Latest news with #LaurenGray
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Daily Record
Riot police sent into Belfast: Petrol bombs thrown after sex crime vigil turned violent
Chaos unfolded in Ballymena, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland, as 2,500 people gathered to show support for a female who was sexually assaulted. Two teenage boys, both 14, have been arrested and charged with attempted rape Last night, pandemonium broke out in a quiet UK town as what began as a protest against a recent sexual assault spiralled into riots, with irate protestors lobbing petrol bombs at law enforcement. The turmoil took root in Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, where an estimated 2,500 people gathered to express their support for the young woman who was assaulted. Two youths aged 14 were apprehended on suspicion of being implicated in the event and have been indicted for attempted rape. Pleading not guilty to the charge of attempted oral rape at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, they relied on a Romanian interpreter for communication. By Monday evening, the situation had escalated dramatically with throngs converging around the Ballymena police station and Clonavon Terrace, in close proximity to where the alleged assault happened on Saturday, June 7. In a statement, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) representative said: "A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.", reports the Mirror. They further stated: "It follows a protest in the area earlier this evening. Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation." Chief Superintendent Sue Steen has called for peace in the midst of turmoil, saying: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible." Riot police were seen arriving in the town centre after 10.30pm, more than an hour after protests turned violent, while firefighters tackled blazes in wheelie bins and worked to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Social media footage shows large groups wearing masks in front of charred buildings, some with shattered windows. The Northern Ireland Fire Service was dealing with two fires on Clonavon Terrace, where earlier crowds had assembled, around 11.15pm on June 9. Fire service teams are actively extinguishing the fires, and police have been reported to use less-than-lethal baton rounds to manage the crowd hurling projectiles. Alliance councillor Lauren Gray has made a heartfelt request for rioters to cease their actions. On social media, Cllr Gray implored: "Appealing for calm in Ballymena right now. I know through my Council colleagues that the vast majority of people there don't support these actions in their community. "There is no place for violence. Please stop." BelfastLive has reported that "sporadic" rioting went on through the night, with the situation described as "tense". Past midnight, officers succeeded in pushing protestors away from Clonavon Terrace, yet disturbances persisted. By approximately 12:30 am, another house on Larne Street was torched after vandals broke the windows and set fire to the terraced dwelling. Not long after, at around 12:50 am, PSNI riot vans rushed to the area, with officers forcibly entering properties to evacuate residents amidst the chaos as masked onlookers filmed and uploaded footage onto TikTok. A substantial police force is anticipated to stay in Ballymena until Tuesday morning.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Petrol bombs thrown and riot police storm Belfast streets after sexual assault
Tonight, a peaceful protest in a small UK town spiralled into violence as it transformed into a riot, with police officers coming under fire from petrol bombs. The turmoil swept through the streets of Ballymena, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland, after a crowd of about 2,500 people took to the streets to voice their support for a woman who was recently sexually assaulted. Authorities detained two boys, both aged 14, in connection with the incident, charging them with attempted rape. The teens, denying the accusation of attempted oral rape, were brought before Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, utilising a Romanian interpreter. By the evening, large groups had gathered outside the Ballymena police station and Clonavon Terrace, which is in close vicinity to where the alleged assault took place on Saturday, June 7. In response to the unrest, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson released a comment: "A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.", reports the Mirror. Further elaborating they stated: "It follows a protest in the area earlier this evening. Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation." Chief Superintendent Sue Steen has called for level heads during the disorder, urgently requesting: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible." Riot police were witnessed descending on the town centre after 10.30pm, more than sixty minutes after the protests took a violent turn. Concurrently, firefighters were contending with the task of dousing wheelie bin blazes and preventing them from spreading to nearby structures. Footage shared across social media platforms depicts large swathes of individuals donning masks — standing before charred edifices and some featuring windows that have been shattered. Northern Ireland's Fire Service was reported to be dealing with blazes in two buildings on Clonavon Terrace, tracked down to a location where earlier groups had assembled, at approximately 11.15pm on June 9. NIFRS units are actively engaged in firefighting efforts, whilst the police have supposedly resorted to utilising non-lethal baton round launchers to rein in the crowds hurling missiles. Amidst the turmoil, an Alliance councillor has made an impassioned call to the rioters to desist. Cllr Lauren Gray appealed on her social media channel, emphasising: "Appealing for calm in Ballymena right now. I know through my Council colleagues that the vast majority of people there don't support these actions in their community. "There is no place for violence. Please stop." BelfastLive has described the situation as "sporadic" rioting occurring through the night, with a "tense" atmosphere prevailing. A considerable police presence is set to be maintained in Ballymena until Tuesday morning.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Safety fears' over lack of family-friendly car parking spaces
A mother of three who is also a Mid and East Antrim Borough councillor is calling for more parent and child parking in off-street car parks. Lauren Gray brought forward the motion to the council following difficulties getting her own children out of the car safely. "I've had to leave my three-year-old with my baby on the sidewalk while I try to reverse to get the doors open," she said. "That really is a safety fear but I had no other option." The council said the borough currently has 13 family-friendly bays in its town car parks with plans for that number to increase. Mid and East Antrim Council is one of only five local authorities in Northern Ireland with parent and child spaces at its council-run car parks. This does not include facilities at leisures centres. But Ms Gray said the number of family-friendly spaces was "lacking" in the council's car parks. "Modern life doesn't really blend well with our existing town infrastructure because our towns are quite old," she said. She said increasing the number of bays would "ease stress for local families and carers" who need to get toddlers, babies and prams out of their cars. "We need to make our town centre more accessible if we want people to come and shop and spend time here," she added. "Not only is this a real safety issue for parents and carers, it really is a combined effort to get everybody into the town centre so that we can continue to grow and increase our footfall." Amy Moore from Whitehead, County Antrim, agreed, saying it was "definitely hard getting out of a normal car parking space with two children". "Anywhere that we go to park we need both doors open to get them out," she said. "We've got the baby bag and all of the things to get out of the car so we definitely need the extra space." Mrs Moore said, on occasion, she has "driven around three or four times to find a space that would be suitable". "I think a lot of the cars now have increased in size now but the spaces haven't increased as well," she said. Amy's mother Anna Rolloos has four grandchildren and said it can be "difficult" to get them all in and out of the car. Ms Rolloos said she needs space to open the doors, get the pram out and her youngest grandchild strapped in before getting the other children out. "It's the safety of having them all close beside you, being able to open the doors of the car," she said. "One of the children maybe needs someone holding their hand." She said having parent and child spaces close to shops is "excellent" as it means "not having to walk them through a busy car park". The motion calling for more parent and child parking bays at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was backed unanimously in February. A spokesperson added that an additional 22 family-friendly bays were due to be added in Ballymena car parks. Derry City and Strabane Council recently introduced new bays and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has plans to increase the number of spaces from 14 to 18. Belfast City Council has 17 family-friendly spaces across 30 car parks with no plans to increase that number, while Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has six such spaces with plans for additional spaces in the pipeline. Ards and North Down Council as well as Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have no family-friendly spaces at their off-street car parks, but there are some at their leisure facilities. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council does not provide any parent and child car parking spaces within its car parks, adding that councils are "not legally obligated" to do so. Mid Ulster does not have any parent and child spaces in any of the council-maintained car parks and has no plans to change that. Likewise, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council does not provide parent-child parking spaces in its off street car parks but is currently reviewing its overall car parking plan. Causeway Coast and Glens said the council did not keep a record of such information.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Safety fears over lack of parent and child parking spaces
A mother of three who is also a Mid and East Antrim Borough councillor is calling for more parent and child parking in off-street car Gray brought forward the motion to the council following difficulties getting her own children out of the car safely."I've had to leave my three-year-old with my baby on the sidewalk while I try to reverse to get the doors open," she said. "That really is a safety fear but I had no other option."The council said the borough currently has 13 family-friendly bays in its town car parks with plans for that number to increase. Mid and East Antrim Council is one of only five local authorities in Northern Ireland with parent and child spaces at its council-run car parks. This does not include facilities at leisures Ms Gray said the number of family-friendly spaces was "lacking" in the council's car parks."Modern life doesn't really blend well with our existing town infrastructure because our towns are quite old," she said increasing the number of bays would "ease stress for local families and carers" who need to get toddlers, babies and prams out of their cars."We need to make our town centre more accessible if we want people to come and shop and spend time here," she added."Not only is this a real safety issue for parents and carers, it really is a combined effort to get everybody into the town centre so that we can continue to grow and increase our footfall." 'Cars are bigger, spaces aren't' Amy Moore from Whitehead, County Antrim, agreed, saying it was "definitely hard getting out of a normal car parking space with two children"."Anywhere that we go to park we need both doors open to get them out," she said."We've got the baby bag and all of the things to get out of the car so we definitely need the extra space."Mrs Moore said, on occasion, she has "driven around three or four times to find a space that would be suitable"."I think a lot of the cars now have increased in size now but the spaces haven't increased as well," she said. 'Difficult' with four grandchildren Amy's mother Anna Rolloos has four grandchildren and said it can be "difficult" to get them all in and out of the Rolloos said she needs space to open the doors, get the pram out and her youngest grandchild strapped in before getting the other children out."It's the safety of having them all close beside you, being able to open the doors of the car," she said."One of the children maybe needs someone holding their hand."She said having parent and child spaces close to shops is "excellent" as it means "not having to walk them through a busy car park". The motion calling for more parent and child parking bays at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was backed unanimously in February.A spokesperson added that an additional 22 family-friendly bays were due to be added in Ballymena car parks. What is happening at off-street car parks in other areas? Derry City and Strabane Council recently introduced new bays and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has plans to increase the number of spaces from 14 to City Council has 17 family-friendly spaces across 30 car parks with no plans to increase that number, while Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has six such spaces with plans for additional spaces in the and North Down Council as well as Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have no family-friendly spaces at their off-street car parks, but there are some at their leisure facilities. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council does not provide any parent and child car parking spaces within its car parks, adding that councils are "not legally obligated" to do Ulster does not have any parent and child spaces in any of the council-maintained car parks and has no plans to change Fermanagh and Omagh District Council does not provide parent-child parking spaces in its off street car parks but is currently reviewing its overall car parking Coast and Glens said the council did not keep a record of such information.
Associated Press
18-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The Good Feet Store Relocates Little Rock Location to Conway to Help Local Residents Live the Life They Love
The Leading Retailer of Premium, Personally-Fitted Arch Supports Expands with the Opening of its Relocated Little Rock Location 'Our relocated location in Conway offers our customers the best, highest quality in-store experiences with updated store materials and fitting stations.' — Ryan and Lauren Gray, Owners of The Good Feet Store in Conway CONWAY, AR, UNITED STATES, February 18, 2025 / / -- The Good Feet Store, recognized nationally as the market-leading manufacturer and retailer of premium, personally-fitted arch supports, announced today the relocation of their Little Rock location to Conway, scheduled for February 18. 'Our relocated location in Conway offers our customers the best, highest quality in-store experiences with updated store materials and fitting stations. We're looking forward to the opportunity to continue helping our community live the life they love with less pain,' said Ryan and Lauren Gray, Owners of The Good Feet Store in Conway. Situated at 601 Elsinger Blvd, Space 6, the new store is one of nearly 300 locations open now nationwide and is part of a strategic growth initiative that stands to add more than 40 locations in 2025. As with all the brand's stores, the Bettendorf location offers customers a no-obligation, free, personalized in-store fitting with a trained Good Feet Arch Support Specialist. For more than 30 years, The Good Feet Store has been an innovator in foot health and wellness — and it starts with Good Feet Arch Supports. Consisting of three types of arch supports, the Good Feet Arch Supports System works in concert to provide better pain relief, performance, balance and comfort. By focusing on all four arches in the foot, the supports are designed to keep the foot in the ideal position for the body, which helps to eliminate the pain felt in the feet, knees, hips and back. 'Everything is connected,' said Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and Chief Medical Officer of Modern Performance + Recovery Brands. 'Oftentimes people with low back pain, knee pain, or hip pain don't even recognize that it's actually coming from the poor support they have in their feet. The Good Feet 3-Step Arch Support System is clinically proven to provide significant pain relief in only 4 weeks*, as found in an academic study conducted with Dr. Adam Landsman from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.' The Good Feet Store in Conway will be well-suited to serve customers of all ages and interests. Beyond common lower body and back pains, the arch support system fosters wellness for professionals commonly on their feet, active adults and student-athletes. 'We're thrilled to see Ryan and Lauren Gray open a more convenient Good Feet Store location for the Little Rock community,' said Richard Moore, President and CEO of Modern Performance + Recovery Brands, the holding company of The Good Feet Store. 'As we remain in communities across the country we maintain a commitment to bring our customer the highest quality in-store experience possible from relocating to more convenient storefronts to updated in-store materials.' To learn more about The Good Feet Store, visit the company's website at ### About The Good Feet Store Founded in 1992, The Good Feet Store is the market-leading manufacturer and retailer of premium, personally fitted arch supports, with nearly 300 retail locations in the U.S. and abroad. Engineered for comfort and pain relief in more than 400 styles, flexibilities and sizes, Good Feet Arch Supports are personally fitted to the precise needs and preferences of its customers and are backed by a Manufacturer's Lifetime Limited Warranty. The Good Feet Store operates with an end-to-end approach to maximize performance and ensure consistent quality standards. Good Feet Arch Supports are manufactured in a state-of-the-art facility in Carlsbad, California, and supplied exclusively to its retail locations. Each Good Feet Store location is staffed with well-trained Good Feet Arch Support Specialists who provide customers with a no-obligation, free, personal fitting. To learn more about The Good Feet Store and Good Feet Arch Supports, and to see Good Feet Store reviews from actual customers, visit About Modern Performance and Recovery Brands (MPRBrands) Modern Performance and Recovery Brands (MPRBrands) is dedicated to improving physical well-being through personalized health solutions. With a focus on performance, recovery, and long-term wellness, MPRBrands unites a complementary ecosystem of brands including The Good Feet Store, ING Source (OS1st), Stretch*d, and Compression Health. MPRBrands serves customers globally, offering products and services that address both temporary physical challenges and ongoing health needs. We believe that health and wellness should be personal, and we are committed to delivering solutions that make a real difference in people's lives. ### * 'A test of efficacy and foot position alteration in patients wearing Good Feet arch supports for the treatment of pain'; Massachusetts General Hospital Institutional Review Board #2022P000291. In an uncontrolled clinical study, at Day 30, most patients with plantar fasciitis reported a 50% decrease in pain. Ben Cohen Modern Performance + Recovery Brands +1 800-509-4535 X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Legal Disclaimer:
