Latest news with #Hood
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours Recognise Services To Education
Minister of Education Education Minister Erica Stanford has congratulated the recipients of the King's Birthday 2025 Honours List who have been recognised for their services to education. 'I'd like to congratulate the people honoured today, who have all made a significant contribution to education in New Zealand and around the world,' Ms Stanford says. The list includes three appointments as Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit, four Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit, eight Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, three Companions of the King's Service Order, and three recipients of The King's Service Medal. Dr Nina Hood becomes a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education. 'Dr Hood has been instrumental in improving training and support for educators throughout New Zealand. She founded not-for-profit organisation The Education Hub, dedicated to closing the gap between educational research and classroom teaching. Through her leadership, critical issues have been addressed including literacy curriculum design, neurodivergent learning support, and online learning. She's now contributing to curriculum at an international level, establishing a global conversation on education reform, effective pedagogy and rigorous curriculum design. Through 2023 and 2024 Dr Hood helped establish The Teachers' Institute, a charitable trust which offers school-led teacher education and professional development.' Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley is appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. 'Professor Spoonley served 42 years as a teacher and researcher in sociology with Massey University, retiring in 2021. During that time, he served in various roles including Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Co-Director of the National Centre of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and was appointed as a member of the Independent Panel of New Zealand Police's Understanding Policing Delivery. He has been a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity Germany since 2013 and is a Fellow and Board member of Auckland Museum. He has published 29 books and has more than 300 peer-reviewed academic journal articles. 'New Zealand's education system is world-leading. Dr Hood, Professor Spoonley and the other honourees have played an important part in achieving this. I thank them all for their incredible contribution and service to New Zealand,' Ms Stanford says.
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- Press and Journal
Tain danger-driver who led police on 90mph chase jailed
A man has been jailed after leading police on a blue-light chase through Easter Ross. Alexander Burke sped away from officers between Alness and Evanton, reaching estimated speeds of up to 90mph. When he was traced and the car searched, a meat cleaver was found beside the driver's seat. Burke, 30, appeared before Sheriff Ian Cruickshank for sentencing, having previously pled guilty to charges of dangerous driving and having a meat cleaver in a public place. The court heard the incident began on the morning of July 5 2023, when Burke was spotted at the Asda store in Tain by an off-duty police officer, who was aware there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was driving a silver Toyota Avensis, and officers traced the owner, who confirmed this was the case. Police began to search for Burke on the A9 after being told he may be travelling to Perth. Then, around 11.30pm of the same day, they received notification that the vehicle had driven northbound over the Kessock Bridge, prompting officers to take up a position at the Alness Point junction in a marked police vehicle. Fiscal depute Emily Hood said: 'Shortly after, they observed a car matching the description of the accused's. 'The vehicle turned off the A9 at excessive speed and the officers followed, going in the direction of the Westford roundabout.' Officers lost sight of Burke's car but could see tail lights on the B817 so headed in that direction. 'At this point, the officers were travelling roughly 80mph, but the gap between them and the accused was not closing,' the fiscal depute said. The officers managed to confirm the vehicle registration as it slowed and turned onto the B9176. As the car headed towards Evanton, the officers followed behind and noted they were travelling at 83mph on a road limited to 60. Ms Hood said: 'The accused vehicle was seen to be travelling in the centre of the road, straddling the two carriageways whilst negotiating an s-bend and still at excessive speed.' The court heard that this stretch of road featured various warning signs for cyclists and residential properties. When officers activated blue lights for Burke to stop, he 'made off at speed, taking a left-hand bend at speed and then approaching the entrance to Evanton'. The speed limit reduced to 30mph, but officers estimated that Burke's car was travelling at 90mph. 'His vehicle was seen to hit a speed calming bump and leave the ground completely,' Ms Hood told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank. At this point, officers turned off their lights due to the risks posed and lost sight of the Toyota. They later spotted it again before Burke performed a u-turn in the road and once again disappeared. He was later traced and admitted he had been the driver. The vehicle was searched and officers found a meat cleaver between the driver's seat and centre console. 'The blade was pointing down and the handle was pointing upward – where it would be accessible to the driver,' Ms Hood explained. Solicitor David Patterson, for Burke, said his client had suffered from physical and mental health difficulties 'not assisted by consumption of alcohol' He said: 'These offences were not planned – he has impulsive behaviours 'He gets himself into situations, he panics and flight appears to be the preferable option.' Mr Patterson added that his client had expressed genuine remorse and appreciated the harm his actions could cause. Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told Burke: 'This was effectively dangerous driving carried out with the intention to evade the police officers who were in pursuit of you. 'I have heard you drove at grossly excessive speed up to 90mph – that included driving in this fashion in built-up areas. 'There is no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.' He jailed Burke, of Burgage Drive, Tain, for 18 months backdated to May 6 of this year and disqualified him from driving for 31 months.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Copperas Cove Restores Pressure Amid Water Conservation Push
Killeen, TX (FOX 44) — Repairs to the City of Copperas Cove's water line have been completed and the system is now pressurized. The process of refilling affected water tanks is underway…and will take several hours. A Boil Water Notice has been issued for residents who lost water service and Stage 4B Water Restrictions remain in effect. 'We'll continue to test like we do every day,' Communications Officer Marcus Hood said. 'And that's our main thing is our Public Works Department, our engineers have been in contact with WCID, and they're ensuring that everything's going to be safe to drink.' As the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District continues two major water projects, Fort Cavazos and nearby cities must reduce water use by at least 30 percent to protect shared resources as a reminder that every drop counts. 'That's the one thing we've done, is get the message out, and just give small tips on our website about how you can conserve water,' Hood stated. 'Which includes maybe taking a little bit shorter shower, if you don't have to do laundry this week, you can hold off, do that, things like that.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Druski goes viral for playing 'white boy accepted by the hood' in new sketch
Druski has once again gone viral, this time for his latest sketch where he plays Preston — a 'white boy that's accepted by the hood.' The video, published over the weekend, features Druski in whiteface with lighter brown hair, tattoos, and streetwear as he moves through everyday scenarios with his group of friends, interacts with his girlfriend on Instagram, and has a humorous encounter with the police. The sketch closes with Preston returning to his parents' home, asking, 'What the hell y'all cook for dinner?' prompting his mum and dad to remind him to drop the slang. The video has already amassed nearly 1.5 million likes, and has drawn reactions from stars like Anderson .Paak and Issa Rae. The WhiteBoy that's accepted by the Hood 😂 — DRUSKI (@druski) May 25, 2025 Druski, known for his immense character range, continues to build a powerful presence across platforms, with close to 10 million Instagram followers, 4 million on YouTube, and over 1.5 million on X/Twitter. From playing a Suge Knight-style music executive at Coulda Been Records to a confused construction worker in the viral 'Work Wife' sketch, his versatility continues to define his comedy. Despite his growing brand and increasing endorsements, Druski has maintained a comedic style that resonates broadly. His ability to create sketches that consistently entertain while avoiding repetition highlights his instinct for timing, character work, and relatability. This latest character, Preston, is already a fan favourite, underlining Druski's unmatched creativity in the current digital comedy space.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Who is Rev. Jeff Hood? Spiritual adviser who witnessed 9 death row executions nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
A man who has witnessed as many as nine death row executions has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Rev. Jeff Hood was reportedly nominated for the distinguished award by David Lemley, a professor of religion at Southern California's Pepperdine University. "He's putting himself in a position to love 'the least of these,'" Lemley told USA TODAY. "It is peace for peace's sake. It's good for good's sake. I think that's worth awarding," Lemley added, explaining that Hood's nomination is based more on his personal definition of peace, and not on what is commonly associated with the award. The US Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that if inmates wanted, spiritual advisers would be allowed inside execution chambers. Hood, an Arkansas native, has since made it his mission to be present in the final moments of inmates. Hood previously told USA TODAY that it validates him in his work in being there for "his guys" at the end of their lives. "The greater honor for me is the opportunity to witness God's love flow in and out of the lives of those we marginalize and oppress here in the land of the living," said Hood, whose official job is to befriend the death row inmates in the final days of their lives. "My job is to come into their lives when they have six to three months left to live and become their best friend," Hood added. "I become their best friend in order to be their best friend when they die." Hood, a death penalty activist, is a theologian educated at Auburn University, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, according to After Violence Archive. 'His primary interest has always been the power of spirituality to bring about liberation,' Patheos says on Hood. 'In addition to his formal studies, Dr. Hood completed multiple units of Clinical Pastoral Education at a Level I trauma center in Fort Worth, Texas.' Hood was ordained to the ministry at the Rock Baptist Church in Rex, Georgia, back in 2006. He was incardinated into the priesthood of the Catholic Church (Old Catholic) at Saint Miriam Parish and Friary in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, in 2022. He has written more than 100 books, including the famous book titled The Courage to Be Queer, which was named the third-best religion book of 2016 at the Independent Publishers Book Awards. He has notably served in the governing leadership of various organizations, including the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. Lemley wrote in the nominating letter, "I believe Dr. Hood's person and work are worthy of the committee's consideration as an example of bringing both the peace that flows from honoring the dignity of disenfranchised people, and the peace that flows through the channel of one human spirit to another.' Noa Dubois, the wife of former Texas death row inmate Steven Nelson, told the outlet that Hood's guidance was instrumental in her husband's last days. "When you know you know your time and date of (execution), you start to ask all those questions you know in your mind," Dubois said. "Am I a good person? How can I achieve redemption? Is there hell? Is there heaven?' Jeff was really able to answer all those questions or at least guide Steven through those times of uncertainty.' Hood and Dubois are believed to have remained close even after the execution. "It's proof of understanding and humanity to have the connection with spirituality to put aside people's actions and just still love them and be present for them and help them navigate one of the worst horrible things that this country is doing," Dubois said. Hood will find out in October if he wins the prestigious award.
