Latest news with #JulieGonzalez
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local food bank looking to help families affected by paper mill closure
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN)—A food bank is preparing to ramp up efforts to help needy families after a local paper mill announced its closure is set for later this year. 'The average American citizen is two paychecks away from needing help from a food bank,' Wiregrass Food Bank Assistant Director Julie Gonzalez said. 'I know that those folks are going to be in need, so we're going to rise to the occasion as well.' Earlier this month, hundreds of Wiregrass residents were informed that their lives would be significantly impacted after the announcement that the Georgia Pacific Cedar Springs Containerboard mill would shut down its operations. Effectively cutting over 530 positions by the end of August. With hundreds of families and their livelihoods facing unexpected changes, the Wiregrass Food Bank is looking to continue providing food for their tables. However, they are calling for continued community support to ensure their mission is possible. 'We're going to need more food to give out to our more than 100 agencies who are spread out through our six-county service area,' Gonzalez said. However, providing for the hundreds of families impacted by the mill's closure won't be easy. In addition to trying to ramp up food intake and other efforts for said families, the Wiregrass Food Bank is also tasked with dealing with children getting out for the summer. 'For the families who are really struggling, when you take away those free breakfasts, you take away those free lunches…that's a lot of food loss,' Gonzalez said. The food bank stressed that families should not panic at this time. Organizers say the food bank has a plan to handle the anticipated increase in demand for food, but it starts with the continued donations from the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New law eases rules for immigrants to get driver's licenses, IDs in Colorado
DENVER (KDVR) — A new law goes into effect at the end of March that reduces the wait times and other requirements for immigrants to get United States driver's licenses and identification cards in Colorado. Senate Bill 24-182, 'Immigrant Identification Document Issuance,' made its way through the Senate in 2024 and was backed by democratic senators Julie Gonzalez, Jeff Bridges, Tim Hernández and Elizabeth Velasco. Bill would prohibit officers from asking drivers why they pulled them over The bill, approved by Gov. Jared Polis in June 2024, will allow the 'Colorado Road and Community Safety Act' to authorize driver's licenses or identification cards to people who aren't 'lawfully present' in the country if they meet certain requirements. The bill is going into effect on March 31, and starting at the end of the month, the bill said IDs can be given to people who sign an affidavit that they are currently a resident, present evidence of residency in Colorado and have an unexpired, or expired less than 10 years, passport, military ID or identification card from their origin country. The bill also authorizes exception processing, which it said is a hearing to determine whether an applicant has sufficient evidence to prove they qualify for an ID. The new bill changes the current rules by taking away requirements that applicants have to file a Colorado resident income tax return, show residency in the state for two years and show a documented social security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Trump invokes wartime act, deports hundreds of migrants Eventually, the bill allows prolongated rules about exception processing and the use of IDs. The bill said after Jan. 1, 2027, the rules for exceptions can be prolongated, but they must still address specific requirements. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act is giving $122,855 to the Department of Revenue from the highway users tax fund. The bill said $14,355 of the sum is going to the governor's office for the Office of Information Technology. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CO Senate to vote on semiautomatic weapon ban
(COLORADO) — A bill banning some semiautomatic firearm sales is up for a vote in the state senate on Friday, Feb. 7. Senate Bill 3 would ban the purchase, sale, and manufacturing of semiautomatic weapons that accept detachable ammunition magazines, like AR-15s, AK-47s, TEC-9s, and MAC-10s, among others. Existing law prohibits the possession of a 'dangerous weapon,' and SB-3 would define a 'rapid-fire device' and classify rapid-fire devices as dangerous weapons under Colorado law. One local gun store owner told FOX21 News he's worried about what this legislation could do to his business, and without having any real impact on gun violence. 'At the end of the day, with how these items are going to be required to have a fixed magazine, it does not prevent a criminal from detaching that magazine or modifying it with simple tools they can pick up at Home Depot,' said Ted Collins, Owner and CEO of Spartan Armory. 'So this law will not prevent any criminals from doing bad intent or doing bad things.' Supporters of the measure say it's not about stripping rights, it's about requiring manufacturers to align with Colorado law. 'This isn't about taking away anybody's guns, but this about saying 'hey manufacturers, if you want to sell your products here in Colorado, follow our laws,'' said Colorado Sen. Julie Gonzalez (D-Denver), a prime sponsor of the bill. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has not taken a position on the bill, and a spokesperson for his office told FOX21 News that the Governor 'will continue to review the bill as it moves through the process and changes.' If passed, the bill would implement some of the strictest regulations in the nation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
