Latest news with #Benton
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Antioch bows to no council member': Some constituents call for Metro Councilmember's resignation following immigration remarks
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Members of the public spoke up about a Metro Councilmember's statements regarding immigration. Metro Councilmember David Benton, who represents District 28, was present at a press conference with Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles wherein Ogles confirmed a federal investigation into the Nashville Mayor's Office over allegedly 'aiding and abetting' illegal immigration. At the press conference, Benton also called for a state or federal audit of the Belonging Fund to 'clarify whether any funds are inadvertently supporting' illegal immigration. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee had established the Belonging Fund in conjunction with Metro Nashville following Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activitiy in the city. According to Metro, it's meant to give money to nonprofit organizations helping with things like housing instability, childcare or other urgent needs — but not legal services. The CFMT has said that no government dollars have been used for the fund, just donations from individuals or private organizations. 'Stop making a mockery of Memorial Day. Defend Nashville. Defend Tennessee. Defend this country, and stop the invasion,' Benton said during the press conference. Additionally, Metro Council's Immigrant Caucus posted a statement about Benton's press conference, criticizing other remarks he made about immigration and 'invasion.' 'Councilmember Benton does not deserve to hold public office,' the statement reads, in part. 'His conduct and comments are unbecoming of an elected official, particularly one representing a district with a significant Latino population.' ⏩ 'Antioch bows to no council member, to no Congressman, to no king,' Trent Benge, an Antioch resident, said at Tuesday night's meeting. 'Councilmember Benton must resign, and if he won't, we've got our work cut out for us.' News 2 received the following statement from Benton: 'I appreciate everyone having a right to their point of view, including myself. It's important that both sides respect each other enough to respond to what they say and not what they heard they said. Here's what some ignored to make their point. I have always said I support Legal immigration 100%. I love all my constituents and answer every call without asking someone's race or immigration status. That's up to law enforcement. Organizations standing against me should use that energy helping their members learn the path to legal status to avoid immigration enforcement. If citizens, entities, or other people even encourage an illegal alien to remain in the U.S. they are violating US code 1324 and can be arrested themselves. That was bipartisan legislation from 1995 supported by Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer. I understand some in my community are afraid. As much as I care, I must support Federal law enforcement. The State is developing an immigration department as well. We as leaders should not be cruel and give these in danger of enforcement actions a false sense of security that we have the authority to shield them from Immigration enforcement. I would also encourage these leaders to give me their list of laws they want me to ignore. I will continue to serve everyone in my District as I have been doing.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Poll: Who should be the Miami Herald's High School Athlete of the Week? (May 26)
South Florida's top athletes were recognized recently in the sports of baseball, boys' volleyball and softball. in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. This week, we continue a feature where we ask you to vote for the best performer of the week from baseball, softball and water polo Take our poll below to cast your vote. The poll will be open until Thursday, May 29, around 10 p.m. You may vote as often as you like until then. Here are the candidates: NOTE: You should see a Miami Herald box underneath this note for you to type Yes and click Submit. That will ignite the actual poll to vote. ▪ Isabella Benton, Plantation American Heritage softball: the freshman went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, a sacrifice, two runs and seven RBI as the Patriots (23-3) defeated Osceola 15-0 in an FHSAA Class 4A state semifinal. In the finals, Benton was 1-for-4 with an RBI, but Fort Walton Beach won 7-6. ▪ Magdiel Estevez, Miami Springs baseball: the senior allowed just one run on two hits and four walks over seven innings (complete game), while striking out six including the final three batters as the Golden Hawks (28-3) edged Santa Rosa Beach South Walton 2-1 to win the Class 3A state championship. It marked the school's first state title in any sport since 1988. ▪ Dane Fox, Westminster Academy water polo: the junior was voted Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Water Polo for the state as he greatly helped the Lions (24-2) win state. He scored the overtime goal in an 11-10 state semifinal win over Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and added two goals in his team's 11-10 title-match victory over Miami Hialeah Mater Lakes Academy. For the season, he had 103 goals with 51 assists and 39 steals. ▪ RJ Machado, Plantation American Heritage baseball: the senior was 1-for-3 with a double and scored the winner in walk-off fashion as the Patriots edged Panama City Beach Arnold 3-2 in the eight innings in the 4A state semifinal. Then in the state championship game victory, he went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help lift the Patriots (29-6) over Mulberry 6-1. ▪ Kathleen Serig, Gulliver Prep water polo: the senior was voted the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Water Polo for Florida. She helped lead the Raiders (27-1) to the state championship. She had 84 goals while adding 36 assists and 64 steals in this her fourth varsity season. ▪ Ava Stevens, Somerset Silver Palms softball: the sophomore pitcher won both games and also batted well as the Stallions (24-6) won their first state title. In the finals, she allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk and struck out two in a 12-2, five inning victory. She hit 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. In a 9-2 state semifinal win over Dunedin, she allowed two runs on four hits and no walks, while striking out seven for the complete game, seven inning effort. At the plate, she walked, scored and sacrificed. ▪ Meagan Villazon, Doral Academy softball: the senior pitcher not only pitched a 1-hit shutout in the 6A state championship win over Pace, but she also drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the fifth for the 1-0 victory. She was 1-for-2 with a walk and that RBI. That marked the second state championship for the Firebirds (31-1). Villazon walked five and struck out seven in the complete game victory. In the state semifinal, she went the distance, including an extra inning, as the Firebirds edged Valrico Bloomingdale 5-4 in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the eighth. She allowed four runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out five, and batted 1-for-4 with a key RBI.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Coach with California roots leads American Heritage to softball state final
Sam Banister lost 24-0 in her first game as a softball coach. 'After that game, I was thinking, 'I don't know if this coaching thing is for me,'' said Banister, a former first baseman for the University of Arizona softball team. Fast forward 11 years, and everything has flipped. Banister is in South Florida and no longer her native Northern California. And now it's her squad – the American Heritage Patriots – that is run-ruling opponents. On Thursday morning, American Heritage routed Seminole Osceola 15-1 in a Class 4A state semifinal in Longwood. The Patriots (23-2) will play Fort Walton Beach (22-8) on Friday night at 6:30 for the 4A title. In Thursday's win, the Patriots got a huge game from freshman right fielder Bella Benton, who went 3-for-3 with a career-high seven RBIs. She had a three-run homer, a three-run double and an RBI single. 'I was really hyped and excited to play at state,' Benton said. She wasn't the only hyped Patriots player. That list includes Emma Griffith, who went 3-for-3 with five RBIs; Sam Santana (2-for-2, two RBIs): Mia West (solo homer); and Adri Layne (3-for-3 with a triple). Eighth-grader Lyric Rodriguez (13-2) started and got the win. Benton, who is 10-0, pitched two innings in relief. 'We have young leadership in the circle,' Banister said of her pitchers. The Patriots also have a young leader in Banister, a 38-year-old native of Petaluma, California. She comes from an athletic family, including her father, Jon, who was a professional rodeo cowboy before retiring. Banister accomplished some amazing things in high school, serving as student body president, earning MVP honors for Petaluma High's volleyball team and getting named first-team All-State for three straight years in softball. In 2004, she hit a walk-off homer to give Petaluma the Northern California State title. In 2025, she homered in all three of her postseason at-bats as Petaluma won the NCS again. She was intentionally walked in all her other plate appearances. At Arizona, Banister was a four-year starter, helping the Wildcats reach the Women's Softball World Series four straight years. The Wildcats won the national title in each of Banister's first two years at Arizona. After college, Banister married and started a family with former Piper High outfielder Tom Collaro, who made it as far as Triple-A with the Chicago White Sox. 'We met at a house party while I was at Arizona,' Banister said light-heartedly. 'I decided to date him because he could hit.' The couple settled in Petaluma, which is where Banister started giving private softball lessons to kids. When COVID hit in 2020, the family moved to South Florida, where Collaro is from. 'My husband saida: 'South Florida needs a female coach like you,'' Banister said. 'We sold our house. We sold our business. We sold our belongings. 'It was a giant leap of faith.' The couple rented a house in Coral Springs, and Banister landed a job as an American Heritage assistant coach under Marty Cooper, who has won all eight of the Patriots' state titles, most recently in 2018. Then, prior to the 2023 season, Cooper said he was ready to retire and asked if she would like to take over as coach. 'l immediately started to cry,' Banister said. '(Cooper) has done so much for softball. He has changed the game. He's a legend with more than 600 wins. 'It was sad to see him go, but it was a big moment for me – an honor.' It would be an even bigger honor if Banister on Friday can become the first coach other than Cooper to win a state softball title for the Patriots.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pre-Academy squad participate in First-team Experience Day
Twelve Pre-Academy squad members were invited to the club's Training Centre in Benton ahead of joining the club's Under-9s Foundation Phase group next season and were warmly greeted by Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali upon arrival at the main reception. The Magpies youngsters then participated in a number of footballing activities with Guimarães and Tonali, including an entertaining game of Teqball against the midfield duo, before meeting the remainder of the first-team squad and head coach Eddie Howe. Advertisement Jamie Williams, Newcastle United's Head of Pre-Academy, told "It's always great to bring the pre-academy boys up to the first-team. It's a nice celebration for all of the hard work for the year they've had. "The way the manager, staff and players have welcomed us has been absolutely incredible. From Bruno and Sandro greeting the boys at the front door all the way through to getting the chance to get to play against them and all of the players in the indoor area was a real joy. "To see, first-hand, the training and being able to watch on was great along with the added surprise of Sky Sports. I don't think myself or the kids expected to be invited to do a live broadcast but it was nice for the players to have that experience of talking in front of the camera. "The gaffer is really invested and supportive of what we do, showing a key interest in all aspects of today and does throughout the season, always checking in and asking how they're doing. He's really keen to play a pivotal role in days like today because it's his environment and squad. Advertisement "I think his leadership is second and none and it shows in how involved he got, joining in with all of the games which was excellent to see." In awe of the likes of Dan Burn, Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff, who also spent their early days at Newcastle United's Academy, the youngsters also sat down for dinner with their following the conclusion of training and will be aiming to follow in the illustrious footsteps of their hometown heroes. "It's an opportunity to keep the dream alive," Williams said. "Of course, it's only at the start of their journey because they are so young but these kids dream about being footballers. They want to play the game they love so to see people who are making that a reality doing it day in, day-out is brilliant. "When they are local lads who've come through the Academy pathway, it's even stronger and to see the likes of Lewis (Miley) and Sean (Longstaff) as examples and to play for or against them today keeps that dream a little more achievable. Advertisement "We all know it is incredibly hard and it's not something we should focus on at this age but to dip their toe and have a feel of what it'll feel like will live with them forever." The young group are also set to be introduced on the pitch at half-time during United's final Premier League fixture of the 2024/25 season at home to Everton on Sunday, 25th May. Williams added: "It's an annual event to be presented in front of the crowd at half-time. Historically, we do it on the last game of the season so that brings an extra special feeling to it. For them to have the chance to walk out in front of 52,000 is a once in a lifetime opportunity and, hopefully for some, it'll be a regular one as they get older. "It's a chance to be really proud of their hard work and everything they've achieved up until now as they step into full academy contracts and being academy players. "They get their faces on the screen and get a big cheer with their names read out and is probably over in one minute but that one minute will be remembered for a lifetime."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Madison man killed in Yazoo County crash
YAZOO COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – A Madison man was killed during a crash in Yazoo County. The crash occurred on Niven Road near the Benton community around 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16. Man wanted for homicide at Pike County club Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers said a vehicle ran off the road, rolled onto the passenger side and struck a tree. The driver, Joseph Scott Letteri, 36, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Yazoo County Sheriff's Office. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
