Latest news with #Bushey
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Watford man jailed for attempted murder after Bushey shooting
A man who fired nine shots towards a house in a gang-related incident has been sentenced to 22 years in incident took place at Woolmerdine Court in Bushey, Hertfordshire, last September. Hertfordshire Police said no-one was Jawara, 19, of Leveret Close, Watford, fled the scene on an electric motorbike on 15 September but was arrested 11 days who denied the charges, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Det Sgt George Lewin said the sentence "reflects the utmost seriousness of these crimes and the level of risk his actions posed to the public".He added: "Whilst violent incidents of this nature are thankfully uncommon, I hope this lengthy jail term sends a strong message and reassurance to residents across Hertfordshire that firearms and gang-related offending will simply not be tolerated." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Star
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Labubu collector describes ‘battlefield' as toys pulled from shops in Britain
A collector of viral Labubu dolls has described the resale market as a "battlefield' after its manufacturer paused sales in all UK shops. Pop Mart, which makes the furry bag charms, announced it would be pulling all of its Labubu plushies from its 16 UK stores until June over safety concerns. The toy makers wanted to "ensure the safety and comfort of everyone' following reports of customers fighting over them and queuing overnight outside shops. However, a UK-based collector scouring resale sites to secure one of the collectable characters has described the market as a "battlefield' after sales were paused in the UK. The toys' popularity began in 2024 after K-Pop star Lisa from girl group Blackpink shared a photo on social media of her with one, with other celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa following suit. Part of its appeal may come down to Pop Mart's decision to sell the toys in blind boxes, which contain a random plushy chosen from the series, meaning customers do not know which toy they will receive until they open the box. Ashley Bushey, 32, said she spent more than £1,000 ($1,354) on 13 Labubu toys, and countless hours scrolling on TikTok Shop, Vinted and Facebook re-sale groups to expand her collection. Bushey, a Northamptonshire-based coffee shop supervisor, said she predominantly tunes in to Pop Mart's regular TikTok livestreams which showcase the toys for fans to purchase. "It's a battlefield. (Pop Mart) are live every day from 2 pm to 7 pm and I sneak out at work, like I'm always trying to score one on the (livestream),' she told the PA news agency. She said she spends "more time than [she cares] to admit' finding Labubus, but added "especially now, because they're so hard to get' after Pop Mart's decision to pause UK sales. "I'm not even a big collector in the scheme of things. If you go into Facebook groups, I mean, some of them are insane,' she said. Bushey said she collects 90s and early 2000s toys and started buying Labubus from Pop Mart's The Monsters series in December, describing them as "so ugly that they were cute.' All the Labubus in The Monsters collection are female, which make male versions of the toys extremely rare finds. The toy collector said she managed to find a rare, male toy named Zimomo which she bought for £200, but added she has seen some limited edition Labubus listed at £600 on Vinted and eBay. In comparison, regular Labubus retail at £17.50, but are often bought by resellers who list them for up to £30. Thanks to popular demand of the toys, created by the Hong-Kong born artist Kasing Lung, many go to re-sale markets and compete with fakes dubbed "Lafufus.' Real Labubus can be verified with a QR code on the bottom of each box, but some re-sellers may disguise a fake toy inside authentic boxes. "There are people that are really sneaky,' Bushey said. "People are scanning these QR codes and seeing if they're real, but then the toy inside is fake, so [resellers] are opening them from the bottom and then putting fake ones inside of it.' Lafufus can be identified by twisted limbs, misshapen heads, or the incorrect number of teeth whereas real Labubus have nine. Pop Mart said it is reviewing the way its toys are distributed to help create a fair and safe environment for its customers. It said on Instagram on Friday: "Over the past few weeks, we've seen overwhelming enthusiasm from fans, with long queues forming outside stores - in some cases, even the night before. "While this speaks to the love and excitement surrounding Labubu and The Monsters, it's important for us to ensure a safe, fair and comfortable shopping experience for everyone - both our customers and our store teams. "We're currently working on a new approach for the distribution that will allow everyone a fairer chance to purchase.' – dpa
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local nonprofit creates one-stop shop for Oklahoma City schools statistics, deadlines
The priority application deadline for Oklahoma City public charter and applications schools is approaching soon, and one local nonprofit organization created a one-stop shop for families to research their options. is a bilingual, user-friendly website where families can weigh their free public school options in Oklahoma City, including charter, application and neighborhood schools before the Feb. 21 priority application deadline for the 2025-26 academic year. 'Navigating public school options and multiple application deadlines can be overwhelming for families,' said Brent Bushey, CEO of Fuel OKC, the nonprofit behind in a news release. 'For the first time, families have access to comprehensive school data, direct application links and enrollment information for Oklahoma City public schools on one website, as well as one common priority application deadline for the 2025-26 school year.' More: School cellphone ban passes Oklahoma House as lawmakers debate library book bans, policies Fuel OKC is a nonprofit organization seeking to expand high-quality education options in Oklahoma City. offers families the ability to compare school profiles, academic performance data, demographics and enrollment statistics. 'Enroll OKC is an incredibly helpful tool for parents,' said Martha Paz, a parent whose child attends Dove Science Academy. 'We can search for nearby schools, both in English and Spanish, and find ones that offer specific programs — like sports, arts or science — that align with our child's interests. It makes the process of choosing the best school fit so much easier.' More: Bill to raise pay for starting teachers clears first hurdles in Oklahoma Legislature In its release, Fuel OKC cited the 2023-24 Oklahoma School Report Card data that shows 18 out of 79 public schools in Oklahoma City earned an A or B rating, classifying them as high-quality schools. 'The data is concerning,' Bushey said in the release. 'Especially considering research shows students who haven't learned to read by third grade are significantly less likely to graduate high school and struggle throughout their education. We believe that when families are empowered with knowledge, they can make informed decisions that best support their children's educational success.' The nonprofit encouraged Oklahoma City families seeking a public school option that best fits their child's learning needs to explore 'Every child deserves a great education, and we know that students learn in different ways,' Bushey said. 'By making school options and academic performance data easily accessible, we empower families to find the best fit for their child — no matter their zip code.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: compiles OKC schools data ahead of application deadline
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NSB resident recognized for effort to preserve home's historic character
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — One of the oldest towns in Florida, New Smyrna Beach is home to several historic properties, and whose proud owners are happy to do what they can to preserve their homes' notable charm. To celebrate such residents and their properties, the city presents the annual Donnadine Miller Historic Preservation award, which this year went to Marie Bushey and her 1955 periwinkle bungalow on 24th Avenue. "It's so important to me that the city recognize that these homes are a part of our history," Bushey said in an interview. "They should be deemed historic, hoping that others will be inspired to preserve these periwinkle-style homes, or any older home in New Smyrna Beach." The award, created in 2002, is named after Donnadine Miller, a longtime resident "who was an active volunteer and member of the community," according to the city. She served as chair of the Historic New Smyrna Beach Preservation Commission, "worked as an amateur archaeologist and participated in numerous other historic preservation events and activities." The award "promotes the awareness and appreciation of buildings and sites in New Smyrna Beach that contribute to the city's heritage and character," according to the city. Bushey said receiving the award was "a huge honor." "Specifically because of what Donnadine has done for preserving New Smyrna Beach," she said. Bushey has lived at the home since 2004. The approximately 800-square-foot structure has an overall light yellow exterior with green details and is surrounded by five live oak trees, some of which Bushey planted herself. "I really like the simpleness of these homes," Bushey said in an interview. "They are very sturdy and withstood many hurricanes. I like their quaint, simple style." Bushey and her husband recently updated the part of the house's electric and plumbing infrastructure. But even as she reworked her bathroom, she used 1950-style tiles to fill the space. "So I basically wanted to put it back the way it was before," she said. Although Bushey was not entirely familiar with the magnitude of the community's involvement in historic preservation when she moved to New Smyrna Beach more than 20 years ago, she gradually grew more aware of the neighborhood's shared sentiment. She said living among several neighbors who also own historic homes gives her an added sense of community. "Many of these people have lived in these homes for many, many years," she said. "It creates that sense of community, versus the larger homes, where they might even be a second home for someone, and they might not get to meet their neighbors and experience the community." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB awards resident for effort to keep historic character of her home
