Latest news with #EasternHighSchool
Wales Online
03-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'Funny and kind-hearted' teenage girl died in hospital after trying to take her own life
'Funny and kind-hearted' teenage girl died in hospital after trying to take her own life Sky Lewis had a history of mental health problems and self-harming, an inquest has heard Sky Lewis, who died aged 16 (Image: Michaela Fry ) A 'funny and kind-hearted' teenage girl who was moved from her family home to a care home took her own life, an inquest has heard. Sky Louise Lewis, who was born in Wolverhampton, moved to Newport and later Cardiff as a young girl with her mother. She attended Eastern High School in Cardiff and was studying for her GCSEs in 2019. During that period she moved to live in a care home in the Haverfordwest area of Pembrokeshire, having struggled with her mental health. A full inquest into her death, which got underway at County Hall in Haverfordwest on Tuesday, June 3, heard that Sky had a history of self-harming. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . The senior coroner for Pembrokeshire, Gareth Lewis, was told that on one occasion Sky drank alcohol before going to school in Cardiff, with her mother only realising when the school contacted her to say her daughter had arrived drunk. Sky Lewis has left a 'space that cannot be filled', according to her mother (Image: Michaela Fry ) Article continues below On July 28, 2019, Sky tried to take her own life in the care home she had moved to. She was found and taken to hospital but her mother said medics told her on July 30 that her daughter was 'brain dead'. Sky passed away in hospital a day later, on July 31, 2019, aged 16. The inquest, which is expected to last up to three weeks, will hear evidence from different people representing different organisations including Hywel Dda University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Council, and Sky's family. Why we cover inquests – and why it's so important that we do As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives. The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of open justice. It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death. But, most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening. Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system is not held to account. Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide. Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one. Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected. However, as has been seen by many powerful media campaigns, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others. Without the attendance of the press at inquests questions will remain unanswered and lives will be lost. On Tuesday, social worker Christopher Evans told the hearing that Sky was a 'high-risk' individual who had been living in a 'high-anxiety household' and a 'difficult home environment' before she moved to the care home. The inquest heard that Sky took medication for depression and to help her sleep, and told her mother that at one point she 'didn't want to be here anymore' and that she would keep trying to kill herself until she was successful. In a statement, Sky's mother Michaela Fry said her daughter was 'funny and kind-hearted'. She said: 'She loved doing silly things to make people laugh. She had a big, infectious laugh, the kind that filled the room and made everybody feel better. 'Life without Sky seems empty and full of 'I wonders'. I love Sky so much and miss her tremendously. There is a space here now that cannot be filled. I will always belong to her.' The inquest continues. Following Sky's death, it was revealed that her organs were donated to help others. You can read more about that here.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan tuition sweepstakes gives 10 students chance to win $50,000 for completing FAFSA
Michigan officials launched a "Ticket to Tuition" giveaway April 16 that will give students pursuing higher education the chance to win up to $50,000 to cover education expenses by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The form unlocks both federal and state support for college-bound students, as well as those headed to career schools. The Michigan sweepstakes will give ten students the chance to win $50,000 and 40 students a chance at $10,000. The cash prize will be held in a Michigan Education Savings Program account for winning students to use to pay for a range of education expenses, including tuition, textbooks and room and board. "Filling out the FAFSA makes you eligible for tens of thousands of dollars of in-state and federal scholarships, and with today's sweepstakes, you can earn some extra money, too," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a launch event at Eastern High School in Lansing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential partnered with the Michigan College Access Network — a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of Michigan students that complete college — on the giveaway. Democratic lawmakers in 2024 approved the funds for the incentive program, encouraging students to complete the FAFSA form. The winning funds are already set aside in the current state budget approved in the last legislative session. The funding is one-time, and lawmakers have not decided whether to set aside similar funding again in the next state budget for another sweepstakes in the future. To enter the sweepstakes, Michigan students and parents must create an account on to fill out the FAFSA form and then the student must text "CASH" to 855-50K-TICKET or 855-505-8425. Students who have already completed their FAFSA form can also participate by sending the text message. Students can also mail an entry form available at and send it to: "Ticket to Tuition Entry, c/o Güd Marketing, 1223 Turner Street, Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48906." The deadline to enter is May 16. A random drawing will be conducted in late May. The contest is open to legal U.S. residents living in Michigan who complete the FAFSA form for the first-time to use during the 2025-26 school year. Michigan Education: Preschool is free for all families in Michigan — but many don't know about it Whitmer wants to boost the share of Michigan residents who pursue post-secondary education and skills training and has set a goal of reaching 60% of Michigan adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030. That share stands at about 52%, according to the most recent data shared by Whitmer from the Lumina Foundation, whose analysis her administration has used to track progress made toward reaching target. During the sweepstakes launch event, the governor touted the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides financial aid for college and university, and the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship, which provides support for a career training program. Whitmer also championed the Community College Guarantee, which provides a tuition-free path for graduating high school students to attend their local community college. "We don't want any student to leave money on the table," Whitmer said. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan sweepstakes will award 50 students for FAFSA form
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Community protesting demolition of Eastern High School
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – A group advocating for parts of Eastern High School to be saved gathered at Lansing City Hall to voice their concerns. 'The Eastern grads are many in this town,' said Linda Peckham, a member of the Coalition to Preserve Eastern High School and Promote Mental Health. 'There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds who vote and they are very attached to the building for emotional reasons [and] personal reasons because it's a gorgeous building.' Eastern High School is nearly a century old, and some people in the Greater Lansing area feel connected to the space. For some, it even runs in the family. 'I have four younger sisters, and we all graduated from Eastern, and even my mother graduated from Eastern,' said Faye Norris, who is also part of the coalition. The group says they are interested in preserving the West Wing and the auditorium. 'The building is quite dilapidated,' said Margaret Dimond, regional president of U-M Health. Unfortunately, the building hasn't held up the same way many Quakers' memories have. 'The auditorium has water intrusion, mold, black mold, and the asbestos is everywhere…Anyone going through there should have an N95 mask on,' Dimond continued. She says that given its current state, saving the space simply isn't an option. 'I don't think they understand that a lot of the water intrusion is behind the walls,' said Dimond. Dimond says plans have been made to keep and highlight artifacts that could be preserved on the new property. 'That includes the beautiful arches and includes the cupula…Things that are historic, we can put around the park,' she said. The coalition is hoping for the city to do a preservation analysis. 'We're trying to get the mayor to pause the demolition long enough to have that analysis made,' said Peckham. The group also says they understand and support the need for a new mental health facility '[They] say we're not interested in mental health, we're only interested in preserving an old building… No. Not true,' said Peckham. Thursday morning, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor gave 6 News a statement saying if Sparrow meets all the requirements, the city has to issue the permit to allow for demolition. The city added that if it were to intervene in the project, a lawsuit would likely follow—costing taxpayers money and still resulting in the demolition of Eastern High School. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Bowser discusses future of RFK Stadium site at community meeting in DC
WASHINGTON () — Dozens of members of Ward 7 and the neighborhoods surrounding the former RFK Stadium in D.C. asked questions and gave their input on the potential of the new NFL stadium at a Thursday night meeting. The meeting, held at Eastern High School in Northeast, was packed with District residents. 'It is a good day for DC': President Joe Biden signs bill giving DC control over RFK Stadium Mayor Muriel Bowser shared an optimistic vision for the 170-plus acres of land, much of which has sat vacant for years. At the heart of the land still sits the shell of a stadium that was home to championship D.C. football. 'Because in 177 acres, we can indeed do it all,' Bowser told the audience. Bowser provided minimal details of how a world-class stadium might be financed, though she was asked if she would commit to not offering a subsidy to which she said she would not. However, she shared how a transformation of D.C.'s Ward 7 could center around a new Washington Commanders' stadium, which would host other events as well. 'Until we have a modern stadium, we will not be able to host events that the world is used to including the World Cup, including the Super Bowl, and yes Beyonce and Taylor Swift,' Bowser said. Right now, the RFK Stadium is being demolished. It's a process that will take 22 months. Whether a new stadium replaces is it uncertain. Regardless, Bowser said the city hopes to welcome a Sportsplex for youth and recreational sports, affordable housing and plenty of open space and parks. Neighbors, with varying views on a stadium, mainly used Thursday's community meeting to push the mayor to address their needs, including neighborhood parking enforcement during events, grocery stores, employment opportunities for the low-income and DC Vault asking for a commitment that they will not be displaced. Magic Johnson 'incredibly proud' of Washington Commanders season Councilmember Wendell Felder, who represents Ward 7, said the opportunity is once-in-a-lifetime. 'With thoughtful planning, we can bring new businesses, create good paying jobs, drive economic growth in a part of the city that deserves its fair share of prosperity,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
