Latest news with #Karner
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Regional superintendent, Fortune Brands honored at Lake County Partners' Big Event
Michael Karner's job as the Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools focuses, in large part, on educating the children who can sometimes be a challenge for the county's 47 public school districts. Between operating the Regional Safe School for students who need placement outside their home district, offering classrooms for a student who may be suspended for a few days and creating a statewide virtual school, Karner continues to find innovative ways to educate. 'We established the Safe School for grades six through 12 for students when they needed an alternative placement,' he said. 'We give them what they need when their home district can't.' Getting the attention of the business community, Karner started Career Navig8 Lake County for middle and high school students to expose them to potential careers at a young age so they can incorporate it into their education. Karner received the Lake County Partners Talent Advancement Award on Thursday at the organization's annual Big Event in Lincolnshire in front of more than 500 people for his shaping of career pathways, among other achievements. 'Dr. Karner is a superstar in the education space, and the complete list of his accomplishments would blow you away,' said Steve Madden, the chair of the Lake County Partners Board of Governors. 'He has ushered in transformative thoughts, concepts and programs at the cutting-edge of education.' Along with Karner, Deerfield-based Fortune Brands — operator of more than 15 lines, including Moen, Master Lock and Sentry Safe — received the Community Investment Award as it makes a major investment in its corporate headquarters. Madden and Lake County Partners President and CEO Kevin Considine talked about the growth of business in the county over the past year, and future expectations. The crowd also learned about the makings of good locations for business from real estate economist Joshua Harris. Last year, Madden said businesses made $1.43 billion in capital investments, added 4,000 new jobs and, in part through Lake County Partners' efforts, kept 2,500 existing jobs from relocating across the state line to Wisconsin or other locations. Joining with Chicago and six other suburban counties including Cook, Madden said Lake County Partners formed the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership. Members including Considine and Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, traveled abroad selling the area to companies. 'We're not just individual organizations, cities or counties,' he said. 'Together, we're a powerhouse with unmatched competitive advantages and a high quality of life, and we want site selectors, business leaders, investors and talent to know it.' Appointed school superintendent in 2021 by Hart upon the retirement of Roycealee Wood, Karner was elected to the position in 2022. He has worked with state and federal officials to obtain $18 million in grants to fund many of the programs. After inaugurating the Safe School, Karner said he started the Illinois Virtual School in 2022, offering online learning to 10,000 students statewide, from kindergarten through high school seniors. Each time a student passes a course, their home district is reimbursed for the expense. The Navig8 Lake County career fair in October drew 4,200 middle and high school students to learn what 100 employers do. Karner said he also started a care navigation service to help find mental and physical health care. 'It gives one-on-one service to help people find health care appointments,' he said. 'It has changed a four-month wait to four days in Lake County. It is primarily for mental health needs.' Fortune Brands is making a major expansion of its Deerfield headquarters. Leigh Avsec, the company's executive vice president for external affairs, said for the first time the corporate staff of all of the company's brands will be housed in one place. Some of Fortune Brands' businesses are well known to consumers, like Master Lock. Avsec said the others are very well known in their industry. She talked about how their safes preserved valuables when people had to flee a disaster. 'People had three minutes to flee,' Avsec said. 'When they returned (almost) everything was lost. When they opened the safe, all their valuables were there — their papers, their jewelry. It was all there.'
Times of Oman
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Austria stabbing 'Islamist attack,' interior minister says
The perpetrator of a knife attack in the Austrian city of Villach was radicalized online and had links to the so-called "Islamic State" group, Austria's interior minister said. The Syrian suspect, who randomly started attacking passersby with a knife on Saturday, was an "Islamist attacker," Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Sunday. The attack left a teenager killed and caused five other injuries. "It is an Islamist attack with IS connections," Karner told reporters, adding that the suspect was radicalized online "in a short space of time." What else do we know about the attack? Interior Minister Karner said Sunday he felt "anger about an Islamist attacker who indiscriminately stabbed innocent people here in this city." The suspect used a folding knife to target passersby, police said. He was arrested shortly after the attack, when another Syrian — a food delivery driver — stopped him by ramming him with his car. State governor Peter Kaiser thanked a 42-year-old Syrian man. "This shows how closely terrorist evil but also human good can be united in one and the same nationality," he said. The suspect is an asylum seeker but has a valid residence permit and no criminal record, police said. Rare attack restarts migration debate Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen condemned the attack as "horrific." "No words can undo the suffering, the horror, the fear. My thoughts are with the family of the deceased victim and the injured," he said on X. Carinthia Governor Peter Kaiser of the Social Democrats called for the "harshest consequences" for this "unbelievable atrocity." Far-right leader Herbert Kickl meanwhile called for a "rigorous clamp-down on asylum." Kickl's Freedom Party (FPÖ) unprecedentedly topped last September's national elections, but announced earlier this week it had failed to form a government with the runner-up and incumbent conservatives. The parties failed to reach consensus on who would hold sensitive cabinet posts dealing with security. Syrians condemn the attack The Free Syrian Community in Austria also condemned the attack and distanced itself from it in a statement on Facebook. "We would like to emphasize: Anyone who causes strife and disturbs the peace of society does not represent the Syrians who have sought and received protection here," the statement said. Austria, like many other countries in Europe, hosts a sizable Syrian community, the majority of whom fled during the civil war which lasted over a decade. When Syria's Bashar Assad was ousted in December's lightning offensive, Austria joined a host of European countries that froze pending asylum requests from Syrians. The country also stopped family reunifications, sending out at least 2,400 letters to revoke refugee status. The Austrian Interior Ministry said it was preparing "an orderly repatriation and deportation program to Syria."
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suspect in fatal stabbing in Austria linked to Islamic State, officials say
Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The suspect in a stabbing in Austria killed a 14-year boy and injured five others swore allegiance to the Islamic State who apparently acted alone, authorities said Sunday. The incident was Saturday afternoon at Villach, a town near the border with Italy and Slovenia in the state of Carinthia. A 23-year-old unidentified Syrian asylum seeker has been charged with murder and attempted murder. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said an Islamic State group flag had been found in the his apartment. State police chief Michaela Kohlweiss said he had sworn allegiance to the group. Karner said this was an "Islamist attack with IS links by an attacker who, according to the investigations so far, was obviously radicalized online, via the internet, within a very short space of time. "So those in a position of responsibility, the police, the authorities, must draw the necessary conclusions from that," Karner added at the news conference. Karner said the suspect had a valid residence permit and no criminal record. The injured are two 15-year-olds, and those 28, 32 and 36. Three of them are in intensive care. Five are Austrian nationals and one is Turkish. A delivery worker, also from Syria, is credited with helping prevent more injuries, police said. Alaaeddin Alhalabi, 42, rammed his vehicle at the attacker, allowing two officers on scene to catch him. On Thursday in Munich, an asylum-seeker from Afghanistan driving a vehicle into a crowd of people. One day later, a 37-year-old mother and her child died with at least 37 others injured. The driver was a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, police said. He appeared to have a religious motivation, officials said. Salzburg Archbishop Franz Lackner called for social cohesion against the "godless terror" of radical Islamism. The archbishop also expressly thanked those who helped at the crime scenes "at the risk of their lives with moral courage and true charity." An election last year saw the far-right Freedom Party come out on top for the first time. The party has failed to form a coalition government. Herbert Kickl, the head of the Freedom Party, said Saturday that Austria needs a "rigorous crackdown on asylum." Erwin Angerer, leader of the National Council for the Freedom Party, is calling for "an end to illegal mass immigration through a ban on asylum, consistent deportations and tough action against the threat of Islamist terrorism." Austrian People's Party Chairman Martin Grube is calling for increased digital monitoring of radical Islamic content on the Internet: "We have to drain the breeding ground for radicalization," he said. Gerhard Kofer, leader of the Team Carinthia party in the state of Carinthia, called for consistent action against extremism. "Significant correction in asylum and migration policy," is needed, Kofer said. "Clear measures are needed to identify potential threats at an early stage
Arab News
16-02-2025
- Arab News
Austria says stabbing attack suspect swore allegiance to Daesh
VILLACH: The Syrian asylum-seeker suspected of carrying out a deadly stabbing rampage in the Austrian town of Villach had sworn allegiance to Daesh and was radicalized online, authorities said on Sunday. A 14-year-old boy was killed in Saturday afternoon's attack in the center of Villach and five other people were wounded, three of whom are in intensive care, police said. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told a press conference in Villach that the 23-year-old Syrian man, who was arrested seven minutes after the first call to the police, had been rapidly radicalized on the internet and that the Daesh flag had been found in his apartment. • Police said the man, who is being charged with murder and attempted murder, had recorded himself swearing an oath of allegiance to Daesh. • More harm would have been done had it not been for another Syrian, a food delivery driver, who saw the attacker and drove into him with his vehicle to stop him, authorities said. Karner, a conservative, told reporters there was sadness and sympathy for the victims, then added: 'But in these moments there's also understandably often anger and rage. Anger at an attacker who randomly stabbed innocent people here in this town.' Police said the man, who is being charged with murder and attempted murder, had recorded himself swearing an oath of allegiance to Daesh. More harm would have been done had it not been for another Syrian, a food delivery driver, who saw the attacker and drove into him with his vehicle to stop him, authorities said. Daesh has not claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, the media section of Daesh's Afghan branch, Daesh-K, recently circulated a post by Daesh calling for lone wolf attacks in America and Europe following a New Year attack in New Orleans, according to SITE Intelligence. The bloodshed in Villach followed the thwarting of a plot in August to carry out a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna by a teenager who had also sworn loyalty to Daesh.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Austria stabbing attack suspect is Syrian migrant who pledged allegiance to Islamic State, officials say
Austrian authorities said Sunday that the suspect who they believe fatally stabbed a 14-year-old boy and wounded five others in the village of Villach is a Syrian refugee who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. At a press conference, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the 23-year-old Syrian national was arrested seven minutes after Saturday's attack unfolded in the village of just about 60,000 people bordering Italy and Slovenia. "This is an Islamist attack with an IS connection by an attacker who radicalized himself within a very short time via the internet online," Karner told reporters, according to the Associated Press. Regarding mass migration and asylum-seekers, Karner, a conservative, said it will ultimately be necessary to "carry out a mass screening without cause because this assassin was not conspicuous." Car Driver In Munich Plows Into Crowd 1 Day Before Vance And World Leaders Gather For Security Conference "There's compassion, there's sadness, but in these moments there's also understandably often anger and rage," Karner added, according to Reuters. "Anger at an Islamist attacker who randomly stabbed innocent people here in this town." Read On The Fox News App The attack came a day after Vice President JD Vance rebuked European leaders at the Munich Security Conference over mass migration, as well as crackdowns on free speech. As authorities revealed the alleged "Islamic terror motive," Austria's far-right leader Herbert Kickl, whose party won a national election four months ago, called for "a rigorous crackdown on asylum" in the wake of the attack. Kickl wrote on X Saturday that he is "appalled by the horrific act in Villach." "At the same time, I am angry – angry at those politicians who have allowed stabbings, rapes, gang wars and other capital crimes to become the order of the day in Austria. This is a first-class failure of the system, for which a young man in Villach has now had to pay with his life," Kickl said. "From Austria to the EU – the wrong rules are in force everywhere. Nobody is allowed to challenge them, everything is declared sacrosanct," he said, adding that his party had outlined what he viewed as necessary changes to immigration laws in its election platform. The suspect is charged with murder and attempted murder. Austrian police said the suspect recorded himself pledging allegiance to IS, according to Reuters. State police director Michaela Kohlweiß said authorities searched the suspect's apartment with sniffer dogs and found IS flags on the walls. No weapons or dangerous objects were found, she added, but police seized mobile telephones. Police were investigating whether the suspect had any accomplices. "The current picture is that of a lone perpetrator," Kohlweiß said, according to the AP. Carinthia State Gov. Peter Kaiser thanked another Syrian national, a 42-year-old man working for a food delivery company, who drove toward the suspect and helped prevent the situation from getting worse. Suspect In Munich Car Attack Had 'Islamist Motivation,' Prosecutor Says "This shows how closely terrorist evil but also human good can be united in one and the same nationality," Kaiser said. The mayor of Villach, Guenther Albel, said the attack was a "stab in the heart of the city." Austrian conservative party leader Christian Stocker said on X that the attacker "must be brought to justice and be punished with the full force of the law." "We all want to live in a safe Austria, adding that this means political measures need to be taken to avoid such acts of horror in the future," he said. The day before Vance visited the Munich Security Conference, an Afghan refugee on Thursday plowed a car into a crowd in the German city, injuring dozens of people, including a mother and her 2-year-old daughter, who later died. "The number of immigrants who entered the EU from non-EU countries doubled between 2021 and 2022 alone, and of course, it's gotten much higher since," Vance said Friday. "It's the result of a series of conscious decisions made by politicians all over the continent. Others across the world over the span of a decade. We saw the horrors wrought by these decisions yesterday in this very city. And of course, I can't bring it up again without thinking about the terrible victims who had a beautiful winter day in Munich ruined. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and will remain with them. But why did this happen in the first place?" "It's a terrible story, but it's one we've heard way too many times in Europe, and unfortunately too many times in the United States as well," Vance said. "An asylum seeker, often a young man in his mid-20s, already known to police, rams a car into a crowd and shatters a community. How many times must we suffer these appalling setbacks before we change course and take our shared civilization in a new direction?" The stabbing in Villach on Saturday marked what is believed to be the second deadly Islamic terror attack in Austria in recent years. In November 2020, a man who had previously attempted to join the Islamic State carried out a rampage in Vienna, armed with an automatic rifle and a fake explosive vest, killing four people before being fatally shot by police. Last August, Austrian authorities said they thwarted a planned attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna by a teenager who had also allegedly pledged allegiance to IS. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Austria stabbing attack suspect is Syrian migrant who pledged allegiance to Islamic State, officials say
