‘Counter message’ protest during Pride Spirit Day at Burlington middle school sparks town-wide discussion

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

‘Counter message’ protest during Pride Spirit Day at Burlington middle school sparks town-wide discussion Parents and community members spoke up at a meeting of the Burlington Select Board Monday after an incident at the Marshall Simonds Middle School last week. The incident happened on Friday when Principal Cari Perchase said “some students had independently organized a counter message to Pride Spirit Day.”“This became evident in the lunchroom, where several groups of students wore red, white, blue, or black, including face paint,” Perchase wrote in a letter to families. Perchase said stickers, banners and signs were also torn off walls and crumpled into water fountains. “…groups of students were heard chanting, ‘U.S.A are my pronouns,’ and students glared intimidatingly at faculty members showing pride,” Perchase continued. “Students were shamed into removing their stickers or covering their clothing with rainbows.”Community members reacted on Monday.“I thought Burlington was a safer place,” said parent Carl Foss.Perchase said she received some feedback that the c...

Trump prepares for court appearance as 1st ex-president to face federal criminal charges

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Trump prepares for court appearance as 1st ex-president to face federal criminal charges By ERIC TUCKER and JILL COLVIN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump arrived in Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department’s efforts to get them back.Trump’s Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Department’s first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardized national security, with Espionage Act charges carrying the prospect of a significant prison sentence.Ahead of his court date, he and his allies have been escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests. He’s ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Ja...

Man sought in suspicious act at East County park

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Man sought in suspicious act at East County park PINE VALLEY, Calif. -- Authorities are searching for a man who reportedly approached a 12-year-old girl last week and falsely told her that he received permission from her mother to pick her up at Pine Valley County Park.The incident occurred Friday around 9 p.m. in the 28000 block of Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley, Lt. Jeff Ford with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said in a release.According to law enforcement, a 12-year-old girl accidently left some personal belongings behind while at the park for a movie screening and returned to the park on her own to retrieve the items. When the child got to the park, she was approached by a man who asked for her name, per SDSO. Bartender fighting for life after hit-and-run while walking to work "She gave the man a false name as she continued to walk away," Ford said. "After receiving the false name, the man told the girl that her mother had given him permission to pick her up."  The girl, who was not hurt, then quickly left ...

Japan nuclear plant conducts tests before discharging treated radioactive wastewater into sea

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Japan nuclear plant conducts tests before discharging treated radioactive wastewater into sea TOKYO (AP) — The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began tests on Monday of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring countries.The tests at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said. Plant workers examined pumps and emergency shutdown equipment at the newly constructed seaside facility, which will dilute the treated water with large amounts of seawater. The diluted water then enters an undersea tunnel and is released into the ocean about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the coast. The undersea tunnel and other key facilities are near completion. TEPCO says the voluntary tests are expected to continue for about two weeks ahead of mandatory pre-operation checks to be conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, possibly in early July.Japan’s government an...

Iran’s president begins Latin America tour with stop in Venezuela

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Iran’s president begins Latin America tour with stop in Venezuela CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — In his first visit to Latin America, Iran’s hardline president on Monday met with his Venezuelan counterpart and declared that both countries have “a common enemy,” alluding to the United States, before signing a series of cooperation agreements.President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Venezuela came a year and a day after President Nicolás Maduro visited him in Iran. Both countries are under heavy U.S. economic sanctions.Raisi said the link between the two countries “is not normal, but rather a strategic relationship,” insisting that their nations have “common interests and we have common enemies.”“They do not want the two countries, Iran and Venezuela, to be independent,” Raisi said referring to the U.S. government. His tour of allied nations in Latin America, including Cuba and Nicaragua, comes amid rising tensions with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.The U.S. has accused Iran of providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturi...

Treat Williams of 'Everwood,' 'Hair' dead after motorcycle crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Treat Williams of 'Everwood,' 'Hair' dead after motorcycle crash (NEXSTAR) - Treat Williams, known for his roles in 'Everwood,' 'Hair,' and countless other films and TV shows, has died after being struck while riding a motorcycle in Vermont. He was 71. Williams' death was first reported by People, who said the actor died Monday. In a statement to the magazine and The Hollywood Reporter, the star's agent, Barry McPherson, said Williams was killed in a motorcycle accident. McPherson didn't immediately respond to Nexstar's request for comment. According to a press release from the Vermont State Police, Williams was driving a motorcycle on Route 30 near Dorset shortly before 5 p.m. Monday evening when a car, driven by a 35-year-old man, tried to make a left turn and entered Williams' path. Williams was unable to avoid the crash and was thrown from the motorcycle, police said. Pat Sajak to retire from ‘Wheel of Fortune’ next year The actor, who was wearing a helmet, suffered "critical injuries" and was airlifted to an Albany, New York hospital wher...

Motorcyclist killed in Vermont crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Motorcyclist killed in Vermont crash DORSET, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A Manchester Center man has died after a Monday afternoon crash involving a motorcycle and SUV in Dorset.Around 4:53 p.m. Monday, Vermont State Police said a Honda Element was on Vermont Route 30 near Morse Hill Road when it was attempting to turn left into a parking lot. As the vehicle was turning, police said it entered the path of a motorcycle being driven by Richard Treat Williams. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said Williams, 71, was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries.The investigation is ongoing. Any witnesses or anyone who may have information about the crash is asked to call the Vermont State Police Shaftsbury Barracks at 802-442-5421 or leave an anonymous tip online.

Police investigating car chase, crash in Bethlehem

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Police investigating car chase, crash in Bethlehem BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Police are investigating a crash that took place in Bethlehem Monday afternoon. According to the Albany County Sheriff's Office, there was a car chase that ended with a crash on State Route 32. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Coeymans Police also responded to the incident. No word on any injuries.

New Amendment may invite retail chains to Hudson

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

New Amendment may invite retail chains to Hudson HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Hudson Common Council will hold a public hearing next week to determine whether a business with more than four locations can open. According to the city code established in 2018, it was meant to help preserve Hudson’s unique charm and character.Andrew Cohen just bought a building for a new Mediterranean restaurant he plans to open next year.“There’s something special and unique about having a town full of local places you can’t find anywhere else,” he said. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Cohen also said he picked the location because of the strong support for local businesses.“One of the most special things about this place is that the people that own the businesses and that work in town all live around here. They’re all from here. They’re my neighbors,” Cohen said.Elliot Green has lived in Hudson for about seven years and said he’s on the fence about the idea.“We still have a lot of activity co...

Police: ATM hook-and-chain attack took less than a minute

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:34:30 GMT

Police: ATM hook-and-chain attack took less than a minute WASHINGTON, Mo. - A hook-and-chain attack on an ATM west of the metro left multiple crime scenes early Monday morning.The Washington Police Department said officers were called to the Bank of Franklin County on East 8th Street near East State Highway 47 around 3:30 a.m. Monday.Krista Davis lives nearby and heard what sounded like a crash. She said she looked outside and saw people in hoodies running from the ATM with money slipping from their hands."We didn't even have time to call the police," Davis said. "[One of them] dropped a bag, went back and got it, and ran past the pickup truck we thought they had crashed." Former St. Louis alderman under federal indictment for insurance fraud Washington Police Detective Lt. Steve Sitzes said officers were working on four different scenes at one time related to the ATM incident.Sitzes said in addition to the crime scene at the bank, thieves stole a truck from an apartment complex about a mile away. Detectives also found cash boxes at two ...