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The Hindu
11-08-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Boat clubs in central Travancore shift to race mode ahead of season
The pulsating cheers and the rhythmic sweep of mighty oars, propelling sleek snake boats across the waterways, are once again bringing the backwater villages of central Travancore to life. With just three weeks to go before the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) in Alappuzha, the boat clubs of the north and upper Kuttanad regions have plunged into intense preparations for the season. This year, at least four teams from Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts will compete in the event. Representing the Kottayam district this year are the Kumarakom Town Boat Club, the NCDC Boat Club, and the Changanassery Boat Club. The Niranom Boat Club, near Thiruvalla, joins the line-up with its own crew of 85 rowers. Training sessions Training sessions are conducted twice a day, in the early mornings and late evenings. Alongside rowing practice, camps include orientation classes and rigorous physical conditioning. The Kumarakom Town Boat Club (KTBC) has set up camp at St. John's Church, Vadakkumkara, while its training sessions take place at the Sreekumaramangalam temple ghats. 'We have 125 professional rowers in camp this season and our estimated expenses stand at ₹1.25 crore,' said Midhun, an office-bearer of the KTBC. However, not every club is in a position to compete. The Vembanad Boat Club, Vembanad Junior Boat Club, NDC Boat Club, Nava Jeevan Boat Club, Village Boat Club and Navadhara Boat Club have withdrawn this year, citing severe financial constraints. Other events Beyond the NTBR, Kottayam's snake boats will also line up for other marquee events, including the Paipad Jalolsavam, Aranmula Boat Race, and the President's Trophy Boat Race. In addition to the snake boat category, the boat clubs from the region will compete in the Veppu and Iruttukuthi races, with training for these crews scheduled to start in the coming week. Meanwhile, the commencement of practice sessions by the boat clubs has turned Kumarakom a fan hub, packed with diehard admirers awaiting the boat race as well as visitors stopping by for a brief look at the practice sessions.
Toronto Sun
22-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Texas teacher slept with student who she saw as ‘little brother': Cops
Darian Christine Rogers, a student teacher in Texas accused of having sexual relationship with 17-year-old student. Williamson County Jail A high school student teacher in Texas allegedly admitted having sex with a male student whom she thought of as a 'little brother,' authorities allege. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Darian Christine Rogers, 22, met the boy at a grocery store where they both worked prior to her job at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas, KTBC reported. Rogers, who began working at the high school as a student teacher in January, was reported to authorities in April by another student who claimed she had 'personal knowledge' of a staffer in a sexual relationship with a minor, according to court paperwork seen by the outlet. She also claimed Rogers was 'engaging in sexual relationships with several of her co-workers,' who were also allegedly students in the district. The student then provided a voicemail from a woman – identified as Rogers by Williamson County Sheriff's Office – where she allegedly admitted to sending explicit photos to a 17-year-old boy. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The alleged victim denied the relationship to police until text messages found on his phone allegedly showed him and Rogers discussing the Plan B contraceptive pill. Rogers initially insisted they were not having sex, even telling police their relationship was that of a 'big sister and little brother.' However, she was arrested after cops confronted her with the text evidence. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Rogers allegedly admitted the pair only had sex 'one time' in his truck in a parking lot near the grocery store where they both worked, the affidavit read. Rogers allegedly warned the student via text to avoid 'inappropriate comments' in front of school staff as she was interviewing for a position there, the affidavit noted. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Detectives also allegedly found a video of Rogers taking the Plan B pill and a screenshot of the receipt on her phone. Another text between Rogers and a friend allegedly described a previous sexual relationship between her and another minor, who was a student in the Leander Independent School District at the time. Read More Rouse High School principal Vincent Hawkins sent a letter to students' families on Friday following Rogers' arrest. 'The individual was not a Leander ISD or Rouse High School employee and was immediately removed from campus once the district was made aware of the situation,' according to the outlet. 'Any accusations of misconduct did not happen on our campus, during school hours, or at any school-sponsored event.' Rogers was released from Williamson County Jail on Saturday on a $20,000 bond. She has been charged with second-degree felony improper relationship between an educator and a student, arrest records show. She is due in court on June 4. Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Basketball Canada Sports
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Texas girl not seen since 2017 reported missing after sister found starving in closet
Texas authorities are looking for a nine-year-old girl who was last seen more than seven years ago after her mother was arrested in Austin last month on suspicion of starving a different child in a closet. Ava Marie Gonzales, 9, was just two years old when she was last seen by friends and family in December 2017, but was never reported missing until recently, according to the Austin Police Department. "We just don't know where she is right now," police spokesperson Russell Constable said at a news conference on May 6. "What we're trying to figure out is her current status, where she is, who she's with and if she's safe and healthy." Austin police learned of Ava's disappearance after responding to an emergency call on April 3 to help a 7-year-old girl who was locked in a closet starving, Constable said. He added that the child was taken to a local hospital and is currently recovering. Authorities also located six other children in the home who appeared healthy but discovered that an eighth child was nowhere to be seen, Constable added. That child was later identified as Ava Marie Gonzales. On April 24, officers arrested Ava's mother, 33-year-old Virginia Marie Gonzales. She has been since been charged with causing serious injury to a child, according to the Travis County District Clerk. She is currently held at the Travis County Correctional Complex with a bail set for $75,000, jail records show. USA TODAY has reached out to Gonzales' attorney for comment. Constable said Gonzales provided conflicting information to many different family members regarding Ava's whereabouts. An arrest affidavit states Gonzales is accused of locking the 7-year-old girl in a closet for "weeks at a time," according to local station KTBC. The child was reportedly found "malnourished, soiled and barricaded in a bedroom closet." Medical staff found the girl weighed 29 pounds and had dark-colored spots covering her body, a sign of malnourishment, KTBC reported, citing the affidavit. She also reportedly told staff that her "bones hurt." The grandmother told police the girl had issues controlling her bladder and continuously tried to eat things she shouldn't, so her siblings were ordered to keep her in the closest, KTBC reported. An older sibling told police the child was only given half a cup of water and would only eat a "hotdog/corndog in the morning and in the evening." Officers reportedly found a fridge stacked with various food options, per KTBC. The closet the girl was trapped in was about 4 feet 9 inches by 1 foot 10 inches, and had other items inside leaving less room for the trapped child, according to KTBC. Ava is a 9-year-old Hispanic female with straight brown hair and brown eyes, Austin police said. Her weight and height are unknown as she hasn't been seen since she was 2. Police used a progressed photo of Ava to show what she may look like today. The department is urging anyone with information regarding this case or Ava's whereabouts to either email ava@ or call anonymously at (512) 572 - 8477. (This story was updated to include video.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police searching for girl reported missing, not seen in 7 years
USA Today
08-05-2025
- USA Today
Texas girl not seen since 2017 reported missing after sister found starving in closet
Texas girl not seen since 2017 reported missing after sister found starving in closet Texas authorities are looking for a nine-year-old girl who was last seen more than seven years ago after her mother was arrested in Austin last month on suspicion of starving a different child in a closet. Ava Marie Gonzales, 9, was just two years old when she was last seen by friends and family in December 2017, but was never reported missing until recently, according to the Austin Police Department. "We just don't know where she is right now," police spokesperson Russell Constable said at a news conference on May 6. "What we're trying to figure out is her current status, where she is, who she's with and if she's safe and healthy." Austin police learned of Ava's disappearance after responding to an emergency call on April 3 to help a 7-year-old girl who was locked in a closet starving, Constable said. He added that the child was taken to a local hospital and is currently recovering. Authorities also located six other children in the home who appeared healthy but discovered that an eighth child was nowhere to be seen, Constable added. That child was later identified as Ava Marie Gonzales. Mother arrested, charged with child abuse On April 24, officers arrested Ava's mother, 33-year-old Virginia Marie Gonzales. She has been since been charged with causing serious injury to a child, according to the Travis County District Clerk. She is currently held at the Travis County Correctional Complex with a bail set for $75,000, jail records show. USA TODAY has reached out to Gonzales' attorney for comment. Constable said Gonzales provided conflicting information to many different family members regarding Ava's whereabouts. 7-year-old weighed 29 pounds, affidavit says An arrest affidavit states Gonzales is accused of locking the 7-year-old girl in a closet for "weeks at a time," according to local station KTBC. The child was reportedly found "malnourished, soiled and barricaded in a bedroom closet." Medical staff found the girl weighed 29 pounds and had dark-colored spots covering her body, a sign of malnourishment, KTBC reported, citing the affidavit. She also reportedly told staff that her "bones hurt." The grandmother told police the girl had issues controlling her bladder and continuously tried to eat things she shouldn't, so her siblings were ordered to keep her in the closest, KTBC reported. An older sibling told police the child was only given half a cup of water and would only eat a "hotdog/corndog in the morning and in the evening." Officers reportedly found a fridge stacked with various food options, per KTBC. The closet the girl was trapped in was about 4 feet 9 inches by 1 foot 10 inches, and had other items inside leaving less room for the trapped child, according to KTBC. Progressed photo used to show what Ava could look like Ava is a 9-year-old Hispanic female with straight brown hair and brown eyes, Austin police said. Her weight and height are unknown as she hasn't been seen since she was 2. Police used a progressed photo of Ava to show what she may look like today. The department is urging anyone with information regarding this case or Ava's whereabouts to either email ava@ or call anonymously at (512) 572 - 8477.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
New measures to ensure professionalism and transparency in Nehru Trophy Boat Race
As part of overhauling the conduct of the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society (NTBRS), the organiser of the event, will take steps to make the starting and finishing systems flawless from this year's edition onwards. A meeting chaired by District Collector Alex Varghese, who is also the chairperson of the NTBRS, and attended by top officials of the society, recently decided to initiate measures to conduct the race in a more 'professional manner.' 'The meeting decided to form a subcommittee comprising technical experts. Steps will be taken to rectify shortcomings, especially in the starting and finishing systems, and to enhance the overall conduct of the race. Starter and line umpires will be given walkie-talkies. Police personnel will be deployed every 250 m along the race track,' Mr. Varghese told The Hindu. Last year's race was marred by controversy. In the final of the 70th edition of the NTBR held on Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, Karichal Chundan (snakeboat), rowed by the Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC), edged out Veeyapuram Chundan of the Village Boat Club (VBC) Kainakary. According to official results, Karichal crossed the finish line in 4:29.785 minutes, just ahead of Veeyapuram, which clocked 4:29.790 minutes. Nadubhagom Chundan, rowed by the Kumarakom Town Boat Club (KTBC), finished third with a time of 4:30.13 minutes. Following the race, the VBC Kainakary and KTBC lodged complaints alleging irregularities. The VBC Kainakary claimed that video footage clearly showed Veeyapuram crossing the finish line ahead of Karichal. The KTBC, on the other hand, alleged a flaw in the starting procedure that denied them a fair and equal start in the final. The Jury of Appeal, after reviewing the video footage and timing data, rejected the complaints and upheld the original verdict confirming Karichal as the winner. The VBC Kainakary has since moved the Kerala High Court challenging the jury's decision. 'We want the NTBR to be conducted without any controversies and in adherence to high standards. All necessary measures will be taken before this year's race,' Mr. Varghese said. The meeting also proposed a slew of measures to improve the race, including better track arrangements and the introduction of modern equipment. Steps will be taken to enhance facilities for spectators, such as modern pandals and an improved viewing experience. Uniforms are also likely to be introduced for race officials and volunteers. The 71st edition of NTBR is likely to be held on August 30.
