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White House: US, allies to ban new investments in Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Western allies plan to pile additional sanctions on Russia on Wednesday after the emergence of troubling new evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, according to the White House. The new penalties will include a ban on all new investment in Russia.
Among the other measures being taken against Russia are greater sanctions on its financial institutions and state-owned enterprises, and sanctions on government officials and their family members, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Videos may contain disturbing content.
“The goal is to force them to make a choice,” she said. “The biggest part of our objective here is to deplete the resources that Putin has to continue his war against Ukraine.”
Separately, the Treasury Department moved Tuesday to block any Russian government debt payments with U.S. dollars from accounts at U.S. financial institutions, making it harder for Russia to meet its financial obligations.
The Biden administration also announced Tuesday night that it was sending an additional $100 million worth of military assistance to Ukraine. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the new equipment will meet “an urgent Ukrainian need for additional Javelin anti-armor systems.”
President Joe Biden and U.S. allies have worked together to levy a crippling of economic penalties against Russia for invading Ukraine more than a month ago, including the freezing of central bank assets, export controls and the seizing of property, including yachts, that belong to Russia’s wealthy elite. But calls for increased sanctions intensified this week in response to the attacks, killings and destruction in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.
The sanctions are intended to further Russia’s economic, financial and technological “isolation” from the rest of the world as a penalty for its attacks on civilians in Ukraine, Psaki said. That isolation is a key aspect of the U.S. strategy, which is premised on the idea that Russia will ultimately lack the resources and equipment to keep fighting a prolonged war in Ukraine.
Psaki said the administration is assessing “additional consequences and steps we can put in place” but underscored that Biden is not weighing any military action.
An increasingly desperate Russia has engaged in military tactics that have outraged much of the wider global community, leading to charges that it is committing war crimes and causing other sanctions.
Still, almost all of the EU has refrained from an outright ban on Russian oil and natural gas that would likely crush the Russian economy. The U.S. has banned fossil fuels from Russia, while Lithuania blocked natural gas from that country on Saturday, becoming the first of the 27-member EU to do so. The EU executive branch on Tuesday proposed a ban on Russian coal, while Germany’s government intends to end its use of Russian natural gas over the next two years.
On Monday, Biden called for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to be tried for war crimes and face new sanctions because of the atrocities and abuses seen around Kyiv after Russian forces pulled back from the Ukrainian capital. The corpses of what appeared to be civilians were seen strewn in yards, many of them likely killed at close range.
Biden said the U.S. and its allies would gather details for a war crimes trial, stressing that Putin has been “brutal” and his actions “outrageous.”
Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in Bucha on the outskirts of Kyiv. There were at least 13 bodies in and around a building that local people said Russian troops used as a base. Three other bodies were found in a stairwell, and a group of six were burned together.
Many victims seen by the AP appeared to have been shot at close range. Some were shot in the head. At least two had their hands tied. A bag of spilled groceries lay near one victim.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/05/us-official-us-allies-ban-new-investments-russia/
| 2022-04-07T20:05:12Z
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Virginia teacher runs 105 miles to Washington DC to help send students to college
Kate Fletcher started her run at Louisa County High School and ended the marathon at the Lincoln Memorial.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Louisa County English teacher Kate Fletcher arrived in Washington DC with a wide smile even as her legs shook from exhaustion and cold. The finish line at the Lincoln Memorial marked mile number 105 in her epic 2-day journey that began in Virginia.
“It has definitely, definitely been a long haul and a hard challenge to get all the way here and in the night,” said Fletcher. “There were times where I was really doubting myself, where I was afraid that I wouldn’t make it here. And so, to actually be right here at the reflecting pool, despite all those doubts and fears, is definitely an emotional moment.”
Fletcher’s run raises money for scholarships for students as part of the Lion Pride Run. As of Tuesday, the run had raised $42,416.
“It’s a wonderful feeling. I mean, I know so many of the kids who’ve received the scholarships. I’ve taught so many of them. So, in years past quite a few of them were former students of mine and I know how hard they worked and how deserving they were. And I know that this spring at the awards assembly, we will award the money that we raised this year to those students who are selected for the Lion Pride Scholarship,” said Fletcher.
Fletcher was welcomed at the Lincoln Memorial by a roar of Louisa County students, cheerleaders, and even the marching band.
“Each of you lifted me up and carried me here in your own way,” said Fletcher in a speech to the crowd.
Former student Taylor Talley attended Louisa County High School and received one of the scholarships from the Lion Pride Run in 2020. She now interns for Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) in Washington DC. She greeted Fletcher at the finish line as she credits the teacher with helping her to attend University of Georgia.
“She runs for not just her students in the classroom, all students, and for the struggles that they faced in their life, getting to where they want to be later on after their high school graduation,” said Talley, “and so for me, it was a huge honor to receive one of these scholarships just to be able to know that she ran and did this for me for what I wanted to do and achieve my dreams.”
Talley graduates in May of 2023 with a double major in political science and human development family sciences.
“It’s so hard to be able to pay for college, especially when you don’t have that financial support, when you come from a low income family, or just even a middle class family. Now, it’s really, really hard to be able to afford this. So, it was a huge deal and opportunity for me, especially since I was able to go to my dream school out of state, the University of Georgia,” said Talley. “...I’m just very, very fortunate and grateful. And, there’s not enough words in the English language to describe Miss Fletcher and what she’s done for all these students.”
Spanberger also applauded Fletcher for her work for students in Virginia. She said she had ‘no idea’ that her intern, Talley, had been one of the former recipients of the scholarships until her staff was discussing Fletcher in the congressional office.
“I think it speaks to the sorts of just community focus that exists in Louisa County. I think it speaks to the fact that, you know, she’s (Fletcher) setting a tremendous example. And, so students like the young woman in our office has been able to set her sights on coming to Capitol Hill, working in a congressional office and hopefully getting some extraordinary experiences out of it,” said Spanberger.
Fletcher hopes her run will inspire others to chase their goals.
When Washington News Bureau asked Fletcher what advice she would give to others, she said “there’s no finish line and that we all have boundless potential.”
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/05/virginia-teacher-runs-105-miles-washington-dc-help-send-students-college/
| 2022-04-07T20:05:23Z
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Biden nominates first woman to lead Coast Guard
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 10:58 AM EDT|Updated: Apr. 6, 2022 at 11:39 AM EDT
(CNN) - President Joe Biden has picked a woman to be the next leader of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Adm. Linda Fagan was nominated to serve as the next commandant.
If she is confirmed, she would be the first woman to lead the branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Fagan has served on all seven continents and spent 36 years in the Coast Guard service. She is the No. 2 in charge right now.
Her nomination will be under consideration by the Senate committee on commerce, science and transportation, but she’s getting support from both sides of the aisle.
The current commandant is required to retire May 31.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/biden-nominates-first-woman-lead-military-branch/
| 2022-04-07T20:05:30Z
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Biden speaks to trade union national conference
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 12:07 PM EDT|Updated: Apr. 6, 2022 at 12:55 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (Gray News) - President Joe Biden made remarks Wednesday to the North America’s Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference.
Biden spoke to “thousands of national, state and local building trades leaders from across the country,” according to a statement.
The NABTU works to create economic security and job opportunities for its construction workers, according to the organization’s website. It represents more than 3 million professionals in the U.S. and Canada.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/biden-speak-trade-union-national-conference/
| 2022-04-07T20:05:39Z
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Bobby Rydell, 60s teen idol and ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ star, dies
(AP) - Bobby Rydell, a pompadoured heartthrob of early rock ‘n roll who was a star of radio, television and the movie musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” died Tuesday.
Rydell died of complications from pneumonia at a hospital in a suburb of his hometown of Philadelphia, according to a statement posted by his marketing and event coordinator Maria Novey.
Rydell, who credited a 2012 kidney and liver transplant with extending his life, was 79.
Along with James Darren, Fabian and Frankie Avalon, Rydell was among a wave of wholesome teen idols who emerged after Elvis Presley and before the rise of the Beatles.
Between 1959 and 1964, he had nearly three dozen Top 40 singles including “Wild One,” “Volare,” “Wildwood Days,” “The Cha-Cha-Cha” and “Forget Him,” a song of consolation for a bereft girl that helped inspire the Beatles’ classic “She Loves You.”
He had recurring roles on “The Red Skelton Show” and other television programs, and 1963′s “Bye Bye Birdie” was rewritten to give Rydell a major part as the boyfriend of Ann-Margret. He didn’t want to move to Hollywood, however, and “Birdie” became his only significant movie role — though the high school in the hit ‘70s musical “Grease” was named for him.
Rydell never strayed far from his Philadelphia roots, living in the area for most of his life. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995.
“I never thought of myself as a celebrity,” he told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003. “I was just a guy who went out there and worked.”
He was born Robert Ridarelli in a South Philadelphia neighborhood that would also produce teen idols Darren, Fabian and Avalon. They knew each other as children — Rydell played drums with Avalon on trumpet in a group called Rocco and the Saints.
Before he graced the covers of teen magazines and movie screens, Rydell made his bones as a youngster in Philadelphia clubs.
He made his performance debut as a 7-year-old drummer, not a singer. His first drum kit was a gift from his father, Al Ridarelli, who inspired his son’s choice of instrument by taking him to see Gene Krupa perform.
At age 9, he debuted on an amateur television show and became its regular drummer for three years.
Rydell got his big break in 1959 on “American Bandstand,” which originally was broadcast from Philadelphia. His first hit, “Kissing Time,” quickly followed, and the skinny 17-year-old with a pompadour haircut rocketed to stardom. Rydell and his fellow Philadelphia performers were ideal for “Bandstand” host Dick Clark, who sought to make rock n’ roll palatable to young and old. He also made live appearances nationwide on a tour organized by Clark.
Changing musical tastes ushered in by the Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion defused the hit-making careers of Rydell and his compatriots, and he continued performing and recording music with limited success in the late 1960s and 1970s. But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. They dubbed themselves “The Golden Boys of Bandstand,” and the shows were so successful that the trio ended up touring for three years and performing 300 shows nationwide.
“We weren’t out to prove anything. We just said to ourselves, ‘Here are three Italian kids from South Philadelphia, born and raised within two blocks of each other. Let’s go out there and have fun,’” Rydell told The Atlantic City Weekly in 2006. “That hasn’t changed. I think people see that attitude coming from the stage. It’s a fun show to watch — that’s what’s made it so successful. We have a great time doing it.”
Rydell’s childhood sweetheart and first wife, Camille, died in 2003.
He is survived by his second wife, Linda Hoffman, whom he married in 2009, along with son Robert Ridarelli, daughter Jennifer Dulin, and five grandchildren.
___
Former AP staffer JoAnn Loviglio contributed biographical material to this report.
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/bobby-rydell-60s-teen-idol-bye-bye-birdie-star-dies/
| 2022-04-07T20:05:46Z
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CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Ax-wielding man attacks drummer in California
CANYON CO., Calif. (KCAL/KCBS) - A shocking incident was caught on camera in California: A man says he was playing his drums along one of the trails in Canyon County when an ax-wielding man came out of nowhere.
In an instant, Andy Torres’ Saturday morning jam session turned violent.
The man struck the drumkit several times, frightening the 36-year-old musician.
“He just came up swinging already,” Torres said. “He didn’t announce himself or say get out of the way. Or, ‘Are you making the noise?’ No, he knew what he was going to do. I happened to just get out of the way.”
Torres says after the man nearly destroyed the drumkit, he threatened him again.
“It took everything in me not to want to launch at the guy, but I knew I couldn’t do that,” he said.
The attack was recorded on his GoPro camera.
It’s not shown in the video, but Torres says the man also pulled a gun on him.
As soon as he announced that he recorded the entire violent outburst on video, the man appears to change his attitude.
He turned and left, but not before Torres caught images of the man’s car and license plate.
Speaking at Todd Longshore Park near the scene of the attack, he says since the incident he’s been struggling emotionally.
“I get stuck thinking about that, and I have to pull myself out of it,” Torres said. “I know I will move ahead, because look I’m still here.”
Torres said he has been learning the drums for a while. He comes to the park at sunrise and sunset to play while wearing a mask as part of his persona.
Before the ax attack, no one had complained about the noise. He says this will not ruin his love for music, and he will find a way to fix the drums.
“It’s not destroyed. They’ll have to do better than that,” he said.
Torres says he’s filed a police report and turned over the video. He shared it in hopes someone turns the man in, since it’s a place a lot of parents bring their kids.
Copyright 2022 KCAL/KCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/caught-camera-ax-wielding-man-attacks-drummer-california/
| 2022-04-07T20:05:55Z
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Disney+ subscribers can save this summer at some resort hotels
(Gray News) – Disney+ subscribers can save at select Disney Resort hotels this summer.
People with the streaming service can save up to 25% on rooms for select Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts for stays most nights, July 8 – Sept. 30, 2022.
Just log in using the email associated with your Disney+ subscription to book online.
According to Disney, the hotels feature the same storytelling, detail and guest service found in the theme parks – including some familiar Disney friends hanging around.
Resort guests are also able to get into the four main parks 30 minutes early.
Valid admission and park reservation are required to enjoy the theme parks and special events and are not included in this offer.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/disney-subscribers-can-save-this-summer-some-resort-hotels/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:05Z
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FDA warns of raw oysters potentially contaminated with norovirus
(Gray News) – The Food and Drug Administration is working with Canadian food and health agencies to investigate a multi-state outbreak of norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters from British Columbia.
The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in at least 13 states, the FDA confirmed.
These states include:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- New York
- Oregon
- Texas
- Washington
The FDA says oysters can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems.
Food contaminated with norovirus may also look, smell and taste normal.
Norovirus can infect people of all ages, and the most common symptoms of infection are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Additional symptoms can include fever, headache and body ache.
These symptoms will usually develop 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. People typically recover from norovirus in one to three days.
To protect yourself from norovirus infection, the FDA urges you to avoid eating raw oysters in any of the locations listed above. If you have any of the products, the agency recommends throwing them away or returning them to the distributor.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. CNN Newsource contributed to this report.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/fda-warns-raw-oysters-potentially-contaminated-with-norovirus/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:13Z
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Gerber is looking for its next ‘spokesbaby’
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 10:46 AM EDT
(Gray News) - Gerber is looking for a baby to be the next face of the company.
The company said it is searching for its next “Chief Growing Officer and Spokesbaby.”
The job requirements are simple. Applicants must be between 0-4 years old, have a “playful smile that can light up the room,” and an “irresistible giggle and undeniably loveable personality.”
The winner will also receive $25,000.
To apply, visit Gerber’s website here.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/gerber-is-looking-its-next-spokesbaby/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:19Z
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HDR announces return of Downtown Dinner Party
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - After a two-year hiatus, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR) is thrilled to bring back its annual fund-raiser event, Downtown Dinner Party on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 7 – 11 p.m. at Harrisonburg’s Turner Pavilion.
Downtown supporters and foodies alike are invited to enjoy more than a dozen tasting stations, sip local beer and wine, and join in a dance party. Past attendees have reportedly hailed this party as the “best event of the year,” and tickets are expected to sell out.
Through this event, HDR will celebrate the Valley’s love for Downtown Harrisonburg by partnering with downtown culinary businesses and acclaiming their ability to endure and thrive amongst the challenges of the pandemic during the last two years.
This year’s event will have the “Future in Focus,” inspired by the potential within the new Harrisonburg Downtown 2040 Plan.
“Our community cherishes our amazing restaurant and craft beverage scene and many identify downtown Harrisonburg as one of the best places in the Valley for excellent food experiences,” says Andrea Dono, HDR’s executive director. “We wrap those values into a magical and delicious night where we invite people to come together to build community and to support our work.”
Proceeds from this event will support HDR’s mission of building downtown Harrisonburg as a destination where businesses thrive, and people enjoy memorable experiences.
Past fundraising activities have funded public art, small business grants, festivals, downtown’s first dining guide, and more. People may purchase tickets on DDP2022.eventbrite.com and RSVP to the event on Facebook.
Sponsorships make events like Downtown Dinner Party possible and HDR wants to recognize two presenting sponsors, Matchbox Realty and MSL Consulting, for supporting the return of this event.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/hdr-announces-return-downtown-dinner-party/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:25Z
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JMU moves to next phase of lifting mask requirements
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Following the announcement of a phased approach in response to evolving pandemic trends and resulting CDC guidance, James Madison University will move to the next phase by designating masks optional in most indoor areas starting Monday, April 11.
University leaders appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as they seek to continue to follow medical and public health guidance.
Just four positive cases have been observed on campus since March 1, despite testing nearly 1,000 symptomatic individuals during that time. Additionally, Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are designated as having low community levels of COVID-19 according to the new CDC criteria.
The move to the next phase follows UVA, Virginia Tech and other large public institutions that already have gone mask optional for most of their indoor spaces.
Masks are still required in the following areas:
- At clinics on campus and in accordance with requirements at external locations, such as clinical placements, student teaching assignments, etc.
- On public transportation (including buses) following current federal rules.
- In private offices, when requested.
- In other instances where specific contractual obligations apply.
JMU greatly appreciates the care that has been taken by the entire community that has enabled the campus community to reach this point. JMU will continue to monitor the situation, and will need to remain flexible as circumstances evolve.
Many of community members will still prefer to wear a mask, a decision fully supported by the university. The goal is to create spaces where individuals feel comfortable making that choice for themselves.
Since the demand for COVID-19 testing has decreased significantly in recent weeks, the testing site has moved to SSC 2536 (beside Card Services’ entrance B). Hours will continue to be 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.
Self-test kits continue to be available to students, faculty and staff at the Welcome desks at the Union, Festival and SSC from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday as supplies are available.
Many questions can be answered in the FAQs on the Stop the Spread website.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/jmu-moves-next-phase-lifting-mask-requirements/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:33Z
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“Labor of Love”: Progress continues on Pringle House Project
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - J.P. Pringle has called the Northeast Neighborhood in Harrisonburg home for decades, but after the summer fire, his house along East Johnson Street was deemed uninhabitable.
The community rallied behind Pringle to help with his immediate needs, like food, clothing, and shelter, but are now going a step further A group of leaders and community members from around the Friendly City launched the Pringle House Project.
From demolition to cleaning up, to now the bones of a new, modest home, generosity from the community has fueled this project from the start.
“We had such an outpouring of people physically who wanted to get out here and help and help get this project done for JP in the community,” Barry Kelley, an organizer of the Pringle House Project, said. “It’s been moving faster than I thought it would.”
On Tuesday, local businesses and the Harrisonburg Fire Department donated their time by beginning the installation of plumbing and electrical.
“We’ve been able to, with the donations we’ve received, reduce our original projected cost from $150,000 to $120,000 and that’s only because of the kindness and generosity of tradespeople, the businesses, and people in the community,” Jim Rankin, an organizer of the Pringle House Project, said.
Rankin said about organizers have raised about 65% of the funds needed to finish the build. Volunteers continue to reach out to the community and businesses for donations, but he said they can also host fundraisers, like auctions.
“It’s come too far to not go through to fruition so we’re confident that we’ll be able to get there, but we still need donations from people,” Rankin said.
If you cannot donate money, you can donate your time and skills, from building to decorating.
“We have cabinets to hang on the inside that we have no one lined up to do. We’ve got painting on the inside that needs to be done. We have a lot of landscaping work,” Kelley said.
In the coming weeks, Kelley said they can start insulating and putting up drywall.
“It truly has been a blessing. It’s been work, but it’s a labor of love,” Rankin said. “JP is certainly the kind of guy that if you’re going to bend over backward to help somebody, you know what he’s done, what he’s meant to the community.”
“I wanna thank everyone for helping. The community, the fire department, the police department, everybody,” JP Pringle, said.
The goal is to have the home ready for move-in by late June or early July.
If you would like to donate to the Pringle House Project, you can online on its GoFundMe page, or mail a check to “First Baptist Church - Pringle House Project” P.O. Box 2451, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/labor-love-progress-continues-pringle-house-project/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:39Z
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Louisiana mom accused of sending child to day care with meth, Xanax
OUACHITA PARISH, La. (KNOE) - Louisiana State Police said they arrested a woman accused of accidentally sending her child to day care with various drugs in the child’s lunch bag.
According to an arrest report, it happened Tuesday in Ouachita Parish. Authorities said a state trooper received a call from a day care regarding a child dropped off by Jennifer Wise, 35.
The report states that a search of the bag revealed about one gram of methamphetamine, five and a half clonazepam pills, and half a bar of Xanax.
Wise was located at her home. She reportedly told police that she had misplaced the drugs and had been looking for them.
State police said she also told investigators she had an “eight ball” of meth in her room. Investigators said they searched the room and found about nine grams of meth, and scales and baggies they said are commonly used in the distribution of drugs.
Police said she admitted to buying all of the drugs for $75 the day prior.
She was booked at Ouachita Correctional Center on six different drug charges, four of which are felonies, including possession with intent to distribute.
Copyright 2022 KNOE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/louisiana-mom-accused-sending-child-day-care-with-meth-xanax/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:47Z
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Man facing charges after neighbor catches him peeping on little girls through window, police say
DRACUT, Mass. (WCVB) – Police in Massachusetts are seeking charges against a man accused of looking into the window of a little girl.
The girl, 5-year-old Aliza, and her 2-year-old sister are fortunately OK, but their mother, Emmarie Albert, said the two of them got quite the scare early Monday morning.
“The dog starts barking at the window, so he’s barking out the window and then she starts screaming that there’s somebody in her window,” Albert said.
As the sisters were in their bedroom, a neighbor letting her dog out around 2:15 a.m. saw the suspect right outside their window.
The neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the man took off, but his truck was still in the lot until around 4 a.m. when neighbors say they saw him drive off.
“I followed him and called the police and stayed on the phone with them and led them ... to where he was,” the neighbor said.
Police stopped the driver and plan to file charges as the family wonders why he came to their apartment.
“I don’t know why or what he wanted or what his deal was or if he has been watching us or I don’t know,” Albert said. “I think he’s a pervert. I mean, I don’t … there’s no other reason.”
The owner of the complex has a no trespassing order for the suspect.
Copyright 2022 WCVB via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/man-facing-charges-after-neighbor-catches-him-peeping-little-girls-through-window-police-say/
| 2022-04-07T20:06:56Z
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Man scheduled to be executed 44 years after raping, killing college student
PHOENIX (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) - A man convicted 20 years ago of murdering an Arizona State University student is scheduled to be executed on May 10.
Arizona’s Family reports Clarence Dixon was sentenced to death in the 1977 killing of ASU student Deana Bowdoin in 2002 after that case went cold.
According to authorities, on Jan. 7, 1978, Bowdoin, a 21-year-old ASU student, was raped, strangled, and stabbed to death in her Tempe apartment.
A Tempe detective reopened the case using DNA profiling. Detectives said they were able to pinpoint Dixon as the suspect, who was already serving a life sentence for a 1986 sexual assault conviction.
In 2002, Dixon was indicted for Bowdoin’s murder, and a jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death.
According to officials, Dixon has 20 days to decide on being injected with a lethal drug or executed in a gas chamber. If he doesn’t choose, the lethal injection will serve as the default method of execution.
Dixon will be the first execution in Arizona since 2014 when Joseph Rudolph Wood III was executed at Florence State Prison. Wood was convicted of shooting his estranged girlfriend and her father in 1989.
“I promised Arizona voters that people who commit the ultimate crime get the ultimate punishment,” wrote Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich in a statement. “I will continue to fight every day for justice for victims, their families, and our communities.”
One of Dixon’s attorneys, Jennifer Moreno, released the following statement on her client’s planned execution:
“The state has had nearly a year to demonstrate that it will not be carrying out executions with expired drugs but has failed to do so.” Under these circumstances, the execution of Mr. Dixon — a severely mentally ill, visually disabled, and physically frail member of the Navajo Nation — is unconscionable.”
Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/man-scheduled-be-executed-44-years-after-raping-killing-college-student/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:03Z
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Missing Indiana couple found in Nevada desert; man dead, wife hospitalized, family says
ESMERALDA COUNTY, Nev. (Gray News) – A couple from Indiana who was reported missing more than a week ago in Nevada has been found, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.
Ronnie and Beverly Barker’s nephew, Travis Peters, posted an update on Facebook Tuesday night saying rescue teams found the couple near Silver Peak, according to KVVU.
He said Ronnie had died and Beverly was being airlifted to a hospital in Reno where she is doing OK.
KOLO reports the couple left Oregon on March 26, and were headed to Tucson, Arizona.
Their daughter, Jennifer Whaley, says all contact with her parents ceased over a week ago – all cell phone pings stopped March 27.
“It is literally like they fell off the face of the earth. Like they just vanished,” Whaley said.
According to a missing persons flyer shared by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, they were driving a 2015 Forest River Sunseeker RV with a gold stripe and Indiana license plate C128H.
Ronnie and Beverly also were towing a white 2020 Kia Soul with Indiana license plate FL211A.
Family members say the couple’s RV was found stuck in the mud and their car was not at the scene.
AZFamily reports the Esmeralda County Sheriff’s Office said the couple never made it to the campground at Nellis AFB, where they were supposed to spend the night before hitting the road to Tucson again.
“My parents were supposed to meet them in Tucson on Tuesday evening March 29. That’s when they were supposed to be pulling into the campgrounds in Tucson. They didn’t show up,” Whaley said about her parents meeting up with their friends in Tucson who they’ve known for more than three decades.
Peters told KVVU it is unclear to them what happened to the couple as details surrounding Ronnie’s death have not been released.
He said the Mineral County undersheriff provided them with limited information and only said that Beverly was OK.
“Thank God that Beverly is alive, because she will be able to fill in those blanks that we don’t know. Why did they go up the mountain? What happened?” Peters said.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/missing-indiana-couple-found-nevada-desert-man-dead-wife-hospitalized-family-says/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:09Z
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Mother faces judge for first time, officially charged with killing 8-year-old son
SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. (WBAY/Gray News) - Criminal charges have been officially filed against a Wisconsin-area mother accused of killing her 8-year-old son.
WBAY reports Natalia Hitchcock, 41, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide with the death of her son, Oliver Hitchcock.
The Sheboygan Falls Police Department said Natalia Hitchcock assaulted Oliver on March 30 at their apartment. He died two days later at a children’s hospital in Milwaukee due to his injuries.
“The children’s [Wisconsin] hospital makes miracles happen all the time, but couldn’t this time, unfortunately,” said SFPD Police Chief Eric Miller.
According to Miller, at least two officers wore body cameras, and the footage has been turned over to the District Attorney’s office.
The case has been handed to the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, but Miller said this is a case that will never leave him.
“Because of the severity and nature of the victim. Yeah, none of us will forget,” Miller said.
Natalia Hitchcock appeared in court on Tuesday for the first time.
Miller said the second charge she is facing refers to another incident at the home that was something not reported to them previously.
“Many officers have kids that are either younger or older or in that same age group. It’s hard for them. We talked to doctors and staff; there was nothing else the officers could do,” Miller said.
Authorities said an autopsy on Oliver is scheduled for some time this week.
Copyright 2022 WBAY via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/mother-faces-judge-first-time-officially-charged-with-killing-8-year-old-son/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:18Z
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Crash on I-64 in Augusta County cleared
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 8:23 AM EDT|Updated: Apr. 6, 2022 at 8:36 AM EDT
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - UPDATE: As of late Wednesday morning, this crash has been cleared.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is reporting a tractor trailer crash on I-64 at mile marker 94 in Augusta County. Motorists can expect delays in the area.
The south right lane and right shoulder are closed. The eastbound entrance ramp to I-64 is partially blocked.
We will be sure to keep you updated both on air and online with any new information.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/motorists-can-expect-delays-i-64-augusta-county-due-tractor-trailer-crash/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:27Z
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Naming committee recommends “South Ridge High School” for HHS2
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - After over 550 responses totaling over 1,500 name suggestions, along with color and mascot suggestions, the HHS2 naming committee has narrowed down its suggestions.
The chair of the naming committee, Cathy Copeland, presented the ideas to the Harrisonburg School Board on Tuesday.
Copeland explained to the board that the naming committee also discussed the idea of renaming Harrisonburg High School (HHS) along with HHS2 to receive complimentary names, like Harrisonburg Blue Ridge High School and Harrisonburg Allegheny High School. The naming committee voted 64% to 36% that HHS should be renamed, but no decisions have been made yet.
Some of the most common suggestions were Rocktown, Shenandoah/Valley, and South.
“We wanted to make sure that there was a balance of [high-frequency names and unique names] because we felt it was important and critical to bring up not just those that had the most community support... but also the ones that capture our unique city,” Copeland said.
The top four names recommended to the school board were:
1. South Ridge High School
2. United/Unity High School
3. Newtown High School
4. Valley View High School
“Where I think we developed the [South Ridge High School] was that it describes the area of town and the geographic features, which was, or seemed to be, so popular to people, that they really wanted to bring in our geography there,” Copeland said.
Additional naming options and context was provided to school board members.
The school color recommendation is red and black.
Copeland said the naming committee suggests choosing a name before deciding on a mascot, but considered several options, including local animals, like a brown bear. There were also suggestions for inanimate or mythical mascots, like “Rocktown Rockets” or “Thunder” to pair with the HHS Blue Streaks.
She also suggested including Harrisonburg students in the mascot and color design process as much as possible.
According to the naming timeline, the school board will announce their top 3 names on April 16 and choose a name at the meeting on May 3.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/naming-committee-recommends-south-ridge-high-school-hhs2/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:34Z
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New details in death of Charlottesville-area soldier at Fort Stewart
Published: Apr. 6, 2022 at 10:57 AM EDT
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - There are new developments in the investigation surrounding the death of a Charlottesville native at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
The Army Times reports the helicopter crash that killed Captain James Bellew may have been no accident, and it is under criminal investigation.
A spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division tells the Army Times Capt. Bellew was the only person involved in the March 30 incident.
RELATED: Double helicopter crash at Fort Stewart was ‘not an accident’
Copyright 2022 WVIR. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/new-details-death-charlottesville-area-soldier-fort-stewart/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:47Z
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Schools in Alabama county end prayer over PA system at football games
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Prayers will no longer be said over loudspeakers before football games this fall for at least two Alabama high schools.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation says it received complaints last fall about the prayers over the PA system, WBRC reported. The organization sent a letter to Jefferson County schools, saying that prayers before the games, including Gardendale High School and Pinson Valley, are inappropriate and unconstitutional.
The organization says the Supreme Court has struck down school-sponsored prayer in public schools.
Freedom From Religion Foundation said it received word from the school district’s attorney that after the superintendent met with principals, the administration will not allow prayers at school-sponsored events.
A staff attorney for the organization says its purpose it to protect the separation of church and state.
“There are people affected by this. I think some people treat it as, ‘Oh, they just don’t want to hear prayer. They don’t like that Christians exist.’ It has nothing to do with that. It truly is just that public schools are a neutral place. They should be neutral with regard to religion,” said Chris Line with Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr. and the board of education issued a statement that the complaint was resolved at the school level and not as a result of board action or policy.
“That resolution was based on the board’s legal obligations that have been established by binding court precedent,” Gonsoulin stated. “However, the board’s adherence to those rulings should not be understood as a rejection of students’ religious rights and liberties in the school setting. The Jefferson County Board of Education remains firmly committed to respecting and protecting those rights and liberties in every way permitted by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/schools-alabama-county-end-prayer-over-pa-system-football-games/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:53Z
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Twitter says it’s testing an ‘edit’ button
(AP) - Twitter tweeted Tuesday that it is indeed working on a way for users to edit their 280-character messages, although it says the project has nothing to do with the fact that edit-function fan Elon Musk was just revealed as the company’s largest shareholder and now sits on its board.
Twitter said it will test the feature in its paid service, Twitter Blue, in the coming months. It said the test would help it “learn what works, what doesn’t, and what’s possible.” So it may be a while before most Twitter users get to use it, if they ever do. Twitter spokesperson Catherine Hill declined to say whether an edit feature might be rolled out for all users.
Many Twitter users — among them, Kim Kardashian, Ice T, Katy Perry and McDonald’s corporate account — have long begged for an edit button. The company itself recently teased users with an April Fool’s Day tweet saying “we are working on an edit button.” The official Twitter account said Tuesday that the April 1 tweet wasn’t a joke and that it has been working on it since last year.
Twitter also said it didn’t get the idea from a Twitter poll launched by Tesla CEO Musk Monday evening. Musk, himself a Twitter power user, asked followers if they wanted an edit button, cheekily misspelling “yes” as “yse” and “no” as “on.” More than 4 million people had voted as of Tuesday evening.
Musk also tweeted that he is looking forward to making “significant improvements to Twitter in coming months!”
Twitter’s vice president of consumer product, Jay Sullivan, tweeted Tuesday that an edit function has for years been Twitter’s most requested new feature, noting that people want to fix mistakes, typos, and “hot takes.”
Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey had said that Twitter had considered an edit button, but in a January 2020 Q&A maintained that “we’ll probably never do it.” He noted that Twitter’s current setup keeps the spirit of its text-message origins — texts can’t be edited — and the confusion that could result from users making changes to a tweet that has already been heavily circulated by others. Dorsey stepped down as CEO in November 2021.
People who study Twitter also say adding an edit button would likely change the nature of Twitter, making it less valuable as a historical warehouse that stores official statements by politicians and other high-profile people. Twitter, for better or worse, “has become the de facto news wire,” said Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor and an expert on social media who researches propaganda.
Tweets are often embedded in news stories, which could cause problems if the users edit important or controversial tweets without leaving evidence of the original statement. Grygiel suggested instead giving Twitter users a window of time to edit their tweets before they publish them.
Letting powerful Twitter users edit their tweets means they would not be historical statements anymore, Grygiel said. “We need to think about what the implications are, what these tweets are, who has power.”
The company acknowledged those concerns Tuesday evening when Sullivan tweeted: “Without things like time limits, controls, and transparency about what has been edited, Edit could be misused to alter the record of the public conversation. Protecting the integrity of that public conversation is our top priority when we approach this work.”
Musk, too, had said that a proposal for a post-publication edit window of a few minutes " sounds reasonable.”
Musk is someone who could seemingly use an edit button. His tweet about taking Tesla private at $420 per share, when funding was not secured, led to a $40 million SEC settlement and a requirement that Musk’s tweets be approved by a corporate lawyer. Musk is still embroiled in a fight over that settlement.
Twitter had earlier seemed to be taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to Musk’s poll. Twitter’s CEO, Parag Agrawal, retweeted the poll with a seeming reference to an earlier tweet by Musk, saying “The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.” Musk had used the same language in a March tweet describing another of his polls that asked whether Twitter adheres to free speech principles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/twitter-says-its-testing-an-edit-button/
| 2022-04-07T20:07:59Z
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Virginia COVID-19 cases rise by 932 Wednesday
19,172,533 total tests have been run for the virus in Virginia, with 1,673,382 positive cases.
Due to the number of vaccinations across our region, we will no longer be updating the COVID-19 hotline.
As of Wednesday, April 6, Virginia has had 1,673,382 total cases of COVID-19, including confirmed lab tests and clinical diagnoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The Virginia Department of Health reports a 3.5% 7-day positivity rate for total testing encounters, and a 3.4% 7-day positivity rate for PCR tests.
35 additional deaths were reported this Wednesday, leaving the death toll at 19,789.
For a comprehensive summary of COVID-19 cases and testing in Virginia, you can visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website and view their COVID-19 dashboard.
On Sunday, April 18, 2021, vaccine eligibility expanded to all individuals in the Commonwealth age 16 and above.
On Thursday, April 22, 2021, former Governor Northam announced an ease in some of the COVID-19 restrictions for social gatherings that began on Saturday, May 15:
- Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings. Social gatherings are currently limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity — up from 30 percent — with no specific cap on the number of attendees.
- Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less.
- Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday, May 13, 2021, vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in most circumstances. On Friday, May 14, 2021, Former governor Ralph Northam announced the mask mandate in Virginia would be lifted, and capacity and social distancing restrictions will end on May 28.
Statewide case totals and testing numbers as of April 6
By April 6, the Virginia Department of Health had received reports of 1,201,260 confirmed cases and 472,122 probable cases of COVID-19 across the commonwealth.
Those positive test results are out of 19,172,533 total tests administered in Virginia, which included 13,212,611 PCR tests, 327,164 antibody tests and 5,632,758 antigen tests.
At this point, 49,158 Virginians have been hospitalized due to the disease caused by the virus, and at least 19,789 have died of causes related to the disease.
Where are our local cases?
Here’s a breakdown of cases for our region as of 10:00 a.m. April 6.
Central Shenandoah Health District: 66,919 total cases
Beginning March 10, 2022, the Locality dashboard is no longer being published. Cases by report date and cases by date of illness can be viewed by locality on the Cases dashboard.
Total tests: 743,723
Lord Fairfax Health District: 54,347 total cases
Total tests: 503,343
Northwest Total Outbreaks: 1,003 with 323 in long-term care facilities, 89 in K-12 settings, 73 in healthcare settings, 41 in correctional facilities, 330 in congregate settings, 65 in college/university settings and 82 in child care settings.
Note: VDH has changed the way it tracks outbreaks. They are now grouped by regions instead of health districts.
COVID-19 Vaccine in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Health has launched a data dashboard showcasing the number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been distributed and administered throughout the commonwealth.
According to the data dashboard, as of April 6, 6,999,147 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 6,256,744 people are fully vaccinated.
18,439,925 total vaccine doses have been distributed throughout the state.
Recovery
The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s online dashboard indicates that, as of April 6, at least 107,322 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital.
Unlike the VDH data that reports cumulative hospitalizations, their data on hospitalizations reflects people currently hospitalized for COVID-19 (whether with confirmed or pending cases), and that number is 241.
West Virginia updates
Here at WHSV, we cover Grant County, Hardy County and Pendleton County. The below information is the most recent data from each counties’ health department. You can find West Virginia’s COVID-19 dashboard here.
There are 498,235 total cases in West Virginia as of April 6.
Grant County: 3,766 total COVID-19 cases
Hardy County: 4,177 total COVID-19 cases
Pendleton County: 1,948 total COVID-19 cases (+2 from Tuesday)
For the latest factual information on COVID-19, you’re encouraged to check both the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC.
Copyright 2021 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/virginia-covid-19-cases-rise-by-932-wednesday/
| 2022-04-07T20:08:08Z
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WATCH: People jump from boat being crushed under drawbridge
JUPITER, Fla. (WPEC) - It was a close call for this group of boaters last week when a drawbridge in Florida began to move, partially crushing their pontoon and sending some jumping over the edge in fear.
Thankfully, no one was hurt.
“I think they were trying to move the boat, but the bridge ended up folding on them so they couldn’t move,” said Gillian Pisciotto, who witnessed the incident.
Pisciotto captured now-viral footage of the terrifying moment.
She said she is relieved that the group all walked away unharmed.
“Well, I started screaming at them to move,” she said. “I thought everyone was not going to make it.”
It’s still not clear what the boaters were doing under the bridge. Instead of passing under the main channel, it appears as if the group stopped under a portion of the bridge close to the intercoastal waterway.
There are signs there clearly marked “unauthorized personnel prohibited” and “danger moving machinery.”
The bridge is operated by Palm Beach County.
The county’s public works department was asked if there are cameras under the bridge that the tender on duty could have checked before raising the bridge.
A spokesperson said there are some cameras in the vicinity but couldn’t say where they’re positioned.
Pisciotto said she believes there should be more surveillance under those bridges.
“Yeah, I think would be best just to make sure that like cops could come and make sure they know what happened, instead of having like people just guess what happened,” she said.
According to a manual for bridgetenders in the county, operators are supposed to check for boats, but it’s not clear if every bridge has the equipment to do so.
Copyright 2022 WPEC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/watch-people-jump-boat-being-crushed-under-drawbridge/
| 2022-04-07T20:08:17Z
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Woman facing animal neglect charges after emaciated dog found in crate in apartment
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News) - Police in Des Moines made an arrest Tuesday after the Animal Rescue League of Iowa rescued an emaciated Great Dane.
Alexandria Byron, 26, of Des Moines, faces animal neglect charges, KCRG reports.
ARL staff said the dog, named Kal, was found shut in a crate with no food or water in an apartment. Kal was immediately taken to the Animal Rescue League Emergency Care Team for treatment.
The Care team noted that Kal’s body had no muscle mass and weighed just 44 pounds. They noted he was so dehydrated and emaciated that his head and eyes were sunken in.
The ARL said Kal is now on a careful refeeding program and IV fluids in order to help him safely regain fluids and regain his weight.
In the latest update from police about this case, Kal is said to be gaining weight under the care of the Miracle Medical veterinary team at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
Copyright 2022 KCRG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/woman-facing-animal-neglect-charges-after-emaciated-dog-found-crate-apartment/
| 2022-04-07T20:08:24Z
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Gusty northwest winds around 45 to 55 mph will continue through
early this afternoon across southeast Wyoming including
Torrington, Wheatland, and Cheyenne. Travel will be difficult,
especially for high profile vehicles.
Gillette City Administrator Hyun Kim, in a photo captured from the city's website via screenshot on April 6, 2022.
GILLETTE (Wyoming News Exchange) – The city of Gillette is considering offering fiber-optic internet as a utility.
Fiber-optic internet, or fiber, is a broadband connection that hits speeds of 1 gigabit per second. The city has been building out a fiber network since the early 2000s.
Most of the city’s buildings are connected, and the fiber network goes all the way out to the Madison water pipeline source. Fiber also has been built out to facilities owned by other local government entities, such as the county, hospital and school district.
“You all have done an amazing job in Gillette in investing in a dark fiber network that is probably the best in the state,” City Administrator Hyun Kim said at a recent City Council retreat. “Most cities do not have what we have. What can we do to use that for economic development?”
A dark fiber network is made up of unused fiber optic cables that have no service on them. When cables are carrying data, they have light pulses passing through them, and when they’re not, they’re not lit, hence the name “dark fiber.”
Fiber to the home will happen eventually, Kim said. The question is whether the city wants to help accelerate that by expanding its network to residents.
Big broadband companies are investing in fiber, but they’re often focusing on large cities.
“It’ll take them a really long time to look at Gillette,” said Ry Muzzarelli, the city’s development services director.
“If we’ve learned one thing from the pandemic, it’s that connectivity is no longer just a luxury,” Kim said.
Muzzarelli said fiber to the home has been on the city’s radar since 2015. That year, the city hired a firm out of South Dakota to look at the community’s access to high-speed internet.
Back then, a full-scale citywide deployment to provide broadband had a price tag of about $50 million. The firm’s recommendation was that the city partner with an internet service provider to build out the network.
Muzzarelli said the $50 million figure isn’t too far off from how much it would cost today.
Councilman Tim Carsrud said this should be less a question of connection for homes and more a question of how this can attract businesses to Gillette.
“The folks in Gillette want us to diversify, bring in business, which brings jobs, which brings us tax money, and to me, yes I’d love to have faster speed at my house, but we want businesses to want to come here because of it,” he said. “The biggest conversation should be that.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/gillette-eyes-expanding-fiber-network-to-homes/article_6a7a2c9e-7e7f-5668-b826-17037b78301f.html
| 2022-04-07T20:22:03Z
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GILLETTE — A district judge has ruled that the Campbell County commissioners exceeded their authority when they passed a resolution last year revoking previous resolutions that approved off-track betting operations.
In April 2021, the commission passed a resolution that gives the live horse racing operator control over off-track betting and simulcasting in the county.
No specific company was named in the resolution, but 307 Horse Racing had signed an exclusive five-year contract with Cam-plex to do live horse racing. When the resolution passed, 307 Horse Racing became the only operator that could provide off-track betting in Campbell County.
It meant Wyoming Horse Racing and Wyoming Downs had to close down off-track betting locations in Gillette.
The resolution led to three separate lawsuits. In two of them, the county was sued by Wyoming Horse Racing and Wyoming Downs. In the third, Wyoming Horse Racing sued 307 Horse Racing.
In September, 307 Horse Racing opened an off-track betting location in Boot Hill Nightclub.
In November, District Judge F. Scott Peasley of Douglas ruled that the enactment of the commissioners’ resolution should be delayed until the lawsuits were complete. This allowed Wyoming Downs and Wyoming Horse Racing to reopen its Gillette locations.
In late March, Peasley ruled that the commissioners exceeded their authority by passing the resolution, and that the resolution should be “set aside,” or canceled.
Eugene Joyce, manager of Wyoming Horse Racing, said he’s “thankful” for the judge’s ruling, calling it the “right decision.”
The ruling is great not only for Wyoming Downs and Wyoming Horse Racing, Joyce said, but for communities around the state that could face a similar situation down the road.
“This line of thinking” by the commissioners “created a lot of havoc,” Joyce said.
Employees were laid off, the county and city lost out on tax revenue and the horse racing industry didn’t receive money it otherwise would’ve gotten.
“Hopefully it’s behind us now,” Joyce said.
He said the commissioners moved on this issue too quickly and that they should’ve “considered a lot of things” before they passed the resolution.
“I think that the county commissioners got way over their skis on this,” he said. “I don’t fault them for wanting a good outcome, but for some reason, I was made the bad guy in all of this. I just quite didn’t get it.”
The county commission has the ability under state law to authorize off-track betting. The disagreement is about whether the commission can revoke prior approval, which it did when it passed this resolution.
The commissioners argued that they were exercising local control over off-track betting, and that this authority is “expressly and impliedly delegated to the commissioners” in state law.
They said that when the state Legislature and Wyoming Gaming Commission granted commissioners the authority to approve off-track betting, it also granted them “the implied power to revoke” that approval.
Peasley disagreed, saying that the authority to revoke lies solely with the Wyoming Gaming Commission.
“There is not specific statutory authority for a county to ‘enforce’ or to regulate those applicants approved by the Gaming Commission,” Peasley wrote.
The county has the authority to issue permits, but it “would be incongruent to find that a County has the additional authority to revoke prior approvals, including those resolutions that approved simulcasting outside live horse race-track premises.”
Wyoming law doesn’t specifically give counties the authority to revoke prior approvals, “nor can the court find that such authority is implied.”
Peasley wrote that “a plain reading” of state law shows that once the county approves a permit by resolution, the terms of the permit “are governed exclusively by the Gaming Commission.”
“The court finds that the Commissioners lacked the implied authority to revoke the prior resolutions, and doing so exceeded the power available to them under these circumstances,” Peasley wrote. “As a result, the court finds that Resolution 2077 must be set aside.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/judge-rules-campbell-county-commissioners-lacked-authority-for-horse-racing-resolution/article_25c62292-995a-58e0-97fb-9ef20bc250e4.html
| 2022-04-07T20:22:09Z
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Prescribed burns planned for Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests
In the coming weeks, USDA Forest Service fire staff will look for windows of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns in four areas of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests.
Daily decisions to burn will be dependent on fuel and weather condition alignment.
If conditions are favorable, burning could happen at multiple locations this spring. Planned burn operation locations include the Pole Mountain and Divide Peak areas in Wyoming and Slack-Weiss and Steamboat Springs areas in Colorado.
For the most up-to-date information pertaining to exact dates, times and locations, follow official social media pages @FS_MBRTB on Twitter or @FSMBRTB on Facebook.
In general, burn areas will vary in size consisting of anywhere from a couple acres to few hundred acres at a time. Cumulative acres planned to be burned this spring will total about 2,300 across the four operations.
Dispersed recreation in the burn areas may be impacted. Staff will be making personal contact with recreationists regarding any temporary closures. Signs will be placed on adjacent roads notifying the public of the burns as necessary. Fire staff from the Forest Service will continue to monitor the burned areas following the operations.
Staff will primarily use drip torches to carry out the burning. For safety and effectiveness, operations will not be initialized if weather conditions are unfavorable. Necessary smoke permits will be obtained through state entities and adhered to throughout the project.
Prescribed burning is a versatile forest management tool that can mimic historically natural fire disturbances, reduce hazardous fuels buildup, and improve habitat for a variety of wildlife. Minimal and managed smoke from prescribed fires now helps prevent the potential for more unpredictable and hazardous wildfire smoke in the future.
Application period open for elk shed antler hunt
JACKSON (WNE) — An application process has been added for those interested in participating in this year’s antler hunt on the National Elk Refuge.
The application period begins runs through April 15 for people who would like to search for shed antlers at the event beginning May 1.
“As in years past, participants will be placed in sequential order and led, via motorcade, by the JPD to the Elk Refuge Road,” a town of Jackson press release said. “Shed antler collection and the refuge road will remain closed until 6 a.m. on May 1 when the hunt begins.”
Jackson Police Chief Michelle Weber told the Jackson Hole Daily that the new application process is just another layer of organization added to help the antler hunt run smoothly.
For years, Weber pointed out, people would park and camp out along Broadway Avenue in East Jackson for days leading up to the event, “and then you had to worry about people going to the restroom and garbage being left in people’s yards, and ... parking complaints all night long.”
“And so that was kind of how, a couple years ago, that’s what led us to go, ‘OK, let’s consolidate everybody at least in the fairgrounds,’ ” she added.
Having vehicles line up in a queue at the Teton County Fairgrounds the past couple of years has helped, Weber said, but this new system will prevent them from arriving on the grounds days ahead of time, a drain on JPD resources.
Now, they will arrive April 30 and line up according to their assigned numbers — with 1 to 50 in the first group, 51 to 100 in the second, and so on — before being led to the refuge the next morning.
For more information, visit JacksonWY.gov/civicalerts.
Statewide program asks gardeners to ‘grow a little extra’
SHERIDAN (WNE) — First Lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative will partner with University of Wyoming Extension for a second year to encourage Wyomingites to “grow a little extra” for their neighbors in need of access to fresh produce around the state.
Last year’s campaign yielded over 10,000 pounds of fresh garden produce donated for distribution around the state to local anti-hunger organizations. Fresh produce is difficult and costly for the food pantry system to procure, and this project encourages people from across the state to participate in this Wyoming solution to hunger.
The Grow a Little Extra campaign will target three groups in Wyoming: home gardeners who can “grow a little extra” to share with local food pantries, existing community gardens who can dedicate one or two sections to growing food specifically for local food distribution agencies, and churches or community organizations that want to start a new garden to grow food for the community.
“The Cent$ible Nutrition Program and UW Extension values the partnership with the First Lady’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative to increase access to locally grown fresh produce to people in need,” said Cent$ible Nutrition State Director Mindy Meuli.
Wyoming residents are encouraged to grow an extra row or two and donate the produce to their local extension office, where it will be weighed and distributed to local anti-hunger organizations.
Wyoming Hunger Initiative has also distributed seed packets to all 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation for those interested in picking them up free at their local extension office.
Lastly, infrastructure grants are available from Wyoming Hunger Initiative for organizations wishing to expand an existing community garden or start a new one to grow produce specifically for sharing with families and organizations in need.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/out-and-about/article_cea93fd6-bb46-5f03-a09b-cdc7ba0b7835.html
| 2022-04-07T20:22:15Z
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CASPER — Harmful algae season is months away, but Wyoming regulators are already gearing up to test for toxins at some of the state’s most vulnerable waters.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) began tracking harmful algal blooms statewide in 2017. Every spring, the agency revisits the past year’s findings to refine its strategy for the next.
DEQ staff discussed their takeaways from the 2021 bloom season at a virtual public meeting on March 24. The DEQ continued to rely last year on information from citizen reports and satellite imagery to help with detecting and tracking blooms.
In collaboration with other state agencies, DEQ staff also began conducting routine monitoring at 20 popular recreation spots and introduced tiered health advisories — rather than blanket warnings — to distinguish potentially harmful blooms from ones actively producing toxins.
Now the agency must build the lessons from 2021 into its plans for 2022. It’s just starting to work out what that might look like.
“We’re trying to identify other water bodies that we want to do monitoring at — looking at what our resources are,” Lindsay Patterson, surface water quality standards supervisor at the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, told the Star-Tribune.
Harmful algal blooms have become a growing concern across the country in recent years.
The tiny organisms that cause the blooms grow better in warmer water — an effect of climate change. And they thrive in water overloaded with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which rainwater carries from onshore sources, such as manure, to nearby lakes, ponds and streams.
Nutrients can be tough pollutants to regulate. The state is in the process of developing standards intended to lower nutrient levels in surface waters, but according to Patterson, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach the state can take.
“So much of addressing the problem of nutrients has to be driven by the local community,” she said. “That’s what’s going to be the most effective moving forward.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reiterated its commitment to supporting states’ nutrient pollution mitigation efforts in a policy memorandum issued Tuesday.
“Our nutrients memo is a call for scaling up the innovative approaches being used by farmers, ranchers, water agencies, local municipalities, industry, and communities to make progress,” Radhika Fox, EPA assistant administrator for water, said in a statement.
Wyoming regulators know a lot more about harmful algal blooms than they did in 2017.
The DEQ has counted more blooms every year it’s looked — almost certainly, Patterson said, because the agency has improved at finding them.
Last summer, the Wyoming Department of Health issued bloom advisories for 28 bodies of water and toxin advisories for eight of those.
There are “just more eyes on the ground,” Patterson said.
But the state still has plenty to figure out.
It knows, for example, that less than half of documented harmful algal blooms have been found to produce dangerous levels of toxins. But it isn’t sure why.
People exposed to those toxins while recreating in surface water could experience anything from gastrointestinal issues to rashes to cold-like symptoms, and may even need to be hospitalized.
Pets, meanwhile, tend to be more susceptible than humans. After exposure, they might cough or start to stumble. Their condition can quickly deteriorate and lead to death.
If humans or pets become sick after contact with water and a bloom was visible in the area, the illness should be reported to the DEQ, Patterson said.
Harmful algal blooms typically begin in Wyoming in mid-July and end around November. During those months, members of the public can check a map of bloom advisories maintained by the agency before recreating and look out for posted signs warning of toxin risk.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/environment/state-readies-for-algae-blooms/article_6ef79482-b5ed-11ec-8663-f33732d36831.html
| 2022-04-07T20:22:21Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* 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) -- Amy Rivo said she was given a notice of eviction as soon as the moratorium ended in October.
"They were essentially telling me I would be homeless a week before Christmas," she said.
But the single mother refused to leave and said she's now being charged double her rent -- $5,000 a month.
Rivo said she's received rental assistance since 2020, but now owes almost $22,000.
"What we're seeing is that a frustration and maybe eviction fatigue on the part of landlords who aren't as much interested in the rent and the money now," said Dan O'Meara, an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. "They'd rather just have the tenant out."
According to The Mediation Center of the Pacific, more than 2,000 eviction cases were opened since August on Oahu. But only 887 cases were mediated.
"There is a large number of tenants we don't know what happened to them, whether they moved out, whether they moved in with family members, whether some moved to the mainland, or whether they actually became homeless," said Tracey Wiltgen, the center's executive director.
Rivo said she participated twice in mediation, but is still facing eviction.
"It becomes a very intimidating position to be in when you are already very vulnerable financially and otherwise," she added. "And it it scares me. It scares me for other people. I'm a mother. I have a young daughter who does not know how serious of a situation it is."
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii expects the situation to only get worse as residents exhaust rent relief programs.
"There's people who never faced eviction before who are facing eviction," O'Meara said. "So if they've never faced it before it's extraordinarily dire."
Kristen joined KITV4 in March 2021 after working for the past two decades as a newspaper reporter. Kristen's goal is to produce meaningful journalism that educates, enlightens and inspires to affect positive change in society.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/eviction-cases-on-the-rise-as-hawaii-tenants-struggle-to-stay-in-their-homes/article_3449a726-b629-11ec-b557-6bdae68d5acf.html
| 2022-04-07T20:37:04Z
|
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that he thinks there will be an uptick in cases of Covid-19 over the next few weeks, and that it is likely that there could be a surge in the fall.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Wednesday that he thinks there will be an uptick in cases of Covid-19 over the next few weeks, and that it is likely that there could be a surge in the fall.
"I think we should expect, David, that over the next couple of weeks, we are going to see an uptick in cases -- and hopefully there is enough background immunity so that we don't wind up with a lot of hospitalizations," Fauci said, when asked by Bloomberg TV's David Westin about the prospect of another wave of Covid-19 from BA.2 or another variant, given the level of immunity believed to exist in the US today.
Fauci reiterated that the US often follows other countries -- offering the UK, which also has the BA.2 variant -- as an example. He said that as well as having a pullback on many mask mandates and restrictions for indoor settings, there has also been a waning of immunity.
"Those conditions are also present in the United States," he said. "So, I would not be surprised if we see an uptick in cases. Whether that uptick becomes a surge where there are a lot more cases is difficult to predict."
Asked later in the interview whether it should be expected that this fall will look like the past two -- and if people should be bracing for something around October -- Fauci said that he thinks "it is likely that we will see a surge in the fall."
He noted that "these are unchartered waters for us with this virus," and that with other viruses, such as flu -- which people have decades of experience with -- that predications about what might happen can be made with some degree of accuracy.
"I would think that we should expect that we are going to see some increase in cases as you get to the colder weather in the fall," he said. "That's the reason why the FDA and their advisory committee are meeting right now to plan a strategy, and we at the NIH are doing studies now to determine what the best boost would be."
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https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/us-likely-to-see-a-surge-of-covid-19-in-the-fall-fauci-says/article_cb5510ef-d1d8-5a8e-a9b8-5b51b5e84817.html
| 2022-04-07T20:37:10Z
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The Senate confirmed President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday in a historic vote that paves the way for her to become the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in the nation.
The confirmation represents a significant victory for Democrats, which they can tout as bipartisan, and a way for the President to deliver on a campaign promise at a time when the US faces a number of challenges at home and abroad, including soaring inflation and the crisis in Ukraine.
It also marks a major milestone for the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary, although Jackson's confirmation won't change the ideological balance of the court.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to serve as vice president, presided over the chamber during the historic vote in her capacity as president of the Senate.
Jackson will be sworn in after Justice Stephen Breyer retires sometime this summer.
Ahead of the final vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the moment a "joyous, momentous, groundbreaking day."
Schumer went on to say, "In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court, never, never has a Black woman held the title of Justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first and I believe the first of more to come."
Biden had said during his 2020 presidential campaign that he was committed to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court if elected.
At one point during her Senate confirmation hearings, Jackson became visibly emotional and could be seen wiping away tears as Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who is one of only three Black senators, talked about her path to the nomination and the obstacles she has had to overcome.
"My parents grew up in a time in this country in which Black children and White children were not allowed to go to school together," Jackson told Booker after the senator asked what values her parents had impressed upon her. "They taught me hard work. They taught me perseverance. They taught me that anything is possible in this great country."
Confirmation process
The nomination cleared a key hurdle earlier Thursday when the Senate took a procedural vote to limit debate and break a filibuster, setting up the final confirmation vote.
Throughout the Senate vetting process, Senate Democrats have praised Jackson as an exceptionally qualified, trail-blazing nominee whose depth and breadth of experience, including as a federal public defender, would add a valuable and unique perspective to the bench.
Jackson was also a commissioner on the US Sentencing Commission and served on the federal district court in DC, as an appointee of former President Barack Obama, before Biden elevated her to the DC Circuit last year.
Confirmation hearings featured sharp and critical questioning from Republicans as many attempted to portray Jackson as weak on crime and, in a highly-charged line of attack, too lenient in sentencing child pornography cases. Jackson and Democrats forcefully pushed back on the accusations.
Jackson stressed her concern for public safety and the rule of law, as a judge and an American. And she argued that she approaches her work in an impartial way and that personal opinions do not play a role.
Republicans called for civility and respect during the confirmation hearings, arguing that Democrats did not extend that to Brett Kavanaugh during his vetting process before the Senate. Kavanaugh faced a sexual assault allegation, which he vehemently denied.
Democrats, however, argued that Republicans crossed a line by distorting Jackson's record, particularly with respect to sentencing in child pornography-related cases.
A CNN review of the material in question shows that Jackson mostly followed common judicial sentencing practices in these kinds of cases.
Jackson wins GOP support
In announcing that they would support the nomination, Murkowski and Collins both expressed concern over what they described as the politicization of the Supreme Court confirmation process.
Murkowski said that she rejects "the corrosive politicization of the review process for Supreme Court nominees, which, on both sides of the aisle, is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year" in her statement.
Collins said in her statement, "No matter where you fall on the ideological spectrum, anyone who has watched several of the last Supreme Court confirmation hearings would reach the conclusion that the process is broken."
"It used to be common for Senators to give the President, regardless of political party, considerable deference in the choice of a nominee," Collins said.
The Maine Republican said that approach "instilled confidence in the independence and the integrity of the judiciary and helped keep the Court above the political fray," adding, "this is the approach that I plan to continue to use for Supreme Court nominations because it runs counter to the disturbing trend of politicizing the judicial nomination process."
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Thursday.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/senate-confirms-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-be-first-black-woman-to-sit-on-supreme-court/article_770ba0b8-9d6c-5505-9e4d-266653137b14.html
| 2022-04-07T20:37:17Z
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Tiger Woods has teed off in the first round of the Masters on Thursday as he embarked on a remarkable comeback following a car crash in February 2021 in which he sustained serious leg injuries.
Five-time Masters champion Woods is playing in Group 14, alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen and Chilean Joaquin Niemann, though the first round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club tournament was delayed due to inclement weather in Augusta, Georgia.
"Due to thunderstorms in the early morning hours Thursday, gate opening times will be delayed by 30 minutes," the Masters said in a statement on Thursday.
"The Honorary Starters will take place at 8:15 a.m., followed by the first tee time at 8:30 a.m."
Wearing a pink shirt, Woods was given a resounding round of applause from the crowd as his name was announced. After hitting his opening drive, Woods received more cheers from fans.
His drive wasn't perfect, though the 46-year-old ended up making par on the first hole to the delight of the watching patrons.
Woods' first birdie came on the sixth hole after his excellent tee shot left him a short putt to shoot up to under par for the first time.
However, after bogeying the eighth hole, Woods finished the front-nine level par.
Must-watch
Woods had been due to tee off at 10:34 a.m. ET, but due to the weather delay began his round just after 11 a.m. ET. His group is scheduled to tee off for the second round at 1:41 p.m. ET on Friday.
"It's a miraculous thing," said 1992 Masters winner Fred Couples. "Fourteen months ago, I'm bawling like a baby every day, and now ... he looks strong.
"I know the leg is hurt but he's hitting it plenty far enough to play this course, and he plays this course as well as he does, he's won here a bunch, he knows what to do."
Speculation first began to mount regarding Woods' participation in the tournament when his private jet was sighted landing at an airport near Augusta last week.
Since his car accident, Woods has appeared in public on a golf course just once -- at the PNC Championship in December with his son Charlie. Then Woods used a golf cart to help him get around the course.
"Walking is the hard part. This is not an easy walk to begin with," Woods said to the PGA Tour, referring to Augusta's hilly course.
"With the conditions my leg is in, it gets a little bit more difficult. Seventy-two holes is a long road. It's going to be a tough challenge and a challenge I'm up for."
Following near-complete domination of men's golf at the start of his career, Woods' career took a downward spiral.
However, the Masters was the site of a seemingly another impossible comeback when Woods secured victory in 2019, ending an 11-year wait between his 14th and 15th major wins.
"He's Tiger Woods, so I'm not worried about watching him hit a ball ever because he's the best player I've ever seen play," Couples added.
"He's won so many times, and he's just not a guy to go do something mediocre. He'll compete, and he'll be ready to roll. I think it's amazing for him to be out here."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/tiger-woods-five-time-masters-winner-makes-solid-start-at-augusta-after-return-from-injury/article_cdd1f3a6-58d7-5254-931a-9d8e8dfc67ed.html
| 2022-04-07T20:37:23Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
KALAELOA, Hawaii (KITV4) - U.S. Vets Hawaii hosted a “welcome home” event for the first residents at Kamaoku Kauhale, the new tiny homes community in Kalaeloa.
The project was created in collaboration with Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green and the help from community members to build several tiny homes communities across the islands in order to combat the state's homeless population.
“I will always remind everyone that the people who suffer on the street have a big impact on society,” said Lieutenant Governor Josh Green. “Instead of being in the emergency room, they’re here and safe. We save millions of dollars by housing people."
US Vets Hawaii operates two shelters on Oahu and they provide shelter to families and veterans.
“There are two things that cause homelessness, poverty and lack of affordable housing. It’s about trying to end homelessness, not managing it. there are far more people living with substance abuse in their homes than living on the streets, so that shows the resource problem,” said Darryl Vincent, Chief Operating Officer at U.S. Vets.
Residents say they're thankful for this opportunity. Leayne Lindsey-Abordo says she was living shelter to shelter after becoming homeless. She says she is happy to live here temporarily until she can work to buy her own home.
“There are places and resources for people like us. We are apart of the Ohana in Hawaii. It is important for my friends that living on streets or at shelters to remember there are options, hope and a future for us,” said Leayne Lindsey-Abordo.
There are currently 36 homes on this property. Lieutenant Governor Green says the goal is to provide 10 to 12 of these tiny home communities all over the islands.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/u-s-vets-hawaii-hosts-event-for-tiny-home-residents-at-kamaoku-kauhale/article_0da15ea0-b63f-11ec-bf25-af3dd2f822f8.html
| 2022-04-07T20:37:29Z
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Not every outing goes as planned.
Our goal was Hayden Mountain, a 5,134-foot hill – it’s not really a classic “peak” – off Highway 66 about 12 miles west of Keno. Led by Gary Vequist, our group of five plus one peppery puppy went bushwhacking up and around the mountain. A secondary goal was to find a small wooden cross Gary said he’d come across on an earlier outing.
From the closed gate at the well-signed Hayden Mountain Road, we followed Gary along an overgrown dirt logging road, sometimes doing limbo moves under fallen trees or stepping over and around manzanitas, tree limbs and other obstacles.
That was the easy part.
From the fading road we punched uphill through oftentimes dense brush and bushes, wandering and meandering up a mostly easy-graded mixed conifer forest of pines, firs and spruce. It was a don’t-walk-too close together bushwhack, where a major goal was not getting whacked when the bush the person before you fought through slapped back, and not doing face-plants when boots got snagged in hidden, thin, unbreakable wire-like roots.
Hayden Mountain, as mentioned, isn’t a classic mountain, with a defined summit. Instead, there are a series of high points among a scattering of basaltic rubble. We weaved up and over, trying not to stumble or tumble, sometimes free-climbing up occasional steep sections.
Gary said the cross, which he said has a name inscribed on it, is near a section of a crusty rock wall near Hayden’s high point, although he couldn’t remember exactly where. From a false summit we hiked to a taller series of ragged rock walls. At openings between the trees, distant mountains - real mountains like Mount Ashland and peaks in the Mountain Lakes Wilderness with only their summits showing evidence of snow - occasionally came into view. Only a few wildflowers colored the forest landscape, including budding pink-hued manzanitas and some undetermined plant, possibly a moss.
At one point our group of five unintentionally split into three groups, all of us searching for Gary’s cross. At times we stayed in contact through loud shouts and hard, high-pitched blows on whistles before eventually crossing paths and regrouping.
The cross? Never came across it.
After a short snack break it was back on the search, trying again and again.
Gary said he’d return to Hayden Mountain, resume his search for the cross, take notes on where it’s located, and lead another trek. He insists it’s there. He just got crossed up.
Finding Camp 3
We didn’t find the cross, but directly across Highway 66 from where we parked is a well-groomed dirt road alongside mostly hidden Hayden Creek. In a little more than mile, after staying right at a junction, the road leads to an open field and pond. An Applegate Trail marker indicates the area is the former the site of Weyerhaeuser Company’s Camp 3. According to the marker, Camp 3 at Hayden Mountain Meadow operated from 1929 to 1937.
Weyerhaeuser and other lumber companies established camps where crews stayed while logging forests in western Klamath and eastern Jackson counties ripe with ponderosa pine. Tracks were built so that locomotives towing rail flat cars stacked with logs could go between the mill in Klamath Falls and logging camps. According to “Railroad Logging in the Klamath Country,” by Jack Bowden, the cabins were built on skids so they could be transported on railroad flat cars, and many moved several times as logging moved from one area to another.
We only saw a short section of the road to Camp 3, but the road to the camp, along with the existing rail bed and network of other roads, look ideal for a winter-time ski – cross country of course.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/crossed-up-searching-for-the-cross/article_c3d89e2b-f579-596c-bc09-70ea777e3d05.html
| 2022-04-07T20:47:59Z
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Start getting your little one ready for kindergarten with a six-week prep course in the academic and social skills they’ll need to thrive in school.
Countdown to Kindergarten is a six-week series at the downtown Klamath County Library on Thursdays at 10:30 am starting May 5th; you can sign up your child throughout the month of April by visiting the downtown library’s Youth Services desk or by emailing Katie at khart@klamathlibrary.org. You only need to register once to attend all six classes.
Each 45- to 60-minute Countdown to Kindergarten “class” will help little ones develop academic and social skills — fine motor skills, early literacy, problem-solving and more — through group activities, interactive learning stations and art projects. We’ll also provide take-home materials to help parents/caregivers reinforce the skills taught in class and to work on over the summer.
The program is limited to children who will be attending Kindergarten in fall 2022, and children attending both public/private as well as homeschool are welcome. An adult will need to be present in the library for each child while Countdown to Kindergarten is in session.
For more information, contact Katie Hart at 541-882-8894, or via email at khart@klamathlibrary.org.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/library-offers-prep-classes-for-pre-kindergartners/article_424d0eae-8c0f-502d-bb91-3be116c33f54.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:05Z
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The Oregon Housing and Community Services Department said that as of Wednesday, it has made $319.3 million in emergency rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of 48,313 Oregon households since the U.S. Treasury made the first federal funds available in May 2021.
But it has received a total of 105,082 applications. (Because of duplicate applications, the actual number of households applying is closer to 100,000, state officials say. A household can get assistance only once.)
State law shields tenants from eviction proceedings while their applications for assistance are pending, if they show proof to their landlords. The shield ends when the application is approved or denied. The law also set Feb. 28 as the deadline for payment of past-due rent, going back to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic on April 1, 2020.
March 21 was the deadline, and it resulted in a final statewide surge of 13,592 applications for the month. The program paused applications on Dec. 1, reopened on Jan. 26, and was scheduled to close March 14. But Oregon got a last-minute allocation of $16 million in federal funds that went unspent in other states and communities. State officials still hope for a greater share of the additional $198 million they requested from the Treasury.
Five counties and the city of Portland got federal funds separately for their own rental assistance programs, and their totals are not reflected in the state agency figures.
The Oregon Legislature approved $200 million from the state budget for emergency rental assistance in a special session in December 2020, when prospects for federal aid appeared uncertain. That $200 million was spent by the close of the two-year state budget cycle in June 2021.
Oregon got an initial $289 million for emergency rental assistance from the U.S. Treasury, which allocated money that Congress approved as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, President Joe Biden’s pandemic recovery plan. That $289 million has been spent or committed.
The program has continued with $100 million more that the Legislature approved from the current state budget in December 2021, plus $16 million more from the Treasury, and $13 million that the state housing agency shifted from housing stabilization programs. Oregon also got $1.1 million from the Treasury late last year.
State law shields tenants from eviction proceedings while their applications for assistance are pending, if they show proof to their landlords. The shield ends when the application is approved or denied. The law also set Feb. 28 as the deadline for payment of past-due rent, going back to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic on April 1, 2020.
Tenants can call Oregon Law Center’s Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638 or evictiondefense@oregonlawcenter.org.
BOX:
Pool of Oregon assistance applicants is diverse
According to an online dashboard hosted by the state Housing and Community Services Department, Oregonians applying for emergency rental assistance represent the state’s diversity. Specifically:
49% of the applicants are white
13% are Latino/Hispanic
10% are Black
4% report being of two or more races
3% are American Indian/Alaska Native
2% are Asian
1% are Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
The rest of the applicants declined to answer the question or are of an undetermined race or ethnicity (which are tracked as separate categories).
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/many-oregonians-still-waiting-for-rental-assistance/article_caf22564-eaa3-5745-99b8-33d0717af0c5.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:12Z
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Jayce Seavert lined a walk-off, RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting Oregon Tech to a 5-4 Cascade Conference victory over Southern Oregon on Wednesday at Stilwell Stadium.
The No. 2-ranked Owls (34-7, 17-2 CCC) won the conference season series with No. 9-ranked Southern – with Tech holding a two-game lead over Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho with nine conference games remaining.
SOU (30-10, 12-6) picked up a 2-1 victory in the nonleague nightcap, plating the go-ahead run scoring in the seventh inning of the pitchers’ duel.
“That was a big win for us,” Lady Owls coach Greg Stewart said of the opener. “We didn’t hit the ball well, but it shows the strengths of our team if we are still able to beat a really good team like Southern.”
Tech stranded 11 runners in the opener – including the bases loaded in each of the first three innings.
After spotting SOU a 1-0 lead in the first on a Phelicity Fa’Aita run-scoring single, OIT loaded the bases on a single from Kaila Mick and walks to McKenna Armantrout and Seavert. Kennedy Jantzi followed with a cue-shot into right that spun into the right-field corner, clearing the bases, giving the hosts their first lead. Three additional walks – including one to Jensen Becker with the bases loaded – extended the lead to 4-1.
While Raiders reliever Mayze Menefee kept the Lady Owls at bay, SOU pulled even in the fifth, loading the bases on three 2-out walks, with Ashton Cathey gapping a 3-run double.
OIT starter Sarah Abramson worked out of jams in the sixth and seventh – finishing with 10 strikeouts – with the Tech offense finally scratching across a run in extra innings. Armantrout lined a hit to right and Maggie Buckholz eluded a tag on a slow roller to first to put two runners on. Seavert followed with a drive into the left-center gap to give the Lady Owls the win.
Jantzi was 3 for 4, with Mick, Armantrout and Zoe Allen each recording two hits for OIT.
Game 2 was dominated by the starting pitchers as Mckenzie Staub and Fa’Aita each pitched into the seventh. Both right-handers limited their opponent to just five hits and one earned run.
Tech took a 1-0 lead in the fourth – as Staub scored from third on a throwing error while Allen was caught in a rundown between first and second. SOU answered in the sixth, taking advantage of an OIT error, with Fa’Aita roping an RBI single to score Desi Acosta from third.
Tied 1-1 in the seventh, Cathey led off the inning for the Raiders with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout. Pinch-hitter Abbi Covalt hit a slow roller to short, beating the throw to first for an RBI infield single – giving SOU the lead.
Tech got the tying run to second with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Cayla Williams came in from the bullpen, getting the final two outs on groundballs to pick up her fourth save of the season.
Mick had three of OIT’s five hits in the loss.
OIT has the weekend off, returning to the diamond next Friday for a home doubleheader vs. the University of Providence.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oit-tops-southern-oregon-in-cascade-conference-softball-matchup/article_9f380c4a-5995-5831-9f35-082ef80127ec.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:18Z
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Oregon’s top climate experts agree with the conclusions of a new international report that global greenhouse gas emissions must be practically eliminated by the year 2050.
The state is moving faster than most others in the U.S. when it comes to policies that encourage, and demand, a transition away from the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas to renewable energy sources like sun and wind.
But without greater funding, political support and commitments from state industries, Oregon will not reach the emissions reduction targets outlined in the report, the authorities say.
Catherine McDonald, chair of the Oregon Global Warming Commission, said more land in the state used for agriculture and logging need to be better managed, or left alone, to absorb atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide from the air.
The recent United Nations report, issued Monday, said using forests, water bodies and healthy croplands for carbon capture and storage will be necessary to keep global temperatures below thresholds to avoid irreversible damage to earth’s ecosystems.
“Their main message is pretty consistent with what we’ve been saying,” McDonald said.
Gov. Kate Brown’s 2020 executive order on climate action made Oregon one of the few states with concrete targets for lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, the state has passed some of the most progressive climate legislation in the country, while simultaneously suffering through mega wildfires and droughts.
“A lot of things happening globally are happening locally, already, and vice versa,” said Erica Fleishman, director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University. “Any reduction in emissions is better than none.”
Latest from the U.N. report
According to the final installment of the U.N.’s sixth Global Climate Change Report, greenhouse gas emissions must reach net-zero by 2050. This would avoid the worst effects of climate change in the next century and is a more ambitious target than Oregon leaders set in 2020.
Brown mandated state agencies develop strategies to reduce Oregon’s emissions to at least 80% of pre-1990 levels by 2050. A recent analysis of Oregon’s current climate policies by several environmental groups found that the state would only hit a 30% reduction by then under current practices and policies.
Hundreds of scientists and experts from more than 60 countries contributed to the U.N. report.
They found that while there is evidence that some countries – including the U.S. – have decreased greenhouse gas emissions since 2014, global emissions during the last decade were the highest in human history.
They conclude that the science and technology needed to lower emissions and slow the effects of climate change already exist, but the world lacks the political will and the ability to move beyond fossil fuels.
Secretary General António Guterres told reporters the new report shows governments and industries have broken a litany of promises to make changes to preserve the climate.
“Some government and business leaders are saying one thing but doing another,” he said. “Simply put, they are lying, and the results will be catastrophic.”
The report calls on world leaders to act fast to transition to renewable energy and to capture carbon dioxide emissions already in the atmosphere.
To do this, they said governments and industries must prioritize carbon capture and sequestration methods and increase investments in renewable energy at least six-fold in the next 30 years.
Getting Oregon to net-zero
Avoiding irreversible, catastrophic impacts of climate change such as increased droughts, floods and fires during this century requires limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, over the next several decades, according to report authors. Global warming is currently on track to reach more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 Fahrenheit, by the end of the century without mitigation.
In Oregon, most greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, food production and heating and cooling homes and businesses, according to the Oregon Global Warming Commission, a group established in 2007 to tackle the growing threat of climate change in the state. Its 11 members are appointed by the governor.
To encourage investments in renewable energy sources, the Oregon Legislature passed the Clean Energy For All Act in 2021. It requires the state’s two largest electric utilities, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, to use only non-fossil fuel sources by 2040 and bans new fossil-fuel burning power plants.
To address transportation emissions, the legislature adopted two new rules in 2021 that require truck manufacturers to boost their production of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in Oregon, and require new medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles sold in the state to emit less smog.
The state’s new Climate Protection Program, which was approved by the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission in January, regulates heavy polluters more strictly, requiring they pay per ton of carbon dioxide they emit above limits that get lower over time until fossil fuels are phased out. The money gets invested in projects that the state Department of Environmental Quality has approved, such as electric buses and electric vehicle charging stations.
“What Oregon’s been doing, making advancements on policies over the last decade or so, has made us a leader among states,” said Brad Reed, a campaign manager at Renew Oregon, a nonprofit advocating for more clean energy. “But no state is on track according to the hard science.”
Reed applauded the recent creation of a Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings that will address ways that the state can mandate new building projects harness clean energy. He said the state needs to go further. He said Oregon should look to California and New York, which are both considering limiting new car sales to versions which are fully electric by 2030.
“Vehicles, equipment, all need to be electrified,” Reed said. “Imagine a not-too-distant future where farmers on electric tractors aren’t just cultivating food and crops but their own electricity on the property, with solar panels and wind turbines.” Reed said.
The future depends on heeding the calls to action laid out by scientists in the U.N. report, he said.
“If we do act fast – according to what they’re laying out – we could return to somewhat normal by 2100, which is not totally out of the lifetime of newborn Oregonians,” he said.
Capturing carbon from the air
The U.N. report concludes that countries need to invest rapidly in carbon capture and sequestration, either by using machines to remove carbon from the air or, more simply, restoring forests and grasslands that act as natural carbon vacuums.
Alan Mix, a professor of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences at Oregon State University, said in an email the latest report showed “the emerging reality that some form of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration will likely be needed.”
Without that, he wrote, “it is unlikely” global warming will be slowed as much as necessary.
But the effort to move on such work has been slowed in Oregon because state funding sought by the Global Warming Commission hasn’t been approved. The commission wanted money to work with farmers and loggers on new practices and to pay them to leave some land out of industrial use.
Globally, about 22% of greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture and forestry, according to the U.N. report.
Fleishman, of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, said the state could better use old growth forests and Oregon’s waters to capture carbon dioxide, too.
“There is tremendous carbon storage in old growth. Younger trees sequester more as they grow, but the amount stored is greater in that old growth,” she said.
Fleishman added Oregon has untapped carbon capture potential along the coast.
“More carbon storage in estuaries, marine systems, this gives us advantages as a state. Our potential as a state for carbon sequestration is pretty good,” she said.
Climate change already here, so are solutions
During the past 20 years, Oregon has had 20 mega-fires, burning over four million total acres. As of this month, 75% of the state is in a drought.
Fleishman said that those who bear the impacts of climate change in Oregon tend to be least responsible for emissions.
“Look at the internal displacement in the wake of fires,” she said. “Look at who is most impacted by drought. It’s not fair now and we have the potential to increase fairness.”
Fleishman said Oregon is well positioned to take on the challenges of climate change despite emissions targets less ambitious than the U.N. is now recommending.
“It’s not that reduction has to reach a certain level or it’s all for naught and society is toast,” she said. “The more we all reduce atmospheric levels of greenhouse gasses, the better it is for society. This is all a matter of degrees.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-climate-policies-must-go-further-to-meet-global-calls-to-action/article_50c91046-d11c-5f9b-838f-e29f8feecff9.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:24Z
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Oregon has seen an increase in daily reported cases of COVID-19 for the most recent reporting week following more than two months of steady declines, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported Wednesday. The number of COVID-19 tests was also substantially higher, with a small increase in percent positivity.
Hospitalizations continue to steadily decline, falling to weekly levels last seen in early July 2021. The number of COVID-19-related deaths — typically a lagging indicator — was higher for the week ending April 3 than the previous weekly reporting period that ended March 27.
Deaths increase, hospitalizations decline
The COVID-19 weekly data report showed an increase in weekly cases, a continued decline in disease-related hospitalizations and an increase in deaths.
OHA reported 1,988 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of March 28 through April 3, a 42% increase over the previous week. That reversed a nine-week streak of declines.
There were 97 COVID-19-related hospitalizations, a 44% decline over the previous week. This marked the first week that fewer than 100 deaths were reported since the week of June 28 to July 4, 2021.
There were 140 COVID-19-related deaths, up from 99 the previous week.
Reported COVID-19 test results increased by 16%. There were 78,387 tests administered. Test positivity increased slightly, from 2.7% to 2.9%.
The report showed 50 total active outbreaks in care facilities, senior living communities and congregate living settings with three or more confirmed COVID-19 cases or one or more COVID-19-related deaths.
Second booster shots
With 19,987 second boosters reported last week, a total of 26,798 people have received second boosters in Oregon since their authorization March 30. Second boosters will be added to the vaccine weekly update dashboard and on the “age” tab of the vaccine metrics dashboards today.
Wastewater surveillance
Oregon State University, OHA’s partner in wastewater surveillance, is now able to detect COVID-19 variants in wastewater at lower levels.
“These changes will strengthen our surveillance and monitoring efforts by detecting emerging variants earlier and more effectively,” said Melissa Sutton, M.D., medical director for respiratory viral pathogens and a senior health adviser for OHA’s COVID-19 response.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-health-authority-sees-increase-in-covid-19-cases/article_d31c908a-b9e4-5de6-ac43-b0b970714994.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:30Z
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The past two years have been difficult for everyone, but some 87,000 farmworkers in Oregon have faced some of the worst hardships, with state officials sometimes failing to protect them, according to a report published this week.
The COVID-19 Farmworker Study involved in-depth interviews with 48 farmworkers from 11 counties statewide, from Marion to Malheur to Jackson counties. Researchers found that while enduring grueling work to get food on Oregon tables, farmworkers often were not provided masks to protect them from getting COVID. The report said they often were not properly informed in their native languages about COVID or where to get vaccinated, didn’t have break areas and had to eat in their vehicles.
Inspectors from the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration showed up at workplaces but turned a blind eye to illegal conditions, the report said.
“Workers know that Oregon OSHA is supposed to enforce the rules, but rarely does this happen,” the report said. “Not all agricultural and food industry employers practice or enforce masking and distancing, even though it is prescribed by law and workers prefer it.”
An OSHA spokesman denied in an email that the agency was lax in enforcing rules, saying it has a history of protecting farmworkers.
According to some estimates, Oregon has the fifth largest farmworker population in the country, right after Washington state. California is first.
The report, which was funded by the Meyer Memorial Trust in Portland, comes two months after emotional hearings during the legislative session over a farmworker overtime bill. Despite strong agricultural industry opposition, it passed on partisan lines, and is awaiting Gov. Kate Brown’s signature. The bill will phase in 40-hour-a-week overtime pay starting next year.
The interviews with the farmworkers, who were 25 to 65 years old, were conducted between February 2021 through July 2021, including during the summer’s heat dome when one farmworker died, the report said.
Ron Mize, professor of ethnic studies and women, gender, and sexuality studies at Oregon State University, worked on the study with researchers from Portland State University and the University of Oregon. Mize said the workers knew that OSHA was supposed to enforce the rules and were confused when it didn’t.
“They really struggled with OSHA,” Mize said. “They never really felt like they got clear guidance on the rules and the very few times in which they saw inspectors, they were often confused because (the inspectors) said there was nothing wrong and they felt they were in close proximity to one another and there were a lot of issues with social distancing that they could not control.”
Agency officials said that wasn’t so.
“It’s really important to understand that Oregon OSHA was one of only a few states in the nation to adopt specific COVID-19 rules to reduce the risk in workplaces, and that includes a specific rule addressing the risks in agriculture labor housing,” according to an email from Aaron Corvin, OSHA spokesman. “We have extended and updated such protections over time and as the pandemic and public health guidance have evolved. They have included provisions addressing facial coverings, physical distancing, and regular sanitation.”
He added: “We regularly engage with stakeholders, and produce and disseminate educational resources and communications serving vulnerable workers in multiple languages, including in high-hazard industries. Our rulemaking processes – including for our heat and wildfire smoke rule projects – have included worker listening sessions.”
He said OSHA has bilingual staff and uses language services to speak to workers.
“Oregon OSHA has a long-running focus on serving agricultural and other vulnerable worker populations as part of our safety emphasis programs,” Corvin wrote.
Data showed that OSHA issued 22 COVID-related citations to agricultural companies between March 2020 and March 2023. The agency concluded none of the violations were willful, a finding which can lead to thousands of dollars in fines.
The highest fine for an agricultural company was $600 to Dimmick Farms in Merlin for not following physical distancing rules, among other things. Some agricultural companies cited by OSHA were not fined.
‘They do not follow the rules’
Many farmworkers told researchers that their employers ignored COVID rules.
“They do not follow the rules, 6 feet apart as it should be,” said a 49-year old farmworker on the north coast and lower Willamette Valley. “They do not give us masks. They gave us a meeting about wearing a mask and being away from others. But the job sometimes requires us to be close. Sometimes they put us close when we cut the cabbage. They don’t care if you get sick or infected.”
She said farmworkers endure dirty conditions and lack sanitation.
“Sometimes we don’t have paper or disinfectant … even the bathroom is dirty,” she said. “We have to go to the office to ask for a roll of paper. They (Oregon OSHA) came but they haven’t done anything.”
Another farmworker, 33, who works in the nursery business, added:
“One day we were working on the side of the road. We were planting trees. Like 50 of us. Someone called the agency that handles that. They (Oregon OSHA) arrived and saw a lot of people without a mask. And they themselves said that since it was outdoors if they didn’t have the masks, there was no problem. Then they just checked the restrooms and counted how many restrooms there were and saw that the number of people in the restrooms was fine.”
The report says most farmworkers were willing to get vaccinated and that many did. But it faults state agencies for not following up with support. One-third of those interviewed spoke indigenous languages like Mam from Guatemala or Zapotec from Mexico. The rest spoke Spanish.
“Even when information about particular services or programs was available in their languages, there was no follow-through from agencies or service providers,” the report said. “Simply notifying people in Mam or Zapotec, for example, about where farmworkers can get vaccinated or where they can get food assistance is not enough. Additional steps require having service navigators available who can meet or consult directly with them and work with them in their own languages.”
COVID outbreaks hit agricultural workplaces, but employers were not transparent about infections, the report said.
“In some cases, farmworkers described these outbreaks as not being reported to employees or being asked to return back to work,” the report said. “Some who had family members with underlying medical conditions were wary of going to work in the midst of large outbreaks. Employers didn’t provide consistent information about what to do if you are sick, if you have been exposed, and whether or not you would get paid if you were quarantined, regardless of whether you were sick yourself.”
The Oregon Health Authority, which oversaw the state’s COVID vaccination campaign, and the state Department of Human Services which provides medical, food and other assistance to legal residents, did not respond to requests for comment on the findings in the report.
DHS oversees the food stamp program, which has been a key resource for many farmworkers, the report indicated. But many of the workers did not seek state help, the report said.
“Worried about being labeled as a ‘public charge,’ some stopped asking for the state and federally funded food assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits they were entitled to,” the report said. “Many never recovered from lost wages and hours of work and continued struggling to pay their bills one year into the pandemic.”
The report listed several recommendations, citing some from farmworkers themselves. They said the state should “put inspectors on farms so that they are regularly checking all the operations.”
The researchers said farmworkers need culturally sensitive mental health support, better safety net services and better access to legal advice on everything from employment and housing to immigration and obtaining a driver’s license. The researchers also called on the state to enforce existing anti-retaliation and workplace protections and conduct random inspections.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/study-says-state-failed-farmworkers-during-pandemic-osha-denies-findings/article_9105c508-9030-500a-b86b-4812e40224b3.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:36Z
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A state online enrollment system that was launched a year ago continues to make thousands of people wait longer than they should for state help buying food, caring for children and paying for medical care.
As of March 18, the state had failed to meet federal deadlines in processing more than 8,000 applications. Nearly 5,500 applications had been waiting longer than the 45-day deadline to hear about their Medicaid application, and nearly 1,500 had been waiting more than a month to hear whether they had been approved for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP provides cash for food to low-income families.
Hundreds more were waiting longer than they should have for cash, food benefits or help with child care.
The applications from nearly 100 domestic survivors had been sitting longer than the prescribed 12 hours. One person can file an application for themselves or their household.
“We’re all very deeply concerned about the delays in being able to get individuals and families benefits,” said Nate Singer, Oregon eligibility program director. “We know that any delays (causes) great hardships for the individuals that are applying.”
The agency processes an average of 67,000 applications per month.
The oldest applications for medical and food benefits date to March 2021, and the oldest applications for child care and cash assistance for “needy families” were filed this past January. Jake Sunderland, press secretary for the Department of Human Services, said state eligibility personnel can’t process those applications until they receive more information.
The department did not provide details on the maximum length of time that many other applications are past due. It did produce a chart showing the number of applications and the average processing times, which, in general, are relatively short. People awaiting cash assistance find out whether they qualify, on average, within about a week; it takes about two weeks on average for people to hear back on an application for Medicaid and about the same amount of time, on average, for food assistance. But for low-income households struggling to buy food, pay for rent or utilities or pay for medical care, every extra day counts.
To receive medical, food or child care assistance, an individual can earn no more than $2,265 a month, or $4,625 for a family of four.
“We know these are essential benefits for individuals and for families, like having food assistance, having cash, having access to child care so you can” work “and basic access to medical care are critical,” Singer said. “In the meantime, we always provide additional direction and resources (for) assistance while we’re processing applications.”
The state refers those with pending applications to nonprofits that can help with transitional housing, senior services and a ride to a medical facility. For urgent medical care, people have to go to an emergency room. Hospitals cannot refuse to treat patients needing emergency care. State workers also send applicants to local food banks and pantries. Some local DHS offices have even stocked up for applicants who walk in.
“Some of our local offices have boxes of food in the office that they’ve handed out during the pandemic to people,” Singer said.
Launched last spring
The department launched the online ONE system a year ago as a one-stop portal to all benefit programs in Oregon. Previously, people had to call or go to a DHS office. The new system was intended to be faster and provide people broader access to benefits.
Almost from the start, the system was swamped.
“The number of past-due applications began stretching beyond the norm and started to create a backlog in spring 2021, reaching a high of 28,000 past due applications in December 2021,” Sunderland said.
The department has chiseled that number down over the past three months. The department points out that it mostly processes applications on time with a goal of getting an application handled within a day.
Agency data show a majority of applications are processed within two days. But a fraction of applicants – from under 1% for domestic violence survivors and nearly 4% for people needing cash to 8% for Medicaid applicants and 15% for those needing emergency food aid – wait longer. And though those proportions are small, they still account for thousands of applications.
Singer said the department has faced an unprecedented number of requests during the pandemic.
“We are at the highest caseload that I’ve ever seen in my 15 years here,” Singer said.
Over the past two years, Medicaid added 270,000 people, an increase of 26%; SNAP enrollment rose by 60,000, or 10%, and child care beneficiaries increased by 25% or 1,900 households.
From August through January last year, applications soared over 60,000 a month, and even exceeded 70,000 in September. As the number of applications rose, the percentage of those processed the same day dropped, reaching a low of 32% in December.
In February, when the number of applications fell just below 60,000, 51% were processed in a day, according to DHS.
Singer said in processing requests, the state prioritizes new applications to get people into the system quickly. Status changes, like a new address, are processed last, Singer said.
About 2,040 people are involved in eligibility work at DHS, but the agency says that’s not enough. In February, Director Fariborz Pakseresht asked the Legislature for millions of extra taxpayer dollars to add 330 jobs.
“We are seeing caseloads that are two or three times larger than what eligibility workers previously experienced and at a time when the system is still very new to workers,” Singer said.
Legislators approved $154 million for 310 new employees at DHS – but none were approved to work on the ONE system.
The demand on the system, which now handles 1.5 million people, is unlikely to diminish this year. The state will be dropping as many as 300,000 people from Medicaid, bringing the numbers back to close to where they were prior to the pandemic at about 1 million people. But it is likely to enroll them in a new health care plan.
That means that the volume of cases DHS handles might stay about the same.
“Again we will have very high loads that we’re going to have to process,” Singer said.
He indicated that without more staff, processing delays are likely to continue.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/thousands-of-low-income-residents-seeking-state-aid-wait-longer-than-they-should/article_670e84be-d097-5485-81d7-97b47c4d01bf.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:43Z
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The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum April 13 for Republican candidates of Oregon governor.
The forum will be held at Oregon Tech. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is free to the public.Doors open at 5 p.m.
The chamber said six GOP gubernatorial candidates have confirmed their attendance so far. There are 19 Republican candidates on the May 17 primary ballot.
Bob Tiernan, Brandon Merrit, Christine Drazen, Jessica Gomez, Marc Theilman and Nick Hess have confirmed so far for the event which is being organized by the local chamber’s government affairs committee.
“This forum will give these candidates an opportunity to make their case to our citizens, and for our citizens to hear from each candidate about matters they are most interested in, which will assist them in making an informed decision when they complete their ballots” said Joe Spendolini, chairman of the chamber’s government affairs, “The last forum we did was in 2020 for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional seat currently held by Congressman Cliff Bentz. We are excited to be able to bring these back for our members and the community after the COVID lockdowns. It’s important that voters have an opportunity to get to know each candidate.”
Spendolini will be the forum’s moderator, which is also sponsored by the Herald and News. This forum is for GOP candidates. The chamber is looking to schedule a forum for Democratic candidates for governor as well as. for Klamath County Commissioner candidates.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/klamath-chamber-to-host-gop-governor-s-forum/article_6a2edc1a-0252-55cc-b390-be00cb99bd59.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:49Z
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This month and throughout the year, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare Division encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making our state a better place for children and families.
We can all help prevent child maltreatment by ensuring parents and communities have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to keep all children safe.
Research shows that when parents possess protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and positive outcomes for children, young people, and families increase. Protective factors are the strengths and resources families draw on during difficult times to shield them from life’s stresses. Some major protective factors include knowledge of parenting and child development, parental resilience, social connections and concrete supports, such as housing and food security.
Children and families are stronger when communities come together to support them before they are in crisis. Helping families in your community meet their basic needs is a critical way to prevent child abuse. Sharing information about food banks, unemployment benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) availability, and educational resources can be extremely helpful.
“Everyone can play a part in strengthening and supporting families,” said Rebecca Jones Gaston, ODHS Child Welfare Director. “While the Child Welfare Division plays a specific role, I want to honor the work that is being done in the larger system of child and family well-being and encourage all Oregonians to be active in preventing child abuse.”
For example, Oregon’s Relief Nurseries help families access support before they are in crisis, Prevent Child Abuse Oregon and Child Abuse Solutions provide outreach and awareness to encourage community connection for prevention, and family-serving organizations, such as Morrison Youth and Family Services, offer opportunities for parent mentorship and increased resilience.
In support of these efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, together with Child Welfare Information Gateway, and the FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention developed the 2021/2022 Prevention Resource Guide. The guide provides more information about protective factors and highlights examples of innovative prevention approaches being implemented by communities across the country.
If you suspect a child is being abused, please contact the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-(SAFE)7233.
More information for resources and support for families:
211info.org (also by dialing 211) offers connection to local and regional resources for food banks, housing assistance, and mental health services
Lines for Life, a nonprofit dedicated to substance abuse and suicide prevention: 1-800-273-8255 or text ‘273Talk’ to 839863
Oregon CASA Network: https://oregoncasanetwork.org/
Oregon Child Abuse Solutions (formerly Oregon Network of Child Abuse Intervention Centers): https://oregoncas.org/
Prevent Child Abuse Oregon: https://preventchildabuseoregon.org/
Oregon Assoc. of Relief Nurseries: https://www.oregonreliefnurseries.org/
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/oregon/april-is-national-child-abuse-prevention-month/article_e3ee9d8f-f2d2-5973-903f-7d083a662ca8.html
| 2022-04-07T20:48:55Z
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Will Smith smacked Chris Rock at the Oscars — you could live in a cave and still know about this, and be subject to the blizzard of opinions about it. This incident exposed the depths of my phone addiction as I clicked on link after link to articles that had just about zero impact on anyone’s life. The media frenzy was a bit like a siren warning us all to step away from our screens.
And it’s a timely alarm. We’re about to enter some of the holiest days of the year. Holy Week, Easter, Passover, and Ramadan overlap a bit each spring. Not everyone reading this is Christian, but I suspect, unless you have a deep hostility toward the religion — possibly encouraged by Christians behaving badly — you probably wouldn’t mind having Christian neighbors who take their faith seriously.
Right now, I don’t think the world is overwhelmed with Christians living for their faith. But the final days of Lent are an opportunity for us to do better — to remember what it is Christians are called to. The Gospels are radical, and show us the possibilities of self-sacrificial love. Christ’s message is life-giving. It forgets the self out of love for the other. It is based in service and in reflection.
Father Donald Haggerty is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York currently assigned to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He’s the author of many beautiful books on prayer, his latest being “Saint John of the Cross: Master of Contemplation.” Written during the coronavirus shutdown, it was a labor of love and gratitude. Haggerty became familiar with St. John of the Cross in seminary, and the spiritual master has been a guide to him ever since.
Haggerty contends that exposure to the saint’s writings “can change our lives permanently.” He writes that “The soul itself becomes more contemplative as we give ourselves more fully to God, just as it becomes more wise, more charitable, more humble.”
Frankly, clicking on every tempting link on our phones sounds like the complete opposite of this, with the opposite effect. It’s good to know what is going on in the world, but we should beware when it distracts us from the bigger picture.
In the introduction to his new book, Father Haggerty relays a story of a Carmelite sister who once told St. John of the Cross that whenever she passed the pond in the monastery garden where she lived, she noticed the frogs on the edge of the pond would leap in to hide from her as they heard her approach. Haggerty writes: The saint “replied that these frogs were going to the place where they were most secure.
“They preserved themselves by plunging into the depths of the water. He advised her to do likewise. She, too, should flee from creatures and descend into the depths where God is hiding, and where she could conceal her life in him.”
Now, of course, most of us do not live in monasteries, nor are we called to be hermits, as tempting as it may be some days. But we need to fight for quiet. If we claim to be religious, we must commit to spending time with God alone. That is how we come to love like God. That is how we come to know what love truly is. And at this time of a return to somewhat “normal,” consider what is good and what is poisonous about that concept. Don’t seek false securities and conscience-numbing habits. Let your life be changed by a little silence with God every day in a new way.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book “A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living.” She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan’s pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at klopez@nationalreview.com.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/syndicated_columns/when-to-check-out-of-the-discourse/article_935d8289-c4ac-5e09-bb8f-1704ffb7b2ca.html
| 2022-04-07T20:49:01Z
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Beckley Auto Mall once again named Volume Dealership of the Year
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - The Beckley Auto Mall on Robert C. Byrd Drive has once again been named the Volume Dealership of the Year, outselling 31 other West Virginia dealerships for the honor.
The dealership’s general manager Rick Lewis says this is the fourth consecutive year they have won the award and adds that he has an idea as to why this is.
“...one of the things we try to do is culture by design. We really make sure our employees, you know, when they get up every morning that they want to come to work here and the same with our customers. We want to have a relationship with our customers just like family and so they’ll continue to come here to Beckley Auto Mall. Its a proven fact that it works and that’s why we are dealer of the year for GMC and Buick four years in a row.”
While the pandemic definitely came with challenges in term of product, Lewis shares that they were lucky to not lose a single employee due to COVID-19.
At the award presentation on Thursay, Beckley Auto Mall announced that more good news is on the way! The delearship was just informed that they will be receiving another award: The 2021 Mark of Excellence.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/beckley-auto-mall-once-again-named-volume-dealership-year/
| 2022-04-07T21:16:44Z
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Community cleans up man’s storm damage after wife taken off life support
WETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA/Gray News) - An Alabama community is rallying behind a man whose property was severely damaged by Tuesday’s storms.
A likely tornado devastated Frank Senn’s home in Wetumpka the same day his wife was taken off of life support at a hospital in Birmingham, WSFA reports.
The retired veteran’s wife, Glenda, fell down the stairs and broke her neck two weeks ago, severing her spinal cord. Eventually, doctors told him there was nothing else they could do for his wife, and the decision was made to take her off life support.
Senn said his wife has not yet passed away but will spend her remaining days off life support at a care facility.
“They are going to put her in a room until she passes away,” Frank Senn said. “They are going to keep her comfortable.”
Less than 24 hours after Senn’s property was hit by severe weather, there was an outpouring of support for him and his family.
“There were vehicles lined up with folks coming to help,” Frank’s elder son Jon Senn said. “The love and outpouring of support that’s come out to help my father and our ranch farm has been amazing.”
Volunteers, churches and tree removal companies reached out to the Senns. Mike’s Tree Service in Elmore County spent the better part of Wednesday cutting and hauling away trees. The company plans to spend several more days on the property to complete the job.
“We came out, cut down probably six or seven trees so far. Going to come back tomorrow. Still got about probably two days’ worth of work,” David Stafford with Mike’s Tree Service said. “We all pray that everything works out.”
“I tried to feed them earlier, and they said they didn’t come out here for food, they didn’t come for drink, they didn’t come for money. They come to help a neighbor,” Jon Senn said.
Frank Senn was not able to be at his home the day after the storm. He was in Birmingham, spending every last minute he can with his wife.
“He was going to come down here and look, but he had to get up there with my mama,” Jon Senn said.
Clearing up the debris helped uncover memories of Glenda. Jon Senn found a rocking chair of his mother’s from when she was a child.
“I climbed up there and I got my mama’s rocking chair,” Jon Senn said, pointing to the barn. “I ain’t about to lose that.”
The pieces left behind are memories the family said they will hold even closer to their hearts now.
Frank Senn is a retired veteran. He and his wife have been married for over 40 years.
The family is accepting financial contributions through the Cash App account $rangerfarms. The family said funds will go to support other veterans in the area who need help.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/community-cleans-up-mans-storm-damage-after-wife-taken-off-life-support/
| 2022-04-07T21:16:50Z
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Hometown Hero: Julie Hurley
“My family raised us to serve. We’re Christians we go to church we learn to serve there. We learn to serve one another and to serve our community.”
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - It takes all kinds to build and maintain that community experience individuals like Julie Hurley.
“I was born in Williamson, West Virginia down in Mingo County but moved here when I was seven [I was] basically raised in Bluefield in a neighborhood with a bunch of kids my age. It was just a great experience.”
You will often find her in the background and pulling the strings for various community efforts.
“I do like to fly under the radar. I was a theater major in college and you would think that I would really like the stage and being in the spotlight, but I don’t I prefer the administrative organizational things--the feeling I have having something accomplished or completed.”
Her accomplishments run the gambit including leading sponsor for the Graham High School band, musical director at Westminster Presbyterian, serving up the good eats at the BlueSpoon Cafe and Grant’s Supermarkets.
On top of all that she’s a doting wife to Tazewell County Judge Chip Hurley, mother of two and these days a grandmother too.
“Everyone only has 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I think most people do what they love. Some people do one thing. Some people do a smorgasbord. I have learned to do the things I love and give it everything my whole heart.”
One of her most recent contributions include being on the committee that took the Granada from dark and abandoned to bright and filled with life.
“I know we can’t go back we can only go forward but we can take parts of the past and revive them in certain ways,” said Hurley.
“It was important for us to have a place for our young people to develop memories.”
Hurley said one of the quotes that guides her life is knowing that it takes a team.
She cites Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world in fact it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/hometown-hero-julie-hurley/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:01Z
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Kids playing with loaded gun leads to fatal shooting of 14-year-old girl, sheriff says
HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX/Gray News) - A 14-year-old girl died in what authorities call an unintentional shooting after a group of kids were playing with a loaded gun.
WLOX reports Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam said the shooting occurred earlier this week at a duplex in the Bayside Park community.
According to the sheriff, a 10-year-old and a 15-year-old walked over to a 14-year-old girl and her 10-year-old brother’s home to hang out.
The two kids who were visiting reportedly brought two guns with them, and all four kids then went into a bedroom, according to police.
The sheriff said the guns ended up on a bed when one of the kids picked one up. Thinking it was empty, the juvenile pointed the weapon toward the 14-year-old girl and pulled the trigger.
A shot was fired, and a bullet struck the girl below her left eye. She died instantly, according to the sheriff.
Authorities later identified the teen killed as Alexis Sky Pierson.
The sheriff said the investigation has determined the shooting was not intentional. But the case will be taken to Hancock County Youth Court to decide any charges in the incident.
No adults are currently charged with any crime. However, the sheriff said it’s too soon to tell if any future charges will be filed, and the investigation is ongoing.
Kolby Sims, a neighbor, said he has lived near Pierson for over three years and was with another neighbor outside when the shooting happened. He said they heard a loud thud and thought the children dropped something before all the kids started running out.
Sims said the neighborhood kids often play together, including his younger brother. He said he was devastated once he found out a gunshot caused the noise.
“It just made me sick to my stomach, especially so close to my little brother and me having a son of my own. It hits different,” Sims said.
Alexis’ great-grandmother Polly Boswell described the teen as an angel who loved her family and had the biggest heart.
“She’s been special since she was little. I can’t really describe what it was about her. It’s like she just shined with love. " Boswell said. “There was just something about her that you knew that she was special.”
Alexis, also known as Lexi, was a sixth-grade student at Hancock Middle School. The school district released a statement Wednesday afternoon expressing their profound sadness:
“We extend our sympathy and prayers to the family during this difficult time,” the statement read. “Today, counselors, teachers and other support staff have been, and will continue to be, available to students, staff, and parents. How children react in these situations varies. Children may ask questions about death, be sad or afraid. We encourage parents to listen to their children and if they want to talk, answer his or her questions simply and honestly.”
Copyright 2022 WLOX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/kids-playing-with-loaded-gun-leads-fatal-shooting-14-year-old-girl-sheriff-says/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:08Z
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Microplastics found in lungs of living humans for the first time, study says
Published: Apr. 7, 2022 at 4:44 PM EDT|Updated: 33 minutes ago
(CNN) – According to a new study, scientists are finding microplastic particles in the lungs of living people.
Microplastics come from plastic in the environment when it shears into tiny pieces. They’ve been found in the ocean and drinking water, soil, air and food, but this is the first time they’ve been detected in living lungs.
In a study published in Science of the Total Environment, the authors say it suggests people are inhaling the plastic particles.
The researchers looked at lung samples taken during routine surgeries on 13 people, and found 12 different types of plastic embedded in the lungs.
The health consequences of exposure to microplastics are still unknown.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/microplastics-found-lungs-living-humans-first-time-study-says/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:16Z
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One airlifted following wreck on Rt. 460 near Crab Orchard Rd.
Published: Apr. 7, 2022 at 3:52 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
TAZEWELL COUNTY, Va. (WVVA) - One person was airlifted to the hospital following a crash in Tazewell County.
The Virginia State Police responded to the intersection of Crab Orchard Road on Rt. 460 a little after noon on Thursday, April 7.
Police tell us that a driver failed to yield the right of way and hit another vehicle. The person sent to the hospital had serious injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation and we will give updates as they are made available.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/one-airlifted-following-wreck-rt-460-near-crab-orchard-rd/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:26Z
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Organic bakery reaps sweet rewards at delayed grand opening
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Kozy Farm’s Sweets on Harper Road is proving that just because it’s “healthy” doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
The farm-to-table bakery opened in 2020 and has been serving customers organic, in-season desserts and food sourced from local farms ever since.
Sarah Taraczkozy, the shop’s owner, says this is what sets her business apart.
“We have a strong community presence here,” she shared. “We are very familiar with everybody that comes in. We all know eachother by name, so it is nice to branch out and try to get more people to come in and just enjoy real food and real ingredients.”
Kozy Farm’s doors have been open for two years but staff says they were forced to hold off on any opening celebrations because of COVID-19. Today, they were able to offically cut the ribbon as a Raleigh County business.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/organic-bakery-reaps-sweet-rewards-delayed-grand-opening/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:32Z
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Unlicensed massage therapist charged with sexually battering client, police say
RUSKIN, Fla. (Gray News) - A man in Florida is facing four counts of sexual battery after he victimized a massage client, according to police.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said Jose Garcia, 68, claimed to be a massage therapist and has been providing massage services for at least 12 years out of his home in Ruskin, about 27 miles south of Tampa. However, detectives found no evidence that Garcia is a licensed massage therapist. Garcia claimed he received his training in Mexico.
According to the HCSO, a woman suffering from back pain contacted Garcia on March 29 about receiving a massage. The woman booked an appointment with him and drove to his home for the service. Officials said Garcia then sexually battered the victim during the massage.
The HCSO said Garcia admitted to the crimes. He is facing four counts of sexual battery, but more charges could be forthcoming.
Most of Garcia’s clients only speak Spanish, but the HCSO said they have “talented, caring, and bilingual deputies” who are ready to help more potential victims if they come forward.
“This is a man who took advantage of people who came to him seeking help for their ailments,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Our fear now is that there are more victims out there who may not speak English or know they can come forward to report these crimes.”
Detectives are asking anyone who feels they are a victim of Garcia to contact the HCSO at 813-247-8200.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/unlicensed-massage-therapist-charged-with-sexually-battering-client-police-say/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:39Z
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USDA predicts food prices will continue to soar
Published: Apr. 7, 2022 at 3:45 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
(CNN) - If you think you’re paying too much at the grocery store now, just wait.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said consumers can expect the price of food to continue skyrocketing.
Prices are already up 9% on average for the year, and the USDA said they’ll go up 4.5%-5% more.
Restaurant prices are forecast to rise even faster, up to 6.5%.
Particularly impacted will be beef and veal, which are expected to increase up to 7%.
Avian flu is also causing chicken prices to go up to about the same amount.
Fresh vegetables are expected to see the smallest change to their current prices.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/usda-predicts-food-prices-will-continue-soar/
| 2022-04-07T21:17:46Z
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Gusty northwest winds around 45 to 55 mph will continue through
early this afternoon across southeast Wyoming including
Torrington, Wheatland, and Cheyenne. Travel will be difficult,
especially for high profile vehicles.
1 of 2
A Laramie County Sheriff’s Office pickup truck. Photo taken on April 5, 2022, in the parking garage used by LCSO. Jonathan Make/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
A Laramie County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. Photo taken on April 5, 2022, on the upper floor of the parking garage used by LCSO. Jonathan Make/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
A Laramie County Sheriff’s Office pickup truck. Photo taken on April 5, 2022, in the parking garage used by LCSO. Jonathan Make/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
A Laramie County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. Photo taken on April 5, 2022, on the upper floor of the parking garage used by LCSO. Jonathan Make/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – The local sheriff’s deputy who was shot over the weekend has recently left the hospital, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office has announced.
The unidentified deputy, a male who was assigned to patrol duties, had been shot Saturday amid an apparent exchange of gunfire with a suspect who was then shot to death. The deputy was taken to the intensive care unit at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, where he had been in stable condition.
On Wednesday, LCSO said the wounded deputy was discharged from CRMC. He “is resting at home, where his recovery period is expected to last several months,” the agency said in an updated written statement.
LCSO said the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation continues to investigate the deputy-involved shooting. DCI did not have any immediate update on its probe.
The sheriff’s office has not released the name of the deputy, and in recent days it has not provided additional information on the incident. Limiting the release of information during an investigation is typical among local and federal agencies.
Jonathan Make is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s assistant managing editor and editor of the Wyoming Business Report. He can be reached at jmake@wyomingnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @makejdm.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/injured-laramie-county-sheriff-s-deputy-leaves-hospital-following-shooting-by-suspect/article_a04711f2-4adb-5b5b-9ea9-4f04fef6fa53.html
| 2022-04-07T21:57:43Z
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ROCK SPRINGS -- The Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce's Paxton's Friends Fund reached $7,535 due to recent fundraising efforts from the Marshall family.
Last month, the Young at Heart Community Center was the host site for Superhero Day held in honor of
Paxton Marshall, a 17-month old boy, lost his battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on September 1, 2021.
“I really thought that he would be here to celebrate his second birthday, but unfortunately, we just weren't that lucky,” Tiffany Marshall, Paxton’s mother shared. “We wanted to honor him and this was the best way we thought we could be by throwing a party and inviting the community to bring their kids and have a fun day honoring our superhero.”
The Superhero Day included one-dollar activities such as bike raffles, a cupcake walk, and food, as well as free activities including face painting, bouncy houses, games and superhero pictures. Over 200 people attended the day and donated to Paxton's Friends Fund. The event raised $4,800.
The Paxton Marshall Fundraising Facebook page also held a few Superbowl square raffles in February that raised $2,300 and a 50/50 raffle in March that raised $435 all for the Paxton's Friends Fund.
Paxton's Friends Fund was created to provide financial assistance to families in Sweetwater County who are facing the hard and trying times of taking care of a child diagnosed with leukemia while still having to balance their families, work, and everything else that life throws at them. The application for financial assistance can be found on the Chamber of Commerce's website or by visiting www.MarshaIlstrong.net.
Paxton was diagnosed with infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia back in November 2020. Once diagnosed, Paxton was flown to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City where he and his parents spent the bulk of his 10-month battle. "Trying to balance Paxton in Salt Lake City while keeping Karly's life somewhat normal, while Patrick and I also tried to work was beyond difficult for our family,” said Marshall. “Because of COVID, Patrick and I were the only ones that could be with Paxton in his hospital room during most of his time at Primary's, so Karly was never able to visit or see her brother.”
As news spread of Paxton's diagnoses, the community rallied around the Marshall family by helping with their daughter Karly and offering any support they could. Brianna Romero, the Director of the Early Learning Center at Young at Heart, jumped at the chance to help the Marshall family, as both Paxton and Karly attended their program. Romero created the Paxton Marshall Fundraising Page to provide updates and host fundraising activities to support Paxton and his family and also worked with Marshall's sisters to create Paxton's www.Marshallstrong.net website.
"When Tiffany told me about Paxton, my heart just broke,” Romero expressed “He was such a fun baby to have in our infant room and we just wanted to do anything we could to support them during this devastating time."
Romero was able to raise money by selling Marshall Strong apparel and hosting various activities on the fundraising page.
When the Marshall family received the news that Paxton's cancer was just too much for his body, it completely devastated not just them, but the community too.
Honoring Paxton and his journey, the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce created the Paxton's Friends Fund to help other children and their families in the community who battle leukemia.
"The Marshall family is important to us and have been such great members of our community, we wanted to support them and honor Paxton's Legacy by creating a fund to help others going through what sweet Paxton and his family went through," said Rick Lee, CEO of the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Since establishing the Paxton's Friends Fund, the Chamber has raised money by offering a 50/50 raffle at their annual golf tournament and selling cards at the Chamber of Commerce building. In addition, fundraising efforts from the Paxton Marshall Fundraising Page have also raised money for the Paxton's Friends Fund.
"Paxton and his journey made such an impact on our lives, and lives of people who didn't even know him, that we decided to keep his fundraising page up so that those who want to continue supporting the Paxton's Friend Fund are able to do so,” Romero shared. “We aren't doing as much as we were when Paxton was going through treatment, but we still want to honor him on special days like his birthday.”
To read more about Paxton's journey, to purchase Marshall Strong apparel, or to donate to Paxton's Friends Fund, visit www.Marshallstrong.net or stop by the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/paxtons-friends-fund-gives-hope-to-those-in-need/article_c3487ffb-02b5-5891-b5c6-bda0e7cee111.html
| 2022-04-07T21:57:49Z
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/economic_development/community-is-invited-for-a-chat-over-a-cold-one/article_9519b64e-b6b6-11ec-b866-f7fbe8e3c3a6.html
| 2022-04-07T21:57:55Z
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After two years of disruptions, Wyoming students are in the midst of test taking that helps state and federal education departments assess learning – a sign that school is returning to normal.
The Wyoming Department of Education in late March of 2020 canceled all testing for the rest of the semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exams like Wyoming’s Test of Proficiency and Progress, which assess students abilities in English, science and math, were nixed that year.
“We canceled everything and then put in the waiver to waive our state accountability and federal accountability,” said Laurie Hernandez, standards and assessment director at the Wyoming Department of Education.
Testing resumed in spring 2021, but those scores were not used to determine whether or not schools were meeting state and federal accountability standards. The Department of Education submitted an addendum to its compliance plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act, federal law that took the place of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2015.
Identifying low-performing schools is part of the state’s plan; schools that are “partially meeting” or “not meeting expectations” must fill out a school improvement plan. Low-performing schools receive extra support from WDE and are eligible for federal funds. Wyoming’s updated compliance plan pushed low-performance school identification to 2022-23, because at least two years of data are required to determine whether or not schools need additional support, according to WDE Chief Policy Officer Wanda Maloney.
In the interim, schools identified as low-performing in 2018-19 “were held constant,” Maloney said. “Many had started professional development or interventions, and so we wanted [them] to be able to continue to excel and provide them the funding they needed.”
If parents weren’t comfortable sending their kids to school to take tests in Spring of 2021, they were not forced to do so. Normally, testing is mandatory and parents don’t have the option to opt out. Ultimately, 96.6% of students in Wyoming were tested in 2021, only a slight decrease from the 99% that usually participate.
The WDE is still in the process of analyzing test results from 2021, but so far it appears students in Wyoming did not experience severe learning loss reported in many other parts of the country during pandemic education disruptions. “There was a little bit of slip, but not anywhere to the degree that there was nationally,” Hernandez said.
Statewide assessments are underway at many Wyoming schools this year, and Hernandez says so far things have gone smoothly. “We really make sure everybody understands that it’s a snapshot in a moment in time for the student.”
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/education/statewide-school-testing-returns-to-normal/article_b9ddf5a8-b6b6-11ec-a571-67193e2025bf.html
| 2022-04-07T21:58:01Z
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CHEYENNE – Central High School graduates from the early 1970s who happened to tune into C-SPAN last month may have noticed a familiar name and face.
On March 24, Cheyenne native Jean Veta testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee during the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit representative for the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Veta served as a principal evaluator for Jackson in ABA's review of the judge's professional qualifications.
Veta spoke with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle this week about the experience and how she reached this point in her career.
Jackson, who was nominated for the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden, would become the first Black woman named to the high court. Jackson is expected to be confirmed soon, following announcements by three Republican U.S. senators that they would vote for her confirmation.
Veta and Federal Circuit representative Joseph M. Drayton were the lead evaluators in the ABA Standing Committee's assessment of Jackson. The full committee is made up of 18 attorneys, with at least one representative for each federal circuit court of appeals.
While members of the Standing Committee are appointed by the ABA's president, the committee is independent of the ABA. Veta was appointed to the committee a year ago.
"We are a nonpartisan group where we take an oath, I can't make any political contributions while I'm on the committee, can't engage in any political activities. And we're the only peer-based review that focuses on a nominee's professional qualifications," Veta told the WTE.
Following an unanimous vote by members of the ABA Standing Committee, Judge Jackson received the highest-possible "well qualified" rating, according to testimony and a report on the committee's review.
About 250 judges and lawyers were interviewed, with a focus on those who had firsthand knowledge of Jackson's capabilities.
ABA review
In assessing federal judicial candidates, the Standing Committee looks at three factors, Veta testified: integrity, professional competence and judicial temperament.
"Reviewers describe (Jackson's) integrity as 'beyond reproach,' 'impeccable,' and 'of the highest caliber,'" Veta testified. "As one reviewer put it, 'You write the word 'integrity,' and then you put (Jackson's) initials next to it.' Another reviewer said: 'Judge Jackson has a well-deserved reputation for the highest level of ethics and integrity.'"
When it comes to professional competence, Veta testified that "a nominee for the Supreme Court must possess exceptional professional qualifications, including an especially high degree of legal scholarship, strong analytical and writing abilities and overall excellence."
And in considering judicial temperament, the Standing Committee set out to assess Jackson's "compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, freedom from bias and commitment to equal justice under the law," Veta testified.
"As part of our evaluation, we considered whether Judge Jackson demonstrated any bias that favored criminal defendants. Notably, no judge, defense counsel or prosecutor expressed any concern in this regard, and they uniformly rejected any accusations of bias," she continued. "Instead, prosecutors, like the other lawyers we interviewed, praised Judge Jackson as a judge who considers all arguments before coming to a decision."
Most recently, Jackson was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 2021, with bipartisan support. She served as a U.S. District Court judge in Washington.
Jackson also spent time as a federal public defender, and would be the first justice with this background. She also served as a law clerk for Justice Stephen Breyer, whom she would replace on the high court following his retirement.
Veta said she was very aware of continued allegations that Jackson was "soft on crime." In surveying Jackson's peers and those familiar with her career, Veta said she took care to speak with both defense attorneys and prosecutors who had had cases before Jackson during her time as a judge.
"They were uniformly of the view that she was in no way biased toward the defense or the prosecution," Veta told the WTE.
Just being before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Veta said, facing a panel of well-known politicians seated in front of a grand white marble wall, was "thrilling and humbling."
"Also, to be there testifying in connection with the nomination of the first Black woman to the Supreme Court and realizing how important our job is – to really, you know, call it like we see it," she added.
Cheyenne roots
Born and raised in Cheyenne, Veta graduated in 1973 as Central High's valedictorian. Her father's family came to Wyoming in the early 1900s, and her father, John, and mother, Margaret, were born and raised in Cheyenne. They ran the Western Ranchman Outfitters store here.
The Vetas and her mother's family, the Pasternacks, helped form the Jewish community in Cheyenne, she said.
Veta graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1977 from Tulane University in New Orleans, later graduating from the school's law program in 1981.
When looking for a job post-law school, Veta eyed Washington, D.C.
"I wanted to work at kind of the big-time, name-brand, corporate law firm, so that's what I did," she said.
She was a partner at D.C. law firm Covington & Burling for more than 30 years before earning the title "senior counsel." Veta said she represents banks and their leadership when they "get in trouble with the government, and/or advise them on compliance issues to help them stay out of trouble with their regulators."
From 1998 to 2000, Veta served as deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of Education under former President Bill Clinton, and from 2000 to 2001 as the deputy associate attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice. She returned to Covington & Burling as a partner following her departure from the Clinton administration.
Veta credits her education in Cheyenne's schools with setting her up for later endeavors. She said she was active in speech and debate in high school, even making it twice to the national tournament. She loved the "analytical, logical thinking" it involved, and said she likes having to think on her feet.
These skills may have contributed to her interest in attending law school and, ultimately, a successful career in law.
"(My public education), without question, prepared me for additional steps I took academically and professionally," she said. "The ability to think and to understand how to learn was something that was clearly taught to me in the Cheyenne public schools.
"Growing up in Cheyenne taught me the importance of learning how we need to treat each other respectfully, even if we don't agree," Veta continued, "and to be open to hearing and listening to differing views."
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/government_and_politics/cheyenne-native-testifies-in-judge-jackson-confirmation-hearing/article_ac08ef00-b6b6-11ec-9a58-835689df8465.html
| 2022-04-07T21:58:08Z
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Federal Board Ponders Future of Gulf Coast Passenger Trains
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal board began hearing testimony Monday on whether to let Amtrak resume passenger train service linking New Orleans and Alabama’s main port city over the objections of freight companies.
The hearing, conducted virtually by the Surface Transportation Board, will help determine whether the government railroad can once again offer passenger transportation on a section of the northern Gulf Coast where Amtrak hasn’t operated since Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in 2005.
Freight haulers CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway, in conjunction with the Alabama State Port Authority, contend Amtrak’s plan to run twice-daily, round-trip trips between New Orleans and Mobile would interfere with their traffic and create problems at the Alabama state docks in Mobile. Amtrak should have to make as much as $440 million in improvements before running passenger trains, they argue.
Amtrak asked the board to allow passenger trains to begin operating immediately and decide later on what kinds of infrastructure changes are needed. Freight companies are being unreasonable because they don’t want to make any changes to their schedules or operations, Amtrak attorney Jessie Amunson said.
Railroad operations are more complicated on the Gulf Coast than anywhere else in the country because of the large amount of water and the complexity of rail switching operations in New Orleans, a major hub linking Eastern and Western railroads, said Charlie Banks, a management consultant testifying for CSX and Norfolk Southern
Adding passenger trains along the roughly 137-mile (220-kilometer) route would cause “serious degradations” to rail transportation on the coast, he said.
“It is an extremely challenging territory even just to operate fright trains, let alone Amtrak,” Banks said.
But Amunson said Congress already has established the importance of reestablishing passenger service in the region and argued it was time to move ahead after years of studies and negotiations.
“Enough is enough,” she said.
Board chair Martin Oberman said the panel had plenty of studies and statistics about the potential impact of resuming passenger train service but must determine what’s reasonable under the law.
“We’ve got lots of metrics. We don’t know what to put them up against,” he said.
With testimony taking longer than anticipated, the hearing ended for the day with plans to resume Tuesday. Lawyers discussed the possibility that the hearing could last into next week.
Amtrak has been trying to resume passenger rail service on the Gulf Coast since 2015, according to the Southern Rail Commission. The board last year dismissed objections from CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway and let Amtrak continue with its attempt to gain access to freight lines for passenger trains.
By AP reporter Jay Reeves
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/federal-board-ponders-future-of-gulf-coast-passenger-trains/
| 2022-04-07T22:28:09Z
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In Louisiana and Elsewhere, Storms Batter Aging Power Grids
NEW YORK (AP) — Power outages from severe weather across the U.S. have doubled over the past two decades, as a warming climate stirs more destructive storms that cripple broad segments of the nation’s aging electrical grid, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data.
Forty states are experiencing longer outages — and they’re worst in areas where weather is getting more extreme, data shows. The blackouts can be harmful, even deadly, for the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable communities.
And power grid maintenance expenses are skyrocketing as utilities upgrade decades-old transmission lines and equipment. So customers hit with more frequent and longer weather outages also are paying more for electricity.
“The electric grid is our early warning, ” said University of California, Berkeley grid expert Alexandra von Meier. “Climate change is here.”
The AP found:
- Outages tied to severe weather rose from about 50 annually nationwide in the early 2000s to more than 100 annually on average over the past five years.
- The frequency and length of power failures are at their highest levels since reliability tracking began in 2013 — with U.S. customers on average experiencing more than eight hours of outages in 2020.
- Maine, Louisiana and California each experienced at least a 50% increase in outage duration.
- In California alone, power loses have affected tens of thousands of people who rely on electricity for medical needs.
The AP analyzed electricity disturbance data submitted by utilities to the U.S. Department of Energy to identify weather-related outages, including how long they lasted and how often they occurred.
Driving the increasing blackouts are winter storms called nor’easters that barrel into New England and shred decrepit electrical networks. Summers bring hurricanes that pound the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard, plunging communities into the dark sometimes for months. And in fall, West Coast windstorms trigger forced power shutoffs to protect against deadly wildfires.
MAINE
The grid’s fragility hit home for Lynn Mason Courtney, 78, a blind cancer survivor in Bethel, Maine. When her retirement community building lost power and heat for three days following a 2020 winter storm, the temperature inside fell to 42 degrees (6 degrees Celsius). She developed hypothermia.
“Two people on oxygen had nowhere to go. They just stayed in the apartment and hoped like hell that the power would come back on,” Courtney said. “If you’re disabled, it’s scary. You’re not safe.”
Maine suffered record numbers of weather-related interruptions in recent years. Storms left more than 500,000 customers without power in winter 2017 — more than a third of the state’s population.
As the planet warms, extreme weather that threatens power reliability will likely hit some areas harder, said Penn State University meteorologist Colin Zarzycki.
A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, increasing energy packed by storms. The phenomenon produces more destructive tropical hurricanes in the Southeast and storms that cause flooding on the West Coast.
“Those really high-end nor’easters, the ones that take over CNN for days, those are going to occur with the same or increased frequency,” Zarzycki said.
LOUISIANA
After Hurricane Ida knocked out power in coastal Louisiana last year, heat killed or contributed to deaths of at least 21 people, local coroners reported.
David Sneed, 65, died in the 12th-floor apartment where he’d been without power for several days after the storm hit Aug. 29.
Sneed was obese and had a cognitive impairment, so he usually used a wheelchair, said Rev. Ken Taylor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where Sneed was a doctoral student.
Taylor checked on Sneed after the storm and said his apartment felt like 100 degrees (38 degrees Celsius). Six days after the storm, the power was back but when Taylor visited he got no answer.
Sneed’s body was found in his apartment, slumped in his wheelchair. He died from the heat, the coroner ruled.
“I speculate that he had rolled into his bedroom to put on some pants to go downstairs,” Taylor said.
The financial toll is steep. Louisiana regulators approved $3.2 billion in charges from hurricane damages in 2020 and 2021, which utility Entergy Corp. estimates will cost the average residential customer almost $100 annually for 15 years.
Most U.S. power transmission facilities are at least 25 years old. Utilities have quadrupled spending on them since 2000 to about $40 billion annually, according to Department of Energy data.
Billions more are set to be spent, with costs borne by consumers. Yet the effort won’t keep up with climate change, said U.C. Berkeley’s von Meier. “Rates will go up, reliability will go down,” she said.
CALIFORNIA
Almost 200 California wildfires over the past decade were traced to downed power lines. Among them, a 2018 fire that ripped through the Sierra Nevada foothills town of Paradise and killed 85 people, resulting in criminal convictions of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the nation’s largest utility.
Now when windstorms and dry conditions are forecast, utilities cut power preventively. That’s potentially life-threatening for people with medical equipment that requires electricity.
An AP review of California utility filings found almost 160,000 power shutoffs to customers with medical needs since 2017.
Utilities have sought to lessen the impacts by distributing portable batteries and setting up centers where people can charge essential devices.
PG&E Vice President Sumeet Singh said shutoffs are a last resort and have been reduced in size in part through better forecasting of hazardous weather. “We know there has been a trade-off between safety and reliability,” Singh said.
By year’s end, PG&E expects to have spent almost $15 billion since 2020 on wildfire prevention. It’s cutting back vegetation near equipment and plans to bury 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of lines over 10 years so they won’t be exposed to falling trees.
For now the shutoffs are set to continue.
Richard Skaff, a paraplegic and advocate for the disabled in Northern California, said he endured two forced outages each lasting five days. He had a generator to keep his electric wheelchair powered and house heated, but said others with disabilities live on minimal incomes and struggle during outages.
“If we’re going to allow PG&E and others to de-energize the grid…you have to determine the effects on the most vulnerable people,” Skaff said.
By AP reporters Matthew Brown, Camille Fassett, Patrick Whittle, Janet McConnaughey and Jasen Lo. Data journalist Caroline Ghisolfi contributed to the article as well.
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/in-louisiana-and-elsewhere-storms-batter-aging-power-grids/
| 2022-04-07T22:28:16Z
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Ponchatoula Readies for Return of the Strawberry Festival
PONCHATOULA, La. (AP) — One of the state’s largest free events, second only to Mardi Gras, returns Friday to mark its 50th anniversary after the coronavirus pandemic shut it down for two years.
The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival will run through Sunday, bringing thousands of people to the tiny city north of New Orleans.
“We’re looking forward to record-breaking crowds this weekend,” said Kim Melancon of the city’s Chamber of Commerce. “The draw, of course, is our quaint little city and the fair is behind the main drag. Be sure to visit 6th Street and Memorial Park.”
Melancon told WVUE-TV that non-profit organizations will be set up all around the park selling strawberries, of course, as well as food, drinks, merchandise, and memorabilia to raise money for various causes.
“The draw really is to support these people with our strawberry fare and to benefit our area farmers,” Melancon said.
The festival also includes entertainment by artists including Amanda Shaw, The Phunkey Monkeys and Waylon Thibodeaux, a parade and strawberry eating contests.
On Pine Street, in the center of town, Trey Harris is known for having the juiciest, biggest, and reddest crawfish and strawberries around at his shop Harris Seafood. Harris is a strawberry farmer who represents the industry on a state level and has gone to great lengths to keep traditions alive, the television station reported. When COVID-19 began to spread, Harris brought his competitors’ berries to his shop to keep promoting and moving them even though the festival was shuttered.
“As you know, we haven’t had a festival in two years so this is a big big deal for all our local farmers,” Harris said. “We’ll have lots of representation from Livingston and Tangipahoa Parish and we are looking for this festival to be the biggest of all time.”
Aside from being known as the “Strawberry Capital of the World”, Ponchatoula is also known for its antique and gift shops frequented by locals and visitors on weekends. Commerce after a pandemic and Hurricane Ida has resulted in mixed factors for some but all business owners agree that the festival returning gives them visibility again.
“In some aspects of our business we saw profits skyrocket during the pandemic because more locals stayed home to shop with us,” said Casey Robert, owner of the home decor and gift shop Chaleuroux on Pine Street. “But the festival is like a homecoming for all of us. Some people that haven’t been to Ponchatoula will come to the festival and when they see us we get to remind them that we’re here and we’ll be ready when you’re ready to shop with us.”
From WVUE-TV for the Associated Press
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/ponchatoula-readies-for-return-of-the-strawberry-festival/
| 2022-04-07T22:28:22Z
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19-year-old involved in shooting on Woodrow Wilson High School student takes plea
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - A young man involved in the shooting of a Beckley teen appeared in Raleigh County court today for a plea hearing.
On May, 2, 2021, Woodrow Wilson High School Junior Dwayne Richardson was shot in the chest by an AR15-style rifle. He was flown to Charleston where he later died at the hospital.
Today, 19-year-old Rashad Brown entered a guilty plea to Accessory After the Fact to Voluntary Manslaughter. Police reports state that Brown and another defendent mislead police to help the shooter, Jeriamyah Fortner, who was sentenced in November, to avoid responsibility.
As part of the plea deal, the state agreed to drop Brown’s second charge in the indictment: Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. Additionally, the state will stay silent at sentencing where Brown could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Brown’s sentencing is schedule for Monday, May 16 at 2 p.m. infront of Judge Andrew G. Dimlich.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/19-year-old-involved-shooting-woodrow-wilson-high-school-student-takes-plea/
| 2022-04-07T22:47:58Z
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Getting COVID twice in 3 months? CDC reports it is happening
Published: Apr. 7, 2022 at 5:18 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - A recent study found it’s possible to get COVID twice in less than three months.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 10 people who had this happen. They were initially infected with the delta variant and then reinfected with omicron.
Researchers used genome sequencing to confirm which virus variants sickened each person.
The shortest interval between reinfection was 23 days, and most of the patients were not vaccinated.
According to the CDC, people who get over COVID are typically immune from becoming reinfected for about six months. But immunity appears to change when it comes to other variants.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/getting-covid-twice-3-months-cdc-reports-it-is-happening/
| 2022-04-07T22:48:04Z
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Man drives over 100 mph while drunk, killing 2 women, unborn child, police say
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) – A man in Nebraska is accused of killing two women, one of them pregnant, when he crashed into their vehicle driving faster than 100 mph while drunk, prosecutors say.
Court documents filed Wednesday show that Zachary Paulison, 22, left Addy’s bar — where a bartender offered to call him a ride — five minutes before the crash on March 31. Documents say he was on the road for just three minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 104.7 miles, before he crashed into the victims’ vehicle at 102.3 mph. Crash investigators found no indicators of braking before Paulison hit the other vehicle.
Sara Zimmerman, 37, a corrections officer at the Douglas County Jail who was eight months pregnant, and Amanda Schook, 38, died at the crash scene.
That night, a blood draw indicated Paulison had a 0.161 blood alcohol content, records state. He was taken to a hospital with serious injuries after the crash.
Investigators found that Paulison had several drinks over the course of two hours at The Mark before heading to Addy’s at 7:27 p.m. that evening. He also tested positive for cannabinoids, court records state.
Paulison made his first appearance in court on Thursday. He was booked Wednesday into Sarpy County Jail on two counts of DUI motor vehicle homicide, Class 2A felonies; and one count of death of an unborn child, a Class 3A felony that could carry a sentence of up to three years.
“This is a primary example of one of the worst scenarios when you drive drunk,” Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said. “How many times does this have to happen before people change their behavior?”
Paulison’s bond was set at $1 million.
Copyright 2022 WOWT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/man-drives-over-100-mph-while-drunk-killing-2-women-unborn-child-police-say/
| 2022-04-07T22:48:11Z
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Man had ‘no idea’ after TSA stops him from boarding plane with sword hidden in cane
Published: Apr. 7, 2022 at 6:14 PM EDT|Updated: 33 minutes ago
(Gray News) – TSA agents in Boston stopped a man from boarding a plane with a sword on his person.
The man was attempting to board a plane at Logan Airport on Tuesday, according to a post on Twitter from TSA_NewEngland.
How did he make it that far into the airport? It was hidden in his cane.
When Massachusetts state police questioned him on it, they say the man said he had “no idea” the blade was in there.
He was cleared to continue onto the flight after his cane was claimed by the TSA.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/man-had-no-idea-after-tsa-stops-him-boarding-plane-with-sword-hidden-cane/
| 2022-04-07T22:48:22Z
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Murder victim’s family speaks out
MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Jaydon Brown’s case grows colder with each day that passes. It’s been more than eight weeks since he was gunned down in Princeton, but his killer or killers remain at large while family and police look for answers.
Joscelyn Brown says after learning of the shooting from her son’s fiancee she heard the heartbreaking news through a phone call: Jaydon did not survive. Days of wondering what happened has become weeks. And now months without answers to her son’s murder, all-the-while knowing his killers are out there.
“I don’t know how they’re sleeping at night but it’s hard for us over here. You know, knowing my son is gone. Say something, he was taken from me and his child and his whole family and it’s not fair” said Brown.
Joscelyn and Danielle Brofford, Jaydon’s fiancee both believe he was the victim of a set-up involving multiple people. They’ve shared their theories with investigators because what’s been lost can never be replaced.
“He got to experience fatherhood for eight months of my child’s life. Now for the rest of my child’s life he no longer has a father due to the cowards that murdered him” said Brofford.
Detectives with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department say they’ve gathered some evidence in this case, but continue to look for more promising leads. But the lack of hard evidence leaves Brown’s case in limbo.
“We’ve reached out to individuals that we’ve been told has information and they will not cooperate with us. That’s their right and they’re constitutionally protected from that. But again it makes these investigations more difficult and less timely” said Detective Sergeant, Steven Sommers.
Sommers adds the sheriff’s office can’t do this alone. Justice can’t be served without more help from the community. In the meantime, the killers continue to roam. Possibly right here in Mercer County.
“As a society we can’t let crime or violent crime continue. Fear is one of the number one reasons not to get involved but at some point we have to say enough is enough” Sommers said.
Anyone with information regarding the death of Jaydon Brown, is urged to contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/murder-victims-family-speaks-out/
| 2022-04-07T22:48:29Z
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Shooter kills 2, wounds several in central Tel Aviv
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An attacker opened fire in a crowded restaurant district in central Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, killing at least two people and wounding several others before fleeing into a dense residential area, Israeli officials said.
Police said there were “indications” it was a politically motivated attack — the fourth deadly assault in Israel in less than three weeks at a time of heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions. The militant Hamas group that rules the Gaza Strip praised the attack but did not claim responsibility.
Hours after the shooting, the suspected gunman remained at large. Hundreds of Israeli police officers, canine units, and army special forces were conducting a massive manhunt in central Tel Aviv, searching building by building through the densely populated residential neighborhoods.
Amichai Eshed, the Tel Aviv police commander, said the shooter opened fire into a crowded bar at around 9 p.m. and then fled the scene.
“Our working assumption is that he is still in the vicinity,” he told reporters. “As of right now, there are indications pointing to this being a terrorist attack, but I have to be very delicate about this, and say that we are also checking other leads.”
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said it received reports of a shooting at “several scenes” around downtown Tel Aviv. It said two men around 30 years old were killed. Another seven people were wounded, three of them seriously, it said.
At least one shooting took place on Dizengoff Street, a central thoroughfare. Dizengoff Street has been the scene of several deadly attacks over the years. Most recently, an Arab citizen of Israel shot and killed two Israelis and wounded several others on the street in January 2016.
The popular nightlife area was packed on Thursday evening, the beginning of the Israeli weekend.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with top security officials late Thursday, and they agreed to “continue directing large-scale reinforcements to Tel Aviv,” his office said in a statement.
Tensions have been high after a series of attacks by Palestinian assailants killed 11 people just ahead of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, which began nearly a week ago. Last year, protests and clashes in Jerusalem during Ramadan ignited an 11-day Gaza war.
Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders have held a flurry of meetings in recent weeks, and Israel has taken a number of steps aimed at calming tensions, including issuing thousands of additional work permits for Palestinians from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Prior to the attack, Israel had said it would allow women, children and men over 40 from the occupied West Bank to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem on Friday, the first weekly prayers of Ramadan. Tens of thousands were expected to attend.
The mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and sits on a hilltop that is the most sacred site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. The holy site has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Israel has worked to sideline the Palestinian issue in recent years, instead focusing on forging alliances with Arab states against Iran. But the century-old conflict remains as intractable as ever.
Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their future state. The last serious and substantive peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Prime Minister Bennett is opposed to Palestinian statehood.
Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally and considers the entire city to be its capital. It is building and expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which most of the international community considers illegal.
It withdrew soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but along with neighboring Egypt it imposed a crippling blockade on the territory after the militant Hamas group seized power from rival Palestinian forces two years later. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars since then.
Hamas spokesman Abdelatif Al-Qanou said late Thursday that the “the heroic attack in the heart of the (Israeli) entity has struck the Zionist security system and proved our people’s ability to hurt the occupation.”
On March 29, a 27-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank methodically gunned down people in the central town of Bnei Brak, killing five. Two days earlier, a shooting attack by two Islamic State sympathizers in the central city of Hadera killed two police officers. The week before, an IS sympathizer killed four people in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in the southern city of Beersheba. The Hadera and Beersheba attacks were carried out by Palestinian citizens of Israel.
The recent attacks appear to have been carried out by lone assailants, perhaps with the help of accomplices. No Palestinian militant group has claimed them, though Hamas has welcomed the attacks.
Israel says the conflict stems from the Palestinians’ refusal to accept its existence as a Jewish state and blames attacks in part on incitement on social media. Palestinians say such attacks are the inevitable result of a nearly 55-year military occupation that shows no sign of ending.
___
Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/shooter-kills-2-wounds-several-central-tel-aviv/
| 2022-04-07T22:48:35Z
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Walmart offering new truck drivers up to $110K starting pay
NEW YORK (AP) - Walmart workers who once unloaded trucks now have a chance to drive them.
The nation’s largest retailer has launched a training program that gives employees who work in its distribution or fulfillment centers a chance to become certified Walmart truck drivers through a 12-week program taught by the company’s established drivers.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, also said it is raising pay for its 12,000 truck drivers. The starting range for new drivers will now be between $95,000 and $110,000, according to Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield. The retailer said that $87,500 had been the average that new truck drivers could make in their first year.
The moves announced Thursday come as the pandemic has made trucker shortages more severe as demand to move freight reaches historic highs. The American Trucking Associations, a large industry trade group, estimates that the nation is short about 80,000 drivers.
Walmart said about 20 workers in Dallas and Dover, Delaware, have earned their commercial driver’s licenses. About 400 to 800 workers in the company’s supply-chain network are expected to complete the truck-driving program this year, Hatfield said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/walmart-offering-new-truck-drivers-up-110k-starting-pay/
| 2022-04-07T22:48:47Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
A Starbucks Corp. employee wearing protective gloves hands a customer an order from a drive-thru window at a store in Hercules, California, U.S., on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Some of Americas fast-food workers are finally getting face masks and emergency sick days to help get them through the coronavirus outbreak. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- The Honolulu Department of Environmental Services is working with Starbucks to help eliminate waste in the Hawaiian islands.
The department announced on Twitter Wednesday that Starbucks will re-launch its "bring your personal cup incentive program" at nine locations on Oahu. The goal is to eliminate disposable cups and promote reusable ones.
Starbucks acknowledges its cups are iconic symbols of the brand but are also a symbol of a throwaway society. Although some cups are recyclable, they still end up in landfills or as litter on streets. The company's solution is to eliminate the disposable cup completely.
ENV met with Starbucks to discuss a mutual interest in waste reduction. Starbucks is relaunching its "bring your personal cup incentive program" to 9 locations on Oahu to elimiante disposable cups and promote reusable ones.CNN’s Starbucks Story (https://t.co/42DW0NcXot) pic.twitter.com/xXBBBwjfce
By 2025, Starbucks aims to have every customer bring in their own mug or borrow a mug from their local store. Starbucks is also planning to let customers use their own personal mugs at every location in the United States and Canada, whether they order ahead or use the drive-thru.
No date has been announced on when the Oahu locations will start the program or which locations will participate.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/starbucks-relaunching-personal-coffee-cup-incentive-program-with-an-eye-on-environmental-impact/article_49ecab6a-b6af-11ec-bd53-23c19bedb573.html
| 2022-04-07T23:09:45Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* 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 head of training at the Hawaii Department of Public Safety was arrested Thursday morning.
Investigators with the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General arrested J. Marte Martinez at around 9:45 a.m. at her office in Iwilei near Dole Cannery. She is charged with 14 counts. She's the administrator of PSD's Training and Staff Development Office.
Martinez is accused of falsifying her college transcripts and lying about her educational background to get job promotions while at PSD.
Martinez is in charge of training the state's deputy sheriffs and corrections officers, along with the recruits, and PSD's civilian staff.
After being arrested, Martinez was taken to the Sheriff Division's booking station on Keawe Street in Kakaako.
Martinez is charged with two counts of perjury, six counts of tampering with a government records, and six counts of unsworn falsification to authorities.
She's accused of lying about her educational background on state job applications to get promoted within the department and even forging transcripts.
According to court documents, Martinez made false statements to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board in December 2019, when she was questioned about her degrees.
She's also accused of submitting fake transcripts from Southern Oregon University, and the University of Northern Virginia.
Martinez is also accused of lying in 2017, while applying for the positions of public safety training officer, and professional standards and accreditation manager.
Court documents allege Martinez also lied on her job applications in May 2016 when she applied for the position of performance based management coordinator, and in September 2015 when she applied for the position of firearms training specialist.
In May 2015, Martinez was praised in a PSD newsletter, in an article titled: "Marte Martinez -- Not Your Ordinary Trainer."
The article said Martinez was a firearms training technician, and did testing and evaluating for the department's new handgun. The article concludes with: "Ms. Martinez deserves our heartfelt gratitude."
State officials were made aware of and launched an investigation into the allegations in 2019. Despite being under investigation, Martinez has still been working for PSD, heading the Training and Staff Development Office.
Marisa Yamane joined KITV4 in January 2022 as an anchor and executive producer. She is an award-winning veteran journalist, who’s spent most of her career in Hawaii. She’s a proud graduate of Iolani School and UCLA.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/head-of-training-at-hawaii-public-safety-department-arrested/article_443f5a04-b6b0-11ec-b001-17dd6f3e9c57.html
| 2022-04-07T23:09:51Z
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Country
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
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/gas-leak-reported-in-waipahu-hazmat-team-secured-leak/article_48b8f39c-b6b0-11ec-9fd6-df9d3ecc72bb.html
| 2022-04-07T23:09:57Z
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CHEYENNE – Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove could owe the state's attorney oversight board more than $91,000.
An "Affidavit of Costs and Expenses" was filed with the Wyoming Supreme Court March 11. That was the same day a panel chosen from the Wyoming State Bar's full Board of Professional Responsibility filed its official recommendation with the court to disbar Manlove.
That official report reiterated the recommendation the hearing panel issued Feb. 11, following the conclusion of a seven-day disciplinary hearing. It found Manlove had violated six rules of professional conduct for attorneys in the state.
The list of costs, accompanied by copies of invoices and receipts, was submitted to the Supreme Court "for review for purposes of determining assessment of costs, if any, in the proceeding," the affidavit said. It totals $91,196.96.
The affidavit articulating these costs was made public following the Supreme Court's approval Monday of a motion by the DA. The motion sought to make certain documents filed with them in the case part of the public record.
At $64,635.75, the largest set of costs were those associated with the hearing taking place at Little America Hotel & Resort: lodging, meals, meeting space and use of audio/visual equipment.
The Wyoming Room, the ballroom in which the disciplinary hearing was held, cost $1,200 each day – except for the two Fridays the ballroom was used, when the price increased to $2,600.
Other costs included $12,882.75 in expenses for transcription services, and $2,803.18 in additional mileage, lodging and meal expenses for the three members of the hearing panel.
Also listed was $9,332.28 in investigation and hearing expenses incurred by Special Bar Counsel Weston W. Reeves, who represented the Bar in the case. Invoices for Reeves' Park Street Law Office in Casper, related to formal complaints filed with the Bar against Manlove, were submitted dating back to March 4, 2021. Most of the line items were redacted.
Manlove's attorney in the case, Stephen Melchior, said Thursday that Manlove's response to the hearing panel's recommendation would address the cost and expense claims.
The district attorney has until May 2 to file a formal response to the panel's recommendation, following an extension recently granted to her by the Supreme Court.
The state Supreme Court will ultimately decide what disciplinary action is taken against Manlove, including how much of the more than $91,000 she may ultimately owe. This process will likely take several months.
Formal charges filed by the Office of Bar Counsel last year with the State Bar alleged Manlove had mishandled the prosecution of cases in Laramie County and inappropriately dismissed certain cases, and that she created a hostile work environment for employees of the district attorney’s office, among other accusations.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/da-manlove-could-owe-91-000-in-hearing-costs/article_98c00d29-baaf-537e-bfc0-7e8a63a17de9.html
| 2022-04-07T23:33:23Z
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"The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests extend from north central Colorado to central Wyoming," according to its website, from which this photo was captured via screenshot on April 6, 2022.
LARAMIE – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is hiring hundreds of positions in recreation and archaeology across the nation. Some of those jobs are in Wyoming.
Jobs are open April 6-19, the agency announced in an email Wednesday. The spots "are available in a variety of exciting and rewarding locations, including the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland."
Medicine Bow-Routt is located in Colorado and the central and northeastern parts of Wyoming. Thunder Basin is in northeastern Wyoming.
“We are looking for talented, diverse applicants to help us manage the recreation and archaeology of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland,” said Russ Bacon, a forest supervisor. “If you’re interested in working outdoors, stewarding public lands and serving our local communities, I encourage you to apply.”
"Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early, as some of the announcements will close after 800 applications are received," according to the Forest Service.
The agency listed several contacts for Wyoming. For Laramie, it listed Frank Romero, whose email address is frank.e.romero@usda.gov.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/usda-forest-service-is-hiring-including-in-wyoming/article_6942e8d9-3654-5fcf-a3d7-10d1fae6963e.html
| 2022-04-07T23:33:29Z
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Amazon plans to object to union win in New York
(AP) – Amazon plans to file objections to the union election on Staten Island, New York, that resulted in the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the company’s history.
The e-commerce giant stated its plans in a legal filing to the National Labor Relations Board made public Thursday. Among other things, the company accused the Amazon Labor Union, a group of former and current employees who spearheaded the union drive, of threatening warehouse workers to vote in favor of the organizing effort. Eric Milner, an attorney representing the ALU, said the claims were “patently absurd.”
“The employees have spoken and their voices have been heard,” Milner said in a statement. “Amazon is choosing to ignore that, and instead engage in stalling tactics to avoid the inevitable — coming to the bargaining table and negotiating for a contract” on behalf of the warehouse workers on Staten Island.
Warehouse workers on Staten Island cast 2,654 votes — or about 55% — in favor of a union, giving the fledgling group enough support to pull off a victory Friday. Federal labor officials had said the results of the count won’t be verified until they process any objections — due by April 8 — that both parties may file. Amazon requested a two-week extension, which the labor board has granted. It now has until April 22 to back up its claims.
The company had initially signaled it planned to challenge the election results based on a lawsuit filed in March by the NLRB, which sought to force Amazon to reinstate a fired employee who was involved in the union drive. In the filing made public Thursday, Amazon said it was also objecting to the labor agency’s conduct “before and during the polling,” that the company says interfered with the election.
A labor dispute down in Alabama, where the other union election was held, is also heating up. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is trying to unionize an Amazon warehouse in the city of Bessemer, said Thursday it filed several objections with the federal labor board over how the retail giant conducted itself in that election. Among other things, the RWDSU said the company fired and retailed against union supporters.
Initial results in the Alabama union election show the RWDSU down by 118 votes, with the majority of Amazon warehouse workers rejecting a bid to form a union. The final outcome is still up in the air with 416 outstanding challenged ballots hanging in the balance. A hearing to review the ballots is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/amazon-plans-object-union-win-new-york/
| 2022-04-08T00:19:12Z
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American woman caught with nearly $550K worth of fentanyl at US-Mexico border
(Gray News) - A woman attempted to smuggle more than a half-million dollars worth of fentanyl into the U.S. from Mexico over this past weekend.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports the woman, a U.S. citizen, pulled up to the Del Rio Port of Entry in a passenger vehicle on April 3. An officer then referred her to a secondary vehicle inspection.
After a thorough examination of the car, officers said they discovered 30 packages containing 40.34 pounds of fentanyl concealed within the vehicle. CBP officials said the fentanyl had a street value of $548,987.
“This significant seizure of a potentially fatal hard narcotic like fentanyl underscores the reality of the drug threat our frontline officers are facing and their commitment to upholding our border security mission,” said Port Director Liliana Flores.
CBP seized the drugs and the vehicle and turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/american-woman-caught-with-nearly-550k-worth-fentanyl-us-mexico-border/
| 2022-04-08T00:19:19Z
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Appeals court OKs Biden federal employee vaccine mandate
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President Joe Biden’s requirement that all federal employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 was upheld Thursday by a federal appeals court.
In a 2-1 ruling, a panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court and ordered dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the mandate. The ruling, a rare win for the administration at the New Orleans-based appellate court, said that the federal judge didn’t have jurisdiction in the case and those challenging the requirement could have pursued administrative remedies under Civil Service law.
Biden issued an executive order Sept. 9 ordering vaccinations for all executive branch agency employees, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued a nationwide injunction against the requirement in January.
When the case was argued at the 5th Circuit last month, administration lawyers had noted that district judges in a dozen jurisdictions had rejected a challenge to the vaccine requirement for federal workers before Brown ruled.
The administration argued that the Constitution gives the president, as the head of the federal workforce, the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation to require that employees be vaccinated.
Lawyers for those challenging the mandate had pointed to a recent Supreme Court opinion that the government cannot force private employers to require employee vaccinations.
Twelve of 17 active judges at the 5th Circuit were nominated to the court by Republicans, including six Trump appointees.
Judges Carl Stewart and James Dennis, both nominated to the court by President Bill Clinton, were in the majority. Judge Rhesa Barksdale, a senior judge nominated by President George H.W. Bush, dissented, saying the relief the challengers sought does not fall under the Civil Service Reform Act cited by the administration.
The case marked ideological divides at the appeals court even before Thursday’s ruling.
A different panel had refused in February to block Brown’s ruling pending the appeal. That panel’s vote was 2-1. There were no reasons given by the majority — Judge Jerry Smith, a President Ronald Reagan nominee, and Don Willett, a Trump nominee.
But there was a lengthy dissent by Judge Stephen Higginson, a nominee of President Barack Obama, who said a single district judge “lacking public health expertise and made unaccountable through life tenure,” should not be able to block the president from ordering the same type of COVID-19 safety measures many private sector CEOs have ordered.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/appeals-court-oks-biden-federal-employee-vaccine-mandate/
| 2022-04-08T00:19:26Z
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Rain and snow will wrap up the work week
Winter returns again as we head into the weekend
Temperatures tonight will eventually hit the 30s, though we do look to dry out for most of the night. Showers should taper before midnight, and most will just be chilly and breezy with patchy clouds around.
Friday, we look to see rain and snow showers on and off throughout the day, with highs only in the 40s. With the wind blowing, feel-like temps will likely be in the 30s, so bundle up and turn the heat back on!
We’ll see a few more snow showers Friday night, and occasionally, snow squalls or bands will be possible, which could cause limited visibility to motorists at times, especially at higher elevations like Flat Top. Burke’s Garden, and parts of Western Greenbrier and northwest Pocahontas counties.
Additional snow and rain showers will stick with us into Saturday. We’ll be even colder too, with high temps in the upper 30s and low 40s. Saturday night, lows will fall into the 20s and 30s. Snow showers will continue on and off Saturday night-Sunday AM.
Snow accumulations look very little if any (and mainly limited to grassy surfaces overall). However, occasional snow squalls/bands could overcome a warm roadway, so stay aware! Slick areas can’t be ruled out, especially Friday night-early Sat, and again Sat night-early Sun, when surface temps will be at or below freezing. Stay safe!
We’ll dry out quickly Sunday, with sun during the afternoon, but highs will still be chilly, in the upper 40s and low 50s for most.
Next week, however, we look to warm up QUICKLY. By Monday, we’ll be back in the upper 60s and low 70s again.
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) -
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/07/rain-snow-will-wrap-up-work-week/
| 2022-04-08T00:19:33Z
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Country
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
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/1500-block-of-converse-ave-will-be-down-to-one-lane-during-emergency-repairs/article_8ec507b3-82a9-501a-8bf2-5cba154d70cb.html
| 2022-04-08T01:09:03Z
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Laramie County Community College freshman guard Lucia Fleta, right, is defended by Casper College's Natalia Otkhmezuri during the Golden Eagles' 88-65 loss Saturday, March 20, 2021, at the LCCC gym in Cheyenne.
CHEYENNE – Laramie County Community College is beginning the final stages of transforming one of its oldest buildings on campus, the Recreation & Athletics Complex (RAC).
The RAC, originally build in 1971, has seen minor improvements and structural changes over the past 50 years. With the buildings electrical capacity maximized, no air conditioning and aging infrastructure, the college is now looking at substantial improvements that will address these issues and more.
Working with local contractor GH Phipps and architect Plan One, the college has completed a feasibility study of the original project proposal from 2017. With an original project cost of $14 million, the college is now dealing with increased construction costs and inflation, and is working to bring the project into the current $20 million budget.
The college plans to move forward with some of the original project designs which include moving the competition gym into the existing Multipurpose Room (MPR), increasing the ceiling height to align with NJCAA requirements and increasing seating. The new seating will accommodate 1,300 spectators at LCCC athletic competitions and community events. The project, which includes a two-story addition to the west end of the current MPR, will allow for additional office spaces, student-athlete locker rooms and weight training facilities and storage. Additionally, there will be more space for both fitness and weight training for all LCCC students and employees.
The college will continue to utilize the current competition gym as a space for recreational use by the community and campus. Allowing for homeschool student P.E. classes to continue being offered at LCCC and expanding intramural opportunities for LCCC students.
The scope of work does include the removal of both the rock wall and swimming pool. The rock wall will be removed to accommodate the west expansion of the MPR, and the area currently occupied by the swimming pool will be used to increase fitness, weight training, and recreation spaces desired by LCCC students.
Work on the renovation and expansion of the RAC will begin in September, and is expected to be done in December of 2023. The college is currently in discussions with Laramie County School District 1 regarding where future athletic competitions will be held during the construction cycle.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/lccc-moves-forward-with-renovations-to-recreation-athletics-complex/article_e5e9b15d-edc6-50d0-bacf-46025f451e16.html
| 2022-04-08T01:09:09Z
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — One Thursday, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, along with Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., introduced the Renewable Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Parity Act of 2022.
The bill would require the Department of Energy to track foreign imports and domestic production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. It would also provide incentives to produce more of these fuels here at home, and eliminate unnecessary regulations that are limiting the use of renewable diesel in California.
“Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel are promising ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty trucks and airplanes,” Barrasso said in a news release. “Wyoming is already a leading producer of renewable diesel and is expected to produce a lot more in the near future. Currently, outdated and unnecessary regulations are limiting the use of this fuel. Our bipartisan bill will eliminate that red tape. It will also offer incentives to boost production of additional renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel here in the United States.”
The Renewable Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Parity Act of 2022 will:
Require the Energy Information Administration to report on U.S. production and foreign imports of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, including the type, origin, and volume of feedstocks used for these fuels;
Allow renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production facilities to qualify for the Department of Energy’s Title XVII loan guarantees under the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and
Exempt renewable diesel that meets the same technical specifications as petroleum-based diesel from the labeling section of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/senators-hope-to-boost-production-and-use-of-renewable-diesel-sustainable-aviation-fuel/article_88aba154-bcb3-5ce9-b049-211cb134bef2.html
| 2022-04-08T01:09:15Z
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Piano Planet is home to Hawaii’s largest piano selection. Whether you are a skilled pianist, or looking to just get started, they truly have something for everyone! Their showroom has a vast array of pianos from large upscale grands to beginner digital pianos.
Piano Planet was founded by George Nellas, who comes from a musical background himself. With his mother being both a piano teacher and choir director, there was always music in the home. He shared, “When I started working in music stores, it was kind of a dream of mine to have my own store. I wanted to open up more of a luxury boutique and have more of an educational experience for the customer.” George makes it a point to teach customers the differences in pianos, technical terms, and specs so that they can find the one that meets their needs and budget. They offer many types of pianos “from the famous Steinway concert grand all the way down to an entry level digital piano…anywhere from over $200,000 to $500.”
Not only do they have a wide variety of pianos, but they really have something for everyone. George explained it's much easier to start playing the piano now because of affordable piano options, so it doesn’t matter what age you are to learn. “You are never too old to learn to play the piano...I see a lot of seniors... people in their 80’s even starting because it's been their life dream to learn the piano.”
In the showroom, host Nikki and Piano Planet employee Keith sat down to try out dueling pianos. With Keith on one piano and Nikki on another, they played an 80’s rock mashup, bouncing off each other’s different notes. With music filling the air, George said, “When you sit at the piano, every day is different. It’s a way to go somewhere else without leaving your home. You are in another place.”
As Miss Hawaii 2019 & 2020, Nikki was a representative for the Aloha State and was highly involved with the community as she promoted the importance of service. Nikki is the host of KITV's entertainment and culture platform, ISLAND LIFE.
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https://www.kitv.com/island-life/business/discover-hawaii-s-largest-piano-selection-at-piano-planet/article_9b359a9c-b6bc-11ec-81b4-937180e7ad6d.html
| 2022-04-08T01:32:23Z
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Historic Haleiwa town is the perfect place to spend the day, where you can find quaint shops and amazing food! Our first stop was a locally-owned boutique called Guava Shop. They feature a variety of local brands and sell everything from beach wear, clothing, bags and soaps, to locally-made jewelry. Guava Shop had a beautiful beach-chic vibe and was thoughtfully curated.
After some shopping, we went to check out the local art scene. Polu Gallery specializes in modern surf art, as well as monthly art shows, where they highlight Hawaii artists. From small canvases to large prints, each piece showcased unique aspects of Hawaii and its culture.
Then it was time for lunch! A must try in the North Shore is garlic shrimp. On the hunt for this novelty item, we discovered Big Wave Shrimp food truck near the beginning of Haleiwa Town. Their garlic shrimp had lots of flavor, and was paired perfectly with the bed of rice and side salad. They also had delicious coconut shrimp and steak plate options.
After our lunch break, it was time for a sweet treat. Aoki’s Shave Ice originally started in the 1930’s and has been serving up refreshing shave ice ever since. We ordered the "North Shore", which was topped with mango, lilikoi, and guava syrups, along with a splash of li hing mui! In addition to their refreshing shave ice, they are also attached to the North Shore Trading Company. One step inside, and you are sure to find a trinket, item of clothing, or fun gift to take home. All in all, It was a great day in Historic Haleiwa town!
As Miss Hawaii 2019 & 2020, Nikki was a representative for the Aloha State and was highly involved with the community as she promoted the importance of service. Nikki is the host of KITV's entertainment and culture platform, ISLAND LIFE.
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https://www.kitv.com/island-life/family/enjoy-a-country-weekend-getaway-in-historic-haleiwa-town/article_630e334c-b6ba-11ec-a1ac-db5e88d24e11.html
| 2022-04-08T01:32:29Z
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Manuheali’i specializes in modern and unique aloha wear, launching new collections every month. “Manuheali’i started in 1985, going on 37 years now. My mother-in-law who is Denin Manuheali’i Lunn founded this company with my father-in-law Pono Lunn,” stated long-time employee, Randie Lunn. The brand was built through hard work and time spent in local craft fairs. The family continues to work together to provide a wide variety of styles and prints for women, men, and keiki. “The artwork specifically is done by my father-in-law Pono and my brother-in-law Lokahi. Our Hawaiian culture is a thread that we all have within our family and it ties us all together closely…we all contribute.” They also pull inspiration from their customers, lahui, and nature. This inspiration can also be seen through their accessories and homeware products.
Featured is the La’au Koa design in the Nake’u One shoulder style. This design was “between my mother-in-law and her kumu Nake’u Awai.. they came together and this is one of his signature styles.” This bright orange dress features a ruffle top pulled together with a shoulder tie. The angled hem creates a flowy style just at the knee.
Next is the Melia Romper in the upcoming Mokapu Palms Print. “My ohana is from Mokapu area and this is a little reflection of what we have in our yard.” This tan halter style romper is complimented with a brown and teal leaf print. The shape of the romper is fitted at the waist and flows at the bottom. This design is inspired “by our home and this is just a little sneak peek of one of the colors and styles that we have.”
To add some aloha wear to your wardrobe, visit Manuheali’i at:
930 Punahou St, Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 942-9868
5 Ho'ola'i St, Kailua, HI 96734
(808) 261-9865
(Hours at both locations are Monday- Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, and Sunday 10am-3pm.) Visit manuhealii.com to see their current styles and upcoming designs.
Interested in featuring your business or organization? Email IslandLife@kitv.com
As Miss Hawaii 2019 & 2020, Nikki was a representative for the Aloha State and was highly involved with the community as she promoted the importance of service. Nikki is the host of KITV's entertainment and culture platform, ISLAND LIFE.
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https://www.kitv.com/island-life/fashion/one-of-a-kind-aloha-wear-at-manuheali-i/article_0a6da046-b6c5-11ec-903c-e3a98d5dd580.html
| 2022-04-08T01:32:35Z
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Moké’s Bread & Breakfast offers home-cooked breakfast and brunch dishes with an island twist. “Everything is my favorite,” one diner confidently stated. Chef Misi prepared the Stuffed Hash Browns, which includes “ham, bacon, tomatoes, onions, the whole works —basically everything but the kitchen sink.” He also made the pancakes with their signature lilikoi sauce, and a Loco Moké. A guest complimented the dishes stating, “It’s yummy, it’s been really good so far,” another said, “Every time we come back to Hawai’i, this is where we come.”
The owner, Keola Warren, shared the history behind the restaurant and menu inspiration. “My father is Moké. He started cooking right out of high school.” Many of the dishes are also accredited to Keola’s grandmother, including their famous Lilikoi Pancakes. Keola carries on the family tradition with the goal to “serve food in a nice, comfortable space…where people could relax, enjoy and really have a good time.” He also prides himself on their custom-roasted Hawaiian coffee, created specifically for the restaurant and delivered weekly.
Moké’s originally opened in 2004 in Kailua, and they eventually opened their second location in Kaimukī in 2019. We sampled the Loco Moké, which is their take on the classic loco moco (house-cut ribeye instead of a hamburger patty). The eggs were cooked to perfection over a bed of warm rice and tender ribeye. Next were the Stuffed Hash Browns, which Keola calls, “a hash brown sandwich for people who don’t care for eggs.” This dish was full of sautéed ingredients, melted together with cheese and wrapped in hash browns. To finish it off, we tried their famous Lilikoi Pancakes, which were fluffy and topped with a creamy passion fruit sauce.
To try these delicious dishes and more, visit Moké’s Bread & Breakfast, located at:
Kailua: 27 Hoolai St, Kailua, HI 96734
Kaimukī: 1127 11th Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
(Hours at both locations are from 7:00am - 1:00pm, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, no reservations accepted) Visit https://www.mokeshawaii.com/ for more info and menu.
Interested in featuring your business or organization? Email IslandLife@kitv.com
As Miss Hawaii 2019 & 2020, Nikki was a representative for the Aloha State and was highly involved with the community as she promoted the importance of service. Nikki is the host of KITV's entertainment and culture platform, ISLAND LIFE.
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https://www.kitv.com/island-life/food/breakfast-favorites-with-a-local-twist-at-mok-s-bread-breakfast/article_1e25fdd4-b6c2-11ec-bf0e-d3a5cf0cc6b0.html
| 2022-04-08T01:32:41Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) -- There has been another development in the federal fraud case against the police commissioners accused of wrongdoing regarding former police chief Louis Kealoha's retirement.
Legal experts say this latest court order seems to bode well for the defendants. A judge ruled on April 4 the defense's lawyers can get evidence they're looking for.
This latest court order in the case of the City and County of Honolulu vs. Donna Leong says the city is required to turn over key documents it has on the case. The information pertains to discussions Leong had when she was still the city's lawyer, about paying out Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha $250,000 to retire early.
The city has to give it to lawyers for the three defendants -- Leong, Max Sword, and Roy Amemiya Jr. -- in a federal criminal case, United States v. Leong, et al.
"I'm not surprised by the orer. It was reasonable the court order the city to turn over all the documents that the city's private lawyer has in its possession. These make up all the documents the defense was looking for anyway," legal analyst Megan Kau told KITV4.
Kau is a defense attorney -- but not for this case -- and a former deputy prosecutor.
"This is a very big deal. The order itself is not a very big deal but the chronology of what happened is," Kau explained.
Major dates in that chronology are:
In 2017, the US government filed fraud proceedings against the three.
In 2019, the FBI raided the city's files to support the case.
In 2019, the city filed a temporary restraining order (as a separate case) to seal the case due to the sensitive nature of attorney-client privilege. The court granted that.
In 2019, the city hired law firm Farella Braun & Martel to study the case and report its findings. It's what Kau refers to as the city's "private lawyer."
"The private lawyer filed a 30-page report and what the 30-page report showed was, the city did not commit fraud or any illegal acts in paying out Louis Kealoha the $250,000," Kau said.
The federal government reviewed it as well.
"The government in fact agreed this 30-page report showed the city did not do anything illegal in regards to the $250,000 payout and therefore closed the matter. That's extremely significant. Not only did the government close the matter, it destroyed all the exculpatory evidence provided to it," Kau said.
In 2021, two new federal attorneys reopened the case, which brings us to today. The three defense attorneys have been asking the city for this evidence. This is exculpatory evidence that could exonerate the trio.
"It shows there are all these outstanding documents that could show our clients are actually not guilty of they crime they're being charged with," explained Kau of the defense's position.
The city has been arguing against it, simply because it lacks the manpower to gather the volume of information.
Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi ruled on Monday, "the City shall PRODUCE the City's documents and report held by the Farella Law Firm to Leong, Sword, Amemiya, and the Government in a mutually acceptable electronic format by no later than April 6, 2022; the Government shall PRODUCE a hard copy or electronic version of the sealed docket sheet for City & County of Honolulu v. United States... to Leong, Sword, and Amemiya by no later than April 4, 2022," and because the Government represented it destroyed all documents it got from the City, it has to file that in declaration or affidavit under oath by April 15.
Lawyers for the three defendants have not returned our requests for comment.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/judge-orders-city-to-turn-over-key-evidence-in-federal-criminal-case-against-donna-leong/article_cbac4f18-b5ea-11ec-b2ff-43d564cbc997.html
| 2022-04-08T01:32:47Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii awarded $40,000 to Change Machine, a financial coaching company that focuses its services on the most economically disadvantaged individuals and social service organizations.
HONOLULU (KITV4) – Kaiser Permanente Hawaii awarded $40,000 to Change Machine, a financial coaching company that focuses its services on the most economically disadvantaged individuals and social service organizations.
Change Machine will use the funding to provide four $10,000 grants to community partners that work with underserved communities across Hawaii.
Eligible Hawaii-based organizations include those that currently provide financial education, financial coaching or counseling, or other financial health services.
The grants are part of Change Machine’s Financial Health Initiative, which aims to “build or enhance financial health ecosystems in Hawaii, implementing strategies that allow community organizations to build financial stability sustainably”. Grantees will receive financial tools, training, and resources to enhance their programs, and will be connected to other organizations to build relationships and share ideas around proven financial strategies. The goal is for community organizations to build strong financial health which enables them to achieve their missions.
“Financial stability is foundational to the mission of our many community partners,” said Greg Christian, Hawaii Market President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals. “We are pleased to work with Change Machine to provide financial training grants to these deserving organizations so that they can continue serving Hawaii’s communities for many years to come.”
This grant is the latest in a series of contributions from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii to help residents throughout the state receive vital support services in response to the health and economic crises created by COVID-19. In 2021, the health care organization provided over $3.8 million in grants to organizations serving communities across the state.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/kaiser-permanente-hawaii-and-change-machine-to-provide-40k-in-grants-to-financial-health-community/article_5e654a8e-b6b9-11ec-ab4e-d389a92e2423.html
| 2022-04-08T01:32:54Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
images courtesy of Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR)
HONOLULU (KITV4) — The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) announced Thursday it has received a substantial increase in phishing scheme reports tied to unemployment insurance claims.
These phishing schemes attempt to impersonate the DLIR unemployment system in the form of text messages, emails, and social media posts, all to retrieve personally identifiable information.
“These phishing texts try to trick you into clicking on a link that takes you to a fake website that may look very real. Some of the websites are virtually indistinguishable from ours except, that the website address is incorrect,” said DLIR Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio. “The fake website will ask you to input your website credentials and personal information that the criminals can use to steal unemployment insurance benefits or for other identity theft schemes.”
DLIR is putting out a warning that there's been a big increase in reports of schemes tied to insurance claims. Oftentimes these schemes try to impersonate the DLIR system through texts and email (example below), trying to get you to click the link. Don't fall for it!@HI_DLIRpic.twitter.com/lJTT1iYrup
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/state-reports-increase-in-phishing-schemes-aimed-at-retrieving-sensitive-information/article_0a2e1e2e-b6c2-11ec-8b24-c76f4eef3d0e.html
| 2022-04-08T01:33:00Z
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(CNN) -- Two members of President Joe Biden's Cabinet tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, becoming the latest high-profile Washington figures to contract the virus in recent days.
Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced their positive diagnoses after having attended the elite Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington on Saturday. Other attendees, including Vice President Kamala Harris' communication director Jamal Simmons, Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and the President's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, have also announced positive tests.
The string of positive cases has turned attention in Washington to the Gridiron dinner, an event that brings together some of the city's most prominent journalists, including from CNN, and the government officials they cover. Attendees had their vaccination status checked, but negative Covid-19 tests were not required to enter.
Tom DeFrank, the president of the Gridiron Club, said 14 guests at Saturday's dinner have tested positive and that other cases could be expected.
"As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, we know of 14 guests at Saturday's dinner who have tested positive for Covid. There is no way of being certain about when they first contracted Covid," DeFrank said.
"But they did interact with other guests during the night and we have to be realistic and expect some more cases," he continued. "Except in cases of public officials who have on their own disclosed their status, we will protect the privacy of guests who test positive."
Garland is not experiencing symptoms but asked to be tested after learning he may have been exposed to the virus, the Justice Department said. Earlier Wednesday, Garland had attended a news conference with other officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, to announce sanctions against Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.
Raimondo, meanwhile, is "experiencing mild symptoms" but is "confident that the vaccine has prevented her from experiencing more significant symptoms," according to a statement from the Commerce Department Wednesday. Schiff said in a Tuesday tweet that he was "feeling fine," and Castro reported in his own of "experiencing mild symptoms." Owens did not have close contact with President Biden or first lady Jill Biden prior to her test, according to a statement from Celadon Books.
Vice president a close contact
Harris had been in close contact with Simmons, who tested positive on Wednesday, press secretary Kirsten Allen said.
"The Vice President will follow CDC guidance for those that have been in close contact with a positive individual and will continue to consult with her physician. The Vice President plans to continue with her public schedule," Allen said in a written statement.
In addition to having attended the dinner over the weekend, Simmons was also pictured in the East Room of the White House during the Affordable Care Act event with President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama.
Biden is not considered to have been a close contact of Simmons, a White House official told CNN.
Inside the White House, in accordance with federal public health guidelines, officials and visitors have not been required to wear masks or social distance. Visitors are expected to be tested for Covid-19 before attending official White House events.
Simmons' case isn't the first to touch the White House.
Last month, second gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive for the virus, marking the first known case of Covid-19 among the first or second families since Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office in January 2021. And White House press secretary Jen Psaki and White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre have also tested positive in recent weeks.
Covid-19 cases in Washington, DC, have declined since their peak in early January, when the country was facing a wave of Omicron variant cases. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's chief medical adviser, said Wednesday that he thinks there will be an uptick in cases of Covid-19 in the US over the next few weeks, and that it is likely that there could be a surge in the fall.
"I think we should expect ... that over the next couple of weeks, we are going to see an uptick in cases. And hopefully there is enough background immunity so that we don't wind up with a lot of hospitalizations," said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, when asked by Bloomberg TV's David Westin about the prospect of another wave of Covid-19 from BA.2 or another variant, given the level of immunity believed to exist in the US today.
This story has been updated with additional details Thursday.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/two-biden-cabinet-members-among-string-of-positive-covid-19-cases-after-elite-gridiron-dinner/article_4a57a820-b6d2-11ec-a140-ef7877322591.html
| 2022-04-08T01:33:06Z
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Tiger Woods teed off in the first round of the Masters on Thursday as he embarked on a remarkable comeback following a car crash in February 2021 in which he sustained serious leg injuries.
Five-time Masters champion Woods played in Group 14, alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen and Chilean Joaquin Niemann, after the first round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club tournament was delayed due to inclement weather in Augusta, Georgia.
Wearing a pink shirt, Woods was given a resounding round of applause from the crowd as his name was announced. After hitting his opening drive, Woods received more cheers from fans.
His drive wasn't perfect, though the 46-year-old ended up making par on the first hole to the delight of the watching patrons.
Woods' first birdie came on the sixth hole after his excellent tee shot left him a short putt to shoot up to under par for the first time.
However, after bogeying the eighth hole, Woods finished the front-nine level par.
He once again dropped under par following a birdie on the par-five 13th hole, only to be pegged back to level par a hole later.
Woods displayed some of the fight he's become so famous for over his illustrious career on the 16th hole, rolling in a tricky putt for another birdie -- a trademark fistpump in celebration -- to move to one under to the delight of the thousands watching on.
Despite a wayward tee shot on the 18th hole, Woods managed to salvage a par, meaning he carded a one-under par 71, which signaled a solid return to competitive golf after almost 17 months away.
After his opening round, Woods said he was "as sore as I expected to feel," but admitted it was "amazing" to be back out on the course.
"I was telling the team all week, come game time, it will be a different deal," he told the media. "My adrenaline will kick in. I'll get into my own little world, and I'll get after it. It's about the training that we've done to have the stamina to go.
"I'm going to be sore, yes. That's just the way it is. But the training cycles that we've had to make sure that I have the stamina to keep going -- and this is only one round. We've got three more to go. There's a long way to go and a lot of shots to be played."
Woods added: "I can swing a golf club. The walking's not easy, and it's difficult. As I said with all the hard work, my leg, it's going to be difficult for the rest of my life. That's just the way it is, but I'm able to do it.
"That's something I'm very lucky to have this opportunity to be able to play, and not only that, to play in the Masters and to have this type of reception."
Must-watch
Woods had been due to tee off at 10:34 a.m. ET, but due to the weather delay began his round just after 11 a.m. ET. His group is scheduled to tee off for the second round at 1:41 p.m. ET on Friday.
"It's a miraculous thing," said 1992 Masters winner Fred Couples. "Fourteen months ago, I'm bawling like a baby every day, and now ... he looks strong.
"I know the leg is hurt but he's hitting it plenty far enough to play this course, and he plays this course as well as he does, he's won here a bunch, he knows what to do."
Speculation first began to mount regarding Woods' participation in the tournament when his private jet was sighted landing at an airport near Augusta last week.
Since his car accident, Woods has appeared in public on a golf course just once -- at the PNC Championship in December with his son Charlie. Then Woods used a golf cart to help him get around the course.
"Walking is the hard part. This is not an easy walk to begin with," Woods said to the PGA Tour, referring to Augusta's hilly course.
"With the conditions my leg is in, it gets a little bit more difficult. Seventy-two holes is a long road. It's going to be a tough challenge and a challenge I'm up for."
Following near-complete domination of men's golf at the start of his career, Woods' career took a downward spiral.
However, the Masters was the site of a seemingly another impossible comeback when Woods secured victory in 2019, ending an 11-year wait between his 14th and 15th major wins.
"He's Tiger Woods, so I'm not worried about watching him hit a ball ever because he's the best player I've ever seen play," Couples added.
"He's won so many times, and he's just not a guy to go do something mediocre. He'll compete, and he'll be ready to roll. I think it's amazing for him to be out here."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/tiger-woods-five-time-masters-winner-shoots-one-under-71-in-first-round-after-return/article_cdd1f3a6-58d7-5254-931a-9d8e8dfc67ed.html
| 2022-04-08T01:33:12Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
Life expectancy in the US fell from 78.9 years in 2019 to 76.6 years in 2021.
Life expectancy in the United States took another hit in 2021, furthering a dramatic decline from 2020 that was the largest since World War II, according to a new report.
The study -- published Thursday on the preprint server medRxiv, which means it has not been peer-reviewed -- found that after falling nearly 1.9 years in 2020, life expectancy in the US decreased another 0.4 years in 2021.
In the decade before the pandemic, life expectancy in the US changed by an average of less than 0.1 years annually, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Changes to life expectancy amid the Covid-19 pandemic widened an existing gap between the US and other high-income countries, the new report shows. Among a set of 19 peer countries, life expectancy dropped only a third as much as in the US in 2020 (down 0.6 years, on average) and rebounded in 2021, with an average increase of about 0.3 years.
Life expectancy in the US fell from 78.9 years in 2019 to 76.6 years in 2021 -- now more than five years less than the average among peer nations.
"This speaks volumes about the life consequences of how the US handled the pandemic," Dr. Steven Woolf, study author and director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a statement. "What happened in the U.S. is less about the variants than the levels of resistance to vaccination and the public's rejection of practices, such as masking and mandates, to reduce viral transmission."
In the US, there was a disproportionate decrease in life expectancy for Black and Hispanic people in 2020. But in 2021, White people had the largest losses, with life expectancy holding steady for Hispanic people and rising slightly for Black people.
For this study, Woolf and other researchers from the University of Colorado and the Urban Institute analyzed death data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the Human Mortality Database and other international statistical agencies.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/us-life-expectancy-continues-historic-decline-with-another-drop-in-2021-study-finds/article_838cd910-29ae-5cfc-8187-ee9daa905c8a.html
| 2022-04-08T01:33:18Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM HST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...East winds 20 to 30 knots.
* WHERE...Most Hawaiian Coastal Waters except Windward Kauai and
Big Island Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM HST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
In working to maintain Hawaii's robust demographic diversity, Pedro Perestrelo Pinto, the Consul General of Portugal, is visiting the Hawaiian Islands.
Pinto will be attending a number of meetings with local legislators to establish a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Currently 10- to 20 percent of Hawaii's residents have Portuguese ancestral ties-- which he says is a driving factor for his visit.
Pinto plans to help citizens in renewing their passports and ID's, as well as provide support in connecting the Portuguese community.
"To come here after these two tough years, it's very very meaningful." explained Pinto. "And now we can start having gatherings of the Portuguese community. We're here in Oahu for three days, then we go to the Big Island, we also go to Maui."
And Pinto says in maintaining, and strengthening the international relationship, he hopes to al learn more about the Hawaiian culture.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
Erin found her passion in journalism from a young age, watching her dad on the news. He taught her the importance of meeting, learning, and sharing people's stories.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/portuguese-consul-general-visits-hawaii-to-strengthen-international-relations/article_b5ca038e-b6c1-11ec-b535-072d786aab8e.html
| 2022-04-08T01:33:24Z
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Student brawl breaks out over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, witnesses say
DOTHAN, Ala (WTVY/Gray News) - A fight started Thursday at an Alabama-area high school after two students reportedly got heated over a sandwich.
A spokesperson for Dothan Preparatory Academy said an altercation took place between two students at the school, leading to one of them being stabbed.
“They were apparently involved in a hallway argument,” said Meagan Dorsey, a Dothan City Schools spokesperson.
WTVY reports that witnesses said the students fought over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the attacker accused of using a hair pick in the stabbing.
Dorsey described injuries in the incident as minor and said the matter has been referred to Dothan police.
The injured student reportedly needed stitches, with the other facing an assault charge.
Copyright 2022 WTVY via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/08/student-brawl-breaks-out-over-peanut-butter-jelly-sandwich-witnesses-say/
| 2022-04-08T01:50:26Z
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Perhaps my favorite meme shows a red metal spring leaning around the corner of a brick building with the caption “Spring is just around the corner.”
Despite the decline in moisture and the sustained drought we’ve seen across much of the west in recent years, winters have still been cold. Unpleasantly so. I’ve never been a fan of weather in which I can’t wear flip-flops and shorts, so when the weather warms, a part of me is wound up in hopes that spring really is just around the corner.
I’m told there are places where spring is an actual, sustained season that you can anticipate and plan for, but that seems pretty far-fetched for this lifelong Klamath Falls resident who’s seen snow in June, July and August. Still, the dreamer in me wants to live in that world where seasons are carefully demarcated by months.
The National Weather Service uses April 1 as the final day to measure snowpack and total precipitation for a given winter. April 1 is that day we’re supposed to believe winter is behind us, but even in a drought, don’t let that day fool you. Winter has moved its primary address, but it will still visit us well into May as it clings to its former domain.
Assuming spring has sprung and next week’s snowstorm is minor, it’s time to start thinking about how to spend your spring in the Klamath Basin, and I have three recommendations: fishing (obviously), foraging for mushrooms and turkey hunting.
Fishing
The storied trout of the Klamath Basin represent the best wild native rainbow trout fishery on earth during the month of May, but still provide some great action in April if weather cooperates. Once water hits 60 degrees, it’s worth your time to be out there fishing Upper Klamath Lake and any of its tributaries open to fishing.
April fish will be looking to rapidly recover weight lost in their epic spawning migration, so think big. Large lures and flies are most effective but with poor visibility, anglers in Upper Klamath Lake might consider using worms or frozen minnows.
Though some people do eat these trout, even with the best preparation and during the best months to eat them (October and November), they still aren’t very good and are much more valuable alive. They’re great fun to catch and release, but if you’re looking for something delicious, consider swapping out your fishing rod for a knife and a burlap sack.
Mushrooming
Morel mushrooms are a popular wild mushroom found nationwide. They begin to show up in Southern Oregon in April, and finding a cluster of the earthy delicacy always makes my day. They can thrive in a variety of habitats but prefer recently disturbed soil in the shade that receives at least some moisture. You won’t find them in the treeless sagebrush flats, but you might be surprised where they’ll pop up. I’ve found them within 100 yards of Upper Klamath Lake’s waterline, though you will typically find them in more forested areas.
When you locate one or two or ten, use a knife or scissors to cut them from their base to allow the fungal spores a chance to grow again someday. Be sure to screenshot a few photos on your phone for proper identification because lookalikes can be damaging or even deadly.
Once you’ve confirmed you have morels, substitute them for domestic mushrooms in any recipe. I personally love to fry them in butter and pesto and add them to tortellini. I also love to slice
them thin and drop them on a pepperoni pizza about five minutes before it’s done cooking, but there are a number of ways to prepare them. Google or Pinterest can help.
You know what pairs well with morels? Fresh wild turkey schnitzel.
Turkeys
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t really turkey hunt. I’ll go with my family once or twice a year and enjoy the scenery, look for mushrooms and hope they get a bird or two, but I pretty much only hunt ducks these days. Nonetheless, wild turkey is far and away my favorite wild terrestrial meat — especially when prepared by my brother Jake.
Jake is the best chef I know, and his wild turkey schnitzel, pounded flat, lightly breaded and served with butter and lemon is the true prize of spring in the Klamath Basin. I may not hunt for them, but I pray without ceasing that he does.
While turkeys were relatively concentrated around the drop sites where they’d been transplanted into Oregon during the 1960s, they’ve thrived and can now be found almost everywhere in Oregon. You’d be shocked at all of the locations where I’ve found turkeys while fishing in the Klamath Basin, but for best success, head west. Jackson, Josephine, and Douglas Counties are all a short drive from Klamath Falls and offer some of the best turkey hunting in the country.
Be sure to check regulations if you go. There is no catch and release turkey hunting, but these birds are not native to Oregon, and you should feel absolutely no guilt harvesting the best wild meat Oregon’s lands have to offer — especially if you can pair it with some freshly harvested morels.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/april-fooled/article_7426365c-5028-56f4-a716-0b64bb49a482.html
| 2022-04-08T02:25:11Z
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Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Thursday sued a COVID testing business the state Justice Department alleges provided questionable test results and took advantage of Oregonians.
Center for Covid Control, an Illinois-based business that opened hundreds of testing sites nationally and five in Oregon, has been under scrutiny from state and federal officials for months. Rosenblum said her office received more than 30 complaints about the company since October, and it began investigating in January.
“They advertised quick and accurate test results, and people put their faith in them – during a time when testing for COVID-19 was in high demand,” Rosenblum said in a statement. “As a result, Oregonians made crucial decisions – about returning to work or school, travel, and visiting family and friends — in reliance on shoddy tests.”
The company said on its website that it and all its locations are “closed indefinitely.”
A 29-page lawsuit filed Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court accuses Center for Covid Control and its partner company, Doctors Clinical Laboratory, of purposefully misleading Oregonians through false advertising.
Chicago-area couple Aleya Siyaj and Akbar Ali Syed, who previously ran an ax-throwing lounge and a photography studio, formed Center for Covid Control in 2020, according to the suit. They quickly expanded from one COVID test site in the former ax-throwing lounge to about 300 nationally, including three in the Portland area and two in Salem.
They acquired a stake in Doctors Clinical Laboratory, the entity that performed the tests, last summer. The two companies have been so intertwined that employees and franchisees thought they were the same company, according to the lawsuit.
Center for Covid Control advertised accurate COVID test results within 24 to 72 hours for PCR tests, which are more accurate than rapid tests but need to be processed in a laboratory, and within hours for rapid antigen tests.
According to the suit, the company opened its first Oregon location in southeast Portland in late August or early September, but didn’t provide its Oregon staff with any training on federal health privacy laws until November or share any training materials on protocols for how to handle or store tests until January.
Employees at test sites had patients self-administer nasal swabs and drop specimen tubes into bags with an index card with identifying information. The tube didn’t have any identifying information, so patients couldn’t get results if the index card and tube were ever separated.
Bags with test samples were dropped into unrefrigerated bins and then shipped to Chicago for testing each night without ice packs or dry ice to keep them chilled. Federal health officials require that test samples be kept cold for accurate results.
Rapid antigen tests don’t require refrigeration. But the lawsuit alleges staff at the testing sites had patients take their own tests and didn’t monitor to make sure they were doing so correctly. Using the tests incorrectly, such as by touching the swab, can lead to false results showing that an infected person didn’t have COVID or that a COVID-free person did have it.
Until early December, most patients automatically received both a PCR and a rapid test — meaning the company could bill private insurance companies or the federal government for two tests per patient, according to the suit.
A public database from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Doctors Clinical Laboratory has received more than $152 million from the federal government in reimbursements for COVID tests.
The lawsuit claims that Syed posted pictures on social media of a $1.36 million mansion, a sky blue Lamborghini, a red Lamborghini Countach, a Tesla Model Y and a Ferrari Enzo, all of which the couple bought with their earnings.
“While raking in millions, defendants were returning results of questionable accuracy to patients,” the complaint said. “Defendants neither did nor could properly store specimens prior to testing due to a lack of proper equipment.”
The Justice Department is seeking to bar the company from ever again marketing or providing COVID tests in Oregon, as well as unspecified financial restitution for consumers and fines of up to $25,000 for each violation of state law.
“We must make sure they never do business in our state again,” Rosenblum said. “The same holds for any other company trying to make a quick buck here from a public health crisis.”
The company’s website states that it is “closed indefinitely” and links to a Jan. 20 news release that said it was extending an “operational pause” to train additional staff. An email to the company news office wasn’t returned Thursday, and a phone number listed on the company website is no longer in service.
USA Today reported the FBI searched the Center for Covid Control’s Chicago-area headquarters on Jan. 22.
Attorneys general in both Washington and Minnesota have also filed civil lawsuits against the company. Washington’s suit, filed in January, includes allegations that employees at some of the 13 sites in that state started storing tests in garbage bags piled around their offices.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-attorney-general-rosenblum-sues-covid-testing-company/article_4ad890a4-7574-5b7d-aa73-1ecb51048694.html
| 2022-04-08T02:25:17Z
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It’s the time of year when we get outside and curse at weeds. Yes, it’s spring, which means I’ll be refusing garden gloves in favor of the feeling of dark, rich terra firma underneath my fingernails. It’s time to get in touch with nature again, and — ouch — I think I just got a splinter! Run inside and find the tweezers! Too much touching nature!
Yes, I have already gotten a splinter or two while gardening during this brief season, but have you ever come across a splinter word? No, a splinter word isn’t any word involving wood; in fact, a splinter is part of a larger word used in forming a new “splinter” word.
Take -holic, for example. An alcoholic suffers from an addiction to alcohol (the proper, modern terminology is that someone suffers from alcohol use disorder).
For the sake of the example, let’s take the splinter -holic. It doesn’t stand alone as its own word, but when someone talks about being a “shopaholic” or “pizzaholic,” we know what the other person means. The “-holic” splinter denotes a dependence on something.
Here’s another splinter: -tainment. We know that “entertainment” is something created or performed for the amusement of others. However, on its own, -tainment isn’t a word. It’s a splinter. So when we see words like “edutainment,” “eatertainment,” and “shoppertainment,” we know that those words relate to things that are created for your amusement.
Along those lines, would “intertainment” be entertainment designed specifically for the internet?
Note that splinters are not suffixes. In the previous example, “-tainment” isn’t a suffix, although “-ment” is a suffix having to do with an action or the result of an action.
In politics, pundits love using the splinter -nomics. Derived from economics, talking heads fill airtime by taking part of a politician’s name (usually the president) and turning the leader’s economic plans into a word. It started with “Reaganomics,” referring to President Ronald Reagan’s economic pillars. Later we got “Clintonomics.” But my favorite of the -nomics to say is “Obamanomics.”
Many splinter words begin as slang and then creep into text messages, conversations and even the seventh hour of the “Today Show.” If you’ve heard the word “mansplain,” that happens when a man explains something to a woman in a condescending way. A “mockumentary” is a documentary that is purposefully poking fun at the traditional documentary film style. We see how these splinters form new words.
What other splinters can you think of? I’d hate to grammarsplain this topic into the ground.
—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.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/there-s-a-splinter-in-your-word/article_fda6d124-db33-54f4-b0b1-ec18df9deb86.html
| 2022-04-08T02:25:23Z
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/upcoming-events/article_19bd08f1-7db1-5cd3-9b52-1f97a97a544a.html
| 2022-04-08T02:25:30Z
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The Josephine County Sheriff's Office said they raided a home in Grants Pass and arrested three persons in association with an illegal marijuana grow at a residence.
Illegal marijuana grows are a problem in southern Oregon and northern California. Police arrested three people after a raid on a Grants Pass home on April 7.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office said they raided a home in Grants Pass and arrested three persons in association with an illegal marijuana grow at a residence.
JCSO
Illegal marijuana grows are a problem in southern Oregon and northern California. Police arrested three people after a raid on a Grants Pass home on April 7.
JCSO
Marijuana was seized during a raid at a residential property March 23 in Josephine County.
An early morning police raid Thursday resulted in the arrests of three people — two of them in their mid 60s — and the discovery of 750 marijuana plants at a home in Grants Pass.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office said its marijuana enforcement conducted the raid at 7 a.m. at home on the 300 block of Lindy Lane. Police said they discovered an illegal indoor cannabis growing operation at the home.
Yongming Chen, 44, Jiankang Chen, 66 and Liuyue Xie, 65, face marjiuana charges. The two men and one woman (Xie) were booked into the Josephine County Jail.
The April 7 raid and arrests comes after Josephine deputies conducted another marijuana raid on March 23 at home in Selma.
Police also conducted that raid at 7 a.m. Thomas Draper, 55, was arrested on firearm and marijuana charges.
Cops seized 2,000 pounds of cannabis from the home and other buildings on the property. Police say they destroy the seized cannabis after both raids.
Law enforcement in southern Oregon and northern California are challenged by a substantial number of illegal marijuana growing operations. That comes despite marijuana being legal for recreational use in Oregon, California and Washington.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/cops-raid-homes-used-for-illegal-marijuana-grows/article_503a6c41-a33b-53fa-b329-023d23c68099.html
| 2022-04-08T02:25:36Z
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JMU men’s soccer to compete in Sun Belt’s new-look league
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The James Madison men’s soccer team will join the Sun Belt Conference later this year.
The Sun Belt officially announced Wednesday that it is reinstating men’s soccer with a new-look, nine-team league. JMU will compete alongside fellow league newcomers: Old Dominion and Marshall, current Sun Belt members: Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and Coastal Carolina, and three affiliate (men’s soccer only) members from Power Five programs: Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men’s soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20. The league is bringing the sport back in time for the 2022 season.
“These elite programs will lend instant credibility and help establish the Sun Belt as one of the nation’s premier men’s collegiate soccer conferences,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill in a statement. “They each bring their unique traditions and histories of excellence. We welcome them and look forward to a bright future on the pitch.”
James Madison has played in the NCAA Tournament three times in the last four seasons with the Dukes winning Colonial Athletic Association titles three consecutive years from 2018-2020 (2021 spring). JMU was banned from competing for the CAA title in 2021 due to the impending move to the Sun Belt.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our move to the Sun Belt Conference for the fall of 2022,” said JMU head coach Paul Zazenski in a statement. “The potential for Sun Belt men’s soccer is endless and will instantly consist of some of the best-run programs across the country. Instantly, the Sun Belt will give JMU men’s soccer an opportunity to consistently be on the national stage competing in one of the best overall conferences year in and year out. The Sun Belt will present many new challenges along the way, but we intend to embrace those challenges head on to continue to improve our program as well as the conference overall.”
Nearly all JMU sports programs will officially join the Sun Belt July 1, 2022.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/06/jmu-mens-soccer-compete-sun-belts-new-look-league/
| 2022-04-08T02:34:23Z
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2 more Black coaches sue NFL alleging racial discrimination
NEW YORK (AP) — Two Black coaches joined Brian Flores on Thursday in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL when there are vacancies for coaches and general managers.
The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.
The lawsuit said Wilks was discriminated against by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 when he was hired as a “bridge coach” but was given no meaningful chance to succeed, while Horton was subjected to discriminatory treatment when he was given a sham interview for the Tennessee Titans head coach position in January 2016.
Flores also criticized the NFL in the rewritten lawsuit for its response to the lawsuit he brought against it and its teams several weeks ago.
The lawsuit added the Houston Texans to the teams Flores has alleged discriminated against him, saying the Texans engaged in “blatant retaliation” by removing him from consideration for its head coach vacancy after he sued the league.
In a release from the lawsuit’s attorneys, Wilks said he hoped the lawsuit would help bring racial equality to the league. Arizona replaced Wilks with Kliff Kingsbury, a white man with no NFL coaching experience, and gave a white general manager an extension despite a drunk driving conviction.
“When Coach Flores filed this action, I knew I owed it to myself, and to all Black NFL coaches and aspiring coaches, to stand with him,” Wilks said. “This lawsuit has shed further important light on a problem that we all know exists, but that too few are willing to confront. Black coaches and candidates should have exactly the same ability to become employed, and remain employed, as white coaches and candidates.”
Horton said he was “devastated and humiliated” when he learned that his interview with the Titans was a sham.
“By joining this case, I am hoping to turn that experience into a positive and make lasting change and create true equal opportunity in the future,” he said.
The NFL declined to comment Thursday.
“The decisions we made after the 2018 season were very difficult ones,” the Arizona Cardinals said in a statement. “But as we said at the time, they were entirely driven by what was in the best interests of our organization and necessary for team improvement. We are confident that the facts reflect that and demonstrate that these allegations are untrue.”
Houston, in a statement, said its search for a head coach was “very thorough and inclusive.”
“Due to his previous success as a coach in the NFL, Brian Flores was among the first candidates we held a formal interview with for the position and he remained a candidate until the very end,” it said. “We enjoyed our multiple conversations with Brian regarding his vision for our organization.”
It added: “In the end, we made the decision to hire Lovie Smith as our head coach and we believe he is the best fit for our team moving forward. It was a very fluid process that allowed us to spend time with a number of quality candidates. We are proud of our decision and will vigorously defend our process.”
Smith, who is Black, was announced as the Texans head coach in February. He served as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
The Titans in a statement defended their 2016 coach selection process as “thoughtful and competitive,” saying it obeyed NFL guidelines and its organizational values.
“We conducted detailed, in-person interviews with four talented individuals, two of whom were diverse candidates. No decision was made, and no decision was communicated, prior to the completion of all interviews,” the Titans said.
The Titans concluded their interview with Horton by midday Jan. 16, 2016, and announced Mularkey was hired hours later. Mularkey said on a podcast in 2020 that he still regretted taking part in the interview process after having been told he would be the Titans’ head coach before they satisfied the Rooney Rule.
“I sat there knowing I was the head coach in ‘16 as they went through this fake hiring process ...,” Mularkey said then. “I’m sorry I did that. It was not the way to go about it.”
Flores sued the NFL and three teams on Feb. 1 after he was fired as Miami Dolphins coach in January after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years. They went 9-8 in their second straight winning season, but failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.
He has since been hired as an assistant coach by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In the updated lawsuit Thursday, lawyers for Flores noted that the NFL responded to the lawsuit in February by saying it was “without merit” but its executives have made statements and taken steps in “unguarded moments” that showed it “has begrudgingly acknowledged the decades-long problem of systemic discrimination.”
The lawsuit, as it did previously, seeks class-action status and unspecified damages from the league and individual teams. It alleges that the league has discriminated against Flores and other Black coaches for racial reasons, denying them positions as head coaches and other top coaching posts as well as a chance to be a general manager.
It also highlights the lack of progress in the two decades since the “Rooney Rule” — named after former Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney — was created to give more minority candidates opportunities to become a head coach.
In 2020, the NFL amended the Rooney Rule to stipulate teams must interview at least two minority candidates not associated with their team for a head coaching vacancy and one minority candidate for coordinator positions and high-ranking front office positions, including general manager.
Last month, the NFL changed it again to require its 32 clubs to employ a woman or a member of an ethnic or racial minority to serve as an offensive assistant coach.
___
AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner and Teresa M. Walker contributed to this story.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/07/2-more-black-coaches-sue-nfl-alleging-racial-discrimination/
| 2022-04-08T02:34:31Z
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