Latest news with #MeganNewton
New York Times
19-07-2025
- New York Times
Why Are More Than 100 People Still Missing in Texas, 2 Weeks After the Floods?
In the days after the deadly July 4 floods in Central Texas, Megan Newton spent hours sitting outside her parents' home in Marble Falls, looking overhead to spot medical choppers among the Black Hawk helicopters searching for the missing. 'I was just waiting for someone to call and say, 'We found him,'' Ms. Newton, 41, said, 'that 'we've got him and he's good.'' Since then, her hope has waned for her father, Michael Phillips, 66, the chief of the volunteer fire department in Marble Falls, about 80 miles north of San Antonio. Yet his name remains among more than 100 people still missing statewide after floodwaters roared through summer camps, riverside homes, campgrounds and R.V. parks, claiming at least 135 lives. As days have turned into weeks, the number of missing, still stubbornly high, may be the flood's biggest lingering question. The total in Kerr County, the epicenter of the disaster, dropped this week to 97 from 173, and then stalled, raising still more questions. At least four others are missing or unidentified from Travis County, just east of Kerr. And one person — Mr. Phillips — is missing from Burnet County, and still others across the region might be out there. 'Even though we are reporting 97 people missing,' in Kerr County, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas told reporters on Monday, 'there's no certainty that all 97 of those people were swept away by the storm.' The fluctuation of the numbers has only contributed to the puzzlement, as bodies are recovered and it becomes clear that some counts are incorrect. Mr. Abbott has said that in the days following the floods, local and state officials were better able to identify people from out of town who had come to the Hill Country to stay at camps and hotels. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football match held in memory of murdered Stoke-on-Trent teenager
Family and friends of a woman who was murdered six years ago came together to celebrate her life as a charity football match was played in her annual event was held at Newcastle College in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on Wednesday in tribute to former academy footballer Megan Newton, who died in 2019 at the age of game featured current players from the college's Andy Griffin Football Academy, who took on Ms Newton's former teammates, while her family watched well as raising awareness of the impact of violence against women, the event also raised more than £1,500 for charity Our Space, which supports people with disabilities. Lauren, who was a close friend of Ms Newton's, took part in the match and told BBC Radio Stoke they were "like sisters".She spoke of how Ms Newton hated the rain but would be "buzzing" whenever the sun came out, earning her the nickname "summer time". Of the match, she said: "It just means so much to me, to her family, to everyone – it means the world to me specifically. I just love seeing everybody back here."It's like being back and connected to a memory I have of Meg but in the present day. She's gone but her memory isn't, she's still very much here and you can tell by all the people who have turned up." Sherry McCuw, who works at Newcastle College, coached Ms Newton and described her as a great football player."Meg was a lovely person off the pitch. On the pitch, she was like a bull in a china shop," she said. "To know Meg off the pitch and to watch her on it was an absolute pleasure."She added: "We want Meg to last in our memory."The team made up of current academy members included players aged between 16 and 19, while the opposing side made up of Ms Newton's former teammates were aged about 24 to 25. Current academy player Ruby, 17, said: "Some people don't get the chance to play for a cause like this so I'm glad we can."Former Stoke City FC captain Andy Griffin, who set up the academy, said it was "very important" to keep holding the event in Ms Newton's memory."She was a very bubbly character – very well-liked, very well-respected – and you don't have to ask many people twice to come along," he added. Ms Newton, who also coached a youth football team, was found dead in her flat in Stoke-on-Trent on 20 April 2019 after she was raped and murdered by Joseph was handed a life sentence, with a minimum prison term of 21 years, after pleading guilty in February 2020. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Megan Newton: footballers celebrate life of Stoke-on-Trent teen
A charity football match will be held later to celebrate the life of a teenager who was murdered six years Newton, 18, was found dead at her flat on Fletcher Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on 20 April 2019 after she was raped and murdered by Joseph Trevor, who received a life sentence in February 2020.A keen and talented footballer, Ms Newton studied at Newcastle College in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and coached a youth her death, the college organised an annual football match in her memory, with this year's set to kick off at 18:00 BST on Wednesday. It will feature the college's current women's football academy team and former students who played with Ms Newton before her Bailey, curriculum manager for sport at Newcastle College and Ms Newton's former teacher, told BBC Radio Stoke it was always an emotional time for staff and students."While it's emotional, it is really important. It's a team effort and it's important to keep doing it for Meg's legacy," he said. 'A real tragedy' Mr Bailey described Ms Newton as a "wonderful character" who was resolute, smart, resilient and "had a lot going for her".Of her coaching younger players, he said: "She wanted to help everybody out and do what she could to make sure they enjoy sport, particularly football."It was a real tragedy when what happened to Meg happened."All proceeds raised at the football match will go to local charity Our Space, which supports children and adults with disabilities.A number of other events were due to be held at the college throughout the day, including a women's-only walk to raise awareness of women's safety and a raffle. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
