Latest news with #JenniferRhodes
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mother of Pekin shooting victim offers to pay adoption fee for dogs
MCLEAN, Ill. (WMBD) — Jennifer Rhodes from Pekin decided to give back to the community by offering to pay the adoption fees for two dogs currently sheltered at Ruby's Rescue and Retreat in rural McLean County. She recently lost her 21-year-old son, Chase Rhodes, in a deadly shooting last month in South Pekin that also claimed the life of his friend Dawson Reese, also aged 21. From those tragic circumstances, Jennifer chose to make a positive impact. The female dog is called Maggie in honor of Chase's dog that recently died, and the male dog is called Dawson to honor his friend. Jean Ann Hert is a co-owner of Ruby's Rescue and said she picked up the two dogs on Wednesday from McLean County Animal Control. Jennifer reached out to her later that night. She has known the Rhodes family since 2015 when they adopted a dog from her business and described Chase as a kind young man. 'He liked to care for dogs. He liked to donate to shelters and help dogs in need. So, for her to do this, it's just a way to honor him and to help as well,' she said. Beyond Jennifer offering to pay for the two dogs' adoption fees, she also posted on Ruby's Rescue's Facebook page on Wednesday. It was an effort to raise money for the shelter, and Hert said the donations total $1,240 as of Friday afternoon. Hert thanked the Rhodes family for their generosity during such a difficult time. 'They're just great people. We can't thank Jennifer enough for all the struggles that she's going right through right now, to be thinking of helping others in need. I think it's just amazing of her,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NH House votes to criminalize helping minors receive abortions — but avoids the word abortion
An earlier version of the bill specified that this was — at least originally — about abortions. (Getty Images) New Hampshire Republican lawmakers are working to make it illegal to help a minor travel to receive an abortion without parental permission, and they got one step closer to making that happen on Wednesday. The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted, 180-164, to pass House Bill 191, which would make it a crime in the state to knowingly transport an unemancipated minor to receive a 'surgical procedure' without a parent's notarized permission. It also opens people up to civil lawsuits if they do so. Under the bill, a first offense would be a misdemeanor and a third offense would be a felony. However, an earlier version of the bill specified that this was — at least originally — about abortions. The original text of the bill made it illegal to help a minor receive an 'abortion' without their parents' permission. The criteria for what constitutes a violation under the proposed law was also broader in the original text. The bill originally made it illegal to hide the fact that a minor is receiving an abortion or help them obtain an abortion, whether surgical or through drugs, without parental permission. However, before the House voted on the bill, it was amended to limit the scope and to change 'abortion' to 'surgical procedure.' On the House floor, Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat, argued the amendment 'attempts to conceal the real motives of obstructing abortion access.' She also said the amendment created 'unnecessary confusion' and means the bill would require 'notarized consent to drive a teen to get their tonsils removed or face criminalizing grandma.' Republicans supporting the bill didn't buy that argument. 'I cannot imagine any world where anybody in this room can come up with a scenario where it's OK for somebody else to take their child for a scheduled medical procedure and them not have to know about it,' Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, a Winchester Republican, said. 'I wonder what that could be. Doesn't make any sense to me.' The bill will need approval from the Senate and the governor before it can become law. Prior to Wednesday's vote, the bill was approved by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in a 9-7 vote. Abortion has been legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in New Hampshire since 2021. The law has exceptions for medical emergencies and fetal abnormalities, but not for rape or incest. There was an unsuccessful effort to further restrict that this year though. House Bill 476, sponsored by Wolfeboro Republican Rep. Katy Peternel, sought to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for medical emergencies and fetal abnormalities. However, the House withdrew the bill in February after Peternel and her cosponsors no longer stood behind it. This comes after Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, promised on multiple occasions, including during her inaugural address, that she would not approve legislation restricting abortion beyond the 24-week limitation already in place. House and Senate Republican leaders made similar promises during election season last year.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Blackjacks, slung shots, brass knuckles would become legal under bill passed by NH House
Eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the weapons bill, while seven Republicans voted against it. (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin) The House approved legislation Thursday that would allow adults to have several weapons that are currently prohibited under state law. House Bill 207 would repeal the ban on blackjacks, a type of weighted baton; slung shots, a weapon with a heavy ball or knot on the end of a rope; and metallic knuckles. The ban would still be in place for those under 18, and people would be prohibited under the bill from selling or otherwise giving these weapons to minors. It passed the House, 207-162, and still needs approval from the Senate. Eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill, while seven Republicans voted against it. A similar measure was referred to interim study last year. Another bill that would have completely repealed the ban failed to pass in 2023. The House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety had recommended, 8-7, that the bill pass. In the committee report, Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, a Winchester Republican, argued that the majority of the panel felt the current ban was an unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. She also said the weapons could be useful for self-defense, and should not be banned when more lethal weapons are legal. Meanwhile, Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright, a Nashua Democrat, argued that 'these weapons continue to be used by aggressors to intimidate, terrorize, and brutally assault their victims,' and that, unlike a hammer or other tool, 'are specifically designed to be used to assault other human beings.'
