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WINKLER COUNTY, Texas — Three people were killed in a fatal crash that occurred on September 1.
According to the Winkler County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, the two-vehicle crash happened on State Highway 115/CR 205. The Winkler County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash along with Winkler County EMS and Winkler County Fire Department.
There were over six other people taken to the hospital with serious injuries. We will continue to update this story as we receive more information. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/three-people-dead-after-fatal-crash-in-winkler-county/513-315fc336-0952-45b8-a10d-bb83ba008a99 | 2022-09-02T18:02:20 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/three-people-dead-after-fatal-crash-in-winkler-county/513-315fc336-0952-45b8-a10d-bb83ba008a99 |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - The Flint area is remembering the life and legacy of Albert Koegel.
Koegel passed away peacefully at his home last week surrounded by family at 96 years old.
He was the CEO of Koegel Meats for decades and continued working there unitl he was 90 years old. His father started the business in 1916.
Koegel was very active in the Flint community, working with organizations like the Flint Children's Museum, the Flint Institute of Music and many other institutions.
Funeral services for Koegel were scheduled for Friday. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/flint-community-mourns-the-death-of-koegel-meats-chief-executive/article_f4687f86-2ad8-11ed-9d1b-6f4ec5bdf408.html | 2022-09-02T18:06:30 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/flint-community-mourns-the-death-of-koegel-meats-chief-executive/article_f4687f86-2ad8-11ed-9d1b-6f4ec5bdf408.html |
ISABELLA COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - Two residents sustained minor injuries after a vehicle crashed into their house on Shepherd Road near Mount Pleasant early Thursday.
Michigan State Police say a 27-year-old woman from Harrison was driving north on Shepherd Road near Pickard Street in Isabella County's Chippewa Township when she left the road and hit the house around 1 a.m.
Investigators say two people in the house received minor injuries while they were getting out. The Harrison woman was taken to McLaren Central Michigan hospital in Mount Pleasant for an evaluation.
Police believe the 27-year-old driver was intoxicated when she crashed into the house. Michigan State Police will continue investigating while they await toxicology test results. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/two-residents-injured-when-car-slams-into-a-house-near-mount-pleasant/article_94f0d4c0-2ad5-11ed-addf-2b39be89d2b5.html | 2022-09-02T18:06:36 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/two-residents-injured-when-car-slams-into-a-house-near-mount-pleasant/article_94f0d4c0-2ad5-11ed-addf-2b39be89d2b5.html |
TUSCOLA COUNTY, Mich. (WJRT) - A Vassar woman died after crashing into a ditch along M-46 in Tuscola County on Thursday afternoon.
Michigan State Police say 78-year-old Joyce D. Jackson was driving west on M-46 when she went off the road and overturned into a ditch, where she then struck a tree near Ringle Road in Tuscola County around 4:20 p.m.
Jackson was pronounced dead after emergency medical responders attempted life-saving measures at the scene. She was alone in her vehicle and no other injuries were reported.
Investigators don't believe drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash. Michigan State will continue investigating the crash. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/vassar-woman-dies-after-crashing-into-a-ditch-along-m-46/article_1c3beeb8-2add-11ed-8d9f-17f1e165ae65.html | 2022-09-02T18:06:42 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/vassar-woman-dies-after-crashing-into-a-ditch-along-m-46/article_1c3beeb8-2add-11ed-8d9f-17f1e165ae65.html |
DES MOINES, Iowa — A man is in critical condition after being hit by a car while walking in a parking lot Thursday night, Des Moines police say.
Police say a blue-colored 2000s Buick with damage to the front bumper hit a 57-year-old man near the 4800 block of SW 9th St around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
The vehicle was last seen leaving the scene driving south. If you have any information about this incident, you can submit tips through DMPD at 515-237-1554 or Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest.
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► Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/des-moines-hit-and-run-crime-updates/524-86f5a048-1641-472e-ac51-a667379aaf94 | 2022-09-02T18:14:20 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/des-moines-hit-and-run-crime-updates/524-86f5a048-1641-472e-ac51-a667379aaf94 |
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University's new pedestrian bridge is open just in time for the Cyclones football season opener this Saturday.
The bridge goes over University Boulevard and connects Jack Trice Stadium to the new RV parking lot.
The $10 million project was paid for by the ISU Athletics Department through donor funds.
Jamie Pollard, the athletic director for the university, said the bridge — also known as the "gateway to campus" — will make game day more special and safe.
It will free up congestion in the parking lots and reroute foot traffic to avoid busy intersections as thousands flock to the stadium Saturday.
"One of the things we're now doing is taking a lot of the pedestrian traffic and now elevating it above the parking lots," Pollard said. "We've always had the issue post-game, especially in the dark, when you'll have pedestrians and cars which don't mesh very well. By elevating them above the parking lots, that should make it much safer for pedestrians."
Though it might get the most use during the football season, the bridge will be open all year long.
The Cyclones will start their season Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. against Southeast Missouri State State University. | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/iowa-state-university-isu-pedestrian-bridge-college-football-game-day/524-b9e957dc-07c2-4e64-87b3-10fa3bd9c39f | 2022-09-02T18:14:26 | 0 | https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/iowa-state-university-isu-pedestrian-bridge-college-football-game-day/524-b9e957dc-07c2-4e64-87b3-10fa3bd9c39f |
RABUN COUNTY, Ga. — Alyssa Patterson grew up buried in books. Reading was one of her first loves. It wasn't until 2022 that she would come to write her very own novel, about her latest love: Chandler Patterson. It's a true story about the love she had with him, and the love they lost in a short time span.
For years, 25-year-old Alyssa read A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. Little did she know, Lewis' novel and her writing, would help her push forward. Alyssa's story is one of love, followed by grief. One where she pushes through, thanks to faith, family, and friends.
"I hoped by this time I would be pregnant and we’d be having a family," Patterson said. "We both really wanted that. Instead of having a baby, I birthed a book. Different kind of labor of love."
Her book, titled 'Until Heaven Parts Us,' is about the unpredictable story of marrying Chandler last year, and losing him just three weeks later.
“I definitely miss his company. When you get married, that’s what you’re supposed to have: that person no matter what life throws your way you have that partner. I went through the hardest thing without him," she said.
Chandler, who was then a 27-year-old firefighter for the Gainesville Fire Department, died in a boating accident in Rabun County while spending time off with family and friends.
He had been married to Alyssa - the love of his life - for just three weeks.
“I think what I would like people to take away is to really evaluate how they’re spending their days until we’re parted by heaven," she said. "Eternity is the ultimate gift. There's also joy and purpose in this side of heaven and abundant life in this side of life. It’s hard to do and it’s a heavy burden to carry but you can hold joy and sorrow and pain and happiness at the same time.”
Chandler's legacy is kept alive in 'Until Heaven Parts Us,' which climbed to Amazon's best seller list right after publication. As of Thursday night, the book is the #1 best seller in the Christian Ministry to Sick & Bereaved category on the website.
"It's my birthday and celebrations are hard but I woke up feeling energized," she said. "The Lord has been really kind to me and my family this year. There's still so much good. This is one of the good things."
She started writing it in January 2022. The first draft was finished in just one month, on what would've been Chandler's birthday: Feb. 17. She said one of the most challenging parts to write, including her wedding day.
"It was our happiest days and it's still unbelievable that it was three weeks later that he passed away," she said. "I knew Chandler for less than two years so our love story was very 0 to 100. We just fell in love really fast and knew we wanted to get married. Then, the opposite of that, losing him and the downhill spiral from there was just a lot to process."
The two were each other's first dates through a dating app. They spoke for hours before meeting in person at Provino's Italian Restaurant in Buford. All it took was one look, for each one to know they were meant to be.
"I turned around and I literally mouthed, 'Oh my gosh', because he was really good-looking," she recalled, with a smile on her face. "I was like, I cannot believe I'm on a date with this man! That night he told me he was going to marry me... on our [first] date. There are beautiful stories like that for people who are patient and faithful. I’m so grateful that I got to be his wife."
Chandler was a fireman for about four years and had dreams of becoming a fire marshal. He was getting ready to take all the courses.
That's just one reason why Alyssa, her family, and Chandler's family started a foundation called Dude 21. The foundation will help support firefighters who want to further their careers with continuing education as well as serve the parents, widows, and children of fallen first responders.
"Loss can never be completely fixed but through writing the story and sharing the story, I've seen it bless other people and that's blessed me so much," she said.
On Oct. 18, they plan on hosting a golf tournament in Rabun County to raise money for the foundation. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/wife-gainesville-firefighter-dies-after-wedding-book/85-b92734c3-86c8-4ac3-a9d5-13774e53ac9c | 2022-09-02T18:18:44 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/wife-gainesville-firefighter-dies-after-wedding-book/85-b92734c3-86c8-4ac3-a9d5-13774e53ac9c |
WISE, Va. (WJHL) — UVA-Wise will spend Sept. 5-9 celebrating love, equity and inclusivity during its fourth annual Pride event, according to a news release.
Pride Week is hosted by the college’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and will feature free public events, including the university’s first-ever Pride Week Drag Show on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Black Box Theater in the Gilliam Center for the Arts. Miss Tri-Pride Sya Cox O’Harar will host the show that will also feature Anna Tomical, Austin Rayne and Vandeja Voo.
A news release from organizers states that LGBTQIA+ people are four times more likely to experience violence in their life, and half of the transgender community are sexually assaulted at least once. To combat those statistics, organizers said they hope to engage with the community.
“With national sexual violence statistics supporting these facts, it’s on us as a campus community to promote understanding and respect. It’s not enough to just show basic human kindness, but we must go beyond that and be ‘Cavalier Kind’ so all can safely learn,” said Tabitha Smith, Title IX coordinator and UVA-Wise Associate Vice Chancellor for DEI, in a news release.
A psychology student who is openly bisexual said Pride events provide a space for students to be themselves and feel included.
“I feel it is extremely important to show our campus is diverse,” said Brittany Horton. “When a community consists of individuals with different cultural backgrounds, the knowledge of that community tends to increase. Diversity allows us, as individuals and as a collective, to gain more insight and remain sensitive to various cultures.”
Horton, a senior, attended the university’s first-ever Pride week in 2018 and has volunteered at the event ever since. She said when she first arrived at the campus, she kept her sexuality private due to safety concerns after experiencing homophobia during her first visit from Chesapeake, Virginia.
“The campus wasn’t as diverse when I first came here, and there were not as many resources for people who were anything other than white and straight,” said Horton, who also serves as an SGA senator-at-large.
However, Horton said she eventually decided to be herself — completely and unapologetically. This has helped her educate others and promote inclusivity, she said.
“When other students heard I was bisexual, they had no clue what that meant,” she said. “A lot of them had never met someone openly bisexual and they would ask me all kinds of questions. I came to learn that people are willing to listen and that is a beautiful thing.”
Horton anticipates another successful Pride Week at the school and reminisced on previous events in years past, including a drag makeup workshop hosted by returning Miss Tri-Pride O’Hara.
“It was absolutely awesome,” Horton said of O’Hara’s tutorials. “She taught us how to do drag makeup and people asked questions about what songs she uses on stage. It was fun. I hope people will come out, keep an open mind and enjoy the show.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/uva-wise-hosting-pride-week-to-promote-inclusivity/ | 2022-09-02T18:21:47 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/uva-wise-hosting-pride-week-to-promote-inclusivity/ |
A small-town radio station based in Reedsport is celebrating a year being back on air after more than two years of radio silence.
KDUN AM 1030 is a 50,000 watt radio station that is owned by longtime nationally syndicated-radio host Delilah Rene and ran by station engineer Bob Larson, who also has a fruitful history in radio and television.
“The response has been fantastic,” Larson said.
The duo pride themselves on providing small towns in Oregon with community news and entertainment.
“It’s impacted Coos Bay, Winchester Bay, Florence, Reedsport, the Scottsburg area and other local communities,” Larson said.
“Now people can tune in to us to listen to music entertainment, find out what’s going on in the local area, listen in to the hourly news, the morning show or afternoon show – and of course Delilah in the evenings,” he said.
KDUN made a return the air last year on Sept. 6 after being purchased by Delilah’s Big Shoes Productions on May 3, 2021.
Delilah is a small-town girl who went on to make a big name for herself in radio. She is known for her feel-good radio show that offers song dedications and provides encouragement and advice to listeners.
The nationally-syndicated radio host can be heard coast to coast – but she started her career in Reedsport. Delilah said she wanted to give back to the community where she grew up – and where she started her career in radio at the age of 15 in 1975.
“Early last summer, Delilah called me about the big 50,000 watt transmitter that wasn’t working and asked me if I could put it back together – and I said, ‘Well sure,’” Larson said.
When they got to the transmitter site the building was overgrown with blackberries and there were rodents inside the building and the transmitter, but Larson kept his word and got the transmitter up and running.
Now, Larson wears many hats at the radio station alongside general manager Rhonda Grant, office manager Christina Crockett and program director Smokey Rivers.
In the past year, Delilah has continued to be an active member of the radio station and keeps in good contact with the staff at KDUN.
“We are good friends and we both love our radio work,” Larson said.
“We tease each other because she says, ‘I am on 160 stations’ and I wave my hands and say ‘Well I’m on 15 stations!’ That’s what makes this job so interesting is that we are both just having fun,” he said.
After a year of bringing the radio station back to life, station manager Larson said the goal is to keep doing what they are doing.
“That’s our goal – and to continue to get the word out about community events and activities,” he said.
Although the AM radio station is operated out of a small coastal town, it is considered to be a regional radio station.
“Because of our power as 50,000 watts we are classified as a Eugene area of influence – even though we are 20 miles from Coos Bay. They could classify us as a coastal radio station,” Larson said.
The next closest radio station with 50,000 watts is in Eugene, he said, and the next radio station with that far of a reach is in San Francisco.
The KDUN radio broadcast reaches south to Brookings, north to Newport and as far east as Albany, Eugene, and Springfield. KDUN is also streamed 24/7 on iHeartRadio and two other internet streaming services, Larson said.
“It covers a gigantic area.” | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/kdun-radio-in-reedsport-celebrates-a-year-back-on-air/article_a57d3410-2971-11ed-9974-c765e65f6217.html | 2022-09-02T18:22:46 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/kdun-radio-in-reedsport-celebrates-a-year-back-on-air/article_a57d3410-2971-11ed-9974-c765e65f6217.html |
The Allen County commissioners didn't have anything to say about the proposed new county jail today, but opponents — including a Fort Wayne city councilman and East Allen University teacher — had plenty to say.
The commissioners have added Allen County Jail updates to their weekly public meeting agendas to keep the public informed on the progress to address issues at the current facility. Commissioners President Nelson Peters said he didn't have anything to share about the jail, and his fellow commissioners, Rich Beck and Therese Brown, agreed.
The commissioners are required to address the conditions at the jail following a federal court order. The commissioners have said the only way they can do something about the overcrowding and understaffing issues is to build a larger confinement facility.
The commissioners are looking at three locations, but the only option they currently own is at 5080 Adams Center Road, the home of the Allen County Sheriff's Department Training Facility. The other locations have not been named because of ongoing negotiations.
Tony Borton of the Help Not Handcuffs advocacy group was the first to speak during public comment.
"Somebody should talk about the jail every week, right?" he said after introducing himself. "I'm going to fill in that gap this week, I guess."
He asked the commissioners to take the southeast Allen County location off the table because of the community opposition, in part because of the site's proximity to three local schools.
Derek Bethay, social studies teacher at East Allen University, talked about the negative effects of having schools close to the jail site, which the Peters has said is about 4,000 feet away.
Wake up with the top stories in The Journal Gazette's free Daily Headlines newsletter, sent each morning.
City Councilman Glynn Hines, D-at large, has a position with Vincennes University through which he works with local students to pursue higher education. He said parents and students in the area are "scared to death" of the possibility of the jail being placed at the southeast location.
In addition to considering other sites, Hines asked for transparency and open communication with the southeast community as the commissioners move forward.
Peters said he had a lot to think about after the public comments. The commissioners need to look into answers to some of the questions posed by public speakers, he added.
"We need to do some website updating," Peters said. "We don't know what it looks like at this point, but we will try to get some more public response and answers to questions." | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/teacher-councilman-ask-officials-to-drop-proposed-southeast-site-for-new-allen-county-jail/article_01d735e4-2ad0-11ed-8aa2-23c42c81e9a6.html | 2022-09-02T18:22:46 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/teacher-councilman-ask-officials-to-drop-proposed-southeast-site-for-new-allen-county-jail/article_01d735e4-2ad0-11ed-8aa2-23c42c81e9a6.html |
WATERLOO – The Waterloo Bucks will host a watch party on their LED video board on Sept. 10 for the annual Cy-Hawk game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones.
Kick-off is at 3 p.m. Gates at Cost Cutters Field at Riverfront Stadium will open at 2:30 p.m.
Admission is free and fans are allowed to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on the field to watch the game. No outside food or drink will be allowed but concessions will be open. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/bucks-will-host-cy-hawk-watch-party/article_f95c9f05-e23c-5b6c-8ea4-e04af82a8bda.html | 2022-09-02T18:25:38 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/bucks-will-host-cy-hawk-watch-party/article_f95c9f05-e23c-5b6c-8ea4-e04af82a8bda.html |
NESQUEHONING, Pa. — The driver who caused a deadly crash in Carbon County will spend three to six years in prison.
Jeremy White from Maryland was sentenced on Thursday.
The crash happened in July of 2020 along Route 54 in Nesquehoning.
Terry Gonzalez, 30, of Lansford, was killed when White hit his motorcycle head-on.
White pleaded guilty to homicide while DUI back in June.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/driver-sent-to-prison-for-deadly-dui-crash-in-carbon-county-nesquehoning-motorcycle/523-cb31767a-2d76-49ed-afdc-b82fe2a57d2b | 2022-09-02T18:30:53 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/carbon-county/driver-sent-to-prison-for-deadly-dui-crash-in-carbon-county-nesquehoning-motorcycle/523-cb31767a-2d76-49ed-afdc-b82fe2a57d2b |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Police are asking for the public’s help in locating the driver of a vehicle that crashed into a Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue truck while attempting to pass it, then left the scene.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department released dash camera video from an ambulance following the fire truck while on the way to the home of a person that needed medical attention.
The video shows what appears to be a 2010-2014 Hyundai Elantra crossing into the wrong lane on Hargrove Road in Tuscaloosa in an effort to pass the fire truck. The driver of the vehicle eventually catches up to the truck and crashes into the side of it.
Police say the incident happened just past the train station on Hargrove Road around 6:38 p.m. on August 19.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact the TPD at 205-349-2121. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/tuscaloosa-police-searching-for-driver-that-drove-in-wrong-lane-before-hitting-firetruck-fleeing-scene/ | 2022-09-02T18:34:23 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/tuscaloosa-police-searching-for-driver-that-drove-in-wrong-lane-before-hitting-firetruck-fleeing-scene/ |
ARIZONA, USA — Arizona is set to screen all of the state's 1,500 drinking water systems after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised a pair of "forever chemicals" are linked to lowering a certain vaccine's response in children.
The chemicals, called PFAS, have also been linked to effects on the immune system, the cardiovascular system and cancer.
In June, the EPA lowered its recommended guidelines after studies found two of the thousands of PFAS variations, PFOA and PFOS, could suppress the response of tetanus and diphtheria vaccines in children. The amount of these chemicals considered healthy in drinking water was lowered from 70 parts per trillion to 0.004 parts per trillion for PFOA and 0.02 parts per trillion for PFOS.
Around 56 of the 287 water systems sampled exceeded the EPA's new guidelines on PFAS. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality sampled 207 of those sites.
"The technology exists to treat any water to any standard. The limiting factor, of course, is cost," said the department's water quality division's director Trevor Baggiore. "Lowering the amount of PFAS at any level is still going to protect people's health."
The department will be putting $3 million toward its water system sampling initiative as part of an agreement with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona. The funding will come out of federal Safe Drinking Water Act funds.
The sampling is set to start in October and will continue over 2023, the department said.
“Sampling all public water systems is critical to understanding where PFAS is so that steps can be taken to reduce people’s exposure to PFAS in drinking water and to connect affected public water systems to funding sources to achieve solutions," Baggiore said.
Drinking water is just one source where PFAS exposure can happen. In fact, people are more often exposed to the chemicals through food or consumer products. The Arizona Department of Health Services recommends limiting exposure to products that contain PFAS and not consuming water above advisory levels.
Read more safety information on PFAS here:
Latest Arizona news
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12 News YouTube playlist here. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-drinking-water-kids-vaccine-new-epa-advisory-pfas/75-3556947d-f185-415f-a80e-feefe9143e19 | 2022-09-02T18:36:29 | 1 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/arizona-drinking-water-kids-vaccine-new-epa-advisory-pfas/75-3556947d-f185-415f-a80e-feefe9143e19 |
PHOENIX — One person has died and two other critically injured after a two-vehicle collision Friday morning on Interstate 10.
The crash was reported near 16th Street and resulted in the freeway's eastbound lanes briefly closing down.
Two women and a man involved in the collision were rushed to the hospital for critical injuries, according to the Phoenix Fire Department. The man later succumbed to his injuries, officials say.
The freeway's lanes have since reopened.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of Friday's crash.
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ADOT offers driving tips on its website to help keep people safe on the road.
"There’s always room for improvement when it comes to road safety," the department said on its website.
ADOT's suggestions include:
Don’t speed or drive aggressively
Never drive while under the influence of substances
Avoid distractions while driving
Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers are doing the same
When an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, move over
Stay extra aware in work zones
Be prepared for weather conditions that make driving dangerous | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/man-killed-in-i-10-crash-2-injured-freeway-crash/75-df33b6b2-0bda-417b-b4ef-da20211d58fc | 2022-09-02T18:36:35 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/man-killed-in-i-10-crash-2-injured-freeway-crash/75-df33b6b2-0bda-417b-b4ef-da20211d58fc |
New Rockstar Cheer lawsuit alleges sexual abuse, attacks competitive cheerleading culture
Rockstar Cheer founder Scott Foster, who died by suicide last week, has been accused of a wide range of misconduct and illicit sexual behavior with minors in a federal lawsuit attacking the culture and organization of competitive cheerleading.
Foster is accused of soliciting sex and explicit photographs from athletes under his care. However his behavior, the lawsuit alleges, is a symptom of a much wider problem.
Related coverage:Cheerleading has a list of people banned from the sport. It was missing 74 convicted sex offenders
The suit, filed Thursday in Greenville, names several defendants, including Foster’s estate, his widow Kathy Foster, Rockstar Cheer and Dance Inc., national cheerleading organizations, the United States All Star Federation (USASF) and Varsity Spirit LLC, and corporate entities Charlesbank Capital Partners and Bain Capital. According to the lawsuit, Bain bought Varsity Spirit from Charlesbank in 2018.
In over 44 pages, the complaint, filed on behalf of six anonymous plaintiffs by attorneys from the Columbia-based Strom Law Firm, details an exploitative system with little accountability that “created, organized and propagated a system of young-athlete abuse against innocent victims.”
Previous reporting:Lawsuit claims Rockstar Cheer founder Scott Foster 'persuaded' girl into sex
What is alleged in the new lawsuit?
“This was a factory of abuse designed specifically to generate two things: a constant supply of underage victims for Scott Foster and his fellow predators and a billion dollar revenue stream to Varsity Spirit, USASF and Bain Capital,” said Strom attorney Bakari Sellers. “Instead of protecting these young men and women, they victimized them and cashed their checks.”
The lawsuit names nine counts of action, including gross negligence, negligent supervision, assault and battery and “racketeering activity,” among others.
The complaint also contains graphic allegations of “child sexual exploitation” by Foster and other coaches, including rape, the provision of drugs and alcohol to underage athletes, and the creation and dissemination of “obscene materials involving minors,” both male and female.
Some of the alleged victims trained at Foster’s gym in Greer. In other cases, Foster, a cheer coach of national renown, connected with athletes via social media, according to the lawsuit. In at least one case, the lawsuit claims, this connection led to sexual encounters at multiple competitions.
Other coaches accused in lawsuit, but none named
The lawsuit alleges the defendants were aware of “serious and disturbing allegations” against not only Scott Foster, but “many of the Varsity coaches.”
The other coaches accused of sexual abuse are not named, but Sellers said his firm intended to file “successive cases with more victims,” including “allegations against other gyms and coaches.”
Some of the coaches yet to be named, Sellers said, are based at Rockstar Cheer.
The Strom complaint is the second lawsuit to level allegations of misconduct against Foster and Rockstar Cheer in the space of three days. The first, filed Tuesday in Greenville County, alleged Foster “persuaded” an underage girl to have sex with him after an exchange of inappropriate communications on Snapchat.
USASF, Varsity Spirit also named in suit
The initial suit also named USASF and Varsity Spirit among the defendants, accusing them of failing to appropriately address complaints of misbehavior by Foster before and during the alleged abuse.
Ahead of the lawsuits, Varsity Spirt and USASF released statements addressing the allegations.
"Scott Foster is accused of abhorrent criminal, predatory conduct. The alleged conduct runs counter to everything the cheer and dance community is intended to represent. All Star is an accepting, caring community. We are devastated for anyone who has been impacted by the egregious conduct and violation of trust his alleged behavior represents," said Varsity Spirit's president, Bill Seely, in a statement Tuesday.
In a similar statement released Aug. 30, USASF said the organization would not comment on specific allegations to "allow law enforcement to appropriately investigate," and it encouraged anyone with knowledge of allegations to report it to law enforcement as well as the organization.
"If you know something, do not assume it has been reported. This assumption is often why things go unreported and therefore are not investigated," the organization's statement said.
Neither Varsity Spirit nor USASF responded to direct calls or emails from The Greenville News over the past week in regards to prior complaints made about Foster or Rockstar Cheer to the respective organizations.
Foster, 49, was found dead in his vehicle with a gunshot wound on Aug. 22 at Paris Mountain State Park, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. His death was ruled a suicide.
According to the second lawsuit, at the time of his death Foster “had recently learned of an investigation against him by the Department of Homeland Security related to allegations that he was sexually abusing underage athletes, as well as taking underage athletes across state lines for the purposes of engaging in sex.”
Reached by The Greenville News, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security would neither confirm nor deny any such investigation.
Clare Amari is an investigative reporter for The Greenville News. You can reach her at camari@gannett.com or on Twitter @Amari_Clare. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/rockstar-cheer-greenville-sc-lawsuit-additional-claims-sexual-misconduct/7958495001/ | 2022-09-02T18:41:10 | 1 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/rockstar-cheer-greenville-sc-lawsuit-additional-claims-sexual-misconduct/7958495001/ |
PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The return to the classroom means the return to the football field, soccer pitch, and other high school sporting events.
However, a shortage of officials is causing issues for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).
"I'll use football for an example, we're used to playing on Friday nights," PIAA District III Representative Bill McHade said. "Some games will be moved to Thursday and Saturday because there's just not enough officials to go around. It's probably going to impact other sports as well."
Aside from scheduling conflicts and pay, a spike in violence towards referees and officials has contributed to the shortage.
"We bring these younger officials on, and sometimes the conduct and behavior that they're subjected to makes them say, 'Hey, I don't want to put up with this,'" PIAA District III Representative Bill McHale said. "They walk away after a year or so."
Last year, a Spring Grove Football player was charged with assault after attacking a referee. It's not just high school sports either, on Aug. 14, Chambersburg Police arrested an adult league soccer player who punched a referee in the face during a soccer game.
"It is becoming more and more prevalent. I don't understand it. It's very upsetting," Capital Area Football Officials Association President Kevin Bevenour said. "To see this kind of stuff, it really makes it tough, it's in the back of your head."
Bevenour has been officiating for 20 years, and even his daughters have joined the ranks. Still, numbers are dwindling.
A 2017 survey conducted by the National Association of Sports Officials, found that of the 17,847 referee respondents, 6,675 felt unsafe or feared for their safety because of administrator, coach, player or spectator behavior.
In the same survey, 57% of officials (10,172) believed sportsmanship is getting worse, while only 16% (2,855) believe it's improving.
Bevenour says this has made it harder for officials like himself to continue officiating.
"There is a retention issue, there's a big problem of getting young, newer officials," Bevenour said. "Having in the back of your mind that you're gonna get yelled at, that you could get attacked, is got to be one of the reasons why people don't do it."
Efforts are being made to help protect officials at games and events as a result of the violence.
"PIAA has been working with the school districts, and doing a much better job of increasing security for officiating crews at various events on their campuses," McHade said.
Bevenour urges more effort to keep officials on the field.
"There are initiatives, it is something on the front of everybody's mind," Bevenour said. "We got to help officials and we need to retain officials."
In Pennsylvania, an assault on a sports official is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/referee-shortages-worsened-behavior-towards-sports-officials/521-3ece9eb6-d0aa-4519-8b71-1b234994355a | 2022-09-02T18:45:44 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/referee-shortages-worsened-behavior-towards-sports-officials/521-3ece9eb6-d0aa-4519-8b71-1b234994355a |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/rockwall-officer-involved-shooting-expands-to-include-four-texas-law-enforcement-agencies-officials/3063258/ | 2022-09-02T18:49:11 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/rockwall-officer-involved-shooting-expands-to-include-four-texas-law-enforcement-agencies-officials/3063258/ |
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Every week, our NBC DFW team will deliver an exclusive update with news that will bring a smile to your face and maybe help restore your faith in humanity. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/want-more-good-news-out-of-dfw-sign-up-for-our-something-good-newsletter/3061479/ | 2022-09-02T18:49:18 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/want-more-good-news-out-of-dfw-sign-up-for-our-something-good-newsletter/3061479/ |
ATLANTA — One person has been stabbed and a suspect was shot at the Macy's in the Mall of Georgia, Gwinnett County Police say.
LINK | Live Chopper Footage
The victim was as an employee at the Macy's, police said. Their condition was not known but police described their injuries as "serious."
Gwinnett Police Sgt. Jennifer Richter, the public information officer, confirmed a Gwinnett officer had shot the suspect. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said it was initially asked to conduct an investigation regarding the shooting, but that Gwinnett Police had later canceled that request.
Richter said the suspect is in stable condition.
Police said they believe the incident began as a robbery attempt inside the Macy's, with the suspect damaging the jewelry counter with a "crowbar or similar object." Richter said they believe the suspect was "trying to get merchandise."
The call came in around 11:30 a.m., police said. Officers encountered the suspect fleeing a distance away from the Macy's, near the intersection of Mall of Georgia Blvd. and Financial Center Way.
Access to roads around the mall are being limited. Exits from I-85 to Buford Drive near the mall have been closed.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
Also download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/1-stabbed-suspect-shot-mall-of-georgia/85-b40ea90f-e84c-4e2a-9fbd-d38d3734a199 | 2022-09-02T18:57:39 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/1-stabbed-suspect-shot-mall-of-georgia/85-b40ea90f-e84c-4e2a-9fbd-d38d3734a199 |
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Two people, including a 10-year-old boy, are dead following a house fire in Gainesville Tuesday night, the Hall County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies said Brannon Harvey - the child - was pronounced dead Thursday night. The sheriff's office learned of his death Friday morning.
The adult victim, 66-year-old Joe Boggs, died shortly after being transported to the hospital, the sheriff's office said. They add he's the grandfather of the child.
They said that the fire happened on Pleasant View Circle on August 30 and was reported at 10:50 p.m.
Four people, two adults and two kids, were inside the home at the time, deputies say.
The other two were treated for minor injuries.
The Hall County Fire Marshal's Office and the Hall County Sheriff's Office said they continue to investigate the cause of the fire. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/two-people-including-child-die-in-gainesville-fire/85-e870a7e6-3f58-4f75-bb3f-d2355ccd577b | 2022-09-02T18:57:41 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/two-people-including-child-die-in-gainesville-fire/85-e870a7e6-3f58-4f75-bb3f-d2355ccd577b |
A cliffeside tumble left a man injured alongside New Jersey's Palisades Interstate Parkway where he'd tried taking photographs Friday morning, police said.
Rescue teams were dispatched to Englewood Cliffs where the Connecticut man had visited a Mobil Service Station off the parkway to snap photos, highway police said.
Shortly after 7 a.m., the man was hurt after falling approximately 60 feet. He'd "lost his footing" and slid down the edhe of the cliff.
Responding officers were able to make verbal contact with the man, from Manchester, and sent rescue teams rappelling down the cliffside to bring him back up. He was then transported to a hospital in Hackensack for treatment.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rescue-teams-rappel-to-save-man-after-60-foot-nj-palisades-cliff-fall/3849826/ | 2022-09-02T18:59:25 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rescue-teams-rappel-to-save-man-after-60-foot-nj-palisades-cliff-fall/3849826/ |
Detectives are looking into whether the shooter who gunned down a 25-year-old in Manhattan's East Village on Thursday was waiting for the victim to get off work before ambushing her from behind, a senior police official with direct knowledge tells News 4.
The victim, identified as Imani Armstrong, was shot by a gunman in black who may have been wearing a mask, police said. The 25-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene following reports of gunfire as she was walking along East 14th Street and Irving Place, near Union Square, around 5 a.m.
The shots were fired near NYU, but there's no indication at this point that the victim had a connection to the university. Cops said the killer fled the scene, which was teeming with law enforcement by the time the sun came up, Citizen app video shows.
Additional video in possession of police shows the victim leaving IHOP, where she worked, a few minutes before 5 a.m. and walk west down East 14th Street.
The suspected shooter can be seen following the victim from the opposite side of the street before crossing over and running up from behind to fire a single round to the back of her head, the senior police official said. The shooter was seen taking off down Irving Place.
Police said the shooting was one of two deadly incidents in the neighborhood that morning. Hours later, a man in his 20s was gunned down just a few blocks away on East 12th Street between avenues C and D — right outside PS 34, an elementary and middle school.
A 26-year-old man was shot in the head, and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He later died from his injuries.
Local
An investigation is ongoing, but it appears that both shootings were targeted. Police have not said if the shootings were related. Neither of the victims has been identified.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/wife-eyed-as-possible-suspect-in-deadly-east-village-shooting-source/3849685/ | 2022-09-02T18:59:31 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/wife-eyed-as-possible-suspect-in-deadly-east-village-shooting-source/3849685/ |
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT SUNDAY
NIGHT...
* WHAT...Temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s.
* WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest and west central
Idaho and northeast and southeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT Sunday night.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
&&
Family members of Hamouda Abu Amra gather around campfire to get warm in the winter’s cold outside their destroyed house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.
BOISE — With hot temperatures forecasted and the state experiencing elevated fire danger, experts are urging recreationists to take extra caution with campfires during the long holiday weekend.
“Because of the tinder-dry conditions of Idaho’s forests and rangelands after two straight months of hot, above-normal temperatures in July and August, it should be abundantly clear to everyone that it’s imperative to be careful with your campfires over Labor Day weekend,” said Steve Stuebner, state coordinator of the Recreate Responsibly Idaho campaign, in a press release from that organization.
Statewide, wildfire danger as of Thursday morning ranged from high to extreme, the release said, noting that “all it takes is just one mistake to ignite a potentially catastrophic wildfire.”
The Moose Fire was reportedly ignited by a careless camper, the release said. However, officials from Boise National Forest have “observed an uptick in the number of campfires that had been extinguished properly and a reduction in trash left behind by campers,” the release said.
“That was certainly welcome news to hear that we’re getting improved compliance on campfire safety,” Stuebner said. “We hope that continues.”
Recreationists can learn more about fire risk at their destination by visiting the fire risk information page on the Idaho Department of Lands website, or the Bureau of Land Management’s page about fire risk on its land, as well as national forest land. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/if-youre-camping-in-idaho-be-careful-with-your-campfire-this-weekend-experts-say/article_06da4342-2a44-11ed-aa5d-5fd8ac73937d.html | 2022-09-02T19:05:29 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/if-youre-camping-in-idaho-be-careful-with-your-campfire-this-weekend-experts-say/article_06da4342-2a44-11ed-aa5d-5fd8ac73937d.html |
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT SUNDAY
NIGHT...
* WHAT...Temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s.
* WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest and west central
Idaho and northeast and southeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT Sunday night.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
&&
An apparent shooting left one dead in a parking lot Thursday night in Nampa.
Nampa Police officers responded to reports of the shooting at the 2100 block of North Cassia Street around 8:51 p.m. There, they found a man with gunshot wounds, according to a press release from the department. The officers’ life-saving measures failed, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said.
A second man arrived at a local hospital later in the night with gunshot wounds. His condition is unknown, according to NPD.
The identities of both individuals are not being released at this time and the investigation is ongoing, per the release.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 208-343-COPS. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-nampa/article_b9eeb038-2ad2-11ed-bee9-171cd0636c5f.html | 2022-09-02T19:05:35 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-nampa/article_b9eeb038-2ad2-11ed-bee9-171cd0636c5f.html |
Here’s an update of the COVID-19 numbers in the state.
New positive cases: 1,713
New deaths: 10
Total positive cases: 2,280,035
Total number of deaths: 31,474
Total vaccine doses administered: 14,209,066
Rate of transmission: 0.92
CASES BY COUNTY
Atlantic: 64,250 cases, 974 deaths, 381,936 doses administered
Cape May: 12,815 cases, 271 deaths, 134,735 doses administered
Cumberland: 38,308 cases, 588 deaths, 187,728 doses administered
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Ocean: 154,840 cases, 2,916 deaths, 705,218 doses administered
Source: N.J. Department of Health
Figures as of 1 p.m. Sept. 2 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-reports-more-than-1-700-new-covid-19-cases-10-new-deaths/article_7c055420-2aeb-11ed-a299-cb9fba3e5139.html | 2022-09-02T19:08:28 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-reports-more-than-1-700-new-covid-19-cases-10-new-deaths/article_7c055420-2aeb-11ed-a299-cb9fba3e5139.html |
The Press wants to see photos of your child’s first day of school. Submit photos for consideration in our online presentation and possibly in print. Send to newstips@pressofac.com with the subject line “Back to School.” Be sure to include your child’s name, age, hometown, grade and school.
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A hospitality company announced Thursday that it was buying the shuttered Oceanview Motel in Wildwood Crest and vowed to reopen the doo-wop style property while preserving its distinctive architectural features.
Madison Resorts, which was founded by businessman Dan Alicea, is paying $10 million to purchase the site and plans to spend $12 million for renovations with a tentative grand opening set for Memorial Day weekend next year, the company said.
The beachfront motel at 7201 Ocean Ave. is being renamed Madison Resort Wildwood Crest.
The Oceanview was built in 1964 in a style called populuxe or doo-wop. "These Doo Wop motels are playful, two- or three-story, bar or l-shaped structures that usually feature elaborate balcony railings, outlandish signs, and colorful offices or lounges designed in unexpected shapes," according to a description posted on the Preservation New Jersey website.
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The motel has been closed since last fall. Earlier this year, the site reportedly was being considered for condominiums.
"We plan to keep the 62+-year-old building and restore it to its retro roots along with modern touches throughout the improvement," Alicea said in a statement. The renovated property will feature 108 rooms, including 90 suites, beach access, four floors, 90,000 square feet, new lobby/reception, restaurant, lounge area with firepits, ocean view patio lounge and other upgrades to be announced," Madison Resorts said in its announcement.
WILDWOOD CREST — With the local Zoning Board set to hear plans to transform a beachfront mot…
Alicea added: "Our expansion into Wildwood Crest is a homecoming for my wife, Stephanie, who was born and raised in Wildwood Crest. This community means so much to her and our family, and we couldn't be happier to make history with the property's next chapter."
John Donio, president of the Doo-Wop Preservation League, said in a statement: "We are thrilled that Madison Resorts is taking over this mid-century modern gem and restoring it to its former glory but with the modern amenities that today's sophisticated guests demand."
Preservationists earlier this year sought to save the lobby portion of the building after a previous plan submitted to the borough sought to transform the Oceanview into condos. The building also has deteriorated in recent years, incurring code violations, operating last summer with several rooms ordered closed due to a deteriorating pedestrian walkway and suffering a partial roof collapse this past winter.
DAS Architects of Philadelphia will put together the design for the property updates, Madison Resorts said. The $12 million renovation will be handled by MCFA construction.
Madison Resorts said this is its second renovation project, after the Montreal Beach Resort in Cape May. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/wildwood-crest-doo-wop-motel-to-be-renovated-with-aim-of-reopening-memorial-day-weekend/article_0955fd42-2ade-11ed-a8a3-cff9a028a35c.html | 2022-09-02T19:08:41 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/wildwood-crest-doo-wop-motel-to-be-renovated-with-aim-of-reopening-memorial-day-weekend/article_0955fd42-2ade-11ed-a8a3-cff9a028a35c.html |
Theaters in Tucson and across the U.S. will celebrate National Cinema Day by offering $3 movie tickets at participating locations on Saturday, Sept 3.
Cinemark, Harkins Theatres and AMC Theatres are some of the major chains that will offer the deal for all movie formats, including Cinemark XD, IMAX, D-BOX and 3D.
In addition to $3 tickets, some movies theaters will offer discounts on snacks and drinks.
Cinemark customers can get $3 medium fountain drinks and medium ICEEs on Saturday, as well as $3 candy and a $3 small popcorn, which can be made large for an extra dollar.
AMC is offering a $5 popcorn and drink "cameo combo" on National Cinema Day and Harkins locations have deals for $3 medium drinks and $3 medium popcorn.
For Star subscribers: A company behind a planned hospital northwest of Tucson determined the medical facility was no longer needed and sold the site for $14.2 million.
The head of the Arizona Republican Party is asking a federal judge to reject a subpoena issued by the Jan. 6 Committee for access to her phone records.
For Star subscribers: Since the pandemic began, business at the flagship restaurant has been up and down. A more casual Italian eatery is planned for the space.
For Star subscribers: The owner of La Baguette Parisienne are retiring and are preparing to sell their last loaves of French bread and pastries at their east-side shop.
Elijah Miranda, 25, sought relief from his swamp cooler at home when a gunman killed him and two others at the Tucson apartment complex he was visiting.
For Star subscribers: A University of Arizona adjunct professor is suing for defamation after he was banned from a proudly permissive computer hacking conference in Las Vegas.
For Star subscribers: The owners of a popular downtown spot are making their mark on the area, with a second bar planned and a new boutique bottle shop. | https://tucson.com/news/local/see-a-movie-for-3-in-tucson-this-labor-day-weekend/article_854d12ee-2969-11ed-b2c4-f32a55688086.html | 2022-09-02T19:08:43 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/see-a-movie-for-3-in-tucson-this-labor-day-weekend/article_854d12ee-2969-11ed-b2c4-f32a55688086.html |
Three individuals, including a 3- and a 5-year-old girl, were injured in a West Philadelphia pedestrian hit-and-run crash Friday afternoon, authorities said.
The crash took place at the intersection of 56th and Vine Streets, Philadelphia police said. The driver fled the scene; the striking vehicle was later found unoccupied at the intersection of 53rd and Race Streets.
Witnesses say a burgundy pick-up truck sped through the intersection, hitting a man with a stroller.
As a result of the crash, the five-year-old girl sustained bodily injuries and was taken to Mercy Hospital. She was later airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she was listed in critical condition, police said.
A 3-year-old girl also sustained bodily injuries in the crash and was transported to Mercy Hospital, only to be transported to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she was listed in stable condition, police added.
A 43-year-old man also suffered head and hip injuries as a result of the crash. He was transported to Presbyterian Hospital and listed in stable condition, police said.
No arrest has been made in the incident, Philadelphia police said. Sources say the owner of the truck is cooperating with the case. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/5-year-old-critical-2-others-hurt-in-west-philly-hit-and-run/3352805/ | 2022-09-02T19:14:45 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/5-year-old-critical-2-others-hurt-in-west-philly-hit-and-run/3352805/ |
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.wtsp.com/article/news/local/community-mourns-11-year-old-bentonville-boy/527-37688891-ee78-4790-ae43-1e224d12cf5d | 2022-09-02T19:14:45 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/community-mourns-11-year-old-bentonville-boy/527-37688891-ee78-4790-ae43-1e224d12cf5d |
Only four North Dakota counties remain at high risk for coronavirus transmission as weekly COVID-19 cases tail off, though one of them is Burleigh.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determines county risk levels based on COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalization data. They can be found at https://bit.ly/3AfSY2A.
The risk for Burleigh County increased this week from medium to high, but the risk for Morton County went from high to medium. The other three high-risk counties are in northeast -- Ramsey, Benson and Eddy. Twenty-five counties are at medium risk and 24 are at low risk.
The CDC recommends that people in high-risk areas wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation, regardless of vaccination status. People in medium-risk areas who have conditions that make them prone to severe illness or are around others with such conditions should wear masks, according to federal guidance.
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The number of high-risk North Dakota counties was at seven last week, 16 the week before and 22 the week before that.
Weekly COVID-19 cases in the state have seen a similar decline. The state's coronavirus dashboard, updated weekly on Fridays, showed 1,406 new COVID-19 cases in the past seven days, compared with 1,401 last week and 1,952 a month ago. The state data does not document all virus cases in the state due to the widespread availability of home test kits that are not reported to the Health Department, but provides a look at longer-term trends.
There were 60 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in North Dakota over the past week, down from 92 the previous week and the recent high of 102 three weeks ago. Coronavirus patients make up 4.1% of occupied inpatient beds and 7.8% of intensive care unit beds statewide, stable compared to the past two weeks.
Federal data showed 18 new virus-related deaths in North Dakota in the past week, raising the state's pandemic total to 2,348. CDC death data fluctuates from week to week due to lags in reporting. County-level death data is not available. There have been 265,310 confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Dakota during the pandemic that began in March 2020.
More information
Federal data shows that North Dakota continues to have some of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country: 67.4% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated, with the rate for all vaccine-eligible people -- age 5 and older -- at 61%. The national averages are 77.3% and 71.7%, respectively.
COVID-19 booster shots are recommended for people 12 and older. North Dakota's first booster rate is 46.7%, compared to 50% nationally. Second booster doses are available for three main groups of people:
- All adults 50 years and older.
- All people 12 years or older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
- Adults 18 to 49 years who received two doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
State Health Department guidance and resources for businesses is at https://bit.ly/3w0DpKj.
Go to https://www.ndvax.org or https://bit.ly/3N3IMxb or call 866-207-2880 to see where COVID-19 vaccine is available. Information on free public testing and free test kits is at health.nd.gov/covidtesting. More detailed pandemic information is at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/health/number-of-covid-19-high-risk-counties-shrinks-in-north-dakota-hospitalizations-drop-off/article_fee85446-2ac3-11ed-9e57-4fb2a056b3e6.html | 2022-09-02T19:19:11 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/health/number-of-covid-19-high-risk-counties-shrinks-in-north-dakota-hospitalizations-drop-off/article_fee85446-2ac3-11ed-9e57-4fb2a056b3e6.html |
GAS TRACKER: Prices from Memorial Day to Labor Day have dropped by nearly $1 per gallon Sep 2, 2022 Sep 2, 2022 Updated 3 hrs ago 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Here's the latest as of Sept. 2 Gas prices IA/MN Infogram Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save More From KIMT News 3 Cerro Gordo County Man pleads guilty to motel room meth found in Mason City Updated Dec 2, 2021 Cerro Gordo County The 'Power of Beekeeping' is coming to North Iowa Dec 1, 2021 Local One Mayo Clinic doctor plays second season with Rochester FC and competes globally Updated Dec 2, 2021 Freeborn/Mower counties Austin man takes plea deal over meth and counterfeit cash Updated Dec 9, 2021 Cerro Gordo County Mason City Schools' summer feeding program begins this week Updated Jun 3, 2022 Cerro Gordo County Voter turnout strong during 2021 city-school elections Updated Dec 2, 2021 Recommended for you
Local One Mayo Clinic doctor plays second season with Rochester FC and competes globally Updated Dec 2, 2021
Freeborn/Mower counties Austin man takes plea deal over meth and counterfeit cash Updated Dec 9, 2021 | https://www.kimt.com/news/local/gas-tracker-prices-from-memorial-day-to-labor-day-have-dropped-by-nearly-1-per/article_e182e648-14d2-11ed-9744-c791856883d2.html | 2022-09-02T19:24:12 | 0 | https://www.kimt.com/news/local/gas-tracker-prices-from-memorial-day-to-labor-day-have-dropped-by-nearly-1-per/article_e182e648-14d2-11ed-9744-c791856883d2.html |
A shooting gallery is just one of the activities you can do at the New York State Trappers and Sportsman Show. The show has plenty of fur, lures for baiting animals, and of course traps, but they also have live demonstrations to establish best practices. Charles Pitcher is a young Trapper from Westford, New York.
"They have a big setup and they have like ok here’s going to be a fox demo, or they have coyote demos and they show you how to like plant the trap and how to cover it up."
David Leibig, the Executive Director of the New York State Trappers Association says the demonstrations give novice and professional trappers a chance to perfect their skills.
"There’s somebody that has a specialty, and they share their secrets to make you a better trapper."
There’s everything from crafts to serious trapping items, and it’s not just the older crowd that’s getting 'caught up' in the activity.
"Trapping is the only one the median age is lowering. Hunters are getting older and older, and trappers get lower, and I put that towards our youth trapper’s camp."
This show helps educate the public about what trapping is all about, and why it’s important, and that message is getting through to young trappers like Charles Pitcher.
"Trapping is just trying to downsize the population so other animals can live better."
Don Hillman is the Region 6 Director of the New York State Trappers Association. He explains how wild animals will live better if they’re properly maintained.
"By controlling the animal populations we can reduce the amount of disease in the animals."
There is a misconception that trapping is cruel, but the traps are simply meant to hold the animal in place without hurting it, and many trappers like David Leibigare are selective about the animals they do catch.
"If I find a young female Bobcat I’ll let it go because that’s seed to produce more animals. It makes a healthy population."
Admission to the Trappers Convention & Sportsman Show is $10 per person. Service members and those 16 under get in for free. The event is Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For more information contact Bill Swagler: NYSTAconvention@gmail.com | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/new-york-state-trappers-and-sportsman-show-kicks-off-in-herkimer-county/article_f64862ee-2a38-11ed-a7fe-f76ff0258c74.html | 2022-09-02T19:35:36 | 1 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/new-york-state-trappers-and-sportsman-show-kicks-off-in-herkimer-county/article_f64862ee-2a38-11ed-a7fe-f76ff0258c74.html |
Cirrus Aircraft employee dies in Texas crash after plane took off from Knoxville
A Cirrus Aircraft employee died Thursday night in a plane crash near Spring, Texas, a company spokesperson confirmed.
The Cirrus SR-22 took off from McGhee Tyson Airport with three people and crashed on the way to David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport at around 5 p.m. local time, according to officials with the Federal Aviation Administration.
"We are deeply saddened," Cirrus spokeswoman Nadia Haidar said in a prepared statement. "Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with our team member’s family, the aircraft occupants and all those affected."
Hairdar declined to comment further, citing the investigation and respect for the families involved.
As the plane was trying to land, it lost power and hit a tree, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
An official from the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the plane crashed on its approach to the airport and said it was sending an investigator. According to the spokesperson, a preliminary report will likely be completed in about three weeks but the full investigation report, including the cause of the crash, can take up to a year.
Two other people were on board and were transported to a local hospital. No further information was available as of Friday afternoon.
Cirrus, a Minnesota-based company, recently underwent a major expansion to its Knoxville campus, adding three 12,000-square-foot airplane hangars to its facility next to McGhee Tyson Airport. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/cirrus-aircraft-employee-dies-texas-plane-crash/7972715001/ | 2022-09-02T19:35:39 | 1 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/cirrus-aircraft-employee-dies-texas-plane-crash/7972715001/ |
DOLGEVILLE, N.Y. – The village of Dolgeville is getting $1.9 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to restore properties damaged in the devastating Halloween floods of 2019.
The funds will be used to buy out and demolish 20 properties in Dolgeville’s 100-year floodplain.
Some of the money will also support site stabilization and grading.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-21, announced the FEMA funding on Thursday. | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/village-of-dolgeville-receiving-1-9-million-from-fema-for-flood-recovery/article_bd39407c-2ae2-11ed-933c-bb83078c7b56.html | 2022-09-02T19:35:42 | 1 | https://www.wktv.com/news/local/village-of-dolgeville-receiving-1-9-million-from-fema-for-flood-recovery/article_bd39407c-2ae2-11ed-933c-bb83078c7b56.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed with KOIN 6 News a body was found in the Willamette River near the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland Friday morning.
At around 9:08 a.m. MCSO’s Marine Division was called to the river near a container terminal off N Lombard Street. Marine deputies are working to recover the body.
MCSO said the body will be turned over to the medical examiner’s office to identify the person and determine the cause of death.
No other information was immediately released. | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/body-found-in-willamette-river-near-st-johns-bridge-3/ | 2022-09-02T19:40:11 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/body-found-in-willamette-river-near-st-johns-bridge-3/ |
Yarnell residents push for safety fixes after deadly crash on State Route 89
The close-knit community of Yarnell raised safety concerns for years about the busy stretch of State Route 89 that runs through town — long before Donna Gordon lost her life while crossing the street after enjoying dinner with friends.
At about 7 p.m. on Aug. 26, Gordon, 74, was struck and killed by a Yavapai County Sheriff's vehicle driven by off-duty Sgt. Dakota Brinkley on his way home. Officials said Gordon was crossing the street at S.R. 89 and Post Road after leaving a restaurant. She was fatally struck there.
In response to the tragedy, Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes hosted a community meeting Thursday afternoon in Yarnell to provide preliminary information about the incident and take questions and comments from the community.
'This was an incredible tragedy'
“This is going to be a difficult conversation because I don’t have good words, I don’t have the kind of explanation that is going to make this better,” Rhodes said at the start of the meeting. “This was an incredible tragedy.”
Pastor Paul Jones began the meeting with a prayer and a moment of silence to honor Gordon’s memory. More than 50 people gathered for the meeting, which became emotional at times as they mourned the loss of a beloved neighbor and renewed calls for safety improvements along the four-lane road.
“She would have been here, involved in this if it was somebody else and she would have been standing up and talking and saying her piece because she would want something to get done,” said Joyce Ritner, Gordon's neighbor. “And the best thing that could come out of all of this is to get something done so her death wasn’t in vain.”
Compounding the tragedy, Rhodes said, is that Brinkley, the deputy driving the vehicle, is also local, growing up in nearby Congress and patrolling Yarnell at various points over his past seven years at the Sheriff’s Office.
“He’s absolutely destroyed,” Rhodes said. “You know our role is to protect the public, our role is to save life and that didn’t happen on this day.”
Pastor Jones, who opened Thursday’s meeting, was in the process of reaching out to Brinkley “ so that I can make some forgiveness available for him, even if it’s only from me,” he said.
“So that I can hear his story and have compassion for him and whoever his family might be because whether he is charged with a crime or not, this has affected his life in a terrible way so he needs support.”
Pedestrian safety in area has long been concern
In addition to the Sheriff, who said he’s heard about the desire for a crosswalk in this area since he took office two years ago, Yavapai County Supervisor Henry Oberg said that the need for a crosswalk was one of the first things he heard about from his constituents when he was elected in 2020.
Oberg has consulted with the Arizona Department of Transportation about pedestrian on S.R. 89 numerous times over the years, he said, even meeting with the new district engineer as recently as three weeks ago.
“As far as I’m concerned this is something that we definitely need, and I’m going to work very hard to try to get ADOT to support me on that,” Oberg said.
In an initial statement after the incident, ADOT said it extended its deepest sympathies to Gordon and her family.
"Yavapai County officials have approached ADOT about placing a marked crosswalk approximately a block from where this incident occurred," according to the ADOT statement.
"As with any request of this type, ADOT is reviewing data to determine any potential course of action. The incident is the subject of a law enforcement investigation that will inform this process going forward."
Doug Nick, a representative from the director of ADOT, was at Thursday’s meeting, answering questions and providing insight into potential next steps.
While unable to provide specific timelines or concrete solutions right then, Nick promised that the organization was taking the community's concerns seriously and considering all possible solutions to improve safety.
The community offered a wide range of suggestions, ranging from adding pedestrian crossing signs and changing the speed limit to setting up an old patrol cruiser just inside of town to trick speeders into slowing down.
While ADOT conducts studies and works through the process of figuring out the best fix, Rhodes said he will be deploying more deputies to the area and increasing speed enforcement right away.
The Department of Public Safety was still investigating the collision and has not yet released any information regarding speed or other potential factors that may have been involved. The public can likely expect the results of this investigation in less than a month, Rhodes said.
Initial reports show that impairment was not a factor, according to the Sheriff's Office.
A Celebration of Life for Donna Gordon was scheduled Sept. 10 at 11:30 a.m. at the 19 Bells Memorial Chapel at Lohrwood, 22430 Hackberry St.
Contact northern Arizona reporter Lacey Latch at llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatch. Coverage of northern Arizona on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is funded by the nonprofit Report for America and a grant from the Vitalyst Health Foundation in association with The Arizona Republic. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/09/02/yarnell-residents-road-changes-deadly-crash-donna-gordon/7969751001/ | 2022-09-02T19:41:16 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/09/02/yarnell-residents-road-changes-deadly-crash-donna-gordon/7969751001/ |
There’s more to the Sunshine State than Florida Man, gators and hurricanes.
How well do you know the state you call home?
[TRENDING: When can we expect fall to return to Florida? | Bojangles opens 1st of 15 planned Central Florida locations | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
With nearly a thousand people moving to Florida every day there are bound to be some gaps in state knowledge.
Quick, when did Florida become a state?
What’s the population of the Sunshine State?
If you got both of those right then chances are you have generations of Florida blood running through your veins.
In case you are wondering, Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845.
This year Florida is expected to have 22 million residents making it the 3rd most populous state in the country.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below:
This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden are putting you to the test and learning a few things along the way.
They want to know what you know about the state so many people love to berate.
So, they invited Steve Griffiths on to help out. He is not a name you may recognize but Matt and Ginger work with him daily. He is their floor director, but, he has also managed trivia nights in years past and still goes strong on the trivia scene. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/09/02/floridas-fourth-estate-hosts-show-off-their-knowledge-of-sunshine-state-trivia/ | 2022-09-02T19:48:34 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/09/02/floridas-fourth-estate-hosts-show-off-their-knowledge-of-sunshine-state-trivia/ |
FRISCO, Texas — A Texas school district has issued an apology on social media after a high school social media account shared an image offering "self-love" advice that said using sex toys could help one overcome anxiety.
Rep. Jared Patterson, – who represents the Texas House district including Frisco – posted a photo of what appeared to be a post shared from the Emerson High School counselors Instagram account, which was actually an advertisement for a vibrator. The post was deleted and the account claimed it had been hacked.
The shared post told potential customers that "toys can help you overcome sexual anxiety," while another part said to "explore until you find something that works for you."
“The sexualization of our kids has to stop. The lack of accountability has to stop. The lies have to stop. The cover ups have to stop,” Patterson, whose children attend FISD schools, said in an Aug. 22 Facebook post.
“Why anyone thinks it’s okay to promote sexually explicit materials to our children is beyond me. A culture where any staff member thinks this is acceptable behavior is highly concerning. Where is the accountability? As an elected representative of the people and policy maker, does the Board President have an opinion on whether any of this is appropriate?”
On Aug. 23, the Frisco ISD Government Affairs Facebook page issued the following apology, stating they learned the account was not hacked and a staff member in charge of the account did not actually read the text of the image and thought it was simply "about self care":
"On Friday, in response to a tweet from Representative Jared Patterson about inappropriate content shared from a campus social media account, we shared another post from that account stating that the inappropriate content was shared because the account was hacked. Later that afternoon, we learned that the account was not hacked and the post with that information was not true. As a result, we deleted our reply tweet because we did not want to continue sharing what we had learned was inaccurate information.
Over the past several days, District and campus administrators determined that a staff member reposted the content from another account believing it to be content about self care without actually reading the text of the post. Later, when the staff member realized their mistake, they removed the post and posted that the account had been hacked. When District and campus administrators learned that was not true, the entire account was disabled.
We sincerely apologize for re-sharing the inaccurate post. We were attempting to respond quickly with what we believed to be true information. In the future, we will verify such posts from other District accounts prior to re-sharing them."
Rep. Patterson posted to Facebook on Aug. 26 that he'd met with the Frisco ISD superintendent to discuss a number of issues, including sexually explicit content in schools.
"Dr. Waldrip was kind and expressed concern over the same issues I've raised. I take him at his word and look forward to continuing the discussion with him and his team in the weeks and months to come," Rep. Patterson said.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/frisco-independent-school-district-apology-sex-toy-advice/287-0007998e-1ef6-48eb-9adc-bf66b99559c7 | 2022-09-02T19:48:37 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/frisco-independent-school-district-apology-sex-toy-advice/287-0007998e-1ef6-48eb-9adc-bf66b99559c7 |
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Pets Alive! is offering a discount on adoption fees for large breed animals.
The cost for adoption of a dog that is 35 pounds and over will be only $10. The special applies to onsite adoptions at all SAPA! locations. It's part of their "We Like Big Mutts" adoption special.
The special runs Saturday and Sunday during the shelters' opening hours. Their locations are the Rescue Center at 4710 Highway 151, Petco Love Adoption Center at 6001 NW Loop 410, and Medical Care Center at 9107 Marbach Road, Suite 109.
SAPA! also says if you adopt this weekend, you can help save more than one life. Any pet adopted helps clear space for pets at risk of euthanasia at the city's Animal Care Services shelter. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-pets-alive-offering-adoption-discount-on-large-breeds-35-pounds-and-over/273-d3060762-99b2-4728-9a75-d2424133377f | 2022-09-02T19:48:44 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-pets-alive-offering-adoption-discount-on-large-breeds-35-pounds-and-over/273-d3060762-99b2-4728-9a75-d2424133377f |
Santikos Silverado on the northwest side of San Antonio will undergo a remodel starting this month.
Santikos announced the move in a press release Friday. Starting Tuesday, the Silverado location at Bandera and Loop 1604 will start phase one of a two-phase remodel.
The remodel will include changing the original seats to the luxury recliners of many other Santikos locations, allowing guests to put their feet up during the movie. Some of the auditoriums will get the AVX Ultimate Audio-Visual Experience with bigger screens, 4K laser projection, and Dolby Atmos sound.
In phase two, other auditoriums will be torn down to make room for an entertainment center, which has been a trend in movie theaters in recent years. It will include 14 lanes of bowling and an arcade with more than 60 games. It will also have new party rooms, a top-of-the-line sports bar, new concessions, and kitchen upgrades.
The movie theater chain said the plans for the upgrades have been a long time coming.
"There were plans to improve the theater just before the pandemic. But we weren't thinking quite this bold! It's time to go big and give our guests in this area of town something they don't have," said CEO Tim Handren.
The theater says the remodel may affect showtimes, so guests should check out movie times posted on their website. They also ask that you "please pardon our dust" while the construction takes place.
"When we start this remodel on September 6, you won't recognize anything on the inside when we're done," Handren said. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/santikos-silverado-adding-entertainment-center-in-upcoming-remodel-northwest-side-movies-cinema-day/273-9b18b68b-cf59-416c-b6e1-6947fad93135 | 2022-09-02T19:48:50 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/santikos-silverado-adding-entertainment-center-in-upcoming-remodel-northwest-side-movies-cinema-day/273-9b18b68b-cf59-416c-b6e1-6947fad93135 |
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Police are asking for the public's help in finding a missing teen who has not been seen since Wednesday.
16-year-old Kathline Lubin was last seen in the 16000 block of Blanco Key. She is described as being 5'8", weighing 160 pounds, with brown eyes and brown and red hair.
She has glasses and a nose piercing on the left side of her nose.
If you have seen her, you are asked to contact SAPD's Missing Person's Unit at (210) 207-7660. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/sapd-looking-for-missing-teen-news/273-55a847f3-96b6-4650-8a0e-d22ff0257079 | 2022-09-02T19:48:56 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/sapd-looking-for-missing-teen-news/273-55a847f3-96b6-4650-8a0e-d22ff0257079 |
Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are in Monroe County. Here's how to protect yourself.
West Nile virus mosquitos have been found in Monroe County after a recent sampling by the Indiana Department of Health.
Residents are encouraged to check their property and surrounding areas to eliminate any standing water. Infected mosquitoes breed in areas such as ditches, open septic systems, discarded tires, birdbaths and clogged roof gutters. Pools, both big and small, are also notorious breeding grounds. Any unused container holding water for days at a time should be emptied.
As noted in the Monroe County Health Department advisory, "a bucket that has stagnant water in it for seven days can become home to up to a thousand mosquitoes."
What is the West Nile virus? How does it spread?
The West Nile virus is a disease commonly spread to humans via mosquitos throughout the United States, typically during the summer and early fall. It can spread to humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some pets. No vaccine for the West Nile virus has been developed for humans, and there is no specific medicine available.
Most people infected with the West Nile virus either do not get sick or experience minor symptoms, which can manifest between three to 15 days after the mosquito bite. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about one in five infected people develop a fever and other symptoms.
However, some people can experience a more severe form of the disease by developing encephalitis, which impacts brain function, or meningitis, which inflames tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. People are encouraged to seek a doctor if they experience the following symptoms: high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness or paralysis, nausea or vomiting, sore joints and confusion.
People who are 50 or older are reportedly at a higher risk for serious illness and should take extra precaution.
How to keep West Nile Virus mosquitos away from your yard, house
A recent Monroe County health advisory highly encourage residents to eliminate areas of stagnant water that attract and host mosquitos.
Installing or repairing screens for windows and doors will keep mosquitos from entering your home. To protect one's yard, health officials recommend repairing failed septic systems, drilling holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers, cleaning clogged roof gutters and cutting grass short. To protect your nearby animals, ornamental fountains and birdbaths should be flushed periodically and pet bowls should be refreshed frequently. For ornamental pools, such as ponds, health officials recommend aeration, which pulls air into the water, or adding predatory fish.
Mosquitos are active in places such as wooded areas and are most prevalent in the late afternoon, dusk to dawn and the early morning of the day. While outside, people can protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Health officials also recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol. For more tips, residents can follow state health officials' mosquito bite prevention guideline. More information about the West Nile virus in Indiana can be found on the state's website at https://bit.ly/3CUhqIu. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/west-nile-virus-found-monroe-county-mosquito/65470365007/ | 2022-09-02T19:49:13 | 1 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/west-nile-virus-found-monroe-county-mosquito/65470365007/ |
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)– The National Center for Education Statistics reported a major decline in both reading and mathematics assessments during the pandemic.
Between 2020 and 2022, reading scores saw the largest drop since 1990, and math scores dropped for the first time.
Two areas of focus in a report from Nexstar’s WVNS were McDowell and Mercer County. According to the data from the West Virginia Board of Education, McDowell County has one of the lowest assessment achievements.
Data shows that in McDowell County 82% of students either partially meet or do not meet assessment standards in mathematics, and 72% of students either partially meet or do not meet the standards in reading. This data leaves a collective of 18% of students meeting mathematics testing and 28% meeting the reading standard.
Dr. Sonya White, the Teaching and Learning Officer with the State Board of Education talked about why the numbers look the way they do.
“I think just having that face-to-face time with their teacher every day and getting consistent instruction probably lead to the score decrease we saw in 2021,” Dr. White said.
In Mercer County, 69% of students don’t meet mathematic assessment standards while 60% don’t meet reading testing standards.
WVNS reached out to Mercer County Schools and have yet to receive a response. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/math-reading-testing-assessments-data-shows-decline-in-two-west-virginia-counties/ | 2022-09-02T19:50:56 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/math-reading-testing-assessments-data-shows-decline-in-two-west-virginia-counties/ |
Editor’s Note: The Huntington Police Department says the suspect’s name is Tavoyn Billy Morrison. Information originally released from the HPD stated the suspect’s name as “Tayvon Billy Morrison.” This article has been updated to reflect the correct information.
HUNTINGTON, WV (WOWK) – An Ohio man is facing multiple charges in Cabell County, West Virginia.
According to the Huntington Police Department, the Huntington Violent Crime/Drug Task Force and Huntington Police Department SWAT Team executed a search warrant around 6 a.m. this morning, Friday, Sept 2 in the 1200 block of Kanawha Terrace.
Police say during the search, Tavoyn Billy Morrison, 22, of Columbus, Ohio was arrested. According to HPD, officers found two firearms as well as narcotics and more than $10,000 in cash.
HPD says Morrison was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute, two counts of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, and Armed Robbery.
The investigation into this case is ongoing, according to officers. They say more charges are possible. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/ohio-man-charged-with-drug-crimes-armed-robbery-in-huntington/ | 2022-09-02T19:51:02 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/ohio-man-charged-with-drug-crimes-armed-robbery-in-huntington/ |
A coalition of Black-owned businesses, civil rights groups, faith institutions and non-profits is calling on the federal government to reject Indiana's plan for an electric vehicle charging network.
The Equity Alliance held an online press conference Wednesday to discuss their opposition to the current proposal, which would see the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) spend more than $100 million on implementing the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
That program, created by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to develop a network of at least 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide, according to the INDOT website.
However, the Equity Alliance said the current plan does not prioritized racial justice.
The speakers characterized the drafting process as flawed and not inclusive of racially diverse voices. Denise Abdul-Rahman, state chair of Environmental Climate Justice for the Indiana NAACP, said a listening session was held in a "sundown town" and that the INDOT group that developed the state's NEVI plan did not include any Black members.
"We are putting them all on notice," Abdul-Rahman said.
They called for United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg – the former mayor of South Bend – to visit Indiana for a tour on this subject and to reject INDOT's proposal unless there are significant revisions, including putting electric vehicle charging stations at minority-owned businesses and in racially diverse communities.
Elder Lionel Rush, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, said if Black communities "don't get in now" on electric vehicle infrastructure, "we're going to be left behind."
Other speakers included two state legislators, Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, and Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/equity-alliance-calls-on-federal-government-to-reject-indot-electric-vehicle-plan/article_c467c374-2acd-11ed-bd6b-b3e5bad6684d.html | 2022-09-02T19:54:14 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/equity-alliance-calls-on-federal-government-to-reject-indot-electric-vehicle-plan/article_c467c374-2acd-11ed-bd6b-b3e5bad6684d.html |
A Fort Wayne university announced Thursday it will expand its K-12 camp offerings and start new year-round after-school programs with a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Indiana Tech isn’t the only area institution benefiting from Lilly’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative. Awards include $862,346 to the University of Saint Francis and $845,557 to Trine University in Angola. Purdue University received $733,173, and officials said the Fort Wayne campus’ share is about $150,000.
The private philanthropic foundation launched the initiative last year to help Indiana colleges and universities, both public and private, create or enhance high-quality, on-campus programs for ages 5 to 18. Goals listed on its website include increasing the number of students who attend Indiana colleges and obtain postsecondary degrees and credentials.
Indiana’s college-going rate has dropped from 65% in 2015 to 53% in 2020, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education has reported. Indiana Tech’s grant will support a high school STEM camp, an after-school robotics program and Girls Who Code, a new yearlong after-school program to help close the gender gap in the technology workforce, a university news release said. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
“Indiana Tech has long provided quality summer camp programs for youth interested in STEM fields,” university President Karl Einolf said in a statement. “This new grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. will allow our university (to) take these offerings to a new level.”
At Saint Francis, the grant will help launch the Discovery Academy, a series of discipline-focused camps fostering students’ academic interests, a news release said.
At Purdue Fort Wayne, the money will support summer camp activities over the next three years, said Ron Friedman, dean of the College of Science. He noted the four camps will be led by the colleges of Science and of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/4-colleges-in-fort-wayne-get-grants-from-lilly-endowment/article_7f8292ca-2a0a-11ed-b248-f78cb51213ef.html | 2022-09-02T19:54:15 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/4-colleges-in-fort-wayne-get-grants-from-lilly-endowment/article_7f8292ca-2a0a-11ed-b248-f78cb51213ef.html |
'Jane Doe' Detroit shooting spree victim identified as 16-year-old girl
Detroit — The "Jane Doe" who was one of three people killed Sunday by a man who allegedly went on a random shooting spree in Detroit has been identified as a 16-year-old girl, police said Friday.
Police, who had distributed an artist's sketch of the unknown victim after the incident, did not release the girl's name.
Dontae Smith, 19, faces three counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and animal cruelty in the alleged gun attack that wounded a fourth victim.
Police officials said the four incidents were initially thought to be unrelated, but analysts matched shell casings at the crime scenes to the same gun.
The victims appeared to be randomly targeted, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
“It is not an overstatement to say that on Sunday morning, August 28, like a scene out of a movie, this alleged defendant reigned real terror on the citizens northwest Detroit," Worthy said in a statement.
"Normal, everyday life was brought to a standstill as he moved east to his next victim," Worthy said. "Thanks to a continuous collaboration of law enforcement agencies, these deaths and injuries will be aggressively prosecuted by this office."
Smith also is charged with killing Chayne Lee, 28, and Lari Brisco, 43. John Palik, 76, was wounded in the alleged shooting spree, prosecutors said.
ghunter@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2134
Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/09/02/jane-doe-detroit-shooting-spree-victim-identified-16-year-old-girl/7974449001/ | 2022-09-02T19:58:04 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/09/02/jane-doe-detroit-shooting-spree-victim-identified-16-year-old-girl/7974449001/ |
Repairs to severe erosion along I-94 is underway, Macomb County officials say
Roseville -- A severely eroded portion of a storm drain that was threatening I-94 westbound lanes has been repaired, according to Macomb County Public Works.
Work began on Aug. 22 after the county became aware of the worst erosion situation in county history, according to Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller.
“This project is emergency construction, and the contractor has done excellent work in quick fashion thus far,” Miller said in a news release Friday. “There’s no telling when the recent rapid erosion south of 13 Mile Road that got to within about 25 yards from I-94 would have reached the westbound lanes and resulted in a huge traffic disruption and several million dollars in construction costs. That’s a scenario we’re working to avoid.”
No road closures are expected, Public Works Communications Manager Norb Franz said.
A contractor straightened the open channel Rohrbeck Extension Drain and installed a new catch basin and new pipe to replace a collapsed tap. The restored portion of the embankment now is strengthened by hundreds of boulders to prevent future erosion.
The contractor is set to work on other portions of the bank to implement other fixes to the erosion.
Last month when the county was setting plans to fix the erosion, Miller described the force of the recent stormwaters through the drain coming at the embankment like a “fire hose” causing as much as 6 feet of erosion.
“Our concern was that higher and stronger flow in the channel following a heavy rain event would easily wash away a lot more of the sand used as backfill when the freeway was built in the 1960s. So it was time to act,” Miller said in the news release.
If the erosion somehow caused a collapse of that section of freeway near 13 Mile, it could’ve costed millions of dollars to repair and disrupted traffic flow of about 44,000 vehicles a day.
Funding for the repairs cost is coming from existing drain district funds in Roseville and will cost several hundred thousand dollars, according to the news release | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2022/09/02/repairs-94-erosion-underway-macomb-county-officials-say/7974225001/ | 2022-09-02T19:58:05 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2022/09/02/repairs-94-erosion-underway-macomb-county-officials-say/7974225001/ |
Oakland County sets aside $8.5 million for senior initiatives
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners has given the OK to $8.5 million in initiatives to support older residents across the county, improve senior centers and prevent elderly abuse.
Approved unanimously Thursday by the commission, the initiatives will go toward funding some updates to local senior center and reinstating the county's Elderly Abuse Prevention Coalition. Roughly $3 million will fund a three-year countywide household chore pilot program.
“Funding these initiatives is the result of a thorough process of collaboration by commissioners, county administration, residents and many community stakeholders,” said Commissioner Kristen Nelson, a Democrat from Waterford Township, chairs the Oakland County Healthy Aging Ad Hoc Committee. “Older adults are a valued asset when it comes to maintaining our quality of life, and we must continue to strive to make Oakland County a retirement destination of choice and a community that supports seniors to age in place.”
The initiatives came about as part of Oakland County's Blueprint for Successful Aging, published in December of 2021 and recommended by Nelson's committee. Approximately 18% of Oakland County's 1.2 million population is over the age of 65, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Of the $8.5 million set aside for initiatives, the money will be divvied up as follows:
- up to $5 million for Oakland County senior centers to invest in capital, technology, infrastructure, equipment improvements or professional development.
- up to $500,000 to fund a series of educational/COVID-19 communication pieces for Oakland County seniors.
- $50,000 for nonprofits that work with seniors.
- up to $5,000 to reinstate the Oakland County Elderly Abuse Prevention Coalition.
“Our seniors need our support, and we have the ability to bring them solutions,” said Commissioner Eileen T. Kowall, a Republican from White Lake Township and vice chair of the Oakland County Healthy Aging Ad Hoc Committee. “These initiatives will help build upon the programming that’s already available so that our older adults can continue to thrive.” | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/02/oakland-county-sets-asides-8-5-million-senior-initiatives/7973969001/ | 2022-09-02T19:58:05 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/02/oakland-county-sets-asides-8-5-million-senior-initiatives/7973969001/ |
Teen arrested for bringing gun to high school football game in Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills — A Pontiac teen was arrested on suspicion of bringing a gun to a high school football game Thursday night, police said.
Authorities said officers were on patrol at the Avondale High School-Holly High School varsity football game at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
One of the officers saw three teens approaching the main entrance gate of the stadium, they said. When they saw the officer, the three turned around and ducked behind a small building next to the parking lot.
The officer investigated further, police said. He found a loaded 9 mm pistol inside a small bag under some bricks.
Police then began a search for the three teens. They learned the trio had gone into the stadium before the officer found the pistol.
Officials said police found the three teens and detained them for questioning. Investigators reviewed surveillance video of the area and determined none of the three had possession of the bag with the gun in it.
Further investigation led police to identify the suspect who had the bag and gun.
On Friday, police located the suspect, a 17-year-old male, at his home in Pontiac. Detectives learned he is not a student at either Avondale High School or Holly High School.
Officials said they arrested the teen, interviewed him with his parents present, and then took him to Children's Village to await charges.
Detectives later determined the firearm had been previously reported stolen from another state.
Police said a school dance that had been scheduled at the high school after the game was canceled due to the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident should call the Auburn Hills Police Department at (248) 370-9460.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/02/teen-arrested-accused-bringing-gun-high-school-football-game-auburn-hills/7974015001/ | 2022-09-02T19:58:19 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/09/02/teen-arrested-accused-bringing-gun-high-school-football-game-auburn-hills/7974015001/ |
Police situation near Moross and Beaconsfield in Harper Woods
Charles E. Ramirez
The Detroit News
Harper Woods — Police are urging the public to avoid the area of Woodside between Kelly and Beaconsfield due to an active situation.
Officials said they will provide updates when able.
Woodside runs parallel to Moross and Vernier roads.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2022/09/02/police-situation-near-moross-and-beaconsfield-harper-woods/7973758001/ | 2022-09-02T19:58:31 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2022/09/02/police-situation-near-moross-and-beaconsfield-harper-woods/7973758001/ |
When the Richmond City Council returns from its August recess Tuesday, the members will meet privately to discuss police protocols after the city's police chief earlier this summer claimed that authorities had prevented a mass shooting without any conclusive evidence of such a plot.
City officials have yet to confirm whether Police Chief Gerald Smith will attend the meeting, but some council members have said they still have questions about the police investigation and what led the chief to announce that Dogwood Dell had been the target of a planned mass shooting on Independence Day.
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In a July 6 press conference and in interviews with national media, Smith said that police had arrested two suspects after receiving a tip about the alleged plot.
While Smith said it was intended for Dogwood Dell, records obtained by the Times-Dispatch through a Freedom of Information Act request found that local detectives were unsure of where it might happen, and had sent a memo to the chief that said the location of the potential incident was "unknown."
"I'm just trying to understand why," 9th District Councilman Michael Jones said in an interview Wednesday. "I want to better understand what went on, what are the standard operating procedures and how we go about handling something like this. ... I don't think that's a lot to ask."
A police official emailed those records to Smith and an assistant seven minutes before Smith's 2 p.m. July 6 news conference. The records also show that Richmond police shared with the FBI that a location was unknown. That information was vetted by a detective. (Police arrested one suspect on July 1, seizing guns and ammunition in a residence, and arrested the second, who was under surveillance, after July Fourth.)
Both Jones and 5th District Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch, who represents the area where Dogwood Dell is located, said there's little that the City Council can do about the situation as the police chief is an employee of Mayor Levar Stoney's administration, meaning that he solely holds power to decide if the person in that role should be disciplined or fired.
Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders said that the police department called the press conference, but that he stands by the chief and his conclusion that Dogwood Dell was the target of the alleged attack.
"At this point what I think we can do is continue to ask question and try getting some answers, such as why did they have a press conference and why they would have stated a location without having properly vetted the information," Lynch said. "This is one of the more complicated situations we've been in."
The agenda for Tuesday's meeting lists several items in closed session. The first is a discussion about "police plans to protect public safety and briefings by law enforcement" concerning its response to threats against the public.
The agenda says the topic is to be discussed in private under a provision of the state's open government meeting law that says public legislative bodies can meet privately for discussions of "plans to protect public safety as it relates to terrorist activity" and briefings by legal counsel, police or emergency personnel about actions taken in response to potential threats.
In a statement through a spokesperson for the City Council, President Cynthia Newbille said that that the body will "not be discussing Dogwood Dell," and that it would "only inclue Police Department briefing matters specific to its operational plans in protecting public safety."
In an interview with WTVR-CBS 6 this week, Jones said that the meeting Tuesday would include a discussion about the alleged mass shooting plot. Later in an interview with the Times Dispatch, however, he said he could not talk about the specifics of the upcoming closed meeting.
A liaison for 2nd District Councilwoman Katherine Jordan last month said that the council has so far made no plans to talk about the case as it has already unfolded.
In a statement, Jordan said that the city's attorney has advised that they cannot speak specifically about the case in closed session, but that it would be OK for them to go over public safety protocols and communication procedures in private.
"I do expect and hope for a focus on addressing forward looking policies and procedures for improving communication and coordination in the event of future crisis situations," she said. "That discussion will be held in closed session because of the potential risk of sharing information about how the City responds to crisis situations in a public setting where would-be perpetrators could learn about public safety response strategies."
Jordan added that she does not see the item no the agenda for Tuesday as a bookend to the situation. "As I and other colleagues have stated previously, there also needs to be a public discussion," she said.
Megan Rhyne, the executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, said that the council should be able to speak about the case and the police department's press conference.
"I can’t think of an exemption that would allow a confidential discussion about the chief’s comments, at least not in terms that don’t jeopardize public safety," Rhyne said in an email.
"Council members’ reactions to the comments wouldn’t likely fall into that category, in my opinion. And general discussion about the investigation — which is not their investigation, but someone else’s investigation — is another topic of general, public interest."
The two men police accused of planning the attack are in federal custody — one on a gun charge and one on an immigration charge — but neither has been charged with anything related to a planned shooting.
Robert W. Sprouse didn't notify authorities of his error or tell them he had "fixed" the mistake until confronted, officials said.
Smith has said that two assault rifles and ammunition they confiscated from one of the suspects corroborated the tipster's allegation of a shooting plot, but he has not shared any further evidence to support the claim.
In a General District Court hearing last month, a prosecutor, under questioning by a judge, said police had turned over no evidence that either of the two suspects were planning to target Dogwood Dell.
The situation has alarmed some local residents and officials. Lynch said she's still fielding questions from constituents in her district about the case.
While she said she imagines that the meeting Tuesday will be a starting point for the council, she and other council members noted that the police department is preparing for a series of community meetings in the coming weeks where the public can ask police about the case.
"Every resident deserves transparency from law enforcement," Jones said. | https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-council-to-discuss-alleged-dogwood-dell-shooting-plot-privately-tuesday/article_0bc5ebfe-f55c-56fd-9d46-df7a87ec641f.html | 2022-09-02T20:02:34 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-council-to-discuss-alleged-dogwood-dell-shooting-plot-privately-tuesday/article_0bc5ebfe-f55c-56fd-9d46-df7a87ec641f.html |
CLARKSVILLE – A former Clarksville police officer has been charged with child porn offenses, allegedly mishandling evidence that led to prosecutors dropping a case against a sex offender.
Authorities allege Michael William Tobin Jr., 34, was an officer on the city department in 2021 and early 2022 when he showed a minor sexually explicit images and videos that included images of nude children that were evidence in a pending criminal case.
Tobin had been a lieutenant with the Clarksville Police Department, according to court records.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office was notified on March 4, 2022, and Tobin’s employment with the city ended the following day.
On Thursday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation announced it charged Tobin with multiple counts of felony sexual exploitation of a minor, and eight counts of misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a minor. Bond was set at $45,000.
Court records show a federal child porn case that Tobin had investigated was dismissed about a week after he parted ways with the Clarksville department.
“On the afternoon of March 7, 2022, the United States received information potentially affecting important government evidence. Further investigation will be necessary to determine the precise impact of this newly revealed information,” prosecutors told the court in asking that the government’s case against Cody Michael Blue be dismissed without prejudice, meaning authorities could later revive the case.
The case was dismissed on March 8, 2022, and Blue was released from custody.
Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax said the case against Blue remains under investigation, but he couldn’t say if charges will be reinstated.
Blue, 31, of Clarksville, had been accused of offering teen girls alcohol and cigarettes in exchange for nude photos in 2020 and later threatening to release the photos.
He was initially charged in state court, and those charges were dropped in August 2020, and federal authorities obtained an indictment on exploitation and child porn charges in January 2022.
Blue had served prison time for a lascivious acts charge from an unrelated incident in 2019 when he was found with a 14-year-old girl in a Strawberry Point.
The charges against Tobin were forwarded to the Butler County Attorney’s Office for review. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/updte-former-clarksville-officer-charged-after-allegedly-showing-evidence-photos-and-video/article_396f497a-e78a-5383-82a3-18f0832cfbf7.html | 2022-09-02T20:08:19 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/updte-former-clarksville-officer-charged-after-allegedly-showing-evidence-photos-and-video/article_396f497a-e78a-5383-82a3-18f0832cfbf7.html |
CEDAR FALLS – A free public showing of the 9/11 documentary "102 Minutes That Changed America" will be shown Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, located at 2812 Willow Lane in Cedar Falls.
Each year on Sept. 11, the church observes 30 minutes of prayer and meditation. Anyone with questions should contact Lawrence Stumme at (319) 231-1343 or at lstumme245@gmail.com .
Iseminger Collection at UNI Gallery of Art
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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The Iseminger Collection at the University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/local-church-showing-9-11-documentary/article_dbdc448d-0e66-5f29-a677-c134c5f39ce0.html | 2022-09-02T20:08:25 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/local-church-showing-9-11-documentary/article_dbdc448d-0e66-5f29-a677-c134c5f39ce0.html |
WATERLOO — In the 18th and 19th centuries, superstitious folks made sure to tell the bees news of any significant event – a death, birth, marriage — by knocking once on the hive and whispering the news. It was believed that if the bees were not informed, they would abandon their hives or perish.
Today there are fewer bees to tell.
There also are fewer tallgrass prairies to sustain bees and other pollinators dependent on their biodiversity.
In “Tell the Bees | New Works by Erin Anfinson,” the artist presents a requiem for the remnants and loss of tallgrass prairies and pollinators in her collection of elegant, encaustic-infused artwork and fabrics now on display at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.
The exhibition runs through Nov. 6 in the Forsberg Riverside Galleries. A gallery talk and artist reception is planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
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Iowa was once an ocean of tallgrass prairies that covered 85% of the land. Settlers arrived, land was developed into farms and communities and tallgrass prairies disappeared. Efforts continue to be made by entities like the University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie Center in Cedar Falls to establish, protect and manage native vegetation and restore tallgrass prairies.
Anfinson, who grew up in Denver and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, is a professor of art and design at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. Her interest in science, particularly conservation, natural history and ecosystems in flux, informs her art. She was an artist-in-residence in 2017 at West Branch’s Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, home to an 81-acre restored tallgrass prairie. In 2021, she was artist-in-residence at the Tallgrass Prairie Center.
“I don’t recall ever visiting a prairie when I was growing up. When I was at the Prairie Center, I started going out to different sites, and it was recommended that I visit some of the Victorian-era township cemeteries. You can still find some of the few remaining tallgrass prairie remnants there among the elaborately carved and decaying headstones — before it all gets mowed down,” Anfinson said.
She observed descendants of the .1% surviving tallgrass plant species.
“I had such a connection to these places. I felt very sad about all of it, and the recognition that so little was left just as I was beginning to discover and appreciate it. I was discovering a time in Iowa history that I hadn’t really thought about before. I wanted to embrace that and run with it.”
The artist couldn’t ignore the irony of seeking life in a place that honors death and grief. She also became intrigued by the Victorian era.
“I started visiting historic Victorian homes in the area, such as the Rensselaer Russell House in Waterloo and the C.C. Wolf Mansion in Parkersburg, and I began to absorb the use of ornamentation, the patterns in fabric and wallpaper and symbols of mourning in Victorian times. It just felt good to express that grief in my work. It changed the nature of my residency,” she explained.
I took time to filter down how she wanted to depict the prairies. “I eventually settled on a setting, not just the removal of prairie that had already happened, but how do we continue to restore it and deal with the pesticides that are killing pollinators and getting in the groundwater. It felt compelling for me to reflect my anxiety about pollinator decline and safety.”
In “Tell the Bees,” Anfinson created her art from photos, videos and prairie plant and seed specimens, as well as ash from prairie burns conducted by the Tallgrass Prairie Center. Elaborately framed in Victorian style, “mementos” such as encaustic, paper and ash funeral wreaths hang on gallery walls, depicting clouded Sulphur, Spicebush Swallowtail, Checkered Skipper and Eastern Comma butterflies and hawk moths. Other frames contain digital prints on photo rag paper of big bluestem, common milkweed, butterfly weed, rattlesnake master, goldenrod, common ironweed and other plants.
Digitally printed sailcloth canvases echo arts-and-crafts period wallpapers using prairie plants to form patterns, including spiderwort, clover, field milkwort, golden rod and asters. They were created from scans of prairie soil and encaustic-infused paper. These fabric fields also contain subtle honeycombs that are the chemical symbols for neonicotinoid pesticides.
One of the most striking pieces in the collection is a thick switchgrass root that at 11 feet long is as tall as a single-story house. It took just about a year to grow at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, said WCA Curator Chawne Paige. Archival preserved prairie plant specimens on loan from the center are displayed on stark white biers meant to evoke “thoughts of a viewing or visitation at a funeral,” Paige explained.
“In its totality, the show came together the way I wanted. The message sinks in kind of slow. I really wanted it to be a reflective, somber, solemn experience and beautiful at the same time,” Anfinson said. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/watch-now-tell-the-bees-exhibit-at-waterloo-center-for-the-arts-mourns-loss-of/article_5fbcace5-8c1e-5246-a95b-3cbaa2631643.html | 2022-09-02T20:08:32 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/watch-now-tell-the-bees-exhibit-at-waterloo-center-for-the-arts-mourns-loss-of/article_5fbcace5-8c1e-5246-a95b-3cbaa2631643.html |
WATERLOO — The Waterloo Public Library announces upcoming events:
Tuesday 10-11:30 a.m. – The first session of a six-week memoir writing class for adults will be held in Meeting Room AB. It will be led by Iowa author and freelance writer Jacquie McTaggart, who teaches that everyone is capable of writing a memoir. She will walk participants through the process step-by-step. The class will meet at the same time and location on Tuesdays over the following five weeks.
Tuesday 5-7 p.m. – Virtual Writing Club, designed for adults who are aspiring writers. The club will provide a safe and constructive place to receive feedback on participants’ work. Every first and third Tuesday beginning in September, registered club members will submit writing pieces to be distributed to the group for discussion. This is not a genre-specific writing club, all genres are welcome. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. To register, email to sthill@waterloopubliclibrary.org. More details to follow upon registration.
Saturday 10-11:30 a.m. – Windows 10/11 basics for adults. Bring your Windows questions to this Q&A-style class in the conference room. Participants will also receive an overview of computer basics skills and an introduction to Window’s newest operating system, Windows 11. Registration is required. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-library-announces-upcoming-events/article_9fb2f2be-fcc9-5fb2-8b22-02d4ded9094c.html | 2022-09-02T20:08:38 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-library-announces-upcoming-events/article_9fb2f2be-fcc9-5fb2-8b22-02d4ded9094c.html |
Bicyclist seriously injured after Thursday crash in central Lubbock
The Lubbock Police Department’s Major Crash Unit is investigating a collision in Central Lubbock that sent a bicyclist to the hospital with serious injuries.
Lubbock police were called to the 4800 block of Avenue Q at 2:46 p.m. on Thursday for reports of a collision with injuries.
Upon arrival, they located 62-year-old Alfredo Gutierrez. He was transported to University Medical Center via ambulance with serious injuries.
Through the initial course of the investigation, it appears Gutierrez was traveling north in the far east lane of Avenue Q. At the same time, 22-year-old Lexi Haden, who was driving a passenger car, was also traveling north in the far east lane of Avenue Q in the 4700 block when Gutierrez attempted to turn west onto Avenue Q, at which point he collided with the car.
No other injuries were reported, no arrests were made and the investigation is ongoing. | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/bicyclist-seriously-injured-after-thursday-crash-in-central-lubbock/65470423007/ | 2022-09-02T20:11:17 | 0 | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/bicyclist-seriously-injured-after-thursday-crash-in-central-lubbock/65470423007/ |
Burning Man is in full swing in the Black Rock Desert, and although the festival certainly operates on a "come as you are" philosophy, it also encourages attendees to come as their most outrageous self. That means indulging in one of San Francisco's favorite pastimes: dressing up in costume.
The 80,000-person gathering was born in San Francisco on Baker Beach. Now it takes place in Nevada, but SF still has a huge contingent of people who flock to the event (an estimated 10 percent of attendees). Plus there's tourists rolling through the city before heading to the event, many of which end up at Haight Street Costumes.
"Nobody was coming all month, I was expecting a steady flow of people," said AJ Spaziano of Haight Street Costumes. "Then it was all last week that everyone came storming through, which makes sense because we're a tourist stop. Here, then Reno, then you're there. So we were catching that last wave."
Costume preferences were all over the map, but with a few notable trends. Spaziano joked about a "fur shortage" throughout the city as a result of the event, citing customers who said they had problems finding furry accessories at other shops.
"A lot of people would come here, shop everywhere else, and come back because they couldn't find fur jackets anywhere," Spaziano said. "Now we can prep for next year."
LED "fairy lights" and goggles were big sellers, but sequins seem to be less popular this year.
"People who are following the rules are not getting sequins as much," Spaziano explained. "They're likely to become trash, because they get caught on things. So a lot of people avoided that, and were going for shiny iridescent things."
Space and disco were two more common themes, but customers just seemed hungry for costumes in general.
"They were looking for everything and anything," Spaziano said.
The influx of tourists made August a great month for the business, and 2022 has been an extraordinary year overall as customers emerge from the pandemic. But despite all the goggles and LED lights, Burning Man is still a second-tier costume holiday compared to Halloween.
"Nothing compares to Halloween," Spaziano said. "We make probably half of our year's money in October alone. While this is big, it's similar to Bay to Breakers or Santacon. It's great, but does not compare."
Haight Street Costumes is located at 735 Haight St.
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— 'Freedom to play with fire': A report from the rogue Burning Man event
— 'Gateway to Burning Man': Reno braces for its busiest week as 25,000 Burners arrive | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Here-are-Burning-Man-2022-costume-trends-17415723.php | 2022-09-02T20:12:54 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Here-are-Burning-Man-2022-costume-trends-17415723.php |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Police Department is at South High School after the report of a fight. However, the school principal said it was because someone yelled, “Gun!”
A police department spokesperson said the call came in as a disturbance around 11:20 a.m.
A student told a KSN crew at the scene that he was returning to school following lunch and heard “pops.” A teacher told the student to get back in the building, but the student ran back home since he lives so close.
South High Principal Travis Rogers sent a message to parents, saying, “At the end of our lunch period, a student threw down two ‘fire poppers’ or ‘fire crackers’ in the hallway, and another student yelled ‘gun.'”
Rogers’s message goes on to say that administration and security are currently identifying the students, and extra police are on the property.
“Students should be in class, but if you feel the need to pick up your student, please contact attendance at 973-5460,” he said.
KSN News reached out to Wichita Public Schools spokesperson Susan Arensman. She said there was a fight that caused a large crowd to gather. She said additional police officers were called to help disperse the crowds.
On Wednesday, the school resource officer at Southeast High had to use pepper spray to disperse an unruly crowd.
And on Thursday, police were sent to West High after the school resource officer asked for help dealing with fights and crowds gathering. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/police-are-called-to-another-wichita-high-school/ | 2022-09-02T20:23:59 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/police-are-called-to-another-wichita-high-school/ |
Massillon woman, businessmen settle lawsuit over 'Uncensored' Liberty Healthshare posts
CANTON ‒ A legal dispute over comments made on the Facebook page "Healthshare Members Uncensored” has been settled following a counterclaim filing by the defendant.
Angela Miller, a Massillon resident, was sued in May by Daniel J. Beers II and Brandon Fabris, partners in several businesses including co-ownership of the former Massillon Affinity Hospital property, because of messages she posted in a public Facebook group she administers. The lawsuit also cited comments Miller posted on the “Massillon LIVE” Facebook page.
Beers and Fabris, both of Lawrence Township, claimed Miller's posts accused them of unethical and unlawful conduct. The pair sought unspecified damages and a Stark County Common Pleas judge's court order to stop Miller from posting defamatory social media comments about them.
Miller's lawyer, Peter Pattakos, then filed a counterclaim that argued Miller had made truthful posts on Facebook and was expressing her constitutionally protected opinions about Beers and Fabris. Miller admitted she made the statements cited by Beers and Fabris, but denied the statements were defamatory, that she wasn't allowed to make them and that Beers and Fabris were entitled to damages.
More:Stark businessmen sue Massillon woman over Facebook posts
The counterclaim states: "Beers and Fabris know, and knew at the time of filing their complaint against Miller, that all of her statements they allege to be defamatory are either true, or statements of opinion that are reasonably based on true facts."
It also alleged that Beers and Fabris filed the lawsuit "with malice" and a "conscious disregard" for Miller's rights and interests with certainty of causing harm and damage to her.
The counterclaim led to discussions on a settlement and a notice of dismissal was filed with the court on Tuesday.
Pattakos, a Summit County lawyer who filed the counterclaim for Miller, said his client "is glad that the matter has been resolved."
Richard Arnold, lawyer for Beers and Fabris, said he believes all parties are satisfied with the confidential agreement that resolved the case.
Liberty Healthshares Facebook page spurs lawsuit
Miller is administrator of "Healthshare Members Uncensored," a public Facebook page that encourages healthshare members to "feel free to share your stories, join in the discussion and offer advice on what has been successful in getting your medical bills paid by your healthshare."
More:Similar lawsuit over Facebook posts played out in 2019
The concept of health sharing ministries has existed for many years. In early healthshares, members of a church community would save money and work together to help each other pay medical bills if they became sick. The concept began expanding in the 1980s, with larger healthshares forming. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, some have sought out healthshares groups as an alternative to health insurance.
Although different healthshares are discussed on Miller's page, many of the comments are geared toward Liberty HealthShare, based in Jackson Township.
Miller is a former employee. She also is a friend of former Liberty co-worker of Chelsea Tubbs, who in 2019 lost a defamation lawsuit to Liberty and Fabris. That lawsuit was based on posts Tubbs made on a Facebook page — called "Liberty Health Members: Uncensored" ― that was closed down because of the case.
Tubbs initially ignored requests to shutdown the Facebook page, which led to separate lawsuits filed by Liberty HealthShare and Cost Sharing Solutions, a company co-owned by Beers and Fabris. When the cases went to court, Tubbs didn't have a lawyer. She failed to respond to the lawsuits and the court filed default judgments.
The cases involving Tubbs are cited by Pattakos.
The counterclaim contends that Beers and Fabris went to court in May because they believed they could "bully Miller into silence with a frivolous lawsuit."
The counterclaim also contends that the initial lawsuit filed by Beers and Fabris "constitutes a willful perversion of the legal system to accomplish ulterior purposes for which it was not designed."
Beers and Fabris links to Liberty
Cost Sharing Solutions, provided marketing, call center and other services for Liberty HealthShare.
Additionally, Beers and Fabris have family ties to past Liberty HealthShare executives. Drudy Abel — a former chief executive officer and chief operating officer at Liberty — is Beers' aunt, while her daughter is in a relationship with Fabris.
The family relationship was noted in some of the posts made by Miller.
There are two posts where Miller accused Fabris of perjury when he testified in the Tubbs defamation case in 2019. "He's the one that had submitted fabricated info like numbers and employee names to the court. Said his employees worked so many hours investigating Chelsea...," Miller said in a December 2021 conversation on the "Healthshare Members Uncensored" page.
Other comments by Miller cite a pending lawsuit in federal court involving Liberty HealthShare and Cost Sharing Solutions, as well as action the Ohio Attorney General's office took against the companies and their top executives.
More:Liberty Healthshare, vendors reach settlement with Ohio attorney general
Fabris, Beers and Cost Sharing Solutions are part of a lawsuit filed last October in U.S. District Court. That case alleges that Fabris, Beers and several others conspired with two of Liberty HealthShare's founders to funnel money to the pockets of family and friends through inflated service costs. The lawsuit also questions whether the defendants engaged in mail or wire fraud, violated federal laws regarding racketeering activities and broke the rules for nonprofit organizations to maintain their tax-exempt status.
Fabris and Beers, along with the other defendants in the lawsuit, want U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz to dismiss the case, claiming it attempts to litigate claims that already have been resolved through settlement agreements approved last year with the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
In the settlement agreement, Fabris and Beers, as well as the leaders of other vendor companies denied violating Ohio law but agreed to pay roughly $6.5 million over five years to resolve outstanding issues, allegations and claims.
Repository staff writer Kelli Weir contributed to this report.
Reach Edd at 330-580-8484 or edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com On Twitter: @epritchardREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/parties-resolve-healthshare-members-uncensored-facebook-post-lawsuit/65415948007/ | 2022-09-02T20:33:52 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/parties-resolve-healthshare-members-uncensored-facebook-post-lawsuit/65415948007/ |
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — A man and woman at the center of a township police investigation into fraud have been picked up on warrants by police in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Wei Song, 59, and Botao Liu, 52, were taken to the Atlantic County jail after their arrest, police said Thursday in a news release.
For about a year, police have been investigating the two for fraud claims. Their investigation found Song defrauded one victim of more than $600,000 in cash, wrote millions of dollars in bad checks and incurred more than $3 million in identity theft losses against them, with which Liu conspired, police said.
Additional charges are pending, and numerous other victims are suspected of being defrauded by Song and Liu, police said.
Song and Liu frequently moved but are last known to have lived in Egg Harbor Township, with Song often using the aliases Coco Li, Min Wang and Juny Li, police said.
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Those who believe they may have been defrauded by Song and Liu can call Detective Timothy Giberson at 609-652-3705, ext. 386.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, Atlantic County Sheriff's Office, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, State Police, Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted the investigation. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/2-wanted-in-galloway-fraud-probe-arrested-in-pennsylvania/article_45e4a82c-2a33-11ed-a5fb-7b8402f6d3e4.html | 2022-09-02T20:39:34 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/2-wanted-in-galloway-fraud-probe-arrested-in-pennsylvania/article_45e4a82c-2a33-11ed-a5fb-7b8402f6d3e4.html |
WILDWOOD CREST — A borough woman was arrested after she hit a parked car while driving drunk and then assaulted an officer, police said Friday.
Cpl. Cole Sawyer and Officer Michael McInerney responded to the 5800 block of New Jersey Avenue about 7:20 p.m. Sunday, where they found Sandra Vogel, 58, standing outside her vehicle after she struck a parked vehicle, causing heavy damage to it while attempting to back her vehicle into a driveway, police said.
Further investigation revealed Vogel was intoxicated, police said. She was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where she was then accused of assaulting Officer Domanik Auch by striking him in the chest, police said. Auch was not injured.
Vogel was charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement, obstructing administration of law, disorderly conduct and driving while intoxicated. She also was issued summonses for driving while suspended, reckless driving and being an unlicensed driver. She was released on summonses pending court. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/wildwood-crest-woman-charged-with-drunken-driving-assaulting-police-officer/article_86a71b24-2af1-11ed-bd84-f343470f8e58.html | 2022-09-02T20:39:40 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/wildwood-crest-woman-charged-with-drunken-driving-assaulting-police-officer/article_86a71b24-2af1-11ed-bd84-f343470f8e58.html |
It’s been nearly seven months since the Cincinnati Bengals held a late Super Bowl lead then gave up the go-ahead touchdown with 1:25 left in a tough 23-20 loss to the L.A. Rams. But who could have predicted at the start of last season that the Bengals would even end up in the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl?
Before this season starts on Sept. 11 with the Bengals taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, we’re reaching out to local die-hard Bengals fans to find out what they’re most excited about and how they think the team will do.
Please take a minute to fill out the form below and let us know. Contact information that you enter on the form will not be published.
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About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/die-hard-bengals-fans-how-excited-are-you-for-the-upcoming-season/5ZY4JS2TOZF2HND2SFLGQUCV5U/ | 2022-09-02T20:39:43 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/die-hard-bengals-fans-how-excited-are-you-for-the-upcoming-season/5ZY4JS2TOZF2HND2SFLGQUCV5U/ |
CAPE MAY — If the residents of Cape May do not want a proposed seven-story hotel on the site of the former Beach Theatre, the project will not move forward, Eustace Mita, the CEO of ICONA resorts, told a large crowd gathered Thursday night at Convention Hall.
“If we can’t convince you, if we can’t convince the majority, then we don’t think we should do it either,” Mita said. “If we can’t convince you that this is best for Cape May, then let’s not do it. Let’s not do it.”
Still, he seemed set to do his best to win the town over.
Mita wants the city to declare the site across Beach Avenue from the city’s Convention Hall as an area in need of redevelopment. That would smooth the process for approval for the proposal, which would need multiple variances if it went through the traditional process of site plan review.
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In previous interviews, Mita has said that without the designation, the project will not happen. The cost estimate for the project is $150 million.
More than 200 people turned out for the meeting, which Mita organized. It was structured similarly to a town hall, including a question-and-answer period after the presentation.
Architect David Schultz, with DAS Architects and Interiors in Philadelphia and Cape May, spoke about the design for the property, to include 160 rooms, two rooftop pools, retail space on the ground floor, and a restaurant. Interior valet parking will provide 255 parking spaces.
Schultz described the design as reflecting the classic hotels of Cape May’s past, providing comfort and luxury. He pointed to details like flower-filled window boxes and ocean views from the second-floor deck of the restaurant.
“It’s just to show you what our dream is for Cape May, and hope that you become part of that dream. If not, we understand that, too,” Mita said.
A few speakers described the design as beautiful, and there were comments in favor of the proposal, but it was clear that Mita had not convinced a majority of the crowd. Some at the meeting clearly opposed the plan, and more were skeptical.
“I’m not against this project. I’m against the size of this project,” said one resident.
Others wanted the proposal to go through the normal process of planning board review.
“With the swipe of a pen, this could change Cape May,” said another resident.
Mita argued that the proposal would still need to undergo Planning Board review even with the designation, and appear before the Historic Preservation Commission. But a designation of the property as being in need of redevelopment would speed the process, both at the local level and with the process of gaining state approvals.
“I’m 68 years old,” he said in answer to why he wanted to fast-track the proposal. The approval process could take four of five years, and the company has already owned the property for years, he said.
The designation of an area as being in need of redevelopment gives a municipality wide latitude on supporting projects and negotiating with developers. It can also allow for local tax benefits, but Mita said he is not seeking any tax breaks for the project.
Mita described the current property as a poster child for redevelopment. He said a previous city administration had already suggested it for the designation, and added that the city’s Historic Preservation Commission had found that the former theater structure was not contributing to the historic district.
“The building is falling apart. The steel is rusting and this is being propped up with temporary struts,” Schultz said. “There is nothing we can do with this building.”
The decision will rest with City Council. When a vote or discussion may take place is uncertain.
During the presentation Thursday, Mita took aim at a specific critic who posted about the proposal to social media, describing the post as including misrepresentations and inaccuracies. Mark Bednar, who was at the event, sought to speak but was asked to wait until the question period.
After the event, Bednar said he did not feel like he was given a chance to speak and felt singled out by Mita’s criticism from the stage.
One of the tenants in the current retail properties at the site said the plan would put several people out of business. He did not give his full name.
“I think this is beautiful, by the way. Just a little much,” he said. “There are 14 or 15 other people who you’re going to put out of business.”
According to Mita, Cape May has lost about half of its hotel rooms in the past 20 years. He said tourism is the top funding source for the city, and hotel rooms are the biggest support for tourism. National chains are not willing to risk investing in the seasonal community, he said, stating that his proposal will mean jobs and opportunity for the community.
He described the project as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“What if 200 years ago, the guy who built Congress Hotel didn’t have the guts to do it? That hotel is 200 years old. That means 10 generations have enjoyed the hotel,” Mita said.
One of the residents at the event corrected Mita. The historic Cape May hotel is named Congress Hall.
The Beach Theatre dates from 1950. The theater section of the building was demolished in 2011. ICONA purchased the property at a bankruptcy auction in 2019 for $6.65 million. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/mita-if-cape-may-community-says-no-icona-plan-won-t-move-forward/article_f352edc2-2ae5-11ed-b9bb-f714b8d8a79c.html | 2022-09-02T20:39:46 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/mita-if-cape-may-community-says-no-icona-plan-won-t-move-forward/article_f352edc2-2ae5-11ed-b9bb-f714b8d8a79c.html |
There will be a series of traffic advisories in Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township running into the end of next week, Atlantic County officials announced.
Work is being done by the Transit Turnpike Authority, and it will impact these roads in EHT:
Mill Road: Until further notice, the eastbound lane between Fire and Old Zion roads will be closed to traffic with a detour in place 24 hours a day. Motorists should follow the posted detour or seek an alternate route.
Steelmanville Road: On Tuesday and Wednesday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern will be in effect between Ocean Heights Avenue and Blackman Road. On Thursday and Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., a detour will be in effect and Steelmanville Road will be closed to traffic between Ocean Heights Avenue and Blackman Road.
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Zion Road: A single-lane, alternating traffic pattern will be in effect between Bargaintown and Old Zion roads from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Ocean Heights Avenue: A single-lane, alternating traffic pattern will be in effect between Steelmanville and Blackman roads from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Bargaintown/Fire Road, EHT
On Tuesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., a detour will be in place in the northbound lane of Bargaintown/Fire Road in EHT between Zion and Mill roads for utility work by the South Jersey Gas. Co. The southbound lane will remain open.
On Wednesday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the northbound detour will be in effect. Northbound motorists are asked to follow the posted detour, plan travel time accordingly or seek an alternate route. Police and traffic directors will be on site to assist. The northbound lane will reopen each evening but close again by 7 a.m. the following morning.
Ocean Heights Avenue, EHT/Hamilton
On Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern will be in effect in the area of Thelma Avenue. Motorists may experience delays and should plan travel time according.
On Thursday and Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., a detour will be in effect in the northbound lane between Harbor Avenue and Somers Point-Mays Landing Road. Southbound traffic will be maintained. Northbound motorists should follow the posted detour or seek an alternate route. Police will be on site to assist. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/traffic-advisories-set-for-egg-harbor-hamilton-townships/article_c20fa494-2aea-11ed-b941-1b9811dbde67.html | 2022-09-02T20:39:52 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/traffic-advisories-set-for-egg-harbor-hamilton-townships/article_c20fa494-2aea-11ed-b941-1b9811dbde67.html |
Coming Sunday in The Press of Atlantic City, Seth Grossman, founder of Liberty and Prosperity, discusses winning his court battle over the casino PILOT legislation.
This article was produced with ProPublica as part of its Local Reporting Network initiative.…
This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The P…
New Jersey officials refused to provide the numbers behind new casino tax breaks, so we did the math
This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The P… | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/watch-how-a-grassroots-group-ended-a-tax-break-for-casinos/article_6b2cec04-2aef-11ed-948d-c774d0a13724.html | 2022-09-02T20:39:58 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/watch-how-a-grassroots-group-ended-a-tax-break-for-casinos/article_6b2cec04-2aef-11ed-948d-c774d0a13724.html |
Flagstaff police responded early Thursday to Coconino High School after a student pulled out a knife on campus.
According to Flagstaff Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Odis Brockman, the incident occurred while students were playing football.
Brockman said one student was hit by another, and responded by pulling out a knife and chasing the other student with it.
According to an email sent to parents, administrators were able to intervene and keep everyone safe until police arrived. In that same email, Flagstaff Unified School District noted it would follow disciplinary policies in responding to the incident.
Police are still investigating what happened, and the case has been referred to detectives. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/attempted-stabbing-at-coconino-high-school/article_97234db4-2af2-11ed-b5c2-1f449b82dace.html | 2022-09-02T20:41:31 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/attempted-stabbing-at-coconino-high-school/article_97234db4-2af2-11ed-b5c2-1f449b82dace.html |
Northern Arizona couldn’t pull off a second consecutive in-state FBS upset Thursday night, suffering 40-3 pounding to the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium to open the season.
A close football game for about 20 minutes of play, Arizona State simply overpowered the visitors and ran away with the contest in the second half.
“We didn’t really do what we necessarily do to establish our run game and we turned the ball over, made the mistake on the field goal and that cost us,” Lumberjacks coach Chris Ball said. "Everything we saw out there is fixable, but we just didn’t take care of the ball and execute like we needed to do."
The Lumberjacks took a major blow early with the loss of defensive back Anthony Sweeney. The veteran senior, who missed all of last season with an injury, was part of a collision early in the first quarter and had to be helped off the field with what looked like a leg injury.
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“I’m sure it took the wind out of everybody. The kid got hurt last year and busted his butt to get back, and now we’re waiting to see what happens with him now,” Ball said.
Northern Arizona held the Sun Devils to just three points in the first quarter and made a skillful stand in the red zone. Northern Arizona had a chance to tie the score at 3-3, but mishandled a snap on a field goal attempt.
Sun Devils moved the ball again early in the second quarter, but the Lumberjacks appeared to make a stand at the goal line. On third down and goal, quarterback Emory Jones reached for the end zone but was just short. The Sun Devils went for it on fourth down and Jones stretched across the goal line for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils tacked on 10 more points, finishing the first half with 276 of their 419 total yards for the game in the first two periods.
Down 24-0 with just over a minute left in the second quarter, Lumberjacks defensive end Sheldon Newton recorded a sack and forced a fumble in Arizona State’s territory. The Lumberjacks recovered the ball, and capitalized on the favorable field position with a field goal with five seconds left in the half.
The turnover and ensuing score provided what the Lumberjacks hoped was a mental shift before the break.
“We ran a great stunt. Mark Ho Ching penetrated really good, freed me up. I got a hit on the quarterback and got the ball out,” Newton said.
Arizona State marched down the field quickly to start the third quarter and take away Northern Arizona's steam, essentially putting the game out of reach. Jones scored his second rushing touchdown, and the Sun Devils tacked on three more field goals to keep the lead growing.
Northern Arizona couldn’t move the ball effectively to cut into the deficit and finished with just 120 total yards of offense.
Meanwhile, busting runs to the outside, the Sun Devils kept getting chunk plays. They finished with 267 yards on the ground.
“They moved lateral all game. We practiced all week going power, power, power, but they switched it up on us. We’ve got to be ready for that, but they went lateral all game,” Newton said.
Northern Arizona is now looking ahead.
“Every goal we have on the board is still attainable; this doesn’t knock us out of the Big Sky championship, doesn’t knock us out of the playoffs,” Ball said.
Northern Arizona will be on the road again for its next contest, visiting Sam Houston on Sept. 10. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/naus-sweeney-hurt-as-lumberjacks-routed-by-arizona-state-40-3/article_82fb2500-2a66-11ed-beac-67a3cfab204b.html | 2022-09-02T20:41:37 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/naus-sweeney-hurt-as-lumberjacks-routed-by-arizona-state-40-3/article_82fb2500-2a66-11ed-beac-67a3cfab204b.html |
The Charles City Community Schools administration and school board are inviting community members to take a survey focused on high school facility needs and potential solutions.
The needs identified include improvements to systems and finishes in the more than 50-year-old building to upgrade items at the end of their useful life according to a press release. These updates—along with technology upgrades, building accessibility, air conditioning, and spaces that support 21st century learning—have been identified as critical to effective teaching and learning for students now and in the future.
One area of concern is the current heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system which is considered an urgent need in a recent facility assessment.
“Most air handlers we have are original to the building,” said Director of Operations Jerry Mitchell in the release. “They have outlasted their lifespan by many years and you cannot get the parts to fix them anymore.”
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A community-driven task force has developed a series of recommended solutions for the Board of Education’s review. Now, the task force is seeking additional input to determine how the district and board can best move forward.
“While the Charles City Community Schools represent a big point of pride in our community, our high school building has a number of facility needs that we must address soon,” said Board President Pat Rottinghaus in the release. “We are asking our community members to provide their input and feedback on how we can best address these needs in a comprehensive and forward-thinking way. We encourage all parents, staff and community members to take our survey and give us their thoughts on these important issues.”
The anonymous survey takes about 7-10 minutes to complete and will be available through the end of the day on Sept. 15. To take the survey online, visit http://www.charlescitysurvey.org.
Community members who have comments or questions about the survey are encouraged to contact Charles City Community Schools Central Services at 641-257-6500 or cccsd@charlescityschools.org.
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/news/local/charles-city-schools-seeks-input-on-facility-needs/article_d37c4fa4-f04c-5563-94b8-5146159ec176.html | 2022-09-02T20:41:43 | 0 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/charles-city-schools-seeks-input-on-facility-needs/article_d37c4fa4-f04c-5563-94b8-5146159ec176.html |
Brandon McConnell, who has muscular dystrophy, loves to swim, ride horseback and sing karaoke with friends at summer camp.
At 12 he participated in his first of eight weeklong camps with other disabled individuals along the Guadalupe River in Center Point, southeast of Kerrville.
Now, at 23, Brandon recently reached an aquatic milestone: canoeing. It’s a new favorite activity at CAMP, whose name says it all: Children’s Association for Maximum Potential.
Because of CAMP, he’s become a bit of a social butterfly. He’s quite the dancer and he loves to give hugs, said his dad, Ken McConnell.
It’s that happiness — really, joy — that CAMP CEO Susan Osborne witnesses among the disabled community and drives her passion for them to be included at CAMP, to be included everywhere.
“I think every adult and child wants to be seen, to be heard, to be known. And so we believe in the concept ‘see me, hear me, know me’ ... no matter their disability. Everyone here is unique and individual, and at CAMP we look past that,” she said. “We celebrate that.”
Lackland AFB pediatricians Chris Plauche Johnson, Fred McCurdy and Robert de Lemos founded CAMP in 1979, when 32 kids with serious medical conditions came together for a unique weekend camping experience. A year later CAMP was incorporated.
Today, more than 40 summers later, CAMP annually serves more than 1,000 people from age 5 to 50-plus years old, including those who use a ventilator, have a trach tube or require 24-hour care, Osborne said. Cost per camper per session is based on a sliding scale from $350 to $1,700.
For six days and five nights during one of eight summer camps annually, participants join in the activities that a typical summer camp offers, such as those that Brandon enjoys and more: arts and crafts, outdoor cooking, archery, nature programs or floating in the Lazy River in CAMP’s Aquatic Center, always with a trained volunteer or buddy assigned to each camper from arrival to departure.
Volunteers — as many as 500 each summer — also help campers with personal care and, more important, put parents at ease. A medical team staffs a new health care center, part of a $7.5 million building fund that also included a new camper cabin, an arts and craft pavilion and an amphitheater. All were completed in 2020 when programming was shuttered because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, CAMP reopened with half the usual number of campers. They were tested often for COVID-19, and staff ensured precautions against the virus for the medically compromised who returned this summer in larger numbers. The precautions help ensure the growth of its future and continued confidence in CAMP’s standards, said Osborne, who has worked with CAMP for 18 years, becoming its CEO in 2012.
Since its first camp — in an old church — CAMP has grown to 55 acres with air conditioned and heated cabins less than an hour’s drive from San Antonio.
But it’s also what’s outside the cabins that captivates the campers.
“We have a nature program with goats, rabbits, reptiles, chinchillas,” Osborne said. “There’s paint ball, a drama program, and every Thursday night we have a dance.”
CAMP also offers monthly school year programs from September to May that include parents’ night out, family weekend retreats and teen and adult day adventures.
But it’s the summer camps that are the biggest draw — and this season’s newest attraction had kids lined up as if they were at an amusement park, eager to be thrilled by the latest ride.
“Our giant swing is one of the new elements that the kids just loved,” she said.
“You put the camper into a harness encasement adaptive to one’s physical disability, and the camper decides how high he or she wants to go. Then the cord is released, and you swing all the way down. There is so much laughter.”
Osborne also takes pride in the training program offered to volunteers, from teen to young adults who buddy up, one-on-one, with campers.
“We teach dignity because everybody deserves to be treated with dignity. That’s how we view people. We honor our campers; we do not feel sorry for them.”
That feeling — and more important, the fight for acceptance and inclusion — is something Osborne has championed long before joining CAMP in 2004 as a family support coordinator.
Her perseverance for this work is personal.
“I have two nephews who have cystic fibrosis. Our family went through a lot of stress, through the medical needs of the boys and how to keep them healthy through their lives. I understood then and now that families need help to maneuver through different systems,” she said.
She also has a childhood friend with a daughter with serious intellectual disabilities.
“Helping him through that and seeing what he went through gave me a lot of empathy and compassion and knowing that ultimately kids are just kids,” she said. “At their core that is who they are: kids. And at CAMP all I can think about is how we are going to see these kids grow.”
For new CAMP board member Allegra Montemayor, an education advocate, that growth is realized the moment campers arrive.
“It pulls at your heart strings when you see the cheerfulness in the kids’ faces. That’s what drives me to be in special education and to be at CAMP,” said Montemayor, who’s also a program specialist with the San Antonio Independent School District’s Disabilities Services Department.
She said she is grateful CAMP exists and that Osborne is there.
“Susan and the network that CAMP provides between families and organizations is important for parents so that they can stay current and continue those conversations and learn new skills for their kids,” she said. Because once a child with special needs transitions from youth to adulthood and are out of school, services become less and less.”
She also believes in Osborne’s purpose.
“It takes a special person to continue, to advocate and to be that person to support our community. I value that in her. I find that to be inspiring.”
So does Toni Hill, who is serving her third term as a board member since her involvement with CAMP began 14 years ago. It was then her daughter Meghan, 29, who has severe multiple disabilities, cognitive and medical, attended the first of multiple overnight CAMP visits.
The family was living in Miami when Toni and her husband, Tom, learned about CAMP from an Air Force friend.
“They were willing to take her as camper. And, of course, there was no question she was going. It was so successful that we ended up bringing her four or five times a year for a one-night camp experience,” Hill said, recalling how Meghan “would whoop and holler and get so excited when we turned off at the Comfort exit to make the drive all the way to Center Point.”
Meghan died in 2016. She was 34.
“What a last run Meghan had,” her mother said. “She never wanted to get off the horse or out of the Lazy River. Swimming there was freedom — a freedom in the water she never had later in life. She had friends at CAMP. She did the things that every child could experience at camp. Meghan was a joyful person and grabbed life the way we all should.”
Hill said CAMP also gives parents and caregivers a break — a much needed respite for family members who have a 24-hour responsibility to a child and don’t have time to care for themselves.
Osborne said a pause from caregiving is therapeutic and necessary.
“To have a respite is a healing and supportive thing we do for families. It gives them an opportunity to rest and time to be with other children and family members,” she said.
“When you have a child with a medical condition, it is that much harder. There are extra steps, therapy, behavioral management,” Osborne said. “It is a lifelong job and it doesn’t end at a certain age. So to be able to enjoy a week where the focus can be on other children or one’s marriage is a huge part of respite, and that can’t be understated.”
McConnell said his life is dedicated to serving Brandon, who spent his first month in the hospital after being diagnosed with Type 1 myotonic
dystrophy, which causes progressive muscle loss and weakness.
At first McConnell was hesitant to enroll Brandon at CAMP.
“Honestly I was petrified to no end. I was really worried he would miss me. I called several times. When the end of the week came, I expected Brandon would be waiting for me and jump into my arms.”
When McConnell arrived to pick up his son, he saw him in the distance and ran up to him.
“Brandon looked at me and was like ‘What are you doing here?’ I realized then that I don’t have to do everything,” said McConnell, a former CAMP board member.
Later, McConnell had a conversation about overcoming challenges as a caregiver while sitting on a porch at CAMP with Osborne, as she, too, shared heartwarming stories about the bravery of the children and young adults CAMP serves.
“Susan would rather not talk about the business. She talks about the people, that is where her energy and devotion come from,” he said. “She is just a soul who cares for other people, and that’s truly what keeps her going.”
Osborne echoed what McConnell said about her motivation.
“Don’t be afraid and don’t judge,” she said, repeating her mantra. “As you walk by a person with a disability, simply ask, ‘How are you doing today?’ Don’t be afraid to do that.”
CAMP has taught Brandon McConnell to be courageous. He has six camping DVDs of himself on a horse, in the pool, singing and dancing — memories of new friends and experiences he enjoys watching again and again, always asking when the next camp is.
When his dad asks what Brandon would say to someone who might be afraid to go to CAMP, his answer isn’t about all the good times to be had. Brandon’s answer is sweeter, deeper.
“I would hug her.”
Yes, he would.
And then he’d take her canoeing. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/CAMP-nonprofit-CEO-Susan-Osborne-disabled-17415765.php | 2022-09-02T20:42:47 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/CAMP-nonprofit-CEO-Susan-Osborne-disabled-17415765.php |
The University of Houston expects a noisy reception in Saturday's season opener against UTSA in the Alamodome.
During radio appearances Thursday on ESPN 97.5 FM, SportsTalk 790 AM and his weekly coaches show, Dana Holgorsen said the Cougars will be "on the lookout" for any artificial noise that is pumped into the stadium speakers.
"There's rumors they pump crowd noise into their speakers and artificially make that thing as loud as they can, which is against NCAA rules," Holgorsen said on 790 AM.
Later Thursday, Holgorsen added:
"I've been in there when there's 10,000 people and if they turn the volume up loud enough it can be really, really loud, which is illegal and against the rules, and I'm going to be on the lookout because they are not going to pump crowd noise into the stadium. We're not going to let that happen.
"I'm hoping we have a bunch of Cougar fans over there to offset it a little bit."
A UTSA spokesperson was not immediately available for comment, however the school did release the following video on social media.
The video includes audio from Holgorsen's radio appearance, as well as clips of UTSA fans cheering at the Alamodome. The video shows text reading "we can't make this up," in reference to the crowd noise.
Kyle Mahnke contributed to this report | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/UTSA-alamodome-football-fake-noise-17416094.php | 2022-09-02T20:42:54 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/UTSA-alamodome-football-fake-noise-17416094.php |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — “The family was talking about, ‘Why not move to California?’” said James Bui.
In Aug. 2013, the Bui family packed up their lives and headed west. It wasn’t a move for sprawling beaches or eternal sunshine, but for a better future for a loved one.
“California policy and law around disabilities… it sounds wonderful, right?!” said James. “It sounds game-changing in many ways.”
Our rights for those with disabilities paired with California’s vast Vietnamese population made it seem like the perfect destination for their family.
“[The] largest community outside of Vietnam,” said James.
Disability laws in California are unlike any other state. It’s what appealed to the Bui family for the youngest out of their 11 siblings -- Martin.
“Martin was born in 1980,” said James. “He was born with a traumatic brain injury and was later diagnosed with autism.”
His condition stemmed from medical malpractice.
“He was born, he was bleeding. I think even the nurse was on record saying, ‘This is not normal,’” said James.
He never developed skills to speak, read, write or sit still, court records show. In Illinois and Florida, the states the Bui’s lived in prior to California, Martin’s parents were appointed as his guardians – what’s known as conservators in California.
“My mom was his everything,” said James. “My mom cherished him.”
While Martin and his mother had a beloved bond, each sibling formed their own unique connection. For James and Martin, it was through music.
“As he listened, you’d watch him rock his head. He’d beatbox to certain kinds of percussions,” said James. “It was our way of spending time, acknowledging that he’s communicating.”
In return, Martin taught him.
“I just think disabilities is a misnomer in terms of a word. People have gifts and maybe at the time – being younger – you’re conditioned to think it’s a problem,” said James. “But looking back in retrospect, the kind of learning I’ve gained as a person just growing up with him, I received a lot. It made me who I am – as a father, as a sibling, as someone who cares.”
James and his family care deeply about Martin. They thought the state of California would too.
California’s system ensures people with disabilities like Martin have equal rights through the Lanterman Act, which was passed in 1969. Under this law, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) was created.
The taxpayer-funded department oversees regional centers throughout the state. The centers provide services to people with disabilities as well as their families.
DDS has an important responsibility: the well-being and equality of Californians with disabilities.
But DDS is not doing their job, according to a state audit.
“They’re not really doing a good job of really overseeing these regional centers and ensuring they’re overseeing the vendors,” said Michael Tilden, the acting California State Auditor.
The June 2022 report’s title sums up the findings: “The Department of Developmental Services: It Has Not Ensured That Regional Centers Have the Necessary Resources to Effectively Service Californians With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.”
The California State Auditor found DDS lacked oversight in several critical areas, like ensuring people have convenient access to services – seemingly the entire point of DDS.
“It’s about the timeliness of receiving the services and the convenience of access,” said Tilden. “And the real issue here is we couldn’t really evaluate that because basically DDS and regional centers are not tracking that data.”
Anyone unable to get regional center services should be able to file a complaint.
In reviewing three regional centers, the auditors found DDS isn’t making sure clients know they can file complaints – or how to – and if a complaint is actually filed, investigations into those complaints are not being completed in a timely manner, the audit showed.
“On average we found the three regional centers (examined for the audit) exceeded the 20-day (required) timeframe, 60% of the time,” said Laura Kearney, California Audit Principal.
DDS also failed to review the live-in care facilities they fund, which they call “vendors,” to make sure they were safe for clients even though quality reviews are required by state law and in the few reviews done, what’s been found is alarming.
“There were errors with dispensing medication,” said Tilden. “There was a lack of documentation for instructions on how to provide medication to consumers. There were also some safety issues around mold in different facilities.”
Our investigation found these facilities are where 86% of people conserved by DDS live, including Andrew Findley – Deborah’s son who we introduced you to in episode two of this investigation.
According to a July 2022 facility evaluation report by the California Department of Social Services, staff failed on multiple occasions to correctly administer prescription medication.
We asked the Department of Developmental Services repeatedly for an on-camera interview for eight months. When they declined, we sent them a detailed list of questions like, “Why, without checking these facilities, DDS believes they’re better for those under their conservatorship to live rather than at home?”
DDS refused to give us an on-camera interview but sent us a written response and a video of their Director Nancy Bargmann reading that response. Both are included below, neither answered our questions.
From our investigation, we found a lot of issues stem from the fact DDS hasn’t changed how much they pay regional center service coordinators since 1991.
“DDS has basically budgeted these service coordinators at $34,000,” said Tilden. “Which, obviously, isn’t enough.”
At max, coordinators are supposed to have 62 clients. For Sacramento’s Alta Regional Center, the auditor found an average of 86 clients per coordinator; or 40% more than the requirement, which makes it harder to care and provide adequate services for each client’s unique needs.
“I think 80 was about my average,” said Barbara Imle.
Imle experienced this first-hand as a service coordinator at multiple regional centers.
“Their caseloads are obscenely high and they’re already overworked and underpaid,” said Imle.
Severely underpaid as the California Auditor found DDS should be budgeting these positions at $70,000 per position.
“That’s almost double of what they’re actually doing,” said Tilden.
Many coordinators left for better opportunities. The audit found between 2020 and 2021, Alta Regional Center hired 71 new employees and 76 left.
When coordinators aren’t supported, the clients suffer – especially those conserved – because coordinators play a crucial role in limited conservatorships for people with disabilities.
While the audit’s scope didn’t include conservatorships, Imle has been digging into this niche area.
“Because we have no national guidelines requiring states to gather data and information,” said Imle. “There’s no information out there.”
Until Imle’s research. After working in two regional centers for nearly 10 years, Imle left to instead study them.
“My experience with transferring between regional centers is really eye-opening,” said Imle.
What her research found was there are 21 different ways of doing things for California’s 21 different regional centers.
“It’s a huge problem,” said Imle. “Not just to service coordination in general, but particularly (for) limited conservatorships.”
Coordinators have too much on their plates, impacting their ability to do assessments for limited conservatorships.
“[The assessment] has potential to have a lot of influence and power on the decisions,” said Imle.
For limited conservatorships of those with disabilities, the coordinator writes an assessment about the person being conserved. The assessment includes which powers the person should have taken away.
The coordinator also recommends if the conservatorship should be granted or not in their assessment. The recommendation/assessment goes directly to the probate court judge before making their final decision.
Yet DDS provides no guidance or training on conservatorship assessments for its regional centers.
“They’re virtually silent on limited conservatorships,” said Imle. “There’s no really overall discussion of what’s expected, how they’re going to do it, and what needs to be done. There’s just… nothing.”
Attorney and advocate Tom Coleman with the Spectrum Institute also found DDS has no budget designated for anything related to conservatorships.
“Examine their contracts. There’s not one word mentioned about conservatorships. There’s no money in the contract for conservatorship evaluation,” said Coleman. “What if you or anybody viewing this broadcast was told to do a job and then not given any money to do it? How good of a job are you going to do?”
With caseloads rising, Imle says many coordinators don’t have time to truly evaluate the person that may be conserved.
“They do not require in-person meetings. A lot of the assessments are written just based off reading the chart and the notes in the computer system,” said Imle.
Meaning that these assessments with the power to separate families and strip someone of their civil rights by conservatorship can't be trusted.
“There’s just a total disregard for the client’s desires,” said Imle.
She also found probate courts are part of the problem.
“Even when you write a stellar assessment that’s really going into detail and might provide alternatives, the judges don’t always read it, acknowledge it or include that in their decision making,” said Imle.
Imle observed 93 conservatorship cases in two county probate courts. Every single one of the conservatorship cases she observed was approved. None were denied.
73% of those cases were approved by the court in five minutes or less.
She also discovered all seven powers were requested and approved in most cases.
“It’s not being individualized or limited to meet the need of the individual,” said Imle.
Perhaps most concerning of all is a loophole she discovered.
“I think a lot of it has to do with bypassing the regional center assessment and cuts out one extra agency that’s going to be involved,” said Imle.
She found people being placed under general conservatorships to skip the assessment, which is only required for limited conservatorships.
“One regional center had 187 requests were for general conservatorships compared to 58 for limited,” said Imle. “That was in one year.”
Limited and general conservatorships can have powers over a person, their estate, or both. Rather than opting in or out of seven separate powers, general conservatorships strip someone completely of all their civil rights, which is why experts told us a general conservatorship should never be appointed for a person with a disability.
But that’s exactly what happened to Martin Bui.
Court documents show in 2013, shortly after arriving to California, the Bui family petitioned to be Martin’s conservator and have a bank manage his money. This was the same setup they had in the previous states they lived in prior to moving to California.
Because of the injury Martin suffered at birth, a lawsuit settlement allotted him monthly payments, which increase year after year. At the time of their move to California, he was receiving $27,000 a month and had a net worth of around $2 million, court documents reveal.
“It was an annuity basically to take care of him the rest of his life,” said James.
The court appointed a professional fiduciary to manage both Martin’s wealth and all personal decisions through a general conservatorship. This occurred after Martin’s court-appointed attorney raised concerns about the family’s handling of the money, court documents show.
“The money was all for Martin,” said James. “We just happened to live in the same house, live with him, grow up with him, he was always part of our family.”
After the general conservatorship was appointed, Martin lived at home with family for a short period until he had a bad reaction to anesthesia during a dentist appointment and spent the night in the hospital.
“Then literally in the middle of the night, he gets relocated to another location and doesn’t come home,” said James. “We asked the hospital like, ‘Hey… where’s Martin?’ They were like, ‘He checked out.’ We were like, ‘How can he check out?! Who took him out?’ (We were) contacting the conservator – she wouldn’t respond.”
Rather than an answer, the conservator sent a photo.
“A photo was sent back to us with his socks rolled up (and) duct taped, boxing gloves taped to his arms, and a newspaper saying this is the date,” said James. “It was almost like he was held hostage in the 21st century.”
Boxing gloves duct taped to his skin...
James said this was so Martin couldn’t remove his clothes, like he often did because of a sensory processing disorder that makes him extremely sensitive to certain fabrics.
“He had sensitive skin and eczema,” said James.
Their mother dealt with this much differently in the past.
“She went to JOANN fabrics and made him all this special clothing so he would feel comfortable and feel lose,” said James.
When Martin was hospitalized after the dentist, court documents show the conservator said she, “seized the opportunity and removed Martin to a private residence.” She requested the family “not to visit until the client adjusts to the new routine.”
“It was like a negotiation to have visitation, as if we broke a law or something,” said James. “So we have to fight this in court. Now we have to lawyer up and we’re spending money out of pocket to fight this system that we thought was there for us.”
It's an expensive legal battle, but those representing Martin -- like his conservator, the conservator’s attorney and Martin’s court-appointed attorney -- are paid through Martin’s estate.
“So the person we’re advocating for has to foot the bill for everybody,” said James. “It makes you wonder; whose interest is at stake here?”
For the last eight years, the Bui family has continued to fight Martin’s conservatorship, even after their mother died from a heart attack.
The Bui’s had to file an ex-parte, an emergency petition, in order to get Martin to attend his mother’s funeral after the fiduciary initially refused to negotiate time.
“We would not wish this on anybody because that’s just the most horrendous (thing),” said James. “(It was not) how we thought California would be.”
Today, Martin has a new fiduciary but still lives in a care facility under a general conservatorship.
So, how do we fix this system? How do we protect people like Martin?
Coleman’s organization, Spectrum Institute, has proposed in-depth solutions for years.
“I realized the system could be significantly improved and transformed if DDS were to do its job,” said Coleman.
It’s also what the audit showed: DDS is aware of their faults.
The June 28, 2022 audit was the sixth done on DDS since 2010. In it, the auditors repeatedly pointed to problems they’ve named in past audits. Some were “especially concerning,” they said, since DDS had years to fix these issues but didn't.
The state auditor asked DDS about these problems they hadn’t fixed. DDS said they “could not explain” why many issues were not fixed.
“There’s plenty that DDS could do and they know this! We’ve told them this,” said Coleman. “We’ve told the governor this. We’ve told the Secretary of Health and Human Services this. We met with them personally… nothing has been done.”
Less than a month after our interview with the auditor, they released another audit on DDS showing a lack of oversight over how DDS oversees in-home respite services, which provide care to those with disabilities who live with their family -- showing further failures by DDS.
Department of Developmental Services statement to ABC10:
“In California, unlike any other state in the nation, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a right to the services and supports to help them live their most independent and productive life. With the passage of the ground-breaking Lanterman Act in 1969, the state affirmed its commitment to these rights for Californians. We at the California Department of Developmental Services have the responsibility to deliver on the assurances made by the law.
It is our obligation to hold ourselves and our system partners accountable, while ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive community-based services and supports that embraces choice and allows them to live with purpose and dignity. We are constantly looking to improve how we serve the whole person, all while protecting the health and well-being of those we serve.
We are striving to create effective, culturally responsive, and efficient services. We have advanced this vision by the historic investments made over the last two years that, when put together, drive us toward a system of value-based services and supports, where our main objective is quality and better outcomes.”
Department of Developmental Services response to our questions:
“DDS does not actively seek conservatorships. In all instances, the Department of Developmental Services’(DDS) involvement in the conservatorship process begins with a submission by a third party requesting that the Director of DDS become conservator of a person with developmental disabilities. DDS only decides to petition to become conservator when clear and convincing evidence shows that a conservatorship is needed to protect the consumer’s health, safety, or well-being. The submission can come from a variety of sources, such as the courts, a regional center, a law enforcement agency, a family member, the county public guardian, the consumer’s court-appointed counsel, local adult protective services, or any other person interested in the consumer’s health, safety, or well-being. The conservatorship process is a court-based, legal process. As such, DDS has the legal burden to present conclusive evidence to a judge demonstrating that the conservatorship is necessary to protect the person’s health, safety or well-being.
Family members can and do participate in the judicial proceedings that decide whether a conservatorship petition should be granted, the scope of the conservatorship, and whether the Director of DDS should be appointed as conservator. Furthermore, a court-appointed counsel is part of this process. These are officers of the court appointed by a judge to represent the interests of the proposed conservatee. These counsels are completely independent of DDS and do not receive any funds from the Department. Court-appointed counsel have a fiduciary duty to act independently and in the best interest of the proposed conservatee to determine whether a conservatorship is necessary and who, if anyone, should serve as conservator.
DDS does not seek to become a person’s conservator without a third-party submission having first being made and thoroughly vetted. DDS conducts a comprehensive, detailed inquiry when it receives a conservatorship nomination. DDS will not seek to become conservator if there are alternate, less restrictive means to protect a consumer’s health, safety, or well-being. DDS also will not seek to become conservator if there is a family member, friend or other close person in the consumer’s life that can protect the consumer’s health, safety or well-being. DDS has a legal and moral obligation to protect the consumer no matter the desires or objections from family members.
It is important to understand that under state law every regional center consumer participates in the development of an Individual Program Plan (IPP) that identifies the supports and services the person needs. An IPP is developed regardless of the legal status of individuals. The amount of funds spent on a consumer is based on costs for the supports and services identified in the IPP, and not on any other factor such as whether a conservatorship is in place. Thus, absolutely no additional funds are spent simply because a consumer is subject to a conservatorship by DDS. In addition, neither DDS nor the regional center receives any additional administrative funding for individuals who are conserved versus those who are not conserved.” | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/how-californias-system-for-those-with-disabilities-is-failing/103-8937913d-cbac-462f-bc39-33e347153428 | 2022-09-02T20:43:04 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/abc10-originals/how-californias-system-for-those-with-disabilities-is-failing/103-8937913d-cbac-462f-bc39-33e347153428 |
LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles federal judge threw out an indictment Friday charging a dive boat captain with manslaughter in the deaths of 34 people in a 2019 fire aboard a vessel anchored off the Southern California coast.
The ruling came on the third anniversary of one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent U.S. history as the Conception went down in flames Sept. 2, 2019, near an island off the coast of Santa Barbara. All 33 passengers and a crew member who were trapped in a bunk room below deck died.
Captain Jerry Boylan, 68, failed to follow safety rules, federal prosecutors said. He was accused of “misconduct, negligence and inattention” by failing to train his crew, conduct fire drills and have a roving night watchman on the boat when the fire ignited.
But the indictment failed to specify that Boylan acted with gross negligence, which U.S. District Judge George Wu said was a required element to prove the crime of seaman’s manslaughter and must be listed in the indictment.
Watch more from ABC10: California Wildfires | Woods Fire burns in Tuolumne County, evacuations still in effect | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-conception-boat-fire/103-201f452e-147f-4cb8-981d-f1c752ff5f6c | 2022-09-02T20:43:10 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-conception-boat-fire/103-201f452e-147f-4cb8-981d-f1c752ff5f6c |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was originally published by CalMatters.
The California Legislature rarely passes up an opportunity to place new restrictions on firearms, or stick a finger in the eye of the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority.
But in one of the final acts of the 2022 legislative session, lawmakers declined to do either early Thursday when they opted not to pass a bill that would have rewritten state regulations on concealed carry licenses.
The bill, written by Attorney General Rob Bonta and introduced by Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino of Glendale, was a direct response to a June high court ruling that struck down a New York state law requiring anyone applying for the right to legally carry around a concealed firearm in public, to demonstrate a “special need” first. California’s similar law, which required the showing of “good cause,” fell along with it.
But despite the very public support of Gov. Gavin Newsom, California’s rejoinder to the court stalled in the Assembly, unable to overcome the wariness of a handful of Democrats and the unified opposition of Republicans. That’s despite some persistent lobbying on the chamber floor by Bonta himself, an Assemblymember for nine years until his 2021 appointment by Newsom to lead the state’s Department of Justice.
According to the final tally, the bill failed by one vote.
“I am deeply disappointed that Californians’ right to live, work, and congregate safely remains at risk as a result of this initial outcome in our Legislature,” Bonta said in a statement. “But make no mistake: We intend to take any and all action necessary to ensure we get a bill that will correct the dangers presented to our communities as a result of” the court’s ruling.
Gun control advocates were also incensed. “A dangerous Supreme Court decision recently put California families and communities at risk, yet last night too many of our representatives disregarded that danger and neglected to take action,” Shannon Watts of the advocacy group Moms Demand Action said in a statement.
For an institution that has for years been reliably receptive to new restrictions on guns and the people who own, buy and sell them, it was a rare retreat. Earlier this year, in response to back-to-back mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, lawmakers passed and Newsom signed a bushel of new gun bills, adding to a thick body of law that already makes California gun restrictions the most numerous in the country.
Adding insult to injury for California gun regulation advocates: New York state passed a similar bill earlier this summer that went into effect on Thursday.
But as if to illustrate some of the concerns held by the California bill’s opponents, a federal judge has already said that there is “a strong likelihood” that the New York law is unconstitutional.
Why this bill was not like the others
For disappointed supporters of the bill, there’s plenty of possible blame to go around.
Even by California standards, the proposal was ambitious in its scope, placing a raft of new requirements on concealed carry applicants and new restrictions on license holders. That earned the opposition of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, representing the officials who would have been tasked with implementing much of the bill, as well as the icy silence of other law enforcement groups.
Though the Supreme Court banned law enforcement agencies from awarding permits based on their own subjective discretion, the ruling left open the possibility that states can add on their own “objective” standards. Under Portantino’s bill, applicants would need to receive a psychological assessment, take at least 16 hours of safety training and provide three reference letters attesting to their moral fitness.
The ruling also permitted counties and states to specify certain “sensitive” gun-free zones. Under the bill, bars and restaurants, medical facilities, parks, public gatherings, airport parking lots and most private businesses would have fallen under that category.
For the bill’s opponents, exploiting a loophole left in the court’s opinion was too cute by half.
“The bait and switch of this bill is disingenuous,” Republican Assemblymember Thurston Smith from Hesperia said on the Assembly floor earlier this week.
Celebrating the bill’s failure on Thursday, National Rifle Association lobbyist Dan Reid called the bill “nothing more than pure defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling.”
In its opposition letter sent to lawmakers in the final days of the session, the California State Sheriffs’ Association decried the extra administrative costs the bill would place upon them, noted the possibility that it would open their offices to legal liability and bemoaned the fact that the policy would turn much of the state into a gun-free zone.
Other bill watchers noted that judges, retired police officers and prosecutors — professionals likely to have the ear and sympathy of many lawmakers — are disproportionately represented among the state’s concealed carry license holders.
Backers of the bill may have also been victims of their own overconfidence and eagerness. They tacked an “urgency clause” onto the bill, so it would take effect as soon as it was signed by the governor, rather than waiting until Jan. 1. That decision raised the threshold needed to pass the bill from a simple majority to two-thirds.
Without that clause, the bill would have passed the Assembly and likely the Senate.
“Obviously, if we thought it was going to fail, we wouldn’t have put in the urgency cause,” Portantino said later Thursday.
No love lost
Election-year politics and some lingering bad blood between a few key lawmakers probably didn’t help matters, either.
The two Assembly Democrats who voted “no” were Ken Cooley from Rancho Cordova and Bakersfield’s Rudy Salas. Both often take a more skeptical eye toward gun regulations and both are facing competitive elections against Republicans in November.
Assemblymember Jim Cooper, sheriff-elect in Sacramento County, abstained from voting, as did fellow Democrats Joaquin Arambula of Fresno and James Ramos of Rancho Cucamonga. Because the bill needed 54 “yes” votes to pass, failing to cast a vote one way or the other amounts to a tactful way to vote “no.”
But Portantino reserved a special degree of outrage for Patrick O’Donnell, a Democrat from Long Beach, who also declined to vote on the measure.
“To come up one vote short is beyond frustrating and to know that one Assemblymember purposely reversed his vote specifically to kill this important public safety measure is reprehensible,” the senator said in a statement. “California is less safe today because of that action and I am committed to bringing this bill back on December 5th when the chief obstructionist won’t be here to block it.”
O’Donnell, who decided not to seek reelection in November, voted in favor of an earlier amendment to the bill, but did not support the proposal outright when it came up numerous times on the Assembly floor. In an interview, Portantino declined to speculate on the reason behind O’Donnell’s vote. “It’s his conscience and his decision, so you’ll have to ask him,” he said.
In a statement of his own, O’Donnell rejected the idea that he alone was responsible for killing the bill and said that he had concerns about its legal viability.
“I wish I was powerful enough to single-handedly kill any bill. There are 120 members of the Legislature and many of them did not support this bill. That is why it failed,” said O’Donnell, who got into a heated debate with Portantino in June over his decision to kill one of the senator’s bills without a hearing as chairperson of the Assembly Education Committee.
“I’m not going to pass something, even on my last day in the Legislature, that may not be constitutional,” O’Donnell said. “Senator Portantino needs to look in the mirror as to why this bill failed.”
Portantino said he wants to “get it through the system as quickly as possible” in the next session and that he would prefer to keep the urgency provision. Without it, any new law wouldn’t take effect until July 1 at the earliest if it’s incorporated into the state budget. Otherwise, the default start date would be Jan. 1, 2024.
The status quo
Without the bill’s new rules, the pressure is now on county sheriffs to start handing out concealed carry licenses under the Supreme Court’s new standard, if they aren’t in compliance yet.
Many already are — and were even before the ruling. Because California’s prior licensing system granted local discretion over who has “good cause” to have a concealed carry license, counties with gun-rights sheriffs, including Sacramento, Orange County and Fresno, assumed any applicant who met the bare minimum standard as having good cause enough.
But for liberal-leaning urban areas on the coast, changes may be coming.
Some “will be dragging their feet,” said Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association. “But the sheriffs are going to start issuing, and they’re going to be sued very quickly by us if they don’t.”
San Francisco, for example, issued just 11 concealed carry permits over the last decade, rejecting all other applications as unnecessary. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, the department has received 40 applications, said spokesperson Kelvin Wu.
“We have issued no concealed carry permits as of yet. We are finalizing changes to our policies and practices based on the change in the law,” he added.
Now that no change in law is forthcoming from the Legislature — at least not in the short term — the effects of the Supreme Court ruling that Newsom, Bonta and Portantino wanted to shield California from are likely to arrive before long.
CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Watch more from ABC10: How California's gun laws are affected by the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-concealed-carry-bill/103-946189c0-b0ae-480a-8425-9cc23e3dcd2e | 2022-09-02T20:43:16 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/california-concealed-carry-bill/103-946189c0-b0ae-480a-8425-9cc23e3dcd2e |
CALIFORNIA, USA — This story was originally published by CalMatters.
Diablo Canyon, California’s last nuclear power plant, moved a step closer today to remain open past its scheduled 2025 closure date.
State lawmakers approved SB 846, which would keep the plant open for five more years, until 2030, and give its operator, Pacific Gas & Electric, a $1.4 billion loan to do so.
The measure, authored by Republican Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham of San Luis Obispo and Democratic state Sen. Bill Dodd of Napa, gained overwhelming support in the Assembly in a 67-3 vote during the debate, which continued into the early hours of this morning.
Some energy experts and environmental groups expressed fierce opposition, rallying for weeks to maintain the current closure date of the plant, which is in San Luis Obispo County. They raised concerns about spent nuclear waste and safety issues due to its proximity to seismic fault lines. They also say the plant’s extension could delay much-needed investments in renewable energy.
The bill mirrors draft legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed on Aug. 12, with a few key differences: Newsom wanted to extend the life of the plant for ten years, which received widespread opposition from legislators. The bill also includes stronger protections for ratepayers, and the loan would be allocated in increments. Lawmakers will have to approve spending of state funds in excess of $600 million.
Newsom has until Sept. 30 to approve the legislation, though his administration has said signing it is among its top priorities. The state has a Sept. 6 deadline to apply for federal funding to keep the plant open.
“The bipartisan support to extend Diablo was the responsible decision,” said Alex Stack, a Newsom spokesperson. “We would be in far worse shape without energy producers like Diablo Canyon online.”
The bill’s passage comes amid an intense heat wave, which prompted Newsom Wednesday to proclaim a state of emergency. The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s power grid, supported Newsom’s plea for the Diablo Canyon extension.
“California has relied on the Diablo Canyon Power Plant for decades. This supply provides significant support for the grid during evening hours when solar is no longer operating,” said Elliot Mainzer, the grid operator’s president and CEO. “We should ensure new sources of clean electric supply are in place before retiring non-emitting generation that plays such an instrumental role supporting reliable electric service.”
For two consecutive days the grid operator issued statewide Flex Alerts asking residents to voluntarily conserve power during peak hours. The governor’s emergency order allows the state to pursue measures to keep the lights on, air conditioners running and prevent the potential of rolling blackouts.
Saying these incidents are only growing more frequent and extreme, Newsom on Wednesday reiterated calls for much-needed support of the Diablo Canyon plant amid concerns that the state would not have enough available energy in 2025 to meet demands during certain times in the day.
Many of those concerns were echoed by legislators during the debate.
“I have warned about this very moment in time where we would not have adequate electricity on our grid to meet the fundamental and primary needs of the people of California,” said Assemblymember Jim Patterson, a Republican from Fresno. “We’re the fifth largest economy in the planet and yet here we are today, 3,000 megawatts short of the necessary electricity to keep the lights on. We have no choice.”
The governor pushed for the extension in the final days of the legislative session in an attempt to maintain a steady power supply and avoid the politically damaging prospect of power outages. Though the bill gained bipartisan support, the move also frustrated lawmakers, who had already been voicing concerns about an earlier energy deal that passed in June, which some called “rushed” and “lousy.”
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said it was “incredibly frustrating” to receive such an important and controversial proposal at “the last minute.”
“This is not how we operate and it is disrespectful to the process. It is disrespectful to the offices that we hold,” she said. “What I would have liked is not to have reopened or extended the life of Diablo Canyon, but also creating more opportunities for wind, solar, hydrogen and other alternatives because I do agree with the administration that we should have a diverse energy portfolio.”
Democratic Sen. John Laird of Santa Cruz said many of his concerns were addressed, including a provision that would allow the plant to be open for only five years so it would not affect the construction of offshore wind projects off the coast of San Luis Obispo. Frustrated, Laird said Newsom put legislators in a tough position because of a lack of planning for enough renewables.
“There are a whole litany of issues,” he said. “We’re here because there was not enough planning or renewable energy brought online.”
The plant, which provides about 10% of the state’s electricity, is a clean source of energy that supporters say is needed to help the state meet its carbon neutral goals. Carbon neutrality means achieving a balance between the carbon added to the atmosphere and the carbon removed.
Maureen Zawalick, PG&E’s vice president of decommissioning and technical services, said the utility is prepared to pursue the extension. PG&E has long maintained that the plant is safe from natural disasters such as earthquakes.
“While we maintain and remain on the path to decommission the plant in accordance with the current state energy policies, we do stand ready to support the state’s energy reliability needs as California transitions to more clean energy resources,” she said.
Despite the beefed up protections in the bill, some opponents fear keeping the plant open would give a generous handout to PG&E.
Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, called the proposal a “complete nightmare for taxpayers.”
“This proposal is a nightmare for ratepayers, a nightmare for taxpayers, and it’s a dream come true for PG&E shareholders,” he said.
Alex Jackson, who is the director at American Clean Power California, a group representing the renewable energy industry, said wind, solar and geothermal and storage sources would have been sufficient to meet the state’s reliability needs.
But now that the proposal to extend Diablo Canyon has passed in the Legislature, he added that Newsom’s administration needs to accelerate the work of state agencies to site and permit new carbon-free resources in order to avoid “prolonging expensive and inflexible facilities and imposing those costs on ratepayers.”
“The last ditch scramble to extend the life of Diablo Canyon must serve as a wakeup call for California,” he said.
CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Watch more from ABC10: 'Swimply' | Stockton residents renting out swimming pools amid extreme heat | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/diablo-canyon-nuke-plant/103-b27513c6-a1fb-4d15-b20f-29a77874651e | 2022-09-02T20:43:22 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/diablo-canyon-nuke-plant/103-b27513c6-a1fb-4d15-b20f-29a77874651e |
This weekend is the return of in-person Labor Day celebrations and plenty of streets in Brooklyn are expected to be packed.
The West Indian American Day Junior Carnival kicks off tomorrow Saturday and the Labor Day parade and festival will be on Monday, Sept. 5.
Here are the streets that will be blocked off this weekend:
West Indian American Day Junior Carnival
The following streets will be fully closed for the West Indian American Day Junior Carnival on Saturday, September 3, 2022 (at the discretion of NYPD) in Brooklyn.
Location(s):
- St. John’s Place between Kingston Avenue and Franklin Avenue
- Franklin Avenue between St. John’s Place and President Street
- President Street between Franklin Avenue and Washington Avenue
- Washington Avenue between Sterling Place and Empire Boulevard
- Classon Avenue between President Street and Eastern Parkway
J’ouvert & West Indian American Labor Day Parade and Festival
News
The following streets will be fully closed for the J’ouvert and West Indian American Labor Day Parade and Festival on Monday, September 5, 2022 (at the discretion of NYPD) in Brooklyn.
Location(s):
- Grand Army Plaza (Entire Circle)
- Buffalo Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- Rochester Avenue between East New York Avenue and Sterling Place
- Ralph Avenue between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
- East New York Avenue between Howard Avenue and Utica Avenue
- Eastern Parkway between Howard Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
- Washington Avenue between Sterling Place and Lincoln Road
- Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and Caton Avenue
- Ocean Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Parkside Avenue
- Butler Place between Grand Army Plaza and Sterling Place
- St. John’s Place between Underhill Avenue and Grand Army Plaza
- Rockaway Parkway between East New York Avenue and Rutland Road
- Parkside Avenue between Park Circle and Flatbush Avenue
- Bedford Avenue between Eastern Parkway and Empire Boulevard
- Empire Boulevard between Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue
- Nostrand Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Linden Boulevard
- Lincoln Place between Eastern Parkway and East New York Avenue
For more information, visit the city’s event site.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/street-closures-for-west-indian-american-labor-day-celebrations/3849816/ | 2022-09-02T20:43:24 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/street-closures-for-west-indian-american-labor-day-celebrations/3849816/ |
A 40-year-old man was beaten with a piece of wood, then bitten, in a Brooklyn subway hub last weekend by a stranger who stole his cellphone and ran away, police said.
According to the NYPD, the victim was walking in the mezzanine area of the Fulton Street and Utica Avenue station around 10 a.m. Saturday when the stranger approached him. He hit him in the head and back with a wooden plank, then bit the man on his right arm before snatching his Android phone, worth about $100, authorities said.
The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police released surveillance footage of the suspect from the station (above). Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/subway-rider-bashed-with-wood-bitten-in-arm-in-bizarre-brooklyn-heist/3849893/ | 2022-09-02T20:43:30 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/subway-rider-bashed-with-wood-bitten-in-arm-in-bizarre-brooklyn-heist/3849893/ |
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Prosecutors have charged a southwest Arkansas man with 132 counts accusing him of sexually assaulting 31 children over 25 years.
Court records show Barry Walker, 58, of Glenwood, is charged with rape, engaging a child in sexually explicit conduct, computer exploitation of a child, producing or directing a sexual performance by a child and distributing or possessing material depicting child sex.
Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner said Thursday that all of the victims were girls who were younger than 14.
“Initially, it was reported by a victim, which led to the defendant's residence” and discovery of the other victims, Turner said.
Affidavits filed in the case say victims told investigators that Walker raped them. Authorities found videos of the rapes taking place, including with other children present, the documents say.
A woman who answered a phone call to public defender Winston Mathis, who was appointed to represent Walker, declined to identify herself and said that Mathis is prohibited by public defender rules from commenting.
Walker has pleaded not guilty to many of the charges and awaits arraignment next week on the remaining counts, according to Turner.
The crimes occurred from 1997 until earlier this year, according to court documents.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-man-accused-sexually-assaulting-31-children/527-2485c52e-23de-48d7-8257-26636377db94 | 2022-09-02T20:50:04 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-man-accused-sexually-assaulting-31-children/527-2485c52e-23de-48d7-8257-26636377db94 |
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — Fire up those engines because this weekend is the 51st Lock Haven Regatta.
Powerboat racers from all over the country will race on the Susquehanna River. The races begin on Saturday and continue through Monday.
"They call this the nationals after party because everybody from across the nation comes to it. We should have around 200 or so, if not more, boats here," said Nicholas Wheeler of Maryland.
"As soon as you get in the boat, all the adrenaline and nerves that you had before is gone. It feels amazing, the water is so smooth, and it is amazing," said Madalynn Ryske of Delaware.
The Lock Haven Regatta is one of the largest powerboat race courses in the country. Hundreds of boaters will look to take first place in their division, but some say spending time with other racers is the best part.
"Just the people. We have three days of racing on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. We have about four nights to hang out with people," said Wheeler.
Racers had the chance to work on their boats on Friday. This is Wheeler's ninth time racing in the Lock Haven Regatta.
"Get all the kinks worked out and get it stable. We were having some handling issues, so we made some changes and talk to a couple people and hopefully get it straightened out by the end of the weekend," he added.
Out on the water were beginners taking part in a powerboat class. This is Gina Wert's first time behind the wheel.
"We started with class this morning and got the basics and learned how the boat works, and then we will have an opportunity to go out and do nine laps, and then on the last time out, we will get to race the instructor," said Wert.
In addition to the races, there will be a festival with live music and food on East Water Street all weekend long.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/clinton-county/this-weekend-51st-lock-haven-regatta-lock-haven-susquehanna-river/523-b694ff1d-f35d-4fa3-951c-a9ef7e3fd970 | 2022-09-02T20:50:14 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/clinton-county/this-weekend-51st-lock-haven-regatta-lock-haven-susquehanna-river/523-b694ff1d-f35d-4fa3-951c-a9ef7e3fd970 |
CATAWISSA, Pa. — The Southern Columbia Area School District is used to being first, as the school's football team has won the PIAA State Championship 12 times. But now, the district is one of the first in our area to do something else — go cashless at those sporting events.
"So far, it's worked out very good accountability-wise. Quickness through the gates and it helps out our ticket takers. It makes their jobs a lot easier," Southern Columbia High School Principal Bill Callahan said.
Callahan says the new ticketing system went into effect this week. Instead of buying tickets at the gate, the district is using the Hometown Fan app. Fans buy their tickets online using the app and scan their cell phones at the gate.
"If you've gone to any PIAA events in the last three years, you've used Hometown Ticketing to get inside the gates. We're just trying it here at Southern Columbia. I know we're the first school in our area, but I know there's interest from other schools that they're going to follow us," Callahan said.
But what if someone shows up wanting to pay with cash?
"They're going to have to scan the app right there, and we have extra people here at the gate to help anybody out," Callahan said.
The rules are a little different for seniors who live in the Southern Columbia Area School District. People who are 62 and older can get a pass.
"They come to the school; they can get a senior pass and go right through the line. They don't need to use the Hometown Ticketing app," Callahan said.
Callahan says in addition to convenience, another reason for the switch is difficulty finding volunteers.
"This kind of helps us out because we don't need as many people at the ticket gate, and we won't burn out people so early and hopefully have enough ticket takers throughout the year," Callahan said.
Callahan says the new ticketing system is working well so far, but the big test will be next Friday for the varsity football team's first home game.
Watch Super 16 Sports Final on YouTube: | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/columbia-county/southern-columbia-goes-cashless-for-sporting-events-hometown-fan-ticketing-app/523-8816d8a7-6a5d-4cf8-b081-ecc2dc8d970f | 2022-09-02T20:50:15 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/columbia-county/southern-columbia-goes-cashless-for-sporting-events-hometown-fan-ticketing-app/523-8816d8a7-6a5d-4cf8-b081-ecc2dc8d970f |
DICKSON CITY, Pa. — A Scranton firefighter is facing theft charges.
Darell Fratamico is charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property.
Investigators say he took over $2,000 worth of tools and other items from Home Depot in Dickson City four times back in June and July.
Fratamico is on administrative leave.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/firefighter-accused-of-theft-dickson-city-home-depot-scranton-firefighter-fire-department/523-79d1bfa7-db90-4e03-8f89-9973f406a395 | 2022-09-02T20:50:18 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/firefighter-accused-of-theft-dickson-city-home-depot-scranton-firefighter-fire-department/523-79d1bfa7-db90-4e03-8f89-9973f406a395 |
SCRANTON, Pa. — Friday marks the start of a popular Labor Day tradition in Lackawanna County — La Festa Italiana in downtown Scranton.
The festival got underway Friday afternoon.
More than 50 vendors surround Courthouse Square with all sorts of Italian favorites like pasta, pizza, and, of course, cannoli. Restaurants are set up for what they hope are a busy four days to feed the masses.
There's also music and entertainment scheduled throughout the weekend and other activities.
The festival is a celebration of Italian culture and cuisine.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube channel. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/la-festa-italiana-downtown-scranton-is-the-place-for-italian-food-and-fun-courthouse-square-labor-day-tradition/523-0fb83c77-c5a8-4168-bd5b-6d6aff13bbad | 2022-09-02T20:50:18 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/la-festa-italiana-downtown-scranton-is-the-place-for-italian-food-and-fun-courthouse-square-labor-day-tradition/523-0fb83c77-c5a8-4168-bd5b-6d6aff13bbad |
Lakeland receives $200,000 grant to expand Lake Crago Park
LAKELAND — It appears the city's newest park is going to get a sizable addition.
Lakeland commissioners are expected to enter an agreement with Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday to accept a $200,000 matching grant toward an expansion of Lake Crago Park. The city will use the funds to assist with the third phase of the park's construction.
"We are very, very excited about it," Bob Donahay, the city's director of parks and recreation, said. "It will add a whole new dimension and allow us to expand our existing [sports] leagues."
Other Lakeland news:
- Commissioners deny 128 homes on Park Byrd Road in North Lakeland, reversing Planning Board
- Lakeland officials approve Medulla Road development despite environmental concerns
- Lakeland Commissioner Phillip Walker seeks reappointment to seat he resigned to run for House
City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said the city has the required match in its Public Improvement Fund's 2022 budget. The money will be used to pay for three, lighted soccer fields, restrooms and a parking area.
McCarley asked whether the city's Parks and Recreation Department has any data on whether additional soccer fields were needed or if other recreational facilities were in demand.
Sherrouse said the soccer fields displayed on Lake Crago's master plan will function as multi-purpose field in that they can be outfitted for soccer, football, lacrosse or host a variety of other uses. He said could also be used for dog frisbee or golf.
The city's master plan for park depicts the three fields to far western edge of the site, beyond the recreational complex building that opened in September 2021. The 12,000-square-foot facility houses a banquet room with attached kitchen, two smaller rooms, a covered patio and amphitheater.
The original plans for phase 3 called for three baseball fields with a concession stand and a playground. Donahay said the city is not moving forward with these features at this time under the state grant.
Lake Crago Park is located at 525 Lake Crago Drive off Lakeland Hills Boulevard, south of Lakeland Regional Health's Hollis Cancer Center.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/lakeland-receives-200-000-grant-expand-lake-crago-park/7933686001/ | 2022-09-02T20:53:21 | 1 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/lakeland-receives-200-000-grant-expand-lake-crago-park/7933686001/ |
CLH, CPAs & Consultants is expanding to LaPorte.
The accounting and business consulting firm recently opened its third location, at 127 East Shore Parkway in LaPorte.
The firm, which is marking its 30th anniversary this year, also has offices in Valparaiso and Michigan City.
“The field of accounting has undergone significant change since our company began operating 30 years ago. Our firm now has the capacity to provide a much more diverse range of business and personal services than ever before, and our growing team of talented professionals leverages new and emerging skills to help our clients succeed,” said Robert Lange, III, CPA and Managing Partner of CLH.
The new office employs certified public accountants, administrative staff and technical staff. It will serve both business and individual clients.
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CLH, CPAs & Consultants decided to expand because of a growing customer base. It chose a location in LaPorte because of "robust projected job growth, a coinciding increase in demand for accounting services, and a convenient location to round out the company’s service territory."
“This is an exciting time to be a part of the accounting industry, and CLH remains committed to supporting its evolution through education, fresh ideas, and new offerings," said Tony Gillisse, a certified public accountant, partner and the lead professional in the LaPorte office. "We are eager to serve the La Porte area.”
For more information, call 219-402-3318. | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/accounting-firm-opens-new-office-in-laporte/article_0e71cc3d-8352-56e5-a883-0ae942529604.html | 2022-09-02T20:56:46 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/accounting-firm-opens-new-office-in-laporte/article_0e71cc3d-8352-56e5-a883-0ae942529604.html |
BRADENTON, Fla. — Two Bradenton communities experienced heavy storm damage as thunderstorms passed through Manatee County Friday afternoon.
From roofs to outdoor furniture, it was all tossed from mobile and manufactured homes in Swan Lake Village and Chateau Village. Video recorded by an EMS first responder in Manatee County showed palm trees flailing in the wind as lightning struck and the rain continued to fall.
While some of the homes suffered damages, county officials said there were no injuries reported. Southern Manatee Fire Department and Cedar Hammock Fire Department responded to the stormy call.
At this time, authorities are assessing the damage in the area. The National Weather Service said after a preliminary assessment, they've concluded a downburst occurred nearby where the video was captured in Bradenton.
"Along the leading edge of this downburst, there may have been enough wind shear and forcing to induce a brief tornado," NWS said in a tweet. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/storm-damage-swan-lake-village-bradenton-manatee-county/67-90a04378-0499-4067-b856-5acfa30f4911 | 2022-09-02T20:56:52 | 1 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/storm-damage-swan-lake-village-bradenton-manatee-county/67-90a04378-0499-4067-b856-5acfa30f4911 |
BP has completed repairs after a fire at its Whiting Refinery last week.
"All five of our boilers are back online and we have restored steam to the refinery," Media Relations Manager Christina Audisho said. "Electrical utilities at the refinery have been restored. Repairs have been completed as planned and we are continuing to work around the clock to bring the plant back to normal operations."
An electrical fire at the power house last Wednesday "sent the whole refinery into a tailspin" and resulted in most contractors going home for the rest of the week, outside of the tank fields. BP worked to start back up units like cat crackers this week.
"The fire was limited to a single electrical system and quickly extinguished, but led to a loss of utilities in other parts of the refinery," Audisho said. "We continue to inform local, state and federal agencies of our progress. Our highest priority remains the safety of our crews, and the public."
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The outage at London-based BP's largest refinery, which supplies gas to seven states, caused wholesale gas prices to shoot up by 30 cents per gallon. Initially, retail gas prices continued to fall but gas stations in Northwest Indiana have since started to jack up prices in recent days, often by 30 cents to 50 cents per gallon.
After 10 straight weeks of decline, gas prices grew about 26 cents per gallon in Porter County this week.
Gas now costs an average of $4.20 a gallon in Lake County, $4.25 a gallon in Porter County and $3.95 per gallon in LaPorte County, according to GasBuddy.com. As of Friday, the average price of gas was $3.94 a gallon in Newton County, $3.94 a gallon in Pulaski County, $4.03 in Jasper County and $3.94 in Starke County.
Gas is about 60 cents per gallon more expensive than last year at this time, but demand has been falling as people have cut back on their driving.
“It was a dizzying time as gas prices surged ahead of summer, which caused many Americans to re-think their summer travel plans, only for the longest decline in gas prices since the pandemic to start providing meaningful relief,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “As the sun sets on summer, gas prices are in far more familiar territory and could continue to decline well into fall, barring major disruptions from hurricanes and the likes.” | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/bp-whiting-refinery-repairs-completed/article_abbc72d1-d000-5c0b-b4f4-54f5230257b2.html | 2022-09-02T20:56:52 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/bp-whiting-refinery-repairs-completed/article_abbc72d1-d000-5c0b-b4f4-54f5230257b2.html |
GARY — Gary has temporarily closed Lake Street beach after an unknown substance was found in the water Thursday, city spokesman Michael Gonzalez said.
Beachgoers noticed the "dark, fine particle substance" and notified city officials, Gonzalez explained. The Gary Fire Department and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management both responded and swimmers were asked to leave the water.
"If we don't know what the substance is, we certainly don't want people splashing around," Gonzalez said.
City environmental experts and state regulatory officials are monitoring the situation and running tests. The beach will remain closed on a day-by-day basis, Mayor Jerome Prince said in a news release announcing the closure Friday. The city is also monitoring Marquette Beach. Gonzalez said that as of Friday morning, none of the substance had been found at Marquette and the beach remained open.
"We enjoy our amazing beaches in Gary, and we are happy to welcome every Gary resident and visitor to enjoy them. However, public safety is our top priority, and we extend that commitment to our beaches and parks," Prince said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-closes-lake-street-beach-after-finding-an-unknown-dark-substance-in-the-water/article_cc01e474-0981-5c10-af38-f1578a1f8263.html | 2022-09-02T20:56:58 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-closes-lake-street-beach-after-finding-an-unknown-dark-substance-in-the-water/article_cc01e474-0981-5c10-af38-f1578a1f8263.html |
Interstate 84 near Oregon, Idaho border back open after fire closures
ONTARIO, Ore. — A wildfire closed Interstate 84 in both directions Thursday afternoon near the Oregon and Idaho border, causing traffic backups for miles, but the closures have been lifted, authorities said.
Oregon Department of Transportation officials said the interstate's eastbound lanes were closed 6 miles east of Pendleton and into Ontario and the westbound lanes were closed between Ontario and Baker City.
Read more:No major wildfire danger predicted over Labor Day as Salem third-hottest summer on record
The westbound lanes reopened around 5:15 p.m. while the eastbound lanes were back open around 7:30 p.m. Officials said crews were fighting the blaze amid challenging high winds.
Traffic was backed up and officials urged people to refrain from blindly following apps that could detour them onto unsuitable remote roads. | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2022/09/02/i-84-closure-ends-oregon-idaho-wildfire-shutdown-backs-up-traffic/65470688007/ | 2022-09-02T20:59:46 | 1 | https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2022/09/02/i-84-closure-ends-oregon-idaho-wildfire-shutdown-backs-up-traffic/65470688007/ |
Search continues Friday for missing Plainfield 4-year-old, police ask for volunteer help
The Plainfield Police Department asked volunteers to help Friday in the search for missing 4-year-old Fiedwenya Fiefe.
"We've been searching about 24 hours now," said Joe Aldridge, Plainfield Deputy Chief.
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, Plainfield Police and Fire responded to the Legacy Farms neighborhood on a report of a missing child. Her parents reported that she wandered away from home.
Police are now asking for any adults wishing to assist in the search to meet at the Legacy Farms subdivision at US-40 and Eddy Way. Searchers will be paired with public safety officials. By 3 p.m. more than 300 people had joined the effort, Aldridge said.
Article continues below map.
Fiefe is nonverbal and autistic, Aldridge said. She's drawn to music and water and has wandered away from home before, he said. Part of the search effort has focused on multiple retention ponds in the area. The search has been taking place in the Legacy Farms, Forest Creek and Sugar Grove neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
Volunteer searchers are scouring areas surrounding the three neighborhood, looking in fields and beyond tree lines, officials said.
Police have been using drones, a helicopter, rescue canines, watercraft, sonar and off-road vehicles in the search. Dozens of officers and firefighters were searching the area Thursday. Though police had to scale back their search during the dark Thursday, the search continued Friday. Canines finished searching Friday morning, allowing for volunteers to assist in search efforts Friday afternoon.
Police asked that neighbors in the area comb their property to look for her, looking in shrubs and under porches.
Multiple departments have been assisting in the search, including Indiana State Police, Plainfield Fire Territory and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Fiefe is three 3 feet 5 inches tall, 35 pounds and was last seen on video surveillance wearing a long pink night gown. She is believed to be in extreme danger, according to a Silver Alert issued for her Thursday at about 5:30.
Anyone with information about Fiefe's whereabouts should contact Hendricks County Communications Center at (317) 839-8700.
Contact Phyllis Cha at pcha@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @phyllischa. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/plainfield-indiana-4-year-old-missing-for-24-hours-police-ask-for-volunteers/65470449007/ | 2022-09-02T21:01:56 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/plainfield-indiana-4-year-old-missing-for-24-hours-police-ask-for-volunteers/65470449007/ |
Major decision in Hamilton County weed case led Indy crime lab to stop testing cannabis
The Marion County crime lab’s decision to stop testing evidence believed to be marijuana stems from an Indiana Court of Appeals opinion from earlier this year that overturned a woman’s marijuana conviction in Hamilton County because of a lack of evidence.
An internal memo sent by the crime lab to county attorneys directly references the appeals court’s review of the criminal case State v. Fedij as the justification for why it was no longer performing testing on cannabis, or providing its chemists to testify that evidence is marijuana.
The Aug. 8 memo, which was obtained by IndyStar, was sent to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and the Marion County Public Defender Agency. It says the holds could last “several months” while the lab upgrades its testing equipment to meet the new evidence standards set by the appeals court opinion and a law change from 2019 that legalized hemp with a THC concentration of less than 0.3%.
Here’s what that opinion said.
More:Marijuana cases in limbo as Indy crime lab pauses cannabis testing. What you should know
Carmel woman challenges marijuana charges
In February 2020, Carmel police were sent to a residence to check on a report of a disturbance. The owners of the residence let the officer inside, and one of the first things the officer noticed was “the odor of burnt hemp or marijuana” coming from a nearby bedroom, according to the opinion.
The officer knocked on the bedroom door and a woman come out. She asked the officer if they could speak in the kitchen, which was down the hallway.
More:Marijuana charges against former IMPD officer dismissed after violation of constitutional rights
After that, the officer requested and received a search warrant for the woman’s room. The opinion states two officers recovered evidence of cannabis products and paraphernalia, including a glass smoking pipe “containing burnt plant material” and a package of yellow hard candy that had the writing “THC INFUSED HARD DROPS” on the outside.
The woman was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors of possession of marijuana and a misdemeanor of possession of paraphernalia.
At trial, the officer who first entered the home testified that she smelled the odor of “burnt marijuana” coming from the bedroom. But the officer also testified that there are two kinds of the cannabis plant: “one is legal and one is not legal,” she said. She hadn’t been trained to differentiate between the smell of burnt hemp – the legal kind of cannabis – and the smell of burnt marijuana, she said.
“The difference in the legality is the THC content,” the officer said, which is “why we send it to the lab” managed by the Indiana State Police, which has the ability to determine THC levels.
Carmel police found through their own analysis that the products contained THC. But they weren't equipped to determine how much THC.
More:All the marijuana bills introduced during 2022 General Assembly
And authorities didn't send the material for further testing because “the level of crime(s) charged did not justify the expense of the additional testing,” according to testimony in the case.
Prosecutors also submitted as evidence the packaging of the cannabis products they recovered from the scene, some of which said their contents contained THC.
The woman was found guilty of all three charges, though the judge in the case merged the two possession charges at her sentencing. But when she appealed, the Court of Appeals judges said there were various issues with the evidence presented against her.
Odor, packaging not enough for a conviction
The Carmel police officials involved in the case “were unequivocal in their testimony that they had no way to distinguish any of the substances between hemp and marijuana absent a test for the percent concentration of THC,” Judge Paul D. Mathias wrote in the opinion.
Mathias also wrote the cannabis products’ packaging wasn’t enough, either, because some of it didn’t provide “a detailed analysis of the products’ chemical compositions.”
“Indeed, there is no Indiana or federally regulated labeling on these products at all for a conspicuous reason: they are wholly illegal in both jurisdictions,” Mathias wrote. Because of that, statements on the packaging couldn't be considered reliably accurate enough to ground a conviction.
More:Mom left infant who died of COVID complications in care of 9-year-old brother, police say
Prosecutors don’t need to show exactly how much THC a product contains, Mathias wrote. But they do need to at least show it has a THC concentration of more than 0.3%.
“If the State seeks to obtain a conviction under that statute,” Mathias wrote, “it is entirely the State’s burden to prove that the proscribed substance was in fact in the defendant’s possession.”
Mathias and the two other judges who reviewed the case reversed her misdemeanor possession conviction, but upheld the misdemeanor paraphernalia conviction.
Will Supreme Court weigh in?
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears told IndyStar that he believes the Indiana Supreme Court will have to weigh in to provide final guidance. Joel Schumm, a law professor at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, pointed IndyStar to a 2021 state supreme court decision that supported police's power to rely on odor to justify a search warrant request if "the odor is one sufficiently distinctive to identify a forbidden substance."
'Disgraceful and cowardly':Prosecutor, police announce charges in fatal shooting of Dutch soldier
But the Court of Appeals opinion is already forcing criminal justice leaders in Marion County to figure out a new path forward for investigating and prosecuting marijuana-related crimes – a challenge brought into sharp relief by the crime lab's decision to pull out of marijuana testing.
"The Court of Appeals case and (crime lab) memo would make it difficult for the state to prove a pending case," Schumm told IndyStar.
Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him atjmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2022/09/02/carmel-marijuana-case-led-indy-crime-lab-to-stop-testing-cannabis/65469722007/ | 2022-09-02T21:02:02 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2022/09/02/carmel-marijuana-case-led-indy-crime-lab-to-stop-testing-cannabis/65469722007/ |
Police horses running out of time to move. Here's how you can help.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Mounted Patrol has never had a permanent home.
Now the deadline to leave their property is around the corner. But to be able to move onto their acquired land, they'll need monetary donations to construct their barn.
The unit has until December to move from its current property on Tibbs Avenue in west Indianapolis to make way for affordable housing for domestic violence survivors. While the unit has secured land nearby for a new barn and offices, construction requires more than $1 million in private donations.
Both the money and need for a new space, according to the unit’s overseer, are sorely needed.
What’s needed
The unit, consisting of seven horses, five officers and one civilian who helps take care of the animals, work out of a small barn and trailers in need of repair.
It’s the hope among its officers that their move will finally bring some much-needed upgrades.
"In a new barn, where things are working properly, things would be a lot smoother," said Sgt. Tyneka Sperry.
Sperry said currently it can take three hours for horses to get out in the morning given how few washing areas they have for the horses. Further, it’s up to the staff to do their own maintenance and cleaning at the property.
They hope amenities in the new barn and offices will include more washing bays, locker rooms, offices and a place to store equipment. The city pays for the salaries of the officers and civilian, as well as horse feed, vehicles and trailers. The unit relies on its association for the horses, equipment and building maintenance costs.
More:Marijuana cases in limbo as Indy crime lab pauses cannabis testing. What you should know
The Central Indiana Police Foundation has offered to help raise funds for the new barn. The goal is $1.4 million by the end of September.
Lisa Rollings, the foundation's executive director, said the unit is a great benefit to the city. The horses and officers are often at community events, though a significant portion of the job is dedicated to patrol.
"When they approach somebody or come to a neighborhood, people come out of their homes to see the horses and they will have an open, friendly dialogue that they will never have had if the officer was just riding in their car," Rollings said.
Rollings added that an anonymous donor has agreed to match donations up to $50,000.
Anyone interested in donating is asked to visit cipf.foundation/buildthebarn or send checks for IMPD Mounted – Build the Barn to the foundation at 1525 South Shelby St.
Contact Sarah Nelson 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2022/09/02/indianapolis-police-horses-need-a-new-home-heres-how-to-help-them/65468745007/ | 2022-09-02T21:02:08 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2022/09/02/indianapolis-police-horses-need-a-new-home-heres-how-to-help-them/65468745007/ |
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department is investigating after a local surgical center notified them of a "compromised" IV bag.
Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas, located on 12230 Coit Road, contacted the department after discovering an IV bag appeared to be "compromised."
It is unclear what the IV bag was compromised with or if there were multiple bags affected.
The center has since paused its operations.
The department said it was involved in an ongoing investigation but it could not comment further.
Surgicare North Dallas said it has established a dedicated phone line for patients who may have questions. Those patients can contact them at 214-818-2794.
"There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our patients," Baylor Scott & White said in a statement to WFAA.
This is a developing story, check back for updates. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-surgical-center-stops-operations-after-compromised-iv-bag-found/287-ceaf5be8-778b-4093-a712-ceb63ef57938 | 2022-09-02T21:03:41 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-surgical-center-stops-operations-after-compromised-iv-bag-found/287-ceaf5be8-778b-4093-a712-ceb63ef57938 |
A judge has dismissed a felony charge against one of two people accused of promoting prostitution at a Bismarck massage business.
Yanhong Liu Coble, 48, and David Coble, 54, both of Bismarck, were charged with promoting prostitution in June. The charges followed an investigation of the business that started in February 2021.
Three men questioned after police saw them leave the Mapleton Avenue business said they paid for massage services by credit card and for sex acts with cash. Police in forming the case also used bank transaction records and information from the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office to verify ownership of the business.
Yanhong Liu Coble was a registered agent of Cherry Blossom Massage and her name appeared on a bank account associated with the business, according to court documents. But South Central District Judge Douglas Bahr said there was “no evidence that she managed the day-to-day affairs” of the business.
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Bahr at an Aug. 19 preliminary hearing asked attorneys for written arguments about evidence in the case. In a decision filed Wednesday, Bahr said Yanhong Liu Coble was not identified by an employee of the business as the boss, and no information was provided that she received money from workers.
Assistant Burleigh County State’s Attorney Dennis Ingold argued that both Cobles signed agreements on behalf of the business and had access to the business bank account. Bahr agreed Yanhong Liu Coble had “at least some general involvement in the business,” but “not the type of day-to-day involvement from which it can be presumed she knew about payments, tips, and sexual acts or sexual contact being provided by workers in exchange for money.”
David Coble signed documents such as checks to pay workers and signed agreements on behalf of the business, Bahr wrote. He was the sole member of Cherry Blossom, which is a member-managed limited liability company. He also controlled or had access to the payment processing account, and as such would know about tips of $100 to $200 to employees for massages that cost $77. He also hired or contracted with unlicensed workers to perform massages, the judge wrote, adding an inference could be drawn “that he would not do so if his intent was to provide massage services,” Bahr said.
David Coble will enter a plea at a Sept. 13 arraignment. His defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Yanhong Liu Coble's attorney, Paul Merkens, declined comment. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/judge-dismisses-charges-against-one-in-prostitution-case/article_4b1a3868-2af4-11ed-8525-1f80b293dbb3.html | 2022-09-02T21:06:41 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/judge-dismisses-charges-against-one-in-prostitution-case/article_4b1a3868-2af4-11ed-8525-1f80b293dbb3.html |
BEAVERTON, Ore. — A Beaverton police officer pulled a 34-year-old man from a vehicle that caught fire after a crash early Tuesday morning. The Beaverton Police Department (BPD) shared police body-cam footage with KGW showing the rescue unfold.
Beaverton police officers and deputies with the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to a roll-over crash around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 30 near Southwest Hocken Avenue and Southwest Jenkins Road. The vehicle was on its side and flames were shooting high into the air when law enforcement arrived to the scene.
Police body-cam footage shows the Beaverton police officer break the vehicle's sunroof, and he can be heard instructing the driver to escape.
Small explosions from the vehicle pushed the officer back, BPD said, and the driver was unresponsive to the officer's commands. Video shows the police officer attempt to grab the driver by the arm multiple times before he's eventually able to pull him out of the vehicle through the sunroof.
BPD has not identified the officer and said he declined to comment.
Officers "saw evidence of impairment, which is believed to have contributed to the crash," BPD said.
The driver was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. He was released and cited for DUII and reckless driving. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/beaverton-fiery-car-crash-rescue/283-d2a9cf7d-742b-41bb-8750-51d29d53d3c0 | 2022-09-02T21:14:40 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/beaverton-fiery-car-crash-rescue/283-d2a9cf7d-742b-41bb-8750-51d29d53d3c0 |
Student at Barwise had gun in backback
A student was arrested Friday and will be expelled after a search of the student's backpack uncovered a gun.
Barwise Middle School administration got a tip that a student had a gun on campus. Administrators and the Barwise School Resource Officer immediately removed the student from the classroom and searched the student's backpack where a gun was discovered.
No ammunition was found, but the investigation is ongoing investigation, the school district said.
"In light of recent events, we know that news like this is worrisome for parents. Please know that your child's safety is our top priority and we take all reports seriously. We want to thank the individual who made the report to administration and remind all students the importance of speaking up and reporting any and all suspicious behavior," the district said in a Facebook post.
Barwise had additional counselors on campus Friday for students or staff. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/student-at-barwise-had-gun-in-backback/65470381007/ | 2022-09-02T21:17:09 | 0 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/student-at-barwise-had-gun-in-backback/65470381007/ |
SCOTT COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) – A new pumpkin farm is set to open in Nickelsville, Virginia on Saturday, complete with all the fall activities that accompany them.
According to a Facebook post from Pungo Farms, the business opens its fields Saturday at 209 Pungo Drive.
“Pungo Farms started in 2018 with a few chickens and a small pumpkin patch,” the business’s website says. “After our first year of pumpkins, we got a tractor and even more chickens. We’ve continued to raise pumpkins and have gotten three goats and sheep since. We are now completely expanding our farm and are opening up to where you and your family can visit us! The lessons we’ve learned and the memories we’ve made this far are precious and priceless.”
A variety of experiences are available for all ages:
- Corn Mazes
- Farm Animal Petting Areas
- Picnic Areas
- Farm Photo Sets
- Pumpkin Patches
- Scarecrow Building
Tickets are available for $5 per person, and groups can register ahead of time on the farm’s website. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/new-fall-farm-opening-in-scott-county/ | 2022-09-02T21:18:10 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/new-fall-farm-opening-in-scott-county/ |
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