Latest news with #Byrdsong
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man pleads guilty in connection to 15-year-old girl's murder in Harrison Twp.
May 9—A man pleaded guilty in connection to the deadly shooting of a 15-year-old in Harrison Twp. On Thursday Baretta Byrdsong, 27, pleaded guilty to endangering children and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. An involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide charge were dismissed. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 27. On Nov. 17, 2023, Byrdsong reportedly drove 15-year-old Heaven Washington to an ATM to get money for a field trip later that day. Montgomery County Children Services had temporary custody of Washington and had placed her in a group home where Byrdsong was working at, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office. On the drive back, a vehicle pulled up beside them near Turner Road and Philadelphia Avenue and a gunman fired multiple times. Montgomery County sheriff's deputies responded, but when they arrived they learned a private vehicle had taken Washington to the hospital. She died from multiple gunshot wounds at Miami Valley Hospital. Investigators identified the suspect vehicle as a Toyota RAV-4 and found it near the Englewood Meijer. The Toyota fled while detectives were surveilling it in an unmarked vehicle, leading to a chase. The pursuit went through multiple communities, including New Lebanon and Farmersville. The Toyota's average speed was 109.8 mph while on the highway, according to Vandalia Municipal Court records. Deputies found the SUV abandoned in a field on Havermale Road. Video surveillance identified 31-year-old Tommy Moreland as a suspect. Moreland and Byrdsong had an ongoing feud, according to the prosecutor's office. "This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of how an ongoing street grudge can escalate to a fatal encounter, tragically taking the life of an innocent little girl on her way to school for a field trip," said Sheriff Rob Streck. In March, Moreland was found guilty of three counts of felonious assault, two counts of murder and tampering with evidence and one count each of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. He was sentenced to 37 to 46 1/2 years in prison. Two others, Darrell Bostic and Denisha Taylor, have charges pending in connection to Washington's death. Bostic, who is accused of being in the SUV with Moreland when he shot Washington, has a final pretrial hearing on Aug. 20 and is scheduled to go to trial on Aug. 25. He's facing murder, felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and having weapons while under disability charges. Taylor was indicted on tampering with evidence and obstructing justice charges. Her next hearing is scheduled for May 28. Washington's estate is suing Byrdsong and the group home, Reflections Group Home LLC, claiming they were negligent in the teen's death. The case was previously scheduled to go to trial on May 14, but the defense requested the trial be continued, according to court documents.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pay raise part of Norfolk School Board adopted $772.9M budget
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Norfolk School Board recently adopted Superintendent Dr. Sharon Byrdsong's proposed $772.9 million budget, which calls for a 4.5% salary increase, increased starting pay for teachers, a one-time bonus for full-time contracted employees at the top of their salary scales and no increases to health insurance premiums. The board adopted the plan at its March 19 business meeting. Full-time contracted staff would get a 4.5% salary increase, starting pay for teachers would rise from $57,500 to $60,088 and there would be a 2.2% one-time bonus for full-time, contracted employees at the top of their salary scales. Superintendents-Budget-Presentation-Fact-Sheet-Feb-2025-1Download The budget also funds a new Equity and Excellence Learning Center at Southside STEM Academy at Campostella. There are four such schools currently — at Jacox and P.B. Young elementary schools, Ruffner School and Booker T. Washington High School. The centers provide wraparound services that include mental health and emotional support, along with medical resources and family engagement programs. staff to help English learners, students with disabilities and more student attendance support. It also provides for additional school security resources such as cameras, vehicles and increased pay for police offices covering student athletic events. The division's $253 million capital improvement budget has funding to replace Maury High School, replace heating and air conditioning units, make wall system improvements, renovate Camp Young's swimming pool, continue renovations at Booker T. Washington High School and get new school buses. City Council is expected to adopt a municipal budget in May, which includes the operating budget for Norfolk Public Schools. However, City Council last week called for the board to develop a plan within the next five months to close and consolidate 10 schools, with the closures starting by August 2026. Norfolk council calls for School Board to close and consolidate 10 schools The resolution adopted by council threatens to provide consequences to the board for any delay, including changing the city's appropriation to Norfolk Public Schools from a lump-sum one to a directed appropriation to give council more control over school division appropriations 'in order to ameliorate the estimated loss of funds due to surplus capacity of school buildings.' Budget-Superintendents-Budget-Presentation-Feb-2025-1Download Byrdsong said one of the operating budget priorities would include 'right-sizing the school division' through continuing to work with a consulting firm to facilitate the work of the long-range educational and facilities planning committee while initiating a comprehensive community engagement effort and developing recommendations for consolidating and closing the division's schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
