Latest news with #Lofton
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Porn shown in high school class in Henry County
Parents were shocked to discover pornography was shown during an online class for high school students. Police have launched an investigation. 'This is serious. Serious. And we need to get to the bottom of it,' parent Yolanda Pressley told Channel 2's Tom Jones. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Parents were stunned to hear Union Grove High students in a summer school online class received a lesson inappropriate for their young eyes. 'It's not something that should be in schools. More and more stuff happens like this everyday,' parent Derek Lofton said. The Henry County School System sent parents a message saying it is working with police to identify the individual who shared an inappropriate video in an online class. A spokesperson stated that technical information has been provided to the police to assist in the investigation, and the responsible person will be handled accordingly. 'Well they should take it as a serious matter, because it is,' Lofton said. Lofton said one of his daughters, who attends Union Grove High, informed him and his wife that pornography was shown. He hopes it wasn't a child who shared it as a prank. 'If it was a child we definitely have to raise them better than that. I don't know what to say. That's just a shame,' he said. Another parent said that pornography was displayed during his son's virtual math class at Union Grove High. Pressley, a longtime PTA volunteer, said the inappropriate video can be traumatizing to students. She said the school system needs to get to the bottom of how this happened. 'If someone got into the system we need a solution. How can we prevent that,' she said. The school system has reminded the school of best practices to prevent unknown or unauthorized users from entering virtual meetings. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Education Department to start debt collection on student loans next month
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Advocates warn that millions of student loan borrowers could be in big financial trouble when a new Trump administration policy takes effect. Starting on May 5th the Education Department plans to resume sending student loans that are in default to collections. 'The government can and will collect defaulted federal student loan debt by withholding money from borrowers' tax refunds, federal pensions, and even their wages,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Collection referrals have been on hold since 2020, when the government paused student loan payments during the pandemic. Now the White House says less than 40% of borrowers are up to date on repaying their loans. 'Unsustainable, unfair, and a huge liability for American taxpayers. Debt cannot be wiped away. It just ends up getting transferred to others,' Leavitt said. Advocates say they're worried about the impact this could have on the more than five million borrowers who are currently in default on their loans. Khandice Lofton is counsel for the Student Borrower Protection Center. She says this change could have devastating financial consequences. 'Borrowers are already struggling with rising costs in the economy: groceries, rent, childcare. This just couldn't come at a worse time,' Lofton said. She says this will hit lower income people especially hard. Particularly at a time when the Trump administration is rolling back income driven repayment programs that the Biden administration implemented to lower some borrowers' monthly payments. 'Borrowers want to pay their loans back, but they have a right to afford to do so. And in these challenging times instead of helping borrowers do that, the Trump Administration is choosing to penalize them for falling behind,' Lofton said. Michele Zampini is the Senior Director of College Affordability for The Institute for College Access and Success. She points out the Education Department just made major staff cuts, which she says means less help for borrowers try to get themselves out of default. 'Their ability to navigate that system is really compromised because of the actions of this administration, Zampini said. She argues the student loan system is broken and says borrowers need resources when they fall behind, rather than punishment. 'As long as the system is chaotic and dysfunctional it's really, really difficult for individuals to do their part and to uphold their end of the bargain,' Zampini said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Updates on how the Miami Hurricanes' running backs and tight end rooms are looking
There's no disputing that the Miami Hurricanes have very good starters at running back (Mark Fletcher Jr.) and tight end (emerging Elija Lofton). There's no disputing that they have highly-regarded young talent behind each of them – Jordan Lyle and freshman Girard Pringle Jr., in particular, at running back and freshmen Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert at tight end. The question is whether there is quite enough quality veteran depth on the roster should the team suffer a major injury to the top players at either position. Following the departures of NFL-bound Damien Martinez and FIU's Ajay Allen, there are only four scholarship running backs on UM's roster: Fletcher, Lyle, Pringle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey. There are more bodies on scholarship at tight end, with transfers Alex Bauman and Jack Nickel and third-year player Jackson Carver joining Lofton and the two freshmen. The question is whether UM has enough good players ready to contribute now if there are injuries to Lofton or Bauman, a skilled receiving tight end who had 63 catches for 610 yards and 13 TDs in 39 games over three seasons at Tulane. A lot will depend on how the four other tight ends develop this spring, which concludes with the April 12 on-campus spring game. UM is hopeful that Lofton's diverse skill set, speed and receiving abilities will compensate for the loss of NFL-bound Elijah Arroyo. Lofton had nine catches for 150 yards and two carries for 30 yards as a freshman and was used in multiple roles. 'I've told a lot of people this: He is the most unique player I've ever coached at this point in my career,' UM tight ends coach Cody Woodiel said of Lofton, raising comparisons to former UM tight end Brevin Jordan. 'Athletically he's blessed. He's a Swiss army knife, creates a lot of different matchup [problems]. He's as strong as they come. It's going to be a fun year for him, I think.' Bauman isn't nearly as skilled a blocker as the departing Cam McCormick but is a much better receiver and red zone threat. He should become a solid No. 2 behind Lofton. 'The veteran leadership we were losing with Arroyo and Cam McCormick, Alex obviously having almost 2,000 snaps of college football,' Woodiel said. 'He comes and stabilizes the room a little bit with a bunch of young guys. 'He's brought very good veteran, professional leadership to the room. And obviously he's a very productive player, too. We're looking forward to him continuing to build and develop. He's just now scratching the surface with us.' Bauman, who has one year of eligibility remaining, called his blocking footwork at Tulane 'Swiss cheese' but noted that Woodiel is teaching him to become more proficient in that area. Nickel and Carver are competing for the blocking tight end role. Nickel - brother of UM freshman quarterback Luke Nickel - had one catch for six yards in limited playing time for UAB last season. 'Jack is a hammer,' Woodiel said. 'He gets in there and gets after it. Jack so far has been such an awesome add in the room. He's another veteran guy, brings the leadership guys you're looking for.' As for the freshmen Schott and Gilbert, Woodiel said: 'Their [upside] is as high as they want it to be. They check all the boxes. They are very young, have to understand how to play football at this level from all the technical and fundamental aspects.' At running back, another player might be added in the second portal cycle that begins in mid-April. For now, walk-on Terrell Walden stands as the No. 5 back. Running backs coach Matt Merritt said five is the ideal number of backs but a decision on whether to add someone in the portal will be made after spring practice. Fletcher, who shared the load with Martinez last season, 'really reshaped his body, which has been good,' Merritt said. 'This is his first spring ball [that he's not injured]. That's huge for him in his development. He's trying to take a lot of steps in the leadership part, which he has.' Pringle, an early enrollee, is poised to make an early impact. 'He's picked up the offense pretty well,' Merritt said. 'Still getting used to the speed, understanding that`I can't just outrun everybody, have to run between the tackles, make my reads.' But it's been positive so far.' And Wheatley-Humphrey will compete for the No. 3 job in the months ahead after appearing in just one game and redshirting as a freshman. 'Being 170 last spring and now almost 200 pounds, huge difference,' Merritt said. 'He feels it, too. He's still getting used to running with the extra weight.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chaz Lanier makes 100th 3-pointer with Tennessee basketball in Vols vs. Ole Miss
Chaz Lanier made his 100th 3-pointer of the season to put his name in Tennessee basketball history. The Vols guard hit the mark with his first 3-pointer against Ole Miss at 16:14 of the first half Wednesday in Oxford, Mississippi. He joins Chris Lofton and Santiago Vescovi as the only players in Tennessee history to make 100 3-pointers in a season. Lofton holds the program record with 118 3-pointers, which he made in 2007-08. He made 114 in 2005-06 and 106 during the 2006-07 season. Vescovi made 102 in the 2021-22 season as a junior. Lanier made a career-high eight 3-pointers at Texas A&M on Feb. 22. He made seven in the first half against Baylor on Nov. 22 in the Baha Mar Championship. He made six against Virginia on Nov. 21 and against Norfolk State on Dec. 31. He is the the fourth player in Tennessee history to make eight or more 3-pointers in a game. Lofton did it twice, including a program-record nine against Georgia on Feb. 11, 2006. Allan Houston and Jordan McRae made eight in a game in 1989 and 2013, respectively. Lanier, a Nashville native, made 106 3-pointers at North Florida last season. He transferred to Tennessee in May. VITALE: Dick Vitale, 85, on the call for Tennessee basketball vs Alabama on ESPN: 'Can't wait baby' The 6-foot-4 guard entered Saturday as a career 40.9% 3-point shooter. If that holds, he would be one of four players in Tennessee history to finish his career shooting better than 40% on 3-pointers. Houston holds the record at 42.4% from 1989 to 1993. Lofton shot 42.2% from 2004 to 2008 and Brandon Wharton shot exactly 40% from 1995 to 1999. Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @ If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Chaz Lanier makes 100th 3-pointer with Tennessee basketball vs. Ole Miss
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Documentary on Chris Lofton's secret cancer battle during Vol basketball season to premiere in March
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A new episode of a popular ESPN documentary series will detail the emotional story of a beloved Tennessee basketball player who quietly battled cancer unbeknownst to Vol Nation and his own teammates. The next installment of ESPN's SEC Storied series will chronicle Tennessee basketball great Chris Lofton's private battle cancer during the 2007-2008 season. SEC Storied: Volunteer For Life will debut on March 10 at 7 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. These Downtown Knoxville streets will close to vehicle traffic every weekend in 2025 Following the conclusion of his junior season that saw him named Associated Press SEC Player of the Year and lead Tennessee to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, Lofton was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He made the decision to keep the diagnosis private, only informing a small group that included then-head coach Bruce Pearl. He returned to Rocky Top for his senior season after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in March 2007 and continued to play while receiving treatment. Lofton went on to be named to the 2008 Wooden All-America Team and become the SEC's all-time leader in made three-pointers. He ultimately revealed the truth in an interview with ESPN's Chris Low in May 2008 after the season. CONTINUING COVERAGE: University of Tennessee Basketball 'This is an emotional story about the courage and perseverance in the face of tremendous adversity all focused with a team first attitude,' Director Shaun Silva said in a press release. 'I wanted viewers to experience Chris's journey as he did, to feel every twist and emotional turn – through unimaginable pain, doubt, isolation, frustration and the heartbreaking disappointment he endured.' Lofton's career three-point percentage stands as the second-best all-time by a Tennessee Volunteer. He owns the two most prolific three-point shooting seasons in program history as well as the school record for most three-pointers made in a game. Tennessee retired Lofton's No. 5 jersey in 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
