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...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
possible.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...From late tonight through Saturday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power
lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 430, 431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts of
40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Glass with beer and set of various kind snacks: jerky, potato chips, salted nuts, stockfish, bread crackers, dried squids on dark wooden table on brown background with copy space. Snacks for beer.
The Cheyenne Symphony Friends invite you to a fantastic evening of local microbrews and appetizer pairings in support of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra on April 30th at 5:00 PM at the Atlas Theatre.
This event includes four tasting-sized signature beers, one each from Accomplice Beer Company, Black Tooth Brewing Company, Danielmark’s Brewing Company and Freedom’s Edge Brewing Company, each paired with a chef-created appetizer from Taste of the Plains.
Learn about the beers from the brewers and what inspired the chef for each pairing, all while listening to the eclectic music of Synesthesia. Tickets are $60 and must be purchased by April 25. Cash bar and silent auction will also be available. Online silent auction will begin on Wednesday, April 27 at www.cheyennesymphony.org. Bidders need not attend the event to win.
The “Taps and Apps” pairings for the evening are as follows:
First Course
Freedom’s Edge Brewing Company: High Noon Chili Ale (Blonde Ale)
Shrimp tostada with mango salsa and red pepper puree
Second Course
Danielmarks Brewing Company: Corson (Pilsner)
Beer cheese dip served in a soft pretzel bread boat with mixed crudité
Third Course
Black Tooth Brewing Company: Bomber Mountain (Amber Ale)
Mashed potato fritter with beer brat, onions and peppers
Fourth Course
Accomplice Beer Company: Wet Hop IPA
Marinated steak and vegetable skewers
Dessert
Lemon bars or chocolate sheet cake with cream cheese icing, provided by B’s Baked Goods.
This event is the annual fundraiser presented by the Symphony Friends, an organization of passionate and dedicated volunteers who support the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra’s mission by raising funds and sharing their time and talent to support Symphony initiatives.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheyenne-symphony-friends-present-tunes-taps-and-apps/article_14506150-0021-5e65-a806-b0310378d4c4.html
| 2022-04-22T14:24:27Z
|
CHEYENNE – A local man accused of hitting and killing a woman with his truck while drunk and then leaving the scene was sentenced to prison time on Wednesday.
Kyle A. Ziemer, 33, was sentenced to seven to 14 years of incarceration by Laramie County District Judge Steven Sharpe. He was also ordered to pay $6,357 in restitution to the Wyoming Division of Victim Services.
Ziemer pleaded guilty in December to aggravated vehicular homicide (DUI) as part of a plea agreement. The state had agreed to cap its sentencing argument at 10 to 14 years in prison, while Ziemer and his attorney were free to argue for any sentence they felt was appropriate, including probation.
An additional misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death was dismissed at sentencing.
Cheyenne resident Andrea Martinez, 38, was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center shortly after the incident, where she died from her injuries.
At the time of the incident, Ziemer's blood-alcohol content was between 0.214 and 0.234, Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove said during the hearing. This is close to three times the legal limit for a driver.
Manlove also noted Ziemer previously received a DUI in 2014. She emphasized that he did not stop after hitting Martinez, that witnesses had to call 911 and that some of the witnesses followed Ziemer to his home.
The district attorney argued that Ziemer had not made a mistake on the day he struck and killed Martinez, as described by some of Ziemer's family and friends who spoke on his behalf Wednesday.
"He had choices almost a year ago, and his choice was to drink and drive," Manlove said. "And, as a result, he killed someone."
Ziemer's attorney, Ryan Wright, said his client did not stop because he did not see Martinez and did not know he'd struck her. Still, Wright said, Ziemer took full responsibility for his actions.
Wright asked the court to consider probation, or at least a lower prison sentence than requested by the state, taking into account what he said were mitigating factors in the case.
Defendant's statement
Ziemer also read a statement to the court prior to his sentencing, becoming emotional throughout.
"Words do not describe the pain I feel every day from this tragedy," he said. "Andrea is the first thing that I think of every single morning and the last thing before falling asleep at night. I know this is something I will live with for the rest of my life."
Ziemer said that although he'd lost a lot because of what he'd done – his job, his home, his wife, his dogs – it was nothing compared to the pain he'd caused Martinez's family.
He added that he wanted to honor Martinez by continuing to share the story of what he did to try and prevent it from happening again.
Along with the number of individuals who testified to Ziemer's character, several members of Martinez's family also spoke, describing how painful it had been to lose Martinez in this way.
The incident
At 5:49 p.m. on March 24, 2021, Cheyenne police officer Alyssa Muzquiz responded to a hit and run involving a pedestrian near the intersection of Nationway and Hot Springs Avenue.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Martinez was walking eastbound on the asphalt part of a median on Nationway when the driver of a red 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup truck, later identified as Ziemer, swerved into the median and struck Martinez, witnesses said.
When she arrived at the scene, Officer Muzquiz saw Martinez lying in the median and took over from a civilian who was administering CPR to Martinez.
Muzquiz later interviewed two witnesses who had been driving behind Ziemer. Both said they saw him swerve into the median, hit Martinez with his truck and continue driving on Nationway, the affidavit said.
Officer Logan Warren arrived at Ziemer’s residence shortly after he allegedly struck Martinez with his vehicle. When Warren arrived, two witnesses said they had followed Ziemer from the scene, and one pointed at Ziemer to identify him as the person who hit Martinez. The two witnesses said they were driving near Ziemer, one in front of and one behind him, when they saw him hit Martinez, according to the affidavit.
Warren made contact with Ziemer as he was attempting to open his front door, handcuffing him and placing him in the back of his patrol car while he interviewed witnesses, the officer said during a court hearing last year. Warren noticed Ziemer’s speech was slurred, his eyes were watery and bloodshot, and he smelled of alcohol.
Warren testified that Ziemer’s blood-alcohol level was tested at CRMC after the incident, but he didn’t know the results of the test. Ziemer failed one field sobriety test, Warren said, and further tests were not conducted because Ziemer had fallen over several times while in police custody.
During interviews with police, Ziemer said he’d had six beers at a work party, and initially said he had been driven home by a friend, Warren testified.
Later, at the hospital, Ziemer told police officers he’d hit Martinez with his vehicle, saying: “I was the one driving,” and “It’s a huge relief to tell someone I drove and hit the woman with my truck,” according to the probable cause affidavit.
Warren testified that, after learning Martinez had died, Ziemer “looked sad” and said he “felt bad.” When asked during the jail booking process if he was depressed, Ziemer said he was because he had just killed someone, Warren said.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/driver-in-fatal-hit-and-run-will-serve-up-to-14-years-in-prison/article_2f20e0b2-7e01-5367-a508-50c546418b00.html
| 2022-04-22T14:24:33Z
|
This past Monday, April 18, the Laramie County School District 1 Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution affirming their commitment – thereby, the district’s commitment – to providing and guaranteeing a “safe learning environment where all are treated with kindness, dignity and respect.”
The resolution went on to state that due to “the increase in reports of intimidation, harassment in regard to race and color ... the District has joined with the city, the base and business community to condemn and enforce policies which strictly prohibit any activity or speech on district property or district-sponsored events that maliciously and intentionally intimidates or harasses another person based upon the person’s race, color or gender.”
I applaud this action and believe this resolution is very significant on four levels: a) immediate history; b) community syncretism; c) governing grit and courage by trustees; and d) the unanimity of the vote for the resolution.
First, the historical significance. I was serving on the board in 2019 when we were alerted to an alarming incident involving a state senator and a group of local high school students. The students, representatives of their school’s Gay Straight Alliance club, were at the Legislature lobbying for a bill related to protecting the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ persons. They were meeting with the local senator when the senator proceeded to unleash ugly, crude and bigoted views of LGBTQ+ persons and their lifestyle. The students and their sponsor were shocked.
Shortly after the incident, the board met for a regularly scheduled business meeting, but we also had placed on our agenda to have an executive session to speak with the sponsor of said club regarding the outburst from the senator. We met in executive session and talked with the sponsor, asking that person their thoughts and their narrative of the incident.
After discussing and asking the sponsor questions, we excused the person. The question arose, “What do we do next?” “Do we write a letter of ‘de marche’ (a letter calling someone on the carpet) to the Legislature, asking for an apology?” We were still in executive session, and yet we debated our options and our opinions. After some period of time, it was realized there was no consensus of what was to be done, and the matter was dropped.
I left the meeting that night wondering whether the “debate” should have been an executive session matter. And I still question our actions that evening. The discussion we engaged in was of public interest and public concern. Trustees made clear their positions and thoughts; should not those been subject to full public scrutiny? That question is significant for two reasons: a) what would occur about a month later; and b) how the board processed the resolution recently.
About a month later, the “McCormick Incident” exploded in this community with the discovery of racist and homophobic leaflets placed around that building. The community and media angrily came after the board for its failure to monitor in due diligence, and they were right. Later investigations revealed a long train of racist and homophobic behavior in the building. We spent the remainder of that school year trying to respond and “fix” the plethora of complaints.
Was the failure of the board to act on the bigoted behavior by a legislator the previous month a “signal” that the board was not only disengaged, but silently condoning the words then? Was the inaction related to what occurred at McCormick? Many in the community believed so. To this day, I strongly believe that our failure to take a stance may have encouraged those behind the leaflets.
That trajectory was corrected Monday when the board openly discussed, debated and passed the resolution in the eyes of the public. This board made clear it is engaged and concerned.
Secondly is the fact that the school district and the community are working together on a very important factor related to the health and growth of Cheyenne. I laud Mayor Collins and the base commander for their testimony and expectations for the school district. The adage of “it takes a village to raise a child” might be "worn,” but it is a truism. It is my hope that in the future the school district and community work together in their creating, crafting and enacting strategic plans for Cheyenne.
Thirdly, Trustee Wiederspahn is deserving for his grit and courage to speak of the outrage he felt; “we should be incensed by what is happening here …," and that he was embarrassed. Those were hard words, but they are words which carried three years of history with them. I also laud Trustee Herman for her steely resolve that the resolution would be crafted in public, piece by piece. That took courage and resolve; and it, too, carried the history of three years ago with it.
Finally, I applaud the board for its vote of unanimity on the resolution. The debate was civil. The debate was focused upon wording, syntax, context and meaning. Though many have derided the resolution as “toothless,” I disagree. This document is ethically and morally binding to every trustee. This document is a unanimous mutual pledge to the community, guaranteeing a “safe learning environment where all are treated with kindness, dignity and respect.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/breen-lcsd1-board-of-trustees-acted-with-courage-in-passing-resolution/article_74af416a-eea7-5480-9521-fb37fca9ad2f.html
| 2022-04-22T14:24:39Z
|
It’s hard to believe, but I actually agree with Wyoming Gun Owners: We both think the state’s new Second Amendment Protection Act is a sham.
Where we part ways is that while WyGO is fighting mad that it passed, I’m not upset.
Am I conflicted about this fleeting kinship with a group whose sole purpose appears to be using gun-grabber boogiemen and fictional assaults on our Second Amendment rights to rake in donations and sow political discord? You bet. It’s a prime example of the old adage that politics makes strange bedfellows.
But I can live with knowing 43 House and 22 Senate members who approved the act can proudly tell gun-owning voters they stood up for their rights. Of course, no one in Wyoming actually needed any additional protections to keep their guns. It’s often said that Wyoming has more guns per capita than any other state in the union, and we’ve long been one of the gun-friendliest states going. So the legislation is just a shameless political ploy, and one I would normally condemn.
But these same lawmakers killed WyGO’s Second Amendment Preservation Act, a dangerous bill that would have made law enforcement agencies and officers vulnerable to lawsuits for enforcing federal gun regulations. That was truly a public service.
While the “Protection Act” (I’ll call it SAPA 1) is now state law, backers of the “Preservation Act” (SAPA 2) are seeking revenge at the Aug. 16 primary election. They’ve promised a bloodbath.
To untangle this weird web, let’s start with the 2020 GOP primary election, when WyGO targeted three Republican incumbents it branded “gun grabbers”: Sen. Michael Von Flatern of Gillette, and Reps. Dan Kirkbride of Chugwater and Bill Pownall of Gillette. All three lost, defeated by WyGO-endorsed candidates who also won in the general election.
Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, former WyGO director, sponsored a SAPA bill during the 2021 general session. In addition to preventing the enforcement of all federal gun laws in Wyoming, it required the attorney general to defend anyone accused of violating such laws.
Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, who is no Second Amendment foe, successfully watered it down with amendments, to the point Bouchard actually voted against his own bill.
It passed the Senate, 24-6, but the House never even considered it.
This year, Bouchard returned with SAPA 2. It allowed any state agency or law enforcement officer who “infringed” on citizens’ Second Amendment rights to be sued. Successful aggrieved parties would receive a minimum or $50,000 per violation.
Hicks countered with SAPA 1. His bill prevented agencies and officers from knowingly enforcing unconstitutional federal gun laws. Violating the law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.
A bill similar to Bouchard’s was approved in Missouri last year. Its constitutionality has been challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice and state agencies.
The Senate killed SAPA 2, 9-21. Bouchard and WyGO launched an all-out attack against Hicks’ bill.
SAPA 1 was approved by about 3-to-1 margins in the Senate and House. Supporters included Gun Owners of America and the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police.
The GOA calls itself the nation’s “only no compromise gun lobby.” It is positioned to the right of the NRA, which it charges represents the gun industry at the expense of gun owners.
To the extreme right of both groups is a coalition of a dozen state organizations, including WyGO. An outgrowth of the older National Association for Gun Rights, the cabal is led by WyGO Director Aaron Dorr of Iowa and his brothers, Chris and Ben Dorr.
Aaron Dorr accused the GOA of delivering “a knife to the back of Wyoming gun owners” by endorsing Hicks’ bill. But the GOA and others have accused the Dorrs of milking money from gun owners without actually lobbying for any meaningful pro-gun rights legislation.
GOA contends Hicks’ version “was simply a better bill capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny.”
But the Tenth Amendment Center, a states-rights group, said the law “is all bark and no bite.”
TAC’s Michael Boldin said it prohibits agencies from enforcing “unconstitutional” Second Amendment provisions, requiring courts to rule before the state law applies.
Because the new law states one must “knowingly” violate it, Boldin said prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt one was fully aware his or her actions violated the law but did it anyway. He predicted no one will ever be prosecuted.
WyGO says it has many challengers lined up to face unrepentant GOP incumbents in the primary.
In 2020, the group kept taunting the defeated Von Flatern. “Your mistake was in thinking that WyGO was like every other lobby group, that we would eventually want to play nice,” it posted on Facebook. “We don’t want to play nice, we want to save our freedoms.”
WyGO also wants to keep stoking members’ fears to prime its money machine. The Dorrs and GOA may not agree about much, but they have one thing in common: A well-timed failure can keep them laughing all the way to the bank.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/drake-wyoming-s-gun-advocates-are-forming-a-circular-firing-squad/article_c2c7c2c3-be47-5c4e-89ba-ec5b46ef6c24.html
| 2022-04-22T14:24:46Z
|
...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
possible.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...From late tonight through Saturday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power
lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 430, 431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts of
40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Defeat makes Russia dangerous, but world must maintain support for Ukraine
If a shrewd Kremlin military analyst had drawn up a list of objectives for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the reality of this horrific misadventure is more or less the photo negative of that. Rather than a quick and decisive march to Kyiv, the Russian military has alternately been bogged down and repelled, received nothing but anger and derision from the locals, sustained heavy losses and lost a crop of high-ranking officers. Meantime, the West’s tightening vise around the Russian economy has made things increasingly hard on Vladimir Putin’s regime domestically.
In the latest incredible turn of events, last week the Russian flagship Moskva was sunk by Ukrainian missiles. The ship was not only a warship but a symbol of its naval strength, featuring prominently in 2014’s annexation of Crimea. It won’t be participating in any more unprovoked invasions from the bottom of the Black Sea.
Unfortunately, rather than taking their massive setbacks and casualties as a sign that his campaign is doomed to fail, Putin’s forces responded with heavy-handed retaliation. Evidence of war crimes continues to mount as international investigators find proof of abductions, rapes, strikes on civilian infrastructure and the use of banned munitions. Following Russia’s withdrawal from the area around Kyiv, more than 900 civilians have been found dead.
At this pivotal juncture, the international community must continue supporting the Ukrainian defense, including with robust weapons and supply shipments. Russia’s dark and indistinct warnings about the consequences – the CIA director, while cautioning that he’s seen no “practical evidence” suggesting such an attack is imminent, says America can’t take lightly the possibility of Putin using “tactical” or “low-yield” nuclear weapons in Ukraine – should only stiffen our spines.
Putin’s attack had the base objective of weakening NATO. On that front, like all others, he has failed miserably, as Sweden and Finland are moving to join the defense pact. The despot can make all the noise he wants about his nuclear weapons arsenal. The rest of the world sees that he must be contained.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/townnews/military/defeat-makes-russia-dangerous-but-world-must-maintain-support-for-ukraine/article_26a48c8b-5e15-5853-9692-6d3f297abb32.html
| 2022-04-22T14:24:52Z
|
CHEYENNE – Both Cheyenne Central and Cheyenne East left Okie Blanchard Stadium thinking they left goals on the field Thursday night.
There’s a lot of truth to that considering the second of their cross-town showdowns ended in a 1-1 overtime draw.
“We were having a hard time finding that last touch,” Central coach Tim Denisson said. “We had very promising opportunities, but there was a lot of traffic (in front of the goal). Maybe we needed one more touch vertically could have helped us find another guy or maybe a half foot of space.
“It was hard to lower your head, have time on the ball and hit the kind of shot you wanted. We had a couple very heroic and exciting drives up the field, but we couldn’t get one more.”
The Indians (5-3-1 overall, 4-2-1 Class 4A East Conference) outshot East 22-14 overall, including 14-8 on goal. Central took nine corner kicks to the Thunderbirds’ three.
“It was a tough, emotional match. We had some calls not go our way, and we should have taken that differently,” Indians sophomore Sammy Shumway said. “We needed to step back and play our game differently. We didn’t play our game, and that hurt.
“The goal provided us a little spark, but it was a battle all night.”
The first half was fairly even, but Central’s shots often hit a host of East defenders inside the penalty area.
“Central is so good at shooting from outside the box, so we tried to keep a lot of guys in front of them and make it hard for them to get the ball past the goalkeeper,” East’s Edwin Lopez said.
The Indians got on the scoreboard in the 52nd when junior fullback Ignatius John stole the ball from East senior Brian Mead and raced up the field. John slipped the ball through East’s defense to Shumway, who forced it past goalkeeper Connor Fisbeck to put Central up 1-0.
“It was a beautiful pass,” Shumway said.
East responded almost immediately.
Lopez struck a direct kick toward the goal from 35 yards out. Junior Brenden Bohlmann found the ball in a crowd and put it past Central keeper Jackson Cook to level the score 1-1 in the 54th.
“I saw everyone’s heads go down when Central scored its goal, but scoring that goal right after picked us back up,” Lopez said. “When people score on us, we have to keep pushing through. Things aren’t always going to go the way we want, but we have to keep going.”
Central had two more high-quality looks at goal during regulation. In the 66th, Roscoe Cone-LeBeaumont headed a crossing pass from Shumway toward the right upright. Fisbeck made the initial stop with his outstretched left hand before corralling the short rebound.
Sophomore Samuel Lucas Smith struck a hard, right-footed shot toward the goal off a pass from Logan Custis in the 70th, but Fisbeck also made that save.
East (2-5-1, 1-4-1) has been searching for consistency from its keepers throughout this spring. It used three different goalies during its’ April 15 loss to visiting Laramie. Fisbeck’s 13-save effort Thursday was his best outing of the season, T-Birds’ coach Ryan Cameron said.
“Some of the issue this year has been confidence and things not going his way,” Cameron said. “We’ve put more goalkeeper-specific training into our practices to help (Fisbeck) clean up some of the things that are correctable. He’s a fairly athletic kid, who makes some great saves but it’s sometimes the routine stuff that gets him.
“We’ve focused in on that. We need him to clean up the routine ones and maybe make a big save or two beyond that. (Fisbeck) did that in this match. He played great.”
CENTRAL 1, EAST 1, OT
Halftime: 0-0. Regulation: 1-1.
Goals: CC, Shumway (John), 52. CE, Br. Bohlmann (Lopez), 54.
Shots: CC 22, CE 14. Shots on goal: CC 14, CE 8. Saves: CC 7 (Cook); CE 13 (Fisbeck).
Corner kicks: CC 9, CE 3. Offsides: CC 4, CE 2. Fouls: CC 16, CE 8. Yellow cards: CC 4 (Cook, 50. John, 80. Patterson, 84. Ziemann, 100).
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/cheyenne_central/central-east-boys-play-to-draw/article_a9a323c0-b7ab-5427-96aa-519a595a9020.html
| 2022-04-22T14:24:58Z
|
CHEYENNE – Taking advantage of set pieces early helped Cheyenne Central set the tone Thursday afternoon.
A score off a corner kick in the fifth minute of the match gave the Lady Indians a 1-0 lead over Cheyenne East. Calie Mosely placed the ball in front of the frame and Ava Taylor eventually managed to knock it in for her first goal of the contest. Central rolled that into a 4-1 victory at Okie Blanchard Stadium.
“We just wanted to set the pace and control the game, and I think that’s what we ended up doing. It just came down to who wanted it more, and I think it came down to us,” Taylor said. “Our set pieces are a big thing for us. We try to capitalize as much as we can and it wasn’t much, but it was just enough to get it in the back of the net, and that’s just what I was going for.”
East (2-6-1 overall, 2-4-1 Class 4A East Conference) saw a couple of opportunities to answer get negated by offsides calls. Haley Pierson fed two through balls to teammates who would have had a one-on-one opportunities, but the Lady Thunderbirds couldn’t take advantage.
Mosely doubled Central’s lead in the 33rd with a free kick from the right side of the pitch 25 yards out. With some help from the wind, the kick sailed into the top right corner of the netting and just past East goalie Kiara Kershaw’s hands. The Indians maintained possession for the better part of the first half, which led to five corner kicks and four shots on goal.
“We had to make some adjustments and our adjustments worked out,” Central coach Kaylin Olivas said. “It seemed a little more in our favor and we were able to control the midfield a lot better … we just continued to play what was successful for us.”
Tayler Miller cut the East deficit to one with a goal in the 51st. Following a Central foul, Miller had a free kick near the center of the field from 20 yards out where she breezed it right past the Central defensive line and into the back of the net.
Pierson almost scored the equalizer five minutes later, but a her shot sailed high of the frame. Following that, it didn’t take long for Central to extend its lead.
“We didn’t show up (Thursday), and those losses hurt more,” East coach Rebecca Valdez said. “We did good things at times and that’s encouraging … tonight was just a case of playing very inconsistent and not defending set pieces very well.”
Taylor scored her second goal of the match when she rebounded an Ekena Little shot in the 61st. Kershaw laid out, blocked the shot, and it deflected to the opposite side of the net where Taylor and Mosely were both in position to score. The Indians’ final goal came when Taylor connected with Nolee Parker who was running wide on the right side of the field and sent a laser into the top left of the net.
Central (2-5-1, 2-3-1) bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Laramie on Tuesday and entered its rivalry matchup with a simple mindset.
“Our mentality is always control the controllable – your effort and your attitude,” Olivas said. “And (Thursday), that’s all I had them focus on and they did just that … they did the job they needed to do, and they were successful.”
CENTRAL 4, EAST 1
Halftime: 2-0
Goals: Central, Taylor (Mosely), 5. Central, Mosely (free kick), 33. East, Miller (free kick), 51. Central, Taylor, 61. Central, Parker (Taylor), 64.
Shots: CC 5, CE 7. Shots on goal: CC 7, CE 5. Saves: CC 4 (Osterland); CE 3 (Kershaw).
Corner kicks: CC 6, CE 3. Offsides: CC 0, CE 3. Fouls: CC 7, CE 6.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/cheyenne_central/lady-indians-ride-early-score-to-win-over-east/article_0af4b053-93e7-5009-83d0-4a57997547ca.html
| 2022-04-22T14:25:04Z
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/cheyenne_south/prep-softball-south-falls-to-wheatland-on-the-road/article_3528d62e-0013-5e80-a38c-727b7f7243c3.html
| 2022-04-22T14:25:10Z
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LARAMIE – While the University of Wyoming does not plan to release a depth chart this spring, one quarterback in particular has been a continued source of praise from coach Craig Bohl recently.
On multiple occasions in the past couple weeks, Bohl has expressed pleasure with Utah State transfer Andrew Peasley’s ability to grasp the offense. He did once again following Thursday’s practice, which included third-down situations and increased pressure on the quarterbacks.
“Andrew Peasley is really beginning to execute our offense better,” Bohl said. “Even though Andrew is an older player, I would say it’s kind of like learning a new language. Just the terminology and some of the ideas with what we do in pro-style offense is really quite different than what Utah State did.
“There’s a curve there, and he’s really embraced it. I thought he had probably his best day, as far as his decisions on where the ball was going.”
Bohl was also optimistic about the performance of the offensive line on Thursday, with redshirt freshman Jack Walsh emerging as a potential contributor as of late. He says the Cowboys have seven players they expect to see playing time at the position next year, but would prefer to have an eight-man rotation up front.
It’s worth noting that Deshawn Woods, the highest-rated commit in program history, is set to join the offensive line this summer.
“Typically at that position, there are some injuries that occur during the course of the year, so we feel pretty good about seven,” Bohl said. “We’d like to be able to realistically come up with eight. The eighth guy right now is somewhere out there in the abyss. He’s out there, I just don’t know where he is. I hope he comes pretty soon, but right now, he isn’t there yet.”
With turnover at every other position on the offense, UW coaches have hinted throughout the spring that the tight ends will be called upon to play a larger role next season. Junior Treyton Welch and sophomore Parker Christensen are two of three returners that surpassed 100 yards receiving last season, and along with the other tight ends, have placed an emphasis on becoming greater threats in the passing game.
“We’ve all been here for one, two, three, four years now, so it’s exciting to be able to take that leadership role of being a position group that’s more experienced and more ready to take us to the next level next year,” Welch said. “We’ve really been stressing during spring ball as a group to make those contested plays. A lot of people are 50-50 on them, and we want to be like 80-20 with those.”
Added Christensen: “Just route running and stuff, coach (Shannon) Moore has done a really good job on integrating that more into our practice. We’ve made that a bigger focus, and I think our team has made that a bigger focus, too – just the pass game and everything.”
On the injury front, Bohl revealed Thursday that sophomore running back Jeremy Hollingsworth has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Hollingsworth had enjoyed a productive spring up until his injury, and was competing for playing time behind starting running back Titus Swen.
Despite the loss, Bohl was positive when speaking about the UW backfield. Dawaiian McNeely recently returned after missing the start of the spring with a hip injury, while D.Q. James, Jordon Vaughn and Joseph Braasch are also in the mix at the position.
“I think we have a really good stable of running backs,” Bohl said. “The guys that are into analytics, if you look up and study FBS football last year, the team that rushed for one more yard won the game 74% of the time. So there’s still some merit to that, and we’re excited about the group that we have.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/university_of_wyoming/peasley-continues-to-grasp-offense-as-second-scrimmage-approaches/article_ade34bc8-9a3d-5cb6-9b84-451444c8f88b.html
| 2022-04-22T14:25:17Z
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Wythe County man convicted of sex crimes against children
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A Wythe County man was convicted Thursday of multiple sex crimes against children.
Curtis Spurlock was charged with rape, sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and other charges in May 2020; the incidents took place from 2016 to 2019.
That arrest came while he was out on bond awaiting sentencing for conviction of child abuse and neglect, charges connected to poor living conditions, inadequate care for children, kids being found dirty, lice and no clean clothes. The Department of Social Services reported struggling to get in the home because of the smell.
Wythe County Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Jones says Spurlock faces a maximum of six life sentences plus 50 years in prison, but six counts carry with them mandatory sentences of life in prison.
Jones issued this statement:
“This case included some of the most horrific facts that I have ever seen. The courage shown by the two young girls goes far beyond anything I have seen. They came forward to make sure this man could never do anything like this again showed strength and resolve beyond their years. They can only be described as heroes. We are here to protect the innocent and, today justice was served.”
Copyright 2022 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/21/wythe-county-man-convicted-sex-crimes-against-children/
| 2022-04-22T15:32:49Z
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Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur dies at age 70
MONTREAL (AP) — Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur, who helped the Montreal Canadiens win five Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s, has died at age 70.
The No. 1 pick in the 1971 NHL draft, Lafleur registered 518 goals and 728 assists in 14 seasons with Montreal. With the flashy forward leading the way, the Canadiens won it all in 1973, and then four more times from 1976 to 1979.
Canadiens President Geoff Molson said the organization was devastated.
“Guy Lafleur had an exceptional career and always remained simple, accessible, and close to the Habs and hockey fans in Quebec, Canada and around the world,” Molson said in a statement. “Throughout his career, he allowed us to experience great moments of collective pride. He was one of the greatest players in our organization while becoming an extraordinary ambassador for our sport.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a noted Canadiens fan, said Lafleur was “unlike anyone else on the ice.”
“His speed, skill, and scoring were hard to believe,” Trudeau posted on Twitter. “A record-setter and a five-time Stanley Cup champion, he inspired countless Quebecers, Canadians, and hockey fans around the world.
“We’ll miss you, Number 10.”
Nicknamed “The Flower,” LaFleur was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019 when tumors were discovered by doctors performing emergency quadruple bypass heart surgery.
Two months later, he went under the knife again to remove both the upper lobe of his lung and lymph nodes.
Lafleur, however, received bad news in October 2020 that the cancer was back, forcing him to resume his treatment.
“I get the immunotherapy the first three weeks, and then the fourth week I have the big chemo,” Lafleur said in an interview with The Canadian Press in November.
“It’s the chemotherapy that really hurts you badly.”
Lafleur’s family released a statement earlier this month thanking fans for their empathy and “the outpouring of love” shown the Canadiens’ great, adding he was being monitored closely by doctors and had occasional hospital checkups, but was at home.
Lafleur, who retired from the NHL in 1985 after Montreal denied his request for a trade, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. But he made a comeback later that year with the New York Rangers and then played two more seasons with the Quebec Nordiques before hanging up his skates for good in 1991.
“You didn’t need to see Guy Lafleur’s name and number on his sweater when ‘The Flower’ had the puck on his stick,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “As distinctively stylish as he was remarkably talented, Lafleur cut a dashing and unmistakable figure whenever he blazed down the ice of the Montreal Forum, his long blond locks flowing in his wake as he prepared to rifle another puck past a helpless goaltender — or set up a linemate for a goal.”
Named one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players of all-time in 2017, Lafleur finished with 560 goals and 793 assists in 1,126 games in his 17 seasons.
He holds the Canadiens’ all-time record for assists and points. He scored at least 50 times in six straight campaigns from 1974-75 to 1979-80.
Lafleur won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer three straight years from 1976 to 1978, the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1977 and 1978, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1977.
“As a boy in Montreal, Guy was larger than life to me,” fellow Hall of Fame forward Mario Lemieux said in a statement. “I idolized him as a player, I respected him as a person, and always cherished him as a friend. He will be missed.”
Lafleur underwent his quadruple bypass surgery in September 2019 after it was discovered four of his coronary arteries were fully blocked, and a fifth was clogged close to 90 percent, during a routine medical exam to have his helicopter pilot’s license renewed.
Once the cancer was discovered, he had one-third of his right lung removed by doctors two months later.
A chain smoker up until those health scares, Lafleur had been partnering with Merck Canada as part of its “Be The MVP” campaign to raise awareness about early lung cancer detection.
“There’s not too many people that have a chance to grab it from the beginning,” Lafleur said in his November interview with CP. “Most people when they find out, it’s Stage 4.
“It’s not too late, because there’s miracles out there, and there’s people that are surviving.”
Lafleur, who had his No. 10 sweater retired by the Canadiens in 1985, hadn’t been out in public much in recent years following his cancer diagnosis and the COVID-19 pandemic, but did get a thunderous ovation at the Bell Centre during Montreal’s improbable run to last season’s Cup final.
He also had his number retired by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in October.
“I’ve been mostly stuck in the house since 2019,” Lafleur said in November. “Mentally, it’s tough. Hopefully I get through this and get out of it with a victory.
“It’s the hope for everybody that has cancer.”
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/hockey-hall-famer-guy-lafleur-dies-age-70/
| 2022-04-22T15:32:55Z
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Man breaks into home through cat door and takes shower, washes clothes
HOUSTON, Texas (KHOU) – A woman in Houston was out of town on Easter when her Nest video showed a man crawling his way into her house.
The resident said the burglar broke through a fence, went into a cat enclosure and pushed through the cat flap.
The woman, who didn’t want to be identified, said it’s not the first time her home has been broken into, but it was the creepiest.
“I think he was in my house for about three hours,” she said.
The resident said she could tell the man had been in her bathroom and had used her shower because everything was wet.
Snippets of the surveillance video show him walking around in the woman’s towel.
The woman said she could tell the man also washed his clothes because the settings had been changed on her washer and dryer.
“He had eaten ramen noodles. And he had eaten fried chicken nuggets out of my freezer, and he cooked it in my microwave,” she said.
Video also shows him walking around with a screwdriver where he tried to take an anti-theft cable off her TV but was unsuccessful.
Then, the man left through the front door, taking her Fitbit, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste with him.
Copyright 2022 KHOU via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/man-breaks-into-home-through-cat-door-takes-shower-washes-clothes/
| 2022-04-22T15:33:01Z
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Man charged in killing of woman stabbed 55 times, found in duffle bag
NEW YORK (CNN) - A handyman has been charged with murder in the death of a woman found stuffed in a duffel bag in a New York park.
David Bonola, 44, was arrested Thursday on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with the death of Orsolya Gaal, 51.
Investigators say Bonola was a former handyman who worked for Gaal at her home in Forest Hills.
They also say the pair were having an intimate affair.
Gaal was stabbed 55 times. Police say Bonola stuffed her body into her son’s hockey bag before disposing of it in a nearby park.
“Mr. Bonola is a handyman who was employed by Mrs. Gaal. They have been having an intimate affair for approximately two years,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig in a news conference. “He is either let in voluntarily or he uses a key he has knowledge about hidden in the barbecue. A heated argument ensues between the two in the basement. A knife is brandished, a violent struggle ensues, resulting in our victim being stabbed ruthlessly and brutally in excess of 55 times, causing her demise.”
NYPD detectives say Bonola confessed to the crime after he was arrested early Thursday morning. Detectives were canvassing the area of the crime scene Wednesday night when they observed Bonola, who appeared to be injured.
Investigators say his hand was heavily bandaged because of the cuts he suffered in the attack.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/man-charged-killing-woman-stabbed-55-times-found-duffle-bag/
| 2022-04-22T15:33:08Z
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The politics of child pornography: Lawmakers at odds over sentencing rules for possession offenses
The reintroduction of the PROTECT Act has lawmakers debating mandatory minimums along party lines.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - How much time should someone convicted of possessing child pornography serve? That’s the debate lawmakers are having right now.
“You know, I’m not too concerned about the criminal,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), about offenders who possess child pornography.
He’s reintroducing the PROTECT Act, which would mandate a minimum of five years in prison for those convicted of possessing child pornography. This minimum was the law until 2005, when the Supreme Court decided in Booker v. United States that the length of a minimum sentence could be left up to the judge.
“Judges shouldn’t be able to give these child porn offenders and child sex abusers slaps on the wrist,” Hawley said. “They ought to be doing serious time.”
The original PROTECT Act passed the Senate with bipartisan support in 2003. But now, Hawley has just four Senate colleagues and seven House members signed on. They’re all Republicans.
The senators cosponsoring the legislation are Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). In the House, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) introduced the companion bill. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) and Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) are the cosponsors.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) supported the original PROTECT Act when it first became law nearly 20 years ago. Now, as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he blocked Hawley’s new bill from getting a Senate vote.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin said there are valid questions about sentencing guidelines.
We followed up with Durbin, and a spokesperson sent us this statement.
“Senator Hawley’s bill, which he introduced on March 29 and attempted to pass on the Senate floor one week later, would effectively overturn a 2005 Supreme Court decision, U.S. v. Booker, with respect to a category of criminal offenses. The Booker decision, which came after the enactment of the 2003 PROTECT Act, determined that it was unconstitutional for the federal sentencing guidelines to be mandatory and rendered the guidelines advisory. As Senator Durbin said on the floor, it is not clear whether the Hawley bill passes the constitutional test of Booker. Further, we must be thoughtful about criminal reform bills, and legislation that would overturn the landmark Booker decision and create new mandatory sentences deserves more than a drive-by on the floor of the U.S. Senate.”
Criminal justice advocate Kevin Ring, the president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, calls Hawley’s bill, “an overreaction.”
“I understand the need for stiff terms for many of the people who commit these crimes,” Ring said. “The problem with this proposal, and with all mandatory minimums, is that it doesn’t allow for distinctions between more culpable or more serious offenders and less serious offenders.”
For now, the PROTECT Act isn’t going anywhere, but Hawley said he won’t stop fighting for his bill.
Multimedia Journalist Natalie Grim contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/politics-child-pornography-lawmakers-odds-over-sentencing-rules-possession-offenses/
| 2022-04-22T15:33:15Z
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Wisconsin congressman leads group of Republicans to push for Title 42 extension at US-Mexico Border
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) visited the Southwest borders in San Diego, California and Yuma, Arizona.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection anticipates an increase in border encounters following the end of the CDC’s Title 42 Public Health Order next month, but a group of Republicans is asking President Joe Biden to keep the order in place.
Earlier this month, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) visited the Southwest border sectors in San Diego, California and Yuma, Arizona.
“The first night we were there we hung around the border for maybe 45 minutes. We saw two groups [of] 70-80 people coming across,” he said. “When you have this many people you have to do paperwork for everybody coming across.”
Grothman is leading a group of 53 Republicans who sent a letter to Biden asking him to reconsider ending the emergency public health order known as Title 42.
The order was put in place in March 2020 by former President Donald Trump in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It allowed the Border Patrol to quickly send migrants back to their countries without filing paperwork on the grounds of a communicable disease.
The group of Republicans cites health and drug trafficking concerns as well as overworked Border Patrol agents as reasons the order should stay in place, but the Biden Administration said it’s ending the order on May 23.
“I think it’s important to remember this is not an immigration authority,” said Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary. “It is a health authority that Congress gave the CDC authority to make a determination about, about whether it needs to stay in place or not.”
Some Democrats, including Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), believe Title 42 should stay in place.
“I think Title 42 should stay simply because we still have a pandemic here in the U.S.,” said Cuellar.
According to the CDC, new COVID cases have dropped from a 1.2 million high in January, but the latest data shows an uptick in certain areas across the country.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/wisconsin-congressman-leads-group-republicans-push-title-42-extension-us-mexico-border/
| 2022-04-22T15:33:22Z
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10 Companies Honored as 2022 Louisiana Growth Leaders
BATON ROUGE (press release) — Louisiana Economic Development honored 10 companies as Louisiana Growth Leaders at the 2022 Spotlight Louisiana event Thursday at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. The event also featured the presentation of the inaugural Louisiana Growth Leader Legend Award.
Louisiana Growth Leaders are selected by a statewide panel of economic development professionals who evaluate businesses in the LED Growth Network for community involvement and business success. The criteria include growth, strategy, innovation, philanthropy and leadership. The Legend Award is the LED Growth Network’s top honor, recognizing past leaders who have exhibited sustained success.
“From manufacturing to financial services, each of our 2022 Louisiana Growth Leaders and the inaugural Legend awardee have succeeded in bringing great products and services to the marketplace,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “The companies being recognized have persevered through challenges, capitalized on opportunities, and represent some of the best of what Louisiana has to offer. I look forward to their continued success.”
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser joined LED at Thursday’s Spotlight event to congratulate all the small business nominees and award recipients in attendance. The 10 companies honored as 2022 Louisiana Growth Leaders were:
- Flexicrew Technical Services of Metairie; Brandon Smith, president
- NANO Architecture | Interiors of New Orleans; Terri Dreyer, managing partner
- Online Optimism of New Orleans; Flynn Zaiger, CEO
- Southern Scripts of Natchitoches; LeAnn Boyd, CEO and co-founder
- Southern Services & Equipment of St. Bernard; Mindy Airhart, president and CEO
- Thomas Pump & Machinery of Slidell; James Thomas, CEO
- Trigon Associates of New Orleans; Michelle Herbert, CEO
- Universal Data of New Orleans; Jim Perrier, president
- Utiliserve of Bossier City; Zach Raley, president and owner
- VPG Construction of Harvey; Michael Merideth, CEO
“Tonight’s 2022 Growth Leader honorees are important companies in Louisiana, providing more than good jobs and a foundation of economic activity,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “They are community leaders and supporters, with vision and drive. I had the privilege of meeting many of this year’s recipients through LED Growth Network programs, hearing their stories of meeting challenges, and watching them succeed in scaling their companies. LED is honored to play a role in supporting their growth objectives and celebrating their hard-earned success.”
The inaugural Growth Leader Legend award was presented to Ruston-based Argent Financial Group, an independent wealth management firm.
“An early investor in Argent once encouraged us, ‘There may be a limit of what we can do in Ruston, but there is no limit to what we can do from Ruston,’” Argent CEO Kyle McDonald said. “Thirty-two years later, Argent is still headquartered in Ruston and boasts over 300 employees in 30 markets across 12 states, managing more than $38 billion of our clients’ assets. We are proud of our history and growth, and we are humbled to be the inaugural recipient of the Louisiana Growth Leader Legend award.”
In addition to awards for Growth Leaders, Chairman and President Dan Wyant of the Michigan-based Edward Lowe Foundation presented LED with the first-ever Founder’s Award in honor of the late Edward Lowe, who created the foundation to champion entrepreneurship.
“People often believe that when entrepreneurs move beyond the startup phase, it’s smooth sailing,” Wyant said. “But the second stage brings new issues that require changes in both organizations and leadership roles. With that in mind, LED is constantly tweaking existing programs and looking for new ones to help second-stagers continue their growth trajectory. It’s a pleasure to work with LED’s staff to expand their suite of services.”
Created in 2017, the LED Growth Network consists of over 550 companies accounting for nearly $4 billion in annual sales and representing more than 20,000 jobs. Growth Network members are small businesses beyond the startup stage but not yet fully mature. They enter the Growth Network by participating in one or more of the LED’s programs for second-stage firms. Detailed information about the honorees may be found here in Louisiana’s Entrepreneurial Engine 2022.
Applications for the 2023 Louisiana Growth Leaders class and 2023 Legend Award will be accepted from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, 2022. All LED Growth Network companies are eligible to apply for the Growth Leader award. All Growth Leaders are invited to apply for the Legend award.
For more information about the LED Growth Network, Spotlight Louisiana or Louisiana Growth Leaders or Legends, contact Assistant Director of Small Business Services Christopher Cassagne at Christopher.Cassagne@La.Gov or 225.342.5882.
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/10-companies-honored-as-2022-louisiana-growth-leaders/
| 2022-04-22T15:53:39Z
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BGR Analyzes Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Tax on the April 30 Ballot
NEW ORLEANS — From the Bureau of Governmental Research:
BGR has released a new report titled “On the Ballot: Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Tax, April 30, 2022.” The report is intended to help Jefferson Parish voters make an informed decision on whether to approve a new 7-mill, 10-year property tax for the Sheriff’s Office. The report analyzes the Sheriff’s plan to use the estimated $28 million in annual tax revenue to raise employee salaries by an average of 25% and fill nearly 250 vacant positions. It also provides BGR’s position in support of the tax. Click here to read the full report or the InBrief summary.
BGR finds that the Sheriff has demonstrated new revenue is necessary to address growing problems with retention and hiring that have left the office understaffed. The number of vacant positions has surged in the past nine months, rising from about 100 to nearly 250, or 17% of the office’s workforce. The vacancies are largely concentrated in several essential positions, including correctional officers, 911 dispatchers and patrol deputies. The report finds that the unfilled positions drive up overtime costs and pose a potential risk to public safety if not addressed in a timely fashion.
The Sheriff’s Office developed a detailed spending plan that shows citizens how it would use the tax revenue to fund raises and fill all authorized positions. Executive staff and division leaders evaluated pay scales position by position to align the new salaries with job responsibilities, improve competitiveness, bring most employees above a livable wage of $15 an hour ($31,200 per year), and reduce inconsistencies in pay for clerical staff. This approach avoided the potential inefficiency and ineffectiveness of an across-the-board raise.
The office’s internal deliberations on the pay raise plan relied heavily on informal conversations and supervisors’ observations about salary concerns. Going forward, the report urges the Sheriff to conduct exit interviews with departing employees and survey current employees to better understand their non-salary reasons for staying or leaving.
The report finds that the tax could generate surplus revenues in the early years due to lag time in filling the vacant positions. Some of this revenue may be necessary for additional raises to achieve the office’s staffing goals. The language of the ballot proposal also allows the Sheriff to use the money for equipment and training. The Sheriff told BGR he will review the millage rate annually and consider levying a lower rate if the pace of hiring is slower than expected and surplus revenue is accumulating. He would also consider not rolling forward the millage rate to limit surplus revenue growth when property assessments rise. The decision would depend on the office’s financial situation and the outlook for major technology, equipment or pay raise needs. BGR’s report further calls on the Sheriff to report to the public on its use of surplus funds and the effectiveness of its hiring and retention efforts.
The Sheriff’s Office has shown effective financial stewardship through its track record of clean financial audits, near 100% tax collection rates and control of operating costs. The office has not received a tax increase in three decades. The proposed tax’s 10-year duration balances the office’s need for a stable revenue stream to cover the increased personnel costs and the public’s ability to hold the office accountable for its use of tax revenues through the tax renewal process.
Based on this analysis, BGR takes the following position on the tax proposition:
FOR. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s proposed 7-mill property tax would provide a stable revenue stream to address growing problems with retention and hiring that could pose a risk to public safety. The Sheriff’s Office would compete more effectively with other agencies for talented officers, recruits and other employees. Its detailed plan for raising salaries and filling vacant positions would align pay more fairly with employee responsibilities, provide a livable wage for most support staff and reduce overtime costs. The office has also compiled a track record of effective financial stewardship and is putting in place a new strategy for recruitment. A timely response as outlined in the Sheriff’s proposal is necessary to prevent the recent spike in resignations from becoming a crisis.
Still, the proposal has some shortcomings that the Sheriff’s Office should address. BGR’s analysis finds that levying the full 7 mills could generate significantly more revenue than the pay raise plan requires, especially in the early years of the tax. The office should seek to control the accumulation of surplus tax revenue by continuing to develop its recruitment and retention strategy to fill vacancies efficiently and effectively. It should also put in place data collection and analysis techniques to understand employee motivations and help ensure the effectiveness of any future pay raises. While rebuilding its workforce, the Sheriff’s Office should look for efficiencies in its authorized positions and publicly document its hiring results and use of surplus revenues. If surpluses persist, the Sheriff should consider lowering the millage rate to avoid overburdening citizens who may themselves be struggling financially. Unnecessarily high taxes in one area can reduce taxpayers’ tolerance to finance other needs in the parish.
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/bgr-analyzes-jefferson-parish-sheriffs-office-tax-on-the-april-30-ballot/
| 2022-04-22T15:53:45Z
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New Orleans Wine & Food Experience to Honor Chef Frank Brigtsen
NEW ORLEANS (press release) — The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has announced that the 2022 Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award will be presented to legendary chef Frank Brigtsen. The gala celebration will take place at 7 p.m. on June 7 at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans.
“Chef Frank is more than just passionate about cooking; he is passionate about New Orleans and Louisiana,” said Aimee Brown, NOWFE executive director. “He is so well-respected by both those in the restaurant industry and the general public that he deserves the unofficial title of ‘the chef of chefs.’ His 50-year career has made an indelible mark on the hospitality industry, and we are humbled to bestow the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award upon chef.”
Chef Frank and his wife Marna are the owners of Brigtsen’s Restaurant in the Riverbend neighborhood of Uptown, New Orleans. Chef Frank’s culinary career has spanned 50-years, beginning in 1973 while he attended Louisiana State University. He apprenticed at Commander’s Palace Restaurant under the guidance of Chef Paul Prudhomme in 1979. When the restaurant began dinner service one year later, Chef Frank became the first Night Chef at K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. During his seven-year tenure with Chef Prudhomme at K-Paul’s, Chef Frank attained the position of Executive Chef. Paul and the late K Prudhomme were instrumental in helping Chef Frank and Marna open Brigtsen’s in 1986.
Chef Frank has received numerous local and national accolades throughout his 50-year career. He was named one of the Top Ten New Chefs in America by FOOD&WINE magazine (1988) and America’s Best Chef: Southeast by the James Beard Foundation Awards (1998). He was also named Chef of the Year by New Orleans Magazine and Restaurateur of the Year by the Louisiana Restaurant Association – N.O. Chapter. In 2012, Chef Frank received the Lafcadio Hearn Award from the John Folse Culinary Institute and was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Louisiana Restaurant Association. In 2016, Chef Frank received the inaugural Paul Prudhomme Award from the American Culinary Federation. Brigtsen’s Restaurant was voted Top Cajun Restaurant, Top Service, and Top Wine List in the annual Zagat Survey. In 2001, Brigtsen’s received the distinguished Ivy Award from Restaurant & Institutions magazine. In 2016, Brigtsen’s was named one of the Top Ten Restaurants in New Orleans by Brett Anderson, writing for The Times-Picayune newspaper.
Chef Frank’s passion is teaching and sharing through food. For 15 years, he taught public cooking classes at the New Orleans Cooking Experience, sharing his love for America’s greatest regional cuisine. He also teaches Contemporary Creole/Acadian cuisine as Adjunct Professor at the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University. He serves as the inaugural Chef-in-Residence for the Culinary Arts program at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).
The Ella Brennan Award recognizes one individual each year that has made a lifetime commitment to the hospitality industry through extraordinary leadership, personal and professional accomplishments, and philanthropic contributions to the community. The Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award is named for restaurateur legend Ella Brennan. Her deep passion and commitment have made a significant and longstanding impact on the New Orleans hospitality industry. The award’s past recipients include Chef Paul Prudhomme, philanthropist Bill Goldring, Chef Leah Chase, restaurateurs Drago and Klara Cvitanovich, Audubon leader Ron Forman, local restaurateur Ralph Brennan, celebrity chef and philanthropist Emeril Lagasse, tourism industry icon Mark Romig, and Louisiana’s culinary ambassador to the world Chef John Folse. In 2021, NOWFE presented the Ella Brennan “Stand Up for Your Hometown Award” to recipients who exhibited unwavering love and extended an extraordinary response to support the New Orleans community during the pandemic. Those recipients included Al Copeland, Jr., Phil Moseley and Ronnie Evans, Robert Peyton and Troy Gilbert, Zeid and Marv Ammari, Erich and Jennifer Weishaupt, Devin De Wulf, Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, Jennifer Kelly Killian, Lauren Darnell, Melvin Rodrigue, Zach Strief, Charles Armstrong, and Isaac and Amanda Toups.
Tickets now available at nowfe.com for $150 per person or $1,500 per table of 10. VIP tables for 10 are also available for $2,500, and VIP a la carte tickets are available for $250 which includes entrance to the VIP reception from 6 – 7 p.m. Proceeds from the awards gala benefit the many local non-profit organizations NOWFE supports throughout the year.
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/new-orleans-wine-food-experience-to-honor-chef-frank-brigtsen/
| 2022-04-22T15:53:51Z
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Port NOLA Leader Brandy Christian to Speak at N.O. Chamber Event
NEW ORLEANS — Brandy Christian, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans, will be the keynote speaker at the New Orleans Chamber’s 2022 2nd Quarter Business Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom. Christian will provide an overview of the port’s initiatives to more than 500 business leaders in attendance. The first hour of the event will be dedicated to networking and registration, and the program will begin at noon. The chamber is a membership-based organization consisting of more than 1,200 business and community leaders who work together to “create a dynamic business climate that drives entrepreneurship and business success in the New Orleans community.” Click here for more information.
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https://www.bizneworleans.com/port-nola-leader-brandy-christian-to-speak-at-n-o-chamber-event/
| 2022-04-22T15:53:57Z
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Death toll in Afghan mosque, school bombing rises to 33, Taliban say
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban official says a bombing at a mosque and religious school in northern Afghanistan on Friday killed at least 33 people, including students of a religious school.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s deputy culture and information minister, said the bombing in the town of Imam Saheb, in Kunduz Province, also wounded another 43 people, many of them students.
No one immediately claimed responsibility, but Afghanistan’s Islamic State affiliate on Friday claimed a series of bombings that happened a day earlier, the worst of which was an attack on a Shiite mosque in northern Mazar-e-Sharif that killed at least 12 Shiite Muslim worshippers and wounded scores more.
Earlier the Kunduz provincial police spokesman put the death toll at the Malawi Bashir Ahmad Mosque and madrassa compound in Imam Saheb at two dead and six injured. Mujahid later tweeted the higher casualty numbers tweeting “we condemn this crime . . . and express our deepest condolences to the victims.”
Friday’s bombing is the latest in a series of deadly attacks across Afghanistan. Mujahid called the perpetrator’s of the Kunduz attack “seditionists and evil elements.”
Since sweeping to power last August, the Taliban have been battling the upstart Islamic State affiliate known as Islamic State in Khorasan Province or IS-K which is proving to be an intractable security challenge for Afghanistan’s religiously driven government.
Last October the IS-K claimed a brutal bombing also in northern Kunduz province at a Shiite mosque that killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 100. In November the Taliban’s intelligence unit carried out sweeping attacks on suspected IS-K hideouts in eastern Nangarhar province, where the deadly affiliate is headquartered.
In a statement Friday, the IS-K said the explosive devise that devastated Mazar-e-Sharif’s Sai Doken mosque was hidden in a bag left inside among scores of worshippers. As they knelt in prayer, it exploded.
“When the mosque was filled with prayers, the explosives were detonated remotely,” the IS statement said, claiming that 100 people were injured.
The Taliban say they have arrested a former IS-K leader in northern Balkh province, of which Mazar-e-Sharif is the capital. Zabihullah Noorani, information and culture department chief in Balkh province, said Abdul Hamid Sangaryar was arrested in connection with Thursday’s mosque attack.
The IS-K had been relatively inactive in Afghanistan since last November, but in recent weeks have stepped up its attacks in Afghanistan and in neighboring Pakistan, taking aim at Shiite Muslim communities reviled by Sunni radicals.
Earlier this month two bombs exploded in Kabul’s Shiite neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, killing at least seven students and wounding several others.
The IS-K established its headquarters in eastern Afghanistan in 2014 and have been blamed for some of the worst attacks in Afghanistan, including a vicious assault on a maternity hospital and at a school that killed more than 80 girls in 2021, months before the Taliban took power.
The IS-K also took responsibility for a brutal bombing outside the Kabul International Airport in August 2021 that killed more than 160 Afghans who had been pushing to enter the airport to flee the country. Thirteen U.S. military personnel also were killed as they oversaw America’s final withdrawal and the end of its 20-year war in Afghanistan.
In recent months, the IS-K has also stepped up attacks in neighboring Pakistan, targeting a Shiite mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar in March. More than 65 worshippers were killed. The upstart affiliate has also claimed several deadly attacks against Pakistan’s military .
In Pakistan’s central Punjab city of Faisalabad, the local police on Thursday issued a threat warning, saying “it has been learned that IS-Khas planned to carry out terrorist activities in Faisalabad,” advising people to “exercise extreme vigilance.” The police warning did not elaborate.
Meanwhile late on Thursday a Pakistani soldier was killed in southwestern Baluchistan province after militants raided a security outpost. No one claimed responsibility. The area has been targeted by both IS-K as well as the violent Pakistani Taliban militants known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also headquartered in neighboring Afghanistan.
The safe havens of militant groups in Afghanistan has raised concerns for Pakistan which earlier this month carried out air strikes inside Pakistan, killing at least 20 children, according to the United Nations education fund (UNICEF).
Pakistan has not confirmed the strikes but has warned Afghanistan’s Taliban to stop its territory being used to attack across the border into Pakistan.
In separate incidents, five children were killed Friday in northern Afghanistan’s Faryab Province while playing with unexploded ordnance. In one incident, three brothers died when they found an unexploded device and tried to dismantle it. In a second incident in another village, two children, ages 7 and 8, were killed playing with a device, said Shamsullah Mohammadi, Faryab provincial information and culture head.
After more than four decades of war, that included two invasions — one by the former Soviet Union and one by the U.S.-led coalition — Afghanistan is one of the heaviest mined countries in the world and is littered with unexploded ordnance.
_____
Gannon reported from Islamabad. Associated Press Writer Tameem Akhgar in Islamabad, Asim Tanvir in Multan, Pakistan and Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/death-toll-afghan-mosque-school-bombing-rises-33-taliban-say/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:04Z
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Grandmother, mother charged in 4-year-old’s fatal alcohol poisoning, police say
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - Authorities with the Baton Rouge Police Department say they are investigating the death of a 4-year-old, after claims that her family forced her to drink alcohol.
WAFB reports officers were dispatched to a home in Baton Rouge after reports of an unresponsive toddler.
Police say the 4-year-old girl died at the scene.
While investigating, detectives say they learned the victim’s grandmother forced her to drink a bottle of whiskey while the mother watched.
According to police, the toddler’s BAC was .680.
An autopsy conducted by the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office found the child’s cause of death was acute alcohol poisoning.
The toddler’s death has been ruled a homicide.
The victim’s grandmother, Roxanne Record, 53 along with the victim’s mother, Kadjah Record, 28 were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Copyright 2022 WAFB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/grandmother-mother-charged-4-year-olds-fatal-alcohol-poisoning-police-say/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:11Z
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Man gets 10 years in prison for first-degree murder of 14-year-old girl
BEDFORD, Texas (Gray News) - A Texas man pleaded guilty Thursday to the first-degree murder of a 14-year-old girl and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
According to the Bedford Police Department, Jordin Roache, 21, reached a plea deal for the 2017 murder of Kaytlynn Cargill. Roache has been incarcerated since his arrest in 2017.
Cargill was reported missing from her apartment complex on June 19, 2017. The next day, police identified Roache, who was 16 at the time, as a possible suspect after witnesses said they saw Cargill with him the day she disappeared.
The following day, Cargill’s body was found in a landfill. During investigation, detectives said they found several pieces of evidence that lead to Roache’s arrest, including Cargill’s DNA and blood in the apartment he was living in at the time.
Bedford police said the case experienced several delays caused by various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roache was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison. Following his sentencing, he was transferred to the Texas Department of Corrections.
Bedford Police Chief Jeff Williams said in a statement that Roache’s sentencing was a long time coming.
“We’re grateful for the hard work and countless hours put in by Bedford police officers, detectives and forensic investigators, along with the prosecutors from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office,” Williams said. “The Cargill family remains in our thoughts as we reach the conclusion of this tragic case.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/man-gets-10-years-prison-first-degree-murder-14-year-old-girl/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:17Z
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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s candidacy challenged at hearing
ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was engaged in “legitimate political speech” when she called for a response to Joe Biden’s presidential victory prior to last year’s Capitol attack, her lawyer argued Friday during a hearing over her right to run for reelection.
Voters in the Georgia congresswoman’s district have said Greene helped facilitate the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that disrupted certification of Biden’s win, making her ineligible for reelection under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which says members of Congress cannot engage “in insurrection or rebellion.”
Greene, who testified during Friday’s hearing, is set to appear on the Republican ballot for Georgia’s May 24 primary and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The administrative law judge overseeing Friday’s hearing is not the ultimate decider of Greene’s fate since he must present his findings to Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who then must determine whether Greene is qualified.
Greene has repeatedly denied aiding or engaging in an insurrection and has filed a lawsuit alleging that the law the voters are using to challenge her eligibility is itself unconstitutional.
But Ron Fein, a lawyer for the voters who filed the challenge, said Greene took an oath and then broke it by engaging in an insurrection.
Unlike past insurrections, like the Civil War, that involved military uniforms and tactics, he said, “The leaders of this insurrection were among us, on Facebook, on Twitter, on corners of social media that would make your stomach hurt.”
While Greene wasn’t on the steps of the Capitol, she nevertheless played an important role in stoking Republican fury ahead of the Jan. 6 attack, Fein said. The day before the insurrection, Greene posted, “It’s our 1776 moment!” on the conservative-friendly social media platform Parler.
“The most powerful witness against Marjorie Taylor Greene’s candidacy, the most powerful witness in establishing that she crossed the line into engagement in insurrection is Marjorie Taylor Greene herself,” Fein said.
As Andrew Celli, a lawyer for the voters, cross-examined Greene about the intent behind a series of her tweets, he appeared to grow frustrated at times when she didn’t directly answer his questions and said he was speculating.
“Ms. Greene, I’m just asking questions,” he said.
“I’m just answering,” she responded.
James Bopp, a lawyer for Greene, said the challengers are making a very serious charge with significant ramifications.
“They want to deny the right to vote to the thousands of people living in the 14th District of Georgia by removing Greene from the ballot,” he said.
Greene “did not engage in the attack on the Capitol,” Bopp said.
Greene met with Trump about making objections to certain states’ electoral votes because of concerns about voter fraud, Bopp said. At the time of the riot, she was in a dark hallway at the Capitol urging people via social media to be safe and remain calm, he said.
“Rep. Greene was a victim of this attack,” Bopp said, adding that the congresswoman was scared and confused and believed her life could be in danger.
When Greene attended the hearing in Atlanta on Friday, along with dozens of supporters, including U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and frequent Greene ally.
In a statement Thursday, Trump incorrectly blamed Raffensperger and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans, for allowing the challenge against Greene, saying she is “going through hell in their attempt to unseat her.”
In fact, the challenge to Greene’s eligibility to run for reelection was filed by five voters who live in her district, and the procedure for such a challenge is outlined in Georgia law.
The law says any voter who’s eligible to vote for a candidate can challenge that candidate’s qualifications by filing a written complaint with the secretary of state within two weeks after the deadline for qualifying. The secretary of state then has to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Raffensperger and Kemp both attracted Trump’s wrath shortly after the 2020 election when they refused to take steps to overturn Trump’s narrow loss in the state.
The 14th Amendment says no one can serve in Congress “who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress ... to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.” Ratified shortly after the Civil War, it aimed to keep representatives who had fought for the Confederacy from returning to Congress.
The voters’ complaint says Greene helped plan the riot and/or the demonstration and march on the Capitol that preceded it, knowing that it was “substantially likely to lead to the attack, and otherwise voluntarily aided the insurrection.”
Greene filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month asking a judge to declare the law allowing voters to challenge a candidate’s qualifications unconstitutional and to prohibit state officials from enforcing it. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg in Atlanta on Monday declined a request from Greene to halt the challenge process while the lawsuit plays out. Greene is appealing that ruling.
The Georgia complaint was filed on the voters’ behalf by Free Speech for People, a national election and campaign finance reform group. The group filed a similar challenge on behalf of voters in western North Carolina against Republican U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who spoke at the rally that preceded the riot.
Cawthorn sued and a federal judge last month blocked the challenge filed with the state’s election board from moving forward, writing that laws approved by Congress in 1872 and 1898 mean the 14th Amendment section can’t apply to current House members.
___
Associated Press writer Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed reporting.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/marjorie-taylor-greenes-candidacy-challenged-hearing/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:24Z
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New River Gorge National Park and Preserve unveils complete online artifact collection
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. (WVVA) - You may have visited the New River Gorge’s Canyon Rim Visitors Center and stopped to look at the artifacts protected behind the glass, but you’ve never seen them like this before!
This week, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve debuted its online artifact collection. This allows anyone, anywhere to see some five thousand artifacts pertaining to West Virginia history, from Native American arrowheads to a coal miner’s wallet and more.
Museum Technician Jessica Lynch says this online collection has been her passion project as she strives to make the museum more inclusive and accessible. She also says this new resource is game-changing because the park can only physically display a handful of items at a time.
“Our collections being online really allows people to see things that have not been seen before because they’ve just been preserved indoors,” she shared. “So, it’s a really exciting way for people to see these physical objects that tell West Virginia’s story.”
“Although we are doing a lot of really hard work in the National Park Service to preserve these objects, it doesn’t do any good if the public can’t use them and can’t see that we are taking care of them...these [objects] are all of ours collectively.”
Lynch says the collection can be used for research, for exploring or just for fun. Her favorite pieces are the Native American Artifacts, but she says there is something for everyone.
Visit museum.nps.gov to view the collection for yourself. The park does plan to continually update the artifacts and even feature specialty objects.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/new-river-gorge-national-park-preserve-unveils-complete-online-artifact-collection/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:30Z
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Police: 80-year-old homeowner released after shooting, killing intruder
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 11:36 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
FLINT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WNEM/Gray News) - An 80-year-old homeowner was released from police custody after investigators said he shot and killed an intruder.
Flint Township police tell WNEM a 31-year-old man broke into a home Thursday night and was confronted by the homeowner.
The 80-year-old fired his weapon, striking and killing the intruder, police said.
The homeowner was released as police continue investigating the case.
Copyright 2022 WNEM via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/police-80-year-old-homeowner-released-after-shooting-killing-intruder/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:37Z
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WATCH: Florida deputies rescue man trapped in burning car
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (CNN) - Dramatic body-cam video shows how two Florida deputies went beyond the call, running to a burning car to rescue a man inside.
When two Charlotte County deputies arrived at the scene of a crash, they discovered a car on fire with flames shooting five or six feet into the air.
One of the deputies, Garrett Parrish, noticed a person barely hanging out of it and said he could hear him screaming for help as they opened their door.
Parrish, along with Deputy Bryant Ovalles Vasquez, knew they had to act fast.
“As I get close to the vehicle, the fire was so hot that you could feel the hair on your arms kind of start to burn off,” Vasquez said.
Parrish said that the man was not only trapped but also on fire.
“He had the seat belt around his neck and his upper torso,” Parrish said. “And I realized that not only was he in the car trapped but the whole right side of him was on fire.”
They tried to use a pocketknife to cut his seatbelt. When that didn’t work, they made a mad dash for a fire extinguisher from their car.
“It’s a man’s life at risk. Right there. He’s burning,” Vasquez said.
The crash happened at about 1 a.m. A witness had called 911 to report he heard a crash. The car allegedly hit a tree in the median while the driver negotiated a curve.
According to police, the witness said he ran to the scene but was unable to free the man.
First on the scene, the deputies knew there was no time to wait for a firetruck and their fire extinguisher would have to do.
Along with some help from a good Samaritan, they were able to get the man out and to safety.
EMS arrived and quickly assessed his injuries.
As the victim started talking, the deputies were relieved to learn there was nobody else in the car.
“My exact words were ‘hallelujah,’” Parrish said.
The man was transported to the hospital where he’s still recovering.
“You’re training to do that thing but, until you’re in it and you’re doing it physically in person, there’s no training for that,” Parrish said.
While others may call them heroes, the deputies said they were just doing their job.
“I don’t consider myself a hero,” Vazquez said. “I signed up for this job to serve and protect citizens here in Charlotte County, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/watch-florida-deputies-rescue-man-trapped-burning-car/
| 2022-04-22T17:04:43Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) - Breezy trade winds continue through next week with windward and mauka showers, and isolated showers for leeward spots. Cloudy conditions will linger before clearing later tonight into Saturday. Highs of 82 to 87. Trade Winds 15 to 25 mph.
Moisture associated with an old disturbance just north of the state could bring periods of windward showers into the weekend. A return of drier trade wind conditions is expected statewide Sunday into next week.
Two north-northwest swells will affect the area over the next several days. One is currently moving through and will slowly lower into Saturday. The next, somewhat larger, swell will begin arriving Saturday, and north shore surf may approach the advisory level during its peak Sunday. This swell will gradually decline Monday and fade by Tuesday.
South shore surf will remain near to below seasonal average into Saturday. However, forerunners of a new south-southwest swell will also arrive Saturday. This swell will likely peak above seasonal average Sunday. It will gradually decrease beginning Monday.
The breezy trade winds discussed above will generate rough trade wind swell and keep east shore surf near the seasonal average.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/aloha-friday-weather-breezy-trades-stay-clouds-expected-to-clear-later/article_a28bb73e-c249-11ec-b044-0f0672120909.html
| 2022-04-22T17:11:03Z
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For a group of Laramie High School students, taking tests and studying doesn’t end when the bell rings.
Through the school’s academic decathlon program, students are broadening their knowledge of academic subjects and real-world situations.
They’re good at it, too.
The group recently brought home more than 20 medals from the Wyoming Academic Decathlon state competition in Casper and are set to compete virtually in the national competition Friday.
“It was a great opportunity to study different subjects,” said Josh Liu, who earned five gold medals at state. “I hadn’t done proper essays before (academic decathlon).”
The competition entails 10 “events” or challenges that have to do with some area of academia or job preparation, such as essay writing, a multiple choice test, public speaking or interviewing. The events focus on broad subject areas such as art, music, social science or mathematics. As if that isn’t varied enough, each year’s competition also follows a theme. This year’s was water.
The group of LHS competitors spend the school year studying for the competition, meeting every Wednesday during lunch to prepare. Some days of preparation were more difficult than others, as the students balanced the club with their other classes and testing.
In addition to doing math problems, their work also involves a good amount of laughing and eating from the club’s beloved giant red candy bowl.
“We’re a family,” said competitor Grace Zhou, who won a handful of medals in Casper.
For some students, the program has been an opportunity to build confidence and practice important academic and life skills without having to worry about grades or test scores.
“I was really shy. I still am,” said Mairin Sims, who won seven medals. The speech portion of competition “was scary, but it made me feel more in touch with myself.”
Student Anenyasha Nyamadzaro echoed the sentiment, saying that she liked that the decathlon allowed brackets for competitors’ GPA and ability levels.
“Academic decathlon welcomes everyone,” said Nichol Bondurant, teacher and the group’s coach. “You don’t have to be a superstar. You can do your best and be well-rounded.”
The competition requires teams meet a minimum requirement for GPA diversity. Because too many of the LHS competitors are honors students, they competed as individuals rather than the team category.
Liu won first place as the state’s all-around individual, and Sims was second.
Even the students who didn’t get a gold medal touted the benefits of the event, from enjoying time together in an arcade during their trip to state and feeling more prepared for the standardized tests looming in their futures.
“It’s kind of hard, but we became close and we have our club jokes,” Bondurant said.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/lhs-students-see-success-at-academic-decathlon/article_af1bda67-dfe0-5320-87db-7c333ee07e31.html
| 2022-04-22T17:16:19Z
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Jackson Hole News&Guide
JACKSON – Members of the Grizzly 399 fan club had been staking out Pilgrim Creek for weeks, waiting for the celebrity bear to make her first appearance.
Among them, Jill Hall had guessed that the famous mom would emerge April 1. Instead, she showed herself more than two weeks later. This was a span that saw Hall, 59, camping out in the snow, hoping to be near the action.
Watching Grizzly 399 is “almost a spiritual experience,” said Hall, who doesn’t normally camp in the snow.
As snow once again started to fall Saturday, the grizzly and her brood emerged in the afternoon to a crowd of about 15 to 20 cars. An entourage of roughly 100 vehicles soon coalesced around the famous fivesome as they promenaded down along Pilgrim Creek, crossed the road to Willow Flats and forded the Snake River before continuing south in Grand Teton National Park.
“It left us all really speechless,” said wildlife photographer Tiffany Taxis. “Everyone was just overjoyed to see all five.”
Hall admired how the mother grizzly led her cubs, turning her head to keep an eye on them, especially one cub that tends to lag behind the others.
“She’s still definitely in charge for a mom her age,” Hall said.
But that will soon change as her roughly 2-year-old cubs strike out on their own. Her and her cubs’ actions last season – when they traveled through southern Jackson Hole, getting into human-related foods and moving through downtown Jackson – have her followers on high alert.
And she’s continuing to move south in the park. On Tuesday evening, Grand Teton Chief of Staff Jeremy Barnum said 399 and her cubs had been spotted near the Chapel of Transfiguration near Moose. He said that wasn’t necessarily cause for alarm and that her trajectory was “part of a movement pattern that we’ve seen before.”
Still, he cautioned: “The farther south she goes, the more we all need to pay attention and be vigilant.”
At 26, 399 is relatively old for a grizzly. Bear watchers wondered what condition she would be in and whether she would emerge at all.
“I was starting to worry about her,” said Tom Mangelsen, a Jackson Hole wildlife photographer who’s followed 399 around the valley for years.
The mother griz is one of the most well-known animals in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, if not the most well-known. But she is also a bear that’s gotten into conflicts and become habituated to human presence.
In 2007, she and her three yearling cubs made a name for themselves as they foraged along the roads between Colter Bay and Oxbow Bend in Teton Park. They also became notorious that year after 399 attacked a hiker who stumbled across her and her cubs feeding on an elk carcass near Jackson Lake Lodge. She bit the hiker on the buttocks.
The hiker survived, and 399’s actions were classified as “defensive.” Officials didn’t take further management actions.
399 has since mothered a number of cubs and raised them along park roads, delighting tourists, wildlife photographers and wildlife watchers alike. From 2012 to 2019, her presence attracted thousands of bear watchers. She’s inspired stickers and her own Facebook group, and birthed other sows, like Grizzly 610, who went on to be successful, semi-famous bears of their own.
People are now passionate about 399’s survival.
“Depending who you talk to, that’s the most important bear that’s ever been in the GYE,” Wyoming Game and Fish Large Carnivore Supervisor Dan Thompson said at an early April press conference largely focused on 399 and her four cubs.
Potential for conflict
Wildlife managers expect that the cubs will separate from their mother sometime this season.
For the past two years, 399 has led her cubs into the valley’s developed southern reaches where they’ve gotten into livestock feed, garbage and beehives: Human-related foods that can be deadly for grizzlies and other bears. After getting food rewards, bears can get used to a food source – and become aggressive in trying to reach it, potentially posing a danger to humans. When that happens, wildlife officials consider hazing, relocating or removing bears, either by euthanasia or placement in a zoo or other animal rescue facility.
All of those options are on the table for dealing with 399 and her cubs, wildlife managers have said.
To prevent any of those steps, wildlife officials are putting the onus on people.
They’re asking residents to store garbage in bear-resistant containers, secure livestock feed, pet food, compost, and beehives, and hang bird feeders to make them inaccessible to bears. Teton County will require all of that as part of a recently-approved update to its land development regulations. But that update won’t go into effect until July 1.
Compliance in the meantime is voluntary but encouraged by local, state and federal wildlife officials.
“We want people to be able to see bears in their natural habitat,” Thompson said in April. “With that comes great responsibility, I think. If that gets abused, things can go awry extremely quickly.”
Mangelsen said the path 399 and her cubs are on is fairly typical. “I’ve seen her go as far as the airport right after she comes out of the den,” said Mangelsen, who spoke with the News&Guide before Grizzly 399 was spotted near Moose.
Teton Park’s branch manager of fish and wildlife, Kate Wilmot, said 399’s path over the weekend, which took her to the Signal Mountain area, was “totally normal for her within her home range.” Barnum said Tuesday night that she’s moved as far south as she had by then “in years past.”
Wilmot said where Grizzly 399 and her cubs go will depend, in part, on what foods she’s able to find, which will depend on weather and moisture over the next few weeks.
“Bears are opportunistic omnivores so they have an opportunity to diet switch when their natural foods aren’t in season for whatever reason,” Wilmot said. “We just have to see what mother nature gives us.”
If 399 does head farther south, she could once again enter developed areas where she’s encountered human foods in the past. There’s concern that the young bears have learned that behavior from their mother. Hilary Cooley, grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, came to Jackson last fall to manage 399’s foray into developed areas.
“We’re probably going to have to deal with at least one of the cubs in some shape or form,” Cooley previously told the News&Guide.
A romp
In the meantime, park officials are planning to manage 399 and other bears the way they typically do: Managing crowds and traffic around roadside bears and trying to prevent conflict.
But they also have a bit of an advantage this year when it comes to 399, at least until the cubs are kicked off. Two of the cubs were radio collared last year, and park officials are watching that tracking data.
“We’re monitoring their movement pretty closely,” Barnum said.
The park’s wildlife brigade, a team of roughly 30 park volunteers and thee park staff who manage bear jams, is also up and running.
All of that comes as bears emerge, and 399 in particular captures the hearts of her fans like wildlife photographer Joe Stone.
“I’m more worried about people than I am anything else,” Stone said. “I’m just hoping our community can do the right thing.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/famous-fivesomes-emergence-sparks-joy-worry-about-upcoming-season/article_24217723-e11b-5b24-8205-21c9f9f35db6.html
| 2022-04-22T17:16:25Z
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Dennis: Meet the black-throated blue warbler that isn't really blue
The spring bird migration is well upon us and actually, it’s about half-way complete. Most of the migrating waterfowl have headed north, as have many shorebirds and raptors.
However, the neo-tropic migration is just starting. That’s when birds that winter in Central and South America make their way back north to summer breeding grounds. Some of the late-April travelers such as yellow-rumped warblers have already been sighted in low numbers.
The highlight of spring migration for many birders, is when a host of little gems, collectively known as wood warblers, head north. Many of these tiny but colorful creatures will pass through however, some of the most beautiful of them make their summer homes in the Blue Water Area.
We are situated on the migration path of the black-throated blue warbler and slightly west of the edge of their breeding grounds in the dense woodlands of the Northeastern U.S. and Southeastern Canada but we do harbor a few that remain and nest locally. Let’s take a look at this little beauty, what makes it so special, and where and for what to look and listen.
The black-throated blue warbler is by far the most extreme example of sexual dimorphism of all wood warblers. The difference is so great that the males and females were originally thought to be two separate species. These small warblers average about 5 inches in length and weigh in at 4/10 an ounce.
Males have a dark blue back, cap, and inner half of the leading edge of the wings; black face mask, throat, and side edging that contrasts a solid white breast. The balance of the wings are black with the exception of a small but bright white wing patch, mid-way along the length of the body. The female has olive-brown upperparts, olive-buff underparts, a white eyebrow, and the white wing patch that sets her apart easily from other similar colored warblers and links her, by this mark, to her male counterpart.
They feed on insects and other small invertebrates, foraging from the ground to high in the forest trees where they specialize in finding their prey on the underside of leaves. The nest is made of leaves and grass, lined with hair and spider web, and located in shrubs or young trees set near the ground. This nesting location practice, strong dimorphism, and the fact that they are more trusting and tame than other warblers, makes them an easy species for us to find and study. Their song is described as a husky, rising “zwee-zwee-zwee."
A group of warblers has many collective and descriptive nouns but I like a “bouquet” of warblers because of their great variety and palette of colors. While on the color topic, I’ll remind that when you see a blue-colored bird keep in mind the incredible design that gives us blue looking feathers. There is no blue pigment in feathers, the blue look is due to a structural design phenomenon of creation that allows internal prisms to precisely separate the blue light spectrum and hide the remaining spectrum of light, allowing us to enjoy the show.
Now, let’s deal with the “Elephant in the Room”, Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). We have heard warnings from MDNR and other agencies to stop feeding birds to stop the spread.
This is a serious disease that largely infects domestic poultry, game birds and waterfowl. If your feeders are in a location frequented by waterfowl or pheasants and quail (both of which are quite rare locally), you should stop feeding until the disease has run its course.
This also serves as a reminder to keep your feeders clean to prevent a multitude of diseases and illnesses that can affect feeder birds. Hummingbird and oriole feeders should be out by mid-April.
Also, let the insects live, birds need them for high-protein nutrition. Habitat is also a critical requirement and many birds succumb to habitat loss. You can easily make your property a bird friendly environment by planting red nectar plants for hummers and you too will experience the health benefits and joy of the creation.
You can learn more about birds and nature by attending Blue Water Audubon meetings held at Goodells Park in the Community Building. Our next meeting will be held on, Monday, May 9, starting at 6:45 p.m. Dr. John Zmiejko will share a program about birds of Ecuador. You are also encouraged to visit the Blue Water Audubon Society Facebook page for local bird sightings, discussions, and events; be sure to “friend” us.
Tom Dennis is a free-lance writer, passionate birder, zoologist, creation scientist, gardener and naturalist.
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/opinion/2022/04/22/dennis-meet-black-throated-blue-warbler-isnt-really-blue/7398487001/
| 2022-04-22T17:16:49Z
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As Marysville softball settles in, it's ready to turn up the energy
High expectations are nothing new to the Marysville softball team. That comes with the territory after last year's run to the Division 2 state final.
The Vikings relish the opportunity to meet the standards they've set. But with four games already nixed by the weather, there just haven't been many opportunities in the first month of the season.
"It's been hard (to find a rhythm)," Marysville second baseman Kate Westmiller said. "Especially with us having indoor practices and a lot games getting canceled. I think that kind of set us back a little bit. But now that we're back outside and the sun is shining, I think we're starting to get into our groove."
"It's a lot better now that we've gotten onto the field," Marysville pitcher Megan Liniarski said. "We're realizing the game and coming together — because just a couple weeks ago was our first practice outside. So now we're all settling in, getting a feel for each other and knowing how to work better together."
In the four games that've gone on as scheduled, the Vikings are 3-1. And while the season is still in its infancy, they've already identified room for growth.
"The biggest thing we're looking to improve on is getting more excited about the little things," Westmiller said.
"We need to get more hyped," Liniarski said. "Because last year we went far and we were high-energy all the time. That's just something we need to work on."
It's understandable given the amount of big games the Vikings have played during the past year — and not just in softball. Many of the girls were also on the school's basketball and volleyball teams, both of which made deep runs in their respective state tournaments.
But the energy was certainly there late in a 6-4 win over Sterling Heights Stevenson on Thursday. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Vikings scored all six of their runs. A leadoff double from Kaitlyn Cain sparked the explosion.
"Kaitlyn's hit definitely got us started," Westmiller said. "The whole lineup just kept rolling through. That was really cool to watch us go off of one another and pick each other up."
Anna Oles laid down a bunt to get Cain to third base. Cain reached easily with her speed, but when the throw to first was off she darted to home plate and scored the game's first run.
Lexie Perrin sent Oles home from second on an RBI double. Liniarski followed up with a two-run homer to center field. Then it was Westmiller who added an RBI triple before scoring on a ground-rule double.
"I thought our girls did a nice job of learning from their previous at-bats," Marysville coach Ryan Rathje said. "They found ways to get on base."
"When you get one person on base it kind of sets the mood," Liniarski said. "And everyone follows."
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/04/22/marysville-softball-settles-in-its-ready-turn-up-energy/7407472001/
| 2022-04-22T17:16:55Z
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Birthdays: 4.22.22 - 4.24.22
Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating today and into the weekend!!
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 1:46 PM EDT|Updated: 51 minutes ago
Birthdays: 4.22.22 - 4.24.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
Birthdays: 4.22.22 - 4.24.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/birthdays-42222-42422/
| 2022-04-22T18:38:19Z
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Expert: Masks still offer some COVID-19 protection, even if you’re the only one wearing them
(CNN) - With the Biden administration’s mask requirement for major public transportation no longer in effect, some might be wondering: Will I still be protected if I’m the only one wearing a mask? The answer may surprise you.
As airlines, trains and various bus companies have announced they will no longer require passengers or crew members to wear masks, some people responded with relief, others with slight panic.
According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, one-way masking still has benefits.
“It does depend to some extent on what kind of mask you’re using,” he said.
As has been heard throughout the pandemic, cloth and surgical masks don’t offer as much protection for the wearer as others, “whereas if you look at these high filtration masks and N95, KN95 masks, these are very good masks,” Gupta said. “I mean, they have significant filtration. They have electrostatic fibers that really helped sort of screen out the virus, but they’re not perfect.”
Gupta said it also depends on the ventilation where you are.
“Airplanes are probably one of the safest places because of the high air exchange rates, and we haven’t seen significant outbreaks on airplanes,” he said.
And of course, the more transmissible the virus, the greater the chances are of you getting infected.
So while one-way masking isn’t as effective in protecting from COVID-19, wearing one can still be a very good mitigation measure, especially if you are also vaccinated and boosted.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/expert-masks-still-offer-some-covid-19-protection-even-if-youre-only-one-wearing-them/
| 2022-04-22T18:38:26Z
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Golden Corral accepting donations to send children of veterans to summer camp
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Camp Corral is back!
The summer camp for the children of wounded, fallen or ill veterans took a hiatus during the pandemic, but now, Golden Corrals across the nation are accepting donations to help campers.
With 19 locations nationwide, campers have plenty of options of where to spend a week of their summer. But, you don’t have to go far to support them.
Golden Corral in Beckley will be accepting donations until June 1, 2022. Donations can be made inside the restaurant or online and go toward camp expenses. In 2019, the chain sent 2,700 children to camp through these donations. This year the goal has been set at 3,000.
Bo Williams, Hospitality Manager for the Beckley locations, says they are on track to helping meet this goal. He says it is because of the community’s support, as well as large name supporters like former professional basketball player Antawn Jamison and American actor Gary Sinise. Organizations like American Red Cross and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) have also jumped in to help.
“Our guests here at Golden Corral are wonderful,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them, we would be able to do this, but we have that national support that really helps too.”
Williams continued, saying Camp Corral is unlike any other.
“These children of veterans or disabled or wounded, you know, they suffer too, and they sometimes don’t necessarily know how to cope with some of life’s realities. This camp enables them to learn how to deal with things like that, build lasting relationships, and probably, most importantly, they have fun for a week.”
Children of veterans who would like to learn more about Camp Corral or go through the approval process can visit campcorral.org. This is also where donations can be made.
“Golden Corral in general is a big supporter of the military,” Williams stated. “We always have been, and we just hope to keep going.”
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/golden-corral-accepting-donations-send-children-veterans-summer-camp/
| 2022-04-22T18:38:33Z
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Happening Tonight: Makenzie Phipps performs at the Bluefield Arts Center
“It’s going to be a great time the band and I are so excited to be actually in our hometown. We rarely ever get to do it so we’re really looking forward to it.” --Makenzie
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - Local artist Makenzie Phipps is coming to the Bluefield Arts Center on April 22nd at 7 PM.
Phipps is a Bluefield, Virginia native and describes her sound and songwriting as a mix of classic country and southern blues.
Performing alongside her at the venue is Shane Begley.
“It’s just been such a crazy journey from when I started at 14-years-old and I’m now 20 and just having all the opportunities that I have been given I can say that I’m very very blessed that the good Lord is giving me these opportunities and I’m able to share music with everyone around the world,” said Phipps.
She has been featured on the Country Network as well as Country Rebel.
She also recently released her debut country single ‘Maybe’
Here more from Makenzie in the interview above.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/happening-tonight-makenzie-phiips-performs-bluefield-arts-center/
| 2022-04-22T18:38:39Z
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Lemonade lawsuit: Man claims Kraft Heinz Foods is skimping on powder drink mixes
BESSEMER, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – A lawsuit has been filed against Kraft Heinz Foods, claiming the company is misleading customers about the amount of lemonade its powder drink mixes can make.
According to WBRC, DeMarcus Rodgers is seeking class-action status and accuses the Fortune 500 company of deceptive trade practices, false labeling and violating the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
In the lawsuit, Rodgers’ attorneys claim he bought the 19-ounce Country Time lemonade mix containers from two local stores and began noticing the lemonade and pink lemonade he made with them tasted diluted.
Rodgers claims he was only able to measure six quarts worth of powder drink mix instead of the eight quarts promised by the label.
“Plaintiff would not have purchased the 19-ounce canisters of Country Time lemonade and pink lemonade powder drink mixes had he known that they did not contain enough powder drink mix to make eight quarts of drink as stated on the label,” the lawsuit says.
“Plaintiff has had to purchase additional 19-ounce canisters of Country Time lemonade and pink lemonade powder drink mixes to make up for the lost volume of powder to make lemonade and pink lemonade to drink.”
Rodgers’ attorneys claim Kraft Heinz violated the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and are asking for three times actual damages for all of the consumers in the class, an injunction to stop Kraft Heinz “from continuing to violate Alabama statutory law,” for the company to cover the attorneys’ fees, and “such other and further relief as the Court deems proper.”
Kraft Heinz sent this response in reaction to the lawsuit:
We are aware of the lawsuit, but believe it lacks any merit. We will strongly defend against the allegations.
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/lemonade-lawsuit-man-claims-kraft-heinz-foods-is-skimping-powder-drink-mixes/
| 2022-04-22T18:38:45Z
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Mark Meadows also registered to vote in South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mark Meadows — a former chief of staff to President Donald Trump who was removed from North Carolina voter rolls earlier this month — is still a registered voter in two other states, according to officials.
Chris Whitmire, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Elections Commission, told The Associated Press the former Republican congressman and his wife registered as voters in the state in March 2022.
“That’s when he became active,” Whitmire said, noting that neither Meadows had yet cast a vote in the state. “From our perspective, it just looks like any new South Carolina voter.”
The South Carolina registration was first reported by The Washington Post, which noted that Meadows had been a registered voter simultaneously in three states — the Carolinas and Virginia — until North Carolina removed him from its rolls earlier this month. Meadows remains a registered Virginia voter, the paper reported.
Mark and Debra Meadows bought a home on picturesque Lake Keowee for $1.6 million in July, according to records for the property, which was listed on their South Carolina voter registration records.
The former North Carolina congressman appeared in South Carolina earlier this week with members of the state Legislature’s newly-formed Freedom Caucus, an offshoot of a similar conservative group Meadows helped found on the federal level while serving in the U.S. House.
A representative for Meadows declined comment Friday on the South Carolina voter registration.
Last month, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein’s office asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into Meadows’ voter registration in that state, which listed a home he never owned — and may never have visited — as his legal residence.
Public records indicated Meadows had been registered to vote in Virginia and North Carolina, where he listed a Scaly Mountain mobile home he did not own as his legal residence weeks before casting an absentee 2020 presidential election ballot in the state. Trump, for whom Meadows was serving as chief of staff in Washington at the time, won the battleground state by just over 1 percentage point.
Public records indicate Meadows registered to vote in Alexandria, Virginia, about a year after he registered in Scaly Mountain, and just weeks before Virginia’s high-profile governor’s election last fall.
Meadows frequently raised the prospect of voter fraud before the 2020 presidential election — as polls showed Trump trailing now-President Joe Biden — and in the months after Trump’s loss, to suggest Biden was not the legitimate winner.
Judges, election officials in both parties and Trump’s own attorney general have concluded there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Experts point to isolated incidents of intentional or unintentional violations of voter laws in every election.
Through the Electronic Registration Information Center, a consortium through which states exchange data about voter registration, Whitmire also said officials periodically pull voter lists and remove those who have more recently registered in a new state.
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/mark-meadows-also-registered-vote-south-carolina/
| 2022-04-22T18:38:52Z
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Raleigh County man found guilty of sexual assault at trial
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - A Raleigh County man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl on Friday.
After deliberating on Thursday evening and into Friday morning, the jury came back with a verdict, finding Barry Willey guilty of Second Degree Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse by a Parent or Guardian, and felony Conspiracy.
The teen’s mother previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy for her role in the crime. The complaint said she encouraged her daughter to lose her virginity to Willey in June of 2019. After the teen refused, it said she was awakened in the night to Willey sexually assaulting her.
The case was prosecuted by Raleigh County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brian Parsons and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Morgan Spolarich.
“We’re pleased with the outcome. The jury took the case seriously based on the nature of their deliberations. It was an important case, a difficult case, and we’re pleased a just outcome was achieved and pleased for the victim that this whole situation has come to a successful conclusion,” said Parsons.
Spolarich was also pleased with the final outcome. “I’m very happy that justice was served. It was a team effort and we are all very pleased.”
Willey is set to be sentenced at a later date, when he faces a possible sentence of 10-25 years on the Second Degree Sexual Assault charge, 10-20 years on the Sexual Abuse by a Parent or Guardian charge, and 1-5 years on the felony Conspiracy charge.
Judge Robert Burnside presided over the case.
The investigation was handled by the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Dept.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/raleigh-county-man-found-guilty-sexual-assault-trial/
| 2022-04-22T18:39:00Z
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Robber caught by surprise when potential victim also pulls out gun, police say
HOUSTON (KWTX/Gray News) - A would-be armed robber quickly changed his mind when the employee of a used car lot took out a weapon, police said.
KWTX reports that Houston police said two men drove into a car dealership on March 21, and one of them walked up to an employee asking to test drive a car and they walked inside an office.
Police said when the employee sat in his chair, he noticed the suspect pull up his shirt and grab a gun. The employee responded by grabbing his gun, which the suspect saw and stated, “No!”
The suspect turned around, walked out of the office and took off running. The second suspect, who was driving a Mercedes, also left the parking lot.
Houston police have yet to announce any arrests in the case and are seeking online tips.
Copyright 2022 KWTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/robber-caught-by-surprise-when-potential-victim-also-pulls-out-gun-police-say/
| 2022-04-22T18:39:06Z
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Sharpton demands name of Michigan officer who killed Patrick Lyoya
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The Rev. Al Sharpton demanded Friday that authorities publicly identify the Michigan officer who killed Patrick Lyoya, a Black man and native of Congo who was fatally shot in the back of the head after a struggle, saying, “We want his name!”
Sharpton, who spoke to the roughly 1,000 people gathered at Lyoya’s funeral in Grand Rapids, said authorities cannot set a precedent of withholding the names of officers who kill people. Police in Grand Rapids have not yet released the name of the officer who shot Lyoya on April 4 — the anniversary of the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — saying they would withhold the officer’s name unless he is charged with a crime.
“Every time a young Black man or woman is arrested in this town, you put their name all over the news. Every time we’re suspected of something, you put our name out there,” he said. “How dare you hold the name of a man that killed this man? We want his name!”
Mourners at the Renaissance Church of God in Christ, many of whom were wearing T-shirts or sweatshirts bearing Lyoya’s picture, stood in applause.
Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy at the request of family members, said Lyoya came to America in search of a better life and “ran into an America that we know too well.” He urged those gathered to continue to fight for justice, and called for a federal investigation into Lyoya’s killing.
“We can’t bring Patrick back. But we can bring justice in Patrick’s name,” he said.
The family’s lawyer, prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, also called for justice, saying “an unnamed police officer escalated a simple misdemeanor traffic stop into a deadly execution.” He said the issue is one of humanity.
“World leaders can’t condemn Russian soldiers shooting unarmed citizens in the back of the head in Ukraine, but then refuse to condemn police officers shooting unarmed Black citizens here in Grand Rapids, Michigan,” he said. “If it’s wrong that you do it in the Ukraine then it’s wrong that you do it in Grand Rapids.”
Sharpton and Crump have frequently joined with mourners to speak at the funerals of Black people killed by police. Sharpton’s eulogies have included those for George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis sparked a national reckoning on race; Daunte Wright, who was shot during a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis; Andre Hill, who was killed in Columbus, Ohio; and Andrew Brown Jr., who was killed in North Carolina.
Lyoya’s body lay in a white, open casket inside the church before the service began. Once the funeral started, the casket was closed and flag of Congo was draped over it. Below the casket, a sign bearing an image of the American flag and a photo of Lyoya said: “It’s our right to live,” in both English and Swahili. Lyoya’s parents and other family members wore black sweatshirts that had Lyoya’s picture on the front and the words “Justice for Patrick” along a sleeve.
Lyoya’s mother, Dorcas, sobbed as mourners filed in pay their respects, and tears ran down her cheek as live music played and a choir sang.
U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan’s only Black member of Congress, read a proclamation saluting Lyoya’s memory, saying he was an American of great distinction, whose life and legacy would not be forgotten.
“This is personal to me. This is my family. You are my family. This is my community,” she said. “And if I don’t stand up, who will?”
Other elected officials, such as Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and state Sen. Winnie Brinks, were also in attendance.
Outside the church, mourners were given T-shirts that read “Justice For Patrick Lyoya” on one side and “It’s our Right to Live!” on the other. Some men removed their suit jackets and slipped the shirt on over their dress shirts.
Lyoya, who was unarmed, was face down on the ground when he was shot April 4. The officer, whose name has not been released, was on top of him and can be heard on video demanding that he take his hand off the officer’s Taser.
Earlier, the officer is heard saying that the license plate did not match the car Lyoya had been driving. Lyoya, a 26-year-old father of two, declined to get back into the vehicle as ordered, and a short foot chase ensued before the deadly struggle.
“How dare you pull your gun about some car tags?” Sharpton said during his eulogy.
Releasing the name of the officer who killed Lyoya has been a demand of family members and activists. On Thursday, Peter and Dorcas Lyoya, Patrick Lyoya’s parents, joined protesters in Lansing for a march and rally to again demand the officer’s name.
State police are investigating the shooting. The agency will forward findings to Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker for consideration of any charges. He has told the public to not expect a quick decision.
Attorneys for the Lyoya family have said they believe video collected and released by police shows Lyoya was resisting the officer, not fighting him. His parents have called the shooting an “execution.”
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Find the AP’s full coverage of the fatal police shooting of Patrick Lyoya: https://apnews.com/hub/patrick-lyoya
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/sharpton-demands-name-michigan-officer-who-killed-patrick-lyoya/
| 2022-04-22T18:39:12Z
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...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
possible.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...From late tonight through Saturday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power
lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 430, 431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts of
40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Governor prioritizes EMS in 2022, seeking $20 million
CHEYENNE – Gov. Mark Gordon’s Health Task Force and the Wyoming Department of Health have been working on ideas for improvements to the delivery of health care in Wyoming.
A major focus in the early months is on emergency medical services. Regional EMS providers have struggled to sustain operations in recent years due to a combination of factors, including low call volume, high cost of operations, staffing and volunteer shortages, and reimbursement for services.
As a result of the conversations and recommendations from the Health Task Force’s EMS Subcommittee, the governor requested the Legislature appropriate $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to help stabilize the current system and provide regional pilot programs to address sustainability of operations.
Legislators recognized the importance of stabilizing the EMS system in Wyoming by approving $5 million in stabilization funding and $10 million to develop regional pilot programs.
“One of the key components necessary for Wyoming to have a robust health care system is to ensure our first responder system is viable and sustainable,” Gordon said in a news release this week. “It is essential that emergency services be ready to respond when and where the need arises, whether that be in our most rural areas or in our larger communities.”
The task force and Wyoming Department of Health will host a series of regional discussions with stakeholders to address challenges related to emergency medical services in the coming months. The first regional discussion will take place in Cheyenne and address Trauma Region 3, which includes Albany, Laramie, Goshen and Platte counties. Additional meetings will follow in each of the state’s five trauma regions, with exact dates and locations still to be determined.
Additional details on the meetings are available by contacting health and human services policy advisor Jen Davis at 307-777-8094 or jen.davis@wyo.gov.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/governor-prioritizes-ems-in-2022-seeking-20-million/article_971682d4-3bd5-5282-b729-f95a33f00334.html
| 2022-04-22T19:57:17Z
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...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
possible.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...From late tonight through Saturday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power
lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 430, 431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts of
40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Pete Buttigieg is the U.S. secretary of transportation, the website of which this photo was captured via screenshot on April 2, 2022.
CHEYENNE – Wyoming could get as much as $42.2 million over five years from the federal government to cut transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced Thursday.
This is part of a new $6.4 billion program for states and localities. The initiative is called the Carbon Reduction Program, which was created under last year's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Carbon Reduction Program is meant to "help states develop state carbon reduction strategies and address the climate crisis," FWA said in a news release. "States can use the funds in CRP to expand transportation options for American families that can help save them save money on gas."
Under the program, Wyoming will get $8.1 million in fiscal year 2022, with additional money available over five years. This is meant to help "reduce transportation emissions through the development of state carbon reduction strategies and by funding projects designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from on-road highway sources," according to FWA.
“As the sector generating the most carbon emissions in the U.S. economy, transportation must play a leading role in solving the climate crisis,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in the announcement. He noted that President Joe Biden wants to cut emissions in half by 2030.
The Carbon Reduction Program will fund "a wide range of projects," FWA said. This ranges "from installing infrastructure to support the electrification of freight vehicles or personal cars, to constructing Bus Rapid Transit corridors, to facilitating micro-mobility and biking."
For a list of how much money each U.S. state stands to get, see FWA's website. A new memo with further details also is online.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wyoming-could-get-42-2-million-over-5-years-to-cut-transportation-emissions/article_d61fafc2-967e-59f1-8ab9-7898b1dfdc83.html
| 2022-04-22T19:57:23Z
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Buckets of ladybugs released inside the Mall of America to fight pests
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 3:42 PM EDT|Updated: 26 minutes ago
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) – Some children in Minnesota celebrated Earth Day by releasing more than 100,000 ladybugs inside the Mall of America.
There are over 30,000 live plants on the property, including 400 live trees.
The mall has found the most effective way to deal with bugs are bugs.
The center has been using ladybugs as a pesticide for almost 30 years. It’s also been environmentally friendly since it opened in 1992.
The mall recycles more than 60% of its waste, uses passive solar energy from skylights, relies on LED bulbs and sends food waste to a local hog farm.
Copyright 2022 WCCO via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/buckets-ladybugs-released-inside-mall-america-fight-pests/
| 2022-04-22T20:08:34Z
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Disney government dissolution bill signed by DeSantis
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill to dissolve Walt Disney World’s private government, after the entertainment giant opposed a new state law critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
The law would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, as the 55-year-old Disney government is known, as well as a handful of other similar districts by June 2023. The measure does allow for the districts to be reestablished, leaving an avenue to renegotiate its future.
The move could have huge tax implications for Disney, whose series of theme parks have transformed Orlando into one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and serves to further sour the relationship between the Republican-led government and a major political player in the state.
For DeSantis, the attack on Disney is his latest salvo in a culture war waged over policies involving race, gender and the coronavirus, battles that have made him one of the most popular GOP politicians in the country and a likely 2024 presidential candidate.
The dispute with the company began with Disney’s criticism of a new law barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade as well as instruction that is not “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate.”
In March, Disney said it would suspend political donations in the state and added that it would in turn support organizations working to oppose the new law. DeSantis and his fellow Republicans then lashed out at Disney, and have defended the law as reasonable.
At the bill signing ceremony Friday, DeSantis said Disney lied about the content of the education law but that he viewed the company’s vow to fight the law as unacceptable.
“You’re a corporation based in Burbank, California, and you’re gonna marshal your economic might to attack the parents of my state. We view that as a provocation, and we’re going to fight back against that,” DeSantis said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/florida-gov-ron-desantis-signs-bill-dissolving-disneys-private-government/
| 2022-04-22T20:08:40Z
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Princeton barber shop awarded beautification grant
PRINCETON, W.Va. (WVVA) - Royal Fades Barber Shop was struck by a vehicle earlier this month. While the building is still in need of repairs, the business continues to operate. Now the city has awarded the owner of the property a two thousand dollars beautification grant to help offset the cost of some of the repairs.
Princeton’s Economic Development Specialist, Samuel Lusk explains the importance of helping the local business in any way they can.
“We saw the critical need there. When tragedy struck that building when the car went through the side of it we just wanted to do everything we can to help them and to make sure that they continue to do business as quickly as possible,” said Lusk.
Lusk adds he wants the public to know Royal Fades is still open and encourages people in need of a haircut to stop in.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/princeton-barber-shop-awarded-beautification-grant/
| 2022-04-22T20:08:47Z
|
Supreme Court to hear complex death row case
Georgia inmate Michael Nance argues lethal injection is ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and wants a firing squad.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The case of a death row inmate who wants to choose how he is executed will now go before the United States Supreme Court.
Georgia inmate Michael Nance wants to die by firing squad and not by lethal injection. He argues lethal injection violates his eighth amendment right that protects people from cruel and unusual punishment. His legal argument centers in large part on how his own unique medical conditions have compromised his veins. He argues that will make lethal injection painful. However, a firing squad is not an approved method of execution in the state of Georgia.
A lawyer who represents Nance, Jenner & Block Partner Matthew Hellman, told the Washington News Bureau in a statement: “This case is about whether a prisoner can challenge a method of execution as unconstitutionally cruel even when it is the only method that the State has adopted. If the answer is no, the courthouse doors will be closed to many prisoners who simply seek to have their death sentences carried out in a humane and lawful manner.”
Cliff Sloan, a professor at Georgetown Law University, also spoke to the Washington News Bureau about the case. He has previously argued several cases successfully before the Supreme Court on behalf of death row inmates.
“What is at issue is when a method of execution would cause severe pain to somebody. And, that should trouble us all and that should make us all want to make sure that that person can bring that claim to court,” said Sloan.
Sloan said in the case of Nance, the court will be forced to decide the procedure Nance can use to fight his method of execution. He said that decision could make it easier or harder for other inmates across the country to pursue similar legal challenges.
“The issue here is whether the person could bring that under a civil rights statute, which is the way they’ve been brought in the past, or whether the person has to bring it under what’s called the habeas corpus statute and then it would be barred,” said Sloan.
A habeas petition challenges the evidence of the lawfulness of imprisonment. In court paperwork, Nance argues the habeas procedure shouldn’t apply to his case because he is only challenging the method of his execution.
Nance’s legal team argues that in May of 2019, a prison medical technician told Nance that the execution team would have to “cut his neck” to carry out lethal injection because they could not “otherwise obtain sustained intravenous access.” They also claim Nance’s severely compromised veins pose a substantial risk of him facing a ‘torturous’ and ‘excessively painful’ execution.
The Supreme Court has previously ruled executions such as lethal injection, the electric chair, and firing squad pass legal muster. The justices are scheduled to hear the proceedings on Monday.
Michael Nance was sentenced to death in 2002 for the death of Gabor Balogh in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/supreme-court-hear-complex-death-row-case/
| 2022-04-22T20:08:53Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) - Breezy trade winds continue through next week with windward and mauka showers, and isolated showers for leeward spots. Cloudy conditions will linger before clearing later tonight into Saturday. Highs of 82 to 87. Trade Winds 15 to 25 mph.
Moisture associated with an old disturbance just north of the state could bring periods of windward showers into the weekend. A return of drier trade wind conditions is expected statewide Sunday into next week.
Two north-northwest swells will affect the area over the next several days. One is currently moving through and will slowly lower into Saturday. The next, somewhat larger, swell will begin arriving Saturday, and north shore surf may approach the advisory level during its peak Sunday. This swell will gradually decline Monday and fade by Tuesday.
South shore surf will remain near to below seasonal average into Saturday. However, forerunners of a new south-southwest swell will also arrive Saturday. This swell will likely peak above seasonal average Sunday. It will gradually decrease beginning Monday.
The breezy trade winds discussed above will generate rough trade wind swell and keep east shore surf near the seasonal average.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/aloha-friday-weather-breezy-trades-stay-clouds-expected-to-clear-later-in-the-day/article_a28bb73e-c249-11ec-b044-0f0672120909.html
| 2022-04-22T20:22:12Z
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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/stocks-slump-as-wall-street-heads-for-another-losing-week/article_be43a6c4-c255-11ec-83bf-430d28fe3fe7.html
| 2022-04-22T20:22:18Z
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The U.S. housing market — which posted impressive equity growth and double-digit price gains during the coronavirus pandemic — faces some potential headwinds with inflation and supply chain shortages colliding with higher interest rates, lack of affordable homes and price volatility.
A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank also worries about a brewing housing bubble after U.S. prices, values and home sales skyrocketed during the pandemic. Researchers from the Fed’s Dallas bank are concerned about the continued rise in home prices resulting in worrisome market over-exuberance.
“Our evidence points to abnormal U.S. housing market behavior for the first time since the boom of the early 2000s. Reasons for concern are clear in certain economic indicators — the price-to-rent ratio, in particular, and the price-to-income ratio — which show signs that 2021 house prices appear increasingly out of step with fundamentals,” the Fed researchers said in their March 29 report.
The Fed report does not expect a potential market correction to the scale of the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. But it does worry about speculative investments turning sour and overextended home buyers fueling a wave of bankruptcies and foreclosures.
Housing markets across the U.S. saw robust price gains during the pandemic fueled by strong buyer demand and limited supplies of homes for sale.
Growth markets and luxury real estate hotbeds have seen prices skyrocket, according to sales data from the National Association of Realtors. Last year, Punta Gorda and Ocala, Florida, posted prices gains of more than 28%, according to NAR.
Other high-flying markets last year included Phoenix (25.7%), Las Vegas (24.7%), Ogden, Utah (24.7%), Salt Lake City (24.4%) and Boise-Nampa, Idaho (24.3%). That followed strong sales and price growth in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.
Prices were up and home builders posted record sales, according to real estate research firm ATTOM Data Solutions. The real estate wave has carried luxury property owners in New York, San Francisco and Miami as well as smaller markets where major growth spurts are challenged by limited sales inventories.
Jacelly Cespedes, a business and finance professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School, does not expect a wholesale cooling off or sea change in real estate markets with limited sales inventories and multiple buyers bidding for homes continuing to put upward pressures on price.
“There are some signs that some markets are cooling, but I think it’s still tight and very competitive,” Cespedes said. “The lack of inventory leaves buyers with limited options. Most of them are bidding up prices.”
Migration trends
Cespedes said U.S. migration trends during the pandemic have also helped drive demand for homes which helps propel prices.
Pandemic restrictions and shutdowns have combined with more work-from-home arrangements and rises in crime and perceptions of social strife in some big U.S. cities such as New York, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle and Portland.
"We have seen people move out of the East Coast to the South, to places likes Florida. Those moves have pushed up housing prices," she said.
The result has been more buyers interested in not only lower-tax job growth markets such as Boise, Phoenix, Tampa and Dallas but also smaller towns and more rural areas.
“Our prices are up and supplies are down — like everywhere else,” said Jill Russell, a real estate agent with EXP Realty in Klamath Falls, Oregon near the California border.
Russell said local pricing data in Klamath County shows prices were up 11% from March 2021 to March 2022 — $260,000 to $287,000.
Russell said like other rural markets, areas of southern Oregon drew interest during the pandemic from buyers looking to escape the stresses and restrictions of urban areas.
The exponential growth of remote work along with professional and creative workers’ expectations of that flexibility has also allowed some transplants into rural areas and small towns such as southern Oregon and Maryland’s Eastern Shore which is drawing new buyers from New York, Washington D.C. and other big cities.
“A majority of our clients who were buying were coming from outside of the area,” said Russell, who has been in the real estate industry for 12 years.
She said those included buyers from Portland, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area as well as Florida and New York. “People just from all over the place came in to buy,” Russell said.
Housing markets, large and small are also grappling with high demand and low inventories of homes for sale, especially in affordable categories.
“Sellers in our market often benefit from quick sales and multiple offers to choose from. It has been this way for several years now and as a result median home values are at record all-time highs,” said Jake Rockwell, principal and broker with Rockwell Real Estate in Medford, Oregon.
Rockwell said housing data for home prices for Jackson County, Oregon have increased 58% over the past five years and 14.5% from 2020 to 2021.
Rockwell expects to see price gains but said low supplies and affordability is a challenge for many buyers. “We need inventory of all shapes, sizes, types, and locations. Lack of inventory is the biggest challenge to the market at the moment,” Rockwell said.
Rate hikes, inflation
That challenge is slated to increase with the Fed raising interest rates to help combat 40-year highs in inflation. The Fed could issue a full-point increase to U.S. interest rates in May and June after a 25 basis point increase in March.
The interest rate hikes come as the U.S. posted an 8.5% inflation rate for March — the highest since 1981, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The inflationary situation impacts everything from construction materials for home builders to rent hikes for apartment tenants.
Higher interest rates could make it even more difficult for first-time and entry level buyers to qualify for mortgages with renters facing sometimes exorbitant increases in apartment rents from landlords.
"This is going to deter a lot of home buyers," Cespedes said of expected U.S. interest rate hikes and their impacts on mortgage qualifications including debt-to-income She said higher interest rates could also dampen demand from house flippers and investors who will buy homes for rentals or resales. "They are going to be reluctant," the University of Minnesota professor said.
Russell said buyers looking for affordable options are already challenged by high prices in bigger cities and popular areas such as Bend.
But smaller town and rural markets have limited inventories and development pipelines. Russell said her southern Oregon market, for example, has its own logistics challenges with its more remote location away from Interstate 5 and serious drought conditions.
“We’re so low on inventory,” Russell said, referencing Henry Ford’s famous line about limited color choices for early motor vehicles. “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black,” she said.
A study released earlier this month by NAR found affordability the top concern for prospective buyers.
"Record-high home prices and record-low inventory have made the home buying process exceedingly difficult,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR vice president of demographics and behavioral insights.
Home prices have increased 38.3% the past three years nationally, according to NAR. That includes a 40.3% jump in New York City, 52.1% in Fort Myers, Florida, 79.6% in Boise and 63.5% in Phoenix.
The real estate sector is also challenged by continued labor shortages and supply chain challenges. Home builders and their construction contractors have long struggled to fill trades and labor jobs.
Those are magnified in small rural markets where it’s more smaller builders driving growth. COVID shutdowns in China and U.S. sanctions against Russia could result in added supply chain problems with raw materials, home technology and construction components.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/business/high-flying-housing-market-faces-potential-turbulence/article_e1d4d668-814b-5e46-9029-759863e81d13.html
| 2022-04-22T20:30:17Z
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Animal rights activist pleads guilty to burning downAn animal rights and environmental activist who eluded U.S. authorities for more than 20 years after being accused of burning down an Oregon meatpacking facility and slaughterhouse as well as a federal wild horse corral in California has pleaded guilty in federal court arson charges.
The federal corral was used as part of U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programs to remove wild horses from public lands.
Joseph Mahmoud Dibee, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and arson related to the 1997 destruction of a slaughterhouse in Redmond, Oregon and the 2001 fire at the wild horse corral and barn facility operated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Dibee was part of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front (ALF). The environmental groups were accused of damaging and destroying government and private sector animal processing facilities.
According to federal prosecutors, Dibee was part of a core group of activists called “the Family” which was responsible for as many as 40 acts between 1995 and 2001 that caused from than $45 million in damages.
Dibee and 11 others were indicted by a federal grand jury. Prosecutors said he fled to Cuba in 2005. He was arrested by Cuban police in 2018 and extradited back to the U.S.
He will be sentenced July 27 in federal court in Oregon. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland is recommending more than seven years in prison for Dibee as part of the plea deal.
“No matter the agenda, using violence to advance a social or political agenda is a serious crime. Over a series of years, Mr. Dibee and his co-conspirators caused millions of dollars in damage to commercial and government-owned properties. Today, after many years on the run, Mr. Dibee admitted to his role in these schemes and will finally face justice,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Cops are still searching for another alleged Animal Liberation Front member.
“Josephine Sunshine Overaker, an American citizen who is either 47 or 50 years old, is believed to have fled to Europe in late 2001,” according to the prosecutors’ office.
She faces 19 felony charges, including arson. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for Overaker’s capture. She is believed to have fled to Europe, according to the feds.
The arson included planning and use of “incendiary bombs”, according to the FBI.
“It has taken more than 20 years for Joseph Dibee to face justice. The FBI and our law enforcement partners never gave up. From destroying evidence to fleeing the country, none of Mr. Dibee’s tactics stopped us from making sure he was held accountable for his malicious and destructive actions,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon..
Dibee’s home in Seattle was used to construct the devices, according to the FBI.
Animal rights activist pleads guilty to burning down
An animal rights and environmental activist who eluded U.S. authorities for more than 20 years after being accused of burning down an Oregon meatpacking facility and slaughterhouse as well as a federal wild horse corral in California has pleaded guilty in federal court arson charges.
The federal corral was used as part of U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programs to remove wild horses from public lands.
Joseph Mahmoud Dibee, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and arson related to the 1997 destruction of a slaughterhouse in Redmond, Oregon and the 2001 fire at the wild horse corral and barn facility operated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Dibee was part of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. The environmental groups were accused of damaging and destroying government and private sector animal processing facilities.
According to federal prosecutors, Dibee was part of a core group of activists called “the Family” which was responsible for as many as 40 acts between 1995 and 2001 that caused from then $45 million in damages.
Dibee and 11 others were indicted by a federal grand jury. Prosecutors said he fled to Cuba in 2005. He was arrested by Cuban police in 2018 and extradited back to the U.S.
He will be sentenced July 27 in federal court in Oregon. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland is recommending more than seven years in prison for Dibee as part of the plea deal.
“No matter the agenda, using violence to advance a social or political agenda is a serious crime. Over a series of years, Mr. Dibee and his co-conspirators caused millions of dollars in damage to commercial and government-owned properties. Today, after many years on the run, Mr. Dibee admitted to his role in these schemes and will finally face justice,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Cops are still searching for another alleged Animal Liberation Front member.
“Josephine Sunshine Overaker, an American citizen who is either 47 or 50 years old, is believed to have fled to Europe in late 2001,” according to the prosecutors’ office.
She faces 19 felony charges, including arson. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for Overaker’s capture. She is believed to have fled to Europe, according to the feds.
The arson included planning and use of “incendiary bombs”, according to the FBI.
“It has taken more than 20 years for Joseph Dibee to face justice. The FBI and our law enforcement partners never gave up. From destroying evidence to fleeing the country, none of Mr. Dibee’s tactics stopped us from making sure he was held accountable for his malicious and destructive actions,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon..
Dibee’s home in Seattle was used to construct the devices, according to the FBI.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/environment/animal-rights-activist-who-eluded-police-burned-down-blm-horse-corral-meatpacking-plant-pleads-guilty/article_28b50e19-204a-594b-a571-ed6bbad6fbe4.html
| 2022-04-22T20:30:24Z
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California man charged with making terrorist threat to president of Wisconsin school board
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU/Gray News) - A California man is charged and accused of making a death threat toward the president of a Wisconsin school board.
According to online court records, 33-year-old Jeremy Hanson was charged with terrorist threats, which is a felony.
According to the criminal complaint filed with the charges, Hanson sent an anonymous email to Tim Nordin, the ECASD Board of Education president, from a Gmail account named “Kill All Marxist Teachers” at 11:58 a.m. on March 21, 2022.
According to WEAU, the email said, “I am going to kill you and shoot up your next school-board meeting for promoting the radical transgender agenda. It’s now time to declare war on you pedos. I am going to kill you and your entire family.”
The email was sent to Nordin’s school email, and ECASD’s IT staff worked with the Eau Claire Police Department to find the IP address of the device the email was sent from.
Investigators learned the IP address originated in Los Alamitos, California, and that the message appeared to have been sent from a PlayStation 4.
Detectives reached out to the internet service provider, Spectrum, to get more information about the account holder. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department then contacted the account holder, who identified herself as the mother of Hanson and confirmed that they owned a PlayStation 4.
Investigators were told that Hanson leans “very far right politically,” according to court documents, and has open cases with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for making similar threats in other places. Hanson’s mother said that Hanson is on the autism spectrum.
In a statement after receiving the threat, Nordin said that threats and violence against others are unacceptable, and said “to threaten my wife and children, my board colleagues, the staff of our schools, and, indeed, anyone in our community who would come to a school board meeting, angers me to my very core.” A school board meeting on the day the threat was made had three police officers present as a precaution.
If convicted, Hanson faces a maximum penalty of $10,000 and a maximum sentence of three and a half years in prison.
Copyright 2022 WEAU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/21/california-man-charged-with-making-terrorist-threat-president-wisconsin-school-board/
| 2022-04-22T21:30:44Z
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Ford recalls over 650,000 trucks; windshield wipers can fail
Published: Apr. 21, 2022 at 8:37 AM EDT
DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 650,000 pickup trucks and big SUVs in the U.S. because the windshield wipers can break and fail.
The recall covers certain F-150 pickups, and Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from the 2020 and 2021 model years.
Also included are F-250, 350, 450 and 550 trucks from 2020 through 2022.
Ford’s F-Series pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the U.S.
Ford says in documents posted Thursday by U.S. safety regulators that teeth on the wipers aren’t the right height. That can cause the wiper arms to become stripped.
Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms.
Owners will be notified by letter starting May 23.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/21/ford-recalls-over-650000-trucks-windshield-wipers-can-fail/
| 2022-04-22T21:30:51Z
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2 men admit to pepper-spraying officers at US Capitol riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two New York men pleaded guilty Friday to discharging chemical spray at police officers inside the U.S. Capitol during the January 2021 insurrection.
Cody Mattice, 29, and James Mault, 30, each admitted to breaking through police barriers and entering the building during a trip to Washington they had planned for several days and prepared for by acquiring batons and pepper spray.
Under plea agreements with federal prosecutors, each faces between 37 and 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to felony charges. Each also will pay $2,000 toward the cost of repairing the Capitol. Sentencing is scheduled for July 15.
Mattice and Mault, both from the Rochester area, were indicted in October after authorities said they appeared in photos and videos spraying a chemical agent toward police officers in a Capitol building hallway.
Mault was arrested in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he had been stationed with the U.S. Army. Mattice was arrested at his home in Hilton, New York.
The two appeared at a joint hearing Friday before U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, Mault in person and Mattice remotely. Both acknowledged exchanging text messages in the days prior to the insurrection, with Mault telling Mattice and others in a group to bring batons, knives, “ass-kicking boots” and protective clothing.
Once at the Capitol, Mault tried to convince police officers to join the rioters, assuring them they would still have jobs “after we kick the (expletive) out of everyone,” according to the plea agreement.
“What we’re doing is right,” he told the officers, “or there wouldn’t be this many ... people here.”
In exchange for their guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop additional felony charges.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/2-men-admit-pepper-spraying-officers-us-capitol-riot/
| 2022-04-22T21:39:49Z
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Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill to limit discussion of race
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law new guidelines Friday involving race-based discussions in businesses and schools as part of his campaign against critical race theory, which he once called “crap” in a strongly worded speech.
Passed by lawmakers earlier this year, the legislation bars instruction that says members of one race are inherently racist, and that they should feel guilt for past actions committed by others of the same race or that a person’s status as privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by their race. It also bars the notion that meritocracy is racist, or that discrimination is acceptable to achieve diversity.
“We believe in education, not indoctrination,” DeSantis said during Friday’s bill signing in South Florida.
DeSantis said Florida students will not have oppressive ideologies imposed on them, as the bill provides “substantive protections” for students in grades K to 12. He said “pernicious ideologies” will not be allowed.
“We will not use your tax dollars to teach our kids to hate this country or hate each other,” DeSantis said.
Opponents say DeSantis doesn’t have an accurate idea of what critical race theory is, and his motives are to suppress an accurate account of Black history.
“It’s just illustrating Gov. DeSantis’ pattern of Black attack policies led by Republican legislators. He is taken a culture war to a classic Republican battleground, which is the public schools. It’s going to hurt our children’s futures,”' said Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon, who is Black. “CRT is not taught in K-12 education here in our public schools. Let me be clear, this goes farther than just attacking Black folks. He’s attacking all the people of Florida.”
DeSantis’ focus on culture war issues involving race, gender and the coronavirus have made him one of the most popular Republican politicians in the country and a likely 2024 presidential candidate.
Critical race theory centers on the idea that racism is systemic in U.S. institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. There is little evidence that critical race theory itself is being taught to K-12 public school students, though some ideas central to it have been incorporated into teaching materials.
Black lawmakers in Florida have said they believe the legislation will have a chilling effect on how African American history is taught because teachers will fear lawsuits if students’ parents object to how they present subjects like slavery, segregation, lynchings and the continued presence of racism in the U.S.
The new law does expand language in state law requiring classroom instruction on “the ramifications of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on individual freedoms,” as well as study of the history of slavery, segregation and racial oppression, and of contributions by Blacks in U.S. history. But such material cannot seek to " indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view” inconsistent with the law.
In a strongly worded speech at a campaign-style event last December, DeSantis told a packed room of supporters that he won’t allow backers of critical race theory to erase U.S. history. He was interrupted several times by loud applause and cheers.
“Nobody wants this crap, OK? This is an elite driven phenomenon being driven by bureaucratic elites, elites in universities and elites in corporate America and they’re trying to shove it down the throats of the American people. You’re not doing that in the state of Florida,” DeSantis had said.
___
Associated Press writer David Fischer contributed to this report from Miami.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/florida-gov-desantis-signs-bill-limit-discussion-race/
| 2022-04-22T21:39:58Z
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Husband, wife charged with murder of wife’s grandmother
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Gray News) – A husband and wife in North Carolina have been charged with first-degree murder for the death of the wife’s grandmother.
According to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Alan Barnes, 50, and Angela Lucille Wamsley, 46, were charged Thursday for the murder of Nellie Sullivan, Wamsley’s grandmother.
Sullivan’s body was found last week, and detectives say an autopsy gave them probable cause to charge Barnes and Wamsley for murder.
The investigation began in December 2020 when Barnes and Wamsley were first taken into custody on numerous charges, including animal cruelty and drug possession. Shortly after, the two were charged with concealing a death in relation to Sullivan. However, investigators did not locate Sullivan’s remains until last week.
“Since the beginning of this investigation we have sought to locate Ms. Sullivan’s remains, afford her the respect she deserved, and restore dignity to the life she once lived,” said Angie Tullis, captain of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.
Barnes and Wamsley are expected in court May 31.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/husband-wife-charged-with-murder-wifes-grandmother/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:05Z
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Maryland becomes 2nd US state to ban cat declawing
(Gray News) - It is now illegal to declaw cats in the state of Maryland after Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into law Thursday.
While several cities around the U.S. have a declaw ban in place, Maryland is only the second state to ban the procedure. New York became the first in 2019.
The law prohibits any veterinary practitioners from performing declawing procedures on a cat unless the procedure is “necessary for a therapeutic purpose.”
The bill states that anyone who violates the law is subject of a fine up to $1,000.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, declawing is an inhumane practice that involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe, which would be equivalent to removing a human’s fingers at the last knuckle.
“Too often, people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cat’s nails—the equivalent of having your fingernails trimmed. Sadly, this is far from the truth,” the Humane Society’s website reads. “It is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat. Educated pet parents can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily.”
The new law in Maryland takes effect Oct. 1.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/maryland-becomes-2nd-us-state-ban-cat-declawing/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:14Z
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Mayor: 12-year-old girl killed while walking home, $10K reward for shooter
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WBNG/Gray News) - Authorities in New York are investigating a deadly shooting that took the life of a young girl who was walking home with her family Thursday evening.
Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said a 12-year-old girl died from a gunshot wound to the chest that night.
The Binghamton School District later identified the girl as sixth-grade student Aliza Spencer, as reported by WBNG.
“Aliza was a bright, talented child who will be profoundly missed in the Binghamton City School District,” said Binghamton Supt. Tonia Thompson. “She will be fondly remembered by her peers, as well as our faculty and staff.”
As of Friday afternoon, Mayor Kraham said there were no suspects in custody for the shooting, but there is a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said Thursday’s incident happened in a quiet neighborhood in terms of police activity. He urged anyone with further information to contact Binghamton detectives at 607-772-7090.
Copyright 2022 WBNG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/mayor-12-year-old-girl-killed-while-walking-home-10k-reward-shooter/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:21Z
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Police: Family killed in murder-suicide, including 9-year-old girl; community shocked
DULUTH, Minn. (KBJR/Gray News) - A community in Minnesota is helping to remember a family of four who were shot and killed in their own home earlier this week.
The Duluth Police Department said Riana Lou Barry, 44, Sean Christopher Barry, 47, Shiway Elizabeth Barry, 12 and Sadie Lucille Barry, 9, lost their lives in a murder-suicide situation, KBJR reported.
Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken said Brandon Taylor Cole–Skogstad, 29, a cousin to the children, was responsible for the shooting and killed himself in the incident. Cole–Skogstad was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis and family members said he sent a message about harming himself and others in the family before the shooting.
Neighbors who knew the family said they were shocked to hear what had happened on their street.
“It’s just really hard,” said Brianna Williams, a grad student who lives down the street. “You think you’re safe in this community and it’s just crazy because I’m always chatting with the neighbors and everyone’s chatty.”
Neighbors said it is a friendly community, and that families and older adults make up most of the block.
“I mean this is a really nice street,” said neighbor Mollie Sebok. “It’s a nice area.”
Sebok also said the family was part of a group playing and watching a football game in the street just two weeks before the tragic shooting.
“Everyone was cheering them on,” she said. “It was a really nice day, so all of the neighbors were out. They kind of felt like stars because everyone was watching them. It was really friendly.”
A few community members have added flowers outside of the home where the Barrys lived.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for funeral expenses for the family by relatives and friends.
No immediate plans were shared regarding the family’s final resting place.
Copyright 2022 KBJR via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/police-family-killed-murder-suicide-including-9-year-old-girl-community-shocked/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:28Z
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Police say at least 3 shot, ‘active threat’ in northwest DC
WASHINGTON (AP) — Police say at least three people were injured in a shooting Friday in northwest Washington, D.C., and city officials are warning people in the area to stay inside because of an “active threat.”
Dozens of law enforcement officers responded to the scene near Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness St. in the Van Ness neighborhood of Washington. The incident is just down the road from Howard University Law School.
Police in tactical gear were seen escorting people out of an apartment building. Officers pointed their rifles upward toward other buildings and windows as the people moved quickly down the street with their hands raised above their heads.
At least one person was seen being led away by police in handcuffs.
Authorities said the three shooting victims included two men and a juvenile female. The Metropolitan Police Department is warning people who live in the nearby neighborhoods of Cleveland Park and Van Ness to shelter in place.
The University of the District of Columbia, which is located nearby, went into lockdown, telling students and staff to shelter and stay in place. In a tweet, the college said there was an “active shooting incident near student housing” and the suspect remained at large.
Video posted on Twitter captured the sound of bursts of rapid gunfire.
A slew of law enforcement officials and emergency crews were sent to the scene. The U.S. Secret Service said its officers were aiding police in the search and at the scene.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/police-say-least-2-shot-northwest-dc/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:34Z
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Process begins for storm-water improvements on Rogers Street
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 4:04 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
PRINCETON, W.Va. (WVVA) - Princeton is now accepting bids for storm water improvements along Rogers Street. It has been prone to heavy flooding over the years.
The new project will install more than 12-hundred feet of storm pipes along the street. It will also fix other underlying drainage issues.
“It has flooded for years on Rogers Street as well as on Stafford Drive. We were able to correct the Stafford Drive storm-water issues about three years ago and now we’ve tackled the Rogers Street area coming into the city of Princeton it’s a main artery as far as business is concerned,” said City Manager, Mike Webb.
Webb adds the city is dedicated to making future improvements in other areas.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/process-begins-storm-water-improvements-rogers-street/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:41Z
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SUV with baby inside stolen from Burger King in Louisiana; quickly recovered
SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A young child has been found safe after the SUV she was sitting inside was stolen from a Burger King in Louisiana, KSLA reported.
It happened around 1:15 p.m. Friday. More than a dozen units with the Shreveport Police Department initially responded, according to Caddo Parish 911 dispatch records. They were searching for a silver 2012 Nissan Armada SUV.
Officials with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office say they were notified by SPD to be on the lookout for the SUV. A couple of deputies were working a minor crash when they spotted the silver Armada driving by.
The deputies stopped the vehicle and took the male driver into custody, they said. Two civilians were able to tackle the suspect and hold him until police arrived.
The man was caught about six miles from where the theft occurred.
Officials say the 8-month-old girl is OK and has been reunited with her parents.
The family member who was with the baby girl when the SUV was stolen, Javorius Marshall, the baby’s cousin, says she was in the backseat when it happened. He says he left her in the SUV with it running while he ran into the restaurant because she had fallen asleep and he didn’t want to wake her.
He said he was shocked that it happened in broad daylight.
“I just wanted her to be covered, because she’s innocent and didn’t know what was going on,” Marshall said.
Copyright 2022 KSLA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/suv-with-baby-inside-stolen-burger-king-louisiana-quickly-recovered/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:47Z
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Traveling Smithsonian exhibit stops in Mount Hope
MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. (WVVA) - A piece of the Smithsonian is now here in southern West Virginia.
The museum’s traveling exhibit titled, “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” will be inside Mount Hope Mountainair Hotel on Main Street. The exhibit highlights the changes in rural America and how communities had to think creatively in order to see growth.
Carrie Kidd, Executive Director of Harmony for Hope, who has dedicated years to seeing a better Mount Hope, says being chosen to host the museum by the West Virginia Humanities Council is inspiring.
“It really makes us feel group feel good as a group,” Kidd explained. “It makes us feel as if the work we are doing in the community is actually making an impact.”
“Crossroads: Change in Rural America” will be viewable until the end of May. Then its headed to Welch, West Virginia.
Those who visit the exhibit tomorrow, Saturday, April 23, can also enjoy the city’s ramp dinner.
Learn more at museummainstreet.org.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/traveling-smithsonian-exhibit-stops-mount-hope/
| 2022-04-22T21:40:56Z
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A warm up is in full swing as we head into the weekend.
Temperatures will near 80 degrees the next few days.
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 4:15 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Happy Earth Day! We will continue to be mild as we wrap up the day today. Temperatures will be mild overnight as many of us reach the mid-50s. Winds tonight will be almost nonexistent as this weather pattern keeps things light and variable.
Tomorrow will be a gorgeous one as well with sunny skies throughout the day! Temperatures will hit 80 degrees in some places, reaching near record highs. Wilds once again will remain calm, and temperatures will be mild overnight.
Sunday and Monday are looking to be more of the same, as the warm trend continues. Looking ahead to Tuesday, things will cool down a lot as rain moves into the area.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/warm-up-is-full-swing-we-head-into-weekend/
| 2022-04-22T21:41:03Z
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Woman attacked, killed by her own dog, coroner says
NEWBERRY, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A woman in South Carolina died after she was attacked by her own dog Thursday, according to the coroner’s office.
The Newberry County coroner said 45-year-old Erin Beach was killed in the attack.
Police received a 911 call from the home Thursday afternoon. When deputies and EMS arrived on scene, the coroner’s office said the dog was aggressive toward them as well, resulting in the death of the dog.
Investigators said they do not yet know what prompted the dog to attack its owner.
An autopsy for Beach is scheduled for this week. A necropsy for the dog has also been scheduled. The breed of the dog has not been confirmed.
The incident remains under investigation.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/woman-attacked-killed-by-her-own-dog-coroner-says/
| 2022-04-22T21:41:09Z
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CHEYENNE – The head of a Cheyenne-based business was recently convicted in federal court of defrauding the U.S. government and knowingly endangering employees by exposing them to asbestos.
A federal grand jury found 47-year-old John Eldon Rimmasch, as well as his company, Wasatch Railroad Contractors, guilty of five counts of wire fraud and one count of knowing endangerment. The verdict was reached April 13, on the eighth day of a trial in the U.S. District Court of Wyoming, according to court documents.
"Wasatch entered a contract to restore a historic railcar owned by the National Park Service. Wasatch failed to complete the restoration, and in the process, endangered its employees by exposing them to asbestos without proper safety measures," a statement from Bob Murray, the U.S. Attorney of Wyoming, said.
Even so, Rimmasch directed his company to invoice the NPS for asbestos abatement, knowing his company had broken its contract, the statement said.
Rimmasch and Wasatch also did not pay its laborers minimum wage, as required by the contract.
"However, Rimmasch directed others to knowingly submit false certified payrolls to the (NPS) stating his employees were paid the minimum wage. Rimmasch knew that compliance with the contract was necessary to receive the ($800,000) payment from the (NPS), which was received," the statement said.
Rimmasch founded and owned Wasatch and served as CEO.
He remains free on bond, according to court documents.
Sentencing in the case is set for 9:30 a.m. on July 5.
A federal charge of wire fraud carries penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release and a $100 special assessment. A knowing endangerment at the federal level carries penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment, three years supervised release and a $100 special assessment, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual and up to a $1 million fine for an organization.
"This was a difficult and very stressful ordeal for John Rimmasch and his company, Wasatch Railroad Contractors, a company that has done outstanding work in the railroad industry in Cheyenne and throughout the country over the past almost 20 years," Hank Bailey, an attorney for Rimmasch, said in a recent email to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. "Naturally, we are disappointed in the outcome of the case, but we accept and respect the hard work done by the jury in reaching its decision, and we’re now working on next steps in the judicial process," meaning sentencing, he said.
Wasatch "purported to specialize in restoring historic railroad equipment," among other things, the U.S. Attorney's statement said. The company's Railcar Repair division, located in Shoshoni, performed repair and restoration on freight cars.
When the WTE attempted to reach someone for comment, phone numbers associated with both divisions seemed to be disconnected.
The crime was investigated by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher is prosecuting the case.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheyenne-business-head-convicted-of-wire-fraud-employee-endangerment/article_dc5603fc-1f39-56a3-b9c9-3a7511099c52.html
| 2022-04-22T22:20:50Z
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SEATTLE (AP) — With a backdrop of flowering trees, it was a setting fit for the signing of major environmental legislation. Even Seattle’s notorious clouds parted as President Joe Biden stepped up to speak Friday.
But when he sat down at a small desk with the presidential seal that had been set up for the occasion, there was no new law to sign, just an executive order directing federal officials to keep better track of trees in national forests.
The gap between the scale of the global warming crisis and the president’s initiatives seemed wider than ever on Earth Day. Although last year’s infrastructure legislation had some climate policies, such as building more charging stations for electric cars, many of Biden’s most ambitious proposals remain stalled in Congress.
Biden seemed eager to be signing something other than his executive order.
“My pen is ready,” Biden said in Seattle’s Seward Park. “Get some of these bills to my desk.”
He criticized Republicans for opposing climate action and hinted at his frustration with Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, although he didn’t mention them by name. Within the Democratic caucus, he said, “there’s only two senators who occasionally don’t vote with me.”
The lack of unanimity among Democrats and the steadfast resistance from Republicans in the evenly divided Senate has blocked hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits for clean energy. Environmental advocates question whether the country can hit Biden's ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions without such policies, and scientists warn that the world faces extreme heat, drought and weather unless fossil fuels are phased out swiftly.
With so much of his agenda in doubt, Biden instead drew a sharp contrast with his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, who often mocked climate change as he unraveled the country’s fight against global warming during his time in office.
“We’ve reached the point where the crisis on the environment has become so obvious, with the notable exception of the former president, that we really have an opportunity to do things we couldn’t have done two, five, 10 years ago,” Biden said.
Biden said he was staking his hopes on an up-and-coming generation.
“Every time I get a little down ... I just turn on the television or take a look at all the young people,” he said. “This younger generation is not going to put up with all this stuff. No, they’re not.”
Biden spoke to some of that generation at his second stop of the day, Green River College, just south of Seattle. The auditorium included scores of students, plus faculty and local elected officials, and Biden used the moment to promote an agenda that goes far beyond the environment.
The speech was a collage of laws he’s passed and what he still needs congressional support to achieve. He discussed college funding, health care prices, child care expenses, corporate taxes, high speed internet and the importance of nursing.
Biden also warned that Republicans remain determined to repeal the Affordable Care Act more than a decade after it was signed into law by President Barack Obama.
“We need to keep this fight up,” he said.
Biden singled out the high cost of insulin for treating diabetes, which he wants to limit through new legislation.
“There’s no excuse. None,” he said. “We’re not asking drug companies to do anything they can’t afford.”
The executive order signed by Biden on Friday directs federal land managers to define and inventory mature and old-growth forests nationwide within a year. The order requires the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to identify threats to older trees, such as wildfire and climate change, and develop policies to safeguard them.
Old-growth trees are key buffers against climate change and provide crucial carbon sinks that absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
The order does not ban logging of mature or old-growth trees, the White House said.
Biden used his Earth Day events to reassert his environmentalist credentials when his administration has been preoccupied by high oil and gasoline prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gas costs have been a drag on Biden's popularity and created short-term political pressures going into this year's midterm elections.
He’s even encouraged more domestic oil drilling, angering some environmental activists, to compensate for the problem.
At the same time, Biden has focused on wildfires that are intensifying because of climate change. Blazes that are intense enough to kill trees once considered virtually fire-proof have alarmed land managers, environmentalists and tree lovers the world over. A warming planet that has created longer and hotter droughts, combined with a century of fire suppression that choked forests with thick undergrowth, has fueled flames that extinguished trees dating to ancient civilizations.
Timber industry representative Nick Smith said before the order was made public that loggers are worried it will add more bureaucracy, undercutting the Biden administration’s goal of doubling the amount of logging and controlled burns over the next decade to thin forests in the tinder-dry West.
“The federal government has an urgent need to reduce massive greenhouse gas emissions from severe wildfires, which can only be accomplished by actively managing our unhealthy and overstocked federal forests,” he said.
But former U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Jim Furnish said wildfire risks and climate change would be better addressed by removing smaller trees that can fuel uncontrolled blazes, while leaving mature trees in place.
For many years the Forest Service allowed older trees that are worth more to be logged, to bring in money for removal of smaller trees, Furnish said. But that’s no longer necessary after Congress approved more than $5 billion to reduce wildfire risks in last year’s infrastructure bill, he said. The law includes money to hire 1,500 firefighters and ensure they earn at least $15 an hour.
Timber sales from federal forests nationwide more than doubled over the past 20 years, as Republicans and Democrats have pushed more aggressive thinning of stands to reduce small trees and vegetation that fuel wildfires.
Critics, including many forest scientists, say officials are allowing removal of too many older trees that can withstand fire.
A letter signed by 135 scientists called on Biden to protect mature and old-growth forests as a critical climate solution.
"Left vulnerable to logging, though, they cannot fulfill these vital functions,'' the scientists wrote Thursday. Former Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck and Norman Christensen, founding dean and professor emeritus at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, were among those signing the letter.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/townnews/politics/climate-progress-remains-elusive-for-biden-on-earth-day/article_d41b0b4d-61b7-5be9-8fc6-30019ab08886.html
| 2022-04-22T22:20:56Z
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ROCK SPRINGS -- Western Wyoming Community College’s welding program will host their annual Percy Hadley High School Welding Competition on Friday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eight high schools are competing in this year’s event from the following communities: Rock Springs, Green River, Big Piney, Saratoga, Rawlins, Evanston, Farson and Star Valley.
Students compete by demonstrating their skill in oxy fuel cutting and shielded metal arc welding by building a small project. Students must also complete a 100-question written exam. Scholarships will be awarded to the top three winners; first place is $1,250, second place is $1,000 and third place is $500.
“We are excited to bring this competition back with a bang and look forward to building Wyoming’s workforce for future needs,” stated Jake Mannikko, welding professor at Western.
In addition, the Welding Department will be hosting their first Welding Rig Show & Shine contest in conjunction with the Percy Hadley High School Welding competition. Around 25 rigs will be competing in three classes: work horse, slick rig and a people’s choice.
Proceeds from the companies’ $50 entry fee will go to the Western Welding Program SkillsUSA chapter. Public donations can be made by visiting our Foundation giving page: westernwyoming.edu/giving.
The current welding fabrication team at Western recently competed at the SkillsUSA state championship on April 11 and 12. Students Andrew Nicholson, Aaron Ortiz and Korbin Serano competed in the post-secondary fabrication contest where they took 1st place! The students wrote a welding procedure specification and submitted a schematic of the project, followed by a six-hour practical building of the project that was a wall tent wood stove. The students head to SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 20 to compete.
The Percy Hadley Welding Competition is open to the public and free admission. Tours will be available for the Manufacturing, Innovation and Technology wing of the college. This building is located on the south side of campus near the water tower. Corman’s Kettle Corn, Chill Out Ice Cream and Carl’s BBQ food trucks will be on site for the event. Local vendors will have tables for the public to obtain information: Rocky Mountain Air Solutions, ESAB Lincoln Electric, Air Gas and Praxir.
For general information regarding the event, contact Jake Mannikko at 307-389-9772. To learn more about Western’s Welding program visit their website page westernwyoming.edu/welding.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/economy_and_labor/high-school-welding-competition-and-open-house-to-be-hosted-at-western/article_4011e07a-c284-11ec-b2a3-732c52987f29.html
| 2022-04-22T22:21:03Z
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PINEDALE —After being outed for apparently replying to an undercover online sting on April 7, Sublette County School District No. 1 Director of Special Services David Shaw was terminated from the school district’s employment on April 14.
The SCSD No.1 board of trustees called an extra executive session at its April 14 public meeting and unanimously, without conversation, voted to dismiss the administrator.
School officials and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office were informed by phone and email on April 11 that Shaw was videoed in Ocean Beach, Calif., after making plans on the adult social network Grindr to meet a male he thought was a 14-year-old boy.
The amateur sting was carried out by a 30-year-old California man with a cell phone and camera who responds to men looking for sex contacts – then tells them he is younger than 15 and arranges to meet them somewhere public.
In Shaw’s case, as Shaw waited outside a San Diego business that night, a man walked up to him and announced he was the 14-year-old male that Shaw planned to meet that night.
The man told Shaw he was the one who texted with him for a live YouTube sting, “People v. Preds.”
Recording the entire time, the man followed Shaw through the streets, screaming insults and questions. Shaw denied the Grindr meetup but the man showed him Shaw’s profile picture and texts between them, including Shaw’s online name “Teacher of All.”
Shaw called the San Diego Police Department and eventually was taken away in a patrol car. It isn’t known if Shaw was charged.
“We received the video on the afternoon of (April 11) from People vs. Predators,” Sheriff KC Lehr told the Roundup reporter who contacted him about the YouTube video link.
As of press time, the San Diego Police Department has not responded to the sheriff’s request for more information, and it is not known if Shaw was charged in that jurisdiction.
“We are aware of it and the YouTube video was sent to us, as well,” the sheriff said on April 14. “The school district has been made aware.”
The next day, April 15, Sgt. Travis Bingham sent out a joint press release.
“On Monday, April 11, 2022, SCSD No.1 Superintendent Shannon Harris, and SCSO School Resource Officers Lyndy Guenther and Ryan Day received a voicemail message from an unidentified male caller alleging misconduct by an SCSD No. 1 employee,” the release said. "After contact was made with the caller, that individual sent an email which included a video of the SCSD No.1 employee in question.”
The SCSD No.1 employee was immediately placed on administrative leave pending a complete investigation.
At the school board meeting, a reporter showed officials two photos taken from the video, asking if it was a Pinedale teacher named David Shaw and whether they were aware of the allegation that Shaw attempted to procure sex from a 14-year-old boy.
“This is a very sensitive personnel matter and we have nothing further to say,” chair Jamison Ziegler said.
Later, the board amended its agenda, went into a new executive session and returned to vote unanimously to dismiss Shaw “on the recommendation of the Superintendent (Harris) — effective immediately.”
This story was published on April 22, 2022.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/education/pinedale-administrator-terminated-following-amateur-sting/article_0dd5da08-c284-11ec-9018-13abad724734.html
| 2022-04-22T22:21:09Z
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CASPER — Roughly 150 people protested Thursday outside an abortion clinic now under construction in Casper. The prayer event took place during the evening commute at one of Casper’s busier intersections, Second and McKinley.
Some protesters carried signs with sayings such as “Remember the unborn” and “Life, the first inalienable right.”
Protester Molly Moore brought a rosary and a dish of blessing salt “to keep evil out of this place.”
“Our country is drenched in the blood of aborted babies,” she said. “It’s selfish and evil, and we don’t want it in our town.”
The clinic is set to open this summer. It’ll be the only provider of surgical abortions in Wyoming and will also offer medication abortions, family planning, OB/GYN care and gender-affirming services.
Former Mills Town Councilman Mike Pyatt said ideally the clinic won’t open at all because of the opposition.
But if it does, he said he knows the group will “do its best to disrupt the services with so many people out front, women and girls won’t want to come in.”
Pyatt said he plans to ask members of the Casper City Council to “denounce” the clinic.
News of the clinic became public last week. Most in attendance said they heard about it from their churches or from the Casper True Care office.
The protest attracted considerably more people than organizers had expected, said Bob Brechtel, a former Republican state lawmaker who planned the demonstration.
“This is thrilling,” he said, “and it’s just beginning.”
Clinic founder Julie Burkhart attended the event and said she’s no stranger to opposition. She’s slightly worried about security — some people tried to come up on the clinic grounds — but said she’s glad it’s on such a busy street to get “more eyes” on it.
About half of the cars driving by cheered or honked in support of the demonstration. The rest shouted against them or laid on their horns. One man parked across the street and blasted music out of the back of his truck, apparently in opposition to the gathering.
Some protesters brought their children, including Tyler Martin, a pastor at Outfitter Church in Bar Nunn. He told his children they were going to “help mommies know they’re loved and supported.”
Currently, a Jackson doctor is the only provider of medical abortions in Wyoming.
Residents can also order abortion medication in the mail.
Surgical abortions can be performed later in a pregnancy than those by medication, though a Wyoming law passed in 2019 prohibits any abortions after a fetus is viable outside of the womb.
Burkhart said her organization, Circle of Hope, chose Casper for its first clinic because of its location. People from all parts of the state, as well as neighboring areas in South Dakota and Nebraska, will be able to use the facility, she said.
Circle of Hope has worked with a local advisory board to get the clinic open. Members of the board were also at the clinic during the demonstration. The nonprofit, based in Washington, D.C., eventually plans to open other clinics around the country, according to Burkhart.
Thursday’s demonstration was the first of weekly prayer events planned by abortion opponents.
Protesters passed around forms encouraging others to sign up for future demonstrations. The form included a non-violence pledge.
A larger, statewide peaceful protest is planned for the clinic’s opening this summer, according to Tim Lasseter of Park County Right to Life.
Ninety-one abortions were performed by Wyoming providers in 2020, according to data from the state health department. Eighty-eight of those were by medication, one was a surgical dilation procedure and two did not report their method.
Chelsea’s Fund, a Wyoming nonprofit that provides financial assistance to people seeking abortions, has assisted 63 people so far in 2022.
This story was published on April 22, 2022.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/government_and_politics/crowd-protests-outside-planned-abortion-clinic/article_f752f2e8-c283-11ec-8d16-1fd616b1aabe.html
| 2022-04-22T22:21:15Z
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Drink and watch freighters? New social district would allow special cocktails along Port Huron's boardwalk
Residents and visitors looking to enjoy an adult beverage, take a stroll along the water and watch passing freights may get their chance this summer.
At Monday's meeting, Port Huron City Council members will consider asking the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to create a social district along Thomas Edison Parkway roughly from the International Flag Plaza, or where the boardwalk starts, to the Huron Lightship.
At just under a mile in length, the Edison Social District would be the city’s second since one was established around downtown in 2020. The concept was deployed throughout the state to combat initial economic impacts after the COVID-19 shutdown, allowing businesses to sell alcoholic drinks in branded cups for customers to consume outdoors where multiple liquor licenses are held.
“It’s been very successful in our downtown, so it’s a good opportunity to expand it, especially when you have visitors at the DoubleTree (by Hilton) or the convention center,” said Mayor Pauline Repp. “They (would) have an option if they want to have on the boardwalk after a meal or after an event, whereas now, they wouldn’t be able to.”
The Blue Water Convention Center, DoubleTree Port Huron, and Freighters Taproom & Eatery are all included in the social district, and the latter two have the liquor licenses to participate.
Although visitors do have access to the porch on the county’s convention center or the patio at Freighters, Repp said a second district “just adds a little extra.”
Port Huron was among the early adopters of the concept during the pandemic.
City Manager James Freed said they’d similarly be piloting the idea along the boardwalk, though he noted downtown’s social district has seen little issues and brought in plenty of extra funds and people to the central business district.
“We haven’t had trash issues. People have been responsible. We can’t really document any real issues with the social district,” he said. “It’s all positive, so … thought was people who are visiting our community, if they’ve a conference or are at the Hilton, would be able to walk the boardwalk and enjoy the scenery.”
Cynthia Cutright, the city’s special projects coordinator, said downtown’s social district has seen $7,321 in revenue from the 50-cent sticker sales on each drink since its inception.
The first restaurant to come on board in September 2020 was the Raven Cafe.
Co-owner Sadaat Hossain said they saw a lot of success in the first year, and with a season to "incubate," they hoped it'd continue to take off this summer.
"We get a lot of takeaways. There's factory workers (who) get out of work and walk around (with) a drink when it's particularly nice. Or even when it's cold," he said. When asked about their most popular social district drinks, he said all of their "espresso-based boozy cocktails" when it's chilly or the cherry mule, joking they could rename it the Magic Hat after the tattoo shop down the street.
"Those boys come down here and get cherry mules almost daily," Hossain said.
According to the city, the district would take effect on June 1, and the special district cups would be no more than 16 ounces in size with a special logo.
City Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the meeting chambers of the Municipal Office Center, 100 McMorran Blvd. Agenda materials can be found at http://porthuroncitymi.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx.
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2022/04/22/new-port-huron-social-district-would-allow-businesses-cocktails-boardwalk/7408841001/
| 2022-04-22T22:49:01Z
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FAA says it failed to tell Capitol Police about plane flight
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged Friday that it failed to alert Capitol Police about a parachute jump at a nearby baseball stadium, a misstep that led to a security alert and evacuation of the Capitol.
“We deeply regret that we contributed to a precautionary evacuation of the Capitol complex and apologize for the disruption and fear experienced by those who work there,” the FAA said in an unsigned statement.
The FAA said it was “taking immediate steps to ensure that we always coordinate well in advance with other agencies to avoid confusion over future aviation events in the Washington, D.C., area.”
The agency said its review of the incident in heavily restricted airspace was continuing.
The FAA didn’t tell Capitol Police that a small plane would circle overhead on Wednesday evening, on its way to drop members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights, who parachuted into Nationals Park for Military Appreciation Night. Not knowing the plane’s mission, congressional staffers fled the Capitol and House and Senate office buildings.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., promised a congressional review of the FAA’s actions, which she called “outrageous and inexcusable.”
Many people who work on Capitol Hill have remained on edge more than a year after hundreds of rioters loyal to then-President Donald Trump pushed their way past overwhelmed police officers, broke through windows and doors and ransacked the Capitol as Congress was voting to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election win.
The FAA is being led by an acting administrator, Billy Nolen. The previous head of the agency, Stephen Dickson, stepped down at the end of March. The White House has not nominated a replacement.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/faa-says-it-failed-tell-capitol-police-about-plane-flight/
| 2022-04-22T23:11:04Z
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Florida says math textbooks taught critical race theory
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After a delay of nearly a week, the Florida Department of Education has released two examples that it says back up its rejection of dozens of math textbooks because they contained questions and exercises based on Common Core or critical race theory, issues that opponents say are not actual problems.
The state did not identify which textbooks the examples come from, but one appears to be from an advanced high school algebra or statistics textbook and begins with the phrase, “What? Me? Racist?” It has students work with data reported by an online test that researchers say uncovers hidden attitudes toward different races.
The other appears to come from a teacher’s guide to a kindergarten or first-grade textbook. The lesson is entitled “Social and Emotional Learning - Building Student Agency”; students work together as they put the numbers 1 to 5 in proper order so they can “build proficiency with social awareness as they practice with empathizing with classmates.”
The state rejected more than 50 math textbooks — about 40% of those submitted. Despite the state’s disapproval, under Florida law individual districts can still buy the texts if at least half their book spending is on approved material.
“It seems some publishers attempted to slap a coat of paint on an old house built on the foundation of Common Core, and indoctrinating concepts like race essentialism, especially, bizarrely, for elementary school students,” Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement when the rejections were announced late last week. The examples were released Thursday.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz, a former Miami mayor, said in a statement that Florida has long had a system for picking appropriate books, but it is being politicized by the DeSantis administration.
“What Florida politicians are trying to do now is ignore the judgement of professionals and impose their own political views (behind closed doors) on every parent and child in Florida,” he said.
The Common Core standards are benchmarks adopted by more than 40 states to describe what students should know after completing each grade. The standards were developed by the National Governors Association but became a frequent target of Republicans after the Obama administration pushed states to adopt them.
Opponents contend Common Core includes inappropriate curriculum that is being forced on states. Florida adopted Common Core in the 2000s under Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, who was a strong proponent. But it dropped Common Core in 2020 under DeSantis, who said it was being replaced by “Common Sense.”
Critical race theory centers on the idea that racism is systemic in U.S. institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. There is little to no evidence that critical race theory is being taught to K-12 public school students, though some ideas central to it, such as lingering consequences of slavery, have been.
DeSantis signed a bill Friday that bars instruction that makes members of a race feel guilty for past actions committed by people of that same race, and bars teaching that meritocracy is racist. It also expands language on requiring teaching on the history of slavery and racial oppression.
The state education department said that the math examples released Thursday are not an exhaustive list of problems it says were reported in the rejected texts by parents. If the publishers want to re-seek approval, they have two weeks to resubmit their books without the content the state found problematic.
The high school example centered around racism is based on data released by the Implicit Bias Test, an online set of surveys whose organizers say uncover hidden attitudes on a variety of subjects. It is operated by Project Implicit, which was founded in 1998 by professors from three institutions: Harvard University, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington.
The rejected textbook does not ask the students to take the Implicit Bias Test, but the surveys are readily found online. In the race test, participants are shown a series of photos of white and Black faces mixed with positive and negative words such as “glad” or “sadness.” In one round, participants are asked to press as quickly as possible the same letter when presented with a white face or a positive word and another letter when presented with a Black face or a negative word.
In the next round, the mixture is reversed — users press the same key when presented with a white face or negative word and the other when presented with a Black face or a positive word. There are more rounds where keys are further reversed. Using accuracy and speed, the organizers believe they can uncover a person’s hidden bias to a particular race, if one exists.
In the example released by the state, students are asked to work with Project Implicit data that says younger and older people are more racially prejudiced than those in middle age and conservatives are more racially biased than liberals.
“If you want to teach your kid Woke Math, where ‘2+2=4′ is white supremacy, you’re free to buy any CRT math textbook you want. You just cannot force Florida taxpayers to subsidize this indoctrination,” the governor’s press secretary, Christina Pushaw, said on Twitter.
But Democratic Party Chair Diaz, a son of Cuban refugees, said the Republicans are trying to bend facts to their own narrative.
“Maintaining or advancing their power requires they control our lives and what we think. My parents did not escape communism in order to have their children live in another authoritarian government, plain and simple,” he said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/florida-says-math-textbooks-taught-critical-race-theory/
| 2022-04-22T23:11:10Z
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Report: Production halts on Bill Murray film ‘Being Mortal’ after behavioral complaint
(Gray News) - Searchlight Pictures has reportedly halted production on a film starring Bill Murray following allegations of inappropriate behavior.
According to reports from the New York Times and Variety, the studio issued a letter to cast and crew on Wednesday saying that filming had been suspended due to an unspecified complaint.
The New York Times reports the letter did not provide information on the nature of the complaint but a person working on the production said that the movie was shut down because of inappropriate behavior by Murray.
According to IMDb, Aziz Ansari is the director of the film that is planned to be released in 2023. “Being Mortal” also stars Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer.
The movie is based on surgeon Atul Gawande’s 2014 nonfiction book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” according to the online movie database.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/report-production-halts-bill-murray-film-being-mortal-after-behavioral-complaint/
| 2022-04-22T23:11:17Z
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| 2022-04-22T23:13:58Z
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/icymi-4-stories-you-need-to-know-about-april-21-2022/article_335e2102-c26d-11ec-a142-1bb1c60d789f.html
| 2022-04-22T23:14:04Z
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(CNN) -- Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia is testifying Friday during a hearing where challengers are seeking her disqualification as a candidate for reelection -- frequently saying she doesn't remember many key events or even her own actions in the weeks before January 6, 2021.
The potentially precedent-setting hearing in an Atlanta courtroom is aimed at determining whether the Georgia congresswoman is constitutionally barred from running for reelection because of her role in the January 6 insurrection. Greene is testifying as a witness during the marathon hearing -- making her the first lawmaker to testify under oath about their involvement in the attack on the US Capitol.
The challengers repeatedly highlighted how Greene had posted messages and videos on social media, in the run-up to January 6, that used strident rhetoric. According to the challengers, these posts helped fuel the attack on the Capitol and therefore, she aided the insurrection.
Greene said she didn't remember if she had ever spoken with any GOP lawmakers or White House officials about the potential for violence on January 6. She also said she didn't recall if she herself had posted a handful of tweets that appeared on her account, where she claimed the 2020 election was illegitimate.
And she said she didn't remember saying that she opposed the peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden -- right before lawyers for the challengers played a video of her saying that.
When asked about the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group with dozens of members who stormed the US Capitol, Greene said she didn't know much about them. When asked if they are an extremist organization, she said: "I've heard about them. I don't know what they do. I don't know much about the Proud Boys."
The congresswoman said that she "had no knowledge of any attempt" to illegally interfere with the counting of electoral votes on January 6. Greene also testified that she had never advocated for then-President Donald Trump to invoke martial law during her meetings with him before January 6.
Greene has also pushed back from the witness stand.
Andrew Celli, lawyer for the challengers, asked her, "Did you like a post that said, 'it's quicker that a bullet to the head would be a quicker way to remove Nancy Pelosi from the role of speaker?' " A CNN review in 2021 of hundreds of posts and comments from Greene's Facebook page showed she repeatedly indicated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress in 2020. That review included one post from January 2019, in which, Greene liked a comment that said "a bullet to the head would be quicker" to remove Pelosi.
"I have had many people manage my social media account over the years," Greene responded to Celli's question Friday. "I have no idea who liked that."
She said that she never intended to promote any violence and that she didn't recall any conversations with lawmakers or White House officials about the possibility for the pro-Trump protests to turn violent.
"I only believe in peaceful demonstration," Greene said. "I do not support violence."
Greene also testified that she believes President Joe Biden lost the election to Trump.
"We saw a tremendous amount of voter fraud," Greene said, repeating a debunked claim that has become a rallying cry among Trump supporters.
The outcome of this case will reverberate beyond Georgia, because similar challenges are pending against other Republican officials and could be lodged against former Trump if he runs again in 2024.
The firebrand GOP lawmaker is in the courtroom with one of her close congressional allies, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who is sitting with her legal team. Greene walked in to a rousing applause and cheers from the crowd assembled in the courtroom. A court security official quickly chastised the room and said outbursts would not be tolerated.
The case revolves around a Civil War-era provision of the Fourteenth Amendment, which says any American official who takes an oath to uphold the Constitution is disqualified from holding any future office if they "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." But how this applies to today is a hotly debated legal question.
Lawyers for the challengers argued Greene "helped facilitate violent resistance" against the US government, and said they will use her own words against her, such as her strident rhetoric in the run-up to January 6 that urged people to oppose the peaceful transition of power and to have a "1776 moment."
"This was not the type of insurrection where the leaders were standing in Richmond, Virginia, giving long-winded speeches to justify the name," said Ron Fein, a lawyer for the challengers, form the legal advocacy group Free Speech For People. "Rather the leaders of this insurrection, of whom there were a number, were among us on Facebook, on Twitter, on corners of social media that would make your stomach hurt. The evidence will show that Marjorie Taylor Greene was one of them."
Several of Greene's constituents in her northwest Georgia district initiated the challenge last month with backing from a coalition of liberal activists and constitutional scholars. They claim Greene aided the insurrection by promoting voter fraud myths, posting videos before January 6 railing against the peaceful transfer of power, and allegedly coordinating with protest organizers.
The burden of proof will be on the challengers, to show by a "more likely than not" standard that January 6 was legally an insurrection, and that Greene helped the insurrectionists. State Judge Charles Beaudrot will preside over the administrative hearing and will issue a recommendation to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on whether Greene should be disqualified.
Greene's lawyer James Bopp Jr., in his opening statements, condemned the proceedings and said that Greene's constitutional rights were being violated. He also said Greene would be significantly harmed if she is disqualified before the May primary, only to win an appeal later on, after the election was held.
"Our democracy is at stake. It should not be, it should be the voters, not government employees, public officials, judges and lawyers, who decide our elections," Bopp said. "Voters have a right to vote for the candidate of their choice, unless there was very compelling legal, not rhetorical justification for that. Third, and which is not present here."
Greene can appeal Raffensperger's decision in state courts. She has vehemently denied any wrongdoing regarding the insurrection at the US Capitol, maintains that she "never encouraged political violence" and says she wasn't involved in planning any protests. Her lawyer told CNN that he thinks Friday's hearing is a "show trial" and that the entire procedure is an egregious violation of her rights.
It's notable that the disqualification hearing is even happening. Greene filed a federal lawsuit to shut down the state process -- which is how GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn fended off a similar candidacy challenge in North Carolina. But in a blistering 75-page ruling on Monday, a federal judge rejected many of Greene's legal arguments and allowed the state case to move forward.
The anti-Greene challenge is backed by Free Speech for People, a legal advocacy group, and Our Revolution, the left-wing group founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders. Greene, who has become infamous for peddling far-right conspiracies, has found support from some conservative legal experts and from Trump himself, who released a lie-filled statement praising her on Thursday.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Friday.
The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-testifies-she-doesnt-remember-her-actions-leading-up-to-january-6/article_8b7f4d84-c272-11ec-803f-174dd123aea7.html
| 2022-04-22T23:14:10Z
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16 candidates vying for new 6th Congressional District seat
President Joe Biden visited Portland on Thursday for his first election-year trip beyond the Washington, D.C. area.
Despite a lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the president came to Oregon, where one of the first primaries of 2022 is less than a month away on May 17.
Though the state has just 2.9 million voters, Oregon's one U.S. Senate seat and six U.S. House seats are part of the electoral math both Republicans and Democrats are puzzling over in 2022.
Democrats hold a 221-209 majority in the House, with five vacancies. The Senate is split 50-50, with 35 seats up on ballots around the nation.
The partisan split won't be known until after the November election. But new campaign finance reports filed last week show heavy spending by candidates jockeying to carry their party's banner in the fall.
The Federal Elections Commission released candidates' financial reports covering the first three months of 2022.
Much of the attention in Oregon has gone to the free-for-all race for the new 6th Congressional District seat centered around Salem. With no incumbent in the race, 16 candidates have signed up to run in the primary.
The race received national attention last week with the revelation that a Democratic PAC tied to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had directed $1 million to Carrick Flynn, a political newcomer with ties to cryptocurrency entrepreneurs.
The other Democratic candidates, who include two state lawmakers, cried foul and were joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, in condemning the unusual primary boost.
But an expected slam-dunk U.S. Senate race and a pair of scrambled congressional races could play outsized roles in deciding which party swings the gavels when a new Congress is sworn in next January.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, was the most prodigious fundraiser, reporting he's received $11 million since the beginning of 2021 for his bid to win another six-year term in the seat he's held since 1996.
The five Republicans vying to run against Wyden in November raised less than $400,000 put together.
The Oregon election is listed in major national forecasts as a "safe" Democratic seat. But Wyden is taking no chances, reporting he has over $7 million in the bank.
When the new political maps were approved in September, both Democrats and Republicans agreed that Democrats were a prohibitive favorite in the 1st and 3rd U.S. House districts, while Republicans were a lock on the 2nd district.
The financial reports reflect those odds with donations piling up for incumbents.
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, reported raising $605,435 between Jan. 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. G. Scott Phillips, a Democrat running in the May primary has raised $20,944. Republican Armidia Murray did not have enough contributions to be required to file a report.
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland, reported raising $795,393 over the same time period. Republican Joanna Harbour, who lost the 2020 election to Blumenauer, reported raising no money so far in 2022, but has $2,408 in her campaign fund from previous time periods.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, the state's lone Republican in the delegation to Washington, D.C., reported $640,758 over the same 15 months. Democrat Joseph Yetter received $10,312.
The highest stakes of the six U.S. House races may be in the 5th Congressional District.
U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, faces challenges from the left and right in a district that's been radically reconfigured by redistricting. He's seeking to return to Congress in a district whose 2022 boundaries contain less than half the registered voters of his current seat.
The latest campaign finance reports show Schrader has raised more than $1 million in the past three months, about twice as much as his primary challenger, Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne.
Schrader reported raising $713,641 from his main campaign committee. The FEC also reported Schrader received $385,311 from independent expenditure committees, nearly all of it from a group called Center Forward Committee. It backs Schrader, but he does not officially control its fundraising and spending.
Spending also rose sharply, with Schrader reporting $1,567,994 in expenditures. He has $2,703,441 in the bank, including money he raised in 2021.
McLeod-Skinner reported raising $545,505 and spending $235,395. She has $310,110 in the bank.
While trailing in money, McLeod-Skinner has touted her string of endorsements by Democratic activists frustrated by Schrader's tepid support and occasional opposition to Biden's legislative agenda in Congress.
McLeod-Skinner has drawn endorsements from the Democratic Party committees in Deschutes, Clackamas, Linn, and Marion counties, four of the five counties that make up the district. She's also been endorsed by the United Food and Commercial Workers union that represents 24,000 grocery workers. The Oregon Education Association, the union representing 41,000 teachers, endorsed McLeod-Skinner, despite its parent organization, the National Education Association, giving Schrader an A grade on his votes on education legislation.
McLeod-Skinner's campaign put out an email after the campaign finance reports were released saying that more funds were needed to make up for the cancellation by Schrader of a primary debate.
"Enthusiasm is continuing to build around Jamie, but unfortunately, we fell short of our mid-month fundraising goal last Friday," the message said.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face the victor of the Republican vote on May 17. Bend businessman Jimmy Crumpacker and former Happy Valley Mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer were the top two fundraisers, according to FEC reports.
Contributions to the two were neck-and-neck, with Crumpacker raising $467,195 since October of 2021, while Chavez-DeRemer received $455,930. But Chavez-DeRemer has spent $247,415, 10 times more than the $29,226 that Crumpacker reported. Crumpacker had $437,968 in the bank, while DeRemer reported $208,515 in the bank.
A joint political action committee created to fund both Chavez-DeRemer and 4th district GOP candidate Alek Skarlatos of Roseburg had brought in only $1,800 since it was created, according to FEC reports.
Skarlatos lost a close 2020 race to U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield. He immediately launched plans for a rematch in 2022. He's raised $1,774,805 since the beginning of 2021 and his latest campaign finance report showed he had $562,073 in the bank at the end of March.
But there will be no rematch. After the Oregon legislature approved a redistricting plan that increased the percentage of registered Democrats in the district, DeFazio announced he was retiring and later endorsed Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, who dropped her re-election bid and filed to run for Congress.
Hoyle's report released Friday shows she's raised $626,325 and has $387,996 in the bank. The money Hoyle has left is more than twice the amount in the bank of each of the three other actively fundraising Democrats in the race: engineering professor John Selker of Corvallis, AirBnB executive Andrew Kalloch of Eugene and attorney Doyle Canning of Eugene.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/heavy-primary-spending-marks-start-of-2022-races/article_ca71f3f3-e956-5575-a0bf-c7e36b19df54.html
| 2022-04-22T23:39:48Z
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In 1850, Congress passed the Donation Land Act which granted free land to white settlers in Oregon as a way to encourage Americans to go west. The act ushered in a wave of migrants and carved Oregon up into plots of land, largely at the expense of Native American tribes.
A survey that gauged Oregonian’s perceptions on the Donation Land Act revealed that rural people view the act as unfair in larger percentages than people living in urban areas.
According to the survey, 77% of people polled in rural areas said that the Donation Land Act was not fair to people who were not white. For the same question, 70% of people in urban areas also responded that the act was not fair. The percentages were even higher in Oregon’s suburbs, where 80% of people said the policy was unfair.
The online survey was conducted by the independent, nonpartisan Oregon Values and Beliefs Center. It polled 1,584 Oregonians and had a margin of error of 1.5% to 2.5%.
Jermayne Tuckta, an archivist at the Museum at Warm Springs, finds irony in the numbers.
“It’s interesting that a lot of rural people would find this unfair because they are the ones who benefited from the Donation Land Act the most,” said Tuckta, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Tuckta said the difference between rural and urban attitudes could come down to which side is more exposed to Native American issues on a daily basis. People in urban areas do not regularly see the impacts of the Land Donation Act on Native Americans, he said.
“Those in the rural areas probably often run into tribal members who are looking for places to gather edible roots,” said Tuckta. “So people in rural areas are seeing first hand the cause and effects of what the land donation act did.”
Tuckta said Native Americans often ask permission from local landowners to dig for roots on private property, common situations that bring the two sides in direct contact. Improving relations between Native and non-Native peoples may have changed attitudes toward historic events and policies, he said.
Now when tribal members venture off the reservation in search of edible roots they are finding more hospitable landowners.
“When my grandmother was younger they would try to gather the edible roots in the Shaniko area. The landowners of that generation weren’t as lenient or nice toward tribal members,” said Tuckta.
“But today that has changed. This new generation of landowners are open, as long as they know we are not out there leaving trash or anything and we are just out there to gather our roots.”
This generational change of heart towards the needs of Native Americans is reflected in the survey, said Tuckta.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/rural-oregonians-overwhelmingly-snub-1850-donation-land-act/article_9204d5bc-9520-5bc6-a1bb-13d915653082.html
| 2022-04-22T23:39:51Z
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Subhead: Teams win over $16k in seed money
Innovative Oregon Institute of Technology student entrepreneurs competed April 21 for $19,000 in seed money to turn their product ideas and prototypes into real businesses. The winning concept, developed by students Gabbi Pech and Hayden Pech, known as team Stellarum Publishing, is a customizable planning notebook and companion app that can be used to organize tabletop role playing games.
Oregon Tech’s Catalyze Klamath Challenge has been a huge success for student competitors and the Klamath Falls community. Over the past eight years, student and alumni teams have competed for nearly $100,000 in prize money and services, setting up businesses throughout Klamath Falls.
The seven project teams who presented at Catalyze are:
Find New Trails
Bradley Everest, 2023, Business - Marketing
Michael Drury, 2023, Business - Management
Hemp Project
Luke Hongel, 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Ezra Neese, 2025, Electrical Engineering
Joshua Moore, 2025, Renewable Energy Engineering
Klamath Angel Mobile Health
Chrys Chan, 2022, Information Technology
Le Quynh Dao Nguyen, 2022, Information Technology
National Early Response Firefighting System (NERFS)
Graeme Wiltrout, 2026, Dual Computer & Software Engineering
Eddie Medina, 2024, Software Engineering Technology*
Jemisha Vargas, 2025, Software Engineering Technology
Marcus Delamarter, 2023, Mechanical Engineering
Fletcher Stults, 2023, Mechanical Engineering
Toby Ruston, 2025, Mechanical Engineering
Pelican Plaza - Food Trucks on Main
Matt Volpe, 2023, Embedded Systems
Eren Bikmaz, 2022, Software Engineering Technology
Niles Walter, 2023, Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Solaband
Mariano Segura, 2022, Mechanical Engineering
Hanna Wolf, 2022, Renewable Energy Engineering
Stellarum Publishing
Gabbi Pech, 2022, Business - Marketing
Hayden Pech, 2022, Business - Marketing
* Eddie Medina passed away in February 2022.
Throughout the event, finalists presented and defended their business plans to judges John Lamy, Lamy Consulting; Randy Cox, KCEDA; Heather Harter, Chamber of Commerce; Richard La China, Ninja Mountain Mike Performance; and Kingsley Kelley, KOBI-TV/KOTI-TV.
The winning projects were:
First Place – Stellarum Publishing: $6,000 prize
Second Place - Solaband: $4,000 prize
Third Place – Klamath Angel Mobile Health: $2,000 prize
Entrepreneur in Action – Stellarum Publishing: $1,000 prize
People’s Choice – National Early Response Firefighting System: $1,000 prize
Additionally, NERFS and Klamath Angel Mobile Health were awarded $2,500 each from Invent Oregon (InventOR) to further develop their business plans and compete against other colleges and universities in the statewide InventOR competition on June 24.
The 2022 Catalyze Challenge is supported by investments from community sponsors: AVISTA, Business Oregon, the City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA), Klamath IDEA Center for Entrepreneurship, VertueLab, Oregon Small Business Development Center, and the Wendt Family Foundation.
For more information regarding the Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge, visit www.oit.edu/catalyze.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/seven-student-entrepreneur-teams-present-solutions-to-real-world-problems/article_23141054-b6c5-55a3-a920-46bc4648ff9e.html
| 2022-04-22T23:39:51Z
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History isn’t short of people to blame. You could say of the present world crisis that it was former president Barack Obama’s fault for not getting tougher with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Syria. You could blame former president Donald Trump for giving Putin a sense of entitlement and for undermining NATO, seeing it as a financial play. You could blame former German chancellor Angela Merkel for encouraging Russian gas imports, shutting out the nuclear energy option.
You could, of course, blame President Biden for explicitly telling Putin, and the world, what the United States wouldn’t do if he invaded Ukraine. And you could blame Biden and NATO for dribbling vital military aid to Ukraine over the first devastating months of the Russian invasion.
If you want to continue, you could blame the world’s military strategists for believing that Russia, after the fall of communism, had changed. You could, perhaps, blame NATO itself, for expanding its reach to the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
Putin is unequivocally the one to blame. He is the one who wants to remake Russia in the image of the imperial tsars. It is a flawed scheme but a real one.
As the world grapples with the reality of Putin, the past informs but it doesn’t instruct. If NATO were to engage Russia with conventional forces, it would triumph. That is one lesson of Ukraine. Russian military forces are woefully inefficient, even incompetent.
Would it were that simple.
The beast in the room, the feared monster, the threat that hangs over the whole world is nuclear war. It is the clear-and-present danger. It shapes our handling of Russia and will shape our response to China, if and when it invades Taiwan.
Nuclear war avoidance is again dominating the world in ways we had nearly forgotten. Will Russia — a caged, fierce bear — resort to nuclear, and how much nuclear to what effect against which targets?
The United States and the Soviet Union reached a modus vivendi: mutual assured destruction (MAD), which kept the peace even as nuclear armaments proliferated and stockpiles grew exponentially. Is that still the option? Is MAD — so long after the collapse of the Soviet Union — still the underlying realpolitik, the restraining factor between nuclear powers?
Does that mean that anyone with nuclear weapons can wage conventional warfare in the belief that they won’t face NATO or any other serious restraining military action because they can unleash terrifying global destruction?
Or is there, as some believe, the prospect of limited nuclear engagement, using area tactical nuclear weapons? This has never been tested. There hasn’t been a limited nuclear ground war. Could it be contained? Should it be contemplated outside the deeper reaches of the defense establishment?
But it is what keeps the leaders of Europe, the United States and Canada awake nights. If you favor limited nuclear war, just look to the effects of a nuclear disaster, Chernobyl, and start multiplying.
It is the unthinkable scenario that must be thought about. It is the reality that holds back NATO and makes the West a spectator to the carnage in Ukraine.
Russia isn’t a rich country. It has a large, poorly trained and equipped military. But it bristles with nuclear weapons aimed at North American and European cities. Its ability to threaten us with nuclear horror changes the balance between nations: an indelible change to future foreign policy.
In the short term, when contemplating the return of MAD in international relations, the question is: How mad — as in insane — is Putin, and how ready is Biden?
The pieces on the world chess board have moved and they won’t be moved back. The intelligentsia has yet to grasp the extent to which Ukraine has changed the world — and made it a more dangerous place. They need to catch up fast.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/the-threat-of-nuclear-war-and-the-license-it-has-given-putin/article_689e6fb6-ecf9-5bab-b0bc-31889cb29073.html
| 2022-04-22T23:39:52Z
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...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
Weather Alert
...Strong Outflow will impact portions of southwestern Laramie
County through 630 PM MDT...
At 550 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow along a line extending from 9 miles northeast of Ranchettes
to near Crystal Lake Campground. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Brief wind gusts of 60 to 65 MPH. No rain is expected.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, South Greeley, Hillsdale, Federal, Ranchettes, Warren AFB,
Frontier Park, North Cheyenne, Warren Af Base, Fox Farm-College and
South Greeley High.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 25 in Wyoming between mile markers 1 and 29.
Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 341 and 380.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cheyenne.
&&
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN;
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430,
431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts
of 40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
We believe everyone can give something to those in need, and when that happens, everyone benefits. That’s why we created “Everyone gives, Everyone gains,” a way to spotlight some of the ways you can help people in Laramie County. To have an item published, email Managing Editor Brian Martin at bmartin@wyomingnews.com or send it to Everyone gives, Everyone gains, c/o Brian Martin, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, 702 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001.
To give your money
Jump Into Jewels to help fund Habitat, CRMC programs
What: Jump into Jewels, a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County
When: 1-4 p.m., Saturday, April 23
Where: 3306 Kelley Drive, Cheyenne
More information: The event is an opportunity to celebrate spring and find deals on jewelry, purses, scarves and accessories. This year, Habitat is partnering with Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, with proceeds funding Habitat's construction program and CRMC’s Mother/Baby Unit.
For more information: Call the Habitat ReStore at 307-637-8067 or email info@cheyennehfh.org.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/everyone_gives/everyone-gives-everyone-gains-4-23-22/article_01274050-566e-55ba-9fab-4217042ae5d6.html
| 2022-04-23T00:35:41Z
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CASPER — Roughly 150 people protested Thursday outside an abortion clinic now under construction in Casper. The prayer event took place during the evening commute at one of Casper’s busier intersections, Second and McKinley.
Some protesters carried signs with sayings such as “Remember the unborn” and “Life, the first inalienable right.”
Protester Molly Moore brought a rosary and a dish of blessing salt “to keep evil out of this place.”
“Our country is drenched in the blood of aborted babies,” she said. “It’s selfish and evil, and we don’t want it in our town.”
The clinic is set to open this summer. It’ll be the only provider of surgical abortions in Wyoming and will also offer medication abortions, family planning, OB/GYN care and gender-affirming services.
Former Mills Town Councilman Mike Pyatt said ideally the clinic won’t open at all because of the opposition.
But if it does, he said he knows the group will “do its best to disrupt the services with so many people out front, women and girls won’t want to come in.”
Pyatt said he plans to ask members of the Casper City Council to “denounce” the clinic.
News of the clinic became public last week. Most in attendance said they heard about it from their churches or from the Casper True Care office.
The protest attracted considerably more people than organizers had expected, said Bob Brechtel, a former Republican state lawmaker who planned the demonstration.
“This is thrilling,” he said, “and it’s just beginning.”
Clinic founder Julie Burkhart attended the event and said she’s no stranger to opposition. She’s slightly worried about security — some people tried to come up on the clinic grounds — but said she’s glad it’s on such a busy street to get “more eyes” on it.
About half of the cars driving by cheered or honked in support of the demonstration. The rest shouted against them or laid on their horns. One man parked across the street and blasted music out of the back of his truck, apparently in opposition to the gathering.
Some protesters brought their children, including Tyler Martin, a pastor at Outfitter Church in Bar Nunn. He told his children they were going to “help mommies know they’re loved and supported.”
Currently, a Jackson doctor is the only provider of medical abortions in Wyoming.
Residents can also order abortion medication in the mail.
Surgical abortions can be performed later in a pregnancy than those by medication, though a Wyoming law passed in 2019 prohibits any abortions after a fetus is viable outside of the womb.
Burkhart said her organization, Circle of Hope, chose Casper for its first clinic because of its location. People from all parts of the state, as well as neighboring areas in South Dakota and Nebraska, will be able to use the facility, she said.
Circle of Hope has worked with a local advisory board to get the clinic open. Members of the board were also at the clinic during the demonstration. The nonprofit, based in Washington, D.C., eventually plans to open other clinics around the country, according to Burkhart.
Thursday’s demonstration was the first of weekly prayer events planned by abortion opponents.
Protesters passed around forms encouraging others to sign up for future demonstrations. The form included a nonviolence pledge.
A larger, statewide peaceful protest is planned for the clinic’s opening this summer, according to Tim Lasseter of Park County Right to Life.
Ninety-one abortions were performed by Wyoming providers in 2020, according to data from the state health department. Eighty-eight of those were by medication, one was a surgical dilation procedure and two did not report their method.
Chelsea’s Fund, a Wyoming nonprofit that provides financial assistance to people seeking abortions, has assisted 63 people so far in 2022.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/from_the_wire/crowd-protests-outside-planned-casper-abortion-clinic/article_b3a7fa1f-c394-5263-90b9-d86270607938.html
| 2022-04-23T00:35:48Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
Weather Alert
...Strong Outflow will impact portions of southwestern Laramie
County through 630 PM MDT...
At 550 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow along a line extending from 9 miles northeast of Ranchettes
to near Crystal Lake Campground. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Brief wind gusts of 60 to 65 MPH. No rain is expected.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, South Greeley, Hillsdale, Federal, Ranchettes, Warren AFB,
Frontier Park, North Cheyenne, Warren Af Base, Fox Farm-College and
South Greeley High.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 25 in Wyoming between mile markers 1 and 29.
Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 341 and 380.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cheyenne.
&&
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN;
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430,
431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts
of 40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
CHEYENNE – Laramie County School District 1 officials have invited community members and other stakeholders to attend the Coyote Ridge Elementary groundbreaking.
The event will take place at 5515 Powerhouse Road on Thursday, May 5, at 12 p.m.
LCSD1 asked attendees to wear sensible leather shoes with no open toes for safety.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/in_our_schools/lcsd1-invites-community-to-attend-coyote-ridge-elementary-groundbreaking/article_d010df28-2a90-59a2-b5d5-a2d684c668fd.html
| 2022-04-23T00:35:50Z
|
CHEYENNE – Laramie County commissioner and local business owner Gunnar Malm announced his intent this week to seek re-election for a second term on the Laramie County Board of Commissioners.
Malm was first elected in 2018; during his first term, he has served as liaison and active participant on the boards of CRMC, LEADS, Visit Cheyenne, Cheyenne-Laramie County Economic Joint Powers Board, Eastern Laramie County Solid Waste District, and the Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board. He also served as chairman of the county commission for nearly half his time in office.
Malm said in a news release that he is proud of his pragmatic approach to issues facing Laramie County. As part of a commission with a commitment to a conservative approach to county finances, Laramie County weathered the pandemic without any layoffs, furloughs or reduction in services to residents.
As chair of the sixth-penny sales tax committee, he presented the most transparent and ultimately successful SPOT ballot in recent history, allowing the community to choose where and how it invests in itself with infrastructure, public safety and community enhancement projects.
In his role as commissioner, he has worked diligently with residents and industry to promote and protect economic diversification in Laramie County. He has been involved in the legislative process at the state level, testifying and working with local legislators to preserve incentives that have allowed for Laramie County’s expansion in the technology and alternative energy sectors. These efforts have helped Laramie County become the economic leader in Wyoming.
Additionally, Malm’s own recovery journey has played a significant role in his time on the commission. His work with community partners and county departments to help address mental health and substance use disorder in Laramie County has proven invaluable in empowering productive public discourse and policy considerations that have made a tremendous impact for residents.
As a sixth-generation Laramie County resident, Malm strives to continue his service to the place his family has called home for over 120 years. He said he is committed to finding a balance between community growth, private property rights, and county regulations that ensures a bright future for Laramie County founded on Laramie County values. When not working on issues for county residents, Malm maintains a successful real estate business and enjoys spending time with his wife, Jessica Binning, and their dogs, Zio and Ani.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/laramie-county-commissioner-gunnar-malm-announces-re-election-bid/article_8a27ab72-7a76-5407-8c6a-3528fa319713.html
| 2022-04-23T00:35:56Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
Weather Alert
...Strong Outflow will impact portions of southwestern Laramie
County through 630 PM MDT...
At 550 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow along a line extending from 9 miles northeast of Ranchettes
to near Crystal Lake Campground. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Brief wind gusts of 60 to 65 MPH. No rain is expected.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, South Greeley, Hillsdale, Federal, Ranchettes, Warren AFB,
Frontier Park, North Cheyenne, Warren Af Base, Fox Farm-College and
South Greeley High.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 25 in Wyoming between mile markers 1 and 29.
Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 341 and 380.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cheyenne.
&&
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN;
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430,
431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts
of 40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
1 of 2
Information and an image about a Laramie County Library Foundation fundraising drive related to Mother's Day 2022. Image captured via screenshot on April 21, 2022.
Information on a Laramie County Library Foundation fundraising drive related to Mother's Day 2022 and the library’s Summer Reading Challenge. Image captured via screenshot on April 21, 2022.
Information and an image about a Laramie County Library Foundation fundraising drive related to Mother's Day 2022. Image captured via screenshot on April 21, 2022.
Information on a Laramie County Library Foundation fundraising drive related to Mother's Day 2022 and the library’s Summer Reading Challenge. Image captured via screenshot on April 21, 2022.
CHEYENNE – The Laramie County Library Foundation seeks donations in return for swag, or products with both a coolness factor and some potential everyday uses.
On Thursday the foundation announced that it "is once again fundraising for the library’s Summer Reading Challenge."
Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and the library foundation has some suggestions for a possible gift. The annual celebration of moms occurs this year on Sunday, May 8, according to the website of the Hallmark greeting cards company.
With that in mind, there are customizable Mother’s Day gifts from the foundation. "For a $100 donation, the library will provide a reusable tote bag containing a newly-released, surprise book based on your genre of choice, coffee from Dazbog Coffee North or tea from the Hawthorn Tree, homemade treats from the Library Café, and a Mother’s Day greeting card," the organization said in a news release.
It noted that all such monies will help fund the county library’s Summer Reading Challenge, which itself is about "ensuring that young readers stay engaged and inspired throughout the summer."
To buy such a Mother’s Day gift, you can go to lclsonline.org/mothers-day-bags, until Sunday, May 1, which is a week before the big day. The presents then can be picked up from the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne on Thursday, May 5, and Friday, May 6.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/laramie-county-library-foundation-seeks-donations-for-gifts-such-as-for-mothers-day/article_8f15ed40-4930-5004-a7c0-9203cf497d1a.html
| 2022-04-23T00:36:02Z
|
CHEYENNE – With a financial assist from the federal government, the state of Wyoming is looking to help vulnerable populations of people stay in their homes.
Using up to an initial $1 million, the Wyoming Department of Health is accepting applications from state residents who already are current participants in a COVID-19 pandemic rental assistance program. The Department of Health's newer program is called Housing Stability Services, or HSS, and is part of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. (Both programs get funds from the 2021 federal American Rescue Plan Act.)
Wyoming's ERAP-HSS initiative is now offering to pay as much as $5,000 per household for adults with disabilities and people who are older than 55 to make necessary upgrades to their dwellings so that they can more easily maneuver inside. Another portion of the initiative offers a similar amount of money for much-needed repairs to trailers and mobile homes for people who rent the lots the dwellings stand upon.
There may be much demand in the state for this help, officials told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle this week. This is partly because the shortage of affordable places to live, coupled with rising prices for housing and many other things, means that many people are facing a financial crunch. This is particularly so for those of lower incomes, experts say.
The Wyoming Department of Health last year got the $1 million in funding from the state Department of Family Services, which helps run ERAP. Officials involved in HSS are hoping to extend beyond September the amount of time that repairs and mobility updates can be made. And it is possible more money could be made available, although details are not final.
"The need is huge" for such assistance across the state, said Dan Dorsch, special projects coordinator at Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County. His organization helps administer HSS in the county; the Department of Health has other such administrators throughout the state.
There are people in the state and locally who pay more than the generally recommended roughly 30% threshold of their income for housing, Dorsch noted. "I think that is playing a huge part in where that need is coming from."
From the second quarter of 2020 through all of last year, Laramie County mobile home expenses increased 10.7% to an average of $1,027 a month, said a local economist whose organization compiles such statistics. According to the expert, Wyoming Center for Business and Economic Analysis Director Nick Colsch, lot rents also rose.
Reflecting state and other officials' assessments to the WTE that there is a sizable such population locally, Colsch noted in an email that 8.5% of households in the county lived in mobile homes or trailers in 2019, totaling several thousand people. Meanwhile, those 55 and older made up 29.5% of the population here in 2019, which a recent report from Colsch's center at Laramie County Community College said is "evidence of the continued aging of Laramie County’s population."
Habitat for Humanity
Although it is somewhat early on in the state program, Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County has already overseen the completion of two projects in mobile homes locally.
"We’ve spent up to the limit" for those two households, Dorsch said Friday. Additional households in the county have been referred by the Wyoming Department of Health to the local Habitat for Humanity for similar upgrades. So there are more projects that likely will be in the works.
Therein lies a wrinkle, caused, in part, by some of the very economic conditions that make it harder for some people to remain in their homes or to pay for necessary repairs. The same supply chain crunch stemming from the pandemic that has raised prices for many goods also means that government money doesn't go as far in funding upgrades. And wait times for projects to be completed are longer, too. Meanwhile, the increase in housing prices and rents means that people may have less money for repairs, even in dangerous situations.
"The $5,000 is great, but sometimes there is a greater need than that," Dorsch said of the current per-household reimbursement limit for repairs and upgrades (up to a possible $10,000 for those qualifying for both categories of help). "The cost of building supplies keep going up and up" and may rise even more, Dorsch said.
The bottom line is that while "that $5,000 bucket seems like a lot," Dorsch said that it "can seem a lot smaller once you start making calls" to contractors and repair people and finding out what particular repairs cost.
In one mobile home in Laramie County, additional repairs remain on the to-do list so that the resident does not need to unplug one appliance to use another, Dorsch recounted. "There was a lot of electrical work that needed to be done," only some of which could be fixed with the initial money, he said. "There are still a few electrical things that need to be done for the person to continue to live in the trailer" safely.
Already, the person has received a new microwave and a new oven, as neither one was working correctly. A thermostat was fixed, as was a leaky faucet.
State officials and Dorsch said that they were unable to provide identifying details of HSS recipients, due to privacy reasons. They said that people were appreciative of the work.
Wait lists
The state is looking for additional administrators (formally called sub-recipients) so that ERAP-HSS can fully operate in every county in Wyoming.
So far, the Department of Health has connected some 45 households in the state with a sub-recipient, said Mark Kelly, who works at the department's Aging Division and helps to run ERAP-HSS.
"We do have people on the waiting list" in counties lacking a local organization that can coordinate all services available under ERAP-HSS, Kelly said in an interview where he spoke along with Dorsch. "As time goes on, that list is getting shorter, and that is good news."
The Cheyenne Housing Authority also has wait lists for those who want to live in its own housing or get federally funded support for private residences whose owners accept such vouchers.
"There is a shortage of affordable housing in Cheyenne," said the housing authority's executive director, Greg Hancock. Of the current wait lists at CHA, he said "that’s not higher than normal, that’s very typical."
The Section 8 program for the vouchers has some 1,000 households, and about twice that many on the wait list. There are about 1,350 households waiting for a spot in one type of CHA housing, which has about 266 units.
For those waiting to live in these CHA places, "it really depends on the unit size that the household needs, but typically that is six months to three years," Hancock said. "The bigger the household, the longer the wait."
"Because there is a shortage" of places for people of lower income to affordably reside, "if it somehow becomes uninhabitable, and it can be repaired so they can stay housed where they are, that’s better" than the residents having to move out, Hancock said by phone Thursday. "The alternative would be that they become homeless, which is not a desirable circumstance for any family."
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wyoming-looks-to-help-vulnerable-people-stay-in-their-homes-using-federal-money/article_355f3a2d-d45d-57c8-8d9e-0f87f90bf692.html
| 2022-04-23T00:36:08Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
Weather Alert
...Strong Outflow will impact portions of southwestern Laramie
County through 630 PM MDT...
At 550 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorm
outflow along a line extending from 9 miles northeast of Ranchettes
to near Crystal Lake Campground. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Brief wind gusts of 60 to 65 MPH. No rain is expected.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cheyenne, South Greeley, Hillsdale, Federal, Ranchettes, Warren AFB,
Frontier Park, North Cheyenne, Warren Af Base, Fox Farm-College and
South Greeley High.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 25 in Wyoming between mile markers 1 and 29.
Interstate 80 in Wyoming between mile markers 341 and 380.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Cheyenne.
&&
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN;
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430, 431,
433, 435, 436, AND 437...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 430,
431, 433, 435, 436, AND 437...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 430, 431, 433, 435, 436 AND
437 covering much of the Nebraska Panhandle and portions of
southeast Wyoming.
* WIND...South to southwest 25 to 35 mph sustained with gusts
of 40 to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 8 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
CASPER – Wyoming’s senior population grew by over 40% from 2010 to 2020 – the second-fastest rate in the nation, according to research from AginginPlace.org, an online resource hub for seniors.
The group compared 2010 and 2020 demographic statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau to figure out how states’ age groups have changed.
Across that decade, the number of Wyomingites above age 65 grew from 12.4% to 17.8% – an increase of about 43.6%.
That rate was second only to Alaska, where the number of senior citizens increased by roughly 70%.
From 2018 to 2019, the growth of Wyoming’s senior population outpaced the rest of the nation, according to a fact sheet from Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division.
The fact sheet attributes that change to the aging Baby Boomer generation and the emigration of younger Wyomingites to other states.
When it comes to average age, Wyoming’s still middle-of-the-road. According to census data, the state had the 20th oldest population in 2020, and the median age hovers around late 30s. Since 2010, the overall adult population has grown by 10.4%.
Meanwhile, the percentage of people under age 18 fell by 1.4%.
Despite Wyoming’s aging population, the state is below average when it comes to options for senior care. In its 2020 scoreboard, AARP ranked the state 41st in the nation for choice of setting and care provider.
For those who want to age-in-place, a new housing initiative under Wyoming’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is giving grants for personal care services and disability access modifications.
The Housing Stability Services program, which launched during the summer of 2021, serves adults ages 55 or older and people with disabilities, as long as they’re eligible for ERAP. Each applicant can receive up to $5,000 in assistance.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wyoming-s-senior-population-grew-44-in-a-decade/article_914c7387-39eb-5d51-8002-ae086076d4dd.html
| 2022-04-23T00:36:15Z
|
LARAMIE — University of Wyoming women’s basketball head coach Heather Ezell announced Friday afternoon the elevation of Ryan Larsen to associate head coach for the Cowgirls. He will be entering his fourth season at UW next season.
“I am very excited to continue to serve Cowgirl Basketball, Wyoming Athletics and represent the University of Wyoming,” Larsen said in a press release. “Special thanks to Coach Ezell for entrusting me to work as her associate head coach. Heather is a very talented basketball coach, and our basketball philosophies are aligned. I look forward to continuing the success of Cowgirl Basketball with Heather and the rest of the staff.”
During his three previous seasons at Wyoming, Larsen and the Cowgirls have made a pair of postseason trips. UW went to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the program’s first-ever Mountain West tournament title. Last season, the Cowgirls advanced to the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. In his three seasons with the program, Larsen helped guide six Cowgirls to All-Mountain West accolades.
Larsen spent six seasons as the head coach at South Dakota School of Mines prior to arriving in Laramie. He coached five student-athletes to seven All-RMAC honors during his tenure there, while seven student-athletes earned 10 academic all-conference accolades. Larsen became the head coach of the Hardrockers after serving five years as an assistant women’s basketball coach at South Dakota.
In his role as an assistant for the Coyotes, Larsen was the recruiting coordinator, scouting director and coached the guards and posts. The Coyotes competed in two consecutive postseason tournaments, making trips to the Women’s Basketball Invitational and the WNIT.
Before his time at South Dakota, Larsen was a member of the Augustana (South Dakota) College men’s basketball staff from 2002-07. Along with his coaching duties, Larsen was the recruiting coordinator for three seasons and recruited three student-athletes who earned player of the year honors from their respective states.
From 1999-2002, Larsen was at Minnesota State-Moorhead. In the 2001-02 season, the team posted its best record in nine years and was ranked in the North Central Region for the first time in program history. He graduated from MSU Moorhead, earning his degree in 2002 and obtained his master’s degree from Augustana in 2004.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/university_of_wyoming/womens_basketball/larsen-promoted-to-associate-head-coach/article_5bee046c-a83e-5836-a2b6-456b2e95f299.html
| 2022-04-23T00:36:21Z
|
Couple starts house fire, dies in fractal burning incident, authorities say
ROZELLVILLE, Wis. (WSAW/Gray News) - Authorities in Wisconsin are investigating a deadly fire where two people died in what looks to have been a tragic accident earlier this month.
Marathon County Deputy Chad Billeb said Tanya Rodriguez, 44, and James Carolfi, 52, died as the result of electrocution while fractal burning.
Fire crews were originally called to the couple’s home on April 6 for reports of a fire and their bodies were found in the garage, according to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputy Billeb said evidence at the scene showed the two were in the process of fractal burning.
WSAW reports fractal burning, also called Lichtenberg, is a process that creates designs on wood using high-voltage electricity and a conductive solution. The patterns and design look like lightning strikes.
Deputy Billeb said the fractal burning practice is sometimes done by using high voltage from a microwave. It is popular on social media, but extremely dangerous.
Copyright 2022 WSAW via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/couple-electrocuted-death-while-fractal-burning-authorities-say/
| 2022-04-23T00:41:18Z
|
Heat-Hawks game delayed by suspicious package outside arena
ATLANTA (AP) — The NBA playoff game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks was delayed Friday night after a suspicious package was found outside State Farm Arena.
The tipoff was pushed back nearly an hour while police investigated the package. Three gates were closed while security personnel made sure there was no danger.
The package was found near the stairwell that provides access to a MARTA subway station at the arena.
The game finally began shortly before 8 p.m., but many fans in the sellout crowd were still in long lines outside the arena, plodding through security checkpoints that are in place for all games.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Gates 1, 2 and 3 were temporarily closed by the Atlanta Police Department while the police department, K-9 units and arena security worked to clear the arena and investigate the contents,” the arena said in a statement. “The contents of the package were found not to be explosive, and the package was removed safely by the Atlanta Bomb Squad.”
The Heat were leading the best-of-seven series after winning the first two games in Miami. Games 3 and 4 are in Atlanta.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/heat-hawks-game-delayed-by-suspicious-package-outside-arena/
| 2022-04-23T00:41:24Z
|
Police search for vehicle after shooting in Bluefield, W.Va.
Published: Apr. 22, 2022 at 7:19 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - Police were searching for a vehicle after a shooting in Bluefield on Friday evening, according to City Manager Cecil Marson.
There was a heavy police presence on Frederick Street shortly after 6:00 p.m.
This is a breaking news story. WVVA is working to confirm further details.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/22/police-search-vehicle-after-shooting-bluefield-wva/
| 2022-04-23T00:41:31Z
|
Police officers with rifles and ballistic shields respond to an alleged shooting near the 1400 block of Conneticut Avenue in Northwest, Washington, DC on April 22, 2022. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
(CNN) -- At least two people were shot Friday afternoon in northwest Washington, DC, and authorities are responding to an "active threat" in the area.
Police are still looking for an armed suspect, a Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department source with knowledge of the situation tells CNN.
Two men and one girl were injured, MPD said. Authorities publicly confirmed two people were shot, and it was not immediately clear if the third victim was shot as well.
Police are conducting active sweeps in the area, MPD said. The shooting took place on the 4100 block of Connecticut Avenue.
There is a large law enforcement presence at the scene, including MPD, the city's Fire and EMS Department, the US Secret Service's uniformed division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, says there is "no impact" to a protectee.
The situation is being characterized as an "active threat" and residents are being told to shelter in place or avoid the area.
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/at-least-2-shot-in-active-threat-situation-in-washington-dc/article_d1a40556-c282-11ec-8211-2392561f88b3.html
| 2022-04-23T01:49:21Z
|
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/dr-matt-rodell-nasa-earth-scientist-joined-gmh-to-help-celebrate-the-planet-under-our/article_89629576-c284-11ec-ae43-2be359e40f80.html
| 2022-04-23T01:49:27Z
|
(CNN) -- A Texas Army National Guard soldier who was participating in a mission along the border with Mexico is missing, according to the state's military department.
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber said earlier a Texas National Guard member tried to rescue a female who was crossing the Rio Grande in the area of Eagle Pass, Texas, and he "never came up."
The female made it to the US side of the border and was taken into custody by federal authorities. The identity of the guard member has not been released, Schmerber said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol are helping in the search, according to a statement from the Texas Military Department.
The soldier was assigned to Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbott's effort to combat what he says is a crisis at the US-Mexico border.
The governor said his office is working "with the Texas National Guard and other law enforcement agencies as they search for the missing soldier in Eagle Pass. Updates will be provided as additional details become available."
Abbott, who is up for reelection, launched Operation Lone Star last March. The operation -- which leaned on resources from the state's public safety department and Texas National Guard -- has swelled to more than 10,000 service members.
The National Guard role in Operation Lone Star is often supporting law enforcement. Members of the military are barred from carrying out law enforcement activities, such as arrests or searches, without prior authorization.
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/texas-military-department-searching-for-soldier-following-operation-on-rio-grande/article_c068d38e-c28c-11ec-b747-9ba3913c503b.html
| 2022-04-23T01:49:33Z
|
Teen dies from drowning complications after water rescue, coroner says
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF/Gray News) - A teen rescued last week after having trouble in the water at a South Carolina beach has died.
WMBF reports Andrea Renee Brown, 14, and her 15-year-old brother were swimming in the ocean when they suddenly needed to be rescued on April 15.
The teens were rushed to a local hospital, but the Horry County coroner said Brown ended up dying from drowning complications on Monday.
A family member said they were visiting the Grand Strand area from Four Oaks, North Carolina.
Myrtle Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Marvin Hickman said about 15 rescue crews responded to the original call.
Hickman said it did not appear that the teens got stuck in a rip current but it was a red flag day with high surf and strong currents. He also cautioned all beachgoers to know their limits when in the water.
Copyright 2022 WMBF via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/teen-dies-drowning-complications-after-water-rescue-coroner-says/
| 2022-04-23T02:15:13Z
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Oregon Tech’s Thomas Dodgen earned All-Cascade Conference honors with a second-place finish in the decathlon at the CCC Multi-Event Championships Friday in La Grande.
The senior posted a two-day, 10-event score of 6,241 points – earning him the No. 2 spot on the podium – while registering the No. 5 decathlon mark in the NAIA this season. His effort is well above the NAIA ”B” qualifying standard, with the Top-16 scoring totals in the nation earning a berth to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.
Dodgen posted three second-place finishes on the day – recording a time of 16.35 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, clearing 13 feet, 1.5 inches in the pole vault, while throwing the javelin 151 feet. He added a fourth-place effort in the 1,500 (4:53.89) and tossed the discus 99 feet, 1 inch.
T.J. Davis of Eastern Oregon claimed the CCC title with an NAIA-best score of 7,101 points, and Lewis-Clark State’s Christian Bothwell took third (6,199).
Oregon Tech’s Ally Odell finished seventh in the heptathlon.
Odell clocked a personal-best time of 2:30.88 in the 800, the seventh and final event, climbing two spots in the standings, finishing the two-day event with 4,146 points. Valerie Schmidt of Corban took home the title with 5,076 points.
The rest of the Oregon Tech team is in California to compete in the Chico Invitational on Saturday.
Prep softball
Henley 20, Klamath Union 1: Elizabeth Powell went 4 for 4 with two doubles, two triples and six RBIs as the visiting Hornets (4-9 overall, 4-0 Skyline) kept pace with Mazama and Phoenix atop the conference with Thursday’s victory.
Malia Mick went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs for Henley, which scored 10 runs in the first inning.
|
https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-techs-thomas-dodgen-takes-second-in-decathlon-at-cascade-conference-event/article_3f08c734-1e0e-50a2-8253-acbf578405cf.html
| 2022-04-23T02:32:35Z
|
John Michael Brown 1948-2021 John Michael Brown, 73, formerly of Meriden, Wyoming, passed away in Holstein, Iowa, in the presence of his loved ones on December 5, 2021. He was born in Cheyenne on August 27, 1948, to J. Harry and Gwendolyn Brown and was raised on the family ranch in Meriden. He treasured many hours with his grandfather on the banks of Horse Creek listening to stories and appreciating the value of an agricultural way of life. Mike attended Albin High School during which he excelled in both basketball and track. He was selected to the Wyoming All-State Basketball Team in 1966 after winning two State Class B Basketball Championships in 1965 and 1966. In both the 400 yd dash and the long jump, he held seven records over the course of four years. Mike graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. in Education with endorsements in Science, Physical Education and Coaching. He met his wife of fifty years during an audio-visual class at the University. They were married a year later in Green River, WY, when instead of a traditional honeymoon, they both enrolled in classes to continue their education. His love of sports continued throughout his thirty-eight years of teaching beginning in Guernsey, Lagrange, and finally retiring from Southeast in Yoder. His favorite practice tactic was to frequently challenge his players to a 3-point, or free throw contest. Those extra sodas he won meant a few more practice sessions in the gym. His efforts earned him six "Coach of the Year" awards. He loved spending time with his family in Wyoming and Iowa, especially with his granddaughter, Ella. They often practiced favorite basketball drills on the back patio and in the many parks around Storm Lake, Iowa. As part of the rural ranching community, he was also an avid supporter of anything agriculture passing that love onto the next generation. Spending time in the barn, or fixing fence in the pasture was a way to be an observer of nature, as was his love of fishing and camping in Snowy Range. He is preceded in death by his father, J. Harry Brown, and his sister, Lynne Brown. He is survived by his wife, Marie, his daughter, Keri, (Brandon), granddaughter Ella, and Wes, (Ashley). A private family service was held with interment at Mountain View Memorial Park in Cheyenne. A Celebrating Life Reception will be held in the event center at Table Mountain Vineyards in Huntley, Wyoming, on May 7, from 2:00 to 4:30. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the LaGrange/BearCreek Unity Association, or to a Humanitarian Relief Organization of your choice
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/brown-john-michael/article_5795ae4a-31bf-5816-80a1-6cb9cb8fa8dc.html
| 2022-04-23T02:41:48Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
1 of 2
To plant a tree in memory of Lloyd Martinez as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Lloyd Edward Martinez 1954-2022 Lloyd Edward Martinez, 68, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Lloyd was born February 12, 1954 in Cheyenne, a son of the late Roberto P. and Delphina E. (Maes) Martinez. Lloyd was an avid sports fan (almost any sport), especially baseball. He graduated from CSU with a degree in Political Science and History, enjoying politics and political discussion. He loved music and especially enjoyed taking his grandson fishing. Because he hated flying, he would drive long distances to avoid it, yet he was always there for his family. He loved a good party and enjoyed getting a rise out of people. He had his own unique view of the world. The general consensus from most that knew him was that he was one-of-a-kind. Lloyd is survived by his wife, Judy; daughters, Angelina (Eric) and Aja (Steve); son, Daniel (Alyx); grandsons, Simon and Leif; sisters, Carol, Pat, Terrie and Robin; and brothers, Ronnie, Victor, Raymond and Eddie. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Noel and Leland. A Vigil for the Deceased will be held Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday, April 25th at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Cremation is under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line at www.schradercares.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Lloyd Martinez as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/martinez-lloyd-edward/article_6401ff87-ddf3-54b5-b2a4-861c40036fbd.html
| 2022-04-23T02:41:54Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
Cheney, others push for U.S. medical support for Ukrainians
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.; Jason Crow, D-Colo.; Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Joe Wilson, R-S.C., led a group of bipartisan lawmakers pressing for critical medical support in Eastern Europe as Ukraine’s health care system nears collapse and millions continue to flee the country.
In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the members requested that the U.S. send armored ambulances to the area, deploy military field hospitals in Poland, and scale up a regional medical center to treat fleeing and wounded Ukrainians.
“We write to you because of our grave concerns over the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and along its western border with Poland. We want to first acknowledge your leadership and coordinated efforts to provide an unprecedented amount of humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. In light of the scope and scale of the humanitarian disaster, we recommend additional steps that could help support the struggling healthcare systems in Ukraine and Poland,” the members wrote to the administration.
Roughly 119 hospitals and other medical facilities in Ukraine have been destroyed, including a maternity ward.
Before this crisis, the Polish health care system lacked a sufficient number of doctors and specialists for its population size and it is now additionally strained from the surge of Ukrainian refugees requiring medical care.
The members recommended three steps to be taken by the administration:
That the U.S. immediately send armored ambulances, such as the M997A2 HMMWV field litter ambulance, to Ukrainian first responders and defense forces. These wheeled ambulances can securely transport up to four people and allow for life-saving care.
That the U.S. deploy several military field hospital centers to the Polish-Ukrainian border region, and authorize U.S. medical personnel to care for the sick and wounded fighters and refugees and third country nationals crossing into Poland.
That the U.S. scale up Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and treat the sick and wounded Ukrainians who cannot be sufficiently cared for at the forward-deployed Army hospital centers.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheney-others-push-for-u-s-medical-support-for-ukrainians/article_42f7ac91-6c27-53c7-8d62-0f375eb3069e.html
| 2022-04-23T02:42:01Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM MDT SATURDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County. This includes the locations of Cheyenne
Buford and Whitaker.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
&&
Laramie County commissioner minutes back to 1868 available online
CHEYENNE – The Laramie County Clerk’s Office has announced the launch of the county’s historical minutes site of Board of County Commissioners records dating from January 1868 through June 1994.
According to County Clerk Debra Lee, the site represents the culmination of 24 months of work that involved borrowing 272 volumes of archival records from State Archives, contracting to have records scanned and digitized under the direction of the Clerk’s Records Center staff, and development of the online site. Funding for the project was approved by commissioners.
“We are excited to make these historical records of Laramie County available for the first time to the public in a convenient and searchable manner,” Lee said in a news release. “It’s a fascinating look into the early history of Laramie County, and preserving these records in multiple formats ensures they are safeguarded.”
The public can search records online by year or descriptive words, save them to a clipboard, download and print them.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/laramie-county-commissioner-minutes-back-to-1868-available-online/article_647b0457-dc88-5faf-bbfe-82d4b4195cf1.html
| 2022-04-23T02:42:07Z
|
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