Latest news with #Aikens
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Howard Library's Project Literacy celebrates dozens who learned English, obtained citizenship, earned high school diploma
When she came to America from Guatemala 38 years ago, Susana Rodriguez didn't know how to read — not even in her native language of Spanish. But after two years in the Howard County Library System's Project Literacy program, Rodriguez can now speak, read and write proficiently in English. Rodriguez was one of about 50 adult English language learners who were celebrated Thursday at Miller Branch Library for receiving a National External High School Diploma, or obtaining American citizenship, or successfully completing the Project Literacy program. Founded in Howard County in 1987, Project Literacy offers free classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions to help students learn English, obtain citizenship, improve work skills or receive a high school diploma . President and CEO of Howard County Library System Tonya Aikens said more than 13,000 English language learners have participated in the 'life-changing' program. 'There's never a dry eye at every single graduation,' Aikens said. 'It's just incredible to hear the sacrifice that these adults are making.' The program's graduation is paid for by the Friends and Foundation of HCLS, board member and Treasurer Ellen Flynn Giles said. The Friends group is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support Howard County libraries. 'This is a real milestone that's not simply a ceremony — it's a crowning achievement,' Flynn Giles said. 'It's a mark of their mental commitment and dedication. Most people were taking these classes at night after working during the day.' Lakeisha Hancock said she moved to Columbia with her four kids — Kira, Maurice, Diamond, and Jamal — to give them the best education she could so they could be successful. The former Baltimore City resident hadn't yet finished high school, so she joined the Project Literacy program. On Thursday she celebrated earning the National External High School Diploma. Hancock said setting an example for her children was her primary reason for completing the diploma — she wanted her children to know that 'they could do it, too' despite any obstacles they may encounter, and that 'the sky's the limit.' Thirteen other honorees received diplomas: Marco Tulio Benitez Jose Martin Contreras Carmelita Findlay Jacobs Kisha Lyne Kelly Yeonhee Kim Varsha Makwana Anderson Osmin Diaz Martinez Arturo Ernesto Martinez Norma Molina Michael Pettengill Johnny Trejo-Garcia Rania Refaat Abdelhafez Shaban Mike Minsup Shin The program is run by volunteers, Aikens said, who all have bachelor's degrees and choose to give their time each week to work one-on-one with students. Nancy Schear, Rodriguez's tutor, said she worked with Rodriguez on every aspect of learning the English language, from learning her ABCs for the first time to being able to write and send texts without any assistance to her two daughters, one of whom is a nurse in Columbia and one of whom is a student at a Baltimore university. Each tutor who had a student in attendance was also recognized at the ceremony for the time they volunteered. More than half the tutors celebrated multiple students who were graduating. Cindy Fitzpatrick, Hancock's coach, said there were no obstacles that could sway Hancock's determination to finish the program, calling her a 'superhero.' 'Perseverance is not just a skill, it's an art,' Hancock said. 'And because of that one word, we are the Class of 2025.' Have a news tip? Contact Kat Mauser at kmauser@
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Pacifica man arrested in Bay Area carjacking spree
(KRON) — A Pacifica man was taken into custody on Monday following three carjackings that took place in April throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. On April 3, prosecutors said Eric Gerard Aikens Jr., 23, of Pacifica, approached a Lyft driver in Daly City who was waiting to pick up passengers from Dave & Busters. Aikens allegedly carjacked the vehicle and then drove it to a family member's home in Oakland. The Lyft driver's two Apple iPhones were still inside the vehicle when it was stolen, and they were used by the Daly City Police Department to track the vehicle to the family member's house, the DA's office said. Driver accused of fatal Hayward pedestrian crash arrested at Oakland airport The family member told investigating police officers that Aikens admitted to them that he carjacked the vehicle, and that it was left there because he was unable to start it again without the victim's key fob, according to prosecutors. The family member gave officers Aikens' cell phone number and home address, the DA's office said. On the following day, the family member contacted Daly City PD after Aikens allegedly carjacked another vehicle by gunpoint in Oakland and asked if the family member wanted to purchase it. Two days later, on April 6, a third victim was carjacked by Aikens at gunpoint in San Jose, prosecutors said. Both the vehicles that were stolen from San Jose and Oakland were discovered parked at Aikens' residence in Pacifica on Monday, the DA's office said. According to prosecutors, a loaded pistol was found in Aikens' possession during his arrest outside his home Monday. A search warrant executed at the Pacifica home uncovered a disassembled assault AR-15 rifle and 'multiple rounds' of ammunition, the DA's office said. Aikens is prohibited from possessing firearms due to an open domestic violence case, prosecutors said. Aikens was charged with: Carjacking Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, person, vehicle Carrying a concealed loaded weapon Possession of an assault weapon Possession of ammunition (two counts) Unlawful firearm activity (two counts) Receiving stolen property, motor vehicle (two counts) He is scheduled to appear in San Mateo County Superior Court on Friday to enter his plea. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
MoDOT answers questions about Wednesday weather prep
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The freezing drizzle and mist created problems for many drivers Wednesday morning. A dozen different areas of highways were closed throughout the Kansas City metro at some point. Missouri Department of Transportation Senior Communications Specialist Brooke Rohlfing says I-470 westbound at I-49 was closed for 5 to 6 hours. She says a good amount of their crews were on the Grandview Triangle for an extended period of time in the morning. 'They just continue to stay there and continue to work as they were needed,' she said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday afternoon. As FOX4 drove on 71 Highway we could see a number of cars on the shoulder. One was even facing the wrong direction as we drove northbound. Rohlfing added that the Downtown Loop was another spot where crews spent a lot of time. There was a wreck at 71 Highway and 19th Street just after 4 a.m. MAP: Traffic and road conditions across the Kansas City metro 'So, we've actually been planning for this for a few days because you just never know with temperatures like this what your precipitation's going to be like,' Rohlfing said when asked if the weather event caught her crews off guard. 'So, our crews were on call. They knew. We kind of had a plan in place, and we were ready to begin treating at midnight ahead of some of the precipitation.' Rohlfing said MoDOT crews pre-treated with salt. 'I work with special needs people, but I also do DoorDash,' Grandview, MO resident Eyvori Falls said when asked what she did for a living. 'I was DoorDashing this morning.' Despite MoDOT's work before the precipitation, Falls said the roads were extremely bad. 'I saw about over 20 cars turned around going from the highway from up north to Grandview,' she continued. 'They texted us at six in the morning and told us they were going to cancel school,' Kansas City Public Schools Teacher Lamarco Aikens said. 'It's an AMI day. We're going to do online learning, so I'm like, 'Okay. Cool.'' Aikens is a PE Teacher, so when the district has an Alternative Method of Instruction Day, he works for Instacart. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 'No, my all-wheel drive was pretty cool out here,' Aikens said when asked if he slid at all. 'But if you got a car, you're going to be really slipping out here, so be careful.' Kansas Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Delaney Tholen says crews west of State Line first treated their highways and interstates with salt brine, and then they treated them with salt. 'Salt brine, or saltwater, is often applied before salt to help the salt work faster,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
