Latest news with #SCPD
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
L.I. woman secures $225K settlement, Suffolk policy reform after forced hijab removal
Suffolk County has agreed to pay a $225,000 settlement to a Long Island woman who sued the county in federal court last year, claiming police forced her to remove her hijab and strip-searched her in front of a male officer. Marowa Fahmy — a practicing Muslim who has worn a hijab every day for nearly 30 years — was arrested by Suffolk County police officers in October 2022 following a domestic complaint that was later determined to be false. Despite telling officers that her religion prohibits her from being uncovered in front of men outside her immediate family, Fahmy said she was forced to remove her hijab and remain with her hair and neck exposed for about nine hours, according to the lawsuit filed on her behalf in January 2024 by the Council on American-Islamic Relations New York (CAIR-NY) and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel. The 'humiliating' and 'traumatic' ordeal violated the core tenets of Fahmy's faith and deeply affected her, she said. 'Being forced to remove my hijab and remain exposed for hours in front of male officers violated everything I believe in,' Fahmy said in a statement on Friday. 'I brought this case so no one else has to go through what I did.' In the lawsuit, Fahmy alleged that the SCPD violated her religious rights under federal and state law. The complaint also challenged the county's policy that required people to remove religious head coverings for booking photos. After the suit was filed, Suffolk County revised its policy to allow religious coverings — such as hijabs, yarmulkes and turbans — to be worn during booking photos and while in custody, unless exceptional circumstances apply, according to Fahmy's lawyers. As part of the settlement filed Friday, Fahmy will receive $225,000 in damages. In addition to the monetary award, the SCPD has agreed to train its officers on policies regarding religious head coverings. 'The forced removal of a person's religious head covering in front of male officers is profoundly degrading,' one of her lawyers, O. Andrew F. Wilson, told the Daily News in an emailed statement. 'Ms. Fahmy's courage to bring this case not only secured justice for herself but led to real policy change,' Wilson said. 'This settlement sends a clear message that Suffolk County's previous practices were unconstitutional and out of step with national norms.' The agreement also reaffirms that law enforcement 'must respect the hijab' and the women who wear them, added Burhan Carroll, a staff attorney with CAIR-NY. 'What Ms. Fahmy went through should never happen again,' Carroll said.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Local firework stand rocked by ‘wild' early morning robbery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Freedom Family Fireworks' tent at the corner of Highway 291 and Highway 210 in River Bend was robbed on Friday morning, according to the Sugar Creek Police Department. Around 5 a.m., officers responded to the tent, where they say three men, two wearing masks, robbed the temporary tent the morning of July 4. The owner of Freedom Family Fireworks says that his employee was held at gunpoint and handcuffed while the robbers stole their products, although SCPD could not confirm that information to FOX4 on Saturday. Discarded fireworks damaged two homes in Lee's Summit, no injuries reported Taylor Gray, the owner, says that his employee was rattled by what happened. 'You know, he's in tears,' Gray said. 'It was. It was that gut-wrenching drive for all of 30 seconds. You're like, 'What happened?' You can't get a hold of anybody, but we're just thankful everybody came out okay,' he said. He said he was called around 4:30 in the morning and immediately knew that something was wrong. 'I've never seen anything like this, man,' Gray said. 'It's been wild. We've had employees overnight steal from us before, but we've never had anything held up like this. It was scary. It's been tough on everybody.' Photos that Gray provided to FOX4 show a white SUV entering their parking lot around the same time as the robbery. Especially since it happened on July 4, Gray said it was a massive blow to the team. 'You're celebrating America's birthday, right? It's supposed to be fun. The kids come out; that's why we do this, right? To make everybody happy. And something like this happens, especially the morning of the 4th of July, you know, really kind of put a damper on everybody.' Gray said the items they took would not have made much resale money. 'This wasn't robbing me to go sell it to pay bills,' he said. 'This was 'They just, they did it to do it'. And it's not okay. They took one of my big packs and then they just went shopping for all that small stuff they wanted.' Gray is offering a cash reward of $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the thieves. Lakeside Speedway celebrates 70 years in Kansas City metro 'I don't care about the products. I care about what they did to my teammate,' he said. 'We want to make sure we want to help get these people off the street, you know, and it's just not okay. Fireworks are replaceable where people are not. And that's all that matters.' Sugar Creek Police are continuing their investigation into the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Web Release
03-07-2025
- Business
- Web Release
MBRF and UNDP organize final phase of ‘Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' to prepare leaders of tomorrow
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Kuwait's General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (SCPD), launched the third and final phase of the 'Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' initiative. In line with its goal to empower Kuwaiti women and youth, the initiative aims to nurture key leadership skills to address future challenges and drive sustainable development across the public and private sectors. The concluding phase included virtual sessions on June 23 and 25, 2025, followed by in-person workshops scheduled from June 29 to July 1, 2025, in Kuwait. In the final phase, nearly 60 participants benefitted from a dynamic and engaging learning environment featuring interactive workshops, expert-led analytical sessions, and thought-provoking discussions. Distinguished keynote speakers shared insights, while collaborative working groups co-developed practical, forward-looking strategies for knowledge sustainability. The results of the initiative, including policy recommendations for decision-makers, will act as a strategic roadmap for shaping Kuwait's knowledge-driven future. His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said, 'Driven by our strong belief in human capital investment, we strive to empower the youth by equipping them with future-ready skills to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving world. At MBRF, we prioritize designing innovative programs and knowledge initiatives that contribute to boosting youth competencies across the globe. Amid this, the Knowledge Journey stands as a testament to our mission to increase opportunities for new demographics despite any regional boundaries, attaining our vision of a sustainable knowledge economy based on innovation and creative thinking.' Emma Morley, Resident Representative of UNDP in Kuwait, said, 'The 'Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' exemplifies our unwavering commitment to accelerate youth empowerment across the Arab region, empowering them as the key partners in building sustainable futures. In the present world, nations' growth is mainly driven by their investment in knowledge, innovation, and human capital. Our partnership with MBRF and the Kuwaiti SCPD contributes towards equipping youth and women to navigate global trends, inform evidence-based policymaking, and actively shape the nation's future. Furthermore, this initiative is aligned with our commitment to 'Kuwait Vision 2035,' which aims to position the youth as key players in creating a diversified, inclusive knowledge economy.' The General Secretariat for SCPD underscored that this initiative advances national efforts to empower youth and foster local talent, in line with the National Development Plan and Kuwait Vision 2035. The council highlighted that investing in human capital is a key step towards attaining sustainable development and establishing a knowledge-based economy. Through its partnership with MBRF and UNDP, the council seeks to develop an environment that supports youth leadership skills and digital transformation across industries. This partnership will help cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of navigating future challenges and creating development opportunities. The final phase of the initiative follows the path of the previous ones, building on their results and drawing from fruitful sessions and discussions held across various sectors. It aims to create practical and strong recommendations that contribute to the development of a knowledge-based society. The first phase, held in October 2024, highlighted the significance of knowledge in driving development and the role of the Global Knowledge Index as a tool for evaluating the status and trends of global knowledge economies. Meanwhile, the second phase, conducted in February 2025, underscored the role of technology utilization, research development, and digital literacy in boosting sustainable development across Arab nations. It also underscored the importance of improving the education system and fostering lifelong learning, especially in vocational training. The 'Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' builds on the success of the 'Knowledge Week' initiative, previously held in Jordan (2019) and Egypt (2020). It aligns with global efforts to promote vibrant, knowledge-based societies and reinforces MBRF's commitment to fostering a sustainable knowledge economy rooted in innovation and creativity, both regionally and globally.
Mid East Info
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
MBRF and UNDP organize final phase of ‘Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' to prepare leaders of tomorrow - Middle East Business News and Information
In partnership with Kuwaiti General Secretariat of Supreme Council for Planning and Development The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation MBRF and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP, in collaboration with Kuwait's General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development SCPD, launched the third and final phase of the ' Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' initiative. In line with its goal to empower Kuwaiti women and youth, the initiative aims to nurture key leadership skills to address future challenges and drive sustainable development across the public and private sectors. The concluding phase included virtual sessions on June 23 and 25, 2025, followed by in-person workshops scheduled from June 29 to July 1, 2025, in Kuwait. In the final phase, nearly 60 participants benefitted from a dynamic and engaging learning environment featuring interactive workshops, expert-led analytical sessions, and thought-provoking discussions. Distinguished keynote speakers shared insights, while collaborative working groups co-developed practical, forward-looking strategies for knowledge sustainability. The results of the initiative, including policy recommendations for decision-makers, will act as a strategic roadmap for shaping Kuwait's knowledge-driven future. His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said, 'Driven by our strong belief in human capital investment, we strive to empower the youth by equipping them with future-ready skills to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving world. At MBRF, we prioritize designing innovative programs and knowledge initiatives that contribute to boosting youth competencies across the globe. Amid this, the Knowledge Journey stands as a testament to our mission to increase opportunities for new demographics despite any regional boundaries, attaining our vision of a sustainable knowledge economy based on innovation and creative thinking.' Emma Morley, Resident Representative of UNDP in Kuwait, said, 'The 'Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' exemplifies our unwavering commitment to accelerate youth empowerment across the Arab region, empowering them as the key partners in building sustainable futures. In the present world, nations' growth is mainly driven by their investment in knowledge, innovation, and human capital. Our partnership with MBRF and the Kuwaiti SCPD contributes towards equipping youth and women to navigate global trends, inform evidence-based policymaking, and actively shape the nation's future. Furthermore, this initiative is aligned with our commitment to 'Kuwait Vision 2035,' which aims to position the youth as key players in creating a diversified, inclusive knowledge economy.' The General Secretariat for SCPD underscored that this initiative advances national efforts to empower youth and foster local talent, in line with the National Development Plan and Kuwait Vision 2035. The council highlighted that investing in human capital is a key step towards attaining sustainable development and establishing a knowledge-based economy. Through its partnership with MBRF and UNDP, the council seeks to develop an environment that supports youth leadership skills and digital transformation across industries. This partnership will help cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of navigating future challenges and creating development opportunities. The final phase of the initiative follows the path of the previous ones, building on their results and drawing from fruitful sessions and discussions held across various sectors. It aims to create practical and strong recommendations that contribute to the development of a knowledge-based society. The first phase, held in October 2024, highlighted the significance of knowledge in driving development and the role of the Global Knowledge Index as a tool for evaluating the status and trends of global knowledge economies. Meanwhile, the second phase, conducted in February 2025, underscored the role of technology utilization, research development, and digital literacy in boosting sustainable development across Arab nations. It also underscored the importance of improving the education system and fostering lifelong learning, especially in vocational training. The 'Knowledge Journey in Kuwait' builds on the success of the 'Knowledge Week' initiative, previously held in Jordan (2019) and Egypt (2020). It aligns with global efforts to promote vibrant, knowledge-based societies and reinforces MBRF's commitment to fostering a sustainable knowledge economy rooted in innovation and creativity, both regionally and globally.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Yahoo
Teen Charged After Allegedly Taking Selfie with Fake Rifle Outside Her Old High School and Causing a 'Lockout': Reports
Ericka Rodriguez, 18, has been charged after she was accused of taking a selfie while holding an imitation rifle outside Hauppauge High School in Long Island, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 17 The school was placed into a lockout as a result, a spokesperson for Hauppage Public Schools told PEOPLE Rodriguez is former student of the school, according to local media reportsAn 18-year-old is facing charges after she allegedly snapped a selfie posing with a fake rifle outside her old high school in New York, according to reports. On Tuesday, June 17, former student Ericka Rodriguez, 18, was accused of taking a selfie while holding an imitation rifle in front of Hauppauge High School in Suffolk County in Long Island, according to local media outlets News 12 Long Island, Newsday and TBR News Media. The school was subsequently placed into a lockout, per News 12 Long Island. In a message obtained by PEOPLE to parents from Dr. Donald B. Murphy, Superintendent of Schools at Hauppage Public Schools, Dr. Murphy said the middle school was also placed into a lockout "out of an abundance of caution" and "all exterior doors to the buildings were securely locked, and no one was allowed to enter or exit the buildings." Dr. Murphy said the school district's security team was alerted to a "911 report made to the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) regarding an individual on the sidewalk along Lincoln Boulevard, near Veterans Memorial Highway. The individual was reported to be carrying an object that appeared to be a firearm." The object was determined to be a Gel Launcher, or toy gun, which can 'closely resembled a firearm,' Dr, Murphy said in his message, The lockout was lifted just over an hour later. "We want to reassure our families that students and staff remained safe at all times. As always, we are extremely grateful for the swift response from SCPD and the vigilance of our security team. Our safety protocols were implemented promptly and effectively," Dr. Murphy's message to parents concluded. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Rodriguez was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds and endangering the welfare of a child, per the outlets. According to TBR News Media, Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip, Long Island, at a later date. PEOPLE has reached out to the Suffolk County Police for comment. Read the original article on People
