Latest news with #BacktheBlue
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon County DA Pier Hess Graf projected to win primary race
LEBANON, Pa. (WHTM) – Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf appears to have won her Republican primary election on Tuesday evening. Hess Graf was challenged in the primary by Assistant Lebanon County Public Defender Michael Light. With 100% of precincts reporting, Hess Graf had more than 70% support. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Hess Graf received a bachelor's degree from Temple University and graduated cum laude from Duquesne University School of Law. After beginning her career as a clerk for Judge Samuel Kline, she joined the District Attorney's office as a prosecutor in 2009. Hess Graf also opened the private Hess Law Firm P.C. in 2014, representing clients in business contracts, divorce and custody cases, child support, wills, and estates. She has served as Lebanon County's lead prosecutor since January 31, 2020. Hess Graf is a lifelong resident of Lebanon County with her husband, Chris, who is a 13-year veteran of law enforcement. She organized 'Back the Blue' fundraisers to support members of law enforcement who have been shot or killed in the line of duty, as well as their families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Ivey speaks at Alabama League of Municipalities convention
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — 60% of Alabamians live in municipalities, and those local leaders are responsible for making decisions that impact people's lives every day. The Alabama League of Municipalities is meeting for its annual convention at the Von Braun Center this week. Gov. Kay Ivey opened the convention Tuesday, discussing the laws passed this year she feels will most benefit Alabama cities. She mentioned several bills she said will keep communities safer, including one that would ban glock switches and another putting restrictions on bail for violent offenders. The governor said she wants to see one more bill passed. 'I've called on legislative leadership to bring the Back the Blue bill to the floor tomorrow for a final vote,' Ivey said. House Bill 202, known as the Back the Blue Protection Act, would rewrite state law to provide more legal immunity for officers in on-duty incidents. It would bar lawsuits that could not show an officer's conduct was reckless and did not have a law enforcement purpose. 'The Back the Blue Act would provide legal protection for law enforcement to carry out their duties courageously and effectively without fear of Monday morning quarterbacking in the courts,' Ivey said. Supporters of the bill say they want officers to know they have the support of lawmakers, but house democrats have pushed back. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels has said he is concerned the bill would protect officers who are not acting in good faith and make it nearly impossible to prosecute a bad cop. The governor said Tuesday she want to see the Back the Blue act pass Wednesday, on the last day of the legislative session. In her remarks, Ivey asked league members to call their state legislators and give their support. League of Municipalities Executive Director Greg Cochran said the partnership between the state and its municipalities is an important one. 'We've been very blessed through the years to have a good working relationship with, not only the governors that have served our state, but also the legislature,' Cochran said. He said the Alabama League of Municipalities helps their members acquire resources, like state grants, that help build infrastructure. 'You can't raise enough money internally to do the projects that we have today,' Cochran said 'It costs over a million dollars to build one mile of road. It takes a collaboration between state and federal policymakers to make that work.' Cochran said the convention is a good opportunity for city leaders to speak with those at the state level each year and share ideas about how to tackle difficult issues, like affordable housing, job availability and ensuring people have access to childcare. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Back the Blue' memorial ride cancelled; but the tribute rolls on
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The 'Back the Blue' parade began back in 2005, after Panama City Beach Sergeant Kevin Kight was killed in the line of duty at a traffic stop on March 27, 2005. 20 years later, the tradition carries on to show support for law enforcement and first responders. Saturday's ride was cancelled due to weather, but that didn't stop bikers and law enforcement officers from paying tribute. 'It's not just Bay County. It's located out here at Panama City Beach. We actually all come together, come together for this event as a tribute. The Cops n' Kids just kind of a way to actually get back to the community through this event as well,' Panama City Beach Police Sergeant James Dinse said. The ride is held twice a year, collecting donations that benefit the Panama City Beach Police Cops n' Kids program, which helps kids in need during the holiday season. Mosley High School junior earns a full ride to FSU Panama City for new fishing team 'Kevin was all about community. He was always out there trying to help, you know, throughout his whole time he served. So he would be thrilled that this was named after him, that it's continued. And he loved kids. Um, he was a T-ball coach, and he had a son, and he was all about. So this would be right up his alley,' Widow of Kevin Kight, Christina Kight-McVay, said. Even without the parade, participants are reminded of the service and sacrifice that law enforcement officers and first responders make each day. 'It is a very difficult and hard job out there. And they need that encouragement. They need to know that, you know, they're supported and they're thought well of out there,' Kight-McVay said. Thunder Beach will be back in the fall for the next rally, and they will be continuing the tradition of riding to 'Back the Blue'. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally rolls into Panama City Beach
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – An estimated 50,000 motorcyclists have rolled into town for the spring Thunder Beach motorcycle rally. Those thousands of extra wheels on the road pose a higher risk for accidents. 'We don't really have that many. Unfortunately, what would just be a fender bender in a car or truck could be fatal on a motorcycle. And riders understand that,' Thunder Beach Productions President Joe Biggs said. The rally is spread across three venues: the main one at Frank Brown Park, the Harley-Davidson dealership, and the crossroads across from Sharky's Restaurant on Front Beach Road. Drivers are urged to be extra cautious while driving on U.S. 98, Back Beach Road, and State Road 390, towards the main venue at Frank Brown Park. 'Sometimes you're blind spot may not be able to see a motorcycle rider. There will be a lot of them out there. So we do ask people to be patient with each other on the roadways. Make sure you're just taking that extra step to make sure that you're staying safe and keeping those around you safe as well,' Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Ian Satter said. St. Andrews Marina temporary closure for Blessing of the Fleet event FDOT expects to see an increase in traffic in the area, especially through active work zones. 'Throughout this weekend, you'll see an uptick in traffic. We do ask people to, you know, take a little bit of extra time out there. And we do have a lot of active construction zones through those areas. So take particular care and attention as you're driving through those work zones,' Satter said. Thunder Beach President Joe Biggs says motorcyclists ride in groups to make themselves more visible to drivers. 'Very often you'll see two, four, six bikes riding together. But they're creating more of a presence. They're not being idiots. They're just trying to be more visible so that people in cars and trucks are clearly aware that there's a motorcycle around,' Biggs added. Biggs says Thunder Beach appeals to a certain segment of bikers. 'This is not a sport bike event, this is a cruiser event. Because of it, it's an older audience who are a lot more responsible,' Satter said. With more than 100 vendors, he says you don't have to be a rider to enjoy Thunder Beach. One of the weekend's highlights is a 'Back the Blue' parade on Saturday, held in memory of Panama City Beach Police Sergeant Kevin Kight and Walton County Deputy Will May. It takes place at 11 a.m. from the Beef O' Brady's parking lot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
News 19's Tamika Alexander sits down with Representative Rex Reynolds
(WHNT) — With only one month left in the 2025 Legislative Session in Montgomery, News 19's Tamika Alexander spoke with Rex Reynolds, who has big plans for Alabama. Reynolds plays a key role in overseeing the state's budget, serving as the House Chair of the Ways and Means General Fund Committee. Man from Arab dies following hatchet attack in Arizona Over the last few months, Reynolds, along with other state lawmakers, have been debating bills including gambling, grocery tax and Medicaid expansion. 'My year stats long before the session, but you know, you're meeting with associations that they're typically in the General Fund Budget, but then you're meeting with the department heads, understanding their budget needs,' Reynolds said. 'I work very closely with the Executive Budget Office, or the Governor's Office.' One bill he sponsored has generated plenty of debate. Reynolds' 'Back the Blue' bill provides more protection for police officers by granting them a hearing if they are indicted for any wrongdoing. And in deadly police shooting cases, it gives the officer time to argue that they acted in self-defence much earlier in the process than under the current law. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'There's been liability protections for law enforcement for over 50 years,' Reynolds said. 'But that bill needed to be upgraded based on a couple of Supreme Court Rulings. So we did all that in that piece of legislation. And I think that just, and I told the members this, it better clarifies when an officer does have coverage and when he does not,' Reynolds said. 'Because if they act within the scope of their duty, then they should have protection. If they act recklessly and outside the scope of their duties, then they shouldn't have protection,' Reynolds said. Reynolds has found that balancing the budget comes with both challenges and cuts. Some lawmakers voiced concerns when they noticed the elimination of funding for line items that included the Magic City Classic, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame. When asked what he had to say to people who feel like it was a race issue with those items being taken out of the budget, Reynolds said, 'It was unfortunate it was taken that way.' 'We're having to be a little tighter in the general fund. And so those items, we're just left out, you know, and it was considered to be a racial thing because there were many more, I think I think one line item right below that is, is a black women's mental health line item that was funded.' Reynolds said the Senate budget chairman, Greg Albritton, has assured him that those items will be restored to the budget. Meanwhile, something that won't be restored is the overtime pay tax break that expires in June. This exemption applies to full-time, hourly-wage employees who work more than 40 hours in a week. But Reynolds said the state can't afford to continue it. 'That was a great bill when it went passed its first time, and in fact, I co-sponsored that bill with minority leader, Anthony Daniels. But this time with the package that we've just done, but over $1.2 billion in tax cuts, just this session, we can't do that,' Reynolds said. Alabama became the first state to exempt overtime pay from state income tax. So far, more than 800 bills have been introduced in this session, which is set to wrap up on May 13. The House has already approved the $3.7 billion general fund budget. It now heads to the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
