Latest news with #Byrd
New York Post
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
I had my first baby at 48 — haters say I'm selfish but older moms do it better
Don't mess with this mama. A new mom has hit back at claims she's 'selfish' for having her first child at 48 – saying her age and wisdom make her better equipped to raise a baby. Rene Byrd welcomed her baby boy, Crue, late last year after trying to get pregnant for almost a decade. Advertisement 'In my heart, I always longed to hold a baby that was mine,' she emotionally told Jam Press. 'I'm more financially stable, more patient, and I've lived a full life.' 'I feel more in control, more confident,' the new mom continued. 'I've spent years around friends' kids, reading, learning. I'm in a completely different headspace.' 4 Rene Byrd welcomed her baby boy, Crue, late last year after trying to get pregnant for almost a decade. Jam Press/Rene Bryd Advertisement 4 Since welcoming Crue into the world last November, Byrd says she's lost several friends due to their outrage over her having a baby at an advanced age. Jam Press/Rene Bryd Byrday says she always dreamed of becoming a mom, but life didn't exactly go to plan. She met her now-husband, 42-year-old American attorney Demetrious, by chance in a London bar, when she was in her late thirties. Aware of Byrd's biological clock, the pair started trying for a baby in 2017. At the time, Byrd was 40. Advertisement 'We tried to conceive naturally, but my age was always a factor,' the singer-songwriter stated. 'The panic starts to set in – you realise time is slipping away.' 'It was getting me down,' she continued. 'I knew my window was closing.' 4 Early last year, the Londoner learned she was finally pregnant. Jam Press/Victoria Coolco Byrd and her beau eventually decided to to undergo IVF – a rough journey that cost her over $25,000. Advertisement However, early last year, the Londoner learned she was finally pregnant. Her overwhelming joy was quickly dulled by detractors who told her she was too old to become a parent. 'People have told me it's selfish,' Byrd explained. 'They say it jokingly, but you know they're not joking. It can make you feel guilty, but I just want to be the best mom I can be.' 4 Despite the long road to motherhood, Byrd says she wouldn't change a thing. Jam Press/Victoria Coolco Since welcoming Crue into the world last November, Byrd says she's even lost several friends due to their outrage over her having a baby at an advanced age. 'Some relationships dissolved,' the musician admitted. Despite that heartache, and the long road to motherhood, Byrd says she wouldn't change a thing. Advertisement 'You do get that twinge of guilt when you think about being older, but it's nobody's business,' she declared. 'You have to live your own life in your own time.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mom Dies Unexpectedly Outside of Daughter's High School Graduation: 'I Watched Her Take Her Last Breath'
A mother in North Carolina collapsed and died while walking through the parking lot before her daughter's high school graduation last week Jean Byrd is being remembered by loved ones as the "most caring person you will ever" meet The family has since launched a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to "make sure she gets her last wishes" of being buried by her father in Pennsylvania A mother unexpectedly collapsed and died in a parking lot moments before her daughter's high school graduation in North Carolina. On May 23, Jean Byrd was at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C., ahead of her daughter Meilean's graduation when she died "just 200 feet" from the ceremony, her family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign description and told local NBC affiliate WXII. Marquan Matthews — Byrd's son, who was inside the venue at the time — recalled getting a phone call from his aunt about the incident, before a security guard drove him in a golf cart to the parking lot, WXII reported. He then performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Byrd died of cardiac arrest, according to the GoFundMe description, which was written by her son. "This was a curse," Matthews told WXII. "This was a curse because I sat there and watched my mom's soul lift out of her. I watched her take her last breath." "So it was very hard for me, and it's still hard for me to this day because I barely get any sleep," he added. "I just see them last few moments of my mom, just being gone." Meilean, who walked across the stage and earned her diploma from Parkland High School shortly after, had no idea what was happening at the time, per WXII. A guidance counselor was waiting for her and told her that her mother "had an accident," before Meilean was escorted out and to the hospital, the graduate told the outlet. "I thought it was like a car accident, so I wasn't really scared," Meilean said through tears as family consoled her. Three days before Meilean's high school graduation, and Byrd's death, her youngest son, Marsuan, attended his eighth-grade graduation ceremony. Matthews wrote on the GoFundMe page that his mother "had the honor of seeing him" walk across the stage at the event. He launched the family's fundraising campaign in an effort to "make sure she gets her last wishes" of being buried by her father and other family in Pennsylvania. As the son wrote, his mother — who was known as "Ma Dukes" — "shared a lot of infectious love through many years, touching the souls of the lost and being a saint to many who needed it." "We never thought that on this day, a day filled of joy, would be the worst day of our lives," Matthews continued. "As my sister was graduating high school, our mother is lying on the ground fighting for her life. As my sister is walking across the stage, I'm doing CPR on my mother. She died an hour later on my sister's graduation." Byrd, who was a "fighter," according to her son, had "a constant battle with heart issues" and previously suffered "two heart attacks." "She was so resilient and such a warrior, fighting for all her kids no matter how much pain and suffering she was in," Matthews wrote. "No matter what our mother went through, she always stayed positive and figured out a way. No matter how bad my mom was hurting, she still made people smile and feel at home in their hearts with every person who crossed paths with her." "Many lives were positively impacted by the love and resilience of our mother, and we're extending an invitation to you to help give my mom the celebration she always wanted and deserves. Mommy we love you, I'm lost without you, and I pray you give me the guidance you did once on this earth to make you proud. Rest In Paradise my beautiful lady," he concluded the note that was signed by family. Funeral services for Byrd will be held on June 14, per the GoFundMe. Read the original article on People
Politico
a day ago
- Business
- Politico
The 7 pieces of the House megabill that could succumb to Senate rules
Pet policy measures stuffed into President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' by House Republicans are now at risk of getting jettisoned by the Senate. From Planned Parenthood to gun silencers to expedited energy permits, Speaker Mike Johnson and committee chairs tucked various provisions into the recently passed megabill to secure votes — and deliver some elusive GOP wins. But several are considered likely to run afoul of strict Senate rules governing reconciliation — the budget process Republicans are using to skirt a Democratic filibuster. Under what's known as the Byrd rule, 'extraneous' measures that have only a negligible impact on the budget, or none at all, have to go. Senate Republicans are expected to closely follow the guidance of parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough as they embark on the 'Byrd bath' in the coming weeks, with noncompliant provisions sometimes referred to as, yes, 'Byrd droppings.' Here are some of the biggest areas to watch for a big Byrd mess: The most consequential item subject to Byrd review is the GOP's proposal to use a controversial accounting tactic to essentially zero out the cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts. Republicans temporarily sidestepped getting a formal blessing of the 'current policy baseline' method from MacDonough as part of the budget resolution debate earlier this year, but Senate GOP staff have met with her several times this year on how to try to craft the megabill, two people with knowledge of the discussions said. Other tax provisions are also at risk, though Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has worked with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) to fine-tune some of the House text in anticipation of Byrd challenges. The House megabill includes a 10-year ban on states enforcing regulations on artificial intelligence. While there has been no official budgetary score for the provision, Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has acknowledged the provision will be challenged for a Byrd violation. During a marathon House Energy and Commerce Committee markup earlier this month, panel staff called the provision a 'policy change,' which could be detrimental to Republicans' case that it can be included under Senate rules. GOP aides argue it's necessary to carry out a $500 million upgrade of technology at the Commerce Department but Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said it didn't seem to pass the budget-impact smell test. 'That sounds awfully policy-centric in my mind,' he said. Senate Democrats are planning to challenge House language that would place limits on the federal courts' ability to enforce contempt citations. House Republicans have argued the language is aimed at frivolous lawsuits, but Democrats and some legal scholars view it as an attempt to rein in the courts' ability to hold the Trump administration accountable. Some House Republicans have also vowed to try to get the Senate to remove the language, with Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) telling constituents at a town hall this week that he wasn't aware the provision was in the bill. House Republicans made a major change to the way gun silencers are regulated as part of an eleventh-hour effort to win over Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.). They had already agreed to eliminate a $200 transfer tax on gun silencers in an initial draft of the bill. The final version, however, went much further — also ending the $200 tax on the manufacture of gun silencers and removing them from the regulatory purview of the National Firearms Act, which involves mandatory registration and other strictures. While Republicans are confident the tax eliminations will survive in the Senate, there was internal debate over whether the deregulatory provision would ultimately fall under Byrd, according to one person granted anonymity to disclose private deliberations. Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) has privately warned that the House's agriculture package — which includes $60 billion in programs typically included in the farm bill — could face Byrd-related complications. Boozman supports including 'risk management' policies for farmers — like bolstering crop insurance, which make up the most expensive parts of the farm bill. But he and other Senate Republicans are skeptical that some other programs — dealing with biosecurity, trade promotion, research and more — will comply with Byrd. The decision has big implications for ag policy: If those pieces are stripped out, it could become difficult, if not impossible, for lawmakers to pass a 'skinny' farm bill later this year. MacDonough ruled in 2017 that language aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood did not comply with Byrd amid Republicans' bid to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now, the GOP is making a similar effort, with the House including language broadly barring Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding. The parliamentarian isn't the only threat here: Several centrist Republicans in both the House and Senate oppose targeting the organization, which provides other health care services in addition to abortion. House Republicans moved to streamline permitting for fossil fuel projects in their version of the megabill, but — as they have long acknowledged — Senate budget rules are likely to come into play. In 2022, for instance, Democrats omitted energy permitting provisions sought by then-Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin from the reconciliation package that became the Inflation Reduction Act, in part due to Byrd concerns. But Republicans say the narrower measures they included that raise money by charging fees to developers to expedite their permits could skirt Byrd scrutiny. They've already dropped several pipeline permitting provisions and softened language to advance the controversial Ambler Road project in Alaska.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
New Winfield town marshal looks foward to move to remodeled police station
Robert K. Byrd, a little more than one month into his new job as Winfield's new town marshal, is looking forward to the future including a move into a newly remodeled police department. 'The first month has been busy and fast-paced and we've done a deep dive into the neighborhoods to do a lot of listening and learning,' Byrd said. Byrd, a Chesterton resident, was sworn in as Winfield's new town marshal at the April 22 Town Council meeting and started his work immediately afterward. In addition to his new position as town marshal, Byrd will also be overseeing the move into a new police department. The present police department, at 10645 Randolph St. in the Winfield Municipal Complex, will be relocated to 10688 Randolph St., in the former People's Bank. 'Hopefully we will be making the final move by sometime next week,' he said. He said plans are to hold an official opening day event which residents would be invited to attend. During his update at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Byrd complimented his department of eight, not including himself, calling them 'dedicated officers who genuinely care about Winfield.' Plans also include changing the status of the police department from marshal-based to metropolitan-based, he said. Byrd, whose salary was prorated starting from April 22, will receive $95,000 this year; $96,900 in 2026; $98,38 in 2027 and $100,814 in 2028, according to an agreement unanimously approved by the Town Council. Byrd is a 50-year law enforcement professional who began his career as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. He replaced former Town Marshal Dan Ball who resigned in late January. Ball was sworn in as Winfield's first town marshal on Aug. 26, 2014, and was instrumental in starting up the new police department a month later. Ball was placed on paid administrative leave, then later resigned, following a Jan. 10 meeting with two members of the town council — Councilman Zack Beaver, R-at-large, and Councilman Tim Clayton, R-at-large. In other business, the Town Council on Tuesday opened two bids received for its 2025 Community Crossings Match Grant Road Project. The bids included a total of $1.8 million from Rieth-Riley and $1.7 million from Milestone Contractors. The bids were taken under advisement but sent to both the engineering and legal departments for review. The Town Council agreed to allow Town Council President Zack Beaver to sign off on the lowest, responsible bid after review given the warm weather timeline. Roads that are part of the road maintenance project are: 104th Avenue, from Pike Street to Randolph Street; 106th Avenue, from Newton Avenue to Pike Street; 103rd Avenue, from Nicklaus Street to where it dead ends; 105th Avenue, from Benton Street to Dearborn Street; 105th Lane, from Dearborn Street to Green Place; Green Place, from 190 feet north of 109th Avenue to 105th Lane; Benton Street, from 109th Avenue to 105th Court; and Lawrence Drive from, 112th Avenue to 110th Lane.
New York Post
4 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Florida family claims $700K in home damages over Costco-installed fridge — even had to relocate: report
A Florida family claims they suffered over $700,000 in home damages after a Costco-hired installation team improperly installed their new fridge — and the wholesale retailer isn't footing the bill. Bradley Byrd says he has spent over $300,000 to relocate his family and pay for renovations to their Jacksonville home since the failed installation on Dec. 2, 2024. The family had purchased a KitchenAid refrigerator from Costco in late November and a team of third-party contractors from RXO delivered and installed the appliance days later. Advertisement 7 Towels are placed all over the flooded floor of the Byrd's Jacksonville home after their failed fridge installation on Dec. 2, 2024. WJXT News4JAX Byrd, who was at home for the installation before going to work, rushed home after his daughter discovered their house was 'underwater.' 'She Facetimes me and says, 'Dad, the house is underwater,'' Byrd told News4Jax. Advertisement The shocked father estimated about 1.5 to 2 inches of water from their newly installed fridge filled his home, according to a website he started to document the fiasco called 'Out of spite' Byrd also paid for three months of billboards calling out Costco and RXO in Jacksonville and Ballantyne, North Carolina. The installers had failed to place the water line in a safe position, Byrd claims. 'So what happened is, during installation, most of the extra water line is wrapped into a coil and taped on the back of the refrigerator like it is now,' Byrd told the outlet. 'But the installers didn't do that. They allowed it to go underneath the refrigerator, and they allowed the refrigerator's wheels to sit on a line, which caused a crack that grew larger and larger.' Advertisement 7 Bradley Byrd sits in his kitchen in front of his new refrigerator after the costly flood. WJXT News4JAX Water leaked out of the crack, covering the Byrd's home, while creating an unwanted indoor pool damaging furniture, carpets, instruments, electronics and causing structural damage. Professionals were called to remove the water out of the home but the damage had already been done. The water — mixed with the Florida atmosphere — had already created mold and high moisture levels inside, forcing the family to evacuate the home and move into an Airbnb right before the holidays. Advertisement 'We got the tree up, Christmas presents wrapped. Everything was great. And then all of a sudden, a couple of days later, we had to leave,' the homeowner said. 7 Byrd shows the tear in the water line that water flooded out of after the installation. WJXT News4JAX Byrd says he filed a claim with Costco and even sent an email to CEO Ron Vachris as a shot in the dark. He says he got a response back from Vachris an hour later saying his team would be monitoring the family's situation. After the initial day, Byrd's calls for help went largely unanswered. A loss adjuster estimated that the damage and repairs would cost $703,355.88. Costco and the third-party installers offered to pay the family a combined $175,000, News4Jax reported. 'So far, I have spent about $300,000 on repairs, mitigation, third-party charges for reports and testing, and to get our belongings moved out and into storage,' Byrd said 7 Byrd stands in 1.5 to 2 inches of water in his home on Dec. 2, 2024. WJXT News4JAX Advertisement The family accepted a $38,000 no-strings-attached payment from the store to pay for his family's temporary relocation. The family did not agree to any settlement as they plan on suing both Costco and RXO, Byrd said on his website. Byrd has documented every development since Dec. 4 and credits all the companies he has worked while including a tally of the exorbitant costs since the mishap: Approximate damage to house – $360,000 Personal property damage – $76,000 Alternative Housing and living expense – $78,000 Mitigation and moving and storage – $117,000 Professional services to recover monies from RXO so far – $72,000 Advertisement Along with the expenses, Byrd says the home disaster has also taken up significant chunks of his time. He has missed nearly 20 days of work 'dealing with all facets,' while his family was displaced for 87 days, has gone 91 days without a kitchen to cook in and they expect their claim to be fully resolved in over 170 days. 7 The back of the refrigerator, where the water line was supposed to be placed during the initial installation. WJXT News4JAX Byrd slammed Costco and RXO for failing to protect their customers. 'They drop the ball and are hoping that I foot the bill with my life savings for their bottom line,' Byrd said. Advertisement He compared his home to an unfinished construction site even after the repairs already put in. 'It looks like an unfinished home, because it is an unfinished home,' Byrd told the outlet sitting in his kitchen on lawn chairs next to a foldable plastic table. 7 The Byrd family was forced to replace their kitchen cabinets and other furniture. WJXT News4JAX 7 He compared his home to an unfinished construction site. WJXT News4JAX Advertisement 'This furniture is courtesy of that refrigerator,' he joked. The Post has reached out to Costco for comment.
