Latest news with #Caputo
Vancouver Sun
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. asks feds to step in and pay drug lab cleanup costs
B.C.'s public safety minister has written to the federal government requesting assistance in paying the multi-million tab for cleaning up fentanyl and methamphetamine labs uncovered in recent months. Postmedia recently revealed that the RCMP's federal policing program in B.C. is stuck with a $3.6 million bill for removing deadly chemicals found in several illicit labs, including the record-setting Falkland operation raided last October. Asst. Commissioner David Teboul said the hefty bill would have to be paid out of the RCMP's operational funds meaning fewer investigations in this province. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. David Karn, spokesperson for the B.C. Environment Ministry, confirmed in a statement this week that the letter was sent to the federal government on May 23, 'asking it to consider alternative funding arrangements supplemented by the expertise at Health Canada to cover costs for the safe cleanup of criminal drug labs so police can focus their efforts on further enforcement.' Karn also said that the ministry had incurred its own costs in the past for drug lab cleanups 'where hazardous materials posed a risk to human health or the environment — particularly when substances had left the site or were at risk of migrating off-site.' In those cases, the ministry 'pursued recovery through established legal mechanisms, such as the site remediation program or spill response provisions under the Environmental Management Act.' But he said the act 'does not provide a mechanism for the ministry to retroactively reimburse third-party agencies like the RCMP for their incurred costs.' Conservative MP Frank Caputo, his party's critic for public safety, said in an interview Thursday that the federal government's lax approach to the fentanyl crisis has led to the rise of synthetic drug labs in this province. 'When I look at these massive enterprises of fentanyl production, of drug production, of drug trafficking, clearly people see that the juice is worth the squeeze, meaning that they will not face significant enough consequences to deter them from injecting a deadly supply of drugs into the community and we need to change that,' said Caputo, who represents Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo. 'I don't look at this issue in isolation. I think it's part of a greater problem. Obviously, if we didn't have mass fentanyl producers creating the substance, we wouldn't be dealing with the cleanup.' And while civil forfeiture proceedings and restitution orders are existing tools that can be used to eventually recoup cleanup costs, they don't help with the massive RCMP bill in the short term, said Caputo, who was a prosecutor before he was elected. 'The fact is, the RCMP don't have the money for this because the government has put us in a deficit of around $90 billion and they're cutting back in the wrong places,' Caputo said. 'Maybe while they figure out a better funding formula to deal with this stuff in the short term, they should cough up this cash to pay the B.C. RCMP,' he said. The federal Public Safety Department did not respond to a request for information from Postmedia about the B.C. government letter. In an earlier emailed statement, spokesperson Max Watson said only that 'the cleanup of illegal drug labs is typically the responsibility of property owners. In cases where ownership is unclear or public health and safety are at risk, local governments may be required to step in and manage the cleanup, to ensure the health and safety of their residents.' There was no direct response to questions about the fact the RCMP in B.C. is stuck with a $3.6 million bill. B.C.'s civil forfeiture office has filed several lawsuits against owners of properties where synthetic drug labs have been found, including the Abbotsford electrician who owns the rural Falkland property where record amounts of fentanyl and precursor chemicals were located. Michael Driehuyzen filed a statement of defence , saying he was only the landlord and 'did not participate or acquiesce in any unlawful activity at the property done by his tenant or his tenant's agents.' kbolan@ Blueksy: @
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Monroe Capital Supports Tilia Holdings' Acquisition of Caputo Cheese
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Monroe Capital LLC ('Monroe') announced it acted as sole lead arranger and administrative agent on the funding of a senior credit facility and equity co-investment to support the acquisition of Caputo Cheese ('Caputo') by Tilia Holdings. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Melrose Park, IL, Caputo is a value-added processor of high-quality Italian cheeses, including hard cheeses and fresh, soft cheeses, primarily serving the foodservice and food manufacturing sectors. Caputo provides customized aging, flavor formulation, blending and packaging services to a loyal base of blue-chip customers established through their dedication to quality, flavor, and customer service. About Monroe Capital Monroe Capital LLC ('Monroe') is a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit solutions, structured credit, real estate and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe's platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality 'alpha' returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and has 11 locations throughout the United States, Asia and Australia. Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Private Debt Investor as the 2024 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, Americas and 2023 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Decade; Inc.'s 2024 Founder-Friendly Investors List; Global M&A Network as the 2023 Lower Mid-Markets Lender of the Year, U.S.A.; DealCatalyst as the 2022 Best CLO Manager of the Year; Korean Economic Daily as the 2022 Best Performance in Private Debt – Mid Cap; Creditflux as the 2021 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; and Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year. For more information and important disclaimers, please visit
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LA news anchor claims people are having 'fun' watching cars burn, riots 'relatively peaceful'
A Los Angeles news station went viral after its news anchor characterized the anti-ICE riots as "just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn" on Sunday. During its live coverage of the violent demonstrations rocking downtown LA, ABC7 Los Angeles anchor Jory Rand cautioned law enforcement from escalating tensions by interfering. "It could turn very volatile if you move law enforcement in there in the wrong way, and turn what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation and altercation between officers and demonstrators," he said. Correspondent Tim Caputo, who was reporting live from the scene, also warned about the "fine line" police had to walk to keep the peace but not "provoke" the crowd. Rioters Smash Windows At Lapd Headquarters As Anti-ice Agitators Clash With Authorities "It's tough because their presence alone is sometimes agitating the crowd. The police presence, the flashbangs, the tear gas, those are provoking the crowd to fire back, but it's tough because police are not part of the immigration," he said. Read On The Fox News App Caputo added that it was a "nuanced issue" but violence was "not OK" no matter what your cause is. Violence erupted on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday night in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Vehicles were set ablaze, rioters threw objects at police from a freeway overpass and smashed the windows at the LAPD headquarters. During their live coverage Sunday, both Rand and Caputo emphasized the violence was limited to just a handful of agitators and not reflective of the crowd of protesters at large. California Lt. Governor Says Los Angeles Riots Are 'Generated By Donald Trump' Caputo said he wouldn't call the situation a "riot" even though President Donald Trump used the term. "I don't know that I would characterize it [as a riot]," he said. "The vast majority are people taking videos, people waving flags, people walking around, people wanting to be part of the cause, wanting to have their voices heard, and wanting to show the power of numbers and the power of force…[but]you have these pockets of people who are intentionally causing some issues." "It's tough to describe the crowd as a whole as agitators. I wouldn't even say that, even close to that," Caputo continued. "[I]t doesn't seem like this necessarily encompasses the vast majority of people here, it's just everyone gets caught up in the hoopla." Sen. Cory Booker Calls Los Angeles Riots 'Peaceful,' Slams Trump For Deploying National Guard "It's a matter of a couple of people kind of ruining everything for everyone else," Rand confirmed. "What might have been a peaceful demonstration certainly is no longer that, as those cars continue to burn and explode." As more explosions went off in the background, Caputo and his cameraman tried to relocate from the scene. Rand then declared that things "look relatively peaceful right now," if you don't count the cars on fire. "It's hard to say that with three cars burning, things do seem relatively calm minus these cars that have been set on fire," the anchor added. The news coverage drew criticism on social media after account LibsofTikTok shared a clip of Rand's comments. ABC7 Los Angeles did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to the area on Friday to address the violence, which drew criticism from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. Newsom said Trump had overstepped his boundaries when he deployed the National Guard to help with the anti-ICE riots, claiming "local law enforcement didn't need help." Fox News' Anders Hagstrom and Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: LA news anchor claims people are having 'fun' watching cars burn, riots 'relatively peaceful'
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
For better workout, body balance, and joint relief, walk with hiking poles
Ashley Hawke was originally a skeptic of trekking poles. But after twisting an ankle on a tree root while descending a hill during a 2015 backpacking trip, she tried a pair. 'I couldn't believe how much easier hiking felt, especially while wearing a 40-pound pack,' Ms. Hawke, now 30, said. 'I used to think they were just for older people. Now I tell everyone I know to use them.' As a Ph.D. candidate in integrative physiology, Ms. Hawke did a meta-analysis, scouring 40 years of research into hiking poles. There weren't many papers, but the ones she found showed that using them often improved balance, took weight off the legs, made hiking feel easier and led to fewer sore muscles. Other small studies suggest poles can make hiking gentler on your joints and can boost the cardiovascular benefit of walking. In other words, you don't need to be a long-distance backpacker — or a senior — to benefit from using trekking poles. Why use walking poles? Put simply, poles can help you walk easier, faster and farther. One small study found that walking with poles increased the amount of oxygen and calories subjects used by more than 20 per cent. This is one big reason Aaron Baggish, a cardiologist with the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, often recommends them to patients of all ages, especially those with limited mobility. 'Poles will allow you to get fitter, faster, because it's a full body workout,' he said. If you regularly head outdoors onto dirt trails, poles can also help pull yourself uphill and protect your joints going downhill. Sharon Caputo, 55, who lives in Syracuse, N.Y., has climbed all 46 of the high peaks in the Adirondack Mountains, and used poles during each climb. Ms. Caputo also finds the poles helpful for balance when walking through water, in deep mud or when moving from one rock to another. Pick your pole Consider whether you'll use your poles for Nordic walking or hiking. Nordic poles are better on flatter, smoother surfaces and involve a single piece with more elaborate straps attached at the grip, which keeps the poles close to your hands. This allows you to more easily push yourself forward. For hikes on undulating dirt trails or up mountains, lightweight, collapsible trekking poles are better, because they're easier to pack, said Maggie Peikon, manager of communications at the American Hiking Society. Look for easy adjustability so that you can change lengths on the fly. Also decide which type of grip you like: foam, rubber or cork, which tends to be grippier, even when it's wet. Ms. Caputo varies the length of her poles on every hike. 'On the way down, I like them a little longer to help with bigger drop-offs,' she said. 'On the way up, if I need to use my hands to scramble, I fold them down.' Also consider the pole's tip — on dry, paved trails or sidewalks, a rubber tip is best. If you're heading onto a dirt path, or if there's snow or ice, a metal tip provides greater stability (though the metal can sometimes damage rocks). You'll want to learn how to adjust and use your wrist straps, too. Grip the handle and make sure the strap is resting snugly but comfortably around the back of your wrist. If not, play around with the adjustments until you find your sweet spot. You can also bring your poles to a physical therapist to find the setup that works for your body, Dr. Baggish said. Find your technique The classic position for any pole — Nordic or trekking — is straight down, so that your arms are parallel with the ground and your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle. In this position, your arms can help to power your movement. Don't let the poles alter how you walk or hike. 'The poles shouldn't change your natural walking rhythm,' Ms. Peikon said. 'It should feel intuitive to use them, not a hindrance to your natural cadence.' Try to consciously engage your arms and shoulders. Focus on pushing down to propel yourself forward. Hiking downhill won't be as much of a push motion, but rather a stabilising plant, Ms. Peikon said. Do your best to maintain an upright posture, never hunching over your poles. 'It may feel awkward to use them at first,' said Ms. Peikon, 'which is why practicing with them on flat, level terrain is best.' You can also play around with using one pole or two. Ms. Peikon prefers one: 'If I have a misstep, I like having a hand free to catch myself,' she said. In the end, how you use them comes down to preference — don't overthink it and don't overspend, Ms. Hawke said. 'Sometimes, the random hiking stick you find on the side of the trail works just fine, too.'
Miami Herald
06-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Outraged Broward sheriff lashes out at state attorney for arresting 3 deputies
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony blasted the State Attorney's Office for arresting three corrections deputies who are accused of battering a woman they booked into jail almost three years ago. Tony said the deputies never should have been arrested, that the woman they're accused of beating attacked and injured them and he is reinstating them. 'So, we're moving forward from an internal-affairs standpoint. Our investigation has been completed. All three deputies will be reinstated to full capacity, and they've been either exonerated of these false allegations or it's been unfounded,' he said at a press briefing Friday morning. The State Attorney's Office arrested Sgt. Zakiyya Polk, Deputy Cleopatra Johnnie and Deputy Denia Walker last week on aggravated battery charges stemming from an Oct. 4, 2022, incident involving a woman being booked into jail on a charge of driving under the influence. Each faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the second-degree felony charge. Eric Schwartzreich, Polk's attorney, said she and the other 'detention deputies have not committed any crimes, or any policy violations.' 'As a criminal defense attorney that represents those that find themselves thrust into the criminal justice system, which at times includes deputies, this is the first time that the Sheriff and I have stood in solidarity and both of us agree that these deputies should not be charged with any crimes,' Schwartzreich said in an email to the Miami Herald. 'This is an important case for all of law enforcement. I applaud the Sheriff on his response and for standing up for the men and women who keep us safe.' According to the deputies' arrest warrant, the woman, 38-year-old Samantha Caputo, became argumentative when the deputies told her to remove her bra as she was changing from her personal clothes to her jail uniform. Polk pushed Caputo, and then Johnnie and Walker punched and kicked her several times, the warrant states. Walker and Polk also pepper-sprayed Caputo, and Polk shot prongs into her with her Taser stun gun, according to the warrant. After the struggle, Caputo had a hematoma under her right eye, bruises and a scar from the Taser prongs, the warrant states. The jail nurse treated her for her injuries, and she was hospitalized days later because the Taser wound became infected, according to the warrant. Tony stressed that security-camera footage shows the deputies used an appropriate amount of force in controlling Caputo. He said Caputo 'struck, scratched and bit' one of the deputies, puncturing the skin and fracturing her finger. 'The video is crystal clear that [the deputies] had demonstrated only the level of force necessary to get this individual back into compliance,' Tony said. 'Our standard is reasonable, necessary force in proportion to the threat to that which we face.' Tony struck out at Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor's office for pursuing charges against the deputies yet declining to charge in many cases against deputies and other public employees whom the sheriff's office recommends for prosecution. Referring to Polk, Johnnie and Walker as 'the select three,' Tony questioned why Pryor's office pursued them while ignoring other public-corruption leads from the sheriff's office. 'This is most certainly a miscarriage of justice and exhibits symptoms of public corruption in itself,' Tony said. Tony said that in his two terms he has taken deputy misconduct so seriously that he has fired 141 of them. He said he holds his deputies to strict standards when they use force. Pryor responded in a statement that it took almost three years to charge the deputies because prosecutors didn't begin looking at the case until Caputo's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss a charge of battery on a law-enforcement officer. Public Corruption Unit prosecutors then viewed the security-camera footage and decided to charge the deputies, Pryor said. They also dropped the battery charge against Caputo, according to court documents. 'All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty. At no time were the detention deputies placed in front of the national media in handcuffs, they were allowed to surrender to the jail at a time that was arranged with their defense attorneys in advance, and they were released from the jail on agreed bonds of $7,500 without going through magistrate court,' Pryor said. Tony said he was outraged the charge against Caputo was dropped. 'You don't get a free pass to strike, injure or harm any of my God damn deputies in this agency,' he said. 'None of them!' Johnnie's attorney did not immediately respond to a Herald request for comments. Information about Walker's legal representation was not immediately available. All three deputies were released from jail on May 29, the same day they were arrested. Tony brought up the case of former Broward Sheriff's Office Deputy Ronald Thurston and other examples of what he said were mishandled cases by Pryor's office. READ MORE: Broward school security specialist is accused of abusing student Thurston was fired for excessive force in 2022. The sheriff's office recommended the State Attorney's Office charge him with battery the previous year, but prosecutors declined. He was arrested three years later on charges of aggravated child abuse and aggravated battery after being hired by Broward County Public Schools to work security at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach. Pryor defended his office's handling of both cases against Thurston. 'Thurston was criminally charged in February of this year on an unrelated matter and is currently facing criminal prosecution by our agency,' Pryor said. 'As with all cases, we will file criminal charges when we have facts and evidence to support them.'
