Latest news with #Batts
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Exercise physiology students helping folk stay mobile
Jeffrey Batts reckons if he can get in or out of his car without his leg locking up, he is having a good day. The 63-year-old has arthritis in his right hip, which flares up from time to time, sometimes leaving him unable to move. "It's sort of like the hip's jamming. "If I put my leg in the wrong position, then I can't move the leg and it goes into spasm. "Then I have to call the ambulance — or like the other day, this lady saw me in trouble and gave me a ride to my house." Mr Batts said he had prescribed painkillers to help with the pain, and he was trying to get an appointment with a specialist so he could get a hip replacement. But in the meantime, he was hoping students at the University of Otago's Connection Through Movement Studio might be able to help him manage the pain and stay mobile enough to do everyday activities. "I can't do quite as much as I used to do, you know. "Just getting into the car, that's enough to set it off." Mr Batts is one of about 45 members of the Dunedin community who attend the studio each week. University of Otago postgraduate clinical exercise physiology student Aliya Mottus is part of a group of clinical exercise physiology students who have created the studio, where they work with members of the Dunedin community with illnesses or ailments, to help improve their wellbeing. She said they created personalised exercise programmes for each client and ran a range of group sessions, such as pregnancy classes and the "Strong and Steady" programme, which helped people with balance issues. "We work with people who have cardiovascular conditions like hypertension, people that have had heart attacks or coronary artery disease. We've got a couple of people with chronic fatigue or neurological conditions, people with different types of arthritis, people with diabetes — even some with cancer are coming through." She said exercise physiology aimed to help people maintain or re-establish physical capacity, especially those with degenerative conditions. "If you can help maintain that as long as possible, it helps improve overall quality of life." The studio had been running for about 10 weeks and clients had already made major progress, including some who could now touch their toes, climb the stairs to their front door, or ride a bike. "They may seem like really little things, but they're really big wins for our clients, which is so rewarding for us to see." While the studio was helping people in the community, it was also helping the students to build the 360 clinical hours to get their accreditation with Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand or Clinical Exercise Physiology New Zealand. "So this functions as an outlet for us to work with people with different complex and chronic conditions." The studio would remain open until November 7, and would continue to operate next year.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Family of man who died in Knox County custody to announce legal action
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The family of David Batts, Sr. who died after being in the custody of the Knox County Sheriff's Office, plans to announce the filing of a notice of claim against the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Attorney Ben Crump represents Batts' family. In a press release, Crump's firm wrote, that Batts, 46, was 'brutally beaten and Tased by officers.' The press release also said that his meningitis should have been treated immediately and that he should never have been taken from the hospital. Maryville pastor found safe after gunpoint abduction in South Africa, police say Batts, 46, died on January 8. He was arrested at the University of Tennessee Medical Center the day before on charges of sexual battery. Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler said that Batts didn't comply with a clothing search or pat down. Because of this, they placed him in an isolation room for more than eight hours. Spangler said an officer, nurse or supervisor checked him multiple times during those hours. Around 11 p.m., Batts refused commands and officers had to gain control of him before a nurse could check his vital signs, Spangler said. A nurse said that Batts should be taken back to UT Medical Center. Batts tried to grab and bite staff as they dressed him in an inmate uniform, according to Spangler. Batts was taken back to the hospital around 11:34 p.m. A judge granted him a release from custody on January 8. Officers at the hospital were relieved of duties. Batts died around 11:25 p.m. on January 8. The bodycam footage has been released. According to an autopsy, the cause of death was acute meningitis and sepsis. Alcoa senior finds support in sports community amid battle with Juvenile ALS Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen said that, while Batts was injured in KCSO custody, these injuries were not the cause of his death, nor did they contribute to it, citing the medical examiner. She said that the officers responded with appropriate force. In January, she announced that no charges would be filed. A urine analysis showed that Batts had fentanyl in his system, according to Spangler. Batts' family and their attorneys plan to hold a press conference at noon on Wednesday. Crump also represented the families of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC Aiken announces hire of new women's basketball head coach
Apr. 10—USC Aiken, in conjunction with Director of Athletics Todd Wilkinson, announced Thursday the hiring of Brittany Batts as the head women's basketball coach. "We are excited to welcome Brittany Batts to USCA as the next head coach of women's basketball," Wilkinson said in a press release. "Coach Batts brings a dynamic blend of leadership, experience, and a relentless commitment to excellence. Her passion for developing student-athletes and her competitive spirit are exactly what this program needs to be a force in the PBC and the Southeast Region. We believe she will build a culture of toughness, unity, and pride that our university and community will rally behind." Advertisement "I am honored and excited to be the head women's basketball coach at USC Aiken. I am grateful to Director of Athletics Todd Wilkinson and Chancellor Heimmermann for believing in my vision and providing me with the responsibility to lead the Pacer women's basketball program," Batts stated. "It is something I will cherish and put my best effort forward with every day. "I look forward to joining the USCA community and developing relationships with everyone involved in the women's basketball program. We will be relentless in our pursuit to put a product in the classroom, in the community and on the court that our alumni and fans will be proud of. Go Pacers!" Batts, the 2023-24 WBCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year at Gannon, comes to USCA with impressive credentials. While working in the PSAC at Gannon and Shepherd, she coached 11 all-league performers. Additionally, she coached the 2023-24 National Player of the Year, Sam Pirosko. While with the Golden Knights, the program sported a record of 116-22. During the last four seasons, Batts led the program to a pair of Elite Eight appearances (2024-25) and four NCAA Tournaments. During the four years, the program captured two PSAC Tournament Championships (2022, 2024) and two regular-season PSAC-West Championships (2023-24). Advertisement The 2024-25 campaign saw Gannon become the lone program to reach the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons. The Golden Knights finished No. 11 nationally with a 28-7 record while Batts worked with the post players after primarily coaching the guards during her first three seasons. In the 2023-24 season, Batts helped guide the team to an impressive 35-3 record, winning both the PSAC and Atlantic Regional Championships, and advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight as the No. 1 seed. Gannon was ranked as high as No. 2 in the WBCA Division II Top 25. As an assistant coach, Batts focused on the development of the team's guards, contributing to their success both on and off the court. She also played a key role in supporting student-athletes' academic progress and community engagement. Batts attended the 2025 Next Generation Institute for aspiring head coaches. The program focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem solver in the ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics. Advertisement Batts began her coaching career after completing her playing career in 2015 and has experience at the Division I, Division II and Division III levels. She spent time as an assistant coach at Division I Chicago State for the 2020-21 campaign. There, Batts assisted with the development of perimeter players. In addition to her recruiting efforts, she assembled scouting reports and enhanced team and player performance through film breakdown. Prior to that, she was a member of the Shepherd coaching staff from 2018-20. Batts helped Shepherd rebound from an 11-18 record in 2018-19 in the Mountain east to post a 21-9 mark in 2019-20 in its first season of competition in the PSAC. While finishing with a 14-8 record in the PSAC East in 2019-20, three Rams earned all-PSAC East honors while Abby Beeman was also named PSAC East Freshman of the Year. Advertisement Batts joined the Shepherd program after serving as an assistant coach at Bridgewater College (Va.). She helped lead the Eagles to a 13-13 mark while one student-athlete garnered all-ODAC second team honors for the Eagles. Before coaching at Bridgewater, Batts served as a graduate assistant at Castleton University (Vt.) from 2015-17. The Spartans posted a 38-21 mark over two seasons. She was a four-year student-athlete and three-year starter for the Golden Knights from 2011-15, appearing in 125 career games with 92 starts. Batts averaged 9.2 points over her career and finished with 1,152 points, currently good for 20th in career scoring. Known for her 3-point shooting, she holds the top two season figures for 3-pointers made with 102 in 2012-13 and 93 in 2013-14. She ranks second in career 3-pointers made (286) and attempts (688) and is fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.416). Advertisement Batts helped lead the Golden Knights to a 102-24 record and four NCAA postseason appearances, including winning the Atlantic Regional in 2013 to earn a berth in the Elite Eight. The 2012-13 Gannon squad finished with a 31-5 record. She was a three-time PSAC scholar-athlete, a second team all-PSAC West Division choice in 2013, and a first-team CoSIDA academic all-district selection at Gannon. A native of Loudoun County, Va., Batts is Loudoun County High School's all-time leading scorer with 2,039 points. A three-time All-Region and two-time All-State selection for the Raiders, Batts guided the program to a state championship in 2009. In 2022, she was inducted into the Loudon County H.S. Hall of Fame. Batts graduated from Gannon University with a degree in Sports Management with a minor in Advertising Communication. She earned her Masters in Athletic Leadership from Castleton University in 2017. USCA will host an introductory press conference for Batts in the Convocation Center Lobby on at 11:30 a.m. on April 17. Fans are welcome to attend.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cory Booker staffer arrested for allegedly carrying pistol without license at Capitol
A congressional staffer was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license after being escorted into the U.S. Capitol by a member of Congress, police said Tuesday. The United States Capitol Police said in a statement, "Yesterday afternoon, a Member of Congress led an ID'ed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building. "Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member — who is a retired law enforcement officer — told our officers he was armed. Hawley Officially A Yes On Dr. Oz After Securing Commitments On Transgender, Abortion Issues "The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License. All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even if you are a retired law enforcement officer, or have a permit to carry in another state or the District of Columbia," the statement continued. Batts is listed as a "special assistant" to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Legistorm, a research entity that routinely updates salaries and information about lawmakers and their staffs. Read On The Fox News App In a statement to Fox News Digital, Booker spokesperson Jeff Giertz said, "Sen. Booker's office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events. We are working to better understand the circumstances around this." 'Blindsided': How Stefanik's Trump Nomination As Un Ambassador Imploded In 2016, Booker shared a video of Batts on social media, identifying Batts as a former detective in Newark. At the time, Batts said he had worked for either the city of Newark or Booker's office for 28 years. "Kevin Batts has been a friend and team member since 2006 when I became mayor and even before," the senator wrote on Instagram. "I so deeply appreciate his steadfast friendship, incredible dedication to Newark and now his service to the state. Kevin was raised in Columbus Homes projects in Newark, then spent 6 years in the United States army reserves and then joined the Newark Police Department and became a detective in 2004. "In 2006, he joined my security detail as a member of Newark's executive protection unit. In 2013 he joined my Senate staff. I am truly blessed by his friendship and loyal hard work." How Trump-blocking Judges Managed To Get Past Senate Judiciary Hawks Booker also mentioned Batts in a 2017 commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania. "And as I told my driver, an incredible officer named Kevin Batts, retired from the Newark Police Department, joined my staff because of our friendship and our bond, I said to him, "Kev, we're almost home but do you mind? We have to swing through the drive-thru," he said. Batts' arrest comes as Booker continues to break records for one of the longest floor speeches in American Senate history. The senator, who began speaking Monday night, now holds the fourth-longest Senate floor speeches, recently surpassing Sen. Robert La Follette, R-Wis., who spoke for 18 hours and 23 minutes in 1908. Josh Hawley Believes His Bill Can Stop 'Resistance' Judges From 'Provoking A Crisis' Next up is the record held by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, whose speech against Obamacare in 2013 went on for 21 hours and 19 minutes. The record holder is Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against a civil rights bill in 1957. If Booker continues to speak, he will break Thurmond's record around 7:19 pm Eastern time on Tuesday article source: Cory Booker staffer arrested for allegedly carrying pistol without license at Capitol
Fox News
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Cory Booker staffer arrested for allegedly carrying pistol without license at Capitol
A congressional staffer was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license after being escorted into the U.S. Capitol by a member of Congress, police saidTuesday. The United States Capitol Police said in a statement, "Yesterday afternoon, a Member of Congress led an ID'ed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building." "Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member — who is a retired law enforcement officer — told our officers he was armed." "The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License. All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even if you are a retired law enforcement officer, or have a permit to carry in another state or the District of Columbia," the statement continued. Batts is listed as a "Special Assistant" to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Legistorm, a research entity that routinely updates salaries and information about lawmakers and their staff. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Booker spokesperson Jeff Giertz said, "Senator Booker's office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events. We are working to better understand the circumstances around this." In 2016, Booker shared a video of Batts on social media, who he identified as a former detective in Newark. At the time, Batts said he had worked for either the city of Newark or Booker's office for 28 years. "Kevin Batts has been a friend and team member since 2006 when I became mayor and even before. I so deeply appreciate his steadfast friendship, incredible dedication to Newark and now his service to the state. Kevin was raised in Columbus Homes projects in Newark, then spent 6 years in the United States army reserves and then joined the Newark Police Department and became a detective in 2004. In 2006, he joined my security detail as a member of Newark's executive protection unit. In 2013 he joined my Senate staff. I am truly blessed by his friendship and loyal hard work," the senator wrote on Instagram. Booker also mentioned Batts in a 2017 commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania. "And as I told my driver, an incredible officer named Kevin Batts, retired from the Newark Police Department, joined my staff because of our friendship and our bond, I said to him "Kev, we're almost home but do you mind? We have to swing through the drive-thru …," he said. Batts' arrest comes as Booker continues to break records for one of the longest floor speeches in American Senate history. The senator, who began speaking Monday night, now holds the fourth-longest Senate floor speeches, recently surpassing Sen. Robert La Follette, R-Wis., who spoke for 18 hours and 23 minutes in 1908. Next up is the record held by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, whose speech against Obamacare in 2013 went on for 21 hours and 19 minutes. The record holder is Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against a civil rights bill in 1957. If Booker continues to speak, he will break Thurmond's record around 7:19 pm Eastern time on Tuesday night.
