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International Business Times
3 days ago
- International Business Times
Female Alabama 'Teacher of the Year' Arrested for Engaging in Sexual Acts with Teens After School Hours
An Alabama kindergarten teacher who won the Teacher of the Year at her school was taken into custody Friday morning on sex charges involving teens. Heather Ozment, 49, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse and enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes, as reported by Ozment is listed on the school's website as a kindergarten teacher at Calera Elementary School. She won Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025, according to the school's Facebook page. Chief David Hyche said the allegations against Ozment involve teens, not her students, and happened after school hours. Details of the alleged crimes have not yet been made public. Hyche said school officials immediately placed Ozment on leave after they learned of the allegations. He said Owens House, a children's advocacy center, assisted in the investigation by conducting forensic interviews and examinations with the juvenile victims. "Allegations involving sexual misconduct with minors must be investigated immediately, thoroughly and methodically," the chief said. "Nothing we do in law enforcement is more important than protecting the most vulnerable in our community." Shelby County Schools officials said they were made aware of the allegations in April. "The teacher was immediately put on leave for the remainder of the school year while the matter was investigated by local law enforcement," according to the statement. "The alleged conduct occurred after school hours and did not take place at a school facility. We are unable to provide more information as it is an employee matter." Ozment is in the Shelby County Jail. Her bond is set at $45,000.
The South African
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Alabama resident 'warns' Afrikaner refugees
A clip of a black Alabama resident 'warning' Afrikaner 'refugees' about moving to their state has gone viral. This comes after 49 white South Africans made the 'trek' to the US under President Donald Trump's resettlement programme. The group – which will largely settle in the Southern state – claims that they are being 'persecuted' on the basis of their race. In a clip that was posted on X, two black female Alabama residents express their shock that Afrikaner 'refugees' will now take up residence in their state. One of the women dramatically says, 'Alabama? Lord help them. They better not talk to these people, they better not run into black people, or you'll be missing. Pray for them.' In the comment section, other American citizens shared their views… @itsjustNiecy__: 'Should they come and try that disrespectful stuff here. My they be met with the energy of the ancestors here' @broussard52: 'They won't like Alabama can tell you that right now' @0hhAudie: 'Good, I will hire them on my farm!' Elsewhere, an opinion writer on Alabama news site wrote of their new Afrikaner neighbours: 'Y'all shouldn't be here. 'Y'all shouldn't have been able to skip the line. Y'all should not be here before the tens of thousands of people throughout the world who, just like you, were vetted and prepared to leave their homeland — who must leave out of true fear for their lives. But were denied, not expedited'. Meanwhile, NGO Inspiritus will assist the Afrikaner 'refugees' as they settle down in Alabama. The organisation has helped displaced people who had fled countries with 'violence, war and persecution', and now 'white genocide'. However, the resettlement programme was halted by US President Donald Trump earlier this year. 'I feel like it's disrespectful to the refugees that we are assisting and helping, who are running from violence and forced displacement, to be helping this population,' an employment specialist within the organisation told Outright shunning of the Afrikaner refugees is the US's Episcopal Church, who were initially tasked with resettling the minority community. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said: 'It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Alabama House Passes Bill To Regulate Consumable Hemp Products
The Alabama House of Representative this week passed legislation to regulate consumable hemp goods, with supporters of the bill saying it is needed to keep intoxicating products out of the hands of children. The measure, House Bill 445 (HB 445), was approved by the House without debate on Thursday by a vote of 76-15, according to a report from 'This is one of the bills that I think you saw wide, bipartisan support,' Republican state Rep. Andy Whitt, the sponsor of the bill, told reporters after Thursday's vote. 'It affects every neighborhood across the state. These are unregulated, unchecked, and dangerous products that are being sold to our children in our convenience stores and retailers across the state, and it is time we put guardrails on this to protect our students in high school.' If passed by the Alabama Senate and signed into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, HB 445 would authorize the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to regulate consumable hemp products. The board would be responsible for issuing licenses to oversee the manufacturing, distribution and sales of hemp consumables, similar to the agency's oversight of the state's alcoholic beverage industry. The measure also restricts sales of consumable hemp products to adults aged 21 and older. Sales would only be permitted by retailers that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages and stand-alone shops that do not permit access to minors. HB 445 also sets a limit for consumable hemp products of 5mg THC, the cannabis compound primarily responsible for marijuana's psychoactive effects. The legislation also levies a tax on consumable hemp products. 'We are coming for the bad actors that put profit and the safety of our children. Convenience stores need to stick to selling gas and sodas, and they are not our local pharmacy stores. We're going to regulate these products,' Whitt said during a meeting of the House Health Committee, the Alabama Reflector reported. The lawmaker added that the state's current market for consumable hemp products is 'unregulated, unchecked and dangerous.' 'When you go into a convenience store and see these products, you think that someone has looked over them, and that is just complete inaccuracy,' Whitt added. Prior to Thursday's vote on the bill, Whitt told his colleagues in the House that the measure had taken on new urgency because of 'recent developments.' He said that a press release from hemp products manufacturer Herbal Oasis reported the company was expanding operations into Alabama, saying that 'their product will be in convenience stores, grocery stores and other locations throughout Alabama and Florida Panhandle, starting in late March.' The bill is opposed by representatives of Alabama's hemp products industry, including Carmelo Parasiliti, founder and CEO of Green Acres Organic Pharms in Florence, who told lawmakers that the 'data simply does not support the hysteria.' He added that the Alabama Poison Information Center reported 235 cases related to Delta-8 THC, a compound found in many consumable hemp products, in 2023, and that these cases represent just 0.018% of Alabama residents under 21. 'Most importantly, no deaths have occurred. Cannabinoids like Delta-8, CBD, and CBG are nonlethal, nonaddictive, and federally legal,' Parasiliti said. Molly Cole, a lobbyist for the Alabama Hemp and Vape Association, said the bill would 'eliminate over 10,000 jobs in Alabama.' 'Instead of rushing HB 445, I urge you to support a study commission. Bring together legislators, regulatory regulators, industry leaders and public health experts to craft long-term, evidence-based policy. Other states have done this successfully. Now Alabama can too,' Cole said. House Bill 445 now heads to the Alabama Senate for consideration.
