Latest news with #Attaway
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Girl left Milwaukee mental health facility, trafficked, family says
The Brief A 14-year-old Illinois girl went missing from a mental health center in Milwaukee. While the girl is now safe, her mother said she was trafficked. In a statement Lad Lake said it is a "treatment program—not a secure facility." MILWAUKEE - A 14-year-old Illinois girl went missing from a mental health center in Milwaukee. While the girl has been found and is safe, her mother told FOX6 News the healing and fight for justice are just beginning. What they're saying Virginia Attaway marched outside the Lad Lake St. Rose Campus – the very place her daughter vanished – to raise awareness and seek accountability on Saturday. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "What happened to her while she was gone is something that no children should ever have to go through," she said. Attaway said her 14-year-old daughter was trafficked after she walked out of the inpatient mental health facility near 88th and Vienna. She also said there's a criminal investigation into the people who trafficked the girl. "We were day and night, spreading flyers, going to new stations," she said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Attaway said it led to a tip last week from a man who said he saw her daughter. "My whole body was shaking from head to toe," she said. "How remarkable is it that we were able to find one child in a city with almost a half a million people in it?" Attaway said she's relieved to reunite with her daughter, but the fight for justice is far from over. "Now I'm concerned about any other child that comes to Lad Lake," she said. Dig deeper Attaway said her daughter isn't the only child who experienced this at the facility; she said there are others whose parents did not have the resources to come and look for their kids. "(Lad Lake) said sometimes they'll go chase them or follow them in a vehicle or something. Well, why wasn't that the case for our daughter?" said Stephen Pate, the 14-year-old's stepfather. The other side FOX6 News reached out to Lad Lake for comment. In a statement, the facility said: "At Lad Lake, our mission is to help young people overcome trauma and build safer, healthier futures. We specialize in working with girls who have experienced significant trauma, including trafficking and exploitation. Through programs supported by the CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) grant, we offer specialized, trauma-informed care for youth impacted by sexual exploitation "Our approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and strengthened by the voices of survivor leaders, who help guide program development, staff training, and service delivery. Every aspect of our work is designed to uphold dignity, empowerment, and the lived experiences of survivors "Lad Lake is a treatment program—not a secure facility—where youth are supported in open, restorative environments intended to rebuild trust, foster resilience, and reclaim hope. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting survivors and working closely with families, law enforcement, and community partners to ensure every young person has the opportunity to heal, thrive, and live free from exploitation." The Source FOX6 News interviews the 14-year-old's parents and reached out to Lad Lake for comment on this report.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
No more steak, burgers? Research links allergic reaction to red meat to ticks found in New England
One day, you're able to enjoy steak, hamburgers, and sausage, and the next day, those foods cause a severe allergic reaction. People who suffer from a condition called alpha-gal syndrome break out in hives after eating red meat. 'I was fully covered in these hives, head to toe. Literally from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet,' said Rob Attaway, who has alpha-gal syndrome. Until recently, alpha-gal was linked to a bite from the Lone Star Tick, typically found in the south. But now, new research is tying the red meat allergy to ticks found in New England. CDC researchers linked alpha gal to a 45-year-old Maine woman bitten by a Black-Legged Tick in York County. Researchers also linked alpha-gal to a different tick bite in a woman in Washington state. 'We know the range of Lone Star ticks. And yet these two cases seem to be something, something bit beyond that,' said microbiology professor Dr. Stephen Rich, who studies ticks at UMass Amherst. Dr. Rich says this issue has been on their radar for some time, and they still have a lot of questions that need answers. 'Black-legged ticks, as we know, are throughout New England and even in higher elevations. And so it changes the exposure if that's in fact the case that the black- legged ticks are now a risk factor,' Dr. Rich said. CDC researchers increased surveillance in Maine and found positive lab reports for antibodies associated with alpha-gal in 57 Maine residents. The symptoms can be severe.... Attaway, who lives in Georgia, said he had itching that lasted for hours and was unbearable. 'Literally, you could sometimes not even hardly think because you're itching and the only thing you want to do is try and get relief from the itching,' Attaway said. 'My face went numb — completely. And I went into and looked in the mirror, and I was so contorted. I thought I was having a stroke,' said Jim Dickerson, who also suffers from alpha-gal syndrome. 'It was the worst pain I've ever experienced,' Dickerson said. Both Dickerson and Attaway can no longer eat their favorite foods. Both men said they now eat a lot of chicken. Turkey, fish and plant-based meat alternatives are also safe foods. There's no cure or real treatment for alpha-gal, so until researchers learn more, the best way to avoid any tick-related conditions is to prevent tick bites in the first place. 'Be mindful. Tick seasons are starting up right now. They'll continue to rise through the month of May and June, and then we'll come into the nymphal season. And we have ticks for the next several months. And so be using all the precautions you can to keep them off you,' cautioned Dr. Rich. Both Dickerson and Attaway said they now eat a lot of chicken. Turkey, fish, and plant-based meat alternatives are also safe foods. Both men said they have not had any major outbreaks since their diagnosis. They both carry an EpiPen in case they accidentally eat red meat. The condition could cause their throat to close up and cut off their oxygen supply. 'It's amazing how your life can change from one little one little bite,' Dickerson said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'I am just really grateful': Polk County wildfire 63% contained, evacuations lifted, officials say
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — North Carolina wildfires have scorched hundreds of acres of forest in western North Carolina. The fires prompted voluntary evacuations in Polk County as crews continue to try to contain them. 'Look at the blue sky. Could you ask for more? The flowers against the blue sky,' Tryon resident Trisha Attaway said. 'Here comes the helicopter looking at the forest fire.' An almost perfect spring-like day in Polk County, contrasted by a plume of white smoke and the constant echoes of helicopters flying above the mountain near Attaway's home. Carolina Wildfires: City of Morganton issuing burn ban 'I've seen the helicopters all morning,' she said. 'They have been all over the place.' Since Saturday, local firefighters and the N.C. Forest Service has been working to contain a wildfire that was sparked by a downed power line. Since Saturday, the fire has spread nearly 600 acres. 'It was difficult to maintain the fire perimeter due to numerous factors — one being the steep terrain, the windy gusty conditions and also some of the debris that was taken down by Helene that we are having to deal with as well,' N.C. Forest Service Forestry Technician Jeremy Waldrop said. On one side of Highway 176 in Tryon, homeowners voluntarily evacuated. On the other side of the road, the entire mountainside was charred black. Gaston County crews battling woods fire near Cramerton 'Friends told me that my house was probably gone. It's not going to be your house anymore,' Attaway said. Attaway returned home Monday morning to find her house, which had made it through Hurricane Helene, still standing. The fire line was just feet away from her property. 'Leave me be and let me be bored, but no, all of these humongous adventures coming up, but thanks be to God I am alive, and everything is well, and I haven't suffered really, and I am just really grateful,' she said. As of 5:00 pm ET Monday, the North Carolina Forest Service says 63 percent of the wildfire has been contained. A spokesperson with the agency says they do not believe any homes were damaged or destroyed and all evacuations have been lifted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
