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Prior to 2020, Linda Gast described herself as the Energizer bunny.
Always on the go, she enjoyed hiking, her job as an administrative assistant, baking, spending time with family, and more – but getting back to the norm has been a struggle since she caught COVID-19 in December 2020.
Nearly two years later, Gast is still dealing with the aftereffects of COVID-19. She’s not alone.
Doctors estimate the risk of developing long COVID symptoms after having COVID-19 is approximately 50%, and with no cure, long haulers are left with trying to manage their symptoms. The Dayton Daily News talked to people with long COVID who are struggling to fit this new chronic illness into their old routines, as many are having trouble working, doing household chores, or keeping up with hobbies.
Gast was hospitalized for four days in late 2020 with pneumonia in both lungs as a result of the virus. It took her nearly six months to recover her lost senses of smell and taste, which still have not been the same since prior to 2020. Gast is also still dealing with symptoms of brain fog, fatigue, and at times, a racing heartbeat. She also still has to use oxygen equipment when she sleeps at night.
“People just say, ‘Oh, it’s just the flu. You’ll get over it,’” said Gast, who lives in Springfield. While her husband was able to get over COVID with a mild case of it, the virus did not want to let Gast go. She is doing better now, but she’s still not where she used to be.
“Not everybody’s fine,” Gast said. “It may not be just the flu for you.”
What is long COVID?
Individuals with long or chronic COVID-19 are continuing to experience symptoms of the virus weeks, months, or even longer after initially catching the illness.
Long COVID occurs more frequently with those who had a severe initial illness when dealing with COVID-19, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, anyone who has had COVID, even mild or asymptomatic versions of it, can experience the effects of long COVID.
“We are finding out new things about COVID everyday,” said Dr. Roberto Colon, chief medical officer of Miami Valley Hospital.
The CDC estimates approximately 30% of people hospitalized for COVID have also had to deal with long COVID. For those who were not hospitalized, the CDC estimates about 13.3% of COVID sufferers have had one month or more of long COVID symptoms, along with about 2.5% have had three months or more of long COVID.
Women are also more likely to have long COVID than men, according to a survey from the CDC. The survey revealed over 40% of adults in the U.S. reported having COVID-19, with almost one in five of those, or 19%, who were still dealing with long COVID. Approximately 9.4% of women compared to 5.5.% of men had long COVID.
Hispanic adults were also more likely to suffer from long COVID. Nearly 9% of Hispanic adults currently have long COVID, the CDC stated, which was higher than non-Hispanic white adults at 7.5%, Black adults at 6.8% adults, and non-Hispanic Asian adults at 3.7%.
Many symptoms of long COVID include general symptoms of tiredness, fatigue, and fever, as well as other symptoms that are respiratory and heart related, neurological, and/or digestive.
Amberly Zambrano of Lebanon experienced different symptoms after catching COVID two different times, including around Halloween in 2021 and then again in the winter after that.
“I am not sure if my symptoms qualify as long COVID or if it is related to other medical conditions, but I have chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath after having COVID twice,” said Zambrano, who was also never hospitalized due to COVID. “The shortness of breath has interfered with my work as a nurse aide and caring for my two-year-old and two-months-old, both born during COVID.”
The myriad of symptoms can make day-to-day living difficult, Colon said, as well as potentially present more health risks down the road. Direct complications from COVID could be lung problems—which could be permanent, such as scarring to the lungs—as well as indirect complications, such as increased risks of heart attacks and stroke due to the inflammation and damage to blood vessels.
Colon made the comparison to cholesterol, pointing out how risks associated with high cholesterol typically do not occur right away and they build up over time. Doctors may see the same thing with long COVID as it may take years for doctors to learn about the full scope of damage caused by COVID.
“We’re still learning about this disease and what it can do to the body,” Colon said.
For now, doctors are focused on helping patient manage their symptoms.
“There’s really no treatment for long COVID,” Colon said.
For individuals with long COVID experiencing heart palpitations, they may get medications to adjust their heart rates. For symptoms like loss of taste and smell, Colon said there is not a great treatment option for those individuals.
Anxiety, depression among symptoms
Long COVID can also wear on individuals’ mental health as some long haulers describe experiencing anxiety and depression following having long COVID.
“What is tough is getting people to understand,” Gast said. “We don’t want sympathy. We’re not asking for sympathy. I’m not a person who wants sympathy … I just want people to understand it is real. Unfortunately, it is real and it’s hard, especially if you’re an active person, a real active person.”
Gast said she has a supportive family, but others in her support group for survivors of COVID have difficulty getting family members to understand that long COVID is real and continues to affect them.
Gast also described the anxiety she’s experienced over the fear of getting COVID again, such has having a difficult time the first time she went to the grocery store after her initial recovery.
“I went into Walmart, and I just had a panic attack,” Gast said. “It’s almost like you have agoraphobia at first. You’re so worried you’re going to catch it again and go through it again.”
Preventing COVID in the first place remains the best option
There are some clinics, usually tied to academic institutions, which formed to address those with long COVID, such as UC Health’s Post-COVID-19 Clinic and OSU Wexner Medical Center’s multidisciplinary clinic for patients with lingering symptoms of COVID.
UC Health launched its clinic in August 2021, and Wexner Medical Center’s Post-COVID Recovery Program launched in September 2021. Each institution brings together a team of specialists from multiple disciplines, from pulmonology and cardiology to neurology and psychiatry, to evaluate and treat the multitude of symptoms long haulers face.
Until more information about how COVID impacts individuals in the long-term, doctors suggest preventing the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the risk for infections remain the best options for people to do. Doctors and health officials recommend getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date with boosters for enhanced protection.
“With every infection, you’re going to have additional risk for that long COVID to develop,” Colon said. “It goes back to continuing to protect yourself … Every infection is going to have that additional risk.”
To help those who are suffering from long COVID, Colon recommended people get educated and be understanding toward those dealing with those lingering symptoms of COVID. They may appear physically intact and there may not be an outward manifestation of the symptoms they’re having, but he said its not something that is just “in their head.”
“Long COVID isn’t just one thing,” Colon said. “It’s not something that they’re making up.”
Colon also encouraged those suffering from long COVID to seek help and reach out to their health care provider.
“It can affect anybody who’s had COVID,” Colon said.
For long haulers like Gast, they are learning to manage their symptoms, but this isn’t what Gast pictured her retirement would be like. She had hoped for more hiking and potentially to return to work, but she is still working on her recovery.
“It is better, and the only thing I can hope for is that as time goes on, it’ll get better and better. I don’t know if this stuff plateaus and you get to a point and that’s where it stays. I think that kind of remains to be seen,” Gast said.
What to know about long COVID symptoms
--- You’re not alone. It’s estimated that around 50% of people who get COVID-19 experience symptoms months or years later.
---There is no cure.
---More women have long COVID symptoms than men.
---Seek the care the of your doctor if symptoms persist.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/not-everybodys-fine-long-covid-sufferers-detail-struggles-with-chronic-illness/N7GXIZEKOBAGTBN2RZFHXJMPOE/ | 2022-09-02T11:32:11 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/not-everybodys-fine-long-covid-sufferers-detail-struggles-with-chronic-illness/N7GXIZEKOBAGTBN2RZFHXJMPOE/ |
A missing 13-year-old girl from Reading, Pennsylvania was found safe in New York City after she was abducted by her mother's ex-boyfriend in the middle of the night, authorities said.
Duane Taylor, 47, faces kidnapping of a minor, false imprisonment and other related charges after allegedly taking the young teen from her home on Schuylkill Avenue early Wednesday morning, the Berks County officials said.
An Amber Alert was issued for the teenage girl after she hadn't been seen since 2 a.m., Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli said in a news conference.
Reading police said around 7:45 a.m. they were dispatched to the 500 block of South Court for a report of a child that was abducted.
The mother reported that her 13-year-old daughter was missing. She said she last saw her around 10:30 p.m. the night before in her bedroom, police said.
Tornielli said around 2 a.m., a man, whose head and body were covered with a sheet, entered their home, walked up to the second floor, and took the 13-year-old from the residence.
Pennsylvania State Police said in the Amber Alert that the child was taken by an unknown man who placed her in a silver Chevrolet Traverse with Pennsylvania tags.
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After more than 15 hours of frantic searching, the New York Police Department and FBI arrested Duane Taylor, 47, at his home on the 800 block of Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn, the agencies said.
He's held in New York on state charges and is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
"Let this be a lesson to anyone who’s trying to harm any of our little ones," Reading Mayor Eddie Moran said, "that we will do everything possible to make sure they will get apprehended immediately.”
A short time later, a call came into 911 from a person saying they found a missing girl. Police said that the teen approached the caller and told them she had been kidnapped from Pennsylvania earlier.
She was found without shoes on the 900 block of Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, the New York City Police Department said.
Police said she was taken to the hospital for evaluation and showed no visible injuries.
Tornielli said the teen has been reunited with her mother.
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Family members told NBC10 the mother dated Taylor for a couple months after meeting online, but had broken up.
Dwayne Taylor was the only individual involved in this incident, police said, and investigators aren't looking for anyone else. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/amber-alert-berks-county-nyc-charges/3352316/ | 2022-09-02T11:37:09 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/amber-alert-berks-county-nyc-charges/3352316/ |
Four people ran from an SUV after the driver hopped the curb of a Philadelphia street and killed a woman walking on the sidewalk overnight. Philadelphia police said the unidentified woman may have worked in the medical field.
"This female had no chance," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. "It's a real tragedy."
Police officers found the woman, who was wearing medical scrubs, unresponsive on the sidewalk along Greene Street, near West Coulter Street, in the Germantown neighborhood just after 11 p.m. Thursday, police said.
"She had severe trauma to her head and her body," Small said.
Medics pronounced the woman dead on the scene.
A witness told police they saw a white Chevy Tahoe SUV going north on Greene Street cross over into oncoming traffic, jump the curb and strike a utility pole with such force to break the pole in two places, Small said.
The SUV then struck the woman, dragging her about 15 feet, and possibly running her over, Small said.
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After the crash, the driver moved the SUV back onto the street, police said. Four people then jumped out of the SUV and ran off, leaving the SUV -- its airbags deployed -- behind.
"This is a hit-and-run auto accident," Small said.
Police planned to search the vehicle and search for information from its license plate. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/hit-and-run-deadly-germantown/3352290/ | 2022-09-02T11:37:15 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/hit-and-run-deadly-germantown/3352290/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/woman-struck-head-on-when-out-of-control-suv-jumped-curb-struck-her-police/3352335/ | 2022-09-02T11:37:21 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/woman-struck-head-on-when-out-of-control-suv-jumped-curb-struck-her-police/3352335/ |
A glance around the Caltrain station is bound to cause confusion: You’ve made it to San Francisco, but the advertisements are all about … Illinois?
In the last five months, banners overhead, posters on walls and pillars wrapped in a blue hue — all branded with the state of Illinois — have popped up around the city, leaving many perplexed. The phrase “The Middle of Everything” and the visual of “Glee” actress Jane Lynch in a beret have become a common sight. It’s not just at San Francisco’s Caltrain station; multiple BART stations, including the Montgomery Street and Powell Street locations, are adorned with ads about Illinois. And the ads aren’t a mistake.
SFGATE connected with TimeZoneOne, the partner public relations firm for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which houses the Illinois Office of Tourism. It explained that, despite being 2,000 miles away, San Francisco is a very intentional choice in marketing.
“San Francisco travelers’ spending in Illinois is certainly outpacing travelers from other cities coming to Illinois,” said Daniel Thomas, president and CEO of TimeZoneOne. “Hence, we wanted to show and heighten people’s awareness of Illinois.”
On the San Francisco side, the Illinois advertisements were nothing more than a standard transaction. “We see a lot of this type of ad here at BART,” a BART spokesperson told SFGATE via email.
Although the ads are inherently out of place, they might be working, according to the numbers. “Hotel stays from San Franciscans traveling to Illinois have actually increased 100% year over year for the month of June,” Thomas said.
The firm’s media spending in San Francisco for May through July cost north of $1.5 million, according to Thomas. That’s a meager amount for Illinois, whose tourism industry attracts more than 110 million visitors a year.
The Illinois Office of Tourism has historically focused on ad spending in the Midwest, but its marketing campaign in San Francisco is part of an effort to show Illinois is not just a road trip destination. Beyond identifying the potential buying power of West Coast visitors, the ads were placed with the hope that San Francisco would offer Illinois a more diverse crowd of travelers, Thomas said.
“The diversity that I talk of is not just geographically and demographically. It’s really making sure that it has a wide range of visitors, from big-city breaks to small-town experiences,” Thomas added.
The Illinois advertisements have been around San Francisco for months now, and that might not change anytime soon.
“There’s certainly really strong and positive indication that there is strong demand and interest from San Francisco for Illinois,” Thomas said. | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/SF-inundated-with-Illinois-ads-17401412.php | 2022-09-02T11:42:23 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/SF-inundated-with-Illinois-ads-17401412.php |
NORMAL — Medici in uptown Normal will host its Oktoberfest fall festival from 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.
Illinois State University student athletes will join members of the Normal Rotary Club in welcoming attendees to the event.
The night will include music, food trucks, a face painter, a balloon artist and an accordion player. The event is free, but a $5 donation is suggested, as well as the purchase of merchandise and the support of sponsors, which will help benefit the Normal Rotary Club and its mission to serve the community and the world through scholarships, Coats for Kids, Promise Council, Friends Forever and more.
The festival started in 2017 when Medici, the Normal Rotary and the Town of Normal came together to bring Oktoberfest to uptown Normal.
Visit normalrotary.org for more information. | https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/local/medici-oktoberfest-set-for-sept-24-in-uptown-normal/article_b35102ce-2a34-11ed-843e-4f616ee6c9b5.html | 2022-09-02T11:53:41 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/local/medici-oktoberfest-set-for-sept-24-in-uptown-normal/article_b35102ce-2a34-11ed-843e-4f616ee6c9b5.html |
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.
100 years ago
Sept. 2, 1922: A total of 40,000 visitors are expected for the Ford day program. A big barbecue dinner will be served at noon in Miller Park for Ford and Fordson owners and their families. There will be a parade, sports and amusements and an address by A.W.L. Gilpin of Chicago, the western district sales manager of the Ford Motor Co. A drawing for a Ford car will take place on the east steps of the courthouse. Read the story.
75 years ago
Sept. 2, 1947: N.T. Liston, who has carried mail on rural route 1 in Saybrook for the past 29 years, was honored by patrons of the route at a surprise party. A gold wristwatch and fountain pen were presented to him by Sammy Ream. Betty Thom read an original poem about Mr. Liston, who has announced his retirement from the postal service. He and his family moved to Saybrook from Chenoa in 1918 after his appointment to the route. Read the story.
50 years ago
Sept. 2, 1972: County jails in McLean and Logan counties are "beyond renovation," according to a report released by the Illinois bureau of detention facilities and jail standards. The finding is news to neither county's public officials, who have new jails in a stage of planning. Among 18 jails requiring "major improvement," according to the report, were those in Ford, Piatt and Livingston counties. DeWitt and Macon counties' jails were among 20 needing minor improvements. Read the story.
25 years ago
Sept. 2, 1997: Illinois State University officials are planning a $1 million project to build a white canopy covering much of Milner Plaza. The fiberglass-reinforced Teflon is intended to repel water because the university's Milner Library has long suffered from persistent leaking. At any given time, the center has 50 to 100 buckets and trash cans strategically stationed under the leaks and drips. "It's like a rainforest," said Cheryl Elzy, associate director of university libraries. Read the story.
Want more local history? Check out our searchable archives at pantagraph.newspapers.com.
Compiled by Pantagraph staff | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/100-years-ago-40-000-expected-at-bloomington-ford-day-program/article_cc17959e-28cb-11ed-81be-a78900e4a22e.html | 2022-09-02T11:53:48 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/100-years-ago-40-000-expected-at-bloomington-ford-day-program/article_cc17959e-28cb-11ed-81be-a78900e4a22e.html |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/local/wx-dmn-social-gj-071417_dallas-fort-worth/30383/ | 2022-09-02T12:08:49 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/local/wx-dmn-social-gj-071417_dallas-fort-worth/30383/ |
Brandon Smith and Ben Tegtmeier always wanted to open their own card and game shop.
The longtime friends finally did. Leaf Green Gaming has been operating since July 15 in Mason City.
"We've invested in collectibles and cards our entire lives. (Opening a shop was) just something we've always wanted to do," said Smith. "A lot of people who frequent the card shops want to do that same thing, but it's a monumental task. We decided to just make it happen."
Leaf Green Gaming sells collectibles related to popular titles such as Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. It also has a large selection of video games for people to peruse. The store has multiple tables where fans can play the games they love. By rearranging displays and placing additional tables, Leaf Green can host 100-person tournaments.
"I don't care if somebody wants to come in and just grab their Monopoly board," said Smith. "The tables are for playing, and that's what sets us apart."
People are also reading…
A goal at Leaf Green Gaming — the name was inspired by a Pokémon game — is to provide a welcoming atmosphere for any age or experience level. Those who want to get into card games can come and learn how to build decks and play.
Smith and Tegtmeier, both fathers themselves, make sure things are age appropriate. A reminder for patrons to keep it PG is posted on a sign near the front door.
"We're very mindful of everything, even like shirts people are wearing," said Tegtmeier. "We have kiddos, and we know what parents are thinking."
"There is a huge market for young people wanting to play the games, and so having the space to facilitate that is important," said Smith.
Some of the cards and games offered — titles like Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh — are the result of interest from customers. Just talk to the owners if there is a certain game you want, Tegtmeier said.
"It doesn't take much to convince us," Tegtmeier says.
Leaf Green Gaming also buys card collections or video games. Both Tegtmeier and Smith agreed selling is part of the fun.
"You're investing in certain cards and games because they're so popular. There's so much demand there that if you wait until the card goes out of print and sell it three years down the road, you double your money," Smith said.
"I literally was able to make my down payment on my first house by selling a small portion of cards that I had since 1999," said Tegtmeier. "It's a huge part of how we started this business."
Leaf Green has been open more than a month and tournaments are being organized. Details about upcoming tournaments are provided on the store's Facebook page.
"We just sell fun though. That's what we do, and we want a place for people to actually sit down and play," said Tegtmeier.
Leaf Green Gaming is located at 2468 Fourth St. S.W., next door to Sun Tan City. The shop is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, according to its Facebook page.
A taste of New York is coming to Mason City this week.
Abby covers education and entertainment for the Globe Gazette. Follow her on Twitter at @MkayAbby. Email her at Abby.Koch@GlobeGazette.com | https://globegazette.com/business/local/game-on-leaf-green-gaming-opens-in-mason-city/article_69842cb0-a59a-548a-a759-a379a3fd26c4.html | 2022-09-02T12:13:10 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/business/local/game-on-leaf-green-gaming-opens-in-mason-city/article_69842cb0-a59a-548a-a759-a379a3fd26c4.html |
AUSTIN, Texas — This story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune: Gov. Greg Abbott, Beto O'Rourke agree to debate Sept. 30 in Edinburg
Gov. Greg Abbott and his Democratic opponent, Beto O’Rourke, have agreed to a Sept. 30 debate in the Rio Grande Valley.
Abbott announced last month that he had accepted an invitation to the debate, which will be hosted by Nexstar Media Group at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg. O’Rourke responded at the time by saying he would be happy to debate Abbott in the Valley but did not commit to the specific event — and pushed for more debates. On Thursday morning, O’Rourke’s campaign revealed it had committed to the Sept. 30 debate while announcing he had also accepted invitations for four other town hall-style debates hosted by news organizations.
Abbott’s campaign has indicated the Sept. 30 debate is the only one he is willing to do before the November election.
“Beto is looking forward to these four town hall-style debates where he can continue taking questions directly from voters in English and Spanish while also holding Governor Abbott fully accountable for his indefensible record of incompetence and extremism,” O’Rourke spokesperson Chris Evans said in a statement.
Among the invitations O’Rourke accepted is a debate hosted jointly by The Texas Tribune, the Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News and KVUE-TV.
Abbott’s campaign responded to O’Rourke’s announcement Thursday by appearing to confirm that the Sept. 30 debate is the only one the governor will do.
“In between television appearances in New York and fundraising in Hollywood, we are pleased Beto O’Rourke is taking the time to debate Governor Abbott in the only statewide televised debate,” Abbott spokesperson Mark Miner said in a statement.
Abbott’s campaign has said the Sept. 30 will be in the evening and will be an hour long. It will be available in every media market, including on Spanish-language channels, according to the campaign. It will be moderated by a panel of journalists.
Disclosure: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
This story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune: Gov. Greg Abbott, Beto O'Rourke agree to debate Sept. 30 in Edinburg | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/gov-greg-abbott-beto-orourke-agree-to-debate-sept-30-in-edinburg-governor-texas-austin/273-d647fece-ad95-451f-b3d3-eab193996b9b | 2022-09-02T12:13:14 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/gov-greg-abbott-beto-orourke-agree-to-debate-sept-30-in-edinburg-governor-texas-austin/273-d647fece-ad95-451f-b3d3-eab193996b9b |
West Jefferson Boulevard will be restricted between North Glendale Drive and Reckeweg Road from Tuesday to Sept. 29 during gas-line work, the city of Fort Wayne said today.
For questions or to report problems, contact the city's right of way department at 427-6155. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/west-jefferson-boulevard-section-to-be-restricted-this-month/article_174bec6c-2aa8-11ed-adf3-abe719cf3856.html | 2022-09-02T12:16:51 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/west-jefferson-boulevard-section-to-be-restricted-this-month/article_174bec6c-2aa8-11ed-adf3-abe719cf3856.html |
JUMP fills labor need while steering former offenders away from crime
MUNCIE, Ind. − Scott Blankenship recently completed his first 90 days on the job at North American Stamping Group, the factory that used to be Duffy Tool in southwest Muncie.
For this employee, success represents more than three months at a job. It's the first three months in a new life for the 41-year-old, who is providing for his wife and two children with meaningful employment − without the crime that accompanies illicit drug use.
"Like a man should," Blankenship said.
What is JUMP?
Blankenship, NASG and the Delaware County criminal justice system are part of a program called JUMP, which aims to help former inmates find work and stay out of jail. Through the program, the worker earns a good job, the employer has someone to fill a needed position in the midst of an acute labor shortage and the county has a productive citizen. The program aims to break a vicious cycle of drugs and crime with repeat offenders filling local jail cells.
The Judicial Users Manufacturing Partnership or JUMP is a six-month program for nonviolent offenders recently released from jail. In addition to NASG participants include CANPACK, Magna PowerTrain, Ken-Bar, Mursix, Muncie Power Products and Muncie Novelty.
The local project is a pilot program being watched at the state level to determine its success. It is headed up in the county probation department by probation officer John Bush. And it is being seen by some manufacturers as a way to develop a good and well-trained workforce.
"MPT (Magna PowerTrain) Muncie has leveraged strong partnerships with local organizations such as Ivy Tech with the Work Matters program and Daleville High School to encourage young talent to enter the advanced technologies industry, said Stephen Brand, general manager of MPT Muncie, in a prepared statement. "Solving the talent shortage means more than just leveraging traditional resources such as local high schools or technical colleges."
Ivy Tech, 'true partnership' keys to success
Previous efforts to match employers with inmates haven't always worked.
"For the first time we're seeing a true partnership," said Bush. "Employers have been working with me beginning with the conception of the idea."
Ivy Tech's involvement will also be crucial.
Corbin Black, human resource manager at Mursix, a metal stamping component manufacturer in Yorktown, said being able to turn to Ivy Tech to train individuals for the tech jobs needed is important.
"We can get them referred to Ivy Tech and get them skilled up," he said.
Available workers:County enters agreement with Ivy Tech to place offenders at jobs with local manufacturers
WorkMatters provides additional training
The Jump program dovetails with an Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County program called WorkMatters, which is a collaboration between the college and county criminal justice officials.
"Ivy Tech will offer pre-trial release employment, education, and mental health services. Justice-involvedstudents are referred by problem-solving courts and enrolled in Ivy Tech programs, according to a white paper about WorkMatters. "These students and others comprise the IvyTemp workforce pool. IvyTemp is an employee talent pool inpartnership with our Premier Employers where students not only gain work-learn experience during peaktimes at local corporations but also have gainful, short-term employment to help combat poverty and reducerecidivism."
JUMP, which is a six-month program, can be a part of WorkMatters, which is open to anyone seeking additional training, Bush said. After JUMP, a worker can plug into WorkMatters and take their career and skills in whatever direction they choose.
Needed money:Delaware County's JUMP program wins grant funding
Ivy Tech has been meeting monthly with leadership from Magna Powertrain, Mursix, MPP Innovation, Muncie Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.
"We’ve brainstormed, innovated, and created a focus around WorkMatters," Jeffrey D. Scott, Chancellor Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County, said in the white paper. "WorkMatters consists of short-, mid-and long-term strategies to provide viability and sustainability for our actions."
Giving people a second chance
Right now, the program is focused on "the low-hanging fruit" of manufacturers seeking more help. The future at Ivy Tech and WorkMatters could include a wider array of training in fields like culinary arts, said Jennifer Gasiorek, vice chancellor for workforce partnerships and strategic communication at Ivy Tech.
At this point in the program's young life, 24 justice-involved people, 16 men and eight women, have been referred to JUMP. Only five failed to complete the program. But at this point, 197 people in the justice system have been flagged as potential participants.
"This is a great opportunity for us to give people a second chance," Corbin Black said.
One more chance:'Second Chance Dads' working alongside felons to end generational crime
Inside the workplace, Tina Black, who works as human resources director for NASG, said co-workers aren't told who is in the program.
"Everybody is all working together," she said.
Tina Black added that she expects more program participants will be joining North America's labor force soon.
"We are going to be adding a third shift," she said.
Bush said society and the justice system have a duty to help nonviolent offenders reclaim their lives. Too often people with a criminal record are labeled and then kept from earning a living.
"I want to reduce the stigma," Bush said. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/delaware-county-pilot-program-turning-out-employees-in-labor-shortage/65461746007/ | 2022-09-02T12:25:10 | 1 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/delaware-county-pilot-program-turning-out-employees-in-labor-shortage/65461746007/ |
Summer is winding down with Labor Day Weekend as one the last big boating and lake holiday weekends for a while.
Recent rain has helped to raise lake level, but the with a wet weekend possible, local agencies are reminding people to be weather aware on the water this weekend.
“With the recent rain, it actually is a good thing for all of our lake levels. Joe Pool Lake is almost back to normal, so we are at a good level right now and that is good for our boaters,” Grand Prairie Police representative Mark Beseda said. “That’s good for the water safety when it comes to boating and obstacles and for swimming. So, we’re right at normal here at Joe Pool Lake.”
On this possibly rainy and stormy weekend, being weather aware on the water is more important than ever. Lightning, pop up storms, and downpours can be dangerous and deadly on the lake.
“Obviously with storms comes high wind, heavy rain and poor visibility. So, if a storm is approaching, we recommend that you get off the lake,” Beseda said. “If you cannot get to your vehicle, get to the shore and dock it on the land. If you’re in a personal watercraft, of course exit immediately.” | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/agencies-prepare-for-busy-holiday-weekend-on-north-texas-lakes-waterways/3062945/ | 2022-09-02T12:43:35 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/agencies-prepare-for-busy-holiday-weekend-on-north-texas-lakes-waterways/3062945/ |
Kelly Clarkson is looking for the next amazing singer to perform a duet with her and the songstress is bringing her search to Dallas.
Look for the Kellyoke bus at Klyde Warren Park on Saturday, September 3 from 11am to 6pm.
For fans who can’t make it, upload your video to TokTok by using the #KellyokeSearch.
Participants must be 18 years old or older. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kelly-clarkson-bringing-kellyoke-to-dallas/3062966/ | 2022-09-02T12:43:41 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kelly-clarkson-bringing-kellyoke-to-dallas/3062966/ |
BROWN COUNTY, Ind. — The Brown County Sheriff's Office is asking for help finding a missing 17-year-old girl.
Deputies said Lexie Atwood was last seen leaving her home on Becks Grove Road on Thursday, Sept. 1 around 12:15 a.m.
Atwood was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and black sweatpants.
Deputies said Atwood could be headed to Indianapolis.
Anyone with information on Atwood's whereabouts is asked to contact the Brown County Sheriff's Office at 812-988-6655 ext. 0.
Brown County is roughly 60 miles south of downtown Indianapolis.
Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert: What's the difference?
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police.
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- Weather can trigger migraine headaches | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/brown-county-missing-girl-lexie-atwood-september-1-indianapolis/531-646c0fa5-d080-4c84-8ddb-04e3c4a7c0b3 | 2022-09-02T12:46:36 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/brown-county-missing-girl-lexie-atwood-september-1-indianapolis/531-646c0fa5-d080-4c84-8ddb-04e3c4a7c0b3 |
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — If you're a fan of the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things," there's now a way you can feel like you're part of the series.
Ahead of the fifth and final season and quickly-approaching Halloween, fans are visiting Graduate Bloomington hotels, where the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, is brought to East Kirkwood Avenue.
Guests immediately walk into the Byers' living room, complete with '80s nostalgia, where they are greeted with the famous Christmas lights and the alphabet wall Joyce (Winona Ryder) used to communicate with Will (Noah Schnapp) in "the Upside Down," the same wallpaper, and the map for the Demogorgon.
"We really wanted to make locals and people from afar come to Graduate Bloomington to feel like you're in the series," said Lauren Davis, director of sales at Graduate Bloomington. "Lots of investigating to be able to figure out where to get identical pieces. A lot of guests that stay in this room actually say it feels like they're on set because the wallpaper you'll see is identical, the drawings and everything here, identical."
A look inside the "Stranger Things" suite at Graduate Bloomington
The hotel's design team covered every detail, including stacks of Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) favorite Eggo Waffles, a milk carton with Will's photo, and the burned telephone.
"I think it's the fact that you can quite literally hang out in this suite the whole time and never leave. You don't go to many hotels where you don't leave the room," Davis said. "It's cool how you can take pictures, listen to the cassette player, try on all the outfits, play the games in the other room and have fun and not have to leave."
The adjoining room is in the Wheeler family basement, complete with Eleven's fort, '80s retro games, and the life-size Demogorgon over the bed.
Netflix has not announced when the final season will air, but Davis said as long as there are more seasons, the suite will stay put.
Rates for the suite, which opened October 2021, start at $299 per night. The package includes a polaroid camera and film, bicycles to ride around Bloomington, tickets to the local WonderLab science museum, and an Eggo Extravaganza. Also, 11% of the reservation proceeds go back to the science museum.
RELATED: What to watch on Netflix
The suite is among four pop culture-inspired suites at Graduate Hotels across the country:
- Roosevelt Island — "Big"
- Nashville — "9 to 5"
- Chicago — "Home Alone"
Click here to book your stay at the "Stranger Things" suite.
What other people are reading:
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- Here's how to strengthen the privacy and location settings on your smartphone | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/stranger-things-bloomington-suite-reservations/531-49c7ef96-d938-4fb7-b9f0-a99ccdfd5419 | 2022-09-02T12:46:42 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/stranger-things-bloomington-suite-reservations/531-49c7ef96-d938-4fb7-b9f0-a99ccdfd5419 |
ROCKWALL, Texas — Police fatally shot a kidnapping suspect during an exchange of gunfire at a home in Rockwall on Thursday night, officials said.
The incident unfolded over the span of about an hour and a half and also involved Fort Worth and Dallas police.
No officers were injured during the shooting.
Shortly before 7 p.m., Fort Worth police had asked Rockwall police to conduct a welfare check at a home in Rockwall. Fort Worth police then updated Rockwall police to say the person involved in the welfare check was possibly involved in a kidnapping.
At around 7:30 p.m., Dallas police also got in touch with Rockwall police about a reported stabbing in Dallas involving the kidnapping of a woman and two children.
The suspect in the Dallas incident was the same suspect Fort Worth police identified.
Rockwall officers found the suspect outside of a residence near Rockwall Parkway and Summerhill Drive around 8:20 p.m. When they tried to get in contact with him, the suspect "exchanged gunfire with the officers," police said.
The suspect was shot and taken to a hospital, where he died.
The alleged kidnapping victims were found at a home in a nearby city. No injuries were reported.
The suspect's name has not been released.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting, which is typical for shootings involving police.
More information about the incident was not immediately available Friday morning. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-fort-worth-kidnapping-suspect-fatally-shot-by-police-in-rockwall-officials-say/287-f717b08c-56cc-4a27-9260-2c5956797591 | 2022-09-02T12:52:59 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-fort-worth-kidnapping-suspect-fatally-shot-by-police-in-rockwall-officials-say/287-f717b08c-56cc-4a27-9260-2c5956797591 |
The vaccination effort against monkeypox in New York City is getting a massive expansion, including broadening its eligibility pool and starting distribution of second doses, health officials announced Thursday.
Email and text notifications are heading out to New Yorkers who received their first dose of the monkeypox vaccine 10 weeks ago, with details on scheduling a second appointment over the phone or online. The city says second doses will only be made available to people 10 weeks after their first shot.
Demand for first doses of the monkeypox vaccine made access difficult -- most appointment drops had all slots claimed with minutes -- until late August. For the first time, the city released a batch of appointment times on Aug. 24 and still had openings more than 24 hours later.
“Now that we’ve gotten first doses to more than 70,000 New Yorkers, people can get their eagerly awaited second shots by appointment – and we’re making vaccination even more convenient by welcoming walk-ins for first doses," Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said in Thursday's announcement.
Another example of the city's shifting approach to distribution: city-run vaccination sites will now be open to walk-ins (but still recommends making an appointment).
A batch of 8,000 first dose appointments will be made available Friday at 4 p.m.
The city is also expanding who is eligible for doses of the vaccine. Sex workers and anyone engaging in transactional sex became immediately eligible for the vaccine Thursday.
The latest health department figures (as of Aug. 29), show more than 3,000 people in the city have presumably tested positive for monkeypox.
How to Prevent Monkeypox
The New York State Department of Health listed steps people should take in order to help prevent the spread of monkeypox:
• Ask sexual partners whether they have a rash or other symptoms consistent with monkeypox.
• Avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash or other monkeypox-related symptoms.
• Contact a healthcare provider following exposure or symptoms, and check with your local county health department about vaccine eligibility.
• New Yorkers who receive the JYNNEOS vaccine should receive both doses, given four weeks apart, and stay vigilant until fully vaccinated, two weeks following the second dose.
• If you or your healthcare provider suspect you may have monkeypox, isolate at home. If you can, stay in a separate area from other family members and pets.
• Follow reputable sources of health information, including NYSDOH, CDC, and your local county health department. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-expands-monkeypox-vaccine-eligibility-starts-offering-2nd-doses/3849327/ | 2022-09-02T13:00:29 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-expands-monkeypox-vaccine-eligibility-starts-offering-2nd-doses/3849327/ |
Four people died and another eight were hurt, some of them severely, when a shuttle van with a dozen aboard flipped over in the center median of New Jersey's Palisades Interstate Parkway early Friday, authorities say.
Highway police responding to a call about a southbound accident in Englewood Cliffs found a mangled Ford cargo van with New York plates flipped on its left side in a wooded area off the span around 1:30 a.m. Several people were trapped, they said.
Emergency crews had to extricate them from the vehicle. Its roof had been shorn off, its back windows smashed, but it wasn't clear how much of the damage happened as a result of the accident and how much may have been part of the rescue effort.
No details on the victims or a possible cause of the single-vehicle accident were immediately available. Police say the four people who died at the scene had suffered severe trauma. Eight victims were taken to hospitals, some with severe head trauma and others with minor complaints, officials said. It wasn't clear how many survivors had life-threatening injuries early Friday.
A multi-agency investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. The Palisades Parkway was shut down for hours in the area. Get real-time commute updates from all your key transit sources here. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/palisades-parkway-crash-kills-4-hurts-8-nj-traffic-stifled-in-englewood-cliffs/3849259/ | 2022-09-02T13:00:35 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/palisades-parkway-crash-kills-4-hurts-8-nj-traffic-stifled-in-englewood-cliffs/3849259/ |
Car shows and drag races come to Boyne City Labor Day weekend
BOYNE CITY — The Boyne City Kiwanis Club will host its Labor Day Weekend Car Show on Sept. 2-3.
The first day on Friday, Sept. 2 will feature a drive-in preview from 6-9 p.m. on the first two blocks of East Water Street.
On Saturday, Sept. 3, the car show will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Veterans Park at 207 N. Lake St.
Pre-registration is $20 per vehicle and day-of registration is $25 per vehicle. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Trophies and special awards will also be given out, with judging beginning at 10 a.m. Voting for special classes closes at 1 p.m. and the awards presentation will begin around 3 p.m.
Funds from the car show will go towards projects to benefit the youth of the Boyne City area.
Later in the weekend, the Boyne City Drag Races will also take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4 at the Boyne City Airport.
According to the event’s website, the annual races were started in 2003 as a fundraiser for the Boyne City Police Department and Boyne City Airport. This year’s event is organized by the Boyne Valley Lions and a committee of drag race enthusiasts.
Racers may register at the gate the day of the event. The gates open at 8:30 a.m. Registration is limited to 125 racers and registration fees are non-refundable.
For drivers, the price to pre-register is $25, or $30 on the day of the race. Pit passes are $15. General admission tickets are $10 with children 12 and under free. No alcohol or pets are allowed at the event.
Find out more at bcdragrace.com. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/entertainment/local/2022/09/02/car-shows-and-drag-races-come-to-boyne-city-labor-day-weekend/65465929007/ | 2022-09-02T13:04:09 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/entertainment/local/2022/09/02/car-shows-and-drag-races-come-to-boyne-city-labor-day-weekend/65465929007/ |
MULVANE, Kan. (KSNW) — All four state-owned casinos now have sports wagering, and gamblers are going all in.
At the Kansas Star Casino, it was a mix between sports fans who couldn’t wait to place their bets and people who were just curious to learn how this works. Regardless, people are hoping to cash out and win.
“We’ve had a lot of guests who were timid, but very curious,” Kansas Star Director of Operations Alli Bair said. “Maybe sports betting is new to them. We’ve got an amazing team in our temporary sports book right now explaining, you know, sports betting 101 to the guests.”
Whether new or experienced, many Kansans are now putting their skin in the game.
“Everyone’s excited,” Malik Grandison, a gambler, said. “I mean, we’ve been waiting for it for a long time, just my group of friends. We’re really in the sport. It’s nice to actually be able to put your money up and you know, prove that you know a little bit about the game so it’s a really fun competitive it’s a nice way to win money.”
The official launch with the full sportsbook is next Thursday. Between now and then, Kansas Star will add more kiosks, a full video wall, and more. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/gamblers-excited-as-sports-betting-launches-in-kansas/ | 2022-09-02T13:04:14 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/gamblers-excited-as-sports-betting-launches-in-kansas/ |
HAYSVILLE, Kan. (KSNW) — A Kansas town is left without a doctor as Haysville Family Medcenter is closing. Some patients say they were given no notice or just days notice about the closure.
Tony Bruner and his family had been going to Haysville Family Medcenter for at least three years. He said he tried to make an appointment for his daughter just a few weeks ago.
“I still haven’t received anything written or notification that they’re closing,” Bruner said.
“They said she would have to establish as a new patient, I said okay, so when do we set up an appointment? They said we have no open appointments for anyone,” Bruner said.
Haysville Mayor Russ Kessler says the clinic will officially close on Labor Day, Sept. 5. He says he’s made phone calls to other area providers in the hopes of bringing someone in to take over.
“My involvement was reaching out to other professionals and sending them towards Dr. Parman because the city is not going to make a deal between a private person and a corporation,” Kessler said.
The clinic’s upcoming closure has patients scrambling to find care elsewhere.
“It’s kind of scary like if people go to Derby, only doctors will take so many people,” Haysville resident Teresa Anderson said.
That scenario is already playing out for some patients.
“I have seven kids, so it’s very frustrating trying to find a new doctor to take all of us in,” said Christine Kinyanjui, a patient.
Ilene Bonson, a Haysville resident, says she now has to travel to Goddard to receive care. She added that she’s concerned about potential impacts on the Haysville economy.
“Especially since COVID, a lot of businesses have closed down, and if you lose medical, the community just starts shrinking…we like it small but we don’t like it to be so small that it disappears,” Bonson said. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/haysville-medical-clinic-to-shut-down/ | 2022-09-02T13:04:15 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/haysville-medical-clinic-to-shut-down/ |
WINFIELD, Kan. (KSNW) — A group of suspicious devices at a park near Whittier Elementary School in Winfield prompted the Wichita Police Department bomb squad to investigate on Thursday afternoon.
According to a news release from the Winfield Police Department, at around 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 1, Winfield officers responded to Cherry Street Park in the 1500 block of Cherry St. for a report of suspicious devices in the park.
Employees of the City of Winfield told officers that while they were mowing, they located at least two small items that looked suspicious.
During the initial investigation, officers located two partial devices and remnants from others on the ground in the park. It was not believed there was an immediate threat to the houses around the park, but foot and vehicle traffic in the park was closed.
Alternate routes were used for students of Whittier Elementary School who biked or walked through the park to get home from school.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” members of the Wichita Police Department bomb squad were called in to investigate. During the investigation, three small items were collected and will be investigated further.
No residences were in danger.
The Winfield Police Department also wants to remind the pubic that if they see any item that is either suspicious or dangerous to leave the item alone and call 911.
An investigation is ongoing. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wpd-bomb-squad-investigates-suspicious-devices-in-winfield/ | 2022-09-02T13:04:16 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/wpd-bomb-squad-investigates-suspicious-devices-in-winfield/ |
Two locals to be inducted in the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame
When Kathleen McNamara’s husband showed her the list of names being inducted into the Michigan 2022 Irish American Hall of Fame, she was excited to see Sean Ryan’s name on the list.
McNamara and her husband had listened to his music previously, so she was excited to see he was being honored. Then, she scrolled down to see her biography listed next.
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More:Five Beaver Island Irish community members to be honored
“I was like, 'That's cool, Sean is going to be inducted this year,’” she said. “Then I kept scrolling and saw mine was the next biography, and I was surprised, and shocked, and a little overwhelmed that I would be nominated.”
The Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame inducts anywhere from six to eight Irish Americans a year. There are usually around 10-15 nominations, said Neil Mullally, the program director for the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is run by the Muskegon Irish American Society. The group selected six different categories to nominate someone from to try to ensure the Hall of Fame was for everyday folks, not requiring fame or notoriety to be nominated.
“We wanted to make sure that ... a lot of the behind-the-scenes people, or people who aren't ordinarily recognized, can become members of the Hall of Fame,” he said.
The organization has inductees for philanthropy, arts and entertainment, education, and business and industry. More than one person from each category can be inducted each year. Someone must nominate the person before they are chosen for consideration.
McNamara, now residing on Beaver Island, was inducted under the education category. Long-time Petoskey resident Ryan was inducted in arts and entertainment.
Originally from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, McNamara began her teaching career on Beaver Island. After five years of teaching, she was promoted to the principal and superintendent role, which she served in for 26 years. She’s resided on the island for a little more than 40 years.
Since leaving teaching, she worked as the director for the Beaver Island Historical Society and then St. James Township supervisor. Now, she’s been working on grant writing.
“There's been a lot of awesome inductees into the Hall of Fame, and I am just honored that I can represent Beaver Island and my family in that ceremony,” McNamara said.
When it comes to celebrating her heritage, she said it is important to connect to her roots.
“I just think it's important to help people to understand where they came from and what kind of a group of people they're descended from, and to celebrate their heritage.”
McNamara was a part of starting a Beaver Island Irish American Hall of Fame, with this year being the first round of inductees. They will be celebrated at the Beaver Island Irish Festival Sept. 9-10.
Her family's roots trace back to County Clare, Ireland.
Ryan, a longtime musician and Petoskey resident, was born in Clonakilty, Ireland and raised in Youghan, Country Cork, Ireland. His family moved to the U.S. when he was 12, and now he resides in Florida.
He said he was extra excited to see that his friend Tom Powers was being inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously.
“I couldn't be more honored to say yes for posterity,” he said. “The two of us, Irish laggards, are going to be sharing the same space and the wall in the Hall of Fame. I love it. I'm tickled pink, I'm tickled green.”
Ryan retired from performing after arthritis reached his hands, but his musical talents have helped him solidify a legacy in Michigan.
He wrote “America’s Star,” the United States Marshal Service’s theme song, as well as “Blue Diamonds,” the Michigan State Police’s theme song.
“It's so nice to be such a part of two fine institutions like that,” he said. “I've traveled all over the world performing and all over the United States, and what great memories I have, but my fondest memories are all the people that I met in Petoskey.”
Right in town, he helped found The Noggin Room in the Perry Hotel. He worked there as a house performer.
When it comes to highlighting his Irish heritage, Ryan said it was important for him to share the influence Irish music has had on the world.
“Wherever the Irish went, they brought the music with them, and it's influenced the music of many nations,” Ryan said. "As the music of many nations have influenced the Irish, but Irish music is unique.”
McNamara and Ryan will be honored Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Michigan Irish American Music Festival in Muskegon. For a full list of inductees, visit michiganirishamericanhalloffame.org.
Contact education reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com or on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/sean-ryan-kathleen-mcnamara-inducted-to-the-michigan-irish-hall-of-fame/65467023007/ | 2022-09-02T13:04:39 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/sean-ryan-kathleen-mcnamara-inducted-to-the-michigan-irish-hall-of-fame/65467023007/ |
Senior Expo adds authors to offerings on Sept. 7
GAYLORD — The Northern Michigan Senior Expo returns for its 11th year and attendees will be able receive information on products and services aimed at the senior citizen community in Otsego County.
Jim Driver is the organizer for the expo, which will take place from 1-4 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Ellison Place at 150 Dale Dr. in Gaylord. There is no admission charge.
"We are excited because this year we have 12 more booths than last year," said Driver. "We have more food booths this year."
A new feature this year is the appearance of two authors. One is Keith Gave, who wrote "The Russian Five: A Story of Espionage, Defection, Bribery and Courage."
In 1989, while working as a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press, Gave secretly passed a message from the Detroit Red Wings to two Russian players, Sergei Fedorov and Vladimir Konstantinov who were drafted by the Red Wings. Eventually Fedorov and Konstantinov along with three other Russian players would defect and play for the team, helping the franchise win two Stanley Cups in the 1990s.
The other author is Otsego County resident Jonathan Turnbull, who graduated from Gaylord High School in 2005. He became a cadet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, graduated and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
While serving in Syria in 2019 on what was more of a humanitarian mission than a military one, a suicide bomb attack outside of a school killed three U.S. soldiers and severely injured two others, including Turnbull. Forty civilians were also injured.
Turnbull spent the next two years recovering from his injuries while enduring 22 life-changing surgeries. Given little chance of survival, Turnbull relied on his wife, Samantha, and religion to eventually return to Gaylord with a message of hope and inspiration, which is detailed in his book "Zero Percent Chance: A Tribute to the Heroes of Cross-functional Team Manbij: a Soldier’s Memoir."
More:Senior expo offers access to product, service information
He recently won a seat on the Otsego County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 2 election.
Those who come to the expo "will have access to information on a variety of products and services. We want everyone to talk directly to those who operate assisted living facilities, for example, so they can make informed decisions on what is right for them," said Driver. "At some point in our lives we may have to consider assisted living and three different organizations specializing in assisted living will attend."
Driver said attendance was about 450 last year, "which wasn't bad considering we were coming off a Covid year. I am expecting about 500 to 600 will attend this year."
"The Otsego County Commission on Aging is a huge part of this expo and they offer a variety of services for seniors," he said. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/09/02/senior-expo-adds-authors-to-offerings-on-sept-7/65463867007/ | 2022-09-02T13:04:45 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/09/02/senior-expo-adds-authors-to-offerings-on-sept-7/65463867007/ |
Pay-parking zones, increased enforcement proposed for congested downtown Melbourne
Downtown Melbourne merchants and visitors alike would benefit if city officials hire a private firm to manage parking along the bustling New Haven Avenue commercial corridor, a Tampa transportation consulting firm says.
Possible options include pay-parking zones, collected via kiosk and phone apps. Increased enforcement. Tweaked parking-time limits.
More parking partnerships with private lot owners. And designated parking areas for downtown employees.
“At some point, the downtown gets so crowded that it becomes nothing but cars circling around to try to find that last space. And you may be experiencing some of that already on your busy nights," Jim Corbett, a Walker Consultants project manager, said during a Wednesday morning parking workshop.
"And it really becomes a safety measure at that point. Because you’ve got a lot of pedestrians and families using the intersections and crosswalks. People are excited because there’s lots to look at. They’re not really paying attention to the cars driving around," Corbett said.
"And if you can find a way to get those cars out of your downtown street system and into the parking collectors more quickly and more efficiently, you’re going to have a lot more safe, walkable environment in your downtown," he said.
Parking crunch: Downtown Melbourne congestion triggers public workshops to collect opinions
Also: Daily Bread proposes to build 4-story housing-social services complex in Palm Bay
Walker Consultants is conducting a $9,890 study of parking conditions across downtown Melbourne. The firm conducted a pair of “Opportunities for Establishing a Managed Parking Program” workshops at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Melbourne City Hall to collect input from downtown business owners and residents.
No decisions have been made. The firm will submit a draft summary outlining recommended options within a week or so, and City Hall planners will use it to craft proposed ideas for Melbourne City Council review.
Melbourne Main Street is partnering with City Hall on the parking initiative.
Similar City Hall parking workshops in January 2017 found many challenges remain unchanged today, more than five years later:
- The core shopping district needs high turnover of customer vehicles.
- Low-turnover, employee-owned vehicles need pushed outside the core.
- Clear directions are needed to guide motorists to parking areas.
- Security and lighting are concerns.
“This is not the first time the city has gone down this path of workshops and studies. Are they going to do something with the findings?" Glen Outlaw asked during the morning workshop. He served on the Melbourne Planning and Zoning Board for 18 years.
"Or are they just going to put another study on the shelf?” Outlaw asked.
Responding to Outlaw, Community Development Director Cindy Dittmer noted that nobody in the morning-workshop audience of about 25 people voiced strong objections to paid parking.
"What's happened in the past is, staff has done these type of workshops and we've gone to City Council. There was more opposition to, 'Don't put paid parking at all downtown. We don't want that. That's going to run all the business away,' " Dittmer said.
Tom Szubka, a Walker Consultants senior operations consultant, displayed PowerPoint slides showing how vehicles equipped with license-plate recognition cameras can help enforcement personnel keep tabs on how long cars have been parked in a space.
U.S. Court of Appeals decisions have found that "chalking" tires of parked vehicles is now unconstitutional. That's how Melbourne police used to enforce downtown parking times.
The City Hall garage offers free public parking and roughly 350 spaces. However, Szubka told the audience most motorists won't consider it their first option.
“People will always choose to park on-street or in a surface lot before they’ll go into a garage. That’s generally the rule of thumb," Szubka said.
"To incentivize folks to park in a garage, you have to incentivize them somehow — which is time limits or paid (parking) or otherwise," he said.
Corbett said shared-parking partnerships offer a cost-effective way for Melbourne officials to boost parking inventory.
"There are many businesses in downtown that have a wealth of parking for their employees and customers during the day. And then, that business may not be open on weeknights or weekends," Corbett said.
Kathy Meehan served as mayor from 2012 to 2020, and she manages Meehans' Office and Art Products in downtown Melbourne. She criticized shopkeepers and workers who hog prime parking spaces.
“I feel New Haven is for our customers. They need to come to our shop. I know some of them can’t walk. But it needs to be convenient for them. Those are the consumers that help our business, and also the city of Melbourne," Meehan said.
"So to me, having employees and owners parking in that critical space is not acceptable," she said.
"I feel that they need to be in the parking garage. And that’s where we need to educate them, and get them in the parking garage. And of course, they need to feel safe," she said.
Karen Harshaw, who owns Jessup's of Melbourne, agreed.
“We’ve been down here for 46 years. We’ve seen a lot of change. I can tell you our business has gone down because we don’t have parking," Harshaw said.
"I have customers that loop and loop and loop and don’t find a parking spot — and call me up and say, ‘We can’t park. We’re leaving.' "
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1 | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/downtown-melbourne-pay-parking-zones-parking-enforcement-floated/7925129001/ | 2022-09-02T13:06:09 | 0 | https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/downtown-melbourne-pay-parking-zones-parking-enforcement-floated/7925129001/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/pa-amber-alert-victim-found-in-nyc-2/3352379/ | 2022-09-02T13:08:42 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/pa-amber-alert-victim-found-in-nyc-2/3352379/ |
Boat christened in honor of Atomic Rowing alumna
Oak Ridge rowers gathered Aug. 16 for the christening of the coxed 4 boat, April Chism, named for the Oak Ridge-based Atomic Rowing Club member who is now rowing for George Washington University.
Head coach Josh Baker said how proud he was of April as a student, athlete, and person. He also thanked the Chism family for their generosity in making it possible for the club to purchase a boat that will be rowed for years to come.
April, a Webb School graduate, drew the attention of college recruiters in only her second year of rowing. Her Atomic coach John Davis said Chism "has the height and length to be a top college rower, and she has the work ethic to back up her talent.”
The daughter of Dr. David and Liliana Chism said she initially got into the sport as much for social reasons as athletic or physical ones. She had just moved from Nashville, where she attended Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School, and some neighbors, Noelle and Charlotte Fuchs, were involved with Atomic Rowing. They invited her and she never looked back.
“I love coming out after school every single day,” she said of her interest in the sport. “I don’t have to stress about homework or school.”
Besides getting an opportunity to participate on an NCAA varsity team, she was also drawn to the political science and law programs at the college.
“George Washington was always a school I was interested in,” she said. “I am super interested in learning about government, and I’m also drawn to D.C. It was very easy to envision being there.” | https://www.oakridger.com/story/sports/local/2022/09/02/atomic-rowing-boat-christened-honor-alumna-oak-ridge/7938131001/ | 2022-09-02T13:14:18 | 0 | https://www.oakridger.com/story/sports/local/2022/09/02/atomic-rowing-boat-christened-honor-alumna-oak-ridge/7938131001/ |
Bridge at Madison Avenue and East Raymond Street blocked for 'significant amount of time'
Jen Guadarrama
Indianapolis Star
Police are blocking the bridge at Madison Avenue and East Raymond Street near Garfield Park in all directions "for a significant amount of time," the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.
Officers are being dispatched to the area to divert traffic and ask drivers to avoid the area and plan to take an alternate route, the department said in a tweet published about 6:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2.
Pieces of concrete from the bridge were falling, creating a hazard for drivers and potentially making the bridge unsafe, according to responding officers.
This article will update. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2022/09/02/bridge-madison-avenue-and-east-raymond-street-blocked-near-garfield-park/65469624007/ | 2022-09-02T13:21:48 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2022/09/02/bridge-madison-avenue-and-east-raymond-street-blocked-near-garfield-park/65469624007/ |
3 years in, IndyGo Red Line ridership starts rebound to pre-pandemic levels
The Red Line has been running for three years now in Indianapolis, and though the majority of that time has been spent in the pandemic vortex, the city's first bus rapid transit route is finally starting to regain pre-pandemic crowds.
Ridership rebounded significantly this spring and summer, surpassing 100,000 passengers in June for the first time since February 2020, according to figures listed in the board of directors meeting packets.
The Red Line fared slightly better than ridership overall across IndyGo's bus network, which is still struggling to climb back to pre-pandemic levels. At summer's peak in June, the network's 500,000 riders were still about 200,000 short of crowds seen in the 2019-20 winter.
When comparing this year to last year, Red Line ridership was up 60% in May and June, whereas overall ridership was up about 20%.
Still, the gap between what IndyGo budgets for passenger fare revenue and what it is actually getting has been slowly closing.
"If we continue the trend that we have seen this year, I hope our passenger service revenue will be at or above budget for the year," IndyGo chief financial officer Bart Brown told his board of directors in July ― something he couldn't have said last year or the year before.
Passenger service revenue was under budget by about 20% in 2021 and 45% in 2020. So far in 2022, IndyGo's fare revenue is about 10% under budget.
Despite the promising trends in 2022, executives decided to budget passenger revenue more conservatively in 2023.
More:IndyGo takes conservative approach to passenger revenue for 2023 budget
Why is the Red Line rebounding?
Several variables are different this spring compared to 2021.
In April, IndyGo, along with many other public transit agencies, lifted its mask mandate following the Transportation Security Administration's similar decision and a court ruling vacating the previous federal mandate. With vaccines much more widely available than they were last spring, a greater portion of riders might feel more comfortable returning to public transit.
As confidence increases, more people are also returning to in-person work. The Red Line runs through some of the city's densest, work-centric areas, which is another contributing factor to its share of the upward trend, IndyGo spokesperson Carrie Black said.
IndyGo has also ramped up efforts to make the buses cleaner, including installing air-disinfecting ultraviolet technology across its entire fleet.
These unique-to-2022 factors combine with annual seasonal factors, like warmer weather and high school kids going back to school and taking the Red Line, she said.
Challenges that IndyGo is still addressing
IndyGo has been contending with a shortage of bus drivers since the onset of the pandemic. Last fall, the agency said it needed to hire 10 to 15 drivers per month for the foreseeable future until staff is replenished.
One result of this is that on-time performance of the Red Line has suffered. Prior to the pandemic, about 75% to 80% of Red Line buses were on time, meaning they pulled up every 15 minutes as scheduled. The past two summers, on-time performance has dropped down to 55% to 65%.
Overtime expenses have also continued to trend higher due to labor shortages, particularly among drivers. By August last year, overtime was nearly 50% over budget. By this August, overtime is 67% over budget.
IndyGo has been graduating an average of 12 drivers every month this year, with 23 hired in May, Black said, but it is still recruiting.
IndyGo is also beginning to roll out an effort to educate passengers on how to pay for rides on the Red Line. Fare evasion is a problem on the Red Line, though it's difficult to quantify exactly how large, in part because the percentage of riders being inspected has fallen as low as 2% in recent months.
More:Why it's too easy to skip fare on the Red Line and what IndyGo is doing about it
Audio messaging on the platforms and buses has been playing for several weeks, and work is ongoing to develop signage, Black said.
IndyGo ramped up inspections in July, checking about 8% of the monthly passengers, according to board documents. Inspectors educated 740 passengers about how to pay ― the most in a single month since IndyGo started keeping track in January 2020.
From 2021:IndyGo's Red Line is now 2 years old. Here's how many people are riding it.
Contact IndyStar transportation reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2022/09/02/indygo-red-line-ridership-rebounds-to-pre-pandemic-levels-3-years-in/65459161007/ | 2022-09-02T13:21:54 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2022/09/02/indygo-red-line-ridership-rebounds-to-pre-pandemic-levels-3-years-in/65459161007/ |
Salem-area residents struggle to get promised discount on garbage rates
When Salem City Council voted to increase garbage rates during their Aug. 22 meeting, councilors also opted to increase the discount available to people who might need it most: low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
But few know about the sizable discount on trash services andcurrently receive it. And some who try to get their bills reduced struggle with red tape of government bodies, nonprofits and paperwork needed to qualify.
The increase will be paired with the option of service every other week and an increase in the discount on trash service provided to senior and disabled low-income customers from 10% to 20%.
The 20% discount is offered as part of the city's Utility Rate Relief Program through Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency and is available to residential customers who are 60 years and older or disabled, are the named customer on their account and have a household income at or below 60% of the state median income.
According to city records, only 12 people are enrolled in the program as of Tuesday.
During the Aug. 22 meeting, councilor Chris Hoy said he wanted more to be done to increase awareness of the discount available to seniors and residents with disabilities.
He said the city faced a similar lack of awareness over the assistance provided for water utility services until a concerted push to include information in paper and electronic bills boosted enrollment. Hoy said he wanted to see a similar effort to let people know about the discount available for trash services.
"I think that's really important because if people don't know that a program exists, they're never going to apply for it," Hoy said. "I think it's incumbent upon us to get that information out."
Starting Jan. 1, there will be an 8.48% increase in Marion County for roll cart services and a 10.54% increase in Polk County for roll cart services.
The increase means most residential customers in Marion County will see an annual increase of approximately $32.40, or about $2.70 a month. Polk County customers will see an annual increase of $33, or $2.27 a month.
The increase was made at the behest of the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association, a body comprised of the six solid waste management haulers serving residents and businesses in Salem. Haulers cited inflation, increased labor costs and difficulties in the recycling market as the reasons for a price hike.
When the increase takes effect Jan. 1, the Marion County portion of Salem will have the second highest rate among a comparison of Oregon cities, second only to Gresham. Similarly-sized Eugene has a monthly rate of $24.65 while Salem-Marion County has a rate of $34.75 and Salem-Polk County has a rate of $29.05.
Struggling to get the discount
The discount piquedthe interest of Jean Bockelman-McInnis. She said she understands the reasons for garbage rates going up; getting 20% off her monthly bill would help offset some of the financial burden of inflation and rising costs. She found the process for signing up confusing and reached a dead end.
"I certainly qualify, but when I called the city utility rate relief program and the Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, I was told that there was no such thing as a discount," Bockelman-McInnis said.
She was instead pointed to a one-time relief program, not a discount, provided to some low-income residents for utility relief.
Bockelman-McInnis said she doesn't want to take that money from a family that could need it more. She said she doesn't see herself as truly needy, but as a senior who would be helped by a 20% discount.
"We don't have children," she said. "We can get by … but I thought, 'They're raising rates, I won't always be able to get by and so if a discount is available to low-income seniors, that would be lovely.'"
City officials said Bockelman-McInnis's experience might have been caused by a general miscommunication — a misunderstanding between what discount she was trying to access and what was available.
She said she would keep trying.
During public testimony during the Aug. 22 meeting, residents expressed frustration during written and public testimony about the existing level of service and cost of trash service.
Residents cannot pick which of the six garbage haulers they do business with. Which company they get is dependent on where they live.
Discount dependent on living within city limits
City spokesman John Winn said the increase in the low-income senior discount was negotiated by Salem officials as part of the recent rate setting process.
"The City of Salem only negotiates rates for those accounts held within Salem city limits. Those who live in Marion or Polk Counties outside the City limits pay different rates that are not negotiated or approved by the City of Salem."
Winn said residents living outside city limits can contact their haulers directly to ask about senior and disability discounts.
Evan Lehman, who lives in rural Marion County south of Salem, tried this approach to no avail. He reached out to hauler D&O Garbage after reading about the discount.
"They're saying that the program doesn't apply to rural customers — too bad, so sad and we are not going to give it to you even if you are disabled or a senior," Lehman said.
Marion County officials did not immediately respond to inquiries on whether they planned to implement a program similar to Salem's to serve rural residents like Lehman.
Winn said the city aims to increase the low number of participants in the relief program.
In the months ahead, city staff will be working with haulers and the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency to raise awareness about the program and the increased discount by making sure those eligible for the discount on their City of Salem Utility bill are also aware of the solid waste discount and can take advantage of both programs.
"Additionally, the plan is to make information available on the City and hauler websites, along with social media posts and utility bill inserts," Winn said. "The discount will be increasing from 10% to 20% and will be effective Jan. 1, 2023, along with the new garbage rates."
How to sign-up for the discount
The city offers the following instructions on enrolling in the program. Information is also available online at cityofsalem.net/community/household/financial-assistance-grants/discount-on-your-garbage-bill.
To enroll in the program, residents must be 60 years of age and older or disabled, live at a single-family residence with an active account with one of Salem's garbage haulers and have a combined household income equal to or less than 60 percent of the area median income based on family size.
Some examples of household income include pensions, annuities, wages, salaries, tips, Social Security benefits, interest, dividends, investments, and public or governmental assistance.
Application process
Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) screens and qualifies applicants for a discount on their garbage bill. You also may qualify for a discount on your City of Salem utility bill.
- Step 1: Contact MWVCAA at 971-304-2100 to schedule an appointment.
- Step 2: Compile required documents. The following documents are required for applying to the program:
- Proof of utility account: Current City of Salem Utility Bill showing enrollment in Utility Rate Relief Program or
- Proof of age and income for all household members.
Those needing additional information or support to learn more about this program can call the City of Salem’s Franchise office at 503-588-6258.
Reporter Whitney Woodworth covers city hall, economic development and business for the Statesman Journal. For questions, comments and news tips, email wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/salem-marion-county-oregon-increase-trash-garbage-prices-rates-discount/65462215007/ | 2022-09-02T13:22:10 | 0 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/salem-marion-county-oregon-increase-trash-garbage-prices-rates-discount/65462215007/ |
Polk City Jan. 6 defendant's trial pushed to March
A judge has granted the request of Joshua Doolin, a defendant in the U.S. Capitol attack, to have his trial delayed, but that means Doolin’s case is again grouped with those of other local residents facing more serious charges.
In a telephone status conference last week, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols canceled Doolin’s trial date of Sept. 12. Instead, Nichols ordered that the Polk City resident’s trial begin on March 6.
That is the same date trials are scheduled for Olivia Pollock of Lakeland; Christopher Hutchinson III, formerly of Lakeland and now living in Georgia; and Michael Perkins of Plant City.
Previously:Doolin, Jan. 6 defendant from Polk, seeks delay in trial until next year
Also:Jan. 6 defendant from Polk City fights prosecutors' attempts to limit defense
More:Charges added for Polk County Jan. 6 defendants
Doolin, 24, is charged with disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and theft of government property, among other alleged crimes.
Doolin was originally grouped as a co-defendant with Pollock, Hutchinson and Perkins. His lawyer successfully requested in February to have his case separated from the others’, arguing that Doolin would be unfairly associated with defendants accused of assaulting officers during the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.
Doolin’s lawyer, Allen Orenberg of Potomac, Maryland, also asked for his trial date to be moved up, writing that a delay would damage Doolin’s reputation and earning potential. Nichols set a date of Sept. 12 for the trial to begin in Washington, D.C.
Earlier this month, Orenberg filed a motion to delay Doolin’s trial. The lawyer argued that jurors could be swayed by reports from a U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Capitol attack, reports of phone messages deleted by the U.S. Secret Service and other “prejudicial publicity.”
Prosecutors said they would agree to a delay if the judge rejoined Doolin’s case with those of his former co-defendants. Orenberg opposed that suggestion.
Nichols sided with prosecutors, setting a trial date of March 6.
Doolin and the other three defendants have remained free on personal recognizance since their indictments in June 2021. Doolin must wear an ankle monitor and faces other restrictions.
Doolin faced only misdemeanor charges in the original indictment. A grand jury issued a superseding indictment in July that added felony charges.
Pollock’s younger brother, Jonathan Pollock, was also indicted last year on felony charges. He has not been arrested and remains a fugitive from the FBI.
Orenberg has unsuccessfully sought to have Doolin’s trial moved to Florida and to have a felony charge from the July indictment dismissed.
Two other Polk County residents, Corinne Montoni and Brian Boele, both of Lakeland, have been separately indicted in relation to the U.S. Capitol attack.
Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/trial-pushed-march-jan-6-defendant-joshua-doolin-polk-county/7883449001/ | 2022-09-02T13:25:56 | 0 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/trial-pushed-march-jan-6-defendant-joshua-doolin-polk-county/7883449001/ |
Labor Day falls on the first Monday of September each year. Here is a look at what’s open and closed in the Lehigh Valley:
Schools: Public schools are closed to observe the holiday.
Federal government: All federal government office and courts are closed.
State, county, local government: State offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are closed.
County offices: Northampton, Lehigh are closed.
Municipal offices in the cities of Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown are closed. Check with individual municipalities for status.
U.S. Postal Service: No mail delivery Monday, resumes Tuesday. Both UPS and FedEx are also closed on the holiday.
Department of Motor Vehicles: Drivers license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg will be closed Saturday through Monday. Customers can still obtain products and services on the website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
First Call
Financial markets: The New York Stock Exchange and most banks and financial institutions are closed.
LANTA: The LANtaBus service will run schedules consistent with its regular Sunday routes and times. LANtaVan will also provide a Sunday level of service. Route and schedule details are available at www.lantabus.com
Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores: Many stores will be open at their normal Monday opening hours, through 4 p.m. Check www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com for individual store hours.
Libraries: Most are closed. Check with your local library for hours.
Major retailers: Many major retailers will be open.
Grocery stores: Grocery stores in the area will be open.
Trash pickup: Check with your municipality or your trash hauler. | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-open-closed-labor-day-2022-20220902-vplusbttenandlqnctyil6ornq-story.html | 2022-09-02T13:28:14 | 0 | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-open-closed-labor-day-2022-20220902-vplusbttenandlqnctyil6ornq-story.html |
Robert Fox sees meaning in the new earth lodge on the campus of United Tribes Technical College.
"It gives the kids and people that are coming here a sense of home," said the college's cultural wellness specialist, standing in the cool interior of the newly constructed, historical home of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara people.
"Even the tribes that don't have these, they'll sometimes have versions of these or teepees. They understand this ... you can come in here and (feel) 'Oh, I'm at home, this is a traditional Indigenous building,'" he said.
Six or seven builders from MHA Nation and South Dakota completed the earth lodge Tuesday after seven to 10 days of construction.
Students who are homesick or seeking to pray have a good place to come to, according to Fox, who plans to hold classes and trainings inside.
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The earth lodge also could be a resource for K-12 students' Native American studies, according to UTTC Land Grant/Extension Director Edwin Kitzes. The 2021 Legislature cemented the subject into curriculum requirements.
"We'd like to be sort of a partner in educating, providing some of those services," Kitzes said.
Building materials included hand-stripped logs from South Dakota's Black Hills and dirt from the lodge site. The interior floor is about 1 foot lower than the outside.
Modern touches include roofing insulation in place of willow mats, and screws to reinforce log joints. Builders used a front-end loader, tractor and band saw.
Planning began in January. Kitzes said the college wanted to do a project for something permanent that would bring pride and inspire students. An earth lodge was a longtime desire for the campus.
"We thought about what would have the biggest impact on campus and what may be used all by the departments, not just Land Grant, not just the health center, not just the business administration," Kitzes said.
He added, "It means a lot to the students, for sure. It's just their history."
The earth lodge has already been used for a private ceremony, and likely will be shown to tribal leaders during the upcoming UTTC International Powwow.
Its exterior will be seeded for grass to grow to hold together the bare-dirt dome. The interior will probably have wooden benches and a fire pit, and information signs and a path are planned for outside.
Motorists can see the earth lodge on the campus's northwest corner from nearby University Drive. Kitzes said the earth lodge cost about $60,000 to build, covered by Land Grant program funds.
Fox noted the earth lodge's efficiency in keeping cool in summer and warm in winter. This one is a small- to medium-sized structure that could house two or three families, he said.
Earth lodges are visible at On-a-Slant Village at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park south of Mandan, at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton, and at the MHA Earth Lodge Village near New Town.
The college also is building a greenhouse on campus, to be completed by the end of the year. Kitzes said a future project might be permanent teepees perhaps made of metal and fabric. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/new-earth-lodge-at-united-tribes-technical-college-gives-sense-of-home/article_5ba4b74a-2a35-11ed-80e5-5f54b4130d57.html | 2022-09-02T13:40:53 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/new-earth-lodge-at-united-tribes-technical-college-gives-sense-of-home/article_5ba4b74a-2a35-11ed-80e5-5f54b4130d57.html |
Automobile enthusiasts are making their annual pilgrimage to Auburn this week for festival events capped by a traditional parade through downtown Saturday featuring the classic vehicles that made the DeKalb County seat famous in the pre-World War II era.
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, marking its 66th year, coincides with an auction of antique, collector and classic cars at the Kruse Plaza Auction Park through Saturday. The three-day, expanded sale began Wednesday with a preview day and is sponsored by Worldwide Auctions.
Saturday’s auction lineup includes the 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Sport Phaeton featured in the 1974 movie “The Great Gatsby.”
This week’s events typically draw tens of thousands to Auburn and are the community’s best-attended tourist events of the year, according to the DeKalb County Visitors Bureau.
Free festival attractions include a cruise-in to downtown beginning at 10 a.m. today, when streets are closed to accommodate displays of hundreds of cars. Tonight will feature a concert by Hubie Ashcraft and Whoa, Man! beginning on the Courthouse Square at 6 p.m.
Saturday features a parade at 1 p.m. and a collection of sports and luxury cars at the square beginning at 5 p.m. The Fort Wayne Driving Club is again organizing the event, which last year brought 100 cars including McLarens, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Corvettes, Vipers, Mustangs, Camaros and other deluxe rides.
The classic cars will go on display in Auburn’s Eckhart Park before and after the parade, while a market on Sixth Street will feature vintage items 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday night, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum will transport attendees to the 1920s with the Gatsby Gala Ball from 7 to 11 p.m. Those who come to dance to a period-appropriate jazz band are invited to dress the part.
This year’s ACD Festival featured car is the 1929 Cord L-29, a car that pioneered front-wheel drive as well as experimentation with sleek body design. The ill-fated vehicle was released in August 1929 with celebrity owners including the Marx Brothers, but the stock market crashed in October, decimating the car’s market, and the model was discontinued.
Worldwide Auctions, where cars often fetch six and even seven figures, has a notable Duesenberg and a rare Auburn going on the block.
The auction’s 15th year features a refabricated 1929 Model J Duesenberg convertible coupe and a 1935 Auburn 841 SC boattail speedster. Both are to be sold Saturday evening. The Auburn, one of only 143 built during a short two-year run, “remains likely the most memorable of all Auburn models,” the auction catalog says.
More information can be found at https://dekalbcvb.org, www.acdfestival.org and https://worldwideauctioneers.com. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/autos-roll-into-auburn-for-acd-festival/article_d43cb4ec-2a11-11ed-91d9-0341d0ef0676.html | 2022-09-02T13:48:19 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/autos-roll-into-auburn-for-acd-festival/article_d43cb4ec-2a11-11ed-91d9-0341d0ef0676.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Early Saturday morning, Ashlee McGill sat waiting for the first bus of the day around the corner of Southeast Stark Street and 133rd Avenue in Portland. Her family said she was on her way home, but she never made it there.
Based on evidence and witness statements, Portland police confirmed McGill died after being hit by an out-of-control vehicle, one of two street racing down Stark Street around 5:30 a.m. Officers said she was an innocent bystander.
"They say [the car] hit so hard, it exploded the bench," explained Misty Nicholson, McGill's mother. "She didn't deserve it. She's a good girl. She's my baby."
Nicholson told KGW she found out her daughter had died from authorities three days after the deadly crash. She also said the medical examiner told her family that it's likely McGill died instantly due to the speed of the car.
"I had to go see where my daughter died. I had to see," she said. "They wouldn't let me see her body because she was ... pretty bad. Pretty bad."
On Thursday, dozens of friends and family members joined together at the site of the crash. By lighting candles and putting up her picture, they hope people passing by will remember McGill.
Police report the case is still actively under investigation and said no arrests have been made at this time.
Nicholson said she's praying her daughter's death will remind everyone on this road and across Portland to slow down.
"Slow down. Think before you do things because there's more lives than just yours that you're putting on the line," she said.
McGill's family set up a GoFundMe to collect donations for funeral expenses. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/woman-hit-killed-street-racers-southeast-portland/283-b564befb-48b1-4725-9b0f-7d624c151a80 | 2022-09-02T13:53:52 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/woman-hit-killed-street-racers-southeast-portland/283-b564befb-48b1-4725-9b0f-7d624c151a80 |
DALLAS, Texas — Thursday marked the first anniversary since Texas' controversial law, SB 8, was put into effect by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The bill, which would later trigger an abortion ban in Texas following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, at the time was one of the more extreme pieces of anti-abortion legislation in the country.
Dubbed the "heartbeat bill," the law banned abortions after six weeks or after a heartbeat is detected in a fetus.
It gave the green light for private individuals to sue anyone who performs or assists a post-heartbeat abortion for a minimum of $10,000 in statutory damages per abortion, plus court costs and attorney fees.
That part of the bill kept doctors statewide in constant paranoia. Many wouldn't even discuss abortions for fear of being sued.
For one Dallas mother, who WFAA is only identifying as "J," she witnessed that firsthand.
In September of 2021, she became pregnant. She was already a mother of two and wanted another child.
Around the 16-week mark, she and her partner already knew the sex of the child and had settled on a name -- Ava.
"All of our girls have 'A' names," J said. "Ava means bird or lively. We went through many names on Google and settled on Ava. We wanted her to have a name with purpose. Her middle name was 'Marli,' which meant 'star of the sky.' So we wanted her to fly through life and be successful. That's why we loved those two names."
Sadly, around the 16-week mark, J also learned a heartbreaking fact: Ava had anencephaly. She got the news after genetic testing -- something many expecting mothers do to check their baby's health.
It's a rare and fatal defect in the formation of a baby's neural tube during development. As the neural tube forms and closes, it helps form the baby's brain and skull.
With anencephaly, the baby develops without parts of the brain and skull.
For J, it was a challenging moment. According to the National Library of Medicine, anencephaly has a first-year mortality rate of 100% in infants.
Many die before birth or shortly after.
Plus, the discovery was made after the six-week abortion ban under SB 8. J said her doctors didn't discuss termination or abortion as a possibility due to legal ramifications.
Termination is often a difficult, yet logical, choice. J could have carried the child to full-term, but maternal sepsis is a risk if there's a miscarriage which can be life-threatening.
"He was like 'I'm sorry' and then left the room," J said. "My doctor was scared to say anything, and we just had to research on our own and figure out what to do next."
"All they offered was to check on me weekly, to make sure I didn't have sepsis. My due date was in June, so I would have had to carry for the rest of the pregnancy knowing there are no options and nothing I can do."
J made the tough decision to schedule an abortion, but she would have to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to do it.
She did receive help from agencies to pay for the procedure, however. Still, it didn't ease the burden.
She drove to New Mexico in January with her partner and two children. It's roughly a 10- to 13-hour drive. Once J got there, she underwent counseling and took medicine to dilate her.
On the second day, she had Ava. Immediately after that, she had to contact a funeral home for cremation. J received her remains about a week and a half later.
For J, she wanted to have Ava -- her conception was intentional.
But after going through a traumatic experience like this, she takes issue with state leaders who left her with no options but to carry a baby to term that's likely to die.
She takes issue with the fact that she had to leave the comfort of her own family and doctors and travel to an unfamiliar place to do something she never wants any mother to go through.
"If my doctor was able to do this, I could have done it in a hospital with my family, and we could have had this baby together and said goodbye, but I had to do it alone by myself due to COVID restrictions in a clinic," J said.
"It wasn't fair. My doctor was afraid to help me, and the only way they would have done something in Texas is if I was on the floor and about to die." she said.
Many women in Texas who find themselves staring at the same health hurdles as J did will face similar struggles now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
J's intention in speaking with WFAA is to underscore that sometimes abortion has to be considered and that Texas' ban leaves no room for navigating situations like hers.
Some good news, J is pregnant again with a little girl. She and her partner have named her "Ayah."
J said it means "miracle."
"People tell me that it's Ava's soul coming back to us, which is hard to accept and think about. I always say that I have four children, and Ava is very much part of our family. Ayah's name means so much because I think it's a miracle to have a baby after a loss like ours successfully," J said. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-mom-go-out-of-state-for-abortion-baby-100-chance-dying/287-18f98f1e-9efe-4e95-aa47-ddc103c2bca6 | 2022-09-02T13:56:19 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-mom-go-out-of-state-for-abortion-baby-100-chance-dying/287-18f98f1e-9efe-4e95-aa47-ddc103c2bca6 |
FALL BRANCH, Tenn. (WJHL) — Several agencies responded to a hay barn fire at the 400 block of Painter Road Thursday night.
According to fire officials with the Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department, crews used 25,000 gallons of water to douse the flames, and the barn was a total loss. No one was injured during the incident.
Crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding structures.
Other responding agencies included the Sulphur Springs Volunteer Fire Department and Gray Volunteer Fire Department.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/no-injuries-reported-in-fall-branch-barn-fire/ | 2022-09-02T13:56:19 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/no-injuries-reported-in-fall-branch-barn-fire/ |
SAN ANTONIO — Police are working to figure out what specifically led to a motorcycle crash that left one man dead Friday morning.
San Antonio Police and the San Antonio Fire Department responded to Loop 1604 just before the Military Drive exit for a reported motorcycle crash around 3 a.m..
When officials arrived on scene, they found a man dead in the median. Officials said the man had been there for some time, but specifics surrounding that comment were not given.
Preliminary information determined that the man lost control and crashed, but police are pulling surveillance video from nearby businesses to try and fully see what happened. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/police-investigating-deadly-motorcycle-crash-san-antonio/273-68fcf1bc-9af1-4b9b-81f8-d2a9fdfc8e3c | 2022-09-02T13:56:25 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/police-investigating-deadly-motorcycle-crash-san-antonio/273-68fcf1bc-9af1-4b9b-81f8-d2a9fdfc8e3c |
Fourth Street opens, only to be closed for the annual arts and crafts festival
Fourth Street downtown recently reopened to traffic after being closed for a stormwater infrastructure project — only to be closed again for Labor Day weekend.
Area residents may know why: The Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts will be Saturday and Sunday along East Fourth Street between Grant Street and Indiana Avenue. The annual festival has about 120 artisans participating as well as booths for art and related groups, and stages where musicians and people sharing poetry, fiction and other works will perform. Lotus Education and Arts Foundation will sponsor a kids' booth where kids can create an articulated puppet.
The festival will run 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Nearby restaurants and shops will be open, as well. For more information, go online to 4thstreet.org.
Anyone who wants to volunteer at the festival can reach out through the Fourth Street Facebook page or online for how to find out more. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/fourth-street-festival-downtown-bloomington-arts-crafts-fest-2022/65468141007/ | 2022-09-02T14:05:26 | 1 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/fourth-street-festival-downtown-bloomington-arts-crafts-fest-2022/65468141007/ |
Here's how to get from Bloomington to Indianapolis or Chicago without a car
Bloomington has several transit opportunities to make your way around the city, but some destinations are farther than an electronic scooter or rideshare car can take you.
For students or residents looking to get away for a bit, two bustling metropolitan cities perfect for a low-cost vacation are close by — all one has to do is find a way to get there.
If you don't have access to a reliable vehicle or just don't want to add to your mileage, there are a few ways to get away from Bloomington and go shopping in Indianapolis or take a stroll around Chicago's Navy Pier. Bloomington has three intercity bus systems where passengers can schedule round trips to nearby bustling cities for less than $100.
A day trip in Indianapolis starting around $20
Indianapolis is a walkable city teeming with shops and local eateries. For free or cheap entertainment, visitors can tour the wide range of museums or stop by the Indianapolis Zoo. History buffs can walk along cobblestone streets to view the 19th-century buildings of the Lockerbie Square District.
FlixBus, an international intercity bus service, just added a connecting route from Bloomington where riders can go to Indianapolis, Chicago or Lafayette. FlixBus users must purchase tickets in advance and meet at Bloomington Transit Center. Ticket prices are $10.99 each way, with a flat service fee of $5. The bus will stop in Indianapolis on Washington Street between Alabama and Delaware streets, across from the Julia M. Carson Transit Center. The bus stop is adjacent to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, near a bus stop shelter. Each way is approximately an hour and 15 minutes. People can catch a ride on a FlixBus every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Riders also could use the Hoosier Ride system. Hoosier Ride Intercity Bus Service is managed by the Indiana Department of Transportation, Greyhound Lines and Miller Transportation and is intended to connect rural areas with larger cities. Tickets to Indianapolis start at $13 each day, plus a service fee of $6. Riders will get on at the Bloomington Transit Center and arrive at the Indianapolis bus station, 350 S. Illinois St.
If traditional bus systems are not what you're looking for, riders can use a shuttle system called GoExpress. This company has several shuttles that take Bloomington passengers to the Indianapolis International Airport. Shuttle locations in Bloomington include the Graduate Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, SpringHill Suites, Home2Suites and Hyatt Place as well as a few spots on IU's campus: the McNutt Dorm, IU Memorial Union and Willkie Dorm North. Keeping in mind the airport is about seven miles southwest of downtown, passengers would have to arrange for additional transportation to make it into the heart of the city. The cost is$29 each way.
A weekend in Chicago for around $60
Whether you're into weird art installations, rooftop bars or paddle boarding, Chicago has a lot to offer for a quick, three-day weekend excursion.
Hoosier Ride offers bus rides to Chicago at $76 roundtrip. The bus will pick up riders at the Bloomington Transit Center and drop them off at Chicago Bus Station, 630 W Harrison St. The trip takes 5 to 6 hours each way.
For about $67, FlixBus offers a roundtrip to Chicago. Ticketholders wait at the Route 7 Bloomington Transit bus stop on East Third Street in front of the Bloomington Transit Center. Once in Chicago, the bus will stop on the east side of Canal Street between Van Buren Street and Jackson Boulevard, one block south of Union Station. It will also stop in front of the Divvy bikeshare station and adjacent to the CTA local bus stop.
GoExpress previously provided private transportation for Indiana University students to Chicago through chartered sedans, SUVs and private vans. This service allowed students to travel based on their own schedules with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. However, this service, titled Chicagoland Express Shuttle, is not available this academic year.
Tickets for each intercity bus service can be purchased at their individual websites.
Rachel Smith covers Indiana University and student life for The Herald-Times. Reach her at rksmith@heraldt.com or on Twitter @RachelSmithNews. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/how-to-get-from-bloomington-to-indianapolis-chicago-on-a-bus/65463925007/ | 2022-09-02T14:05:32 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/how-to-get-from-bloomington-to-indianapolis-chicago-on-a-bus/65463925007/ |
Average daily flows
Snake River at Heise 10,710 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 3,246 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 8,745 cfs
Snake River at Milner 0 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 210 cfs
Jackson Lake is 30% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 31% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 7% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 23% of capacity.
As of September 1. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_3bd4d5a4-2a2a-11ed-a08c-93af4a9f51e6.html | 2022-09-02T14:06:53 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_3bd4d5a4-2a2a-11ed-a08c-93af4a9f51e6.html |
Sarasota housing nonprofits helped by a new trauma-informed training program
Rebecca Gannon looked into the blank stares of the homeless women she was trying to help.
Even as the women sat quietly with fidgeting infants, Gannon sensed they couldn’t hear her, their emotions roiling inside.
“It almost seems like they can’t understand the situation that I’m sharing,” Gannon said.
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Gannon, 37, understands their plight well because she was there, too, more than a decade ago – her past trauma compounded by the toxic stress of living on the street.
That trauma-induced paralysis puts people in danger of falling through the cracks – of being labeled by caseworkers as “noncompliant,” or unwilling to help themselves.
“Your mind can’t gain traction on any kind of recovery,” she said. “It’s been on a hamster wheel just trying to survive.”
Now experiences like Gannon’s will be widely addressed.
Coming amid a soaring housing crisis, Gulf Coast Community Foundation this month is launching a major effort to help area nonprofits that work on homelessness provide trauma-informed care.
Through the help of an anonymous donor, the foundation is rolling out a new Trauma-Informed Homeless Services System.
The project will start with four area nonprofits that work on homelessness: Harvest House; Family Promise of South Sarasota County; Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness; and CASL (Community Supported & Assisted Living).
“We know that housing is necessary to end homelessness,” said Jennifer Johnston, Gulf Coast’s director of community leadership.
“But sometimes it’s not sufficient,” she added. “In addition to that, beyond bread and housing, people often need social support and hope and healing to be able to overcome the systemic challenges of homelessness and unemployment.”
While permanent and safe shelter is essential for a person’s emotional and physical well-being, Johnston said, often an underlying trauma is ignored – preventing long-term stability.
“If they’re not able to address the trauma in their life, they’re not in a place to move forward. They can’t be successful,” Johnston said.
Not only can the survival mode of homelessness exacerbate old wounds, but so can untrained caseworkers at agencies where people turn for help.
When everything rides on the car:How one family navigates a trifecta of crises
Read more:Nonprofits test transportation solutions for families on the edge
A client’s outbursts, hypervigilance, withdrawals or addictions can be written off as behavioral problems and result in a client being removed from a program.
The new program will bring in national trauma professionals to guide leaders and staff of the four nonprofits through ways to recognize and respond to client behaviors that result from trauma.
The training will include everything from overhauling internal policies and facilities in order to create zones of safety, to coaching staff on trauma-informed interactions with clients.
Importantly, the staff will become equipped with methods of steering clients to resources on mental health – plugging them into treatment before they can lose their housing.
What’s more, as nonprofits themselves experience major burnout and turnover, the training will help staff address their own past traumas, toxic stress and sense of helplessness as they try to assist legions of clients in the current housing crisis.
“How do you remain that source of calm and support in that moment?” she said. “We know that if we can help the staff person to be coming from their best self and offer their gifts, and the client is able to receive them, then we have effective services.”
As part of the initiative, leaders will be tracking results over the next year and more, potentially expanding the program to other nonprofits in the area.
Phillip “P.J.” Brooks, the chief operating officer at CASL, is excited to be part of the first cohort of four nonprofits.
Almost his entire staff – from kitchen and maintenance workers to case managers and administration – is participating. He thinks it will help the entire team work “from the same sheet of music” to provide a safe environment for residents to address long-repressed underlying traumas, from child abuse to post-traumatic stress syndrome.
“The safer they feel, the more apt the residents are going to be working on issues, which in turn helps them maintain stable housing,” Brooks said.
That’s what Gannon hopes to help with, too. She is a member of the initiative’s volunteer steering committee, along with numerous experts on trauma.
She, too, had felt re-traumatized in the past by caseworkers whom she’d sought help through the years – people whose gossip or own anger made her feel unsafe, exacerbating her difficulty with trust.
As someone who has lived through the experience, her goal on the steering committee, she said, is to be an advocate for peer support at the area’s homelessness services. It was peer support programs that helped her deal with her own past trauma.
Now Gannon, married and working as a barber in Sarasota, owns her home. She hopes to open her own shop by the end of the year.
Though sometimes her new ventures scare her to death, she says, she’s excited to meet them.
“I used to run from fear and pain and used to quit,” she said. “Today I do it in spite of the fear.”
This story comes from a partnership between the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Saundra Amrhein covers the Season of Sharing campaign, along with issues surrounding housing, utilities, child care and transportation in the area. She can be reached at samrhein@gannett.com. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2022/09/02/sarasota-housing-agencies-trauma-informed-care-training-coming/7939012001/ | 2022-09-02T14:09:46 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2022/09/02/sarasota-housing-agencies-trauma-informed-care-training-coming/7939012001/ |
Lawsuit filed against ShorePoint Health Venice for not providing workers advance notice of closing
A former employee of ShorePoint Health Venice Hospital has filed a lawsuit against the hospital and its parent company, Franklin, Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, Inc. alleging they violated the federal law by not providing the required public notice of its plans to close and lay off workers.
The suit, filed Aug. 29, centers on the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act – otherwise known as the WARN Act.
Previously:Community Health Systems Inc. to close ShorePoint Health Venice hospital on Sept. 22
And:Venice officials to meet with resident group seeking to rescind new land development rules
Under the WARN Act, employers with more than 100 fulltime employees who have more than six months of employment must give 60 days notice before laying off at least 50 people at a single job site.
Callie White, an employee in the radiology department of ShorePoint Health Venice, is suing CHS,, Inc. and Venice HMA LLC in U.S. Middle District Court in Tampa on behalf of herself and as many as 600 other employees.
The hospital is scheduled to shut down Sept. 22, but only informed employees on Aug. 22.
Attorney Brandon J. Hill of Wenzel, Felton, Cabassa – a Tampa-based firm that specializes in employee rights – is also asking that the suit be considered as a class action. He is also asking for a jury trial.
The suit ask for accrued wages, commissions and bonuses, fringe benefits and health care coverage – including payment of medical expenses – for the plaintiffs for the 60-day period, as well as for vacation time, personal days, as well as attorney fees.
The hospital – which had an average of 40 patients per day at the time the closing was announced – has been phasing out in stages. The Emergency Department closed on Aug. 26, and in-patient procedures at the hospital stopped Aug. 29.
According to the suit, White was terminated on Aug. 29.
ShorePoint Health had hosted job fairs for its existing employees at facilities elsewhere in the chain.
ShorePoint Health spokesman Rolando Irizarry, in an Aug. 31 response to a general query about the success of the job fairs, wrote: “Retaining our valued Venice Hospital team members is our top priority during this transition.
“We have been actively working with employees to identify and offer employment opportunities in our affiliated healthcare systems and we will continue to do so.”
He declined comment on the lawsuit in a Sept. 2 email and referenced his previous statement about finding jobs for displaced workers in the company's affiliated system.
Two sister hospitals nearby, ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda and ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte, are scheduled to remain open.
The hospital company is also continuing outpatient services, notably at its ShorePoint Health Park on Jacaranda Boulevard.
Hill asserts that ShorePoint operated a single employer for purposes of the WARN Act and that the mass layoffs deprived workers "and their families (of) some transition time to adjust to the prospective loss of employment, to seek and obtain alternative jobs and, if necessary, to enter skill training or retraining that will allow these workers to successful compete in the job market.”
The suit also speculates that ShorePoint Health and CHS would claim that the layoffs are exempt under a WARN Act provision that allows for an exception under “unforeseeable business circumstances.”
Hospital officials have pointed to changes in health care services available in the region – specifically the opening of the new Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice campus last November – as a reason for the closure.
Hill asserts that the defendants likely knew near the end of April or sooner that “a mass layoff was ‘reasonably foreseeable.’”
He declined further comment by email.
According to the suit, ShorePoint Health employed 350 affiliated physicians and 1,200 employees at the hospital, which is at 540 The RIalto, Venice.
Also according to the suit, the hospital committed to keep the plaintiffs “employed” on paper through Nov. 22 though they would no longer be paid or be required to report for work.
That would allow the plaintiffs to keep their health insurance, provided they continued to pay premiums.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2022/09/02/shorepoint-health-venice-faces-suit-alleging-improper-closure-notice/7968433001/ | 2022-09-02T14:09:52 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2022/09/02/shorepoint-health-venice-faces-suit-alleging-improper-closure-notice/7968433001/ |
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — A driver is injured after a vehicle left Cherokee Road and crashed into the front of a home Thursday night.
A report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) revealed that a man had been driving a 2010 Hyundai Genesis when the vehicle left the road and hit the front porch of a home at the 100 block of Pierce Laws Road, causing significant damage to the house.
Authorities responded to the scene at 5:27 p.m.
The driver was injured in the crash, and a passenger was not injured. Both had been wearing seat belts, according to the THP.
The THP continues to investigate the incident, and charges are pending the outcome of the investigation. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/car-crashes-into-house-in-jonesborough/ | 2022-09-02T14:15:35 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/car-crashes-into-house-in-jonesborough/ |
MIDLAND, Texas — The Midland Police and Fire Departments are going head to head in the 'Battle of the Badges' competition.
The department who is able to get the most blood donated will be deemed the winner. Local blood supply has dropped over the course of the summer by 50% according to Vitalant.
"We ask the community to come out and support... we have drives on a daily basis...blood mobiles or come to the center," said Account Manager of Vitalant Beatriz Martinez.
Vitalant will be taking blood donations this weekend at the Midland Park Mall from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The 'Battle of the Badges' ends September 14. The Midland Police Department are the current champions of the competition. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/battle-of-the-badges-competition-begins-in-midland/513-ac67c5a5-5f9f-46cf-91c8-f7029e847b02 | 2022-09-02T14:15:37 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/battle-of-the-badges-competition-begins-in-midland/513-ac67c5a5-5f9f-46cf-91c8-f7029e847b02 |
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — July 5, 2020 was a calm clear day over Lake Coeur d'Alene when boaters near Powderhorn Bay saw a fiery explosion in the sky.
A De Havilland Beaver operated by Brooke's Seaplanes was on a scenic flight with five passengers and a pilot on board. A Cessna 206 with a pilot and passenger had left the Coeur d'Alene Airport on its way to Lewiston.
Witnesses reported the two planes were flying directly toward each other when they collided about 700 feet above the water.
Brian Olsen lost his 15-year-old daughter Sophie and 11-year-old son Quinn, who had sent him a video shortly after the seaplane took off.
All 8 people on board the planes died.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has looked into the crash for more than two years. They published a final report Wednesday closing the investigation.
That report found that mechanical issues did not play a role in the crash. Instead, both pilots failed to see each other and avoid the collision.
Both pilots were experienced, including Neil Lunt, the owner of Brooke's Seaplanes who had more than 20,000 hours of flight time under his belt. His death forced the popular attraction to close for two years. Brookes Seaplanes reopened this July under a new owner.
The report also determined that both pilots died from blunt force injuries. Toxicology tests showed no signs of drugs or alcohol in their systems.
DOWNLOAD THE KREM SMARTPHONE APP
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HOW TO ADD THE KREM+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KREM in the Channel Store.
Fire TV: search for "KREM" 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 webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/national-transportation-safety-board-fatal-plane-crash-lake-coeur-dalene/293-e93e7e47-147c-41c2-8f23-813746b7652b | 2022-09-02T14:15:58 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/national-transportation-safety-board-fatal-plane-crash-lake-coeur-dalene/293-e93e7e47-147c-41c2-8f23-813746b7652b |
Want to meet owls, hawks and a bald eagle? Check out Raptor Weekend in Bristol
BRISTOL — Hawks, and owls, and falcons, oh my! The Audubon Society of Rhode Island will be the scene of a kettle of raptors from all over New England the weekend of Sept. 10 and 11.
The annual Audubon Raptor Weekend event will include demonstrations from raptor rehabilitators, presentations and family activities for birders of all ages. Raptor Weekend presents a special opportunity for visitors to get up close with many species and learn about their adaptations and habitats.
The admission cost also provides access to the Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium and its 28-acre wildlife refuge, including aquarium exhibits, the scenic boardwalk to Narragansett Bay, and the Palmieri Pollinator Garden.
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Want to find raptors in their own environment? Grab a pair of binoculars and look for these commonly seen species. Lauren Parmelee, senior director of education programs at Audubon, offers some insights on the role these birds play in the ecosystem.
Red-tailed hawk:
If you’re driving down Route 95 and see a large bird perched on a light pole, you’re probably seeing a red-tailed hawk. This is a football-shaped raptor with (you guessed it) a cinnamon-red tail, along with stripes on its breast. The red tail is the most common hawk in North America, often feeding on rodents and the occasional snake. Its preferred hunting method is to perch in high, open places, then to drop down to grab its prey.
Parmelee said red-tailed hawks are breeders in Rhode Island, and they're here year-round. They help maintain the ecosystem by their predation on rodents, rabbits and other animals. They keep those populations from going out of control, which she said is important to maintain balance in the food web.
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Cooper's hawk:
This raptor’s preferred meal is other birds. You can distinguish it from other species by its long, narrow tail that allows it to make rapid course changes as it dashes through the woods after its prey. They will come to backyard bird feeders (especially in winter) to grab an avian meal. If your crowded feeder is suddenly deserted, take a look around the nearby trees: It could well be hiding a cooper's.
Cooper’s hawks keep the songbird populations under control, according to Parmelee. They’ll come picking off your house sparrows, house finches and other small birds at the feeder. She said they're just doing what's natural: maintaining their health by preying on birds.
Northern harrier:
Making a trip to open fields or marshlands will be worth your while to visit this raptor. It hunts small rodents with a “low and slow” flight over its territory, making it easy to identify. Unlike most raptors, the harrier will fly as low as 6 to 10 feet above the ground, providing excellent binocular views. It has a distinctly shaped head, with small facial disks that allow it to listen for its prey moving through the grasses.
Parmelee said the Northern harrier is a bird that migrates through Rhode Island and can be seen on a regular basis in fall and winter. They, too, eat rodents and songbirds that are found in fields and marshes. So again, those predators are maintaining the population by feeding on small animals and birds.
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Barred owl:
This is a common owl, sometimes seen in the day as well as its usual haunts at night. The round face and striped body distinguish it from other owls, such as the great horned owl. Another way to know you’re hearing a barred owl is their distinctive “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-YOU-ALL" call that can be heard at night.
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The barred owl is more of a woodland species, Parmelee said. They certainly hunt over fields, but they tend to live in swampy woodland, so they will eat things such as rodents and rabbits, as well as preying on the snakes and frogs found in swampy woods. They're filling in as a different predator in different habitat, she said.
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There are so many other raptors out there waiting for you to discover. So once Raptor Weekend is over, join a bird club, buy a bird guide, get some binoculars, and get outside!
If you go ...
What: Raptor Weekend
Where: Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium, 1401 Hope St., Bristol
When: Sept. 10-11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tickets: $17 adults; $12 children ages 4-12; children 3 and younger free. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.
Info: asri.org/raptor-weekend | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/hawks-owls-bald-eagle-birds-prey-audubon-society-rhode-island-raptor-weekend/7856463001/ | 2022-09-02T14:16:05 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/hawks-owls-bald-eagle-birds-prey-audubon-society-rhode-island-raptor-weekend/7856463001/ |
Recycle-A-Bike helps the community refurbish and access bikes, but it will close without help
Recycle-a-bike hemorrhaged volunteers and staff during the pandemic
- Recycle-A-Bike needs four to five new board members
- The group runs a bike shop in Olneyville
- Volunteer teachers are especially needed by the group
PROVIDENCE — Surrounded by refurbished bicycles, repair stands, parts and helmets and tires and tubes, volunteer Michael Round answers the phones at Recycle-A-Bike, the nonprofit bicycle organization in Olneyville.
As the bell on the front door rings, two women bring in an orange, seven-speed Schwinn bike. The rear brake doesn't work, but otherwise it looks like it needs little repair, Round says. There are hundreds just like it in an expansive basement beneath the store, donations rolling in week by week.
For the past 13 years, Recycle-A-Bike has been promoting bicycling as a fun, safe, sustainable and empowering mode of transportation. That also means teaching people how to fix their own bikes, refurbishing donated bikes to be ridden again and helping people access a free mode of transport.
But in 2020, as the pandemic raged, shops closed and people turned from in-person to at-home work, the nonprofit based in Olneyville lost key staff members, including its executive director, key volunteers and board members. In all, they lost 70% of the paid and unpaid staff.
"It left us in a tough spot," President John Olivo said. "As of today, we've been trying for quite some time, navigating this, and calling out to the community, to get some help."
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The nonprofit needs new board members, including a treasurer, an outreach and community relations person and two program development people. Without an influx of board members, the shop will shut its doors in October, Olivo said.
"We need people on the leadership side who can equip the community for the long term," he said.
The organization needs board members who "have a track record behind them" of taking an idea from its infancy through execution. Too many good ideas and the to-do list becomes "gigantic," Olivo says.
Round, a volunteer and board member, is one of the few people who have trickled in since the organization lost most of its members.
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Round said he used to own a bike shop, so volunteering in one is an easy job and it gets him out of the house. As one of the people who opens the shop, he tries to help where he can with repairs. Many days, all of the shop's stands are filled with people trying to work on their own bicycles with the shop's tools.
Board needed to shepherd the organization
If enough qualified people do join the Recycle-A-Bike's board, they will need to help run the organization in the short term, as the longer-term plan is to find a new executive director.
After the group posted on Instagram, calling for new board members and volunteers, a few candidates surfaced, but not enough to keep it alive. The "key kind" of people they want to attract are in the highest demand, he said.
In addition to general leadership, the board needs a few people with specific skill sets for the board, as well as volunteer teachers and people to manage the shop.
Among those board positions are openings for two people with experience in education and program development. That means people to build out the group's educational programming, like the workshop for high school students to become bike savvy or the program to teach people how to refurbish their own bicycles.
The group also needs someone to engage with the community and run its social media platforms.
"If we can't get the right people, we're going to have to close down," Olivo said.
Interested in volunteering?
Anyone interested in joining the Recycle-A-Bike board or volunteering for the group can contact Olivo at jolivo@recycleabike.org.
The board is seeking two program development members, a treasurer and a community relations/outreach member.
The group also accepts bicycle donations and can be contacted at (401) 525-1822
Teachers first, mechanics second
One of the primary roles the group needs to fill are teachers for its programs for young people. In past years, the program has taken high school students through an eight-to-12-week course on bicycles, from maintenance to safe riding. The last time the program rolled through town was spring of 2021.
"By the time it finished, the teachers were saying these people could find work in a bike shop, a few as mechanics and all of them as knowledgeable sales people," Olivo said.
The most recent program, a six-week course called "Know Your Multi-Tool," helped people learn how to repair common problems on the road using a small tool kit.
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Another program that has been sidelined as skilled volunteers have dropped out is the build a bike program, where over a 12-week period participants strip a run-down bicycle and put it back together better than before.
D'Abate Elementary School:The jewel of Olneyville is getting long-overdue renovations
Before the pandemic, the group held three to four programs a year, lasting months at a time. Now, they can get one to two a year if they're lucky, he said.
"I always say, teacher skills are the first priority, and being a mechanic is second," he said.
Putting donated bicycles back into the community
While one of Recycle-A-Bike's main purposes is to educate children and adults on the joys of bicycling, bicycle safety and mechanics, the group also runs a storefront in Olneyville at 1911 Westminster St., where they sell refurbished bicycles that were donated.
They also run a tool-sharing program and shop, to help maintain bikes and educate the public.
The shop is currently open from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. There is also a community workbench available for people who want to do their own bike maintenance and repair.
The group also offers free bicycles to children.
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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/nonprofit-recycle-a-bike-may-close-doors-after-pandemic-staff-losses/7952248001/ | 2022-09-02T14:16:11 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/nonprofit-recycle-a-bike-may-close-doors-after-pandemic-staff-losses/7952248001/ |
4 beaches should be closed to swimming as Labor Day weekend begins, RI Health Dept. says
The Rhode Island Department of Health has recommended closing four beaches to swimming ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The four beaches are Scarborough State Beach-South in Narragansett, the Surfer's Rock Area at Second Beach in Middletown, Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth and Conimicut Point Beach in Warwick.
The Health Department recommended the closings because of high bacteria levels in the water.
With the most recent closings, the state will have lost about 160 beach days to recommended closings this summer, the most since 2009, according to statistics on the Health Department's website.
The state monitors water quality at the beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "Historically, beach closures in Rhode Island have been closely tied to precipitation," due to storm water runoff, the Health Department says on its website. But that doesn't appear to be the case this year. The state is in a drought, and August brought just 1.69 inches of rain (measured at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport), nearly 2 inches below the normal of 3.59 inches.
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Last summer, recommended closings cost 98 beach days. In 2020, beaches were closed for 51 days.
For many, Labor Day weekend is the last chance of the summer to spend time at the beach, and it looks like the weather will cooperate with beachgoers for at least part of the weekend, according to the National Weather Service's forecast for Narragansett.
Now's the time:Where to go to the beach as parking restrictions, fees end after Labor Day
Expect sunny skies with a high near 75 Friday and mostly sunny skies and a high near 76 Saturday. Sunday looks warmer, with a high near 81, but there's a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Monday looks mostly cloudy with high temperatures in the 70s and a chance of showers.
The Health Department will continue monitoring the beaches and says the status could change. For the most up-to-date beach information, call the Health Department's beaches telephone line (401-222-2751).
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jperry@providencejournal.com
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A $25 million federal grant will help develop a robotics cluster at Nebraska Innovation Campus.
The Commerce Department announced the grant Friday morning, one of 21 awarded as part of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which is billed as a program to "rebuild regional economies, promote inclusive and equitable recovery, and create thousands of good-paying jobs in industries of the future."
“As we invest and grow critical industries in the U.S., we want to create industry hubs in diverse communities across the country," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a news release. "These grants will provide critical and historic funding directly to community coalitions to invest in new infrastructure, research and development, and workforce development programs while creating good-paying jobs, supporting workers, and prioritizing equity.”
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The $25 million grant, which is paid for from the American Rescue Plan and administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration, will help establish the Heartland Robotics Cluster at Innovation Campus in Lincoln.
The program will be led by Invest Nebraska and includes participation by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering, Northeast Community College, Metro Community College, Nebraska Innovation Studio, the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and The Combine.
“The Heartland Robotics Cluster and private sector partners have been working on the concept since early 2021,” said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska, which is a public-private organization that invests in early stage startup companies. “We are extremely grateful to receive this support and recognition from the EDA.”
Hoffman said the grant money will be used to develop an automation demonstration space and program for Nebraska manufacturers led by the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership; grow the robotics engineering curriculum for undergraduate students and build R&D robotic lab space at the UNL College of Engineering; create an automation fabrication lab managed by Northeast Community College; develop urban ag/robotics outreach and training by Metro Community College; expand the robotics makers space at Nebraska Innovation Studio; and increase technical assistance for robotic ag-tech startups managed by The Combine.
“Nebraska’s labor challenges were exacerbated by the pandemic across industries and are not expected to improve in future years,” Hoffman said. “Today, we start the long process of investing in our state’s automation infrastructure and growing the future talent pipeline in automation, robotics, computer vision, and AI.”
15 things invented in Nebraska
Round baler
Kool-Aid
Vise Grip
Dorothy Lynch dressing
Car rentals
Reuben sandwich
911
Eskimo Pie
Railroad engineer invented the ski lift -- in Nebraska
The next time you sit on a ski lift on the way to the top of a mountain, think of bananas and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Credit them with the modern-day chairlift system used by ski resorts around the globe.
Seventy-five years ago, Jim Curran, a structural engineer with U.P., came up with the idea of adapting a system used to load bunches of bananas onto boats into one to move people up steep, snow-covered slopes.
His design called for replacing the hooks for bananas with chairs for skiers to sit on while wearing skis. The chairs would be suspended from a single cable running overhead.
Curran's idea was so out of the box for its day that his co-workers thought it was too dangerous and his boss tried to shelve it.
Fortunately, Charlie Proctor, a consultant brought in by the railroad to help plan the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho, saw Curran's design, which he had slipped in with some approved designs, and thought otherwise.
Proctor, a famous skier from Dartmouth College, convinced the railroad's top management to allow Curran to make his idea a reality.
This winter ski season, the Union Pacific and Sun Valley Resort are marking the 75th anniversary of the world's first chairlift operation, which was invented not in the mountains but in the flatlands of Nebraska in Omaha.
"From our side ... it's kind of unusual that a railroad would invent a chairlift," U.P. spokesman Mark Davis said.
The railroad did so to serve a need, "and it turned out to be groundbreaking for the skiing industry," he said.
During the 1930s, Union Pacific Chairman W.A. Harriman saw Americans beginning to embrace winter sports and knew his railroad operated through some of the most scenic and mountainous territory in the western United States, according to the railroad's history.
Harriman's vision: Develop a world-class winter sports resort served by the Union Pacific. Other railroads were thinking the same way.
Harriman enlisted Austrian sportsman Count Felix Schaffgotsch to find land for such a resort. In winter 1935, the count came across the area that would become the world-famous Sun Valley Resort in south-central Idaho, about 100 miles northeast of Boise.
"Among the many attractive spots I have visited, this (location) combines more delightful features than any place I have seen in the United States, Switzerland or Austria, for a winter sports resort," Schaffgotsch wrote to Harriman.
Based on Schaffgotsch's recommendation, the railroad bought 4,300 acres adjacent to the Sawtooth Mountain National Forest.
The Sawtooth Mountains, running east and west, would protect the future resort from northern winds. The mountains also surrounded a small basin, with hills and slopes largely free of timber. Snowfall and sunshine were abundant. And natural hot springs would provide outdoor swimming year-round.
Schaffgotsch had found the perfect spot for a winter sports resort.
Construction of the ski lodge and other facilities began in April 1936.
Meanwhile, nearly 1,200 miles away in Omaha, members of the railroad's engineering department were investigating ways to transport skiers up slopes, including by rope tows, J-bars and cable cars. But those designs were put aside after Curran's chairlift idea was championed by Proctor.
Soon prototypes of the lift were being built and tested at the railroad's locomotive and railroad car repair shops, on land that is now home to the Qwest Center Omaha and the new downtown baseball stadium.
To help determine how fast a chairlift should travel up a mountainside, engineers attached one to the side of a truck for tests. Because it was summer and relatively flat in Omaha, engineers wore roller skates to simulate skis running over snow. Their conclusion: 4 to 5 mph would be a comfortable speed to pick up and drop off skiers.
When Union Pacific opened the Sun Valley resort on Dec. 21, 1936, the world's first two chairlifts went into operation.
As with anything new, it took skiers awhile to get used to the newfangled invention that changed the sport forever.
The railroad sold the Sun Valley Resort in 1964.
Frozen TV dinners
In 1896, 17-year-old Carl A. Swanson borrowed enough money from his sisters to travel from his native Sweden to Omaha. Without knowing a word of English, he began working on a farm near Wahoo, then moved to Omaha, where he continued studying English, business and accounting.
While working in a grocery store, he met John Hjerpe, who sold produce for farmers on a commission, and in 1898 went to work for him. After saving $125, Swanson put his nest egg into a partnership with Hjerpe and Frank Ellison for a net capital of $456.
Although the enterprise was intended to be called the Hjerpe Commission Co., the sign painter accidentally eliminated a letter and the firm was spelled Jerpe from that day forward.
In 1905, the partnership became a corporation with $10,000 in capital and within a decade moved from a commission firm to paying cash for all purchases. With Ellison's death at the beginning of World War I, the corporation assumed his stock and began moving seriously into butter production and, a short time later, into poultry in general. Swanson bought out Hjerpe's interest in 1928 but retained the name Jerpe.
About 1923, Clarence Birdseye developed fast-freezing as a method of not only preserving food but also retaining fresh flavor, which had not worked well with conventional freezing. As the Depression lessened, Jerpe Co. became a distributor for Birdseye, which was purchased by General Foods and inexplicably named Birds Eye.
By the beginning of World War II, Jerpe's had grown to the point where Swanson was known as the "Butter King," one of the four largest creameries in the United States.
During the war, production again was diverted, with the firm becoming one of the largest suppliers of poultry, eggs and powdered eggs to the military. At the end of the war, the firm's name was changed to C.A. Swanson & Sons, its major brands being called "Swanson Ever Fresh."
With Carl Swanson's death in 1949, management was assumed by sons Gilbert and Clarke, who had been apprenticing for the position for some time. A year later, after considerable experimentation with crust recipes, the company introduced a frozen chicken pot pie using some of Birdseye's techniques.
Although some of the story of frozen dinners may be apocryphal, it is simply too good not to repeat. Two ill-fated versions of the idea, the Frigi-Dinner and One-Eye Eskimo, already had been attempted. Then an overpurchase of 500,000 pounds -- 10 refrigerated boxcars -- of turkeys sent the Swansons scrambling for a solution. One of the less probable versions of the incident said that the only way the boxcar refrigeration worked was when the cars were in motion, which necessitated their constant movement from Omaha to the east, then back.
Back in Omaha, Gerry Thomas discarded the previous metal trays and perfected an aluminum compartmentalized container with turkey, cornbread dressing and peas, which could be retailed for 98 cents. Because the box design resembled a rectangular television screen, the product was dubbed the TV Dinner. Unsure of the salability, 5,000 were produced and instantly sold in the first year, 1952. The second year, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce were added and an astounding 10,000,000 were sold. Not resting on the success of the TV Dinner, 1953 also saw the Swansons as one of the nation's largest margarine producers.
Despite their success in butter and margarine, both products were discontinued in 1954 to allow the company to concentrate on its main items of canned chicken fricassee, boned chicken and turkey, frozen chickens, drumsticks, chicken pot pies and TV Dinners. In April 1955, Swanson merged its more than 4,000 employees and 20 plants with the Campbell Soup Co., which ultimately dropped the famous TV Dinner label, thinking it limited their market.
Still generically thought of as TV dinners, the frozen dinner joins butter brickle ice cream, raisin bran and maybe even the Reuben sandwich as an Omaha original.
Historian Jim McKee, who still writes with a fountain pen, invites comments or questions. Write in care of the Journal Star or e-mail jim@leebooksellers.com.
SAFER barrier a key player in motorsports safety
Don't turn until you know where to turn.
Mac Demere watched the car in front of him lose control and veer left toward the inside of the track. He tried to anticipate the car's next move, not wanting to turn until he knew where the other car was headed next.
Don't turn until you know where to turn.
He finally swerved far to the track's outside. But as the other car regained traction, it veered sharply to the right, directly toward Demere, and Demere's car smashed into its right side.
"I can't tell you what caused him to lose control," Demere said of the 1983 crash at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York. "It happens so fast."
Demere, now 57, walked away from that crash, but the other driver suffered a broken ankle.
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you crash, said Demere, a former racer from South Carolina and longtime motorsports journalist.
That certainly seemed to be the lesson at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway a week ago when 15 cars crashed, killing two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon. He was the first IndyCar driver to die on a track since Paul Dana was killed during a practice run at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006.
On Oct. 16, two cars went airborne -- Wheldon's and Will Power's. Wheldon hit a catch fence built to protect spectators from crash debris. He died later at a hospital of head injuries.
Power hit a barrier designed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. He walked away.
The tragically different fates of Wheldon and Power have raised concerns about the catch fence at NASCAR and IndyCar tracks and have highlighted the safety performance of the UNL-designed SAFER barrier.
Dean Sicking, director of the safety facility at UNL, said the SAFER -- or Steel and Foam Energy Reduction -- barriers now are in place at all NASCAR and IndyCar tracks. There have been no fatalities involving crashes into those barriers since 2004, when all of the barriers were fully installed at NASCAR tracks.
Before those barriers were installed, 1 to 1.5 drivers died each year at NASCAR tracks alone, Sicking said. In an especially cruel span of 10 months in 2000 and 2001, NASCAR crashes claimed the lives of budding stars Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Roper, and one of the sport's legends, Dale Earnhardt.
The trapezoidal barriers designed at UNL are made of insulation foam that is waterproof and effective at absorbing the impact of cars going well over 100 mph, Sicking said. Steel tubes serve as a barrier between the foam blocks and track. The SAFER barriers protect drivers from the unforgiving nature of concrete walls.
Sicking -- whose office is decorated with a photo of him shaking hands with former President George W. Bush, as well as numerous awards -- related the story of how the UNL center got the contract to design the barriers.
In 1998, Tony George, the longtime former IndyCar president and Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO, wanted a new racetrack barrier. The concrete barriers simply weren't good enough.
IndyCar designers had developed a new barrier made of sheets of plastic, but it broke into 50- to 100-pound chunks that littered the speedway when hit too hard. George asked the UNL center to improve the design.
"He said, ‘Can you fix this?'" Sicking said. "We never admit we can't do something."
Initially, Sicking wasn't convinced it would be worth the extra effort. Then his assistant director, Ron Faller, convinced him it would drive the UNL center to find new solutions to road safety and new materials with which to build them.
Sicking agreed and asked George for $1 million.
"He said, ‘When can you start?'"
It didn't take the UNL center long to figure out the IndyCar plastic barrier would never perform as well as foam, and Sicking worked to convince a skeptical George. Finally, George relented.
In 2002, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway installed the SAFER barriers, and, seeing how well they performed, NASCAR CEO Bill France Sr. ordered them installed at all NASCAR speedways by the end of 2004 at a cost of $100 million.
The UNL center oversaw installation.
"No one can ever put it in right," Sicking said, laughing.
The barrier has earned the UNL center numerous awards, including the prestigious 2002 Louis Schwitzer Award, presented in conjunction with the Indianapolis 500.
IndyCar senior technical director Phil Casey called SAFER barriers the greatest achievement for safety in automobile racing.
The barriers were installed at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2003, and the speedway where both Petty and Irwin Jr. died has had no fatalities or serious injuries since, said speedway spokeswoman Kristen Costa.
"It's better on impact. It moves with the vehicle," she said.
Costa said the speedway reconfigured its catch fence in 2009 to make it safer as well. Sicking said catch fences at motorsports facilities need to be re-examined.
"The catch fence is a difficult safety issue, a tough nut to crack, but I think it can be," he said.
Sicking said IndyCar is reluctant to invest the large amount of money required to redesign the catch fence, and NASCAR isn't as interested in redesigning it as its cars rarely go airborne like the open-wheel Indy cars are prone to do.
While nothing has been determined, the UNL center could end up leading the investigation into the crash that killed Wheldon, as it did with the 2001 crash that killed Earnhardt, Sicking said. The UNL center has examined nearly 2,000 crashes under federal contract.
"Any time you have a big wreck, we normally get to look at it," he said.
Demere, the former racer who now is pursuing a master's in journalism from UNL, said it appears Wheldon tried to slow down by lifting his foot off the accelerator and tried to direct his car toward the gearbox of the slowing car in front of him. But his car's nose lifted, and, traveling at more than 200 mph, his car quickly took to the air.
With 15 cars involved, it was simply impossible for Wheldon to avoid the carnage, Demere said.
He said drivers try not to think about getting seriously injured or killed while they're racing. They simply try to focus on the track and the racers around them.
"We all know that it might happen to us," he said. "Quite frankly, I'm surprised that it didn't happen to me."
CliffsNotes
Before the Internet and Wikipedia, the distinctive yellow-and-black covers of CliffsNotes adorned the bookshelves of many a college and high school student. The series of study guides (which are not to be used as a substitute for reading the actual text, OK?) was launched in Lincoln by Cliff Hillegass and his wife Catherine. From the original 16 Shakespeare titles, CliffsNotes has grown to include hundreds of works and has saved many a student.
Crete woman invented today's voting booths
Nebraska history shows many inventions have originated in the Cornhusker state, some by women and a few that have lasted for more than a century.
One of them that is often overlooked began with a promise and came to be after a dream by a Crete woman.
John Quincy Robb’s daughter Elizabeth Jane was born in Washington, Illinois, in 1858, but the family moved to a farm near Tecumseh a short time later. Elizabeth married William Wallace Douglas and moved to Missouri, then to Glenwood, Iowa, before moving to Crete near the beginning of the 20th century. Although both were teachers, William was employed by the Burlington Railroad as a land agent.
In 1904, Elizabeth attended a talk by a missionary from Tibet sponsored by a Crete Methodist church and was so taken by his story that she pledged $20,000 to his campaign. Not only was this an incredibly large amount of money, she had no idea where she might come up with it. That night, Elizabeth dreamed of “an old man with a long white beard who told her to make a steel collapsible voting booth,” which would ensure her wealth enough to fulfill her promise and prosper.
The concept of voting booths at the time came from the introduction of the Australian balloting system and employed wooden booths. Because of the waste and amount of labor involved in building, then dismantling them, demand for a lightweight, collapsible, reusable booth that could be quickly reassembled by unskilled labor was obvious. The only obstacle was manufacturing a booth with those requirements that also would meet all local and national requirements.
The next morning, Elizabeth began to build a prototype with paper, pasteboard and pins. With the idea and working model, the next step was securing a patent. She contacted Albert Litle Johnson, C.C. White’s partner and brother-in-law at Crete Mills, for financial help. Patent 828935A was issued to Johnson and Elizabeth Douglas in August 1906. Dempster Manufacturing in Beatrice then built a small number of booths that were sold locally.
In 1909, the Douglas family moved to Los Angeles, where a small factory was built and 1,000 two-stall booths with red, white and blue canvas screens were sold to a local government with William as salesman. Within months, he sold an additional 4,000 booths for $40,000.
The family returned to Crete in 1912 and leased property at 1530 Pine St. from the Burlington Railroad, where a factory was established. In less than a decade, a new building had been constructed and employed 10 workers with four salesmen. Elizabeth designed a new booth concept in 1923 resulting in another patent in her name alone the following year. Although William died in 1930, the business prospered until 1945, when the factory burned. A new building was quickly constructed.
Elizabeth died in Friend in 1952, but Douglas Manufacturing continued in family ownership. I.B.M. approached the firm in 1970 and subsequently contracted for Douglas to build metal media storage containers. 1980 saw a second fire but the facility was again rebuilt with an expansion. In 1990, the leased land was purchased from Burlington and two years later a third fire was met with yet another expansion, with the firm reporting having 25 employees.
Today, Douglas Manufacturing still builds voting booths with as many as five stalls per unit, now using aluminum instead of steel and vinyl attached with Velcro in place of canvas.
Elizabeth and William’s great-grandson Roger C. Douglas is now president of the firm, which also produces ballot boxes, election signs, media storage boxes and even flash drive containers.
Patents secured through the years for ideas never produced included retractable steps for Pullman railroad cars, a mail cart and shut-off valves for gasoline pumps.
Sadly, the company is closing. Douglas broke the news Dec. 30 to the four remaining workers, according to longtime employee Tim Smejdir, who said business had been "very slow, so the decision was made to terminate." Douglas is selling or auctioning equipment and plans to retire, Smejdir said.
Douglas Manufacturing was the oldest manufacturer of election equipment in the nation. Interesting, too, is that the election supply company was formed by a woman over a decade before women received the right to vote.
Nebraska's connection to the McRib
Move over, Richie Ashburn and Bob Gibson.
Another Nebraskan has made it to the hall of fame.
Of course, University of Nebraska-Lincoln meat scientist Roger Mandigo never had Ashburn's ability to hit to all fields or Gibson's ability to back batters off the plate with an inside fastball.
His induction Saturday in Scottsdale, Ariz., was into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame. And his biggest claim to fame outside that industry is research that led to the introduction of McDonald's McRib sandwich in 1981.
His company is no less exclusive. Among the 10 other honorees were Col. Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken; Dave Thomas,founder of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers; and Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's.
And it just happens that Mandigo's return coincides with what the Wall Street Journal describes as the first nationwide featuring of Mc-Donald's McRib sandwich at 14,000 restaurants, including more than a dozen in Lincoln,in 16 years.
Wouldn't this be a great time for a big guy - squeezed into a small, obscure, windowless office during an $18.3 million renovation at the Animal Science Building - to step up, at last, and claim credit for his highprofile work?
"I get credit for inventing the McRib fairly often," Mandigo conceded in an interview earlier this week.
But taking credit was not something he did back in 1981. And he won't be doing it now, in his 44th year at UNL.
That's because, despite common misperception, it's just not true.
"We played an important role in the technology to bind pieces of meat to each other.I didn't invent the McRib sandwich," he said. "Mc-Donald's did that."
All this is said with the kind of smiling patience that a McDonald's associate is supposed to demonstrate when asked for the 44th time during the lunch rush to hold the pickles.
Pickle slices, by the way, are part of the standard preparation of the McRib. As its ravenous fans, including Steve Glass of Walton, know so well, a McRib is a pork patty that's also garnished with raw onions and smothered in barbecue sauce.
Glass, 47, had two McRibs on his lunch tray Thursday as he made his way to a table at the McDonald's near the intersection of 10th Street and Cornhusker Highway.
That's right, two. "I haven't decided whether to eat the one now or eat it later,"he said.
Rapid progress on the first one seemed to leave the choice between one and two very much open to question for a guy who likes "something different - not a burger."
Glass is not one to worry about what's under the barbecue sauce."It's like a hotdog," he said. "What's in a hotdog? If it tastes good, go ahead."
Decades ago, it was Mandigo who was going ahead with a research initiative launched by the National Pork Producers Council. Its members were looking for another reliable source of demand for pork shoulder.
There were never any royalties associated with the results, Nebraska's newest hall of famer said.
And to this day, the McRib comes and goes from the McDonald's menu for reasons that have to do with its intense popularity and a national supply of pork trimmings that's typically a lot more limited than the supply of beef trimmings.
"If you suddenly start to buy a large amount of that material,"said Mandigo,"the price starts to rise."
As the cost to McDonald's rises, the McRib tends to go out of circulation again. And then the same parts of a hog tend to flow back into the processing lines for Spam, Vienna sausages and other specialized products.
Anything else that goes into periodic McRib feeding frenzies is not for Mandigo to analyze. "It's a function of a business strategy and that's McDonald's decision, not mine."
The official word on that subject comes from Ashlee Yingling at the headquarters of McDonald's USA.
The McRib is in something called "a national limited time promotion for the month of November in the U.S.," Yingling said by email.
This is only the third time that's happened in the 29 years since it hit the market. The rest of the time, the company has chosen a regional strategy.
"To keep it relevant and appealing," Yingling said, "it will continue to be offered as a limited-time promotion on a regional basis."
Does Mandigo eat this sandwich that he did NOT invent? "Every chance I get," he said.
Harold Edgerton made the invisible visible
Virtually no one, anywhere in the world, is unfamiliar with the iconic photos of a drop of milk above a white haloed crown just as the previous drop hits a flat surface, or a bullet as it exits a just-pierced apple. Few outside the state, however, realize that Harold Edgerton is a native son and graduate of the University of Nebraska.
Harold Eugene Edgerton was born in Fremont on April 6, 1903. Harold’s father, Frank, was born in Iowa, then graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1900 as president of his senior class. After teaching in the Fremont public schools, he returned to Lincoln on the staff of the then-new Lincoln Star. After earning a law degree from George Washington University, Frank again returned to Lincoln in 1911, becoming the assistant attorney general of Nebraska and prominent in state politics before becoming county attorney in Hamilton County.
Harold’s interest in science came early; in 1910, he told of attempting to build a searchlight on the roof of the family home and realizing tin cans were unable to produce a tight beam of light. While attending junior and senior high school in Aurora, he became interested in photography and, with the help of an uncle, set up his own darkroom.
In 1921, Harold entered the University of Nebraska and at his father’s suggestion, he earned half of his tuition by wiring Lincoln homes for electricity and working on a line gang for the Nebraska Power & Light Company. It was here that he observed how, in the darkest night, his coworkers became suddenly visible in lightning flashes and just as suddenly again were invisible.
As a student, Harold joined Acacia, chose a major in electrical engineering and was active in the annual E-Week open houses. Interestingly, although there is no record of which exhibits Edgerton participated in, one of the demonstrations during his student days involved stop-motion photography that employed either 120 flashes per second or an exposure of 1/50,000ths of a second depending on which report is to be believed. The demonstration featured an electric fan with the letter N painted on the blades. The room was darkened, the “strobe light synchronized to the fan, thus making the N stand still … people could hardly believe their eyes.”
After graduating from Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1925, Edgerton moved first to Schenectady, N.Y., then entered MIT. He received his master's degree, having developed the stroboscope, which employed a reusable flash bulb that was linked to a camera.
Edgerton married his high school sweetheart, Esther Garrett, in 1927, received his doctorate in 1931 and became an associate professor at MIT. As he further perfected his stop-motion photography, some of his work was shown at the Royal Photographic Society’s convention in London.
In the 1930s, Edgerton and two of his students formed Edgerton, Germeshausen & Grier, later becoming simply E.G.&G. Corp., which manufactured Rapatronic cameras, consulted with the U.S. Army during World War II, had contracts to do photographic research surrounding atomic explosions for the Atomic Energy Commission, was instrumental in the establishment of the New England Aquarium in Boston and ultimately had 47 operating divisions with more than 23,000 employees in several countries.
Often forgotten is Edgerton’s film “Quicker 'n a Wink,” which won an Academy Award for best short subject in 1941. Myriad awards followed, with perhaps the most prestigious being the Medal of Freedom for his nighttime reconnaissance photos during WWII. In 1947, his photo essay on hummingbirds was published in National Geographic magazine, and in 1953, he began working with Jacques-Yves Cousteau to develop an underwater camera using side-scan sonar technology. These experiments led to discovering the USS Monitor, which sank in 1862, and producing the first real photos of the Titanic in 1986-87.
Closer to home, in October 1967, Edgerton donated two strobe lights to be mounted on Nebraska’s State Capitol tower as an aircraft warning meant to be visible for 150 miles when extended to their operational capacity, seemingly to fulfill federal aeronautics regulations. Working with Bob Newell, the Capitol building superintendent, Edgerton had his mother standing by to activate the experiment. The low-power version of the lights on the east and west sides of the building were turned on as she said “let there be light,” as instructed by her son, and almost immediately complaints began to pour in. The experiment lasted only briefly before being abandoned.
Ultimately, the strobe light was perfected to the point where the light burst lasted only one-billionth of a second with his stop-motion photos of bullets, hummingbirds, Stonehenge, milk droplets, etc., known worldwide. Edgerton died at MIT on Jan. 4, 1990, and five years later the Edgerton Explorit Center opened as a museum in his honor in Aurora. | https://journalstar.com/business/local/25m-grant-to-help-build-robotics-cluster-at-nebraska-innovation-campus-in-lincoln/article_2f80def9-3490-582f-8442-27dbbb25f4b4.html | 2022-09-02T14:17:04 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/business/local/25m-grant-to-help-build-robotics-cluster-at-nebraska-innovation-campus-in-lincoln/article_2f80def9-3490-582f-8442-27dbbb25f4b4.html |
If Friday is any indicator, United Airlines' new Lincoln-to-Houston flight will likely be a success.
The 6:30 a.m. flight left the Lincoln Airport with 49 passengers, leaving just one empty seat on the plane, said Rachel Barth, the airport's director of communications and customer engagement.
Among those passengers was Matt Hunt, a Sysco employee headed back home to Dallas after coming to Lincoln for a work trip.
Hunt said he had no idea he was on the first flight from Lincoln to Houston but said it will be a convenient way to get here the next time he visits for work.
"This is great," Hunt said.
Another passenger was Morgan Jackson, a travel agent with Vacation Vibes Travel.
Jackson said she was going to spend the day in Houston checking out travel opportunities, which she said are numerous.
Houston also provides a convenient connection point to the southern United States, something Lincoln lost during the coronavirus pandemic when Delta Air Lines ended its Atlanta flight.
"This is a big deal," said Nick Cusick, a member of the Lincoln Airport Authority.
Cusick, who was at the airport Friday morning to greet passengers, said he talked to people who were going to see family members in Houston as well as a group that was flying there for a concert.
He called Houston "a good combination business and leisure route."
"I think it's going to be highly successful," he said.
The Lincoln Airport has tried for years to get a flight to Texas, first targeting Dallas via American Airlines and then switching its focus to Houston when it became clear American Airlines isn't interested.
It used a $750,000 federal grant, which was matched with money from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to help United defray startup costs and provide a revenue cushion if ticket sales are not as good as expected at the start.
Cusick said another factor that boosted United's interest in starting the flight is the CommutAir maintenance base that was established at the airport last year.
CommutAir is a regional airline that flies for United on routes to several cities, including Denver and Houston.
"We're excited to add this Houston route," said Charlie Denton, the maintenance base manager for CommutAir in Lincoln.
Denton said the route opens up a logistics pipeline for the company, which will be able to fly parts and supplies between Lincoln and Houston.
He said CommutAir has formed a "great partnership" with the Lincoln Airport that has been "instrumental" in helping it grow its presence in the Midwest.
The Houston route, which is starting out as a once-a-day flight, is the first new destination for Lincoln since Delta added Atlanta in 2014. It provides a boost to the airport, which lost Delta flights to both Atlanta and Minneapolis during the pandemic and has only recovered about half of the passenger traffic it had before COVID-19 hit.
United is now the airport's sole airline, "and I think it does show the faith that United has in the Lincoln market," Cusick said.
Economists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University say the state has some advantages that could lessen the effects of a recession here.
A planned development spanning could bring new office space, apartments, an urban park and a small grocery store to downtown Omaha. It represents a $500 million investment.
Owner Amy Mayhew launched Olive & Grace Bridal in February and is operating out of a former Grand Island bank's lower level while the main floor undergoes remodeling.
A dozen refugees from the war-torn country completed the Lincoln Manufacturing Council's classes meant to teach entry-level skills to people with no previous experience in manufacturing.
A table with t-shirts, lanyards and other goodies greeted passengers boarding the first United Airlines flight to Houston at the Lincoln Airport on Friday morning. | https://journalstar.com/business/local/lincoln-airports-new-houston-flight-packed-on-first-day/article_eb5de059-c7fb-5f92-87e5-c2fffd42f52c.html | 2022-09-02T14:17:10 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/business/local/lincoln-airports-new-houston-flight-packed-on-first-day/article_eb5de059-c7fb-5f92-87e5-c2fffd42f52c.html |
More revenue, more jobs, more tournaments.
Those are the findings of a report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Bureau of Business Research that looked at the economic impact the city's two new high school athletic complexes could have down the line.
Whether those impacts are fully realized hinges on the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools' ability to raise the $17 million needed to fully build out the complexes at Lincoln Northwest and Standing Bear high schools.
The conclusions of the report commissioned by LPS and the foundation are not a news flash, but what the researchers found is interesting nonetheless.
The report concluded the facilities could bring $3 million to Lincoln's economy annually, create 33 jobs and allow the city to host up to 42 additional tournaments a year.
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That's assuming the district opens up the facilities for use in hosting a broad set of tournaments — including club and adult competitions. Currently, LPS facilities host about 22 outdoor sports tournaments a year.
Researchers looked at the potential impacts on things like lodging, dining, transportation, entertainment and retail. They also surveyed 11 comparable athletic facilities from across the country, including Burke Stadium in Omaha.
The study, completed last year, looked at the impact new public facilities had on private ones as well. The owner of a complex in Virginia, for example, told researchers that "private sports complexes largely ceased to exist in the general area because it was much cheaper to host tournaments at the public facilities."
The 2020 LPS bond issue funded $15.4 million of the $32.4 million required to build out the facilities, which include a football/track stadium and competition baseball fields at Northwest and tennis, soccer and softball complexes at Standing Bear.
Union Bank & Trust contributed about $1.5 million toward the foundation's capital campaign by securing the naming rights to the football/track stadium. I would expect similar deals to be announced soon.
What the study didn't examine is how the facilities will affect things like development in northwest and southeast Lincoln, where the new high schools are located.
"You're already seeing those neighborhoods just explode," said LPS Foundation President Wendy Van. "And by just investing in our schools, we're elevating that part of our city and really creating better outcomes for those families."
Union launches ad campaign
Nebraska's teachers union will tell the stories of public school graduates from across the state to highlight "the power of public education" as part of a new ad campaign.
The Nebraska State Education Association's "Public School Proud" campaign will launch this fall with TV, radio and online ads thanks to a grant from the National Education Association.
Public school graduates from Grand Island, Norfolk, Omaha and Lincoln are featured in the campaign, which will run for five weeks.
“NSEA is a leader in promoting and protecting quality education for all students in Nebraska," said President Jenni Benson in a news release. "Sharing public school success stories serves to emphasize NSEA and its members’ dedication to providing all students with access to a great public education.”
School choice advocates were quick to go on the attack, equating the ad campaign to "propaganda."
"Nebraskans are proud of our public schools, but also believe families should control where and what their children are taught," state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said in a news release from the American Federation for Children's Nebraska office. "No family should be forced to send their children to a school that doesn't work best for them or align with their values."
Controversial issues policy tweak
The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education often catches flak from speakers during public comment who feel like their complaints fall on deaf ears.
Part of that perception is the board's longstanding practice not to engage with speakers.
A proposed revision to LPS' controversial issues policy — although minor — shows that the board, however, is indeed listening.
At the behest of a community member who spoke to the board earlier this summer, LPS is considering modifying the language in its policy governing the notification of parents when controversial issues are taught.
As it stands currently, Policy 6450 says "teachers should notify parents in advance when controversial issues are to be a part of the curriculum."
The revision would replace "should notify" with "will notify," a small grammatical tweak that more accurately reflects the district's expectations of teachers, Associate Superintendent for Instruction Matt Larson told the board.
"That is in fact how we have implemented the policy," he said. "We expect teachers to communicate controversial issues in advance to parents."
The only other proposed change to the policy would add a clause that explicitly mentions parents' right to opt their children out of specific lessons.
LPS already allows parents to request alternative learning activities if they object to the material being taught.
"This policy is often referred to as the 'opt-out policy,' but those words never appeared in the policy, so we're making that slight addition," Larson said.
One suggestion from the public that did not make the cut was having administrators — not teachers — notify parents when controversial issues arise.
Larson said that's simply not practical.
"In a large high school, the principal may have to gather up every couple of weeks what's going to be taught from 175 or more classroom teachers and then get that communicated to the appropriate parents," he said.
Teachers are also "the closest to the curriculum" and know when they're teaching it, Larson said.
The board will vote on the change at its Sept. 13 meeting.
Board member Lanny Boswell praised the process for making the revisions.
"This is one of those times where we could look at a suggestion and say, 'This is a better change to our policies,'" he said, "and that's exactly how it should work." | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/from-the-classroom-new-athletic-complexes-could-make-lincoln-a-tournament-haven/article_60ff26dc-f11c-5af1-8010-5f4e372060c2.html | 2022-09-02T14:17:16 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/from-the-classroom-new-athletic-complexes-could-make-lincoln-a-tournament-haven/article_60ff26dc-f11c-5af1-8010-5f4e372060c2.html |
Dianna Cade, Vicky Cullin and Abby Cade, all of Lowell, carry balloons in recognition of the 100th running of Lowell's annual Labor Day parade at the 2019 event.
Kale Wilk, file, The Times
Firetrucks lead the way down Commerical Avenue for the Lowell Labor Day parade in 2019.
Kale Wilk, file, The Times
The stairs for the Slidewinder and Pipeline Express water slides are dismantled in late May so new stairs could be built at Deep River Waterpark for the summer season.
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John J. Watkins, file, The Times
Jake Carter and Liam Ross move tubes in preparation for the Deep River Water Park opening the end of May. The park closes this weekend.
John J. Watkins, file, The Times
People watch from the sidewalks as parade floats cruise through Commercial Avenue in downtown Lowell during the town's 100th Labor Day parade.
Kale Wilk, file, The Times
A youngster waves to Lowell firefighters as they cruise by on Commercial Avenue during Lowell's 100th Labor Day parade in 2019.
Northwest Indiana residents won't have to work very hard at having fun this Labor Day weekend.
There are plenty of offerings for folks of all ages from taking the last plunge on the water slide at Deep River Waterpark or heading to Lowell to watch a 103-year-old parade tradition.
Other area offerings include a Labor Day 15-mile Bike Ride at Wolf Lake in Hammond, a farmer's market in Cedar Lake and a Rock 'N' Rail Street Festival in Griffith celebrating the town's railroad history.
Here are some of the events in Northwest Indiana:
CEDAR LAKE — The Cedar Lake Farmers Market joins with the town for the town's second annual Labor Day Fest from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at 7408 Constitution Ave.
There will be a free foam pit and bounce house, pony and horse rides for $7, a water balloon toss and a butterfly release at 5 p.m.
GRIFFITH — The town celebrates its railroad history with the Rock 'N' Rail Music and Street Festival, featuring a variety of food and street vendors, arts and crafts, family entertainment and nonstop live music on two entertainment stages inside a family beer garden and live band music beer garden.
The events, which will be held at 100 N. Broad St., started on Thursday and continue through Sunday.
There will be a 5K-1K run starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Proceeds benefit the Griffith Family YMCA scholarship program.
There is a vintage car show, 1959 or older, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Other events for kids include carnival games, water games, superslide, rockwall, bounce house and eurobungy, face painting, clowns, magicians and more.
HAMMOND —The 19th annual Active Living Faire 2022 at Wolf Lake in Hammond offers a fishing clinic for youngsters and the bistate Labor Day Bike Ride on Monday.
Sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI), the 15-mile ride begins at 8:30 a.m. with a sign-in near the Visitor's Center at William W. Powers State Recreation Area, 12949 S. Avenue O, Chicago.
LOWELL — Lowell's Labor Day celebration, a 103-year-old tradition, opens with a festival on Saturday.
Many activities are planned, including the annual Labor Day parade which starts at 10 a.m. Monday. The route travels on Commercial Avenue from Lowell High School to the railroad tracks near the American Legion, 108 1/2 E. Commercial Ave.
Theme of this year's parade is "I Love My Community," and students and teachers from the Tot Spot Preschool will ride on the grand marshal float.
Among those committed are the Jesse White Tumblers, Mi Ranchito horses, Lowell High School marching band and close to 20 unions.
A kiddie parade is also planned starting at 1 p.m. Sunday at Old Town Square, which is located at Fremont Street and Commercial Avenue. The parade is open to children 12 and younger. Registration starts at 11 a.m.
Children can dress in costumes to represent four different categories — fictional/storybook, farm/tractors/agriculture, first responders/military and historic/patriotic. Prizes will be awarded in each category.
There's a fireworks show at dusk on Sunday night on the old middle school property behind Oak Hill Elementary School.
Organized separately from the parade is a Labor Day Festival at the American Legion grounds.
There will be live entertainment, a beer garden, kids zone and other attractions. The festival is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday with a car show running from 5 to 9 p.m. on Mill Street. There will be a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday and the festival continues from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. A corn hole tournament is scheduled to begin at noon.
The festival continues from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.
MALDEN — The community's 24th annual Labor Day parade steps off at noon on Monday from Jake's Feed and Garden, Ind. 49 and County Road 325 South.
The route goes south on Ind. 49 from County Road 325 S. to County Road 400 S., then west to County Road 150 E., north to County Road 325 E. and back to Jake's Feed and Garden.
Lineup begins at 11 a.m. Entry forms or more information is available by calling the Morgan Township Volunteer Fire Station at 219-462-1665.
There will be a community picnic/lunch at the Morgan Township School cafeteria following the parade.
MERRILLVILLE — Deep River Waterpark, 9001 E. Lincoln Highway, ends its summer season this weekend.
The waterpark is open Saturday, Sunday and Monday with a $10 reduction in admissions because 80% of the park is open with some rides closed.
MICHIGAN CITY — One of Michigan City's most well-known and long-standing traditions, Oktoberfest, is back this Labor Day weekend after a hiatus of 10 years.
It opens Friday, continues through Monday and features features three music stages with 41 bands over the weekend, local and regional food vendors, as well as art, craft and merchandise vendors from all over.
Admission and parking are free.
Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday.
Events are being held at Washington Park, near Sunset Grille at the Beach off Lake Michigan.
For more information, call 219-873-1400, ext. 2003.
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Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event
Valparaiso police Sg.t Joe Cowser and a K-9 give a demonstration during the First Responder Appreciation and Demonstration Day on Saturday.
Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event
Walter Bryant, 5, of Valparaiso, tries out the firefighters hose with MAAC trainee David Brasher-Harding, of Hobart, during the First Responder Appreciation and Demonstration Day on Saturday at the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative taining facility in Valparaiso.
Steel poles are supporting the Bailly Homestead house for now. Once the building is fully restored, the National Park Service plans to seek a private vendor to reuse the building for lodging or another use.
Casey Parker from the College of Business looks on as Arianna Peterson spins the wheel for some Purdue swag at the Purdue Northwest Welcome Rally on Thursday.
Doug Drummond, of Crown Point, waits for the start of the Hometown Heroes Charity Motorcycle Run near Bulldog Park in Crown Point Sunday morning. Over 70 riders participated riding from Crown Point to Hebron and Lowell supporting Crown Point EMA.
Check out the Times' picks for the best images from the past week.
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Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event
Valparaiso police Sg.t Joe Cowser and a K-9 give a demonstration during the First Responder Appreciation and Demonstration Day on Saturday.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event
Walter Bryant, 5, of Valparaiso, tries out the firefighters hose with MAAC trainee David Brasher-Harding, of Hobart, during the First Responder Appreciation and Demonstration Day on Saturday at the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative taining facility in Valparaiso.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Historic Dunes buildings are being restored
Todd Ravesloot, chief of facilities at Indiana Dunes National Park, stands on the front porch of the house at Bailly Homestead.
Doug Ross, The Times
Historic Dunes buildings are being restored
Steel poles are supporting the Bailly Homestead house for now. Once the building is fully restored, the National Park Service plans to seek a private vendor to reuse the building for lodging or another use.
Doug Ross, The Times
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Valparaiso head coach Bill Marshall watches the Vikings defense against Hammond Central in the second quarter Friday evening.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
082722-spt-fbh-ham-val_2
Valparaiso’s Sammy Ampeliotis (32) intercepts a pass intended for Hammond Central’s Dashawn Woods (3) in the second quarter Friday evening.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
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Hammond Central’s Jordan Woods (1) is caught by Valparaiso’s Tyres Morris (15) in the first quarter Friday evening.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Crown Point at Andrean football
Crown Point's J.J. Johnson hands the ball to the referee following his touchdown.
John J. Watkins The Times
Merrillville at Hobart football
Hobart's Trey Gibson, far left, reaches forward as he's tackled on Friday in Hobart.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Merrillville at Hobart football
Hobart's Noah Ehrlich, left, aims for open teammate Jaelen Williams on Friday in Hobart.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Merrillville at Hobart football
Hobart's Nathan Queer reacts after the Brickies recovered a Merrillville fumble on Friday in Hobart.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Merrillville at Hobart football
Hobart fans rally as Merrillville prepares to receive the kickoff on Friday in Hobart.
Kale Wilk, The Times
Crown Point at Andrean football
Crown Point's Micah Jones and JJ Johnson celebrate Johnson's touchdown.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Purdue Northwest Welcome Rally
Senior Izzy Gomez poses with school mascot Leo at the Purdue Northwest Welcome Rally Thursday.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Purdue Northwest Welcome Rally
Casey Parker from the College of Business looks on as Arianna Peterson spins the wheel for some Purdue swag at the Purdue Northwest Welcome Rally on Thursday.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Groundbreaking for the Silos at Sanders Farm industrial development
Ground has been broken for The Silos at Sanders Farm industrial complex in Merrillville.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Taking advantage of the weather
With summer winding down, a couple row their kayaks on Cedar Lake Monday afternoon.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Relaxing on Cedar Lake
Tommy Westbury take a photo of his wife, Jessica, and a carp that she caught at Cedar Lake.
John J. Watkins, The Times
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Doug Drummond, of Crown Point, waits for the start of the Hometown Heroes Charity Motorcycle Run near Bulldog Park in Crown Point Sunday morning. Over 70 riders participated riding from Crown Point to Hebron and Lowell supporting Crown Point EMA.
Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
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Riders head to their motorcycles for the start of the Hometown Heroes Charity Motorcycle Run at Bulldog Park in Crown Point Sunday morning.
Dianna Cade, Vicky Cullin and Abby Cade, all of Lowell, carry balloons in recognition of the 100th running of Lowell's annual Labor Day parade at the 2019 event.
The stairs for the Slidewinder and Pipeline Express water slides are dismantled in late May so new stairs could be built at Deep River Waterpark for the summer season. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/communities-go-all-out-for-summers-last-hurrah/article_448414f0-51fa-54fe-9f14-1b06030821d9.html | 2022-09-02T14:18:30 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/communities-go-all-out-for-summers-last-hurrah/article_448414f0-51fa-54fe-9f14-1b06030821d9.html |
An investigation is underway in multiple cities after police in Rockwall shot and killed a kidnapping suspect on Thursday night.
The investigation started shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday when Fort Worth police contacted officers in Rockwall and urged them to assist in a kidnapping investigation, according to a news release from Rockwall police.
An unnamed suspect had kidnapped a woman and her two children, according to Fort Worth police, and was believed to be en route to a house on Summerhill Drive in Rockwall.
About 40 minutes later, Dallas police contacted officers in Rockwall to alert them to the same suspect and house in question, because that suspect was believed to have been involved in a stabbing in Dallas, Rockwall police said.
The stabbing in Dallas reportedly involved the kidnapping suspect who had hurt the mother and left the two children behind and was again en route to the house in Rockwall.
Around 8:20 p.m. Rockwall police arrived at the house on Summerhill Drive where they encountered the suspect, police said.
There was an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, police said, before an officer struck the suspect. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/rockwall-police-fatally-shoot-suspect-wanted-in-fort-worth-kidnapping/3063031/ | 2022-09-02T14:19:10 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/rockwall-police-fatally-shoot-suspect-wanted-in-fort-worth-kidnapping/3063031/ |
Kemp Center for the Arts celebrates kickoff of Imagination Library Program
The Arts Council of Wichita Falls launched a new Imagination Library program with a $10,000 donation check from Atmos Energy on Wednesday.
The new program will provide a free book each month to young children in Wichita Falls, announced the Arts Council.
"Atmos Energy is a big supporter of kids' education and one of our pillars is to promote bringing children to a reading level by third grade," Pam Hughes-Pak, Atmos Energy spokeswoman, said. "So this fits perfectly in our pillars."
The Arts Council is partnering with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to improve early childhood literacy and create opportunities for children to thrive and succeed in school, according to an Arts Council media release.
"Dolly Parton's Imagination Library provides an effective strategy to promote literacy, creative thinking, art illustration, and a love of reading," Arts Council Chief Executive Officer Carol Sales said in the media release. "We are thrilled this valuable resource will be available to parents and children in our Wichita Falls community."
The James N. McCoy Foundation, Atmos Energy and the North Texas Area United Way awarded the Arts Council grants to help launch the program, according to the media release.
Imagination Library will provide age-appropriate books for each registered child, 0 to 5 years old.
Parents and legal guardians can sign up their children, but families must reside in a Wichita Falls zip code, according to the media release. Check availability for your home online on the Arts Council website at artscouncilwf.org.
Once children turn five, they "graduate" from the Imagination Library.
The Arts Council had reached out to Atmos Energy asking for a donation to start Imagination Library in Wichita Falls. Shortly after, the Arts Council got a return phone call.
"We were thrilled to get the phone call," Kristen Shiplet, development coordinator of the Arts Council, said. "Imagination Library is a new endeavor here at the Arts Council, and we're thrilled to offer it to the community of Wichita Falls."
Each child receives one free book each month that is addressed specifically to them. Each year, a child gets a different type of book that is age appropriate, starting with board books to more advanced books for those going into kindergarten.
Each one of the books also comes with activities that the parents can do with their children, expanding the experience and education.
"It's really important to have reading for children, and starting at this young age is when you begin," Nancy Scott, Arts Council member, said. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/imagination-library-program/65467088007/ | 2022-09-02T14:20:09 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/imagination-library-program/65467088007/ |
Meals on Wheels celebrates expansion with ribbon-cutting ceremony
Meals on Wheels Wichita Falls held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, September 1, 2022, to celebrate their expansion to all of Wichita County.
"We are so excited - our expansion will now be able to include the entire county of Wichita."
Jackie Hamm, Meals on Wheels Wichita County CEO
Meals on Wheels realized that during COVID, they had residents of the county living outside of the current service area that were in need. Meals on Wheels received a grant from the county in order to buy a truck so that they can move forward with this endeavor.
Approximately 350 volunteers help at Meals on Wheels to serve the community of Wichita Falls. Currently, a paid driver will service the residents that live outside of Wichita Falls until they can get an idea of how many clients they will have.
"It really was a dream of ours (even before COVID) to be able to expand our coverage area to service more clients."
Jackie Hamm, Meals on Wheels Wichita County CEO
Meals on Wheels Wichita Falls is now rebranded as Meals on Wheels Wichita County and will start delivering to outside of the current area beginning October 1. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/meals-on-wheels-expand-to-all-of-wichita-county/65468122007/ | 2022-09-02T14:20:15 | 1 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/meals-on-wheels-expand-to-all-of-wichita-county/65468122007/ |
Labor Day in Arizona: Arizonans to experience excessive heat during 3-day weekend
For many, Labor Day weekend signals the end of vacation season. That means many will be hitting the roads and taking advantage of nearby travel destinations.
Chances of rain will simmer by Friday and weather experts were advising people to be cautious of over-100-degree weather expected to hit Arizona, including excessive heat warnings during the three-day weekend.
Check back for the latest road restrictions, travel updates and weather conditions.
Here's the latest for this three-day weekend:
- Here are the best things to do on Labor Day weekend
- Labor Day weekend: These Arizona events are worth the drive
- Labor Day travel tips: What to know about driving, flying out of town
6 a.m. Friday: Excessive Heat Warning to go into effect on Sunday
Anyone planning to spend their Labor Day weekend in the Valley of the Sun should prepare to endure this week’s hotter-than-average temperatures.
Isaac Smith, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told The Arizona Republic that the Valley will see highs and lows of roughly 109 and 86 degrees respectively thanks in part to high-pressure weather conditions.
“We have strong high pressure over the desert southwest really promoting these higher temperatures — especially as you head further west across California where you see widespread excessive heat products,” Smith said.
Smith said an excessive heat warning is expected to go into effect from Sunday through Monday, but noted it was possible the warning could happen as early as Saturday. Popular hiking trails, such as Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak, are closed from late morning until the evening when a warning is in effect.
Smith added that there was a slight chance for thunderstorms on Friday evening, with the high-speed winds picking up dust likely being the biggest danger.
Smith said drivers caught in unsafe conditions should pull over and wait for the weather to improve before continuing.
Temperatures are expected to drop slightly to 106 degrees by next Wednesday, though that’s still a few degrees hotter than the average 103-104 degree high Phoenix normally experiences this time of year. Smith said highs are expected to drop throughout September with 96 degrees being the average high by the end of the month.
Smith warned anyone with outdoor plans for the Labor Day weekend to be mindful of the excessive heat and stay hydrated.
— Perry Vandell | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/09/02/labor-day-arizona-travel-weather-updates-across-state/7941426001/ | 2022-09-02T14:23:30 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/09/02/labor-day-arizona-travel-weather-updates-across-state/7941426001/ |
Coquille sixth-grade student Skyler Schalla of Coquille Valley Elementary was selected as one of 13 winners in a statewide annual Calendar Art Contest sponsored by Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom.
Skyler artwork was selected as a winner from the 2,116 entries submitted to the contest showcasing Oregon’s diverse agricultural and natural resource commodities.
This year, artwork was submitted by students kindergarten through sixth grade across the state in public, private, charter and homeschool education systems featuring Oregon agriculture and natural resources. The entries received celebrated Oregon’s diverse agriculture with artwork depicting 220 agricultural commodities.
Skyler artwork featured bees and honey and can be viewed on the March page of the calendar. In describing the artwork, Skyler said, I chose to draw bees and honey because they are very important to Oregon
“The calendar contest is a great project for teachers and students,” said Jessica Jansen, AITC executive director.
“It gives teachers an opportunity to discuss the bounty and beauty of Oregon agriculture and incorporate art into their classrooms.”
Each month in the calendar features one of the winning student’s art, and each day of the year has an interesting fact about agriculture.
The 13 students selected to be featured in the 2022-2023 calendar received a $50 award and certificate to commemorate this honor.
The winning artwork is displayed on the website and at the Oregon State Fair which runs through Labor Day in Salem. Calendars are free to Oregon teachers, and can be ordered for just $4 on oregonaitc.org/shop | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coquille-sixth-grader-wins-calendar-art-contest/article_e4052a3e-2968-11ed-813d-f3bd8f9916e0.html | 2022-09-02T14:27:31 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coquille-sixth-grader-wins-calendar-art-contest/article_e4052a3e-2968-11ed-813d-f3bd8f9916e0.html |
The Coos History Museum is partnering up with Front Street Community Bike Works and Kyle Motley to provide Coos County children with a “Safe Cycling Workshop.” This program will take place on September 10 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. as part of the museum’s Explorer’s Club and Second Saturday offerings. The workshop is free, although donations to Front Street Community Bike Works are encouraged and greatly appreciated.
The Safe Cycling Workshop is a chance for children to get formal training from a certified League Cycling Instructor through League of American Bicyclists. Kyle will provide basic training about how to ride your bike safely and legally on our local streets. The workshop consists of 30 minutes of instruction, 1 hour and 30 minutes of on-the-bike training, and is best suited for ages 8-14. Free helmets will be available, but children are encouraged to bring their own bicycles when possible. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/safe-cycling-workshop-set-sept-10/article_cdd076e2-2972-11ed-b142-43c3d3d2401e.html | 2022-09-02T14:27:33 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/safe-cycling-workshop-set-sept-10/article_cdd076e2-2972-11ed-b142-43c3d3d2401e.html |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A search for a missing woman with mental health issues demonstrates the struggle between families trying to find loved ones and the right to privacy.
Nina Anderson said she hasn't heard from her daughter, 40-year-old Kristine Anderson, for weeks. While Kristine is from San Diego, her last known whereabouts were in Sacramento.
She said her daughter is bipolar and that she's worried for her safety.
"She's just someone who gives so much love, and she wants to be of service. And she said, if I can just give love to people every day, that's what she would like to do — to give more of what the world can use, a lot more love and less judgment and criticism," Nina Anderson said.
However, her maternal instincts are coming across obstacles as she tries to find her daughter. According to a 2019 report by the Congressional Research Service, adults have the "legal right to go missing under most circumstances."
"(It's) partly because advocates for people living with mental health issues want to make sure that people still have their rights to go missing, in this case, and part of it is HIPAA," said David Bain, executive director for the Sacramento chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
He said those factors can hinder family members or loved ones from learning where their loved ones are.
For Suzanne Yada, who's known Kristine for 20 years, it's a broken system.
"Law enforcement actually said, 'adults are allowed to go missing,' but in our case, it was very heartbreaking and frustrating because we know that she's at risk, we know that she's endangered," Yada said.
Bain said there's a constant struggle to find the middle point of not violating someone's privacy and a loved one's need to know. He said whether or not it's a problem is dependent on who's being asked.
"It is a problem for family members; it would be nice if there was a more humane way of letting them know that their loved one (is safe), oftentimes, that's all they need to know is that their loved ones are somewhere safe," Bain said.
For Yada and Nina Anderson, doing the footwork on their own for a family with few answers as to where their loved one is. Yada said they're "flying blind" without additional police help, and Nina said she is holding onto hope that they find her daughter.
"I'm holding (onto) the thought she's found and safe, that we get communication and issues worked out with the police and whatever we need, whatever information is helpful," Anderson said.
Kristine Anderson is 5'3" and weighs around 120 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call the San Diego Police Department. More information on her case can be found HERE.
Watch more on ABC10 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/missing-san-diego-woman-seen-sacramento-area/103-4d1ff8bb-c35f-4d23-9e1a-f52bc9bb6dd3 | 2022-09-02T14:32:36 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/missing-san-diego-woman-seen-sacramento-area/103-4d1ff8bb-c35f-4d23-9e1a-f52bc9bb6dd3 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Crews with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District battled a fire Friday morning in Sacramento County.
Firefighters responded to reports of a fire on Sunrise Pines Drive, near Mather Airport. The fire was knocked down and all three people in the house made it out. Two people were medically evaluated and released.
Nearby homes were evacuated during the fire and residents have been able to return to their homes. The fire is under investigation.
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Watch more on ABC10 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-county-house-fire-sunrise-pines/103-e3bfa579-b67d-44a9-b588-4ce808f2d150 | 2022-09-02T14:32:42 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-county-house-fire-sunrise-pines/103-e3bfa579-b67d-44a9-b588-4ce808f2d150 |
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas — The Bentonville community mourns the loss of an 11-year-old boy after he drowned in Monday's storms.
5News reached out to the mother of Alexander "Cade" Law who understandably said she was not ready to speak about him yet.
Cade's Aunt, Noelle Halterman, reached out and gave us a statement for the family on who Cade was and what happened in his final moments.
"It is with grieving hearts that we want to thank all of the first responders, and entire community for their support following the loss of our beloved Alexander "Cade" Law. The accident that occurred on Monday, August 29th is unimaginable and has devastated our family. Cade was incredibly special, a fighter from the very beginning. Born an identical twin in Johnson, AR, he had recently celebrated his 11th birthday. In his short life, Cade had to endure two brain surgeries and years of treatment. Yet he had such a positive outlook and funny sense of humor. Cade always loved a good joke, especially if it was one that he made up on his own. He impatiently waited to reach the height line so that he could ride roller coasters. He loved the ocean, boogie boarding, and jumping in the waves. He loved collecting Pokeman cards, playing Fortnight, going to Camp War Eagle, roller skating, or doing the floss in a fun family dance party. Monday began like any other day and with the exciting prospect of rain, playing in it with his mom, brother, friend and another parent, was just a fun, harmless activity. Armed with paper boats they made, and sticks to push them in the water, they ran to an area where they had played countless times before. As the boats traveled down the field, the boys noticed a tiny whirlpool near the end, and as Cade reached over to grab his wood stick, he was pulled into the storm drain. A mom who was near the boys saw what occurred and her immediate, instinctual response was to grab Cade and pull him out of the storm drain. Her selfless act to try and save Cade's life is etched in our heart's forever. There will never be enough words to express our gratitude and appreciation. Cade's twin brother ran to the house, retrieved his cell phone and bravely called 911. We want to thank the Bentonville first responders. Their response is a testament to their commitment to keep our community safe, and they put their lives at risk to bring Cade home to be with his family. We have no words, but will never forget you, your actions, and will always hold you close to our hearts. This tragedy is absolutely unimaginable and has left us heartbroken at the loss of our beloved Cade. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time as our family comes together to understand this inexplicable accident. We thank the community for their outpouring of love and support. We will lean on that support in the next days, weeks, and years to come."
In a Facebook post, Mom Chrissy Law says that Cade, his Identical twin Chandler and a friend were racing paper boats in the pond during Monday's rainfall. The water was only ankle deep at the time and rising but gave no concern to the two adults present. They, however, weren't aware of the drains at the end of the field that the boys approached. As they threw woodchips into the small whirlpool, cade reached in and was sucked in by the water. His twin Chandler held on but unfortunately, the water was too strong. Without hesitation, the friend's mom jumped in to try and save Cade, eventually being taken by the water herself.
According to Bentonville Fire, they found the friend's mom about 20 yards away from the pond after 13 minutes of an initial emergency call. For Cade, they say it was 23 minutes before they found him 500 yards away, passing away eventually at the hospital. Cade's family says that she is currently on life support fighting for her life.
According to the family, Cade was starting 5th grade at Ruth Barker Middle School in Bentonville. The District released a statement saying:
"We're heartbroken for the two families devastated by Monday evening's tragedy. Cade was a beautiful child with the most tender smile. He's profoundly missed by his teachers and classmates. Hold these families tight in your prayers."
The family says Cade survived two brain surgeries yet approached every day like he was waking up to his own personal adventure. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/community-mourns-11-year-old-bentonville-boy/527-37688891-ee78-4790-ae43-1e224d12cf5d | 2022-09-02T14:32:57 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/community-mourns-11-year-old-bentonville-boy/527-37688891-ee78-4790-ae43-1e224d12cf5d |
OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City High School football team appeared to be one play away from a demoralizing 0-2 start Thursday night.
It turns out the Red Raiders were a play away from an uplifting, season-changing win.
Jon Moyer made a pivotal interception, Riley Gunnels threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jack Hoag, and Duke Guenther scored the winning TD as Ocean City rallied to beat rival Mainland Regional 21-20.
“This is a huge turning point for our team,” Hoag said. “Coming out and playing our rivals and proving everybody wrong. That’s huge for us.”
Ocean City trailed Mainland 20-7 late in the third quarter. Guenther scored the winning TD on a 29-yard run with 9 minutes, 58 seconds left in the game. J.P. Foster booted the extra point that accounted for the one-point difference.
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Not many in the South Jersey high school football community had faith in the Red Raiders coming into Thursday’s game because six days earlier they had lost their season opener 20-0 to Neshaminy (Pennsylvania).
“This means a lot, especially after last week,” Gunnels said. “It’s a major bounce back game. Everyone sees what we’re fully capable of after this win. Everybody’s energy stayed up throughout the whole game, and no one put their heads down.”
Fans packed the bleachers on one of the last nights of the summer tourist season to watch these rivals play. It’s a big deal when these neighboring schools meet in any sport. It’s an especially big deal in football. The Ocean City/Mainland rivalry has been dubbed “the Battle for the Bridge,” referring to the Route 52 causeway that separates Ocean City from the Mainland sending district of Somers Point, Linwood and Northfield. Mainland leads the overall series 28-23.
On Thursday, the Mustangs, who are ranked No. 10 in The Press Elite 11, physically dominated the first three quarters.
Mainland running back Ja’Briel Mace ran for 134 yards and two TDs in the first quarter alone. Mustangs running back/quarterback Cohen Cook finished with 110 rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Gunnels had to scramble to buy time to throw on just about every pass attempt. Mainland sacked him four times. Mustangs junior linebacker Hunter Watson had a sack and recovered a fumble. Ocean City had negative-18 rushing yards through the first three quarters.
Ocean City was teetering late in the third quarter. It seemed as if one more first down would give Mainland complete control.
Instead, the Red Raiders stayed close behind the arm of Gunnels, who completed 20 of 34 passes for 335 yards. His 2-yard TD pass to Hoag (five catches for 137 yards) cut Mainland’s lead to 20-14 with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks around,” Hoag said. “It’s easy to catch the ball when he’s throwing.”
Momentum turned in Ocean City’s favor early in the fourth quarter when Moyer intercepted a Mainland halfback option pass.
“I heard everybody call ‘ball,’ ” Moyer said. “I turned around, and I knew I could get it. I had to go for it. I ran it back as far as I could. It definitely kept our sideline motivated to stay energized.”
Ocean City then somehow rediscovered its running game.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Guenther carried five times for 40 yards in the fourth quarter, including the winning TD run. He had just one carry for 1 yard in the first three quarters.
“I saw a seam,” Guenther said of his TD. “I went right through it, and I scored.”
The Red Raiders, defense made sure the lead held up. Ocean City junior linebacker Nick Layton made a key tackle for a loss to help stop one Mainland fourth-quarter drive. Senior defensive back Ricky Wetzel picked off a Mainland pass in the final minute to clinch the win.
The Red Raiders posed for a photograph with the trophy that goes to the winner of this rivalry game.
There were plenty of smiles. There was also an air of relief. No high school football team wants to start 0-2.
"A lot of unproven guys came through," Ocean City coach Kevin Smith said. "Now we're riding a big wave. To win a game like this in this environment, great crowd, great high school football game." | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/watch-ocean-city-rallies-to-stun-mainland-regional/article_ca1a5878-2a27-11ed-831f-ff3f33dc5b99.html | 2022-09-02T14:33:00 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/watch-ocean-city-rallies-to-stun-mainland-regional/article_ca1a5878-2a27-11ed-831f-ff3f33dc5b99.html |
DALLAS, Texas — Thursday marked the first anniversary since Texas' controversial law, SB 8, was put into effect by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The bill, which would later trigger an abortion ban in Texas following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, at the time was one of the more extreme pieces of anti-abortion legislation in the country.
Dubbed the "heartbeat bill," the law banned abortions after six weeks or after a heartbeat is detected in a fetus.
It gave the green light for private individuals to sue anyone who performs or assists a post-heartbeat abortion for a minimum of $10,000 in statutory damages per abortion, plus court costs and attorney fees.
That part of the bill kept doctors statewide in constant paranoia. Many wouldn't even discuss abortions for fear of being sued.
For one Dallas mother, who WFAA is only identifying as "J," she witnessed that firsthand.
In September of 2021, she became pregnant. She was already a mother of two and wanted another child.
Around the 16-week mark, she and her partner already knew the sex of the child and had settled on a name -- Ava.
"All of our girls have 'A' names," J said. "Ava means bird or lively. We went through many names on Google and settled on Ava. We wanted her to have a name with purpose. Her middle name was 'Marli,' which meant 'star of the sky.' So we wanted her to fly through life and be successful. That's why we loved those two names."
Sadly, around the 16-week mark, J also learned a heartbreaking fact: Ava had anencephaly. She got the news after genetic testing -- something many expecting mothers do to check their baby's health.
It's a rare and fatal defect in the formation of a baby's neural tube during development. As the neural tube forms and closes, it helps form the baby's brain and skull.
With anencephaly, the baby develops without parts of the brain and skull.
For J, it was a challenging moment. According to the National Library of Medicine, anencephaly has a first-year mortality rate of 100% in infants.
Many die before birth or shortly after.
Plus, the discovery was made after the six-week abortion ban under SB 8. J said her doctors didn't discuss termination or abortion as a possibility due to legal ramifications.
Termination is often a difficult, yet logical, choice. J could have carried the child to full-term, but maternal sepsis is a risk if there's a miscarriage which can be life-threatening.
"He was like 'I'm sorry' and then left the room," J said. "My doctor was scared to say anything, and we just had to research on our own and figure out what to do next."
"All they offered was to check on me weekly, to make sure I didn't have sepsis. My due date was in June, so I would have had to carry for the rest of the pregnancy knowing there are no options and nothing I can do."
J made the tough decision to schedule an abortion, but she would have to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to do it.
She did receive help from agencies to pay for the procedure, however. Still, it didn't ease the burden.
She drove to New Mexico in January with her partner and two children. It's roughly a 10- to 13-hour drive. Once J got there, she underwent counseling and took medicine to dilate her.
On the second day, she had Ava. Immediately after that, she had to contact a funeral home for cremation. J received her remains about a week and a half later.
For J, she wanted to have Ava -- her conception was intentional.
But after going through a traumatic experience like this, she takes issue with state leaders who left her with no options but to carry a baby to term that's likely to die.
She takes issue with the fact that she had to leave the comfort of her own family and doctors and travel to an unfamiliar place to do something she never wants any mother to go through.
"If my doctor was able to do this, I could have done it in a hospital with my family, and we could have had this baby together and said goodbye, but I had to do it alone by myself due to COVID restrictions in a clinic," J said.
"It wasn't fair. My doctor was afraid to help me, and the only way they would have done something in Texas is if I was on the floor and about to die." she said.
Many women in Texas who find themselves staring at the same health hurdles as J did will face similar struggles now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
J's intention in speaking with WFAA is to underscore that sometimes abortion has to be considered and that Texas' ban leaves no room for navigating situations like hers.
Some good news, J is pregnant again with a little girl. She and her partner have named her "Ayah."
J said it means "miracle."
"People tell me that it's Ava's soul coming back to us, which is hard to accept and think about. I always say that I have four children, and Ava is very much part of our family. Ayah's name means so much because I think it's a miracle to have a baby after a loss like ours successfully," J said. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-mom-go-out-of-state-for-abortion-baby-100-chance-dying/287-18f98f1e-9efe-4e95-aa47-ddc103c2bca6 | 2022-09-02T14:33:03 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-mom-go-out-of-state-for-abortion-baby-100-chance-dying/287-18f98f1e-9efe-4e95-aa47-ddc103c2bca6 |
HOUSTON — Imagine yourself sitting on a plane at Houston's Hobby Airport as you get set to take off for a dreamy vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Then: Ping. Nude photos start showing up on your phone -- and they're being airdropped from another passenger!
Yes, it really happened and the photos went to everyone on the Southwest Airlines flight, including the crew, according to CNN. The pilot wasn't amused and threatened to return to the gate if the culprit didn't cut it out.
"So here's the deal: If this continues while we're on the ground, I'm going to have to pull back to the gate, everybody's gonna have to get off, we're gonna have to get security involved and vacation is gonna be ruined," the pilot warned over the intercom. "So you folks, whatever that AirDrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures, and let's get yourselves to Cabo."
Passenger Teighlor Marsalis shot the video. She told CNN that she and her friends were waiting for takeoff when everyone received a notification of files being shared on AirDrop.
Marsalis declined but a woman in front of her showed her the photo.
Another woman got upset and told the flight attendant and they alerted the pilot, Marsalis said.
"The safety, security and wellbeing of customers and employees is the Southwest team's highest priority at all times. When made aware of a potential problem, our employees address issues to support the comfort of those traveling with us," Southwest Airlines said in a statement.
After a 10-minute delay, the flight took off for Mexico and the identification of the sneaky airdropper apparently remained a mystery. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/naked-photos-airdropped-plane/285-d1e25221-895c-4477-b481-2b80f991b601 | 2022-09-02T14:33:09 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/naked-photos-airdropped-plane/285-d1e25221-895c-4477-b481-2b80f991b601 |
Cox First Media publisher Jana Collier is recognized as one of the nation’s top 25 media professionals over age 50 in the September issue of Editor & Publisher magazine.
As publisher of Cox First Media, Collier oversees all aspects of the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News.
Collier is credited with leading these storied newspapers into the digital age. She says that experience has taught her that local media will endure if it focuses on creating community, and providing customers the local journalism they want and need, regardless of what format it’s in.
“I really believe that local journalism is more important than ever, and our local newspaper is making a difference every day,” Collier said. “I am so grateful to work in this space, and it’s an honor to be recognized for that work.”
Collier has demonstrated a commitment to watchdog and solutions-oriented journalism, launching the Path Forward initiative that investigates solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our region.
Path Forward reporting has explored challenges and solutions around topics like the region’s economy, Dayton Public Schools and K-12 education, the opioid epidemic and more.
Likewise, the recently launched Community Gems initiative celebrates the people making big and small differences in our community.
And she positioned Cox First Media to provide a robust suite of digital advertising solutions customized to meet advertisers’ needs.
Reporting by Cox First Media newspapers is recognized as some of the best in Ohio. This year, the papers won more than a dozen awards from the Society of Professional Journalists in Ohio, as well as awards from the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Association.
But more importantly, the organization’s reporting has served the community. It has led to changes in state law, including making child marriage illegal in Ohio, improving crime victims’ access to state aid programs, and tightening social safety nets.
Recent reporting helped the community rebuild itself after the COVID-19 shutdown and the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes. It provided needed information about the Oregon District shooting in Dayton, as well as a place for trusted information about the security of local elections and voting.
Cox First Media newspapers were a reliable source of needed information during the COVID-19 pandemic, including reporting on Ohio’s unemployment system, how people can keep their families safe, and how government aid is being used.
Collier told Editor & Publisher that today’s newspapers are well positioned to stay tomorrow’s top source of local news.
“That’s because we have an established subscription business model and credibility as news worth paying for,” Collier said.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/collier-recognized-for-leading-dayton-springfield-and-butler-county-newspapers/TDP5K3VT7VHKLM2NQ2PY43YDCI/ | 2022-09-02T14:34:25 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/collier-recognized-for-leading-dayton-springfield-and-butler-county-newspapers/TDP5K3VT7VHKLM2NQ2PY43YDCI/ |
A Huber Heights native has been working on the Artemis 1 mission launch to the moon and said the aerospace-seeped culture of the Dayton region prepared him for his dream career.
Randy Eckman, a 2008 Wayne High School grad, cited his time at Huber Heights schools, volunteering at the Boonshoft Planetarium and taking advantage of free classes on coding at Wright State University as part of his success.
Eckman, a trajectory analyst will be part of the “mechanics” of the mission – the people who are making sure the spacecraft is going where it needs to go and adjusting after it is already in the air. He works out of Houston, Texas.
“I always wanted to work specifically on moon missions,” Eckman said. “That’s what I came to NASA to do.”
NASA will try again Saturday to launch its new moon rocket on a test flight, after engine trouble halted the first countdown this week.
Managers said Tuesday they are changing fueling procedures to deal with the issue. A bad sensor also could be to blame for Monday’s scrapped launch, they noted.
The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket — the most powerful ever built by NASA — remains on its pad at Kennedy Space Center with an empty crew capsule on top.
The Space Launch System rocket will attempt to send the capsule around the moon and back. No one will be aboard, just three test dummies. If successful, it will be the first capsule to fly to the moon since NASA’s Apollo program 50 years ago.
Proceeding toward a Saturday launch will provide additional insight, even if the problem reappears and the countdown is halted again, said NASA’s rocket program manager, John Honeycutt. That’s better “than us sitting around scratching our heads, was it good enough or not.”
Eckman said his love of science was sparked as a kid, playing rockets with his sister. But growing up in Huber Heights, he said more people knew him as a music and theater kid than a science kid. He was active in marching band, theater and choir.
Eckman later got a minor in music from Purdue University, along with his degree in aerospace engineering. He said a NASA recruiter later told him that the music minor was part of what made his resume stand out from everyone else’s.
The other item that stood out on Eckman’s resume was his many volunteer hours at the Boonshoft Museum of Natural History, where he volunteered as part of his requirements for the National Honors Society.
Eckman said that was another valuable experience from his time in Dayton: learning how to multitask by running the projector and talking to the crowd while breaking down complex ideas,
“Back when I worked there, it was a much more difficult task to run the planetarium projector,” Eckman said. “You had to be able to talk smoothly to the crowd while also having to type commands in the computer at the same time and push buttons and adjusting.”
Eckman said learning how to code through a Wright State University class enrichment class in second grade a put him head of some of his peers later on.
Rebecca Wickes, a member of NASA’s public affairs unit, said Eckman was a good example of someone who took advantage of local programs – something NASA is now trying to promote in training the next workforce generation.
“The more that organizations can offer these programs, and these different educational opportunities, and the more that people hear about them, we’re able to build, you know, the next generation of spaceflight leaders,” Wickes said.
Once the first Artemis mission is launched, Eckman said he will move onto the next Artemis missions, which are expected to carry people to the moon. It’s another step in the journey to Mars, because many of the mechanics of getting a spacecraft into orbit and landing on another planet can be observed closer to home by going to the moon, instead of taking more than three years to get to Mars.
“There’s still a lot of logistical things that we need to figure out about actually going somewhere without being able to come back home or send them spare parts,” Eckman said. “And so a lot of that is technology that we want to test out going to the moon because the moon is right next door.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/wayne-graduate-working-on-saturdays-nasa-mission-cites-dayton-area-roots-in-success/TS2TUIUFL5CVFL6AQ66XA57PMA/ | 2022-09-02T14:34:32 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/wayne-graduate-working-on-saturdays-nasa-mission-cites-dayton-area-roots-in-success/TS2TUIUFL5CVFL6AQ66XA57PMA/ |
There will be charbroiled Whoppers no more at the corner of Grant Road and Alvernon Way.
The midtown Tucson fast-food shop has been demolished to make way for the Grant Road Improvement Project.
Located (formerly) in the Northgate Plaza Shopping Center, it was bulldozed Thursday, Sept. 1.
Northgate is in negotiations with another national chain for a spot at the corner once the widening is complete.
This phase of the widening project is expected to begin next year.
Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at grico@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/business/city-of-tucson-demolishes-fast-food-joint-to-widen-road/article_b662b914-2a4b-11ed-a6f0-7b549e39a127.html | 2022-09-02T14:35:05 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/business/city-of-tucson-demolishes-fast-food-joint-to-widen-road/article_b662b914-2a4b-11ed-a6f0-7b549e39a127.html |
Thursday, Sept. 8 will be another busy day full of candidate interviews!
At 10 a.m., we will chat with Juan Ciscomani, Republican candidate in Congressional District 6.
At noon, we will meet with Brieanna Chillious, a candidate for the TUSD Governing Board.
At 4 p.m., we will meet with Luis A. Gonzales and William R. Soland, also candidates for the TUSD board.
We invited the three other TUSD candidates and we’ll schedule interviews with them as soon as possible.
We invite readers to attend the interviews, which will be conducted via Zoom. Email sbrown@tucson.com if you need the Zoom information emailed to you.
Here is the invitation to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85030559366?pwd=MGtKTGZiMUhEancrejYrZXdKVWU2dz09
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The meeting ID is 850 3055 9366, and the passcode is 193869. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/join-us-next-thursday-for-interviews-with-candidates-from-cd-6-tusd/article_d8e8e2f0-2a1a-11ed-b6ce-6b155c849b5c.html | 2022-09-02T14:35:17 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/join-us-next-thursday-for-interviews-with-candidates-from-cd-6-tusd/article_d8e8e2f0-2a1a-11ed-b6ce-6b155c849b5c.html |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Arizona faces urgent challenges for agriculture, water and power. First, a drastic reduction in Lake Mead’s water level, now at 28% of capacity, threatens irrigated agriculture in our state. Second, Arizona faces increased energy demands during extreme heat events, both in our state and neighboring states joined through the “Western Interconnection” power grid. Third, Arizona needs abundant, affordable, clean energy for our growing economy that protects air quality and public health.
Arizona farmers and energy developers can mitigate all three challenges using research pioneered at the University of Arizona Biosphere lab. Solar panels interspersed with row crops improve water efficiency and solar power production. This dynamic combination is known as “agrivoltaics,” or agriculture-based photovoltaics. A solar panel providing partial shade to crops reduces water evaporation from soil and water transpiration from leaves. The crop under the solar panel provides a cooling effect for the panels, which are more efficient when they stay cool, allowing them to remain more productive on the hottest days, when power is most needed for air conditioning.
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When University of Arizona researcher Greg Barron-Gafford tested this technology using three local Arizona crops (chiltepin peppers, jalapeño peppers, and tomatoes), his team learned that chiltepins and tomatoes produced three and two times as much fruit when planted under solar panels. Jalapeños produced about as much fruit under solar panels, while reducing water use by 65%.
Tucsonans can easily view agrivoltaic pilot projects at Manzo Elementary School and University High School.
Benefits of solar power
Arizona is one of the largest markets for solar power with the fifth-highest level of installed capacity of all 50 states.
Solar production is the ideal resource because Arizona has about 300 sunny days each year and air conditioners run harder when the sun is high. Agrivoltaic projects enhance a technology which Arizonans already need, while raising efficiency of energy generation and maximizing the economic output of our agricultural land. Using crops under solar panels keeps them cooler and Dr. Barron-Gafford’s team measured a 16-degree cooling effect. The cooler panel temperature produces a 3% efficiency improvement during the hottest months from May to July.
Because solar efficiency gains over crops are highest during the hottest months, these projects can improve the reliability of our state electric grid when we need it most. Increased power output from a given number of solar panels is an alternative to backup plants that come with pollution and unequal impacts, like the proposed Coolidge methane gas-fired plant expansion. The Arizona Corporation Commission rejected this plant because the utility had not addressed cost concerns or considered alternative plans, but utilities across Arizona must expand power infrastructure to support economic growth and ensure reliable service during extreme weather.
How can Arizona deploy agrivoltaics at scale?
First, Arizona’s higher education institutions and the state Department of Agriculture should collaborate to identify funding for more research, both to study additional crops of interest to Arizona’s farmers and to understand agrivoltaic applications in warmer areas, including Yuma County. The early results from Biosphere 2 are promising, but further research means that more farmers will benefit from the technology.
Second, the state needs to organize an efficient process to develop more energy storage technologies. Solar panels generate peak production between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. but the power demand peaks between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. (consider AC, lighting, personal entertainment and retail-restaurant businesses). Lithium-ion batteries are in short supply because of the popularity of electric vehicles, but several other battery technologies will be available soon.
The Arizona Legislature and the Corporation Commission must plan for the future of our power grid today. This should ensure that Arizona farmers have access to agrivoltaic technology to save water, increase crop production, and diversify revenue sources using solar leases. All Arizonans benefit from stable electricity bills, reliable power, and reduced air pollution.
Michael Collins is a resident of Tucson who enjoys hot peppers, tomatoes, and clean electricity. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-a-triple-bottom-line-for-arizona/article_d82bd9e8-2a11-11ed-aa22-5f29566acef3.html | 2022-09-02T14:35:24 | 0 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-a-triple-bottom-line-for-arizona/article_d82bd9e8-2a11-11ed-aa22-5f29566acef3.html |
The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
This past month, I voted in an election for the first time in my life. It wasn’t for any prior lack of interest in engaging with the tools of democratic government-building — I simply never had the opportunity before now.
I left my home in Montreal to study abroad at age 13, and spent my teenage years and early 20s abroad. I lived in the holy land of Israel, in Ukraine and in Belgium. I then moved to the United States, where I have lived for the past 15 years, and just a few months ago, I was finally sworn in as an American citizen.
So when I stood in that little raised booth in Tucson and carefully filled out black circles on my ballot for the primary election, it was exciting. I felt proud as I walked out with my “I Voted!” sticker. It was a new experience, and a meaningful one, even though several of the candidates on the ballot were running unopposed.
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And though voting in an election is a new experience for me, it is not entirely unfamiliar. You see, Jewish people choose a leader at the beginning of every Jewish year.
On Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 25-27, 2022), we sound the shofar, a ram’s horn. That trumpeting sound is intended to be evocative of the fanfares that accompanied the coronation of a secular monarch. We enhance that sound because as we blow the shofar, we “elect” G-d as our divine ruler once again.
G-d is all-powerful. He doesn’t need our validation, but He asks for it. “Recite the verses proclaiming my kingship, so that you will crown me your king.” (Talmud Rosh Hashana 16a). G-d asks us to persuade Him, as it were, to take on the mantle of rulership. G-d is running unopposed, but still wants our vote.
G-d doesn’t want to win by a simple majority — or by some contrived gerrymandered system. G-d wants to be elected unanimously, by a united people, because, as the Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory — taught, G-d is truly crowned as King when all recognize His sovereignty; when G-dliness is revealed in the world through our actions.
When we cast our vote for G-d on Rosh Hashanah, we also pledge to be held accountable.
In the case of an elected official, being voted into office comes with a mandate from their constituents. When we affirm G-d as our leader, He gives a mandate to His constituents: A mandate to live better, more ethical and moral lives; A mandate to make the lives of those around us better.
G-d says, I want you to involve me in your life and in your decision-making. I want your vote of confidence as an involved citizen of the universe. I want you to be a part of the process.
And so we gather in the synagogue, where we read verses proclaiming G-d’s kingship, concluding with the declaration: “G-d, rule over the world entire in Your glory.” And then we sound the shofar, announcing G-d’s coronation to the world.
This August, I celebrated the importance of participating and helping ensure a fair system of government by doing my part to try and elect good leaders. This Rosh Hashanah, I will be reminded that ultimately, it is G-d who gives those leaders and their constituents the wherewithal to make the world a better place and that G-d wants each and every one of us to be involved citizens.
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the outreach director at Chabad Tucson. He was born in Canada, educated in Israel, ordained in New York, and has guided Jewish communities in Europe, the former Soviet Union, Namibia and Nepal. He has been living and teaching in Tucson with his wife and five children since 2010. To connect, visit ChabadTucson.com | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-every-vote-counts---in-heaven-too/article_e616d5d6-294d-11ed-a00b-c70e1583d3a1.html | 2022-09-02T14:35:30 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-every-vote-counts---in-heaven-too/article_e616d5d6-294d-11ed-a00b-c70e1583d3a1.html |
I’ve often heard the phrase “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and you probably have, too.
For most of us, outside of George Clooney and the people who taste-test new ice cream flavors, it’s likely not true.
Or, at least not all the time.
Every job has chores we’d rather avoid. Clooney has probably stood around in the rain for hours waiting to shoot a two-minute movie scene. And those ice cream tasters go home with sticky faces.
As we celebrate Labor Day Weekend, we should also celebrate the people who go to work every day and do their jobs, even if they don’t always love them.
They are the ones who teach your children how to do long addition, prepare your coffee order each morning or keep the local water system operating safely and efficiently.
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These are the people who make this country great but who are too often ignored.
Politicians will tell you they value hard work, but they don’t. They’re too busy chasing after billionaires with deep pockets and corporate CEOs looking for bigger and better tax breaks.
As we head into what is unofficially the last weekend of the summer season, go out and enjoy yourself. Stroll through a car show. Nap in a hammock. Throw some burgers on a grill. Bike along the lakefront.
But also, on this Labor Day Weekend, remember that this country — every country — was built because of labor. We salute you.
And look in our Sunday Living section for a story on Chris Kollman, a Kenosha native who is living his dream as a musician and is about to start a one-year residency at a Las Vegas casino. That sounds like a guy who really does love his work.
A month for readers
September is quite a month for those of us who love to read — and love to encourage others to read, too.
Tuesday is “Read a Book Day” — though we like to think that’s EVERY day — followed by “Buy a Book Day” on Wednesday. Luckily, we have two local Downtown shops, Blue House Books and Studio Moonfall, filled with books looking for homes.
And if that’s not enough of a celebration of reading, the whole month of September is “Read a New Book Month.”
Earlier this summer, a local book club hosted a special event with an author (and it wasn’t even September yet!).
The Harbor Park Book club welcomed Andrea Friederici Ross, author of “Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick.”
Ross spent eight years writing this biography about John D. Rockefeller’s daughter.
Of particular interest was Edith Rockefeller’s “grand plan for Pleasant Prairie’s Edithton Beach and her many philanthropic contributions to the health and culture of this metropolitan region,” said club member Mary Wagner. Rockefeller had hoped to develop the area into the resort town of Edithton, though financial ruin scuttled those plans.
The Carol Beach Book Club joined the group for the author’s presentation, as did Steve Maravich, who wrote an extensive article on the Carol Beach area and Edithton Beach, Wagner said.
As for Rockefeller’s dream of a residential development, Edithton Beach — referred to as “the millionaires’ playground Mrs. Edith Rockefeller McCormick started to build on the shore of Lake Michigan in Southern Wisconsin” — was sold for $187,000 at a foreclosure auction in Kenosha, according to a New York Times article on May 13, 1937.
Today, everyone can visit Edithton Beach, even if you’re not a millionaire. It’s the northernmost Lake Michigan beach in Pleasant Prairie, just north of 102nd Street on Lakeshore Drive.
Sounds like a wonderful spot to curl up with a good book.
Parking lot fitness
Jesse Avery, who owns and operates the local Jazzercise at 8024 22nd Ave. (next to TCF Bank), is celebrating Labor Day by teaching a free outdoor class open to everyone.
The class is 9:30 a.m. Monday in the shopping center’s parking lot. Participants should come dressed to work out and bring water and hand weights (if they want to use weights).
The class runs 45 minutes and includes some strength training, low-impact dance aerobics and a stretch at the end.
For folks nervous about trying Jazzercise — or any sort of exercise class — Avery offers encouragement.
“You will work up a sweat and have fun, too,” she said.
Jazzercise, she added, “doesn’t require you to be a dancer or have any knowledge about fitness. You don’t have to be coordinated to try it, and you may want to come back and do it again.”
Here’s a bonus: If you like to dress up, the outdoor class will rock an ‘80s theme. Think: Leg warmers, scrunchies and sky-high bangs doused with hair spray. Jane Fonda would be so proud!
Fall Fun Guide
The Kenosha News will include a Fall Fun Guide on Sept. 21, highlighting events in the Kenosha, Racine and Lake Geneva area.
If your organization hosts a fall event — open to the public — that you would like included, send the information to esnyder@kenoshanews.com and include the name of the event, date, location and address, times each day, admission fees (if any), etc.
We need the information by Sept. 7. And before you know it, we’ll be looking for that perfect pumpkin to carve and seeking the best apple cider doughnuts.
5 late-summer recipes to try this week
Whether you're getting ready for a Labor Day barbecue or looking for a fresh weeknight meal, this week's recipe roundup offers delicious dishes that make good use of seasonal produce.
To really give these “patties” a savory boost, brush them with vegetarian steak sauce. Add a simple side salad or some grilled veggies for a satisfying and easy dinner on the grill.
It’s the height of peach season right now, so the marinade includes buttermilk and pureed peaches along with chopped fresh thyme and mint leaves.
Buttered ears of corn on the cob, creamy coleslaw, sliced ripe tomatoes and a leafy salad make the menu complete. Brownie and vanilla ice cream sundaes take the sting out of the end of summer.
Which spices are sweet and which are savory? Many cooks around the world don’t make such a distinction.
Cooking a good old-fashioned sunny-side-up egg is easy to make and ready in only a few minutes. However, they can be tricky to get just right. Here’s how to achieve that. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/tgif-for-workers-readers-and-parking-lot-fitness/article_d7c79948-2975-11ed-9311-7f1a388e4880.html | 2022-09-02T14:39:04 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/tgif-for-workers-readers-and-parking-lot-fitness/article_d7c79948-2975-11ed-9311-7f1a388e4880.html |
It’s National College Colors Day, so drag that old T-shirt out of your closet. We’re sure it still fits!
A free folk music hootenanny is 7 to 10 tonight at the Anderson Arts Center, 6603 Third Ave. “In honor of Labor Day, we will include songs about work and labor,” said organizer Marialyce Kornkven. Everyone is welcome. Participants are welcome to bring an acoustic instrument or just come to sing along; song sheets with chords and lyrics are provided.
The Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave., is hosting the Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition 2022, with 45 paintings on display through Nov. 6. This is the debut of this new exhibit, which will continue at the museum, every other year. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed holidays). Admission is free. For more information, go to KenoshaPublicMuseum.org.
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Looking for live music tonight? Evening Breeze (6 to 9 p.m.) and Matt Meyer (9 p.m. to midnight) are performing tonight at Union Park Tavern, 4520 Eighth Ave. No cover charge.
It’s a First Friday in Downtown Racine, with live music and specials in participating businesses, from 4 to 9 p.m. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-friday-sept-2/article_13fdba82-296c-11ed-9ab4-1704b76faccf.html | 2022-09-02T14:39:10 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-friday-sept-2/article_13fdba82-296c-11ed-9ab4-1704b76faccf.html |
A jellyfish rarely before seen at the shore has been turning up along New Jersey beaches, but experts warn beachgoers to keep their distance due to the creature’s nasty sting.
“Mauve” jellyfish are more commonly found further out in the ocean -- but that hasn’t stopped them from turning up on the N.J. coastline as of late, primarily in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
Experts can’t be certain but suspect there’s likely a link between the arrival of the jellyfish and changes in water temperatures and wind patterns. As of Sept. 1, water temperatures reached into the 80’s.
“We were here actually back in July and the water was freezing,” Sharon Haniebnik of Havertown, Pennsylvania told NBC10. “I mean, you'd put your foot in and it would immediately cramp up … this week is just the opposite.”
“What ends up happening oftentimes is that if something like the Gulf Stream that warm water gets closer to the Jersey shore, then our local currents and the tides then move that right up along the coastline,” Dr. Paul Bologna of Montclair State University told NBC10.
If you do run into a mauve jellyfish while cooling off at the Jersey Shore, beware: mauve jellyfish stings can be very painful and leave welts on skin, Bologna added.
“They’ve got a very powerful stinger inside them,” Bologna said. “Not necessarily lethal but gonna deliver a heck of a punch.” | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/jellyfish-rarely-before-seen-at-nj-shore-pack-a-painful-sting/3352448/ | 2022-09-02T14:40:03 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/jellyfish-rarely-before-seen-at-nj-shore-pack-a-painful-sting/3352448/ |
WATERLOO — A former Waukon woman has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with raffle tickets sold in Minnesota, where she operated a gift shop.
Mindy Jo Jones, also known as Mindy Riley, 42, currently of Waterloo, entered a plea to theft by swindle in Fillmore County on Aug. 22. Under a plea agreement, other charges in Minnesota will be dismissed.
The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, and sentencing will be at a later date.
She is also facing a third-degree theft charge filed this week in Waukon where is accused of passing a bad check for $1,142.
Authorities allege Jones had approached a family member for $3,000 to pay off a 2021 John Deere Gator UTV that was part of a fundraising raffle in September 2021. She charged the relative’s credit card through her store, Tin Rust and Harmony of Harmony, Minn.
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Jones then paid her back with a business check that bounced, according to court records.
The relative later became suspicious of the raffle and contacted Minnesota gaming officials.
Investigators found tickets for the raffle — priced at $20 each — claimed to benefit the Fillmore Central Fine Arts and the Childhood Cancer Community in memory of a 1-year-old Minnesota girl who died in 2019. The two organizations hadn’t approved of the raffle, and the raffle tickets weren’t numbered, records state.
When questioned by authorities, Jones said she had changed the raffle, dropping the fine arts and cancer charities after picking up Support Our Veterans in Iowa as a nonprofit sponsor. She said she then reprinted the tickets with the charity’s license number and planned hold the raffle in Iowa, court records state. She allegedly said he ultimately decided to cancel the raffle and was issuing refunds.
Officials with Support Our Veterans told investigators the organization had agreed to the raffle even though its nonprofit status was pending, according to court records. Officials also told investigators they didn’t have a license number and didn’t know where license number on the raffle tickets’ second printing came from.
Investigators found Jones had agreed to purchase a Gator from a Cresco dealership, but the $1,000 down payment check bounced, court records state.
Court records indicate authorities determined some 123 raffle tickets were sold for a total of $2,460.
Last week, Waukon police filed a third-degree theft against Jones alleging she passed a bad check for $1,142 to a Cresco woman in January.
In 2016, before moving to Harmony, Jones had been sentenced to prison for forgery charges after she allegedly took more than $100,000 from a Sumner couple she befriended. She was ordered to pay restitution in the case.
In July 2020, she applied for a $25,000 revolving loan from the Harmony Economic Development Authority to buy the Main Street storefront she had been renting for her shop. She told board members she planned to renovate the interior and repair the brick exterior.
By April 2022, Tin Rust and Harmony was behind on payments, and the board discussed pursuing foreclosure of the loan, according to meeting minutes.
Jones had operated a second Tin Rust and Harmony store in downtown Waukon, Iowa, which caught fire in February. The blaze also destroyed a neighboring pet supply store and damaged nearby businesses, and firefighting efforts caused issues with the city’s water system that resulted in a boil order and school cancellation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Iowa State Fire Marshal. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-pleads-in-raffle-investigation/article_d26d77f5-c191-5cc0-86a6-b577cf04076d.html | 2022-09-02T14:47:30 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-pleads-in-raffle-investigation/article_d26d77f5-c191-5cc0-86a6-b577cf04076d.html |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/fort-worth-isd-librarian-surprised-with-award-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show/3062991/ | 2022-09-02T14:53:57 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/fort-worth-isd-librarian-surprised-with-award-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show/3062991/ |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-agencies-prepare-for-busy-holiday-weekend-on-lakes/3063019/ | 2022-09-02T14:54:04 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-agencies-prepare-for-busy-holiday-weekend-on-lakes/3063019/ |
Juan Velasquez is living in his passion.
“I just love art. I love doing what I do,” Velasquez said.
It wasn’t until two years ago that he stepped into that passion fulltime. Wowing social media with murals of Dallas sports greats and murals celebrating lives gone too soon, like Vanessa Guillen, the 20 year soldier at Fort Hood who was killed.
“There is so much art out there that you need a degree to understand. I want to put something out there that everyone can understand and everyone can appreciate,” Velasquez said.
One of his latest works was a collaboration with other artists in Uvalde after the school shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers in May. He that’s when the Kelly Clarkson Show called.
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The latest news from around North Texas.
“They had heard about me and knew that I had worked on that project, so they wanted me to come up there. I was really nervous at first because I have never really done anything like that,” Velasquez said.
He also shares his talents as a teacher at Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center for the Arts at the Rose Marine Theater in Fort Worth.
New episodes of the Kelly Clarkson Show start on September 12. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-artist-to-be-featured-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show/3062963/ | 2022-09-02T14:54:11 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-artist-to-be-featured-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show/3062963/ |
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WJHL) — The world-famous eight-horse hitch known as the Budweiser Clydesdales will trot into Morristown Sept. 7 to make an appearance at the Food City on Sandstone Drive.
The harnessed horses will be hitched to a red beer wagon at the store from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Food City leaders announced Friday. The event marks one of hundreds made annually by the traveling horses.
Since 1933, the Clydesdales have remained a symbol of quality and tradition for the Anheuser-Busch brewing company. Hitches can be viewed at Anheuser-Busch breweries in St.Louis, Missouri; Merrimack, New Hampshire; Ft. Collins, Colorado; Grant’s Farm in St. Louis; and Warm Springs Ranch near Booneville, Missouri.
Budweiser Clydesdale candidates must be at least three years old and stand six feet tall, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, have four white legs and a blaze of white on the face with a black mane and tail. They must also have gentle temperaments, as they meet millions of people per year.
A single Clydesdale horse consumes 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian, as the breed was originally bred to train and protect the horses and guard the wagon the driver went inside to make deliveries.
Canadians of Scottish descent first brought Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800s. Today, the horses are used mainly for breeding and show. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/budweiser-clydesdales-traveling-to-morristown-food-city/ | 2022-09-02T14:55:03 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/budweiser-clydesdales-traveling-to-morristown-food-city/ |
DICKENSON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) – A prominent first responder in Southwest Virginia is on the mend after emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor.
Mark McCowan has spent over 35 years with the Clincho Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) helping his community and keeping his neighbors safe. When he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in mid-August, his first responder family rallied around him.
From co-workers to complete strangers, McCowan received well-wishes from across the region as he awaited emergency surgery. After some delays, his procedure was greenlit and he went under the knife on August 30, his chief told News Channel 11.
The procedure took several hours, but McCowan was awake and talking to his family by the end of the day.
“Our brother is awake and hungry,” Clincho VFD chief Nathaniel Mullins said in a Facebook post. “He said that he would try to make some phone calls tomorrow if he felt like it. He’s ready to try to get up and walk he said. He will be in hot pursuit soon.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/clincho-vfd-veteran-recovering-after-emergency-brain-tumor-surgery/ | 2022-09-02T14:55:09 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/clincho-vfd-veteran-recovering-after-emergency-brain-tumor-surgery/ |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Johnson City Commission voted unanimously to change the city’s flag Thursday night, swapping the nearly 60-year-old design for a new pattern.
“We’re doing our best to honor everything that came before us and everything we stand for now and everything we desire to be in the future,” said J.T McSpadden, the flag’s designer. “And at the same time, it’s a good flag design.”
The new flag contains several motifs to the city and region, with green bars extending into the horizon to represent railroad tracks that helped build the community. Three stars on a blue field reference the Tennessee state flag, as well as the Tri-Cities.
A driving factor of the change, the city said, was the fact that very few residents even knew the city had a flag. The modernization brought the design in line with expert advice, removing any lettering from the flag and simplifying it. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/unanimous-vote-changes-johnson-city-flag/ | 2022-09-02T14:55:15 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/unanimous-vote-changes-johnson-city-flag/ |
Two Casper police officers shot and killed a man early this morning at McKenzie Lake Park after he fired on them, the police department said in a statement.
The shooting occurred after officers patrolling near the park just before 2 a.m. came across a man in a parked vehicle near the shores of the lake.
Police say the man ran from the officers, who pursued him. During the pursuit, the man "produced and fired a weapon," the police statement said. "Both officers returned fire, striking the suspect."
The man was taken by ambulance to Wyoming Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The officers were not injured.
Police did not identify the man nor the officers who shot him.
The police statement did not say why the officers initially contacted the man or what prompted him to flee from them.
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Per standard department policy, both officers were placed on leave. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation will conduct an inquiry into the shooting. Afterward, the case will be sent to the Natrona County District Attorney's office, which will determine whether the officers' actions were lawful and justified.
The department said it would also conduct its own informal review, which is also standard policy after a police shooting.
The park, as well as an adjacent dog park, will be closed as that investigation is conducted. | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/officers-shoot-kill-man-after-he-fires-on-them-casper-police-say/article_4f225222-2abf-11ed-afbe-e70dc57aea9f.html | 2022-09-02T15:02:39 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/officers-shoot-kill-man-after-he-fires-on-them-casper-police-say/article_4f225222-2abf-11ed-afbe-e70dc57aea9f.html |
A woman was shot in the head in a north Casper alley early Friday morning, police said.
Dispatchers received a call from the woman at 3:20 a.m. reporting she had been shot by someone in an East K Street alley between North Durbin and North Wolcott streets.
Arriving officers found the woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. She was taken to Wyoming Medical Center for treatment.
No suspect has been found.
As part of the police investigation, East K Street and East L Street from North Wolcott to North Beech streets were closed Friday morning. | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-shot-in-north-casper-alley/article_e1d99c5a-2ac0-11ed-911b-efc2073fe39b.html | 2022-09-02T15:02:45 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-shot-in-north-casper-alley/article_e1d99c5a-2ac0-11ed-911b-efc2073fe39b.html |
Neighbor dispute leads to alleged shooting on Detroit's west side
Detroit — Police have arrested a man after he held police at bay and allegedly shot at a neighbor in a dispute.
The incident started at about 1:15 a.m. in the 5500 block of Spokane Avenue near Tireman and Livernois on the city's west side, officials said.
Police were called to the location for a report of a shooting.
According to a preliminary investigation, two neighbors got into an argument. One of them pointed a weapon out of his house at the other and fired, striking and wounding the victim. He is listed in temporary serious condition at a hospital, according to media reports.
The suspected shooter retreated into his home and police tried to contact him for hours. Officials said eventually the suspect exited the house and was arrested without incident.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/09/02/neighbor-dispute-leads-alleged-shooting-detroits-west-side/7970995001/ | 2022-09-02T15:06:26 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/09/02/neighbor-dispute-leads-alleged-shooting-detroits-west-side/7970995001/ |
Man's body found floating in Waterford lake Thursday
Waterford — A man's body was found floating in Williams Lake Thursday and police are investigating his death.
Officers were called to a home on Brightwood Court at about 9:40 a.m. Thursday for a report of a body floating in the lake, according to authorities.
Police arrived and saw what appeared to be a person floating in the water about 15 feet away from shore and in about four feet of water. An officer immediately entered the water and pulled the person to shore.
He determined the victim was a young male in his 20s and was deceased.
Officials with the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office were called and took custody of the body.
Police said the cause of the man's death is unknown at this time. They also said they have identified the victim, but are not releasing his name until his family is located and notified.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/02/mans-body-found-floating-waterford-lake-thursday/7970180001/ | 2022-09-02T15:06:26 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/02/mans-body-found-floating-waterford-lake-thursday/7970180001/ |
SACHSE, Texas — A man is accused of firing a shotgun through a police vehicle at two Sachse police officers who were treated and later released from the hospital, officials said.
The Sachse Police Department said two of its officers were shot at while on a service call to a Medpost Urgent Care, located at 7760 State Highway 78.
Police said the incident happened around midnight, when officers were completing a call for service. Someone walked up to the driver side of the police vehicle and fired a shotgun through the window of the police vehicle, striking the officer sitting in the driver's seat in the head.
The second officer sitting in the passenger seat returned fire and struck the person, police said.
Both officers and the person who fired the shotgun into the vehicle were taken to the hospital. The officers received non-life threatening injuries and were treated and released from the hospital.
The person who allegedly fired the shotgun into the police vehicle was undergoing surgery Friday morning.
The Texas Rangers are investigating a shooting, according to Sachse police.
More information about the shooting was not released.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/sachse-police-shooting-medpost-urgent-care/287-3c54398b-dd6a-40c7-bb22-53312e25c578 | 2022-09-02T15:08:18 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/sachse-police-shooting-medpost-urgent-care/287-3c54398b-dd6a-40c7-bb22-53312e25c578 |
WOLFE CITY, Texas — Former Wolfe City police officer Shaun Lucas, who is charged in the 2020 killing of Jonathan Price, was transferred from the Collin County jail to the Hunt County jail ahead of his trial later this month, officials said.
WFAA initially reported that Lucas was released from jail on bond; Collin County jail records said he was released but they did not indicate he was released on bond.
Hunt County officials later confirmed that Lucas was transferred to their facility.
Lucas was arrested and charged with murder in October 2020 after he shot and killed Price in Wolfe City, in Hunt County northeast of Dallas, officials said.
According to family members and witnesses, Lucas shot and killed Price after an argument broke out between a couple inside a convenience store.
Witnesses said Price tried to break up the disagreement inside the store, but it spilled outside, and when officers responded to the scene, Price was shot. Friends and family said the argument was settled before officers even arrived.
Upon Lucas' arrest, his attorney claimed that he discharged his weapon in accordance with state law when "he was confronted with an aggressive assailant who was attempting to take his Taser."
The Texas Rangers, who were investigating the shooting, said Lucas' actions "were not objectionably reasonable."
Lucas was booked into the Hunt County jail and then transferred to the Rockwall County jail, where he was being held in lieu of $1 million bond, according to jail records.
Days after being arrested, Lucas was fired from the Wolfe City Police Department. In a press release, the department said he "was terminated for his egregious violation of the City's and police department's policies."
Court records show the Lucas' trial is set for Sept. 12 in the 354th District Court in Hunt County.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/shaun-lucas-jonathan-price-shooting-wolfe-city-police-officer/287-1868e8ad-0335-40ad-8649-9de2973f85da | 2022-09-02T15:08:24 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/shaun-lucas-jonathan-price-shooting-wolfe-city-police-officer/287-1868e8ad-0335-40ad-8649-9de2973f85da |
AUSTIN, Texas — In a recent court brief, more than a dozen current and former employees of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services warned that continuing to abide by Gov. Greg Abbott's directive to treat gender-affirming medical care as potential child abuse would push the agency past "the brink of collapse."
According to a report from KVUE's news partners at the Austin American-Statesman, an "unprecedented" number of DFPS employees have quit since the directive was announced in February.
"For an agency already struggling, and often failing, to protect Texas children, the stakes are too high to ignore, according to the current and former employees, many of them supervisors and managers," wrote Chuck Lindell of the Statesman.
The report states that employees have already been stretched beyond their resources and are unable to fully help children in the system who are victims of abuse or neglect.
"The great mass of DFPS employees did not choose the child welfare profession to break up loving families who, with no ill motive, malice, or negligence toward their child, are simply following medical advice and administering medicine under a doctor’s supervision," the legal brief states.
Read the Statesman's full report here.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-dfps-brink-collapse-transgender-brief/269-80c7fbc7-1e54-4bef-9eef-0da0cf26bc66 | 2022-09-02T15:08:30 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-dfps-brink-collapse-transgender-brief/269-80c7fbc7-1e54-4bef-9eef-0da0cf26bc66 |
A man was stabbed nearly a dozen times and hospitalized with serious injuries after a run-in with a jogger at a Long Island gas station Thursday night, police said.
The 49-year-old was behind the wheel of a car, pulling into a Shell gas station in Centereach around 8 p.m., when the jogger was running past the entrance to the station, according to Suffolk County Police.
It wasn't immediately clear what happened between the two to start the argument, but police said the jogger yelled at the driver before continuing down Middle Country Road.
The driver stopped to fill his tank, then got back on the roadm heading in the same direction as the jogger. About two minutes down the road, police said the driver spotted the runner and pulled over to the side of the road.
A fight broke out between the two men, leading the 18-year-old to pull out a knife and stab the driver 11 times, according to police. His injuries were serious when he arrived at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Police said the jogger, of Ronkonkoma, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/long-island-driver-stabbed-11-times-in-road-rage-clash-with-jogger-police/3849445/ | 2022-09-02T15:09:08 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/long-island-driver-stabbed-11-times-in-road-rage-clash-with-jogger-police/3849445/ |
A woman returning home from an evening shopping trip reached her front door in Queens as a team of armed thieves came from behind to force their way inside and tie her up before stealing thousands in cash and jewelry, police said.
Camera footage captured the hooded suspects creep up behind the woman as she walked up to her Rosedale home, around 9 p.m. on Aug. 10. She opened her front door as the first man appeared with a firearm, telling her, "Don't yell, just open the door," police said.
A second man showed up as the woman complied, letting the duo inside before they hit her in the face and bound her hands and feet together, authorities said.
Police said the men tore through the house, finding a safe and taking $19,000 in cash and $12,000 worth of jewelry. They also swiped the woman's iPhone before running off.
The 32-year-old victim managed to free herself and get a look at the white Toyota the men fled in before disappearing into the wind, police said. She had minor swelling from the attack but refused medical attention.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/woman-tied-up-robbed-of-thousands-in-double-team-queens-home-invasion-cops/3849407/ | 2022-09-02T15:09:14 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/woman-tied-up-robbed-of-thousands-in-double-team-queens-home-invasion-cops/3849407/ |
ALBANY -- Police are searching for an Albany man in connection to a shooting on the 100 block of North Street Thursday afternoon.
According to an Albany Police Department report, Dlaryon Poole, 22, and Isreal Jones, 17, met up with Jaylon Williams, 26, over a dispute on social media. The three were in dispute over a Facebook post Williams’ girlfriend made about Williams physically abusing her. Poole and Williams both fired shots at each other. Williams and Poole were injured and taken to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
Jones fled the scene in a black Dodge Charger after taking Poole to the hospital. The pair's conditions is not known at this time.
This incident remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Jones is encouraged to contact the Albany Police Department at (229) 431-2100 or Crimestoppers at (229) 436-TIPS.
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STROUDSBURG, Pa. — It's a message that's best spread in person.
"We're Jehovah's Witnesses. It's been a while since we've been here," Joshua Gilmour.
On 2nd Street in Stroudsburg, Jehovah's Witnesses returned to their signature door-to-door ministry.
"It's been about two and a half years, so to be back in the house-to-house work, to speak to our neighbors. It's really exciting," Gilmour said.
Robert Hendriks is the U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah's Witnesses. He said the tradition stopped to keep everyone safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
"We try to bring a message of comfort and love to our neighbors, and for us to bring a virus to them or take it away would have just been so incongruous with our message. Just wouldn't have made any sense to us and we would have felt very guilty about that," Hendriks said.
Without being able to knock on doors, they had to get creative with how they reached out to people.
"We started writing letters and just in the United States alone, half of a billion hours, and tens of millions of letters were sent to our neighbors all over the country," Hendriks said. "Some receive them on multiple occasions. We also phone witnessed. So we started calling people on the phones."
The well-known tradition of door-knocking has gone on for more than 100 years without any interruption. The coronavirus pandemic was the first time Jehovah's Witnesses had to stop.
"We look at the first entry Christians, this is the same work that Jesus did when he was on the earth. It's the same work that they did in the same century. They went from house to house and from door to door, so that's the same reason we do it today," Gilmour said.
So if you hear a friendly knock, you know who it is.
Jehovah's Witnesses also launched a global campaign about an interactive Bible study program.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/jehovahs-witnesses-return-to-door-knocking-ministry-covid-19-coronavirus-stroudsburg/523-d9e06e6d-f0d7-4762-a20c-29d1e1be6b94 | 2022-09-02T15:14:51 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/jehovahs-witnesses-return-to-door-knocking-ministry-covid-19-coronavirus-stroudsburg/523-d9e06e6d-f0d7-4762-a20c-29d1e1be6b94 |
HOUSTON — Imagine yourself sitting on a plane at Houston's Hobby Airport as you get set to take off for a dreamy vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Then: Ping. Nude photos start showing up on your phone -- and they're being airdropped from another passenger!
Yes, it really happened and the photos went to everyone on the Southwest Airlines flight, including the crew, according to CNN. The pilot wasn't amused and threatened to return to the gate if the culprit didn't cut it out.
"So here's the deal: If this continues while we're on the ground, I'm going to have to pull back to the gate, everybody's gonna have to get off, we're gonna have to get security involved and vacation is gonna be ruined," the pilot warned over the intercom. "So you folks, whatever that AirDrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures, and let's get yourselves to Cabo."
Passenger Teighlor Marsalis shot the video. She told CNN that she and her friends were waiting for takeoff when everyone received a notification of files being shared on AirDrop.
Marsalis declined but a woman in front of her showed her the photo.
Another woman got upset and told the flight attendant and they alerted the pilot, Marsalis said.
"The safety, security and wellbeing of customers and employees is the Southwest team's highest priority at all times. When made aware of a potential problem, our employees address issues to support the comfort of those traveling with us," Southwest Airlines said in a statement.
After a 10-minute delay, the flight took off for Mexico and the identification of the sneaky airdropper apparently remained a mystery. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/naked-photos-airdropped-plane/285-d1e25221-895c-4477-b481-2b80f991b601 | 2022-09-02T15:14:57 | 0 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/naked-photos-airdropped-plane/285-d1e25221-895c-4477-b481-2b80f991b601 |
An 18-year-old Fort Wayne man was sentenced today to 80 years in prison for the shooting death of a woman in December 2019.
Dawann L. Martin Jr. told Allen Superior Court Judge Steven Godfrey he didn't shoot 18-year-old Dominique Taylor who was in a car in the parking lot of Villa Capri Apartments when she was gunned down Dec. 22, 2019.
Godfrey sentenced Martin to 60 years for murder and 20 years for an enhancement for using a gun to commit the crime, for a total of 80 years.
Martin is the second teen to go to prison in Taylor's death.
Superior Court Judge Fran Gull handed Senaca James, 18, an 80-year sentence in December. James had pleaded guilty to murder and using a gun to commit the crime.
Martin was 15 and James was 16 when Taylor was killed. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/teen-gets-80-years-for-2019-killing/article_feaa68ae-2ac6-11ed-b7df-77fd07ce4242.html | 2022-09-02T15:19:47 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/teen-gets-80-years-for-2019-killing/article_feaa68ae-2ac6-11ed-b7df-77fd07ce4242.html |
Every year at the county fair, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jon Paxton has a tradition: He orders a fried Twinkie.
This year, he’s looking forward to the annual indulgence as he plans the usual law enforcement booth layout inside the big barn at the fairgrounds.
When getting started Thursday, one thing was different for Paxton -- all snacks-on-sticks aside. The change was the focus on recruiting.
There are about 50 open positions at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at the moment. Only eight of those jobs are for patrol officers. According to Paxton, human resources is already chatting with potential candidates. The most critical needs lie elsewhere.
In detention, the staff size has decreased by more than 30%. During the pandemic, detention officers were working mandatory overtime, according to Paxton.
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“Detention is where we’re hurting most,” he said.
Paxton explained that finding people to join the staff at the jail is always a challenge because of public discomfort with incarceration.
“It’s that thing you don’t talk about because you don’t want to know about it, but it such an important a vital part of the entire community," he said.
The sheer number of openings is not unique to the department. NAU Police and Flagstaff Police Department report that they are also short-staffed.
“You have your general attrition through retirement. Then you have people who aren’t disgruntled with the department, but they want to move to Phoenix,” Paxton said, pointing out the rising cost of living in Flagstaff and the challenge that’s posed even for established officers.
“People throw around the phrase poverty with a view; that’s kind of where we’re at here,” he added.
Paxton told the story of a sergeant he knew who had to move because Flagstaff was too expensive for her and her children.
On top of expenses, the pandemic put extra pressure on officers that made burnout a greater danger.
“It was hard to deal with people," he said. "Some people were very defensive. Having to retrain how we approach people -- that time went on, and you’re just burning out after a while and losing people.”
The majority of the openings at the Sheriff’s Office are for jobs that never put the employee behind the wheel of a patrol vehicle.
“I think a lot of people look at law enforcement and they just see a cop, but there’s finance, there’s data entry, there’s IT, there’s all these different areas,” Paxton said. “There will be a multitude of positions that we’ll generally be looking to fill.”
As you walk through the Sheriff’s Office building, past desks of law enforcement specialists and folks in finance, they’ll point out how many people are missing. The challenge now is filling the gaps.
It's a challenge that makes Labor Day carnival games look easy, but Paxton hopes to win at least a few new applicants next weekend. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/a-fair-way-to-fill-vacancies-coconino-county-sheriffs-office-addresses-staffing-shortage/article_3926c75a-23f8-11ed-9c61-273c3b7e72e9.html | 2022-09-02T15:27:53 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/a-fair-way-to-fill-vacancies-coconino-county-sheriffs-office-addresses-staffing-shortage/article_3926c75a-23f8-11ed-9c61-273c3b7e72e9.html |
Flagstaff law enforcement officials are voicing their concerns about a new and colorful variety of fentanyl pills that are appearing on the streets in Arizona.
According to a press release from the Flagstaff Police Department, Phoenix police recently seized “large quantities” of the illegal drug, which they say are being called “rainbows” and “Skittles” by dealers.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. According to information shared by the police department, it’s 50 times stronger than heroin as an analgesic. It is manufactured and approved for the treatment of severe pain and is often prescribed for people battling cancer. However, as an illegal drug, it has become one of the main drivers of opioid overdose in the United States.
Now that pills are being illegally manufactured and distributed in pastel and bright candy colors, officials are particularly worried about Flagstaff’s youngest residents.
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“Drug trafficking has real impacts. Thirty-three children in Arizona died in 2021 from fentanyl overdose. Seven of these children were under 2 years old,” said Coconino County Attorney Bill Ring. “Fentanyl pills are sometimes designed to look like Skittles and Chiclets. And there are 9,000 students in just one of our jurisdiction’s school districts. All schoolchildren are innocent, potential customers of these sellers and a few, unfortunately, are at the doorstep.”
Flagstaff Police have confirmed that they have not seized any brightly colored fentanyl pills yet. However, they are encouraging parents to be diligent.
“It is always a good idea to keep any drugs out of the reach of children,” said Sergeant Odis Brockman with the Flagstaff Police Department. He recommends parents reach out to the Coconino County Department of Health and Human Services (by calling 928-679-7264 or emailing ckoenker@coconino.az.gov) to get a free medication lock box.
In addition, he pointed to resources on opioid overdose prevention, also provided by CCDHHS. In Coconino County, anyone can get free doses of Narcan or Naloxone (a life-saving drug that can be used in emergencies to prevent overdose). To learn more about that program, visit coconino.az.gov/2040/Opioid-and-Substance-Use-Prevention. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/a-warning-to-flagstaff-parents-these-pastel-pills-contain-dangerous-opioids/article_0f0ce8a2-2a1d-11ed-89a8-17956320a549.html | 2022-09-02T15:27:59 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/a-warning-to-flagstaff-parents-these-pastel-pills-contain-dangerous-opioids/article_0f0ce8a2-2a1d-11ed-89a8-17956320a549.html |
Last Tuesday night, a motorcyclist was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center after they were hit by the driver of a two-door Toyota Tacoma at the intersection of Milton Road and Mikes Pike Street in Flagstaff.
The driver of the truck left the scene of the crash not long after it happened. Police say the motorcyclist was injured at around 8:30 p.m. on the night of August 23. Now, officers are searching for the suspect, according to a press release Wednesday.
The white Tacoma truck with a matching white camper shell was last seen turning onto Tucson Avenue in Plaza Vieja in Flagstaff.
Officers are asking anyone who might have seen the crash or vehicle to call Detective Joseph Gilbert at 928-679-4120 or send him an email at jdgilbert@flagstaffaz.gov. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/police-investigate-after-hit-and-run-crash-on-milton-road-in-flagstaff/article_2014dc6e-2a12-11ed-b1ee-d392f5d3abac.html | 2022-09-02T15:28:06 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/police-investigate-after-hit-and-run-crash-on-milton-road-in-flagstaff/article_2014dc6e-2a12-11ed-b1ee-d392f5d3abac.html |
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Thurston County Sheriff's Office said the Olympia teen who was initially missing under "suspicious circumstances" was reportedly found safe Thursday night.
On Thursday, TCSO reported the 16-year-old left his home in Olympia at about 4 p.m. to attend football practice at Olympia High School but never arrived. He was seen walking along near Tenino around 5:30 p.m. and near Millersylvania State Park.
The teen’s car was found near 171st Avenue Southeast and Tilley Road Southwest near Tenino on a private drive, according to TCSO. Detectives reported finding a small amount of blood in his truck and that items were "strewn" about. The boy's cellphone was found "shattered" on the ground nearby.
TCSO said the teen was located safe near the 13600 block of Tilley Road at around 10 p.m. Thursday. The sheriff's office said it would not make any additional comments regarding the incident and asked the public to respect the family's privacy wishes.
TCSO Search and Rescue teams, including dogs, searched for the teen in the Tenino area Thursday. The FBI also assisted Thurston County detectives with the case as well as the Olympia Police Department, Washington State Patrol aviation unit and rangers from the Washington State Parks Service.
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/olympia/olympia-teen-missing/281-924d77a4-25bf-4b3c-a181-6e52ea063b46 | 2022-09-02T15:34:40 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/olympia/olympia-teen-missing/281-924d77a4-25bf-4b3c-a181-6e52ea063b46 |
Funnel cakes, Ferris wheels and family-friendly fun are back. Here is a complete guide for what to do, what to eat and where to park at the 2022 Washington State Fair.
This year, there will be new food and beverage vendors, exhibits and concerts.
The fair opens Friday and runs through Sept. 25. The fair is closed on all Tuesdays within that date range, it's also closed on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
As students return to school across Washington state, drivers should brush up on the rules when it comes to school buses loading or unloading students.
If you don't stop for a school bus, you could face a hefty fine.
Drivers overtaking or meeting a stopped school bus that is picking up or dropping off students are required to stop before reaching the bus when there is a visual signal to do so. Drivers are expected to wait until the school bus begins moving again or there are no longer visual signals to stop. Read more
A homeowner shot at two alleged burglars, striking one, in Parkland Thursday morning, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department reported.
Two men tried to enter the home through a side window, then the homeowner confronted them near the front door. The alleged burglars then pepper sprayed him and that's when the homeowner fired multiple shots at them, according to PCSD.
The homeowner did not know the alleged burglars and he has not been arrested or charged with any crime. Read more
School districts are dealing with bus driver shortages. The nationwide issue is being felt in Western Washington.
Zum, a transportation provider, is offering incentives, and back in Burien, Highline Public Schools is doing the same.
Highline Public Schools is accepting applications for drivers. On the district’s website, it says new hires can make about $30 an hour. They will also pay for training and everything needed in order to earn a commercial certification. Read more
Fairhaven College at WWU is home to the Outback Farm. The 5-acre farm is surrounded by protected wetlands and is home to about 12 classes on year-round farm skills. This year, they will offer the first course that is exclusively about beekeeping.
Sasha Mosier is a student and the operations manager for Outback Farm and will help lead the upcoming courses focused on beekeeping.
“Honestly, this is one of the most exciting things ever for me because I never expected to be a beekeeper,” Mosier said. Read more
RELATED: Western Washington Forecast
Have the "5 things you need to know" delivered to your inbox. Sign up for the daily morning email here. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/5-things-to-know-this-friday-september-2022/281-5add6601-3e59-4cfe-a87f-451896d59e79 | 2022-09-02T15:34:46 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/5-things-to-know-this-friday-september-2022/281-5add6601-3e59-4cfe-a87f-451896d59e79 |
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