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CHEYENNE – Monse Serrano had to relearn the rhythm and technique of throwing shot put and discus last spring.
It had been more than a year since the Pine Bluffs senior had stepped into the throws ring after the COVID-19 pandemic brought her sophomore outdoor track and field season to a premature end.
It took Serrano a while to knock off the rust. She was one of Class 2A’s best throwers once she did, heaving the shot 33 feet, 5¼ inches to place second at the state meet. Serrano backed that with a fourth-place effort in discus with a toss of 100-8.
“Because I hadn’t thrown since my freshman year, it was kind of hard to get back into the motion,” Serrano said. “Missing out on my sophomore year took away everything I worked on during my freshman year.
“It was such a long break that I kind of forgot everything. It was kind of hard getting back to where I left off, but coach (Dale) Gilbert really helped me get where I needed to be and win second place.”
Serrano started suffering chronic shoulder pain during an indoor track campaign she hoped would help her take the next step up the podium at next month’s state meet. Some time off, physical therapy and a measured approach to the outdoor season have Serrano showing that a gold medal isn’t out of the question.
Her season-best heave of 37-3½ is tops in 2A this spring, and is the eighth-best throw in Wyoming, regardless of classification, according to Athletic.net. Her season-best discus mark of 104-6 is fourth in 2A and 19th-best in Wyoming.
Serrano stands 5-foot-7½ – that half-inch is important, she says, because it’s what separates her in height from her younger brother – which is undersized for a thrower. Serrano is able to overcome that a couple ways, Gilbert said.
“She has to be technically perfect,” the Hornets’ throws coach said. “She has to line everything up to get big throws, and she works really hard in practice to do that. She has a great work ethic.”
Like most throwers, Serrano started out as a “glider,” meaning she started by facing the back of the ring with one foot extended behind her before forcefully moving to the front of the ring as she threw. It’s the easiest way for youngsters to learn basics of throwing the four-kilogram implement, but it mostly relies on brute strength to propel the shot.
On the other hand, the “rotation” relies on strength, momentum and technique to propel the shot. It lacks the consistency of the glide, but it leaves open the possibility of a big throw when all or most of the components work in concert.
“You’re either going to be three feet over what you would typically throw, or three feet under,” Gilbert said. “Your bad throws aren’t going to be as bad with the glide, but your good throws aren’t going to be as good. (Serrano) has to rotate if she wants to win big.”
Serrano started working on the rotation in the middle of her freshman year. She felt like she caught onto it quickly because the movements are similar to those she makes when she throws discus.
Serrano got off to a slow start this spring because of the shoulder injury she suffered during the indoor season. Not only did she have to take time off from throwing, she also had to stop lifting weights.
“She’s a little frustrated because she hasn’t thrown as well in meets as she has in practice,” Gilbert said. “She knows those big throws are going to come in meets because they’re coming in practice, but she wants them to happen right now.
“They’re coming, but she’s got to be consistent going across the ring. It’s all about repeating what you feel during those big throws in practice.”
Serrano is inching toward full health, and hopes she can continue to progress toward 40-foot throws.
“I always throw better at the end of the season than I do at the beginning,” she said. “I’m very hard on myself because I know what I’m capable of, and I want to do everything right.
“It’s not all together right now, so I have to be nicer to myself and trust everything and know that it’s going to fall into place. I have to stay out of my head.”
Burns boys second at Roeder Invite
CHEYENNE – The Burns boys finished second in the team standings at the Kendra Roeder Invitational on Friday in Pine Bluffs.
Laramie won both the girls and boys titles.
Burns senior Joel Morales won the 100-meter dash in 12.12 seconds. He joined junior Cody Hape and seniors Conor Manlove and Jackson Kirkbride on the runner-up 4x100 relay team (45.17 seconds).
Kirkbride bested the field in triple jump with a top mark of 42 feet, 1½ inches.
The 4x400 relay team of juniors Jaspur Nusbaum, Dylan Ashworth and Cody PIasecki and sophomore Noah Damey won in 3 minutes, 44.77 seconds. Senior Spender Smith placed second in the 800 (2:08.75).
The Pine Bluffs boys finished fourth. Senior Carson Rabou won the 110-meter hurdles in 17.20 seconds, and placed second in the 300 hurdles (44.37). He also cleared 10-10 to place third in pole vault. Hornets’ senior Dalton Schaefer won long jump with a leap of 20-5.
Cheyenne Central junior Parker Legerski won the 300 hurdles (44.12). Cheyenne East senior Arthur Carrillo placed second in shot put (43-11).
The Burns girls placed third in the team race. Senior Emma Gonzalez won both the 400 (1:03.85) and 1,600 (6:08.75). Classmate Rylee Jo Ward won the 100 hurdles (17.48) and pole vault (8-5). She also was second in the 300 hurdles (51.49).
The 1,600 sprint medley relay team of juniors Maianna Siebert and Emma Norris and sophomores Brooke M. Hansen and Saria Eklund placed second (5:14.03). Sophomore Brooke K. Hansen was second in discus (103-11).
The Pine Bluffs girls got a win from Serrano in discus (104-6), while sophomore Alyssa Slade cleared 5-2 to place second in high jump. Senior Alexis DePaulitte was second in the 1,600 (6:35.50), and junior Cathy Purdum took second in triple jump (33-6½).
Senior Andrea Reifschneider, junior Cathy Purdum and sophomores Rachael Macy and Alyssa Slade placed second in the 4x100 (53.00).
Cheyenne East’s 4x400 relay team of freshmen Mya Archuleta and Riley Vasquez and juniors Leslie Guerrero and Layla Robinson won in 4:30.16.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/pine_bluffs/pine-bluffs-monse-serrano-is-a-top-thrower-in-2a/article_a9393639-979b-5d11-9137-7f1bda7285f2.html
| 2022-04-23T13:35:41Z
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LARAMIE – After being among the youngest contributors on a veteran-heavy team last season, University of Wyoming defensive tackles Cole Godbout and Jordan Bertagnole return as two of the Cowboys’ most experienced players.
It didn’t take long for the duo to catch the attention of new defensive tackles coach Oscar Giles.
“I got here early in February, and the staff had just got through recruiting,” Giles said. “I told coach (Craig Bohl), ‘I want to watch these guys work out.’ I was just impressed with the way the guys work. They did everything they were supposed to do, but then they went a little extra.
“They do the same thing on the football field. What I saw on film, I see now with the way they practice. They practice so hard, it makes the game easy.”
Godbout made an impact in his first two years with the Cowboys, totaling 64 tackles with three sacks. Last year marked a breakout season, with the junior earning an All-Mountain West honorable mention after racking up 70 tackles, five sacks and five pass breakups.
He capped 2021 by posting a career-high 10 tackles in a Potato Bowl win over Kent State, and, by all accounts, has carried this momentum over into a solid spring – on and off the field.
“Cole has been playing great,” sophomore linebacker Easton Gibbs said. “Whether it’s physically, mentally, being a leader, he’s stepped up in all those areas. Technically, he was on the younger side last year, along with myself, and it’s kind of crazy how things flipped so fast. But he’s definitely taken charge of his room and been a good leader for us.”
Added Bertagnole: “He’s definitely stepped up in his leadership role. With everybody leaving, he’s the oldest guy in our room. He’s stepped up in that aspect of the game and been more vocal. It’s good to have a dude like him next to you.”
Bertagnole has also made progress, coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded 38 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. After focusing more on stopping the run the last two years, the sophomore says he’s placed an emphasis on getting after the quarterback this spring.
“One of the biggest things we’ve been hammering away at is pass rush,” Bertagnole said. “From 2020-21, I kind of locked in on the run. I’ve been talking to coach Giles, and he’s really been getting me right with some pass rush. I’ve definitely seen that pay off.”
While the Cowboys have plenty of experience at the two starting spots on the interior defensive line, building depth behind Godbout and Bertagole has been a primary area of focus since the end of last season.
UW coach Craig Bohl says Caleb Robinson is currently the No. 3 option at defensive tackle, but a handful of younger players are vying for playing time at the position, as well. Godbout points to Gavin Meyer, Ethan Drewes and Ben Florentine as other guys that have experienced growth during the offseason.
“That was one of our main goals this spring,” Giles said. “We put it on the board. Cole had 800-and-something reps, and Jordan had close to 500 reps, then the rest of the guys were way down. The goal was to build more depth at that position, and I think we’re there.”
Added Godbout: “They’re still young, but I can see them improving every day. Working with them is making me better, because we’re competitive guys and want to win every rep. It’s nice seeing them step up.”
Youth behind the top two spots has created some uncertainty at defensive tackle, with the rotation still to be established between now and the start of the season. However, Giles is excited about the potential of the position group heading into his first year with the program.
“The good thing about it is those guys are coachable,” Giles said. “The oldest guy is Cole, so I’m fired up about what we have in that room and where we’re going.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/university_of_wyoming/football/veterans-godbout-bertagnole-spur-optimism-on-interior-defensive-line/article_e1b37fc3-a817-50fe-b732-35e024f6247f.html
| 2022-04-23T13:35:47Z
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LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming tennis team ended the regular season with a 4-1 dual win Friday morning during a neutral-site matchup against Nevada.
It was the second dual in as many days after the Cowgirls took on Colorado State in a 4-1 loss at the CSU Tennis Complex in Fort Collins, Colorado.
With the victory Friday at the same venue, Wyoming (11-12 overall, 5-5 Mountain West) closes the regular season locked into the No. 6 seed for the Mountain West tournament in Tucson, Arizona. The Cowgirls will begin play at 1 p.m. MT Wednesday against the No. 11 seed still to be determined.
Wyoming started strong against the Wolf Pack, taking the team doubles point behind wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles spots. The UW team of Mihaela Kaftanova and Lucia Malinak notched a 6-3 victory at No. 3. Then Ida Krause and Maria Oreshkina clinched the point for the Cowgirls, winning 6-4 at No. 1.
During singles play, UW won 3-of-4 matches that were completed. Malinak, at the No. 3 spot, was first to win a match at 6-2, 7-6. Kaftanova won 6-2, 7-5 at No. 6, and Oreshkina clinched the dual win at No. 1 when she notched a 7-6, 6-3 win.
During Thursday’s competition against Colorado State, the Cowgirls’ lone win was recorded by Kaftanova at No. 6 singles when she defeated CSU’s Anastasiia Kotsyuba 6-4, 6-1.
Wyoming was also on the cusp of winning at No. 1 singles when Oreshkina was up 6-5 in the second set after winning the first set against CSU’s Radka Buzkova 7-5. Malinak was also in her third set at No. 3 singles after winning the first set 7-5 and losing the second 6-3 against Sarka Richterova before the dual was clinched by the Rams.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/university_of_wyoming/other_sports/cowgirls-close-regular-season-on-high-note/article_74360813-93e8-5b75-b3fe-4cd57f7ab796.html
| 2022-04-23T13:35:53Z
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Recreational bowling: Burkhardt, Digon, Badley roll 300s; Hollis, Fuller share high series
Jon Burkhardt tied for the high series in Cowboys & Indians at Port Huron Lanes with a 761, but more importantly rolled his first 300 game. PJ Hollis rolled a 299 game in the Friday Wanna Bees league at Port Huron Lanes and finished with the week’s high series of 767. David Fuller matched Hollis with a 767 of his own in the Tuesday Classic league at Strikers Entertainment Center.
With five award scores this season, Jose Ganhs leads the association. Right behind him with four are Chuck Ouellette and Brian Krauss, and now Scott Badley, whose 300 game this past week was his third of the season to go along with one 800 series. Badley ended his Saturday Nite Bridge session at Port Huron Lanes with a 752 series. In the Tuesday Classic league, Adam Digon rolled his first 300 game in the Port Huron Bowling Association and second overall.
Ray LaVere put together a 761 series to co-lead Cowboys & Indians. Ed Crampton led two leagues at St. Clair River Lanes as he had 745, including a 290 game, in Monday Big 12 and 738 in Blue Water Men. Other outstanding series were Matt Pawlak 741, Chuck Ouellette 739, Doug Ultsch 737, Eric Emmi 726, Mike Gossman 726, Jerry Beery 724 & 718, Nick Medley 720, Caremy Snellenberger 719, Ed Seefried 716, Nate Holmes 714, Kenny Tyson Jr 711 and Greg Beck 710.
Judy Hamilton led all women for the week with a 636 in the Ladies City league at St. Clair. Heather Bombard had 635 in the Don McIvor Memorial league and 598 in Saturday Nite Bridge, both at Port Huron Lanes. Ally Irvine fired a 629 in Saturday Nite Bridge. Terry Crampton knocked down a 615 in the Wednesday Night league at Colony Bowl.
Two others posted 600 series as Annette Thompson had a 606 in Friday Wanna Bees and Nikki Hollis had 605 in Saturday Nite Bridge. They were followed by Jackie Karl 596, Cindy Badley 593, Amanda Long 591, Jennifer Klein 590, Sam Hendrick 586, Kristen Winkler 585, Margy Christy 576, Kristie Lashbrook 575, Sharon Pappas 571 and Makayla Schroeder 570.
Top game of the week for the women was Makayla Schroeder with a 243 in Every Other Friday Misfits at Bowl O Drome. Heather Bombard had the next two highest with 236 in the McIvor league and 235 in Saturday Nite Bridge. Jennifer Klein had 234 in that latter session. Cindy Badley had top game in the Inter City Ladies league with a 231. Other high games were Jennifer Klein 227, Judy Hamilton 225, Nikki Hollis 224, Ally Irvine 223, Kristen Winkler 222 and Annette Thompson 222.
Back to the men, five bowlers had 279 games, including Dan Hawley Sr and Dan Hawley Jr, both in Cowboys & Indians. Two other 279s from that outing were Cory Smith and Matt Gossman. Jerry Beery had the other 279, getting his in Friday Wanna Bees, while Dan Kamendat had 278 in that league. Henry Sullivan rolled 276 in Blue Water Men at St. Clair.
Special Mention: Jeremiah Hudson was 184 pins over average with a 679 series in the Dan Wilkinson Doubles league at Bowl O Drome.
Upcoming Tournaments: The Match Game Singles scratch tournament will be at Port Huron Lanes April 23-24 with five games of qualifying on Saturday and the top 10 advancing to round robin finals consisting of 10 games on Sunday. Entry forms are at bowling centers or online entries can be submitted at phba.net.
Splits: 5-10: Suzi Arnold; 5-7: Pat Robb
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/04/23/bowling-burkhardt-digon-badley-roll-300-games/7413692001/
| 2022-04-23T13:45:59Z
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EXPLAINER: How South Carolina execution firing squad works
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — It’s unknown how long a stay will hold off the execution of Richard Bernard Moore — South Carolina’s first-ever inmate to be put to death by a firing squad — as his attorneys pursue legal challenges.
But the issuance of Moore’s death warrant, initially planned to be carried out April 29, has renewed interest in how a state puts in motion its plans to shoot an inmate to death. The method is employed in only a handful of states and has not been used in the U.S. in more than a decade.
South Carolina just instituted the firing squad option last year, giving condemned inmates the choice between that and electrocution, prompted by an inability to procure lethal injection drugs.
In choosing the firing squad, the 57-year-old Moore said he didn’t concede that either method was legal or constitutional but that he more strongly opposed death by electrocution and only opted for the firing squad because he was required to make a choice.
Moore drew the death sentence for the 1999 killing of convenience store clerk James Mahoney in Spartanburg. Planning to rob the store for money to support his cocaine habit, investigators have said that Mahoney pulled a gun, which Moore was able to wrestle away and use to shoot the clerk.
A May 13 execution date has also been set for another inmate, Brad Sigmon, although a state judge is examining his legal argument that both electrocution and the firing squad are “barbaric” methods of killing.
WHEN DID THIS PROCESS BEGIN?
South Carolina — once home to one of the busiest death chambers in the nation — has been unable to carry out any execution since 2011, an involuntary pause that officials have attributed to the state’s inability to procure the trifecta of drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection. Condemned inmates had the choice between injection and electrocution, meaning that opting for the former would in essence leave the state unable to carry out the sentence.
For several years, lawmakers have mulled adding the firing squad as an option to approved methods, but debate never advanced. Last year, Democratic Sen. Dick Harpootlian and GOP Sen. Greg Hembree, both of whom previously served as prosecutors, again argued in favor of adding the firing squad option.
“The death penalty is going to stay the law here for a while. If it is going to remain, it ought to be humane,” Harpootlian said, positing that the firing squad provided a more humane alternative than electrocution, if executions were to continue in the GOP-dominated state.
The measure, which Republican Gov. Henry McMaster signed into law last May, made South Carolina the fourth state in the country to allow use of a firing squad, according to the Washington-based nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center.
HOW IS THE EXECUTION CARRIED OUT?
Since the bill’s passage, the South Carolina Department of Corrections worked at retrofitting its existing death chamber in Columbia — where executions by lethal injection and electrocution have been carried out for more than 30 years — to accommodate the needs of a firing squad.
The agency spent $53,600 in state funding on renovations, including the installation of bullet-resistant glass between the death chamber and witnesses, as well as a metal chair into which the inmate will be strapped. They also cut into the brick wall of the chamber to make an aperture through which the three shooters — all volunteer employees from the Corrections Department — will thread their weapons, all loaded with live ammunition.
The aperture is 15 feet from the condemned, situated in a corner of the room, according to a memo released last month by the prisons agency. While the inmate will be visible to witnesses, officials said that the shooters and their weapons will not.
The electric chair, which officials say cannot be removed from the chamber, will be covered in its spot between the glass wall and the firing squad chair.
After an opportunity to make a final statement, the inmate will be strapped into the chair and a hood placed over his head. An execution team member will place a “small aim point” over the inmate’s heart.
After the warden reads the execution order, officials said the team will fire. The agency has not specified what caliber rifles the volunteer shooters will use, nor details of the “certain qualifications” they will be required to have met.
WHO WILL BE THERE TO WITNESS IT?
Aside from the state officials in the chamber to carry out the execution, three media witnesses may attend the execution, as well as three witnesses from the victim’s family, according to the Corrections Department.
State law also allows religious and legal counsel for the inmate, as well as representatives from law enforcement and local prosecutors.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD?
As is standard with all South Carolina executions, a physician will examine the inmate and make a death declaration. A photo released by Corrections officials shows a lipped metal basin underneath the inmate chair, as well as a rectangular box directly behind it, potentially to absorb the gunfire.
Immediately thereafter, the witnesses will be escorted from the room and taken to the Corrections headquarters building, where other media will be gathered.
Out of sight of the witnesses, the inmate’s body is removed from the chamber and taken by the Richland County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy before being returned to the inmate’s family.
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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/2022/04/23/explainer-how-south-carolina-execution-firing-squad-works/
| 2022-04-23T15:30:20Z
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Twitter bans ads that contradict science on climate change
BERLIN (AP) — Twitter says it will no longer allow advertisers on its site who deny the scientific consensus on climate change, echoing a policy already in place at Google.
“Ads shouldn’t detract from important conversations about the climate crisis,” the company said in a statement outlining its new policy Friday.
There was no indication that the change would affect what users post on the social media site, which along with Facebook has been targeted by groups seeking to promote misleading claims about climate change.
The announcement coinciding with Earth Day came hours before the European Union agreed upon a deal requiring big tech companies to vet their sites more closely for hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content.
Twitter said it would provide more information in the coming months on how it plans to provide “reliable, authoritative context to the climate conversations” its users engage in, including from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The U.N.-backed science panel’s reports on the causes and effects of climate change provide the basis for international negotiations to curb climate change.
The company already has a dedicated climate topic on its site and offered what it described as “pre-bunks” during last year’s U.N. climate conference to counter misinformation surrounding climate change.
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Follow AP’s coverage of climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/twitter-bans-ads-that-contradict-science-climate-change/
| 2022-04-23T15:30:27Z
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US military drops appeal of Hawaii order to drain fuel tanks
HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. government on Friday dropped its appeals of a Hawaii order requiring it to remove fuel from a massive military fuel storage facility that leaked petroleum into the Navy’s water system at Pearl Harbor last year.
Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Defense notified the state and federal courts of its decision. The move comes more than a month after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the military would permanently shut down the tanks and drain all of their fuel.
The Hawaii Department of Health, which issued the order, said the decision regarding the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility was a “step forward.”
“While today’s announcement is good news, the work continues,” the department said in a statement. It said it would “continue to act expeditiously and proactively to oversee the safe defueling and decommissioning of Red Hill and restoration of the aquifer.”
David Henkin, an attorney for Earthjustice which is representing the Sierra Club of Hawaii as an interested party in the case said his clients would remain vigilant to make sure the tanks are promptly defueled.
“It’s a wonderful Earth Day gift to the people of Hawaii and in particular to all the residents of Oahu who depend on safe, clean drinking water when they turn on their tap,” Henkin said.
The Navy and the Hawaii Department of Health did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Henkin said even if Austin were to change his mind and try to keep the tanks open, the military will now face “an enforceable, unimpeachable, unchallengeable order from the Department of Health that they need to follow.”
The order from the Hawaii Department of Health requires the military to remove fuel from the tanks 30 days after it’s safe to do so. The military will have to stick to this deadline now that it’s dropping the appeal, Henkin said.
The military, with oversight from the state health department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is currently developing plans to safely remove the fuel. It’s uncertain how long this will take.
Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, said in a statement that the dropping of the lawsuit “paves the way for us to shut down Red Hill this year.”
The legal challenge made it hard for the state to work cooperatively with the Defense Department, Schatz said. He said he pushed hard for the military to make this decision.
Petroleum leaked from the Red Hill tanks into a Navy drinking water well late last year, sickening 6,000 people mostly living in military housing. Medical teams treated people complaining of nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms. The military put about 4,000 families in hotels for several months while it cleaned its water pipes.
The tanks also pose a threat to water consumed by 400,000 on Oahu. That’s because they sit 100 feet (30 meters) above an aquifer that serves the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, the city’s water utility, in addition to the Navy’s water system.
The city utility has suspended use of three of its wells until it can be sure petroleum won’t migrate through the aquifer from the area by the Navy’s well to its own wells.
The water utility and local leaders are also worried another spill could poison the city’s water system.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/us-military-drops-appeal-hawaii-order-drain-fuel-tanks/
| 2022-04-23T15:30:33Z
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CHEYENNE – In conjunction with Earth Day, the city of Cheyenne held a news conference Friday at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens to announce a partnership with Encore Green Environmental for the city to operate as the blockchain verifier for the local firm.
A goal is Cheyenne becoming a leader in soil organic carbon regulation. By collecting soil samples from landowners, Encore Green can test these levels to analyze how healthy the land is.
Encore Green works closely with landowners, from farms to golf courses, to find out what their goals are going into the year. These landowners are locked into a one-year contract where, once a month, Encore Green returns to their land to test the quality of the soil. By the end of the year, landowners see a cut of the profit as a result of selling carbon-rich soil.
“The purpose of that is to improve the soil and increase the population of plant species on the surface,” said John Robitaille of the Wyoming Carbon Asset Network and Encore Green. “Which, in turn, creates more organic carbon in the soil. We come back the next year, and we offer the same program to create additional soil profile, additional plant species in the soil, and we ask them to come back.”
A simple way to explain this process is that by Encore Green testing the soil quality, it can monitor if the carbon levels are increasing. The more carbon, the more evidence of increased photosynthesis brought on by higher vegetation rates. More carbon is leaving the air and entering the soil, with oxygen replacing it.
“I love the partnership of having an expert come to your property and help you design a plan so that you will understand how to do a better job of increasing the quality of your plant life,” Mayor Patrick Collins said during Friday’s presentation.
Collins emphasized the steps that the city has taken to become more ecological-friendly in the past year. He then read the official proclamation issued by the city.
“The partnership between Carbon Asset Networks and the city of Cheyenne is to promote resources for land managers, through the help of nonprofits, that support soil health in order to empower the landowners to be better stewards of their land,” one section read.
The biggest complication for implementing this program was creating a third-party verification program. All collected samples are to be logged in a blockchain, which will add a timestamp to every time a soil sample is entered. The city of Cheyenne agreed to be the verifier. Blockchain is the same technology the undergirds digital currencies like Bitcoin, providing a way to store and access information across a wide range of people and devices.
It’s a system of checks and balances to ensure that an entity is not implementing misleading statistics, and that Encore Green is following its own sample protocol.
The topic then turned to discussing how this proclamation will hopefully put Cheyenne at the forefront of eco-friendly policies, compared to the rest of the nation.
“I am so excited about it because it is revolutionary, in my mind,” said Dale Steenburgen, CEO of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce. “We are, on the one hand, helping to build the agriculture community. On the other hand, we are keeping climate wellness in the forefront of everybody’s mind as we move forward.”
Marvin Nash, co-founder of Encore Green Environmental, addressed his background as an environmentalist. He told a story of how, in 1972, he pointed down to Denver, and said that in time there would be houses stretching from the city up to the Wyoming state line.
He believes Cheyenne is making steps to expand in a similar pattern.
The city also announced a partnership with the Iraan (Irah-ann) Sheffield Independent School District in Iraan, Texas. The program provides hands-on education in soil stewardship, photosynthesis and produced water reclamation for students in grades 3-12.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/city-of-cheyenne-announces-partnership-with-encore-green/article_0913a77b-8418-5f39-bb30-5f97f040a556.html
| 2022-04-23T15:44:43Z
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Travelers enjoy airport face mask rule changes
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Most travelers at West Virginia International Yeager Airport are no longer wearing face masks after a federal judge in Florida eliminated the nationwide mask mandate on airplanes and other mass transit earlier this week.
The Department of Justice is appealing that ruling at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and this conflicting information is creating some confusion for passengers and airline officials.
Court ruling creates mishmash of transportation mask rules
David Powe said the flight attendant on his plane from Florida to Charleston had to make a correction to an announcement because the flight crew made a mistake about the mask rules. Powe was one of only three people to keep their masks on for the flight after most people ended up taking their mask off.
“It’s a mess,” Powe said. “But, I kept mine on because I am used to it.”
“I am just glad it is no more, no more masks,” Powe said. “I am fine with that. I am perfectly fine.”
Airlines and airports are now able to make their own decisions about mask requirements even as this case is appealed. It’s unclear when a court could possibly put a mask mandate back into place, but most places are currently not requiring masks despite the CDC extending the mask mandate until May 3.
Most people in US want masks for travelers: AP-NORC poll
In the CRW terminal, face mask signs have been removed from doors. However, there are still plenty of sanitizing stations and social distancing markers on the floor.
Travelers are asked to check with their specific airline for mask policies before heading to the airport, and airport officials also recommend having a mask with you in case your destination requires masks inside the airport.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it will no longer enforce mask requirements and ride sharing companies, like Uber, have also lifted mask rules.
Mark Agnor and his family were pleasantly surprised to be able to take their masks off while traveling to Orlando. Agnor said they had masks in their pockets heading to the airport, but put them in their bags when they learned the mask mandate had been lifted.
“We feel like the world is back, freedom is back, we were really excited about that,” Agnor said. “A lot of the people working in the airlines and the hotels we were in, the buses, they were just making jokes because everyone was so excited to just get back to normal.”
Copyright 2022 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/21/travelers-enjoy-airport-face-mask-rule-changes/
| 2022-04-23T16:11:51Z
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Afraid to fly with unmasked passengers? Select airlines offering refunds
DALLAS (AP) - Airlines say they are offering options — including refunds in some cases — for people worried about flying now that other passengers aren’t required to wear face masks.
However, the airlines aren’t providing many details. Customers could find themselves at the mercy of workers at airline customer-service centers.
Many people who will be flying in the next few weeks bought their tickets before a federal judge in Florida on Monday struck down the requirement to wear a mask in airports and during flights. That requirement, designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, was due to expire anyway on May 3.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said his airline will be flexible with people who have a weak immune system or are concerned about mask-optional flying for any other reason.
“We are working with those customers ... to find another option, give them a credit, or if they just don’t ever want to fly again, (we are) actually willing to give them a refund,” Kirby told NBC.
A United spokesman said customers except those on the lowest-priced “basic economy” fares can delay their travel plans for any reason with no extra fee. He said passengers with special circumstances should call the airline’s customer service number.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said Thursday that the airline hasn’t fielded many refund requests yet.
“But like we do in all these events, we are taking a look at our policies and ... asking them to get in touch with our reservations office, and we will make sure that we accommodate them in an appropriate fashion,” Isom said.
An American spokeswoman pointed to the airline’s policy, which allows refunds for refundable tickets — those usually cost more — and credit for the value of unused non-refundable tickets. However, people who bought “basic economy” tickets since April 1 are not entitled to a refund or to change their ticket.
A Delta Air Lines spokesman said customers who wish to cancel a trip should contact the airline. Decisions about how to handle those requests are made on a case-by-case basis, he said.
Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit and Frontier did not reply to inquiries.
On Thursday, the Justice Department said it would appeal the Florida judge’s ruling striking down the mask mandate, which was put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and enforced by the Transportation Security Administration.
However, as of late Friday afternoon, the administration still had not asked any court for an emergency stay of the Florida ruling. Legal experts said the White House appeared mostly interested in appealing the Florida ruling to prevent it from becoming a precedent that could limit the CDC’s power to impose pandemic-related measures in the future.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/afraid-fly-with-unmasked-passengers-select-airlines-offering-refunds/
| 2022-04-23T18:15:07Z
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Somalia’s extremists bomb restaurant in the capital; 6 dead
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A bomb blast by Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels hit a popular seaside restaurant in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, killing at least six people, ambulance service officials say.
The explosion was detonated by a suicide bomber who had been denied access inside the restaurant where the Somali Police Commissioner and several lawmakers were having dinner, Somali Police Spokesman Maj. Abdifatah Aden Hassan announced at a press conference Saturday.
The explosion occurred Friday evening when many patrons gathered for an Iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast. The restaurant is frequented by government officials.
Those killed were mostly civilians and seven other people were wounded, the director of Aamin Ambulance Service, Abdulkadir Adan told The Associated Press by phone. The blast caused “huge damage,” he said. Some security personnel were killed in the blast but police did not specify how many.
Somalia’s al-Shabab Islamic extremist group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/somalias-extremists-bomb-restaurant-capital-6-dead/
| 2022-04-23T18:15:14Z
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Tigers’ Cabrera gets 3,000th hit; 33rd player to reach mark
DETROIT (AP) — Tigers star Miguel Cabrera delivered the 3,000th hit of his decorated career Saturday, becoming the 33rd major leaguer to reach the mark and the first player from Venezuela to accomplish the feat.
Still an imposing presence at 39, Cabrera made history by grounding an opposite-field single to right through the shift in the first inning of Detroit’s game against Colorado.
Cabrera immediately raised his right arm as he headed toward first base. The crowd at mostly full Comerica Park gave him a rousing ovation and chanted “Miggy! Miggy!” while fireworks were shot out of the scoreboard.
The milestone hit came off Antonio Senzatela, a fellow Venezuelan, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Rockies shortstop José Iglesias, who played with Cabrera on the Tigers, came over to give his former teammate a big hug.
By then, all the Tigers were streaming from the dugout to greet the newest member of baseball’s elite 3,000-hit club. Moments later, Cabrera went behind home plate to embrace his mother, wife, son and daughter on the field.
Cabrera soon returned to first base, but didn’t stay there long. He scored on a three-run homer by 22-year-old rookie Spencer Torkelson, who has taken over as the Tigers’ regular first baseman with Cabrera in the role of designated hitter.
When the inning ended, the scoreboard flashed “Congratulations Miggy” and Cabrera emerged from the dugout to wave to fans who had been rewarded with the highlight they came to see.
A two-time AL MVP, a Triple Crown winner and an 11-time All-Star with four batting titles, Miggy’s place among the Major League Baseball greats already was assured long before this afternoon in Detroit.
As a 20-year-old rookie, Cabrera helped the Florida Marlins win the 2003 World Series championship. All these years later, stamping his name onto the 3,000-hit list had a nice ring, too.
And it’ll certainly look good on a plaque in Cooperstown someday.
Cabrera became just the seventh player with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. He joined an exclusive club with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez.
Last August in Toronto, Cabrera connected for his 500th homer. He’s now at 502 in his 20th season.
Cabrera is the seventh Latino player to make the 3,000 chart — the hit tied him on the overall list with the late Roberto Clemente.
Pujols was the previous player to reach 3,000 hits, doing it in 2018. He was at 3,308 going into Saturday and, at 42 with St. Louis, has said this is his final season.
The next hitter to reach 3,000? Hard to say.
Robinson Canó trailed Cabrera on the active list with 2,630 going into Saturday and is 39 years old. Yadier Molina, also 39, followed at 2,116.
Among younger players, Jose Altuve (32) has 1,783 and Freddie Freeman (32) had 1,722. Mike Trout (30) was at 1,428.
Cabrera got three hits Wednesday to get to 2,999, then struck out in his final at-bat of the night. He went 0 for 3 Thursday and was intentionally walked his final time up against the Yankees, drawing loud boos and chants from Detroit fans.
The milestone remained on deck when Friday night’s game against Colorado was rained out.
Cabrera was the third player to get his 3,000th hit while with Detroit, joining Ty Cobb and Al Kaline.
While age has diminished his power to clear any fence and smash opposite-field shots to right-center, Cabrera has enjoyed a monster career at the plate.
Cabrera became the first major leaguer in 45 years to win the Triple Crown by leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs in 2012. That year, he won his first of two straight MVP awards and helped Detroit reach the World Series, during a stretch that included four straight division championships.
“He is one of the great right-handed hitters ever,” Yankees manager and former Marlins teammate Aaron Boone said this week.
“And 3,000 hits, 500 homers, that’s obviously rarefied air. He’s done it, you know, in bigger ballparks his entire career, between Florida and here also. You know, he’s an all-timer. He’s in that, probably inner circle, of even the Hall of Fame. It’s been a special career,” Boone said.
Cabrera boosted his total most often against James Shields, getting 27 hits against the former Tampa Bay, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City and San Diego pitcher.
Detroit acquired Cabrera in a trade with the Marlins in 2007, with Dontrelle Willis also going to the Tigers in a deal for Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. Cabrera had 842 hits at the time.
The swap came a year after the Tigers lost the World Series to St. Louis, in the hope that Cabrera would help them win the championship for the first time since 1984.
The Tigers, though, never won it all with their superstar. Detroit was swept by San Francisco in the 2012 World Series and spent a decade in a rebuilding mode that bottomed out with 310 losses between 2017-19.
After Cabrera was an All-Star for the 11th time in 2016, his production declined and Detroit’s rate of success did as well.
The Tigers made bold moves in the offseason in a quest to be relevant with Cabrera serving as a draw to bring fans to the ballpark and to hit about one ball per game into the outfield grass with savvy swings after crushing baseballs with incredible force earlier in his career.
A top prospect in the minors, Cabrera made his big league debut in June 2003. He announced his presence to the whole baseball world that October.
Brushed back by a couple of heaters from Yankee ace Roger Clemens, Cabrera came back to launch a home run off the Rocket in helping the Marlins win the World Series.
Cabrera is almost twice as old now and is still a kid at heart, recently taking the grounds crew’s three-wheel bicycle for a ride during batting practice.
And, one of the game’s all-time greats can still get a base hit against some of the world’s best pitchers.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/tigers-cabrera-gets-3000th-hit-33rd-player-reach-mark/
| 2022-04-23T18:15:20Z
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Versatile and motivated, Richmond baseball has its sights set on the mountain top
RICHMOND — Last season serves more as a motivator than it does a memory for the Richmond baseball team.
The Blue Devils made it all the way to a Division 3 state semifinal in 2021. But once there, Richmond's potent offense came to a halt in a 5-4 loss to Traverse City St. Francis.
"The last couple years we've able to score a lot of runs in a lot of games," Richmond coach Scott Evans said. "But as my dad always told me when I was younger, 'Good pitching beats good hitting all the time.' We couldn't hit in the quarterfinals."
"We're still a little mad about last year," outfielder Jackson Jones said. "We want to make it to the (state) championship and win that."
"We're definitely coming back for revenge and to win states this year," third baseman Hudson Davenport said. "I think we've got the team to do it."
With the goal crystal clear, the Blue Devils are off to a convincing start. Five of their wins have come by 10 or more runs, including a 13-3 rout of Macomb Lutheran North on Friday.
"We're pretty balanced," Evans said. "Every day you don't know who is going to carry you."
In an 8-0 win over Algonac on April 11, three different players finished with two RBIs (Joe Parinello, Trey Taylor and Denny Salagan). But on Friday it was Davenport and his six RBIs that led the way.
"You just go up and down our lineup and we've got a lot of guys that take pride in what they do," Evans said. "They recognize the tradition of our program and it's up to them to live up to that tradition."
The mood in the dugout was calm after Friday's 10-run victory. If there was any celebration after the final out, it was brief and subtle. The Blue Devils are all business right now.
"Leadership is huge with this team," Davenport said. "If we get that (consistently), we're going to be really special this year."
"We've been playing together our whole lives," Jones said. "We all trust each other."
Part of that trust is playing unselfish baseball. Evans can't stress that enough. Especially this early in the season when clubs work to develop their identities.
"We just have to continue to try to become a selfless team," Evans said. "Where everything is about the team. No one is better than yourself. When you get in the ballgame, try to excel at whatever your role is. Because this is the time of year where roles get set."
A few Blue Devils already have theirs locked in. Parinello is "Mr. Consistent" at the plate, while pitcher Skyler Louwers and first baseman Ryan Nettles have taken considerable steps forward.
"Nettles is another guy offensively that has really come on for us," Evans said. "When given the chance, he really excels and he's really pushing me to find a way to get him in the lineup."
But if this season is to be different than the last, Richmond knows it boils down to what happens on the mound.
"The bottom is line that pitching carries us," Evans said. "Pitching in high school is what wins baseball games. You've got to throw strikes, get ahead of hitters and make defensive plays.
"We know that to be a championship team we've got to be able to win those one-run games, That's where you make your pedigree and where you become a good team — a championship team."
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/04/23/richmond-baseball-has-its-sights-set-mountain-top/7420204001/
| 2022-04-23T18:54:14Z
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Explosion at illegal oil refinery in Nigeria kills over 50
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — More than 50 people have been killed and many wounded in southeast Nigeria in an explosion that rocked an illegal oil refinery, state officials and the police said Saturday.
The death toll may be more than 100, according to a report in the Lagos-based Punch newspaper. The fire is reported to have spread to nearby properties.
The fire broke out on Friday night and quickly spread to two fuel storage areas located at the illegal crude oil refinery causing the complex to be “engulfed by fire which spread rapidly” within the area, said Declan Emelumba, Imo State Commissioner for Information.
The immediate cause of the explosion and the extent of the deaths, injuries and damage are being investigated, said Emelumba.
“A lot of people died. The people who died are all illegal operators,” said Michael Abattam, spokesman of the Imo State Police Command. The Imo state government is also looking for the owner of the refinery where the explosion occurred and have declared him a wanted individual, an official said.
Illegal refineries are common in Nigeria, where shady business operators often avoid regulations and taxes by setting up refineries in remote areas, out of sight of authorities.
The practice is so widespread that is it affecting Nigeria’s crude oil production, in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of crude oil but it has very few refineries and as a result most gasoline and other fuels are imported.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/explosion-illegal-oil-refinery-nigeria-kills-over-50/
| 2022-04-23T20:38:51Z
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‘Free gift for you’ text message is latest scam going around, BBB says
(Gray News) - Every few months, a new scam pops up that seems to be everywhere, and the Better Business Bureau says that is the case this month.
The BBB Scam Tracker has received numerous reports of a text message scam that attempts to trick people with the promise of a “free gift.”
The scam starts with you receiving a text message that says something like this: “Your bill is paid for March. Thanks, here’s a little gift for you.” This message is followed by a link to an unfamiliar website.
The text doesn’t specify what bill you paid, what company the message is coming from, or what the total amount was. The BBB says the message may be a group text sent to a dozen or more other people, none of whom are in your contacts list.
The text isn’t from a real company. The goal is to get your personal information, which puts you at risk for identity theft.
In some versions of the scam, you may be directed to a website asking you to “confirm your identity,” so you can receive the gift. Scammers may also ask for your credit card information, claiming you need to pay a few dollars to ship the “free” gift, according to the BBB.
Officials with the BBB advise consumers to not click on links from strangers. Additionally, be wary of suspicious links forwarded to you by friends too. Even well-meaning friends may forward suspicious links without realizing they’ve been scammed.
Scammers often use links along with either an exciting offer or a threat as part of a phishing scam.
If you think the message came from a company you do business with, call them directly before you click on any links. And the BBB says to keep in mind that businesses need your permission to send you text messages.
Furthermore, use good judgment. BBB representatives say scammers love to trick people with offers that are too good to be true.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/free-gift-you-text-message-is-latest-scam-going-around-bbb-says/
| 2022-04-23T20:38:58Z
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Michigan GOP picks candidates with Trump clout on the line
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Republicans were meeting Saturday to pick candidates for statewide races that former President Donald Trump has sought to sway while flirting with another run for the White House.
About 2,000 party delegates cast ballots in an initial round of voting at a convention center in downtown Grand Rapids. The event is a test of Trump’s clout in closely watched contests for attorney general and secretary of state — Michigan’s top law enforcement and elections jobs, which are currently held by Democrats.
Trump backed his allies Matthew DePerno for attorney general and Kristina Karamo for secretary of state, even holding a rally for them weeks ago. The political newcomers support his false claims about his 2020 loss in the swing state.
Karamo, a community college instructor, won a three-person race. DePerno, a lawyer, also fared well but was just shy of the majority needed in a three-person field, prompting a second round of voting to begin.
The winners of the “endorsement” convention should have a clear path to being officially nominated at a second convention in August and facing Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in November.
Trump has said his preferred candidates would not let Michigan be “stolen” in the next presidential election. He lost the state by 154,000 votes to Joe Biden. Trump’s slate has drawn criticism, however, within a wing of the GOP that views the candidates as unelectable in the fall and is frustrated that state party’s leaders have openly backed them rather than be neutral.
DePerno’s main rival for the nomination was Tom Leonard, a former legislative leader and the party’s 2018 nominee whom Trump later nominated for U.S. attorney in western Michigan. State Rep. Ryan Berman, who finished third, urged his supporters to back Leonard in the runoff between Leonard and DePerno.
Earlier, Bernadette Smith, one of the party’s vice chairs, told the crowd that DePerno “is the only candidate who will fight for election integrity.” As DePerno’s supporters walked to the front of the hall to demonstrate their support, a video played of Trump touting DePerno and calling Leonard a “RINO” — or Republican in name only.
DePerno unsuccessfully sued after human error led rural Antrim County to erroneously show a local victory for Biden over Trump. It was quickly corrected but was used to spread misinformation about voting equipment.
DePerno was in “the field working when no one else was,” Smith said.
Republican U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman urged delegates to support Leonard.
“Mark my words: Democrats are motivated and we will only win if we put our best candidates forward,” he said. “I truly believe he’s the only candidate in this race with integrity, grit, determination and the skills to not only win in November but to perform the duties of attorney general on day one.”
In the secretary of state’s race, Karamo defeated state Rep. Beau LaFave and Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry after securing about two-thirds of the vote.
In a sign of how pervasive election falsehoods have become, the party used machines to tabulate votes but, in a change, also hand-counted the ballots in a compromise with activists.
Nominees for Michigan’s statewide races are chosen at party conventions except in gubernatorial and U.S. Senate primaries. The midterm election climate is expected to favor Republicans, but incumbent attorney generals and secretaries of state rarely lose.
___
Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/michigan-gop-picks-candidates-with-trump-clout-line/
| 2022-04-23T20:39:07Z
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Police ID Maryland man shot in incident at Peruvian ambassador’s home
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gordon Casey, a 19-year-old from Germantown, Maryland, was identified by the Metropolitan Police Department on Saturday as the man who was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service officers this past week at the residence of Peru’s ambassador to the United States.
Police said the diplomat and his family were inside the home in the Forest Hills neighborhood of northwest Washington when they heard several windows being smashed Wednesday morning and called the Secret Service.
Officers responding to the call for a burglary in progress encountered a man they said was armed with a metal stake in the rear yard.
District of Columbia Police Chief Robert Contee said officers had used a Taser to try to detain the man, but “those weapons appear to not have any effect on the person.”
Police said the officers “gave multiple commands to the suspect to drop the weapon.” When he didn’t, two officers fired their guns, striking and killing Casey. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators have not revealed any details about a potential motive. Earlier in the week, Contee said police were still trying to learn why the man was at the ambassador’s home and why he was smashing the windows.
Several windows and doors around the large property had been shattered, he said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/police-id-maryland-man-shot-incident-peruvian-ambassadors-home/
| 2022-04-23T20:39:13Z
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Saving lives off the clock: Nurse saves baby from choking at restaurant
ROCHESTER Minn. (WCCO) - A nurse turned into an unlikely hero off the clock at a Minnesota restaurant.
Nurse Brad Burt was having lunch earlier this month when he was alerted to an infant who was choking.
“We had just got done finishing paying up and about to leave when we heard someone calling for a nurse or a doctor,” Burt said.
And Burt said he sprang into action to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
“They were looking around for someone to step up. Thankfully, I was there to be able to do that. Otherwise, I don’t know if anyone else would’ve had the skills,” Burt said.
Burt is currently working with children at the Mayo Clinic and said this is a reminder of the importance of people learning first aid or becoming CPR certified.
“The area here is very lucky to have a lot of health care professionals, but choking and needing CPR can happen anywhere. So, it’s very important to be learning these skills,” Burt said.
Copyright 2022 WCCO via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/saving-lives-off-clock-nurse-saves-baby-choking-restaurant/
| 2022-04-23T20:39:20Z
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Warm weather continues this weekend as rain inches our way.
Temperatures this weekend will be above average
Published: Apr. 23, 2022 at 4:17 PM EDT|Updated: 20 minutes ago
Things are quickly heating up out there as we start the weekend. Highs today will reach into the 80s today, and some of us might be near 90 degrees. We’re going to be seeing some clouds roll in overnight as temperatures drop into the mid-50s.
Tomorrow is looking to be much of the same! We’re looking at temperatures in the mid-80s again with sunny skies, so it’ll be another great day to go outside!
This persistent weather pattern will continue into Monday evening. We will see a cold front approaching overnight and into Tuesday that will drop temperatures by about 20 degrees, bringing rain along with it.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/warm-weather-continues-this-weekend-rain-inches-our-way/
| 2022-04-23T20:39:27Z
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Man charged with hiding corpse nearly 40 years after killing, authorities say
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) - A Wisconsin man has been charged with hiding a corpse in a murder case in which the victim’s remains weren’t found for nearly four decades.
This week, investigators said 82-year-old John C. Andrews was officially charged with hiding a corpse.
Andrews was convicted of murdering Starkie Swenson nearly 30 years ago, but initially, his body was not located.
Calumet County District Attorney Nathan Haberman said Swenson’s remains were found in September 2021. At that time, forensic anthropologist Dr. Jordan Karsten concluded the body was placed there either at the time of death or shortly after – dating back to 1983.
“My understanding of the law is that the statute of limitations on this class of felony is six years, so from 1983 to 2022 is far more than that. So, there’s a very real, in my opinion, statute of limitations problem,” defense attorney Jonas Bendereck said.
However, the District Attorney’s office made it clear the charge wasn’t for moving a corpse.
“There’s not an allegation that’s in the criminal complaint about him moving the body. That’s simply not something that we have evidence about, nor that we are charging him with. The charges in the case are hiding a corpse, and part of the definition of hiding is keeping the location of the corpse unknown,” Haberman said.
The charge stems from an interaction Andrews allegedly had with investigators in June 2021.
According to the criminal complaint, he was asked to help locate Swenson and refused, stating that he’d never seen or spoken to Swenson.
Swenson’s remains were finally discovered last year, which is why the hiding of a corpse is said to have happened in that timeframe.
“Law enforcement continued to investigate what happened and continued to investigate where the remains of Starkie Swenson were and, in doing so, they asked Mr. Andrews for some assistance, because he was the only one who would know, according to them,” Haberman said.
Authorities said the statute of limitations issue remains in question as arguments continue.
Copyright 2022 WLUK via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/man-charged-with-hiding-corpse-nearly-40-years-after-killing-authorities-say/
| 2022-04-23T22:57:33Z
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Split verdict in first-ever Air Force general military trial
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AP) — An Air Force major general in Ohio has been convicted by a military judge of one of three specifications of abusive sexual contact in the first-ever military trial of an Air Force general.
The charge faced by Maj. Gen. William Cooley during the weeklong court-martial at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio had three specifications, one alleging a forcible kiss and two alleging forcible touching in 2018. Cooley was convicted Saturday of the forcible kissing specification but acquitted of the other two.
Officials said the verdict marks the first court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the Air Force’s 75-year history.
A former commander of Air Force Research Laboratory, Cooley was charged with abusive sexual contact in an encounter with a woman who gave him a ride after a backyard barbecue in New Mexico nearly four years ago. Officials said the woman is a civilian who is not a Department of Defense employee.
Cooley was to be sentenced Monday morning and could face as much as seven years in jail as well as loss of rank, pay and benefits.
Cooley had the option of a trial by court member jurors or by military judge, and chose to have the case heard by the judge.
“Today marks the first time an Air Force general officer has been held responsible for his heinous actions,” the woman’s attorney, Ryan Guilds, said in a statement, the Dayton Daily News reported. “... Hopefully, this will not be as difficult for the next survivor.”
Cooley was fired from his research laboratory position in January 2020 after an Air Force investigation and has worked in an administrative job since then. A message seeking comment was left for his attorney Saturday.
“This case clearly demonstrates the commitment of Air Force leaders to fully investigate the facts and hold Airmen of any rank accountable for their actions when they fail to uphold Air Force standards,” Col. Eric Mejia, staff judge advocate for Air Force Materiel Command, said in a statement.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/split-verdict-first-ever-air-force-general-military-trial/
| 2022-04-23T22:57:39Z
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2 plead guilty in ‘We Build The Wall’ fraudulent fundraiser
NEW YORK (AP) — The co-founder of the “We Build The Wall” project aimed at raising money for a border wall pleaded guilty Thursday to charges in a case that once included former President Donald Trump’s adviser Steve Bannon.
Brian Kolfage admitted to pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars while promising all donations would pay for the wall. His plea came a month before a trial in a case that began in dramatic fashion in August 2020, when Bannon was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and arrested on allegations that he and three others ripped off donors trying to fund a southern border wall.
Bannon was pardoned by Trump just before he left office last year. Bannon had pleaded not guilty to charges he pocketed over $1 million, using some of the money to secretly pay Kolfage, a 39-year-old Air Force veteran who lost both legs in a mortar attack in Iraq.
A guilty plea Thursday by codefendant financier Andrew Badolato, 57, in the case during the same remotely conducted electronic hearing before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan meant that only one of the four defendants originally charged might go to trial in mid-May.
Plea agreements between the government and Kolfage and Badolato specified the defendants will not challenge sentences within an agreed-to guidelines range. For Kolfage, that range was four to five years. For Badolato, it was roughly 3 1/2 years to four years. Sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 6.
Kolfage, of Miramar Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and tax charges brought originally in Florida. Badolato, of Sarasota, Florida, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Without the plea deal, Kolfage could have faced up to 46 years in prison while Badolato faced a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.
The organizers of the “We Build The Wall” group raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors as they repeatedly pledged that every dollar would be used for the project.
Asked to describe his crimes by the judge, Kolfage said the group had originally intended for all the raised money to be used to build a wall, but it “soon became apparent” that the plan to donate the money to the U.S. government for the wall’s construction was not possible.
At that point, he said, they “induced donors to opt in to the new project” to build a border wall on private land by falsely representing that none of the donations would be spent on salaries or compensation to the fundraisers.
“I knew what I was doing was wrong and a crime,” he said.
After he spoke, Torres asked questions, including whether he had promised the public that “100 percent” of the money would go toward building the wall.
“That is correct,” he answered.
“Despite your promise, you made an agreement with others to keep a large sum of money for yourself,” the judge said.
“That is correct,” Kolfage answered.
Badolato said he engaged in the conspiracy from 2018 to 2020, agreeing to assure donors that all the money would go toward building the wall when he knew the statements were false.
“I knew this was wrong and I’m terribly, terribly sorry for what I did and I humbly beg the court for mercy,” he said.
When the judge asked Badolato if he was aware that Kolfage was going to get money from donations, he said: “Yes I did and I helped facilitate it.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos said evidence against the men at trial would have included testimony from donors, along with transaction records following donations into the defendants’ bank accounts, emails and text records, along with public statements made by the coconspirators that were false.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/22/2-plead-guilty-we-build-wall-fraudulent-fundraiser/
| 2022-04-23T23:16:41Z
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Property search leads to police finding 5 bodies inside a home, authorities say
DULUTH, Minn. (KBJR/Gray News) - Police in Minnesota are continuing their investigation after officers found several people killed inside a home on Wednesday.
KBJR reports the Duluth Police Department said a welfare call involving a person a nearby agency was searching for led them to a residence near Lake Superior.
Officers arrived at the home in the afternoon and said they were informed that the person of interest was inside the house with access to weapons.
Due to the possibility of the person being armed, police said they performed a methodical search before they entered the home.
Officers then found five bodies once inside the house, including the person they were first alerted about.
Duluth police said everyone in the home was related but they did not immediately release how they all died with their investigation ongoing.
Copyright 2022 KBJR via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/22/property-search-leads-police-finding-5-bodies-inside-home-authorities-say/
| 2022-04-23T23:16:48Z
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Report: Vaccinations could have prevented 60% of COVID deaths
Published: Apr. 21, 2022 at 8:37 PM EDT|Updated: Apr. 21, 2022 at 8:39 PM EDT
(CNN) - A recent report suggests COVID-19 vaccinations could have prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S.
On Thursday, the Kaiser Family Foundation released an analysis on preventable deaths due to the coronavirus.
Researchers suggested the vaccine could have saved at least 234,000 lives between June 2021 and March 2022, about 60% of the COVID deaths among adults during that same time period.
The initial vaccine series became widely available in the U.S last year, and the report found booster shots could have potentially prevented even more deaths.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/22/report-vaccinations-could-have-prevented-around-60-covid-deaths/
| 2022-04-23T23:16:56Z
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(CNN) -- The Biden administration will renew its push with lawmakers to secure Covid-19 funding next week when Congress returns from recess, a White House official told CNN, following inaction from the Senate on a $10 billion funding package before the two-week Easter break.
Also on top of the agenda: more aid for Ukraine. President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the US will send an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine as the Russian invasion soon enters its third month in what US officials warn could be a potentially bloody new phase.
"As Congress returns from recess, the Administration will be focused on working with lawmakers to secure funds to keep aid flowing to the Ukrainian people, and continue protecting the American people from Covid-19," the official said.
The official added, "Congressional inaction is already taking its toll -- from uninsured Americans suddenly having to foot the bill for tests, treatments and vaccines, to states receiving fewer monoclonal antibodies to keep people out the hospital. Further inaction is unacceptable, and Congress must promptly provide us the funds we urgently need to protect the American people and abroad."
The Biden administration has been sounding the alarm for weeks that additional funding is needed to continue the federal Covid-19 response, even as it seeks a return to "normal" with many pandemic-era restrictions lifting.
Concerns raised by officials include:
A possible lack of adequate resources to purchase enough booster shots for all Americans if additional booster shots are authorized
The possibility that monoclonal antibody treatments run out as soon as next month
A scaled-back purchase of AstraZeneca's preventative treatment
Insufficient testing capacity and supply going forward
Impacts to research and development
Impasse over Covid aid
The Biden administration requested $22.5 billion in supplemental Covid-19 relief funding last month in a massive government funding package, but it was stripped from the bill. It included funding for testing, treatments, therapeutics and preventing future outbreaks. Negotiators were able to reach an agreement on a scaled-back $10 billion package, but Congress left Washington earlier this month without passing that bipartisan bill amid a disagreement over the Title 42 immigration policy -- a pandemic-era rule that allowed migrants to be returned immediately to their home countries citing a public health emergency.
The impasse before the Easter break came as Republicans demanded a vote on an immigration amendment to restore Title 42. Democrats objected, criticizing Republicans for what they called an eleventh-hour ask in a negotiation they had thought was final.
After the Biden administration announced that it planned to end Title 42 in May, Republicans and Democrats alike blasted the decision.
Still, Democratic leaders said a vote then on an amendment would have violated the agreement they thought they'd struck with Republicans. While a number of Democrats had said they would support standalone legislation reinstating Title 42 as long as a public health emergency exists in other parts of the government, even members who had opposed Biden's action said they didn't want to have the debate tied to Covid funding.
"We had a bipartisan agreement and unfortunately, because of an extraneous issue, we aren't going to be able to get the 10 Republican votes we need to pass it," Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said at the time, referring to the procedural vote threshold to move bills forward in the Senate.
The inaction before the break marked the second time a tentative deal on a Covid relief package had been scuttled in just over a month. In March, a $15.6 billion package that had been negotiated by House and Senate leaders collapsed when a group of House Democrats revolted against it because of how it was paid for.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/biden-administration-to-renew-covid-19-funding-push-when-congress-returns-next-week/article_c0564b3c-c355-11ec-94a1-a357a4819bc1.html
| 2022-04-23T23:36:27Z
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(CNN) -- A US Air Force general officer was found guilty of abusive sexual contact in military court in Ohio on Saturday, marking the first-ever court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the history of the military branch, the Air Force said in a statement.
Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley was found guilty on one of three specifications of sexual assault connected to a 2018 incident in New Mexico, according to the Air Force release. A senior military judge found he was guilty of "the first specification, 'kissing (the victim) on the lips and tongue, with an intent to gratify his sexual desire,'" the statement said. The judge found Cooley not guilty of the two other specifications.
Cooley had pleaded not guilty.
According to the Air Force statement, the unnamed victim said in court testimony that "Cooley asked for a ride after a backyard day-long social event."
It continued: "During the short ride she said he told her that he fantasized about having sex with her. She alleged he pressed her up against the driver's side window, forcibly kissed and groped her through her clothes."
The Air Force does not name sexual assault victims, but the victim consented to allow news organizations to disclose her relationship to Cooley without naming her.
The victim's attorney, Ryan Guilds, praised the court-martial process as "fair" and commended his client's bravery through the trial.
"It is very hard to be a survivor in a criminal case," Guilds said in a statement. "That is one of the many reasons you see so few of these cases go to court-martial."
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/court-martial-results-in-first-conviction-of-general-officer-in-air-force-history/article_b1b55ce2-c343-11ec-a230-33504b1c63b1.html
| 2022-04-23T23:36:34Z
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/hawaii-s-largest-stem-event-returns-to-oahu/article_8a0cee8c-c350-11ec-a4dd-8f394fb1d72a.html
| 2022-04-23T23:36:40Z
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A memorial is planned for a 38-year-old Makaha mother who was beaten to death by her 19-year-old son.
Michelle McPeek's neighbors, family, friends and community leaders are planning a sunset vigil near where the woman died on Monday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m.
The woman described as humble and loving will be remembered through a prayer service, music and shared memories from those who knew her.
"She always was so friendly, always loving other people. Always wanting to have smiles on her face and making her kids happy. That's the way she would want to be remembered," Kuulei Lincoln, Michelle's best friend of 15 years, told KITV4.
Michelle's oldest son, Joshua McPeek is charged with second-degree murder in her death.
"She always tried her best to make them happy, or be there for them like a mother would," Lincoln explained. "She put him in youth challenge to try and help him get him on track. He graduated from youth challenge. And then, this is what happens...it's just heart wrenching and it's so heartbreaking."
Senator Maile Shimabukuro, Representative Cedric Gates and Honolulu Police officers are expected to attend the vigil in support of their community.
The vigil will be located at the second entrance to Upena Street.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/memorial-planned-for-makaha-mother-beaten-to-death-by-19-year-old-son/article_68763388-c354-11ec-90b1-bf803845bf0e.html
| 2022-04-23T23:36:46Z
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/south-king-street-traffic-slow-due-to-equipment-installation-at-straub-medical-center/article_9f6dcb42-c34c-11ec-96f8-abfc6e72efbc.html
| 2022-04-23T23:36:52Z
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Dozens of nurses turned out Saturday morning in a rally to draw attention to patient safety concerns at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital.
Citing physical and emotional burnout and staff shortages, healthcare professionals fear mistakes may put their patients in danger.
“Being forced to work in less than ideal circumstances and knowing you are potentially endangering a patient’s life is unsettling for nurses dedicated to upholding high standards for their profession,” says Daniel Ross, president of the Hawaii Nurses' Association, representing approximately 80 nurses.
This is the second informational picket held by the nurses at Queen's Health Hawaii Community Hospital. The nurses are in the midst of contract negotiations over what they claim as a significant wage gap between them and their Oahu counterparts.
“Our biggest issue is the lack of fairness and equality. Queen’s is refusing to compensate the North Hawai‘i Community Hospital nurses the same as the Queen’s nurses on Oahu, unlike other healthcare providers such as Hawai‘i Pacific Health and Kaiser Permanente,” says Ross.
They are scheduled to return to the bargaining table for a mediation session next Thursday, April 28 to discuss a new contract which ended on April 1.
“There is a link between how nurses are treated and the quality of patient care. When Queen’s refuses to compensate the Waimea nurses fairly, the hospital has difficulty recruiting and retaining nursing staff."
In a statement, The Queen's Health System writes:
“At Queen’s, we respect our nurses and are grateful for the care they provide to our patients, families, and communities. We are committed to working with them to reach a positive outcome for all parties. Our pledge throughout these negotiations has been to bargain in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable agreement that provides wage increases and other improvements that support our nurses and their profession.
We continue to have constructive conversations with HNA and have taken great care to listen and consider every proposal that has been submitted by the union’s bargaining team.
The Queen’s Health System respects our nurses’ right to participate in lawful protected activities and looks forward to reengaging in constructive, good-faith bargaining in order to reach an agreement that is fair and competitive for our nurses and sustainable for Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital. With the help of mediation, we hope we can avoid further delay and put improvements in place that build upon our investment in nursing.
At our next meeting with HNA, we will be joined by a federal mediator. Consistent with our Mission, patients will continue to remain our priority during HNA’s informational picket, and there will be no impact to our operations.”
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/waimea-hospital-nurses-demand-comparable-pay-to-oahu-counterparts/article_5b0f7742-c348-11ec-8a8e-c74b09a3130a.html
| 2022-04-23T23:36:58Z
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CHEYENNE — From algae farming to producing a sort of artificial limestone, ideas for reducing greenhouse gas in the atmosphere are getting a funding boost from famed entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The Tesla electric vehicle and SpaceX rocket company developer is bankrolling a $100 million XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition for the most promising ways to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by grabbing the gas right out of the air.
The 15 early-phase “milestone round” winners were announced Friday. Each will get $1 million, a welcome boost for the teams to carry on with and scale up their work.
“What we’ve said is you haven’t given us a million bucks; what you’ve done is catalyzed investment in this technology,” said Mike Kelland, CEO of Planetary Technologies, a milestone winner that seeks to increase the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide by controlling the rising acidity of seawater.
The milestone winners aren’t necessarily ahead or favored for the $80 million in final prize money that will be awarded in three years. Until Dec. 1, 2023, anyone can still jump in the contest, which was announced a year ago, and potentially get a share of that money.
The final winning team or teams will need to show they can remove 1,100 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, show how much it would cost to remove up to 1.1 million tons per year and show a path to removing billions of tons of carbon dioxide per year.
A third party — neither the participants nor XPRIZE — will independently validate the work submitted for the grand prize to be announced on April 20, 2025.
XPRIZE announced $5 million in carbon removal project awards to university student teams last fall. The milestone winners announced Friday propose a variety of ways to remove carbon dioxide through artificial means and by helping nature do much of the work herself.
Planetary Technologies isn’t looking up into the sky but down in the ocean to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada-based company proposes to use antacids produced from the leftovers of metal mining to make the ocean more able to absorb the greenhouse gas.
“If we kind of ignore the ocean — say we’re trying to do this on land, we’re trying to store it in the ground — we’re just not going to make it,” Kelland said. “That’s sort of the opinion of a lot of these scientists working in this field.”
Durham, North Carolina-based 8 Rivers Capital, sees ocean chemistry as a model to replicate. The winning company seeks to trap atmospheric carbon dioxide in calcium carbonate crystals, similar to how the gas dissolved in the ocean helps form seashells and limestone.
Company spokesperson Adam Goff described the process as “poetic” in a way.
“The calcium cycle is how the earth regulates its CO2 over millions of years. We’re sort of speeding up that natural cycle,” Goff said.
Global Algae, based in Santee, California, won with a plan to cultivate algae to help restore rain forests, which capture huge volumes of carbon dioxide. Algae can be a more efficient and more profitable alternative to the cattle ranching and soy and palm oil crops currently on cleared rain forest land, said Mark Hazlebeck, a principal of the family-owned company.
“We’re actually creating more oil and protein while we’re reforesting at the same time,” Hazlebeck said.
The prize announcement comes as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns in ever-starker terms of the threat of rising global temperatures, including worsening heat, fires, storms and droughts.
“We still need more — more and deeper emissions cuts, and more reliable, validated carbon removal solutions. That’s why we launched this prize,” said Marcius Extavour, chief scientist at XPRIZE.
XPRIZE is a technology promotion organization known in part for a contest that encouraged development of a privately funded, reusable spacecraft in 2004. Last year, two teams that showed they could profitably trap carbon dioxide from smokestacks in concrete split a $15 million XPRIZE award.
“Even if we stopped CO2 production, that’s probably still not enough,” XPRIZE founder and executive chairman Peter Diamandis said in a 2021 chat with Musk posted on the XPRIZE website. “We do need mechanisms for extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere and the oceans that don’t exist right now.”
The risk of climate disaster could become “dire” if the trend of higher greenhouse gas concentrations continues alongside human population growth and industrialization, Musk replied.
“It’s probably an unwise experiment to run,” Musk said. “Right now, we’ve only got one planet. Even if 0.1% chance of disaster, why run that risk? It’s crazy.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/algae-a-winner-in-elon-musk-funded-greenhouse-gas-contest/article_583bc1d6-a0c9-5e07-84a1-9550269dab77.html
| 2022-04-23T23:47:30Z
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Dollar Tree manager loses job after controversial ‘help wanted’ sign goes viral
BREMEN, Ind. (WNDU/Gray News) - A Dollar Tree store in Indiana has come under fire after its manager at the time posted a “help wanted” sign that some were calling controversial and discriminatory.
WNDU reports a store manager recently put up a hiring sign after two young employees had quit.
The handwritten sign read:
“I apologize for us closing AGAIN. My 2 new cashiers quit because I said their boyfriends couldn’t stand here for their entire shift. Don’t hire Gen Z’s. They don’t know what work actually means. NOW HIRING! *Baby Boomers ONLY, thanks!”
The Pew Research Center defines Generation Z as any person born between 1997 and 2012 and the baby-boomer generation includes any person born between 1946 and 1964.
The sign has since been removed, but it was there long enough for potential customers to share photos and gain attention on social media.
“You’re going to get people from every group who are lazy and work hard. I’m sure when baby boomers were young, they were probably also called lazy, and it just keeps going on from generation to generation,” said frequent Dollar Tree customer Lindsay Berger.
Dollar Tree was informed of the manager’s sign and released the following statement:
“We are aware that an unauthorized sign was posted at our store for a brief period of time. The handwritten message was absolutely not approved by or condoned by our company.”
Additionally, Dollar Tree representatives said the manager was no longer employed by the company.
Federal law prevents employment discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, religion, color and veteran status.
Copyright 2022 WNDU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/23/dollar-tree-manager-loses-job-after-controversial-help-wanted-sign-goes-viral/
| 2022-04-24T01:02:52Z
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Former Sen. Orrin Hatch dies at 88
Published: Apr. 23, 2022 at 8:58 PM EDT|Updated: moments ago
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former Republican Utah U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch has died at 88. He was known for working across party lines.
This story will be updated.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/former-sen-orrin-hatch-dies-88/
| 2022-04-24T01:02:59Z
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‘This is my year’: 75-year-old woman earns college degree after 57-year gap
RALEIGH, N.C. (WRAL) - It’s never too late to follow your dreams. And a 75-year-old grandmother in North Carolina has a degree to prove it.
At Shaw University, Rebecca Inge is completing something she said she first started back in 1965.
That’s when Inge hopped on a train, leaving her home in Sanford, Florida, to pursue a college degree in Raleigh.
“I always dreamed of going to med school because I was sick a lot as a child. I dreamed of being a surgeon,” Inge said.
However, job opportunities, marriage, and then in 1968, the birth of her daughter put college on the back burner.
“Basically, she put her life on hold so that I could finish my 21 years, all of my education,” said Inge’s daughter Marisa Ratliff Dunston.
When Inge’s husband passed away in 2015, she decided to return to the Shaw campus to finish what she started by re-enrolling.
Inge said the administration department told her that they might not have her records from 1965, and she told them to find them as she was returning.
Inge’s journey took her around the world but brought her back to Wake County with her daughter’s family.
“You got to live until you die. So, why not be happy doing something that makes you happy and get involved?” Inge said.
The university indeed found her records, and this year Inge’s graduation ceremony is set for May 8.
Copyright 2022 WRAL via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/this-is-my-year-75-year-old-woman-earns-college-degree-after-57-year-gap/
| 2022-04-24T01:03:05Z
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Utah Democrats choose independent as candidate for US Senate
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Democrats pulling hard to defeat Republican Sen. Mike Lee took the unusual step Saturday of spurning a party hopeful to instead get behind an independent: former presidential candidate Evan McMullin.
Democrats were swayed by calls from prominent members who said McMullin, a conservative who captured a significant share of the vote in Utah in 2016, was the best chance to beat Lee in the deeply conservative state that hasn’t elected a Democratic U.S. senator for more than 50 years.
“I want to represent you. I’m committed to that. I will maintain my independence,” McMullin told Democratic delegates.
Lee also faced two GOP challengers at his party’s nominating conventions. He handily won in front of the right-leaning crowd with over 70% of the vote. But those candidates will still appear on the primary ballot because they used the state’s other path to the primary ballot and gathered signatures.
Former state lawmaker Becky Edwards garnered about 12% of the vote Saturday. Former gubernatorial deputy chief of staff Ally Isom came in third.
Lee’s relationship with former president Donald Trump has been front and center since CNN reported on text messages showing that the senator was involved in early efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, though Lee later pivoted and voted to confirm the election results after no widespread fraud emerged.
“I did my job,” Lee said about the messages. “I did my job the way that I’ve always promised I would go about doing my job.”
McMullin is a former CIA officer ran for president in 2016 and made inroads in the deeply conservative state where where many GOP voters had reservations about then-candidate Trump. Lee himself cast a protest vote for McMullin, though he later became as staunch Trump ally, and the former president has endorsed him.
A Democrat ran for the nomination, Kael Weston, but the pro-McMullin camp ultimately won. It included a prominent Democrats like former Congressman Ben McAdams.
“I know Evan. I trust Evan,” former Congressman Ben McAdams told delegates during the contentious debate, framing McMullin as the best possible chance to unseat Lee.
Republican Party Chair Carson Jorgensen took aim at the Democrats’ decision, arguing it showed a weakness in the other party’s platform. “We as Republicans, now’s our time to shine,” he said. “I don’t know if everyone quite understands the gravity of this.”
Also Saturday, moderate Republican Congressman John Curtis was forced into a primary, coming in second in a crowded field that included a challenger who brought in longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone. The effort didn’t carry candidate Jason Preston beyond the first round of voting, however.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/utah-democrats-choose-independent-candidate-us-senate/
| 2022-04-24T01:03:11Z
|
Country
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|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/arellano-joshua-v/article_23279e9d-f3bd-5b28-afe8-6a20c45058b2.html
| 2022-04-24T02:19:43Z
|
Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/baker-john-c/article_fa19b2c6-eb94-525a-a72b-396e2af608ac.html
| 2022-04-24T02:19:49Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.
* 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 Mary Grunden as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Mary Ann Grunden 1933-2022 Mary Ann Grunden, 88, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2022 at Davis Hospice Center. Mary Ann was born December 18, 1933 in Cheyenne, a daughter of the late Roy and Bessie (Gibbs) Palmer. Mary Ann enjoyed caring for her home and her family. She served as a grandmother to all of her family, including children in her community and was truly more than a babysitter. She volunteered with the Shriners Hospitals for Children and enjoying making gifts to lift the spirts of those who were hospitalized. She was also a member of the Burns Chapter #47, Order of Eastern Star. She loved to make crafts, but her greatest joy was taking care of children and treating them as their own. Mary Ann is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jean Grunden; daughter-in-law, Barbara Ann Grunden; grandsons, Eric (Nicole) Grunden and Donald (Katy) Grunden; granddaughter, Angela (Chris) Nichols: and great-grandchildren, Jack, Chase, Mycah, Rhett, Knox and Maisie. She is also survived by extended family members, Tim and Cheri Pollom with Astrid, Aubrie, Kylie and Garrett, Kim and David Black, Rhonda, Mike and Carson DeLeeuw, Courtney and Erik Swendseid with Addi and Roxie, Hannah DeLeeuw, Deb Schultz, Jarvis Schultz and Niki Tottingham, Dana Schultz, and Carter Schultz and Sierra Johnson. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry Grunden; and sons, Roy and Dennis Grunden. A memorial service will be celebrated on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lakeview Chapel at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home with a reception for family to follow in the Schrader Reception Center. 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 Mary Grunden as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/grunden-mary-ann/article_4c915a1b-5687-54bf-b911-96e6bf7d22a3.html
| 2022-04-24T02:19:55Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.
* 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 send flowers to the family of Harry Huson, please visit Tribute Store.
Harry Marshall Huson 1928-2022 Harry Marshall Huson, 93, passed away April 13, 2022, in Casper, Wyoming, with his daughters by his side. He was born in Sheridan on October 5, 1928, to Mae Chase and Harry H. Huson. He was a lifelong member of Newcastle Masonic Lodge #13, Sheridan Scottish Rite, Kalif Shrine of Sheridan, and Korein Shrine of Cheyenne. He was also a Meals on Wheels volunteer for over 35 years. He is survived by a brother, Russell (Joyce) of Buffalo; two daughters, Marsha (Jim) Milek and Karen Kastner of Casper; five grandchildren, Doug (Anna) and Janet (Matt Hahn) Milek, Chris (Natasha), Rich (Lauren) Kastner, and Mandy (Wes) Roberts; and 12 great-grandchildren. Harry was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 59 years Vera; brother Ed Huson; daughter and son-in law Cindy and Don Sutphin; granddaughter Angie Sutphin; grandsons Donnie and Jimmy Sutphin; and great-granddaughter Amelia Roberts. Services will be held at Wiederspahn Radomsky Chapel in Cheyenne, Saturday, April 30, at 10:30 a.m. The service will be lived streamed at www.wrcfuneral.com. Interment will be in Buffalo at the Willow Grove Cemetery.
To send flowers to the family of Harry Huson, please visit Tribute Store.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/huson-harry-marshall/article_bd33a548-0fb2-5b0e-bc6b-14727c504fa0.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:02Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.
* 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 AnnaBelle Lang as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
AnnaBelle M. Lang 1940-2022 AnnaBelle Marie Lang, 82, formerly of Carpenter, WY, passed away April 9, 2022 at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie surrounded by family. AnnaBelle was born March 11, 1940 in Ft. Wayne, IN to Theodore and Leota Beck. During her childhood years, her family moved from Indiana to Colorado and eventually to Willow Springs, MO where she graduated from Willow Springs High School in 1959. A few years after graduation, her family moved to Longmont, CO where she was living when she married Stanley Norman Lang on November 5, 1972. AnnaBelle then moved to the Lang farm in Carpenter until both her and Norman moved to Laramie in November 2013 to be closer to family. While they always missed the wide-open spaces of Carpenter, they made Laramie their home until his death in December, 2020. AnnaBelle was a loving sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. She was always up for an adventure whether that was metal detecting on Sunday afternoons, gold panning in Colorado, or carnival riding with her daughter at Frontier Days. She was the perfect balance of kindness and toughness. She was a polio survivor and suffered from Sturge-Weber syndrome and Parkinson's disease. She always joked that she was tough because she survived polio and grew up with nine brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Vicki (Ryan) Nelson of Laramie; grandchildren Tyler and Molly Nelson of Laramie; siblings, John Beck of Berthoud, CO, Lucille Rich of Blacksburg, VA and Yvonne Hitzfield of Roanoke, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, Harry Beck, Violet Prangley, Margie Lancaster, Mary Crandall, Ruth Flori, David Beck, and Jack Beck. Graveside Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Carpenter Cemetery. Donations in memory of AnnaBelle can be made to the Sturge-Weber Foundation at sturge-weber.org or to the Carpenter Cemetery, Attn: Lorraine Smith, 4696 Road 204, Carpenter, WY 82054. Services are under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home and condolences may be offered at www.schradercares.com.
To plant a tree in memory of AnnaBelle Lang as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/lang-annabelle-m/article_5bd1f2d4-75be-5036-a545-5249984492fd.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:08Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.
* 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, Stephanie 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_a5bb6556-17f5-59d2-8079-42e8feb8cf00.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:14Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.
* 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 Mary Roybal as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Mary Roybal 1941-2022 Mary Roybal, 80, of Cheyenne passed away at home with family by her side. She was born May 17, 1941 in Torrington, Wyoming. Mary was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Jerry A. Roybal, Sr., of Cheyenne; children, Vicky Roybal, Debbie Roybal, and Jerry (Betty) Roybal, Jr., all of Cheyenne; 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Rosie Rich of Denver, Colorado; brother, Bobby (Kathy) Manzanares of Cheyenne; and son-in-law, Danny Barela of Cheyenne. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Georgia Manzanares; two daughters, Jessica Roybal Trujillo and Paula Barela; a grandson, Anthony; five brothers and three sisters. Vigil for the Deceased will be Monday, 7:00 p.m., at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Funeral Liturgy will be Tuesday, 1:00 p.m., at St. Mary's Cathedral followed by the burial of her ashes in Olivet Cemetery.
To plant a tree in memory of Mary Roybal as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/roybal-mary/article_5e7c640a-8fc2-5928-8d9a-9a1e86d33478.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:20Z
|
Paul Richard Zimmerman 1928-2022 Our dearest father and friend, Paul Richard Lewis Zimmerman, left this earth on April 13, 2022, to join the love of his life, Patricia, his wife of 70 years. Born on June 4, 1928, to Paul and Ruth Zimmerman in Meeteetse, Wy, he was the youngest of four children and the only son of an only son. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings. The last born and the last to go. After graduating college, he became a teacher in Rosette, Wy, where he met his love and married on June 2, 1951. Proudly serving 2 years in the Korean War, he returned and became a high school math teacher in Cheyenne, Wy. A foster father of 69 children, 38 years as a teacher and countless years of tutoring and volunteering to cook for high school sports teams, his love of children was obvious. Retirement was filled with countless hobbies including woodworking, coin collecting, reading, crosswords and cribbage with friends. An avid outdoorsman, it was once written that Paul couldn't walk by a puddle without a fish jumping out. Instilling the love of the outdoors, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue the tradition of fishing, boating, hunting and camping. He continued his service to our country by volunteering with Healing Waters and teaching veterans to tie flies. He is survived by five children, Pam Weakland, Debra Risto (Dee), Dianna Espinoza (Joe), Randall Zimmerman, Cynthia Selk (Tony), bonus son Eric Todd (Cindy), who all continue the proliferation of the Zimmerman philosophy with grands, greats and more. Of sound mind to the end, his stories entertained us all. Stern - yes, opinionated - definitely, but caring of others minds and well-being - always. And remember, all who enter here are family. Our country is in mourning, a soldier died today. Services will be held at Holy Trinity Church on April 28, 2022, at 10:30 am, with reception to immediately follow in the reception hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Quilts of Valor, P.O. Box 233, Kersey CO. 80644 or www.qovf.org.
Weather Alert
Weather Alert
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph. * WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and Central Laramie County. * WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight. * 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. &&
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This page displays the most recent milestones from each section. To see more please click "View More..." below each section.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/zimmerman-paul-richard/article_dba8ae9c-561e-577e-9118-4c258a14f113.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:26Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts above 65 mph.
* WHERE...South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills and
Central Laramie County.
* WHEN...Until midnight MDT tonight.
* 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
The weather forecast, from the National Weather Service's Cheyenne office. Via its website on April 23, 2022.
CHEYENNE – Although winter is technically over, Mother Nature has provided another reminder that the calendar does not always hold sway over the weather.
On Saturday throughout southeastern Wyoming, there was an abundance of wind. More even than usual.
Although life in Laramie County largely pressed on as normal, there were some disruptions. There appeared to have been an unusually high number of vehicle crashes on major highways, which themselves were subject to various restrictions related to the automotive-related collisions and to the wind.
To be precise, winds of 72 miles per hour were measured in mid-afternoon by the National Weather Service at its office near the Cheyenne Regional Airport, a meteorologist there said by phone. Peak sustained winds clocked in at about 45 mph, also occurring at around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the weather expert, Tim Trudel.
The area has been experiencing "higher than usual winds for April," Trudel noted. "We just can't get out of it this April."
The good news, at least within the city limits, was that there were no major traffic or other incidents to report, according to Cheyenne Police Department Capt. David Janes. About the only thing of note were a number of false alarms, he said. One could speculate that intrusion alarms may have been triggered by the wind blowing doors or windows open or otherwise falsely triggering alerts.
On Wyoming's interstate highways, things were not quite as calm, based on automated information from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
For those paying close attention, Saturday throughout the daytime saw a bevy of emailed alerts about incidents and restrictions. As daylight gave way to evening, at least some of those situations appeared to have been resolved. (WYDOT and Wyoming Highway Patrol representatives were not available to answer questions, in some instances partly due to it being a weekend.)
Looking ahead, NWS' Trudel noted, things are looking up weather-wise.
Although "it's going to be a slow process," the strong winds "will gradually diminish" to a more typical range on Sunday evening, the meteorologist projected. He expects it will turn warmer in the coming days, with high temperatures expected to be in the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit.
So maybe Mother Nature will decide after all to more closely adhere to the seasonal calendar.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/windy-conditions-lead-to-road-restrictions-amid-crashes/article_ef17a2ab-9ace-599a-8a2c-57548c136646.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:33Z
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SWEETWATER COUNTY -- Eleven streets of Green River’s Rancho Subdivision, south of the Green River and east of Uinta Drive, were named for servicemen who died during the course of their military service in World War II or the Korean War, the Sweetwater County Historical Museum said in a special release on Saturday.
The streets originally bore names that included those of explorers and pioneers such as Ashley, Powell, and Bridger, but in 1952 the Green River Town Council passed an ordinance that changed them to those of servicemen who died while serving their country from 1942 to 1945, plus one soldier who was killed in Korea in 1951.
These men, in alphabetical order, were:
Paul Andrews
Sergeant Paul Andrews, an infantryman in the United States Army, was killed in northern Italy on May 15, 1945, in a vehicle crash. Only a few days before his death, he had written his aunt in Green River, Mrs. Fred Pitchford, about the fighting in the closing days of the European war. In civilian life, he’d worked as a callboy for the Union Pacific Railroad. (Railroad callboys were responsible for ensuring that train crew members were on hand for their regular runs.)
Donovan Astle
2nd Lieutenant Donovan A. Astle, a bomber navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corps, was killed in action on Sept. 3, 1943, during the Italian campaign. His body was found in the waters off the coast of Italy by a fisherman named Emidio Giorgini, who recovered it and brought it ashore. Giorgini later wrote a poignant letter to Astle’s parents in Green River about finding their son, who was interred in an American military cemetery in Italy. Prior to his enlistment, Astle worked as a telegraph operator for the Union Pacific Railroad.
Derrell Barnhart
Private Derrell Perry Barnhart, United States Marine Corps, was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 11, 1945. A rancher and railroad switchman before his enlistment, he graduated high school in Green River in 1938 and married Agnes Bernice Bahan in 1941.
Robert Bramwell
Robert James Bramwell, United States Army, died after a brief illness at the Wyoming General Hospital in Rock Springs on Sept. 17, 1943. He grew up in Green River and was home on furlough at the time of his death at age 40.
Leonard Clark
Private First Class Leonard W. Clark, 24th Infantry Division, was killed by a mortar barrage in Korea on July 13, 1951. He attended high school in Rock Springs and Green River before being inducted into the Army in 1950. Prior to this military service, Clark worked as a mechanic and machinist’s helper at the Union Pacific roundhouse in Green River. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Floyd Hoover
United States Army Air Corps Staff Sergeant Floyd Hoover, a B-17 tail gunner, was killed in action on June 14, 1943, on a bombing raid over Europe. Hoover graduated high school in Green River in 1941, and was “one of the very first Green River boys to leave for intensive training - Floyd left Green River in Sept. 1941 as a member of the Military Police company of the 41st Division. He later transferred to the air corps and served in North Africa and in England.”
Bert Jensen
1st Lieutenant H. Bert Jensen, an Army infantry officer, was killed in action on New Guinea on July 24, 1944. Along with Floyd Hoover, he was among the first men from Green River to enlist during World War II; in fact, he and Hoover left Green River to begin their service together, in Sept. of 1941. In December of 1944, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the American military’s third-highest decoration for valor in combat.
John Logan
Private John E. Logan, United States Army, died in Germany on May 25, 1945, of cerebral hemorrhage. Born in Rock Springs, he was a member of the Green River High School Class of 1942. Valedictorian of his class, he attended the University of Wyoming School of Engineering for one term prior to enlisting in May, 1943.
Norman Nolan
Army Corporal Norman L. Nolan, a graduate of the Green River High School, died in a military hospital on May 4, 1945, as the result of wounds received in combat on Okinawa. He enlisted after studying law at Creighton University and was assigned to an infantry company.
Ernest Pelser
Army Technical Sergeant Ernest Pelser was killed in action near Metz in northeast France on Nov. 2, 1944. A tank driver, he’d been a rail worker in Green River before enlisting.
Howard Schultz
Corporal Harold L. Schultz, U.S. Army, 32, was killed in action in Germany on Feb. 23, 1945. He attended high school in Green River and, at the time of his enlistment with the Corps of Engineers in December of 1942, was employed as a Union Pacific locomotive fireman on the run between Green River and Evanston.
A special display honoring the 11 servicemen can be found on the ground floor of City Hall in Green River at 50 E 2 N Street.
Museum staff expressed their special thanks to Jason Brown, GIS Analyst for the city of Green River, for his help in preparing this article.
The Sweetwater County Historical Museum is located at 3 E. Flaming Gorge Way in Green River. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/nearly-a-dozen-green-river-streets-named-for-servicemen/article_b6caa3be-7394-58cd-91ea-a29a3209ba63.html
| 2022-04-24T02:20:39Z
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Community members come together for stream clean
MULLENS, W.Va. (WVVA) -Mullens residents got together on April 23, to help clean up the river in Wyoming County to make it look better for the travelers coming in.
“I think Mullens is on the cusp of becoming a destination and these tourists and trail riders come in and they see how nasty things are and they ask questions, so if we can clean up and do our part we are more than willing to,” said Rusted Musket owner, Merrick Rice.
The clean up started at the Wyoming County Hotel and ended at the Mullens Water Plant. The group of 15 collected over 25 bags of items. Volunteers said they found a lot of material that had no place being in the waterways.
“We found lots of metal, we found tops from old telephone polls, old glass tops, things like that,” said Rice.
“A deer skull, that was something,” Natasha Tolliver a volunteer.
The group even had four-wheelers ready to go to help drag out some of the heavier objects they found in the river. This is all an imitative to help clean up Mullens for the trail riders coming in.
“I care about the community. I want it to look nice, I want everyone else to think it looks nice. So I just wanted to do my part and help,” said Tolliver.
The group is working with the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to help clean up streams in their community.
The DEP offered them equipment to help including canoes, boats, trailers, gloves and trash bags to help them clean up the river.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/community-members-come-together-stream-clean/
| 2022-04-24T03:00:50Z
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Officers in Texas seize $35M in meth in massive drug bust at US-Mexico border
LAREDO, Texas (Gray News) - Authorities at the Laredo Port of Entry report they were able to stop more than $35 million in methamphetamine from coming into the U.S. in a commercial truck hauling strawberry purée.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports on April 12, a CBP officer assigned to the World Trade Bridge encountered a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico hauling a shipment of strawberry purée. The truck was then referred for a secondary examination.
After conducting a thorough secondary examination, CBP officers said they discovered 158 packages containing nearly 1,761 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the shipment.
Officials said the methamphetamine had an estimated street value of more than $35.2 million.
“This mammoth seizure of methamphetamine underscores the reality of the drug threat we face at the port of entry and the determination of our frontline officers to apply the latest inspections technology coupled with officer experience to keep our border secure,” said Laredo Port of Entry Director Albert Flores.
CBP seized the narcotics and an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents remains ongoing.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/officers-texas-seize-35m-meth-massive-drug-bust-us-mexico-border/
| 2022-04-24T03:00:56Z
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Bluefield survives late Princeton rally
Lady Beavers throw out tying run to end game
Published: Apr. 24, 2022 at 12:22 AM EDT|Updated: 30 minutes ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - Bluefield’s three insurance runs in the sixth proved to be game-saving.
The Lady Beavers took a 4-0 lead into the 7th. The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the 7th. The potential tying run got caught in a rundown between second and third to end the game.
Bluefield won 4-3.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/bluefield-survives-late-princeton-rally/
| 2022-04-24T04:54:47Z
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WATCH: Deputy climbs balcony to save baby from apartment fire
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A sheriff’s deputy in Florida climbed up a balcony and plucked a 1-year-old girl to safety from a third-story apartment that had caught fire, the dramatic rescue captured on the deputy’s body-worn camera.
Deputy William Puzynski climbed to the second-floor balcony early Saturday and asked the mother to hand off the baby in diapers as flames shot from the apartment one floor above. He then brought the baby down before the mother and grandmother were subsequently rescued by firefighters.
The video posted online captures Puzynski telling the woman “hand me the baby, hand me the baby. We are coming,” as he goes up and balances himself on the railing before she extends the crying baby to him. “Please, come get me,” she pleads afterward.
Firefighters using a ladder brought the mother and grandmother down from the third-floor apartment safely. They also evacuated other residents while responding to the fire at an apartment building in Orlando.
The Orange County Fire Rescue said the fire caused extensive damage with 24 units impacted.
The camera that recorded the infant’s rescue was attached to Puzynski’s vest, which he had taken off before climbing up the building.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/watch-deputy-climbs-balcony-save-baby-apartment-fire/
| 2022-04-24T04:54:53Z
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/big-island-police-seek-missing-61-year-old-paul-calverase-of-kau/article_dd1dd0d0-c37f-11ec-961b-1b8a3b67bf9b.html
| 2022-04-24T05:17:50Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...East to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters,
Maui County Leeward Waters and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
A Hawaii DJ is hosting his 3rd Annual "If Can Can Hawaii Food Drive."
Kaneohe born, Taylor Tadani, also known as "DJ Hapa Boy" is hoping to collect over 2,000 pounds of donations for the Hawaii Food Bank.
"We all have lost people in our lives way too soon," says Tadani, "that's why I wan to bring people together to create memories, while helping those who face hunger everyday."
The event is on Sunday, April 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Kaimana Beach Park. The day will feature fun and games to raise awareness for Hawaii's hungry. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishables food items such as Spam, canned meats, rice, beans and vegetables.
Monetary donations for the Hawaii Food Bank will be also accepted.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/if-can-can-local-dj-sets-to-collect-over-a-ton-of-donations-for-hawaii/article_2b53f344-c37e-11ec-bb4c-8f863a9ede09.html
| 2022-04-24T05:17:56Z
|
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...East to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters,
Maui County Leeward Waters and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
After a two-year hiatus prompted by the pandemic, the Merrie Monarch Parade made its way back to the streets of Hilo on Saturday.
Throngs of people began lining the streets early, reserving the perfect spot to watch the traditional event coinciding with the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.
The excitement was felt through the smiles and laughter from everyone.
"It's so awesome. Today is a beautiful day and look at the turn out! I can't wait to watch the parade, you can feel the warmth and energy from the island," said Lisa Merritt, a Lihue resident attending the festival to watch her niece dance with her halau.
"The last time I was here was 44 years ago when I myself was dancing in the Merrie Monarch so this is really exciting for me."
Some were so moved by the moment, it brought them to tears.
"I think we all missed this. I'm sorry, I'm getting very emotional. It's just so nice to see Hilo come alive again and we couldn't ask for better weather," said Liane Garrett, president of Ahanui Kaahumanu Helu Ekolu, a Hawaiian group who honors the legacy of Queen Kaahumanu.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/merrie-monarch-parade-returns-to-the-streets-of-hilo-after-a-two-year-hiatus/article_a4e06030-c379-11ec-9587-0f73217cae8a.html
| 2022-04-24T05:18:02Z
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/president-joe-biden-nominates-retired-deputy-chief-to-lead-the-u-s-marshals-office/article_d212dec6-c37d-11ec-80c2-370465f467e7.html
| 2022-04-24T05:18:08Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...East to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters,
Maui County Leeward Waters and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pose for a group photograph with Australian Minister of Defense Peter Dutton and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
(CNN) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Kyiv on Sunday.
"I don't think this is a secret that people from the US are coming to us tomorrow, State Secretary Mr. Blinken and the Defense Secretary (Lloyd Austin) who are coming to us," Zelensky said at a press conference held in an underground subway station in the Ukrainian capital.
Zelensky also said, "We will be expecting, when the security will allow, the President of the United States to come and to talk to us."
Zelensky told CNN's Jake Tapper last week that he would like President Joe Biden to visit Ukraine.
"I think he will," Zelensky said, adding that it was Biden's decision and would depend on the security situation.
Biden, who has previously suggested he wants to go to Ukraine, said earlier this month that he was working with his team to determine whether he should dispatch a senior member of his administration to the country.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki reiterated Monday during a news conference that there are no plans in place for Biden to travel to Ukraine. "That has not changed -- what our focus continues to be on is providing Ukraine, the Ukrainian government, Ukrainian leaders -- a historic amount of security assistance," Psaki told CNN.
Psaki said that if an administration official were to visit Ukraine, the White House would not publicly disclose that information ahead of the time, citing security concerns.
The White House and State Department declined to comment Saturday on Blinken and Austin's potential trip to Ukraine.
CNN has reached out to the US Department of Defense for comment.
Biden announced Thursday that the US will send an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine as the Russian invasion soon enters its third month in what US officials warn could be a potentially bloody new phase.
The new shipments include heavy artillery and 144,000 rounds of ammunition.
The US sent a similarly sized military aid package earlier this month that included Mi-17 helicopters, Howitzer cannons, Switchblade drones and protective equipment.
This story has been updated with additional details.
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/zelensky-says-blinken-and-austin-will-visit-ukraine-on-sunday/article_ca952ee2-c378-11ec-926b-b34cd05f4bcc.html
| 2022-04-24T05:18:14Z
|
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...East to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters,
Maui County Leeward Waters and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HONOLULU (KITV4) - The Coast Guard is in urgent need to add new personnel to join the organization. Officials say calls for search and rescue missions are only increasing as we get closer to the busy summer months.
Chief Petty Officer Timothy Elhajj says their team on Kauai respond to between 30 to 50 rescue missions per year and the Coast Guard on Honolulu perform close to 100 per year.
“People go to beaches and they don't necessarily understand the Pacific Ocean. We ask people if you’re not comfortable in the water then go to the beaches with a lifeguard. Often times, tourists do not listen to that and it becomes a danger to everyone," said Elhajj.
The organization is hiring for several full-time active duty positions and are enlisting rescue swimmers.
They say their recruitment efforts went down during the pandemic but now that stores are opening up again and restrictions are lifted, their need now is even greater.
“Our recruiting numbers are increasing but the applicants coming in are not. If it continues to be like this, our coast guard will be very shorthanded. We'll be working a lot more with smaller crews. As much as we'd love for people to not need rescuing, they will continue to and we want to ensure we will always be there," said Kapewalani Ornong, recruiter at Coast Guard Honolulu.
The Coast Guard in Honolulu is offering many incentives such as a minimum $2,000 bonus.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/u-s-coast-guard-in-need-of-recruitment/article_347bbd40-c387-11ec-a0a7-63c04d4478a1.html
| 2022-04-24T05:18:20Z
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‘Pulling ahead’: Magna plant braces for ramping up production, hiring more staff
Much of the plant setup for Magna Electric Vehicle Structures in St. Clair is visual.
Bright yellow cage walls encase equipment, high-mounted signage marks the different stages of assembly, and large screens throughout the building display production goals, progress, and needs in colorful boxed graphics.
But since production began several months ago, Magna representatives said they increasingly have a focus off-screen and not just on the day-to-day activities, as they ramp up recruiting efforts to staff the 345,000-square-foot plant’s growing production needs.
“The goal is, we’re going to be a three-shift operation by January of 2023,” said Bryan Walker, Magna human resources manager.
Canadian company Magna International first formally unveiled plans to invest over $70 million in the local plant in early 2021, citing it would produce complex battery enclosures for the 2022 GMC Hummer EV, and create more than 300 jobs in five years.
State and local officials also helped advocate for and guide the project to fruition with a $1.5 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Strategic Fund, as well as a 12-year partial tax break on new construction from the city of St. Clair, which also sold a substantial piece of its long-vacant industrial park to the company.
Construction began in late 2020, erecting its massive facility at 1811 S. Range Road before more staff came on and recruitment kicked in toward the end of last year.
It was an initial competitive process to bring the project to town — and something that local officials said has ultimately exceeded their expectations.
Walker said Magna Electric is also on track to surpass its own promised hiring range. The plant’s biggest customer remains GM, and he said it’s customer demands are helping shape how the local plant will grow in the coming months.
They started with 20 direct labor employees on the plant’s production floor and 50 or more in indirect labor, including engineers, maintenance and finance teams, and skilled-trade employees, among others. As of Wednesday, they’re at 220, including 73 direct and 147 indirect employees.
And in under a year, Walker said their target staff will be 540.
“So, we ramp up to our second shift starting in October. In October, we should have 254 on our indirect side and 148 on our direct labor side,” he said. “Then, our third shift isn’t going to be as large as our other shifts. Typically, your third shift is your clean up, makeup, catch up, get ahead type shift.”
Marie Sheer, human resources generalist, said it was always going to be “a slow ramp-up” for the plant, adding now, “They’re pulling ahead.”
Meeting those hiring goals, however, means overcoming challenges still facing most other industries and finding the right recruits to meet the needed skills and qualifications for a plant fixed with more than 350 robots, laser tools, and other high-tech equipment.
Plant Manager Chris Hinman wasn’t immediately available for comment during a plant tour Wednesday. Previously, he’s remarked on the positive experience in building a plant and team “from ground zero” and said it wasn’t difficult to fill positions.
In a statement Friday, he said it was exciting to see the plant's progress on schedule to become fully operational this year.
"While ramping up to full production, we’ve continued to attract a talented team, which has enabled us to grow this state-of-the-art facility," Hinman said. "It all comes down to timing and EVs are taking off quickly. The community has been so responsive. I’m thankful for the high level of local interest and support. It’s a great place to work and an exciting time in the manufacturing industry."
How local Magna advocates feel about the plant’s coming growth
The local Magna plant is in St. Clair County Board Chairman Jeff Bohm’s district, and the commissioner has been a big advocate for the company as it worked with the city of St. Clair to purchase property and with the state to secure support.
And he still frequently talks about the company — often repeating the joke to “everybody that was a cornfield a year and a half ago.”
“Now, I wish I had 10 more Magnas,” Bohm said Thursday. He said it continues to serve as an example of how to attract larger employers to the area, though he thought calling it a competitive process “an understatement."
“Truthfully, knowing people who’ve gotten hired there, they’ve over-exceeded my expectations,” he said. “I deal with a lot of their (representatives when they) come into town, we’ll go out to dinner, talk about how it’s going, can we help. The plant manager, Chris Hinman, and I socialize. They’ve been great.”
Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, said they anticipated Magna would meet their expectations.
Electrical vehicles are a growing industry, he said, and the Hummer EV, which the plant was built to service, is “just one platform.”
That means there was always the potential to win more business and create more jobs.
“Especially with the announcement of the General Motors battery plant in the Lansing area,” Casey said. “We think it’s going to drive more business to the Magna plant. It might lead toward a second expansion someday in the future, so we’re pretty excited about what’s happened there and what the future holds.”
With other plants coming online in and outside of Michigan, however, it also remained unclear how Magna could win some of that business.
“Because Magna’s normal methodology is to put their production facilities close to customers’ assembly plants,” Casey said. “So, I don’t know if that is what will hold true for us in the future or not.”
Still, he said there were other ways Magna may positively affect the region moving forward.
Magna’s ‘spin-off impact’ and recruiting ‘for the long haul’
The floor of the plant in St. Clair follows a rough S-shape from the station where team leaders start shifts to where battery trays are tested and shipped from the east side of the building.
“The battery tray, what we tell everybody, is the size of a queen-size bed,” Walker joked during Wednesday’s tour.
Sheer chimed in, “Or the size of a truck bed.”
While much of the facility is abuzz, other parts show the bones of future activity — unused station space behind the yellow dividers, and at the front, a more up-scale lobby with an empty reception desk that isn’t yet regularly used.
To ensure it all gets incorporated, Walker said they’re keeping an active list of postings online, placing “now hiring” signs in St. Clair with accessible QR codes, and promoting the company on billboards.
He said they also began “walk-in Wednesdays” in January to allow interested job candidates to fill out applications and engage in pre-employment testing. That’s a process, he said, they hope will additionally spread awareness of job opportunities. Overall, he said it’s been successful.
They said those efforts often only engage the local candidates, leaving them to recruit on a much bigger scale for hires from across the state and country and around the world.
With that comes challenges, Walker said, particularly for indirect or skilled-labor positions such as toolmakers, maintenance techs, and robot or control engineers.
He and Sheer added it’s not uncommon for some of those positions to commute from Oakland or Macomb counties and outside the St. Clair area. And sometimes, other incoming employees also need help finding a place to stay when they move to the area.
“An apartment or house, whatever it is,” Walker said. “I’ve got a couple coming over. I’ve got a guy coming from India, and we’re putting them up in Port Huron at the DoubleTree for a month or so until they can find something in the area. But we’re finding they are having to venture out a little bit outside of St. Clair, Marysville, this metro area here, for housing.”
Casey said housing was part of the “spin-off impact” they expected Magna would have. That will likely lead to an interest in new housing developments, as well as new commercial developments and expanded services to support the population growth that comes “whenever you have a big investment and a lot of jobs created," he said.
Walker and Sheer also said they hope to have a positive effect on the community they’re calling home.
Walker pointed to Maga’s sponsorships of last year’s offshore boat races, getting involved in schools, and holiday charitable work as examples, while Sheer pointed to supporting local businesses.
“A plant this size, we’ve always got activities going on,” Sheer said. “So, you can only imagine the amount of food we’re ordering, so business (lunches) and catering are huge.”
As of last week, Walker said Magna’s starting base pay for a production operator was $18.51 an hour with wages ranging much higher, depending on qualifications and the position, from the mid-20s on up. He said every company division also undergoes a yearly compensation review.
Candidates undergo competency training and other tests to meet a position’s standards early on and as part of the pre-employment process.
Additionally, Walker said they’re looking for just a little bit more as “word gets around” with openings. They had 17 openings for indirect labor positions as of Wednesday, he said, and typically range up to 25 openings for new positions overall.
“We’re looking for someone for the long haul that can grow with this plant,” Walker said. “So, we are very selective in our screening process, which might take some time. And why we have some of the open positions is there are specific requirements. It’s metal or structures divisions. We’re the structure of the vehicle. If you’re a plastics person, this might not be a good fit for you.”
Magna shares its openings companywide at www.magna.com. The local plant also shares opportunities on social media and welcomes walk-in applicants from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
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/2022/04/24/pulling-ahead-local-magna-plant-braces-ramping-up-production-hiring/7358048001/
| 2022-04-24T05:58:40Z
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Thousands of bootleg marijuana farms and other illegal cannabis grows in the rural expanses of southern Oregon and northern California frequently have ties to drug cartels and other organized crime syndicates, utilize migrant labor trafficked into the U.S. and are using up significant amounts of water as the Klamath Basin and the rural region deal with severe drought conditions.
Those are some of the major impacts illegal cannabis farms and grows have on the rural counties and small towns of the region, according to Klamath County Sheriff Chris Kaber.
He worries about drug cartels’ footprint in the region and their use of migrant workers trafficked in from Mexico. “There’s a lot of different cartels involved in these,” Kaber told the Herald & News. Mexican drug cartels and Central American and Russian gangs involved in the drug trade have very violent reputations.
The proliferation of illicit pot farms is driven by demand for marijuana in states where the drug is still illegal and from buyers in the Pacific Northwest and California — where cannabis is legal but heavily taxed and regulated.
Illegal weed can be 20% to 60% cheaper than government-sanctioned cannabis in the 18 U.S. states where pot has been legalized.
“There’s a lot of onerous regulations in the industry that can make it very difficult to grow,” said Katharine Neill Harris, a drug policy expert with Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Taxes on legal marijuana in the region range from 20% in Oregon to as much as 43.5% in Washington state and 45% in California.
Harris said illegal weed grown in the Pacific Northwest and California can be sold regionally but also in states with prohibitions and restrictions on cannabis for recreational use including Texas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas and Wyoming.
Even if Congress and President Joe Biden (who has never pushed for marijuana legalization) sign off on a federal measure that passed the U.S. House of Representatives April 1 it will likely only decriminalize pot and will leave full legalization to states.
Continued state prohibitions will continue to drive demand for unauthorized weed, Harris said.
Trafficked labor, paid-off farmers
Many of the workers at the illegal farms and grow houses are undocumented migrants, according to police.
The Klamath sheriff said they are often from Mexico and are transported in by criminal syndicates. They will often flee into the rural landscape when police or code enforcement inspectors arrive. “Some of them don’t even know where they are,” said Kaber, who has seen women and children at illegal grows.
“Their living conditions are very squalid,” he said of the the bathroom and sleeping conditions for workers. “It’s pretty bad.”
Kaber also said some local farmers and property owners in southern Oregon and northern California are being approached by representatives of illegal cannabis growers offering money to use their land.
The sheriff said farmers will often be offered $5,000 to let hemp and marijuana farmers use their land and then another $5,000 at the end of the growing season. “That is a figure I have heard multiple times,” Kaber said.
Kaber said police raids might shut down the illegal grows but usually do not result in many arrests — let alone dents in the cartels or major syndicates.
“We don’t ever get much above the first or second levels at the grows,” Kaber said.
He said international drug cartels, including from Mexico, will seek retribution against the families in the U.S. and home countries for those who cooperate with police.
On the law enforcement side, the illegal marijuana operations can also be involved in money laundering and production and distribution of other drugs. Those factors and potential gun charges can help bring in federal and state investigators, Kaber told the Herald & News.
But marijuana alone sometimes does not draw attention and resources from Eugene and Washington D.C., the sheriff said.“If it’s just marijuana they are not interested,” Kaber said.
Harris said the evolution of U.S. drug policies away from the crackdowns of the War on Drugs to more legalization measures complicates how police and prosecutors respond to illegal marijuana farming — including in states such as Oregon and California where regulated and often mass-produced corporate cannabis is legal.
Some of the representatives approaching farmers will tell the property owners they intend to grow hemp (a legal and industrial form of marijuana) when they are really intending to grow illegal cannabis. The Oregon sheriff suspects a healthy percentage of property owners know they are potentially being paid by illegal operators.
Property owners could potentially face legal ramifications of having their land used for illegal purposes. They also have to clean up leftover equipment and debris if police come in and demolish the grows, Kaber said.
Legacies and water
Oregon and California have long histories of marijuana farming and cultivation that predates legalization laws. The region’s weather and remote farmland have long made a desirable planting ground.
While some of the clandestine operations are tied to organized syndicates others fit into the traditional image of west coast hippies growing unauthorized cannabis, Harris said.
“The underground market existed for at least 100 years. It’s a very entrenched market,” she said.
Jackson County, Douglas and Josephine counties in Oregon and Siskiyou County in California have declared states of emergency over illegal marijuana grows.
Last month, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors extended a local state of emergency related to illegal marijuana growing. The board approved the extension of an ongoing emergency order enacted in January 2020 at their March 15 meeting.
Siskiyou officials estimate there could be as many 1,500 to 2,000 or more illegal grow sites through the sprawling rural county.
Underground marijuana farms use as much as 3 million gallons of water a day and some of the cultivation sites are home to numerous encampments, according to county documents. The county has also previously sought to restrict water trucks from potentially servicing illegal weed farms.
In 2019, police in far northern California seized more than 17,200 pot plants and half a ton of processed marijuana.
Across the border in Oregon, police report instances where trucks are backed up to and take water from remote ponds and lakes.
Police have also conducted a number of raids on indoor growing operations — including an April 8 in Glendale that netted 18,461 live marijuana plants and 4,100 pounds of processed pot.
The grow was located in warehouses near a local high school, according to police in Douglas County. But only one person was arrested in that raid — a 29-year-old man hiding in the building.
Todd Gessele, who is running for a vacant seat on the Klamath County Board of Commissioners, wants the county to join its neighbors and also declare an emergency over unregulated farms pointing to their water thefts.
“Let it be known that Klamath County is not the place you want to come to raise your illegal crop of marijuana. Because the penalties I am advocating for, will bite. It is now going to cost you more to do illegal business here. You could even lose your property if an illegal grow is found on it,” said Gessele who petitioned the county board on the issue April 19 to issue a state of emergency.
He also wants to increase fines for illegal grows of as much as $10,000 per day as well as $2,000 fines for and potentially have property owners lose their land and farms and vehicles. The local businessman also wants license plate-reading cameras installed on Old Bly Mountain Road and other rural routes where marijuana and other drug operations might be operating.
Kaber said KCSO is also putting in for a federal grant to buy machines and technology that can distinguish between legal hemp and illegal weed.
Klamath currently does not have such machines and will borrow them from neighboring jurisdictions when conducting raids or investigations. The testing machines cost approximately $18,000 each, according to KCSO.
Tax windfalls and corporate cannabis
Harris said many conservative counties in rural areas are not keen on marijuana legalization — including in states where drug laws have been changed.
Those counties have opted out in various degrees when it comes to legal production and purchases of recreational and some instance medical marijuana. That will also continue to drive demand for illegally grown cannabis, Harris said.
She also does not expect major changes in how states approach legalization for recreational use. Many of the states that have approved cannabis legalization have done so via legislation or ballot measure craft and backed by well-funded corporate cannabis chains.
They dominate the legal drug marketplace as well as the medical marijuana field. The state measures have also included significant regulations and hefty taxes that drive prices up but promise to fund popular government programs including education.
An analysis by the Marijuana Policy Project found states collected $3.7 billion in cannabis tax revenue in 2021 and $11.2 billion since 2014 when Colorado first approved recreational use.
Oregon legalized pot in 2016. The state brought in $177.8 million in tax revenue in 2021 and $675 million since 2016, according to MPP.
California has generated $3.4 billion in marijuana tax revenue since approving recreational sales in 2018. That includes a $1.3 billion tax haul in 2021.
State lawmakers won’t be anxious to give up tax revenue in order to drive pot prices down.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/whats-driving-and-why-police-worry-about-clandestine-pot-farms-illegal-grow-houses/article_f1dd1826-76e1-5859-9922-5370a4f54ac8.html
| 2022-04-24T06:29:21Z
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/man-stabbed-outside-sports-bar/article_44206957-8850-5fd8-bc96-a4e8024bc353.html
| 2022-04-24T06:29:22Z
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Missing couple found fatally shot in woods near their home
CONCORD, N.H. (WBZ) - Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating the deaths of a couple in their 60s, who were found shot multiple times in a wooded area by a hiking trial.
The bodies of 67-year-old Stephen Reid and 66-year-old Djeswende “Wende” Reid were found Thursday evening near the Broken Ground Trail in Concord, New Hampshire, where they had been out walking. An autopsy found the couple were shot multiple times.
“I’m shocked. What would’ve provoked something like that? It’s hard to believe,” a neighbor said.
The Reids were last seen Monday afternoon when they left the Alton Woods apartment complex where they lived for a walk outside. Family members first reported the couple missing Wednesday.
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. They are looking for any evidence of the Reids’ last moments they can find.
No arrests have been made, and police have not said whether the attack was random or targeted. They are asking residents to be vigilant but say there is no reason to believe that the public is at risk at this time.
Still, some neighbors are fearful for their safety.
“That’s horrible. My sister is scared to walk the dog at night now. She’s thinking about getting a Taser,” a neighbor said.
Copyright 2022 WBZ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/missing-couple-found-fatally-shot-woods-near-their-home/
| 2022-04-24T06:44:03Z
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5 shot in ‘altercation’ near Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park
ATLANTA (WGCL) - The Atlanta Police Department has confirmed that five people were shot in the area of John Portman Boulevard and Centennial Olympic Park Drive in northwest Atlanta Saturday night.
Just before 10 p.m., Atlanta Police responded to the scene for a report of a person shot. When units arrived, officers found three people who had been shot, all with non-life threatening injuries, WGCL reports.
APD later learned that two other shooting victims had taken themselves to Grady hospital to be treated. Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Timothy Peek said it appears those two victims took a vehicle from a valet at gunpoint before driving to the hospital.
Police did not release the conditions of the shooting victims, only saying all are stable at this time. Peek says all of the victims are between the ages of 15 and 19 years old.
Over the course of the investigation, police say they recovered three guns and the stolen vehicle used to transport two of the victims to the hospital. The motive for the shooting is not known at this time.
Peek said before the shooting occurred, a number of 911 calls were received from the area regarding several juveniles on scooters, who very well could have been involved in the shooting.
“We have not had the opportunity to determine whether they were directly involved with this incident, but of course, that will be a part of the investigation,” Peek said. “There were a number of scooters that were on scene when we got here. Now, how they got here and who was using them, we’ll have to figure that piece out.”
Police did not identify any specific suspects, only that they are continuing to investigate exactly what led up to the shooting and who was involved.
“What we’ll say is that the investigators are certainly still working in turning over every leaf to determine what happened,” Peek said. “All individuals thus far have been identified. Of course, based off the area surveillance, we will look to see who else we can identify that may have had some involvement with this shooting.”
Copyright 2022 WGCL via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/5-shot-altercation-near-atlantas-centennial-olympic-park/
| 2022-04-24T08:28:59Z
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Ukrainian steel plant bombed; Zelenskyy to meet US officials
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Russian forces called in airstrikes on a besieged steel factory in the southern city of Mariupol to try to dislodge the last Ukrainian troops holding out in the strategic port, Ukrainian officials said Sunday, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would meet in Kyiv with two top American officials.
Zelenskyy gave few details about the logistics of his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on what was the 60th day since Russia invaded Ukraine. But he told reporters he expected results — “not just presents or some kind of cakes, we are expecting specific things and specific weapons.”
The visit would be the first to Kyiv by high-level U.S. officials since the invasion began Feb. 24. While visiting Poland in March, Blinken stepped briefly onto Ukrainian soil to meet with the country’s foreign minister. Zelenskyy’s last face-to-face meeting with a U.S. leader was Feb. 19 in Munich with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The meeting was set to take place as Ukrainians and Russians observed Orthodox Easter, an occasion Zelenskyy highlighted the allegorical significance of during his nightly address to his country’s people after nearly two months of war.
“There will be a Resurrection. Life will defeat death. The truth will defeat any lies. And evil will be punished,” he said. “And Russia will have to learn these truths again, it’s only a matter of time.”
Russia has been trying to take Mariupol for nearly two months, and the city on the Sea of Azov has seen some of the war’s worst deprivations. Its capture would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, free up Russian troops to fight elsewhere, and establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized in 2014.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Videos may contain disturbing content.
Some 2,000 troops have been fighting tenaciously to hold on to the last remaining Ukrainian outpost in the city, the Azovstal steel plant, which also has civilians taking refuge in its labyrinthine tunnel system.
Russian forces have continued to pummel the plant, hitting it with air strikes, including by long-range aircraft, Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, said Sunday.
Mariupol has been blockaded for most of the war. Ukrainian officials have said they expect to find thousands of dead civilians and evidence of war crimes there when the fighting ends. Satellite images have shown what appear to be mass graves dug in towns to the west and east of Mariupol.
In the last day, Russia also pressed its attacks elsewhere in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists controlled some territory before the war and the Russians are aiming to gain full control over Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland.
Shtupun said Russian forces intensified their assault operations toward the cities of Popasna and Siverodonetsk in Luhansk, and Kurakhiv in Donetsk. Luhansk regional Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Sunday that eight people were killed and two others were wounded in a Russian barrage on Saturday.
The Russians also have shelled the Dnipro region west of Donbas, where at least one person was killed by a Russian missile, according to regional Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko.
Russia has pulled back forces from Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and the north of the country to feed into the Donbas offensive, but the British Ministry of Defense said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had repelled numerous assaults in the past week.
“Despite Russia making some territorial gains, Ukrainian resistance has been strong across all axes and inflicted significant cost on Russian forces,” the ministry said in an intelligence update.
“Poor Russian morale and limited time to reconstitute, re-equip and reorganize forces from prior offensives are likely hindering Russian combat effectiveness,” it said.
The Ukrainian military said Saturday it destroyed a Russian command post in Kherson, a southern city that fell to Russian forces early in the war.
The command post was hit on Friday, killing two generals and critically wounding another, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said in a statement. The Russian military did not comment on the claim, which could not be confirmed.
If true, at least nine Russian generals have been killed since the start of the invasion, according to Ukrainian reports.
On Saturday the Azov Regiment of Ukraine’s National Guard, which has members holed up in the Mariupol steel plant, released a video of around two dozen women and children sheltering there. Its contents could not be independently verified, but if authentic, it would be the first video testimony of what life has been like for civilians trapped underground there.
The video shows soldiers giving sweets to children who respond with fist-bumps. One young girl said she and her relatives had “seen neither the sky nor the sun” since they left home Feb. 27.
The regiment’s deputy commander, Sviatoslav Palamar, told the AP the video was shot Thursday. The Azov Regiment has its roots in the Azov Battalion, which was formed by far-right activists in 2014 at the start of the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine and has elicited criticism for some of its tactics.
More than 100,000 people — down from a prewar population of about 430,000 — are believed to remain in Mariupol with scant food, water or heat. Ukrainian authorities estimate that over 20,000 civilians have been killed in the city.
Yet another attempt to evacuate women, children and older adults from Mariupol failed Saturday. Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor, said Russian forces did not allow Ukrainian-organized buses to take residents to Zaporizhzhia, a city 227 kilometers (141 miles) to the northwest.
___
Fisch reported from Sloviansk, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Mstyslav Chernov and Felipe Dana in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Inna Varenytsia in Kviv and Associated Press staff members around the world contributed to this story.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/ukrainian-steel-plant-bombed-zelenskyy-meet-us-officials/
| 2022-04-24T08:29:05Z
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Pope clears schedule for medical checks on painful knee
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has cleared his schedule to undergo medical checks on his right knee. Strained ligaments have made walking, standing and getting up from his chair increasingly difficult and painful.
Francis’ mobility has been greatly curtailed of late, with his already pronounced limp from sciatica seemingly aggravated.
He had to bow out celebrating the Easter Vigil last weekend, struggled through Easter Sunday Mass and now frequently walks with a shuffle and the assistance of an aide.
The Vatican spokesman said Friday that Francis was undergoing medical checks within the city state, not at an external hospital. Francis has long undergone regular sessions of physiotherapy to help with the sciatica nerve pain.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/22/pope-clears-schedule-medical-checks-painful-knee/
| 2022-04-24T10:18:31Z
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WHO: 1 child has died in mystery liver disease outbreak
BERLIN (AP) - The World Health Organization says at least one death has been reported in connection with a mysterious liver disease outbreak affecting children in Europe and the United States.
The U.N. health agency said late Saturday that it has so far received reports of at least 169 cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” from a dozen countries.
The cases were reported in children aged one month to 16 years old, and 17 of those who fell ill required liver transplants. WHO didn’t say in which country the death occurred.
The first cases were recorded in Britain, where 114 children have been sickened.
“It is not yet clear if there has been an increase in hepatitis cases, or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases that occur at the expected rate but go undetected,” WHO said in a statement.
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with colds, but further research is ongoing.
“While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are ongoing for the causative agent,” WHO said, noting that the virus has been detected in at least 74 of the cases. At least 20 of the children tested positive for the coronavirus.
WHO said affected countries are stepping up their surveillance of hepatitis cases in children.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/who-1-child-has-died-mystery-liver-disease-outbreak/
| 2022-04-24T11:51:50Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...East to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters,
Maui County Leeward Waters and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
MILILANI (KITV)- In just 9 days, workers at A Mililani Starbucks will find out if they will become a union shop. It's the first attempt to unionize in Hawaii, and part of a larger nationwide trend. At the Starbuck on Kipapa Drive in Mililani, the discussion between Baristas is less about caffeination and more about unionizing or not.
We're told most of the 16 employees, baristas and shift supervisors, have already voted on unionization. But the ballot count isn't until May 2nd. "We were seeing reduced hours, 75% reductions. We went from mid 30's in hours to only like 10 hours. That across the board was unacceptable to a lot of us," said Starbuck Shift Supervisor Nate Jaramillo.
Managers are excluded from the deal. A conflict with a frothy customer who is a regular, also darkened the situation. "There was a customer who was insistent on not wearing a mask, who got a little indignant at first. And then it escalated to a threat of violence. From that day, it took a month to see any consequences," said Jaramillo.
Pro-union employees at the location tell us they believe a union will help increase their wages. A Starbucks email tells us the company already plans for "wages to at least $15 per hour this Summer." Those with "2 years service will get up to a 5% raise" and "5 or more years get up to a 10 percent raise". Employees tell a pay increase affects their view on Union fees. "Wages go up when unions form, because they get the correct pay they are able to survive off of. And with that said that raise is most likely going to be more than the fees itself," said a barista named Jonah.
Starbuck's statement goes on to say "we are better together as partners without a union between us, that conviction has not changed". Hawaii Representative Jeanne Kapela has a different view, saying, efforts like this one, may have a ripple affect on other industries. "Turning the working wage into a minimum wage is a big conversation we are having at the legislature this year. Some of the strongest voices are union members. Fighting for not just for themselves and their union members, but all workers," said Representative Kapela.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/mililani-starbucks-employees-vote-on-forming-union/article_f816d5c8-c3aa-11ec-97ef-6b87c5334e42.html
| 2022-04-24T12:04:00Z
|
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...East to northeast winds 20 to 25 knots.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters,
Maui County Leeward Waters and Big Island Windward Waters.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
We will have breezy trade wind weather all weekend.
East-northeasterly trade winds will blow in at 15-25 mph.
Expect mostly passing light showers carried in by the trade winds for windward and mauka sections, especially overnight and in the morning.
With the trade winds up, some leeward sides will also periodically see some of the passing showers.
Leeward sides will see partly cloudy skies, after the morning clouds and light showers. While windward sections will remain cloudier throughout the day.
Leeward sides will have afternoon high temperatures into the mid 80s.
Afternoon temperatures will warm up into the low 80s for windward spots.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/weather/forecast/sunday-weather-forecast/article_d514db70-c3ae-11ec-b9ad-6331c6f9bdad.html
| 2022-04-24T12:04:06Z
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Biden marks ‘Armenian genocide,’ aims to stop ‘atrocities’
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Sunday commemorated the 107th anniversary of the start of the “Armenian genocide,” issuing a statement in memory of the 1.5 million Armenians “who were deported, massacred or marched to their deaths in a campaign of extermination.”
The statement did not reference the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which Biden has called a genocide. Yet Biden used the anniversary to lay down a set of principles for foreign policy as the United States and its allies arm Ukrainians and impose sanctions on Russia.
“We renew our pledge to remain vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms,” the president said. “We recommit ourselves to speaking out and stopping atrocities that leave lasting scars on the world.”
In 1915, Ottoman officials arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople, now Istanbul. The Biden statement notes that this event on April 24 marked the beginning of the genocide.
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Biden used the term “genocide” for the first time during last year’s anniversary. Past White Houses had avoided that word for decades out of a concern that Turkey — a NATO member — could be offended.
Turkish officials were angered by Biden’s declaration a year ago, with the foreign ministry issuing a statement that said, “We reject and denounce in the strongest terms the statement of the President of the US regarding the events of 1915 made under the pressure of radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkey groups.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/24/biden-marks-armenian-genocide-aims-stop-atrocities/
| 2022-04-24T13:31:06Z
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It’s a small miracle that anyone on the set of the HBO series “Barry” keeps a straight face whenever Anthony Carrigan opens his mouth.
Carrigan plays NoHo Hank, a Chechen mobster who is way too nice for a life of crime. Just about every line Carrigan utters elicits at least a chuckle, though more often than not he earns full-body laughs. Carrigan is so funny that he makes it hard for even “Barry” co-creator and star Bill Hader to maintain his composure.
”It’s a particular delight to make Bill Hader crack up,” Carrigan told the Post-Gazette. “It doesn’t get much higher than that. I also just cannot keep a straight face for the life of me some days. It’s too hard and things are too funny. I have to give myself permission to laugh, because the show’s hilarious.”
”Barry” returns Sunday for its third season after an almost three-year hiatus. HBO provided the Post-Gazette with the first six episodes of the new season in which Barry Berkman (Hader) finds it increasingly difficult to balance dual lives as an actor and hitman for hire.
As usual, Carrigan’s NoHo Hank is around to provide the Emmy-winning comedy with equal doses of heart and humor as he navigates the latest threats that could only befall him and his friends.
”Never count out Hank to just get in a complete mess of a situation,” he said.
There’s not an ounce of fear in Carrigan’s performance as NoHo Hank. Not many actors would be willing to try such a tricky accent, let alone use it for comic effect the way that Carrigan does without devolving into caricature. He said Hank’s distinctive personality was in the show’s scripts, and the specific way he read the character “was immediately there and activated.”
”Barry” is “a unicorn job,” Carrigan said, because it’s helmed with such confidence by its creators, in this case Hader and Alec Berg. Carrigan had been a fan of Hader since his “Saturday Night Live” days and got a sense of his true depths as an artist after seeing his work on the IFC series “Documentary Now!” When he heard Hader was developing a show at HBO, Carrigan knew he had to get involved somehow.
”He’s a tastemaker,” Carrigan said. “The guy knows what’s up.”
The last two-plus years were tough for Carrigan and the whole cast and crew as production on season three continued to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Barry” proved to be “a real beacon of hope” for everyone involved, Carrigan said, and gave them something to look forward to once it became safe to shoot in person again.
Season three is a continuation of NoHank’s evolution from low-level lieutenant to a leader of the Chechens’ criminal activities in Los Angeles. Hank has a lot going on with both his personal life and the Chechens’ conflict with the rival Bolivian gang. Getting to portray “who Hank is behind closed doors” was yet another fun acting challenge, he said.
A major selling point for Carrigan and “Barry” viewers is how adept the show is at making audiences care about some truly despicable characters – especially Hank and Barry himself, who literally kills people for a living.
”I think that his intentions are pure, question mark?” Carrigan said of Hank. “With each of these characters, the show does a wonderful job of making the audience root for someone and then maybe making them question if they should have rooted for them in the first place. ... The show does a good job of toeing that line of ethics and morals.”
While “Barry” hasn’t officially been renewed yet, Hader revealed last year that he and the show’s writing team had already mapped out a potential fourth season. Carrigan is excited for the chance to keep inducing belly-laughs from “Barry” viewers and exploring NoHo Hank in all his ridiculous glory.
”As much as I can,” he said, “I want to keep the ball rolling.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/anthony-carrigan-gives-a-comedic-tour-de-force-on-hbos-barry/article_60f4c197-ba2d-5677-b276-0066b8733e8d.html
| 2022-04-24T14:56:24Z
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Eduin Cazares from Grupo Firme performs at the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, on April 15, 2022, in Indio, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images/TNS
ANAHEIM, Calif. – If your plans include curling up on the couch and watching the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival from the comfort of your living room, be aware that Weekend 2’s Coachella YouTube stream is not the same as last weekend.
For Weekend 1, Coachella’s YouTube featured multiple channels streaming sets from the music festival, generally live or close to it, with a few interviews and produced segments in between.
For Weekend 2, the main YouTube stream transforms into Coachella Curated, which leans much more heavily on interviews, mini documentaries and produced pieces.
The good news: If you want to watch headliners Harry Styles, Billie Eilish or Swedish House Mafia with The Weekend, you will be able to see those sets. They’re all part of the broadcast, as are Anitta, Karol G and what’s expected to be Brockhampton’s final performance for a long while. There are also two bonus channels that will offer a handful of live sets as well, including Danny Elfman.
But if you were hoping to watch Megan Thee Stallion’s full performance after last weekend’s buzz? Sorry, you’re out of luck.
Things get started at 5 p.m. Friday.
Here’s the YouTube Coachella streaming schedule for Weekend 2, with the caveat that schedules can change. (All times Pacific.)
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/coachella-2022-how-to-watch-the-festival-s-weekend-2-stream-on-youtube/article_b57bcfe5-9ec0-5a06-ae87-e89ea7b6909c.html
| 2022-04-24T14:56:30Z
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‘The Flight Attendant’
Season two opens with Cassandra (Kaley Cuoco) narrowing in on her one-year anniversary without a drink. But sobriety can’t keep her from getting entangled in another international murder, having conversations with ghosts and confronting her mother (Sharon Stone). The complex mystery and exotic settings are compelling enough. But the main reason to tune in continues to be Cuoco, a nimble comic actor capable of pulling laughs out of thin air. Cheryl Hines pops up as a CIA boss determined to curb Cassandra’s enthusiasm. Lands Thursday, HBO Max
‘Spenser Confidential’
Mark Wahlberg stars in a tone-deaf action comedy as the Boston cop-turned-jailbird-turned-freelance-detective. Directed by Peter Berg, “Spenser” finds its hero investigating former coworkers who are involved with drugs and corruption. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, which is too bad because the supporting cast – which includes Winston Duke and Alan Arkin as Spenser’s pals, and Hope Olaide Wilson as the wife of a colleague – is outstanding. Netflix
‘They Call Me Magic’
You can see why Earvin “Magic” Johnson is urging basketball fans to skip “Winning Time,” HBO’s scathing comedy about the Lakers dynasty, and watch this documentary instead. It’s full of enough jaw-dropping footage to convince you that Johnson was the most exciting player in NBA history. Even former rivals like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan sing their praises. But the legend doesn’t come across as a complete saint. Director Rick Famuyiwa dedicates a considerable amount of time to how his subject matter mistreated his long-suffering girlfriend, Cookie, before eventually marrying her. Launches Friday, Apple TV+
‘Polar Bear’
This Disneynature film takes a lot of liberties, starting with the concept of having narrator Catherine Keener climb inside the head of a mama bear who’s looking back on her Arctic childhood and how tough times prepared her to raise a cub of her own. The approach has more in common with “Bambi” than “Planet Earth.” Still, the photographer is stunning, especially when the young ‘uns encounter beluga whales. And it’s a nice way to celebrate Earth Day. Arrives Friday, Disney+
‘X’
Brittany Snow and rapper/singer Kid Cudi lead a lively cast in Ti West’s clever horror movie. They’re part of a bunch of friends who rent a barn from an unsuspecting farmer, intending to use it as the setting of a porn film. The details of that film are very funny but events quickly turn dark as it becomes clear the farmer is not the innocent hayseed they assume he is. “X” is slightly too long but West keeps us guessing most of the way. On-demand services
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/critics-guide-on-what-to-watch-on-tv-this-weekend/article_f7fe7e0a-9649-5190-937c-53d7bd25cf57.html
| 2022-04-24T14:56:36Z
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Cheyenne and Laramie County
Young Readers Book Party
– April 24, 1:15-2 p.m. Grades pre-K to 2. Join the library for a celebration of reading with young readers that’s a little bit early literacy class and a little bit more. The class will read and talk about books, sing, play and learn. This month’s themes are Bird Art and Family Storytelling Games. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Hausmusik 2: Wyoming Brass Quintet
– April 24, 2 p.m. Adults, $50; students, $25. CSO presents an afternoon with the Wyoming Brass Quintet in the beautiful new Blue Community Events Center at World Headquarters. The recital will be followed by a reception including light appetizers. Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd. 307-778-8561
Speed Friending at Blacktooth Brewing Co.
– April 24, 6-9 p.m. $25. This speed friending event will be structured just like speed dating, but for anyone wanting to meet new people. Black Tooth knows it’s difficult to make the first move or initiate a new friend-date, so the team wants to facilitate those connections. Tickets include two beer tokens. Black Tooth Brewing Co. 520 W. 19th St. 307-514-0362
Chicago at the Civic Center
– April 24, 7-10 p.m. $54+. The legendary rock band with horns, Chicago, is coming back to Cheyenne. Cheyenne Civic Center, 510 W. 20th St. 307-778-8561
Make it Mondays
– April 25, 1-5 p.m. Get crafty at the library every Monday! We will be making beautiful heart paper flowers to celebrate the coming of spring. Burns Branch Library, 112 Main St., 307-547-2249
Minute to Win It, Burns Branch Library
– April 25-30, 1-5 p.m. Can you complete our wacky and fun games in just one minute? Compete against your friends and family, or see how fast you can win the games by yourself. Every participant gets a prize. Burns Branch Library, 112 Main St., 307-547-2249
Tales Together
– April 26-28, 10:15-10:45 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m. Join the library for an in-person interactive early literacy class for preschool children and their caregivers. Practice new skills incorporating books, songs, rhymes, movement and more. Pick up weekly craft packet from Ask Here desk on the second floor. Call to reserve a spot. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Fun for Kids! Burns Branch Library
– April 26, 10:15-11 a.m. Join in an interactive storytime session to promote early literacy through books, songs, puppets, crafts and much more. This week’s theme is “Bears.” Burns Branch Library, 112 Main St., 307-547-2249
Famous Illustrators
– April 26, 4:15-5 p.m. Grades K-2. Join the library for a peek into how some of your favorite book illustrators make their art. This month, the focus will be on Lois Ehlert. Wear play clothes, as it could get messy. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Book Discussion Group
– April 26, 6-7:30 p.m. April is known for Earth Day and the sowing of spring seedlings, so join Laramie County Library in reading Octavia Butler’s dystopian novel “Parable of the Sower.” Join the group for tea and scones on the last Tuesday of the month. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Virtual Tales Together
– April 28, 9:30-10 a.m. Free. Join the Laramie County Library for a virtual interactive early literacy class where young children will practice new skills incorporating books, songs, rhymes, movement and more. Pick up weekly craft packet from Ask Here desk on the second floor. RSVP at lclsonline.org/calendar/. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Fun for Kids! Pine Bluffs Branch
– April 28, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Join in an interactive storytime session to promote early literacy through books, songs, puppets, crafts and much more. This week’s theme is “Bears.” Pine Bluffs Branch Library, 110 E. Second St. 307-245-3646
Brown Bag Book Club
– April 28, 6-7 p.m. Grade 4-6. Book Club will meet twice during the month of April. The club will chat about the book, do some crazy activities and enjoy a delicious treat. Participants can bring a “brown bag” meal, and drinks will be provided. Participants can pick up “Masterminds” by Gordon Korman from the second floor. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
”An Evening of One Acts” @ LCCC
– April 28-30, 7:30 p.m. $10. LCCC’s spring production is a series of one-act plays over two weekends. Playwright Matthew McLachlan collaborated with the theater department in the creation of these plays. Laramie County Community College, 1400 E. College Drive. 307-778-5222
Movies at the Library, Burns Branch
– April 29, 1-3 p.m. Join the Burns Branch Library for a family-friendly movie and some popcorn. This week’s movie is “Jungle Cruise (PG-13).” Burns Branch Library, 112 Main St., 307-547-2249
Friday Matinee, Pine Bluffs
– April 29, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Spend your Friday afternoons at the Pine Bluffs Branch library to watch a matinee. Each week will feature a different movie. This week’s movie is “Tom and Jerry: The Movie” (PG). Pine Bluffs Branch Library, 110 E. Second St. 307-245-3646
Friday Night Jazz
– April 29, 6 p.m. 21+. Bring some friends, grab a drink and food, and listen to some beautiful music by Jazztet in the relaxing Hathaway’s Lounge. Two-drink minimum required. Little America Hotel and Resort, 2800 W. Lincolnway. 307-775-8400
Cheyenne Audubon Free Talk
– April 29, 7 p.m. Award-winning Pinedale wildlife photographer Elizabeth Boehm will be presenting a free talk, “Bird Photography Using Blinds.” Wyoming Game and Fish Department Headquarters, 5400 Bishop Blvd. 307-777-4600
Art for Art
– April 29, 7-10 p.m. $35. An immersive art experience hosted by Arts Cheyenne. Local and regional artists are coming together to create a multi-sensory evening of enjoying art, with an art auction and experience. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
Southeast Wyoming Concert Series presents Joe Robinson
– April 29, 7 p.m. $20. Joe Robinson’s live “one man” acoustic/electric show is an energetic display of virtuosity and witty, finely crafted lyrics delivered with his personable Aussie charisma. Joe won “Australia’s Got Talent” in 2008 at the age of 17, and has since earned a reputation as one of the world’s greatest guitar players and brilliant song writers. Call 307-214-7076 for more information. South High School Auditorium, 1213 W. Allison Road. 307-771-2410
{div class=”subscriber-only”}
Dueling Pianos
{/div}
{div class=”subscriber-only”}– April 29-30, 8-11 p.m. $20. Come laugh and sing along in an evening of musical entertainment directed by your requests. The Metropolitan Downtown, 1701 Carey Ave. 307-432-0022
Cheyenne Audubon Free Photography Workshop
– April 30, 7 a.m. Award-winning Pinedale wildlife photographer Elizabeth Boehm will be presenting a free bird blind demonstration open to the public. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens’ Paul Smith Children’s Village, 710 S. Lions Park Drive. 307-637-6349
Meet the Birds!
– April 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $15. A bird identification class for adults and children 12 and older. Just before the peak of migration, let Cheyenne Audubon members introduce you to 50 local birds. A combination of classroom discussion and short walks into Lions Park, a Wyoming Important Bird Area, with borrowed binoculars or your own. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens’ Paul Smith Children’s Village, 710 S. Lions Park Drive. 307-637-6349{/div}
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
– April 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join local animal shelters to celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day! You can fill out adoption documents, see pictures of other adoptable animals, learn how to take care of your new pet, and donate pet food and supplies to the shelters. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
”Wild Creek Whispers” Book Signing
– April 30, 10-2 p.m. Local author Cindy Reynders will hold a signing of the first book in her new series about a Wyoming private investigator. Barnes and Noble, 1851 Dell Range Blvd. 307-632-3000.
Virtual SaturD&D
– April 30, 1-3 p.m. Join the library’s teen Dungeons and Dragons online community and get started on creating a character today. Don’t have a Discord account yet? No problem. They offers Discord Communities for teens to interact, chat and play online. To participate, you will need a phone, tablet or computer with internet connection and a Discord account. RSVP for the event at lclsonline.org/calendar/.
”The Price is Right” at the Laramie County Library
– April 30, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Grades 3-6. “Come on down” to be a contestant in our version of “The Price is Right” gameshow. Participants could win cool prizes as you learn about how far your money can go. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Tunes, Taps and Apps
– April 30, 5 p.m. $60. Join the Symphony Friends for a fantastic evening of locally brewed beer and chef-curated appetizer pairings in support of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. There will also be a cash bar and silent auction. The Atlas Theatre, 211 W. Lincolnway. 307-638-6543
Cheyenne Capital Chorale Spring Concert
– April 30, 7 p.m. Free. This concert is titled “Pieces Put Together for Beautiful Music.” South High School Auditorium, 1213 W. Allison Road. 307-771-2410
All City Children’s Chorus Concert
– May 1, 4 p.m. The final performance in their 46th season, “Unforgettable,” is titled “Favorite Classics.” The concert will include songs that are favorites of the singers, the directors and the audience. The graduating 8th graders will be honored and ACCC alumni are invited to join the singers on the stage for the final number “River in Judea”.”Cheyenne Civic Center, 510 W. 20th St. 307-778-8561
LCCC presents Chanticleer
– May 1, 7 p.m. Laramie County Community College Foundation will host the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer. The performance will be the group’s second performance in Cheyenne and part of their 2022 Tour. Laramie County Community College, 1400 E. College Drive. 307-778-5222
Guided Play
– May 2, 10-11:45 a.m. Each week, the library will feature a different playscape in the Early Literacy Center, along with suggestions of how to engage your child in guided play. This week’s theme is “Dress Up and Pretend.” Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Sit, Stay, Read! Read to a Therapy Dog
– May 2, 4-5 p.m. Everyone loves to hear a story, even our four-pawed friends. Visit the library and practice reading aloud to one of the community’s therapy dogs. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
May the Fourth Celebrations
– May 4, 6-9 p.m. There’s a disturbance in the Force and the source of the disturbance is fun. Visit and celebrate May 4th with special guest characters from the 501st Legion Mountain Garrison. The library will have fun activities and refreshments with a Star Wars theme. Join for trivia starting at 7 p.m. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
May the Fourth DIY Lightsaber Workshop
– May 4, 6-7:30 p.m. Is the Force strong with you? Prove it by making your own lightsaber as part of the library’s May the 4th celebration. The library will provide all the materials you need to create your very own special Jedi blade. Sign up at lclsonline.org/calendar/. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Movies at the Library, Burns
– May 6, 1-3 p.m. Join the Burns Branch Library for a family friendly movie and some popcorn. This week’s movie is “Encanto” (PG). Burns Branch Library, 112 Main St. 307-547-2249
Friday Matinee, Pine Bluffs
– May 6, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Spend your Friday afternoons at the library to watch a family friendly matinee. Bring a favorite snack and enjoy the show. This week’s movie is “The Addams Family 2” (PG). Pine Bluffs Branch Library, 110 E. Second St. 307-245-3646
Arts Cheyenne ArtHaus Launch Party and Artwalk
– May 6, 6 p.m. Arts Cheyenne will be showcasing the first ArtHaus exhibit, a Fine Arts Cheyenne Invitational, which will highlight local artists’ work. Enjoy the art as you sip on a beverage and meet the artists eager to chat and share their creations. Cheyenne Depot, 232 W. 15th St. 307-632-3905
WyArt Coalition Fine Art Exchange
- May 6-7. The second installment of the Fine Art Exchange is here. Attendees can bid through the silent auction, or ... You know all those skills you have in plumbing? Or web design? Maybe you bake a killer wedding cake. How about just a crazy, off-the-wall skill you can teach? Well, now is your chance to offer that up in return for some artwork. Cheyenne Depot, 232 W. 15th St. 307-632-3905
CLTP presents “Cabaret”
– May 6-8, 12-15, 20-22, 7:30 p.m. $24, dinner theater $48. In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the “Cabaret.” With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, “Cabaret” explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Historic Atlas Theatre, 211 W. Lincolnway. 307-638-6543
Wyoming State Museum Family Day
May 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Join the Wyoming State Museum for a day dedicated to the diverse plant life of our state. Make your own potted plant, explore the root systems of your favorite flowers and meet experts from across Wyoming. The library will also hold story time from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wyoming State Museum, 2301 Central Ave. 307-630-2573
The Three Little Pigs: Musical Story Time and Instrument Petting Zoo
– May 7, 11 a.m. Free. Join master storyteller Aaron Sommers and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra musicians, violinist Sarah McCoy and cellist Suzy Wagner for musical story time. Activities presented in partnership with Delta-Kappa Gamma, Upsilon Chapter. Paul Smith Children’s Village at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, 710 S. Lions Park Drive. 307-637-6458
Gamers Unite: Super Smash Bros.
– May 6, 3-5 p.m. They’re crashing and smashing at the library. Go get your game on at Gamers Unite. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Virtual SaturD&D
– May 7, 1-3 p.m. Roleplaying adventure is just a click away. Join the library’s Teen D&D online community and get started on creating a character today. Don’t have a Discord account yet? No problem. Laramie County Library offers Discord Communities for teens to interact, chat, and play online. RSVP for the event at lclsonline.org/calendar/.
Guided Play
– May 9, 10-11:45 a.m. Each week, the library will feature a different playscape in the Early Literacy Center, along with suggestions of how to engage your child in guided play. This week’s theme is “Parachute Party.” Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
”Retribution” 30th Anniversary Tour
– May 9, 7 p.m. All ages. Donation required to enter. The legendary Death Metal band “Malevolent Creation” is on tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album “Retribution.” With touring acts Luna In Sanguinem, from Illinois and Narcotic Wasteland, featuring members from Florida and Colorado. Cheyenne’s own death dealers Casket Huffer, will be playing new tracks from their upcoming release. Ernie November, 217 W. Lincolnway. 307-632-6867
Ongoing
Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition
– Through Aug. 14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Presented by the Wyoming State Museum, this exhibit compiles 66 different pieces of artwork from artists around the state of Wyoming. Wyoming State Capitol basement extension, 200 W. 24th St. 307-777-7220
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”Mountains and Monochromatic” April Art Show
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{div class=”subscriber-only”}– Through April 30. Wednesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. No explanation needed for the mountains. This art show also features monochromatic works to convey simplicity, peacefulness, starkness, purity or other meaning. It can use different shades of one color, but, by definition, should contain only one base color. Cheyenne Artists Guild, 1701 Morrie Ave. 307-632-2263
Art & Text: Artist as Storyteller
– Through May 17, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Enjoy visual stories and the written word created by K–12 students in Laramie County School District 1. Art is located throughout all three floors of the library. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561{/div}
The Front Range
Alice in Wonderland
- April 29-30, May 6-7, 13-14, 7 p.m.; May 1, 7, 14, 1 p.m. $10. To celebrate their 30th season, Debut Theatre Company takes you on a delightful adventure to capture the imagination of all ages with clever, nonsensical word-play and irreverent humor. Lewis Carroll’s famous story about dreams and reality, childhood and growing up, games and nonsense, will transport you to a land that vexes time, stretches space and asks you to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St. 970-221-6730
Canyon Concert Ballet presents “Snow White”
– May 7-8, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $30-$40. This debut production brings to life the legendary fairy tale of Snow White. This production from new Artistic Director Michael Pappalardo will be complete with new sets, costumes and his exquisite choreographic style. Lincoln Center Performance Hall, 417 W. Magnolia St. 970-221-6730
”Black and White in Black and White” Exhibit
–Through May 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. $8. This new exhibit features striking photographs attributed to African American photographer John Johnson who took powerful, early 20th-century portraits of African Americans in Lincoln, Nebraska. Greeley History Museum, 714 9th St, Greeley, Colorado. 970-350-9220
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/sunday-calendar-4-24-22/article_426ad8bb-ce8f-54d4-93aa-21a7a1e67c2a.html
| 2022-04-24T14:56:43Z
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With the closing of Dillinger’s Bar, Cheyenne’s local comedy scene has entered an indefinite limbo.
But the comedians who called their Tuesday night comedy shows home are still here, doing what they can to stay on stage.
“With Dillinger’s closing down, there’s nowhere else to do stand up in Cheyenne at all,” local comedian Nikki Raxx said. “No place to actually hone our craft. There’s still people that I think would consider themselves a part of the comedy scene, but with no place to actually do comedy, it just seems like it’s a hard thing to maintain.”
Room to laugh
Dillinger’s, opened by Ryan and Ann Clement in 2019, was originally conceived as a sports bar, but became known for its comedy nights, which began in October 2020. Raxx is one of the original comedians to migrate to Dillinger’s when fellow Cheyenne-based comedian Dominic Syracuse introduced open mic night during the pandemic.
Open mic night became more than just a place for people to come in and hear from local comedians. It was a sort of safe haven for comedians to gather and work on material. Prior to stepping up at Dillinger’s, Raxx, like others, was heading down to Fort Collins, Greeley and Denver, Colorado, to work on his set.
He hardly knew there was anyone else that wanted to perform in town, but when he arrived on that first night, he was able to make quick acquaintance with not only the other comedians, but an enthusiastic and thick-skinned crowd.
“When I was out at Dillinger’s and they were getting ready to pull me on stage, I was regularly described as pretty ‘dark,’” Raxx said. “Cheyenne really seems to be into the dark. The darker the better with the audience, which I completely did not expect.”
Raxx has bombed before, he’s lost a crowd, and he’s even plummeted into doing a rendition of “The Aristocrats” (Google only if you have a sense of humor). For whatever reason, Cheyenne wanted the off-brand humor he had to offer, which he couldn’t have said about other cities where he has performed.
Then again, he’s looking for the dive bars – joints that hold about 35 people at maximum capacity. That was his target audience, but Dillinger’s worked just the same.
“If I do an open mic at a bar and grill somewhere, and it’s a family spot where everyone’s trying to get their grub on, and I’m up there excited to talk about school shootings or something, maybe that’s not the best place for me.”
Right now, Raxx is looking to enjoy the downtime, but he’ll be heading to Denver as soon as he’s got a solid five or 10 minutes of material to try out.
The comedy community
Meanwhile, Rhianna Brand is making trips to open mics in Denver and Fort Collins whenever she can, but it isn’t so simple with three kids to raise.
At age 19, Brand moved to Denver to pursue a career in comedy, but motherhood stalled her momentum. With her family in Cheyenne, it’s a long trip to Denver and back – too long to be away from home, especially with a day job to return to the next morning.
As a result, her career stalled. What got her back into comedy was the introduction of Dillinger’s open mic nights. It was a local venue that let her step out just one night a week to revisit her craft. This meant even more during the pandemic, when comedians were largely out of work, and everyone needed a good place to hole up and laugh at the outside world.
“When the world shut down, and we had our Tuesday nights at Dillinger’s, our comedy nights, we all had a little bit more time, and we all really needed each other,” Brand said. “It was terrifying, and the neuroscience of laughter in order to process hard things and trauma is a real thing.”
During the pandemic, comedy was a form of therapy for many. With Dillinger’s being one of the only locations open locally during the shutdown, it couldn’t have been a better scenario for Brand.
One thing she cited was the diverse group of comedians that stepped on stage who were able to work on their material at the time. While her comedy centers around the throes of parenting, people had the opportunity to push the envelope.
Though some of the comedians presented dark material at Dillinger’s, the comedy community used the space as a place to support one another. She’s most nostalgic when reminiscing about that core group that met up every Tuesday night.
Local support
Brand remembers Syracuse, who hosted open mic nights, helping comedians tighten up their sets with small tips.
Syracuse was instrumental in creating the energy of open mic night, but in the fall of last year, he stepped away from the role to pursue his own career in comedy and promoting. He’s now on national tours, stopping in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and getting ready to film a comedy special in a prison in Los Angeles, among other endeavors.
After his departure, comedians noticed a drop in attendance, and the nights weren’t quite the same.
“Dom marketed Dillinger’s so good to really drive home that it was a comedy club,” comedian Zach Roberts said. “He would tell everybody, ‘Hey, shut up, we’re trying to do our thing.’ If you wanted to heckle, then dope. I had our first heckler, and I handled it like an animal.”
Roberts, also one of the original crew to perform at open mic night, saw the local scene start to change before it disappeared. The comedians were a tight-knit bunch, but without support from the audience, there won’t be room for a comedy club to succeed in Cheyenne.
At Dillinger’s, the group of comedians felt like they could say what they wanted and actually tell their jokes without repercussions. While the audience at Dillinger’s was better than most, he felt that there needed to be more trust and patience given during open mic nights.
People would stop attending, and when they did, it wasn’t particularly challenging to draw a laugh. This sounds like an admittedly odd complaint, but it stems from one thing that Roberts doesn’t shy away from – failure.
Consider this from a comedian’s perspective: the only way for a comic to improve their craft is to find out which jokes work and which don’t based off the laughs they receive. The jokes that bomb in Denver seemed to be working a little too well locally.
“I almost want to say it’s dead,” Roberts said about the current state of the local comedy scene. “I haven’t found a place to do comedy here at all, and neither have my friends, not since Dillinger’s is gone.
“It’s like a bad breakup, where I’m like, ‘I have to move on, and I have to find somebody that’s going to love me and care for me.’”
Like the other veterans, Roberts remembers when other locations in town gave open mic nights a chance. Usually, it doesn’t take too long for a venue to nix their comedy night.
At one point, they were performing at Scooters Bar and Package Liquor. Alf’s Pub hosted an open mic night, as well, but as multiple local comedians recollect, the audience didn’t take to their sense of humor.
The intrusive nature of comedy might just be the biggest thing preventing a comedy night from gaining solid traction. Stand-up comedy isn’t something that can work as background noise, like a jam band playing in the corner. At the very least, it’s distracting, with the audience members potentially being offended by the jokes.
To Roberts, it’s up to businesses to take another chance. While comedy nights have failed in the past, he’s sure that with community support, comedy can survive here.
“Just actively wanting to see comedy because it is an art form, it’s been around forever, it’s never gonna die,” he said. “We might as well make it a thing here in Cheyenne. Why does Chicago get to have it? Why does New York get to have it? Why does Los Angeles get to have it, but we can’t?
“Just because they have more people? No. Because they have people that are interested in comedy.”
Hope for the future
Another original comedian from Dillinger’s is Giovanni Trevino, who goes by the stage name Geo the Leo. Last weekend, he held the first set of comedy shows at the Lamp Lounge in south Cheyenne, and he doesn’t plan for those to be the last.
In the final months of Dillinger’s open mic nights, Trevino stepped in to emcee the event. When he was profiled by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle in May 2021, he spoke extensively of his battles with depression and how comedy has always been his escape from day-to-day troubles.
Now, after having the chance to host and develop his comedy around the Front Range, he feels like he’s the person with the ability to maintain the Capital City’s comedy scene.
“I got people really noticing me for something that I actually like doing,” he said while sitting in the back lot of the Paramount Cafe. “Nobody has a construction job and just loves going there. It’s love for what they do – I’ve worked construction plenty of times – but some people hate their job.
“I want to do something that I love to do and make money and live the life I want to live doing it.”
But there was a time, toward the end of last year, when he considered quitting. He felt like he “lost the funny,” and had failed to come up with something new. Then, there’s the pressure from the crowd, laboring over one joke, only for the crowd to laugh, then demand a new joke the following week.
In Greeley, Trevino and Roberts have each participated in a successful string of “roast battles,” hosted by comedian Rudy Garcia, where comedians insult each other for laughs. This is where Trevino especially finds a pocket he’s comfortable in.
“Oh yeah, I’m all about talking (expletive),” he said.
He describes his own comedic style as urban, citing influences from Def Jam-era comedy. From his perspective, there’s a lack of “urban” comedy in Cheyenne, and the Lamp Lounge is his chance to change that perception.
The Lamp Lounge has tried to host comedy nights before, but like the others, eventually the enthusiasm dimmed out. One of the issues, said some of these comedians, are the rumors that The Lamp isn’t a safe bar.
“It’s cultured, for sure,” Trevino said. “It’s just a different vibe compared to the rest of the town. They’re trying to change the image of it. It has always been known as, I guess you could say, the ‘urban bar,’ or whatnot.
“But those are all people I grew up around. That’s all the (expletive) that I grew up around.”
What he wants to do is create a space similar to the hit comedy show “Wildn’ Out,” where groups of comedians divided into two teams take the stage and compete in a series of stand-up comedy based games. Trevino wants to incorporate the crowd and make sure that everyone is involved.
It’s a different concept than Cheyenne has seen before, but he believes that there’s a market for this rowdy brand of comedy.
But actions speak louder than words, so for the next couple months, Trevino will be working to get something up and running for Cheyenne to return to.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/without-an-open-mic-night-local-comedy-is-in-limbo/article_d056bca8-21b8-5271-aff0-d7cdc896778e.html
| 2022-04-24T14:56:49Z
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SUNDAY
Understanding Medicare informational meeting: 3 p.m., American Legion post, 417 E. Ivinson Ave. Free and open to the public.
UW Department of Music presents “Grieg, Violin Sonatas for Flute”: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. Free to attend and public is invited.
MONDAY
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Wyoming’s energy economy panel discussion: 6 p.m., online at uweconomists.eventbrite.com. Features four University of Wyoming economists.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
America Sewing Guild Laramie Chapter meets: 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1215 E. Gibbon St. Please enter through the lower east door off the parking lot.
TUESDAY
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Free stress relief clinic: 1-2 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
Albany County Public Library Board meets: 4 p.m., in the large meeting room at the library’s Laramie branch. Public comments can be emailed to rcrocker@acplwy.org to be read aloud at the meeting.
WEDNESDAY
Laramie Tai Chi and tea: Meets at 1:30 p.m. at the north end of the stadium in Laramie Plainsman Park, North 15th and Reynolds. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
WU Theatre and Dance presents rock musical “Be Like Joe”: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets — $14, $11 for seniors and $7 for students — call 307-766-6666 or visit uwyo.edu/finearts.
THURSDAY
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Albany County Democrats host legislative town hall and pizza party: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lincoln Community Center, 365 W. Grand Ave. Also will be livestreamed on the Albany County Democrats Facebook page.
International Night at Laramie High School: 6-7:30 p.m., at the school. Tickets cost $15 and are available 3:15-4:15 p.m. in the lobby through April 22.
Stitching the Past Together creative aging class: 6:30-8 p.m., Albany County Public Library large meeting room. Students will learn memory-based storytelling through beading techniques in this free course. Register at acplwy.org or at the circulation desk.
WU Theatre and Dance presents rock musical “Be Like Joe”: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets — $14, $11 for seniors and $7 for students — call 307-766-6666 or visit uwyo.edu/finearts.
FRIDAY
Free stress relief clinic: Noon to 1 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
Pianist Cory Smythe public recital: 7 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. Performing with Sherry Sinift on violin and James Przygocki on viola. Free to attend.
UW Planetarium presents “Mars”: 7 p.m., UW Planetarium. The red planet is host to many questions; did it used to be like Earth? Did it once harbor life? Could it still support life?
WU Theatre and Dance presents rock musical “Be Like Joe”: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets — $14, $11 for seniors and $7 for students — call 307-766-6666 or visit uwyo.edu/finearts.
SATURDAY
Free stress relief clinic: 10-11 a.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Mexica Archaeoastronomy”: 2 p.m., UW Planetarium. Illustrates the important role played by astronomical observation for the evolution of pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico.
UW Planetarium presents “Liquid Sky, Electronica”: 7 p.m., UW Planetarium. Enjoy a custom playlist of music from today’s top artists.
WU Theatre and Dance presents rock musical “Be Like Joe”: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets — $14, $11 for seniors and $7 for students — call 307-766-6666 or visit uwyo.edu/finearts.
May 1
Learn about veterans benefits and how to apply: 3 p.m., American Legion post, 417 E. Ivinson Ave. Free and open to the public.
May 2
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
May 3
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Free stress relief clinic: 1-2 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Wyoming Skies”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. What’s up in the sky around Wyoming? Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 4
Laramie Tai Chi and tea: Meets at 1:30 p.m. at the north end of the stadium in Laramie Plainsman Park, North 15th and Reynolds. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson Medical Group women’s health prenatal education: 5:30 p.m., Ivinson Memorial Hospital in the Summit Conference Room. Learn more or register at ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
May 5
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Diabetes Support Group meets: 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Email questions@ivinsosnhospital.org for the link.
Cinco de Mayo at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Horse Barn Theater at the site. Free to public.
Stitching the Past Together creative aging class: 6:30-8 p.m., Albany County Public Library large meeting room. Students will learn memory-based storytelling through beading techniques in this free course. Register at acplwy.org or at the circulation desk.
UW Symphony presents “An American in Paris”: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall. For tickets call 307-766-6666, visit the UW box offices at Fine Arts or the Student Union, or visit uwyo.edu/fineart.
May 6
Free stress relief clinic: Noon to 1 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Astrology”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. Look into the past at the origins of astrology and learn how it’s affected the world, along with why we don’t depend on it today. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 7
Free stress relief clinic: 10-11 a.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Europe to the Stars”: 2 p.m., UW Planetarium. An epic journey behind the scenes at the most productive ground-based observatory in the world. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
VFW Post 2221 Commander’s Charity Dinner: 5:30-8 p.m., 2142 E. Garfield St. Tickets 412 at the door, all proceeds to benefit VFW Poppy Fund and Albany County Search and Rescue.
UW Planetarium presents “Liquid Sky Indie Rock”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. Enjoy a custom playlist of music from out-of-this-world artists pushing the limits of rock. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 9
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
May 10
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Free stress relief clinic: 1-2 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
Albany County Republican Party meets: 6 p.m., Albany County Public Library.
May 11
Laramie Tai Chi and tea: Meets at 1:30 p.m. at the north end of the stadium in Laramie Plainsman Park, North 15th and Reynolds. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson Medical Group women’s health prenatal education: 5:30 p.m., Ivinson Memorial Hospital in the Summit Conference Room. Learn more or register at ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
May 12
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Stitching the Past Together creative aging class: 6:30-8 p.m., Albany County Public Library large meeting room. Students will learn memory-based storytelling through beading techniques in this free course. Register at acplwy.org or at the circulation desk.
May 13
Free stress relief clinic: Noon to 1 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Extrasolar Planets”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. Just a couple of decades ago scientists could only speculate if planets existed around the other stars of our galaxy. Today, an abundance of diverse worlds are cataloged each day. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 14
University of Wyoming graduation ceremony: 8:30 a.m., UW Arena-Auditorium, undergraduate ceremony for the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engineering and Applied Science and School of Energy Resources.
Free stress relief clinic: 10-11 a.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
University of Wyoming graduation ceremony: 10 a.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, for the College of Law.
University of Wyoming graduation ceremony: 12:15 p.m., UW Arena-Auditorium, for master’s and doctoral students from colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business, Education, Engineering and Applied Science, Health Sciences and Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources.
UW Planetarium presents “Out There: Extrasolar Worlds”: 2 p.m., UW Planetarium. For thousands of years, mankind thought that the Earth was the center of the universe. Thanks to our curiosity, imagination and urge to explore, we now know that planets like ours are nothing special in the cosmos. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
University of Wyoming graduation ceremony: 3:30 p.m., UW Arena-Auditorium, for undergraduate ceremony for colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and Office of Academic Affairs.
UW Planetarium presents “Liquid Sky Pop”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. Enjoy a custom playlist of music from today’s pop artists. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 16
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
May 17
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Free stress relief clinic: 1-2 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Wyoming Skies”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. What’s up in the sky around Wyoming? Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 18
Laramie Tai Chi and tea: Meets at 1:30 p.m. at the north end of the stadium in Laramie Plainsman Park, North 15th and Reynolds. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson Medical Group women’s health prenatal education: 5:30 p.m., Ivinson Memorial Hospital in the Summit Conference Room. Learn more or register at ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
May 19
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Stitching the Past Together creative aging class: 6:30-8 p.m., Albany County Public Library large meeting room. Students will learn memory-based storytelling through beading techniques in this free course. Register at acplwy.org or at the circulation desk.
May 20
Albany County CattleWomen meet: 11:30 a.m., location tbd. Visit wyaccw.com in the week before the meeting for location and more information.
Free stress relief clinic: Noon to 1 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Science of Sci-Fi”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. Everyone loves a good sci-fi movie, but how much is science and how much is fiction? Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 21
Free stress relief clinic: 10-11 a.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
UW Planetarium presents “Hot and Energetic Universe”: 2 p.m., UW Planetarium. The planetarium documentary “The Hot and Energetic Universe” presents with the use of immersive visualizations and real images the achievements of modern astronomy. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
UW Planetarium presents “Liquid Sky Throwbacks”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. Stranger Things meets Guardians of the Galaxy — 1980s nostalgia addicts unite! Enjoy a custom playlist of music from yesterday’s top artists. Tickets $5; $3 for UW students, staff and first responders; free for children younger than 5. Call 307-766-6506.
May 23
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
America Sewing Guild Laramie Chapter meets: 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1215 E. Gibbon St. Please enter through the lower east door off the parking lot.
May 24
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Free stress relief clinic: 1-2 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
May 25
Laramie Tai Chi and tea: Meets at 1:30 p.m. at the north end of the stadium in Laramie Plainsman Park, North 15th and Reynolds. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
May 26
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Stitching the Past Together creative aging class: 6:30-8 p.m., Albany County Public Library large meeting room. Students will learn memory-based storytelling through beading techniques in this free course. Register at acplwy.org or at the circulation desk.
May 27
Free stress relief clinic: Noon to 1 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
May 28
Free stress relief clinic: 10-11 a.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
May 30
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
May 31
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Free stress relief clinic: 1-2 p.m., Laramie Plains Civic Center Phoenix Ballroom.
Have an event for What’s Happening? Send it to Managing Editor Greg Johnson at gjohnson@laramieboomerang.com.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/announcements/whats-happening/article_d6fcfda5-91e8-5643-814a-ef303e1e6166.html
| 2022-04-24T14:56:55Z
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As Ukrainian forces mark two months of defending their homes and homeland against a full-scale Russian invasion, those in Wyoming with ties to their country are fighting their own battles from half a world away.
The Laramie community has been brought closer to the conflict through a series of rallies, educational events and fundraisers aimed at helping the Ukrainian army and people. At the center of many of them is Ukrainian exchange student Anastasiia Pereverten, who came to the University of Wyoming at the beginning of the semester to study abroad.
For Pereverten, advocating for Ukraine has become a full-time job on top of her obligations as a student. One of her greatest battles has been educating those around her about a country many in the United States know very little about.
“(During) the rallies, we address a huge amount of attention and time toward informing people about the culture (and) the demographics of Ukraine,” Pereverten said.
Since Russia escalated the war with Ukraine by launching a full-scale invasion Feb. 24, Pereverten has been featured in the Boomerang, and her story has spread and been reported by other news outlets around Wyoming and beyond. She’s been approached by reporters from ABC and USA Today. She’s coordinated rallies with students, professors and staff from the university and gave a lecture on Ukrainian culture and her own experience and insights of the war.
“For the first three days, everyone was so numb about (the war),” Pereverten said about the beginning of the invasion. “Nothing was happening, (and) no one was reacting. In five or six days people became more and more supportive.”
Up until the university went on spring break, Pereverten was skipping classes because she was so focused on what was going on in her home country.
The human equation
Allen Gonzales-Willert, a Laramie resident who spent two years teaching English in Sokal, Ukraine, had a similar experience.
“I couldn’t get through the day — I just started crying, which never happens,” Gonzales-Willert said of trying to work during those first few days. “I don’t like the idea of crying at work and I usually try to keep my mind off of things.”
Pereverten eventually met Gonzales-Willert and Katherine Fitch, who also worked in the Peace Corps. They organized a rally in support of Ukraine, and as the word of their efforts spread a group of advocates began to take shape.
“I feel like some people only have the idea that you can only understand this if you are Ukrainian,” Gonzales-Willert said. “I don’t feel like this.”
Students began making buttons and T-shirts, and many approached Pereverten with ideas on how to help her country. Along with the rallies, people began creating resources to point people to where they can donate to humanitarian and military efforts. One class at the university held a tutorial on how to make a traditional Lviv cheesecake and raised $200 in donations from students in the process.
Residence halls shared fliers with information on the war, and campus groups are hosting an educational documentary screening Friday.
“Not all of the results are tangible now. Many of them are,” Pereverten said. “Students started to express solidarity by wearing flags (and) stickers and attending events. I know a couple of students who have attended every event we’ve organized in Laramie.”
The group has raised about $2,500 for Ukraine through rallies. Another $2,000 went to World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit helping feed Ukrainian refugees, thanks to a fundraiser that Devine Eats hosted with the help of owner Linda Devine, Pereverten, local politicians Trey Sherwood and Cathy Connolly and others.
Above and beyondOne of Pereverten’s classmates far exceeded expectations for helping the cause when the man, a retired soldier, left school to travel to Ukraine and join the military in the country’s fight against Russia.
“I was not just shocked, I was out of words,” Pereverten said of learning of the man’s actions.
Pereverten spend hours talking and sharing information about Ukraine with the man, who she didn’t name out of concern for his safety.
From the United States, the greatest battle for Ukraine advocates is fighting misinformation about the nation.
“Ukraine is a very diverse country,” Gonzales-Willert said. “It’s very big, and the Ukrainians I know and spoke with all want a future close to Europe and the West, and not to Russia.”
He explained that many Americans see Ukraine through the lens of stereotypes and its relation to Russia as a former member of the Soviet Union. Ukraine broke from the Soviet Union as its own sovereign nation in 1991.
But the nation is much more than a Russian afterthought, Gonzales-Willert said.
Pereverten explained the Ukrainian language has significant linguistic differences from Russian, and that it’s a myth that so many Eastern Ukrainians speak Russian and wanted to be a part of the invading country.
She also noted that Ukraine still has internet access and is connected to the world financially, even during the war. Her relatives are experiencing some amount of normalcy as they are in the process of planting their home garden, and some restaurants in Kiev are beginning to operate again.
Living in a war zone
But the signs of war are unavoidable.
Pereverten’s family and friends in Kiev are still witnessing air sirens, bombing and shellings that kill civilians. In areas such as Mariupol that are taken by Russian forces, the situation is much worse.
“What’s going on in Mariupol is just genocide,” Pereverten said.
She continues to advocate for material action over words and sentiments as ways to help people in the country.
That Ukrainians have been putting up such a stalwart defense in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds sends a message to the world, Gonzales-Willert said.
“They will fight tooth and nail for every inch of land to protect their future and their children’s future to ensure a better future than they had,” she said
It’s a heartbreaking situation that’s generated a patriotic Ukrainian response inspiring to patriots of all nations.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/beyond-borders-local-advocates-for-ukraine-educate-community-on-culture-war/article_9488d875-7818-5f98-928a-2935f2e7b30e.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:01Z
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Water main work on 3rd Street continues
Beginning Tuesday, 3rd Street in Laramie will be closed from Flint to Harney streets with only two lanes open on the east side of the road between Harney to Shield Street.
The reason for the closure is continued work by the city for a water line replacement.
Traffic will be detoured to 4th Street and two entrances to the Gateway Plaza will be maintained at all times.
After the water main work, 3rd Street north of Harney will be paved and opened fully, while closures will continue south of Harney. The rolling closures will continue about three blocks at a time.
The project will continue south through Sheridan Street throughout the summer and until complete, which is estimated to be around Oct. 31.
The city will provide updates throughout the summer as sections of 3rd Street are closed and re-opened.
For more information or to comment, contact the city at engineering@cityoflaramie.org or 307-721-5250.
First-of-its-kind tourism summit set for Centennial Valley
The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) initiative at the University of Wyoming will co-host a Centennial Valley Tourism Summit on Wednesday with Visit Laramie and the Albany County Tourism Board.
The primary purposes of the summit are to provide tourism-related businesses in the Centennial Valley with updates from key stakeholders and to gather information on how UW and WORTH can support Centennial Valley tourism-related businesses.
Key stakeholders presenting will be Visit Laramie and the Albany County Tourism Board, the U.S. Forest Service’s Laramie Ranger District, the Wyoming Office of Tourism and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.
The summit is from 9 a.m. to noon at the Trading Post in Centennial.
“Our hope is that local business owners and stakeholders will gain a broad understanding of what is happening in the greater Centennial Valley this upcoming season and information they can use to inform their guests and operations,” said WORTH Director Dan McCoy. “Furthermore, we (UW) hope to learn how we can better support the tourism industry through WORTH.”
WORTH kicked off in March with money from Gov. Mark Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership and is piloting the summit as a possible future model for others statewide to support the tourism industry.
For more information, call McCoy at 307-766-5009 or email dan.mccoy@uwyo.edu.
WyoTech, Penske team up to brand education space
WyoTech and Penske Truck Leasing recently held a dedication ceremony in Laramie to brand a diesel training classroom.
The classroom will be used for hands-on diesel technology training, introducing students to skills in areas like as diagnostics, fuel and engine exhaust systems, maintenance and repair, industry certifications and career opportunities.
Penske has hired more than 280 WyoTech graduates over the past 10 years to work as technicians in its regional operations.
"WyoTech is proud to support Penske in delivering entry-level technicians to meet the needs of Penske's job openings," said Shawn Nunley, vice president of training at WyoTech. "The partnership we have with Penske provides a pathway for career opportunities after our students' nine months of training at WyoTech.
“Having a classroom branded with the Penske name is aspirational for our students while they are here — a reminder to show up and work hard for the opportunity to work at a company like Penske. We love to see our graduates land with great employers."
"Diesel technicians are vital to Penske and the entire industry," said Fred Haddad, area vice president of Penske Truck Leasing. "The technicians graduating from WyoTech, and that subsequently get hired to work in trucking, maintain vehicle uptime and supply chain efficiency."
New podiatrist has long considered Laramie home
Ivinson Medical Group has added a home-grown podiatrist to its list of practitioners at the group’s surgical clinic.
Dr. Dusty Christensen specializes is foot and ankle surgery and will offer podiatry services for a wide range of foot and ankle concerns. He has special interest in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery, total ankle replacement, ankle arthroscopy and sports injuries.
“I believe in an informative model of patient care,” Dr. Christensen said. “I want my patients to leave feeling educated and empowered about their specific health care journey and feel as though they were the only patient I saw that day.”
Although originally from Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, Laramie is home. He grew up here while his mother pursued her undergraduate and doctorate degrees at the University of Wyoming.
Workshops provide valuable business lessons for artists
The Wyoming Arts Council is partnering with classical flutist and entrepreneur Nicole Riner to host a series of workshops focused on business skills for artists.
- From 5:30-7 p.m. May 25, Riner will host a portfolio kit workshop at the University of Wyoming Art Museum in Laramie. In this interactive workshop, participants will build a solid, usable portfolio they can pull out and tweak as needed that allows them to be ready for sudden opportunities.
- From 5:30-6:30 p.m. June 15, she’ll host a funding workshop, also at the UW Art Museum. This workshop aims to take what participants already do and spark creative thinking about how to get the work done without having to go to the same funding sources over and over. They’ll learn traditional and contemporary funding models.
Both workshops are a suggested cost of $10 or pay what you can and are open to artists of all mediums. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/3epvaj3j. Each workshop is limited to a maximum of 25 participants.
The workshops are a pilot for what the WAC hopes to expand in the near future.
For more information, contact Taylor Craig at 307-274-6673 or taylor.craig@wyo.gov.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/local-briefs/article_bd8b0e99-f963-5394-883a-c0f920f0674e.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:07Z
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Parents who say their daughters were victims in a blackmail case involving a Burns High School student say the school district has been slow to respond to the incident, keeping the student in classes and in extracurricular activities with some of the alleged victims for months.
Two parents of a pair of underage students spoke to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and asked that their names not be used.
The parents and an attorney connected to the case said an investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation revealed the student had altered photos of female classmates to make them appear nude. He apparently threatened to send the doctored photos to colleges, teachers, student activity leaders and parents if the female students did not send him genuine photos that were sexually explicit.
One of the parents said they became aware of the case in September after the suspect threatened their daughter, and that the DCI investigation began the same week. The other parent said they were notified by DCI their daughter was a victim in the case sometime in February.
“Several” of the victims have switched to online schooling because of the stress associated with having to face the alleged perpetrator, one parent said.
This parent said there had been “absolute inaction” thus far on the part of the school district and school administrators, other than no longer allowing the accused student to participate in large school gatherings.
“The key to this is the school district not having a policy,” the parent said. “Girls continue to be victimized (at school).”
The parent referenced school activities that require participants to sign a code of conduct. A discipline matrix on the LCSD2 and Burns High websites lists potential consequences for things like harassment and “sexually-based behaviors,” including referral to law enforcement and/or expulsion.
Another parent said their daughter had changed her own schedule to avoid being in class with the accused student. The parent said her daughter was told by Burns High’s administration that the accused student was leaving classes early so the alleged victims wouldn’t have to see him in the hallway.
That’s not enough, the parent said.
“There’s no possible way, without physically removing him from the building, that you can keep the girls and him out of each other’s line of sight (consistently),” the parent said. “My daughter is at a point with the school that she feels like they’re protecting him more than her.”
Insufficient response
An LCSD2 student also brought up the issue at a March 14 meeting of the district’s board of trustees. Speaking during the public comment period, the student asserted that “right now, we have a very big problem in our school system.”
“I am moving to suggest a policy that would remove charged felons from the general student body,” the student said, according to a recording of the meeting.
There were more than 30 victims at Burns “who are having to look a charged felon in the eyes within a general classroom,” the student said, adding that the proposed policy would put the accused student “in isolation” in an effort to protect not only the alleged victims, but others who attend the Burns school, as well.
A trustee told her that although the board would not respond that evening, “we will certainly, at some point, address those kinds of things.”
This student’s family said that, as of Thursday, they had not received a response from the school board.
DCI Director Forrest Williams confirmed in an email to the WTE that the agency had investigated the case and that the student had been charged. The WTE could not confirm what charges had been filed against the student or the current status of the case, however.
Laramie County assistant district attorney Jeff O’Holleran, identified by parents and an LCSD2 attorney as the prosecutor in the case, declined to comment on any juvenile matter. That’s because juvenile cases are kept confidential, except in some specific circumstances, according to Wyoming statute.
LCSD2 Superintendent Justin Pierantoni and Burns Junior-Senior High School Principal Bobby Dishman did not respond to the WTE’s phone and email queries. LCSD2 board Chair Julianne Randall and Vice Chair Mike Olson did not respond to emails.
“The school district is aware of concerns that some students and their families have raised,” said Scott Kolpitcke, an attorney for LCSD2, in a phone interview with the WTE. “They have responded and addressed those within the scope of the law.”
In response to another email invitation for comment Thursday, Kolpitcke wrote, “Laramie County School District #2 is aware of concerns raised by some students and parents regarding the incidents you described. As with any complaint about student conduct, LCSD#2 takes appropriate steps, within the scope of the law, to investigate complaints, and to protect students. LCSD#2 cannot comment on specific details of actions it may have taken, or any investigations conducted, because state and federal laws protect the confidentiality and privacy of student information. The School District has policies in place to address student conduct, including, but not limited to policies which address alleged sexual harassment under Title IX. The School District has complied with its policies, and with the applicable laws, and will continue to do so in the best interests of its students.”
Coincidentally, family members of a Natrona County School District 1 student spoke before that school board about a similar issue, also on March 14.
According to reporting by the Casper Star-Tribune, family members of a girl attending a Casper high school said a student had committed sexual battery against her. They asked the board why the student was still allowed to play sports for his high school, despite having been convicted and sentenced to probation lasting until August.
The newspaper later reported that, according to a letter from Chadron State College in Nebraska, the accused high school student was no longer planning to attend following the accusations becoming public. It was unclear whether the college had revoked the student’s admission or if he’d decided not to attend. It was also unclear when the decision was made.
At an April board meeting, a Natrona County trustee said that, after hearing the family’s story, he believed the student code of conduct needed to be “’revised to better clarify its intent and to better ensure its consistent application’ among students,” the Star-Tribune reported.
Lawyer: Burns principal dismissive
In a March 18 letter to Superintendent Pierantoni, an attorney for one of the juvenile victims, Bruce Moats, argued on behalf of the victim’s mother that the district should “take remedial action to protect the safety of her daughter and the other female students as required by law.”
Moats is a Cheyenne public access attorney who has represented many news outlets, including the WTE.
Such a request to Dishman, the school’s principal, was “dismissed with what might be described as disdain,” Moats wrote.
“The principal made several excuses, including that he did not know whether the electronic messages occurred on campus,” the attorney continued, later adding that Dishman had “indicated he knew that the messages were not sent at school or on a school activity.”
Moats wrote that “at the very least, the messages traveled onto campus, which is sufficient under law to grant the district jurisdiction to act.”
“It is clear that the district has an obligation to maintain a safe learning environment for all students. That includes an environment free of sexual harassment pursuant to Title IX,” Moats wrote. “It is clear that this situation has affected the learning environment of the female students, as it has caused them to miss school because they do not feel safe.”
Title IX is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal funding.
Citing case law, Moats argued in his letter that there are legal grounds to separate a student charged with a crime from his alleged victims at school and during activities.
“This is not a case where the school is faced with conduct that it cannot remedy,” he wrote. “The school district has the ability to keep the parties separated and not require the female students to have to attend school with the alleged harasser. Your own Title IX policy requires you to take action.”
Moats requested in the letter, on behalf of his client, that the matter be referred to the district’s Title IX coordinator.
Both parents of alleged victims said they had either filed or were in the process of filing Title IX complaints related to the case. One of these complaints is currently being investigated, according to a parent.
Both said they also were in the process of filing complaints with the Office of Civil Rights, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/parents-school-district-fails-to-protect-blackmail-victims/article_f458e2a7-5792-52d0-9069-8b7a9c54b390.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:14Z
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Sometimes the best way to build something great is to take an idea and put it into action.
This is how the University of Wyoming Ethics Club went from merely talking about helping others to donating more than $80,000 to area nonprofits this year alone.
In 2018, members of the club started working with partners at the university and within the greater community to raise money to donate to a good cause. Through that effort, the SparkTank fundraiser was born.
Ethics Club students select a group of about 20 local nonprofits to participate in a competition for the money. The nonprofits go through multiple rounds of pitching the importance and impact of their programs.
All the while, business students at the university work with donors to raise as much money as they can. At the end of the competition, the club decides how to divide the money among the finalists.
The first year, the event raised about $10,000. It quadrupled in 2020, and has continued to increase since.
This year, more than 180 people donated to the cause. The top donors include the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, the Scarlett Family Foundation and OtterBox.
The donations have a profound impact on the work local nonprofits can achieve, said UW student and Ethics Club President Tucker Norman. Last year, Laramie Foster Closet won the competition.
“Donating money to them really showed that we make an impact in the community,” Norman said. “I desire to be in this (club) that actually does a lot for the community and helps in a very meaningful way.”
Cathedral Home for Children, SAFE Project, Healthy Kids Rx and My Front Door are the finalists contending for this year’s fundraising.
“The things we are providing are very basic needs that people deserve to have just because they’re alive,” said Rachel LeBeau, development director at Cathedral Home for Children.
The UW students involved in SparkTank spent time visiting the nonprofits and learning more about the work they do. Throughout the project, they are working to build connections between students and community.
“They’ve been very consistent in communicating with us and always offering help and support through the process,” said Nicole Bleak, spokesperson for Healthy Kids Rx. “It’s always fun to work with university students who are young and really have the energy to do a good job with things.”
Typically, young people don’t have the time or financial ability to do philanthropy work, Bleak said. The SparkTank has opened doors for a new demographic of people to the possibilities of doing community work.
For Norman, the reason behind working for SparkTank is simple. It comes from a passion for helping others that is shared by members of the Ethics Club.
“People are the answer when it comes to making these projects come together,” Norman said. “It’s not about how much you can do on your own, it’s what you can make come together with others as a group.”
On Thursday, the nonprofits will give their final presentations for the competition and leave the club to deliberate on choosing winners and how much to award them.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/sparktank-event-combines-business-philantropy/article_6bec7399-5d68-5ed8-a031-86ccee257f90.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:20Z
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A new analysis of archaeological sites in the Americas challenges relatively new theories that the earliest human inhabitants of North America arrived before the migration of people from Asia across the Bering Strait.
Conducted by University of Wyoming Professor Todd Surovell and colleagues from UW and five other institutions, the analysis suggests that misinterpretation of archaeological evidence at certain sites in North and South America might be responsible for theories that humans arrived long before 13,000-14,200 years ago.
Their findings were announced this past week in PLOS One, a journal published by the Public Library of Science.
The paper is the latest development in the debate over the peopling of the Americas, in which some are now questioning the long-held consensus that the first Americans were hunter-gatherers who entered North America from Asia via the Beringia land bridge up to 14,200 years ago, and then dispersed southward between two large glaciers that covered much of the continent.
The conclusions of Surovell and colleagues are based on an analysis of buried archaeological deposits using a new statistic they developed called the Apparent Stratigraphic Integrity Index.
While the stratigraphic integrity of early archaeological sites in Alaska is high — producing strong evidence in support of unambiguous human occupation — the sites in more southern locations pointing to possible earlier human occupation show signs of artifact mixing among multiple time periods.
“If humans managed to breach the continental ice sheets significantly before 13,000 years ago, there should be clear evidence for it in the form of at least some stratigraphically discrete archeological components with a relatively high artifact count. So far, no such evidence exists,” Surovell and colleagues wrote. “(Our) findings support the hypothesis that the first human arrival to the New World occurred by at least 14,200 years ago in Beringia and by approximately 13,000 years ago in the temperate latitudes of North America.
“Strong evidence for human presence before those dates has yet to be identified in the archaeological record.”
Specifically, the new analysis compared the stratigraphic integrity of three sites argued to contain evidence of earlier human occupation, two in Texas and one in Idaho, with the integrity of sites in Alaska, Wyoming and Pennsylvania. The three sites claimed to be older than 13,000 years ago all showed patterns of significant mixing while the others did not.
The researchers were unable to obtain detailed information about some other sites in North and South America purported to contain evidence of human occupation before 13,000 years ago.
“Sites claimed to be older than 13,000 years ago are few, and data supporting their status as sites have been poorly disseminated,” Surovell and colleagues wrote. “Given the status of available data regarding these sites, we must question whether there are any sites in the Americas south of the ice sheets that exhibit an unambiguous and stratigraphically discrete cultural occupation with sufficient numbers of artifacts of clear human manufacture.”
The paper doesn’t completely rule out the possibility that humans colonized the Americas at an earlier date.
“But if they did, they should have produced stratigraphically discrete occupation surfaces, some of which would be expected to have large numbers of artifacts,” according to their findings.
“That they did so in Beringia but failed to do so south of the continental glaciers suggests that either there was something fundamentally different about pre-Clovis human behavior and/or geomorphology south of the ice sheets or that the evidence indicating the presence of humans south of the ice sheets has been misinterpreted,” the researchers wrote. “At a minimum, it shows that, when stratigraphically discrete occupations are not present, additional studies must be performed to demonstrate that stratigraphic integrity of association between artifacts and dated strata exist.”
Joining Surovell in the research were UW colleagues Sarah Allaun, Robert Kelly, Marcel Kornfeld and Mary Lou Larson; Wyoming State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton; Barbara Crass and Charles Holmes of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks; Joseph Gingerich of Ohio University and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History; Kelly Graf of Texas A&M University; and Kathryn Krasinski and Brian Wygal, both of Adelphi University.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/uw-led-study-challenges-theories-of-human-arrival-in-americas/article_35672878-d551-53c1-9416-6f12f7f3130a.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:26Z
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/wanted-your-yellowstone-memories/article_b1d57fde-5655-5531-b1ee-7f69bc55d3df.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:32Z
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Another week filled with outrage, unsupported conspiracies and murmurs of sedition may seem normal to some after more than two years of pandemic-induced paranoia.
But dang it all if what seems at times a hopeless chore of finding conscientious compromise at any level of political discourse — local, state or national — it’s exhausting to the point of wanting to cry uncle (or perhaps just cry).
The kettle was already simmering when the COVID-19 pandemic became not only a health crisis, but a political one as well. And the stress of virus-induced public health orders became the impetus for the intersection of impatience and intolerance.
It’s escalated since the 2020 presidential election with former President Trump’s delusional, incessant and thoroughly debunked claims of a “stolen” election and the investigation into his culpability in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection.
And we still have the mid-term election cycle to look forward to, which in Wyoming will be dominated by the Republican brawl between incumbent U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and Trump-backed Harriet Hageman. Add pressure at all levels to change election laws and impact voter turnout, and there’s plenty of political insanity ahead.
People have deep, personal beliefs that are reflected (or not) by their elected representatives. Add on social media platforms and it’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of nonstop, emotional rhetoric.
An essay titled “The Crossroads of Mental Health and Politics” published by Vantage Point Behavior Health and Trauma Healing (vantagepointrecovery.com) sums up what this does to us.
“You log on, you feel your heart rate increase, you can feel yourself getting defensive and your mind starts racing trying to find the right response to that so-called friend who just insulted your favorite politician. The comment was made on social media and your first instinct is to unfriend that person right away.”
After allowing those feelings to roil all day, by the time you finally unwind many hours later, “you realize you have been stressed out all day over a comment someone posted online. You feel almost embarrassed that you let your emotions control your day.”
Familiar?
No matter your politics, whether you’re Republican or Democrat, it’s apparent we’re at our wit’s end when it comes to local and national politics. We no longer have any patience for opinions other that those that align with our own, and those who aren’t in lockstep with our beliefs deserve an aggressive response.
Pre-pandemic, if I’d heard someone use the term “political exhaustion,” I would have dismissed that out of hand as a cop-out. Instead of facing a problem or an opposing view, claiming you can’t mentally deal with it is not the way to go through life or solve anything. So I thought.
Political exhaustion makes us more susceptible to emotions that, under normal circumstances, we would handle much better. Fear, anger and what Vantage Point calls “voter emotions” can “incite people to act out of irrational thoughts. This can be dangerous.”
Something the essay doesn’t address, however, is how political saturation in our everyday lives contributes to this exhaustion. At a basic level, it makes sense that too much exposure to a thing can ultimately be destructive. As with anything else in life, sometimes you just need a break.
But more than two years into COVID-19 there has been no break. Not only do we have emotionally charged and contentious local and national elections, the pandemic itself quickly evolved into its own political hot-button issue.
But what do we do about it, and how do we handle our own political exhaustion? My limit came recently when I realized my routine has evolved (devolved?) into some level of political saturation from the time I wake up until I go to sleep.
We need break. Like casual Fridays are a way to let your hair down a little in the workplace, I propose “Politics Free Fridays” — one day where we make it our mission in life to get away from it altogether.
If you can’t look at Facebook without getting drawn in, then no Facebook. Don’t read about it, talk about it over the backyard fence or listen to political talk radio. Surely the nonstop, 24/7 cycle of rhetoric can do without your participation for one day.
And don’t delude yourself — taking your voice and attention out of the mix for a day isn’t going to turn the tide one way or another. It also probably won’t do much to plug the political vitriol threatening to break through at any time.
But it could help your own sanity, having that one day to recharge and be more mentally prepared for another week of political overload.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/editorials/politics-free-fridays-could-be-just-the-ticket/article_128e9d11-7941-5755-8845-2fd67e6f447d.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:38Z
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/a-call-to-restore-polling-places/article_052ec744-a9ad-5b5c-a99f-1c20facee013.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:45Z
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This past Tuesday, the Laramie City Council struck a blow against housing affordability and diversity in Laramie, a move that will harm economic development, destroy the character of neighborhoods and enrich developers at the expense of Laramie residents.
If it is not brought back for reconsideration and voted down at the next meeting, Ordinance 2044 — by eliminating all single-family zoning throughout the city — will create congestion and noise; endanger children who could once play near or on streets with limited traffic; and make neighborhoods less attractive places to live. It also will encourage the construction of homes without garages, plaguing neighborhoods with clutter in yards and RVs parked in yards and on streets.
Worse still, it will decrease housing affordability. Neighborhoods wishing to maintain their character will impose covenants, conditions and restrictions and form HOAs, with dues that will raise the cost of housing. In areas where this is not done, many property owners will take the opportunity to build accessory dwelling units.
Given Laramie's average rent-to-value ratio of 120 and current market rents (which have been hiked by council's imposition of Draconian rental regulation), even a single-bedroom unit renting for $600 a month will increase the selling price of a property by $72,000, putting it farther out of reach for cash-strapped buyers. Developers will take advantage of smaller minimum lot sizes and the lack of garage requirements to build properties that cost more per square foot.
When residents of the Corthell Hill neighborhood, including a former council member, distributed leaflets and wrote letters to this newspaper alerting neighbors to these problems, members of council condemned them as "misinformation" when in fact they were 100% truthful.
Laramie's current City Council, failing to consider the consequences of its actions, has acted as a rubber stamp for lobbyists and the city's unelected bureaucrats. It is also limiting residents — who the council refuses to put on camera during Zoom meetings — to 3 minutes of comment while giving infinite speaking time to bureaucrats.
This fall, it is time to TTBO (throw the bums out) ... replacing unresponsive members of council with ones who recognize their responsibility to constituents.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/if-council-members-wont-listen-throw-them-out/article_1b7c62d8-2509-5a7d-803e-5a3e5e2fac15.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:51Z
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The Laramie City Council has passed Ordinance 2044, which concerns changes in residential zoning.
I and others have expressed that the city was remiss by not sufficiently notifying property owners about proposed changes, although the city did meet the level of notification required by law.
The following is an example of a 4-inch by 4-inch advertisement that could have been placed in the Boomerang that could have increased the awareness of property owners as to the essence of Ordinance 2044:
"Because the city of Laramie has a current residential housing shortage and this shortage is projected to become critical, Ordinance 2044 is designed to increase the availability of affordable residential housing both by decreasing minimum lot dimensions in residential zones LR (limited residential) and R1 (single-family residential) and by allowing the addition of a possible rental unit on the property. You can visit cityoflaramie.org to view the complete ordinance as well as to view the current zoning map. Please contact members of the City Council if you have questions about the ordinance."
Note that the ordinance allows the inclusion of one accessory unit on a lot but allowing the structure to be a rental unit is just inferred. This inference was clarified when the council publicly discussed the ordinance during the final reading Tuesday.
Such an ad would have been an inexpensive way to more adequately inform the public of the city’s intention and, perhaps, it could increase communication between the city government and residents.
While such communication could have positive or negative outcomes, it could have helped to create a more informed public, which is one of the positive aspects of a democratic society.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/informing-the-public-means-more-than-doing-the-bare-minimum/article_76cb4e00-921a-5a2b-ab9a-9e174ecc5144.html
| 2022-04-24T14:57:57Z
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Every day I hear about more bombings going on in Ukraine at the hands of Russian artillery. If I could, what would I do about it?
My answer: Let NATO decide.
But Ukraine is not a member of NATO.
Alright then, step 1 is to let NATO adopt Ukraine, if Ukraine is willing of course. Then once Ukraine is a member of NATO, NATO could decide, right?
I realize any effort in this mess is risky. It’s hard to know how Russia will react if suddenly it is having to confront an alliance of nations rather than a single one, but that would be far more practical than letting a monster continue its destruction of that single nation.
I also realize that NATO is aiding Ukraine by accepting Ukrainian refugees and supplying Ukraine with considerable armaments to defend itself, but why not take a chance and let NATO do what it was formed so long ago to do — defend a member nation as if all members of that alliance are being attacked?
I suspect that if Russia had to deal with a tit-for-tat arrangement, it would not long be so aggressive. If Russia had to deal with a missile-for-missile exchange, it would not be so willing to send off missiles itself.
Well, anyway that is how I see it.
NATO, do what you were formed to do. By your support of Ukraine, you already consider Ukraine an “unofficial member.” Why not make her an official member and then proceed accordingly? Then you can negotiate with Russia once it has withdrawn from Ukraine.
I realize that Russia has long threatened Ukraine that if she were to join with NATO, Russia would consider it an act of war and Russia would have to defend itself; but Ukraine did not join with NATO — and it is still being attacked.
Let us forget past threats and deal with current realities. Ukraine needs NATO and NATO needs Ukraine. Let us proceed accordingly.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/ukraine-nato-need-each-other/article_5de50466-d9dd-5625-b593-7fdacdb349d9.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:03Z
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Monday
Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee, 8:30 a.m., Thyra Thomson State Office Building, Round House Conference Room, third floor, room 3024, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Monuments and Markers Advisory Committee virtual meeting, 1-2:30 p.m., by video call at https://meet.google.com/xkv-dvjz-eri or by dialing 260-638-0677 PIN: 138 074 101#.
Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, special meeting to approve the fiscal year 2023 budget, 3 p.m., 2416 Snyder Ave. and via Zoom. Access information can be found at cheyennebopu.org/About-Us/Board-Meetings.
Cheyenne City Council, 6 p.m., Municipal Building, 2101 O’Neil Ave. Livestream information available at www.cheyennecity.org/ecm and on the city’s Facebook page.
Tuesday
Cheyenne-Laramie County Economic Development Joint Powers Board, 7:30 a.m., in person at Jonah Bank, 205 Storey Blvd., second-floor board room, and via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/cheyenne-edjpb.
Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee, 8:30 a.m., Thyra Thomson State Office Building, Round House Conference Room, third floor, room 3024, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at wyoleg.gov.
Laramie County Library System board of directors, 4 p.m., Willow Room, Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave.
Wednesday
Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Interim Committee, 8:30 a.m., Fremont County School District #1, Board Room, 863 Sweetwater St., Lander. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming School Facilities Commission, 1 p.m., work session, state Capitol, meeting room W006; online at https://tinyurl.com/wyoming-sfc-mtgs; or by calling 423-657-0144 and entering the following PIN: 883 402 244#.
Thursday
Wyoming School Facilities Commission, 8:30 a.m., business meeting, state Capitol, meeting room W006; online at https://tinyurl.com/wyoming-sfc-mtgs; or by calling 423-657-0144 and entering the following PIN: 883 402 244#.
Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Interim Committee, 8:30 a.m., Fremont County School District #1, Board Room, 863 Sweetwater St., Lander. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, 1:30 p.m., Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, 1556 Riverbend Drive, Douglas, and online at meet.google.com/hmw-rdye-cfu.
Laramie County Planning Commission, 3:30 p.m., Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Historic County Courthouse, 310 W. 19th St., Cheyenne.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/government_meetings_listing/government-meetings-listing-4-24-22/article_d49e106d-d245-502a-bd7a-8968dcb6ea6e.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:09Z
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Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/in_our_schools/lcsd1-student-of-the-week-for-april-25/article_5bee632a-d01f-5afb-a9f1-421a28303d79.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:16Z
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CHEYENNE – Parents who say their daughters were victims in a blackmail case involving a Burns High School student say the school district has been slow to respond to the incident, keeping the student in classes and in extracurricular activities with some of the alleged victims for months.
Two parents of two underage students spoke to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and asked that their names not be used.
These parents and an attorney connected to the case said an investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation revealed the student had altered photos of female classmates to make them appear nude. He apparently threatened to send the doctored photos to colleges, teachers, student activity leaders and parents if the female students did not send him genuine photos that were sexually explicit.
One of the parents said they became aware of the case in September after the suspect threatened their daughter, and that the DCI investigation began the same week. The other parent said they were notified by DCI their daughter was a victim in the case sometime in February.
"Several" of the victims have switched to online schooling because of the stress associated with having to face the alleged perpetrator, one parent said.
This parent said there had been "absolute inaction" thus far on the part of the school district and school administrators, other than no longer allowing the accused student to participate in large school gatherings.
"The key to this is the school district not having a policy," the parent said. "Girls continue to be victimized (at school)."
The parent referenced school activities that require participants to sign a code of conduct. A discipline matrix on the LCSD2 and Burns High websites lists potential consequences for things like harassment and "sexually-based behaviors," including referral to law enforcement and/or expulsion.
Another parent said their daughter had changed her own schedule to avoid being in class with the accused student. The parent said her daughter was told by Burns High's administration that the accused student was leaving classes early so the alleged victims wouldn't have to see him in the hallway.
That's not enough, the parent said.
"There's no possible way, without physically removing him from the building, that you can keep the girls and him out of each other's line of sight (consistently)," the parent said. "My daughter is at a point with the school that she feels like they're protecting him more than her."
Insufficient response
An LCSD2 student also brought up the issue at a March 14 meeting of the district's board of trustees. Speaking during the public comment period, the student asserted that "right now, we have a very big problem in our school system."
"I am moving to suggest a policy that would remove charged felons from the general student body," the student said, according to a recording of the meeting.
There were more than 30 victims at Burns "who are having to look a charged felon in the eyes within a general classroom," the student said, adding that the proposed policy would put the accused student "in isolation" in an effort to protect not only the alleged victims, but others who attend the Burns school, as well.
A trustee told her that although the board would not respond that evening, "we will certainly, at some point, address those kinds of things."
This student's family said that, as of Thursday, they had not received a response from the school board.
DCI Director Forrest Williams confirmed in an email to the WTE that the agency had investigated the case and that the student had been charged. The WTE could not confirm what charges had been filed against the student or the current status of the case, however.
Laramie County assistant district attorney Jeff O'Holleran, identified by parents and an LCSD2 attorney as the prosecutor in the case, declined to comment on any juvenile matter. That's because juvenile cases are kept confidential, except in some specific circumstances, according to Wyoming statute.
LCSD2 Superintendent Justin Pierantoni and Burns Junior-Senior High School Principal Bobby Dishman did not respond to the WTE's phone and email queries. LCSD2 board Chair Julianne Randall and Vice Chair Mike Olson did not respond to emails.
"The school district is aware of concerns that some students and their families have raised," said Scott Kolpitcke, an attorney for LCSD2, in a phone interview with the WTE. "They have responded and addressed those within the scope of the law."
In response to another email invitation for comment Thursday, Kolpitcke wrote, "Laramie County School District #2 is aware of concerns raised by some students and parents regarding the incidents you described. As with any complaint about student conduct, LCSD#2 takes appropriate steps, within the scope of the law, to investigate complaints, and to protect students. LCSD#2 cannot comment on specific details of actions it may have taken, or any investigations conducted, because state and federal laws protect the confidentiality and privacy of student information. The School District has policies in place to address student conduct, including, but not limited to policies which address alleged sexual harassment under Title IX. The School District has complied with its policies, and with the applicable laws, and will continue to do so in the best interests of its students."
Coincidentally, family members of a Natrona County School District 1 student spoke before that school board about a similar issue, also on March 14.
According to reporting by the Casper Star-Tribune, family members of a girl attending a Casper high school said a student had committed sexual battery against her. They asked the board why the student was still allowed to play sports for his high school, despite having been convicted and sentenced to probation lasting until August.
The newspaper later reported that, according to a letter from Chadron State College in Nebraska, the accused high school student was no longer planning to attend following the accusations becoming public. It was unclear whether the college had revoked the student's admission or if he'd decided not to attend. It was also unclear when the decision was made.
At an April board meeting, a Natrona County trustee said that, after hearing the family's story, he believed the student code of conduct needed to be "'revised to better clarify its intent and to better ensure its consistent application' among students," the Star-Tribune reported.
Lawyer: Burns principal dismissive
In a March 18 letter to Superintendent Pierantoni, an attorney for one of the juvenile victims, Bruce Moats, argued on behalf of the victim's mother that the district should "take remedial action to protect the safety of her daughter and the other female students as required by law."
Moats is a Cheyenne public access attorney who has represented many news outlets, including the WTE.
Such a request to Dishman, the school's principal, was "dismissed with what might be described as disdain," Moats wrote.
"The principal made several excuses, including that he did not know whether the electronic messages occurred on campus," the attorney continued, later adding that Dishman had "indicated he knew that the messages were not sent at school or on a school activity."
Moats wrote that "at the very least, the messages traveled onto campus, which is sufficient under law to grant the district jurisdiction to act."
"It is clear that the district has an obligation to maintain a safe learning environment for all students. That includes an environment free of sexual harassment pursuant to Title IX," Moats wrote. "It is clear that this situation has affected the learning environment of the female students, as it has caused them to miss school because they do not feel safe."
Title IX is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal funding.
Citing case law, Moats argued in his letter that there are legal grounds to separate a student charged with a crime from his alleged victims at school and during activities.
"This is not a case where the school is faced with conduct that it cannot remedy," he wrote. "The school district has the ability to keep the parties separated and not require the female students to have to attend school with the alleged harasser. Your own Title IX policy requires you to take action."
Moats requested in the letter, on behalf of his client, that the matter be referred to the district's Title IX coordinator.
Both parents of alleged victims said they had either filed or were in the process of filing Title IX complaints related to the case. One of these complaints is currently being investigated, according to a parent.
Both said they also were in the process of filing complaints with the Office of Civil Rights, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/in_our_schools/parents-student-say-lcsd2-has-so-far-failed-to-protect-victims-in-blackmail-case/article_d6809258-b272-53c2-948d-268740986807.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:22Z
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Wyoming Business Council seeks public input on two investment programs
The Wyoming Business Council is seeking public feedback on rules for two new upcoming investment programs, the organization announced Thursday.
One such program is called the State Small Business Credit Initiative; the other was described by WBC as agriculture processing bonds. In both cases, comments on the two programs are due on May 8 at 11:59 p.m.
For the State Small Business Credit Initiative, the Business Council noted it could receive up to $58.4 million from the U.S. Treasury “to support Wyoming high-growth entrepreneurs through a venture capital program.” The WBC has plans for two funding options for this financing initiative.
One method would help capitalize so-called angel and venture (capital) “funds to encourage equity investments in Wyoming startups,” the organization said in an email. The other option is a fund to help startups that are raising an equity round that already has a lead investor. The goal is to help complete that financing “with direct co-investment from WBC.” Equity rounds can refer to startups raising money by selling stakes in themselves to investors. Draft rules for this financing program are on WBC’s website.
For the bonds (a type of debt security that is often issued by governments), the business organization would support “Wyoming’s agriculture industry through agriculture processing revenue bonds which were recently passed by the state legislature.” That is titled Senate File 9, “Revenue bonds for agricultural endeavors,” and the text is available online.
While the WBC has not begun the rulemaking process for this ag program, it nonetheless is seeking public comment. It said that such feedback could discuss “all items, possible rules, eligibility or other ideas citizens think the Business Council should consider as we begin drafting rules for the bond program.”
Comments can be sent to wbc.public-comment@wyo.gov. WBC asked that commenters make note of the program they are commenting on in the subject line of the email.
Later on, these two batches of proposed rules will have another public comment period after the draft rules are finished.
Legislature panel to discuss local deregulated zones for crypto energy
As part of the state Legislature’s interim work session this spring, a committee will discuss local deregulated zones for electricity used in business activities such as virtual currency mining, it was noted last week.
Among several other issues that are scheduled for the meeting Monday and Tuesday, time has been set aside for considering the deregulated power zones. A session lasting approximately an hour is on tap for 2:30 p.m. Monday.
This will include a Legislative Service Office overview, discussion of Senate File 71 and public comments, said the agenda of the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee. The committee includes both state senators and representatives.
During the Legislature’s budget session, efforts had fizzled to allow for the creation of these deregulated energy zones, if a county commission successfully petitioned the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners for one on state land. SF 71 died in the Senate Minerals Committee, following testimony that generally opposed the bill.
The joint committee’s meeting this week is in Casper. The gathering is at the Thomson State Office Building’s Round House Conference Room, on the third floor in room 3024. The address is 444 West Collins Drive. It will also be streamed at wyoleg.gov.
“A limited number of participants can sign up to provide public comment virtually for a specified agenda item,” the meeting materials said. The public comment form is online.
Milestones
A past administrator is returning to the fold at the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Director Todd Parfitt announced last week that Alan Edwards will return to DEQ to take on the dual roles of deputy director and administrator of the Industrial Siting Division. Edwards previously retired from DEQ in October 2020. At the time, he served as the deputy director and the administrator of the Abandoned Mine Land Division. Before his retirement, Edwards worked at DEQ for a total of 19 years.
Wyoming Community Development Authority has welcomed newly appointed board member Pat Thomas. Thomas was appointed to serve on the WCDA board beginning March 1. Thomas started his career as a commercial pilot for various companies, flying both people and cargo throughout the U.S. In 1985, he started working for UPS as a seasonal delivery driver. Since then, Thomas joined the carrier’s public affairs group in Washington, D.C., where he assumed the title of senior vice president of state government affairs at UPS. Thomas retired in 2017, and he as his wife returned to Casper.
The WCDA board of directors consists of Chairman Pete Illoway of Cheyenne, Vice Chairman Michael Martin of Cheyenne, Treasurer/Secretary Susan Anderson of Casper, Gov. Mark Gordon, State Treasurer Curt Meier, Pat Thomas of Casper, Doug Chamberlain of LaGrange, Kendra Heimbuck of Sheridan and David Caplan of Rock Springs. WCDA Executive Director Scott Hoversland serves as an ex-officio member.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/business-briefs-for-4-24-22/article_ca9e6abc-1f4f-5546-9c9d-1eb3b7bbe2ba.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:28Z
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CHEYENNE – A pint of blood can make a lifetime of a difference, and Cheyenne Day of Giving draws a good deal of blood.
Day of Giving will be held on Friday, May 13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park. The event is an all-encompassing call for community members to donate to those in need – be it blood, medical supplies, food, personal care items and money, which goes to local charity organizations.
The event was founded by Greta Morrow. While she’s no longer on the board, she has been helping with Day of Giving for the past 17 years.
Last year, 53 community business and groups participated in Day of Giving, and more than 26,000 pounds of nonperishable food and personal care items were donated in a single day. Almost $80,000 was donated.
“It’s an effort to bring the community together, all parts of the community,” Morrow said in a recent phone interview. “It’s the process of bringing them together to teach them or make them aware of the very large at-risk populations in our area – ones that are in dire financial need, who literally cannot afford food.”
What Morrow wants to focus on, for now, is the impact that Day of Giving has for those who experience medical disabilities and chronic illness.
In 1995, Morrow was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. She received seven kinds of chemotherapy before 2001, when she survived a bone marrow transplant. She needed countless blood transfusions, so if it weren’t for blood donors, she likely would have died.
There will be a blood drive on site at the Kiwanis Community House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13. Donors can also head to Vitalant headquarters on 112 East Eighth Ave., from May 8-20 if they want to give blood outside of the designated event. (To sign up for an appointment, visit www.vitalant.org.)
In the past years, Cheyenne has been generous. Still, there are some challenges to overcome with convincing more people to donate blood. Morrow said the key is to be direct.
“If people believe you and they trust you, and you can be specific and concrete about what you need, then they know they can make a difference,” Morrow said. “If they know that they as an individual can make a difference, then they’re more apt to do it.”
It helps to see how direct an impact donors can make, particularly for people like Brooke Way, who is the communications manager at Vitalant. When she was in high school, Way started to get alarmingly tired. She had extensive amounts of blood work done, and, for a period of time, the medical professionals couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
She learned that she was born with a rare genetic blood disorder called thalassemia, which causes her to have a dangerously low level of hemoglobin. In other words, Way’s blood wasn’t carrying enough oxygen throughout her body.
Once they identified the problem, Way began receiving monthly blood transfusions that allowed her to remain on the cheerleading squad. She argues she wasn’t a normal teenager, by any means, but having transfusions allowed her to live the life of one.
“Without these donors, I wouldn’t be able to function or live my life fully,” Way said. “It really is critical to have this blood donation, because there is no cure for thalassemia yet.”
Today, she hikes and lives a life free of perceived disability. Because red blood cells have a life span of 42 days, she must continue to receive monthly transfusions.
The demand is higher than ever, as just this past January, the American Red Cross declared a national blood shortage.
Right now, there is an urgent need for type O blood and platelets. On May 13, Day of Giving has 30 blood donor time slots to fill.
“We know we have limited time, whether it’s a limited time of 90 years or a limited time of 20 or 50 or whatever,” Morrow said. “We spend time, we talk about spending time, our time is valuable. If somebody can can figure out how to give an hour of their time, they can save a human being’s life.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/in-the-day-of-giving-blood-drive-on-may-13-a-little-bit-goes-a/article_ca7538a4-82e7-518e-a261-47eabdfb195a.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:34Z
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CHEYENNE – While some might remember Bill Nation as the beloved mayor of Cheyenne or a member of the Wyoming Legislature, others reflected on the everlasting twinkle in his eye.
His daughter, Nancy Dana, described how in every single picture of him, he had a perfect smile, his eyes lit up, and you could see him beaming from ear to ear. She said he was still the same man with an appreciation for life, a deep love for his family and a leader in his community when he died April 13 at 96 years old.
“That’s who he was,” she told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “He was that guy that glowed. And everybody wanted to be around him and hear what he had to say and laugh with him.”
Nation’s close-knit relationship with the Capital City and its residents dates all the way back to his childhood. Although he was born in Lingle, Charles William “Bill” Nation grew up in Cheyenne and graduated from the local high school in the Class of 1943. After graduation, he would go on to serve during World War II as a gunner’s mate on a destroyer in the Pacific, and was with the fleet in Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan.
He returned to his roots in southeast Wyoming when WWII was over and never left. He married Joanne Peterson, raised four children, and enjoyed five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
His daughter said his relationship with his family was abundantly important to him, and it shined through in his actions.
“He just had a sensitive, kind and thoughtful heart. He would remember birthdays, and when babies were born or when weddings happened, he would jump in the car and drive across the country,” she said. “I had one niece get married in California, and one week later, another niece got married in Florida. And he and I attended both of those. He wasn’t going to miss a single important event.”
Life events
Two other significant pieces of his life were photography and politics.
The former mayor returned to his photography business after serving in the military, and opened Nation Studio. He was also active in many community affairs, such as the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, Cheyenne Family YMCA, Exchange Club, Little League baseball and Henderson School PTA.
It wasn’t until 1959 that he announced his candidacy for mayor. Although he lost the election to the incumbent, he won when he ran again in 1961, and held the position of mayor two more terms after that.
His son, Michael Nation, said this was a way for him to show his love for Cheyenne, and he celebrated great accomplishments throughout his time in office. His impact was reflected in a road being named after him, Nationway.
“He certainly felt, as mayor, his job was not to be political, but to try to make the city better,” his son recalled.
Between his candidacies running for mayor, Nation also was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives.
He was one of the few members of the Democratic Party to hold a seat in Laramie County, and was appointed to the Wyoming Recreation Committee by Gov. Stanley Hathaway. He sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, as well, in 1966, but was defeated by Ernest Wilkerson.
Great Mayor
Despite sharing interest for so many positions in local and state government, the first female mayor of Cheyenne, Marian Orr, said his strength was in her former office.
“I think he was one of the greatest mayors that Cheyenne has seen,” she said.
In a recent interview, Orr many of her favorite memories with him, such as picking up Taco John’s for lunch or sitting on his back porch overlooking the city. She said his dedication to promoting the wonders of the area was clear, in a relatively recent interaction with him.
She had attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Houston with him, and he brought along a little gift souvenir to hand out. It was a pill bottle with a prescription for better health.
“And the directions are inhale deeply for happiness, for a refill, attend Cheyenne Frontier Days, last full week in July, and may be filled as often as desired.” she said. “He loved Cheyenne, and he certainly loved the state.”
This was the way he was described by his family, his friends and his community.
His daughter said he had a special admiration for the city, even in the design of his house. His deck overlooked the city, and he enjoyed the view of the community he built his life around. To her, he was the embodiment of Cheyenne.
“People used to say, ‘Have you lived in Cheyenne all your life?’” his son said. “And he’d say, ‘Not yet.’ But now he has.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/remembering-bill-nation-former-cheyenne-mayor-loved-the-capital-city/article_1abc68fc-0207-5b97-a3b8-153f0fabfac1.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:40Z
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Recently arrested by the Cheyenne Police Department:
Damon D. Hippen, 39, of 17th Street for felony aggravated assault with injury and misdemeanor interference with a peace officer without injury at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday at his residence.
Trevor D. Rhodes, 22, of Monroe Avenue for misdemeanor driving under the influence (alcohol, second in 10 years) and possession of marijuana at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Adams Avenue and East 10th Street.
Joseph N. Hernandez, 32, of West Eighth Street for three felony counts of third-degree arson (property damage greater than $200) and one misdemeanor count of battery, on a felony warrant for failure to comply through Laramie County District Court and on a misdemeanor warrant for reckless endangering with a firearm at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of Capitol Avenue.
Kenneth D. Rushing, 49, of East Fourth Street for misdemeanor driving with a suspended license, no proof of liability insurance, expired or improper registration, interference with a peace officer without injury and a windshield violation, and on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 5:51 p.m. Tuesday in the 1400 block of West Lincolnway.
Joslyn D. Wickard, 31, of Alex Ranch Road for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and interfering/obstructing at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1600 block of Stillwater Avenue.
Robert A. Rodriguez Jr., 49, of East Eighth Street on a felony warrant out of Fort Collins, Colorado, for failure to comply at 12:15 a.m. Tuesday at his residence.
Eric C. West, 37, of Madison Avenue for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, second in 10 years) and possession/use of a controlled substance at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday at his residence.
James J. Meldrum, 47, transient, for misdemeanor giving false identity, on a felony warrant for a civil violation through Laramie County District Court, and on two misdemeanor warrants for failure to pay at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Deming Drive and Dillon Avenue.
Michael J. Pilat, 30, of Woodstock, Illinois, for misdemeanor speeding (31 mph over in a construction zone) and driving under a canceled, suspended or revoked license (second or greater offense) at 2:20 p.m. Monday in the 3300 block of North College Drive.
Gerald A. Marshall, 44, of Stinson Avenue for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, first in 10 years) at 10:34 a.m. Monday in the 1700 block of Morrie Avenue.
Peter L. Bravo, 50, of East 18th Street on a misdemeanor probation/parole violator arrest without a warrant at 9:35 a.m. Monday at the Cheyenne-Laramie County Probation and Parole Office, 1934 Wyott Drive.
Manuel C. Munoz, 33, of Sundance Lane for misdemeanor possession/use of a controlled substance and on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 5 a.m. Monday in the 1500 block of Sundance Lane.
Frankie E. Boyd Jr., 33, transient, for misdemeanor being violent/tumultuous to property at 2 a.m. Monday in the 2600 block of East 18th Street.
Joaquin Sanchez, 40, transient, for misdemeanor public intoxication at 12:40 a.m. Monday in the 1600 block of East 19th Street.
William J. Onyski, 42, transient, on a felony warrant for probation violation through Laramie County District Court and a misdemeanor warrant for a civil violation through Laramie County District Court at 6:25 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of East Fourth Street and House Avenue.
Ashley N. Winsor, 33, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear and on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply out of Larimer County, Colorado, at 5:24 p.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of Dell Range Boulevard.
Sarah K. Harris, 26, transient, on a felony warrant for parole violation out of Colorado at 11:20 a.m. Sunday in the 2300 block of East Lincolnway.
Jay M. King, 25, of East 12th Street on a felony warrant for parole violation out of Colorado at 9 a.m. Sunday in the 2300 block of East Lincolnway.
Angelo Marquez, 18, of West Fox Farm Road on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 12:18 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Carbon Avenue and East 15th Street.
Recently arrested by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office:
Robert R.M. Crenshaw, 44, of Neal Avenue on a misdemeanor probation/parole violator arrest without a warrant at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday at the Cheyenne-Laramie County Probation and Parole Office.
Kyle Ziemer, 33, of East 16th Street on a felony court order at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday at the Laramie County Governmental Complex, 309 W. 20th St.
Derrick A. Wimbley, 24, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on a warrant for nine misdemeanor counts of stalking (communicating) and a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 1:06 p.m. Tuesday at the Laramie County jail.
Alanna D. McCord, 21, of Dey Avenue on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 12:40 p.m. Tuesday at the Laramie County jail.
Taysia S. Leyo, 20, of Melton Street on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at the Laramie County jail, 1910 Pioneer Ave.; on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 8:45 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of Randall Avenue; and for misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine at 8:28 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of Randall Avenue.
Angelique J. Wilson, 27, of Williams Street for felony aggravated assault with injury and felony strangulation of a household member with minor injury at 2:51 a.m. Tuesday at her residence.
Ambri J. Rogers, 20, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 8:28 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of Randall Avenue.
Recently arrested by the Pine Bluffs Police Department:
Wilbur R. Turner III, 32, of East 18th Street on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to pay at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday on Main Street in Pine Bluffs.
Recently arrested by Wyoming Highway Patrol:
Kaelin S. Storrs, 18, of Kearney, Nebraska, for felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at 10:09 p.m. Monday at mile marker 17 on Interstate 25.
Conor B. Doherty, 19, of McCook, Nebraska, for misdemeanor driving with a suspended license at 10:09 p.m. Monday at mile marker 72 on I-25.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/police_blotter/police-blotter-4-24-22/article_0f9fe72f-27d8-5407-a907-a23c42bd0b81.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:47Z
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I was 10 years old when I fell in love with preserving my world with a cassette recorder. Those two buttons – play and record, pushed at the same time – allowed me to create endless low-budget mix tapes by holding my recorder close to the radio. I also spent a whole lot of time talking and singing into it, playing piano near it, and drumming loudly on things like lamp poles and walls around it.
I often taped over my weird recordings with new weird recordings; the pinnacle of my recording career came when I was 11, when I recorded every live performance from the 1984 Grammy Awards while sitting approximately an inch from the TV.
I know these details because about 15 years ago, a couple of the cassette tapes got coughed up in my parents’ basement. They looked too fragile to play back, but a friend’s brother offered to digitize them for me. While I’m not sure I needed a poor quality recording of Bonnie Tyler singing Total Eclipse of the Heart preserved for eternity in my iTunes library, I have to admit my cringe-worthy 10-year-old self is worthy of the permanent record, if only for some giggles and a conversation starter about how far mix tapes have come in the last 40 or so years.
Fast forward a few decades: I had the brilliant idea to purchase a Sony IC Digital Voice Recorder for my youngest daughter’s fourth birthday in 2011. This was not the clunky cassette recorder of my childhood, but a slick, handheld and inexpensive device that could fit in a pocket (foreshadowing). She got the hang of it right away and had fun with it for a few years until it ended up in the junk drawer. We did not comprehend at the time how much fun she had with it until this past week, when it, too, got coughed up.
After installing some fresh AAA batteries, we sat around the kitchen table and pushed play on the first audio file to see what might be recorded; we were not disappointed. The little girl whose voice played back clear and strong hit me right in the heart as she sang preschool songs, acted out complicated princess doll stories, and conversed with sisters, our previous beloved dog and, most frequently, herself. File after file documented the daily goings-on and inner dialogue of a 4-7-year-old, complete with strong opinions and hilarious observations.
Perhaps the most valuable treasure was audio evidence of what we call “The Spy Phase” in our house; inexplicably, all three of our daughters conducted extensive “spy” activity for about a year of their childhoods. Sometimes individually, but more frequently in tandem, they would write notes about their parents, neighbors and strangers they observed in the neighborhood.
I saved as many of these notes as I could find for posterity – the best of all declaring “we will spy on daddy, is is not one ‘uv’ us.” The little whispering voices recorded spying on the trusty Sony voice recorder are priceless beyond measure. My youngest learned early on that she could slip this device into her pocket and record conversations around her; we heard more than one “tee hee hee, I’m RECORDING you!” as we listened.
The number of photos and videos Americans take with their phones each month numbers in the multiple billions, but they return to look at older photos less frequently than in previous decades and print fewer – or no – photographs with every passing year. We believe our content will always be available to view or listen to, but it simply isn’t true: every advance in technology comes with eventual obsoleteness, and we simply haven’t figured out a way to permanently preserve all the content we create.
Maybe we don’t need all the content we create, but we do need some of it, at least – it’s a cornerstone of collective family memory that allows our stories to be shared and passed down, binding us together and creating a connecting thread between generations. Our weekend listening session is solid proof of that.
Technology wears out, plain and simple, erasing the opportunity to experience actual time travel as it slips away. Unprinted photos exist at the pleasure of operating systems and formats that can recognize them. It’s worth the time to figure out not just how to digitally back up precious family artifacts – photos, videos and, if you’re really lucky, little kid audio files – but also to preserve them in newer or more tangible formats so we don’t experience the tragedy of losing our personal histories to a digital dark age.
The march of technological advance isn’t getting any slower.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/dillow-time-travel-through-technology/article_968355b5-d065-527d-929d-690f78669126.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:53Z
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When you are deciding who to support for the Wyoming Legislature, candidates tell you they will represent you. We fall for that every two years.
You may elect them, but most state legislators don’t work for you. The voter is just the middleman or woman. They only need you to get elected, but once elected, the special interests have their ear.
If voting made a difference, they wouldn’t let you do it. You make the system work, but, ironically, it doesn’t work for you like it does, for example, for the mining industry.
Your property tax assessment will soon arrive. I’ll wager your property tax will increase at a rate double the 8.5% national inflation rate. Home prices are increasing, and those who are younger and have more expendable income are driving prices higher.
That’s nice for the sellers, not so much for buyers, and most assuredly not for the elderly, those retired on fixed incomes and other low-income folks, because your property tax assessment is required to keep pace with what homebuyers are willing to pay.
In other words, your property tax rate depends on the price someone paid for a house down the block and across the street. The formula ignores the fact that legislators barred fixed-income folks, who happen to be state retirees, from receiving a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
The word “fixed” does not apply to their income. Their retirement income is not fixed. Inflation is eating it up. The Legislature requires it to decline at the increasing cost-of-living rate. Retired state employees last received a COLA in 2012. Some of the legislators currently in office and ignoring your needs were part of making that happen.
The National Public Pension Coalition reports the average retired public employee can buy $248 less with their retirement benefit today. The average annual pension is $20,316, an amount that creates obvious challenges for retirees on legislatively fixed incomes.
Social Security COLAs are a drop in the inflationary bucket, eaten up by Medicare premium and co-pay hikes, not to mention that $4 plus per gallon you pay for gasoline and daily increases in food costs and utilities.
We plebes need better lobbyists. Like the ones mining companies hire.
If you were a coal company, you’d be getting a tax break instead of a budget-breaking tax hike. Legislators who claim to be working for you reduced the state severance tax rate on surface coal from 7% to 6.5%, costing the state millions while reducing funds for local services. So, it’s a double whammy for commoners who use those services.
The job of a coal company lobbyist is not all that tough in Wyoming. The coal companies were among the first colonizers to come here, and they’ve owned the politicians ever since. For most of Wyoming’s existence, there was no severance tax at all. They mined it, hauled it away, sold it to power companies in other states and enriched a lot of out-of-state oligarchs.
The richest corporate execs and shareholders couldn’t find Wyoming on a map, but pocket more than any of you from the largesse of the state Legislature.
Legislators who chose to represent these mining companies instead of retirees can only tell you what the coal company lobby told them. Oh, they will cry, the coal corporations need a tax cut so they can increase coal production and create more jobs.
That trickle you feel is not the financial gains coal companies promised would help everyone if their tax bill was less.
Studies show that the lower tax rate will not increase coal production or jobs. But it does further benefit out-of-state coal executives and shareholders’ profits.
Your property tax will have to be paid at roughly the same time we will be voting in November. Take your tax bill with you to the polls, along with a list of all incumbents who voted to cut coal company taxes while doing nothing about your property tax to make sure you don’t vote for any of them.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/mcdaniel-legislators-dont-work-for-you-despite-what-they-say/article_2a36f9b3-3c40-594b-b605-108f5463e38f.html
| 2022-04-24T14:58:59Z
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Those who say words don’t matter, or are meaningless without actions, are those who are so used to their words not matching their deeds, who are so comfortable with their own hypocrisy, that they fail to see the power of people forcefully articulating a belief.
Words matter. The LCSD1 Board of Trustees denounced hate, intimidation and harassment.
They did so publicly, not hiding behind a work session, so the community could hear all of their thoughts.
Now what?
My field is literacy, so I’ll start here. We can create change by ensuring representation and access in curriculum for ALL students in LCSD1.
Words matter. When a hateful local chapter of a national group appealed to the board to ban books, they were advocating for the “damage, destruction, vandalizing, defacement, trespass upon or theft of any real or personal property of another person.”
They wanted books erased, removed, forgotten.
Because they wanted the characters in and authors of those books erased, removed and forgotten.
Because they wanted the actual students represented by those authors and characters to be erased, removed and forgotten.
Sims-Bishop wrote: “When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.”
Words matter.
Sims-Bishop again: “When there are enough books available that can act as both mirrors and windows for all our children, they will see that we can celebrate both our differences and our similarities, because together they are what make us all human.”
If we want to create positive change in our schools, we should examine the curriculum, to make sure that we have windows and mirrors for all students, not just mirrors for the privileged and windows for those deemed other.
Because the board forcefully denounced hatred, we have a chance to re-envision our curriculum to make it for all students, not just those who look and act a certain way.
Words matter. The words on the pages of our selected literature matter, too.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/lcsd1-has-a-chance-to-make-curriculum-for-all-students/article_37adc471-d8c9-504e-a23e-1e4c82bf5e29.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:05Z
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People might say I’m biased when it comes to evaluating Ted Hanlon and the job I think he would do for Senate District 5. After all, I’m his daughter, his employee and one of his best friends.
But all the same things that make me biased make me one of the best-suited people to talk about his qualities, because I have seen so many different facets of him in all our different roles.
I know that he will be caring and supportive of the people in his district, because of the care and support he has shown to me. Like me, the people in his district will benefit from someone who wants to ensure the best for their safety, their health and their education. He will want the best for the people of Wyoming, and only ask that they do their best in return.
I know that he will work hard and tirelessly for the people in his district, because that is what he has done as my boss. In our business ventures, we’ve been “digging for change in the couch cushions broke” and “enjoying a nice glass of Wyoming whiskey on a sunny day” successful, and every stage in between. He knows how to deal with budgets and challenges of every shape and size, and knows how to balance being a strong leader with being a good listener, and he knows that the keys to his success are his people.
I know that he will be endlessly loyal and incredibly creative in problem solving, because that is what he has done as my friend. Whether I am stranded on the side of the road and need help changing a tire or I’m curious about the engineering principles behind how an oil field pumpjack works he has assistance and answers ready. Every crisis I’ve ever had, he has helped me through, and he will help the people of Wyoming through our current crises.
I can think of no better person to elect to Senate District 5, because I can think of no better father, employer or friend.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/sure-im-biased-but-my-father-would-make-a-great-state-legislator/article_4192e8f9-e124-5f8a-aea0-1a03af55af8f.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:11Z
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Sex is in the news again. Florida’s parental rights law says teachers cannot talk to K-3 students about sexual matters; why are we even talking to K-6 students about sex in the first place!?
Biden, on his “Transgender Day of Visibility,” stated they were created in God’s image. Joe said God created; if God created, did God make some mistakes? The Bible says God created male and female, not male/female/transgender. Did God put the wrong brains and bodies together of several million people, as the LGBT community is stating? I don't think God made any mistakes, especially to where we have to surgically and chemically mutilate bodies of children to make the body match the brain.
"Mayor Pete" said if we don't talk to kids about sex, many will commit suicide. Kids haven’t died in the past 10,000 years because we didn't talk about sex at a young age. If not talking about sex to kids causes them to commit suicide, then there are deeper, more serious issues where they need professional help.
If we can talk to kids about transitioning from one sex to the other, why is so-called conversion therapy so horrible that we can't talk to kids/people about rethinking their dysphoria and retaining their biologic sex? Talking to K-6 kids about LGBT sex is a prelude to sexual desensitization; human/sex traffickers use similar methods to groom children (see Sharedhope.org).
Starri Hedges, Minnesota health teacher, took her class to Smitten Kitten, an adult “novelty shop.” Florida teacher Sarah Leonardi took her elementary students to Rosie’s Bar & Grill gay bar. Matt Kashdan, a Wisconsin senior high teacher, did a drag queen act for the school’s Fine Art Week show. All of these: Really? Why?
Kids really are not interested is sex, whereas adults are astronomically, enormously obsessed with sex. The only reason kids are talking about sex is because sexually obsessed adults push sex in their classrooms, parades, movies/videos/YouTubes/TV shows/textbooks and adult sex shops (three in Cheyenne and two adult strip clubs). Why is any of this LGBT sex necessary anyway; maybe because it’s a social/political agenda?
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/why-do-we-think-we-need-to-talk-to-young-kids-about-sex/article_01fde49b-ce3a-5918-a0aa-deebae4b1e55.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:17Z
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Have you given it any thought, or have you been avoiding it at all costs? Either way, 2022 is an election year, and soon we’ll all be hearing a lot more about it.
Regardless of where you land on the spectrum from “despise it” to “political junkie,” it will be impossible to avoid seeing yard signs, getting campaign literature in the mail and receiving unannounced house calls from candidates seeking your support. You’ll continue to see advertisements on our website and throughout the pages of the newspaper, too, as candidates hold town hall meetings, share their positions on issues and make other campaign-related announcements.
Less than three weeks before the start of the candidate filing period in Wyoming, the main question to ask yourself is how active you plan to be in this important process. Will you be someone who tosses their hat in the ring, offering your time and ideas for the good of the public? If not, will you make financial contributions to those you believe will best represent you and others living in the area they seek to serve?
Will you volunteer some of your free time for a candidate you support? Or, if your answer is “none of the above,” will you at least pledge to vote in both the Aug. 16 primary and Nov. 8 general election, and do your homework on the candidates and issues beforehand?
We sincerely hope you have answered “You bet I will!” to at least one of the questions above. Because sitting on the sidelines, refusing to participate in any way, is simply unacceptable. The actions of our government officials impact all of us in so many ways that it should be a basic expectation that we each at least cast a ballot at every opportunity. Yet in 2018, the last non-presidential election year, less than 52% of registered voters in Laramie County voted in the primary, and more than a quarter didn’t participate in the general election.
Let’s assume that you’re definitely planning to be an informed voter, and you’re considering doing more than that. What options do you have?
From the least to the most time commitment, here are some possibilities:
Make a donation – If you have the means, candidates up and down the ballot would surely welcome a donation of any amount. Even a dollar or two helps. So whether it’s a school board candidate or someone running for Congress, consider making a financial contribution. There also are several political action committees that support multiple candidates that could benefit from a donation.
Become a campaign volunteer – Hollywood loves to show campaign offices with volunteers making cold calls to potential voters. But there are so many other ways you can help, including offering child care services to a candidate with children, allowing your home to be used for an event, running a meal train for the candidate and their family so they can spend more time knocking on doors, etc. If you’re interested in any of the above, we’ll be publishing a list of candidates and their contact information after they’ve filed their campaign paperwork.
Run for office – Whether it’s a volunteer seat on your local school board or a paid position on the city council, county commission or state Legislature, there are a variety of options open this year to those interested in public service. But before you run to the courthouse or city hall next month and file the appropriate paperwork, stop and ask yourself a key question: “Why do I want to do this?” Is it because you truly believe you have something valuable to contribute, or it is to pad a resume or advance a specific political agenda?
Frankly, we’re fed up with “public servants” who are really just political zealots, more concerned with advancing their personal agendas than doing what’s best for all the people they’re supposed to represent. These folks need to be sussed out and kept from gaining power at any level.
And, not to disparage retirees in any way, but we’re also annoyed by people who refuse to give up a seat they’ve kept warm for years, if not decades (Yes, we’re looking at you, Charlie Scott.). We know it’s tough for young professionals – especially those with children – to make the time for many of these posts. But we encourage them to run, if at all possible, and for others to work to make it easier for people of all ages, genders, income levels and social statuses to serve.
If you’re willing, able, open-minded and doing it for the right reasons, there are resources available to help you be successful. Contact your local county party officials for guidance and assistance. If you’re a woman, seek help from the Cowgirl Run Fund, a nonpartisan political action committee that supports women running for state and local office in Wyoming. If you’re unsure what it takes, talk with someone who has done it before.
Sure, some of these things are more difficult than others. But they’re all important, and, as we prepare to enter campaign season, we hope you’ll do your part.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/staff_editorials/wyoming-needs-you-to-participate-in-this-years-elections/article_9deabf2a-4652-5ad7-9352-7b9606bb445a.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:24Z
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Cyberattacks have greatly increased in an environment where remote work plays an outsized role. Small businesses have to find optimal ways to deter these and other would-be cybercriminals from seeking low-risk, easy-to-implement hacking, phishing and malware schemes, putting at risk their systems.
If the systems are not properly maintained, businesses can lose control of basic identity or personal bank accounts, or worse, their own critical sensitive information to money extortion, unauthorized access to applications, services and networks, and a long list of other crimes.
Statistics
Cybercrime is on the rise this year. The Federal Trade Commission received 4.8 million cybercrime complaints in 2020, up 45% from 3.3 million the year before, mostly due to an increase in identity theft complaints, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
In 2020, there were 1.4 million complaints of identity theft, compared with 651,000 in 2019. The cost for the thefts and other crimes reached $2.7 billion in 2020, according to the FBI’s internet crime report. What the numbers will look like for 2022 and beyond is hard to tell.
On the home front, the cybercrimes to be aware of in 2022 are many, including:
Ransomware to demand a ransom in exchange for the promise that data won’t be destroyed by a simple rewrite or disposal of the decryption key.
Attacks on security holes in cloud-based systems, such as email and online platforms.
High-profile IoT (internet of things) attacks on the devices that connect and exchange data over the internet or other communication networks.
Attacks on remote computers or networks in work-from-home environments.
Social-engineering scams attack users and gain access to systems and information.
According to a recent U.S. Small Business Administration survey, 88% of small business owners believe their businesses are vulnerable to a cyberattack – yet, many businesses can’t afford professional information technology solutions, have limited staff and time to implement cybersecurity practices, or don’t know where to begin.
Practices
Businesses do not need a huge budget or a great deal of time to implement a cybersecurity strategy to protect their operations, their data and their customers.
Their first step is training employees in cybersecurity best practices, so they have the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and their company from cybercrime. At the most basic level, businesses can cover the risks and the steps to take for various types of cybercrimes and provide information on the latest threats and solutions.
Here are the top five cybersecurity practices for small businesses:
Implement the basics: Practice established cybersecurity tactics, such as avoiding opening email attachments and using URLs instead, choosing strong passwords and using a password management tool. Keep antivirus protection software current with automatic updates to block malware and other malicious viruses from entering devices and compromising data.
Secure the network: Use a virtual private network, or VPN, to secure Wi-Fi networks and encrypt internet traffic, allowing employees to send and receive data as if their computing devices were connected to the private network. Other security measures include installing firewalls between internal and public networks and host intrusion prevention systems. HIPS are a host-based detection tool that aims to stop malware by sending out alerts for suspicious changes to the server by monitoring logs, directories, files and registries.
Implement role-based access control: Implement RBACs to restrict access by employees based on their roles within the business, so that they obtain only the information they need to do their jobs. This helps protect data and systems by preventing employees from using sensitive data, reducing their risk of becoming a victim of data theft.
Use authentication processes: Use two-factor or multi-factor authentication by requiring employees to provide information beyond a user name and password when they want to access company data and systems, such as a personal identification code, a second password or a thumbprint. Multi-factor authentication is preferred, since it involves more steps and is harder to crack, giving even more layers of security.
Install backup and recovery: Install automated remote backup and data recovery to allow employees to store an extra copy of data in a secure offsite location. This provides extra security, but also allows the business to restore data in the case of a data breach.
Businesses, no matter their size, need to put cybersecurity practices on the top of their to-do lists, especially in a volatile global economy. By implementing a few tools and resources, they can protect against potential risks, even if facing less visible, but formidable cyber forces.
The BBB wants to see businesses succeed, knowing that as data becomes more crucial to their daily activities, awareness of ways to protect their companies, customers and staff become increasingly important.
Shelley Polansky is president/CEO of BBB Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/columns/bbb_news/cybersecurity-tips-to-protect-small-businesses/article_c3b4e530-f1e7-5820-8e63-f31bc7df6848.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:30Z
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The Wyoming Senate recently renewed appointments of two Wyoming Energy Authority board members, Mark Stege and Ken Miller, and approved the nomination of a new board member, Kara Choquette. Ken Hendricks’s term has concluded. Choquette is the director of communications and government relations for Power Company of Wyoming and TransWest Express – affiliates of The Anschutz Corporation – and brings an extensive background in the renewable energy sector.
The Wyoming Business Council has hired a broadband manager to coordinate state efforts to make such “high-speed broadband connections available to homes and businesses across the state.” The job goes to Elaina Zempel. She was described as “a 15-year veteran of Wyoming economic development and former Regional Director for the Business Council.” You can reach Zemple at broadbandoffice@wyo.gov or 307-777-2802. You can also go to wbc.pub/Broadband to reach out to her and for more information about this council.
The Wyoming Business Council has added a board member, while several other directors got additional terms, WBC announced last month. The new addition is Derek Smith of Gillette, whose new term ends on March 1, 2025. Gov. Mark Gordon had nominated Smith, whose appointment was confirmed by the state Senate. Gordon himself is listed on the organization’s website as serving as its co-chair, along with Erin Moore with Gannett Peak Technical Services. Smith works at Devon Energy and volunteers as the president of the Gillette Main Street board and as a public relations volunteer for Cheyenne Frontier Days. He has also been tapped for a partial term on the Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board. Additionally at WBC, John Coyne III, Cindy Johnson, Chuck Kenyon and Kathy Tomassi were all reappointed for their second three-year terms to the board. Their tenures also expire on March 1, 2025.
Robert J. Brockman, with Keyhole Land Company in Wheatland, was recently recognized by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers for 35 years of membership with the organization. Brockman is an agricultural professional who provides services for clients that may include farm and ranch management, rural appraisal and/or agricultural consulting.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/current_edition/business-briefs-for-april-2022-edition/article_605c12f7-d0f0-5aac-8ace-6836cbdc0fbb.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:36Z
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It’s hard not to “like” videos of kittens.
Seriously, they’re so cute. Puppies, too. You gotta love dogs, react to this post, be sad about this comment and before you know it, a half hour of your workday is gone. Other than wasting time, though, how does social media affect your job?
Read “Dark Social” by Ian MacRae. And look for the wow emoji.
In the past couple of years or so, the way we relate to others has become radically different. Mostly, we’ve had to move our connections “online wherever possible.” We had the tools already. Wasn’t it better to go online than to have no connection at all?
Maybe. As MacRae points out, going online was also loaded with problems, especially when social media was added into the mix. We learned, sometimes to our dismay, that people are “not fundamentally different in online spaces than ... in physical spaces.” Online behavior reflects real behavior, and we can become more influenced by a “filter bubble.”
You can imagine how important it is, then, to heed personalities when hiring.
Personality and personality disorders “crystallize ... in a person’s mid-20s” and “the indications are that personality does not change under normal circumstances.” Even if you can categorize someone’s personality, you’ll need to remember that in the workplace, there are both strengths and weaknesses to that core.
And here’s where casual online consumption comes in: social media is “designed to influence behavior,” but our understanding of its effects on the workplace isn’t clear yet. People are already used to social media, though, and they sometimes need to be taught how to act within a new environment. If you’re “actively trying to improve these environments” at your workplace, knowing that “people can improve” gives your business the impetus to model good behavior online, while guiding remote workers toward a certain company culture and monitoring and observing for any other issues that may occur.
Remember, says MacRae, “work can be better for people and bring out the best from people.”
Chances are, you’ve spent some time in the past five years ranting about social media, for better or for worse. “Dark Social” not only underscores your thoughts, it explains them, too.
It may be a fine line you walk, however: how can you ask your employees to tweet or post about your business, while also keeping social media out of the workplace? MacRae helps sort out all aspects of this big conundrum with a dive into psychology, communication and, using the former president as case study, research on personality types. Yes, that may rankle some readers, but the takeaway is interesting, as well as relevant.
Alas, implementation can be as complicated as the rationale; it doesn’t help that this book sometimes seems to veer too far off-topic before returning to the main subject. Even so, readers who are concerned about the influence of social media in or out of the office will find scientific reasoning and guidance here, making “Dark Social” hard not to “like.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/current_edition/dark-social-is-a-book-for-our-social-media-using-time/article_ef6be9ce-4e59-5b94-97e2-156c8b5c9545.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:42Z
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When legislation was approved in 2020 establishing Wyoming-chartered special purpose depository institutions (SPDI) to provide banking services to those involved in digital assets, proponents envisioned the state becoming a financial hub for the worldwide cryptocurrency sector.
But there were delays, first by the American Bankers Association (ABA) in issuing routing numbers, and then by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in approving master accounts for two of the state’s first SPDIs, Kraken Bank and Custodia Bank (formerly Avanti Bank and Trust). That has stakeholders upset and concerned about whether it is holding back Wyoming's crypto industry, according to recent interviews with Wyoming Business Report.
Now, more than a year after approval for SPDI charters from the Wyoming Division of Banking, both Kraken and Custodia banks have been issued routing numbers in what is an essential first step toward eligibility for federal master accounts. And the wait continues for what industry proponents had assumed would be an administrative function, but instead has become a process mired in uncertainty.
“Wyoming applicants have been significantly mistreated by both the Federal Reserve and the American Bankers Association,” said Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank. “They both have subjected Wyoming entities to disparate treatment relative to other applicants.”
The Fed's application for a master account when Custodia applied stated, “Process may take 5-7 business days,” she said.
“It has been nearly 18 months and counting since Custodia applied,” Long said.
Since Custodia and Kraken applied, the “5-7 days” language has been removed from the application, she added. Similarly, Long said, the ABA routing number application still states that the application will take two weeks to process.
“In Custodia’s case, it took 15 months to process, and in Kraken’s case, it took 17 months,” Long said of the routing number approval.
While the delay has impacted the SPDIs by limiting their operations, Long said there has been a greater impact on the state.
“This is a shame, because many household-name financial technology companies are seriously considering a move to Wyoming if Custodia and/or Kraken can break through with the Federal Reserve,” Long said. “The revenue potential to the state would be significant if those companies move to Wyoming. It’s worth fighting for.”
The Fed
Discussing her concerns over political influence in decisions made by the Fed under the Biden administration in an April 1 opinion piece for Americanbanker.com, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., was critical of the delay faced by Wyoming SPDIs.
"My home state of Wyoming has also suffered from a Federal Reserve that has consistently failed to follow the law and has frustrated responsible innovation,” Lummis wrote. “Wyoming’s special-purpose depository institutions are the first attempt to responsibly integrate digital assets into the U.S. banking system and are entitled to access to the Federal Reserve’s payment system as a matter of law. Even though Congress has imposed a one-year deadline on all Fed applications, nearly two years later, Wyoming institutions are still awaiting approval to access the payment system." (Lummis had no further comment for this article.)
In his January confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, of which Lummis is a member, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell discussed the reasons for the denial of master accounts for Wyoming SPDIs.
Powell said in studying the SPDIs closely, there may be “good arguments” for granting non-Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.-insured SPDIs Fed master accounts. He added that the Fed is taking time to consider the SPDI applications because approval would be precedent setting. (The Federal Reserve Board of Governor's office had not responded to a request for comment or a status update on the Wyoming SPDI applications as of press time.)
“We start granting these, there will be a couple hundred of them pretty quickly, and we have to think about the broader safety and soundness implications,” said Powell.
State Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, was among the legislators who wrote the SPDI legislation. He said legislators carefully wrote the charter law to ensure it met federal regulations and with strict oversight by the Wyoming Division of Banking.
While SPDIs don’t qualify for FDIC insurance required for Fed master accounts, Rothfuss said recently that SPDIs are required to have liquid assets valued at least 100% of their depository liabilities. This was discussed with the Fed as the legislation was developed, he added.
“It seems like we're being played,” Rothfuss said. “We tried to come into this discussion honestly with the intent of finding a reasonable approach, having sufficient regulatory oversight and doing all of our due diligence. But the Federal Reserve has certainly not upheld their responsibilities.”
At this point, Rothfuss said he regrets that a clause that would have required the state to file a lawsuit against the Fed in this kind of circumstance was removed from the legislation to avoid friction with the agency.
State concerns
Other state officials are also concerned about the situation.
The state attorney general and the governor’s office have expressed displeasure with the slow movement on the SPDI applications and have encouraged their approval, said Michael Pearlman, spokesperson for Gov. Mark Gordon.
“The governor continues to have conversations with both the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Federal Reserve, really pressing for answers as to why these delays have been occurring,” Pearlman said. “His biggest frustration is how this is disadvantaging Wyoming businesses.”
He said Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill sent a letter last December to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, urging approval of the SPDI master account applications and seeking clarification as to the reasons for the delays, especially as legislators had consulted with the Fed in developing the charter legislation.
Hill noted that federal regulators appear to have allowed higher-risk competitors in digital asset banking to have master accounts with less stringent reserve requirements. Hill wrote that the state’s position is that SPDIs meet all the requirements for master accounts, and says the Fed doesn’t have discretionary power to deny issuing them to Kraken and Custodia. She asked that any concerns should be communicated to the state and applicants.
“We relied on your previous interactions with our Legislature and other officials in crafting our law and believe our law to be within the bounds of federal law and regulations,” Hill wrote. “My office and the people of Wyoming are obviously concerned that SPDIs, validly chartered under Wyoming law, be treated fairly.”
At press time, Hill said that there had been communications with the Fed since the letter, and that issues presented in the letter were still "open."
Speculation that the SPDI application process is being slowed due to concern over the volatility of cryptocurrency; fear that SPDIs could lead to fractioning of financial regulatory structures and the status of the U.S. dollar; the desire of traditional banking to get the same considerations as SPDIs, or states hoping to diminish Wyoming’s lead in digital asset banking is just that – speculation, said professor Julie Hill of the University of Alabama School of Law.
Transparency isn’t something that the Fed practices when it comes to actions like master account applications, said Hill, an expert on financial institution regulation.
“Transparency in banking broadly is something of a balancing act,” Hill said. “Of course, we want bankers to understand that if they share with their regulators their trade secrets, that regulators aren't going to turn around and tell those trade secrets to their competitors and undercut them. So, in some sense, it's good that regulators want to keep bank confidential information somewhat confidential.”
But in the case of the SPDI applications, she thinks that confidentiality “just goes way too far.”
“When you apply for a bank in Wyoming, or if you apply for a nationally chartered bank, at least part of your application is public,” Hill said. “The public gets to see the process in Wyoming. You get to have a public hearing, and you can go watch it, if you want to. There's typically also some sort of public decision on who got the charter. So, there's a list of actions I can go look at.”
There’s not a similar structure with the Fed, she said, which makes it hard for everyone involved to feel like they’re getting a fair shake.
“There's no list of who they give master accounts to, at least not that the public can get to easily,” Hill said. “Bankers have an easier way of finding it out, but there's no list. There's no list of people who are denied an account. There's no public understanding of why. They don't even tell people when it’s decided that they're legally ineligible."
Hill said if the Fed did tell Wyoming what the problem with the SPDIs is, “it might be that Wyoming could think of a better, safer way to do it.”
Editor's note: Professor Julie Hill's husband is a cousin of Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill. Professor Hill also noted that she is not related to Drake and Cindy Hill (the latter of whom was a former state superintendent of public instruction) or William Hill (the former Wyoming Supreme Court justice).
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/current_edition/federal-reserve-delays-approval-of-master-accounts-for-wyoming-special-purpose-depository-institutions/article_17cd42c9-6204-5568-a6aa-a5e19b760d9c.html
| 2022-04-24T14:59:49Z
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