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Wyoming defamation lawsuit against Alec Baldwin is dismissed
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit over online harassment filed against actor Alec Baldwin by the family of a Marine who was killed in Afghanistan, saying the Wyoming court did not have jurisdiction over the case.
An attorney for the family said the case would be refiled elsewhere, the Casper Star-Tribune reported Wednesday.
The sisters and widow of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum alleged Baldwin subjected them to online harassment after he posted and commented on a photo shared online by one of McCollum’s sisters, Roice McCollum, who had been in Washington during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Baldwin had donated $5,000 to the family after learning of the death of Rylee McCollum in a bombing at the airport in Kabul in August 2021, just weeks before his daughter was born. Baldwin had contacted Roice McCollum via Instagram, according to the lawsuit.
In January 2022, Baldwin saw that Roice McCollum posted a nearly year-old picture of demonstrators from former President Donald Trump’s rally taken on the day Congress counted the Electoral College votes from the 2020 presidential election, the complaint stated.
Baldwin sent her a private message and confirmed she had organized the fundraiser for her brother, the lawsuit said. She responded that her participation in the protest was “perfectly legal,” according to court documents.
Baldwin told Roice McCollum he would share her photo with his 2.4 million Instagram followers and wrote: “Good luck,” according to the lawsuit.
Roice McCollum said in the lawsuit that she received hundreds of hateful messages in response to his post. The complaint, which also names her sister Cheyenne McCollum and Rylee’s wife, Jiennah McCollum, as plaintiffs, sought $25 million in damages.
Baldwin asked for the case to be dismissed, saying he was expressing his political opinion, that he had not been in Wyoming and that claims by Cheyenne and Jiennah McCollum should be dismissed because he did not make any statements about them.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal said Wednesday that the case could not be brought in Wyoming because Baldwin made the posts from New York and because they were not directed specifically at a Wyoming audience. Her decision did not address the veracity of the allegations in the complaint.
“We are pleased with this victory,” said Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas. “This is a significant step toward the complete dismissal of the lawsuit, which seeks to punish Mr. Baldwin for expressing his political opinion.”
Dennis Postiglione, an attorney for the McCollums, said that the case would probably be refiled in New York, where Baldwin lives, or in California, where he works.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/wyoming-defamation-lawsuit-against-alec-baldwin-is-dismissed/ | 2022-05-05T21:12:56Z |
JACKSON – Motivated by the same emotions that drew protesters to the steps of the Supreme Court and other courthouses across the nation on Tuesday, more than 100 abortion-rights advocates took to Town Square to add their voices to the chorus.
“What the F---” one woman’s sign read, expressing her outrage over a Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade leaked Monday that could potentially reverse what abortion-rights supporters see as 50 years of progress in women’s health care.
“I can’t believe that we are having to do this in the year 2022; it’s absurd,” said Jennelle Linn, who was grateful to have the support of her husband and mother-in-law on either arm.
“There’s a 2-year-old, there’s a 74-year-old, it’s not just young people who care,” she said. “It’s not just a women’s issue. It’s a human rights issue.”
Despite the short notice, promotion for the rally spread quickly on social media, with many participants saying it felt good to channel their grief into action. However, one of the organizers, Carrie Kruse, said it didn’t feel like short notice.
“Is it short notice, or is it the same fight over and over again?” she asked.
For some, there was greater urgency to speak out because of Wyoming’s recently passed so-called trigger ban law, which would effectively ban abortions the moment Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Idaho and 11 other states have similar laws in effect.
Over 100 participants signed a petition for a referendum circulated by Jackson native Dom Lohn, who works as a local paralegal and said she believes there are multiple ways for Wyoming advocates to fight the trigger law in court.
Lohn also encouraged folks to donate to Chelsea’s Fund, a Wyoming nonprofit that offers financial assistance for abortions. The Casper Star-Tribune reported in April that Chelsea’s Fund had assisted 63 people so far in 2022.
Many of the mothers who showed up Tuesday said they supported abortion access for very personal reasons.
“Nothing made me more pro-choice than actually having two children and a miscarriage,” said Kathleen Doffermyre, who grew up in a conservative, anti-abortion family but said her perspective shifted during her first pregnancy.
“You should be a willing participant in pregnancy, because it’s really hard,” she said. “And kids are expensive.”
Demonstrators said limiting abortion access has the largest impact on women who are already struggling or who have less access to resources. Nina Lenz added that women who are forced to remain pregnant against their will are bringing up children in a nation without reliable, affordable child care.
Although nearly all passersby honked or waved in support, the group was heckled early on by one woman with an ice cream cone and a Marilyn Monroe poster who asked if any of the demonstrators had ever had an abortion.
But the pro-choice advocates had a quick comeback, noting that none of the male legislators regulating abortion have had the procedure. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/from_the_wire/mothers-pro-choice-advocates-rally-in-jackson-hole/article_98e982cd-3490-503b-a713-eabb21cb36c9.html | 2022-05-05T21:29:39Z |
No injuries after Kimball Township house fire
There were no injuries following a house fire in Kimball Township Thursday morning.
The Kimball Township Fire Department responded to a report of a possible grass fire in the 1700 block of Hickory Road shortly before 5:30 a.m. As they were in route, they were informed it was a structure fire, Fre chief Ed Gratz said.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames showing at the rear of the home, Gratz said.
There was no one home at the time of the fire, Gratz said. There were no injuries.
The home sustained smoke and fire damage in a bedroom and to the roof, and smoke damage throughout the home, Gratz said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Port Huron Township and Marysville fire departments also responded to the scene, as well as Tri-Hospital EMS and the St. Clair County Sheriff Department.
Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com. | https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2022/05/05/no-injuries-after-kimball-twp-house-fire/9660137002/ | 2022-05-05T22:50:28Z |
Port Huron Schools names advocator, innovator and educator of the year winners
Port Huron Schools has named the advocator, innovator and educator of the year.
This is the seventh year the awards have been given to staff.
The winners are:
● Advocator - Chuck Lesser, principal of Keewahdin Elementary
● Innovator - Tammy Marsh, executive secretary at Port Huron High
● Educator - Susie Smith, kindergarten teacher at Garfield Elementary
Lesser has been the principal of Keewahdin Elementary since 2016.
Marsh has been an employee of Port Huron Schools for 44 years and executive secretary at Port Huron High since 2013.
Smith has been a teacher in the district for 15 years, spending 12 of those in her current position at Garfield.
More than 135 nominations for the awards were made by their colleagues, students, staff and community members.
Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas surprised each of the recipients in their classrooms on May 5 with prizes donated by DoubleTree by Hilton Port Huron, Insurance Specialists Agency of Marysville with Meemic, Meijer in Fort Gratiot and Classic Nails in downtown Port Huron.
“This is an exciting way for our district to celebrate our exceptional staff and show our commitment to their success,” Kerhoulas said in a statement. “Making this announcement in the midst of national Teacher Appreciation Week makes this tradition even more special for Port Huron Schools.”
To view the videos of the surprise classroom announcements please visit @PortHuronSchools on Facebook. | https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2022/05/05/port-huron-schools-names-advocator-innovator-and-educator-year-winners/9659298002/ | 2022-05-05T22:50:34Z |
4 takeaways as area softball powers Algonac and Almont split a BWAC doubleheader
ALGONAC — After starting the season with identical 13-1 records, the Almont and Algonac softball teams met on the diamond for a doubleheader Wednesday. Their encounter did not disappoint.
The Muskrats avoided disaster to win the first game, 8-7, while the Raiders came from behind and won the second, 4-2.
Here are four takeaways from Wednesday's action.
Algonac's aggressive baserunning pays off
The Muskrats had four extra-base hits in the first game. Ella Stephenson finished with two doubles while Sierra Vosler had one of her own. Brianna Thomason added a triple. All four were the result of tenacious baserunning.
"In the first game, I think we played how we wanted to play." Algonac second baseman Camden Thaler said. "Given the circumstances of the wind and how it was a swamp out there."
Since Algonac's field is surrounded by marshland, the soil is already a little different than most places. But the outfield was still damp thanks to Tuesday's heavy rain. So the Muskrats' ability to stretch a routine single into something more was critical.
Freshmen propel the Raiders in Game 2
A pair of first-year Raiders delivered in the nightcap.
Starting pitcher Abby Geml went the distance and allowed just two runs on eight hits. She also finished with eight strikeouts.
"Our communication in the dugout was heightened in the second game," Geml said. "I think we learned from the first game a lot. And in the field, our communication was really top-notch."
Then it was Kylie Tennant's turn to perform in the clutch. She hammered a two-run shot to center field that hit the scoreboard and gave Almont a 3-1 lead in the fourth. It was the first home run of her career.
"Once I hit it, I just knew," Tennant said. "I could feel it already off the bat. And then hearing it hit off the scoreboard — that was a good moment for me."
Almont's scoring explosion sets the tone
After Algonac tacked on three runs in the fifth inning to grab a 6-2 lead, it appeared the Muskrats would cruise to victory in the first game. But the Raiders had other plans. They erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth to pull in front, 7-6.
"We just don't quit," Almont coach Erik Johnson said. "We don't have any quit in our team and they're just cool, calm and collected."
While the Raiders ultimately fell short, that five-run outburst bolstered their confidence heading into game two.
"We came back in that game after the morale had dropped," Geml said. "I think (that resiliency) is one of the reasons why we're a good team."
Bommarito, Stephenson keep rolling
Perhaps the only consistency in Wednesday's back-and-forth doubleheader was the offense from Ella Stephenson and Kenna Bommarito.
Stephenson went 5-for-8 with four RBIs and three runs in the two games. One of her hits was an RBI double that tied the first game, 7-7, in the bottom of the seventh inning. She then scored the winning run from third on Jaycee Reams' sacrifice fly.
Bommarito went 6-for-7 with an RBI and three runs in the doubleheader. The sophomore has quickly become one of the team's top bats.
"She's a good hitter," Algonac coach Len Perkins said. "She's hitting well over .400 and hits the ball hard and far."
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper. | https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/05/05/4-takeaways-algonac-almont-split-softball-doubleheader/9636949002/ | 2022-05-05T22:50:40Z |
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR ALL SOUTH FACING SHORES...
.A large, early season, south swell will continue to generate
advisory-level surf for exposed south facing shores today, before
slowly easing into the weekend.
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Surf of 10 to 14 feet.
* WHERE...South facing shores of all islands.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Moderate. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break,
and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult
and dangerous. Some waves will break in exposed channels near
harbor entrances making navigation dangerous. Significant beach
erosion expected, with water sweeping across areas of the beach
that normally remain dry.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by
ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Stay away from sea
walls and vulnerable coastal locations exposed to large breaking
waves.
&&
Weather Alert
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui County
Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
Fewer than 1 in 5 US parents say they'll get Covid-19 vaccines for kids under 5 as soon as they can, survey finds.
US children under 5 are getting closer to authorized Covid-19 vaccines, but most parents may be reluctant to actually get them when they become available, a new survey found.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's Vaccine Monitor survey, published Wednesday, only 18% of parents of children under 5 said they would vaccinate their child against Covid-19 as soon as a vaccine was available.
Nearly 40% of parents of young children said they would "wait and see" before vaccinating their child, 11% said they would get the vaccine only if required, and 27% said they would "definitely not" vaccinate their child against Covid-19.
More than half of parents in this age group said they "don't have enough information about the safety and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines for children in this age group," compared with 34% of parents of children ages 5-11 and 25% of parents of children ages 12-17. About 13% of parents of young children said the US Food and Drug Administration's delay in authorizing a vaccine in this age group made them less confident about its safety, and 22% said it made them more confident.
There were similar findings among parents of older children. For the 5 to 11 age group, 39% of parents said their children were vaccinated, and 32% said their children would definitely not be vaccinated. Among parents of children 12 to 17, 56% said their kids had been vaccinated, and 31% said they definitely will not have their children vaccinated.
A majority of parents who took part in the survey also said they felt that their child was at least somewhat safe from Covid-19 while at school, but the answers varied by race.
More than 80% of parents surveyed said their child was very or somewhat safe in school. However, only a third of Black or Hispanic parents said they felt that their child was very safe, compared with 52% of White parents.
The survey found a "large shift" in school mask requirements, with the percentage of parents who said that their child was required to wear a mask at school falling from 69% in September to 16% in April.
"Parents who are Black or Hispanic are more than twice as likely as White parents to say their child usually wears a mask (70% vs. 26%) and five times as likely to say that most other students at their child's school wear masks (9% vs. 47%)," the report authors wrote. | https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/fewer-than-1-in-5-us-parents-say-theyll-get-covid-19-vaccines-for-kids/article_b2b75009-656c-5bf7-8ddc-6f7bc8d427fa.html | 2022-05-05T22:58:50Z |
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR ALL SOUTH FACING SHORES...
.A large, early season, south swell will continue to generate
advisory-level surf for exposed south facing shores today, before
slowly easing into the weekend.
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Surf of 10 to 14 feet.
* WHERE...South facing shores of all islands.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Moderate. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break,
and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult
and dangerous. Some waves will break in exposed channels near
harbor entrances making navigation dangerous. Significant beach
erosion expected, with water sweeping across areas of the beach
that normally remain dry.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by
ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Stay away from sea
walls and vulnerable coastal locations exposed to large breaking
waves.
&&
Weather Alert
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui County
Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
The Baphomet statue is seen in the conversion room at the Satanic Temple where a "Hell House" is being held in Salem, Massachusett on October 8, 2019. - The Hell House was a parody on a Christian Conversion centre meant to scare atheist and other Satanic Church members. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
(CNN) -- The Satanic Temple in Massachusetts is requesting that Boston fly its flag, after the Supreme Court ruled this week that the city had violated the First Amendment rights of a Christian group when it denied them flying their flag outside of City Hall.
According to a copy of the request tweeted by The Satanic Temple, the group is asking Boston to fly the flag for "Satanic Appreciation Week" on July 23-29. The Satanic Temple said its request was in response to the recent ruling.
CNN reached out to The Satanic Temple for comment but did not immediately hear back.
A spokesperson from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's office said the office was "carefully reviewing the Court's decision and its recognition of city governments' authority to operate similar programs," adding: "As we consider next steps, we will ensure that future City of Boston programs are aligned with this decision."
Boston, according to the city's website, no longer accepts flag raising applications as of October 19, 2021.
The push comes after the nation's highest court unanimously ruled on Monday that Boston had violated the First Amendment rights of a group seeking to briefly raise a Christian flag atop a city flagpole outside of City Hall as a part of a city program celebrating Boston's greater community.
The court said that the flag display amounted to a public forum and because many other groups were allowed to raise their flags in celebration of the Boston community, the city could not discriminate on the basis of the religious group's viewpoint without violating the Constitution.
"We conclude that, on balance, Boston did not make the raising and flying of private groups' flags a form of government speech," Justice Stephen Breyer wrote.
The Satanic Temple, according to its Twitter account, was founded in 2013 and is the only federally recognized international (non-theistic) religious Satanic organization. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/the-satanic-temple-requests-that-boston-fly-its-flag-after-supreme-court-ruling/article_b5cdabd4-ccb9-11ec-8a90-3f36b79b6361.html | 2022-05-05T22:58:57Z |
LANDER – The Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee spent almost half of its two-day meeting here last week discussing whether Wyoming’s private trust and limited liability company laws are prone to abuse by bad actors – tax evasion, tax avoidance, money laundering, shielding assets from creditors and law-enforcement.
Most expert witnesses objected to that idea, telling lawmakers that Wyoming is neither a tax haven nor a harbor for illegal activity. One expert offered sharply different testimony.
“It’s apparent we have two widely different thoughts here,” Committee Chairman Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, said during the meeting.
Legislative leadership assigned the topic following scathing reports in the Washington Post and elsewhere.
Despite the international spotlight and the lengthy discussion, the committee adjourned without giving legislative staff instructions for further action on the topic, such as research or bill drafting. Case told WyoFile, “[I] definitely don’t think we are finished with this.”
Private trusts and LLCs are both legal entities that can be used to protect and manage assets. In Wyoming, in particular, both entities can provide a high degree, if not complete, anonymity to involved parties thanks to little regulation and strong privacy laws.
Proponents describe the status quo as a strength that, when combined with Wyoming’s lack of an income tax, makes the state an attractive jurisdiction in which to house and protect wealth. Detractors say it is indeed attractive, though not to the right people, and provides little to no benefit to Wyoming residents that are not employed in the industry.
Independent of the moral hazard question, Case said Wyoming’s trusts and LLCs are potentially an untapped revenue stream at a critical time for the state, hence his request for the topic and its assignment to the committee responsible for figuring out how to fund state government.
Trust companies in Wyoming hold at least $31.5 billion worth of assets in trusts – close to the gross domestic product for the entire state.
Wyoming provides the legal structure but may not be getting a fair return, according to Case. Because the topic is extraordinarily complex, Case said it was important for the committee to begin its work with a “primer.”
Witnesses
Attorney Chris Reimer was the first of about a half-a-dozen local experts to walk the revenue committee through the ins and outs of Wyoming’s statutes on April 28. This was far from Reimer’s first experience with the Legislature. He had helped to draft and revise the very laws at the center of the discussion, he said.
As a partner with Long Reimer Winegar Beppler LLP, his practice includes setting up and administering private trust companies, “usually for out-of-state and international clients,” according to the firm’s website.
Aside from legal explanation, Reimer spent much of his time in front of the committee criticizing the work of the Washington Post and objecting to the idea that Wyoming may be enabling criminal activity. That was echoed by several others, including Scott Weaver and Betty Andrikopoulos of the Wyoming Trust Association.
Reimer did not completely deny the presence of criminal activity, though he characterized it as a thing of the past. For instance, Reimer brought up concerns about registered agents, who act as a representative for a company.
LLC filings are typically public record. The identities of the members, however, can be kept private if a business formation company is hired to act as a registered agent. Wyoming does not require any training for these individuals, such as how to vet a company before representing them – a process which is not required by Wyoming law.
Reimer said the potential for illegitimate businesses hiding behind a registered agent in order to disguise shady operations has been voided by the federal Corporate Transparency Act. CTA was enacted in January 2021, but hasn’t yet fully gone into effect.
“The most important thing to take away from this is that a so-called secret shell company … that is a thing of the past,” Reimer said. “It is over.”
The CTA will require some legal entities to report certain basic information about themselves, their beneficial owners and who is authorized to act on their behalf. The data collection has begun but it has yet to be determined who will have access to that information.
The CTA’s unhurried rollout is a problem, according to Ryan Gurule. He’s policy director for the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency Coalition, a non-partisan group based in Washington, D.C., working to end the use of anonymous shell companies as vehicles for illicit activity, among other things.
“Wyoming has attracted and protected capital from people who threaten our national security, and undermine the stability of our financial and main street markets, including by using complex structures to avoid taxes, launder ill-gotten monies and hide assets,” Gurule told the committee, pointing to Igor Makrov, a Russian oligarch.
Legislator concerns
Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, repeatedly raised questions about foreign nationals using Wyoming’s legal framework to hide assets from their home countries.
Rep. Pat Sweeney, R-Casper, was more concerned with how recent reports painted Wyoming’s reputation, which he felt were unfair.
“We’re being painted with this broad brush. Basically we’re a bunch of hicks out here and we don’t know what we are doing, which I totally, fundamentally disagree with,” Sweeney said. He then asked Reimer what should be done, if anything.
“From where I sit and practice, there’s no law regarding information of entities or private trust companies or trusts that needs to be implemented in Wyoming,” Reimer said.
His peers in the Wyoming Trust Association also urged the committee against any kind of tax, saying it would drive the trust industry out of the state and into competing jurisdictions, like Nevada and South Dakota.
Case was not convinced. He said he continued to circle back in his mind to one question – what does Wyoming get out of this?
In terms of static assets, he said, the business is bigger than the mining industry or the oil and gas industry.
“As Wyoming changes, we’ve got to follow the money,” Case said.
“Part of my concern with the folks that testified at the hearing was that the majority of them have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo,” Jenn Lowe with the Equality State Policy Center told WyoFile.
It’s a very complex financial system, Lowe said, and the experts present contributed to good discussion. But she’s not sure where the topic goes from here since the committee did not give staff any direction.
“There’s a lot of money to be made in the trust industry, which is not a bad thing at face value, but on the other hand, I’m not sure that the folks that live here in Wyoming are seeing a return in benefit,” Lowe said.
The Joint Revenue Committee’s next meeting is in September.
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/legislators-take-no-action-on-trust-llc-laws/article_cd55cb1b-0d33-54ce-a158-f80a2f6e3818.html | 2022-05-05T23:40:05Z |
Cheyenne Central High School nurse Mysha Mattimoe tests blood pressure equipment before packing it up for the year on May 6, 2020, in Cheyenne. Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Health hopes to further address high blood pressure with a new program in Laramie and four other counties, the agency has announced.
The Healthy Heart Ambassador Program is free to Wyoming adults diagnosed with high blood pressure, the department said Wednesday. This four-month program "is initially being offered through partner groups in Carbon, Fremont, Hot Springs, Laramie and Washakie counties." Blood pressure self-monitoring and education are being offered.
Locally, you can go to HealthWorks at 2508 E. Fox Farm Road here in Cheyenne. Other locations in the four additional counties are listed online via the department.
“High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the major risk factors for developing heart disease,” said Amber Nolte, Chronic Disease Prevention Program manager with the Department of Health. “Hypertension is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because it does not have obvious symptoms.”
The No. 2 cause of death in Wyoming last year was heart disease, with the department noting that this resulted in more than 1,100 deaths. "For several years in a row, it had been heart disease" as the leading cause of death in the state, prior to 2021, Kim Deti, a Department of Health spokesperson, said by phone. Last year, however, deaths related to cancers were the No. 1 killer, she noted. COVID-19 was in third place.
“Unfortunately, many people with high blood pressure don’t realize it so we want to help them learn if they are at risk and then give them the tools to do something about it,” said Nolte in the news release. "While risk factors such as age or family history are out of our hands, there are other steps we can take to lower our risk.”
Nolte identified what she called "modifiable risk factors" as: lack of physical activity; unhealthy diet; being overweight; drinking too much alcohol; having sleep apnea; high cholesterol; diabetes; using tobacco; and experiencing stress. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wyoming-starts-self-monitoring-blood-pressure-in-laramie-4-other-counties/article_f0ef72c6-110f-5b96-a64b-1d9ffe69427c.html | 2022-05-05T23:40:11Z |
CASPER — A Laramie County woman is suing the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and one of its officers after being accused of growing marijuana on her hemp farm, court filings show.
Debra Palm-Egle and her son, Joshua, were charged in 2019 with growing and intending to deliver marijuana after DCI agent Jon Briggs said samples from their Albin farm were above the legal THC limit in Wyoming.
THC is the psychoactive chemical that gives marijuana its high. Hemp, like marijuana, is also a cannabis plant but has much lower concentrations of THC.
Their case was dismissed less than a year later after the court found there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed.
Palm-Egle filed the lawsuit against Briggs, DCI and the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office in April in Laramie County. It was moved to federal court on Tuesday, since it deals with a claim of civil rights violations.
The farmer was a vocal proponent of hemp legislation passed in 2019 that allows Wyoming residents to grow and possess the plant as long as its THC content is below 0.3%.
The Wyoming Supreme Court found in 2021 that Briggs had lied about an exchange he had with one of Palm-Egle’s contractors, who had provided three test results showing legal amounts of THC to Briggs while the officer was executing a search warrant on the farm.
Briggs testified in a hearing that he remembered the tests as possibly showing an illegal amount of THC.
The suit alleges Briggs lied in an affidavit used to obtain a search warrant for the farm and had begun investigating the Palm-Egles based on insufficient information.
Court filings state the investigation started after Briggs received a tip from a neighbor who “had a hunch” that marijuana was being grown on the farm after seeing a greenhouse being built there.
Palm-Egles maintains the November 2019 search of her farm and DCI’s seizure of around 700 pounds of hemp were illegal. The prosecutor in the original case, Assistant District Attorney David Singleton, was publicly censured last May by the state bar for failing to correct what he knew was false testimony. Singleton was appointed as a part-time hearing judge to the Cheyenne Municipal Court in the fall.
According to the complaint, two claims Palm-Egles filed with the state were rejected in May and September 2021.
Now, she’s asking for $250,000 in damages — the standard amount for tort claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. In addition, she’s seeking around $55,000 for attorney fees and court costs from the initial case. Other damages could be awarded if she wins the suit.
Attorneys for Palm-Egles and Briggs, as well as DCI Director Forrest Williams, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
This story was posted on May 5, 2022 | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/agribusiness/farmer-sues-dci-over-drug-charges/article_8905069c-ccbe-11ec-9aa4-4f17cea5ce47.html | 2022-05-05T23:40:17Z |
LOVELL — Regional ranchers are advocating for the passage of a federal bill calling for increased cash negotiation in the cattle market, as beef prices soar but the payment for cattle remains stubbornly low.
The issue, according to Brett Crosby, a cow-calf rancher and a commodity market analyst, is a concentrated market with an increasingly rigid price structure and a growing lack of competition. Four big meat packers – Cargill Inc., Tyson Foods, JBS USA and National Beef – control more than 80 percent of the nation’s beef supply. The four packers have together made formula trading the standard in the market, over negotiated cash trade.
The road to today started in 1999, when the U.S. Congress made mandatory price reporting the law of the land. The practice allows for open, transparent price discovery and universalized access to market information for ranchers.
But it also allowed for a new way to price cattle.
Using the information provided in the livestock mandatory price report, packer companies have based most of the market on formula pricing, creating a more universal price for cattle in replacement of a negotiated price between a feedlot and packer operation.
“When the (Livestock Mandatory Reporting program) went into effect, it gave packers a huge data set,” Crosby said. “They started using a formula. They just told feedlots, instead of negotiating for the cattle every week, we’ll give you the average price.”
The method had some merits at first, Crosby said.
Alongside increased efficiency, the formula also gave incentive to ranchers to breed cattle with good carcass characteristics, creating a more standardized level of quality cattle within the market.
But today, the practice is cannibalizing the industry, Crosby said.
Up to 80 percent of all cattle are purchased under formula pricing, while only 20 percent are negotiated between a buyer and seller. A number of plants now purchase their inventory exclusively through formula pricing.
“Without intervention, the trend is expected to continue until negotiated trade in at least one major region is virtually eliminated,” Crosby said.
With negotiated trade decreasing dramatically, the industry not only has far less competition, but the negotiated market, upon which formula prices are based, is also far more vulnerable to manipulation, keeping payouts artificially low.
Accurately priced formula trade relies on the accuracy of the prices reported to the market, and discrepancies are beginning to be seen. Ironically, accurate data relies on the negotiated trade, the practice formula pricing is eliminating. In some regions, negotiated trade is less than 10 percent and is not a significant enough sample size to ensure an accurate price for cattle.
But cattle feeders are stuck with it. In an already thin market, smaller farmer- owned feedlots have little room to negotiate.
“It all trickles down to the cow calf guy,” Crosby said. “If the feedlot doesn’t make money, they can’t bid much for cattle here. For those of us who bring cattle to a feedlot and sell them, the formula trade is the only way a little guy can sell cattle. You don’t get a choice; you don’t get to say no. You have to commit your cattle on a Tuesday, and they’ll say you’ll get whatever the Nebraska average price is [for the coming week].”
According to Jess Peterson, a rancher in Eastern Montana and the executive director of U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, this dynamic puts local cattlemen, who typically have a higher quality cattle than other U.S. regions, at a particular disadvantage.
“Folks in Wyoming need a competitive market for their cattle, but the meat packer will utilize lesser quality cattle so they can put pressure on quality cattle and use that leverage to lower the prices,” Peterson said. “Higher quality cattle are best procured in a cash agreement. If you’re going to utilize the current system, you need to be active in the cash market. A portion of the cattle need to be purchased on a cash basis.”
Leo MacDonell, a Montana rancher who sits on the board of directors of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, said the current market has resulted in “sweetheart deals” between major packers and lower quality markets.
Some ranchers have seen their profit decrease by upward of 300 percent in recent years, MacDonell said.
It helps, Peterson said, to think of a cattle lot like a vehicle lot. A company selling vehicles wouldn’t keep many customers if they didn’t make room for negotiation.
“You don’t keep a car lot running very long if you’re not honest about pricing,” Peterson said.
Regional ranchers see a possible solution in the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022, co-written by Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis is a co-sponsor of the bill.
The primary purpose of the act is to require that a minimum percentage of cattle be bought and sold through negotiated cash deals, creating a transparent pricing mechanism and thereby ensuring a more competitive price. The legislation also contains multiple provisions giving ranchers and feedlots more market data, such as the number of steers being processed by a packer, giving sellers more leverage in negotiations.
“Right now, we don’t know how many they have going into processing in the next few weeks,” Peterson said. “If you know how many cattle packers are processing, you can base your price on the demand.”
Some may view it as more red tape, making a complicated market even more complicated, but Crosby argues the bill just fixes existing regulation.
The legislation is currently being considered by the Agriculture Committee and is expected to hit the floor of Congress this month.
Peterson said the impact of more accurate cattle pricing will prove a boon to local communities.
“Any amount of increased value will go right back into the economy,” Peterson said. “…It’s a stimulus package.”
This story was published on May 5, 2022. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/agribusiness/local-cattle-ranchers-seek-relief-in-thinning-cattle-market/article_7333d776-ccbe-11ec-b6ab-4bdc34f5689f.html | 2022-05-05T23:40:23Z |
ROCK SPRINGS — Summer is around the corner and food trucks are sprouting around Sweetwater County.
TIP’s Kitchen treats taste buds to home style cooking and they’re serious about chicken.
They prepare four or eight-piece chicken meals, chicken cordon bleu and pasta such as chicken parmesan and chicken fettuccine alfredo. They also serve various chicken sandwiches and wraps. Their fresh sides include potato logs, cauliflower nuggets, chicken strips, gizzards and wings.
Rock Springs natives Kat and Michael Tipton decided that retirement was “just too boring” and they wanted to provide something “tasty and unique” in the community.
“There just aren’t many places that serve great chicken,” said Michael. “We take pride in what we cook here.
“Cooking is my passion!”
“I do love my husband’s cooking,” Kat shared.
Kat was a school bus driver for 11 years and a paraprofessional for four years. Michael worked in the oil field.
TIPS Kitchen is usually spotted at different locations such as Johnny Mac’s Good Times Tavern, Ace Hardware, Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce, Green River Chamber of Commerce and Flaming Gorge Harley-Davidson in Green River.
One of the biggest challenges, according to the couple, is “getting everything set up so that it works smoothly in a very small place.”
Another challenge, they mentioned, is the inflation in food prices.
“It’s not a cheap thing to do,” Kat pointed out. “You really have to pay attention to your food orders. What you need, what you don’t and if you can afford it.”
They laughed as they said, “’Buy a food truck,’ they said. ‘It will be fun, they said!”
The biggest advantage for them, however, is “interacting with the community and meeting new people.”
“We love people and since we’ve been here for a long time, we know many people here so that makes it more enjoyable,” Kat said.
They support other food trucks as well.
“We work well together when we’re parked together,” Michael revealed.
The Tiptons hope to keep serving from their food truck for a few more years.
“If our health holds out, we’ll be around for ten years or so,” Kat said. “If you want to start a food truck business, plan your budget and add another 10K – startup costs are high.”
In the mood for chicken? Just look for the big, purple truck. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/economy_and_labor/tips-kitchen-frying-it-up-for-sweetwater-county/article_a1712422-ccbe-11ec-945e-639d545f6b1a.html | 2022-05-05T23:40:29Z |
LARAMIE — The Detroit Lions are bringing in former University of Wyoming offensive lineman Logan Harris as an undrafted free agent.
Harris was a starter on three Wyoming bowl championship teams in 2017, 2019 and 2021 and earned All-Mountain West honors three consecutive years. He started 43 of 54 games for the Cowboys.
Harris began by starting at center for all 13 games during his true freshman season of 2017. He was part of a Wyoming offense led by quarterback Josh Allen. The 2017 Cowboys won the Potato Bowl and posted an 8-5 record. Harris then started all 11 games at right guard during the 2019 season, including Wyoming’s victory in the 2019 Arizona Bowl.
The Torrington native concluded his college career in 2021, starting all 13 games at right guard on UW’s 2021 Potato Bowl championship team.
Harris was selected honorable mention All-MW by conference head coaches and media in three consecutive seasons — 2019, 2020 and 2021. He also was the leader of an offensive line that helped Wyoming rank No. 20 among FBS teams in rushing offense in 2021, No. 14 in the nation in 2020 and No. 23 in the country in 2019.
Harris joins former teammates Chad Muma, Garrett Crall and Keegan Cryder as Cowboys who earned NFL opportunities this spring. Muma was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the sixth pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. Crall is joining the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent and Cryder is joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
Chamberlin appointed as athletics representative
Scott Chamberlin, a professor in UW’s College of Education, will serve as UW’s next NCAA faculty athletics representative (FAR).
FAR represents the institution and its faculty in relationships with the NCAA and the Mountain West conference. Internally, the representative serves as the liaison for student-athlete NCAA eligibility and academic success, as well as NCAA rules compliance — coordinating between the Office of the President, the faculty community and the Department of Athletics. The representative also is a resource to student-athletes on all academic and student welfare issues.
Chamberlin succeeds Alyson Hagy, a professor in the Department of Visual and Literary Arts, who was in the position for 15 years.
“We express our deepest appreciation for Alyson’s dedicated service for so many years,” UW President Ed Seidel says in a news release. “And I’m delighted that Scott has agreed to accept this appointment, which is so important to our success as an NCAA Division 1 institution.”
Chamberlin, a professor of elementary and early childhood education, teaches math and science methods for elementary pre-service teachers and mathematics seminars at UW. He has been a member of UW’s faculty since 2003. He received a Ph.D. from Purdue University, where he also did his undergraduate work and a master’s degree from the University of Utah.
“I am honored to be selected for this responsibility and for the opportunity to represent the University of Wyoming, its student-athletes, the faculty and the Department of Athletics,” Chamberlin says. “In competition and in the classroom, University of Wyoming student-athletes are perpetually among the best in the conference.”
Gonzalez promoted for Cowgirls tennis
UW tennis head coach Dean Clower announced Thursday the elevation of volunteer coach Julie Gonzalez to a full-time role as the new Cowgirls assistant coach.
“Since joining the program as a volunteer assistant three years ago, Wyoming has become home to me,” Gonzalez said in a news release. “I am extremely thankful for the opportunities Coach Clower has provided for me and I am excited to move into this new role. The Cowgirl Tennis family is amazing, and I can’t wait to continue working with and promoting this program and community. Go Pokes!”
Gonzalez spent the previous three seasons with the program and helped guide five student-athletes to All-Mountain West singles team accolades and three doubles tandems to All-MW doubles team honors.
Gonzalez graduated from Mount Olive with her degree in exercise science with a minor in coaching. While at Mount Olive, Gonzalez earned all-conference doubles honors. In 2017, she earned the Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s tennis. Gonzalez also played basketball while at UMO.
The Mechlen, Belgium native graduated with her master’s degree in exercise science from West Alabama after her time at Mount Olive. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/university_of_wyoming/football/detroit-lions-sign-logan-harris-as-free-agent/article_8578fb74-effa-5bc2-912f-3d526a6e5f3c.html | 2022-05-05T23:40:36Z |
1 in 3 new COVID cases caused by new omicron subvariant, CDC data shows
(CNN) - There is new information on a variation of omicron that is causing more COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
The omicron variant offshoot, a highly contagious spinoff of BA.2, is gaining steam in the U.S., caused more than one in three new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. last week.
That is up from one in four the week before, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We’re set up for another big wave in the summer. I think that’s quite possible,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College School of Medicine.
Cases of the variant spinoff are not evenly spread through the U.S. Last week, the CDC estimated it caused around 62% of cases in the region that includes New York and New Jersey, as well as in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The CDC estimated it caused about 40% of cases in the mid-Atlantic states and more than 36% of cases in the South.
It’s least common in the Pacific Northwest.
Researchers believe several omicron subvariants have a mutation that helps the virus bind more tightly to our cells and hide from the antibodies that try to block the virus from infecting us.
“The incubation period, the period from when you become infected with the virus to when you start showing symptoms with these omicron subvariants, is pretty quick,” Hotez said. “It’s around two to four days.”
In a paper published in the medical journal JAMA, Food and Drug Administration officials say current vaccines could be updated yearly to target specific coronavirus variants going around.
They said COVID-19 shots could be administered every year and decisions will need to be made by this summer on future vaccine composition and who should be eligible for another COVID-19 shot in the fall.
The FDA officials wrote that this coming fall and winter, three factors may put the U.S. at an additional risk of COVID-19: waning immunity, seasonal waves of more coronavirus spread, and the virus further mutating and leading to new variants.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/1-3-new-covid-cases-caused-by-new-omicron-subvariant-cdc-data-shows/ | 2022-05-06T00:44:38Z |
10-year-old sworn in as junior officer to nearly 400 law enforcement agencies
HOUSTON (Gray News) – A 10-year-old battling terminal cancer passed up the chance of going to Walt Disney World to become the youngest officer to be sworn into U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Devarjaye Daniel is now a sworn officer of nearly 400 law enforcement agencies, far surpassing his wish of being sworn into 100.
“This is right up his alley,” Theodis Daniel, Devarjaye’s father told CBP. “He turned down a trip to Disney World because law enforcement is all he wants to do.”
“It was my distinct pleasure to welcome ‘DJ’ into the CBP family,” said CBP Port Director Shawn Polley after administering the oath.
DJ went through training and was introduced to intellectual property rights violations where he questioned a fake purse.
The 10-year-old worked with K-9 teams and got to open a package of undeclared currency where he found three large stacks of bills, putting a smile on his face.
CBP said the boy’s keen eye even led to the seizure of apples from a traveler from El Salvador, as they are prohibited to prevent foreign pest and plant diseases.
DJ wrapped up his first day on the job with hugs, handshakes and spreading joy.
He has been sworn in as a junior officer 388 times.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/10-year-old-sworn-junior-officer-nearly-400-law-enforcement-agencies/ | 2022-05-06T00:44:48Z |
Amazon to pay employee travel expenses to get abortions, other treatments, reports say
(Gray News) – Millions of women in the United States are on the verge of possibly losing the right to an abortion if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized the procedure nationwide.
If overturned, many women won’t be able to afford the costs of going out of state to have an abortion and will rely on employer benefits.
Amazon reportedly told its staff Monday the company would pay up to $4,000 in travel expenses for employees who need non-life threatening medical treatments, including abortions, according to a message seen by Reuters.
CNN Business reports this move is similar to policies implemented by Citigroup, Yelp, Uber and Lyft “to help employees bypass Republican-led efforts in several states to effectively ban abortion.”
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, 26 states are likely to ban abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, the pro-abortion rights think tank.
Of those, 22 states already have total or near-total bans on the books that are currently blocked by Roe, aside from Texas.
The Texas law banning it after six weeks has been allowed to go into effect by the Supreme Court because of its unusual civil enforcement structure.
Four more states are considered likely to quickly pass bans if Roe is overturned.
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have protected access to abortion in state law.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/amazon-pay-employee-travel-expenses-get-abortions-other-treatments-reports-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:44:55Z |
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Birthdays: 5.4.22
Happy Birthday to all who celebrate on today!!
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Published: May. 4, 2022 at 11:46 AM EDT
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Mother, daughter, firefighter dead after car goes into Elk River in murder-suicide
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Happening This Weekend: ‘A Night of Hope at the Historic Granada Theater’ coming to Bluefield, WV | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/birthdays-5422/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:02Z |
Body of missing 5-year-old girl found in river, officials say
Published: May. 4, 2022 at 11:36 AM EDT
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) – The body of a missing 5-year-old girl with autism was found in a river Tuesday night, officials in South Carolina said.
According to the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, the body of Collins Elizabeth “Lenny” Lusk was found in the Black River.
Lenny was last seen playing in her backyard sandbox around 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials said no foul play is suspected. No further details have been released.
Copyright 2022 WCSC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/body-missing-5-year-old-girl-found-river-officials-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:09Z |
Dallas-bound flight from South Carolina diverted after losing part of wing
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - American Airlines confirmed a flight from the Charleston International Airport had to be diverted Tuesday night after encountering turbulence that damaged one of the plane’s wings.
American Flight 3729 from Charleston to Dallas-Fort Worth, an Embraer E175 operated by Envoy, diverted to Birmingham, Alabama, after “a possible mechanical issue,” an airline spokesperson said. The flight landed without incident at 6:45 p.m.
A Federal Aviation Administration pilot’s report states the plane encountered moderate to severe turbulence resulting in the loss of a portion of the wing. The plane was flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet when the portion of the wing, known as a winglet, was lost.
Maintenance crews were inspecting the aircraft, and customers were placed on an alternate flight that departed Tuesday night.
“We thank our crew for their professionalism, ensuring the safety of their fellow team members and customers on board,” the spokesperson said.
Photos taken of the plane before and after its landing appear to show the right winglet missing. Winglets are vertical extensions of wingtips that improve an aircraft’s fuel efficiency and cruising range, according to NASA’s website.
Winglets increase an aircraft’s operating efficiency by reducing what is called induced drag at the tips of the wings, the site states.
Copyright 2022 WCSC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/dallas-bound-flight-south-carolina-diverted-after-losing-part-wing/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:15Z |
Eta Aquarids to peak Friday with up to 30 meteors visible per hour
(Gray News) – The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak this week, with at least 30 meteors visible during the peak of the meteor shower in some locations, according to NASA.
The meteors will be traveling fast in the Earth’s atmosphere at about 148,000 miles per hour, the agency says.
The fast meteors leave glowing “trains,” which are incandescent bits of debris that appear in the wake of the meteor.
People in both Northern and Southern hemispheres will be able to view the meteor showers during their peak in the hours before dawn.
The Southern hemisphere is better for viewing the showers, NASA says. The Northern hemisphere only has an hourly rate of about 10 meteors. The southern half of the U.S. may be able to see 10 to 20 meteors per hours under a dark sky with no moon and when the radiant is high in the sky, according to Earthsky.org.
The constellation of Aquarius, which is home to the radiant of the Eta Aquarids, is higher up in the sky in the Southern hemisphere than it is in the Northern hemisphere.
Although the shower peaks Friday, it will be viewable until around May 28.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/eta-aquarids-peak-friday-with-up-30-meteors-visible-per-hour/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:24Z |
Few parents say they’ll get COVID vaccines for young kids as soon as possible, survey finds
(CNN) - It might not be long until there’s a COVID-19 vaccine approved for kids younger than 5, but having a vaccine in the U.S. for those young kids and vaccinating them are two totally different things. And there are a lot of parents who say they’re on the fence right now.
In fact, a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed only 18% of parents with children younger than 5 said they would vaccinate them as soon as a vaccine was available.
Nearly 40% of parents want to wait and see, and 11% said they’d only vaccinate if it were required. And 27% said they definitely won’t do it.
The survey said the majority of parents who are hesitant say they feel like they “don’t have enough information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for children in this age group.”
Ultimately, the FDA will determine the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness with meetings set for June.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/few-parents-say-theyll-get-covid-vaccines-young-kids-soon-possible-survey-finds/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:31Z |
‘I just don’t want to feel unsafe’ - couple flees Florida amid ‘Don’t Say Gay’
Florida Congresswoman fights to pass the Equality Act amid slew of restrictive bills
JACKSONVILLE, FL (Gray DC) - When Becky Richmond and her wife moved to Florida in 2017 - they were hopeful about their future.
“We moved here for the same reason a lot of people move here,’ said Richmond. “It’s warm, cheaper cost of living, it’s beautiful. But there’s also a huge, huge LGBTQ+ community. And it’s one of the things that we love most about it is that presence here.”
But that warm welcome has worn off.
“Unfortunately there is legislation that’s targeting trans kids, LGBTQ families, and we don’t want that for our children,” said Richmond, “We don’t want that for us.”
Becky says she and her wife plan on moving out of Florida this summer.
“I know that it’s better elsewhere, and I know that I don’t necessarily have to fight, but I want to. But also, I just I don’t want to feel unsafe,” said Richmond.
Here in Washington, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) is fighting to keep families like Becky’s in the sunshine state- but knows it’s an uphill battle.
“In Florida we do not have a human rights law, an equality act that bars discrimination’ said Castor.
That’s why castor co-sponsored the Equality Act that passed the house last year.
It protects people from discrimination based off sex, sexual orientation, gender identity in employment, housing, education and federally funded programs. But not everyone is on board.
“You don’t need to protect the rights of some by eliminating the rights of others - and that’s precisely what the equality act does” said Sarah Perry.
Perry, of the Heritage Foundation believes the bill would make those with traditional views of marriage acquiesce to the changing times.
The bill has yet to move in the senate - Perry says it likely has to do with the upcoming midterms.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/i-just-dont-want-feel-unsafe-couple-flees-florida-amid-dont-say-gay/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:38Z |
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, medication used to end a pregnancy in W.Va. could result in felony charges
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) - We’re learning new details regarding what could happen in West Virginia if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
The Mountain State is one of 13 states with trigger laws on the books that would ban abortions immediately.
According to Beckley attorney, Robert Dunlap, the state code on the issue would revert back to a 1924 law that not only bans abortions, but any medication used to end the life of an unborn child. WV Code § 61-2-8 (wvlegislature.gov)
“Let’s say your daughter is sexually assaulted. If she takes that medication the next day, it’s so broad that anyone who sells the medication would terminate a fertilized egg could be charged with 3-10 years in prison.”
Two of the most common pills used to terminate pregnancies include Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
Under the 1924 law, anyone in West Virginia who prescribes these medications or performs an abortion could also be charged with a felony.
The law also states that if the mother’s life is lost in the process of that abortion, the person prescribing the medication or performing the procedure could be charged with murder.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/if-roe-v-wade-is-overturned-medication-used-end-pregnancy-wva-could-result-felony-or-murder-charge/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:44Z |
Infant left in vehicle dies after father arrested in Georgia, police say
ATLANTA (WGCL/Gray News) - An 8-month-old infant is dead after allegedly being left in a vehicle by her father on Tuesday.
Hospital staff at Piedmont Eastside Emergency Room alerted police after the dead child was brought in by her grandmother, WGCL reported.
Investigators later learned the girl was left in a vehicle by her father, Davied Japez McCorry Whatley, 20, who surrendered himself to Snellville police earlier that day for an unrelated probation violation.
Whatley has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the infant girl’s death.
RELATED: Risk of child hot car deaths rise as temps rise
Police said that Whatley failed to inform them that his daughter was in the car for the several hours that he was in custody.
Whatley’s vehicle, a 2007 Mazda 3, was found in the parking lot of Snellville City Hall near the dumpsters.
The Snellville Police Department has requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation take over the investigation.
Meanwhile, Whatley remains in Gwinnett County jail.
Copyright 2022 WGCL via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/infant-left-vehicle-dies-after-father-arrested-georgia-police-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:51Z |
Intoxicated man causing disturbances attempts to hide from police under a blanket
BELFAST, Maine (Gray News) – Police in Maine did not have to use top of the line detective skills to find a suspect who was attempting to hide from them at a local inn.
The Belfast Police Department said officers were called to the Admiral Ocean Inn late Sunday night for the report of an intoxicated man causing a disturbance.
When they arrived, they met up with Philip Dulude and removed him from the property. They also told him he would be arrested if he came back.
A few hours later, a sergeant with the department was checking the parking lot of the inn, where he found someone sitting in a chair and hiding under a blanket. When the sergeant pulled the blanket off, he found Dulude hiding under it.
The department says Dulude was then taken into custody and charged with criminal trespass and violation of bail conditions.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/intoxicated-man-causing-disturbances-attempts-hide-police-under-blanket/ | 2022-05-06T00:45:57Z |
Local Mexican restaurant prepares for “busiest day of the year”
BEAVER, W.Va. (WVVA) - Mexican restaurants and cantinas are preparing for their “busiest day of the year,” Cinco de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo, which translates to the “fifth of May,” is the annual celebration of Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The holiday has been known to inspire colorful outfits, Mariachi outfits and dancing, but perhaps the biggest draw is the food.
José Rizo, owner of El Mariachi in Beaver, says they are excited to kick off this year’s festivities and show the community what they have spent weeks preparing.
“It’s always, of course, our busiest day of the year,” he explained. “Yeah, it’s something that we take a lot of pride in to try to create new ways to entertain people and have a good time.”
Rizo says he and his staff are expecting to serve 600 people on Thursday alone. The restaurant will be having Cinco de Mayo activities all day long, but the real party will begin at 4 p.m. There will be food trucks and beer outside for those waiting to get in, as well as live music that those dining inside can enjoy. The restaurant will also be selling commemorative t-shirts and glasses.
WVVA reached out to various Mexican restaurants in the Raleigh County area, all of which are preparing for an increase in traffic over the weekend.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/local-mexican-restaurant-prepares-busiest-day-year/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:04Z |
Man charged with setting fire at Home Depot that burned store to ground
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A man charged with setting a fire that gutted a Northern California Home Depot, prompted hundreds to flee and filled the sky with smoke was trying to cover up a theft of tools, authorities said.
Dyllin Jaycruz Gogue, 27, of San Jose, was arrested April 15. He appeared in court April 19 and was given a public defender and a June 1 court date to enter a plea. He was being held without bail.
Gogue is accused of setting a fire that began in the lumber section of the Home Depot in South San Jose on April 9. He was trying to create a distraction while making off with a cart full of tools but drove off without taking them, prosecutors said.
The five-alarm fire destroyed the store, causing an estimated $17 million in damage to the store contents. The fire, which took about 100 firefighters six hours to control, sent up a huge black plume of smoke. People in nearby homes and businesses were told to stay inside out of concerns that the smoke might contain toxic chemicals.
The fire burned near hundreds of homes and was so hot that it was seen by satellites, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said at a news conference.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said the fire erupted on a weekend when the store was full of shoppers and he was thankful that his office “is not prosecuting a multiple murder case today.”
“Miraculously no one was hurt,” he said. “But it came close — far, far too close — to causing many injuries and deaths.”
Gogue allegedly stole items from a Bass Pro Shop before the fire, and he went on to steal from a Macy’s store afterward, authorities said.
In addition to aggravated arson, he also is charged with grand theft and petty theft involving shoplifting at six South San Jose stores between last October and April 2.
The new theft charges span from October 2021 to April 2, involving $17,000 worth of items from six South San Jose retailers. He could face a potential life sentence if convicted of all charges, prosecutors said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/man-charged-with-setting-fire-home-depot-that-burned-store-ground/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:11Z |
Man left nooses, notes, threatening phone calls mocking BLM movement, feds say
SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) — A retired Michigan optometrist faces federal charges for allegedly leaving nooses and notes mocking the Black Lives Matter movement inside a couple’s truck and near or inside stores as well as placing threatening phone calls.
Kenneth David Pilon, 61, of Saginaw, is charged with six counts of interfering with federally protected activities — a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and fines, federal prosecutors announced April 28.
The charges allege that “Pilon intimidated and attempted to intimidate citizens from participating lawfully in speech and peaceful assembly opposing the denial of Black people’s right to enjoy police protection and services free from brutality,” an FBI special agent wrote in an affidavit.
Pilon’s attorney, Barry Wolf, was not readily available for comment, the Detroit Free Press reported. The Associated Press left a message Thursday for Wolf requesting comment on the charges.
Federal prosecutors allege that on June 14, 2020, Pilon used racial slurs while calling nine Starbucks stores in Michigan about workers who might be wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts.
Those calls came days after Starbucks announced it was producing about 250,000 Black Lives Matter shirts for employees to wear if they wanted to express support for the movement following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
In one call to a Starbucks store, Pilon allegedly used a racial slur when telling a staffer he planned to lynch someone, according to the court filing.
Then, between June 22, 2020, and July 17, 2020, prosecutors said Pilon left five nooses in Saginaw with handwritten notes reading: “An accessory to be worn with your ‘BLM’ t-shirt. Happy protesting!” Those nooses were left in parking lots in and outside Goodwill, Walmart and Kroger stores, inside a 7-Eleven store and inside a vehicle owned by a Saginaw couple.
That couple, Regina and Donald Simon, told the Free Press that Donald Simon found the noose and note inside his truck one day after they had spent time playing with their puppy in their front yard as they were both wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts.
“I opened my door, and when I looked at it, then I looked at it again, I was amazed,” said Donald Simon, who is Black, adding that he was overcome with anger and confusion at the sight of the noose. “I was in shock. I thought, ‘Is this really what I think it is?’”
After discovering the noose, the couple posted what happened on Facebook, along with a photo of what was found in the truck.
“He was bringing hate to my front door, and that really bothered us,” said Regina Simon, who is Mexican and white. “We’re not hateful people. That really shook me right there.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/man-left-nooses-notes-threatening-phone-calls-mocking-blm-movement-feds-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:21Z |
Mom charged with child abuse after kindergartner mistakenly takes THC gummies to school, prosecutor says
VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WNEM/Gray News) – A Michigan mother was charged with second-degree child abuse after her 6-year-old child took a package of THC-laced gummies to school, resulting in four kindergartners being hospitalized, officials said.
According to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, the child took the gummies to Edgerton Elementary School in Vienna Township, about 15 miles north of Flint.
Leyton said the mother, identified as Melinda Gaticia, made her own THC gummies at home and placed them in a Life Savers package. She then left them in reach of her 6-year-old child, who took them to school Friday to share with classmates, Leyton said.
“If you are gonna do edibles, eat gummies, you have to safe keep them,” Leyton said.
In the kindergarten classroom, four students fell ill from the gummies and were hospitalized. Three of the students were discharged the next day, and the fourth student was discharged after two days, according to Clio Area Schools Superintendent Fletcher Spears.
Spears said all four students are now back at school.
Gaticia was taken into custody Wednesday after turning herself in. Leyton said the second-degree child abuse charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Copyright 2022 WNEM via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/mom-charged-with-child-abuse-after-kindergartner-mistakenly-takes-thc-gummies-school-prosecutor-says/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:28Z |
Mom, grandma charged with murder after young child found dead in hotel room, police say
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A mother and a grandmother are facing first-degree murder charges after a young child was found dead inside a hotel room Monday afternoon, police said.
According to the Asheville Police Department, officers responded to the Rodeway Inn and Suites for a welfare check when they found a small child lying dead on the floor inside a room. Investigators said the child appeared extremely malnourished.
Police did not disclose the age of the child.
Police said the child’s mother, 29-year-Chantarica Nasha Matthews, and the child’s grandmother, 50-year-old Inga Torrence Matthews, were inside the room with the child when officers arrived.
Following an investigation, both women were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, felony child abuse, and concealment of death. They were both booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center and are being held without bond.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/mom-grandma-charged-with-murder-after-young-child-found-dead-hotel-room-police-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:35Z |
Mother and 3-year-old child die after drowning in motel pool
Published: May. 4, 2022 at 2:19 PM EDT
GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) - A woman and her daughter drowned at a motel pool in Galveston, Texas, early Wednesday morning.
Galveston police officers were called to the Rodeway Inn around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday for a possible double drowning.
First responders began CPR and took the mother and child to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Police identified the victims as 33-year-old Alissa Hunter and 3-year-old Kylie Doyle.
Investigators are still working to determine what happened.
Copyright 2022 KTRK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/mother-3-year-old-child-die-after-drowning-motel-pool/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:41Z |
Officials hear concerns from sailors after multiple deaths on Navy aircraft carrier
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WTKR) – In Virginia, the U.S. Navy is relocating hundreds of sailors who had been living on an aircraft carrier after three recent suicides.
Democratic Congresswoman Elaine Luria toured the U.S.S. George Washington Tuesday to hear concerns directly from sailors and find ways to help sailors on that ship and on others.
“Every member of the ship is just like a family member,” she said. “So it’s, you know, it’s hit the crew hard. I think it’s very important to take a deep look and also a broad look into the contributing factors behind these types of incidents.”
Rear Admiral John Meier said immediate action has been taken regarding the deaths of the sailors. One investigation is looking into the three suicides from last month, while another is a broader look at command climate and culture and what he calls systemic stressors to working in a shipyard environment.
“Anytime we lose the sailor it’s gut wrenching,” he said.
Meier said there are also more training and mental health professionals added to the ship, and hundreds of sailors have been offered options to move off the ship to Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
“I think it’s important to note that we found spaces for them,” he said. “This will be at no cost to the sailors. it will increase their commuting times certainly, but it will also improve the quality of life for them continuing to look for better ways to improve quality of life here on board the ship. that includes cell phone repeaters, WIFI access on the mess decks.”
Luria said the sailors have the stress of being new to the Navy on top of difficult working and living conditions as well as whatever personal stressors they might be dealing with.
“What are the other stressors that people have in their lives, and really being able to look at removing those friction points for sailors,” Luria said.
Sailors recently voiced their concerns to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith. When asked by sailors why chaplains are being put on certain ships instead of psychiatrists, Smith said psychiatrists are harder to find.
Luria said she is looking into the Navy to see if the mental health issues are being met with psychiatric personnel on staff.
Meier said there are currently a lot of mental health resources focused on the George Washington.
“Mental health help and capacity across, really across the nation, but across the DoD and Navy is not meeting demand,” he said. “I think we all recognize that this is a national imperative.”
If you or someone you know needs help, you are asked to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Copyright 2022 WTKR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/officials-hear-concerns-sailors-after-multiple-deaths-navy-aircraft-carrier/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:49Z |
Procession held for fallen firefighter killed during rescue attempt
KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The body of a fallen firefighter was escorted from Charleston to a funeral home in Gassaway Wednesday morning.
Volunteer firefighter with the Gassaway Fire Department John Forbush, 24, died Sunday trying to save a mother and daughter after a vehicle plunged into the Elk River.
Following the incident, Captain Scarbro with the Braxton County Sheriff confirmed the deaths of Latonya Bell, 42, of Cleveland, Ohio, and her daughter Havana Pipkins, 8 were the result of a murder-suicide.
Forbush died while attempting a rescue operation. According to a release from the West Virginia Fire Marshal, Forbush had served as a volunteer firefighter in the Gassaway community for four years.
Mother, daughter, firefighter dead after car goes into Elk River in murder-suicide
“John D. Forbush selflessly gave his life for strangers in need,” officials said following Forbush’s death.
A wake will be held for Forbush Monday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gassaway Baptist Church.
Funeral services will begin Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Roach Funeral Home in Gassaway, West Virginia.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.
For previous coverage >>> CLICK HERE.
Copyright 2022 WSAZ. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/procession-held-fallen-firefighter-killed-during-rescue-attempt/ | 2022-05-06T00:46:56Z |
States that will be most affected if Roe v. Wade is overturned
(Stacker) - One historic decision has been endlessly passed around states over the last year. Roe v. Wade expressly protects a pregnant person’s right to choose to have an abortion. It’s under review by a now supermajority conservative Supreme Court, but reports suggest it could be struck down at any moment, as more and more states bring their own abortion laws to the highest court in the land.
States have already employed many kinds of restrictions, including but not limited to: parental consent for young women seeking abortions, bans on telemedicine for medicated abortions, mandated counseling and ultrasounds before the procedure, and TRAP laws, which impose burdensome medical standards such as hospital-admitting privileges on abortion clinics.
Many states with either anti-choice governors or constituents against abortion are attacking Roe v. Wade by enacting laws they can’t enforce, in case the Supreme Court decides in 2022 to overturn the decision.
To find out which states would be most affected by this decision, Stacker consulted a July 2019 study published in reproductive health journal Contraception, updated in 2021 by Professor Caitlin Myers at Middlebury College. The study analyzed the impact of a post-Roe world by analyzing states’ current laws and political climate to identify states that would be at a high risk of outlawing abortion.
Eight states maintain so-called “trigger bans” that would immediately outlaw abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned. Based on this and other information, any state that could quickly enact restrictions if Roe v. Wade was overturned is listed as “high-risk.” States could be classified as “high-risk” even if they have no laws currently on the books, but simply a political climate unamiable to abortion.
Then, using Census demographic data, the study calculated the number of women that would be affected by an increase in travel time to the nearest abortion clinic in a scenario where all high-risk states ban abortion.
The makeup of the surrounding states is enough to limit abortion access by an over 1,000% increase in distance. Keep reading to see which states will be most affected if Roe v. Wade is reversed.
#29. Nevada
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.2%
--- Affected population: 11,808 (2.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 11 miles (22.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 9
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 9 miles
Though abortion will likely remain legal in Nevada, people in need of services will have to travel a bit farther to get them, due to bordering states that would outlaw them. Nevada residents voted to keep abortion rights for pregnant women under 24 weeks into the gestational period in 1990, and that law could only be reversed by another direct vote of the people.
#28. Oregon
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.2%
--- Affected population: 7,245 (0.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 16 miles (6.7% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 15
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 15 miles
Oregon and Nevada share a border with California, a state with several abortion protections others do not have, including constitutional protection. Reproductive rights were recognized in California’s constitution in 1969, giving people in states like Oregon more options. Oregon passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2017, which expanded abortion access by requiring private health insurance to cover abortions, and funding services for those who would otherwise be excluded from coverage, such as DACA recipients.
#27. Kansas
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.3%
--- Affected population: 20,488 (3.6% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 54 miles (1.9% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 4
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 53 miles
Kansas already has a few common restrictions on abortion, such as limits on public and private funding for the procedure. Though the state supreme court ruled in 2019 the right to an abortion is protected in the Kansas constitution, conservative lawmakers recently voted to to put a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution on the 2022 ballot. The majority of the states surrounding Kansas are far more restrictive.
#26. New Mexico
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.5%
--- Affected population: 40,320 (10.1% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 58 miles (1.8% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 5
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 57 miles
Women in New Mexico were once facing a long-dormant abortion ban that was deemed unconstitutional and unenforceable, but they now have access to legal procedures and public funding. In February 2021, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill that finally overturned that law, which would have triggered a statewide ban if Roe v. Wade were reversed.
#25. Virginia
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.9%
--- Affected population: 92,473 (5.5% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 25 miles (19.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 16
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 21 miles
Virginia is one of many states overturning previously restrictive abortion laws amid concerns for Roe v. Wade. As of 2020, Virginia health insurance carriers can cover abortion services, though they are not required to do so. Nearby in Maryland, those seeking abortions have protection outside of Roe v. Wade.
#24. Wyoming
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -1.1%
--- Affected population: 12,111 (11.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 138 miles (3.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 134 miles
People won’t find abortion protections in Wyoming’s state law or its constitution, and will barely find a clinic they can use. What they will find is a legislature that is advancing bills that restrict abortion access, including one that prevents women from using student health insurance for the procedure. If Roe v. Wade were outlawed, the legality of abortions could be at risk.
#23. Minnesota
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -1.6%
--- Affected population: 95,799 (8.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 40 miles (25.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 7
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 32 miles
The right to abortion has been protected in Minnesota since 1995, when the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a woman’s right to privacy includes the right to terminate a pregnancy. However, Minnesota shares a border with two very restrictive states that may try to immediately restrict abortions if Roe v. Wade is gone.
#22. Missouri
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -3.2%
--- Affected population: 708,893 (60.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 74 miles (10.4% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 67 miles
Missouri is the first state on this list with a trigger ban. Though previous bans were declared unconstitutional, one recent ban would immediately go into effect if Roe v. Wade is reversed. In June 2021, a federal appeals court blocked Missouri from enforcing the bill that prohibits all abortions after eight weeks.
#21. Nebraska
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -8.4%
--- Affected population: 331,206 (88.6% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 69 miles (56.8% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 3
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 44 miles
It’s already a felony to get an abortion after 20 weeks in Nebraska. Though there’s no trigger ban, the state government enacted a law last year prohibiting dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortions, which are performed in 95% of second trimester abortions.
#20. South Dakota
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -12.9%
--- Affected population: 112,850 (69.6% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 189 miles (43.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 132 miles
South Dakota has had a trigger law waiting to become enforceable since 2005. It escalates the practice of abortion to a felony for physicians who provide it. Like its neighbor North Dakota, the state has just one facility, which would have to stop providing abortions in a no-Roe country.
#19. West Virginia
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -15.5%
--- Affected population: 184,170 (58.5% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 126 miles (129.1% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 55 miles
In 2018, 52% of West Virginia voters decided to amend the state’s constitution and ensure abortion is not protected if Roe v. Wade is overturned. West Virginia is surrounded by states with similar plans, apart from Maryland, so people will have to travel even farther to find services.
#18. North Dakota
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -20.4%
--- Affected population: 136,216 (91.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 323 miles (121.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 146 miles
North Dakota’s trigger ban allows few exceptions for abortion procedures. People who are victims of rape or incest can get them, and those whose lives are at risk are also included. The 2007 ban was followed by several other restrictions, including the dilation and evacuation ban that Nebraska also put forward.
#17. Indiana
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -24.1%
--- Affected population: 1,307,855 (99.8% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 129 miles (279.4% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 7
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 34 miles
As part of the block of states in the Midwest ready to ban abortions via bills or amendments, Indiana has tried to overturn any protections for the procedure that exist. Their proposed ban is strict: should Roe v. Wade be nullified, there would be no abortions allowed, not even in cases of rape or incest, and if performed, they would be classified as murder.
#16. Idaho
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -24.8%
--- Affected population: 224,181 (65.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 173 miles (355.3% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 4
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 38 miles
Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed an abortion ban in April 2021, along with a wave of other nearby states. It’s considered a “heartbeat bill,” one that requires doctors to decline abortions to mothers with a detectable fetal heartbeat, and would only go into effect if a federal appeals court upholds a similar heartbeat ban. A heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
#15. Mississippi
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -27.9%
--- Affected population: 584,299 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 250 miles (303.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 62 miles
Mississippi is one of eight states that has a pre-Roe abortion ban, and a loud voice in the fight to overturn the landmark Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court decided in May 2021 to review Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Whole Health, a case concerning Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. Though the state had initially focused its argument on defending that specific ban, it recently made overturning Roe v. Wade part of its pending argument before the Supreme Court. The court will have a decision by June 2022.
#14. Arkansas
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -28.8%
--- Affected population: 578,319 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 314 miles (330.1% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 73 miles
Surrounded on all sides by abortion-restrictive states, Arkansas is in a precarious spot when it comes to protecting the right to abortion. Along with several states that introduced new bans in 2021, its legislature introduced an expansive abortion ban that was blocked by a federal judge in July 2021. Arkansas’ pre-Roe ban on abortion has not been reversed.
#13. Kentucky
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -30.4%
--- Affected population: 848,023 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 266 miles (315.6% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 64 miles
In former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s quest to become “the most pro-life governor in America,” he signed four anti-abortion bills during his term, two of which were blocked by federal judges. House Bill 148, Kentucky’s full ban on abortion, is unenforceable while Roe v. Wade is still intact. The state’s current governor, Democrat Andy Beshear, is pro-choice. Beshear has had difficulty stopping pro-life legislation from becoming law since the state House and Senate have a Republican supermajority.
#12. Oklahoma
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -32.2%
--- Affected population: 759,207 (98.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 191 miles (416.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 5
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 37 miles
Oklahoma’s trigger ban was enacted in 2021, though its existing abortion laws were already restrictive for young women and for clinics. Oklahoma, and many of its surrounding states, have TRAP laws, or what Planned Parenthood calls “medically unnecessary,” building requirements that a clinic must meet to provide abortions.
#11. North Carolina
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -32.3%
--- Affected population: 2,017,049 (98.1% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 169 miles (576.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 19
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 25 miles
The governor of North Carolina has vetoed multiple anti-abortion bills, one of which would have made it a crime to refuse treatment to “any infant born alive after an abortion.” (In his veto, Gov. Roy Cooper noted that “[this] practice simply does not exist.”) With an unconstitutional, pre-Roe abortion ban, and four border states without any legal protections, people in this state will be greatly affected by the conflict. North Carolina’s governor has demonstrated pro-choice stances, which may be helpful in the future.
#10. Alabama
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -32.5%
--- Affected population: 912,878 (96.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 224 miles (622.6% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 5
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 31 miles
The southern states feature pre-Roe and post-Roe bans, and if the decision is overturned, the number of clinics that are available to provide abortions will be severely limited in the area. Alabama was prosecuting misdemeanor abortion cases in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and it still hasn’t overturned the law that originally enforced that ban. In 2019, Alabama’s governor signed another law banning most types of abortions that would be enforceable should Roe fall.
#9. Ohio
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -33.2%
--- Affected population: 2,171,938 (98.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 181 miles (624.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 9
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 25 miles
Ohio’s “most restrictive abortion law in modern history” arrived with the wave of 2019 laws to undermine Roe v. Wade. A judge blocked Ohio’s recent “heartbeat” bill, which bans abortion at the detection of a fetal heartbeat, around six weeks into pregnancy, and which progressive lawmakers argued would put women’s lives at a high risk. Though the judge in this case said the law potentially conflicts with the constitution, it has a chance of taking effect in a post-Roe country.
#8. Louisiana
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -34.3%
--- Affected population: 922,449 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 294 miles (525.5% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 3
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 47 miles
The heartbeat bill streak made its way to Louisiana in May 2019, in the form of a trigger ban that would go into effect if Roe is reversed. Making it constitutional to ban abortions before people are aware they are pregnant would affect the entire South.
#7. Utah
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -35.7%
--- Affected population: 644,869 (91.8% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 272 miles (597.4% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 39 miles
Utah is in a peculiar place, politically and geographically. Pre-Roe, there were no express bans on abortion, but post-Roe, there were no express protections for it, either. It’s also too far from California for anyone to benefit from nearby clinics. In March 2020, a trigger ban was passed to prep for a Roe v. Wade recall. The state also passed an 18-week ban on abortions in 2019.
#6. Georgia
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -36%
--- Affected population: 2,035,985 (93.4% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 249 miles (789.3% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 14
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 28 miles
The center of the South’s legacy of abortion bans is Georgia. The Georgia legislature rode the anti-abortion legislation wave early with a sweeping abortion ban signed in 2019, set to take effect in 2020, but permanently blocked in the summer of that year. This version of the “heartbeat” bill solidified the state’s stance against Roe v. Wade.
#5. Texas
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -37.1%
--- Affected population: 6,018,754 (99.7% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 471 miles (1077.5% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 22
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 40 miles
Other states have trigger bans, but Texas added a unique proposition where citizens would be allowed to sue clinics that perform abortions. This is in addition to a ban on abortions around six weeks, which was signed into law May 2020.
#4. Tennessee
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -37.4%
--- Affected population: 1,333,861 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 294 miles (716.7% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 7
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 36 miles
Tennessee has several restrictions in place already. Gov. Bill Lee signed a heartbeat bill into law in 2020, which a federal judge temporarily blocked from taking effect shortly after it was passed. It is still making its way through the courts. In 2020, the state’s legislature put forth a bill that allows fathers to deny the pregnant mothers of their children an abortion, without the woman’s consent.
#3. South Carolina
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -38.6%
--- Affected population: 984,181 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 267 miles (790.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 3
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 30 miles
South Carolina’s latest abortion law, which bans the procedure at the detection of a fetal heartbeat, hit snags in federal court back in March 2021 when it was indefinitely blocked. Not only is South Carolina surrounded geographically by states with similar problems, but it is also supported by 20 other states that want this abortion ban to succeed.
#2. Michigan
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -39.6%
--- Affected population: 1,876,586 (99.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 239 miles (1393.8% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 26
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 16 miles
Michigan’s court has decided the state’s pre-Roe ban of abortion procedures is only unconstitutional (as applied to physicians) thanks to Roe v. Wade, so the debate on that case’s constitutionality will directly affect it. Still, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is seen as pro-choice, and was once criticized by anti-abortion activists for calling abortion “life-sustaining.” Michigan’s attorney general has also said she would not prosecute doctors performing abortions or anyone seeking them.
#1. Arizona
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -40.3%
--- Affected population: 1,316,221 (94.1% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 247 miles (1352.9% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 8
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 17 miles
In the renewed fight to restrict abortions, Arizona lawmakers are ready to challenge Roe v. Wade. One new Arizona law expressly rejects any federal decisions on abortion laws, which may not be constitutional. Since the ‘60s, the state has passed laws banning abortion that cannot be enforced until the Supreme Court’s landmark decision falls.
Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/states-that-will-be-most-affected-if-roe-v-wade-is-overturned/ | 2022-05-06T00:47:03Z |
U.S. Customs seize 460 counterfeit Rolex watches from China worth $10.1 million
(Gray News) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports officers in Indianapolis seized two shipments that contained hundreds of counterfeit Rolex watches at the end of April.
Officials said the shipments contained 460 watches that were arriving from Honk Kong en route to Brooklyn, New York. Officers reported the vendor had a history of fraudulent shipments and these shipments were deemed counterfeit by their trade intelligence.
The agency said if the counterfeit watches were genuine, they would’ve been valued at $10.1 million based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
“No one buys a luxury brand watch expecting it to fail or fall apart. As consumers increasingly purchase from online or third-party vendors, our officers are at the frontline to guard against defrauders expecting to make money selling fake merchandise,” said Chicago Director of Field Operations LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke.
During the month of April, CBP officers in Indianapolis reported they had seized three shipments of counterfeit watches that, if real, would have been worth $20 million.
“This is just another example of the work our officers do to protect consumers and the U.S. economy,” said Jeremy Brodsky of the Port Director-Indianapolis. “Our officers are at the frontline protecting the U.S. economy and guarding against criminals making money by selling fake merchandise.”
Officials said the rapid growth of e-commerce enables consumers to search for and easily purchase millions of products through online vendors. The easy access gives counterfeit and pirated goods more ways to enter the U.S. economy.
Consumers who believe they have purchased counterfeited products can submit a report here.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/us-customs-seize-460-counterfeit-rolex-watches-china-worth-101-million/ | 2022-05-06T00:47:12Z |
Woman uses ‘romance scam’ to steal nearly $34K from word game app player, police say
GILBERT, Ariz. (Arizona’s Family/Gray News) - Police said a “romance scam” cost a woman nearly $34,000, and an Arizona woman is facing fraud charges as a result.
Arizona’s Family reports officers arrested 70-year-old Carla Ann Whaley at her home in Gilbert Monday afternoon.
Court documents state the victim told police in late November she believed she was talking to a man named “Garth Davis” while playing the app-based game Words With Friends.
The victim told officers she was lonely after her husband had died earlier that year. She told police she began talking with “Garth” in March 2021 on Google Hangouts and started sending him cash cards and gift cards when he told her he was having trouble accessing his bank account.
When she broke her foot and couldn’t leave her home to go to the store and buy the cards, “Garth” told her to start sending money to Whaley, who he said was his friend.
The woman sent Whaley $20,000 in cash and $3,000 through CashApp until July. The woman grew suspicious and called the police shortly afterward, and officers went to Whaley’s home to speak with her.
Court records indicate Whaley told police she was helping a friend move money but did not tell officers who the friend was.
Police found the victim had lost a total of almost $34,000.
In late December, Whaley was taken to the Gilbert police station for more questioning. Court documents state Whaley told police she “wasn’t entirely truthful” the first time she spoke with police and admitted receiving $20,000 in cash from the woman.
Police searched Whaley’s CashApp account and saw that the money she had within the app was being exchanged for cryptocurrency and then exchanged for cash.
Whaley transferred just over $10,000 from CashApp to her credit union account from July to August.
Police said “Garth Davis” is an unknown suspect.
Whaley was booked into jail on Monday and faces one count of fraudulent schemes and one count of financing a criminal syndicate.
Copyright 2022 Arizona’s Family via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/05/04/woman-uses-romance-scam-steal-nearly-34k-word-game-app-player-police-say/ | 2022-05-06T00:47:22Z |
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR ALL SOUTH FACING SHORES...
.A large, early season, south swell will continue to generate
advisory-level surf for exposed south facing shores today, before
slowly easing into the weekend.
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Surf of 10 to 14 feet.
* WHERE...South facing shores of all islands.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Moderate. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break,
and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult
and dangerous. Some waves will break in exposed channels near
harbor entrances making navigation dangerous. Significant beach
erosion expected, with water sweeping across areas of the beach
that normally remain dry.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by
ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Stay away from sea
walls and vulnerable coastal locations exposed to large breaking
waves.
&&
Weather Alert
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui County
Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- After decades of declining numbers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the Hawaiian Monk Seal population is on the rise.
As of 2022, the Hawaiian Monk Seal population has surpassed 1,500 for the first time in 20 years, NOAA said.
Monk seals are known to be one of the most endangered seal species on the planet -- making this a triumphant return for the only native mammal in Hawaii.
The Hawaiian name for the monk seal is "ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua" which means "dog running in the rough water." | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/hawaiian-monk-seal-population-surpasses-1-500/article_bd7d9d9a-ccbd-11ec-84a2-ff4a9993b6c8.html | 2022-05-06T00:47:33Z |
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR ALL SOUTH FACING SHORES...
.A large, early season, south swell will continue to generate
advisory-level surf for exposed south facing shores today, before
slowly easing into the weekend.
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Surf of 10 to 14 feet.
* WHERE...South facing shores of all islands.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Moderate. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break,
and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult
and dangerous. Some waves will break in exposed channels near
harbor entrances making navigation dangerous. Significant beach
erosion expected, with water sweeping across areas of the beach
that normally remain dry.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by
ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Stay away from sea
walls and vulnerable coastal locations exposed to large breaking
waves.
&&
Weather Alert
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui County
Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the American Savings Bank building along North Beretania Street, across from Aala Park, in downtown Honolulu, Thursday morning.
Six units responded shortly after 9 a.m. Upon arrival, fire crews reported there were no signs of smoke or flames.
Crews conducted an interior investigation of the building and found the source of visible smoke coming from an air conditioning unit. The unit was deactivated and crews vented the area while occupants of the building sheltered in place.
A witness in the area captured photos and video of some employees being evacuated from the building while firefighters investigated. No injuries were reported. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/smoking-ac-unit-leads-to-brief-evacuation-at-american-savings-bank-building/article_8eb8b746-ccc8-11ec-8e11-0b53747eeb04.html | 2022-05-06T00:47:39Z |
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/dillin-jon-joseph/article_bbf63f3d-067c-5fd7-b969-232c8aadd3ef.html | 2022-05-06T01:46:14Z |
Patricia Anne (Cruz) Herrera-Sanchez 1947-2022 Patricia Anne (Cruz) Herrera-Sanchez went to heaven on April 28, after a long, hard fight with cancer. She was born on March 17, 1947 to Philip and Dora Cruz, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was the eldest of four children. She attended St. Mary's catholic school and lived in her birth city her entire life. Pat worked many different jobs in Cheyenne and made many friends and acquaintances throughout the years. She was a very social person, loved life and meeting people. She loved gardening, arranging puzzles, playing computer challenges, and making crafts for relatives and friends. She most enjoyed working as an optical manager at a local warehouse store where she interacted with people every day. Her fantastic smile and amazing demeanor made her a perfect match for that job. In addition to raising two children and a grandson, she took into her home numerous other relatives and friends in need. She is survived by her siblings, Irene (Cecelia) Cruz, Phillip (Jennifer) Cruz, and Mike Cruz; her grandson, Jonah Herrera; sons, Art (Sylvia) Herrera, James Herrera, Gill (Tasha) Valdez; daughter, Michelle Valdez; thirteen additional grandchildren, Julian (Nicole) Herrera, Angelo (Kelli) Herrera, Adrian (Amber) Herrera, Trey (Emily) Herrera, Omar Nunez, and Amanda Nunez, Makayla, Rosalie, Hollie, Jazzaree, Analezia, Ezabella, and Zaviaye Valdez; nine great-grandchildren, Aliyah, Kaidden, Cameron, Rosalucha, Elias, Charles (Chip), Presenzathea, Zariah, and Ezekiel; nieces and nephews, Eddie (Rikki) Cruz, Sierra Cruz, Nestor Roldan, Orlando Cruz, and Kimberly Milne. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Nobert Sanchez; most recent nephew, Tony Cruz; and numerous other beloved family members. Vigil for the Deceased will be Thursday, May 5th, 6:00 p.m. at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Funeral Liturgy will be Friday May 6th, 1:00 p.m., at St. Mary's Cathedral. In memory of Pat, friends and family are encouraged to donate in her name, whole blood or much needed platelets(cancer treatment) to Vitalant Blood Center or your local donation center.
To plant a tree in memory of Patricia Herrera-Sanchez as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/herrera-sanchez-patricia-anne/article_baf5f4ed-d63b-5c2e-bcb8-b0c1f79f2c27.html | 2022-05-06T01:46:20Z |
Casper Star-Tribune
CASPER – A Laramie County woman is suing the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and one of its officers after being accused of growing marijuana on her hemp farm, court filings show.
Debra Palm-Egle and her son, Joshua, were charged in 2019 with growing and intending to deliver marijuana after DCI agent Jon Briggs said samples from their Albin farm were above the legal THC limit in Wyoming.
THC is the psychoactive chemical that gives marijuana its high. Hemp, like marijuana, is also a cannabis plant, but has much lower concentrations of THC.
Their case was dismissed less than a year later after the court found there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed.
Palm-Egle filed the lawsuit against Briggs, DCI and the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office in April in Laramie County. It was moved to federal court on Tuesday, since it deals with a claim of civil rights violations.
The farmer was a vocal proponent of hemp legislation passed in 2019 that allows Wyoming residents to grow and possess the plant as long as its THC content is below 0.3%.
The Wyoming Supreme Court found in 2021 that Briggs had lied about an exchange he had with one of Palm-Egle’s contractors, who had provided three test results showing legal amounts of THC to Briggs while the officer was executing a search warrant on the farm.
Briggs testified in a hearing that he remembered the tests as possibly showing an illegal amount of THC.
The suit alleges Briggs lied in an affidavit used to obtain a search warrant for the farm and had begun investigating the Palm-Egles based on insufficient information.
Court filings state the investigation started after Briggs received a tip from a neighbor who “had a hunch” that marijuana was being grown on the farm after seeing a greenhouse being built there.
Palm-Egle maintains the November 2019 search of her farm and DCI’s seizure of around 700 pounds of hemp were illegal. The prosecutor in the original case, Assistant District Attorney David Singleton, was publicly censured last May by the State Bar for failing to correct what he knew was false testimony. Singleton was appointed as a part-time hearing judge to the Cheyenne Municipal Court in the fall.
According to the complaint, two claims Palm-Egle filed with the state were rejected in May and September 2021.
Now, she’s asking for $250,000 in damages – the standard amount for tort claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. In addition, she’s seeking around $55,000 for attorney fees and court costs from the initial case. Other damages could be awarded if she wins the suit.
Attorneys for Palm-Egle and Briggs, as well as DCI Director Forrest Williams, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/from_the_wire/farmer-sues-dci-over-drug-charges/article_68c961d5-ecf6-510d-8514-0ef1b08b80ef.html | 2022-05-06T01:46:27Z |
CHEYENNE – Both of Wyoming's U.S. senators were joined by other Republican colleagues from nearby states in sponsoring new legislation that would bar the use of federal funds to establish a Disinformation Governance Board.
The board, which is hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has taken heat in recent days for the possibility that it could end up encroaching on citizens' First Amendment and other rights. DHS has also attracted scrutiny for not being more transparent about what the board is up to.
On Wednesday, the office of U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said she was joined by 17 other Republican colleagues in introducing the new legislation to crack down on the board. On Thursday, a spokesperson for Lummis wrote the Wyoming Tribune Eagle to share the names of other senators who are backing the bill, S-4124.
Wyoming's other senator, GOP member John Barrasso, is among the co-sponsors, according to Lummis' spokesperson. And other supporters of the bill come from nearby states. They include Idaho's James Risch and Mike Crapo, as well as Mike Lee from Utah.
DHS officials, in testimony to Congress and in other settings, have said they will keep citizens' privacy in mind and that they will report on the actives of the Disinformation Governance Board. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/dhs-disinformation-board-opposed-by-senators-from-wyo-nearby-states/article_81c6b3be-102d-528a-945a-39f2f4b5672e.html | 2022-05-06T01:46:33Z |
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/public-comment-session-for-15th-street-railroad-experience-set-for-may-11/article_003db90e-d98c-52f3-b70b-9dee910e86d6.html | 2022-05-06T01:46:39Z |
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming National Guard Museum will be a "Blue Star Museum" for 2022.
The Blue Star Museum program is a nationwide initiative that offers free museum admission to active-duty military personnel and their families this summer from Armed Forces Day, May 21, through Labor Day, Sept. 5. The WVMM is one of 13 Wyoming museums participating this year.
The Wyoming National Guard Museum in Cheyenne tells the story of the Wyoming Guard from the 1870s to the present day. Currently, the exhibits focus on the National Guard's service from the territorial period onward. The museum also has exterior displays showcasing some of the vehicles used throughout the Guard's history.
The National Guard Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round, except for state holidays. Admission to the museum is free.
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps – and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Conventions common access card (CAC), D.D. Form 1173 ID card (dependent I.D.), or a D.D. Form 1173-1 I.D. card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. For a list of participating museums, visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wyoming-national-guard-museum-part-of-blue-star-museums-program-for-2022/article_9b5bbbc6-cfb2-58a8-81bb-35337e1b5a22.html | 2022-05-06T01:46:45Z |
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST SATURDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui
County Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- E-Opala, a computer recycling center in Kalihi Kai, has become a hot spot for thieves. Owner Jason Gruver said people rummage around the property about once or twice a week over the past six months.
The building is outfitted with cameras, a spotlight, and a siren, but the burglars don't seem to care.
"The last couple that ransacked our vehicles, they looked right at the cameras and basically waved and just continued going through our cars," Gruver said.
All kinds of people have stolen items from his business, including residents Gruver said recognizes from the area. Some of them, Gruver added, have ripped him off repeatedly.
"When we have filed police reports, police admit there are only a few officers in this district and they're generally responding to more serious crimes," Gruver said.
The only items Gruver leaves in the driveway are unsalvageable computers and equipment.
"There's no value to any of the things these people are taking," Gruver said. "It's just basically property damage and just messing up our workshop by going through the trash."
Car rental agency Honolulu Exotics opened up down the road from E-Opala a few months ago. Management there reported their gates appeared tampered with on several occasions, but they try to deter burglars by cleaning up the area around their building consistently.
"We want to make the point to like, 'Hey, this is a nice space, we're paying attention, so we're going to know if something goes wrong or missing," manager Jonathan Pearce said.
KITV4 reached out to Honolulu police for comment on the number of patrol officers assigned to the area, and we are waiting to hear back.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/kalihi-kai-business-owner-says-burglaries-have-become-weekly-nuisance/article_2cef1bea-ccd2-11ec-b1c0-ff85bb889568.html | 2022-05-06T02:31:43Z |
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST SATURDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui
County Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi met with several police and emergency officials Thursday, in an effort to address ongoing challenges of crime and public safety in Waikiki.
Mayor Blangiardi was joined by Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm, Acting Chief of Police Rade Vanic, and Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Dr. Jim Ireland in a briefing on public safety with leaders from Waikiki and the Hawaii visitor industry at the Hawaii Convention Center.
The briefing was organized by Mufi Hannemann, the president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, and was attended by representatives from groups including (but not limited to) HTA, the Waikiki Business Improvement District Association, VASH, the Waikiki Improvement Association and the Hawaii Restaurant Association.
- the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), addressing violent crime in the area and what is being done in response;
- Honolulu Emergency Services Department (HESD), on homelessness in Waikiki, and the City’s Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) program;
- Prosector Alm, on issues related to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Weed & Seed program and, separately, sex trafficking in Hawaii;
During each of their presentations, representatives from HPD, HESD, and Prosector Alm’s office fielded questions from tourism industry leaders on Waikiki safety concerns and new initiatives to address them;
The briefing was held in advance of a separate public meeting being planned by Council Chair Tommy Waters later this month. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/mayor-blangiardi-met-with-officials-to-address-rising-crime-homelessness-and-public-safety-issues/article_46ee7a92-ccda-11ec-9e49-b75170755c6c.html | 2022-05-06T02:31:49Z |
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST SATURDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Leeward Waters, Maui
County Leeward Waters, and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HONOLULU (KITV4) - The Annual Honolulu Triathlon returns on Sunday, May 15, starting at the Ala Moana Beach Park at 6:00 am.
Event participants will start with a 1500-meter swim, followed by a 25-mile bike along Ala Moana Blvd, Nimitz, to Lagoon Drive, returning to Ala Moana Beach Park, and a 6.2-mile run inside Ala Moana Beach Park. There will be traffic restrictions and closures along the route.
See the press release for detailed traffic flows and a map of affected areas.
Traffic Movement Restrictions:
The Bike Course will be held on the Makai (ocean) side of Ala Mona Blvd from Ala Moana Beach Park, Ewa bound, to Nimitz under the viaduct. The bikes will make a 180 U-turn under the viaduct at Lagoon Drive and then back onto Nimitz and Ala Moana Blvd, to Ala Moana Beach Park (MAKAI SIDE).
Ala Moana Blvd and Nimitz road closure begin at 4 am.
Nimitz to Ward Ave will be open no later than 10:00 am.
There will be restricted cross-traffic on Ala Moana and Nimitz.
A Hot Line will be available, and it will be active from May 8th through May 15th, 24 hours a day. Honolulu Triathlon will post the number on the website.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/road-closures-honolulu-triathlon-race-starts-on-may-15-at-ala-moana-beach-park/article_f81e536c-ccd2-11ec-9676-af52018afd17.html | 2022-05-06T02:31:55Z |
“Dead Man Walking” Subject Still Working for Change
“The death penalty is not what you think it is. It is not reserved for the worst of the worst crimes.”
Rose Vines, Communications and Special Projects Director for Ministry Against the Death Penalty, an organization working to put an end to capital punishment, spoke calmly about this highly emotional and controversial issue.
“These days it’s the race of the victim that determines the likelihood of being sentenced to death. It’s far more likely if the victim is white. The death penalty is racist in its implementation and has a very racist origin.”
Perhaps the most startling statistic related to the death penalty is that for every eight executions that are carried out, one death row inmate is exonerated – a ratio of greater than ten percent.
The Ministry was founded by Sister Helen Prejean in 2002. Prejean first received international attention when her book, “Dead Man Walking,” was made into an Oscar-winning film starring Susan Sarandon. When Prejean began her work in opposition to capital punishment, 80 percent of the United States population supported it.
By 2019, a Gallup poll showed that, given the choice between the death penalty and life imprisonment, only 36 percent supported execution, and government actions were trending the same way. By the end of last year, 23 states had abolished capital punishment, and three more had moratoria. There were only 18 new death sentences imposed, and only 11 executions were actually carried out – a 900 percent decline since 1999, and the seventh consecutive year with fewer than 30 executions nationwide.
Vines pointed out that support for eliminating the death penalty is increasingly bipartisan. “Conservatives are joining the cause due to the cost. It costs much more to impose the death penalty than life in prison, primarily because there is an extensive and expensive appeals process. Also, if you are against big government, you don’t want to give government the power to kill its citizens.”
All this comes in the context of the United States being a real outlier on the issue among so-called “western” nations. Within this category, only Japan also permits executions. Vines’ take was that “the death penalty is part of our culture of using violence to solve problems.”
Locally, the State of Louisiana has not carried out a death sentence since 2010, and that person gave up his appeal rights. Yet the higher costs of incarcerating the current 62 death row inmates continue, including greater security requirements, more supervisory staff and individual cells.
Each year, death penalty opponents in Louisiana introduce legislation to abolish it here. The bill in the state House of Representatives already failed in committee; the Senate version, SB 294, is presently scheduled to be heard in mid-May
Vines pointed out that with more than half the states currently not allowing capital punishment, “it is a fluke of geography as to whether you could face the death sentence.” Even within states that permit the death penalty, the power of individual prosecutors to seek it mean that some jurisdictions are far more likely than others to impose it.
This inequity is compounded by the data on death row inmates. The majority have diminished intellectual capacities if not being outright mentally disabled, and/or come from backgrounds of poverty and/or abuse. As Vines noted, “there aren’t any rich people on death row.”
While it isn’t possible to track precisely how much of the change in action and opinion is attributable to Prejean, her visibility and access have clearly been major factors. She has met with presidents and popes, appeared at thousands of public events, and published two more books.
“We’re really different from a lot of nonprofits because we’re built around one person,” Vines commented. “Sister Helen Prejean is known by millions of people.”
Given these circumstances, the organization centers its social media and even its website, sisterhelen.org, around Prejean. Now in her 80s, she remains highly engaged in everything from activism to counseling of death row inmates.
Capital punishment is unquestionably a difficult and emotional topic. Recognizing this, the Ministry goes out of its way not to attack people who disagree with them. Vines pointed out that the “Dead Man Walking” movie took a neutral stance, simply asking people on both sides to reflect on the issue.
Nonetheless, she asked, “What does the death penalty say about us? Because these executions are done in our names, saying that we want people to be killed for their crimes.” | https://www.bizneworleans.com/dead-man-walking-subject-still-working-for-change/ | 2022-05-06T02:46:59Z |
House Committee Approves Plan to Eliminate Sales Tax Hike by 2025
BATON ROUGE (The Center Square) — Legislation to wean the state off of a temporary 0.45% sales tax ahead of its expiration in 2025 cleared the House Committee on Ways and Means this week.
Committee members unanimously approved House Bill 438, sponsored by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, to address the temporary 0.45% sales tax that’s set to expire in mid-2025, which is expected to cost the state about $420 million in revenue.
HB 438 initially proposed to cut the tax to 0.35% starting with the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1, but Bacala amended the legislation to postpone the reduction until the following fiscal year. The bill would now cut the rate to 0.30% in July 2023, then to 0.15% in July 2024.
The temporary tax would then be eliminated completely on June, 30 2025.
“This a gradual reduction, equal amounts, over a two-year period, but really it’s three because the final is the natural expiration,” Bacala said.
Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Erath, questioned how the gradual drawdown would impact revenues.
“Next year … we would have $285 million of the $420 million to spend. In (fiscal year 2025), we would have … $152 million of $420 million to spend,” Bacala said.
Rep. Buddy Mincey, R-Denham Springs, questioned what the state would cut to compensate for the lost revenues.
Bacala said a more detailed look at the five year budget forecast is necessary to develop solutions, but stressed the bill is focused on providing a gradual adjustment rather than a fiscal cliff in 2025.
“We can have a gentle hill, or we can have a steep cliff,” he said. “That’s the choice we have here.”
“The other option is to vote to renew it, which I don’t think is appealing to anyone,” Bacala said.
Bacala noted that a tax incentive worth about $50 million sunsets at the same time as the 0.45% sales tax, so the net loss would be closer to $380 million in 2025.
“This isn’t a comfortable conversation, it’s going to be more uncomfortable the more we push it back,” he said. “As hard as it is to talk about this this year, it’s going to be tougher next year and tougher the following year.”
A similar bill, House Bill 1018, sponsored by committee Chair Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, would divert the revenue of the 0.45% sales tax to a “Temporary Sales Tax Fund.” The tax collections would then be deposited into four smaller funds dedicated to specific development projects, including a new Lake Charles bridge, a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge, expansion of the Interstate 49 corridor, and a Non-Federal Eligible Highway Program fund dedicated to road work.
HB 1018 also cleared the House Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday, with a vote of 12-2.
“I think the wise thing to do is to start adjusting ourselves to the loss of that revenue,” Bacala said. “We can look at this bill. We can look at Rep. Edmonds’ bill. I’d like both of them to go to the floor so people will have choices.”
“I’d like to see two instruments go to the governor’s desk and the (legislative) body make the choice about which one is prime,” he said. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/house-committee-approves-plan-to-eliminate-sales-tax-hike-by-2025/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:05Z |
JEDCO to Host Community Event at Churchill Technology & Business Park
AVONDALE, La. – The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission will host a community event on Friday, May 6 at the Churchill Technology and Business Park. “Churchill sPark” was designed to engage with the local community and raise awareness of the master-planned development. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 700 Churchill Parkway.
JEDCO said the Churchill Technology & Business Park offers 480 acres of development-ready land. In an effort to raise awareness about the park as a community and economic development asset, JEDCO committed to host multiple events to drive traffic to the site. Churchill sPark, designed to ignite innovation, inspire growth, and spark community engagement, will serve as the launchpad for additional programming and events. The event will also kick off international Economic Development Week.
Churchill sPark will include music, outdoor games, open house tours of the JEDCO Complex and the Delgado River City Site and Advanced Manufacturing Center, and the official grand opening of the JEDCO Finance Center, which houses JEDCO’s award-winning, top-performing Finance Department. Food will be available for purchase from two local food trucks, Couzan’s BBQ Team and Kenny’s Cajun & Creole Cuisine on the Geaux.
JEDCO plans to feature food samples from local businesses that utilized JEDCO loan programs to startup and grow, including Yakuza House, Crawlin’s Seafood, and LeBrane’s Creole Cuisine. NOLA Motorsports Park and Zatarain’s will also participate. Music will be provided by DJ Dave and the Jaywalkers. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/jedco-to-host-community-event-at-churchill-technology-business-park/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:12Z |
Mint House Raises $35 Million Series B Round
NEW YORK — Mint House, a tech-enabled residential hospitality company, announced it has closed a $35 million Series B round of funding.
A New Orleans location of Mint House location opened in February at 315 Girod Street. The building features 15 apartment-style accommodations that combine elements of a short-term rental and hotel. Nightly rates range from $100 to $300.
Mohari Hospitality, a global hospitality investment company founded by entrepreneurial investor Mark Scheinberg, led the round, which also includes existing investors Revolution Ventures, Allegion Ventures and Ingleside Investors. In addition to its investment, Mohari Hospitality’s Managing Partner, Allen Smith, the former president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, will join Mint House’s board of directors. Mint House said it has grown revenue over 200% in 2021 and has tripled its property count over the last two years. To date, Mint House has raised more than $80 million in funding
Founded in 2017, Mint House offers “tech-enabled and design-forward spaces that offer the amenities and conveniences of a home with the service, consistency and reliability of a high-end hotel.” Mint House currently operates 22 properties in 14 markets, including a New York location that was recently ranked the No. 1 hotel in the U.S. by TripAdvisor, and the No. 1-ranked 4-star hotel in Miami, Nashville and Greenville on Booking.com. Mint House said it pursues an asset-light operating strategy driven by long-term management agreement structures that differentiates its business model from traditional leases.
“We are penetrating a trillion-dollar global hospitality market, transforming a traditional hotel industry that has historically been low-tech and full of consumer frictions,” said Will Lucas, founder and CEO of Mint House. “Secular megatrends including ‘work from anywhere’ and the mixing of business and leisure travel are driving explosive demand for flexible apartment-style accommodations in lieu of legacy hotel rooms. There’s a need for a branded premium operator to provide quality, safety and reliability to serve this demand. Our properties are outperforming upper-upscale hotel peers across all financial and guest metrics, and we are the hospitality partner of choice to corporations with over 400% growth in corporate partnerships in the past year. While delighting our guests, we deliver significant value creation for our property owners, often doubling the income these owners received pre-Mint House. With this funding, led by Mohari Hospitality, we look forward to accelerating our product roadmap and market expansion.”
Allen Smith, managing partner of Mohari Hospitality, said, “Mint House is a true disruptor in the hospitality industry, redefining the boundary between hotels and short-term rentals. The company’s growth in recent years demonstrates the demand for this new concept of modern, luxury, tech-enabled living and the company’s huge potential for future expansion. It’s an exciting time for Mohari to invest in Mint House and I look forward to joining the board of directors as Mohari continues to expand our portfolio of best-in-class hospitality investments.” | https://www.bizneworleans.com/mint-house-raises-35-million-series-b-round/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:18Z |
NORBCC Announces Jon Renthrope as Interim Executive Director
NEW ORLEANS – Via the New Orleans Agenda:
New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Perry Sholes and the board of directors have announced that Jon Renthrope will be the organization’s interim executive director.
Renthrope is currently CEO of Cajun Fire Brewing Company and an internationally recognized brewmaster by profession. He has also been serving as a member of the NORBCC board of directors but will be temporarily stepping down from the board to serve in this new role.
“I am honored to be of service in the capacity of interim executive director of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce and I look forward to the opportunity to lead this organization into its next phase of executing its strategic priorities,” said Renthrope in a press release.
Renthrope holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in community development finance from University of New Orleans. A native New Orleanian and graduate of St. Augustine High School, he is also an executive board member of 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans Chapter, cultural ambassador for the Treme’ community, and lead project manager of the New Orleans East Cultural Hub. Renthrope is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,. He will begin his role on May 9.
“We are in a leadership transition; however, our staff, the entire board of directors, and its committees continue to amplify our mission to support, promote, and educate our membership to position them for sustainable business growth, scalability, and economic opportunities,” said Sholes. “We are looking forward to working with Jon to reinforce our existing partnerships and prioritize equitable economic prosperity for our membership and the greater landscape through progressive and innovative programming, collaborative partnerships, and regional connectivity.”
Renthrope will remain active as CEO of Cajun Fire Brewing Company while leading chamber staff and volunteers. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/norbcc-announces-jon-renthrope-as-interim-executive-director/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:24Z |
Northshore Healthcare Leaders Launch Healthcare Sector Strategy Pilot Program
MANDEVILLE, La. – From St. Tammany Corporation:
Marty Mayer, board president of St. Tammany Corporation, and Chris Masingill, the organization’s CEO, have announced the launch of “Northshore Healthscape: A Collaborative Enhancing the Pulse of our Regional Healthcare Economy,” a three-year healthcare sector strategy pilot program. Stakeholders in this collaborative representing St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes include North Oaks Health System, Ochsner Northshore-Mississippi Gulf Coast Region, Our Lady of the Lake Northshore, Slidell Memorial Hospital, St. Tammany Health System and St. Tammany Corporation.
Healthcare is a major economic driver on the Northshore in terms of both jobs and productivity, contributing more than $1.5 billion to the three-parish regional GDP. The industry represents 22,000 jobs in the area, and demand continues with 5,000 unique postings for jobs in the past 12 months alone. Projections indicate that jobs in this sector will increase by 11% by 2026. As population grows across the Northshore, local healthcare leaders have expanded services to improve access to care closer to home. As a result, patients generally do not have to travel long distances for the care that they or their families need. Northshore healthcare institutions need a talented and skilled workforce qualified to provide these enhanced services, so educating and training the next generation of talent is paramount.
Since February 2021, St. Tammany Corporation has facilitated quarterly virtual roundtable meetings with the healthcare industry featuring robust, collaborative, and solutions-focused dialogue. These quarterly virtual meetings are an opportunity to discuss strategic priorities for collaboration, workforce development, and talent retention. Northshore Healthscape is the outcome of these engagements and represents formalization of the collaboration among industry, workforce, and economic development.
Recognizing the unique opportunities, challenges, and needs of our healthcare ecosystem, the priority areas of work for the pilot program are capacity building, workforce and talent, ecosystem development, and strategic implementation. Key deliverables in the pilot program’s first year include a healthcare infrastructure assessment conducted by VisionFirst Advisors, targeted efforts to address immediate and short-term workforce and talent needs, the development of a Northshore healthcare branding campaign, and the production of an industry impact report.
“For North Oaks Health System, investing in collaborative efforts to position the Northshore as one of the most sought-after health care destinations is a natural extension of our mission to improve lives,” said North Oaks Health System President and CEO Michele Kidd Sutton. “The St. Tammany Corporation is to be commended for recognizing the value of a thriving healthcare ecosystem to economic development by bringing together Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, and Washington parishes’ industry leaders in this endeavor. Together, we are stronger, and I have every confidence that we will succeed in enhancing the prosperity of the Northshore and the quality of life for area citizens through our collective focus on developing our workforce and identifying and growing essential services.”
“Ochsner Health values strategic partnerships and regional collaborations to advance the health and well- being of our communities and align with our vision to inspire healthier lives and stronger communities,” said Corwin N. Harper, CEO, Ochsner Northshore and Gulf Coast Region. “Northshore Healthscape represents the dynamic relationship between the healthcare industry, economic development, and workforce with the desired outcome of enhancing access to quality care, increasing awareness of career opportunities in the healthcare industry and related fields, and showcasing the world-class healthcare services provided right here on the Northshore.”
“Our Lady of the Lake Northshore is excited to help advance healthcare across the Northshore Region through this collaborative partnership. With great intentionality and alignment, I am confident that this work will revolutionize healthcare delivery to the communities we serve by identifying and growing those services that are critical to keeping more of our patients and their families closer to home,” said Dr. Bryan Miller, physician executive and interim president, Northshore market, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.
“The ongoing workforce shortage has inspired us to come up with creative solutions to continue to provide the best options for our patients,” said Sandy Badinger, CEO of Slidell Memorial Hospital and Ochsner Medical Center – Northshore. “This collective of healthcare leaders, in partnership with St. Tammany Corporation, is creating an actionable framework that will benefit our entire region. It’s exciting to take these steps to enhance our workforce so that, ultimately, we can take care of our patients in the communities we serve.”
“We are grateful to St. Tammany Corporation for gathering the leading health systems on the Northshore into this pilot program. Rather than competition, we lead with ‘coopetition’ because we are cooperatively focused on strengthening our labor pool and elevating our region as a destination for world-class healthcare,” said Joan M. Coffman, FACHE, president and CEO, St. Tammany Health System.
“The launch of Northshore Healthscape represents a groundbreaking step for a regional, industry-sector specific strategy led by local economic development. We recognize the importance of access to cutting edge healthcare close to home and understand this access is a major factor in where people and companies choose to locate,” said Mayer. “I am proud of the St. Tammany Corporation team for having this vision and for engaging partners from across the Northshore to partake in this pilot program.”
“The Northshore is at a pivotal point in determining actionable next steps to transform the healthcare ecosystems in our region,” said Masingill. “The healthcare industry is vital to the well-being of our community and our economy. Northshore Healthscape is a collaborative and innovative initiative harnessing the dynamic relationship between economic development, workforce and talent, and industry. St. Tammany Corporation is honored to serve as the coordinator for this regional pilot program.”
“Talent development and talent acquisition are central to the sustainability of healthy communities and vibrant economies. Central to our mission, Northshore Technical Community College is committed to supporting Northshore Healthscape in partnership with St. Tammany Corporation,” said Dr. William S. Wainwright, chancellor, Northshore Technical Community College. “This progressive alliance will ensure pathways to prosperity for our citizens and build upon economic development opportunities that help healthcare systems of the Northshore thrive.”
“The Workforce Board for Tri-Parish Works is excited to see this healthcare partnership come together. The Board is committed to serving as part of this talented team of partners ready to assist in addressing the collective workforce and talent pipeline needs,” said Melissa B. Kirsch, executive director, Workforce Development Board: Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany. “Now is the time for innovative and impactful solutions, and we expect this collaborative approach will return positive impacts to both the participating employers and our community as a whole.” | https://www.bizneworleans.com/northshore-healthcare-leaders-launch-healthcare-sector-strategy-pilot-program/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:30Z |
Rachel Kaplan Named President of Equitas Partners
NEW ORLEANS — Equitas Partners, the entity that manages the award-winning Evergreen Fund, has named Rachel Kaplan president.
Kaplan oversees the entire Evergreen Fund, providing her expertise in asset allocation and operational management. HFM recently named the fun the top “Hedge Fund Under $1Billion.”
Most recently, Kaplan served as senior investment analyst with Equitas Partners. She is a native of China who received her B.A. from Seattle Pacific University with a double concentration in finance and information systems.
Equitas Capital Advisors aims to blend the resources of a large corporation with the flexibility of a local, independent firm as it delivers financial solutions for investors. Founded in 2002, the firm is located in downtown New Orleans and serves clients ranging from corporations, endowments and foundations to family offices and high net worth individuals. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/rachel-kaplan-named-president-of-equitas-partners/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:36Z |
Unity, LED Team Up to Bring 3D Training to Louisiana Classrooms
NEW ORLEANS – From Louisiana Economic Development:
In a move designed to further prepare Louisiana’s workforce for high-paying high-tech jobs, Louisiana Economic Development announced it will engage Unity, a platform for creating and operating real-time 3D content, to assist higher education institutions in training and certifying students in real-time 3D skills. Together with LED, Unity will establish a “create the creator” program to certify RT3D instructors at Louisiana universities and community and technical colleges. Those instructors will then be positioned to deliver hands-on instruction in classroom settings.
Real-time 3D software allows creators to build and manipulate 3D images without waiting for a computer to render those images in high resolution, allowing creators the ability to visualize high-fidelity 3D objects in real time. The immersive, interactive technology is being put to ever greater use by manufacturing, aerospace, energy and other key industries in Louisiana and elsewhere. The program’s goal is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem of Unity certified instructors, supported by training plans and content for classroom instruction.
“This public/private partnership between the State of Louisiana and Unity will provide our workforce with cutting-edge skills in high demand in our increasingly high-tech economy,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “RT3D proficiency is an essential commodity for 21st century jobs in industries ranging from manufacturing and aerospace to software development and entertainment. Unity will train up to 15 instructors a year, and as our higher education partners then proceed to train and certify up to 40 students each, we could see as many as 6,000 Unity certified developers in Louisiana in five years. That’s the kind of talent pipeline we will need to stay competitive in what some are calling the metaverse – a future economy that is increasingly reliant on virtual reality.”
This will be Unity’s first such partnership at a statewide level.
“We’re honored to be partnering with Louisiana Economic Development to bring real-time 3D training to future creators statewide,” said Jessica Lindl, Unity’s vice president of social impact. “At Unity, we believe the world is a better place with more creators in it. This partnership embodies that belief by ensuring education is accessible to all, giving everyone the opportunity to achieve their full potential. As we all learn and navigate new ways of working, it’s more important than ever to provide the next generation with the skills needed for future jobs, as these help connect learning to earning opportunities.”
The five-year project will be supported by a $1.95 million grant from LED. The project was announced at Game Fete, the annual digital games symposium sponsored by LED and GNO Inc., which returned to New Orleans after a two-year hiatus resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s announcement underscores our belief that education and employment must be two sides of the same coin,” Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed said. “Louisiana’s higher education institutions are proud to partner with innovative employers, like Unity, to ensure our academic program offerings match the skills and knowledge necessary for our graduates to land high-paying, technology-based careers. This is a great example of how we can successfully develop talent, right here in Louisiana, so that our people prosper well into the future.”
“The required training and skill set individuals need to participate in the rapidly changing tech economy is constant, and at an all-time high,” said President Monty Sullivan of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. “We are excited about this new workforce development and training opportunity through LED and Unity. Our ability to ensure faculty are equipped with the knowledge to properly train students in this space is critical to student success and the state’s success long-term. This investment in professional development will provide opportunities for up to 75 instructors statewide to become content knowledge experts and will allow them to pass that knowledge on to students.” | https://www.bizneworleans.com/unity-led-team-up-to-bring-3d-training-to-louisiana-classrooms/ | 2022-05-06T02:47:42Z |
4 daycare workers charged after giving children melatonin, officials say
Published: May. 5, 2022 at 5:05 PM EDT|Updated: 6 hours ago
INDIAN MOUND, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – Four daycare workers in Tennessee are facing charges after police say they gave young children melatonin without their parents’ consent.
The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received reports March 25 of children receiving melatonin at Mimi’s Daycare in Indian Mound, about 70 miles northwest of Nashville.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s office arrested the following four people:
- 45-year-old Jamie Clark, charged with child abuse/neglect, contributing to delinquency of a minor, tampering with evidence, and criminal violations
- 21-year-old Kristin Clark, charged with child abuse/neglect, contributing to delinquency of a minor, and criminal violations
- 22-year-old Jordan Darnell, charged with child abuse/neglect, contributing to delinquency of a minor, tampering with evidence, and criminal violations
- 21-year-old Ethan Pulley, charged with tampering with evidence
The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the incident and said Mimi’s Daycare has been investigated for other complaints as well, but they did not elaborate.
Copyright 2022 WSMV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/4-daycare-workers-charged-after-giving-children-melatonin-officials-say/ | 2022-05-06T03:18:45Z |
AAA: Metro Richmond gas prices rise by 13 cents in one week
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - As Americans face skyrocketing costs from inflation, drivers are noticing a jump in gas prices across the country, including Virginia.
The average price for gas in Virginia stands at $4.10, which is 10 cents higher than what Virginians were paying at the pump one week ago. In the Richmond area, the average price for gas stands at $4.09, which is 13 cents higher than last week’s $3.96 average.
Drivers, including Kristin Lux, continue to feel the pain at the pump.
“It’s horrible,” Lux said. “I used to be able to fill this up on $30, and now it takes about $60 to $70.”
In the past couple of weeks, prices across the area dropped slightly below $4 after reaching a record. AAA reports the highest average price for gas in Virginia was $4.25, which was set on March 11.
“There’s so many factors in all of this,” said AAA Spokesperson Morgan Dean. “There’s always a chance that we could go back up and threaten that.”
Dean said gas prices started to climb due to tensions between Russia and Ukraine in late February.
Dean said fluctuating crude oil prices are a driving factor.
“In the beginning of the year, it was selling for $75 to $76 a barrel,” Dean said. “When it gets to that really high point of $100 a barrel and doesn’t retreat very much, it’s hard for prices to come down very dramatically.”
Dean also said a recent announcement by the European Union to cut off imports of Russian oil is playing a role.
“We warned about this a few weeks back, and now we’re actually seeing it play out,” Dean said. “That information alone has traders on the commodity market concerned that that could create even more of a global shortage.”
As those prices rise, Dean said there’s a possibility we could see them climb even higher as demand soars for summer trips.
“There’s so much pent-up demand,” he said. “People want to get back to what they were doing pre-pandemic.”
A rising price makes Lux more mindful of her mileage on the road.
“I thought there was a relief coming and that we would be able to travel more for the summer, but we’re changing the plans up on that as well,” she said.
AAA said drivers should avoid idling and use the cruise control to save on gas.
You can find more tips to save on fuel here.
Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.
Want NBC12’s top stories in your inbox each morning? Subscribe here. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/aaa-metro-richmond-gas-prices-rise-by-13-cents-one-week/ | 2022-05-06T03:18:51Z |
Bidens host Mexico first lady at Cinco de Mayo celebration
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Cinco de Mayo on Thursday by honoring the impact that Mexican Americans and other immigrant communities have had in the United States as he hosted a White House party with Mexico’s first lady as the guest of honor.
Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, wife of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, joined Biden and first lady Jill Biden for the Rose Garden reception that featured tables draped in orange, blue, lime-green and other party colors.
“We are an immigrant nation. We say that, but people act like they don’t believe it,” said Biden who briefly left the podium to personally greet Gutiérrez Müller. “That is our strength.”
The president urged lawmakers to approve an immigration overhaul he sent to Congress his first week in office that remains stalled. He said that if that measure does not pass, action could still be taken on smaller initiatives that have bipartisan support, including protecting people brought to the United States illegally as children.
About 100 attendees ate steak tacos, pork tamales, empanadas, ceviche, jicama salad and watermelon, as well as chocolate-dipped churros. Margaritas on the rocks, beer and other drink options, were also served, as a chef mashed avocados for guacamole in a large molcajete.
The day marks Mexico’s triumph on May 5, 1862, over the French in the Battle of Puebla, where Mexican soldiers beat back Napoleon III’s forces despite being vastly outnumbered. Cinco de Mayo has become more popular in the United States than it is in much of Mexico. It gives Mexican Americans a chance to celebrate Mexican heritage, but the day also is heavily promoted for commercial purposes by beer and snack companies.
“Our relationship with Mexico is special,” Jill Biden said, adding, “Joe always says that politics is personal. And I’m grateful to continue building our friendship.”
U.S. presidents from both parties have tried to use Cinco de Mayo to celebrate the contributions of Mexican-Americans — a growing and powerful voting bloc.
The exception was President Donald Trump, whose centerpiece campaign promise before his 2016 election was vowing to wall off the entire U.S.-Mexico border. The 45th president didn’t attend Cinco de Mayo ceremonies, though he released statements, including one in 2018, that hailed “the significant contributions of Mexican Americans to the United States.”
Trump also tweeted about the holiday before being banned from the social media site. As a candidate in 2016, he wrote that “I love Hispanics” while lauding the taco bowls on the menu at the Trump Tower office building in Manhattan.
Last year, Biden commemorated the day by visiting a Washington taqueria that had benefited from Biden administration program to help eateries that lost business because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/bidens-host-mexico-first-lady-cinco-de-mayo-celebration/ | 2022-05-06T03:18:58Z |
Boeing will move its headquarters to DC area from Chicago
(AP) – Boeing Co. said Thursday it will move its headquarters from Chicago to the Washington, D.C., area, where company executives would be closer to key federal government officials.
The company said it will use its campus in Arlington, Virginia, as its new headquarters, and it plans to develop a research and technology hub in the area.
“The region makes strategic sense for our global headquarters given its proximity to our customers and stakeholders, and its access to world-class engineering and technical talent,” Boeing CEO David Calhoun said.
The move marks a win for Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who campaigned last year on a promise to bring new businesses and jobs to the state.
“The decision to call Virginia home shows that the Commonwealth is the premier location for aerospace companies,” Youngkin said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Boeing to attract even more talent to Virginia especially given its reputation for engineering excellence.”
Youngkin retired in 2020 as co-CEO of private equity giant the Carlyle Group. He was personally involved in discussions about the move and had a prior business relationship with Calhoun, who also was an executive in the investment industry, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly.
A spokeswoman for Virginia’s economic development agency said the project will not receive any state incentives, nor will it receive any from Arlington County, a spokeswoman there said.
Boeing is a major defense contractor, and the move will put executives close to Pentagon leaders. Rival defense contractors including General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are already based in the D.C. area.
Company executives would also be near the Federal Aviation Administration, which certifies Boeing passenger and cargo planes.
Boeing’s relationship with the FAA has been strained since deadly crashes of its best-selling plane, the 737 Max, in 2018 and 2019. The FAA took nearly two years — far longer than Boeing expected — to approve design changes and allow the plane back in the air. Certification of new Boeing planes will take longer too.
The company has suffered financial setbacks in building a refueling tanker for the Air Force. And it has been hurt by the pandemic, which undercut travel and demand for new planes. Boeing lost $1.2 billion in this year’s first quarter.
Boeing’s roots are in the Seattle area, and it has assembly plants in Washington state and South Carolina. The company moved its headquarters to Chicago in 2001 after an unusually public search that also considered Dallas and Denver.
Cai von Rumohr, an aerospace analyst for Cowen, said there were advantages for Boeing moving its headquarters to the Washington, D.C., area — or back to Seattle, where leaders again would be closer to the company’s important commercial operations.
“Chicago does nothing for them,” von Rumohr said.
Boeing had 142,000 employees at the end of 2021, including 12% based outside the United States, according to a regulatory filing. The filing did not say how many work in Chicago.
Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with consultant AeroDynamic Advisory, said Boeing’s Chicago work force “is minimal,” making the move easier.
Boeing said it would maintain a presence in Chicago and the surrounding region and did not say how many additional employees would begin working in Virginia.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, which investigated Boeing and the FAA after the Max crashes, criticized Boeing’s move to be closer to federal policy makers.
“Boeing should focus on making safe airplanes, not lobbying federal regulators and Congress,” he said.
Meanwhile, many of Virginia’s elected officials celebrated the news.
Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw called it “one hell of a catch.”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Boeing’s decision was a testament to Virginia’s skilled workforce and strong national security community.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, also a Virginia Democrat and a former entrepreneur and investor, indicated the deal had been in the works for quite some time.
“For well over a year, I’ve been making my case to Boeing senior leadership that Virginia would be a great place for its headquarters, and late last year, I was happy to learn that my efforts were successful,” he said in a statement.
In an interview, Warner said he thought the new headquarters would reinforce Virginia’s prominence as a home for businesses but that the research and technology hub might have an even longer-term economic impact.
The company’s statement thanked both Youngkin and Warner.
Boeing will be following in the footsteps of Amazon, which decided to put a second headquarters in Arlington. Last month, local officials approved Amazon’s plans to erect a 350-foot helix-shaped building.
Boeing’s decision was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/boeing-will-move-its-headquarters-dc-area-chicago/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:04Z |
DOJ: Walmart and Kohl’s to pay collective $5.5 million in settlement for deceptive advertising
(Gray News) – Walmart and Kohl’s agreed to pay a collective $5.5 million in penalties as part of a settlement related to accusations of deceptive advertising from the companies.
The Department of Justice announced in a release Thursday that Walmart Inc. and Kohl’s Inc. paid $3 million and $2.5 million in civil penalties respectively in the settlement.
The settlement comes after complaints were filed against the two companies accusing them of violating the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and its associated rules by making deceptive claims about products that were supposedly made from bamboo.
In filed complaints, the government alleged that Walmart and Kohl’s advertised products as made of bamboo when they were actually made of rayon and did not contain any bamboo fibers.
The complaints also alleged that Walmart and Kohl’s made claims that their bamboo products were environmentally friendly, and that Kohl’s claimed these products were free of harmful chemicals. Rayon is produced using a chemical process that requires toxic chemicals and the emission of pollutants.
The Department of Justice said the companies continued doing so even though both received letters from the FTC in 2010 warning them that the improper advertising of rayon products violated the Textile Rules and FTC Act.
In addition to the penalties, Walmart and Kohl’s are also barred from making misleading or unsubstantiated claims that products are made of bamboo or have environmental benefits because they are derived from bamboo.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/doj-walmart-kohls-pay-collective-55-million-settlement-deceptive-advertising/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:10Z |
Local restaurants celebrate Cinco de Mayo
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - During Cinco de Mayo, some local restaurants such as Tequila Taco Bar and Magnolia’s are celebrating with some holiday-themed specials.
The restaurants say celebrating Cinco de Mayo in a diverse city like Harrisonburg is pretty special to them.
“It brings a lot of diversity because Harrisonburg has a lot of different cultures and we celebrate a lot of different holidays,” said Amyna Barzanj, a server at Tequila Taco Bar. “But bringing Cinco de Mayo here also appreciates the other Hispanic cultures.”
“Anytime we can celebrate diverse cultures and holidays we like to take part,” said Chris Kay, co-owner of Magnolia’s.
Both restaurants will be serving Mexican-themed items such as tacos and margaritas.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/local-restaurants-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:16Z |
Man arrested for alleged shooting in Waynesboro
WAYNESBORO, Va. (WHSV) - The Waynesboro Police Department arrested Jamar Maurice Bowie on two felony charges and a misdemeanor charge stemming from an alleged shooting.
On May 4, 2022, Waynesboro Police officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Mulberry Street for reports of a verbal and physical fight. As Waynesboro officers responded, information was released that a gunshot was allegedly heard.
When officers arrived on the scene, they began speaking with the 29-year-old female victim. During the preliminary investigation, officers determined that a round had been fired from a firearm. As the officer continued to investigate, they also discovered an undisclosed amount of what appeared to be a controlled substance.
Waynesboro officers subsequently arrested Bowie on the following alleged offenses:
- 18.2-51.2 (Felony)- Attempt to maliciously shoot, stab, cut, or wound with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill, where the victim was thereby severely injured and was caused to suffer permanent and significant physical impairment.
- 18.2-154 (Felony)- Maliciously shoot at an occupied motor vehicle or other vehicle whereby the life of a person in such motor vehicle or other vehicle was put in peril.
- 18.2-56.1 (Misdemeanor)- Recklessly handle a firearm so as to endanger life, limb, or property.
Bowie is currently being held at Middle River Regional Jail without bond. The 29-year-old victim was not injured.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/man-arrested-alleged-shooting-waynesboro/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:23Z |
Man, woman charged after school alerts police to 9-year-old’s bruising, officials say
KOKOMO, Ind. (Gray News) – A man and a woman in Indiana are both facing several felony charges after school staff notified authorities about a potential case of child abuse, officials said.
According to the Kokomo Police Department, Kokomo School Corporation Staff called police on March 24 concerning a 9-year-old girl who had bruising on her body.
Officers met with the child and determined she needed medical attention. The girl was taken to the hospital, where medical staff discovered she was malnourished and weighed just 48.5 pounds, police said.
Following an investigation, police arrested 32-year-old Tracy A. Seats and 38-year-old Amy D. Smith on Monday. They were booked into the Howard County Criminal Justice Center.
Seats and Smith were both charged with domestic battery with serious bodily injury to a person under 14 years of age, neglect resulting in bodily injury, and domestic battery with bodily injury to a person under 14 years of age.
Seats faces two additional charges, including one count of intimidation with a deadly weapon and one count of strangulation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Cameron Cunningham at (765) 456-7136 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at (765) 456-7017.
Kokomo is located about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/man-woman-charged-after-school-alerts-police-9-year-olds-bruising-officials-say/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:29Z |
Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program still accepting applications
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - The first thing you’re going to want to do is pull up a browser. It doesn’t have to be any specific browser, it can be Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge and go to this website: https://www.wvhdf.com/mountaineer-rental-assistance-program. From there you’re going to want to look at the eligibility requirements to make sure you are eligible.
You can see those on the website and then once you think you’re eligible you can see the documents you’ll need on the website. Once you’re ready to apply you can return to the home page and you’ll come to the very bottom and you’ll hit the big red apply now. From there you’ll have to make an account.
Once you’ve done that you’ll hit new application and using all the documents that you have and you’ll just begin filling it out. You’ll just work your way through the tabs. Some people might not have access to the internet and that’s okay because what you can do is call the United Way of Charleston and that number is 304-340-3500. You can actually ask to have a paper application mailed to you. All you have to do is fill it out and follow the return instructions to begin that process.
Virginia also offers a similar program that can be found here: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/rmrp
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/mountaineer-rental-assistance-program-still-accepting-applications/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:39Z |
Postmaster general: Get used to ‘uncomfortable’ rate hikes
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans should get used to “uncomfortable” postage rate increases in coming years as the U.S. Postal Service seeks to become self-sufficient, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Thursday.
The Postal Service Board of Governors sets postage rates, but DeJoy said he’ll advocate for raising prices until “we have accomplished our objective of projecting a trajectory that shows us being self-sustaining.”
“I believe we have been severely damaged by at least 10 years of a defective pricing model which cannot be satisfied by one or two annual price increases, especially in this inflationary environment,” he added.
DeJoy made the remarks at a Board of Governors meeting in which the Postal Service reported a loss of about $1.7 billion for the latest quarter.
A sweeping overhaul meant to shore up the Postal Service’s financial future will be reflected in the next quarter’s results. The long-delayed law also ensures six-day-a-week mail delivery.
The bill was signed by President Joe Biden on the same day the Postal Service announced plans for the latest rate increase.
If the increase wins final approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission, then the cost of a first-class “forever” stamp will grow by 2 cents to 60 cents, effective July 10.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/postmaster-general-get-used-uncomfortable-rate-hikes/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:46Z |
RCPS moves to new plan to keep Linville-Edom Elementary open
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Rockingham County Public Schools is continuing to explore ways to keep Linville-Edom Elementary School open long-term by replacing the school’s outdated sewage system. Most recently the division’s proposal to build a new ground discharge sewage system was denied by the Virginia Department of Health.
The school division had planned to build the underground discharge sewage system on a property adjacent to the school, but VDH shot down the plan after a soil study. The school division’s purchase of the land was contingent on VDH’s approval, so the land did not end up being purchased.
Now RCPS is back to looking at a more short-term fix. The new plan is to design and install a clean water discharge sewer system that would cost around $500,000 and dispose of runoff wastewater in a nearby stream.
“At this point, we’re moving forward with the design and hopefully getting approval from VDH for the system and continuing to have school at Linville-Edom. Using the water discharge system creates a long-term problem, but given that there’s no land available that can filter appropriately, the ground discharge simply wasn’t possible,” said Dr. Oskar Scheikl, superintendent of Rockingham County Public Schools.
The long-term problem with the water discharge system is related to the purchasing of nitrate credits which have to be purchased when discharging into a stream. They are designed to offset the ecological footprint of using a stream for the waste runoff by funding habitat creations.
“The issue with the nitrate credits is that they are only available on a time-limited basis. You can’t buy nitrate credits in perpetuity. You can purchase these credits and they are valid for five years. They’re actually not all that expensive, but they’re only valid for five years,” said Scheikl.
The credits are not guaranteed to be available again when they expire after five years which creates a long-term problem related to the eventual renovation of Linville-Edom.
“Do we now renovate a building for, let’s say $10 million, not knowing whether five years later we can get the nitrate credits? You would basically be gambling on the availability of those nitrate credits,” said Scheikl.
Scheikl said that it would be irresponsible to spend the estimated $10 million to $15 million it would take to renovate the school if it may not be able to remain open after five years if the school division is unable to renew its nitrate credits.
The school division estimates that Linville-Edom could likely go ten more years before the building would have to be completely renovated.
Scheikl said there is currently no decision on the future of the school beyond the next ten years, but he and his staff are committed to finding a way to keep it open long-term.
“The commitment is there to move forward and to keep the school open. The change in what type of design we use simply will create some wrinkles down the road but we can’t predict what’s available at that point so there’s no decision to say, ‘oh now on June 30, 2032 the school will close.’ No such decision has been made,” he said.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/rcps-moves-new-plan-keep-linville-edom-elementary-open/ | 2022-05-06T03:19:54Z |
Salvation Army shelter in Harrisonburg remains closed for on-going renovations, hiring
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Salvation Army’s emergency shelter in Harrisonburg remains closed due to ongoing renovations. The shelter has been closed since late March as the organization works to improve shelter operations following allegations of mismanagement of the shelter by the post’s former captains.
The organization has housed guests of the 90-day shelter in motels over the last month beyond their allowed 90-day stay because of the situation, but that will end on Monday. Guests have been given notice and connected with resources to find other temporary housing.
“We’re trying to do as much as we can, but we’ve reached a limit where we’ve housed them now for almost seven weeks in a hotel and that’s not helping them really,” said Captain Duane Burleigh of the Salvation Army of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
The Salvation Army won’t be taking in any new guests until the shelter is reopened and more staff is hired.
“We need a shelter director, we need a lead monitor, and we need about three more monitors to truly house it and house it right. It’s been a moving target. It’s like trying to jump on a skateboard that’s moving, but we’re getting there. We got on the skateboard now we just got to keep it going,” said Burleigh.
Burleigh said the Salvation Army is focused on hiring qualified staff for the shelter so they can provide more help to guests beyond a roof over their heads.
“When they come in the shelter we don’t just want to house them, we want to help them. We want to try to help them end homelessness, so we want people in there that can give them case management on an individual basis,” said Burleigh.
Burleigh said there is no set reopening date for the shelter in part because of ongoing supply chain issues that are delaying renovations.
“Unfortunately, we’re waiting on supplies to come in for our handicapped bathrooms. They’ve been on backorder for about six weeks and there’s no end in sight at this time so it’s hard to get an opening time,” he said.
Burleigh added that there have been a number of improvements made to the inside and outside of the shelter.
Burleigh has been running the Salvation Army’s Harrisonburg post for a little over a month now. He previously served in Harrisonburg for six years and came out of retirement to run things for the next year following the transfers of Captains Harold and Eunice Gitau.
“It’s like coming home. We were here for six years and loved every minute we were in the Valley. Loved the people, loved the community and now it’s just trying to love them all again,” he said.
Burleigh said that getting the shelter ready to be up and running again has been a challenge, but he wants the community to know their concerns about how the shelter was run have been heard and he is excited to get it back open and back to helping people.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/salvation-army-shelter-harrisonburg-remains-closed-on-going-renovations-hiring/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:00Z |
Senate confirms key ambassador slots, including Kennedy
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to confirm Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, to serve as U.S. ambassador to Australia, and Philip Goldberg to serve as ambassador to South Korea.
Kennedy served as U.S. ambassador to Japan from 2013-17 during Barack Obama’s presidency. Goldberg is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and has been serving as U.S. ambassador to Colombia.
The Senate approved the nominations Thursday as President Joe Biden’s administration looks to fill out its diplomatic team with key allies in Asia. Kennedy has extensive experience in the region and and had thrown her support behind Biden relatively early in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary process.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said shortly before the Senate action that it was critical for the U.S. to have Goldberg in Seoul, citing North Korea’s launch Wednesday of a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters.
“South Korea is one of our most important trading partners. South Korea is one of our most important security partners,” Ossoff said. “We need a U.S. ambassador to lead our mission in South Korea.”
The Senate also confirmed Mark Nathanson to be ambassador to Norway, MaryKay Loss Carlson to be ambassador to the Philippines, and John Nkengasong to coordinate U.S. efforts to combat HIV-AIDS globally.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/senate-confirms-key-ambassador-slots-including-kennedy/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:06Z |
Staunton City Council adds more candidates to Equity and Diversity Commission interview process
STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) - Wednesday night’s Staunton City Council meeting examined the makeup of the city’s Equity and Diversity Commission.
Vice Mayor Mark Robertson proposed dissolving the commission after the demographics of candidates were published in a local paper.
“How can any citizens of Staunton think that this is an appropriate or a positive committee that has the truest, best sense of Staunton in mind if they didn’t have the proper people on there?” said Robertson at the meeting. “In my opinion, you have poisoned the well, and you have come to the fact that you, I think, have made this committee illegitimate.”
Councilor Brenda Mead said she shared the information but didn’t believe it was confidential.
“I disclosed data about the candidates that made up the list of 17,” Mead said at the meeting.
Staunton Mayor Andrea Oakes said Council has agreed to continue with the selection process.
“After the interviews, we all determined it was the right thing to do just to keep moving forward, and we want to be able to protect the integrity of the equity and diversity commission that’s going to be developed,” Oakes said.
At the meeting, Council discussed a potential lack of representation for low-income populations, as well as the disabled community on the commission. Now, Council will add more candidates to the interview process.
“We decided to go ahead and expand it, just a little bit more, by adding three more to the pool,” said Oakes.
Oakes also noted candidates were able to omit information like disability and income status, so it’s possible candidates in the interview process have a disability or are below the median income.
Oakes said they plan to let candidates who got the position know by May 26.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/staunton-city-council-adds-more-candidates-equity-diversity-commission-interview-process/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:13Z |
Strawberry season is on its way
MOUNT CRAWFORD, Va. (WHSV) - Strawberry picking season is right around the corner, and Overlook Produce in Mount Crawford is getting ready to harvest its own batch.
Due to not having many hot days this spring, the business says that they might have to wait a couple of weeks more than usual before the strawberries are ripe to pick.
“They’re just going to kind of lag and take a while to finish growing off and get red and ripe,” said Joseph Ulmar, owner of Overlook Produce. “But when they get to 80 and 90 degree days, I mean it’s like a light switch and they come real quick.”
Ulmer adds that while they’re currently selling strawberries from a farm in Halifax, Virginia, they hope to be able to allow people to pick their own strawberries sometime near the end of May.
Overlook Produce is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/strawberry-season-is-its-way/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:19Z |
‘This is really exciting!’: 3 couples welcome twins at same hospital within hours
BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC/Gray News) - It’s something you don’t see every day, even at a hospital, and that’s three couples having three sets of twins, all born within hours of each other.
Hospital officials at the UnityPoint-Trinity’s Bettendorf BirthPlace said the six babies were born between 6:20 a.m. and 6:46 p.m. on May 2. One set of twins were boys, another set were girls and the other was a boy and a girl.
KWQC reports labor, delivery nurses and doctors had their hands full, but the team was prepared.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for our team to have three sets of twins born on the same day,” said Kelli Sieverding, nurse manager. “They all were well and newborn admissions.”
Braelyn and Brooklyn were the first set of twins born.
“I like that we’re a part of being the three sets of twins. I’m jealous of the two boys, but it’s really cool to be part of this,” said Kaitlin Connard, Braelyn and Brooklyn’s mother.
In the afternoon, Violet and Asher made their appearance.
Parents Stacy and Jacob Smith said they knew there was at least one more set of multiples earlier that day.
“I was like, ‘Oh, this is really exciting!’ And then we found out there was somebody else here to deliver twins. Three sets of twins in one shift, that’s pretty cool,” Stacy Smith said.
Rounding out the day shift, Ezra and Cian arrived.
All of the parents said they were grateful for the chance to meet up and for everyone getting to go home healthy.
Copyright 2022 KWQC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/this-is-really-exciting-3-couples-welcome-twins-same-hospital-within-hours/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:25Z |
FDA restricts J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot risk
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Thursday strictly limited who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing risk of rare but serious blood clots.
The Food and Drug Administration said the shot should only be given to adults who cannot receive a different vaccine or specifically request J&J’s vaccine. U.S. authorities for months have recommended that Americans get Pfizer or Moderna shots instead of J&J’s vaccine.
FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said the agency decided to restrict the vaccine after taking another look at the data on the risks of life-threatening blood clots and concluding that they are limited to J&J’s vaccine.
“If there’s an alternative that appears to be equally effective in preventing severe outcomes from COVID-19, we’d rather see people opting for that,” Marks said. “But we’ve been careful to say that-- compared to no vaccine-- this is still a better option.”
The problem occurs in the first two weeks after vaccination, he added: “So if you had the vaccine six months ago you can sleep soundly tonight knowing this isn’t an issue.”
The FDA authorized J&J’s shot in February last year for adults 18 and up.
The vaccine was initially considered an important tool in fighting the pandemic because it required only one shot. But the single-dose option proved less effective than two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Moderna and Pfizer shots over J&J’s because of its safety issues.
As of mid-March, federal scientists had identified 60 cases of the side effect, including nine that were fatal. That amounts to 3.23 blood clot cases per 1 million J&J shots. The problem is more common in women under 50, where the death rate was roughly 1 per million shots, according to Marks.
Marks said the FDA spent extra time analyzing the problem to be sure it wasn’t connected to a separate issue, such as women taking birth control medications that raise their risk of clotting.
The J&J vaccine will carry a starker warning about potential “long-term and debilitating health consequences” of the side effect.
Under the new FDA instructions, J&J’s vaccine could still be given to people who had a severe allergic reaction to one of the other vaccines and can’t receive an additional dose. J&J’s shot could also be an option for people who refuse to receive the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, and therefore would otherwise remain unvaccinated, the agency said.
A J&J spokesman said in an emailed statement: “Data continue to support a favorable benefit-risk profile for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in adults, when compared with no vaccine.”
The clotting problems first came up last spring, with the J&J shot in the U.S. and with a similar vaccine made by AstraZeneca that is used in other countries. At that time, U.S. regulators decided the benefits of J&J’s one-and-done vaccine outweighed what was considered a very rare ri sk — as long as recipients were warned.
COVID-19 causes deadly blood clots, too. But the vaccine-linked kind is different, believed to form because of a rogue immune reaction to the J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines because of how they’re made. Clots form in unusual places, such as veins that drain blood from the brain, and in patients who also develop abnormally low levels of the platelets that form clots. Symptoms of the unusual clots include severe headaches a week or two after the J&J vaccination — not right away — as well as abdominal pain and nausea.
The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company announced last month that it didn’t expect a profit from the vaccine this year and was suspending sales projections.
The rollout of the company’s vaccine was hurt by a series of troubles, including manufacturing problems at a Baltimore factory that forced J&J to import millions of doses from overseas.
Additionally, regulators added warnings about the blood clots and a rare neurological reaction called Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Pfizer and Moderna have provided the vast majority of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. More than 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated with the companies’ two-dose shots while less than 17 million Americans got the J&J shot.
___
This version corrects the rate of blood clots reported with J&J’s vaccine. It is 3.23 cases per 1 million vaccinations.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/us-limiting-jj-covid-19-vaccine-those-who-cannot-receive-other-shots/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:32Z |
US panel to focus on Native American missing, slain cases
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly 40 law enforcement officials, tribal leaders, social workers and survivors of violence have been named to a federal commission tasked with helping improve how the government addresses a decades-long crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans and Alaska Natives, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Thursday.
The committee’s creation means that for the first time, the voices guiding the Interior and Justice departments in the effort will include people most affected by the epidemic, said Haaland, the first Native American to lead a cabinet department.
She said the panel includes members with diverse experiences and backgrounds, representing communities from Alaska and Washington to Arizona, Oklahoma and Michigan. It will craft recommendations on how the government can better tackle a disproportionately high number of unsolved cases in which Native Americans and Alaska Natives have disappeared or been killed.
“It will take a focused effort — and time — to unravel the many threads that contribute to the alarming rates of these cases,” Haaland said during a virtual event.
Some members of Congress have expressed concern that work to address the crisis as required under the law isn’t on track. In the case of appointing members to the commission, federal officials are more than a year behind schedule.
The Not Invisible Act, signed into law in October 2020, required that the commission be named by February 2021 and that findings be made public last month.
Another law signed around the same time directed the U.S. Attorney General’s Office to find ways to increase cooperation among law enforcement agencies, provide tribes resources and address data collection. Savanna’s Act was named for 22-year-old Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who went missing while pregnant in 2017 before her body was found in a North Dakota River.
U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who faces a tough reelection campaign; Jon Tester of Montana; and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the vice-chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, outlined their concerns in a letter earlier this week.
“Both of these laws outlined specific time frames and deadlines for implementation; however, it is unclear which provisions have been undertaken, and it appears that almost every deadline has been missed,” the lawmakers wrote.
Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Thursday the naming of the commission marks a major milestone that follows ongoing work by a separate steering committee to marshal more federal resources to address the problem.
She also announced the creation of a new position within the executive office of U.S. attorneys that will be responsible for working with victims and families to ensure they have a voice while navigating the criminal justice system.
Federal officials also plugged work being done by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which now has 17 offices across the country that have at least one agent dedicated to solving casing involving missing or slain Native Americans.
As for the 37-member commission, its mission includes tracking and reporting data on missing-person, homicide and human trafficking cases and increasing information sharing with tribal governments on violent crimes investigations and other prosecutions on Indian lands.
The commission is expected to hold hearings and gather testimony before making recommendations to the Interior and Justice departments to improve coordination among agencies and to establish best practices for state, tribal and federal law enforcement. The panel also is tasked with boosting resources for survivors and victims’ families.
Meanwhile, some communities already have created their own response plans to address the problem. In New Mexico, officials on Thursday rolled out the state’s plan, highlighting goals that include building more support services for survivors and families, doing more outreach on education and prevention and leveraging resources for tribal judicial systems.
Fawn Sharp, president of the tribal advocacy group National Congress of American Indians, said during Thursday’s virtual event that although funding for law enforcement in Indian Country has increased in recent years, it doesn’t come close to meeting the needs.
She pointed to research showing that failure to provide funding undermined the ability to provide adequate public safety in tribal communities.
“Having the authority to hold perpetrators accountable is an important first step, but tribal nations cannot follow through to hold bad actors accountable without adequate and consistent funding for tribal justice systems,” she said.
Other advocates said they were hopeful the federal commission’s recommendations will cover the need for safe housing for victims of domestic violence and other social services and health care that could help prevent violence.
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Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Arizona.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/us-panel-focus-native-american-missing-slain-cases/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:39Z |
VIDEO: Hundreds of birds take over couple’s home, cleanup continues
REDDING, Calif. (KRCR) - A couple in California said they recently came home to hundreds of swallows in their house.
Gary and Patti Reitemeyer said they returned home after making a short trip to find the birds had taken over.
“As we pulled up, we were thinking, you know, 20 birds or so. That’s no big deal. We opened the door, and it was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. There were birds flying everywhere. I mean, it was crazy,” Gary Reitemeyer said.
The Reitemeyer’s home is in Redding, California, and they said apparently, the birds got into their home by going through the chimney.
“We were ducking and dodging. I was grabbing a handful of birds; I grabbed maybe three or so at a time,” Gary Reitemeyer said.
The couple said it hasn’t been easy getting things back to normal after the bird takeover as their cleanup continues.
“You can’t get all that bird stuff out of the furniture. So, all of the furniture is gone, and all of the carpets are gone. The blinds are gone, everything,” Gary Reitemeyer said.
Copyright 2022 KRCR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/video-hundreds-birds-take-over-couples-home-cleanup-continues/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:48Z |
WATCH: Driver saves 40 students after school bus catches fire
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WKMG) – A school bus driver in Florida is getting credit for saving 40 young students after their bus caught fire on Tuesday.
Imagine Schools at West Melbourne said things could have been a lot worse if not for the driver’s quick actions.
The terrifying moment the school bus caught fire was captured on camera Tuesday afternoon.
Imagine Schools said the driver, Janet O’Connell, saw the smoke coming from the hood just 10 minutes along her route after the school’s dismissal, when she stopped and started getting 40 children from kindergarten to the 6th grade off the bus.
“Ms. Janet, when there’s a child in need, she steps up,” Imagine Principal Brian Degonzague said.
Degonzague said he believes it was an electrical fire.
Imagine is a charter school managing its own buses. Degonzague said the buses are inspected as often as every day.
“It was spontaneous,” he said. “It looked like something that could happen to any vehicle.’’
The school said the fire destroyed the camera on the bus, so there’s no video showing how it started.
The only documentation of the fire is one recorded by a nearby witness.
“Ms. Janet is a very humble person,” Degonzague said. “When I spoke to her about it, she said, ‘Brian, I did what I did because I love my kids.’ She doesn’t want the spotlight on her, but what she did was pretty incredible.’’
The school said O’Connell didn’t even take a day off after the fire. She was right back to work Wednesday, driving a new bus.
Copyright 2022 WKMG via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/watch-driver-saves-40-students-after-school-bus-catches-fire/ | 2022-05-06T03:20:55Z |
Woman migrant found on border wall choked to death, medical examiner finds
PHOENIX (AP) - An autopsy says a Mexican woman found hanging on the border wall in Arizona choked to death in an accident when she became entangled in climbing gear.
That’s what the Pima County Medical Examiner’s concluded in its report for the Cochise County Sheriff’s office.
The 31-year-old Griselda Anais Verduzco Armenta was found suspended from the border wall on April 11. She was entrapped by a cord, tie-down straps, and seat belt around her neck, chest and arms.
Previously, the Cochise County Sheriff’s office said Verduzco Armenta hung upside down “a significant amount of time” from the wall near the eastern Arizona city of Douglas before authorities discovered her and brought her down.
The report this week said she had abrasions to the head, torso and extremities, contusions, a leg laceration and a fractured vertebra.
Authorities did not describe the wall that Verduzco Armenta was trying to climb.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/05/woman-migrant-found-border-wall-choked-death-medical-examiner-reports/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:02Z |
State money meant to expand access to abortions in Oregon is months away from being put to use, state officials say.
The $15 million will be awarded as grants to nonprofits in Oregon, but the process to do so is just getting underway.
“Time is of the essence and they know it,” said state Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, who’s tracking the money.
The organizations feel added urgency to act after the disclosure Monday of a draft U.S. Supreme Court ruling that would repeal the federal right to an abortion.
The Oregon Legislature in February established the Reproductive Health Equity Fund to ensure that diverse groups, rural residents and low-income residents have access to an abortion. That right is in Oregon law – and the procedures are free.
Legislators also intended to expand services in the state, especially in eastern Oregon, where women traditionally have traveled to Boise, Idaho for their health care.
The Legislature specified that Seeding Justice, a Portland nonprofit advocacy group for equity and diversity, distribute the funds.
The Guttmacher Institute, a research group that tracks reproductive rights, has predicted that thousands of people a year from Idaho and other states that ban abortions could seek care in Oregon if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Oregon Health Authority is currently working with Seeding Justice on the grant and contracting materials before opening the door to proposals.
Samantha Bakall, spokeswoman for Seeding Justice, said representatives of abortion and civil rights groups – Pro-Choice Oregon, Planned Parenthood, Forward Together Action, the Northwest Abortion Access Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union – will analyze the applications and pick which ones to fund. But that process can’t start until the Oregon Department of Justice approves the contract materials, said Danny Moran, spokesman for the state House Speaker Dan Rayfield, a Democratic representative from Corvallis.
One likely recipient is the Northwest Abortion Access Fund in Eugene, which pays abortion-related expenses for women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Lieber said legislators approved the money in part in anticipation of stepped up demand from out-of-state residents seeking abortions in Oregon.
The state also needs more clinics, Lieber said.
“Someone might come in for a grant for brick-and-mortar clinics in eastern Oregon,” Lieber said. “We don’t have enough. Even though abortion is legal here, not everyone in the state has equal access to it,” she said.
Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette in Portland has leased space in Ontario, but the organization has declined to release details.
Some sections of the Oregon coast also need more clinics to serve reproductive health care, and tribal territories lack facilities and equipment, Lieber said. Legislators also want the equity fund to increase and diversify the workforce, something that’s been a problem for health care providers over the past two years.
One potential use of the money would be to train physicians and physician assistants in providing abortions.
“That would be a great use of the money because you’re expanding the number of clinicians who could do it,” Lieber said.
Organizations that educate people about abortion law and services are likely candidates for funding as well. If the Supreme Court acts as anticipated, some people may think that abortions are illegal everywhere when they would remain legal in Oregon.
“There could be a grantee that does that,” Lieber said. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/15-million-for-expanded-abortion-care-in-oregon-will-take-months-to-distribute/article_4fac773b-3602-58fc-9723-4ce01c426e8b.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:03Z |
Augusta County church hosts event for community center
CHURCHVILLE, Va. (WHSV) - An Augusta County church is hosting an event this weekend to rally support for a Churchville Community Center.
Jerusalem Chapel Church in Churchville is planning to construct a new community center for the town. Last month, they hosted an information session on the center, and this weekend, they’ll host the Cornerstone for Christ Community Center Kick-Off Event and Festival.
“I just want to have a good time with fellowship, bring the community in and just join together around this community center, get people excited about it. It’s an opportunity for us, as a church, to give something back to our community, a little event like this,” said Senior Pastor Mark Tinsley.
The event is Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Turtle Lane Farm on Hankey Mountain Highway in Churchville. Tinsley said they’ll have a band, games, a cake walk, cornhole, a clown, and other activities at the event. Saturday’s event is free.
He said the event is another way to spread the word about the event and help the community understand what they’re doing.
The community center will be a space for community organizations to hold meetings and gather since the Churchville area doesn’t have a space like that.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/augusta-county-church-hosts-event-community-center/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:09Z |
Division I sports had McKenna Armantrout’s attention when she was at Henley High School.
Ultimately, she decided on Oregon Tech.
“It was good academics, a great environment and the chance to have a close relationship with professors,” the 23-year-old senior said recently as she reflected on a career in which she has continued a strong tradition of outstanding catchers playing for the Hustlin’ Owls.
She had simple goals.
“Honestly, my expectation was to be pushed both softball-wise and academically, and after my first day in class, I knew I would be pushed,” Armantrout said. “I knew I’d have to work hard, but I knew it would come with a good (bachelor’s) degree.”
“My goal was the figure out my career path,” said Armantrout, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences.
Softball has meant new relationships, and she rooms with fellow senior Sarah Abramson and former OIT softball player Andrea Sotello. Armantrout said she remains in touch with a couple of close friends who also graduated with environmental sciences degrees.
“I had a lot of misconceptions about Oregon Tech and thought I wanted to play Division I,” she said. “I now know OIT and the NAIA are just as competitive and would tell others to not count out OIT as an option.
“You still have to work hard and be challenged.
“I’ve met some of the best people I’ve ever met here, and played a lot of fun games. If I had to go back and do it all over, I would.”
Part of Armantrout’s career, and she is a top 10 player in several categories including batting average, has been catching senior pitcher Abramson, the latter of whom will leave Oregon Tech as its career win and strikeout leader for softball.
“It has meant a lot to me to catch her,” Armantrout said of Abramson. “She’s my best friend and I have so much pride in her pitching. She has such great character and works through little injuries.”
“There is no doubt in my mind she is the best catcher in the country,” Abramson said of her battery mate. “I know that whatever I throw, she’ll catch it. She calls my games and we’re so much on the same page I almost know what she’ll before she does.”
They teamed to help OIT win the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament a year ago, when the Hustlin’ Owls would go on to finish second in the NAIA World Series in which the league’s Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech and The College of Idaho finished 1-2-3.
“Winning a national title is our goal. It’s something we want as a team,” said Armantrout, who has started all 53 games for OIT this season, batting .381 wiht one home run and 28 RBIs, a team-leading 17 sacrifices and just four strikeouts in 155 at-bats.
To get to another World Series in Georgia, there first are the conference tournaments May 6-8 and the NAIA opening round May 16-18, both of which OIT will host.
“That would be special, the perfect way to end our careers, to extend the time we get to play on our home field past Senior Day,” Armantrout said. “It would be incredible, and would help everybody mentally and physically.”
Steve Matthies is sports editor emeritus at the Herald & News. He has covered Oregon Tech athletics for more than 30 years. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/at-home-behind-plate/article_cd0cbf18-745f-5243-91e7-ffe1921a5d22.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:09Z |
Drew Raebel went 4 for 4 with a two doubles, a grand slam and six runs batted in as Mazama High pulled into a three-way tie for first place in the Skyline Conference baseball race with a 16-4 victory against host Klamath Union on Wednesday.
Leadoff hitter Braden Davis went 3 for 3 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs for the Vikings (12-8 overall, 8-2 Skyline), who are tied with Henley and Hidden Valley for the conference lead.
Nathan Baker allowed one run on three hits over four innings to earn the victory and struck out seven.
The Vikings led 16-1 before the Pelicans scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth and final inning.
Brandon Jones went 2 for 2 for KU (3-16, 1-9).
Lakeview 10-7, Bonanza 0-10: The host Honkers (10-4, 3-1) handed the Antlers (10-6, 8-1) their first 2A/1A Special District 6 loss of the season in the opener, before Bonanza rallied to win the second game.
Softball
Mazama 25, Klamath Union 1: Caelyn Davis went 3 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs and pitched a two-hitter over five innings with 12 strikeouts as the visiting Vikings (14-5, 10-0) pulled into a first-place tie with idle Henley in the Skyline Conference race.
Maggie Pizano homered and Ella Baley hit a triple and drove in four runs. Ashlyn Luker went 3 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs.
The Vikings led 14-0 through three innings and scored 10 times in the fifth.
Mercy Lassett-Egbert hit a double for the Pelicans (2-14, 0-10). Emma Langley had KU’s other hit.
Women’s basketball
Oregon Tech has announced the signing of Kaitlyn Wright to a letter of intent for the 2022-23 season.
Wright, an 3A All-State guard from Burns High, heads to the Klamath Basin after a stellar prep career – averaging 17 points, six rebounds and three steals per game as a senior. She was honored as the 2022 Eastern Oregon League Player of the Year and named to the 3A All-State Tournament Team.
“Kaitlyn is a tremendous athlete as shown by her post-season basketball and volleyball honors at the state level,” OIT coach Scott Meredith said. “She is long and quick and is able to do a lot of things at both ends of the court. We think she plays a physical type of game and has the potential to be a defensive stopper with potential to defend guards and posts alike. Kaitlyn has experienced tremendous success, is an honors student and has the work ethic of a Central Oregon farmer. She is a great fit for our program.”
The 5-foot-8 Wright was also a dominant player on the volleyball court, earning EOL Player of the Year honors, helping her team to consecutive 3A state titles. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/basin-roundup-mazama-beats-ku-pulls-into-three-way-tie-in-skyline-baseball-race/article_8f3c0d22-ab56-5c1d-84c0-4905320d6655.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:15Z |
Bridgewater baseball ready for ODAC Tournament
Published: May. 5, 2022 at 9:53 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Bridgewater College baseball team is preparing to compete in the ODAC Tournament.
The Eagles earned the No. 5 seed in the bracket and will travel to play No. 4 seed Washington & Lee in a best-of-three first round series. The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m., with a third game (if necessary) scheduled for next Monday at 6:30 p.m.
In the video above, WHSV Sports Director TJ Eck speaks 1-on-1 with Bridgewater head coach Ben Spotts ahead of the ODAC Tournament.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/bridgewater-baseball-ready-odac-tournament/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:15Z |
There will be no lack of quality talent on display when Oregon Tech hosts the Cascade Collegiate Conference softball tournament that gets underw ay at 9 a.m. Friday at John and Lois Stilwell Stadium.
Second-seeded Southern Oregon enters the double-elimination tournament with a 46-10 record, and is led by senior Riley Donovan, who leads the league in batting (.503), home runs (17) and runs batted in (83).
Teammate Cayla Willliams is second in batting (.484) and, as a pitcher, has the league’s top earned-run average (1.50).
The Raiders lead the conference, as a team, in batting, runs per game, home runs and stolen bases.
Oregon Tech, the tournament’s top seed via its regular-season league title, enters with a 43-10 record, and is second as a team in batting, runs per game and home runs. The Hustlin’ Owls have the league’s best ERA and are the top fielding team in the six-team competition.
OIT senior Sarah Abramson leads the league with 202 strikeouts and is closing in on a pair of potential Cascade College Conference milestones, for pitching victories and strikeouts.
Jayce Seavert is second with 12 home runs and fifth with 46 RBIs.
Kennedy Jantzi is fourth in home runs (11) and second in RBIs (58).
Tech’s other pitcher, McKenzie Staub, is fourth with 102 strikeouts.
The Hustlin’ Owls have a chance to move up well on the career list for wins. Their 43 wins are best all-time, and four shy of the single-season record set one year ago with 48 when Tech finished second in the NAIA World Series behind SOU.
Eastern Oregon will bring a 39-13 record into the tournament as the No. 3 seed, while The College of Idaho is 37-13 and the fourth seed. The University of British Columbia (20-18) and Corban University (19-33) are the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively.
The tournament winner earns the league’s second automatic berth to the NAIA national tournament, May 16-18 at 10 campus sites around the country, including Oregon Tech. If Tech wins this weekend’s tournament, the second-place team would get the national tournament berth.
The Cascade Collegiate Conference, for the first time, will have two host schools in the tournament, with Oregon Tech (fourth in the most recent national poll) and Southern Oregon (eighth).
Eastern Oregon enters the weekend ranked No. 15, while The College of Idaho is No. 20.
Tech talk
• Oregon Tech, the defending tournament champion, seeks its fifth tournament title. Its others came in 2006, 2011 and 2012. Tech’s regular season title is its 17th, but first since 2015.
• Tickets are $5 per day for adults, $3 for seniors, military with proper identification and children, with OIT students and staff admitted free with proper identificaton.
• An expanded concession stand will be available.
N The Hustlin’ Owls are 17-1 at home this season and could set a single-season record for home-field victories over the weekend. Last year’s team was 19-5 at home, while the 2015 finished with an 18-4 mark at home.
• Among the other teams to receive votes in this week’s national poll are William Jessup and Vanguard, OIT opponents over the first two weekends of the season.
Steve Matthies is sports editor emeritus of the Herald & News, and has covered Oregon Tech athletics for more than 30 years. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/ccc-softball-notebook-conference-tourney-brings-plenty-of-firepower-to-town/article_f17885dd-b3fb-5f66-83f6-ed408a5c60c8.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:21Z |
Former police officer gets 5 years for rough arrest of woman with dementia
DENVER (AP) — A former Colorado police officer shown on body camera video roughly arresting a 73-year-old woman with dementia and later seen joking about it with colleagues was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison.
Austin Hopp arrested Karen Garner in 2020 after she left a store without paying for about $14 worth of items in Loveland, about 50 miles north of Denver. Police body camera video shows that after she turned away from him, he grabbed her arm and pushed her to the ground, still holding the wildflowers she had been picking as she walked through a field.
Hopp had faced anywhere from probation up to eight years behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree assault in March under a deal with prosecutors that was opposed by Garner’s family. He had faced a mandatory prison sentence of between 10 and 32 years under an original, more serious assault charge.
The footage shows that when Hopp had Garner pushed against the hood of his car, she tried to turn around and repeated that she was trying to go home. He then pushed her back against the car and moved her bent left arm up near her head, holding it, saying, “Are you finished? Are you finished? We don’t play this game.”
A federal lawsuit that Garner filed claimed he dislocated her shoulder. The city settled the lawsuit for $3 million, money which her family has said will pay for the around-the-clock care she has required after her condition deteriorated following her arrest.
Police station surveillance video released by Garner’s lawyer showed Hopp and others talking and at times laughing or joking about the arrest as they watch the body camera footage with Garner in a holding cell nearby. At one point, Hopp told the others to listen for the “pop” during the part of footage when Garner’s shoulder was allegedly dislocated.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/former-police-officer-gets-5-years-rough-arrest-woman-with-dementia/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:21Z |
Babies pretty much can’t do anything. We have a one-week-old and all he does is cry, eat, sleep, burp, and poop; then he repeats the entire cycle approximately thirty times per day at random intervals. He is dependent on my wife and me to do everything.
Believe it or not, there’s a verbal equivalent of a dependent baby; it’s called a clitic.
A clitic is a language unit (otherwise known as a morpheme) that depends on a neighboring word or phrase to have meaning. For instance, the “‘ll” in “we’ll” doesn’t stand alone as its own word; it is part of a contraction but doesn’t stand alone as a word. The “we” gives the “‘ll” meaning.
There are two kinds of clitics — enclitics and proclitics. We’ll tackle enclitics first.
An enclitic is a clitic that depends on the word that precedes it, as we saw in the “we’ll” example. Enclitics are almost always part of contractions. You’ll, we’ve, they’re, and don’t all have enclitics. The words that precede the enclitics stand on their own, but the enclitics themselves depend on their host words.
A proclitic, on the other hand, is a clitic whose host word follows it. As a native Okie, my favorite proclitic is y’all. Seriously, name a more efficient way in the English language to say “you all.” You can’t. Y’all works.
Many proclitics sound like they come out of a 19th-century British novel where nobles ride in carriages on their way to polo matches. They include the beginning of the contractions in ‘tis, ‘twould, ‘twill, ‘twas and ‘twere. Using these words in a sentence makes you sound like you leapt right out of a Christmas carol.
Sometimes we hear clitics that we usually don’t see written out. For instance, “Do I have ta go to school tomorrow?” is something you might hear any student say on a Sunday night. You’d probably write this out as “to go,” however it sounds like “ta go,” where the “ta” is a clitic attached to the word “go.” This even runs together as “half-ta-go,” which almost becomes its own word jumble.
Just as a baby depends on its “host” or parent to give it life and context, a clitic needs its host word to give it meaning. I could have made the same illustration with monarch caterpillars and milkweed plants, but monarch caterpillars don’t wake me up five times a night.
Curtis Honeycutt is a syndicated humor columnist. He is the author of Good Grammar is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life. Find more at curtishoneycutt.com. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/grammar-guy-everyone-s-a-clitic/article_37e6fa20-1b25-5ba9-aaf9-ee155b06923a.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:27Z |
Police: Father charged with first-degree murder in 17-year-old daughter’s death
TINLEY PARK, Ill. (Gray News) - Authorities in Illinois are investigating a deadly incident where a 17-year-old girl was killed.
The Village of Tinley Public Safety Department reports police were called to a home about 40 minutes north of downtown Chicago regarding a possible death investigation on May 1.
Officers said they discovered the body of a 17-year-old girl, later identified as Mia Maro, on the lower level of the house. They also found her father, Mohammed Almaru, 42, with self-inflicted wounds to his wrist and throat.
Almaru had ingested pills and was taken to Christ Hospital, where police said he was able to be stabilized.
A medical examiner determined Maro died as a result of multiple injuries and ruled her death a homicide, according to the public safety department.
Police said they could not speak to Maro’s father as he was being treated at the hospital. However, once he was able to be questioned and based on the evidence found, Almaru was charged with first-degree murder.
“I’d like to offer my sincerest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Mia,” Mayor Michael Glotz said. “By all accounts, she was a lovely young woman at the very beginning of her life, a life that she will now never get to fulfill. To her family, friends and fellow students at Andrew High School, we mourn her passing with you.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/police-father-charged-with-first-degree-murder-17-year-old-daughters-death/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:28Z |
What’s in a name?
The usually reliable book, “Oregon Geographic Names,” reports Telephone Flat, located on Fremont-Winema National Forest between Klamath Falls and Chiloquin, “is named because an important long-distance line crosses this ground. The many wires on multiple cross-arms are a distinct feature.”
Oops. Maybe that should be updated to, “the many wires on multiple cross-arms ‘were’ a distinct feature.”
Telephone Flat is also marked on Forest Service maps, but we flat-out never did see any evidence of wires, multiple cross-arms, a telephone pole and certainly not a Clark Kent/Superman telephone booth while driving and hiking the area earlier this week.
We drove to the Telephone Flat area, the starting point for what was planned as a 3- to 4-mile hike on forest lands in the Modoc Point region east and above Highway 97 and Upper Klamath Lake. After some unplanned twists and turns, by the time we zigzagged back to our cars, GPS units recorded the distance at 6½ miles.
What we were looking for, and what we found, was the area’s mixture of forests, flowers and isolation.
The forests range from noble ponderosa pine to various firs to aspens, some dead and grizzled, others with names carved by earlier visitors. A sprinkling of early season flowers – buttercups, biloped larkspurs, yellow bells, shooting stars and more – added sprinklings of yellow, purple and red.
We hiked alongside and sometimes briefly slopped through water-filled meadows, bushwhacked, but most often we followed lightly traveled roads. We made our way to an overlook where, appropriately, we looked down to the highway and, more delightfully, watched as slowly retreating clouds allowed us to gaze across Upper Klamath Lake and, as more peeled away, peaks in and near the Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area.
We learned why this month is named “May.” As this week’s fickle, flip-flopping weather has shown, some days it May be sunny, some days it May be snowy. Likewise, some days it May be toasty warm, and some days it May be wise to zip up a rain coat or retrieve a down-filled jacket.
In the course of a few hours we experienced a spring month’s variety of weather. There were brief periods of sunshine. But more often it was breezy and chillingly cool, occasionally with flaky, dandruff-like snow, while other times the skies spit graupel, which is also defined as soft hail or hominy snow.
We didn’t always know exactly where we were going or exactly where we were. After the hike, Linda Andersen used her GPS to create an outline showing the route we took. With some imagination, our impromptu trail looks like a badly dented pair of eyeglasses, with two seriously eroded eye frames connected by a bridge.
But what the map doesn’t show is the simple pleasure of being outside and experiencing varying moods of spring weather. The telephone lines and wires have possibly gone the way of wireless, but a hike in the Telephone Flat area is a good call. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/hiking-telephone-flat-is-good-call/article_9d55b886-aaa5-58e9-b699-acaabc45e73c.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:34Z |
Report: University fires sports medicine doctor amid sexual assault allegations
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX/Gray News) - A doctor who worked for Texas A&M University is under investigation after being charged with sexually assaulting two female patients last year.
KBTX reports Dr. Kory Lee Gill, 44, was booked into the Brazos County Detention Center on Wednesday on two counts of sexual assault.
According to the university, Gill specialized in primary care sports medicine and was on the medical staff of Texas A&M Athletics. He also served as an assistant professor of Family & Community Medicine at the Texas A&M College of Medicine.
The 44-year-old was also affiliated with several other healthcare facilities in the Bryan-College Station area.
According to arrest reports from the Bryan Police Department, the first accusation against Gill surfaced earlier this year when a woman went to police to share her story.
Police said the woman told them she first met Gill at a clinic on A&M’s campus when she complained of pain, and he offered to treat her for free.
During a fourth treatment session in November 2021, the woman said Gill was drinking whiskey, and she had a drink with him as he told her the procedure would hurt.
The woman said she was sexually assaulted during this treatment. She blacked out and woke up hours later at her home but didn’t remember how she got there.
According to the report, she later confronted Gill about the assault, and he became emotional and apologized.
Bryan police said an investigator also notified them about new allegations from another woman who said she went to Gill for an exercise-related injury that he offered free treatment.
The woman told police that during a treatment session in April 2021, she was offered alcohol by Gill, and he appeared to be more intoxicated than usual. The woman said she was sexually assaulted during this visit and never returned.
According to reports, Gill has since been fired by A&M and no longer works at a clinic where he was contracted to do work through the university.
The 44-year-old continues to face criminal charges related to the ongoing investigation.
Copyright 2022 KBTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/report-university-fires-sports-medicine-doctor-amid-sexual-assault-allegations/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:35Z |
Rural Oregon would get a lot more attention from Salem based on positions staked out by those running for governor.
Every candidate running was invited to address questions on key issues facing the state. Journalists across the state drafted the following 15 questions, which were distributed to candidates by the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon.
The primary election is May 17 and voting is underway now with Oregon’s vote-by-mail system.
Responses are in the candidates’ own words and have been trimmed at the 300-word limit.
The question
Much of the economy of rural Oregon is based on agriculture, natural resource extraction and tourism. Agriculture is consolidating, natural resource extraction is in decline, and tourism provides mostly minimum-wage jobs. As governor, what are the first three steps you would take to build a stronger economy in rural Oregon?
Amber R. Richardson, Republican
Again, we must de-regulate the red-taping on our businesses, bring our resource industries back, like our logging industry. We need to start talking about our natural gas industry, the jordan cove was a marine gel pipeline. Look, we need to think about engineering smartly without destroying property lines and still creating energy that will crack down on the inflation crsis. It is 2022 we can do this, we have to stop being stone walled, and start being lifted up. Everyone can agree that we need to work together becuase if we do not, we will suffer even more than we already have. The people who claim who have been on our side clearly haven’t. Look what they have done to Oregon. Look how we all are suffering. We have been left with a state of destruction, and they don’t care, they got rich, how do they sleep at night? I really want to know. We need to talk to the experts, real experts and utilize every type of resource and pull our state back to one of balance. We can do this carefully and with great engineering, and with great care for our state.
Betsy Johnson, independent
The tone of the question suggests you are dismissing the future of the agriculture, wood products and tourism and hospitality industries in our rural communities. I disagree. Oregon farmers and forest landowners are innovators and as much a part of Oregon’s future economy as they have been in the past – perhaps greater. The nation and the world need safe, high-quality foods to eat and innovative wood and building products for housing – our people are creating them. Oregon nursery producers are the best in the nation. Having represented communities that create food, wood products, and include some of the state’s most prized tourism and hospitality destinations, I know the value of these creative people and industries. Our tourism and restaurant industries are the best representatives of our state’s rich cultural diversity. I am not about to say that any of those industries are past their prime. As governor, I will know there is an Oregon east of Bend and south of Eugene.
Bill Sizemore, Republican
I would begin by promising to veto every ill-advised (I am being kind) bill that radical Democrat legislators from Portland and Eugene try to inflict upon rural Oregon. Timber jobs are in steep decline because of what we did, not because there is a lack of market for forest products. I reject the notion that the timber industry is dead. I have a plan that would bring back small mills to towns across the state and guarantee them access to the timber they need to operate and justify the investment in the infrastructure required to set up new mills or recommission old mills. This would create thousands of family wage jobs. Also, I would change out the unelected bureaucrats running state agencies, personnel who make decisions, mostly by administrative rule, that restrict or prohibit regular and historically respected farm and forest practices.
Bob Tiernan, Republican
Leadership: I’ve been a successful business leader by listening and learning. To build a stronger economy for rural Oregon, I want to understand the challenges. As Governor I pledge to set up my office for two weeks at a time in different geographical areas around the state each year. That way I can experience rural Oregon’s economic problems and possible solutions first-hand. Agriculture Overtime: Although this law just passed, I hope by the time I’m Governor farmers, worker, and advocates on both sides of the issue will have a crop season to consider the unintended consequences. Rural farmers emerging from the pandemic now face skyrocketing fuel costs and shipping problems. This law may push farmers to cut production, go out of business, or leave the state. None of these options is good for Oregon’s rural economy. The law is phased in over five years starting in 2023, so hopefully there’ll be change I can push for in the 2023 legislative session. Administrative rule changes at the State Agriculture Department, or other agencies are also possible. I’ll help farmers as well as workers who don’t want their hours or wages cut as part of those unintended consequences. Wolf Management: Rural ranchers, especially in Eastern Oregon need assistance through the wolf management compensation program. It established a decade ago after these predators were reintroduced to Oregon. I would appropriate at least $1 million from the legislature’s emergency fund or a special governor’s fund for this effort. Wolf attacks on livestock tripled in the past year and over 700 head of cattle went missing in high wolf areas. Most of the current funds were used for prevention or deterrence. We should encourage cattle ranching not send a message that rural Oregon is closed because wolves have taken over.
Bridget Barton, Republican
I spent much of my career as a conservative advocate and commentator in local media. It was my honor to share how weak politicians had allowed radical special interests to starve and decimate rural Oregon. Referring to the hardest working Oregonians who provide our food, fuels, and building materials as “extraction” is cringe-worthy and underlines the attitude problem and imbalance between rural and urban Oregonians that needs correction. Rural Oregonians do not want handouts from state government. They’re fiercely independent and self-reliant, and more than capable of fending for themselves, if government would get out of the way. As Governor, I will unleash rural Oregon from the devastating economic, labor-related and environmental restrictions that weak politicians have adopted to make our rural areas “No Jobs Zones” for the recreational enjoyment of urban elitists.
Bud Pierce, Republican
We need to obtain federal waivers to allow timber harvest on federal lands. We need to allow for mineral extraction. We need to support agriculture and the growing of food by improving the water supplies to rural Oregon. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we cannot be reliant on other countries for basic necessities for our society. Oregon can provide timber, food and crops, and mineral extraction, which can be done in an environmentally friendly way.
Christine Drazan, Republican
I’m a small-town girl. I was born in Klamath Falls into a family and community that was dependent on the natural resource industry for good wages and steady employment. When the mills shut down, it was hard on all of us. Unfortunately, once they closed, most of them never came back. My administration will support natural resource-based industries, like the timber industry in rural Oregon, making this economic engine a part of our state’s future not just the past. That means recognizing that many of the policies being passed in Salem are directly related to the decline in rural Oregon. The recent agriculture overtime mandate, for example, is expected to accelerate the consolidation of family-owned ag operations into corporate megafarms. Despite pleas from the farming and ranching community to veto this bill, Governor Brown signed it into law. I would have vetoed it. I will lead by restoring local control, supporting affordability by lowering taxes and fees and prioritizing our natural resource industries in public policy so communities like the one I grew up in have an opportunity to grow their own local economies again without the weight of a heavy-handed state government stifling opportunity in rural Oregon.
Court Boice, Republican
Warning: The decline of the rural economy is always followed by across the board economic failure. Let’s consider these three symptoms: Agriculture in consolidation is about monopolization of agriculture by corporate farming and off-shore investment in agricultural properties and corporate farming. This is about benefitting shareholders, not the farmers or the economic environment in general. Understand here that declining natural resource extraction is not caused by the market, it’s caused by government over-reach and arbitrary politically developed regulations. Tourism provides mainly minimum wage jobs. These jobs are not value creation or value addition. They’re primarily service jobs requiring no or minimal skills. Skilled and semi-skilled jobs pay living wages and have significant benefits. A faltering or receding activity economy results from failed executive, legislative and fiscal policy. Is the supposition perhaps that these rural industries should be engineered out of Oregon’s future? Everyone involved needs to understand clearly that the government is not in the business of determining who wins and who loses. The nature of the economic base in any locale is a matter for the people of that locale to form in their own decisions and efforts. The market will support it or it will fail. First: Address the symptoms of a troubled over-taxed and over-regulated economic base and its impact on the taxpayers. Second: Understand and respect that rural Oregon is Oregon too. Those rural industries are essential to the future of Oregon. Third is accept the reality that compensation for services is determined in the market, not in a university classroom or the legislature.
George L. Carrillo, Democrat
1. Invest in infrastructure and housing in rural Oregon. Create opportunities to travel to our wonderful tourist cities. By building more affordable homes, more people will want to purchase and live in the rural parts of Oregon. As rural Oregon expands, we will help with funding to our rural county governments and community-based organizations to help remove systemic barriers to address access to services.
2. Invest in clean energy to drive demand and lower inflation. We will help reopen our factories to produce clean energy parts and equipment. We will also invest in education to prepare our job market for these new jobs. Working adults who wish to learn a new clean energy program will receive free tuition.
3. We need to lower the cost of PERS in the local municipalities to extend career options to work within the government. The more teachers we can hire, the more we will be able to reopen our closed schools. We will lower the number of children per class size to provide a more equitable solution.
Jessica Gomez, Republican
First, we need to admit that any decline in natural resource industries has been caused by public policy. Oregon decided it wanted to mandate reduced logging, fishing and other “rural” industries and passed measures to do so. I support opening up our forests to salvage logging and fuel build-up clearance as noted above. Lastly, I would work closely with rural communities – which are not all the same just because they’re “rural” – to determine what they believe would be effective in helping them build their local economy, and then implement policies at the State level to help facilitate that.
John Sweeney, Democrat
Yes, we need to fix & build our roads, bridges & ports. As they are needed for business & pleasure.
Julian Bell, Democrat
Work to convert our state to renewable energy. Essentially all the clean energy Oregon can, has been, and needs to be built in rural Oregon. Investing in clean energy infrastructure will grow Oregon jobs and grow our state economy. There is prosperity in clean energy and the main obstacle to converting to a clean economy is not that it isn’t possible, but that people have been hesitant to move away from legacy technologies to an unknown future. We must make the benefits and prosperity of a clean energy economy readily evident to Oregonians.
Keisha Lanell Merchant, Democrat
Align all 200 to 250 rural cities under Parks and Recreations, Forestry Management as structured with Park and Urban Rangers to structure all public lands into national parks and recreation for tourism and environmental justice system for all Oregonians.
Marc Thielman, Republican
Most of Oregon’s natural resources are locked away and underutilized. Forests are burning rather than providing economic, tourist, and natural resource extraction value. As Governor, I will increase access to all our natural resources, including fisheries, to everyday Oregonians, loggers, miners, farmers, ranchers, hunters, and fisherman. Government policies of the last 30 years is the cause of the decline in our natural resource industries, and it will take strong leadership to change directions and appropriately access our abundant natural resources.
Michael Trimble, Democrat
I will increase Oregon’s investment in the Rural Opportunity Initiative by at least $5 million and much more each subsequent year I’m in office. One divide separating rural businesses from urban businesses is infrastructure, particularly access to broadband internet. Modern farms need good digital infrastructure to run well. They use the internet as much as any other business. They have websites and other forms of online marketing. For those who don’t farm but live and work in a rural area, this is also important. Broadband access allows people to telecommute or run a home business. I will be the first governor to make sure that every area of Oregon has access to broadband Internet, not dial up or satellite, but broadband with dsl speeds if not faster. Farming has always been a complex, skilled profession. But today, it requires even more technical skills than before. A modern farmer is as likely to use a drone as well as drive a tractor. Access to great agricultural education means young farmers will get a better start in their careers and find new revenue streams for their family farms. As governor I will make all in-state education free making access to capitol for investing much easier.
Nick Hess, Republican
As governor, my three steps are: Make Oregon a hospitable place for businesses by lowering taxes and cutting red tape that prohibits the creation and growth of businesses. Reinvigorate our industries that rely on our natural resources. This includes logging and mining. And future-proof our natural resource jobs by attracting a green technology sector to Oregon industries. Again, one example of this would be adding a wave-powered desalination plant along the southern Oregon coast. It will provide good jobs in a place that desperately needs them and allow for fresh water to be piped into areas hit hardest by drought. And has the possibility to generate revenue for the state by selling off excess water to California. Ensure more inventory of affordable housing across the state. We cannot bring new jobs to Oregon without places to house workers.
Patrick E. Starnes, Democrat
Many of our areas where Oregon is experiencing growth in tourism (via AirB&Bs, etc.), we are seeing less and less affordable housing for those who serve our tourists: those who change the beds at the AirB&Bs, pump our gas or serve our meals. As Oregon’s next Governor I will lead the effort to build more affordable housing along the coast or up near our ski resorts for our working families.
Peter Hall, Democrat
I am not concerned with the number of steps, but I will tell you my idea of what to do. I want to get businesses to go out to smaller cities and invest there, especially near interstate corridors rather than pack into already over populated urban areas. Let’s get growth out to where there is room to grow. We also need to work on supporting family farms against corporate domination and giving them the freedom to run their farms as they see fit and get the income they need to thrive. This means also pushing back against factory farms that risk a severe loss in product in the market due to disease or bankruptcy. It all comes down to spreading out resources to create a resilient system that benefits all.
Stan Pulliam, Republican
Again, the first action I would take as governor is to forgive and pay back any COVID-19 related fines that have been levied against Main Street businesses through OSHA. Second, I would look to repeal a slate of legislation that has hurt Main Street small businesses including the gross receipts tax. Finally, I will aggressively pursue opportunities to bring back manufacturing, timber, rail, trucking, and other natural resource job opportunities for Oregon like the expansion of the Port of Coos Bay and the Jordan Cove Pipeline.
Tim McCloud, Republican
We have to help our existing industries survive, while also encouraging new small business growth. As Governor, I will encourage new small business startups with a 20% cut on state business license fees and assessments for 3 years. I will eliminate regulations that make Oregon less desirable as businesses from relocating to Oregon and ensure that Oregon businesses are able to remain open without the threat of another forced government lockdown.
Tina Kotek, Democrat
As Governor, my first three steps for supporting the economic vitality of our rural communities will be: (1) listen and learn by engaging with local leaders through intentional conversations about their vision for their communities; (2) make sure state plans to use new investments to expand access to high-speed internet to every part of our state are on track; and (3) consult with and support the work of key public agencies (for example, OSU Extension) to meet the needs of our natural resource economies.
Tobias Read, Democrat
I believe that all of these industries can continue to provide important economic development opportunities in rural Oregon, but not without leadership and a coherent strategy from the state. Certainly these industries are changing, but Oregon can be at the forefront of this change with the right strategies. Mass timber construction, Oregon’s seafood and agricultural exports, and our reputation as a destination for locally produced food and beverages provide some opportunities for growth. But not without a strategy and a commitment from state government. First we need to make investments in education, apprenticeship, and job training programs to ensure that kids have the skills they need to pursue family wage jobs and start the next small business in these communities. Second, we need to support our agricultural extension services at OSU that help keep Oregon ag on the cutting edge of new developments. Third, we must work with partners at the Port of Portland and industry leaders to find new markets for our products.
Wilson R. Bright, Democrat
We need to play a positive role in helping businesses develop, especially if we can incorporate rural Oregon. I propose a different model where the state uses its large investment fund and invests in small and medium-sized companies. The state takes stock, usually as a minority holder, but will expect returns over the long run which will feed into the “Oregon Peoples Fund”. The Peoples Fund, hopefully, one day will pay dividends to all Oregonians. Very similar to what Alaska does with its oil revenue fund. I believe that drones will become a major piece of equipment in almost all parts of industry. The state will use drones for land management. Farmers are going to use them more as agriculture becomes more sophisticated. I would like to make Oregon a hub for the innovation and manufacturing of drones.
The beauty of this idea is the state could create collaborative partnerships with say a group of small drone manufacturers spread out over Eastern Oregon and/or Southern Oregon. We add funding to our university system to start to focus on the science of what I am talking about. We start to act as a team. If the state committed itself to buy from in-state manufacturers drones, we could create a lot of cutting-edge companies. I say we bring back manufacturing to our more rural areas. Rural areas have land that is less expensive, a more mechanical minded population, and have community colleges which are necessary for quick training.
Editor’s note: Reed Christensen is no longer running after suffering a stroke and fellow Republican Stefan G. Strek declined to participate in the Q&A. Republicans Brandon C. Merritt, David A. Burch, Raymond Baldwin, John G. Presco and Kerry McQuisten didn’t respond to the question, nor did Democats Michael Cross, Dave W. Stauffer, David Beem, Genevieve Wilson or Ifeanyichukwu C. Diru. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/in-their-words-those-running-for-governor-answer-for-rural-matters/article_cbf02d7c-5b3a-5b86-ba84-e9af2bd486e2.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:40Z |
Spotswood baseball suffers first loss of the season
Published: May. 5, 2022 at 10:39 PM EDT|Updated: 14 minutes ago
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Spotswood baseball team suffered its first loss of the 2022 season Thursday night.
The Trailblazers dropped a non-district, home game to William Monroe, 6-2, in Penn Laird. Former Page County standout and Division I recruit Lance Williams tossed a complete game for the Dragons and racked up 11 strikeouts in the victory.
Spotswood drops to 15-1 overall but the Trailblazers remain undefeated in Valley District play.
To see more high school spring sports scores from Thursday night, click here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/spotswood-baseball-suffers-first-loss-season/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:43Z |
Vote no on Idaho movement
The Greater Idaho movement is nothing more than a land grab.
No one here wants to pay Idaho's 6% sales tax on everything they buy, including food.
The minimum wage in Oregon is $12 an hour, while Idaho's is $7.25 an hour. That's clearly a reduction of $4.75 an hour. These people can't afford a 6% sales tax and a loss of $4.75 an hour, too.
This will hurt thousands of our workers. Vote no on 18-121.
Howard Paine
Chiloquin
Get a job, as life is not free
We are currently two years and a couple of months into and hopefully moving beyond this COVID-19 disaster and from what I see and hear as a country we are not getting any better by choice.
Shame on the government for giving handouts and making the once-normal hardworking people lazy, greedy and, sad to say, pathetic. And shame on those choosing to live this lifestyle. What an awful image you are giving your children about how life really is because it is not a free ride. A good life needs to be deserved and earned not given to anyone. We need our pride back and in order to get that we must get back to work and stop this lifestyle of thinking you are entitled to sit around doing nothing and that you deserve to do this. It is so hard to determine who actually needs help anymore because there are so many who don't but have figured out how to work the system, which is supposed to be a temporary help, not a way of life.
If our government does not have a better system for screening those who actually need help then perhaps we need to clean house and start over with people who will do the job. There are so many jobs available it is extremely disgusting and very sad that the people are not working.
Prices are skyrocketing for food, gas, rent and yet it baffles me how those choosing to not work are managing to stay afloat. Get over the excuse of COVID and all other excuses as to why you cannot get a job and get out there and earn your life. It takes all of us to do our part to make our lives and our country whole. Life is not free.
Sabrina Higgins
Klamath Falls
Big companies milk the little guy
I went in to buy two new cell phones. Simple. Put my money down, receive the $100 promotion and pay the balance for the two phones. The company promised it would be a simple transaction. Two months later I have now paid full price for the phones and after 25 hours complaining I still have not received my $117 promotion ($17 trade in for the old phone). Big companies seem to have the ability to ignore the little guy until he gives up in frustration.
I went in to purchase some gas for my Dodge Ram and the attendant told me I was lucky. Gas was going up 20 cents a gallon the next day. As we visited and he filled my truck, he informed me that gas had gone up 25 cents a gallon that morning. That’s a 45-cent increase in 24 hours. And the gas company has a 30% increase in profit. Big companies seem to have the ability to jab it to the little guy if he wants to keep driving his truck.
I need drugs for my heart … a simple little pill that I take once a day and that helps the old ticker keep working. Then I get my bill and it reads $680 and that’s only half the price because I purchase a drug policy which cost me another $21 a month. Big companies seem to have the ability to make the little guy pay 1,000% over the cost of a prescription if he wants to keep living.
Some day God indicates that there will be a reckoning. Until then I guess us little guys will just have to keep paying the price.
Ernest Mathes
Klamath Falls
A vote for Henslee
After carefully considering the qualifications and reputations of those running for Klamath County Commissioner, position 1, I have decided one candidate stands above the rest, by far!
The candidate that will be getting my vote is Dave Henslee. Hands down, Dave has the background, education, knowledge, experience, and integrity I want serving as one of the three CEOs of county government.
Klamath County is a great place to live. I enjoy the rural lifestyle, beauty, sunshine, and safety of my family. We know our neighbors and we know our elected officials. It’s not like big cities, where elected officials can feel a certain level of insulation from their decisions. Anyone serving as a County Commissioner will see the people affected by their decisions day in and day out. It’s important to me that we elect a commissioner with integrity and ethics who interacts with the citizens in a positive way.
I am voting for Dave Henslee because he’s that candidate. I trust his intent to maintain the core values and livability of our community. He proved his integrity, leadership, and ability to manage people, time, and money as police chief. He will bring those same skills and experience to his role as Commissioner. Please vote for Dave Henslee for Klamath County Commissioner.
Kryssi Heitman
Klamath Falls
Another vote for Henslee
There is no denying that the last couple of years have been difficult for the Klamath Basin. The expansive overreach of government mandates, the ever-changing cultural environment that drifts further and further from traditional morals, values, and a way of life we all once embraced and cherished has taken its toll on the heart and soul of the Basin.
The scanning of any news source depicts a bitterly gloom prospect of a nation that once shined as a beacon of hope and goodness. Instead of shining brightly our nation, our state, and even our own community seem to be engulfed in the darkness of our times, and perhaps the unspoken question on all our minds is “when will it change, when will the light return?”
It has been said by many over the years that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” Luckily for Klamath County there is one good man who is willing to do something. In fact, this man has been actively engaged in making his community better his entire life. That man is Dave Henslee, a husband, father, former law enforcement officer, rancher, friend, neighbor, community member, and now a Candidate for Klamath County Commissioner position No. 1. Dave is a good man, the sort of man who will not stand by and do nothing in the face of adversity, or simply look the other way because it’s the path of least resistance. Dave has been recognized throughout the county for his integrity, leadership, and iron-will. Dave will hit the ground running to ensure that Klamath County is well represented while actively seeking solutions for our economy, housing, water policies, homelessness, and public safety.
I offer this public endorsement and will cast my vote for Dave because Dave Henslee is a good man!
Bill Kennedy
Klamath Falls
Whom should I vote for?
There are four candidates for Klamath County Commissioner Position No. 1.
I compared each with the information provided in the voters pamphlet. I also reviewed each candidate’s information provided in the media and through personal knowledge. I ask who will best serve the citizens and needs of Klamath County? I would encourage each of you to do the same.
I found the information provided somewhat confusing and incomplete by three. One candidate provided a resume that was well thought out before publishing and appeared complete.
Only one mentioned ethics. Ethics needs to be a high priority of for all candidates and governmental officials.
Only two have governmental experience.
Dave Henslee has 28 years of verifiable service. During his career he has received many promotions, awards, and recognition from political, business and community leaders for leadership and achievement in providing public safety service. He has also received high praise for community involvement and affiliation with volunteer and civic services in varying capacities. Education and training is another high level of accomplishments.
With all I have learned, my vote is for Dave Henslee.
Dewaine Holster
Chiloquin
A vote for Headley
Vote for Allen Headley a real non-politician. Alan is not looking for a job, he is once again, looking to serve the community. He will donate half of the yearly Klamath County Commissioner salary back to local non-profits.
Alan is not a member of the good old boy’s club that historically expects granting favors for their friends. Alan brings fresh ideas along with proven track record of fulling investigating local problems and issues, presenting the facts and then going forward with real solutions, not empty campaign promises.
Alan is not taking campaign donations so is not beholding to special interests. Do your homework. Look up Oregon Secretary of State, ORESTAR election financing section and see for yourself who is pouring thousands and thousands of dollars into other candidates campaign accounts.
Alan is heading up the local Greater Idaho movement (again as a volunteer). A vote for Alan is a vote for an honest change in local politics.
Tom Mallams
Beatty
Judge candidates by what they do
In this cynical age when trust is generally at a low point, I believe the best way to judge someone is by what they do, not by what they say.
Please join me in voting Dave Henslee for Klamath County Commissioner. As police chief, Henslee reached out to citizens, heard their concerns, and crafted innovative solutions. He will undoubtedly bring this knowledge and expertise to the County Commissioner’s office. In my opinion, Dave a caring, compassionate, intelligent man, willing to listen to all sides of an issue. He also has a no-nonsense style I appreciate. These characteristics will be a tremendous asset as we work through yet another year in drought. These attributes along with his deep dedication to our community and his support of 4-H and other youth programs shows that he is a man of service and integrity.
As a fellow rancher/farmer that has been without water, I know he will advocate for food production here in the Basin, as the produce and livestock grown and raised in the Basin is admired around the world. Dave Henslee is articulate and charismatic. That is a combination I want arguing for our community in Salem and Washington, D.C.
Henslee wants the best for Klamath, and I know he will serve our community with the same passion he exhibits in all his endeavors.
That’s why I voted Dave Henslee for Klamath County Commissioner, Position No. 1.
Luther Horsley
Midland | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/letters-to-the-editor/article_8aab646d-01cb-5a47-9157-fa0030f2607d.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:46Z |
TSA catches man with 23 weapons in carry-on at DC airport
Published: May. 5, 2022 at 10:10 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Security officials in Washington, D.C., said a man was stopped at Reagan National Airport for trying to carry on 23 weapons.
The Transportation Security Administration reports agents detected the stash of weapons at a security checkpoint on Wednesday.
Agents reported they pulled out nine disposable scalpels, eight folding locking-blade knives, three martial arts throwing knives, a dagger, a switchblade and a pair of brass knuckles.
Officials said police issued the man a citation.
The TSA said the weapons would have been fine if they were in a checked bag.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/06/tsa-catches-man-with-23-weapons-carry-on-dc-airport/ | 2022-05-06T03:21:49Z |
Imagine if every bus and taxicab had lasers and cameras underneath, evaluating every mile of road for safety issues to help the transportation department spot the most serious problems as quickly as possible. Would that be smart?
Well, the railroad industry has been doing just that for more than 30 years — and now the Biden administration is attempting to hit the breaks on the program.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) “helps America’s railroads improve railroad quality and safety under statutes mandated by Congress,” according to the federal Department of Transportation (DOT).
“The track data collected by ATIP is used by FRA, railroad inspectors and railroads to assist and assure track safety is being maintained by setting priorities for their respective compliance activities. Also, the data is used by FRA to assess track safety trends within the industry. Immediately following ATIP track surveys, the railroads use the data to help locate and correct exceptions found. Often railroads use the ATIP data as a quality assurance check on their track inspection and maintenance programs,” the DOT’s website reads.
But Biden’s FRA is letting ATi pilot programs die, some believe at the behest of labor unions who fear jobs will be lost to more accurate and efficient safety technology.
“In recent years, six Class I railroads had obtained FRA approval for test programs and in one case a waiver to conduct automated track inspections in lieu of some of the visual inspections that are still required at frequencies established by FRA in a 1971 rulemaking,” says Ted Greener, Assistant Vice President for public affairs at the Association of American Railroads (AAR). “ATI technology detects track geometry defects with increased accuracy, and the test programs and waivers have yielded positive safety results.”
In some cases, Greener says ATI has significantly reduced unprotected main track defects.
“In 2021, FRA let some of the test programs expire unexpectedly,” says Greener. “After congressional pressure, FRA decided it would let four railroads continue their test programs, but only until November 2022, and will let a dedicated committee evaluate a potential future rule change.”
But FRA recently denied Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)’s request to expand its existing waivers to additional territories after the safety successes of its ATI program, which is now the subject of litigation.
“FRA also denied Norfolk Southern’s waiver request and allowed that railroad’s test program to expire and indicated it would not renew that program, all despite positive safety results,” says Greener. “For the FRA, which is charged with regulating rail safety, these actions are dumfounding.”
Greener is not the only one scratching his head.
“Undermining progress and safety improvements that technology provides is counterproductive and disingenuous,” wrote William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief of “Railway Age.”
Marc Scribner, Senior Transportation Policy Analyst for Reason Foundation, makes similar points.
“Recent actions by President Joe Biden’s Federal Railroad Administration to revoke approval of automated track inspection use by rail carriers call into question the administration’s commitment to rail safety,” Scribner wrote.
Some two dozen Republican senators are so concerned, that they wrote to Amit Bose, FRA Deputy Administrator urging the administration to support the high-tech inspections. “The results of the ATI programs have overwhelmingly proven the safety benefits of the concept. In some cases, the ATI tests have resulted in an over 90 percent reduction in unprotected main track defects per 100 miles tested,” they wrote.
The senators went on to urge RFA to embrace “significant safety improvement opportunities” and work with legislators in the process.
Why would the Biden administration block a safety inspection program that increases the amount of track covered, particularly during a labor shortage when the rail industry, like nearly every other, is struggling to find workers?
“The only opposition to Norfolk Southern’s request for extension of its ATI test program came from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED),” said Scribner. “In its letter to FRA, BMWED misrepresents basic facts, such as suggesting that ATI is presently designed to replace manual visual track inspections rather than augment them.”
“Safety is the core of the Federal Railroad Administration’s mission, and we take a comprehensive and systematic approach to advancing the use of technology in the industry,” an FRA spokeswoman told Inside Sources. “On automated track inspections, FRA authorized test programs for every railroad that requested them, and then provided additional time to each railroad that failed to complete its ATI test program within the approved time schedule, ensuring the broadest range of data upon which to base any future FRA safety action.”
“(That is) a goal long shared by the federal rail safety regulator, yet actions to quell ATI contradict this mission,” says Greener. “Maintaining strict adherence to regulatory policy established in 1971 – a time in which rail safety was inferior – is troubling, (so) safety-improving technology should be used as often as possible, particularly systems like ATI that reduce the risk for workers and increase efficiency.”
FRA says it has also tasked the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (a federal advisory committee with a balanced membership representing all facets of the rail industry) to provide recommendations, informed by test program data, for a rule to integrate ATI into FRA’s track inspection regulations.
Meanwhile, the FRA’s website continues to tout the ATIP technology.
“ATIP makes every effort to achieve precision, accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility, or the acronym PARR. The ATIP inspection systems are indeed ‘mobile measurement laboratories.'” | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/opinion-why-is-biden-administration-blocking-increased-rail-safety-program/article_97c8bff6-8523-5aac-9cfc-791f4716d482.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:52Z |
For the first time in university history, the Associated Students of Oregon Institute of Technology (ASOIT) directly oppose a tuition increase as approved by the Oregon Tech board of trustees. In a memo, ASOIT said it feels there was not a proper process to recommend the proposed tuition increase of 7%.
The Oregon Tech Tuition Recommendation Committee (TRC) has met several times, beginning in January to discuss potential tuition increases at the university. The TRC is a group comprised of several administrators, faculty, students, and a representative from each branch of ASOIT, Klamath Falls and Portland Metro.
A memo from the ASOIT presidents to the university administration said the original recommendation from the committee was a 5% increase in tuition for the 2022-23 school year. ASOIT had plans in place and recommended actions for a 5% increase in tuition and fees. However, according to the memo, ASOIT was not made aware the committee would be recommending a 7% increase to the university Board of Trustees. ASOIT alleges it was not made aware of the processes and status of the TRC and that their representative on the committee was not able to vote on the recommendation that passed by a 5-4 vote due to the representative being unaware the vote was occurring.
“The committee forums felt more like a presentation than open dialogue,” said Brie Landis, president of the Klamath Falls chapter of ASOIT.
At the two open committee forums, there was a minimal attendance by students to voice their concerns and ask questions of the TRC. At the Klamath Falls forum, one non-committee member was present, and it was Landis.
At Portland Metro, there were three non-committee members present. Landis said questions were asked of the TRC and the committee said they would get back to the students, but never did. Landis said the recommendation feels rushed and that there was not an acceptable student input on the 7% figure.
Landis offered suggestions for ways Oregon Tech could cut costs to keep tuition increases at a minimum and even avoid them altogether: the university could cut costs by holding capital projects, including one to build new student dormitories that is slated to commence within the next year; authorize access to reserve funds to bolster the budget; and lobby for more state funds to keep student costs to a minimum.
The proposed 7% tuition increase came from the TRC, and was approved to be forwarded to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HEC) for final approval.
“A tuition increase is not ideal. We sympathize with our students,” said Lacey Jarrell, executive director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations for Oregon Tech.
According to Jarrell, the university has 70 budgeted but not filled open positions and about 70% of the university’s budget is for staff salaries.
The university fears any more reductions to the budget would affect staff workloads and positions. In turn, this would affect the quality of education and services Oregon Tech is committed to providing for its students.
Student retention and recruitment was a major point in the ASOIT memo sent to the board of trustees and Dr. Nagi Naganathan, the school's president. The memo said “there is already a national trend of young adults avoiding college due to the cost, and the financial impact it can have for decades afterwards, don’t give them 8% more of a reason to be an electrician instead of an electrical engineer, a welder instead of a mechanical engineer, or a CNA instead of a nurse.”
The university reiterated it never want to increase tuition.
“Cost is often a factor when someone is evaluating where they are going to attend school," Jarrell said. "Oregon Tech’s consistent high return on investment should continue to be a determining factor when enrolling in classes. We will continue making every effort to make Oregon Tech’s world-class education affordable.”
Landis said ASOIT is still committed to fighting this recommendation by the TRC. The ASOIT plans to appeal to the HEC for more grants and funds as well as forming a group to lobby for more state funding.
“We can do things if we work together,” Landis said.
The board of trustees’ recommendation to the HEC is still awaiting a vote. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-tech-student-government-opposes-tuition-hike/article_8a3d0666-707f-5d69-8788-00349b0acfa0.html | 2022-05-06T03:21:58Z |
Oregon Tech, the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season champion, dominated the All-CCC softball honors, as seven Owls earned all-conference accolades, three earned Gold Glove honors, with two Owls snagging major awards.
Senior Sarah Abramson was honored by the 11 conference coaches as Pitcher of the Year, while Greg Stewart was honored by his peers as Coach of the Year for a record eighth time.
Abramson, a four-time All-CCC selection, has been the class of the league in the circle, posting a 24-5 record with a 1.90 ERA – leading the conference in wins, in strikeouts (202) and in shutouts (10) – while tossing a pair of no-hitters.
Stewart became the first coach to win eight postseason honors – as the dean of CCC coaches previously earned the award in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Three Lady Owls joined Abramson on the first-team – catcher McKenna Armantrout, first baseman Kennedy Jantzi and shortstop Kaila Mick – all repeat selections.
Armantrout earned the award for a third-consecutive year, hitting .391 with 28 RBI. She was also selected as the Gold Glove catcher for the second straight season, posting one error in 355 defensive chances and throwing out 33% of attempted base stealers.
Jantzi, a two-time All-CCC pick, hit .364 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs – with her home run and RBIs total among the top five in the league. She was selected as the Gold Glove first baseman, committing just one error in 335 defensive chances.
Mick was a repeat selection at shortstop after a stellar regular season in which she led the Owls with a .394 batting average, 12 doubles, five triples and 21 stolen bases.
Three other OIT players were honored as All-CCC picks – Mckenzie Staub and Jayce Seavert as second-team selections, with Maggie Buckholz earning honorable mention. Staub, a 2021 All-CCC pick, is 16-4 in the circle with a 2.52 ERA and 102 strikeouts; Seavert has been stellar at second base, hitting .353 with a team-high 12 homers and 46 RBIs; with Buckholz leading the Tech outfielders with a .348 average, adding four home runs and 35 RBIs.
Third baseman Aubrie Businger rounds out the award-winning Owls, earning a Gold Glove at third base for a second straight year. Businger has posted a .966 fielding percentage at the hot corner – tops among all CCC third basemen.
“This is well deserved recognition for the way these ladies have performed all season long,” Stewart said. “They have been instrumental in our team’s success this year and I am happy for them and their accomplishments.” | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-techs-sarah-abramson-greg-stewart-named-cccs-pitcher-coach-of-year/article_1454a0a2-b5a9-5876-8476-266a6c97945d.html | 2022-05-06T03:22:05Z |
FROSTPROOF, Fla. — While “hoplo” accurately describes my limited jumping ability (my shorter brothers, at 5-foot-10 and 5-foot-11 have both dunked while at just under 6-foot-3, I haven’t), it is actually the name of a small, armor-plated catfish from South America.
Like much of Florida’s population, brown hoplos are mouth breathers that will gulp air just like the native bowfin and Florida gar that often share the same waters. Since they breathe air, hoplos are quite tolerant of terrible water quality and can be found in places many fish couldn’t hope to make it.
It’s crazy how empty the majority of the third-most-populous state is. I drove and drove through the dual emptiness and fullness of Florida’s interior. When, at long last, I arrived at the coordinates (provided by my friend Ryan Crutchfield), I was alerted by the too-large gator in the small creek just downstream of the high road bridge. I opted to go upstream instead.
I just couldn’t get a hoplo to bite. I’d been told this spot was as close to a slam-dunk as any for this species, and I was despondent, left holding nothing but denial. Moments later, I was holding da Nile — a very large Nile tilapia, that is. God has a sense of humor.
The hoplos weren’t having it, so I moved up to the road and fished from the bridge. Now, fishing for very small fish from high up on a road bridge with little or no shoulder is not a great idea, and it’s never really worked for me. In fact, it reminds me of a scene from “Arrested Development,” the greatest television series of all time, in which Dr. Tobias Funkë and his wife, Lindsay Bluth-Funkë, discuss a trial separation.
“Well, did it work for those people?” Lindsay asks her husband, a behavior analyst and therapist (which he combines on his business cards, unknowingly, into a darkly comedic term).
“No,” he replies with a chuckle.
“It never does. I mean these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might work …” he adds, trailing off.
“But it might work for us!” he adds thoughtfully.
So there I was, fishing from the bridge, thinking it might work for me.
I gave myself 30 minutes because making bad decisions is OK if you limit it to a set period of your life, right? That’s why people eventually get over their “party phase” after college, I’m told.
Oh, well. I started packing up. After spending the week before with my family and friends and with limited success fishing, I was starting to feel the loneliness crowd the clarity out of my mind. I still had a month left on this trip, and my mood was still far too dependent on success or failure in fishing for me to fail this early and this often. I was in Florida, and I’d only caught one new species today.
Just as I began to slip into reverie and a YouTube-fueled pity party, my final rod, the one I hadn’t yet reeled in, moved. I waited. Waited. Set the hook. Optimistically, I worked in the small fish. It was a brown hoplo!
Species #273 — brown hoplo (Hoplosternum littorale).
I got the picture I needed and moved on to my next spot, a picturesque little pond even more off the beaten path than the bridge had been. It involved me leaving the pavement and driving in soft, sandy-loam through a palm grove miles from the pavement in deep moon dust. Fortunately,
I couldn’t see any clouds, and the dirt — though soft — was dry enough that I felt soaking my tires in it halfway up the rims was a reasonable risk.
Now, it features prominently in television and movies, but quicksand is both very real and not nearly as horrifying as it’s made out to be — until you find yourself stuck in it. Conditions were perfect for quicksand, and in retrospect, I should’ve seen that driving in, but I was blinded by the possibility of catching a relatively rare species called the redface topminnow. Redface topminnow are just topminnows that exert themselves when not in great shape. Fitting, because the lake was breathtakingly beautiful. Really more of a pond than a lake, the clean (cold for Florida) pond was unspoiled if blackened with tannin.
Though Florida bass and bluegill were abundant, I never saw a single redface topminnow — nor any micro for that matter — and the only red face was mine after striking out on my third target for the day and learning firsthand about quicksand.
I just so happened to be listening to a podcast that referenced quicksand, so that’s why it was on my mind. Sorry if you were thinking I got stuck in it myself, though that would’ve made this slightly more interesting.
This was an excerpt from a chapter in my new book, “Fishing Across America” which is available for preorder now at https://www.inkshares.com/books/fishing-across-america, Sign up for every single CaughtOvgard column at www.patreon.com/CaughtOvgard. Read more for free at caughtovgard.com; Contact luke.ovgard@gmail.com. Thank you for your continued support of local journalism. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/searching-for-the-elusive-hoplo-and-redface-topminnow/article_d364e936-4b43-5fa4-9094-397afaf1695e.html | 2022-05-06T03:22:11Z |
DAVIS, Calif. — Researcher Jorge Dubcovsky and his team have identified one of the genes in wheat that increases yield — the holy grail for farmers.
Yield — the amount of wheat grown per acre — is how wheat farmers pay the bills.
“We always joke in wheat breeding that the first three top priorities are yield, yield and yield,” Dubcovsky, a University of California-Davis wheat breeder, told the Capital Press. “There are premiums and discounts for protein, but the grower is paid by the yield. That’s the only thing that the grower gets.”
The gene Dubcovsky and his team discovered controls the maximum number of grains the plant produces. They estimate the discovery could eventually increase yields by as much as 5%.
Breeders devote most of their efforts to pursuing yield, Dubcovsky said.
“You only advance varieties that will yield better than the previous one,” Dubcovsky said. “If not, nobody will buy it.”
But, he said, yield has been “a very difficult trait to crack.”
The reason is many variables impact wheat yields.
One year, the varieties that don’t shatter in the wind will yield more. The next year, there could be a disease. Another year, too much heat.
It’s difficult to pinpoint whether a variety’s overall performance is due to genes or other factors, Dubcovsky said.
Dubcovsky leads the research for WheatCAP, a consortium of 41 breeders and researchers at 22 institutions in 20 states.
Researchers have identified most of the genes that contribute to a good bread, including protein, loaf volume and uniformity, and use molecular markers to select for those traits.
Has he finally cracked the trait?
“I think we have cracked the easier part of this difficult problem,” he said with a chuckle.
How it works
In the future, farmers holding a new variety of wheat in their hands won’t see any difference from today’s wheat, Dubcovsky said.
But “if you look at the end of the spike, you have one more spikelet at the end,” he said.
The plant’s genes determine when to stop producing those spikelets, which hold the grain, he explained. Researchers want to enable the plant to produce spikelets a little bit longer.
The newly discovered gene, designated WAPO1, controls the maximum number of grains in a wheat spike. Breeding it into plants could make room for more grains to grow in each spike by delaying formation of the terminal spikelet.
“The only thing you will notice is that a spike will be a little bit longer and have more of those spikelets on the side,” he said.
Step by step
At its core, yield is measured by the number of wheat spikes per square foot of land, multiplied by the number of grains each spike has, multiplied by the weight of each grain, Dubcovsky said.
“One of those components, the number of grains, is a little bit easier to do genetics with,” he said.
Researchers have identified several genes that control the weight of grains, he said.
But a plant with more grains has to produce enough starch to fill them, or else farmers will end up with more but smaller grains, and a plant producing the same yield.
Now, researchers are working on the more difficult part of the question, Dubcovsky said: making a more robust plant, with more biomass, that can mobilize more starch to the extra grains to increase yield.
“We have made a step forward,” he said. “We have half of the equation solved.”
The gene already existed in half of the modern wheat varieties in the world, he said. Identifying it may benefit those varieties that didn’t already have it. WAPO1 is frequently found in wheat varieties used to make bread flour but not in pasta wheats such as durum.
“We know now in which varieties it’s present and which it’s not present,” he said. “We didn’t know that before. We were blind.”
But it will be years before higher-yielding wheat varieties appear in farmers’ fields. New varieties take 5 to 10 years to develop, Dubcovsky said.
“The reality in breeding is that we go step by step,” he said. “In plants that have a good biomass, you can push yield 5%.”
That might not sound like much of an improvement at first.
But given that the world’s wheat farmers raise 750 million metric tons each year, and wheat produces 20% of calories and protein consumed by the human population, and the need to soon feed 3 billion more people on the same amount of land, “that 5% starts taking a different perspective,” he said.
Two farmers
Gary Bailey and Andy Juris raise wheat about 200 miles apart in Washington state. For both farmers, yield is a major consideration when deciding which varieties to plant.
Their farms receive different amounts of rain.
Bailey farms in St. John and represents Whitman County farmers on the Washington Grain Commission board. His land can receive 14 to 17 inches of rain per year — a lot for this part of the state.
For him, a typical winter wheat yield is about 80 bushels per acre.
Juris farms in Bickleton and is vice president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. His farm normally receives 8 to 10 inches of rain each year — although last year during the drought it got 3 inches.
In a fallow rotation, in which he rests his soil some years, his average yield is 35 to 40 bushels per acre.
Where he does annual cropping in shallow soils that can’t hold precipitation, he averages 25 bushels per acre.
Dubcovsky’s 5% increase would mean a bushel or two more per acre, Juris said.
“We’re kind of clinging on sometimes by our fingernails to the margins of what is considered decent, farmable ground,” he said. “We’re always looking for that next percentage.
Time will tell
Breeders in the Pacific Northwest say Dubcovsky’s discovery will put another tool in their toolbox.
Identifying the gene won’t directly affect general breeding efforts in the near future, but could help breeding for specific production systems long term, Washington State University spring wheat breeder Mike Pumphrey said.
If the gene’s already present in Oregon State University’s germplasm, molecular markers can be used for marker-assisted selection, said OSU breeder Bob Zemetra.
If not, it could be bred into elite germplasm and evaluated to determine the impact on yield, he said.
Everyone agrees on one point: Quality must not be sacrificed.
Yield pays the bills, but if a grower is discounted for low quality, that can change how much they’re paid in a hurry, said Mary Palmer Sullivan, vice president of the Washington Grain Commission.
Pumphrey recommends growers watch reliable, replicated, multi-year, multi-location regional yield performance data, while considering other traits of importance.
As part of the WheatCAP consortium’s $15 million grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, researchers are evaluating the effect of the genes in combination with other traits for increased yield, said Arron Carter, winter wheat breeder at WSU.
Researchers need to take a holistic approach with all components of production, Carter said, adding that top yield is dictated by genetics, climate, inputs, cropping system and soil health.
“I don’t think we have reached our limits yet,” he said. “I think genetics can continue to push yield higher.”
GMO quandary
Years ago, corn and soybean yields skyrocketed with the advent of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in which genetic traits such as pest resistance are inserted into the varieties.
The global wheat market, however, has not embraced the technology. As yet, there are no commercialized varieties of wheat available in the market developed through biotechnology.
“It is unfortunate that we cannot use GMOs in wheat, because we can do a lot more,” Dubcovsky said. “Basically, you are asking us to give you more food in the same space, and you tied our hands at our backs. But since those are the rules, we continue to do breeding with our hands tied at our backs.”
Breeding will continue to improve without GMOs, he said. But GMOs would allow solutions to a lot of problems, including nutrition and the economic value of wheat.
“I understand, people always fear what they don’t know, and we need to respect people’s fear,” he said. “From a scientific point of view, there’s no rationale on the limitations they are putting upon me (with) GMO. But I respect the people — if people do not want to eat them, I will not produce it.”
Investing in food
Dubcovsky, 65, said it’s also time to find a younger researcher to overlap with him at UC-Davis to eventually take up the mantel.
“In the meantime, I will continue doing it, I enjoy doing it,” he said.
Even when a new person arrives, he’d happily keep helping out.
“This is my passion, so I will proudly continue working on it,” he said.
Sullivan, of the grain commission, notes that Dubcovsky identified the gene through federal research funding.
“While each state that has a checkoff for wheat contributes towards research, we can’t do it alone,” she said. “These are the types of grants and opportunities that we wouldn’t otherwise have. The more information, and the more tools they have in their toolbox, the better off we’re going to be. It’s a really good investment in taxpayer dollars.”
Dubcovsky echoed the need to support agricultural research.
“Food is not something that’s sold in the supermarket,” he said. “Food is something you need to fight for and you need to invest for, if you want to have food on the table tomorrow. Producing food takes work of a lot of people.”
Dubcovsky left research on yield for the end of his career because he knew it would be difficult.
Making a more productive plant requires a plant that grows faster, a little taller, with a stronger stem to support more grain.
It can be done, he said, pointing to triticale, a cross between durum wheat and rye, which has some of those traits.
“We know that it’s possible,” he said. “Now we just need to figure out how to get there.” | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/the-5-solution-researchers-crack-wheats-genetic-code-open-door-to-higher-yields/article_1d4e167b-fe9a-58a8-8533-920570559a24.html | 2022-05-06T03:22:17Z |
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Republicans — including U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents southern Oregon, and 19 conservative state attorneys general — are pushing back against the Biden administration’s formation of a Disinformation Governance Board to monitor social media platforms.
The Biden administration insists the new board — which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — will focus on misinformation posted online by Russian interests or human smugglers and traffickers.
Conservatives criticize creation of the panel as Orwellian and the White House’s pick to head the government social media board.
“This board is un-American, anti-democratic and a dangerous escalation of the Biden administration’s embrace of government-endorsed censorship,” said Bentz and other Republicans in a May 5 letter to Nina Jankowicz, the announced executive director of the new federal panel.
Jankowicz faces questions about some of her social media posts including during the 2020 presidential election. Republicans say they show a Democratic partisan bent.
Bentz and other GOP lawmakers want written testimony from Jankowicz on her thoughts on Hunter Biden’s laptop and how social media platforms previously restricted some stories about his business dealings. Hunter Biden is the president’s son. The president has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his son’s business deals while he served as vice president in the Obama administration.
Republicans want to hear from Jankowicz by May 19 on what actions the board would take to counteract misinformation, how will social media data and post information be collected and how will the board ensure protection of free speech and anti-government voices.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said during recent media interviews the U.S. government’s disinformation board will not monitor American's social media posts. Jankowicz, a fellow at the Wilson Center think tank, said in a Twitter post on April 27 that her Biden administration will focus on “counter-disinformation efforts.”
The homeland security board is the latest effort by the U.S. government and Biden administration to combat anti-government and misleading or false social media posts.
The White House has pushed Facebook and other platforms to crack down on and ban right-wing accounts, anti-government groups and those opposed to coronavirus vaccines. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have restricted or banned a number of conservative accounts, including former President Donald Trump.
Progressives, however, worry about Twitter’s future after its $44 billion acquisition by Tesla Inc. founder Elon Musk.
Biden said on Thursday that the “Ultra MAGA” agenda is dangerous — referring to conservative, populist and anti-government backers of Trump.
“Because this MAGA crowd is really the most extreme political organization that’s existed in American history — in recent American history,” Biden said.
Back across the political divide, 19 GOP state attorneys general have also written Mayorkas in opposition to the social media panel. They are threatening to sue the federal government unless the board is disbanded.
“This is unconstitutional, illegal and un-American. Unless you turn back now and disband this Orwellian Disinformation Governance Board immediately, the undersigned will have no choice but to consider judicial remedies to protect the rights of their citizens,” said the GOP attorney generals including Ashley Moody of Florida, Mark Brnovich of Arizona and Austin Knudsen of Montana. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/social-media-disinformation-governance-board-sees-gop-pushback/article_9b1a4f35-9a04-5211-a0d7-ee9b7a9ee039.html | 2022-05-06T03:22:30Z |
CHEYENNE – It’s unclear from the Cheyenne Police Department’s annual report whether felony personal and property crimes increased last year, and, if so, by how much.
The report, released Wednesday, said the number of felony cases with “workable leads” stayed largely the same in multiple categories between the 2020 report and 2021, or they slightly decreased.
The report included only numbers for felony offenses that were assigned to detectives for investigation. Of those, 148 were people crimes (down from 151 reported in 2020) and 110 were property crimes (down from 120).
“Felony cases, as determined by Wyoming statute, are forwarded to the Detective Bureau for review and assignment. Cases that do not have workable leads are not assigned to a detective, and instead go into an inactive status pending any changes or developments,” the report explained. It added that each detective is typically working on 25-30 cases at any time.
However, it is how many cases in each category were not considered “workable” and assigned to detectives for investigation, and therefore were not included in these totals. The department was unable to provide these numbers late Thursday afternoon.
Data from one category, provided to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle by CPD spokesperson Alex Farkas on Thursday, suggest the total numbers of people and property cases were much higher than those highlighted in the report.
Felony motor vehicle theft offenses in 2021 totaled 342, and misdemeanor offenses totaled 48, according to this data. Twenty-three arrests were made in these felony cases, and two arrests were made for the misdemeanors.
The statistics showed that 2021’s totals were close to double 2020’s numbers for both felony and misdemeanor motor vehicle thefts. In 2020, there were 181 felony and 26 vehicle thefts.
The annual report from 2020 is structured the same way. Rather than offense totals, it also highlights the numbers of felony personal and property crimes referred to detectives for investigation. For at least four years prior to that year, CPD’s annual report included many felony offense totals.
Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco did not return calls for comment.
‘Workable’ felony totals
According to the new document, the city saw three homicides assigned to detectives in 2021 – the same as in 2020. There were three attempted homicides assigned.
Sexual assault incidents assigned to detectives dropped very slightly from 2020. Adult cases totaled 40 in 2020 and 37 in 2021, and child cases went from 33 in 2020 to 32 in 2021.
Assigned aggravated assault cases dropped to 15 incidents in 2021 from 20 the previous year.
Robberies assigned within the Detective Bureau went up by one in 2021, totaling seven such cases.
Domestic violence incidents were not included as a category in the assigned cases section, but the report said 341 people in 2021 were victims of a domestic violence crime or battery.
Felony child abuse/neglect cases assigned to detectives dropped from 19 in 2020 to 13 in 2021. Assigned child exploitation cases remained the same as the previous year at nine.
Assigned felony kidnapping cases dropped from three in 2020 to two in 2021, although one case of attempted kidnapping was also assigned in 2021.
Felony stalking cases assigned to detectives decreased to two in 2021 from six the previous year.
Also assigned to detectives this year were 24 “less-common people crimes,” though it was unclear from the report what those entailed.
As for property crimes, 39 felony burglaries were assigned to detectives this year. The department reported 463 instances of victimization related to burglaries.
Assigned felony motor vehicle thefts were down to 18 in 2021 from 20 the year prior.
The total number of felony larcenies assigned to detectives remained nearly the same, although the types differed between years. In 2021, 11 of a total 19 were considered grand larceny, while eight of the 19 were from a motor vehicle. All 20 incidents recorded in 2020 were considered grand larceny. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/personal-property-crime-totals-unclear-in-cpd-report/article_0eba6c9d-2a60-5f02-b58f-b5516c475b53.html | 2022-05-06T03:43:29Z |
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