Latest news with #Ricky
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice on mute: As the Education Department withers, thousands of children wait in vain
It started like every formal complaint: with hope. Adrienne Hazel, a mother from Southfield, Michigan, submitted a report to the US Department of Education in April after her 20-year-old son Ricky, who has autism, was placed in a public school programme without a certified teacher and denied an individual learning plan. She received an automated reply. Then, silence. Last year, her complaint had triggered a response within weeks. 'The office notified Ricky's school,' Hazel recalled, 'which spurred the district to reach an agreement with her within about three months.' This time? 'There has been zero response to this,' she said to The Associated Press. 'He's basically going into a babysitting situation. He's not getting the things that he needs to grow into independence. And he'll just be aging without getting an education. ' Her story is not unique, but it is increasingly common. Dismantling in motion : Fewer hands, heavier burden The Trump administration has maintained that it is committed to protecting the civil rights of American students, even as it proceeds to dismantle the very institution created for that purpose. In March, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the US Department of Education lost nearly half of its staff to mass layoffs. In the words of Education Secretary Linda McMahon: 'Not only are we reducing the backlog, but we are keeping up with the current amount with a reduced staff because we are doing it efficiently,' as reported by the Associated Press. Yet internal data and public records tell a different story. So far this year, OCR has reported just 65 resolution agreements, a pace far below the 380 logged in 2024 and the 561 in 2023. During Trump's first term, the office averaged more than 800 resolutions annually, with a high of 1,300 in 2017. According to internal data obtained by the Associated Press, total resolved cases, whether dismissed, mediated, or voluntarily resolved, have dropped 40% compared to the same time frame last year. Even more troubling, cases resolved through actual compliance agreements or legal action have decreased by 70%. Meanwhile, complaints are climbing, up 9%, with the total backlog now exceeding 25,000. A promise repackaged as reform Despite the decline in resolution output, the Department of Education insists it is cleaning up what it calls an inherited bureaucratic disaster. 'When staff levels were at their peak, OCR's processes still proved to be ineffective,' spokesperson Julie Hartman said to Associated Press, 'as evidenced by the chronic backlog of tens of thousands of cases that left students' discrimination claims languishing over many presidential administrations.' But for parents waiting for action, this narrative feels like an excuse. Their children's lives are on hold, not because of inefficiency, but because of silence. When the system stops responding Marcie Lipsitt, a veteran special education advocate in Michigan, is watching a grim pattern emerge. She helps families file complaints, but she no longer offers optimism. Investigations, she warns, now take at least a year, if they begin at all. 'Some schools have backtracked on previous agreements,' she said, as reported by the Associated Press. 'Yet parents can't get a response from the federal office.' And while parents wait, schools become more emboldened, reversing prior commitments and skirting their legal obligations. An office gutted, a nation on edge OCR once stood as a shield for students who had no other avenue to pursue justice. Now, it's barely standing. Over 200 employees remain on leave as part of a federal lawsuit over the March layoffs. A June court order temporarily paused further terminations, with a federal judge in Boston stating that OCR is 'currently incapable of addressing the vast majority' of complaints. And yet, McMahon continues to claim progress: She told senators in June that the office was making headway after inheriting a backlog of 20,000 cases from the Biden administration. Still, doubts grow. With reduced staff and increased complaints, remaining OCR employees report unsustainable caseloads. Last year's budget indicated that investigators managed an average of 42 cases each. Now, insiders suggest the figure exceeds 200, a number that renders meaningful investigation nearly impossible. Redefining civil rights by narrowing its scope Of the few cases OCR has resolved in 2025, most focus on disability discrimination. Smaller numbers involve sex or race. Among the sex discrimination cases, a noticeable share deals with restricting transgender athletes from women's sports, a central plank of Trump's campaign rhetoric. Hartman defends the office's direction: 'OCR will continue to meet its statutory responsibilities while driving to improve efficiency and resolve the longstanding backlog,' she said to Associated Press. But parents like Casie Clouse are still waiting. Her 14-year-old son Brady, who is blind in one eye and has a learning disability, was promised accommodations: Access to teachers' notes, reduced coursework, and a supportive plan. He received none of it. 'He is going to go to high school and fail,' she said. 'I feel like my child will not get a high school diploma if he stays in Ann Arbor Public Schools,' as reported by the Associated Press. She filed her complaint in May. She's yet to hear a word back. A system designed to respond, now refusing to answer Civil rights enforcement in American education was never perfect, but it was, at the very least, visible. It gave families a sense that somewhere, someone might listen. Now, as the Department of Education is slowly dismantled and responsibilities are eyed for outsourcing to the Department of Justice, the last layer of federal protection appears to be fading. For parents of children with disabilities, for students facing discrimination based on race or gender identity, the silence is more than a delay, it's a denial. When a system stops answering the most urgent cries of its youngest and most vulnerable, the question is no longer one of efficiency or politics. It is one of abandonment. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Friends with the benedicts
Visitors to the Great Outdoor Comedy Festival can expect to have a good ol' time and a few drinky-poos with some well-known East Coast personalities this weekend. Randy (a.k.a Patrick Roach) and his antagonistic neighbours — Ricky (Robb Wells), Bubbles (Mike Smith) and Julian (John Paul Tremblay) — will bring a taste of Sunnyvale Trailer Park to Assiniboine Park for a live Trailer Park Boys performance on Sunday afternoon. Speaking in character over the phone from Halifax, Randy was looking forward to a trip out west. The last time he was in Winnipeg it was winter. SUPPLIED The Trailer Park Boys were a staple of Canadian television for 12 seasons. 'I almost got frostbite on my nipples, so I'm very glad that I'm coming there in the summer,' says the perpetually topless assistant trailer-park supervisor. 'And I also want to try some good cheeseburgers.' The Great Outdoors appearance comes in the midst of filming for a rumoured 13th season of The Trailer Park Boys, a Canadian mockumentary franchise that over the last 25 years has spawned a television show, several movies, animated spinoffs and an internet streaming service called Swearnet. 'Those camera guys never seem to stop following us around; they're always trying to catch us doing something,' Randy says. While the drunken, stoned get-rich-quick schemes of Ricky, Bubbles and Julian haven't changed much over the last two decades, Sunnyvale has continued to shift with the times. 'The lot fees have gone up, it seems like it costs more for cheeseburgers,' says Randy, who previously patrolled the park with Jim Lahey (the late John Dunsworth). 'One thing Mr. Lahey, who I miss, always tried to do was make Sunnyvale a nice place to live. And sometimes there's shenanigans that go on, but we always tried to solve it as a community, not by always calling the boys in blue.' The legalization of cannabis in Canada has also made its way into the narrative. 'There was a time when most of the marijuana (in the park) was from Ricky… now they sell it right there at our liquor stores,' adds Randy. 'But I've noticed people are keeping their lawns a lot better because they partake and then they mow the grass and wash their cars or even spray down their siding.' Sunday's matinee show will feature a musical performance by Bubbles and the Shitrockers — the title band from the 2024 movie Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Shitrockers Story, in which Randy learned to be a roadie. 'I've learned a little bit about all the guitars and the basses and the cords and the amps, so I'm going to be running sound and I'm pretty good at it,' he says. There's likely to be an onstage spat between Randy and Ricky — who, 'if he gets on too much liquor and dope, he turns into an arsehole' — along with some on-brand hijinx. Riley Smith / The Canadian Press files Trailer Park Boys Bubbles (Mike Smith, left) and Ricky (Robb Wells) will be joined Sunday by Julien (John Paul Tremblay) and Randy (Patrick Roach). It's unlikely Smokey, Randy's male prostitute persona, will be in attendance, although, he's packing his cowboy hat just in case. 'I made a lot of money as Smokey in Winnipeg; people are frisky there for sure,' he says. The Trailer Park Boys share the Sunday afternoon bill with Entourage actor Jeremy Piven. The show runs from noon to 4:15 p.m., followed by an evening show headlined by comedian and podcaster Theo Von, supported by Dusty Slay and Laura Peek. Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. The festival also features headlining acts Bert Kreischer and Whitney Cummings (Friday) and John Mulaney and Martin Short (Saturday). Winnipeg performers Jordan Welwood, Reverend Rambler and DJ Mama Cutsworth are providing pre-show entertainment for the three-day comedy festival, which held its first local show at Assiniboine Park in 2024. The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival launched in Edmonton in 2021 and has since expanded across North America. Visit for tickets and more information. If you value coverage of Manitoba's arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The 2025 Curse of Corrie – how the soap's stars have suffered heartbreaking splits this year
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT is safe to say that 2025 really has not been a great year for the country's longest running soap opera Coronation Street. From budget cuts to episode axes to a major cast cull, the show has found itself in the spotlight for mostly the wrong reasons this year. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 It's been a year of heartbreak for the cast of Corrie Credit: Getty 7 A number of the soap's actresses have split from their partners Credit: Splash 7 It is the latest curse to hit the soap opera this year Credit: Getty - Contributor But it isn't just on-screen where things have been going from bad to worse. Beyond the cobbles, the stars of the show have also been dealing with their own personal heartbreaks. It appears to be the year of off-screen splits for the Weatherfield lot too with many of the show's cast calling it a day with their beloved partners. From sirens of years gone past to current fan favourites on the show, it's been a pretty heartbreaking year for the stars of soap. The Sun takes a look at some of the Corrie's casts shock splits and what drove them to breaking point in their once solid romances. Katie McGlynn 7 Katie McGlynn split from her reality star partner this week Credit: Instagram Sinead Tinker actress Katie McGlynn left her fans stunned when she was revealed to be in a relationship with forgotten The Only Way Is Essex star, Ricky Rayment. This week, it was confirmed that Katie, who started dating former reality star Ricky after meeting on a cruise ship in 2023, had decided to call time on their romance, despite the couple sparking engagement rumours last February. They quietly began to remove traces of each other from their social media before their split was revealed by the MailOnline. One source said: "Katie and Ricky have ended their romance, they're still friends and want to remain civil but in terms of a romantic relationship, it's definitely over." They added that they found it "difficult" to maintain a long distance relationship, with Katie in Manchester and Ricky in Essex. Ex-Coronation Street & Strictly star 'headed for divorce' after just two years as she deletes husband from social media Ricky, who was previously engaged to Marnie Simpson, rose to fame on the ITV reality show in 2012 before leaving 10 years ago. Georgia May Foote 7 Georgia May Foote is headed for divorce from her husband Credit: Instagram Another former soap actress who has been facing a heartbreaking battle is Katy Armstrong star Georgia May Foote. The Sun told earlier this week how the actress was headed for divorce with her husband Kris Evans just two years on from their intimate wedding ceremony. Georgia has removed her wedding ring and wiped all traces of the musician who she once called her 'best friend' from her Instagram page — including glossy snaps from their wedding. A source told The Sun: 'Georgia's marriage to Kris seems to be over. 'It's on the rocks. 'She's looking to the future and is surrounded by friends and her family.' Despite the split, the pair are understood to still be living together as they figure out their next steps amid the split. A source admitted that the pair were happy enough to still be living together but Georgia isn't sure that Kris fits into her life moving forward following a devastating fire at her nail salon. The actress opened the salon amid struggles to find acting work and financial hardship. She is now aiming to crowdfund to raise cash in the wake of her split and the business burning down. Georgia Taylor 7 Georgia split from her co-star Charlie after two years together Credit: Instagram At the start of the year, it was revealed that Toyah Battersby actress Georgia Taylor had split from her co-star lover. Whilst on-screen, Toyah enjoyed an on-off marriage with husband, Imran Habeeb, away from screens, actress Georgia was dating her on-screen husband's actor in real life - Charlie de Melo. The 44-year-old had been romancing the soap hunk since late 2022 - just months after Charlie's character was killed off the soap and their pretend marriage crumbled. However, it is thought that the pair quietly called it quits in late 2024 before the news was made public in January of this year. A friend revealed: 'Georgia and Charlie are no longer a couple, but they remain friends who care about each other deeply. 'They have lots of happy memories together, but are both really focused on work at the moment and looking forward to the future, there are no hard feelings.' Charlie's character was killed off in June 2022 when he died of a heart attack, leaving millions of Corrie viewers in tears. Georgia said at the time she was heartbroken by Charlie's decision to leave the ITV show. Speaking in 2022, she said: 'I absolutely adore him. He's been a dream. "He's so funny so we laugh a lot but he is honestly one of the most supportive people I have ever worked with." Shortly after Georgia's gushing comments, they found themselves starting a romance in real life. Tina O'Brien 7 Tina's marriage to Adam is understood to be over Credit: Splash Sarah Platt actress Tina was left nursing her own heartbreak earlier this year when it was revealed she had split from her husband, Adam Crofts. It is understood the pair called it quits at the top of the year following a stressful house move. The 41-year-old soap actress decided it would be better for them to live apart after wishing to spend some time alone. They both quickly ditched their wedding rings and decided to unfollow each other online. However, sources insisted they were "still close" and would remain so for the sake of their son, Beau. Tina and Adam started dating in 2011 before marrying on New Year's Eve in Manchester in 2018.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The 2025 Curse of Corrie – how the soap's stars have suffered heartbreaking splits this year
IT is safe to say that 2025 really has not been a great year for the country's longest running soap opera Coronation Street. From budget cuts to episode axes to a major cast cull, the show has found itself in the spotlight for mostly the wrong reasons this year. 7 It's been a year of heartbreak for the cast of Corrie Credit: Getty 7 A number of the soap's actresses have split from their partners Credit: Splash 7 It is the latest curse to hit the soap opera this year Credit: Getty - Contributor But it isn't just on-screen where things have been going from bad to worse. Beyond the cobbles, the stars of the show have also been dealing with their own personal heartbreaks. It appears to be the year of off-screen splits for the From sirens of years gone past to current fan favourites on the show, it's been a pretty heartbreaking year for the stars of soap. Read More on Corrie The Sun takes a look at some of the Corrie's casts shock splits and what drove them to breaking point in their once solid romances. Katie McGlynn 7 Katie McGlynn split from her reality star partner this week Credit: Instagram Sinead Tinker actress This week, it was confirmed that , who started dating former reality star after meeting on a cruise ship in 2023, had decided to call time on their romance, despite last February. They quietly began to remove traces of each other from their social media before their split was revealed by the . Most read in Soaps One source said: "Katie and Ricky have ended their romance, they're still friends and want to remain civil but in terms of a romantic relationship, it's definitely over." They added that they found it "difficult" to maintain a long distance relationship, with Katie in Manchester and Ricky in Essex . Ex-Coronation Street & Strictly star 'headed for divorce' after just two years as she deletes husband from social media Ricky, who was previously engaged to Marnie Simpson, rose to fame on the ITV reality show in 2012 before leaving 10 years ago. Georgia May Foote 7 Georgia May Foote is headed for divorce from her husband Credit: Instagram Another former soap actress who has been facing a heartbreaking battle is Katy Armstrong star Georgia May Foote. The Sun told earlier this week how the actress was Georgia has removed her wedding ring and wiped all traces of the musician who she once called her 'best friend' from her Instagram page — including glossy snaps from their wedding. A source told The Sun: 'Georgia's marriage to Kris seems to be over. 'It's on the rocks. 'She's looking to the future and is surrounded by friends and her family.' Despite the split, the pair are understood to still be living together as they figure out their next steps amid the split. A source admitted that The actress opened the salon amid struggles to find acting work and financial hardship. She is now aiming to crowdfund to raise cash in the wake of her split and the business burning down. Georgia Taylor 7 Georgia split from her co-star Charlie after two years together Credit: Instagram At the start of the year, it was revealed that Toyah Battersby actress Georgia Taylor had split from her co-star lover. Whilst on-screen, Toyah enjoyed an on-off marriage with husband, Imran Habeeb, away from screens, actress Georgia was dating her on-screen husband's actor in real life - Charlie de Melo. The 44-year-old had been romancing the soap hunk since late 2022 - just months after Charlie's character was killed off the soap and their pretend marriage crumbled. However, it is thought news was made public in January of this year. A friend revealed: 'Georgia and Charlie are no longer a couple, but they remain friends who care about each other deeply. 'They have lots of happy memories together, but are both really focused on work at the moment and looking forward to the future, there are no hard feelings.' Charlie's character was killed off in June 2022 when he died of a heart attack, leaving millions of Corrie viewers in tears. Georgia said at the time she was heartbroken by Charlie's decision to leave the ITV show. Speaking in 2022, she said: 'I absolutely adore him. He's been a dream. "He's so funny so we laugh a lot but he is honestly one of the most supportive people I have ever worked with." Shortly after Georgia's gushing comments, they found themselves starting a romance in real life. Tina O'Brien 7 Tina's marriage to Adam is understood to be over Credit: Splash Sarah Platt actress Tina was left nursing her own heartbreak earlier this year when it was revealed she had split from her husband, Adam Crofts. It is understood the pair called it quits at the top of the year following a stressful house move. The 41-year-old soap actress decided it would be better for them to live apart after wishing to spend some time alone. They both quickly ditched their wedding rings and decided to unfollow each other online. However, sources insisted they were "still close" and would remain so for the sake of their son, Beau. Tina and Adam started dating in 2011 before marrying on New Year's Eve in Manchester in 2018. Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025 ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap. This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama. Colson Smith - Craig Tinker The character of Craig Tinker Sue Cleaver - Eileen Grimshaw After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I'm A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver Luca Toolan - Mason Radcliffe Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after Sue Devaney - Debbie Webster In November 2024, we revealed that Charlotte Jordan - Daisy Midgeley The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We Shelley King - Yasmeen Metcalfe The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
ZEROBASEONE faces major backlash over Ricky's comments about Zhang Hao's weight
K-pop group ZEROBASEONE has been involved in a number of controversies and scandals since their debut. The latest Recently, they have been facing a lot of backlash for allegedly passing fat-shaming comments against their fellow member Zhang Hao. During an online segment, while the members of the group were joking around and talking about pick-up lines, one particular comment left them unhappy. Zhang Hao was trying to say something, but was interrupted by fellow member Ricky, who commented if it was because he was heavy, and then proceeded to laugh about it. Hao then continued his line by saying, 'Because my world was flipped over by you from the beginning'. As soon as the video was shared online, fans of the group called out Ricky as well as all the others who were laughing at the comment. Fans shared their opinions online and stated that the member is targeted again and again and has been subjected to fat-shaming repeatedly. One fan commented that, 'Oh baby, maybe you should lift some respect before talking about him like that. Your arms shaking, but your audacity isn't', while another shared 'What is this pathetic, brainless group? Free Zhang Hao from this mess already'.
