Latest news with #DonateLife
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activists fly conservative flag at Boise City Hall. Mayor McLean responds
Far-right activists covered two flags at Boise City Hall that have become the source of controversy, and added a flag linked with conservative movements. The mayor showed up on Sunday morning to remove the protesters' flag herself. A two-minute video posted at 8:14 a.m. to social media by activist Casey Whalen shows locals known for their far-right views, including David Pettinger, placing a ladder against the City Hall flagpoles while the sky is still dark. Pettinger wears dark clothing as the 'Mission: Impossible' movie theme song plays. A figure in the video adds an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag to one of the poles before covering two existing flags with what appeared to be black plastic bags. The Appeal to Heaven flag dates back to the American Revolution. The once obscure flag has in recent years become associated with President Donald Trump's 'Stop the Steal' movement in 2020-21 and those who want to insert more religion into government, according to the New York Times. The two covered flags were the Pride flag, and a Donate Life flag that supports a nonprofit that raises awareness about the importance of organ donation. Those flags have become a recent target for Republican ire after House Bill 96 — which allows government entities to display only certain official flags, such as the American flag, state flag, city flag and military flags — became law on April 4. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has stood firm in her decision to keep the Pride and Donate Life flags flying, despite threats from Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador that she might be putting city funding at risk. McLean appeared in front of City Hall at about 11 a.m. and quickly removed the 'Appeal to Heaven' flag and uncovered the two others, according to video footage. The Mayor's Office did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesman's request for comment Sunday. Because the legislation did not include a provision for enforcement or penalties, law enforcement has said there is little they can do to enforce this law. 'Without clear direction in the law, no law enforcement in the state of Idaho has the authority to issue citations or make arrests in this situation,' Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. 'This situation highlights the importance of thoughtful collaboration in the legislative process. I strongly urge Idaho legislators to work closely with subject matter experts when drafting legislation to ensure that future statutes are clearly enforceable and contain the necessary legal structure to support their implementation.' Boise police appeared to toe a similar line on Sunday. Boise resident Pam Hemphill once joined Pettinger and other conservative activists in protest incidents like Sunday's. She's since come to reject them and many of her previously held beliefs following her arrest for participating in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Hemphill said she hurried to City Hall on Sunday and called police to report the flag incident. 'It's not the Pride flag, it's freedom,' Hempgill told the Statesman. 'Freedom to love who you want, be who you are. That's America. It just hurts that these people are being picked on so much.' The Whalen video used audio of Hemphill joking about the possibility of activists getting arrested for removing the Pride flag. In a video shared with the Idaho Statesman, a Boise police officer tells Hemphill that he won't take action against those who participated. 'What we've been instructed to do is we're not taking any enforcement action on flying the flag or taking it down,' the officer said. The Boise Police Department did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesman's request for comment Sunday.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lalor Family Dental offering free services during annual event
VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Lalor Family Dental is providing free dentistry to local community members in need. On April 26, Lalor Family Dentel will host its 16th annual Free Dental Care Day at its Main Office located at 2521 Vestal Parkway West. The Lalor Family Dental team will offer one cleaning, filling, or extraction, free of charge, to at least 250 people. Registration will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Patients will be seen on a first come first serve basis starting at 8. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. Lalor Family Dental has been providing dental care to the community for over 61 years. The practice was started by Dr. Robert Lalor, better known as 'Doc', who inspired the very first Free Dental Care Day event in 2009. The event is now run by Doc's son, current practice owner Lalor II, and his wife Dr. Mary John. In addition, Lalor Family Dental will honor Rachel Mauger who organized Free Dental Care Day for 11 years before passing away in 2019. To celebrate her life, Lalor Family Dental started the Rachel Project to encourage staff and patients to sign up to become an organ donor through Donate Life. During Free Dental Care Day in April 2024, Lalor Family Dental donated more than $52,000 in free dentistry to 291 people. Lalor Family Dental says it is thrilled to host the event once again, recognizing the need for everyone to have good oral hygiene regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, click here. M-E hosting Social Media Safety Workshop Lalor Family Dental offering free services during annual event Greene teacher alleged to have inappropriate relationship with a student Early snowflakes taper off ahead of a quiet, cloudy, & breezy Wednesday Eagle Scout project to transform Milford's train station Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boise is still flying Pride flag. Citing new law, Idaho AG sends warning letter
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador told the city of Boise it could lose state money if it continues to fly the Pride flag outside City Hall, and he sent a letter to Mayor Lauren McLean telling her to comply with a new state law. Idaho lawmakers this session passed House Bill 96, which allows government entities to display only certain flags, such as the American flag, state flag, city flag and military flags. There is no provision in the law, which went into effect April 3, for enforcement or penalties. The city of Boise has kept its Pride flag up, prompting the response from Labrador. The city of Boise did not immediately make anyone available to comment on Tuesday evening. In recent comments to KIVI, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said 'we will continue flying it because we are a safe and welcoming city that values all comers.' Last week, city spokesperson Maria Ortega told the Idaho Statesman that the city would 'continue to fly the existing flags on city property.' Labrador's letter said there are two flags being flown in violation of the new law; it's unclear what the second flag is, but it could be an organ donation flag in recognition of April being Donate Life month. Labrador's office did not respond to a follow-up question. 'Though you are required to govern the city in accordance with the law, you have instead chosen to defy the Legislature ... and to act as though your personal political views exempt you from compliance,' Labrador wrote. The Republican AG further wrote that he had spoken with legislative leadership, who said they 'will respond next session with strong enforcement tools.' Labrador also suggested the state could follow in the footsteps of House Bill 22 from 2023, which withholds tax money from cities that refuse to enforce Idaho's abortion ban, according to previous Statesman reporting. In 2022, the Boise City Council passed a resolution saying the police shouldn't prioritize investigations to prosecute abortion providers, according to previous reporting. The attorney general's letter also said the the city of Boise's 'actions have created public confusion about the duties and responsibilities of public officials,' and Labrador said some people were calling for McLean's arrest. Senate and House leaders did not immediately return requests for comment. As written, the new law also will officially ban the traditional Harrison Boulevard Pride flags in Boise, which are flown during Pride Month in June, Ada County Highway District spokesperson Rachel Bjornestad previously told the Statesman. The highway district controls the medians on the North End street. 'The ultimate goal is for us to fly flags that unite and don't divide,' said Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d'Alene, during a floor debate on HB 96. Opponents said the law was a direct response to Pride flags being flown in Boise and elsewhere. 'Now, when we want to celebrate and unite under this rainbow flag and support our community, that is going to be taken from us by the state,' said Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise. 'We welcome everyone in my district.'
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Raise a flag, shine a light to support organ, eye & tissue donation
April is Donate Life month. Donor Alliance is holding 65 events to raise awareness about organ, eye & tissue donation. Many of those events are flag raisings, where the Donate Life flag is raised outside of buildings. "So we have cities across Colorado, as well as, schools, our DMV's, and some community partners, like the arts complex Downtown is raising a flag in honor of the donors and also to celebrate along side the recipients who receive those wonderful gifts," said Cheryl Talley, Director of PR/Communications for the Donor Alliance. The Donor Alliance coordinates organ and tissue donations and raises awareness about how to become a donor. The Donor Alliance has recipients and donor families advocate for the cause. Tony Young is one of those advocates. "My journey began when I was 25-years-old, I had my first heart attack," Young told CBS News Colorado. After years of dealing with congestive heart failure, cardio myopathy, AFib and VTach, Young was listed for a heart and a kidney transplant. His kidneys were damaged by the strong heart medication he'd had to take over the years. "Fortunately for me, in February of 2020, I was listed for a heart and a kidney transplant and then March of 2020 I received a heart and a kidney from the same angel donor," Young explained. Young was the inspiration for the #ShineALight awareness campaign. "Trying to think of ways to honor my donor, always I would light two candles, one for each life saving organ that I received," he said. "One of the things you can do is shine a light in your own home. We have a little ShineALight kit that you can order. Free while supplies last," Talley added. The kit comes with a battery powered tea light and a sign that you can fill out to indicate who you're honoring. On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Donor Alliance will be hosting a lighting ceremony at Sculpture Park in Denver. They will be lighting up the dancing figures in blue and green to honor Donate Life Month. CBS Anchor Michael Spencer will emcee that ceremony. LINK: Donate Life Colorado Donate Life month runs through the end of April. It's a great time to tell your family and friends your wishes about organ, eye & tissue donation and mark 'yes' on your driver's license renewal.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Families of organ donors celebrate life at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in NYC
NEW YORK (PIX11) – More than 115,000 people in the United States are waiting for organ donations to thrive. More than 8,000 people are waiting in New York State alone. More Local News The single largest gathering of donor families and transplant recipients in the country was held at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The ecumenical service was sponsored by the Transplant Recipients International Organization, often called TRIO, with the support of Live On New York. One of the speakers on the altar was Katrina Erskin, whose firstborn son Jaleel stopped breathing when he was just five weeks old back in 2000. Katrina then made the courageous decision to donate Jaleel's organs, saving two other babies' lives. 'This brings me healing from losing my son,' Erskin, who now works at LiveOnNY, told PIX11 News. 'I never thought I could feel so much joy, but I work with Live on New York, and it's amazing to see.' Katrina was surrounded by her father, her brother, and two more sons. 'I never envisioned what Jaleel would do in life, and now he is bigger than life because he gave life,' Philip Jones, Jaleel's grandfather, told PIX11 News. More Local News Another of Katrina's sons, Anthony Wilson, added, 'Even though a person has lost their life, to be able to give life, that just makes me happy all the time.' So many of the close to 2,000 people at this service called Remember and Rejoice are alive today because of the generosity of others, including the head of TRIO, who received a liver transplant. 'I don't understand what a family goes through in that heartbreaking moment,' Lorrinda Gray-Davis, a liver recipient and president of TRIO National, told PIX11 News. 'But I'm just in awe of the generosity they give to us in order for us to live.' Ken Kraetzer's beloved wife Kerri-Ann was hit by a car, and through his grief, he takes comfort in her donations of both kidneys and her liver. 'My wife Kerri will always be a hero organ donor,' Ken Kraetzer, a widower, told PIX11 News. ' We feel good about in in a really awful situation.' If you would like to learn about how to donate an organ, you can visit the NYC Department of Motor Vehicles, voter registration, or the Donate Life website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
