the area, allowing Great Falls to stay connected, and will support good paying jobs in the county for years to come.”
|
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2022/05/20/great-falls-international-airport-to-get-de-icing-pad-after-rising-costs-delay-construction/65356753007/
| 2022-05-21T12:29:31
| 1
|
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2022/05/20/great-falls-international-airport-to-get-de-icing-pad-after-rising-costs-delay-construction/65356753007/
|
FREDERICK, Md. — When the airplane’s wheels touched down at Dulles International Airport on the afternoon of May 12, 6-year-old Bridget became a U.S. citizen.
She ended up in an orphanage in the city of Zaporizhzhia, in southeastern Ukraine. In April, her orphanage was evacuated to western Ukraine.
Over a year ago, Phil and Kristie Graves, of Brunswick, saw Bridget’s photo on an adoption website. They already had four children, and looking at Bridget’s face, knew she was their fifth.
Phil and Kristie began the adoption process, eager to bring the girl they affectionately call “Brizzy” home.
Then, Russia invaded Ukraine.
In March, the Graveses told the News-Post they were not sure when they would reunite with Brizzy, who they met in person in December 2021.
They worried what would become of their adoption if Russia took over Ukraine.
Then, in mid-April, a nurse named Marina Boyko who befriended Brizzy told the Graveses that a judge would hear their case. But the judge wanted Phil and Kristie there in person — in the country where missiles fall from the sky and thousands of Ukrainians have been killed.
“We just said, ‘When can we come?’” Phil told the News-Post.
The couple left for Warsaw, Poland, on April 26. On May 12, they flew home with Brizzy by their side. They had to jump through legal hoops and fill out a mountain of paperwork before they were cleared to head home.
“I’m so happy to be back,” Kristie said as she pushed Brizzy in a red stroller through the airport.
The family awoke at 4:45 am. Warsaw time to reach Dulles by the afternoon. Their journey to Ukraine and back involved travel by plane, train, bus and car.
Bombed-out buildings filled the landscape, they recalled. One day, missiles exploded roughly half a kilometer from where they were located. Phil said they could see the smoke.
But on that Thursday, the Graveses did not dwell on their past proximity to danger. Their focus was entirely on Brizzy.
Donning a sparkly shirt with an image of the Eiffel Tower on the front, Brizzy swiveled her head as her mother pushed her stroller through the airport.
When they reached a shuttle bus, Kristie lifted Brizzy up and carried her aboard. Phil helped move their luggage, including a bright pink suitcase full of Brizzy’s belongings.
Brizzy chatted excitedly in Russian — a language her new parents do not speak. With a few gestures and Google Translate, Phil said, they figure out what Brizzy wants.
The parents quickly learned the Russian words for “no” and “sleep,” which the excitable youngster uses when she does not want to take a nap.
Brizzy grew restless on the shuttle to the rental car service, squirming in her mother’s lap. Kristie whispered reassuring words in her ear.
In the taxi, Brizzy clung to a pillow that looked like a shrimp.
Her parents are still learning what she likes. Her suitcase of belongings included a doll and Hello Kitty sunglasses, Kristie said.
The Graveses said they looked forward to settling Brizzy in at home.
The travel may be over, but there’s more hurdles to come. Doctor’s appointments await. Brizzy will need to be evaluated before starting school. There are four siblings to bond with and a new language to learn.
Phil, who is senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Brunswick, said there were many times in the past few weeks he questioned God’s plan.
“Now, I feel like it’s Christmas morning,” he said, “and all that frustration and anticipation was worth it.”
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/love-transcends-borders-marylanders-adopt-ukraine-born-girl/2022/05/21/33528c52-d906-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
| 2022-05-21T13:17:46
| 1
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/love-transcends-borders-marylanders-adopt-ukraine-born-girl/2022/05/21/33528c52-d906-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
|
HARRISONBURG, Va. — There were the struggles with alcohol and the problems — both personal and legal — that come with it.
It’s those problems, and how he overcame them, that tell the story of his turnaround.
“They’re something that remind me of what I don’t ever want to go back to,” said Turner.
The May 16 graduation ceremony at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on the campus of James Madison University wasn’t the bath that washed all those issues from the past away for Turner. With a degree in nursing, a full-time job at Augusta Health in Fishersville, and a soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter, Mirabella, his cleansing is just beginning.
“Didn’t think I’d ever be a nurse,” Turner said. “No desire to be a nurse. I wanted to do some social work or something related to human services.”
Then he got married, and his partner — a type 1 diabetic — went over all her medical needs, which were compounded during pregnancy. Then came Mirabella, and as his daughter was delivered at Sentara RMH Medical Center, Turner was quickly inspired by the nurses at the facility.
“Just all that nurses did there,” he said.
The newest chapter in Turner’s story began around 6:49 p.m. when he heard his name called and it was his chance to be one of the around 200 graduates who walked across the stage during BRCC’s 54th annual commencement ceremony.
The road to this point was long. A 2014 graduate of Granby High School in Norfolk, Turner knew he didn’t want to stay at home and attend college, so he packed his bags and enrolled at Bridgewater College until financial difficulties forced him to leave his junior year just as he and his partner started dating. He made ends meet by working at a restaurant, a hardware store and a landscaping company.
It was a decision he doesn’t regret.
“Taking time off really allowed me to focus on saving up those funds and figuring out what to do with my life,” Turner said.
And, yes, there were obstacles along the way. Originally, the lack of clinical studies kept Turner from being accepted into the nursing program. After he became a certified nursing assistant, the experience came with a job at a nursing home.
“Finally,” he said, “I got accepted.”
Since then it’s been a steady rise on the straight and narrow. After not doing well in his labor and nursing class — “Go figure,” Turner said with a laugh — he took the class again in the fall of 2021 and “aced it.”
Later he was named Support Staff Member Of The Year at Augusta Health and got that full-time job in their medical surgery unit.
When his name was called at the graduation ceremony, he smiled, slowly walked across the stage and shook the hand of John Downey, Blue Ridge Community College president.
“It’s been like a soul journey for me,” Turner said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without the massive support system I have. You can overcome failures.”
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-man-overcomes-obstacles-and-earns-nursing-degree/2022/05/21/2cda0a62-d906-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
| 2022-05-21T13:17:52
| 0
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-man-overcomes-obstacles-and-earns-nursing-degree/2022/05/21/2cda0a62-d906-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
|
STAUNTON, Va. — Reggie Walton will be moving next year and not attending Shelburne Middle School. The seventh-grader is disappointed that they won’t see the end results of the work put into creating a school garden this year, but excited to be part of a legacy that will hopefully live on for many years.
Last spring Shelburne’s CTE teacher Ryan Blosser stood in a grassy area behind the middle school and next to the track talking about his dream to create a garden and learning lab that can be used by all students at the school. Behind-the-scenes work was already well underway in realizing that dream.
With funding supplied by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and Staunton City Schools, plus a lot of hard work by Blosser and his students, a year later that dream has come true. On May 12, students were planting kale and collard greens in the production garden.
Blosser is quick to point out the actual work, the putting hands in dirt, was done not by him, but by his students.
“I haven’t touched anything,” Blosser said. “I’ve barked orders. This is all student work from designing the garden to installing landscape fabric to installing deer fence.”
The garden even has a name, Shelbloom Community Garden. Shelburne student Jocelyn Tucker’s garden design using CAD software was the one the school chose to use, 25-foot beds for planting with a quadrant for raised beds that will be more of an experimental lab.
Grant writing began last spring. This past fall Blosser’s design class began prepping the ground. Students broke ground on the garden on March 1.
Seventh-graders Hudson Bronik-Ezzell and Walton said digging the holes and putting in stakes for the deer fence may have been the most difficult part. Bronik-Ezzell also said the students had to relocate a volleyball net because volleyballs kept ending up in the garden and that wasn’t ideal, especially once plants were in the ground.
Seventh-grader Nate Colavita said he hasn’t worked in gardens before but he was enjoying the experience this spring.
In addition to the kale and collard greens, Blosser said there would be potatoes, sweet potatoes, bush beans, tomatoes and some peppers planted this spring. A bulk of the harvest should happen once students return for the next school year. Blosser is still working on a plan on how to distribute the food.
“I want that to be one of those good problems,” Blosser said. “I want this garden to be super productive, and in August, September, October, we need to get rid of this food. Where? That’s my hope.”
He said the garden is not for producing income. The food is for the Staunton City Schools community. Income comes from the greenhouse. Shelburne held a plant sale from their greenhouse on Friday at the school.
Blosser will maintain the garden over the summer, although he won’t be surprised if some students show up from time to time to help.
“I’m beaming,” Blosser said. “I’m so proud. I keep telling them this is a legacy project. They’ve installed something that is not a small deal that will continue throughout.”
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-middle-schoolers-plant-vegetables-in-school-garden/2022/05/21/2c5a84e0-d906-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
| 2022-05-21T13:17:59
| 1
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-middle-schoolers-plant-vegetables-in-school-garden/2022/05/21/2c5a84e0-d906-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
|
Nebraska native Felisha Moore has spent her whole life working hard, and it's about to pay off in June when she receives her degree from Stanford University.
For her mom, Shelley Moore, there was no doubt that her daughter had what it took to succeed. Growing up, Felisha Moore was always goal-oriented and driven. Her talent and dedication continued to shine throughout her time at Freeman High School in Adams, ultimately leading to a full-ride scholarship to Stanford.
“It’s not something she learned from me," Shelley Moore said. "She has always had her own internal drive, motivation and determination. She just plain works hard and always has."
Felisha Moore was recently honored with the Class of 2022 Stanford Award of Excellence, which is given to just 10% of graduates who were nominated by faculty for their involvement, leadership and dedication to the university.
She doesn't know exactly what she wants to do with her international relations degree, but plans to return for her master's. One thing she knows for sure, however, is that she wants to travel, and she's on track to do that.
People are also reading…
After graduation, Felisha Moore will travel to the Dominican Republic to work as an intern at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo over the summer. It will be her second year in the position after completing her first year remotely because of COVID-19.
It is just one of several travel opportunities she's had so far.
Before her sophomore year, Felisha Moore traveled to Costa Rica to volunteer as an elementary school teacher in a small, rural community. Later, she studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa.
"Stanford University has always been my dream school, and I couldn’t have wished for a better place to spend my undergraduate career," Felisha Moore said in an email. "I have made the most genuine, abiding connections at this university, from friends to faculty."
Felisha Moore had several universities in mind when it came time to apply for college, but Stanford replied first with an opportunity she simply could not pass up: an academic scholarship that covered room and board, tuition, the cost of a laptop and airfare for two trips home per year.
“Everything she’s done she has worked very hard for," Shelley Moore said. "People always say that she must just be so brilliant, but she’s really just a super hard worker. Some things come easy for her and some things don't, just like anyone else. But, if it doesn’t, she’s gonna study and study until she gets it.”
Her daughter's graduation is a great source of pride, but Shelley Moore is struggling to find the necessary funds to cover the cost of travel to California.
A GoFundMe was set up in the family’s name to help her and her youngest daughter, Gracie Moore, watch Felisha Moore cross the stage June 12.
"The thought of not going and seeing her graduate is beyond heartbreaking," Shelley Moore said.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2657 or jebbers@journalstar.com
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/nebraska-native-set-to-graduate-from-stanford-gofundme-to-help-family-travel-to-california/article_5d918f6e-c759-5667-9e0a-c7a9bf47e377.html
| 2022-05-21T13:44:55
| 0
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/nebraska-native-set-to-graduate-from-stanford-gofundme-to-help-family-travel-to-california/article_5d918f6e-c759-5667-9e0a-c7a9bf47e377.html
|
Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) has reported an increase in the number of gastrointestinal illness consistent with norovirus.
“CCHHS is investigating the circumstances surrounding the illnesses and is encouraging individuals to take precautions to prevent infection,” according to a May 19 press release.
While the illness is often called stomach flu, it noted, norovirus is not a respiratory illness and is not related to influenza. It does not spread through breathing or coughing.
Norovirus symptoms can include “nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, body aches and mild fever.” They usually begin 24 to 48 hours after exposure.
While symptoms can be severe, the release said “norovirus rarely causes serious illness or death.” Those infected should drink fluids to replace those lost by throwing up or diarrhea and to prevent dehydration. Anyone who has concerns or is severely dehydrated should contact their healthcare provider.
People are also reading…
The virus spreads easily, the release said, with only a “very small amount” needed to make someone ill. It can spread through contact with an infected person, touching a contaminated surface as well as by eating or drinking contaminated foods.
The virus can be found in someone’s feces or vomit before they experience symptoms and can stay in feces for over two week after their symptoms end.
“It is important to continue frequent hand washing during this time,” the release said.
Ways to prevent the virus’s transmission include washing hands with soap and water frequently, for at least 20 seconds, avoiding sharing food and drinks with others, limiting interactions when sick and cleaning surfaces with soap, water and a 10% bleach solution. Soiled clothing should be washed in hot water immediately.
The release also noted that, while a sanitizer with at 60% alcohol can be used to wash hands, sanitizers aren’t as effective at removing norovirus particles as washing with soap and water.
More information about norovirus is available at cdc.gov/norovirus/about.
|
https://azdailysun.com/news/local/coconino-county-reports-increase-in-norovirus-like-illness/article_e2df0ce4-d871-11ec-afaf-bf65b96460f0.html
| 2022-05-21T13:45:06
| 0
|
https://azdailysun.com/news/local/coconino-county-reports-increase-in-norovirus-like-illness/article_e2df0ce4-d871-11ec-afaf-bf65b96460f0.html
|
Has the thought ever run through your mind, “I wish I knew then what I know now?” This occurs to me frequently, and it often involves the ways I landscaped our property sixteen years ago when my husband, Hugh, and I first moved to northern Arizona. Here are a few of my faux pas.
First, for each tree or shrub we had intended to plant, I would have made the effort to determine its mature height and width. Folks had informed me Flagstaff was a harsh environment for both vegetable garden and landscaping flora and that everything would grow at a snail’s pace. Furthermore, because many of the trees and shrubs I had chosen for our property were, at the time of purchase, less than three-feet tall — and would take forever to mature -- I directed Hugh to plant them a mere four to six feet apart. My bad! Both shrubs and trees thrust themselves skyward and outward at a steady clip, many of which are still doing so. Needless to say, Hugh does a lot of pruning. But cutting back shrubs and trees doesn’t do the trick when you’re still left with overcrowded plants that are competing for sunshine, water and nutrients.
People are also reading…
My lesson has been learned but only at the expense of removing two yellow currants, a mountain spray, a ponderosa pine, and a number of other prized trees and shrubs. And to think this could have been prevented!
Secondly, I wish I had known that just because a person may plant and nurture fruit trees in the Flagstaff area, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be rewarded with fruit. I should have monitored our property through a spring season before purchasing fruit trees to determine if we do indeed have a plot that is somewhat protected from spring freezes.
I would also have searched for dwarf fruit trees, rather than semi-dwarfs, so I could cover them with frost cloths on frigid spring nights. I did make certain the fruit trees we purchased would bloom later in the season, but that’s not a sure bet for success. This year our cherry and peach tree blooms froze during a 15-degree night on April 13.
I may have thought twice before purchasing our ‘Sunburst’ Honey Locust. While I adore its shimmery, lacy, golden leaves each spring, they all-too-often freeze as they reach their peak of perfection. As the cultivar is not native to the area, it isn’t fully adapted to the freezes occurring in some of the colder microclimates in and around Flagstaff. The ‘Sunburst’ and a number of other frost-sensitive cultivars do quite well, however, in the warmer neighborhoods of the region. But because of where I live, I should have stuck with native varieties.
One colossal mistake I made was not having our soil prepared adequately before seeding with blue grama grass. I had reasoned that, since the grass was native to the area and grew beautifully in our nearby forests, it would germinate quickly and thrive. I hadn’t taken into account that our soil (which had been graded to build the house) had sparse organic matter and was somewhat compacted. We should have blended organic material like well-rotted manure or compost several inches into the thin soil, then spread the seed generously over the bed.
To ensure the seeds wouldn’t be spotted by birds, we should have raked the seeds ¼-to ½ inch deep into the soil. We then should have scattered a thin layer of weed-free straw over the entire seedbed and kept it moist, utilizing a fine sprinkler head to prevent dislodging germinating seeds. We didn’t mow our new lawn for at least a year, which actually turned out to be a good choice. We love our blue grama lawn the way it is, but it would be lusher and less thirsty if we had taken these extra measures.
We’re all acquainted with the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As life goes on, we learn this saying applies to nearly everything in our path. So, remember, when you embark on a garden project, whether it be a vegetable garden, or landscaping a yard, search out all those ounces of prevention, and you’ll be well-satisfied with the outcome.
Cindy Murray is a biologist, co-editor of Gardening Etcetera. and a Coconino Master Gardener with Arizona Cooperative Extension.
If you have a gardening question, email CoconinoMasterGardener@gmail.com or call the Master Gardener Hotline at 928-773-6115 and leave a message. A Master Gardener will get back to you.
|
https://azdailysun.com/news/local/gardening-etcetera-preventing-pitfalls-through-proper-planning/article_6849776e-d874-11ec-b320-d71527e9bc47.html
| 2022-05-21T13:45:12
| 0
|
https://azdailysun.com/news/local/gardening-etcetera-preventing-pitfalls-through-proper-planning/article_6849776e-d874-11ec-b320-d71527e9bc47.html
|
The final walk off the field was an emotional one for Marissa Rodriguez.
The Coconino High School graduating senior played softball for over 10 years before finally saying goodbye to her varsity career following the spring season.
Nicknamed “Benny,” Rodriguez played on the varsity squad since her sophomore year. She cherished every second she was on the field.
“Going on that field and being able to let everything out really made me happy,” Rodriguez said.
Softball was a chance to escape the everyday pressures of life. Between classes and applying for college, Rodriguez had a lot on her plate during her senior year. She quickly learned, however, that softball was a way to de-stress and push her efforts toward a sport she loved.
“There's drama, there's schoolwork, there's tests, there's so many things that are pressured on you,” Rodriguez said. “But when you’re on that field, it's all taken away from you and you're just happy again.”
People are also reading…
Rodriguez played third base during her first two years of varsity softball but switched to playing outfield during her senior season. Rodriguez’s specialty, however, was at the plate.
With a .373 batting average across 28 games played, Rodriguez was a crucial part of a Panthers ballclub that averaged nearly 10 runs per game during the 2022 season. Rodriguez, a self-proclaimed “power-hitter,” finished with 16 RBIs on the season and led the team in batting average against regional opponents.
She was also a leader who prioritized camaraderie and working toward a common goal.
“Teammate” is the word that manager Kimberly Dennis said is fitting for a player like Rodriguez. One of the Panthers' major focuses was how teammates treat each other, Dennis said, and Rodriguez stood out as a team player from the beginning.
At the team’s end-of-the-year banquet, each player voted on who they thought should receive the “Panther Award.” Given to a teammate who was considered the “cornerstone” of the team, the award was to recognize a player who showed leadership on and off the field. Fittingly, Rodriguez took home the honor.
That attitude was part of the reason she was dubbed “Benny.” Rodriguez earned it during her sophomore year after there were two players named “Marissa” on the team. Dennis matched the last name “Rodriguez” with that of Benny Rodriguez from the movie “The Sandlot.”
The name “Benny” fit Marissa well because it’s a special name and “she's definitely a special girl,” Dennis said. “She loves her teammates, she loves us coaches, and she puts others first.”
“She's always playing for Coconino; she's never out for herself,” Dennis said. “She's always making sure her teammates are feeling okay. She truly cares about people.”
Dennis said Rodriguez would often ask teammates how they were feeling after practices to make sure they were doing well on and off the field.
“She's good at reaching out to people and being a good listener -- which is where she shows her leadership," Dennis said.
Rodriguez always cheered for her teammates because she knows the challenges that a team can face.
“No matter how successful your team is, you're going to have bumpy roads,” Rodriguez said. “But it just depends on how you react to it and how you come back at it.”
Being a senior, Rodriguez felt that it was her responsibility to help coach and support her teammates, especially the underclassmen.
“I feel like being a leader, I helped my team get back into that grind mode when we weren't having a good practice,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez wanted to make sure the Panthers were performing at their best so that they could be successful when it really mattered.
Coconino finished the regular season with a 17-5 record to clinch the No. 5 seed in the 4A Conference state tournament, including an undefeated record at home.
The future is bright for someone like Rodriguez, Dennis said.
Confidence is something Rodriguez has held onto in her high school career.
“It makes me feel confident that I have a coach who’s confident in me,” Rodriguez said. “When I got up to the batting box she was already chanting, ‘Go Benny,’ and I feel like that is a core memory.”
Rodriguez plans to attend Coconino Community College for two years and then transfer to GateWay Community College to fulfill her dreams of becoming an ultrasound technician. Rodriguez said frequent trips to the gym and working on herself will be some of her main focuses.
Rodriguez isn’t waving goodbye to softball forever, though. She hopes to one day become a softball coach and follow in the footsteps of people like Dennis.
“I’ve always wanted to be a coach, because I just want to push people around me to do better and go far to follow their dreams," she said.
Dennis left one final piece of advice for Rodriguez as she turns to the next chapter in her life.
“I always tell her to believe in herself as much as we believe in her. We coaches see so much talent in her on and off the field, and I know she's going to be a great asset to her community wherever she ends up," Dennis said.
Rodriguez praises the efforts of her coaches, teammates, friends and family for helping shape her character. Her love for the Coconino softball team is larger than life.
“I'm going to say it with all pride: The Coconino softball program has helped make me who I am today.”
|
https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/rodriguez-reflects-on-successful-high-school-career-shaped-by-panthers-softball/article_c4a5d302-d85d-11ec-9c13-5b37dd7db303.html
| 2022-05-21T13:45:18
| 0
|
https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/rodriguez-reflects-on-successful-high-school-career-shaped-by-panthers-softball/article_c4a5d302-d85d-11ec-9c13-5b37dd7db303.html
|
When you’re passing by an art gallery, it’s usually pretty easy to predict with just a glance what type of art you’ll find inside. At the very least, you can usually count on the artwork being larger than 3 inches by 3 inches. And it definitely won’t be free.
But the “art gallery” on Georgia Street, between Maple Avenue and Laurel Avenue in Oakland, isn’t your typical art gallery. It looks like what most people probably recognize now as a “Little Free Library” box. But instead of books inside, Allie St. Amand’s box is filled with art donated by her community.
St. Amand, an Oakland resident for 10 years, read about the first little free art gallery in early 2021. An artist in Seattle had created one as a pandemic project and not only was it facilitating an art exchange in the Queen Anne neighborhood, the community was getting to know one another better. St. Amand knew she wanted to bring this to Lower Dimond during yet another tough stretch of COVID-19. “Books are great, but art sparks a little something different for some of us,” St. Amand said. “I think it’s so joyful.”
She started to gather materials to construct a box of her own and began to document her journey on social media. She works in human resources but is also a photographer and paints in her spare time, so she figured she’d be able to put some of her own work into the box to start. Then her social media account began to gain followers and artists started to reach out to her. Before she knew it, she had more art to start the project than she could even fit in the box. People even contacted her from out of state. She said this overwhelming support has continued and she’ll keep extra pieces inside her house and replace items in the box when there is space.
Right away, St. Amand was impressed by the diversity of mediums. Although tiny paintings are most commonly contributed, there have been photographs, ceramics, jewelry, colorful rocks, stickers and even a tiny beaded koala included in the gallery. The operation mostly runs itself these days, and she said she’s amazed that there’s never been one day in almost a year when there is no art left.
Local artist Emily Gutman, who lives near the gallery, has both contributed art and taken items home. She said it’s been a great way to meet her neighbors and now pieces she’s taken from the gallery adorn her home’s mantel, along with other art she’s collected over the years.
It’s also been nice to have another place to share the art she creates. “It’s a great new creative outlet,” Gutman said. “Sometimes you get inspired but you’re not quite sure what to do with the finished product.”
Now, she knows if a piece is small enough she can take it to the gallery. She’s created collages and a few mini (about 3-by-3-inches) watercolor quilts recently.
The idea is catching on and boxes are popping up across the East Bay. There are other little free art galleries in both the Allendale and Oakmore neighborhoods in Oakland, as well as one in Berkeley.
Gutman said she just hopes people know that these pieces are for everyone and everyone is encouraged to contribute, regardless of age or skill. People shouldn’t hesitate to take home something they love, either. “The biggest thing is don’t be shy, you’re allowed to take things from there,” she said.
|
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Little-Free-Art-Galleries-appearing-17187739.php
| 2022-05-21T13:54:36
| 0
|
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Little-Free-Art-Galleries-appearing-17187739.php
|
Last weekend, around 7,500 students of University of California Berkeley’s Class of 2022 bid adieu to their alma mater in a chaotic ceremony that left many students frustrated and disappointed at administrators.
From the start, organizers seemed overwhelmed by the sheer volume of students, struggling even to get them to their seats at the California Memorial Stadium. Thousands of graduates had to enter through just a few metal detectors, then join a dense crowd of people all trying to pass through a single packed tunnel to get onto the field. By the time everyone actually made it to their seats, the ceremony was already well underway.
Soon after the speakers began, students abandoned their spots in droves, leaving row after row empty while they milled around and chatted with friends. School administrators made several attempts to corral them back to their seats, but were summarily ignored. Adding to the disappointment, muffled audio on the field left many unable to hear the ceremony’s speakers and performances.
“It was just really difficult.” Anjika Pai, University Medalist and commencement speaker said, about people leaving during the speeches. “From what I’ve heard, it wasn’t because people were like ‘Well, I’m bored. I want to go’... people genuinely couldn’t hear it.”
Friends who stayed told her they couldn’t hear everything, but did get the general ‘jist’ and ‘framework’ of her speech.
Graduating senior David Chen told SFGATE that he lacked closure from the experience. “We really weren’t given any instruction on how to act, behave or what was going to go on,” he said. He left his seat in the overflow section while the ceremony was still going on. “Everyone was doing it,” he explained, in defense of his actions.
Graduate Athalia Djuhana, whose grandparents had traveled from Indonesia, arrived early, excited for the celebration, but left before the turning of tassels due to uncomfortable heat and ongoing chaos.
The ceremony drew one of the largest crowds in recent history, with an estimated 40,000 people packing the stands to witness the first spring graduation held in-person since the pandemic began. Tickets to the event had sold out online nearly a month prior. In the days and weeks leading up to graduation, students peddled spare tickets online for double, triple and even quadruple the original $10 entry price.
Saturday’s mess of a scene wasn't the school's first graduation disaster. As the Cal commencement has grown from hundreds to thousands over the years, they’ve become increasingly disorganized. During the last ceremony before the pandemic, the keynote speech was interrupted by heavy rain. Organizers passed out shower caps and ponchos to some students, but left the rest of the graduating class and their families up to their own devices.
“The only thing I learned during [the] speech was that a graduation gown makes a really good rain coat,” Daniel Rosenthal, one of that year’s graduates, told SFGATE.
In response to questions about the 2022 graduation, Elizabeth Costello, campus spokesperson, told SFGATE that the school had been planning it for a full year.
“Overall this was a very successful event — members of our community were excited to celebrate in person, and ultimately there were relatively few complaints,” Costello said. “This was one of the most successful commencement ceremonies that we’ve ever had.”
|
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/uc-berkeley-2022-graduation-17187746.php
| 2022-05-21T13:54:42
| 1
|
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/uc-berkeley-2022-graduation-17187746.php
|
What we know about monkeypox, and how it's different from COVID-19
No cases have yet been detected in Arizona, but scientists are keeping an eye on monkeypox, a viral disease related to smallpox that has recently been found spreading in North America, Europe and Australia.
A traveler returning to the United Kingdom from Nigeria was found to have the disease in early May, and since then, other cases have been observed in Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Canada and several other countries.
A Massachusetts man was confirmed to have the disease this week, and health officials are investigating another suspected case in New York. The World Health Organization on Friday called an emergency meeting to discuss the outbreak.
While researchers have studied monkeypox for decades, some are surprised to see the appearance of the disease in so many different locations.
“This is a really interesting outbreak. We know quite a bit about monkeypox, but we clearly don't know everything,” said David Engelthaler, director of the pathogen and microbiome division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), a nonprofit organization focused on bioscience and biomedical applications. “In this particular case, we've never really seen … one outbreak really being connected to multiple continents.”
Koenraad Van Doorslaer, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona who teaches virology, said that while the less-than-localized outbreaks are somewhat unusual, he doesn’t think monkeypox would have captured the public’s attention in the same way if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.
New law:Arizona prohibited from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine for schoolchildren
“I can't help but feel that if it wasn't for COVID and the public being somewhat on edge,” he said, “it would have been a fairly niche thing for some biologists to to be worried about, but I doubt that it would have made as much of an impact.”
Even as a virologist, he doesn’t see much cause for concern just yet. “Certainly at this point, I don't think panicking is the right thing. I think we are in a heightened state because of SARS-CoV-2, and I think that's making everybody a little bit more on edge,” he said, noting that we are already armed with testing, vaccination and treatment resources against the virus.
Here’s what the science tells us so far about the monkeypox outbreak:
What is monkeypox? Where did it come from?
Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus closely related to the viruses that cause smallpox and cowpox. It was first discovered in 1958 in colonies of monkeys kept for research, and the first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the CDC.
In early May 2022, the World Health Organization confirmed a case of monkeypox in a British traveler returning from Nigeria, where the disease is endemic. The last time the U.S. saw an outbreak was in 2003, when the CDC reported 47 confirmed and suspected cases after some people came into contact with infected pet prairie dogs housed alongside a shipment of small mammals from Ghana.
Local investigation:Sickness, death at Mesa-area monkey farm threaten primate center viability
What symptoms does monkeypox cause?
Monkeypox includes a characteristic rash that often begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. It is also sometimes preceded by a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and headaches or muscle aches.
Engelthaler said it’s not a pleasant illness. Contracting it would likely result in “having a bad flu for maybe four weeks, with this pretty awful rash that will essentially keep you laid up during that period of time,” he said.
How does monkeypox spread?
Humans can get monkeypox when they come into contact with an infected animal. It is spread from human to human through direct contact with bodily fluids or skin lesions. It can also spread by close contact with infected individuals, including through respiratory droplets and contaminated objects, according to the WHO.
Van Doorslaer said that while the likelihood of contracting monkeypox in Arizona at this time is extremely low, if you do see anything that looks like a skin lesion, you should contact a doctor and seek medical attention. The CDC alerted doctors on Friday to be on the lookout for monkeypox skin lesions.
How severe is the disease? Is it deadly?
The severity of monkeypox can depend on a person’s baseline level of health, the extent of their exposure and which strain of the virus they are infected with. The west African strain, which is currently circulating, causes milder disease and has a lower death rate than the central African strain.
Monkeypox has a “very, very low fatality rate overall, especially in places that have advanced medical care,” Engelthaler said.
Is monkeypox as contagious as SARS-CoV-2?
Monkeypox is not nearly as transmissible as the virus that causes SARS-CoV-2. It also isn’t thought to be contagious during the incubation period, and asymptomatic infections haven’t been documented.
On May 19, a team of scientists announced that they had sequenced a draft genome of the monkeypox strain currently circulating. While it’s possible that something in the virus has changed since previous outbreaks — which, in theory, could have affected the transmissibility or other characteristics of the virus — it will take scientists a bit longer to puzzle that out using genetic data, Van Doorslaer said.
Monkeypox is a different kind of virus than the novel coronavirus — its genetic material is DNA, not RNA — so it shouldn’t pop out as many variants as SARS-CoV-2. “(DNA) just doesn't accumulate change quite as easily as RNA. And so (monkeypox is) not going to accumulate mutations anywhere near what we see with, say, HIV or influenza or even SARS,” Van Doorslaer said.
More on viruses:Why do people get long COVID? A virus called EBV, which causes multiple sclerosis, may hold clues
Is there a monkeypox vaccine?
Yes, and the smallpox vaccine is also effective against monkeypox. In what government officials say was a routine move by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the U.S. recently ordered 13 million doses of a vaccine called JYNNEOS, which protects against smallpox and monkeypox.
“We have pretty good vaccines and we have therapeutics for this,” Van Doorslaer said. “If push comes to shove, it’s there.”
What should I do if I’m traveling someplace where monkeypox has been detected?
The CDC has issued a Level 2 alert for monkeypox, meaning that travelers should practice enhanced precautions to avoid the disease. Those precautions include avoiding close contact with sick people, including those with skin or genital lesions.
In addition, travelers should minimize exposure to dead animals and steer clear of eating meat from wild game (bushmeat) or using products derived from wild animals from Africa.
Will monkeypox cause another pandemic?
Engelthaler said he sees little evidence that monkeypox will take off the way the COVID-19 pandemic has. “The type of spread has been pretty limited. So far, we're not seeing fatalities. And so based (on) that knowledge, we would not have a high degree of concern that this would become another epidemic or pandemic,” he said.
Van Doorslaer agrees that the likelihood of monkeypox causing another pandemic is small.
“Theoretically everything's possible, but it's really not something that I'm concerned about,” he said.
What to watch for:Mysterious form of hepatitis possibly found in 4 Arizona kids
Still, Engelthaler said monkeypox serves as a reminder that other viruses besides the coronavirus can affect human lives.
“COVID isn't the only virus out there,” he said, noting that viruses regularly spill from animals into humans. “That happens in the background all the time, and usually (those viruses) don't lead to pandemics, but it's something … in our very global economy and society, that we just have to be watching a lot more closely, because things can move around really easily.”
Independent coverage of bioscience in Arizona is supported by a grant from the Flinn Foundation.
Melina Walling is a bioscience reporter who covers COVID-19, health, technology, agriculture and the environment. You can contact her via email at mwalling@gannett.com, or on Twitter @MelinaWalling.
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-science/2022/05/21/monkeypox-spreading-several-countries-what-we-know-so-far/9864669002/
| 2022-05-21T14:27:13
| 1
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-science/2022/05/21/monkeypox-spreading-several-countries-what-we-know-so-far/9864669002/
|
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) – The American Red Cross (ARC) is teaming up with local first responders to install smoke alarms across a neighborhood struck by fire.
According to a press release from the organization, ARC Virginia is working alongside the state’s Fire Marshal’s Office, Smyth County EMO, Marion Fire and EMS and the Adwolfe Volunteer Fire Department. During their field time on Saturday, crews will work to install smoke alarms in the homes of residents in Marion who recently lost a neighbor to a house fire.
After a brief orientation at 9 a.m. Saturday, the release said volunteers will canvas the area surrounding Gethsemane Baptist Church. Alongside the added protection, information will be provided to residents to better prevent fires in the future.
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/teams-distributing-smoke-alarms-in-marion-neighborhood/
| 2022-05-21T14:46:15
| 1
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/teams-distributing-smoke-alarms-in-marion-neighborhood/
|
Tuesday night was a big night for incumbents as Commissioners John Sweet and Melissa Cribbins earned new terms in office. But the big winner of the night was a first-time candidate as Julie Brecke coasted to victory in the race for county clerk.
All three candidates competed in three-person races, but managed to get more than the needed 50% of the votes to avoid a second election in November.
In the Position 2 race, John Sweet earned a new term after receiving 5,101 votes, or 55.86%. Pam Lewis placed second with 3,210 votes, or 35.15%, and Cristina Bettesworth was third with 789 votes, or 8.64%.
In the Position 3 race, Melissa Cribbins also earned a new term in office, collecting 5,004 votes or 53.62% of the total cast. Rod Taylor placed second with 3,459 votes, or 37.06%, while Chase Carlson collected 835 votes, or 8.95%.
During the race, Cribbins and Sweet campaigned together, saying keeping the existing board together. Lewis and Taylor also campaigned together, calling for greater local control.
The real wild card of the night was the race for county clerk, with three newcomers running for the open seat. But the voters turned to Brecke in big numbers, giving the North Bend teacher 5.123 votes, or 59.7%.
Diane Rich, who campaigned with Taylor and Lewis, was second with 2,341 votes, or 27.28%, and Matthew Borgens was third with 1,087 votes, or 12.67%.
After securing the win, Brecke said she was confident heading into her first election day.
“I had a pretty good feeling,” she said Tuesday night. “I’m pretty happy with the numbers so far.”
After clinching the victory in the primary, Brecke said she enjoyed her first campaign.
“I enjoyed just getting to know the people in the community,” she said. “I feel like I know a lot of people because I was born and raised here and have been a teacher. But I met a lot more.”
Brecke said she has a pretty good understanding of what the clerk’s job entails, but she is eager to learn more before taking office in January.
“That is my first objective, to get in there and learn a lot,” she said. “I’m going to get there and draw from all the experience from clerks across the state.”
But until then, she will return to the classroom.
“I’m going to keep teaching as long as I can,” she said.
Final results will not be known for a week as state law allows ballots mailed by today to be counted up to seven days after the election.
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/incumbents-brecke-win-big-in-local-primaries/article_ab51d998-d79d-11ec-9b49-d375eede3619.html
| 2022-05-21T15:14:50
| 0
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/incumbents-brecke-win-big-in-local-primaries/article_ab51d998-d79d-11ec-9b49-d375eede3619.html
|
Paid Leave Oregon is setting the contribution rate for employers and workers at 1 percent when it launches in 2023.
Paid Leave Oregon will allow workers to take paid time off for some of life’s most important moments. It covers leave for the birth or adoption of a child, for serious illness or injury, for taking care of a seriously ill family member, and for domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or harassment.
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, workers will pay 60 percent and employers will pay 40 percent of the contribution rate. For example, if an employee made $1,000 in wages, the employee would pay $6 and the employer would pay $4 for this paycheck. Employers may choose to pay the employee portion as a benefit for their employees.
Paid leave contributions will go into a trust fund, which in turn, will provide the revenue for the paid leave benefits for workers starting Sept. 3, 2023. Oregon law says the Oregon Employment Department Director will set the paid leave contribution rate annually. The law also requires the trust fund to have enough funds to pay benefits for up six months.
Paid Leave Oregon Director Karen Madden Humelbaugh said the contribution rate was set based on actuary data and forecasts at 1 percent to make sure the program will have enough funds to meet the legal requirement and pay benefits for Oregon workers. “Setting contributions at 1 percent means we will have enough money to support the program in the long term,” she said, adding that the program has set the rate early enough for employers to plan ahead.
“Setting the contribution rate at 1 percent means Paid Leave Oregon's trust fund will have a solid foundation, making sure the benefits for Oregon workers will be there when they need it the most,” said Jessica Giannettino Villatoro, Political Director of Oregon American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). “We expect to see the rate decrease as the fund becomes solvent.”
“Paid family and medical leave is about more than the bottom line, it’s about giving Oregonians a chance to be with their loved ones when they need it most and not having the extra stress of worrying how to make ends meet,” said Eric C. Hunter, CareOregon CEO. “As the largest provider of Oregon Health Plan services in the state, my team sees the impact on our communities that lack of paid leave has on health outcomes, from limited time bonding with new babies to needing to add caregiving responsibilities for sick relatives on top of work schedules. I’m proud that the state is leading the way to take care of all Oregonians.”
A 1 percent contribution rate means Paid Leave Oregon can offer lower-wage workers up to a 100 percent reimbursement rate when they need to take leave. Madden Humelbaugh also noted that Paid Leave Oregon covers critical benefits that other states’ programs do not. This includes “safe leave,” which is paid leave for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, and stalking. “With this contributions rate, we will be able to provide paid leave for people at a critical moment in their life when it’s not safe for them to be at work.”
More information about Paid Leave Oregon is online at oregon.gov/employ/PFMLI. There are a number of new resources on the website, including information about contributions, benefits, equivalent plans and a new program overview.
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-employment-department-sets-contribution-rate-for-paid-leave-oregon/article_775e71b0-d79c-11ec-b6a1-2ff663d09646.html
| 2022-05-21T15:14:56
| 1
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-employment-department-sets-contribution-rate-for-paid-leave-oregon/article_775e71b0-d79c-11ec-b6a1-2ff663d09646.html
|
BLOOMINGTON — Downtown Bloomington businesses will take part in a daylong benefit on Sunday to raise money to support the Transgender Education Network of Texas.
"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a state order requiring the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate the families of trans children and treat gender-affirming care as child abuse," said Brienne Reid, a local activist who organized the benefit. "While this executive order has been thankfully defanged for now by the Texas Supreme Court, it spread horror and uncertainty within the trans community across the state and has furthered dangerous narratives that threaten the wellbeing of trans people and the parents and guardians of trans children."
The show will feature drag queens Sharon ShareAlike, Bianca Fox, Kelly Pierce, Venice and Obsydia with live music from Alex Jordine. The show will have a $5 cover that will go toward TENT, “a trans-led organization that has been fighting on the ground for trans rights and working to make the second largest state in the U.S. a safer home for our community,” Reid said.
A silent auction will feature donations from several Bloomington-Normal businesses and artists with all proceeds going to TENT.
Between 3 and 7 p.m., Red Raccoon Games will donate a percentage of its Sunday sales to the organization, and Bobzbay will have a pop-up shop at the Bistro, also donating a percentage of sales.
"There’s much work to be done across the country — Illinois included — to push back against the onslaught of bills, policies and discriminatory acts, and we hope the donations from this fundraiser will help buttress our community in one of the states being subjected to the vanguard brunt of reactionary, bigoted attacks on trans life,” Reid said.
The 11 most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world
Spain
The Netherlands
Canada
Belgium
Norway
Sweden
Iceland
Finland
Uruguay
Denmark
United Kingdom
Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.
In recognition of the struggles and the successes, as well as the people behind both, The Pantagraph interviewed seven members of the Bloomington-Normal LGBTQ community who play a role in the ongoing push for codified freedoms.
A bill to keep transgender women and girls in Louisiana from competing on college and K-12 women’s and girls’ athletic teams has been approved by the state House. Tuesday's vote in Baton Rouge puts it closer to the desk of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who vetoed similar legislation last year. The Senate had already passed the measure. It needs a second routine Senate vote on minor House changes before going to Edwards. Last month, Edwards said the bill was unnecessary and mean-spirited. But Edwards hasn’t said yet whether he will veto the measure again and set up a showdown with a Republican-dominated Legislature.
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/drag-show-auction-planned-sunday-in-bloomington-to-support-trans-rights/article_9d62cc52-d874-11ec-a129-d7d9a132cefe.html
| 2022-05-21T15:20:22
| 0
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/drag-show-auction-planned-sunday-in-bloomington-to-support-trans-rights/article_9d62cc52-d874-11ec-a129-d7d9a132cefe.html
|
PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) — The Oregon International Air Show returns to the Hillsboro Airport this weekend for the first time in four years.
Organizers say this year’s three-day showcase will feel just like the popular air shows of the past — though with a special twist.
The program features an all-female cast of performers, announcers and event coordinators, a concept that the air show’s board has envisioned for years that’s finally coming to fruition.
“It was an idea we had for a number of years but runway construction and COVID … there were a number of things that got in the way of that,” said board chair Steph Stricklen. “It truly is incredible to have this event both back at the Hillsboro Airport, but also as an event that highlights women in aviation specifically.”
Stricklen said there hasn’t been an all-female air show in North America since just after World War II, and there have only been a handful of such shows globally.
The event will feature flight demos from U.S. Air Force teams flying F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, F-16 Fighting Falcons and a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet demo team. There will also be performances from a pilot flying a 1940 Boeing Stearman and a skydiving demonstration from the Misty Blues Team.
That’s just to name a few of the attractions that will be conducted and exhibited exclusively by women. No, that doesn’t mean men can’t attend or aren’t welcome at the event, organizers said.
“It will truly feel like the traditional air show experience. It just so happens that they are all going to be women,” Stricklen said.
Mirroring the all-female lineup and celebrating the Beaver State, the theme of this year’s event is “She Flies With Her Own Wings,” the Oregon state motto.
Portland Tribune and its parent, Pamplin Media Group, are KOIN 6 News partners.
The event was moved to McMinnville in 2019 due to ongoing construction at the Hillsboro Airport, a blow to a Hillsboro community that has hosted an annual air show since 1988. In 2020 and 2021, the showcase was canceled altogether because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
With that move to McMinnville, the air show now has a recurring second venue, and the board is organizing a completely different event for the Yamhill County city in August. Organizers say more cities may be added to the roster of events throughout the state in future years, as demand keeps growing.
Hillsboro’s three-day event runs from Friday, May 20, through Sunday, May 22. The fly-bys and specific time slots for each performance may vary by day, but the program will feature most of the same demonstrations each day.
Friday’s show starts later, at 6 p.m., and will be the only one with an evening fireworks display.
There will still be flying exhibitions, however. Saturday’s event will be the only one to feature a fly-by from a massive U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry plane, according to the event’s website.
Stricklen says the flight schedule for each day won’t be set until the morning of the event, so a firm schedule isn’t available yet, but she expects around 60,000 attendees throughout the course of the weekend. Saturday tickets are slightly more expensive, and all ticket pricing is more expensive at the gate as opposed to purchasing online. Children aged 5 to 11 get reduced pricing.
There will also be food vendors, a beer garden, and exhibits where attendees can learn more about aviation and some of the female pioneers of the industry.
As usual, part of the proceeds from this year’s event goes to local charities. The past two years of shows have benefitted the Oregon Aerospace Careers for Everyone classroom, which is a career technical training program for high school students to get into engineering or piloting careers.
“Hillsboro is very welcoming and super-supportive,” Stricklen said. “We love having the air show here.”
|
https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/oregon-international-air-show-takes-flight-this-weekend/
| 2022-05-21T15:42:36
| 1
|
https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/oregon-international-air-show-takes-flight-this-weekend/
|
The NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Committee announced Thursday the qualifiers for the 2022 Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field West Regional Championship preliminary rounds.
Northern Arizona will send a program record of 33 athletes to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to begin competing at John McDonnell Field on Wednesday.
Individual athletes who rank among the top 48 in their respective event and the top 24 relay times qualify for a slot at the preliminary rounds.
The 16 women representing Northern Arizona will be: Alyssa Colbert; Jade Kwinn; LiNay Perry; Kyairra Reigh; Nikita Moore; Elise Stearns; Annika Reiss; Melanie Loff; Bryn Morley; Maggi Congdon; Jesselyn Bries; Meagan Van Pelt; Miracle Onyemaobi; Jessa Hanson; Jenna McCaffrey; Delaney Rasmussen.
Colbert, one of five true freshmen slated to compete at the regional meet, earned entries in both the 100-and 200-meter races, while fellow freshmen Kwinn, Perry, Reigh and Moore respectively plan to compete in the women's javelin, 4x400m relay, and 3000m steeplechase. Loff and Onyemaobi will serve as the other half of the women's 4x400m relay. They also have individual respective spots in the 800m and the 400m races.
People are also reading…
A total of 11 women's distance athletes will travel to Arkansas, including McCaffrey -- who will run in the women's steeplechase -- and Congdon -- who will run alongside Loff in the 800m. Morely will race in the 1500m, and Stearns, Reiss, Van Pelt, Bries and Rasmussen will compete in the 5000m. Hanson, meanwhile, has declared for the 10,000m.
Representing the Lumberjacks on the men's side will be: David Dunlap; Trenton Givens; Abdihamid Nur; George Kusche; Nico Young; Theo Quax; Brodey Hasty; Drew Bosley; Mitchell Effing; Sirr Butler; Jack Normand; Jake Arnold; Jacob Kaufman; Jack Murphy; Trevor Hook; Caleb Easton; Jack Shea.
Dunlap earned entries in the men's 100m and 200m, and Givens will compete in the110m hurdles.
Kusche, Quax, and Easton will run the 1500m. Hasty, Young, Bosley and Shea have declared for the 5K, and Nur is slotted in for the 10K.
The Northern Arizona men will also be sending four throwers and three jumpers to compete in Fayetteville. Arnold will throw the shot put, Kaufman and Murphy will throw the hammer, and Hook will throw the javelin. Butler, Normand and Effing, who is listed for the long jump as well, will compete in the triple jump.
Athletes with the top 12 marks and the best 12 relay teams at both the east and west preliminary rounds will qualify for the NCAA Championships, which are set to take place in Eugene, Oregon.
|
https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-roundup-program-record-33-athletes-qualify-for-ncaa-west-regional/article_dece4644-d860-11ec-9e21-43f7270e8bca.html
| 2022-05-21T15:51:31
| 1
|
https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nau-roundup-program-record-33-athletes-qualify-for-ncaa-west-regional/article_dece4644-d860-11ec-9e21-43f7270e8bca.html
|
The Lincoln Police Department is investigating a shooting that left three people injured early Saturday morning outside of a bar on O Street.
The shooting occurred at 2:38 a.m. in the 1100 block of O Street. Officers were on-scene within 1 minute after hearing gunshots and administered life-saving care to all three victims, according to LPD's Twitter.
Shooting occurred on 5/21 at 2:38 am. Officers on-scene within 1 minute after hearing gunshots. Found 3 injured, administered life-saving care to all three victims until Lincoln Fire & Rescue personnel arrived. https://t.co/qWv9t6bnMa
— Lincoln Police (@Lincoln_Police) May 21, 2022
The victims were transported to local hospitals. One victim is in life-threatening condition, one is in critical but stable condition and one has been treated and released.
LPD said in a press release that no arrests have been made. They believe that there was a connection between the victims and the suspect and that there is no ongoing threat to the public's safety.
O Street from 11th to 12th Streets will be closed through the morning hours as police process the scene.
LPD is asking anyone with information on the shooting to come forward and call 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.
People are also reading…
This is breaking news, the Journal Star will provide more information as it becomes available.
City of Lincoln argues lawsuits alleging discrimination at police, fire departments should be tossed
Tom Casady's list of the 10 most infamous crimes in Lincoln history
Crimes of the times
This is simply one man’s perspective from the early 21st century (first written in 2010). I had to make a decision about crimes that occurred at locations that are inside the city today, but were outside our corporate limits at the time they occurred. I chose the latter.
Before beginning, though, I have to deal with three crimes that stand apart: the murders of three police officers in Lincoln. I’m not quite sure how to place them in a list. They all had huge impacts on the community, and on the police department in particular. Because these are my colleagues, I deal with them separately and in chronological order.
Patrolman Marion Francis Marshall
Shot in the shadow of the new Nebraska State Capital, Gov. Charles Bryan came to his aid and summoned additional help.
Lt. Frank Soukup
Marion Marshall was technically not a Lincoln police officer, so Lt. Soukup was actually the first Lincoln police officer killed on duty. One of his colleagues who was present at the motel and involved in the gunbattle, Paul Jacobsen, went on to enjoy a long career and command rank at LPD, influencing many young charges (like me) and leaving his mark on the culture of the agency.
Lt. Paul Whitehead
In the space of a few months, three LPD officers died in the line of duty. Frank Soukup had been murdered, and George Welter had died in a motorcycle crash. Paul Whitehead's partner, Paul Merritt, went on to command rank, and like Paul Jacobsen left an indelible mark at LPD and the community.
No. 1: Starkweather
The subject of several thinly disguised movie plots and a Springsteen album, the Starkweather murders are clearly the most infamous crime in Lincoln’s history — so far. One of the first mass murderers of the mass media age, six of Charles Starkweather’s 11 victims were killed inside the city of Lincoln, and the first was just on the outskirts of town. I didn’t live in Lincoln at the time, but my wife was a first-grader at Riley Elementary School and has vivid memories of the city gripped by fear in the days between the discovery of the Bartlett murders and Starkweather’s capture in Wyoming.
The case caused quite an uproar. There was intense criticism of the police department and sheriff’s office for not capturing Starkweather earlier in the week after the discovery of the Bartletts' bodies. Ultimately, Mayor Bennett Martin and the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners retained a retired FBI agent, Harold G. Robinson, to investigate the performance of local law enforcement. His report essentially exonerated the local law officers and made a few vanilla recommendations for improving inter-agency communication and training.
Now I know that many readers are mumbling to themselves “how obvious.” Hold your horses, though. It’s not quite as obvious as you might think. I had two experiences that drove this fact home to me. The first was a visit by a small group of journalism students. Only one member of the class had any idea, and her idea was pretty vague. You need to remember that the Starkweather murders were in 1957 and 1958 — before the parents of many college students were even born.
The second experience was a visit by a Cub Scout den. I was giving the kids a tour of the police station one evening. We were in the front lobby waiting for everyone to arrive. As I entertained the boys, I told the moms and dads that they might enjoy looking in the corner of the Sheriff’s Office display case to see the contents of Starkweather’s wallet — discovered a couple of years ago locked up in the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office safe. After a few minutes, one of the confused fathers asked me who Starkweather was, and why it was significant.
No. 2: Lincoln National Bank
On the morning of Sept. 17, 1930, a dark blue Buick carrying six men pulled up in front of the Lincoln National Bank at the northwest corner of 12th and O streets. Five of the men entered the bank, while a sixth stood outside by the Buick, cradling a machine gun. Observing the unusual events, a passerby called the police. The officer who responded, Forrest Shappaugh, was casually instructed by the machine-gun-toting lookout to just keep going, which he wisely did. Returning with reinforcements, he found that the robbers had already made good on their getaway, netting $2.7 million in cash and negotiable securities.
Ultimately, three of the six suspects were arrested. Tommy O’Connor and Howard Lee were convicted and sentenced. Jack Britt was tried twice but not convicted by a hung jury. Gus Winkeler, a member of Al Capone’s gang, winged a deal with County Attorney Max Towle to avoid prosecution in exchange for orchestrating the recovery of $600,000 in bearer bonds. The following year, Winkeler was murdered in Chicago, the victim of a gangland slaying. The final two robbers were never identified.
The Lincoln National Bank robbery stood as the largest cash bank robbery in the United States for many decades. It precipitated major changes at the Lincoln Police Department. Chief Peter Johnstone was rapidly “retired” after the robbery, the department’s fleet was upgraded to add the first official patrol cars, the full force was armed and a shotgun squad was organized. Forty-four years later when I was hired at LPD, the echo of the Lincoln National Bank robbery was still evident in daily bank opening details, and in the Thomspon submachine guns and Reising rifles that detectives grabbed whenever the robbery alarm sounded at headquarters.
No. 3: The Last Posse
My first inkling about this crime came when I was the chief deputy sheriff. One of my interns, a young man named Ron Boden (who became a veteran deputy sheriff), had been doing some research on Lancaster County’s only known lynching, in 1884. I came across a reference in the biography of the sheriff at the time, Sam Melick, to the murder of the Nebraska Penitentiary warden and subsequent prison break. Melick had been appointed interim warden after the murder and instituted several reforms.
Several years later, a colleague, Sgt. Geoff Marti, loaned me a great book, Gale Christianson’s "Last Posse," that told the story of the 1912 prison break in gory, haunting and glorious detail.
To make a long story short, convict Shorty Gray and his co-conspirators shot and killed Warden James Delahunty, a deputy warden and a guard on Wednesday, March 13, 1912. They then made their break — right into the teeth of a brutal Nebraska spring blizzard. Over the course to the next few days, a posse pursued. During the pursuit, the escapees carjacked a young farmer with his team and wagon. As the posse closed in, a gunfight broke out and the hostage was shot and killed in the exchange, along with two of the three escapees.
There was plenty of anger among the locals in the Gretna-Springfield vicinity about the death of their native son, and a controversy raged over the law enforcement tactics that brought about his demise. Lancaster County Sheriff Gus Hyers was not unsullied by the inquiry, although it appears from my prospect a century later that the fog of war led to the tragedy.
Christianson, a professor of history at Indiana State University who died earlier this year, notes the following on the flyleaf:
“For anyone living west of the Mississippi in 1912, the biggest news that fateful year was a violent escape from the Nebraska state penitentiary planned and carried out by a trio of notorious robbers and safe blowers.”
Bigger news on half the continent than the sinking of the Titanic during the same year would certainly qualify this murder-escape as one of the most infamous Lincoln crimes in history.
No. 4: Rock Island wreck
The Aug. 10, 1894, wreck of a Rock Island train on the southwest outskirts of Lincoln was almost lost in the mist of time until it was resurrected in the public consciousness by author Joel Williams, who came across the story while conducting research for his historical novel, "Barrelhouse Boys."
The wreck was determined to be the result of sabotage to the tracks, perhaps an attempt to derail the train as a prelude to robbery. Eleven people died in the crash and ensuing fire, making this a mass murder, to be sure. G.W. Davis was arrested and convicted of the crime but later received a full pardon. The story was told in greater detail earlier this year by the Lincoln Journal Star.
A historical marker is along the Rock Island Trail in Wilderness Park, accessible only by foot or bike from the nearest trail access points about a half-mile away at Old Cheney Road on the north, or 14th Street on the south.
Here’s the big question that remains unanswered: Was there really significant evidence to prove that George Washington Davis committed the crime, or was he just a convenient scapegoat? The fact that he received a gubernatorial pardon 10 years later leads me to believe that the evidence must have been unusually weak. If he was railroaded, then my second question is this: who really pried loose the tracks with the 40-pound crowbar found at the scene?
No. 5: Commonwealth
On Nov. 1, 1983, the doors to Nebraska’s largest industrial savings and loan company were closed and Commonwealth was declared insolvent. The 6,700 depositors with $65 million at stake would never be fully compensated for their loss, ultimately receiving about 59 cents on the dollar for their deposits, which they all mistakenly believed were insured up to $30,000 through the Nebraska Depository Insurance Guaranty Corporation, which was essentially an insurance pool with assets of only $3 million.
The case dominated Nebraska news for months. The investigation ultimately led to the conviction of three members of the prominent Lincoln family that owned the institution, the resignation of the director of the State Department of Banking and the impeachment of the Nebraska attorney general and the suspension of his license to practice law. State and federal litigation arising from the failure of Commonwealth drug on for years.
At the Lincoln Police Department, the Commonwealth failure led to the formation of a specialized white-collar crime detail, now known as the Technical Investigations Unit. At the time, municipal police departments in the United States had virtually no capacity for investigating financial crime and fraud of this magnitude, and we quickly became well known for our expertise in this area. The early experience served LPD very well in the ensuring years.
No. 6: Candice Harms
Candi Harms never came home from visiting her boyfriend on Sept. 22, 1992. Her parents reported her as a missing person the following morning, and her car was found abandoned in a cornfield north of Lincoln later in the day. Weeks went by before her remains were found southeast of Lincoln.
Scott Barney and Roger Bjorklund were convicted in her abduction and murder. Barney is in prison serving a life term. Bjorklund died in prison in 2001. Intense media attention surrounded the lengthy trial of Roger Bjorklund, for which a jury was brought in from Cheyenne County as an alternative to a change of venue. I have no doubt that the trial was a life-changing event for a group of good citizens from Sidney, who did their civic duty.
I was the Lancaster County sheriff at the time, involved both in the investigation and in the trial security. It was at about this time that the cellular telephone was becoming a consumer product, and I have often thought that this brutal crime probably spurred a lot of purchases. During my career, this is probably the second-most-prominent Lincoln crime in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage.
No. 7: Jon Simpson and Jacob Surber
A parent’s worst nightmare unfolded in September 1975 when these two boys, ages 12 and 13, failed to return from the Nebraska State Fair. The boys were the victims of abduction and murder. The case was similar to a string of other murders of young boys in the Midwest, and many thought that these cases were related -- the work of a serial killer. Although an arrest was made in the case here in Lincoln, the charges were eventually dismissed. William Guatney was released and has since died.
No. 8: John Sheedy
Saloon and gambling house owner John Sheedy was gunned down outside his home at 1211 P St. in January 1891. The case of Sheedy, prominent in Lincoln’s demiworld, became the talk of the town when his wife, Mary, and her alleged lover and accomplice, Monday McFarland, were arrested. Both were acquitted at trial. The Sheedy murder is chronicled in a great interactive multimedia website, Gilded Age Plains City, an online version that builds upon an article published in 2001 by Timothy Mahoney of the University of Nebraska.
No. 9: Patricia McGarry and Catherine Brooks
The bodies of these two friends were found in a Northeast Lincoln duplex in August 1977. Their murderer, Robert E. Williams, was the subject of a massive Midwest manhunt during the following week. Before his capture, he committed a third murder in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and raped, shot and left for dead a victim who survived in Minnesota. He is the last man to be executed in Nebraska, sent to the electric chair in 1997.
No. 10: Judge William M. Morning
District Court Judge William Morning was murdered in February 1924. He was shot on the bench by an unhappy litigant in a divorce case. His court reporter, Minor Bacon, was also shot, but a notebook in his breast pocket deflected the bullet and saved his life.
Many other crimes
Choosing Lincoln's 10 most infamous crimes was a challenge. Although the top two were easy, the picture quickly became clouded. We tend, of course, to forget our history rather quickly. Many of the crimes I felt were among the most significant are barely remembered today, if not completely forgotten.
Some readers will take issue with my list. In choosing 10, here are the others I considered, in no particular order. They are all murders:
-- Mary O'Shea
-- Nancy Parker
-- Charles Mulholland
-- Victoria Lamm and Janet Mesner
-- Martina McMenamin
-- Regina Bos (presumably murdered)
-- Patty Webb
-- Marianne Mitzner
I also thought about the five murder-suicides in which a mother or father killed multiple family members before taking their own life. Though tragic, these crimes did not command the same kind of attention as the others, perhaps because there was no lengthy investigation, no tantalizing whodunit, no stranger-killer, nor any of the details that come out in the coverage of a major trial.
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/3-injured-in-early-morning-shooting-outside-downtown-bar-lpd-investigating/article_5d2e6e32-4988-5394-a6b8-f1853049b799.html
| 2022-05-21T15:55:16
| 0
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/3-injured-in-early-morning-shooting-outside-downtown-bar-lpd-investigating/article_5d2e6e32-4988-5394-a6b8-f1853049b799.html
|
When Helena Occansey visited the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, last November, she instantly fell in love with the school that overlooks the Severn River.
It also didn't hurt that Occansey, a Lincoln Pius X senior, already had a family connection there.
"My older brother is at the Naval Academy. That's kind of how I got interested in that," she said.
She was formally accepted in January, after wrangling the endorsement of Nebraska's congressional delegation.
"It’s really exciting and it’s good to know that my four years of high school have paid off and I was able to work my way into there," she said.
The diversity of the Naval Academy is one thing that excited her about the school, too. As a Black student growing up in Lincoln — Occansey's father originally hails from the West African nation of Togo — the number of classmates that looked like her was small.
"That's definitely one thing that kind of excited me about the academy, just knowing that I had a little bit more of my dad's part of the culture there," she said.
Her father, Kouassi Occansey, moved to New York City in the 1990s, "chasing the dream of coming to America." He had a friend who lived in the Midwest, in this state called Nebraska, so Occansey paid him a visit.
"I loved it," he said. "You could drive to a place in five minutes."
Kouassi Occansey, who runs a small shop repairing dresses and suits out of his northeast Lincoln home, later met his wife in Omaha and settled in Lincoln. They've raised seven children — including two who will become commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy.
"I think it's a good thing," he said. "They'll keep each other close, especially when you're far away from home. They'll hold onto each other."
Helena Occansey is active at Pius X, competing on the cross country and track teams and serving on student council. She also participates in the Ambassadors Club, in which students work to offer positive support and friendship to their classmates.
In her sophomore year, the pandemic struck. The track season was canceled — "which was a huge thing for me since I love running," she said — and classes shifted online. Junior year, things were limited too, and Pius X briefly went to half days when Occansey was a senior during the omicron surge.
"But, otherwise, this year's been pretty normal," she said.
This summer, Occansey is hoping to take a senior trip with some of her girlfriends. Then it's off to the East Coast, where she plans on studying political science at the Naval Academy, a school where she feels like she can give back to her country that accepted her father all those years ago.
"All the opportunities I've had here, I wanted to be able to give back to my country," she said. "I constantly have the drive to just, like, push myself, and so I know that at the academy, I'll really be able to challenge myself, so I'm excited about that."
Zach Hammack, a 2018 UNL graduate, has always called Lincoln home. He previously worked as a copy editor at the Journal Star and was a reporting intern in 2017. Now, he covers students, teachers and schools as the newspaper’s K-12 reporter.
The annual youth-driven rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Day was livestreamed from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Monday for the second straight year.
Helena Occansey, a senior at Lincoln Pius X, is looking forward to the diversity she'll experience at the Naval Academy, which she will attend in the fall.
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/voices-of-change-pius-x-senior-follows-her-brother-to-the-naval-academy/article_46ce550f-7e28-5a3f-8c5b-08bc34de2577.html
| 2022-05-21T15:55:22
| 1
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/voices-of-change-pius-x-senior-follows-her-brother-to-the-naval-academy/article_46ce550f-7e28-5a3f-8c5b-08bc34de2577.html
|
Scientists want to count every saguaro cactus in metro Phoenix — and they need your help
In Phoenix, the summer of 2020 was so hot even the cactuses couldn’t stand it — literally.
In the weeks after August, the hottest month in the hottest summer on record in a place already famous for its blistering heat, the Desert Botanical Garden was beset by calls from worried residents.
The saguaros were falling over.
Some had tipped entirely, the thick concertina trunks slamming onto sizzling sidewalks or, in at least one case, a house. Other saguaros offered a less dramatic — though still concerning — manifestation of their internal stress: dropping one of their iconic curved arms.
“We always expect to lose some saguaros,” said Tania Hernandez, a Desert Botanical Garden research scientist. “But people felt that this was not normal.”
It was not normal. In fact, it was a health crisis. And it struck a chord in Phoenix, where people take their saguaros very seriously. The famous cactuses are unique to the Sonoran Desert and grow almost exclusively in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.
“For Arizonans, this is a plant highly tied to our identity,” Hernandez said. “People really love this plant. They care for it.”
Now Hernandez hopes to harness that enthusiasm in a community science project with an ambitious aim: Find every saguaro in metro Phoenix. Dubbed the Saguaro Census, the count is borne of that terrible time when the urban plants were dropping left, right and center.
“Everybody felt that this was somehow related to climate change,” Hernandez said. “That's what our intuition tells us.
“But the truth is that we don't have enough information to understand what's going on," she said. "We don't even know how many saguaros we have in the cities. We don't know where they are, how healthy they are. We don't know how many we are losing every year.”
And that’s where you come in. But first, some background.
Iconic Saguaro cactus:How fast they grow, how big they get and can you cut one?
Why are saguaros so stressed?
The Sonoran Desert is a perfect nursery for baby saguaros. The heat is the right temperature, and the annual monsoon rains provide the right amount of moisture. Existing plants — mesquites and palo verdes — act as “nurse trees” for budding saguaro giants.
“It's a life cycle for saguaros,” Hernandez said. “They receive protection from the sun and the temperatures from the nurse tree. They keep growing, growing, growing at a point that they outgrow the tree and the tree dies and the saguaro thrives.”
For both young and old cactuses, she says, the Sonoran Desert is “the perfect framework for saguaros to grow and to survive and to live”.
But in the heat island of Phoenix, life is different. There is concrete. Air pollution. Higher temperatures. Saguaros are more likely to have been transplanted, rather than taken root in the wild.
Add in 2020’s “nonsoon,” the driest summer rain season on record, and the mass saguaro fall starts to make sense.
While calls about falling cactuses have slowed, Hernandez said, there are still regular reports of sick saguaros.
Some are too thin. Others are not flowering as they should. Many are suffering from bacterial necrosis, its telltale ugly gashes marring trunks that were once a healthy, rubbery green.
Not all damage to cactuses is caused by illness. Squadrons of hungry javelinas sometimes munch on the saguaros. There are instances of vandalism, though the census thus far suggests these are rare.
Hernandez believes the sick plants may be in a state of high distress from their surrounding environment.
“Their immune system, because plants do have immune systems, may be lower, may be weak, because the plant is dealing with this great stress, pollution, high temperatures," she said, "and the plants might not be able to heal as if they were healthy.”
Saguaros:Will the iconic cactus start to disappear from parts of the Southwest?
Finding saguaro “twins” could be the key
For better or worse, genetic testing companies like 23andMe have built enormous databases from people willing to hand over their DNA.
Now Hernandez wants to do the same for saguaros.
The census won’t stop at documenting the number, location and condition of saguaros dotted across metro Phoenix. Part of the project will involve obtaining DNA from urban saguaros in a bid to trace their origins.
Most of the saguaros in urban Phoenix have been transplanted from wild areas long forgotten, Hernandez said. “These plants are so old that in most cases people have no idea where the plant came from.”
Hernandez and her team have already taken DNA samples from saguaros spanning from north of Phoenix to south Sonora, and plan to sequence them.
This summer, they will sample city-dwelling saguaros in the hope of finding a match. Hernandez is looking for people with saguaros on their property happy to volunteer the cactuses for sampling.
“We want to identify the closest relative of urban plants to be able to compare. How are they coping with their high stress in the city, in comparison with a sister plant in the wild?” she said.
“It's a similar approach as when they compare twins who grow up in different conditions.”
Saguaros growing in urban Phoenix are a huge, naturally-occurring experiment, Hernandez said, one that would take significant time and money to replicate.
“If we were to study the effect of climate change on saguaro plants artificially, we would need to bring plants from the wild, put them in a very special, high tech, greenhouse, and grow them there for years. Increase the temperature with a lot of energy,” she said. “However, we have them naturally here in the city.”
This accidental experiment could result in two major benefits.
One, take a slow-growing urban cactus. Its sluggish progress could be from high temperatures driven by climate change, say, or urban pollution. Or it could just be genetic. In isolation, there’s no way to know. But finding a sister plant could unlock the answer.
Two, it could save metro Phoenix’s saguaros. “Eventually, we would like to propose that we could adapt our urban saguaro population,” Hernandez said. “We can adapt it for future conditions by bringing here saguaros that are already adapted to the driest and hottest conditions in nature.”
But we need to start now.
“Because we need to remember that these plants take many, many years to grow. So if we don't start now, our children or grandchildren are not going to see saguaros in the city.”
How you can help
Taking part in the saguaro census is easy.
First, download the iNaturalist app. The free app, developed by National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences, allows the public to observe and upload information about living things around them to fellow nature-lovers and biologists across the world.
Second, make an account and search for the Metro Phoenix Saguaro Census project.
Third, document any saguaros you see in urban Phoenix.
“You take a picture of the saguaro, even if the picture is not good, even if you are in your car and passing by, that's okay, because we want to generate a database of saguaros in the city,” Hernandez said.
“If you didn't have a good look, such as to assess the health of the plant or the size of the plant, that's okay. We can go back and take more data on that same plant," she said.
“But the important thing is to know how many we have and where they are.”
The best thing about saguaros
Hernandez completed her Ph.D in cactus evolution in Mexico, home to the greatest diversity of cactuses in the world.
To her, the best thing about saguaros is their capacity to inspire.
“Culturally, this is a very important species. It is not endangered in nature, it is quite successful, abundant, it is not threatened,” she said.
“Some cacti species are more endangered than the panda bear or the white rhino. But people don't know about this.
“What I like about saguaro is that this plant, this cacti, is so important to people that we can use it to (raise) awareness about the conservation of other cacti.”
The Saguaro Census
The Saguaro Census is running through May 2022. For more details about how you can get involved visit dbg.org/saguarocensus2022.
People interested in volunteering saguaros on their property for further study can contact Dr Tania Hernandez at thernandez@dbg.org.
Reach the reporter at lane.sainty@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @lanesainty.
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-science/2022/05/21/desert-botanical-garden-saguaro-census-phoenix/9826726002/
| 2022-05-21T16:11:27
| 1
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-science/2022/05/21/desert-botanical-garden-saguaro-census-phoenix/9826726002/
|
NORFOLK, Va. — Dozens of graves at a city-owned cemetery in Norfolk are threatened by eroding shorelines on the Elizabeth River.
At least 10 headstones are only feet away from steep slopes leading down to the river, The Virginian-Pilot reported.
The city is seeking $1.9 million from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund to repair 1,500 feet of shoreline. But the money in that fund comes from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, from which Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to withdraw.
A city official said it’s unclear if that funding source would be available if Virginia withdraws from the regional initiative.
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/erosion-threatens-graves-at-riverside-norfolk-cemetery/2022/05/21/91c60cae-d91b-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
| 2022-05-21T16:20:10
| 1
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/erosion-threatens-graves-at-riverside-norfolk-cemetery/2022/05/21/91c60cae-d91b-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
|
BALTIMORE — The former chief of staff to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan abused his position as leader of the Maryland Environmental Service, in part by arranging for an unprecedented $233,647 severance payment, according to a legislative investigation.
Senate President Bill Ferguson called the report “deeply troubling on all levels.”
“Mr. McGrath’s conduct and flouting of long-established rules and policies to enrich himself and loyal friends is beyond the pale of what we expect of our public servants,” said Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, in a statement.
House Speaker Adrienne Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, said the behavior outlined in the report “dissolves the public’s trust in our entire system of government and can never be tolerated.”
“The committee’s work to uncover this egregious behavior was the first step in rebuilding that trust, and we hope that remaining questions about Mr. McGrath’s conversations with the Hogan administration will eventually be answered,” she said.
McGrath resigned in August 2020 after criticism for accepting the severance package when he left the environmental service to work in the governor’s office. He spent 11 weeks as chief of staff to Hogan before reports of his severance package surfaced.
In October 2021, McGrath was indicted. Among the allegations, he was accused of using funds from the Maryland Environmental Service to pay a personal pledge to a museum and got the agency to pay tuition expenses for a class after he left his job as executive director. He also recorded conversations with senior state officials without their consent, it said.
The federal and state charges allege that in 2019 and 2020, McGrath personally enriched himself by using his positions of trust to get the agency to make payments to him. The indictment alleges that McGrath got the agency’s board to approve a $233,647 severance payment — equal to one year’s salary — by falsely telling them the governor approved the payment.
When Hogan questioned McGrath about the package, McGrath falsely told him that the board offered him the severance in accordance with its usual practice, the indictment said.
The General Assembly launched a probe soon after the revelations in 2020. The joint legislative committee looking into McGrath hired outside counsel, collected evidence and heard testimony in 2020 and 2021.
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/investigation-former-chief-of-staff-abused-his-position/2022/05/21/2a340050-d916-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
| 2022-05-21T16:20:16
| 0
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/investigation-former-chief-of-staff-abused-his-position/2022/05/21/2a340050-d916-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
|
A person running the Brooklyn Half Marathon Saturday morning has died after collapsing at the finish line, an FDNY spokesperson said.
At least half a dozen runners were being treated for varying injuries sustained during the course of the 13.1-mile race, the fire department said.
It wasn't clear what caused the runner to collapse near the finish line, but officials said they were taken to Coney Island Hospital and pronounced dead.
The half marathon returned in-person Saturday, for the first time since the pandemic, when a heat advisory was in place for the entire city. Temperatures were expected to climb up to 90 degrees at the height of the day's heat.
Runners started early in the morning, racing from the Brooklyn Museum to the Coney Island Boardwalk.
In 2014, a 31-year-old runner died near the end of the 13.1-mile race after collapsing.
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/runner-dies-after-collapse-at-brooklyn-half-marathon-finish-line-fdny/3699202/
| 2022-05-21T16:35:23
| 0
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/runner-dies-after-collapse-at-brooklyn-half-marathon-finish-line-fdny/3699202/
|
BEAUMONT, Texas — The hunt for an 8-foot-long gator in a pond at a Beaumont apartment complex continues.
A Gator Country crew has been trying to capture the gator for the past four days.
The crew was using fishing poles Wednesday evening to lure the alligator out of the water in front of Lakeside Apartments in Beaumont.
On Thursday, the Gator Country crew left bait overnight, but they said he still didn't bite.
On Friday, the stubborn critter was still playing tricks on them.
Arlie with Gator Country said he's been hooked several times and will pop his head up here and there to see if they're gone.
Videos show the top of the gator moving slowly throughout the pond while people are watching along the shoreline.
"This one, I can’t just let it go,” Arlie said. “I mean there are kids over there right by the edge of the pond playing football. There are dogs everywhere. It’s about an 8-foot alligator. That could hurt you.”
Residents said every morning he lays out on the side of the pond.
"One of our residents were out playing soccer with their dog, and he called and said his dog was barking at something. When he went to go look, it was a gator," said property manager Tywana Shotwell.
A canal is near the apartment complex, which is located at 6195 N Major Drive in Beaumont. Rescuers believe that’s where the gator came from.
It’s also mating season for alligators, so be on the lookout! They’re expected to be out more often.
IF YOU SEE AN ALLIGATOR...
The following is from the TPWD website.
If the alligator is not approaching people or otherwise posing an obvious threat, wait a few days if possible - even up to a week - before contacting TPWD. In spring and summer, alligators are moving to breed and find new habitat. Most of the alligators moving around are smaller ones that have been pushed out of their normal habitat by larger alligators. Usually, these smaller alligators will move further on in a week or two.
If you hear an alligator hiss, it's a warning that you are too close.
Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. If you have a close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances on land. Never make the mistake of thinking that an alligator is slow and lethargic. Alligators are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered. A female protecting her nest might charge a person who gets close to the nest, but she would quickly return to the nest after the intruder left.
It is not uncommon for alligators to bask along the banks of a pond or stream for extended periods of time. These alligators are usually warming their bodies; they are not actively hunting. Often times a basking alligator may be seen with its mouth open; this is a way to cool its body temperature down, since alligators do not pant or sweat. An approaching human should cause these alligators to retreat into the water. (In some cases, the alligator may be protecting a nest - see below.) However, an alligator may be considered a nuisance if it leaves the banks of the water body to spend time near homes, livestock pens, or other structures.
If you walk near the water and an alligator comes straight toward you, especially if it comes out of the water, it is definitely a nuisance alligator that needs to be reported to TPWD. In many cases, these are alligators that have been fed by people or have been allowed to get human food.
If you see an alligator while walking a pet make sure that your pet is on a leash and under your control. Your pet will naturally be curious, and the alligator may see an easy food source. Alligators have a keen sense of smell. In areas near alligator sightings it is wise to keep pets inside a fenced area or in the house for a few days, during which the alligator will often move on.
If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it! Notify local authorities so the alligator can be handled safely.
If you see a large alligator in your favorite swimming hole or pond, do not swim with it. Although alligator attacks in Texas are rare, it can happen. The "attack" reports in Texas are usually more accurately described as "encounters." As with all outdoor activities, realize that wildlife encounters are a possibility.
It is not uncommon for alligators to pursue top-water fishing lures, and this activity does not constitute a threat to humans. As with fish, alligators are attracted to these lures because they mimic natural food. Most alligators can be easily scared away from boats or fishing lures. However, alligators that repeatedly follow boats, canoes, or other watercraft, and/or maintain a close distance without submersing may be considered nuisance alligators.
If you see a nuisance alligator, consider why it is there. Did someone clean fish and throw the heads into a pond or river? If so, they created a potential alligator problem and could be breaking state regulations. Since October 1, 2003, it has been a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 for anyone caught feeding an alligator.
The American alligator was once very common in rivers, creeks, and backwater sloughs of East and South Texas. Unregulated market hunting and habitat alteration resulted in near extirpation of the species in Texas by the 1950's. Legal protection, enhanced habitat conditions, and new water impoundment projects have resulted in a rapid repopulation of Texas by alligators during the past 20 years. To complicate matters, an ever-expanding human population continues to encroach upon the alligator's domain. These factors contribute to increased encounters between alligators and people.
Most Texans in "gator country" will live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations. However, there are occasions when certain alligators become "a nuisance" and must be handled by the proper authorities. TPWD received more than 400 nuisance alligator calls in Southeast Texas during 2003. (A substantial number of these were not true problem gators, and the sheer volume of these reports is taxing available manpower and resources needed to handle the real problems.) More than 100 alligators were relocated, mostly from subdivisions adjacent to natural habitat. A similar number had to be killed in similar situations. In these incidents alligators had lost their fear of humans and exhibited aggressive behavior. Relocation is not always a viable option, as by nature these animals are territorial. Relocating problem animals to other areas often creates greater problems. What is needed is a better-educated populace more able to recognize the few nuisance alligators and to coexist safely with the majority of alligators that are not nuisances.
The current legal definition of a nuisance gator is "an alligator that is depredating [killing livestock or pets] or a threat to human health or safety" under definitions laid out in the Texas Administrative Code (Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65, Section 65.352). The following information should help you determine if the observed alligator may pose a threat to you or your property. If, after reading the following, you determine that an alligator is a "nuisance," please contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement communications center in Austin at (512) 389-4848.
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rescuers-try-capturing-gator-in-pond-of-beaumont-apartment-complex/502-1cc6c123-c4f2-4038-8aba-2e3d85bbc3fb
| 2022-05-21T16:38:36
| 0
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rescuers-try-capturing-gator-in-pond-of-beaumont-apartment-complex/502-1cc6c123-c4f2-4038-8aba-2e3d85bbc3fb
|
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Firefighters with the Sacramento Fire Department rescued four adults, one child and a dog after an early morning fire tore through a 3-story Victorian-style home on 11th Street in Sacramento.
According to Tweets from the Sacramento Fire Department, the fire was first reported in the 4-unit home around 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the 600 block of 11th Street.
Two adults and one child were trapped on the second floor of the structure and rescued by fire crews. Two other adults and a dog were also found inside of the home and rescued by firefighters, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.
No injuries were reported during the firefight and fire officials say residents in the other units were able to make it out of the building safely.
Some of the fire spread from the 3-story home into a nearby structure, fire officials say. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Watch More from ABC10: TikTok video: Suspected drunk driver caught slamming into parked cars in Sacramento
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/firefighters-rescue-five-people-one-dog/103-9b560733-f8df-4dc8-baa5-cc34f0864af5
| 2022-05-21T17:05:50
| 0
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/firefighters-rescue-five-people-one-dog/103-9b560733-f8df-4dc8-baa5-cc34f0864af5
|
Each week The Pantagraph profiles a different community member. Know someone we should talk to? Email kheather@pantagraph.com.
Name: Li Zeng
Position: Associate professor of film studies and president of AsiaConnect at Illinois State University
1. What is AsiaConnect?
AsiaConnect is an association of Illinois State University faculty and staff and Bloomington-Normal community members who work together in the interest of the Asian community.
2. What does Asian Pacific American Heritage Month present opportunities for?
It serves as a reminder for the country to remember and pay tribute to the cultural and historical contributions of people of Asian, Asian American or Pacific Islander ancestry. It also provides an opportunity for different communities to connect. Asian communities often organize cultural activities and events to celebrate Asian heritage, open to the general public. They are great venues to build understanding, connection and respect.
3. Has your group done any events this month, or are there any still planned?
AsiaConnect is an ISU affinity group. In May, most students and faculty have left for the summer break. Thus, we celebrated Asian heritage in April instead of in May. This year, we celebrated Asian Heritage Week from April 22-25. We partnered with Normal Public Library, Illinois Art Station and ISU Laboratory Schools and offered a series of activities, including Chinese art painting, Indian henna art, Thai cuisine demonstration, martial arts, Japanese art of paper folding, Chinese and Taiwanese tea tasting, Asian face painting, Asian music, and a fashion show.
I know that University High School also celebrated Asian Heritage Week, featured with Asian American movies, Asian games, arts, music/dance and Asian cuisines.
Metcalf also hosted the first Metcalf Asian Heritage Festival together with the Korea Academy of Language and Japanese Saturday School. Activities included Chinese kung fu, yoyo, Dai dance, Korean song, Japanese Kendo, India-Sri Lanka fusion dance, and music performance.
4. How can Asians advance into more leadership roles?
It is important for more Asians and Asian Americans to take leadership roles, to advocate for the rights and interests of the Asian community. For a long time, Asians and Asian Americans have been invisible and thus were almost viewed as neglectable. The rise of Asian hate crimes during the pandemic made many people in the community realize the significance of speaking up and the need for more leadership roles to push forward equitable and inclusive policies.
To advance into more leadership roles of course calls for more people from the Asian community to step up, but it also needs support and resources. For example, it requires organizations and institutions to structure leadership positions to reflect diversity, equity and inclusion, thus opening positions to the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.
5. What issues does the Asian community still face?
Though there are not many reported hate crimes in Bloomington-Normal, anti-Asian racism is a serious issue that the Asian community faces. In addition, the model minority stereotype still dominates popular discourse about Asian Americans. We need to confront and address "the invisibility of anti-Asian racism."
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/5-questions-with-li-zeng-president-of-asiaconnect-at-illinois-state-university/article_898de854-d772-11ec-80d9-976cba435bf7.html
| 2022-05-21T17:18:24
| 0
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/5-questions-with-li-zeng-president-of-asiaconnect-at-illinois-state-university/article_898de854-d772-11ec-80d9-976cba435bf7.html
|
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A 45-year-old man is locked up in Lycoming County accused of sexually assaulting a cheerleader on his team beginning when the victim was in the fourth grade.
Montoursville resident George William Scholl Jr. is charged with the rape of a child, involuntary sexual intercourse, and a slew of related assault charges.
Investigators say this stems from a series of alleged events that occurred at Epidemic Stunt and Tumble, a cheerleading squad Scholl ran at a gym in Williamsport.
According to a criminal complaint, the victim told police the first incident happened when she was in the fourth grade.
During one practice, Scholl allegedly called the victim into his office, telling her she needed to be measured for a uniform before sexually assaulting her.
The victim also told police Scholl called her into his office one year later when the victim thought she'd been injured during practice.
The child alleges Scholl raped her before telling her to return to practice and tell the others she wasn't feeling well.
Epidemic Stunt and Tumble is permanently closed, but it's unclear if that's related to the allegations against Scholl.
Scholl is in Lycoming County Prison, unable to post $150,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline.
|
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/former-coach-charged-with-rape-in-lycoming-county-george-william-scholl-jr-epidemic-stunt-and-tumble-lycoming-county-montoursville-rape-sexual-assault/523-32e7bc1e-37ad-44a4-b3ec-faf322f67e3f
| 2022-05-21T17:19:17
| 0
|
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/former-coach-charged-with-rape-in-lycoming-county-george-william-scholl-jr-epidemic-stunt-and-tumble-lycoming-county-montoursville-rape-sexual-assault/523-32e7bc1e-37ad-44a4-b3ec-faf322f67e3f
|
TIFTON – Tift Regional Medical Center RN Garrett Tucker was recently honored with the DAISY Team Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the dynamic efforts nurses perform every day.
Tucker works in the Intensive Care Unit at Tift Regional Medical Center and has worked for Southwell for more than four years. He was nominated for the award because of the exceptional care he gave a terminally ill patient, including making a home-cooked meal for the patient himself and picking up food especially for her in the cafeteria on another day.
“Garrett is a positive asset to the ICU,” ICU Manager Michael Thompson said. “He cares for his patients in such a compassionate way. He is a team player when it comes to this unit, and his co-workers think so much of him as an individual and as a nurse. I am so proud to have Garrett on our team.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Clif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses has been adopted by health care facilities around the world to celebrate nurses for their extraordinary care and compassion. The DAISY Team Award is for nurse-led teams of two or more who come together to solve a specific situation by going above and beyond. Nursing teams may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Tift Regional Medical Center to receive The DAISY Team Award.
The DAISY Team Award is presented once each year at a surprise presentation. Each member of the Nursing Team receives a certificate commending them for being an "Extraordinary Nurse." The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are and the incredibly meaningful difference your teamwork makes in the lives of so many people." The team also receives a specially engraved plaque engraved with the name of the team.
“We are proud to be among the health care organizations participating in the DAISY Award program,” Tonia Garrett, the chief nursing officer for Southwell, said in a news release. “Nurses like Garrett are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”
The DAISY Award and DAISY Team Award are initiatives of the DAISY Foundation in service to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
|
https://www.albanyherald.com/local/tift-regional-nurse-daisy-team-award-winner/article_3b5df4b2-d858-11ec-b37c-87b283584657.html
| 2022-05-21T17:20:21
| 0
|
https://www.albanyherald.com/local/tift-regional-nurse-daisy-team-award-winner/article_3b5df4b2-d858-11ec-b37c-87b283584657.html
|
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – The rising price of diesel fuel has Jefferson County Schools looking for options to reallocate funding.
The district reports the cost of diesel for transportation has nearly doubled from this time last year.
“It’s significant,” Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin said. “We have been fiscally prudent with our monies so we are able to accommodate at this particular time, but we are hoping to see some type of slowdown with this because we could use those monies in other areas.”
Gonsoulin says about 61 percent of children ride the bus to and from school every day – so the district cannot operate without buses.
“That is an integral part of what we do in the school system, so we are watching this very closely,” Gonsoulin said.
AAA spokesperson Clay Ingram said increased demand has been pushing pump prices higher – diesel hitting its highest national recorded average ever—this week.
“Typically, that results in our prices increasing as well and I think that will continue to happen this year,” Ingram said.
This means tougher times could loom ahead for Jefferson County Schools. The price of diesel prices Gonsoulin said were $194,000 for the month this February compared to $100,000.
“We could see it being a potential issue, but at this point financially we planned, and we are solid on that front, but we can always use those monies somewhere else as opposed to gas prices,” Gonsoulin said.
Upcoming summer programs like SOAR and the new signature academies begin soon – which means more money to be spent on transportation this summer that the district said it will be monitoring closely.
|
https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/high-diesel-prices-nearly-double-jefferson-county-transportation-budget/
| 2022-05-21T17:40:33
| 1
|
https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/high-diesel-prices-nearly-double-jefferson-county-transportation-budget/
|
CALDWELL, Idaho —
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office held its 10th annual memorial for fallen law enforcement officers on Friday, honoring 74 officers who had died in Idaho’s history.
Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse recalled the day of May 18, 2020, when he received the call that his deputy, Wyatt Maser, was in the hospital after being struck with a patrol car.
“I hurried and dressed and headed out the door and I told my wife, I said, ‘pray. Just pray.’ And I got just a little bit down the street and they called me again and said ‘it’s not survivable,’” Hulse told the audience. “On Wednesday, we gathered at Wyatt’s grave, the anniversary of his death, second anniversary. His young daughter, who was an infant when he was killed, was there at his headstone — to honor him.”
Maser responded to reports of a woman carrying a machete with another officer that morning. The woman, Jenna Holm, began swinging the machete at Maser, according to reporting by East Idaho News.
Then, a patrol vehicle from another officer is seen in body cam footage hitting and killing Maser, East Idaho News said.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there have been 107 deaths in law enforcement since Jan. 1, 2022.
Fifty-five of those deaths were COVID-19 related, 20 of those deaths were gunfire related, and seven were vehicular assault.
The last officer to die in the Treasure Valley was in 1997, when Boise Police officer Mark Stall was shot and killed during a traffic stop gone bad.
Officers had stopped the car, and the passengers refused to comply with orders, according to Boise Police. Stall had responded as a backup officer.
The two passengers exited the vehicle and immediately opened fire, striking Stall on the right side of his body, just above his vest. Officers returned fire, and the passengers were killed.
“Because these men and women who were here today in uniform, and those men and women who were out on patrol today working their posts for work, it’s because of them that we can sleep just a little bit quieter,” Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue said.
The Meridian Children’s Choir devoted a tribute to the fallen soldiers — as they sang, some wiped tears from their eyes.
“I look out at the men and women here and think about those that are fallen brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, what they did outside the lines, outside their service dates, can be more important than that which they did during the day or during their night shift,” U.S. Attorney Rafael Gonzales said. “Those people that volunteered their time — coaching, basketball, baseball football, that were deacons in their churches, that served in soup lines, that donated their time to rake leaves for the elderly. It’s those actions and those activities that really plant the seed and grow seeds within your communities that provides a way for our offices, your offices, and all these agencies to build what we call community trust.”
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press. Read more at IdahoPress.com
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/canyon-county-fallen-officer-memorial-ceremony/277-34483832-224f-4e1b-9800-a9502c7aee12
| 2022-05-21T17:40:39
| 1
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/canyon-county-fallen-officer-memorial-ceremony/277-34483832-224f-4e1b-9800-a9502c7aee12
|
BESSEMER, Ala. (WIAT) – Two trains are stopped on the tracks in Bessemer Friday night. It’s been blocking traffic all day and causing some concern for area first responders.
The trains are blocking several intersections including the highly traveled Highway 1-50. We’re told the trains have been stopped here on the tracks for over 24 hours and police are worried it could slow down response times if an emergency happens. But the train company said they are working to get the trains moved as soon as possible.
Lt. Christian Clemons said there are 20 intersections along the tracks that are blocked leaving only two places open to cross.
CBS 42 did reach out to Norfolk Train Company, they said the trains are stopped because of crew restraints. They’re actually offering new incentives to hire more conductors to help with this.
Lt. Clemons said he hopes the train company can get this resolved soon.
“With that many intersections blocked it lengthens the response time for first responders, your police and fire, and that’s not something that we really need in Bessemer, and I know the citizens in Bessemer would really like that quick response,” Clemons said.
Norfolk Southern Trains sent the following statement to our newsroom:
“We never want to inconvenience a member of the community with blocked crossings. Our railroad plays a vital role in the nation’s supply chain, helping to move the goods that power our economy. We are working hard to keep our trains moving efficiently and minimize these types of impacts as much as possible.” -Norfolk Southern Trains Company
The train company said they are hoping to have one train moved soon. In the meantime, Clemons said you can cross at 32nd street and at 1st and division streets.
|
https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/two-trains-blocking-heavily-traveled-road-in-bessemer/
| 2022-05-21T17:40:39
| 0
|
https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/two-trains-blocking-heavily-traveled-road-in-bessemer/
|
BOISE, Idaho —
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
A local indie filmmaker’s movie premiere was canceled after public outcry over his past conduct.
Bill Doty’s film “Fugued Up!” was set to be screened at the Egyptian Theatre on May 4 — but the event was called off.
Doty said the film was canceled because someone called the Egyptian and told them he was a “sex predator,” and protests were planned the day of the showing.
The Egyptian did not respond to a request for comment.
Numerous people on Facebook who are a part of the film industry in Idaho protested the premiere of Doty’s film online, citing his alleged past conduct with women as a reason the film should not be shown. Multiple women on Facebook said in their posts that Doty acted inappropriately with them and people they know. Doty has denied these accusations, and no charges have been filed in connection with them.
Doty, 53, who is a creator and partner of the marketing agency Senestre Creative, was charged in 2017 for second-degree stalking, a misdemeanor, and video voyeurism, a felony. He pleaded not guilty.
Doty reached a Rule 11 plea agreement, which is an agreement entered into by the parties for a specific sentence if the defendant pleads guilty to a certain criminal charge.
He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace and a misdemeanor charge of using a telephone to harass, threaten, or intimidate and served six days in jail.
Doty has denied the stalking and voyeurism charges and said they were “dropped.”
“The voyeurism charges, like I said, Idaho has weird laws so they didn’t know what to do with it,” Doty said.
Court documents show that Doty’s former fiancee, identified as E.D., said after a turbulent relationship and breakup, Doty stalked and harassed her. Court documents also show a protective order.
The Idaho Press does not identify victims of potential harassment.
“The defendant then proceeded to stalk me for over a year despite me cutting off all communication on my end,” E.D.’s statement said. “I could not go more than a month without hearing from him and it was a constantly sinking, sick feeling in my stomach knowing he was not leaving me alone.”
E.D. went on to say in the court statement that Doty kept insinuating he would distribute naked photos of her to people in his circle.
“He then did so, verified, to two different people, although I suspect many more in his ‘network’ may have them as well,” she said in the document.
“I never sent any nude pictures to anyone nor committed revenge porn,” Doty said.
Catrine McGregor, a casting director and producer with Blue Banner Films LLC, said that Doty came to her years ago and sent her the script for the film. She said she liked it, and began working with Doty for production.
Later, it came to her attention that Doty had a history with the law after a local actor brought up the charges to her.
McGregor said Doty admitted to disturbing the peace and using a telephone to harass someone in a brief meeting with her.
“He said ‘can we go on and make a movie?’ and I said ‘yes’. Because if I worked with people that had never had anything, I wouldn’t make a movie,” McGregor said.
Lana Westbrook, who has been outspoken against Doty’s film being premiered due to his past, said that he had been harassing her through a website domain that Westbrook said he purchased. Westbrook dated Doty in 2012 for nearly six weeks, she said.
The Idaho Press confirmed that the website, boisefilmfestival.com, as of Wednesday morning had a message on its main page claiming that the Boise Film Festival was “destroyed” by Westbrook because she ran off with the festival’s funding. Westbrook disputes the claim made on the site.
On Wednesday afternoon, the website was no longer available.
In a Feb. 2, 2016, email from Doty to Westbrook and her attorney, Doty said, “My only fault was making a website for some people who registered the film festival name because we all thought it was funny.”
Westbrook said the domain was most likely to get her attention after years of “ignoring his advances.”
“Seven years later, the site is back up with slanderous information,” Westbrook said on Monday. “At present, I am volunteering with a local missing child’s case and this information has impacted my PR work. I’ve been trolled on Twitter and called a fraud thanks to a sociopath who won’t leave me alone. It triggered my PTSD and caused multiple emotional breakdowns.”
Doty said he bought it years ago, but with threats of being sued by Westbrook, he said he gave it up and it remains in the hands of someone else.
Doty is currently on probation in the 2017 case.
This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press. Read more at IdahoPress.com
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/idaho-filmmakers-premiere-canceled-following-outcry-past-conduct/277-f3ede676-ee45-4f7b-b6c8-add83d11eaff
| 2022-05-21T17:40:41
| 0
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-press/idaho-filmmakers-premiere-canceled-following-outcry-past-conduct/277-f3ede676-ee45-4f7b-b6c8-add83d11eaff
|
Volusia deputies searching for endangered DeLand couple with Alzheimer's disease
Volusia sheriff’s deputies are looking for Herminio Guevara, 84, and Ana Santos Davila, 89, of Winnemissett Oaks Drive, DeLand, after they left home on foot Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Both are experiencing advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and walked away from home around 8 a.m. Saturday, according to a release from the sheriff's office. They took a yellow duffel bag and blue suitcase.
Volusia Sheriff Chitwood:Marsy’s Law shouldn’t be used to withhold names of law enforcement
More Volusia news:Deputies: Deltona man partially disabled by stroke falls into pool, drowns
Guevara was last seen wearing a red shirt, black pants and tennis shoes. Davila was wearing a white blouse, gray pants and black sandals, police said.
They could be traveling in a black 2021 Ford SUV with Florida tag NNE I45 that belongs to a family friend from Palm Coast.
If you have seen the couple or have information on their whereabouts, call 911.
|
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/05/21/deland-missing-couple-volusia-deputies-ask-publics-help-herminio-guevara-ana-santos-davila/9871928002/
| 2022-05-21T17:51:31
| 0
|
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/05/21/deland-missing-couple-volusia-deputies-ask-publics-help-herminio-guevara-ana-santos-davila/9871928002/
|
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Ukrainian immigrant won the GOP nomination Saturday for a congressional seat in a heavily Democratic district in northern Virginia.
Lipsman will now face four-term Democratic incumbent Don Beyer in in Virginia’s 8th District, the most heavily Democratic district in the state.
Republicans are holding two other nominating contests Saturday. One-term incumbent Bob Good is facing a challenge from Air Force veteran Dan Moy in Virginia’s 5th District.
Eleven candidates are on the ballot in Virginia’s 10th District, where Republicans are holding a firehouse primary with ranked-choice voting to pick a nominee to face Democrat Jennifer Wexton.
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/gop-picks-nominees-in-3-virginia-congressional-races/2022/05/21/189857fe-d927-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
| 2022-05-21T17:51:40
| 0
|
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/gop-picks-nominees-in-3-virginia-congressional-races/2022/05/21/189857fe-d927-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
|
Doug Evans will happily cite this statistic to you: About 80% of restaurants fail within five years. In fact, 60% of them don't even make it to their first birthday.
But he's not expecting the one he's involved with will be one of them.
L's Kitchen at 17th and Van Dorn streets is a collaboration between Evans, former City Councilman Roy Christensen and Lawrence de Villiers, a native of France who ran another restaurant, The Normandy, in the same location.
The restaurant, which opened in April, specializes in "gourmet comfort food," Evans said, including many familiar dishes with new twists on flavors.
Each man is focusing on his area of expertise: Evans on marketing, Christensen on the financial side and de Villiers on the food.
Because of that, said Evans, "We can figure out a way to make it work."
It appears a number of restaurateurs are figuring out how to make it work, with a healthy number of restaurants continuing to open in Lincoln despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, inflation, supply chain issues and a labor shortage.
People are also reading…
Research done by local commercial real estate agent Robin Eschliman showed that more restaurants opened than closed last year in Lincoln, the first time that's happened since at least 2018.
The pace of openings was down slightly, with only 26, compared with 28 in 2020 and 31 in 2019, but the pace so far this year seems to have accelerated.
As of May 1, more than a dozen new restaurants had opened in Lincoln since the beginning of the year, and at least another half dozen were in development or under construction.
They range from mom-and-pop locations, to expansions of local operations, to new locations for national chains.
One of them was Firehouse Subs, a sandwich chain that opened its second Lincoln location in March.
Local franchisee Tom Mejstrik, who opened his first location at East Park Plaza in 2016, started working on another at Edgewood Shopping Center in 2019, but then the pandemic came along and shelved his plans temporarily.
But one thing he noticed throughout the pandemic was' "the demand just continued to be strong."
Mejstrik said his carry-out and catering business boomed, giving him no qualms about about opening a second location, especially one in south Lincoln, where many of his customers live.
"It's still a good time to open restaurants," he said.
Zoe Olson, executive director of the Nebraska Hospitality Association, agrees.
"It's a good industry to be in, and I think people are seeing it," said Olson, who noted that the restaurant industry is no different than most other industries: There is a constant churn of businesses opening and closing.
But the pandemic shined a spotlight on the industry, she said, and there was a lot of media coverage about the struggles it faced.
"I think overwhelmingly the hospitality industry came to the forefront of national news and local news and state news because of COVID," Olson said.
That also meant a spotlight on restaurants closing down, even though Olson said she believes that in most cases, the pandemic was not the main reason those places closed.
But it's no secret that the industry lost customers, whether it was because of emergency health measures that restricted in-person dining or customers who were wary of eating out because of the risk of catching the disease.
Research suggests that those fears have eased and people are coming back to restaurants this year after avoiding them over the past two years.
A report from TOP Data, a company that delivers business, consumer and marketing insights, shows that restaurant visits are up almost 21% in Nebraska in 2022 compared with 2021, which ranks as the seventh-highest increase among the states.
"Business is back and we're learning how to deal with that," Olson said.
One way restaurants are dealing with the increased business and a shortage of workers is using more technology.
Examples of that are menus accessed via QR codes and ordering and payment terminals at tables, Olson said, and customers are going to continue to see more innovation, she said.
But restaurants still need bodies, and Olson said workers are starting to return to the industry.
As of March, there were 7,300 people employed in restaurants in Nebraska, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the most since the pandemic began.
Some local restaurants that went out of business during the pandemic cited an inability to find enough workers as one of the reasons they shut down.
Both Evans and Mejstrik said their restaurants have been able to find enough workers, and Evans said he believes talk of a labor shortage is a "false narrative."
"All you have to do is pay people a fair wage and they'll come work for you," he said.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
|
https://journalstar.com/business/local/restaurant-industry-still-strong-in-lincoln-despite-challenges/article_e8f9b693-90fd-5edf-93dd-703c26cd50f1.html
| 2022-05-21T17:55:36
| 0
|
https://journalstar.com/business/local/restaurant-industry-still-strong-in-lincoln-despite-challenges/article_e8f9b693-90fd-5edf-93dd-703c26cd50f1.html
|
Video of one man's bizarre and violent assault on a food vendor operating in Times Square has been released by police hoping to track down the assailant.
Police said the man threw large orange traffic cones at the 57-year-old vendor operating at 7th Avenue and West 40th Street last weekend.
Part of the May 14 assault was caught on camera, and appears to show the suspect repeatedly lobbing the large cones at the victim.
The incident started as a verbal argument, police said, before the attacker kicked and punched the vendor around 6:15 p.m. He also allegedly threw a milk crate at the man.
Police said the suspect was wearing a black surgical mask, black sweatpants and t-shirt, grey Crocs, and was carrying a backpack.
Copyright NBC New York
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/times-square-food-vendor-attacked-by-man-hurling-traffic-cones-milk-crate/3699286/
| 2022-05-21T18:06:43
| 0
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/times-square-food-vendor-attacked-by-man-hurling-traffic-cones-milk-crate/3699286/
|
For some survivors, the sounds are a part of what still haunts them. People screaming. Car tires screeching. An engine revving.
It was “like somebody just floored it. … It was so loud,” Jyll Elsman told a jury on a recent day in a Manhattan courtroom. “That is the last thing that I remember before everything went black.”
When Elsman came to her senses, she desperately searched for her teen daughters only to find a mother’s nightmare. One of her children was dead and another severely injured — carnage left by a driver who plowed through pedestrians on what had begun, for a Michigan family, as a mundane tourist outing in Times Square in 2017.
Elsman’s harrowing story is central to the ongoing trial of Richard Rojas, the man behind the wheel of a Honda Accord that killed Elsman’s daughter and injured more than 20 other people in an alleged attack with a motive that remains elusive. Rojas, 31, has pleaded not guilty to murder, assault and other charges.
Prosecutors are largely relying on the testimony of victims like Elsman to make a case against Rojas that could put him behind bars for decades. His lawyers say he had a mental breakdown that day and had no capacity to understand what he was doing.
At the time, he was someone “suffering from schizophrenia whose mind had deteriorated so much that he lost control,” said defense attorney Enrico DeMarco in opening statements about a client who’s appeared impassive during the proceedings. DeMarco added: “The evidence is going to show he met the criteria for legal insanity.”
Prosecutor Alfred Peterson conceded Rojas had some mental challenges. But Peterson also argued the defendant was a military veteran who had led a mostly normal life and didn’t meet the insanity standard.
News
“It was impossible for him not to know exactly what was happening,” the prosecutor said.
Experts are slated to address the mental health question later in the trial. For now, that has left jurors to analyze the prosecution's case , which started with them seeing a selfie, flashed on a video screen, of Elsman, her daughters Ava and Alyssa, and a family friend seated on the red bleachers in the middle of Times Square moments before tragedy struck.
The group was walking and “just looking around, kind of eyeballing someplace to eat,” when a car mounted the sidewalk, Elsman said. She testified she felt herself getting knocked down by the car, briefly going blank and then pulling herself up to look for her daughters.
The mother found Ava, then 13, on the ground but still alert. She then rushed around to look for Alyssa, who was 18. What she found was devastating.
“I looked at her eyes and I just knew she was dead. They were fixed. They weren’t looking around,” she said. “All I could do was scream.”
Thomas Patterson, an actor on his way to a rehearsal that day, took the witness stand to recall vivid memories of the mayhem.
“I saw somebody being thrown 25 feet into the air, people being knocked around. It was an intense sight,” Patterson said.
On impulse, “I ran after the car,” he said. “I’m not super proud of that. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He said he gathered himself and stopped to call 911.
Michael Elias, a tax lawyer, testified about seeing “bodies flying, pandemonium, people screaming, jumping out of the way.”
The first responders would find a survivor named Wissam Issa, a social worker who testified he felt the full impact of the runaway Honda. Issa said he took a hit on “my whole left side of my face, my whole left side of my body, my back, my arm with the windshield.”
Ava, the younger Elsman daughter, was mowed down in a similar way. She recited her injuries for the jurors: broken ribs, collapsed lung, a compound leg fracture and other harm that kept her off her feet for months.
She said a deeper injury occurred in the hospital, when she asked her mother about what happened to her older sister. She was answered with silence.
Her mother’s “face dropped,” she said. “And with no words, I knew exactly what had happened.”
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/victims-recount-horrors-in-times-square-car-ramming-trial/3697490/
| 2022-05-21T18:06:49
| 1
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/victims-recount-horrors-in-times-square-car-ramming-trial/3697490/
|
Thybulle chosen for second straight All-Defensive honor originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
At 25 years old, Matisse Thybulle already has two All-Defensive selections.
Thybulle on Friday night was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team for a second consecutive year.
MVP runner-up Joel Embiid missed out on a fourth All-Defense honor, receiving three votes for the First Team and 27 for the Second Team.
Thybulle is one of the league’s most unusual players, a habitual risk-taker who’s brilliant at seeing a move before it happens, appearing from nowhere, and creating all sorts of turnovers. According to Cleaning the Glass, his block rate (2.1) was in the 99th percentile for wings, his steal rate (3.1) in the 100th percentile. That’s become his norm.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
In regular assignments against marquee perimeter scorers, Thybulle often did very well. A Dec. 11 performance on Stephen Curry might have been his finest night.
He started 50 games in his third season, including 26 straight beginning on Feb. 8. The University of Washington product played 25.5 minutes per contest in 2021-22, 5.5 more than the year prior.
However, Thybulle lost his starting job, confidence and rhythm late in the season. Because he’s not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, he was ineligible to play in Canada and therefore out for the Sixers’ three road games during their first-round series win over the Raptors.
Even before the Sixers drew Toronto in Round 1, offense was a clear concern with Thybulle.
“The No. 1 thing is he has to be dynamic defensively every night,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said in February, “because if he isn’t, then it’s hard to play him, right?”
Thybulle scored 5.7 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from three-point range. Those numbers were all better than the previous season, but opponents continued to adopt the sensible strategy of caring much more about showing the Sixers’ stars intense attention than defending Thybulle.
In the postseason, Thybulle played just 15.2 minutes per game and made only 4 of 14 long-distance tries. Rivers and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey expressed belief at their end-of-season press conference that Thybulle can improve offensively and make a greater playoff impact in future seasons. Morey did acknowledge that “the players who are sort of extreme one-way type of players, it’s challenging in the playoffs.”
As Thybulle explained it, his part-time status for the first round also made being his normal defensive self especially difficult this postseason, since he couldn't replicate full-speed, instinctive game reps.
“Proprioception is your understanding of where you body is in space,” he said on May 8. “There’s a level of proprioception with your teammates and how connected you are to your guys. How the chemistry is, how in flow everyone is plays a massive role in your understanding of where guys are without having to see it or even really think about it. It’s just a feeling that you have. When we’re at our best, we don’t have to think. It’s just the intuitive nature of being able to play off each other.”
The Sixers in October exercised Thybulle’s $4.4 million option for the 2022-23 season. He’s eligible for an extension this summer. Despite his obvious offensive flaws that have been magnified in the playoffs, it’s not at all impossible to envision a career trajectory that involves consistent All-Defensive honors.
“I think he’s going to be a special player in this league, especially with how he works and with how artistic and unique he is — how his mind works," Danny Green told NBC Sports Philadelphia in March. “But he’s got a lot of room for growth. … What did Michael Jordan say? ‘The ceiling is the roof.’
“With him, the sky’s the limit, man. He has a lot of potential. He can grow into a shooter. … He’s still just learning. His reflexes are unbelievable — cat-like reflexes. And with his athletic ability, he can get to any shot and steal any basketball. Once he learns how to balance himself, I think he can be Defensive Player of the Year.”
At his exit interview, Thybulle identified several logical areas he’ll focus on this offseason.
“I guess for me I’m lucky, because it’s pretty simple,” he said. “I have something I do really well and it helps me bring value to the game. But outside of that, if I can be a consistent three-point shooter, an effective fast-break player, and an efficient straight-line driver to the basket, I think, without trying to put more on my plate than is necessary, that feels like the simplest approach to just lay a foundation for being more of an asset on that end of the court.”
|
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/sixers-matisse-thybulle-makes-nba-all-defensive-2nd-team/3246562/
| 2022-05-21T18:13:27
| 0
|
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/sixers-matisse-thybulle-makes-nba-all-defensive-2nd-team/3246562/
|
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — Aiming to serve as a one-stop shop for the people of Carter County, first the Carter Compassion Center needs the community’s help to get up and running.
On Saturday, May 21st, the center held a meet-and-greet for residents to see what needs to be done and hear their plans for the future — something Brandon Young, president of the Carter Compassion Center, says eventually the whole community will benefit from.
“We’re not looking to duplicate or replicate any other non-profit resource,” Young said. “We’re wanting to be a liaison between the individual and the resource and then supply them with a mentor that will mentor them through the process of getting out of the multi-generational poverty that they’re in.”
The new center is now located in the old Elizabethton Chamber, after the city chose to lease the building to the center for $1 a year. However, it’s going to take a lot of work before it gets up and running, which is why Young says they need the community’s help.
“The building is in desperate need of repair,” Young said. “We have some roof issues and some plumbing things that need to be fixed…. We’ve actually had a heat pump donated to us and installed, which is wonderful. But we have a lot of other repairs that need to be made and we hope that the community will get involved and they will want to help.”
Once up and running, the center hopes to offer a variety of resources including parenting and classes, rural health clinics, veteran and woman’s services and unemployment resources for those who may not have a computer or internet to fill out the proper forms.
For more details and to lend a hand yourself, visit the organization’s website.
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/carter-compassion-center-asking-community-for-help/
| 2022-05-21T18:21:31
| 0
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/carter-compassion-center-asking-community-for-help/
|
The South Coast Education Service District board of directors announced last week that Paul Peterson has been selected to serve as the new superintendent beginning July 1.
Peterson brings more than 27 years of experience in education to the role, 21 of which have been in Oregon. Since launching his academic career as a classroom teacher in the state of Washington, Peterson has held both school and district leadership positions throughout his tenure in education. Peterson formerly served as assistant superintendent for Northwest Regional Education Service District and, most recently, has been working to support school districts through leadership transitions by serving in interim superintendent roles for Scappoose and Silver Falls School Districts.
“After a careful and thorough search that we narrowed down to two very strong candidates, we believe that Paul will provide the strong leadership we need to help us support our students, families, teachers and staff,” said John Buckley, member of the SCESD board of directors. “His local roots and deep understanding of the Oregon education system was an important factor in our decision. He’s also an excellent listener and has a very genuine presence about him.”
Charis McGaughy, who has served as SCESD’s interim superintendent for nearly a year, has accepted a permanent superintendent position with Coos Bay School District and will transition to her new role on July 1.
“I am looking forward to joining the outstanding team at South Coast ESD,” said Peterson. “My favorite people in the world are all educators, and the team at South Coast ESD is impressively talented, with expertise and commitment to helping all kids. I’m grateful and blessed to work with such incredible people. On top of that, I’ll get to work with the region’s talented school leaders, providing thoughtful leadership as we work to innovate and keep improving the educational experience for all kids.”
According to Peterson, his entry plan will kick off with listening and learning with a focus on team and community building prior to building a collaborative strategic plan for the district.
SCESD provides services to 10 local school districts and approximately 16,000 students from birth to age 21. There are about 125 staff members serving as teachers, education specialists, grant and special programs staff, support staff and administrators. SCESD provides services to students both within the region’s school districts and through an Early Intervention/Early Childhood Education Program. These services align with the purpose of ESDs and include special education services, instructional supports to local school districts, implementation of grant programs and technology and administration supports.
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/peterson-hired-as-superintendent-of-south-coast-education-service-district/article_4863c07c-d79c-11ec-8180-835fbb5ecf6d.html
| 2022-05-21T18:52:38
| 0
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/peterson-hired-as-superintendent-of-south-coast-education-service-district/article_4863c07c-d79c-11ec-8180-835fbb5ecf6d.html
|
1922
Store is robbed; goods recovered
Burglars break into the Fixup at North Bend
Take about $300 worth of clothing which is found concealed in a basement
A thief broke into the Fixup store in North Bend after closing hours Saturday night and stole quite an amount of men’s clothing and furnishings. He made his way in through a back window, breaking open the hallway door into the store. Marks on the door casing indicated that an axe had been used to pry it open.
All of the stolen goods, excepting about a dollar in small change and postage stamps to the amount of 40 cents which were taken from the till, were recovered. Evidently the marauder became frightened after having cached the goods in a nearby basement, for the goods were found.
There was clothing to the value of $300 in the lot.
Firemen called out twice Sunday
Two alarms in North Bend during the day
Child spills kerosene on the stove and makes a blaze — no great damage done
Twice yesterday the North Bend Fire Department was called out for small fires. The first was a chimney fire at the Olson home in old town, and the second was at the home of Albert Mason on Meade and Montana streets. Here the little boy had spilled kerosene on the stove, causing a blaze, but the mother had extinguished the fire before the engine arrived. No damage resulted from either fire.
High school of North Bend wins
Captures first place in the track meet
Finishes two and a half points ahead of Marshfield — event is a success
The Coos county school track meet at Myrtle Point Saturday was a success. There were contests for the high schools and also for the grades. There was quite a large attendance and the events were interesting and close. Marshfield and North Bend had a close rub for first place in the high school contest, and North Bend won by two and a half points. Marshfield did not have a relay team and previously the relay was not counted, but this time it was counted for points so Marshfield lost out. They put in a pickup team but had none trained and North Bend had a team ready.
Marshfield won in the contest for the grades.
1972
Sichting betters listed national girls long jump record in 5AAA
SPRINGFIELD — Fran Auer Sichting of Marshfield was simply superb Saturday as the Pirates powered their way to victory in the girls’ District 5AAA track and field championships at Silke Field, outpacing second-place Churchill, 104 to 70 ½.
Mrs. Sichting latched onto a national high school girls’ record in the long jump, and shattered meet records in the 100 and 220 set by Olympic gold medalist Margaret Johnson Bailes in 1968.
The married Marshfield senior leaped 19-6 ¾ to better the listed record of 18-7 set in Florida in 1967 and the pending mark of 19-1 set by Kathy Pirrie of Madras earlier this year. Her effort also shattered state, meet and school records.
Also, she zipped to a 10.9 clocking in the 100 and ran the 220 in 24.7 for meet records, then anchored the medley relay foursome of Vicki Hunt, Dianne Walker and Tina Rausch to a new meet record of 1:56.0.
Mrs. Sichting admitted, after it was all over, that she had “suffered side aches” throughout the going in 80-degree weather. But the pains didn’t prevent her from putting on her finest performance in her four-year stay on the Marshfield girls squad.
Powers women in Salem
POWERS — A Powers housewives group urging improvements on Highway 242 in Coos County appeared today before the Oregon State Highway Commission.
The group was formally represented by Wilna Wiwatowski, Eleanor McCray and Barbara Patton.
However, about 20 other women were to appear in Salem in support of the improvements.
The women said in a prepared statement, “We are women who should be at home taking care of our families. Yet conditions have become so bad on our road that we fear for the lives of our husbands and our children when they must traverse hazardous curves and embankments almost daily.”
The housewives noted, “We and many other people in our town have made many attempts to secure improvements for the Powers road known as State Highway 242. Five individuals took carloads to Salem in November 1965 to seek assistance. We were heard, but no promises were made.”
They added, “Many accidents involving all types of vehicles have taken place. Hazards are so great it is difficult to drive our road properly without disobeying the law. There are often natural obstructions such as tall grass or bushes which prevent the long range visability to the driver. Shoulders are so narrow that you cannot pull to the side in many places.”
Low bid accepted in D-8
COQUILLE — The Coquille School District 8c board of directors Tuesday night accepted the low bid of $1,394,500 by Drake Construction Co. of Coquille to build a new school at 11th and Highway 42 for grades six through eight.
Name of the building is Coquille Valley Middle School, chosen by student vote.
The new construction was expected to begin within a week with completion date set for Sept. 1, 1973. The old building will be used until the new building is ready, and then torn down. However, the adjacent gymnasium will be remodeled and will connect with the new building, a school spokesman said.
Money for the work is from a $1,950,000 bond issue passed in mid-1971 which included classroom and remodeling at the high school reportedly near complete.
2002
Braves boast top sprinter corps in Far West
REEDSPORT — When it comes to the boys sprinting events, Far West League coaches likely will be seeing red at the district meet Friday and Saturday in Florence.
That’s because Reedsport High School has suddenly become overloaded with good sprinters.
Last year, the Braves had the league’s best sprinter in Nathan Baumgartner, who won the 100, 200 and 400 meters as a sophomore. But that was pretty much it for Reedsport.
Baumgartner is back, and has a group of teammates that surpass any other in the league.
“I’ve never seen a team come up with that many sprinters in one year,” said longtime Myrtle Point coach Pat Towne. “Just to come up with two guys is amazing, but to come up with five other ones …”
Towne gave as an example one of his own sprinters.
“Wes Anderson was third at district last year in the 200 and this year he’d be sixth on their team,” Towne said.
Neither Towne, nor anybody else really saw it coming, and with good reason.
A year ago, Dustin Ziemen was playing baseball. Nick Riley, too, was a baseball player, who switched to track this spring after practices started. Mike Shields lived in Springfield. Chris Wheeler was a freshman who couldn’t compete because of academics. And Cory Crofcheck, the lone senior in the group, had never participated in an organized team sport.
This year they’ve all come together to give Reedsport the top sprint crew in the league.
Poverty down in rural Oregon
PORTLAND — A boom in cheese production, a windsurfing craze and new prison jobs have helped some Oregon counties reduce the poverty rate over the past decade.
Despite closing lumber mills and an agricultural slump, the poverty rate in most of rural Oregon declined in the 1990s, according to new U.S. Census data released Tuesday.
The state’s overall poverty rate, however, increased by a fraction of a percentage point from 12.4 percent in 1990 to 12.7 percent in 2000, according to census data collected on the so-called “long form,” which was mailed to about one in six households in Oregon.
The census measured individuals living in households defined by the federal government as living below the poverty level. In 2000, that was about $17,000 a year for a family of four.
Some rural counties whittled away at the number of poor people.
The rate fell by 3 or more percentage points in Gilliam, Jefferson, Josephine, Tillamook and Umatilla counties. Most rural counties a decline of about 1 percentage point, dropping to about 13 percent.
Poverty nonetheless remained a greater problem in those areas than in Portland, where the rate hovered at about 10 percent throughout the decade, according to the census.
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/this-week-in-history-may-20-23/article_61205708-d79a-11ec-9b78-9345cce09770.html
| 2022-05-21T18:52:44
| 1
|
https://theworldlink.com/news/local/this-week-in-history-may-20-23/article_61205708-d79a-11ec-9b78-9345cce09770.html
|
A street inside New York City’s sole army base now bears the name of a Black Congressional Medal of Honor recipient rather than a Confederate general.
Fort Hamilton changed the road’s name to John Warren Avenue on Friday morning, following a years-old push by local officials to remove Confederate symbols nationwide. The base had previously called the street General Lee Avenue, after Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Lt. John Warren, of Brooklyn, was killed at the age of 22 in 1969 in the Vietnam War when he fell in the direction of a grenade and shielded at least three men from the blast.
His Congressional Medal of Honor citation says Williams’ “ultimate action of sacrifice to save the lives of his men was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.”
Warren is buried in Long Island National Cemetery, and his Congressional Medal of Honor was posthumously presented to him in 1970.
The base will also rename its Stonewall Jackson Drive, which is named after another Confederate general.
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/fort-hamilton-renames-robert-e-lee-street-for-black-brooklyn-veteran/3699183/
| 2022-05-21T18:58:55
| 1
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/fort-hamilton-renames-robert-e-lee-street-for-black-brooklyn-veteran/3699183/
|
BLOOMINGTON — The Trades and Labor Fest, scheduled for this afternoon on the museum square in downtown Bloomington, has been canceled due to inclement weather.
The event was being planned by the McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly, and Livingston & McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council.
The event had previously been planned for April 30, but due to rainy weather that day, was rescheduled to this Saturday.
Visit facebook.com/McLeanCountyMuseumofHistory for cancellation updates and mchistory.org for more information.
Contact Robyn Skaggs at robyn.skaggs@lee.net or 309-820-3244.
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/bloomington-trades-and-labor-fest-canceled-due-to-weather/article_cf188a58-d927-11ec-a345-f756e7a39da6.html
| 2022-05-21T19:02:49
| 1
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/bloomington-trades-and-labor-fest-canceled-due-to-weather/article_cf188a58-d927-11ec-a345-f756e7a39da6.html
|
NORMAL — Police are investigating after gunfire was reported Friday night in west Normal.
Sgt. Rob Cherry with the Normal Police Department said officers were called at 11:02 p.m. to a report of shots fired around White Oak Road and College Avenue.
He said Saturday there is no ongoing threat to the public, and shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Cherry said no arrests have been made and police are still investigating. Additionally, he said no injuries were reported.
No further information was available Saturday.
This is at least the second shots fired incident this year in Normal. Officers were called in January to the 200 block of Lindell Drive after apartments and cars were struck by gunfire.
What you missed this week in notable Central Illinois crimes and court cases
This week's local crime and court updates from The Pantagraph.
Mark A. Carter, 35, is charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Class 1 felony).
Two men are suspected of burglarizing Walmart and stealing more than $23,000 worth of merchandise last week, police said.
Anthony Gay had filed a lawsuit after his release against the Illinois Department of Corrections for psychological damage suffered during solitary confinement and abuse from prison guards.
SPRINGFIELD — Amid a campaign season in which every constitutional office and seat in the Illinois General Assembly will be up for vote, risin…
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Bloomington police Det. Paul Jones at 309-434-2548 or pjones@cityblm.org.
A Chicago police officer shot and seriously wounded a 13-year-old boy who ran away after after he was pulled over driving a vehicle that was involved in a carjacking the day before, officials said Thursday.
The city of Chicago pursues a "two-faced" strategy of acknowledging an ugly history of police brutality in public while directing its lawyers to deny that legacy in court when victims sue, community leaders alleged in a court filing Thursday.
An Illinois man faces up to three years in prison after being convicted of illegally giving his son an assault-style rifle he later used to shoot and kill four people in 2018 at a Waffle House in Tennessee.
A 39-year-old former Lansing man faces 45 years to life in prison after being convicted of murder Wednesday for a 2017 road rage shooting in Oak Brook.
With less than two months to go until ex-R&B superstar R. Kelly and two of his former associates go on trial in Chicago, the sparks are starting to fly. But the most recent legal spat hasn’t involved prosecutors at all — it’s between the defendants.
Alicia L. Rodriguez, 19, is accused of kicking and spitting on a Bloomington police sergeant Monday during an arrest for domestic battery against a household or family member.
Joshua V. Wilburn, 33, is accused of burglarizing Casey’s, 810 N. Beech St. in Normal, on May 11.
The charges stem from an accidental shooting Tuesday morning at Disney Magnet School in the Buena Park neighborhood. A student at the school in the 4100 block of North Marine Drive took the gun to school in a backpack.
A Bloomington man was arrested after an accusation of battering a child earlier this month at a Normal grocery store, police said.
Police say arson is suspected in a Bloomington apartment fire that displaced residents earlier this week.
An arraignment is scheduled for June 3.
Four felony drug charges are pending for a Bloomington man.
An arraignment is scheduled for June 3.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will implement a 10 p.m. weekend curfew for minors in an attempt to reduce crime after a teenager was shot and killed at Millennium Park over the weekend.
A teenager was arrested on a felony aggravated battery charge, Normal police said.
Chicago's mayor promised new measures to combat violence after a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot near "The Bean" sculpture in downtown Millennium Park, which is among the city's most popular tourist attractions.
MingHuan Xu, a professional violinist and director of the string program at Roosevelt University, said the antique violin stolen has an immense cultural and personal value. It was made by renowned Italian violin-maker Nicolò Gagliano in 1758.
A discharge hearing is scheduled for August to review evidence in a case charging a 12-year-old boy with murder and arson in a 2019 fatal fire in Goodfield.
He is charged with one count of indecent solicitation of a child (Class 2 felony).
Nearly a year after passage of a law named for 2-year-old Ta'Naja Barnes, who died of neglect in February 2019, a state auditor found that DCFS has yet to implement it.
Nearly a year after passage of a law named for 2-year-old Ta'Naja Barnes, who died of neglect in February 2019, a state auditor found that DCFS has yet to implement it.
The Four Corner Hustlers are among Chicago’s oldest and most notorious gangs, one that for decades ruled the drug trade on the West Side by robbing competitors, killing rivals and terrorizing the community.
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/no-injuries-after-shots-fired-near-normal-intersection/article_64b806de-d927-11ec-a27e-0772f7a6662f.html
| 2022-05-21T19:02:55
| 1
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/no-injuries-after-shots-fired-near-normal-intersection/article_64b806de-d927-11ec-a27e-0772f7a6662f.html
|
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Deputies say they inadvertently caught a man wanted for domestic violence when looking for the suspect in an unrelated armed robbery Friday night in Wood Village.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office told KOIN 6 News deputies had responded to a reported armed robbery at a restaurant near the corner of NE 223rd Avenue and Glisan Street.
When deputies got to the scene, MCSO said they found a person who fit the description of the suspect in the shopping center’s parking lot.
It was only after they detained the man that deputies learned he wasn’t the suspect — but he did have a warrant for his arrest on an unrelated domestic violence charge, deputies said.
The man, who MCSO did not identify, was arrested.
Deputies didn’t find the initial suspect.
|
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/deputies-respond-to-reported-armed-robbery-arrest-man-wanted-for-unrelated-case/
| 2022-05-21T19:24:33
| 0
|
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/deputies-respond-to-reported-armed-robbery-arrest-man-wanted-for-unrelated-case/
|
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A puppy was stolen from her owner’s car early Friday morning in downtown Portland, and police are asking the public for help in finding her.
Oreo is 6 months old and was taken during a car prowl while her owner was at work, police said. It happened near the corner of Southwest 6th Avenue and Oak Street.
The Portland Police Bureau shared a photo of the pup to Twitter in hopes of finding her. Oreo has heterochromia — two different colored eyes — dark and white fur with white paws. Her face is mostly white with a unique dark masking coloration over her eyes.
“She is loved and missed by her owner,” PPB wrote in the Tweet.
Police are asking anyone who sees Oreo to contact them and reference Case No. 22-133106.
|
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/puppy-stolen-from-car-downtown-while-owner-was-at-work/
| 2022-05-21T19:24:39
| 0
|
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/puppy-stolen-from-car-downtown-while-owner-was-at-work/
|
ARKANSAS, USA — The number of Arkansans with jobs increased by more than 4,500 in April compared with March, but the state’s jobless rate rose from 3.1% to 3.2%. The state added more than 34,000 jobs year-over-year, and the jobless rate was well below the 4.5% in April 2021.
The number of employed in Arkansas during April was an estimated 1,306,972, up 34,139 jobs, or 2.7%, compared with April 2021, and above the 1,272,833 in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report posted Friday (May 20). The April numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.
Arkansas’ labor force, the number of people eligible to work, in April was 1,349,561 in April, above the 1,333,117 in April 2021, and above the 1,343,906 in March. The state’s labor force participation rate was 56.8% in April, above the 56.7% in April 2021.
To read more about this story please visit our content partner Talk Business & Politics.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-year-over-year-job-numbers-up-27-jobless-rate-ticks-up-to-32-april-unemployment/527-f283fb86-b5d7-4ae9-a8fb-0ea186f99468
| 2022-05-21T19:27:34
| 0
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-year-over-year-job-numbers-up-27-jobless-rate-ticks-up-to-32-april-unemployment/527-f283fb86-b5d7-4ae9-a8fb-0ea186f99468
|
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Bentonville commencement ceremonies have been postponed due to inclement weather.
The graduation ceremony for Bentonville High School is rescheduled for Sunday, May 22, at 1 p.m.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bentonville-commencement-ceremony-postponed-inclement-weather-high-school-graduation-sunday-may-22-1-pm/527-d4e3492b-bc2c-4a3e-9bc7-1a7be3123d50
| 2022-05-21T19:27:40
| 1
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bentonville-commencement-ceremony-postponed-inclement-weather-high-school-graduation-sunday-may-22-1-pm/527-d4e3492b-bc2c-4a3e-9bc7-1a7be3123d50
|
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Decision 2022 Primary Coverage
Mail-in Ballots
Primary Candidates
How to Help Ukraine
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
|
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/amid-suicide-crisis-more-sailors-deserting-navy/3246867/
| 2022-05-21T19:31:53
| 0
|
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/amid-suicide-crisis-more-sailors-deserting-navy/3246867/
|
A late-night arson suspect is on the run after lighting a book and piece of cloth and throwing them through the front gate of a Manhattan synagogue, police said.
The incident is now under investigation as a hate crime, authorities said Friday. It happened around 1:30 a.m. a day earlier at the Brotherhood Synagogue on Gramercy Park South.
Video of the suspect was released over the weekend as police try to narrow down the arsonist's identity.
In the short clip, a person is seen walking down a sidewalk in all black, carrying a green bag and wearing a white hat.
A reward of up to $3,500 is being offered.
Copyright NBC New York
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/fire-starter-wanted-in-hate-crime-attack-on-nyc-synagogue/3699325/
| 2022-05-21T19:38:03
| 1
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/fire-starter-wanted-in-hate-crime-attack-on-nyc-synagogue/3699325/
|
A police officer working in Jersey City is facing a false reporting charge for allegedly trying to cover up an on-the-job crash.
The prosecutor in Hudson County announced charges against a 36-year-old officer accused of filing a false report in connection to a crash on Feb. 10.
Prosecutor Esther Suarez said the cop was on duty when he crashed in his marked patrol car three months ago. In a report of the crash, the officer is accused of saying the vehicle was damaged in a hit-and-run at an entirely separate location.
The officer, Joseph Ross, accused in the case was arrested on charges Friday of falsifying a police report. Attorney contact information for Ross was not immediately known.
A spokesperson for the Jersey City Police Department declined to comment.
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-cop-caught-trying-to-cover-up-crash-with-fake-hit-and-run-report-official/3699340/
| 2022-05-21T19:38:05
| 0
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-cop-caught-trying-to-cover-up-crash-with-fake-hit-and-run-report-official/3699340/
|
Phoenix man dies in shooting near 91st, Campbell avenues
Laura Daniella Sepulveda
Arizona Republic
A man died Friday afternoon after he was shot near 91st and Campbell avenues in Phoenix, according to police.
Phoenix Police Department identified the victim as Hector Antillon Acosta, 41.
Police received reports of the shooting just before 4 p.m. When they arrived at the location, they found Antillon with gunshot wounds.
Antillon was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
After investigating, police arrested Robert Segobia, 39, in connection to the shooting.
Segobia was booked into a Maricopa County jail, according to police.
The investigation was ongoing.
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/phoenix-breaking/2022/05/21/phoenix-man-dies-shooting-91st-campbell-avenues/9872031002/
| 2022-05-21T19:44:54
| 0
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2022/05/21/phoenix-man-dies-shooting-91st-campbell-avenues/9872031002/
|
Multi-vehicle accident closes part of Kell freeway
Christopher Walker
Wichita Falls Times Record News
A multi-vehicle accident shuts-down part of Kell Freeway Saturday
According to Wichita Falls Police spokesman Sgt. Charlie Eipper:
Shortly before noon, three vehicles were driving west on Kell Freeway between Brook and Harrison when they tried to merge causing a wreck.
One vehicle rolled and ended up in the center median. Eipper said officers discovered a Ford Expedition and a Chevrolet Silverado pickup collided.
The collision sent the Ford Expedition into the grass median where it rolled over. The Silverado collided with a semi-truck in the right lane. The semi-truck was also hauling another semi-truck.
There were four occupants in the Expedition, one person in the Silverado, and one person in the semi-truck.
There were no serious injuries reported.
|
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/05/21/multi-vehicle-accident-closes-part-kell-freeway/9873377002/
| 2022-05-21T19:46:49
| 1
|
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/05/21/multi-vehicle-accident-closes-part-kell-freeway/9873377002/
|
Those who'd like to see the giant mural on the front of the Pershing Center live on after demolition of the building can now donate through June 1 — including during Give to Lincoln Day.
Lincoln has extended the deadline to raise the initial $1 million needed to safely remove the mural, which means people have more time to donate, and can choose to do so through Give to Lincoln Day, which is May 26.
All donations contributed to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation during Give to Lincoln Day would go to the Pershing Mural Preservation effort.
Donations to the Liz Shea-McCoy Foundation for the Arts will need to specify where they would like their funds to go, and those designated to the “Pershing Mural Preservation Effort” will be forwarded to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation.
For more information, call Liz Shea-McCoy, Chair, Committee to Save the Pershing Mural at (402) 430-5923, or lizwshea@gmail.com.
Margaret Reist is a recovering education reporter now writing about local and county government and the people who live in the city where she was born and raised.
The Lincoln City Council Monday voted to allow a Lincoln couple — both veterans who suffer from PTSD — to keep their mini-pig for emotional support despite an ordinance that prohibits it.
A group that set up a prayer camp to oppose a planned development near Wilderness Park and a Native sweat lodge says it will dismantle the camp, but will continue efforts to protect the sweat lodge.
Hundreds of people rallied on the north side of the Capitol for the second time since a draft Supreme Court opinion striking down Roe v. Wade was leaked.
A group of Native activists and others took down the Niskithe Prayer Camp erected to oppose a recently-approved housing development and marched to City Hall, the Capital and the Catholic Diocese.
Ronald and Dee Baddorf didn't realize city ordinance prohibits residents from keeping pigs. They're asking for a waiver so they can keep Lucy, a mini-pig that changed their lives.
The Associated Press called the race at about 10:30 p.m., and Pillen spoke to supporters gathered at the Embassy Suites in downtown Lincoln at about 11 p.m.
The group wants a formal apology from the Lincoln City Council and for members to engage in a restorative justice process with them, and asks the mayor to veto the council’s action last week.
Kristi Egger, who in January retired from the defender’s office after 33 years and filed to run against Joe Nigro, will face Trevin Preble in November's general election.
In a crowded field of Republicans, Jim Pillen surged to the lead for the first time in results updated at 9:35 p.m., and at 10:25, the Associated Press called the race.
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/donating-to-save-pershing-mural-on-give-to-lincoln-day/article_6a75412b-9318-57c3-8e6e-5c312a715f38.html
| 2022-05-21T19:50:13
| 0
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/donating-to-save-pershing-mural-on-give-to-lincoln-day/article_6a75412b-9318-57c3-8e6e-5c312a715f38.html
|
Raising a flag to Guatemalans in Philadelphia
A flag-raising ceremony hosted by Guate en Philly and the Consulate General of Guatemala in Phila. was held at City Hall on Thursday to honor Guatemala Day.
MORE IN THIS SECTION
Visit the sailboats at CTG
May 20th, 2022Annual business conference
May 20th, 2022Latinx Beauty Entrepreneurs
May 20th, 2022Colleagues, not competition
May 20th, 2022A PA Latina in Congress?
May 20th, 2022Harrisburg's Only Latina?
May 20th, 2022Latino Executive's Success
May 20th, 2022HACU’s National Conference
May 20th, 2022On May 19, the Guatemalan flag was raised at Philadelphia City Hall as Mayor Jim Kenney — through city representative Sheila Hess — declared the day Guatemala Day.
“The City of Philadelphia that has long welcomed the immigration of Guatemalan citizens into our city… We are proud to join with each and every one of you in the Guatemalan community of Philadelphia, where we will celebrate the engaged community of citizens of Guatemalan heritage, who are an integral part of making our City of Philadelphia a welcoming and diverse City of Brotherly and Sisterly Love,” Hess said.
Celebrated since 2017, Guatemala Day was originally declared on May 16. As of 2018, there are around 10,000 Guatemalan people living in Philadelphia.
Alain Joinville, Director of Strategic Communications and Programs at the Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs, echoed sentiments from Hess’ speech by saying, “The city of Philadelphia is proud to be a welcoming city where our 232,000 immigrants call home. Today, we celebrate the Guatemalan community that is here with us. And I want to express my gratitude to each of you for selecting Philadelphia as a place to live, work, and play.”
Speeches were also given by representatives from the Consulate General of Guatemala in Philadelphia and the organization Guate en Philly. Guate en Philly is an organization that promotes economic and social wellbeing by connecting the Guatemalan community to opportunities in Philadelphia.
The Consulate representative spoke about the history of the Guatemalan flag and its design. The colors of white in the middle with light blue on either side represents how the country has the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Ocean to the east.
RELATED CONTENT
The flag was originally designed by the Conservative government in 1847 but was modified by the Liberal government after the Liberal Revolution of June 13, 1871. The flag is partially modeled on the Argentinian flag. The most notable difference is that the stripes on the Argentinian flag are horizontal while the stripes on the Guatemalan flag are vertical.
After the flag was raised, Manuel Portillo, Director of Community Engagement at the Welcoming Center, presented awards to members of the local Guatemalan community who have made important contributions to their community, and the larger Philadelphian community.
The first was to Jeferson Santiago of Marimba Tumbadora Orquidia Cubulenze. Marimba Tumbadora Orquidia Cubulenze is a group of local Guatemalan musicians who played marimba music throughout the program.
Zulma Guzman was also honored for her work as a community leader. She provides people in her community with resources and helps them navigate the process of things such as registering their children for school. She was honored for the impact of her work on the Guatemalan community, even though she herself is not Guatemalan.
The third went to Sofia De Leon, founder of El Merkury, a Guatemalan restaurant with locations in the Reading Terminal Market and on Chestnut Street. De Leon was honored for being a business leader.
Open The Link----------->>> 𝐖𝐰𝐰.𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞𝟐𝟒.𝐂𝐨𝐦
|
https://aldianews.com/local/philadelphia/guatemala-day-philly
| 2022-05-21T19:51:29
| 0
|
https://aldianews.com/local/philadelphia/guatemala-day-philly
|
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — (AP) — One person was killed and eight people were wounded following an overnight shooting at a large party in Southern California, police said Saturday.
Officers from the San Bernardino police dispatched late Friday found the one person who was killed outside the party, which was at a business in a strip mall, Sgt. Equino Thomas said. He said eight other people were shot and taken to area hospitals, most with their own transportation. Police said their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Police said the shooting appears to have stemmed from a conflict in a crowded room at the party and the victims don't seem to have been intentionally targeted. There have been no arrests.
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/1-killed-8-wounded-in-shooting-at-san-bernardino-party/509-b711d74d-1464-470e-9359-fceab30bc5a5
| 2022-05-21T20:04:08
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/1-killed-8-wounded-in-shooting-at-san-bernardino-party/509-b711d74d-1464-470e-9359-fceab30bc5a5
|
LATHROP, Calif. — Nearly two and a half years after the body of 36-year-old Chenin Carlson was found floating in a Tracy aqueduct, the victim's husband has been arrested for allegedly committing the homicide, officials say.
Early Friday, an arrest warrant was issued for Christopher Carlson, 44, of Manteca. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office says their detectives began looking for Christopher Friday and ultimately found him around 12:30 p.m. in Lathrop.
Christopher was taken into custody and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of murder.
Authorities say Christopher killed his wife, Chenin whose body was found floating in an aqueduct on Dec. 20, 2020 by two fishermen.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has released few details on the case but according to jail records, Christopher is scheduled to make an appearance in court on Monday.
Watch More from ABC10: Manteca's Great Wolf Lodge now offering day passes oine for locals
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/manteca/man-arrested-for-allegedly-killing-wife/103-622e4979-b2b4-48ba-9332-a46e2915c6a1
| 2022-05-21T20:04:14
| 0
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/manteca/man-arrested-for-allegedly-killing-wife/103-622e4979-b2b4-48ba-9332-a46e2915c6a1
|
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Natalia Jovovich grew up in West Roseville and is home from college. In the past month, she's seen four roaches.
"It's not like it's not an infestation or anything. It's not like a huge deal, but it's just so odd given that we have never seen any in the past up until very, very recently," Jovovich said.
Her parents have lived in the same house in Roseville for 34 years and they haven't seen a cockroach prior to this spring.
"I've never ever dealt with them or even seen them before anywhere near me, and, you know, in the last month I've seen four in my own house, so it's just crazy to me," Jovovich said.
Thomas Hernandez, a co-owner of AdvANTage Pest Control, said he has been getting calls mainly in West Roseville and old Roseville.
"We'll probably have an uptick starting after this warming trend," Hernandez said.
Hernandez said he gets more calls for roaches mainly in the spring and summer months because when the soil starts to dry up, roaches go into garages seeking a damp environment. The pesky critters, he said, usually come out of water or near sewer covers.
"Especially if you're not wanting pest control, I would at least call the city even if there's a couple here and there," Hernandez said.
Maurice Chaney, Roseville's public information officer for environmental utilities, told ABC10 roaches can be found in dark, damp places, and a sewer system is often an ideal environment.
"For this reason, we actually spray manholes often, about 1,000 annually. And when we receive customer calls, we add nearby manholes to the list for treatment," Chaney said, adding the city treats existing sewer lines and residents can let them know if there are issues in their area.
"Part of the issue is that, given drought conditions, we often see more insects out looking for available water," Chaney wrote.
Roseville residents who have issues with their sewer lines can call the city at 916-774-5750.
Here are tips on how residents can prevent roaches:
Akoni Berman, the Director of Quality Control for EcoGuard Pest Management shared these tips.
- Keep up with sanitation and good housekeeping practices both inside and outside
- Store food properly and do not leave food remnants out in your home
- Keep your lawn well-kept and free of debris
- Empty garbage regularly
- Mop your floor regularly
- Ensure you do not have any sources of leaks or standing water
Here's what to do if you spot roaches in your home:
- Leaving out sticky traps around the home
- Leaving out bait traps around the home
- Mopping the floor
- Cleaning out drains
- Removing any left out cat or dog food
- Calling a professional pest control company to help with cockroach extermination
Read more:
- Placer County investigation finds dogs abused, neglected at unlicensed Auburn K9 facility
- 2 people from Sacramento arrested after deadly fight in Roseville
- Roseville planning for affordable, senior housing on Royer Street in downtown
- New Raley's with beer and wine bar, cafe set to open in Roseville this summer
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
Watch more on ABC10
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/roseville/roaches-roseville-need-to-know-cockroach/103-902b099b-1ab4-4e80-9d87-912f0c595334
| 2022-05-21T20:04:20
| 0
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/roseville/roaches-roseville-need-to-know-cockroach/103-902b099b-1ab4-4e80-9d87-912f0c595334
|
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspicious vehicle that parked in the main jail's garage.
According to Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Rod Grassmann, an unauthorized driver pulled into the main jail's garage, which is located just off of I and 6th Streets, Saturday morning.
Law enforcement called the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD) team out of an "abundance of caution" to inspect the vehicle. As of 11:30 a.m., the following streets are closed to the public:
- I Street is blocked off from 5th to 7th Streets
- H Street is blocked from 5th to 7th Streets
- 6th Street is blocked from J to H Streets
Commuters and pedestrians should avoid the area. Click here for alternative routes.
One person has been detained by law enforcement, but details were not provided about that person's identity or any potential charges they may be facing.
STAY INFORMED:
► ABC10 In Your Inbox: Sign up now for the Daily Blend Newsletter for local headlines, weather, tips and even something to make you smile.
► ABC10 On Demand: Get access to our local news, live programming and weather with the free ABC10 app for Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
READ MORE FROM ABC10:
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
Watch more from ABC10
'I love those kids' | Arden-Arcade apartment fire leaves neighbors shocked
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-suspicious-vehicle-in-jail-garage/103-e7b49128-a887-40a7-b539-2e1dc96081c4
| 2022-05-21T20:04:26
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-suspicious-vehicle-in-jail-garage/103-e7b49128-a887-40a7-b539-2e1dc96081c4
|
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Two adults were killed Saturday morning following a crash in South Sacramento.
According to CHP - South Sacramento spokesperson Officer Mark Leavitt, a driver was traveling southbound on Stockton Boulevard Saturday morning when they crashed into another car near the intersection of Stockton Boulevard and 65th Street.
The two adults who were in the car that was hit died. One of the victims was a woman. Leavitt said the identity of the other victim was not yet known. The driver who caused the accident was taken to an area hospital with "major injuries."
Law enforcement believe speed was a factor in the crash, but could not confirm if drugs or alcohol also played a role. As of noon, investigators were still at the scene of the accident, gathering information.
STAY INFORMED:
► ABC10 In Your Inbox: Sign up now for the Daily Blend Newsletter for local headlines, weather, tips and even something to make you smile.
► ABC10 On Demand: Get access to our local news, live programming and weather with the free ABC10 app for Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
READ MORE FROM ABC10:
- Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigating 'suspicious vehicle' in main jail's garage
- Firefighters rescue five people, one dog from burning Sacramento home
- Oroville tree trimmer guilty in deadly throat-slashings
- Authorities find 150 dogs during warrant search at a Modesto home
- Three-year-old child killed in Arden area apartment fire identified
- Man killed in South Sacramento crash wasn't wearing seatbelt at time of accident, officials say
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
Watch more from ABC10
'I love those kids' | Arden-Arcade apartment fire leaves neighbors shocked
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/south-sacramento/2-dead-in-south-sacramento-crash/103-70a71515-6d43-48e6-9b34-9d3fe5c4e58e
| 2022-05-21T20:04:33
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/south-sacramento/2-dead-in-south-sacramento-crash/103-70a71515-6d43-48e6-9b34-9d3fe5c4e58e
|
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Acclaimed central Arkansas radio personality and Country Radio Hall of Famer, Bob Robbins died from a heart attack on Saturday around 12:45 a.m.
Robbins, whose real name is Robert Spears, had his death confirmed by Little Rock radio station, 105.1 The Wolf, where he worked as a DJ. The station posted the following statement online after his death:
"It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Country Radio Hall of Famer and Central Arkansas radio legend Bob Robbins. Bob’s love for his listeners, generosity to the community and love of country music and the artists who create it made him one of a kind. Please keep his family and his radio family at iHeartMedia in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss."
Following his death, Robbins is survived by his wife of 45 years, Susan, along with his 3 kids and 5 grandkids.
Robbins, who was originally born in Florida, began his Little Rock career in at KAAY, but spent a large period of his time at Arkansas' top country station, KSSN, where he worked from 1979 until 2013.
During his time at KSSN, Robbins was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters' DJ Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also named Broadcast Personality of the Year in 1996.
At the time of his death, Robbins was working as a DJ for 105.1 The Wolf but had been away for roughly 2 months due to health problems.
|
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-legend-bob-robbins-heart-attack-death/91-0a58f8a7-60f4-45f5-9b74-807207864c56
| 2022-05-21T20:37:13
| 1
|
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-legend-bob-robbins-heart-attack-death/91-0a58f8a7-60f4-45f5-9b74-807207864c56
|
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Nadia Rakun graduated high school in 2021. She could have gone on to college but decided to work instead. Right now, she has not one, but two jobs.
“I kind of just wanted to do that, it's where I'm most comfortable, and making good money doing it, and I can save, so I felt like that was my best option," she said.
Nadia didn't want an online college experience and with the hot job market she's kind of set. Know someone like her? You probably do.
The enrollment numbers at Minnesota colleges and universities are down — way down. But it’s not just a Minnesota thing. The number of high school graduates going on to college across the country is dropping dramatically.
"There are now a million fewer students enrolled than there were two years ago before the pandemic," says Doug Shapiro, executive director of The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Shapiro says it’s the biggest drop in 50 years.
“They have doubts about the value and the potential earnings pay off that might come from a degree, and they are much more wary about the need to go into debt to pay for that degree,” he says.
The cost of college is definitely high on the list of reasons some students are choosing a different path, but it’s not the only reason, and all of it is concerning.
"The nation's economy that depends on well-educated workers to perform the jobs of the future,” Shapiro says.
The future? How about right now? Minnesota is already feeling it.
“There are 205,000 jobs open in Minnesota right now and there are simply not enough people to fill them. We have about one person searching for every 2.7 open jobs in the state,” says Steve Grove, commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Grove says the biggest holes are in IT, health care and manufacturing.
“A lot of people can get a job right now without any sort of formal education or certification. That's not a bad thing, however we do encourage workers to think about what a long-term career track looks like,” he says.
And long-term, it does make a difference.
“The difference between having a college education and not having a college education is about $1.2 million over your lifetime earnings,” says Dr. Joanna Ramirez, executive director of College Possible Minnesota.
"We also see people are more civically engaged; they're more likely to vote, they're more likely to volunteer,” she adds.
College Possible helps low-income and predominately minority students make college a reality. And when the pandemic hit, it's those very students who were impacted the most, either losing the job that helped pay for school or having to quit school to work.
“We are addressing the enrollments, declining enrollments, in some creative ways," said Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra.
Minnesota State says it has seen a decline in enrollment since 2011, but the pandemic accelerated that. Chancellor Malhotra says the system of 30 colleges and seven universities is rethinking everything.
“Rather than focusing just on degree programs, as important as they are, we need to focus also on short-term credentials,” he said.
"We also designed these short-term credentials in a manner, so they are stackable. They can be built one on top of the other. Then at some point, you have sufficient amount of them that they are stacked on top of each other, you may have enough for a degree," said Malhotra.
The hope is that people can keep working while still pursuing their degree, which is the best of both worlds, for our current economy and future.
“Education is the catalyst for upward economic mobility, and it not only for the current generation, education is also a catalyst for the future generations," Malhotra said.
As for Nadia, if she goes to college she knows she'll be more prepared. And even if she doesn't, well, she's prepared for that, too.
“I just invested in a Roth IRA,” she says. “I'm also taking steps right now to secure my finances in the future."
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist:
|
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/fewer-students-choosing-college-that-could-be-a-problem/89-cb011caa-8377-4fba-a026-f8352fbbf433
| 2022-05-21T20:37:19
| 0
|
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/fewer-students-choosing-college-that-could-be-a-problem/89-cb011caa-8377-4fba-a026-f8352fbbf433
|
Manatee County clerk criticizes deputy administrator and questions board spending
A clerk for the circuit court of Manatee County has openly criticized the deputy county administrator in a letter on Friday.
Angelina Colonneso wrote the letter to Kevin Van Ostenbridge, chairman of the Manatee County Board of Commissioners. In the letter, she reported several concerns she had about Deputy County Administrator Robert Reinshuttle that span from a lack of communication to $46,000 of county money spent on a Chevrolet Tahoe.
ICYMI:Employees claim Bradenton City Councilman Bill Sanders created a hostile work environment
"I have grave concerns on the efficient operation and transparency in government to our citizens," Colonneso wrote in the letter. "Given my observations, these matters and those yet to be discovered could create a significant cost to the taxpayers that are unquantifiable at this time."
She pointed out that the Chevrolet Tahoe was purchased to be used as a "pool" car after Reinshuttle's contract was signed, but she said he exclusively uses the car to drive to and from work. In addition to this, she wrote that he has a $450 monthly car allowance.
Colonneso also wrote that Reinshuttle directed an employee to open a retirement account for him. However, she said that he was ineligible since Reinshuttle already previously retired with FRS benefits.
Additionally, instead of approving surplus assets on a monthly basis, the board changed it to be approved on a quarterly basis without discussing it with the clerk's office, she said.
Colonneso added that she has experienced a lack of communication on county projects from Reinshuttle and criticized his transparency with public records requests.
She said that she was "admonished" by him for responding to a public records request in a timely manner during a specific incident.
"He explained that he was having a 'situation' in a department and that I, 'released a public record, without telling him,'" Colonneso said in the letter. "He went on to tell me that in doing so I 'could have brought down an entire county department.'"
Colonneso said she shared her concerns with the Inspector General Division to further investigate.
Previously:Inspector General: Favoritism claims against Manatee County Building and Services substantiated
And:Manatee County addresses favoritism in building department
In the letter, she also addressed the reorganization that has taken place within her department since Reinshuttle was voted in June 2021. Her main concern was the speed he was restructuring internal duties. She said that her team was working with the county on a plan which was disrupted by Reinshuttle trying to streamline the process.
"This has created inefficiencies along with chaos and confusion," she wrote in the letter.
Ostenbridge responded to the letter and said that Colonneso's letter was strategically and politically motivated.
He said that her actions have led to the loss of millions of taxpayer dollars and that she's trying to undermine the board of county commissioners.
"Colonnesso has chosen not to face the music and take responsibility for her own actions. Instead, she has taken a page from the Joe Biden playbook and is pointing a finger at others to distract from her failures," Von Ostenbridge said. "Manatee County taxpayers deserve better from their clerk."
|
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2022/05/21/manatee-county-clerk-writes-county-administrator-about-concerns-chairman-responds/9871719002/
| 2022-05-21T20:48:02
| 0
|
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2022/05/21/manatee-county-clerk-writes-county-administrator-about-concerns-chairman-responds/9871719002/
|
Business at Midland International Airport is booming.
The city of Midland reported that 50,620 passengers boarded an airline during the month of April. That was highest total for a month of April going back to at least 2010.
The total topped the 50,350 in April 2019 and raised the total number of passengers this fiscal year to 322,884 – a 53.4 percent increase over FY 2020-21.
Southwest was again the top airline at Midland International with 46.5 percent of the passengers. United was second with 28.4 percent. American Eagle was third and actually reported a decrease in passengers compared to April 2021. Southwest and United reported increases of 50.2 and 37.4 percent respectively.
The city also collected $467,374 in parking revenues, which was a 44.6 percent increase compared to April 2021. The $3.222 million is an 81.5 percent increase compared to FY 2020-21. Fuel sales also was up 35.8 percent in April and up 48.3 percent this year.
April boarding history
April 2022: 50,620
April 2021: 39,093
April 2020: 5,262
April 2019: 50,350
April 2018: 47,827
April 2017: 40,193
April 2016: 38,313
April 2015: 41,389
April 2014: 43,594
April 2013: 40,871
April 2012: 38,091
April 2011: 37,117
April 2010: 34,837
Source: City of Midland/Reporter-Telegram records
Midland International Airport report
Boardings
April 2022: 50,620
April 2021: 39,093
Fiscal year total: 322,884 (53.4 percent increase compared to 2020-21)
Share of passengers
American Eagle 12,636
Southwest 23,581
United 14,403
Total 50,620
Fuel sales
(in gallons)
April 2022: 616,728
April 2021: 454,179
Fiscal year total: 3,721,287 (48.3 percent increase compared to 2020-21)
Parking revenues
April 2022: $467,374
April 2021: $323,314
Fiscal year total: $3,222,386 (81.5 percent increase compared to 2020-21)
Source: City of Midland
|
https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/City-Airport-activity-at-Midland-International-17187880.php
| 2022-05-21T20:56:47
| 0
|
https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/City-Airport-activity-at-Midland-International-17187880.php
|
A 38-year-old Midlander died early Saturday after a one-vehicle crash on Industrial Avenue.
The Midland Police Department reported that Adam Alvarez was driving his 2008 Ford Mustang westbound at a high rate of speed. In the 1700 block of West Industrial, Alvarez lost control of the vehicle and collided with a gas meter and a fire hydrant. The vehicle then rolled and eventually collided with a building, according to MPD.
Officers responded to the crash around 5:04 a.m. Alvarez was not wearing a seatbelt, was the vehicle's only occupant and was pronounced deceased at the scene from his injuries, MPD reported. The investigation is ongoing.
|
https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/MPD-Midlander-dies-after-rollover-on-Industrial-17189197.php
| 2022-05-21T20:56:53
| 0
|
https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/MPD-Midlander-dies-after-rollover-on-Industrial-17189197.php
|
A trio of alleged scammers have pleaded guilty to using millions of dollars in state grants meant to feed Pennsylvania children to buy luxury cars and fancy clothes, federal authorities announced Thursday.
Charles Simpson, 44, Tanisha Jackson, 49 and her daughter, Paige Jackson, 30, admitted creating a bogus nonprofit organization named "Helping Others in Need" that received federal funds allegedly meant to provide meals to children in need after school and during summer.
According to federal authorities, instead of distributing meals to Pennsylvania kids, the trio used the funds to buy an entire fleet of fancy cars which included a Bentley, two Land Rovers, two Maseratis, two Mercedes, a Hummer and a Porsche, along with clothes and vacation packages.
Investigators also said Simpson and Tanisha Jackson used fake names because they had been previously excluded from feeding programs in other states, the US Attorney said. Paige Jackson also admitted to using an alias when dealing with state education officials.
In total, investigators say the trio stole around $4 million dollars from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture between 2015 and 2019.
After pleading guilty, Simpson and Tanisha Jackson agreed to pay the federal government $1.5 million in restitution. Paige Jackson agreed to pay about $190,000.
All will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab, although no dates were set.
|
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/trio-admits-to-buying-several-luxury-cars-with-state-funds-meant-to-feed-kids-in-need/3246885/
| 2022-05-21T21:03:24
| 0
|
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/trio-admits-to-buying-several-luxury-cars-with-state-funds-meant-to-feed-kids-in-need/3246885/
|
HOUSTON — Headed to Hobby Airport? You'll need to dress cool and plan on a less-than-comfortable trek to your gate.
An air conditioning outage has prompted airport staff to deploy fans and bottled water giveaways as temperatures inside the terminals hover beyond the uncomfortable.
"We are sorry about this," Hobby representatives tweeted in response to one passenger. "Our technicians are working on this to resolve the problem as soon as possible."
The HVAC system was not keeping up with demand, airport officials said.
There's been no disruption to arrivals and departures as temperatures outside soared into the lower 90s Saturday.
Air blowers have been deployed and personnel is handing out water beyond the TSA checkpoints since passengers aren't allowed to carry liquids through the screening area.
There's no word on when the systems are expected to be restored.
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/hobby-airport-ac-outage-prompts-water-distribution/285-24db02b0-eec9-4fbb-b09b-23261eb46e12
| 2022-05-21T21:07:16
| 0
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/hobby-airport-ac-outage-prompts-water-distribution/285-24db02b0-eec9-4fbb-b09b-23261eb46e12
|
LEON COUNTY, Texas — After an exhaustive ground and air search in Leon County, the search for escaped inmate Gonzalo Lopez is entering a new, expanded phase, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) said Friday.
A $50,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the capture of Lopez.
Editor's note: The above video originally aired on May 19.
Last Thursday, May 12, Lopez escaped custody by shedding his shackles and cutting through a metal barrier on a prison bus before stabbing a correctional officer. Video from a witness showed Lopez running through a wooded area.
The renewed focus by the Texas Rangers, U.S. Marshals and other law enforcement agencies "is to leave no stone unturned as they follow leads and track Lopez’s whereabouts," TDCJ said Friday.
A separate contingent of TDCJ personnel will remain in Leon County to conduct "strategic searches of areas outside the original secured perimeter."
“Anyone who has knowledge of Lopez’s location should come forward,” said Inspector General Cris Love. “Those found to be helping or harboring him not only will face arrest and prosecution, but I believe they are putting themselves in danger. Lopez has a complete disregard for human life and will do what it takes to avoid capture. We will take this investigation wherever it leads us until Lopez is back in custody.”
Lopez, a known killer with a violent history, is approximately 6 feet tall and 190 pounds and was last seen wearing white clothing in a wooded area off of Highway 7 in Leon County.
Those with information on the suspect should call TDCJ OIG Crime Stoppers at 1-800-832-8477 or 936-437-5171 or call 911 immediately.
Week one of search for Texas prison escapee
Until now, the search to find Lopez focused in Centerville, about two hours north of Houston, and the surrounding area.
“He’s crafty," Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Robert Hurst said. "He’s done this before down in South Texas in Webb County he hid out for almost nine days.”
On Wednesday, we got a better idea of what those search efforts look like when TDCJ released a video showing hundreds of officers marching through the brush acre-by-acre. They even showed a pop-up city that developed on the cow pastures around Centerville.
Also Wednesday, authorities released photos of Lopez that were taken by surveillance cameras shortly before he boarded the bus last Thursday.
Hurst said they haven't found any suspicious activity, but as the manhunt continues, he had a message to the community.
"This is a very dangerous man. Back in 2005, he killed someone with a pickax. In 2004, he shot at an officer. If he has that device, whatever he used to cut through the door and also stab the officer, folks to need to be aware he may still have that on him," Hurst said.
Hurst said it's still unclear if anyone from the inside helped him get away and also said it's unclear if the bus was being followed.
“There is no indication that there was anything of a suspicious nature from the time that bus left Gatesville until the time of the accident," Hurst said.
Who is Gonzalo Lopez?
Lopez is serving back-to-back life sentences for shooting at a Webb County, Texas sheriff's deputy in 2004 and killing a man with a pickax in Hidalgo County after holding him ransom on a drug debt.
It's not the first time Lopez has managed to hide from law enforcement for an extended period of time. In 2004, he was able to run away from a police chase in South Texas and stayed hidden with the help of a cartel associate, he told investigators at the time.
Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice professor Mitchel Roth writes books about inmate escapes and prison gangs.
“It’s a pretty much backwoods area," Roth said. "There’s not a whole lot of people living out there, lots of places to hide and that sort of thing, but I would suspect he’s already gone somewhere and that he’s had help from somebody else.”
Roth says it makes sense because the gang Lopez is affiliated with teaches its members to live like soldiers.
“The Mexican Mafia is kind of one of the old school prison gangs," Roth said. "One of the first, it’s a very elite type of prison gang where they don’t just take everybody and they treat everybody like they’re in a paramilitary unit.”
Which makes the idea of surviving in the woods and evading capture for more than one week, more understandable.
“I heard one of them say that they’re like the Green Berets of prison gangs," Roth said.
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/escapee-gonzalo-lopez-search-update/285-da7735ca-b68f-4906-9ae1-853e3bc95f95
| 2022-05-21T21:07:22
| 1
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/escapee-gonzalo-lopez-search-update/285-da7735ca-b68f-4906-9ae1-853e3bc95f95
|
The Flagstaff Eagles football team appears to be in an unprecedented spot in the spring, at least compared to recent years.
Maybe that’s a good thing.
Since Sean Manning signed on to be the head coach in the spring of 2020, this is the first time he’s had a full spring session with the dedication to weights, conditioning and team building he’s looking for.
After winning four straight games to open 2021, the Eagles slumped and finished the year with a 4-6 record and missed the playoffs. The last loss was a 26-7 defeat at the hands of rival Coconino. Manning immediately said he wanted some things to change.
“Standing on the field after our last game, I was adamant about it. I was pushing the weight room, and it has to be that in order to be successful, because that was a weakness,” he said.
The Eagles have graduated many seniors from last season’s team, so there is a bit of a rebuild happening. And, while it is still early and the results of a full spring of the coaching staff’s liking have yet to be seen, the players sense things are moving in a positive direction.
People are also reading…
“Coach Manning’s trying to make that a big part of that this year, committing 100% to the team. That hasn’t been a part of playing football here at Flag High for a long time,” junior Jake Weidinger said.
“We’re introducing a lot of new things that people, especially from Flag High, haven’t seen before. So I think a big strength we’re running on is our commitment and being eager to learn the new stuff,” added junior Holden Sena.
Manning believes the junior class, which will be rising seniors once the school year ends shortly, are going to be a major piece in whether the Eagles can get back to a winning record. The impact they have on the newer players, whether they’re former role players, JV participants or simply picking up the game for the first time, will be indicative of how the future of the Eagles pans out.
In the weight room on Friday there were laughs as players enjoyed each other’s company. But they know that flipping their win-loss record requires effort to begin now.
Manning added that, with solid numbers at spring practice, the Eagles are “about five months ahead” of where they were in offseasons past, simply because he can account for them and has a baseline of hard work to lean on.
“The juniors, future seniors, are hungry. They didn’t have a successful year last season. We started off with a bang and then stumbled and couldn’t get over that hurdle. They’re enthusiastic to change that, and you hopefully can see the other kids follow them,” Manning said.
There are open spots at several key positions at the varsity level, such as quarterback, defensive line and really all over the field that will require competition to figure out who will start come the fall. Much of that will happen over summer, as the Eagles participate in passing tournaments, team camps and the typical offseason regiment.
But if that is to lead to any success, the future senior leaders believe the effort has to begin now.
“I think we’re just trying to have a good time in the spring. But with a lot of new guys there’s a chance to do something new, so it’s been very energetic,” Weidinger said.
|
https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/fhs-football-looking-for-improvement-beginning-in-spring-session/article_aa9a0fd4-d928-11ec-92b3-cb499ffda063.html
| 2022-05-21T21:35:07
| 1
|
https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/fhs-football-looking-for-improvement-beginning-in-spring-session/article_aa9a0fd4-d928-11ec-92b3-cb499ffda063.html
|
A man died Friday after he was struck by a train west of downtown Bismarck.
The incident occurred around 6 p.m. where the rail tracks bend along Main Avenue before crossing the Missouri River, Bismarck Police Sgt. Lyle Sinclair said.
It’s unclear why the man was at the tracks. The area where he was struck was not at an intersection, Sinclair said.
The man’s name was not immediately released.
|
https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/man-dead-after-struck-by-train-in-bismarck/article_b4a7be6e-d940-11ec-a308-ef600dee2112.html
| 2022-05-21T21:38:08
| 0
|
https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/man-dead-after-struck-by-train-in-bismarck/article_b4a7be6e-d940-11ec-a308-ef600dee2112.html
|
The Bismarck Rural Fire Department extinguished a house fire northwest of Bismarck on Friday afternoon.
No one was home when the fire broke out shortly before 4 p.m., Assistant Fire Chief Brian Reinke said. The house sustained fire damage on the main level, and heat and smoke damage throughout, he said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
|
https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/rural-bismarck-house-catches-fire/article_8264548a-d940-11ec-9af4-dfd437800a97.html
| 2022-05-21T21:38:14
| 0
|
https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/rural-bismarck-house-catches-fire/article_8264548a-d940-11ec-9af4-dfd437800a97.html
|
Mourners recall radio host Big John as a man who lived his faith through service to others
DAYTONA BEACH — Parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church would sometimes tell their pastor that Big John — a former Volusia County councilman-turned-radio host who died Sunday — considered himself a "recovering Catholic."
They would tell the Rev. Phil Egitto: "Father Phil, John is a baptized Catholic. You need to get him back in church."
Egitto, who gave a sermon at Big John's memorial service Saturday at the beachside church, knew that as he had many discussions with John about faith.
Mark Lane:A big loss for Volusia as Big John signs off
In Big John's words:Remembering Sweetie, a life well-spent
Growth ahead of infrastructure:'Critical' LPGA stretch at I-95 unfunded; could federal government's billions speed it up?
"I would say to them: He IS in church. Because church is not a building where we gather and worship," Egitto said.
Rather than slump into a pew week after week, John lived his faith.
"Big John was the voice of the voiceless," Egitto said. "He spoke out for those who were poor, those who were oppressed, those who were struggling, those who had any kind of need in their life. Not only was he generous and shared what he had, but he spoke up for justice in our community."
The event drew hundreds from all stratospheres of Volusia County to memorialize a quirky man known for both self-promotion and humility. Some stayed for food from two of Big John's favorite restaurants, the Oyster Pub and Mario's.
Two of his longtime friends, Renee Gahagan and Mark Reed, gave his eulogy in the form of a conversation.
Gahagan, who knew Big John for 52 years, said he came to her home for Christmas dinner for most of the last 45 years, and he would critique what she was wearing.
"Because he was such fashionista," she said about a man known to wear Crocs most everywhere and whose trademark was a blue work shirt with his name stitched to the breast.
Last Christmas, John called her and said he couldn't make it for dinner, that he had to go to the hospital. She promised him they would celebrate the holiday when he was able, so she hung on to the cranberry dress her children had given to her waiting for that day.
"Today I'm wearing my Christmas dress that he didn't even see, but I'm hoping he's looking down on us," she said.
Reed said John's outsized life had reach beyond the hundreds who gathered Saturday.
"He was a wonderful man," Reed said. "He touched all of our lives, and so many more that couldn't make it today, and he's helped people that probably didn't know where the help was coming from."
Gahagan pointed to some of the people who captured John's attention.
"If you were an abused or abandoned child, he fought for you. If you were a victim of rape, man or woman, he fought for you. If you were homeless, he fought for you," she said. "He never stopped fighting."
John had a difficult childhood himself, friends said. He rose from poverty to become a successful businessman as the owner of three tire and muffler stores, and his interest in public policy led him to run for the Volusia County Council. He won three terms between 1984 and 2002, when he then transitioned into a career as an afternoon talk show host on WELE-AM 1380.
Gahagan said that the memorial service of hundreds included some of whom he joked were his "19 listeners."
'We live the questions'
Egitto said he had many conversations with John about faith.
John's doubts about God and faith didn't deter Egitto.
"No two Catholics think the same thing about anything. In fact, as Big John would say he was a recovering Catholic, that's why he found his home here at Lourdes. If you've ever been to church here, you know that we're all a bunch of recovering Catholics," Egitto said.
"We live the questions. We don't have all the answers to every question our heart can come up with. We live together with those questions. That's for us at Lourdes what it means to be church," Egitto said. "We say that we love the God we cannot see by loving the neighbor we can. That's what we're about and that's what Big John was about."
What people didn't know about Big John
Clay Beazley, owner of All-Florida Plumbing and Electrical Supply, said John was probably his best salesman, plugging his business regularly.
"I have an empty spot in my heart now because I would talk to him anywhere between three and four, maybe five times a week," Beazley said. "If I didn't call him, he would call me and say, 'Are you mad at me?'" Beazley said.
Regularly, John would bump into someone who needed help with their home. And John would call Beazley and say: "What can we do?"
Beazley said either he or one of his employees would fix the problem.
"If it meant something to him, it meant something to me. That's the kind of relationship I had with him."
But Beazley never ceased to be amazed when he would get to an address and think: "How in the world do you even know this guy?"
"But whenever he had a sad story with something he thought the people needed help, he would go to bat for them," Beazley said. "And that's what people didn't know about him."
Never miss a story: Subscribe to The Daytona Beach News-Journal using the link at the top of the page.
|
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/05/21/big-john-memorialized-our-lady-lourdes-service-daytona-beach/9793663002/
| 2022-05-21T21:57:45
| 1
|
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/05/21/big-john-memorialized-our-lady-lourdes-service-daytona-beach/9793663002/
|
LANCASTER, Pa. — Three people were taken to the hospital on Saturday morning after a vehicle hit a horse-drawn wagon in Lancaster County.
On May 21, around 9:32 a.m., first responders were called to the scene of a crash on the 500 block of Musser School Road, in Upper Leacock Township.
According to police's preliminary investigation, a Volkswagen Golf traveling west struck a horse-drawn wagon that was traveling east.
The driver of the Volkswagen, an 86-year-old Ephrata woman was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.
Two people on the wagon, a 69-year-old woman and her 44-year-old daughter were thrown from the wagon on impact and were taken to the hospital with traumatic injuries, police say.
The horse died at the scene.
Police have not said what caused the crash in the first place.
|
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/three-injured-vehicle-strikes-horse-pulling-wagon/521-82ae7d3f-e429-4b74-a99b-9a5a38e2b80a
| 2022-05-21T22:03:23
| 1
|
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/three-injured-vehicle-strikes-horse-pulling-wagon/521-82ae7d3f-e429-4b74-a99b-9a5a38e2b80a
|
Tempe plans to reopen westbound lanes of US 60 early next week after pipe burst
Tempe plans to reopen the westbound lanes of US 60 between Loop 101 and McClintock Drive early next week after an underground water pipe burst and flooded the highway two weeks ago.
The 24-inch steel transmission line burst on May 7 and flooded the highway with eight million gallons of water, according to Kris Baxter-Ging, a spokesperson for Tempe. The incident left commuters scrambling to find alternate routes. City and transportation officials said they don't yet know what caused the pipe to burst.
Tempe officials called the burst particularly unusual because the pipe was only 50 years old at the time of its rupture. The city installed the pipe in 1973 and said it should have lasted 75 years. The city plans to evaluate the cause of the burst but won't offer "any speculation" right now.
While the ruptured pipe might have upset traffic, it didn't affect Tempe's residential water service.
The city reopened eastbound lanes on the damaged section of the highway last Sunday. Construction crews continued to pour concrete for the westbound lanes last night.
The city will repurpose the asphalt and concrete that were damaged from the burst as fill material for the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, saving taxpayers money and preventing additional waste in a landfill, according to a May 17 press release. A Tempe spokesperson could not provide an exact figure.
"Sustainability is very important to the city of Tempe," Chris Kabala, principal civil engineer for Tempe, said in a video update Tuesday. "We are glad that this material is being used over here and not being shipped somewhere to a landfill."
The city does not yet have an estimate for how much the ruptured pipe and reconstruction work will cost.
Information for commuters
Until Tempe reopens the westbound lanes of US 60 between Loop 101 and McClintock Drive, commuters can use on-ramps at McClintock Drive, Rural Road and Mill Avenue, since those ramps are located west of the area where repair work is taking place.
Any US 60 traffic headed west approaching the closure will be redirected to north or south Loop 101.
- Drivers who travel north on Loop 101 can use Loop 202 west toward Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or to the downtown Phoenix area.
- Motorists who use southbound Loop 101 can head west on Loop 202 in the Chandler area to connect to I-10.
Commuters can find real-time updates on the Arizona Department of Transportation's website, app or Twitter feed, or they can call 511.
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe-traffic/2022/05/21/tempe-reopen-westbound-lanes-us-60/9874719002/
| 2022-05-21T22:04:16
| 0
|
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe-traffic/2022/05/21/tempe-reopen-westbound-lanes-us-60/9874719002/
|
Tri-Point High School
CULLOM — Tri-Point High School graduation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at the school.
The valedictorian is Ayden McNeill. The salutatorian is Robert Mogged.
Graduates are:
A-Z
Jose De Jesus Armador, Aden Betourne, Connor Cardenas, Dominic Carrera, Morgan Carter, Jasmine Clark, Kaylen Creek, Kailey Dedic, Mikaayla English, Alysson Essington, Blaike Gash, Logan Haren, Alexis Heinkel, Alex Hood, Tabitha Jabaay, Nathan Jamen, Andrew Jarman, Wyatt Kuhlmann, Abigail Lamb, Paul Langer, Brendan Likes, Hope McDermott, Ayden McNeil, Robert Mogged, Jameson Schuerr, Melina Schuette, Raven Smith, Jack Tompkins, Vern Tompkins and Helena Woods.
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/tri-point-high-school-2022-graduates/article_1ac8ca1a-d21d-11ec-9404-87a2c8e486c7.html
| 2022-05-21T22:27:40
| 1
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/tri-point-high-school-2022-graduates/article_1ac8ca1a-d21d-11ec-9404-87a2c8e486c7.html
|
NORMAL — Young Black scholars from the Twin Cities were celebrated Saturday at an Umoja ceremony held on the Illinois State University campus.
Hosted by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Nu Psi Lambda Chapter, along with the Beta Iota Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the event served as recognition of graduating high school students and their families, with honors rooted in African traditions.
James Love, president of the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, told The Pantagraph that the event provides an opportunity to celebrate Black cultural and heritage, and review African American history and predominant Black icons in the United States.
“We want (graduates) to see that and let them know they’re capable of more as they’re transitioning into college,” he said.
Love explained that they started holding the Umoja ceremony in 2016, and that its name means “unity” in Swahili.
So when celebrating the high school students, he said they want to ensure they bring in the community to provide that unity.
“We loop that into the celebration and we want to make sure unity is very present and they’re not forgetting their heritage,” Love said.
Also in the Saturday event program was the singing of the Black national anthem “Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing,” reciting of the Ancestor’s Prayer and the Ancestral Libations, and presentations of honor cords for graduates to wear with their gowns.
The keynote speaker was Vernon Smith Jr., a graduate of Normal Community High School and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He works as a reporter for Fox 2 in the St. Louis area.
He addressed graduates about how his parents gave him a document listing six key topics, with many bullets points for each. Smith said one was freedom, and its first point was to be responsible. He said students can stay out as late as they want to now, but they should not make a habit of it every weekend.
The second, he said, was make good decisions and don’t embarrass your parents. And the third, Smith said, was don’t get caught up with crowds that go wild with new freedoms; he later continued that those crowds don’t always make it to graduation. Some don’t make it to sophomore year.
Smith said he doesn’t want to make it seem like you can’t have fun in college, however, “be smart about the decisions you make, and remember, you went there for an education.”
Smith also encouraged graduates to set up their future by networking, and getting involved in organizations. One he joined connected him with the anchor at the news station he now works at.
“Mom and Dad aren’t going to be there to help you find these jobs once your college graduation rolls around,” he said.
Smith also told the graduating students to know their worth as Black students of excellence.
“The reason we have events like these where we can celebrate Black excellence is because ‘they’ count us out. They don't care enough to acknowledge our achievements or talk about the issues you'll face on the college campus,” Smith said.
One graduating senior was Alexander Williams Jr., who’s set to earn his diploma from Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
Since being away from home, Williams said he was glad to have his friends and family — including his sister Sahara, a sophomore at Normal Community West High School — come together on Saturday.
He plans to study physics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, with plans to transfer into computer science.
Latrice Samuel, a sponsor for the Normal West Black Student Union, said the ceremony was very organized, and it was great to celebrate Black excellence and “our Black children.”
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/umoja-ceremony-unifies-black-high-school-grads-from-bloomington-normal/article_215c906a-d942-11ec-b980-37d4e535206e.html
| 2022-05-21T22:27:46
| 1
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/umoja-ceremony-unifies-black-high-school-grads-from-bloomington-normal/article_215c906a-d942-11ec-b980-37d4e535206e.html
|
NORMAL — Starting at 7 a.m. Monday, Fell Avenue will be closed between North and Beaufort streets for building work, the Town of Normal announced Friday.
During this time, PIPCO Companies will be using a crane for work at the top of Watterson Towers.
Sidewalk closures will also be permitted during this time for both the west and east sidewalks of Fell Avenue.
Access will be maintained for local traffic only, and there will be no parking on the street.
The road is expected to reopen by 5 p.m. Friday, May 27, weather permitting.
A map spotlight of the road closure can be found at https://arcg.is/TL90b .
Photos: 'American Idol' finalist Leah Marlene returns to Normal for concert, parade
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene reacts to the crowd at a parade in her honor Tuesday, May, 17, 2022, in uptown Normal.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene waves to the crowd at a parade in her honor Tuesday, May, 17, 2022, in uptown Normal.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene is honored with a proclamation from Normal Mayor Chris Koos, who declared May 17, 2022, to be "Leah Marlene Day" for the town.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
A crowd gathers for "American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene's concert Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in uptown Normal.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
The crowd reacts to "American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene during her concert Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in uptown Normal.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
The crowd reacts to "American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene during her concert Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in uptown Normal.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Leah Marlene waves to the crowd after Normal Mayor Chris Koos declared Leah Marlene Day on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
The crowd reacts to "American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene at her concert Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in uptown Normal.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Leah Marlene performs during a concert in uptown Normal on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, as part of filming for "American Idol," where she is competing against two other finalists for the top spot.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene looks at the audience who gathered in uptown Normal to watch her being honored by Normal Mayor Chris Koos on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene appeared in uptown Normal on Tuesday for a parade and free concert.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Leah Marlene plays for a live audience Tuesday night at a free concert in Uptown Normal just two days after she became one of the top 3 performers in this season's American Idol contest.
Brendan Denison
From left, Paula and Eva Williamson and Jackie Reese, all of Tilton, hold up signs expressing their support for Leah Marlene before a free concert Tuesday in Normal.
Brendan Denison
Crowds fill North Street in Uptown Normal Tuesday evening for a free Leah Marlene homecoming concert.
Brendan Denison
Hannah Hinthorn, 12, of Bloomington holds a sign asking for "American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene's signature with Linda Jackson, right, before Marlene's concert Tuesday in Normal.
Brendan Denison
Livi Blade, 10, of Bloomington, left, and family friend Nicki Green pose for a photo in advance of Leah Marlene's parade and concert Tuesday in Normal.
Brendan Denison
"American Idol" finalist Leah Marlene, right, takes in the crowd on Tuesday before Normal Mayor Chris Koos, left, officially declares Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to be Leah Marlene Day following a parade in uptown Normal.
Brendan Denison
From left, Jeremy, Jennifer and Julia Rady brush up on coverage of Leah Marlene's homecoming plans in Tuesday's Pantagraph prior to Marlene's appearance at Uptown Circle in Normal. The trio traveled from Mukwonago, Wisconsin, on Tuesday to see Marlene's free show.
Brendan Denison
Contact Robyn Skaggs at robyn.skaggs@lee.net or 309-820-3244.
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/road-closure-begins-monday-on-fell-avenue-in-normal/article_529271da-d925-11ec-8678-e7cbf76c96c4.html
| 2022-05-21T22:27:53
| 1
|
https://pantagraph.com/news/local/road-closure-begins-monday-on-fell-avenue-in-normal/article_529271da-d925-11ec-8678-e7cbf76c96c4.html
|
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Iris Festival returned to the streets of Greeneville this Saturday.
The arts and crafts festival hosted over 150 vendors and food trucks. Guests were also able to take part in dancing and live entertainment.
In addition, the festival featured a 3-mile walk known as the ‘Keep Greene Beautiful Walk’, the Sundown on Depot Car Show, and a bicycle ride.
“It means everything it fills up your hotels, it brings in your vendors, helps them sell their goods, it helps recognize and get Greene county out recognized throughout the state,” said Cecil Ellenburg, festival participant and lifelong resident of Greeneville.
This year’s event marked the festival’s 27th year.
According to the event’s Facebook page, the festival began in 1994 when it was created by the Greene County Partnership.
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/greeneville-iris-festival-back-for-27th-year/
| 2022-05-21T22:29:38
| 1
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/greeneville-iris-festival-back-for-27th-year/
|
“They say a crying man is half a man.”
— The Temptations
I’ll go ahead and say it: If you’ve watched this final season of the groundbreaking NBC series “This Is Us” without crying, you are either the coldest-hearted motherscratcher on the planet or you just simply have no heart.
I know it’s probably hard for you to believe that such a macho specimen as this would a) actually cry over a freakin’ TV show and b) admit it. (According to columnist Scott Ludwig, I now deserve to lose my man card. ... No worries, I gave mine up years ago.)
But I’ve cried my butt off. I cried when Miguel (Jon Huertas) died. I cried when Kevin (Justin Hartly) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) went in to watch their mother take her last breath. I cried when Kate (Chrissy Metz) made the frantic trip back home and walked in just as her mother was making her way into life’s caboose. (You have to watch the show.)
And when Rebecca (Mandy Moore) passed from this realm into the afterlife and took her rightful place with Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), I lost it on one of those little boys who strike out with the bases loaded and two outs in the final inning of the championship game levels.
Did I mention that this is a TV show?
I was a big fan of “This Is Us” when it debuted six seasons ago, but I have to admit they kind of lost me when they went off the reservation on all these weird tangents in the middle seasons. This final season, though, with all the Pearson “triplets” going through their various weddings, divorces and life-altering dramas, is TV writing and acting at its best.
The series finale will air Tuesday, and I’m sure we’re all in for a four- or five-tissue weeper of an episode. I’m going to miss this show, for sure, but at least my tear ducts will be given an opportunity to recharge.
And, speaking of superb TV — admittedly in an era when most of what passes for entertainment on the medium is derivative, copycat trash hardly worth watching — I was pleasantly surprised to find recently — and quite by accident — one of the best new TV shows that I’ve seen in years.
Twenty years ago (God, was it that long!?) on a Sunday night when I was home alone, again by complete accident, a new show debuted on HBO that I had neither seen, read, nor heard a single word about.
That show, “The Wire,” caught me so off guard with its real-life portrayal of cops vs. crooks in Baltimore, I started calling people up as soon as the first magical episode ended to tell people I knew how good this show was.
“The Wire,” in just five (too short) seasons, became this guy’s favorite TV show ever.
In the years since “The Wire” ended, HBO lost its considerable mojo. (Remember “The Sopranos?” “Six Feet Under?”) The once innovative creator of superb television became mired in the mediocrity that had become the norm of network and pay TV.
But last weekend, I accidentally landed on HBO when an episode of “We Own This City” was being rebroadcast. The “limited series” is about — guess what — cops and crooks in Baltimore, although in this series, it’s hard to tell which group is most crooked. After watching 15 minutes or so of Episode 3, this popped into my head: “The Wire,” 20 years later.
Turns out I wasn’t far off. The creative team behind “City” includes George Pelecanos, one of my favorite authors, and David Simon. Simon was the brains behind “The Wire,” and Pelecanos contributed to the series.
“We Own This City” is gritty, a la “The Wire,” and its ripped-from-the-headlines concept (in the aftermath of the real-life death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore police custody) gives it the realism that made its predecessor so successful.
The actors — four episodes in ... I binge-watched all of them to catch up — are not yet the equal to “The Wire’s” expanded and stellar cast, but they do the gritty realism thing justice.
So while I’ll (tearfully, no doubt) say goodbye to “This Is Us” Tuesday, I’ll celebrate and eagerly anticipate a new episode of “We Own This City.” And, as a bonus, no crying.
|
https://www.albanyherald.com/local/carlton-fletcher-saying-goodbye-to-the-pearsons-an-emotional-experience/article_4a8ce95c-d916-11ec-bf02-97fa9dd4975a.html
| 2022-05-21T22:45:43
| 0
|
https://www.albanyherald.com/local/carlton-fletcher-saying-goodbye-to-the-pearsons-an-emotional-experience/article_4a8ce95c-d916-11ec-bf02-97fa9dd4975a.html
|
CANNES, France (AP) — When the Cannes Film Festival audience stood to applaud James Gray’s richly observed autobiographical drama “Armageddon Time,” about the director’s own 1980s childhood in Queens, Gray’s voice quivered as he addressed the crowd.
“It’s my story, in a way,” said Gray. “And you guys shared it with me.”
“It took every last bit of control not to burst out into tears,” Gray said, still recovering the next day in Cannes. “It’s been a really strange journey making the film and my father died two months ago of COVID. The whole process has been fraught and filled with emotion.”
“Armageddon Time,” starring Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, has stirred Cannes like no other American film at the festival this year. Gray’s movie, which Focus Features will distribute in the U.S. later this year, has been received as a tender triumph for the New York filmmaker of “The Immigrant” and “Ad Astra” not just for his detailed excavation of his childhood but for how the film reexamines his own white privilege growing up — how race and money can tip the scales in the formative years of young people.
Paul Graff (Banks Repeta) is a sixth-grader modeled after the 53-year-old Gray in a middle-class Jewish family. At school, Paul’s friend Johnny (Jaylin Webb) is a Black kid with fewer advantages, who’s treated differently than Paul. When Paul’s family elects to send him to a private school, the gap only grows. Connections to today’s inequities aren’t hard to decipher. At the private school, Jessica Chastain makes a cameo as Maryanne Trump, sister to Donald and an assistant U.S. attorney.
For Gray, “Armageddon Time” is period film about now, and a coming home after two far-flung films in the Amazon-set “The Lost City of Z” and the space adventure “Ad Astra.”
___
AP: When did “Armageddon Time” start formulating in your head?
GRAY: I was at an art exhibit in Los Angeles five years ago. Painted on the wall it said: “History and myth begin in the microcosm of the personal.” I had made this film before this where I went into space. It was a very difficult movie to make and a very difficult movie to complete. The end result was not fully mine. That was a very sad experience for me. I wanted to try to rediscover my love for the medium and why I wanted it do it in the first place. I said, “Screw it, I’ll make the most personal film I can.”
AP: You’ve called 1980 one of the most pivotal years in American history. Is that because of the election of Reagan?
GRAY: People don’t remember that he campaigned in Philadelphia, Mississippi, which is where Goodman, Schwerner and Cheney were killed by the Klan. And he started talking about states rights. He knew exactly what he was doing. I understand he didn’t come out and say the N-word. He didn’t come out and be Trump completely. But that was his purpose. I feel like that was planting the seeds for a kind of corporatist, me-first, top-down, frankly rooted in racism idea of American capitalism that hasn’t left us fully since. When you propose a system which is all about money, it has the basis of oppression built into it. It didn’t start with slavery. It started with the indigenous people who were basically vaporized. We’re very good at genocide.
AP: These aren’t the normal inward-looking themes of memoir films.
GRAY: All of this is about what the actual economic structure of the country is. I felt that that would have power in a context that’s very small, which is a kid’s transfer from a public school to a private school and how we all do our part to (expletive) things up. In other words, “I’m going to make this ethical compromise now. I’m going to contribute to ethical compromise just a little bit.”
AP: Were you thinking any of this when you were living through it as a kid?
GRAY: When I was a kid I never thought about the levels of capitalism, how if someone is up there, that means somebody’s gotta be down there. I knew 48 kids in a class, something’s wrong. But here’s the thing: Why is it not a source of utter rage in our country that public education in our country is financed by local property taxes? They should be burning down state legislatures because of that. The system makes itself very happy by basically saying: Let’s make a superhero movie but put a trans person in it. That’s fine. That’s excellent, whatever. But that doesn’t solve the problem. You have to look at the system itself and understand that it is based on the brutal oppression of one group to survive.
AP: Your film received an enthusiastic reception here in Cannes. Have you thought about how it will be received stateside?
GRAY: I’m sure there will be people who hate the movie. But as an American, I feel a particular sense of loss that we as filmmakers are not as willing to confront the ideas of class. One of the most amazing things about what Francis Ford Coppola did in that movie is how it presents such a vivid picture of the rot of capitalism. Look at “Jaws.” That mayor will keep the beaches open no matter what.
AP: Were the Trumps actually involved in your private school experience?
GRAY: They sure were. If I had my high school yearbook, I would show you the board of trustees which had Frederick Christ Trump in the picture. He would walk the halls of the school. His daughter (Maryanne) gave a speech to the school which I had my brother recount the best he could and then I recalled the best I could and we compared notes. They were very similar.
AP: You’re a filmmaker considered a classicist devoted to a personal kind of filmmaking for the big screen. Do you ever feel like one of a dwindling breed?
GRAY: It’s my obligation to continue trying to do the work that I’m doing. Not out of ego or any feeling of “I’m the best” or anything but because the type of cinema that I like, I’d like to think there’s at least somebody out there that likes it, too. And who is speaking for them? The question is: Are you going to pursue with passion what it is you dream about, what you hope for? Or are you going to give in? I’d love to be richer or more powerful or whatever. But if it’s not to be, I’m OK with that. I’d rather just pursue my dreams.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
___
For more Cannes Film Festival coverage, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival
|
https://www.cbs42.com/local/armageddon-time-portrait-of-white-privilege-stirs-cannes/
| 2022-05-21T22:58:06
| 0
|
https://www.cbs42.com/local/armageddon-time-portrait-of-white-privilege-stirs-cannes/
|
PLANO, Texas (AP) — The actor who played Red Power Ranger in the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” films and television series has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy relating to the federal Paycheck Protection Program, officials said.
Jason Lawrence Geiger, 47, of McKinney, Texas, is one of 19 defendants named in a federal indictment, the FBI said. Acting under the name Austin St. John, Geiger played Jason Lee Scott, the Red Power Ranger.
Geiger was arrested Tuesday and remained jailed pending a Monday detention hearing before a federal magistrate in the Dallas suburb of Plano, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to the single count against him and “intends to vigorously defend himself against this allegation,” said his attorney, David Klaudt of Dallas.
The Payroll Protection Program was part of the CARES Act designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued Thursday, federal prosecutors said the 19 defendants made fraudulent applications for payroll protection benefits during the pandemic lockdown and used the proceeds for personal purchases and expenditures. In all, the defendants were accused of obtaining at least 16 loans worth at least $3.5 million.
If convicted, each could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison.
|
https://www.cbs42.com/local/power-rangers-actor-charged-with-paycheck-protection-fraud/
| 2022-05-21T22:58:13
| 0
|
https://www.cbs42.com/local/power-rangers-actor-charged-with-paycheck-protection-fraud/
|
EAGLE, Idaho — The 16th annual Eagle Field of Honor returned to Reid Merrill Park Saturday, honoring veterans and those currently serving in the United States Military.
Each year, the City of Eagle hosts the tribute with a display of 600 U.S. flags in rows across the grass at Merrill Park. The flags stand for 24 hours each day and are lit at night.
A yellow ribbon can be seen on each of the 600 flags, which lists the name, rank, branch of service and war or campaign someone has served or is serving. Flag sponsorship is $30.
According to Eagle Field of Honor project co-chair, Heather Paredes, those who sponsored a flag get to keep it, along with the pole and rebar.
"We are here to pay tribute to all of our veterans and currently serving," Paredes said. "So, it is a tribute, not a memorial, and it's not just Idaho, it is anyone who has ever served or is currently serving in our United States Military."
100% of the proceeds from the Eagle Field of Honor go to a veteran's organization each year. Paredes said for this year's 16th annual tribute, the beneficiaries are Orville Jackson Post 127, American Legion and Legacy Corps Idaho.
Former Eagle Mayor, Nancy Merrill, initiated the Field of Honor. According to the event's website, more than 5,000 veterans and service men and women have been honored in the Eagle Field of Honor.
The Eagle Field of Honor is the "longest, consecutively-run Field of Honor in the country," the event's website says.
The flags stand in tribute through Memorial Day and purchased flags can be picked up Tuesday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Merrill Park field.
To learn more about the Eagle Field of Honor, click here.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/eagle-field-of-honor-tribute-to-servicemembers/277-f1f97055-781c-40c5-a09c-27ab5c51a788
| 2022-05-21T23:02:29
| 1
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/eagle-field-of-honor-tribute-to-servicemembers/277-f1f97055-781c-40c5-a09c-27ab5c51a788
|
HAGERMAN, Idaho — Multiple crews responded to a fire at the Hagerman Christian Center Friday evening.
Hagerman Fire Protection District Chief Tim Peterson told KTVB late Friday the fire had impacted 70-75% of the church.
Hagerman Fire Protection District, Bliss Fire, Gooding Fire, Buhl Fire, Jerome Rural Fire and Wendell Fire crews responded to the church around 8 p.m.
Peterson said the final crews left the church at 3:30 a.m. Saturday after responding to additional hot spots. The fire is out.
In a Facebook post Saturday, the Hagerman Fire Protection District said the Gooding County Sheriff's Office and Gooding County EMS also responded to Friday's incident.
"An incident this size requires all of us to work together, and last night was a good example," the post said.
Hagerman Fire also thanked local restaurants, stores and shops in town for providing crews with food and drinks.
Details on the cause of the fire are unknown at this time. Investigators from the Idaho State Fire Marshal's Office are at the Hagerman Christian Center Saturday, working to identify the cause of the fire.
No injuries were reported.
This story will be updated. KTVB is working to gather more information.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/fire-hagerman-christian-center/277-c44fb62d-d61d-4e0e-ae4f-04a0b39a5a0d
| 2022-05-21T23:02:35
| 1
|
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/fire-hagerman-christian-center/277-c44fb62d-d61d-4e0e-ae4f-04a0b39a5a0d
|
YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Air Terminal (YKM) canceled some operations Friday morning after a car crashed into the airport's control tower on the corner of Washington and Airfair Way. The driver died
According to the Yakima Police Department (YPD), the driver suffered from life-threatening injuries and he later died, according to YPD.
The YPD said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and crashed into power boxes and the control tower. The crash is under investigation but according to deputies impairment is suspected.
Photos: Yakima Airport Crash
The airport had to cancel its Friday morning flight operated by Alaska/Horizon, which was scheduled to leave from Yakima to Seattle at 6 a.m. Another flight that was scheduled to depart at 2:20 p.m. this afternoon was also canceled. Private flights are operating normally.
According to the YPD website, the YPD Terminal-McAllister Field provides the Yakima Valley with air transportation services and facilities, which include commercial air service provided by Alaska Airlines, charter air service provided by Swift Air and Sun Country Airlines, and air cargo services.
|
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/yakima-airport-tower-crash/293-dc9c8fa7-a62f-434b-ae1e-605bec531baa
| 2022-05-21T23:08:58
| 0
|
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/yakima-airport-tower-crash/293-dc9c8fa7-a62f-434b-ae1e-605bec531baa
|
Tucson, Arizona, native Josh Swain faced a crowd of about 200 people donning elaborate costumes and pool noodles Saturday.
“Lincoln, you’ve done it again,” he said.
For the second straight year, Joshes from far and wide gathered to defend the right to their name. Non-Joshes also joined the battle, and together, the crowd helped raise $20,576 for Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha.
Swain’s first event began after he sent out a Tweet challenging those with his same name to a battle. The joke became an internet sensation. His original message proposed everyone meet at the random coordinates Swain chose — which were in Lincoln.
Because of the first event’s success, Swain decided to bring the Josh Fight back.
This year, the Josh Fight was held at Bowling Lake Park. The battle began shortly after noon.
Several fighters wore costumes — including football helmets, capes, masks and animal suits.
People are also reading…
Tony Rupert of Lincoln wore a robe and slip-ons as part of his “Lazy Josh Sundays” look.
Rupert is a returning participant to the Josh Fight.
“I think that's amazing that they are able to take something that started off as some guy being bored texting … and then turned around and actually made something out of it,” he said. “It's not something you hear about very often.”
Five-year-old Josh Vinson Jr., last year’s champion, secured his spot as the No. 1 Josh. His biggest competition was a 4-year-old named Josh Folmar in a Captain Josh Sparrow costume. He was the runner-up.
The crowd crowned Battle Creek’s Josh Rakowsky or “The Real Josh Shady” as the winner of the Josh Fight’s costume contest.
Josh the Otter also made an appearance, hoping to spread awareness about water safety for children. The nonprofit Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation gave out gift baskets to the winners.
Children’s Hospital will give 25% of its Josh Fight donations to the foundation.
Nicky McCarville, director of development at Children’s, said the other 75% raised from the Josh Fight will go to Charity Care — the hospital’s program to assist uninsured patients.
“We’re just so grateful for the Lincoln community and people that have come from all over the country and out of state to support Josh (Swain),” McCarville said. “He's an incredibly kind and generous person that came up with a really fun and creative event during kind of not-so-great times.”
The Josh Fight will continue to accept donations for Children’s on its website through Monday. Burger King donated $15,000 to the cause and a basket of pool noodles disguised as its signature chicken fries.
Josh Cellars agreed to match the amount raised for Children’s.
Additionally, all the merchandise sales from the day will go to Partners in Health, an organization that provides free, international health care.
Swain called the event a success, attributing its fun atmosphere to the energy the participants brought.
“The enthusiasm from everybody here was just incredible,” he said.
For those wondering if the Josh Fight will now become an annual Lincoln event, Swain isn’t sure. But he said he’d certainly like to.
“There's a number of factors in this crazy world,” Swain said. “I think that the hope is to keep this trend going so that we can keep the good times rolling.”
Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or jthompson@journalstar.com
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/lincolns-josh-fight-sequel-determines-little-josh-will-keep-his-title/article_fc5afc6d-7e79-546d-aac1-7af5d35a085d.html
| 2022-05-21T23:21:48
| 1
|
https://journalstar.com/news/local/lincolns-josh-fight-sequel-determines-little-josh-will-keep-his-title/article_fc5afc6d-7e79-546d-aac1-7af5d35a085d.html
|
A man has been arrested for allegedly raping a teen girl on a Long Island playground after meeting the 13-year-old on a popular social media app.
Andrew Ramsaroop was arrested Friday evening on charges of rape, criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
The 30-year-old Queens man is accused of meeting the teenage victim and her friend at Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove on May 13. Police said he tried to get both girls into his car but they refused.
Later that same day, Ramsaroop met the 13-year-old victim at a playground in Hauppauge where he raped her, police said.
Authorities learned of the alleged assault after the girl reported the incident to a school official. The man originally met the girl over Snapchat, police said.
Ramsaroop was scheduled for arraignment in Central Islip on Saturday.
Contact information for his attorney was not immediately known.
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/queens-man-raped-13-year-old-girl-on-long-island-he-met-on-snapchat-police/3699472/
| 2022-05-22T00:03:24
| 0
|
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/queens-man-raped-13-year-old-girl-on-long-island-he-met-on-snapchat-police/3699472/
|
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Kayak classes were held across the state of Tennessee in honor of National Safe Boating Week.
Classes were held at 12 state parks in Tennessee, including Warriors Path State Park in Kingsport.
Officials said that practicing safety on the water is crucial and could save your life.
Classes were offered for $15 and hosted by instructors and volunteers that are nationally certified to administer paddling and rescue training.
Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Chapter of the American Canoe Association (ACA) teamed up to offer the classes at a discounted rate in an effort to increase safety on waterways
According to the Tennessee Chapter of the ACA, Tennessee led the nation in river-related paddling fatalities in 2020 and 2021. The chapter estimates that around 1,000,000 people regularly paddle Tennessee waterways without formal training.
To find more information on the Tennessee Chapter of the ACA, click here to visit their website.
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/paddlers-take-advantage-of-discounted-kayak-instruction-offered-throughout-tennessee/
| 2022-05-22T00:17:18
| 1
|
https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/paddlers-take-advantage-of-discounted-kayak-instruction-offered-throughout-tennessee/
|
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Friends and family remembered 13-year-old Milana Li at a memorial service in Portland Saturday. The Beaverton teen was killed and her body was found May 10 in a small stream in Westside Linear Park, near the intersection of SW Barrows and Horizon.
On Friday, Milana’s grandmother told KOIN 6 News it’s not possible to describe the pain. “I don’t want anybody to go through that,” Lydia Li said.
Lydia said she never saw Milana angry. “She always smiled, ‘OK, Grandma, OK, Grandma.'”
Milana had 2 siblings, including a 5-year-old sister who doesn’t understand where Milana went, Lydia said.
Daniel Gore, 16, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Gore may be tried as an adult. Prosecutors confirmed he was the suspect and that he previously faced other charges, including criminal mischief and arson.
|
https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/memorial-service-held-for-beaverton-teen-milana-li/
| 2022-05-22T00:29:11
| 0
|
https://www.koin.com/local/washington-county/memorial-service-held-for-beaverton-teen-milana-li/
|
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Acclaimed central Arkansas radio personality and Country Radio Hall of Famer, Bob Robbins died from a heart attack on Saturday around 12:45 a.m.
Robbins, whose real name is Robert Spears, had his death confirmed by Little Rock radio station, 105.1 The Wolf, where he worked as a DJ. The station posted the following statement online after his death:
"It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Country Radio Hall of Famer and Central Arkansas radio legend Bob Robbins. Bob’s love for his listeners, generosity to the community and love of country music and the artists who create it made him one of a kind. Please keep his family and his radio family at iHeartMedia in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss."
Following his death, Robbins is survived by his wife of 45 years, Susan, along with his 3 kids and 5 grandkids.
Robbins, who was originally born in Florida, began his Little Rock career at 1090. am KAAY, but spent a large period of his time at Arkansas' top country station, KSSN 96 (iHeart), where he worked from 1979 until 2013.
During his time at iHeart, Robbins was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters' DJ Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also named Broadcast Personality of the Year in 1996.
At the time of his death, Robbins was working as a DJ for 105.1 The Wolf but had been away for roughly 2 months due to health problems.
With Robbins' passion for helping children in mind, his family is asking for people to donate toys that will be distributed to Arkansas kids. The family plans to start taking donations on Monday and will accept the toys at Rodney's Cycle House, which is located in Little Rock at 8120 Doyle Springs Road.
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-legend-bob-robbins-heart-attack-death/91-0a58f8a7-60f4-45f5-9b74-807207864c56
| 2022-05-22T00:49:18
| 0
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-legend-bob-robbins-heart-attack-death/91-0a58f8a7-60f4-45f5-9b74-807207864c56
|
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Paramount+ has plans to produce a Bass Reeves limited series as part of its “Yellowstone” spinoff “1883.” State and local officials are mum about any chance all or parts of the series will be filmed in or near Fort Smith, which was the home base for the legendary U.S. Deputy Marshal.
The streaming service’s plans for the project were announced Wednesday (May 18) by officials with MTV Entertainment Studios. Actor David Oyelowo was named to play Reeves in the series. His lengthy list of acting work includes “Interstellar,” “The Cloverfield Paradox,” and most notably portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma.” Other companies announced as part of the production team were Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions, Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon, and 101 Studios will produce.
Reeves was a U.S. Deputy Marshal under U.S. Federal Judge Isaac C. Parker. Reeves was born a slave in Texas in 1838 and died in Muskogee, Okla., on Jan. 12, 1910. Reeves was an African-American and illiterate, but captured more outlaws than anyone else, according to the book, “Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves,” written by Art Burton. Burton wrote that Reeves was an expert tracker and detective, and was able to memorize the warrants for every lawbreaker he was to arrest and bring to trial. Reeves was the first African-American inducted into the Great Westerners Hall of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 1992.
To read more about this story please visit our content partner, Talk Business & Politics.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bass-reeves-streaming-series-in-the-works-no-word-on-film-location-sites/527-5926d4ec-1871-4704-8a0f-a157fa8b1399
| 2022-05-22T00:49:24
| 0
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/bass-reeves-streaming-series-in-the-works-no-word-on-film-location-sites/527-5926d4ec-1871-4704-8a0f-a157fa8b1399
|
ARKANSAS, USA — Medical marijuana patients spent $24 million in April at the state’s 38 dispensaries to obtain 4,213 pounds, up from the 4,166 pounds sold in March. Hot Springs is home to two of the top five dispensaries for the amount of product sold.
Sales for the first four months of 2022 total $89.8 million, and 15,678 pounds, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).
“The amount of product sold increased slightly from March to April,” said DFA spokesman Scott Hardin. “On average, patients in Arkansas are spending $22.45 million each month across the state’s 38 dispensaries to purchase approximately 3,919 pounds. State tax collection on medical marijuana also increased in April with $2.98 million in total ($2.46 million collected in March).”
To read more about this story please visit our content partner, Talk Business & Politics.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/medical-marijuana-sales-up-11-april-arkansas-medicine-legal-arkansas-department-of-finance/527-3a67cf9c-c460-4c8f-acf8-d9332c9094e7
| 2022-05-22T00:49:31
| 0
|
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/medical-marijuana-sales-up-11-april-arkansas-medicine-legal-arkansas-department-of-finance/527-3a67cf9c-c460-4c8f-acf8-d9332c9094e7
|
DALLAS — A 15-year-old Dallas girl who had been missing since April 27 has been found, police said Saturday.
Dallas police said Gabrielle McDonald went missing on April 27, and she was later labeled as "critical missing" on May 12. McDonald's mother, Brendetta McDonald, had been placing fliers in areas across Dallas and posting her daughter’s photo on a variety of social media sites.
On Saturday, May 21, Dallas police said the girl was found and that they are also investigating her disappearance.
Brendetta McDonald, the girl's mother, told WFAA that her daughter was being treated at a hospital.
Gabrielle McDonald was among 70 runaway and dozens of missing persons cases the Dallas Police Department is investigating, WFAA reported while the 15-year-old was still missing.
Brendetta McDonald also posted about her daughter being found on her Facebook page, saying "GOD IS GOOD!!! GOD IS AWESOME!!! GOD IS AMAZING!!! MY BABY HAS BEEN FOUND!!! YES SHE IS SAFE BUT NO SHE IS NOT OK. THANK YALL FOR THE PRAYERS AND THE SHARES MY HEART IS OVERJOYED. PLEASE DONT CALL WITH ALOT OF QUESTIONS."
This is a developing story. WFAA will update this story as we learn more.
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-15-year-old-gabrielle-mcdonald-found/287-17b4de73-d04e-4534-a29f-5651babd575c
| 2022-05-22T01:01:49
| 0
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-15-year-old-gabrielle-mcdonald-found/287-17b4de73-d04e-4534-a29f-5651babd575c
|
BALCH SPRINGS, Texas — A Plano Fire Department engine that was reportedly stolen from a manufacturers facility has been found in Dallas, officials say.
A source told WFAA that Engine 6 from Plano is a brand-new engine that was getting finishing touches at a facility in Balch Springs, just southeast of Dallas.
Police in Balch Springs said a person jumped into the truck and drove off around 5:15 p.m. Saturday.
The fire engine was eventually found and stopped by Dallas police in the 2000 block of Main Street in the downtown area around 7 p.m.
Police have not yet released information on the suspect.
According to Balch Springs police, these fire engines are usually valued between $700,000 and $800,000.
An image from Siddons-Martin, which manufactures the engine, shows what the fire engine looks like.
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/plano-fire-truck-stolen-in-balch-springs-texas/287-10c4832a-845e-4726-87b9-b37286e2982f
| 2022-05-22T01:01:55
| 0
|
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/plano-fire-truck-stolen-in-balch-springs-texas/287-10c4832a-845e-4726-87b9-b37286e2982f
|
ELK GROVE, Calif. — The Elk Grove Planning Commission is considering approval of the Oak Rose Apartment Project. It would bring 67 affordable housing units to an empty lot in the Old Town historic district and offer permanent supportive housing along with support services for homeless individuals.
The plan has many residents outraged, left with concerns about what the project will bring to the quiet and peaceful area, and worried for their own safety including Jackie Perez, who has owned and operated Jackie's Flowers for 35 years. For the past 22 years, Perez has been running her shop on Elk Grove Boulevard next to an empty field where the site would be built if approved.
"I'm very concerned. Everybody is in old Elk Grove," said Perez. "There's probably 10 feet on the side of my house where the building would be, so anytime I go outside which is multiple times a day, I'll be worried somebody might be there to meet me if I go change my water. I'm worried somebody will be in the backyard which no one would see if something happened to me — it's just a very scary feeling."
The city of Elk Grove says the project application was submitted under Senate Bill 35 and is part of a regional effort to address homelessness. The city also emphasizes that since it's a private development project, they have no control over whether a property owner wants to develop affordable housing on a given site. Perez agrees something should be done to address the issue of homelessness but says it shouldn't be built on Elk Grove Boulevard next to her business and near residential areas.
"There's been a lot of people suggesting other locations where there's more hospitals and things closer," said Perez. "We don't have a problem helping the homeless, we just don't want it right in the middle of town where all of our kids' safety and all of our safety is gonna be compromised."
If the site is approved, Perez says she might end up closing her business.
"I'd probably be so sad because I've been doing it for 35 years and I love this house. It's 107-years-old. It's part of our family. We wanted it here forever so I don't know what I'm gonna do," said Perez.
The city says the project isn't likely to attract more homeless individuals to area because there's no shelter component to the property. The city also says the permanent housing units would be filled through a centralized process. However, Perez says she and other concerned residents plan on remaining vocal at City Council meetings and proposing alternative solutions.
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/elk-grove/elk-grove-affordable-housing-site-for-homeless-individuals/103-02a04ae3-e547-4e7a-adc3-db4f32cbdc64
| 2022-05-22T01:13:00
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/elk-grove/elk-grove-affordable-housing-site-for-homeless-individuals/103-02a04ae3-e547-4e7a-adc3-db4f32cbdc64
|
REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. — A partial skull that was discovered last summer by two kayakers in Minnesota will be returned to Native American officials after investigations determined it was about 8,000 years old.
The kayakers found the skull in the drought-depleted Minnesota River about 110 miles west of Minneapolis, Renville County Sheriff Scott Hable said.
Thinking it might be related to a missing person case or murder, Hable turned the skull over to a medical examiner and eventually to the FBI, where a forensic anthropologist used carbon dating to determine it was likely the skull of a young man who lived between 5500 and 6000 B.C., Hable said.
"It was a complete shock to us that that bone was that old,” Hable told Minnesota Public Radio.
The anthropologist determined the man had a depression in his skull that was “perhaps suggestive of the cause of death.”
After the sheriff posted about the discovery on Wednesday, his office was criticized by several Native Americans, who said publishing photos of ancestral remains was offensive to their culture.
Hable said his office removed the post.
"We didn’t mean for it to be offensive whatsoever,” Hable said.
Hable said the remains will be turned over to Upper Sioux Community tribal officials.
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council Cultural Resources Specialist Dylan Goetsch said in a statement that neither the council nor the state archaeologist were notified about the discovery, which is required by state laws that govern the care and repatriation of Native American remains.
Goetsch said the Facebook post “showed a complete lack of cultural sensitivity” by failing to call the individual a Native American and referring to the remains as “a little piece of history.”
Kathleen Blue, a professor of anthropology at Minnesota State University, said Wednesday that the skull was definitely from an ancestor of one of the tribes still living in the area, The New York Times reported.
She said the young man would have likely eaten a diet of plants, deer, fish, turtles and freshwater mussels in a small region, rather than following mammals and bison on their migrations.
“There’s probably not that many people at that time wandering around Minnesota 8,000 years ago, because, like I said, the glaciers have only retreated a few thousands years before that,” Blue said. “That period, we don’t know much about it.”
MORE NEWS: Minnesota & Dakota County lead the nation for COVID booster shots, but big challenges remain
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist:
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/nearly-8000-year-old-skull-found-in-minnesota-river/89-0c9f1450-e95a-4d1e-aaad-c8444432a500
| 2022-05-22T01:13:06
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/nearly-8000-year-old-skull-found-in-minnesota-river/89-0c9f1450-e95a-4d1e-aaad-c8444432a500
|
VACAVILLE, Calif. — A wildfire is burning about 110 acres near Vacaville, California in Solano County.
Cal Fire said in a tweet just before 4 p.m. that the Quail Fire is burning near Quail Canyon Road and Pleasants Valley Road.
As of Saturday at 5 p.m. the vegetation fire is 0% contained.
According to a report from Cal Fire, there have been no announcements of any structures or damages. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.
EVACUATIONS:
The Solano County Office of Emergency Services has announced an evacuation order has been issued for those in the area.
According to a Facebook post, "Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now."
This is for those residents near Pleasants Valley Road from Shale Peak Road north to Highway 128 and west of Pleasants Valley Road to the county line. Also all of Quail Canyon Road.
STAY INFORMED:
FIRE MAP:
This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows fire activity.
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, the 2021 fire season started earlier than previous years, but also ended earlier, as well. January 2021 saw just under 1,200 acres burned from nearly 300 wildfires. Fires picked up in the summer when the Dixie Fire burned in five Northern California counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and wasn't contained until Oct. 25, burning nearly 1 million acres. It has since become the second-largest wildfire in state history and the largest non-complex fire.
Overall, 2.5 million acres were burned in 2021 from 8,835 wildfires. Over 3,600 structures were destroyed and 3 people killed.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/quail-fire-vacaville-cal-fire/103-2e8a6b5d-8bdc-47e0-adcc-ba819edbc788
| 2022-05-22T01:13:12
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/quail-fire-vacaville-cal-fire/103-2e8a6b5d-8bdc-47e0-adcc-ba819edbc788
|
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — On John Haynes' 99th birthday, there was all the usual celebrating with friends, family and cake.
But the icing on that cake came in the form of a very special gift at the Noblesville Air Field.
"Let's make our way up here," said Haynes' son, Robert, as he and a group of others helped the birthday boy into a 1941 Boeing Stearman airplane.
This was not just any flight, though. Haynes was about to climb into a very familiar seat.
"I love flying!" exclaimed Haynes. I got my wings in the Navy."
Haynes learned to fly in a Stearman along with other Navy pilots training to fight in World War II. Local pilot Trip Kelleher owns one and was honored to take Haynes up.
"Both of my grandfathers fought in World War II, and so I was always in awe of them," Kelleher said. "It's just really sad that we're losing them at such a high rate. (Haynes) is the first WWII veteran I've ever had the chance to fly, and I'd like to honor them any way we possibly can."
Kelleher is part of Indy Biplanes, made up of a group of pilots who provide charity flights and flyovers, and participate in veteran funerals and other events.
What does it mean for Haynes to be up in the air for his birthday at 99 years old?
"Aviation has been in his blood and in my blood for years and years and years," said John's son, Robert. "And for him to be able to get up and do this today is really, really special for him. He's challenged in mobility and stability, but for him to get up and fly this is just .. he's like a kid in a candy store."
John didn't just go along for the ride, either. Apparently, some things you just don't forget.
"He flew like an ace!" Kelleher said. "He shook the stick, was ready to take over the controls and flew around for quite a while and just did beautifully. He was in great command of the airplane."
Haynes knew he hadn't missed a beat.
"That was fantastic! I love this airplane," John exclaimed as they landed. "It was like old times.”
For his son Robert, who is also a pilot, it was just as special.
"He was my flight inspector. He taught me to fly," Robert said. "He passed the legacy on."
After his military service, John spent his career with the Federal Aviation Administration — first as an air traffic controller and then as an inspector.
"(It's important to) look at our seniors with value," Robert said. "They've still got an awful lot to teach us. You see stories and cartoons of an old man with a walker, and you don’t realize that man — back in WWII — was a lean, mean, fighting machine. It's just that time and age have taken their toll. But let's respect our seniors. They are amazing people."
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/world-war-wwii-veteran-john-haynes-99th-birthday-pilot-noblesville-indiana/531-15da674f-6eff-4fab-8dfb-cc950c41a030
| 2022-05-22T01:13:18
| 0
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/world-war-wwii-veteran-john-haynes-99th-birthday-pilot-noblesville-indiana/531-15da674f-6eff-4fab-8dfb-cc950c41a030
|
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Roberta Drury, a 32-year-old woman who was the youngest of the 10 Black people killed at a Buffalo supermarket, was remembered at her funeral Saturday for her love for family and friends, tenacity “and most of all, that smile that could light up a room.”
“Robbie,” as she was called, grew up in the Syracuse area and moved to Buffalo a decade ago to help tend to her brother in his fight against leukemia. She was shot to death May 14 on a trip to buy groceries at the Tops Friendly Market targeted by the white gunman.
“There are no words to fully express the depth and breadth of this tragedy,” Friar Nicholas Spano, parochial vicar of Assumption Church in Syracuse, said during the service. The stately brick church is not far from where Drury grew up in Cicero.
“Last Saturday, May 14, our corner of the world was changed forever,” he said. “Lives ended. Dreams shattered and our state was plunged into mourning.”
Drury's family wrote in her obituary that she “couldn’t walk a few steps without meeting a new friend.”
“Robbie always made a big deal about someone when she saw them, always making sure they felt noticed and loved,” her sister, Amanda, told The Associated Press by text before the service.
The family asked that donations be made to the Buffalo Zoo, a place the sisters enjoyed walking through, Amanda Drury said.
“She was that light that shone through whatever darkness might have been present,” Spano said. He said mourners would remember Drury's “kindness ... love for family and friends, her perseverance, her tenacity, and most of all, that smile that could light up a room.”
Drury is the second shooting victim to be eulogized.
A private service was held Friday for Heyward Patterson, the beloved deacon at a church near the supermarket. More funerals were scheduled throughout the coming week.
Tops was encouraging people to join its stores in a moment of silence to honor the shooting victims Saturday at 2:30 p.m., the approximate time of the attack a week earlier. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown also called for 123 seconds of silence from 2:28 p.m. to 2:31 p.m., followed by the ringing of church bells 13 times throughout the city to honor the 10 people killed and three wounded.
A candlelight vigil was planned at the Buffalo supermarket in the evening.
RELATED:
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/youngest-of-10-buffalo-shooting-victims-being-laid-to-rest-buffalo-mass-shooting/71-3e678486-977e-4ad0-9e41-55d9df1ad1c9
| 2022-05-22T01:13:24
| 1
|
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/youngest-of-10-buffalo-shooting-victims-being-laid-to-rest-buffalo-mass-shooting/71-3e678486-977e-4ad0-9e41-55d9df1ad1c9
|
PORTLAND, Ore. — On a fittingly rainy day recently, KGW got a tour of some new equipment that's part of better protecting the health of nearly a million people who use Portland’s water.
“Exactly what makes the Bull Run so wonderful — that there's nothing in it — is what makes it so corrosive,” said the Portland Water Bureau's Kimberly Gupta.
Gupta, who is the bureau’s water supply and treatment manager, said that the problem with corrosion is that it attacks any lead-based plumbing that remains in homes and businesses.
In November of last year, the Portland Water Bureau revealed that water at a number of area homes had tested well above the EPA's regulatory level for lead. Because of the Bull Run's natural corrosiveness, the water can leach the metal from lead-soldered pipes and certain faucets — so while the city's water supply isn't the root of the problem, it does contribute to the problems posed by piping installed in homes during certain periods.
Gupta said that by adding small amounts of two naturally occurring substances, pH and alkalinity are adjusted, making the water from the Bull Run watershed less corrosive without affecting the safety of the water supply.
The day KGW toured the Lusted Hill treatment facility near Sandy, a truck load of soda ash was being delivered. It is one of the substances the bureau is using.
There are two silos that hold the soda ash, which is similar to baking soda. From there the substance is mixed with water from the system.
A large horizontal tank holds the other ingredient, carbon dioxide, which is injected into the water as well.
“So that's going to help reduce the corrosivity of Bull Run water to help decrease the amount of leads that could come into our water from some home and building plumbing,” said Gutpa.
Adding this equipment and treatment program to the existing facility came out of an agreement with federal regulators in 2016. The city recently started adding the substances in steps to test its effectiveness at neutralizing the corrosiveness of the water.
And if you're worried about noticing a difference in taste, Gupta says you don’t need to be.
“Nobody wants the wonderful Bull Run water to change," Gupta said, "it's great, we love it the way it is — no, the taste from Bull Run water will not change.”
That's important, because Bull Run water is pretty popular.
“We're the best,” quipped Gupta. “OK not fair, I may be biased. A lot of folks have really great water quality but we're fortunate to have some of the best water quality in the world.”
The Portland Water Bureau’s next major investment is a new water filtration facility that will remove the microorganism Cryptosporidium and other potential contaminants. Federal regulators require that to be completed in 2027.
|
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-water-bureau-corrosion-control-lead-bull-run/283-8c6b4dc9-dd9e-4e7a-b690-e3ae9f4c92f4
| 2022-05-22T01:32:08
| 0
|
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-water-bureau-corrosion-control-lead-bull-run/283-8c6b4dc9-dd9e-4e7a-b690-e3ae9f4c92f4
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.