Latest news with #Clardy
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Henderson State University launches aviation courses for non-degree-seeking pilots
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — A change made last week at Henderson State University is ensuring more people are 'Reddie' to fly. The aviation flight training program, turning into the Arkansas Aviation Academy, is more than a name change. It expands flight education beyond those enrolled at the school. New Arkansas law creates incentives for alternative aviation fuel Three courses are now open to non-degree students. They include a commercial multi-engine add-on course, a tailwheel course, and a Certified Flight Instructor spin-training course. They are available only to people who already have a commercial pilot certificate. Shannon Clardy, Henderson State University Dean of the College of Aviation, Science, and Nursing, said the 16-plane fleet allows more room for advanced training. 'That's what we're focused on right now. As our fleet capacity grows, then our offerings will also grow,' Clardy said. It also fills a hiring need in the aviation industry. 'That is all experience that pilots will need to move out into industry, whether they are flying charter airplanes, flying freight, or flying passengers,' Clardy explained. United Airlines wants to turn algae into jet fuel Taylor Scalzi went from student to instructor. She completed the commercial multi-engine add-on courses last week. 'It really broadens my horizons of where I can go, and what I can do,' Scalzi explained. Each of the three initial courses can be completed in less than a week. Accommodations will be available on campus for participating pilots during their week-long training. Scalzi said she is excited to see who the academy brings in. 'It is a very dynamic group. It could be anybody from 18 years old to in their 50s. It doesn't matter,' Scalzi said. The creation of an aviation advisory board is underway, and the academy is working on alumni connections, along with pursuing potential partnerships with airlines, which could help with landing a job. Chad Cocroft is a junior HSU aviation major. He said the course is his 'next step' in achieving his dream of becoming a career pilot. 'I enjoy it. I want to do it for the rest of my life,' Cocroft said. University of Central Arkansas celebrates groundbreaking of Aviation Academy hangar Henderson's long-established professional pilot bachelor's degree program is the only public university program of its kind in the state. For additional information, visit or call (870) 230-5585 to schedule training. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
New MN office for missing, murdered Black women and girls aims to build awareness
What happened to Brittany Clardy a dozen years ago is not only painful to her family and her St. Paul community, it's 'reflective of a much larger crisis' in Minnesota and across the nation, her sister said Wednesday. Clardy was 18 when she was murdered in 2013. Her sister, Lakeisha Lee, was co-chair of Minnesota's Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force. The taskforce's recommendations and legislation led to the creation of the Minnesota Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls in 2023. Kaleena Burkes, the office's first director, was appointed a year ago. 'Many Black women in the U.S. have the same story as Brittany,' Lee said Wednesday at the first Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Day on the Hill. '… I, as Brittany's keeper, want to bring awareness to those voices. … When Black women and girls are safe, all of our communities are safe.' At Wednesday's gathering in the Minnesota Capitol's Rotunda, the aim was to bring awareness to the new office — so families know they can contact them for help — and to the disproportionate number of Black women and girls who are missing and murdered. 'We must first acknowledge the women and girls who are not here … lost to this epidemic of violence,' Burkes said. 'Women and girls who deserve to be protected, women and girls whose names should have never become headlines or cold cases.' 'But let us also acknowledge a deeper truth: Too often, when Black women and girls go missing, they are not met with urgency,' Burkes continued. 'Their disappearances are not met with national outcry, their lives are not deemed worthy of the same media coverage, the same law enforcement response and the same public sympathy.' Minnesota became the first state in the U.S. to create an office dedicated to the problem, Burkes said. It's part of the state's Department of Public Safety's Office of Justice Programs. Although Black women comprise 7 percent of the population in Minnesota, 40 percent of domestic violence victims are Black women. Black women are nearly three times more likely to be murdered than white women in Minnesota, according to the Office of Justice Programs. 'The statistics are heartbreaking and sobering,' said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Former Minnesota Rep. Ruth Richardson was a chief author of the legislation that created the office. She said she will never forget Clardy's mother, testifying at the legislature about the loss of her daughter, saying: 'I wake up every morning asking myself, 'If there had been an immediate response to my daughter being missing, would she be here today?'' 'No one should ever have to ask themselves that question every single morning,' Richardson said Wednesday. Clardy was missing for 10 days before her body was found in a vehicle at a Columbia Heights impound lot, after the car had been towed from a Brooklyn Park apartment complex. The family of Taylor Hayden, previously from Medina and the sister of former Minnesota Sen. Jeff Hayden, also advocated for change. The 25-year-old woman was fatally shot in 2016 in Atlanta. 'She was simply walking to meet her Uber when someone ran up, grabbed her and used her as a human shield,' said Joyce Hayden. '… As a mother, my heart shattered into a million pieces.' The creation of the state office recognizes the need to address disproportionate violence that Black women face, but Joyce Hayden said it shouldn't be regarded as a solution. 'It's the foundation of our work,' which must be built upon, she said. The office's budget is $2.5 million for the biennium, which is $1.25 million per year. Forest Lake looks at cryptocurrency ATM registration after series of scams Have a REAL ID? If not, prepare for travel delays, MAC says. 'Painful shock': Twin Cities restaurateurs remember David Burley Kennedy attends funeral of Texas girl who died of measles Injured teenager fell 20 feet through grate at abandoned Ford power plant Artika Roller, executive director of Cornerstone — which connects victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and other crimes to services — asked people to raise awareness by sharing information on social media and by talking to people they know. 'Bring this issue to light and let them know that we're doing this work and we're committed to bringing our family members back home,' she said. If a family member or loved one is missing, the Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls says people can contact them for support at 651-201-7326 or after they notify law enforcement.
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Snowboarder dies after suffering major head injuries at California ski resort
Snowboarder dies after suffering major head injuries at California ski resort Nathan Clardy, the 25-year-old snowboarder's father, said his son had recently graduated from the fire academy in Southern California. Show Caption Hide Caption Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche at 26 Sophie Hediger, a Swiss Olympic snowboarder, was killed after she was caught in an avalanche in Arosa, Switzerland. SNTV A family is mourning the loss of a snowboarder who died after seriously injuring his head at an eastern California ski resort. Roman Lacayo, 25, died Saturday at the Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Kirkwood, California, the Alpine County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. Lacayo was on a snowboarding trip with his girlfriend and a few other couples. The group had driven up to the resort on March 27, his father, Nathan Clardy, told USA TODAY Thursday afternoon. 'It appears that as he was going down the mountain, he took a pretty basic fall, but there was a large boulder in his vicinity,' his father said, adding that he hit his head. Someone called for help around 12:20 p.m. that day. Deputies arrived and found Lacayo suffering from major head injuries, the sheriff's office said, adding that "injuries were not compatible with life." Kirkwood Mountain Resort is owned by Vail Resorts. The parent company confirmed the man's death in a statement to USA TODAY on Wednesday morning. According to the resort, Kirkwood Ski Patrol also responded to the medical incident, which happened on an intermediate trail for snowboarders with more experience. The resort said Lacayo was taken to the Barton Medical Clinic in the facility's base area. He was pronounced dead just before 1 p.m., the sheriff's office said. 'On behalf of the full team here at Kirkwood, we extend our deepest sympathy and support to the guest's family and friends,' the resort said in its statement, calling the situation 'a serious incident.' Snowboarder had the 'instinct to serve' Lacayo's loved ones started a GoFundMe to support his family after his death. As of Wednesday afternoon, community members had raised over $40,000 of its $50,000 goal. Calling him an 'aspiring firefighter,' fundraiser organizers shared a baby photo of Lacayo grinning while donning a firefighter helmet. They said he had an adventurous spirit, a kind heart and an infectious smile. Clardy said his son's death has been a 'devastating' loss to their family. Lacayo is the oldest of five. He leaves behind two brothers and two sisters. According to Clardy, his kids grew up in the firehouse, but he never pushed firefighting onto his sons. Still, Lacayo wanted to pursue it. 'I'm a fire captain and my sister is a corrections officer, so just the instinct to serve has always been there,' he said. 'I was honored that he chose to and wanted to. He earned his place there. He did a great job. The door had opened up for him … and the next step was him securing a job.' A fire captain himself, Clardy said his son graduated from the fire academy he works at about three months ago. "The day he left for the trip, in the a.m., we were completing one of his applications to a city department," his father told USA TODAY. Roman Lacayo's father cautions snowboarders to wear helmets When speaking to Sacramento-based television station KCRA-TV about his son's death, Clardy cautioned snowboarders to protect themselves by wearing helmets. He told USA TODAY Thursday that he has been snowboarding for nearly three decades. All of his kids snowboard as well. The father said his younger kids wear helmets when they participate in the sport, but he and his oldest son haven't always done so. Lacayo wasn't wearing a helmet during his accident, he said, adding that somewhere along the way his son mimicked him or it just became normal for them to snowboard without helmets. Clardy said as a fire captain he knew better but didn't practice what he preached. His son's death is a reminder of the importance of wearing safety equipment and he will never snowboard without a helmet ever again, he added. Lacayo was always taking care of others, his father said, adding that he was the one who provided his family with the light they needed, not to mention entertainment. He was "an amazing guy," according to Clardy. Lacayo should be back home by Thursday evening and his memorial service is set for April 17, Clardy said. "Whether he had chosen the fire service or not, Roman was an amazing person," he said. "His personality and how genuine he was about always taking care of other people ... making sure other people were in a good place before he was in a good place, that's just how his heart was." This story has been updated with new information. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Aspiring firefighter dies in snowboarding accident at popular ski resort
An aspiring firefighter died after suffering from serious injuries while vacationing at an eastern California ski resort over the weekend. Roman Lacayo, 25, was visiting the Kirkwood Mountain Resort when he sustained "major head injuries" in a snowboarding accident, the Alpine County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. On Saturday, the Kirkwood Ski Patrol responded to a "medical incident" on the resort's intermediate trail and transported Lacayo to the Barton Medical Clinic, located in the facility's base area, a resort spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. Authorities were called to the clinic at approximately 12:20 p.m. after receiving reports of a snowboarding accident, according to police. He was pronounced dead just before 1 p.m. Popular Spring Break Activity Lands American Tourist In Hospital: 'Felt Like I Was In A Car Accident' The Alpine County Sheriff and Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional information. Read On The Fox News App Lacayo was visiting the resort with his girlfriend and friends when he fell and hit his head, KCRA-TV reported. "On behalf of the full team here at Kirkwood, we extend our deepest sympathy and support to the guest's family and friends," Ricky Newberry, Kirkwood's vice president and general manager, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Our thoughts are with all those affected during this difficult time." Yosemite National Park Employee Dies From Mysterious Injuries In Staff Housing Lacayo had recently graduated from a Southern California fire academy and was "close to achieving his dream," Nathan Clardy, Lacayo's father, told KCRA-TV. "It's heartbreaking because as a dad, I wasn't there with him. I know there's nothing I could have changed, but just not being there with him," Clardy said. Two days before his death, the aspiring firefighter filled out an application to join one department, the station reported. Clardy is now grappling with his son's death as the family makes preparations to transport his remains to his home in Corona, telling KCRA-TV the process has been a "logistical nightmare." "He embodies what we call service above self," Clardy said. "And even prior to the fire service, his natural instinct was to take care of other people." Lacayo's family did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: Aspiring firefighter dies in snowboarding accident at popular ski resort
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Minnesota House member makes appearance on ‘Love Is Blind'
Rep. Mary Frances Clardy, DFL-Inver Grove Heights. Photo from Clardy's official Facebook account. Minnesotans are basking in the national spotlight with the Feb. 14 release of the first six episodes of Netflix's reality series 'Love Is Blind,' and local politicos may have caught a glimpse of a familiar face. Minnesota House Rep. Mary Frances Clardy, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, briefly appeared in a trailer for next episodes that are set to come out over the next three Fridays. Sorry, Clardy's not the one featured on the hit reality dating show. Her daughter Virginia is on the show, which features Twin Cities-based men and women this season. The show places men and women into rooms, known as 'pods,' where they talk without seeing each other, in what's termed 'an experiment' to see if 'love is truly blind.' A House DFL spokesperson confirmed that Clardy and her daughter are on the show. Clardy, through the spokesperson, declined the Reformer's interview request about her 'Love Is Blind' experience because she signed a nondisclosure agreement. Couples on the show can get engaged, and only after they agree to marry can they finally see what the other person looks like in the 'reveal,' where the men and women — sometimes awkwardly — hug, kiss and meet their betrothed for the first time. The couple then move into an apartment together for four weeks to test their relationship before marrying — or breaking up, often in dramatic fashion — in the season finale. In the first six episodes of the latest 'Love Is Blind' season, Virginia — a 34-year-old health care recruiter and former NBA dancer — got engaged to Devin. He's a 29-year-old youth basketball coach. Virginia said she was on the show because in the past she has dated self-centered men, and she wants to be emotionally vulnerable. Clardy appeared to be in a restaurant in the preview of the next 'Love Is Blind' episodes, where couples usually meet their fiancé's parents. In the preview, Virginia appeared to be joking with Clardy and Devin about the trio's similar physical appearance. The first six episodes of the latest season have received poor reviews, with Entertainment Weekly calling it 'the most boring season of 'Love Is Blind' to date, with couples whose romantic travails are about as spicy as macaroni salad,' which also seemed to be a dig at Minnesota's infamously beige cuisine and salads sans greens. Clardy spent 27 years working as a teacher in St. Paul and served on the Inver Grove Heights school board. She was elected to the Minnesota House in 2022.
