Latest news with #Flint
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
A pediatrician helped expose Flint's water crisis. Now she's fighting poverty one baby at a time.
Flint, Michigan — At a parade last year in Flint, Michigan, every family and their babies celebrated a gift from the same woman — pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna. "How can you say no to these babies? Like how can you say no?" Hanna told CBS News. Rx kids, a program she created to give cash to pregnant moms, is an American first. "I wanted something that literally would be able to prescribe away the pathogen of poverty," Hanna said. "I wanted something that I could pull out of my doctor's bag, pull out of my white coat that literally would be able to prescribe away the pathogen of poverty. Poverty makes kids sick. So I wanted to prevent it." She's raised more than $100 million, 80% of which is from private donors. Now, every expectant mother in Flint, regardless of income, can get $1,500 during her pregnancy. Once the baby is born, it's $500 a month for up to a year — no strings attached. "So what we are hearing from our families is that this amount of money is a lifesaver, a game changer for our families," Hanna said. "They can afford to pay their rent. They can buy diapers for their baby. They can buy formula. They don't have to choose between being homeless or having a roof over their heads." When asked how to know if the money is being spent on the right things, Hanna said, "This is based on global evidence. Our multiple surveys, we know that they're spending this money No. 1 on baby supplies, and then on food, rent utilities, transportation, childcare." "We are telling families, 'We see you, we hear you, and we trust you,'" she added. Hanna knows child poverty runs in Flint's bloodstream. In 2015, she brought national attention to the city's corroding water pipes and linked them to children with lead poisoning. Now she's tackling poverty. In four areas of Michigan, any expectant mother can apply. But in Flint, the program reports 60% of enrolled families have an annual household income of less than $10,000. When Angela Sintery was pregnant with her daughter Jolena, she remembers filling out a five-minute questionnaire. "Two weeks later, I had money in my bank account," Sintery said, adding that the money allowed her not to stress out and focus on her baby instead. Michigan State Sen. John Damoose is a conservative Republican from a red district. He's no fan of handouts, but pushed hard to get Rx Kids in his district. "It's extremely efficient. There's no government bureaucracy whatsoever. This is actually a great program that meets people right where they need it," Damoose said. Since early last year, Rx Kids has spread roughly $10 million to more than 2,200 families. "This is a plug-and-play program. It is already built with dollars at the table. We are ready to go live in communities across the nation," Hanna said.
West Australian
26-05-2025
- West Australian
Water police issue 'life or death' warning to boaties after recent string of rescues from capsized vessels
Water police have issued a 'life or death' warning to unprepared boaties after rescuing four people from overturned vessels in the ocean last week. Officers rescued people from two separate overturned vessels on Thursday, with the first unfolding about 3.45pm in waters off Rockingham. The overturned catamaran was located by police about 25 minutes following the first distress call, before a man wearing a life jacket, the sole occupant, was found. He was uninjured after clinging on to the boat. And less than four hours later police were alerted to an EPIRB activation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Coral Bay about 8.20pm. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detected the vessel before a fishing charter boat was called in to assist. The overturned boat, and three men in the water, were located after a flare was sighted. Police said their boat capsized due to large swell. 'The trio had been in the water for approximately one hour before they were able to activate the EPIRB, due to difficulty accessing it beneath the overturned hull,' a police spokeswoman said. They were each rescued before being assessed by paramedics. Water police acting senior sergeant Diana Flint said the spate of incidents served as a critical reminder for boaties to be prepared. 'All vessel users—in particular those on small watercraft—are encouraged to always wear a suitable life jacket, and carry a registered GPS enabled PLB or EPIRB to alert authorities to emergency situations,' Sen. Sgt Flint said. 'This was a quick response which resulted in the safe rescue of these individuals. 'It serves as a serious reminder of the dangers of the ocean and the need for skippers to exercise caution, ensure they have the right equipment on board in case of an emergency, and pay attention to weather forecasts. 'A registered beacon ensures police and other emergency services can respond and assist as soon as possible— which could be the difference between life and death.'
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Perth Now
Cops warn boaties about ocean dangers after rescue surge
Water police have issued a 'life or death' warning to unprepared boaties after rescuing four people from overturned vessels in the ocean last week. Officers rescued people from two separate overturned vessels on Thursday, with the first unfolding about 3.45pm in waters off Rockingham. The overturned catamaran was located by police about 25 minutes following the first distress call, before a man wearing a life jacket, the sole occupant, was found. He was uninjured after clinging on to the boat. And less than four hours later police were alerted to an EPIRB activation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Coral Bay about 8.20pm. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detected the vessel before a fishing charter boat was called in to assist. The overturned boat, and three men in the water, were located after a flare was sighted. Police said their boat capsized due to large swell. 'The trio had been in the water for approximately one hour before they were able to activate the EPIRB, due to difficulty accessing it beneath the overturned hull,' a police spokeswoman said. They were each rescued before being assessed by paramedics. Water police acting senior sergeant Diana Flint said the spate of incidents served as a critical reminder for boaties to be prepared. 'All vessel users—in particular those on small watercraft—are encouraged to always wear a suitable life jacket, and carry a registered GPS enabled PLB or EPIRB to alert authorities to emergency situations,' Sen. Sgt Flint said. 'This was a quick response which resulted in the safe rescue of these individuals. 'It serves as a serious reminder of the dangers of the ocean and the need for skippers to exercise caution, ensure they have the right equipment on board in case of an emergency, and pay attention to weather forecasts. 'A registered beacon ensures police and other emergency services can respond and assist as soon as possible— which could be the difference between life and death.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California's most affordable city for homebuyers? Why fast-growing Victorville tops the list
While more than a quarter of all houses sold in the Golden State fetch a selling price of $1 million or more, opportunities to make a deal without breaking the bank still abound—if you do not want to live along the coast. California cities located inland made the top 50 of the most affordable places in the country to buy a home, according to a new report. And fast-growing Victorville came in at the No. 1 most affordable city in California. To identify the most affordable cities for home buyers, WalletHub compared 300 U.S. cities across 10 key metrics, including home price, maintenance costs, tax rates, and cost of living. Cities were then divided by population size— large, medium, and small—and ranked. Overall, the report showed that Flint, Michigan, is the most affordable city for home buyers in the country, where it is actually cheaper to buy than to rent. Nearly 21% of all houses in the city are vacant, a probable impact of the city's well-publicized water crisis. Still, after almost a decade, an emergency order on the city's drinking water standards was recently lifted. Source: WalletHub Victorville is the most affordable city for homebuyers in the state and ranked #34 for most affordable small city in the nation. The city's high desert climate can reach 100 degrees in the summer and bring snow flurries in the winter. The population rose 11.5% between 2020 and 2023 (136,854), making it one of the fastest growing suburbs in the country. The city has a median home price of nearly $430,000, as of March 2025, according to Zillow. Lancaster in Southern California is the most affordable mid-size city in the state for homebuyers. Located in the western Mojave Desert, Lancaster has a population of about 170,000 and is a prime stop for tourists on their way to view the vibrant wildflowers of the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. The city has a median home price of $446,667, as of March 2025, according to Zillow. Stockton, in California's Central Valley, is the report's most affordable large city for homebuyers. With a population of nearly 320,000, Stockton is the 11th largest city in the state. Located on the San Joaquin River in the northern San Joaquin Valley, the city boasts a vast network of waterways, farmers markets, family-friendly attractions and a more than 150-year-old university. The median home price in Stockton, as of March 2025, is just over $400,000, according to Zillow. California's fabled coastline, with its scenic drives and charming towns perfect for weekend getaways, also comes with expensive real estate. The report found that Santa Barbara is the least affordable city in the country for homebuyers, ranking at the bottom of the 300-city list. Home to beautiful beaches, historic landmarks, a bustling downtown, and one of the state's most competitive public universities, Santa Barbara also has eye-watering home prices. The coastal city has a whopping $1.9 million median sale price, according to Zillow. Four other California cities were listed in the country's top five most unaffordable places for homes: Glendale, Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Santa Monica. Sunnyvale and Santa Clara also topped the list for the most expensive home repairs in the country. Just one up from the bottom is the southern California enclave of Santa Monica at #299, which has a median sale price of $1.8 million. This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: WalletHub ranks California's most affordable cities for homebuyers
Calgary Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Rider training camp: Bailey Flint can punt, play the ukulele and he's quite the actor
Article content Saskatchewan Roughriders punter Bailey Flint plays the ukulele just for kicks. Article content He has studied theatre and acting. Article content And, unlike his Australian predecessors who have joined the Canadian Football League or National Football League, Flint does NOT come from much of an Aussie rules football background. Article content Article content Article content Certainly, he wasn't banking on it at age 28. Article content 'It's actually kind of funny,' he explains. 'I wasn't sure if I was going to get another chance. I called up RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) and closed my bank account up here. And, sure enough, I got a call (to join the Riders). My gosh.' Article content The Riders are looking for a new punter following the retirement of Adam Korsak, another Australian. Korsak, a West Division all-star in 2023, spent two seasons with the Riders after being selected in the 2023 Global Draft. Korsak punted 235 times while averaging 47.6 yards, with a 90-yard boot his longest. Article content Flint's door opened even further when the Riders released fellow Aussie punter Joe Couch early during training camp at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. Article content Article content 'It's one of those things — in pro football, anything can happen on any day, if you don't perform,' offers Flint. 'I reckon if I have a bad day tomorrow, I could be on a plane, too.' Article content Article content Flint appeared in eight games with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023, punting 52 times for an average of 45.1 yards per boot, the longest 78. Before joining the Ti-Cats as the second overall selection in the 2022 CFL Global Draft, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound punter attended rookie mini-camp with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. Article content Flint attended the University of Toledo, suiting up for 49 games over five seasons from 2017-2021. He averaged 40.3 yards per punt at Toledo, with 33 of his 209 punts travelling 50-plus yards (including a 72-yarder). He also buried 82 punts inside the 20-yard line. He was twice nominated for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to the NCAA's best punter.
