Latest news with #BayCounty
Fox News
a day ago
- Business
- Fox News
Alex Marquardt out at CNN after eight years; reporter was at center of costly defamation trial
Longtime CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt is exiting the liberal network less than five months after his reporting helped cost the company millions as a result of a defamation trial, Fox News Digital has confirmed. "Some personal news: I'm leaving CNN after 8 terrific years. Tough to say goodbye but it's been an honor to work among the very best in the business. Profound thank you to my comrades on the National Security team & the phenomenal teammates I've worked with in the US and abroad," Marquardt posted on X. Former CNN media correspondent Oliver Darcy reported that Marquardt had been fired over "editorial differences," but Marquardt was vague when announcing the news on social media on Monday. CNN declined comment, citing a policy not to discuss "personnel matters." In January, a Bay County, Florida jury found that CNN had defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young and ruled that Young could seek punitive damages as a result of a November 2021 report by Marquardt. Young successfully accused CNN of smearing him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country. Young believed CNN "destroyed his reputation and business" by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited "desperate Afghans" during Marquardt's segment. CNN and Young agreed to an undisclosed settlement before the jury had a chance to determine punitive damages. The jury had awarded Young $5 million in financial and emotional damages before the settlement was reached. The jury foreman later told Fox News Digital they were prepared to make CNN pay "somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million to $100 million." It was also revealed that Marquardt told a colleague "we're gonna nail this Zachary Young mf---er," a message often cited throughout the trial. CNN previously insisted Marquardt remained on the air in the aftermath of the case because he was an "experienced, veteran reporter with valuable insights on the news." Marquardt did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment. In a post-trial interview, Young said he hadn't forgiven Marquardt, calling him out for remaining defiant on the witness stand at the trial. "We've given Mr. Marquardt plenty of opportunities during deposition and then again at trial to apologize. And, you know, the answer was no," Young told Fox News Digital. "He still stands behind his work. He's very proud of what he did. His hit piece on me to destroy my life." "He's not my biggest fan," Young added. On the witness stand, Marquardt insisted his report was not a "hit piece" on Young and that he was proud of his work. "I wasn't looking to take anyone down. I didn't take anyone down," Marquardt testified. CNN issued an on-air apology in March 2022 after Young threatened to take legal action. But throughout the trial, Marquardt and several CNN staffers testified they didn't feel the apology was necessary. CNN senior vice president Adam Levine admitted to the jurors that the apology was merely a legal decision. "Alex Marquardt had put in an email, 'I'm going to nail this Zachary Young.' At that point it seemed as though he had put a target on Mr. Young's back, and he was not going to let up until he reached his goal… It was obvious to the entire jury that he was out to get him," jury foreman Katy Svitenko told Fox News Digital in February. That was the moment Svitenko decided it was defamation with malice. "The jury pretty much agreed… those emails among the CNN employees were pretty bad. And not just one, it was several, at various levels throughout the corporation," she said to Fox News Digital. Young's attorney in a lawsuit against the Associated Press regarding similar reporting, Daniel Lustig, believes the timing of Marquardt's exit is "curious." "Mr. Marquardt was the lead reporter on the CNN story that a Florida jury found to be false and defamatory. CNN initially retracted the story in an attempt at damage control, but it didn't work. A Florida jury found CNN liable for punitive damages based on less severe language. The Associated Press had full knowledge of that outcome and still chose to escalate the defamatory accusation. Now the CNN reporter has left the network for undisclosed reasons, but the timing is curious. CNN was held accountable, but AP chose to disregard my client's vindication and instead, it escalated a false narrative that had already been dismantled in court. That says everything you need to know about their judgment and what's coming next," Lustig told Fox News Digital.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Special needs teen expands the world of karate
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The 38th Panhandle Championship was held Saturday at North Bay Haven Charter Academy, where more than 130 athletes competed, among the competitors was 13-year-old Jerry Simmons, a young martial artist diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The event was hosted by Grand Master Jimmy Croley and Barbara Croley, who have spent nearly 56 years building a karate community in Bay County. Thirteen-year-old Jerry Simmons has been training for nearly five years at the Croleys' Yoshukai dojo, where he has become known not only for his technique but also for his determination. 'He's 100 percent all the time. And he loves karate,' Jimmy Croley said. 'He used to wear braces on his legs and couldn't walk up the stairs to the dojo,' Barbara Croley said. 'After about six weeks of karate, he went back to the doctor, they took the braces off, now he goes up and down like it's nothing.' The improvement in Jerry's physical abilities has been seen as remarkable by those close to him. 'As a mother, it's been a true blessing,' said Candy Simmons, Jerry's mother. 'His confidence has grown, and his muscles have gotten stronger. Karate has changed his life.' According to the Mayo Clinic, cerebral palsy can impact muscle growth, reflexes, and coordination. Karate, with its focus on controlled movement, balance, and breathwork, has long been used as a tool to build physical and emotional strength. At the Croleys' dojo, inclusion has been emphasized. Students with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, ADHD, visual impairments, and mobility limitations, have been welcomed and trained. 'You can learn at any age and with any disability,' Barbara Croley said. 'Jerry is living proof.' Outside of karate, Jerry has taken part in horseback riding and cycling. His growth has also been supported by Square Pegs Learning Center and The Arc of the Bay, where additional life skills and community engagement opportunities have been provided. Through martial arts and the support of his community, a path of confidence and independence continues to be paved for Jerry, and for many others who stepped onto the mat this weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
BDS honors bus driver Ms. Shirley for over 50 years of service
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The school year just ended on Wednesday, and it was the last day of work for some Bay District School employees. Ms. Shirley Odom drove her final route for Bay District Schools this week. She began her career as a school bus driver over 50 years ago to meet her children's school schedule. Since then, she's driven over 20 different buses. Ms. Shirley competed in the first annual school bus driver's safety rodeo. She went up against 45 other Bay school bus drivers, and Ms. Shirley won first place. 'It's an obstacle course that you drive the bus through. You have to practice, practice, practice to get it right. And out of all the bus drivers, I think there was only 45 participating here locally in the competition. And I come in with the highest score. But it was very interesting learning, and it was fun. And it's good practice for the drivers,' Retired Bay District Schools Bus Driver Shirley Odom said. Remembering John Thrasher, former FSU President and Florida House Speaker Getting kids to and from school safely requires more than just average driving skills. Bus drivers are required to have a commercial driver's license. However, it's about more than just driving. Ms. Shirley has left an impact on generations of Bay County students. 'I'm going to personally miss Ms. Shirley's dedication and her punctuality. If she was to be there at 6:00, she was there at 6:00. She's very dependable, I didn't have to worry. Well, Shirley is going to be on her bus today. She's going to be on her bus this afternoon. She's just a well-rounded, awesome, dedicated employee provided for Bay District Schools,' Bay District Schools Northern Route Manager Jim Chambers said. Bus driving runs in the family. Ms. Shirley's mother, Dorris Hallmon, was a bus driver. Now her son, Jody Odom, is continuing the legacy as a current bus driver in the district. Also, her daughter-in-law and grandson are teachers. Ms. Shirley says she will miss driving students, but plans to stay busy during her retirement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Navy veteran's $500M defamation lawsuit against Associated Press advances with first hearing
Zachary Young's high-stakes defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press continues to inch along in Bay County, Florida, as the U.S. Navy veteran seeks to clear his name. Young successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year after saying the network smeared him by implying he illegally profited from helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's disastrous 2021 military withdrawal. When covering the trial in January, Associated Press media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young's legal team has said that the Associated Press article "went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and the veteran is seeking nearly $500 million in a defamation suit against the AP. Navy Veteran Seeks Nearly $500 Million In Defamation Lawsuit Against Associated Press On Monday, Young's legal team responded to the AP's motion to dismiss the suit. The AP had insisted Young's complaint is "without merit" and unjustly challenges the outlet's free speech rights, but the Navy veteran's legal team believes the motion failed to address "core issues." Read On The Fox News App "It does not dispute that the term 'human smuggling' implies criminal conduct, nor does it offer any valid explanation for its use of that term, even though a court previously ruled that Mr. Young committed no crime. AP's own Stylebook defines 'smuggling' as illegal," Young's attorney, Daniel Lustig, wrote. "Dozens of AP articles reflect that usage. Just days before this filing, AP published a story about a man sentenced to 25 years in prison for 'smuggling people,' reinforcing that understanding," Lustig continued. "Even after receiving notice, AP refused to retract or revise the statement, not even to use a more accurate term such as 'evacuate' or 'rescue.'" Navy Veteran Who Proved Cnn Defamed Him Sues Associated Press, Says He Was Falsely Painted As 'Smuggler' Young's attorney believes the most "notable" part of the AP's motion to dismiss is that it never denied that "smuggling" refers to a criminal act. "Instead, it argues that the statement, in context, was not defamatory. That is not a defense, it is a concession. Under Florida law, if a statement is reasonably capable of a defamatory meaning, it is a question for the jury, not one to be resolved on a motion to dismiss. AP's attempt to invoke the anti-SLAPP statute to shield such a statement is both legally unsupported and fundamentally flawed," Lustig wrote. Young's legal team has also filed a motion to amend the complaint to include punitive damages. The 242-page filing suggested this case "exemplifies the very scenario in which punitive damages are warranted to punish and deter such consciously indifferent conduct by a media organization." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture On Tuesday, each side appeared for the first hearing in front of 14th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry, who also presided over the CNN trial. The Case Management Conference, conducted over Zoom, was largely procedural and offered a chance for each party to explain why respective motions should be heard. Judge Henry scheduled the next hearing for July 3. He is expected to rule on both the AP's motion to dismiss and Young's amended complaint. The AP has referred to the lawsuit as "frivolous" in past statements to the article source: Navy veteran's $500M defamation lawsuit against Associated Press advances with first hearing
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Navy veteran's $500M defamation lawsuit against Associated Press advances with first hearing
Zachary Young's high-stakes defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press continues to inch along in Bay County, Florida, as the U.S. Navy veteran seeks to clear his name. Young successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year after saying the network smeared him by implying he illegally profited from helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's disastrous 2021 military withdrawal. When covering the trial in January, Associated Press media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young's legal team has said that the Associated Press article "went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and the veteran is seeking nearly $500 million in a defamation suit against the AP. On Monday, Young's legal team responded to the AP's motion to dismiss the suit. The AP had insisted Young's complaint is "without merit" and unjustly challenges the outlet's free speech rights, but the Navy veteran's legal team believes the motion failed to address "core issues." "It does not dispute that the term 'human smuggling' implies criminal conduct, nor does it offer any valid explanation for its use of that term, even though a court previously ruled that Mr. Young committed no crime. AP's own Stylebook defines 'smuggling' as illegal," Young's attorney, Daniel Lustig, wrote. "Dozens of AP articles reflect that usage. Just days before this filing, AP published a story about a man sentenced to 25 years in prison for 'smuggling people,' reinforcing that understanding," Lustig continued. "Even after receiving notice, AP refused to retract or revise the statement, not even to use a more accurate term such as 'evacuate' or 'rescue.'" Young's attorney believes the most "notable" part of the AP's motion to dismiss is that it never denied that "smuggling" refers to a criminal act. "Instead, it argues that the statement, in context, was not defamatory. That is not a defense, it is a concession. Under Florida law, if a statement is reasonably capable of a defamatory meaning, it is a question for the jury, not one to be resolved on a motion to dismiss. AP's attempt to invoke the anti-SLAPP statute to shield such a statement is both legally unsupported and fundamentally flawed," Lustig wrote. Young's legal team has also filed a motion to amend the complaint to include punitive damages. The 242-page filing suggested this case "exemplifies the very scenario in which punitive damages are warranted to punish and deter such consciously indifferent conduct by a media organization." On Tuesday, each side appeared for the first hearing in front of 14th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry, who also presided over the CNN trial. The Case Management Conference, conducted over Zoom, was largely procedural and offered a chance for each party to explain why respective motions should be heard. Judge Henry scheduled the next hearing for July 3. He is expected to rule on both the AP's motion to dismiss and Young's amended complaint. The AP has referred to the lawsuit as "frivolous" in past statements to the press.
