Latest news with #Jernigan
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials announce $96 million in grants to continue supporting student mental health
State leaders and members of the Consortium of Coordinated Care announce $96 million in grant awards to improve student mental health. (Photo by Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters) Woodlawn High School Principal Jamel Jerigan said that in addition to the usual stresses of high school life, students in her Baltimore County school face mental health needs that impact their learning. That's why renewed funding for a state consortium that helps boost connections between schools and mental health resources is so welcome, she said during an outside the State House Wednesday. 'We serve a vibrant, resilient and diverse student community,' Jernigan said at the event on Lawyers' Mall. 'But like so many schools across the state, we've seen firsthand how mental health crises continue to impact our students.' The Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports will award a total of $96 million in grants this year to 107 programs to help combat increasing anxiety, depression and other challenges students are facing today. The consortium grew out of the state's education reform plan, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, to improve student mental and behavioral health by providing greater access to wraparound services. The $96 million in grants funding will help support programs and organizations provide more targeted services attuned to the needs of students in each county, reaching 80% of Maryland schools, officials say. The grant awards vary by program, ranging from $71,000 to just over $3.5 million. For Woodlawn High School, the consortium helped expand access to school-based mental health providers, connected families with community services and created spaces where 'students can feel seen, heard, supported and empowered,' Jernigan said. 'That has made all the difference – from increasing graduation rates, attendance and engagement to boosting healthier relationships and improved outcomes, both inside and outside the classroom,' she said Wednesday. 'We must recognize that today, our youth are facing unprecedented challenges,' said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), on hand with other state leaders at the event to announce the second round of grants for the program. 'We want them to be successful. But what we know is … if their mental health is not strong, noting else matters,' Ferguson said. 'They cannot be successful if they don't believe in themselves to recognize their own God-given potential.' House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), added that while students have long struggled with mental health, the COVID-19 pandemic brought those issues to the forefront, along with political unrest and social media. 'We continue to be particularly concerned about the alarming increase in anxiety, depression, self-harm and other kinds of mental illness impacting our students,' Jones said. Mary Gable, assistant state superintendent in the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Student Support and Federal Programs, said the 107 programs cover a wide range of topics, including 'screenings, counseling, addiction treatment, family support, crisis planning and services, telehealth services, support groups and wraparound services.' The consortium was almost a victim of steep budget cuts as the General Assembly worked this year to balance a state budget with a $3 billion deficit. Funded at $130 million in Gov. Wes Moore's (D) budget, the consortium funding was cut to $40 million by the House. The Senate held out for $70 million this year and $100 million a year thereafter, which was approved in the final budget. During budget talks this year, advocates and consortium partners warned that pulling funding for the consortium would greatly diminish the reach of the mental health network. David Rudolph, chair of the consortium and a former delegate from Cecil County, expects that the General Assembly will continue to fund the consortium as much as possible in upcoming years. 'The commitment is there,' he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fiction On The Bench? Dallas Judge Jernigan Is Turning Pages
A Texas bankruptcy courtroom may have become the setting for one of the most controversial legal dramas in the Lone Star State's history. A drama is so rich that it might even be considered a good enough plot for a fiction novel, so much so that a presiding judge may have allegedly written a fiction book based on what was going down in her courtroom. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan, who presided over the recent billion-dollar dismantling of Dallas-based Highland Capital Management, per is now under fire for writing a collection of fiction books that critics say mirror the real-life case she oversaw as a judge. Highland Capital's founder, James Dondero, accused Jernigan of bias, abuse of authority, and rubber-stamping massive legal fees, all while releasing novels that suspiciously resembled the proceedings she oversaw. The Fifth Circuit recently rejected Dondero's attempt to force Jernigan's recusal but noted a 'strong argument could be made' that she should have stepped aside. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Fifth Circuit ruled that Judge Jernigan did not need to recuse herself from the case despite the extremely transparent similarities between her novels and the proceedings she oversaw as a judge. Jernigan's books feature fictional hedge fund characters whose exploits echo the drama surrounding Highland's recent viral cases. Some critics claim that these books reveal insider knowledge and hostility toward the financial world she directly oversaw as a judge. In a previous report by the ABA Journal, a legal team highlighted similarities between the fictional characters and real-life individuals involved in the case that Jernigan was so keen to write and profit from. Meanwhile, the real-life bankruptcy cases have drawn many scrutinous eyes, not just from the readers about the outcomes but also from those critical of Jernigan. Legal fees reportedly topped $250 million during the Highland Capital Management bankruptcy proceedings, with one law firm partner earning nearly $30 million annually, according to Above the Law. Meanwhile, per Scribd, no bonuses were paid to rank-and-file employees. Despite the court's refusal to intervene, legal observers say the Fifth Circuit's language could fuel ethics complaints or even congressional probes. As The Dallas Express investigates, one thing is clear: the bankruptcy under Jernigan may be more than a financial meltdown; it might be a cautionary tale about judicial accountability and someone seeking creative clout over their duty. Stay tuned for another DX deep dive into the $250 million legal fees, alleged Russian ties, and what really happened inside Jernigan's courtroom (or novel pitches). As of the time of publication, Jernigan's team has not responded to multiple attempts to reach out for a compliment from DX about the encroaching book plots she wrote following the cases she oversaw.
Los Angeles Times
30-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Orange County crime victims call for changes in laws
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer and crime victims Tuesday held a rally calling on state lawmakers to tighten up loopholes they say will allow for violent criminals to earn early release from prison. The theme of the office's annual crime victims rally was 're-victimization,' as victims and their loved ones worry that convicts they thought would never get out could still get a pass. Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee told those gathered outside the offices for prosecutors and sheriff's deputies that the county will 'stand up for victims every step of the way ... even as laws change and challenges arise.' Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent decried 'flaws in our system' regarding 'current parole and re-sentencing laws.' He said victims were experiencing 'the painful reality of re-victimization. The justice you thought was served is being reconsidered.' State legislators have changed murder laws, eliminating a theory of liability for anyone associated with a killing being eligible for murder convictions no matter their level of involvement. Now prosecutors must show a more direct involvement in carrying out a murder. Since lawmakers made the change retroactive, many convicts have petitioned for reconsideration and have been able to gain freedom. 'It's a re-opening of wounds you worked so hard to heal,' Kent said. 'You should never have to fight for the justice you already earned.' Jacki Chalabian Jernigan, whose sister Dr. Jeanine Rose Chalabian was killed Oct. 10, 1997 by her estranged husband, Hratch Baliozian, detailed how she lost her struggle to keep the defendant behind bars. She noted that when he was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison in 1999 the judge said the defendant's last breath should be taken behind bars. Baliozian reached out to his children during the COVID-19 pandemic for help getting out of prison. She said he was denied parole in recent years because he did not complete some courses and had not shown any remorse. But instead of waiting another three years for a parole hearing, he was allowed to try again in a year and a half because he took the courses and was released, she said. Jernigan appealed for a full parole board to reconsider in September, but the decision was not overturned, she said. She was also unable to get a restraining order against him. 'I still do not know where he is,' she said. 'With the internet he can find all of our addresses but we can't know his. It's terrible. This is wrong.' ' ... Pre-meditated murder is just that,' Jernigan continued. 'This level of evil should never be released ... I pray this broken system can be improved.' Susan Montemayor Gutierrez, whose husband David Monetemayor was kidnapped and killed in a plot conceived by his sister in Buena Park on Oct. 2, 2002, bemoaned how one of the victim's convicted killers has been released and his sister is appealing to have her sentence reconsidered under the new state law. Three of Montemayor's killers have been condemned to death and two were sentenced to life in prison without parole. Gerardo Lopez's case was sent to juvenile court and he was eventually released at the border and allowed to 'self-deport,' she said. Deborah Perna, 68, is appealing to have her conviction reconsidered. 'David's sister solicited the murder,' she said. 'She had full understanding of what she was doing.' Montemayor Gutierrez said a hearing will be held in Orange County in the next couple of months. 'She will be trying to downplay her role in the murder,' she said. 'I don't think she will ever ... accept responsibility for her role in the murder.' She said she was hopeful the petition will be denied, but added that might be 'naive.' The mother of an 8-year-old boy sexually assaulted by Matthew Zakrzewski, 36, who was sentenced in November 2023 to 707 years to life in prison for molesting 16 boys and exposing a 17th to child pornography, criticized a loophole in the law that allows for the early release of some inmates who reach the age of 50 and have served more than 20 years in prison. Zakrzewski was eligible for parole in May 2039, according to the state Department of Corrections. If he is granted parole, it is likely prosecutors would seek to have him committed to a state mental health hospital as a sexually violent predator. Spitzer praised the boy's mother, who appealed along with prosecutor Robert Mestman, for lawmakers to close the loophole. Spitzer was impressed the proposal got out of a public safety committee. The county's top prosecutor said he was 'quite frankly blown away' by the testimonials from crime victims Tuesday. Spitzer said he was encouraged by the passage of Prop. 36, which allows for increased punishment for recidivist drug and theft convicts. 'It's up to us,' he said. 'We have the power, the ability, the momentum.'
CBS News
23-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Baltimore program empowers young men of color with exposure to industries and careers
A Baltimore program is building a pipeline of leaders in the community. It's called Young Men United, through the United Way of Central Maryland. The program is designed to help young men of color reach their full potential and expose them to different industries and careers. They're mentored by other adult men, helping students overcome systemic barriers and teaching them how to become community leaders. "We understand the challenges and dynamics that young men of color face historically in the Baltimore area," said William Jernigan, the senior director of education for Young Men United. "It's our job to help them address those challenges and barriers, but also, give them that guide to actually lead them into successful careers." "It's a great opportunity" Nationally, Black men have the lowest four-year college completion rate of all demographic groups (only 40%) and are the most likely to leave without a degree (41%). "It's a great opportunity to address the things that teachers and administrators are not always able to see and for us to provide that additional lens of support and even that connection to resources and opportunities," Jernigan said. The program includes 81 students from Ben Franklin and Patterson High Schools. They are part of the first cohort set to graduate from the program. Lessons go beyond the classroom for college tours and volunteer work. Students even went shopping for the right suit and tie. Carrying a lifetime of skills Wednesday, students at Patterson High School discussed advocacy and boundaries. It's just one of the many skills they will carry with them for life. The program helps students identify their career goals and provides them with the resources to help their dreams come true. "I'm not too sure as of right now, but I do have a couple of ideas on what I want to do," said Chris Frasier, a junior at Patterson High School. Frasier said the program has allowed him to think outside the box and prepare for his future. "This program helped push me to raise my GPA," Frasier said. Another student, David Iagher, said he's grateful for the men he's been able to connect with throughout the program. "I look at all these great men around me. I want to be where they are one day," Iagher said. "It's very good motivation for what I want to do in life." Students are set to graduate from the program this Thursday, April 24. However, Jernigan said this 10-year program guides students from high school to college or job training and into a full-time career. "We bring young men in at 10th grade," Jernigan said. "We follow them all the way up into graduation from high school. Then, we also follow them up until the age of 24 to connect them to their desired career opportunities." "It's very good to not have to bear all that weight on your shoulders and have people you can rely on," Iagher said.
CBS News
23-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Crozer Health hospitals begin diverting patients after judge approves Prospect's closure plans
Crozer Health hospitals in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, began diverting patients from their emergency departments Wednesday morning, one day after a federal bankruptcy judge approved Prospect Medical Holdings' plan to close the health system. Patients brought to Crozer Health locations will be treated and released or treated and transferred to other hospitals in the area. With the closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital, Delaware County now has only Riddle and Mercy-Fitzgerald hospitals remaining. Nearby hospitals will absorb Crozer Health patients, including Riddle Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in University City and ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital in Delaware. Elective inpatient admissions have also stopped at Crozer-Chester and Taylor hospitals. Many other services, including trauma, surgery, oncology, as well as obstetrics and gynecology, have also been discontinued. The emergency departments will no longer accept patients by ambulance either. Federal judge approves Prospect's closure of Crozer Health On Tuesday, April 22, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan authorized Prospect Medical Holdings' plan to close the Crozer Health system. In approving the closure, Jernigan said she loses sleep over the "widespread consequences" of the ruling. The closing decision comes after a monthslong effort to save the Crozer Health system failed. Almost $50 million was invested in Crozer to keep the payroll going. Last week, a $5 million deal between the California-based Prospect and Penn Medicine to keep the system operating collapsed. According to testimony, Crozer Health has $19 million on hand. Closing Crozer-Chester and Taylor hospitals is expected to cost upward of $30 million. Crozer-Chester admitted 19,000 patients, treated 53,000 emergency department patients and delivered 1,700 babies every year. Lawmakers, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Attorney General David Sunday, fought to save the system while condemning Prospect. Democratic State Sen. John Kane is calling for criminal charges against Prospect. "There's got to be a crime. To me, this is worse than blue-collar crime," Kane said. "This, to me, is fleecing of America when you have a corporation that comes in like that and steals all this money and shuts down a hospital that is so needed in Chester and the area, and this entire community." What happens next for Crozer Health? Thousands of Crozer Health hospital workers received email notices Monday about the system's closure. Layoffs impacting more than 2,600 employees are expected to begin Friday. Prospect anticipates that the full closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital will be completed within 30 days. Earlier this week, a Prospect spokesperson claimed the ambulatory surgery and imaging centers at Brinton Lake, Broomall, Haverford and Media will stay open. This is a developing story and will be updated.
