Latest news with #PSCO
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Two found sleeping in truck at Puyallup gas station, removed by deputies after being uncooperative
Bodycam posted by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) shows deputies responding to a call of a man and a woman sleeping in a utility truck parked at a Puyallup gas station for over an hour, the sheriff's office posted on Facebook. After drug paraphernalia could be seen inside the truck and the two inside refused to open the door, bodycam shows deputies breaking a window and tasing the man while they removed him from the truck. The 52-year-old man was found with 365 grams of meth, a .38 caliber handgun, and had a federal warrant. PSCO says the woman was released at the scene but will be charged with obstruction. 'It's Going to Get Stupid' On April 2nd around 1:15am, deputies responded to the AMPM at 176th St. E and Canyon Road E when a gas station employee called to report a large utility truck had been parked at the gas pumps for over an hour, and two occupants were passed out inside. Upon arrival, deputies could see the keys in the ignition and drug paraphernalia inside the truck. It was obvious the subjects were under the influence. At this point, deputies had probable cause for drugs and the occupants were not free to leave. The occupants refused to comply, and the deputies patiently worked with the subjects for eight minutes until they realized the occupants would not get out on their own. With some assistance from our deputies, the subjects were removed from the vehicle. The male was found to be in possession of 365 grams of Methamphetamines and had a Federal Marshal's Warrant for a weapons violation. Upon a search warrant of the truck, a .38 Special Revolver was located in a pair of pants. The 52-year-old male was booked for his Federal Marshal's Warrant in addition to Assault in the 3rd Degree X 3, Resisting Arrest, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, Knowingly Possessing a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm since he was a convicted felon. The female was released on scene, but charges will be forwarded for obstruction for her. Great job to these deputies who recognized the suspicious behaviors and got this guy off our streets. Posted by Pierce County Sheriff's Office on Friday, April 18, 2025
Gulf Insider
08-04-2025
- General
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait's Waste Crisis Among World's Worst
Kuwait is facing an escalating waste crisis that activists say demands immediate, systemic change. As one of the world's highest per capita producers of organic waste, estimated at 1.4 kilos per person per day, the country is grappling with the environmental, health, and economic toll of a growing mountain of solid, liquid, and gaseous waste. Environmental leaders warn that without radical, sustainable solutions, Kuwait's waste problem will continue to worsen. 'We need to convert waste into electrical energy,' said Jenan Behzad, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society. She called for a comprehensive policy shift, from expanding recycling infrastructure to raising public awareness about waste reduction. According to Behzad, Kuwait's reliance on consumption-heavy lifestyles, weak recycling practices, and continued dependence on landfills have created an unsustainable trajectory. The country currently uses three primary landfill sites, Jahra, the Seventh Southern Ring Road, and Mina Abdullah, to manage household waste. However, plastic packaging from supermarkets and restaurants is fuelling a surge in plastic waste, now comprising nearly 80 per cent of floating marine debris, threatening coastal ecosystems. Food waste, she added, is particularly acute during religious and national holidays. A recent study by the Kuwait Environment Protection Society revealed that food waste can spike significantly during Ramadan, with edible items often discarded in excess. In the Gulf region overall, food waste constitutes around 50 percent of total waste, a staggering figure. To combat this, Behzad called for the use of waste-to-energy thermal conversion technology and methane harvesting from organic waste to generate power. She also suggested biofuel production from discarded food, citing successful examples in Germany and Sweden. 'Solid waste contributes to 2.4 per cent of Kuwait's total greenhouse gas emissions,' she noted, adding that recycling and energy recovery could not only reduce pollution but also diversify the country's energy sources. A key part of the solution, she argued, lies in mandatory household and commercial waste sorting. Separate bins for plastics, paper, metals, and organic waste would improve collection and recycling rates. Behzad also proposed establishing government-run sorting stations in every governorate, with the private sector playing a central role in waste collection, sorting, and investing in recycling ventures. Despite existing laws, enforcement remains weak. 'The Environmental Protection Law imposes fines of up to 500 Kuwaiti dinars for dumping waste in undesignated areas,' she explained. 'Yet 58 percent of those surveyed by our society said they were unaware of the law's details.' Engineer Alaa Hassan, CEO of the International Petroleum Services Company (PSCO), described the waste issue as 'a ticking time bomb.' She criticized the lack of serious planning and pointed to the accumulation of between 8 and 10 million damaged tires annually. These tires, often left in open areas, represent a major environmental hazard. 'We must hold illegal dumpers accountable,' she said, urging private sector engagement in converting waste into raw industrial materials. Environmental activist Barak Ramadan Al Hindal echoed the call for change, emphasizing the untapped financial and employment potential of the recycling sector. He called for a cultural shift in waste management, beginning in homes and schools, extending to offices and hospitals. 'Many countries around the world have transformed waste into opportunity,' Al Hindal said. 'Kuwait must follow suit if we are serious about building a sustainable future.' For now, environmentalists agree that time is running out. Without bold reforms and public buy-in, Kuwait's waste crisis threatens to outpace the systems designed to manage it, posing long-term risks to the country's environment, economy, and public health. Also read: Senior Kuwaiti Officials Monitor Raffle Draw Amid Fraud Concerns
BBC News
04-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Avon and Somerset Police to charge 5% more in council tax
Avon and Somerset Police will charge more council tax from police and crime panel voted on Tuesday in favour of the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) proposal to increase the police precept - the portion of council tax allocated to police services - by 5%.For a band D property, this will see £14 added to the annual bill for policing, taking it from £279 to £ increase will generate an additional £8.5m for the force, the PCC's office said. Chief Constable Sarah Crew told the meeting that even with this increase, the force would need to find £6m of savings. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clare Moody said: "I know the cost of living is a concern for many, and I did not take this decision lightly."Without the increase, the force would have faced a significant deficit, even after making cuts committed to in its £6.4m savings plan over the next year, which is set to see 80 fewer Police Community Support Officers (PSCO). 'Wheels on' It comes as Avon and Somerset Police said it had already lost 60 PSCOs in 12 months, between September 2023 and September 2024, a decrease of 19%.The chair of the police and crime panel, councillor Heather Shearer, said it had approved the increase "just to keep the wheels on".The decision followed a public consultation, in which 3,146 residents across the region shared their views. The majority of responses, 52%, supported a precept increase of £10 or Crew said the need for a rise was because of an increase in demand on the force - which she said was "not about crime"."Crime is only about 25% of our demand, we are dealing with lots of other things," she added much of a police officer's time was supervising people in need of help until "somebody with the right skills comes along"."I don't come to this with a defeatist mindset. We have to prioritise. We will respond to your emergencies consistently and well. We will see justice done for you," Ms Crew Ms Moody added: "It is my responsibility to ensure our police service has the resources to continue tackling crime, keeping communities safe, and improving trust and confidence in policing."It is an annual increase and we know police needs that funding right now."
