Latest news with #FLASH
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
Brooklyn suffers nation's most vehicle thefts
Brooklyn Police Station continues to lead the country in motor vehicle and motorcycle theft, even as national statistics show an overall decline in these crimes. According to the latest quarterly crime stats released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on May 23, the station remains among the top 30 nationally for serious crimes and firmly at number one for reported vehicle theft. Fourth quarter (January to March) data of the 2024/25 financial year reveals that Brooklyn remains under severe pressure, despite certain improvements in other crime categories. Ward councillor Shaun Wilkinson acknowledged the area's unique challenges, saying that high student activity and nightlife are contributing factors. 'There are many issues in Brooklyn,' he said. 'Students are often targeted. They might be looking for drugs and end up being robbed.' He said, however, the robberies get reported and not the drug use. Wilkinson also explained that many crimes reported in Brooklyn actually take place in neighbouring areas like Sunnyside but are reported in Brooklyn for convenience or for insurance purposes. 'Students and others often park in unsafe areas like Mandela Boulevard, making themselves vulnerable to smash-and-grabs.' The station serves 28 suburbs, including Hatfield, Waterkloof, Menlo Park, Hazelwood, and Lynnwood North. Its jurisdiction includes student residences, bars, clubs, universities, shopping centres and diplomatic offices – factors that contribute to its high crime load. Among Pretoria east's six police stations, Brooklyn remains the most affected by crime, currently ranking: – 5th nationally for property-related crimes – 6th for commercial crimes – 8th for common robbery – 9th for serious crimes overall – 10th for theft not otherwise specified – 20th for burglaries at non-residential premises – 23rd for community-reported crimes Despite these numbers, Brooklyn has seen progress in other areas. The latest quarter showed a 13-case decline in burglaries at non-residential premises and no reported cases of attempted sexual offences, murder, arson, stock theft or cash-in-transit heists. Theft from motor vehicles dropped by 21%, and robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 40.7%. Tshwane's district commissioner, Major-General Samuel Thine, said Brooklyn's challenges stem from its geography and density. 'The precinct includes malls, universities, diplomatic sites, and nightlife venues, making it a high-risk area for property crime and robbery,' he explained. He acknowledged Brooklyn's history of topping crime stats but noted a 6.2% drop in community-reported property and contact crimes. 'We now rank 25th nationally and 7th in Gauteng,' said Thine. To curb crime, Thine said the station is partnering with private security firms, Crime Intelligence, the SAPS Vehicle Theft Unit, and local law enforcement in various operations. He added that the operations include high-density patrols, Operation Shanela, and FLASH initiatives targeting nightlife venues. 'The reactivation of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and business forums is also aimed at improving co-operation between the police and residents.' Allegations of corruption have also surfaced against the Brooklyn police station commander. However, Thine confirmed that no formal cases have been opened and no investigations are currently underway. 'To date, nothing has been reported and no official cases have been registered for investigation,' he said. Thine urged members of the public to come forward with credible information and to make use of official reporting channels. He assured that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality. 'Community support is critical. Residents must report crime and provide information, especially about suspicious or corrupt activity,' he said. Reports can be submitted anonymously through 0800 10111 or the MySAPS app. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Buresh Blog: The heat is on!... Pet's paws & the heat... NOAA hurricane forecast... Safe homes
To become a part of the First Alert Neighborhood weather station network - scan below &/or click * here *: Summer is essentially here! Jacksonville averages 82 90-degree days per year, & we're well on our way. As of Thu., May 22, Jacksonville has officially had 16 90-degree days. Last year we had 102 90-degree days. The peak of our summer heat is June through September with our hottest avg. high temp. - 92 degrees - from July 3rd through August 9th. The hottest day of the year on average - going back to the late 19th century - is 98 degrees. So far this year the hottest day is May 16th at 97 degrees. A reminder about the heat & pavement & your pets: NOAA has issued their seasonal hurricane forecast. Like Phil Klotzbach at Colorado State U, the forecast is for an above average season. One of the primary expected driving forces for an active season is the continued above average sea surface temps. In the end, of course, just how severe the season is or is not (or at least how it will be remembered) will come down to where storms make landfall & how strong the storms are at landfall. As we head into the hurricane season... How strong is your home? From FLASH, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes: 'How Strong Is Your Home?' is a research-driven scale as a dynamic solution for assessing and improving residential resilience to natural disasters. Developed through years of insight into building codes, home construction practices, and public sentiment, the tool gives users a personalized resilience rating—and a pathway to safer homes. The Strong Homes Scale is an interactive, location-specific tool. By entering a home address, users receive a customized resilience rating based on local building codes, disaster risk levels (earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, and winter storm), and their home's construction features when it was built. The FLASH website is * here * - highly recommend!
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
National Science Foundation gives nearly $1 million for new Monmouth College program
Monmouth College has been awarded nearly $1 million by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch an ambitious new program aimed at increasing the success of Pell Grant eligible students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM.) according to a news release. The $999,764 grant, part of the NSF's competitive Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, will fund the College's new FLASH initiative-Focus on Learning for All with STEM as a Home. Over six years, the program will provide scholarships and robust academic and career support to approximately 15 academically talented students with exceptional financial need, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education. This opportunity will include transfer students from community colleges beginning in the fall of 2026 scholarship cycle. The application for the Fall 2025 scholarship will be open on April 15th and student eligibility requirements include: Minimum 3.0 GPA PELL Grant eligibility Must be an incoming freshman Must be interested in a STEM major at Monmouth College 'This award is a transformative investment in our students and in the region,' said Laura Moore, principal investigator and professor of chemistry at Monmouth College. 'The FLASH program will open doors for students who have the talent but may not have the means to pursue a STEM education and it will also provide the support systems necessary to help them thrive.' The program targets students majoring in eight disciplines across four departments: Mathematics and computer science; biology and neuroscience; biochemistry and chemistry; and physics and engineering. Selected scholars could receive up to $15,000 per year in scholarships and participate in intensive mentorship, undergraduate research, and professional development opportunities. Community STEM pipelineFLASH is especially focused on increasing STEM participation among rural students with exceptional financial need, a population historically underrepresented in these fields. 'Monmouth College's strong ties with regional high schools, community colleges, and growing partnerships with STEM employers in many disciplines and national laboratories, make us uniquely positioned to build a local pipeline of talented STEM professionals and support economically disadvantaged students,' said co-principal investigator and Monmouth College physics professor Chris Fasano. Aside from scholarship, the program will include outreach to local high schools, the opportunity to participate in a paid eight-week summer research program one summer during college, the opportunity to participate in the SOFIA summer research program, opportunities to attend professional STEM conferences, mentorship from faculty, upperclassmen and other STEM professionals, and support from Monmouth College's Wackerle Center for Career Leadership. Scholars will also serve as STEM Ambassadors, engaging in science communication and outreach in local communities. 'FLASH is about more than financial support-it's about creating a strong, supportive community where students from all backgrounds can see themselves thriving in STEM,' said Robert Utterback, co-principal investigator and associate professor of computer science. Measuring impact and contributing to national researchBeyond individual student support, FLASH includes a rigorous evaluation component that will contribute to national research on student success in STEM. By analyzing how mentorship, research, and a strong sense of belonging affect outcomes, the program aims to inform best practices for similar institutions. 'This project is designed not just to support our students, it will also help build knowledge about what works in STEM education for under-served populations,' said Janet Ugolino, co-principal investigator and assistant professor of biology. A lasting legacyFLASH builds on Monmouth College's continued emphasis on STEM and is the latest in a series of strategic investments by Monmouth College to expand access to high-impact STEM education and to prepare students for in-demand careers in the region and beyond. 'This is about creating lasting change, not just for individual students, but for the communities we serve and the industries that need their talents,' said Monmouth College President Dr. Patricia Draves. 'This award reflects the work of our outstanding STEM professors and furthers Monmouth College as a leader in STEM education.' Eligible students will receive information from the FLASH S-STEM coordinators about the application process for fall 2025. Information about applying for the Fall 2026 cohort will be shared in the coming months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
