Latest news with #Darnell
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Chicago Seniors Discover Retirement Staycations in Area
- As More People Retire Closer to Home, Senior Living Communities Like Pleasant View Offer 'Stay-and-See' Packages - OTTAWA, Ill., May 29, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As more seniors opt to retire and travel closer to home, senior living communities are responding with innovative Stay-and-See packages to interested retirees. At the center of this trend is Pleasant View, a Life Plan Community in Ottawa, Illinois, a historic river town just 90 minutes from Chicago, which announced an innovative Stay-and-See program to meet the trend of people wanting to retire close to home and experience a community before making a move. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 58% of older adults relocate within their own county. Meanwhile, AARP reports that 61% now prefer to vacation domestically. This shift toward local exploration is making communities like Pleasant View increasingly appealing. 'Making a move later in life is a big decision,' said Kayli Battles, Sales Director. 'That's why we created the Stay-and-See Vacation Package at Pleasant View in Ottawa. It's a no-pressure way to experience the lifestyle, meet the community and enjoy everything the area has to offer.' Stay-and-See Highlights at Pleasant View Include: Guests can also enjoy nearby attractions like Starved Rock State Park, local dining and summer events at the community, including BBQs and Lunch & Learn sessions—all with no long-term commitment. 'Whether you're curious about Life Plan living or just looking for a relaxing summer retreat, we invite you to stay with us, meet the community and see what makes this place so special,' said Darnell. Part of Lutheran Life Communities, Pleasant View offers a full continuum of care, with independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing, long-term care, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation all on the same campus. Stay Local. See What's Possible. Visit Pleasant View June Events or call (815) 940-2667 to RSVP or reserve your Stay-and-See experience today. About Pleasant View: Pleasant View is a 62+, pet-friendly Life Plan Community with a full continuum of care. As part of the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Lutheran Life Communities, which was founded 130 years ago, the campus shares the commitment to providing exceptional care and services to enhance residents' lives. For generations, friends and family have lived and worked together here, sharing a life of integrity and independence surrounded by glorious natural beauty. Best of all, residents will have the peace of mind that comes with having independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation all on the same campus with care rooted in honest Midwestern values, which are core to our community culture. It's Grace-Filled living. Learn more at: Image link for media: Image Caption: Pleasant View in Ottawa, Ill., offers seniors a chance to Stay-and-See in a private villa or apartment, with chef-prepared meals or cook-at-home flexibility, full housekeeping and daily programs like social events, wellness classes and spiritual care. NEWS SOURCE: Pleasant View Keywords: Long Term Care, Illinois Senior Living Communities, Pleasant View, a Life Plan Community, Ottawa Illinois, Lutheran Life Communities, Long-Term Care, Skilled Nursing, OTTAWA, Ill. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Pleasant View) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126562 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Granddaughter Who Loves Surprising Her Grandpa Is Shocked When Her Latest Stunt Goes Wrong (Exclusive)
Faith Harper flew from New York City to Los Angeles to surprise her grandpa — a beloved tradition he never sees coming This time, he unknowingly took a photo of Faith and her boyfriend, thinking they were strangers Their hilarious, heartwarming reunion moment has melted hearts across TikTokEvery year, Faith Harper makes it her mission to catch her grandfather, Darnell Groom, off guard with a surprise visit home. But this time, what started as a playful prank between granddaughter and grandfather turned into a viral TikTok moment. 'I live in New York City, but I grew up in Los Angeles, and all my family is in Los Angeles,' Faith explains to PEOPLE. 'Every time I go to L.A. I have this thing where I never tell my grandpa I'm coming," she continues. "I'll just show up somewhere randomly, whether at his house or brunch or in somebody's car, because I just like to surprise him.' This year, Faith and her boyfriend, Mauricio, decided to take the tradition to a new level, roping in her uncle and setting up a scenario in which Darnell would be asked by a 'random couple' to take their photo — unaware that the couple was actually his granddaughter and her boyfriend. Darnell, meanwhile, was just finishing up a movie outing with his son when the prank unfolded. 'We had just come from the theater, and for some reason, we had just been to a game recently, and [my son] wanted to go take some pictures of himself with the statues,' Darnell recalls, remembering feeling suspicion but deciding to roll with the flow regardless. When Mauricio approached and asked him to take a photo, Darnell was too caught up in the moment to notice anything was up. 'At first I thought to myself, 'He looks a little bit like Faith's boyfriend.' But I was too involved with my son and what we were doing to really pay attention to who he was,' he shares. Faith and Mauricio stood by, stifling laughter as Darnell snapped their photo, completely oblivious to their true identities. 'In the video, you can see we're standing there, and we're laughing, thinking, 'Oh, he's gonna notice any second now.' And he didn't,' Faith says. 'Then I started getting confused. Like, is he okay? Like, how does he not know? I just couldn't believe he didn't recognize it was me.' It wasn't until the photos were finished and Faith and Mauricio handed Darnell the phone that it all clicked. 'I didn't really realize until I started focusing in with the camera. I didn't realize it was Faith and Mauricio,' Darnell admits. 'You didn't even realize on the camera,' Faith chimes in. 'You didn't realize till after you put the phone down and you're about to give us the phone back." Darnell's reaction — equal parts shock and amusement — was a highlight for TikTok viewers. Despite the initial confusion, Darnell was overjoyed by the surprise. 'When I see my granddaughter, it's just the greatest thing in the world, and especially when she surprised me the last couple of times. My heart gets filled with joy.' Faith credits her grandfather for being a constant source of support and love in her life. 'He's always believed in me, and in any ways that he can help me. He always makes sure to do all that he can,' she says. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'I wasn't really close to my dad growing up, so it was important for me to have a grandfather and male figures in my life that just showed me that they really care and lead me in the right direction,' she continues. 'And Grandpa always made me feel loved and cared about, and also didn't let anybody mess with me and told me not to let anybody mess with me or my dreams.' The TikTok video quickly went viral, with many pointing out Darnell's potential need for glasses, including Faith. (She even captioned the clip, 'Maybe it's time for grandpa to get glasses.') But, Darnell, who actually wears glasses, took it all in stride, saying, 'Yeah. I deserve it. I really deserve it.' For both Faith and Darnell, the viral moment is a testament to their playful bond and the joy they bring each other. 'I think this video just shows that we're really silly with each other all the time, and we like to have fun,' Faith says. Darnell agrees: 'I just love the fact that she surprises me.' As for what's next, Faith is already plotting her next surprise. 'I don't know what I'm going to do for the next one," she says, teasing, "It's got to be crazy." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lawsuit: ‘Tennessee's foster care system is failing children it is intended to protect'
Margie Quin, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, is now named as a defendant in two proposed class action lawsuits alleging DCS warehouses and mistreats children (Photo: John Partipilo) Foster kids in Tennessee are being denied the basic right to education, healthcare and stable homes and instead kept in unsafe institutions or bounced through multiple foster families for years at time, a lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of 13 children alleges. The lawsuit, spearheaded by a national team of child welfare attorneys, is seeking court approval for class action status in order to represent all 9000 children in the state's foster care system. It alleges that the Department of Children's Services (DCS) has persistently violated children's constitutional rights and federal law, including Americans with Disabilities Act protections for kids with disabilities. The suit seeks a sweeping court order forcing the agency to comply. 'Tennessee's foster care system is failing children it is intended to protect,' said the lawsuit, filed Monday in a Nashville federal court. DCS 'warehouses children in spaces which lack the basic necessities of life, including adequate food, bedding, soap and potable water,' the legal filings said. Kids fortunate enough to get a spot in a foster home, instead of an institution, are 'moved from place to place without the opportunity for a stable childhood,' it said. A DCS spokesperson referred a request for comment about the suit to the Tennessee Attorney General's office, which declined to comment. It is the second class action lawsuit filed in recent months against DCS alleging gross mistreatment of children the agency is mandated to protect. Class action complaint accuses Tennessee Department of Children's Services of abusing disabled kids DCS operates with more than $1.2 billion in state and federal funding annually to oversee two main areas of responsibility. The first focuses on child abuse and neglect. The agency investigates allegations of abuse, oversees the state's foster care system and provides services that help keep struggling families together. The second is juvenile justice programs. The agency houses youth who have gotten tangled up with the state's juvenile justice system for offenses that range from missing school to committing crimes. While Monday's lawsuit focuses on the actions or inactions by DCS in caring for children who have been abused or neglected, a class action lawsuit filed last year alleges a series of failures that have harmed kids with disabilities tangled up in DCS's juvenile justice system. That suit remains ongoing. Both lawsuits seek court-ordered changes to the way DCS operates. Monday's 74-page lawsuit details the unstable lives of multiple children who have been in DCS custody for years. Among them is 15-year-old 'Darnell,' a pseudonym used in court filings to protect the teen's privacy. At eight years old, Darnell made his way to a fire station for help after being struck in the face then abandoned on the side of a road by his mother. DCS took custody. In the eight years since that day, Darnell has been placed in at least 14 different settings. Darnell has spent half of his childhood in institutions that his DCS caseworkers acknowledge were unsuitable for his needs. Those institutions fail to provide even basic necessities to children living under their roofs. Living in limbo: DCS places kids indefinitely in group homes awaiting 'evaluations' 'His (appointed legal advocate) offered to buy him a Christmas present and asked what he wanted. The only thing Darnell wanted was his 'own deodorant stick,'' the lawsuit noted. Darnell struggled academically, but DCS failed to get him educational testing or advocate for individualized education plans to provide him extra in-school help. Instead, during one four-month stint outside of an institution, DCS falsely promised foster parents hoping to adopt Darnell that he was a 'straight A student.' When Darnell instead struggled in school and acted out at home, the family cited a lack of information and support from DCS in ending the foster care arrangement. Darnell's former legal guardian continues to supply him with clothing and hygiene products inside the institution where he currently lives. The guardian has undergone all required training to become his foster parent. Despite her persistence in advocating Darnell come home with her, he remains in an institution where, he told juvenile court officials earlier this year, he feels unsafe. The lives of other children in DCS custody detailed in the lawsuit include prolonged separation from siblings, sexual abuse, the use of inappropriate restraints and lengthy stays in temporary settings intended to house children for no more than 30 days. Children in DCS care are 'deteriorating physically, psychologically, emotionally and educationally,' the lawsuit said. DCS seeks $189M in new funding with plans to target rural counties with high foster care rates The agency has come under public scrutiny in recent years as reports emerged of children sleeping on state office floors due to a lack of a suitable foster home beds, allegations of sexual abuse in privately run institutions, caseworkers struggling with impossible caseloads and rampant turnover among disillusioned employees. In response, Gov. Bill Lee and state lawmakers appropriated significant additional funding for the agency in 2023 to hire and train caseworkers, contract with private companies to provide institutional and foster care and create new temporary 'assessment centers' and other facilities to house children. The lawsuit alleges that, despite new funding, little has improved in the lives of children still in state custody. Assessment centers are intended for a maximum of a 30-day stay in order to determine the best type of treatment and housing for children who have suffered abuse or neglect. Kids in state custody forced to sleep on floors in state office building Instead, most children are there for far longer, living in 'draconian conditions more commonly found in adult prisons,' the suit claims. The centers are frequently staffed by sheriff department personnel, not child welfare workers; DCS has authorized the use of shackles on children taken off site for doctors appointments and pepper spray to subdue them. Young victims of abuse are housed at the centers alongside teens accused of crimes, the suit noted. 'Children charged with violent criminal offenses are placed together with children removed from their homes due to the trauma of inflicted violence,' the suit said. 'Boys with rape and assault charges are placed together with girls.' The suit echoes similar claims made against the agency more than two decades ago, when a 2000 class action lawsuit alleged children in DCS custody were deprived of education, healthcare and other rights, and subjected to egregious living environments That lawsuit, known as 'Brian A.,' led to 17 years of federal court oversight requiring the agency to meet basic benchmarks in their treatment of children. The oversight formally ended in 2017. 'The system quickly declined to a point even worse than it was in 2000, and now subjects children to a wide range of harms,' a statement from attorneys filing suit this week said. The law firms filing suit are Bass Berry & Sims, A Better Childhood, The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center, Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Wang Hecker. The lawsuit names the Department of Children's Services as defendant along with Commissioner Margie Quin, Deputy Commissioner Carla Aaron and Deputy Commissioner Karen Jointer Bryant. 2025.05.19 Complaint SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Battle to be the 'greatest showman': Circus ringmaster is embroiled in bitter legal row with Hollywood heavyweights over name
A circus manager says his defeat in a 'David and Goliath' style battle with a Hollywood film company has robbed him of his heritage. Kenny Darnell Jnr, 37, found himself fighting 20th Century Studios owned by Disney, earlier this year in a dispute over who could say they are the 'greatest showman' on earth. In 2018, he registered a website called ' two months before the movie producers obtained a trademark for the same phrase, a year after the release of their film 'The Greatest Showman.' Lawyers for 20th Century Studios, which made £33 million from the musical starring Hugh Jackman, argued Mr Darnell deliberately used the name to capitalise off the movie. But Mr Darnell, who was a professional aerial acrobat, claimed his family's 200 years of history in the business as Paulo's Circus meant the title 'greatest showman' was his birthright. Mr Darnell, speaking to the Telegraph, said: 'This isn't just a legal dispute, it's personal. 'It feels like my identity, my heritage is being stripped away by those who've made millions off a fantasy version of our world. This isn't about money. 'It's about history and it's about a family who's still fighting to preserve something real, something magical and something earned, not imagined in Hollywood but lived in sawdust rings across generations.' After refusing to handover the name of his website this February, Mr Darnell was dragged before 'Nominet UK', which regulates website names. The circus manager argued he had no intention of making money off or gaining more customers from using the same title of the film and was unaware of its release date. But the Hollywood lawyers argued it was impossible for Mr Darnell to be unaware of the film and suggested he might have sold the name on to make a profit. In a ruling by a Nominet expert, Mr Darnell was cleared of any suggestion that he would sell the name of the website on. However, he was found to have attempted to 'unfairly profit' from the trademark. The ruling said: 'On the balance of probabilities, Mr Darnell did attempt to profit unfairly from 20th Century Fox's [trade] mark by registering the disputed domain name at the peak of the movie's success ... for the likely purpose of attracting custom from people looking for the movie's website'. The finding added the name was 'likely to confuse people or businesses into believing that it is connected' to the film. The result of the dispute is that Mr Darnell must now 'transfer' his website name to 20th Century Studios. Mr Darnell pointed out that it is now seven years since he registered the website name, and it has taken that long for the dispute to emerge. He added: 'Seven years of silence, only to be accused of opportunism, of trying to profit off a name - if that had been my goal, why wouldn't I have sold it at the peak of the film's popularity?'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Circus chief takes on Hollywood over right to be called ‘greatest showman'
As a manager of one of Britain's oldest circuses and with a rich family history of acrobats dating back 200 years, Kenny Darnell Jnr believes he has a 'birthright' to call himself the greatest showman. But, when the former aerial acrobat bought a website declaring himself just that, he became embroiled in a bitter legal battle with 20th Century Fox and Disney, its owner. The fight pitted Mr Darnell's family-owned Paulo's Circus against the Hollywood blockbuster, The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman as PT Barnum. The clash over who can legally call themselves the 'greatest showman' is expected to have wider repercussions for circuses both in the UK and abroad. It is a battle that has left Mr Darnell, 37, believing his 'identity and heritage' as a showman have been stripped from him by a corporate giant. He registered the domain name ' in February 2018, just two months before the film company, now called 20th Century Studios, applied and later obtained a UK trademark for 'The Greatest Showman' to accompany its film, which was released the previous year. His greatest showman website redirected to the page for Paulo's Circus, which promotes and sells tickets to its 500-seater shows across eight UK venues. But in February 2025, 20th Century Fox's lawyers contacted Mr Darnell asking him to hand over the domain name. He refused and the US company lodged a dispute with Nominet, the body which oversees UK domain names, saying his website was too similar to their film website The lawyers filed papers claiming that because Mr Darnell's website was registered after the release and 'enormous success' of the film it was 'inconceivable' that he was 'unaware' of the movie and so was using its notoriety 'to attract users' to his circus. The circus manager denied the claims, filing papers insisting he had 'been a showman his entire life' and his 'showman rights' were a 'birthright'. He added how his family had been top performers since 1816 in 'one of the oldest circuses touring the world'. Mr Darnell also claimed his use of the domain name would not confuse anyone about 'his real-life circus and a fictional film', adding how he had 'no knowledge or interest in your movie release date or the details you've shared', such as how it was the second-highest grossing film in the UK, making more than £33 million. The manager, who has collected more than 50 web domain names linked to his industry (he also owns 'lifesacircus'), added how he had forgotten he even owned the disputed website until the lawyers contacted him. However, 20th Century Fox failed to respond to Mr Darnell's suggestion that he would be 'happy to entertain an offer' for the site to settle the issue. A Nominet expert heard the case, concluded: 'On the balance of probabilities, Mr Darnell did attempt to profit unfairly from 20th Century Fox's [trade] mark by registering the disputed domain name at the peak of the movie's success … for the likely purpose of attracting custom from people looking for the movie's website.' However, the expert 'made no finding' to the film company's claim Mr Darnell acquired the site 'for the purpose of sale' to either the company or a competitor. As a result the ruling also said the disputed domain name 'is likely to confuse people or businesses into believing that it is connected' to The Greatest Showman film. Mr Darnell, who must now 'transfer' the website to the film company, said he feels his defeat in this David versus Goliath-style battle has robbed him of his heritage. The circus manager, whose shows do not use animals – they have the 'first circus robotic performing lion' – told The Telegraph: 'This isn't just a legal dispute, it's personal. It feels like my identity, my heritage is being stripped away by those who've made millions off a fantasy version of our world. 'Seven years of silence, only to be accused of opportunism, of trying to profit off a name – if that had been my goal, why wouldn't I have sold it at the peak of the film's popularity? 'This isn't about money. It's about pride. It's about history and it's about a family who's still fighting to preserve something real, something magical and something earned, not imagined in Hollywood but lived in sawdust rings across generations.' Joe Mercer, the general secretary of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, which represents circuses and travelling funfairs, said the word showman is a historic term and he 'would expect everybody who makes a living from those professions to be able to freely use the term 'showman' in the future'. Disney failed to respond to a request for comment.
