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Michigan man gets 10 months over racist attempts to scare Black Lives Matter protesters

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

(The Hill) – A Michigan man was sentenced to 10 months in prison over attempts to intimidate Black Lives Matter protesters.Kenneth Pilon, 62, called nine Starbucks stores and told employees to threaten and racially demean employees supporting Black Lives Matter. He also threatened to kill Black people, according to court records. Michigan man had left nooses, racist notes to stem Black Lives Matter protests Pilon had called the stores in the days after Starbucks announced it would provide T-shirts for employees who wanted to support Black Lives Matter in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.Pilon also left nooses and threatening notes at Starbucks parking lots and other establishments.One note read, “An accessory to be worn with your ‘BLM’ t-shirt. Happy protesting!” court records show.

Lipari Foods voluntarily recalls their ground cumin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A health risk identified by two organizations has led to the recall of ground cumin from a Michigan-based company.Lipari Foods has issued a voluntary recall of a specific lot of their Branded Ground Cumin Tubs manufactured by International Food due to possible Salmonella contamination. It was brought to their attention by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) after a sample of it collected by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services tested positive for the organism.Here is the information on the product involved in the recall.LIPARIGROUND CUMIN6 OZ. TUB22091460109/2024094776212620The ground cumin was distributed in Illinois along with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.No illnesses have been reported. Those who have this specific brand of ground cumin should not cons...

Fall hazard forces recall of Rollerblade USA youth in-line skates

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A specific brand of skates from Rollerblade USA is being recalled by the company this week due to a fall hazard.The company's Rollerblade Fury Black/White and Fury G Black/Pink youth inline skates, which came in three adjustable sizes with ranges of 12J-2, 2-6 and 5-8, are being called back due to a fall hazard.Rollerblade USA says that there have been 11 reports of the brake supports fracturing or breaking off of the skates. No injuries have been reported due to the defect.According to the company, customers should stop using them immediately and contact the company for a free replacement brake support. For those people who have these skates, you can contact the company in the United States toll-free at 866-734-5708 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. central Monday through Friday. You can also email Rollerblade USA at [email protected] or go online to https://www.rollerblade.com/usa/en/fury-recall or www.rollerblade.com and click on “Fury Product Recall” for more...

Texas House moves to expand Medicaid coverage to new moms for a year after childbirth

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas House advanced a bill Thursday that would allow low-income moms to stay on Medicaid for a full year after childbirth. The bill was preliminarily approved with bipartisan support in a 125-11 vote. All of the votes against the bill were from Republicans. It is expected to pass the House in a final vote on Friday.Currently, postpartum Medicaid expires after two months in Texas. The House passed a similar measure last session, but the Senate reduced it to six months of coverage. That proposal is stuck in bureaucratic limbo after the federal government said it is “unapprovable” in its current form.But in the two years since the Legislature last met, the landscape around this issue has changed dramatically. Most states adopted the 12-month policy, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade engendered more support for new moms.The Republican Party of Texas, as well as Gov. Greg Abbott and more than 170 Texas groups from across the political spec...

Memo: More to come on Rainey Street safety improvements

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said its taken even more steps toward making the Rainey Street area safer after a push this year for safety changes by friends and loved ones of people who died in or near Lady Bird Lake. In a memo, the city said since March 7, the Parks and Recreation Department had installed temporary solar lighting, a temporary fence barrier, a gate at top of steps to lake access, installed signage, increased park ranger patrols and conducted multiple site visits to monitor light reliability.The city said a consultant group was also hired to draft recommendations for permanent infrastructure safety improvements and hosted a nighttime consultant group trail walk with Austin Police Department representatives April 17.According to the city, Human Resources approved a request for payment of overtime hours for Park Rangers to assist in providing more frequent patrols in the area.Placing EMS personnel at the Rainey Street Trailhead is also being explored, and a staff ...

Bongi Hlongwane brings youthful joy and more goals to Loons this season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

Veterans Michael Boxall and Robin Lod have racked up more than 100 appearances apiece for Minnesota United in all competitions since 2017. They have been there, done that.Both Loons regulars remarked in preseason how Bongi Hlongwane has infused the team with his youthful exuberance, everyday smile and positive outlook.“I think it’s who I am,” Hlongwane told the Pioneer Press this week. “I’m happy to be with the guys. When I see them, I’m always happy and always laugh.”The 22-year-old South African’s goals have helped buoy the team’s spirits as well. Hlongwane is in a three-way tie for most goals (two) as MNUFC (3-2-2, 11 points) will play Seattle Sounders (5-2-1, 16 points) at 9:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Lumen Field.Hlongwane also has brought joy with his goal celebrations.The day before he scored in the 2-1 loss to Orlando City last weekend, Hlongwane was chatting with fullback D.J. Taylor about a dance he used to do with Thabiso Kutumela when they played together for Martizburg Unite...

6 arrested in Albany animal cruelty investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department has arrested six people in connection with an animal cruelty investigation. All are accused of neglecting adult dogs and puppies at a Morris Street home. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On March 31, police responded to the home after receiving a complaint about dogs being in poor living conditions. During the investigation, investigators allegedly found one adult mixed breed dog and one mixed breed puppy inside a room with urine, feces and uncapped syringes.Police then arrested the resident, Jonathan Willis, 30, of Albany, and charged him with two counts of animal cruelty and one count of failing to license his dog. He was arraigned on April 7 in Albany City Criminal Court. Read the latest on the fatal shooting of Kaylin Gillis Following up on the investigation, police executed a search warrant at the same address on April 20. Once inside, they allegedly found 15 dogs,...

Clark Art Institute awarded $75k COVID recovery grant

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (NEWS10) — The Clark Art Institute recently received a Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) grant as part of its Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Organizations program. The Clark was awarded $75,000 to help maintain programs and operations. It comes as part of the $8.7 billion provided to the Commonwealth by the American Rescue Plan Act. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The Clark is fortunate to have received one of these grants, which will help to support our ongoing efforts to rebuild our visitation to pre-pandemic levels and, at the same time, to attract and engage new audiences,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark. “Unrestricted funds such as these are particularly important here in the Berkshires, where cultural tourism is such an important part of our economy. We are very grateful to MCC.”“This is the largest grant announcement the Massachusetts Cultural Council has ever made,”...

Disc golf courses around the Capital Region

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Disc golf has been growing in popularity over the past several years. Scored the same as regular golf, players throw a disc into a basket or target. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! If you're thinking about trying disc golf or looking for new courses near you, here's where you can find disc golf courses around the Capital Region.Central Park in Schenectady, 18 hole course.Blatnick Park in Niskayuna, 18 hole course.Union College in Schenectady, 9 hole course.Prospect Park in Troy, 18 hole course.Colonial Acres Park in Glenmont, 9 hole course.Stephen P. Wallace Park in Voorheesville, 18 hole course.Thacher State Park in Voorheesville, 18 hole course.Shafer Park in Delanson, 9 hole course.Burbine Forest in Esperance, 19 hole course.Joralemon Park in Coeymans, 38 hole course.Stonykill Disc Golf Course in Chatham, 20 hole course.Mine Kill State Park in North Blenheim, 18 hole course.Shenantaha Creek in Ma...

The Illinois Caverns are now open for visitors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:33 GMT

MONROE COUNTY, Ill.—The Illinois Caverns are open again for the season. The cavern season is from Sunday, April 23 to the end of October. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cave is located in Monroe County. It is home to cave animals and is free to enter.Visitors must sign a permit and bring gear, including a helmet, three battery-powered light sources per person, and closed-toe shoes. For more information about the caves, check out the information page.